Effects of transportation accessibility on residential property values: Application of spatial hedonic price model in Seoul, South Korea, metropolitan area

A number of studies have focused on estimating the effects of accessibility on housing values by using the hedonic price model. In the majority of studies, estimation results have revealed that housing values increase as accessibility improves, although the magnitude of estimates has varied across studies. Adequately estimating the relationship between transportation accessibility and housing values is challenging for at least two reasons. First, the monocentric city assumption applied in location theory is no longer valid for many large or growing cities. Second, rather than being randomly distributed in space, housing values are clustered in space—often exhibiting spatial dependence. Recognizing these challenges, a study was undertaken to develop a spatial lag hedonic price model in the Seoul, South Korea, metropolitan region, which includes a measure of local accessibility as well as systemwide accessibility, in addition to other model covariates. Although the accessibility measures can be improved, the modeling results suggest that the spatial interactions of apartment sales prices occur across and within traffic analysis zones, and the sales prices for apartment communities are devalued as accessibility deteriorates. Consistent with findings in other cities, this study revealed that the distance to the central business district is still a significant determinant of sales price.

The Moral Economy of Everyday Crime: Markets, Consumers and Citizens

Between the crimes in the suites and the crimes in the streets lies the mostly unexplored terrain within which we find crimes of ‘everyday life’. Not all of these are formally illegal, but all are generally seen as morally dubious. Most of the crimes of everyday life are committed in the contemporary marketplace, and by those who think of themselves (and are mostly considered by others) as respectable citizens. We contextualize normative orientations that are conducive to such types of behaviour using a framework that links E. P. Thompson’s (1963) concept of the ‘moral economy’ with Institutional Anomie Theory (Messner and Rosenfeld 1994, 2007). Findings from a comparative survey study in three economic change regions (England and Wales, Western and Eastern Germany) show that a syndrome of market anomie comprising distrust, fear and cynical attitudes toward law increases the willingness of respectable citizens to engage in illegal and unfair practices in the marketplace.

Predicting freeway pavement construction cost using a back-propagation neural network : a case study in Henan, China

The objective of this research was to develop a model to estimate future freeway pavement construction costs in Henan Province, China. A comprehensive set of factors contributing to the cost of freeway pavement construction were included in the model formulation. These factors comprehensively reflect the characteristics of region and topography and altitude variation, the cost of labour, material, and equipment, and time-related variables such as index numbers of labour prices, material prices and equipment prices. An Artificial Neural Network model using the Back-Propagation learning algorithm was developed to estimate the cost of freeway pavement construction. A total of 88 valid freeway cases were obtained from freeway construction projects let by the Henan Transportation Department during the period 1994−2007. Data from a random selection of 81 freeway cases were used to train the Neural Network model and the remaining data were used to test the performance of the Neural Network model. The tested model was used to predict freeway pavement construction costs in 2010 based on predictions of input values. In addition, this paper provides a suggested correction for the prediction of the value for the future freeway pavement construction costs. Since the change in future freeway pavement construction cost is affected by many factors, the predictions obtained by the proposed method, and therefore the model, will need to be tested once actual data are obtained.

The virulence of Finnish Pyrenophora teres f. teres isolates and its implications for resistance breeding

In Finland, barley, Hordeum vulgare L., covers 50 % of the total acreage devoted to cereal cultivation. The most common disease of barley in Finland is net blotch, a foliar disease caused by the ascomycete Pyrenophora teres Drechsler. Disease resistance based on plant genes is an environmentally friendly and economical way to manage plant diseases caused by biotic stresses. Development of a disease resistance breeding programme is dependent on knowledge of the pathogen. In addition to information on the epidemiology and virulence of a pathogen, knowledge on how the pathogen evolves and the nature of the risks that might arise in the future are essential issues that need to be taken into account to achieve the final breeding aims. The main objectives of this study were to establish reliable and efficient testing methods for Pyrenophora teres f. teres virulence screening, and to understand the role of virulence of P. teres f. teres in Finland from a disease resistance breeding point of view. The virulence of P. teres was studied by testing 239 Finnish P. teres f. teres isolates collected between 1994 2007 originating from 19 locations, and 200 P. teres progeny isolates originating from artificially produced P. teres matings. According to the results of this study, screening for P. teres f. teres isolates on barley seedlings under greenhouse conditions is a feasible and cost efficient method to describe the virulence spectrum of the pathogen. Inoculum concentration and the seedling leaf used to gauge virulence had significant effects. Barley grain size, morphological traits of P. teres isolates, spore production and growth rate on agar did not affect the expression of virulence. A common barley differential set to characterize the P. teres virulence was developed and is recommended to be used globally. The virulence spectrum of Finnish P. teres f. teres isolates collected in 1994-2007 was constant both within and between the years. The results indicated differences in the pathogen s aggressiveness and in barley genotypes resistance. However, differences in virulence were rarely significant. Unlike in laboratory conditions, no indications of changes in virulence caused by the sexual reproduction have been observed in Finnish barley fields. In Finland, durable net blotch resistance has been achieved by introducing resistance from other barley varieties using traditional crossing methods, including wide crossing, and testing the breeding material at early generations at several sites under natural infection pressure. Novel resistance is available, which is recommended to minimize the risk of selection of virulent isolates and breakdown of currently deployed resistance.

Ischemic Stroke in Young Adults

Stroke is the second leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability worldwide. Of all strokes, up to 80% to 85% are ischemic, and of these, less than 10% occur in young individuals. Stroke in young adults—most often defined as stroke occurring under the age of 45 or 50—can be particularly devastating due to long expected life-span ahead and marked socio-economic consequences. Current basic knowledge on ischemic stroke in this age group originates mostly from rather small and imprecise patient series. Regarding emergency treatment, systematic data on use of intravenous thrombolysis are absent. For this Thesis project, we collected detailed clinical and radiological data on all consecutive patients aged 15 to 49 with first-ever ischemic stroke between 1994 and 2007 treated at the Helsinki University Central Hospital. The aims of the study were to define demographic characteristics, risk factors, imaging features, etiology, and long-term mortality and its predictors in this patient population. We additionally sought to investigate, whether intravenous thrombolysis is safe and beneficial for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke in the young. Of our 1008 patients, most were males (ratio 1.7:1), who clearly outnumbered females after the age of 44, but females were preponderant among those aged <30. Occurrence increased exponentially. The most frequent risk factors were dyslipidemia (60%), smoking (44%), and hypertension (39%). Risk factors accumulated in males and along aging. Cardioembolism (20%) and cervicocerebral artery dissection (15%) were the most frequent etiologic subgroups, followed by small-vessel disease (14%), and large-artery atherosclerosis (8%). A total of 33% had undetermined etiology. Left hemisphere strokes were more common in general. Posterior circulation infarcts were more common among those aged <45. Multiple brain infarcts were present in 23% of our patients, 13% had silent infarcts, and 5% had leukoaraiosis. Of those with silent brain infarcts, majority (54%) had only a single lesion, and most of the silent strokes were located in basal ganglia (39%) and subcortical regions (21%). In a logistic regression analysis, type 1 diabetes mellitus in particular predicted the presence of both silent brain infarcts (odds ratio 5.78, 95% confidence interval 2.37-14.10) and leukoaraiosis (9.75; 3.39-28.04). We identified 48 young patients with hemispheric ischemic stroke treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator, alteplase. For comparisons, we searched 96 untreated control patients matched by age, gender, and admission stroke severity, as well as 96 alteplase-treated older controls aged 50 to 79 matched by gender and stroke severity. Alteplase-treated young patients recovered more often completely (27% versus 10%, P=0.010) or had only mild residual symptoms (40% versus 22%, P=0.025) compared to age-matched controls. None of the alteplase-treated young patients had symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage or died within 3-month follow-up. Overall long-term mortality was low in our patient population. Cumulative mortality risks were 2.7% (95% confidence interval 1.5-3.9%) at 1 month, 4.7% (3.1-6.3%) at 1 year, and 10.7% (9.9-11.5%) at 5 years. Among the 30-day survivors who died during the 5-year follow-up, more than half died due to vascular causes. Malignancy, heart failure, heavy drinking, preceding infection, type 1 diabetes, increasing age, and large-artery atherosclerosis causing the index stroke independently predicted 5-year mortality when adjusted for age, gender, relevant risk factors, stroke severity, and etiologic subtype. In sum, young adults with ischemic stroke have distinct demographic patterns and they frequently harbor traditional vascular risk factors. Etiology in the young is extremely diverse, but in as many as one-third the exact cause remains unknown. Silent brain infarcts and leukoaraiosis are not uncommon brain imaging findings in these patients and should not be overlooked due to their potential prognostic relevance. Outcomes in young adults with hemispheric ischemic stroke can safely be improved with intravenous thrombolysis. Furthermore, despite their overall low risk of death after ischemic stroke, several easily recognizable factors—of which most are modifiable—predict higher mortality in the long term in young adults.

Impacto biológico y cultural del Neolítico en poblaciones del Norte de la Península Ibérica

340 p.

Increased diagnosis and detection rates of carcinoma in situ of the breast

The purpose of this study was to identify trends in the diagnosis of carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the breast in the United Kingdom (UK) and the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and to examine the impact of mammography. Data on cases of newly diagnosed CIS of the breast and mode of detection (screen detected or not) were obtained, where available, from regional cancer registries between 1990 and 2007. Age-standardised diagnosis rates for the UK and the ROI, and regional screen detected diagnosis rates were compared by calculating the annual percentage change (APC) over time. The APC of the diagnosis rate amongst women aged 50-64 years (original screening age group) showed a significant 5.9% increase in the UK (1990-2007) and 11.5% increase in the ROI (1994-2007). The rate of diagnosis (50-64 years) stabilized in the UK between 2005 and 2007 and was substantially higher than in other western populations with national screening programmes. The APC of the diagnosis rate amongst those aged 65-69 years showed a significant 12.4% increase in the UK (1990-2007) and 10.3% increase in the ROI (1994-2007). amongst women aged 50-74 years in the UK, approximately 4,300 cases of CIS (˜90% ductal carcinoma in situ) were diagnosed in 2007. Our analyses have shown that screen detected CIS contributed primarily to the increase in diagnosis of CIS of the breast. The high diagnosis rate of screen detected CIS of the breast underlines the need for further research into lesion and patient characteristics that are related to progression of CIS to invasive disease to better target treatment. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

­Yo también voy al colegio! : seminario de comunicación del niño sordo.

Este proyecto parte de la necesidad de tener un libro con lenguaje signado fácil de interpretar por el niño sordo y sus compañeros en el aula. En el mismo se pretende facilitar el acceso del niño/a normoyente y sordo al lenguaje oral signado, así como al currículo ordinario por parte del alumnado con déficit auditivo; también el profesorado puede acceder a este material como guía did ctica en su práctica docente diaria. Para la elaboración de este trabajo se parte de las características del niño/a con déficit auditivo y de sus necesidades educativas.

Interpretando a Porter

Este libro obedece a la propia interpretación del autor acerca de la obra de Michael Porter. Michael Porter, el autor contemporáneo que más ha incidido en los pensadores estratégicos de finales del siglo XX y principios del XXI, se caracteriza por la densidad de su obra y la prolija interpretación de los fenómenos de la competencia y la rentabilidad empresarial. Con el paso del tiempo, Porter derivó en la competitividad nacional y en las propuestas sociales que, a través de la estrategia, pretenden desmarginalizar zonas socialmente comprometidas. Este trabajo resume las acciones y reflexiones que deben emprender los estrategas para blindar sus empresas de las amenazas del entorno, garantizando de esta manera la perdurabilidad de las empresas, ente social responsable de la creación de riqueza, la generación de empleos y la inclusión social. Su público objetivo está constituido por los estudiantes, investigadores y consultores de administración, economía, ingeniería industrial y disciplinas relacionadas, tanto de pregrado y como de postgrado.

Posibles políticas de cooperación bilateral con Venezuela para internacionalizar el comercio de energía eléctrica de Colombia

La presente Monografía, trata específicamente de las posibles políticas de cooperación que puede haber entre el Estado colombiano y venezolano para internacionalizar el mercado de la energía eléctrica de Colombia, con el propósito de brindar una integración efectiva en la Región Latinoamericana. Además, se demuestra que desde el año 1989 hasta la actualidad, la cooperación se ha mantenido constante a pesar de las dificultades que se han presentado a lo largo de sus relaciones binacionales. Por otra parte, se resalta la capacidad energética de estos dos países, los cuales representan para Latinoamérica una fuente rica en recursos hídricos para desarrollar proyectos de generación de energía eléctrica, que a su vez servirán de despensa energética para la región, convirtiendo a Colombia, por medio de la cooperación con Venezuela en un cluster energético y estratégico para la comercialización de la energía eléctrica no solo de Colombia, sino también la de otros países de dicha región.

El rol, la influencia y los intereses de Brasil y Venezuela en el fortalecimiento de la Cooperación para el Desarrollo en Suramérica. Caso de estudio : creación Banco del Sur

La presente monografía se intenta demostrar que además de diseñar un ideal común de progreso y desarrollo, existe por parte de Brasil y Venezuela, un interés particular en plantear una estrategia de cooperación. En este sentido se pretende analizar el rol fundamental que juegan Brasil y Venezuela mediante la creación del Banco del Sur.

Perspectivas teóricas sobre internacionalización de empresas

Este documento de trabajo tiene como objetivo presentar el marco conceptual sobre internacionalización de empresas, que servirá de base para apoyar el análisis de procesos de internacionalización que hayan emprendido o quieran emprender las empresas. No se busca encasillar este estudio en un modelo específico, sino tomar conceptos de diversos autores que permitan enriquecer el análisis. El otro objetivo de este documento de trabajo es facilitar la resolución desde el punto de vista teórico, de los siguientes cuestionamientos: ¿por qué?, ¿cómo?, ¿cuándo? y ¿hacia dónde se internacionalizan las empresas?. La internacionalización de la empresa es un fenómeno económico que, desde diversas perspectivas, ha despertado el interés de un gran número de investigadores. Por internacionalización se entiende todo aquel conjunto de operaciones que facilitan el establecimiento de vínculos más o menos estables entre la empresa y los mercados internacionales, a lo largo de un proceso de creciente implicación y proyección internacional (Root, 1994; Rialp, 1999).

Cooperación franco-española frente al terrorismo de ETA durante los gobiernos de José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Jacques Chirac y Nicolás Sarkozy

Esta monografía analiza la amenaza que representa ETA para Francia y España; la respuesta frente al problema de los Estados implicados y propone los posibles factores limitantes a la cooperación que no han permitido eliminar la amenaza terrorista.

Análisis de los dispositivos y políticas de la Unión Europea en materia de gestión de crisis y resolución de conflictos. Caso de estudio: República Democrática del Congo (2003-2008)

El conflicto desatado en la República Democrática del Congo desde mediados de la década de los noventa, representa una de las crisis más profundas del continente africano debido a una compleja dinámica interna y regional. Así, las acciones de respuesta a las crisis y prevención y gestión de conflictos llevadas a cabo por la Unión Europea en la RDC representan las primeras operaciones autónomas y fuera de Europa, en un país altamente frágil que constituye una fuente de inestabilidad regional, convirtiéndolo así en un caso de investigación idoneo para examinar los exitos y desafios que se han presentado al concretar la política Europea de Seguridad y Defensa.

El impacto de las organizaciones internacionales y nacionales en la problemática migratoria y de Derechos Humanos entre Argentina y Bolivia. Periodo de estudio 1997-2008

Con el objetivo de realizar un acercamiento preciso al tema migratorio y de Derechos Humanos y de comprender de manera global la complejidad y variables que intervienen, esta investigación estudiará el caso de Argentina y Bolivia en el periodo de 1997 y 2008, tiempo durante el cual surge la cooperación de actores tanto internos como externos que le dan importancia al control de fenómenos migratorios. Igualmente, se analizará la forma en la que el problema migratorio incide en la violación de los Derechos Humanos, como segunda variable, demostrando que es un problema que afecta las relaciones bilaterales.