Perfil de mercado de la Unión Europea y los países de la EFTA

El presente trabajo de grado busca evaluar el perfil del mercado de la Unión Europea y los países de la EFTA para identificar las oportunidades comerciales de Colombia, más específicamente en los siguientes países: Suiza, Noruega, Liechtenstein, Islandia, Republica Checa, Rumania y Suecia. A través de esta investigación se realizó un análisis de los 25 productos más exportados de Colombia a cada uno de los países estudiados, tomando en cuenta sus códigos arancelarios. Adicionalmente, se evaluaron las balanzas comerciales de cada uno de los países, las tendencias de las exportaciones Colombianas de los últimos años, y las posibles oportunidades de mercados teniendo en cuenta las necesidades de importaciones detalladas de cada país europeo. A partir de la información encontrada la investigación se concentró en la proveniencia exacta del departamento Colombiano que hacia las exportaciones de los 25 productos más representativos a cada uno de los países evaluados. Teniendo en cuenta esta información, se evaluó por departamento, las oportunidades y perfiles de mercado de exportación hacia Suiza, Noruega, Liechtenstein, Islandia, Republica Checa, Rumania y Suecia. Finalmente se identificaron los 10 productos más exportados de Colombia a cada uno de los países analizados, con el fin de enfocar las mejoras y potencializar las exportaciones de estos productos a los países europeos evaluados. Adicionalmente durante la investigación se realizan recomendaciones específicas por país y al final del documento se encuentran las conclusiones generales y recomendaciones principales para futuras exportaciones de Colombia a los países de la EFTA, República Checa, Rumania y Suecia.

Perfil logístico del sector del cemento en Colombia

Este proyecto caracteriza la industria del cemento en Colombia a partir de la contextualización y descripción de esta actividad en el mundo y en el país, describiendo y analizando asuntos relacionados con la cadena de suministro de esta. Teniendo en cuenta los actores directos e indirectos que en esta interactúan y temas como el comercio internacional, el desempeño y la competitividad regional de la industria nacional, la percepción empresarial y factores como la responsabilidad social y las buenas prácticas. Además de la descripción de los factores nacionales que afectan a la industria como la infraestructura, el transporte y el desempeño logístico del país. En la contextualización mundial se presentan temas como la producción, oferta y demanda mundial de este producto y las principales tendencias y prácticas logísticas que caracterizan a esta industria internacionalmente; en el panorama nacional se caracteriza la competitividad y desempeño logístico del país y los factores que afectan a la industria del cemento. Se presentan los orígenes e historia de la industria en el país y se dan datos de la producción, despachos y comercio internacional de esta además de una breve descripción de su cadena de suministro y la caracterización de las relaciones entre sus eslabones. Finalmente se describen los entes con los cuales interactúa la industria, se describe lo más relevante en cuanto a políticas ambientales, responsabilidad social y buenas prácticas de los principales productores del país y se concluye con la caracterización de la competitividad general de la industria a nivel nacional y los retos y problemáticas que afronta el sector y que lo limitan para mejorar su desempeño a nivel regional.

spotlight europe #2012/06 - September 2012: The value of Europe

Do the citizens of the EU actually know what it is worth to them personally? The surveys increasingly suggest that they reject it and regard it with contempt. After living for years in a state of emergency, many people have started to cast doubt on the whole notion of integration, and on the ability of the politicians involved to find meaningful solutions to the crisis.

spotlight europe #2012/06 - September 2012: Der Wert Europas = The value of Europe

No abstract.

How to withdraw from the European Union? Confronting hard reality. CEPS Commentary, 16 January 2013

As David Cameron prepares to deliver his momentous “Europe” speech, Adam Łazowski warns the British Prime Minister that a divorce from the EU will not be easy and that the decision should be based on a very thorough political, economic and legal analysis, as the consequences in all possible respects will be profound.

Seven hazards in Cameron's intended European Policy. CEPS Commentary, 15 January 2013

As the date approaches for Prime Minister Cameron’s long-awaited speech setting out his policy intentions towards the EU, a new CEPS Commentary by Michael Emerson chronicles a plethora of problems his propositions are going to encounter for their successful implementation in the both the British and European interests.

Gene expression profiling of human hibernating myocardium: Increased expression of B-type natriuretic peptide and proenkephalin in hypocontractile vs normally-contracting regions of the heart

A greater understanding of the molecular basis of hibernating myocardium may assist in identifying those patients who would most benefit from revascularization. Paired heart biopsies were taken from hypocontractile and normally-contracting myocardium (identified by cardiovascular magnetic resonance) from 6 patients with chronic stable angina scheduled for bypass grafting. Gene expression profiles of hypocontractile and normally-contracting samples were compared using Affymetrix microarrays. The data for patients with confirmed hibernating myocardium were analysed separately and a different, though overlapping, set (up to 380) of genes was identified which may constitute a molecular fingerprint for hibernating myocardium. The expression of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) was increased in hypocontractile relative to normally-contracting myocardium. The expression of BNP correlated most closely with the expression of proenkephalin and follistatin 3, which may constitute additional heart failure markers. Our data illustrate differential gene expression in hypocontractile and/hibernating myocardium relative to normally-contracting myocardium within individual human hearts. Changes in expression of these genes, including increased relative expression of natriuretic and other factors, may constitute a molecular signature for hypocontractile and/or hibernating myocardium.

Benchmarking and valuation issues in measuring depreciation for European office markets

Purpose – The paper addresses the practical problems which emerge when attempting to apply longitudinal approaches to the assessment of property depreciation using valuation-based data. These problems relate to inconsistent valuation regimes and the difficulties in finding appropriate benchmarks. Design/methodology/approach – The paper adopts a case study of seven major office locations around Europe and attempts to determine ten-year rental value depreciation rates based on a longitudinal approach using IPD, CBRE and BNP Paribas datasets. Findings – The depreciation rates range from a 5 per cent PA depreciation rate in Frankfurt to a 2 per cent appreciation rate in Stockholm. The results are discussed in the context of the difficulties in applying this method with inconsistent data. Research limitations/implications – The paper has methodological implications for measuring property investment depreciation and provides an example of the problems in adopting theoretically sound approaches with inconsistent information. Practical implications – Valuations play an important role in performance measurement and cross border investment decision making and, therefore, knowledge of inconsistency of valuation practice aids decision making and informs any application of valuation-based data in the attainment of depreciation rates. Originality/value – The paper provides new insights into the use of property market valuation data in a cross-border context, insights that previously had been anecdotal and unproven in nature.

The civic zeitgeist: nationalism and liberal values in the European radical right

This article examines the relationship between nationalism and liberal values, and more specifically the redefinition of boundaries between national communities and others in the rhetoric of radical right parties in Europe. The aim is to examine the tension between radical right party discourse and the increasing need to shape this discourse in liberal terms. We argue that the radical right parties that successfully operate within the democratic system tend to be those best able to tailor their discourse to the liberal and civic characteristics of national identity so as to present themselves and their ideologies as the true authentic defenders of the nation's unique reputation for democracy, diversity and tolerance. Comparing the success of a number of European radical right parties ranging from the most electorally successful SVP to the more mixed BNP, FN and NPD, we show that the parties that effectively deploy the symbolic resources of national identity through a predominantly voluntaristic prism tend to be the ones that fare better within their respective political systems. In doing so, we challenge the conventional view in the study of nationalism which expects civic values to shield countries from radicalism and extremism.

Towards a ‘civic’ narrative: British national identity and the transformation of the British National Party

This article examines the ways in which the BNP utilises the elements of British national identity in its discourse and argues that, during Griffin's leadership, the party has made a discursive choice to shift the emphasis from an ethnic to a civic narrative. We put forward two hypotheses, 1: the modernisation of the discourse of extreme right parties in the British context is likely to be related to the adoption of a predominantly civic narrative and 2: in the context of British party competition the BNP is likely to converge towards UKIP, drawing upon elements of its perceived winning formula, i.e. a predominantly civic rhetoric of national identity. We proceed to empirically test our hypotheses by conducting a twofold comparison. First, we compare the BNP's discourse pre- and post-1999 showing the BNP's progressive adoption of a civic narrative; and second the BNP's post-1999 discourse to that of UKIP in order to illustrate their similarities in terms of civic values.

Germline CYBB mutations that selectively affect macrophages in kindreds with X-linked predisposition to tuberculous mycobacterial disease

Germline mutations in CYBB, the human gene encoding the gp91(phox) subunit of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase, impair the respiratory burst of all types of phagocytes and result in X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). We report here two kindreds in which otherwise healthy male adults developed X-linked recessive Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial disease (MSMD) syndromes. These patients had previously unknown mutations in CYBB that resulted in an impaired respiratory burst in monocyte-derived macrophages but not in monocytes or granulocytes. The macrophage-specific functional consequences of the germline mutation resulted from cell-specific impairment in the assembly of the NADPH oxidase. This `experiment of nature` indicates that CYBB is associated with MSMD and demonstrates that the respiratory burst in human macrophages is a crucial mechanism for protective immunity to tuberculous mycobacteria.

A escola normal de natal (Rio Grande do Norte, 1908-1971)

The research aims to analyze Professor Education in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte-Brazil in the period of 1908 to 1971. The work falls under the theme History of Scholar Institutions as well as Professor Education. The research investigates the evolution of the so called Normal School, a school that aimed professor education. It was based on assumptions by works of Chartier (1990), Chervel (1990), Elias (1994), Nóvoa (1987), Schriewer (2000), amongst others. The research dealt with a great array of documents in different institutions such as Minutes, Public Instruction Management Reports, Laws, newspaper articles (from the newspaper A Capital, A Ordem e A República), magazines such as Pedagogium (1921-1940); all of which present in the Geographical and Historical Institute of Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil. In the State´s public archive it was possible to find a book called Livro de Honra (1914-1919) as well as class diaries and books that contained details related to Scholar group Inscriptions. In the Atheneu Memorial the Atheneu Congregation of Normal School (1897) document was analyzed. In the Kennedy Superior Institute the researcher analyzed the Professor Nominal Graduation Registry Book. The work proposes a comparative study regarding the genesis present in the Lisbon Primary Normal School and the ones situated in Natal. The analysis dealt with institutional meanings attributed by educators. Documents from The Portuguese National Library as well as the Lisbon Superior Education School were analyzed. In this in environment, it was possible to analyze documents such as Minutes, Books, Manuals, Internal Regiments related to Pedagogy. The study allowed acknowledging that these Normal Schools emerged from the same historical substrate and present consonance between the two countries regarding once both were associated with politicians, professors, doctors, hygienists and professionals evolved with education. It was also possible to acknowledge that there is a presence of a pedagogical discourse attached to the primary school universe and professor education. The Natal Normal School was present in different contexts and was consolidated as an institution that was responsible for the education and preparation of primary school teachers. The school was considered a locus where it was possible to produce and work with specific knowledge in a peculiar fashion. This knowledge provided the necessary support for professor education and was in accordance with the world´s professional pedagogical movement as well as ideas, discussions and reflections. This school was considered a space for pedagogical activities, professional affirmation allowing action reflection enabling professor representation as knowledge producers legitimating professor instruction

Geographic variations in the composition of myotoxins from Bothrops neuwiedi snake venoms: biochemical characterization and biological activity

(1) Venom pools from Bothrops neuwiedi (Bn) and from two subspecies, namely Bothrops neuwiedi pauloensis (Bnp) and Bothrops neuwiedi urutu (Bnu), collected in the States of São Paulo (SP) and Minas Gerais (MG), Brazil, were electrophoretically examined. Basic toxins with different isoelectric points were identified in the venom collected in São Paulo (BnSP). These toxins were absent in the corresponding pools from Minas Gerais (BnMG, BnpMG and BnuMG). (2) BnSP, but not BnMG, BnpMG or BnuMG, showed two myotoxins (pI congruent to 8.6 and 8.8, respectively) which were isolated by ion-exchange chromatography on CM-Sepharose. (3) From BnMG, three myotoxic isoforms (pI congruent to 8.2 and M-r = 13600) were isolated by chromatography on CM-Sepharose followed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. (4) the chemical and biological characterization of these toxins showed a high similarity with the Lys-49 myotoxins from other bothropic venoms. (5) Doses up to 5 LD50 (i.p.) of p-bromophenacyl bromide alkylated BnSP-7 caused a total loss of lethality in 18-22-g mice, thus indicating that the LD50 was increased by greater than 5-fold. At this dose myotoxicity was also not detectable, but the edematogenic activity on the rat paw apparently did not change. (C) 1998 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Prevalência de dislipidemia em adultos de meia-idade com polimorfismo do gene NOS3 e baixa aptidão cardiorrespiratória

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Vascular effects and electrolyte homeostasis of the natriuretic peptide isolated from Crotalus oreganus abyssus (North American Grand Canyon rattlesnake) venom

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)