Conformal and non Conformal Dilaton Gravity

The quantum dynamics of the gravitational field non-minimally coupled to an (also dynamical) scalar field is studied in the {\em broken phase}. For a particular value of the coupling the system is classically conformal, and can actually be understood as the group averaging of Einstein-Hilbert's action under conformal transformations. Conformal invariance implies a simple Ward identity asserting that the trace of the equation of motion for the graviton is the equation of motion of the scalar field. We perform an explicit one-loop computation to show that the DeWitt effective action is not UV divergent {\em on shell} and to find that the Weyl symmetry Ward identity is preserved {\em on shell} at that level. We also discuss the fate of this Ward identity at the two-loop level --under the assumption that the two-loop UV divergent part of the effective action can be retrieved from the Goroff-Sagnotti counterterm-- and show that its preservation in the renormalized theory requires the introduction of counterterms which exhibit a logarithmic dependence on the dilaton field.Comment: LateX, 50 pages. Several points clarified; references added. New section on Weyl invariant renormalisation adde

Spatial projection of input-ouput tables for small areas

Studies on regional economy have achieved a huge expansion in the last decades. In particular, from an input-ouput optic many efforts have been devoted to carring out a suitable methodology, which enable us to cover the overall and exhaustive knowledge of the economic reality of one region. Given that a input-output table (IOT) gathers both intersectorial relationships and the final demand of the economy, it allows us to provide a reliable picture of one economy in a certain moment of time. Nonetheless, the elaboration of a IOT is a complex task, which needs many human and economic resources. Thus, most of the tables elaborated using direct methods have as a benchmark frame either a country or a region, although it is difficult to find matrices related to smaller geografic spaces like, for instance, counties. So, if we attempt to perform a deeper study of both spaces, it would be of great help if we could dispose of estimation methods, which enable us to make tables with less information, i.e, indirect (semidirect) methods of estimation. Let´s say that the economy of a region is determined by the relations among productive structures of their counties, therefore a previous knowledge of these productive structures can be interesting. The basic aim of this work consists of estimating a TIO for each one of the eight Asturian Counties in 1995, since this is the last period in which we possess published information relative to regional accounts. To this end, a technique focused on mathematical theory of the information: cross entropy, will be employed. Such a technique has lately been applied to the construction of regional tables, largely for two reasons: one, flexibility as regards the information it needs; the other, to produce some rather suitable empiric results. From the tables estimates by this method we will be able to know the characteristics of economic structures of the counties. To achieve this scope, tools related to the graph theory, have been applied. Their application in input-output analisis has a great potential to provide a simple vision of the relations between the different sectors, as well as being able to integrate matters as important as the relative positions of the sectors, their orientation or paths in which drive the economic influence inside the corresponding structure.

Lo que Darwin descubrió al admirar la naturaleza

Las efemérides del nacimiento de Darwin y de la publicación de su obra “El origen de las especies” han removido el sedimento de su legado. Se analiza la aportación de su teoría a la visión actual de la evolución biológica en el contexto de la genética modern

Potential peptidic proteasome inhibitors by incorporation of an electrophilic trap based on amino acid derived α-substituted sulfonyl fluorides

Peptido sulfonyl fluoride derivatives were designed and synthesized containing a substituent on the alpha position (αPSFs) with respect to the sulfonyl fluoride electrophilic trap. The chemical reactivity of these α-substituted amino sulfonyl fluorides was studied and compared with the previously described β-substituted amino sulfonyl fluorides in order to get a deeper insight into the importance of the immediate structural environment of the sulfonyl fluoride moiety. Unfortunately, the poor solubility of the resulting αPSFs precluded a proper evaluation of their biological activity

La precariedad laboral en los medios de comunicación. Los falsos autónomos

Los trabajadores de los medios de comunicación en España cuentan con una serie de particularidades en el ámbito laboral. Por un lado, la precariedad e inestabilidad en las distintas empresas son la tónica habitual. Por otro lado, la proliferación de los medios digitales, así como una falta de regulación de la propia profesión periodística, provocan la existencia de relaciones laborales encubiertas. Es habitual encontrar en los medios que bajo la denominación de “colaborador” o de freelance, en realidad se esconde un falso autónomo, el cual realiza las mismas funciones que un trabajador asalariado, pero sin derechos laborales.Media workers in Spain have a number of peculiarities in the workplace. Among others, the precariousness and instability in the different companies are very common. Furthermore, the proliferation of digital media, as well as a lack of regulation of the journalistic profession itself, lead to the existence of covert labor relations. Likewise, in the media, it is common to see that under the name of collaborator or freelancer, a bogus self-employed worker is hidden, who performed the same task as a salaried worker, but with no labor rights

Tuning the sulfonyl fluoride warhead towards new proteasome inhibitors: alpha-substituted sulfonyl fluorides and vinyl sulfonyl fluorides

Sulfonyl fluorides have recently been described as “privileged warheads” in chemical biology due to the right balance of reactivity and stability that these electrophiles possess. Peptido sulfonyl fluorides (β-PSFs) have shown to be particularly potent as proteasome inhibitors in recent years. Tuning the reactivity of the sulfonyl fluoride electrophilic trap may be crucial for modulating its biological action. The first part of this thesis describes the design and synthesis of peptido sulfonyl fluoride derivatives containing a substituent on the alpha position with respect to the sulfonyl fluoride electrophilic trap. Therefore, the chemical reactivity and biological activity of α-substituted sulfonyl fluorides (αSFs) were studied. Comparison with the previously described β-substituted sulfonyl fluorides (βSFs) was performed as an attempt to get a deeper insight into the importance of the immediate structural environment of the sulfonyl fluoride moiety. αSFs proved to be more reactive than βSFs towards nucleophilic substitution, including hydrolysis. However, it could not be clarified as yet if and how this is translated to the bioactivity of the resulting α-PSFs since the poor solubility of these molecules precluded a proper evaluation. The second part of this thesis describes the synthesis of a vinyl sulfonyl fluoride moiety as a new dual warhead class. The consecutive attack of the two nucleophiles of the proteasome active threonine on the double bond and the sulfonyl fluoride was proposed as the inhibition mechanism which should lead to the formation of a seven-membered covalent adduct. In vitro studies were designed in order to test this hypothesis. Although the formation of the proposed seven-membered ring structure could not be unambiguously demonstrated with the chosen model systems, the crystal structure confirmed this formation within enzymatic environment. Incorporation of vinyl sulfonyl fluoride warhead into peptide backbones (PVSF) resulted in strong proteasome inhibitors (IC50 = 99 and 218 nM)