Optimización y sus aplicaciones económicas

Este trabajo tiene como propósito establecer la relación existente entre el concepto matemático de optimización de funciones con y sin restricciones, y la asignación de recursos en el ámbito económico. Para resolver este tipo de problemas y que el cálculo resulte más fácil, se debe intentar como primer objetivo, que el conjunto donde de encontrar el óptimo, esto es el conjunto admisible sea un conjunto convexo y posteriormente que la función a optimizar sea una función convexa o cóncava, dependiendo del tipo de óptimo a encontrar. En la vida real, nos encontramos con limitaciones a la hora de hacer una asignación de recursos. Estas limitaciones vienen determinadas mediante restricciones a través de funciones que denominamos funciones de restricción y para poder buscar la asignación eficiente será necesario utilizar el concepto de función lagrangiana que incluye la función a optimizar y la función o funciones de restricción. Ante el problema de asignación de recursos tanto sin restricción como con restricción el objetivo es buscar la combinación óptima para la cual, primero se buscaran los posibles puntos estacionarios y después entre ellos el óptimoThis work aims to establish the relationships between the mathematical concept of optimization of functions with and without restrictions, and the allocation of resources in the economic sphere. Problem solving strategies on this type of problem would make calculation easier if it firstly tried to find the set where the optimum belongs, that set would be named the admissible, which should be a convex one. Consequently, the function to optimize might be either convex or concave, regarding the type of optimal that has been found. In real live, there are limitations when it comes to allocation of resources. These limitations are determined by means of restrictions through functions which we have named restriction functions it would be necessary to use the concept of Lagrangian Function in order to find the efficient allocation that will include, for that matter, either the function or functions to optimize. Regarding the allocation of resources issue, in both cases, unrestricted and restricted, our target would be to search for the optimum combination, which will guarantee to find the optimum point among the possible stationary points.Departamento de Economía AplicadaGrado en Administración y Dirección de Empresa

Indicadores sociales e inserción laboral de la población extranjera en España y Andalucía

En este trabajo llevamos a cabo un esbozo sobre las dificultades existentes para la elaboración de indicadores sociales aplicados a los estudios de migraciones. Posteriormente se da cuenta de los indicadores existentes en materia de inserción sociolaboral en España y Andalucía en este campo. Por último se utilizan estos indicadores para analizar la inserción laboral en el ámbito nacional y andaluz. Se lleva a cabo una discusión sobre las posibilidades de aplicación de estos indicadores al ámbito local, lo que se ejemplifica a través de datos referidos a la provincia de Huelva. Esta comunicación forma parte de la ejecución de un proyecto de I+D financiado por el Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología sobre los itinerarios de inserción social y laboral de la población inmigrante en Huelva (Ref. SEC2002-04795) y del proyecto Equal Arena coordinado por la Consejería de Gobernación de la Junta de Andalucía (ES-ES333) sobre indicadores de inserción profesional.This paper sketches the difficulties for the elaboration of social indicators applied to the study of migrations. Later it explains the existing indicators in the matter of sociolaboral insertion in Spain and Andalusia in this field. Finally these indicators are used to analyze the labor insertion in the national scope and Andalusian. A discussion is carried out on the possibilities of application of these indicators to the local scope, which is exemplified through data referred to the province of Huelva. This communication forms part of the execution of a project of Scientific Reasearch and Technological Development financed by the Ministry of Science and Technology on the itineraries of social and labor insertion of the immigrant population in Huelva (Ref. SEC2002-04795) and of the Equal Arena project coordinated by the Consejería de Gobernación, Junta de Andalucía (Ref. ES-ES333) on indicators of professional insertio

Other aspects of the epidemiological surveillance performed by ECEMC: Time distribution and distribution by Autonomous Regions of births from the immigrant population in Spain

Aspectos EpidemiológicosIt is well known that immigration has increased along the time in Spain, especially in the most recent years. We have analyzed data from ECEMC in order to quantify this phenomenon in the sample of 35,441 controls (newborn infants without congenital defects) registered by ECEMC in the period 1980-2009, since the group of immigrants usually has a set of characteristics which increase their offspring’s risk for being born with congenital anomalies. ECEMC gathers information on the birth place and ethnic group of parents and grandparents of both controls and cases registered with congenital anomalies. Most of immigrant parents (62.82%) come from non-european countries. Globally, the Autonomous Regions with the higher percentages of immigrant parents were the Balearic Islands (18%), Community of Madrid (15.84%), Comunidad Valenciana (15.16%) and Catalonia (13.08%). In the year 2009, however, the higher percentages were registered in Catalonia, followed by Community of Madrid, Balearic Islands and Comunidad Valenciana. There has been a statistically significant increase of births from immigrants along the time, from 1.89% of total control births in 1980-1985, up to 23.92% in the year 2009. This increase has been more pronounced for the group of immigrants from non-european countries. Since 1996, the proportion of births from non-European countries is higher than the counterpart of infants being born to European immigrants in Spain. Data from the different Autonomous regions mostly reflect this general tendency. In the groups of immigrants, the most frequent ethnic group was that of whites (96.84% among immigrants coming from European countries, and 41.73% among those coming from non-european countries). There is almost total concordance of data from ECEMC with the official data registered by INE (Spanish National Institute for Statististics). Knowing the magnitude of the different groups of immigrants in Spain is very important in order to properly design the different plans for prevention of congenital anomalies, according to the special risks of each population groupN

Clinical analysis of newborn infants with congenital defects registered in ECEMC: Distribution by etiology and ethnic groups

Dismorfología y Genética ClínicaIn this chapter, the information gathered by ECEMC between January 1980 and December 2008 has been analysed. It corresponds to 2,463,134 consecutive newborn infants surveyed, among which 37,545 (1.52%) presented congenital defects detected during the first 3 days of life. When these were distributed by clinical presentation, all the groups showed a statistically significant diminishing trend since the base period, mainly attributable to the impact of termination of pregnancy after the diagnosis of foetal alterations. The distribution by clinical presentation was specifically analysed for 17 congenital defects which are usually monitored, this information being useful in the field of prenatal diagnosis. Blastogenic defects showed a statistically significant decrease in the study period, except in the last 6 years, which could be due to the influence of the immigrant population. All the infants registered were distributed by the causes of the defects, and those with syndromes were also distributed by etiology and frequency in the ECEMC data. Moreover, all infants with congenital defects were distributed by the organic system or area affected, and presented in 3 periods of time. Given the increase in the immigrant population in our country, the distribution of all infants with congenital defects by ethnic group is shown, with whites being distinguished as native or foreigner. This distribution by ethnic group is important for designing specific campaigns for prevention, education and information, according to their real needs. When analysing some selected defects in those groups, with respect to the group of native whites, a lower percentage of cases with neural tube defects was found among blacks; a higher percentage of cases with cardiovascular defects was registered among blacks, gipsies and arabs; a lower percentage of cases with hypospadias was observed among blacks and indoamericans, and a higher percentage of cases with postaxial polydactyly was found among blacks. This data provides useful information for identifying defects for which the gene frequencies of the native population could be modified by immigration, as well as to define specific needs of the different ethnic groups in Spain.N

Present situation in Spain regarding the etiologic diagnosis in foetuses from termination of pregnancy (ToP) due to congenital defects. Guidelines for a minimum protocol

Dismorfología y Genética ClínicaSince the passing of the Spanish law permitting termination of pregnancy (ToP) after the detection of foetal anomalies, in July 1985, the ECEMC has undertaken the commitment to register the maximum information regarding the cases of ToP due to congenital anomalies. This interest is not only prompted by the need of a proper surveillance of these pathologies, what is important for public health purposes, but also for getting an etiologic diagnosis for each case; although this is only possible by retrieving minimum clinical and non-clinical information, depending on each case. This is important, because not achieving an etiologic diagnosis implies not being able to provide the family with information regarding recurrence risk, the risk for possible carriers among their healthy children, and for future pregnancies, planning prenatal diagnosis, and pre-implantation diagnosis or assisted reproduction for certain pathologies. At present, in Spain, there is no official protocol for the study of foetuses from ToP with congenital anomalies, what precludes from getting prevention in all their different levels, starting by the possibility of having a correct diagnosis. To cover that need, and based on the experience of the ECEMC, we highlight a small protocol with the minimal data to be collected to increase the possibilities to reach to a proper diagnosis, and, therefore, provide the parents with complete information. From the point of view of the health practice, this is the correct way, not only for getting the diagnosis, but because this is the only way to also help to diminish the awful situation of couples undergoing ToP due to foetal malformations.N

Sleep apnea and mandibular advancement device : revision of the literature

Sleep apnea and hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) is a disorder characterized by intermittent and repetitive obstruction of the upper airway provoking pharyngeal collapse. It is characterized clinically by a triad of daytime hypersomnia, snoring and pauses in breathing during sleep that are normally reported by the partner. Polysomnography is the chosen method for diagnosing this pathology. Patients with this disorder tend to have the following dental and orofacial signs: a retrognathic jaw, a narrow palate, a wide neck, deviation of the nasal septum and relative macroglossia, among others. Dentists should be ready to evaluate the risk-benefit of certain dental treatment options for this public health problem. The treatment of this problem will depend on its severity, with one of the options being the Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD) that is used especially in the treatment of slight or moderate SAHS and in the treatment of snoring, with results that are occasionally very successful. The objective of this study is to carry out an up-to-date literature review of SAHS and to evaluate the role of the dentist when faced with this pathology

Primary prevention as an essential factor ensuring sustainability of health systems: the example of congenital anomalies

Protection of early development contributes to health of next generations. Congenital anomalies (and other adverse reproductive outcomes) are an important public health issue and early indicator of public health risks, as early development is influenced by many risk factors (e.g., nutrition, lifestyles, pollution, infections, medications, etc). Effective primary prevention requires an integrated “One Health” approach, linking knowledge and action. This requires surveillance of health events and potential health-damaging factors, science-based risk analysis, citizens’ empowerment and education of health professionals. From the policy standpoint, joint budgeting mechanisms are needed to sustain with equity intersectoral actions (involving policy domains of health, social affairs, education, agriculture and environment). States should devote resources to strengthen registries and systematic data collection for surveillance of congenital anomalies, to better inform national prevention strategies. Investing in primary prevention based on scientific  evidence is essential to support sustainable and resilient health systems and sustainable development of the society

Characterization of Proteolytic Activity of Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) Flower Extracts on Bovine Casein to Obtain Bioactive Peptides.

The aim of this work is to establish the most suitable proteolysis conditions to obtain bovine casein hydrolysates containing peptides with antioxidant and antihypertensive capacity. To this end, the proteolytic activity of Cynara scolymus L. flower extracts was characterized on whole bovine casein, evaluating the effect of several factors (pH, temperature, substrate concentration, enzyme concentration, and hydrolysis time). The optimal conditions to carry out the hydrolysis with the C. scolymus L. extract were as follows: pH 6.2, 50 °C, and 0.023 mg·mL-1 of extract-protein concentration. A Michaelis constant (Km) value of 5.66 mg·mL-1 and a maximum rate of reaction (Vmax) of 8.47 mUAbs∙min-1 were observed. The optimal hydrolysis time was 17 h. The casein hydrolysates obtained with these conditions contained peptides with antioxidant activity (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity: 30.89%; Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) against 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) free radical (ABTS●+): 4.43 mM Trolox equivalent·mg-1 peptide) and antihypertensive activity, showing 55.05% angiotensin-converting enzyme-I inhibition in vitro