El factor religioso en la Europa de las libertades

El ISSN corresponde a la versión electrónica del documentoEl número monográfico que tengo el gusto de presentar a los lectores toma como referente de análisis la dimensión religiosa del hombre y su incidencia jurídica en la denominada Europa de las Libertades. Los estudios que lo conforman abordan temas muy diversos: desde la regulación jurídica matrimonial a la fiscalidad aplicable a las entidades religiosas; la relación existente entre el poder civil y el religioso en los diversos Estados miembros o el análisis y alcance jurídico que ha tenido el uso de símbolos religiosos en la realidad europea de los últimos años. En todas las colaboraciones, pese a la diversidad de las cuestiones tratadas, subyace un denominador común: la incidencia del factor religioso en la compleja construcción de una Europa unida

Financial Frictions, Firm Dynamics and the Aggregate Economy: Insights from Richer Productivity Processes

How do financial frictions affect firm dynamics, allocation of resources across firms, and aggregate productivity and output? Is the nature of productivity shocks that firms face primary for the effects of financial frictions? I first use a comprehensive dataset of Spanish firms from 1999 to 2014 to estimate non-parametrically the firm productivity dynamics. I find that the productivity process is non-linear, as persistence and shock variability depend on past productivity, and productivity shocks are non-Gaussian. These dynamics differ from the ones implied by a standard AR(1) process, commonly used in the firm dynamics literature. I then build a model of firm dynamics with financial frictions in which productivity shocks are non-linear and non-Gaussian. The model is consistent with a host of evidence on firm dynamics, financial frictions, and firms’ financial behaviour. In the model economy, financial frictions affect the firm life cycle. Without financial frictions, the size of an entrant firm will be three times larger. Furthermore, profit accumulation, which allows firms to overcome financial frictions, is slow, and it only speeds up when firms are mature. As a consequence, the average exiting firm is smaller than it would be without financial frictions. The aggregate consequences of financial frictions are significant. They result in misallocation of capital and reduce aggregate productivity by 16%. This figure is only 8% if productivity dynamics evolve according to a standard AR(1) process

Nonlinear Interaction of Transversal Modes in a CO2 Laser

We show the possibility of achieving experimentally a Takens-Bogdanov bifurcation for the nonlinear interaction of two transverse modes ($l = \pm 1$) in a $CO_2$ laser. The system has a basic O(2) symmetry which is perturbed by some symmetry-breaking effects that still preserve the $Z_2$ symmetry. The pattern dynamics near this codimension two bifurcation under such symmetries is described. This dynamics changes drastically when the laser properties are modified.Comment: 16 pages, 0 figure

Statins and protein prenylation in cancer cell biology and therapy

El pdf del artículo es la versión post-print.The use of statins has scaled up to become one of the most prescribed medicines in the world and have been very useful in the manegement of cardiovascular diseases and related mortality. The disclosure of their chemical structure similar to that of hydroxy methyl glutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) revealed their ability to compete with and inhibit the rate-limiting enzyme HMG-CoA reductase that catalyzes the synthesis of mevalonate, which then serves as the precursor for isoprenoids and cholesterol in the mevalonate pathway. While most of the effects of statins are associated with the lowering of cellular cholesterol levels, it is clear that they also blunt the non-sterol branch of the mevalonate pathway, decreasing formation of isoprenoids and altering protein-prenylation, a critical event in the posttranslational modulation of proteins involved in the regulation of cell cycle progression, proliferation and signaling pathways. Randomized controlled trials for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases indicated that statins elicited provocative and unexpected benefits for reducing a number of different types of cancers, including colorectal carcinoma, melanoma, prostate and hepatocellular carcinoma, although in other cancer types the preclinical expectations of statins were dissapointing. In this review, we will describe the evidence and mechanisms underlying the potential beneficial use of statins and the role of protein prenylation in cancer prevention. Of relevance, the combination of statins with other anti cancer drugs may be a significant asset in malignancies resistant to current therapy. © 2012 Bentham Science Publishers.The work was supported by CIBEREHD, Fundación Mutua Madrileña, Fundació la Marató de TV3, PI11/03025 (META) and grants PI09/0056 (Instituto de Salud Carlos III), SAF2009-11417, SAF2008-02199, SAF2011-23031 (Plan Nacional de I+D), Spain; and P50-AA-11999 (Research Center for Liver and Pancreatic Diseases, NIAAA/NIH).Peer Reviewe

The digital transformation of work: a relational view

Conversation about the current and potential effects of digital technologies on the nature of work is raging within scholarly and practitioner communities. Artificial intelligence, robotics, data analytics, digital platforms, and automation, among other technologies, are prompting a swift and profound transformation of work. Building on Pierpaolo Donati''s relational sociology, we examine the changes these technologies are likely to bring about in work as a human relation. Despite the very real threats of unemployment, job insecurity, precariousness, and surveillance, technology may also encourage the emergence of a work culture that shifts the scales toward a relational realm rather than a transactional one. To this end, we argue that work should be understood as a social relation with four dimensions: exchange value, intrinsic extra-economic purpose, communication for reciprocal services, and correspondence with primary human needs according to use values. Understanding the digital transformation of work from this point of view requires comprehending the differentiation and integration of these four dimensions

Myristic acid potentiates palmitic acid-induced lipotoxicity and steatohepatitis associated with lipodystrophy by sustaning de novo ceramide synthesis.

Palmitic acid (PA) induces hepatocyte apoptosis and fuels de novo ceramide synthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Myristic acid (MA), a free fatty acid highly abundant in copra/palmist oils, is a predictor of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and stimulates ceramide synthesis. Here we investigated the synergism between MA and PA in ceramide synthesis, ER stress, lipotoxicity and NASH. Unlike PA, MA is not lipotoxic but potentiated PA-mediated lipoapoptosis, ER stress, caspase-3 activation and cytochrome c release in primary mouse hepatocytes (PMH). Moreover, MA kinetically sustained PA-induced total ceramide content by stimulating dehydroceramide desaturase and switched the ceramide profile from decreased to increased ceramide 14:0/ceramide16:0, without changing medium and long-chain ceramide species. PMH were more sensitive to equimolar ceramide14:0/ceramide16:0 exposure, which mimics the outcome of PA plus MA treatment on ceramide homeostasis, than to either ceramide alone. Treatment with myriocin to inhibit ceramide synthesis and tauroursodeoxycholic acid to prevent ER stress ameliorated PA plus MA induced apoptosis, similar to the protection afforded by the antioxidant BHA, the pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-Fmk and JNK inhibition. Moreover, ruthenium red protected PMH against PA and MA-induced cell death. Recapitulating in vitro findings, mice fed a diet enriched in PA plus MA exhibited lipodystrophy, hepatosplenomegaly, increased liver ceramide content and cholesterol levels, ER stress, liver damage, inflammation and fibrosis compared to mice fed diets enriched in PA or MA alone. The deleterious effects of PA plus MA-enriched diet were largely prevented by in vivo myriocin treatment. These findings indicate a causal link between ceramide synthesis and ER stress in lipotoxicity, and imply that the consumption of diets enriched in MA and PA can cause NASH associated with lipodystrophy

A non-perturbative approach to the scalar Casimir effect with Lorentz symmetry violation

We determine the effect of Lorentz invariance violation in the vacuum energy and stress between two parallel plates separated by a distance $L$, in the presence of a massive real scalar field. We parametrize the Lorentz-violation in terms of a symmetric tensor $h^{\,\mu\nu}$ that represents a constant background. Through the Green's function method, we obtain the global Casimir energy, the Casimir force between the plates and the energy density in a closed analytical form without resorting to perturbative methods. With regards to the pressure, we find that $\mathcal{F}_c(L)=\mathcal{F}_0(\tilde{L})/\sqrt{-{\rm det}\, h^{\,\mu\nu}}$, where $\mathcal{F}_0$ is the Lorentz-invariant expression, and $\tilde{L}$ is the plate separation rescaled by the component of $h^{\,\mu\nu}$ normal to the plates, $\tilde{L}=L/\sqrt{-h^{nn}}$. We also analyze the Casimir stress including finite-temperature corrections. The local behavior of the Casimir energy density is also discussed.Comment: 6 pages, No figure

Bryconamericus macarenae n. sp. (Characiformes, Characidae) from the Güejar River, Macarena mountain range, Colombia

Bryconamericus macarenae sp. n. (Characiformes, Characidae) del río Güejar, sierra de La Macarana, Colombia Basándonos en 174 especímenes y utilizando características morfométricas, merísticas y osteológicas describimos una nueva especie: Bryconamericus macarenae, del río Güejar en la cordillera de La Macarena, cuenca del Orinoco, Colombia. Difiere de sus congéneres por tener: la línea lateral incompleta (comparado con línea lateral completa en todos excepto B. delta) y un número menor de perforaciones, y menos conspicuas, en el canal laterosensorial del hueso extraescapular (comparado con una perforación del canal laterosensorial conspicua). Posee cuatro o menos radios no ramificados en las aletas anales (comparado con cinco o más radios no ramificados de las aletas anales), un hueso extraescapular corto y engrosado sin proyecciones desde su margen posterior, o únicamente con una pequeña apófisis (comparado con proyecciones óseas extraescapulares irregulares y largas en sus márgenes, y una gran apófisis ondulada en su margen posterior). También difiere en su coloración en vivo. Se incluye una clave dicotómica de clasificación de las especies de Bryconamericus, pobladoras de la cuenca del Orinoco y del río Catatumbo. Palabras clave: Bryconamericus macarenae sp. n., Tropical, Río, Agua dulce, Osteología, Dientes.Basándonos en 174 especímenes y utilizando características morfométricas, merísticas y osteológicas describimos una nueva especie: Bryconamericus macarenae, del río Güejar en la cordillera de La Macarena, cuenca del Orinoco, Colombia. Difiere de sus congéneres por tener: la línea lateral incompleta (comparado con línea lateral completa en todos excepto B. delta) y un número menor de perforaciones, y menos conspicuas, en el canal laterosensorial del hueso extraescapular (comparado con una perforación del canal laterosensorial conspicua). Posee cuatro o menos radios no ramificados en las aletas anales (comparado con cinco o más radios no ramificados de las aletas anales), un hueso extraescapular corto y engrosado sin proyecciones desde su margen posterior, o únicamente con una pequeña apófisis (comparado con proyecciones óseas extraescapulares irregulares y largas en sus márgenes, y una gran apófisis ondulada en su margen posterior). También difiere en su coloración en vivo. Se incluye una clave dicotómica de clasificación de las especies de Bryconamericus, pobladoras de la cuenca del Orinoco y del río Catatumbo. Palabras clave: Bryconamericus macarenae sp. n., Tropical, Río, Agua dulce, Osteología, Dientes.Based on 174 specimens, using morphometric, meristic and osteological characters, we describe a new species: Bryconamericus macarenae from the Güejar River in La Macarena mountain range, Orinoco Basin, Colombia. It differs from congeners in having: an incomplete lateral line (vs. complete lateral line in all except B. delta) and fewer and less conspicuous perforations in the latero–sensorial canal of the extrascapular bone (vs. conspicuous latero–sensorial canal perforation). It has four or fewer unbranched anal-fin rays (vs. five or more unbranched anal–fin rays), a short, thickened extrascapular bone without projections from the posterior margin, or with only a reduced apophysis (vs. extrascapular long, irregular, bony projections on its margins, and with a large undulated apophysis on its posterior margin). It also differs in live coloration. A key of species of Bryconamericus known from the Orinoco Basin and the Catatumbo River is included. Key words: Bryconamericus macarenae n. sp., Tropical, River, Freshwater, Osteology, Teeth

A new endemic species of Bryconamericus (Characiformes, Characidae) from the Middle Cauca River Basin, Colombia

Una nueva especie endémica de Bryconamericus (Characiformes, Characidae) de la cuenca media del río Cauca, en Colombia Se describe una nueva especie, Bryconamericus caldasi, en la cuenca media del río Cauca en los Andes de Colombia. La nueva especie se distingue de todos sus congéneres por el número de escamas predorsales (15–17 vs. 9–14) y también por poseer el diente maxilar anterior ancho, al menos dos veces más ancho que el diente posterior; ambos son pentacúspides (vs. dientes del maxilar de igual tamaño) y por una banda lateral oscura que se solapa con la mancha peduncular y con un dibujo reticulado a ambos lados del cuerpo (vs. mancha peduncular y otros pigmentos no solapados sobre la banda lateral oscura). Se observaron diferencias que distinguen a la nueva especie de B. caucanus, el único congénere simpátrico: el número de escamas predorsales (15–17 vs.12–13), el perfil dorsal convexo (vs. oblicuo), el tamaño de la escama y el número de filas de escamas en la base de la aleta caudal (escamas pequeñas y ordenadas en dos o más filas vs. escamas largas y ordenadas en una sola fila), las aletas pectorales que no llegan a la inserción de las aletas pélvicas o llegan muy justo (vs. aletas pectorales que llegan a las inserciones de las aletas pélvicas) y la posición del origen de la aleta dorsal (en la vertical del extremo posterior de las aletas pélvicas vs. en la vertical del extremo anterior de las aletas pélvicas.Bryconamericus caldasi, a new species, is described from the Middle Cauca River drainage, Andean versant of Colombia. The new species is distinguished from all congeners by: the number of predorsal scales (15–17 vs. 9–14); a wide anterior maxilla tooth, at least twice as wide as the posterior tooth, both of which are pentacuspid (vs. maxilla teeth of same size); a dark lateral stripe overlaid by a peduncular spot; and a reticulated pattern on the sides of body (vs. peduncular spot and other body pigments not superimposed over a dark lateral stripe). We found several differences that distinguish the new species from B. caucanus, the only sympatric congener: number of predorsal median scales (15–17 vs. 12–13); convex predorsal profile (vs. oblique); scale size and number of scale rows at caudal–fin base (small scales arranged in two or more rows vs. large scales in just one row); pectoral fins not or just reaching pelvic fin insertions (vs. pectoral fins reaching posterior to pelvic–fin insertions); and dorsal–fin origin position (at vertical through posterior tip of pelvic–fin vs. at a vertical anterior to pelvic–fin tip).Una nueva especie endémica de Bryconamericus (Characiformes, Characidae) de la cuenca media del río Cauca, en Colombia Se describe una nueva especie, Bryconamericus caldasi, en la cuenca media del río Cauca en los Andes de Colombia. La nueva especie se distingue de todos sus congéneres por el número de escamas predorsales (15–17 vs. 9–14) y también por poseer el diente maxilar anterior ancho, al menos dos veces más ancho que el diente posterior; ambos son pentacúspides (vs. dientes del maxilar de igual tamaño) y por una banda lateral oscura que se solapa con la mancha peduncular y con un dibujo reticulado a ambos lados del cuerpo (vs. mancha peduncular y otros pigmentos no solapados sobre la banda lateral oscura). Se observaron diferencias que distinguen a la nueva especie de B. caucanus, el único congénere simpátrico: el número de escamas predorsales (15–17 vs.12–13), el perfil dorsal convexo (vs. oblicuo), el tamaño de la escama y el número de filas de escamas en la base de la aleta caudal (escamas pequeñas y ordenadas en dos o más filas vs. escamas largas y ordenadas en una sola fila), las aletas pectorales que no llegan a la inserción de las aletas pélvicas o llegan muy justo (vs. aletas pectorales que llegan a las inserciones de las aletas pélvicas) y la posición del origen de la aleta dorsal (en la vertical del extremo posterior de las aletas pélvicas vs. en la vertical del extremo anterior de las aletas pélvicas