Valuation models for holiday rentals’ daily rates: price composition based on Booking.com

In recent years, the number of sharing economy accommodations has grown exponentially due to the Internet and peer-to-peer networks, which has made researchers increasingly interested in analysing this new type of lodging. This study sought to develop models that determine the significant variables for the daily price of staying in holiday rentals based on data extracted from Booking.com and other sources. The hedonic pricing method (HPM) was selected to conduct the research as this methodology has been widely used in real estate valuation and hotel daily rate determination; however, the HPM is still rarely used for holiday rentals. The study focused on the city of Seville, where a notable increase in holiday rentals has been observed in recent years. Variables related to the accommodation typology, including location, size and equipment, as well as seasonality, are the most influential factors in the proposed models. These results are of interest to both owners and users of holiday rentals and can help these individuals to determine if the price of a stay is what would commonly be offered in the market under normal circumstances.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

High temperature GaAs X-ray detectors

Two GaAs p+-i-n+ mesa X-ray photodiodes were characterized for their electrical and photon counting X-ray spectroscopic performance over the temperature range of 100 °C to –20 °C. The devices had 10 μm thick i layers with different diameters: 200 μm (D1) and 400 μm (D2). The electrical characterization included dark current and capacitance measurements at internal electric field strengths of up to 50 kV/cm. The determined properties of the two devices were compared with previously reported results that were made with a view to informing the future development of photon counting X-ray spectrometers for harsh environments, e.g., X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy of planetary surfaces in high temperature environments. The best energy resolution obtained (Full Width at Half Maximum at 5.9 keV) decreased from 2.00 keV at 100 °C to 0.66 keV at –20 °C for the spectrometer with D1, and from 2.71 keV at 100 °C to 0.71 keV at –20 °C for the spectrometer with D2. Dielectric noise was found to be the dominant source of noise in the spectra, apart from at high temperatures and long shaping times, where the main source of photopeak broadening was found to be the white parallel noise

IFE Plant Technology Overview and contribution to HiPER proposal

HiPER is the European Project for Laser Fusion that has been able to join 26 institutions and signed under formal government agreement by 6 countries inside the ESFRI Program of the European Union (EU). The project is already extended by EU for two years more (until 2013) after its first preparatory phase from 2008. A large work has been developed in different areas to arrive to a design of repetitive operation of Laser Fusion Reactor, and decisions are envisioned in the next phase of Technology Development or Risk Reduction for Engineering or Power Plant facilities (or both). Chamber design has been very much completed for Engineering phase and starting of preliminary options for Reactor Power Plant have been established and review here

The influence of topography on wind-induced hydrodynamics in Cullera bay

[EN] Cullera Bay is an example of a multi-source polluted coastal environment. The water quality in the bay is highly affected by pressure from major agricultural and industrial activities in the river basin. Fresh water is taken from the river and later returned, loaded with pesticides and fertilizers. Partially treated wastewater from riverbank towns and industries is discharged into the lower reaches of the river. This mechanism contributes to river pollution. The dramatic increase in Cullera's population during the summer tourist season and the limited capacity of the local water treatment plant also make it difficult to dispose of domestic wastewater, some of which is discharged untreated into the river or directly into the sea through a marine outfall. This freshwater input from the Júcar River and the marine outfall produces a highly polluted estuarine plume in the coastal region (with significant salinity gradients and complex spatial patterns), which is highly influenced by the hydrodynamics of the bay. Because of the discharge from the Júcar River, the sewage from the marine outfall and the particular geomorphological features of Cullera Bay, this plume may play a significant role in defining and supporting different aspects of the socioeconomic environment in neighboring areas, especially those related to water quality. However, the mean water quality in the bay does not depend only on the surface circulation pattern but also on the overall marine circulation in the water body, where the local bathymetry has more relative influence. Therefore, it is important to have the tools and capabilities needed to monitor and characterize the actual pollutant dispersion drivers (wind and hydrodynamics) to assess their influence at local and regional levels. This paper presents the characterization of the wind field and circulation pattern in Cullera Bay using data acquired during seven field campaigns. The analysis shows that there is strong seasonal behavior in the wind field, ranging from daily breeze patterns to persistent offshore winds. Although the wind field varies greatly throughout the year, the overall pattern mainly consists of daily breezes. However, the hydrodynamic field has proved to be very complex and, with a few exceptions, poorly correlated with the wind-field pattern. This poor correlation may be due to a nonhomogeneous wind field in Cullera Bay caused by a nearby mountainous barrier. Despite the complexity of the hydrodynamic field in each campaign, the overall analysis of the nearshore current pattern shows a strong ¿boundary condition¿ influence that mainly follows the isobaths rather than the wind field. The influence of the topography on the wind and currents may have significant implications for quantifying the relative importance of pollutant sources that harm the quality of the water in Cullera Bay.The European Community funded this study as a part of the ECOSUD project, ‘‘Estuaries and Coastal Areas. Basis and Tools for a More Sustainable Development’’ (reference no. ICA4-CT-2001-10027) and the AQUAS project (‘‘Water quality and sustainable aquaculture. Links and implications’’. Reference no. INCO-CT-2005-015105). It was also funded by a special initiative of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology, ‘‘Bases y herramientas para el desarrollo sostenible de zonas costeras y estuarinas’’ (reference no. REN2001-5510-E) and the project ‘‘Desarrollo y optimizacio´n de te´cnicas para gestionar los vertidos de aguas residuales de emisarios submarinos (ARTEMISA)’’ (Reference no. REN2003-07585-C02-01/MAR).Mösso, C.; Sierra, J.; Mestres Ridge, M.; Cupul, L.; Falco Giaccaglia, SL.; Rodilla Alamá, M.; Sánchez-Arcilla, A.... (2007). The influence of topography on wind-induced hydrodynamics in Cullera bay. Journal of Coastal Research. SI 47:17-30. doi:10.2112/1551-5036-47.sp1.17S1730SI 4

The Antioxidant Potential of the Mediterranean Diet in Patients at High Cardiovascular Risk: An In-Depth Review of the PREDIMED

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading global cause of death. Diet is known to be important in the prevention of CVD. The PREDIMED trial tested a relatively low-fat diet versus a high-fat Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) for the primary prevention of CVD. The resulting reduction of the CV composite outcome resulted in a paradigm shift in CV nutrition. Though many dietary factors likely contributed to this effect, this review focuses on the influence of the MedDiet on endogenous antioxidant systems and the effect of dietary polyphenols. Subgroup analysis of the PREDIMED trial revealed increased endogenous antioxidant and decreased pro-oxidant activity in the MedDiet groups. Moreover, higher polyphenol intake was associated with lower incidence of the primary outcome, overall mortality, blood pressure, inflammatory biomarkers, onset of new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and obesity. This suggests that polyphenols likely contributed to the lower incidence of the primary event in the MedDiet groups. In this article, we summarize the potential benefits of polyphenols found in the MedDiet, specifically the PREDIMED cohort. We also discuss the need for further research to confirm and expand the findings of the PREDIMED in a non-Mediterranean population and to determine the exact mechanisms of action of polyphenols

Medición de parámetros físicos, biológicos y químicos en el tramo estuarino del río Ebro

[ES] En este artículo se describen las campañas de campo CYTMAR I y II realizadas en la primavera y el verano de 1997, con el fin de estudiar los procesos y los flujos físicos, biológicos y químicos en la zona del Delta del Ebro, tanto en el tramo estuarino del río como en la pluma de agua dulce que se forma en las cercanías de la desembocadura. Aquí el estudio se ha centrado en la zona estuarina, presentando algunos resultados preliminares y analizando las diferencias estacionales observadas.Este trabajo forma parte del proyecto FANS (contrato No. MAS3-CT95-0037) del Programa MAST-III de la Unión Europea y del proyecto MAR96-1856 del Programa CYTMAR de la Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología (CICYT). También se agradece la contribución de todos los que participaron en las campañas de campo. Finalmente cabe destacar la colaboración de la Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro, que proporcionó los datos de caudales del río y del Centro de Estudios de Puertos y Costas (CEPYC) del CEDEX, que prestó algunos de los equipos utilizados en las campañas.Sierra, J.; González Del Rio Rams, J.; Flos, J.; Sánchez Arcilla, A.; Movellán, E.; Rodilla Alamá, M.; Mösso, C.... (2001). Medición de parámetros físicos, biológicos y químicos en el tramo estuarino del río Ebro. INGENIERIA DEL AGUA. 8(4):459-468. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/36091S4594688

Effectiveness of rotavirus vaccination in Spain

With the aim of determining rotavirus vaccine effectiveness (RVVE) in Spain, from Oct-2008/Jun-2009, 467 consecutive children below 2 years old with acute gastroenteritis (AGE) were recruited using a pediatric research network (ReGALIP-www.regalip.org) that includes primary, emergency and hospital care settings. Of 467 enrolled children, 32.3% were rotavirus positive and 35.0% had received at least one dose of any rotavirus vaccine. RRVE to prevent any episode of rotavirus AGE was 91.5% (95% CI: 83.7%-95.6%). RVVE to prevent hospitalization by rotavirus AGE was 95.6% (85.6-98.6%). No differences in RVVE were found regarding the vaccine used. Rotavirus vaccines have showed an outstanding effectiveness in Spain

A qualitative analysis of environmental policy and children's health in Mexico

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Since Mexico's joining the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 1994, it has witnessed rapid industrialization. A byproduct of this industrialization is increasing population exposure to environmental pollutants, of which some have been associated with childhood disease. We therefore identified and assessed the adequacy of existing international and Mexican governance instruments and policy tools to protect children from environmental hazards.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We first systematically reviewed PubMed, the Mexican legal code and the websites of the United Nations, World Health Organization, NAFTA and OECD as of July 2007 to identify the relevant governance instruments, and analyzed the approach these instruments took to preventing childhood diseases of environmental origin. Secondly, we interviewed a purposive sample of high-level government officials, researchers and non-governmental organization representatives, to identify their opinions and attitudes towards children's environmental health and potential barriers to child-specific protective legislation and implementation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We identified only one policy tool describing specific measures to reduce developmental neurotoxicity and other children's health effects from lead. Other governance instruments mention children's unique vulnerability to ozone, particulate matter and carbon monoxide, but do not provide further details. Most interviewees were aware of Mexican environmental policy tools addressing children's health needs, but agreed that, with few exceptions, environmental policies do not address the specific health needs of children and pregnant women. Interviewees also cited state centralization of power, communication barriers and political resistance as reasons for the absence of a strong regulatory platform.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The Mexican government has not sufficiently accounted for children's unique vulnerability to environmental contaminants. If regulation and legislation are not updated and implemented to protect children, increases in preventable exposures to toxic chemicals in the environment may ensue.</p

Inhibitory effects of pharmacological doses of melatonin on aromatase activity and expression in rat glioma cells

Melatonin exerts oncostatic effects on different kinds of neoplasias, especially on oestrogen-dependent tumours. Recently, it has been described that melatonin, on the basis of its antioxidant properties, inhibits the growth of glioma cells. Glioma cells express oestrogen receptors and have the ability to synthesise oestrogens from androgens. In the present study, we demonstrate that pharmacological concentrations of melatonin decreases the growth of C6 glioma cells and reduces the local biosynthesis of oestrogens, through the inhibition of aromatase, the enzyme that catalyses the conversion of androgens into oestrogens. These results are supported by three types of evidence. Firstly, melatonin counteracts the growth stimulatory effects of testosterone on glioma cells, which is dependent on the local synthesis of oestrogens from testosterone. Secondly, we found that melatonin reduces the aromatase activity of C6 cells, measured by the tritiated water release assay. Finally, by (RT)–PCR, we found that melatonin downregulates aromatase mRNA steady-state levels in these glioma cells. We conclude that melatonin inhibits the local production of oestrogens decreasing aromatase activity and expression. By analogy to the implications of aromatase in other forms of oestrogen-sensitive tumours, it is conceivable that the modulation of the aromatase by pharmacological melatonin may play a role in the growth of glioblastomas

Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the evolution of form and function in the amniote jaw.

The amniote jaw complex is a remarkable amalgamation of derivatives from distinct embryonic cell lineages. During development, the cells in these lineages experience concerted movements, migrations, and signaling interactions that take them from their initial origins to their final destinations and imbue their derivatives with aspects of form including their axial orientation, anatomical identity, size, and shape. Perturbations along the way can produce defects and disease, but also generate the variation necessary for jaw evolution and adaptation. We focus on molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate form in the amniote jaw complex, and that enable structural and functional integration. Special emphasis is placed on the role of cranial neural crest mesenchyme (NCM) during the species-specific patterning of bone, cartilage, tendon, muscle, and other jaw tissues. We also address the effects of biomechanical forces during jaw development and discuss ways in which certain molecular and cellular responses add adaptive and evolutionary plasticity to jaw morphology. Overall, we highlight how variation in molecular and cellular programs can promote the phenomenal diversity and functional morphology achieved during amniote jaw evolution or lead to the range of jaw defects and disease that affect the human condition