Fintech and Entrepreneurial Finance: what´s coming next?

Treball Final de Grau en Finances i Comptabilitat. Codi: FC1049. Curs acadèmic: 2016/2017Fintech is a developing sector, due to the technological innovations and its importance in the economy because it is changing the way in which firms realize its business plans. Its evolution started as a result of the Global Financial Crisis in the United States and was in that country were started its advancement. Subsequently, its expansion was mainly to Europe and Asia. In addition, the sector is in continuous development as a result of the changes in the economy and the effect of globalization. This practice is related to the entrepreneurial activity and customers can use different alternatives to achieve its financial projects. As a result of the rapid development of the sector and its consequences for the economy, regulation is becoming a global issue. To control the activity of firms in its countries, United Kingdom created the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the United States the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In addition, it is necessary highlight the impact of the banking sector as a result of the development of technology and the use of Internet. As a result of Fintech’s evolution evolved and the future trends await more development of the secto

Control of V(D)J Recombination through Transcriptional Elongation and Changes in Locus Chromatin Structure and Nuclear Organization

V(D)J recombination is the assembly of gene segments at the antigen receptor loci to generate antigen receptor diversity in T and B lymphocytes. This process is regulated, according to defined developmental programs, by the action of a single specific recombinase complex formed by the recombination antigen gene (RAG-1/2) proteins that are expressed in immature lymphocytes. V(D)J recombination is strictly controlled by RAG-1/2 accessibility to specific recombination signal sequences in chromatin at several levels: cellular lineage, temporal regulation, gene segment order, and allelic exclusion. DNA cleavage by RAG-1/2 is regulated by the chromatin structure, transcriptional elongation, and three-dimensional architecture and position of the antigen receptor loci in the nucleus. Cis-elements specifically direct transcription and V(D)J recombination at these loci through interactions with transacting factors that form molecular machines that mediate a sequence of structural events. These events open chromatin to activate transcriptional elongation and to permit the access of RAG-1/2 to their recombination signal sequences to drive the juxtaposition of the V, D, and J segments and the recombination reaction itself. This chapter summarizes the advances in this area and the important role of the structure and position of antigen receptor loci within the nucleus to control this process

Body Composition and Nutritional Status of the Spanish National Breaking Team Aspiring to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Breaking is a sports dance modality that will debut for the first time at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This dance form combines street dance steps with acrobatics and athletic elements. It complies with gender equality, maintains aesthetic appeal, and is practised indoors. The objective of this study is to assess the characteristics of body composition and nutritional status of the athletes that make up the Breaking national team. This national team was recruited, and they underwent an analysis of body composition using bioimpedance measurement and a nutritional interview status with the completion of a survey on the frequency of the consumption of sports supplements and ergogenic aids. In addition, they completed a consumption questionnaire for a series of food groups with specified protein, lipid, and carbohydrate content. After that, parameters were analyzed in relation to their nutritional status during a complete medical examination at the Endocrinology and Nutrition Service of the Sports Medicine Center of CSD. A descriptive analysis of the results obtained was carried out to find the mean values of the variables analyzed. The analytical parameters described an adequate nutritional status, except for the mean capillary determination of 25-OH-vitamin D3, which was 24.2 ng/dL (SD: 10.3). Bone mineral density values were higher than those of the general population. This is the first time that a study of these characteristics has been carried out on Breakers, so it is highly relevant to increase knowledge in this area in order to conduct nutritional interventions aimed at improving the sports performance of these athlete

Fusarium oxysporum Casein Kinase 1, a Negative Regulator of the Plasma Membrane H+-ATPase Pma1, Is Required for Development and Pathogenicity

Like many hemibiotrophic plant pathogens, the root-infecting vascular wilt fungus Fusarium oxysporum induces an increase in the pH of the surrounding host tissue. How alkalinization promotes fungal infection is not fully understood, but recent studies point towards the role of cytosolic pH (pHc) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. In fungi, pHc is mainly controlled by the essential plasma membrane H+-ATPase Pma1. Here we created mutants of F. oxysporum lacking casein kinase 1 (Ck1), a known negative regulator of Pma1. We found that the ck1Δ mutants have constitutively high Pma1 activity and exhibit reduced alkalinization of the surrounding medium as well as decreased hyphal growth and conidiation. Importantly, the ck1Δ mutants exhibit defects in hyphal chemotropism towards plant roots and in pathogenicity on tomato plants. Thus, Ck1 is a key regulator of the development and virulence of F. oxysporum

Diseño e implementación de un banco de pruebas para instrumentos de medición de nivel y flujo para el laboratorio de investigación de automatización y control de la carrera de ingeniería electromecánica de la universidad técnica de Cotopaxi.

This project describes the development of technology for an optimal production process with the use of sensors, transmitters, signals, and interfaces with process monitoring options. Fundamentally, it involves the development of an industrial level and flow measuring instrument testbed which performs a water pumping process between two vessels (main and reserve) that are interconnected with pipes and valve; in this process, measurements of physical level and flow variables are made, which allows the user, with the data obtained to produce an analysis of precision using some arguments established in the theory of errors. The project is divided into three stages. In the first stage, the bibliographic concepts used in the instrumentation and control area are described in a general way, which are based on a description, characteristics and appropriate use of the equipment, components, and accessories of which the test bench of measuring instruments is composed, additionally to the design of the model. The second stage details the characteristics and operating parameters of each level and flow sensor, plus the elements to be used; calculation procedures describe it as different parameters of some elements and equipment were dimensioned; a structural analysis simulation is also performed to verify the mechanical strength of the composition and designs of the measuring instrument test bench. In the last stage, the configuration of each sensor (ultrasonic level and turbine flow) is carried out, as well as the acquisition of the measured values through the use of a microcontroller (Arduino) as an acquisition card (DAQ) to carry out with the data obtained a precision analysis applying the theory of measurement errors; through graphs generated in Excel, researchers observe the behavior of each sensor in different parameters; according to the results obtained, laboratory practice guides were created for students to carry out the connections and check each measuring instrument as specified in the this project.En el presente proyecto describe el desarrollo de tecnología para un proceso productivo óptimo con el uso de sensores, transmisores, señales, interfaces con opciones de supervisión del proceso. Principalmente, comprende la elaboración de un banco de pruebas de instrumentos de medición de nivel y flujo de tipo industrial, que realiza un proceso de bombeo de agua entre dos recipientes (principal y reserva) interconectados con tuberías y válvulas, en dicho proceso se realiza mediciones de variables físicas de nivel y flujo, el cual permite que el usuario, con los datos obtenidos pueda elaborar un análisis de precisión y exactitud utilizando algunos argumentos establecidos en la teoría de errores. A continuación el proyecto se divide en tres fases. En la primera fase se describe de manera general los conceptos bibliográficos que se utiliza en el área de instrumentación y control, el cual se basa en una descripción, características y uso adecuado de los equipos, componentes y accesorios de los que está compuesto el banco de pruebas de instrumentos de medición, a más de un diseño del modelo. En la segunda fase se detalla características y parámetros de funcionamiento de cada uno de los sensores de nivel y flujo, además de los elementos que se va a utilizar, se describe mediante procedimientos de cálculo como se dimensionó diferentes parámetros de algunos elementos y equipos, también se realiza una simulación de análisis estructural para verificar la resistencia mecánica de la composición y diseños del banco de pruebas de instrumentos de medición. En la última fase se realiza la configuración de cada uno de los sensores (nivel ultrasónico y flujo de turbina), también la adquisición de los valores medidos mediante el uso de un microcontrolador (Arduino) como una tarjeta de adquisición (DAQ), para efectuar con los datos obtenidos un análisis de precisión y exactitud aplicando teoría de errores de medición, y así mediante gráficas generadas en Excel observar el comportamiento de cada uno de los sensores en diferentes parámetros, de acuerdo a los resultados obtenidos se generó guías de prácticas de laboratorio para que los estudiantes realicen las conexiones y comprobaciones de cada uno de los instrumentos de medida de acuerdo a lo especificado en el presente proyecto

Reconstrucción de concha con colgajo retroauricular - mastoideo, a proposito de un caso

We have made a detailed description of the technique of the retroauricular - mastoid flap as an alternative choice for the reconstruction of auricular shell. As the defect is caused by the excision of the injury, we can choose the width and thickness of the flap which will bring cover to this defect. For the selection of the vascular pedicle, respective pre - marking is made. The report of this case has been conducted using data from a patient in the private practice, with a tumor of 2 cm diameter, and one month of evolution, located in the anterior aspect of the auricular shell. Such cases are frequent in the area of consultation, allowing us to keep better tracing of it, with histopathological diagnosis and post - surgical checksHemos realizado la descripción detallada de la técnica del colgajo retroauricular - mastoideo como alternativa de elección para la reconstrucción de la concha auricular. Siendo el defecto provocado por la escisión de la lesión, podemos escoger el ancho y espesor del colgajo que va a realizar la cobertura de tal defecto. Para la selección del pedículo vascular se realiza la marcación previa respectiva. El reporte de este caso se lo ha llevado a cabo con datos de un paciente que acudió a la consulta privada por una lesión tumoral de 2 cm de diámetro de 1 mes de evolución en la cara anterior de la concha auricular izquierda. Este tipo de casos son frecuentes en el área de consulta, lo que nos permite hacer un mejor seguimiento del mismo, con diagnóstico histopatológico, y los controles post quirúrgicos

The filling factor of the sEMG signal at low contraction forces in the quadriceps muscles is influenced by the thickness of the subcutaneous layer

Introduction: It has been shown that, for male subjects, the sEMG activity at low contraction forces is normally “pulsatile”, i.e., formed by a few large-amplitude MUPs, coming from the most superficial motor units. The subcutaneous layer thickness, known to be greater in females than males, influences the electrode detection volume. Here, we investigated the influence of the subcutaneous layer thickness on the type of sEMG activity (pulsatile vs. continuous) at low contraction forces.Methods: Voluntary surface EMG signals were recorded from the quadriceps muscles of healthy males and females as force was gradually increased from 0% to 40% MVC. The sEMG filling process was examined by measuring the EMG filling factor, computed from the non-central moments of the rectified sEMG signal.Results: 1) The sEMG activity at low contraction forces was “continuous” in the VL, VM and RF of females, whereas this sEMG activity was “pulsatile” in the VL and VM of males. 2) The filling factor at low contraction forces was lower in males than females for the VL (p = 0.003) and VM (p = 0.002), but not for the RF (p = 0.54). 3) The subcutaneous layer was significantly thicker in females than males for the VL (p = 0.001), VM (p = 0.001), and RF (p = 0.003). 4) A significant correlation was found in the vastus muscles between the subcutaneous layer thickness and the filling factor (p < 0.05).Discussion: The present results indicate that the sEMG activity at low contraction forces in the female quadriceps muscles is “continuous” due to the thick subcutaneous layer of these muscles, which impedes an accurate assessment of the sEMG filling process

Effects of an educational intervention on frailty status, physical function, physical activity, sleep patterns, and nutritional status of older adults with frailty or pre-frailty: the FRAGSALUD study

Introduction: The prevalence of frailty is increasing worldwide, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing healthy ageing. To address this, cost-effective and minimally supervised interventions are being sought. This study aimed to assess the impact of an educational program on frailty status, physical function, physical activity, sleep patterns, and nutritional status in community-dwelling older adults with at least 1 Fried's frailty criteria. Methods: A 6-month multicentre randomized controlled trial was conducted from March 2022 to February 2023 in 14 health centres located in Cadiz and Malaga, Spain. The educational intervention consisted of 4 group sessions and 6 follow-up phone calls spread over 6 months. The program focused on educating participants about frailty and its impact on health, providing guidelines for physical activity, healthy dietary habits, cognitive training, psychological well-being and social activities. A total of 163 participants, divided into control (n = 80) and educational groups (n = 83) were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: The results showed a significant group-time interaction in the physical function evaluated with a large effect on Short Physical Performance Battery score (η2p = 0.179, -0.1 [-1.2-1.0] points for control group vs. 1.0 [0.0-3.0] points for educational group, p < 0.001), and an effect on the 4-meter gait test ((η2p = 0.122, 0.5 [0.1-0.0] s for control group vs. -0.4 [-0.5- -0.3] s for educational group, p < 0.001), and the 5-repetition sit-to-stand test (η2p = 0.136, 1.0 [0.0-1.2] s for control group vs. -4.3 [-7.0- -2.3] for educational group, p < 0.001). Additionally, the use of accelerometers to assess physical activity, inactivity, and sleep patterns revealed a significant small effect in the number of awakenings at night ((η2p = 0.040, 1.1 [-0.5-3.4] awakenings for control group vs. 0.0 [-2.2-0.0] awakenings for educational group, p = 0.009). The findings also highlighted a significant medium effect regarding malnutrition risk, which was assessed using the Mini-Nutritional Assessment score (η2p = 0.088, -0.7 [-2.3-1.5] points for control group vs. 1.5 [-0.5-3.0] points for educational group, p < 0.001). Discussion: Thus, the 6-month educational program effectively improved physical function, sleep patterns, and nutritional status compared to usual healthcare attendance in community-dwelling older adults with frailty or pre-frailty. These findings underscore the potential of minimally supervised interventions in promoting a healthy lifestyle in this vulnerable population