Demand shocks and trade balance dynamics

This paper studies the current account dynamics in the G-7 countries plus Spain. We estimate a SVAR model which allows us to identify three different shocks: supply shocks, real demand shocks and nominal shocks. We use a different identification procedure from previous work based on a microfounded stochastic open-economy model in which the real exchange rate is a determinant of the Phillips curve. Estimates from a structural VAR show that real demand shocks explain most of the variability of current account imbalances, whereas, contrary to previous findings, nominal shocks play no role. The results we obtain are consistent with the predictions of a widely set of open-economy models and illustrate that demand policies are the main responsible of trade imbalances.Current account, SVAR

Violencia de género y su efecto en menores: el estado de la cuestión, análisis de programas de intervención y propuesta de un modelo de intervención grupal

En la actualidad se dispone de muchos datos acerca de las mujeres víctimas de la violencia de género, sin embargo, esto no es así en relación con la descendencia de estas mujeres que también son personas expuestas a esta clase de violencia. No hay datos oficiales pero se estima que un total de 188.000 niños/as en España son víctimas de la violencia de género en sus casas. Cada vez son más las voces que apuntan a la necesidad de que sean también objeto de intervención, pues sufren multitud de trastornos y efectos adversos a raíz de esta situación. El presente trabajo trata de visibilizar a esta población afectada directamente por la violencia de género mediante un breve recorrido por los diferentes aspectos de esta problemática (consecuencias, síntomas, tratamientos, estado de la cuestión, etc.). También se ofrece un breve resumen de algunos programas de intervención y una propuesta de mejora de los mismos

Demand Shocks and Trade Balance Dynamics

This paper studies the current account dynamics in the G-7 countries plus Spain. We estimate a SVAR model which allows us to identify three different shocks: supply shocks, real demand shocks and nominal shocks. We use a different identification procedure from previous work based on a microfounded stochastic open-economy model in which the real exchange rate is a determinant of the Phillips curve. Estimates from a structural VAR show that real demand shocks explain most of the variability of current account imbalances, whereas, contrary to previous findings, nominal shocks play no role. The results we obtain are consistent with the predictions of a widely set of open-economy models and illustrate that demand policies are the main responsible of trade imbalances.Current account, SVAR.

Influence of Contextual Variables on Educational Performance: A Study Using Hierarchical Segmentation Trees

The general objective of this study is to explore the relationship between students’ contextual characteristics and their performance in mathematical reasoning (MR) and linguistic comprehension (LC) skills. The census data from the ESCALA (EScritura, CAlculo y Lectura en Andalucía) tests developed by Agencia Andaluza de Evaluación Educativa (AGAEVE) in 2017 were used. These tests are carried out in the second year of primary school in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia (Spain). These data have been analysed through the data mining technique known as segmentation trees, using the CRT (Classification and regression trees) algorithm for each of the skills. This has allowed the detection of the high influence of social and cultural status (ESCS) and familial expectations regarding academic performance in both tests. In addition, it allows us to point out that there are different interactions between contextual characteristics and their relationship to performance in MR and LC. These results have made it possible to establish groups of students who may be at risk of not reaching the minimum required levels. Some characteristics of at-risk students are low ESCS, low family expectations or being born in the last six months of the year. The detection of at-risk profiles could contribute to the optimisation of the performance of these groups by creating specific plans.Universidad de Sevilla: VIPPIT-201

Factors Associated with School Effectiveness: Detection of High- and Low-Efficiency Schools through Hierarchical Linear Models

School effectiveness is a topic of interest addressed by numerous research projects focused on clarifying which variables contribute to the explanation of educational performance. This research aims to find out to what extent social, cultural, and academic variables at the student and school levels, as perceived by families, influence performance, and to evaluate the relevance of high residual and gross score criteria in the selection of effective or ineffective schools. Census data from diagnostic evaluations of the Mathematical Reasoning and Linguistic Communication of students in a certain Spanish region, over five academic years, have been used. The multilevel hierarchical analyses carried out have enabled the detection of centers of high and low efficiency, as well as the identification of which factors, related to the idiosyncrasy of the students and the educational center they attend, significantly influence the performance of the students. It was concluded that the socioeconomic and cultural level of the families, the family expectations, the commitment to reading and the educational agreement were significant variables in the explanation of the students’ educational performance, and that the residual score of the educational centers was a valid criterion to estimate their level of effectiveness once the socio-cultural factors have been controlled.Ministry of Economy and Knowledge of the Regional Goverment of Andalusia (Spain): US-1263333European Regional Development Fund (FEDER): US-1263333University of Seville: USE-20404-

Building the interface between experts and linguists in the detection and characterisation of neology in the field of the neurosciences

[EN]The paper focuses on the building of a collaborative tool between experts and linguists in the detection, categorisation and creation of neology in Spanish in the field of neurosciences. The pro- / inter- active relationship between new knowledge and its cross-linguistic realisation, and the possibility of enhancing it by digital means, is the main goal of our research. Several tools and work methodologies that will be useful in the inception and development of experiments with experts in the field of the neurosciences are described, such as the upper classes of NIFSTD and wikis as a collaborative tool to carry out our prototype experimen

Improving the university teaching-learning process with ECO methodology: Teachers’ perceptions

This study presents the results of research focused on university teachers’ perceptions of the implementation of ECO (Explore, Create, and Offer) methodology. Through teachers´ responses, the objective was to learn about the impact ECO has on both teaching and learning. The sample consists of 22 teachers from four academic fields; they implemented ECO methodology during the 2018–19 academic year with 1,350 undergraduate students and 175 Master’s-level students. The participating teachers belong to five universities: Universidad de Sevilla (Spain), Universitat de Barcelona (Spain), Universidade de Vigo (Spain), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain) and Universidad Nacional de La Plata (Argentina). An exploratory and descriptive study was carried out, and the data were gathered from an online survey filled in by the teachers. Twenty-eight cases were obtained, one for each course that was involved in the project. The mean values were analysed by running a Kruskal-Wallis H test and ER2 for the effect size. In addition, the thematic analysis method was used to analyse the teachers' perceptions while representing their opinions faithfully. The results showed that ECO methodology has a very positive effect on the personal development of the teachers. ECO is a methodology that comes to have revolutionary effects, improving the relationship between teachers and students, who strengthen their commitment to their own learning. It is also an excellent means for connecting students with the social and professional world outside of academia

Hydrogenation of furfural over supported Pd catalysts

Lignocellulosic biomass is the most abundant and economical non-fossil carbon source. Furthermore, it is not competitive with the food chain, coming from lignocellulosic wastes including agricultural and food processing, local urban solid and forestry wastes. However, these are made up of complex carbohydrates (mainly, cellulose and hemicellulose), which require to be broken down in their respective monomers. The hemicellulose is mainly composed of pentosans, which, after an initial hydrolysis step, are dehydrated to furfural. Furfural is an important platform molecule, since it has a wide range of applications, being considered the main chemical, aside from bioethanol, obtained from the sugar platform for the synthesis of chemicals, for plastics, agrochemical and pharmaceutical industries. In the present work, the hydrogenation of furfural in gas phase has been studied by using Pd as active phase, and different metal oxides as support, in order to elucidate the influence of the support on the catalytic performance. Furfural can be converted into chemicals with important applications in many different industrial fields. Thus, reduction of furfural can proceed through different pathways depending on the experimental conditions, where the nature of the catalysts plays a key role. In the case of Pd-based catalysts, the main products come from the decarbonylation of furfural.The catalytic results reveals that the nature of the support exerts an important influence on furfural conversion and yield. The highest conversion (92% after 5 h of TOS at 463 K) was attained with a Pd-SiO2 catalyst, with a furan yield of 70 mol%. This catalyst is the most selective to furan and a moderate deactivation is only observed after 5 h reaction. The catalytic performance demonstrates that decarbonylation reaction was the main pathway, although the formation of furfuryl alcohol and 2-methylfuran also suggests that the hydrogenation of the carbonyl group of furfural takes place.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

An efficient and sustainable biodiesel production in a mechanochemical pilot reactor under heterogeneous catalysis

Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) produced from vegetable oils or animal fats by transesterification, or from the esterification of fatty acids, with methanol, is labeled as ‘‘Biodiesel”. Current industrial processes for biodiesel production are mainly based on homogeneous catalysis, in presence of an alkali hydroxide or methoxide dissolved in methanol, a large excess of methanol (methanol:oil molar ratio > 6), a temperature around 60 ºC and 1-2 h of reaction. However, this process suffers from different drawbacks, mainly related with the generation of large amount of wastewater associated to the washing and neutralization steps, the non-recovery of the homogeneous catalyst, or the formation of stable emulsions difficult to separate. These problems cause an increase of the overall biodiesel production cost. To overcome them, different approaches have been proposed, such as the use of heterogeneous catalysis, CO2 under supercritical conditions or enzymes, coupled to microwave and ultrasonic systems as alternative to conventional heating. In the present communication, a new mechanochemical reactor is used for the transesterification reaction that promotes the oil-methanol mixing, minimizing the mass transfer problems associated to the immiscibility of reactant mixtures. Moreover, in order to achieve a more sustainable biodiesel production process, a new heterogeneous basic catalyst is prepared from calcium oxide and glycerol, the by-product of biodiesel industry.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec