Identification of the profile of franchisee preferred by the franchisors that operate in the Spanish market

In this recent work we try to identify the characteristics of the franchisee profile that are preferred by the franchisor that operate in the spanish market. Franchisee profile is configured by several personal and business characteristics. This study is important because the franchisor must to do a correct selection of franchisees. In other case, when exist an error in the selection of franchisee will be produced the failure of the point of sale and as consequence the deterioration of the image of mark of the franchisor will be produced. We use Conjoint Analysis methodology to research preferences of franchisor about profile of franchisee. The conclusions obtained show the relative important of the franchisee attributes and the characteristics that configured this profile

Human DenPulp Stem Cells Grown in Neurogenic Media Differentiate Into Endothelial Cells and Promote Neovasculogenesis in the Mouse Brain

Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) have the capacity to give rise to cells with neuronal-like phenotypes, suggesting their use in brain cell therapies. In the present work, we wanted to address the phenotypic fate of adult genetically unmodified human DPSCs cultured in Neurocult (TM) (Stem Cell Technologies), a cell culture medium without serum which can be alternatively supplemented for the expansion and/or differentiation of adult neural stem cells (NSCs). Our results show that non-genetically modified human adult DPSCs cultured with Neurocult NS-A proliferation supplement generated neurosphere-like dentospheres expressing the NSC markers Nestin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), but also the vascular endothelial cell marker CD31. Remarkably, 1 month after intracranial graft into athymic nude mice, human CD31+/CD146+ and Nestin+ DPSC-derived cells were found tightly associated with both the endothelial and pericyte layers of brain vasculature, forming full blood vessels of human origin which showed an increased laminin staining. These results are the first demonstration that DPSC-derived cells contributed to the generation of neovasculature within brain tissue, and that Neurocult and other related serum-free cell culture media may constitute a fast and efficient way to obtain endothelial cells from human DPSCs.This work was funded by "Ramon y Cajal" program RYC-2013-13450 (JRP) and RYC 2012-11137 (JME); Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness SAF2015-70866-R; UPV/EHU (GIU16/66, UFI 11/44); and Basque Government (GV/EJ; IT831-13). JL and OP-A obtained a Ph.D. fellowship from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)

Medición de la calidad de servicio mediante la metodología de análisis conjunto

La presente investigación ofrece un método alternativo para evaluar la calidad de servicio a través del Análisis Conjunto. La metodología propuesta es ilustrada por medio de un estudio empírico tomando como referencia un servicio bibliotecario de la Universidad de Sevilla. Los resultados muestran que a través del Análisis Conjunto podemos determinar cuáles son las dimensiones más valoradas del servicio, así como la percepción de los usuarios acerca de las características del servicio recibido.The present investigation offers an alternative method to evaluate service quality using Conjoint Analysis, that can be modified easily for any category of services. The propose methodology is illustrated by means of an empirical study taking like reference a service librarian of the University of Seville. The results show that Conjoint Analysis can identify the most valuable dimensions of the service, just us the individuals perception about characteristics quality service

Registration of X-rays at 2500 m altitude in association with lightning flashes and thunderstorms

Electric fields and high-energy radiation of natural lightning measured at close range from a mountaintop tower are discussed. In none of the 12 negative cloud-to-ground upward flashes were X-rays observed. Also no energetic radiation was found in one negative upward leader at close range (20¿m). In the first of two consecutive negative cloud-to-ground flashes, X-rays were detected during the last ~1.75¿ms of the leader. During the time of energetic radiation in the flash an intense burst of intracloud VHF sources was located by the interferometers. The X-ray production is attributed to the high electric field runaway electron mechanism during leader stepping. Even though the second flash struck closer than the previous one, no X-rays were detected. The absence of energetic radiation is attributed to being outside of the beam of X-ray photons from the leader tip or to the stepping process not allowing sufficiently intense electric fields ahead of the leader tip. High-speed video of downward negative leaders at the time when X-rays are commonly detected on the ground revealed the increase of speed and luminosity of the leader. Both phenomena allow higher electric fields at the leader front favoring energetic radiation. Background radiation was also measured during thunderstorms. The count rate of a particular day is presented and discussed. The increases in the radiation count rate are more coincident with radar reflectivity levels above ~30 dBZ than with the total lightning activity close to the site. The increases of dose are attributed to radon daughter-ion precipitationPostprint (published version

Laponite Composites:In Situ Films Forming as a Possible Healing Agent

A healing material must have desirable characteristics such as maintaining a physiological environment, protective barrier-forming abilities, exudate absorption, easy handling, and non-toxicity. Laponite is a synthetic clay with properties such as swelling, physical crosslinking, rheological stability, and drug entrapment, making it an interesting alternative for developing new dressings. This study evaluated its performance in lecithin/gelatin composites (LGL) as well as with the addition of maltodextrin/sodium ascorbate mixture (LGL MAS). These materials were applied as nanoparticles, dispersed, and prepared by using the gelatin desolvation method—eventually being turned into films via the solvent-casting method. Both types of composites were also studied as dispersions and films. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and rheological techniques were used to characterize the dispersions, while the films’ mechanical properties and drug release were determined. Laponite in an amount of 8.8 mg developed the optimal composites, reducing the particulate size and avoiding the agglomeration by its physical crosslinker and amphoteric properties. On the films, it enhanced the swelling and provided stability below 50 °C. Moreover, the study of drug release in maltodextrin and sodium ascorbate from LGL MAS was fitted to first-order and Korsmeyer–Peppas models, respectively. The aforementioned systems represent an interesting, innovative, and promising alternative in the field of healing materials.</p

Similar incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with rheumatic diseases with and without hydroxychloroquine therapy

Background Hydroxychloroquine is not efficacious as post-exposure prophylaxis against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It is not known whether as pre-exposure prophylaxis it may prevent COVID-19. Objective To compare the incidence of COVID-19 in Spanish patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases treated with and without hydroxychloroquine. Patients and methods Retrospective electronic record review, from February 27th to June 21st, 2020, of patients with autoimmune inflammatory diseases followed at two academic tertiary care hospitals in Seville, Spain. The cumulative incidence of confirmed COVID-19, by PCR or serology, was compared between patients with and without hydroxychloroquine as part of their treatment of autoimmune inflammatory diseases. Results Among 722 included patients, 290 (40%) were receiving hydroxychloroquine. During the seventeen-week study period, 10 (3.4% [95% CI: 1.7%-6.7%] cases of COVID-19 were registered among patients with hydroxychloroquine and 13 (3.0% [1.6%-5.1%]) (p = 0.565) in those without hydroxychloroquine. COVID-19 was diagnosed by PCR in four (1.4%, 95% CI 0.38%-3.5%) subject with hydroxychloroquine and six (1.4%, 95% CI 0.5%-3.0%) without hydroxychloroquine (p = 0.697). Three patients on hydroxychloroquine and four patients without hydroxychloroquine were admitted to the hospital, none of them required to be transferred to the intensive care unit and no patient died during the episode. Conclusions The incidence and severity of COVID-19 among patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases with and without hydroxychloroquine was not significantly different.Instituto de Salud Carlos III I3SNSMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades CP18/0014

DICER1-associated central nervous system sarcoma: A comprehensive clinical and genomic characterization of case series of young adult patients

Las alteraciones de DICER1 están asociadas con tumores intracraneales en la población pediátrica, incluidos el pineoblastoma, el blastoma hipofisario y el recientemente descrito " sarcoma primario del SNC asociado a DICER1 " (DCS). DCS es un tumor extremadamente agresivo con una firma de metilación distinta y una alta frecuencia de mutaciones concurrentes. Sin embargo, se sabe poco sobre su enfoque de tratamiento y los cambios genómicos que ocurren después de la exposición a la quimiorradioterapia.DICER1 alterations are associated with intracranial tumors in the pediatric population, including pineoblastoma, pituitary blastoma and the recently described "DICER1-associated primary CNS sarcoma" (DCS). DCS is an extremely aggressive tumor with a distinct methylation signature and a high frequency of concurrent mutations. However, little is known about its treatment approach and the genomic changes that occur after exposure to chemoradiotherapy

Distribution and stability of aflatoxin M1 during the processing and ripening of raw sheep's milk cheese (póster)

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Sobrevida y libertad de reoperación en pacientes sometidos a tratamiento endovascular de enfermedades de la aorta

Introduction: The endovascular management for diseases of the aorta has increased as an option for patients of high risk for conventional open surgery. The short-term mortality, disease-free and reoperation results, show favourable outcomes compared to open surgery, but there are no results available in this country for the medium (1-12 months) and long-term (>1 year). Methods: A bi-directional cohort study, in which the retrospective segment was conducted on patients subjected to endovascular management with an aortic replacement, and the prospective segment on the follow-up of the patients. Results: A total of 194 patients, subjected to endovascular treatment and met the inclusion criteria, were identified between April 2002 and December 2015. The follow-up was completed in 82.2% of cases. There were 92 (56.8%) cases of abdominal aorta with a mean follow-up of 4.9 years (95% range; 2.5-8.9). The calculated survival was 92% at one year, 86% at 2 years, and 66.4% at 5 years. The period free of disease was 88.7% at one year, 86.4% at 2 years, and 78.5% at 10 years, with 13 patients requiring re-operation. There were 67 cases of thoracic aorta, with a mean follow-up of 5.3 years (95% range; 2.9-10.2). The calculated survival was 94% at one year, 90.7% at 2 years, and 75.2% at 5 years. The period free of disease was 88.7% at one year, 86.4% at 2 years, and 78.5% at 10 years, and 9 patients required re-operation. Conclusions: The results obtained are favourable and are encouraging to continue offering the endovascular approach since the re-operation survival is similar to that reported in the literature. © 2018 Sociedad Colombiana de Cardiología y Cirugía Cardiovascula

A Phase I-II multicenter trial with Avelumab plus autologous dendritic cell vaccine in pre-treated mismatch repair-proficient (MSS) metastatic colorectal cancer patients; GEMCAD 1602 study

[Background]: Immune check-point blockade (ICB) has shown clinical beneft in mismatch repair-defcient/microsatellite instability high metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) but not in mismatch repair-profcient/microsatellite stable patients. Cancer vaccines with autologous dendritic cells (ADC) could be a complementary therapeutic approach to ICB as this combination has the potential to achieve synergistic efects. [Methods]: This was a Phase I/II multicentric study with translational sub-studies, to evaluate the safety, pharmacodynamics and anti-tumor efects of Avelumab plus ADC vaccine in heavily pre-treated MSS mCRC patients. Primary objective was to determine the maximum tolerated dose and the efcacy of the combination. The primary end-point was 40% progressionfree survival at 6 months with a 2 Simon Stage. [Results]: A total of 28 patients were screened and 19 pts were included. Combined therapy was safe and well tolerated. An interim analysis (Simon design frst-stage) recommended early termination because only 2/19 (11%) patients were disease free at 6 months. Median PFS was 3.1 months [2.1–5.3 months] and overall survival was 12.2 months [3.2–23.2 months]. Stimulation of immune system was observed in vitro but not clinically. The evaluation of basal RNA-seq noted signifcant changes between pre and post-therapy liver biopsies related to lipid metabolism and transport, infammation and oxidative stress pathways. [Conclusions]: The combination of Avelumab plus ADC vaccine is safe and well tolerated but exhibited modest clinical activity. Our study describes, for the frst-time, a de novo post-therapy metabolic rewiring, that could represent novel immunotherapyinduced tumor vulnerabilities.The study was funded by grants from the FIS PI17/00732 from Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Premi Fi de Residència Emili Letang from Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Plan Nacional de I + D (PID-107139RB-C21 to DB-R and PID2020-115051RB-I00 to MC) and Grupo Español Multidisciplinar en Cáncer Digestivo (GEMCAD). The study was funded with Grants from Catalan Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR) (2014-SGR-474, 2017-SGR-1174 and 2017-SGR-1033), Fundació la Marató de TV3 (201330.10), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI13/01728 and PI19/00740) and Fundacion Olga Torres (Modalitat A. 2019/2020) to JM. IMMETCOLS signature is under patent protection (EP21382772.8.) This research was financially supported by GEMCAD and (OR Avelumab was provided) by Merck, S.L.U., Madrid, Spain, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, as part of an alliance between the healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (CrossRef Funder ID: https://doi.org/10.13039/100009945) and Pfizer