Co-Integration between Mortgage Markets in the Monetary Union: 1995–2008

This study provides evidence on the level of integration within the European Monetary Union mortgage markets between 1995 and 2008. The relationships between national mortgage markets are analyzed and an assessment is made of the extent to which these co-integrate with one another and with the average. In order to achieve this, mortgage interest rate series are studied using co-integration methodology. The process reveals that there are few relationships of this kind, and those that exist are most prevalent in the period 2000–2005 and, to a lesser extent, at the end of the period analyzed.mortgage market, European Monetary Union, integration, co-integration, rolling regression

Second-harmonic generation of ZnO nanoparticles synthesized by laser ablation of solids in liquids

We report the synthesis of small zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) based colloidal suspensions and the study of second-harmonic generation from aggregated ZnO NPs deposited on glass substrates. The colloidal suspensions were obtained using the laser ablation of solids in liquids technique, ablating a Zn solid target immersed in acetone as the liquid medium, with ns-laser pulses (1064 nm) of a Nd-YAG laser. The per pulse laser fluence, the laser repetition rate frequency and the ablation time were kept constant. The absorption evolution of the obtained suspensions was optically characterized through absorption spectroscopy until stabilization. Raman spectroscopy, SEM and HRTEM were used to provide evidence of the ZnO NPs structure. HRTEM results showed that 5–8 nm spheroids ZnO NPs were obtained. Strong second-harmonic signal is obtained from random ZnO monocrystalline NPs and from aggregated ZnO NPs, suggesting that the high efficiency of the nonlinear process may not depend on the NPs size or aggregation state

A proof-of-concept superregenerative QPSK transceiver

In this paper we present a description and experimental verification of an HF-band proof-of-concept superregenerative transceiver for QPSK signals. We describe a simple implementation of an all-digital, FPGA-based, QPSK transmitter section. On the receiver side, the quench signal is generated in the same FPGA with a minimum of analog circuitry. As the main novelty, we present a simple synchronization scheme suitable for packetized transmissions.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author’s final draft

Análisis de algunas teorías de la formación aplicadas al concepto de generatividad

We found exciting to study how generativity has evolved since Erikson (1950) outside the Psychology and Sociology disciplines, and had permeated into the fields of Ecology, Grammar and Syntax, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), without losing part of the essence of the genuine meaning given by Erikson back then, about the generative task and generativity as a construct. I wanted to investigate this further, and my findings turned out to be very interesting. In this paper I perform a basic analysis of some training theories applied to the generativity concept as a task and a construct since Erikson (1950), in the field of Psychology and Sociology, Grammar and Syntax, Ecology, Information and Communication Technology (ICT).Nos pareció apasionante estudiar cómo la generatividad había evolucionado desde Erikson (1950) fuera de las disciplinas de la Psicología y la Sociología, y había calado en los campos de la Ecología, la Gramática y la Sintaxis, y las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TIC), sin perder parte de la esencia del sentido genuino que Erikson le dio entonces, sobre la tarea generativa y la generatividad como constructo. Quise investigar más sobre esto, y mis hallazgos resultaron ser muy interesantes En este trabajo realizo un análisis básico de algunas teorías de la formación aplicadas al concepto de generatividad como tarea y como constructo desde Erikson (1950), en el ámbito de la Psicología y la Sociología, la Gramática y la Sintaxis, la Ecología y las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TIC)

How are Spanish academics coping with changes? Responses from a life histories research.

Podeu consultar la versió en català a: http://diposit.ub.edu/dspace/handle/2445/20983[eng] This report is part of the research project, The effects of social changes in work and professional life of Spanish academics, partially financed by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (SEJ2006-01876), that has explored change in legislation, organisation, research schemes and so on, in the last thirty years. The main aim of this project is deepening our understanding of the impact of undergoing economic, social, cultural, technological and labour change in Spanish universities in the life and professional identity of the teaching and research staff, taking into account the national and european context. This paper gathers part of the results gained from the project, being its primary objective to contribute to an improved knowledge-base on professional knowledge and work experience in higher education institutions in Spain and, as a consequence, to understand how Spanish academics are coping with current changes.[spa] Este documento forma parte de la investigación, Los efectos de los cambios sociales en el trabajo y la vida profesional de los docentes universitarios, parcialmente financiado por el Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (SEJ2006-01876), en el que hemos explorado los cambios en la legislación, la organización, los contextos de la investigación y la docencia, etc., en los últimos treinta años. El principal objetivo de este documento es profundizar en nuestra comprensión sobre el impacto del cambio económico, social, cultural, tecnológico y laboral que están experimentando las universidades españolas en la vida y la identidad profesional del personal docente e investigador, teniendo en cuenta el contexto nacional y europeo. Este trabajo recoge parte de los resultados obtenidos en el proyecto, siendo su principal objetivo contribuir a mejorar el conocimiento basado en la investigación sobre el saber profesional y la experiencia laboral en las universidades españolas, y en consecuencia, favorecer nuestra comprensión sobre cómo los académicos se están enfrentando con los cambios actuales.[cat] Aquest document forma part de la investigació, Els efectes dels canvis socials en el treball i la vida professional dels docents universitaris, parcialment finançat pel Ministeri de Ciència i Innovació (SEJ2006-01876), on hem explorat els canvis de la legislació, l'organització, els contextos d'investigació i docència etc., durant els darrers trenta anys. El principal objectiu d'aquest document és aprofundir en la comprensió de l'impacte del canvi econòmic, social, cultural, tecnològic i laboral que s'està experimentant a les universitats espanyoles en la vida i en la identitat professional de les persones docents i investigadores, tenint en compte el context nacional i europeu. Aquest treball recull part dels resultats obtinguts en el projecte, essent el seu principal objectiu contribuir a la millora del coneixement basat en la investigació sobre el saber professional i l'experiència laboral a les universitats espanyoles, i conseqüentment, afavorir la comprensió sobre com els acadèmics estan encarant els actuals canvis

Morpho-kinematic analysis of the point-symmetric, bipolar planetary nebulae Hb 5 and K 3-17, a pathway to poly-polarity

The kinematics of the bipolar planetary nebulae Hb~5 and K 3-17 are investigated in detail by means of a comprehensive set of spatially resolved high spectral resolution, long-slit spectra. Both objects share particularly interesting characteristics, such as a complex filamentary, rosette-type nucleus, axial point-symmetry and very fast bipolar outflows. The kinematic information of Hb~5 is combined with {\it HST} imagery to construct a detailed 3D model of the nebula using the code SHAPE. The model shows that the large scale lobes are growing in a non-homologous way. The filamentary loops in the core are proven to actually be secondary lobes emerging from what appears to be a randomly punctured, dense, gaseous core and the material that forms the point symmetric structure flows within the lobes with a distinct kinematic pattern and its interaction with the lobes has had a shaping effect on them. Hb~5 and K~3-17 may represent a class of fast evolving planetary nebulae that will develop poly-polar characteristics once the nebular core evolves and expands.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures. To appear in The Astrophysical Journa

Secretion of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Transglutaminase from Lactococcus lactis and Its Enhancement of Food Gel Properties

(1) Background: Microbial transglutaminases (MTGase) catalyze protein crosslink. This is useful in the food industry to improve gelation, water holding capacity, and emulsifying capacity during foodstuff manufacturing. The production of MTGase in wild-type strains renders low yield and high costs of downstream purification, limiting its industrial applications. (2) Methods: In this work, MTGase from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens BH072 (BaMTGase) has been heterologously expressed in Lactococcus lactis, using the signal peptide Usp45 to direct the secretion of recombinant BaMTGase out of the cell for easier purification. (3) Results: In these conditions, MTGase was purified with a high yield (48.7 +/- 0.2 mg/L) and high enzyme activity (28.6 +/- 0.5 U/mg). Next, BaMTGase was tested for industrial applications. Recombinant BaMTGase and commercial MTGase were used for SPI solution crosslinking. BaMTGase formed a harder gel with higher water-holding capacity and a dense and smooth gel microstructure. (4) Conclusions: This work provides an attractive food-grade cell factory for the food industry and offers a suitable chassis for MTGase production.Major Project of Science and Technology of Anhui Province 201903a06020007 202103b06020009 202003b06020017Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province 2108085MC123Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities PA2021KCPY0048China Postdoctoral Science Foundation 2019M65101