Further econometric evidence on the extent and sources of cost savings in competitively tendered contracts

By estimating a flexible nonlinear regression model of savings on an original dataset of service procurements conducted by the Spanish Armed Forces, this paper provides robust and precise novel econometric evidence on the extent and sources of cost savings in public procurement. The net effect on savings of the policy-amenable and economically advantageous variables that we estimate, such as the size of the procured function, the importance of price in the contract award criteria, and the number of bidders who participate in the tendering, may help contracting agencies to select management practices and to forecast the price paid out. We find that savings increase proportionally to the size of the procured function, that an increase of 10 percentage points in the importance of price increases savings by approximately 2% of the function’s size, and that savings are generally reduced by restricting the number of bidders. A comparison with estimates reported in previous studies is also made

El derecho al voto municipal del migrante mexicano: un análisis enfocado en Ahualulco de Mercado, Jalisco

El voto extranjero es uno de los avances de la democracia mexicana. Sin embargo, al mismo tiempo representa una ausencia de derechos. Es decir, el migrante mexicano puede votar desde el exterior a nivel federal, en algunos casos estatal, más no a nivel municipal. Este trabajo trata acerca de cómo la ausencia del derecho al voto extranjero municipal sigue siendo una encomienda pendiente para el sistema político-electoral de México. Dado que los migrantes contribuyen con el desarrollo de sus municipios, aún desde el otro lado de la frontera. El análisis propuesto, que se aborda desde las teorías del transnacionalismo y de las redes migratorias, se plasma a lo largo de la investigación en diferentes momentos. Primero, se presenta la revisión de normatividad y antecedentes nacionales e internacionales, y la investigación y análisis de las interacciones de diferente índole, sostenidas entre el municipio de Ahualulco de Mercado y sus migrantes asociados en Clubes en California y Chicago, Estados Unidos. Así como la aplicación y análisis de entrevistas y encuestas a migrantes no asociados, al Presidente Municipal de Ahualulco de Mercado y a la Secretaria de Asuntos Migrantes de un partido político en Jalisco, a efecto de contrastar posturas con las de los migrantes asociados respecto al voto municipal desde el extranjero. El documento aterriza la necesidad de poner en el centro de la agenda el reconocimiento de este derecho que los migrantes mexicanos además de llevar intrínseco, les corresponde por merecimientos también

Can an eight-week program based on the hypopressive technique produce changes in pelvic floor function and body composition in female rugby players?

La Técnica Hipopresiva (TH) se basa en posturas de estiramiento sostenidas mientras se realizan respiraciones torácicas y apneas intermitentes. Existe poca evidencia sobre sus efectos en la musculatura abdominal y del Suelo Pélvico (SP), así como en otras variables cineantropométricas, especialmente en mujeres deportistas. El objetivo del estudio fue describir los efectos de un programa basado en la TH sobre la composición corporal, contracción del transverso del abdomen (TA) y función muscular del SP de mujeres deportistas. La muestra estuvo formada por 11 jugadoras de rugby (23.3años, SD = 2,69; 23.3; IMC, SD = 1,98) que realizaron ocho posturas de la TH, realizadas en sesiones de 45 minutos, dos veces por semana a lo largo de ocho semanas. Todas las sesiones fueron supervisadas por una fisioterapeuta cualificada. Se evaluó la composición corporal a través de impedancia bioeléctrica y la circunferencia de la cadera y cintura se midieron con cinta antropométrica. La máxima contracción del TA se evalúo con biofeedback de presión. Para analizar la tonicidad y contractilidad muscular del SP se utilizó un pelvímetro Phenix. Se observaron diferencias significativas tras el periodo de entrenamiento en la circunferencia de la cintura, la máxima contracción del TA y en la contractilidad y tonicidad de la musculatura del SP (p.05). Estos resultados preliminares indican que un programa supervisado de ocho semanas de la TH puede ser utilizado para mejorar la función abdominal y del SP de jugadoras de rugby.The hypopressive technique (HT) uses active muscle stretching postures in conjunction with thoracic breathing and intermittent breath holding. There is little evidence about the effects of HT on the deep musculature of the abdomen and the pelvic floor (PF) as well as other kinanthropometric variables, especially in female athletes. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of HT program on body composition, contraction of the transversus abdominis (TA) and PF muscle function in female athletes. 11 female rugby players (23.3yr, SD=2.69; 23.3; BMI, SD=1.98) performed eight HT postures twice per week for 8 weeks with a total duration of 45-minutes per session. All training sessions were supervised by a qualified HT physiotherapist. Body composition was evaluated through bioelectrical impedance and waist and hip circumferences were measured with anthropometric tape. Maximum contraction of the TA was assessed with a biofeedback pressure device. The pelvimetre Phenix was used to analyze tonicity and PF contractility. Following the training period, significant differences were observed in waist circumference, maximum contraction of the TA and contractility and muscle tone of the PF (p.05). These preliminary findings indicate that a supervised 8-week program of HT can be used to enhance abdominal and perineal function in female rugby players

Microwave-induced water flow in a microchannel built on a coplanar waveguide

We present experimental and numerical investigations of water flow in a microsystem induced by microwave electric fields. Microwave dielectric heating induces gradients of temperature which produce spatial variations in mass density and dielectric permittivity that lead to buoyancy and dielectric forces in the liquid, respectively. The experimental system consists of a microchannel, filled with water, which is built on top of a coplanar waveguide operating in the fundamental transversal electromagnetic (TEM) mode at frequencies in the range 1–4 GHz. The flow originated by standing waves is studied. Maxima and minima of electric field amplitude lead to maxima and minima of fluid flow. This observation allows us to measure the TEM wavelength and good agreement is found with the theoretical results for the TEM mode inside the microchannel. We also present three dimensional finite-element calculations of the electric, temperature and fluid velocity fields in the microchannel. In a first approach, the calculations are performed using the equations in the limit of small temperature variations, which allows us to decouple the electrical, mechanical and thermal equations. These calculations show a good agreement with the velocity profiles. Subsequently, the effect of considering finite increments of temperature is taken into account and the new numerical results improve the quantitative comparison with experimental velocities.Ministerio de Gobierno español MEC-FIS2006-03645Junta de Andalucía-P09-FQM-458

Breve y compendiosa noticia, de las solemnissimas fiestas con que se dedicò el nuevo magestuoso templo de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnacion de Truxillo, Orden de Predicadores ...

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Uso de rastrojo de maíz mas bovinaza en raciones para novillas de levante.

En el Centro Nacional de Investigación Palmira se realizó un experimento con el objeto de evaluar el efecto del rastrojo de maíz más bovinaza como componentes de raciones para el levante de novillas. Se usaron 15 novillas Holstein divididas en 3 tratamientos: en el primero (Grupo A), la ración suministrada llevaba 37.5 por ciento de rastrojo de maíz y 9 por ciento de bovinaza, en el segundo (Grupo B), las proporciones de rastrojo y bovinaza en la ración fueron iguales al grupo A más el 2.5 por ciento de urea, el tercero (Grupo C) fue considerado como testigo y se le ofreció una ración comercial. Las raciones fueron suministradas a nivel de 1.5 kg/animal/día, eran isoprotéicas con 14 por ciento de proteína cruda, mientras que los contenidos de energía fueron de 2.3, 2.4 y 2.5 Mcal/Kg de energía metabolizable de alimento para los grupos A, B y C, respectivamente. Luego de 150 días de experimentación se obtuvieron incrementos de peso de 0.700, 0.680 y 0.898 kg/día, para los 3 grupos, respectivamente. La conversión alimenticia fue de 9.17, 9.64 y 7.38 para los mismos grupos. El análisis económico destacó la ventaja de los grupos A y B sobre el testigo, encontrándose tasas de retorno de 1.78, 1.82 y 1.77 para los 3 grupos. Se concluyó que los resultados obtenidos al usar estos componentes en las raciones para levante de novillas fueron nutricionalmente buenos y representaron una gran ventaja económica durante la etapa de levante, además de ofrecer alternativas para el uso de subproductos agrícolas y permitir liberar mayor cantidad de grano para las explotaciones de animales monogástricosMaíz-Zea may

Latest Cretaceous palaeogeographic evolution of northeast Iberia: Insights from the Campanian continental Montalbán subbasin (Spain)

This work characterizes for the first time the 500–700 m-thick uppermost Cretaceous continental sedimentary succession of the Allueva Fm recorded in the northeastern margin of the Iberian basin, in the Montalbán subbasin (Maestrazgo domain, Spain). The middle-upper Campanian age of this unit constrained here by new paleomagnetic and biostratigraphic data involves major revision of previous stratigraphic and palaeogeographic interpretations. The uplift of the northern marginal areas of the Montalbán subbasin onwards from the middle Campanian supplied the coarse terrigenous-clastic sediments common in the alluvial Allueva Fm. Moreover, a sharp increase of the sedimentation rates (from 4 to 19 cm/ky) from the lower to the middle-upper part of the Allueva Fm has been related to further increase of the tectonic activity during the middle part of the late Campanian. Also relevant are the new discovered vertebrate sites mostly found in the marginal areas of a large lacustrine-palustrine carbonate system developed during the latest Campanian. Vertebrate sites include a fossil assemblage with abundance of titanosaur sauropod dinosaurs as well as the presence of ornithopod dinosaurs and crocodylomorphs. A review of the dinosaur fossil sites recorded in other Iberian subbasins shows a similar fossil assembage occurrence during the late Campanian–earliest Maastrichtian timespan, previous to the faunal turnover that took place in the Ibero-Armorican landmass around the onset of the late Maastrichtian. The stratigraphic, sedimentological and paleontological characterization of the successions recorded during the initial stages of development of the Montalbán subbasin have major implication to understand the latest Cretaceous palaeogeographic evolution of northeast Iberia. Comparative review to other latest Cretaceous continental successions deposited in other domains of the Iberian basin indicates a south to north migration of newly developed subsident subbasins: during the Campanian (South Iberian domain), during the middle-late Campanian (northern Maestrazgo domain), and during the Maastrichtian (central Castillian domain)

Effectiveness of Cinacalcet in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease and Secondary Hyperparathyroidism Not Receiving Dialysis.

Background Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is a common complication in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Cinacalcet could be a therapeutic option although its use is controversial in patients not receiving dialysis. Thus, the aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness and safety of cinacalcet in patients with CKD and SHPT without renal replacement treatment (RRT) and without renal transplantation (RT). Methods A retrospective observational study was conducted. Patients were included if they had collected cinacalcet, under off-label use, during 2010 and 2011. Patients selected were followed from the beginning of cinacalcet therapy for one year of treatment. Results A total of 37 patients were included with CKD stage 3 (38%), 4 (51%) and 5 (11%). Baseline mean PTH value was 400.86 ± 168.60 mg/dl. At 12 months, a 67% of patients achieved at least a 30% reduction in their PTH value (p<0.001; CI 49.7-83.6), and the overall mean reduction of PTH values was 38% (p< 0.001; IC -49.1, -27.5). A 28% of the patients achieved KDOQI PTH goals (p = 0.003, CI 12%-50%). At 12 months, mean serum calcium values decreased by 6% and mean serum phosphorus values increased by 13%. A 19% of patients experienced hypocalcemia episodes while an increase of 24% in hyperphosphatemia episodes was observed. A 25% of patients finished cinacalcet before a year of treatment. Main withdrawal reasons were: gastrointestinal and other discomfort (8%), hypocalcaemia (8%), non-compliance (3%), interactions (3%) and excess of efficacy (3%). Conclusions Cinacalcet was effective in patients with CKD and SHPT not receiving dialysis. Electrolytic imbalances could be managed with administration of vitamin D and analogues or phosphate binders

Myopic maculopathy: Current status and proposal for a new classification and grading system (ATN)

Myopia is a highly frequent ocular disorder worldwide and pathologic myopia is the 4th most common cause of irreversible blindness in developed countries. Pathologic myopia is especially common in East Asian countries. Ocular alterations associated with pathologic myopia, especially those involving the macular area—defined as myopic maculopathy—are the leading causes of vision loss in patients with pathologic myopia. High myopia is defined as the presence of a highly negative refractive error (>−6 to −8 diopters) in the context of eye elongation (26–26.5 mm). Although the terms high myopia and pathologic myopia are often used interchangeably, they do not refer to the same eye disease. The two key factors driving the development of pathologic myopia are: 1) elongation of the axial length and 2) posterior staphyloma. The presence of posterior staphyloma, which is the most common finding in patients with pathologic myopia, is the key differentiating factor between high and pathologic myopia. The occurrence of staphyloma will, in most cases, eventually lead to other conditions such as atrophic, traction, or neovascular maculopathy. Posterior staphyloma is for instance, responsible for the differences between a myopic macular hole (MH)—with and without retinal detachment—and idiopathic MH. Posterior staphyloma typically induces retinal layer splitting, leading to foveoschisis in myopic MH, an important differentiating factor between myopic and emmetropic MH. Myopic maculopathy is a highly complex disease and current classification systems do not fully account for the numerous changes that occur in the macula of these patients. Therefore, a more comprehensive classification system is needed, for several important reasons. First, to more precisely define the disease stage to improve follow-up by enabling clinicians to more accurately monitor changes over time, which is essential given the progressive nature of this condition. Second, unification of the currently-available classification systems would establish standardized classification criteria that could be used to compare the findings from international multicentric studies. Finally, a more comprehensive classification system could help to improve our understanding of the genetic origins of this disease, which is clearly relevant given the interchangeable—but erroneous—use of the terms high and pathologic myopia in genetic researc

Genotoxicity Evaluation of Two Derived Products from Allium Extracts: s-propylmercaptocysteine and s-propyl Mercaptoglutathione

Propyl-propane-thiosulfonate (PTSO) is one of the main organosulfur compounds present in Allium essential oils with a widely documented biological activity. For this reason, it could be used as a food and feed additive in the agri-food industry. A genotoxicity evaluation of substances and their metabolites present in food is necessary to guarantee the consumer's health following the recommendations of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). To evaluate the toxicological profile of derivatives of PTSO, the cytotoxicity, an Ames test, a micronucleus test and the comet assay were performed. Results showed that non-cytotoxic effects were observed in Caco-2 exposed to s-propyl mercaptocysteine (CSSP) and s-propyl mercaptoglutathione (GSSP) (0–450 μM). The mutagenicity index remained in the range of 0.6–1.4 for both compounds, showing no mutagenic effects for the concentrations of 5000–312.5 μg GSSP/plate and 250–15.63 μg CSSP/plate. Moreover, the % binucleated cells with micronuclei were 1.3–2.2 and 1.6–2.7 for GSSP and GSSP, respectively. For comet assays there was no DNA-genotoxic or oxidative damage in a concentration range of 112.5–450 μM. Therefore, we can conclude that these compounds are not genotoxic at the conditions tested. These results support that the presence of CSSP and GSSP in the food/feed is not of concern, although further studies are needed to complete their safety profile.Junta de Andalucía AT17_5323_USE, P18-TP-2147Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades FPU2019-0124