Good Practices in Strategic Port Performance

The objective of this paper is to identify the approaches and the Code of Good Practices related to the four dimensions of sustainability (economic, social, environmental, and institutional) in the port sector and provide a framework for action based on transparency, monitoring of indicators, and accountability for the future development of sustainable initiatives. Concerns and demands for greater commitment have been increasing in recent years; however, there are still wide divergences regarding the use of indexes. The key performance indicators are presented based on economic, institutional, social and environmental dimensions and an analysis is made of the different elements needed to efficiently address the decision-making process for a modern strategic approach to ports

The financialisation of the fishing industry: Galicia as a case study

Successive technical and organizational innovations have modelled the current structure and composition of the fishing industry. The market structure varies considerably between countries and the fish species they catch. There is a generalised global convergence towards an industrial-outsourced model, in which companies occupy a central and basic position in economic strategies. Two predominant key trends are identified: financialisation and the monopolisation of fishing areas. This paper begins with an analysis of the fishing sector from the perspective of the presence of investment funds that hold stakes in companies specialising in a principal region of Europe

Severity of radiation pneumonitis, from clinical, dosimetric and biological features: a pilot study

Background and objective: Radiation pneumonitis (RP) could be a lethal complication of lung cancer treatment. No reliable predictors of RP severity have been recognized. This prospective pilot study was performed to identify early predictors of high grade lung toxicity and to evaluate clinical, biological or dosimetric features associated with different grades of toxicity. Method: Sixteen patients with non‐small cell lung cancer with indication of concurrent chemoradiotherapy using 60 Gy/2 Gy/fraction starting at cycle one of platinum based chemotherapy were included. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), pulmonary function testing (PFT), and 18F‐2‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose positron‐emission tomography was per‐ formed before radiotherapy (RT), after three weeks of treatment, and two months post‐RT. For analysis, patients were grouped by grade (low [G1‐G2] vs. high [G3‐G5]). The two groups were compared to identify predictors of RP. Protein expression BAL and lung tissue metabolism was evaluated in two patients (RP‐G1 vs. RP‐G3). Categorical variables such as comorbidities, stages and locations were summarized as percentages. Radiation doses, pulmonary function values and time to RP were summarized by medians with ranges or as means with standard deviation. Longitudinal analysis PFT was performed by a T‐test. Results: All 16 patients developed RP, as follows: G1 (5 pts; 31.3%); G2 (5 pts; 31.3%); G3 (5 pts; 31.3%); and G5 (1 pts; 6.1%). Patients with high grade RP presented significant decrease (p = 0.02) in diffusing lung capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) after three weeks of RT. No correlation between dosimetric values and RP grades was observed. BAL analysis of the selected patients showed that CXCL‐1, CD154, IL‐1ra, IL‐23, MIF, PAI‐1 and IFN‐γ were overexpressed in the lungs of the RP‐G3 patient, even before treatment. The pre‐RT SUVmax value in the RP‐G3 patient was non‐ significantly higher than in the patient with RP‐G1. Conclusions: RT induces some degree of RP. Our data suggest that decrease in DLCO% is the most sensitive param‐ eter for the early detection of RP. Moreover, we detect biological differences between the two grades of pneumonitis, highlighting the potential value of some cytokines as a prognostic marker for developing high grade lung toxicity. Further multicenter studies with larger sample size are essential to validate these findings

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Diseno de un indice sintetico de desarrollo sostenible y aplicacion a la Union Europea

En el presente artículo se establecen las bases metodológicas y se diseña un índice sintético global de desarrollo sostenible que cumple tres condiciones: se adapta a los principios de Presión --Estado-- Respuesta, adopta los mandatos de la Agenda 21 Local y se adecua a los cuatro componentes o dimensiones básicas de la sostenibilidad: institucional, medioambiental, económica y social. A partir de dicha metodología se construye el índice sintético sobre el cómputo de 78 variables, 37 subindicadores y 13 indicadores, agrupados éstos en las cuatro dimensiones citadas para, a continuación, proceder a su aplicación a los países de la UE. Palabras clave: Recursos Naturales, Medio Ambiente, Desarrollo Sostenible, Unión Europea. SUMMARY This article establishes the methodological foundations by designing a global synthetic index of sustainable development which fulfils three conditions: it adapts to the principles of Pressure - State - Response, it adopts the mandates established in Local Agenda 21 and adapts to the four components or basic dimensions of sustainability: institutional, environmental, economic and social. The synthetic index is constructed using the aforesaid methodology and based on the calculations of 78 variables, 37 sub-indicators and 13 indicators, gathered the latter in the previously mentioned four dimensions and subsequently applying this index to the EU countries

Diseno de un indice sintetico de desarrollo sostenible y aplicacion a la Union Europea

En el presente artículo se establecen las bases metodológicas y se diseña un índice sintético global de desarrollo sostenible que cumple tres condiciones: se adapta a los principios de Presión – Estado – Respuesta, adopta los mandatos de la Agenda 21 Local y se adecua a los cuatro componentes o dimensiones básicas de la sostenibilidad: institucional, medioambiental, económica y social. A partir de dicha metodología se construye el índice sintético sobre el cómputo de 78 variables, 37 subindicadores y 13 indicadores, agrupados éstos en las cuatro dimensiones citadas para, a continuación, proceder a su aplicación a los países de la UE. Palabras clave: Recursos Naturales, Medio Ambiente, Desarrollo Sostenible, Unión Europea. SUMMARY This article establishes the methodological foundations by designing a global synthetic index of sustainable development which fulfils three conditions: it adapts to the principles of Pressure – State – Response, it adopts the mandates established in Local Agenda 21 and adapts to the four components or basic dimensions of sustainability: institutional, environmental, economic and social. The synthetic index is constructed using the aforesaid methodology and based on the calculations of 78 variables, 37 sub-indicators and 13 indicators, gathered the latter in the previously mentioned four dimensions and subsequently applying this index to the EU countries.Natural Resources, Environment, Sustainable Development, European Union, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, Q5, R1,