The competitiveness of Spanish tomato export in the European Union

This paper examines the export performance of Spanish tomatoes in the European Union (EU). The origins and destinations of Spanish tomato exports are examined: Almeria is the main exporting province and Germany the biggest client. The performance of Spain’s North African competitors in the tomato market (mainly Morocco) is also examined, and the structural competitiveness of the countries that export tomatoes to the EU is analysed. Spain has the greatest advantage in this respect, and the largest inter-industry trade. An export model is developed. This model shows that the export of tomatoes from Almeria is not much influenced by shipments from Morocco.trade, price, competition, cointegration, Almería, strategy

LpL^p-boundedness properties for the maximal operators for semigroups associated with Bessel and Laguerre operators

In this paper we prove that the generalized (in the sense of Caffarelli and Calder\'on) maximal operators associated with heat semigroups for Bessel and Laguerre operators are weak type (1,1). Our results include other known ones and our proofs are simpler than the ones for the known special cases.Comment: 8 page

Caracterización del mecanismo de acción de la helicasa replicativa G40P y su cargador G39P en la replicación del bacteriófago SPP1 de Bacillus subtilis

Tesis doctoral inédita leída en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología Molecular. Fecha de lectura: 2014The Bacillus subtilis SPP1-encoded G40P is a hexameric replicative helicase that unwinds dsDNA with a 5’!3’ polarity. During the amplification of the SPP1 genome this DnaB-like helicase uses its ATP-powered motor activity to provide ssDNA to the host polymerases, the DnaG primase and the DNA polymerases (polC and DnaE). G40P is also involved in the initiation of SPP1 DNA replication, with two other phage-encoded proteins: G39P and G38P. Through its interactions with G40P and G38P, G39P is able to load the helicase into the replication origin (oriL), which is recognized and locally unwound by G38P. This system represents an alternative mechanism to the reference model exemplified by Escherichia coli DNA replication initiation proteins: DnaA, DnaC and DnaB. This work addresses the study of G40P helicase activity and the role of G39P in the helicase loading mechanism. Different deletion constructs were used in order to link functions to structural features of these two proteins. In this regard, a G40P mutant lacking the N-terminal domain, G40PΔN109, showed two unexpected activities. It was able to unwinds DNA bidirectionally, with an additional 3’!5’ translocation activity which is absent in wild-type G40P. Surprisingly, G40PΔN109 was also capable of anneal complementary DNA strands. In order to explain these activities, we propose a regulatory function for the N-terminal domain of G40P. This part of the helicase could be involved in the control of the relative disposition of the ATPase C-terminal domains and in the regulation of the DNA-binding activity. Structural and biochemical studies showed that G39P contains two different domains, a folded N-terminal domain and a natively disordered C-terminal domain. We propose that this bimodular structure is essential for G39P to function as a helicase loader. The interaction of the disordered regions with G40P would induce the association of the N-terminal domains of G39P, and this event could force the opening of the helicase ring. Then G40P is loaded on the DNA and G39P is released. By using this mechanism G39P promotes the loading of G40P on ssDNA and prevents the loading on dsDNA. In addition, small natural compounds griseorhodin C and purpuromycin were found to inhibit the ATPase and helicase activities of G40P

Environmental impact indicators estimation in European rural devlopment programs. Limitations of evaluators and financial institutions? Expectatios

The European Commission established Mid-term evaluation for the period 2007-2013 on Rural Development Programs as part of a continuous evaluation system. Mid-term evaluations are important for the Commission because they help measuring the success of a program, as well as giving advice and pointing out good practices for the current and consecutive programming periods. One of the main elements used to achieve these objectives is the impact indicators estimation of the program. This paper will focus on how impact indicators estimation is done for just the environmental indicators. To do this the 88 Mid-term evaluations of Rural Development Programs for 2007-2013 period, were analyzed. This study shows how far the actual methodologies to obtain impact indicators? values are from what the European Commission expects when demanding this task to be done

Synthesis of fluorescent dendrimeric antigen efficiently internalized by human dendritic cells

A new fluorescent dendrimeric antigen (DeAn) based on a dendron with amoxicilloyl terminal groups has been synthetized. The synthesis implies a novel class of all-aliphatic polyamide dendrimer (BisAminoalkylPolyAmide Dendrimers, or BAPAD).[1] The introduction of a cystamine core allows the incorporation of this dendrons into a 1,8-naphthalimide fluorofore functionalized with a maleimide group. The fluorescence properties of this DeAn has been studied and compared with the properties of an equivalent dendron possessing amino-terminal groups. This DeAn has been used as a synthetic antigen in a biomedical assay that tests the amoxicillin sensitivity of dendritic cells (DC) from tolerant and allergic patients.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Modificación del juego del Hex y su aplicación en la prueba del teorema del punto fijo de Brouwer

El presente artículo presenta una demostración del teorema del punto fijo de Brouwer utilizando una modificación del juego del Hex o también llamado el juego de Nash. Se explica además de forma general las reglas de dicho juego.The present article presents a demonstration of the Brouwer’s fixed point theorem using a modification of the game of the Hex or also called the game of Nash. One explains in addition to general form the rules of this game

Una descripción general del crecimiento económico en el África Subsahariana

Este artículo trata de servir de introducción a la situación de los países del área sub-sahariana que se caracterizan por tener el menor crecimiento económico y la más baja productividad mundial. En este contexto se analizan cuáles son las principales causas del atraso y se esbozan las soluciones más urgentes, que pasan, entre otras, por: i) el aumento de la inversión extranjera que será posible siempre que se mejoren las garantías de funcionamiento de las instituciones; y ii) el aumento del comercio intra-regional. También se realiza un análisis de correlación entre nivel económico, desarrollo humano y pobrezapobreza, crecimiento, comercio, cluster.

Rapid Magnetic Dispersive solid phase extraction to preconcentration/determination of Cd and Pb in aqueous samples

A new magnetic dispersive solid phase extraction (MDSPE) method and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) have been combined for the analysis of Cd and Pb in environmental samples. For the preconcentration, a shell structured Fe3O4@graphene oxide nanospheres was synthetized and characterized. The material was suspended in the ionic liquid 1-n-butyl-3-metilimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [BMIM][BF4], the obtained stable colloidal suspension is named ferrofluid. GO presents excellent adsorbent properties for organic species due to the presence of the electronic π system. For this reason, the organic ligand [1,5-bis-(2-dipyridyl) methylene] thiocarbonohydrazide (DPTH) was used in order to form organic complexes of Cd and Pb. Once the DPTH ligand has been added to sample, the ferrofluid was injected and finely dispersed in the sample solution in order to extract the formed chelates. The complete adsorption of the chelates took place within few seconds then, the solid was separated from the solution with the aid of a strong magnet. Cd and Pb ions were desorbed from the material with 1 mL of acid nitric 5% solution and quantified by GFAAS. All experimental and instrumental variables were optimized. The analytical performances of the optimized method were: EF (Enrichment factor): 200 with LODs (detection limit): 0.005 and 0.004 µg L-1 and LOQs (determination limit): 0.017 and 0.013 µg L-1, for Cd and Pb, respectively. The reliability of the developed procedure was tested by relative standard deviation (% RSD), which was found to be < 5%. The accuracy of the proposed method was verified using certified reference materials (SLRS-5, SPS-SW2, and BCR-723) and by determining the analyte content in spiked aqueous samples. Sea waters and tap water samples collected from Málaga (Spain) were also analysed. The determined values were in good agreement with the certified values and the recoveries for the spiked samples were around 100% in all cases.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec