Blockchain technology and initial coin offerings: a legislative & business challenge

Treballs Finals del Doble Grau d'Administració i Direcció d'Empreses i de Dret, Facultat d'Economia i Empresa i Facultat de Dret, Universitat de Barcelona, Curs: 2018-2019, Tutor: David Avilés Herrera(eng)Technological advancement across our digital planet continues to take place at an exponential rate. Blockchain technology and distributed ledger networks are considered one of the most transformative technologies since the invention of the Internet and an important breakthrough that is changing how business is executed nowadays. There is, therefore, a clear need to understand which its uses are and how legislations are facing this worldwide invention. This Final Project presents a comprehensive analysis of blockchain technology. It will provide an overview of blockchain and cryptocurrency, before focusing on Initial Coin Offerings, a method of raising capital or participating in investment opportunities using blockchain technology. Initial Coin Offerings (or ICO’s) are said to be either a valuable innovation or a dangerous bubble. This assignment will try to depict that dilemma with the aim to clarify which alternative is more reasonable to believe in. Furthermore, it will consider a thorough explanation of legislative challenges and recent law enforcements regarding blockchain technology and ICOs. It will be explained how some countries and organizations are regulating the phenomenon and why uniformity and clarity is not a feature of its legislation

Engineered microenvironments for synergistic VEGF - integrin signalling during vascularization

We have engineered polymer-based microenvironments that promote vasculogenesis both in vitro and in vivo through synergistic integrin-growth factor receptor signalling. Poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA) triggers spontaneous organization of fibronectin (FN) into nanonetworks which provide availability of critical binding domains. Importantly, the growth factor binding (FNIII12-14) and integrin binding (FNIII9-10) regions are simultaneously available on FN fibrils assembled on PEA. This material platform promotes synergistic integrin/VEGF signalling which is highly effective for vascularization events in vitro with low concentrations of VEGF. VEGF specifically binds to FN fibrils on PEA compared to control polymers (poly(methyl acrylate), PMA) where FN remains in a globular conformation and integrin/GF binding domains are not simultaneously available. The vasculogenic response of human endothelial cells seeded on these synergistic interfaces (VEGF bound to FN assembled on PEA) was significantly improved compared to soluble administration of VEGF at higher doses. Early onset of VEGF signalling (PLCγ1 phosphorylation) and both integrin and VEGF signalling (ERK1/2 phosphorylation) were increased only when VEGF was bound to FN nanonetworks on PEA, while soluble VEGF did not influence early signalling. Experiments with mutant FN molecules with impaired integrin binding site (FN-RGE) confirmed the role of the integrin binding site of FN on the vasculogenic response via combined integrin/VEGF signalling. In vivo experiments using 3D scaffolds coated with FN and VEGF implanted in the murine fat pad demonstrated pro-vascularization signalling by enhanced formation of new tissue inside scaffold pores. PEA-driven organization of FN promotes efficient presentation of VEGF to promote vascularization in regenerative medicine applications

TDP-43 Cytoplasmic Translocation in the Skin Fibroblasts of ALS Patients

Diagnosis of ALS is based on clinical symptoms when motoneuron degeneration is significant. Therefore, new approaches for early diagnosis are needed. We aimed to assess if alterations in appearance and cellular localization of cutaneous TDP-43 may represent a biomarker for ALS. Skin biopsies from 64 subjects were analyzed: 44 ALS patients, 10 healthy controls (HC) and 10 neurological controls (NC) (Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis). TDP-43 immunoreactivity in epidermis and dermis was analyzed, as well as the percentage of cells with TDP-43 cytoplasmic localization. We detected a higher amount of TDP-43 in epidermis (p < 0.001) and in both layers of dermis (p < 0.001), as well as a higher percentage of TDP-43 cytoplasmic positive cells (p < 0.001) in the ALS group compared to HC and NC groups. Dermal cells containing TDP-43 were fibroblasts as identified by co-labeling against vimentin. ROC analyses (AUC 0.867, p < 0.001; CI 95% 0.800-0.935) showed that detection of 24.1% cells with cytoplasmic TDP-43 positivity in the dermis had 85% sensitivity and 80% specificity for detecting ALS. We have identified significantly increased TDP-43 levels in epidermis and in the cytoplasm of dermal cells of ALS patients. Our findings provide support for the use of TDP-43 in skin biopsies as a potential biomarker

Tracing developmental trajectories of oppositional defiant behaviors in preschool children

Objective: Previous studies on developmental trajectories have used ad hoc definitions of oppositional defiant behaviors (ODB), which makes it difficult to compare results. This article defines developmental trajectories of ODB from ages 3-5 based on five different standard measurements derived from three separate instruments. -- Method: A sample of 622 three-year-old preschoolers, followed up at ages 4, 5, and 6, was assessed with the five measures of oppositionality answered by parents and teachers. Growth-Mixture-Modeling (GMM) estimated separate developmental trajectories for each ODB measure for ages 3 to 5. -- Results: The number of classes-trajectories obtained in each GMM depended on the ODB measure, but two clear patterns emerged: four trajectories (persistent low, decreasers, increasers/high increasers, persistent moderate/persistent high) or three trajectories (persistent low, decreasers, increasers/high increasers). Persistent high trajectories accounted for 4.4%-9.5% of the children. The trajectories emerging from the different ODB measures at ages 3 to 5 discriminated disruptive disorders, comorbidity, use of services, and impairment at age 6, and globally showed a similar pattern, summarizing longitudinal information on oppositionality in preschool children in a similar way. -- Conclusions: Trajectories resulting from standard scales of the questionnaires have predictive validity for identifying relevant clinical outcomes, but are measure-specific. The results contribute to knowledge about the development of ODB in preschool children

Argumentari de l’índex de qualitat de la prescripció farmacèutica per als centres de salut mental d’adults (IQF-CSMA). Versió 2023

Índex de qualitat de la prescripció farmacèutica; Centres de salut mental adults; IQF-MHDA; ArgumentariÍndice de calidad de la prescripción farmacéutica; Centros de salud mental adultos; IQF-MHDA; ArgumentarioPharmaceutical prescription quality index; Adult mental health centers; IQF-MHDA; ArgumentativeL’objectiu d’aquest document és descriure els arguments considerats, així com les fonts bibliogràfiques utilitzades (cerca bibliogràfica fins a finals de març de 2023), per a l’elaboració dels indicadors de selecció i de seguretat de l’IQF-SM 2023

La gestión de libros electrónicos en las bibliotecas universitarias españolas. Estado de la Cuestión

Informe Rebiun sobre el estado de los libros electrónicos en las bibliotecas universitarias española

Material per a l'avaluació d'assignatures de química

El treball que es presenta forma part del Projecte Elaboració de material per a l'Avaluació d'assignatures de Química, de la convocatòria d'ajuts per a projectes de Millora de la docència 2009-2010 de la Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Els autors pertanyen als Grups GReDiQ i GRAPA integrats al projecte RIMA de l’Institut de Ciències de l’Educació de la UPC. S’ha elaborat un banc de preguntes i problemes, accessible a tot el professorat de la UPC que imparteix assignatures de Química i que podrà ser utilitzat per posar en pràctica l’avaluació continuada de l’aprenentatge: autoavaluació formativa i avaluació sumativa. Hi ha qüestionaris Moodle referents a la utilització del material multimèdia generat en un projecte anterior (“Qüestionaris de laboratori”) i d’altres de problemes (“Qüestionaris de problemes”). Es pretén valorar la repercussió del material multimèdia en l’aprenentatge i l’assoliment dels objectius formatius. Els qüestionaris de laboratori s’han utilitzat com part del pre-laboratori de l’alumnat de Experimentació en Química II (ETSEIB), Experimentació en Química (ETSEIB), Química (EET) i Anàlisi Química (EET). Els qüestionaris de problemes s’han utilitzat en les assignatures de Química i Anàlisi Química de l’EET i s’estan implementant aquest quadrimestre a la FOOT (a Química per a ciències de la visió) tant a la modalitat presencial com semipresencial. L’avaluació dels primers resultats es va realitzar durant el primer quadrimestre del curs 2011-12 mitjançant una enquesta de satisfacció que es va passar a l’EET. L’alumnat de l’EET utilitza majoritàriament els qüestionaris i els troben útils per tal de valorar el seu progrés a l’assignatura.Peer Reviewe

Energy metabolism during repeated sets of leg press exercise leading to failure or not

This investigation examined the influence of the number of repetitions per set on power output and muscle metabolism during leg press exercise. Six trained men (age 34±6 yr) randomly performed either 5 sets of 10 repetitions (10REP), or 10 sets of 5 repetitions (5REP) of bilateral leg press exercise, with the same initial load and rest intervals between sets. Muscle biopsies (vastus lateralis) were taken before the first set, and after the first and the final sets. Compared with 5REP, 10REP resulted in a markedly greater decrease (P<0.05) of the power output, muscle PCr and ATP content, and markedly higher (P<0.05) levels of muscle lactate and IMP. Significant correlations (P<0.01) were observed between changes in muscle PCr and muscle lactate (R2 = 0.46), between changes in muscle PCr and IMP (R2 = 0.44) as well as between changes in power output and changes in muscle ATP (R2 = 0.59) and lactate (R2 = 0.64) levels. Reducing the number of repetitions per set by 50% causes a lower disruption to the energy balance in the muscle. The correlations suggest that the changes in PCr and muscle lactate mainly occur simultaneously during exercise, whereas IMP only accumulates when PCr levels are low. The decrease in ATP stores may contribute to fatigue

Long-term assessment of wild boar harvesting and cattle removal for bovine tuberculosis control in free ranging populations

Wild boar is a recognized reservoir of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in the Mediterranean ecosystems, but information is scarce outside of hotspots in southern Spain. We describe the first high-prevalence focus of TB in a non-managed wild boar population in northern Spain and the result of eight years of TB management. Measures implemented for disease control included the control of the local wild boar population through culling and stamping out of a sympatric infected cattle herd. Post-mortem inspection for detection of tuberculosis-like lesions as well as cultures from selected head and cervical lymph nodes was done in 745 wild boar, 355 Iberian ibexes and five cattle between 2004 and 2012. The seasonal prevalence of TB reached 70% amongst adult wild boar and ten different spoligotypes and 13 MIRU-VNTR profiles were detected, although more than half of the isolates were included in the same clonal complex. Only 11% of infected boars had generalized lesions. None of the ibexes were affected, supporting their irrelevance in the epidemiology of TB. An infected cattle herd grazed the zone where 168 of the 197 infected boars were harvested. Cattle removal and wild boar culling together contributed to a decrease in TB prevalence. The need for holistic, sustained over time, intensive and adapted TB control strategies taking into account the multi-host nature of the disease is highlighted. The potential risk for tuberculosis emergence in wildlife scenarios where the risk is assumed to be low should be addressed

Real-world efficacy and safety of eribulin in advanced and pretreated HER2-negative breast cancer in a Spanish comprehensive cancer center

Background Eribulin improves survival in pre-treated HER2-negative advanced breast cancer (ABC). However, limited data exist on co-morbidities and central nervous system (CNS) efficacy. The purpose of this study was to review eribulin's efficacy and safety in everyday clinical practice with special focus on age, body mass index (BMI) and central nervous system (CNS) activity. Methods An observational study was conducted in a series of HER2-negative ABC patients treated from January'14-December'17 outside a clinical trial. Objective Response Rate (ORR), Progression Free Survival (PFS), Overall Survival (OS), and association of clinical and pathological variables with outcome were evaluated. Results Ninety-five women were treated with at least one cycle of eribulin. Median age was 57 (33-83), and 18% were obese. Median number of prior chemotherapies for ABC was 3 (2-5) and 76% of patients had visceral metastases, including 21% with CNS involvement. Most tumors were estrogen receptor-positive (79%). ORR and stable disease (SD) at 6 months were 26.2 and 37.5%, respectively. Remarkably, relevant CNS efficacy was observed with eribulin: 20% of patients obtained partial response and 25% SD. Treatment was generally well tolerated and manageable, with 29% grade 3 and 10.9% grade 4 toxicities. Median PFS and OS were 4.1 months (CI95% 3.2-4.9) and 11.1 months (CI95% 9.5-14.7), respectively. Triple-negative disease, > 2organs involved and being younger than 70 years old were independent prognosis factors for worse OS in multivariate analysis. Most patients (75%) progressed in pre-existing metastases sites. Conclusion In everyday clinical practice, eribulin's efficacy seems similar to pivotal trials. CNS-efficacy was observed. TNBC, > 2 organs involved and being younger than 70 years old were independent prognosis factors for worse OS. Remarkably, less incidence of grade 4-toxicity compared to previous studies was found