Market Power and Multimarket Contact: Some Evidence from the Spanish Hotel Industry

This is the accepted version of the following article: Fernández, N. and Marín, P. L. (1998), Market Power and Multimarket Contact: Some Evidence from the Spanish Hotel Industry. The Journal of Industrial Economics, 46(3),301–315, which has been published in final form at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-6451.00073This paper analyses the effect of multimarket contact on firms' behaviour. According to Bernheim and Whinston [1990], firms that meet in several markets for an infinite number of periods may find it profitable to redistribute market power among markets where they are operating. We present evidence supporting this prediction by using data from the Spanish hotel industry. Moreover, we also find that the omission of variables measuring multimarket contact creates a downward bias on the effect of concentration on prices. This result questions previous conclusions about the role of competition in industries where multimarket behaviour is expected.Pedro L. Marín gratefully acknowledges financial support from Generalitat Valenciana (GV-3140/95)Publicad

Paleopathology of soft tissues : what mummies can reveal

Paleopathology is a science located in a crossroad between history, archaeology, anthropology, and medicine an can offer unique historical knowledge by using techniques of traditional pathology as well as other branches of Medicine, which is especially fruitful when applied to ancient subjects in which soft tissues are preserved: mummies

The radio jets of SS 433 at millimetre wavelengths

Context. SS 433 is historically a well-known microquasar in the Galaxy that has been deeply studied during the four decades elapsed since its discovery. However, observations at very high radio frequencies with good angular resolution are still very scarce in the literature. The present paper tries to partially fill this gap using archival data of the source obtained with the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA). Aims. We aim to study the SS 433 jet properties at radio frequencies corresponding to millimetre wavelengths where the synchrotron emitting particles are expected to lose their energy much faster than at lower frequencies of centimetre wavelengths. Results. A resolved view of the SS 433 radio core and jets is presented. In addition to spectral index and magnetic field measurements, we are able to estimate the age of the oldest visible ejecta still radiating significantly at millimetre wavelengths. By combining our findings with those of previous authors at lower frequencies, we confirm that the energy loss of the radiating electrons is dominated by adiabatic expansion instead of synchrotron radiative losses. In addition, we find suggestive evidence for the previously proposed period of slowed expansion within the first months of the ejecta flow, needed to simultaneously match the radiative lifetime observed in the centimetre domain. Our results argue for the need for future coordinated millimetre and centimetre interferometric observations with good time sampling throughout the SS 433 precessional cycle to better understand energetic processes in stellar relativistic jets.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures, Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic

Dynamics of AC susceptibility and coercivity behavior in nanocrystalline TbAl1.5 Fe0.5 alloys

The static and dynamic magnetic macroscopic properties of bulk and nanocrystalline TbAl1.5Fe0.5 alloys have been investigated. In bulk state, this alloy is understood as a reentrant ferromagnet. This is characterized by a ferromagnetic Curie transition at 114 K, as deduced from magnetization including Arrott plots, higher than that of TbAl2. The reentrance is found at lower temperatures, below 66 K, with a cluster glass behavior setting in, deduced from the magnetization irreversibility. This is accompanied by an abrupt increase in the coercivity from 0.08 kOe to 15 kOe at 5 K, with respect to the TbAl2 alloy. Room temperature Mössbauer spectroscopy confirms the paramagnetic state of such a bulk alloy. The spin dynamics within the disordered magnetic state is described by the AC-susceptibility which shows a Vogel–Fulcher law for the slowing down process. This is caused by a random anisotropy affecting the existing clusters. The production of milled TbAl1.5Fe0.5 alloys enhances the presence of magnetic disorder and results in the particle downsizing toward the nanocrystalline state (close to 10 nm). In this case, two frequency-dependent contributions exist, with different activation energies, one of them cannot be described by ideal spin glass nor blocking/unblocking (nanoparticle) processes. In addition, the coercivity reduces to 1 kOe with the decrease in the size as a consequence of the existence of single domain particles. The results are explained by the intricate interplay between exchange interactions and magnetocrystalline anisotropy with disorder and size effects. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.This work has been supported by the MAT2008-06542-C04 and MAT2011-27573-C04 projects.Peer Reviewe

Sensor for Distance Measurement Using Pixel Grey-Level Information

An alternative method for distance measurement is presented, based on a radiometric approach to the image formation process. The proposed methodology uses images from an infrared emitting diode (IRED) to estimate the distance between the camera and the IRED. Camera output grey-level intensities are a function of the accumulated image irradiance, which is also related by inverse distance square law to the distance between the camera and the IRED. Analyzing camera-IRED distance, magnitudes that affected image grey-level intensities, and therefore accumulated image irradiance, were integrated into a differential model which was calibrated and used for distance estimation over a 200 to 600 cm range. In a preliminary model, the camera and the emitter were aligned

Limited genetic antagonism between premium cuts yield and intramuscular fat content in Iberian pigs

Ponencia publicada en ITEA, vol.104La producción de cerdo ibérico está orientada a la obtención de materia prima para la elaboración de productos curados de alta calidad, determinada entre otros factores por el contenido en grasa intramuscular. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo estimar las correlaciones genéticas entre el contenido de grasa intramuscular, medido mediante tecnología NIRS en M. longissimus, y los principales caracteres productivos: porcentaje de jamones, paletas y lomos del peso de la canal, y la ganancia media diaria durante el periodo de ‘Montanera’. Los registros analizados proceden de 6.103 cerdos castrados de 56 ganaderías y controlados desde 1993 al 2007 por AECERIBER. Los animales con un manejo extensivo común fueron sacrificados, en 79 lotes, a un peso medio de aproximadamente 160 kg. Las heredabilidades estimadas presentaron valores altos para todos los caracteres (0,37 a 0,48) indicando que la selección para todos los caracteres puede ser efectiva. Las correlaciones genéticas entre el porcentaje de las principales piezas nobles fueron altas y positivas (de 0,36 a 0,69) lo cual indica que dichos caracteres están en parte controlados por un mismo grupo de genes. Las correlaciones genéticas entre el contenido en grasa intramuscular y ganancia media diaria y el porcentaje de paletas no fueron significativamente diferentes de cero. Sin embargo, se estimaron efectos negativos significativos entre el contenido en grasa intramuscular y el porcentaje de jamones (-0.19 ± 0.04) y lomos (-0.23 ± 0.03). Estos valores indican que una intensa selección orientada a mejorar el porcentaje de piezas nobles de la canal, puede a medio plazo deteriorar la calidad de los productos curados en cerdos Ibéricos.The production of Iberian pigs is mainly focused to obtain raw meat to elaborate dry-cured products of high sensorial quality, mainly influenced by the intramuscular fat content. The objective of this work was to estimate the genetic correlations between intramuscular fat content in M. longissimus, measured using NIRS technology, and the main productive traits: percentages on carcass weight of hams, forelegs and loins, and the daily growth along the final fattening period. Records for this analysis came from 6,103 castrate males, born in 56 herds and controlled by AECERIBER from 1993 to 2007. All the animals were fattened with a common extensive management system and slaughtered, distributed in 79 batches, at approximately 160 kg. Heritability estimates presented high values for all the traits (ranging between 0.37 and 0.48) indicating that the selection for these traits could be effective. Genetic correlations between percentages of premium cuts were high and positive (from 0.36 to 0.69). This fact indicates that these traits are partially controlled by the same group of genes. Genetic correlations between intramuscular fat content and the daily growth and percentage of forelegs showed estimated values statistically non different from cero. However, significant negative values of genetic correlations were estimated between intramuscular fat content and the percentages of hams (-0.19 ± 0.04) and loins (-0.23 ± 0.03). These last values indicate that a strong selection in Iberian pigs focused to the improvement of the carcass percentage of premium cuts, could cause a deterioration of the meat suitability for dry-curing in a medium-time horizon

Phases I–III Clinical Trials Using Adult Stem Cells

First randomized clinical trials have demonstrated that stem cell therapy can improve cardiac recovery after the acute phase of myocardial ischemia and in patients with chronic ischemic heart disease. Nevertheless, some trials have shown that conflicting results and uncertainties remain in the case of mechanisms of action and possible ways to improve clinical impact of stem cells in cardiac repair. In this paper we will examine the evidence available, analyze the main phase I and II randomized clinical trials and their limitations, discuss the key points in the design of future trials, and depict new directions of research in this fascinating field

Estudio microscópico de miel y polen apícola de la provincia de Sevilla

Twenty honey and two pollen samples from different localities of the mountainous areas in the province of Seville (Spain) have been studied by light microscopy, in order to show the plants prefered by bees. The results point out that the nectar from flowers is the main honey source in the region, though locally honey-dew can be very valuable as raw material of honey. Echium planta gineum L., Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., Lavandula stoechas L., Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav. and Helianthus annuus L. are notable as supplying nectar to Apis mellifera L., while Cistus albidus L., C. ladanifer L., Quercus spp., Myrtus communis L. and Papaver rhoeas L. are interesting as pollen sources for honeybees.El objetivo del presente trabajo es poner de manifiesto cuál es la flora de mayor interés apícola en las áreas de sierra de la provincia de Sevilla. Se han estudiado al microscopio óptico veinte muestras de miel y dos de polen procedentes de diversas localidades de la provincia. Los resultados ponen de manifiesto que la principal fuente de miel para Apis mellifera L. es el néctar de las flores, si bien, a escala local, en Sierra Morena la mielada llega a ser muy valiosa como fuente de miel. Como principales fuentes de néctar cabe destacar a Echium planta gineum L., Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., Lavandula stoechas L., Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav. y Helianthus annuus L., mientras que de polen lo son Cistus albidus L., C. ladanifer L., Quercus spp., Myrtus communis L. y Papaver rhoeas L

Mining Web Pages Using Features of Rendering HTML Elements in the Web Browser

The Web is the largest repository of useful information available for human users, but it is usual that Web Pages do not provide an API to get access to its information automatically. In order to solve this problem, Information Extractors are developed. We present a new methodology to induce Information Extractors from the Web. It is based on rendering HTML elements in the Web browser. The methodology uses a KDD process to mining a dataset with features of the elements in the Web page. An experimentation over 10 web sites has been made and the results show the effectiveness of the methodology.Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología TIN2007-64119Junta de Andalucía P07-TIC-02602Junta de Andalucía P08-TIC-410

Composición química de la carne de conejo silvestre (Oryctolagus cuniculus) y viabilidad de su predicción mediante espectroscopía de infrarrojo cercano

En algunos países del entorno mediterráneo existe tradición de consumo de carne de conejo silvestre procedente de la caza. Sin embargo, las características de la canal y de la carne de esta especie cinegética han sido escasamente investigadas. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron analizar la composición química de la carne de conejo silvestre (Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus) procedente del sudoeste de la Península Ibérica y estudiar la viabilidad de la puesta a punto de una metodología rápida de análisis para su determinación mediante espectroscopía de infrarrojo cercano (NIRS). La carne de conejo silvestre de la subespecie O. c. algirus contiene un 23,7% de proteína bruta, 0,2% de grasa bruta, 74,9% de humedad y 1,2% de cenizas. Esta composición difiere de la publicada para conejos domésticos y para conejos silvestres de la subespecie O. c. cuniculus, siendo más magra debido a su mayor contenido de proteína y muy inferior valor de grasa. Se obtuvieron modelos basados en la espectroscopía NIR con buena capacidad de predicción para los parámetros proteína y humedad (r2 = 0,70 y ETVC = 0,39%; y r2 = 0,73 y ETVC = 0,38%; respectivamente); mientras que las calibraciones seleccionadas para grasa y cenizas no resultaron ser aceptables.Wild rabbit meat is commonly consumed in many Mediterranean countries. However, the characteristics of the carcass and meat of this game species have been scarcely investigated. This study was aimed at analysing the chemical composition of hunted wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus) meat from Southern Iberian Peninsula, and studying the viability of a rapid analytical methodology for its determination by near infrared spectroscopy. Meat of the wild rabbit subspecies O. c. algirus has 23.7% of crude protein, 0.2% of crude fat, 74.9% of moisture and 1.2% of ash. This composition differed from the values published for domesticated rabbits and for wild rabbits of the O. c. cuniculus subspecies, it being leaner due to its higher protein content and its very lower fat content. NIR spectroscopy models obtained displayed a good predictive ability for the estimation of crude protein and moisture contents (r2 = 0.70 and SECV = 0.39%, and r2 = 0.73 and SECV = 0.38%, respectively), while the calibrations selected for crude fat and ash contents were not acceptabl