Estudio de la situación de petróleo, Análisis de la demanda de gasóleos en España mediante regresión múltiple = The context of oil in the world. A study of the demand for gas oil in Spain using multiple regression analysis

El petróleo y sus derivados son bienes de gran relevancia para las diferentes economías mundiales, tanto por su uso cotidiano para transporte e industria principalmente como por las consecuencias que derivan de ese uso. Este trabajo propone un enfoque diferente donde se analiza la situación actual del mercado petrolífero en el mundo y se centra en mayor profundidad en el análisis del consumo de gasóleos en España. Se realiza un estudio mediante el empleo del método de regresión múltiple, se analiza si toma relevancia en las variables exógenas que influyen en la dependiente la existencia o ausencia de crisis por comparativa de modelos y se comprueba si existe estacionalidad en el consumo. Esta información puede ser de utilidad para conocer el funcionamiento del mercado del petróleo y para definir mejores estrategias de cara al futuro incierto que se presenta sobre este tema

Towards efficient capital flow management

Artículo de revistaFinancial globalisation has advanced notably in recent decades. In principle, greater integration should raise the degree of economic efficiency. However, the empirical evidence suggests that, for this to occur, countries should have well-designed economic institutions and sufficiently developed local financial markets. Moreover, these flows may jeopardise financial stability in certain circumstances, whereby the economic authorities need to draw on criteria and instruments to withstand such situations. These tools should be used as part of a broader programme of measures that includes the macro and microeconomic adjustments required. Furthermore, international cooperation emerges as a necessary complement to globalisatio

Mechanisms involved in the remyelinating effect of sildenafil

Remyelination occurs in demyelinated lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS) and pharmacological treatments that enhance this process will critically impact the long term functional outcome in the disease. Sildenafil, a cyclic GMP (cGMP)-specific phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor (PDE5-I), is an oral vasodilator drug extensively used in humans for treatment of erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension. PDE5 is expressed in central nervous system (CNS) neuronal and glial populations and in endothelial cells and numerous studies in rodent models of neurological disease have evidenced the neuroprotective potential of PDE5-Is. Using myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) as a MS model, we previously showed that daily administration of sildenafil starting at peak disease rapidly ameliorates clinical symptoms while administration at symptoms onset prevents disease progression. These beneficial effects of the drug involved down-regulation of adaptive and innate immune responses, protection of axons and oligodendrocytes (OLs) and promotion of remyelination. In this work we have investigated mechanisms involved in the remyelinating effect of sildenafil. Using demyelinated organotypic cerebellar slice cultures we demonstrate that sildenafil stimulates remyelination by direct effects on CNS cells in a nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP-protein kinase G (PKG)-dependent manner. We also show that sildenafil treatment enhances OL maturation and induces expression of the promyelinating factor ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) in spinal cord of EAE mice and in cerebellar slice cultures. Furthermore, we demonstrate that sildenafil promotes a M2 phenotype in bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDM) and increases myelin phagocytosis in these cells and in M2 microglia/macrophages in the spinal cord of EAE mice. Taken together these data indicate that promotion of OL maturation directly or through induction of growth factor expression, regulation of microglia/macrophage inflammatory phenotype and clearance of myelin debris may be relevant mechanisms involved in sildenafil enhancement of remyelination in demyelinated tissue and further support the contention that this well tolerated drug could be useful for ameliorating MS pathology

Molecular Alterations in Pancreatic Cancer: Transfer to the Clinic.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is the most common cancer of the exocrine pancreas and probably the tumor that has benefited the least from clinical progress in the last three decades. A consensus has been reached regarding the histologic classification of the ductal preneoplastic lesions (pancreatic intra-epithelial neoplasia—PanIN) and the molecular alterations associated with them. Mutations in KRAS and inactivation of CDKN2A, SMAD4 and TP53 are among the most prevalent alterations. Next generation sequencing studies are providing a broad picture of the enormous heterogeneity in this tumor type, describing new mutations less prevalent. These studies have also allowed the characterization of different subtypes with prognostic value. However, all this knowledge has not been translated into a clinical progress. Effective preventive and early diagnostic strategies are essential to improve the survival rates. The main challenge is, indeed, to identify new effective drugs. Despite many years of research and its limited success, gemcitabine is still the first line treatment of PDA. New drug combinations and new concepts to improve drug delivery into the tumor, as well as the development of preclinical predictive assays, are being explored and provide optimism and prospects for better therapies.post-print335 K

Can social disclosure induce a better corporate social performance?

Against the background of the debate on the social reportingsocial performance link, this article aims to analyse the influence of social disclosures on social performance. Specifically, we analyse the effect of the voluntary disclosure of standardised indicators regarding labour practices and human rights on corporate social performance. A Tobit regression was used on data obtained through content analysis for a sample of 1,243 multinational enterprises for the period 2013–2017. The results show that both total and partial disclosure of the performance indicators are positively associated with higher social performance, confirming that the disclosure of such indicators is oriented towards the improvement of corporate sustainability as opposed to impression management strategies. We demonstrate that, even though companies may aim to satisfy stakeholder demands through the voluntary disclosure of labour practices, decent work and human rights indicators, these indicators can also act as catalysts for strengthening corporate social policies and practices. The findings provide a further motive to promote social reporting: its positive impact on corporate social performance favouring responsive labour management and greater social cohesion

Arts Education and media competence in the curriculum of primary education

En este trabajo se realiza un análisis de la presencia de la competencia mediática en los objetivos, contenidos y criterios de evaluación del área de Educación Artística en la etapa de Educación Primaria. La metodología utilizada auna una perspectiva cualitativa y cuantitativa. Los resultados indican que la competencia mediática se evidencia en todos los elementos curriculares que integran esta área. Finalmente, se ofrecen propuestas un mejor desarrollo integral del alumnado vinculado a los medios de comunicación.This paper is an analysis of the presence of media competence in the objectives, content and evaluation criteria of Arts Education subject in Primary Education. The methodology combines qualitative and quantitative perspective. The results indicate that media competence is evident in all curricular elements that compose this subject. Finally, suggestions are offered better overall development of students linked to the media

Practical Characterization of Cell-Electrode Electrical Models in Bio-Impedance Assays

This paper presents the fitting process followed to adjust the parameters of the electrical model associated to a cell-electrode system in Electrical Cell-substrate Impedance Spectroscopy (ECIS) technique, to the experimental results from cell-culture assays. A new parameter matching procedure is proposed, under the basis of both, mismatching between electrodes and time-evolution observed in the system response, as consequence of electrode fabrication processes and electrochemical performance of electrode-solution interface, respectively. The obtained results agree with experimental performance, and enable the evaluation of the cell number in a culture, by using the electrical measurements observed at the oscillation parameters in the test circuits employed.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TEC2013-46242-C3-1-

Asociatividad como base del crecimiento del comercio minorista de las tiendas de barrio en la localidad de Engativá, Bogotá

El origen del presente documento se da como parte del macroproyecto de investigación coordinado y financiado por la Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Transferencia (VRIT) de la Universidad de la Salle, titulado: Asociatividad como base del crecimiento del comercio minorista de las tiendas de barrio en las localidades de Chapinero y Engativá- Bogotá, el cual, tiene como objetivo principal identificar los elementos necesarios para la implementación de un modelo de asociatividad empresarial en las tiendas de barrio de la localidad de Engativá.Para lo anterior, se elaboró un diagnostico situacional de 292 micro establecimientos de la localidad objeto de estudio, a través de una encuesta a cada uno de los tenderos, aplicada por los estudiantes del programa de Administración de empresas de la Universidad de la Salle. Los resultados obtenidos, fueron posteriormente tabulados y analizados por dos herramientas administrativas de análisis; la Matriz de Posición Estratégica y Evaluación de la Acción (PEYEA) y la Matriz de Impactos Cruzados Multiplicación Aplicada (MICMAC). Adicionalmente, se generó una entrevista con el vicepresidente de proyectos especiales de la Federación Nacional de Comerciantes (FENALCO), Juan Parra, con el fin de poder ampliar y contrastar la información antes recolectada y de esta manera, dar cumplimiento a los objetivos de investigación planteados.Con base en los resultados obtenidos, se evidenció que para la implementación exitosa de un modelo de asociatividad es necesario que los tenderos de la localidad de Engativá cuenten con un alto nivel de confianza entre ellos, disposición para compartir información, capital disponible, formación en temas administrativos, operativos y de planeación estratégica, y un compromiso constante. Finalmente, se presentaron las conclusiones que el desarrollo del presente trabajo dejó tanto para las autoras como para cada uno de los futuros lectore

An Empirical-Mathematical Approach for Calibration and Fitting Cell-Electrode Electrical Models in Bioimpedance Tests

This paper proposes a new yet efficient method allowing a significant improvement in the on-line analysis of biological cell growing and evolution. The procedure is based on an empirical-mathematical approach for calibration and fitting of any cell-electrode electrical model. It is valid and can be extrapolated for any type of cellular line used in electrical cell-substrate impedance spectroscopy (ECIS) tests. Parameters of the bioimpedance model, acquired from ECIS experiments, vary for each cell line, which makes obtaining results difficult and—to some extent-renders them inaccurate. We propose a fitting method based on the cell line initial characterization,and carry out subsequent experiments with the same line to approach the percentage of well filling and the cell density (or cell number in the well). To perform our calibration technique, the so-called oscillation-based test (OBT) approach is employed for each cell density. Calibration results are validated by performing other experiments with different concentrations on the same cell line with the same measurement technique. Accordingly, a bioimpedance electrical model of each cell line is determined, which is valid for any further experiment and leading to a more precise electrical model of the electrode-cell system. Furthermore, the model parameters calculated can be also used by any other measurement techniques. Promising experimental outcomes for three different cell-lines have been achieved, supporting the usefulness of this technique

Sensing Cell-Culture Assays with Low-Cost Circuitry

An alternative approach for cell-culture end-point protocols is proposed herein. This new technique is suitable for real-time remote sensing. It is based on Electrical Cell-substrate Impedance Spectroscopy (ECIS) and employs the Oscillation-Based Test (OBT) method. Simple and straightforward circuit blocks form the basis of the proposed measurement system. Oscillation parameters – frequency and amplitude – constitute the outcome, directly correlated with the culture status. A user can remotely track the evolution of cell cultures in real time over the complete experiment through a web tool continuously displaying the acquired data. Experiments carried out with commercial electrodes and a well-established cell line (AA8) are described, obtaining the cell number in real time from growth assays. The electrodes have been electrically characterized along the design flow in order to predict the system performance and the sensitivity curves. Curves for 1-week cell growth are reported. The obtained experimental results validate the proposed OBT for cell-culture characterization. Furthermore, the proposed electrode model provides a good approximation for the cell number and the time evolution of the studied cultures.España, Feder TEC2013-46242-C3-1-