Real Convergence and European Integration: The Experience of the Less Developed EU Members

This study aims at providing an assessment about real convergence across countries and regions in the EU, focusing more specifically on the four cohesion EU members (Spain, Portugal, Ireland and Greece), since they seem to be more appropriate to draw lessons for the Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs). The results obtained when making an assessment of real convergence in the EU, both at country and regional level, show that in the course of the last few years a process of convergence has taken place between the per capita income levels of the EU regions and also, to a larger extent, of the Member States. Nevertheless, also marked differences could be identified: Ireland is undoubtedly the most successful of the four, while Greece showed the least satisfactory performance. In this respect, the differences that may be observed between these countries suggest that advances in real convergence are far from being a spontaneous outcome of the accession to the EU, but largely determined by the growth strategy implemented by the countries themselves. Lastly, our study suggests that the Communitys regional policy has played a significant role in favor of real convergence between the Member States of the EU. However, the experience of Greece indicates that the impact of EUs financial assistance on the beneficiary countries depends not only on its amount, but also on the efficiency with which its allocation is carried out. One important lesson to be drawn is that the accession is likely to contribute significantly to improving the possibilities of the current CEECs candidates in aligning their per capita income levels with those of the more advanced current EU members. However, we have also learnt that the prospects of growth and income convergence towards EU levels in the current candidates will depend crucially on the measures taken by each country, and particularly on their capacity to invest more and more efficiently

Circulating Exosomal Mir21 And Mir320 In Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Rational. Epidemiological studies indicate that there may be an association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Some pro-inflammatory miRs (miR-21, miR320) critical for the immune response or hypoxia are often overexpressed in cancers and atherosclerosis. Aim. To examine the expression of miR-21& miR320 in circulating exosomes from patients with OSA. Methods: From a Sleep Unit and in the frame of a long-term longitudinal cohort study we selected 65 non-smokers OSA patients (apnea-hypopnea index -AHI- 30 events/ti) and 26 age, gender and BMI-matched controls (AHI 0.85 mm. Plasma-derived exosomes were isolated by precipitation using miRCURY, , , Exosome Isolation Kit. Exosomes were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering assay and Western Blot analysis using CD63 and HSP70. Exosome total RNA was obtained using miRCURY"* RNA isolation kit. miR-21 -5p and miR-320-3p were analysed by real time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) using miRCURY LNA~ technology..

Sfrp3 modulates stromal-epithelial crosstalk during mammary gland development by regulating Wnt levels

Mammary stroma is essential for epithelial morphogenesis and development. Indeed, postnatal mammary gland (MG) development is controlled locally by the repetitive and bi-directional cross-talk between the epithelial and the stromal compartment. However, the signalling pathways involved in stromal–epithelial communication are not entirely understood. Here, we identify Sfrp3 as a mediator of the stromal–epithelial communication that is required for normal mouse MG development. Using Drosophila wing imaginal disc, we demonstrate that Sfrp3 functions as an extracellular transporter of Wnts that facilitates their diffusion, and thus, their levels in the boundaries of different compartments. Indeed, loss of Sfrp3 in mice leads to an increase of ductal invasion and branching mirroring an early pregnancy state. Finally, we observe that loss of Sfrp3 predisposes for invasive breast cancer. Altogether, our study shows that Sfrp3 controls MG morphogenesis by modulating the stromal-epithelial cross-talk during pubertal development

The knee prosthesis constraint dilemma: Biomechanical comparison between varus-valgus constrained implants and rotating hinge prosthesis. A cadaver study

The real degree of constriction of rotating hinge knee (RHK) and condylar constrained prostheses (CCK) is a matter of discussion in revision knee arthroplasty. The objectives of this study are to compare the tibial rotation of both implants and validate the use of inertial sensors with optical tracking system as movement measurement tools. A total of 16 cadaver knees were used. Eight knees were replaced using a RHK (Endomodel LINK), and the remaining eight received a CCK prosthesis (LCCK, Zimmer). Tibial rotation range of motion was measured in full extension and at 30°, 60°, and 90° of flexion, with four continuous waveforms for each measurement. Measurements were made using two inertial sensors with specific software and compared with measurements obtained using the gold standard technique - the motion capture camera. The comparison of the accuracy of both measurement methods showed no statistically significant differences between inertial sensors and motion capture cameras, with p > .1; the mean error for tibial rotation was 0.21°. Tibial rotation in the RHK was significantly greater than in the CCK (5.25° vs. 2.28°, respectively), p < .05. We have shown that RHK permit greater tibial rotation, being closer to physiological values than CCKs. Inertial sensors have been validated as an effective and accurate method of measuring knee movement. The clinical significance: RHK appears to represent a lower constriction degree than CCK systems.This study wassupported by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Instituto de Salud Carlos III and European Regional Development Fund "Una manera de hacer Europa" (grant number PI18/01625

Analysis of Li-ion battery degradation using self-organizing maps

This paper proposes a new methodology to identify the different degradation processes of Li-Ion battery cells. The goal of this study is to determine if different degradation factors can be separated by waveform analysis from aged cells with similar remaining capacity. In contrast to other works, the proposed method identifies the past operating conditions in the cell, regardless of the actual State of Health. The methodology is based on a data-driven approach by using a SOM (Self-organizing map), an unsupervised neural network. To verify the hypothesis a SOM has been trained with laboratory data from whole data cycles, to classify cells concerning their degradation path and according to their discharge voltage patterns. Additionally, this new methodology based on the SOM allows discriminating groups of cells with different cycling conditions (based on depth of discharge, ambient temperature and discharge current). This research line is very promising for classification of used cells, not only depending on their current static parameters (capacity, impedance), but also the battery use in their past life. This will allow making predictions of the Remaining Useful Life (RUL) of a battery with greater precision

Exploring the Microbiome of Healthy and Diseased Peri-Implant Sites Using Illumina Sequencing

Aim To compare the microbiome of healthy (H) and diseased (P) peri-implant sites and determine the core peri-implant microbiome. Materials and Methods Submucosal biofilms from 32 H and 35 P sites were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing (MiSeq, Illumina), QIIME and HOMINGS. Differences between groups were determined using Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA), t-tests and Wilcoxon rank sum test and FDR-adjusted. The peri-implant core microbiome was determined. Results PCoA showed partitioning between H and P at all taxonomic levels. Bacteroidetes, Spirochetes and Synergistetes were higher in P, while Actinobacteria prevailed in H (p\u3c0.05). Porphyromonas and Treponema were more abundant in P and while Rothia and Neisseria were higher in H (p\u3c0.05). The core peri-implant microbiome contained Fusobacterium, Parvimonas and Campylobacter sp. T. denticola and P. gingivalis levels were higher in P, as well as F. alocis, F fastidiosum and T. maltophilum (p\u3c0.05). Conclusion The peri-implantitis microbiome is commensal-depleted and pathogen-enriched, harboring traditional and new pathogens. The core peri-implant microbiome harbors taxa from genera often associated with periodontal inflammation

Insights of Active Extension Within a Collisional Orogen From GNSS (Central Betic Cordillera, S Spain)

The coexistence of shortening and extensional tectonic regimes is a common feature in orogenic belts. The westernmost end of the Western Mediterranean is an area undergoing shortening related to the 5 mm/ yr NNW‒SSE convergence of the Nubia and Eurasia Plates. In this region, the Central Betic Cordillera shows a regional ENE‒WSW extension. Here, we present GNSS-derived geodetic data along a 170 km-long transect orthogonal to the main active normal faults of the Central Betic Cordillera. Our data indicate that the total extension rate along the Central Betic Cordillera is 2.0 ± 0.3 mm/yr. Extension is accommodated in the eastern (0.8 ± 0.3 mm/yr in the Guadix-Baza Basin) and western (1.3 ± 0.3 mm/yr in the Granada Basin) parts of the Central Betic Cordillera, while no extension is recorded in the central part of the study area. Moreover, our data permit us to quantify, for the first time, short-term fault slip rates of the Granada Fault System, which is one of the main seismogenic sources of the Iberian Peninsula. We deduce a fault slip rate of ∼1.3 ± 0.3 mm/ yr for the whole Granada Basin, with 0.9 ± 0.3 mm/yr being accommodated in the Granada Fault System and 0.4 ± 0.3 mm/yr being accommodated in the southwestern sector of the Granada Basin, where no active faults have been previously described at the surface. The heterogeneous extension in the Central Betic Cordillera could be accommodated by shallow high-angle normal faults that merge with a detachment at depth. Part of the active extension could be derived from gravitational instability because of underlying over-thickened crustThe Generalitat Valenciana (Valencian Regional GovernmentResearch project AICO/2021/196), Spanish Ministry of ScienceInnovation and University (Research Projects RTI2018-100737- B-I00 and PID2021-127967NB-I00),The University of Alicante (Research Project VIGROB053)The University of Jaén (POAIUJA 2021–2022, CEACTEMA and Programa Operativo FEDER Andalucía, 2014–2020—call made by UJA, 2018, Ref. 1263446), P18-RT- 3275 (Junta de Andalucía/FEDER),Junta de Andalucía regional government (RNM282 and RNM 148 research groups)The Institut Cartogràfic Valencià, Agencia Valenciana de Seguridad y Respuesta a las Emergencias (Generalitat Valenciana)Consorcio Provincial para el Servicio de Prevención y Extinción de Incendios y Salvamento de AlicanteDiputaciones Provinciales de Alicante y CastellónAyuntamiento de Almorad