Category measures on Baire spaces

The purpose of this paper is to give a necessary and sufñcient condition to define a category measure on a Baire topological space. In the last section we give some examples of spaacs in these conditions

Maternal urinary metabolic signatures of fetal growth and associated clinical and environmental factors in the INMA study

Background Maternal metabolism during pregnancy is a major determinant of the intra-uterine environment and fetal outcomes. Herein, we characterize the maternal urinary metabolome throughout pregnancy to identify maternal metabolic signatures of fetal growth in two subcohorts and explain potential sources of variation in metabolic profiles based on lifestyle and clinical data. Methods We used 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to characterize maternal urine samples collected in the INMA birth cohort at the first (n = 412 and n = 394, respectively, in Gipuzkoa and Sabadell cohorts) and third trimesters of gestation (n = 417 and 469). Metabolic phenotypes that reflected longitudinal intra- and inter-individual variation were used to predict measures of fetal growth and birth weight. Results A metabolic shift between the first and third trimesters of gestation was characterized by 1H NMR signals arising predominantly from steroid by-products. We identified 10 significant and reproducible metabolic associations in the third trimester with estimated fetal, birth, and placental weight in two independent subcohorts. These included branched-chain amino acids; isoleucine, valine, leucine, alanine and 3 hydroxyisobutyrate (metabolite of valine), which were associated with a significant fetal weight increase at week 34 of up to 2.4 % in Gipuzkoa (P < 0.005) and 1 % in Sabadell (P < 0.05). Other metabolites included pregnancy-related hormone by-products of estrogens and progesterone, and the methyl donor choline. We could explain a total of 48–53 % of the total variance in birth weight of which urine metabolites had an independent predictive power of 12 % adjusting for all other lifestyle/clinical factors. First trimester metabolic phenotypes could not predict reproducibly weight at later stages of development. Physical activity, as well as other modifiable lifestyle/clinical factors, such as coffee consumption, vitamin D intake, and smoking, were identified as potential sources of metabolic variation during pregnancy. Conclusions Significant reproducible maternal urinary metabolic signatures of fetal growth and birth weight are identified for the first time and linked to modifiable lifestyle factors. This novel approach to prenatal screening, combining multiple risk factors, present a great opportunity to personalize pregnancy management and reduce newborn disease risk in later life

Understanding how the various definitions of Permanent Establishment can limit the taxation ability of resource- rich source countries

Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs) are bilateral tax treaties that are designed to reduce the negative impact of double taxation through the allocation of taxing rights to the State of residence (i.e. where the company has its base) and to the State of source (i.e. where the taxable operations takes place). The allocation of the rights to tax business profits of non-resident entities’ operations depends on whether these operations can constitute a “Permanent Establishment” (PE) according to the definition included in each DTA. If non-resident entities fulfill the criteria established in this PE definition, taxation is due at the source State. On the contrary, if non-resident entities fall outside of the scope of this definition, the residence State obtains these rights. DTAs can therefore result in source States losing significant tax revenue from operations of non-residents (unless such operations are conducted under a PE). Loosely defining the PE without due regard for the risk of loopholes might encourage companies to structure their investments in order to avoid fulfilling the criteria of the PE definition and thus avoid taxation at source. For the purpose of extractive industries, these tax avoidance structures normally involve bypassing the time threshold that triggers a PE (by splitting long term contracts into short term contracts), and/or structuring and dividing contracts to enable them to be considered of preparatory or auxiliary nature, thus fitting into then general exclusions of PE that exist in most DTAs (fragmentation of activities and/or misuse/abuse of specific activity exemptions); The UN and OECD Model DTAs – normally used as basis for DTAs – are not aimed at covering the specific characteristics of extractive industries. Resource rich States should thus aim to include specific clauses that cover these issues; after explaining the various options to optimize taxing rights related to PE in the context of extractives, CCSI’s brief presents a sample PE clause to that effect

Category measures on Baire spaces

The purpose of this paper is to give a necessary and sufñcient condition to define a category measure on a Baire topological space. In the last section we give some examples of spaacs in these conditions

Segundo informe del Observatorio de Costes y Financiación del Transporte Urbano Colectivo: encuesta a los gestores

A comienzos de 2012 se publicó el Primer Informe del Observatorio de Costes y Financiación del Transporte Urbano Colectivo (OTUC), creado con el apoyo y colaboración de la Asociación de Empresas del Transporte Urbano Colectivo (ATUC) que ha facilitado la adhesión de las principales empresas representantes del sector analizado, con el objetivo fundamental de estudiar las condiciones de explotación de las empresas de transporte urbano colectivo en superficie en España. Consolidado el proyecto iniciado por el Observatorio, en septiembre de 2013 se publica su Segundo Informe, en el que, como se realizó en el primero, y al objeto de conocer la visión de los gestores y la valoración que otorgan a los principales puntos críticos del negocio, se desarrolló una encuesta cuyos resultados se muestran en el presente trabajo.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Morphological changes of glia in prion and a prion-like disorder

Several neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s are considered to be prion-like disorders in that they are all proteinopathies where in aberrant proteins spread throughout the brain during disease progression, and thus they may share molecular basis and mechanisms of propagation. Therefore, studies elucidating mechanisms of prion propagation may be relevant to other neurodegenerative diseases. While substantial progress has been made, the pathogenesis of these neurodegenerative diseases is still largely unknown, and as consequence, to date no truly effective treatments that prevent onset or delay progression of these diseases have been identified. In addition to propagation of misfolded proteins, these diseases all induce a host response that includes activation of astrocytes and microglial cells. However, in our opinion, the glial response in each of these diseases has not been well-defined. Since a role for glial response in prion disease has been clearly demonstrated in a previous study concerning Scrapie in sheep, a similar approach to analysis of astrocytic gliosis has been taken here for Creutzfeldt-Jakob (CJD) and Alzheimer’s Diseases (AD). Here, morphological analysis of glial cells in cerebella from CJD and AD patients (as the most common prion and prion-like disorders, respectively) was performed. The results presented in this study support the involvement of glial cells not only in the pathogenesis of CJD, but also of AD. A relationship between intensity and morphology is observed in astroglia from the molecular layer in both pathologies. By contrast, the involvement of microgliosis in AD-affected samples showed a lower relevance from that observed in CJD, since reactive microglia were much more abundant in prion disease. Further analysis of the role of gliosis in CJD and AD, as well as other neurodegenerative diseases, may well advance knowledge of the mechanisms underlying these diseases and may also provide new targets for therapeutic intervention

Morphological changes of glia in prion and a prion-like disorder.

Several neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s are considered to be prion-like disorders in that they are all proteinopathies where in aberrant proteins spread throughout the brain during disease progression, and thus they may share molecular basis and mechanisms of propagation. Therefore, studies elucidating mechanisms of prion propagation may be relevant to other neurodegenerative diseases. While substantial progress has been made, the pathogen- esis of these neurodegenerative diseases is still largely unknown, and as consequence, to date no truly effective treatments that prevent onset or delay progression of these diseases have been identified. In addition to propagation of misfolded proteins, these diseases all induce a host response that includes activation of astrocytes and microglial cells. However, in our opinion, the glial response in each of these diseases has not been well-defined. Since a role for glial response in prion disease has been clearly demonstrated in a previous study concerning Scrapie in sheep, a similar approach to analysis of astrocytic gliosis has been taken here for Creutzfeldt-Jakob (CJD) and Alzheimer’s Diseases (AD). Here, morphological analysis of glial cells in cerebella from CJD and AD patients (as the most common prion and prion-like disorders, respectively) was performed. The results presented in this study support the involvement of glial cells not only in the pathogenesis of CJD, but also of AD. A relationship between intensity and morphology is observed in astroglia from the molecular layer in both pathologies. By contrast, the involvement of microgliosis in AD-affected samples showed a lower relevance from that observed in CJD, since reactive microglia were much more abundant in prion disease. Further analysis of the role of gliosis in CJD and AD, as well as other neurodegenerative diseases, may well advance knowledge of the mechanisms underlying these diseases and may also provide new targets for therapeutic intervention

Learning Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SRQ-L): Psychometric and Measurement Invariance Evidence in Peruvian Undergraduate Students

Given the theoretical and applied importance of self-regulation in learning, our study aimed to report the internal structure of the psychometric properties of the Learning Self-Regulation Questionnaire. Five hundred and ninety-six Peruvian university students participated in their first to tenth semesters on campuses in Lima, Trujillo, and Cajamarca. Nonparametric scalability, dimensionality, reliability (score and item levels), and latent invariance were analyzed. The results showed that reducing the number of response options was necessary. Reducing the number of items also produced better scaling. Two slightly related dimensions were strong internal validity and acceptable item reliability; furthermore, reliability was adequate. Age and gender had trivial correlations in item variability. Finally, differences between the semesters were obtained in the means, variances, and latent correlations. In conclusion, we propose a better definition of the constructs of autonomy and control measured by the SRQ-L. This article also discusses the limitations and implications of the study

Landau Theory of Domain Wall Magnetoelectricity

We calculate the exact analytical solution to the domain wall properties in a multiferroic system with two order parameters that are coupled bi-quadratically. This is then adapted to the case of a magnetoelectric multiferroic material such as BiFeO3, with a view to examine critically whether the domain walls can account for the enhancement of magnetization reported for thin films fo this material, in view of the correlation between increasing magnetization and increasing volume fraction of domain walls as films become thinner. The present analysis can be generalized to describe a class of magnetoelectric devices based upon domain walls rather than bulk properties.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

Effect of sodium hypochlorite on microleakage of composite restorations bonded with a polyalkenoic containing adhesive system

Abstract no. 905published_or_final_versio