Health and sports tourism: Turiselecat

Treball Final de Grau en Administració d'Empreses. Codi: AE1049. Curs 2022/202

Seasonal changes in planktonic bacterivory rates under the ice-covered coastal Arctic Ocean

Bacterivory was determined in surface waters of Franklin Bay, western Arctic, over a seasonal ice-covered period (winter-spring, 2003-2004). The objectives were to obtain information on the functioning of the microbial food web under the ice, during winter (from 21 December 2003 to 21 March 2004) and during spring (from 22 March 2004 to 29 May 2004), and to test whether bacterial losses would increase after the increase in bacterial production following the spring phytoplankton bloom. Chl a concentrations ranged from 0.04 to 0.36 mu g L(-1), increasing in March and reaching a peak in April. Bacterial biomass showed no consistent trend for the whole period, and protist biomass followed a pattern similar to that of Chl a. Bacterial production increased 1 week after Chl a concentrations started to increase, while bacterivory rates increased very slightly. Average bacterivory rates in winter (0.16 +/- 0.07 mu g C L(-1) d(-1)) were not significantly different from those in spring (0.29 +/- 0.24 mu g C L(-1) d(-1)). Average bacterial production, on the other hand, was similar to bacterivory rates in winter (0.19 +/- 0.38 mu g C L(-1) d(-1)), but higher than bacterivory in spring (0.93 +/- 0.28 mu g C L(-1) d(-1)). Therefore, bacterial production was controlled by grazers during winter and by substrate concentration in spring

Estudio de morteros de Cal y Chamota para el revestimiento interior del Aljibe del siglo XVIII en Es Mercadal, Menorca.

En marzo de 2018 se produjo un derrumbe parcial en el aljibe de Es Mercadal en Menorca, España. Se trata de un elemento patrimonial que se remonta a mediados del siglo XVIII, cuando la isla estaba gobernada por la corona británica. A pesar de su antigüedad el aljibe ha seguido en uso de forma ininterrumpida durante casi tres siglos, lo cual lo hace muy apreciado por la comunidad a la que abastece de agua potable. Para su restauración se decide reconstruir los diferentes elementos afectados con unas técnicas muy similares a las originales. En referente a los morteros históricos, se procede con la caracterización de los diferentes morteros encontrados y a la búsqueda de los materiales de proximidad equivalentes o iguales a los originales. En este marco aparece un mortero original con función de impermeabilizar el interior del depósito, confeccionado con cal y chamota. Se trata de una solución tradicional, que en Menorca se conoce como “trespol”. La finalidad de la investigación que aquí se presenta es obtener un mortero similar a este. Para ello se ha experimentado con diferentes formulaciones que usan como base la cal, chamota (teja triturada), harina de mármol y arena: la primera se basa en el uso parcial de cal viva (hot lime) y reductores de agua tradicionales, juntamente con la cal añeja, la chamota y la granulometría adecuada de arena; arena; la segunda se basa simplemente en un mortero de cal añeja, chamota y arena. En lo referente a los materiales se estudian tres tipos de cales: cal dolomítica obtenida de forma tradicional en la isla de Menorca, cal cálcica obtenida industrialmente en el continente y una cal hidráulica también industrial; variando las proporciones de aditivos reductores de agua. Se realizan ensayos en fresco de las diferentes formulaciones (consistencia, retracción, densidad y aire ocluido); ensayos mecánicos de la capa base, y por último se verifica la permeabilidad, ángulo de contacto, retracción e hinchamiento en el conjunto de las diferentes capas. Como conclusión del trabajo se han discutido los resultados y se ha valorado la influencia de los diferentes materiales y dosificaciones en el comportamiento de los morteros. Así mismo, se han formulado varios tipos de morteros que por sus características se podrían utilizar en la restauración del citado Aljibe.In march 2018; the Es Mercadal cistern at Menorca, Spain, collapsed. This heritage landmark dates back to the eighteenth century, when it was under British ruling. In spite of its antiquity, the cistern has been in constant use, for a span of more than thirty years supplying clean water to the nearby community. The proposed restoration aims to reconstruct the currently affected elements of the cistern with very primitive techniques, maintaining the historical construction processes. We began our process, by characterizing mortars, and looking for materials as close to the originals. The scope therefore focuses on recreating a waterproofing mortar for the interior of the deposit with a mixture of lime and chamotte. This technique known as ‘trepol’ is traditional to Menorca. In order to find viable results, several material studies have been conducted mixing lime, chamotte, marble flour and sand. The first study has a base of hot lime and traditional water reductants, which in itself are combined with aged lime, chamotte and specific sand granulometry. The second has an aged lime mortar, chamotte and sand base. The two bases are then studied in conjunction with three types of lime; dolomitic lime obtained traditionally from the island of Menorca, calcium lime and hydraulic lime obtained industrially from the continent, each varying in the proportions of water-reducing additives. Fresh tests were conducted for the different formulations (consistency, retraction, density and occluded air); mechanical tests of the base layer, permeability of liquid water, permeability of water vapor, angle of contact, retraction and expansion of the different layers. In conclusion, the study produced several discussion points in regards to the studies, valuing the material and dosage impact in the behavior of the mortar mixture. Thus, the formulation of several mixtures has produced a series of viable options to be used in the aforementioned cistern

Diseño de estrategias basadas en factores de éxito para la incubadora de emprendedores

El presente estudio mantiene como objetivo principal determinar los factores de éxito que influyen la formación de los integrantes del grupo de semilleros de emprendimiento de la Facultad de Ciencias Administrativas de la Universidad de Guayaquil, seleccionando como objetos de estudio a alumnos de la Facultad de Ciencias Administrativas que mantengan emprendimientos activos. Realizando una investigación de campo enfocada en encuestas a estudiantes y entrevistas a docentes involucrados al emprendimiento. Se puede resaltar mediante los resultados obtenidos que los estudiantes se mostraron muy interesados en participar nuevamente en la Incubadora de Emprendimiento dirigida por la facultad, mostrando un alto porcentaje de respuestas positivas ante las interrogantes creadas para la encuesta. La propuesta planteada se basa en diseñar estrategias basadas en los factores de éxito y su difusión, logrando así que los grupos de emprendedores tengan una mayor participación dentro de estos modelos, de la misma manera, se logrará obtener una ventaja competitiva ante el mercado comercial, el mismo que dispone de una alta competencia.The herein study maintains as the main objective to determine factors success that influence the training for members of the entrepreneurship groups called “semilleros” of the Facultad de Ciencias Administrativas de la Universidad de Guayaquil. The project is choosing as objects of study students of the Facultad de Ciencias Administrativas that have active enterprising. Performing a field research focused in surveys to students, and interviews to professors involved in entrepreneurship, through the obtained outcome, it can highlight that students showed very interested in participating again in the entrepreneurship incubator leaded by Facultad, and showing a high percentage of positive answers face the questions created in the survey. The propose take part in design strategies based in the success factors, and their diffusion achieving that the entrepreneurship groups have major participation inside these models. In the same way, it will achieve obtaining a competitive advantage face the trading market, itself that counts with a high competition

Sistema contra incendio del bosque aledaño al Parque Vulcano

The risk of forest fires has existed for thousands of years to preserve existing green areas and wildlife for future generations. This project has progressed over time, getting great hydrological and engineering advancements to optimize the mitigation of forest fire. Today it has increasingly modern devices that can be implemented in this sprinkler, which can be optimized with smoke detectors or even pumps fog. This project discusses a system for forest fire hydrants means at specific points; the method is adapted to be easy implementation in forests with different types of trees and wildlife. It is characterized by high flow hydrant with a quick accessibility, thus not allowing fast spread of fire and isolates the fire as soon possible. With a focus on preserving forests and wildlife every project has an environmental impact, which can be positive or negative, so it should conduct a detailed study on the subject that in this specific case can be reduced as much possible the damage produced on flora and fauna of the forest, also the civil project is the same and must be economically applicable.El riesgo de incendios forestales ha existido por miles de años para poder preservar las áreas verdes y vida salvaje existente para futuras generaciones. Este proyecto ha ido avanzando a través del tiempo, obteniendo grandes avances hidrológicos e ingenieriles para optimizar la mitigación de fuego en los bosques. En la actualidad se dispone de dispositivos cada vez más modernos que se pueden implementar en este sistema contra incendio, el cual puede ser optimizado con sensores de humo o incluso bombas de niebla. El presente trabajo trata sobre un sistema contra incendios forestales por medio hidrantes en puntos específicos, método que se adapta a la facilidad de implementación en bosques con diferentes tipos de árboles y vida silvestre. Se caracteriza por hidrante de caudal elevado con una rápida accesibilidad para el usuario, de esta manera no permitir la extensión rápida del fuego y aislar el incendio lo más pronto posible. Con un enfoque de preservar los bosques y la vida silvestre todo proyecto tiene un impacto ambiental, que puede ser positivo o negativo, por lo cual se debe realizar un estudio detallado sobre el tema para que en este caso específico se pueda reducir los más posible el daño producido en la flora y fauna del bosque que se encuentra el proyecto civil, el mismo que debe ser económica mente viable

MOLA: a bootable, self-configuring system for virtual screening using AutoDock4/Vina on computer clusters

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Virtual screening of small molecules using molecular docking has become an important tool in drug discovery. However, large scale virtual screening is time demanding and usually requires dedicated computer clusters. There are a number of software tools that perform virtual screening using AutoDock4 but they require access to dedicated Linux computer clusters. Also no software is available for performing virtual screening with Vina using computer clusters. In this paper we present MOLA, an easy-to-use graphical user interface tool that automates parallel virtual screening using AutoDock4 and/or Vina in bootable non-dedicated computer clusters.</p> <p>Implementation</p> <p>MOLA automates several tasks including: ligand preparation, parallel AutoDock4/Vina jobs distribution and result analysis. When the virtual screening project finishes, an open-office spreadsheet file opens with the ligands ranked by binding energy and distance to the active site. All results files can automatically be recorded on an USB-flash drive or on the hard-disk drive using VirtualBox. MOLA works inside a customized Live CD GNU/Linux operating system, developed by us, that bypass the original operating system installed on the computers used in the cluster. This operating system boots from a CD on the master node and then clusters other computers as slave nodes via ethernet connections.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>MOLA is an ideal virtual screening tool for non-experienced users, with a limited number of multi-platform heterogeneous computers available and no access to dedicated Linux computer clusters. When a virtual screening project finishes, the computers can just be restarted to their original operating system. The originality of MOLA lies on the fact that, any platform-independent computer available can he added to the cluster, without ever using the computer hard-disk drive and without interfering with the installed operating system. With a cluster of 10 processors, and a potential maximum speed-up of 10x, the parallel algorithm of MOLA performed with a speed-up of 8,64× using AutoDock4 and 8,60× using Vina.</p

Template for Developing Guidelines for the Evaluation of the Clinical Efficacy of Psychophysiological Interventions

An essential function of both the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB) and the Society for Neuronal Regulation (SNR) is the systematic evaluation of psychophysiological interventions that have been developed for the treatment of medical and psychiatric disorders. In order to address scientific concerns regarding the efficacy of specific clinical applications of biofeedback, these two societies formed and Efficacy Task Force. The process to be used in the assessment of treatment efficacy, specificity and clinical utility is presented in the form of a template that will serve as the foundation for a series of scientific reviews and practice guidlines to be published by both societies

Trends in yearly prevalence of third-generation cephalosporin and fluoroquinolone resistant Enterobacteriaceae infections and antimicrobial use in Spanish hospitals, Spain, 1999 to 2010

Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterobacter spp. are a major cause of infections in hospitalised patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate rates and trends of resistance to third-generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones in infected patients, the trends in use for these antimicrobials, and to assess the potential correlation between both trends. The database of national point prevalence study series of infections and antimicrobial use among patients hospitalised in Spain over the period from 1999 to 2010 was analysed. On average 265 hospitals and 60,000 patients were surveyed per year yielding a total of 19,801 E. coli, 3,004 K. pneumoniae and 3,205 Enterobacter isolates. During the twelve years period, we observed significant increases for the use of fluoroquinolones (5.8%–10.2%, p<0.001), but not for third-generation cephalosporins (6.4%–5.9%, p=NS). Resistance to third-generation cephalosporins increased significantly for E. coli (5%–15%, p<0.01) and for K. pneumoniae infections (4%–21%, p<0.01) but not for Enterobacter spp. (24%). Resistance to fluoroquinolones increased significantly for E. coli (16%– 30%, p<0.01), for K. pneumoniae (5%–22%, p<0.01), and for Enterobacter spp. (6%–15%, p<0.01). We found strong correlations between the rate of fluoroquinolone use and the resistance to fluoroquinolones, third-generation cephalosporins, or co-resistance to both, for E. coli (R=0.97, p<0.01, R=0.94, p<0.01, and R=0.96, p<0.01, respectively), and for K. pneumoniae (R=0.92, p<0.01, R=0.91, p<0.01, and R=0.92, p<0.01, the use of third-generation cephalosporins and resistance to any of the latter antimicrobials. No significant correlations could be found for Enterobacter spp.. Knowledge of the trends in antimicrobial resistance and use of antimicrobials in the hospitalised population at the national level can help to develop prevention strategiesSupported by the Fondo para la investigación, Spanish Ministry of Health, grant PI07/90255

Bio/neurofeedback

ResumenLas técnicas de biofeedback (BF) desarrolladas desde los años 60 por la psicología tienen ya una larga historia, en la que han demostrado su utilidad y eficacia terapéutica en una considerable variedad de trastornos clínicos: neurológicos, neuromusculares, cardiovasculares, gastrointestinales, dolores crónicos, problemas dermatológicos, de sueño, respiratorios, trastornos traumáticos y de estrés, entre muchos otros. Entre las aplicaciones prácticas del BF destaca de modo especial el biofeedback electroencefalográfico (BF-EEG), denominado neurofeedback (NF), cuya importancia y aplicaciones clínicas ha crecido y continua creciendo aceleradamente gracias al importante desarrollo acaecido en los campos de la neurociencia y la informática sobre los que se sustenta el NF. El trabajo presentado describe y analiza de forma práctica el proceso y la técnica del BF y del NF, además de sus fundamentos metodológicos, pero, sobre todo, examina desde un punto de vista crítico las principales aplicaciones clínicas de las mismas junto al nivel de utilidad y eficacia terapéutica alcanzado en la actualidad.AbstractBiofeedback (BF) techniques were developed by psychology in the 1960s having then a long history in which they have proved their usefulness and therapeutic efficacy in a considerable variety of clinical disorders: neurologic, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, chronic pain, dermatological, sleep, respiratory, trauma and stress, among many other disorders. Practical applications of the BF include in particular Electroencephalographic Biofeedback (BF-EEG), known as Neurofeedback (NF), whose importance and clinical applications have grown and continue to grow rapidly thanks to the significant development in the fields of neuroscience and computer science on which NF rests. This paper describes and analyzes the technique and process of BF and NF, apart from their methodological foundations but, above all, from a critical point of view, the paper examines their main clinical applications together with the level of utility and therapeutic effectiveness currently achieved

Impacto de la canasta transfronteriza en la rentabilidad de las empresas comercializadoras de electrodomésticos en la ciudad de Tulcán en el año 2016

The main objective of this work is to determine the impact of cross-border basket on the profitability of the sales companies of electrical appliances in the city of Tulcán during the year of 2016. This study is based on the initial diagnosis of cross-border basket covered by resolution 039 – 2015 of the Foreign Trade Committee, adopted as a driving mechanism of the economy of the Tulcán city, since, according to the tariff resolution enacted, led to know that 3739 taxpayers are benefited from this resolution and 23 are taxpayers dedicated to sale household appliances which are the population subject to study. The research project has been focused on quantitative data, based on financial information, with results obtained from surveys, collecting economic data for traders….El objetivo principal de este trabajo es determinar el impacto de la canasta transfronteriza en la rentabilidad de las empresas comercializadoras de electrodomésticos en la Ciudad de Tulcán en el año 2016. Este estudio se basa en el diagnóstico inicial de la Canasta Transfronteriza amparada por la resolución 039 – 2015 del Comité de Comercio Exterior, adoptada como un mecanismo impulsador de la economía para dicha ciudad, ya que, según análisis a la resolución arancelaria decretada, llevó a conocer que 3739 contribuyentes son beneficiados de dicha resolución y 23 son los contribuyentes dedicados al comercio de electrodomésticos que son la población sujeta a estudio. El proyecto de investigación se enfocó en datos cuantitativos, basándose en información financiera, con resultados obtenidos de encuestas y la recolección de datos económicos de los comerciantes de los electrodomésticos de Tulcán…