UNION STRUCTURE AND THE INCENTIVES FOR INNOVATION IN OLIGOPOLY

In this paper we consider the effect of union structure on the adoption of innovation in the context of Cournot duopoly. With a market size large enough we show that the incentive to innovate is higher under a decentralized union structure (with each firm facing its own independent union) than under an industry-wide union. However, for a small market size (or, equivalently, for sufficiently drastic potential innovation) the new technology is more likely to be adopted in the presence of a centralized union. This result goes against the conventional view that unionization harms the incentive to innovate.Oligopoly, Unions, Innovation.

Blood chemistry of wild brazilian coscoroba swans during molt

The Coscoroba Swan (Coscoroba coscoroba) is an unusual member of the Anatidae found in South America, from the Falkland Islands and Tierra del Fuego through Chile and Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay as far north as Mato Grosso do Sul in Brazil. The species is not threatened globally, but some local populations have declined and the status of others is unknown. The objective of this study was to quantify the plasma chemistry of a wild population of Coscoroba Swans in southern Brazil during their molting period. We captured 12 chicks, 14 juveniles, and 31 mature birds. The following blood parameters were measured: glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, uric acid, creatin-kinase, aspartate amino transferase, alanine-aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, and pancreatic amylase. Significant differences between males and females were not observed for any of the parameters, and only the levels of alkaline phosphatase differed significantly among age groups. © Wildlife Disease Association 2010.Peer Reviewe

Diseñando una fábrica del Futuro con la Internet de las Cosas. Una experiencia práctica

[ES] Actualmente muchas empresas están considerando en automatizar al máximo las tareas que se realizan dentro de las fábricas, desde que entra la materia prima, hasta finalizar todos los procesos requeridos para convertir dicha materia en un producto final. Este concepto esta conocido como Industria 4.0 (industria inteligente). Esta revolución aporta a la empresa nuevas tecnologías como la analítica, la inteligencia artificial, nanotecnología, el IOT (internet de las cosas) y la robótica entre otras. Uno de los problemas principales que nos encontramos en el IOT, es que todos los recursos que debemos utilizar para comunicar cada proceso virtual de la producción suelen hacerse con tecnologías completamente diferentes y con información cuya estructura es también diferente. Por lo tanto, es complicado que todos los sistemas tengan una comunicación e integración fácil de implementar. En este documento mostraremos una experiencia práctica de cómo automatizar los procesos para hacer más eficiente la cadena de producción y mejorar la experiencia de trabajo para los empleados de la empresa EMBALPACK.[CA] Actualment moltes empreses estan considerant a automatitzar al màxim les tasques que es fan dins l’empresa, des que entra la matèria primera fins que acaben tots els processos per a convertir aquesta matèria en el producte final. Aquest concepte és conegut amb el nom d’Indústria 4.0 (indústria intel·ligent). Aquesta revolució aporta a l’empresa noves tecnologies com ara l’analítica, la intel·ligència artificial, la nanotecnologia, l’IOT (l’internet de les coses) i la robòtica, entre altres. Un dels problemes principals que ens trobem en l’IOT és que totes les comunicacions que fem servir per a comunicar cada procés virtual de la producció solen fer-se amb tecnologies completament diferents, i l’estructura de la seua informació també és diferent. Per tant, és complicat que tots els sistemes tinguen una comunicació i una integració fàcils d’implementar. En aquest document mostrarem una experiència pràctica de com automatitzar els processos per a fer més eficient la cadena de producció i millorar l’experiència de treball per als empleats de l’empresa EMBALPACK.[EN] Nowadays, a lot of companies are considering automate the processes that the company has. Starting from the input of the raw materials all the way up to transforming those inputs into final products. This concept is known as Industry 4.0 or smart industry. This is a revolution that involves analytics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, IOT (Internet of Things), robotics, etc., One of the main problems that we have to face with the IOT is that all the communications that we have to use between each virtual production process, are normally done with completely different technologies and structure. Therefore, is highly complicated that all systems have an efficient communication and easy integration. During the current document we will show a practical case of how to automate all the processes in order to make all the production process more efficient and to ease and improve work experience for employees to the company EMBALPACK.Tortosa Calabuig, M. (2019). Diseñando una fábrica del Futuro con la Internet de las Cosas. Una experiencia práctica. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/128454TFG

Morphometric sex determination of young Ospreys Pandion haliaetus using discriminant analysis

Capsule Discriminant functions based on morphometric variables provide a reliable method for sex identification of free-living and hacked young Ospreys. Aims To describe an easy, accurate and low-cost method for sex determination of fully grown nestling and fledgling Ospreys Pandion haliaetus based on morphometric measurements. Methods Four different measurements were taken in 114 birds (40-73 days old) and a DNA analysis, using PCR amplification, was carried out for sex identification. A forward stepwise discriminant analysis was performed to build the best explanatory discriminant models, which were subsequently validated using statistics and external samples. Results Our best discriminant function retained forearm and tarsus as the best predictor variables and classified 95.1% of the sample correctly, supported also by external cross-validations with both hacked and free-living birds. Moreover, a discriminant function with only forearm as predictor showed a similar high correct classification power (93.4%). Conclusions These discriminant functions can be used as a reliable and immediate method for sex determination of young Ospreys since they showed high discriminant accuracy, close to that of molecular procedures, and were supported by external cross-validations, both for free-living and hacked birds. Thus, these morphometric measurements should be considered as standard tools for future scientific studies and management of Osprey populations. © 2010 British Trust for Ornithology.Peer Reviewe

Imbalances in faecal and duodenal Bifidobacterium species composition in active and non-active coeliac disease

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Gut bifidobacteria are believed to influence immune-related diseases. The objective of this study was to assess the possible relationships between the gut bifidobacteria composition and coeliac disease (CD) in children.</p> <p>A total of 48 faecal samples (30 and 18 samples from active and no active CD patients, respectively) and 33 duodenal biopsy specimens of CD patients (25 and 8 samples from active and non-active CD patients, respectively) were analysed. Samples (30 faecal samples and 8 biopsies) from a control age-matched group of children were also included for comparative purposes. Gut <it>Bifidobacterium </it>genus and species were analyzed by real-time PCR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Active and non-active CD patients showed lower numbers of total <it>Bifidobacterium </it>and <it>B. longum </it>species in faeces and duodenal biopsies than controls, and these differences were particularly remarkable between active CD patients and controls. <it>B. catenulatum </it>prevalence was higher in biopsies of controls than in those of active and non-active CD patients, whereas <it>B. dentium </it>prevalence was higher in faeces of non-active CD patients than in controls. Correlations between levels of <it>Bifidobacterium </it>and <it>B. longum </it>species in faecal and biopsy samples were detected in both CD patients and controls.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Reductions in total <it>Bifidobacterium </it>and <it>B. longum </it>populations were associated with both active and non-active CD when compared to controls. These bacterial groups could constitute novel targets for adjuvant dietary therapies although the confirmation of this hypothesis would require further investigations.</p

Bifidobacterium strains suppress in vitro the pro-inflammatory milieu triggered by the large intestinal microbiota of coeliac patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Coeliac disease (CD) is an enteropathy characterized by an aberrant immune response to cereal-gluten proteins. Although gluten peptides and microorganisms activate similar pro-inflammatory pathways, the role the intestinal microbiota may play in this disorder is unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess whether the faecal microbiota of coeliac patients could contribute to the pro-inflammatory milieu characteristic of CD and the possible benefits of bifidobacteria.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The effect of faeces of 26 CD patients with active disease (mean age 5.5 years, range 2.1–12.0 years), 18 symptom-free coeliac disease (SFCD) patients (mean age 5.5 years, range 1.0–12.3 years) on a gluten-free diet for 1–2 years; and 20 healthy children (mean age 5.3 years, range 1.8–10.8 years) on induction of cytokine production and surface antigen expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were determined. The possible regulatory roles of <it>Bifidobacterium longum </it>ES1 and <it>B. bifidum </it>ES2 co-incubated with faecal samples were also assessed <it>in vitro</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Faeces of both active CD and SFCD patients, representing an imbalanced microbiota, significantly increased TNF-α production and CD86 expression in PBMCs, while decreased IL-10 cytokine production and CD4 expression compared with control samples. Active CD-patient samples also induced significantly higher IFN-γ production compared with controls. However, <it>Bifidobacterium </it>strains suppressed the pro-inflammatory cytokine pattern induced by the large intestinal content of CD patients and increased IL-10 production. Cytokine effects induced by faecal microbiota seemed to be mediated by the NFκB pathway.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The intestinal microbiota of CD patients could contribute to the Th1 pro-inflammatory milieu characteristic of the disease, while <it>B. longum </it>ES1 and <it>B. bifidum </it>ES2 could reverse these deleterious effects. These findings hold future perspectives of interest in CD therapy.</p

MMP-2 and sTNF-R1 variability in patients with essential hypertension: 1-year follow-up study

The aim of this study is to analyze MMP-2 and sTNF-R1 variability, potent predictors of cardiovascular events, in stable hypertensive patients during a 12-month followup. 234 asymptomatic patients (age 6 0 ± 1 3 , 136 male) out of 252 patients with essential hypertension were followed up. MMP-2 and sTNF-R1 were measured at baseline and after 12 months (stage I). To compare MMP-2 and sTNF-R1 levels over time interval, we used the statistical method of Bland-Altman. MMP-2 and sTNF-R1 reproducibility was good in our patients for the two intervals with a coefficient of reproducibility of 8.2% and 11.3%, respectively. The percentages of patients within 1.96 × standard deviation of the mean were 93.6% and 92.7%. An elevated coefficient of correlation was obtained for MMP-2, basal versus stage I

Characterization of coronary plaques with combined use of intravascular ultrasound, virtual histology and optical coherence tomography

According to post-mortem studies, luminal thrombosis occurs from plaque rupture, erosion and calcified nodules. In vivo studies have found thin cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) as the main vulnerable lesion, prone to rupture. Few data about other post-mortem lesions have been reported in vivo. Our main objective is to characterize in vivo the coronary plaques with intravascular ultrasound-virtual histology (IVUS-VH) and optical coherence tomography (OCT), in order to detect not only thin cap fibroatheroma (TCFA), but also other possible vulnerable lesions. The secondary objective is to correlate these findings with clinical and analytical data. Twenty-five patients (18 stable) submitted to coronary angiography were included in this pilot study. After angiography, the three vessels were studied (when possible) with IVUS-VH and OCT. Plaque characteristics were correlated with clinical and analytical data. Forty-six lesions were analyzed. IVUS-VH detected significant necrotic core in 15 (3 were definite TCFA). OCT detected TCFA in 10 lesions, erosion in 6, thrombus in 5 and calcified nodule in 8. Possible vulnerable lesion was found in 61% of stable and 57% of unstable patients. Erosions and calcified nodules were only found in stable patients. Those with significant necrotic core had higher body mass index (P=0.016), higher levels of hs-CRP (P=0.019) and triglycerides (P=0.040). The higher the levels of hs-CRP, the larger the size of the necrotic core (r=0.69, P=0.003). Lesions with characteristics of vulnerability were detected by IVUS-VH and OCT in more than 50% of stable and unstable coronary patients. A significant necrotic core was mainly correlated with higher hs-CRP

Intestinal dysbiosis and reduced immunoglobulin-coated bacteria associated with coeliac disease in children

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Coeliac disease is a chronic intestinal inflammatory disorder due to an aberrant immune response to dietary gluten proteins in genetically predisposed individuals. Mucosal immune response through IgA secretion constitutes a first line of defence responsible for neutralizing noxious antigens and pathogens. The aim of this study was the characterization of the relationships between immunoglobulin-coated bacteria and bacterial composition of faeces of coeliac disease (CD) patients, untreated and treated with a gluten-free diet (GFD) and healthy controls.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>IgA-coated faecal bacterial levels were significantly lower in both untreated and treated CD patients than in healthy controls. IgG and IgM-coated bacterial levels were also significantly lower in treated CD patients than in untreated CD patients and controls. Gram-positive to Gram-negative bacteria ratio was significantly reduced in both CD patients compared to controls. <it>Bifidobacterium</it>, <it>Clostridium histolyticum</it>, <it>C. lituseburense </it>and <it>Faecalibacterium prausnitzii </it>group proportions were less abundant (<it>P </it>< 0.050) in untreated CD patients than in healthy controls. <it>Bacteroides-Prevotella </it>group proportions were more abundant (<it>P </it>< 0.050) in untreated CD patients than in controls. Levels of IgA coating the <it>Bacteroides-Prevotella </it>group were significantly reduced (<it>P </it>< 0.050) in both CD patients in comparison with healthy controls.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In CD patients, reduced IgA-coated bacteria is associated with intestinal dysbiosis, which altogether provide new insights into the possible relationships between the gut microbiota and the host defences in this disorder.</p

Learning Like a Machine: Introducing Artificial Intelligence Into Secondary Education

[EN] Artificial intelligence is present in the usual environment of all high school students. However, the general population—and students in particular—do not know how these algorithmic techniques work, which often have very simple mechanisms and can be explained at an elementary level in mathematics or technology classes in the Secondary Education. Possibly these contents will take many years to form part of the curricula of these subjects, but they can be introduced as part of the algebra contents that are explained in mathematics, or those related to the algorithms, in the computer lectures. Especially if they are proposed in the form of a game, in which different groups of students can compete, as we propose in this article. Thus, we present a very simple example of an algorithm of teaching of reinforcement (Machine Learning-Reinforcement Learning), that synthesizes in a playful activity the fundamental elements that constitute an algorithm of artificial intelligence.[ES] La inteligencia artificial está presente en el entorno habitual de todos los estudiantes de secundaria. Sin embargo, la población general -y los alumnos en particular- no conocen cómo funcionan estas técnicas algorítmicas, que muchas veces tienen mecanismos muy sencillos y que pueden explicarse a nivel elemental en las clases de matemáticas o de tecnología en los Institutos de Enseñanza Secundaria (IES). Posiblemente estos contenidos tardarán muchos años en formar parte de los currículos de estas asignaturas, pero se pueden introducir como parte de los contenidos de álgebra que se explican en matemáticas, o de los relacionados con los algoritmos, en las clases de informática. Sobre todo si se plantean en forma de juego, en los que pueden competir diferentes grupos de estudiantes, tal y como proponemos en este artículo. Así, presentamos un ejemplo muy simple de un algoritmo de aprendizaje por refuerzo (Machine Learning-Reinforcement Learning), que sintetiza en una actividad lúdica los elementos fundamentales que constituyen un algoritmo de inteligencia artificial.Calabuig Rodriguez, JM.; García Raffi, LM.; Sánchez Pérez, EA. (2021). Aprender como una máquina: introduciendo la Inteligencia Artificial en la enseñanza secundaria. Modelling in Science Education and Learning. 14(1):5-14. https://doi.org/10.4995/msel.2021.15022OJS514141Calvo J. (2020). Hay que enseñar Inteligencia Artificial desde los primeros niveles educativos. Educación 3.0 https://www.educaciontrespuntocero.com/entrevistas/ensenarinteligencia-artificial-niveles-educativos/Cobos M., R-Moreno M.D., Barrero D.F. (2020). R2P2: Un simulador robótico para la enseñanza de Inteligencia Artificial. Actas de las Jenui 5, 285-92.Gross B. (1992). La inteligencia artificial y su aplicación en la enseñanza. Comunicación, lenguaje y educación 4(13), 73-80. https://doi.org/10.1080/02147033.1992.10821001Weng L. (2018). A (Long) Peek into Reinforcement Learning. https://lilianweng.github.io/lil-log/2018/02/19/a-long-peek-intoreinforcement-learning.htmlUrretavizcaya M., Onaindía E. (2002). Docencia Universitaria de Inteligencia Artificial. Revista Iberoamericana de Inteligencia Artificial 6(17), 23-32. https://doi.org/10.4114/ia.v6i17.73