Cross-border cooperation (CBC) in Southern Europe-An iberian case study. The eurocity Elvas-Badajoz

The experiences of cross-border cooperation (CBC), undertaken not only in Europe but throughout the world, have enabled areas to gain greater importance in recent decades at an international level, showing potential for integrative functions and joint development as exemplified by several CBC projects. The present paper assesses the impact of CBC projects by analyzing a protocol established in 2013 between the cities of Elvas and Badajoz, which induced the creation of the Eurocity Elvas-Badajoz. The paper kicks off with a critical review on territorial factors for success in CBC areas, considering the analysis of several case studies throughout Europe. The lessons learned, taken from the analyzed case studies, and the identified territorial success factors were used as assessment points for the investigation of the target study area, the Eurocity Elvas-Badajoz. The investigation explores public participation perceptions towards the identification of what changes with respect to standards of life with the CBC project, providing the current state of affairs and identifying where to place efforts in order to reach sustainable development for the region. While being a transition area, it presents several opportunities for growth. These opportunities have not yet been object of analysis and debate with respect to lasting, sustainable successful growth. The present research enables the identification of several territorial factors for success in the study area, such as the connectivity/movement between cities and strong political commitment. From the identified critical factors, it was possible to highlight the importance of public transportation as a priority for achieving success in this CBC project.National Funds - FCT-Foundation for Science and Technology [UID/SOC/04020/2013

Consultoría para la determinación de brechas de seguridad en una red inalámbrica

Las redes inalámbricas cuentan con una excelente acogida gracias a sus características de flexibilidad y movilidad. Su falencia se encuentra en su medio de transmisión. El aire es un medio abierto que permite que cualquier receptor tenga acceso a los datos transmitidos en una WLAN. Existen muchos métodos para combatir los problemas de seguridad de las redes inalámbricas. El problema surge al momento de seleccionar la más adecuada. En este proyecto se realiza un análisis de los diferentes métodos de seguridad disponibles para las redes inalámbricas. Se realizó un caso de estudio en el cual se revisó las condiciones de seguridad de una red y se determinó e implementó un sistema de seguridad. Posteriormente se creó un procedimiento para realizar una consultoría que permita determinar las necesidades de seguridad de una WLAN para finalmente proponer tres soluciones que se ajustan a las necesidades de cada red. La implementación de una de estas soluciones más la correcta administración de la red inalámbrica permitirá una seguridad efectiva que haga posible aprovechar las ventajas de las WLAN

DO ECONOMIC SHOCKS MATTER? THE EFFECT OF THE ECONOMY ON PRESIDENTIAL SUPPORT

For decades researchers argued that individual’s political attitudes, perceptions and evaluations were explained by early political socialization principles or, on the other hand, they react to different stimuli from the environment. Party identification or changes in the state of the national economy turned into the biggest predictors or explanatory independent variables when analyzing individual’s political behavior. Campbell et al (1960) coined the term ``perceptual screen” when describing the effect that party identification had over the individuals. 60 years later, different authors argued in the same fashion. ``Partisans ignore or deflect information that is inconsistent with their party” (Green et al (2002)) or ``Political party is a crucial mediating force” (Lewis-Beck et al 2008). I use mediation analysis to introduce for the first time a systematic measurement of whether this mediation effect exists and how important is it. Bringing together individual’s responses to nationally representative surveys and national macroeconomic performance indicators, I start analyzing the US from 1980 to 2016. I expand the scope of my dissertation findings incorporating 17 Latin American countries from 2006 to 2016 and I finalize analyzing Chile from 1900 to 2017. My dissertation put together a multilevel regressions approach analyzing more than 235,000 cases across different political, economic and cultural institutions. I found that changes and shocks in the economy affect directly how individuals evaluate the state of the economy, not being mediated significantly by party identification. Party identification mediates economic perceptions on what I defined as the ``Responsibility attribution stage”, or when individuals reward or punish the incumbent due to their economic management. Almost 30% of the presidential support is mediated by party identification when attributing responsibility to the incumbent in the US. Only 15% of the attribution is mediated by party identification in Latin America and 9% in the Chilean case. I also found important differences respect to the effect of party identification once one considers if the party is in office or in the opposition. I argue that this is explained by different political institutions but also because individuals evaluate variables different than macroeconomic performances

Effectiveness of an Eye-Cervical Re-Education Program in Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Objectives. Proprioceptive training is popularly applied as a therapeutic exercise method in physiotherapy. Its effects on pain and range of motion are only poorly evaluated. Therefore, this study assesses the effectiveness of proprioceptive training with an Eye-Cervical Re-education Program to decrease pain and increase the joint range in chronic neck pain patients. Material and Methods. Design. A randomized, no-blinded, controlled clinical trial. Setting. Physiotherapy consultation. Participants. 44 people were divided into two groups. Interventions. All patients were treated with a multimodal physiotherapy intervention. The experimental group was supplemented with an exercise program that included eye-cervical proprioception. Outcomes. The primary outcomes included pain pressure thresholds (upper trapezius, levator scapulae, and splenius capitis) and cervical range of motion. The secondary outcomes included pain measured by the Visual Analogical Scale and the McGillSpv Questionnaire. Results. The proprioception treatment was effective in reducing the pain pressure threshold in the right upper trapezius (p=0.001), left upper trapezius (p=0.014), right levator scapula (p=0.040), and left splenius capitis (p=0.021). The increase in the joint range was statistically significant (p<0.05) in favor of the Eye-Cervical Re-education Program for all movements assessed. Conclusions. The Eye-Cervical Re-education Program is effective at relieving pain pressure thresholds in the upper trapezius, right levator scapula, and left splenius capitis and especially effective for increasing the cervical range of motion. This trial is registered with (retrospective registration)

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review

Background: Epidemiological studies have suggested a pathophysiological relationship between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this study is to evaluate the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in AD and its relationship with neurocognitive function improvement. Methods: Systematic review conducted following PRISMA's statements. Relevant studies were searched in MEDLINE, PEDro, SCOPUS, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL and SportDicus. Original studies in which CPAP treatment was developel in AD patients have been included. Results: 5 studies, 3 RCTs (Randomized controlled trials) and 2 pilot studies. In all RCTs the CPAP intervention was six weeks; 3 weeks of therapeutic CPAP vs. 3 weeks placebo CPAP (pCPAP) followed by 3 weeks tCPAP in patients with AD and OSA. The two pilot studies conducted a follow-up in which the impact on cognitive impairment was measured. Conclusions: CPAP treatment in AD patients decreases excessive daytime sleepiness and improves sleep quality. There are indications that cognitive deterioration function measured with the Mini Mental Scale decreases or evolves to a lesser extent in Alzheimer's patients treated with CPAP. Caregivers observe stabilization in disease progression with integration of CPAP. More research is needed on the topic presented

Modelamiento por homología de la estructura

La fosfolipasa A2 dependiente de calcio es de vital importancia en la biosíntesis de mediadores lipídicos, inflamatorios o eicosanoides, tales como: tromboxanos, leucotrienos y prostaglandinas. Para la fosfolipasa A2 dependiente de calciode 85 kDa presente en Rattus norvegicus, se conoce su estructura primaria (secuencia de aminoácidos), pero a pesar de su relevancia no existen reportes de sus estructuras secundarias y terciarias. En este estudio se obtuvieron y evaluaron los modelos de estructura terciaria mediante el uso de servidores de modelado y evaluación de proteínas vía Internet para la fosfolipasa A2 dependiente de calcio presente en células beta del páncreas de Rattus norvegicus. Los modelos 3D obtenidos de la cPLA2 estudiada pueden ser útiles en el diseño racional de experimentos de mutagénesis dirigida, para elucidar y comprender cuál puede ser el mecanismo de funcionamiento de dicha enzima o para el diseño de fármacos que se unan a ella