Equity in Latin America Since the 1990s

This paper deals with the social welfare consequences of the stagnation of Latin American growth per capita during the far-reaching economic and social changes that took place during the period 1980-2003. This period of transformation saw large-scale foreign actors gradually increase their economic and political power in Latin America, with negative consequences for domestic economies, especially in terms of increasing income inequality and rising poverty. The only major tendency mitigating these adverse trends was an increase in public expenditure in the social sector during the 1990s, which offset, but did not eliminate, the increased inequality associated with the economic transformation.Latin America, economic change, poverty, income distribution, social policy, health,education

Aplicación de la tecnología GPS para la cuantificación del proceso de readaptación de una lesión de ligamento lateral externo de tobillo: estudio de un caso

GPS y readaptació

Evolución de la longitud de zancada en la prueba de 60 metros vallas

La investigación científica acerca de la longitud de las zancadas en la prueba de vallas altas, tanto en pista cubierta como aire libre, se ha llevado a cabo mediante estudios en dos y tres dimensiones o empleando técnicas similares. Dichos estudios se han desarrollado bien sobre una o dos vallas o analizando el intervalo entre ellas. De este modo, existen referencias sobre la longitud de la zancada en el paso de la segunda valla [3], más frecuentemente sobre la tercera, cuarta o quinta valla [4] y, en ocasiones, analizando la octava o novena valla [2]. En cualquier caso, estos trabajos no han sido realizados sobre todos los deportistas que competían en la serie y, frecuentemente, se han llevado a cabo en condiciones de entrenamiento. Es por ello que el objetivo de la presente investigación fuese conocer cuáles eran los valores en competición a lo largo de toda la prueba en una amplia muestra de atletas, analizando la posible existencia de variaciones en la longitud de zancada entre las vallas

Social Security reform in Spain

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 2001.Includes bibliographical references (p. 91-92).The Spanish public pension system is currently based on the pay as you go (PA YOO) principle. This thesis examines the current structure of this public system and its financial viability in the face of expected demographic changes. First, demographic and macroeconomic models were created extending out to 2050 and, based on them, the finances of the system were estimated assuming that the current regulations would remain largely unchanged. The simulations indicate that the system will show small surpluses for the next years followed by an alarming deterioration beyond 2020, mainly driven by demographic factors such as increasing life expectancy and the reduction in fertility rate observed in the last two decades. The baseline demographic and macroeconomic scenario results in a projected deficit of about 7% of GDP by 2045. This outlook includes a reduction of unemployment and an increase in labor force participation within reasonable limits. It is also shown that high immigration, fertility and productivity growth, again, within reasonable limits, while improving the financial outlook, do not resolve the issue. Without significant reforms, the system will be faced with a reduction in benefits and/or an increase in the payroll-tax by the second quarter of this century. The model is further used to test the effectiveness of potential reforms. We conclude that a permanent solution could be supported on three pillars: 1. The creation of a Pension Fund with the surpluses of the PAYOO system and a creative investment policy such as that recommended by Modigliani et al. 2. The contribution of the prospective surpluses from the unemployment system (INEM) to the fund during a transitory period. 3. Reforms in the pension calculating procedures that will foster participation in the labor force and eliminate some of the distortions introduced by the current system. These reforms would maintain financial viability without having to raise the payroll-tax. Furthermore, the tax could be reduced gradually beyond 2045. Additionally, this reform would combine advantages from funded pension systems, such as deepening of the capital stock and consolidation of the financial markets, with those of PAYOO schemes, such as their redistributive aspects and "defined benefit" character.by Pedro Sainz de Baranda.M.B.A

Nutrient limitation suppresses the temperature dependence of phytoplankton metabolic rates

Climate warming has the potential to alter ecosystem function through temperature-dependent changes in individual metabolic rates. The temperature sensitivity of phytoplankton metabolism is especially relevant, since these microorganisms sustain marine food webs and are major drivers of biogeochemical cycling. Phytoplankton metabolic rates increase with temperature when nutrients are abundant, but it is unknown if the same pattern applies under nutrient-limited growth conditions, which prevail over most of the ocean. Here we use continuous cultures of three cosmopolitan and biogeochemically relevant species (Synechococcus sp., Skeletonema costatum and Emiliania huxleyi) to determine the temperature dependence (activation energy, Ea) of metabolism under different degrees of nitrogen (N) limitation. We show that both CO2 fixation and respiration rates increase with N supply but are largely insensitive to temperature. Ea of photosynthesis (0.11 ± 0.06 eV, mean ± SE) and respiration (0.04 ± 0.17 eV) under N-limited growth is significantly smaller than Ea of growth rate under nutrient-replete conditions (0.77 ± 0.06 eV). The reduced temperature dependence of metabolic rates under nutrient limitation can be explained in terms of enzyme kinetics, because both maximum reaction rates and half-saturation constants increase with temperature. Our results suggest that the direct, stimulating effect of rising temperatures upon phytoplankton metabolic rates will be circumscribed to ecosystems with high-nutrient availabilityMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad | Ref. CTM2014-53582-

Diseño y validación de un cuestionario sobre la percepción del deportista respecto a su reincorporación al entrenamiento tras una lesión

El presente estudio tiene como objetivo diseñar y validar un cuestionario que mida la percepción que tiene el deportista lesionado en relación a su RTP a corto plazo. Para la validación del instrumento se aplicó la metodología Dephi para la validez de contenido, en el que participaron un total de 16 jueces expertos. Para el cálculo de la validez concurrente, se utilizó como gold standard diferentes pruebas físicas (medidas antropométricas, prueba de velocidad 8x5, y prueba de Barrow), psicológicas (ansiedad estado y estados de ánimo) y médicas (proceso de progresión funcional y percepción de dolor). Los resultados señalan que la puesta en práctica de la herramienta en un contexto deportivo de nivel profesional invita a pensar en adecuados niveles de validez y utilidad del instrumento como complemento a otro tipo de pruebas y valoraciones.This study aims to design and validate a questionnaire that measures the perception of the injured athlete regarding their short-term RTP. For the validation of the instrument the Delphi methodology for content validity, involving a total of 16 expert judges, was applied. For the calculation of the concurrent validity, different physical (anthropometric measurements, 8x5 speed test and Barrow test), psychological (anxiety state and moods) and medical (process of functional progression and perception pain) tests were used as gold standard. The results show that the implementation of the questionnaire in a sports context invites professional to think of appropriate levels of validity and utility of the instrument as a complement to other tests and assessments.O presente estudo teve como objectivo delinear e validar um questionário que meça a percepção que tem um desportista lesionado relativamente à sua reintegração no treino a curto-prazo. Para a validação do instrumento utilizou-se a metodologia Delphi para a validade de conteúdo, na qual participaram 16 júris especialistas. Para o cálculo da validade concorrente, foram utilizadas como critério padrão diferentes provas físicas (medidas antropométricas, prova de velocidade 8x5, e prova de Barrow), psicológicas (ansiedade estado e estados de humor) e médicas (processo de progressão funcional e percepção de dor). Os resultados enfatizam que a utilização desta ferramenta num contexto desportivo de nível profissional convida a pensar em adequados níveis de validade e utilidade do instrumento como complemento a outro tipo de testes e avaliações

Endogenous topoisomerase II-mediated DNA breaks drive thymic cancer predisposition linked to ATM deficiency

The ATM kinase is a master regulator of the DNA damage response to double-strand breaks (DSBs) and a well-established tumour suppressor whose loss is the cause of the neurodegenerative and cancer-prone syndrome Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T). A-T patients and Atm−/− mouse models are particularly predisposed to develop lymphoid cancers derived from deficient repair of RAG-induced DSBs during V(D)J recombination. Here, we unexpectedly find that specifically disturbing the repair of DSBs produced by DNA topoisomerase II (TOP2) by genetically removing the highly specialised repair enzyme TDP2 increases the incidence of thymic tumours in Atm−/− mice. Furthermore, we find that TOP2 strongly colocalizes with RAG, both genome-wide and at V(D)J recombination sites, resulting in an increased endogenous chromosomal fragility of these regions. Thus, our findings demonstrate a strong causal relationship between endogenous TOP2-induced DSBs and cancer development, confirming these lesions as major drivers of ATM-deficient lymphoid malignancies, and potentially other conditions and cancer types.Junta de Andalucía SAF2010-21017, SAF2013-47343-P, SAF2014-55532-R, SAF2017-89619-R, CVI-7948European Research Council ERC-CoG-2014-64735

The Oyambre Coastal Terrace: a Detailed Sedimentary Record of the Last Interglacial Stage in Northern Iberia (Cantabrian Coast, Spain)

A detailed study is presented of a 15.3-m-thick Pleistocene coastal terrace located on the Cantabrian coast (northern Spain). Stratigraphic, sedimentological, topographic and micropalaeontological information is combined with a chronology based on luminescence dating to characterize the deposits. The sedimentary succession records: (i) a basal transgressive system, consisting of a wave-cut surface covered by a lower layer of beach gravels and upper beach pebbly sands; and (ii) a thicker upper highstand system (aggrading), comprising medium to very fine aeolian sands interbedded with thin palustrine muds. Luminescence dating involved a detailed sampling strategy (36 samples and two modern analogues) and the use of both quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and feldspar post-infrared infrared stimulated luminescence single aliquot regeneration protocols; feldspar results were used to confirm the completeness of bleaching of the quartz OSL signal. The quartz OSL luminescence age-depth relationship shows significant dispersion, but nevertheless two rapid phases of deposition can be clearly identified: one at similar to 130 ka [Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage (MIS) 5] and one at similar to 100 ka (MIS 5c). The top of the succession is dated to similar to 70 ka. The MIS 5e marine maximum flooding surface is identified at an elevation of 6.85m above mean seal level. This elevation provides evidence of a regional sea-level highstand for this sector of the Cantabrian coast.This work was co-funded by projects Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad - MINECO (CGL2013-41083-P and RTI2018-095678-B-C21, MCIU/AEI/FEDER UE), Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea - UPV/EHU (UFI11/09), Eusko Jaurlaritza - EJ GV-1 (IT365-10, IT767-13 and IT976-16) and FundacAo Para a Ciencia e Tecnologia, with FEDER and COMPETE 2020 funds, through project UID/MAR/04292/2020 - MARE (Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre). This is contribution 44 of the Geo-Q Zentroa Research Unit (Joaquin Gomez de Llarena Laboratory). J.-P. Buylaert received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme ERC-2014-StG 639904 - RELOS