Non Catastrophic Endogenous Growth with Pollution and Abatment

When there are pollution externalities the competitive equilibrium is not Pareto-optimal nor environmentally sustainable even if abatment activities are endogenously decided. In this paper we introduce the possibility of an ecological catastrophe like the one predicted by the global climate change, imposing the constraint of an upper-limit to the pollutants stock. We characterize this socially optimal soclution and study conditions for the sustainability of the balanced growth path. We find a trade-off between environmental quality and growth. The rate of growth depends negatively on the weight of environmental care in the utility function and positively on the population growth rate. We show that the emissions reduction recommended in the Kioto protocol is an appropriate policy to avoid the ecological catastrophe and ensure global efficiency and positive long-run growth.Environment; Externalities; Optimal Growth, Ecological Catastrophe; Sustainability

Demographic Transition Environmental Concern and the Kuznets Curve

In an endogenous growth model with pollution and abatement we characterize the socially optimal solution. We find that the rate of growth depends negatively on the weight of environmental care in utility and positively on the population growth rate. We also find a trade-off between growth and environmental quality beyond which an environmental Kuznets curve is derived in the long term. This one emerges from the implications of the demographic transition for the rate of population growth, and the accompanying variation in the willingness to pay for environmental quality as the economy develops.Optimal Growth; Environment; Population Growth; Preferences

Analisis de la aplicación del comercio justo en los cultivos de cacao en la provincias del Guayas desde el año 2009 hasta 2013

La forma tradicional de hacer negocios se basa en el capitalismo sin regulaciones que constantemente margina a los pequeños agricultores, y atenta contra el bienestar del individuo y el medio ambiente. Durante el último siglo hemos sido testigos como las condiciones impuestas por el mercado nos llevan con más frecuencia al calentamiento social y al calentamiento global. Desde el fin de la Segunda Guerra Mundial se pudo apreciar el agotamiento del esquema actual y el nacimiento de movimientos alternativos en la forma de hacer negocios. Estos movimientos han evolucionado durante aproximadamente cincuenta años y se han agrupado en el campo de la responsabilidad social bajo el nombre de Comercio Justo. Desde un punto de vista superficial el Comercio Justo busca solamente acortar la distancia entre los pequeños agricultores y los clientes finales. Sin embargo sus objetivos son más trascendentales: se busca cumplir con los principios de inclusión social, proporcionar una remuneración justa que cubra los costos de producción, respetar al individuo y al medio ambiente. El presente trabajo aplica la investigación científica, debido a los medios utilizados será documental y de campo. Se tomará a UNOCACE como caso de estudio y se determinará el efecto del Comercio Justo en esta instituciónThe traditional way of doing business is based on capitalism without regulations that constantly marginalises small farmers, and attentive against the well-being of the individual and the environment. During the last century we have witnessed as the conditions imposed by the market lead us increasingly to social warming and global warming. Since the end of the Second World War, the exhaustion of the current scheme and the birth of alternative movements in the way of doing business was seen. These movements have evolved for about fifty years and have been grouped in the field of social responsibility under the name of Fair Trade. From a superficial point of view fair trade seeks only to shorten the distance between small farmers and end customers. However its aims are more far-reaching: seeks to comply with the principles of social inclusion, providing compensation just covering the costs of production, respecting the individual and the environment. The present work applied scientific research, because of the media used will be documentary and field. To be taken to UNOCACE as a case study and determine the effect of the fair trade in this institution

In-Orbit SAR Performance of TerraSAR-X

TerraSAR-X is the first German Radar satellite for scientific and commercial applications. The project is a public-private partnership between DLR and EADS Astrium GmbH. TerraSAR-X consists of a high resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar at X-Band. The radar antenna is based on active phased array technology that allows the control of many different instrument parameters and operational modes (Stripmap, ScanSAR and Spotlight) with various polarizations. Following the TerraSAR-X launch, scheduled for February 2007, it is planned a six month Commissioning Phase covering the characterization and verification of the SAR mission. Within this phase, the Overall SAR System Performance (OSSP) takes care of the correct working and interaction of all SAR system elements essential for obtaining an optimum SAR Performance. The paper covers the first in-orbit characterization and verification results of the SAR system performance for TerraSAR-X operational and experimental modes. This characterization is divided into four phases: Initial Characterization, Scene Characterization –both mostly based on basic and experimental products-, and Verification of TS-X Instrument Command Generation. The different optimization strategies and performance trade-offs are discussed and presented in the paper, including very first TerraSAR-X images. The result of the real SAR data analysis determines the final system baseline and thus the final image quality, e.g. Temperature compensation, Total Zero Doppler Steering, Up/down chirp toggling, transmitted bandwidth, timing interferences, etc. The first section of the paper introduces the activities carried out during the Commissioning Phase for the TerraSAR-X SAR system performance characterization/verification. In the second section, the strategies for the performance optimization and characterization are presented. Finally, the in-orbit SAR performance results are given in section three

Propuesta de una guía de elaboración e inscripción de expediente técnico para productos farmacéuticos de uso veterinario

En la presente investigación se proponen lineamentos en la interpretación de la normativa vigente para la obtención de registros sanitarios de medicamento de uso veterinario, hoy en día no se cuenta con directrices detalladas emitidas por la entidad regulatoria, que detallen de manera puntual los documentos que conforma un expediente de registro veterinario y la documentación extra que se anexa al expediente, es por ello que nace la propuesta de elaborar una Guía para la inscripción de expedientes de productos veterinarios, dadas la actualización de del RTCA 65.05.51:18 “Medicamentos Veterinarios y Productos Afines. Requisitos de Registro Sanitario y Control”, es por ello que se realizó una investigación de campo que consistió en una serie de entrevistas en área de asuntos regulatorios de un laboratorio farmacéutico de productos veterinarios y otra en el área de cuarentena animal y registro veterinario del Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería, además cada requisito del RTCA 65.05.51:18 se desarrolló en una matriz de desarrollo hasta culminar en un ejemplo de expediente (Dossier) con ejemplos de la documentación requerida para el proceso, dicha investigación se realizó en el período comprendido de mayo de 2019 a mayo de 2020 y dados los resultados obtenidos en la investigación se concluyó sobre la importancia de reforzar los conocimientos de las leyes que regulan la fabricación y comercialización de medicamentos de uso veterinario en El Salvador desde el ámbito estudiantil, en general se recomienda, enfatizar la enseñanza sobre temas regulatorios desde la cátedra universitaria tanto en Control de Calidad de medicamentos como en Legislación farmacéutica, así como la constante actualización de los profesionales químicos farmacéuticos que se dedican a esta rama de la profesión

Cirugía de torus mandibular

The jawbone is not a strange to the pathologies that can occur in the skeletal system. Some of these terms and conditions are unique for their clinical features, distribution and prevalence. The torus palate, jawbone torus (TM in spanish) and exostosis of the jaw are a precise example of them. For this reason there are speculative ideas about its pathogenesis, associated factors, incidence and prevalence and their need for treatment, which can create confusion among dental clinics for diagnosis and management. The torus as a benign bone tumor can occur in the jaw at the palate, jaw or in the level of internal tables; can appear anywhere in the skeleton. The TM is an exostosis or bone growth on the lingual surface of the jaw. This growth usually occurs near the milohyoided line, opposed the premolars, but it can extend from the canine to the first molar. The mucous membrane that covers tends to be thin and in general does not tolerate the forces of the prosthesis that are placed above them. The incidence of the torus of the jaw is low at 6% to 12.5% among Caucasians and people of African plain. So contrary, some authors report a much higher prevalence in the Colombian Atlantic coast. In this article is presented a case of male patient with bilateral mandibular torus, with many years of growth, even in situations that both phonetic and ulcerations repetitive decided to undergo surgery on a bilateral way. It is showed some considerations for handling this pathologic condition.Los huesos maxilares no son ajenos a las patologías que se pueden presentar en el sistema esquelético. Algunas de esas condiciones y patologías son singulares por sus características clínicas, su distribución y prevalencia. Los torus palatinos, los torus mandibulares (TM) y las exostosis de los maxilares son un claro ejemplo de ellos. Hasta la presente existen ideas especulativas acerca de su etiopatogenia, de los factores asociados, de su incidencia y prevalencia, de su necesidad de tratamiento, lo que puede crear confusión entre los clínicos tanto en diagnóstico como en el manejo.El torus como tumor óseo benigno puede localizarse en el maxilar a nivel del paladar, o en la mandíbula a nivel de las tablas internas; o puede aparecer en cualquier parte del esqueleto. El TM es una exostosis o crecimiento óseo en la superficie lingual de la mandíbula. Este crecimiento ocurre generalmente cerca de la línea milohioidea, opuesto a los premolares, pero se puede extender del canino al primer molar. La mucosa que los recubre tiende a ser fina y no tolera por lo general las fuerzas de las prótesis que se colocan encima de ellos. La incidencia del torus de la mandíbula es baja en el 6% a 12.5% entre caucásicos y en los habitantes de la llanura africana. De manera contraria, algunos autores reportan una prevalencia mucho más elevada en la Costa Atlántica Colombiana.Se presenta el caso de un paciente con torus mandibulares bilaterales, con muchos años de crecimiento, hasta que por situaciones tanto fonéticas como de ulceraciones repetitivas decidió someterse al acto quirúrgico de forma bilateral. Se presentan algunas consideraciones para el manejo de esta. (Duazary 2008; 111-114

PS/PMMA-CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dots Hybrid Nanofibers for VOCs Sensors

Hybrid nanofibers containing CdSe/ZnS quantum dots have been produced by electrospinning of hybrid latexes to characterize the electro‐optical behavior of this novel luminescent sensing material. The latexes are synthesized by seeded semi‐batch emulsion polymerization yielding cross‐linked core‐shell PS/QDs/PMMA particles with efficiently encapsulated quantum dots guaranteeing a good optical stability. Addition of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or polyethylene oxide (PEO) to the latexes is necessary to produce polymeric dispersions suitable for electrospinning manufacture of the nanometric fibers. The optimized polymeric dispersions are successfully electrospun obtaining fluorescent nanofibers in both cases. The hybrid nanofibers are sensitive to selected solvents (acetone, methanol and THF) and present positive response making them good candidates for the production of VOC sensors.Basque Government IT999-16 and ELKARTEK KK-2016/00030 and KK-2017/00089 and the Spanish Government (Ministerio de Economía y competitividad Project CTQ2014-59016-P and TEC2015-63838-C3-3-R. Alicia de San Luis acknowledges de Spanish Government for the scholarliship (FPI-MICINN 2012). The sGIKER UPV/EHU is also aknowledged for the elctron microscopy facilities of the Gipuzkoa unit

Cost-Effectiveness of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Anti-TNF Therapy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review

Infliximab and adalimumab are monoclonal antibodies against tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) used to manage inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) has been proven to prevent immunogenicity, to achieve better long-term clinical results and to save costs in IBD treatment. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review on cost-effectiveness analyses of studies that apply TDM of anti-TNF in IBD and to provide a critical analysis of the best scientific knowledge available in the literature. The quality of the included studies was assessed using Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS). Cost-effectiveness of the TDM strategies was presented as total costs, cost savings, quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Thirteen studies that examined the health economics of TDM of anti-TNF in IBD from 2013 to 2021 were included. Eight of them (61.5%) achieved a score between 17 and 23 on the CHEERS checklist. The comparison between the TDM strategy and an empirical strategy was cost saving. The ICER between reactive TDM and an empirical strategy was dominated (favorable) by reactive TDM, whereas the ICER value for proactive TDM compared to an empirical strategy ranged from EUR 56,845 to 3,901,554. This systematic review demonstrated that a TDM strategy is cost-effective or cost-saving in IBD.S.M.-M. received a predoctoral fellowship from Miguel Hernandez University (“Ayudas a la contratación de personal investigador en formación 2021”).S

Moderate-vigorous physical activity and health-related quality of life among Hispanic/Latino adults in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL).

BackgroundPhysical activity is a modifiable healthy behavior that has been shown to positively influence health-related quality of life. However, research examining the link between physical activity and health-related quality of life among Hispanic/Latino adults is limited and inconsistent. The purpose of this study is to assess whether accelerometer-measured moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is associated with self-reported (a) mental health-related quality of life, and (b) physical health-related quality of life among diverse Hispanic/Latino adults in the US.MethodsCross-sectional data from 12,379 adults ages 18-74 years in 2008-2011, who participated in HCHS/SOL and had complete data were analyzed using complex survey design methods. Accelerometer data were categorized into no MVPA, low, moderate, and high MVPA. Health-related quality of life was assessed with the Short-Form 12 and we used the mental and physical component subscales where higher scores indicate better health-related quality of life. Multivariate linear regression models were used to derive adjusted means with 95% confidence intervals and linear trends.ResultsWe observed no significant linear trend between accelerometer-measured MVPA and mental health-related quality of life (ptrend = 0.73). There was a significant positive association between MVPA and physical health-related quality of life (ptrend < 0.001) where higher MVPA corresponded with higher scores in physical health-related quality of life. The adjusted means were 46.67 (44.85-48.48) for no MVPA, 49.33 (49.03-49.63) for low MVPA, 50.61 (50.09-51.13) for moderate MVPA, and 51.36 (50.86-51.86) for high MVPA.ConclusionsAmong diverse Hispanic/Latino adults in the US, accelerometer-measured MVPA was associated with physical health-related quality of life, but not mental health-related quality of life. Future interventions should evaluate if increases in MVPA lead to improvements in health-related quality of life

Thermoluminescent response of C-modified Al2O3 thin films deposited by parallel laser ablation plasmas

Aluminium oxide thin films modified with different amounts of carbon were prepared using a parallel laser ablation plasmas configuration. The effect of the amount of carbon incorporated in the films on their compositional, morphological, structural, and thermoluminescent properties was studied. The results showed that films with different C content, from 11 to 33 at. %, were obtained. The structural characterization revealed the growth of an amorphous material. Surface morphology of the obtained thin films showed smooth surfaces. The films were exposed to UV and gamma radiation (Co-60) in order to study their thermoluminescence response. The results tend to indicate that carbon incorporation into the alumina favours the increase of a high temperature TL peak.CONACyT CB 24099