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¿Desacuerdo sin acuerdo? Una crítica a la propuesta metalingüística de Plunkett y Sundell
No full textThe problem of legal disagreements can be approached in different ways. On one version, the problem arises because positivism assumes that legal concepts are criteriological, thus conceiving of disagreement among lawyers as pointless and a mere verbal dispute. Plunkett and Sundell have offered a novel response to this criticism, which holds that it is not necessary to share a concept in order to disagree. In this paper I analyze this response and I offer a number of objections against it.The problem of legal disagreements can be approached in different ways. On one version, the problem arises because positivism assumes that legal concepts are Criteriological, thus conceiving of disagreement among lawyers as pointless and a mere verbal dispute. Plunkett and Sundell have offered a novel response to this criticism, which holds that it is not necessary to share a concept in order to disa-gree. In this paper I analyze this response and I offer a number of objections aga-inst i
Radical Climate Disobedience: An Analysis and Defence in Times of the Socio-Ecological Emergency
No full textIn recent years, movements such as Ende Gelände, Extinction Rebellion, Letzte Generation and Just Stop Oil have profoundly shaped European climate activism. Their tactics, including coal mine blockades, highway sit-ins and adhesive protests, reflect a deliberate embrace of high-cost disruption, with imprisonment as a deliberate tactic. I investigate the role of radical activism amid the socio-ecological crisis, framing its radicalness as a distinctive and underexplored phenomenon. I introduce the concept of radical climate disobedience, distinguishing it from both more moderate forms of disobedience, such as civil disobedience, and more extreme protests, such as violent resistance or eco-terrorism. This new concept offers an insightful framework for analysing the radicalisation of contemporary climate justice movements. I argue that the standard, liberal view of civil disobedience fails to adequately capture such activism. Therefore, I examine existing conceptions of the understudied framework of radical disobedience to identify its conceptual core.Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Doctorat en Ciències Polítiques i Social
The KANSL complex, an epigenetic regulator with microtubule binding properties in mitosis
No full textLa segregació dels cromosomes durant la divisió cel·lular està mitjançada per una estructura feta de microtúbuls anomenada el fus mitòtic. L’estructura i la funció del fus mitòtic depenen d’un control precís de les dinàmiques dels microtúbuls. Malgrat que les dinàmiques de l’extrem (+) dels microtúbuls s’han caracteritzat en detall, el coneixement sobre les dinàmiques de l’extrem (-) segueix sent superficial. Estudis estructurals recents mostren que els microtúbuls de l’extrem (-) localitzats als pols del fus mitòtic són heterogenis. Aquestes observacions suggereixen l’existència d’una regulació complexa en les dinàmiques dels microtúbuls per mantenir una taxa de despolimerització controlada. El complex KANSL és un complex de remodelació de la cromatina conservat durant l’evolució, el qual podria tenir una funció en l’estabilització de les dinàmiques dels microtúbuls a l’extrem (-) als pols del fus mitòtic durant la mitosi. La localització i les propietats d’unió als microtúbuls de totes les proteïnes que constitueixen el complex KANSL durant la mitosi, suggereixen una funció mitòtica comuna. Així mateix, el complex KANSL s’uneix als microtúbuls en reconstitucions in vitro observades per microscòpia TIRF, una propietat que podria ser essencial per la seva possible funció als pols del fus mitòtic.The correct segregation of chromosomes during cell division is mediated by a microtubule-based structure, the mitotic spindle. Spindle structure and function relies on a tight control of microtubule dynamics. While spindle microtubule plus-end dynamics has been extensively characterized, the dynamics of their minus-ends is still poorly understood. Recent structural studies showed that microtubule minus-ends are structurally heterogeneous at the spindle poles suggesting a complex regulation of their dynamics to sustain a controlled depolymerisation rate. The KANSL complex is an evolutionary conserved chromatin remodelling complex that was previously proposed to stabilize the microtubule minus-ends at the spindle poles during mitosis based on studies on some of its members. The localization and microtubule binding properties of all different KANSL complex proteins in mitosis, suggests a common function of the complex in mitosis. Furthermore, TIRF based in vitro reconstitution assays showed that the KANSL complex has microtubule binding properties that may be essential for its proposed function at the spindle poles.Programa de Doctorat en Biomedicin
Short and long-term impact of the birth environment on maternal and neonatal health outcomes and childbirth experiences (Birthing Better)
No full textAquesta tesi doctoral avalua l'impacte i la implementació d'una Unitat Liderada per Llevadores (MLU) en els resultats de salut materna i neonatal, així com la satisfacció materna dins del sistema sanitari espanyol. Utilitzant una metodologia mixta paral·lela convergent, el projecte de recerca inclou tres estudis interconnectats: una avaluació qualitativa fenomenològica de la satisfacció materna després de la implementació de la MLU, una comparació quantitativa dels resultats materns i neonatals entre la MLU i la Unitat Obstètrica tradicional (OU) dins del mateix hospital, i una anàlisi de tendències quantitatives per avaluar la implementació i els efectes de la primera MLU en el Sistema Nacional de Salut espanyol. Els resultats indiquen que el model de MLU ofereix una atenció segura i eficaç, promou experiències de part positives i redueix significativament les intervencions mèdiques innecessàries, amb un potencial per reduir el consum de recursos sanitaris. Les dones que van rebre atenció a la MLU van experimentar menys parts instrumentals, menys epidurals i menys episiotomies, amb taxes més altes de parts vaginals espontanis. No obstant això, el suport sostingut i la inversió en aquestes unitats són essencials per mantenir aquests beneficis. La implementació exitosa del model de MLU en el sistema sanitari espanyol confirma la seva viabilitat i el seu potencial per a una aplicació més àmplia en el territori.This doctoral thesis evaluates the impact and implementation of a Midwifery-Led Unit (MLU) on maternal and neonatal health outcomes, as well as maternal satisfaction within the Spanish healthcare system. Employing a convergent parallel mixed methodology, the research project includes three interconnected studies: a qualitative phenomenological assessment of maternal satisfaction post-MLU implementation, a quantitative comparison of maternal and neonatal outcomes between the MLU and the traditional Obstetric Unit (OU) within the same hospital, and a quantitative trend analysis to evaluate the implementation and effects of the first MLU in the Spanish National Health System. The findings indicate that the MLU model offers safe and effective care, promotes positive birthing experiences, and significantly reduces unnecessary medical interventions, with the potential to reduce the consumption of healthcare resources. Women who received care in the MLU experienced fewer instrumental births, epidurals, and episiotomies, with higher rates of spontaneous vaginal births. However, sustained support and investment in these units are essential to maintain these benefits. The successful implementation of the MLU model in the Spanish Healthcare System confirms its feasibility and potential for broader application in the region.Programa de Doctorat en Biomedicin
The role of social capital with policy networks: evidence from EU cohesion policy in Spain
No full textThis article focuses on the policy process stemming from European cohesion policy at the regional level and at its programming stage (which precedes the implementation phase). It aims to explain how the formally introduced EU "partnership" principles and rules work in practice in different political environments. The article argues that externally introduced procedural decision rules have different impacts on effective policymaking processes. In particular, we suggest that the patterns of social capital linkages carried by the actors involved produce different regional policy networks, even though the existing formal rules are similar. Relying on social network analysis as its main methodological tool, the article presents empirical evidence drawn from two similar Spanish regions, identifies the characteristics of the actors' social capital and compares the structures of the policy networks dealing with the programming tasks in the two regions. Our findings suggest that the structures differ according to the amount of linking social capital displayed by the actors involved in the policy networks. We discuss in detail our exploratory hypothesis, considering also other possible variables that might account for these variations.This article was made possible through support of the project "The Challenge of Socioeconomic Cohesion in the Enlarged European Union", funded under the Sixth Research Framework Program of the European Union (FP6-029003)
Precise writing of human genomes: engineering & characterizing genome editors for programmable DNA integration in human cells
No full textMethods for genome engineering have enabled construction of synthetic genomes, therapeutically reprogrammed cells, synthetic organs, and modification of human genomes. Design and discovery of genome editors has enabled programmed small deletions and insertions, however, tools for precise integration of large gene fragments are lacking. Towards this goal, we describe the development of a programmable transposase system that can integrate transgenes of >10kb precisely across cell types. We also describe a method for targeted integration with a refactored lentiviral vector via HDR, and exemplify the potential of targeted tissue delivery of lentiviral vectors via envelope protein pooled screening. We further describe a synthetic evolution platform that can be applied to improve genome editors. Finally, we describe the implementation of a method for whole genome characterization of insertions using long read sequencing, that can enable comprehensive characterization of engineered editors. These methods will enable new operations for therapeutic and biotechnological genome writing, and further development of improved editors.Les metodologies per a l'enginyeria genòmica han permès la construcció de genomes sintètics, la reprogramació terapèutica de cèl·lules, òrgans sintètics i l'edició d’humans. El disseny i descobriment d'editors genòmics ha possibilitat petites delecions i insercions programades, però encara falten eines per a la integració precisa de grans fragments de gens. Amb aquest objectiu, descrivim el desenvolupament d'un sistema de transposasa programable que pot integrar transgens de més de 10kb de manera precisa en diferents tipus de cèl·lules. També descrivim un mètode per a la integració dirigida mitjançant un vector lentiviral refactoritzat a través de HDR, i exemplifiquem el potencial de la lliurament de teixits objectiu de vectors lentivirals mitjançant la selecció de proteïnes d'envoltura i cribatge simultani. A més, descrivim una plataforma d'evolució sintètica per millorar els editors genòmics. Finalment, descrivim la implementació d'un mètode per a la caracterització completa del genoma de les insercions utilitzant seqüenciació de lectura llarga, que pot permetre una caracterització completa dels editors enginyeritzats. Aquestes metodologies permetran noves operacions per a l'escriptura genòmica terapèutica i biotecnològica, i el desenvolupament futur d'editors millorats.Programa de Doctorat en Biomedicin
Estudi introductori
No full textEl sonet és una composició poètica, normalment lírica, amb una llarga tradició en la literatura occidental. Els seus orígens es remunten a principis del segle xiii, a la cort siciliana de Frederic II, amb el poeta Giacomo da Lentini (1210-1260), que en fou l'inventor. Qui en fixà les regles, però, fou Guittone d'Arezzo (1230-1294). Més tard el seguiren Dante (Vita nuova, 1295), Petrarca (Canzoniere, 1374) i Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564), i d'Itàlia s'expandí, a partir dels segles xv i xvi, a Europa, sobretot a Espanya, França i Anglaterra, i ha estat una forma conreada fins als nostres dies, també en català.Aquest volum ha estat elaborat en el marc del projecte FFI2014-54915-P, finançat pel Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, i també en el del Grup de Recerca Consolidat 2014 SGR 486 de l’AGAUR de la Generalitat de Cataluny
Essays in Heterogeneous Panel Data Econometrics
No full textThis thesis consists of three essays on identification, estimation, and inference on distributional features of heterogeneous parameters using panel data. In the first chapter, Christian Brownlees and I consider the problem of efficiently estimating a unit-specific parameter in a heterogeneous panel setting using a class of unit averaging estimators we propose. In the second chapter, I develop a methodology for conducting inference on extreme quantiles of unobserved individual heterogeneity (heterogeneous coefficients, heterogeneous treatment effects, etc.) when only noisy estimates are available in a panel data or meta-analysis setting. The third chapter is dedicated to the problem of estimation of the moments and the distribution of heterogeneous marginal effects in nonparametric models with multivariate unobserved heterogeneity.Aquesta tesi consta de tres assajos sobre identificació, estimació i inferència de les característiques de distribució de paràmetres heterogenis mitjanc¸ant dades de panell. En el primer capítol, Christian Brownlees i jo considerem el problema d’estimar eficientment un paràmetre específic d’una unitat en un entorn de panell heterogeni. Proposem una classe d’estimadors basats en mitjanes ponderades d’unitats transversals (“unit averaging”). En el segon capítol, desenvolupo una metodologia per realitzar inferències sobre quantils extrems d’heterogeneïtat individual no observada (coeficients heterogenis, efectes heterogenis del tractament, etc.) quan només hi ha estimacions sorolloses disponibles en un entorn de dades de panell o metaanàlisi. El tercer capítol està dedicat al problema de l’estimació dels moments i la distribució d’efectes marginals heterogenis en models no paramètrics amb heterogeneïtat multivariant no observada.Programa de Doctorat en Economia, Finances i Empres
Media ownership and transparency in Spain: an analysis of ownership patterns and regulatory challenges
No full textMedia ownership concentration and transparency have become critical issues in Spain, especially as recent regulatory efforts aim to enhance accountability and media pluralism. This study explores the implications of concentrated and opaque ownership structures for editorial independence. It assesses the interplay of ownership concentration, ownership transparency, political affiliations, and financialisation and analyses the role played by Spanish regulatory agencies and media laws. Drawing on a sample of 31 Spanish media outlets - including public and private entities across television, radio, print, and digital media outlets - the study identifies four central ownership patterns: concentration, complex ownership structures, internationalisation, and financialisation. The findings indicate that a small group of dominant conglomerates, notably Grupo Planeta, Mediaset España, Grupo PRISA, and Grupo Vocento, exercise substantial control over the media landscape, raising concerns about media ownership pluralism. There are also significant gaps in the regulatory framework, particularly regarding ownership transparency, although recent legislative changes have made progress. Against this backdrop, further regulation is necessary to counteract ownership concentration, bolster media independence, and sustain a diverse and accountable media environment. In light of these ongoing changes, this study highlights the critical need for continued regulatory evolution to address persistent challenges in Spain's media landscape, ensuring alignment with European standards and fostering a more transparent, diverse, and resilient media ecosystem.This article is part of the project Euromedia Ownership Monitor (2020), co-funded by the European Commission and led by Paris Lodron Universität Salzburg. This article has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement No 101094742
Rebel institutionalization, religious holidays, and political violence
No full textIdentifying a clear relationship between rebel group structures and the use of violence faces the challenge that group structures rarely change over time. We exploit the analytical advantage provided by long religious holidays to address this issue using the principal-agent framework. Religious holidays serve as a focal point and reduce group coordination costs, but also raise the societal costs of violence. We argue the principal of rebel groups is more sensitive to the increased societal costs than the agents and thereby attempts to restrain the agents from attacking during religious holidays. However, the success of these attempts depends on the group’s institutionalization level. Long religious holidays exacerbate the principal-agent problem due to the high costs of restraining agents from attacking for an extended period, making them the most likely case for our analysis. We test the theory by first conducting microlevel analysis of Islamic separatist groups in three Southeast Asian countries and then analyzing a cross-sectional sample of Islamic rebel groups. Results show that highly institutionalized groups that have a central command system and control over constituent groups are less likely to attack during long religious holidays than on other days, and vice versa for weakly institutionalized groups