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La institución del suplicatorio: una forma procesal de manifestación de la inmunidad parlamentaria
No full textTreball de Fi de Grau en Dret. Curs 2024-2025Tutora: Tiziana Di CiommoLa tramitación de un proceso penal contra un parlamentario presenta una serie de garantías que la diferencian del proceso penal ordinario al que se someten el resto de ciudadanos. Algunas de estas garantías tienen su fundamentación en la existencia de la inmunidad, una de las prerrogativas parlamentarias constitucionalmente previstas para Diputados y Senadores. Es el caso del suplicatorio: un instrumento procesal a través del cual la autoridad judicial solicita de las Cámaras legislativas la autorización para inculpar o procesar a un Diputado o Senador. Este trabajo trata de llevar a cabo un análisis exhaustivo de la institución del suplicatorio, mediante su contextualización en el marco de la prerrogativa de la inmunidad y la exposición de los principales debates de naturaleza procesal y constitucional que esta figura ha suscitado.A criminal procedure against a member of Parliament involves a series of guarantees that distinguish it from the ordinary criminal procedure, which is the one that the rest of citizens undergo. Some of these guarantees are grounded in the existence of parliamentary immunity, one of the prerogatives that are constitutionally granted to Deputies and Senators. One such a guarantee is the request: a procedural instrument through which the judicial authority requests authorization from the legislative chambers to indict or prosecute a Deputy or a Senator. This project aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the request by way of contextualizing it within the framework of parliamentary immunity and laying out the main procedural and constitutional debates that this figure has raised
Oral antibiotic prophylaxis induces changes in the microbiology of surgical site infection after colorectal surgery. A matched comparative study
No full textAim: Oral antibiotic prophylaxis (OAP) lowers rates of surgical site infection (SSI) and may aid anastomotic healing in colorectal surgery. The aim of this study was to analyse the understudied impact of OAP on SSI microbiology after colorectal surgery. Method: A post hoc analysis was performed on a previous prospective, multicentre study of elective colorectal surgery. For 1000 patients with SSI, this study compared the microbiology of SSIs in procedures without OAP (SSI/OAP-) and with OAP (SSI/OAP+). Results: There were 340 patients in the SSI/OAP- group and 660 in the SSI/OAP+ group. The use of OAP increased the presence of Gram-positive cocci (GPC) (OR 1.542, 95% CI 1.153-2.062) and fungi (OR 2.037, 95% CI 1.206-3.440), but reduced rates of Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) (OR 1.461, 95% CI 1.022-2.088) and anaerobe isolation (OR 0.331, 95% CI 0.158-0.696). Specifically, it led to increases in the isolation of Enterococcus faecium (OR 1.450, 95% CI 0.812-2.591), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (OR 2.000, 95% CI 1.043-3.834) and Candida spp. (OR 2.037, 95% CI 1.206-3.440). In colon surgery with OAP, GPC infections were more likely (OR 1.461, 95% CI 1.022-2.088). In rectal surgery, organ/space SSIs had a higher risk of harbouring GPC (OR 1.860, 95% CI 1.153-2.999) and a lower risk of GNB (OR 0.321, 95% CI 0.200-0.515). Conclusion: OAP reduced the presence of anaerobes and GNB in SSIs, but increased the isolation of GPCs and fungi, with E. faecium and Candida being of particular concern. This information should guide empirical antibiotic therapy for postoperative colorectal SSIs in patients who have received preoperative OAP
Detailed assessment of night shift work aspects and potential mediators of its health effects: the contribution of field studies
No full textNight shift work has been associated with adverse health outcomes, but inconsistencies in epidemiological findings reveal gaps in understanding the mechanisms involved. Beyond shift schedules (e.g., duration and intensity) and nighttime light exposure, we propose assessing ten key aspects to enhance understanding of shift work's nature and health implications. These include: (1) exposure-related factors ("meal timing and composition during the night shift," "physical activity during the night shift"); (2) potential mediators ("supplements and medication use," "social disruption," "sunlight exposure," "meal timing and dietary patterns outside shifts," "physical activity," "sleep quality," and "substance use"); and (3) effect modifiers ("occupational co-exposures"). Recent advances in technology, such as mobile apps, wearable sensors, and biomarkers, enable real-time, multidimensional assessments of these factors in field studies. Incorporating these tools into high-quality data collection can provide critical insights into the pathways linking night shift work and health. Such approaches will generate new hypotheses and inform the design of next-generation cohort and case-control studies, fostering a deeper understanding of this complex exposure and its health implications.The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article. This work was conducted in the scope of the EPHOR project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 874703. JV and RV were supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 874627 (EXPANSE). AHG is supported by a grant from the Working Environment Research Fund in Denmark. BH was supported by grant IHMC22/00017 funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) and by the “European Union Next Generation EU/PRTR.
'Voices of Future Generations in International Law: Exploring the Interconnection Between Climate Change, Human Rights, Intergenerational Equity, and the Future of Global Climate Responsibility'
No full textIn the twenty-first century, the imperative to institutionalise the voices of future generations has gained unprecedented prominence, with the principle of intergenerational equity progressively influencing international law, human rights jurisprudence, and environmental governance. Although human rights frameworks provide foundational recognition for state obligations toward future generations, current international law remains insufficiently equipped to comprehensively articulate their rights. Significant conceptual and analytical challenges persist concerning the integration of intergenerational equity within contemporary legal and governance regimes. This dissertation critically examines the legal, political, philosophical and ethical dimensions necessary to establish whether contemporary public international law is adequately positioned to enforce the principle of intergenerational equity within state responses to climate change. It uniquely proposes an innovative synthesis of traditional legal doctrines and emerging philosophical paradigms, positioning the rights of future generations as actionable claims rather than mere aspirational ideals. While intergenerational equity is well-established as a guiding normative principle in international environmental law, its enforceability remains notably underdeveloped. Despite extensive scholarship elucidating the normative foundations of intergenerational justice, mechanisms to hold states accountable to future generations remain significantly lacking. To remedy this deficiency, this thesis presents a comprehensive three-tiered analytical framework consisting of: (a) a human rights-based approach to climate governance; (b) strategic climate litigation; and (c) diplomatic engagement and international decision-making processes. Each component of this framework is critically examined through detailed analyses of legal instruments, judicial decisions, scholarly contributions, philosophical discourse, and relevant international agreements within the intersecting fields of human rights, environmental protection, and intergenerational justice. I argue that the prevailing absence of binding international legal obligations renders intergenerational equity largely aspirational, thereby significantly constraining its effectiveness in compelling meaningful state action on climate change. This thesis identifies critical shortcomings within existing environmental protection frameworks at both national and international levels, advocating for the establishment and adoption of robust, enforceable legal mechanisms to safeguard future generations from irreversible environmental harm. Furthermore, I contend that the comprehensive nature of human rights, encompassing both negative obligations to refrain from causing harm and positive obligations to proactively protect, imposes distinct and enforceable international legal duties upon states to mitigate anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and preserve environmental integrity. These obligations inherently extend beyond present populations, ensuring equitable protection for future generations. Ultimately, this dissertation contributes significantly to the fields of international law and environmental ethics by advancing a robust, justice-oriented theoretical and legal model for intergenerational protection. It explores innovative legal concepts, such as intergenerational international law and transgenerational group rights, and notably introduces the concept of 'generational trusteeship,' where states act as fiduciaries obligated to safeguard the environmental inheritance of future generations. This unique theoretical contribution provides foundational insights to underpin enforceable rights for future generations and enhance global responses to climate change. In doing so, this research advocates for a collective moral and juridical commitment to securing a sustainable and equitable future for humanity.Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Doctorat en Dre
The genetic footprint of the European Roma diaspora: evidence from the Balkans to the Iberian Peninsula
No full textThe Roma people have a complex demographic history shaped by their recent dispersal from a South Asian origin into Europe, accompanied by continuous population bottlenecks and gene flow. After settling in the Balkans around 1,000 years ago, the Roma gradually dispersed across Europe, and approximately 500 years ago, they established in the Iberian Peninsula what is now one of the largest Roma populations in Western Europe. Focusing specifically on the Iberian Roma, we conducted the most comprehensive genome-wide analysis of European Roma populations to date. Using allele frequency and haplotype-based methods, we analysed 181 individuals to investigate their genetic diversity, social dynamics, and migration histories at both continental and local scales. Our findings demonstrate significant gene flow from populations encountered during the Roma's dispersal and confirm their South Asian origins. We show that, between the 14th and 19th centuries, the Roma spread westward from the Balkans in various waves, with multiple admixture events. Furthermore, our findings refute previous hypotheses of a North African dispersal route into Iberia and genetic connections to Jewish populations. The Iberian Roma exhibit ten times greater genetic differentiation compared to non-Roma Iberians, indicating significant regional substructure. Additionally, we provide the first genetic evidence of assortative mating within Roma groups, highlighting distinct mating patterns and suggesting a gradual shift towards increased integration with non-Roma individuals. This study significantly enhances our understanding of how demographic history and complex genetic structure have shaped the genetic diversity of Roma populations, while also highlighting the influence of their evolving social dynamics.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and by “ERF A way of making Europe” (grant numbers CGL2019-106485GB-I00 and PID2022-138755NB-I00) funded by the MCIN and the AEI https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033. PL was supported by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway governments through the EEA Grants ZD-ZDOVA2-001. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript
AI as an author: intellectual property law in the age of AI-generated creativity
No full textTreball de Fi de Grau en Dret. Curs 2024-2025Tutor: Nicola LucchiThe purpose of this paper is to explore the legal challenges presented by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly regarding authorship and copyright protection. As AI systems increasingly produce literary, artistic, and musical works without direct or with minimal human input, traditional intellectual property frameworks are proving insufficient to address this new reality. This paper examines whether AI systems are capable of being creative beyond mere imitation or statistical generation, and in a way that satisfies the legal criteria traditionally reserved for human authorship. Through a comparative analysis of civil and common law jurisdictions —including the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and China—this paper examines the anthropocentric foundations of copyright law. It also analyzes whether AI -generated outputs me et the threshold of originality, as well as how these jurisdictions define and attribute authorship. Finally, it considers philosophical, economic, and socio-cultural arguments for granting protection to AI -generated works and explores possible doctrinal solutions for authorship attribution
Sex-specific dietary patterns and their association with metabolic syndrome: Insights from a cross-sectional analysis
No full textAims: This study aims to identify a posteriori dietary patterns with a sex approach and to evaluate their association with metabolic syndrome criteria. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted in 6821 men and women between 55 and 75 years of age. Forty-two food groups were analyzed from dietary information collected with food frequency questionnaires, using principal component analysis and cluster analysis and then information from both statistical methods was compared. Prevalences were calculated foreach cluster group, based on the number and types of metabolic syndrome criteria they met. Results: Following principal component analysis, two dietary patterns labeled "healthy" and "unhealthy" were identified in both men and women, due to the presence of foods that are considered more or less healthy. These same dietary patterns were found in cluster analysis plus an "intermediate" cluster consisting of both healthy and unhealthy foods. The presence of metabolic syndrome is related to the "healthy" dietary pattern in women and to the "unhealthy" dietary pattern in men. Comparison of the two statistical approaches showed a high level of correlation between them (weighted Kappa = 0.703 in women and weighted Kappa = 0.691 in men). Conclusions: Adherence to both healthy and unhealthy dietary pattern appears to be related to the development of MS. The differences found by sex make it necessary to develop interventions with a sex-specific approach.The PREDIMED-Plus trial was supported by the European Research Council (Advanced Research Grant 2013-2018, 340918) to Dr Martínez-González, and the official funding agency for biomedical research of the Spanish government, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, through the Fondo de Investigación para la Salud, which is cofunded by the European Regional Development Fund (5 coordinated Fondo de Investigación para la Salud projects led by Dr. Salas-Salvadó and Dr Vidal, including the following projects: PI13/00673, PI13/00492, PI13/00272, PI13/01123, PI13/00462, PI13/00233, PI13/02184, PI13/00728, PI13/01090, PI13/01056, PI14/01722, PI14/00636, PI14/00618, PI14/00696, PI14/01206, PI14/01919, PI14/00853, PI14/01374, PI14/00972, PI14/00728, PI14/01471, PI16/00473, PI16/00662, PI16/01873, PI16/01094, PI16/00501, PI16/00533, PI16/00381, PI16/00366, PI16/01522, PI16/01120, PI17/00764, PI17/01183, PI17/00855, PI17/01347, PI17/00525, PI17/01827, PI17/00532, PI17/00215, PI17/01441, PI17/00508, PI17/01732, PI17/00926, PI19/00957, PI19/00386, PI19/00309, PI19/01032, PI19/00576, PI19/00017, PI19/01226, PI19/00781, PI19/01560, PI19/01332, PI20/01802, PI20/00138, PI20/01532, PI20/00456, PI20/00339, PI20/00557, PI20/00886, PI20/01158), the Especial Action Project titled Implementación y evaluación de una intervención intensiva sobre la actividad física Cohorte PREDIMED-Plus grant to Dr Salas-Salvadó, the Recercaixa grant to Dr Salas-Salvadó (2013ACUP00194), a CICYT (Consejo Interinstitucional de Ciencia y Tecnología) grant (AGL2016-75329-R), a grant from the Generalitat Valenciana (APOSTD/2019/136 to R.B) and Generalitat de Catalunya (SGR-2019 to R.E), grants from the Consejería de Salud de la Junta de Andalucía (PI0458/2013, PS0358/2016, and PI0137/2018), grants from the Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO/2017/017 and PROMETEO/2021/21), a SEMERGEN (Sociedad Española de Médicos de Atención Primaria) grant, EU-COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) Action CA16112, a grant of support to research groups number 35/2011 from the Balearic Islands Government, grants from IDISBA (Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Islas Baleares), funds from the European Regional Development Fund (CIBEROBN CB06/03 and CB12/03) and from the European Commission (EAT2BENI-CE_H2020_SFS2016). Juan de la Cierva-Incorporación research grant (IJC2019-042420-I/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) from Agencia Estatal de Investigación to JK. INSA-Ma María de Maeztu Unit of Excellence (grant CEX2021-001234-M funded by MICIN/AEI/FEDER, UE). The funding sponsors had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of the data; in the writing of the article, or in the decision to publish the results
AskBeacon-performing genomic data exchange and analytics with natural language
No full textMotivation: Enabling clinicians and researchers to directly interact with global genomic data resources by removing technological barriers is vital for medical genomics. AskBeacon enables large language models (LLMs) to be applied to securely shared cohorts via the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health Beacon protocol. By simply "asking" Beacon, actionable insights can be gained, analyzed, and made publication-ready. Results: In the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), we use natural language to ask whether the sex-differences observed in Parkinson's disease are due to X-linked or autosomal markers. AskBeacon returns a publication-ready visualization showing that for PPMI the autosomal marker occurred 1.4 times more often in males with Parkinson's disease than females, compared to no differences for the X-linked marker. We evaluate commercial and open-weight LLM models, as well as different architectures to identify the best strategy for translating research questions to Beacon queries. AskBeacon implements extensive safety guardrails to ensure that genomic data is not exposed to the LLM directly, and that generated code for data extraction, analysis and visualization process is sanitized and hallucination resistant, so data cannot be leaked or falsified. Availability and implementation: AskBeacon is available at https://github.com/aehrc/AskBeacon
The Hopf whole-brain model and its linear approximation
No full textWhole-brain models have proven to be useful to understand the emergence of collective activity among neural populations or brain regions. These models combine connectivity matrices, or connectomes, with local node dynamics, noise, and, eventually, transmission delays. Multiple choices for the local dynamics have been proposed. Among them, nonlinear oscillators corresponding to a supercritical Hopf bifurcation have been used to link brain connectivity and collective phase and amplitude dynamics in different brain states. Here, we studied the linear fluctuations of this model to estimate its stationary statistics, i.e., the instantaneous and lagged covariances and the power spectral densities. This linear approximation-that holds in the case of heterogeneous parameters and time-delays-allows analytical estimation of the statistics and it can be used for fast parameter explorations to study changes in brain state, changes in brain activity due to alterations in structural connectivity, and modulations of parameter due to non-equilibrium dynamics.A.P.-A. was supported by a Ramón y Cajal fellowship (RYC2020-029117-I) from FSE/Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI), Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. G.D. was supported by the project NEurological MEchanismS of Injury, and the project Sleep-like cellular dynamics (NEMESIS) (ref. 101071900) funded by the EU ERC Synergy Horizon Europe, by the project PID2022-136216NB-I00 financed by the MCIN/AEI/https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033/FEDER, UE., the Ministry of Science and Innovation, the State Research Agency and the European Regional Development Fund and by the AGAUR research support grant (ref. 2021 SGR 00917) funded by the Department of Research and Universities of the Generalitat of Catalunya