This article aims to establish a methodology for comparing golf-tourism efficiency of a set of 14 Mediterranean countries easily using three Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) models. We have compared ...three DEA models. The first model resorts only to physical variables, while the latter two also consider cybermetric variables. Approximately one-third of the 14 analysed Mediterranean countries are rated efficient by any of our models (Bosnia-Herzegovina, France, Slovenia, and Spain), while 9 countries appear inefficient in all three models. Our results show that resorting to the model exclusively based on cybermetric variables ranks the non-efficient countries exactly the same way as the model based on physical variables. We have also found an interesting result that gives us a guide for developing golf tourism at the country level.
The national golf organizations support the development of golf in their country and one of the signs of their success is the generation of elite professional golfers. In this paper, we analyze the ...emergence of elite professional golfers in eighteen European nations. The efficiency of these nations is measured through output-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis models. In particular, we propose variable and constant returns to scale radial models. The main purpose is to classify each of the nations as efficient or inefficient according to its ability to produce elite professional players and with regard to the inefficient ones, determine how far they have to go to achieve efficiency. We further propose a stepwise procedure for each inefficient nation that identifies a path towards the frontier with several intermediate points. The analysis of the results can be used by the nations for designing new strategies in order to improve their performance.
Las organizaciones nacionales de golf apoyan el desarrollo del golf en cada país, un signo de su éxito es la proliferación de jugadores de golf profesionales. En este artículo analizamos la aparición de jugadores de élite profesionales del golf en dieciocho países europeos. La eficiencia de esas naciones es medida mediante un modelo de análisis envolvente de datos orientado al “output”. La principal contribución del trabajo es la clasificación de cada nación como eficiente o ineficiente de acuerdo a su habilidad para producir jugadores de élite profesionales. Respecto a las naciones ineficientes, se determina cómo de lejos están de la eficiencia y se propone el camino de cada nación a la frontera de la eficiencia. El análisis de los resultados puede ser usado por las organizaciones nacionales para determinar nuevas estrategias con el objetivo de mejorar su rendimiento respecto a la generación de golfistas profesionales
Aging is a natural process that implies a physical and cognitive decline. In the last two decades, physical exercise has emerged as a powerful modulator of these processes, and an important lifestyle ...to reduce frailty and dependence. This study measure physical and cognitive performance of sixteen old people who participated in a six-month physical exercise program, twice a week. Our results show an improvement in strength and agility with the exercise program, and a tendency to improve cognitive outcomes depending of assistance. The variable assistance or maybe the exercise program leads to not find significant improvements in endurance, neither in cognitive responses, when all group is taken in care, and these two variables maybe are related.
Background and objective
Patients with young-onset Parkinson’s disease (YOPD) have a slower progression. Our aim was to analyze the change in cognitive function in YOPD compared to patients with a ...later onset and controls.
Patients and methods
Patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and controls from the COPPADIS cohort were included. Cognitive function was assessed with the Parkinson’s Disease Cognitive Rating Scale (PD-CRS) at baseline (V0), 2-year ± 1 month (V2y), and 4-year ± 3 months follow-up (V4y). Regarding age from symptoms onset, patients were classified as YOPD (< 50 years) or non-YOPD (≥ 50). A score in the PD-CRS < 81 was defined as cognitive impairment (CI): ≤ 64 dementia; 65–80 mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Results
One-hundred and twenty-four YOPD (50.7 ± 7.9 years; 66.1% males), 234 non-YOPD (67.8 ± 7.8 years; 59.3% males) patients, and 205 controls (61 ± 8.3 years; 49.5% males) were included. The score on the PD-CRS and its subscore domains was higher at all visits in YOPD compared to non-YOPD patients and to controls (
p
< 0.0001 in all analysis), but no differences were detected between YOPD patients and controls. Only non-YOPD patients had significant impairment in their cognitive function from V0 to V4y (
p
< 0.0001). At V4y, the frequency of dementia and MCI was 5% and 10% in YOPD compared to 25.2% and 22.3% in non-YOPD patients (
p
< 0.0001). A lower score on the Parkinson’s Disease Sleep Scale at baseline was a predictor of CI at V4y in YOPD patients (Adjusted
R
2
= 0.61; OR = 0.965;
p
= 0.029).
Conclusion
Cognitive dysfunction progressed more slowly in YOPD than in non-YOPD patients.
The Catalonian Newborn Screening Program
(CNSP) began in 1969, in Barcelona. It was promoted
by Dr. Juan Sabater Tobella and supported
by Barcelona Provincial Council and Juan March
Foundation. That ...is how the Institute of Clinical
Biochemistry was born, whose aims were diagnosis,
research and teaching, along with the spirit of contributing
to the prevention of mental retardation.
The CNSP began with the detection of phenylketonuria
(PKU), and, in 1982, the Program was expanded
with the inclusion of congenital hypothyroidism
detection. Towards 1990, the Program covered
almost 100% of all newborns (NB) in Catalonia.
In 1999, the CNSP was expanded with the incorporation
of cystic fibrosis. It took fourteen years,
until 2013, to make the largest expansion so far,
with the incorporation of 19 metabolic diseases to
the screening panel.
The detection of sickle cell disease began in
2015 and in 2017 the detection of severe combined
immunodeficiency was included.
Currently, the CNSP includes 24 diseases in its
main panel. Since 1969, 2,787,807 NBs have been
screened, of whom 1,724 have been diagnosed with
any of these diseases, and 252 of other disorders
by differential diagnosis with those included in
the main panel. The global prevalence is 1: 1,617
NBs affected by any of the diseases included in the
CNSP and 1: 1,140 NBs if incidental findings diagnosed
through the CNSP are included.
El Programa de Cribado Neonatal de Cataluña
(PCNC) se inició en el año 1969, en Barcelona, impulsado
por el Dr. Juan Sabater Tobella y apoyado
por la Diputación de Barcelona y la Fundación Juan
March. Así nació el Instituto de Bioquímica Clínica
para acometer funciones asistenciales, de investigación
y docencia, con el espíritu de contribuir a la
prevención del retraso mental.
El PCNC se inició con la detección de la fenilcetonuria
(PKU) y en el año 1982 se amplió con
la detección del hipotiroidismo congénito. Hacia el
año 1990 la cobertura territorial llegó casi al 100%
de todos los recién nacidos en Cataluña.
En 1999 se amplió el PCNC con la incorporación
de la fibrosis quística y tras catorce años, en
2013, se realizó la ampliación más numerosa hasta
ahora, con la incorporación de la detección de 19
enfermedades metabólicas hereditarias.
En el año 2015 comenzó la detección de la enfermedad
de células falciformes y en el 2017 la detección
de la inmunodeficiencia combinada grave.
Actualmente, el PCNC incluye la detección de
24 enfermedades. Desde su inicio en el año 1969,
se han cribado 2.787.807 recién nacidos, de los cuales
1.724 han sido diagnosticados de alguna de las
24 enfermedades que componen nuestro panel principal
y 252 por diagnóstico diferencial de las primeras.
En total la prevalencia global es de 1:1.617
RN afectos de alguna de las enfermedades incluidas
en el PCNC y de 1:1.140 RN si se incluyen los hallazgos
incidentales encontrados.
This multicentre, cross‐sectional study conducted in Spain assessed the clinical characteristics and quality of life of patients who were aged 14–55 years and had allergic rhinitis and/or asthma, ...which was due to house dust mite sensitisation, for at least 2 years. Overall, 296 patients were included; 60% had allergic rhinitis (mostly persistent moderate‐to‐severe) and 40% had rhinitis and asthma (mostly intermittent or mild‐to‐persistent). Patients with rhinitis had moderately reduced quality of life, which was significantly worse in adults than adolescents. The impact of asthma on quality of life was less pronounced than that of rhinitis. Our findings show that allergic asthma and/or rhinitis due to house dust mites have a moderately negative impact on quality of life, particularly in adults, and that quality of life is significantly influenced by rhinitis.