Facultad de Económicas y CC Empresariales

Background: Previous reviews relating to the effects of respiratory muscle training (RMT) after stroke tend to focus on only one type of training (inspiratory or expiratory muscles) and most based the results on poorquality studies (PEDro score ≤4). Objectives: With this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to determine the effects of RMT (inspiratory or expiratory muscle training, or mixed) on exercise tolerance, respiratory muscle function and pulmonary function and also the effects depending on the type of training performed at short- and mediumterm in post-stroke. Methods: Databases searched were MEDLINE, PEDro, CINAHL, EMBASE and Web of Science up to the end of April 2020. The quality and risk of bias for each included study was examined by the PEDro scale (including only high-quality studies) and Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Results: Nine studies (463 patients) were included. The meta-analysis showed a significant increase in exercise tolerance [4 studies; n = 111; standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.65 (95% confidence interval 0.27 −1.04)]; inspiratory muscle strength [9 studies; n = 344; SMD = 0.65 (0.17−1.13)]; inspiratory muscle endurance [3 studies; n = 81; SMD = 1.19 (0.71−1.66)]; diaphragm thickness [3 studies; n = 79; SMD = 0.9 (0.43 −1.37)]; and peak expiratory flow [3 studies; n = 84; SMD = 0.55 (0.03−1.08)] in the short-term. There were no benefits on expiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function variables (forced expiratory volume in 1 s) in the short-term. Conclusions: The meta-analysis provided moderate-quality evidence that RMT improves exercise tolerance, diaphragm thickness and pulmonary function (i.e., peak expiratory flow) and low-quality evidence for the effects on inspiratory muscle strength and endurance in stroke survivors in the short-term. None of these effects are retained in the medium-term. Combined inspiratory and expiratory muscle training seems to promote greater respiratory changes than inspiratory muscle training alone.

To develop a mapping and umbrella review with a meta-meta-analysis (MMA) to critically evaluate the current evidence of motor imagery (MI), action observation and mirror therapy (MT) on pain intensity. The study involved a systematic search of PubMed, PEDro, Scielo, EBSCO and Google Scholar. Ten systematic reviews were included in the qualitative synthesis, 70% of which showed high methodological quality. Three reviews found a significant reduction in chronic musculoskeletal pain as the result of applying movement representation methods (MRM) plus usual-care (UC), with a large clinical effect (standardized mean difference [SMD] of −1.47; 95% CI −2.05 to −0.88; heterogeneity Q = 1.66; p = 0.44; I2 = 0%). However, two reviews showed no statistically significant reduction in acute and postsurgical pain as a result of applying MI plus UC. Four reviews showed no significant reduction in phantom limb pain (PLP) as a result of applying MT plus UC interventions. In four reviews, the MMA showed a significant reduction in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) as a result of applying MT plus UC, with a large clinical effect (SMD −1.27; 95% CI −1.87 to −0.67; heterogeneity Q = 3.95; p = 0.27; I2 = 24%). In two reviews, the MMA showed no significant differences in poststroke pain as a result of applying MT plus UC. Results show that MRM could be effective for chronic musculoskeletal pain, with low to moderate-quality evidence. The results also show a reduction in pain intensity through MT interventions in patients with CRPS, although these results were not found in patients with PLP or poststroke pain. This umbrella review analysed systematic reviews evaluating movement representation techniques, with the aim of synthesizing the available evidence regarding motor imagery, action observation and mirror therapy on pain. The results provide relevant information about the potential clinical use of movement representation techniques in different types of patients with painful conditions.

To assess the effects of aerobic exercise (AE) on patients with migraine in terms of pain intensity, frequency and duration of migraine, and quality of life. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials were conducted. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for relevant outcomes and were pooled in a meta-analysis using the random-effects model. A total of 10 articles from 1950 to 2019 were included, involving 508 patients. The meta-analysis showed statistically significant differences in the decrease in pain intensity (five studies, n = 166; SMD = 1.25; 95% CI 0.47-2.04), frequency (six studies, n = 214; SMD = 0.76; 95% CI 0.32-1.2) and duration of migraine (four studies, n = 106; SMD = 0.41; 95% CI 0.03-0.8), in the short-term. In addition, the meta-analysis showed statistically significant differences in the increase in quality of life (four studies, n = 150; SMD = 2.7; 95% CI 1.17-4.24), even though the Egger's test suggested significant evidence of publication bias for the analysis of quality of life (intercept = 5.81; t = 6.97; P = .02). There is low- and moderate-quality evidence that in patients with migraine AE can decrease the pain intensity, frequency and duration of migraine and can also increase quality of life.

El artículo ofrece un análisis empírico de la fase de «irrelevancia» de la Cooperación Española (2008-2018) enfocándose en la modalidad multilateral, la asignación geográfica de la ayuda programable, la distribución sectorial y actualizando un análisis de las ONGD que se hizo en el año 2000. Los principales resultados son un descenso promedio acumulativo anual del -7,5% de AOD, pasando de 103€ per cápita en 2008 a 27€ en 2015 y 48€ en 2018; un peso del 45% o más de la UE en la AOD neta y del 50% de la ayuda multilateral (el 91% en 2012); más de la mitad de la ayuda programable concentrada en 10 países; la acogida a refugiados gastada en España fue el 55% de la sectorialmente asignable en 2018; y, finalmente, una docena de ONGD que concentran la financiación y el apoyo social.

El análisis de las principales variables de carácter económico, en las últimas décadas del siglo XXI, es muy interesante para estudiar la evolución de los países de Oriente Próximo que tienen salida al Mediterráneo. En concreto, en este trabajo se analizará la especialización productiva de Turquía, Siria, Líbano, Israel, los territorios palestinos y Egipto. Se hará un especial hincapié en su PIB per cápita y su índice de desarrollo humano a través de los datos obtenidos del Banco Mundial y del Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo. Finalmente, también se examinará, en función de la especialización productiva de estas economías, cuál es la composición de su comercio exterior, es decir, los principales bienes que exportan e importan, y a qué países. Los resultados obtenidos se basan en los datos proporcionados por The Growth Lab at Harvard University (2023) para el año 2021

En 1997 se iniciaba el proceso de adhesión de Chipre, uno de los países más pequeños del mundo, a la Unión Europea. Su incorporación como miembro de pleno derecho se produjo en el año 2004. Pocos años después, y como consecuencia del estallido de las hipotecas subprime en EEUU que desembocaría en la Gran Recesión, la economía chipriota se vio afectada de lleno. ¿Cómo han influido estos dos hechos, la incorporación al mercado común europeo y la Gran Recesión al mercado laboral de la isla mediterránea? Para responder a esta cuestión, el objetivo que se persigue en este trabajo es doble. Por un lado, se analizará cuál es la relación existente entre la tasa de paro chipriota y determinadas variables macroeconómicas, así como si la entrada en la UE ha implicado o no un cambio significativo en el desempleo. Por otro lado, se estudiará si se ha producido un proceso de convergencia real de la economía de Chipre con respecto a la europea.

The use of new technologies applied to teaching has led to a qualitative leap in education due to the pandemic caused by COVID-19. This chapter describes the experience of converting an intensive program that had been celebrated in person since 2014, into an online event. Thus, through a project-based learning process, students of different nationalities were able to expand their knowledge related to ethics and finance, as well as other skillsets, such as autonomous and collaborative work, working in a multicultural environment, or the development of technological and language skills. All this was possible thanks to recent developments in software and applications that allow students and teachers to collaborate simultaneously while being separated by hundreds of kilometers in different European cities.