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The relationship between Santiago Rusiñol and the cervantist Clemente Cortejón has remained unknown to the biographers of both. A letter from the artist to the priest, which can be found in the Biblioteca Nacional de España, incomplete and of unknown date, reveals an intimate connection between the two. This article analyses in detail the letter, the figure of Cortejón, raises substantiated hypotheses about the origin of the relationship and studies the effects of the influence of the religious on Rusiñol's literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Belimumab was the first biological drug approved for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). There is not a review focusing on all real-life experience with belimumab to date that could help to describe how this drug behaves in the Spanish clinical setting. Objective: To describe the characteristics of SLE patients treated with belimumab added to standard of care in real-clinical setting in Spain. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive scoping review of real-world data (RWD) according to PRISMA Scoping Reviews Checklist and the framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley. PubMed and EMBASE were searched without language restriction and hand searches of relevant articles were examined. Results: We included data from 222 patients treated with belimumab for SLE included in 19 RWD studies conducted in Spain. The mean age was 40.9 years, 84.2% were female, and baseline scores SELENA-SLEDAI ranged between 5.9 and 12. Lupus nephritis basal prevalence was of 2.7%. The main reason for belimumab initiation was previous treatments lack of efficacy (69.7%) and the most common laboratory abnormalities were hypocomplementemia (40.9%), ANA + (34.2%), and anti-DNA (33.3%). The addition of belimumab to standard therapy was associated with a reduction of daily glucocorticoids intake in 1.4–11.1 mg at 6 months. Belimumab discontinuation was observed in 18.6% of patients. Conclusion: Our study helps to further explore the profile of SLE patients most likely to be treated with belimumab. Key Points • Scientific evidence in SLE provided by randomized controlled trials sometimes differs from the actual treatment of SLE patients in routine clinical practice. • There is a lack of published "real-world" data on SLE treatment with belimumab in Spain. • This scoping review intends to describe and analyze the clinical characteristics of SLE patients receiving belimumab in a real-life setting in Spain. • These "real-world" clinical experience can provide a more realistic view of the overall patterns of SLE care compared with clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seville experienced remarkable growth during the first decades of the 20th century, especially in the 1920s due to the celebration of the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. The infrastructure of the event served as a motor for the development of the local economy, especially the sectors related to the construction. The growth of economic activity is clearly reflected in the appearance of advertisements from factories and workshops that took advantage of the economic boom to promote their products and services. Our main objective is to determine if the publicity offers us complementary information about the industry of Seville in the early years of 1920. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes Mexico's export activity from 1995 to 2020. It applies an augmented gravity model to test how economic size, the distance between countries, endowment factors differences, cultural closeness, and commercial rapprochement have affected Mexico's exports to other countries. The results suggest that Mexico's trading partners' economic size and distance largely explain Mexico's exports to the United States, Canada, China, Germany, Spain, Japan, and Brazil. However, differences in endowment factors, cultural closeness, and commercial rapprochement reasonably influenced Mexico's exports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The factors related to cyanotoxin occurrence and its social impact, with comprehension and risk perception being the most important issues, are not yet completely understood in the Cuban context. The objectives of this research were to determine the risk extension and microcystin-LR levels, and to identify the environmental factors that trigger the toxic cyanobacteria growth and microcystin-LR occurrence in 24 water reservoirs in eastern Cuba. Samplings were performed in the early morning hours, with in situ determination and physicochemical analysis carried out in the laboratory. Microcystin-LR were determined in water and within the cells (intracellular toxins) using UPLC–MS analysis after solid phase extraction. The reservoirs studied were found to be affected by eutrophication, with high levels of TN:TP ratio and phytoplankton cell concentrations, high water temperatures and low transparency, which cause collateral effect such as cyanobacterial bloom and microcystin-LR occurrence. In Hatillo, Chalóns, Parada, Mícara, Baraguá, Cautillo, La Yaya, Guisa and Jaibo reservoirs, concentrations of MC-LR higher than the WHO limits for drinking water (1 µg·L−1), were detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seville experienced remarkable growth during the first decades of the 20th century, especially in the 1920s due to the celebration of the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. The infrastructure of the event served as a motor for the development of the local economy, especially the sectors related to the construction. The growth of economic activity is clearly reflected in the appearance of advertisements from factories and workshops that took advantage of the economic boom to promote their products and services. Our main objective is to determine if the publicity offers us complementary information about the industry of Seville in the early years of 1920. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes how wineries in the wine industry cluster of Baja California in Mexico achieve a high-performance level and engage in technology management. The study uses the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis approach to inquire into the necessary and sufficient conditions for firms in this industry cluster to attain a high-performance level. Our research hypothesis suggests that the presence of some resources (conditions) in the wine industry cluster of Baja California is a necessary and sufficient condition (set-theoretic relations) to achieve a high-performance level (outcome). Accordingly, this study examines the causal complexity observed in set-theoretic relations and high-performance levels in the wine industry cluster of Baja California. An important finding in this research is that winery firms in Baja California do not need to develop interdependent innovations to achieve a high-performance level. However, research and development efforts, good supplier relations, and production capacity are necessary conditions to achieve a high performance level in this cluster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among contexts in which consumer ethics unfold, the family is a very relevant one because it holds a sizeable share of consumption decisions, and is intimately connected to the search and sustaining of a common life project. Based on interviews with 20 fathers cohabiting with their partners and children, we examine the role of the father in family consumption, including the progressive weakening of the breadwinner model in favor of more involved ways of male presence in the family. We explore whether fathers show any kind of ethical concern in their family consumption decisions and, if that is the case, whether those concerns are better understood through the lens of an ethics of care -as usually done in the case of mothers- or through the lens of virtue ethics -which is connected to consumers' projects and their search for the good life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the aim to evaluate the behavior of pineapple plantlets (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) cv. 'MD-2' obtained by in vitro reproduction, was carried out this study about the response to conditions of water stress in the plantlets at the end of the acclimatization stage. The experiment was carried out to check the morpho-physiological response of plantlets. After 30 days of subjecting the plantlets to water stress significant changes was observed compared to those under normal conditions of wet, however after rewetting was observed a recovery of plants previously stressed, mainly by a tendency to reestablishment of the parameters measured, which allowed to predict the possibility of achieve the morpho-physiological response of plantlets by an appropriate handling of irrigation and a better preparation of plantlets to tolerate short-terms drought after plantation to field conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective/Context: One of the effects of the internal war in Colombia was to hinder the expression of the social conflict and of the organizations that mobilize the popular sectors. The plebiscite to ratify the Peace Accord aimed at putting an end to the war was a politically polarized juncture channeled through the electoral process. The shift in the centrality of the issue of the internal war after the signing of the Accord opened the possibility of expression of the social conflict. However, in a country with weak social and political organizations to shape this conflict, it is expressed: 1) without politically aligned framings; 2) as a generalized discontent with the elites and a feeling of "tilted playing field". Therefore, political polarization after the plebiscite is low. We develop this argument based on the analysis of voters' positions in relation to the most important issues of the political agenda: Peace Agreement, redistributive agenda (taxes and welfare) and governmental management of the COVID pandemic, and gender agenda. Methodology: The article is based on 16 focus groups conducted between September and November 2021 in three regions of Colombia --Bogotá, Antioquia and the Caribbean-- in which voters from the two main 2018 electoral options participated, with gender balance and variation in occupation and between middle and lower classes. Conclusion: The data show that there is no political polarization at the citizen level. Instead, a high level of discontent towards political and economic elites is observed, which may be at the basis of electoral support for Petro in 2022. Originality: The article offers an alternative look at the perception that many Colombians have that they live in a polarized society and contributes to the understanding of electoral support for an "anti-system" force in the 2022 election. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reviews the most important events in the Colombian political arena during 2016. The focus of this review is on the facts and processes that led to the signature of the peace agreement between the national government led by Juan Manuel Santos and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC). The first section describes the road towards the signing of the first agreement in August, tracks the process of popular ratification of the agreement through a plebiscite in October, and analyzes the impact of the victory of the opposition to the agreement on the peace talks, and on the administration itself. The second section shows how some attitudes related to public trust in institutions have deteriorated in the past few years and states how these attitudes might be related to a sharp polarization between those who follow former president Álvaro Uribe and those who do not. The third section reviews the moderate economic slowdown as compared to other countries in Latin America. In the fourth section I analyze the composition of Santos’s cabinet, and in the fifth I show the legislative agenda during the year. The article closes with some brief conclusions on how the plebiscite’s results became an anti-climactic blow to the much-awaited end of the conflict with the oldest guerrilla group in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Down syndrome is the most frequent genetic cause of disability associated with development. The lack of normative values for these children, hinders an early assessment and monitoring of the clinical course. The objective was to describe the evolutionary profile of these children during the first three years of life. A prospective cohort study was performed, for 9 years, in which 156 children under 37 months were included. They had 528 evaluations by "Abbreviated Scale Development" (EAD -1), a valid and reliable standardized test in Colombia to assess the developmental level in children under 6 years. We obtained quarterly developmental quotients, percentile values, variations between the areas assessed, the evolutionary curve in each area studied and the most critical periods in different semesters. These values will enable monitoring the clinical course of these children, early identification of areas of greatest vulnerability and need for intervention, assessment of the impact of therapeutic interventions or programs of stimulation and guidance to parents and related health and social agents to development and survival of the boy and the girl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research project focuses on a specific type of legitimacy, media legitimacy, which deals with the judgements made by the media about the legitimacy of organisations and explores the relationship between the types of frames (episodic and thematic) proposed by Iyengar (1994) and the typologies of moral legitimacy proposed by Suchman (1995): consequential, procedural, structural, and personal legitimacy. The subject of this empirical analysis will be the refugee crisis (2015-2016) in the European Union. Legitimacy rests on the consent of authority and power. Media framing can shape the opinions and political attitudes of citizens and, consequently, judgements of the legitimacy of public organisations. A content analysis was performed to measure the presence and absence of the types of legitimacy and understand the relationship with the types of episodic or thematic frames as well as the sense of appraisal using the Janis-Fadner coefficient. This research suggests that while the four types of legitimacy are present in news coverage, procedural legitimacy is more prevalent than the others, as well as more negative. This research notes the importance of process management in influencing the legitimacy of an organisation, and underlines the importance of managing the communication of public policy processes. The supporting results develop hypotheses for future research on the attribution of responsibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the effect of a growth promoter on the productive behavior of the bean culture, four experiments were carried out in four agroecosystems of the province of Sancti Spíritus, Cuba. The experimental design used for the trials was the Latin Square with four treatments. The doses of VIUSID agro® evaluated were: 0.5; 0.8; 1.0 (L ha-1) and one control. The agronomic variables evaluated were: pods per plant, grains per plant, grains per pods, yield per plant (g), mass of 100 grains (g) and agricultural yield (t ha-1). In experiment one, the highest stimulant effect was achieved with treatments of 1.0 (L ha-1), with an increase in yields of 30.28% with respect to the control. In test two, the agricultural yield at doses of 0.8 and 1.0 L ha-1 exceeded the control by 29.35 and 35.32%, respectively. Similar results were obtained in experiment three, where the increases with respect to the untreated plants were 19.19 and 11.62%. Similarly, in trial four there was an increase in production over the control of 1.21 t ha-1 with the use of the higher dose. Foliar application of the VIUSID agro ® growth promoter significantly favored the bean crop productivity. The best performance doses were 1.0 (L ha-1) in experiments one and four, and 0.8 and 1.0 (L ha-1) in experiments two and three. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper a cost analysis by means the Total Cost Model is performed, in order to valuate the economic impact involved in the integration of renewable energies in the Colombian electric system, considering that its infrastructure is based on the water resource. The high potential of the country to implement renewable energy, particularly wind and biomass, explains the need to propose different scenarios for electricity generation and makes analysis of their capital, fixed, variable and external costs taking into account the experience (learning curve). Conclusions about the feasibility of implementing new technologies for the energy future of the country are reached. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, part of an ethnographic research on greater spatial and territorial phenomena, there is a discussion on some processes of change that occur in the Chilean Patagonia, which corresponds to one of the few places in the world where there is unoccupied land and a fountain of resources demanded by the global economy. It is identified as a place not yet contaminated, with important biodiversity, rivers flow freely and have great energy potential; remote, slightly accessible, with inhabitants isolated and distanced, with poor services product of the centralism of the national State. It has identified different actors and imageries that are generating a rewriting of the territory with distinct and contradictory purposes such as the State, the capital, communities, environmental groups, migrants by change of lifestyle and others with ideological interests. The recognized factors cause the acceleration of time and alter the conditions of life in the traditional which is considered the last frontier of capitalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the investigation was to evaluate the use of vegetable biomass as a mulching material of the soil in the tomato cultivation (Solanumlycopersicum L.). Two experiments were carried out in two agro ecosystems and it was used as a covering vegetal biomass in both farms. The two experiments were adjusted in a randomized block with three or four repetitions. In the experiment 1 three treatments were evaluated, (Panicum maxima (Jacq) R.D.Webster.), lagoon rush (Scirpuslacustris L.) and a Control. Four treatments were applied in experiment 2, one covered by the residues of rice crop (Oryza sativa L.), another with Guinea (P. maxima), banana leaves (Musa paradisiacal L.) and a Control. In both experiments the soil temperature was measured during 8 weeks; at the 8:00, 11:00, 14:00 and 17:00 hours. The productive yield and the agronomic characteristics of the cultivation were evaluated (fruits for plant, diameter and mass of the fruits). The agronomic characteristics showed the best results in the treatments with mulch. The yields in both experiments were statistically superiors in the cases in which the mulch soil was used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the main determinants of tourism demand of the APEC economies in Mexico. Panel data analysis is used. The evidence demonstrates the effect of word of mouth, relative prices and distance on tourism demand in all cases. The income variable affects developed and developing economies, while accommodation capacity was significant in the full sample and in developing economies. This research gets insight into the main variables that influence the demand for tourism in Mexico. Finally, it is concluded that tourists share experiences and that both income and prices continue to be factors that affect the decision to travel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper summarizes the study of a cooling tower from a thermal power station following fissures found after a maintenance inspection. Through structural and vibrational analysis causes of damage on the evaluated system have been determined. The study has been done by means of a finite element model, fed with experimentally measured data, in order to calculate modes of vibration and to estimate the influence of external parameters such as wind impact. Through this work repair methodologies aimed to the proper functioning of the cooling tower have been designed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides data on the occurrence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the biogas emission from a landfill located on the island of Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain), where 200,000 tonnes of urban solid wastes are dumped every year. Three different sampling cells, of differing waste ageing were investigated in August 2008, during the main tourist season and the warmest possible weather conditions. Samples were collected in Nalophan™ bags according to the standard European method EN 13725 followed by VOCs adsorption onto Carboxen 1000™ and Tenax TA™ materials prior to thermal desorption and analysis by GC-MS. In total 42 VOCs were analysed, using external standards, out of which 36 were positively identified. Detected VOCs in µg m−3were alkanes (19–62), aldehydes (65–98), ketones (78–129), alcohols (67–78), esters (25–33), BTEX (83–106), halogenated compounds (16–39), terpens (1.4–2.4) and reduced sulphur compounds (2.6–4.2), showing different concentrations on each one of the three cells. Emitted VOCs showed some similarities with other previous studies from China and Turkey, while large differences to an Italian study. The benzene-to-toluene ratio (B:T) showed values in the range of 0.13 to 0.20 characteristic of biogas. H2S and NH3gases emitted by the landfill were measured in-situ utilising Dräger™ Tubes for Short-Term-Measurements, showing concentration levels of ≤800 µg m−3and <300 µg m−3, respectively, which is higher than the determined VOCs in accordance with previous studies. Samples were examined with dynamic olfactometry following standard European method EN 13725, to determine a potential statistical linear correlation between odour and VOC concentrations. Such correlations were not observed probably owing to the large number of compounds emitted from garbage which are not quantified, yet causing positive results in olfactometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The future economic growth for India is likely to result in rapid and accelerated surge in energy demand, with expected shortages in terms of supply. Many of its current policies and strategies are aimed at the improvement and possible maximization of energy production from the renewable sector. It is also clear that while energy conservation and energy efficiency can make an important contribution, renewable energies will be essential to the solution and are likely to play an increasingly important role for providing enhanced energy access, reducing consumption of fossil fuels, and helping India pursue its low-carbon progressive pathway. However, most of the states in India, like the northernmost state of Jammu and Kashmir, have experienced an energy crisis over a sustained period of time and the government both at center and state level has to embark upon with these pressing issues in a more sustainable manner and accordingly initiate various renewable energy projects within these states. This paper will provide a broad-spectrum view about the energy situation within Jammu and Kashmir and will highlight the current policies along with future strategies for the optimal utilization of renewable energy resources. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses the notion of liberal populism that is more on the populist than the liberal side on the contradictions of classical populism. It compares the policies on populism by interventionalist with the policies in democratic developed countries which are deemed by the public and the academics as not so different from one another. The author concludes that through the consideration of the misunderstanding between populism and liberalism that populism has led transformation for economic and political stability in Latin American while liberalism has offered potential for antiliberal and democratic populists.

Abstract: Nowadays, one of the urgent issues regarding global climate change is to discuss the future of the second period of the Kyoto Protocol. However, the divergence of views and opinions among parties in the last Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, held in Durban in December 2011, is still large. One of the bones of contention is whether the emerging developing countries, like China, should make commitments and legally bind themselves to a Green House Gas (GHG) reduction target in near future. As the largest GHG emitting country, China and its energy and climate policies will play an important role in global climate change and will also significantly influence the other countries’ policies and the global climate negotiation. In this paper, we review the current differences among parties in the Durban Conference, and we analyze the recent situation, barriers, and future policies in China. Finally we highlight the impact and potential effect of Clean Development Mechanisms in avoiding China''s barriers regarding climate change. Results show that China is making a great effort to mitigate climate change by establishing and reforming its energy and climate policies in order to achieve a low-carbon development. At the same time, more innovation and international collaboration is needed in China to achieve this goal. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The possibility to analyze publicity spots in their condition of ideological discourses is a growing necessity in the social sciences. This is especially important when referring to publicity spots that refer to highly polarized political junctures, such as the one around the DR-CAFTA. This article shows the results of a Critical Discourse Analysis on publicity spots from that period, all of them especially referred to National Identity and citizen participation on the social movement against the DR-CAFTA in Costa Rica. The research findings indicate that in the publicity campaign that endorsed the DR-CAFTA, different elements related to National Identity where used to promote repression and fear. In contrast, the analyzed publicity spot against the DR-CAFTA used National Identity to motivate and mobilize people. This research has been conducted with the support of the Instituto de Investigaciones Sociales of the Universidad de Costa Rica through one of its scholarships for young researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: With electricity consumption increasing within the United States, new paradigms of delivering electricity are required in order to meet demand. One promising option is the increased use of distributed power generation. Already a growing percentage of electricity generation, distributed generation locates the power plant physically close to the consumer, avoiding transmission and distribution losses as well as providing the possibility of combined heat and power. Despite the efficiency gains possible, regulators and utilities have been reluctant to implement distributed generation, creating numerous technical, regulatory, and business barriers. Certain governments, most notable California, are making concerted efforts to overcome these barriers in order to ensure distributed generation plays a part as the country meets demand while shifting to cleaner sources of energy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Global manufacturing virtual networks (GMVNs) constitute a new type of organization based on vertical and horizontal relations between independent companies or even competitors where it is not needed to maintain internal manufacturing resources but to manage and share the network resources. The result is a highly flexible system characterized by low barriers to entry and exit, geographic flexibility, low costs, rapid technological diffusion, high diversification through contract manufacturers and exceptional economies of scale and specialization. Within GMVNs, relations are established among Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), component suppliers performing at the same level as the OEMs under formulas such as Risk and Revenue Sharing Partnership (RRSP), or even manufacturers from another industrial sectors. However, the inherent risk of working with competitors is also very relevant. In order to avoid these problems, the OEMs use a variety of structural mechanisms like the utilization of central network positioning, structural holes or indirect links with peripheral actors, in order to be able to maintain a tacit power over other GMVN actors. This work will demonstrate how power is managed in these organizations and the importance of these mechanisms through a quantitative study in one of the sectors where GMVNs have more intensively grown, the manufacturing industry of aircraft engines. This study will permit to know, in a clear manner, how these networks work, to give perspective to one of the organization types that have grown to a great extend over the past years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Life Cycle Analyses (LCA) are used to compare biofuels to fossil fuels. These analyses are made according to the ISO 14040-43 standards, which using a defined unit compare mass and energy balances for two or more comparison objects. In Spain, the Spanish government Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, CIEMAT, has performed two LCA''s in order to compare ethanol and ethanol mixtures with unleaded gasoline and biodiesel and biodiesel mixtures with fuel-oil according to these standards. Both LCA''s conclude that biofuels require less primary energy than fossil fuels to be processed and that CO2 emissions are lower when using biofuels instead of fossil fuels. However, these LCA''s have been strongly criticized for several reasons. This report presents a new LCA model which allows the comparison of biofuels and fossil fuels based on the maximisation and optimisation of production resources avoiding the disadvantages of the traditional LCA model based on the ISO 14040-43 standards. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: As a large percentage of the world''s poor come from India, development in India is a key issue. After the establishment of how access to energy enhances development and the achievement of the millennium development goals, energy poverty has become a major issue. In India there is a great interest in addressing the subject of energy poverty, in order to reach development goals set by the Government. This will imply an increase in India''s energy needs. In a climate of change and environmental consciousness, sustainable alternatives must be considered to address these issues. Renewable energy technologies could provide a solution to this problem. The Government of India has been focussing in implementing electricity policies as well as on promoting renewable energy technologies. The focus of this article is to bring to light the problems faced in India in terms of energy consumption as well as the hindrances faced by renewable-based electrification networks. Government policies aimed at addressing these issues, as well as the current state of renewable energy technologies in India are discussed, so as to analyse the possibility of a solution to the problems of finding a sustainable method to eradicate energy poverty in India. The research reveals that the Government of India has been unable to meet some of its unrealistic development goals, and in order to achieve the remaining goals it will have to take drastic steps. The Government will have to be more aggressive in the promotion of renewable energy technologies in order to achieve sustainable development in India. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents an overview of the work of French 19th-century economist Frédéric Bastiat. Although he was highly regarded as an economic journalist, known for expressing economic ideas clearly and vividly, he has enjoyed less repute as an economist. Dismissive remarks from better know economists are cited, and it is argued that the significance of Bastiat's thought has been underestimated. This is attributed, in large part, to his libertarian ideals, as libertarianism was widely unpopular in many of the leading schools of 19th-century economic thought.

Abstract: This paper attempts to identify the types of renewable-based power generation technologies available in Australia that have the capacity to contribute to the growth of the renewable energy sector and then suggest what type of economic incentive instruments could be applied in order to stimulate investment in that sector. Currently in Australia there are hydro, wind, bioenergy, solar, geothermal and ocean technologies being used to produce renewable power. Of these all except hydro power has large amounts of potentially useful resources. In the cases of wind, bioenergy, solar, and geothermal, the technology is mature enough to be immediately deployed in large-scale. However, only in the cases of wind and bioenergy the costs and return on investments are proven to be viable in the current market. What is required on all fronts is an improved return on investments. Within the current electricity market competition with fossil-fuel based power is very difficult considering the ample supply of coal available in Australia and the heavy subsidies it receives. To become more competitive with electricity generated from coal-fired power plants, a feed-in tariff scheme could be implemented, and subsidies to the coal industry should be reduced if not removed. Another aspect impeding the growth of certain renewable power technologies is the high capital cost. This issue could be addressed with direct subsidies or tax exemptions, or aiding with easier access of finance options. However for particular industries such as wind and solar, it would be a further benefit if some effort is made to encourage component manufacturing within Australia. For technologies that require further technical development, funding towards R&D or pilot projects, and support for international collaboration projects would accelerate their path to deployment. It is critical that the Australian government continues to be a leader. In addition to the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) and an extension to the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target Scheme (MRETS) proposed by the federal government, the Council of Australian Governments (CoAG) must work to streamline policies between the federal and state governments and the latter must apply policies unique to their region for what technology is prevalent. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: For several years the European Union (E.U.) has been promoting the use of biofuels due to their potential benefits such as the reduction of dependence on foreign energy imports (the raw materials can be produced within the E.U.), the more stable fossil fuel prices (they can replace fossil fuels on the market), the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction (biofuels’ raw materials fix CO2 from the atmosphere) and the fact that they can represent an additional source of income for the primary sector (biofuels’ raw materials are vegetables that can be grown and harvested). Despite the public aids (direct and indirect), biofuels are not competitive with fossil fuels at present, but it is possible that in the future the environment conditions change and biofuels might become competitive. It is difficult to assess whether this will happen or not, but it is possible to make an assessment of a future situation. This article presents two analyses with one objective: to determine if biofuels might become competitive in the future. The first analysis examines the dependencies of two quotations which have a strong relationship with fuels: the crude oil quotation and the CO2 bond quotation. The analysis of these relationships may help to forecast the future competitiveness of biofuels. For instance, biofuels’ future competitiveness will be higher if their raw material costs are not related to crude oil quotations or if they are related in a negative way (the higher the crude oil quotations the lower the raw material biofuels’ cost). The second analysis focuses on the market penetration of biofuels in the Spanish market. There are data related to biofuels monthly consumption in Spain since 2007 and it is possible to know if biofuels are gaining market quota since then. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This work presents the analytical procedure developed to quantify Eu and Tb lanthanides by Total-reflection X-Ray Fluorescence (TXRF) by a direct solid method for first time. These rare-earth elements are doping the organic-inorganic hybrid compound γ-ZrP-TerPy which is currently being investigated as a highly efficient luminescent system. The developed procedure allows for the analysis of very low sample quantities, ca.5 mg, with an adequate expanded uncertainty, around 8%, and detection limits lower than 0.002 wt% for Eu and Tb. The hereby described direct solid procedure has been tested against the usual quantitative analysis by means of the acid digestion of the samples by TXRF and ICP-MS. Discrepancies as large as one order of magnitude were found between the direct and the acid-digestion measurements. The combination of several unanticipated chemical effects, produced in the conventional digestion procedure of this material, explain its strong loss of Eu and Tb. The thorough optimization of the digestion procedures finally confirmed the validity of the easy and simple direct procedure carried out by TXRF in a solid way without sluggish sample digestion. This research shows once again the versatility and confidence of the quantitative direct solid measurements performed by TXRF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Evaluate in vitro, the ixodicide effect of the ethanolic extract of five plants; Brugmasia arborea, Sambucus nigra, Nicotiana tabacum, Bidens pilosa and Ambrosia cumanenses on adult ticks of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus species. Materials and methods. The extract of each plant was obtained through leaching technique. Adult ticks of two different sizes (small and medium) were used in the tests, by being exposed to the extract of each plant using the immersion of adult tick technique. Twenty-four hours after exposure, the mortality rate reading was taken, where an efficient minimum mortality rate was defined to be 60%. The initial tests were conducted with pure extracts, and when these proved to be efficient, increasing dilutions were made, until the minimum efficient concentration was found. These tests were done in both cold and warm areas. Results. The N. tabacum extract showed effectiveness in small tics, with dilutions of 0.5:10 and 1:10 in both cool and warm areas, accordingly, and 2.5:10 and 5:10 on medium sized ticks in cool and warm areas respectively; B. arborea, showed efficiency on small tick up to a 7.5:10 dilution in both climates; S. nigra and B. pilosa were only efficient in warm areas on small ticks using pure extracts. A. cumanenses was not efficient in any of the tests. Conclusions. N. tabacum, was more efficient and noted that the best results were obtained with higher concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article the author discusses the philosophy on liberty as expressed in "On Liberty," by John Stuart Mill. The article notes that many of Mill's ideas on liberty coexist with antiliberal notions, some of which can seriously curtail freedom. Mill supported drug legalization and was opposed to marriage, family, religion, tradition, morality, and custom because he felt they were obstacles to liberty. The article also notes that Mill believed there were two classes of government intervention that were acceptable. For necessary interventions, Mill relied on the theories of economist and philosopher Adam Smith with regard to the protection of property rights and contract enforcement.

Abstract: In recent times, the global debate on the environment has been centered on CO2 emissions. This gas is the major cause of the “greenhouse effect” and people are more concerned with the idea that the emissions of this gas should be minimized. As a result of this concern, the Kyoto Protocol was enacted and subscribed to by many countries, setting the maximum gas emissions for them. Fossil fuels are a major source of CO2 emissions. For some years now The European Union has been seeking to promote some years now the use of biofuels as substitutes for diesel or petrol for transport purposes. As a result of this policy, in 2003 the European Union (EU) Directive 2003/30/EC was developed with the aim of promoting the use of biofuels as a substitute for diesel or gasoline among European Union countries as well as to contribute to fulfilling the commitments acquired on climate change, security of supply in environmentally friendly conditions and the promotion of renewable energy sources. In order to achieve these goals, the directive forces all EU members to ensure that before December 31 of 2010 at least 5.75% of all gasoline and diesel fuels sold for transport purposes are biofuels. European Union countries have social and economic characteristics unique to themselves. The energy dependence on foreign sources, the features of the agricultural sector or the degree of industrialization varies greatly from one country to another. In this context, it is questionable whether the obligation imposed by this directive is actually achieving in its application uniform and/or identical goals in each of the countries involved and whether the actions of the various governments are also aligned with these goals. All these ideas were developed in a previous report (Sobrino and Monroy (2009) ). This report examines the possibility of using hydrogen as an alternative to fossil fuels and biofuels from a technical, economic and environmental point of view in the specific case of a European Union country: Spain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: For more than a decade we have lived in a period where the so-called “sustainability” is crucial and is motivated primarily by the social awareness of achieving a balance between human development and the conservation of the environment. This philosophy has a direct and inevitable impact on business and politics. Governments have long since been developing standards and encouraging various diverse initiatives whose aim is to defend the environment. In recent times, the global debate on the environment has been centred on CO2 emissions. This gas is the major cause of the “greenhouse effect” and people are more concerned with the idea that the emissions of this gas should be minimized. As a result of this concern, the Kyoto Protocol was enacted and subscribed to by many countries, setting the maximum gas emissions for them. Fossil fuels are a major source of CO2 emissions. In 2003 the European Union (EU) directive 2003/30/EC [2003/30/EC Directive of the European Parliament and the Council—8th may 2003. On the promotion of the use of biofuels or other renewable fuels for transport] was developed with the aim of promoting the use of biofuels as a substitute for diesel or petrol among European Union countries as well as to contribute to fulfilling the commitments on climate change, security of supply in environmentally friendly conditions and the promotion of renewable energy sources. In order to achieve these goals, the directive forces all EU members to ensure that at least 5.75% of all petrol and diesel fuels sold for transport purposes are biofuels before December 31 of 2010. European Union countries have social and economic characteristics unique to themselves. The energy dependence from foreign sources, the features of the agricultural sector or the degree of industrialization varies greatly from one country to another. In this context, it is questionable whether the obligation imposed by this directive applies to achieve uniform and/or identical goals in each of the countries involved and whether the actions of the various governments are also aligned with these goals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To review the clinical and image IFGI as causes well known and established, but unusual acute abdominal pain. Material and methods: We present a series of patients admitted to our institution over a period of three years seven months with a clinical diagnosis of acute abdominal pain syndrome in which MDCT indicated to clarify the origin. Results: Showing 34 cases in which identified IFGI (torsion of epiploic appendix in 28 cases (82%), omental infarction in three cases (9%), sclerosing mesenteritis in two cases (6%) and a mesenteric panniculitis case (3%) that in all the cardinal symptom prompting medical consultation was abdominal pain and the diagnosis was established mainly IFGI CT and needed surgical treatment in 12% of cases. Conclusion: CT plays an important role in the diagnosis of acute abdomen to detect the different causes of abdominal origin. In our population we found that 26% of cases the patients are from the 6th decade of life and with such diverse locations, beyond the rectosigmoid in topography of the right colon, ascending colon and splenic flexure of conditioning colon clinical abdominal discomfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable energy supply models are needed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals established by the United Nations for 2015. However, sustainability of agricultural development in rural areas is a prerequisite to achieve the objective of halving the proportion of people who live in poverty, and productivity of such development is closely related to energy supply. This article analyses the results of a survey of experts, suggesting that there may be a good chance to innovate in the financing of agricultural electrification projects in developing countries. The experts' opinion suggests that new sources of financing could be mobilised and oriented towards the promotion of sustainable initiatives in developing countries. Financial mechanisms should be adapted to the characteristics of decentralised systems of energy production with renewable sources or with mixed technologies, in order to overcome barriers derived from the high initial price of the applications, and to the specific conditions of the agricultural sector. The participation of funds from the beneficiaries and the incorporation of beneficiaries into the initial phases of project organisation would allow for the development of productive solutions with a higher potential to generate resources and to articulate sustainable proposals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Sustainable energy supply models are needed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals established by the United Nations for 2015. On the other hand, sustainability of agricultural exploitations in rural areas is a pre-requisite to achieve the objective of halving the proportion of people that lives in poverty, and productivity of such exploitations is closely related to energy supply. This article analyses the results of a survey of experts, suggesting that there may be good chances to innovate in the financing of agricultural electrification projects in developing countries. The experts’ opinion suggests that new sources of financing could be mobilised and oriented towards the promotion of sustainable initiatives in developing countries. Financial mechanisms should be adapted to the characteristics of decentralised systems of energy production with renewable sources or with mixed technologies, in order to overcome the barriers derived from the high initial price of the applications, and to the specific conditions of the agricultural sector. The participation of funds from the beneficiaries and the incorporation of the beneficiaries in the initial phases of project organisation would allow for the development of productive solutions with a higher potential to generate resources and to articulate sustainable proposals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper analyzes the experience of organized women groups in the municipality of Cunduacán, Tabasco, México, during the period of 2004 to 2007. This was a process in which some women from rural communities fought to defend their rights and demanded public policy, municipal regulations and state laws that protect them. During that process, municipal government created the Care for Women Coordination. The activities of the Coordination and women groups put the local agenda in items of women's rights and gender equity. With these references, we discussing about citizen action in the construction of public policies, with two relevant elements in this experience: Requiring a political openness of a local government product of alternating partisan, as well as the press for change of persons and communities involved. The other element was that in an effective way to solve a social problem, the government structure and its policies must be adapted to the social demands. The Care for Women Coordination is an example of transversely attention of women problems based on participation of them [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An essay is presented which focuses on the liberal analysis presented by economist Álvaro Flórez Estrada. Flórez's dependence on the writings of philosopher John Locke and the liberal tradition in Spain is contrasted with his failure to support all private property, particularly land ownership. Particular focus is given to the book "Curso de economia política."

Abstract: The use of doxorubicin (DOX) in the treatment of solid tumors is limited by cardiotoxicity essentially due to oxidative stress generation. The aim of this study was to identify coumarin derivatives displaying a protective antioxidant activity without affecting DOX antitumoral efficiency. A set of eighteen coumarinic derivatives was synthesized. Their antioxidant power was evaluated in vitro with the FRAP (ferric reducing ability of plasma) method and in human breast adenocarcinoma MCF7 cells using H2DCFDA (2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate) in a cytometric analysis. 4-Methyl-7,8-dihydroxycoumarin was found to exhibit an important antioxidant strength, a low cytotoxicity, and could decrease ROS (reactive oxygen species) production generated by DOX treatment without affecting DOX cytotoxicity in MCF7 cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

From a citizen perspective, municipalities in present-day Mexico have proven to be structurally limited, with few resources and attributions, and influenced by a political culture that recycles traditional forms of exercising power. In order to promote changes in the municipalities, several civil organizations have proposed a Municipal Reformation that promotes local development and democratization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the role of professors and tutors on the integral formation of students within the Program of Universalizing Higher Education, for which it has been conceived a new pedagogical model. This research was carried out at the Municipal University, Villa Clara. The study was based on Methodological Workshops, and Courses dealing with the role of the professor and the tutor for this new cognitive social model within the University Educative Teaching Process. Achievements demonstrate the importance of professors and tutors improvement for education and integral formation of students, creative development and competence, adjusted to the characteristics and sources of recruitment of the Municipal Universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews performance-based projective techniques, particularly Rorschach in terms of their use as assessment tools. An updated definition of the assessment methods and a clarification of the concept of personality disorders are outlined, along with a number of issues concerning Rorschach's validity and reliability. Finally, an approach to the process of personality disorders assessment is suggested with a focus on especially serious disorders --i.e., schizotypal, narcissistic, antisocial and borderline personality disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied the rheology and structure of a mixed nonionic fluorinated surfactant, perfluoroalkyl sulfonamide ethoxylate, C8F17SO2N(C3H7)(CH2CH2O)nH abbreviated as C8F17EO10, and perfluorodecalin (C10F18) or perfluoropolyether oil, (C3F6O)nCOOH, in an aqueous system using rheometry and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) techniques. In the absence of oil, the viscosity of surfactant solutions (10 and 15 wt %) first decreases slightly and then more strongly with temperature. Addition of a small amount of fluorinated oil to the wormlike micellar solution disrupts the network structure and decreases the viscosity sharply at lower temperature indicating a rod−sphere transition. The trend of the viscosity curve changes gradually and an anomalous viscosity maximum as a function of temperature appears. It is found that perfluoropolyether oil decreases the viscosity more effectively than perfluorodecalin. The generalized indirect Fourier transformation(GIFT) analysis of the SAXS data confirmed the formation of long rod-like particles in an oil-free, surfactant/water system at 20 °C. Addition of a trace amount of fluorinated oils induces modulation in the structure of the micelles and eventually short rods or spherical particles are formed. The decreasing trend in the viscosity with oil concentration is thus attributed to the microstructure changes induced by the added oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure of the reverse micellar cubic (I2) liquid crystal and the adjacent micellar phase in amphiphilic block copolymer/water/oil systems has been studied by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), rheometry, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Upon addition of water to the copolymer/oil mixture, spherical micelles are formed and grow in size until a disorder−order transition takes place, which is related to a sudden increase in the viscosity and shear modulus. The transition is driven by the packing of the spherical micelles into a Fd3mcubic lattice. The single-phase I2liquid crystals show gel-like behavior and elastic moduli higher than 104Pa, as determined by oscillatory measurements. Further addition of water induces phase separation, and it is found that reverse water-in-oil emulsions with high internal phase ratio and stabilized by I2liquid crystals can be prepared in the two-phase region. Contrary to liquid−liquid emulsions, both the elastic modulus and the viscosity decrease with the fraction of dispersed water, due to a decrease in the crystalline fraction in the sample, although the reverse emulsions remain gel-like even at high volume fractions of the dispersed phase. A temperature induced order−disorder transition can be detected by calorimetry and rheometry. Upon heating the I2liquid crystals, two thermal events associated with small enthalpy values were detected:  one endothermic, related to the “melting” of the liquid crystal, and the other exothermic, attributed to phase separation. The melting of the liquid crystal is associated with a sudden drop in viscosity and shear moduli. Results are relevant for understanding the formation of cubic-phase-based reverse emulsions and for their application as templates for the synthesis of structured materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to define characters highly related with the grain yield of sorghum, a group of varieties was studied during two campaigns and numerous characters of the plants were evaluated. The characters more correlated with the grain weight of the panicle (PGP) were: the number of panicle grains (NGP), the shaft diameter (DT) and the flag leaf area (AFHB), in positive sense, and the exertion longitude of the flag leaf (LE) in negative form. Direct effects bigger that indirect on the PGP had: the panicle number of grains (NGP), the DT and the AFHB. The panicle length (LP) and the total plant leaf area (AFT) showed a contrary behavior. The characters DT, LP, AP, LE, AFT and AFHB serve in the first place as approaches or selection criteria in order to increment the PGP. It is even possible to include in the study other characters or features to obtain a more complete definition of main components or factors of variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]