[Review of] Karen Christian. Show and Tell: Identity as Performance in U.S. Latino/a Fiction

Christian\u27s crucial contribution to ethnic studies is her book\u27s argument that ethnic identity is more performance than essence. Of course, this is an unresolved and essentialized issue, but Christian summarizes the debate well, situating her study in the performance camp as she relies on Judith Butler\u27s theory of performativity to examine the inter-related performances of ethnicity and gender in Chicano/a, U.S. Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Dominican texts. As Christian explains, static U.S. Latino/a identity categories create collective fictions that regulate performances of gender, sexuality, and cultural identity, but alternative performances of ethnicity and sexuality, Christian argues, subvert these collective fictions and show instead that identity is always in flux (21). Her study thus refreshingly challenges the practice of defining U.S. Latino/a at the expense of excluding alternative texts, subject matter, and even authors. This is the book\u27s greatest strength, making it a key text for U.S. Latino/a literary critics and ethnic cultural studies in general

Renewable energy research progress in Mexico: a review

Mexico ranks 9th in the world in crude oil reserves, 4th in natural gas reserves in America and it is also highly rich in renewable energy sources (solar, wind, biomasss, hydropower and geothermal). However, the potential of this type of energy has not been fully exploited. Hydropower is the renewable energy source with the highest installed capacity within the country (11,603 MW), while geothermal power capacity (958 MW) makes Mexico to be ranked 4th in the use of this energy worldwide. Wind energy potential is concentrated in five different zones, mainly in the state of Oaxaca, and solar energy has a high potential due to Mexico's ideal location in the so called Solar Belt. Biomass energy has the highest potential (2635 to 3771 PJ/year) and has been the subject of the highest number of research publications in the country during the last 30 years (1982-2012). Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico has led research publications in hydropower, wind, solar and biomass energy and Instituto de Investigaciones Electricas in geothermal energy during this period. According to the General Law for Climate Change the country has set the goal of generating 35% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2024. This paper presents an overview of the renewable energy options available in Mexico, current status, main positive results to date and future potential. It also analyses barriers hindering improvements and proposes pertinent solutions. © 2014 The Authors

Metallic Species In Ambient Air Particles. PM10

In the present work metallic species of particulate matter(PM10) present in an urban area of Gran Canaria Island were quantified. Experimental measurements were carried out from October 2004 to September 2005 with a total of 53 samples (4 or 5 per month). PM10 was collected in fiber filters using high volume samplers. The average concentration was 32,6 ± 19,6 μg/m3. PM10 was determined gravimetrically. Concentrations of metallic elements were analized by atomic emission spectrophotometry using an ICP-OES. Two categories of elements were found: “abundant” and “scarce”. The examined elements were characterized according to their origin from natural or anthropogenic emissions on the basis of enrichment factors. Factor analysis of elemental composition pattern was also used to identify possible pollution source-types