Singularities of plane complex curves and limits of K\"ahler metrics with cone singularities. I: Tangent Cones

We construct and classify, in the case of two complex dimensions, the possible tangent cones at points of limit spaces of non-collapsed sequences of K\"ahler-Einstein metrics with cone singularities.Comment: Reference to Panov's Polyhedral Kahler Manifolds adde

Asymptotically conical Ricci-flat Kahler metrics with cone singularities

The main result proved in this thesis is an existence theorem for asymptotically conical Ricci-flat Kahler metrics on C2 with cone singularities along a smooth complex curve. These metrics are expected to arise as blow-up limits of non-collapsed sequences of Kahler-Einstein metrics with cone singularities.Open Acces

Influence of the nonlocal parameter on the transverse vibration of double-walled carbon nanotubes

A high-order nonlocal continuum beam model is proposed, which can be applied to study the transverse vibrations of double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs), including those that could have initial deformations due to defects or external actions. A beam element is developed adopting Hermite cubic polynomials as shape functions, and mass and elastic stiffness matrix are presented. The influence of the nonlocal parameter on the vibrational properties of DWCNTs is studied. Using the proposed model, it was found that the nonlocal parameter has a strong influence on the natural frequencies.Fil: de Borbon, Fernanda Maria. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Mecánica Estructural y Riesgo Sísmico. Maestría en Ingeniería Estructural; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Ambrosini, Ricardo Daniel. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Mecánica Estructural y Riesgo Sísmico. Maestría en Ingeniería Estructural; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza; Argentin

Compliance with the private standards and capacity building of national institutions under globalization: new agendas for developing countries?

There are two assumptions regarding regulatory instruments under the globalizing economy. These are: (1) increasing role of private standards in shaping the economic activities of developing countries; and (2) diminishing role of national institutions in "open" and "liberal" markets. In other words it was considered that global private standards would eventually replace already weak or absent national and local institutions in developing countries. The purpose of our paper is to suggest an alternative interpretation to this widely held view about national regulations and institutions in developing countries under the "new standard regime" in the food and agricultural sector where the regulatory framework is traditionally stronger at national level. The role of national regulatory institutions is considered to diminish as the countries compete in the "open" and "liberal" global market since firms are obliged to comply with global private standards. Instead, we have observed cases in developing countries which demonstrate an opposite phenomenon. In these cases, the local and national institutional capacity had actually being enhanced through learning in the "open" and "liberal" market at global level. In other words, we discovered that while the global (private) standards intend to control and shape the economic activities in developing countries through value chains, the local institutions also were transformed in a co-evolutionary manner to sustain the viability of existing local economic activities. This paper hence tries to illustrate our argument with cases from developing countries to demonstrate how the process of adapting to survive in the "new regime" compliance to global (private) standards may have positive impacts on national and local institutions. Moreover, we intend to highlight some common features of transitions which are taking place in regulatory frameworks within the context of a global "new standards regime" (public-private regulations). We will discuss the following cases of standards compliance and their impacts on enhancement of national and local capabilities: (1) the salmon farming industry in Chile, (2) and the fresh agricultural products in Mexico. These cases illustrate the complex interactions between global standards (both private and public-private) and national and local institutions. As the cases are slightly different, the comparison brings about interesting dimensions in illustrating institutional capacity building "trajectories" from both private and non-private standards.Standards, Role of National Institutions, Capacity Building, Latin America, Agri-food

Remembering Jacob: The Literary Representation of Memory in the Jacob Narrative

This thesis seeks to describe the Jacob narrative through the lens of memory. Taking Gen 28:10-22 as a case study, the objective is to place Jacob’s visit to Bethel alongside other ancient referential claims, analyzing it for authentic memories. However, the complex nature of memory is susceptible to preservation and revision. That is to say, having no desire to comport to modern historical-critical sensibilities, memory’s epistemological underpinnings are concerned primarily with reconstructing a remembered past for subsequent generations of Israelite tradents. In order to understand the historical background to the Jacob narrative in its entirety, a formal analysis of Iron Age scribal practices is employed, that is, the type of knowledge innate in Iron Age sources—oral and written—as well as the function of alphabetic prose narrative texts. Finally, the conclusion reached in this thesis is that the Jacob narrative contains early and late features that resonate well with memory’s trappings

A Review on β-alanine Biosynthesis

β-alanine is the only non-proteogenic β-amino acid found in nature and is a precursor for important molecules biosynthesis in many organisms. Specifically, it is a precursor for pantothenate in microorganisms, and a component of the dipeptides anserine and carnosine in mammals. Furthermore, β-alanine plays a role in insect exoskeleton formation and is part of plant environmental stress response. Apart from its natural role in organisms, β-alanine has applications in nutrition, pharmaceuticals, chemical synthesis, and construction fields. Due to its health-promoting benefit, β-alanine is increasingly being used by athletes to augment exercise performance and endurance. Moreover, it is a precursor for the synthesis of pamidronate sodium, balsalazide, and other drugs in the pharmaceutical industry. Additionally, β-alanine has been proposed as an intermediate to industrially relevant nitrogen-containing compounds. Traditionally, β-alanine has been produced through harsh chemical synthesis routes which often yield unwanted by-products. Recently, β-alanine production is moving towards relatively environmental- friendly whole-cell biosynthesis providing an attractive alternative that enables enantiomerically pure compound production. Some bio-based methods, however, are limited by enzyme inhibition, low stoichiometric yield, and expensive production cost. Hence, the purpose of this work is to review the recent significant attempts at addressing the limitations of β-alanine production.Molecular Bioscience