Size, density and costs of network services - the case of the distribution of electricity in Italy

The classical approach to the effects of territorial context in defining costs of distibution in network services (as the distribution of electric energy), often makes confusion between scale and density economies The consequence is a wrong definition of some variables and a misleading specification of the model. The result is a heavy underestimationf ot the role of the territorial context in shaping the curve of the average spatial cost of distribution. Both Cobb-Douglas and Translog functions are used to estimate the role of territorial characteristics in defining costs. We find, for the Italian case, that the share of cost due to a "non optimal territorial context" is about 40% on average (with a maximum of 68% in low density and scattered areas). There is a trade off between a policy equalizing spatial prices and a choice of minimize costs in central areas.

The Growth of Structure in Interacting Dark Energy Models

If dark energy interacts with dark matter, there is a change in the background evolution of the universe, since the dark matter density no longer evolves as a^{-3}. In addition, the non-gravitational interaction affects the growth of structure. In principle, these changes allow us to detect and constrain an interaction in the dark sector. Here we investigate the growth factor and the weak lensing signal for a new class of interacting dark energy models. In these models, the interaction generalises the simple cases where one dark fluid decays into the other. In order to calculate the effect on structure formation, we perform a careful analysis of the perturbed interaction and its effect on peculiar velocities. Assuming a normalization to today's values of dark matter density and overdensity, the signal of the interaction is an enhancement (suppression) of both the growth factor and the lensing power, when the energy transfer in the background is from dark matter to dark energy (dark energy to dark matter).Comment: 9 pages, 12 figures. Minor improvements to clarify relation to previous work. Version accepted by JCA

Innovation and exporting: evidence from Spanish manufacturing firms

This paper investigates the relationship between innovation and the export behavior of firms using data from a representative panel of Spanish firms over 1991–2002. It presents a simple theoretical model of the firm decision to export and innovate that guides the econometric analysis. Consistent with the predictions of the theoretical model, the econometric results suggest a positive effect of firm innovation on the probability of participation in export markets. The results further reveal the heterogeneous effects of different types of innovations on the firm export participation. In particular, product upgrading appears to have a larger effect on the firm export participation than the introduction of cost-saving innovations. These findings are robust to firm unobserved heterogeneity, dynamic specifications, and to the use of instrumental variables to control for the potential endogeneity between innovation and exporting

Woke Pedagogy: A Framework for Teaching and Learning

The sociopolitical context of schooling demands that teachers acknowledge the ways their students’ and their own experiences are shaped by the intersections of racism, classism, sexism, heterosexism, and other discriminatory factors. This is especially true during times of heightened civil unrest resulting from pervasive and persistent injustice experienced by minoritized populations. To engage students in pedagogy that connects with their lived experiences and that equips them to critically examine inequities, teachers must refute colorblind pedagogy in favor of woke pedagogy. Woke pedagogy, like critical multicultural education, is defined by teaching practices that integrate critiques of contemporary justice-related issues with academic content in a learning environment that encourages introspection, interrogation, and insurgence. This theoretical framework for woke pedagogy outlines a wide range of knowledge, skills, and dispositions that equip teachers to promote critical thinking about complex issues—in other words, to be woke pedagogues. Grounded in Black feminist ideology, woke pedagogy distinguishes itself from critical multicultural education in important ways: 1) both teachers and students view their lived experiences as sources of knowledge and tools for knowledge creation, 2) teachers and students analyze injustice from an intersectional perspective, and 3) teachers exhibit activist care. This conceptual treatise includes suggestions for empirical research studies that will yield results that are crucial to the effective practice of woke pedagogy, a 21stcentury approach to critical multicultural education

Calderón desfigurado: (sobre las representaciones calderonianas en la época prerromántica)

Estudo dos comportamentos de jovens adolescentes, de origem étnico-cultural diferenciada, nas áreas familiar, escolar, pessoal, social e religiosa, relativas à identidade, aos hábitos de lazer, aos hábitos alimentares e ao consumo de substâncias tóxicas e factores àquele associados, bem como a opinião dos jovens quanto às razões que determinam os consumos prejudiciais e possíveis soluções

Increasing the Accessibility of BIM Training within the AEC Industry

At the turn of the 21st century, the rise of new technology has helped modernize the AEC industry. Architects, engineers, general contractors, and foremen can build, collaborate, and communicate more efficiently using BIM to help facilitate the building process. The benefits of BIM have been proven through increased coordination, risk mitigation, and cost optimization. However, with the increasing use of BIM, there is a growing education gap between construction workers and BIM technology. Currently, there are three main avenues to learn BIM: in-house company training, attending college, or paying to learn independently online. The foundation for a BIM learning module can be created to help bridge the BIM education gap by analyzing current training programs available and then using the perspectives of a senior BIM engineer, an assistant project manager, and a general foreman. The two groups of people determined to benefit the most from a BIM learning module would be high school students and unemployed construction workers. This type of learning module would be most effective and easiest to implement into pre-existing learning systems such as in high schools, non-profit job training programs, or pre-apprentice programs

Effect of zinc concentration and source on performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot steers

2012 Fall.Includes bibliographical references.Three-hundred and sixty cross-bred steers (348.1 kg ± 28.9) were utilized to investigate the effects of zinc (Zn) concentration on performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot steers. Steers were blocked by weight and randomly assigned to one of the 5 supplemental Zn treatments (8 pens per treatment; 9 hd per pen). Treatments consisted of: 1) Control-50 (CON-50; 50 mg of supplemental Zn/kg DM from ZnSO4); 2) Methionine control [MetCON-50; 50 mg of supplemental Zn/kg DM from ZnSO4 plus MHA to equalize HMTBa concentrations across treatments; 3) Organic-50 (ORG-50; Control diet supplemented with 50 mg of Zn/kg DM from Mintrex Zn plus MHA to equalize HMTBa intake across treatments); 4) Organic-100 (ORG-100; Control diet supplemented with 100 mg of Zn/kg DM from MINTREX Zn plus MHA to equalize HMTBa intake across treatments 2-5); and 5) Organic-150 (ORG-150; Control diet supplemented with 150 mg of Zn/kg DM from Mintrex Zn). All steers were fed a typical high concentrate steam-flaked corn based finishing diet twice daily. Steers were individually weighed on d −1, 0, 144, and 145 and pen weighed on d 28, 56, 84, and 111. Ractopamine HCl was fed for the final 29 d of the finishing period to all treatments. On d 145, steers were transported to a commercial abattoir for slaughter. Initial and final body weight, ADG, DMI, and feed efficiency (g/f), were similar across treatments. However, there was a diff (P .05) in Zn, Cu, and Fe concentrations among treatments. The alkaline phosphatase values for d-0, d-111, and d-144 were similar across treatments, yet the alkaline phosphatase means for each treatment increased over time. These data indicate that under conditions of this trial, increasing Zn concentration in the diet above NRC recommendations has little impact on performance, however, may impact lipid partitioning in steers

Examining in vitro and in vivo characteristics of Intellibond and sulfate forms of copper, zinc, and manganese

2015 Spring.Includes bibliographical references.Trace minerals have long been identified as essential components in the diets of domestic livestock species. The mechanisms underlying Cu, Zn, and Mn absorption are complex, but research has demonstrated interesting opportunities to optimize the involvement of trace minerals in ruminant nutrition. To further our understanding of absorption and retention of modern forms of trace minerals 4 experiments were conducted to examine in vitro and in vivo characteristics of Intellibond (IB) and sulfate forms of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn). In experiment 1, in vitro incubations were used to examine the effects of pH and mineral concentration and source (IB vs sulfate) on Cu, Zn, and Mn solubility. Solubility was measured at elemental concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10.0 mg of product/ml (0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 mg/ml) at: 1) pH 5.5 (in McDougal's artificial saliva mixture 0.1 M NaHCO3-Na2HPO4KCl- MgSO4*7H2O-urea buffer) and 2) pH 2.0 (in McDougal's artificial saliva mixture 0.1 M NaHCO3-Na2HPO4KCl- MgSO4*7H2O-urea buffer). On average, the overall solubility of Cu, Zn, and Mn, from both trace mineral sources were similar at a pH 5.0 and 2.0. In Experiment 2 eight cross-bred steers were utilized to estimate the duodenal appearance of Cu, Zn, and Mn in steers post ruminal administration of IB and sulfate forms of Cu, Zn, and Mn in steers fed a corn silage and steam flaked corn-based diet. Treatments consisted of 1) 60 mg of Zn/kg DM from ZnSO4; 20 mg of Cu/kg DM from CuSO4; 40 mg of Mn/kg DM from MnSO4, and 2) 60 mg of Zn/kg DM from tetra-basic ZnCl; 20 mg of Cu/kg DM from tri-basic CuCl; 40 mg of Mn/kg DM from tri-basic MnCl. Individual trace mineral treatments were thoroughly mixed with 0.23 kg of ground corn and administered as a single dose via the rumen fistula. Rumen and duodenal samples were obtained at -4, -2, 0 h, pre dosing and at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, and 42 h post dosing. Duodenal appearance of Cu, Mn, and Zn post ruminal administration of different trace mineral sources were similar across treatments. In experiment 3, eight cross-bred steers were utilized in a 19 d experiment to investigate the effects of trace mineral source on apparent absorption and retention of Cu, Zn, and Mn in steers fed a corn silage and steam flaked corn-based diet. Steers were blocked by BW and randomly assigned to one of the 2 treatments. Treatments consisted of: 1) 30 mg of Zn/kg DM from ZnSO4; 10 mg of Cu/kg DM from CuSO4; 20 mg of Mn/kg DM from MnSO4; and 2) 30 mg of Zn/kg DM from tetra-basic ZnCl; 10 mg of Cu/kg DM from tri-basic CuCl; 20 mg of Mn/kg DM from tri-basic MnCl. Total fecal and urine output was measured daily for all steers during the 5 d collection period. Dry matter disappearance, apparent absorption, and apparent retention of Cu, Zn, and Mn were similar across treatments. In experiment 4, four-hundred cross-bred steers (initial BW 335 ± 9.6 kg) were utilized to investigate the effects of supplemental Zn, Cu, and Mn concentration and source on performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot steers fed a high concentrate steam flaked corn-based finishing diet for 159 d and zilpaterol hydrochloride for the last 21 d prior to slaughter. Treatments consisted of: sulfate) 90 mg of Zn/kg DM from ZnSO4; 17.5 mg of Cu/kg DM from CuSO4; 48 mg of Mn/kg DM from MnSO4; IB-1) 30 mg of Zn/kg DM from Zn Hydroxychloride; 10 mg of Cu/kg DM from basic Cu chloride ; 20 mg of Mn/kg DM from Mn Hydroxychloride; IB-2) 45 mg of Zn/kg DM from Hydroxychloride; 12.5 mg of Cu/kg DM basic Cu chloride; 29.5 mg of Mn/kg DM from Mn Hydroxychloride; IB-3) 60 mg of Zn/kg DM from Zn Hydroxychloride; 15 mg of Cu/kg DM from basic Cu chloride; 39 mg of Mn/kg DM from Mn Hydroxychloride ; and IB-4) 90 mg of Zn/kg DM from Zn Hydroxychloride; 17.5 mg of Cu/kg DM from basic Cu chloride; 48 mg of Mn/kg DM from Mn Hydroxychloride. No differences were observed for final body weight (P > 0.42). Overall ADG, DMI, and feed efficiency were similar across treatments. Hot carcass weight, dressing percentage, yield grade, LMA, adjusted fat thickness, KPH, and marbling score were similar across treatments. Concentrations of Zn, Cu, and Mn in liver and blood samples collected on d 112 and at harvest were similar across treatments. Overall data collected from these 4 experiments indicate that under the conditions of these experiments, supplemental Zn, Cu, and Mn concentration and source had no impact on any of the response variables measured

A QUALITATIVE RESEARCH STUDY ON UNACCOMPANIED MINORS FROM LATIN AMERICA

The focus of this study is on a unique immigrant population — unaccompanied minors who have migrated to the U.S. from Latin America, particularly Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. The purpose of this qualitative research study is to explore, describe, and understand the migration stories of unaccompanied minors who have migrated to the U.S. from Latin America. Using Lee’s (1966) “Theory of Migration,” this study aimed to uncover the push and pull factors that are motivating youth migration to the U.S. from Latin America, including the social pressures, economic factors, lack of educational and economic opportunities, life-threatening violence, safety concerns, and human rights violations. This qualitative research study offers an analysis of the major themes that arise from semi-structured interviews with eight unaccompanied minors. The study also discusses the availability of the special immigration relief categories, asylum and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), as effective options for obtaining Legal Permanent Residence (LPR) status and eventually U.S. citizenship for immigrant children and unaccompanied minors. According to the research findings, the decision of an unaccompanied minor to migrate to the U.S. is typically motivated by three compelling reasons: the dire need to escape the gang and organized crime group violence in their home countries, a lack of educational and economic opportunities, and the desire to reunite with biological parents who were already living in the U.S. Secondly, the journey that unaccompanied minors must take to arrive at the U.S. border is invariably plagued with extreme uncertainty, danger, and a potential for violence by unknown actors. Finally, a combination of quality legal, educational, and social services are vital for the survival and future success of immigrant youth in this country. Several recommendations are made to effectively assist U.S. immigration, legal, and educational systems that work with and serve immigrant child populations. So as to prevent further harm to this vulnerable child population, the researcher highly recommends multicultural competence and anti-racism training and education for practitioners, professionals, attorneys, immigration and state court judges, social workers, and those who work with immigrant children and youth of color