The role of extension in the Cuban Agricultural Knowledge and Information System: the case of Havana City Province

The purpose of this study was to describe and interpret the Agricultural Knowledge and Information System (AKIS) of Havana City Province, Cuba, with particular reference to the role of extension programs in contributing to food security. Specific research objectives were to: (1) describe the AKIS in Havana City Province, (2) identify the role of extension in the AKIS, and (3) develop a model for analyzing the AKIS, which may have utility when studying the AKIS in other countries.;The study was designed using a qualitative research methodology. Specifically, a case study of Havana City Province was conducted. Interviews, participant observation and document review were used to collect data.;Regarding the first research objective, the Cuban AKIS is composed of the government, the Ministries of Agriculture, Science, Technology and Environment, Sugar, Public Health and Higher Education, agricultural stores, educational centers, research institutes, non-governmental organizations, an extension system, and farmers. These operators interact in an environment where the Communist Party as well as the culture and values provide support and influence direction.;Regarding the second research objective, the role of extension in the Cuban AKIS has a social action role to provide food security to the Cuban population. To varying degrees, this role is performed for all the operators listed above. The extension system has proven flexible in responding to challenging circumstances. It has opened opportunities for other operators to participate in and strengthen the AKIS. In regard to the third research objective, a generalized model is proposed by this research. This model may have utility when studying the AKIS in other countries utilizing a holistic approach.;The limitation of the study lies in the fact that this research was conducted in an urban agricultural setting, and the urban agricultural knowledge and information system has particular characteristics that differ from those in rural areas. Therefore, findings cannot be generalized to rural areas in Cuba

Relations between Acceptance-Rejection and Fear of Intimacy in Spanish Adults

This study tried to analyze whether the experience of remembrance perceived parental acceptance- rejection during childhood is retrospectively associated to Fear of Intimacy in adulthood, and to explore the effects of social anxiety and gender on the relations between these two variables. Five instruments were used: adult Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire for mothers and fathers (short forms), Interpersonal Relationship Anxiety Questionnaire, adult Psychological Adjustment Questionnaire (short form), and Fear of Intimacy Scale. Participants (N=273) ranged from 18 to 75 years (M = 30.11; SD = 12.53), and 65% were females. Correlational and regression analyses were conducted. Correlational analyses indicated that, only for males, paternal rejection remembrance (no maternal) was associated to higher levels of fear of intimacy. Regression analysis showed, only in men, that perceived paternal warmth was a significant predictor of lower levels of fear of intimacy. Results suggest that interpersonal anxiety could moderate the association between fear of intimacy and remembrances of paternal (especially paternal) rejection. Regarding women’s fear of intimacy, no significant results were found.2017-1

A management model for closed-loop supply chains of reusable articles: defining the issues

In this paper a conceptual model for the management of closed-loop supply chains of reusable articles is put forward. This framework condenses the more relevant managerial issues arising when reuse is carried out in industrial practice. The model intends to be a guideline for practitioners dealing with this type of challenges and constitutes a first step towards the mitigation of the problematic issues involved in reuse. In further developments of this research, we propose solutions to some of the issues identified here

The moderating effect of perceived acceptance-rejection predicting children psychological adjustment from a multi-informant approach

The purpose of this study was to explore the moderating effect of children ́s perceived rejection on the relations between parental acceptance and children ́s psychological adjustment reported by mothers, fathers and children. The prediction values and incremental validity of the different informants were also explored. The sample was composed by 681 participants (227 children, 227 fathers, and 227 mothers), children’s (60% girls) ages ranged from 9 to 17 years (M = 12.52, SD = 1.81). Instruments used were the Parental Acceptance Rejection Questionnaire (PARQ; Ronher & Khaleque, 2008) and the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA; Achenbach and Rescorla, 2007) filled both by mothers, fathers, and children in a round-robin design. Hierarchical regression analyses were applied. The moderating effect of children ́s perceived rejection showed that different prediction values and percentages of incremental validity from mothers, fathers and children were found depending of the level of rejection that children perceived. The findings of the present study have important practical implications: the need of considering the role of perceived carelessness as moderator when predicting children psychological adjustment and the necessity of using a multi-informant perspective rather than a single one to increase the predictive value and the incremental validity when we try to predict children’s psychological adjustment.2017-1

Current Trends in Recovering Used Products in Retail Fashion Industry: An Exploratory Study

The fashion industry is currently shifting towards sustainable practices through the entire supply chain. Many fashion retailers like H&M, Zara and others consider sustainability the cornerstone of their corporate social responsibility programs. At the same time, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation is holding manu-facturers and retailers responsible, especially in Europe, for waste generated at end-of-use and end-of-life phases for some specific products. Finding alternatives to the landfill for textile waste will extend textile life, contributing to the development of circular economy and sustainable business models in the fashion industry. This study identifies and characterizes, as a first stage research, current practices of product recovery for used textile in France and Germany using comparative case studies. Characterizing the reverse logistics models for textiles in each country will help to identify best practices for recovering used clothing in Europe

La superación del indulto como mecanismo de individualización de la pena

Nel corso della sua evoluzione, la grazia («indulto» in Spagna) ha svolto numerose funzioni. Di queste, si evidenzia il suo essere strumento che permette, nel caso vi siano caratteri di eccezionalità, la conciliazione tra esigenze di giustizia formale e materiale secondo il principio di proporzione. L’analisi valuta la necessità di mantenere l’istituto della grazia per rispondere a tale funzione. A tal fine, si sono individuate le ragioni storiche che giustificavano il suo utilizzo; le disfunzioni legate alla sua applicazione; i meccanismi alternativi offerti dal diritto penale moderno per realizzare la stessa funzione: individualizzazione della pena da parte dell’organo giudiziario; istituti di flessibilizzazione della esecuzione della pena; possibilità di modifica o deroga della legge o questioni di costituzionalità. The uses assigned to the figure of pardon throughout its history have been diverse. Key amongst them is its conception as a mechanism for individualizing the punishment, its implementation as an instrument of proportionality that allows, in a case characterized by its exceptionality, the conciliation between formal and material justice. The article starts from this reality to call into question that the institution of pardon should be maintained to satisfy that end. In particular, it identifies the historical reason that justified its use, it warns of the dysfunctions that its role generates and it examines the different mechanisms available within a modern Criminal Law to perform that function (individualization of punishment by the judge, flexible institutions while executing the ruling, possibility of modification or repeal of the law or raising an unconstitutionality exception). From these reflections it is inferred, in conclusion, the overcoming of pardon as a mechanism for individualizing the punishment

Punishment and pardon: a holistic approach

Tesis doctoral inédita leída en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Derecho, Departamento de Derecho Público y Filosofía jurídica. Fecha de lectura: 07-07-2017Esta tesis tiene embargado el acceso al texto completo hasta el 2019-01-0

Reverse logistics systems for waste generated throughout vehicles life-cycle

Waste produced during the service life of automobiles has received much less attention than end-of-life vehicles themselves. In this paper, we deal with the set up of a reverse logistics system for the collection and treatment of use-phase residues. First, the type of waste arising during vehicles? service life is characterized. Data were collected in collaboration with SIGRAUTO, the product stewardship organization in charge of vehicles? recovery in Spain. Next, three organizational models are proposed. The three alternatives are benchmarked and assessed from a double organizational and operational perspective for the particular case of the Madrid region in Spai