Political competition and societal veto players: the politics of pension reform in Southern Europe

While Southern European countries have pursued a series of pension reforms since the early 1990s, significant variation arises across them. Focusing on the concept of political replacement risk (the probability of a government being electorally punished for pursuing a given policy) and the changes in the labor movement's organizational structure, this article seeks to elucidate the differences in reform outcomes, in Italy, Greece, Portugal and Spain. Our analysis shows that significant reforms are implemented when governments face a high political replacement risk and the labor movement has undergone changes in its structure. By contrast, governments facing a stronger labor movement will generally be less effective at passing significant reforms, unless they can secure a strong support over the necessity to implement reforms

Sampling Plan for an Acoustic Survey of Kükenthal Peak (NAFO Division 6G) to Quantify Alfonsino (Beryx splendens) Biomass, Abundance and Size Composition

NAFO Commission requested that the Scientific Council review the protocols for survey methodology, to inform the alfonsino assessment. Thus, this document presents an possible acoustic survey plan of the alfonsino population inhabiting Kükenthal Peak, located in the Corner Rise Seamount Chain, following the Commission’s request. The main objective of this survey plan will be to estimate the distribution, abundance, biomass and size composition of alfonsino (Beryx splendens) on Kükenthal Peak (NAFO Div. 6G) by conducting a hydroacoustic survey during February. Specific objectives will be: estimate the abundance (in number) and biomass (in weight) of alfonsino in Kükenthal Peak. Estimate the alfonsino size composition, length-weight relationship, sex ratio and sexual maturity characterization by sex. Collection of alfonsino gonad and otolith samples for future studies of maturity and age. And characterize the biological environment and the physical environment (Tº, S ‰,) of the pelagic habitat of this species to produce a map of these variables within the survey area in association with alfonsino abundance estimates. It is advisable for economic reasons to conduct the subject acoustic survey with a commercial vessel. Two strata with different levels of sampling effort are proposed due to the patchy distribution of alfonsino as revealed by the echograms provided by the skipper, and also the major occurrence of the species around the slope of the mountains, with little extension towards deeper water (i.e., no extension towards open waters). The survey design will consist on a systematic parallel transects with random starting point, with two different levels of sampling intensity, allocating the maximum effort in the area that historically contained the bulk of the acoustic and trawl commercial records. Transects will be placed to ensure they are perpendicular to the bathymetry of the survey area. There is some evidence that relates vertical migrations of alfonsino concentrations to the illumination of the sea (by the Sun and the Moon). The acoustic survey will carry during moon rising season in February and only collect acoustic data during the daylight hours (0800-2000 hours). Trawl hauls will be conducted only for fish identification and the collection of alfonsino length distribution and biological data. Therefore, trawl station locations will be selected according to the acoustic records.Versión del edito

Restauración ecológica a través de procesos de sucesión secundaria. El caso de bosques impactados por huracanes

DOI: 10.5377/wani.v58i0.212Wani No.58 2009 pp.58-62DOI: 10.5377/wani.v58i0.212Wani No.58 2009 pp.58-6

Restauración ecológica a través de procesos de sucesión secundaria. El caso de bosques impactados por huracanes

Primero quiero agradecer la invitación que me hicieron paravenir a compartir con ustedes la experiencia que tenemosen investigación. El titulo de presentación es Restauraciónecológica a través de procesos de sucesión secundaria, enel caso de los bosques impactados por los huracanes. Perodespués de una discusión, aquí, con el grupo de trabajodel Dr. López, decidí hacer ajustes en esta participación ydividirla en dos mini temas: uno que tenga que ver con elmanejo forestal comunitario, una experiencia realmenteinteresante que me tocó vivir en el caso del Petén, enGuatemala.Voy a hablarles francamente, yo no creía en el manejoforestal comunitario. Después, el hecho de trabajar enforestería comunitaria cinco años en el Petén y visitarMéxico, me hizo creer. Porque realmente hay que ver paracreer. Y fuimos y creímos y lo que vimos en avances allá esrealmente impresionante, y eso es lo que quiero compartircon ustedes.La segunda parte de la presentación tiene que ver conla respuesta de bosques bajo disturbios antropogénicos,como los de huracanes: qué pasa cuando hay agricultura,cómo se reforma el bosque. Ayer asistimos a una brillantepresentación de Gladys Luna que nos ilustró acerca dequé pasó con el bosque después de una cantidad de añosdel paso de un huracán. Nosotros tenemos, en Costa Rica,disturbios causados por la agricultura

Diseño y simulación de una máquina encapsuladora automática de comprimidos de gelatina dura de 500 miligramos

En el presente trabajo describimos las ventajas de las Cápsulas de Gelatina Dura, se explicará las generalidades sobre esta forma farmacéutica, sus ventajas y desventajas, sus componentes, los métodos utilizados para la fabricación, los equipos involucrados en la fabricación y algunos aspectos de importancia. Para comprender más acerca de esta forma farmacéutica se empezará por describir la importancia de las cápsulas de gelatina dura. Las cápsulas constituyen la segunda forma farmacéutica sólida de administración oral más frecuentemente utilizada, después de las tabletas. Estas dos formulaciones sólidas comparten diversas ventajas, como son: a) Gran estabilidad física, química y biológica b) Dosificación exacta c) Liberación fácilmente controlable d) Bajo costo

Sedentary Time Accumulated in Bouts is Positively Associated with Disease Severity in Fibromyalgia: The Al-andalus Project

To examine the associations of prolonged sedentary time (ST) with disease severity in women with fibromyalgia, and to analyse the combined association of total ST and prolonged ST with the disease severity in this population. Women (n = 451; 51.3 +/- 7.6 years old) with fibromyalgia participated. Sedentary time and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were measured using triaxial accelerometry and ST was processed into 30- and 60-min bouts. Dimensions of fibromyalgia (function, overall, symptoms) and the overall disease impact were assessed with the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR). Body fat percentage was assessed using a bio-impedance analyser, and physical fitness was assessed with the Senior Fitness Tests Battery. Greater percentage of ST in 30-min bouts and 60-min bouts were associated with worse function, overall, symptoms and the overall impact of the disease (all, P 60-min bouts) presented lower overall impact compared to participants with high levels of total ST and prolonged ST (mean difference = 6.56; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.83 to 11.29, P = 0.002). Greater percentage of ST accumulated in 30- and 60-min bouts and a combination of high levels of total and prolonged ST are related to worse disease severity. Although unable to conclude on causality, results suggest it might be advisable to motivate women with fibromyalgia to break prolonged ST and reduce their total daily ST

Benchmarking Nutraceutical Soybean Composition Relative to Protein and Oil

The aim of this study was to explore relationships between protein, oil, and seed weight with seed nutraceutical composition, focused on total isoflavone (TI) and total tocopherol (TT) contents across genotypic and environmental combinations in soybean. We conducted a synthesis-analysis of peer-reviewed published field studies reporting TI, TT, protein, oil, and seed weight (n = 1,908). The main outcomes from this synthesis-analysis were: (i) relationship of TI-to-protein concentration was positive, though for the upper boundary, TI decreases with increases in protein; (ii) relationship of TT-to-oil concentration was positive, but inconsistent when oil was expressed in mg per seed; and (iii) as seed weight increased, TI accumulation was less than proportional relative to protein concentration and TT decreased more proportional relative to oil concentration. Association between nutraceuticals and protein, oil, and seed weight for soybean reported in the present study can be used as a foundational knowledge for soybean breeding programs interested on predicting and selecting enhanced meal isoflavone and/or oil tocopherol contents.Instituto de Fisiología y Recursos Genéticos VegetalesFil: Carrera, Constanza Soledad. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Fisiología y Recursos Genéticos Vegetales; ArgentinaFil: Carrera, Constanza Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Estudios Agropecuarios (UDEA); ArgentinaFil: Carrera, Constanza Soledad. Kansas State University. Throckmorton Plant Science Center. Department of Agronomy; Estados UnidosFil: Salvagiotti, Fernando. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Oliveros; ArgentinaFil: Salvagiotti, Fernando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Ciampitti, Ignacio A. Kansas State University. Throckmorton Plant Science Center. Department of Agronomy; Estados Unido

Search for Large Extra Dimensions via Single Photons Plus Missing Energy Final States at s^(1/2) = 1.96 TeV

This dissertation presents a search for large extra dimensions in the single photon plus missing transverse energy final states. We use a data sample of approximately 2.7 fb{sup -1} of p{bar p} collisions at {radical}s = 1.96 TeV (recorded with the D{sup -} detector) to investigate direct Kaluza Klein graviton production and set limits, at the 95% C.L., on the fundamental mass scale M{sub D} from 970 GeV to 816 GeV for two to eight extra dimensions