Design of strategies for the implementation and management of a complementary monetary system using the SWOT-AHP methodology

[EN] The objective of this research is to contribute to the scientific debate on “complementary monetary systems” (CMSs), what strategies may be the best for allowing the implementation of a CMS in a territory and that optimise the potential that it seems to have to strengthen processes of sustainable local development and urban resilience. For this, the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats-Analytic Hierarchy Process methodology (SWOT-AHP) has been used, which has allowed us to identify four strategies: (1) build a social, economic and political consensus, (2) create a community observatory for “complementary social monetary systems” (CSMSs), (3) define communication tools for raising awareness and education in ethical finance and (4) promote the alignment of the CSMS with sustainable local development strategies. These strategies have been formulated so that that they can be implemented by any entity, public or private, and for any of the types of CMS that may be part of a CSMS.S

Elemental ratios in sediments as indicators of ecological processes in Spanish reservoirs

Reservoir sediments are important archives of biogeochemical data, reflecting ecological processes that occur at the watershed system. In this paper, a preliminary study of the limnological significance of major element composition and element ratios in sediments of Spanish reservoirs is presented, by analysing two data-sets from different limnological regions. Reservoirs from Eastern and Western Spain present significant differences in the chemical composition of their sediments: higher average values for calcium and magnesium appear in the Eastern reservoirs, while, in Western Spain, higher mean values are found for alumino-silicate elements (i.e. silicon, aluminium, and potassium), iron and phosphorus. Meaningful ratios are Si/Al and Si/K, that are closely related to energy transport in sedimentary catchments, whereas in siliceous catchments Si/Al is an indicator of chemical weathering. Ca/Al ratio appears related to water mineralization, and, in the Eastern Region, the slope of the regression line between Ca/Al and conductivity reflects catchment mineralogy. In superficial sediments from both Eastern and Western regions, Fe/Al is linked to the authigenic precipitation of iron oxides and appears closely related to sedimentary phosphorus accumulation above background levels.El sedimento de los embalses constituye un importante registro de datos biogeoquímicos, ya que refleja los procesos ecológicos que tienen lugar en el conjunto de la cuenca hidrográfica. A partir del análisis de dos conjuntos de datos obtenidos en distintas regiones limnológicas, se presenta una aproximación preliminar al significado limnológico de la composición química y los cocientes elementales en el sedimento de los embalses españoles. Las regiones Este y Oeste de la Península muestran diferencias significativas en cuanto a composición química del sedimento: los mayores valores promedio en la región Este corresponden a la concentración de calcio y magnesio, mientras que en la región Oeste, los mayores valores medios corresponden a los elementos asociados a los alumino-silicatos (aluminio, silicio y potasio), hierro y fósforo. Los cocientes elementales con mayor significado son: Si/K y Si/Al estrechamente relacionados con la energía de transporte en la región calcárea, mientras que en la región silícica Si/Al es un indicador del proceso de meteorización química. Ca/Al se encuentra asociado a la mineralización del agua, y en la región Este la pendiente de la recta de regresión entre Ca/Al y la conductividad del agua refleja la mineralogía de la cuenca. En ambas regiones, el cociente Fe/Al en el sedimento superficial indica la precipitación endógena de óxidos de hierro y aparece estrechamente asociado a la acumulación de fósforo sedimentario por encima del nivel basal

Effect of hyoscine butylbromide on cervical dilation during labor

To compare the effects of intravenous hyoscine butylbromide versus placebo on the duration of labor in term pregnancies. Materials and methods: 86 patients were selected and randomly assigned to receive intravenous hyoscine butylbromide (20 mg twice) (n = 43) or an intravenous placebo (saline solution 10 cc) (n = 43). We evaluated maternal adverse effects, effects on neonatal Apgar score, cervical dilatation 1 h after drug administration and the interval between the onset of labor and delivery. Results: No significant differences were observed in the duration of phases of labor between the two groups. No significant differences were found between the groups in Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min. No maternal adverse effects were observed or reported due to the use of hyoscine butylbromide or the placebo. On the first phase of primigravidas it shortens the first labor phase up to 159.1 ± 84 min vs. the control group (p = 0.002). Conclusion: Hyoscine butylbromide oxytocin shortens the duration of labor in term primigravida pregnancies. No side effects were reported

Evidences of the Cerium Oxide-Catalysed DPF Regeneration in a Real Diesel Engine Exhaust

The active phase Ce0.5Pr0.5O2 has been loaded on commercial substrates (SiC DPF and cordierite honeycomb monolith) to perform DPF regeneration experiments in the exhaust of a diesel engine. Also, a powder sample has been prepared to carry out soot combustion experiments at laboratory. Experiments performed in the real diesel exhaust demonstrated the catalytic activity of the Ce–Pr mixed oxide for the combustion of soot, lowering the DPF regeneration temperature with regard to a counterpart catalyst-free DPF. The temperature for active regeneration of the Ce0.5Pr0.5O2-containing DPF when the soot content is low is in the range of 500–550 °C. When the Ce0.5Pr0.5O2-containing DPF is saturated with a high amount of soot, pressure drop and soot load at the filter reach equilibrium at around 360 °C under steady state engine operation due to passive regeneration. The uncoated DPF reached this equilibrium at around 440 °C. Comparing results at real exhaust with those at laboratory allow concluding that the Ce0.5Pr0.5O2-catalysed soot combustion in the real exhaust is not based on the NO2-assisted mechanism but is most likely occurring by the active oxygen-based mechanism.The authors thank the financial support of Generalitat Valenciana (Project Prometeo 2009/047), Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (project CIT-420000-2009-48) and EU (FEDER funding)

Key plant species and detritivores drive diversity effects on instream leaf litter decomposition more than functional diversity: A microcosm study

Anthropogenic impacts on freshwater ecosystems cause critical losses of biodiversity that can in turn impair key processes such as decomposition and nutrient cycling. Forest streams are mainly subsidized by terrestrial organic detritus, so their functioning and conservation status can be altered by changes in forest biodiversity and composition, particularly if these changes involve the replacement of functional groups or the loss of key species. We examined this issue using a microcosm experiment where we manipulated plant functional diversity (FD) (monocultures and low-FD and high-FD mixtures, resulting from different combinations of deciduous and evergreen Quercus species) and the presence of a key species (Alnus glutinosa), all in presence and absence of detritivores, and assessed effects on litter decomposition, nutrient cycling, and fungal and detritivore biomass. We found (i) positive diversity effects on detritivore-mediated decomposition, litter nutrient losses and detritivore biomass exclusively when A. glutinosa was present; and (ii) negative effects on the same processes when microbially mediated and on fungal biomass. Most positive trends could be explained by the higher litter palatability and litter trait variability obtained with the inclusion of alder leaves in the mixture. Our results support the hypothesis of a consistent slowing down of the decomposition process as a result of plant biodiversity loss, and hence effects on stream ecosystem functioning, especially when a key (N-fixing) species is lost; and underscore the importance of detritivores as drivers of plant diversity effects in the studied ecosystem processes.This study was funded by the 2014–2020 FEDER Operative Program Andalusia (RIOVEGEST project, Ref. FEDER-UAL18 -RNM -B006 – B, to J.J.C). Additional support was provided by the Spanish Ministry for Science, Innovation and Universities and FEDER (BioLoss project, Ref. RTI2018-095023- B-I00, to L.B.). Rubio-Ríos was supported by an FPU grant of the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (reference FPU16/03734)

Multiple oral fibropapillomatosis as an initial manifestation of Cowden Syndrome : case report

El síndrome de Cowden es una infrecuente enfermedad hereditaria englobada dentro de las poliposis gastrointestinales de tipo hamartomatoso. Se caracteriza por asociar anomalías cutaneomucosas y por la extraordinaria tendencia a desarrollar neoplasias malignas, principalmente de mama y tiroides. La importancia de un diagnóstico precoz del síndrome y de un adecuado screening tumoral en pacientes con lesiones papilomatosas cutaneomucosas, nos va a permitir adelantarnos en el diagnóstico de patologías con enorme morbimortalidad asociada en caso de una detección tardía. Presentamos el caso de una paciente diagnosticada de síndrome de Cowden tras consultar por lesiones papilomatosas labiales de largo tiempo de evolución y tratada posteriormente de cáncer de mama y riñón en estadios iniciales. El correcto diagnóstico de una patología banal de mucosa oral, nos ha permitido actuar de manera muy precoz frente a la patología neoplásica asociada a dicha enfermedad

Towards a "Book Publishers Citation Reports". First approach using the "Book Citation Index"

The absence of books and book chapters in the Web of Science Citation Indexes (SCI, SSCI and A&HCI) has always been considered an important flaw but the Thomson Reuters ‘Book Citation Index’ database was finally available in October of 2010 indexing 29,618 books and 379,082 book chapters. The Book Citation Index opens a new window of opportunities for analyzing Humanities and Social Sciences from a bibliometric point of view. The main objective of this article is to analyze different impact indicators referred to the scientific publishers included in the Book Citation Index for the Social Sciences and Humanities fields during 2006-2011. This way we construct what we have called the ‘Book Publishers Citation Reports’. For this, we present a total of 19 rankings according to the different disciplines in Humanities & Arts and Social Sciences & Law with six indicators for scientific publishers.La ausencia de libros y capítulos de libros en los índices de citas presentes en las bases de datos de la Web of Science ha sido tradicionalmente una de sus más importantes debilidades. Sin embargo, Thomson Reuters en Octubre de 2010 lanzó el Book Citation Index, un nuevo índice de citas que contaba con 29.618 libros y 379.082 capítulos de libros. Este producto ha abierto nuevas posibilidades para el análisis bibliométrico de campos como las Humanidades y las Ciencias Sociales. Precisamente el objetivo principal de esta nota es analizar a través de diferentes indicadores las editoriales de los ámbitos de Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales indexadas en el Book Citation Index durante los años 2006-2011. Más concretamente se ha probado la posibilidad de desarrollar un ranking de editoriales de libros basado en la citación y la producción de las mismas. Para ello se presentan una colección de rankings con seis indicadores bibliométricos para un total de 19 disciplinas científicas

Proof of concept of the SCR of NOx in a real diesel engine exhaust using commercial diesel fuel and a full size Pt/beta zeolite/honeycomb monolith

The Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) of NOx has been performed in a real diesel exhaust stream with commercial diesel fuel by using a full size home-made Pt/beta zeolite/honeycomb prototype catalyst. Fuel was injected upstream the catalyst to achieve total hydrocarbons concentrations between 1000 and 5000 ppm, and the SCR behaviour observed was similar to that typically reported in laboratory experiments performed with model hydrocarbons. Typical NOx removal volcano-shape profiles, with maxima at 250 °C for all THC inlet concentrations, were obtained, with an optimum THC concentration of 3000 ppm.The authors thank the financial support of Generalitat Valenciana (Project Prometeo 2009/047), the Spanish ministries of Economy and Competitiveness (Project CTQ2012-30703) and Science and Innovation (Project CIT-420000-2009-48), and EU for the FEDER resources

Development and maturation of fruits of two indupalma oxg hybrids (elaeis oleifera x elaeis guineensis)

OxG hybrids are materials with characteristics notable fortolerance to pests and diseases, high quality oil and acceptablebunch production, but the physiological processes of growthand maturation of the fruits are not well known. For the twohybrid materials (Coarí x La Mé and Sinú-Coarí x La Mé), thephysiological and biochemical changes during the growth andmaturation of the bunches were studied in San Alberto, Cesar(Colombia) with a climate of 2,497 mm/year precipitation and27°C. Female inflorescences in anthesis were selected and thechanges in size, color, and oil content of the external, internaland red parthenocarpic fruits of the bunches were recordedfrom 98 days after anthesis (DAA). A completely randomexperimental design was used with five replications and 13sample dates. In hybrid Coarí x La Mé, 70% of the oil in thefruits accumulated between 98 and 126 DAA and reached themaximum at 168 DAA, while in hybrid Sinú-Coarí x La Mé,more than 90% of the oil accumulated between 98 and 140DAA, also reaching the maximum at 168 DAA. The external,internal and red parthenocarpic fruits of the bunches reachedthe maximum percentages of oil/dry mesocarp at the sametime (day). It is possible to estimate the percentage of oil/moistmesocarp based on the moisture percentage of fresh fruits