On the potential contribution of rooftop PV to a sustainable electricity mix: the case of Spain

This work evaluates the potential contribution of rooftop PV to the future electricity mix. Several sustainable scenarios are considered, each comprising different shares of centralized renewables, rooftop PV and storage. For each generation scenario, the storage capacity that balances the net hourly demand is determined, and the portfolio combination that minimizes the cost of supplying electricity is obtained. The analysis is applied to mainland Spain, using public information and detailed granular models, both in time (hourly resolution) and space (municipal level). For the Spanish case, when the flexibility of hydro and biomass generation is taken into account, the least-cost portfolio involves rather modest storage capacities, in the order of daily rather than seasonal values. This shows that a sustainable, almost emissions-free electricity system for Spain is possible, at a cost that can be even lower than current wholesale market prices.Comment: 7 tables & 11 figures in the main body (24 pages), and 13 pages for the supplementary material, wit

Correlations Between Management Behaviors and Financial Indicators with FDA Compliance Leading to Medicine Shortages

In the first 3 years of the Obama Administration, 2009-2011, the number of warning letters issued to pharmaceutical firms for manufacturing and quality issues increased by 81% to 49 letters. Only 9 letters were issued in the last 3 years of the George W. Bush Administration. Shortfalls in compliance and product quality led to medicine shortages that affected patients\u27 treatment and health. This quantitative study sought to learn to what extent, if any, the independent variables, management behaviors and financial indicators at pharmaceutical firms in the United States, correlated with, or predicted, the dependent variable, compliance with the FDA regulations. FDA\u27s enforcement actions on the firms were the treatment event. A shift in the relationship between the variables occurred after the FDA interventions, which highlighted a new level of compliance. Of the 1144 SurveyMonkey invitations sent to the members of the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers, only 21 completed the survey\u27s 133 questions. Three research questions were addressed using correlations and linear regressions. The theory of planned behavior was applied to correlate behavioral constructs with the compliance of the firms leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis. By establishing an inverse relation between financial indicators and the firms\u27 level of compliance, the study offers awareness and insight to senior leaders regarding their behaviors and the decision-making process. Enhancing managers\u27 decision-making processes in light of their beliefs, along with their control over financial indicators, could reinforce the presence of effective quality systems among pharmaceutical manufacturers minimizing medicine shortages

Physical and chemical alteration of Distichlis spicata L. cell walls with NaCl and water stress

1991 Summer.Covers not scanned.Includes bibliographical references.Cultured cells of the halophytic grass Distichlis spicata adapted to grow in 500 mM NaCl (-25 bar) exhibited an altered growth physiology that resulted in slightly slower cell expansion and fully expanded cells with volumes only one-half to one-third those of unadapted cells. The reduced cell volume occurred despite maintenance of turgor pressures sometimes 2-fold higher than those of unadapted cells. Tensile strength as measured by a nitrogen gas decompression technique showed empirically that walls of NaCl-adapted cells were weaker than those of unadapted cells. Correlated with this weakening was a substantial change in the organization of the matrix polysaccharides; specifically, glucuronoarabinoxylan was more readily extractable, perhaps caused by a decrease in cross-linkages with phenol substances. Despite a 3-fold decrease in the amount of hydroxyproline and approximately a 2-fold increase in tyrosine, the quantity of insoluble protein and, the proportions of crystalline cellulose remained relative constant. Glycosidic linkage analysis of carbohydrates revealed little modification in the quantity and primary structure of the matrix polysaccharides as a result of NaCl (salinity) and polyethylene glycol 8000 (water deficit) stress. The study revealed that changes in the superstructure of glucuronoarabinoxylan are the primary determinant in the tensile strength of NaCl-adapted cells

La deriva del debate en la televisión española y la generalización de las tertulias como género imperante en formatos híbridos

Esta presentación tuvo por objeto exponer un análisis crítico y diacrónico de los principales ejemplos de programas de debate sobre la actualidad ofrecidos en los principales canales estatales españoles, tanto públicos como privados, desde 2004 a 2017.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech