Valoración económica de los servicios ecosistémicos asociados al Parque Natural del Turia (Valencia)

[EN] The objective of this paper is to obtain the monetary value of ecosystem services provided by the Turia Natural Park (TNP). This paper proposes the use of the Analytic Multicriteria Valuation Method (AMUVAM) by replacing the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) with the Analytic Network Process (ANP), since the ANP method allows to analyze interdependence relationships between the services provided by a system. The results express that the economic value of the ecosystem services associated to the TNP ranges between 163,946,752 € and 481,549,597 €. The results reveal distinct patterns in the valuation of the existing services due to ethical issues.[ES] El objeto de este trabajo es la obtención de un intervalo de valor de los servicios ecosistémicos proporcionados por el Parque Natural del Turia (PNT). La metodología empleada ha sido el método analítico de valoración multicriterio (Analytic Multicriteria Valuation Method, AMUVAM) sustituyendo el Proceso Analítico Jerárquico por el proceso analítico en red (Analytic Network Process, ANP), dado que este permite analizar relaciones de interdependencia entre los servicios del sistema. El valor económico de los servicios ecosistémicos asociados al PNT oscila entre 163.946.752 € y 481.549.597 € en función de las diferentes sensibilidades éticas de los expertos.Estruch-Guitart, V.; Valls-Civera, A. (2019). An economic valuation of ecosystem services provided by the River Turia Natural Park (Valencia). Economía Agraria y Recursos Naturales - Agricultural and Resource Economics. 18(2):93-115. https://doi.org/10.7201/earn.2018.02.05SWORD9311518

Química i Sostenibilitat

Quan es va decidir proclamar 2011 com l'Any Internacional de la Química, el aleshores Director General d'UNESCO va assenyalar que "Sensibilitzar al públic de la importància de les ciències químiques és una tasca de gran rellevància, pels reptes que ha d'afrontar el desenvolupament sostenible. És indubtable que la Química jugarà un paper molt important en el desenvolupament de fonts alternatives d'energia i l'alimentació de la creixent població mundial". Segons el president en aquests moments de l'IUPAC, amb aquesta celebració esperaven augmentar l'apreciació pública i la comprensió de la Química, augmentar l' interès dels joves per la ciència i generar entusiasme per un futur de creativitat relacionada amb la Química

Calçots i calçotades : compte amb els gossos!

Tot i les innegables particularitats de cultiu i gastronòmiques que fan dels calçots un àpat de temporada molt valorat, saludable, distintiu i estimat entre els catalans, no s'hauria d'oblidar que continuen sent cebes. I és que encara hi ha força persones que desconeixen que cebes, alls i altres representants de la família de les liliàcies, que nosaltres mengem habitualment sense problemes, poden resultar tòxics i fins i tot letals per molts animals domèstics, entre els que es troben els gossos i els gats. En les populars calçotades, on moltes vegades estem acompanyats dels nostres gossos, els propietaris haurien de vigilar de no deixar a l'abast dels animals els calçots o restes d'ells, ja que el seu gust dolcenc pot resultar atractiu per alguns individus afamats o curiosos.A pesar de las innegables particularidades de cultivo y gastronómicas que hacen de los calçots (cebolletas tiernas) una comida de temporada muy valorada, saludable, distintiva y querida entre los catalanes, no se tendría que olvidar que continúan siendo cebollas. Y es que todavía hay bastantes personas que desconocen que cebollas, ajos y otros representantes de la familia de las liliácias, que nosotros comemos habitualmente sin problemas, pueden resultar tóxicos e incluso letales para muchos animales domésticos, entre los que se encuentran los perros y los gatos. En las populares calçotadas, donde muchas veces estamos acompañados de nuestros perros, los propietarios tendrían que vigilar de no dejar al alcance de los animales los calçots o restos de ellos, ya que su sabor dulzón puede resultar atractivo para algunos individuos hambrientos o curiosos

The economic value of landscape aesthetics in Albufera natural park through the analytic multicriteria valuation method

[EN] The effective definition of public intervention goals and resource allocation for natural resource management requires decision makers to understand the monetary values of the full range of goods and services provided by landscapes, in other words, their Total Economic Value (TEV). Aesthetic enjoyment (AE) can be considered as part of such TEV of landscapes. For the estimation of the economic value of AE in Albufera Natural Park (Valencia, Spain), this paper applies the Analytic Multicriteria Valuation Method (AMUVAM). It is a combination of two established techniques: analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and discount cash flow (DCF). The economic value of non-market benefits under AMUVAM is obtained indirectly, by comparing the relative degrees of importance attached to the different components of TEV. In this way, not only does it estimate a monetary value of AE but also its importance relative to TEV. Results express that AE represents 7% of the TEV in Albufera Natural Park and 24% of the EV in Albufera Natural Park ( 176 million). Results reveal distinct patterns in the valuation of TEV and existence value (EV). In this way, together with the average, a range of values which show the different sensitivities of society is provided. The comparison of the TEV obtained for Albufera Natural Park with previous studies conducted on wetlands suggests its similarity in scale.Estruch-Guitart, V.; Vallés-Planells, M. (2017). The economic value of landscape aesthetics in Albufera natural park through the analytic multicriteria valuation method. International Journal of Design & Nature and Ecodynamics. 12(3):281-302. doi:10.2495/DNE-V12-N3-281-302S28130212

Advertising non-premium products as if they were premium: The impact of advertising up on advertising elasticity and brand equity

Non-premium brands occasionally emulate their premium counterparts by using ads that emphasize premium characteristics such as superior performance and exclusivity. We define this practice as “advertising up” and develop hypotheses about its short- and long-term impact on advertising elasticity and brand equity respectively. We test the hypotheses in two large-scale empirical studies using a comprehensive dataset from the automotive industry that includes, among others, the content of 2317 television ads broadcast over a period of 45 months. The results indicate that advertising up increases (decreases) short-term advertising elasticity for non-premium products with a low (high) market share. The results also show that an intensive use of advertising up over time leads to long-term improvements (reductions) in brand equity for expensive (cheap) non-premium products. Furthermore, an inconsistent use of advertising up leads to reductions in brand equity. The results imply that managers of non-premium products with a low market share can use advertising up to increase advertising effectiveness in the short run. However, advertising up will only generate long-term improvements in brand equity for expensive non-premium products. Finally, to avoid long-term reductions in brand equity, advertising up should be consistently used over time

Raman Spectroscopic Imaging for Quantification of Depth-Dependent and Local Heterogeneities in Native and Engineered Cartilage

Articular cartilage possesses a remarkable, mechanically-robust extracellular matrix (ECM) that is organized and distributed throughout the tissue to resist physiologic strains and provide low friction during articulation. The ability to characterize the make-up and distribution of the cartilage ECM is critical to both understand the process by which articular cartilage undergoes disease-related degeneration and to develop novel tissue repair strategies to restore tissue functionality. However, the ability to quantitatively measure the spatial distribution of cartilage ECM constituents throughout the tissue has remained a major challenge. In this experimental investigation, we assessed the analytical ability of Raman micro-spectroscopic imaging to semi-quantitatively measure the distribution of the major ECM constituents in cartilage tissues. Raman spectroscopic images were acquired of two distinct cartilage tissue types that possess large spatial ECM gradients throughout their depth: native articular cartilage explants and large engineered cartilage tissue constructs. Spectral acquisitions were processed via multivariate curve resolution to decompose the “fingerprint” range spectra (800–1800 cm−1) to the component spectra of GAG, collagen, and water, giving rise to the depth dependent concentration profile of each constituent throughout the tissues. These Raman spectroscopic acquired-profiles exhibited strong agreement with profiles independently acquired via direct biochemical assaying of spatial tissue sections. Further, we harness this spectroscopic technique to evaluate local heterogeneities through the depth of cartilage. This work represents a powerful analytical validation of the accuracy of Raman spectroscopic imaging measurements of the spatial distribution of biochemical components in a biological tissue and shows that it can be used as a valuable tool for quantitatively measuring the distribution and organization of ECM constituents in native and engineered cartilage tissue specimens

Optical properties of low background PEN structural components for the LEGEND-200 experiment

Polyethylene Naphthalate (PEN) plastic scintillator has been identified as potential self-vetoing structural material in low-background physics experiments. Scintillating components have been produced radio-pure from PEN using injection compression molding technology. These low-background PEN components will be used as active holders to mount the Germanium detectors in the \legend-$200$ neutrinoless double beta decay experiment. In this paper we present the measurement of the optical properties of these PEN components. Thus, the emission spectrum, time constant, attenuation and bulk absorption length as well as light output and light yield are reported. In addition, the surface of these PEN components has been characterized and an estimation of the surface roughness is presented. Moreover, the light output of the final \legend-$200$ detector holders has been measured and is reported. These measurements were used to estimate the self-vetoing efficiency of these holders

Primary cutaneous aggressive epidermotropic cytotoxic T-cell lymphomas: reappraisal of a provisional entity in the 2016 WHO classification of cutaneous lymphomas.

Primary cutaneous CD8-positive aggressive epidermotropic T-cell lymphoma is a rare and poorly characterized variant of cutaneous lymphoma still considered a provisional entity in the latest 2016 World Health Organization Classification of Cutaneous lymphomas. We sought to better characterize and provide diagnostic and therapeutic guidance of this rare cutaneous lymphoma. Thirty-four patients with a median age of 77 years (range 19-89 years) presented primarily with extensive annular necrotic plaques or tumor lesions with frequent mucous membrane involvement. The 5-year survival was 32% with a median survival of 12 months. A subset of 17 patients had a prodrome of chronic patches prior to the development of aggressive ulcerative lesions. We identified cases with lack of CD8 or αβ T-cell receptor expression yet with similar clinical and pathological presentation. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation provided partial or complete remissions in 5/6 patients. We recommend the term primary cutaneous aggressive epidermotropic cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma as this more broad designation better describes this clinical-pathologic presentation, which allows the inclusion of cases with CD8 negative and/or αβ/γδ T-cell receptor chain double-positive or double-negative expression. We have identified early skin signs of chronic patch/plaque lesions that are often misdiagnosed as eczema, psoriasis, or mycosis fungoides. Our experience confirms the poor prognosis of this entity and highlights the inefficacy of our standard therapies with the exception of allogeneic stem cell transplantation in selected cases

Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Handbook 2011

The use of lead (Pb) ammunition in the form of shot pellets has been identified as a Pb exposure risk in wildlife and their human consumers. We explore the hypothesis that Pb shot ban enforcement reduces the risk of avian Pb poisoning as well as Pb exposure in game meat consumers. We assessed compliance with a partial ban on Pb shot commencing in 2003 by examination of 937 waterbirds harvested by hunters between 2007 and 2012 in the Ebro delta (Spain). Prevalence of Pb shot ingestion was determined, as were Pb concentrations in liver and muscle tissue to evaluate the potential for Pb exposure in game meat consumers. Hunted birds with only embedded Pb shot (no steel) declined from 26.9% in 2007–08 to < 2% over the following three hunting seasons after ban reinforcement. Pb shot ingestion in mallards decreased from a pre-ban value of 30.2% to 15.5% in the post-ban period. Liver Pb levels were predominantly defined by the presence of ingested shot, whereas muscle levels were defined by the presence of both ingested and embedded shot. Only 2.5% of mallard muscle tissue had Pb levels above European Union regulations for meat (0.1 μg/g wet weight) in the 2008–09 season, when Pb shot ingestion prevalence was also at a minimum (5.1%). Effective restrictions in Pb ammunition use have a dual benefit since this reduces Pb exposure for game meat consumers due to embedded ammunition as well as reducing Pb poisoning in waterbirds

"Me están echando de mi casa" : repercusiones personales y sociales de la inseguridad residencial en Barcelona

Las condiciones para acceder a una vivienda en España han empeorado desde la crisis económica de 2008. El mercado de alquiler se ha convertido en la única opción para muchos grupos sociales. En el contexto español, con un nivel muy bajo de vivienda social y con contratos de alquiler de corta duración, el aumento del precio de la vivienda ha tenido un fuerte impacto. En este artículo exponemos los resultados de una investigación en Sant Antoni, uno de los barrios barceloneses que han experimentado un fuerte incremento de los precios de la vivienda y una intensa transformación urbana y social. Los resultados muestran la inseguridad residencial generalizada de la población residente. Las situaciones vividas han afectado a las personas y las familias, pero también implican un riesgo de descomposición del tejido asociativo del barrio.Les condicions per accedir a un habitatge a Espanya han empitjorat des de la crisi econòmica de 2008. El mercat de lloguer ha esdevingut l'única opció per a molts grups socials. En el context espanyol, amb un nivell molt baix d'habitatge social i amb contractes de lloguer de curta durada, l'augment del preu de l'habitatge ha tingut un fort impacte. En aquest article exposem els resultats d'una recerca a Sant Antoni, un dels barris barcelonins que han experimentat un fort increment dels preus de l'habitatge i una intensa transformació urbana i social. Els resultats mostren la inseguretat residencial generalitzada de la població resident. Les situacions viscudes han afectat les persones i les famílies, però també impliquen un risc de descomposició del teixit associatiu del barri.Access to housing in Spain has worsened since the economic crisis of 2008, with the rental market becoming the only option for many social groups. Given that social housing is scarce in the country and rental contracts are of a short duration, the increase in housing prices has had a strong impact. In this article, we present the results of a study carried out in Sant Antoni, one of the neighborhoods in Barcelona that has experienced a significant increase in housing prices and a dramatic urban and social transformation. Our results reveal the general situation of residential insecurity of the resident population. The situations they have experienced have not only affected their personal and family lives, but also threaten to erode the associative fabric of the neighborhood