Sobre las funciones del pretérito perfecto simple en la "secuencia introductoria" de la novela "Pedro Paramo" de Juan Rulfo

En este artículo se intenta analizar las funciones del pretérito perfecto simple en cuanto tiempo verbal dominante en la primera unidad compositiva de la novela de Rulfo, recurriendo para ello a conceptos de lingüística textual (Weinrich) y de gramática por un lado, y conceptos narratológicos (Genette) por otro. La comparación del efecto que el perfecto simple dominante produce en este texto con el de los tiempos verbales dominantes en las traducciones al alemán del mismo, constituye otra herramienta de análisis. La impresión, particularmente impactante, que causa el pretérito perfecto simple se interpreta como consecuencia de la gran variedad de funciones que cumple en dicho texto, entre las que destaca su función expresiva. El conjunto de todas estas funciones convierte el perfecto simple en una “piedra angular” de este texto, que amalgama y sostiene el estilo, la estructura y el sentido del mismo.This article attempts to analyse the functions of the “pretérito perfecto simple” as the dominant verbal tense in the first compositional unit of Rulfo’s novel, thereby making use of concepts of text linguistics (Weinrich) and grammar as well as of narratological concepts (Genette). The comparison of the effect of the dominant “perfecto simple” with that of the dominant verbal tenses in the German translations of the text constitutes another tool of analysis. The particularly striking impression produced by the “perfecto simple” is adscribed to the wide variety of functions it performs in this text, and especially to the effectiveness of its expressive function. All these functions, on the whole, let this verbal tense appear as a “cornerstone” of the text, as it unites and supports its style, structure and sense.peerReviewe

Implementing Bilateral Trade in a Global Landuse Model

International Relations/Trade, Land Economics/Use,

Simulation, a tool for designing-in reliability

This paper describes a new method for the analysis and optimization of reliability as an integrated part of the design process of electronic circuits. It bases itself on the analysis of the susceptibility of failure mechanisms in components as a function of the combinations of external stress factors (stressor-sets). The paper describes the backgrounds of stressor-susceptibility analysis, the need for this analysis and the way this method is used for high-level design and optimization of electronic circuits

The Impacts of Water Management Policies on Agricultural Production in Australia - An Economic Analysis

In the Australian Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) the combination of severe and prolonged droughts and historic water management decisions to divert water for cultivation stressed water resources in such an intensive manner that wetlands went dry and rivers are now far from a natural flow. More appropriate water management policies must be implemented to restore ecological function. However, with 39 % of Australia’s total value of agricultural production, transitions in use need to be managed to minimise economic and social impacts on basin communities while they adjust. Recent studies estimate that industries with high water usage but lower or more volatile value products will be impacted more than higher value products. Therefore, this study’s focus is to analyse different water management policies and their impacts on agricultural production, particularly changes in production of water low value and water high value crops and agricultural water consumption. By applying the Water Integrated Market (WatIM)-Model, benefits and costs of water management policies can be evaluated by identifying changes in quantities, prices and economic welfare, such as consumer and producer surplus. The WatIM-Model is a multi-market model combining water low and water high value crop markets and the water market with its supply and demand. Since the MDB is a complex system with different types of agriculture and water sharing rules in each catchment, economic variables are aggregated in the WatIMModel to examine overall trends and changes in the MDB. By the assumption that policy decisions on one market cause reactions on prices, supply and demand on other markets, market interdependencies can be derived. With these results, the merit of shifting production from water low value crops to water high value crops is examined and advantages and disadvantages of water management policies can be determined. This enables refinement of water management policies to optimise social, economic and environmental outcomes.Water market, water management policy, agriculture, sustainable water allocation, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Maltokinase (ATP: maltose 1-phosphotransferase) from Actinoplanes sp.: demonstration of enzyme activity and characterization of the reaction product

AbstractCell free extract of the acarbose producer Actinoplanes sp. catalyzes ATP-dependent phosphorylation of maltose. This was shown by two different assays. The product was purified and its structure determined to be α-maltose-1-phosphate by chemical analysis and NMR spectroscopy

Factors in the Use of Workplace Health Promotion on Back Health. Results of the Survey “German Health Update”

Background: The influence of the working environment on the back health of employees is well-documented. Many companies have begun to offer employees access to services to promote back health. Factors affecting the use of these offers at the population level have received little investigation to date. The current study examined the socio-demographic factors, physical activity and health-related factors, and work-related factors associated with the use of offers of workplace health promotion for back health in Germany. Materials and Methods: In the representative population-based cross-sectional survey “German Health Update” (GEDA 2014/2015-EHIS) conducted by the Robert Koch Institute, 12,072 employees aged 18–64 years old were surveyed from November 2014 to July 2015 regarding the use of back health services in their companies. In addition to socio-demographic factors, the survey examined working hours, physical activity in leisure time, health awareness, and subjective complaints in the lower back or other chronic back problems in the last 12 months. The interaction of these factors with the utilization of back health services was tested using multiple logistic regression models. Results: Women used back health services more often than men (women: 25.5%; men: 18.1%). Female gender was associated with part-time employment (OR 0.72) and a strong to very strong level of health awareness (OR 1.40). Male gender was associated with age between 30 and 44 years (OR 1.99) and 45–64 years (OR 2.02), low socioeconomic status (OR 0.48), endurance activity of <2.5 h per week (OR 0.62), and absence of lower back pain or other chronic back conditions for the last 12 months (OR 0.48). Conclusion: The present study is the first to provide findings regarding the factors associated with the utilization of workplace health promotion to promote back health at the population level, and from the perspective of employees in Germany. The results revealed that the relevant factors for participating in offers differ for women and men. To reach more employees, workplace health promotion offers for back health should be designed specifically for each individual, considering gender and age, working hours, health awareness and behavior, and health state.Peer Reviewe

Appreciation and job control predict depressive symptoms: results from the Study on Mental Health at Work

Objective: Depressive symptoms are a leading cause of disability retirement and sick leave. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of depressive symptoms in German employees and its associations with factors from both the occupational and the non-occupational domain and gender. Methods: In the second wave of the German Study of Mental Health at Work (SMGA), a representative sample of 2640 German employees (52% women) was studied. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the PHQ-9 questionnaire. Psychosocial occupational and non-occupational conditions were assessed with quantitative interviews. In this cross-sectional sample, the association of these factors with depressive symptoms was examined using logistic regression models. Results: Factors from both the occupational and the non-occupational domain were associated with risk of depressive symptoms. Low appreciation from superior (ORmen 2.1 (95% CI 1.2-3.7); ORwomen 3.2 (95% CI 2.1-4.8)), low job control (ORmen 2.9 (95% CI 1.6-5.4); ORwomen 1.6 (95% CI 1.0-2.5)), and critical life events (ORmen 3.0 (95% CI 1.6-5.4); ORwomen 2.3 (95% CI 1.5-3.7)) had the strongest association with risk of depressive symptoms. The association with quantitative demands was stronger in caregivers than in non-caregivers. The results indicated possible differences in the associations of working conditions between men and women, and between family caregivers and non-caregivers. Conclusion: Factors from both work and private life are associated with depressive symptoms, especially appreciation, job control, and critical life events. Gender differences, with respect to appreciation and influence at work, suggest a more gender sensitive approach to psychosocial occupational health research and interventions