The Impact of Russian Intervention in Post-Soviet Secessionist Conflict in the South Caucasus on Russian Geo-energy Interests

The dismemberment of the Soviet Union prompted a very unstable decade of decline for Russia, and generated numerous conflicts in the post-Soviet space. Russia regained influence at global and, chiefly, regional level from 2000, after Vladimir Putin became president and the price of hydrocarbons rose. Arguably, energy policy played an essential role. The South Caucasus, where three secessionist conflicts took place, leading to Russian political, diplomatic and military intervention, was crucial for the Russian geo-energy interests. This article examines and discusses the impact of intervention on Russian geo-energy interests, in particular since Putin came to power. The working hypothesis proposes that Russia’s involvement in the three secessionist conflicts in the South Caucasus has considerably benefited the many Russian geo-energy interests

Relationship between X(5)-models and the interacting boson model

The connections between the X(5)-models (the original X(5) using an infinite square well, X(5)-$\beta^8$, X(5)-$\beta^6$, X(5)-$\beta^4$, and X(5)-$\beta^2$), based on particular solutions of the geometrical Bohr Hamiltonian with harmonic potential in the $\gamma$ degree of freedom, and the interacting boson model (IBM) are explored. This work is the natural extension of the work presented in [1] for the E(5)-models. For that purpose, a quite general one- and two-body IBM Hamiltonian is used and a numerical fit to the different X(5)-models energies is performed, later on the obtained wave functions are used to calculate B(E2) transition rates. It is shown that within the IBM one can reproduce well the results for energies and B(E2) transition rates obtained with all these X(5)-models, although the agreement is not so impressive as for the E(5)-models. From the fitted IBM parameters the corresponding energy surface can be extracted and it is obtained that, surprisingly, only the X(5) case corresponds in the moderate large N limit to an energy surface very close to the one expected for a critical point, while the rest of models seat a little farther.Comment: Accepted in Physical Review

On the relation between E(5)−E(5)-models and the interacting boson model

The connections between the $E(5)-$models (the original E(5) using an infinite square well, $E(5)-\beta^4$, $E(5)-\beta^6$ and $E(5)-\beta^8$), based on particular solutions of the geometrical Bohr Hamiltonian with $\gamma$-unstable potentials, and the interacting boson model (IBM) are explored. For that purpose, the general IBM Hamiltonian for the $U(5)-O(6)$ transition line is used and a numerical fit to the different $E(5)-$models energies is performed, later on the obtained wavefunctions are used to calculate B(E2) transition rates. It is shown that within the IBM one can reproduce very well all these $E(5)-$models. The agreement is the best for $E(5)-\beta^4$ and reduces when passing through $E(5)-\beta^6$, $E(5)-\beta^8$ and E(5), where the worst agreement is obtained (although still very good for a restricted set of lowest lying states). The fitted IBM Hamiltonians correspond to energy surfaces close to those expected for the critical point. A phenomenon similar to the quasidynamical symmetry is observed

Diavideos: a Diabetes Health Video Portal

Diavideos1 is a web platform that collects trustworthy diabetes health videos from YouTube and offers them in a easy way. YouTube is a big repository of health videos, but good content is sometimes mixed with misleading and harmful videos such as promoting anorexia [1].Diavideos is a web portal that provides easy access to a repository of trustworthy diabetes videos. This poster describes Diavideos and explains the crawling method used to retrieve these videos from trusted channels

Contributos Para Uma Reflexão Acerca da Introdução de Tablets na Escola em Programas de Um Computador Por Aluno em Portugal. Actas

Neste texto, apresenta-se uma reflexão sobre alguns aspectos do estado da arte relativamente aos programas de um tablet por aluno. O conhecimento dos factores que influenciam de forma relevante os resultados de aprendizagem dos alunos é importante na concepção, desenho e implementação deste tipo de iniciativas, entre outras razões para assegurar a eficácia dos programas e justificar os investimentos realizados, sejam eles assegurados por entidades públicas ou privadas, pelas famílias ou pelas escolas. Apesar da magnitude e extensão destes programas em todo o mundo, a investigação é ainda muito escassa. Depois de uma breve revisão à literatura neste campo, os autores apresentam e discutem o caso de um projeto educativo que recorre, na sua componente tecnológica, a um programa de um computador por aluno, em combinação com uma sala de aula “inteligente”

A theoretical insight into the catalytic effect of a mixed-metal oxide at the nanometer level: The case of the highly active metal/CeOx/TiO2(110) catalysts

The structural and electronic properties of CeOx species supported on the rutile TiO2 110 surface have been examined by means of periodic density-functional calculations that use a generalized gradient approximation functional including a Hubbard-like type correction. Deposition of Ce atoms leads in a first step to Ce3+ ions bound to the surface through bridge and in-plane oxygen atoms, the released electrons occupying the Ti 3d empty orbitals. Further addition of Ce and molecular oxygen gives place to Ce2O3 dimers diagonally arranged on the surface, in agreement with the spots observed in the scanning tunnel microscope images. The formation process of CeOx nanoparticles NPs on the TiO2 surface is highly exothermic and our calculations show that the redox properties of the Ce III-Ce IV couple are significantly altered when it is supported on TiO2. In particular the reactivity against CO/O2 indicates that on the surface the presence of Ce III is favored over Ce IV species. Our results also indicate that the CeOx /TiO2 interface should be seen like a real mixed-metal oxide rather than a supported NP of ceria. Finally, in the context of the high catalytic activity of the M /CeOx /TiO2 M =Au,Cu,Pt systems in the water-gas shift reaction, we have examined the dissociation of water on the CeOx /TiO2 surface and estimated a barrier as small as 0.04 eV, i.e. 8 times smaller than that computed for a TiO2 oxygen vacancy. This result agrees with the experimental superior catalytic activity of the M /CeOx /TiO2 systems over M /TiO2.Gobierno de España. Ministerio Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN) MAT2005-01872 y CSD2008-0023Junta de Andalucía FQM-132Departamento de Energía de EE. UU. División de Subvención de Ciencias Químicas DE-AC02-98CH1088

Gobernanza y lucha contra la pobreza

[spa] El presente trabajo trata de analizar las políticas contra la pobreza aplicadas por España en el marco de la estrategia Europa 2020. Estas políticas se han llevado a cabo mediante mecanismos de gobernanza -en concreto, el denominado experimentalismo democrático-, cuya efectividad y legitimidad están en entredicho. Para ello se analizará, de un lado, el Semestre Europeo, que coordina estas políticas a nivel de la UE. Del otro, distintos documentos españoles que se enmarcan en este proceso y que permiten evaluar los niveles de legitimidad democrática de este mecanismo. This paper attempts to analyze policies against poverty undertaken by Spain within the framework of the Europe 2020 strategy. These policies have been applied through mechanisms of governance mechanisms -specifically, the so-called democratic experimentalism- whose effectiveness and legitimacy is at least questionable. To this end, this paper tries to analyze, on one side, the European Semester, which coordinates these policies at an EU level. On the other, various Spanish documents that are part of this process and therefore allow us assess the levels of democratic effectiveness of this mechanism.[eng] This paper attempts to analyze policies against poverty undertaken by Spain within the framework of the Europe 2020 strategy. These policies have been applied through mechanisms of governance mechanisms -specifically, the so-called democratic experimentalism- whose effectiveness and legitimacy is at least questionable. To this end, this paper tries to analyze, on one side, the European Semester, which coordinates these policies at an EU level. On the other, various Spanish documents that are part of this process and therefore allow us assess the levels of democratic effectiveness of this mechanism

Analysis of NPF and NRT transporter families regarding the nitrate nutrition in maritime pine (Pinus pinaster)

Nitrogen is an essential element for life and the main limiting nutrient for plant growth and development1. The main forms of inorganic nitrogen in soils are nitrate and ammonium, which relative abundances depend on environmental conditions such as temperature. In agricultural soils the most abundant nitrogen form is nitrate because the use of chemical fertilizers however in natural ecosystems nitrogen soil composition can be more complex. Conifers are tree gymnosperms with a wide distribution although their large forests dominate the boreal ecosystems where nitrification is limited and ammonium is the main nitrogen soil source2. In this context, conifers have an appreciable tolerance to ammonium. Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton) is a conifer from the western Mediterranean region of high economic and ecological interest in Spain, France and Portugal. This pine is also a research model tree with different genomic resources such as a reference transcriptome and a gene expression atlas3. Taking advantage of these resources the members of the NPF and NRT transporter families involved in nitrate uptake and transport have been identified and analyzed in maritime pine4. Among the transporter families, the NRT3 one is expanded and composed by six members. The capacity of maritime pine to use nitrate or ammonium has been analyzed in seedlings. The development and growth responses to nitrate nutrition are comparable to ammonium supply. At molecular level, there are strong gene expressions for genes involved in nitrate uptake and assimilation such as Nitrate Reductase, Nitrite Reductase, Glutamine Synthetase 1a, three NRT3 genes and different NPF family members in the different organs. Since the NPF proteins can transport different metabolites, peptides and hormones, the NPF transporters involved in nitrate transport are being identified.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. This project was supported by the grant MicroNUpE, BIO2015-73512-JIN; MINECO/AEI/FEDER, UE. JMVM was supported by a grant from the Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Formación Profesional (FPU17/03517) and FO by a grant from the Universidad de Málaga (Programa Operativo de Empleo Juvenil vía SNJG, UMAJI11, FEDER, FSE, Junta de Andalucía)