Putting the Pieces Together: Ideology Beyond Policy

Ideological differences exist far beyond policy preferences. Our ideologies are built from much more intrinsic building blocks, and as such the effects of this are seen far outside of what is generally considered the political realm of existence. When explaining these ideologies we must look past the policy preferences and more into the base parts of what makes people who they are. Liberals and conservatives differ on important measures, and these differences between us have a deeper root than most see. Morality, motivations, and personality all combine to form the expression of ideology. This paper explores these three aspects of people, and how they interact as driving forces behind one\u27s ideology

Cost assessment of clean generation incentives in Mexico for utility scale solar photovoltaic projects

Mexico recently opened the electric generation sector to competition. In addition, regulations to reach clean generation goals were implemented. These regulations include Clean Energy Certificates (CELs) obligations (similar to the Renewable Portfolio Standards in the United States), and the obligation of electricity suppliers to go into long term contracts with generators to guarantee the required electric energy and CELs supply. These contracts are procured through an auction mechanism. The purpose of this research is to i) estimate the cost of reaching the goals through the implemented policy, and ii) evaluate if the projects could be economically feasible by selling electricity in the short term market, without the incentives. This research looked at three different utility scale solar photovoltaic projects that will operate under long term contracts for the provision of electric energy and CELs. The revenues of the projects under the contract terms were modeled and contrasted with projected Locational Marginal Prices (LMPs). In addition, a discounted cash flow analysis was done for the three projects, both under long term contract conditions and short term market conditions. Two projects were found to be financially feasible under short term market conditions. For these projects, the LMP was between $1.34 and$4.03 USD/MWh higher than the long term contract price. One project was not feasible under short term market conditions. For this project to be feasible in the short term market, the LMPs needed to be over $1.49 USD/MWh higher than the projections, while the price paid in the contract for this project was approximately$1.29 USD/MWh higher than the projected LMPs. These results show that the policy implemented is efficient, provides benefits to customers, and in some cases to investors. In the cases where the projects were feasible without the incentive, they would have sold their energy for a higher price without the long term contract mechanism. In addition, the project that was not financially feasible under short term market conditions would have needed a higher premium over the LMP price, than the premium achieved through the long term contract.Energy and Earth Resource

The rab3A-22A chimera prevents sperm exocytosis by stabilizing open fusion pores

At the final stage of exocytotis, a fusion pore opens between the plasma and a secretory vesicle membranes; typically, when the pore dilates the vesicle releases its cargo. Sperm contain a large dense-core secretory granule (the acrosome) whose contents are secreted by regulated exocytosis at fertilization. Minutes after the arrival of the triggering signal, the acrosomal and plasma membranes dock at multiple sites and fusion pores open at the contact points. It is believed that immediately afterward, fusion pores dilate spontaneously. Rab3A is an essential component of human sperm exocytotic machinery. Yet, recombinant, persistently active Rab3A halts calcium-triggered secretion when introduced after docking into streptolysin O-permeabilized cells; so does a Rab3A-22A chimera. Here, we applied functional assays, electron and confocal microscopy to show that the secretion blockage is due to the stabilization of open fusion pores. Other novel findings are that sperm SNAREs engage in α-SNAP/NSF-sensitive complexes at a post-fusion stage. Complexes are disentangled by these chaperons to achieve vesiculation and acrosomal contents release. Thus, post-fusion regulation of the pores determines their expansion and the success of the acrosome reaction.Fil: Quevedo, María Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Cienicas Médicas. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos; ArgentinaFil: Lucchesi, Ornella. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Cienicas Médicas. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos; ArgentinaFil: Bustos, Matias Alberto. John Wayne Cancer Institute; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Cienicas Médicas. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos; ArgentinaFil: Pocognoni, Cristián Adrián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Cienicas Médicas. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos; ArgentinaFil: De la Iglesia, Paola X.. Hospital Italiano; ArgentinaFil: Tomes, Claudia Nora. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Cienicas Médicas. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos; Argentin

Poisson-Lie T-Duality: the Path-Integral Derivation

We formulate Poisson-Lie T-duality in a path-integral manner that allows us to analyze the quantum corrections. Using the path-integral, we rederive the most general form of a Poisson-Lie dualizeable background and the generalized Buscher transformation rules it has to satisfy.Comment: 16 pages, plain LaTeX 2e, one paragraph added to the conclusions; this is the final version accepted by Physics Letters

On Conformal Properties of the Dualized Sigma-Models

We have calculated the first-order beta-functions for a sigma-model ( with dilaton) dualized with respect to an arbitrary Lie group that acts without isotropy. We find that non-abelian duality preserves conformal invariance for semi-simple groups, but in general there is an extra contribution to the beta-function proportional to the trace of the structure constants, which cannot be absorbed into an additional dilaton shift. Two particular examples, a Bianchi V cosmological background and the G \otimes G WZW model, are discussed.Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX 2e with fleqn.sty (removed the Stony Brook emblem which was causing problems

"Propuesta de un sistema de evaluación de la calidad para instituciones de Educación Superior Tecnológica basado en gestión por procesos y prospectiva "

Uno de los aspectos importantes sobre el proceso de evaluación de la calidad educativa a nivel general, es el marco de referencia o conjunto de factores y estándares para la medición de la calidad, sin embargo aún es difícil encontrar un modelo único que satisfaga las necesidades de evaluación de las diferentes instituciones educativas. En esta investigación se ha desarrollado la propuesta de un Sistema de Evaluación de la Calidad para Instituciones de Educación Superior Tecnológica basado en Gestión por Procesos y Prospectiva. Este modelo presenta una serie de características de calidad para la evaluación de los Institutos de Educación Superior, tomando como referencia diversos modelos de evaluación de la calidad educativa de origen nacional y extranjero, y los avances en el campo de la gestión estratégica y la tecnología. También se han estudiado modelos de gestión de organizaciones educativas y modelos de evaluación de la excelencia de las organizaciones, con la finalidad de integrar en la propuesta elementos de gestión cuya evaluación y óptimo desempeño garantizarán un adecuado proceso de formación. Respecto al objetivo principal de la presente investigación se ha logrado diseñar un sistema de evaluación de la calidad aplicable a instituciones de educación superior tecnológica basado en gestión por procesos y prospectiva, el cual ha sido validado por Expertos, habiéndose alcanzado por parte de ellos calificaciones de alto y muy alto impacto para los diversos factores y estándares de calidad propuestos. Se han identificado los procesos que en general manejan las organizaciones de educación superior tecnológica con sus interrelaciones. En esencia son cinco macroprocesos que constituyen cinco dimensiones de calidad educativa: direccionamiento estratégico, admisión y relación con la sociedad, formación integral, soporte institucional y resultados e impacto. El macroproceso admisión y relación con la sociedad es un aporte de la presente investigación pues los modelos de aseguramiento de la calidad educativa analizados en la tesis no lo consideran a este nivel. El modelo del SINEACE lo presenta dentro de la dimensión de formación integral. Se han definido veintiséis factores y estándares de calidad educativa para IST que pueden complementar a los establecidos en el modelo de aseguramiento de la calidad de la educación superior tecnológica del SINEACE. Diez corresponden a la dimensión de direccionamiento estratégico, cuatro a admisión y relación con la comunidad, cinco a formación integral, tres a soporte institucional y cuatro a resultados e impacto.One of the important aspects about the process of evaluation of educational quality at a general level, is the frame of reference or set of factors and standards for the measurement of quality, however it is still difficult to find a single model that meets the needs of evaluation of the different educational institutions. In this research, the proposal for a Quality Assessment System for Higher Education Institutions based on Management by Processes and Prospective has been developed. This model presents a series of quality characteristics for the evaluation of the Institutes of Higher Education, taking as reference various models of evaluation of educational quality of national and foreign origin, and the advances in the field of strategic management and technology. Management models of educational organizations and models for evaluating the excellence of organizations have also been studied, with the purpose of integrating into the proposal management elements whose evaluation and optimal performance will guarantee an adequate training process. With respect to the main objective of the present investigation, it has been possible to design a quality assessment system applicable to institutions of higher technological education based on process and prospective management, which has been validated by Experts, having achieved qualifications of high and very high impact for the various factors and quality standards proposed. We have identified the processes that are generally handled by technological higher education organizations with their interrelationships. In essence there are five macroprocesses that constitute five dimensions of educational quality: strategic direction, admission and relationship with society, integral training, institutional support and results and impact