Circular Economy and Innovation: a Systematic Literature Review

The circular economy is presented as the sustainable solution as opposed to the current linear model of production and resource management, whose effects impact negatively on the economic, social and environmental dimensions. Through a systematic review of the literature, this article aims to unify and to uncover the available evidence on innovation in relation to the circular economy and to determine those aspects that remain unexplored or should be studied in more depth in order to be able to continue to make progress in this field. Thus, it was found that although the circular economy is at an early stage of implementation, both its benefits and drivers as well as its challenges and barriers to implementation have already been investigated. More importantly, it was found that ecological innovations, which reduce the environmental impact of production and consumption activities, are necessary for the research of new business models and new ways of operating in supply chains that allow closing the circle and taking advantage of all the waste, such as the system of products and services, dynamic capabilities, 3D printing, the biography of the product and the software recycling. To achieve this goal, the evidence shows that it is mandatory to raise awareness of the situation, especially through marketing actions, as well as for companies, including SMEs, to be willing to act together and to align their interests. Implications for Central European audience: The United Nations 2030 Agenda includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to which countries should implement the circular economy in order to move towards greater sustainability. In this context, European Union is key for this development, as it is one of the world’s major power. This article aims to unify and uncover the available evidence on innovation in relation to the circular economy and to determine those aspects that remain unexplored or should be studied in more depth. By doing so, it will be able to continue to make progress in the framework of the circular economy, enabling the achievement of the ODS. In addition, the majority of the articles reviewed take place in Europe. © 2022, Central European Business Review. All Rights Reserved

Population dynamics and seasonal trend of California red scale (Aonidiella aurantii Maskell) in citrus in Northern Spain

The California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), was first detected in citrus groves in Catalonia, Northern Spain, in 2000, and has since spread slowly and irregularly. New foci of infestation are currently found in citrus-growing areas of southern Tarragona. As Catalonia is the northernmost citrus growing area in Spain, between 2002 and 2009, A. aurantii population dynamics and seasonal trends were studied in two citrus groves and compared with other regions and countries. The population dynamics showed that there were four male flights (including that of the overwintering generation): in May, mid June-mid July, August and October, the most abundant being that of August (over 60% of the males captured during the year). The thermal constant estimated between male flights, using 11.7°C as the lower threshold temperature, was 611.8 ± 35.5 degree-days. Three peaks of 1st and 2nd nymph instars were observed: in early June, late July-early August, and late September. The number of crawlers captured on sticky tapes reached a first maximum on 27th May (± 1.85 days). The male flight abundance showed a positive relationship between two consecutive generations, revealing the stability of A. aurantii populations.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Magnetism in Dense Quark Matter

We review the mechanisms via which an external magnetic field can affect the ground state of cold and dense quark matter. In the absence of a magnetic field, at asymptotically high densities, cold quark matter is in the Color-Flavor-Locked (CFL) phase of color superconductivity characterized by three scales: the superconducting gap, the gluon Meissner mass, and the baryonic chemical potential. When an applied magnetic field becomes comparable with each of these scales, new phases and/or condensates may emerge. They include the magnetic CFL (MCFL) phase that becomes relevant for fields of the order of the gap scale; the paramagnetic CFL, important when the field is of the order of the Meissner mass, and a spin-one condensate associated to the magnetic moment of the Cooper pairs, significant at fields of the order of the chemical potential. We discuss the equation of state (EoS) of MCFL matter for a large range of field values and consider possible applications of the magnetic effects on dense quark matter to the astrophysics of compact stars.Comment: To appear in Lect. Notes Phys. "Strongly interacting matter in magnetic fields" (Springer), edited by D. Kharzeev, K. Landsteiner, A. Schmitt, H.-U. Ye

IMPLEMENTATION OF A PHOTOVOLTAIC FLOATING COVER FOR IRRIGATION RESERVOIRS

[EN] The article presents the main features of a floating photovoltaic cover system (FPCS) for water irrigation reservoirs whose purpose is to reduce the evaporation of water while generating electrical power. The system consists of polyethylene floating modules which are able to adapt to varying reservoir water levels by means of tension bars and elastic fasteners. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Redón-Santafé, M.; Ferrer-Gisbert, P.; Sánchez-Romero, F.; Torregrosa Soler, JB.; Ferran Gozalvez, JJ.; Ferrer Gisbert, CM. (2014). IMPLEMENTATION OF A PHOTOVOLTAIC FLOATING COVER FOR IRRIGATION RESERVOIRS. Journal of Cleaner Production. 66:568-570. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.11.006S5685706

Ecological model of factors associated with dating violence

La violencia de género en parejas adolescentes (VPA) hace referencia a comportamientos abusivos reiterados que un chico adolescente ejerce contra una chica con la que mantiene o ha mantenido una relación sentimental con la intención de ejercer dominio y control sobre la chica y la relación. Este comportamiento se clasifica en cuatro tipos de agresiones: física, psicológica, sexual y económica. Recientes investigaciones hacen visible una realidad que afecta a millones de mujeres en todo el mundo y ayudan a comprender los mecanismos de la violencia de pareja. Uno de los hallazgos más importantes de esta investigación ha señalado que el origen de la violencia de género se encuentra en las primeras relaciones de pareja durante adolescencia. El modelo ecológico de los factores asociados con la violencia de género en parejas adolescentes ofrece un marco teórico explicativo adecuado para la investigación, la intervención y la prevención en este campo. La implicación del profesorado, padres y madres en los programas de prevención e intervención multidisciplinar en todo el proceso de prevención ayudarían a los/as adolescentes que comienzan una relación de pareja violenta a salir de esta situación. Por otra parte, una mayor sensibilidad de los medios de comunicación hacia esta realidad fomentaría un cambio hacia unas relaciones más igualitarias y menos discriminatorias en los roles y creencias que se establecen entre chicos y chicas cuando comienzan sus primeras relaciones de pareja.Gender violence in teen dating (VPA henceforth) refers to repeated abusive behavior exerts a teenage boy against a girl that maintains or has maintained a relationship with the intention to exercise dominion and control over the girl and the relationship. This behavior is classified into four types of agression: physical, psychological, sexual and economic. Recent research makes visible a reality that affects millions of women worldwide and helps understand the mechanisms of partner violence. One of the most important findings of this research has indicated that the source of this violence comes from the first couple relationship during adolescence. The dynamics of violent relationship established between pairs of young teens seem to have explanatory multi-causal origins. The ecological model of factors associated with domestic violence in teen dating provides an adequate explanatory framework for research work, intervention and prevention in this field. The involvement of teachers and parents in prevention programs and the development of multidisciplinary intervention programs throughout the process to help prevent adolescents who begin a relationship with a violent partner from a different background. Moreover, an increased sensitivity of the media towards this reality would encourage a shift towards more egalitarian and less discriminatory behaviors in roles and beliefs that exist between boys and girls when they start their first relationship.Departamento de Educación y Psicología SocialVersión del edito

Metaproteomics and metabolomics analyses of chronically petroleum-polluted sites reveal the importance of general anaerobic processes uncoupled with degradation

Crude oil is one of the most important natural assets for humankind, yet it is a major environmental pollutant, notably in marine environments. One of the largest crude oil polluted areas in the word is the semi-enclosed Mediterranean Sea, in which the metabolic potential of indigenous microbial populations towards the large-scale chronic pollution is yet to be defined, particularly in anaerobic and micro-aerophilic sites. Here, we provide an insight into the microbial metabolism in sediments from three chronically polluted marine sites along the coastline of Italy: the Priolo oil terminal/refinery site (near Siracuse, Sicily), harbour of Messina (Sicily) and shipwreck of MT Haven (near Genoa). Using shotgun metaproteomics and community metabolomics approaches, the presence of 651 microbial proteins and 4776 metabolite mass features have been detected in these three environments, revealing a high metabolic heterogeneity between the investigated sites. The proteomes displayed the prevalence of anaerobic metabolisms that were not directly related with petroleum biodegradation, indicating that in the absence of oxygen, biodegradation is significantly suppressed. This suppression was also suggested by examining the metabolome patterns. The proteome analysis further highlighted the metabolic coupling between methylotrophs and sulphate reducers in oxygen-depleted petroleum-polluted sediments

Near-field scanning optical microscopy to study nanometric structural details of LiNbO3 Zn-diffused channel waveguides

A near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) is used to perform structural and optical characterization of the surface layer after Zn diffusion in a channel waveguide fabricated on lithium niobate. A theoretical approach has been developed in order to extract refractive index contrast from NSOM optical transmission measurements (illumination configuration). As a result, different solid phases present on the sample surface can be identified, such as ZnO and ZnNb2O6. They appear like submicrometric crystallites aligned along the domain wall direction, whose origin can be ascribed to some strain relaxation mechanism during the annealing process after Zn [email protected]

Tendencias estacionales y anuales en las poblaciones de campo de la mosca mediterránea de la fruta, Ceratitis capitata, en cítricos del Mediterráneo: comparación de dos áreas geográficas en el este de España

[EN] Seasonal and annual trends in Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) populations were analyzed to determine the factors that influence population fluctuations in the field. Adult flies were monitored along 2003-07 in two citrus areas in eastern Spain with similar climate, Valencia and Tarragona. Adults were present throughout the study period, even in winter. The initial annual population increase was related to previous winter and spring temperatures. Captures started to increase in April-May and usually reached a peak in July. This peak corresponded to the maximum capture period in Valencia, but not in Tarragona, where there was usually a second peak in autumn, with capture levels similar to the first peak. Gravid females were found throughout the year, even in overwintering populations of medfly. The availability of other host fruit species in the vicinity of the citrus groves may explain the differences in annual abundance and distribution of captures between the two areas studied.[ES] Se analizó la evolución estacional de las poblaciones de Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) para determinar los factores que influencian sus fluctuaciones poblacionales en campo. Se muestreó la población de adultos entre 2003 y 2007 en dos áreas citrícolas del este de España con clima similar, Valencia y Tarragona. Se encontraron adultos a lo largo de todo el periodo de estudio, incluso en invierno. El primer incremento anual de la población estuvo relacionado con las temperaturas previas del invierno y la primavera. Las capturas comenzaron a incrementarse en abril-mayo y generalmente alcanzaron un máximo en julio. Este máximo correspondió al máximo periodo de capturas en Valencia, pero no en Tarragona, donde hubo generalmente un segundo máximo en otoño, con niveles de captura similares al primer máximo. Se encontraron hembras grávidas a lo largo de todo el año, incluso en las poblaciones invernantes de mosca de la fruta. La disponibilidad de otras especies de frutales hospedantes cercanas a las parcelas de cítricos puede explicar las diferencias en abundancia anual y distribución estacional de capturas entre las dos áreas estudiadas.We would like to thank Rafel Monfort for his help with the field work. This research was funded by a project from the Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), of Spain’s Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (Project RTA03- 103-C6). We thank also Alejandro Tena for useful comments on early drafts of the manuscript.Martinez-Ferrer, MT.; Navarro Campos, C.; Campos Rivela, JM.; Marzal Moreno, C.; Fibla, JM.; Bargues Desolmes, L.; García Mari, F. (2010). Seasonal and annual trends in field populations of Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, in Mediterranean citrus groves: comparison of two geographic areas in eastern Spain. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research. 8(3):757-765. https://doi.org/10.5424/sjar/2010083-1275S7577658

Toxicity results after treatment with Electronic Brachytherapy in patients with endometrial cancer

Poster Session [EP-2226] Purpose or Objective To analyse the toxicity outcomes after treatment with Electronic Brachytherapy (XB) in postsurgical endometrial cancer patients treated at our medical centre. Material and Methods Prospective study in which we selected 94 patients, between September/2015 and September/2017, that received treatment with XB administered twice a week after endometrial cancer surgery, with IMRT planificati on. The patients were divided in two groups: Group 1 (57/94) considered high risk received external beam radiotherapy (46Gy) followed by XB (15Gy in 5Gy fractions) and group 2 (37/94) considered intermediate risk received exclusive XB (25Gy in 5Gy fraction s). We analysed the median dose in bladder, rectum and sigmoid D2cc, V50, V35 with XB comparing the doses with Ir192. The vaginal mucosa, gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) toxicities were analysed with the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE 4.0) scale. Results The median dose in bladder with XB vs. Ir192 was: 2cc 62.9 vs. 69.9%, V50 7.1 vs. 12.6Gy, V35 15 vs. 28.1. In rectum XB vs. Ir192 was: D 2cc 64.01% vs. 67.7%, V50 7.8 vs. 10.9Gy, V35 16.5 vs. 31.8Gy. In sigmoid XB vs. Ir 192 was: D 50.37%vs. 58.0%, V50 8.8 vs. 16.2Gy, V35 21.2 vs. 37.5Gy. The median follow- up was 11 months (range 1 - 23, 9 months). In group 1, acute vaginal mucositis (G1) was observed in 35.08% of the patients, GI toxicity (G1) in 5.26% and GU toxicity (G1) in 10.52%. In group 2, we observed acute vaginal mucositis G1 in 45% of the patients and G2 in 10.81%, GI toxicity (G1) occurred in 2.7% and GU toxicity (G1) was present in 16.21%. There was no grade 3 or greater toxicity in any of the groups. Late toxici ty was observed in only 4 patients: Mucositis (G1) in 3 patients and GU toxicity (G1) in 1 patient. Conclusion The dose received by the organs at risk with the XB is less compared to Ir192, with a good coverage of the PTV. The greater toxicity was observe d immediately after the treatment was finished with an important reduction of the symptoms after 6 months. This technique shows excellent results as for toxicity