Improving the Measurement of Human Development

We propose a new Human Development Index that involves a number of changes with respect to the present one, even though it keeps the basic structure of the index (namely, preserving “health”, “education” and “material wellbeing” as the three basic dimensions of human development). The first change refers to the substitution of the arithmetic mean by the geometric mean, as a way of aggregating the different dimensions in a more sensible way. The second one leads to the introduction of distributive considerations in the evaluation of material wellbeing. The last change consists of the introduction of new variables to approach health and education, looking for a higher sensitivity of the index with respect to the differences between countries. These new variables are specially indicated for the analysis of human development in highly developed countries. Besides the conceptual discussion, that includes a characterization of the chosen aggregation formula, we present a comparative analysis of this new index and the standard one, focusing on the OECD countries.Human Development, multiplicative indices, distributive concerns, highly developed countries, HDI

Delimitación del factor experiencia en la toma de decisión de selección de mercados internacionales de las PYMEs españolas: La influencia de la distancia psíquica

[ENG] The internationalization of SMEs is generally characterized by a progressive multi-stage process, in which organizations gradually acquire knowledge and skills that strengthen their commitment to the outside world. International experience – a form of autonomous accumulation of know-how that allows the understanding of potential markets – influences the decision-making process for selecting export markets. Although gradual acquisition of international experience allows an increase in export activity in more physically distant markets, this gradualist postulate does not have an indefinite validity. This paper analyzes the limits of this international experience in terms of psychic distance, examining whether those SMEs that have obtained enough international experience to develop markets of greater complexity tend to select more complex, i.e., more psychically distant, countries. The findings generally support the idea that the relationship between international experience and psychically distant markets ceases when SMEs have obtained enough international experience, after which it is the objectives of a strictly business nature which condition the decision to select potential markets. For these reasons, when the organization has obtained enough skills and international experience to develop markets of greater complexity, the managers choose to select more complex i.e., more psychically distant, countries.[SPA] La internacionalización de la PYME se caracteriza generalmente por un proceso progresivo de varias etapas, mediante el cual las organizaciones adquieren gradualmente conocimientos y habilidades que refuerzan su compromiso con el exterior. La experiencia internacional -una forma de acumulación autónoma de know-how que permite comprender los mercados potenciales- influye en el proceso de toma de decisiones para seleccionar los mercados de exportación. Aunque la adquisición gradual de experiencia internacional permite aumentar la actividad exportadora en mercados físicamente más distantes, este postulado gradualista no tiene una validez indefinida en el tiempo. Este trabajo analiza los límites de esta experiencia internacional en términos de distancia psíquica, examinando si aquellas PYMEs que han obtenido suficiente experiencia internacional para desarrollar mercados de mayor complejidad tienden a seleccionar países más complejos, es decir, más distantes psíquicamente. Los resultados apoyan en general la idea de que, la relación entre la experiencia internacional y los mercados psíquicamente distantes cesa cuando las PYMEs han obtenido suficiente experiencia internacional, tras lo cual, son los objetivos de carácter estrictamente empresarial los que condicionan la decisión de seleccionar los mercados potenciales. Por estas razones, cuando la organización ha obtenido suficientes competencias y experiencia internacional para desarrollar mercados de mayor complejidad, los directivos optan por seleccionar países más complejos, es decir, más alejados psíquicamente

Advances in wave-plasma modelling in ECR thrusters

Proceeding of: Space Propulsion Conference, SP 2018,14-18 mayo, SevillaThis paper presents the development status of the simulation tool THaMES (Time-Harmonic Maxwell Equations Solver) that aims to reproduce the electromagnetic (EM) wave propagation inside an ECR plasma thruster to study the ECR resonance absorption and wave propagation. THaMES allows the use of a planar domain filled with arbitrary cold magnetized inhomogeneous plasmas, specifying parameters such as the electron plasma density, the applied magnetic field or the effective collisional rate. The simulation relies on MFEM discretization library.The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union H2020 Program under grant agreement number 730028 (Project MINOTOR)

Interactions, star formation and extended nebulae in SDSS type 2 quasars at 0.3<~ z <~ 0.6

We present long-slit spectroscopy and imaging data obtained with FORS2 on the Very Large Telescope of 13 optically selected type 2 quasars at z~0.3-0.6 from the original sample of Zakamska et al. (2003). The sample is likely to be affected by different selection biases. We investigate the evidence for: a) mergers/interactions b) star formation activity in the neighborhood of the quasars and c) extended emission line regions and their nature. Evidence for mergers/interactions is found in 5/13 objects. This is a lower limit for our sample, given the shallowness of most of our continuum images. Although AGN photoionization cannot be totally discarded, line ratios consistent with stellar photoionization are found in general in companion galaxies/knots/nuclei near these same objects. On the contrary, the gas in the neighborhood of the quasar nucleus shows line ratios inconsistent with HII galaxies and typical of AGN photoionized nebulae. A natural scenario to explain the observations is that star formation is ongoing in companion galaxies/knots/nuclei, possibly triggered by the interactions. These systems are, therefore, composite in their emission line properties showing a combination of AGN and star formation features. Extended emission line regions (EELRs) have been found in 7/13 objects, although this fraction might be higher if a complete spatial coverage around the quasars was performed. The sizes vary between few and up to 64 kpc. In general, the EELRs apparently consist of an extended nebula associated with the quasar. In at least one case the EELR is associated with ionized tidal features.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 19 pages, 30 figure

An overview on the obsolescence of physical assets for the defence facing the challenges of industry 4.0 and the new operating environments

Libro en Open AccessThis contribution is intended to observe special features presented in physical assets for defence. Particularly, the management of defence assets has to consider not only the reliability, availability, maintainability and other factors frequently used in asset management. On the contrary, such systems should also take into account their adaptation to changing operating environments as well as their capability to changes on the technological context. This study approaches to the current real situation where, due to the diversity of conflicts in our international context, the same type of defence systems must be able to provide services under different boundary conditions in different areas of the globe. At the same time, new concepts from the Industry 4.0 provide quick changes that should be considered along the life cycle of a defence asset. As a finding or consequence, these variations in operating conditions and in technology may accelerate asset degradation by modifying its reliability, its up-to-date status and, in general terms, its end-of-life estimation, depending of course on a diversity of factors. This accelerated deterioration of the asset is often known as “obsolescence” and its implications are often evaluated (when possible), in terms of costs from different natures. The originality of this contribution is the introduction of a discussion on how a proper analysis may help to reduce errors and mistakes in the decision-making process regarding the suitability or not of repairing, replacing, or modernizing the asset or system under study. In other words, the obsolescence analysis, from a reliability and technological point of view, could be used to determine the conservation or not of a specific asset fleet, in order to understand the effects of operational and technology factors variation over the functionality and life cycle cost of physical assets for defence

El rol y la importancia de los abuelos para sus nietos adolescentes

This article analyses the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren from the point of view of adolescents. Subjects were 272 male and female students at secondary school and university (age 14-20, mean 16.4). They answered a questionnaire adapted from the GMA scale on the role and importance of grandparents in the lives of their adolescent grandchildren. Our data provide un insight into the main variables that form the grandchildren's perception of their grandparents. Older grandparents generally have conciliatory roles. Boys have a more distant perception of their grandparents than girls, who feel closer to them. Grandfathers have and give knowledge about old age and the family's past, while grandmothers act as caregiven and are closer to the everyday reality of the family. Finally, paternal grandparents are seen as distant figures, while maternal grandparents are perceived as having positive roles for the adolescents. These results are similar to those found in other studies carried out in Europe.En este articulo se abordan las relaciones inter-generacionalesabuelos-nietos desde el punto de vista de los adolescentes. 272 adolescentes de ambos sexos estudiantes de ESO, Bachiller y Universidad, de edades comprendidas entre 14 y 20 años (media de 16,4), respondieron un cuestionario adaptado de la escala GMS sobre la figura del abuelo/a y los diferentes roles que llevan a cabo según la percepción de sus nietos adolescentes. Nuestros datos proporcionan una visión en la que las diferentes variables tienen una matizada influencia. Los abuelos y abuelas de más edad representan sobre todo papeles concialiadores. Los chicos ven a sus abuelos de forma más distante, mientras que las chicas informan de una más fuerte relación. En tanto que los abuelos proporcionan conocimiento de la vejez y del pasado familiar, las abuelas ejercen como cuidadoras y se encuentran más cerca de la realidad cotidiana. Por último, cabe destacar que la influencia de la línea familiar es fundamental para comprender las diferencias entre la percepción de la figura de los abuelos y las abuelas. Los abuelos de la línea paterna se ven como figuras distantes (única dimensión negativa del instrumento de recogida de datos), en tanto que a los abuelos y abuelas de la línea materna se les percibe como representando una gran variedad de roles positivos en la vida de los adolescentes. Estos resultados presentan un importante grado de concordancia con otros de ámbito europeo y también algunas matizaciones que deberán ser profundizadas en estudios posteriores

Light yield determination in large sodium iodide detectors applied in the search for dark matter

Application of NaI(Tl) detectors in the search for galactic dark matter particles through their elastic scattering off the target nuclei is well motivated because of the long standing DAMA/LIBRA highly significant positive result on annual modulation, still requiring confirmation. For such a goal, it is mandatory to reach very low threshold in energy (at or below the keV level), very low radioactive background (at a few counts/keV/kg/day), and high detection mass (at or above the 100 kg scale). One of the most relevant technical issues is the optimization of the crystal intrinsic scintillation light yield and the efficiency of the light collecting system for large mass crystals. In the frame of the ANAIS (Annual modulation with NaI Scintillators) dark matter search project large NaI(Tl) crystals from different providers coupled to two photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) have been tested at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory. In this paper we present the estimates of the NaI(Tl) scintillation light collected using full-absorption peaks at very low energy from external and internal sources emitting gammas/electrons, and single-photoelectron events populations selected by using very low energy pulses tails. Outstanding scintillation light collection at the level of 15~photoelectrons/keV can be reported for the final design and provider chosen for ANAIS detectors. Taking into account the Quantum Efficiency of the PMT units used, the intrinsic scintillation light yield in these NaI(Tl) crystals is above 40~photoelectrons/keV for energy depositions in the range from 3 up to 25~keV. This very high light output of ANAIS crystals allows triggering below 1~keV, which is very important in order to increase the sensitivity in the direct detection of dark matter

Integral field spectroscopy of type-II QSOs at z=0.3-0.4

We present and analyse integral-field observations of six type-II QSOs with z=0.3-0.4, selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Two of our sample are found to be surrounded by a nebula of warm ionized gas, with the largest nebula extending across 8" (40 kpc). Some regions of the extended nebulae show kinematics that are consistent with gravitational motion, while other regions show relatively perturbed kinematics: velocity shifts and line widths too large to be readily explained by gravitational motion. We propose that a ~20 kpc x20 kpc outflow is present in one of the galaxies. Possible mechanisms for triggering the outflow are discussed. In this object, we also find evidence for ionization both by shocks and the radiation field of the AGN.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, accepted by MNRAS Letter