Extraordinary transverse magneto-optical Kerr effect in a superlens

It has been shown that a slab of a negative index material can behave as a superlens enhancing the imaging resolution beyond the wavelength limit. We show here that if such a slab possesses in addition some magneto-optical activity, it could act as an ideal optical filter and exhibit an extraordinary transverse magneto-optical Kerr effect. Moreover, we show that losses, which spoil the imaging resolution of these lenses, are a necessary ingredient to observe this effect.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Suitability of borago officinalis for minimal processing as fresh-cut produce

Borage (Borago offcinalis L.) is a wild vegetable appreciated as a folk medicine and for culinary preparations. The introduction of borage as a specialized cultivation would allow for the diversification of vegetable crops and would widen the offerings of raw and minimally processed leafy vegetables. Thus, the aim of the research was to evaluate the quality and shelf-life of fresh-cut borage stored at different temperatures. Borage plants were grown during the autumn-winter season and immediately minimally processed after harvest. Fresh-cut borage leaves packed in sealed bags were stored at 2 or 6 °C for 21 d. Weight loss, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), ascorbic acid, nitrates, leaf color characteristics and overall quality were determined through the storage period. Borage plants were deemed suitable for minimal processing. Storage temperature significantly influenced the rate of quality loss. Borage leaves had an initial nitrate content of 329.3 mg kg-1 FW that was not affected by temperature or storage. TSS and TA were higher in leaves stored at 6 °C. TSS, TA and ascorbic acid content increased during storage. Minimally processed borage leaves stored at 2 °C had lower weight loss and leaf color modifications during storage and a longer shelf life than those stored at 6 °C, so were still marketable after 21 d of storage

Drivers and Impacts in the Globalization of Corporate R&D: An Introduction Based on the European Experience

The globalization of R&D activities has continued its growth path as companies are increasingly trying to capture knowledge and market opportunities internationally. The rapid evolution of national economies and the ways to conduct knowledge-intensive businesses has led researchers and analysts to pursue a deeper understanding of the globalization of corporate R&D and the related driving factors and impacts. This introduction to the Special Section: "Globalization and Corporate R&D" forthcoming in Industrial and Corporate Change (vol. 20 (2), April 2011) provides an update of trends in the globalization of corporate R&D. It reviews the literature on the main drivers and impacts of the process under investigation, introduces the papers for this Special Section, and offers some concluding remarks.outsourcing, R&D, globalization, FDI

Flores y flujos de materiales

El presente artículo representa una lectura biofísica de uno de los sectores productivos más dinámicos de Ecuador desde la década de 1980, la producción de flores para exportación. Esta lectura se sustenta en la utilización de indicadores propuestos por el Análisis de Flujo de Materiales. La información empírica procesada permite concluir que para satisfacer un consumo externo, Ecuador debe movilizar grandes cantidades de materiales, que no se consideran en el precio de exportación y que abonan en el empobrecimiento ambiental y de las poblaciones que viven en áreas cercanas a las plantaciones. Las exportaciones de flores representan, apenas el 0,3% del total de materiales movilizado cuando en los cálculos se incorpora el agua y ascienden al 9,5% cuando en los cómputos no se registra este recurso.One of Ecuador's most dynamic productive sectors since the decade of 1980 is analyzed in this paper from a biophysical approach: the flower industry for export. To this end, the indicators suggested by the Material Flow Analysis are used. The empirical data states that for satisfying a foreign consumption, Ecuador mobilizes big amounts of materials. These amounts, besides not included in the export price, contribute in the environmental and social impoverishment, especially of those areas close to the flower plantations. Flower exports scarcely represent around 0,3% of the total of materials mobilized during the production stage -when the estimations include water- and add up to 9,5% when this resource it is not considered in the calculations

Flores y flujos de materiales

One of Ecuador’s most dynamic productive sectors since the decade of 1980 is analyzed in this paper from a biophysical approach: the flower industry for export. To this end, the indicators suggested by the Material Flow Analysis are used. The empirical data states that for satisfying a foreign consumption, Ecuador mobilizes big amounts of materials. These amounts, besides not included in the export price, contribute in the environmental and social impoverishment, especially of those areas close to the flower plantations. Flower exports scarcely represent around 0,3% of the total of materials mobilized during the production stage –when the estimations include water- and add up to 9,5% when this resource it is not considered in the calculations.El presente artículo representa una lectura biofísica de uno de los sectores productivos más dinámicos de Ecuador desde la década de 1980, la producción de flores para exportación. Esta lectura se sustenta en la utilización de indicadores propuestos por el Análisis de Flujo de Materiales. La información empírica procesada permite concluir que para satisfacer un consumo externo, Ecuador debe movilizar grandes cantidades de materiales, que no se consideran en el precio de exportación y que abonan en el empobrecimiento ambiental y de las poblaciones que viven en áreas cercanas a las plantaciones. Las exportaciones de flores representan, apenas el 0,3% del total de materiales movilizado cuando en los cálculos se incorpora el agua y ascienden al 9,5% cuando en los cómputos no se registra este recurso

Eastern Mediterranean Amphorae in Sicily (5th-7th Century A.D.): some observations on Mediterranean Commerce

Questo contributo è una riflessione sulla questione della proiezione mediterranea della Sicilia di V-VII secolo che misura, in chiave diacronica, la qualità e quantità dei flussi commerciali attestati dalle anfore orientali, secondo gli assetti politico-economici del Mediterraneo tardoantico e alto medievale. Confrontando gli altri siti mediterranei, si sono revisionati i dati siciliani precedenti, per aggiornarne morfologie e datazioni, evidenziando come la Sicilia si caratterizza per una dualità tra la parte occidentaleed orientale – ulteriormente contrad distinte da specifiche micro-aree economiche – dovutaa contatti diretti con l’Oriente oppure mediati da centri occidentali, dove i negotiatores privati hanno continuato l’interazione tra le aree mediterranee, quando poco del sistema commerciale romanoera rimasto.This article is a reflection on Sicily’s role in the Mediterranean area between the 5th-7th century that measures, in a diachronic key, the quality and quantity of commercial trade flow attested by oriental amphorae, according to the Mediterranean’s political-economic assets from the late antiquity toearly medieval period. In comparison to other Mediterranean sites, the previous Sicilian data wasrevised, updating morphologies and dates, which highlight how Sicily was characterized by a duality between its eastern and western parts–further distinguished by specific micro-economic areas–causedby direct contact from the East or mediated by Western control centers, where private negotiato rescontinued the interaction between the Mediterranean areas, after few of the Roman trade remained

Regulatory review and analysis of European Union and Colombian Persistent Organic Pollutants in compost and its impact

Paper submitted to the International Conference of Agricultural Engineering - CIGR-AgEng 2012: Agriculture and Engineering for a Healthier Life, Valencia, Spain, 8-12 July 2012.Within the current Spanish and Colombian environmental policies related to urban waste, the use of organic waste through composting for use as fertilizer for agricultural use is promoted. There is a deficient classification of waste and pollution generated by the mixture of organic residues and therefore the presence of toxic elements or compounds such as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). These compounds have bioaccumulating and biomagnifying characteristics and they move easily on air, water and fat. They have harmful effects on health and the environment, affecting food webs, food chains and can be precursors, as indicated by some studies, of infertility, cancer, obesity or diabetes (Porta, M., 2009). Therefore, and in order to meet existing regulations on POPs in urban compost in Spain and Colombia, a descriptive study was conducted to review legal texts and codes. This study concluded that there are health and environmental standards defining the maximum permissible quality limits to be met by the compost that is currently earmarked for agricultural use. That leads to an urgent need for political decision makers, researchers, scientific societies, academic and labor from different disciplines work together to regulate POPs content in the compost produced from organic waste