Estudio termoquímico de la zona potásica de los yacimientos de Suria y Balsareny (Barcelona)

Se interpretan las diferentes temperaturas de cristalización, determinadas crepitométricamente, de las capas con halita, halita > silvina y silviria > halita (yacimientos de Suria y Balsareny, cuenca potásica catalana), teniendo en cuenta el calor integral de disolución de amhas sales y su conductividad calórica

Microscopy in forensic science

This chapter examines the use of electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and other analytical techniques in forensic investigation and research. These tools can be used to enhance examination of human remains and trace evidence to improve understanding of cause of death, victim identification or post mortem interval.A police-designed scenario is used to highlight trace evidence such as glass, gun shot residue and paint. The validity of forensic techniques is discussed, with reference to international standards, repeatability, and false convictions. Ballistic evidence is used to highlight the complexities in evidence interpretation, including manufacturing variability, environmental effects and likelihood ratios.The use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and other techniques in the development of forensic research is showcased, with particular examples from the field of fingerprints. Examples include improvements in the development of fingermarks from difficult surfaces, interaction of evidence types, and added intelligence from the crime scene, such as forensic timeline or gender of perpetrator

How does personal bankruptcy law affect start-ups? *

Abstract We exploit state-level changes in the amount of personal wealth individuals can protect under Chapter 7 personal bankruptcy to analyze the causal effect of debtor protection on the financing structure and performance of a representative panel of U.S start-up firms. We show that a higher level of debtor protection reduces the availability of credit, employment, operating efficiency, and survival rate of firms owned by low-wealth entrepreneurs. We find no such negative effects for firms owned by high-wealth entrepreneurs, who still have large amounts of assets unprotected under the new bankruptcy regime. Our evidence actually indicates that these wealthier entrepreneurs expand their businesses by increasing employment. Our results are consistent with theories that predict that debtor-friendly bankruptcy regimes redistribute credit from the less wealthy to the more wealthy individuals. (JEL: G32, G33, K35, M13

Nota sobre una masa de “rosas del desierto” recogida en el Gran Erg oriental (Argelia)

Se describe una masa de "rosas del desierto" de tamaño considerable (6.365 g), recogida en el S del Gran Erg Oriental (Argelia). Se encuentra formada por un agregado irregular de cristales de yeso lenticulares, con predominio de {1ll} y {011} y pequeño desarrollo de {010} y {120}. El estudio difractométrico ha puesto de manifiesto que el yeso aparece acompañado por bassanita y cuarzo. El análisis espectrográfico por fluorescencia de rayos X ha detectado los siguientes elementos traza: K, Fe, Ni, Cu, Sr, Nb, Pb.Este trabajo ha sido realizado, en parte, gracias a la Ayuda para el Fomento de la Investigación en la Universidad.Peer reviewe

Firms as liquidity providers: Evidence from the 2007–2008 financial crisis

Using a supplier–client matched sample, we study the effect of the 2007–2008 financial crisis on between-firm liquidity provision. Consistent with a causal effect of a negative shock to bank credit, we find that firms with high precrisis liquidity levels increased the trade credit extended to other corporations and subsequently experienced better performance as compared with ex ante cash-poor firms. Trade credit taken by constrained firms increased during this period. These findings are consistent with firms providing liquidity insurance to their clients when bank credit is scarce and offer an important precautionary savings motive for accumulating cash reserves

The Great Recession and bank lending to small businesses

This paper investigates whether small firms have experienced worse tightening of credit conditions during the Great Recession than large firms. To structure the empirical analysis, the paper first develops a simple model of bank loan pricing that derives both the interest rates on loans actually made and the marginal condition for loans that would be rationed in the event of an economic downturn. Empirical estimations using loan-level data find evidence that, once we account for the contractual features of business loans made under formal commitments to lend, interest rate spreads on small loans have declined on average relative to spreads on large loans during the Great Recession. Quantile regressions further reveal that the relative decline in average spread is entirely accounted for by loans to the riskier borrowers. These findings are consistent with the pattern of differentially more rationing of credit to small borrowers in recessions as predicted by the model. This suggests that policy measures that counter this effect by encouraging lending to small businesses may be effective in stimulating their recovery and, in turn, job growth.Recessions ; Small business - Finance ; Bank loans

Hepatic haemangioma: Common and uncommon imaging features

AbstractThe haemangioma, the most common non-cystic hepatic lesion, most often discovered by chance, may in certain situations raise diagnostic problems in imaging. In this article, the authors first demonstrate that the radiological appearance of the hepatic haemangioma, in its typical form, is closely related to three known histological sub-types. They then show that certain atypical features should be known in order to establish a diagnosis. They also observe the potential interactions between the haemangioma, an active vascular lesion, and the adjacent hepatic parenchyma. Finally, they discuss the specific paediatric features of hepatic haemangiomas and illustrate the case of a hepatic angiosarcoma