La efectividad de los programas REDD en la protección de los derechos indígenas sui generis

The article focuses on the implementation of the United Nations Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Program, hereinafter UN REDD and its effectiveness in the protection of sui generis indigenous rights, meaning those different from the property right but derived from it, especially, the rights over the territories, natural resources and environmental services.The paper will cover the interconnection between sui generis indigenous rights and REDD programs including the relevance of land tenure and the sui generis rights derived from it. As we will emphasize, REDD programs are not only focused in the reduction of carbon emissions. In fact, REDD plus programs include as a main objective the sustainable management of forests and the protection to forest dependent communities.Este artículo se enfoca en la implementación del Programa de Reducción de Emisiones derivadas de la Reforestación y la Degradación Forestal de la Organización de Naciones Unidas, en adelante REDD, y su efectividad en la protección de derechos indígenas sui generis, entendidos tales como aquellos distintos del derecho de propiedad, pero derivados de este; en especial, los derechos indígenas sobre el territorio, los recursos naturales y los servicios ambientales que prestan los ecosistemas. El artículo revisa la interconexión que existe entre los derechos indígenas sui generis y los programas REDD, incluyendo la relevancia de la tenencia de las tierras y los derechos sui generis derivados de esta. Como enfatizaremos, los programas REDD no solo están enfocados en la reducción de las emisiones; de hecho, el programa REDD plus incluye, dentro de sus principales objetivos, el manejo sustentable de los bosques y la protección de aquellas comunidades que dependen de estos

Glucocorticoid Receptor Signaling in Skin Barrier Function

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are steroid hormones that regulate the physiology of all tissues and mediate stress responses. Synthetic GCs are commonly prescribed to treat chronic inflammatory conditions including the prevalent skin diseases—psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. GCs act through the GC receptor (GR, NR3C1), a ligand-activated transcription factor belonging to the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. In skin, GC therapeutic efficacy is due to the antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory actions of GR; however, in the long term, these benefits are accompanied by adverse profiles including skin atrophy, increased fragility, dehydration, augmented susceptibility to infections, and delayed wound healing. While the therapeutic actions of GC treatments have been extensively studied, only more recently has the physiological role of GR been addressed in skin. In vivo and in vitro studies in mouse and man have revealed an important function for GR in skin homeostasis. In particular, the characterization of gain- or loss-of-function mouse models has demonstrated relevant roles for GR in skin pathophysiology. The actions of GR are context dependent, and in skin, it regulates different gene subsets and biological processes depending on developmental stage and physiological state. Finally, recent findings emphasize the relevance of local GC biosynthesis and appropriate GR expression in maintaining skin homeostasis

Influence of the Compaction Pressure and Sintering Temperature on the Mechanical Properties of Porous Titanium for Biomedical Applications

In the present work, the use of porous titanium is proposed as a solution to the difference in stiffness between the implant and bone tissue, avoiding the bone resorption. Conventional powder metallurgical technique is an industrially established route for fabrication of this type of material. The results are discussed in terms of the influence of compaction pressure and sintering temperature on the porosity (volumetric fraction, size, and morphology) and the quality of the sintering necks. A very good agreement between the predicted values obtained using a simple 2D finite element model, the experimental uniaxial compression behavior, and the analytical model proposed by Nielsen, has been found for both the Young’s modulus and the yield strength. The porous samples obtained by the loose sintering technique and using temperatures between 1000 °C −1100 °C (about 40% of total porosity) are recommended for achieving a suitable biomechanical behavior for cortical bone partial replacement.Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of the State General Administration of Spain grant MAT2015-71284-

Intellectual capital in universities: Improving transparency and internal management

Purpose – The growing interest regarding intangibles and intellectual capital (IC) has extended from firms to public institutions such as universities and research centres during the last decade. Since universities are considered critical institutional actors in national innovation systems, European higher education and research institutions are going through an important transformation process with the aim of making them more comparable, flexible, transparent and competitive. The objective of the paper is two-fold. On the one hand, its aim is to address the importance of measuring and managing IC in universities to improve research management and contribute to comparative analysis in European universities, and on the other hand, to highlight some methodological and conceptual considerations in relation to the analytical framework developed within an ongoing experience – the Observatory of European Universities (OEU). Design/methodology/approach – The paper analyses a specific case within the OEU: the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) in Spain. The problems and difficulties within the process of applying the OEU analytical framework are examined. Findings – This analysis provides some insight into the utility of the framework. From a conceptual point of view, we find some similarities between IC approaches and the OEU, but a different terminology is identified. Originality/value – This paper argues that important benefits can be achieved when adapting the Observatory’s framework to the IC approach and terminology, regarding the increasing impact of IC approaches at firm and political level

Characterisation of recycled ceramic mortars for use in prefabricated beam-filling pieces in structural floors

This study analyses a procedure to manufacture mortars with different percentages of ceramic waste as partial replacement for aggregates. The study also examines the physical, chemical and mechanical properties of the new mortars, analysing substitution ratios that range from 10% to 50%. Prior to this, all the materials used in the production of the mortar were characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and fluorescence (XRF). The objective was to determine the similarity between different types of ceramic waste, as well as the differences in the minerology and chemical composition with the aggregate. The results of the study show that it is possible to obtain mortars with lower densities compared to the same product with no recycled content. The product’s characteristics make it ideal for the manufacture of prefabricated components for structural floors for rehabilitation works. Finally, the pieces are used in a real rehabilitation case study, highlightining the structural advantages.Caracterización de morteros con cerámica reciclada y su uso en piezas prefabicadas para entrevigado de forjados. Este trabajo analiza morteros con diferentes porcentajes de cerámica reciclada como sustituto parcial de la arena. Además el estudio examina las propiedades físicas, químicas y mecánicas de los nuevos morteros, empleando diferentes porcentajes de sustitución (10% - 50%). Con anterioridad, se caracterizaron todos los materiales empleados en este trabajo mediante difracción y fluorescencia de rayos-X. El objetivo fue determinar las diferencias y similitudes en la composición química y mineralógica de los distintos tipos de residuos cerámicos y del resto de áridos utilizados. Los resultados muestran que es posible obtener morteros con menor densidad frente a las muestras sin contenido reciclado. Sus características los hacen idóneos para la creación de piezas prefabricadas de entrevigado para rehabilitación de forjados. Finalmente. Las piezas se usaron en un caso de estudio real, destacando las ventajas estructurales que conlleva su uso

Impact of Wetting–Drying Cycles on the Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Wood Waste–Gypsum Composites

Large amounts of wood waste are generated each year in the world. In an attempt to identify a good recovery option for those residues, wood waste from construction and demolition works were used as raw materials in gypsum plasters. However, wood is a biodegradable material which implies that the products or materials that contain it are susceptible to su ering an important deterioration, due to exposure in certain environments. For that reason, the aim of this work was to simulate the e ects that, in the long term, the atmospheric exposure of wood waste–gypsum composites would have. To do that, the plasters were subjected to 5, 10, and 15 wetting–drying cycles in a climatic chamber. In this study, the density, flexural and compressive strength, and ultrasonic velocity of these composites were determined by the influence of the aging process on their mechanical properties. Furthermore, in order to detect changes on their internal structure, scanning electron microscopy tests (SEM) were used. The results showed that they were suitable to be used as indoor coverings of buildings. However, a treatment to reduce the moisture absorption of the wood waste must be studied if mixtures with high percentages of wood shavings (WS20) are used in wet rooms

Autonomy and governance models: Emerging paradoxes in Spanish universities

Higher Education Institutions have to respond today to an increasing number of societal and economic demands. The European Commission, as well as different national European governments, are recommending and developing initiatives to provide universities with more institutional autonomy in order to allow them to better satisfy such needs. Two case studies at two different Spanish universities have been analysed using Grounded Theory methodology, which show that real autonomy (not only legal) may be difficult to effectively implement without rethinking, and eventually changing, the university governance system. By analysing the Spanish case, the article shows that a number of interesting paradoxes emerge from the public discourse and argues that the governance models based on a collegial decision-making process, particularly widespread in Southern European countries, may be a constraint on the necessary transformations and management changes

Effects of Early Training and Nicotine Treatment on the Performance of Male NMRI Mice in the Water Maze

This research aimed to evaluate the effect of nicotine treatment and prior training on a spatial learning task in differently aged NMRI male mice. In a longitudinal study, mice were randomly assigned to one of 14 experimental groups receiving different combinations of chronically injected nicotine (0.35 mg/kg) administered for 10 days (5 days before and during 5 days acquisition of task) or control treatments and training in the water maze at different ages. The mice displayed shorter escape latencies when evaluated at 6 and 10 months than when tested in this task at 2 months for the first time, demonstrating that early training preserves performance in the water maze up to 8 months after the initial experience. Nicotine treatment did not significantly change performance in the water maze at any age tested. Early practice in a spatial reference memory task appears to have lasting consequences and can potentially contribute to preventing some age-related spatial learning deficits