Bubbles in House Prices and their Impact on Consumption: Evidence for the US

This paper provides evidence that some aggregate and regional U.S. real house price indices exhibited a bubble in the last few years according to the Phillips et al. (2007) unit root test. We subsequently investigate whether house price acceleration (deceleration) had a signi.cant impact on consumption in an error correction mechanism implied by a wide class of optimizing models. Our results support the argument that real house prices have their major effect on consumption only during the bubble period

What is the redshift of the gamma- ray BL Lac source S4 0954+65?

High signal-to-noise ratio spectroscopic observations of the BL Lac object S4 0954+65 at the alleged redshift z = 0.367 are presented. This source was detected at gamma frequencies by MAGIC (TeV) and FERMI (GeV) telescopes during a remarkable outburst that occurred in February 2015, making the determination of its distance particularly relevant for our understanding of the properties of the Extragalactic Background Light. Contrary to previous reports on the redshift, we found that the optical spectrum is featureless at an equivalent width limit of \sim 0.1 Ang. A critical analysis of the existing observations indicates that the redshift is still unknown. Based on the new data we estimate a lower limit to the redshift at z \geq 0.45.Comment: Minor comment and accepted for publication in Astronomical Journa

Eminent Structural Engineer: David P. Billington (1927-2018). Inspiring Generations Through the Integration of Engineering and Art

Paya-Zaforteza, I.; Garlock, MEM. (2018). Eminent Structural Engineer: David P. Billington (1927-2018). Inspiring Generations Through the Integration of Engineering and Art. Structural Engineering International. 29(1):175-178. https://doi.org/10.1080/10168664.2018.152885117517829

Structural Engineering Heroes and their Inspirational Journey

[EN] In the nineteenth century, civil and structural engineers received much public acclaim for their built works (e.g. Brooklyn Bridge, Eiffel Tower). One hundred years later, the engineer was perceived by many as "out" or as not requiring much skill. This paper examines how this erroneous perception of structural engineering can change by presenting structural engineers as heroes. Using parallels to the monomythical hero, and examples of engineers, the authors present the journey and characteristics of the structural engineering hero. The journey, which has many paths, begins with the engineer leaving the comfortable "Ordinary World" of design into a "Special World", where new forms, new materials, and/or scale for projects is needed. For underrepresented groups of people such as women and minorities, the heroic journey could be simply becoming an engineer and developing a career in conditions of equality and equity. As structural engineering heroes enter the Special World, they may face trials of nature and criticism, and face constraints of economy, time and knowledge. In the final Act of the journey, they return to the Ordinary World wiser, disseminating their knowledge and inspiring others. The authors define the characteristics of structural engineering heroes by four "P"s: they are prepared, they are planners, they have (super) powers and they are persona grata. The education of the structural engineer should train and inspire future engineers using the lessons learned from the heroes and their diversity. By doing so, what seems exceptional today can become common in the future.Paya-Zaforteza, I.; Garlock, MEM. (2021). Structural Engineering Heroes and their Inspirational Journey. Structural Engineering International (Online). 31(4):584-597. https://doi.org/10.1080/10168664.2021.1919038S58459731

Investigating the M(hkl)| ionic liquid interface by using laser induced temperature jump technique

The interface between several Room Temperature Ionic Liquids (RTILs) in contact with both Au(hkl) basal planes and Pt(111) was studied by using cyclic voltammetry and Laser Induced Temperature Jump Technique (LITJT). Three RTILs, based on the imidazolium cation and the [Tf2N] anion were investigated: [Emmim][Tf2N], [Emim][Tf2N] and [Bmmim][Tf2N]. These three RTILs were selected with the aim to analyse how the balance between the different ion-ion interactions influences the interfacial properties of the M(hkl)|RTIL interface. It was found that the voltammetric response of the Au(hkl)|[Emmim][Tf2N] was highly sensitive to the geometry of the active surface sites, displaying sharp spikes superimposed to a capacitive voltammetric current. Conversely, these sharp spikes disappeared when [Bmmim][Tf2N] replaced [Emmim][Tf2N], although the capacitive voltammetric current profile was essentially maintained. This result is most likely related to the increase of the van der Waals interactions in the [Bmmim][Tf2N]. When [Emim][Tf2N] was analysed, the increase of the hydrogen bond interactions due to the hydrogenation of C2 (second carbon at the imidazolium ring) resulted also in the disappearance of the voltammetric spikes. The laser measurements showed that the highest values of the potential of maximum entropy (pme) in RTIL media correspond to the atomically closest packet surface structures, following the order: Au(111)>Au(100)>Au(110), in agreement with work function values. The measurement with Pt(111) revealed that the voltammetric profiles for this surface are featureless in all cases. However, the laser experiments revealed that solvent restructuration, as a function of both value and direction of the applied potential, is dependent on the type of cation. Finally, the interface Au(hkl)|Choline chloride:urea Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES) was also investigated by using cyclic voltammetry and LITJT. The voltammetric response of DES was also sensitive to the orientation of the Au single crystal, and the cyclic voltammograms displayed distinct sharp and characteristic features. Nevertheless, the laser response could not provide a value of the pme for the Au(hkl)|DES interface, likely due to the complex chemical structure of the DES which, in addition, strongly adsorbs on Au(hkl)

Impacto del consejo médico para dejar de fumar durante la gestación

ObjetivoEl consumo de tabaco entre las mujeres ha aumentado en España en los últimos años, especialmente entre los grupos en edad reproductiva. El objetivo del estudio es evaluar el impacto del consejo médico integrado en la atención prenatal sobre el consumo de tabaco durante el embarazo y en el posparto.DiseñoEstudio de intervención cuasiexperimental.EmplazamientoHospital del Mar de Barcelona.PacientesEl grupo control estaba constituido por 219 pacientes que acudieron para atención al parto al hospital del Mar en 1996, el grupo de intervención, por 169 pacientes atendidas durante el embarazo en el mismo hospital en 1997.IntervencionesLas pacientes del grupo control habían recibido atención habitual. Las gestantes del grupo de intervención recibieron de forma sistemática un consejo estructurado para dejar de fumar, reforzado por un folleto elaborado con esta finalidad.Mediciones y resultadosLos grupos de intervención y control no presentaban diferencias estadísticamente significativas en las variables sociodemográficas ni en el consumo de tabaco. En ambos grupos se determinó la evolución del hábito tabáquico durante el embarazo a lo largo de las visitas prenatales, y a los 6 meses posparto, a través de una entrevista telefónica. De las gestantes del grupo control, 44 (20,1%) habían dejado de fumar antes de la primera visita prenatal y 11 (5%) lo hicieron durante el embarazo. En el grupo de intervención 26 (17,7%) habían dejado de fumar espontáneamente y 16 (10,9%) dejaron de fumar durante el embarazo. De las que dejaron de fumar completamente durante el embarazo, se mantenían abstinentes a los 6 meses el 36,4% de las mujeres del grupo de control y el 64,3% en el grupo de intervención (p = 0,002).ConclusionesEl consejo para dejar de fumar en la visita prenatal produce un aumento discreto en la proporción de abandonos, y una disminución significativa de las recaídas en el posparto.ObjectiveWomen´s tobacco consumption has increased in Spain in recent years, especially among women of reproductive age. This study aims to evaluate the impact of medical counselling integrated into pre-natal care on tobacco consumption during pregnancy and the period after delivery.DesignQuasi-experimental intervention study.SettingHospital del Mar, Barcelona.Patients219 patients who attended the Hospital del Mar for delivery during 1996 (control group) and 169 patients seen during their pregnancies at the same hospital in 1997 (intervention group).InterventionsThe control group patients had received normal care. The pregnant women in the intervention group received systematic structured counselling on giving up smoking, backed up by a special brochure composed for this purpose.Measurements and resultsThe intervention and control groups showed no statistically significant differences either in their social or demographic variables or in their tobacco consumption. In both groups the evolution of their smoking during pregnancy was determined during their pre-natal visits and six months after delivery through a telephone interview. 44 of the women in the control group (20.1%) gave up smoking before their first pre-natal visit, and 11 (5%) gave up during pregnancy. In the intervention group 26 (17.7%) had given up spontaneously and 16 (10.9%) gave up during pregnancy. Of those who gave up completely during pregnancy, 36.4% of women in the control group and 64.3% in the intervention group remained abstinent at six months (P=.002).ConclusionsCounselling at pre-natal checkups to give up smoking lightly increases the number of women who give up and reduces significantly the number of post-delivery backsliders

2D chiral structures in quinoline mixed Langmuir monolayers.

Chirality at interfaces is a relevant topic in nanoscience, as well as a key point for prebiotic chemistry. Mixed Langmuir monolayers, composed of the anionic phospholipid dimyristoyl phosphatidic acid (DMPA) and the cationic amphiphilic quinoline derivative 2-methyl-1-octadecylquinoline (MQ) have been built at the air-water interface. Both DMPA and MQ molecules are miscible, thus the equimolar mixture yields homogeneous monolayers completely. Chiral domains have been formed by this monolayer and observed in situ by Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). These chiral domains display a large array of shapes and sizes. The chirality of the monolayers has been confirmed by circular dichroism spectroscopy. The ordered aggregation of the quinoline group into large chiral supramolecular structures is proposed as the molecular origin of the observed chirality. Theoretical simulations using molecular mechanics confirm the strong trend of the quinoline group to form chiral aggregates. The great diversity in the size and shape of the chiral domains has been found to be strongly influenced by the competition between two nuclei growth mechanisms. An experimental procedure allowing a minimized growth through one of these mechanism is proposed, achieving a homogeneous distribution of ring-shaped domains. An overshoot in the pi-A isotherms of this mixed monolayer appears at an intermediate surface pressure. This overshoot is interpreted as being due to the large difference between the surface pressure which starts the nuclei formation, pi(crit) and the superficial pressure in which the nuclei can grow, pi(e). The rather small pi(e) value compared to pi(crit) observed for this system must be attributed to the molecular interactions involved in the mixed monolayer, which facilitate the incorporation of molecules in preformed nuclei

Influence of glyoxal in the physical characterization of PVA nanofibres

[EN] The influence of solution composition is directly related to the properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers. Electrospinning is a viable technique to develop PVA nanofibers. The presence of a crosslinking agent such as glyoxal can produce variations not only in anti-water solubility effect, but also in the morphology of the electrodeposited fibers. The objective of this study was to characterize the influence of glyoxal on PVA nanofibers. Thus, we studied fiber dimensions, the weight of deposited fibers, and fiber crystallinity. The relation between those properties and the properties of the nanofiber web (color, opacity, and roughness) were studied. In this study we changed glyoxal concentration. Scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and atomic force microscopy showed changes in the fiber properties. We could observe how the diameter fiber increased, the collector surface was widely covered, and the fiber crystallinity decreased. Regarding the properties of the web, the roughness decreased and the color turned whiter.The authors wish to acknowledge the financial support of the MINISTERIO DE CIENCIA E INNOVACION. Ref: CIT-020000-2008-016 for financial support. Also, the microscopy services at UPV are gratefully acknowledged for their assistance in using AFM techniques, and Octavio Fenollar at UPV is gratefully acknowledged for his assistance in using calorimetric techniques.Blanes, M.; Gisbert, MJ.; Marco, B.; Bonet Aracil, MA.; Gisbert Paya, J.; Balart Gimeno, RA. (2010). Influence of glyoxal in the physical characterization of PVA nanofibres. Textile Research Journal. 80(14):1465-1472. doi:10.1177/0040517509357654S14651472801

Characterization of orange oil microcapsules for application in textiles

[EN] The use of orange oil presents as an ecological alternative to chemicals, attracting the attention of the scientific community to the development of eco-friendly antimicrobials. The microencapsulation technology has been used for the application of orange oil to textiles, being an economically viable, fast and efficient method by combining core and shell materials, desirable perceptual and functional characteristics, responsible for properties related to the nature of the product and provides that the wall materials release the functional substances in a controlled manner, in addition to effectively protecting and isolating the core material from the external environment to prevent its volatilization and deterioration, increasing the stability of the oil, such as non-toxicity. Thus, to better exploit the properties of the orange essential oil applied to textile products this study presents a characterization of microcapsules of Melamine formaldehyde obtained by the interfacial polymerization method with variations of proportions of orange oil (volatile) with fixed oil Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCT) (non-volatile) to assist in the stability of the orange essential oil. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used as visualizing tool to characterize microparticles and surface morphology and thermal characteristics of microcapsules were premeditated by mean Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).Soares-Rossi, W.; Bonet-Aracil, M.; Bou-Belda, E.; Gisbert Paya, J.; Wilson, K.; Roldo, L. (2017). Characterization of orange oil microcapsules for application in textiles. IOP Conference Series Materials Science and Engineering. 254:1-7. doi:10.1088/1757-899X/254/2/0220071725