The Contribution of Global Alliances to Airlines’ Environmental Performance

Global alliances have traditionally been related to improvements in the economic and operational performances of companies, particularly in the airline industry. However, we still do not know the effect of the participation in this kind of multilateral agreement on the environmental performance of airlines. The main aim of this work is to analyze whether the alliance membership of airlines has an effect upon their environmental performance, and if so, whether or not the characteristics of the global alliance, as well as the business model of the airline, may influence this relation to a greater or lesser extent. The results of regression and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) in a sample of 252 airlines (58 included in one of the three global alliances: Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam) show a strong and inverse relationship between environmental performance and belonging to an alliance. The paper also shows empirical evidence of the influence of the business model of the airline on environmental performance. These results suggest important implications for managers facing challenges regarding sustainability

Aproximación a las percepciones y orientaciones de los jóvenes ante el futuro del medio rural en Extremadura

Este artículo trata de exponer una manera de abordar los aspectos intangibles en el desarrollo rural, es decir, una contribución al conocimiento de la mentalidad de los que habitan en el medio rural a través de las percepciones y orientaciones de los jóvenes estudiantes rurales de Extremadura. Las transformaciones que afectan al medio rural introducen nuevos órdenes de valores y creencias de cara al futuro. Se trata de saber si las valoraciones de los jóvenes de los pueblos están girando hacia el nuevo paradigma de la funcionalidad no material del medio rural. En última instancia, se trata de conocer su estado de ánimo de cara al futuro y si comienza a valorarse la posibilidad de recuperación de los pueblos pese al declive de las zonas rurales de las últimas décadas (González J. J y Gómez Benito. 2002b:201). En concreto, en este trabajo se desarrollan aproximaciones a las siguientes cuestiones: al grado de preocupación por los problemas que afectan al medio rural, la percepción simbólica del espacio rural, la socialización en nuevos valores, las perspectivas profesionales y proyección de vida de los jóvenes estudiantes de origen rural.In this essay, we will try a certain approach to the intangible aspects of rural development, a contribution to the knowledge of idiosyncrasy of people living in rural areas, studying the perceptions and bearings of young people that live or dwell in rural areas in Extremadura. Deep changes taking place in rural environment bring about a new set of values and beliefs towards the future. We would like to find out whether the apprehension of life that young people of rural extraction show is turning to a fresh set of values apprising non-material advantages of the rural environment. In fact, our target is to find out their spirits and their perception of the possibility that, regardless of the demographic decline in rural areas, villages would come up again. In short, we state in this essay some approaches to the following topics: the level of concern about the problems regarding rural environment, the symbolic insight into rural life, the upbringing of youngsters under a new set of values, their labour and carrier expectancies and life prospects for young students of rural extraction

Na+-dependent NO3- uptake in leaf cells of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile

Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile is an endemic Mediterranean seagrass of recognized ecological significance and, as other seagrasses, this species has secondarily adapted to live in the marine environment. In this alkaline medium with a high Na+ concentration (0.5 M), the high inwardly directed electrochemical potential gradient for sodium is used in the seagrass Zostera marina to energize the uptake of nitrate1 and phosphate that usually occur at concentration below 10 µM. Here we summarize several evidences for the operation of a sodium-dependent high-affinity nitrate transport system at the plasma membrane of the mesophyll leaf cells of P. oceanica. Leaf cells of P. oceanica possess a H+-ATPase as a primary pump, exhibit a plasma membrane potential (Em) of -174 ± 10 mV and show reduced Na+ permeability. The addition of micromolar nitrate concentrations induces membrane depolarizations that show saturation kinetics. Curve fitting of the values renders a semisaturation constant (Km) of 21.3 ± 6.6 μM and a maximum depolarization (Dmax) of 7 ± 1 mV. In dark conditions, Dmax decreases by fifty percent but no significant effect is observed on the Km value. On the other hand, nitrate induced depolarizations show sodium dependence. The depolarizations induced by 100 µM NO3- in media containing increasing Na+ concentrations (from 0 to 250 mM) show saturation kinetics, rendering a Km value of 16 ± 5 mM Na+. Moreover, the depolarization induced by 100 µM NO3- is accompanied by a simultaneous increase of cytosolic sodium, measured by Na+-sensitive microelectrodes, of 0.4 ± 0.2 mM above the resting cytosolic sodium concentration (17 ± 2 mM). Finally, nitrate uptake rates, measured in depletion experiments, decreases by 50% and 80% in dark conditions and in the absence of Na+, respectively, compared with control conditions (0.5 M Na+ and light). All together, these results strongly suggest that NO3- uptake in P. oceanica leaf cells is mediated by a high-affinity nitrate carrier that uses Na+ as the driving ion. 1 Rubio et al. (2005). J. Exp. Bot, 412: 613-622. Project Funding: CTM 2011-30356. (MEC)Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Wastewater Treatment by Advanced Oxidation Process and Their Worldwide Research Trends

Background: Water is a scarce resource and is considered a fundamental pillar of sustainable development. The modern development of society requires more and more drinking water. For this cleaner wastewater, treatments are key factors. Among those that exist, advanced oxidation processes are being researched as one of the sustainable solutions. The main objective of this manuscript is to show the scientific advances in this field. Methods: In this paper, a systematic analysis of all the existing scientific works was carried out to verify the evolution of this line of research. Results: It was observed that the three main countries researching this field are China, Spain, and the USA. Regarding the scientific collaboration between countries, three clusters were detected—one of Spain, one of China and the USA, and one of Italy and France. The publications are grouped around three types of water: industrial, urban, and drinking. Regarding the research, 15 clusters identified from the keywords analyzed the advanced oxidation process (alone or combined with biological oxidation) with the type of wastewater and the target pollutant, removal of which is intended. Finally, the most important scientific communities or clusters detected in terms of the number of published articles were those related to the elimination of pollutants of biological origin, such as bacteria, and of industrial nature, such as pesticides or pharmaceutical products

A financial analysis of born-global firms: evidence from Spain

From the beginning of the 1970s to the present day, significant changes have taken place in the competitive and organizational behavior of small and medium-sized companies (SMEs). Recently, some of these factors have applied more intensively, and this has given rise to growth in the number of new companies that undertake overseas operations almost immediately (known as born globals). The phenomenon of early internationalization is relatively recent, so there are still many aspects that need to be studied. The objective of this study is to contribute to the scarce empirical literature existing in Spain on this topic, by providing evidence on the possible differences in character of the born-global firms compared with the rest of exporting companies. To this end, the focus of the study is on the analysis of variables such as the size and sector of activity of these companies, and their principal economic and financial magnitudes. A sample of 1,324 Spanish SMEs that were exporting in 2007 was surveyed; of this total approximately 12% identified themselves as having adopted early internationalization. The results obtained indicate that the born-global firms are, on average, smaller; they are classified mostly to the services sector; and they are much more leveraged than the rest of Spanish SMEs that export

Effects of Cyclodextrin Type on Vitamin C, Antioxidant Activity, and Sensory Attributes of a Mandarin Juice Enriched with Pomegranate and Goji Berries

The effects of the addition of cyclodextrins (CDs), β-CD, or HP-β-CD (1%), on the protection of antioxidant compounds of mandarin juices enriched with pomegranate extract and goji berries juice, was studied. Juices were prepared and after their thermal treatment (98 ◦C, 30 s) they were stored at 4 ◦C during 75 d. Vitamin C content, CIE L∗a∗b∗ color, antioxidant capacity, retinol equivalents, and sensory properties were studied. Losses on vitamin C were higher (6%) for juices with β-CD than juices with HP-β-CD. Retinol equivalents degradation was lower (3.4%) in juices with HP-β-cyclodextrins than in those treated with β-CD. Lower losses were observed for the instrumental and sensory color intensity in juices with HP-β-CD addition. Finally, the antioxidant capacity was also higher in juices treated with HP-β-CD. Finally, the overall sensory quality of juices with HP-β-CD was the best one after 30 d of cold storage. Even though β-CD addition did not cause any improvement compared with control juice (without CD addition), the benefits of adding HP-β-CD to this particular juice were shown in almost all parameters under study.Ciencias de la Alimentació

Espesores de la Facies Keuper en la Rama Castellana de la Cordillera Ibérica , Prebético y Subbético frontal

Durante el período comprendido entre junio de 1988 y de 1989, una UTE de ADARO-INTECSA se dedicó a la realización del Proyecto denominado Ibérica-Levante, dentro del Proyecto ERA de la Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos (ENRESA), destinado a la búsqueda de emplazamientos rocosos aptos para un eventual almacenamiento, fundamentalmente en las intercalaciones de halita de la facies Keuper. Este artículo recoge parte de las conclusiones obtenidas

Descripción de perfiles de carrera en diferentes poblaciones deportivas

El principal objetivo de este estudio ha sido la descripción del perfil de carrera en adultos de diferentes poblaciones deportivas. Se contó con una muestra total de 15 sujetos, 11 hombres y 4 mujeres, con edades comprendidas entre 21 y 42 años, pertenecientes o bien al alumnado de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte, karatecas o atletas. Los sujetos fueron sometidos a 2 pruebas en un tapiz rodante (al 50% y 70% de la velocidad máxima) con el fin de obtener diversos parámetros biomecánicos del ciclo de la marcha, medidos con distintos acelerómetros, previo análisis de la velocidad máxima. Los resultados muestran mayores velocidades pico en hombres con respecto a mujeres, incremento de la cadencia, tiempo de frenado, balanceo y rotación de cadera al 70% de la velocidad máxima, y datos muy heterogéneos correspondientes a la rigidez.The aim of this study was the description of the running profile in adults of different sports populations. There was a total sample of 15 subjects, 11 men and 4 women, between the ages of 21 and 42. There are students of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, karateka or athletes. Subjects underwent 2 tests on a treadmill (50% and 70% of the maximum speed) in order to obtain various biomechanical parameters of the gait cycle, measured with different accelerometers, previous evaluation of the maximun velocity. The results show peak speeds in men from women, increase in cadence, braking time, swing and hip rotation at 70% of maximum speed, and very heterogeneous data corresponding to stiffness.Universidad de Sevilla.Grado en Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deport

Estacionalidad del tráfico de cruceros en las Islas Canarias y la complementariedad entre rutas de crucero

[ESP] España es una potencia europea receptora de tráfico de cruceros, con actividad crucerista en los puertos de sus tres zonas litorales. El presente trabajo determina el patrón de estacionalidad, y su evolución, del tráfico de cruceros en los puertos de las Islas Canarias con objeto de determinar si existe complementariedad estacional entre zonas de crucero españolas. Como método para analizar la evolución de la estacionalidad se aplica el Coeficiente de Variación. En la determinación del patrón de estacionalidad y su evolución, se emplea una serie temporal compuesta de 120 observaciones mensuales correspondientes al periodo de 2005 a 2014. [ENG] Spain is a European leader in cruise tourism, with cruising activity in its three coastal areas. This paper analyses cruise traffic seasonality pattern and its changes in the Canary Island ports in order to determine if there is seasonal complementarity between Spanish cruising regions. The analysis of the changes in seasonality is conducted using the coefficient of Variation. To determine the seasonality pattern and its changes is used a time series composed of 120 observations corresponding to monthly registers of the period 2005-2014.Centro Universitario de la Defensa. Escuela de Turismo de Cartagena. Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Industrial UPCT. Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Telecomunicación (ETSIT). Escuela de Ingeniería de Caminos y Minas (EICM). Escuela de Arquitectura e Ingeniería de Edificación (ARQ&IDE). Parque Tecnológico de Fuente Álamo. Navantia. Campus Mare Nostrum. Estación Experimental Agroalimentaria Tomás Ferr