Analysis of size and shape differences between ancient and present-day Italian crania using metrics and geometric morphometrics based on multislice computed tomography

The Museum of Human Anatomy in Naples houses a collection of ancient Graeco-Roman crania. The aim of this study was to use multislice computed tomography (MSCT) to evaluate and objectively quantify potential differences in cranial dimensions and shapes between ancient Graeco-Roman crania (n = 36) and modern-day southern Italian crania (n = 35) and then to characterize the cranial changes occurring over more than 2000 years, known as secular change. The authors used traditional metric criteria and morphometric geometry to compare shape differences between the sets of crania. Statistically significant differences in size between the ancient and modern crania included shorter facial length, narrower external palate, smaller minimum cranial breadth, shorter right and left mastoid processes, and wider maximum occipital and nasal breadth. The shape changes from the ancient to modern crania included a global coronal enlargement of the face and cranial diameters, with more anterior projection of the face at the anterior nasal spine, but also posterior projection at the glabella and the nasion. It is not possible to determine whether these differences result exclusively from secular changes in the cranium or from other factors, including a mix of secular change and other unknown factors. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first MSCT-based study to compare ancient Graeco-Roman and modern-day southern Italian crania and to characterize shape and size differences

Electrochemical polymerisation of phenol in aqueous solution on a Ta/PbO2 anode

This paper deals with the treatment of aqueous phenol solutions using an electrochemical technique. Phenol can be partly eliminated from aqueous solution by electrochemically initiated polymerisation. Galvanostatic electrolyses of phenol solutions at concentration up to 0.1 mol dm−3 were carried out on a Ta/PbO2 anode. The polymers formed are insoluble in acidic medium but soluble in alkaline. These polymers were filtered and then dissolved in aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (1 mol dm−3). The polymers formed were quantified by total organic carbon (TOC) measurement. It was found that the conversion of phenol into polymers increases as a function of initial concentration, anodic current density, temperature, and solution pH. The percentage of phenol polymerised can reach 15%

Social Enterprise in Spain: A Diversity of Roots and a Proposal of Models

The term “social enterprise” was first used, at the end of the 1980s, by organisations that promoted the social and labour integration of persons at risk of social and labour exclusion and other similar social activities. The social economy sector has since slowly introduced this term to describe its entities in order to gain recognition by society, and it is working to promote a generally accepted definition of social enterprise’s behaviour based on the principles and values of the social economy (participation, general interest...). According to Article 5 of Spanish Law 5/2011 on the Social Economy, work integration social enterprises and so-called “special employment centres” are part of the social economy, and so are all firms and entities carrying out activities following the values and principles of the social economy sector. In this context, organisations of the social economy sector also are beginning to use the “social enterprise” concept. In Spain, a debate still exists regarding its exact definition. A mix of perspectives on this concept, with different nuances, can be observed. Besides, the current context of reduced governmental budgets and social services in Spain causes social organisations to adopt new approaches to this term of social enterprise, as this type of organisation is more likely to receive funds from the European Union. This paper’s objective is to analyse all perspectives on the concept of social enterprise as well as the various social enterprise models existing in Spain. The document structure is organized as follow. In the first section, we present the context and the main concepts related to social enterprises in this country. In the second section, we provide an analysis of changes in the evolution of social enterprise criteria to identify established models and emerging patterns. In the third section, we put forward another typology, based on institutionalisation stages. Finally, we conclude by recommending an approach to future work and provide a basic bibliography on the subject

Electrochemical synthesis of peroxomonophosphate using boron-doped diamond anodes

A new method for the synthesis of peroxomonophosphate, based on the use of boron-doped diamond electrodes, is described. The amount of oxidant electrogenerated depends on the characteristics of the supporting media (pH and solute concentration) and on the operating conditions (temperature and current density). Results show that the pH, between values of 1 and 5, does not influence either the electrosynthesis of peroxomonophosphate or the chemical stability of the oxidant generated. Conversely, low temperatures are required during the electrosynthesis process to minimize the thermal decomposition of peroxomonophosphate and to guarantee significant oxidant concentration. In addition, a marked influence of both the current density and the initial substrate is observed. This observation can be explained in terms of the contribution of hydroxyl radicals in the oxidation mechanisms that occur on diamond surfaces. In the assays carried out below the water oxidation potential, the generation of hydroxyl radicals did not take place. In these cases, peroxomonophosphate generation occurs through a direct electron transfer and, therefore, at these low current densities lower concentrations are obtained. On the other hand, at higher potentials both direct and hydroxyl radical-mediated mechanisms contribute to the oxidant generation and the process is more efficient. In the same way, the contribution of hydroxyl radicals may also help to explain the significant influence of the substrate concentration. Thus, the coexistence of both phosphate and hydroxyl radicals is required to ensure the generation of significant amounts of peroxomonophosphoric acid

Performance of Ti/Pt and Nb/BDD anodes for dechlorination of nitric acid and regeneration of silver(II) in a tubular reactor for the treatment of solid wastes in nuclear industry

One of the problems frequently encountered in the processing of nuclear fuels is the recovery of plutonium contained in various solid wastes. The difficulty is to make soluble the plutonium present as the refractory oxide PuO2. The dissolution of this oxide in nitric acid solutions is easily performed by means of silver(II) a strong oxidizing agent which is usually electrochemically generated on a platinum anode. However, certain solid residues that must be treated to separate actinides contain important quantities of chloride ions that require after dissolution in nitric acid a preliminary electrochemical step to be removed before introducing Ag(I) for Ag(II) electrogeneration. Research is conducted to find electrocatalytic materials being able to replace massive platinum in view to limit capital costs. In the present work a set-up including a two-compartment tubular reactor with recirculation of electrolytes was tested with anodes made of boron doped diamond coated niobium (Nb/BDD) and platinum coated titanium (Ti/Pt) grids for the removal of chlorides (up to 0.1 M) and for silver(II) regeneration. The study showed that these two anodes are effective for the removal of chlorides contained in 6 M HNO3 solution as gaseous chlorine, without producing the unwanted oxyanions of chlorine. Furthermore, the regeneration rate of silver(II) on Nb/BDD anode is approximately equal to that obtained on Ti/Pt anode for the same hydrodynamic conditions in the tubular reactor. Accordingly, dechlorination as well as silver(II) regeneration can be performed in the same reactor equipped either with a Nb/BDD or a Ti/Pt anode. Besides, the service life of Nb/BDD anodes estimated by accelerated life tests conducted in 6 M HNO3 can be considered as very satisfactory compared to that observed with Ti/Pt anodes

The socio-economic approach to management revisited. The Evolving Nature of SEAM in the 21st Century

International audienceThis volume is part of the ongoing collaboration between the RMC series and the Socio-Economic Institute for Firms and Organization (ISEOR), a French intervention-research think tank codirected by Henri Savall and Véronique Zardet. Building on an earlier collaboration on the ISEOR approach - Socio-Economic Intervention in Organizations: The Intervener-Researcher and the SEAM Approach to Organizational Analysis (IAP, 2007) – Buono and Savall bring together over 30 talented intervener-researchers to explore and examine the ongoing evolution of the Socio-Economic Approach to Management (SEAM).This volume revisits the application of SEAM in the context of intervention challenges in the wake of the recent economic crisis and the disruptive change that has taken hold across the world. The basic foundation of SEAM – built on the idea of strategic patience, the need to undertake holistic intervention in organizations, and the challenge to get organizational members to listen to themselves (through what they refer to as the mirror effect) – has remained the same. In response to economic and organizational pressures in the current environment, however, there has been a concomitant emphasis on helping client organizations achieve short-term results while still maintaining focus on the long term. Many ideas that have become part of the current discourse within ISEOR today were not as explicitly addressed in the initial volume – from the destructive effect of the Taylorism-Fayolism-Weberism (TFW) virus, to the need to focus on ways to ensure the sustainability of a SEAM intervention, the growing importance of collaborative interactions between external and internal consultants, and the growing importance of cocreating knowledge with client firms and organizations

Socio-Economic Intervention in Organizations: The Intervener-researcher and the SEAM approach to Organizational analysis

International audienc