On the extension of the Obukhov theorem in non-Riemannian gravity I

This is a first paper of a series in which we give some generalizations of the Obukhov theorem in the Tucker-Wang approach to Metric- Affine gravity in which we consider more general actions containing scalar and in general fields which do not depend on the metric or connection.Comment: 12 pages, no figures, final version for J. Math. Phy

The Governance of the SEA in the 2007-2013 EU Programs: the case of Italy

The Governance of the SEA in the 2007-2013 EU Programs: the case of Italy The European Union 2007-2013 funds programming is a relevant frame in order to analyse the implementation of Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) of plans and programs. In this paper the SEAs of 21 Regional Development Programs and 21 Rural Development Plans, implemented by the Italian regions, between the second half of 2006 and the end of 2007, have been reviewed. According to the SEA literature the study is mainly focused on the process than on the procedure, so that some aspects (i.e. the transposition of the SEA Directive into national law) are not tackled in depth. On the other end the attention to the processes, allows to analyse the different approaches and strategies the Regions followed through to assess the same category of program, in the same period, with the same framework of rules. The complexity of the processes and the huge documentation to be examined, in addition to the wide range of approaches experienced by the regions, required to focus the study on the following interpretative keys: – the instruments of governance arranged by the regions in order to manage the contextual processes of programming and assessment; – the definition of the objectives and the targets and the capacity to systematize coherently the indicators used in the context definition, within the assessment and monitoring; – the participation, as regards the adopted modality and the real effectiveness of this phase of the process in order to drive the assessment and therefore the program; – finally a privileged, even if not comprehensive, reading of the coherence of the measures in the energy field included in the operative programs with the regional sectorial programming. The quantitative and qualitative results of the paper represent a useful baseline to evaluate the present intermediate phase of the EC co-financed Operative Programs implementation and to compare the Italian regions case with other Member States experiences.

A TEM study of morphological and structural degradation phenomena in LiFePO₄-CB cathodes:Morphological and structural degradation in LiFePO4-CB cathodes

LiFePO4-based cathodes suffer from various degradation mechanisms which influences the battery performance. In this paper morphological and structural degradation phenomena in laboratory cathodes made of LiFePO4 (LFP) mixed with carbon black (CB) in an 1 mol L-1 LiPF6 in EC:DMC (1:1 by weight) electrolyte are investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) at various preparation, assembling, storage and cycling stages. High-resolution TEM (HRTEM) imaging shows that continuous SEI layers are formed on the LFP particles and that both storage and cycling affects the formation. Additionally loss of CB crystallinity, CB aggregation and agglomeration is observed. Charge-discharge curves and impedance spectra measured during cycling confirm that these degradation mechanisms reduce the cathode conductivity and capacity.Comment: 5 figures, 2 table, journal article in International Journal of Energy Research, 201

Policies on the move: The transatlantic travels of Tax Increment Financing

Growing influence of the “new mobilities paradigm” among human geographers has combined with a long and rich disciplinary tradition of studying the movement of things and people. Yet how policy ideas and knowledge are mobilized remains a notably under-developed area of inquiry. In this paper, we discuss the mobilization of policy ideas and policy models as a particularly powerful type of mobile knowledge. The paper examines the burgeoning academic work on policy mobilities and points towards a growing policy mobilities approach in the literature, noting the multidisciplinary conversations behind the approach as well as the key commitments of many of its advocates. This approach is illustrated using the travels of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) with the role of learning and market-making within efforts to spread TIF to more cities highlighted. In conclusion, we discuss some of the political and practical limits that often confront efforts to mobilize policy ideas