Energy Transition Narratives in Spain: A Case Study of As Pontes

[Abstract] The energy transition is one of the most important processes of the last decade in Spain, affecting all aspects of life (social, political, economic and demographic). Its main objective is to eventually replace the fossil-fuel-based energy matrix with renewable energy sources to avoid climate change and meet sustainable development goals. This transition has affected a large number of population groups and institutions in carbon-intensive regions such as As Pontes, who are the main stakeholders in this process. These stakeholders have generated different narratives around the implementation of decarbonization policies and their short- and long-term impacts on the local population and the territory. These narratives affect the acceptance and pace of implementation of decarbonization measures and policies adopted by national and regional governments. Based on a qualitative analysis of published material (press articles, policy reports published by central and regional governments, reports published by environmental groups, financial institutions and large companies), this article first identifies the different stakeholders involved in the decarbonization process and maps them according to their power and interest in the energy transition process and then highlights the prevalent energy transition narratives, with their impact on the pace of the energy transition in Spain, focusing on the case of As Pontes. The results show that the narratives propagated by different stakeholders have a great impact on the acceptance of the decarbonization policies and measures adopted by the central government and the pace of the energy transition in different parts of Spain, including the region of As Pontes

Evidence for magnetic clusters in BaCoO3_3

Magnetic properties of the transition metal oxide BaCoO$_3$ are analyzed on the basis of the experimental and theoretical literature available via ab inito calculations. These can be explained by assuming the material to be formed by noninteracting ferromagnetic clusters of about 1.2 nm in diameter separated by about 3 diameters. Above about 50 K, the so-called blocking temperature, superparamagnetic behavior of the magnetic clusters occurs and, above 250 K, paramagnetism sets in.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur

Geographic information system for improving maternal and newborn health: recommendations for policy and programs

This correspondence argues and offers recommendations for how Geographic Information System (GIS) applied to maternal and newborn health data could potentially be used as part of the broader efforts for ending preventable maternal and newborn mortality. These recommendations were generated from a technical consultation on reporting and mapping maternal deaths that was held in Washington, DC from January 12 to 13, 2015 and hosted by the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) global Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP). Approximately 72 participants from over 25 global health organizations, government agencies, donors, universities, and other groups participated in the meeting.The meeting placed emphases on how improved use of mapping could contribute to the post-2015 United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), agenda in general and to contribute to better maternal and neonatal health outcomes in particular. Researchers and policy makers have been calling for more equitable improvement in Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH), specifically addressing hard-to-reach populations at sub-national levels. Data visualization using mapping and geospatial analyses play a significant role in addressing the emerging need for improved spatial investigation at subnational scale. This correspondence identifies key challenges and recommendations so GIS may be better applied to maternal health programs in resource poor settings. The challenges and recommendations are broadly grouped into three categories: ancillary geospatial and MNH data sources, technical and human resources needs and community participation

Acute Management and Outcomes of Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Presenting to Canadian Emergency Departments with Hypoglycemia

Objectifs: Cette vérification rétrospective des dossiers a permis d\u27examiner les données démographiques, les examens, la prise en charge et les résultats des patients adultes souffrant de diabète sucré qui se sont présentés aux services des urgences (SU) au Canada. Méthodes: Tous les sites ont mené une recherche dans leurs dossiers médicaux électroniques à l\u27aide des codes de la Classification internationale des maladies, dixième révision, pour relever les visites aux SU entre 2008 et 2010 qui étaient liées à l\u27hypoglycémie. Les caractéristiques des patients, les données démographiques, la prise en charge aux SU, les ressources des SU et les résultats sont rapportés. Résultats: Un total de 1039 patients de plus de 17 ans ont été inclus dans l\u27étude; 347 (33,4 %) ont été classifiés comme étant des cas de diabète de type 1 et 692 (66,6 %) ont été classifiés comme étant des cas de diabète de type 2. Les patients souffrant du diabète de type 2 étaient beaucoup plus âgés (73 ans vs 49 ans; p\u3c0,0001) et avaient plus d\u27affections chroniques inscrites à leur dossier (tous p\u3c0,001). La plupart des sujets arrivaient par ambulance, et 39 % des cas montraient des scores de triage qui révélaient des tableaux cliniques graves. Les traitements contre l\u27hypoglycémie étaient fréquents (75,7 %) durant le transport préhospitalier; 38,5 % recevaient du glucose et 40,1 % recevaient du glucagon par voie intraveineuse. Les traitements administrés dans les SU contre l\u27hypoglycémie comprenaient le glucose par voie orale (76,8 %), le glucose par voie intraveineuse (29,6 %) et en perfusion continue (27,7 %). Les examens diagnostiques (81,9 %) comprenaient fréquemment les électrocardiogrammes (51,9 %), la radiographie thoracique (37,5 %) et la tomodensitométrie crânienne (14,5 %). La plupart des patients (73,5 %) recevaient leur congé. Cependant, plus de sujets souffrant du diabète de type 2 nécessitaient une admission (30,3 vs 8,8 %). Les instructions de congé étaient étayées chez seulement 55,5 % des patients, et l\u27orientation vers des services de diabète se rencontrait chez moins de 20 % des cas. Une variation considérable dans la prise en charge de l\u27hypoglycémie existait entre les SU. Conclusions: Les patients souffrant de diabète qui se présentaient à un SU en raison d\u27une hypoglycémie consomment considérablement de ressources en soins de santé, puis une variation est observée dans la pratique. Les SU devraient élaborer des protocoles de prise en charge de l\u27hypoglycémie en portant une attention à la planification du congé pour réduire la récurrence

Targeting inflammation to reduce cardiovascular disease risk: a realistic clinical prospect?

Data from basic science experiments is overwhelmingly supportive of the causal role of immune-inflammatory response(s) at the core of atherosclerosis, and therefore the theoretical potential to manipulate the inflammatory response to prevent cardiovascular events. However, extrapolation to humans requires care and we still lack definitive evidence to show that interfering in immune-inflammatory processes may safely lessen clinical atherosclerosis. In this review, we discuss key therapeutic targets in the treatment of vascular inflammation, placing basic research in to a wider clinical perspective, as well as identifying outstanding questions

Rapid growth and high cloud-forming potential of anthropogenic sulfate aerosol in a thermal power plant plume during COVID lockdown in India

The COVID lockdown presented an interesting opportunity to study the anthropogenic emissions from different sectors under relatively cleaner conditions in India. The complex interplays of power production, industry, and transport could be dissected due to the significantly reduced influence of the latter two emission sources. Here, based on measurements of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity and chemical composition of atmospheric aerosols during the lockdown, we report an episodic event resulting from distinct meteorological conditions. This event was marked by rapid growth and high hygroscopicity of new aerosol particles formed in the SO2 plume from a large coal-fired power plant in Southern India. These sulfate-rich particles had high CCN activity and number concentration, indicating high cloud-forming potential. Examining the sensitivity of CCN properties under relatively clean conditions provides important new clues to delineate the contributions of different anthropogenic emission sectors and further to understand their perturbations of past and future climate forcing

Models of Neutrino Masses and Mixings

We review theoretical ideas, problems and implications of neutrino masses and mixing angles. We give a general discussion of schemes with three light neutrinos. Several specific examples are analyzed in some detail, particularly those that can be embedded into grand unified theories.Comment: 44 pages, 2 figures, version accepted for publication on the Focus Issue on 'Neutrino Physics' edited by F.Halzen, M.Lindner and A. Suzuki, to be published in New Journal of Physics

One tissue, two fates: different roles of megagametophyte cells during Scots pine embryogenesis

In the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seed, embryos grow and develop within the corrosion cavity of the megagametophyte, a maternally derived haploid tissue, which houses the majority of the storage reserves of the seed. In the present study, histochemical methods and quantification of the expression levels of the programmed cell death (PCD) and DNA repair processes related genes (MCA, TAT-D, RAD51, KU80, and LIG) were used to investigate the physiological events occurring in the megagametophyte tissue during embryo development. It was found that the megagametophyte was viable from the early phases of embryo development until the early germination of mature seeds. However, the megagametophyte cells in the narrow embryo surrounding region (ESR) were destroyed by cell death with morphologically necrotic features. Their cell wall, plasma membrane, and nuclear envelope broke down with the release of cell debris and nucleic acids into the corrosion cavity. The occurrence of necrotic-like cell death in gymnosperm embryogenesis provides a favourable model for the study of developmental cell death with necrotic-like morphology and suggests that the mechanism underlying necrotic cell death is evolutionary conserved

The role of governance in mobile phones for inclusive human development in Sub-Saharan Africa

This study assesses the synergy effects of governance in mobile phone penetration for inclusive human development in Sub-Saharan Africa with data for the period 2000–2012. It employs a battery of interactive estimation techniques, namely: Fixed effects, Generalised Method of Moments and Tobit regressions. Concepts of political (voice and accountability and political stability/no violence), economic (government effectiveness and regulation quality) and institutional (corruption-control and rule of law) governance are employed. The following findings are established. The previously apparent positive correlation between mobile phones and inclusive development can be extended to a positive effect. Although political governance is overwhelmingly not significant across estimated models, the average effects from economic governance are higher relative to institutional governance. On the interactions between mobile phones and governance variables, while none are apparent in Fixed effects regressions, there are significant synergy effects in Generalised Method of Moments and Tobit estimations, notably, from: regulation quality in the former and political stability, voice and accountability and rule of law in the latter. There is consistent evidence of convergence in inclusive human development. Policy implications are discussed