Beyond the Circular Economy Theory: Implementation Methodology for Industrial SMEs.

Purpose: The circular economy has multiple benefits and opportunities to achieve sustainability and a better future for the next generations. The purpose of this paper is to propose a methodology that guides step-by-step any industrial SMEs in the transition from the linear to a circular model. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have a crucial role in the sustainable development transition, considering that they represent most of the world's companies. Design/methodology/approach: To develop this methodology, two research techniques were used: a focus group and storyboarding. Findings: The resulting methodology, called Ecopyme, comprises five steps: 1) Firm identity, 2) Diagnosis, 3) Planning, 4) Get the ball rolling, and 5) Assessment and feedback. In addition, two key criteria that must be included in the whole process were identified: value creation in the firm through a circular economy and organization commitment from the top management to the staff. Research limitations/implications: The Ecopyme methodology has two limitations: It does not propose either implementation tools or involve consumers and actors at the meso (e.g., eco-industrial parks) and macro (e.g., cities, provinces, countries) levels. Practical implications: This study will help policymakers understand the SMEs' perspective and remove barriers that may hinder the paradigm shift. The methodology is also a useful tool for consultants and entrepreneurs to incorporate the circular economy (CE) principles into their business. Originality/value: In the CE literature, little attention has been paid to proposing a structured methodology to implement CE in SMEs. Thus, the study provides a step-by-step methodology that guides any industrial SMEs to transition from linear to circular. Also, it provides additional evidence concerning the importance of human commitment in changing firms' paradigm because people can encourage the adoption of responsible production practices if firms commit CEOs, sustainability managers, and staff

Seismic vulnerability and damage assessment in Navarre (NE Spain)

A regional characterization of the seismic vulnerability of the building stock of Navarre (Northern Spain) and the expected damage associated with expected ground shaking for a 475-year return period is presented. Besides the initial planning meetings, the work consists on three phases: The first is the field work conducted along different routes crossing the entire region, including main cities. Two geographical areas with distinctive construction patterns and characteristic typologies were recognised and delimited, together with a transition zone. Several buildings were sampled and documented, and empirical vulnerability distributions were obtained. The second phase relates to cadastral data exploitation and processing, selection of parcels as working units and selection of municipalities and districts as representation units. Based on the age of construction and the associated seismic code requirements; the number of stories; and the empirical distributions derived in the earlier stage, statistical distributions of building vulnerability classes were composed following three vulnerability classifications. These include the vulnerability classification of the European Macroseismic Scale, the vulnerability index approach and the Hazus classification. This phase was as important as time-consuming, and set the basis for the proper development of the subsequent analyses. The third phase consisted on calculating the expected damage with empirical as well as with analytical methods, using as seismic input an updated hazard-consistent seismic intensity map of the region. Vulnerability and damage results derived with the three methods used are compared and analysed, and their suitability discussed. Results of this work will be used in the regional seismic risk plan of Navarre (RISNA Project

Nivel de proteína C reactiva en pacientes con obesidad mórbida antes y después de cirugía bariátrica

ResumenAntecedentesLa obesidad humana se asocia a un estado proinflamatorio reflejado en elevación de marcadores como la proteína C reactiva (PCR).ObjetivosEstablecer los valores de PCR basales y a 6 meses de la cirugía bariátrica, así como los cambios en peso, índice de masa corporal (IMC), leucocitos y glucemia.Materiales y métodosSe realizó un estudio observacional, analítico, retrospectivo, longitudinal y abierto. Se midieron los valores de PCR sérica y su relación con el peso, IMC, leucocitos y glucemia de manera basal y 6 meses posteriores a cirugía bariátrica en 36 adultos con obesidad mórbida.ResultadosLa media ± desviación estándar de la PCR pre y posoperatorio (mg/l) fue 1.15±0.86 y 0.34±0.28, respectivamente, con p<0.0001; peso (kg) 112.10±22.91 y 84.82±17.11, p=0,0443; IMC (kg/m2) 42.48±5.97 y 32.2±4.79, p=0.0988; glucosa (mg/dl) 100.58±17.82 y 87.11±8.49, p<0.0001, y leucocitos (× 103/mm3) 8.62±1.69 y 6.99±1.56, p=0.3192.La PCR basal solo correlacionó con el peso e IMC (p=0.047 y p=0.027, respectivamente) y no hubo correlación entre la PCR posoperatoria y ninguno de los parámetros evaluados.ConclusionesLa PCR tiene una relación lineal significativa en el preoperatorio con el peso y el IMC. Los pacientes sometidos a cirugía bariátrica presentaron disminución significativa en la PCR, el peso y la glucemia en ayuno a los 6 meses posterior a la cirugía.AbstractBackgroundHuman obesity is associated with a proinflammatory state and an elevated level of mediators, such as C-reactive protein (CRP).ObjectivesTo establish CRP levels as baseline preoperative values and then at 6 months after bariatric surgery, as well as to determine the changes in weight, body mass index (BMI), leukocytes, and glycemia.Materials and methodsAn observational, analytical, retrospective, longitudinal, and open study was conducted. Serum CRP values were measured in 36 adults presenting with morbid obesity, and their baseline relation to weight, BMI, leukocytes, and glycemia was determined; the relation to the same parameters was established again, 6 months after bariatric surgery.ResultsThe mean and standard deviation of preoperative and postoperative CRP (mg/L) was 1.15±0.86 and 0.34±0.28, respectively with p<0.0001; weight (kg) 112.10±22.91 and 84.82±17.11, p=0.0443; BMI (kg/m2) 42.48±5.97 and 32.2±4.79, p=0.0988; glucose (mg/dL) 100.58±17.82 and 87.11±8.49, p<0.0001, and leukocytes (× 103/mm3) 8.62±1.69 and 6.99±1.56, p=0.3192.Baseline CRP only correlated with weight and BMI (p=0.047 and p=0.027 respectively) and there was no correlation between postoperative CRP and the evaluated parameters.ConclusionsPreoperative CRP had a significant lineal relation to weight and body mass index. Patients who underwent bariatric surgery had a significant decrease in CRP, weight, and fasting glucose at 6 months after surgery

Comparative analysis of growth and sexual maturation in girls of Santa Rosa (La Pampa) and La Plata (Buenos Aires)

El objetivo del trabajo fue analizar comparativamente el crecimiento en relación con la menarca entre niñas de dos poblaciones urbanas argentinas. Se realizó un estudio antropométrico transversal, descriptivo-comparativo en 2.474 escolares comprendidas entre 8,0 y 16,9 años procedentes de Santa Rosa (SR) y La Plata (LP). Se registraron presencia de menarca y las variables antropométricas peso corporal, estaturas total y sentado, perímetro braquial, pliegues subcutáneos tricipital y subescapular. Fueron calculados índices de masa corporal, subescapular/tricipital y áreas muscular y adiposa del brazo. El grupo de estudio fue dividido en 4 grupos según ciudad y presencia de menarca. La caracterización socio-ambiental establecida mediante encuesta estructurada indicó diferencias significativas entre ciudades para condición de tenencia, características constructivas y servicios de las viviendas, cobertura de salud, asistencia monetaria, nivel educativo y ocupación laboral de los progenitores marcando un mayor bienestar en las jóvenes de SR. La menarca a una edad promedio de 12,7 años fue más prevalente en SR (40,6%) que en LP (33,7%) (c2=12,9; p<0,01). El ANOVA indicó diferencias significativas entre ciudades para estaturas total y sentado y área muscular (p<0,01), peso corporal y perímetro braquial (p< 0,05) que en general permanecieron en la comparación post hoc por edad en los grupos madurativos pre-menarca y post-menarca. La presencia de un tamaño corporal reducido, a expensas de menor estatura total, área muscular y longitud de piernas en las jóvenes de LP, asociados a una menor prevalencia de menarca en esta ciudad, representaría el costo adaptativo a un ambiente de menor bienestarThe aim of this study was to analyze growth in relation to menarche in girls from two Argentinean urban populations. We performed a comparative-descriptive cross sectional study in 2474 schoolchildren between 8.0 and 16.9 years old from Santa Rosa (SR) and La Plata (LP) cities. We registered the presence of menarche and anthropometrics variables of body weight, total and sitting heights, arm circumference, triceps and subscapular skinfolds. Body mass index, subscapular / triceps index and muscle and fat arm areas were calculated. The study group was divided into 4 groups according to the city and menarche. The socio-environmental structured survey indicated significant differences between cities with these variables: tenure status, building materials and services, health care coverage, cash assistance, educational level and parents occupation, therefore establishing a higher welfare in youngsters of SR. Menarche at a mean age of 12.7 years old was more prevalent in SR (40.6%) than in LP (33.7%) (c2=12.9; p<0.01). The ANOVA indicated significant differences between cities in total and sitting heights and muscle area (p <0.01), body weight and arm circumference (p <0.05) which were generally held in the post hoc comparison by age in pre-menarche and post-menarche groups. The presence of a small body size at the expense of lowering in: total height, muscle area and leg length in LP youngsters, associated with a lower prevalence of menarche in this city, it would represents the adaptive cost of a lower welfare environment.Fil: Torres, María Fernanda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico CONICET- La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria "Ing. Fernando Noel Dulout". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras; ArgentinaFil: Luis, María Antonia. No especifica;Fil: Cesani Rossi, María Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico CONICET- La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria "Ing. Fernando Noel Dulout". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria; ArgentinaFil: Luna, María Eugenia. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Castro, L.E.. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Quintero, Fabian Anibal. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Oyhenart, Evelia Edith. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico CONICET- La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria "Ing. Fernando Noel Dulout". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria; Argentin

Density functional method for nonequilibrium electron transport

We describe an ab initio method for calculating the electronic structure, electronic transport, and forces acting on the atoms, for atomic scale systems connected to semi-infinite electrodes and with an applied voltage bias. Our method is based on the density functional theory (DFT) as implemented in the well tested Siesta approach (which uses non-local norm-conserving pseudopotentials to describe the effect of the core electrons, and linear combination of finite-range numerical atomic orbitals to describe the valence states). We fully deal with the atomistic structure of the whole system, treating both the contact and the electrodes on the same footing. The effect of the finite bias (including selfconsistency and the solution of the electrostatic problem) is taken into account using nonequilibrium Green's functions. We relate the nonequilibrium Green's function expressions to the more transparent scheme involving the scattering states. As an illustration, the method is applied to three systems where we are able to compare our results to earlier ab initio DFT calculations or experiments, and we point out differences between this method and existing schemes. The systems considered are: (1) single atom carbon wires connected to aluminum electrodes with extended or finite cross section, (2) single atom gold wires, and finally (3) large carbon nanotube systems with point defects.Comment: 18 pages, 23 figure

Schmidt modes generated in parametric downconversion

This paper presents the general Schmidt decomposition of two-photon fields generated in spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC). It discusses in particular the separation of the radial and azimuthal degrees of freedom, the role of projection in modal analysis, and the benefits of collinear phase mismatch. The paper is written in a review style and presents a wealth of numerical results. It aims at emphasising the physics beyond the mathematics, through discussions and graphical representations of key results.Comment: 11 pages, 13 figure

Measurement of the polarisation of W bosons produced with large transverse momentum in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV with the ATLAS experiment

This paper describes an analysis of the angular distribution of W->enu and W->munu decays, using data from pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC in 2010, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 35 pb^-1. Using the decay lepton transverse momentum and the missing transverse energy, the W decay angular distribution projected onto the transverse plane is obtained and analysed in terms of helicity fractions f0, fL and fR over two ranges of W transverse momentum (ptw): 35 < ptw < 50 GeV and ptw > 50 GeV. Good agreement is found with theoretical predictions. For ptw > 50 GeV, the values of f0 and fL-fR, averaged over charge and lepton flavour, are measured to be : f0 = 0.127 +/- 0.030 +/- 0.108 and fL-fR = 0.252 +/- 0.017 +/- 0.030, where the first uncertainties are statistical, and the second include all systematic effects.Comment: 19 pages plus author list (34 pages total), 9 figures, 11 tables, revised author list, matches European Journal of Physics C versio