Crisis económica y democracia. Valoraciones sobre los peligros inherentes a la idealización democrática y la falta de transparencia política

Los periodos de crisis económicas severas suelen propiciar alteraciones en el ideario colectivo que pueden perturbar o distorsionar el significado de un concepto tan complejo como es el de la democracia. La sensación de ineficacia o impotencia de la democracia parlamentaria, a la hora de solucionar problemas tan serios como el desempleo, la inseguridad o la frustración de perspectivas vitales en el corto plazo, puede provocar corrientes espontáneas e impulsivas en el pensamiento de la ciudadanía que se bifurcan en direcciones tan distintas como son la simpatía por plataformas políticas antidemocráticas o movimientos ciudadanos que exigen una idealización de la democracia a través de la implantación de mecanismos de democracia directa. La idealización democrática puede plantear escenarios de frustración de expectativas poniendo en peligro al mismo sistema democrático desde el deterioro del centro político (socialdemocracia o democracia cristiana). Además, el hecho de intentar llegar a una democracia perfecta a través de las nuevas tecnologías crea espacios políticos carentes de transparencia. Si se analizan diversos periodos históricos se pueden constatar los paralelismos que existen en el proceso de depresión económica y las alteraciones en la fortaleza de la democracia. La República de Weimar puede ser considerada como paradigma en la relación entre crisis económica, deterioro democrático y desastre. Comparando la circunstancia histórica de la República de Weimar con las contingencias actuales de países como Grecia y España, se puede constatar que la relación entre crisis y deterioro democrático sigue una serie de pautas cíclicas que conforman una dinámica procesual con parámetros perfectamente identificables. Este estudio refleja la hipótesis de construir una sociedad enmarcada en una democracia resistente a este tipo de contingencias cíclicas desde el reforzamiento de los pilares educativos y la articulación de un sistema político parlamentario más participativo y transparente.Tesis realizada en el periodo comprendido entre 2014 y 2017. Número de páginas : 88

Peer Review The Response of pesantren community toward the idiology of islamism: A study of pesantren teachers perception in North Sumatera

Gli istiocitomi fibrosi sono tumori caratterizzati principalmente da cellule fibroblastiche ed istiocitarie spesso disposte con un aspetto vorticoide o storiforme; essi possono essere localizzati nel derma o, più raramente, nei tessuti molli profondi e sporadicamente in organi parenchimali. Mostrano generalmente caratteri istologici di benignità, ma possono recidivare anche più volte dopo asportazione chirurgica. Gli Autori presentano un caso di istiocitoma fibroso profondo recidivante del polso, e considerano i relativi problemi diagnostici e terapeutici.Fibrous histiocytoma of the wrist. Fibrous histiocytomas are tumors characterized chiefly by fibroblastic and histiocytic cells often arranged in a whirling or storiform pattern; they may be located in the dermis, less commonly in deep soft tissues, and sporadically in parenchimal organs. They usually show a benign histological appearance, but may recur even more than once following surgical excision. The Authors present a case of recurrent deep fibrous histiocytoma of the wrist, and comment upon its diagnostic and therapeutic problems.L'histiocytome fibreux du poignet. Les histiocytomes fibreux sont des tumeurs ca-ractérisés principalement de cellules fibroblastiques et histiocytaires souvent placés avec un aspect à vortex ou storiphorme; ceu-Ià peuvent ètre localisées dans le derrne ou, plus rarernent, dans les tissus mous profonds et sporadiquement dans des organes parenchymateux. Ceux-ci généralernent montrent des caractéristiques histologiques de bénignité, mais ils peuvent récidiver, mèrne plus d'une fois, après ablation chirurgical. Les Auteurs présentent un cas de histiocytome fibreux profond du poignet, et ils considèrent les problèmes relatif à la diagnostique et à la thérapie

Impaired gallbladder motility and delayed orocecal transit contribute to pigment gallstone and biliary sludge formation in β-thalassemia major adults

Aim: Gallbladder and gastrointestinal motility defects exist in gallstones patients and to a lesser extent in pigment gallstone patients. To investigated the role of gallbladder and gastrointestinal motility disorders in pigment gallstone formation in β-thalassemia major. Methods: Twenty-three patients with β-thalassemia major (16 females; age range 18-37 years) and 70 controls (47 females, age range 18-40 years) were studied for gallbladder and gastric emptying (functional ultrasonography), orocecal transit (OCTT, H2-breath test), autonomic dysfunction (sweat-spot, cardiorespiratory reflex tests), bowel habits, gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life (all with questionnaires). Gallbladder content (ultrasonography) was examined before and during 8-12 mo follow-up. Results: Gallstones and/or biliary sludge were found in 13 (56%) patients. β-thalassemia major patients had increased fasting (38.0±4.8 mL vs 20.3±0.7 mL, P = 0.0001) and residual (7.9±1.3 mL vs 5.1±0.3 mL, P = 0.002) volume and slightly slower emptying (24.9±1.7 min vs 20.1±0.7 min, P = 0.04) of the gallbladder, together with longer OCTT (132.2±7.8 min vs 99.7±2.3 min, P = 0.00003) than controls. No differences in gastric emptying and bowel habits were found. Also, patients had higher dyspepsia (score: 6.7±1.2 vs 4.9±0.2, P = 0.027), greater appetite (P = 0.000004) and lower health perception (P = 0.00002) than controls. Autonomic dysfunction was diagnosed in 52% of patients (positive tests: 76.2% and 66.7% for parasympathetic and sympathetic involvement, respectively). Patients developing sludge during follow-up (38%, 2 with prior stones) had increased fasting and residual gallbladder volume. Conclusion: Adult β-thalassemia major patients have gallbladder dysmotility associated with delayed small intestinal transit and autonomic dysfunction. These abnormalities apparently contribute together with haemolytic hyperbilirubinemia to the pathogenesis of pigment gallstones/ sludge in β-thalassemia major. Copyright © 2004 by The WJG Press

Robust Satellite Techniques for Volcanic and Seismic Hazards Monitoring

Several satellite techniques have been proposed to monitor events related to seismic and volcanic activity. A selfadaptive approach (RAT, Robust AVHRR Techniques) has recently been proposed which seems able to recognise space-time anomalies, differently related to such events, also in the presence of highly variable contributions from atmospheric (transmittance), surface (emissivity and morphology) and observational (time/season, but also solar and satellite zenithal angles) conditions. On the basis of NOAA-AVHRR data, the RAT aprroach has already been applied to Mount Etna volcanic ash cloud monitoring in daytime, and to seismic area monitoring in Southern Italy. This paper presents the theoretical basis for the extension of RAT approach also to nighttime volcanic ash cloud detection, together with its possible implementation to lava flow monitoring. One example of successful forecasting (few days before) of a new lava vent opening during the Mount Etna eruption of July 2001 will be discussed in some detail. Progress on the use of the same approach on seismically active area monitoring will be discussed by comparison with previous results achieved on the Irpinia-Basilicata earthquake (MS = 6.9), which occurred on November 23rd 1980 in Southern Italy

Allele *2 of the HS1,2A enhancer of the Ig regulatory region associates with rheumatoid arthritis

Objective: To investigate the role of the HS1.2 enhancer polymorphisms as a new candidate marker for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to define the possible association with autoantibody positivity and clinical outcome. Methods: Genomic DNA was obtained from two cohorts of patients with RA (100 with early RA (ERA) and 114 with longstanding RA (LSRA)) and from 248 gender-matched controls from the same geographical area. Clinical and immunological characteristics were recorded for all the patients. Results: The percentage of the 2/2 genotype was higher In patients with ERA (27.0%), and In patients with LSRA (34.2%), than In controls (14.9%) (ERA: OR = 2.11 (95% Cl 1.20 to 3.70) vs controls; LSRA: OR = 2.96 (95% Cl 1.76 to 5.00) vs controls). A lower representation of allele *3 was present In patients with ERA (2.0%) than In controls (6.0%; OR = 0.32 (95% Cl 0.11 to 0.91)). No significant associations were found between polymorphisms and autoantibodies positivity. Conclusion: The HS1.2A allele *2 associates with early and longstanding RA

European patterns of local adaptation planning:a regional analysis

While European regions face a range of different climate hazards, little is known about how these differences affect local climate adaptation planning. We present an analytical framework for evaluating local climate adaptation plans (LCAPs) and apply it to 327 cities in 28 countries across different European regions. To do this, we use statistical methods to identify regional clusters based on overall plan quality, impacts, vulnerable population groups, and sectors addressed by LCAPs. By comparing both geographic and statistical clusters, we found (1) significant spatial heterogeneity across European cities but (2) higher average plan quality scores and more consistent strategies across cities in Central and Eastern Europe. Notably, we found no regional differences regarding (a) the climate impacts and vulnerable communities identified in plans: (b) the most commonly addressed impacts, which were urban temperature and changing precipitation patterns; and (c) the residents that cities identified as most vulnerable, namely older people, women, infants, and the sick. Our study provides a spatial analysis of European LCAPs to uncover regional policy perspectives on local climate adaptation issues. Such approaches can effectively inform broader EU, national and regional strategies that aim to support local adaptation planning in a context of multi-level governance

Types of Corruption in Small and Micro Enterprises (SMEs) in Ibadan, Nigeria

Corruption is a phenomenon that manifests in various types and forms especially among operators of Small and Micro Enterprises (SMEs). Many actions of the operators which constitute corrupt practices often tend to be overlooked in spite of their grave consequences for the success SMEs in Nigeria. The fight against corruption in Nigeria is more concentrated in the formal sector. This study was, therefore, designed to investigate various forms in which corrupt practices are carried out among Small and Micro Enterprises in Ibadan, Nigeria. Business owners, their employees, apprentices and consumers constituted the study population. Primary data were collected using questionnaire administered on 200 business owners, 150 employees and 150 apprentices randomly chosen in five business districts in Ibadan; and the conduct of 10 in-depth interviews with purposively selected participants. Quantitative data were analysed at uni-variate level using simple percentages and frequencies while qualitative data were content analysed. Findings from the study revealed that corrupt practices were rampant among actors in SMEs and the common types of corrupt practices included stealing (60%), deception of customers (78.4%), tax evasion (62%), sale of fake products (76%), sale of expired products (65.2%), tampering with measurement scales (69.6%), bribery (82.4%), and poor service delivery (73%). The study concludes that the level of corruption in SMEs calls for concern and government should extend the fight against corruption to the informal sector in Nigeria

Will climate mitigation ambitions lead to carbon neutrality? An analysis of the local-level plans of 327 cities in the EU

Cities across the globe recognise their role in climate mitigation and are acting to reduce carbon emissions. Knowing whether cities set ambitious climate and energy targets is critical for determining their contribution towards the global 1.5 °C target, partly because it helps to identify areas where further action is necessary. This paper presents a comparative analysis of the mitigation targets of 327 European cities, as declared in their local climate plans. The sample encompasses over 25% of the EU population and includes cities of all sizes across all Member States, plus the UK. The study analyses whether the type of plan, city size, membership of climate networks, and its regional location are associated with different levels of mitigation ambition. Results reveal that 78% of the cities have a GHG emissions reduction target. However, with an average target of 47%, European cities are not on track to reach the Paris Agreement: they need to roughly double their ambitions and efforts. Some cities are ambitious, e.g. 25% of our sample (81) aim to reach carbon neutrality, with the earliest target date being 2020.90% of these cities are members of the Climate Alliance and 75% of the Covenant of Mayors. City size is the strongest predictor for carbon neutrality, whilst climate network(s) membership, combining adaptation and mitigation into a single strategy, and local motivation also play a role. The methods, data, results and analysis of this study can serve as a reference and baseline for tracking climate mitigation ambitions across European and global cities