Does the consumer’s variety-seeking behavior condition the willingness to travel further?

The objective of this study is to test the effect of the consumer’s variety-seeking behaviour on the distance the tourist is prepared to travel; that is, his/her willingness to travel further. The empirical application is carried out in Spain in a context with 26 destinations, by applying Mixed Logit Models. The results evidence that the variety-seeking behaviour reduces the dissuasive effect of distance.

Cálculo del asiento elástico tridimensional de cimentaciones de rigidez variable en terrenos con una capa rígida inclinada

Las fórmulas basadas en la teoría de la elasticidad son ampliamente utilizadas para el cálculo de asientos de cimentaciones, ya que la totalidad de la normativa geotécnica recomienda su empleo. No obstante, estos métodos no cubren todas las situaciones geotécnicamente posibles ya que frecuentemente las condiciones geológicas son complejas. En este trabajo se analiza la influencia de la presencia de una capa rígida inclinada en los asientos elásticos de una cimentación superficial. Para ello se han resuelto 273 modelos tridimensionales no lineales de elementos finitos, variando los parámetros clave del problema: la inclinación y la profundidad de la capa rígida y la rigidez de la cimentación. Finalmente, se ha realizado un análisis estadístico de los resultados de los modelos y se ha propuesto una fórmula que puede ser utilizada en el cálculo de asientos por métodos elásticos, para tener en consideración la presencia de una capa rígida inclinada en profundidad.

Revisiting the effect of foundation embedment on elastic settlement: A new approach

The effect of foundation embedment on settlement calculation is a widely researched topic in which there is no scientific consensus regarding the magnitude of settlement reduction. In this paper, a non-linear three dimensional Finite Element analysis has been performed with the aim of evaluating the aforementioned effect. For this purpose, 1800 models were run considering different variables, such as the depth and dimensions of the foundation and the Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio of the soil. The settlements from models with foundations at surface level and at depth were then compared and the relationship between them established. The statistical analysis of this data allowed two new expressions, with a mean maximum error of 1.80%, for the embedment influence factor of a foundation to be proposed and these to be compared with commonly used corrections. The proposed equations were validated by comparing the settlements calculated with the proposed influence factors and the true settlements measured in several real foundations. From the comprehensive study of all modelled cases, an improved approach, when compared to those proposed by other authors, for the calculation of the true elastic settlements of an embedded foundation is proposed.

No effect of unemployment on intimate partner-related femicide during the financial crisis: a longitudinal ecological study in Spain

Background: Spain’s financial crisis has been characterized by an increase in unemployment. This increase could have produced an increase in deaths of women due to intimate partner-related femicides (IPF). This study aims to determine whether the increase in unemployment among both sexes in different regions in Spain is related to an increase in the rates of IPF during the current financial crisis period. Methods: An ecological longitudinal study was carried out in Spain’s 17 regions. Two study periods were defined: pre-crisis period (2005–2007) and crisis period (2008–2013). IPF rates adjusted by age and unemployment rates for men and women were calculated. We fitted multilevel linear regression models in which observations at level 1 were nested within regions according to a repeated measurements design. Results: Rates of unemployment have progressively increased in Spain, rising above 20 % from 2008 to 2013 in some regions. IPF rates decreased in some regions during crisis period with respect to pre-crisis period. The multilevel analysis does not support the existence of a significant relationship between the increase in unemployment in men and women and the decrease in IPF since 2008. Discussion: The increase in unemployment in men and women in Spain does not appear to have an effect on IPF. The results of the multilevel analysis discard the hypothesis that the increase in the rates of unemployment in women and men are related to an increase in IPF rates. Conclusions: The decline in IPF since 2008 might be interpreted as the result of exposure to other factors such as the lower frequency of divorces in recent years or the medium term effects of the integral protection measures of the law on gender violence that began in 2005.

Effect of the CeZrNd mixed oxide synthesis method in the catalytic combustion of soot

Ce0.64Zr0.27Nd0.09Oδ mixed oxides have been prepared by three different methods (nitrates calcination, coprecipitation and microemulsion), characterized by N2 adsorption, XRD, H2-TPR, Raman spectroscopy and XPS, and tested for soot combustion in NOx/O2. The catalyst prepared by microemulsion method is the most active one, which is related to its high surface area (147 m2/g) and low crystallite size (6 nm), and the lowest activity was obtained with the catalyst prepared by coprecipitation (74 m2/g; 9 nm). The catalyst prepared by nitrates precursors calcination is slightly less active to that prepared by microemulsion, but the synthesis procedure is very straightforward and surfactants or other chemicals are not required, being very convenient for scaling up and practical utilization. The high activity of the catalyst prepared by nitrates calcination can be attributed to the better introduction of Nd cations into the parent ceria framework than on catalysts prepared by coprecipitation and microemulsion, which promotes the creation of more oxygen vacancies.