Environmental Structural Decomposition Analysis of Italian Emissions, 1995-2005

[spa] El estudio analiza la evolución de los gases de efecto invernadero (GEI) y las emisiones de acidificación para Italia durante el periodo 1995-2005. Los datos muestran que mientras las emisiones que contribuyen a la acidificación han disminuido constantemente, las emisiones de GEI han aumentado debido al aumento de dióxido de carbono. El objetivo de este estudio es poner de relieve cómo diferentes factores económicos, en particular el crecimiento económico, el desarrollo de una tecnología menos contaminante y la estructura del consumo, han impulsado la evolución de las emisiones. La metodología propuesta es un análisis de descomposición estructural (ADE), método que permite descomponer los cambios de la variable de interés entre las diferentes fuerzas y revelar la importancia de cada factor. Por otra parte, este estudio considera la importancia del comercio internacional e intenta incluir el “problema de la responsabilidad”. Es decir, a través de las relaciones comerciales internacionales, un país podría estar exportando procesos de producción contaminantes sin una reducción real de la contaminación implícita en su patrón de consumo. Con este fin, siguiendo primero un enfoque basado en la “responsabilidad del productor”, el ADE se aplica a las emisiones causadas por la producción nacional. Sucesivamente, el análisis se mueve hacia un enfoque basado en la “responsabilidad del consumidor" y la descomposición se aplica a las emisiones relacionadas con la producción nacional o la producción extranjera que satisface la demanda interna. De esta manera, el ejercicio permite una primera comprobación de la importancia del comercio internacional y pone de relieve algunos resultados a nivel global y a nivel sectorial.

Més noticies a l'entorn del període americà de Josep Pijoan Soteras (1881-1963)

[cat]El coneixement de la trajectòria dels catalans exiliats, com és el cas de Josep Pijoan Soteras, Francesc Cambó Batlle i Josep Gudiol Ricart, entre altres, és fascinant perquè permet comprendre i valorar el seu itinerari personal, alhora que projecta un dramàtic resplendor sobre la cultura catalana de l"època. En aquest article es plantegen dues qüestions. La primera se centra en Pijoan com a agent d"art, aspecte molt poc conegut fi ns ara; mentre que en la segona part tracta de Pijoan com a escriptor d"art i la problemàtica que es va produir amb motiu de la seva intervenció en el llibre Les pintures romàniques de Catalunya dins la «Monumenta Cataloniae», col·lecció patrocinada per Francesc Cambó. [eng]Knowledge of the pathways of Catalan exiles -as in the case of Jose Pijoan Soteras, Francesc Cambó Batlle and Jose Gudiol Ricart, among others- is fascinating because it permits understanding and evaluation of their personal itineraires while at the same time casting a dramatic light on Catalan culture of the epoch. In this article two questions are presented: the first is centered on Pijoan as an art dealer, an aspect very little known until now, while the second deals with Pijoan as a writer on art and the problems raised by his participation in the book on Romanesque painters of Catalonia in the «Monumenta Cataloniae», the collection of whitch Francesc Cambó was patron.

Espai públic i aparcament soterrat al voltant de l'Església de Santa Maria a Caldes de Montbui

Award-winning

Estimación de funciones no lineales en mezclas post-no lineales

This paper proposes a new method for blindly inverting a nonlinear mapping which transforms a sum of random variables. This is the case of post-nonlinear (PNL) source separation mixtures. The importance of the method is based on the fact that it permits to decouple the estimation of the nonlinear part from the estimation of the linear one. Only the nonlinear part is inverted, without considering on the linear part. Hence the initial problem is transformed into a linear one that can then be solved with any convenient linear algorithm. The method is compared with other existing algorithms for blindly approximating nonlinear mappings. Experiments show that the proposed algorithm outperforms the results obtained with other algorithms and give a reasonably good linearized data

Exploring Non-linear Transformations for an Entropybased Voice Activity Detector

In this paper we explore the use of non-linear transformations in order to improve the performance of an entropy based voice activity detector (VAD). The idea of using a non-linear transformation comes from some previous work done in speech linear prediction (LPC) field based in source separation techniques, where the score function was added into the classical equations in order to take into account the real distribution of the signal. We explore the possibility of estimating the entropy of frames after calculating its score function, instead of using original frames. We observe that if signal is clean, estimated entropy is essentially the same; but if signal is noisy transformed frames (with score function) are able to give different entropy if the frame is voiced against unvoiced ones. Experimental results show that this fact permits to detect voice activity under high noise, where simple entropy method fails.

On the Hall effect in polycrystalline semiconductors

Some problems involved in the interpretation of Hall‐effect measurements in polycrystalline semiconductors have not been resolved, especially when the contribution of the boundaries is appreciable. Using the Herring theory of transport properties in inhomogeneous semiconductors, we present an alternative interpretation to that previously proposed. This model permits the calculation of the Hall coefficient under general conditions.

Multigene Family Evolution: Perspectives from Insect Chemoreceptors.

Understanding the birth and diversification of multigene families is a fundamental evolutionary problem. I argue for the insect chemoreceptor superfamily as an outstanding model. Although these receptors are currently the preserve of neuroscientists, putative homologous genes exist in diverse animal and plant genomes, implying an ancient origin. Moreover, functional studies suggest that they act as ligand-gated ion channels in both chemosensory and non-chemosensory processes. This family permits synergism of investigations into its structural and regulatory evolution with ecological studies of the selective pressures driving these changes. In addition, sequence divergence in these receptors can be exploited through co-evolutionary and comparative genomics analyses to help to elucidate their 3D structure and signaling mechanisms, and to reveal experimentally-accessible candidate loci to explore the genetic basis of adaptation.

Polttoainekoostumuksen vaikutus lentotuhkan laatuun ja hyötykäyttömahdollisuuksiin UPM-Kymmene Oyj:n Kaukaan tehtailla

Tavoitteena tässä diplomityössä oli selvittää UPM-Kymmene Oyj:n Kaukaan tehtaiden lentotuhkan hyötykäyttömahdollisuuksia. Tarkastelussa olivat mukana metsälannoite-, maarakennus- sekä sementtiteollisuuskäytöt. Ensin työssä tarkasteltiin näitä vaihtoehtoja kirjallisuuden perusteella. Tämän jälkeen pohdittiin Kaukaan lentotuhkasta tehtyjen analyysien perusteella, mihin käyttökohteisiin lentotuhka soveltuu tällä hetkellä, sekä tulevaisuudessa uuden biopolttoainekattilan myötä. Lentotuhkan hyötykäyttöä lannoitteena ja maarakentamisessa säätelee lainsäädäntö. Lannoitteille on asetuksessa säädetty tietyille haitta-aineille enimmäispitoisuudet, jotka tuhkan tulee alittaa, jotta sitä voitaisiin hyödyntää. Maarakennuskäytölle on asetuksessa määritelty raja-arvot, jotka alitettaessa voidaan tuhkaa hyödyntää rakenteissa ilmoitusmenettelyllä. Tämä menettely helpottaa rakennusprojekteja huomattavan paljon, sillä tällöin ympäristölupaa ei tarvitse hakea jokaiselle projektille erikseen. Maarakennuskäyttö on mahdollista, vaikkei raja-arvoja alitettaisikaan, mutta tällöin ympäristöluvan hakeminen hankaloittaa projektien etenemistä ja aiheuttaa kustannuksia. Tuhkan on lisäksi oltava ominaisuuksiltaan riittävän hyvää, jotta hyötykäyttö olisi mahdollista. Kaukaan tuhkasta tehtyjen analyysien perusteella huomattiin, että se sopii hyvin metsälannoitteeksi ja todennäköisesti myös sementtiteollisuuskäyttöön. Maarakennuskäytön osalta tulokset osoittivat tuhkan olevan juuri rajoilla ilmoitusmenettelyn hyödyntämisen suhteen. Maarakennuskäytöstä tarvitaankin vielä lisäselvityksiä jatkossa. Uudessa polttolaitoksessa poltetaan myös turvetta puuperäisen lisäksi. Kirjallisuuden perusteella voitiin tehdä arvio, mihin suuntaan turve tulee tuhkaa todennäköisesti muuttamaan. Todettiin, että turpeen poltto parantaa todennäköisesti tuhkan laatua sementtiteollisuudessa käytön kannalta. Tuhkan lannoitekäyttöön turpeen poltolla todettiin taas olevan negatiivisia vaikutuksia. Maarakennuskäytön kannalta turpeella saattaa myös olla negatiivisia vaikutuksia. Tuhkaa kannattaisikin käyttää sementtiteollisuudessa silloin kun turvetta on polttoaineessa paljon ja muuhun käyttöön silloin kun turvetta on vähän.

Nouveautés dans l'ostéogenèse imparfaite: de la recherche à la prise en charge multidisciplinaire [News in osteogenesis imperfecta: from research to clinical management]

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare genetic disease. Today we are able to propose an adapted and efficient management to the patients with this rare disorder (and their families) thanks to a strong collaboration of clinicians and researchers. Recent knowledge regarding the genetics of OI permits an accurate diagnosis of the specific type of OI and its own molecular mechanism, a genetic counseling for family planning and prenatal diagnosis, and in addition more targeted therapeutic options. A specific support with re-education for patients with OI is necessary and efficient. To optimize patient care, a multidisciplinary consultation is proposed at the CHUV, moreover a web site is available for patients, families and therapists: www.infomaladiesrares.ch

Fractures de la cheville chez le patient âgé [Ankle fractures in the elderly patient].

Ankle fractures in adults are usually managed by open reduction internal fixation. In elderly patients the surgical dilemma relates to bone quality. Osteoporosis is the enemy of internal fixation, and secure purchase of screws in osteopenic bone may be difficult to achieve. Insufficient screw purchase may lead to loss of reduction, wound breakdown, and infection. Postoperative management after osteosynthesis usually requires an extended period of restricted weight bearing. However, this is not feasible in older patients as a result of their lack of strength in the upper extremities and frequent comorbidities. Therefore, augmen- ted methods of internal fixation and specific surgical techniques have been developed using metal and bone cement. This permits this fragile population to begin early full weight bearing in a removable brace.

La controverse avant le film : quelle politique pour Good Night, And Good Luck ?

This article aims to explain how newspapers commented on the movie Good Night, and Good Luck before its release. The media coverage anticipated George Clooney's film as a partisan attack launched against George W. Bush's policy since 9/11. Clooney advocates another reading: the historic confrontation between journalist Edward Murrow and Senator Joseph McCarty permits to reflect on the crucial role that the media play for democracy. Such reflection tries to prevent the dividing of the public sphere into antagonistic camps opposing "friends" to "foes," a division that undermines the possibility of a true pluralism. Our socio-semiotic analysis will focus on the critical work accomplished by the media, and on the way that work determines the collective meaning of a cultural object. Simultaneously, we will discuss the necessary conditions for pluralism in a public sphere.

Remediação de efluentes derivados da indústria de papel e celulose: tratamento biológico e fotocatalítico

The contribution of the industrial activities to the environmental contamination phenomena is evident. Great efforts are dedicated to the establishment of methodologies which permits an adequate treatment of the produced effluents, as a manner of minimizing the environmental impact of these wastes. The methodologies based on photocatalytic processes are very promise alternatives, because permits degradation of a great number of chemical substances of high toxic potential, without the use of other chemicals. The present work is an overview about the principal environmental aspects related with the paper and cellulose industry and the main alternatives employed for the reduction of environmental impact produced for its residues. The principal results of the photocatalytic treatment of this kind of effluents using metallic semiconductors is also showed.

Alternativas quimiométricas para a resolução de problemas analíticos clássicos: determinação espectrofotométrica de misturas de zircônio e háfnio

The determination of zirconium-hafnium mixtures is one of the most critical problem of the analytical chemistry, on account of the close similarity of their chemical properties. The spectrophotometric determination proposed by Yagodin et al. show not many practical applications due to the significant spectral interference on the 200-220 nm region. In this work we propound the use of a multivariate calibration method called partial least squares ( PLS ) for colorimetric determination of these mixtures. By using PLS and 16 calibration mixtures we obtained a model which permits determination of zirconium and hafnium with accuracy of about 1-2% and 10-20%, respectively. Using conventional univariate calibration the inaccuracy of the determination is about 10-25% for zirconium and above 57% for hafnium.

Bidding support for computational resources

Peer-reviewed

Modificação de um micro-extrator de vidro para pré-enriquecimento de traços de pesticidas organoclorados de água para análise por cromatografia gasosa

Two models of a glass micro-extractor were constructed after modification of a model proposed in the literature. The two models were used for the simultaneous extraction and enrichment of organochlorinated pesticides from aqueous matrixes to an organic solution appropriate for the gas chromatographic analysis of the pesticide. It was established that the performance of one of the modified micro-extractors permits the pre-concentration of the pesticides to a level that allow their quantitation at the trace level with electron capture detection. It is thus concluded that the glass micro-extractor is a suitable tool for the sample preparation step in the gas chromatographic analysis of environmental pollutants of the class of pesticides.