Suchergebnisse

[Context] The large astrometric and photometric survey performed by the Gaia mission allows for a panoptic view of the Galactic disc and its stellar cluster population. Hundreds of stellar clusters were only discovered after the latest Gaia data release (DR2) and have yet to be characterised. ; [Aims] Here we make use of the deep and homogeneous Gaia photometry down to G = 18 to estimate the distance, age, and interstellar reddening for about 2000 stellar clusters identified with Gaia DR2 astrometry. We use these objects to study the structure and evolution of the Galactic disc. ; [Methods] We relied on a set of objects with well-determined parameters in the literature to train an artificial neural network to estimate parameters from the Gaia photometry of cluster members and their mean parallax. ; [Results] We obtain reliable parameters for 1867 clusters. Our catalogue confirms the relative lack of old stellar clusters in the inner disc (with a few notable exceptions). We also quantify and discuss the variation of scale height with cluster age, and we detect the Galactic warp in the distribution of old clusters. ; [Conclusions] This work results in a large and homogeneous cluster catalogue, allowing one to trace the structure of the disc out to distances of ∼4 kpc. However, the present sample is still unable to trace the outer spiral arm of the Milky Way, which indicates that the outer disc cluster census might still be incomplete. ; We thank the referee for useful suggestions that helped clarify this paper. This work has made use of data from the European Space Agency (ESA) mission Gaia (www.cosmos.esa.int/gaia), processed by the Gaia Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC, www.cosmos.esa. int/web/gaia/dpac/consortium). Funding for the DPAC has been provided. This work was supported by the MINECO (Spanish Ministry of Economy) through grant ESP2016-80079-C2-1-R and RTI2018-095076-B-C21 (MINECO/FEDER, UE), and MDM-2014-0369 of ICCUB (Unidad de Excelencia Mar a de Maeztu ). TCG acknowledges support from Juan de la Cierva Formaci n 2015 grant, MINECO (FEDER/UE). FA is grateful for funding from the European Union s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 800502. AM acknowledges the support from the Portuguese Strategic Programme UID/FIS/00099/2019 for CENTRA. AV and AB acknowledge PREMIALE 2015 MITiC. DB is supported in the form of work contract FCT/MCTES through national funds and by FEDER through COMPETE2020 in connection to these grants: UID/FIS/04434/2019; PTDC/FIS-AST/30389/2017 & POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030389. The preparation of this work has made extensive use of Topcat (Taylor 2005), and of NASA s Astrophysics Data System Bibliographic Services, as well as the open-source Python packages Astropy (Astropy Collaboration 2013), NumPy (Van DerWalt et al. 2011), and scikit-learn (Pedregosa et al. 2011). The figures in this paper were produced with Matplotlib (Hunter 2007). Figure 12 was produced with corner (Foreman-Mackey 2016).

"Poetry is the expression of the beautiful, through words elaborately woven with each other", according to the Argentine writer Borges Jorge-Luis. Poetic process, the complicated art of creating poetry becomes perceived in different ways by every author. Thus, for others, it consists a sacramental route where the creator-poet exposes his internal world, his thoughts, his personal experiences, through verses, being in a situation of daydreaming or vision. Certainly, this clearly individual element in poetry is inevitably influenced from external factors, such as the common ideology of the times, the socio-political status and the moral perception of society. This emotive experience is especially arduous and suppressive and for the person who tastes it. However, this traumatic experience is simultaneously a curative treatment for the poet. For most poets, writhing poems reflects a situation of liberty, autonomy, promotion of ego and personal feelings, which are suppressed by the conservative look of the society whereas they, finally, find outlet through creation. French Surrealists move towards this spirit, and, generally, creators. For the beginning of this ceremony of poetic action, the boost, the stimulus, the spark that will penetrate the spirit of the poet enabling him to create poetry are necessary. And surely, the conception of many poems takes place during the evolution of a dream, where the poet's spirit is free to express as it wishes itself. A basic resource of inspiration for the majority of poets is the past, pleasant or traumatic, a stone corner of the past, however, and a guide towards the uncertain future. The concept of "Creative Writing" is placed on the same wavelength with the poetic process. In reality, it is integrated into it. All these who adopt and get involved with creative writing, are possessed with the same feelings and worries. The pleasure of creation, the new. The individual expression, the mental amalgamation with the receiver-reader are diffused. Furthermore, the person discovers new, until then, possibilities of himself. In parallel, there is an extroversion in the whole procedure. Positive experience creates the will for further continuation of this attempt. Regarding the cultivation and promotion of the trainees' abilities of creative writing, the role of the teacher is extremely important. The analyses of the texts of respected creators from the teacher function in a helpful way , as well as the perceptions related to writing of the writers themselves. What is more, this is intensified when common points of writers' assembly (Greeks and foreigners) about poetic creation are located. Teachers should present the positive elements of creative writing if they wish to reach its desired result and cultivation. After all this analysis and contact of trainees with the thoughts and way of writing of known writers, the need and desire for an attempt of trying this experience will, gradually, take place. This attempt of trial functions as a basic lever for the launch of creative writing. Besides, "writing is nothing else but a guided dream" (Borges Jorge- Luis). A "dream" that we all of us should live.

This article is devoted to analysis the value of the human security concept to African nations. The value of the concept is examined in seven different ways. First, it sends a message to state politicians that their responsibility goes beyond state sovereignty. Second, it creates shared responsibility towards local and regional peace and security. Third, it brought improvement in socio-economic aspects. Fourth, it launches diversified responses to achieve conflict agenda. Fifth, it asserts accountability is at the corner for any wrong doings. Sixth, it allows AU and decision making bodies of sub-regional organizations and states to make informed decision based on research and thorough analysis. Seventh, it is pushing Africans to find alternative source of funding. In general, it should be noted that the use of the concept of human security ensures adequate social transformations in modern Africa ; Статья посвящена анализу ценности концепции человеческой безопасности для африканских народов. Ценность концепции рассматривается в семи различных аспектах. В частности, каким образом концепция: 1)используется для информирования национальных политиков, их ответственность выходит за рамки государственного суверенитета; 2)декларирует общую ответственность за местный и региональный мир и безопасность; 3) способствует улучшению социально-экономических аспектов; 4) объясняет сущность актуального конфликта; 5) формирует чувство ответственности за любые неправильные поступки; 6) способствует принятию обоснованных решений институтами субрегиональных организаций и штатов; 7) стимулирует африканцев к поискам альтернативного источника финансирования.Отмечено, что использование концепции человеческой безопасности обеспечивает адекватные социальные трансформации в современной Африке, которые проявляются в: предотвращении социальных конфликтов различной природы; обеспечении реализации прав человека на образование, здравоохранение и социальную защиту; преодолении гендерного разрыва.Замечено, что положения концепции могут использоваться для преодоления текущих конфликтов в Африке, в частности в Центральной Африканской Республике и Демократической Республике Конго; для повышения уровня экономической способности континента; развития его системы безопасности.Отмечена необходимость дальнейших консультаций по аналитической и эксплуатационной ценности концепции безопасности, в частности, анализа имеющихся ресурсов безопасности, выявления необходимых способов их улучшения для обеспечения лучшего будущего для африканцев. ; Стаття присвячена аналізу цінності концепції людської безпеки для африканських народів. Цінність концепції розглядається в сімох різних аспектах. Зокрема, як концепція: 1) використовується для інформування національних політиків, що їхня відповідальність виходить за рамки державного суверенітету; 2) декларує спільну відповідальність за місцевий і регіональний мир та безпеку; 3) сприяє поліпшенню соціально-економічних аспектів; 4) тлумачить сутність актуального конфлікту; 5) формує почуття відповідальності за будь-які неправильні вчинки; 6) сприяє прийняттю обґрунтованих рішень інституціями субрегіональних організацій та штатів; 7) стимулює африканців до пошуків альтернативного джерела фінансування.Зазначено, що використання концепції людської безпеки забезпечує адекватні соціальні трансформації в сучасній Африці, які проявляються у: запобіганні соціальних конфліктів різної природи; забезпеченні реалізації прав людини на освіту, охорону здоров'я та соціальний захист; подоланні гендерного розриву.Зауважено, що положення концепції можуть використовуватися для подолання поточних конфліктів в Африці, зокрема в Центральній Африканській Республіці та Демократичній Республіці Конго; для підвищення рівня економічної спроможності континенту; розвитку його системи безпеки.Наголошено на необхідності подальших консультацій щодо аналітичної та експлуатаційної цінності концепції безпеки в частинах аналізу наявних безпекових ресурсів, виявлення необхідних способів їх покращення для забезпечення кращого майбутнього для африканців.

La actual configuración hegemónica neoliberal tiene como uno de sus rasgos el ejercicio biopolítico en diferentes dimensiones y grados. Dicho ejercicio de control se ha ido constituyendo como un manto transideológico, es decir, donde la distinción entre posturas políticas como la izquierda o la derecha quedan poco diferenciadas en cuanto el ejercicio biopolítico, pues cualquiera está en posibilidad de operar desde el poder biopolítico. A partir de esto, el presente artículo discute que el control, disciplinamiento y producción de las sociedades biopolíticas, ha de ser enfrentado con toda determinación, generando desplazamientos que rompan con ese consenso ideológico que invade como peste negra la vida social, colectiva e individual, de liberales y conservadores o como hoy se les quiera llamar. Ante el estado actual de las cosas, desvíos, desplazamientos, umbrales hacia la construcción de un mundo en común se hacen urgentes para alterar el orden biopolítico neoliberal, especialmente en su implantación metafísica. Es en el arraigo en la vida social de sus fundamentos para entender, producir y calificar la existencia donde radica la eficacia del dominio biopolítico y en buena medida lo que complica las acciones para hacerle frente. Lo que este escrito propone, deriva más de una toma de postura que de una preocupación meramente académica para entender lo social y las posibilidades de vivir en común ante la imposición del orden biopolítico neoliberal. En este sentido, habrá posicionamientos distintos en torno a esta problemática, que a fin de cuentas han de ser ponderados por su apuesta de vida más que por su corrección intelectual. ; The current neoliberal hegemonic configuration has as one of its features the biopolitical exercise in different dimensions and degrees. Such exercise of control has been constituted as a transideological mantle, i.e. where the distinction between political positions such as the left and the right remain little differentiated as regards the biopolitical exercise. It is in the rootedness in social life of its foundations to understand, produce and qualify existence where lies the effectiveness of the biopolitical domain and to a large extent what complicates the actions to face it. Moreover, when this biopolitical domain appears as a kind face of instrumental reason: the experts managing life: the domain of professionals, experts in particular, begins to invade every corner of human experience, making possible the atomization of the existence. We must question, in this sense, the role played by those who have been placed - particularly by choice - as those who receive, produce, transmit and operate the intervention in life from the dominant knowledge, that is from our position of cognitariat; but also, from the condition of entrepreneurial business logic that the same invades the intellectual positions that activist/military. From this reading, this article proposes reflecting on the world in common as an alternative to the biopolitical domain, assuming that the commitment to the common world means identifying the thresholds where the encounter with others takes place. Life and the world in common as a bet and not as a destination is a posture from corporality, or rather, from the intercorporality, of mutual affectations – and combat – body-to-body.

The present work has been performed under the Erasmus Mundus Doctorate in Membrane Engineering (EUDIME) program. The home institute was the Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Zaragoza, within the Nanostructured Films and Particles (NFP) group. The NFP is a member of the Nanoscience Institute of Aragon (INA). Two host universities were: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia at the University Nova de Lisboa (Portugal) and Mesoscale Chemical Systems group at the University of Twente (The Netherlands). This research has been carried out for approximately 4 years (2013-2017) and it was part of the EUDIME (FPA 2011-0014, SGA 2012-1719), which was funded by the European Union. The target of the research presented in this thesis is a design, development and fabrication of a microfluidic device with integrated membrane in the form of a membrane contactor for various biological applications. The microfluidic devices are fabricated and tested for oxygenation of blood and separation of anaesthetic gas. In the first part of the work, the microfluidic system for blood oxygenation, so called lungon- a-chip, is introduced. In such system, one chamber is devoted to pure oxygen, and the other chamber is designed for blood and they are separated by a dense permeable membrane. Computer modelling is performed in order to design the liquid chamber with homogenous liquid flow, low pressure drop of the system and low shear stress without compensation of high oxygenation. Two different microdevice geometries are proposed: alveolar and meander type design with vertical membrane arrangement. Fabricated devices as well as integrated membranes are made of PDMS by soft-lithography and their surface is modified in order to make them more hydrophilic. The experiments of blood oxygenation are performed and the oxygen concentration is measured by an oximeter electrode and compared to the mathematically modelled values. The sensitivity analysis of the key parameters and the possible improvements of the proposed architectures based on the mathematical simulations are presented as well. The second part of the thesis, introduces the concept of an alveolar microfluidic device as gas-ionic liquid micro-contactor for removal of CO2 from anaesthesia gas, containing Xe. The working principle involves the transport of CO2 through a flat PDMS membrane followed by the capture and enzymatic bioconversion in the ionic liquid solvent. As proof of concept demonstration, simple gas permeability experiments are performed followed by the experiments with ionic liquid and ionic liquid with the enzyme. Finally, an alternative concept of a silicon/glass microfluidic device with an integrated membrane in the form of a fractal geometry with nanonozzles as pores at the vertices of the third-level octahedra for the controlled addition of gaseous species is introduced. Fractal geometry, that is a three-dimensional repetitive unit, is fabricated by a combination of anisotropic etching of silicon and corner lithography. As a proof of concept, simple gas permeation experiments are performed, and the achieved results reveal the potentialities of the chip for high temperature gas-liquid contactors.

Debido a la fuerte influencia que ejerce el clima sobre la agricultura, su variabilidad y sus actuales cambios, es necesario desarrollar, a través del uso de la tecnología, herramientas de apoyo a los agricultores y a los gobiernos, para la toma de decisiones políticas y agronómicas. El presente estudio se realizó con el objetivo de validar la herramienta tecnológica DDSAT como posible servicio climático para Colombia, utilizando información experimental de cuatro híbridos sembrados en 3 zonas productoras del País entre los años 2013 y 2015. Luego de calibrar, se realizaron diferentes análisis de validación y verificación del desempeño del modelo CERES-Maize, a través de la comparación de observaciones experimentales y el uso de la información climática departamental de Córdoba, Tolima y Valle del Cauca. Utilizando una serie de pronósticos climáticos aportados por CIAT, se analizó el desempeño del pronóstico agroclimático retrospectivo de nueve años, en los municipios de Cereté, Espinal y la Unión. Se logró describir como los modelos de simulación de cultivos son sensibles al efecto del estrés hídrico en las diferentes etapas fisiológicas del maíz y a los años de baja precipitación (ENSO). A pesar de obtener bajos porcentajes de aciertos en los análisis de validación de los pronósticos climáticos y agroclimáticos, se observó una alta similitud entre el pronóstico y la ocurrencia del rendimiento simulado. Se resalta la necesidad de mejorar las metodologías de calibración de modelos de simulación, partiendo de la reestructuración de la toma de datos en campo y su procesamiento. ; //Abstract: Due to the strong influence of climate on agriculture, its variability and its current changes, it is necessary to develop, through the use of technology, support tools for farmers and governments, for political and agronomic decision-making. The present study was carried out with the objective of validating the technological tool DDSAT as a possible climate service for Colombia, using experimental information of four hybrids planted in 3 producing areas of the Country between 2013 and 2015. After calibrating, different validation and verification analyses of the performance of CERES-Maize model were made through the comparison of the experimental observations and the use of the departmental climate information of Córdoba, Tolima and Valle del Cauca. Using a series of climatic forecasts provided by CIAT, the performance of the nine-year retrospective agroclimatic forecast was analyzed in the municipalities of Cereté, Espinal and La Unión. It was possible to describe how crop simulation models are sensitive to the effect of water stress in different physiological stages of corn and to the years of low rainfall (ENSO). In spite of obtaining low percentages of correct answers in the validation analyzes of the climatic and agroclimatic forecasts, a high similarity was observed between the forecast and the occurrence of simulated yield. The need to improve the calibration methodologies of simulation models is highlighted, starting from the restructuring of the data collection in the field and its processing. ; Maestría

Fokus kajian penelitian ini adalah: Proses pengolahan ladang, nilai-nilai yang menjadi alasan dipertahankan dan karakter yang terbentuk dari pengolahan ladang berbasis kearifan lokal. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode kualitatif. Teknik pengumpulan data yang dipakai adalah observasi, wawancara dan quesioner. Analisis data meliputi pengumpulan data, reduksi data dan penyajian data. Hasil yang diperoleh dari penelitian ini sebagai berikut: 1) Proses Kearifan lokal pengolahan ladang terdiri atas 12 tahap disertai ritualnya masing-masing, yaitu: pemilihan lahan (bet lel fe'u), meminta izin (taton ma ta' sina), mengasah parang (noek fani- benas), pembukaan lahan (tafek nono hau ana), pembakaran kebun (tait nuta ma nopo), pemadaman api (sifo nopo), pembendungan erosi (eka ho'e), pembayaran kepada Tobe (ta uis), menjaga tanaman muda (titu belo), panen jagung pertama (tah fe'u), panen jagung (sek pena) dan kembali ke kampung (faen on kuan). 2) Nilai-nilai karakter yang dipertahankan masyarakat desa Fatoin, yaitu: nilai religius yang berhubungan dengan Tuhan, nilai yang berhubungan dengan diri sendir, nilai yang berhubungan dengan sesama dan nilai yang berhubungan dengan alam. 3) Karakter yang terbentuk dari kegitan pengolahan ladang adalah: karakter Religius (cinta Tuhan, taat beribadah, toleransi), karakter yang berhubungan dengan diri sendiri (jujur, tanggung jawab, kerja keras, percaya diri, sabar dan rendah hati), karakter yang berhubungan dengan sesama (menghargai hak dan kewajiban, sopan santun, menghargai karya dan prestasi orang lain, damai, patuh terhadap peraturan sosial, demokratis, kerjasama, dan gotong royong), nilai yang berhubungan dengan alam (cinta lingkungan dan menjaga kelestarian alam)The focus of this research study is: The process of cultivating the fields, the values that are being grounded and the characters formed from the cultivation of local wisdom-based fields. Method used in this research is qualitative method. Data collection techniques used were observation, interview and quesioner. Data analysis includes data collection, data reduction and presentation of data. The results obtained from this research are as follows: 1) The process of cultivating the local wisdom of cultivation consists of 12 stages with their respective rituals, namely: land selection (bet lel fe'u), requesting permission (taton ma ta 'sina) (noek fani-benas), land clearing (tafek nono hau ana), burning fires (tait nuta maopo), fire extinguisher (sifo nopo), erosion containment (eka ho'e), payment to Tobe the young plants (the veil), the first maize harvest (tah fe'u), corn harvest (sek pena) and return to the village (faen on kuan). 2) Character values maintained by Fatoin village communities, namely: religious values relating to God, self-relational values, values relating to neighbor and values related to nature. 3) Characters formed from farming activities are: Religious character (love of God, obedient worship, tolerance), self-dealing character (honest, responsible, hard work, confident, patient and humble), related characters with respect to the rights and obligations, the courtesy, respect for the work and achievement of others, peace, obedience to social, democratic, cooperation and mutual cooperation rules, values related to nature (environmental love and preservation of nature).

ABSTRACTMayahuel and Tlahuizcalpanteuctli in the Nahua Codices: Indigenous Readings of Nahuatl Pictorial and Alphabetic Texts byFelicia Rhapsody LopezPrior to colonization, diverse Indigenous populations across the area now known as Mesoamerica developed complex writing systems. In this dissertation, I examine Postclassic Mesoamerica as a time and place with shared knowledge that spanned across regions inhabited by diverse linguistic groups. During this time, the Nahuatl language served as a spoken lingua franca, and the Mixteca-Puebla writing style (used by Nahuatl speaking people) served as a written lingua franca. As such, my approach makes these glyphic texts (such as the Codex Borgia and other Borgia Group codices) and alphabetic Nahuatl texts (such as the Florentine Codex and the Codex Chimalpopoca) central to the understanding of indigenous culture. Using this approach, I begin by reexamining the ways that previous translations of texts have diminished the role of women within society, and specifically the role of women as readers and writers of diverse texts. I then shift my focus to these texts, challenging the view that they often function as ideograms not tied to a spoken language. I accomplish this by redefining what constitutes writing according to the Nahuatl texts, and proposing the presence of logographic and phonographic writing within the Codex Borgia. I develop a method of decipherment for Codex Borgia pages 49 through 54, using Codex Borgia page 51 (CB51) as a case study. Within this case study, I examine the nature of teotl in Mesoamerican religious traditions, and specifically address the roles of Mayahuel and maguey, as seen in both the alphabetic and glyphic texts. In so doing, I challenge the current identification of the central tree on CB51 as a young corn tree, arguing instead that it represents the teotl Mayahuel/maguey. I extend these methods of decipherment across Codex Borgia pages 49 through 54 to argue that these pages contain glyphs and iconography suggestive of the narratives of the teotl Tlahuizcalpanteuctli, Lord of the Dawn and an embodiment of the planet Venus. Furthermore these glyphs and iconography on CB49 through CB54 suggest the presence of a Venus Table that records the dates associated with the four stages of Venus within its synodic period: Venus as the Morning Star, its first period of invisibility, Venus as the Evening Star, and a second period of invisibility. I conclude my investigation with a translation and analysis of the narrative of Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl, the historical religious and political leader from Tollan who transformed into Tlahuizcalpanteuctli. I examine the role of Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl as the archetype for tlamacazque (people within the precontact religious order), and the events that led him to leave Tollan. Through an examination of the use of kinship terms in alphabetic Nahuatl texts, I challenge academic readings of Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl as an incestuous figure. The goal of this complete work is to serve as a decolonial project wherein the indigenous writers' voices can become central in our analyses and understandings of these and other indigenous cultures.

Предлагается и обосновывается периодизация хозяйственного освоения Северной Азии с XVII до начала XXI в. Упор делается на демографическом аспекте. Рассматриваются цели и состав миграционных потоков. Выделяются три периода: XVII в. промыслово-аграрное освоение; XVIII в. 1950-е гг. аграрно-промышленное; 1960-е гг. настоящее время индустриальное освоение. ; The author identifies four main periods of the development of North Asia. Four processes that went consistently in the history of Russian Asia and overlapped one another are qualitatively distinguished. The first of them is the military-political affiliation of the territories, the second is their commercial development, the third their agricultural development and the fourth their industrial development. Accordingly, Siberia and the Far East experienced three waves of colonization trade, agricultural and industrial. Of the many problems connected with the accession and development of Siberia, the author singled out and considered one: the purpose and nature of the colonization of the region. The article offers and justifies the periodization of the economic development of Siberia from the 17th century to the beginning of the 21st century. The focus is on the demographic aspect of the development of North Asia. The author identifies three periods: the 17th century: the trade-agrarian development; the 18th century the 1950s: the agro-industrial development; the 1960s to the present: the industrial development. Following N.M. Yadrintsev and modern historians, the author considers the 17th century as a separate period of economic development trade, since at this time the Russians came to Siberia with the main purpose of producing skins of fur-bearing animals, agricultural colonization was of secondary importance. But from the 18th century agricultural colonization became main, and the key aim of migration from European Russia to Siberia and the Far East was lands suitable for the cultivation of corn and vegetable crops. Industrial colonization was of secondary importance, in spite of the serious impulses. The predominantly agrarian development in North Asia remained until the 1950s and the last act of agrarian colonization was the development of virgin and fallow lands in the 1950s in Siberia and Kazakhstan. Since the 1960s the main aim of migrants in Siberia and the Far East was work on industrial sites. The development of West Siberian oil and gas, coal and ore deposits, the construction of hydroelectric power plants, railways required the mobilization of funds and human resources throughout the country, including the Siberian village. The influx of the population from the European part of the country in Siberia and the Far East was due to organized recruitment, public calls, distribution of graduates of higher and vocational educational institutions. Thus, the author divides the 435 years of Russian Siberia into three main periods of economic development: 1. The 17th century: the trade-agrarian development; 2. The 18th century the 1950s: the agro-industrial development; 3. The 1960s-2016: the industrial development. North Asia is currently in a state of social and economic crisis, the end of which is connected with the development of fuel and energy, metallurgical complexes and high-tech industry.

11th Congress of South-East European Studies. Sofia 2015The 11th Congress of South-East European Studies took place in Sofia, Bulgaria, between 31 August and 4 September 2015. It was organised by the International Association for Southeast European Studies (orig. in French: AIESEE – Associacion Internationale d' Études du Sud-Est Européen).South-Eastern Europe is an area looked upon by world powers with a large amount of ambivalence. As the region's states are not considered to be key global players, the events that occur in this part of the continent draw interest that is cyclical in nature and that is usually triggered by cyclical issues, too. Though relatively small, the area has been a point of interest for many researchers for over 100 years due to its ethnic diversity and the related inherent multi-nationality the scale of which is not encountered anywhere else in Europe. The cultural, linguistic, and religious pluralism of this region often produces specific social amalgams. With the cyclical interest aside, for a little more than a century the main European (and not only European) political powers have been making efforts to exert influence in the region, understanding the significance of its geographic location, where East meets West. Regardless of the changing dynamics of interest in South-Eastern Europe, the region will certainly remain one of the most fascinating focus areas for researchers and academics across the world, who will meet again not in five, but in four years at another congress this time to be held in Romanian Constanţa to discuss issues and topics related to this corner of the world. 11. Kongres AIESEE, Sofia 2015W dniach od 31 sierpnia do 4 września 2015 r. w Sofii (Bułgaria) odbył się 11 Kongres Studiów nad Europą Południowo-Wschodnią, zorganizowany przez Międzynarodowe Stowarzyszenie Studiów nad Europą Południowo-Wschodnią (AIESEE - Associacion Internationale d' Études du Sud-Est Européen).Europa Południowo-Wschodnia jest obszarem, do którego światowe mocarstwa podchodzą z dużą dozą ambiwalencji. Kraje tego regionu nie są głównymi graczami na arenie światowej, przez co wydarzenia związane z tą częścią Europy spotykają się z cyklicznym zainteresowaniem powstającym zazwyczaj w obliczu problemów, które - równie cykliczne wywoływane - zwracają uwagę świata na ten relatywnie nieduży region. Jest on jednak bezsprzecznie obszarem, który wzbudza zainteresowanie badaczy od ponad stu lat ze względu na swoje zróżnicowanie etniczne, pociągające za sobą rdzenną wielonarodowość regionu, niewystępującą na taką skalę gdzie indziej w Europie. Związana z tym wielość kultur, języków i religii generuje często specyficzne dla tej szerokości geograficznej amalgamaty społecznościowe. Również od nieco ponad stu lat o wpływy w tym regionie (abstrahując od wspomnianej cykliczności zainteresowania) zabiegają główne europejskie siły polityczne (a obecnie nie tylko europejskie) ze względu położenie geograficzne, w którym Zachód spotyka Wschód. Bez względu na dynamikę zainteresowania Europą Południowo-Wschodnią jest i będzie ona bezsprzecznie fascynującym obszarem badań naukowców całego świata, którzy ponownie spotkają się za cztery lata na kolejnym kongresie, tym razem w rumuńskiej Constanzy, aby pochylić się nad zagadnieniami związanymi z tą częścią świata.

ÖZET Günümüzde gelişmekte olan, geçiş sürecinde olan ve gelişmiş coğrafyalardaki ülkelerde doğrudan yabancı yatırımları çekmek ve cazibeyi arttırmak için yapılan tanıtımlara ilgi giderek artmaktadır. Yabancı yatırımların önemi konusunda ekonomistler hemfikirdir çünkü yatırımlar milli gelirin artması konusunda bir tetikleyici rol üstlenerek köşe taşı görevi görür. Bu çalışmanın amacı 33 farklı sahra altı Afrika ülkesine yapılan doğrudan yabancı yatırımların belirleyici unsurlarını, 1998-2012 yıllarına ait yıllık dengelenmiş panel dataları ekonometri modeli içinde kullanarak araştırmaktır. Çünkü önemli değişkenlerin belirlenmesi sahra altı Afrika ülkelerinin politika yapıcılarına yardım ederek doğrudan yabancı yatırımların bölgeye çekilme politikalarını formalize ederek yürütmek konusunda önemli bir rol oynar. Modelde bağımlı değişken doğrudan yabancı yatırım girişi olarak tanımlanmıştır. Açıklayıcı değişkenler ise 5 ana kategori altında toplanmıştır. 1- Ekonomik Belirleyiciler olan; piyasa büyüklüğü, getiri oranı, hükümet harcamaları, döviz kuru ve faiz oranı. 2- Kurumsal Faktörler olan; ticarete açıklık ve resmi kalkınma yardımı. 3- Altyapı Faktörleri olan; telefon hattı ( 100 kişi için ) ve elektrik üretimi. 4-Beşeri Sermaye Birikimi değişkenleri olan; toplam işgücü( her iki cinsiyet için), birincil ve ikincil okul bitirme ve kaydolma oranları ve 5-Doğal Kaynaklar olan doğal kaynak kiraları. Çalışma sabit etki regresyonu uygulayarak ana değişkenleri test etmektedir. Deneysel ekonometri çalışmasının sonucuna göre, getiri oranı, ticarete açıklık, resmi kalkınma yardımı, elektrik üretimi, doğal kaynaklar ve beşeri sermaye birikimi değişkenlerinin, doğrudan yabancı yatırımı belirleyen potansiyel ve anlamlı değişkenler olduğunu göstermiştir. Enflasyon ise doğrudan yabancı yatırımlarla negatif bir ilişki içindedir.Anahtar Kelimeler : Doğrudan Yabancı Yatırımlar, Belirleyiciler, SSA Sabit Etki TahminiABSTRACT Currently, many countries in the world including developing, transition and developed economies regions are giving high emphasis for promotion and attraction of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows. There is no objection among scholars since; investment has been considered as an engine and a corner stone of an economy, which plays significant role for the increments of national income. The aim of the study is to investigate determinants of FDI inflows in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries, by using annual balanced panel data of econometrics model on a sample of 33 SSA countries over the period of 1998-2012.Because, identifying significant variables will assist Sub-Saharan African policy makers to formulate and execute appropriate policies which attracting FDI inflows more to the region. In the model, dependent variable is FDI inflows. The explanatory variables are categorized under five main categories namely:- (1) Economic Determinants- which are market size, rate of return, government consumption, exchange rate & inflation rate), (2) Institutional factors includes, trade openness, and official development assistance); (3) Infrastructural variables- consists: telephone line(per 100 people), and electricity production, (4) Human Capital Accumulation(HCA) variables- mainly incorporates ,total labor force(both sexes), primary and secondary school completion as well as enrollment rates and, (5) Natural Resource variable which is natural resources rents. The study employed fixed effect regression method to test the main variables. The empirical econometrics analysis found out that; rate of return, trade openness, official development assistance (ODA), electricity production, natural resource, and human capital accumulation (HCA) variables are potential and significant determinants of FDI inflows to SSA while inflation has negatively associated with FDI.

11th Congress of South-East European Studies. Sofia 2015The 11th Congress of South-East European Studies took place in Sofia, Bulgaria, between 31 August and 4 September 2015. It was organised by the International Association for Southeast European Studies (orig. in French: AIESEE – Associacion Internationale d' Études du Sud-Est Européen).South-Eastern Europe is an area looked upon by world powers with a large amount of ambivalence. As the region's states are not considered to be key global players, the events that occur in this part of the continent draw interest that is cyclical in nature and that is usually triggered by cyclical issues, too. Though relatively small, the area has been a point of interest for many researchers for over 100 years due to its ethnic diversity and the related inherent multi-nationality the scale of which is not encountered anywhere else in Europe. The cultural, linguistic, and religious pluralism of this region often produces specific social amalgams. With the cyclical interest aside, for a little more than a century the main European (and not only European) political powers have been making efforts to exert influence in the region, understanding the significance of its geographic location, where East meets West. Regardless of the changing dynamics of interest in South-Eastern Europe, the region will certainly remain one of the most fascinating focus areas for researchers and academics across the world, who will meet again not in five, but in four years at another congress this time to be held in Romanian Constanţa to discuss issues and topics related to this corner of the world. 11. Kongres AIESEE, Sofia 2015W dniach od 31 sierpnia do 4 września 2015 r. w Sofii (Bułgaria) odbył się 11 Kongres Studiów nad Europą Południowo-Wschodnią, zorganizowany przez Międzynarodowe Stowarzyszenie Studiów nad Europą Południowo-Wschodnią (AIESEE - Associacion Internationale d' Études du Sud-Est Européen).Europa Południowo-Wschodnia jest obszarem, do którego światowe mocarstwa podchodzą z dużą dozą ambiwalencji. Kraje tego regionu nie są głównymi graczami na arenie światowej, przez co wydarzenia związane z tą częścią Europy spotykają się z cyklicznym zainteresowaniem powstającym zazwyczaj w obliczu problemów, które - równie cykliczne wywoływane - zwracają uwagę świata na ten relatywnie nieduży region. Jest on jednak bezsprzecznie obszarem, który wzbudza zainteresowanie badaczy od ponad stu lat ze względu na swoje zróżnicowanie etniczne, pociągające za sobą rdzenną wielonarodowość regionu, niewystępującą na taką skalę gdzie indziej w Europie. Związana z tym wielość kultur, języków i religii generuje często specyficzne dla tej szerokości geograficznej amalgamaty społecznościowe. Również od nieco ponad stu lat o wpływy w tym regionie (abstrahując od wspomnianej cykliczności zainteresowania) zabiegają główne europejskie siły polityczne (a obecnie nie tylko europejskie) ze względu położenie geograficzne, w którym Zachód spotyka Wschód. Bez względu na dynamikę zainteresowania Europą Południowo-Wschodnią jest i będzie ona bezsprzecznie fascynującym obszarem badań naukowców całego świata, którzy ponownie spotkają się za cztery lata na kolejnym kongresie, tym razem w rumuńskiej Constanzy, aby pochylić się nad zagadnieniami związanymi z tą częścią świata.

The globalization of the economy boots a strong development of an agribusiness model based on the integration of intensive and specialized farming systems in agribusiness companies driving input supply, technique and economic aspects through global trade channels. This model draws new patterns of local development where farmers and local people interact with global players. The county of Rio Verde (Goías State, Brazil) is a good example of this model, with the gradual development of an agribusiness cluster based on corn and soybean then an intensive poultry production coordinated by Brasil Foods. In the 2000s, the strong development of sugar cane production interacts with this dynamics driven by Brasil Foods questioning directly the model of local development. The authors analyze this local and regional development through the building the agribusiness cluster. The building of the Rio Verde cluster based on global players has a substantial improvement in the main indicators of socio-economic development. However, the externalities are high environmental pressure and governance mechanisms dominated by large private firms and funded in large part by the government. ; La mondialisation des échanges des produits agricoles provoque l'expansion, d'un modèle agroindustriel, basé sur l'intégration de systèmes de production intensifs et spécialisés à des grandes firmes pilotant l'apport d'intrants, la production, la transformation et la commercialisation au travers de circuits commerciaux et financiers planétaires. Impulsant des trajectoires de développement exogènes aux bassins de production, ce modèle interroge quant aux formes de durabilité qu'il instaure. La commune de Rio Verde (Goías, Brésil), illustre ce processus, avec la construction successive d'un pôle agroindustriel autour de la production de grains (maïs, soja), puis d'un pôle avicole et porcin organisé par la firme Perdigao (aujourd'hui Brasil Foods). L'émergence de ce cluster agroindustriel international appuyé par des politiques publiques fédérales volontaristes, a permis une amélioration substantielle des principaux indicateurs de développement socio-économique, même si cela s'est réalisé au prix de pressions environnementales fortes et d'une gouvernance territoriale dominée par les grandes firmes privées et le pouvoir public fédéral. Plus récemment, l'expansion de la canne-à-sucre et du secteur de l'alcool réinterroge cette dynamique territoriale autour de l'articulation. ; A globalização do comércio de produtos agrícolas provoca a expansão do agronegócio, baseado na integração de sistemas de produção intensivos e especializados. Grandes empresas globais fornecem pacotes técnico-econômicos de produção, e controlam o fornecimento de insumos, a transformação e a comercialização dos produtos através de canais comerciais e financeiros globais. A sustentabilidade deste modelo, pulsando caminhos de desenvolvimento exógenas, deve ser analisada. O município de Rio Verde (Goiás, Brasil), ilustra esse processo com a construção sucessiva de um centro agroindustrial de grãos (milho e soja), seguido do setor da avicultura e suinocultura controlado pela empresa Perdigão (hoje Brasil Foods). O surgimento deste polo agroindustrial internacional, apoiada por políticas públicas federais proativas, levou a uma melhora substancial dos principais indicadores de desenvolvimento socioeconômico, embora isso foi conseguido à custa de pressões ambientais fortes e de uma governança territorial dominada por uma empresa e o poder público federal. Mais recentemente, a expansão do setor de açúcar e álcool transtorna esta dinâmica territorial articulada entre produção de grãos e pecuária intensiva.

[eng] The guiding theme of this thesis is the empirical analysis of recent food price behavior. It is composed of three applied studies that address the impacts of energy prices on both food price levels and volatility, as well as the impact of public information release on futures markets of major agricultural commodities. Non-structural time series econometric techniques are applied for such purpose. In the first chapter, the impact of the Spanish biodiesel industry on agricultural feedstock prices is investigated. Both price level and volatility interactions are evaluated. Three relevant prices are considered: the international crude oil price, the Spanish biodiesel blend price and the Spanish sunflower oil price. Weekly Prices are observed from November 2006 to October 2010, yielding a total of 205 observations. Blended biodiesel, sunflower and crude oil prices are found to be interrelated in the long-run. This parity is preserved by the biodiesel industry in order to be in equilibrium. The impact of biodiesel on sunflower oil price levels is found to be very modest, which is reasonable given the small size of the Spanish biodiesel industry. Volatility spillovers between sunflower and biodiesel markets are found to be significant. Evidence of asymmetries in price volatility patterns is also found, with price declines causing more price instability than price increases. Asymmetries can be triggered by the availability of alternative feedstocks in the market, as well as by the unwillingness of biodiesel producers to increase food prices when feedstocks become more expensive. In the second chapter, the impact of the EU biodiesel market on agricultural feedstock prices is analyzed. The study comprises the period between 06/11/2008 to 14/06/2012, and is based on 189 weekly prices. Cointegration analysis suggests that the three prices have a long-run equilibrium relationship that is preserved by the pure biodiesel price. Biodiesel prices are not found to have an effect on rapeseed oil prices. Volatility of pure biodiesel price is affected by its own past volatility and past pure biodiesel and rapeseed market shocks. Also, evidence is found of asymmetries in price volatility, with negative market shocks having a greater impact than positive ones. While pure biodiesel prices cannot affect rapeseed oil price-levels, they can bring instability to these prices. Inventory building and the euro-dollar exchange rate are found to be relevant risk management instruments that can be used to mitigate the biodiesel and rapeseed oil price volatilities. In the third chapter, the impact of public information in the form of USDA-NASS crop production reports on daily corn and soybeans futures prices is evaluated. The study period is between 1970 to 2004, with a total of 700 observations. Results show that USDA-NASS crop production reports significantly affect futures price levels. Report releases at the beginning and at the end of the harvest season are usually the ones exerting a stronger impact. Report releases are not however found to have an effect on price volatility, which suggests gradual price-level changes as a response to published information. Cross-market effects of news are also found to be significant.

Since the 1970s Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR) to the Apollo Cube Corner Retroreflector (CCR) arrays (developed by the University of Maryland, UMD) supplied almost all significant tests of General Relativity (Alley et al., 1970; Chang et al., 1971; Bender et al.,1973): possible changes in the gravitational constant, gravitational self-energy, weak equivalence principle, geodetic precession, inverse-square force-law. The LNF group, in fact, has just completed a new measurement of the lunar geodetic precession with Apollo array, with accuracy of 9 × 10−3, comparable to the best measurement to date. LLR has also provided significant information on the composition and origin of the moon. This is the only Apollo experiment still in operation. In the 1970s Apollo LLR arrays contributed a negligible fraction of the ranging error budget. Since the ranging capabilities of ground stations improved by more than two orders of magnitude, now, because of the lunar librations, Apollo CCR arrays dominate the error budget. With the project MoonLIGHT (Moon Laser Instrumentation for General relativity High-accuracy Tests), in 2006 INFN-LNF joined UMD in the development and test of a new-generation LLR payload made by a single, large CCR (100mm diameter) unaffected by the effect of librations. With MoonLIGHT CCRs the accuracy of the measurement of the lunar geodetic precession can be improved up to a factor 100 compared to Apollo arrays. From a technological point of view, INFN-LNF built and is operating a new experimental apparatus (Satellite/lunar laser ranging Characterization Facility, SCF) and created a new industry-standard test procedure (SCF-Test) to characterize and model the detailed thermal behavior and the optical performance of CCRs in accurately laboratory-simulated space conditions, for industrial and scientific applications. Our key experimental innovation is the concurrent measurement and modeling of the optical Far Field Diffraction Pattern (FFDP) and the temperature distribution of retroreflector payloads under thermal conditions produced with a close-match solar simulator. The apparatus includes infrared cameras for non-invasive thermometry, thermal control and real-time payload movement to simulate satellite orientation on orbit with respect to solar illumination and laser interrogation beams. These capabilities provide: unique pre-launch performance validation of the space segment of LLR/SLR (Satellite Laser Ranging); retroreflector design optimization to maximize ranging efficiency and signal-to-noise conditions in daylight. Results of the SCF-Test of our CCR payload will be presented. Negotiations are underway to propose our payload and SCF-Test services for precision gravity and lunar science measurements with next robotic lunar landing missions. In particular, a scientific collaboration agreement was signed on Jan. 30, 2012, by D. Currie, S. Dell'Agnello and the Japanese PI team of the LLR instrument of the proposed SELENE-2 mission by JAXA (Registered with INFN Protocol n. 0000242-03/Feb/2012). The agreement foresees that, under no exchange of funds, the Japanese single, large, hollow LLR reflector will be SCF-Tested and that MoonLIGHT will be considered as backup instrument.