Catalytic Behaviour of MnZrOx System for Heterogenous Biodiesel Production

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Political constitutionalism in the age of populism

This article examines the relationship between populism and political constitutionalism. It claims that while political constitutionalism is at odds with, and better than, the wide range of experiences labelled under the term ‘populism’, political constitutionalists would do well to distance themselves from the claim that the constitution is political “all the way down”. First, the article argues that the normative ambiguity of the term ‘populism’ makes it ill-fated for the purposes of constitutional theory and a call for clearer language for constitutional discussion is defended. Second, it argues that political constitutionalism should abandon, or significantly adjust, its commitment to what the article calls constitutional lawlessness and is defined as the idea that the constitution is and ought to be entirely malleable. The reasons offered for this proposal differ from those advanced by legal constitutionalism and instead hang on the democratic authority that political constitutionalists vindicate for majoritarian institutions. Political constitutionalism, the article concludes, should grant some of the normative advantages of the law to the outcomes of constitutional decision-making processes. The move makes political constitutionalism more consistent in its own right and, importantly, safer from the charge that it feeds different sorts of constitutional disorder

Ciudadanía y Justicia. El control de constitucionalidad desde la democracia deliberativa [Citizenship and Justice. Judicial review in deliberative democracy]

RESUMEN En este artículo criticamos la defensa del control de constitucionalidad presentado por Cristina Lafont en su libro Democracy Without Shortcuts (OUP 2020). Por un lado, analizamos el caso de la jurisprudencia de la Corte Suprema de Estados Unidos para demostrar que no funciona como la tesis deliberativa de Lafont asume. Por otro lado, desarrollamos dos críticas normativas y una metodológica. En relación a las críticas normativas, procedemos primero a problematizar la asociación de ideas de autogobierno y democracia con cuestiones de aquiescencia e identificación con el derecho, y después examinamos críticamente la idea de igualdad política que respalda la propuesta de Lafont. Finalmente, invitamos a la autora a explorar el potencial deliberativo que ofrecen las diferencias en el diseño institucional de distintos mecanismos de judicial review. ABTRACT In this article we criticise the defence of judicial review offered by Cristina Lafont in her book Democracy Without Shortcuts (OUP 2020). On one side, we analyse the case law of the Supreme Court of the United States to show that it does not work as Lafont’s thesis assumes. On another side, we develop two normative critics and one methodological. In regards to the normative, we first problematise the linkage of ideas of self-government and democracy with the issue of allegiance and agreement to the law and we then critically examine the idea of political equality that underpins Lafont’s proposal. Finally, we suggest engaging in discussions on institutional design of judicial review to explore the deliberative potential of alternative mechanisms to strong judicial review of legislation

Ciudadanía y justicia. El control de constitucionalidad desde la democracia deliberativa

In this article we criticise the defence of judicial review offered by Cristina Lafont in her book Democracy without Shortcuts. On one side, we analyse the case law of the Supreme Court of the United States to show that it does not work as Lafont’s thesis assumes. On another side, we develop two normative critics and one methodological. In regard to the normative, we first problematise the linkage of ideas of self-government and democracy with the issue of allegiance and agreement to the law and we then critically examine the idea of political equality that underpins Lafont’s proposal. Finally, we suggest engaging in discussions on institutional design of judicial review to explore the deliberative potential of alternative mechanisms to strong judicial review of legislation.Este artículo critica la defensa del control de constitucionalidad presentada por Cristina Lafont en su libro Democracia sin atajos. Por un lado, analiza el caso de la jurisprudencia de la Corte Suprema de Estados Unidos para demostrar que no funciona como la tesis deliberativa de Lafont asume. Por otro lado, desarrolla dos críticas normativas y una metodológica. En relación con las críticas normativas, procede primero a problematizar la asociación de ideas de autogobierno y democracia con cuestiones de aquiescencia e identificación con el derecho, y después examina críticamente la idea de igualdad política que respalda la propuesta de Lafont. Finalmente, invita a la autora a explorar el potencial deliberativo que ofrecen las diferencias en el diseño institucional de distintos mecanismos de judicial review

Una aproximación al problema de la legitimidad del control de constitucionalidad desde las teorías de la interpretación jurídica

Máster Oficial en Estudios Avanzados en Derechos HumanosPresidente: Ángel Llamas Cascón; Vocal: Emilio Pajares; Secretaria: Silvina Ribott

Efficient Catalytic Hydrotreatment of Kraft Lignin to Alkylphenolics using Supported NiW and NiMo Catalysts in Supercritical Methanol

Efficient catalytic hydrotreatment of Kraft lignin to yield aromatic monomers was demonstrated in supercritical methanol using a variety of NiW and NiMo catalysts on acidic, basic and neutral supports. It was found that NiW catalysts on neutral or basic supports are highly suitable for depolymerization of Kraft lignin to methanol soluble organics in high yields at 320 °C and 35 bar H2 pressure. An extensive analysis of the product mixtures was carried out using GC-MS-FID, GC × GC-FID, 2D HSQC NMR, GPC and elemental analysis, and several techniques were used for the characterization of the prepared catalysts in order to determine the acidity and basicity of the support and morphological changes after the catalytic reaction. The best results were obtained with sulphided NiW catalysts supported on activated carbon. Efficient depolymerization of Kraft lignin and a total 28 wt% monomer yield was obtained within 8 h and 76% of the products were alkylphenolics and guaiacolics. Over prolonged reaction times, the total monomer yield reached 35 wt%, containing up to 26 wt% alkylphenolics. During catalytic processing, deoxygenation was the most prevalent reaction and, importantly, no competing aromatic ring hydrogenation or undesired repolymerization to insoluble char was observed. The catalytic system described here represents a highly efficient and selective method for the production of alkylphenolics and guaiacolics from Kraft lignin

Molecular dynamics and kinetic modelling of the CO and H2 oxidation pattern of a composite MnCeOx catalyst

The CO and H2 oxidation functionality of a composite MnCeOx catalyst with large exposure of Mn(IV) sites has been investigated in a wide range of experimental conditions (T, 293–533 K; pCO/p0 or pH2/p0, 0.00625–0.025; pO2/p0, 0.00625–0.20) to ascertain the mechanistic clues of a peculiar preferential CO oxidation pattern. The MnCeOx shows high CO oxidation activity in the range of 293–533 K, while a large activation energy hinders the H2 oxidation at T < 373 K. Computational analysis of adsorption and activation energies on a model Mn4O8 cluster, and unchanging energy barriers of CO2 and H2O formation, in absence and in the presence of O2, indicate that the abstraction of lattice O-atoms is the rate limiting step (r.l.s.) of the CO and H2 oxidation. This reactivity pattern relies on strong chemical affinity of Mn(IV) sites toward CO enabling the easy abstraction of lattice O-atoms, while H2 oxidation occurs via an extrafacial reaction path driven by diatomic oxygen species produced by spillover and adsorption processes at T > 373 K. Mechanistic clues were synthesized into macrokinetic models predicting the CO and H2 oxidation activity of the MnCeOx catalyst under any conditions

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 outbreak on pig farm, Argentina

In June-July 2009, an outbreak of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 infection occurred on a pig farm in Argentina. Molecular analysis indicated that the virus was genetically related to the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus strain. The outbreak presumably resulted from direct human-to-pig transmission.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Outbreak on Pig Farm, Argentina

In June–July 2009, an outbreak of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 infection occurred on a pig farm in Argentina. Molecular analysis indicated that the virus was genetically related to the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus strain. The outbreak presumably resulted from direct human-to-pig transmission