Estimate of the willing to pay for ecological panela in Colombia: Approach from the Sustainable Consumption

Estimation of the environmental services values, represents a crucial element in the process of taking of decisions on environmental programs and policies to develop, as well as an orientation instrument for the implementation of production patterns and more sustainable consumption. From this perspective, the present study has as purpose to estimate the willing to pay (WTP) of the consumers from Bogota of ecological panela (product obtained from sugar canne in small rural factories). For this the method of Contingent Valuation was used. By means of selected stratified sampling a sample was determined by socioeconomic stratum for the city of Bogota the consumers were asked if they would be willing to pay for ecological panela, as well as topics related with their consumption behavior, like preferences, environmental, social commitment, and their socioeconomic characteristics. By means of the combination of this method of economic valuation and qualitative information this paper concluded that the consumers are willing to pay a bigger price for these panela types, especially for the powder ecological panela. A crucial conclusion is that, the existence of a direct relationship between the socioeconomic stratum and the WTP by conventional and ecological powder panela. Finally, it was determined that the commitment for the conservation and protection of the environment, when it is perceived by the consumer like an element that it guarantees the consumption of healthy and innocuous products, it represents a decisive factor in the willing to pay a bigger price for conventional and ecological powder panela.Ecological Panela, Contingent Valuation, Sustainable Consumption, Ecological Products.

Increased amino acid turnover and myofibrillar protein breakdown in advanced cancer are associated with muscle weakness and impaired physical function

Muscle wasting in cancer negatively affects physical function and quality of life. This study investigates amino acid metabolism and the association with muscle mass and function in patients with cancer.In 16 patients with advanced cancer undergoing chemotherapy and 16 healthy controls, we administered an intravenous pulse and prime of stable amino acid tracers. We took blood samples to measure the Rate of appearance (Ra), whole body production (WBP), clearance (Cl), and post absorptive whole body net protein breakdown (WBnetPB). Plasma amino acid concentrations and enrichments were analysed by LC-MS/MS. We assessed muscle mass, handgrip/leg/respiratory muscle strength and reported physical activity, quality of life, and physical function.Muscle strength was lower in cancer patients than in healthy controls. Total and limb muscle mass, reported physical activity and WBnetPB were comparable. WBP and Cl of tau-methylhistidine, leucine, glutamine and taurine were higher in cancer patients as well as glycine Cl. Amino acid metabolism was correlated with low muscle mass, strength, physical function and quality of life.Myofibrillar protein breakdown and production of amino acids involved in muscle contractility are up regulated in patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy and related to muscle weakness and reduced physical outcomes

A constitutive model for analyzing martensite formation in austenitic steels deforming at high strain rates

This study presents a constitutive model for steels exhibiting SIMT, based on previous seminal works, and the corresponding methodology to estimate their parameters. The model includes temperature effects in the phase transformation kinetics, and in the softening of each solid phase through the use of a homogenization technique. The model was validated with experimental results of dynamic tensile tests on AISI 304 sheet steel specimens, and their predictions correlate well with the experimental evidence in terms of macroscopic stress–strain curves and martensite volume fraction formed at high strain rates. The work shows the value of considering temperature effects in the modeling of metastable austenitic steels submitted to impact conditions. Regarding most of the works reported in the literature on SIMT, modeling of the martensitic transformation at high strain rates is the distinctive feature of the present paper.The researchers of the University Carlos III of Madrid are indebted to the Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid (Project CCG10-UC3M/DPI-5596)) and to the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación de España (Project DPI/2008-06408) for the financial support received which allowed conducting part of this work. The authors express their thanks to Mr. Philippe and Mr. Tobisch from the company Zwick for the facilities provided to perform the tensile tests at high strain rates

Peer Leaders’ Perceptions of Learning Experiences

Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) at Florida International University maintains a large volume of student and Peer Leader (PL) participation. Students, who participate in PLTL, on average, perform a letter grade better than their peers who do not participate in PLTL. To analyze PL perspectives on learning, a survey was conducted. The survey had a series of Likert scale statements and free response questions on learning. The nature of the questions are regarding barriers in education, individual learning strengths and weaknesses, and the perception that PLTL improved the learner’s capabilities to overcome these obstacles. Based on the survey responses, PLs perceive an improvement in the way they learn during and/or after becoming a PL. Students participating in PLTL exhibited an increase in course content retention and perceived improvement in study skills. Students in PLTL also perceived the PLTL workshop environment to be comfortable enough to address questions and misconceptions

Prototipo de vivienda de adobe con energías renovables: caso de estudio localidad de Raíces, Área Natural Protegida del Parque Nacional del Nevado de Toluca, Estado de México

Como una alternativa a la construcción de la vivienda, este artículo introduce una nueva tecnología para edificar un prototipo de casa de adobe con energías renovables. Se muestrauna metodología para su diseño que se establece a partir de las características de las viviendas de la localidad de Raíces, ubicada en el municipio de Zinacantepec, dentro del territorio del Parque Nacional del Nevado de Toluca, espacio natural protegido por Decreto en 1936

A constitutive model for analyzing martensite formation in austenitic steels deforming at high strain rates

This study presents a constitutive model for steels exhibiting SIMT, based on previous seminal works, and the corresponding methodology to estimate their parameters. The model includes temperature effects in the phase transformation kinetics, and in the softening of each solid phase through the use of a homogenization technique. The model was validated with experimental results of dynamic tensile tests on AISI 304 sheet steel specimens, and their predictions correlate well with the experimental evidence in terms of macroscopic stress–strain curves and martensite volume fraction formed at high strain rates. The work shows the value of considering temperature effects in the modeling of metastable austenitic steels submitted to impact conditions. Regarding most of the works reported in the literature on SIMT, modeling of the martensitic transformation at high strain rates is the distinctive feature of the present paper.The researchers of the University Carlos III of Madrid are indebted to the Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid (Project CCG10-UC3M/DPI-5596)) and to the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación de España (Project DPI/2008-06408) for the financial support received which allowed conducting part of this work. The authors express their thanks to Mr. Philippe and Mr. Tobisch from the company Zwick for the facilities provided to perform the tensile tests at high strain rates

Inversores como nuevos agentes del cambio ambiental de las empresas, Los

Como su propio nombre indica, el objetivo del trabajo de investigación que se presenta en este documento ha sido profundizar sobre la influencia que los inversores han tenido, están teniendo y van a tener en el comportamiento medioambiental de las empresas. A través del análisis del fenómeno de los fondos de inversión «verdes», en este trabajo vemos cómo ética y negocio no han de constituir un «juego de suma cero», sino que, por el contrario, las empresas pueden favorecer su capacidad de crear valor considerando de forma simultánea los aspectos de negocio y su impacto en el medio ambiente y en la sociedad en general.cambio ambiental empresas; medioambiente;