Related variety and regional growth in Spain*

This paper investigates whether related variety, among other types of spatial externalities, affected regional growth in Spain at the NUTS 3 level during the period 1995–2007. We found evidence that related variety matters for growth across regions, especially when using two new methods that measure revealed relatedness between industries. The first method is based on Porter's cluster classification while the second method uses the proximity index proposed by Hidalgo et al. Our analyses show that Spanish provinces with a wide range of related industries tend to show higher economic growth rates, once we control for other determinants of growth. Este artículo investiga si la variedad relacionada, entre otros tipos de externalidades espaciales, afectó el crecimiento regional en España a nivel NUTS 3 durante el periodo 1995‐2007. Hallamos pruebas de que la variedad relacionada influye en el crecimiento entre regiones, especialmente al utilizar dos métodos nuevos que miden el grado de conexión manifiesto entre industrias. El primer método está basado en la clasificación de conglomerados de Porter, mientras que el segundo método utiliza el índice de proximidad propuesto por Hidalgo et al. Nuestros análisis muestran que las provincias españolas con un amplio rango de industrias relacionadas tienden a mostrar tasas de crecimiento económico más altas, una vez que se logra controlar otros factores determinantes del crecimiento.      

Carbon Dioxide Mineralisation and Integration with Flue Gas Desulphurisation Applied to a Modern Coal-Fired Power Plant

For Finland, carbon dioxide mineralisation was identified as the only option for CCS （carbon capture and storage） application. Unfortunately it has not been embraced by the power sector. One interesting source-sink combination, however, is formed by magnesium silicate resources at Vammala, located -85 km east of the 565 MWe coal-fired Meri-Pori Power Plant on the country＇s southwest coast. This paper assesses mineral sequestration of Meri-Pori power plant CO2, using Vammala mineral resources and the mineralisation process under development at Abo Akademi University. That process implies Mg（OH）E production from magnesium silicate-based rock, followed by gas/solid carbonation of the Mg（OH）2 in a pressurised fluidised bed. Reported are results on experimental work, i.e., Mg（OH）2 production, with rock from locations close to Meri-Pori. Results suggest a total CO2 fixation capacity -50 Mt CO2 for the Vammala site, although production of Mg（OH）2 from rock from the site is challenging. Finally, as mineralisation could be directly applied to flue gases without CO2 pre-capture, we report from experimental work on carbonation of Mg（OH）2 with CO2 and CO2-SO2-O2 gas mixtures. Results show that SO2 readily reacts with Mg（OH）2, providing an opportunity to simultaneously capture SO2 and CO2, which could make separate flue gas desulphurisation redundant.     

Combination hemodialysis and centrifugal therapeutic plasma exchange: 18 years of Canadian experience

Hemodialysis (HD) and therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) are extracorporeal treatments that may both be required in the same patient. When provided separately, 7–8 hours of therapy time is required. Simultaneous administration of both therapies can reduce time and personnel requirements. We report our 18‐year institutional experience with combination HD and centrifugal TPE therapy. During combination therapy, the TPE circuit is attached to the HD circuit through an extension blood line connected to the HD venous return line, allowing simultaneous operation of both circuits. The HD circuit is anticoagulated with heparin and the TPE circuit with regional citrate. Blood flow rates through the HD circuit can reach 350 mL/min with plasma removal rates in the TPE circuit up to 60 mL/min. Ninety‐two patients received a total of 621 treatments between December 1993 and July 2011. All treatments were completed within 4 hours. No major treatment‐related adverse events occurred and less than 10% of treatments were complicated by minor events. Main indications for treatment were ANCA (anti‐neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody) vasculitis (n = 25), Goodpasture's/antiglomerular basement membrane disease (n = 24), adult thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura/hemolytic uremic syndrome (n = 24), and acute antibody‐mediated renal transplant rejection (n = 8). Overall rates of renal recovery, in‐hospital mortality, and overall mortality at 18‐year follow‐up were 45% (41/ 92), 2% (2/92), and 21% (19/ 92), respectively, compatible with published literature. Combination HD and TPE is safe, efficient, and requires less human resources and time than conventional sequential therapy. It should be considered in patients whose treatment regimen includes HD and TPE.     

Creating resilient and sustainable manufacturing businesses – a conceptual fitness model

Over recent years, UK manufacturing industry has experienced turbulence in its business performance. Lower cost products, and responsive and flexible processes, are now essential in order for a company to capture new markets and to become economically resilient. Business resiliency is a term used frequently to describe a company’s ability to adapt and cope with disturbance. This has led to the generation of many frameworks and models aimed at guiding companies towards improved business performance. However, these frameworks are primarily strategic in nature and do not necessarily focus on creating resilience at an operational level in manufacturing companies. The authors employ a mixed research approach initially undertaking a literature review and then a screening survey in to 25 manufacturing companies in order to identify the key business resiliency techniques employed. Following this, a focus group goes on to detail a new manufacturing resiliency model called the fit operational model. The model’s effectiveness is then assessed and adjusted as a result of being implemented in a subject company.     

Feasibility of Vis/NIR spectroscopy for detection of flaws in hazelnut kernels

The feasibility of Vis/NIR spectroscopy for detection of flaws in hazelnut kernels (Corylus avellana L. cv. Tonda Gentile Romana) is demonstrated. Feature datasets comprising raw absorbance values, raw absorbance ratios (Abs[λ₁]:Abs[λ₂]) and differences (Abs[λ₁] − Abs[λ₂]) for all possible pairs of wavelengths from 306.5 nm to 1710.9 nm were extracted from the spectra for use in an iterative LDA routine. For each dataset, several spectral pretreatments were tested. Each group of features selected was subjected to Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA), Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROCs) analysis, and evaluation of performance through the Area Under ROC Curve. The best result (5.4% false negative, 5.0% false positive, 5.2% total error) was obtained using a Savitzky–Golay second derivative on the dataset of raw absorbance differences. The optimal features were Abs[564 nm]–Abs[600 nm], Abs[1223 nm]–Abs[1338 nm] and Abs[1283 nm]–Abs[1338 nm]. The results indicate the feasibility of a rapid, online detection system.     

The structure of self-reported health in chronic disease patients.

A multidimensional model of self-reported health status in 1,980 patients with 1 or more chronic medical conditions was evaluated. Two dimensions of health were hypothesized: Physical health was defined by measures of physical functioning, role limitations, satisfaction with physical ability, and mobility; mental health was defined by depression, positive affect, anxiety, and feelings of belonging. Physical and mental health were correlated but distinct, sharing about 20% of variance in common. Correlations of 11 other indicators of health with the physical and mental health constructs corresponded to a priori hypotheses. It is concluded that self-reports of physical and mental health are distinguishable and that both constructs need to be represented for comprehensive assessment of health status. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Characteristics of people with infrequent panic attacks.

186 adult Ss (aged 18–60 yrs) were asked to complete a specially created anxiety questionnaire (AQ) that assessed current levels of anxiety, frequency of panic attacks, and types of symptoms experienced during a panic attack. Ss also completed the SCL-90. Results show that 34.4% of Ss reported having had 1 or more panic attacks in the past year, and 2.2% reported having had 3 or more panic attacks in the past 3 wks, a frequency that could lead to a diagnosis of panic disorder. The panic symptoms reported as being most severe were heart pounding, trembling, and sweating. When Ss who reported having had 1 or more panic attacks (panickers) were compared with the nonpanickers on the SCL-90, it was found that the infrequent panickers scored signficantly higher on 6 of the 10 subscales. It is suggested that panic attacks often occur in presumably normal people and that these attacks are similar to those of patients with well-defined panic disorders (e.g., agoraphobia). (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Fault Isolation in Conventional Linear Systems?A Feasibility Study

A procedure for generating a set of tests for a conventional linear system making use of gain measurements from normal input to normal output terminals is described. Basically, the procedure is to compute the corner frequencies of the nominal network and choose, as test frequencies, several frequencies in the neighborhood of each corner frequency, and hence, detect shifts in the corner frequencies. Interpretations of measured values are obtained by precomputing the gain at these frequencies for parameter deviations from their nominal values. The theoretical basis of the procedure is also discussed. An example is worked out in detail to demonstrate the feasibility of the procedure.     

Long time dynamics of complex systems

Molecular dynamics trajectories of large biological molecules are restricted to nanoseconds. We describe a computational method, based on optimization of a functional, to extend the time of molecular simulations by orders of magnitude. Variants of our technique have already produced microsecond and millisecond trajectories. The large steps enable feasible computations of atomically detailed approximate trajectories. Numerical examples are provided: (i) a conformational change in blocked glycine peptide and (ii) helix formation of an alanine-rich peptide.