Suchergebnisse

THÈSE pour l'obtention du grade de DOCTEUR ; Notre étude porte sur le recours au plurilinguisme littéraire. Nous désirons comprendre pourquoi et comment les écrivains insèrent « l´étranger » dans leurs textes et nous nous demandons comment le plurilinguisme exprime, à travers le choix des langues, un questionnement sur l´identité et l´altérité. Notre point d'ancrage est la Révolution de 1974 et nous cherchons à savoir à quel point le contexte politique et social a pu conditionner les oeuvres littéraires notre corpus. Les écrivains exilés ou ayant participé de près ou de loin à la guerre coloniale, sont, dans la plupart des cas, des écrivains plurilingues. Nous avons donc décidé d'analyser des thématiques contemporaines à la dictature c´est-à-dire l´exil, l´émigration et la guerre coloniale. De cette façon, nous appréhendons la question de la vraisemblance et de « l'effet de réel ». Dans la première partie de notre étude, nous nous penchons sur le plurilinguisme dans la société et le texte littéraire et nous problématisons la notion même de plurilinguisme littéraire. Dans notre deuxième partie, nous analysons les principales caractéristiques structurelles et thématiques des romans plurilingues du corpus. Nous prenons en compte le contexte historique et social, la présence de différents éléments autobiographiques et les liens qui existent entre Histoire et mémoire. La troisième partie comprend l´analyse linguistique et énonciative de différentes occurrences plurilingues du corpus. Nous étudions des emprunts et des interférences dans les discours des narrateurs et nous analysons des dialogues bilingues des personnages. Nous abordons également la question de la plurivocalité au sein du plurilinguisme. Notre étude cherche ainsi à comprendre comment la littérature est tributaire et bénéficiaire de la pluralité des langues

It is a fact that biogas can give a valuable contribution to waste valorization, energy production and environment protection. This is recognized, for example, in the European Union Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, which considers "the use of agricultural material such as manure, slurry and other animal and organic waste for biogas production has, in view of the high greenhouse gas emission saving potential, significant environmental advantages in terms of heat and power production and its use as biofuel. Biogas installations can, as a result of their decentralized nature and the regional investment structure, contribute significantly to sustainable development in rural areas and offer farmers new income opportunities". Despite all this advantages, legislation deficiencies can pose serious obstacles to the development of the renewable energies sector in general and of the biogas segment in particular. In this context, this chapter analyses and discusses the current state and legal framework of the Portuguese biogas sector at the light of the country's and European legislation on waste management. Some important pieces of international environmental law are reviewed, followed by the identification of the European and Portuguese legal instruments that are related to the production, impacts and management of waste and to the biogas sector. The important link between waste and biogas is highlighted and the value attached to it prized. As far as the potential and current state of the Portuguese biogas production are concerned, despite the fact that the organic effluents are a relevant energy source (873 Mm3 biogas year-1; 4890 GWh year-1) and that new, more favorable, feed-in tariffs were established in 2007, biogas valorization to energy is still at an early stage. The country's current biogas electricity installed capacity is around 20% of its potential (229 MW). For this reason, and for all the environment benefits of the biogas energy recovery, it is desirable to strengthen the national biogas market.

The current status and legal framework of biogas production in Portugal are analyzed and compared to that of five other European countries, characterized by wide-ranging diversity of substrates and biogas applications. With this comparison, and with the calculation of the biogas energy potential in Portugal, the authors want to assess the significance of developing the Portuguese biogas sector. This study illustrates that the highest biogas feed-in tariffs are applied in the countries with a more developed sector. In Portugal, despite the fact that the organic effluents are a relevant energy source (873 Mm3 biogas year-1; 4889 GWh year-1) and that new feed-in tariffs were established, biogas valorisation is still at an early stage. The importance of anaerobic digestion was only recognized in 2007 and the present installed power is about 10% of the potential electrical power (229 MW). Therefore, it is desirable to strengthen the national and regional biogas market.

Purpose
The global pandemic has had a considerable effect on organisations' performance and development and on the daily lives of the general population. This study aims to analyse the recent literature on the topics of Covid-19 and sustainability and proposes to rethink and redefine sustainability with the intersection of human health as a fourth sustainable pillar.


Design/methodology/approach
Using the Scopus and ISI Web of Science databases, 119 articles were analysed in detail and classified according to concepts and principles for achieving sustainable development, based on the Brundtland Report, 1987.


Findings
The results indicate a high number of publications in the social dimension, with a relevant proportion of studies in the health sector. This study allows us to conclude that all sectors of society are being affected by the pandemic. However, the enormous tension and the immediate impact felt by the health sector during the pandemic reflect directly on the population, and there are clear signs that in the medium and long term, instability and uncertainty in the environmental, economic and social dimensions will remain. In national health systems, monitoring, innovating in human resource management and investing in information technology can ensure organizations' reliability and sustainability. The conclusion involves the suggestion of introducing health as a new pillar for sustainability to consolidate the basis and structure of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Objectives. The use of fundamental concepts is necessary and must be aligned to reassess the results obtained in studies, in comparison with observational data.


Practical implications
The implications arising from the inclusion of health as a fourth pillar of sustainability are diverse. The need to build a new theoretical and conceptual framework for sustainability derives from the fact that health reflects the concern of many postulants in this field of practices. The determining or conditioning conditions of the observed effects of the pandemic by COVID-19, whether situated simply as factors and/or economic, environmental or social reflexes that precede them, requires a conceptual development that allows its approach, as a complex object, whose determinations are subject to variable degrees of uncertainty and diversity.


Originality/value
This study aims to redefine the concept of sustainability, considering that health has become a public health emergency of international interest. Health affects the supply chain, cash flow, interferes with the educational format and interrupts the workforce's routine, among other aspects, showing the true nature of its importance and its impact in all spheres (economic, environmental and social).

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) located in regions far from a high-pressure grid can produce renewable biomethane, which can partially substitute the natural gas locally consumed. However, the economic viability of implementing biomethane plants in WWTP has to be guaranteed. This paper uses the discount cash flow method to analyze the economic viability of producing biomethane in a WWTP located in Évora (Portugal). The results show that, under the current conditions, it is unprofitable to produce biomethane in this WWTP. Since selling the CO2 separated from biogas may result in an additional income, this option was also considered. In this case, a price of 46 EUR/t CO2 has to be paid to make the project viable. Finally, the impact of potential government incentives in the form of feed-in premia was investigated. Without selling CO2, the project would only be profitable for feed-in premia above 55.5 EUR/MWh. If all the CO2 produced was sold at 30 EUR/t CO2, a premium price of 20 EUR/MWh would make the project profitable. This study shows that the economic attractiveness of producing biomethane in small WWTP is only secured through sufficient financial incentives, which are vital for developing the biomethane market with all its associated advantages.

ABSTRACT: Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) located in regions far from a high-pressure grid can produce renewable biomethane, which can partially substitute the natural gas locally consumed. However, the economic viability of implementing biomethane plants in WWTP has to be guaranteed. This paper uses the discount cash flow method to analyze the economic viability of producing biomethane in a WWTP located in evora (Portugal). The results show that, under the current conditions, it is unprofitable to produce biomethane in this WWTP. Since selling the CO2 separated from biogas may result in an additional income, this option was also considered. In this case, a price of 46 EUR/t CO2 has to be paid to make the project viable. Finally, the impact of potential government incentives in the form of feed-in premia was investigated. Without selling CO2, the project would only be profitable for feed-in premia above 55.5 EUR/MWh. If all the CO2 produced was sold at 30 EUR/t CO2, a premium price of 20 EUR/MWh would make the project profitable. This study shows that the economic attractiveness of producing biomethane in small WWTP is only secured through sufficient financial incentives, which are vital for developing the biomethane market with all its associated advantages. ; info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Apart from the overwhelming cases of allopolyploidization, the impact of speciation through homoploid hybridization is becoming more relevant than previously thought. Much less is known, however, about the impact of climate changes as a driven factor of speciation. To investigate these issues, we selected Festuca picoeuropeana, an hypothetical natural hybrid between the diploid species F. eskia and F. gautieri that occurs in two different mountain ranges (Cantabrian Mountains and Pyrenees) separated by more than 400 km. To unravel the outcomes of this mode of speciation and the impact of climate during speciation we used a multidisciplinary approach combining genome size and chromosome counts, data from an extensive nuclear genotypic analysis, plastid sequences and ecological niche models (ENM). Our results show that the same homoploid hybrid was originated independently in the two mountain ranges, being currently isolated from both parents and producing viable seeds. Parental species had the opportunity to contact as early as 21000 years ago although niche divergence occurs nowadays as result of a climate-driven shift. A high degree of niche divergence was observed between the hybrid and its parents and no recent introgression or backcrossed hybrids were detected, supporting the current presence of reproductive isolation barriers between these species. ; Financial support was provided by the Spanish projects PI097/08 from the Aragón Government, GA-LC-012/2008 from the Aragón Government-La Caixa, 059/2009 from the Ministry of Environment (National Parks division) and a European Union ESF exchange grant (FroSpects 3142). IM received funding from the People Programme (Marie Curie Actions) of the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under REA grant agreement PIOF-GA-2011-301257. DD was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (SFRH/BPD/100384/2014). IM, MLLH and PC benefitted from the Bioflora grant project cofunded by the Aragón government and the European Social Fund. JGS-M was supported by two consecutive Aragón Government "Araid" and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation "Ramón y Cajal" postdoctoral contracts. ; Peer reviewed

[Background and Aims] It is accepted that contemporary allopolyploid species have originated recurrently, but very few cases have been documented using multiple natural formations of the same species. To extend our knowledge, we have investigated the multiple origins, genetic variation and structure of the allotetraploid grass Brachypodium hybridum with respect to its progenitor diploid species B. distachyon (D genome) and B. stacei (S genome). For this, our primary focus is the Iberian Peninsula, an evolutionary hotspot for the genus Brachypodium. ; [Methods] We analysed 342 B. hybridum individuals from 36 populations using ten nuclear SSR loci and two plastid loci. The B. hybridum genetic profiles were compared with those previously reported for B. stacei and B. distachyon. In addition, phylogenetic analysis of the plastid data was performed for a reduced subset of individuals. ; [Key Results] The nuclear simple sequence repeat (SSR) genetic analysis detected medium to high genetic diversity, with a strong south-to-north genetic structure cline, and a high selfing rate in B. hybridum. Comparative genetic analysis showed a close relatedness of current B. hybridum D allelic profiles with those of B. distachyon, but a lack of similarity with those of B. stacei, suggesting another B. stacei source for the B. hybridum S alleles. Plastid analysis detected three different bidirectional allopolyploidization events: two involved distinct B. distachyon-like ancestors and one involved a B. stacei-like ancestor. The south-eastern Iberian Peninsula B. hybridum populations were more genetically diverse and could have originated from at least two hybridization events whereas north-eastern/north-western Iberian Peninsula B. hybridum populations were less diverse and may have derived from at least one hybridization event. ; [Conclusions] The genetic and evolutionary evidence supports the plausible in situ origin of the south-eastern and northern Iberian Peninsula B. hybridum allopolyploids from their respective local B. distachyon and unknown B. stacei ancestors. The untapped multiple origins and genetic variation detected in these B. hybridum populations opens the way to future evolutionary analysis of allopolyploid formation and genomic dominance and expression in the B. hybridum–B. distachyon–B. stacei grass model complex. ; This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivity (Mineco) CGL2016-79790-P and University of Zaragoza UZ2016_TEC02 grant projects. V.S. was funded by a Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education fellowship and grant RFBR no. 18-34-00901. P.C. and I.M. were partially funded by a European Social Fund and Aragón Government Bioflora grant.

[Background] Brachypodium distachyon (Poaceae), an annual Mediterranean Aluminum (Al)-sensitive grass, is currently being used as a model species to provide new information on cereals and biofuel crops. The plant has a short life cycle and one of the smallest genomes in the grasses being well suited to experimental manipulation. Its genome has been fully sequenced and several genomic resources are being developed to elucidate key traits and gene functions. A reliable germplasm collection that reflects the natural diversity of this species is therefore needed for all these genomic resources. However, despite being a model plant, we still know very little about its genetic diversity. As a first step to overcome this gap, we used nuclear Simple Sequence Repeats (nSSR) to study the patterns of genetic diversity and population structure of B. distachyon in 14 populations sampled across the Iberian Peninsula (Spain), one of its best known areas. ; [Results] We found very low levels of genetic diversity, allelic number and heterozygosity in B. distachyon, congruent with a highly selfing system. Our results indicate the existence of at least three genetic clusters providing additional evidence for the existence of a significant genetic structure in the Iberian Peninsula and supporting this geographical area as an important genetic reservoir. Several hotspots of genetic diversity were detected and populations growing on basic soils were significantly more diverse than those growing in acidic soils. A partial Mantel test confirmed a statistically significant Isolation-By-Distance (IBD) among all studied populations, as well as a statistically significant Isolation-By-Environment (IBE) revealing the presence of environmental-driven isolation as one explanation for the genetic patterns found in the Iberian Peninsula. ; [Conclusions] The finding of higher genetic diversity in eastern Iberian populations occurring in basic soils suggests that these populations can be better adapted than those occurring in western areas of the Iberian Peninsula where the soils are more acidic and accumulate toxic Al ions. This suggests that the western Iberian acidic soils might prevent the establishment of Al-sensitive B. distachyon populations, potentially causing the existence of more genetically depauperated individuals. ; The study has been funded by two consecutive Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness grant projects (CGL2012–39953-C02–01, CGL2016–79790-P) and one Aragon Government and European Social Fund Bioflora grant to PC and IM. DL-A and VS were funded by a Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and a Tomsk State University PhD fellowship, respectively. DL-A was also supported by a Spanish Instituto de Estudios Altoaragoneses grant. IM received funding from the People Programme (Marie Curie Actions) of the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) under REA grant agreement PIOF-GA-2011-301,257. PH was funded by Spanish Junta de Andalucia project AGR-0482. ; Peer reviewed