Alicante Beach- City Sustainable Development

Long-term artificial seawater irrigation as a sustainable environmental management strategy for abandoned solar salt works: The case study of Agua Amarga salt marsh (SE Spain)

Taking the city of Alicante as an object of study, we will make an approach to the fight against the adulteration of wine from the end of the Ancient Regime until the consolidation of the liberal regime. During the Modern Era and first decades of the nineteenth century, the efforts, along with protectionist policies, were aimed to prevent the entrance of the wine “adulterated” with blends of other wines coming from outside of the boundaries of Alicante. Once that free trade was decreed, in a production and trade growth background, adulteration was an object of double interest. One of them was to track the presence of adulteration products in exported wines in order to avoid the discredit that it entailed in the international market. Another matter of concern for the local hygienists was related to possible harmful effects of diverse substances in Alicante’s population.

Agua Amarga coastal aquifer in southern Spain has been the subject of chemical and physical measurements since May 2008 in order to monitor the potential effects of water withdrawal for the Alicante desalination plants on the salt marsh linked to the aquifer. Electrical conductivity contour maps and depth profiles, piezometric-head contour maps, hydrochemical analyses, isotopic characterizations and temperature depth profiles show not only the saltwater intrusion caused by water abstraction, but also the presence of a pronounced convective density-driven flow below the salt marsh; this flow was a consequence of saltwork activity in the early 1900s which generated saline groundwater contamination. The influence of a seawater recharge programme, carried out over the salt marsh in 2009–2010, on the diminishing groundwater salinity and the recovery of groundwater levels is also studied. Based on collected field data, the project provides a deeper understanding of how these successive anthropogenic interventions have modified flow and mixing processes in Agua Amarga aquifer.

The Agua Amarga coastal aquifer, located in the southeast of Spain (Alicante province) has suffered a significant decrease in its piezometric levels due to its use to supply water to Alicante I and II desalination plants. In order to recover its natural levels and to preserve the salt marsh of ecological interest linked to the aquifer, whose origin is related to ancient saltworks, a pilot scheme based on depositing seawater over the salt marsh surface has been carried out from December 2009 to July 2010. As a result, piezometric levels have increased by around 2 and 3 m below the salt marsh and a general decrease in groundwater salinity of between 15 and 100 g/l has been measured. A flow-transport numerical model with SEAWAT is used to assess and evaluate the seawater depositing programme.

Irrigation with seawater as a strategy for the environmental management of abandoned solar saltworks: A case-study in SE Spain based on soil–vegetation relationships

Morocco is known to be among the first few countries to produce phosphate and phosphoric acid. Moroccan phosphate contains substantial amounts of uranium. This uranium can be recovered from the phosphate ore as a by-product during the production of phosphoric acid. Uranium extraction processes linked with phosphoric acid fabrication have been used industrially in some countries. This is done mainly by solvent extraction. Although, the present price of uranium is low in the international market, such uranium recovery could be considered as a side product of phosphoric acid production. The price of uranium has a very small impact on the cost of nuclear energy obtained from it. This paper focuses on the extraction of uranium salt from phosphate rock. If uranium is recovered in Morocco in the proposed manner, it could serve as feed for a number of nuclear power plants. The natural uranium product would have to be either enriched or blended as mixed-oxide fuel to manufacture adequate nuclear fuel. Part of this fuel would feed a desalination initiative using a high temperature reactor of the new generation, chosen for its intrinsic safety, sturdiness, ease of maintenance, thermodynamic characteristics and long fuel life between reloads, that is, good economy. Αn international cooperation based on commercial contract schemes would concern: the general project and uranium extraction; uranium enrichment and fuel fabrication services; the nuclear power plant; and the desalination plant. This paper presents the overall feasibility of the general project with some quantitative preliminary figures and cost estimates.

The world food supply has been expected to undergo a serious shortage because of the extremely rapid development of a number of countries, especially BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India and China). In addition, it has also been predicted that an expansion in production of biofuels will not only intensify that shortage but also increase the price of food. However, the price effects on farming activity and the contribution of technological progress to increase the yield are issues that have not been considered in current papers. The aim of this study is to simulate the impact of productions on the international grain market, including the effect of price and the contribution of technological progress to agricultural production, mainly focusing on the international maize market from 2005 to 2020, by establishing a simultaneous equation model. It is shown in this study that the international price of maize has not been increasing, although it fluctuates every year. The reason is that the time trend variable as the proxy variable of technological progress, indicates that technological progress increases production even though the harvested area of maize remains at its usual level or decreases. The results indicate that the food crisis that was widely anticipated has not occurred and that the technological progress is an important reason.

Native Australian fruits — a novel source of antioxidants for food

The Chao Phraya River is the main river in the central region. It is essential for consumption, agriculture, industry, and ecosystem conservation. In addition, in the area along the Chao Phraya River, there is agriculture, and industry is a source of conservation for many ecosystems. The support of brine from the sea has influenced the sea. The research aims to find the optimum conditions for applying the eelectro-adsorption technique to reduce salinity of the brackish water that can be used in agriculture. Graphite-type electrodes that are easily available and do not require surface treatment are used.The research aims to reduce the salinity value of brackish water salinity by DC to DC converter electro-sorption of the sample (790 S.cm-1) with graphite electrode measuring the reduced electrical conductivity. The variables of salinity reduction, electric potential, temperature, and solution stirring have been studied. Removing ions from electrodes involves ultrasonic vibration and temperature. The important reason that graphite electrodes are used in electrosorption is that graphite is a good conductor. The structure of graphite is such that it has many electrons floating freely between the different layers.The research found that graphite electrodes could absorb electricity by controlling the electric potential (Charging) at 2.0 V for 25 min and at a temperature of 500C without stirring the solution while absorbing ions. It can reduce the salinity to 777 S.cm-1, representing 1.64%. The optimum condition for washing electrodes used for 15 min at 2.0 V electrode potential for regeneration was washing electrodes without applying electrode potential (Discharge) in high-temperature water and with ultrasonic vibration. It can effectively wash off ions from the surface of graphite electrodes.The ion adsorption of graphite electrodes was only electrical adsorption.The graphite materials have electrosorption properties at low potential and can be readily renewed by discharging the potential. They do not require surface treatment.

As the international construction market is rapidly expanding, Korean contractors have the need for having new leading businesses for their sustainable growth and high performance. Thus, this research tried to explore new leading businesses with two questions: `What can be the new leading businesses?` and `How can Korean contractors implement new leading businesses?` To this end, based on Porter`s five forces framework and the resource-based view (RBV), we first derive three evaluation criteria (possibility of market entry, possibility of profit earning, and possibility of value-added earning). Next, we developed a framework for business evaluation which considers external market condition, internal competitiveness, and spin-off effects toward domestic market. Based on the framework, we defined green-energy plant, environmental plant, desalination plant, nuclear power plant, new urban development, and high-rise building as new leading business. Then, we selected green energy plant, environmental plant, and new urban development for the purpose of prior occupation of the market, consolidation of the competitiveness, and expansion of the ripple effect, respectively. Finally, we deduced market entry strategies for each business by investigating experts` opinions.

Chapter 5 - International valve market

Contribution of soil properties to the assessment of a seawater irrigation programme as a management strategy for abandoned solar saltworks

Flow transport modelling of feed species (water and salt) through a seawater RO membrane

Objective: The aim of this study was the evaluation of the characteristics and treatment results of women, who were brought to the intensive care unit due to severe obstetric morbidity, together with severe and acute complications in pregnancy.Study Design: Pregnant and puerperal women treated in the intensive care unit of a tertiary care center during two years of time were included in this study, and their files were scanned retrospectively. Patients’ demographic characteristics, length of stay, point of entry, neonatal results, birth statuses and modes of delivery, hemodynamic data, and histories were recorded. The qualitative data were evaluated by the Pearson Chi-squared, Fisher Freeman Halton, and Fisher’s Exact tests.Results: In the two-year period, 16,728 births occurred at our hospital. 68 cases among them were accompanied with severe maternal morbidity, and 2 maternal deaths were observed in our clinic. Of the cases, 58.8% (n=40) had severe hypertensive diseases, whereas 35.3% of the cases (n=24) had obstetric complications that developed due to bleeding. While 40% of the cases (n=16) with hypertension had severe pre-eclampsia, 35% of the cases (n=14) had eclampsia and 25% (n=10) had HELLP.Conclusions: The most important reasons for severe maternal morbidity are the complications related to obstetric bleeding and hypertensive diseases related to pregnancy. Early diagnosis of the obstetric complication risk factors is necessary for preventing maternal morbidity. Antenatal follow-ups and the births of high risk pregnancy patients should be performed in tertiary centers.

Going public and becoming a listed company is a major step for a business. It could lead them to a greater amount of funds being available through the public capital markets to help with development and business growth. Accessing to the international capital market is one of the most important reasons that companies choose to be listed in overseas capital markets. The aim of this paper is to discuss the above-mentioned statement with empirical market or firm examples. This paper investigates advantages and disadvantages of going public and becoming a listed company, including possible alternatives. It also includes information asymmetry, agency problem and other factors influencing on IPO results, as well as empirical evidence from different countries and various IPO experience. The structure of this article is as follows. It starts with theoretical review and research on IPOs. Second section shows the main benefits and significant disadvantages according to various scholars. In the next section we discuss information asymmetry, agency problem and others factors influencing IPO. Following section presents the empirical academic evidence of corporations after IPO in different countries and also alternatives to IPO. The last section concludes.