This dissertation explores consumer credit and its effects on the British economy and the British households. Chapter 1 offers a brief introduction to the issues around consumer credit that each of the subsequent chapters covers. Chapter 2 is the first empirical chapter and considers how the enactment of appropriate regulation can improve the understanding of the cost of credit. This chapter studies the effects of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 on the British economy through the introduction of the calculation and publication of the true cost of lending. Moreover, it tests the presence of a structural break in the relationship between the price and volume of consumer credit. Furthermore, the paper analyzes the effects of shocks to consumer credit on inflation and households’ savings. Chapter 3 turns to analyze the impact of consumer credit on households’ consumption and self-reported well-being across the income distribution. This chapter analyzes whether consumer credit can reduce consumption inequality by allowing poorer households to increase their consumption of consumer durables and leisure or, if on the contrary, it worsens self-reported measures of well-being. Next, chapter 4 studies households’ financial resilience and evaluates the role that consumer credit plays in affecting it. This chapter answers the question Is there a measure that correlates with households’ probability of falling into financial distress and, moreover, predicts the likelihood of these households over- coming said distress? To answer this question, this chapter proposes as a proxying measure the logarithmic ratio of households’ financial assets and short-term liabilities. Moreover, this chapter reports the asymmetries of ownership of financial assets and short-term credit across the income and wealth distributions. Then it analyzes the effects of said proxy on the occurrence probability of a series of financial resilience-related events. Finally, chapter 5 offers tentative overall conclusions and points to a future research agenda. Esta tesis explora el crédito al consumo y sus efectos sobre la economía británica y sus hogares. El capítulo 1 ofrece una breve introducción a los temas alrededor del crédito al consumo que se abarcan en cada uno de los capítulos siguientes. El capítulo 2 es el primer capítulo empírico y considera cómo la promulgación de una regulación adecuada puede mejorar la comprensión del costo del crédito. Este capítulo estudia los efectos de la Ley de Crédito al Consumo de 1974 sobre la economía británica, mediante el establecimiento del requerimiento del cálculo y la publicación del verdadero costo de los préstamos de consumo. Además, pone a prueba la presencia de una ruptura estructural en la relación entre el precio y el volumen del crédito al consumo. Así mismo, el documento analiza los efectos de perturbaciones en el crédito al consumo sobre la inflación y el ahorro de los hogares. El capítulo 3 pasa a analizar el impacto del crédito al consumo sobre el consumo de los hogares y el bienestar subjetivo a través de la distribución del ingreso. Este capítulo analiza si el crédito al consumo puede reducir la desigualdad del consumo al permitir que los hogares más pobres aumenten su consumo de bienes duraderos y ocio o si, por el contrario, empeora las medidas de bienestar subjetivas. A continuación, el capítulo 4 estudia la resiliencia financiera de los hogares y evalúa el papel que desempeña el crédito al consumo para afectarla. Este capítulo responde a la pregunta ¿Existe alguna medida que se correlacione con la probabilidad de que los hogares caigan en dificultades financieras y, además, prediga la probabilidad de que estos hogares sobrelleven dichas dificultades? Para responder a esta pregunta, el capítulo propone como medida de aproximación la relación logarítmica de los activos financieros de los hogares y sus pasivos a corto plazo. Además, este capítulo informa acerca de las asimetrías de propiedad de activos financieros y del crédito a corto plazo en las distribuciones del ingreso y la riqueza. Luego, analiza los efectos de dicha medida sobre la probabilidad de ocurrencia de una serie de eventos relacionados con la resiliencia financiera. Por último, el capítulo 5 ofrece conclusiones generales y propone una agenda de investigación futura.

The inspiration behind this dissertation research derives from a simple, yet complex question, what makes the materiality of the computer screen you are reading this text different from the nearest wall or window you can look at? Is it the material? its connectivity? The size, or its volume? Are the sole attributes granted to a computer screen, a tablet, cell phone screen or any mobile and digital device that enable you to read this text, any different from to the plaster, paint, or any other material that surrounds you? The application of new technologies has been slow and underdeveloped in construction. In simple terms, building elements and materials have been considered as raw material or a tradeable commodity, but their potential to comprise Facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis is still unexplored, and it’s their data emitting potential what will ultimately make them more valuable. Advances on the internet have enabled the invention of a IoT connected technologies, all of which have evolved thanks to the miniaturisation of devices, but these have not been included in the built components of construction. The Covid-19 Pandemic has placed a great burden over the way in which buildings are occupied, operated and maintained, but crisis provide opportunities, and the global problem seemed to evidence the profound obsolescence and fragility of our built infrastructure and is in the light of this events that could be a turning point for the adoption and development of these technological solutions. This dissertation will revise the existent literature review, extract the clues for the elements and frameworks from the studied authors who used IoT solutions and applications and from that knowledge, conduct a survey to obtain responses and explore in what ways, to apply these parameters as a set of problems or challenges, which will need to be assessed, in the reopening of office facilities and venues to mitigate the impact of Covid-19.

Resumen: Introducción: La cirugía de revascularización miocárdica ha sido ratificada como el tratamiento de elección ante las enfermedades complejas del árbol coronario, fundamentado en que en estos pacientes, el ICP (intervencionismo coronario percutáneo) presenta mayor necesidad de repetición de la revascularización (14,1% vs. 20,9%, P=0,11), aumento en las cifras de eventos cardíacos y cerebrovasculares mayores al año (12,4% vs. 17,8%, P<0,005) y a los 5 años (24,1% vs. 41,9%; P<0,0005) y mayor mortalidad (14,1% vs. 20,9%, P=0,11). Este último aspecto es el más influyente, se hace necesario conocer su comportamiento e identificar los diferentes factores que influyeron en ella. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio longitudinal, en el Hospital Clínico-Quirúrgico Hermanos Ameijeiras, en 291 pacientes operados durante el período comprendido entre marzo de 2012 y noviembre del 2015 seguidos hasta junio de 2016. Resultados: La mortalidad durante todo el período de estudio y seguimiento fue del 13,7%. El 2,4% falleció durante las primeras 24 horas y 8,6% al primer mes. Los factores que más se asociaron fueron: preoperatorios (diabetes mellitus); operatorios (revascularización incompleta e isquemia perioperatoria), y posoperatorios (la aparición de bajo gasto cardíaco y arritmias malignas). Conclusiones: Aunque la mortalidad tuvo un comportamiento similar al de series internacionales en las primeras 24 horas y al año, a los 30 días existió un aumento significativo que se relaciona principalmente con las características clínicas al ingreso de los pacientes. Abstract: Introduction: Myocardial revascularization surgery remains the treatment of choice in patients with complex diseases of the coronary tree since percutaneous coronary intervention presents a greater need for repeat revascularization (14.1% vs. 20.9%, P = 0.11), an increase in the number of cardiac and cerebrovascular events beyond one year (12.4% vs. 17.8%, P < 0.005) and at 5 years (24.1% vs. 41.9%; P < 0.0005) and a higher mortality (14.1% vs. 20.9%, P = 0.11). With mortality being the most influential aspect, it becomes necessary to understand its behavior and identify its different contributing factors. Material and Methods: A longitudinal study was carried out at the “Hermanos Ameijeiras” Clinical-Surgical Hospital in 291 patients operated between March 2012 and November 2015 and followed-up until June 2016. Results: Mortality during the whole study and follow-up period was 13.7%. 2.4% of the patients died during the first 24 hours and reached 8.6% in the first month. Factors most associated with mortality were: preoperative—diabetes mellitus; operative—incomplete revascularization and perioperative ischemia; and postoperative—low cardiac output and malignant arrhythmias. Conclusions: Although mortality had a similar behavior to international series in the first 24 hours and at one year, a significant increase was observed at 30 days, mainly related to the clinical characteristics at the patients’ admission.

Abstract: The case of China’s non-market economy treatment at the WTO might be the typical case where (economic) reality out does (legal) theory or, perhaps, expectations. By 2001, when the WTO let China in, its Protocol of Accession (PoA) included special trade remedies provisions regarding China’s economic model. Today, China and other members fight fiercely at WTO, and elsewhere, over the validity and scope of some PoA’s expired rules that set out the commitments by which – arguably – China was expected to be come a market economy by December 2016. Aimed at contributing to the debate, this article analyses and thus proposes elements for a reform to the WTO’s trade remedies legal framework, so as to solve those conflicts by means of multilateral negotiations in lieu of complex judicial adjudications. Negotiation is hence suggested as the most legitimate, pragmatic, and long-lasting means to ensure the preservation of the trade remedies mechanism. Otherwise, the use of de facto measures, coupled with increasing bilateral disputes, shall steadily undermine its creditworthiness.

Abstract: For significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, those from electricity generation should be negative by the end of the century. In this sense, bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technology in sugarcane mills could be crucial. This paper presents a technical and economic assessment of BECCS systems in a typical Brazilian sugarcane mill, considering the adoption of advanced—although commercial—steam cogeneration systems. The technical results are based on computational simulations, considering CO2 capture both from fermentation (released during ethanol production) and due to biomass combustion. The post combustion capture technology based on amine was considered integrated to the mill and to the cogeneration system. A range of energy requirements and costs were taken from the literature, and different milling capacities and capturing rates were considered. Results show that CO2 capture from both flows is technically feasible. Capturing CO2 from fermentation is the alternative that should be prioritized as energy requirements for capturing from combustion are meaningful, with high impacts on surplus electricity. In the reference case, the cost of avoided CO2 emissions was estimated at 62 €/t CO2, and this can be reduced to 59 €/t CO2 in case of more efficient technologies, or even to 48 €/t CO2 in case of larger plants. Resumen: Para reducir significativamente las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero, las emisiones de la generación de electricidad deberán ser negativas a finales del siglo. En este sentido, la bioenergía con captura y almacenamiento de carbono (BECCS, por sus siglas en inglés) en el sector de la caña de azúcar podría ser crucial. Este artículo presenta una evaluación técnica y económica de los sistemas BECCS en un típico ingenio de caña de azúcar en Brasil, considerando la adopción de sistemas de cogeneración de vapor avanzado –apenas comerciales–. Los resultados técnicos se basan en simulaciones computacionales, considerando la captura de CO2 tanto por la fermentación (liberada durante la producción de etanol) como por la combustión de biomasa. La tecnología de captura por postcombustión con amina fue considerada integrada a la planta y al sistema de cogeneración. La variedad de requisitos y costos de energía fueron tomaros de la literatura y diferentes capacidades de molienda y tasas de captura fueron considerados. Los resultados muestran que la captura de CO2 de ambos flujos es técnicamente factible. La captura de CO2 de la fermentación es la alternativa que debe priorizarse, ya que los requisitos de energía para la captura de la combustión son significativos y tienen un gran impacto en el excedente de electricidad. En el caso de referencia, el costo de las emisiones de CO2 evitadas se estimó en 62 € / t CO2, y puede reducirse a 59 € / t CO2 en el caso de tecnologías más eficientes, o incluso a 48 € / t CO2 en caso de mayores plantas.

Abstract: This article intends to point out that the questions about the language and the truth in Martin Heidegger’s Philosophy allow to reflect on the religious discourse. This link between philosophy and religion is made possible from the philosophy of the German thinker based on four premises: a) the philosophical concept for facilitating such reflexion is that of the onto-theology, b) this concept focus on the concept of ground, c) the structural nexus between ground and supreme being is the entry point for God into the philosophy, d) in this way the onto-theo-logy becomes the fundamental mode of the metaphysics, object of criticism by the philosopher of Messkirch.

Abstract: Traditional approaches to the concept of the human relationship base its reflections on the need for the encounter between human beings. By Friedrich Nietzsche, on the contrary, it is raising the possibility of a new form of relationship based on the retreat. The pathos of distance, as well the solitude and the indifference lead to the experience of a radical sovereign individuality. This ensure the conditions for a sui generis way of human relations: the relationship devoid of any direct relations between human beings.

Abstract: The current article addresses the heideggerian interpretation of the concept of nihilism in nietzschean philosophy. Pointing out three components of Heidegger’s relationship with Nietzsche (1. Heidegger’s approach to Nietzsche as the culmination of Western metaphysics [Vollendung der Metaphysik], 2. The interpretation of five key concepts of Röcken’s philosopher in a metaphysical reading, and 3. the implicit concordances in Heidegger’s thought with Nietzsche’s philosophy) the article focuses primarily on the first two outlined points in order to stress that, contrary to Heidegger’s stance, the nietzschean solution to the problem of nihilism does not end with the postulation of a ground (Grund) which substitutes those others which have governed Western history, but in the conception of the will to power as abyss (Abgrund), namely, in an opposite direction to that posed by Heidegger.

Abstract: A partir de la lectura de la obra poética de Hölderlin y Hebel, Heidegger aborda fenomenológicamente la experiencia del reconocimiento de lo propio, originariamente ligada a la experiencia de la tierra natal (Heimat). Esta experiencia es posible, sin embargo, gracias a la nostalgia y al paso previo por lo extraño (das Fremde) que nos interpela. En este sentido, es el dolor por la tierra natal y el reconocimiento de lo otro la condición de posibilidad del reconocimiento de lo propio. En este artículo, se pone como telón de fondo de todo el camino emprendido por Heidegger el concepto de “presentimiento” (Vorausahnung), que si bien no es tematizado directamente por Heidegger, sí es permitido por aquello que, detrás de lo dicho por su filosofar, permanece aún no dicho.

Resumen: Tras una breve introducción en la que resalto el reconocimiento que hace Emil Kettering de la importancia del concepto de cercanía en la filosofía de Martin Heidegger y en la que simultáneamente tomo distancia de su aproximación a la relación del lenguaje con la cercanía, por considerarla limitada, sostengo que la concepción heideggeriana tardía del lenguaje puede ser mejor entendida si en estricto sentido heideggeriano estos dos conceptos son considerados como “lo mismo” [das Selbe]. Con el objeto de fundamentar fenomenológicamente esta tesis abordo la reflexión heideggeriana en torno a la cercanía en cinco niveles, que parten con la definición acostumbrada de ésta como corta distancia y culminan en su identificación con el lenguaje. El acercamiento que realizo a esta problemática se concentra exclusivamente en la obra posterior de Heidegger.