Jorge Morales Pedraza - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Books by Jorge Morales Pedraza

Elsevier , 2019

Electricity consumption is an essential component of modern life. It not only provides clean and ... more Electricity consumption is an essential component of modern life. It not only provides clean and safe light throughout the day, but in many countries refreshes homes on hot summer days, and in others warms them in winter. In all states, it allows the use of electrical and electronic equipment in which the use of electricity is essential to ensure its proper functioning. Although hundreds of millions of Americans and Canadians connect to the power grid every day, most of them do not think or have a clear idea about how they get the electricity consumed, and how much it costs to produce it. Keeping the North America region energized is a fantastic feat, a daily miracle.
During the period 2014-2035, it is expected that energy consumption increased by 34% between 2014 and 2035 as a result of the increasing use of different electronic and electrical equipment by more and more people around the world, especially in fast-growing emerging economies. In the case of developed countries, especially those that are members of the OECD, it is probable that the demand for energy will hardly grow during the period considered, as a result of the adoption of additional measures to increase energy efficiency. Population growth, especially in developing countries, and an increased population income reported by different countries in all regions, particularly in the most advanced developing countries, are two key factors behind the growing demand for energy. However, in the North American region, energy intensity is expected to decrease by 2% per year during the period 2014-2035.
Fossil fuels ― coal, petroleum (oil), and natural gas — are, and will continue to be, important energy sources within the energy matrix in the North America region, at least during the coming decades, but their specific participation within the energy mix of the region will change. For electricity generation, the use of coal and oil during the coming decades is expected to decrease while the use of natural gas is foreseeable to increase during the same period.

Energy constitutes the motive force of the civilization and it determines, in a high degre... more Energy constitutes the motive force of the civilization and it determines, in a high degree, the level of economic and social development of a given country. Despite the increase use of different types of energy sources, particularly renewable energy sources for electricity generation, fossil fuels will continue dominating the energy mix in the world in the near future. However, it is important to highlight that fossil fuel reserves are declining, particularly oil reserves, and this situation would have a negative impact in the economic and social development of many countries all over the world. The limited reserves of fossil fuels, the negative impact on the environment due to the use of this type of energy source for electricity generation, and the high price of oil, among other elements, is forcing almost all countries to look for other energy sources, like hydro, wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, hydrogen, including in some cases nuclear energy, as alternative sources of energy for electricity generation.
According to the IEO 2010, the global economic recession that began in 2008 and has not been finished yet, has had a profound negative impact on world energy demand in the period 2008-2012. Total world marketed energy consumption contracted by 1.2 % in 2008 and around 2.2 % in 2009, as manufacturing and consumer demand for goods and services declined. Although the recession appears to soften in the last months in several countries, the pace of recovery has been uneven so far, with China and India are leading and Japan and the European Union (EU) member countries lagging. In some EU countries the crisis has deepened significantly during 2011-2012 .
Liquid fuels remain the world’s largest energy source in the coming two decades. To satisfy the foreseeable increase in world liquids expected demand, liquids production should increase by 26 million barrels per day from 2007 to 2035, including the production of both conventional liquid supplies (crude oil and lease condensate, natural gas plant liquids, and refinery gain) and unconventional supplies (biofuels, oil sands, extra-heavy oil, coal-to-liquids, gas-to-liquids, and shale oil). It is expected that sustained high world oil prices will allow for the economic development of unconventional energy resources and the use of enhanced oil recovery technologies to increase production of conventional resources.
High world oil prices also incentivize the development of additional conventional resources through technically difficult, high-risk, and very expensive projects, including wells in ultra-deep water and the Arctic. World production of unconventional liquid fuels, which totaled only 3.4 million barrels per day in 2007, should increase to 28.3 million barrels per day between 2010 and 2040, including the production of both petroleum (crude oil and lease condensate, natural gas plant liquids (NGPL), bitumen, extra-heavy oil, and refinery gains), and other liquid fuels (coal-to-liquids (CTL), gas-to-liquids (GTL), biofuels, and kerogen). It is expected that world liquids consumption during the period 2007-2035 should increase from 86.1 million barrels per day in 2007 to 110.6 million barrels per day in 2035 and 115 million barrels in 2040.
According to the IEO (2013) report, almost 80 % of the expected increase in the use of renewable energy sources for electricity generation will be fueled by hydropower and wind power in the future. The contribution of wind energy, in particular, has grown rapidly over the past decade, from 18 GW of net installed capacity at the end of 2000 to 183 GW at the end of 2010—a trend that continues into the future. Of the 5.4 trillion kWh of new renewable generation added over the period 2010-2040, almost 2.8 trillion kWh (52 %) is attributed to hydroelectric power and 1.5 trillion kWh (28 %) to wind. Most of the growth in hydroelectric generation (82 %) is expected to occur in the non-OECD countries, and more than half of the growth in wind generation (52 %) is expected to occur in the OECD countries.
It is important to highlight that high construction costs can make the total cost of building and operating renewable generators, higher than those for conventional plants during the coming years. The intermittency of wind and solar energy, in particular, can further hinder the economic competitiveness of those types of resources, as they are not necessarily available when they would be of greatest value to the system. However, improving battery storage technology and dispersing wind and solar generating facilities over wide geographic areas could help to mitigate some of the problems associated with the intermittency problem over the projection period.
From 2007 to 2035, it is expected that the use of renewable energy sources for electricity generation at world level will grow by an average of 3 % per year, and the renewable share of world electricity generation is expected to increase from 18 % in 2007 to 23 % in 2035; this means an increase of 5 %.
Except for wind and solar energy sources, most other types of renewable energy sources that can be used for electricity generation are not economically competitive with fossil fuels at least until 2035, outside a limited number of niche markets. Although they remain a small part of the total renewable generation, renewable energy sources other than hydroelectricity and wind—including solar, geothermal, biomass, waste, and tidal/wave/oceanic energy—do increase at a rapid rate up to 2035, but their role in the energy mix for many countries will be very small.
The use of nuclear energy for electricity generation during the period 2007-2035 is expected to continue to be a very controversial issue in many countries, particularly within the EU. Before the nuclear accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, it was expected that electricity generation from nuclear power will increase from 2,620 billion kWh in 2010 to 5,492 billion kWh in 2040, an increase of 109 %, as concerns about energy security and greenhouse gas emissions support the development of new nuclear generating capacity. The factors underlying the increase use of nuclear power include the consequences of the March 2011 disaster at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant; planned retirements of nuclear capacity in OECD Europe under current energy policies; and continued strong growth of nuclear power in non-OECD Asia. However, the above mentioned nuclear accident will have a negative impact on the role to be played by nuclear power in electricity generation in the coming years in several countries and, for this reason the role of nuclear power in the energy mix of several EU countries could be lower than projected.
In the European region, the import energy dependency is rising. Unless Europe can make domestic energy more competitive in the next 20 to 30 years, around 70 % of the EU’s energy requirements, compared to 56 % today, will be met by imported products some of them from regions threatened by insecurity and political instability.
In 2011, the energy requirements of many countries are so high that, for the first time in the humanity’s history, there is a need to consider different types of energy sources and their reserves at national, regional, and world levels in order to plan their economic and social development. At the same time, there is also a need to use these sources in the most economic and efficient possible manner in order to sustain that development, particularly for electricity generation, with the purpose of reducing as much as possible the emission of CO2 to the atmosphere.
Undoubtedly, the EU leads the world in power demand management, and in promoting new and renewable forms of energy for electricity generation. If the EU backs up a new energy policy with a common voice on energy matters, Europe can lead the global search for energy solutions in the coming decades. However, EU must act urgently because it takes many years to bring innovation on stream in the energy sector, as well as to make productive the investments that are needed to update the energy infrastructure in the region, particularly to support the increase role to be played by renewable energy sources in the generation of electricity.

Energy constitutes the motive force of civilization and it determines, to a high degree, the leve... more Energy constitutes the motive force of civilization and it determines, to a high degree, the level of economic and social development of the countries. Despite the increased use of different types of energy sources, particularly renewable energy
sources, fossil fuels are, and will continue to be, the dominant type of energy source within the world energy mix for many countries. However, it is important to know that fossil fuel reserves are declining, particularly oil reserves, and this situation would have a negative impact in the future economic and social development of many countries from all regions. The limited fossil fuel reserves, the negative impact on the environment due to the use of this type of energy source
for electricity generation, and the high price of oil, among other elements, is forcing many countries to look for other energy sources, like hydropower, wind, solar, geothermal, hydrogen, including in some cases nuclear energy, for this specific purpose. Nevertheless, one thing is true: There is no other substitute for oil, coal, and natural gas for a stable and secure energy production, both now and in the near future, and alternative ways of producing energy will play only a minor
role in the energy balance of many countries at least until the period 2035–2050.
For this reason, the stable and reliable supply of oil, carbon, and natural gas is of key national interest to many States.
According to International Energy Outlook 2010 (IEO 2010), the global economic recession that began in 2008, and continued during 2011, 2012, and 2013, has had a profound impact on world energy demand in the near-term. Total world market energy consumption contracted by 1.2 % in 2008 and around 2.2 % in 2009, as manufacturing and consumer demand for goods and services declined.
Although the recession appears to have softened in the past months in several countries, the pace of recovery has been uneven so far, with China and India leading, and Japan and the European Union (EU) member countries lagging. In some EU countries the crisis has deepened significantly.
Liquid fuels remain the world’s largest energy source for the coming two decades. To satisfy the foreseeable increase in world liquid fuels expected demand, liquid fuels production should increase by 26 million barrels per day from 2007 to
2035, including the production of both conventional liquid fuel supplies (crude oil and lease condensate, natural gas liquids, and refinery gain) and unconventional fuel supplies (biofuels, oil sands, extra-heavy oil, coal-to-liquids, gas-to-liquids, and shale gas). It is expected that sustained high world oil prices will allow for the economic development of unconventional energy resources and the use of enhanced oil recovery technologies to increase production of conventional energy
resources. High world oil prices also incentivize the development of additional energy conventional resources through technically difficult, high-risk, and very expensive projects, including wells in ultra-deep water and the Arctic region.
World production of unconventional liquid fuels, which totaled only 3.4 million barrels per day in 2007, should increase to 12.9 million barrels per day (around 3.7 folds) in 2035, and is expected to account for 12 % of total world liquid fuel supply
in that year. It is expected also that world liquid fuels consumption during the period 2007–2035 should increase from 86.1 million barrels per day in 2007 to 110.6 million barrels per day in 2035; this represents an increase of 28.4 %.
In the European region, the energy import dependency is rising. Unless Europe can make domestic energy more competitive in the next 20–30 years, around 70 % of the EU’s energy requirements, compared to 56 % today, will be met by energy
imported products some of them from regions threatened by insecurity. The future energy requirements of the different countries in the world are so high that, for the first time in humanity’s history, it is indispensable to consider all available types of energy sources and their proven reserves to plan the economic and social future development of the countries. At the same time, there is also a need to use these energy sources in the most economic and efficient possible manner in order to
sustain that development, particularly for electricity generation, in order to reduce, as much as possible, the emission of CO2 to the atmosphere.
The EU leads the world in power demand management, and in promoting new and renewable forms of energy for the generation of electricity. If the EU backs up a new energy policy with a common voice on energy issues, Europe can lead the
global search for energy solutions in the coming decades. However, EU must act urgently because it takes many years to bring innovation on stream in the energy sector, as well as to make productive the investments that are needed to update the energy infrastructure in the region.

The book has seven chapters. Chapter I gives to the lectures an overall view on the current use o... more The book has seven chapters. Chapter I gives to the lectures an overall view on the current use of human tissue in certain medical treatment and in scientific medical research and on how this use has been increased in a variety of ways in the past years. These include human tissue transplantation, the utilisation of human tissue for research on new medicines, and the role of human cell lines and genetic material for studying fundamental biological processes. Nevertheless, it is important to emphasise that the use of human tissue raises ethical issues of great concern to health care professionals, biomedical researchers, ethics committees, tissue establishments and policy makers within national health care authorities. At the same time, society demands general respect for the human body and its parts and, for this reason, human tissue should not be used at will or abused. Practices that have been questioned include the commercial exploitation of products derived from the tissue of patients or research subjects.
Chapter II highlight the importance of ethics in the field of human tissue banking. The use of human tissues in certain medical practices has been consecrated as an effective modality to save lives and to improve the quality of life of thousands of individuals after passing specific medical treatment. Doctors and dentists use human tissue for a variety of medical purposes. Donated skin can meet critical needs in healing burns victims and in reconstructive surgery. Donated bone can be implanted to replace the cancerous bone; it can be used in knee and hip replacements and in spinal surgery; and it can be processed into a powder for use in dental surgery. Donated heart valves can replace defective valves in young children saving their lives.
The success rates for transplantation of human tissues have ensured that processed tissues can be used more frequently in specific medical treatment without increasing the risk of the recipient. To avoid the improper uses of the tissues procured by a tissue establishment is necessary to promote and adopt certain ethical principles to be observed by tissue establishment operators and medical staff during the procurement, processing, storage, distribution and use of human tissues. The purpose of observing ethical principles is to avoid not only the abuse and unethical practices in tissue banking, but the violation of specific regulations in force in the country. The chapter includes several ethical principles that should be observed by the tissue establishments.
Chapter III includes a model of a code of ethics. This model can be used as reference by interested tissue establishments during the modification of their current standards or that has decided to prepare a new code that takes into account new development in the ethical field.
Chapter IV highlights the importance of a code of practice for a tissue establishment. While there are inescapable acts of individual judgement involved in ethical decisions, nevertheless, it is desirable that conclusions should be reached in ways that result in as consistent a practice as possible. A way of achieving this in a given area of activity is to formulate a code of practice, providing general guidelines within which individual decisions are to be made. A code of practice are defined as “written guidelines issued by an official body or a professional association to its members to help them comply with its ethical standards and should specify the requirements for the activities of tissue establishments for the procurement and processing of human tissues for therapeutic use and research activities”. The scope of a code of practice should include all human tissues used for therapeutic purposes, including those used in clinical trials and research activities. The objective of a code of practice is to provide a set of principles and procedures that, when followed by tissue establishments, helps to ensure that the tissue processed will have the required quality.
Chapter V includes a model of a code of practice. This model can be used as reference by interested tissue establishments during the modification of their current standards or that has decided to prepare a new code that takes into account new development in this important field.
Chapter VI highlights the possible role of governments, the World Health Organisation, the International Atomic Energy Agency and regional professional associations in the promotion of ethics and best practice in tissue banking. A set of proposals and recommendations to be followed by interested governments, the World Health Organisation, the International Atomic Energy Agency and regional professional associations has been included.
Chapter VII includes a summary of the main topic addresses in previous chapters.

Since the end of the Second World War the international community has built, very slowly and with... more Since the end of the Second World War the international community has built, very slowly and with many difficulties, the so-called “nuclear non-proliferation regime.” Up to now the strategy adopted by all nuclear-weapon States in the field of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons has been closely associated with their main policy objectives in the field of nuclear disarmament, which is to impede that any new country have access to a nuclear weapon and to preserve an acceptable level of dissuasion. To give a new impulse to the process of nuclear disarmament at multilateral level it is indispensable to adopt a new strategy with precise objectives acceptable to all countries members of the international community, and a new international instrument that can be used to guide this process. This new strategy and the means to achieve nuclear disarmament are included in this book.

Book chapters by Jorge Morales Pedraza

Advances in Energy Research, 2015

Nuclear technology is one of the main base-load electricity-generating sources available in the w... more Nuclear technology is one of the main base-load electricity-generating sources available in the world today. Nuclear energy generated 11.2% of the global power production in 2013. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the use of nuclear energy for the generation of electricity is expected to grow around the world, particularly in some specific regions, as demand for electricity increases as foreseen.

Advances in Energy Research, 2019

Fossil fuels were considered in the past by many countries as a reliable source of energy. Despit... more Fossil fuels were considered in the past by many countries as a reliable source of energy. Despite the measures already adopted by many countries to reduce the use of fossil fuels for electricity generation, the use of this type of energy source will continue to play an essential role within the energy mix of these countries at least until 2050. But fossil fuel reserves are limited, and currently, it is consumed at a much higher rate than what is produced. If this situation does not change in the future, then all types of fossil fuels, particularly oil, will be exhausted probably before the end of the current century.
Despite the multiple uses of fossil fuels in different economic sectors, many governments and organizations around the world seek to change the current pattern of CO2 emissions and achieve the goal set in the Paris Agreement to keep the global temperature rise below 2°C. To accomplish this goal, a significant advance in innovation and development of the different types of available renewable energies should be achieved, in addition to an increase in energy efficiency, and the use of more efficiency accumulation systems and smart grids. In the case of coal, the capture and storage of carbon, especially for natural gas-fired power plants, should continue to be part of the energy landscape in several countries due to its flexible availability for electricity generation and its less negative impact on the environment and the population.
However, fossil fuels have experienced a renaissance in recent years, thanks to modern prospecting techniques, which have made it possible to find new deposits that were unknown until a few decades ago.
Although most of the fossil fuels when burned produce a negative impact on the environment and the population, it is expected that the use of this type of energy sources, particularly the use of natural gas for electricity generation, will continue to be an essential component of the energy mix of several countries all over the world. On the other hand, the use of oil and coal for electricity generation it is expected to decrease significantly by 2050, but they will continue to be an essential component of the energy mix in several countries at least until that year.

Cuba, a small country in the Caribbean Sea with a total land area of 109,886 km2 and a population... more Cuba, a small country in the Caribbean Sea with a total land area of 109,886 km2 and a population of around 11.2 million, has no significant proved oil, gas and coal reserves and use, in a very limited manner, some of the four main renewable energy sources available in the country, generating just 50.1 GW/h or 4.04% of the total electricity consumed in 2015 (20,288 GW/h). In 2016, electricity consumption fell to 15,182 GW/h; this means a reduction of 25% in comparison to 2015. The renewable energy sources available in the country are: Hydropower, wind power, solar photovoltaic and bioenergy. In 2015, out of Cuba’s total 566 MW of renewable energy capacity installed, 83% of the total was in the bioenergy sector. In 2016, the participation of renewable energy sources in the energy mix of the country reached 4.65%. The participation of renewable energy sources in the energy mix in Cuba should reach 24% in 2030.

Most hospitals, clinics, and other medical and research medical institutions within the public an... more Most hospitals, clinics, and other medical and research medical institutions within the public and private sector established in many countries, are now required to have an ethics committee. In the US and in several other countries, many of these ethics committees provide an ethics consultation service as well. An ethics committee is a group of individuals formed to protect the interests of patients and address moral issues within the health sector in many countries, consisting of different healthcare professionals and non-medical members. Its main responsibilities are to protect the rights, safety, and well-being of human subjects involved in a clinical trial, to provide public assurance of that protection by, among other things, expressing an opinion on the clinical trial protocol, the suitability of the investigators involved in the trial and the adequacy of the facilities, and on the methods and documents to be used to inform trial subjects and obtain their informed consent.

After missing the opportunity to eliminate all nuclear weapons between 1945 and 1949, when only o... more After missing the opportunity to eliminate all nuclear weapons between 1945 and 1949, when only one country had this type of weapons in its military arsenal, consecutive U.S. Presidents have made important political statements warning about the danger of nuclear weapons for the existence of mankind. They have also indicated the urgent need to eliminate all such weapons in possession of the nuclear-weapon states. The heads of state or government of many other countries, including all remaining nuclear-weapon states, have expressed similar long-term plans. Today, with nine nuclear-weapon states and tens of thousands of nuclear weapons deployed throughout the globe, the objective of getting rid of all nuclear weapons looks almost unattainable in the near future.
Notwithstanding the stated political intentions of many to help eliminate all nuclear weapons and the actual destruction of a few thousands of such weapons in the last several decades, the United States (U.S.), the Russian Federation (Russia), China, France, the United Kingdom (UK), Pakistan, India, Israel, and the Democratic People Republic Korea (DPRK) still possess, in early 2017, approximately 14,900 nuclear warheads, while continuing to modernize their respective military arsenals.
Considering the current modernization military programs of practically all nuclear-weapon states, it is difficult to imagine that their respective government will be willing soon to take part in any far-reaching international plan to eliminate all nuclear weapons in the world. Currently, they seem ready to accept such an endeavor as a long-term goal of the international community, which will probably be heavily conditioned on a number of other security-related developments. In the near future, the leading nuclear-weapon states are not likely either to be prepared to join any serious effort by the international community to speed up the deliberative or negotiating processes aimed at the destruction of all nuclear weapons in the military arsenals of all nuclear-weapon states as soon as possible.

Undoubtedly, energy production and their sustained growth constitute a relevant factor for ensuri... more Undoubtedly, energy production and their sustained growth constitute a relevant factor for ensuring the economic and social development of any country. Considering the different available energy sources that the world can use to satisfy the foreseeable increase in energy demand in the coming years, particularly for the production of electricity, at least for the next decades there are only a few realistic options available to reduce further the CO 2 emissions, to satisfy the foreseeable demand of electricity, and to have a secure supply of energy. One of these options is the use of nuclear energy for electricity generation. If this is true, then, why the public opinion of several countries is against the use of this type of energy sources? One of the reasons is the negative impact of an accident at a nuclear power plant for the human beings and for the environment. The second reason is the possible military uses of certain nuclear installations used for the generation of electricity. The third reason is the nuclear waste generated by nuclear power plants.

Undoubtedly, the Iran’s nuclear program has progressed significantly in the past decade, in line ... more Undoubtedly, the Iran’s nuclear program has progressed significantly
in the past decade, in line with Iran’s 2006 announcement that it would,
in addition to the termination of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, begin
enriching uranium. Currently, Iran has a robust nuclear infrastructure,
including uranium mining, milling, conversion, and enrichment
capabilities. Iran is also thinking to construct more nuclear power plants
in order to reduce the consumption of oil and gas for electricity
generation. However, the most controversial dimension of its nuclear
program has been Iran’s effort to build up its enrichment capabilities,
which could be used to produce highly enriched uranium for a nuclear
weapon, and the construction of the IR-40 heavy-water nuclear research
reactor without informing in advance to the IAEA, in violation with its
obligations as a state party to the NPT. This includes developing,
constructing and implementing an extensive enrichment program
comprising nearly 20,000 gas centrifuges at three major facilities. The
adoption of a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) will provide
to the international community that the whole Iranian nuclear program is
for peaceful purpose only.

It is an undeniable reality that energy production, particularly electricity generation and their... more It is an undeniable reality that energy production, particularly electricity generation and their sustained growth, constitute indispensable elements to ensure the economic and social progress of any country. For this reason, the possible use of all types of available energy sources in the country should be in the mind of politicians and energy experts during the elaboration of the best possible energy mix for the country. However, there are certain factors that need to be considered by the competent authorities of a country during the selection of the most efficient and economic combination of energy sources for the generation of electricity. For instance, the use of fossil fuels is a major and growing contributor to the emission of CO2, and, for this reason, any increase in the use of this type of energy source for this specific purpose will increase the emission of this type of gas to the atmosphere; nuclear energy and renewable energy sources are almost carbon dioxide free, but a nuclear accident could have devastator consequences for the environment and the population, not only in the surround area of the plant site, but for the environment and the population living far away from the site; the prices of some fossil fuels are increasing and the reserves decreasing; and some renewable energy sources are not ready yet to be used for electricity generation in large scale and inexpensively, at least during the coming years.
Considering the different available energy sources in the world that can be used now to meet the foreseeable increase in energy demand during the coming years, there should be no doubt that, at least for the next decades, there are only a few realistic options available to reduce further the emission of CO2 as a result of the electricity generation. These options are, among others, the following:
 Increase efficiency in electricity generation and use;
 Expand use of all available renewable energy sources such as hydro, wind, solar, biomass and geothermal;
 Massive introduction of new advanced technology like the capture carbon dioxide emission technology at fossil-fueled (especially coal) electric generating plants, in order to permanently sequester the carbon produced by these plants;
 Increase use of new types of nuclear power reactors that are inherently safe and proliferation risk-free (Generation III, III+ and IV);
 Increase energy saving.
The problem that the world is now facing is how to meet the foreseeable increase in energy demand, particularly electricity demand, using all available energy sources in the most efficient and economical manner, and without increasing the emission of CO2 to the atmosphere. The different energy sources mentioned in this paper can be used in order to satisfy an important part of this demand without affecting the environment.

A tissue establishment is a unit or service, inside or outside of a public or private hospital, g... more A tissue establishment is a unit or service, inside or outside of a public or private
hospital, generally operated by public or non-profit-making bodies or in some countries
by private profit-making institutions that procure, process, sterilise, store, and distribute
sterilised human tissues to private or public hospitals to be used in certain medical
treatments.
Each tissue establishment should adopt the best possible structure, hired the
necessary well-trained staff, according to the level of its activities, and should establish
the necessary internal committees to ensure the highest quality of its operation. In
addition, the tissue establishment should adopt a quality management system in order
to reduce the risk and maximize the benefits of the transplantation process.

Elsevier , 2019

Advances in Energy Research, 2015

Advances in Energy Research, 2019

Legal Basis of Global Tissue Banking

While there are inescapable acts of individual judgment involved in ethical decisions, neverthele... more While there are inescapable acts of individual judgment involved in ethical decisions, nevertheless, it is desirable that conclusions should be reached in ways that result in as consistent a practice as possible. A way of achieving this in a given area of activity is to formulate a code of ethics and a code of practice providing general guidelines within which individual decisions are to be made. A code of ethics is a basic presentation of principles and ideals and has a regulatory, educational and cultural integration function. A code of practice is a detailed description of the actions that are to be performed and not performed, and of the sanctions that attach to non-performance.
A code of ethics has two aspects: a) the content comprising the requirements, rules, principles, ideals, and so forth; and b) the commitment of the members of an organisation to conform to, and otherwise uphold, those rules and ideals. The commitment to that content on the part of the members of the organisation consists of an oath or promise or other kind of undertaking that each member has given to adhere to the code . A code of ethics is a good place for members of an organisation to signal their commitment to the basic laws, and thus basic moral standards of their community, including the principle of individual autonomy.
With the purpose of ensuring respect to the human being and the deserved dignity and autonomy , each State should have in force a code of ethics and a code of practice with the purpose of applying it to all tissue banking activities carried out in the country.

Abstract: It is an undisputed reality that the energy production and their sustained growth con... more Abstract: It is an undisputed reality that the energy production and their sustained growth constitute indispensable elements to ensure the economic and social progress of any country. For this reason, all types of energy sources available in the country, including nuclear energy, should be included in any study related to the best composition of the country energy mix to be prepared by the national competent energy authorities. The main goal of this study is the selection of the best energy mix on the basis of the most efficient utilization of all available energy sources for the generation of electricity to ensure its future economic and social development.

Advances in Energy Research Vol. 21, 2015

Undoubtedly, interest in small modular reactors (SMRs) continues to grow as an option for futur... more Undoubtedly, interest in small modular reactors (SMRs) continues to grow as an option for future power generation and energy security. SMRs are small or medium size reactors (maximum 700 MWe of capacity) that adopt the modularization of its components, by which the structures, systems, and components are shop-fabricated then shipped and assembled on site, thus the construction time for SMRs can be substantially reduced. SMRs with pre-fabricated modules can expedite the construction of a single large nuclear power plant in the same site. SMRs can be installed underground, which improves containment and security, but may hinder emergency access.

Hydroelectricity and Power Electronics: Environmental Impacts, Emerging Technologies and Challenges, Sep 1, 2014

Hydropower is the major renewable electricity generation technology in Europe today. It delivers... more Hydropower is the major renewable electricity generation technology in Europe today. It delivers storage capacity and stabilizing services for the European power system, which are crucial for a high security of electricity supply. Undoubtedly, hydropower is a mature and cost-competitive renewable energy source and a key component of the energy mix in several EU countries, and this situation will not change during the coming decades. As a multifunctional technology, it is indispensable to the electricity system, and will be even more important tomorrow, when other fossil fuels used today for the generation of electricity, such as oil and coal, will not be sufficient to satisfy the foreseeable EU energy demand.
Hydropower is expected to continue to play an important role in the world energy balance in the future, particularly in the European region. The highest growth rates, however, are expected in developing or strongly industrializing countries with high and yet unexploited hydropower potential, particularly in Eastern Europe. It is important to highlight that since the 1970s, annual energy production in some of the hydropower plants operating in Western Europe has decreased, in particular in Portugal, Spain and other Southern European countries. This reduction has been attributed to changes in average discharge, but whether this is due to temporary fluctuations or already the consequences of long-term changing climate conditions is not yet known.

Nova Science Publishers, 2010

It is an undisputed reality that the energy production and their sustained growth constitute ... more It is an undisputed reality that the energy production and their sustained growth constitute indispensable elements to ensure the economic and social progress of any country. For this reason, the use of all types of energy source available in the country, including nuclear energy, should be included in its energy mix in order to ensure its future economic and social development. However, there are certain factors that need to be considered by the competent authorities of a country during the selection of the most economic energy sources to be used for the generation of electricity. For instance the use of fossil fuels is a major and growing contributor to the emission of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, while nuclear energy and renewables are almost carbon dioxide free.
Considering the different available energy sources that the world can use now to satisfy the foresee increase in energy demand in the coming years, there should be no doubt that, at least for the next decades, there are only a few realistic options available to reduce further the CO2 emissions as the result of the electricity generation. These options are, among others, the following: Increase efficiency in electricity generation and use; expand use of all available renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, biomass and geothermal, among others; massive introduction of new advanced technology like the capture carbon dioxide emissions technology at fossil-fueled (especially coal) electric generating plants, with the purpose to permanently sequester the carbon produced by these plants; increase use of new types of nuclear power reactors that are inherent safe and proliferation risk-free; and increase energy saving.

The Financial Crisis: Issues in Finance, Business and Global Economics, 2011

New Developments in Atomic Energy Research , 2013

Undoubtedly, energy production and their sustained growth constitute a relevant factor for ensuri... more Undoubtedly, energy production and their sustained growth constitute a relevant factor for ensuring the economic and social development of any country. Considering the different available energy sources that the world can use to satisfy the foreseeable increase in energy demand in the coming years, particularly for the production of electricity, at least for the next decades there are only a few realistic options available to reduce further the CO2 emissions, to satisfy the foreseeable demand of electricity, and to have secure supply of energy.
One of these options is the use of nuclear energy for electricity generation. If this is true, then, why the public opinion of several countries is against the use of this type of energy sources? One of the reasons is the negative impact of an accident in a nuclear power plant for the human beings and for the environment. The second reason is the possible military uses of certain nuclear installations used for the generation of electricity. The third reason is the nuclear waste generated by nuclear power plants.

Energy & Environmental Division. The Global Voice of Quality, 2019

It is an undeniable reality that electricity generation and sustained growth constitute indispens... more It is an undeniable reality that electricity generation and
sustained growth constitute indispensable elements to
ensure the economic and social progress of any country.
Like all other energy sources, the use of nuclear energy for
electricity generation is not free from accidents and has
some advantages in comparison with other energy sources,
but also has some disadvantages. A summary of these
advantages and disadvantages are included in this article.

Journal of Reviews on Global Economics, Apr 2014

The development and use of renewable energy sources for electricity generation, particularly ener... more The development and use of renewable energy sources for electricity generation, particularly energy from
wind, hydro, solar, biomass and geothermal, is a central aim of the European Commission’s Energy Policy. For this
reason, it is important to know what could be the role that renewable could play within the EU energy mix during the
coming years, based on the role that this type of energy sources is now playing. The use of renewable energy sources
for the generation of electricity is expected to be economically competitive in comparison with the use of conventional
energy sources with the same purpose, will reduce the negative impact on the environment and the population as a
result of the burn of fossil fuels, and will reduce the cost of the energy bill in the medium to long-term.

Public Organization Review, Apr 16, 2014

The IAEA is one of the most important international organizations within the United Nations syste... more The IAEA is one of the most important international organizations within the United Nations system, with a relevant mandate in the field of international peace, security, and the transfer of nuclear technology for its use with peaceful purposes only.
The Peace Nobel Prize won by the organization in 2005 in recognition of its work in the promotion of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy is the confirmation of what has been said before. To accomplish its mandate, the IAEA should carry out its activities in the most efficient and effective manner, taking into account the limited human and financial resources now available in the Secretariat, and the level of the resources that could be available during the coming years. For this reason, the IAEA should periodically revise its internal organizational structure, the management process used by the Secretariat to carry out the supervision of the activities to be implemented, the contents of its programs, the working procedures used to implement the approved programs, enhance the training of its staff, among other things. If an organization wants to succeed in achieving the mission for which was established in the most efficient and effective manner, then it should choose adequately its goals, identify the correct course of actions or the best strategies to fulfil the adopted goals, adopt the most efficient internal organizational structure, and allocate the necessary resources to ensure the full implementation of the approved programs. To make sure that the adopted strategies are working, the organization needs to adopt the correct internal organizational structure. Choosing the correct internal organizational structure entails allocating tasks, responsibilities, and decision-making authority within the organization in the most effective manner. One of the main changes that the Secretariat should introduce in its working procedures during the coming years is the establishment of multidisciplinary working teams. These teams will have the responsibility to implement all IAEA technical programs, including all technical cooperation projects approved by the policy making organs of the organization, in the most effective and economical manner.

International Journal of Energy, Environment and Economics Vol. 21, No. 3, 2013

It is an undeniable reality that energy production and their sustained growth constitute indispen... more It is an undeniable reality that energy production and their sustained growth constitute indispensable elements to ensure the economic and social progress of any country.
For this reason, the possible use of all types of energy sources available in the country should be in the mind of politicians and experts during the elaboration of the best possible energy mix for the country. The purpose of this effort is to ensure the maximum economic and social development of the country under the prevailing economic and political international conditions.
However, there are certain factors that need to be considered by the competent authorities of a country during the selection of the most efficient and economic energy sources for the generation of electricity.
For instance, the use of fossil fuels is a major and growing contributor to the emission of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, and, for this reason, any increase in the use of this type of energy source will increase the emission of CO2 to the atmosphere; nuclear energy and renewable energy sources are almost carbon dioxide free but a nuclear accident could have devastator consequences for the environment and the population not only in the surround area of the plant site but for the environment and the population living far away from this site; the prices of the different fossil fuels are increasing and the reserves decreasing; and some renewable energy sources are not yet ready to be used for the generation of electricity in large scale and inexpensively, at least during the coming years.
Considering the different energy sources available in the world that can be used to meet the foreseeable increase in energy demand in during the coming years, there should be no doubt that, at least for the next decades, there are only a few realistic options available to reduce further the CO2 emissions as result of the electricity generation.

International Journal of Transplantation Research and Medicine, 2019

The donation of human tissues and organs increases significantly when tissue banks and organ tran... more The donation of human tissues and organs increases significantly when tissue banks and organ transplant organizations work together in the procurement of human organs and tissues at donor sources (hospitals, coroners’ system, organ procurement agencies, and funeral homes, among others). To achieve this vital goal, national competent health authorities should consider the establishment of a mechanism that promotes the broadest possible cooperation between tissue banks and organ transplant organizations operating in the country with all available donor sources. One of the issues that can facilitate the above-mentioned cooperation is the adoption of all necessary laws and regulations to support the establishment of a national central office in charge of the procurement of human tissues and organs within the country, to consider the possibility of the establishment or designation of a national central office to act as regional office in charge of the coordination and cooperation among the different national offices established in different countries within a given region, and the adoption of a unified coding and traceability system that could identify all human tissues and organs used in transplant activities carried out in the country, or within the region, or at international level. The promotion of national, regional, and international cooperation between tissue banks and organ transplant organizations would enable the sharing of relevant information that could be important for medical practice and scientific studies carried out by many countries, particularly for those countries with a weak health care system.

Professor Phillips began his involvement in the implementation of this important IAEA programme, ... more Professor Phillips began his involvement in the implementation of this important IAEA programme, insisting that there were advantages to be gained by using the ionizing radiation technique to sterilize human and animal tissues, based on the IAEA experience gained in the sterilization of medical products. The outcome of the implementation of the IAEA programme on radiation and tissue banking demonstrated that Professor Phillips was right in his opinion.

A tissue establishment is a unit or service, inside or outside of a public or private hospital, g... more A tissue establishment is a unit or service,
inside or outside of a public or private hospital,
generally operated by public or non-profit-making
bodies or in some countries by private profit-making
institutions that procure, process, sterilise, store, and
distribute sterilised human tissues to private or public
hospitals to be used in certain medical treatments.
Each tissue establishment should adopt the best
possible structure, hired the necessary well-trained
staff, according to the level of its activities, and should
establish the necessary internal committees to ensure
the highest quality of its operation. In addition, the
tissue establishment should adopt a quality management
system in order to reduce the risk and maximize
the benefits of the transplantation process.

Cell and Tissue Banking, 2009

BNOT was created and regulated in 1977 and started its operation in 1978 according to the Decree ... more BNOT was created and regulated in 1977 and started its operation in 1978 according to the Decree No. 86/1977. By the Decree 248/005 is transformed in the National Institute of Donation and Transplantation of Cells, Tissues and Organs (Instituto Nacional de Donación y Trasplante de Células, Tejidos y Órganos—INDT). The organisation has been operating within the State University Medical School and the Public Health Secretary and it is the governmental organisation responsible for the regulation, policy and management of donation and transplantation in Uruguay. By the Decree 160/2006 is responsible for human cells and tissues regulation too. The participation of the INDT in the IAEA program facilitated the introduction of the radiation sterilisation technique for the first time in the country. The radiation sterilisation of tissues processed by INDT (ex BNOT), was initially carried out in the 60 Cobalt Industrial Plant in the National Atomic Energy Commission of Argentina and now is carried out in INDT, using a Gamma Cell 220 Excel, which was provided by the IAEA through the national project URU/7/005. The results of the implementation of tissues, quality control and quality management system, are showed.

Advances in Tissue Banking, Vol. 7 World Scientific Publishers, 2004

The chapter explains the work done by the IAEA in the implementation of its program on the use of... more The chapter explains the work done by the IAEA in the implementation of its program on the use of the ionizing radiation techniques for the sterilization of tissues.

Cell and Tissue Banking

The IAEA International Standards for Tissue Banks published in 2003 were based on the Standards t... more The IAEA International Standards for Tissue Banks published in 2003 were based on the Standards then currently in use in the USA and the European Union, among others, and reflect the best practices associated with the operation of a tissue bank. They cover legal, ethical and regulatory controls as well as requirements and procedures from donor selection and tissue retrieval to processing and distribution of finished tissue for clinical use. The application of these standards allows tissue banks to operate with the current good tissue practice, thereby providing grafts of high quality that satisfy the national and international demand for safe and biologically useful grafts. The objective of this article is to review the IAEA Standards and recommend new topics that could improve the current version.

Cell and Tissue Banking, 2009

Since 1993, the IAEA supported the establishment or the consolidation of seven tissue banks in th... more Since 1993, the IAEA supported the establishment or the consolidation of seven tissue banks in the region. As a direct or indirect consequence of the implementation of the IAEA program, more than 53 tissue banks are now operating in the participating countries. The fast development of tissue banks in the Latin America region under the ARCAL Agreement and with the financial and technical support of the IAEA program made it necessary to train new tissue bank operators and medical personnel. In general, 90 tissue bank operators and medical personnel were trained in the training centre of Buenos Aires. Another six tissue bank operators and medical personnel were trained in the International Training Centre of Singapore. The main impact of the IAEA program in the region was the following: the establishment or consolidation of fifty-three tissue banks in nine countries in the region; the implementation of five national projects, allocating 1,006,737dollarsforthispurposeandofoneregionalprojectallocating1,006,737 dollars for this purpose and of one regional project allocating 1,006,737dollarsforthispurposeandofoneregionalprojectallocating284,741 dollars for this purpose; the use of the IAEA Standards, the IAEA Code of Practice and the IAEA Public Awareness Strategies in several tissue banks in the region; the application of quality control and quality assurances manuals in all of the participating countries.

Cell and Tissue Banking

There are several important roles that the established professional associations [Asia-Pacific As... more There are several important roles that the established professional associations [Asia-Pacific Association of Surgical Tissue Banking (APASTB) and Latin American Association of Tissue Banks (ALABAT)] could play for the promotion of tissue banking activities in Asia and the Pacific and in the Latin American regions in the future. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) could also play an important role in supporting the activities of both professional associations in the field of training, exchange of scientific information, the standardisation of national norms and regulations, the use of the IAEA documents, particularly the “Radiation Sterilisation of Tissue Allografts: Requirements for Validation and Routine Control. A Code of Practice”, with the purpose to improve the quality of the activities carried out by the established tissue banks and the nuclear facilities in charge of the sterilisation of the processed tissues, and to increase tissue donations. The role of APASTB and ALABAT could be relevant and important for the improvement of the work of the established tissue banks in Asia and the Pacific and in the Latin American regions, and could increase the effectiveness and efficiency of their works, the improvement of management good practices and for increasing the awareness of the community on the importance of the activities carried out by the tissue banks, among others.

Cell and Tissue Banking, 2009

The banking of tissues such bone and skin began in India in the 1980s and 1990s. Although eye ban... more The banking of tissues such bone and skin began in India in the 1980s and 1990s. Although eye banking started in 1945 there was little progress in this field for the next five decades. As part of the IAEA/RCA program to use ionising radiation for the sterilisation of biological tissues in Asia and the Pacific Region, the Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) in 1986 decided to set up a tissue bank in Mumbai funded by the Government of India. The TMH Tissue Bank became operational in January 1988, and stands as a pioneering effort in the country to provide safe, clinically useful and cost-effective human allografts for transplantation. It uses the IAEA International Standards on Tissue Banking. All the grafts are sterilised terminally by exposure to a dose of 25 kGy of gamma radiation, which has been validated as recommended by the IAEA Code of Practice for the Radiation Sterilisation of Tissues Allografts: Requirements for Validation and Routine Control. The TMH Tissue Bank is registered with the Maharashtra State Health Authorities, and in May 2004, it became India’s first Tissue Bank to receive ISO 9001:2000 certification of its Quality Management System. From 1989 to September 2007, the TMH Tissue Bank has supplied 11,369 allografts to 310 surgeons operating in 69 hospitals in Mumbai and 56 hospitals in other parts of India. These numbers have been limited by difficulties with the retrieval of tissues from deceased donors due to inadequate resources and tissue donation policies of hospitals. As the Government of India representative in the IAEA program, the TMH Tissue Bank has promoted and co-coordinated these activities in the country and the development of tissue banks using radiation sterilisation of tissue grafts. Towards this end it has been engaged in training personnel, drawing up project proposals, and supporting the establishment of a Tissue Retrieval Centre in Mumbai. Currently it networks with the Zonal Transplant Co-ordination Centre of the Government of Maharashtra, and the newly instituted National Deceased Donor Transplantation Network, which will work with the Government of India to set up rules and regulations for organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), a site of several nuclear weapon tests for 12 years a... more The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), a site of several nuclear weapon tests for 12 years and a member of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), brought a lawsuit against all nuclear-weapon states [United States (U.S.), United Kingdom (UK), France, Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea (DPRK)], before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in April 2014. The applications are based on the violation of article VI of the NPT and the customary international law. The RMI requested the Court to order to the five nuclear-weapon states parties to the NPT to take, within one year of the judgment, all steps necessary to comply with those obligations assumed under the treaty, including the pursuit by initiation, if necessary, of negotiations in good faith aimed at the conclusion, by all nuclear-weapon states, of a convention on nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international supervision and control. This paper presents an analysis of this case and its legal consequences for all nuclear-weapon states, including the ICJ jurisdiction in each petition, the position of each of the NPT nuclear-weapon states in the field of nuclear disarmament, and its effects on the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

A nuclear deal known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the P5+1 grou... more A nuclear deal known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the P5+1 group (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, plus the EU) was reached on July 14, 2015. The deal limited Iran’s nuclear program and enhanced the monitoring of this program in exchange for relief from United Nation Security Council sanctions. Although Iran had been accused for its efforts to acquire the capability to build nuclear weapons for more than two decades, it maintains that its nuclear activities are entirely peaceful. Despite the views of many opposition parties in both Iran and the USA, the deal is a great chance to set new methods in non-proliferation regime. This paper forecasts the likely impact of JCPOA in the non-proliferation regime.

Abstract Disarmament measures included in the Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) are, for most of the... more Abstract Disarmament measures included in the Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) are,
for most of the nuclear-weapon states, an objective to be reached in a very long-term.
Based on this position, the current nuclear-weapon states parties to the NPT believe that
they do not have to show, at this stage, the necessary political will to begin the nuclear
disarmament process at the multilateral level and under international supervision, as
requested so many times by the international community on the basis of article VI of
the NPT. For this reason, all of them are in the process of modernising their nuclear
weapons arsenals, ignoring their commitments and obligations as NPT states parties

The situation of nuclear-weapon states not parties to the NPT is different from the situation of ... more The situation of nuclear-weapon states not parties to the NPT is different
from the situation of the nuclear-weapon states parties to that treaty. This last group of
countries has signed and ratified a treaty that encourage them to begin negotiations in
good faith for the discussion of concrete measures that lead them to nuclear disarmament,
while the first group of states have made no commitment to do that. In other
words, nuclear-weapon states not parties to the NPT have made no commitment to
nuclear disarmament and are not obliged to report anything related to the possession of
nuclear weapons to the any specific body or organ or to the international community.
Taking into account the position of nuclear-weapon states parties to the NPT regarding
the possession of nuclear weapons, there is no possibility to convince nuclear-weapon
states not parties to this treaty to renounce to the possession of this type of weapons
under the present circumstances.

Public Organization Review Journal (PORJ), Apr 12, 2015

The limitation, reduction, prohibition or elimination of specific types of weapons, particularly ... more The limitation, reduction, prohibition or elimination of specific types of weapons, particularly nuclear weapons is, and will continue to be, one of the most important challenges that the international community should face in the 21th century.
To overcome these challenges a multilateral approach through the United Nations and its main organs and specialised international organisations involved in non-proliferation, disarmament and arms control issues is needed. These organs and specialised international organisations are: the General Assembly and its main subsidiary bodies, the Security Council, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) and the Conference on Disarmament (CD).

Public Organisation Review, 2014

The NPT is the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime, which includes a group of reg... more The NPT is the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime, which includes a group of regional and international agreements that have been used, with some success, to slow down the spread of nuclear weapons during the past 41 years, but
it has been incapable to completely stop the proliferation of such weapons. This dangerous situation is affecting international peace, security and stability. The paper presents several proposals that could change this situation, if are adopted by the international community.

Public Organization Review, 2013

The majority of the NPT state parties believes that the treaty, in it current form, is not the ap... more The majority of the NPT state parties believes that the treaty, in it current form, is not the appropriate instrument to achieve the destruction of all nuclear weapons and the closure of all nuclear weapon production facilities located in the territory or under the jurisdiction or control of nuclear-weapon states parties. Why? The answer is very simple: The NPT has no enforcement mechanism that can be used to oblige nuclear-weapon states parties to destroy all of their nuclear weapons in a specific period of time. In addition, the NPT has not international mechanism that can be used for the supervision of the implementation of all obligations and commitments assumed by its states parties. The paper presents some proposals to overcome this situation.

Public Organization Review, 2012

The reduction or the complete elimination of specific types of weapons, particularly the eliminat... more The reduction or the complete elimination of specific types of weapons, particularly the elimination of all weapons of mass destruction, is one of the most important challenges that the international community should face in the 21th century. In this paper, a group of proposals on the possible roles to be played by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation
(CTBTO) and the Conference on Disarmament (CD) is included.

Journal of World Economy: Transformations & Transitions , 2021

It has become common practice for the US administration to apply sanctions to countries that adop... more It has become common practice for the US administration to apply sanctions to countries that adopt policies to defend their
political, economic, and military interests but affect or are against those of the US. The application of the US sanctions
policy has been extended in recent years to include even friendly or allied countries.
When is the US sanction policy applied? In principle, when other countries assume positions or adopt political, economic,
and military policies that do not respect or reflect the US interests or do not support its commercial, economic, political, or
military policies and positions. As a result of the US sanctions policy's expansion application, now the US government does
not distinguish between allies, friends, adversaries, or enemies. Sanctions against Germany and other European countries
and companies and Russian companies for constructing the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline are clear examples of what has been
said above.
But, what happens if all great powers apply the same US sanction policy? The reaction of China, Russia, and the EU, among
others rejecting the US sanctions policy covering political, economic, and military issues, complicates the search for
acceptable solutions to the main world problems increasing tensions at this level. Undoubtedly, this is not the way to find
acceptable solutions to international or regional disputes. They can only be found through negotiations in good faith, the
use of diplomacy, and increasing trust among countries involved in regional and international disputes. The use of unilateral
force, the adoption of arbitrary sanctions, or the threat of military actions to force change another country's position or
policy will not strengthen international peace and security but the contrary.

Business Management Research, 2021

Abstract: Undoubtedly, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) play a central role in ... more Abstract: Undoubtedly, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) play a central role in many countries’ economic
development. They are a major source of entrepreneurial skills, innovation, and employment account for most
businesses worldwide. MSMEs are important contributors to job creation and global economic development,
representing 90% of businesses and more than 50% of employment worldwide.

Journal of Solar Energy Research Updates, 2019

Cuba, a small island in the Caribbean Sea with a total land area of 109.884 km 2 and a population... more Cuba, a small island in the Caribbean Sea with a total land area of 109.884 km 2 and a population of around 11.423 million, has no significant proved oil, gas and coal reserves. Also use, in a very limited manner, some of the four main renewable energy sources available in the country for electricity production, generating just 50,1 GW/h or 4,04% of the total electricity consumed in 2015 (20.288 GW/h). In 2016, electricity consumption fell to 15.182 GW/h; this means a reduction of 25% in comparison to 2015. In 2016, the participation of renewable energy sources in the energy mix of the country reached 4,65%. The different renewable energy sources available in the country are hydropower, wind power, solar photovoltaic, and bioenergy. In 2015, out of Cuba's total 566 MW of renewable energy capacity installed, 83% of the total was in the bioenergy sector. In 2016, the renewable energy capacity installed in the country reached 642 MW. According to the decision adopted by the Cuban government, the participation of renewable energy sources in the energy mix of the country should reach 24% in 2030, an increase of almost 20% compared to the level reported in 2016. Among the different renewable energy sources available in the country, solar energy is one of the main contributors to the national energy system, and also one of the leading supplier of energy to independent users all over the country.

In the Latin America region, only 4 percent of electricity in 2016 came from nuclear energy sourc... more In the Latin America region, only 4 percent of electricity in 2016
came from nuclear energy sources. However, if current nuclear
power expansion plans in Argentina and Brazil succeed, the
nuclear power program in Mexico will be expanded, and plans
for the construction of new nuclear power plants in other countries
from the region, such as Chile and Peru, will be implemented.
When this happens, the percent of electricity from nuclear energy
sources could be more than double within a decade.
There is a total of seven nuclear power reactors operating in the
Latin American region in 2017: Argentina (three), Brazil (two),
and Mexico (two). Argentina and Brazil are constructing one
additional nuclear power reactor each. The total production of
electricity by nuclear energy in the Latin American region in 2016
reached the amount of 33,813.59 GWe.

Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 2011

Cell and Tissue Banking, 2000

A tissue bank is accountable before the community in fulfilling the expectations of tissue donors... more A tissue bank is accountable before the community in fulfilling the expectations of tissue donors, their families and recipients. The expected output from the altruistic donation is that safe and high quality human tissue grafts will be provided for the medical treatment of patients. Thus, undertakings of tissue banks have to be not only authorised and audited by national competent

Cell and Tissue Banking, 2010

A tissue establishment, also called " tissue bank " , is a unit or service, inside or outside of ... more A tissue establishment, also called " tissue bank " , is a unit or service, inside or outside of a public or private hospital or, in some countries inside a nuclear institution, generally operated by public or non-profit-making bodies, or in some countries by private profit-making institutions that procure, process, sterilize, store, and distribute sterilized human tissues to private or public hospitals to be used in certain medical treatments. In some countries, the tissue establishments are created inside a nuclear institution, particularly those that use the ionizing radiation technique for tissue sterilization. With the purpose of carrying out its activities in a safest manner, each tissue establishment should adopt a set of ethical principles, a code of ethics and a code of practice to ensure the use of the best practice in carrying out its activities. Tissue establishment staff should show the maximum respect for the people involved in these activities, particularly the donor and the recipient of the tissues. In addition, all tissue establishments should adopt a quality management system to reduce the risk and maximize the benefits of the tissue transplantation process.

Undoubtedly, the Iran’s nuclear program has progressed significantly in the past decade, in line ... more Undoubtedly, the Iran’s nuclear program has progressed significantly in the past decade, in line with Iran’s 2006 announcement that it would, in addition to the conclusion of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, begin enriching uranium. Currently, Iran has a robust nuclear infrastructure, including uranium mining, milling, conversion, and enrichment capabilities. Iran is also thinking to construct more nuclear power plant in order to reduce the consumption of oil and gas for electricity generation. However, the most controversial dimension of its nuclear program has been Iran’s effort to build up its enrichment capabilities, which could be used to produce highly enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon, without informing in advance to the IAEA, in accordance with its obligations as a state party to the NPT. This includes developing, constructing and implementing an extensive enrichment program comprising nearly 20,000 gas centrifuges at three major facilities. The adoption of a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action will provide to the international community that the whole Iranian nuclear program is for peaceful purpose only.

A few days ago, I said that if the US does not lift the sanctions that unilaterally and without j... more A few days ago, I said that if the US does not lift the sanctions that unilaterally and without justification adopted against Iran after its withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018, states parties to this agreement would not be in a position to demand Iran to begin again to comply fully with its obligations within the mentioned agreement. At the same time, the Vienna negotiations on the US return to the JCPOA would become very complex, endangering the very existence of this agreement. Moreover, negotiations with Iran to fully comply with the JCPOA provisions would be more difficult with the arrival of the newly elected government in Iran.