El neolític antic i l"inici de l"edat del bronze a les excavacions del nou conservatori del Liceu

[cat] En aquest article es presenta l"estudi interdisciplinari de les ocupacions prehistòriques recents (neolític i inici de l"edat del bronze) localitzades durant la construcció del Conservatori del Gran Liceu de Barcelona, al barri del Raval de la mateixa ciutat. Les restes ocupacionals corresponen a un assentament amb evidències d"estructures de combustió i diversos elements de suport. Hi destaca la conservació d"alguns magnífics fogars, així com un conjunt de materials abiòtics i biòtics que permeten augmentar el coneixement de les primeres comunitats agrícoles del Pla de Barcelona. [spa] En este artículo se presenta el estudio interdisciplinar de las ocupaciones prehistóricas recientes (Neolítico e inicio de la Edad del Bronce) localizadas durante la construcción del Conservatorio del Gran Liceo de Barcelona, en el barrio del Raval de la misma ciudad. Los restos de ocupación corresponden a un asentamiento con evidencias de estructuras de combustión y otros elementos de soporte. Entre ellos destaca la conservación de algunos magníficos hogares así como un conjunto de materiales abióticos y bióticos que permiten aumentar el conocimiento sobre las primeras comunidades agrícolas del llano de Barcelona. [eng] This paper presents the interdisciplinary study of the recent prehistoric occupations (Neolithic and Early Bronze Age) found during the construction of El Liceu Conservatoire in Barcelona"s El Raval district. Occupational remains correspond to a settlement with traces of combustion structures and several supporting elements. It emphasises the preservation of some magnificent fireplaces and a set of archaeological abitoic and biotic materials that can increase knowledge of the first farming communities in the Barcelona plain. [fra] Cet article présente l"étude interdisciplinaire des occupations préhistoriques récentes (néolithique et début de l"âge du bronze) localisées lors de la construction du Conservatoire du Grand Théâtre du Liceu (opéra) de Barcelone, dans le quartier du Raval. Les vestiges d"occupation correspondent à un établissement présentant des structures de combustion et différents éléments de support. On y remarque la conservation de quelques magnifiques foyers ainsi qu"un ensemble de matériaux abiotiques et biotiques qui peuvent enrichir les connaissances sur les premières communautés agricoles de la plaine de Barcelone.

How are riparian plants distributed along the riverbank topographic gradient in Mediterranean rivers? Application to minimally altered river stretches in Southern Spain.

Species structure and composition in Mediterranean riparian forests are determined by hydrological features, longitudinal zonation, and riverbank topography. This study assesses the distribution of four native riparian plants along the riverbank topographic gradient in three river stretches in southern Spain, with special emphasis on the occupation of adult and young feet of each species. The studied stretches suffered minimal human disturbances, displayed semi-arid conditions, and had wide riparian areas to allow the development of the target species: black alder (Alnus glutinosa), salvia leaf willow (Salix salviifolia), narrow-leafed ash (Fraxinus angustifolia), and oleander (Nerium oleander). Thalweg height was used to define the riverbank topographic gradient. The results showed a preferential zone for black alder and salvia leaf willow in the range of 0-150 cm from the channel thalweg, with adult alders and willows being more common between 51 and 150 cm and young alders being more common under 50 cm. Conversely, narrow-leafed ash and oleander were much more frequent, and showed greater development, in the ranges of 151-200 cm and 201-250 cm, respectively, whereas the young feet of both species covered the entire topographic range. Adult feet of the four species were spatially segregated along the riverbank topographic gradient, indicating their differential ability to cope with water stress from the non-tolerant alders and willows to more tolerant narrow-leafed ash trees and oleanders. Young feet, however, showed a strategy more closely linked to the initial availability of colonisation sites within riparian areas to the dispersion strategy of each species and to the distribution of adult feet. In Mediterranean areas, where riparian management has traditionally faced great challenges, the incorporation of species preferences along riverbank gradients could improve the performance of restoration projects.

Self-reported sitting time and physical activity: interactive associations with mental well-being and productivity in office employees

Abstract Background: Little is known about how sitting time, alone or in combination with markers of physical activity (PA), influences mental well-being and work productivity. Given the need to develop workplace PA interventions that target employees’ health related efficiency outcomes; this study examined the associations between self-reported sitting time, PA, mental well-being and work productivity in office employees. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Spanish university office employees (n = 557) completed a survey measuring socio-demographics, total and domain specific (work and travel) self-reported sitting time, PA (International Physical Activity Questionnaire short version), mental well-being (Warwick-Edinburg Mental Well-Being Scale) and work productivity (Work Limitations Questionnaire). Multivariate linear regression analyses determined associations between the main variables adjusted for gender, age, body mass index and occupation. PA levels (low, moderate and high) were introduced into the model to examine interactive associations. Results: Higher volumes of PA were related to higher mental well-being, work productivity and spending less time sitting at work, throughout the working day and travelling during the week, including the weekends (p < 0.05). Greater levels of sitting during weekends was associated with lower mental well-being (p < 0.05). Similarly, more sitting while travelling at weekends was linked to lower work productivity (p < 0.05). In highly active employees, higher sitting times on work days and occupational sitting were associated with decreased mental well-being (p < 0.05). Higher sitting times while travelling on weekend days was also linked to lower work productivity in the highly active (p < 0.05). No significant associations were observed in low active employees. Conclusions: Employees’ PA levels exerts different influences on the associations between sitting time, mental well-being and work productivity. The specific associations and the broad sweep of evidence in the current study suggest that workplace PA strategies to improve the mental well-being and productivity of all employees should focus on reducing sitting time alongside efforts to increase PA.

Factors associated with active aging in Finland, Poland, and Spain

BACKGROUND: Continuous population aging has raised international policy interest in promoting active aging (AA). AA theoretical models have been defined from a biomedical or a psychosocial perspective. These models may be expanded including components suggested by lay individuals. This paper aims to study the correlates of AA in three European countries, namely, Spain, Poland, and Finland using four different definitions of AA. METHODS: The EU COURAGE in Europe project was a cross-sectional general adult population survey conducted in a representative sample of the noninstitutionalized population of Finland, Poland, and Spain. Participants (10,800) lived in the community. This analysis focuses on individuals aged 50 years old and over (7,987). Four definitions (two biomedical, one psychosocial, and a complete definition including biomedical, psychosocial, and external variables) of AA were analyzed. RESULTS: Differences in AA were found for country, age, education, and occupation. Finland scored consistently the highest in AA followed by Spain and Poland. Younger age was associated with higher AA. Higher education and occupation was associated with AA. Being married or cohabiting was associated with better AA compared to being widowed or separated in most definitions. Gender and urbanicity were not associated with AA, with few exceptions. Men scored higher in AA only in Spain, whereas there was no gender association in the other two countries. Being widowed was only associated with lower AA in Poland and not being married was associated with lower AA in Poland and Finland but not Spain. CONCLUSIONS: Associations with education, marital status, and occupation suggest that these factors are the most important components of AA. These association patterns, however, seem to vary across the three countries. Actions to promote AA in these countries may be addressed at reducing inequalities in occupation and education or directly tackling the components of AA lacking in each country.

Programa de gestió per la Boutique Shahrazad

Per tal d'iniciar el meu TFC, vaig decidir començar a desenvolupar un programa que contempla la gestió diària del comerç, així com la dels productes, clients, proveïdors, vendes i compres, d’un negoci que es tracta d’una botiga de roba, sabates,bosses i complements, per tal de convertir-ho en un sistema de gestió més complert. Actualment, l’entorn de negoci en el petit comerç està cada cop més desplaçat degut al gran creixement de les grans superfícies per part de franquícies de cadenes molt potents. A més, els clients són cada cop més exigents i el mercat està cada vegada més saturat. És per això que voldrem incloure un valor afegit al sistema, per poder donar un nou punt de vista al negoci, de tal manera que permeti nodrir la nostra relació amb el client, de manera que la col·laboració sigui satisfactòria per ambdues parts. I per acabar s’elabora una pàgina web per tal de fer promoció i publicitat per la botiga, ja que avui en dia és molt important existir en el món virtual.

La desigualdad en el consumo familiar. Diferencias de género en la España contemporánea (1850-1930)

In the last few years, Economic Theory has revised two basic ideas around the economics of the household: that family income is the result of the individual income of each of its members (income pooling), and that all family members living in the household have equal access to its resources. Unequal access to family resources (among women and men, on the one hand, and among the elderly, adults and children, on the other), is now understood as an input (for instance, that women eat less food and of worst quality than men), and as an output (for instance that women have poorer health, higher epidemic mortality, or are less tall than men as a result, among other things, of having received less food and poorer medical care, and/or of a heavier workload). Despite the fact that inequality in intra‐family consumption has become the center of attention in academic and international agencies, it can still not be found in the agenda of Economic History. In this paper we look at some of the resources consumed by Spanish families in the 19th century: food, alcoholic beverages, clothes and shoes. Medical topographies, our main source, suggest that unequal access to family resources among household members had a strong impact on their health and wellbeing.

Population-based multicase-control study in common tumors in Spain (MCC-Spain): rationale and study design

INTRODUCTION: We present the protocol of a large population-based case-control study of 5 common tumors in Spain (MCC-Spain) that evaluates environmental exposures and genetic factors. METHODS: Between 2008-2013, 10,183 persons aged 20-85 years were enrolled in 23 hospitals and primary care centres in 12 Spanish provinces including 1,115 cases of a new diagnosis of prostate cancer, 1,750 of breast cancer, 2,171 of colorectal cancer, 492 of gastro-oesophageal cancer, 554 cases of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and 4,101 population-based controls matched by frequency to cases by age, sex and region of residence. Participation rates ranged from 57% (stomach cancer) to 87% (CLL cases) and from 30% to 77% in controls. Participants completed a face-to-face computerized interview on sociodemographic factors, environmental exposures, occupation, medication, lifestyle, and personal and family medical history. In addition, participants completed a self-administered food-frequency questionnaire and telephone interviews. Blood samples were collected from 76% of participants while saliva samples were collected in CLL cases and participants refusing blood extractions. Clinical information was recorded for cases and paraffin blocks and/or fresh tumor samples are available in most collaborating hospitals. Genotyping was done through an exome array enriched with genetic markers in specific pathways. Multiple analyses are planned to assess the association of environmental, personal and genetic risk factors for each tumor and to identify pleiotropic effects. DISCUSSION: This study, conducted within the Spanish Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), is a unique initiative to evaluate etiological factors for common cancers and will promote cancer research and prevention in Spain.