Proposal of three thermodynamic variables to discriminate between storms associated with hail and storms with intense rainfall in Catalonia (Proposta de tres variables termodin��miques per discriminar entre tempestes amb pedregades i tempestes amb pluges intenses)

Between late spring and early fall, the development of storms is common in Catalonia. Despite the fact that they usually produce heavy showers of short duration, they can also involve severe weather with ice pellets or hail. While the latter usually affect inland regions, and there are numerous publications on these cases; the analysis of events affecting the coast and causing damage to public and private properties is not so well developed. The aim of this study is to provide additional thermodynamic indicators that help differentiate storms with hail from storms without hail, considering cases that have affected various regions of Catalonia, mainly coastal areas. The aim is to give more information to improve prognosis and the ability to detail information in these situations. The procedure developed involved the study of several episodes of heavy rainfall and hail that hit Catalonia during the 2003-2009 period, mainly in the province of Girona, and validated the proposal during the campaign of late summer and fall of 2009, as well as 2012. For each case, several variables related to temperature, humidity and wind were analyzed at different levels of the atmosphere, while the information provided by the radio sounding in Barcelona was also taken into account. From this study, it can be concluded that the temperature difference between 500 hPa and 850 hPa, the humidity in the lower layers of the atmosphere and the LI index are good indicators for the detection of storms with associated hail.

Network characteristics of film tourism websites in Catalonia: an application of network analysis in tourism

This master thesis presents a research on the analysis of film tourism stakeholders in Catalonia applying the network analysis approach. The research aims to provide an analysis of the relations between local tourism stakeholders with local film offices through their websites. Therefore, the development of the present work involved the review of literature on the themes of film tourism and network analysis. Then the main stakeholders of film and tourism of Catalonia were identified and their websites analyzed. The measures indicators for network analysis such as centrality, closeness and betweenness degree have been applied on the analysis of the websites to determine the extent of the relations of film and tourism stakeholders in Catalonia. Results and conclusions are presented on the referred sections

Chemistry in Catalonia 1990-1995

The seven-year period studied here differs very little from the sixyear period described in the previous Report (1990-1995). Sustained growth was observed in almost all the indicators used to evaluate the resources invested and the scientific results obtained

Chemistry in Catalonia 1990-1995

The seven-year period studied here differs very little from the sixyear period described in the previous Report (1990-1995). Sustained growth was observed in almost all the indicators used to evaluate the resources invested and the scientific results obtained

Correlaci��n bioestratigr��fica entre las sucesiones mioc��nicas marinas de Sant Pau d'0rdal y Sant Llorenc d'Hortons (Depresi��n del Vall��s - Pened��s, Barcelona)

En base a los moluscos f��siles y a criterios sedimentol��gicos, se realiza una reconstrucci��n paleoambiental del sector de Sant Pau d'Ordal y de La Pedrera de Sant Llorenq d'Hortons y se deduce la equivalencia lateral de ambas localidades, a las que se atribuye una edad Langhiense-Serravaliense inferior. La presencia del pter��podo Vaginella austriaca, KITTL citado por primera vez en diversos yacimientos del Penedis, permite afirmar que durante este periodo existi�� una buena comunicaci��n entre el golfo del Penedes y el mar abierto.

Se��ales de depredaci��n en los Gastropoda procedentes de un yacimiento plioc��nico de Molins de Rei (Barcelona). Implicaciones paleoecol��gicas

En la presente nota se da una lista ampliada de la fauna malacol��gica del yacimiento plioc��nico de la Pla��a de les Bruixes (Molis de Rei, Barcelona). Los fen��menos de coacci��n que se describen nos muestran su utilidad a la hora de definir las condiciones ambientales y paleogeogr��ficas del lugar donde habita la fauna.

The Network Company in Catalonia : ICT, Productivity, Competitiveness, Salaries and Performance in Catalonia's Companies. Research report (synthesis document)

Resum en angl��s del projecte de recerca L'empresa xarxa a Catalunya. TIC, productivitat, competitivitat, salaris i beneficis a l'empresa catalana t�� com a objectiu principal constatar que la consolidaci�� d'un nou model estrat��gic, organitzatiu i d'activitat empresarial, vinculat amb la inversi�� i l'��s de les TIC (o empresa xarxa), modifica substancialment els patrons de comportament dels resultats empresarials, en especial la productivitat, la competitivitat, les retribucions dels treballadors i el benefici. La contrastaci�� emp��rica de les hip��tesis de treball l'hem feta per mitj�� de les dades d'una enquesta a una mostra representativa de 2.038 empreses catalanes. Amb la perspectiva de l'impacte de la inversi�� i l'��s de les TIC no s'aprecia una relaci�� directa entre els processos d'innovaci�� digital i els resultats de l'activitat de l'empresa catalana. En aquest sentit, hem hagut de segmentar el teixit productiu catal�� per a buscar les organitzacions en qu�� el proc��s de coinnovaci�� tecnol��gica digital i organitzativa ��s m��s present i en qu�� la intensitat de l'��s del coneixement ��s un recurs molt freq��ent per a poder copsar impactes rellevants en els principals resultats empresarials. Aix�� ��s aix�� perqu�� l'economia catalana, avui, presenta una estructura productiva dual.

E-Health and Society : An Empirical Study of Catalonia. Research report (synthesis document)

Aquest estudi va analitzar la interacci�� del canvi organitzatiu, els valors culturals i el canvi tecnol��gic en el sistema sanitari catal��. L'estudi se subdivideix en cinc parts diferents. La primera ��s una an��lisi de contingut de webs relacionats amb la salut a Catalunya. La segona ��s un estudi dels usos d'Internet en q��estions relacionades amb la salut entre la poblaci�� en general, les associacions de pacients i els professionals de la salut, i es basa en un sondeig per Internet adaptat a cada un d'aquests grups. La tercera part ��s un estudi de treball de camp dels programes experimentals duts a terme pel Govern catal�� en diverses ��rees i hospitals locals per a integrar electr��nicament la hist��ria cl��nica dels pacients. La quarta ��s un estudi de les implicacions organitzatives de la introducci�� de sistemes d'informaci�� en la gesti�� d'hospitals i centres d'assist��ncia prim��ria a l'Institut Catal�� de Salut, el principal prove��dor de salut p��blica a Catalunya, i es basa en un sondeig per Internet i entrevistes en profunditat. La cinquena part ��s un estudi de cas dels efectes organitzatius i socials de la introducci�� de les tecnologies de la informaci�� i la comunicaci�� en un dels principals hospitals de Catalunya, l'Hospital Cl��nic de Barcelona. L'estudi es va dur a terme entre el maig del 2005 i el juliol del 2007.

Molt pocs mamífers tenen la regla cada mes

Els cient��fics troben quin avantatge adaptatiu t�� que les dones, i algunes femelles d'altres esp��cies, menstru��n c��clicament cada cop que no es fecunda un ��vul

Halimium halimifolium (L.) Willk. in Willk. et Lange subsp. halimifolium al Maresme (NE de Catalunya) = Halimium halimifolium (L.) Willk. in Willk. et Lange subsp. halimifolium in the Maresme (NE Catalonia)

Nota breu sobre la descripci�� de Halimium halimifolium subsp. halimifolium al Maresme

Noves aportacions al coneixement flor��stic de l���Empord�� - IV = A new contribution to the flora of the Empord�� (Catalonia, NE Iberian Peninsula) - IV

En el decurs de les prospeccions flor��stiques realitzades en els darrers tres anys a les comarques de l���Alt i Baix Empord��, s���han herboritzat diversos t��xons singulars que completen algunes de les aportacions ja publicades anteriorment (Font et al., 1998). En aquest treball se cita per primer cop al Principat la composta Evax lusitanica. La resta det��xons s��n novetats per a aquestes comarques o b�� suposen l���herboritzaci�� recent d���esp��cies citades de molt antic que no havien estat indicades darrerament i que en alguns casos suposen les ��niques o darreres localitats conegudes a Catalunya

Profile, cost and pattern of prescriptions for polymedicated patients in Catalonia (Spain).

OBJECTIVES: Polypharmacy is one of the main management issues in public health policies because of its financial impact and the increasing number of people involved. The polymedicated population according to their demographic and therapeutic profile and the cost for the public healthcare system were characterised. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Primary healthcare in Barcelona Health Region, Catalonia, Spain (5 105 551 inhabitants registered). PARTICIPANTS: All insured polymedicated patients. Polymedicated patients were those with a consumption of ���16 drugs/month. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: The study variables were related to age, gender and medication intake obtained from the 2008 census and records of prescriptions dispensed in pharmacies and charged to the public health system. RESULTS: There were 36 880 polymedicated patients (women: 64.2%; average age: 74.5��10.9 years). The total number of prescriptions billed in 2008 was 2 266 830 (2 272 920 total package units). The most polymedicated group (up to 40% of the total prescriptions) was patients between 75 and 84 years old. The average number of prescriptions billed monthly per patient was 32��2, with an average cost of 452.7��27.5. The total cost of those prescriptions corresponded to 2% of the drug expenditure in Catalonia. The groups N, C, A, R and M represented 71.4% of the total number of drug package units dispensed to polymedicated patients. Great variability was found between the medication profiles of men and women, and between age groups; greater discrepancies were found in paediatric patients (5-14 years) and the elderly (���65 years). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides essential information to take steps towards rational drug use and a structured approach in the polymedicated population in primary healthcare.

The Coverage of the European independence movements from a Canadian perspective: Comparisons of the francophone online press in Quebec with the English Canadian press on the independence movements in Scotland and Catalonia

This research paper provides the basis of a future doctoral thesison the construction of foreign news. We aim to highlight similarities and differences in the online news coverage of the nationalist movments in Scotland and Catalonia in the Canadian Anglophone and Francophone press. Through a qualitative and quantitative content analysis of The Montreal Gazette, The National Post, The Globe and Mail, Le Devoir and La Presse, we attempt to show the frames used in the coverage of the political developments in both ���stateless regions��� from January 2011 to September 2014, when a referendum on the constitutional status of Scotland has beenagreed on. In parallel to the analysis of daily online newspapers, we will use semi-structured interviews of journalists from each news organization to obtain more in-depth knowledge of the factors influencing the construction of news. Lastly, we want to find out to the extent to which the coverage on the nationalist movements in Scotland and Catalonia serve to revive the debate on the independence question of Qu��bec

Rockfall monitoring by Terrestrial Laser Scanning �� case study of the basaltic rock face at Castellfollit de la Roca (Catalonia, Spain)

This case study deals with a rock face monitoring in urban areas using a Terrestrial Laser Scanner. The pilot study area is an almost vertical, fifty meter high cliff, on top of which the village of Castellfollit de la Roca is located. Rockfall activity is currently causing a retreat of the rock face, which may endanger the houses located at its edge. TLS datasets consist of high density 3-D point clouds acquired from five stations, nine times in a time span of 22 months (from March 2006 to January 2008). The change detection, i.e. rockfalls, was performed through a sequential comparison of datasets. Two types of mass movement were detected in the monitoring period: (a) detachment of single basaltic columns, with magnitudes below 1.5 m3 and (b) detachment of groups of columns, with magnitudes of 1.5 to 150 m3. Furthermore, the historical record revealed (c) the occurrence of slab failures with magnitudes higher than 150 m3. Displacements of a likely slab failure were measured, suggesting an apparent stationary stage. Even failures are clearly episodic, our results, together with the study of the historical record, enabled us to estimate a mean detachment of material from 46 to 91.5 m3 year��1. The application of TLS considerably improved our understanding of rockfall phenomena in the study area.

Faculty-librarians collaboration in an e-learning experience : resources management and training in Open University of Catalonia (UOC)

The traditional model of learning based on knowledge transfer doesn't promote the acquisition of information-related competencies and development of autonomous learning. More needs to be done to embrace learner-centred approaches, based on constructivism, collaboration and co-operation. This new learning paradigm is aligned with the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) requirements. In this sense, a learning experience based in faculty' librarian collaboration was seen as the best option for promoting student engagement and also a way to increase information-related competences in Open University of Catalonia (UOC) academic context. This case study outlines the benefits of teacher-librarian collaboration in terms of pedagogy innovation, resources management and introduction of open educational resources (OER) in virtual classrooms, Information literacy (IL) training and use of 2.0 tools in teaching. Our faculty-librarian's collaboration aims to provide an example of technology-enhanced learning and demonstrate how working together improves the quality and relevance of educational resources in UOC's virtual classrooms. Under this new approach, while teachers change their role from instructors to facilitators of the learning process and extend their reach to students, libraries acquire an important presence in the academic learning communities.