Les habilitats Informacionals a la Biblioteca de la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya

In this paper the initiatives carried out by the Biblioteca Virtual UOC in relation to the information skills, in the UOC curricula as well as in the context of new European higher education area, are presented. Looking forward the catalogue of generic skills to be defined by the UOC, in relation to which the Virtual Library has submitted a proposal to introduce a course on information skills to be offered during the first semester, the Library has chosen to develop and carry out two complementary initiatives. On the one hand, to offer a course of information skills for teachers within the program of training courses for teachers organized by the Teaching Action Management Area. On the other, the Library participates in the presential meetings organized by the University by means of workshops to guide students in finding information.

Pla de gestió de senglars (Sus scrofa) en zones altament antropitzades. Parc Natural de la Serra de Collserola

By studying documents that define the species, as management experiences in Spain and the rest of the world, we have designed a new management plan. This Plan incorporates guidelines for cooperation and networking, as the newest techniques and technologies in the field of wildlife management. During this project, has highlighted the need for a protocol to monitor the effects caused by the animals, in order to define and optimize the actions and resources to use.

Bifurcations of homoclinic tangency in two-dimensional area-preserving and reversible maps

Report for the scientific sojourn at the Research Institute for Applied Mathematics and Cybernetics, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, from July to September 2006. Within the project, bifurcations of orbit behavior in area-preserving and reversible maps with a homoclinic tangency were studied. Finitely smooth normal forms for such maps near saddle fixed points were constructed and it was shown that they coincide in the main order with the analytical Birkhoff-Moser normal form. Bifurcations of single-round periodic orbits for two-dimensional symplectic maps close to a map with a quadratic homoclinic tangency were studied. The existence of one- and two-parameter cascades of elliptic periodic orbits was proved.

Ra isotopes and Rn as a tool for the water management resources: the Alberquillas aquifer (Málaga-Granada)

The aim of this project is to evaluate the importance of submarine groundwater discharge sector in order to improve the water balance in Málaga-Granada region. The approach of this study arose from the the geology and the aquifers that indicate that there could be some discharge to the sea between Maro (Málaga) and Almuñécar (Granada) and the Andalusian’s Government and its Water Agence were really interested in evaluating it because there is a lot of population and few water available and the magnitude of groundwater discharge has generated controversy. Is well known that water is a scarce resource in this area and it’s very important for the society and for the environment. The legislation, the water policies, the knowledge of the aquifer and the geology, the water dynamics, the land use and the water perception in the society might help the management of this resource not just in Andalusia but in all the Mediterranean basin. The main objective is to evaluate the submarine groundwater discharge from the Alberquillas Aqufier to the sea by measuring 222Rn and Ra isotopes. Specific objectives have been established to achieve the main objective: A) Reveal the importance of water resources in the Mediterranean basin; B) Learn radiometric techniques for the study of groundwater discharge to the sea; C) Learn of sampling techniques of water samples for the measurement of Ra and Rn; D) Learn the techniques for measuring Ra (RaDeCC) and Rn (RAD7); E) Interpretation and discussion of results. During this semester, and in addition of the present study in Málaga- Granada region, the author has participated in the initial phase (sampling, analysis and interpretation of preliminary results) of other research projects focused on the study of submarine groundwater discharges through the use of Ra isotopes and 222Rn. These studies have been developed in different areas, including Alt Empordà (Roses and Sant Pere Pescador), Maresme with CMIMA’s group (Mediterranean Center for Marine and Environmental Research), Delta de l’Ebre, Peñíscola and Mallorca with the IMEDEA’s group (Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies).

Social perceptions of floods and flood management in a Mediterranean area (Costa Brava, Spain)

Taking as an example three study cases in the Costa Brava area, this paper examines the social perceptionof floods through surveys, interviews and Focus Group sessions. Perception is then related to vulnerability, flood management, and citizen’s preferences regarding alternatives to curb flood losses in the future. The study concludes that flood awareness and the willingness to take actions regarding this hazard are clearly related to the degree of social involvement with the affairs of the local community. Furthermore, participatory settings such as Focus Group sessions appear to enable a better environment for assessing and implementing flood management options that attempt to modify human activities rather than modify natural processes as has been frequently the case in the past

Clustering of grape yield maps to delineate site-specific management zones

Zonal management in vineyards requires the prior delineation of stable yield zones within the parcel. Among the different methodologies used for zone delineation, cluster analysis of yield data from several years is one of the possibilities cited in scientific literature. However, there exist reasonable doubts concerning the cluster algorithm to be used and the number of zones that have to be delineated within a field. In this paper two different cluster algorithms have been compared (k-means and fuzzy c-means) using the grape yield data corresponding to three successive years (2002, 2003 and 2004), for a ‘Pinot Noir’ vineyard parcel. Final choice of the most recommendable algorithm has been linked to obtaining a stable pattern of spatial yield distribution and to allowing for the delineation of compact and average sized areas. The general recommendation is to use reclassified maps of two clusters or yield classes (low yield zone and high yield zone) and, consequently, the site-specific vineyard management should be based on the prior delineation of just two different zones or sub-parcels. The two tested algorithms are good options for this purpose. However, the fuzzy c-means algorithm allows for a better zoning of the parcel, forming more compact areas and with more equilibrated zonal differences over time.

Ullals de Baltasar -Delta de l'Ebre: proposta de pla de gestió i ús social

Les zones humides han sofert durant anys les velles concepcions de gestió de l'aigua, promovent la seva dessecació fins els anys 60. Com a resposta han sorgit un seguit de directives europees i lleis estatals i autonòmiques per intentar recuperar i restaurar aquests hàbitats amenaçats.

Local perception in Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary - Karnataka, India

The main goal of this research is to assess the socio-economic and perception correlates of local resident’s knowledge and gladness towards a protected area. For the case study we selected Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and populations living in and around the protected area, as well as a nearby local city.

Análisis de la dimensión ambiental de la tenencia de la tierra. El caso de la Zona Protectora y Parque Nacional Volcán Tenorio de Costa Rica

El presente estudio consiste en la elaboración de un mapa del estado de tenencia de la tierra actual de la Zona Protectora y Parque Nacional Volcán Tenorio situado al norte de Costa Rica. A partir de este resultado cartográfico se efectuarán estudios referentes al estado legal de las propiedades, al tipo de propiedad, a la ubicación de las propiedades dentro del Área Silvestre Protegida y al evalúo de los conflictos legales dentro de ésta. Por otro lado, se analiza la cobertura de la tierra y el estado de conservación. La metodología utilizada se basa en el uso de Sistemas de Información Geográfica y en la verificación de la información mediante puntos GPS tomados al campo y su análisis en la oficina. Los resultados muestran una reubicación de los planos más precisa y real que la indicada por el Catastro Nacional. Aunque las propiedades privadas son mayoritarias, el área de estudio presenta en general un porcentaje alto de masa boscosa, mientras que en las zonas limítrofes se encuentra una fragmentación del hábitat determinada por herbazales. Este estudio contribuye a una mejor gestión y conservación del Área Protegida y es un avance en el ordenamiento territorial del país.

sisCave : Sistema de Catalogació de Cavitats

Aquest treball de final de carrera pretén cobrir una necessitat divulgativa del món de l'espeleologia, proporcionant al col·lectiu espeleològic una aplicació basada en web que permeti publicar, de forma cooperativa, ressenyes de cavitats incorporant dades textuals, fotografies, topografies i mapes d'ubicació.El projecte s'ha desenvolupat com a Treball de Final de Carrera de l'àrea J2EE de l'Enginyeria Tècnica en Informàtica de Gestió. La seva implementació, per tant, està basada en Programació Orientada a Objectes amb llenguatge Java i tecnologies J2EE.

Document Management in the Open University of Catalunya (UOC) Classrooms

A través dels seus serveis de gestió documental a les aules de la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, UOC), la Biblioteca de la UOC actua com un veritable facilitador de l'aprenentatge i l'ensenyament i té un paper central en el model de aprenentatge de la universitat. A més a més, serveix com un model a seguir per altres biblioteques universitàries en termes del que s'espera d'elles en el marc del nou Espai Europeu d'Educació Superior (EEES) i la creixent necessitat que funcionin com a centres de recursos d'aprenentatge. Contribuint a l'èxit de la biblioteca, el model d'aprenentatge i ensenyament de la UOC crea un entorn d'aprenentatge virtual i asíncron per als estudiants, i permet a la biblioteca de la UOC ser present en totes les seves aules.

Identificació de paisatges funcionals mitjançant anàlisi cluster

El terme paisatge i les seves aplicacions són cada dia més utilitzats per les administracions i altres entitats com a eina de gestió del territori. Aprofitant la gran quantitat de dades en bases compatibles amb SIG (Sistemes d’Informació Geogràfica) existents a Catalunya s’ha desenvolupat una síntesi cartogràfica on s’identifiquen els Paisatges Funcionals (PF) de Catalunya, concepte que fa referència al comportament fisico-ecològic del terreny a partir de variables topogràfiques i climàtiques convenientment transformades i agregades. S’ha utilitzat un mètode semiautomàtic i iteratiu de classificació no supervisada (clustering) que permet la creació d’una llegenda jeràrquica o nivells de generalització. S’ha obtingut com a resultat el Mapa de Paisatges Funcionals de Catalunya (MPFC) amb una llegenda de 26 categories de paisatges i 5 nivells de generalització amb una resolució espacial de 180 m. Paral·lelament, s’han realitzat validacions indirectes sobre el mapa obtingut a partir dels coneixements naturalistes i la cartografia existent, així com també d’un mapa d’incertesa (aplicant lògica difusa) que aporten informació de la fiabilitat de la classificació realitzada. Els Paisatges Funcionals obtinguts permeten relacionar zones de condicions topo-climàtiques homogènies i dividir el territori en zones caracteritzades ambientalment i no políticament amb la intenció que sigui d’utilitat a l’hora de millorar la gestió dels recursos naturals i la planificació d’actuacions humanes.

Statistical Analysis of Eco-Toxicologic Data of Mammals from a Polluted Area

Several eco-toxicological studies have shown that insectivorous mammals, due to theirfeeding habits, easily accumulate high amounts of pollutants in relation to other mammal species. To assess the bio-accumulation levels of toxic metals and their in°uenceon essential metals, we quantified the concentration of 19 elements (Ca, K, Fe, B, P,S, Na, Al, Zn, Ba, Rb, Sr, Cu, Mn, Hg, Cd, Mo, Cr and Pb) in bones of 105 greaterwhite-toothed shrews (Crocidura russula) from a polluted (Ebro Delta) and a control(Medas Islands) area. Since chemical contents of a bio-indicator are mainly compositional data, conventional statistical analyses currently used in eco-toxicology can givemisleading results. Therefore, to improve the interpretation of the data obtained, weused statistical techniques for compositional data analysis to define groups of metalsand to evaluate the relationships between them, from an inter-population viewpoint.Hypothesis testing on the adequate balance-coordinates allow us to confirm intuitionbased hypothesis and some previous results. The main statistical goal was to test equalmeans of balance-coordinates for the two defined populations. After checking normality,one-way ANOVA or Mann-Whitney tests were carried out for the inter-group balances

E-supply chain management: Review, implications and directions for future research

This paper analyses the interaction of two topics: Supply Chain Management (SCM) andInternet. Merging these two fields is a key area of concern for contemporary managers andresearchers. They have realized that Internet can enhance SCM by making real timeinformation available and enabling collaboration between trading partners. The aim of thispaper is to define e-SCM, analyze how research in this area has evolved during the period1995-2003 and identify some lines of further research. To do that a literature review inprestigious academic journals in Operations Management and Logistics has beenconducted.

Management control in non-profit organizations: The case of the Associations of Economists in Spain

The number of non-profit organizations has grown considerably over thelast decades, however management control techniques are not being introducedwith the same frequency as in lucrative organizations. The increasedcompetition in this sector has created a growing interest in managementcontrol techniques but with little empirical research in the area. Withthe aim to throw some light over the uses of management control inprofessional associations we have focused in the associations foreconomists in Spain as a particular case of a non-lucrative body.Specifically, the paper comprises three surveys addressed to the followingsectors:1) To the 30 Spanish associations of economists.2) To associations related to the business and/or economics area operatingin the United Kingdom.3) To members of the association of economists in Catalonia (Col.legid'Economistes de Catalunya).Results indicate that management accounting tools are used exceptionally,many times only the minimum legal requirements. The critical situation ofthe associations of economists in Spain requires the implementation ofinformation systems, specially taking into account the differentspecialities of economists and offering to its members, services and productsthat are not available through profit organizations.