Contrasting tree-ring data with fire record in a pine-dominated landscape in the Komi Republic (Eastern European Russia) : recovering a common climate signal

Abstract

Introducción a la farmacia galénica: un reto en primer año de farmacia

[spa] Este curso académico 2009-2010 se implanta el nuevo plan de estudios de Farmacia en la Universidad de Barcelona, diseñado según los planteamientos del EEES. Como consecuencia, y por primera vez en la historia de la Facultad de Farmacia de la UB, se imparte una asignatura troncal de cariz galénico en el primer año de la carrera. Esto constituye un nuevo reto para el Grupo de Innovación Docente de Tecnología Farmacéutica (GIDTF), dado que la asignatura Introducción a la Farmacia Galénica se ha de impartir a grandes grupos de estudiantes, al inicio de su carrera, mediante sesiones teóricas de 1,5 h. Excepcionalmente en este curso académico, la asignatura se imparte en el primer semestre y se repite en el segundo. En este trabajo se presenta el planteamiento metodológico presencial diseñado para esta asignatura, apoyado en estrategias no presenciales como foro de debate, recursos on-line, cuestionarios y tareas de autoevaluación a través de la plataforma Moodle del Campus Virtual de la UB, puesto que el equipo docente considera prioritario iniciar al estudiante en el uso de la misma en el primer año de carrera. Se han efectuado encuestas de satisfacción a los estudiantes que se han evaluado, así también como los resultados académicos obtenidos. En el análisis de los puntos fuertes y débiles de la metodología empleada, se han detectado evaluaciones positivas y también aspectos que podrían mejorarse, estableciendo las medidas correctoras adecuadas. En cuanto a los resultados académicos, han sido muy satisfactorios. [eng] This academic year 2009-2010, the new curriculum of Pharmacy according to the premises of the EHEA is started at the University of Barcelona. As a result, for the first time in the history of the Faculty of Pharmacy of UB, an obligatory galenic subject will be given during the first year of the career. This is a new challenge for Teaching Innovation Group of Pharmaceutical Technology (GIDTF), as the subject Introduction to Galenic Pharmacy is given by a team of teachers to large groups of students who began its career, through theoretical sessions of 1.5 h. The subject will be taught exceptionally this academic year in the first semester and repeated in the second. In this paper we present the methodological approach designed to face this subject, supported by virtual strategies as discussion forum, online resources, self-assessment test and work through the platform Moodle of the Virtual Campus UB, as the team considers it a priority to initiate the student in using it in the first year of pharmacy study. Were carried out satisfaction surveys to students and we have evaluated them, as well as academic performance. Through the analysis of the methodology, we detected positive evaluations and areas for improvement that have been used to establish appropriate corrective measures. Academic results have been very satisfactory.

The Impact of Cooperation on R&D, Innovation andProductivity: an Analysis of Spanish Manufacturing and Services Firms

This paper investigates relationships between cooperation, R&D, innovation and productivity in Spanish firms. It uses a large sample of firm-level micro-data and applies an extended structural model that aims to explain the effects of cooperation on R&D investment, of R&D investment on output innovation, and of innovation on firms’ productivity levels. It also analyses the determinants of R&D cooperation. Firms’ technology level is taken into account in order to analyse the differences between high-tech and low-tech firms, both in the industrial and service sectors. The database used was the Technological Innovation Panel (PITEC) for the period 2004-2010. Empirical results show that firms which cooperate in innovative activities are more likely to invest in R&D in subsequent years. As expected, R&D investment has a positive impact on the probability of generating an innovation, in terms of both product and process, for manufacturing firms. Finally, innovation output has a positive impact on firms’ productivity, being greater in process innovations.

The Impact of Cooperation on R&D, Innovation and Productivity: an Analysis of Spanish Manufacturing and Services Firms

This paper investigates relationships between cooperation, R&D, innovation and productivity in Spanish firms. It uses a large sample of firm-level micro-data and applies an extended structural model that aims to explain the effects of cooperation on R&D investment, of R&D investment on output innovation, and of innovation on firms’ productivity levels. It also analyses the determinants of R&D cooperation. Firms’ technology level is taken into account in order to analyse the differences between high-tech and low-tech firms, both in the industrial and service sectors. The database used was the Technological Innovation Panel (PITEC) for the period 2004-2010. Empirical results show that firms which cooperate in innovative activities are more likely to invest in R&D in subsequent years. As expected, R&D investment has a positive impact on the probability of generating an innovation, in terms of both product and process, for manufacturing firms. Finally, innovation output has a positive impact on firms’ productivity, being greater in process innovations. Keywords: innovation sources; productivity; R&D Cooperation

Innovation through withdrawal. Contribution to a sociology of detachment

To develop the understanding of innovation processes conceptualized in terms of asso- ciation through the "sociology of translation" (cf. actor-network theory) studies, this article analyses innovation processes in terms of dissociation and detachment mechanisms, exami- ning innovation through "withdrawal;" that is, innovation based on reducing or withdrawing use of a practice-"subtracting," "detaching"-a given artefact. Specifically, it focuses on the shift to farming techniques that have eliminated ploughing, bringing to light four major mechanisms constitutive of dissociation: centrifugal association; making entities and asso- ciations visible; making other entities and associations invisible; bringing together or "asso- ciating" new entities. The study helps refine our understanding of the detachment processes at work in innovation, shedding light in this particular case on transfers between public research institutes, industrial companies, farmers and citizens seeking to develop new farm production models.

Excellence to Innovation, Board of Regents Annual Report, 2013

This report is the annual report for the Board of Regents.

Standardized enforcement: Access to justice vs. contractual innovation

We model the effect of contract standardization on the development of markets andthe law. In a setting in which biased judges can distort contract enforcement, we findthat the introduction of a standard contract reduces enforcement distortions relative toreliance on precedents, exerting two effects: i) it statically expands the volume of trade,but ii) it crowds out the use of open-ended contracts, hindering legal evolution. We shedlight on the large-scale commercial codification undertaken in the nineteenth centuryin many countries (even common-law ones) during a period of booming commerce andlong-distance trade.

Application of theoretical models to financial innovation

The present paper is aimed at providing a general strategic overview of the existing theoretical models that have applications in the field of financial innovation. Whereas most financialdevelopments have relied upon traditional economic tools, a new stream of research is defining a novel paradigm in which mathematical models from diverse scientific disciplines are being applied to conceptualize and explain economic and financial behavior. Indeed, terms such as ‘econophysics’ or ‘quantum finance’ have recently appeared to embrace efforts in this direction. As a first contact with such research, the project will present a brief description of some of the main theoretical models that have applications in finance and economics, and will try to present, if possible, potential new applications to particular areas in financial analysis, or new applicable models. As a result, emphasiswill be put on the implications of this research for the financial sector and its future dynamics.

Audit report on the Iowa Innovation Corporation for the years ended June 30, 2014 and 2013

Audit report on the Iowa Innovation Corporation for the years ended June 30, 2014 and 2013

A reassessment of models for hydrocarbon generation in the Khibiny nepheline syenite complex, Kola Peninsula, Russia

Although hydrocarbon-bearing fluids have been known from the alkaline igneous rocks of the Khibiny intrusion for many years, their origin remains enigmatic. A recently proposed model of post-magmatic hydrocarbon (HC) generation through Fischer-Tropsch (FT) type reactions suggests the hydration of Fe-bearing phases and release of H-2 which reacts with magmatically derived CO2 to form CH4 and higher HCs. However, new petrographic, microthermometric, laser Raman, bulk gas and isotope data are presented and discussed in the context of previously published work in order to reassess models of HC generation. The gas phase is dominated by CH4 with only minor proportions of higher hydrocarbons. No remnants of the proposed primary CO2-rich fluid are found in the complex. The majority of the fluid inclusions are of secondary nature and trapped in healed microfractures. This indicates a high fluid flux after magma crystallisation. Entrapment conditions for fluid inclusions are 450-550 degrees C at 2.8-4.5 kbar. These temperatures are too high for hydrocarbon gas generation through the FT reaction. Chemical analyses of rims of Fe-rich phases suggest that they are not the result of alteration but instead represent changes in magma composition during crystallisation. Furthermore, there is no clear relationship between the presence of Fe-rich minerals and the abundance of fluid inclusion planes (FIPs) as reported elsewhere. delta C-13 values for methane range from -22.4% to -5.4%, confirming a largely abiogenic origin for the gas. The presence of primary CH4-dominated fluid inclusions and melt inclusions, which contain a methane-rich gas phase, indicates a magmatic origin of the HCs. An increase in methane content, together with a decrease in delta C-13 isotope values towards the intrusion margin suggests that magmatically derived abiogenic hydrocarbons may have mixed with biogenic hydrocarbons derived from the surrounding country rocks. (C) 2006 Elsevier BV. All rights reserved.