From room for books to room for users: an old infantry barrack as an answer to the lack of space

At the beginning of the 21st century, some Catalan university libraries detected a need stemming from the lack of space and the reconversion of physical libraries within the new European educational panorama. With the same cooperative spirit that characterized previous CBUC (Consortium of Academic Libraries of Catalonia) programs and services, the Consortium set in motion a project to address this need. An initial study was commissioned in 2002, and in 2003 a suitable building (old infantry barracks) was found in Lleida. The official opening took place in 2008. GEPA (Guaranteed Space for the Preservation of Access) facility is a cooperative repository, whose objectives are to store and preserve low use documents, ensuring their future access when needed, to convert room for books into room for library users, and doing it saving both space and money. The paper presents a brief historical introduction about the physical management of collections in libraries, and a short overview about high density library repositories all over the world, as an answer to the pressing problem of lack of spaces. The main goals of the communication are to comment the architectural project and its librarian issues, and to show how the GEPA facility allowed to change the spaces in university libraries in Catalonia. On the one hand, the paper deals with the selection of an old building to be renovated, the determination of the librarian needs, the compact shelving system chosen to store the documents in the building, the relation between physical space and information management, and the logistics involved in the load of low use documents from the libraries into the facility. On the other hand, we will show some examples of physical changes in Catalan libraries after large loads of documents to GEPA.

Centrality and investment strategies at the beginning of industrialisation in mid-nineteenth-century Catalonia

We apply social networks analysis to the study of an important database on investment and companies" share in the Catalonia (Spain) of the nineteenth century. In contrast with most of the existing related literature, usually addressing power relationships across administration boards, we focus on the structure of interactions among individual investors and firms. Centrality analysis uncovers interesting roles played by certain economic sectors (e.g. textile and financial). Furthermore, the diverse composition (in terms of economic activity) of communities in the network (subgroups more densely connected internally than with the rest of the network) reveals a high investment diversification, which nicely agrees with a known characteristic of traditional Catalan business strategies.

Fire management, climate change and their interacting effects on birds in complex Mediterranean landscapes: dynamic distribution modelling of an early-successional species - the near-threatened Dartford Warbler (Sylvia undata)

The current challenge in a context of major environmental changes is to anticipate the responses of species to future landscape and climate scenarios. In the Mediterranean basin, climate change is one the most powerful driving forces of fire dynamics, with fire frequency and impact having markedly increased in recent years. Species distribution modelling plays a fundamental role in this challenge, but better integration of available ecological knowledge is needed to adequately guide conservation efforts. Here, we quantified changes in habitat suitability of an early-succession bird in Catalonia, the Dartford Warbler (Sylvia undata) ― globally evaluated as Near Threatened in the IUCN Red List. We assessed potential changes in species distributions between 2000 and 2050 under different fire management and climate change scenarios and described landscape dynamics using a spatially-explicit fire-succession model that simulates fire impacts in the landscape and post-fire regeneration (MEDFIRE model). Dartford Warbler occurrence data were acquired at two different spatial scales from: 1) the Atlas of European Breeding Birds (EBCC) and 2) Catalan Breeding Bird Atlas (CBBA). Habitat suitability was modelled using five widely-used modelling techniques in an ensemble forecasting framework. Our results indicated considerable habitat suitability losses (ranging between 47% and 57% in baseline scenarios), which were modulated to a large extent by fire regime changes derived from fire management policies and climate changes. Such result highlighted the need for taking the spatial interaction between climate changes, fire-mediated landscape dynamics and fire management policies into account for coherently anticipating habitat suitability changes of early succession bird species. We conclude that fire management programs need to be integrated into conservation plans to effectively preserve sparsely forested and early succession habitats and their associated species in the face of global environmental change.

Testing a new multigroup inference approach to reconstructing past environmental conditions

A new, quantitative, inference model for environmental reconstruction (transfer function), based for the first time on the simultaneous analysis of multigroup species, has been developed. Quantitative reconstructions based on palaeoecological transfer functions provide a powerful tool for addressing questions of environmental change in a wide range of environments, from oceans to mountain lakes, and over a range of timescales, from decades to millions of years. Much progress has been made in the development of inferences based on multiple proxies but usually these have been considered separately, and the different numeric reconstructions compared and reconciled post-hoc. This paper presents a new method to combine information from multiple biological groups at the reconstruction stage. The aim of the multigroup work was to test the potential of the new approach to making improved inferences of past environmental change by improving upon current reconstruction methodologies. The taxonomic groups analysed include diatoms, chironomids and chrysophyte cysts. We test the new methodology using two cold-environment training-sets, namely mountain lakes from the Pyrenees and the Alps. The use of multiple groups, as opposed to single groupings, was only found to increase the reconstruction skill slightly, as measured by the root mean square error of prediction (leave-one-out cross-validation), in the case of alkalinity, dissolved inorganic carbon and altitude (a surrogate for air-temperature), but not for pH or dissolved CO2. Reasons why the improvement was less than might have been anticipated are discussed. These can include the different life-forms, environmental responses and reaction times of the groups under study.

Stratigraphy and petrology of the Miocene Montjuic delta: (Barcelona, Spain).

The Neogene rift in the Catalan Coastal Ranges, which is located in the NE part of the Eastern Iberian Margin, corresponds to a system of grabens formed at the nort h - we s t e rn edge of the Valencia Trough. In the central part of the Catalan Coastal Ranges are the Valls - Peneds half-graben in the onshore and the Barcelona half-graben in the offshore, which are separated by the Garraf and the Collserola-Montnegre horsts. Montjuc hill is a tilted block, which is located to the S of the Barcelona city, between the Collserola-Montn egre horst and the Barcelona half-graben . The Middle Miocene section of Montjuc is constituted by an alternation of conglomerate, sandstone, mudstone and marlstone beds. The Montjuc section was divided into four lithostratigraphic units from base to top: (1) The Morrot conglomerate and sandstone Unit, interpreted as delta plain deposits; (2) the Castell conglomerate, sandstone and mudstone Unit considered as proximal delta front deposits; (3) the Miramar marlstone Unit attributed

Tobacco control policies in hospitals before and after the implementation of a national smoking ban in Catalonia, Spain

Background: Diverse projects and guidelines to assist hospitals towards the attainment of comprehensive smoke-free policies have been developed. In 2006, Spain government passed a new smoking ban that reinforce tobacco control policies and banned completely smoking in hospitals. This study assesses the progression of tobacco control policies in the Catalan Network of Smokefree Hospitals before and after a comprehensive national smoking ban. Methods: We used the Self-Audit Questionnaire of the European Network for Smoke-free Hospitals to score the compliance of 9 policy standards (global score = 102). We used two crosssectional surveys to evaluate tobacco control policies before (2005) and after the implementation of a national smoking ban (2007) in 32 hospitals of Catalonia, Spain. We compared the means of the overall score in 2005 and 2007 according to the type of hospital, the number of beds, the prevalence of tobacco consumption, and the number of years as a smoke-free hospital. Results: The mean of the implementation score of tobacco control policies was 52.4 (95% CI:45.4-59.5) in 2005 and 71.6 (95% CI: 67.0-76.2) in 2007 with an increase of 36.7% (p < 0.01). The hospitals with greater improvement were general hospitals (48% increase; p < 0.01), hospitals with > 300 beds (41.1% increase; p < 0.01), hospitals with employees' tobacco consumption prevalence 35-39% (72.2% increase; p < 0.05) and hospitals that had recently implemented smoke-free policies (74.2% increase; p < 0.01). Conclusion: The national smoking ban appears to increase tobacco control activities in hospitals combined with other non-bylaw initiatives such as the Smoke-free Hospital Network.

Tobacco control policies in hospitals before and after the implementation of a national smoking ban in Catalonia, Spain

Background: Diverse projects and guidelines to assist hospitals towards the attainment of comprehensive smoke-free policies have been developed. In 2006, Spain government passed a new smoking ban that reinforce tobacco control policies and banned completely smoking in hospitals. This study assesses the progression of tobacco control policies in the Catalan Network of Smokefree Hospitals before and after a comprehensive national smoking ban. Methods: We used the Self-Audit Questionnaire of the European Network for Smoke-free Hospitals to score the compliance of 9 policy standards (global score = 102). We used two crosssectional surveys to evaluate tobacco control policies before (2005) and after the implementation of a national smoking ban (2007) in 32 hospitals of Catalonia, Spain. We compared the means of the overall score in 2005 and 2007 according to the type of hospital, the number of beds, the prevalence of tobacco consumption, and the number of years as a smoke-free hospital. Results: The mean of the implementation score of tobacco control policies was 52.4 (95% CI:45.4-59.5) in 2005 and 71.6 (95% CI: 67.0-76.2) in 2007 with an increase of 36.7% (p < 0.01). The hospitals with greater improvement were general hospitals (48% increase; p < 0.01), hospitals with > 300 beds (41.1% increase; p < 0.01), hospitals with employees' tobacco consumption prevalence 35-39% (72.2% increase; p < 0.05) and hospitals that had recently implemented smoke-free policies (74.2% increase; p < 0.01). Conclusion: The national smoking ban appears to increase tobacco control activities in hospitals combined with other non-bylaw initiatives such as the Smoke-free Hospital Network.

Corpus Oral de Conversa Col·loquial (COC). Conversa02. Xerrada al sofà després d'un dinar a fora de casa

Aquest document conté conversa 02, un "xerrada al sofà després d'un dinar a fora de casa" que forma part del Corpus Oral de Conversa Col·loquial (COC). El COC és un component del Corpus de Català Contemporani de la Universitat de Barcelona (CCCUB), un arxiu de corpus de llengua catalana oral contemporània que ha estat confegit pel grup de recerca Grup d'Estudi de la Variació (GEV) amb la finalitat de contribuir a l'estudi de la variació dialectal, social i funcional en la llengua catalana. Aquest i altres materials del CCCUB són accessibles directament al Dipòsit Digital de la UB (http://diposit.ub.edu) o a través del web del CCCUB (http://www.ub.edu/cccub).

Corpus Oral de Conversa Col·loquial (COC). Conversa07. Abans de dinar al menjador

Aquest document conté "conversa 07", una conversa "abans de dinar al menjador" que forma part del Corpus Oral de Conversa Col·loquial (COC). El COC és un component del Corpus de Català Contemporani de la Universitat de Barcelona (CCCUB), un arxiu de corpus de llengua catalana oral contemporània que ha estat confegit pel grup de recerca Grup d'Estudi de la Variació (GEV) amb la finalitat de contribuir a l'estudi de la variació dialectal, social i funcional en la llengua catalana. Aquest i altres materials del CCCUB són accessibles directament al Dipòsit Digital de la UB (http://diposit.ub.edu) o a través del web del CCCUB (http://www.ub.edu/cccu

Corpus Oral de Conversa Col·loquial (COC). Conversa08. Sobretaula al sofà amb la televisió engegada

Aquest document conté "conversa 08", una "sobretaula al sofà amb la televisió engegada" que forma part del Corpus Oral de Conversa Col·loquial (COC). El COC és un component del Corpus de Català Contemporani de la Universitat de Barcelona (CCCUB), un arxiu de corpus de llengua catalana oral contemporània que ha estat confegit pel grup de recerca Grup d'Estudi de la Variació (GEV) amb la finalitat de contribuir a l'estudi de la variació dialectal, social i funcional en la llengua catalana. Aquest i altres materials del CCCUB són accessibles directament al Dipòsit Digital de la UB (http://diposit.ub.edu) o a través del web del CCCUB (http://www.ub.edu/cccub).

Corpus Oral de Conversa Col·loquial (COC). Conversa09. Sobretaula al menjador

Aquest document conté "conversa 09", una "sobretaula al menjador" que forma part del Corpus Oral de Conversa Col·loquial (COC). El COC és un component del Corpus de Català Contemporani de la Universitat de Barcelona (CCCUB), un arxiu de corpus de llengua catalana oral contemporània que ha estat confegit pel grup de recerca Grup d'Estudi de la Variació (GEV) amb la finalitat de contribuir a l'estudi de la variació dialectal, social i funcional en la llengua catalana. Aquest i altres materials del CCCUB són accessibles directament al Dipòsit Digital de la UB (http://diposit.ub.edu) o a través del web del CCCUB (http://www.ub.edu/cccub).

Corpus Oral de Conversa Col·loquial (COC). Conversa10. Visita de cortesia al menjador

Aquest document conté "conversa 10", una "visita de cortesia al menjador" que forma part del Corpus Oral de Conversa Col·loquial (COC). El COC és un component del Corpus de Català Contemporani de la Universitat de Barcelona (CCCUB), un arxiu de corpus de llengua catalana oral contemporània que ha estat confegit pel grup de recerca Grup d'Estudi de la Variació (GEV) amb la finalitat de contribuir a l'estudi de la variació dialectal, social i funcional en la llengua catalana. Aquest i altres materials del CCCUB són accessibles directament al Dipòsit Digital de la UB (http://diposit.ub.edu) o a través del web del CCCUB (http://www.ub.edu/cccub).

Corpus Oral de Conversa Col·loquial (COC). Conversa04. Dinar

Aquest document conté "conversa 04", un "dinar" que forma part del Corpus Oral de Conversa Col·loquial (COC). El COC és un component del Corpus de Català Contemporani de la Universitat de Barcelona (CCCUB), un arxiu de corpus de llengua catalana oral contemporània que ha estat confegit pel grup de recerca Grup d¿Estudi de la Variació (GEV) amb la finalitat de contribuir a l'estudi de la variació dialectal, social i funcional en la llengua catalana. Aquest i altres materials del CCCUB són accessibles directament al Dipòsit Digital de la UB (http://diposit.ub.edu) o a través del web del CCCUB (http://www.ub.edu/cccub).

Corpus Oral de Conversa Col·loquial (COC). Conversa05. Xerrada al menjador després d'un partit de futbol

Aquest document conté "conversa 05", un "xerrada al menjador després d'un partit de futbol" que forma part del Corpus Oral de Conversa Col·loquial (COC). El COC és un component del Corpus de Català Contemporani de la Universitat de Barcelona (CCCUB), un arxiu de corpus de llengua catalana oral contemporània que ha estat confegit pel grup de recerca Grup d¿Estudi de la Variació (GEV) amb la finalitat de contribuir a l'estudi de la variació dialectal, social i funcional en la llengua catalana. Aquest i altres materials del CCCUB són accessibles directament al Dipòsit Digital de la UB (http://diposit.ub.edu) o a través del web del CCCUB (http://www.ub.edu/cccub).

Corpus Oral de Conversa Col·loquial (COC). Conversa06. Sopar i cafè al menjador

Aquest document conté "conversa 06", un "sopar i cafè al menjador" que formen part del Corpus Oral de Conversa Col·loquial (COC). El COC és un component del Corpus de Català Contemporani de la Universitat de Barcelona (CCCUB), un arxiu de corpus de llengua catalana oral contemporània que ha estat confegit pel grup de recerca Grup d¿Estudi de la Variació (GEV) amb la finalitat de contribuir a l'estudi de la variació dialectal, social i funcional en la llengua catalana. Aquest i altres materials del CCCUB són accessibles directament al Dipòsit Digital de la UB (http://diposit.ub.edu) o a través del web del CCCUB (http://www.ub.edu/cccub).