The normalization of the "Active-Sedentary" lifestyle in spanish youth

Sedentarism has become one of the major concerns of our times. Nowadays people spend most of the time sitting down and moving by mechanical means instead of exercising themselves. Younger generations do only a little more sport today than their counterparts did a decade ago. In other words, sedentary habits have become common in our society, especially among the young. What cultural mechanisms have contributed to this? What are the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle for our health and well-being? These are the questions we have posed in this study. We conducted qualitative research among Spanish young people, and the results have provided important clues to help us understand better how ?active sedentarism? has become the norm among young people.

Relationship among slurry characteristics and gaseous emissions at different types of commercial Spanish pig farms

This study aimed to analyse several factors of variation of slurry composition and to establish prediction equations for potential methane (CH4) and ammonia (NH3) emissions. Seventy-nine feed and slurry samples were collected at two seasons (summer and winter) from commercial pig farms sited at two Spanish regions (Centre and Mediterranean). Nursery, growing-fattening, gestating and lactating facilities were sampled. Feed and slurry composition were determined, and potential CH4 and NH3 emissions measured at laboratory. Feed nutrient contents were used as covariates in the analysis. Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) was evaluated as a predicting tool for slurry composition and potential gaseous emissions. A wide variability was found both in feed and slurry composition. Mediterranean farms had a higher pH (p<0.001) and ash (p=0.02) concentration than those located at the Centre of Spain. Also, type of farm affected ether extract content of the slurry (p=0.02), with highest values obtained for the youngest animal facilities. Results suggested a buffer effect of dietary fibre on slurry pH and a direct relationship (p<0.05) with fibre constituents of manure. Dietary protein content did not affect slurry nitrogen content but decreased (p=0.003) total and volatile solids concentration. Prediction models of potential NH3 emissions (R2=0.89) and CH4 yield (R2=0.61) were obtained from slurry composition. Predictions from NIRS showed a high accuracy for most slurry constituents (R2>0.90) and similar accuracy of prediction of potential NH3 and CH4 emissions (R2=0.84 and 0.68, respectively) to models using slurry characteristics, which can be of interest to estimate emissions from commercial farms and establish mitigation strategies or optimize biogas production.

Factors in the practice of sport and physical excercise in the lifestyles of spanish youth: gender differences

The paper presents the results of a study on cultural trends in the abandonment of sports and physical activity among the spanish youth.

Gender differences of the spanish adult population in barriers to active living

Proyecto I+D+i DEP19801: Gender differences of the spanish adult population in barriers to active living

The effects of economic situation in sporting habits of spanish adult population:Gender differences

Proyecto I+D+i DEP19801: The effects of economic situation in sporting habits of spanish adult population: Gender differences

Fashion in Actions on Social Media – Spanish SME Fashion Brands Case Studies

Fashion is one of the most vibrant sectors in Europe and important contributors to the European Union (EU) economy. In particular, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a major part in European fashion industry (EU 2012). Just like fashion, where people¿s style has inherently meant to be shared as it is foremost a representation of one¿s self-image, social media allow the reflection of ones' personality and emotions. Although fashion practitioners have embraced social media in their marketing activities, it is still relatively few known at an academic level about the specificities of fashion industry when approaching social media marketing (SMM) strategies. This study sets out to explore fashion companies' SMM strategy and its activities. From an exploratory approach, we present case studies of two Spanish SME fashion companies, anonymously named hereafter as Company A and Company B, to deepen our understanding on how fashion brands implement their SMM strategy. Company A offers high-end fashion products while Company B produces medium fashion products. We analyzed the case studies using qualitative (interviews to companies' executives) and a mix of qualitative and quantitative (content analysis of companies' social media platform) methods. Public posts data of both companies' Facebook brand pages were used to perform the content analysis. Our findings through case studies of the two companies reveal that branding-oriented strategic objectives are the main drivers of their SMM implementations. There are significant differences between both companies. The main strategic action employed by Company A is engaging customers to participate into brand's offline social gathering events by inviting them through social media platform, while Company B focuses its effort on posting product promotion related contents and engaging influencers such as fashion bloggers. Our results are expected to serve as a basis of further investigations on how SMM strategy and strategic actions implemented by fashion brands may influence marketing outcomes.

Gender differences of the spanish adult population in cultural barriers to active living

Proyecto I+D+i DEP19801: Gender differences of the spanish adult population in cultural barriers to active living

Gender differences of the spanish adult population in barriers to active living

Social research on the needs, barriers and innovations in sport and physical activities to adult women in Spain

Criteria to determine seismic risk on sites. Application to Spanish dams

In this paper, the main steps necessary to evaluate the seismic risk on a site are discussed. Several examples from the authors practical experience are reported and a systematic procedure to study the seismic risk on a dam site is also shown. The characteristics of the available Spanish seismic information - mainly historical and non instrumental seismic records - are commented. Different types of seismic and geologic techniques to investigate the area under the dam are given. Finally, a probabilistic method to obtain from the given seismic intensities the design earthquake is summarized

Sustainability assessment of energy saving measures: A multi-criteria approach for residential buildings retrofitting—A case study of the Spanish housing stock

The building sector is well known to be one of the key energy consumers worldwide. The renovation of existing buildings provides excellent opportunities for an effective reduction of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions but it is essential to identify the optimal strategies. In this paper a multi-criteria methodology is proposed for the comparative analysis of retrofitting solutions. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Cost (LCC) are combined by expressing environmental impacts in monetary values. A Pareto optimization is used to select the preferred strategies. The methodology is exemplified by a case study: the renovation of a representative housing block from the 1960s located in Madrid. Eight scenarios have been proposed, from the Business as Usual scenario (BAU), through Spanish Building Regulation requirements (for new buildings) up to the Passive House standard. Results show how current renovation strategies that are being applied in Madrid are far from being optimal solutions. The required additional investment, which is needed to obtain an overall performance improvement of the envelope compared with the common practice to date, is relatively low (8%) considering the obtained life cycle environmental and financial savings (43% and 45%, respectively).

Impacts of global change on iberian forest ecosystems inferred from the spanish national forest inventory = Impactos del cambio global en ecosistemas forestales ibéricos a partir del inventario forestal nacional

Los efectos del cambio global sobre los bosques son una de las grandes preocupaciones de la sociedad del siglo XXI. Algunas de sus posibles consecuencias como son los efectos en la producción, la sostenibilidad, la pérdida de biodiversidad o cambios en la distribución y ensamblaje de especies forestales pueden tener grandes repercusiones sociales, ecológicas y económicas. La detección y seguimiento de estos efectos constituyen uno de los retos a los que se enfrentan en la actualidad científicos y gestores forestales. En base a la comparación de series históricas del Inventario Forestal Nacional Español (IFN), esta tesis trata de arrojar luz sobre algunos de los impactos que los cambios socioeconómicos y ambientales de las últimas décadas han generado sobre nuestros bosques. En primer lugar, esta tesis presenta una innovadora metodología con base geoestadística que permite la comparación de diferentes ciclos de inventario sin importar los diferentes métodos de muestreo empleados en cada uno de ellos (Capítulo 3). Esta metodología permite analizar cambios en la dinámica y distribución espacial de especies forestales en diferentes gradientes geográficos. Mediante su aplicación, se constatarán y cuantificarán algunas de las primeras evidencias de cambio en la distribución altitudinal y latitudinal de diferentes especies forestales ibéricas, que junto al estudio de su dinámica poblacional y tasas demográficas, ayudarán a testar algunas hipótesis biogeográficas en un escenario de cambio global en zonas de especial vulnerabilidad (Capítulos 3, 4 y 5). Por último, mediante la comparación de ciclos de parcelas permanentes del IFN se ahondará en el conocimiento de la evolución en las últimas décadas de especies invasoras en los ecosistemas forestales del cuadrante noroccidental ibérico, uno de los más afectados por la invasión de esta flora (Capítulo 6). ABSTRACT The effects of global change on forests are one of the major concerns of the XXI century. Some of the potential impacts of global change on forest growth, productivity, biodiversity or changes in species assembly and spatial distribution may have great ecological and economic consequences. The detection and monitoring of these effects are some of the major challenges that scientists and forest managers face nowadays. Based on the comparison of historical series of the Spanish National Forest Inventory (NFI), this thesis tries to shed some light on some of the impacts driven by recent socio-economic and environmental changes on our forest ecosystems. Firstly, this thesis presents an innovative methodology based on geostatistical techniques that allows the comparison of different NFI cycles regardless of the different sampling methods used in each of them (Chapter 3). This methodology, in conjunction with other statistical techniques, allows to analyze changes in the spatial distribution and population dynamics of forest species along different geographic gradients. By its application, this thesis presents some of the first evidences of changes in species distribution along different geographical gradients in the Iberian Peninsula. The analysis of these findings, of species population dynamics and demographic rates will help to test some biogeographical hypothesis on forests under climate change scenarios in areas of particular vulnerability (Chapters 3, 4 and 5). Finally, by comparing NFI cycles with permanent plots, this thesis increases our knowledge about the patterns and processes associated with the recent evolution of invasive species in the forest ecosystems of North-western Iberia, one of the areas most affected by the invasion of allien species at national scale (Chapter 6).

Fuel poverty analysis in three spanish autonomous regions. Some retrofitting policy considerations

A person is to be regarded as living ‘in fuel poverty’ if he is a member of a household living on a lower income in a home which cannot be kept warm at a reasonable cost. This situation is mainly triggered by three factors: low household income, lack of energy efficiency and high energy invoices. Some European countries have already made some advantages towards officially defining fuel poverty in their countries. Nevertheless, in Spain only some research has been done and an official definition of the term is yet to come. This research explores the relation among households’ income, energy expenditure and housing stock in three autonomous regions in Spain in order to evaluate the housing stock of the fuel poor as well as to identify those households more in need. The results of the research allow establishing energy retrofitting priorities of existing housing stock as well as identifying current retrofitting policies limitations on order to tackle fuel poverty.

Juan Martínez Gutiérrez y la modernización de la arquitectura chilena

La presente tesis para optar al grado de Doctor en la Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, aborda la obra del arquitecto de origen español Juan Martínez Gutiérrez, reconocido por la crítica especializada como uno de los precursores de la arquitectura moderna en Chile. A pesar de la relevancia de su obra, en la actualidad se carece de un estudio sistematizado y preciso que, de manera global, expongan los factores de modernidad de sus principales edificios, aun cuando han aparecido en los últimos años dos publicaciones referentes al arquitecto y parcialmente a su obra. Formado tanto en arquitectura como en pintura, la labor profesional de Juan Martínez Gutiérrez se inscribió en un contexto de modernización de la sociedad chilena entre la década del 20 y del 50, adjudicándose mediante concurso público, el diseño de cinco edificios institucionales y de carácter público, los que conforman en la actualidad bienes de carácter patrimonial estando dos de ellos declarados Monumento Histórico. Se desenvolvió también en el ámbito de la docencia siendo profesor de la Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo de la Universidad de Chile por más de 35 años y Decano de la misma institución. Participó asimismo de la vida gremial de la profesión, recibiendo en el año 1969 el primer premio nacional de arquitectura. Sus edificios públicos, se han mantenido en uso siendo hitos urbanos y en el ámbito disciplinar reconocidas obras ejemplares. Sin embargo, al comenzar el siglo XXI, cuando la modernidad se nos presenta desde la historicidad, surge la pregunta por los valores que sustenta la arquitectura de Juan Martínez, en relación a su tiempo y a la actualidad. En este ámbito reflexivo se plantea la puesta en tesis de la presente investigación, donde las principales obras del arquitecto se analizan inquiriendo su condición de modernidad a la luz de un contexto local cuyas problemáticas sociales son aunadas por el proyecto desarrollista estatal de la primera mitad del siglo XX; interpelando algunos aspectos del estado técnico del país durante el periodo; las tendencias estéticas imperantes de la época y el entorno urbano en el que se emplazan. Al mismo tiempo, el desarrollo de la tesis examina un tópico referencial de la modernidad latinoamericana, que es el influjo europeo en el punto de inflexión que va desde el fin del modelo academicista y la incorporación de los preceptos de un funcionalismo y racionalismo arquitectónico, todo ello mediado por los condicionantes locales. ABSTRACT The following thesis, to achieve the Doctor´s degree at the Superior Technical School of Architecture of the Polytechnic University of Madrid aboard the work of the chilean architect of spanish origin Juan Martinez Gutierrez, recognized by specialized critic as one of the forefathers of modern architecture in Chile. Although the relevance of his work, currently there is no systematic and precise study of it. A study that in a global view exposes the factors of modernity in his foremost buildings. The absence of such study is, despite the appearance in the last two years of two publications about the architect and –partially- his work. Formed as much in architecture as in painting, the professional labor of Juan Martinez Gutierrez was inscribed in the context of Chilean society modernization, between the decades of the 20´s and 30´s. Awarding himself, by means of architectural contests, the design of institutional buildings of public use, witch conform current cultural goods, two of them having been declared National Monuments; a category of cultural heritage officially protected by the state. He also developed an important academic work, being for more than 35 years, professor at the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism at the University of Chile and in his time, Faculty Dean. He also participated, actively, in guild life, being awarded in 1969 the first ever, National Prize of Architecture. His public buildings, still in use, are urban landmarks and exemplar works in a disciplinary dimension. Never the less, at the begins of the XXI century, when the modern movement is presented to us from an historical viewpoint, even from historicity, questions surge about the values that sustain Juan Martinez´s architecture in relation to his time and ours. It is in this reflexive field, that is planted the thesis of the present research, where the principal works of the architect are analyzed inquiring their modern condition, at the light of a local context who´s social problems join the chilean social development state the “Estado Desarrolista” of the first half of the XX century, a situation that interpellants several dimensions: the technical status of the country during the period, the aesthetic tendencies prevailing, and the urban context were they place themselves. At the same time, in its development, the thesis examines a referential topic, that is the Latin American modern movement, or the European influx in that inflexion point that goes from the end of academicism Beaux – Art model and the incorporation of functional and rationalist precepts, all mediated by local conditions.

Occurrence and analysis of selected pharmaceutical compounds in soil from Spanish agricultural fields

This work describes the analysis of 15 pharmaceutical compounds, belonging to different therapeutic classes (anti-inflammatory/analgesics, lipid regulators, antiepileptics, ?-blockers and antidepressants) and with diverse physical?chemical properties, in Spanish soils with different farmland uses. The studied compounds were extracted from soil by ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and determined, after derivatization, by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC?MS). The limits of detection (LODs) ranged from 0.14 ng g?1 (naproxen) to 0.65 ng g?1 (amitriptyline). At least two compounds where detected in all samples, being ibuprofen, salicylic acid, and paracetamol, the most frequently detected compounds. The highest levels found in soil were 47 ng g?1 for allopurinol and 37 ng g?1 for salicylic acid. The influence of the type of crop and the sampling area on the levels of pharmaceuticals in soil, as well as their relationship with soil physical?chemical properties, was studied. The frequent and widespread detection of some of these compounds in agricultural soils show a diffuse contamination, although the low levels found do not pose a risk to the environment or the human health.

Composition, potential emissions and agricultural value of pig slurry from Spanish commercial farms

Pig slurry is a valuable fertilizer for crop production but at the same time its management may pose environmental risks. Slurry samples were collected from 77 commercial farms of four animal categories (gestating and lactating sows, nursery piglets and growing pigs) and analyzed for macronutrients, micronutrients, heavy metals and volatile fatty acids. Emissions of ammonia (NH3) and biochemical methane potential (BMP) were quantified. Slurry electrical conductivity, pH, dry matter content and ash content were also determined. Data analysis included an analysis of correlations among variables, the development of prediction models for gaseous emissions and the analysis of nutritional content of slurries for crop production. Descriptive information is provided in this work and shows a wide range of variability in all studied variables. Animal category affected some physicochemical parameters, probably as a consequence of different slurry management and use of cleaning water. Slurries from gestating sows and growing pigs tended to be more concentrated in nutrients, whereas the slurry from lactating sows and nursery piglets tended to be more diluted. Relevant relationships were found among slurry characteristics expressed in fresh basis and gas emissions. Predictive models using on-farm measurable parameters were obtained for NH3 (R2 = 0.51) and CH4