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Assessing leisure time physical activity (ltpa) experience in urban. Stream corridors: a baseline for inclusive ltpa promotion
No full textLeisure-Time Physical Activity (LTPA) in urban stream corridors is of paramount importance for health and wellbeing promotion among urban dwellers. LTPA experience, namely how (what, with whom, when and where) and why LTPA is practised in particular places, is influenced by various social and physical environmental factors which the stream users may perceive differently. Therefore, an improved understanding of how stream users perceive environmental factors may provide relevant insights and inform on strategies intended to support inclusive LTPA promotion. To this end, combining ecological models with a qualitative Geographic Information System (qGIS) methodology is valuable. The ecological models provide a comprehensive theoretical framework which helps understand the environmental factors that influence LTPA, whilst the qualitative research methods serve to reveal any hidden meanings related to individual experiences behind factors. The collected data combined with GIS, enable the exploration of subjective perceptions of the environment with reference to its spatial dimension.
Therefore, this study assessed users’ perceptions of the environmental factors that influence LTPA experiences in the Caldes Stream corridor, in the Metropolitan Region of Barcelona. Accordingly, a sequential mixed methodology based on qualitative ecological approach integrated with GIS was developed in two phases. First, in-depth map-based and go-along interviews allowed for: 1) the categorization of the different types of stream users according to their characteristics and motivations for LTPA, 2) the identification of the social and physical environmental factors influencing LTPA, 3) the assessment of factors as either barriers or facilitators to LTPA for each type of stream user according to their perceptions (Paper 1). Secondly, given that the safety issue emerged as a key factor influencing women LTPA in the Caldes Stream corridor, the analysis of the relationship between environmental factors and women’s perceptions of safety was undertaken. In-depth interviews with women were further analysed for: 4) the identification of the environmental factors related to women’s perceptions of safety in the stream corridor, and 5) the design of a safety map able to represent both the women’s general and individual perceptions of safety. For the creation of this analytical tool environmental factors were translated into spatial indicators, women’s perceptions were geo-located, and the resultant data was integrated into qGIS (Paper 2).
Findings of the present study provided a greater understanding of the different ways in which different users interpret and interact with urban stream corridors when practising LTPA. Specifically, different types of users perceived environmental factors influencing LTPA as either barriers or facilitators contradictorily or coincidentally depending on their motivations for LTPA and their gender. The major conflicts related to divergent perceptions between genders depended on perceptions of safety (Paper 1). Perceptions of safety among women were related to environmental factors, yet they were mediated by women’s socio-cultural background and everyday practices. Against this backdrop, the safety map based on a qualitative GIS approach designed for this study, allowed the assessment of the macro-scale spatial indicators of the environmental factors and the micro-scale of women’s narratives on perceptions of safety from an integrated perspective. The macro-scale perspective provided a general explanation for the phenomenon and helped visualise conflicting domains of interventions. The micro-scale produced deeper and detailed insights into the perception of safety by comparing the big picture with women’s narratives (Paper 2).
These findings suggest that 1) the characterisation of types of users according to their motivations for practicing LTPA in green environments and 2) their gender perspective should be at the forefront of inclusive LTPA promotion strategies. At this regard, qGIS analytical tools aimed at identifying the particular needs of the specific types of users could support the customisation of interventions by providing knowledge on the tangible and intangible dimensions associated to the different LTPA experiences. Basing on this knowledge, LTPA promotion policies should combine the provision of physical infrastructure suitable for the different types of users, and long-term educational programs addressed to overcome the limiting effects of certain socio-cultural backgrounds.
This research has shown that the thorough understanding of the users’ LTPA experience in urban stream corridors provides significant knowledge to inform policies for inclusive LTPA promotion, thus mitigating the risk of health inequalities among different types of stream users
Nudt3. La primera endopolifosfatasa humana
No full textEl polifosfato inorgánico (polyP) es un polímero compuesto por cientos de residuos de fosfato (Pi) unidos por enlaces fosfoanhidro de alta energía. Esta molécula se encuentra en todos los organismos desde bacteria a mamíferos y se encuentra relacionada con una gran variedad de procesos celulares. Sin embargo, su metabolismo en mamíferos aún no ha sido caracterizado. En esta tesis doctoral, se ha purificado una actividad endopolifosfatasa dependiente de Zn2+presente en extracto de cerebro de rata hasta su máxima homogeneidad mediante un método de purificación bioquímico acoplado a un zimograma, una nueva aproximación que permite detectar la actividad enzimática sobre un sustrato, en este caso, el polyP. Un análisis proteómico reveló a Nudt3, una difosfoinositol polifosfato fosfohidrolasa (DIPP) como enzima responsable de la actividad endopolifosfatasa del extracto. Nudt3, descrita previamente como una fosfohidrolasa de inositoles pirofosfato (Ins-P7 y Ins-P8) y dinucleosidos oligofosfato (Ap5A y Ap6A) in vitro, confiere especificidad de sustrato dependiendo del ion divalente presente en la reacción mostrando actividad endopolifosfatasa exclusivamente en presencia de Zn2+ en condiciones fisiológicas (pH 6.8; 36ᵒC). Además, en esta tesis se demuestra que Nudt3 tiene actividad endopolifosfatasa in vivo dependiendo de la concentración de Zn2+ intracelular, hecho que puede variar en función del estado metabólico de la célula. Finalmente, la célula cuando es sometida a un estrés oxidativo genera un aumento de la concentración de Zn2+ intracelular y promueve una disminución de los niveles de polyP celular. En conclusión, esta tesis identifica la primera enzima que controla la degradación del polyP en humanos
Assessing the Impact of Organisational Capacity, Organizational Structure and Leadership on Project Management Success for Project Oriented Organisations in Developing Countries – A Study of Ghana
No full textMost developmental projects in developing countries have been found to be of necessity to human life, whiles their effective management by project oriented organizations have also been recognised as a crucial force for economic growth and poverty reduction for these countries. However, studies show that the management of projects in most developing countries tend to experience high levels of failure. Most developmental projects when started are not completed as projected in many developing countries. A review of the extant relevant literature on project management provided organizational capacity, organizational structure and leadership as some of the major factors that significantly impact on PMS, but these factors have not studied in the context of DCs.
This thesis therefore intends to fill this gap by investigating how the major factors commonly signalled in the project management literature (and their combination) actually affect project management success in developing countries; with the empirical application considering the case of Ghana. The thesis also investigates competencies/skills and best practice principles for an effective project management in developing countries.
Using three dimensions (namely, organizational capacity, organizational structure and leadership) with a total of 16 items, a survey was prepared and filled out by 215 certified project management practitioners. Data obtained were validated using exploratory factor analyses. New dimensions were obtained and using structural equation modelling, this thesis analysed how the different latent factors predict project management success in developing countries. To complement the findings already obtained, a qualitative comparative analysis was also carried out to help discover the configurational effects of the antecedent conditions on the outcome. Qualitative information obtained from the survey was also refined to obtain meaningful interpretations.
Findings from the analysis show that leadership is the most significant factor affecting project management success in developing countries. The capacity and the structure of project oriented organizations (in terms of span of control) were also found to be significant predictors of project management success. Different combination of the antecedent conditions were also found to impact on project management success, although in all configurations, the presence of leadership was paramount.
The findings obtained implied that citizens of developing countries need to vote competent political leaders who are system thinkers, negotiators and have a general business perspective, to lay the foundation for achieving project management success in their countries. Elected political leaders of various developing countries need to provide the kind of leadership that will propel project management success. To guarantee successful management of projects in developing countries, project oriented organizations need to employ only qualified project managers to lead their projects. Likewise, they need to further polish the leadership skills of their project managers by offering them periodic training and refresher courses and track their performance using information systems for enforce corrective actions.
The thesis concludes recommending a set of competencies/skills and best practice principles for effective project management in developing countries
Diagnóstico y pautas para un crecimiento urbano sostenible en tierras secas. El Área Metropolitana de Mendoza (1990-2017)
No full textActualmente, la globalización está generando procesos que modifican sustancialmente los territorios, produciendo impactos en sus configuraciones, como sucede en la provincia de Mendoza.
Dicha provincia se inserta en la zona árida de Argentina, por lo que su territorio se compone de tierras secas, tanto no irrigadas (las naturales) como irrigadas (los oasis). Estas últimas representan sólo el 3 % de la superficie provincial, donde conviven los centros urbanos y las actividades productivas agrícolas e industriales, principalmente, debido a que poseen riego gracias a la sistematización y el aprovechamiento integral del agua que se hizo históricamente, desde épocas que habitaban sólo los pueblos originarios.
Lo mencionado ha generado un modelo territorial provincial de fuerte concentración en las tierras secas irrigadas, lo que conlleva grandes desequilibrios e inequidades al existir espacios dominantes (tierras secas con riego) sobre otros dominados (sin riego).
Esta problemática situación se ve agravada por el crecimiento de las ciudades, particularmente del Área Metropolitana de Mendoza, que desde 1990 presenta un modo de crecimiento urbano extensivo que no se condice con las características ambientales, sociales ni económicas de la provincia, entre otras.
Por lo mencionado, surge la necesidad de planificar y ordenar el territorio, por lo que es necesario analizar y diagnosticar lo acontecido entre 1990 y 2017 en el Área Metropolitana de Mendoza, a fin de poder formular pautas que tiendan a la definición de un modo de crecimiento urbano sostenible, acorde a la fragilidad ambiental de sus tierras secas
Embedding Microorganisms in Interior Design elements to achieve Design Ecology (Empirical study on achieving energy selfproducing systems)
No full textThis research was conducted in corresponding to energy crisis and the global warming effects of utilizing non renewable energy sources (fossil fuels). Contributing to high Co2 emissions. The study proposed bioenergy sources as a sufficient alternative for power supply in building sectors for domestic use as it achieves a multi scale solution for the addressed problem; being safe, efficient in electrical power generation, cost effective, waste treating, easy to implement in domestic use, easy to use, reproducible and available. In this extent an experimental study on bioelectricity generation employing microbial fuel cell device was conducted based on previous research review, analysis and scientific interdisciplinary study developed for the case based design. Including introduction to interdisciplinary sciences, mainly biotechnology, tissue engineering, bio materials, synthetic biology, bio informatics and biodigital design involved in the embedding and integration of microbes in design for ecological purposes, bioluminescent activity physio-chemical basis and biological synthesis potentials and possible design application. Bioelectricity bio-electro chemical basis and introduction of fuel cells and microbial fuel cells devices technology as a specific bioreactor for exploiting natural exoelectrogeneses of microbes. The experimental study surveyed various microbial species for optimum production of indicator enzyme (laccase) that is the main precursor agent in the oxidation-reduction reaction of bioelectricity generation; the potent strain was molecularly identified as Aspergillus sydowii NYKA 510, and further optimized for its growth condition to be employed in a single chamber membrane-less MFC for bioelectricity generation and optimization. The system achieved at 2000 Ω, 0.76 V, 380 mAm-2, 160 mWm-2, and 0.4 W. the MFC needed initialization time of 4 days for generating steady current, and maintained steady performance of 6 days before the need to be recharged with fresh medium and dispersed spores. A self-sufficient lighting unit was implemented by employing a system of 2 sets of 4 MFCs each, connected in series, for electricity generation. The self-sufficient cluster design involved the inner system of the MFCs and the outer container, which gave the cluster its final form. The formal design included patterned customized mass depending on bio digital design procedures through utilizing scanning electron microscopy images of A. sydowii NYKA 510 in algorithmic form generation equations. Patterned customized mass approach were developed by the authors and chosen for application in the design. Following this, a multidisciplinary study based on biological imagery and dynamic mathematical modeling was carried on, in order to achieve coupling between form and function in the self-sufficient bioelectricity generating system. This phase involved a review of scientific bases of biological imagery study and mathematical modeling of biological behavior and categorization according to physio-chemical pathways and stochastic dynamics basis; as cellular automata, agent based, partial differential equations, and introduced the basis of complex intelligence systems. Followed by another experimental phase of designing a cellular automata-agent based combined model of biased random walk that simulate the fungal cells complex behavior in oxidation-reduction reaction responsible for bioelectricity generation inside MFCs (including nutrients search, chemotaxis, oxidation-reduction reaction active site). This reaction was chosen for the study in order to achieve coherence in coupling form and function. Results were employed in extensive design study of the design methodology and criteria of embedding microorganisms in interior design elements to achieve space ecology through case-based design approach. Resulting in two main categories of bioactive devices (applied in this thesis scope and coherent to its objectives), and bioactive hybrids or bioactive materials of system which is a material for further investigation
A Model of Crucial Factors Influencing on the Innovation Resistance for Purchasing Innovative Passenger Vehicles in Automotive Industry of Iran
No full textPurpose: The goal of this thesis is to render a model of influencing factors on Innovation resistance for purchasing innovative passenger vehicles in Auto industry of Iran.
Design/Methodology/Approach: The innovative passenger vehicles that are produced by 4 car manufacturing companies of Iran are selected.
Data is collected in two phases, at the first step which is qualitative phase, 13 questionnaires are distributed among panel of experts who are managers and top experts of SAIPA car manufacturing company (Appendix 1).
Then in the second phase which is quantitative, the questionnaire which is prepared based on the results of first phase, are distributed among 265 customers of Kerman Khodro Co., Modiran Khodro Co. and Iran Khodro Co. that have resisted to purchase innovative vehicle of SAIPA (Appendix 2).
The resistance factors are detected and grouped through Exploratory Factor Analysis techniques, and the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), which is a very general statistical modeling technique that is normally used in the behavioral sciences. It can be viewed as a combination of factor analysis and regression or path analysis, so by SEM method will provide the aforementioned impacts of these resistance factors on resistance purchasing behavior.
Findings: The results of qualitative phase show that Trialability, Co-dependence, Visibility, Realization, Relative advantage and Value factors are the most influential factors on innovation resistance which are clustered in Functional barriers.
On the other hand, Economic Risk, Functional Risk, Usage, Image, Previous Innovation Experience and Usefulness are the most influential factors on Innovation Resistance, which are categorized in Psychological barriers. Additionally, the Demographic barriers extracted as influential factors on innovation resistance analyzed are: Age, Income and Education.
The new factor of "After Sales Services" is recommended by panel of experts from Delphi model, in order to add to influential factors on Innovation Resistance. Thereafter, the above-mentioned factors have a crucial and prominent role in reducing the resistance of consumers in order to purchase innovative passenger vehicles.
In the second phase which is quantitative step of this research, based on the results of first step the questionnaire has been prepared and are distributed among 265 ordinary customers of three Iranian car manufacturing companies.
The abovementioned factors resulting of the first step of this research are used in order to assess its impact on Intention to buy, and the mediation role of Active Innovation Resistance between Barriers and Intention to buy. A research model, in which these constructs are included, is proposed and analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Results show that “Active innovation resistance” is playing the role of a complementary mediation. Therefore, the impact of “Functional barriers” on “Intention to buy” is mediated by “Active innovation resistance”. In the same way, “Active innovation resistance” also mediates between “Psychological barriers” and “Intention to buy”.
Research Implications: A new fresh model analyzing the mediator role of Active Innovation Resistance shed light to conceptualize the way Barriers (both Functional and Psychological) impacts on customer behavior, in the specific setting of innovative automotive industry in Iran.
Practical Implications: The propagation of innovation in automotive industry is challenging and imposing huge investment to manufacturer, so they should pay attention to real barriers for resisting to purchase their innovative vehicles.
Moreover, customers, who are playing the main role for their success, might adjust its intention to purchase these innovative cars, and foster the Iranian society to be interested in innovation of car manufactures
Participación de familias catalanas en la salvación de la Comunidad de la Cartuja de Montalegre, (Tiana, 1936)
No full textIntroducción.
La Guerra Civil en España fue un periodo conflictivo para la población civil en general de ambos bandos, pero una parte de ella muy damnificada fue la de los religiosos y religiosas y sus instituciones eclesiásticas. Afortunadamente hubo una protección especial, por parte de una parte de la población civil, de organismos internacionales y benefactores que, corriendo el riesgo de perder sus vidas, se entregaron a su salvación. Una de estas órdenes religiosas es la de la Cartuja de Montalegre que sufrieron asalto y quema de su monasterio y a su vez el asesinato de varios de sus miembros, simplemente por el odio anticlerical.
Objetivos.
Pasados más de 80 años de los hechos ocurridos se ha querido hacer en esta Tesis Doctoral, una repaso histórico aclarando algunos puntos dudosos y buscando en profundidad la ayuda y participación de las personas, familias e instituciones privadas, públicas e internacionales que lograron, entre todas ellas, la salvación de la comunidad del cenobio cartujano y su restauración posteriormente.
Resultados.
Se ha logrado personalizar los diferentes miembros y familias benefactoras que intervinieron en la ayuda a los monjes. Se han analizado los detalles del fusilamiento de los religiosos, efectuando un examen forense de los restos óseos y habiendo encontrado todos los documentos que confirman como se produjeron las muertes. Se ha localizado a los responsables de tales desórdenes y asesinatos y encontrado los documentos de como la justicia los ha tratado.
En esta investigación histórica se han incluido documentos únicos e inéditos, tanto del Arxiu Privat de Montalegre, como de la familia Clarós y, del Centro Diplomático de Francia, de los de la Fiscalía y del Archivo Militar, que se transcriben íntegramente, dado su valor histórico.Introducció.
La Guerra Civil a Espanya va ser un període conflictiu per a la població civil en general de tots dos bàndols, però una part d'ella molt damnificada va ser la dels religiosos i religioses i les seves institucions eclesiàstiques. Afortunadament hi va haver una protecció especial, per part de la població civil, d'organismes internacionals i benefactors, que corrent el risc de perdre les seves vides, es van lliurar a la seva salvació. Una d'aquestes ordres religioses és la de la Cartoixa de Montalegre que van patir assalt i crema del seu monestir i al seu torn el assassinats de diversos dels seus monjos.
Objectius.
Passats més de 80 anys dels fets ocorreguts s'ha volgut fer en aquesta Tesi Doctoral, un repàs històric aclarint alguns punts dubtosos i buscant en profunditat l'ajuda i participació de les persones, famílies i institucions privades, publiques i internacionals que van aconseguir, entre totes , la salvació de la comunitat del cenobi cartoixà.
Resultats.
S'ha aconseguit personalitzar els diferents membres i famílies benefactores que van intervenir en l'ajuda als monjos. S'han analitzat els detalls dels afusellament dels religiosos, efectuant un detallat examen de les restes òssies i trobat tots els documents que confirmen com es van produir. A més s'han localitzat els responsables de tals desordres i assassinats i com la justícia els ha jutjat.
En aquesta investigació històrica s'han trobat documents únics i inèdits, tant de l'Arxiu Privat de Montalegre, de la família Clarós, com del Centre Diplomàtic de França, els de la Fiscalia i de l'Arxiu Militar
Bernardí Martorell i Puig, arquitecte (1877-1937)
No full textLa present tesi doctoral és una monografia que recull tota la vida i obra de Bernardí Martorell i
Puig (1877-1937), un arquitecte amb activitat professional durant el primer terç del segle XX a
Catalunya que no té el reconeixement que la seva abundant i interessant obra mereix. Nebot-
nét del conegut arquitecte Joan Martorell, i admirador i aprenent d’Antoni Gaudí, la seva
producció arquitectònica es podria anomenar eclèctica, ja que barreja elements neogòtics i
neoclàssics amb altres modernistes, en molts casos amb un ús magistral del totxo, que fa que
els seus projectes tinguin un segell molt personal.
La producció arquitectònica de Martorell es pot classificar en tres grans grups: arquitectura
religiosa, arquitectura d’habitatge i arquitectura variada. Dins d’arquitectura religiosa cal
destacar que va ser arquitecte diocesà de Solsona, Tarragona i Barcelona, on va realitzar obres
de tot tipus, esdevenint un arquitecte molt polifacètic: des la custòdia de la catedral de
Tarragona i objectes litúrgics fins a grans edificis, reformes i cementiris. Per altra banda,
algunes comunitats religioses van comptar amb Bernardí Martorell per construir els seus
monestirs i esglésies, i aquests projectes han estat, entre altres, les seves obres més
reconegudes: el monestir de Valldonzella, el monestir de les oblates del Santíssim Redemptor,
l’escola-convent de les teresianes de Tarragona i l’església de l’Escola Pia de Sabadell. Quant a
arquitectura domèstica trobem edificis d’habitatge unifamiliar per tot Catalunya i alguns
edificis de pisos, principalment a Barcelona, a part de nombroses reformes i obres menors. Per
últim, a l’apartat d’arquitectura variada trobem tot tipus de construccions: des de la reforma
d’un gran sanatori, Torrebonica, fins la construcció d’un celler per a la cooperativa agrícola de
Cambrils, entre altres.
L’anàlisi de la seva producció permet veure diferents influències, no només de corrents
artístics i arquitectònics, sinó també de característiques apreses de Gaudí, com els arcs
parabòlics, presents en moltes de les seves obres; i de nombrosos viatges a l’estranger, on
l’arquitecte coneix tècniques i estils que marquen l’estètica de les seves obres. En aquesta tesi
estudiem cada projecte, a nivell històric i descriptiu, i analitzem també el conjunt, intentant
entendre les relacions entre elles i les influències que va tenir l’arquitecte. Al final de la tesi, hi
ha el catàleg de tota la seva producció ordenat cronològicament.
Per estudiar l’obra de Martorell s’han recorregut tots els llocs de Catalunya on hi havia indicis
de possibles intervencions i s’han buidat els arxius corresponents, així doncs la major part del
material citat en aquesta tesi doctoral és inèdit, com també algunes de les obres que
esmentem, que s’han trobat gràcies a aquesta recerca.
En resum, aquesta tesi pretén donar visibilitat a un arquitecte certament desconegut, amb
l’objectiu de donar una mica més de llum a tota una generació de professionals que han
quedat amagats a l’ombra dels grans mestres del modernisme català
Convergencias Estratégicas en la Comunicación integrada de márketing y publicidad y el Management en el siglo XXI: aproximación cualitativa y cuantitativa de la situación en el mundo hispanohablante.
No full textLa hipótesis central de esta tesis es que tanto la Comunicación como el Management sufren de vacíos educativos en la disciplina estratégica, lo que incide en brechas formativas que se expresan tanto en el ejercicio de sus profesionales como en sus debilidades directivas. Adicionalmente el trabajo busca rescatar la formación original de la disciplina estratégica oriental y occidental, para de tal forma recomponer los puentes entre ambas disciplinas, a través de los puntos en común de autores y formadores en la escuela de Oriente y Occidente. Introduce los conceptos de convergencia y alfabetización estratégica en la formación en Comunicación y Management para el Siglo XXI
Three-dimensional volumetric analysis of root coverage and gingival volume gain of multiple recession-type defects treated by Vestibular Incision Subperiosteal Tunnel Access (VISTA).
No full textObjective: To examine the outcome of root coverage and gingival volume changes, following the treatment of multiple recession-type defects treated with Vestibular Incision Subperiosteal Tunnel Access (VISTA) in combination with various graft materials.
Materials and Methods: Pre-therapy and post-therapy study models of 21 patients (154 teeth) with multiple gingival recession defects, treated with Vestibular Incision Subperiosteal Tunnel Access (VISTA), were optically scanned. Three-dimensional analysis of superimposed preoperative and postoperative images (more than 12-month follow-up) was performed. Linear and surface root coverage were calculated together with linear gingival thickness and volumetric gain. These outcomes were correlated to various clinical and/or anatomical parameters. A stringent nonparametric regression analysis was run, adjusting for the correlation among multiple observations on the same patient.
Results: The mean percentages of linear root coverage were 96.2 ± 13.1% and 84.3 ± 14.4% for Miller Class I/II (Cairo RT1) and Class III (Cairo RT2) recessions, respectively. The mean percentages of root surface area coverage were 92.1 ± 12.0% and 78.6 ± 15.7% for Miller Class I/II (RT1) and III (RT2) defects, respectively. Linear gingival thickness gain of approximately 1 mm and volumetric gain of 5.47mm3 was achieved. Root prominence, initial recession width and posterior tooth type were negatively correlated with linear and root surface area coverage. A strong negative correlation was found between linear thickness gain and root prominence. The thickness gained achieved was not significantly different with various graft materials.
Conclusion: Three-dimensional analysis provides a useful method for evaluating the outcome of periodontal plastic surgery. The results of the present study showed root coverage, gingival thickness and volumetric gain achieved with VISTA in combination with different graft materials. Certain site-specific factors, in particular root prominence, exerted an influence of the outcomes of root coverage and gingival volume gain