Beyond infertility: obstetrical and postpartum complications associated with endometriosis and adenomyosis

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Le immagini fotografiche dell’arte del Novecento nella cultura visiva di massa

Recensione di Barbara Cinelli, Flavio Fergonzi, Maria Grazia Messina, Antonello Negri (a cura di), Arte moltiplicata. L’immagine del ’900 italiano nello specchio dei rotocalchi, Milano, Bruno Mondadori 2013, pp. 389, ISBN 978886159857

A Dynamic Model for Construction and Demolition (C&D) Waste Management in Spain: Driving Policies Based on Economic Incentives and Tax Penalties

According to the recent Spanish legislation, the amount of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste (C&D waste) by weight must be reduced by at least 70% by 2020. However, the current behavior of the stakeholders involved in the waste management process make this goal difficult to achieve. In order to boost changes in their strategies, we firstly describe an Environmental Management System (EMS) based on regulation measures and economic incentives which incorporate universities as a key new actor in order to create a 3Rs model (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) in the C&D waste management with costs savings. The target areas are focused mainly on producer responsibility, promotion of low-waste building technologies and creation of green jobs to fulfill three main objectives: valorization of inert wastes, elimination of illegal landfills and stimulation of demand for recycled C&D wastes. To achieve this latter goal, we have also designed a simulation model—using the Systems Dynamic methodology—to assess the potential impact of two policies (incentives and tax penalties) in order to evaluate how the government can influence the behavior of the firms in the recycling system of C&D waste aggregates. This paper finds a broader understanding of the socioeconomic implications of waste management over time and the positive effects of these policies in the recycled aggregates market in order to achieve the goal of 30% C&D waste aggregates in 12 years or less

The role of public subsidies for efficiency and environmental adaptation of farming: a multi-layered business model based on functional foods and rural women

[Abstract]: This paper examines the role of public subsidies on farming efficiency for Spain by using a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach followed by a nonparametric regression of efficiency to farm specific factors (economic size, environmentally friendly behavior and regional aspects). The empirical analysis suggest that although a higher degree of direct payments negatively affects farm efficiency, these subsidies become an incentive for environmental friendly behavior by farmers in order to improve the productive efficiency. In turn, this proposition leads to a careful attention for the roots of agricultural productions in line to the EU aim of more market-oriented agriculture. Then, a conceptual framework was elaborated in order to propose a multi-layered model for supporting the design of a green business plan based on functional foods. This study also explores the process of generation-production-consumption of functional foods, involving not only the knowledge transfer of the healthy properties of these products but also the multiple role of rural women as producers, educators/advisors and buyers of these foods. The positioning of rural women in the whole process of functional foods results relevant to build their competitive advantage as local entrepreneurs. The leverage points of the strategic formulation of green business models were reinforced following the roadmapping methodology from a dynamic perspective: alliances with suppliers of knowledge (researchers), identification with their reference groups (investors, clients) and management of intellectual capital (structural, human, relational). Finally, findings reveal that rural women are better positioned than others to create businesses based on functional foods from a niche formulation

Public incentives and environmental taxation for a sustainable C&D waste management in Spain: an industrial ecology challenge

[Abstract] Introduction: By 2020, according to the recent Spanish legislation (Law 22/2001), the amount of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste (C&D waste) must be at least 70% by weight of the produced. However, the current behavior of the stakeholders involved in the waste management process make this goal difficult of achieving. This article examines a number of fiscal instruments to promote the prevention and control of pollution by encouraging the use this type of waste. The heterogeneity of these measures at local level requires the development of a statewide law that governs the actions designed to promote joint coordination and serve to achieve the goal of state protection. The target areas for the tax route will focus mainly on producer responsibility and the promotion of green technologies. From a causal analysis of the problem, we have designed a management model to analyze the impact of incentive policies for the Administration to use C&D waste. This model encourages a broader understanding of the technical and socioeconomic implications of sustainable construction

¿Está mi futuro profesional sesgado por las percepciones de género? Un estudio para el caso español con propuestas de políticas públicas sobre educación

[EN] This article deals with the ‘glass ceiling’ phenomenon based on the fact that a disproportionately low number of women access managerial positions by analyzing gender differences in the ‘educational profile’ and ‘professional profile perceived’. The sample is conducted among 165 undergraduate economics students (54 males and 111 females) in the final year of college in Spain at the time they were planning their future professional career. The methodology used is based on two approaches. First, an analytic model using Structural Equations Model (SEM) that leads us to explore perceptual differences in favorite subjects, professional ambitions, values associated to the workplace and mobility. Second, a causal analysis following the System Dynamics methodology to describe the women’s behavior in explaining their self-exclusion from managerial positions. Findings confirm the existence of an educational system biased by gender and reveals that while men are more ambitious professionally and show greater capacity to geographical mobility, women require greater motivation at work. Moreover, we find that the factors explaining why women are still far from reaching senior management positions are both external (gender stereotypes or organizational policies) and internal ones (self-confidence, self-esteem). Finally, we propose a set of education measures as a starting point to implement public policies which could reduce women´s barriers to break their glass ceiling.[ES] Este artículo trata el fenómeno del techo de cristal basado en el hecho de que un desproporcionado bajo número de mujeres accede a puestos de trabajo de dirección y gestión a través del análisis de las diferencias de género en el perfil educativo y el perfil profesional percibido. La muestra se realizó entre 165 alumnos y alumnas (54 hombres y 111 mujeres) cursando disciplinas relacionadas con la economía en su último año de universidad en España mientras planeaban su futura carrera profesional. La metodología utilizada está basada en dos enfoques. Primero, un modelo analítico usando un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales (SEM) que nos permite explorar las diferencias perceptuales en cuanto a asignaturas favoritas, ambiciones profesionales, valores asociados con el lugar de trabajo y movilidad laboral. Segundo, un análisis causal siguiendo la metodología de la Dinámica de Sistemas para describir el comportamiento de las mujeres que justifica su auto-exclusión en los puestos directivos. Los resultados confirman la existencia de un sistema educativo sesgado por género y revela que mientras los hombres son más ambiciosos profesionalmente y con mayor capacidad para la movilidad geográfica, las mujeres requieren una mayor motivación en el trabajo. Además, hemos descubierto que los factores que explican el por qué las mujeres siguen estando alejadas de los altos puestos directivos son tanto causas externas (estereotipos de género o políticas organizativas) como causas internas (autoconfianza, autoestima). Finalmente, proponemos un conjunto de medidas educativas como punto de partida para implantar políticas públicas que podrían reducir las barreras de las mujeres y romper así su techo de cristal.The third author gratefully thanks the financial support from the Xunta de Galicia (Spanish Regional Government) through Grant EM2014/051. The usual disclaimer applies

Abordaje de las prácticas corporales desde la teoría social contemporáneas: el fitness y la danza en la ciudad de La Plata 2011

En esta ponencia se abordará el tema del cuerpo y las prácticas corporales, considerando que este es un campo poco explorado desde de la sociología. La intención de esta investigación fue precisar cómo algunas manifestaciones de la sociedad se hacen presentes en el cuerpo de los individuos, que están inmersos en un determinado sistema -el capitalista- a través de sus prácticas corporales. Esta inquietud, por entender el papel del cuerpo en la teoría social, se desprendió de un interés personal que he tenido a lo largo de toda la carrera: tratar de unir dos áreas de estudios en apariencia tan disímiles como lo son la sociología y la danza contemporánea. En este sentido, me he planteado ¿cómo mirar desde una perspectiva sociológica a la danza? De allí que surge la idea de comprender a esta actividad como una práctica corporal que convive en la actualidad con muchas otras, como por ejemplo: la acrobacia, el yoga, la expresión corporal, los deportes al aire libre o las prácticas corporales que se realizan en los gimnasios. Entre estas últimas, el fitness fue incluido en dicho trabajo, ya que a pesar de las numerosas actividades que surgieron (y siguen surgiendo) para ejercitar y/o modelar el cuerpo, se lo puede considerar como una de las actividades más elegidas por la mayoría de las personas que viven en la ciudad.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

E-learning and Face to Face Mixed Methodology: Evaluating effectiveness of e-learning and perceived satisfaction for a microeconomic course using the Moodle Platform

[Abstract]: The use of Information and Communication Technologies in higher education has proved to be very effective in different educational environments. A less explored area is their application for evaluation on-line, since it is a different process, with specific components. This work describes a methodology that combines the assessment with multiple choice tests through the virtual environment Moodle and the evaluation by using traditional classroom exams. The proposed mixed methodology ELFF (E-Learning and Face to Face) was implemented during the academic year 2010-11 in the subject Microeconomics: Markets and Competition in the European Union of the double degree in Law and in Business Administration and Management, to assess complementary aspects of the knowledge acquired. The obtained results show that it clearly promotes the participation of students, increases their motivation and improves their competence and so, their performance in terms of qualifications

Stimulating Creative Entrepreneurial Initiatives: A flow diagram for strategic planning

[Abstract]: This paper contributes to the organizational study of the creativity applied to business innovation through the analysis of three propositions: (1) there are substantial differences between Creative Entrepreneurial Initiatives (CEIs) and non-CEIs, regarding to human capital factors, structural capital factors, intellectual property and creative value chain; (2) there are institutional, financial and educational barriers that limits the creation of CEIs in South Europe (Portugal, France, Spain), and (3) the adaptation of organizational measures of stimulus to the specificity of CEIs through a flow diagram can reduce the limiting effect of the barriers detected by CEIs. From this approach, researchers and policy makers can obtain a better understanding of the specificities of the CIEs from a sectoral, strategic and organizational focus