Assessing the overall perceived quality of the undergraduate students

Purpose - The paper is twofold aimed: (i) defining and validating a scale to assess the quality of the university experienced by students and (ii) analyzing the role of the aforementioned di- mensions and their impact on students’ satisfaction. Methodology/Approach - A survey of 2,557 undergraduate students that finished their degrees in 2013 at universities located in the region of Catalonia has been analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). An exploratory analysis suggests the final dimensions that were confirmed in a confirmatory analysis. The psychometric characteristics of the scale are provided to show reliability and validity of the constructs. An extra model (also using SEM) assesses the impact of these dimensions on overall satisfac- tion. Findings - The quality is a multifactor construct composed by: (i) “syllabus”, which refers to the quality of the learning methods and the coordination efforts through the whole study period; (ii) “skills development”, referring to the skills that students might acquire along their studies and (iii) “services and facilities” of the university. Moreover, the first and third factors act as “enablers” for the second factor one. Nevertheless, only “Syllabus” dimension affects significantly on students’ satisfaction, whereas “services and facilities” do not have a significant role, although they are necessary in order to provide a good service. Research Limitation/implication - Although the sample is large enough to draw robust re- sults, it is limited the Catalonia. The paper provides recommendations for university managers and public administration authorities in order to allocate the available resources. Originality/Value of paper - In an era of global competition, universities are trying to adapt to these new requirements by expanding they academic offer, introducing innovative teaching methods, providing teaching resources to lecturers, and updating the general services of the university among others. All these services will be considered when students evaluate their experience at the university. The paper contributes with an assessment scale for the holistic service provided by the university within the period that the student is in the university. These findings can be applied to help define attractive academic programs and provide useful insights on how the supporting facilities should be designed to allow students take advantage of their learning process at universities.Postprint (published version

Estudio de los restos líticos de la Cova Colomera (prepirineo de Lleida) entre 5220 y 1660 cal BC. Análisis arqueopetrológico de las matérias primas silíceas y posibles áreas de captación.

[spa]Elestudio arqueopetrológico delos sílex dela Cova Colomera ha permitido detectar distintas variedades. La mayoría, por sus características macroscópicas, relacionables con la facies Garumniense local. Otras se corresponderían con formaciones sedimentarias lacustres probablemente adscribibles al Valle del Ebro. Las diversas características de este registro lítico, junto con las cronologías de los niveles, nos debería permitir inferir algunas hipótesis sobre la movilidad de los grupos humanos y proponer pautas evolutivas entre los diferentes momentos analizados.[eng]The archaeopetrological study of cherts from Cova Colomera has detected different varieties of siliceous sedimentary raw materials. The main part of them may be related macroscopically with Garumnian facies of local origin; others could be related with lacustrine sedimentary environments of the Ebro Sedimentary Basin. Changes in the lithic record in relation to stratigraphy and chronology, should allow us to infer some hypotheses on the mobility of human groups and that can help us to propose changing patterns between the different cultural moments analysed

Evaluation of the interactions between Human Serum Albumin (HSA) and Non‐Steroidal Anti‐Inflammatory (NSAIDs) drugs by multiwavelength molecular fluorescence, structural and computational analysis

The interaction between drugs and transport proteins, such as albumins, is a key factor in drug bioavailability. One of the techniques commonly used for the evaluation of the drug‐protein complex formation is fluorescence. This work studies the interaction of human serum albumin (HSA) with four non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (ibuprofen, flurbiprofen, naproxen, and diflunisal) by monitoring the fluorescence quenching when the drug‐albumin complex is formed. Two approaches - the double logarithm Stern‐Volmer equation and the STAR program - are used to evaluate the binding parameters. The results are analyzed considering the bind‐ ing properties, determined by using other complementary techniques and the available structural information of albumin complexes with NSAID‐related compounds. Finally, this combined analysis has been synergistically used to interpret the binding of flurbiprofen to HSA

New data concerning 'large blades' in Catalonia: Apt-Forcalquier chert in the Penedès (south of Barcelona) during the Late Neolithic - Chalcolithic

The study of large chert blades documented in funerary contexts from the Late Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age in the north-eastern part of Iberia has been addressed in recent works by the authors, in which 49 burial sites have been registered with more than 200 large chert blades. In this paper the recent data obtained from the study of seven archaeological sites located in the region of the Penedès (southwest of Barcelona) is presented. The macroscopic characterization of the knapped stone industries shows their great variety regarding the origin of the siliceous raw material, often coming from outside the analysed region. In some cases their macroscopic features link them to Apt-Forcalquier chert (Haut Provence, France), which was widely distributed in the form of large blades during these phases of Late Catalan prehistory. The absence of evidence of the chaîne opératoire production of this type of foreign chert in the lithic assemblages in Catalonia lead to the supposition that the dispersion of the blades was done as trade items, and only in a few cases were highly complex technological tools of this kind of raw material distributed (e.g., daggers). Use-wear analysis reveals that these blades were not merely luxury items in grave goods. Far from this idea, they have to be considered as functional, even multifunctional, items. All the same, it is thought that they must have had an important value because they moved from the domestic sphere to the graves. In fact, the pieces that usually remain are not small fragments, but whole or almost whole, large blades that normally remain effective

Prediction of the n‑octanol/water partition coefficients in the SAMPL6 blind challenge from MST continuum solvation calculations

The IEFPCM/MST continuum solvation model is used for the blind prediction of n-octanol/water partition of a set of 11 fragment-like small molecules within the SAMPL6 Part II Partition Coefficient Challenge. The partition coefficient of the neutral species (log P) was determined using an extended parametrization of the B3LYP/6-31G(d) version of the Miertus-Scrocco-Tomasi continuum solvation model in n-octanol. Comparison with the experimental data provided for partition coefficients yielded a root-mean square error (rmse) of 0.78 (log P units), which agrees with the accuracy reported for our method (rmse = 0.80) for nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds. Out of the 91 sets of log P values submitted by the participants, our submission is within those with an rmse < 1 and among the four best ranked physical methods. The largest errors involve three compounds: two with the largest positive deviations (SM13 and SM08), and one with the largest negative deviations (SM15). Here we report the potentiometric determination of the log P for SM13, leading to a value of 3.62 ± 0.02, which is in better agreement with most empirical predictions than the experimental value reported in SAMPL6. In addition, further inclusion of several conformations for SM08 significantly improved our results. Inclusion of these refinements led to an overall error of 0.51 (log P units), which supports the reliability of the IEFPCM/MST model for predicting the partitioning of neutral compounds

Hàbitat en cova i espai pels ramats ca.6200-6000 BP:La Cova Colomera (Prepirineu de Lleida) durant el Neolític Antic.

En aquest treball es presenten les dades referents a la Cova Colomera (Sant Esteve de la Sarga, Pallars Jussà) durant el Neolític cardial final. A partir de diferents sondejos duts a terme des de l'any 2005, s'ha pogut observar la varietat d'usos i funcionalitats del jaciment en moments potencialment sincrònics. Per una banda,una zona on predominen les estructures de caire domètic (fogars, fosses i forats de pal)que ens mostren les dades entorn a l'hàbitat al jaciment; i per altra banda, un gran sector de la cavitat dedicat a l'estabulació dels ramats amb sediments de tipus fumier i probablement també a l'emmagatzematge. Tot això succeix en unes datacions d'entre 6180 +/- 40 i 6020 +/- 510BP. Aquestes dades es contextualitzen amb les d'altres jaciments de la zona pirinenca, un àmbit que sempre ha estat definit en la bibliografia com un espai de pas entre diferents biòtops ecològics, de les plantes fèrtils a les pastures de l'estiu

Pla de Tabac I (Montoliu de Lleida), a Bronze Age settlement on the Plana de Lleida

[EN] An archaeological excavation was carried out on the sites of Pla de Tabac I due to the planned expansion of the rubble landfill site in the municipality of Montoliu de Lleida. Thirty Bronze Age structures (silos, ovens/combustion structures and possible post holes) were excavated.[CA] Amb motiu del projecte d’ampliació del Dipòsit Controlat de Terres i Runes del terme municipal de Montoliu de Lleida, es realitzà una intervenció arqueològica al jaciment del Pla de Tabac I. En aquest jaciment s’excavaren un total de 30 estructures arqueològiques (sitges, forns/estructures de combustió i possibles forats de pal), atribuïbles a un assentament del bronze antic.Peer reviewe

Nuevos datos del VI y V milenio cal BC en el llano y Prepirineo de Lleida (NE de la Península Ibérica): el Abric del Xicotó y Les Auvelles

[cat] El Abric del Xicotó y Les Auvelles son yacimientos inéditos situados en el extremo occidental de Cataluña (entre el Prepirineo y el llano). Los primeros datos disponibles indican para Xicotó un uso complejo del espacio (estructuras de combustión, agujeros de poste y fosas) du- rante una fase de cerámicas impresas no cardiales c. 5300-5000 cal BC, siguiendo una pauta similar a la de otros yacimientos de la región. Por su parte, Les Auvelles es un yacimiento al aire libre formado por estructuras negativas. En este caso, la cultura material y las dataciones radiocarbónicas indican una horquilla de ocupación c. 4400-4000 cal BC. Asimismo, las características del conjunto cerámico nos hacen pro- poner para este yacimiento, junto a otros cercanos, la posible existencia de una facies regional del Neolítico Postcardial. En conclusión, estos yacimientos proporcionan datos inéditos de notable interés para el desarrollo de los primeros grupos agroganaderos entre el VI-V milenio cal BC en una región con escasos datos recientes.[eus] Abric del Xicotó eta Les Auvelles Kataluniako mendebaldeko muturrean (Pirinioaurrearen eta lautadaren artean) dauden bi aztarnategi ezezagun dira. Eskuragarri ditugun lehen datuen arabera, Xicotón espazioaren erabilera konplexua (erreketarako egiturak, zutabeen zuloak eta hobiak) egin zuten zeramika inprimatu ez-kardialen fasean (c. 5300-5000 cal BC) eskualde hartako beste aztarnategi batzuetan topatutako antzeko gidalerroen arabera. Bestalde, Les Auvelles aire librean dagoen eta egitura negatiboek osatzen duten aztarnategia da. Kasu honetan, kultura materialak eta erradiokarbono-datazioek tarte hau erakusten dute okupazioari dagokionez: c. 4400-4000 cal BC. Bestalde, multzo zeramiko honen ezaugarriak eta gertu dauden beste batzuenak ikusita, aztarnategi honetan Kardial osteko Neolitikoko eskualdeko faziesak egon zitezkeela pentsa dezakegu. Ondorioz, aztarnategi horiek interes handiko datu ezezagunak eskaini dizkigute azkenaldian datu gutxi topatu diren eskualdean izandako nekazaritza eta abeltzaintzako lehen taldeen garapenarekin lotuta (VI-V arteko milurtekoa cal BC).[eng] Abric del Xicotó and Les Auvelles are two unpublished sites located in the western Catalonia (between the Pre-Pyrenees and the plainEbro Valley). The first available data indicate for Xicotó a complex use of space (combustion structures, post holes and pits) during a phase of non-cardial impressed potteries c. 5300-5000 cal BC, following a similar pattern to that of other sites in the region. For its part, Les Auvelles is an open-air site based by negative structures. Material culture and radiocarbon dating indicate an occupation c. 4400-4000 cal BC. Also, the characteristics of the ceramic set make us propose for this site, together with other nearby, the existence of a possible new regional facies of the Postcardial Neolithic. In conclusion, these sites provide unprecedented data of co

La Cova de l'Avi (Vallirana, Barcelona) y el inicio del Neolítico final en el Nordeste de la Península Ibérica. Inhumaciones colectivas y nuevas redes de intercambio

[spa] Entre el Neolítico medio y el Neolítico final en el Nordeste de la Península Ibérica se producen cambios destacados en las pautas funerarias y en la cultura material de los grupos humanos, especialmente en los ajuares y lugares de enterramiento. Durante el Neolítico medio-reciente son típicas las inhumaciones primarias individuales en fosas con ajuares de cuentas de variscita, sílex melado, vasos cerámicos y puntualmente obsidiana. Por el contrario, durante el Neolítico final se generalizan las inhumaciones colectivas y sucesivas en cuevas y abrigos con ajuares que se caracterizan por la gran disminución de la variscita, sustituida por una gran variedad de colgantes y cuentas en piedra, concha y hueso. Ahora también aparecen las grandes láminas y los puñales de sílex, en ocasiones de procedencia extrapeninsular. La Cova de l'Avi representa en la actualidad el yacimiento cronológicamente más antiguo (c. 4700 BP) en el que se documentan estos nuevos comportamientos funerarios. [eng]The Middle to Late Neolithic transition in NE of Iberian Peninsula is characterized by changes on the mortuary behaviour and archaeological artifacts recorded in the luxury items in grave goods and inhumations cemeteries. Single or double primary burials associated with grave goods of variscite beads, honey flint and obsidian blades during Late Middle Neolithic are replaced for collective inhumations in cave and rock-shelters with grave goods composed mainly by shell, bone and stone beads and pendants, large flint blades and flint daggers coming outside de Iberian Peninsula. Cova de l'Avi represents the earlier site (c. 4700 BP) where these cultural changes and mortuary practices have been documented in NE of Iberi