Manuel Rocamora i Isabel Llorach, promotors culturals en el centenari del Romanticisme

Durant l’any 1930 se celebraren una sèrie d’esdeveniments culturals a Barcelona amb l’objectiu de commemorar el Centenari del Romanticisme. Un d’ells va ser la festa alsjardins del Laberint d’Horta el dia 3 de juny, organitzada per una comissió formada per Manuel Rocamora i Isabel Llorach, ambdós destacats membres de l’alta burgesia barcelonina. Aquesta celebració, de gran èxit i ressò social, recreà l’època romàntica gràcies a figurants vestits d’època i diversos balls, dins d’un entorn privat i exclusiu.Resumen: Manuel Rocamora e Isabel Llorach, promotores culturales en el centenario del Romanticismo. Durante el año 1930 se celebraron en Barcelona una serie de eventos culturales con el objetivo de conmemorar el centenario del Romanticismo. Uno de ellos fue la fiesta en los jardines del Laberinto de Horta el día 3 de junio, organizada por una comisión formada por Manuel Rocamora e Isabel Llorach, ambos destacados miembros de la alta burguesía barcelonesa. Esta celebración, de gran éxito y eco social, recreó la época romántica gracias a figurantes vestidos de época y a diversos bailes, dentro de un entorno privado y exclusivo.Abstract: Manuel Rocamora and Isabel Llorach, cultural promoters in the centenary of Romanticism. During the year 1930, several cultural events took place in Barcelona to  commemorate the centenary of Romanticism. One of them was the party held in the gardens of the Laberint d’Horta on 3rd June of the same year, organized by a committee composed ofManuel Rocamora and Isabel Llorach, both of them prominent members of Barcelona’s high bourgeoisie. The party, highly successful and with a strong social impact, recreated the romantic period, thanks to the period dress of the guests and their various dances, all in a private and exclusive environment

Vivències, sensacions i percepcions després d’una ruptura amorosa. Aproximació a les concepcions de les dones madures respecte als seus cossos, la seva sexualitat i la reconstrucció d’una nova vida sentimental.

Treballs Finals del Grau de Sociologia, Facultat d'Economia i Empresa, Universitat de Barcelona, Curs: 2016-2017 , Tutor: Clara Camps(cat) Aquesta recerca pretén analitzar les percepcions i sensacions que senten les dones d’entre 45 a 55 anys, després d’haver viscut una ruptura amorosa. S’analitza, doncs, la reconstrucció de la vida amorosa, les percepcions sobre el seu cos i la relació que s’estableix amb la pròpia sexualitat. Es tracta de donar veu a un col·lectiu silenciat i una temàtica que des de la literatura científica no se li ha parat molta atenció. A la vegada, que es presenta de gran interès tractar temàtiques micro-socials, de caràcter quotidià en l’àmbit de la sociologia. Per dur a terme la recerca s’ha utilitzat dues tècniques d’investigació de caràcter qualitatiu que han permès recollir la informació adient - l’entrevista i el grup de discussió. Del seu anàlisi se n’ha extret, que la ruptura amorosa suposa un moment dolorós, però alhora un espai de descoberta per una mateixa. Es visualitza, també, efectes de la ruptura amorosa com és la inseguretat a l’hora de reconstruir la vida sentimental. Així com, la recerca expressa que l’heteronormativitat sexual viscuda i l’intent d’assolir l’ideal de bellesa hegemònic condiciona enormement com han viscut aquestes dones la ruptura amorosa.(eng) This research aims to analyse the perceptions and sensations felt by woman from 45 of 55 years old, having lived a romantic break. We analysed the reconstruction of the love life and perceptions about her body and the relationships with their own sexuality. It is about giving voice to a group silenced throughout and a theme that from the scientific literature has not received much attention. At the same time, it is of great interest dealing with micro-social issues of daily character. Two qualitative research techniques to collect have been used gather the adequate information: interview and discussion group. Of their analysis has been extracted that a romantic break represents a painful moment but also a place of discovery for yourself. Is also visualized the effect of the rupture as is the insecurity when it comes to rebuilding sentimental life. As well as research expresses that sexual heteronormativity and the attempt of assuming the ideal of hegemonic beauty affects how these women live a romantic break

Decomposing differences in total factor productivity across firm size

This paper investigates the extent to which the gap in total factor productivity between small and large firms is due to differences in the endowment of factors determining productivity and to the returns associated with these factors. We place particular emphasis on the contribution of differences in the propensity to innovate and in the use of skilled labor across firms of different size. Empirical evidence from a representative sample of Spanish manufacturing firms corroborates that both differences in endowments and returns to innovation and skilled labor significantly contribute to the productivity gap between small and large firms. In addition, it is observed that the contribution of innovation to this gap is caused only by differences in quantity, while differences in returns have no effect; in the case of human capital, however, most of the effect can be attributed to increasing differences in returns between small and large firms.Total Factor Productivity; skilled labor; innovation; firm size; Oaxaca decomposition

Do innovation and human capital explain the productivity gap between small and large firms?

Empirical evidence is compelling that large firms are more productive than small firms. The hypothesis in this paper is that the productivity differences between small and large firms are associated with two of the main determinants of a firm’s performance: the human and technological capital that firms incorporate. We suggest that the contribution of these factors in explaining the size of the productivity gap might not only be due to the fact that large firms make a more extensive use of them, but also because large firms obtain higher returns from their investment in human and technological capital. The evidence we obtain for a comprehensive sample of Spanish manufacturing firms (1990-2002) supports this hypothesis, which has important implications for the effectiveness of policies designed to improve productivity in SMEs by stimulating innovation and the use of more skilled workers.total factor productivity; innovation; skilled labour; firm size.

DIFFERENCES IN TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY ACROSS FIRM SIZE - A DISTRIBUTIONAL ANALYSIS

Productivity has been considered a key element for firms and economies to be more competitive. Several studies on productivity at a microeconomic level have found notable heterogeneity between firms. More concretely, differences in Total Factor Productivity (TFP) between large and small firms have been observed. Those differences might be caused by differences in the distribution of the factors determining the level of TFP across firms’ size, and by differences in the return to such factors. To assess to what extent the observed differences in TFP between large and small Spanish manufacturing firms are caused by the above-mentioned reasons we propose a methodology that, built on the traditional Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition, focuses the attention on the entire distribution of productivity. The TFP index used in our paper guarantees comparison of the level of productivity across firms in a given year and over time, and has been computed using the information in the Encuesta sobre Estrategias Empresariales (ESEE), a comprehensive survey of manufacturing firms in Spain from 1990 to 1999. Results confirm that the distribution of TFP in the large firms dominates that for the small firms, and how besides differences in the distribution of, for example, human capital and R&D expenditures across firms’ size, heterogeneity in returns between large and small firms play a major role in explaining differences in the distribution of TFP. Important policy issue are derived in connection with the possibility of increasing the aggregate productivity of the Spanish economy considering that the average firm size in Spain is smaller than in other European countries.

Decomposing differences in total factor productivity across firm size.

This paper investigates the extent to which the gap in total factor productivity between small and large firms is due to differences in the endowment of factors determining productivity and to the returns associated with these factors. We place particular emphasis on the contribution of differences in the propensity to innovate and in the use of skilled labor across firms of different size. Empirical evidence from a representative sample of Spanish manufacturing firms corroborates that both differences in endowments and returns to innovation and skilled labor significantly contribute to the productivity gap between small and large firms. In addition, it is observed that the contribution of innovation to this gap is caused only by differences in quantity, while differences in returns have no effect; in the case of human capital, however, most of the effect can be attributed to increasing differences in returns between small and large firms.Total Factor Productivity, skilled labor, innovation, firm size, Oaxaca decomposition

A community electrification project: combination of microgrids and household systems fed by wind, PV or micro-hydro energies according to micro-scale resource evaluation and social constraints

When electrifying isolated rural communities, usually standardized solutions have been implemented using the same technology at all the points. However these solutions are not always appropriate to the community and its population. This article aims to describe the technical design of the electrification system of the community of Alto Peru (in the region of Cajamarca, Peru), where the adequate technology was used at each area according to micro-scale resource evaluation and the socioeconomic requirements of the population. Specifically four technologies were implemented: wind microgrids in highlands, a micro-hydro power plant in the presence of a waterfall, a PV microgrid in a group of points sheltered from the wind and individual PV systems in scattered points with low wind potential. This project brought electricity to 58 households, a health center, a school, a church, two restaurants and two shops.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author’s final draft

Impacto de la Educación Musical : una revisión de la literatura científica

Este artículo estudia el impacto de la educación musical cursada en las enseñanzas obligatorias a partir de una revisión de la literatura académica existente. La búsqueda en bases de datos especializadas proporcionó un total de 25 artículos publicados durante el periodo 2005 - 2016. Tras analizarlos se establecieron dos categorías de impacto: DENTRO, en relación con la propia disciplina y FUERA, con implicaciones más allá de la disciplina. Buena parte de las publicaciones analizadas contemplaron el impacto de acuerdo con temáticas que sobrepasan lo que es estrictamente la educación musical obligatoria abarcando aspectos personales, intelectuales y/o sociales. En consecuencia, se presenta una conceptualización de impacto en educación musical que va más allá de los aspectos mensurables asociados a las políticas educativas de reforma.This paper examines the impact of school music education through an academic literature review. The search in specialized databases provided a total of 25 papers published during 2005 - 2016. The analysis revealed two categories in relation to impact: IN, that included those issues within the discipline, and OUT, with implications beyond it. Many of the analysed publications considered the impact based on topics that go beyond what strictly school music education is, including personal, intellectual and/or social aspects. This study presents a conceptualization of impact on music education that surpasses the measurable aspects associated with educational policy reforms

Projecte de canvi d'ús d'un molí fariner a allotjament rural situat a Montoro de Mezquita (Teruel)

La propera obra és l'estudi d’un Molí Fariner situat a Montoro de Mezquita, un antic poblet al costat de la riu Guadalope, que a partir de l’any 1970 es va veure obligat a dependre directament pel municipi de Villarluengo. L’obra es basa en l’estudi històric, constructiu i l’aixecament gràfic de l'estat actual de Montoro de Mezquita així com la proposta de canvi d'ús per adaptar el Molí Fariner en allotjament rural, en particular en apartaments rurals. La proposta de canvi d'ús manté l'estil arquitectònic ja que és tracta d’una àrea protegida pel seu entorn natural, arquitectònic i valor paisatgístic. Actualment consta de tres plantes (PB + P2) 423, 20m2 construït i 2.500 m2 d'urbanització. La construcció en general es troba en mal estat ja que al estat deshabilitada durant anys s’ha deixat deteriorar per l’ambient. Però tot i així l'estabilitat de l'edifici no corre cap perill en el moment. En el canvi d'ús proposat, ha estat un estudi sobre les possibles distribucions tenint en compte sempre circulacions, l'orientació, per aconseguir la millor proposta. Consta d'un allotjament rural dotat de 5 apartaments d’un dormitori i una zona comú destinada a sala de jocs. La proposta de canvi d'ús apunta principalment a l'estudi de l'interior de la casa, distribucions, instal·lacions, elecció de materials i acabats, però també s’ha ordenat i tractat el seu espai exterior creant una piscina, un parc infantil i un zona d'aparcament. Aquesta proposta, ha tingut en compte la rehabilitació de l'edifici i els seus voltants, els seus sistemes de manteniment i nous requeriments creats per a la proposta d'ús, tenint com a guia amb l'actual Normativa d'aplicació i necessitats particulars del Codi Tècnic d'Edificació, així com tota la normativa que fa referència a Teruel i el Municipi de Villarluengo. En quan a criteris ambientals s’ha tingut en compte la instal·lació de panells solars i dipòsits d'aigua per a estalvi i eficiència d'energi

Including management and security of supply constraints for designing stand-alone electrification systems in developing countries

Hybrid wind-photovoltaic stand-alone systems have proven to be suitable to electrify isolated communities autonomously. Moreover, the use of a combination of microgrids and individual systems has been demonstrated to be very adequate. There are a few tools to assist their design but they only consider economical and technical characteristics. However, the management of the system and the security of supply, both at a community level, are key aspects to design appropriate electrification systems for end-users, thus ensuring projects' long-term sustainability, especially in rural areas of developing countries. In this context, this paper develops a mathematical model to optimise the design of wind-photovoltaic projects combining microgrids and individual systems, and including the aforesaid key issues as constraints. Thus, the aim is to minimise the cost while meeting the technical but also the management and the security of supply constraints. Finally a validation is carried out in the real community of Alto Peru (Peru), proving that the two studied aspects allow obtaining electrification solutions with some benefits that strongly compensate the obtained slight cost increases.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author’s final draft