La introducció de noves tecnologies en l'àmbit agroalimentari ha revolucionat la eficiència pel que fa al sector productiu, si bé també ha tingut efectes rellevants pel que fa a la demanda, que cal analitzar amb profunditat. Aquest és el cas dels productes modificats genèticament, que solen ser productes de consum habitual, per la qual cosa han creat una important polèmica.Hi ha diferents agents del mercat que participen en aquest debat, com és el cas dels productors, els quals en poden obtenir benefici pel que fa a millores en eficiència i reducció de costos. Tanmateix, és essencial tenir en compte l'opinió dels consumidors alhora d'analitzar els límits comercials de les noves tecnologies.Per a conèixer l'opinió dels consumidors cal entendre el seu procés d'elecció i de valoració dels productes agroalimentaris, com també el seu comportament a l'hora de prendre decisions en el mercat alimentari.Aquesta tesis comença amb una extensa revisió bibliogràfica en relació a les actituds dels consumidors vers els productes modificats genèticament.Seguidament s'analitza la intenció de compra dels consumidors utilitzant experiments d'elecció. L'objectiu principal d'aquesta tesi s'ha assolit amb els subsegüents capítols on s'han analitzat els diferents elements cognitius que porten a l'individu a la intenció final de compra. La metodologia emprada ha estat principalment equacions estructurals i experiments d'elecció. S'han emprat diferents bases de dades per a poder contrastar totes les hipòtesis plantejades en l'estudi.La principal contribució d'aquesta tesi ha estat determinar quins son els elements que cal considerar per entendre el procés de decisió del consumidors vers els aliments modificats genèticament, com també determinar que existeix un clar escepticisme en la societat pel que fa a aquests productes. Les conclusions d'aquesta tesi posen en manifest la necessitat de una millor estratègia de comunicació que permeti als consumidors una percepció de millor i major qualitat d'informació en relació a aquests productes. / The introduction of new technologies in food production not only has revolutioned its productive efficiency but has exerted important demand side effects that cannot be dismissed and require careful analysis. This is especially the case of genetically modified (GM) food, typical daily consumed products (e.g. GM milk, tomato, maize, etc) given its considerable interest and worldwide public controversy. Several stakeholders are place, on the one hand, farmers and manufactures perceive potential benefits from efficiency improvements as well as costs, mainly resulting from the need to reimburse intellectual property rights for new foods. From a demand side, GM food brings new products in the food chain and ultimately fulfils to an extent a latent consumer's preference for diversity. Hence, in order to determine the limits of technology dissemination and transfer it becomes a key issue to examine and disentangle which demand side factors stand behind technology acceptance. This calls for a better understanding of consumer choice, its valuation and the behavioural decision making process.The valuation of a new technology good implies the provision of information from several sources - public and private, formal and informal, etc - while conditioning on the credibility and trustworthiness of each relevant information source. Given the information available, a further issue concerns attitude expression and formation, which ultimately leads to the final question regarding product valuation and consumer preference. Interestingly, attitude formation for the case of new food generations is found to be explained by a combination of risk and benefit perceptions, based on different elements such as a general attitude towards science, knowledge, trust, education and values, among others.This thesis begins with an extensive review of the literature on attitudes towards GM agro-food products- chapter 2- by means of a literature review. Next it conducts a study on consumers' final intentions towards agro - food products, entailing the application of choice experiments - chapter 3. moreover, the main core of this dissertation is aiming at examining what gives rise to the final choice (chapters 4 to 6). The methodologically employed relies on structural equation modelling, although in each chapter different databases have been used. The relative strengths of each database allow us taking into account the information required to test specific hypotheses. Finally, some conclusions are drawn in chapter 7 which summarises the main findings of each chapter and put them in context of the main discussion questions examined in this thesis.The main contribution of this thesis has been to point out a set of features that condition choice, intentions and revealed purchase intentions regarding GM food. Our wok is innovative in that: 1) it contains an innovative literature review; 2) develops choice modelling of scenarios that includes, apart from methodological features, the choice between GM processed and organic food; and 3) unlike most of behavioural analysis it exploits using structural equation modelling, several theoretical structures that explain decision making and, particularly, the role of broader attitudes towards science and technology in influencing purchase intentions alongside the effect of both risks attitudes and risk perceptions in determining consumer acceptance.The sequence and findings of the thesis can be summarized as follows: drawing from an exhaustive review of published finding regarding public intentions towards GM food we conclude that there is consumer's scepticism explaining a negative valuation towards GM food. However, the most important outcome has been to find that final purchasing intention is the result of a complex decision process which only has been partially explained in the literature. Therefore, upon the definition of a general theoretical model this thesis has tried to explain in the different chapters some specific issues of such model as well as to validate it in a croos - country exercise in the last chapter. Results from this study rises a key policy implication: the need of a well defined communication stralegy to provide information in such a way that allows individuals to feel adequately informed.

We refer to Barcelona as a maritime city, but we ignore almost everything about the cultural foundations of this view. Ignorance is much greater as we approach the last two centuries. The main objective of this thesis is to review some of the events of recent maritime history to provide food for thought. In my opinion there is nothing worse than a culture based on false myths. Misconceptions that are often provoked by ignorance. Contemporary maritime history of Barcelona is a wasteland. The only exception is the study of economic history undertaken by Pierre Vilar. Should also clarify that the term "maritime history" encompasses many aspects, no systematic to date, which could be grouped into three areas: scientific, technical and human. Few studies have attempted to establish connections between them. Talk in global terms about "maritime" was one of the objectives of my thesis. But I will not hide that, whenever I could, I tried to prioritize the human aspect. The method I tried to follow consisted in establish a central element and supporting other aspects about it that I thought were important and affordable. The core of the thesis is a biography of José Ricart (paragraph 4), a key figure in recent maritime history. Other aspects are: science illustration (section 1), a review of various aspects of maritime life in Barcelona (paragraph 2), a reflection on the implementation of industrial technology in ships (paragraph 3) and a detailed analisys of the events that took place during the thirties of last century (Section 5). A significant element of this work is the story of the Nautical School which doesn¿t hace an specific section, but takes part in all of them. Conclusions refer to four aspects. First, we discuss the "maritime dimension" of Barcelona. The capital of the region more like a ¿riverside¿ city. I have also worked to highlight the hard work at sea and to highlight the many myth-making that have been made. In this regard, much work remains to be done. The Nautical School of Barcelona is presented as the midship section of the local and national maritime culture. Finally, it discusses the historical importance of José Ricart and denounce attempts to fall again in the myth. The chronicle of Franco's repression on merchant marine¿s republicans from Barcelona seems fair to me, because of the silence that has prevailed on this issue so far. This, and the fate of those who chose to join the Republican Naval Reserve, are lines of work I would like to continue in the future. In general, it should be noted that the idea raises many questions and points out the need to open new lines of research. Refering to the sources, I believe that, except in the first paragraph which have more secondary sources, the thesis is based on primary sources. In the case of Jose Ricart, monitoring of their work has been very time consuming because of the predominance of articles and short essays, as well as the diversity of platforms on which them were published. I have separated his referentes to the rest in the bibliography.

El qüestionament constant al que s'ha sotmès l'Estat del Benestar arreu del món, des de les diferents postures polítiques, socials i econòmiques, ha provocat una crisi de desconfiança ideològica entre les forces polítiques que governen el món en l'actualitat. Així als EUA, per exemple, adduint la permanent contradicció entre drets socials i llibertat individual, els neoconservadors han abandonat, a la pràctica, el principi de garantir un nivell de vida mínim entès com a dret social. D'aquesta manera el Senat i el Congrés, amb majoria republicana, han proposat reduir els fons per a l'assistència sanitària dels vells, els nens i les dones embarassades. També han sofert conseqüències similars els medicaments dels pobres i dels aturats, i els programes d'higiene i salut laboral dels treballadors. Per contra, mentre s'han reduït aquestes despeses socials han augmentat substancialment les despeses militars.Un altre fet rellevant i a tenir en compte és la incitació permanent a la divisió de la classe treballadora que ha anat perdent la seva capacitat adquisitiva. L'acusació més freqüent que s´ha fet és que els únics beneficiaris de les prestacions socials que fa l'Estat són, fins ara, els negres, hispans o altres grups minoritaris. Això ha motivat l'aparició de forts components de xenofòbia ja que, en darrer terme, la culpa s'imputa a la mateixa classe a la qual s'ha considerat incapaç d'elevar el seu propi nivell de vida (Navarro, 1995)1 . Les concepcions d'aquest pensament liberal, que considera l'Estat del Benestar com una causa important de la lentitud del creixement econòmic i de l'augment de l'atur, s'exporten al món occidental durant els anys vuitanta i noranta.Aquest plantejament ha provocat que les societats desenvolupades atribueixin a la despesa "desproporcionada" inherent a l'Estat del Benestar la seva problemàtica econòmica. El major creixement econòmic i menor atur als EUA respecte els països de la Unió Europea, s'han atribuït, per exemple, al fet que als estats americans hi ha una menor protecció social. Així, diversos governs europeus estan seguint polítiques de debilitament de l'Estat del Benestar, cosa que comporta un cost social elevat per als sectors populars i urbans. / El cuestionamiento constante al que se ha sometido el Estado del Bienestar arreo del mundo, desde las diferentes posturas políticas, sociales y económicas, ha provocado una crisis de desconfianza ideológica entre las fuerzas políticas que gobiernan el mundo en la actualidad. Así en los EUA, por ejemplo, aduciendo la permanente contradicción entre derechos sociales y libertad individual, los neoconservadores han abandonado, a la práctica, el principio de garantizar un nivel de vida mínimo entendido como derecho social. De esta manera el Senado y el Congreso, con mayoría republicana, han propuesto reducir los fondos para la asistencia sanitaria de los viejos, los niños y las mujeres embarazadas. También han sufrido consecuencias similares los medicamentos de los pobres y de los desempleados, y los programas de higiene y salud laboral de los trabajadores. Por el contrario, mientras se han reducido estas gastos sociales han aumentado sustancialmentesubstancialmente los gastos militares.Otro hecho relevante y a tener en cuenta es la incitación permanente a la división de la clase trabajadora que ha ido perdiendo su capacidad adquisitiva. La acusación más frecuente que se ha hecho es que los únicos beneficiarios de las prestaciones sociales que hace el Estado son, hasta ahora, los negros, hispanos o otros grupos minoritarios. Esto ha motivado la aparición de fuertes componentes de xenofobia puesto que, en último término, la culpa se imputa a la misma clase a la cual se ha considerado incapaz de elevar su propio nivel de vida (Navarro, 1995)1 . Las concepciones de este pensamiento liberal, que considera el Estado del Bienestar como una causa importante de la lentitud del crecimiento económico y del aumento del paro, se exportan al mundo occidental durante los años ochenta y noventa.Este planteamiento ha provocado que las sociedades desarrolladas atribuyan al gasto "desproporcionada" inherente al Estado del Bienestar su problemática económica. El mayor crecimiento económico y menor paro a los EUA respeto los países de la Unión Europea, se han atribuido, por ejemplo, al hecho que a los estados americanos hay una menor protección social. Así, varios gobiernos europeos están siguiendo políticas de debilitamiento del Estado del Bienestar, cosa que comporta uno coste social elevado para los sectores populares y urbanos.

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This thesis presents "Eurythmy as visible speech", the art of movement which was developed by Rudolf Steiner (1863-1925), as a tool which can enable architects to recognize and create architectural forms from the sources of all possible forms: formative forces that can be found in speech sounds, consonants and vowels of human languages. In 1912 R. Steiner began to develop the art of Eurythmy from its original ancient Grecian roots of movement in space. Simultaneously and related to Eurythmy, R. Steiner created the first Goetheanum, a building for talks and presentations of performing arts. This building burnt down in 1921. A year later he modelled the forms of a second Goetheanum. The relation of R. Steiner's artistic intention to artists and thinkers, is looked up through the development of observation. Among the examples of the modern movement is analysed the observation based in poetry of the group of architects "Amereida", Chile.Observation is fundamental in the artistic process, today is recognized as a common patrimony. Considering Eurythmy as a tool for observation and creation, the formal expression of the gestures of speech appears. Therefore time is introduced into space, process is introduced, the becoming of forms, the moving form of the speech sounds through the human body become architectural forms. To make this visually understandable, buildings are analysed from the point of view Resume of the thesis: "Towards a spiritualization of matter through architecture" This thesis presents "Eurythmy as visible speech", the art of movement which was developed by Rudolf Steiner (1863-1925), as a tool which can enable architects to recognize and create architectural forms from the sources of all possible forms: formative forces that can be found in speech sounds, consonants and vowels of human languages. In 1912 R. Steiner began to develop the art of Eurythmy from its original ancient Grecian roots of movement in space. Simultaneously and related to Eurythmy, R. Steiner created the first Goetheanum, a building for talks and presentations of performing arts. This building burnt down in 1921. A year later he modelled the forms of a second Goetheanum. The relation of R. Steiner's artistic intention to artists and thinkers, is looked up through the development of observation. Among the examples of the modern movement is analysed the observation based in poetry of the group of architects "Amereida", Chile.Observation is fundamental in the artistic process, today is recognized as a common patrimony. Considering Eurythmy as a tool for observation and creation, the formal expression of the gestures of speech appears. Therefore time is introduced into space, process is introduced, the becoming of forms, the moving form of the speech sounds through the human body become architectural forms. To make this visually understandable, buildings are analysed from the point of view of the sounds of speech. The form tendencies that can be observed in Eurythmy and architecture can also be found in forms of sculpture, painting, scientific experiment with substances in movement, as well as in manifestations of nature: in water, minerals, plants, clouds, animals, man, etc. which are illustrated with examples; for instance the archetypal form of the sound K can be seen in the crystallization of certain minerals, etc.The possibility of observation and creation out of what is process, is related to capacities that the artist himself can develop. In this sense the basis of Eurythmy is also the basis of Anthroposophy, which is a modern way of opening and expanding human capacities for perception and creation, based on R. Steiner's discovery of the Goetheanistic observation which asks the observer to be able to unite his own life forces with the observed object, to become one with the observed object, in order to be able to experience and recognize the forces from which it has been formed. R. Steiner developed the movements and gestures of Eurythmy from the observation of speech process, Goethe create his theory on the metamorphosis of the plant, and his Faust observing processes.This way of observation is vital for a modern experience of the world, includes the time and the invisible life sources from which all things become visible. Goethe observes the spirit concretely in what he has in front. This is new: the spirit is no more a matter of faith, abstract and far away but something concrete. After have described the formal tendencies of the sounds of speech according to the results from R. Steiner's research, are presented models as possible formal results of this specific dialog between word and form. The application of Eurythmy as a tool in architecture is an expansion of consciousness in the realm of the perception of form, and its possible effects on the development of the human beings that produce and live it.

Abordamos los desencuentros comunicativos y las percepciones de un grupo de inmigrantes sobre la sociedad en la que viven, sobre sus miembros, sus culturas y sus lenguas. Con una perspectiva interdisciplinar y cualitativa, combinando técnicas de la etnografía y del análisis del discurso, analizamos, por un lado, el discurso de tres pakistaníes y su posicionamiento respecto a sus experiencias con los autóctonos en Barcelona y, por otro, las estrategias lingüísticas y sociales que se ponen en juego en los conflictos conversacionales en una lengua extranjera. Los resultados muestran que: 1) el aprendizaje y el uso de una lengua están condicionados por las percepciones sobre la comunidad autóctona y la propia comunidad, que se forman por las experiencias previas y las expectativas de futuro, y 2) los desencuentros dependen de múltiples factores (dominio lingüístico, creencias, expectativas) y en ellos se pueden detectar los posicionamientos y actitudes lingüísticas, ideológicas y sociales respecto de otras personas, hechos o situaciones. / This thesis examines instances of a group of immigrants’ communication problems and their perceptions of the society they live in, its members, its culture and its language. Through an interdisciplinary and qualitative approach, and by combining different methods from ethnography and discourse analysis, we analyze two different issues. Firstly, the discourse of three Pakistani immigrants and their reflections on their experiences with Spanish and Catalan native speakers in Barcelona and, secondly, the social and linguistic strategies that are used during conflict talk in a foreign language. Results show that: 1) language learning and language use are determined by the learners’ stance on both the local native community and their own one, which in turn is based upon previous experiences and future expectations and 2) problematic talk stems from a multiplicity of factors (linguistic competence, beliefs, expectations) and it can reveal not only perceptions, but also linguistic, ideological and social attitudes with respect to other people, facts or events.

La tesis doctoral "LA URBANIZACIÓN DE GRANDES EJES METROPOLITANOS, un proyecto de ordenación para la ciudad de baja densidad, Guadalajara, México" de María Elena de la Torre pone el énfasis en el soporte viario como elemento estructural del modelo de crecimiento en baja densidad. Se reconoce su riqueza proyectual y propositiva como elemento estratégico para la urbanización, la ordenación y significación de los territorios de la baja densidad. Esta tesis se estructura desde dos lecturas: una es un marco teórico en el que se reconoce, a lo largo de la historia, el potencial ordenador de las infraestructuras y el impacto que produce el proyecto de renovación del sistema viario sobre la ciudad. Por otro lado se realiza un análisis general de una ciudad de baja densidad y su clasificación en dos modelos de interpretación: el de los "sectores ecológicos" y la estructura morfológica. En el proceso de evolución y transformación se reconoce como valor explicativo fundamental la función de la infraestructura en la difusión del acceso al territorio. Se reconoce la fuerza del soporte infraestructural en la forma de organizar y transformar el espacio urbano. El proyecto de urbanización de grandes ejes se plantea desde dos perspectivas: una es como la renovación de estos elementos en sí mismos de acuerdo con sus atributos. El espacio urbano puede mejorarse considerablemente a través de la definición de sus fachadas urbanas, de la configuración del espacio público, a través de organizar la movilidad y resolver las intersecciones en nodos y cruces. La otra perspectiva es la ordenación de la escala metropolitana; estos elementos aseguran la conectividad interescalar por tanto presentan el potencial para ordenar el crecimiento expansivo y controlar la densificación en el interior de la ciudad.Por otro lado la intervención en estos espacios se plantea desde la perspectiva de proyectos urbanos integrales. Se han reconocido áreas con valor de centralidad; los grandes ejes se convierten por tanto en los canales de articulación de puntos neurálgicos de la ciudad central. Por último, el proyecto de urbanización de grandes ejes metropolitanos se presenta como una apuesta por la renovación y revalorización del sector central de un territorio metropolitano que presenta una fuerte dinámica de crecimiento. Los grandes ejes son piezas clave como organizadores de la movilidad de un sector con valor jerárquico en relación al territorio. Permiten poner en relación el sistema viario primario y secundario y garantizar la accesibilidad a las distintas áreas urbanas, su renovación presenta un impacto sobre una gran extensión de la ciudad.La tesis se estructura en tres apartados. La primera parte es la elaboración del marco teórico que se construye a partir de un repaso histórico y de los proyectos de transformación de grandes ejes en diferentes contextos. En la segunda parte, se hace una descripción del caso de estudio desde los diferentes procesos y formas que han producido el crecimiento horizontal de baja densidad. Y la tercera parte consiste en una metodología analítica en clave proyectual de la estructura morfológica de los grandes ejes del caso del estudio. Y a manera de conclusión se plantean los criterios para el proyecto de transformación de los grandes ejes en la ciudad de baja densidad. En el campo disciplinar esta tesis propone una reflexión en clave proyectual para la intervención en territorios de la baja densidad con una predominancia en el soporte infraestructural que ha dejado de lado la urbanización de la ciudad que articula.