Lights and shadows : the implementation of artificial lighting in architecture

Aquest projecte pretén establir unes guies per millorar la il·luminació artificial en l'arquitectura, ja que normalment és emprada com un conjunt d'elements lumínics estudiats en termes quantitatius, i no qualitatius. En conseqüència, sense tenir en compte la nostra arquitectura, per tant, aquest estudi vol establir unes estratègies per millorar la il·luminació artificial en l'arquitectura actual.Este proyecto pretende establecer unas guías para mejorar la iluminación artificial en la arquitectura, puesto que normalmente es empleada como un conjunto de elementos lumínicos estudiados en términos cuantitativos, y no cualitativos. En consecuencia, sin tener en cuenta nuestra arquitectura, por lo tanto, este estudio quiere establecer unas estrategias para mejorar la iluminación artificial en la arquitectura actual.This project aims to establish guidelines to improve artificial lighting in architecture since it is usually used as a group of lighting elements studied in quantitative terms, not qualitative. Therefore, this project focuses to design strategies to improve artificial lighting in architecture today

RVOS: end-to-end recurrent network for video object segmentation

Multiple object video object segmentation is a challenging task, specially for the zero-shot case, when no object mask is given at the initial frame and the model has to find the objects to be segmented along the sequence. In our work, we propose a Recurrent network for multiple object Video Object Segmentation (RVOS) that is fully end-to-end trainable. Our model incorporates recurrence on two different domains: (i) the spatial, which allows to discover the different object instances within a frame, and (ii) the temporal, which allows to keep the coherence of the segmented objects along time. We train RVOS for zero-shot video object segmentation and are the first ones to report quantitative results for DAVIS-2017 and YouTube-VOS benchmarks. Further, we adapt RVOS for one-shot video object segmentation by using the masks obtained in previous time steps as inputs to be processed by the recurrent module. Our model reaches comparable results to state-of-the-art techniques in YouTube-VOS benchmark and outperforms all previous video object segmentation methods not using online learning in the DAVIS-2017 benchmark. Moreover, our model achieves faster inference runtimes than previous methods, reaching 44ms/frame on a P100 GPU.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Anàlisi i disseny d'una aplicació web per a un banc del temps

Els bancs del temps són eines que permeten l'intercanvi de serveis entre persones d'una mateixa localització geogràfica. El tret més característic és que aquest serveis s'intercanvien sense utilitzar diners, agafant el temps propi d'una persona com a moneda de canvi. Es poden intercanviar tot tipus de serveis: passejar gossos, fer companyia a persones majors, classes de repàs, assessorament informàtic, etc. Aquest projecte proposa la creació d'un portal web que permeti i gestioni el funcionament d'un banc del temps, tant a nivell d'usuari com a nivell d'administració.Los bancos del tiempo son herramientas que permiten el intercambio de servicios entre personas de una misma localización geográfica. La característica más importante es que los servicios se intercambian sin utilizar dinero, usando el tiempo propio de una persona como moneda de cambio. Se pueden intercambiar todo tipo de servicios: pasear perros, hacer compañía a personas mayores, clases de repaso, asesoramiento informático, etc. Este proyecto propone la creación de un portal web que permita y gestione el funcionamiento de un banco del tiempo, tanto a nivel usuario como a nivel de administración.Time banks are tools that allow the exchange of services between people from the same geographic location. The most important feature is that services are exchanged without using money, using own time as money. You can share all types of services: dog walking, elderly company, reinforcement classes, computer consulting, etc. This project proposes the creation of a web portal that allows and manage the operation of a time bank, both user and administration level

El barranco de Portainé (Pirineo central): un laboratorio in situ completo para el estudio de la actividad torrencial

Entre 2006 y 2015, el barranco de Portainé y su afluente, el barranco de Reguerals (comarca del Pallars Sobirà, Pirineos de Lleida), han presentado una intensa actividad torrencial. Durante este periodo se han producido diez avenidas, nueve de las cuales han provocado daños importantes en la carretera de acceso a las pistas de esquí de Port Ainé e importantes pérdidas económicas asociadas no sólo a la reparación de las infraestructuras, sino también a la interrupción de la actividad turística después de cada episodio y a las inversiones realizadas para proteger la zona, como la instalación de barreras dinámicas para la retención de sedimentos. En este artículo se presenta una síntesis de los trabajos realizados desde dos ópticas diferentes, el de la gestión del territorio, al ser la estación de esquí uno de los motores socioeconómicos de la zona, y el científico, dado su interés para el estudio de la dinámica torrencial.Postprint (published version

RVOS: end-to-end recurrent network for video object segmentation

Multiple object video object segmentation is a challenging task, specially for the zero-shot case, when no object mask is given at the initial frame and the model has to find the objects to be segmented along the sequence. In our work, we propose a Recurrent network for multiple object Video Object Segmentation (RVOS) that is fully end-to-end trainable. Our model incorporates recurrence on two different domains: (i) the spatial, which allows to discover the different object instances within a frame, and (ii) the temporal, which allows to keep the coherence of the segmented objects along time. We train RVOS for zero-shot video object segmentation and are the first ones to report quantitative results for DAVIS-2017 and YouTube-VOS benchmarks. Further, we adapt RVOS for one-shot video object segmentation by using the masks obtained in previous time steps as inputs to be processed by the recurrent module. Our model reaches comparable results to state-of-the-art techniques in YouTube-VOS benchmark and outperforms all previous video object segmentation methods not using online learning in the DAVIS-2017 benchmark. Moreover, our model achieves faster inference runtimes than previous methods, reaching 44ms/frame on a P100 GPU.This research was supported by the Spanish Ministry ofEconomy and Competitiveness and the European RegionalDevelopment Fund (TIN2015-66951-C2-2-R, TIN2015-65316-P & TEC2016-75976-R), the BSC-CNS SeveroOchoa SEV-2015-0493 and LaCaixa-Severo Ochoa Inter-national Doctoral Fellowship programs, the 2017 SGR 1414and the Industrial Doctorates 2017-DI-064 & 2017-DI-028from the Government of CataloniaPeer ReviewedPostprint (published version

DA GERAÇÃO X À GERAÇÃO @. ASPECTOS TRANSICIONAIS E IDENTIDADES JUVENIS NA AMÉRICA LATINA

This article discusses the existence of a generation @ in Latin America. From five cases of American —Indian youth, migrants, penguins, generation 2.0 and trendsetters—, problematize the notion of generation in the sociopolitical and cultural contexts of the region. We identify some transitional features of generation X to generation @ from Latin American youth identities joints or palimpsests evoke in their own subjectivities of actors from politics, consumption, unequal incorporation of technology, migration and neo rurality give an idea of generational Latin American peculiarities.En este artículo se discute la existencia de una generación @ en América Latina. A partir de cinco casos de jóvenes latinoamericanos —indios, migrantes, pingüinos, generación 2.0 y trendsetters—, problematizamos la noción misma de generación en los contextos sociopolíticos y culturales de la región. Identificamos algunos rasgos transicionales de la llamada generación X a la generación @ a partir de las identidades juveniles latinoamericanas que evocan empalmes o palimpsestos en las propias subjetividades de los actores que desde la política, el consumo, la desigual incorporación tecnológica, la migración y la neorruralidad dibujan las peculiaridades generacionales latinoamericanas.Este artigo discute a existência de uma Geração @ na América Latina. A partir de cinco categorias de jovens latino-americanos —índios, migrantes, pinguins, geração 2.0 e os trendsetters— problematizamos a própria noção de geração nos contextos sociopolíticos e culturais da região. Identificamos algumas características de transição da chamada geração X para a geração @, a partir das identidades juvenis latino-americanas que evocam articulações ou reciclagens nas próprias subjetividades dos atores, os quais, a partir da política, o consumo, o acesso desigual à tecnologia, a migração e a neoruralidade, estabelecem as peculiaridades geracionais da América Latina

Imaging of skull vault tumors in adults

The skull vault, formed by the flat bones of the skull, has a limited spectrum of disease that lies between the fields of neuro- and musculoskeletal radiology. Its unique abnormalities, as well as other ubiquitous ones, present particular features in this location. Moreover, some benign entities in this region may mimic malignancy if analyzed using classical bone-tumor criteria, and proper patient management requires being familiar with these presentations. This article is structured as a practical review offering a systematic diagnostic approach to focal calvarial lesions, broadly organized into four categories: (1) pseudolesions: arachnoid granulations, meningo-/encephaloceles, vascular canals, frontal hyperostosis, parietal thinning, parietal foramina, and sinus pericrani; (2) lytic: fibrous dysplasia, epidermal inclusion and dermoid cysts, eosinophilic granuloma, hemangioma, aneurysmal bone cyst, giant cell tumor, metastasis, and myeloma; (3) sclerotic: osteomas, osteosarcoma, and metastasis; (4) transdiploic: meningioma, hemangiopericytoma, lymphoma, and metastasis, along with other less common entities. Tips on the potential usefulness of functional imaging techniques such as MR dynamic susceptibility (T2*) perfusion, MR spectroscopy, diffusion-weighted imaging, and PET imaging are provided

Locus coeruleus connectivity alterations in late-life major depressive disorder during a visual oddball task

The Locus Coeruleus (LC) is the major source of noradrenergic neurotransmission. Structural alterations in the LC have been observed in neurodegenerative disorders and at-risk individuals, although functional connectivity studies between the LC and other brain areas have not been yet performed in these populations. Patients with late-life major depressive disorder (MDD) are indeed at increased risk for neurodegenerative disorders, and here we investigated LC connectivity in late-life MDD in comparison to individuals with amnestic type mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and healthy controls (HCs). We assessed 20 patients with late-life MDD, 16 patients with aMCI, and 26 HCs, who underwent a functional magnetic resonance scan while performing a visual oddball task. We assessed task-related modulations of LC connectivity (i.e., Psychophysiological Interactions, PPI) with other brain areas. A T1-weighted fast spin-echo sequence for LC localization was also obtained. Patients with late-life MDD showed lower global connectivity during target detection in a cluster encompassing the right caudal LC. Specifically, we observed lower LC connectivity with the left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), the right fusiform gyrus, and different cerebellar clusters. Moreover, alterations in LC-ACC connectivity correlated negatively with depression severity (i.e., Geriatric Depression Scale and number of recurrences). Reduced connectivity of the LC during oddball performance seems to specifically characterize patients with late-life MDD, but not other populations of aged individuals with cognitive alterations. Such alteration is associated with different measures of disease severity, such as the current presence of symptoms and the burden of disease (number of recurrences)

Substantivity of mouth‑rinse formulations containing cetylpyridinium chloride and O‑cymen‑5‑ol: a randomized‑crossover trial

Background: The efficacy of mouth-rinses strongly depends upon their substantivity. The use of natural and nontoxic products that avoid secondary effects is gaining interest in preventive dentistry. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the substantivity of two formulations of mouth-washing solutions based on cetylpyridinium (CPC) and O-cymen-5-ol. Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial conducted at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the University of Barcelona. Bacterial re-colonization was followed by live/dead (SYTOTM9 + propidium iodide) bacterial staining and measured by confocal laser scanning microscopy and fluorometry. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected from 16 healthy individuals at baseline saliva and then, at 15 min, 30 min and 1, 2, 3, and 4 h after the following mouth-rinses: (i) a single, 1-min mouth-rinse with 15 ml of placebo (negative control); (ii) a single, 1-min mouth-rinse with 15 ml of CPC (0.05%) ; (iii) a single, 1-min mouth-rinse with 15 ml of O-cymen-5-ol (0.09%); (iv) a single, 1-min mouth-rinse with 15 ml of CPC (0.05%) + O-cymen-5-ol (0.09%). Results: Proportion of dead bacteria was significantly higher for all mouthrinses during the first 15 min compared to baseline (CPC = 48.0 ± 13.9; 95% CI 40.98-56.99; p < 0.001, O-cymen-5-ol = 79.8 ± 21.0; 95% CI 67.71-91.90; p < 0.05, CPC + O-cymen-5-ol = 49.4 ± 14; 95% CI 40.98-56.99; p < 0.001 by fluorometry and 54.8 ± 23.0; 95% CI 41.50-68.06; p < 0.001, 76.3 ± 17.1; 95% CI 66.36-86.14; p < 0.001, 47.4 ± 11.9; 95% CI 40.49-54.30; p < 0.001 by confocal laser scanning microscopy, respectively). Nevertheless, after 4 h, CPC + O-cymen-5-ol was the only one that obtained significant values as measured by the two quantification methods used (80.3 ± 22.8; 95% CI 67.15-93.50; p < 0.05 and 81.4 ± 13.8; 95% CI 73.45-89.43; p < 0.05). The combined use of CPC + O-cymen-5-ol increased the substantivity of the mouthrinse with respect to mouthrinses prepared with either of the two active products alone. Conclusion: The synergistic interaction of CPC and O-cymen-5-ol prolongs their substantivity. The resulting formulation may be as effective as other antimicrobials, such as triclosan or chlorhexidine, but without their undesirable secondary effects. Thus, mouthrinsing products based on Combinations of CPC and O-cymen-5-ol may replace in the near future Triclosan and Chlorhexidine¿based mouthrinses