Una cartografía del tacto: la poética del instrumento en José Luis Torá (Madrid, 1966)

This article presents an aesthetic approach to compositional process with the musical instrument developed by the Spanish composer José Luis Torá (Madrid, 1966). In the context of Tora’s personal poetics, the instrument is conceived as a physical, sounding body, always capable of acoustic possibilities that have not been actualised yet. The artist recognizes in the instrument a historical dimension, or ‘memory’, which confers beforehand meaning to instrumental actions. Based on theoretical positions close to those of his former teacher Helmut Lachenmann, (and also influenced by other musical, philosophical and artistic figures), Torá defends the necessity of a critical and reflexive effort in the compositional process in order to bring out new acoustic relations inside the instrument. In the following pages, the philosophical implications of this vision of the instrument are studied and contextualised within Torá’s personal poetics, analysing its traces in musical works such as wq.132 à creux perdu (2017), Kaspar Hauser Lied (1993) and in der bruchlosen Ferne, dans le crevasse du temps (2001).El presente artículo constituye una aproximación desde un punto de vista estético al trabajo con el instrumento musical que realiza en su obra el compositor español José Luis Torá (Madrid, 1966). En el contexto de su poética, el instrumento se entiende como un cuerpo sonoro, físico, provisto siempre de posibilidades acústicas no actualizadas. Además, se reconoce en él la existencia de una historia o “memoria” que contribuye a cargar de sentido, de antemano, las acciones instrumentales. El artista, partiendo de posicionamientos teóricos afines a los de quien fuera su maestro, Helmut Lachenmann, (y de otras influencias musicales, filosóficas y artísticas), se plantea la necesidad de una labor crítica que permita sacar a la luz nuevas relaciones acústicas en el instrumento en el proceso de creación musical. A lo largo de estas páginas se estudian las implicaciones filosóficas de dicha concepción del instrumento, enmarcándolas en la poética personal de Torá, y se analiza su huella en la escritura musical del autor a través de algunos ejemplos tomados de, entre otras obras, wq.132 à creux perdu (2017), Kaspar Hauser Lied (1993) e in der bruchlosen Ferne, dans le crevasse du temps (2001)

La individuación del instrumento musical en la creación experimental : hacia una poética de la diferencia

Tesis inédita de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Facultad de Geografía e Historia, leída el 02-11-2022Desde el final de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, el instrumento musical ha ido recibiendo una creciente y renovada atención en el ámbito de la creación experimental: un fenómeno que se ha reflejado también en la literatura académica, en especial a partir de los años 90. En este sentido, se han producido cambios notables, no solo en la manera en que se trabaja con el instrumento y se hace uso de él, sino también en la forma en que éste es concebido y percibido. En esta investigación nos acercamos a dicha realidad, con la pretensión de ofrecer una visión comprehensiva del fenómeno desde un punto de vista que es, a un tiempo, musical y filosófico. En primer término, se trata de definir y caracterizar adecuadamente el instrumento musical. En este aspecto, nos alejamos de toda concepción utilitaria o esencialista, para apuntar, por el contrario, a su comprensión como “espacio productivo”. Desde este punto de vista, el instrumento aparece como una entidad relacional (en tanto que ligada a un entramado de relaciones productivas), orientada a la producción física de sonido (puesto que se sostiene sobre una realidad material y energética) y vinculada de una forma íntima a un determinado contexto social e histórico (es decir, atravesada por una multitud de lazos semióticos, de hábitos de escucha y ejecución, etc.)...Since the end of the Second World War, and especially since the end of the last century, musical instruments have received increasing attention in the field of academic creation: a phenomenon that is also reflected in academic literature. In this sense, remarkable changes have taken place, not only in the way instruments are confronted and used, but also in the way they are conceived and perceived. In this research this reality will be approached, with the aim of offering a comprehensive vision of the phenomenon from a point of view that is both musical and philosophical. First of all, it is a question of defining and characterising musical instruments adequately. In this respect, I will move away from any utilitarian or essentialist conception, and try, on the contrary, to understand it as a “productive space”.From this point of view, instruments appear as relational entities (in sofar as they’re linked to a network of productive relations), which are oriented towards the physical production of sound (since this is sustained by material realities and energetic processes) and intimately linked to specific social and historical contexts (that is, they’re crossed by a plurality of semiotic links, listening and playing habits, etc.)...Fac. de Geografía e HistoriaTRUEunpu

Characterization of coronary plaques with combined use of intravascular ultrasound, virtual histology and optical coherence tomography

According to post-mortem studies, luminal thrombosis occurs from plaque rupture, erosion and calcified nodules. In vivo studies have found thin cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) as the main vulnerable lesion, prone to rupture. Few data about other post-mortem lesions have been reported in vivo. Our main objective is to characterize in vivo the coronary plaques with intravascular ultrasound-virtual histology (IVUS-VH) and optical coherence tomography (OCT), in order to detect not only thin cap fibroatheroma (TCFA), but also other possible vulnerable lesions. The secondary objective is to correlate these findings with clinical and analytical data. Twenty-five patients (18 stable) submitted to coronary angiography were included in this pilot study. After angiography, the three vessels were studied (when possible) with IVUS-VH and OCT. Plaque characteristics were correlated with clinical and analytical data. Forty-six lesions were analyzed. IVUS-VH detected significant necrotic core in 15 (3 were definite TCFA). OCT detected TCFA in 10 lesions, erosion in 6, thrombus in 5 and calcified nodule in 8. Possible vulnerable lesion was found in 61% of stable and 57% of unstable patients. Erosions and calcified nodules were only found in stable patients. Those with significant necrotic core had higher body mass index (P=0.016), higher levels of hs-CRP (P=0.019) and triglycerides (P=0.040). The higher the levels of hs-CRP, the larger the size of the necrotic core (r=0.69, P=0.003). Lesions with characteristics of vulnerability were detected by IVUS-VH and OCT in more than 50% of stable and unstable coronary patients. A significant necrotic core was mainly correlated with higher hs-CRP

Factores que afectan en la decisión de comprar prendas de ropa: sostenibilidad, procedencia, estado, calidad y precio

El objetivo de esta investigación es determinar los factores que influyen en la decisión de un consumidor a la hora de comprar una prenda de ropa, en este caso se ha centrado el estudio en la adquisición de un jersey o sudadera. Se han valorado factores como la sostenibilidad de las materias primas, ser una prenda nueva o de segunda mano, el lugar de fabricación de la prenda, calidad y el precio de la misma. El análisis se ha realizado aplicando la metodología de experimentos de elección discreta por tratarse de una técnica cuantitativa potente para obtener preferencias del consumidor en ausencia de datos de preferencias reveladas. La potencia del método radica en que se pide a los individuos que elijan entre conjuntos alternativos de atributos. Para ello, se ha realizado una encuesta y, con los resultados de la misma, se ha estimado un modelo Logit multinomial para identificar las variables significativas que el usuario establece ante la compra de un jersey o sudadera. Los resultados obtenidos describen que las alternativas relacionadas «con comprar» proporcionan más utilidad que las de «no comprar». Se disminuye la probabilidad de comprar cuando se ofrece un producto no sostenible, es decir, sintético o de materias primas no naturales, de procedencia asiática o prendas de segunda mano. Las variables que tienen un efecto positivo en la elección son las que vienen representadas con compras de ropa de calidad media y calidad lujo. El parámetro estimado para los precios es negativo, lo que indica que el precio tiene un efecto negativo en la utilidad siendo coherente con la teoría económica (al subir el precio la demanda baja). Además, se presentan resultados descriptivos asociados a una batería de preguntas formuladas en el cuestionario y que recogen información de caráctereconómico, social y de grado de aceptación de ciertas afirmaciones relacionadas con los conceptos de moda ética y sostenible.<br /

Disminución de la reserva de flujo coronario en pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca no isquémica

Introduction and objectives. Coronary flow reserve (CFR) is impaired not only in ischemic heart disease, but also in cardiac diseases that may or may not course with heart failure. The aim of the present study was to determine if the severity of heart failure can influence CFR impairment. Methods. Forty patients with non-ischemic heart disease and heart failure were studied 41 times. Four groups were established: 1. 10 patients in functional class III-IV; 2. 10 patients in functional class II not taking beta-blockers; 3. 11 patients in class II treated with carvedilol, and 4. 10 patients in class I. These patients had a history of heart failure and systolic dysfunction. Myocardial blood flow (MBF) was measured with positron emission tomography (PET) and N-13 ammonia at rest (r) and during adenosine triphosphate (ATP) infusion. Results. MBF and CFR were significantly higher in group 4 (1.95 ± 0.58 and 2.40 ± 0.95 ml/min/g) than in group 1 (1.02 ± 0.52 and 1.46 ± 0.48 ml/min/g). CFR tended to be higher in groups 2 (1.73 ± 0.72), and 3 (1.89 ± 0.75) vs group 1. No significant correlation was found between CFR and the following variables: age, systolic blood pressure, ventricular mass index, ventricular volume indexes, and ejection fraction. Conclusions. Coronary microvascular function is impaired in non-ischemic heart failure, and the impairment is related to functional class, regardless of the underlying responsible heart disease

Nephroprotective effects of synthetic flavonoid hidrosmin in experimental diabetic nephropathy

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a high‐impact disease commonly characterized by hyperglycemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common diabetic microvascular complication and the leading cause of chronic kidney disease worldwide. This study investigates the protective effects of the synthetic flavonoid hidrosmin (5‐O‐(beta-hydroxyethyl) diosmin) in experimental DN induced by streptozotocin injection in apolipoprotein E deficient mice. Oral administration of hidrosmin (300 mg/kg/day, n = 11) to diabetic mice for 7 weeks markedly reduced albuminuria (albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio: 47 ± 11% vs. control) and ameliorated renal pathological damage and expression of kidney injury markers. Kidneys of hidrosmin‐treated mice exhibited lower content of macrophages and T cells, reduced expression of cytokines and chemokines, and attenuated inflammatory signaling pathways. Hidrosmin treatment improved the redox balance by reducing prooxidant enzymes and enhancing antioxidant genes, and also decreased senescence markers in diabetic kidneys. In vitro, hidrosmin dose‐dependently reduced the expression of inflammatory and oxidative genes in tubuloepithelial cells exposed to either high‐glucose or cytokines, with no evidence of cytotoxicity at effective concentrations. In conclusion, the synthetic flavonoid hidrosmin exerts a beneficial effect against DN by reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and senescence pathways. Hidrosmin could have a potential role as a coadjutant therapy for the chronic complications of DM.This work was supported by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation- FEDER funds (Retos Colaboración RTC2017-6089-1 and Retos Investigación RTI2018-098788-B-I00) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI20/00487 and DTS 19/00093

Avances en intervencionismo coronario

In the last few years, the evolution of coronary interventionism has been very important. The primary success rates in the early 1990s were 86-88% with a re-stenosis rate of 30%-40%. Current primary success rates have risen to over 95% with a re-stenosis rate of under 10% even for many types of lesions classically considered complex. Currently the main limitations in interventional cardiology remain coronary segments that cannot be accessed due to chronic total occlusion, or severe proximal tortuosity or calcification. Rapid improvements have led to broader clinical indications for percutaneous revascularization procedures. We describe the latest improvements in technique

Intervencionismo coronario percutáneo en Navarra. Resultados de un centro de bajo volumen intervencionista

Fundamento. El intervencionismo coronario percutáneo (PCI) es una opción terapéutica fundamental en pacientes con enfermedad coronaria. Para realizarla los especialistas deben formarse y acreditarse. Se sabe que el número de procedimientos realizados al año influye en los resultados. Pretendemos mostrar que con un bajo volumen de PCI algunos centros obtienen buenos resultados. Método. Análisis prospectivo de las características clínicas y resultados inmediatos obtenidos en nuestro centro con el PCI entre 2006 y 2012 y análisis retrospectivo de la supervivencia global, supervivencia libre de eventos y reestenosis de los PCI realizados entre 2006 y 2009. Se compararon las características clínicas, los eventos agudos y a largo plazo (complicaciones, supervivencia y mortalidad) entre nuestros pacientes y los de algunos trabajos publicados. Resultados. Nuestra probabilidad de tener cualquier complicación en un PCI fue del 9% con una mortalidad global del 2%. La mortalidad del PCI en situación estable fue del 0,43% y en el síndrome coronario agudo del 6,25%. Las complicaciones en el lugar del acceso vascular fueron del 1,44% y la incidencia de reestenosis a los nueve meses, en pacientes sometidos por primera vez a PCI, fue del 5,2%. Conclusiones. Aunque el alto volumen intervencionista ha demostrado ser importante para tener una baja tasa de complicaciones y una buena evolución a largo plazo, hay centros con bajo volumen intervencionista que por sus características pueden obtener resultados equiparables a los de alto volumen.Background. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is currently a basic therapeutic option in patients with coronary artery disease. To carry this out specialists must be trained and accredited. It is known that the number of procedures performed each year influences results. We suggest that some low volume centres may also get good results. Methods. Prospective analysis of clinical features and immediate results obtained in our centre following PCI performed between 2006 and 2012 and retrospective analysis of overall survival, outcome-free survival and restenosis in patients treated between 2006 and 2009. The clinical features, acute and long-term events (complications, survival and mortality) of our group were compared with other published studies. Results. In our centre the likelihood of complications in a PCI was 9% with an overall mortality of 2%. PCI mortality in stable coronary disease was 0.43% and in acute coronary syndrome 6.25%. Complications at the vascular access site was 1.44% and restenosis at nine months, in patients undergoing PCI for the first time, was 5.2%. Conclusions. Although a high interventionist volume has been shown to reduce the rate of complications and improve long-term evolution, some low volume interventional centres can obtain similar results to those of high volume interventional centres