Cities connection project

Postprint (published version

Integrating Sustainability snd Social Commitment (S&SC) competences in the curriculum at the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering

The importance of integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in the curriculum of all the bachelor and master degrees at UPC has been legally and institutionally recognised. At the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering, issues such as professional ethics, environmental impacts of infrastructures, respect for cultural diversity and gender perspective are currently cross-cutting competences highlighted and stated in the study plans as a transversal competence on Sustainability and Social Commitment (S&SC). However, its effective implementation requires significant teaching efforts in order to adapt academic curricula, so far limited to individual non- coordinated initiatives. The launch of the “ODS-Camins Toolkit” project (Toolkit for the Promotion of SDG in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Fields) seeks to encourage the implementation of teaching innovation practices that contribute to the deployment and assessment of S&CS competences. The aim of the project is to exchange experiences, develop new practices, and draft a common pathway for the promotion and implementation of the SDGs in the field of civil and environmental engineering studies. The paper will explain the experience of this one-year project, highlighting barriers, challenges, and sharing the lessons learned with the final purpose of involving all the community in the years to come. It will also present the Toolkit for the Promotion of SDGs in the Civil and Environmental Engineering FieldsPostprint (published version

Is availability of artesunate associated with the prognosis of imported malaria in Spain?

Although there is a lot of aspects we stil need to understand about treatment with artemisinins[1], there is no doubt about their efficacy in treating malaria. Artesunate (AS) has demonstrated its superiority against quinine for treatment of severe malaria in terms of reduction of mortality in different randomized clinical trials performed in endemic countries and subsequent meta-analysis[2-4]. Despite having been established as the first line treatment by WHO and several national guidelines[5,6], its full implementation in non-endemic countries has not been completed

Modelling the effect of land management changes on soil organic carbon stocks in a mediterranean cultivated field

28 Pags.- 5 Tabls.- 4 Figs. The definitive version is available at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-145XLand management in agricultural lands has important effects on soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics. These effects are particularly relevant in the Mediterranean region, where soils are fragile and prone to erosion. Increasing interest of modelling to simulate SOC dynamics and the significance of soil erosion on SOC redistribution have been linked to the development of some recent models. In this study, the SPEROS-C model was implemented in a 1.6-ha cereal field for a 150-year period covering 100 years of minimum tillage by animal traction, 35 years of conventional tillage followed by 15 years of reduced tillage by chisel to evaluate the effects of changes in land management on SOC stocks and lateral carbon fluxes in a Mediterranean agroecosystem. The spatial patterns of measured and simulated SOC stocks were in good agreement, and their spatial variability appeared to be closely linked to soil redistribution. Changes in the magnitude of lateral SOC fluxes differed between land management showing that during the conventional tillage period the carbon losses is slightly higher (0.06 g C m−2 yr−1) compared to the period of reduced till using chisel (0.04 g C m−2 yr−1). Although the results showed that the SPEROS-C model is a potential tool to evaluate erosion induced carbon fluxes and assess the relative contribution of different land management on SOC stocks in Mediterranean agroecosystems, the model was not able to fully represent the observed SOC stocks. Further research (e.g. input parameters) and model development will be needed to achieve more accurate results.This work was funded by the CICYT project (CGL2014-52986-R).Peer reviewe

Spanish validation of the simple lifestyle indicator questionnaire: validity and reliability analysis

Introduction: It has been shown that lifestyle is a highly modifiable determinant having a direct effect on the health status. Therefore, short and simple questionnaires assessing the lifestyle of the general and clinical population are needed to create interventions on behavioral aspects that can improve the health status. The Simple Lifestyle Indicator Questionnaire (SLIQ) is a validated health scale in English that combines five lifestyle factors: diet, exercise, alcohol consumption, tobacco use, and stress level. The objective of this study was to validate the SLIQ questionnaire in Spanish by analyzing the scale’s validity and reliability. Its discriminatory power of the scale was also examined by evaluating the differences in health outcomes according to the levels of adherence to a healthy lifestyle. Methods: The sample consisted of 745 participants with an average age of 39.94 (SD: 16.99). A transcultural adaptation process was carried out to validate the SLIQ questionnaire in the Spanish context, to determinate the structural equivalence of the Spanish version as compared to the English version, and to assess the psychometric properties of the scale. PREDIMED and IPAQ scales were used to analyze the convergent validity of the Spanish version of the SLIQ regarding to diet and exercise, and the questionnaires SF-12 and DASS-21 questionnaires were used to assess the capacity of the Spanish version of the SLIQ to discriminate health status related to different levels of reported lifestyles. Results: Regarding validity, the results indicate significant correlations between the different dimensions of the SLIQ questionnaire and those used as a reference. As for reliability, the test–retest analyses reveal a high temporal consistency for the scores obtained on the questionnaire. Finally, the differences found in anxiety, depression, and quality of life, with regard to the different levels of adherence in the SLIQ questionnaire, suggest that the questionnaire’s Spanish version has adequate discriminatory power. Discussion: The obtained correlation coefficients between the SLIQ and the other standardized measures pointed out the adequate convergent validity of the instrument. Moreover, the test–retest results demonstrated the stability of the results obtained through this questionnaire. Finally, the lifestyle categories derived from the SLIQ showed a high ability to discriminate between participants’ health profiles. Hence, it can be concluded that the Spanish version of the SLIQ questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool for the quick and effective assessment of lifestyle

Assessment Strategies to Evaluate the Mediterranean Lifestyle: A Systematic Review

The Mediterranean Lifestyle (MLS) has been related to better health and quality of life. However, there is no consensus on how to assess this lifestyle. The main objective of this work was to systematically review the methodology used in different studies on the evaluation of the MLS. The specific objectives were (1) to analyze the MLS components evaluated in previous studies, (2) to explore the assessment instruments available for the analysis of the MLS, and (3) to identify the psychometric properties of these instruments. The search was carried out using the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect databases with the purpose of identifying those published articles in which the MLS was assessed. The review included 26 studies linked to the assessment of the MLS. Of these studies, only four exclusively used a tool to analyze MLS components globally. These studies included two questionnaires and three different indexes. None of them, however, evaluated all of the recognized MLS components, and food preparation was the least frequently evaluated component. Given the clear importance of analyzing MLS adherence and the lack of consensus in previous research, an evaluation tool needs to be created to comprehensively assess all of the MLS dimensions by means of appropriate psychometric properties

Perspectiva de género en docencia STEM

La Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, dentro del III Plan de Igualdad de Género 2016-2020, está llevando a cabo diferentes acciones para promover la transversalidad de género en la universidad. El presente artículo expone el trabajo del proyecto Género y Docencia, cuyo objetivo principal es la capacitación del personal académico para la incorporación de la perspectiva de género en la docencia. Este proyecto cuenta con la participación voluntaria de 41 docentes de 8 titulaciones STEM. Su duración, que coincide con el cuatrimestre de primavera de 2019, ha permitido llevar a cabo las estrategias propuestas a lo largo del curso. Los aspectos que se han tenido en cuenta incluyen la relevancia social y de género de las asignaturas, la metodología inclusiva, la gestión del aula y la evaluación. Se ha tenido especial cuidado en la elaboración de indicadores para poder realizar la correcta evaluación del proyecto a su término. Se ha elaborado una herramienta de autoevaluación para el equipo docente y un cuestionario para analizar la sensibilización del alumnado, así como su percepción respecto a la falta de igualdad de género en el ámbito docente.Postprint (published version

Circulating Cell Biomarkers in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Relationship with Clinical Heterogeneity and Therapeutic Response

Biomarcadores; Disfunción endotelial; Células progenitorasBiomarcadors; Disfunció endotelial; Cèl·lules progenitoresBiomarkers; Endothelial dysfunction; Progenitor cellsBackground: Endothelial dysfunction is central to PAH. In this study, we simultaneously analysed circulating levels of endothelial microvesicles (EMVs) and progenitor cells (PCs) in PAH and in controls, as biomarkers of pulmonary endothelial integrity and evaluated differences among PAH subtypes and as a response to treatment. Methods: Forty-seven controls and 144 patients with PAH (52 idiopathic, 9 heritable, 31 associated with systemic sclerosis, 15 associated with other connective tissue diseases, 20 associated with HIV and 17 associated with portal hypertension) were evaluated. Forty-four patients with scleroderma and 22 with HIV infection, but without PAH, were also studied. Circulating levels of EMVs, total (CD31+CD42b−) and activated (CD31+CD42b−CD62E+), as well as circulating PCs (CD34+CD133+CD45low) were measured by flow cytometry and the EMVs/PCs ratio was computed. In treatment-naïve patients, measurements were repeated after 3 months of PAH therapy. Results: Patients with PAH showed higher numbers of EMVs and a lower percentage of PCs, compared with healthy controls. The EMV/PC ratio was increased in PAH patients, and in patients with SSc or HIV without PAH. After starting PAH therapy, individual changes in EMVs and PCs were variable, without significant differences being observed as a group. Conclusion: PAH patients present disturbed vascular homeostasis, reflected in changes in circulating EMV and PC levels, which are not restored with PAH targeted therapy. Combined measurement of circulating EMVs and PCs could be foreseen as a potential biomarker of endothelial dysfunction in PAH.This research was funded by grants PI12/00510, PI15/00582 and PI18/00960 from the Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCiii), Spain, co-funded by the European Union (ERDF/ESF); the Catalan Society of Respiratory Medicine (SOCAP); and the Fundación Contra la Hipertensión Pulmonar (FCHP). OTC is the former recipient of a Marie Curie Post-Doctoral Fellowship Award BIOTRACK-IDIBAPS, and the current recipient of a Miguel Servet contract from ISCiii (CP17/00114)

On the taxonomic identity and status of Silene sericea var. balearica (sect. Dipterosperma, Caryophyllaceae)

This paper presents a re-evaluation of the taxonomic relationships of Silene sericea var. balearica based on morphological features. Critical examination of herbarium specimens (including type material) and living plants has shown that S. sericea var. balearica should be recognized at species level. Therefore, the new name, Silene migjornensis, is proposed to designate the endemic species growing on maritime sands in southern Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain). This taxon is described, illustrated and compared with its morphologically closest relatives from Silene sect. Dipterosperma.En este trabajo se presenta una reevaluación de las relaciones taxonómicas y morfológicas de Silene sericea var. balearica. La revisión crítica de especímenes de herbario (incluyendo material tipo) y plantas vivas indica que S. sericea var. balearica debe ser reconocida en rango de especie. En consecuencia, se propone un nombre nuevo para este taxon, Silene migjornensis. Se trata de una especie endémica que vive en arenales marítimos del sur de Mallorca (Islas Baleares, España). Este taxon es descrito, iconografiado y comparado con aquellos morfológicamente más relacionados de Silene sect. Dipterosperma

Long-term LVEF trajectories in patients with type 2 diabetes and heart failure : diabetic cardiomyopathy may underlie functional decline

Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) trajectories and functional recovery with current heart failure (HF) management is increasingly recognized. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) leads to a worse prognosis in HF patients. However, it is unknown whether T2D interferes with LVEF trajectories. The aim of this study was to prospectively assess very long-term (up to 15 years) LVEF trajectories in patients with and without T2D and underlying HF. Ambulatory patients admitted to a multidisciplinary HF clinic were prospectively evaluated by scheduled two-dimensional echocardiography at baseline, 1 year, and then every 2 years afterwards, up to 15 years. Statistical analyses of LVEF change with time were performed using the linear mixed effects (LME) models, and locally weighted error sum of squares (Loess) curves were plotted. Of the 1921 patients, 461 diabetic and 699 non-diabetic patients with LVEF < 50% were included in the study. The mean number of echocardiography measurements performed in diabetic patients was 3.3 ± 1.6. Early LVEF recovery was similar in diabetic and non-diabetic patients, but Loess curves showed a more pronounced inverted U shape in diabetics with a more pronounced decline after 9 years. LME analysis showed a statistical interaction between T2D and LVEF trajectory over time (p = 0.009), which was statistically significant in patients with ischemic etiologies (p < 0.001). Other variables that showed an interaction between LVEF trajectories and T2D were male sex (p = 0.04) and HF duration (p = 0.008). LVEF trajectories in T2D patients with depressed systolic function showed a pronounced inverted U shape with a marked decline after 9 years. Diabetic cardiomyopathy may underlie the functional decline observed