Experimental workshop in unconventional structures: deployable & tree-like structures SMiA -training and research at Barcelona Tech

The purpose of this paper is to share the experience, training and teaching students in non conventional structures area. The research group SMiA Structural Morphology in Architecture performed a practical and theoretical workshop designed to learn unconventional structures in architecture. The main objective was to propose a practical teaching method, the students gain the necessary tools to design lightweight and membrane structures developing an architectural project. Physical and digital tools are utilized, including WinTess3, Sketch Up, Grasshopper, a parametric-geometry-development-and-testing software.Lightweight Construction Course is an elective architecture program at ETSAV School of Architecture of "El Vallès", leading by Professor Dr.-Arch. Ramon Sastre. The main topics that were developed are: Deployable, Tree-Like, Reciprocal Frame, and Tensegrity Structures. In the present article we explain the practical experience in Deployable and Tree-like Structures. The course was offered to students in the last year of career at UPC, international students (Erasmus) and Master students.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Cirugía de la columna lumbar degenerativa

En una realidad la gran demanda actual de fusiones de la columna lumbar. Los resultados clínicos obtenidos con la fusión posterolateral se ven claramente superados con las fusiones anteroposteriores. Se realiza una revisión bibliográfica de las diferentes formas de fusión de la columna lumbar y la reaparición del concepto de soporte de columna anterior. Se establecen las indicaciones y las ventajas de la fusión anteroposterior lumbar, describiéndose las posibles vías de abordaje posterior y anteriores abiertas y mínimamente invasivas. Se clasifican los modernos implantes utilizados para soporte de la columna anterior. Se detallan ventajas e inconvenientes de las vías anterior y posterior.It is a reality the increasing number of the lumbar fusions. Clinical results show that the anteroposterior lumbar fusions achieve greater success rates than the posterolateral ones. A paper review of the different ways of lumbar fusion is carried out whit the update of the anterior column support concept. Indications and advantages: posterior, anterior and minimal invasive ones. The last spine cages used for anterior column support art classified. Advantages and drawbacks of the both approaches anterior and posterior are studied

Characteristics of pedaling muscle stiffness among cyclists of different performance levels

Background and Objectives: The aim of the present study was to compare the impact of an incremental exercise test on muscle stiffness in the rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris (BF), and gastrocnemius (GL) among road cyclists of three performance levels. Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of 35 cyclists grouped according to their performance level; elite (n = 10; professional license), sub-elite (n = 12; amateur license), and recreational (n = 13; cyclosportive license). Passive muscle stiffness was assessed using myometry before and after an incremental exercise test. Results: There was a significant correlation between time and category in the vastus lateralis with stiffness increases in the sub-elite (p = 0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.88) and elite groups (p = 0.003, Cohen’s d = 0.72), but not in the recreational group (p = 0.085). Stiffness increased over time in the knee extensors (RF, p < 0.001; VL, p < 0.001), but no changes were observed in the knee flexors (GL, p = 0.63, BF, p = 0.052). There were no baseline differences among the categories in any muscle. Conclusions: Although the performance level affected VL stiffness after an incremental exercise test, no differences in passive stiffness were observed among the main muscles implicated in pedaling in a resting state. Future research should assess whether this marker could be used to differentiate cyclists of varying fitness levels and its potential applicability for the monitoring of training load. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Experimental study on the thermal control of a roof-top collective building antenna using a porous matrix filled with Water-Copper nanofluid

This experimental work addressed the thermal control a roof-top collective building antenna meant to control home equipment in smart buildings. The antenna was placed inside a concentric quasi-cylindrical cavity maintained at low temperature. Cooling was provided by a Water-Copper nanofluid saturated porous matrix placed between the antenna and the enclosure. The ratio of the thermal conductivity of the porous material to that of the water varied from 4 up to 41.2. The nanoparticles volume fraction varied between 0% and 5%. The main result was a new semi-empirical correlation that allows for the determination of the antenna's average surface temperature as a function of the governing parameters: ratios of nanofluid to water and porous media to water thermal conductivities, nanoparticles volume fraction, and Rayleigh number. The applicability of the correlation was illustrated for a practical application case. It was found that, for some cases, the proposed thermal control system improves power dissipation by a factor of 33% as compared with the case of pure water (2 kW versus 1.5 kW).Partial funding for open access charge: Universidade de Vigo/CISUG