The RockRisk project: rockfall risk quantification and prevention

Rockfalls are frequent instability processes in road cuts, open pit mines and quarries, steep slopes and cliffs. The orientation and persistence of joints within the rock mass define the size of the kinematically unstable rock volumes and determine the way how the detached mass be-comes fragmented upon the impact on the ground surface. Knowledge of the size and trajectory of the blocks resulting from fragmentation is critical for calculating the impact probability and intensity, the vulnerability the exposed elements and the performance of protection structures. In this contribution we summarize the main goals and achievements of the RockRisk project. We focused on the characterization of the rockfall fragmentation by means of the analysis of the fracture pattern of intact rock masses, the development of a fragmentation model and its integration into rockfall propagation analysis. The ultimate goal of the project is to quantify risk due to rockfalls and develop tools for the improvement of prevention and for protection from its occurrence.Postprint (published version

Physico-chemical and mechanical properties of microencapsulated phase change material

Microencapsulated phase change materials (MPCM) are well known in advanced technologies for the utilization in active and passive systems, which have the capacity to absorb and slowly release the latent heat involved in a phase change process. Microcapsules consist of little containers, which are made of polymer on the outside, and paraffin wax as PCM in the inside. The use of microencapsulated PCM has many advantages as microcapsules can handle phase change materials as core allowing the preparation of slurries. However there are some concerns about cycling of MPCM slurries because of the breakage of microcapsules during charging/discharging and the subsequent loss of effectiveness. This phenomenon motivates the study of the mechanical response when a force is applied to the microcapsule. The maximum force that Micronal® DS 5001 can afford before breaking was determined by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). To simulate real conditions in service, assays were done at different temperatures: with the PCM in solid state at 25 °C, and with the PCM melted at 45 °C and 80 °C. To better understand the behavior of these materials, Micronal® DS 5001 microcapsules were characterized using different physic-chemical techniques. Microcapsules Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) results showed the main vibrations corresponding to acrylic groups of the outside polymer. Thermal stability was studied by Thermogravimetrical Analysis (TGA), and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) was used to characterize the resulting inorganic residue. The thermal properties were determined using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) curves. Particles morphology was studied with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Mie method was used to evaluate the particle size distribution. Samples had a bimodal distribution of size and were formed by two different particles sizes: agglomerates of 150 μm diameter formed by small particles of 6 μm. Atomic Force Microscopy in nanoindentation mode was used to evaluate the elastic response of the particles at different temperatures. Different values of effective modulus Eeff were calculated for agglomerates and small particles. It was observed that stiffness depended on the temperature assay and particle size, as agglomerates showed higher stiffness than small particles, which showed an important decrease in elastic properties at 80 °C

Estructura e historia del narcotráfico a escala internacional

Projecte d'una pàgina web que té com a objectiu oferir una nova narrativa a l'hora de parlar sobre el narcotràfic. El treball mostra tots els elements necessaris per iniciar aquest espai web: recursos, despeses, nom, seccions, campanyes de publicitat, estudi de mercat... També hi ha alguns articles com a mostra del contingut que s'hi publicaria. L'objectiu de la pàgina web és parlar sobre la cara oculta de la història i l'estructura del narcotràfic; així doncs, el treball també convida a fer una petita reflexió sobre el concepte "drogues" i tot el que aquest terme ha comportat durant les últimes dècades.Proyecto de una página web que tiene como objetivo ofrecer una nueva narrativa a la hora de hablar sobre el narcotráfico. El trabajo muestra todos los elementos necesarios para crear este sitio web: recursos, costes, nombre, secciones, campañas de publicidad, estudio de mercado… También hay algunos artículos que sirven como muestra del contenido que se publicaría. El objetivo de la página web es hablar sobre la cara oculta de la historia i la estructura del narcotráfico; así pues, el trabajo también invita a hacer una pequeña reflexión sobre el concepto "drogas" y todo lo que esta palabra ha conllevado durante estas últimas décadas.Project for a website that aims to offer a new narrative when talking about drug trafficking. The work shows all the elements necessary to create this website: resources, costs, name, sections, advertising campaigns, market research... There are also some articles that serve as a sample of the content that would be published. The aim of the website is to talk about the hidden side of the history and structure of drug trafficking; thus, the work also invites to make a small reflection on the concept of "drugs" and all that this word has entailed during the last decades

Jardins per a la salut

Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona. Ensenyament: Grau de Farmàcia. Assignatura: Botànica farmacèutica. Curs: 2014-2015. Coordinadors: Joan Simon, Cèsar Blanché i Maria Bosch.Els materials que aquí es presenten són el recull de les fitxes botàniques de 128 espècies presents en el Jardí Ferran Soldevila de l’Edifici Històric de la UB. Els treballs han estat realitzats manera individual per part dels estudiants dels grups M-3 i T-1 de l’assignatura Botànica Farmacèutica durant els mesos de febrer a maig del curs 2014-15 com a resultat final del Projecte d’Innovació Docent «Jardins per a la salut: aprenentatge servei a Botànica farmacèutica» (codi 2014PID-UB/054). Tots els treballs s’han dut a terme a través de la plataforma de GoogleDocs i han estat tutoritzats pels professors de l’assignatura. L’objectiu principal de l’activitat ha estat fomentar l’aprenentatge autònom i col·laboratiu en Botànica farmacèutica. També s’ha pretès motivar els estudiants a través del retorn de part del seu esforç a la societat a través d’una experiència d’Aprenentatge-Servei, deixant disponible finalment el treball dels estudiants per a poder ser consultable a través d’una Web pública amb la possibilitat de poder-ho fer in-situ en el propi jardí mitjançant codis QR amb un smartphone

Hemoglobina glicosilada como signo de alarma

A 67-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes, who after several years of good glycemic control with HbA1c around 6.5%, consulted for cardinal symptoms with polyuria, weight loss and asthenia. The initial blood test shows HbA1c 14%, which is why it is decided to extend studies. A pancreatic mass is evidently found in MR cholangiography, which after carrying out echoendoscopy with biopsies confirms the presence of an anaplastic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.Mujer de 67 años diabética tipo 2, que tras varios años de buen control glucémico, con cifras de hemoglobina glicosilada (HbA1c) en torno a 6,5%, consulta por clínica cardinal con poliuria, pérdida de peso y astenia. La analítica inicial muestra cifras de HbA1c de 14%, razón por la que se deciden ampliar estudios. Finamente, se evidencia en colangio-resonancia magnética nuclear una masa pancreática que, tras realización de ecoendoscopia con toma de biopsias, confirma la presencia de un adenocarcinoma anaplásico de páncreas

Mapping the neural systems driving breathing at the transition to unconsciousness

After falling asleep, the brain needs to detach from waking activity and reorganize into a functionally distinct state. A functional MRI (fMRI) study has recently revealed that the transition to unconsciousness induced by propofol involves a global decline of brain activity followed by a transient reduction in cortico-subcortical coupling. We have analyzed the relationships between transitional brain activity and breathing changes as one example of a vital function that needs the brain to readapt. Thirty healthy participants were originally examined. The analysis involved the correlation between breathing and fMRI signal upon loss of consciousness. We proposed that a decrease in ventilation would be coupled to the initial decline in fMRI signal in brain areas relevant for modulating breathing in the awake state, and that the subsequent recovery would be coupled to fMRI signal in structures relevant for controlling breathing during the unconscious state. Results showed that a slight reduction in breathing from wakefulness to unconsciousness was distinctively associated with decreased activity in brain systems underlying different aspects of consciousness including the prefrontal cortex, the default mode network and somatosensory areas. Breathing recovery was distinctively coupled to activity in deep brain structures controlling basic behaviors such as the hypothalamus and amygdala. Activity in the brainstem, cerebellum and hippocampus was associated with breathing variations in both states. Therefore, our brain maps illustrate potential drives to breathe, unique to wakefulness, in the form of brain systems underlying cognitive awareness, self-awareness and sensory awareness, and to unconsciousness involving structures controlling instinctive and homeostatic behaviors.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Famílies botàniques de plantes medicinals

Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona. Ensenyament: Grau de Farmàcia, Assignatura: Botànica Farmacèutica, Curs: 2013-2014, Coordinadors: Joan Simon, Cèsar Blanché i Maria Bosch.Els materials que aquí es presenten són els recull de 175 treballs d’una família botànica d’interès medicinal realitzats de manera individual. Els treballs han estat realitzat per la totalitat dels estudiants dels grups M-2 i M-3 de l’assignatura Botànica Farmacèutica durant els mesos d’abril i maig del curs 2013-14. Tots els treballs s’han dut a terme a través de la plataforma de GoogleDocs i han estat tutoritzats pel professor de l’assignatura i revisats i finalment co-avaluats entre els propis estudiants. L’objectiu principal de l’activitat ha estat fomentar l’aprenentatge autònom i col·laboratiu en Botànica farmacèutica

Clinical Usefulness of Anthropometric Indices to Predict the Presence of Prediabetes. Data from the ILERVAS Cohort

Prediabetes is closely related to excess body weight and adipose distribution. For this reason, we aimed to assess and compare the diagnostic usefulness of ten anthropometric adiposity indices to predict prediabetes. Cross-sectional study with 8188 overweight subjects free of type 2 diabetes from the ILERVAS project (NCT03228459). Prediabetes was diagnosed by levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Total body adiposity indices [BMI, Clínica Universidad de Navarra-Body Adiposity Estimator (CUN-BAE) and Deurenberg's formula] and abdominal adiposity (waist and neck circumferences, conicity index, waist to height ratio, Bonora's equation, A body shape index, and body roundness index) were calculated. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the best cutoff and the prevalence of prediabetes around this value were calculated for every anthropometric index. All anthropometric indices other than the A body adiposity were higher in men and women with prediabetes compared with controls (p < 0.001 for all). In addition, a slightly positive correlation was found between indices and HbA1c in both sexes (r ≤ 0.182 and p ≤ 0.026 for all). None of the measures achieved acceptable levels of discrimination in ROC analysis (area under the ROC ≤ 0.63 for all). Assessing BMI, the prevalence of prediabetes among men increased from 20.4% to 36.2% around the cutoff of 28.2 kg/m2, with similar data among women (from 29.3 to 44.8% with a cutoff of 28.6 kg/m2). No lonely obesity index appears to be the perfect biomarker to use in clinical practice to detect individuals with prediabetes.This work was supported by grants from the Diputació de Lleida and Generalitat de Catalunya (2017SGR696 and SLT0021600250). CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas and CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias are initiatives of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III

The Wnt signaling receptor Fzd9 is essential for Myc-driven tumorigenesis in pancreatic islets

Zacarías-Fluck, et al identify and validate the Wnt receptor Fzd9 as a key effector of Myc-Wnt signaling cross-talk in a mouse model of Myc-driven pancreatic insulinomas. The huge cadre of genes regulated by Myc has obstructed the identification of critical effectors that are essential for Myc-driven tumorigenesis. Here, we describe how only the lack of the receptor Fzd9, previously identified as a Myc transcriptional target, impairs sustained tumor expansion and β-cell dedifferentiation in a mouse model of Myc-driven insulinoma, allows pancreatic islets to maintain their physiological structure and affects Myc-related global gene expression. Importantly, Wnt signaling inhibition in Fzd9-competent mice largely recapitulates the suppression of proliferation caused by Fzd9 deficiency upon Myc activation. Together, our results indicate that the Wnt signaling receptor Fzd9 is essential for Myc-induced tumorigenesis in pancreatic islets

Bacterial co-infection at hospital admission in patients with COVID-19

Objectives: We described the current incidence and risk factors of bacterial co-infection in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Methods: Observational cohort study was performed at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona (February 2020-February 2021). All patients with COVID-19 who were admitted for >48 hours with microbiological sample collection and procalcitonin (PCT) determination within the first 48 hours were included. Results: A total of 1125 consecutive adults met inclusion criteria. Co-infections were microbiologically documented in 102 (9.1%) patients. Most frequent microorganisms were Streptococcus pneumoniae (79%), Staphylococcus aureus (6.8%), and Haemophilus influenzae (6.8%). Test positivity was 1% (8/803) for blood cultures, 10.1% (79/780) for pneumococcal urinary antigen test, and 11.4% (15/132) for sputum culture. Patients with PCT higher than 0.2, 0.5, 1, and 2 ng/mL had significantly more co-infections than those with lower levels (p=0.017, p=0.031, p94%