Improving the Resilience of Historic Areas Coping with Natural and Climate Change Hazards: Interventions Based on Multi-Criteria Methodology

Cultural and Natural Heritage (CNH), a legacy bequeathed to present and future generations, casts light on the humanity of past generations. However, the increase and the intensity of natural and climate-change-related hazards threaten the conservation of such heritage. The aim of this research is to develop a multi-criteria prioritization methodology in support of intervention decisions, to enhance the resilience of CNH conservation through sustainable development. The application of two methods, the Integrated Value Model for Sustainability Assessment and the Analytical Hierarchy Process, ensures both the contribution of a wide panel of experts of heritage conservation and equitable indicator assessment measured on different scales. The prioritization methodology has been developed considering the most common hazards and specific disaster-risk scenarios. The three dimensions of sustainable development and both technical and cultural dimensions are also considered in the methodology. All dimensions and their indicators are weighted to produce a Prioritization Index to support decision-making.The authors wish to acknowledge funding received from the European Commission through the SHELTER project (GA 821282) and, especially to the contribution of the University of Bologna, Tecnalia Research and Innovation, and EKOU. Additionally, the authors are thankful for the funding received from the SAREN Research Group (IT1619-22, Basque Government)

Urban Heat Islands and Thermal Comfort: A Case Study of Zorrotzaurre Island in Bilbao

This study assesses the impact of a heat wave on the thermal comfort of an unconstructed area: the North Zone of the Island of Zorrotzaurre (Bilbao, Spain). In this study, the impact of urban planning as proposed in the master plan on thermal comfort is modeled using the ENVI-met program. Likewise, the question of whether the urbanistic proposals are designed to create more resilient urban environments is analyzed in the face of increasingly frequent extreme weather events, especially heat waves. The study is centered on the analysis of temperature variables (air temperature and average radiant temperature) as well as wind speed and relative humidity. This was completed with the parameters of thermal comfort, the physiological equivalent temperature (PET) and the Universal Temperature Climate Index (UTCI) for the hours of the maximum and minimum daily temperatures. The results demonstrated the viability of analyzing thermal comfort through simulations with the ENVI-met program in order to analyze the behavior of urban spaces in various climate scenarios.This research was funded by research group IT1314-19 of the Basque Government

Reinforcement of the "Rhynchospora fusca" population in the Galbaniturri mire (Izki Natural Park, Álava, Spain): first results

Rhynchospora fusca (L.) W.T. Aiton is a Cyperaceae that lives in constantly wet zones in acid mires, whose European distribution reaches its southernmost limit in the Spanish Cantabrian corniche. It is a characteristic plant of Habitat 7150 “Depressions on peat substrates of the Rhynchosporion” in Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive of the European Union, and also listed in the Catalogue of Threatened Species of the Basque Autonomous Community under the “Endangered” category since an only locality within the Izki Natural Park is known, in the Galbaniturri-1 mire. Given the vulnerability of this only Basque population, and aiming to improve its conservation status, a reinforcement experience was set in 2011 within LIFE+ PRO-IZKI project. We describe the main results, including the plantation at five new points in the same mire (2013 and 2015), and the monitoring for survival, flowering and fruiting for 3 consecutive reproductive periods from 2014 to 2016. The plants used for the reinforcement were vegetatively generated from plants collected in the wild. The average survival rate for the first plants planted in 2013 was very low (28%), due to the choice of planting before the winter; a second plantation in spring 2015 obtained a much higher survival rate (79%). Plant growth by rhizome renewals has been increasing year after year in almost all plots. Flowering occurred for the first time in 2016 in 6 of the 9 plots, showing heterogeneous numbers among them. Seed production has been estimated for 4 of the 6 flowering plots, also showing considerable differences. As a whole, the initial phase of reinforcement for this species is considered successful, but a final evaluation can only be made on a long-term basis

Characterization and thermal performance evaluation of infrared reflective coatings compatible with historic buildings

Two infrared reflective coatings recently developed as part of the EFFESUS European research project are characterized and evaluated in this paper. Thermal performance, durability, compatibility with historic fabric, and reversibility are all analysed. The results of extensive research that include laboratory analysis of selected substrates, measurements on a large-scale traditional masonry mock-up, thermodynamic simulations, and finally application in to a real historic building in Istanbul, all support the potential of the new coatings to improve the thermal performance of historic buildings, in keeping with their visual integrity and cultural value. Besides their reflective properties, proven by the thermal stress reductions on the treated surfaces, the new coatings are characterized by low visual impact, easy application, material compatibility, and reversibility after application, as well as durability over time.The EFFESUS project has received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement No. 314678. The authors are grateful to Arianna Vivarelli for her contribution to the activities of the project

Clustering COVID-19 ARDS patients through the first days of ICU admission. An analysis of the CIBERESUCICOVID Cohort

Background Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) can be classified into sub-phenotypes according to different inflammatory/clinical status. Prognostic enrichment was achieved by grouping patients into hypoinflammatory or hyperinflammatory sub-phenotypes, even though the time of analysis may change the classification according to treatment response or disease evolution. We aimed to evaluate when patients can be clustered in more than 1 group, and how they may change the clustering of patients using data of baseline or day 3, and the prognosis of patients according to their evolution by changing or not the cluster.Methods Multicenter, observational prospective, and retrospective study of patients admitted due to ARDS related to COVID-19 infection in Spain. Patients were grouped according to a clustering mixed-type data algorithm (k-prototypes) using continuous and categorical readily available variables at baseline and day 3.Results Of 6205 patients, 3743 (60%) were included in the study. According to silhouette analysis, patients were grouped in two clusters. At baseline, 1402 (37%) patients were included in cluster 1 and 2341(63%) in cluster 2. On day 3, 1557(42%) patients were included in cluster 1 and 2086 (57%) in cluster 2. The patients included in cluster 2 were older and more frequently hypertensive and had a higher prevalence of shock, organ dysfunction, inflammatory biomarkers, and worst respiratory indexes at both time points. The 90-day mortality was higher in cluster 2 at both clustering processes (43.8% [n = 1025] versus 27.3% [n = 383] at baseline, and 49% [n = 1023] versus 20.6% [n = 321] on day 3). Four hundred and fifty-eight (33%) patients clustered in the first group were clustered in the second group on day 3. In contrast, 638 (27%) patients clustered in the second group were clustered in the first group on day 3.Conclusions During the first days, patients can be clustered into two groups and the process of clustering patients may change as they continue to evolve. This means that despite a vast majority of patients remaining in the same cluster, a minority reaching 33% of patients analyzed may be re-categorized into different clusters based on their progress. Such changes can significantly impact their prognosis

The evolution of the ventilatory ratio is a prognostic factor in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 ARDS patients

Background: Mortality due to COVID-19 is high, especially in patients requiring mechanical ventilation. The purpose of the study is to investigate associations between mortality and variables measured during the first three days of mechanical ventilation in patients with COVID-19 intubated at ICU admission. Methods: Multicenter, observational, cohort study includes consecutive patients with COVID-19 admitted to 44 Spanish ICUs between February 25 and July 31, 2020, who required intubation at ICU admission and mechanical ventilation for more than three days. We collected demographic and clinical data prior to admission; information about clinical evolution at days 1 and 3 of mechanical ventilation; and outcomes. Results: Of the 2,095 patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU, 1,118 (53.3%) were intubated at day 1 and remained under mechanical ventilation at day three. From days 1 to 3, PaO2/FiO2 increased from 115.6 [80.0-171.2] to 180.0 [135.4-227.9] mmHg and the ventilatory ratio from 1.73 [1.33-2.25] to 1.96 [1.61-2.40]. In-hospital mortality was 38.7%. A higher increase between ICU admission and day 3 in the ventilatory ratio (OR 1.04 [CI 1.01-1.07], p = 0.030) and creatinine levels (OR 1.05 [CI 1.01-1.09], p = 0.005) and a lower increase in platelet counts (OR 0.96 [CI 0.93-1.00], p = 0.037) were independently associated with a higher risk of death. No association between mortality and the PaO2/FiO2 variation was observed (OR 0.99 [CI 0.95 to 1.02], p = 0.47). Conclusions: Higher ventilatory ratio and its increase at day 3 is associated with mortality in patients with COVID-19 receiving mechanical ventilation at ICU admission. No association was found in the PaO2/FiO2 variation

Textile-reinforced mortar as strengthening material for masonry arches

[EN] Masonry arches are an important part of built heritage that must be preserved. Research and advanced studies of historical masonry structures have progressed slowly in comparison to studies on structures made of other materials (e.g., concrete, steel), resulting in a lack of knowledge and experience in this field. This research evaluates the effectiveness of basalt textile-reinforced mortar (BTRM) as a compatible strengthening composite material for stone masonry arches, providing researchers with further quantitative data. To do so, 11 masonry arches were constructed, strengthened with different layouts, and tested. Furthermore, the BTRM was characterized by testing its constituent materials and the composite material. Once analyzed and compared with other studies, the results showed that BTRM is a promising solution for strengthening stone masonry arches. It is easy to apply, compatible and gives the original structures greater mechanical properties, in terms of ultimate load and deformation capacity.[ES] Los arcos de mampostería son una parte importante del patrimonio construido que debe preservarse. La investigación y los estudios avanzados de estructuras históricas de mampostería han avanzado lentamente en comparación con los estudios sobre estructuras hechas de otros materiales (por ejemplo, hormigón, acero), lo que ha resultado en una falta de conocimiento y experiencia en este campo. Esta investigación evalúa la eficacia del mortero reforzado con tejidos de basalto (BTRM) como material compuesto de refuerzo compatible para arcos de mampostería de piedra, proporcionando a los investigadores más datos cuantitativos. Para ello se construyeron 11 arcos de mampostería, se reforzaron con diferentes disposiciones y se probaron. Además, el BTRM se caracterizó por ensayar sus materiales constituyentes y el material compuesto. Una vez analizados y comparados con otros estudios, los resultados mostraron que BTRM es una solución prometedora para fortalecer los arcos de mampostería de piedra. Es de fácil aplicación, compatible y confiere a las estructuras originales mayores propiedades mecánicas, en términos de carga última y capacidad de deformación.Este trabajo de investigación ha sido posible gracias a la financiación del Gobierno Vasco (TEXMOR-S-PE07LA09) y la Diputación Foral de Bizkaia (BIRGAITEK 7-12-TK-2009-10)

Damage assessment and conservation strategy for the largest covered market in Europe: the Ribera Market (Bilbao)

Publisher Copyright: © 2018, © 2018 Taylor & Francis.Facing a scarcity of land for urban development and demand for public services, the Municipal Council of Bilbao recognizes the need to make good use of its built heritage and to upgrade it, while maintaining its cultural and functional features. A good example is the case of the Ribera Market, the largest covered market in Europe. Deterioration of the market building and public pressure for improved services has led to proposals for its rehabilitation. To do so, the constructive condition of the building must first of all be assessed and, then, the most appropriate and compatible intervention technique must be selected. Today, there is a broad selection of intervention technologies, for the improvement of both mechanical behaviour and durability. However, in this article, it is demonstrated that these technologies are not always applicable in old buildings, because they depend on the severity of the pathology and the intrinsic characteristics of the building: for example, corrosion due to chloride ions originating from the concrete mass. The lack of knowledge on constructive techniques and the requirements for the application of new technologies complicate the interventions, which in turn further complicates decision-making with regard to the property.We express our gratitude to the Basque Regional Government (IT781-13 research group). This research work has been made possible thanks to the support received from the Municipality of Bilbao and Tecnalia Sustainable Construction Division.Peer reviewe