Construcción, paisaje y arte: los cubos de la memoria

The villa of Llanes (Asturias) has a fishing port whose amplificationwas inaugurated in 1994. The works approached theconstruction of a new dock, a continuation dike of the existingand the placement of large blocks of concrete to breakwatermanner.To lessen the aesthetic effect not desirable of this intervention,was proposed the recovery of that space through the creationof a great mural that avoided by a part the aesthetic effect ofthe concrete, and additionally the accumulation of wastematerials that the sea was concentrating in such breakwater,assuming a maintenance and cleanliness obligation.The basque painter and sculptor, Agustín Ibarrola, have carriedout this intervention.La villa de Llanes (Asturias) tiene un puerto pesquero cuyaampliación se inauguró en 1994. Las obras consistieron en laconstrucción de una nueva dársena, un dique continuación delexistente, y la colocación de grandes bloques de hormigón amodo de escollera.Para aminorar el efecto estético no deseable del acabado dela misma, se propuso la recuperación de ese espacio mediantela creación de un gran mural que evitase, por una parte, elefecto estético del hormigón, y, por otra, la acumulación demateriales de desecho que la mar acumulaba en dichaescollera, asumiendo una obligación de mantenimiento ylimpieza.Esta intervención ha sido llevada a cabo por el pintor yescultor vasco Agustín Ibarrola

Evaluation of the relationship between effervescent paracetamol and blood pressure: clinical trial

Background: Paracetamol's solubility is achieved by adding to the excipient sodium salts, either as bicarbonate, carbonate or citrate. As the relationship between salt and hypertension is well known, due to the sodium content it has raised a hypothesis that may interfere with the control of that risk factor. Therefore, the objective of this study is to evaluate the effect on blood pressure of effervescent paracetamol compared to non-effervescent, in hypertensive patients. Methods/Design: This is the protocol of a phase IV multicenter clinical trial, randomized, controlled, crossover, open, which will compare the effect of two different formulations of paracetamol (effervescent or non-effervescent) in the blood pressure of hypertensive patients, with a seven weeks follow up. 49 controlled hypertensive patients will be included (clinical BP lower than 150 and 95 mmHg, and lower than 135 mmHg and 85 mmHg in patients with diabetes or a history of cardiovascular event, and daytime ambulatory measurements lower than 140 and 90 mmHg) and mild to moderate pain (Visual Analog Scale between 1 and 4). The study was approved by the ethics committee of the Fundació Jordi Gol i Gurina and following standards of good clinical practice. The primary endpoint will be the variations in systolic BP in 24 h Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring, considering significant differences 2 or more mmHg among those treated with non-effervescent and effervescent formulations. Intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis will be held. Discussion: Despite the broad recommendation not to use effervescent drugs in patients with hypertension, there are relatively little studies that show exac tly this pressor effect due to sodium in salt that gives the effervescence of the product. This is the first clinical trial designed to study the effect of effervescence compared to the non-effervescent, in well-controlled hypertensive patients with mild to moderate pain, performed in routine clinical practic

The Biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea: Estimates, Patterns, and Threats

The Mediterranean Sea is a marine biodiversity hot spot. Here we combined an extensive literature analysis with expert opinions to update publicly available estimates of major taxa in this marine ecosystem and to revise and update several species lists. We also assessed overall spatial and temporal patterns of species diversity and identified major changes and threats. Our results listed approximately 17,000 marine species occurring in the Mediterranean Sea. However, our estimates of marine diversity are still incomplete as yet—undescribed species will be added in the future. Diversity for microbes is substantially underestimated, and the deep-sea areas and portions of the southern and eastern region are still poorly known. In addition, the invasion of alien species is a crucial factor that will continue to change the biodiversity of the Mediterranean, mainly in its eastern basin that can spread rapidly northwards and westwards due to the warming of the Mediterranean Sea. Spatial patterns showed a general decrease in biodiversity from northwestern to southeastern regions following a gradient of production, with some exceptions and caution due to gaps in our knowledge of the biota along the southern and eastern rims. Biodiversity was also generally higher in coastal areas and continental shelves, and decreases with depth. Temporal trends indicated that overexploitation and habitat loss have been the main human drivers of historical changes in biodiversity. At present, habitat loss and degradation, followed by fishing impacts, pollution, climate change, eutrophication, and the establishment of alien species are the most important threats and affect the greatest number of taxonomic groups. All these impacts are expected to grow in importance in the future, especially climate change and habitat degradation. The spatial identification of hot spots highlighted the ecological importance of most of the western Mediterranean shelves (and in particular, the Strait of Gibraltar and the adjacent Alboran Sea), western African coast, the Adriatic, and the Aegean Sea, which show high concentrations of endangered, threatened, or vulnerable species. The Levantine Basin, severely impacted by the invasion of species, is endangered as well

Alteraciones metabólicas en el proceso de amiloidogénesis en el hipocampo de ratones app/ps1

La malaltia d'Alzheimer (MA) és la demència més comuna, representa entre el 60-80% de totes elles. Segons estimacions recents, el nombre de casos augmentés de 30 milions en 2010 a 40 milions en 2020 i 100 milions l'any 2050. Entre els principals factors de risc són la edat i certes mutacions genètiques, però també s'han detectat factors de risc ambientals com la diabetis *mellitus, la hipertensió i l'obesitat en la mitjana edat, la depressió, la falta d'activitat física, el tabaquisme i la inactivitat cognitiva. La hipòtesi de la trencada amiloide afirma que la deterioració cognitiva i la pèrdua de memòria són causades per la formació de plaques de beta amiloide, insolubles en el cervell, que comporten la mort neuronal i produeixen els símptomes clàssics de la malaltia. No obstant això, és necessari diferenciar entre les plaques amiloides insolubles i les plaques solubles. Alguns autors suggereixen que els monòmers de β-amiloide i fibril·les, i no les plaques, són responsables del desenvolupament i progressió de la MA. En el desenvolupament de la MA, s'incrementen els nivells de Aβ amiloide i es produeixen alteracions metabòliques en el cervell. La via de senyalització d'insulina es troba alterada i produeix resistència a insulina central, alguns autors proposen que la MA és una malaltia metabòlica la qual han denominat “diabetis tipus 3” Els nostres resultats indiquen que els nivells de beta amiloide cerebrals i la dieta grassa enriquida amb àcid palmític provoquen efectes similars. Les dues condicions provoquen pèrdua de memòria, resistència a insulina tant perifèric com central i alteracions mitocondrials en la cadena de transport d'electrons.La enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA) es la demencia más común, representa entre el 60-80% de todas ellas. Según estimaciones recientes, el número de casos aumentara de 30 millones en 2010 a 40 millones en 2020 y 100 millones el año 2050. Entre los principales factores de riesgo son la vejez y ciertas mutaciones genéticas, pero también se han detectado factores de riesgo ambientales como la diabetes mellitus, la hipertensión y la obesidad en la mediana edad, la depresión, la falta de actividad física, el tabaquismo y la inactividad cognitiva. La hipótesis de la cascada amiloide afirma que el deterioro cognitivo y la pérdida de memoria son causadas por la formación de placas de beta amiloide, insolubles en el cerebro, que conllevan la muerte neuronal y producen los síntomas clásicos de la enfermedad. Sin embargo, es necesario diferenciar entre las placas amiloides insolubles y las placas solubles. Algunas autores sugieren que los monómeros de β-amiloide y fibrillas, y no las placas, son responsables del desarrollo y progresión de la EA. En el desarrollo de la EA, se incrementan los niveles de Aβ amiloide y se producen alteraciones metabólicas en el cerebro. La vía de señalización de insulina se encuentra alterada y produce resistencia a insulina central, algunos autores proponen que la EA es una enfermedad metabólica la cual han denominado “diabetes tipo 3” Nuestros resultados indican que los niveles de beta amiloide cerebrales y la dieta grasa enriquecida con ácido palmítico provocan efectos similares. Las dos condiciones provocan pérdida de memoria, resistencia a insulina tanto periférica como central y alteraciones mitocondriales en la cadena de trasporte de electrones.AD is the most common cause of senile dementia, accounting for between 60 and 80% of all dementias. According to recent estimates, the number of cases of AD worldwide is projected to rise from approximately 30 million in 2010 to 40 million by 2020 and to 100 million by 2050. Apart from the genetic component and old age, seven primary preventable environmental risk factors contributing to AD have been identified: diabetes mellitus, midlife hypertension, midlife obesity, depression, physical inactivity, smoking and cognitive inactivity. A classical, but currently hotly debated “amyloid cascade” hypothesis states that cognitive decline and memory loss in AD are caused by the formation of large, insoluble beta amyloid plaques in the brain, which result in neuronal death and produce characteristic disease symptoms. However, it is necessary to differentiate between the insoluble plaques and soluble amyloidmolecules. Recently emerged alternative theories suggest that the β amyloid monomers, fibrils, or oligomers, and not the plaques, may in fact be the primary neurotoxic species in the brain, responsible for AD development and progression. Apart from amyloid beta itself, mounting evidence suggests that impaired glucose and insulin signaling and metabolism in the brain play a key role in AD. The discovery of brain-specific insulin signaling deficiencies in the very early stages of AD pathogenesis has led some authors to propose that AD may be termed “type 3 diabetes”. Our results indicate that the brain β-amyloid levels seem not to be the primary cause of the HFD inducedmemory perturbations. It appears that the reductions in brain insulin signaling and the resulting mitochondrial dysfunction are among the key culprits leading to cognitive decline in early-stage AD-like rodent models

Ardidectura : casa para un ilusionista en la costa atlántica (Arquitectura e ilusión: consideraciones teórico-mágicas sobre el espacio)

Dentro de la actividad docente desempeñada en la asignatura Proyectos III de la ETSAC (Universidade da Coruña), se resuelve este ejercicio de curso, como ejemplo práctico del enriquecimiento del proyecto arquitectónico a través de la convivencia interdisciplinaria y coherente entre arquitectura e ilusionismo, sin que ninguna pierda su carácter tectónico e intrigante al mismo tiempo. La psicología de la decepción se pone al servicio del espacio para insertar en él la acción tramposa, al tiempo que se pondera el valor de las características topogénicas del lugar. Como caso práctico de aplicación de los recursos empleados en los primeros estadios del ilusionismo1 del siglo XVIII al campo de la arquitectura, se plantea la resolución de un programa de vivienda para un mago contemporáneo, con la singularidad añadida que le aporta la necesidad de un volumen de 7×7×7 m, que albergaría el espacio de trabajo del prestidigitador. Al mismo tiempo, se manejan los conceptos mágicos de timing (inserción natural de la acción tramposa) y misdirection (diversión de la atención) como base del ardid arquitectónico que pretende la suspensión o levitación de la pieza.Peer Reviewe

Applications of Natural Language Processing for the Management of Stroke Disorders: Scoping Review

BackgroundRecent advances in natural language processing (NLP) have heightened the interest of the medical community in its application to health care in general, in particular to stroke, a medical emergency of great impact. In this rapidly evolving context, it is necessary to learn and understand the experience already accumulated by the medical and scientific community. ObjectiveThe aim of this scoping review was to explore the studies conducted in the last 10 years using NLP to assist the management of stroke emergencies so as to gain insight on the state of the art, its main contexts of application, and the software tools that are used. MethodsData were extracted from Scopus and Medline through PubMed, using the keywords “natural language processing” and “stroke.” Primary research questions were related to the phases, contexts, and types of textual data used in the studies. Secondary research questions were related to the numerical and statistical methods and the software used to process the data. The extracted data were structured in tables and their relative frequencies were calculated. The relationships between categories were analyzed through multiple correspondence analysis. ResultsTwenty-nine papers were included in the review, with the majority being cohort studies of ischemic stroke published in the last 2 years. The majority of papers focused on the use of NLP to assist in the diagnostic phase, followed by the outcome prognosis, using text data from diagnostic reports and in many cases annotations on medical images. The most frequent approach was based on general machine learning techniques applied to the results of relatively simple NLP methods with the support of ontologies and standard vocabularies. Although smaller in number, there has been an increasing body of studies using deep learning techniques on numerical and vectorized representations of the texts obtained with more sophisticated NLP tools. ConclusionsStudies focused on NLP applied to stroke show specific trends that can be compared to the more general application of artificial intelligence to stroke. The purpose of using NLP is often to improve processes in a clinical context rather than to assist in the rehabilitation process. The state of the art in NLP is represented by deep learning architectures, among which Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers has been found to be especially widely used in the medical field in general, and for stroke in particular, with an increasing focus on the processing of annotations on medical images