Beginnings and endings. Post-Bologna teaching transformations. The case of the School of Architecture at the University of Alcalá (UAH)

El presente artículo tiene dos objetivos. Por un lado, presentar los resultados del proyecto de innovación docente “Transformaciones docentes en los ciclos inicial y final de la carrera de arquitectura en el nuevo contexto disciplinar, social y tecnológico” (Universidad de Alcalá, 2017-18), orientado a evaluar los impactos o respuestas dadas en el ciclo inicial y final de la carrera en la Escuela de Arquitectura de la Universidad de Alcalá, ante dos fenómenos que han condicionado la docencia de la arquitectura en las últimas dos décadas: las reformas a la estructura y los métodos de la educación superior europea resumidas en la Declaración de Bolonia (1999), y un escenario disciplinar marcado por complejas transformaciones sociales y profesionales. Y, por otro, comparar los resultados obtenidos con la situación actual de las Escuelas de Arquitectura en Chile. Como síntesis del trabajo, se constata que en el ciclo inicial surge la configuración de un nuevo sujeto estudiante, con características especiales que exigen repensar la didáctica en el aula; y, en el ciclo final, se observa que la instauración del Máster Habilitante ha obligado a modificar la estructura y docencia del cierre de la formación al acortar tiempos y promover una integración de saberes en el proyecto confrontada con la concepción parcelada del grado. Comparado con el caso chileno, se advierten una serie de paralelismos, pero también diferencias significativas debido, principalmente, a la política universitaria de ambos países. Asimismo, se evidencia que los ambiciosos y oportunos objetivos planteados por los acuerdos de Bolonia no terminan de dar los frutos esperados.The following article has two objectives. The first is to present the results of the innovation in teaching project entitled “Teacher transformations in the initial and final cycles of the architecture major in the new disciplinary, social and technological context” (University of Alcalá, 2017- 2018). The impact or responses given in the initial and final cycles of the major at the University of Alcalá’s School of Architecture were evaluated in light of two phenomena that have conditioned the teaching of architecture in the last two decades: the organizational and methodological reforms to European higher education summarized in the Declaration of Bologna (1999), and a professional context marked by complex social and professional transformations. The second objective is to compare these results with the current situation of architecture schools in Chile. In summary, the results of this research confirm that in the initial cycle a new student profile has arisen with special characteristics that require the rethinking of teaching approaches in the classroom. Meanwhile, in the final cycle it was observed that the implementation of the license-granting master ́s degree required to practice architecture has made it necessary to modify the structure and teaching in the last stage of the educational process with shortened periods of study and by fostering the integration of knowledge in the final project when faced with the fragmented understanding achieved with the degree. In comparison with the case in Chile, there are a number of similarities, but also significant differences mainly due to the university policies of both countries. Likewise, it is clear that the ambitious and opportune objectives established by the Bologna Process do not produce the expected results in the end.O artigo tem dois objetivos. Por um lado, apresentar os resultados do projeto de inovação docente “Transformações docentes nos ciclos inicial e final do curso de arquitetura no novo contexto disciplinar, social e tecnológico” (Universidad de Alcalá, 2017-18) orientado a avaliar os impactos ou respostas dadas nos ciclos inicial e final do curso na Escuela de Arquitectura da Universidad de Alcalá ante dois fenômenos que se esteve (e esta) condicionando a docência de arquitetura nas últimas duas décadas: as reformas de estrutura e método da educação superior europeia resumida na Declaración de Bolonia (1999) e, um cenário disciplinar marcado por complexas transformações sociais e profissionais. Por outro lado, comparar estes resultados com a situação atual das Escolas de Arquitetura do Chile. Em síntese, os resultados da pesquisa realizada mostram que no ciclo inicial se observa a configuração de um novo sujeito estudante, com características especiais que obrigam a repensar a didática em classe e, no ciclo final a instauração do Máster Habilitante obrigou a modificou a estrutura de docência ao final da formação ao diminuir os prazos e promover uma integração de saberes em projeto confrontada com a concepção segmentada da graduação. Comparado com o caso chileno, se observam: por um lado, uma série de paralelismos, mas também diferenças significativas em função, principalmente, da política universitária de ambos países e, por outro, que os ambiciosos e oportunos objetivos propostos pelos acordos de Bolonha não acabam tendo os resultados esperados

Global age-sex-specific fertility, mortality, healthy life expectancy (HALE), and population estimates in 204 countries and territories, 1950-2019 : a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Accurate and up-to-date assessment of demographic metrics is crucial for understanding a wide range of social, economic, and public health issues that affect populations worldwide. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 produced updated and comprehensive demographic assessments of the key indicators of fertility, mortality, migration, and population for 204 countries and territories and selected subnational locations from 1950 to 2019. Methods: 8078 country-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 938 surveys, 349 censuses, and 238 other sources were identified and used to estimate age-specific fertility. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) was used to generate age-specific fertility rates for 5-year age groups between ages 15 and 49 years. With extensions to age groups 10–14 and 50–54 years, the total fertility rate (TFR) was then aggregated using the estimated age-specific fertility between ages 10 and 54 years. 7417 sources were used for under-5 mortality estimation and 7355 for adult mortality. ST-GPR was used to synthesise data sources after correction for known biases. Adult mortality was measured as the probability of death between ages 15 and 60 years based on vital registration, sample registration, and sibling histories, and was also estimated using ST-GPR. HIV-free life tables were then estimated using estimates of under-5 and adult mortality rates using a relational model life table system created for GBD, which closely tracks observed age-specific mortality rates from complete vital registration when available. Independent estimates of HIV-specific mortality generated by an epidemiological analysis of HIV prevalence surveys and antenatal clinic serosurveillance and other sources were incorporated into the estimates in countries with large epidemics. Annual and single-year age estimates of net migration and population for each country and territory were generated using a Bayesian hierarchical cohort component model that analysed estimated age-specific fertility and mortality rates along with 1250 censuses and 747 population registry years. We classified location-years into seven categories on the basis of the natural rate of increase in population (calculated by subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate) and the net migration rate. We computed healthy life expectancy (HALE) using years lived with disability (YLDs) per capita, life tables, and standard demographic methods. Uncertainty was propagated throughout the demographic estimation process, including fertility, mortality, and population, with 1000 draw-level estimates produced for each metric. Findings: The global TFR decreased from 2·72 (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 2·66–2·79) in 2000 to 2·31 (2·17–2·46) in 2019. Global annual livebirths increased from 134·5 million (131·5–137·8) in 2000 to a peak of 139·6 million (133·0–146·9) in 2016. Global livebirths then declined to 135·3 million (127·2–144·1) in 2019. Of the 204 countries and territories included in this study, in 2019, 102 had a TFR lower than 2·1, which is considered a good approximation of replacement-level fertility. All countries in sub-Saharan Africa had TFRs above replacement level in 2019 and accounted for 27·1% (95% UI 26·4–27·8) of global livebirths. Global life expectancy at birth increased from 67·2 years (95% UI 66·8–67·6) in 2000 to 73·5 years (72·8–74·3) in 2019. The total number of deaths increased from 50·7 million (49·5–51·9) in 2000 to 56·5 million (53·7–59·2) in 2019. Under-5 deaths declined from 9·6 million (9·1–10·3) in 2000 to 5·0 million (4·3–6·0) in 2019. Global population increased by 25·7%, from 6·2 billion (6·0–6·3) in 2000 to 7·7 billion (7·5–8·0) in 2019. In 2019, 34 countries had negative natural rates of increase; in 17 of these, the population declined because immigration was not sufficient to counteract the negative rate of decline. Globally, HALE increased from 58·6 years (56·1–60·8) in 2000 to 63·5 years (60·8–66·1) in 2019. HALE increased in 202 of 204 countries and territories between 2000 and 2019

Broadband Multi-wavelength Properties of M87 during the 2017 Event Horizon Telescope Campaign

Abstract: In 2017, the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) Collaboration succeeded in capturing the first direct image of the center of the M87 galaxy. The asymmetric ring morphology and size are consistent with theoretical expectations for a weakly accreting supermassive black hole of mass ∼6.5 × 109 M ⊙. The EHTC also partnered with several international facilities in space and on the ground, to arrange an extensive, quasi-simultaneous multi-wavelength campaign. This Letter presents the results and analysis of this campaign, as well as the multi-wavelength data as a legacy data repository. We captured M87 in a historically low state, and the core flux dominates over HST-1 at high energies, making it possible to combine core flux constraints with the more spatially precise very long baseline interferometry data. We present the most complete simultaneous multi-wavelength spectrum of the active nucleus to date, and discuss the complexity and caveats of combining data from different spatial scales into one broadband spectrum. We apply two heuristic, isotropic leptonic single-zone models to provide insight into the basic source properties, but conclude that a structured jet is necessary to explain M87’s spectrum. We can exclude that the simultaneous γ-ray emission is produced via inverse Compton emission in the same region producing the EHT mm-band emission, and further conclude that the γ-rays can only be produced in the inner jets (inward of HST-1) if there are strongly particle-dominated regions. Direct synchrotron emission from accelerated protons and secondaries cannot yet be excluded

A Relative Deficiency of Lysosomal Acid Lypase Activity Characterizes Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) is a key enzyme in lipid metabolism. Initial reports have suggested a role for a relative acquired LAL deficiency in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)—however, it is still unclear whether this mechanism is specific for NAFLD. We aimed to determine LAL activity in a cohort of NAFLD subjects and in a control group of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients, investigating the role of liver cirrhosis. A total of 81 patients with a diagnosis of NAFLD, and 78 matched controls with HCV-related liver disease were enrolled. For each patient, LAL activity was determined on peripheral dried blood spots (DBS) and correlated with clinical and laboratory data. A subgroup analysis among cirrhotic patients was also performed. LAL activity is significantly reduced in NAFLD, compared to that in HCV patients. This finding is particularly evident in the pre-cirrhotic stage of disease. LAL activity is also correlated with platelet and white blood cell count, suggesting an analytic interference of portal-hypertension-induced pancytopenia on DBS-determined LAL activity. NAFLD is characterized by a specific deficit in LAL activity, suggesting a pathogenetic role of LAL. We propose that future studies on this topic should rely on tissue specific analyses, as peripheral blood tests are also influenced by confounding factors

The effects of cervical transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation on motor pathways supplying the upper limb in humans

<div><p>Non-invasive, weak direct current stimulation can induce changes in excitability of underlying neural tissue. Many studies have used transcranial direct current stimulation to induce changes in the brain, however more recently a number of studies have used transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation to induce changes in the spinal cord. This study further characterises the effects following cervical transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation on motor pathways supplying the upper limb. In Study 1, on two separate days, participants (n = 12, 5 F) received 20 minutes of either real or sham direct current stimulation at 3 mA through electrodes placed in an anterior-posterior configuration over the neck (anode anterior). Biceps brachii, flexor carpi radialis and first dorsal interosseous responses to transcranial magnetic stimulation (motor evoked potentials) and cervicomedullary stimulation (cervicomedullary motor evoked potentials) were measured before and after real or sham stimulation. In Study 2, on two separate days, participants (n = 12, 7 F) received either real or sham direct current stimulation in the same way as for Study 1. Before and after real or sham stimulation, median nerve stimulation elicited M waves and H reflexes in the flexor carpi radialis. H-reflex recruitment curves and homosynaptic depression of the H reflex were assessed. Results show that the effects of real and sham direct current stimulation did not differ for motor evoked potentials or cervicomedullary motor evoked potentials for any muscle, nor for H-reflex recruitment curve parameters or homosynaptic depression. Cervical transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation with the parameters described here does not modify motor responses to corticospinal stimulation nor does it modify H reflexes of the upper limb. These results are important for the emerging field of transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation.</p></div