O SISTEMA DE PROTEÇÃO DAS LÍNGUAS MINORITÁRIAS NA UNIÃO EUROPÉIA

Forças mundiais contemporâneas estão impondo um crescente processo de globalização, tornando a língua em um mecanismo de poder. Nações influentes, no cenário político e econômico, determinam qual deva ser a língua majoritária. A globalização afeta não apenas as línguas minoritárias, mas também os idiomas oficiais, implicando no estabelecimento de mecanismos estatais intransigentes objetivando a manutenção da integridade nacional – o temor da fragmentação acaba desconsiderando a pluralidade linguística existente em seu território. A Europa vem enfrentando dois problemas ligados à proteção dos idiomas: o aprofundamento da onda de globalização cultural e o renascimento dos nacionalismos. O destaque da discussão de questões relacionadas com a proteção dos direitos de língua expressa as preocupações da comunidade internacional e determina à dinâmica e a substância das relações internacionais. O artigo discute aspectos da normativa da UE e do acervo jurídico internacional, relativos à proteção do plural legado linguístico, a fim de determinar se existe um nível adequado de proteção jurídica dos direitos linguísticos pelos Estados-Membros. Da mesma forma, o artigo apresenta reflexões relativas à proteção e status de língua minoria e /ou línguas co-oficiais, perante os ordenamentos jurídicos nacionais, ao 1) analisar temas polêmicos, como os diferentes níveis de proteção entre as línguas e dialetos, 2) investigar o significado e consequências do estatuto de oficialidade, 3) determinar do alcance e extensão das políticas linguísticas nacionais e suas conexões com as normativas da UE sobre línguas regionais e minoritárias, aplicando-as a um Estado-Membro: a Espanha. As identidades sociais e linguísticas de todos os grupos minoritários regionais devem ser incluídas na Comunidade. Tal política materializa a forma de assegurar e enfatizar os Direitos Humanos, a coesão, identificação, comunicação e expressão criativa, além de permitir à preservação de códigos linguísticos que reflitam identidades culturais, como forma de prevenir a discriminação baseada na língua e conflitos étnicos

Impact of interstitial lung disease on the survival of systemic sclerosis with pulmonary arterial hypertension

To assess severity markers and outcomes of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) with or without pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH-SSc/non-PAH-SSc), and the impact of interstitial lung disease (ILD) on PAH-SSc. Non-PAH-SSc patients from the Spanish SSc registry and PAH-SSc patients from the Spanish PAH registry were included. A total of 364 PAH-SSc and 1589 non-PAH-SSc patients were included. PAH-SSc patients had worse NYHA-functional class (NYHA-FC), worse forced vital capacity (FVC) (81.2 ± 20.6% vs 93.6 ± 20.6%, P < 0.001), worse tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) (17.4 ± 5.2 mm vs 19.9 ± 6.7 mm, P < 0.001), higher incidence of pericardial effusion (30% vs 5.2%, P < 0.001) and similar prevalence of ILD (41.8% vs. 44.9%). In individuals with PAH-SSc, ILD was associated with worse hemodynamics and pulmonary function tests (PFT). Up-front combination therapy was used in 59.8% and 61.7% of patients with and without ILD, respectively. Five-year transplant-free survival rate was 41.1% in PAH-SSc patients and 93.9% in non-PAH-SSc patients (P < 0.001). Global survival of PAH-SSc patients was not affected by ILD regardless its severity. The multivariate survival analysis in PAH-SSc patients confirmed age at diagnosis, worse NYHA-FC, increased PVR, reduced DLCO, and lower management with up-front combination therapy as major risk factors. In conclusion, in PAH-SSc cohort risk of death was greatly increased by clinical, PFT, and hemodynamic factors, whereas it was decreased by up-front combination therapy. Concomitant ILD worsened hemodynamics and PFT in PAH-SSc but not survival regardless of FVC impairment

Impact of interstitial lung disease on the survival of systemic sclerosis with pulmonary arterial hypertension

To assess severity markers and outcomes of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) with or without pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH-SSc/non-PAH-SSc), and the impact of interstitial lung disease (ILD) on PAH-SSc. Non-PAH-SSc patients from the Spanish SSc registry and PAH-SSc patients from the Spanish PAH registry were included. A total of 364 PAH-SSc and 1589 non-PAH-SSc patients were included. PAH-SSc patients had worse NYHA-functional class (NYHA-FC), worse forced vital capacity (FVC) (81.2 +/- 20.6% vs 93.6 +/- 20.6%, P < 0.001), worse tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) (17.4 +/- 5.2 mm vs 19.9 +/- 6.7 mm, P < 0.001), higher incidence of pericardial effusion (30% vs 5.2%, P < 0.001) and similar prevalence of ILD (41.8% vs. 44.9%). In individuals with PAH-SSc, ILD was associated with worse hemodynamics and pulmonary function tests (PFT). Up-front combination therapy was used in 59.8% and 61.7% of patients with and without ILD, respectively. Five-year transplant-free survival rate was 41.1% in PAH-SSc patients and 93.9% in non-PAH-SSc patients (P < 0.001). Global survival of PAH-SSc patients was not affected by ILD regardless its severity. The multivariate survival analysis in PAH-SSc patients confirmed age at diagnosis, worse NYHA-FC, increased PVR, reduced DLCO, and lower management with up-front combination therapy as major risk factors. In conclusion, in PAH-SSc cohort risk of death was greatly increased by clinical, PFT, and hemodynamic factors, whereas it was decreased by up-front combination therapy. Concomitant ILD worsened hemodynamics and PFT in PAH-SSc but not survival regardless of FVC impairment

Isla de Nueva Tabarca

Geolodía surge en el año 2005 de una iniciativa de José Luis Simón, de la Universidad de Zaragoza, y de Luis Alcalá, de la Fundación Dinópolis. El “Geolodía” es convocado desde el año 2010 por la Sociedad Geológica de España, la Asociación Española Para la Enseñanza de las Ciencias de la Tierra y el Instituto Geológico y Minero de España. Esta actividad pretende acercar a la sociedad tanto la Geología como la profesión de geólogo a partir de itinerarios didácticos guiados por expertos, en lugares interesantes por su entorno geológico. Además de una divulgación rigurosa, pretende sensibilizar a la población sobre la importancia y necesidad de proteger nuestro patrimonio geológico. Este año celebramos la décima edición de Geolodía en la provincia de Alicante. La participación de 3000 personas en la pasada edición de 2016 en Agosto, nos ha forzado a realizar inscripción gratuita, y limitar la participación. También hemos suprimido la ruta familiar y los talleres. Pero estamos diseñando una actividad específica dirigida a este tipo de público que esperamos ofertar en estos próximos años. En esta edición hemos aprovechado una de las maravillas naturales de la provincia de Alicante, la isla de Nueva Tabarca, para ofrecer una ruta de 5 kilómetros que discurre por su perímetro.Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, EspañaPeer reviewe

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

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Foreign language anxiety in the English classroom: A teaching proposal

Treball Final de Grau en Estudis Anglesos. Codi: EA0938. Curs acadèmic: 2017/2018It is widely believed that in these days, learning Foreign Languages (FLs) has become a goal due to professional or personal reasons. However, FL acquisition can be considered a challenging experience in the learning area. That is because many students are worried when they are about to face a Target Language (TL), expressed in fears or insecurities. Furthermore, the process of learning a FL is not simple as many factors influence in the acquisition such as motivation, self-esteem or anxiety. Hence, these affective variables can prevent or motivate students to achieve properly a Second Language (L2), especially on the early stages of the acquisition. Therefore, the present project will be mainly focused on one affective factor, which is a feeling of tension, Foreign Language Anxiety (FLA), a field studied by many researchers due to the many inconveniences that cause on learners. Consequently, the purpose of this present contribution consists of the following. First of all, it aims at giving special attention to the insights of FLA. Secondly, the paper’s goal is to elaborate a teaching proposal for students who belong to first of Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO). Thus, the designed method is generally intended for students with a basic A2 level of English. In this proposal five different activities will be made with the purpose of reducing Language Anxiety (LA) learners may experience when they are exposed to a FL. Finally, in order to implement this proposal, further research of the topic would be advisable

The shift from passive to active investing: an application to the Spanish market using the Markowitz model

Treball Final de Grau en Finances i Comptabilitat. Codi: FC1049. Curs acadèmic: 2021-2022This paper aims to increase the knowledge of the Markowitz model and through its practical application, create a series of efficient portfolios that can beat the IBEXM35 and/or the naïve strategy 1/N. These portfolios should provide the lowest possible risk for a given level of return. For this purpose, we will select several assets from different sectors that will make up our investment portfolio. By solving the mathematical optimisation model with the model's boundary conditions, we will obtain the Markowitz corner portfolios. These will be compared with IBEXM35 and the naïve strategy 1/N to check if the objective has finally been achieved.El objetivo del presente trabajo consiste en aumentar los conocimientos sobre el modelo de Markowitz y mediante su aplicación práctica, crear una serie de carteras eficientes que consigan batir al IBEXM35 y/o a la naïve strategy 1/N. Estas carteras deberán proporcionar el menor riesgo posible para un determinado nivel de rentabilidad. Para ello, deberemos seleccionar una serie de activos de distintos sectores que integrarán nuestra cartera de inversión. Al resolver el modelo matemático de optimización con las condiciones de contorno del modelo, obtendremos las carteras esquina de Markowitz. Estas las compararemos con el IBEXM35 y la naïve strategy 1/N para comprobar si finalmente se ha alcanzado el objetivo

Molecular detection of Rickettsia typhi in cats and fleas.

BACKGROUND: Rickettsiatyphi is the etiological agent of murine typhus (MT), a disease transmitted by two cycles: rat-flea-rat, and peridomestic cycle. Murine typhus is often misdiagnosed and underreported. A correct diagnosis is important because MT can cause severe illness and death. Our previous seroprevalence results pointed to presence of human R. typhi infection in our region; however, no clinical case has been reported. Although cats have been related to MT, no naturally infected cat has been described. The aim of the study is to confirm the existence of R. typhi in our location analyzing its presence in cats and fleas. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: 221 cats and 80 fleas were collected from Veterinary clinics, shelters, and the street (2001-2009). Variables surveyed were: date of collection, age, sex, municipality, living place, outdoor activities, demographic area, healthy status, contact with animals, and ectoparasite infestation. IgG against R. typhi were evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Molecular detection in cats and fleas was performed by real-time PCR. Cultures were performed in those cats with positive molecular detection. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS. A p < 0.05 was considered significant. Thirty-five (15.8%) cats were seropositive. There were no significant associations among seropositivity and any variables. R. typhi was detected in 5 blood and 2 cultures. High titres and molecular detection were observed in stray cats and pets, as well as in spring and winter. All fleas were Ctenocephalides felis. R. typhi was detected in 44 fleas (55%), from shelters and pets. Co-infection with R. felis was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Although no clinical case has been described in this area, the presence of R. typhi in cats and fleas is demonstrated. Moreover, a considerable percentage of those animals lived in households. To our knowledge, this is the first time R. typhi is detected in naturally infected cats