Indicators Framework for Sustainable Urban Design

[Abstract] Climate change and sustainability have recently been object of study due to the impact on the planet and on human activity of the first and the benefits that could derive from the efficiency of the second. Particularly, urban environments are locations that represent a high percentage of emissions of gases, waste, resources use and so forth. However, they are places where great changes can be made, in an attempt to accomplish the urgent challenge to adapt to current and projected rates of climate change. Research has shown that a fruitful approach to urban sustainability is to describe indicators that measure the effectiveness of current processes of urban infrastructures, analyze areas in need of improvement and measure the effect of any actions taken. The significant feature of this research relies on its global approach, considering both major worldwide used and less widely-spread frameworks and the analysis of the 32 selected tools and guidelines, including over 2000 indicators. The result is a proposed structure of 14 categories and 48 indicators, easily applicable in urban areas, that tries to fulfill basic aspects to obtain a general diagnosis of the sustainable nature of the urban environment, which can serve as support to detect the strongest and weakest areas in terms of their sustainability

La evaluación en las materias Gráfico Visual de la Universidad de Santiago de Compostela

Evaluation is a complex activity that is part of the educational process and has always been a main concern for teachers. This research was conducted through an analysis of the educational guides of all technical degrees from the University of Santiago taking into account every course dealing with Visual Design in order to find out what are the evaluative strategies used. The results, which indicate that out of the 12 subjects of Visual Graphic Expression present at USC, only 2 (16.6% of the sample) detail how to conduct the assessment, and in both cases the exam accounts for 60 or 65% of the final grade.La evaluación es una actividad compleja que forma parte del proceso educativo y siempre ha constituido una preocupación central del docente. Aunque a veces es percibida como el componente más incómodo del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje, resulta esencial contar con un sistema de evaluación que legitime y promueva la calidad Esta no constituye una labor que se realiza al margen del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje, siendo una actividad integrada la acción docente.  Consideramos que la evaluación es uno de los elementos clave del proceso formativo en cualquier nivel educativo, sus finalidades son amplias y no se remiten solamente a calificar, clasificar o aprobar estudiantes o que este sea capaz simplemente de reproducir la información asimilada. Dada su importancia, las formas de evaluación y sus estrategias asociadas han de ser variadas, además de constituir una fuente de información lo suficientemente amplia como para calificar a los estudiantes, puesto que no sería responsable pretender evaluar las tres dimensiones del aprendizaje empleando solo las formas correspondientes a una de estas dimensiones. Sin embargo, Andreu y Labrador afirman que la evaluación sigue mayoritariamente asociada con el examen, poco a poco ha ido surgiendo una nueva forma de entender la formación universitaria, reconceptualizándose el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje, que incluye también un cambio en el enfoque de la evaluación. Así pues, dada la importancia que posee la evaluación se ha realizado una investigación a través del análisis de las guías docentes de todas las titulaciones técnicas de la Universidad de Santiago que contienen entre sus materias alguna relacionada con la Enseñanza Gráfico Visual para averiguar  cuáles son las estrategias evaluadoras que se emplean. Los resultados, que indican que de las 12 asignaturas de Expresión Gráfico Visual presentes en la USC, sólo en 2 (16,6% de la muestra) se detalla el modo de realizar la evaluación, siendo en ambos casos e examen el responsable del 60 o 65% de la nota final. Es resto de la calificación se realiza a través de los trabajos. Cabe destacar que a pesar de no estar detallada su ponderación, en el 75% de los casos se utiliza el examen como parte de la evaluación, y el 66,66% las prácticas

Are music and mathematics worked on in an interdisciplinary way during early childhood education?

Resumen El propósito de esta investigación es analizar si se trabajan de manera interdisciplinar las materias de música y matemáticas en los primeros años de escolaridad. Opción metodológica que en los últimos años está recibiendo un gran empuje en esta etapa educativa, en contraposición a los modelos tradicionales. La muestra está formada por 360 profesores de educación infantil y educación musical de colegios públicos y concertados de la provincia de A Coruña (Galicia, España). Para llevar a cabo el análisis se diseñó un cuestionario que se aplicó en noviembre de 2013. Los resultados reflejan que la mayoría de profesores pertenece a centros públicos y le otorgan la misma importancia a las asignaturas de música y matemáticas. Consideran que es importante trabajarlas de forma interdisciplinar, pues de este modo mejora la formación integral del alumnado. Sin embargo, no se sienten capacitados para abordar el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de este modo. En la mayoría de los casos son distintos profesores quienes imparten ambas materias y no programan ni utilizan materiales y actividades de forma conjunta, aunque evalúan de forma interdisciplinar. Por último, en la discusión, se realizan ciertas consideraciones finales que ponen de manifiesto el porqué es importante la investigación, pues los resultados obtenidos nos permiten conocer la realidad de nuestras aulas, y nos inducen a afirmar la necesidad de la formación del profesorado para dar impulso a la enseñanza-aprendizaje de música y matemáticas de educación infantil a través de la interdisciplinariedad.Abstract The purpose of this investigation is to analyse whether music and mathematics are subjects taught in an interdisciplinary way in the earliest school years, a methodological option that had a great impact in the past few years on this educational stage, opposed to the traditional methods.The sample is made up by 360 teachers of early childhood education and musical education from both public and private schools in the province of a Coruña (Galicia, Spain). To carry through the analysis, we designed a questionnaire that was applied in November 2013. The results show that most of the teachers belong to public schools and give the same importance to both subjects, music and mathematics. They consider that it is important to work on them in an interdisciplinary way, as that improves the integral academic training of students. In the majority of the cases, there exists a different teacher for each subject, and they do not program or use materials and activities jointly, although they do evaluate in a interdisciplinary manner. Lastly, in the discussion we make certain final considerations that evidence what makes investigation important, as our findings allow us to know what is happening in the classrooms and lead us to confirm the need for teacher education to give an impulse to the teaching-learning process of music and mathematics through interdisciplinarity

Development of an Automatic Low-Cost Air Quality Control System: A Radon Application

[Abstract] Air pollution is the fourth-largest overall risk factor for human health worldwide. Ambient air pollution (outdoors) and household air pollution (indoors) cause about 6.5 million premature deaths. The World Health Organization has established that between 3% and 14% of lung cancer cases are due to radon gas, making it the most important cause of lung cancer after smoking. This work presents a fully automated, low-cost indoor air quality control system that can monitor temperature, pressure, humidity, total volatile organic compounds (TOVC), and radon concentration. Using the radon concentration as an air quality measure, we created a prediction algorithm. The system uses those predictions to control a ventilation system automatically. We tested the algorithm for different prediction windows and compared the results with those without the ventilation system in a radon research room. In this room, the radon concentration is high 100% of the time, reaching a level eleven times higher than the recommended limit. The results show that the system can achieve an 86% reduction of the radon concentration, maintaining it low 90% of the time while having the ventilation system on during only 34% of the time. This work demonstrates that we can control air quality using low-cost resources, keeping a household or workplace safe but comfortable.This work was supported by Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the project BIA2017-86738-R and through the funding of the unique installation BIOCAI (UNLC08-1E-002, UNLC13-13-3503) and the European Regional Development Funds (FEDER) by the European Union. This work is supported in part by grants from the European Social Fund 2014–2020. CITIC (Research Centre of the Galician University System) and the Galician University System (SUG) obtained funds through Regional Development Fund (ERDF), with 80% from the Operational Program ERDF Galicia 2014–2020 and the remaining 20% from the Secretaría Xeral de Universidades of the Galician University System (SUG) (Ref ED431G 2019/01). Additional support was provided by the Consolidation and Structuring of Competitive Research Units—Competitive Reference Groups (ED431C 2018/49)Xunta de Galicia; ED431G 2019/01Xunta de Galicia; ED431C 2018/4

Evolving trends in the management of acute appendicitis during COVID-19 waves. The ACIE appy II study

Background: In 2020, ACIE Appy study showed that COVID-19 pandemic heavily affected the management of patients with acute appendicitis (AA) worldwide, with an increased rate of non-operative management (NOM) strategies and a trend toward open surgery due to concern of virus transmission by laparoscopy and controversial recommendations on this issue. The aim of this study was to survey again the same group of surgeons to assess if any difference in management attitudes of AA had occurred in the later stages of the outbreak. Methods: From August 15 to September 30, 2021, an online questionnaire was sent to all 709 participants of the ACIE Appy study. The questionnaire included questions on personal protective equipment (PPE), local policies and screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection, NOM, surgical approach and disease presentations in 2021. The results were compared with the results from the previous study. Results: A total of 476 answers were collected (response rate 67.1%). Screening policies were significatively improved with most patients screened regardless of symptoms (89.5% vs. 37.4%) with PCR and antigenic test as the preferred test (74.1% vs. 26.3%). More patients tested positive before surgery and commercial systems were the preferred ones to filter smoke plumes during laparoscopy. Laparoscopic appendicectomy was the first option in the treatment of AA, with a declined use of NOM. Conclusion: Management of AA has improved in the last waves of pandemic. Increased evidence regarding SARS-COV-2 infection along with a timely healthcare systems response has been translated into tailored attitudes and a better care for patients with AA worldwide

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

The global burden of adolescent and young adult cancer in 2019 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background In estimating the global burden of cancer, adolescents and young adults with cancer are often overlooked, despite being a distinct subgroup with unique epidemiology, clinical care needs, and societal impact. Comprehensive estimates of the global cancer burden in adolescents and young adults (aged 15-39 years) are lacking. To address this gap, we analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019, with a focus on the outcome of disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), to inform global cancer control measures in adolescents and young adults. Methods Using the GBD 2019 methodology, international mortality data were collected from vital registration systems, verbal autopsies, and population-based cancer registry inputs modelled with mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIRs). Incidence was computed with mortality estimates and corresponding MIRs. Prevalence estimates were calculated using modelled survival and multiplied by disability weights to obtain years lived with disability (YLDs). Years of life lost (YLLs) were calculated as age-specific cancer deaths multiplied by the standard life expectancy at the age of death. The main outcome was DALYs (the sum of YLLs and YLDs). Estimates were presented globally and by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintiles (countries ranked and divided into five equal SDI groups), and all estimates were presented with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). For this analysis, we used the age range of 15-39 years to define adolescents and young adults. Findings There were 1.19 million (95% UI 1.11-1.28) incident cancer cases and 396 000 (370 000-425 000) deaths due to cancer among people aged 15-39 years worldwide in 2019. The highest age-standardised incidence rates occurred in high SDI (59.6 [54.5-65.7] per 100 000 person-years) and high-middle SDI countries (53.2 [48.8-57.9] per 100 000 person-years), while the highest age-standardised mortality rates were in low-middle SDI (14.2 [12.9-15.6] per 100 000 person-years) and middle SDI (13.6 [12.6-14.8] per 100 000 person-years) countries. In 2019, adolescent and young adult cancers contributed 23.5 million (21.9-25.2) DALYs to the global burden of disease, of which 2.7% (1.9-3.6) came from YLDs and 97.3% (96.4-98.1) from YLLs. Cancer was the fourth leading cause of death and tenth leading cause of DALYs in adolescents and young adults globally. Interpretation Adolescent and young adult cancers contributed substantially to the overall adolescent and young adult disease burden globally in 2019. These results provide new insights into the distribution and magnitude of the adolescent and young adult cancer burden around the world. With notable differences observed across SDI settings, these estimates can inform global and country-level cancer control efforts. Copyright (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe

Riociguat treatment in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: Final safety data from the EXPERT registry

Objective: The soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator riociguat is approved for the treatment of adult patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and inoperable or persistent/recurrent chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) following Phase

Modelling human choices: MADeM and decision‑making

Research supported by FAPESP 2015/50122-0 and DFG-GRTK 1740/2. RP and AR are also part of the Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center for Neuromathematics FAPESP grant (2013/07699-0). RP is supported by a FAPESP scholarship (2013/25667-8). ACR is partially supported by a CNPq fellowship (grant 306251/2014-0)

Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BackgroundDisorders affecting the nervous system are diverse and include neurodevelopmental disorders, late-life neurodegeneration, and newly emergent conditions, such as cognitive impairment following COVID-19. Previous publications from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study estimated the burden of 15 neurological conditions in 2015 and 2016, but these analyses did not include neurodevelopmental disorders, as defined by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11, or a subset of cases of congenital, neonatal, and infectious conditions that cause neurological damage. Here, we estimate nervous system health loss caused by 37 unique conditions and their associated risk factors globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2021.MethodsWe estimated mortality, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs), by age and sex in 204 countries and territories, from 1990 to 2021. We included morbidity and deaths due to neurological conditions, for which health loss is directly due to damage to the CNS or peripheral nervous system. We also isolated neurological health loss from conditions for which nervous system morbidity is a consequence, but not the primary feature, including a subset of congenital conditions (ie, chromosomal anomalies and congenital birth defects), neonatal conditions (ie, jaundice, preterm birth, and sepsis), infectious diseases (ie, COVID-19, cystic echinococcosis, malaria, syphilis, and Zika virus disease), and diabetic neuropathy. By conducting a sequela-level analysis of the health outcomes for these conditions, only cases where nervous system damage occurred were included, and YLDs were recalculated to isolate the non-fatal burden directly attributable to nervous system health loss. A comorbidity correction was used to calculate total prevalence of all conditions that affect the nervous system combined.FindingsGlobally, the 37 conditions affecting the nervous system were collectively ranked as the leading group cause of DALYs in 2021 (443 million, 95% UI 378–521), affecting 3·40 billion (3·20–3·62) individuals (43·1%, 40·5–45·9 of the global population); global DALY counts attributed to these conditions increased by 18·2% (8·7–26·7) between 1990 and 2021. Age-standardised rates of deaths per 100 000 people attributed to these conditions decreased from 1990 to 2021 by 33·6% (27·6–38·8), and age-standardised rates of DALYs attributed to these conditions decreased by 27·0% (21·5–32·4). Age-standardised prevalence was almost stable, with a change of 1·5% (0·7–2·4). The ten conditions with the highest age-standardised DALYs in 2021 were stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy, meningitis, epilepsy, neurological complications due to preterm birth, autism spectrum disorder, and nervous system cancer.InterpretationAs the leading cause of overall disease burden in the world, with increasing global DALY counts, effective prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies for disorders affecting the nervous system are needed