Environmental features of Chinese architectural heritage: the standardization of form in the pursuit of equilibrium with nature

We present a scientific discussion about Chinese historical architecture and cultural paradigms in order to analyze the formation of building patterns objectively connected to environmental features. In this regard, we will demonstrate the process of standardization from architectural modules related in different levels of composition around “voids”, onto cosmological urban tissues in harmony with nature. The conclusions show that we can only understand Chinese architectural patterns in relation to Dào or nature, and in turn, they possess profound social and environmental values from which we receive useful lessons to advance towards sustainability in architecture and urban planning. The authors believe that it is critical for China and the world to find a new approach to the building construction industry with an ecological and philosophical background recognizable as “Chinese” and based in its own past. In order to support the information provided in the first part of the article, the authors have conducted an environmental analysis of the traditional Chinese urban layout whose results greatly confirm the initial hypotheses, i.e. the historical fashion of constructing neighborhoods improves conditions of the town in terms of comfort and is able to save energy, thus reducing pernicious change effects

Homocisteína como factor de riesgo cardiovascular. Tratamiento farmacológico

La homocisteína es un aminoácido no esencial que se forma en el organismo a partir del aminoácido metionina, obtenido mediante la dieta. Desde hace relativamente poco tiempo, la homocisteína se empezó a considerar como un factor de riesgo para enfermedades cardiovasculares. Numerosas investigaciones posteriores sobre el tema han dado a conocer que, además, es un agente importante en otras muchas patologías como, Parkinson, Alzheimer, degeneración macular asociada a la edad, retinopatía diabética, osteoartritis, fracturas óseas y cáncer. En el sistema cardiovascular, un nivel elevado de homocisteína plasmática total da lugar a disfunción del endotelio vascular lo que puede degenerar en aterosclerosis, una enfermedad crónica que supone la principal causa de enfermedades cardiovasculares. Los mecanismos por los que la homocisteína ocasiona daños en el endotelio se basan en la disminución de óxido nítrico, estrés del retículo endoplasmático, estrés oxidativo, alteración de la vía de sulfuro de hidrógeno, formación de homocisteína-tiolactona, hipometilación celular y fomento de un estado proinflamatorio en los vasos. Por lo tanto, el control de los niveles plasmáticos de homocisteína supone una intervención muy importante para prevenir enfermedades cardiovasculares. Principalmente, el tratamiento de hiperhomocisteinemia se basa en la administración de suplementos de ácido fólico y vitamina B12, una alternativa segura y asequible. Otros fármacos con un alto potencial en la disminución de los niveles de homocisteína en el plasma son atorvastatina y enalapril, ampliamente conocidos. Por último, diversas sustancias naturales como genisteína, salidrosida, ácido-a-lipoico y hesperidina se ha visto que pueden mejorar el estado alterado del endotelio vascular en casos de hiperhomocisteinemia al actuar sobre el estrés oxidativo y el estrés del retículo endoplasmático.Universidad de Sevilla. Grado en Farmaci

Jaume Serra Hunter i la història de la filosofia

No hi ha abstract

Uso de guías de práctica clínica para dengue en un hospital básico : calidad y costos de atención

Utilization of Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) in the management of prevalent health problems has reached worldwide acceptation as a valid strategy to achieve healthcare quality and cost contention. This study will take place in the Ancón Social Security Hospital, and is aimed to compare quality and cost of care before and after the implementation of a CPG, in patients consulting because of clinical symptoms suggesting dengue fever. For the implementation process, a leading group will be organised with participation of doctors and nurses. Two cohorts will be structured, each one with 60 persons aged between 15 and 44 years. Both groups will be stratified by sex and severity of illness, and costs will be determined. Quality assessment will be based on sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of the criteria or tests utilized for diagnosis and to detect complications. Student’s t test will be used to contrast differences between averages, and chi square test for differences between proportions. A p value equal or less than 0.05 will be considered as statistically significant. In every case, confidentiality of information will be kept and, in the CPG group, patients will be notified on the objectives and procedures of the study and their consent will be asked to utilize the information obtained.La utilización de Guías de Práctica Clínica (GPCs) en el manejo de problemas prevalentes de salud ha alcanzado difusión a escala mundial como una estrategia para garantizar la calidad de la atención y reducir costos. El presente estudio se propone comparar en el IESS Hospital de Ancón los costos y la calidad de la atención a personas con síntomas sugestivos de dengue, antes y después de la implementación de una GPC. Para la implementación se conformará un grupo conductor con la participación de médicos y enfermeras. Se conformarán dos cohortes de 60 personas entre 15 y 44 años. Una de las cohortes corresponde a pacientes atendidos antes, y la otra posterior, a la implantación de la GPC. Se estratificarán por sexo y severidad y se contabilizarán costos. Para medir la calidad se determinarán la sensibilidad, especificidad, valor diagnóstico positivo y negativo de los criterios o pruebas utilizados en cada caso para el diagnóstico y detección de complicaciones. Las diferencias de medias se contrastarán con una prueba t de Student y las diferencias de proporciones, con chi cuadrado. Se considerará significativo un valor p < 0.05. Se mantendrá la confidencialidad de la información y, para el grupo de manejo con GPC, se informará sobre objetivos y procedimientos del estudio antes de solicitar el consentimiento para utilizar la información obtenida

Daylight and Architectural Simulation of the Egebjerg School (Denmark): Sustainable Features of a New Type of Skylight

This article discusses the performance of a new skylight for standard classrooms at the Egebjerg School (Denmark), which was built ca. 1970. This building underwent important reforms under a European project to which the authors contributed. This research aimed to create a new skylight prototype that is useful for several schools in the vicinity, since there is a lack of educational facilities. The former skylights consisted of plastic pyramids that presented serious disadvantages in terms of sustainability matters. During the design process, the priority changed to studying the factors that correlate daylighting with energy and other environmental aspects in a holistic and evocative approach. Accordingly, the new skylight features promote the admittance and di usion of solar energy through adroit guidance systems. In order to simulate di erent scenarios, we employed our own simulation tool, Diana X. This research-oriented software works with the e ects of direct solar energy that are mostly avoided in conventional programs. By virtue of Lambert’s reciprocity theorem, our procedure, which was based on innovative equations of radiative transfer, converts the energy received by di usive surfaces into luminous exitance for all types of architectural elements. Upon completion of the skylights, we recorded onsite measurements, which roughly coincided with the simulation data. Thus, conditions throughout the year improved

¿Representar la explotación sexual?. La víctima puesta en escena

Este artículo tiene por objeto analizar las representaciones victimizantes y fuertemente emotivas del menor vendido para la prostitución dentro del marco del Sudeste Asiático. La construcción social de la que es objeto este fenómeno, desde principios de los años 1990, es consecuencia de una estrategia pensada por parte de los actores del desarrollo comprometidos en la lucha contra lo que consideran una “plaga intolerable”. La representación de la víctima subraya su inocencia, así como la injusticia inherente a su tragedia. Pone también en escena el sufrimiento corporal y las diferencias culturales. Esta representación se inscribe en la política de la piedad, que Luc Boltanski define como la observación a distancia de un desafortunado por un espectador. A este tándem se le añade un tercer agente, bienhechor o verdugo, cuya función es reforzar la indignación y el consecuente llamamiento al compromiso del espectador. Estas representaciones son parcialmente fidedignas, la realidad de las trayectorias de las víctimas parece no ser siempre tan caricaturesca y unidimensional.The aim of this article is to analyze the victimizing and very emotional representations of the childrens who are sold to be prostituted in the Southeast Asia framework. The social construction of this phenomenon since the early 90´s is the result of a designed strategy by the development actors who were commited in the struggle against what they had seen like a “intolerable plague”. The victim representation stressed the innocence and the injustice inherent in that tragedy. It also put in the stage the corporal suffering and the cultural differences. This representation take part in the mercy politic, that Luc Boltanski defined as the observation trough the distance of an unlucky person by an observer. In this tandem is added a third agent, benefactor or tyrant, whose role is to increase the outrage and the s ubsequent appeal to the observer´s commitment. These representations are partially trustworthy, the reality of the victim´s life don´t seems to be always so ridiculous and one-dimensioned

The Problem of Lighting in Underground Domes, Vaults, and Tunnel-Like Structures of Antiquity; An Application to the Sustainability of Prominent Asian Heritage (India, Korea, China)

Lighting in heritage is complex because of the forms intervening in it. The historical evolution of cultures has not been analytical and therefore, the shapes involved di er greatly from the cuboids typically found in 21st century architecture. As a vector, light inevitably attaches to surface sources. In this research, we focused on 3D curved geometries. Following a di erent trail to radiative transfer by virtue of detailed knowledge of the spatiality of volumes, we present new expressions, previously undefined in the literature, that are derived from a combination of surfaces that we have found in many archaeological sites around Asia. In the discussion, we start from the particularities of spherical surfaces where a normal vector has to pass through the center. By means of easy calculations, we deducted innovative laws. These in turn, allowed us to formulate several new expressions for configuration factors based on the adroit use of spherical fragments. The method easily extends to organic shapes that are often contained in the sustainable architecture of the past. The method finishes with suitable algorithms to assess the reflections in such curved forms. Finally, we implemented the results in our creative software. In this way, we enhanced the sustainable paradigms for heritage structures in Asia that we present as a conclusion of the article

Recurso de protección respecto del derecho a vivir en un medio ambiente libre de contaminación

Tesis (Licenciado en Ciencias Jurídicas)Este trabajo está dirigido a analizar el recurso de protección que en materia ambiental establece nuestra Carta Fundamental en su art. 20 inc.2°. Se presentan los antecedentes generales de por qué el tema de los recursos naturales converge hacia lo que se conoce como problemática ambiental. Posteriormente apreciaremos de qué forma el constituyente chileno se hace cargo del tema ambiental. El recurso de protección ambiental tiene diferencias sustanciales con el recurso de protección descrito en el inciso primero del mismo artículo 20 de la C.P.R., y estas serán estudiadas, teniendo en cuenta cuáles fueron las razones que se tuvieron a la vista para realizar tal distinción