Self-determination and political repression in Catalunya. Referendum, criminal exceptionality and democratization

El referéndum del 1 de octubre de 2017 sobre la autodeterminación en Catalunya fue convocado por el gobierno catalán, pero la jornada fue posible gracias a la organización popular. Una prohibición judicial y la violencia y la brutalidad policial fueron la respuesta del Estado a la convocatoria. A esta represión política, le seguirían la apertura de varias causas judiciales, la más importante de ellas la que se ha conocido como “juicio del proceso”, que acabarían con acusaciones de delitos muy graves, con encarcelamientos y con el exilio político de parte del gobierno catalán y de líderes sociales. En este artículo analizamos los “marcos de referencia” y los “repertorios de acción” de la acción colectiva de los votantes del 1 de octubre, y usamos esos mismos constructos para analizar la respuesta política y judicial del Estado español. Este análisis nos permite descubrir que el conflicto político alrededor de los hechos del 1 de octubre, es la expresión de una divisoria de confrontación transicional entre un bloque social que defiende unos valores conservadores, autoritarios y ultranacionalistas con otro bloque social que quiere ampliar los límites democratizadores y, por lo tanto, derechos y libertades. Constatamos, además, que la represión política del Estado ha funcionado como un factor acrecentador de unos significados e imaginarios ligados a la necesidad de ampliar y profundizar en la democracia, a la vez, que ha puesto de manifiesto que los principios de autoridad y de la indisoluble unidad de España están muy arraigados.The referendum of October 1st, 2017 on self-determination in Catalonia was called by the Catalan government, but it was possible thanks to the popular organization. A judicial ban and the police violence and brutality were the State’s response to the call. This political repression would be followed by the opening of several legal cases, the most important of them is known as the “trial of the process”, which would end with accusations of very serious crimes, with imprisonment and with political exile on the part of the Catalan government and social leaders. In this article we analyze the “frames of reference” and the “repertoires of action” of the collective action of the voters of October 1st. We use these same constructs to analyze the political and judicial response of the Spanish State. This analysis allows us to discover that the political conflict around the events of October 1st, is the expression of a transitional confrontational divide between a social bloc that defends conservative, authoritarian and ultra-nationalist values with another social bloc that wants to expand the democratizing limits and, therefore, rights and freedoms. We also note that the political repression of the State has functioned as a factor that increases meanings and imaginations linked to the need to broaden and deepen democracy, at the same time, it has shown that the principles of authority and Spain’s indissoluble unity are deeply rooted.Facultad de Ciencias Jurídicas y Sociale

Anti-tumour necrosis factor discontinuation in inflammatory bowel disease patients in remission: study protocol of a prospective, multicentre, randomized clinical trial

Background: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease who achieve remission with anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drugs may have treatment withdrawn due to safety concerns and cost considerations, but there is a lack of prospective, controlled data investigating this strategy. The primary study aim is to compare the rates of clinical remission at 1?year in patients who discontinue anti-TNF treatment versus those who continue treatment. Methods: This is an ongoing, prospective, double-blind, multicentre, randomized, placebo-controlled study in patients with Crohn?s disease or ulcerative colitis who have achieved clinical remission for ?6?months with an anti-TNF treatment and an immunosuppressant. Patients are being randomized 1:1 to discontinue anti-TNF therapy or continue therapy. Randomization stratifies patients by the type of inflammatory bowel disease and drug (infliximab versus adalimumab) at study inclusion. The primary endpoint of the study is sustained clinical remission at 1?year. Other endpoints include endoscopic and radiological activity, patient-reported outcomes (quality of life, work productivity), safety and predictive factors for relapse. The required sample size is 194 patients. In addition to the main analysis (discontinuation versus continuation), subanalyses will include stratification by type of inflammatory bowel disease, phenotype and previous treatment. Biological samples will be obtained to identify factors predictive of relapse after treatment withdrawal. Results: Enrolment began in 2016, and the study is expected to end in 2020. Conclusions: This study will contribute prospective, controlled data on outcomes and predictors of relapse in patients with inflammatory bowel disease after withdrawal of anti-TNF agents following achievement of clinical remission. Clinical trial reference number: EudraCT 2015-001410-1

Soil moisture retrieval by SMOS: a global feasibility study

International audienc

Trends in Targeted Therapy Usage in Inflammatory Bowel Disease : TRENDY Study of ENEIDA

Markers that allow for the selection of tailored treatments for individual patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are yet to be identified. Our aim was to describe trends in real-life treatment usage. For this purpose, patients from the ENEIDA registry who received their first targeted IBD treatment (biologics or tofacitinib) between 2015 and 2021 were included. A subsequent analysis with Machine Learning models was performed. The study included 10,009 patients [71% with Crohn's disease (CD) and 29% with ulcerative colitis (UC)]. In CD, anti-TNF (predominantly adalimumab) were the main agents in the 1st line of treatment (LoT), although their use declined over time. In UC, anti-TNF (mainly infliximab) use was predominant in 1st LoT, remaining stable over time. Ustekinumab and vedolizumab were the most prescribed drugs in 2nd and 3rd LoT in CD and UC, respectively. Overall, the use of biosimilars increased over time. Machine Learning failed to identify a model capable of predicting treatment patterns. In conclusion, drug positioning is different in CD and UC. Anti-TNF were the most used drugs in IBD 1st LoT, being adalimumab predominant in CD and infliximab in UC. Ustekinumab and vedolizumab have gained importance in CD and UC, respectively. The approval of biosimilars had a significant impact on treatment

Urban Gardens as Multifunctional Nature-Based Solutions for Societal Goals in a Changing Climate

Urban gardens can contribute to climate mitigation and adaptation through a range of provisioning, regulating, and cultural ecosystem services as multifunctional nature-based solutions in a city. Besides providing food, urban gardens contribute to water regulation through unsealed soils, to improved air circulation and cooling through plant transpiration and shading, offering microclimate oases to many users, such as gardeners, visitors, and immediate neighbors. In combination with other green and blue infrastructures, urban gardens can thereby help to mitigate and adapt to the urban heat island effect. They also provide important habitat for wildlife and genetic diversity. Urban gardens create opportunities for leisure and recreation and thereby promote health and well-being, as well as a sense of place, cultural identity, and social cohesion – important factors for societies to adapt to change. Exploring case studies across Europe, we discuss differences between garden types and their contribution to achieving sustainability goals for city communities