Divorce risk factors and their variation over time in Spain

The aim of this article is to analyse the determinants of marriage dissolution in Spain and their variation over time for women married between 1949 and 2006. Data are drawn from the Survey of Fertility, Family and Values of 2006. The article analyses the transition from first marriage to marital dissolution for couples who married in two eras: one prior to the Divorce Law of 1981, during which social and legal barriers to dissolution were many, and one in the period after the law was introduced, during which barriers to marriage dissolution were far fewer. Analyses are conducted using a continuous time event history model. The results indicate some similarities between Spain and other countries, such as the positive relationship between the typical features of unconventional families and marital dissolution, but also some specific differences, such as an increase in the importance of premarital pregnancy and/or not having children. It is also important to stress the declining importance of socio-economic variables, such as education and the labour market situation of women.age heterogamy, children and divorce, divorce, education and divorce, event history analysis, parental divorce, premarital children, premarital cohabitation, premarital pregnancy, separation

Implantes cocleares ¿es posibles que los sordos oigan?

Peer Reviewe

Género y clase en la biografía de una científica de élite

A pesar de que la sociología ha demostrado que los condicionamientos sociales, tales como el género o la clase social, son cruciales para explicar la trayectoria vital del individuo, es común la creencia en que la voluntad individual puede superar características sociológicas adversas para la consecución de una posición social aventajada. Las excepciones a la regularidad empírica constituyen ejemplos que refuerzan dicha idea. Gertrudis de la Fuente, pionera en la bioquímica en España, mujer e hija de un obrero, es una de esas excepciones. Su historia de vida sirve para reflexionar sobre la incidencia de los condicionamientos sociales en la «construcción de la vocación» y en la configuración de la trayectoria vital. Finalmente, se plantea el tributo que «las excepciones» han de pagar para lograr de una posición privilegiada en la élite científica desde la perspectiva de género.In spite of the fact that Sociology has proved that social conditionings, such as gender or social class, are crucial in explaining the life patterns of the individual, the belief that he or she can overcome adverse sociological limitations in order to achieve outstanding status is common. Exceptions to the empirical regularity constitute examples that support the aforementioned idea. Gertrudis de la Fuente, pioneer of Biochemistry in Spain, from a working class family, is one of those exceptions. Her life history is useful for reflecting on the incidence of social conditionings on «construction of vocation» and on shape of life patterns

Ciudades conscientes para la inserción socio-espacial de los asentamientos informales.

The purpose of this article is to show, through a comparative analysis of the two main policies carried through for the regulation of informal settlements, that there has to be a change of paradigm in the way of understanding cities, to manage their integration in social and spatial terms. A change that reflects these areas as part of the process of shaping of the cities through informality and auto organization. It is necessary to develop a participative urban planning that includes the demands of this sector of the population more vulnerable at the same time that it ensures its rights and commits them to their obligations as citizens, so that any policy can be successful.El objetivo de este artículo es mostrar, mediante un análisis comparativo de las dos principales políticas llevadas a cabo en la regulación de asentamientos informales, que debe haber un cambio de paradigma en la forma de entender las ciudades para lograr su integración socio-espacial. Un cambio que refleje estas zonas como partes del proceso de formación de las ciudades través de la informalidad y de la auto-organización. Es necesario que exista un planeamiento participativo que incluya las demandas de este sector de población más vulnerable al mismo tiempo que asegura sus derechos y les compromete con sus obligaciones como ciudadanos para que cualquier política tenga éxito

A polynomial-time algorithm for optimization of quadratic pseudo-boolean functions

We develop a polynomial-time algorithm to minimize pseudo-Boolean functions. The computational complexity is O(n □(15/2)), although very conservative, it is su_cient to prove that this minimization problem is in the class P. A direct application of the algorithm is the 3-SAT problem, which is also guaranteed to be in the class P with a computational complexity of order O(n □(45/2)). The algorithm was implemented in MATLAB and checked by generating one million matrices of arbitrary dimension up to 24 with random entries in the range [-50; 50]. All the experiments were successful

Imaginary-axis crossing points in root loci that depend polynomially on the gain

This technical note discusses the crossing with the stability boundary for the root loci that polynomially depend on the gain. A simple calculation method based on reflected polynomials is provided. The trend of the roots is also determined, which allows studying the gain margin as well as the minimum gain so that all the roots are within the stable region. Finally, these concepts are illustrated with two case studies

Challenges in the Practice of Sexual Medicine in the Time of COVID-19 in Spain

At the end of December 2019, the existence of a new pneumonia of unknown causes was reported in the city of Wuhan (Hubei, China).1 Only 3 months later, the World Health Organization declared a pandemic caused by a new coronavirus (COVID-19),2 resulting in an unprecedented crisis in most of the world's health-care systems. Many countries have been overwhelmed by this pandemic and have adapted their facilities and staff in record time to fight against it. But, at the same time, many health-care services have been affected, including sexual medicine. In light of this situation, we are faced with a series of challenges to keep on offering continuity in medical care, education, and research.post-print134 K

Inferring broken detailed balance in the absence of observable currents

Identifying dissipation is essential for understanding the physical mechanisms underlying nonequilibrium processes. {In living systems, for example, the dissipation is directly related to the hydrolysis of fuel molecules such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP)}. Nevertheless, detecting broken time-reversal symmetry, which is the hallmark of dissipative processes, remains a challenge in the absence of observable directed motion, flows, or fluxes. Furthermore, quantifying the entropy production in a complex system requires detailed information about its dynamics and internal degrees of freedom. Here we introduce a novel approach to detect time irreversibility and estimate the entropy production from time-series measurements, even in the absence of observable currents. We apply our technique to two different physical systems, namely, a partially hidden network and a molecular motor. Our method does not require complete information about the system dynamics and thus provides a new tool for studying nonequilibrium phenomena.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figure

Guías Europeas en salud sexual y reproductiva 2020. ¿Por qué vale la pena leerlas?

The European urology guidelines have been written since 1996. In 2000, experts included sections on ejaculation disorders and erectile dysfunction.[1] Since then, each year, they are updated with the competition of specialists from different continents. In 2014, authors introduced the term priapism,[2] and they maintained it until 2018. That same year the guidelines were modified based on the new online educational courses designed by the EAU expert panels and a group of young urologists. For the year 2020 and with the consultation of more than 250 experts from 72 countries, the guidelines gathered in a single chapter (Sexual and Reproductive Health) with extensive content that is worth consulting. Among the novelties, there is a complete change in the chapter regarding the hypogonadism. The use of testosterone replacement is recommended in patients with abnormal values and with erectile dysfunction supported by the Sexual Function trial of testosterone trials since experts previously recommended first use of PDE5 inhibitors. Another issue is the explanation of the effects of hormonal replacement on organs such as prostate and breast as well as how this affects the cardiovascular system. The treatment approach for managing erectile dysfunction changed. After an initial evaluation with a detailed medical history, authors suggest identifying the expectations of the patients to make a joint decision and also offer treatment of physical and psychosexual aspects. Psychosexual therapy continues to be an essential tool in the treatment, better if there is a good follow-up. In the case of choosing a behavioral and cognitive therapy (CBT), they suggest considering its combination with pharmacotherapy. Subsequently, there are different treatment alternatives such as intracavernous injections, vacuum devices, oral therapy with a PDE5 inhibitor and topical and intraurethral treatments. All considered as first line of treatments. Shock wave intervention[3] is also recommended as an option in vasculogenic patients with prior informed consent and after previous treatments as the first line of treatment. The management of Peyronie's disease was extensively reviewed, considering the publication of many of the genes involved in its pathophysiology and its relationship with Dupuytren's disease.[4] Only oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and phosphodiesterase inhibitors are considered as oral therapy and other options previously considered withdrawn. Despite the recent withdrawal from the European market of collagenase of clostridium histolyticum by its marketing company, the results of the most significant studies regarding the improvement of penile curvature based on the IMPRESS study (Investigation for Maximal Peyronie's reduction efficacy and safety studies) were published.[5] The curvature improvement is 34% versus 18.2% in the placebo group. Patients with curvatures between 30 and 60 degrees, IIEF greater than 17, without calcified plaques and a longer duration of the disease, were those who benefited the most from the treatment. A new shorter protocol for administration of collagenase was mentioned.[6] The use of interferon-a-2b is included as a recommended treatment in the stable phase of the disease due to a 20% reduction in curvature in a recent study, and the few side effects it can cause. Experts reviewed other types of treatments, such as traction therapy. Although they mentioned them as a possible safe and effective option, current studies do not support their use as monotherapy. The vacuum devices are also mentioned as a possible mechanism of mechanical straightening of the curvature but with only one study that recommends it as monotherapy. Regarding surgical management, they better described the surgical technique of penile shortening techniques, reporting penile rectification rates greater than 85%. They mentioned techniques with geometric principles as an option and tunic shortening and lengthening procedures, taking into account the latter types of grafts used and the results obtained. In the chapter on ejaculation disorders, they completely described the pathophysiology and possible causes of hematospermia. In addition to mentioning the types of studies that must be performed, they also reported how to investigate the cause in the initial presentation and recurrent cases. In male infertility, experts presented a text with many modifications (the first published in 2001, updated several years and in 2017 expanded to cover areas not previously mentioned). The diagnostic algorithm emphasizes the evaluation with the fragmentation index (DFI). There is a critical correlation of intrauterine insemination and in vitro fertilization (IVF) with the success rate of pregnancy. There is a new complete explanation about assisted reproduction techniques and some of its characteristics. The guidelines emphasize the role of ultrasound in evaluation, mainly for measuring testicular volume, determining abnormalities in the structure of the testicle (testicular dysgenesis or tumors), and seeing possible indirect signs of obstruction. In infertility-related conditions, the possible role of varicocelectomy in patients with non-obstructive azoospermia, hypogonadism, or patients with altered DNA fragmentation is mentioned as a possible alternative. There are also invasive treatment options (they refer to the types of sperm retrieval technique and their success rates and surgical techniques for reconstruction of the seminal tract depending on the site of obstruction or compromise). Besides, there are non-invasive techniques (such as changes in lifestyle, hormonal therapy and antioxidants). Finally, these guidelines, for the first time, reviewed the effects of urological conditions on sexual and reproductive health. There are interesting relationships of varicocele with cardiovascular disease, the psychological effects of prostate cancer on sexual function and the well-known relationship of erectile dysfunction and cardiac conditions. Priapism, male contraception, or vasectomy chapters have no other updates.In conclusion, the European Guidelines of Urology 2020 are mandatory reading for beginners and experts on the subject. There are novel findings that must be consulted by urologists and residents from all over the world.post-print90,1 K