Timber roof structure for outdoor auditorium in Parque Paraiso, San Blas (Madrid)

p. 468-475A timber shell structure is designed to provide covering for an outdoor auditorium in Madrid (Spain). The covering comprises five independent overlapped marquees with similar shape but diverse dimensions. The surface geometry of each marquee is defined by a hyperbolic paraboloid, with its boundaries delimited by elliptical curves in horizontal projection. Structural section for the timber shell is a composite section with several staggered layers of straight sawn timber planks, arranged in two orthogonal directions following the straight skew lines of the hyperbolic paraboloid. Over them two continuous top layers are arranged which provides bracing for the structure and support for the waterproofing material. Each layer is laid over the previous one, bolted and glued with polyurethane adhesive. Special characteristics of the design analysis and detailed erection process are described. The designed solution provides lightweight roofing with a powerful and original image, short construction time and reasonable budget.Anton, A.; Meijide, AG.; Corbal, JJ. (2009). Timber roof structure for outdoor auditorium in Parque Paraiso, San Blas (Madrid). Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/653

Hydrogen sulfide and inflammatory joint diseases

[Abstract] Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) are widespread rheumatic diseases characterized by persistent inflammation and joint destruction. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an endogenous gas with important physiologic functions in the brain, vasculature and other organs. Recent studies have found H2S to be a mediator in inflammatory joint diseases. Objective: This review summarizes the recent literature in this area highlighting relevant developments. Conclusions: Several authors have found that H2S exhibited anti-inflammatory, anti-catabolic and/or anti-oxidant effects in rodent models of acute arthritis and in in vitro models using human synoviocytes and articular chondrocytes from RA and OA tissues. The earliest studies used fast-dissolving salts, such as NaSH, but GYY4137, which produces H2S more physiologically, shortly appeared. More recently still, new H2S-forming compounds that target mitochondria have been synthesized. These compounds open exciting opportunities for investigating the role of H2S in cell bioenergetics, typically altered in arthritides. Positive results have also been obtained when H2S is administered as a sulphurous water bath, an option meriting further study. These findings suggest that exogenous supplementation of H2S may provide a viable therapeutic option for these diseases, particularly in OA

Two new power indices based on winning coalitions

Deegan and Packel (1979) and Holler (1982) proposed two power indices for simple games: the Deegan–Packel index and the Public Good Index. In the definition of these indices, only minimal winning coalitions are taken into account. Using similar arguments, we define two new power indices. These new indices are defined taking into account only those winning coalitions that do not contain null players. The results obtained with the different power indices are compared by means of two real-world examples taken from the political field

Acoustic abundance estimates of blue whiting off the Spanish Atlantic coast in march-april 1991

This document describes the abundance and distribution whiting from an acoustic survey on the Spanish continental shelf (Divisions VIIIc and IXa2). The total biomass was 171 thousand tonnes, corresponding million fish. of b1ue Atlantic estimated to 4800 Only young fish were recorded in the whole area surveyed, with similar length and age distribution to those found in the fishery (Ages 0-5). Older fish were not detected in this area, at least in the spawning season. A comparison of the distribution and densities of blue whiting observed in this survey with those recorded in 1984 show that the distribution pattern in this area is quite stable

Effect of hydrogen sulfide sources on inflammation and catabolic markers on interleukin 1β-stimulated human articular chondrocytes

[Abstract] Objective. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), the third gasotransmitter together with NO and CO, is emerging as a regulator of inflammation. To test if it might offer therapeutic value in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) we evaluated the effects of two exogenous sources of H2S, NaSH and GYY4137, on inflammation and catabolic markers that characterize OA. Method. Human chondrocytes (CHs) were isolated from OA tissue. Cells were stimulated with a pro-inflammatory cytokine (interleukin-1β, IL1β, 5 ng/ml) and the ability of the two H2S sources to ameliorate its effects on the cells was tested. Nitric oxide (NO) production was quantified through the Griess reaction. Protein levels of inducible NO synthase (NOS2) and matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13) were visualized through immunocytochemistry (ICC). Relative mRNA expression was quantified with qRT-PCR. Prostaglandin-2 (PGE-2), interleukin 6 (IL6) and MMP13 levels were measured with specific EIAs. NFκB nuclear translocation was visualized with immunofluorescence. Results. Both H2S sources led to significant reductions in NO, PGE-2, IL6 and MMP13 released by the cells and at the protein level. This was achieved by downregulation of relevant genes involved in the synthesis routes of these molecules, namely NOS2, cyclooxigenase-2 (COX2), prostaglandin E synthase (PTGES), IL6 and MMP13. NFκB nuclear translocation was also reduced. Conclusion. NaSH and GYY4137 show anti-inflammatory and anti-catabolic properties when added to IL1β activated osteoarthritic CHs. Supplementation with exogenous H2S sources can regulate the expression of relevant genes in OA pathogenesis and progression, counteracting IL1β pro-inflammatory signals that lead to cartilage destruction in part by reducing NFκB activation.Instituto de Salud Carlos III; CIBER BBN CB06/01/004

Impairment of hydrogen sulfide synthesis in chondrocytes under high glucose environment: a link between type 2 diabetes and osteoarthritis

Poster presentatio

El sulfuro de hidrógeno ejerce efectos anti-catabólicos en cartílago articular artrósico in vitro

[Resumen] El sulfuro de hidrógeno (H2S), compuesto activo de las aguas mineromedicinales sulfuradas, ha demostrado ser un protector tisular en varias patologías. Nuestros resultados previos demostraron que NaSH y GYY4137, dos compuestos sintéticos que producen H2S, presentan efectos anti-inflamatorios y anti-catabólicos en condrocitos procedentes de pacientes con artrosis (OA) estimulados con interleuquina 1β (IL1β). En el presente trabajo se investigó si estos mismos compuestos inhiben también los procesos catabólicos directamente en cartílago humano artrósico

A probabilistic unified approach for power indices in simple games

The final publication is available at Springer via https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-60555-4_11Many power indices on simple games have been defined trying to measure, under different points of view, the “a priori” importance of a voter in a collective binary voting scenario. A unified probabilistic way to define some of these power indices is considered in this paper. We show that six well-known power indices are obtained under such a probabilistic approach. Moreover, some new power indices can naturally be obtained in this way.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft