archiTECTONICS: Pre- and Trans-Disciplinary Reference in Beginning Design

This presentation was part of the session : Pedagogy: Procedures, Scaffolds, Strategies, Tactics24th National Conference on the Beginning Design StudentPedagogical approaches to beginning design in architecture often assume trans-disciplinary modes of exploration to filter problem parameters and sculpt perceptual outlook for iterative potential. A closer look suggests moments within the architectural design process that come before, or around, the discipline itself in the form of other disciplines accompanied by basic principles, such as Visual Literacy. Iterating and perceiving through every disciplinary dynamic, instance, and/or action in the process of designing transcends, builds, and structures its neighbor for explorative sequencing, intention, and growth of sensibilities in design resolution. An acute awareness of disciplinary state, in a maturing design process, can alleviate obscurity of ideological foundation and facilitate growth for trans-disciplinary thinking, making, and communicating in a root discipline such as architecture. How can beginning design instructors guide young designers to keep ideas and concepts for design in focus, recognizing that root disciplines transcend pre- and trans-disciplinary processes? Does recognizing variation in pace, induced by digital and analog tools, and intention of design iteration, by discipline, instill clarity by pre-disciplinary thinking, perception, and operation? Trans-disciplinary exercise provokes awareness of pre-disciplinary foundations furthering possibilities for unique root-disciplinary understandings and results. The developed exercise, archiTECTONIC, recognizes and cycles through reasoning, conceptualization, and iteration in a trans-disciplinary sequence, allowing the beginning design student to recognize pre-disciplinary ideology, pace, and purpose when processing ideas through fundamentals of architectural design. Engaging this as a strategy for seeing, thinking, and maneuvering through a dynamic process provides design liberty and clarity for processing and communicating in a root discipline, in this case architecture

Nearshore oblique sand bars

The coupling between hydrodynamics and the evolving topography in the surf zone has been theoretically examined for oblique wave incidence. It is shown that positive feedback can lead to the initial growth of several types of rhythmic systems of sand bars. The bars can be down-current oriented or up-current oriented, which means that the offshore end of the bar is shifted down-current or up-current with respect to the shore attachment. In the limit of strong current compared to wave orbital motion, very oblique down-current oriented bars are obtained with a spacing of several times the surf zone width. When wave orbital motions are dominant, systems of up-current oriented bars and crescentic/down-current oriented bars appear with spacings of the order of the surf zone width. The latter feature consists of alternating shoals and troughs at both sides of the break line with the inner shoals being bar-shaped and oblique to the coast. The growth (e-folding) time of the bars ranges from a few hours to a few days and it is favored by constant wave conditions. The range of model parameters leading to growth corresponds to intermediate beach states in between the fully dissipative and the fully reflective situations. Preliminary comparison with field observations shows qualitative agreement.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Petrología de las formaciones filonianans de Hostalrich (Gerona)

Se estudian las formaciones filonianas (pórfidos. aplitas y pegmatitas) existentes en la región granítica de Hostalrich (Gerona), las cuales presentan fenómenos mineralógicos y estructurales, en nuestra opinión de índole metamórfico-metasomática. Por consiguiente las consideramos resultado de procesos de cataclasis, microgranulaciones y recristalizaciones condicionadas por la acción tectónica sobre la masa granítica

Abiotic reactions promoted by the cell machinery PART A

The development of new-to-nature, non-enzymatic biocompatible reactions that interact with the metabolism of living systems represents an emerging field at the interface of chemical synthesis and synthetic biology. These reactions could be used to access novel synthetic routes, and they have potential applications in biomedicine and biology. In this Degree Final Project, we report the discovery of a Meerwein arylation reaction between diazonium salts and naphthoquinone derivatives promoted by living cells. The process has been carried out in mammalian cells (HeLa and A549) and E. coli, and it has been found to proceed in isolated mitochondria and mitochondria lysates. Low-weight biological reductants such as NADH, glutathione and ascorbate promote the reaction in abiotic media. Finally, preliminary studies to expand the scope of this transformation to other diazonium salts or other radical acceptor partners have been undertaken, opening the door to interesting structures like benzothiophenes and phenanthrenes.El desarrollo de reacciones biocompatibles no enzimáticas nuevas en la naturaleza que interactúan con el metabolismo de los sistemas vivos representa un campo emergente en la interfase entre la síntesis química y la biología sintética. Estas reacciones podrían utilizarse para acceder a nuevas rutas sintéticas, y tienen aplicaciones potenciales en biomedicina y biología. En este Trabajo de Fin de Grado, se describe el descubrimiento de una reacción de arilación de Meerwein entre sales de diazonio y derivados de la naftoquinona inducida por células vivas. El proceso se ha llevado a cabo en células de mamífero (HeLa y A549) y E. coli, y se ha observado que tiene lugar en mitocondrias aisladas y lisados de mitocondrias. Los reductores biológicos de bajo peso molecular como el NADH, el glutatión y el ascorbato favorecen la reacción en medios abióticos. Finalmente, se han llevado a cabo estudios preliminares para ampliar el alcance de esta transformación a otras sales de diazonio u otros sustratos aceptores de radicales, abriendo la puerta a estructuras interesantes como los benzotiofenos y los fenantrenos.O desenvolvemento de reaccións biocompatibles non enzimáticas novas na natureza que interactúan co metabolismo dos sistemas vivos representa un campo emerxente na interfase entre a síntese química e a bioloxía sintética. Estas reaccións poderían utilizarse para acceder a novas vías sintéticas, e teñen aplicacións potenciais en biomedicina e bioloxía. Neste Traballo de Fin de Grao, descríbese o descubrimento dunha reacción de arilación de Meerwein entre sales de diazonio e derivados da naftoquinona inducida por células vivas. O proceso levouse a cabo en células de mamífero (HeLa e A549) e E. coli, e observouse que ten lugar en mitocondrias illadas e lisados de mitocondrias. Os redutores biolóxicos de baixo peso molecular coma o NADH, o glutatión e o ascorbato favorecen a reacción en medios abióticos. Finalmente, realizáronse estudos preliminares para ampliar o alcance desta transformación a outras sales de diazonio ou outros substratos aceptores de radicais, abrindo a porta a estruturas interesantes coma os benzotiofenos e os fenantrenos

Mesenchymal stem cell therapy in traumatic spinal cord injury: a systematic review

Review[Abstract] Recovery from a traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) is challenging due to the limited regenerative capacity of the central nervous system to restore cells, myelin, and neural connections. Cell therapy, particularly with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), holds significant promise for TSCI treatment. This systematic review aims to analyze the efficacy, safety, and therapeutic potential of MSC-based cell therapies in TSCI. A comprehensive search of PUBMED and COCHRANE databases until February 2023 was conducted, combining terms such as "spinal cord injury," "stem cells," "stem cell therapy," "mesenchymal stem cells," and "traumatic spinal cord injury". Among the 53 studies initially identified, 22 (21 clinical trials and 1 case series) were included. Findings from these studies consistently demonstrate improvements in AIS (ASIA Impairment Scale) grades, sensory scores, and, to a lesser extent, motor scores. Meta-analyses further support these positive outcomes. MSC-based therapies have shown short- and medium-term safety, as indicated by the absence of significant adverse events within the studied timeframe. However, caution is required when drawing generalized recommendations due to the limited scientific evidence available. Further research is needed to elucidate the long-term safety and clinical implications of these advancements. Although significant progress has been made, particularly with MSC-based therapies, additional studies exploring other potential future therapies such as gene therapies, neurostimulation techniques, and tissue engineering approaches are essential for a comprehensive understanding of the evolving TSCI treatment landscape.Instituto de Salud Carlos III; PI20/0093

Características mecánicas del mármol de Gualba (Barcelona) bajo comprensión uniaxial

The mechanical strength of Gualba marble (Barcelona, Spain), under compressive stresses is determined. Experimen- tal results appear to be very low, mean value 391 kg/cma (5.560 psi), compared with those shown by some other mar- bles : 500-700 kg/cma, (7.000-10.000 psi). The nature of the experimental failure of this rock is ana- lized

Characterization of water pathways in low permeable rocks at the rock matrix scale: Methodological review

Esta publicación metodológica está relacionada con la caracterización de las vías de circulación del agua, a escala de la matriz rocosa (o “intact rock”), en rocas cristalinas candidatas para almacenar definitivamente residuos radioactivos de alta actividad. A esta escala la circulación del agua en estas rocas está condicionada básicamente por su capacidad de fluir a través de la porosidad abierta efectiva. Es decir, a través de los poros y de las fisuras conectadas. Por consiguiente, se resumen los diversos procedimientos desarrollados para la obtención de imágenes y cartografía de estas vías de circulación, entre los que destacan: microscopía de fluorescencia, microscopía láser confocal, microscopía electrónica de barrido (electrones secundarios y retrodispersados, análisis por energía dispersiva de rayos X) e impregnación con 14C-polimetilmetacrilato. Se mencionan las dos técnicas esenciales para la reconstrucción tridimensional de la estructura del espacio poroso, tomografía informatizada de rayos X y microscopía láser confocal y se incluyen diversos ejemplos de esta última. Además se describe la caracterización “in-situ” de la porosidad y la identificación de antiguas vías de circulación del agua mediante trazas de fisión del uranio. Se resumen y se incluyen ejemplos de los principales parámetros petrográficos relacionados con la estructura geométrica del espacio poroso, ya que esta información es básica para la interpretación petrofísica de la función hidráulica de la porosidad de las rocas cristalinas. Finalmente, se incluyen ejemplos de perfiles petrofísicos que contienen información secuencial a escala granulométrica (mm-cm), al objeto de documentar detalladamente la capacidad del agua y los radioelementos para introducirse y circular por la matriz rocosa a través de las fracturas hidráulicamente activas del macizo rocoso