Análisis de las variables que inciden en la movilidad en vehículos motorizados de dos ruedas en la ciudad de Barcelona

MOBILITY provides accessibility to people, goods, services and information, favoring the implementation of socio-economic activities. The more efficient mobility becomes, the greater human development and quality of life tend to be. Motorcycles and mopeds are powered two wheelers (PTWs). Their small dimensions, lower operating costs and many possibilities to park for free make PTWs very versatile vehicles and efficient modes of transport in dense urban areas. The use of PTWs in metropolitan areas is a growing global phenomenon, especially in congested urban environments and in developing countries. Interestingly, unlike cars, their level of use is more uneven. In Spain, as well as in most European countries, there has been an increase in the number of PTWs, but their frequency varies substantially among cities. Barcelona is the Spanish city with the most PTWs and their use has experienced a boom over the last few decades. Barcelona is a city highly dependent on motorcycles. The growing use of PTWs in urban mobility has brought an increase in the demand for information about the subject. Knowledge about the variables that shape PTW ownership is useful in transport management, infrastructure planning, road safety, and mobility policies. This information will help provide more accurate solutions to deal with urban transportation problems. This thesis has been conducted to analyze the variables that affect PTWs mobility in the city of Barcelona, identifying factors underlying the mode choices behavior, characterized by the high use of the powered two wheelers. The main objectives of this thesis are to find the factors that have caused Barcelona’s increasing use of PTWs, and also identify the variables that explain the greater use of PTWs in Barcelona when compared to other Spanish cities. In order to assess the evolutionary trend of the number of PTWs in Barcelona, a time series has been built with a trend projection. A statistical-mathematical model of the growing evolution of the number of PTWs in Barcelona has been built. The high coefficient of determination gives a particularly high goodness-of-fit. The independent variable that is significantly related and statistically explains the increase in the use of PTWs in Barcelona is "the large-scale deployment of the number of on-street pay parking spaces”. In Barcelona, congestion pricing has been indirectly introduced by on-street parking taxation schemes. The increase of car parking operational costs has produced a positive effect by reducing the use of the car over the last twenty-five years. As a side-effect, these schemes also cause an increase in the use of PTWs as a cheaper alternative. A multiple regression model has been built in order to identify the factors that could contribute to the explanation of why Barcelona has a high number of PTWs in comparison to other Spanish cities. The results suggest that PTWs are used significantly more in Barcelona due to a temperate Mediterranean climate (moderate high temperatures and scarce meteorological events), favorable morphology (high population density in a moderate urban extension) and the highest rate of female PTW ownership in Spain. The main conclusions of this thesis are: a better understanding of the PTW mobility patterns, the finding that the implementation of indirect congestion pricing policies in Barcelona unintentionally encourages PTW use; the identification of the influence that climate has on PTW transport modal choice, the relevance of the "gender factor” to explain the increase of PTW use, the building of the motorization time series evolution in Spain, which validates the sigmoid curve (Gompertz) shape, the verification of the motorization saturation threshold predictions, the challenging of the Kutnets curve to model the evolution of PTWs; the identification of a range of city size most conducive to the use of PTWs and the finding that the distribution of PTW use is not geographically homogeneous.LA MOVILIDAD proporciona accesibilidad a las personas, bienes, servicios e información, favoreciendo la realización de actividades socioeconómicas. Cuanto más eficiente sea la movilidad, mayor tenderá a ser el desarrollo humano y la calidad de vida. Las motocicletas y ciclomotores son los “vehículos motorizados de dos ruedas”, en inglés powered two wheelers (PTW). Su menores dimensiones y costes de adquisición y operativos, así como la posibilidad para aparcar en menos espacio y de un modo gratuito hacen que sean muy versátiles y un modo de transporte eficiente en zonas urbanas densas. El uso de los PTW en las áreas metropolitanas es un fenómeno global en aumento, especialmente en los entornos urbanos congestionados y en los países en desarrollo. En España, al igual que en algunos países europeos, se ha producido un aumento del número de PTW, pero su uso varía sustancialmente entre ciudades. Barcelona es la ciudad española con más PTW y su uso ha crecido en las últimas décadas. La movilidad de Barcelona es altamente dependiente del uso de PTW como modo de transporte interno. El uso creciente de los PTW en entornos urbanos reclama un mejor conocimiento sobre un ámbito que es útil en la gestión del transporte, la planificación de infraestructuras, la seguridad vial y las políticas de movilidad. Cuanta más información se disponga, mejor se podrá contribuir a buscar soluciones a los problemas del transporte urbano. En esta tesis se analizan las variables que afectan a la movilidad en la ciudad de Barcelona, identificando los factores que favorecen en la elección del modo PTW. Los objetivos de la tesis son identificar aquellas las variables que, por una parte han incidido en el creciente uso de los PTW en Barcelona, y por otra pueden explican el mayor uso de los PTW en Barcelona, en relación con el resto de ciudades españolas. Para lograr estos objetivos se han construido dos modelos estadísticos-matemáticos con una alta calidad de ajuste. La variable independiente que explica el aumento de la utilización de los PTW en Barcelona es la extensión a gran parte de la ciudad de las zonas de aparcamiento de pago en superficie. En Barcelona, la tarificación de la congestión ha sido introducida indirectamente mediante la regulación del estacionamiento en la vía pública. El aumento de los costes operativos del aparcamiento ha producido un efecto positivo al reducir el uso del coche, pero como efecto secundario ha favorecido un aumento en el uso de los PTW como modo de transporte alternativo más económico. Los resultados de un modelo de regresión múltiple concluyen que los PTW se utilizan significativamente más en la ciudad de Barcelona que en el resto de ciudades españolas debido a un clima mediterráneo confortable (temperaturas templadas y escasos episodios meteorológicos), una morfología favorable (alta densidad de población en una extensión urbana moderada) y la tasa más alta de mujeres propietarias de PTW. Las principales conclusiones de esta tesis son: una mejor comprensión de los patrones de movilidad en PTW, la constatación de que las políticas de tarificación indirecta de la congestión pueden favorecer el uso de los PTW; la identificación de la relevancia que tiene el clima en la elección del modo PTW, la relevancia del "factor género" para explicar el aumento del uso de los PTW, la elaboración de la gráfica de la evolución de la motorización en España que valida la forma de la curva Gompertz, la verificación de las predicciones del umbral de saturación de la motorización, el cuestionamiento de la curva de Kutnets para modelar la evolución de los PTW; la identificación de un rango de tamaño de ciudad que es más propicio para el uso de los PTW y la constatación de que la distribución del uso de los PTW no es espacialmente homogénea.Postprint (published version

Anillos vasculares y compresión traqueo-esofágica: 15 años de experiencia quirúrgica

ResumenIntroducción y objetivosLos anillos vasculares son anomalías poco comunes, en los que el enfoque diagnóstico y quirúrgico puede ser controvertido. El objetivo es revisar nuestros resultados quirúrgicos hospitalarios y en seguimiento.MétodosEstudio observacional descriptivo de pacientes con anillos vasculares intervenidos en nuestro hospital.ResultadosSe incluyó a 26 pacientes con una mediana de edad de 9 meses (rango: 1 mes-38 años). Los pacientes fueron clasificados en 3 grupos: arco aórtico derecho-ligamento ductal izquierdo (n=14), doble arco aórtico (n=9) y sling pulmonar (n=3). Un total de 3 casos fueron diagnosticados en el periodo prenatal (11,5%). En todos los casos el diagnóstico se realizó mediante tomografía computarizada (TC). Se observó divertículo de Kommerell en 11 pacientes (42,3%). Un 19,2% presentaron anomalías intracardiacas asociadas que requirieron cirugía.El abordaje quirúrgico principal fue la toracotomía izquierda con un 72,7%. Un 9,1% requirió cirugía traqueal. Un 13,6% preciso reintervención del anillo vascular.La necesidad de reintervención se asoció estadísticamente a ventilación mecánica previa, traqueomalacia y persistencia de síntomas respiratorios. No hubo mortalidad hospitalaria. La mortalidad en seguimiento ha sido 7,6%, debido a malformaciones mayores asociadas.ConclusionesEl principal método diagnóstico en nuestra serie es la TC.La broncoscopia antes y después del tratamiento quirúrgico permite evaluar el resultado de la técnica; en algunos casos ayuda a valorar la necesidad de realizar una pexia aórtica.La presencia de traqueomalacia y defectos estructurales en la vía aérea, junto con la asociación de cardiopatías congénitas severas, marcan el pronóstico en el seguimiento.AbstractIntroduction and objectivesVascular rings are rare anomalies where the diagnosis and surgical approach can be controversial. The goal of this article is to review our hospital surgical results and follow-up.MethodsDescriptive observational study of patients with vascular rings operated on in our hospital from the year 2000 to 2015.ResultsThe study included 26 patients with a median age of 9 months (range: 1 month - 38 years). Patients were classified into 3 groups: right aortic arch - left ductal ligament (n=14), double aortic arch (n=9), and pulmonary sling (n=3). Prenatal diagnosis was made in 3 cases (11.5%). In all cases the diagnosis was made by computed tomography (CT). Kommerell's diverticulum was observed in 11 patients (42.3%), and 19.2% showed intracardiac anomalies that required surgery.The main surgical approach was left thoracotomy with 72.7%. Tracheal surgery was required in 9.1% and 13.6% required re-operation of the vascular ring.The need for re-operation was associated with previous mechanical ventilation, tracheomalacia, and the persistence of respiratory symptoms. There was no hospital mortality. The late mortality was 7.6%, due to associated major malformations.ConclusionsThe reference method for the diagnosis of vascular ring is computed tomography.Bronchoscopy before and after surgical treatment allows the outcome of the technique to be assessed and, in some cases, helps to assess the need for aortopexy.Tracheomalacia and the presence of structural defects in the airway, along with the association of severe congenital heart disease, are factors that are associated with late mortality

Genetic variability and structure of the Olive Field Mouse: a sigmodontine rodent in a biodiversity hotspot of southern Chile

The temperate rainforests of southern Chile, a recognized biodiversity hotspot, were significantly affected by Pleistocene glacial cycles in their southern portion and have been severely disrupted mainly due to recent human activities. Additionally, the landscape is characterized by a series of potential barriers to gene flow, such as the Chacao Channel, Cordillera de Piuche in Chiloé and both the Ancud and the Corcovado gulfs. We used mitochondrial DNA sequences and microsatellite data across several populations to evaluate the genetic variability and structure of the sigmodontine rodent Abrothrix olivacea brachiotis, one of the most common species of small mammals and an inhabitant of these biodiverse forests. Sequencing data showed that along with the recovery of high haplotype variation for this species, there was a low nucleotide diversity between haplotypes, showing no genetic differences between the Chiloé Island and continental populations in southern Chile or through any other geographic barrier in the study area. However, microsatellite data exhibited some level of population structuring. The most evident clusterings were those of the Chiloé Island and that of North Patagonia. These findings are corroborated by a barrier analysis that showed a genetic barrier in the latter areas, whereas the Chacao Channel was not a significant barrier for this rodent. Overall, the genetic variability and structure of A. o. brachiotis was concordant with historical factors, such as the Last Glacial Maximum and the presence of geographic elements that isolate populations

Distinct DNA methylomes of newborns and centenarians

Human aging cannot be fully understood in terms of the constrained genetic setting. Epigenetic drift is an alternative means of explaining age-associated alterations. To address this issue, we performed whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) of newborn and centenarian genomes. The centenarian DNA had a lower DNA methylation content and a reduced correlation in the methylation status of neighboring cytosine--phosphate--guanine (CpGs) throughout the genome in comparison with the more homogeneously methylated newborn DNA. The more hypomethylated CpGs observed in the centenarian DNA compared with the neonate covered all genomic compartments, such as promoters, exonic, intronic, and intergenic regions. For regulatory regions, the most hypomethylated sequences in the centenarian DNA were present mainly at CpG-poor promoters and in tissue-specific genes, whereas a greater level of DNA methylation was observed in CpG island promoters. We extended the study to a larger cohort of newborn and nonagenarian samples using a 450,000 CpG-site DNA methylation microarray that reinforced the observation of more hypomethylated DNA sequences in the advanced age group. WGBS and 450,000 analyses of middle-age individuals demonstrated DNA methylomes in the crossroad between the newborn and the nonagenarian/centenarian groups. Our study constitutes a unique DNA methylation analysis of the extreme points of human life at a single-nucleotide resolution level

Acheulean Ecology, Diet, and Technological Behaviour: plant residues from Olduvai Gorge (Abstract)

Depto. de Prehistoria, Historia Antigua y ArqueologíaFac. de Geografía e HistoriaTRUEpu

Minimally invasive system to reliably characterize ventricular electrophysiology from living donors

Cardiac tissue slices preserve the heterogeneous structure and multicellularity of the myocardium and allow its functional characterization. However, access to human ventricular samples is scarce. We aim to demonstrate that slices from small transmural core biopsies collected from living donors during routine cardiac surgery preserve structural and functional properties of larger myocardial specimens, allowing accurate electrophysiological characterization. In pigs, we compared left ventricular transmural core biopsies with transmural tissue blocks from the same ventricular region. In humans, we analyzed transmural biopsies and papillary muscles from living donors. All tissues were vibratomesliced. By histological analysis of the transmural biopsies, we showed that tissue architecture and cellular organization were preserved. Enzymatic and vital staining methods verifed viability. Optically mapped transmembrane potentials confrmed that action potential duration and morphology were similar in pig biopsies and tissue blocks. Action potential morphology and duration in human biopsies and papillary muscles agreed with published ranges. In both pigs and humans, responses to increasing pacing frequencies and β-adrenergic stimulation were similar in transmural biopsies and larger tissues. We show that it is possible to successfully collect and characterize tissue slices from human myocardial biopsies routinely extracted from living donors, whose behavior mimics that of larger myocardial preparations both structurally and electrophysiologically.Fil: Oliván Viguera, Aida. Universidad de Zaragoza; EspañaFil: Pérez Zabalza, María. Universidad de Zaragoza; EspañaFil: García Mendívil, Laura. Universidad de Zaragoza; EspañaFil: Mountris, Konstantinos A.. Universidad de Zaragoza; EspañaFil: Orós Rodrigo, Sofía. Universidad de Zaragoza; EspañaFil: Ramos Marquès, Estel. Universidad de Zaragoza; EspañaFil: Vallejo Gil, José María. University Hospital Miguel Servet; EspañaFil: Fresneda Roldán, Pedro Carlos. University Hospital Miguel Servet; EspañaFil: Fañanás Mastral, Javier. University Hospital Miguel Servet; EspañaFil: Vázquez Sancho, Manuel. University Hospital Miguel Servet; EspañaFil: Matamala Adell, Marta. University Hospital Miguel Servet; EspañaFil: Sorribas Berjón, Fernando. University Hospital Miguel Servet; EspañaFil: Bellido Morales, Javier André. University Hospital Miguel Servet; EspañaFil: Mancebón Sierra, Francisco Javier. University Hospital Miguel Servet; EspañaFil: Vaca Núñez, Alexánder Sebastián. University Hospital Miguel Servet; EspañaFil: Ballester Cuenca, Carlos. University Hospital Miguel Servet; EspañaFil: Marigil, Miguel Ángel. Hospital San Jorge; EspañaFil: Pastor, Cristina. Aragón Institute of Health Sciences; EspañaFil: Ordovás, Laura. Aragón Agency for Research and Development; España. Universidad de Zaragoza; EspañaFil: Köhler, Ralf. Aragón Institute of Health Sciences; España. Aragón Agency for Research and Development; EspañaFil: Diez, Emiliano Raúl. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Cátedra de Fisiología Humana Normal; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; ArgentinaFil: Pueyo, Esther. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina; España. Universidad de Zaragoza; Españ

Chronological and biological aging of the human left ventricular myocardium: Analysis of microRNAs contribution

Aging is the main risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. In humans, cardiac aging remains poorly characterized. Most studies are based on chronological age (CA) and disregard biological age (BA), the actual physiological age (result of the aging rate on the organ structure and function), thus yielding potentially imperfect outcomes. Deciphering the molecular basis of ventricular aging, especially by BA, could lead to major progresses in cardiac research. We aim to describe the transcriptome dynamics of the aging left ventricle (LV) in humans according to both CA and BA and characterize the contribution of microRNAs, key transcriptional regulators. BA is measured using two CA-associated transcriptional markers: CDKN2A expression, a cell senescence marker, and apparent age (AppAge), a highly complex transcriptional index. Bioinformatics analysis of 132 LV samples shows that CDKN2A expression and AppAge represent transcriptomic changes better than CA. Both BA markers are biologically validated in relation to an aging phenotype associated with heart dysfunction, the amount of cardiac fibrosis. BA-based analyses uncover depleted cardiac-specific processes, among other relevant functions, that are undetected by CA. Twenty BA-related microRNAs are identified, and two of them highly heart-enriched that are present in plasma. We describe a microRNA-gene regulatory network related to cardiac processes that are partially validated in vitro and in LV samples from living donors. We prove the higher sensitivity of BA over CA to explain transcriptomic changes in the aging myocardium and report novel molecular insights into human LV biological aging. Our results can find application in future therapeutic and biomarker research

Pancreatic metastases from renal cell carcinoma. Postoperative outcome after surgical treatment in a Spanish multicenter study (PANMEKID)

Background: Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) occasionally spreads to the pancreas. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the short and long-term results of a multicenter series in order to determine the effect of surgical treatment on the prognosis of these patients. Methods: Multicenter retrospective study of patients undergoing surgery for RCC pancreatic metastases, from January 2010 to May 2020. Variables related to the primary tumor, demographics, clinical characteristics of metastasis, location in the pancreas, type of pancreatic resection performed and data on short and long-term evolution after pancreatic resection were collected. Results: The study included 116 patients. The mean time between nephrectomy and pancreatic metastases' resection was 87.35 months (ICR: 1.51-332.55). Distal pancreatectomy was the most performed technique employed (50 %). Postoperative morbidity was observed in 60.9 % of cases (Clavien-Dindo greater than IIIa in 14 %). The median follow-up time was 43 months (13-78). Overall survival (OS) rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 96 %, 88 %, and 83 %, respectively. The disease-free survival (DFS) rate at 1, 3, and 5 years was 73 %, 49 %, and 35 %, respectively. Significant prognostic factors of relapse were a disease free interval of less than 10 years (2.05 [1.13-3.72], p 0.02) and a history of previous extrapancreatic metastasis (2.44 [1.22-4.86], p 0.01). Conclusions: Pancreatic resection if metastatic RCC is found in the pancreas is warranted to achieve higher overall survival and disease-free survival, even if extrapancreatic metastases were previously removed. The existence of intrapancreatic multifocal compromise does not always warrant the performance of a total pancreatectomy in order to improve survival. (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd

Repeated pancreatic resection for pancreatic metastases from renal cell Carcinoma: A Spanish multicenter study (PANMEKID)

Background and objectives: Recurrent isolated pancreatic metastasis from Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) after pancreatic resection is rare. The purpose of our study is to describe a series of cases of relapse of pancreatic metastasis from renal cancer in the pancreatic remnant and its surgical treatment with a repeated pancreatic resection, and to analyse the results of both overall and disease -free survival. Methods: Multicenter retrospective study of patients undergoing pancreatic resection for RCC pancreatic metastases, from January 2010 to May 2020. Patients were grouped into two groups depending on whether they received a single pancreatic resection (SPS) or iterative pancreatic resection. Data on short and long-term outcome after pancreatic resection were collected. Results: The study included 131 pancreatic resections performed in 116 patients. Thus, iterative pancreatic surgery (IPS) was performed in 15 patients. The mean length of time between the first pancreatic surgery and the second was 48.9 months (95 % CI: 22.2-56.9). There were no differences in the rate of postoperative complications. The DFS rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 86 %, 78 % and 78 % vs 75 %, 50 % and 37 % in the IPS and SPS group respectively (p = 0.179). OS rates at 1, 3, 5 and 7 years were 100 %, 100 %, 100 % and 75 % in the IPS group vs 95 %, 85 %, 80 % and 68 % in the SPS group (p = 0.895). Conclusion: Repeated pancreatic resection in case of relapse of pancreatic metastasis of RCC in the pancreatic remnant is justified, since it achieves OS results similar to those obtained after the first resection

Os retratos de Maria Isabel e Maria Francisca de Bragança, de Nicolas-Antoine Taunay

Nicolas-Antoine Taunay, French landscape painter, produced also several portraits during his stay at the Rio de Janeiro Court. In this city, in 1816, he paints the queen Carlota Joaquina and all her daughters. In this group, two portraits have a very special way: the paintings still today catalogued as Maria Francisca and Maria Teresa, but probably being Maria Isabel and Maria Francisca de Assis - princesses that, in this year, left Brazil to marry the Spanish King Fernando VII, and his brother Carlos Maria Isidro de Bourbon. In this article, beyond to describe these portraits (and analyse the identities of the portrayed princesses), I analyse their functions in the Court society and the mains artists of this gender in Europe. I will discuss, as well, the hypothesis about the Taunay choices. In this sense, I will analyse the possible circulation of the typologies of portrait between Italy, Portugal, Spain and France, understanding these productions by Taunay and the functions occupied by these portraits in the political relations between Brazil and Europe.Nicolas-Antoine Taunay, pintor de paisagens francês, também realizou alguns retratos durante sua estadia na corte do Rio de Janeiro. Nessa cidade, em 1816, ele pinta a rainha Carlota Joaquina e todas as suas filhas. Nesse conjunto, dois retratos sobressaem-se de modo especial: os hoje ainda inventariados como de Maria Francisca e de Maria Teresa, mas que provavelmente são o de Maria Isabel e o de Maria Francisca de Assis - princesas que, nesse ano, deixavam o Brasil para casar-se, respectivamente, com Fernando VII, o rei espanhol, e com seu irmão Carlos Isidro de Bourbon. Neste artigo, além de descrevermos os retratos (e analisarmos a questão da identidade das princesas retratadas), abordamos suas funções na sociedade das cortes e os principais artistas do gênero na Europa. Discutimos, também, as hipóteses que permeiam as escolhas de Taunay para sua execução. Nesse sentido, tratamos da possível circulação de tipologias entre Itália, Portugal, Espanha e França, buscando entender a forma como Taunay os realizou e as funções que doravante tais retratos ocupariam nas relações entre o Brasil e a Europa.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESPSciEL