Self-control of a lively footbridge under pedestrian flow

Congreso celebrado en la Escuela de Arquitectura de la Universidad de Sevilla desde el 24 hasta el 26 de junio de 2015.In this paper, a case study about a lively footbridge is developed; the vibration levels caused by the pedestrian action are controlled by the change of the modal parameters of the structure due to the pedestrian-structure interaction. A detailed finite element model of the structure has been updated from an operational modal analysis. The updated model has been used to obtain the numerical acceleration at the mid-span of the footbridge under different pedestrian flows. A relation between the maximum acceleration and the pedestrian density on the deck has been obtained numerically, pointing out an improvement in the comfort level of the structure when the number of pedestrians increases. This result validates a design rule for cable-stayed footbridges in order to avoid vibratory problems, since the first vertical natural frequency of the structure remains below the range that characterizes the pedestrian walking action

Epidermal mineralocorticoid receptor plays beneficial and adverse effects in skin and mediates glucocorticoid responses

10 páginas, 6 figuras. Contiene material suplementarioGlucocorticoids (GCs) regulate skin homeostasis and combat cutaneous inflammatory diseases; however, adverse effects of chronic GC treatments limit their therapeutic use. GCs bind and activate the GC receptor and the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), transcription factors that recognize identical hormone responsive elements. Whether epidermal MR mediates beneficial or deleterious GC effects is of great interest for improving GC-based skin therapies. MR epidermal knockout mice exhibited increased keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation and showed resistance to GC-induced epidermal thinning. However, crucially, loss of epidermal MR rendered mice more sensitive to inflammatory stimuli and skin damage. MR epidermal knockout mice showed increased susceptibility to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced inflammation with higher cytokine induction. Likewise, cultured MR epidermal knockout keratinocytes had increased phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced NF-κB activation, highlighting an anti-inflammatory function for MR. GC-induced transcription was reduced in MR epidermal knockout keratinocytes, at least partially due to decreased recruitment of GC receptor to hormone responsive element-containing sequences. Our results support a role for epidermal MR in adult skin homeostasis and demonstrate nonredundant roles for MR and GC receptor in mediating GC actions.This work was supported by grant SAF2011-28115 and SAF2014-59474-R (MINECO, Spanish Government). JB and EC are recipients of FPI (BES-2012-0578) and FPU (AP201-06094) fellowships of MINECO, respectively. We thank COST ADMIRE BM- 1301 and NURCAMEIN (SAF2015-71878-REDT) for support for dissemination.Peer reviewe

Cultural and creative ecosystems in medium-sized cities: Evolution in times of economic crisis and pandemic

This article seeks to forecast the short-and medium-term impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the cultural and creative ecosystems of the 81 cities in Spain with between 50, 000 and 100, 000 inhabitants. Data on employment in nine sectors (per NACE Rev. 2) support the characterization of cultural ecosystems based on their dynamism, specialization, and propensity to form clusters (thanks to the co-location of certain sectors, meant to generate inter-sectoral spillovers and cross-sector synergies). The applied methodology consists of comparing these three attributes during and following the 2008 financial crisis. Then, any changes observed are interpreted in light of arguments from the COVID-19 literature, and from our own analysis, in order to assess the probability of recurrence (or nonrecurrence) during the current pandemic. Throughout this process, the metropolitan or non-metropolitan position of cities is taken into consideration. A first conclusion is that, as in the financial crisis, the behavior of ecosystems during the pandemic will be asymmetric. Secondly, metropolitan and non-metropolitan cities will maintain their distinctive sectoral specializations. Non-metropolitan cities appear to be more vulnerable for their strong connection to creative sectors most affected by the pandemic, although some can take advantage of good cultural supply and proximity to metropolitan centers. Metropolitan cities seem more secure, thanks to the higher presence of less vulnerable sectors (due to elevated and accelerating digitization). Nevertheless, most functional clusters were diminished during the financial crisis, and it seems unlikely that sectoral co-locations will re-emerge in a post-pandemic scenario as a business strategy, at least in the short term. Beyond these forecasts, we recommend dealing with certain structural failures of these ecosystems, especially the vulnerability and precariousness of most cultural and creative companies and workers

Model Comparison to Interpret the Kinetics of in vitroGas Production with Bovine Excreta Used as Inoculum.

New models to help interpret the kinetics of in vitrogas production with bovine excreta used as inoculum were suggested. Samples of L. leucocephala, G. sepiumand P. maximum, with different gas production profiles, were used. The samples were submitted to the procedure for gas production and the volumes were determined every 3 h, in the first 30 h; then at 36; 48; 72 and 96 h. Five models were compared (two monophase and three biphase), and the parameters for better adjustment were determined. Mean squared error and the Durbin-Watson test were used as comparison criteria. It was concluded that the monophase models fall short to describe the kinetics of in vitrogas production with bovine excreta; whereas the biphase models with simple exponential components are useful. The biphase equation, where V = 0 for t < L and V = B * (1 – EXP (- C * (t - L))) for t ≥L classified as the most useful work is done with syringes

Quantum entanglement patterns in the structure of atomic nuclei within the nuclear shell model

Quantum entanglement offers a unique perspective into the underlying structure of strongly-correlated systems such as atomic nuclei. In this paper, we use quantum information tools to analyze the structure of light and medium mass berillyum, oxygen, neon and calcium isotopes within the nuclear shell model. We use different entanglement metrics, including single-orbital entanglement, mutual information, and von Neumann entropies for different equipartitions of the shell-model valence space and identify mode/entanglement patterns related to the energy, angular momentum and isospin of the nuclear single-particle orbitals. We observe that the single-orbital entanglement is directly related to the number of valence nucleons and the energy structure of the shell, while the mutual information highlights signatures of proton-proton and neutron-neutron pairing. Proton and neutron orbitals are weakly entangled by all measures, and in fact have the lowest von Neumann entropies among all possible equipartitions of the valence space. In contrast, orbitals with opposite angular momentum projection have relatively large entropies. This analysis provides a guide for designing more efficient quantum algorithms for the noisy intermediate-scale quantum era.Comment: Submitted to EPJA Topical Issue "Quantum computing in low-energy nuclear theory

Iberian acid peatlands: types, origin and general trends of development.

ABSTRACT: In the present study we reviewed the genesis, development and classification of peatlands in the Iberian 1. The region has a wide variety of peatlands which are classified according to their biogeochemical, geomorphological and ecological characteristics into different types of bogs and fens. 2. Most of the peatlands occur in the Atlantic region followed by the Mediterranean and Alpine regions. Fens are more widely distributed than bogs, and blanket and raised bogs are mainly found in the Eurosiberian biogeographical region. 3. In many of the fens, the last active peat-forming cycle occurred during the Late Holocene (43 %). In most of the bogs, the peat-forming cycle occurred in the Middle Holocene (70 %), although in a substantial proportion of blanket bogs these processes occurred in the Early Holocene (30 %). 4. The peat formed in the last active cycle is, on average, thicker in raised bogs (322 cm) than in blanket bogs (257 cm) and fens (156 cm). 5. Vertical peat accumulation rates varied between 16 and 30 yr cm-1 in more than 40 % of the peatlands. The accumulation rates differed significantly between the different types of peatlands and were highest in the raised bogs. The accumulation rates were very variable in the fens. 6. The genesis, evolution and types of Iberian peatlands are similar to those observed in peatlands in northern latitudes in Europe and North America.Our research has been made possible by the following project grants: INCITE09-200-019-PR (Xunta de Galicia Government); DESIRÈ-HAR2013-43701-P (Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness); and Relictflora-P11-RNM-7033 (Excellence Research Projects Program from the Andalusian Government)

Design evaluation of a prototype user interface to support a guideline-based decision support system in gestational diabetes

Gestational Diabetes (GD) has increased over the last 20 years, affecting up to 15% of pregnant women worldwide. The complications associated can be reduced with the appropriate glycemic control during the pregnancy

Vulnerability and resilience of high-mountain pine forests of the Gredos range (Ávila, Spanish Central System): two thousand years of socio-ecological dynamics

RESUMEN: En este trabajo se presenta el análisis palinológico de la turbera de Pozo de la Nieve, localizada en el Parque Natural del Valle de Iruelas (Ávila), un área de alto valor sociocultural dentro de la Sierra de Gredos (Sistema Central). Con el objetivo de relacionar los cambios en el paisaje con la explotación de los recursos naturales y eventos climáticos, en primer lugar se han realizado 7 dataciones radiocarbónicas que sitúan el inicio del registro sedimentario ca. 240 cal BC. Los datos polínicos indican la existencia de un denso pinar altimontano dominado por Pinus sylvestris/nigra desde la Segunda Edad de Hierro hasta el periodo islámico. A partir del periodo cristiano las actividades antrópicas se intensifican, especialmente la ganadería en la Edad Contemporánea, lo cual conlleva la progresiva desaparición del pinar de alta montaña y el desarrollo de pastizales mediante el manejo del fuego, situación que culmina con el desarrollo del paisaje actual dominado por piornales pirófilos.ABSTRACT: We present the palynological study of Pozo de la Nieve peat bog, located in a very valuable socio-cultural placement within the Iruelas Valley Natural Park (Gredos range, Iberian Central System). We have focused in relating landscape changes to natural resources management and climatic events. Firstly, we carried out seven radiocarbon dates suggesting the origin of this record ca. 240 cal BC. The palynological data show the existence of dense high-mountain pine woodlands dominated by Pinus sylvestris/nigra from the Late Iron Age to the Muslim period. Later, from the Christian period, anthropogenic activities have intensified, especially livestock grazing in the Contemporary Age. Its consequences are the progressive disappearance of highmountain pine forests and the extension of grasslands by means of fire, which has shaped current landscape dominated by broom communities.Este trabajo ha sido financiado por el proyecto Desirè-HAR2013-43701-P (Plan Nacional I+D+I, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad de España). Sebastián Pérez Díaz está financiado por el Programa Estatal de Promoción del Talento y su Empleabilidad en I+D+i en la modalidad Juan de la Cierva-Incorporación. Mónica Ruiz Alonso está financiada por el Programa Estatal de Promoción del Talento y su Empleabilidad en I+D+i en la modalidad Juan de la Cierva-Formación

Utilización de antibióticos en una farmacia comunitaria

La sociedad actual se caracteriza por una elevada intolerancia al malestar y una urgencia por solucionar molestias, incluso menores, que conduce a una demanda de utilización de los recursos disponibles, aunque no siempre se precisen, lo que influye en que el uso, entre otros, de antibióticos sea mucho mayor de lo deseable

Genome Wide Meta-Analysis identifies common genetic signatures shared by heart function and Alzheimer’s disease

Genètica de malalties; Medicina molecularGenética de enfermedades; Medicina molecularDisease genetics; Molecular medicineEchocardiography has become an indispensable tool for the study of heart performance, improving the monitoring of individuals with cardiac diseases. Diverse genetic factors associated with echocardiographic measures have been previously reported. The impact of several apoptotic genes in heart development identified in experimental models prompted us to assess their potential association with human cardiac function. This study aimed at investigating the possible association of variants of apoptotic genes with echocardiographic traits and to identify new genetic markers associated with cardiac function. Genome wide data from different studies were obtained from public repositories. After quality control and imputation, a meta-analysis of individual association study results was performed. Our results confirmed the role of caspases and other apoptosis related genes with cardiac phenotypes. Moreover, enrichment analysis showed an over-representation of genes, including some apoptotic regulators, associated with Alzheimer’s disease. We further explored this unexpected observation which was confirmed by genetic correlation analyses. Our findings show the association of apoptotic gene variants with echocardiographic indicators of heart function and reveal a novel potential genetic link between echocardiographic measures in healthy populations and cognitive decline later on in life. These findings may have important implications for preventative strategies combating Alzheimer’s disease