Comparative analysis of ephemeral river ecosystem services in agricultural and natural landscapes in mediterranean environments. A practical approach to Caia River (Portugal)

Mediterranean landscapes present a large amount of biodiversity and ecosystems leading to their unique identity. In fact, it is increasingly acknowledged that these ecosystems provide a large range of benefits, not only for the area where they are located but also for their surroundings. Benefits that may vary from aesthetical values to socioeconomic aspects that might influence territorial development, including also the preservation of those ecosystems. The ephemeral and intermittent rivers provide several and pivotal ecosystem services within to the environment. However, these services differ a lot from agricultural to natural landscapes – e.g. agricultural landscapes structure ́ is susceptible to dramatic changes through the seasons and water cycles. Thus, a comparison study between agricultural and natural Mediterranean environments landscapes have been carried out – allowing to deeply understand ephemeral rivers ecosystems systems and their dynamics. Considering the purpose of the study - a comparison analysis between river ecosystem services in agricultural and natural landscapes in Mediterranean environments have been conducted. Therefore, a Cross-Border ephemeral river – Caia River (Portugal-Spain) have been selected as a case study. The comparison has covered cultural, aesthetic, functional and socio-economic ecosystem services; showing the relevance of the functions granted by the river

Influencia del estatus profesional de los jugadores de fútbol en la frecuencia y gravedad de las lesiones: estudio piloto comparativo

Objetivo El propósito del estudio es evaluar la frecuencia y la gravedad de las lesiones sufridas en un mismo equipo de fútbol durante 2 temporadas en 2 divisiones. Métodos Estudio comparativo entre 2 estatus de fútbol profesional: Primera División (PD) y Segunda División (SD). La muestra consistió en jugadores profesionales de un mismo equipo cuyas lesiones se registraron prospectivamente durante las temporadas 2006-2007 (SD) y 2008-2009 (PD). Resultados De las 101 lesiones registradas, 64 (63,4%) fueron consideradas leves, 26 (25,7%) moderadas y 11 (10,9%) graves. La incidencia de lesiones moderadas o graves durante el entrenamiento fue 3 veces mayor en la PD (3,36 vs 1,01; RR = 3,30), así como el total de lesiones durante el partido (52,82 vs 16,01; RR = 3,30). En cuanto a los días de baja, la incidencia fue mayor en PD, tanto en entrenamientos (60%) como en partidos (30%). El número de días perdidos por cada 1.000 h de exposición fue un 50% mayor en PD (129,60 vs 85,01 días/1.000 h de exposición). Conclusiones Los resultados obtenidos muestran que en el fútbol español el estatus profesional puede ser un factor determinante de las lesiones. Además, estos resultados confirman el hecho de que el riesgo de lesión en el lugar de trabajo es considerablemente más alto en el fútbol profesional que en la mayoría de los demás sectores. Sería necesario que los clubes analizaran la importancia de desarrollar estrategias de prevención de lesiones y usaran recursos financieros para reducir el riesgo

Influència de l’estatus professional dels jugadors de futbol en la freqüència i la gravetat de les lesions: estudi pilot comparatiu

Objectiu El propòsit d’aquest estudi fou avaluar la freqüència i la gravetat de les lesions sofertes en un mateix equip de futbol durant 2 temporades, en 2 divisions. Mètode Estudi comparatiu entre 2 estatus de futbol professional: primera divisió (PD) i segona divisió (SD). La mostra consistí en jugadors professionals d’un mateix equip les lesions dels quals s’enregistraren prospectivament durant les temporades 2006-2007 (SD) i 2008-2009 (PD). Resultats De les 101 lesions registrades, 64 (63,4%) foren considerades lleus, 26 (25,7%) moderades i 11 (10,9%) greus. La incidència de lesions moderades o greus durant l’entrenament fou 3 vegades superior a la PD (3,36 vs 1,01; RR = 3,30), així com el total de lesions durant el partit (52,82 vs 16,01; RR = 3,30). Quant als dies de baixa, la incidència fou major a la PD, tant en els entrenaments (60%) com en els partits (30%). El nombre de dies per cada 1.000 h d’exposició fou un 50% major a la PD (129,60 vs 85,01 dies/1.000 h d’exposició). Conclusions Els resultats obtinguts mostren que en el futbol espanyol l’estatus professional pot ser un factor determinant de lesions. A més, aquests resultats confirmen el fet que el risc de lesió en el lloc de treball és considerablement més alt en el futbol professional que en la majoria dels altres sectors. Caldria que els clubs analitzessin la importància de desenvolupar estratègies de prevenció de les lesions i que empressin els recursos econòmics necessaris per reduir-ne el risc

Combined resistance and aerobic training in Elderly: effects on functional performance, strength, fat mass and pain perception

. Introducción: La sociedad está envejeciendo, y se estima que este segmento seguirá aumentando en los próximos años. Objetivo: Examinar los efectos que producen 5 semanas de entrenamiento en el rendimiento funcional, fuerza de agarre, perímetro de cintura, masa grasa y percepción de dolor general. Método: 28 sujetos (edad e» 55 años), sedentarios, participaron en un programa de entrenamiento de fuerza y entrenamiento aeróbico, de 5 semanas, 5 sesiones semanales de 50-60 minutos de duración. Resultados: Existen diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los valores previos y posteriores al programa. La magnitud de estas diferencias puede considerarse grande en el Timed Up and Go Test (-27.3%, p=0.000, d=3.01), 30- Second Chair Stand Test (+42%, p=0.000, d=1.77) y percepción de dolor día (-54.7%, p=0.000, d=1.27) y noche (- 58.2%, p=0.000, d=1.02). Conclusión: Tras la aplicación del programa de entrenamiento concurrente descrito, todas las variables analizadas han evolucionado favorablemente. Dichas variables están directamente relacionadas con la composición corporal, calidad de vida, reducción del dolor, así como mejora de fuerza para las actividades cotidianas de las personas mayores.Introduction: Society is aging, and it is estimated that this segment will continue to grow in the coming years. Objectives: To examine the effects of 5 weeks of training on functional performance, grip strength, waist circumference, fat mass and general pain perception.Methods: 28 subjects (age e» 55 years), sedentary, participated in a 5-week strength and aerobic training program, 5 weekly sessions of 50-60 minutes duration. Results: There are statistically significant differences between pre and post program values. The magnitude of these differences can be considered large in the Timed Up and Go Test (-27.3%, p=0.000, d=3.01), 30-Second Chair Stand Test (+42%, p=0.000, d=1.77) and pain perception day (-54.7%, p=0.000, d=1.27) and night (-58.2%, p=0.000, d=1.02).Conclusion: After the application of described concurrent training program, all analyzed variables have evolved favorably. Such variables are directly related to body composition, quality of life, pain reduction, as well as to improvement of strenght for the elderly’s daily activities

Comparing biofuels through the lens of sustainability: A data envelopment analysis approach

Liquid biofuels can facilitate the transition towards a more sustainable transportation sector by curbing carbon emissions while maintaining most of the current vehicle fleet. Today, a myriad of alternatives are available to produce biofuels, where different decisions for the fuel type, blend, conversion process and carbon source will affect the final cost and environmental impact of the product. In this contribution, we analyze the performance of 72 different biofuels routes based on 12 indicators that cover the three sustainability dimensions: economic, environmental and social. The proposed multi-criteria approach combines Data Envelopment Analysis with Life Cycle Assessment to evaluate biofuels from a cradle-to-wheel perspective, that is, considering the production chain spanning from biomass production to the combustion of the biofuel in the engine. Results reveal that there are 35 biofuels routes performing better than the rest, with renewable diesel being a better option than ethanol-based blends or biodiesel, and waste biomass preferred over cellulosic biomass or bio-oils. The selection of the carbon source proofed to be the most important decision, highlighting the need to consider regional aspects related to soil and climate before promoting a certain biofuel. Overall, our results can help to derive effective policies for the adoption of biofuels attaining the best performance at minimum cost and environmental risks.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Assessing Land-Use Changes in European Territories: A Retrospective Study from 1990 to 2012

The need to understand what land use is has motivated the development of programmes that aims to identify it and quantify it—CORINE Land Cover (CLC) in 1985. From this official and open geodatabase—through the using of geographic information system (GIS) tools—the amount of area established for each land use has been identified in all the 28 member states of the EU. This mostly corresponds to agricultural and forestry uses. Between 1990 and 2012, it was possible to determine countries with variable land use models such as Finland, Latvia, Portugal and Spain—the rest of the states presenting stable land use models. Additionally, some countries are characterized by the predominance of one or two land uses. Contextually, the proposal aims to develop a retrospective study regarding the land-use changes in the EU territories from 1990 to 2012, through the available tools such as CLC

The Multivariated Effect of City Cooperation in Land Use Planning and Decision-Making Processes: A European Analysis

Spatial and urban planning processes regarding border cooperation have reached unprecedented levels in recent decades, not only due to their potential for territorial integration, i.e., infrastructure construction and planning activities worldwide. Bearing in mind the European project, for a united and strong network of nations, this scenario is more evident in European territories. In this regard, through multivariated analyzes of city cooperation on European border areas, it is possible to identify the factors that influence the territorial success and also a sustainable regional development and even their effects over the urban agglomerations. From the identified factors, the study pointed out one that is common to all cases: connectivity-movement between cities

Ensayo para la determinación del estado de conservación de la vegetación

The constant search of strategies that they lead towards the sustainable development makes the environmental indicators exposition more and more frequent. The target of these indicators is to give useful information for the control of the conservation of the environment. The use of formulae that allow quantifying the conservation of the vegetation makes possible the securing of an indicative value of the state of naturalness of the vegetation. Also, the use of natural types of habitat instead of phytosociology associations allows simplifying the proposed formulation, obtaining completely valid results. Finally, the effect of the change of scale in the calculation of the value of the index does not suppose changes in the validity of the obtained value. Nevertheless, we must consider that the values obtained are only comparable in works realized to equal scale

La diversidad en la Universidad: la innovación docente para la inclusión del alumno con discapacidad auditiva en el Grado de Odontología. Odontopediatría II y Clínica Odontológica Integrada (Dpto. de Estomatología IV)

Se plantea en el presente proyecto un sistema de adaptación de las lecciones teóricas en dos asignaturas de 4º y 5º del Grado de Odontología, al lenguaje de signos en relación a la explicación docente complementaria

BirdNet+: two-stage 3D object detection in LiDAR through a sparsity-invariant bird's eye view

Autonomous navigation relies upon an accurate understanding of the elements in the surroundings. Among the different on-board perception tasks, 3D object detection allows the identification of dynamic objects that cannot be registered by maps, being key for safe navigation. Thus, it often requires the use of LiDAR data, which is able to faithfully represent the scene geometry. However, although raw laser point clouds contain rich features to perform object detection, more compact representations such as the bird's eye view (BEV) projection are usually preferred in order to meet the time requirements of the control loop. This paper presents an end-to-end object detection network based on the well-known Faster R-CNN architecture that uses BEV images as input to produce the final 3D boxes. Our regression branches can infer not only the axis-aligned bounding boxes but also the rotation angle, height, and elevation of the objects in the scene. The proposed network provides state-of-the-art results for car, pedestrian, and cyclist detection with a single forward pass when evaluated on the KITTI 3D Object Detection Benchmark, with an accuracy that exceeds 64% mAP 3D for the Moderate difficulty. Further experiments on the challenging nuScenes dataset show the generalizability of both the method and the proposed BEV representation against different LiDAR devices and across a wider set of object categories by being able to reach more than 30% mAP with a single LiDAR sweep and almost 40% mAP with the usual 10-sweep accumulation.This work was supported in part by the Government of Madrid (Comunidad de Madrid) under the Multiannual Agreement with the University Carlos III of Madrid (UC3M) in the line of "Fostering Young Doctors Research"(PEAVAUTO-CM-UC3M), and in part by the Context of the V Regional Programme of Research and Technological Innovation (PRICIT)