Comportamiento Térmico de los WSUDs (Sistemas de diseño urbano sensibles al agua)

El objetivo de esta comunicación es mostrar brevemente los resultados de una investigación de dos años sobre el comportamiento térmico de WSUD.Los WSUD (sistemas de diseño urbano sensibles al agua) intentan integrar el ciclo urbano del agua en el diseño urbano para mejorar el comportamiento ambiental en la urbanización de las ciudades. Cuando urbanizamos transformamos superficies permeables en superficies impermeables.Con los WSUDs se implementan superficies permeables. La presencia de agua debe mejorar el comportamiento térmico de las superficies. Esta es la principal hipótesis de la investigación. Por lo tanto, la pregunta es: ¿existen beneficios térmicos en el uso de WSUD que mejoren la temperatura de las superficies de los espacios exteriores?Esta pregunta se ha tratado de responder con esta investigación de dos años. La metodología ha sido principalmente experimental. Algunas WSUD Barcelona, construidas antes y durante la investigación, se han medido térmicamente durante algunos de los meses cálidos y fríos del año con una cámara térmica. Algunos otros parámetros también se han medido, como las temperaturas ambientales o la humedad de la superficie y la velocidad del viento. Las herramientas utilizadas para ello han sido un higrómetro y un anemómetro.Durante los primeros años, la tendencia de estas temperaturas superficiales mostró un "efecto de templanza" de algunas WSUD durante los meses cálidos del año. Este efecto de "temperancia" consiste en la medición, durante los meses cálidos del año, de algunas temperaturas de la superficie de WSUD para verificar que sean más bajas que las temperaturas ambientales en el mismo lugar y momento.Estos WSUDs están construidos con materiales verdes o de piedra. Sin embargo, la principal diferencia entre ellos es la presencia de agua y cómo y dónde está presente en WSUD. Por lo tanto, dependiendo de cómo y dónde esté presente el agua en WSUD, causa un fuerte efecto térmico en su superficie; más fuerte que el efecto térmico del material que WSUD está construido.Este concepto requería ser verificado; por lo tanto, durante el segundo año de la investigación se construyó un WSUD autofinanciado en el patio de experimentos de la ETSAB. También hubo algunas superficies permeables que también ayudaron a verificar algunos aspectos de la tendencia registrada el año anterior.Al final del artículo, en las conclusiones, se explica el motivo. La causa-efecto se basa en el calor específico de las moléculas diatómicas debido a su comportamiento termodinámico. La energía interna de las moléculas diatómicas es tan alta que es difícil aumentar su temperatura. Esa es la causa del "efecto de la temperancia" que apoya esta investigación. Esta comunicación preliminar intenta mostrar, analizar y explicar este efecto, debido al mejor comportamiento térmico de algunas superficies de WSUD.L'objectiu d'aquesta comunicació és mostrar breument els resultats d'una investigació de dos anys sobre el comportament tèrmic de WSUD.Els WSUD (sistemes de disseny urbà sensibles a l'aigua) intenten integrar el cicle urbà de l'aigua en el disseny urbà per millorar el comportament ambiental a la urbanització de les ciutats. Quan urbanitzem, transformem superfícies permeables en superfícies impermeables.Amb els WSUDs s'implementen superfícies permeables. La presència d'aigua ha de millorar el comportament tèrmic de les superfícies. Aquesta és la principal hipòtesi de la investigació. Per tant, la pregunta és: ¿hi ha beneficis tèrmics en l'ús de WSUD que millorin la temperatura de les superfícies dels espais exteriors?Aquesta pregunta s'ha tractat de respondre amb aquesta investigació de dos anys. La metodologia ha estat principalment experimental. Algunes WSUD Barcelona, construïdes abans i durant la investigació, s'han mesurat tèrmicament durant alguns dels mesos càlids i freds de l'any amb una càmera tèrmica. Alguns altres paràmetres també s'han mesurat, com les temperatures ambientals o la humitat de la superfície i la velocitat del vent. Les eines utilitzades per a això han estat un higròmetre i un anemòmetre.Durant els primers anys, la tendència d'aquestes temperatures superficials va mostrar un "efecte de temprança" d'algunes WSUD durant els mesos càlids de l'any. Aquest efecte de "temperància" consisteix en el mesurament, durant els mesos càlids de l'any, d'algunes temperatures de la superfície de WSUD per verificar que siguin més baixes que les temperatures ambientals en el mateix lloc i moment.Aquests WSUDs estan construïts amb materials verds o de pedra. No obstant això, la principal diferència entre ells és la presència d'aigua i com i on és present a WSUD. Per tant, depenent de com i on sigui present l'aigua en WSUD, causa un fort efecte tèrmic en la seva superfície; més fort que l'efecte tèrmic del material que WSUD està construït.Aquest concepte requeria ser verificat; per tant, durant el segon any de la investigació es va construir un WSUD autofinançat al pati d'experiments de l'ETSAB. També hi va haver algunes superfícies permeables que també van ajudar a verificar alguns aspectes de la tendència registrada l'any anterior.Al final de l'article, en les conclusions, s'explica el motiu. La causa-efecte es basa en la calor específica de les molècules diatòmiques causa del seu comportament termodinàmic. L'energia interna de les molècules diatòmiques és tan alta que és difícil augmentar la seva temperatura. Aquesta és la causa del "efecte de la temperància" que dóna suport a aquesta investigació. Aquesta comunicació preliminar intenta mostrar, analitzar i explicar aquest efecte, a causa del millor comportament tèrmic d'algunes superfícies de WSUD.The aim of this communication is showing briefly the results of a two-year research about the WSUDs thermal behavior.WSUDs (Water Sensitive Urban Design Systems) try to integrate the urban water cycle in the urban design to improve the environmental behavior in the urbanization of the cities. When we urbanize we transform pervious surfaces into impervious surfaces.With WSUDs pervious surfaces are implemented. Water presence should improve surfaces thermal behavior. This is the main hypothesis of the research. Thus the question is: are there thermal benefits in using WSUDs that improve outdoor spaces surfaces temperatures?This question has been tried to be answered with this two year- research. The methodology has been mainly experimental. Some WSUDs Barcelona, built before and during the research, have been thermally measured during some of the warm and cold months of the year with a thermal camera. Some other parameters have also been measured such as environmental temperatures or surface humidity and wind speed. The tools used to do so have been a hygrometer and an anemometer.During the first years the trend of these surface temperatures showed a “temperance effect” of some WSUDs during the warm months of the year. This “temperance” effect consists in the measurement, during the warm months of the year, of some WSUDs surface temperatures to verify they are lower than the environmental temperatures at the same place and moment.These WSUDs are built with whether green or stone materials. The main difference though between them is the presence of water and how and where it is present in the WSUD. Therefore, depending on how and where water is present in WSUD it causes a strong thermal effect on its surface; stronger than the thermal effect of the material the WSUD is built.This concept required to be verified; therefore, during the second year of the research a WSUD self-financed was built at the ETSAB experiments yard. There were also some pervious surfaces that helped as well to verify some aspects of the previous year trend registered.At the end of the article, in the conclusions, the reason is explained. The cause-effect is based in the specific heat of the diatomic molecules due to their thermodynamics behavior. The internal energy of the diatomic molecules is so high that it is hard to increase their temperature. That is the cause of the “temperance effect” that supports this research. This preliminary communication tries to show, analyze and explain this effect, cause of the better thermal behavior of some WSUDs surfaces.Peer Reviewe

Evaluación del "PIB per capita" en siete áreas metropolitanas españolas

Este informe sobre el PIB per cápita es la continuación del que se desarrolló en el proyecto INTERREG IIC, el cual ha estudiado la caracterización territorial y funcional de siete áreas metropolitanas españolas (Barcelona, Madrid, Málaga, Sevilla, Valencia, Bilbao, Zaragoza). Además, dicho informe tiene como objetivo la actualización de los valores del PIB per cápita hasta el 2000 y, a la vez, poder proceder a la comparación de este indicador considerando todos los ámbitos provinciales españoles.Preprin

Clinical and functional characteristics of patients two years after being affected by the soybean asthma epidemic in Barcelona

Background: Patients affected during the asthma outbreaks caused by soybean dust inhalation in Barcelona presented with sudden onset of severe asthma followed by the rapid relief of symptoms after treatment. Two years after the epidemics ended, a case-control study was conducted in which the clinical, functional, and immunological characteristics of these asthma patients (a randomised sample of asthmatic patients admitted as emergency cases on epidemic days, n = 213) were compared with those of a control group (a random sample of asthmatic patients admitted as emergency cases for attacks of asthma on non-epidemic days, n = 170). METHODS--The study included the administration of the ATS-DLD78 standardised respiratory questionnaire, the measurement of atopy, and performance of spirometric tests and a methacholine inhalation test. Results: Patients with epidemic asthma reported fewer symptoms of asthma, had attended emergency departments less frequently during the previous year for acute attacks of asthma, were taking fewer inhaled corticosteroids at the time of the study, and attended medical follow up less frequently than did the patients with non-epidemic asthma. However, the cases and controls showed no differences in ventilatory capacity or reactivity to the methacholine bronchoprovocation test. Conclusions: Two years after the end of the soybean epidemics, people affected by epidemic asthma had a favourable prognosis. This finding contrasts with a higher risk of life threatening asthma and death during the epidemics. This paradox could be the result of a complex interaction between host and conditions of exposure

Birth weight impacts on wave reflections in children and adolescents

The objective of the present study was to assess central aortic pressure and wave reflection in children and adolescents at different birth weights. Two hundred nineteen healthy children (126 girls), from 7 to 18 years of age (mean, 11.3 years) and born at term after a normotensive pregnancy, were included. The subjects were divided according to birth weight: 3.5 kg. Pressure waveforms were recorded from the radial artery of the wrist, and the waveform data were then processed by the SphygmoCor radial/aortic transform software module to produce the estimated aortic pressure waveform. Augmentation index, an estimate of the pulse wave reflection, was significantly higher in children with the lowest birth weights compared with the other birth weight groups. In a multiple regression analysis, short stature, low heart rate, female gender, and lower birth weight had independent significant inverse correlations to the augmentation index when adjusted for diastolic blood pressure (R^2=0.21). In summary, the results showed a relatively aged phenotype of large-vessel function in the children with the lowest birth weights. These early alterations may be amplified throughout life and may contribute to the increased cardiovascular risk associated with low birth weight.Lurbe Ferrer, Maria Desamparados, [email protected] ; Redon Mas, Josep, [email protected]

Influence of Concurrent Obesity and Low Birth Weight on Blood Pressure Phenotype in Youth

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of obesity and low birth weight on both office and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) values, as well as on aortic-derived parameters in youths. A total of 422 white youths, from 10 to 18 years of age, were included. Subjects were divided into 4 groups according to the presence (234; 55%) or the absence (188; 45%) of obesity and according to low (114; 27%) or normal (308; 73%, birth weight. Spacelabs 90207 was used to measure ambulatory BP during a 24-hour period. SphygmoCor radial/aortic transform software was used to estimate aortic pressure waveform. Office, 24-hour, daytime, and nighttime systolic BP values were significantly higher in those subjects with low birth weight who became obese. The lowest BP values were present in nonobese subjects in the absence of low birth weight. In the middle, with similar BP values, were nonobese subjects with low birth weight and obese subjects in the absence of low birth weight. No interaction existed between obesity and low birth weight in the office (P 0.165) or ambulatory (P 0.603) systolic BP values. Augmentation index, an estimate of the pulse wave reflection, was significantly higher in the nonobese low birth weight group when compared with the other groups after controlling for height, heart rate, and diastolic BP. A significant interaction between low birth weight and obesity (P 0.005) existed. In conclusion, although the low birth weight children who become obese have the highest systolic BP values, the presence of obesity blunts the increment of the reflecting wave observed in low birth weight [email protected] [email protected]

Application of particle motion technique to structural modal identification of heritage buildings

Determining the behavior of a structure estimated by means of finite elements analysis requires not only an in-depth knowledge of its geometry and dynamic properties but also an experimental validation to corroborate the adequacy of the characteristics of the structure. Most of the current structural identification techniques are based on linear methods that call for many measurement points and/or a relative simple structure. Complex structures are somewhat still an unexplored field due to the difficulties with the finite element method and the experimental corroboration of its results. This study presents the use of particle motion computation applied to each structural vibration mode to improve the identification of its dynamic properties, and its application to the Gothic Cathedral of Palma de Majorca (Spain).Postprint (author’s final draft

Factores de riesgo asociados con intubación difícil en el medio extra- hospitalario

RESUMENIntroducción: muchos de  los pacientes que son encontrados fuera del hospital del ámbito hospitalario por el personal sanitario de emergencia con insuficiencia respiratoria grave, requieren una intubación endotraqueal rápida y eficaz que permita disminuir el riesgo de fallecimiento. El objetivo de este estudio es analizar los factores predictivos de intubación endotraqueal difícil (IED) en el medio extrahospitalario.Pacientes y Métodos: se trata de un estudio observacional y retrospectivo. Se analizaron el registro de las asistencias realizadas por el servicio de emergencias médicas de un centro hospitalario de alto nivel entre el periodo 2008-2014 que requirieron intubación endotraquealResultados: fueron 402 pacientes a los que se les realizó intubación orotraqueal. La tasa global de éxito fue del 100%. Las variables independientes que se asociaron a una IED fueron: lengua grande en 10 casos (45.5%) p<0.001, apertura bucal limitada 12 casos (54.5%) p<0.001, cuello corto 15 casos (68.2%) p<0.001 y cuello ancho 12 casos (54.5%) p<0.001.Conclusiones: El presentar una apertura bucal limitada, una  lengua grande, un cuello corto o ancho y una movilidad cervical limitada se asocian a una intubación endotraqueal difícil en el medio extra-hospitalario.Palabras clave: intubación endotraqueal, extra-hospitalaria DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17268/rmt.2019.v14i03.0

Integrated Care Intervention Supported by a Mobile Health Tool for Patients Using Noninvasive Ventilation at Home: Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Home-based noninvasive ventilation has proven cost-effective. But, adherence to therapy still constitutes a common clinical problem. We hypothesized that a behavioral intervention supported by a mobile health (mHealth) app could enhance patient self-efficacy. It is widely accepted that mHealth-supported services can enhance productive interactions among the stakeholders involved in home-based respiratory therapies. Objective: This study aimed to measure changes in self-efficacy in patients with chronic respiratory failure due to diverse etiologies during a 3-month follow-up period after the intervention. Ancillary objectives were assessment of usability and acceptability of the mobile app as well as its potential contribution to collaborative work among stakeholders. Methods: A single-blind, single-center, randomized controlled trial was conducted between February 2019 and June 2019 with 67 adult patients with chronic respiratory failure undergoing home-based noninvasive ventilation. In the intervention group, a psychologist delivered a face-to-face motivational intervention. Follow-up was supported by a mobile app that allowed patients to report the number of hours of daily noninvasive ventilation use and problems with the therapy. Advice was automatically delivered by the mobile app in case of a reported problem. The control group received usual care. The primary outcome was the change in the Self Efficacy in Sleep Apnea questionnaire score. Secondary outcomes included app usability, app acceptability, continuity of care, person-centered care, and ventilatory parameters. Results: Self-efficacy was not significantly different in the intervention group after the intervention (before: mean 3.4, SD 0.6; after: mean 3.4, SD 0.5, P=.51). No changes were observed in adherence to therapy nor quality of life. Overall, the mHealth tool had a good usability score (mean 78 points) and high acceptance rate (mean score of 7.5/10 on a Likert scale). It was considered user-friendly (mean score of 8.2/10 on a Likert scale) and easy to use without assistance (mean score of 8.5/10 on a Likert scale). Patients also scored the perception of continuity of care and person-centered care as high. Conclusions: The integrated care intervention supported by the mobile app did not improve patient self-management. However, the high acceptance of the mobile app might indicate potential for enhanced communication among stakeholders. The study identified key elements required for mHealth tools to provide effective support to collaborative work and personalized care

Impacto de las infecciones por bacterias multirresistentes en el enfermo crítico

Introducción: La incidencia de las infecciones por bacterias multirresistentes (MRS) ha aumentado en las últimas décadas, lo que supone un grave problema de salud pública. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la mortalidad de los pacientes con infección por patógenos MRS ingresados en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) del Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol. La estancia media hospitalaria en UCI fue un objetivo secundario.  Materiales y métodos: Estudio de cohortes retrospectivo en el que se incluyeron  pacientes ingresados consecutivamente en el servicio de medicina intensiva durante 3 años, en los cuales se analizó la mortalidad y la estancia media hospitalaria en UCI, según la presencia o no de infección por bacterias MRS.  Resultados: Se reclutaron 428 pacientes, 28 con infección por MRS y 400 con infección por no-MRS o bien ausencia de infección. La edad media fue de 57 años (SD 15’6), siendo predominante el sexo masculino (65%), con un índice de APACHE II de 19 en ambos grupos (SD 8’47). La mortalidad de los pacientes con infección por MRS fue del 38’4% y en la de no-MRS del 16’7%; no obstante, el análisis de supervivencia de Kaplan-Meier no encontró diferencias estadísticamente significativas (Cox y log-rank > 0’05). La estancia media en UCI en la cohorte de MRS fue de 11’9 días y en la de no-MRS de 7 días (p-valor < 0’05).Conclusión: La infección por bacterias MRS se asocia con una estancia más prolongada en la UCI. Palabras clave: Infección por bacterias MRS