Rammed earth walls in Mediterranean climate: material characterization and thermal behaviour

Rammed earth is considered a very sustainable construction system due to its low embodied energy, long service life and high recyclability. However, authors found that there is a lack of experimental results at real scale regarding rammed earth thermal behaviour. For this reason, this paper is first focused on the characterization of two different types of earth in order to check the suitability of being used in rammed earth walls. After the characterization, two experimental cubicle-shape buildings were built in Barcelona and Puigverd de Lleida (Spain) in order to test the thermal behaviour of their walls in two different climatic conditions. Temperature profiles inside walls have been monitored using thermocouples and temperature profile of southern walls was analysed in free floating conditions during summer and winter periods of 2013. Results show that thermal amplitude from outside to inside temperatures are decreased by rammed earth walls, achieving constant temperatures in inner surface of southern walls.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Experimental simulation of simultaneous vision

Purpose. To present and validate a prototype of an optical instrument that allows experimental simulation of pure bifocal vision. To evaluate the influence of different power additions on image contrast and visual acuity. Methods. The instrument provides the eye with two superimposed images, aligned and with the same magnification, but with different defocus states. Subjects looking through the instrument are able to experience pure simultaneous vision, with adjustable refractive correction and addition power. The instrument is used to investigate the impact of the amount of addition of an ideal bifocal simultaneous vision correction, both on image contrast and on visual performance. The instrument is validated through computer simulations of the letter contrast and by equivalent optical experiments with an artificial eye (camera). Visual acuity (VA) was measured in four subjects (age: 34.3 ± 3.4 years; spherical error: -2.1 ± 2.7 diopters [D]) for low and high contrast letters and different amounts of addition. Results. The largest degradation in contrast and visual acuity (~25%) occurred for additions around ±2 D, while additions of ±4 D produced lower degradation (14%). Low additions (1-2 D) result in lower VA than high additions (3-4 D). Conclusions. A simultaneous vision instrument is an excellent tool to simulate bifocal vision and to gain understanding of multifocal solutions for presbyopia. Simultaneous vision induces a pattern of visual performance degradation, which is well predicted by the degradation found in image quality. Neural effects, claimed to be crucial in the patients' tolerance of simultaneous vision, can be therefore compared with pure optical effects. Copyright 2013 The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc.Supported by Spanish Government Grant FIS2011-25637 and European Advanced Grant ERC-2011-AdG-294099 to SM.Peer Reviewe

Nosso planeta antes da vida: desenhos de estudantes como recurso de modelagem para o ensino da biologia no ciclo educacional III

According to the Basic Learning Rights for Colombia, the teaching of biology in cycle 3 must begin with the cell as the foundation of the living, and then classify living beings according to their characteristics; however, the student’s manifest gaps in the face of it, given the alternation and virtuality in which they remained for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. From these reflections, it is decided to cover the concept of cell, from a prehistoric perspective, allowing them to recognize the emergence of the first prokaryotes organisms. To do this, students are problematized so that, through a drawing, they show what they suppose existed on planet earth before any form of life. So, the problem question is: What types of representations emerge by 6 and 7-grade students from two official schools in Bogotá when they draw the planet earth before there was life? This qualitative research, from the multiple case study, is in implementation; It has preliminary analyzes of the drawings and explanations of the students, which show anthropogenic activities and the presence of plant and animal organisms, associating them with the concept of "before life". Soon the analysis will be extended with the drawings and subsequent explanations.Según los Derechos Básicos de Aprendizaje para Colombia, la enseñanza de la biología en ciclo 3 debe iniciar por célula como fundamento de lo vivo, para luego clasificar los seres vivos conforme sus características; sin embargo, los estudiantes manifiestan vacíos frente a ello, dada la alternancia y virtualidad en la que permanecieron dos años a causa de la pandemia por Covid-19. Desde estas reflexiones, se opta por abarcar el concepto de célula, desde una mirada prehistórica permitiéndoles reconocer el surgimiento de los primeros organismos procariontes. Para ello se problematiza a los estudiantes para que, mediante un dibujo, den cuenta de lo que suponen existía en el planeta tierra antes de cualquier forma de vida. Entonces, la pregunta problema es: ¿Qué tipos de representaciones emergen por parte de estudiantes de sexto y séptimo de dos colegios oficiales de Bogotá, cuando realizan un dibujo del planeta tierra antes de que hubiese vida? Esta investigación cualitativa, desde el estudio de caso múltiple, se encuentra en implementación; cuenta con análisis preliminares sobre los dibujos y explicaciones de los estudiantes, que evidencian actividades antrópicas y presencia de organismos vegetales y animales, asociándoles con el concepto “antes de vida”. Próximamente se ampliará el análisis con los dibujos y explicaciones posteriores.ciclo 3 deve começar pela célula como fundamento do vivo, para depois classificar os seres vivos de acordo com suas características; porém, os estudantes manifestam vazios sobre isto, devido à alternância e virtualidade na qual permaneceram por dois anos devido à pandemia por COVID-19. A partir dessas reflexões, decide-se abranger o conceito de célula, a partir de uma perspectiva pré-histórica, permitindo-lhes reconhecer o surgimento dos primeiros organismos procariontes. Para isso, se problematiza aos estudantes para que, por meio de um desenho, mostrem o que eles supõem existisse no planeta Terra anterior a qualquer forma de vida. Assim, a pergunta problema foi: Que tipo de representações emergem dos alunos de 6º e 7º anos de duas escolas oficiais de Bogotá quando desenham o planeta Terra antes que houvesse vida? Esta pesquisa qualitativa, a partir do estudo de casos múltiplos, encontra-se em fase de implementação; conta com análises preliminares dos desenhos e explicações dos alunos, que mostram atividades antrópicas e a presença de organismos vegetais e animais, associando-os ao conceito de “antes da vida”. Em breve as análises serão ampliadas com os desenhos e explicações posteriores

Papel de la glucógeno sintetasa cinasa 3β (GSK-3β) en el pre y postacondicionamiento isquémicos en ratas hipertensas espontánea

Estudios recientes en animales normotensos muestran que la enzima glucógeno sintetasa cinasa 3β (GSK-3β) es una de las potenciales cinasas que pueden regular la formación y/o apertura del poro de transición mitocondrial (PTM). La GSK-3β es constitutivamente activa y es inactivada por fosforilación en Ser 9. En estas condiciones es capaz de interactuar con los principales componentes del PTM e impedir su apertura

8000 years of environmental evolution of barrier–lagoon systems emplaced in coastal embayments (NW Iberia)

The rocky and indented coast of NW Iberia is characterized by the presence of highly valuable and vulnerable, small and shallow barrier– lagoon systems structurally controlled. The case study was selected to analyse barrier–lagoon evolution based on detailed sedimentary architecture, chronology, geochemical and biological proxies. The main objective is to test the hypothesis of structural control and the significance at regional scale of any highenergy event recorded. This work is also aimed at identifying general patterns and conceptualizing the formation and evolution of this type of coastal systems. The results allowed us to establish a conceptual model of Holocene evolution that applies to rock-bounded barrier–lagoon systems. The initial stage (early Holocene) is characterized by freshwater peat sedimentation and ended by marine flooding. The timing of the marine flooding depends on the relation between the elevation of the basin and the relative mean sea-level position; the lower the topography, the earlier the marine inundation. Thus, the age of basin inundation ranged from 8 to 4 ka BP supporting significant structural differences. Once marine inundation occurred, all systems followed similar evolutionary patterns characterized by a phase of landward barrier migration and aeolian sedimentation towards the back-barrier (i.e. retrogradation) that extended circa 3.5 ka BP. The later phases of evolution are characterized by a general trend to the stabilization of the barriers and the infilling of the lagoons. This stabilization may be temporally interrupted by episodes of enhanced storminess or sediment scarcity. In this regard, washover deposits identified within the sedimentary architecture of the case study explored here suggest pervasive high-energy events coeval with some of the cooling events identified in the North Atlantic during the mid- to late Holocene

8000 years of environmental evolution of barrier–lagoon systems emplaced in coastal embayments (NW Iberia)

The rocky and indented coast of NW Iberia is characterized by the presence of highly valuable and vulnerable, small and shallow barrier– lagoon systems structurally controlled. The case study was selected to analyse barrier–lagoon evolution based on detailed sedimentary architecture, chronology, geochemical and biological proxies. The main objective is to test the hypothesis of structural control and the significance at regional scale of any highenergy event recorded. This work is also aimed at identifying general patterns and conceptualizing the formation and evolution of this type of coastal systems. The results allowed us to establish a conceptual model of Holocene evolution that applies to rock-bounded barrier–lagoon systems. The initial stage (early Holocene) is characterized by freshwater peat sedimentation and ended by marine flooding. The timing of the marine flooding depends on the relation between the elevation of the basin and the relative mean sea-level position; the lower the topography, the earlier the marine inundation. Thus, the age of basin inundation ranged from 8 to 4 ka BP supporting significant structural differences. Once marine inundation occurred, all systems followed similar evolutionary patterns characterized by a phase of landward barrier migration and aeolian sedimentation towards the back-barrier (i.e. retrogradation) that extended circa 3.5 ka BP. The later phases of evolution are characterized by a general trend to the stabilization of the barriers and the infilling of the lagoons. This stabilization may be temporally interrupted by episodes of enhanced storminess or sediment scarcity. In this regard, washover deposits identified within the sedimentary architecture of the case study explored here suggest pervasive high-energy events coeval with some of the cooling events identified in the North Atlantic during the mid- to late Holocene

Sensitivity of direct immunofluorescence in oral diseases : study of 125 cases

Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) is widely used for the diagnosis of bullous diseases and other autoimmune pathologies such as oral lichen planus. There is no evidence in the literature on how the following variants influence the detection rate of DIF: intraoral site chosen for the biopsy, perilesional locus or distant site from the clinical lesion, number of biopsies and instrument used. Objectives: to determine if the following variants influenced the sensitivity (detection rate): intraoral site chosen for the biopsy, perilesional or distant site from the clinical lesion, number of biopsies and instrument used (punch or scalpel). Material and methods: A retrospective study was done at the Cátedra de Patología y Clínica Bucodental II at the Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Buenos Aires; 136 clinical medical histories were revised for the period March 2000 ? March 2005 corresponding to patients with clinical diagnosis of OLP and bullous diseases (vulgar pemphigus, bullous pemphigoid and cicatricial pemphigoid). Results: DIF detection rate was 65.8% in patients with OLP, 66.7% in cicatricial pemphigoid patients, in bullous pemphigoid 55.6%, in pemphigus vulgaris 100%, and in those cases in which certain diagnosis could not be obtained, the DIF positivity rate was 45.5% (Pearson chi2 (4)= 21.5398 Pr= 0.000). There was no statistically significant difference between the different sites of biopsy (Fisher exact test: 0.825). DIF detection rate in perilesional biopsies was 66.1% and in those distant from the site of clinical lesion was 64.7% (Pearson chi2 (1)= 0.0073 Pr= 0.932). When the number of biopsies were incremented, DIF detection rate also incremented (Pearson chi2 = 8.7247 Pr= 0.003). The biopsies taken with punch had a higher detection rate than those taken with scalpel (39.1% versus 71.7%) (Pearson chi2 = 49.0522 Pr= 0.000). Conclusion: While not statistically significant, the tendency outlined in this study indicates there are intraoral regions in which the detection rate of the DIF technique is higher than others: mouth floor, hard palate, superior labial mucosa, ventral face of tongue. This finding could allow a choice of accessible locations and easy operator manipulation, even in distant places from the clinical lesion. Perilesional biopsies have a detection rate similar to those taken distant from the clinical lesion, and those taken with punch have a higher sensitivity rate than those taken with scalpel (both differences were statistically significant)

Comparison of three models of population density estimation for Central American red brocket deer (Mazama temama)

The deer Mazama temama has a wide range in the tropical rain forest of Mexico, but the IUCN classifies it as Data Deficient, and information is urgently need for management and conservation. Here we assess which population density estimation model is more appropriate among those by Tyson (1959), Mandujano and Jones (2005) and Crego and Macri (2009). We compare them with field data from Tepetla (Puebla, Mexico), from 2015 to 2017, with three replicates in the wet season and three in dry season. An ANOVA indicated that the three methods produce equivalent results