Roman baths, precursors of present-day aquatic leisures centres

Las Termas constituyeron un referente en las civilizaciones antiguas no solo como lugar donde se exponía la característica interpretación del ocio de Roma, sino también en otros ámbitos que abarcan la arquitectura y la decoración, pero especialmente el relativo a las prácticas físicas y cuidados corporales generados en ellas. En este trabajo se pretende revisar las singularidades de estos ancestrales establecimientos acuáticos como espacios en los que los romanos pretendían relajarse, socializarse o disfrutar de su tiempo libre. El declive de las termas no supuso que éstas fueran postergadas en el transcurso de la historia. Por el contrario, sus dependencias y los usos generados en torno a las mismas aún se consideran vigentes en la nueva ola emergente de equipamientos acuáticos. Esto nos ha permitido también conocer algunos apuntes relativos a la evolución histórica del baño, y al mantenimiento de ciertos ritos y tradiciones. De esta manera comprobamos el revelador influjo que las antiguas instalaciones han ejercido en las actuales, así como su incidencia en la restablecida cultura del agua en el marco del ocioBaths set the standard in ancient civilizations. They were places which were showcases not merely for the characteristic Roman interpretation of leisure, but also for other features such as their architecture and decor, and especially for the physical exercises and body care that took place in them. This paper is aimed at reviewing the striking aspects of these ancient aquatic establishments, spaces to which the Romans went in order to relax, socialize, or enjoy their free time. The decline of the ancient baths did not mean that they were simply relegated to the scrap-heap of history. On the contrary, their installations and the uses made of them are still seen as valid in the newly emerging trend in aquatic complexes. This has also made it possible to learn of various facets in the historical evolution of bathing facilities, and the maintaining of certain rituals and traditions. In this way it is possible to see the revealing influences that ancient establishments have had on their present-day counterparts, together with their impact on the now re-established culture of water in a leisure contex

Los usuarios de equipamientos acuáticos: aportaciones al ámbito de la gestión deportiva

La relevancia adquirida por las prácticas físicas acuáticas justifica investigaciones sobre el público usuario de piscinas cubiertas. La muestra se conformó con 215 sujetos a quienes se les administró un cuestionario. El objetivo principal de este estudio fue analizar su perfil y percepciones respecto a estas instalaciones. Se detectaron cambios a nivel demográfico relativos al género y la edad del público usuario respecto a otras publicaciones previas. Además, han sido constatadas aportaciones sobre la forma de uso del espacio acuático, la participación en actividades acuáticas organizadas y el medio de transporte para acudir a la instalación, entre otros aspectos. Los resultados del estudio revierten directamente en la gestión y el funcionamiento de las piscinas cubiertas

Els usuaris d’equipaments aquàtics: aportacions a l’àmbit de la gestió esportiva

La rellevància adquirida per les pràctiques físiques aquàtiques justifica investigacions sobre el públic usuari de piscines cobertes. La mostra es va conformar amb 215 subjectes als quals se’ls va administrar un qüestionari. L’objectiu principal d’aquest estudi va ser analitzar el perfil dels usuaris i les seves percepcions respecte a aquestes instal·lacions. Es van detectar canvis a nivell demogràfic relatius al gènere i l’edat del públic usuari respecte a altres publicacions prèvies. A més a més, han estat constatades aportacions sobre la forma d’ús de l’espai aquàtic, la participació en activitats aquàtiques organitzades i el mitjà de transport per acudir a la instal·lació, entre altres aspectes. Els resultats de l’estudi reverteixen directament en la gestió i el funcionament de les piscines cobertes

DE LA MITOLOGÍA A LOS RITOS: GÉNESIS DE LA RECREACIÓN ACUÁTICA

Resumen Diversas materias han contribuido a analizar los conceptos de ocio y recreación desde la perspectiva de la práctica físico-deportiva. Actualmente, la recreación acuática, así como los equipamientos donde se lleva a cabo, se han erigido como un referente en el marco del ocio. Estas actividades y programas de recreación giran en torno a un espacio esencial que es el agua, cuyo simbolismo ha contribuido a generar atracción, pero sobretodo, sensaciones y emociones dispares, difíciles de conseguir en otros entornos. Este simbolismo del agua ha ido configurándose desde épocas ancestrales, por esta razón la finalidad de este trabajo es explorar en los antecedentes de los que se ha nutrido la recreación acuática en las piscinas, estructurada en cuatro dimensiones. Cada una de estas dimensiones se ha justificado a partir de propuestas realizadas por autores especialistas en el ámbito de la recreación y juegos en el agua. Palabras clave: Agua; antecedentes; planteamiento recreativo.  Resumo Da mitologia aos ritos: genêsis da recreação aquática. São diversas as matérias que tem contribuido ao análise dos conceitos de lazer e recreação desde a perspectiva da prática físico-esportiva. Atualmente, a recreção aquática, assim como as equipagens onde se efetuam, passaram a ser um ponto de referência no marco do ócio. Estas atividades e programas de recreio se desenvolvem ao redor de um espaço essencial que é a água, cujo simbolismo tem contribuido a gerar atração, além do mais, sensações e emoções diferentes, difíceis de serem conseguidas em outros ámbitos. Este simbolismo d'agua, vem de longe, de tempos antigos, e é por este motivo que a finalidade deste trabalho é explorar os antecedentes nos quais tem se nutrido a recreação aquática nas piscinas, estruturada em quatro dimensões. Cada uma destas dimensões está justificada desde propostas realizadas por autores especializados no ámbito do recreio e dos jogos n´agua. Palavras-chave: Água; antecedentes; planejamento recreativo.  Abstract From mythology to ritual: the genesis of aquatic recreation. Various materials have contributed to an analysis of the concepts of leisure and recreation from the perspective of physical exercise and sport. Recreational water pursuits and the facilities where  they are carried out have today emerged as benchmarks in the context of leisure. These activities and recreational pursuits revolve around a fundamental space, water, the symbolism of which has contributed to the attraction it exerts, but above all, to a range of feelings and emotions which are difficult to achieve in other environments. The symbolism of water has been taking shape since ancient times; therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the antecedents which have nurtured recreational water pursuits in swimming pools, exploring four dimensions. Each of these dimensions is based on proposals made by expert authors in the field of water recreation and games. Key words: Water; antecedents; recreational approaches

Ex vivo innate immune cytokine signature of enhanced risk of relapsing brucellosis.

BackgroundBrucellosis, a zoonotic infection caused by one of the Gram-negative intracellular bacteria of the Brucella genus, is an ongoing public health problem in Perú. While most patients who receive standard antibiotic treatment recover, 5-40% suffer a brucellosis relapse. In this study, we examined the ex vivo immune cytokine profiles of recovered patients with a history of acute and relapsing brucellosis.Methodology/principal findingsBlood was taken from healthy control donors, patients with a history of acute brucellosis, or patients with a history of relapsing brucellosis. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and remained in culture without stimulation or were stimulated with a panel of toll-like receptor agonists or heat-killed Brucella melitensis (HKBM) isolates. Innate immune cytokine gene expression and protein secretion were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and a multiplex bead-based immunoassay, respectively. Acute and relapse patients demonstrated consistently elevated cytokine gene expression and secretion levels compared to controls. Notably, these include: basal and stimulus-induced expression of GM-CSF, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in response to LPS and HKBM; basal secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α; and HKBM or Rev1-induced secretion of IL-1β, IL-2, GM-CSF, IFN-Υ, and TNF-α. Although acute and relapse patients were largely indistinguishable by their cytokine gene expression profiles, we identified a robust cytokine secretion signature that accurately discriminates acute from relapse patients. This signature consists of basal IL-6 secretion, IL-1β, IL-2, and TNF-α secretion in response to LPS and HKBM, and IFN-γ secretion in response to HKBM.Conclusions/significanceThis work demonstrates that informative cytokine variations in brucellosis patients can be detected using an ex vivo assay system and used to identify patients with differing infection histories. Targeted diagnosis of this signature may allow for better follow-up care of brucellosis patients through improved identification of patients at risk for relapse

Drivers of clutch-size in Fork-tailed Flycatchers (<i>Tyrannus savana</i>) at temperate and tropical latitudes in South America

Many species of birds exhibit a latitudinal gradient in annual reproductive investment, laying more eggs and producing more nestlings at higher latitudes. However, few studies have evaluated the mechanisms that underlie such patterns and such differences in grassland birds specifically. We monitored nests of Fork-tailed Flycatchers (Tyrannus savana) over two breeding seasons at a tropical site in Bolivia (in 2010-11 and 2011-12) and three breeding seasons at a southern temperate site in Argentina (2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13), testing two hypotheses explaining variation in clutch-size among populations: the food-limitation hypothesis and the nest-predation hypothesis. Mean clutch-size and mean brood-size were significantly larger at the temperate study site than at the tropical site. Availability of arthropod food per individual bird was significantly higher at the temperate site. There was no relationship, positive or negative, between rates of nest predation and either clutch- or brood-size, and thus no support for the nest-predation hypothesis. We conclude that food availability explains much of the latitudinal variation in clutch-size in this species. We discuss avenues for future research on the mechanisms underlying geographical variation in the life histories of Neotropical birds.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

ANÁLISIS RETROSPECTIVO DE LOS EQUIPAMIENTOS ACUÁTICOS EN ESPAÑA

Resumen: Las innovadoras instalaciones acuáticas que en la actualidad nos encontramos en diversos núcleos urbanos, corresponden a instalaciones de características diversas (circuitos termales, spas, balnearios urbanos, centros de hidroterapia y/o talasoterapia) cuya demanda no sólo ha sido abordada por los tradicionales centros de ocio como es el caso de los hoteles, sino que también por las propias poblaciones tanto urbanas como rurales. Esta oferta aúna dos elementos en alza, ocio y salud, pero dicha combinación ha sido prácticamente una constante en otros equipamientos acuáticos que en el transcurso de la historia se han diseminado por el territorio español. Su promoción basada en el atractivo y la novedad de estas instalaciones acuáticas actualmente, debe ser interpretada como un compendio de usos y prácticas de espacios acuáticos, atesorados a lo largo de la historia de España.Palabras Claves: equipamientos acuáticos, ocio, salud ANÁLISE RETROSPECTIVA DOS EQUIPAMENTOS AQUÁTICOS NA ESPANHAResumo: As inovadoras instalações aquáticas que encontramos atualmente nos diferentes núcleos urbanos, correspondem a instalações de características diversas (termas, spas, balneários urbanos, centros de hidroterapia, e/ou talasoterapia) cuia demanda não só tem sido abordada pelos centros tradicionais de ócio como no caso dos hotéis, mas também pelas próprias povoações tanto urbanas como rurais. Esta oferta auna dois elementos de moda, ócio e saúde, mas a referida combinação tem sido praticamente uma constante em outros equipamentos aquáticos que no transcurso da história se espalharam pelo território espanhol. A sua promoção baseada no atrativo e na novidade destas instalações aquáticas atualmente, deve ser interpretada como um compêndio de usos e práticas dos lugares aquáticos, entesourados ao longo da história de Espanha.Palavras-Chave: saúde, equipamentos aquáticos, ocio A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF WATER LEISURE FACILITIES IN SPAINAbstract: The innovative water leisure facilities which can currently be found in many towns and cities are of a diverse nature (thermal baths, spas, urban health spas and hydrotherapy and/or talasotherapy centres), and demand for them is being met not only by traditional leisure facilities such as hotels, but also by both the urban and the rural communities themselves. This offer combines two increasingly popular sectors, leisure and health. However, this combination has been more or less a constant in the water leisure facilities which have existed throughout history in Spain. Present day promotion therefore, based on the attractiveness and novelty of the water leisure facilities currently available, should be interpreted as a compendium of water usage and practices which have been highly valued throughout Spanish history.Keywords: health, leisure, water leisure facilitie

Definición de la flexibilidad del pensamiento desde la enseñanza

Se analizan y critican definiciones de flexibilidad del pensamiento encontradas en la literatura pedagógica y psicológica. Sobre la base de las críticas realizadas se propone una definición que permite su operacionalización desde las características del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de la Física en el nivel medio superior. La definición establecida propicia el diseño de tareas para estimular el desarrollo de esta particularidad del pensamiento

Follow the Rain? Environmental Drivers of Tyrannus Migration across the New World

Predictable seasonal changes in resources are thought to drive the timing of annual animal migrations; however, we currently understand little about which environmental cues or resources are tracked by different migratory bird species across the planet. Understanding which environmental cues or resources birds track in multiple migratory systems is a prerequisite to developing generalizable conservation plans for migratory birds in a changing global environment. Within the New World, climatic differences experienced by Nearctic–Neotropical migratory (NNM; i.e. breed in North America and spend the nonbreeding period in the Neotropics) and Neotropical austral migratory (NAM; i.e. breed and spend the nonbreeding period wholly within South America) bird species suggest that their migratory strategies may be shaped by unique selective pressures. We used data gathered from individuals fitted with light-level geolocators to build species distribution models (SDMs) to test which environmental factors drive the migratory strategies of species in each system. To do so, we evaluated whether temperature, precipitation, and primary productivity (NDVI) were related to the seasonal distributions of an NNM (Eastern Kingbird [Tyrannus tyrannus]) and NAM species (Fork-tailed Flycatcher [T. savana]). Both Eastern Kingbird and Fork-tailed Flycatcher locations were positively correlated with high precipitation during their nonbreeding seasons. Eastern Kingbird locations were positively correlated with both NDVI and temperature during their breeding season and both pre- and post-breeding migrations. Fork-tailed Flycatcher locations were positively correlated with both temperature and precipitation during both migrations, but only temperature during the breeding season. The value of extending the application of geolocator data, such as in SDMs, is underscored by the finding that precipitation was such an important predictor of the nonbreeding distributions of both types of migrants, as it remains unclear how global climate change will affect wet–dry cycles in the tropics