Nature and the city: a co-evolutionary project

Architects who understand the need to build enduringly are faced with the almost complete absence of international agreements with respect to a planetary ecological project. The coming environmental changes will probably occur long before the small measures that can be implemented by some building industries on a regional level have even the slightest effect. Meanwhile, the health of the planet in positive feedback. Any project that aims for a wise ecological dwelling on this planet needs to consider short-term sustainable measures in comparison with long-term enduring practices. Might schools of thoughts such as traditional architecture, Gaia theory, Earth System Science, deep ecology, eco-feminism, converge on a co-evolutionary partnership between the natural and the human

Book review of Léon Krier’s "Albert Speer. Architecture 1932–1942"

Book review of Léon Krier’s "Albert Speer. Architecture 1932–1942" Journal of Architecture and Urbanism, 38(3), p. 210-21

RELATIVE AND ABSOLUTE RELIABILITY OF KARATE SPECIFIC AEROBIC TEST (KSAT) IN EXPERIENCED MALE ATHLETES

The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the relative and absolute reliability and the minimal detectable change (MDC95% of the karate specific aerobic test (KSAT) in male karate athletes. Sixteen subjects (age: 22.2±3.7 years, height: 175.7±6.7 cm, body mass: 72.7±7.2 kg and karate experience: 9.2±4.5 years) participated in this study and performed the KSAT twice (test-retest). Reliability of time to exhaustion (TE) was very good, with intraclass correlation coefficient ICC(3.1)>0.90, standard errors of measurement SEM<5% and 95% limits of agreement (LOA) -15.8 ± 74.7 s. The MDC95% of the KSAT was 81.42 s, rated as “satisfactory”. The dependent t test showed no significant difference between peak heart rate (HRpeak), peak lactate concentration (Lapeak) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) between test and retest (P>0.05). Effect size for all variables was dz≤0.2, rated as trivial. Thus, when using the present test as a measure of aerobic fitness, a change greater than 9.4%(81.42 s) is necessary to be confident (at the 95% level) that the change in time to exhaustion reflects improvement and exceeds the measurement error. The KSAT is a reliable tool that can be used by practitioners for assessing aerobic fitness in experienced karate athletes

Preferences analysis of restaurants, industry and retailers for selecting fruits and vegetables suppliers in Spain, France and Morocco

This study focuses on evaluating the criteria used by stakeholders (restaurants, industry, and small-scale retailers) to select fruits and vegetable suppliers in Spain, France, and Morocco targeting three selected countries’ specific products and supply chains (fresh tomatoes in Spain, Chestnuts in France, Carob in Morocco). The research consisted firstly of conducting deep interviews (DI) with the main stakeholders in the added-value chain of fruits and vegetables in order to understand factors affecting their decision when selecting suppliers. A special interest was drawn on the criteria “produced by local farmers” in order to determine its relative importance within the stakeholder’s decision-making. Secondly, semi-structured questionnaires were carried out by using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to estimate the relative importance of each criterion and to evaluate the weight of the sustainable factors. Data were collected from stakeholders in the food-added value chain with a total sample, equally distributed across countries, of 180 restaurants, 30 industries, and 180 small-scale retailers. The survey was applied during the months of May to October 2022. Research results revealed the most important supplier selection attributes vary according to each country and product category. The role of sustainable criteria in selecting suppliers played an important role in particular in France. Local small farmers were important for local industry as sustainable suppliers but less relevant for restaurants and retailers respectively. Improving the sustainability of the supply chain should focus more on retailers and restaurant marketing strategies when purchasing fruits and vegetables in order to set quotas for locally produced products. This outcome highlights the need for a new and optimized business model in which small local farmers can directly supply local restaurants and retailers and contribute to improving sustainability and ensuring reasonable profit for farmers.This study belongs to the project Lab4Supply “Multi-agent Agri-food living labs for new supply chain Mediterranean systems. Towards more sustainable and competitive farming addressing consumers’ preferences and market changes”. Lab4supply received funding from the European Union under PRIMA-S.2 programme (Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area) and approved by the National Agencies in Spain “Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI)”, in Morroco “Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur, de la Recherche Scientifique et de l’Innovation (MESRSFC)” and in France “Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR)”. The content of this study reflects only the author’s view and the European Union Agency and national agencies involved are not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.Peer ReviewedObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::12 - Producció i Consum ResponsablesObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::12 - Producció i Consum ResponsablesPostprint (published version

Assessing farmers’ objectives to participate in short food supply chains in Spain, France And Morocco

The promotion of Short Food Supply Chains (SFSC) is an issue that is becoming more relevant to both the public and research agenda, aiming to build more sustainable agri-food supply chains and empower smallholder farmers. This research aims to determine the willingness of small farmers to adopt SFSCs as an alternative to conventional distribution. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology was used to assess farmers’ objectives of their agricultural activity in Spain, France, and Morocco. For the selection of objectives, deep interviews (DI) and a literature review were carried out. Data were collected from a total of 180 farmers carried out between May and October 2022. Results showed that regardless of the stated interest of farmers in promoting SFSCs, the production-related objectives, especially “Increase productivity” and “Invest in knowledge and machinery”, received the highest priority to distribution-related objectives. Moreover, objectives concerning social responsibility received the lowest relative importance, while environmental preservation concerns outweighed social objectives (especially in the French case). The economic performance of the farm plays a decisive role in the farmers' decision-making as expected in the three cases of the study analyzed. This is important when exploring mechanisms to incentivize farmers to adopt SFSCs where economic sustainability and efficiency are needed. More research is needed to determine the relationship between the choice of supply chain alternatives and the objectives of the farming activity. This knowledge may help in providing alternatives and adapted solutions that are more sustainable regarding farmer’s preferences.Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::12 - Producció i Consum ResponsablesPostprint (published version

Allometric associations between body size, shape, and 100-m butterfly speed performance

This study aimed to estimate the optimal body size, limb--segment length, and girth or breadth ratios associated with 100--m butterfly speed performance in swimmers

Effects of jump exercises with and without stretch-shortening cycle actions on components of physical fitness in prepubertal male soccer players

Objective: This study examined the effects of 8 weeks stretch-shortening-cycle-based (SSC-based) versus non-SSC-based jump exercises on physical fitness in prepubertal male soccer players. Methods: Twenty-six participants were randomly assigned to either a SSC-based using countermovement-jump (CMJG; n=13) or a non-SSC-based jump group using squat-jump (SJG; n=13). Pre- and post-training, tests were conducted to assess measures of muscle power (countermovement-jump, reactive-strength-index), speed (5-m, 20-m), change-of-direction (CoD), and sport-specific performance (maximal-kicking-distance). To establish the effect of the interventions on the dependent variables, a 2 (group: CMJG and SJG) × 2 (time: pre, post) ANOVA with repeated measures was determined for each parameter. Results: Findings demonstrated a main effect of time for countermovement-jump, reactive-strength-index, and maximal-kicking-distance (p0.05; ES=0.05). Conclusion: Overall, jump exercises which utilise the SSC seem to be more effective in improving measures of speed and muscle power performance in young athletes. However, jump exercises that do not involve the SSC appear to negatively affect CoD performance in young athletes

Les accidents aux AVK: étude rétrospective à propos de 30 cas

Les accidents hémorragiques sous AVK (antivitamines K) sont la première cause d’hospitalisation iatrogène. Le but de cette étude est de ressortir les caractéristiques des patients présentant des accidents hémorragiques graves sous AVK et de mettre le point sur la prise en charge. Nous avons réalisé une étude rétrospective portant sur 30 malades, réalisée au service de réanimation de l’hôpital militaire Avicenne de Marrakech. L’âge moyen de nos patients est de 59, 6 avec un sexe ratio de 1,5 (18 femmes et 12 femmes). On note dans notre série le terrain multi-taré des patients sous AVK avec plusieurs antécédents en cause. La fibrillation auriculaire était la principale indication recensée. Plus que la moitié ne bénéficiaient pas d’une bonne surveillance biologique à base d’INR (international normalized ratio). Le saignement d’origine gastro-intestinal était le plus fréquent. La conduite était différente en fonction des cas mais axée sur l’arrêt des AVK, l’administration de vit K, la transfusion de culots globulaires et plasma frais congelé. Plus du quart des patients admis sont décédés. L’index de Landefeld s’est avéré utile, il permet de classer les patients selon le risque prédictif de saignement (élevé moyen ou faible), ce qui concordait avec les résultats de notre étude. Son importance est d’ autant plus qu’il est facile à mesurer et à appliquer par le médecin en ambulatoire et permet de définir les patients nécessitant une surveillance accrue. La polymédication et les antécédents de saignement digestif sont apparus comme facteur de risque de saignement sous AVK. La prévention de la survenue de ces accidents est le pilier de la prise en charge, d’où l’importance de l’information et de l’éducation des différents intervenants dans cette complication iatrogène potentiellement mortelle

Effectiveness of 99mTc-tetrofosmin for assessment of heart functions in micropigs

This study examined the suitability of a nuclear imaging technique using 99mTc-tetrofosmin as an agent to assess the heart functions of healthy micropigs. The mean age of the pigs was 360 days (male), and the mean body weight was 35.3 kg ranging from 34.5-36 kg. There were no significant perfusion defects in any of the reconstructed images. Gated single-photon emission computed tomography imaging can be used to calculate the ventricular volume and ejection fraction (EF). In this case, an EF of 79% was calculated from the ventricular volume of the end-systolic image (10 ml) subtracted from that of the end-diastolic volume (49 ml). A perfusion defect (particularly the apex, lateral wall) is unlikely because of the presence of a preserved wall motion in a segment with a defect. It is concluded that quantitative cardiac scintigraphy, using 99mTc-tetrofosmin is an adequate technique for estimating the heart functions of healthy micropigs