Paisaje, Territorio, Patrimonio. El Ferrocarril Oeste Santafecino motor de configuración territorial sugiere un paisaje cultural 1881-1900

Este trabajo analiza el rol que el Ferrocarril Oeste Santafecino -creado a fines del siglo XIX- tuvo en la configuración urbanística, social, económica y cultural de la región del Pago de los Arroyos; aceleran- do la transformación de un área de atravesamiento en un área de gran desarrollo económico. Este ferrocarril formó parte esencial del proceso de modernización en la provincia de Santa Fe. Para ello, se ha conformado un texto constituido por cuatro capítulos: en el primero se construye el marco teórico centrado en los conceptos "paisaje cultural" y "paisaje del trabajo". En el segundo, se caracteriza el territorio y las intervenciones previas a la experiencia del FCOS, para poder a partir de allí abordar en el capítulo tres cómo su creación entre 1881-1900 generó un punto de inflexión en el territorio. Finalmente, en el cuarto, se realiza una propuesta de recuperación de esta infraestructura regional

Thermal Evolution of Dielectric and Piezoelectric properties of Lead-Free Submicron-Structured (Bi0.5Na0.5)0.94Ba0.06TiO3 Ceramics

The challenge to develop high piezoelectric sensitivity and lead-free compositions ferroelectric ceramics has bring new interest to the study of some classical ferroelectrics as (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3 and its solid solutions. The composition near the MPB of the system (1-x) (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-xBaTiO3 with x=0.06 (BNBT6) was found to have interesting properties as lead-free piezoelectric ceramic. Processing of ceramics from nanopowders allows getting fine grained, submicron structured, ceramics that are of interest both for the basic studies of size-effects in ferroelectrics and for their use as high frequency ultrasonic transducers. Submicron-structured BNBT6 ceramics, obtained from nanometric powder synthesized by sol gel auto-combustion at 500?C, by hot-pressing at low temperature (700-800?C) and subsequent recrystallization at higher temperature, still moderate (<1100?C), in order to reduce loss of the volatile elements, have been studied. Elastic and piezoelectric coefficients, as well as electromechanical coupling factors, were determined at the resonances of, thickness poled, thin disks and shear plates. The best room temperature piezoelectric coefficient obtained in these BNBT6 fine-grained (~1&#956;m) ceramics (d33=148 pC.N-1, d31= -37 pC.N-1, d15=158 pC.N-1, kt= 40.4%, kp=26.8% and k15=40.2%) can be compared with those reported for coarse-grained ceramics prepared at higher sintering temperatures. The thermal evolution of the dielectric permittivity, piezoelectric coefficients and coupling factors has been also determined and compared with results reported for BNBT6 coarse grained ceramics, which showed a depolarization temperature of ~105?

Thermal depolarization of lead-free (Bi0.5Na0.5)0.94Ba0.06TiO3 piezoceramics monitored by shear resonance of thickness-poled plates

Submicron-structured (Bi0.5Na0.5)0.94Ba0.06TiO3 ceramics, at the Morphotropic Phase Boundary of the solid solution, were prepared from nanometric powder synthesized by sol gel auto-combustion at 500?C. Samples were obtained by hot-pressing (800?C-2h) and subsequent recrystallization at moderate temperature (1050?C-1h) [1]. Accurate resonance measurements at the uncoupled shear mode of thickness-poled plates and their analysis by Alemany software [2] were carried out to obtain electromechanical coupling factors (k15) and piezoelectric (e15, d15) and elastic (sE55)coefficients. Evolution of these as a function of the temperature was determined to study the depolarization process. Results show that irreversible depoling starts from a temperature higher than 120?C. Shear resonance modes are measurable well above the reported depolarization temperature (100?C). A value of d15=105 pC.N-1 was measured at 160?C. This is most probably due to a difuse phase transition from a field-induced ferroelectric (FE) phase to the low temperature non-polar phase at zero field (LTNPZF) phase. The macroscopic ferro-piezoelectricity observed may arise from the coexistence of the FE phase at the nano-scale in the LTNPZF phas

Patterns of SES Health Disparities Among Older Adults in Three Upper Middle- and Two High-Income Countries

Artículo original23-37Objectives To examine the socioeconomic status (SES) health gradient for obesity, diabetes, and hypertension within a diverse group of health outcomes and behaviors among older adults (60+) in upper middle-income countries benchmarked with high-income countries. Method We used data from three upper middle-income settings (Colombia-SABE-Bogotá, Mexico-SAGE, and South Africa-SAGE) and two high-income countries (England-ELSA and US-HRS) to estimate logistic regression models using age, gender, and education to predict health and health behaviors. Results The sharpest gradients appear in middle-income settings but follow expected patterns found in high-income countries for poor self-reported health, functionality, cognitive impairment, and depression. However, weaker gradients appear for obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic conditions in Colombia and Mexico and the gradient reverses in South Africa. Strong disparities exist in risky health behaviors and in early nutritional status in the middle-income settings. Discussion Rapid demographic and nutritional transitions, urbanization, poor early life conditions, social mobility, negative health behavior, and unique country circumstances provide a useful framework for understanding the SES health gradient in middle-income settings. In contrast with high-income countries, the increasing prevalence of obesity, an important risk factor for chronic conditions and other aspects of health, may ultimately change the SES gradient for diseases in the future

Efecto del campo el?ctrico en la estructura cristalina de cer?micas submicroestructuradas DE (1-X)(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3- X BaTiO3 con composici?n pr?xima a la frontera morfotr?pica

--El sistema (1-x)(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3 - x BaTiO3 (BNBT100x) presenta una frontera morfotr?pica [1] (MPB) por lo que se presenta como posible material piezoel?ctrico "lead-free". Muy recientemente se han puesto de manifiesto peculiaridades estructurales de este sistema cerca de la MPB. La naturaleza y el rol de ordenamientos at?micos locales diferentes del orden global y la posibilidad de simetr?as inferiores a la rombo?drica son temas de actualidad. Exploramos aqu? el gran potencial de la difracci?n en alta resoluci?n de radiaci?n sincrotr?nica y el ajuste por Rietveld de los difractogramas de alta resoluci?n completos [2], que permite una mejor caracterizaci?n de las fases presentes que en los habituales an?lisis de grupos de picos aislados. Se determina el efecto del campo el?ctrico aplicado en cer?micas submicro- estructuradas [3] de composiciones BNBT4 y BNBT6 obtenidas a partir de precursores nanom?tricos preparados mediante autocombusti?n de sol-gel. Los experimentos de difracci?n se desarrollaron en el sincrotr?n de Stanford (USA) con radiaci?n de 12 keV. Para todas las muestras analizadas se consider? el difractograma completo para un recorrido del vector de dispersi?n Q entre 0 y 6.4?-1. En todos los casos investigados, se esclareci? la ocurrencia de las fases tetragonal P4mm, rombo?drica R3c y/o monocl?nica Cc. Se dan resultados cuantitativos de ocurrencia, concentraciones relativas, forma y tama?o de part?culas y orientaciones preferente

Diagnostic Accuracy, Effectiveness and Cost for Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Screening of Three Short Cognitive Tests Applicable to Illiterates

BACKGROUND: Illiteracy, a universal problem, limits the utilization of the most widely used short cognitive tests. Our objective was to assess and compare the effectiveness and cost for cognitive impairment (CI) and dementia (DEM) screening of three short cognitive tests applicable to illiterates. METHODS: Phase III diagnostic test evaluation study was performed during one year in four Primary Care centers, prospectively including individuals with suspicion of CI or DEM. All underwent the Eurotest, Memory Alteration Test (M@T), and Phototest, applied in a balanced manner. Clinical, functional, and cognitive studies were independently performed in a blinded fashion in a Cognitive Behavioral Neurology Unit, and the gold standard diagnosis was established by consensus of expert neurologists on the basis of these results. Effectiveness of tests was assessed as the proportion of correct diagnoses (diagnostic accuracy [DA]) and the kappa index of concordance (k) with respect to gold standard diagnoses. Costs were based on public prices at the time and hospital accounts. RESULTS: The study included 139 individuals: 47 with DEM, 36 with CI, and 56 without CI. No significant differences in effectiveness were found among the tests. For DEM screening: Eurotest (k = 0.71 [0.59-0.83], DA = 0.87 [0.80-0.92]), M@T (k = 0.72 [0.60-0.84], DA = 0.87 [0.80-0.92]), Phototest (k = 0.70 [0.57-0.82], DA = 0.86 [0.79-0.91]). For CI screening: Eurotest (k = 0.67 [0.55-0.79]; DA = 0.83 [0.76-0.89]), M@T (k = 0.52 [0.37-0.67]; DA = 0.80 [0.72-0.86]), Phototest (k = 0.59 [0.46-0.72]; DA = 0.79 [0.71-0.86]). There were no differences in the cost of DEM screening, but the cost of CI screening was significantly higher with M@T (330.7 ± 177.1 €, mean ± sd) than with Eurotest (294.1 ± 195.0 €) or Phototest (296.0 ± 196. 5 €). Application time was shorter with Phototest (2.8 ± 0.8 min) than with Eurotest (7.1 ± 1.8 min) or M@T (6.8 ± 2.2 min). CONCLUSIONS: Eurotest, M@T, and Phototest are equally effective. Eurotest and Phototest are both less expensive options but Phototest is the most efficient, requiring the shortest application time

Effectiveness and costs of phototest in dementia and cognitive impairment screening

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To assess and compare the effectiveness and costs of Phototest, Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Memory Impairment Screen (MIS) to screen for dementia (DEM) and cognitive impairment (CI).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A phase III study was conducted over one year in consecutive patients with suspicion of CI or DEM at four Primary Care (PC) centers. After undergoing all screening tests at the PC center, participants were extensively evaluated by researchers blinded to screening test results in a Cognitive-Behavioral Neurology Unit (CBNU). The gold standard diagnosis was established by consensus of expert neurologists. Effectiveness was assessed by the proportion of correct diagnoses (diagnostic accuracy [DA]) and by the kappa index of concordance between test results and gold standard diagnoses. Costs were based on public prices and hospital accounts.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The study included 140 subjects (48 with DEM, 37 with CI without DEM, and 55 without CI). The MIS could not be applied to 23 illiterate subjects (16.4%). For DEM, the maximum effectiveness of the MMSE was obtained with different cutoff points as a function of educational level [k = 0.31 (95% Confidence interval [95%CI], 0.19-0.43), DA = 0.60 (95%CI, 0.52-0.68)], and that of the MIS with a cutoff of 3/4 [k = 0.63 (95%CI, 0.48-0.78), DA = 0.83 (95%CI, 0.80-0.92)]. Effectiveness of the Phototest [k = 0.71 (95%CI, 0.59-0.83), DA = 0.87 (95%CI, 0.80-0.92)] was similar to that of the MIS and higher than that of the MMSE. Costs were higher with MMSE (275.9 ± 193.3€ [mean ± sd euros]) than with Phototest (208.2 ± 196.8€) or MIS (201.3 ± 193.4€), whose costs did not significantly differ. For CI, the effectiveness did not significantly differ between MIS [k = 0.59 (95%CI, 0.45-0.74), DA = 0.79 (95%CI, 0.64-0.97)] and Phototest [k = 0.58 (95%CI, 0.45-0.74), DA = 0.78 (95%CI, 0.64-0.95)] and was lowest for the MMSE [k = 0.27 (95%CI, 0.09-0.45), DA = 0.69 (95%CI, 0.56-0.84)]. Costs were higher for MMSE (393.4 ± 121.8€) than for Phototest (287.0 ± 197.4€) or MIS (300.1 ± 165.6€), whose costs did not significantly differ.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>MMSE is not an effective instrument in our setting. For both DEM and CI, the Phototest and MIS are more effective and less costly, with no difference between them. However, MIS could not be applied to the appreciable percentage of our population who were illiterate.</p

Mucosal Plasma Cell Activation and Proximity to Nerve Fibres Are Associated with Glycocalyx Reduction in Diarrhoea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Jejunal Barrier Alterations Underlying Clinical Manifestations

Intestinal barrier dysfunction; Intestinal glycocalyx; Mucosal nerve fibresDisfunción de la barrera intestinal; Glicocálix intestinal; Fibras nerviosas de la mucosaDisfunció de la barrera intestinal; Glicocàlix intestinal; Fibres nervioses de la mucosaIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of brain-gut interaction characterised by abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits. In the diarrhoea subtype (IBS-D), altered epithelial barrier and mucosal immune activation are associated with clinical manifestations. We aimed to further evaluate plasma cells and epithelial integrity to gain understanding of IBS-D pathophysiology. One mucosal jejunal biopsy and one stool sample were obtained from healthy controls and IBS-D patients. Gastrointestinal symptoms, stress, and depression scores were recorded. In the jejunal mucosa, RNAseq and gene set enrichment analyses were performed. A morphometric analysis by electron microscopy quantified plasma cell activation and proximity to enteric nerves and glycocalyx thickness. Immunoglobulins concentration was assessed in the stool. IBS-D patients showed differential expression of humoral pathways compared to controls. Activation and proximity of plasma cells to nerves and IgG concentration were also higher in IBS-D. Glycocalyx thickness was lower in IBS-D compared to controls, and this reduction correlated with plasma cell activation, proximity to nerves, and clinical symptoms. These results support humoral activity and loss of epithelial integrity as important contributors to gut dysfunction and clinical manifestations in IBS-D. Additional studies are needed to identify the triggers of these alterations to better define IBS-D pathophysiology.This study was funded in part by Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER), Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Subdirección General de Investigación Sanitaria, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad: CP18/00116 (C.M.), PI19/01643 (B.L.); PI17/01443 (D.G.); PI15/00301 (C.A.-C.), PI17/0190 (J.S.), PI19/01643 & CPII16/00031, (M.V.); CIBEREHD CB06/04/0021 (F.A., C.A.-C., J.S., M.V.); Ministerio de Educación, Dirección General de Investigación: SAF 2016-76648-R (F.A.); Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca, de la Generalitat de Catalunya: 2014 SGR 1285 (F.A.); Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca, Programa de becas predoctorales Amics de Vall d’Hebron: PRED-VHIR-2016-34 (C.P.-C.), PRED-VHIR-2014-018 (M.F.), the Swedish Research Council dnr 2019-00653 (J.-P.G.M.), and the European Union’s Horizon research and innovation programme 2020, grant no. 848228 (E.E., A.R.-U., B.L., C.A.-C., J.S.)

Lo glocal y el turismo. Nuevos paradigmas de interpretación.

El estudio del turismo se realiza desde múltiples escalas y enfoques, este libro aborda muchos temas que es necesario discutir desde diversas perspectivas; es el caso de la reflexión sobre la propia disciplina y sus conceptos, así como los asuntos específicos referidos al impacto territorial, los tipos de turismo, las cuestiones ambientales, el tema de la pobreza, la competitividad, las políticas públicas, el papel de las universidades, las áreas naturales protegidas, la sustentabilidad, la cultura, el desarrollo, la seguridad, todos temas centrales documentados y expuestos con originalidad y dominio del asunto. Lo multiescalar es básico para la comprensión del sistema turístico, sistema formado de procesos globales, regionales y locales. El eje de discusión del libro es lo glocal, esa interacción entre lo nacional y local con lo global