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The purpose of the study was to investigate the specific effect of leucine on mTORC1 signalling and amino acid metabolism in connection with resistance exercise. Comparisons were made between ingestion of supplements with and without leucine. Eight young women performed leg press exercise on 2 occasions. In randomized order they received either an aqueous solution of essential amino acids with leucine (EAA) or without leucine (EAA-Leu), given as small boluses throughout the experiment. Muscle biopsies were taken after an overnight fast before exercise and 1 and 3 h postexercise and samples of blood were taken repeatedly during the experiment. Plasma and muscle concentrations of leucine rose 60%-140% (p < 0.05) with EAA and fell 35%-45% (p < 0.05) with the EAA-Leu supplement. In the EAA-trial, plasma and muscle levels of tyrosine (not present in the supplement) and the sum of the EAA were 15%-25% (p < 0.05) lower during recovery. Phosphorylation of mTOR and p70S6k was elevated to a larger extent following 1 h of recovery with leucine in the supplement (120% vs. 49% (p < 0.05) and 59- vs. 8-fold (p < 0.05) for EAA and EAA-Leu, respectively). The levels of MAFbx and MuRF-1 mRNA and of the corresponding proteins were not significantly altered after 3 h recovery from exercise. In conclusion, the presence of leucine in the supplement enhances the stimulatory effect on mTORC1 signalling and reduces the level of tyrosine and the sum of the EAA in muscle and plasma, suggesting a stimulation of protein synthesis and (or) inhibition of breakdown, leading to improvement in net protein balance.

Le Valle Central (zone centrale) du Mexique est un espace prioritaire pour la conservation de la biodiversité du fait du haut degré d'endémisme des espèces de faune et de flore présentes. Dans cette zone où se situent plusieurs aires naturelles protégées, les autorités fédérales du Mexique envisagent la création d'un corridor biologique allant du parc Mariposa Monarca à à celui du Popocatepelt. Or, le Valle Central fait l'objet de pressions anthropiques fortes qui sont dues aux activités minières et agricoles et à l'étalement urbain des grandes conurbations. Dans cet espace, ces pressions entraînent la fragmentation du couvert forestier et la diminution de la connectivité des écosystèmes naturels. L'étude présente une analyse à l'échelle régionale de la réalité du corridor biologique du Valle Central qui permettrait de relier les aires naturelles protégées. Dans un premier temps, la fragmentation du couvert forestier et arbustif a été quantifiée par des indices morphologiques issus de la théorie de l'écologie du paysage. Ensuite, un modèle de percolation est utilisé pour estimer la connectivité de ces espaces naturels et proposer une délimitation objective du corridor biologique. L'intérêt particulier de cette étude résulte de l'intégration de différents indices d'analyse du paysage révélant l'état réel du corridor biologique du Valle central du Mexique. L'étude met en évidence les espaces les plus sensibles pour la mise en oeuvre et la durabilité de ce corridor, ce qui exigera des politiques publiques volontaristes et bien ciblées.

The powerful union between the architecture and its environment, between the church and its surroundings, proves to be as essential as the harmony of the churches facades, the quality of their interior space, the detail of their ornamentation or the treatment of exterior paving. The function of the church and its atrium, whether passive or active depending on the celebration of joy or suffering, has the strange power to affect the complex, provoking in the parishioner feelings of joy or sadness.There is no better demonstration that architecture, without man, without its living content, the inevitable cause and subject of its existence, is condemned to extinction. Chiloe’s churches will continue to deserve universal recognition as long as they allow a portion of humanity to enjoy, with unshakable faith, the virtues of this heritage.Therefore, a model of spatial order is proposed with the church at its centre., El poderoso maridaje entre la arquitectura y su entorno -el templo con su espacio libre asociado- resulta tan gravitante como la armonía de las fachadas de la iglesia, la calidad de su espacio interior, el detalle de su ornamentación o el tratamiento de los pavimentos exteriores. La función de la iglesia y su atrio -pasiva o activa, según se manifiesten júbilos o dolores- tiene el extraño poder de afectar el conjunto, suscitando en el feligrés sentimientos de alegría o de tristeza. Ninguna demostración mejor de que la arquitectura, sin el hombre, sin su contenido vivo -destinatario ineludible de su razón de ser-, está condenada a extinguirse. Las iglesias chilotas seguirán mereciendo el reconocimiento universal mientras permitan que, efectivamente, un trozo de humanidad disfrute, con inquebrantable fe, las virtudes de ese patrimonio. Por ello se ha propuesto un modelo de ordenamiento espacial, en el cual la iglesia es su centro.

At present, several papers discuss the accuracy and precision of terrestrial laser scanners (TLSs), but the research continues to focus on the behavior of the TLSs. The purpose of this paper is to propose a method to evaluate the uncertainty of a TLS (FARO Photon 80). A rigid and transportable aluminum structure with 28 black-and-white targets was designed for this purpose. The structure was scanned 12 times at several distances from 2 to 70 m, and the x, y, and z coordinates of the center of the targets were automatically identified. Data were analyzed by means of circular and spherical statistics using R modules programmed in our research group. Analysis reveals that 3-D spatial distribution has a stratified pattern in the Z-axis. Regardless of the scanner status, these results indicate that these analyses should be performed periodically because they can have an impact on some studies. The proposed methodology is robust and simple and can be performed with free software such as the R modules used in this work.

In recent years, ground vibrations have become an important issue due to the growing awareness of the society about environmental living conditions. In this way, vibrations caused by trains running near houses or workplaces are considered disturbing for residents. Within this framework, this paper presents a procedure to estimate the vibration path caused by the passing of a train. In order to achieve this, the equations which describe the physical phenomenon are set in the frequency and wavenumber domain and solved by using the Fourier Transform. The obtained analytical solution is transformed back into the time and space domain by means of the Fourier series. The obtained theoretical results are compared with experimental measurements carried out in the Madrid-Barcelona High Speed Line in order to analyse the performance of this procedure. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd

El projecte que ens ocuparà en las pàgines següents intentarà estudiar la realització d’una instal·lació solar tèrmica per una vivenda unifamiliar situada a una urbanització pertinent a la ciutat de Mataró (Barcelona). Mitjançant la instal·lació de captadors solars i la resta d’elements que compondran la instal·lació solar s’intentarà satisfer las demandes d’aigua calenta sanitària segons estableix el codi tècnic de la edificació, una instal·lació de calefacció amb terra radiant que alhora serà utilitzada a l’estiu com a terra refrescant amb el recolzament d’una bomba de calor que alimentarà a diversos fan-coils per obtenir així una climatització idònia per a les condicions d’estiu, i per últim, i aprofitant la instal·lació allargar la temporada de bany dels habitant d’una piscina pertinent a la vivenda en qüestió.

The power of tangible patrimony is identified, during the celebration of religious events of Chiloé, with churches that act as headquarters. Simultaneously the intangible patrimony is expressed in the ceremonial rites, in the customs and the culture of life and death. Four cases, of different geographic scale, have allowed to demonstrate that the religious fervor is qualified by a series of conditions of physical and social order. The territorial analysis, offers, finally, suggestive conclusions, in agreement to the category of each one of the four settlements that were selected, according with the National Institute of Statistics of Chile's (NSI) criteria., El poder del patrimonio tangible se identifica durante la celebración de las fiestas religiosas de Chiloé, con las iglesias que ofician de sedes. De manera simultánea, en ese mismo acto, el patrimonio intangible se expresa en los ritos ceremoniales, en las costumbres y en la cultura de la vida y de la muerte. Cuatro casos, de distinta escala geográfica, han permitido demostrar que el fervor religioso es cualificado por una serie de condicionantes de orden físico y social. El análisis territorial ofrece, finalmente, sugerentes conclusiones, conforme sea la categoría de cada una de las cuatro entidades pobladas que se seleccionaron de acuerdo al Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas de Chile (INE).