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Objective To assess whether an oral direct factor Xa inhibitor (DiXaI) anticoagulant drug used at the low end of the recommended dose in people achieves presumed prophylactic plasma concentrations and does not induce bleeding in horses. Design Experimental study. Setting Field study. Animals Ten healthy adult horses. Interventions A DiXaI was administered at a dose of 0.125 mg/kg every 24 h orally for 4 days. Following a wash-out period of 2 weeks, 8 of 10 horses received daily subcutaneous doses of a low molecular weight heparin (dalteparin) for 4 consecutive days at 50 IU/kg. In both trials, antifactor Xa activity was measured at baseline time and 3 hours after each dose administration. Activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, hematocrit, erythrocyte agglutination, and platelet aggregation were monitored throughout the study. In addition, an in vitro spiking experiment was performed to demonstrate anticoagulant activity of this DiXaI in horse plasma. Main Results When treated with the DiXaI, this group of horses did not achieve the suggested thromboprophylactic plasma range of antifactor Xa activity (0.1–0.2 IU/mL), except for 1 horse after the first administration of the drug. In contrast, median values of plasma antifactor Xa activity 3 hours after receiving dalteparin were within the prophylactic range (0.16 IU/mL). No hemorrhagic events or erythrocyte agglutination were observed. In vitro addition of this DiXaI caused a concentration-dependent effect in antifactor Xa activity. Conclusions At the low end of the recommended dose in people this oral formulation of DiXaI did not reach prophylactic plasma antifactor Xa activity in this group of healthy adult horses. Further studies are warranted in order to establish the prophylactic dose for horses.

This article is a conceptual contribution on how to make human habitat more sustainable. Taking Heidegger’s conception of “dwelling” as a starting point, a new form of understanding the organization of the city as a human habitat is proposed. It is argued that human habitat is today in crisis and that such crisis has its roots in a spatial understanding of human dwelling, disregarding its temporal-historical dimension. For long time, the city has been considered as a physical “place” and its organization—the urban planning—has been addressed in terms of “locating” (building). Many of the challenges in organizing habitat are the result of reducing the organization of the city to the organization of physical space. One of these is the conflict between preservation and development, a central issue in approaching sustainability. The aim of this article is to propose a new perspective on the organization of human dwelling, which overcomes the spatial-based conception of habitat and involves its temporal dimension. The meaning of human “habitat” as a historical process for developing “habits” will be recovered, and the implications for organization of the city considered. Human habitat is above all an ethical space (ethos), constituted in a spatial–temporal process of developing learning and capabilities. This habitat can be shared and developed infinitely so that a pathway is opened for overcoming the logic of competition and the conflict between sustainability and development. Finally, three forms of the human habitat as an “ethical space” are proposed.

Background Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is frequent in horses with severe gastrointestinal disorders. Postmortem studies have found fibrin microthrombi in tissues of these horses, but studies relating these histopathological findings with antemortem hemostatic data are lacking. Hypothesis Antemortem classification of coagulopathy is related to the presence and severity of fibrin deposits observed postmortem in horses with severe gastrointestinal disorders. Animals Antemortem hemostatic profile data and postmortem tissue samples (kidney, lung, liver) from 48 horses with colic. Methods Tissue samples were stained with phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin and immunohistochemical methods for histological examination. A fibrin score (grades 0–4) was assigned for each technique, tissue and horse, as well as the presence or absence of DIC at postmortem examination. D-dimer concentration, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and antithrombin (AT) activity, as well as the clinicopathological evidence of coagulopathy, were determined from plasma samples collected 0–24 hours before death or euthanasia. Histologic and clinicopathologic data from the same horses were compared retrospectively. Results No association was found between antemortem classification of coagulopathy and postmortem diagnosis of DIC based on tissue fibrin deposition. None of the hemostatic parameters was significantly different between horses with or without postmortem diagnosis of DIC. There was no association between horses with fibrin in tissues or different cut-offs for D-dimer concentration and postmortem evidence of DIC. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Abnormalities of the routine clotting profile, including D-dimer concentration, were not useful in predicting histologic evidence of DIC at necropsy in horses with severe gastrointestinal disorders.

Desenvolupament d'una aplicació per l'ajuda al tractament de l'afàsia Aquest projecte sorgeix amb la necessitat de millorar i afegir noves funcions a l'aplicació ENTRENAMENTE, creada per Denise Marrero Feitosa. Aquesta aplicació va sorgir de la col·laboració entre la Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) i Agim[1], una entitat que dóna suport personalitzat i grupal a persones que han patit Ictus, malalties neurodegeneratives i discapacitats físiques, amb la finalitat de promoure la seva autonomia. Les aplicacions que s'han desenvolupat en aquest projecte tenen objectiu d'ajudar en el tractament de l'afàsia (un trastorn del llenguatge) oferint una eina als pacients, per incrementar l'eficiència de la seva rehabilitació, i una eina a l'entitat Agim, per seguir el progrés dels pacients.L'aplicació pels pacients conté tres activitats que ajuden en la rehabilitació de les tres funcions cognitives principals per a la recuperació del llenguatge: la memòria, l'atenció i la deducció.L'aplicació s'ha dissenyat amb l'entorn Unity, que permet crear aplicacions per a 27 plataformes diferents, i s'ha programat amb Microsoft Visual Studio, utilitzant el llenguatge C#.

Objetivo: analizar las intervenciones que llevan a cabo los profesionales para mejorar la atención brindada a las mujeres y a sus parejas ante una pérdida perinatal. Método: es una revisión de la bibliografía internacional publicada en los últimos 10 años sobre intervenciones para mejorar la atención que se brinda a las parejas ante la muerte de un hijo. Resultados: se observa un déficit en la formación de los profesionales sanitarios relacionada con este tema y se identifican nuevas actuaciones cuyo objetivo es mejorar la atención a las parejas. Conclusiones: no podemos concluir que la «creación de recuerdos» mejore los resultados psicosociales, pero sí la información adaptada durante el proceso, y la matrona es la profesional idónea para ello. No obstante, es necesario mejorar la formación y los recursos de los profesionales para poder ofrecer una atención de calidad.

En menos de dos décadas, los avances en edición genética han sido incontables, la fase conceptual de investigación básica se ha beneficiado del desarrollo tecnológico y, tras un proceso con innegables altibajos, se han iniciado ensayos clínicos de terapia génica para una variedad de enfermedades de muy mal pronóstico. En los últimos dos años y, en especial a partir de mediados de 2017, los medios de comunicación han prestado un gran interés por la edición genética, y más aún por su uso en seres humanos. En poco tiempo, nos hemos acostumbrado a oír hablar de los importantes éxitos de la investigación y el gran potencial de esta tecnología. Hay quien ha dicho incluso que hemos entrado en «el mundo CRISPR». El propósito del Informe Quiral 2017 ha sido, por tanto, analizar cuál ha sido la información que se ha transmitido a la sociedad respecto a la edición genética en sus aplicaciones humanas, principalmente en terapia génica. En qué términos se han presentado las diferentes noticias, cuál ha sido la valoración de las mismas, quiénes han sido las fuentes de información principales y cuáles han sido los protagonistas de la información. Cómo ha podido impactar en la información periodística el hecho de tener investigadores españoles entre los llamados «padres de la edición genética». El Informe Quiral resume anualmente el análisis de las informaciones sobre salud y medicina publicadas en los medios de comunicación escritos de mayor difusión de España. Surgido de una iniciativa conjunta entre la Fundació Vila Casas y el Centro de Estudios de Ciencia, Comunicación y Sociedad de la Universidad Pompeu Fabra . Se ha convertido en un importante instrumento sociológico: un referente anual de las grandes preocupaciones de nuestra sociedad en el ámbito sanitario y su repercusión en los medios de comunicación.El tema del Informe Quiral 2017 es la edición genética. Aquí se accede a la colección completa:https://ccs.upf.edu/informe-quiral/

Several studies have reported that a higher degree of hemoconcentration in patients admitted for the treatment of acute heart failure (HF) constitutes a favorable prognostic factor in the year following the index episode. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the highest degree of hemoconcentration at 3 months after admission for HF is also a prognostic factor for mortality and/or readmission in the 12 months after admission.The hemoconcentration group was the upper quartile of the sample distributed according to hemoglobin increase at month 3 after discharge with respect to hemoglobin at the time of admission for HF in a multicenter prospective cohort of 1,659 subjects with HF.The mean follow-up until the first event was 294 days, and a total of 487 deaths and 1,125 readmissions were recorded. The hemoconcentration group had a lower risk of mortality or readmission for any cause (RR=0.75, 95% CI: 0.51-1.09 and RR=0.86, 95% CI: 0.70-1.05), although statistical significance was lost after multivariate analysis, while it was retained for other factors with recognized negative impact on the prognosis of patients with HF, such as age and functional class.The degree of hemoconcentration at 3 months after admission for HF is not prognostic of readmission or death in the subsequent year.

The aim of the study was to analyze the correlation between D-dimer and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β 1 ) in plasma and peritoneal fluid of horses with different types of colic. The study included 124 horses with colic and 12 control horses. The horses with colic were grouped according to diagnosis (obstructions, enteritis, ischemic problems, peritonitis, and other mixed problems), results of the peritoneal fluid analysis (transudate, modified transudate, and exudate), and outcome (survivors and nonsurvivors). There were significant weak correlations between the evaluated proteins and the diagnosis, the outcome, and the type of peritoneal fluid. However, when specific colic groups were evaluated significant ( P = .0001), moderate correlations were observed between plasma D-dimer and peritoneal TGF-β 1 concentrations in the enteritis (0.67) and mixed (0.82) colic groups. The results suggest a concomitant activation of the fibrinolysis system and the peritoneal local compensatory anti-inflammatory response mediated by TGF-β 1 in horses with colic due to enteritis and other problems excluding obstructions, ischemic problems, and peritonitis.

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis Group in Journal of Civil Engineering and Management on 2017, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.3846/13923730.2015.1023347 A multi-criteria decision-making system based on the MIVES method is presented as a model for assessing the global sustainability index scores of existing wind-turbine support systems. This model is specifically designed to discriminate between tower systems in order to minimize the subjectivity of the decision and, thus, facilitate the task of deciding which system is best for a given set of boundary conditions (e.g., height, turbine power, soil conditions) and economic, social and environmental requirements. The model’s versatility is proven by assessing the sustainability index of an innovative new precast concrete tower alternative also described in this paper. As a result of this analysis, some points of improvement in the new system have been detected.

Basat en les ponències presentades al congrés celebrat del 14 al 16 d'octubre de 2015 a l'Aula Magna de la Universitat de Barcelona, Coordinadores: Margarita Boladera Cucurella, Josefina Goberna Tricas, El nacimiento de los hijos constituye un momento fundamental en la vida de las mujeres y de las familias, que afecta a toda la sociedad. Desde la segunda mitad del siglo XX, los cuidados durante el parto y el embarazo han experimentado un proceso de medicalización y tecnificación que ha influido en la asistencia sanitaria, hecho que suscita opiniones encontradas: mientras que algunos lo consideran un signo positivo del progreso médico, otros lo hacen responsable de la deshumanización de las atenciones a las embarazadas y reclaman el retorno a un trato más respetuoso con cada persona. Optar por una asistencia más o menos tecnificada implica decidir, escoger entre diferentes modelos asistenciales, y ello tiene implicaciones éticas, políticas, institucionales y organizativas. ¿A quién corresponde esta decisión? ¿Qué papel deben desempeñar los profesionales? ¿La asistencia obstétrica ha perdido calidad humana? ¿Una menor tecnificación conducirá sin más a una relación más humana? Bioética de la maternidad analiza estas cuestiones a través de un conjunto de trabajos de distintos especialistas que aúnan la experiencia profesional y la labor investigadora, con el objetivo de visibilizar los problemas existentes en este ámbito y sus posibles soluciones., La publicación de este libro ha sido posible gracias a los proyectos FEM2012-33067 y FEM2015-63067_CIN, financiados por el Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad.

Objective To assess the progression of plasma D-dimer concentrations and coagulation status in horses with different types of colic. Design Prospective clinical observational study performed between March 2004 and September 2008. Setting Veterinary university teaching hospital. Animals Horses admitted and treated for colic and hospitalized for >48 hours were considered. Animals were classified by diagnosis into medical obstructive conditions (MO), surgical obstructive conditions (SO), inflammatory conditions, and ischemic lesions (IS). Interventions Three blood samples were obtained from each horse (admission, at 24–48 h [or after surgery] and upon discharge). For each sample, plasma D-dimer concentration, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, antithrombin activity, and the presence of subclinical disseminated intravascular coagulation were determined. Measurements and Main Results When median plasma D-dimer concentration values at admission and after 24–48 hours were compared, they were different but stable in horses with MO (1.29–1.95 nmol/L) and inflammatory conditions (5.70–6.69 nmol/L). However, 10-fold and 5-fold increases were observed, respectively, in SO (2.08 to 16.38 nmol/L) and IS (3.08 to 15.91 nmol/L) in the postoperative period. By 24–48 hours, the percentage of horses with coagulopathy increased in most groups (MO, 43 to 58%; SO, 50 to 96%, IS, 53 to 90%). By the time of discharge, 87% of horses with SO problems and 89% of horses with IS still had some form of coagulopathy documented. Conclusions Throughout hospitalization, horses with MO problems had less severe coagulopathy and lower plasmatic D-dimer concentrations compared to other groups of horses. On admission, most horses with inflammatory conditions presented with coagulopathy. At 24–48 hours of hospitalization and following surgery, the hemostatic profile can differ markedly when compared to admission values.

Objectives To determine if plasma iron concentration is different between horses with and without systemic inflammation (SI) and to assess the accuracy for the detection of SI by assaying plasma iron and fibrinogen concentrations, individually or combined. To assess the prognostic value of plasma iron concentration and to describe the progression of plasma iron and fibrinogen concentrations during hospital follow-up, and its relation to SI and survival. Design Prospective observational study evaluating plasma iron and fibrinogen. Setting University veterinary teaching hospital. Animals Equine patients greater than 30 days of age. Interventions None. Measurements and Main Results Plasma iron and fibrinogen concentration was prospectively determined in hospitalized horses. Horses were classified into 2 groups: SI and non-SI. Horses were also classified according to clinical outcome. A group of control healthy horses was also included. A total of 135 horses were included in the study. Plasma iron concentration was significantly lower and fibrinogen concentration was higher in the SI group. Nonsurvivors had a mean plasma fibrinogen concentration significantly higher than survivors. The combination of plasma iron and fibrinogen has a high degree of specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy for the detection of SI in horses. Follow-up measurements were obtained in 48 horses. Surviving horses normalized plasma iron concentration during follow-up examination whereas nonsurviving horses had persistently low plasma iron concentrations. Conclusions Plasma iron concentration alone is an accurate marker of SI in hospitalized horses. Alteration of both plasma iron and fibrinogen concentrations improves the specificity and positive predictive value for diagnosis of SI. Alteration of either one of both increases sensitivity and negative predictive value. Surviving horses normalized plasma iron concentrations during follow-up period. The combination of plasma iron and fibrinogen concentrations may help in the detection of SI. Follow-up of plasma iron concentrations may provide useful prognostic information.

Background: We sought to identify the comorbidities associated with heart failure (HF) in a non-selected cohort of patients, and its influence on mortality and rehospitalization. Design and methods: Data were obtained from the ‘Registro de Insuficiencia Cardiaca’ (RICA) of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine. The registry includes patients prospectively admitted in Internal Medicine units for acute HF. Variables included in Charlson Index (ChI) were collected and analysed according to age, gender, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and Barthel Index. The primary end point of study was the likelihood of rehospitalization and death for any cause during the year after discharge. Results: We included 2051 patients, mean age 78 and 53% females. LVEF was ⩾ 50% in 59.1% of the cohort. There was a high degree of dependency as measured by Barthel Index (14.8 % had an index ≤ 60). Mean ChI was 2.91 (SD ± 2.4). The most frequent comorbidities included in ChI were diabetes mellitus (44.3%), chronic renal impairment (30.8%) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (27.4%). Age, myocardial infarction, peripheral artery disease, dementia, COPD, chronic renal impairment and diabetes with target-organ damage were all identified as independent prognostic factors for the combined end point of rehospitalization and death at 1 year. However, if multivariate analysis was done including ChI, only this remained as an independent prognostic factor for the combined end point ( P < 0.001). Conclusions: HF is a comorbid condition. ChI is a simple and feasible tool for estimating the burden of comorbidities in such population. We believe that a holistic approach to HF would improve prognosis and the relief the pressure exerted on public health services.

The work presented here aims to demonstrate the technical, architectural and energy viability of solar thermal collectors made with ceramic materials and the Mediterranean climate suitable for the production of domestic hot water (DHW) and for heating systems in buildings. The design of a ceramic shell formed by panels collectors and panels no sensors, which are part of the same building system that is capable of responding to the basic requirements of a building envelope and capture solar energy is proposed. Ceramics considerably reduced the final cost of the sensor system and offers the new system a variety of compositional and chromatic since, with reduced performance compared to a conventional metallic collector, can occupy the entire surface of front and get a high degree of architectural integration. A tool for assessing the new ceramic solar collector has been defined from a multi-criteria perspective: economic, environmental and social. The tool enables the comparison of the ceramic solar collector with solar collectors on the market under different climatic and demand conditions., El trabajo aquí presentado se orienta a demostrar la viabilidad técnica, arquitectónica y energética de colectores solares térmicos realizados con materiales cerámicos y adecuados al clima mediterráneo para la producción de agua caliente sanitaria (ACS) y de calefacción en edificios. Se propone el diseño de una envolvente cerámica formada por paneles captadores y paneles no captadores, que forman parte de un mismo sistema constructivo que es capaz de dar respuesta a los requerimientos básicos de un cerramiento exterior y de captar la energía solar. La cerámica consigue reducir considerablemente el coste final del sistema captador y ofrece al nuevo sistema una gran variedad de juego compositivo y cromático dado que, con un menor rendimiento frente al de un colector convencional metálico, puede ocupar toda la superficie de fachada y obtener un elevado grado de integración arquitectónica. También se ha definido una herramienta que permite evaluar el sistema de captación solar térmica cerámico desde un punto de vista multicriterio, económico, ambiental y social, para compararlo con los sistemas de captación solar térmica comerciales bajo distintas condiciones climáticas y de demanda.

The work presented here aims to demonstrate the technical, architectural and energy viability of solar thermal collectors made with ceramic materials and the Mediterranean climate suitable for the production of domestic hot water (DHW) and for heating systems in buildings. The design of a ceramic shell formed by panels collectors and panels no sensors, which are part of the same building system that is capable of responding to the basic requirements of a building envelope and capture solar energy is proposed. Ceramics considerably reduced the final cost of the sensor system and offers the new system a variety of compositional and chromatic since, with reduced performance compared to a conventional metallic collector, can occupy the entire surface of front and get a high degree of architectural integration. A tool for assessing the new ceramic solar collector has been defined from a multi-criteria perspective: economic, environmental and social. The tool enables the comparison of the ceramic solar collector with solar collectors on the market under different climatic and demand conditions. El trabajo aquí presentado se orienta a demostrar la viabilidad técnica, arquitectónica y energética de colectores solares térmicos realizados con materiales cerámicos y adecuados al clima mediterráneo para la producción de agua caliente sanitaria (ACS) y de calefacción en edificios. Se propone el diseño de una envolvente cerámica formada por paneles captadores y paneles no captadores, que forman parte de un mismo sistema constructivo que es capaz de dar respuesta a los requerimientos básicos de un cerramiento exterior y de captar la energía solar. La cerámica consigue reducir considerablemente el coste final del sistema captador y ofrece al nuevo sistema una gran variedad de juego compositivo y cromático dado que, con un menor rendimiento frente al de un colector convencional metálico, puede ocupar toda la superficie de fachada y obtener un elevado grado de integración arquitectónica. También se ha definido una herramienta que permite evaluar el sistema de captación solar térmica cerámico desde un punto de vista multicriterio, económico, ambiental y social, para compararlo con los sistemas de captación solar térmica comerciales bajo distintas condiciones climáticas y de demanda.

Heart failure (HF) is frequent in elderly patients, but few studies have focused on patients older than 84 years. The aim of this study was to evaluate major comorbidities and 1-year survival in HF patients aged ≥85 years compared with younger age groups.Patients included in a prospective national registry of HF (RICA) were evaluated. Sociodemographic data, Charlson comorbidity index, cognitive status, basal functional status, body mass index, NYHA functional class, and left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) were recorded. Patients aged ≥85 years were compared with the rest using the Cox regression model to detect independent predictive factors of 1-year survival.Of the 1172 patients included, 224 (19%) were aged over 84 years-old, mostly women, with hypertensive heart disease (46%, p0.001) and preserved LVEF (68.7%; p0.001). Diabetes (p0.001), dyslipidemia (p=0.03) and obesity (p0.001) were less prevalent in this group of patients. One-year mortality in the oldest old patients was 26.3%, which was higher than the rest (p0.001). By multivariable analysis, a higher NYHA functional class (p=0.038), anemia (p=0.037), absence of obesity (p=0.002), and a worse functional status (p=0.049) were related to a worse 1-year survival in the oldest HF patients.The oldest old HF patients have differential characteristics with lower prevalence of diabetes, dyslipidemia and obesity and a lower 1-year survival. Independent factors related to a worse 1-year survival in the oldest age group were a higher NYHA class, a worse functional status, presence of anemia and absence of obesity.

SummaryVenous thromboembolism (VTE) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in Europe. Data from real-world registries are necessary, as clinical trials do not represent the full spectrum of VTE patients seen in clinical practice. We aimed to document the epidemiology, management and outcomes of VTE using data from a large, observational database. PREFER in VTE was an international, non-interventional disease registry conducted between January 2013 and July 2015 in primary and secondary care across seven European countries. Consecutive patients with acute VTE were documented and followed up over 12 months. PREFER in VTE included 3,455 patients with a mean age of 60.8 ± 17.0 years. Overall, 53.0% were male. The majority of patients were assessed in the hospital setting as inpatients or outpatients (78.5%). The diagnosis was deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) in 59.5% and pulmonary embolism (PE) in 40.5%. The most common comorbidities were the various types of cardiovascular disease (excluding hypertension; 45.5%), hypertension (42.3%) and dyslipidaemia (21.1%). Following the index VTE, a large proportion of patients received initial therapy with heparin (73.2%), almost half received a vitamin K antagonist (48.7%) and nearly a quarter received a DOAC (24.5%). Almost a quarter of all presentations were for recurrent VTE, with >80% of previous episodes having occurred more than 12 months prior to baseline. In conclusion, PREFER in VTE has provided contemporary insights into VTE patients and their real-world management, including their baseline characteristics, risk factors, disease history, symptoms and signs, initial therapy and outcomes.

Treball desenvolupat dins el marc del programa 'European Project Semester'. The main goal of the project is to create an educational product which warns teenagers about the pollution/climatic problems. A sustainable toolkit that captures energy from natural sources and transforms it in usable energy in daily life applications. This product/ toolkit will need to be assembled and used in an open field environment. Teenagers will battle against each other in groups. Education is one of the most important elements of the final product. The way it is going to be used, will be STEM-based.

Fibre-reinforced concrete (FRC) is a suitable alternative to the traditional reinforced concrete used in the manufacture of precast segments used to line tunnels excavated with a tunnel boring machine (TBM). Moreover, its use as a structural material has been approved by several national codes and by the current fib Model Code (2010). The use of FRC in segmental linings confers several technical and economic advantages, evidenced by the fact that structural fibres have been used to partially or entirely replace reinforcing bars in many TBM tunnels built over the past 20 years or currently under construction. FRC could also have been used in other tunnels, which are currently in the planning stage or under construction. However, despite its technical suitability and approval in current codes, the use of FRC was not possible in some cases. The impediment has sometimes been an incomplete understanding of the structural behaviour of the material, but a more general motive has been that comparisons of materials have taken into account only direct material costs and have not considered indirect costs or social and environmental factors. The aim of the present research is to develop a method for analysing the sustainability of different concrete and reinforcement configurations for segmental linings of TBM tunnels using the MIVES method (a multi-criteria decision making approach for assessing sustainability). This MCDM method allows minimising subjectivity in decision making while integrating economic, environmental and social factors. The model has been used to assess the sustainability of different alternatives proposed for manufacturing the segmental tunnel lining for the extension of the rail line of Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) to Terminal 1 of El Prat Airport in Barcelona.

We introduce the concept of homogeneous numerical semigroups and show that all homogeneous numerical semigroups with Cohen-Macaulay tangent cones are of homogeneous type. In embedding dimension three, we classify all numerical semigroups of homogeneous type in to numerical semigroups with complete intersection tangent cones and the homogeneous ones with Cohen-Macaulay tangent cones. We also study the behavior of the homogeneous property by gluing and shiftings to construct a large family of homogeneous numerical semigroups with Cohen-Macaulay tangent cones. In particular we show that these properties fulfill assymptotically in the shifting classes. Several explicit examples are provided along the paper to illustrate the property., Comment: final version; published online in Semigroup Forum (https://doi.org/10.1007/s00233-018-9941-6)

In this paper, we use the Ap\'ery table of the numerical semigroup associated to an affine monomial curve in order to characterize arithmetic properties and invariants of its tangent cone. In particular, we precise the shape of the Ap\'ery table of a numerical semigroup of embedding dimension 3, when the tangent cone of its monomial curve is Buchsbaum or 2-Buchsbaum, and give new proofs for two conjectures raised by V. Sapko (Commun. Algebra {29}:4759-4773, 2001) and Y. H. Shen (Commun. Algebra {39}:1922-1940, 2001). We also provide a new simple proof in the case of monomial curves for Sally's conjecture (Numbers of Generators of Ideals in Local Rings, 1978) that the Hilbert function of a one-dimensional Cohen-Macaulay ring with embedding dimension three is non-decreasing. Finally, we obtain that monomial curves of embedding dimension 4 whose tangent cones are Buchsbaum, and also monomial curves of any embedding dimensions whose numerical semigroups are balanced, have non-decreasing Hilbert functions. Numerous examples are provided to illustrate the results, most of them computed by using the NumericalSgps package of GAP (Delgado et al., NumericalSgps-a GAP package, 2006)., Comment: To appear in Semigroup Forum

This paper introduces the numerical model analysis of evolutionary sections (AES) as a tool for the analysis of precast concrete sections constructed in several phases. Constitutive models including both concrete cracking and post-peak response of the materials were implemented. Likewise, the time-dependent behavior of the materials has been considered to model the sequential construction process. In order to validate the results obtained by the model, an experimental campaign (from the literature) was used. The comparison of the experimental results to those numerically obtained was satisfactory. The AES is already in use in several Spanish precast concrete factories for the optimization of bridges constructed with precast - prestressed concrete girders.

Colonoscopy and fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) are accepted strategies for colorectal-cancer screening in the average-risk population. METHODS: In this randomized, controlled trial involving asymptomatic adults 50 to 69 years of age, we compared one-time colonoscopy in 26,703 subjects with FIT every 2 years in 26,599 subjects. The primary outcome was the rate of death from colorectal cancer at 10 years. This interim report describes rates of participation, diagnostic findings, and occurrence of major complications at completion of the baseline screening. Study outcomes were analyzed in both intention-to-screen and as-screened populations. RESULTS: The rate of participation was higher in the FIT group than in the colonoscopy group (34.2% vs. 24.6%, P, Supported by grants from Asociación Española contra el Cáncer (Fundación Científica and Junta de Barcelona), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI08/90717), FEDER funds, and Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (2009SGR849). Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd) is funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III. In the Basque Country, the study received additional grants from Obra Social de Kutxa, Diputación Foral de Gipuzkoa (DFG 07/5), Departamento de Sanidad del Gobierno Vasco, EITB-Maratoia (BIO 07/ CA/19), and Acción Transversal contra el Cáncer del CIBERehd (2008). In Galicia, this work was supported by Dirección Xeral de Innovación e Xestión da Saúde Pública, Conselleria de Sanidade, and Xunta de Galicia. Eiken Chemical of Japan and its Spanish representatives, Palex Medical and Biogen Diagnóstica, donated supplies and automated analyzers used for FIT

Summary Reasons for performing study: Nutritional support in critically ill neonatal foals is of great importance given their high metabolic rate and minimal stores of energy and protein. Nutrient requirements of healthy growing foals have been estimated based on daily milk intake; however, little is known about the resting energy expenditure (REE) of sick foals. Objectives: To determine REE in critically ill neonatal foals (sepsis and/or hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy [HIE] and compare this with REE in control foals. Methods: Critically ill newborn foals admitted to the Fundacio Hospital Clinic Veterinari, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain from March 2009 to February 2011 were included in this study. Healthy neonatal foals and foals with nonsystemic conditions were used as controls. Oxygen consumption and CO2 production were measured with a respiratory monitor connected to a tight fitting facemask and REE (kcal/kg bwt/day) was calculated with the abbreviated Weir formula. Measurements were performed within 24 h of admission and repeatedly during hospitalisation. Results: Twenty-seven foals were included (16 critically ill foals and 11 controls) and a total of 47 measurements were performed. In the critically ill, REE was reduced (mean ± s.e. 49.5 ± 2.1 kcal/kg bwt/day) on admission relative to the controls. In surviving foals (n = 5), REE before hospital discharge was not different (68.4 ± 7.0 kcal/kg bwt/day) from control foals (64.8 ± 2.7 kcal/kg bwt/day). Conclusions: REE was lower in critically ill foals upon admission (40–50 kcal/kg bwt/day) and normalised before hospital discharge (60–80 kcal/kg bwt/day). Potential relevance: Critically ill neonatal foals tolerating enteral feeding would receive approximately their REE when given 10% of their bodyweight in mare's milk daily. For sick neonates unable to tolerate enteral nutrition, provision of 50 kcal/kg bwt/day would be a reasonable goal for parenteral nutrition.

Summary Reasons for performing the study: Bacterial meningoencephalitis is a severe complication in septic foals and there is scarce and often unclear information in the equine literature. Objectives: To report the most frequent clinical signs, clinicopathological findings, causative agents, treatments given and outcome of a group of foals with confirmed bacterial meningoencephalitis. Methods: Foals aged

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in equidae suffering meningoencephalitis (ME) has not been described. The objective of this paper is to describe brain MRI findings in a foal with bacterial ME. A five-month-old, 200 kg bwt Arabian filly was referred with a history of abnormal mental status and locomotion. The filly was recumbent and obtunded, and pupillary light reflexes were sluggish, and oculocephalic movements were normally present. Ophthalmic examination revealed bilateral optic neuritis. Hematology revealed leukocytosis and neutrophilia. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed neutrophilic pleocytosis with intracellular bacteria. On brain MRI, there were multifocal cortical areas of mild hyperintensity on T2-weighted images (T2WI) affecting both hemispheres. The lesions had ill-delineated margins, and there was loss of differentiation between gray and white matter. Diffuse hyperintensity was also identified in the left cerebellar cortex on T2WI. Neither mass effect nor cerebral midline shift were identified. On FLAIR images, the lesions were also hyperintense and, in some areas, they seemed to coalescence to form diffuse cortical areas of hyperintensity. The MRI findings described were similar to the MRI features described in cases of humans and small animals with ME. Brain MRI can be a useful diagnostic tool in foals and small-sized equidae with intracranial disease.

Background: Increased synovial fibrinolytic activity (detected by increases in synovial D-Dimer concentrations) has been observed in different joint diseases in humans and adult horses, presumably in order to minimize fibrin deposition within the joint and thus avoid its detrimental effects. Objective: To investigate fibrinolytic pathway activation in joint sepsis in foals by measuring synovial D-Dimer concentrations. Animals: Eighteen septic foals with septic joints, 9 septic foals without septic joints, 9 systemically healthy foals with septic joint, and 3 controls are included. Methods: Prospective observational clinical study of foals admitted for septic arthritis. Synovial D-Dimer concentration and routine synovial fluid analysis were performed. Diagnosis of joint sepsis was made whenever synovial total nucleated cell count was >30,000 cells/μL, synovial total protein >4 g/dL, and neutrophil percentage of >80%, or synovial fluid culture resulted positive. Results were compared among groups by general lineal models. Results: Synovial D-Dimer concentration was significantly (P < .001) higher in the foals with septic joints compared with foals without joint disease (P < .001). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Septic joint disease is associated with a marked increase of synovial D-Dimer concentration (marked activation of the fibrinolytic activity) within the affected joint. Although further studies are needed, the measurement of synovial D-Dimer concentration may be considered a complementary diagnostic marker of septic joint disease.

The present article introduces three innovations related to precast concrete panels to be used in reinforced earth retaining wall systems. These innovations concern the anchor system of the panel, the set-up of the pull-out test to assess the effectiveness of the anchors and the use of fibres as reinforcement. The viability of all this innovations has been proved by an experimental research program. Results show the advantages of these innovations in terms of performance and of production process.