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Ten-year prognosis of acute atrial fibrillation in ST-elevation myocardial infarction: recurrence and risk stroke
No full textBackground: Atrial fibrillation (AF) often complicates ST elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI), with associated risks including stroke and mortality. Anticoagulation therapy for these patients and AF prognosis remains controversial. The aim was to evaluate long-term prognosis of STEMI patients complicated with AF in the acute phase. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis on a prospective register involving 4,184 patients admitted for STEMI to the intensive cardiac care unit of 2 tertiary centres from 2007 to 2015. Patients with pre-existing permanent AF were excluded. Out of these, 269 (6.4%) patients developed AF within the first 48 hours after STEMI and were matched with a control group based on age and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Results: After matching, a total of 470 patients were included (n=235, AF-STEMI; n=235, control group). Mean age 69.0 years, and 31.7% women. No differences were found in gender, cardiovascular risk factors or ischemic heart disease. AF-STEMI patients experienced more sustained ventricular tachycardia, advanced atrioventricular block, heart failure, and cardiogenic shock. In-hospital mortality was also higher in AF-STEMI patients (11.9% vs 7.2%, p=0.008). After 10-years follow-up, the AF-STEMI group had remained with higher mortality (50.5% vs. 36.2%; p=0.003) and a greater recurrence of AF (44.2% vs. 14.7%; p<0.001), without differences in stroke incidence (10.1% vs. 9.3%). Conclusions: As a conclusion, patients with AF complicating STEMI have higher rates of heart failure, cardiogenic shock, and in-hospital mortality. After a 10-year follow-up, they exhibit a high risk of AF recurrence and mortality, with no significant differences in stroke incidence
Aging towards walkable futures: insights from a multidisciplinary workshop held in Barcelona, Spain
No full textBackground: The aging of the world's population and the increase in sedentary lifestyles are leading to an increase in walking impairments at older ages. Here, we aimed to comprehensively discuss walking in the context of an aging population; and identify and agree on a list of future research priorities and policy actions. Methods: We followed a participatory approach and held a multidisciplinary two-day workshop on October, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain, with experts in the fields of aging and walking, and participants from the general public. Results: A total of 56 national and international participants, from a multidisciplinary background, joined the workshop. They had a median age of 40 years (range 24-83), and 62% were female. Participants discussed the meaning of walking from different perspectives and its change with age and in the presence of diverse mobility-impairing conditions; the emotional and social components of walking; and the role of the environment in walking. Participants identified unmet needs, research priorities and policy actions related to walking in older ages. Conclusions: This two-day workshop provided a space for professionals and public to comprehensively discuss walking at older ages. Participants highlighted the relevance of a better and more comprehensive assessment of walking; the need to shift focus towards comprehensive health that considers physical, emotional and social aspects as well as individuals' preferences and expectations; and the importance of translating research into action. Future work can draw on the discussions held during this event in a thought-provoking and hypothesis-generating way.ISGlobal acknowledges support from the grant CEX2018-000806-S funded by MCIN/AEI/https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033, and support from the Generalitat de Catalunya through the CERCA Programme. This work was also supported by the Severo-Ochoa program at ISGlobal and the Mobilise-D project that has received funding from the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking (JU) under grant agreement No. 820820. This JU receives support from the European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation program and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA). The content of the current publication reflects the authors’ view and neither IMI nor the European Union, EFPIA, or any Associated Partners are responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained herein. LD-O receives funding from the grant “Contratos Predoctorales de Formación en Investigación en Salud (PFIS) 2021 of the AES with Exp. FI21/00113” from ISCIII, and the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+). LR acknowledges infrastructure support provided by Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) hosted by Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust and Newcastle University, UK
Reliable detection of directional couplings using cross-vector measures
No full textDetecting directional couplings from time series is crucial in understanding complex dynamical systems. Various approaches based on reconstructed state-spaces have been developed for this purpose, including cross-distance vector measure, which we introduced in our recent work. Here, we devise two new cross-vector measures that utilize ranks and time series estimates instead of distances. We analyze various deterministic and stochastic dynamics to compare our cross-vector approach against some established state-space-based approaches. We demonstrate that all three cross-vector measures can identify the correct coupling direction for a broader range of couplings for all considered dynamics. Among the three cross-vector measures, the rank-based variant performs the best. Comparing this novel measure to an established rank-based measure confirms that it is more noise-robust and less affected by linear cross-correlation. To extend this comparison to real-world signals, we combine both measures with the method of surrogates and analyze a database of electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings from epilepsy patients. This database contains signals from brain areas where the patients’ seizures were detected first and signals from brain areas that were not involved in the seizure onset. A better discrimination between these signal classes is obtained by the cross-rank vector measure. Additionally, this measure proves to be robust to non-stationarity, as its results remain nearly unchanged when the analysis is repeated for the subset of EEG signals that were identified as stationary in previous work. These findings suggest that the cross-vector approach can serve as a valuable tool for researchers analyzing complex time series and for clinical applications.M.B. and P.B. acknowledge the Research Core Funding No. P2-0001 and the Research Project No. J3-4525, both financially supported by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency. R.G.A. acknowledges funding from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the State Research Agency (Grant No. PID2020-118196GBI00/MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033)
Smart cities: the role of digital tools and data-driven development in shaping the german city of Hanover
No full textTreball de fi de Màster en Cultura Digital i Mitjans Emergents (DiCEM)Supervisor: Cristina Garde CanoHanover is one of 73 chosen German municipalities to be financially supported by the federal government to transform itself into a smart city. Smart cities are defined by using data-driven development and digital tools to enhance their urban fabric and better meet inhabitants’ needs. The government has published guidelines that shall be followed but individually interpreted by each city through smart city initiatives. This research uses qualitative research to conduct semi-structured interviews with three of Hanover’s smart city experts and three members of neighbourhood organisations to discuss the role digital transformation shall play. Results showcase the city’s focus on the use of technology and data collection to respond to ecological and infrastructural challenges. While social challenges are being met with the offering of analogue citizen meet-ups, the city lacks smartness in terms of fostering emotional bonds, connecting citizens and creating liveability through local initiatives
An investigation of place-based policies: the effects of opportunity zone designation on business and residential properties
No full textTreball fi de màster de: Master's Degree in Specialized Economic Analysis: Economics of Public Policy Program. Curs 2024-2025Tutors: Ada Ferrer-i-Carbonell; Joan LlullWe analyze the effects of a salient United States place-based policy, Opportunity Zones (OZs), on local economic outcomes. Using a rich combination of data, we estimate localized effects of the policy at the census tract level, the natural unit of treatment. We then expand our unit of analysis to the Economic Place (EP) level to capture treatment intensity and ripple effects. Utilizing various forms of dynamic difference-in-differences estimators and leveraging sharp treatment timing, we find positive and increasing effects of the policy on net residential housing at the tract level. Further, we find that political dynamics predict OZ designation but do not seem to be an underlying mechanism for our results at the tract level. At the EP level, we uncover considerable treatment effect heterogeneity by population size on both residential and business addresses, with smaller EPs experiencing substantial positive treatment effects relative to larger ones.Analizamos los efectos de una política territorial destacada de Estados Unidos, las Opportunity Zones (OZs), sobre los resultados económicos locales. Utilizando una rica combinación de datos, estimamos los efectos localizados de la política a nivel de census tract, la unidad natural de tratamiento. Luego, ampliamos nuestra unidad de análisis al nivel de Economic Place (EP) para capturar la intensidad del tratamiento y los efectos de contagio. Utilizando diversas formas de estimadores de diferencias en diferencias dinámicas y aprovechando la precisión en el momento del tratamiento, encontramos efectos positivos y crecientes de la política sobre la vivienda residencial neta a nivel de tracto. Además, encontramos que las dinámicas políticas predicen la designación de OZ, pero no parecen ser un mecanismo subyacente de nuestros resultados a nivel de tracto. A nivel de EP, descubrimos una considerable heterogeneidad en los efectos del tratamiento según el tamaño de la población, tanto en direcciones residenciales como comerciales, siendo los EP más pequeños los que experimentan efectos de tratamiento sustancialmente positivos en relación con los más grandes
'Feedback must be a two-way exchange': a qualitative study of how translation students perceive feedback
No full textIn this article we are interested in one of the possible modalities of feedback generated in the training of future translators at university level: the written corrective feedback (WCF) offered by teachers on students' translations. More specifically, using data obtained from two focus groups and a questionnaire, we have explored the perceptions of translation students regarding the features and usefulness of the feedback they received during their degree programme. The results show that students perceive WCF as a unidirectional transmission of information and not as a dialogical learning cycle, as the most current approaches to feedback postulate. They also call for feedback that is precise, informative, orientating and adjusted to student needs. At the same time, they believe that feedback should offer corrections without adopting a reproving tone; it should include explanations about errors in the translation; it should point to where the work successfully fulfils learning goals; and it should incorporate suggestions for improvement that can be applied in future translation tasks. The descriptive findings presented here bear on current teaching practices in the translation classroom and point to possible areas where such practices might be improved to enhance the development by students of translation competencies.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation under grant PID2020-113236GB-I00 (RetroTrad: Formative feedback in translation teaching and learning)
Crime control as social interaction. A conversation analysis of police border checks
No full textThis doctoral thesis examines police border checks organised in the Spain – France border area (La Jonquera – Le Perthus). The main objective of these police checks is to prevent illegal activities (i.e., crime control). Drawing on 272 video recorded data, my research examines police-civilian encounters as an example of interpersonal communication and social interaction. For this purpose, data is transcribed and analysed with Conversation Analysis (CA). The analysis focuses on the sequential organisation and local management of police-civilian conversations. The results indicate that (1) suspicion (i.e., the resolution of suspicion) is what shapes the progressivity of the encounter and the way participants interact in these police interactions; and (2) CA allows to identify which actions and language resources are meaningful and have an impact in the resolution of suspicion, and how they are oriented to accomplishing participants’ objectives (e.g., findings grounds of suspicion, achieving understanding) in the interaction (including multilingual interactions).Aquesta tesi doctoral examina els controls policials que s'organitzen a la zona fronterera entre Espanya i França (La Jonquera – Le Perthus). L'objectiu principal d'aquests controls policials és prevenir activitats il·legals (investigacions criminals). A partir de 272 vídeos, s’analitza la comunicació entre policies i civils com exemple de comunicació interpersonal i interacció social. Les dades es transcriuen i analitzen amb l’Anàlisi de la Conversa (AC). L'anàlisi se centra en l'organització seqüencial i la gestió local de les converses entre policies i civils. Els resultats mostren: (1) la sospita (la resolució de la sospita) dona forma a la conversa i la manera com els participants interactuen en aquestes interaccions policials; (2) l'AC permet identificar quines accions i recursos lingüístics són significatius i tenen un impacte en la resolució de sospites, i com s'orienten per assolir els objectius dels participants (ex., trobar motius de sospita) en la interacció (incloses interaccions multilingües).Programa de Doctorat en Comunicaci
Tono crítico : proyecto de divulgación sobre las implicaciones socioculturales del maquillaje
No full textTutora: Mireia Pérez-Sabadell
Treball de fi de grau en Publicitat i Relacions PúbliquesEste Trabajo de Fin de Grado analiza el consumo del maquillaje como práctica cultural y social ligada a la construcción de la feminidad normativa en mujeres cisgénero jóvenes en contextos urbanos de España. A partir de este análisis, se desarrolla “Tono Crítico”, un proyecto de divulgación y concienciación en TikTok dirigido principalmente a mujeres jóvenes cisgénero en España, y extensible a jóvenes en general. El trabajo tiene tres objetivos principales: (1) explorar las motivaciones que llevan a las mujeres jóvenes cisgénero a usar maquillaje; (2) analizar cómo estas motivaciones se relacionan con las exigencias de la feminidad normativa; y (3) desarrollar un proyecto de divulgación digital en TikTok que promueva una mirada crítica sobre el consumo del maquillaje. Para ello, se utilizó una metodología mixta: por
un lado, se realizaron grupos de discusión con 11 mujeres jóvenes cisgénero; por otro, se aplicó un análisis comparativo tipo benchmark para la creación de contenido en redes sociales. El trabajo se sitúa en el cruce entre la investigación académica, la estrategia y la comunicación digital.This Final Degree Project analyzes makeup consumption as a cultural and social practice tied to the construction of normative femininity among young cisgender women in urban contexts in Spain. Based on this analysis, “Tono Crítico” was developed—a TikTok-based outreach and awareness project aimed primarily at young cisgender women in Spain, with potential reach to a broader youth audience. The study has three main objectives: (1) to explore the motivations that lead young cisgender women to use makeup; (2) to analyze how these motivations relate to the demands of normative femininity; and (3) to design and implement a digital communication project on TikTok that promotes a critical perspective on makeup use. A mixed-methods approach was employed: on one hand, discussion groups were conducted with 11 young cisgender women; on the other, a comparative benchmark analysis was carried out to guide the development of social media content. This work is situated at the intersection of
academic research, strategic thinking, and digital communication
La Neutralización de la restricción a la libre circulación de capitales en instituciones de inversión colectiva
No full textLa tesis doctoral que se presenta examina el mecanismo de la neutralización de las restricciones a la libre circulación de capitales que se ponen de manifiesto a partir del trato tributario discriminatorio que los Estados miembros pueden otorgar a los no residentes en relación con los residentes. Dicho mecanismo supone la posibilidad de entender neutralizada, de ahí su nombre, la eventual discriminación a través de la aplicación de los mecanismos previstos en los Convenios para evitar la doble imposición. La tesis estudia los fundamentos teóricos del tratamiento de la doble imposición y de la distribución del poder financiero internacional, siempre con referencias a la regulación positiva española, para confrontarlos con la doctrina sentada por el Tribunal de Justicia de la Unión Europea en materia de libre circulación de capitales, especialmente en relación con las Instituciones de Inversión Colectiva, donde esta confrontación ofrece unos problemas jurídicos claramente caracterizados y donde el mecanismo de la neutralización está necesitado de mayores precisiones jurídicas.The Doctoral Thesis presented examines the mechanism of neutralization of restrictions on the free movement of capital that derive from the discriminatory tax treatment that Member States can grant to non-residents in relation to residents. This mechanism implies the possibility of neutralizing, hence its name, the eventual discrimination through the application of the mechanisms provided for in the Double taxation treaties. The thesis studies the theoretical foundations of the treatment of double taxation and the distribution of international financial power, always with references to Spanish positive regulation, to confront them with the doctrine established by the Court of Justice of the European Union on free movement of capital, especially in relation to Collective Investment Institutions, where this confrontation offers clearly characterized legal problems and where the neutralization mechanism needs greater legal precisions.Programa de Doctorat en Dre
The vascular surgeon facing clinical ethical dilemmas (the VASCUETHICS Study): 'V'-shaped association between compassionate attitudes and professional seniority
No full textObjective: To evaluate the association between compassionate attitudes and seniority in vascular surgeons facing clinical ethical dilemmas (CED). Subjects and methods: (1) DESIGN: Cross-sectional. (2) SUBJECTS: Vascular surgeons (residents included) from the 28 vascular teaching departments of one European country. (3) MEASUREMENTS: Multidisciplinary team-designed, structured and self-administered questionnaire consisting of five clinical ethical dilemmas, of which four had conflict between compassion towards a 'small' or 'very costly' beneficial action vs. a reasonable but more 'pragmatic' allocation of health resources. Participants stated their degree of agreement with eight answers representing the two attitudes on a continuous scale. (4) STATISTICS: Cluster analysis and logistic regression model adjusted by confounding factors. Results: Two hundred and fifty three vascular surgeons (median age 37 years, 74% male) from the 26 participating teaching vascular departments (public hospitals) completed the questionnaire (88% surgeons/department). Cluster analysis identified two groups of surgeons according to their pattern of answers: Group I (n=63) were mainly compassionate whereas Group II (n=180) were mainly pragmatic. The multivariate analysis disclosed, after adjusting for additional private practice, on call services and career status, a significant V-shaped relationship between the compassionate behaviour and seniority. Surgeons with 8-15 years experience were the least compassionate. Conclusions: The youngest and the most senior vascular surgeons were more prone to favour compassionate attitudes when facing clinical ethical dilemmas. Although both compassionate and pragmatic attitudes may be legitimate ethically, physicians not favouring compassion may be at risk of leaving the patient without an advocate within the health care system