43569 research outputs found
Sort by
Temperature impacts on mortality at different spatial and temporal scales
No full textThis PhD thesis investigates the relationship between temperature and mortality at different spatial and temporal scales, addressing a crucial issue in the context of rising temperatures due to anthropogenic climate change. The thesis is structured around three research areas that bring innovation to the field of environmental epidemiology. First, it introduces spatial Bayesian distributed lag non-linear models (SB-DLNMs), a novel statistical approach for estimating lagged non-linear temperature-mortality associations in small areas. Second, it uses epidemiological models to transform weather forecasts, extending up to two weeks, into temperature-related impacts. Third, it transforms climate change projections up to the end of the century, also using these epidemiological models. The findings from this thesis have significant implications for decision-making, prevention strategies, and advancements in environmental epidemiology. SB-DLNMs demonstrate the ability to estimate reliable geographically varying risks in small areas, and the new framework shows potential beyond small-area analysis. By integrating weather and climate data across different temporal scales, the research supports the development of more effective heat-cold-health early warning systems, and provides insights into the health impacts under different climate change scenarios.Aquesta tesi doctoral investiga la relació entre la temperatura i la mortalitat a diferents escales espacials i temporals, abordant un tema crucial en el context de l’augment de les temperatures degut al canvi climàtic antropogènic. La tesi està estructurada al voltant de tres àrees d’investigació que aporten innovació al camp de l’epidemiologia ambiental. En primer lloc, introdueix els models espacials bayesians no lineals de retard distribuït (SB-DLNM, de l’anglès spatial Bayesian distributed lag non-linear models), un nou enfocament estadístic per estimar les associacions retardades no lineals entre temperatura i mortalitat en àrees menudes. En segon lloc, utilitza models epidemiològics per transformar les prediccions meteorològiques, que s’estenen fins a dues setmanes, en impactes relacionats amb la temperatura. En tercer lloc, transforma projeccions de canvi climàtic fins a final de segle, també utilitzant aquests models epidemiològics. Els resultats d’aquesta tesi tenen implicacions significatives per a la presa de decisions, les estratègies de prevenció i els avanços en l’epidemiologia ambiental. Els SB-DLNMs demostren la capacitat d’estimar riscos fiables que varien geogràficament en àrees menudes, i el nou marc mostra potencial per a estudis més enllà de l’anàlisi en àrees menudes. Analitzant dades meteorològiques i climàtiques a diferents escales temporals, la investigació dona suport al desenvolupament de sistemes d’alerta primerenca més efectius enfocats als impactes de la calor i el fred en la salut, i proporciona informació sobre els impactes en la salut sota diferents escenaris de canvi climàtic.Programa de Doctorat en Biomedicin
Differences in cerebral small vessel disease magnetic resonance imaging depending on cardiovascular risk factors: a retrospective cross-sectional study
No full textBackground: Vascular risk factors (VRFs) are known to influence cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) burden and progression. However, their specific impact on the presence and distribution of each cSVD imaging marker (white matter hyperintensity [WMH], perivascular spaces [PVSs], lacunes, and cerebral microbleeds [CMBs]) and their spatial distribution remains unclear. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 93 patients with lacunar stroke with a standardized investigational magnetic resonance imaging protocol using a 3T scanner. WMH and PVSs were segmented semi-automatically, and lacunes and CMBs were manually segmented. We assessed the univariable associations of four common VRFs (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and smoking) with the load of each cSVD marker. Then, we assessed the independent associations of these VRFs in multivariable regression models adjusted for age and sex. Spatial lesion patterns were explored with regional volumetric comparisons using Pearson’s coefficient analysis, which was adjusted for multiple comparisons, and by visually examining heatmap lesion distributions. Results: Hypertension was the VRF that exhibited stronger associations with the cSVD markers in the univariable analysis. In the multivariable analysis, only lacunes (p = 0.009) and PVSs in the basal ganglia (p = 0.014) and white matter (p = 0.016) were still associated with hypertension. In the regional analysis, hypertension showed a higher WMH load in deep structures and white matter, particularly in the posterior periventricular regions. In patients with hyperlipidemia, WMH was preferentially found in hippocampal regions. Conclusions: Hypertension was confirmed to be the VRF with the most impact on cSVD load, especially for lacunes and PVSs, while the lesion topography was variable for each VRF. These findings shed light on the complexity of cSVD expression in relation to factors detrimental to vascular health
Feminitat hipervisible a Tik Tok: una anàlisi del contingut de tiktokers espanyoles de lifestyle i dels imaginaris, discursos i pràctiques de noies d'entre 14 i 15 anys
No full textAquesta tesi s’estructura a partir d’un doble objectiu que aborda la qüestió de la identitat femenina hipervisible en el context de les xarxes socials: per una banda, s’exploren els valors, atributs i temes principals que defineixen la identitat de gènere de les tiktokers femenines espanyoles més populars a TikTok, concretament de la Lola Lolita, la Mónica Moran i la Lucía Bellido. Al mateix temps, s’analitzen els discursos, creences i imaginaris que noies joves elaboren al voltant d’aquestes figures, i com això dialoga amb les seves pràctiques a l’hora d’autorepresentar-se a les xarxes socials. Per assolir aquests objectius, s’ha dut a terme una anàlisi qualitativa del contingut de les tiktokers, així com grups de discussió, entrevistes i un taller audiovisual amb les joves. Els resultats mostren com les tiktokers encarnen la intensificació d’una mena de feminitat estereotipada que genera reaccions ambivalents entre les adolescents. Per un costat, les tiktokers representen l’aspiració d’accedir als privilegis que comporta la visibilitat a les xarxes socials, però, a la vegada, són la personificació de la cara fosca a la qual s’exposen les usuàries femenines quan ocupen l’espai públic. Així, les joves identifiquen la visibilitat online com un estatus vulnerable i hostil per a les usuàries femenines, i actuen en conseqüència, duent a terme estratègies d’autoprotecció que les condueixen a la invisibilitatThis thesis is structured around a double objective that addresses the issue of hypervisible feminine identity in the social media environment: on the one hand, it explores the main values, attributes and themes that define the gender identity of the most popular Spanish influencers on TikTok, specifically Lola Lolita, Monica Moran and Lucia Bellido. At the same time, this research analyses the discourses, beliefs and imaginaries that young girls elaborate around these social media stars, and how these discursive practices are transferred to their everyday practices of representation in the online environment. To fulfil these aims, a qualitative analysis of tiktokers’ content was conducted, together with focus groups, in-depth interviews and an audiovisual workshop with young girls. The results show how tiktokers embody the intensification of a type of stereotypical femininity that gives rise to ambivalent reactions among teenagers. On the one hand, tiktokers represent the aspiration to access the privileges that come with hypervisibility on social media but, at the same time, they are the personification of the dangers and hostilities to which feminine users are exposed when they occupy public space. Thus, young girls perceive online visibility as a vulnerable status for themselves, and act accordingly, using self-protection strategies that lead them to invisibility.Programa de Doctorat en Comunicaci
The sacrificed lives of the caring class: crises of social reproduction, unequal Europe, and modern forms of slavery
No full textThere have been plenty of interpretations regarding the meaning and function of sacrifice within the discipline of anthropology. Going beyond sacrifice as a ritual and exploring a wide range of its manifestations and functions as contemporary cultural practices, discourses, and underlying logics, we reveal its role in the social organization of social care provision within the framework of neoliberal capitalism. Our analysis supports the theory that sacrifice can have the function of social control, and of preserving hierarchies. The forgoing of a minority of migrant domestic workers to provide intensive social care becomes the (no) solution to the ongoing care crisis. It thus becomes the way to hide structural violence and dilute responsibilities for society, which benefits from the servile conditions under which the labour is performed. The ethnographic material (observations, informal conversations, and interviews) that is part of our analysis originated from fieldwork in Castellón de la Plana, Spain (2018/19). This analysis, however, goes beyond that case, being valid for reflecting on the position of care for elderly and dependent people in our societies, care in general, the current global trend in social care provision, and the new social reproduction regime in which sacrificial logics play an increasing role.This publication received support from the Secretariat for Universities and Research of the Ministry of Business and Knowledge of the Government of Catalonia and the European Social Fund (individual grant number: 2020 FI-B2 00033). It was also developed as part of the following research projects: (a) CAREMODEL, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2020-114887RB-C31) (Principal Investigators: Montserrat Soronellas and Yolanda Bodoque); (b) CUMADE, funded by the Fondo Supera COVID-19, Santander Universidades-Centro Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Crue Universidades Españolas (Principal Investigator: Dolors Comas-d'Argemir); and (c) GRES, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) and the European Union Next Generation/PRTR programme (CNS2022-136115) (Principal Investigator: Christos Zografos)
New interventionism: the re-politicisation of electricity governance with renewable energy policies in the UK, Mexico and Morocco
No full textWhile the 1990s saw the retreat of governments from economic governance to the benefit of the market and independent regulatory agencies, we now observe a comeback of governments’ interventions in the economy. This recent trend, which we call new interventionism, has so far hardly been addressed by public policy and regulatory governance scholars. This article identifies three major instruments serving new interventionism in previously liberalised sectors: re-nationalisation (vs. privatisation), regulatory expansion (vs. liberalisation) and regulatory governmentalisation (vs. delegation). Their relevance is confirmed by longitudinal analyses of electricity policies in three highly contrasted cases – the UK, Mexico and Morocco. This article also relates new interventionism to the re-politicisation of economic governance and discusses its implications. It contributes to the literature on the role of the state in the economy, on the politicisation of economic governance and on the transformation of the regulatory state.Jose Maria Valenzuela research work was supported by ClimateWorks Foundation under the program GGR: Governance and Standards for Carbon Neutrality (Gascon) (Grant 19-1501). Emmanuelle Mathieu’s work was supported by the European Commission under the Marie S. Curie funding programme (H2020-MSCA-IF-2016 programme, Grant 748135)
Synergistic efficacy of ceftazidime/avibactam and aztreonam against carbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa: insights from the hollow-fiber infection model
No full textBackground: Combination therapy is an attractive therapeutic option for extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. Existing data support the combination of aztreonam and ceftazidime/avibactam (CZA) against class serine-β-lactamase (SBL)- and metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) - producing Enterobacterales. However, data about that combination against SBL- and MBL-producing P. aeruginosa are scarce. The objective of the study was to assess the in vitro activity of CZA and aztreonam alone and in combination against SBL- and MBL-producing XDR P. aeruginosa isolates. Methods: The combination was analyzed by means of the hollow-fiber infection model in three selected carbapenemase-producing P. aeruginosa isolates that were representative of the three most common XDRP. aeruginosa high-risk clones (ST175, ST111, ST235) responsible for global nosocomial infection outbreaks. Results: The three isolates were nonsusceptible to CZA and nonsusceptible to aztreonam. In the dynamic hollow-fiber infection model, the combination of CZA plus aztreonam exerts a bactericidal effect on the isolates, regardless of their resistance mechanism and demonstrates synergistic interactions against three isolates, achieving a bacterial reduction of 5.07 log10 CFU/ml, 5.2 log10 CFU/ml and 4 log10 CFU/ml, respectively. Conclusion: The combination of CZA and aztreonam significantly enhanced the in vitro efficacy against XDR P. aeruginosa isolates compared to each monotherapy. This improvement suggests that the combination could serve as a feasible treatment alternative for infections caused by carbapenemase-producing XDR P. aeruginosa, especially in scenarios where no other treatment options are available
Coping behaviors to reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms: A prospective repeated assessment study
No full textIntroduction: Health institutions provide general recommendations to cope with global crises such as pandemics or geopolitical tensions. However, these recommendations are mainly based on cross-sectional evidence. The preregistered Repeated Assessment of Behaviors and Symptoms in the Population (RABSYPO) study sought to establish prospective longitudinal evidence from a cohort with a demographic distribution similar to that of the Spanish population to provide evidence for developing solid universal recommendations to reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms during times of uncertainty. Material and methods: We first recruited via social networks a pool of Spanish individuals willing to participate and then randomly selected some within each stratum of age×gender×region×urbanicity to conduct a one-year-long bi-weekly online follow-up about the frequency of ten simple potential coping behaviors as well as anxiety (GAD-7) and depressive symptoms (PHQ-9). Mixed-effects autoregressive moving average models were used to analyze the relationship between past behaviors' frequency and subsequent symptom changes across the twenty-seven time points. Results: Among the 1049 who started the follow-up, 942 completed it and were included in the analyses. Avoiding excessive exposure to distressing news and maintaining a healthy/balanced diet, followed by spending time outdoors and physical exercise, were the coping behaviors most strongly associated with short and long-term reductions of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Engaging in relaxing activities and drinking water to hydrate were only associated with short-term symptom reductions. Socializing was associated with symptom reductions in the long term. Conclusions: This study provides compelling prospective evidence that adopting a set of simple coping behaviors is associated with small but significant reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms during times of uncertainty. It also includes a layman's summary of this evidence to help develop general recommendations that serve as universal tools for enhancing mental health and well-being
Whole genome sequencing analysis of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from health care-associated bacteremia of urinary origin in Spain: Findings from the multicenter ITUBRAS-2 cohort study
No full textBackground: The objective of this study was to assess the microbiological and clinical features of Klebsiella pneumoniae health care-associated bacteremia of urinary origin (HCA-BUO) in Spain, with a focus on third-generation cephalosporin-(3GCR-Kp) and carbapenem-resistant K pneumoniae (CR-Kp) isolates. Methods: A total of 96 (21.4%, 96/449) K pneumoniae blood isolates were prospectively collected from patients with HCA-BUO (n = 443) from 12 tertiary care hospitals in Spain (2017-2019). Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined (standard broth microdilution), and extended-spectrum β-lactamase, AmpC, and carbapenemase production was screened. A subset of 55 K pneumoniae isolates was analyzed by whole genome sequencing (Illumina) to determine population structure, resistome, and virulome. Additionally, 13 of these isolates were subjected to long-read sequencing (Nanopore) for plasmid characterization. Patients' baseline and clinical characteristics were reviewed. Results: 3GCR-Kp prevalence was 43.8% (42/96), mostly associated with extended-spectrum β-lactamase production (34/96, 35.4%; mainly CTX-M-15, 32/34, 94.1%) and the dissemination of sequence type (ST)-307 (15/34, 44.1%) and other globally spread multidrug-resistant high-risk clones. CR-Kp prevalence was 9.4% (9/96); all isolates belonged to different STs and were mostly associated with carbapenemase production (6/9, 66.7%; mainly OXA-48-like, n = 3). Additionally, 3GCR-Kp and CR-Kp isolates showed higher content of other antibiotic resistance genes. Altogether, these episodes were associated with prior antibiotic use and receipt of inadequate empirical treatment. Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of 3GCR and CR-Kp causing HCA-BUO in Spain, mainly driven by the dissemination of ST307/CTX-M-15 and other globally spread multidrug-resistant high-risk clones, challenging the selection of empirical and targeted treatments for these infections
Deterministic and randomized approaches to constraint satisfaction problems
No full textTutor: Victor DalmauTreball de fi de grau en Enginyeria Matemàtica en Ciència de DadesThis thesis explores algorithmic approaches to solving Constraint Satisfaction Problems (CSPs), with a particular focus on randomized algorithms. The study targets CSP instances that combine three specific classes of constraints: Value Restriction Constraints, 2-Fan Constraints, and Binary Permutation Constraints. These form one of the largest known tractable fragments of the general binary CSP landscape.
To build a solid foundation, the thesis first introduces these constraint families and develops deterministic algorithms for each, gaining deeper insights into their structural properties. The core contribution is the design and analysis of a general randomized algorithm that solves combined instances of these constraints with polynomial expected runtime. Inspired by techniques such as Papadimitriouasˆ random walk for 2-SAT, this approach demonstrates how randomization can effectively find a solution for such CSPs. The results align with and extend prior theoretical work on tractable CSP classes, providing an algorithmic solution for this important subclass of problems.Aquesta tesi explora algoritmes per a la resolucio de Problemes de Satisfacció de Restriccions (CSP), amb un emfasi particular en els algoritmes randomitzats. L’estudi es centra en instancies de CSP que combinen tres classes especıfiques de restriccions: restriccions de valor (Value Restriction Constraints), restriccions 2-Fan i restriccions de permutacio binaria (Binary Permutation Constraints). Aquestes constitueixen un dels fragments tractables mes coneguts dins del panorama general dels CSP binaris. Per establir una base solida, la tesi introdueix primer aquestes famílies de restriccions i desenvolupa algoritmes deterministes per a cadascuna, aprofundint en la comprensio de les seves propietats estructurals. La contribució principal consisteix en el disseny i l’analisi d’un algoritme randomitzat general que resol instancies combinades d’aquestes restriccions amb un temps esperat d’execució polinomic. Inspirat en tècniques com l’algoritme de Papadimitriou per al problema 2-SAT, aquest algoritme demostra com l’aleatoritzacio pot trobar solucions de ́manera efectiva per a aquest tipus de CSP. Els resultats s’alineen amb els treballs teorics previs sobre classes tractables de CSP, i aporten una solucio algorítmica per a aquest important subconjunt de problemes
Trade sanctions against Russia: stylized facts
No full textUsing a novel comprehensive dataset on sanctions imposed on the exports to Russia after 2022, we document four stylized facts. First, these sanctions covered 33 percent of Russia's pre-2022 imports in value. Second, though most of the sanctions were concentrated in a few high-tech product categories, at least as much import within these categories remained unsanctioned. Third, substantial variation exists in the specific sets of banned products across countries despite coordinating efforts. Fourth, most sanctioning countries have already prohibited most of their pre-2022 exports to Russia, limiting their future ability to impose additional trade sanctions