531 research outputs found
Intensity sensors multiplexing using a multiwavelength ring fiber laser with hybrid serial-tree configuration
No full textAssociation between physical activity, physical performance, and inflammatory biomarkers in an elderly population: The InCHIANTI study
No full textBackground. Our aim was to determine the association between physical activity and physical performance, and inflammatory biomarkers in elderly persons. Methods. One thousand four persons aged 65 years or more, participants in a cross-sectional population-based study, were included. Interviewers collected information on self-reported physical activity during the previous year, Moreover. 841 participants performed a 400-meter walking test to assess physical performance. plasma concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers were determined. Results. Compared to sedentary men, men practicing light and moderate-high physical activity had a significantly lower erythrocyte sedimentation rate (-0.33 and -0.40 mm/h, p = .023 and p = .006, respectively), fibrinogen level (-43 and -39 mg/dL p = .001 and p = .004, respectively), and logarithm of C-reactive protein (CRP) (-0.43 and -0.73 mg/L; p = .025 and p < .001, respectively), whereas only those men practicing moderate-high physical activity had a significantly lower uric acid level (-0.57 mg/dL; p = .023), log(interleukin 6) levels (-0.33 pg/mL; p = .014), and log(tumor necrosis factor-alpha) (-0.31 pg/mL; p = .030). In women, those practicing tight and moderate-high physical activity had significantly lower uric acid (-0.45 and -0.34 mg/dL; p = .001 and p = .039, respectively) and log(interleukin 6) levels (-0.18 and -0.30 pg/mL; p = .043 and p = .004, respectively); only those women practicing moderate-high physical activity had significantly lower log(CRP) (-0.31 mg/L; p = .020). In women, when the analysis was adjusted for body mass index. the association between physical activity and CRP was no longer significant. Similar findings were observed when we carried these analyses according to physical performance. Conclusions. Current physical activity practice and performance are associated with inflammatory biomarkers. A significant beneficial association is already observed with light physical activity practice and intermediate performance
Hundreds of variants clustered in genomic loci and biological pathways affect human height
No full textMost common human traits and diseases have a polygenic pattern of inheritance: DNA sequence variants at many genetic loci influence the phenotype. Genome-wide association (GWA) studies have identified more than 600 variants associated with human traits(1), but these typically explain small fractions of phenotypic variation, raising questions about the use of further studies. Here, using 183,727 individuals, we show that hundreds of genetic variants, in at least 180 loci, influence adult height, a highly heritable and classic polygenic trait(2,3). The large number of loci reveals patterns with important implications for genetic studies of common human diseases and traits. First, the 180 loci are not random, but instead are enriched for genes that are connected in biological pathways (P = 0.016) and that underlie skeletal growth defects (P<0.001). Second, the likely causal gene is often located near the most strongly associated variant: in 13 of 21 loci containing a known skeletal growth gene, that gene was closest to the associated variant. Third, at least 19 loci have multiple independently associated variants, suggesting that allelic heterogeneity is a frequent feature of polygenic traits, that comprehensive explorations of already-discovered loci should discover additional variants and that an appreciable fraction of associated loci may have been identified. Fourth, associated variants are enriched for likely functional effects on genes, being over-represented among variants that alter amino-acid structure of proteins and expression levels of nearby genes. Our data explain approximately 10% of the phenotypic variation in height, and we estimate that unidentified common variants of similar effect sizes would increase this figure to approximately 16% of phenotypic variation (approximately 20% of heritable variation). Although additional approaches are needed to dissect the genetic architecture of polygenic human traits fully, our findings indicate that GWA studies can identify large numbers of loci that implicate biologically relevant genes and pathways
UrbaChina Policy briefs now available
No full textWe are pleased to announce that several policy briefs are now available. In these documents, UrbaChina partners present their findings and results related to topics on sustainable urbanisation trends in China, they also formulate several recommendations to accelerate transition toward sustainability. Gipouloux, F., Du, D., NI, P., Daniels, P. W., LI, S., Huang, L., Elosua, M., Goulard, S., Ai, C. (Eds) (2014) Institutional foundations and policies for urbanisation policy brief, UrbaChina P..
Un régime de propriété aux caractéristiques chinoises: droit foncier du sol collectif et urbanisation
No full textIn China, land rights have always been a central concern for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) since it came to power. The system of collective land property rights has undergone multiple changes since the arrival of the CCP to power. During the first few years after the economic opening the liberalisation of the rural land market brought about high rates of economic growth to the Chinese countryside. However, since the end of the 1980, and especially since the 1990 with the ban on the transfer of rural land and the increase of the speed of urbanisation, it has coexisted with an urban land rights system where land has been progressively liberalised. In urban areas there is a thriving market in real estate that has contributed greatly to the robustness of the economy and the welfare of urban residents. This has thus led to the increasingly less peaceful coexistence of two diametrically opposed systems of property: a system of collective ownership with socialist characteristics and a quasi free-market system where land can be transferred, leased, or used as collateral, exploiting its inherent value.Behind the rural land policy of the CCP is the ideal of common prosperity. However, after more than thirty years of rapid economic development, a salient feature of China’s rural areas has been the common poverty of the farmer class as a whole. The economic gap between the rural and the urban has not ceased to increase. The author argues that one of the main causes of this urban-rural gap lies in the dual system of land property rights, which has proved to be flawed, as farmers have been deprived from exploiting the value of their most precious asset: land. This is illustrated through the analysis of the emergence of new phenomena linked to land development, such as minor property rights and urban villages, which show the lack of adaptation of the land property regime to the new socioeconomic circumstances that prevail in China today.In order to test his assertions the author makes an historical analysis of the formation of the dual system of land property rights since the arrival to power of the CCP. Likewise, the author identifies the main flaws of the dual property rights system and put them in relation with the existing rule by laws in China, which serves as its framework. Finally, in order to illustrate his hypothesis the author draws on two study cases carried out in the municipality of Chongqing.Therefore, the author advocates reforming the dual property system, and more specifically, land-use rights concerning rural construction land. The author uses a comparative perspective borrowing from European Union’s property rights systems as a reference, to devise certain aspects that could be used by Chinese law makers as a reference for an eventual reform.En Chine, le droit foncier a toujours été une préoccupation centrale pour le Parti Communiste Chinois (PCC) depuis son arrivée au pouvoir. Le système de droit foncier du sol collectif a été modifié à plusieurs reprises depuis l’arrivée du PCC au pouvoir en 1949. Les zones rurales ont bénéficié d’une haute croissance économique pendant une courte période de libéralisation du marché foncier rural. Mais depuis la fin des années 1980, et en particulier les années 1990 avec l’interdiction des cessions du sol rural et l’accélération de l’urbanisation, ce système a coexisté avec celui du sol urbain où le sol a progressivement été libéré. Dans les zones urbaines, le marché immobilier florissant a grandement contribué à la solidité de l’économie et le bien-être des résidents urbains. Cela a donc mené à une coexistence beaucoup moins pacifique des deux systèmes de propriété diamétralement opposés: un système de propriété du sol collectif avec des caractéristiques socialistes et un système de marché quasiment libre où le sol peut être transféré, mis en location, utilisé comme garantie, et dont la valeur inhérente peut être exploitée. Derrière les politiques du PCC sur le droit de propriété du sol rural se trouve l’idéal de la "prospérité commune". Néanmoins, après plus de trente années de développement économique rapide, une caractéristique essentielle de la Chine rurale a été la pauvreté commune de la classe paysanne dans son ensemble. L’écart économique entre le rural et l’urbain n’a pas cessé d’accroître. Nous soutenons qu’une des principales causes de cet écart urbain-rural repose dans le système dual du droit foncier, qui a prouvé être défectueux puisque les paysans ont été privés de l’exploitation de la valeur de leur actif le plus précieux: le sol. Ceci est illustré à travers l’analyse de l’émergence des phénomènes liés à la promotion immobilière, tel que les logements informels et les villages urbains, qui ont démontré le manque d’adaptation du régime de la propriété foncière aux nouvelles circonstances socioéconomiques prévalant aujourd’hui en Chine. Pour en arriver à ces affirmations, nous réalisons une analyse historique de la formation du système dual des droits de la propriété foncière depuis l’arrivée au pouvoir du PCC. De même, nous identifions les défauts principaux du système de droit de propriété dual et les mettons en relation avec l’"État des lois" chinois dans lequel le droit foncier est mis en place. Enfin, afin d’illustrer notre hypothèse, nous développons deux études de cas menées dans la municipalité de Chongqing. Ainsi, nous défendons la nécessité de réformer le système de propriété dual, et plus spécifiquement, le droit de propriété du sol collectif pour la construction. Cette réforme devrait autoriser les collectivités à exercer pleinement leurs droits sur la propriété. L’auteur se sert de la perspective comparative en empruntant aux systèmes de droits fonciers de l’Union Européenne certains aspects qui pourraient être utilisés par les législateurs chinois comme référence pour une éventuelle réforme
Panenteric capsule endoscopy identifies proximal small bowel disease guiding upstaging and treatment intensification in Crohn's disease: A European multicentre observational cohort study
No full textBackground: Endoscopically defined mucosal healing in Crohn’s disease is associated with improved outcomes. Panenteric capsule endoscopy enables a single non-invasive assessment of small and large bowel mucosal inflammation. Aims and methods: This multicentre observational study of patients with suspected and established Crohn’s disease examined the feasibility, safety and impact on patient outcomes of panenteric capsule endoscopy in routine clinical practice. The potential role in assessment of disease severity and extent by a comparison with existing clinical and biochemical markers is examined. Results: Panenteric capsule endoscopy was performed on 93 patients (71 with established and 22 with suspected Crohn’s disease). A complete examination occurred in 85% (79/93). Two cases (2.8%) of capsule retention occurred in patients with established Crohn’s disease. Panenteric capsule resulted in management change in 38.7% (36/93) patients, including 64.6% (32/48) of those with an established diagnosis whose disease was active, and all three patients with newly diagnosed Crohn’s disease. Montreal classification was upstaged in 33.8% of patients with established Crohn’s disease and mucosal healing was demonstrated in 15.5%. Proximal small bowel disease upstaged disease in 12.7% and predicted escalation of therapy (odds ratio 40.3, 95% confidence interval 3.6–450.2). Raised C-reactive protein and faecal calprotectin were poorly sensitive in detecting active disease (0.48 and 0.59 respectively). Conclusions: Panenteric capsule endoscopy was feasible in routine practice and the ability to detect proximal small bowel disease may allow better estimation of prognosis and guide treatment intensification. Panenteric capsule endoscopy may be a suitable non-invasive endoscopic investigation in determining disease activity and supporting management decisions
Diversidad lingüística y evaluación en centros multilingües
No full textIn a context where linguistic diversity in the classroom is natural, educational assessment raises new challenges that demand the conjunction of different perspectives. The equity in the assessment process requires considering facets related to the psychometric properties of the tests, the development of linguistic competence, or the sociolinguistic context throughthe incorporation of context variables into the predictive models of performance. By analyzing population data from compulsory secondary education schools which offer more than one linguistic educational model in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country (N = 45), this paper examines the responses of 2783 students to a mathematical competence test. The methodological approach is twofold; it includes a psychometric study of equivalence through the estimation of the differential item functioning with regard to the family language and the linguistic educational model, and the estimation of mixed linear models for the prediction of the mathematics competence. The results show: a) the equivalence of the assessment test in relation to the family language and educational model, b) the significant impact of the linguistic context variables on the competence estimation, c) the lack of significance of the linguistic models on performance. It is concluded the importance of conducting studies of differential functioning, and the incorporation of linguistic variables in the prediction of mathematical competence
A Property Rights System with Chinese Characteristics : collective Land Rights and Urbanisation.
No full textEn Chine, le droit foncier a toujours été une préoccupation centrale pour le Parti Communiste Chinois (PCC) depuis son arrivée au pouvoir. Le système de droit foncier du sol collectif a été modifié à plusieurs reprises depuis l’arrivée du PCC au pouvoir en 1949. Les zones rurales ont bénéficié d’une haute croissance économique pendant une courte période de libéralisation du marché foncier rural. Mais depuis la fin des années 1980, et en particulier les années 1990 avec l’interdiction des cessions du sol rural et l’accélération de l’urbanisation, ce système a coexisté avec celui du sol urbain où le sol a progressivement été libéré. Dans les zones urbaines, le marché immobilier florissant a grandement contribué à la solidité de l’économie et le bien-être des résidents urbains. Cela a donc mené à une coexistence beaucoup moins pacifique des deux systèmes de propriété diamétralement opposés: un système de propriété du sol collectif avec des caractéristiques socialistes et un système de marché quasiment libre où le sol peut être transféré, mis en location, utilisé comme garantie, et dont la valeur inhérente peut être exploitée. Derrière les politiques du PCC sur le droit de propriété du sol rural se trouve l’idéal de la "prospérité commune". Néanmoins, après plus de trente années de développement économique rapide, une caractéristique essentielle de la Chine rurale a été la pauvreté commune de la classe paysanne dans son ensemble. L’écart économique entre le rural et l’urbain n’a pas cessé d’accroître. Nous soutenons qu’une des principales causes de cet écart urbain-rural repose dans le système dual du droit foncier, qui a prouvé être défectueux puisque les paysans ont été privés de l’exploitation de la valeur de leur actif le plus précieux: le sol. Ceci est illustré à travers l’analyse de l’émergence des phénomènes liés à la promotion immobilière, tel que les logements informels et les villages urbains, qui ont démontré le manque d’adaptation du régime de la propriété foncière aux nouvelles circonstances socioéconomiques prévalant aujourd’hui en Chine. Pour en arriver à ces affirmations, nous réalisons une analyse historique de la formation du système dual des droits de la propriété foncière depuis l’arrivée au pouvoir du PCC. De même, nous identifions les défauts principaux du système de droit de propriété dual et les mettons en relation avec l’"État des lois" chinois dans lequel le droit foncier est mis en place. Enfin, afin d’illustrer notre hypothèse, nous développons deux études de cas menées dans la municipalité de Chongqing. Ainsi, nous défendons la nécessité de réformer le système de propriété dual, et plus spécifiquement, le droit de propriété du sol collectif pour la construction. Cette réforme devrait autoriser les collectivités à exercer pleinement leurs droits sur la propriété. L’auteur se sert de la perspective comparative en empruntant aux systèmes de droits fonciers de l’Union Européenne certains aspects qui pourraient être utilisés par les législateurs chinois comme référence pour une éventuelle réforme.In China, land rights have always been a central concern for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) since it came to power. The system of collective land property rights has undergone multiple changes since the arrival of the CCP to power. During the first few years after the economic opening the liberalisation of the rural land market brought about high rates of economic growth to the Chinese countryside. However, since the end of the 1980, and especially since the 1990 with the ban on the transfer of rural land and the increase of the speed of urbanisation, it has coexisted with an urban land rights system where land has been progressively liberalised. In urban areas there is a thriving market in real estate that has contributed greatly to the robustness of the economy and the welfare of urban residents. This has thus led to the increasingly less peaceful coexistence of two diametrically opposed systems of property: a system of collective ownership with socialist characteristics and a quasi free-market system where land can be transferred, leased, or used as collateral, exploiting its inherent value.Behind the rural land policy of the CCP is the ideal of common prosperity. However, after more than thirty years of rapid economic development, a salient feature of China’s rural areas has been the common poverty of the farmer class as a whole. The economic gap between the rural and the urban has not ceased to increase. The author argues that one of the main causes of this urban-rural gap lies in the dual system of land property rights, which has proved to be flawed, as farmers have been deprived from exploiting the value of their most precious asset: land. This is illustrated through the analysis of the emergence of new phenomena linked to land development, such as minor property rights and urban villages, which show the lack of adaptation of the land property regime to the new socioeconomic circumstances that prevail in China today.In order to test his assertions the author makes an historical analysis of the formation of the dual system of land property rights since the arrival to power of the CCP. Likewise, the author identifies the main flaws of the dual property rights system and put them in relation with the existing rule by laws in China, which serves as its framework. Finally, in order to illustrate his hypothesis the author draws on two study cases carried out in the municipality of Chongqing.Therefore, the author advocates reforming the dual property system, and more specifically, land-use rights concerning rural construction land. The author uses a comparative perspective borrowing from European Union’s property rights systems as a reference, to devise certain aspects that could be used by Chinese law makers as a reference for an eventual reform
Ikasleen arrazoibide kognitiboa aztertzeko euskarazko proba. Ezaugarriak eta sexuaren araberako desberdintasunak
No full textA pesar de que en Europa los tests para la evaluación de las capacidades cognitivas son los más utilizados, no existe hasta el momento una batería de pruebas de razonamiento en euskera con propiedades psicométricas garantizadas y destinada a cubrir un amplio rango de edad. Con la intención de cubrir esa grave carencia esta investigación tiene tres objetivos: a) adaptar al euskera la Batería de Pruebas de Razonamiento (BPR); b) analizar sus propiedades psicométricas, y c) estudiar las posibles diferencias en función del sexo. La BPR se construye sobre el modelo teórico de la organización jerárquica de las capacidades cognitivas, y como tal, la batería permite evaluar la capacidad cognitiva general así como factores de razonamiento específicos: razonamiento abstracto, razonamiento numérico, razonamiento verbal, razonamiento espacial y razonamiento mecánico. La muestra de estudio en esta investigación está formada por 1923 estudiantes con edades comprendidas entre los 9 y los 22 años. Los resultados muestran que la BPR presenta propiedades psicométricas adecuadas, tanto en lo que respecta a la fiabilidad de las puntuaciones como a su estructura interna. Se han observado diferencias relacionadas con el género en las pruebas de razonamiento verbal y razonamiento numérico; aunque en ambos casos el tamaño del efecto ha sido pequeño. Las diferencias mayores están relacionadas con al razonamiento mecánico.</jats:p
Plasma concentrations of carotenoids and vitamin C are better correlated with dietary intake in normal weight than overweight and obese elderly subjects.
No full textCarotenoid and vitamin C intakes, assessed by FFQ, have been positively associated with plasma concentrations in different populations. However, the influence of BMI on these associations has not been explored in detail. We explored in a cross-sectional study the relation between dietary carotenoid and vitamin C intakes, using a 135-item FFQ, with their plasma concentrations by BMI categories in 252 men and 293 women, 65 years and older. For men and women combined, significant (P < 0.05) Pearson correlations were observed between energy-adjusted dietary intakes and plasma concentrations (carotenoids adjusted for cholesterol) for: alpha-carotene 0.21, beta-carotene 0.19, lycopene 0.18, beta-cryptoxanthin 0.20 and vitamin C 0.36. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that the intake of carotenoids and vitamin C were significant predictors of their respective plasma concentration (P<0.01), and that BMI was inversely associated with plasma concentration of carotenoids (P< or =0.01) but not with plasma vitamin C. In addition, we observed significant interactions between BMI and the intakes of alpha-carotene and lutein + zeaxanthin, and to a lower extent beta-carotene, suggesting that these intakes in subjects with high BMI were not good predictors of their plasma concentration. The present data suggest that plasma carotenoids and vitamin C may be good markers of dietary intake in elderly subjects, but not so for alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and lutein + zeaxanthin in obese subjects
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