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Concrete durability performance can be assessed by a number of parameters, among which permeability properties are key. In this experimental work, the permeability to water and the diffusion of chlorides in Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) are studied. To this end, three types of concrete were made: two Ultra High Performance (one with fibers and one without fibers) and a Conventional Concrete (CC) of w/c ratio equal to 0.5. The compressive strength of Ultra High Performance Concretes was 130 MPa, and that of conventional concrete was 50 MPa. All of them were cured at a temperature of 20°C and RH greater than 95% until the age of 28 days. In the case of UHPCs with fibers, some of the specimens were not placed in the curing chamber but were allowed to air dry in a laboratory environment in order to study the influence of curing on this type of concrete. The results show that UHPCs have remarkably lower water permeability than CC, with the water absorption and water porosity being in the order of 8 times lower, the water absorption by capillarity being in the order of 30 times lower, and the non-steady-state chloride migration coefficient more than 100 times inferior. The values recorded of absorption and capillarity in UHPCs with and without fibers were very similar. However, the permeability to chlorides was somewhat higher in concretes with steel fibres. With regard to the influence of curing, in air-dried UHPCs there was a significant increase in permeability to both water and chlorides. Despite this, the chloride migration coefficient registered remained very close to the values proposed by some recommendations for very high durability concrete.

[EN] Within the scope of the Erasmus+ project "Essence" a new approach for teaching the relevance of materials into sustainable cities was developed. It is difficult for students to assess the impact of materials selection into sustainability and during the project BIM models for a city area were developed and parameterized for assessing the impact of materials onto relevant sustainability indexes under given selected conditions., This work was supported by Erasmus+ KA2 strategic partnerships initiative (Grant number 2014-1- NL01-KA203-001292).

[ES] Se describe un proyecto experimental en neuroantropología que combina el trabajo de campo etnográfico con la Resonancia Magnético funcional (RMf) a un grupo de 10 ecuatorianos (grupo experimental α) y a 10 individuos españoles (grupo control β). El objetivo es investigar las relaciones entre los contextos socioculturales de producción de sentido y significado –significación– que son el fundamento de la identidad, y los procesos neurobiológicos subyacentes, para entender mejor la interrelación cerebro cultura. El artículo explica primero la relación entre el sustrato neuronal (cerebro) y el entorno sociocultural (cultura) en el proceso de significación considerando el contexto de producción y la intencionalidad; después detalla los pasos seguidos explicando los retos y obstáculos de orden metodológico; y, finalmente, se presentan indicios que sugieren nuevas líneas de investigación. La propuesta subraya el valor de técnicas cualitativas como la observación participante, la entrevista individual en profundidad y las estructuradas en grupo, en combinación con la estadística de frecuencias, los cuestionarios, la potencia analítica de los programas de análisis de datos cualitativos asistido por ordenador (CAQDAS), los test neuropsicológicos y las neuroimágenes. Los resultados provisionales indican que se producen activaciones cerebrales distintivas en los grupos experimental y de control dependiendo del contenido de los estímulos visuales presentados., [EN] The article describes a neuroanthropological experiment that combines ethnographic fieldwork along with functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) among 10 Ecuadorian (experimental group α) and 10 Spanish (control group β) individuals. The objective of the research is to study the relationship between the sociocultural contexts of sense and meaning production, as the base of identity, and the underlying neurobiological processes, in order to understand better the interrelation brainculture. First, the article approaches the relationships between the neural basis (brain) and the sociocultural environment (culture) during the process of meaning production, while considering the role of the context of production and intentionality. Then it details the methodological phases and steps, and explains the challenges faced. Finally, it presents the provisional results that suggest new research lines in the field. The methodology highlights the value of qualitative techniques such as participant observation, in-depth individual interviews and focus group, combined with statistics, questionnaires, the analytical strength of computer assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS), neuropsychological tests and neuroimaging. The provisional results hint at different neural activations between the groups depending on the content of the stimuli displayed., El proyecto de investigación ha sido financiado mediante un convenio de colaboración Universitas Miguel Hernández-Bancaixa en 2011.

Objetivo: Se presenta un síndrome mascarada descrito recientemente en los pacientes sometidos a queratomileusis in situ asistida por láser excimer (LASIK). Si no se diagnostica a tiempo o si no recibe el correcto tratamiento, puede conducir a una pérdida visual severa. Métodos: Se exponen los casos clínicos de diez pacientes intervenidos de LASIK miópico sin incidencias, y que en el postoperatorio precoz presentaron un haze granular en la interfase corneal de ambos ojos. Algunos inicialmente fueron tratados como queratitis lamelares difusas con corticoides tópicos intensivos. La turbidez de la interfase en lugar de mejorar, se mantuvo o empeoró, desarrollando incluso edema epitelial. Resultados: La tonometría condujo al diagnóstico de hipertensión ocular inducida por los esteroides. La clínica se resolvió completamente con tratamiento médico hipotensor tópico y suprimiendo los corticoides. Conclusión: Esta presentación atípica de una hipertensión ocular puede producirse tras un LASIK reciente. La inexactitud en las técnicas tonométricas tras esta cirugía y la similitud del cuadro con la queratitis lamelar difusa deben hacernos mantener un alto índice de sospecha clínica. Estos casos enfatizan la importancia de la subestimación de la PIO tras el LASIK miópico. Objective: We present a masquerade syndrome recently described following uneventful laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). If misdiagnosed or left unattended, this condition can lead to severe visual loss. Methods: Findings concerning ten patients who underwent uneventful myopic LASIK, but who presented with a granular haze in the interface in the early postoperative period, are described. Initially, some of the patients were treated for diffuse lamellar keratitis with an intensive course of topical steroids, but, rather than improving, the haziness of the interface worsened or remained the same, and was even accompanied by the development of epithelial edema. Results: Tonometry led to the diagnosis of ocular hypertension induced by the steroid therapy. The clinical picture resolved completely with topical hypotensive treatment and with the cessation of steroid treatment. Conclusion: In the early postoperative period following LASIK an atypical presentation of ocular hypertension can occasionally be observed. A high index of suspicion of this diagnosis must be maintained due to the inaccuracy of tonometry after LASIK and the similarity of this clinical picture with diffuse lamellar keratitis. These cases emphasize the importance of taking into account underestimation of the intraocular pressure after myopic LASIK.

The ileoinguinal-ileohypogastric block (IHB) improves pain control in inguinal hernioplasty.To determine the efficacy of the IHB on the treatment of postoperative pain in inguinal herniorrhaphy, and to compare the effect of its use before and after incision for diminishing pain and postponing the first dose of analgesia.Sixty-eight patients scheduled for inguinal herniorrhaphy with mesh were enrolled and distributed randomly in 4 groups as follows: 1) IHB before incision using 0.25 ml/kg bupivacaine 0.5% with no vasoconstrictor; 2) IHB after incision with the same dose of bupivacaine; 3) IHB before incision with 0.25 ml/kg of serum; and 4) IHB after incision with 0.25 ml/kg of serum. Pain was evaluated on visual analog scales employing facial expressions and verbal description, a patient questionnaire and time elapsing between surgery and the first dose of analgesia. The evaluations were performed in the postoperative recovery unit and on the ward 8 and 24 hours after surgery.The total overall score for postoperative pain was lower in the bupivacaine group than in the placebo group (9.2 +/- 4.4 and 1.5 +/- 3.9, respectively; p = 0.026). The first dose of analgesia was given to those who received placebo between the second and third hour after surgery, whereas it was given between the fourth and fifth hour to the bupivacaine group. No significant differences were found between infiltration before and after incision.IHB decreases pain, delaying the need for a first dose of analgesic and improving patient comfort. Its use is therefore recommended for relief of postoperative pain.