Comparative study of two laparoscopic instrument tracker designs for motion analysis and image-guided surgery: a technical evaluation

Laparoscopic instrument tracking systems are a key element in image-guided interventions, which requires high accuracy to be used in a real surgical scenario. In addition, these systems are a suitable option for objective assessment of laparoscopic technical skills based on instrument motion analysis. This study presents a new approach that improves the accuracy of a previously presented system, which applies an optical pose tracking system to laparoscopic practice. A design enhancement of the artificial markers placed on the laparoscopic instrument as well as an improvement of the calibration process are presented as a means to achieve more accurate results. A technical evaluation has been performed in order to compare the accuracy between the previous design and the new approach. Results show a remarkable improvement in the fluctuation error throughout the measurement platform. Moreover, the accumulated distance error and the inclination error have been improved. The tilt range covered by the system is the same for both approaches, from 90º to 7.5º. The relative position error is better for the new approach mainly at close distances to the camera system

AMELIE: Authoring Multimedia-Enhanced Learning Interactive Environment for e-Health Contents

This paper presents the AMELIE Authoring Tool for e-health applications. AMELIE provides the means for creating video-based contents with a focus on e-learning and telerehabilitation processes. The main core of AMELIE lies in the efficient exploitation of raw multimedia resources, which may be already available at clinical centers or recorded ad hoc for learning purposes by health professionals. Three real use cases scenarios involving different target users are presented: (1) cognitive skills? training of surgeons in minimally invasive surgery (medical professionals), (2) training of informal carers for elderly home assistance and (3) cognitive rehabilitation of patients with acquired brain injury. Preliminary validation in the field of surgery hints at the potential of AMELIE; and its versatility in different medical applications is patent from the use cases described. Regardless, new validation studies are planned in the three main application areas identified in this work.

Determining the effectiveness of three software evaluation techniques through informal aggregation

An accepted fact in software engineering is that software must undergo verification and validation process during development to ascertain and improve its quality level. But there are too many techniques than a single developer could master, yet, it is impossible to be certain that software is free of defects. So, it is crucial for developers to be able to choose from available evaluation techniques, the one most suitable and likely to yield optimum quality results for different products. Though, some knowledge is available on the strengths and weaknesses of the available software quality assurance techniques but not much is known yet on the relationship between different techniques and contextual behavior of the techniques. Objective: This research investigates the effectiveness of two testing techniques ? equivalence class partitioning and decision coverage and one review technique ? code review by abstraction, in terms of their fault detection capability. This will be used to strengthen the practical knowledge available on these techniques.

AALUMO: a user model ontology for ambient assisted living services supported in next-generation networks

Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) services are emerging as context-awareness solutions to support elderly people?s autonomy. The context-aware paradigm makes applications more user-adaptive. In this way, context and user models expressed in ontologies are employed by applications to describe user and environment characteristics. The rapid advance of technology allows creating context server to relieve applications of context reasoning techniques. Specifically, the Next Generation Networks (NGN) provides by means of the presence service a framework to manage the current user's state as well as the user's profile information extracted from Internet and mobile context. This paper propose a user modeling ontology for AAL services which can be deployed in a NGN environment with the aim at adapting their functionalities to the elderly's context information and state.

QuantiDOPA: A Quantification Software for Dopaminergic Neurotransmission SPECT

Quantification of neurotransmission Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) studies of the dopaminergic system can be used to track, stage and facilitate early diagnosis of the disease. The aim of this study was to implement QuantiDOPA, a semi-automatic quantification software of application in clinical routine to reconstruct and quantify neurotransmission SPECT studies using radioligands which bind the dopamine transporter (DAT). To this end, a workflow oriented framework for the biomedical imaging (GIMIAS) was employed. QuantiDOPA allows the user to perform a semiautomatic quantification of striatal uptake by following three stages: reconstruction, normalization and quantification. QuantiDOPA is a useful tool for semi-automatic quantification inDAT SPECT imaging and it has revealed simple and flexible

Implementación de una herramienta de productividad para el desarrollo y despliegue de aplicaciones

En la actualidad se está viviendo el auge del Cloud Computing (Computación en la Nube) y cada vez son más las empresas importantes en el sector de las Tecnologías de la Información que apuestan con fuerza por estos servicios. Por un lado, algunas ofrecen servicios, como Amazon y su sistema IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) Amazon Web Services (AWS); por otro, algunas los utilizan, como ocurre en el caso de este proyecto, en el que Telefonica I+D hace uso de los servicios proporcionados por AWS para sus proyectos. Debido a este crecimiento en el uso de las aplicaciones distribuidas es importante tener en cuenta el papel que desempeñan los desarrolladores y administradores de sistemas que han de trabajar y mantener todas las máquinas remotas de uno o varios proyectos desde una única máquina local. El ayudar a realizar estas tareas de la forma más cómoda y automática posible es el objetivo principal de este proyecto. En concreto, el objetivo de este proyecto es el diseño y la implementación de una solución software que ayude a la productividad en el desarrollo y despliegue de aplicaciones en un conjunto de máquinas remotas desde una única máquina local, teniendo como base una prueba de concepto realizada anteriormente que prueba las funcionalidades más básicas de las librerías utilizadas para el desarrollo de la herramienta. A lo largo de este proyecto se han estudiado las diferentes alternativas que se encuentran en el mercado que ofrecen al menos parte de la soluci6n a los problemas abordados, pese a que los requisitos de la empresa indicaban que la herramienta debía implementarse de forma completa. Se estudió a fondo después la prueba de concepto de la que se partía para, con los conocimientos adquiridos sobre el tema, mejorarla cumpliendo los objetivos marcados. Tras el desarrollo y la implementaci6n completa de la herramienta se proponen posibles caminos a seguir en el futuro. ---ABSTRACT---Nowadays we are experiencing the rise of Cloud Computing and every day more and more important IT companies are betting hard for this kind of services. On one hand, some of these companies offer services such as Amazon IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) system Amazon Web Services (AWS); on the other hand, some of them use these services, as in the case of this project, in which Telefonica I+D uses the services provided by AWS in their projects. Due this growth in the use of distributed applications it is important to consider the developers and system administrators' roles, who have to work and do the maintenance of all the remote machines from one or several projects from a single local machine. The main goal of this project is to help with these tasks making them as comfortable and automatically as possible. Specifically, the goal of this project is the design and implementation of a software solution that helps to achieve a better productivity in the development of applications on a set of remote machines from a single local machine, based on a proof of concept developed before, in which the basic functionality of the libraries used in this tool were tested. Throughout this project the different alternatives on the market that offer at least part of the solution to the problem addressed have been studied, although according to the requirements of the company, the tool should be implemented from scratch. After that, the basic proof of concept was thoroughly studied and improved with the knowledge acquired on the subject, fulfilling the marked goals. Once the development and full implementation of the tool is done, some ways of improvement for the future are suggested.

Monitorización y optimización de terapias de tele-neurorrehabilitación cognitiva

El Daño Cerebral Adquirido (DCA) se define como una lesión cerebral que ocurre después del nacimiento y que no guarda relación con defectos congénitos o enfermedades degenerativas. En el cerebro, se llevan a cabo las funciones mentales superiores como la atención, la memoria, las funciones ejecutivas y el lenguaje, consideradas pre-requisitos básicos de la inteligencia. Sea cual sea su causa, todo daño cerebral puede afectar a una o varias de estas funciones, de ahí la gravedad del problema. A pesar de los avances en nuevas técnicas de intervención precoz y el desarrollo de los cuidados intensivos, las afectaciones cerebrales aún no tienen tratamiento ni quirúrgico ni farmacológico que permita una restitución de las funciones perdidas. Los tratamientos de neurorrehabilitación cognitiva y funcional pretenden, por tanto, la minimización o compensación de las alteraciones ocasionadas por una lesión en el sistema nervioso. En concreto, la rehabilitación cognitiva se define como el proceso en el que personas que han sufrido un daño cerebral trabajan de manera conjunta con profesionales de la salud para remediar o aliviar los déficits cognitivos surgidos como consecuencia de un episodio neurológico. Esto se consigue gracias a la naturaleza plástica del sistema nervioso, donde el cerebro es capaz de reconfigurar sus conexiones neuronales, tanto creando nuevas como modificando las ya existentes. Durante los últimos años hemos visto una transformación de la sociedad, en lo que se ha denominado "sociedad de la información", cuyo pilar básico son las Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones (TIC). La aplicación de estas tecnologías en medicina ha revolucionado la manera en que se proveen los servicios sanitarios. Así, donde tecnología y medicina se mezclan, la telerrehabilitación se define como la rehabilitación a distancia, ayudando a extender los servicios de rehabilitación más allá de los centros hospitalarios, rompiendo las barreras geográficas, mejorando la eficiencia de los procesos y monitorizando en todo momento el estado y evolución del paciente. En este contexto, el objetivo general de la presente tesis es mejorar la rehabilitación neuropsicológica de pacientes que sufren alteraciones cognitivas, mediante el diseño, desarrollo y validación de un sistema de telemedicina que incorpora las TIC para avanzar hacia un nuevo paradigma personalizado, ubicuo y ecológico. Para conseguirlo, se han definido los siguientes objetivos específicos: • Analizar y modelar un sistema de telerrehabilitación, mediante la definición de objetivos y requisitos de usuario para diseñar las diferentes funcionalidades necesarias. • Definir una arquitectura de telerrehabilitación escalable para la prestación de diferentes servicios que agrupe las funcionalidades necesarias en módulos. • Diseñar y desarrollar la plataforma de telerrehabilitación, incluida la interfaz de usuario, creando diferentes roles de usuario con sus propias funcionalidades. • Desarrollar de un módulo de análisis de datos para extraer conocimiento basado en los resultados históricos de las sesiones de rehabilitación almacenadas en el sistema. • Evaluación de los resultados obtenidos por los pacientes después del programa de rehabilitación, obteniendo conclusiones sobre los beneficios del servicio implementado. • Evaluación técnica de la plataforma de telerrehabilitación, así como su usabilidad y la relación coste/beneficio. • Integración de un dispositivo de eye-tracking que permita la monitorización de la atención visual mientras los pacientes ejecutan tareas de neurorrehabilitación. •Diseño y desarrollo de un entorno de monitorización que permita obtener patrones de atención visual. Como resumen de los resultados obtenidos, se ha desarrollado y validado técnicamente la plataforma de telerrehabilitación cognitiva, demostrando la mejora en la eficiencia de los procesos, sin que esto resulte en una reducción de la eficacia del tratamiento. Además, se ha llevado a cabo una evaluación de la usabilidad del sistema, con muy buenos resultados. Respecto al módulo de análisis de datos, se ha diseñado y desarrollado un algoritmo que configura y planifica sesiones de rehabilitación para los pacientes, de manera automática, teniendo en cuenta las características específicas de cada paciente. Este algoritmo se ha denominado Intelligent Therapy Assistant (ITA). Los resultados obtenidos por el asistente muestran una mejora tanto en la eficiencia como en la eficacia de los procesos, comparado los resultados obtenidos con los de la planificación manual llevada a cabo por los terapeutas. Por último, se ha integrado con éxito el dispositivo de eye-tracking en la plataforma de telerrehabilitación, llevando a cabo una prueba con pacientes y sujetos control que ha demostrado la viabilidad técnica de la solución, así como la existencia de diferencias en los patrones de atención visual en pacientes con daño cerebral. ABSTRACT Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) is defined as brain damage that suddenly and unexpectedly appears in people’s life, being the main cause of disability in developed countries. The brain is responsible of the higher cognitive functions such as attention, memory, executive functions or language, which are considered basic requirements of the intelligence. Whatever its cause is, every ABI may affects one or several functions, highlighting the severity of the problem. New techniques of early intervention and the development of intensive ABI care have noticeably improved the survival rate. However, despite these advances, brain injuries still have no surgical or pharmacological treatment to re-establish lost functions. Cognitive rehabilitation is defined as a process whereby people with brain injury work together with health service professionals and others to remediate or alleviate cognitive deficits arising from a neurological insult. This is achieved by taking advantage of the plastic nature of the nervous system, where the brain can reconfigure its connections, both creating new ones, and modifying the previously existing. Neuro-rehabilitation aims to optimize the plastic nature by inducing a reorganization of the neural network, based on specific experiences. Personalized interventions from individual impairment profile will be necessary to optimize the remaining resources by potentiating adaptive responses and inhibiting maladaptive changes. In the last years, some applications and software programs have been developed to train or stimulate cognitive functions of different neuropsychological disorders, such as ABI, Alzheimer, psychiatric disorders, attention deficit or hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The application of technologies into medicine has changed the paradigm. Telemedicine allows improving the quality of clinical services, providing better access to them and helping to break geographical barriers. Moreover, one of the main advantages of telemedicine is the possibility to extend the therapeutic processes beyond the hospital (e.g. patient's home). As a consequence, a reduction of unnecessary costs and a better costs/benefits ratio are achieved, making possible a more efficient use of the available resources In this context, the main objective of this work is to improve neuro-rehabilitation of patients suffering cognitive deficits, by designing, developing and validating a telemedicine system that incorporates ICTs to change this paradigm, making it more personalized, ubiquitous and ecologic. The following specific objectives have been defined: • To analyse and model a tele-rehabilitation system, defining objectives and user requirements to design the different needed functionalities. • To define a scalable tele-rehabilitation architecture to offer different services grouping functionalities into modules. • To design and develop the tele-rehabilitation platform, including the graphic user interface, creating different user roles and permissions. • To develop a data analysis module to extract knowledge based on the historic results from the rehabilitation sessions stored in the system. • To evaluate the obtained results by patients after the rehabilitation program, arising conclusions about the benefits of the implemented service. • To technically evaluate the tele-rehabilitation platform, and its usability and the costs/benefit ratio. • To integrate an eye-tracking device allowing the monitoring of the visual attention while patients execute rehabilitation tasks. •To design and develop a monitoring environment that allows to obtain visual attention patterns. Summarizing the obtained results, the cognitive tele-rehabilitation platform has been developed and evaluated technically, demonstrating the improvements on the efficiency without worsening the efficacy of the process. Besides, a usability evaluation has been carried out, with very good results. Regarding the data analysis module, an algorithm has been designed and developed to automatically select and configure rehabilitation sessions, taking into account the specific characteristics of each patient. This algorithm is called Intelligent Therapy Assistant (ITA). The obtained results show an improvement both in the efficiency and the efficacy of the process, comparing the results obtained by patients when they receive treatments scheduled manually by therapists. Finally, an eye-tracking device has been integrated in the tele-rehabilitation platform, carrying out a study with patients and control subjects demonstrating the technical viability of the developed monitoring environment. First results also show that there are differences between the visual attention patterns between ABI patients and control subjects.

A new label fusion method using graph cuts: application to hippocampus segmentation

The aim of this paper is to develop a probabilistic modeling framework for the segmentation of structures of interest from a collection of atlases. Given a subset of registered atlases into the target image for a particular Region of Interest (ROI), a statistical model of appearance and shape is computed for fusing the labels. Segmentations are obtained by minimizing an energy function associated with the proposed model, using a graph-cut technique. We test different label fusion methods on publicly available MR images of human brains.

Using floating car data to analyse the effects of ITS measures and eco-driving

The road transportation sector is responsible for around 25% of total man-made CO2 emissions worldwide. Considerable efforts are therefore underway to reduce these emissions using several approaches, including improved vehicle technologies, traffic management and changing driving behaviour. Detailed traffic and emissions models are used extensively to assess the potential effects of these measures. However, if the input and calibration data are not sufficiently detailed there is an inherent risk that the results may be inaccurate. This article presents the use of Floating Car Data to derive useful speed and acceleration values in the process of traffic model calibration as a means of ensuring more accurate results when simulating the effects of particular measures. The data acquired includes instantaneous GPS coordinates to track and select the itineraries, and speed and engine performance extracted directly from the on-board diagnostics system. Once the data is processed, the variations in several calibration parameters can be analyzed by comparing the base case model with the measure application scenarios. Depending on the measure, the results show changes of up to 6.4% in maximum speed values, and reductions of nearly 15% in acceleration and braking levels, especially when eco-driving is applied.

A data-globe and immersive virtual reality environment for upper limb rehabilitation after spinal cord injury

While a number of virtual data-gloves have been used in stroke, there is little evidence about their use in spinal cord injury (SCI). A pilot clinical experience with nine SCI subjects was performed comparing two groups: one carried out a virtual rehabilitation training based on the use of a data glove, CyberTouch combined with traditional rehabilitation, during 30 minutes a day twice a week along two weeks; while the other made only conventional rehabilitation. Furthermore, two functional indexes were developed in order to assess the patient’s performance of the sessions: normalized trajectory lengths and repeatability. While differences between groups were not statistically significant, the data-glove group seemed to obtain better results in the muscle balance and functional parameters, and in the dexterity, coordination and fine grip tests. Related to the indexes that we implemented, normalized trajectory lengths and repeatability, every patient showed an improvement in at least one of the indexes, either along Y-axis trajectory or Z-axis trajectory. This study might be a step in investigating new ways of treatments and objective measures in order to obtain more accurate data about the patient’s evolution, allowing the clinicians to develop rehabilitation treatments, adapted to the abilities and needs of the patients.

Objective metrics for functional evaluation of upper limb during the ADL of drinking: application in SCI

Three-dimensional kinematic analysis provides quantitative assessment of upper limb motion and is used as an outcome measure to evaluate movement disorders. The aim of the present study is to present a set of kinematic metrics for quantifying characteristics of movement performance and the functional status of the subject during the execution of the activity of daily living (ADL) of drinking from a glass. Then, the objective is to apply these metrics in healthy people and a population with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI), and to analyze the metrics ability to discriminate between healthy and pathologic people. 19 people participated in the study: 7 subjects with metameric level C6 tetraplegia, 4 subjects with metameric level C7 tetraplegia and 8 healthy subjects. The movement was recorded with a photogrammetry system. The ADL of drinking was divided into a series of clearly identifiable phases to facilitate analysis. Metrics describing the time of the reaching phase, the range of motion of the joints analyzed, and characteristics of movement performance such as the efficiency, accuracy and smoothness of the distal segment and inter-joint coordination were obtained. The performance of the drinking task was more variable in people with SCI compared to the control group in relation to the metrics measured. Reaching time was longer in SCI groups. The proposed metrics showed capability to discriminate between healthy and pathologic people. Relative deficits in efficiency were larger in SCI people than in controls. These metrics can provide useful information in a clinical setting about the quality of the movement performed by healthy and SCI people during functional activities.

Emotions and the Engineering of Adaptiveness in Complex Systems

A major challenge in the engineering of complex and critical systems is the management of change, both in the system and in its operational environment. Due to the growing of complexity in systems, new approaches on autonomy must be able to detect critical changes and avoid their progress towards undesirable states. We are searching for methods to build systems that can tune the adaptability protocols. New mechanisms that use system-wellness requirements to reduce the influence of the outer domain and transfer the control of uncertainly to the inner one. Under the view of cognitive systems, biological emotions suggests a strategy to configure value-based systems to use semantic self-representations of the state. A method inspired by emotion theories to causally connect to the inner domain of the system and its objectives of wellness, focusing on dynamically adapting the system to avoid the progress of critical states. This method shall endow the system with a transversal mechanism to monitor its inner processes, detecting critical states and managing its adaptivity in order to maintain the wellness goals. The paper describes the current vision produced by this work-in-progress.

Género y transporte: análisis de la movilidad del cuidado como punto de partida para construir una base de conocimiento más amplia de los patrones de movilidad. El caso de Madrid

Las limitaciones en la capacidad de movilidad pueden ser consideradas en la actualidad como una forma de discriminación tremenda y a la vez invisible dentro de la sociedad. Para poder evitar esta discriminación es necesario que las políticas de transporte, que hasta ahora han basado sus actuaciones particularmente sobre las necesidades de acceso al empleo, reconozcan las exigencias de las personas dependientes y de aquellas que realizan las tareas no remuneradas del cuidado de otros y de atención a la familia. Las personas que trabajan en las tareas domésticas, en la mayoría de los casos mujeres, tienen muchas dificultades para sincronizar sus obligaciones con los tiempos y las distancias. Estas personas desempeñan un trabajo diario, que tiene lugar tanto fuera como dentro del hogar y tienen necesidades específicas de movilidad. El problema principal es que este tipo de trabajo no suele ser tomado en consideración, ya que no entra en la esfera del trabajo remunerado. Pero es una labor que está estrictamente ligada a la actividad de la sociedad y es un elemento indispensable para el funcionamiento de la vida urbana. Es un trabajo real, que tiene lugar en el espacio urbano, que exige un considerable esfuerzo físico y emocional, y que ayuda a garantizar la calidad de la vida cotidiana. Es un aspecto indispensable a tener en cuenta en el ejercicio de las políticas públicas y sociales. Sobre la base de estas consideraciones se introduce el concepto “Movilidad del cuidado” (Sánchez de Madariaga, 2009a y 2009b), mediante el cual se reconoce la necesidad de evaluar y hacer visible los desplazamientos diarios asociados con el trabajo del cuidado. Por trabajo del cuidado se entiende el trabajo no remunerado, realizado por los adultos para los niños u otras personas dependientes, incluido el trabajo relacionado con el mantenimiento del hogar. El análisis de este tipo de viajes exige ciertos cambios significativos en las formas de recoger datos estadísticos. No se trata solo de sumar los desplazamientos que actualmente aparecen en las estadísticas como viajes de compras, acompañamiento, gestiones, cuidado de otros, etc. El problema es que los datos sobre movilidad se recogen con una serie de sesgos que infravaloran los viajes de cuidado: las estadísticas no cuentan los viajes cortos a pie y tampoco reflejan bien los viajes encadenados, ambos típicamente femeninos; no se deslindan con precisión los viajes de cuidado de otro tipo de viajes, de manera que muchos desplazamientos relacionados con la esfera reproductiva aparecen como viajes personales o de ocio y en muchos casos se encasillan en la categoría otros. Mediante esta investigación se pretende estimar el peso que la movilidad del cuidado tiene en el total de la movilidad y describirla de manera precisa en un contexto geográfico determinado, en el caso específico Madrid. Los estudios sobre el tema realizados hasta el momento reconocen la necesidad de llevar a cabo encuestas de movilidad que tengan en cuenta las variables socio económicas que caracterizan a la población y también se demanda la segregación de los datos recogidos por sexo, así como el uso del género como una categoría analítica. Igualmente es indispensable atribuir la misma importancia que tienen los viajes relacionados con la esfera productiva a los que están relacionados con la esfera reproductiva. No obstante, es solo mediante la introducción del concepto de “movilidad del cuidado” que se propone una nueva categorización de los motivos de desplazamiento dentro de las “clásicas” encuestas de movilidad y, por primera vez, mediante esta investigación se aplica este concepto a un ejemplo práctico a partir del cual queda en evidencia la necesidad de un cambio de enfoque en las políticas de transporte. Así, a través el uso de encuestas cuantitativas y cualitativas realizadas ad hoc sobre la base de la metodología propuesta, se capturan los patrones de viajes significativos para poder describir en maneara exhaustiva la movilidad de las personas que tienen responsabilidades de cuidado. El objetivo es crear una base de conocimiento más amplia sobre los patrones de movilidad, comportamientos y necesidades, además de mejorar los conceptos operacionales y establecer políticas de transporte más equitativas, que respondan de mejor manera a las necesidades de género, beneficiando así a toda la sociedad. ABSTRACT Nowadays, limitations in urban mobility can be considered as some type of extreme discrimination, which remains invisible to the society. In order to avoid this kind of discrimination, new transport policies are required, especially considering that so far they have been based and organized particularly in relation to the needs derived from the access to employment. These policies must take into account the demands of people depending on the support of others as well as of unpaid caregivers in charge of looking after other individuals and taking care of the family. Most of the people devoted to domestic work, which in the vast majority of cases is carried out by women, find it difficult to coordinate their obligations with time and distances. These people carry out a daily job that takes place both inside their homes as well as outside, and they have specific mobility needs. The main issue is that this type of work is usually not taken into consideration, since it is not included under the scope of paid employment. However, this work is strictly related to the activities of society and is therefore a crucial element in the functioning of urban life. It is an actual job that takes place in an urban space, requires a considerable amount of physical and emotional effort and guarantees quality of life on a daily basis. This is an important aspect that should be taken into account when drafting public and social policies. The concept of “Mobility of care” (Sánchez de Madariaga, 2009a and 2009b) is introduced under these considerations. This concept acknowledges the need to evaluate and identify daily movements from one place to another that are related to caregiving. Caregiving is understood, in this case, as unpaid work that is carried out by adults for children and other people that depend on the support of others, and it also includes duties related to home maintenance. The analysis of these types of movements requires some significant changes in the way in which statistic data is gathered. The idea is to not only add up the movements that appear in statistics such as shopping trips, accompanying someone, dealings, caregiving, etc. The problem with data on mobility is that it is gathered with bias that undervalues mobility related to caregiving: statistics do not take into consideration short trips that are made walking nor do they properly reflect connected trips, both of which are typically feminine; moreover, there is an imprecise differentiation of trips related to caregiving and other kind of trips, and because of that, many of the trips related to the reproductive sphere are considered personal or recreational trips, and are many times labelled as others. This investigation aims to evaluate the importance that mobility of care has in mobility in general, describing it in a precise manner within a specific geographical context that in this case is Madrid. To this date, most of the studies on this subject have acknowledged the need to carry out mobility surveys that include socio economic variables that characterize the population and they have also requested that collected data is segregated by sex and that gender is used as an analytical category. Likewise, it is fundamental to give the same importance to mobility related to the sphere of reproduction as to that related to the sphere of productiveness. However, it is only through the implementation of the concept of “mobility of care” that a new categorization of mobility, within classic mobility surveys, is proposed. Also, for the first time and by this investigation, this concept is applied to a practical case, shining a light on the need to change the focus of transport policies. Through the use of ad hoc quantitative and qualitative surveys based on the proposed methodology, the patterns of relevant movements are identified in order to thoroughly describe the mobility of people responsible of caregiving. The aim is to create a broader knowledge base on patterns of mobility, behaviour and necessities, in addition to improving functional concepts and transport policies to make them more equitable and responsive to gender needs, thus benefitting society as a whole.

Construcción modular ligera energéticamente eficiente

Esta tesis trata sobre la construcción modular ligera, dentro del contexto de la eficiencia energética y de cara a los conceptos de nZEB (near Zero Energy Building) y NZEB (Net Zero Energy Building) que se manejan en el ámbito europeo y específicamente dentro del marco regulador de la Directiva 2010/31 UE. En el contexto de la Unión Europea, el sector de la edificación representa el 40% del total del consumo energético del continente. Asumiendo la necesidad de reducir este consumo se han planteado, desde los organismos de dirección europeos, unos objetivos (objetivos 20-20-20) para hacer más eficiente el parque edificatorio. Estos objetivos, que son vinculantes en términos de legislación, comprometen a todos los estados miembros a conseguir la meta de reducción de consumo y emisiones de GEI (Gases de Efecto Invernadero) antes del año 2020. Estos conceptos de construcción modular ligera (CML) y eficiencia energética no suelen estar asociados por el hecho de que este tipo de construcción no suele estar destinada a un uso intensivo y no cuenta con unos cerramientos con niveles de aislamiento de acuerdo a las normativas locales o códigos de edificación de cada país. El objetivo de nZEB o NZEB, e incluso Energy Plus, según sea el caso, necesariamente (y así queda establecido en las normativas), dependerá no sólo de la mejora de los niveles de aislamiento de los edificios, sino también de la implementación de sistemas de generación renovables, independientemente del tipo de sistema constructivo con el que se trabaje e incluso de la tipología edificatoria. Si bien es cierto que los niveles de industrialización de la sociedad tecnológica actual han alcanzado varias de las fases del proceso constructivo - sobre todo en cuanto a elementos compositivos de los edificios- también lo es el hecho de que las cotas de desarrollo conseguidas en el ámbito de la construcción no llegan al nivel de evolución que se puede apreciar en otros campos de las ingenierías como la aeronáutica o la industria del automóvil. Aunque desde finales del siglo pasado existen modelos y proyectos testimoniales de construcción industrializada ligera (CIL) e incluso ya a principios del siglo XX, ejemplos de construcción modular ligera (CML), como la Casa Voisin, la industrialización de la construcción de edificios no ha sido una constante progresiva con un nivel de comercialización equiparable al de la construcción masiva y pesada. Los términos construcción industrializada, construcción prefabricada, construcción modular y construcción ligera, no siempre hacen referencia a lo mismo y no siempre son sinónimos entre sí. Un edificio puede ser prefabricado y no ser modular ni ligero y tal es el caso, por poner un ejemplo, de la construcción con paneles de hormigón prefabricado. Lo que sí es una constante es que en el caso de la construcción modular ligera, la prefabricación y la industrialización, casi siempre vienen implícitas en muchos ejemplos históricos y actuales. Con relación al concepto de eficiencia energética (nZEB o incluso NZEB), el mismo no suele estar ligado a la construcción modular ligera y/o ligera industrializada; más bien se le ve unido a la idea de cerramientos masivos con gran inercia térmica propios de estándares de diseño como el Passivhaus; y aunque comúnmente a la construcción ligera se le asocian otros conceptos que le restan valor (corta vida útil; función y formas limitadas, fuera de todo orden estético; limitación en los niveles de confort, etc.), los avances que se van alcanzando en materia de tecnologías para el aprovechamiento de la energía y sistemas de generación renovables, pueden conseguir revertir estas ideas y unificar el criterio de eficiencia + construcción modular ligera. Prototipos y proyectos académicos– como el concurso Solar Decathlon que se celebra desde el año 2002 promovido por el DOE (Departamento de Energía de los Estados Unidos), y que cuenta con ediciones europeas como las de los años 2010 y 2012, replantean la idea de la construcción industrializada, modular y ligera dentro del contexto de la eficiencia energética, con prototipos de viviendas de ± 60m2, propuestos por las universidades concursantes, y cuyo objetivo es alcanzar y/o desarrollar el concepto de NZEB (Net Zero Energy Building) o edificio de energía cero. Esta opción constructiva no sólo representa durabilidad, seguridad y estética, sino también, rapidez en la fabricación y montaje, además de altas prestaciones energéticas como se ha podido demostrar en las sucesivas ediciones del Solar Decathlon. Este tipo de iniciativas de desarrollo de tecnologías constructivas, no sólo apuntan a la eficiencia energética sino al concepto global de energía neta, Energía plus o cero emisiones de CO2. El nivel de emisiones por la fabricación y puesta en obra de los materiales de construcción depende, en muchos casos, no solo de la propia naturaleza del material, sino también de la cantidad de recursos utilizados para producir una unidad de medida determinada (kg, m3, m2, ml, etc). En este sentido podría utilizarse, en muchos casos, el argumento válido de que a menos peso, y a menos tamaño, menos emisiones globales de gases de efecto invernadero y menos contaminación. Para el trabajo de investigación de esta tesis se han tomado como referencias válidas para estudio, prototipos tanto de CML (Modular 3D) como de CIL (panelizado y elementos 2D), dado que para los fines de análisis de las prestaciones energéticas de los materiales de cerramiento, ambos sistemas son equiparables. Para poder llegar a la conclusión fundamental de este trabajo de tesis doctoral - que consiste en demostrar la viabilidad tecnológica/ industrial que supone la combinación de la eficiencia energética y la construcción modular ligera - se parte del estudio del estado de la técnica ( desde la selección de los materiales y los posibles procesos de industrialización en fábrica, hasta su puesta en obra, funcionamiento y uso, bajo los conceptos de consumo cero, cero emisiones de carbono y plus energético). Además -y con un estado de la técnica que identifica la situación actual- se llevan a cabo pruebas y ensayos con un prototipo a escala natural y células de ensayo, para comprobar el comportamiento de los elementos compositivos de los mismos, frente a unas condicionantes climáticas determinadas. Este tipo de resultados se contrastan con los obtenidos mediante simulaciones informáticas basadas en los mismos parámetros y realizadas en su mayoría mediante métodos simplificados de cálculos, validados por los organismos competentes en materia de eficiencia energética en la edificación en España y de acuerdo a la normativa vigente. ABSTRACT This thesis discusses lightweight modular construction within the context of energy efficiency in nZEB (near Zero Energy Building) and NZEB (Net Zero Energy Building) both used in Europe and, specifically, within the limits of the regulatory framework of the EU Directive 2010/31. In the European Union the building sector represents 40% of the total energy consumption of the continent. Due to the need to reduce this consumption, European decision-making institutions have proposed aims (20-20-20 aims) to render building equipment more efficient. These aims are bound by law and oblige all member States to endeavour to reduce consumption and GEI emissions before the year 2020. Lightweight modular construction concepts and energy efficiency are not generally associated because this type of building is not normally meant for intensive use and does not have closures with insulation levels which fit the local regulations or building codes of each country. The objective of nZEB or NZEB and even Energy Plus, depending on each case, will necessarily be associated (as established in the guidelines) not only with the improvement of insulation levels in buildings, but also with the implementation of renewable systems of generation, independent of the type of building system used and of the building typology. Although it is true that the levels of industrialisation in the technological society today have reached several of the building process phases - particularly in the composite elements of buildings - it is also true that the quotas of development achieved in the area of construction have not reached the evolutionary levelfound in other fields of engineering, such as aeronautics or the automobile industry. Although there have been models and testimonial projects of lightweight industrialised building since the end of last century, even going back as far as the beginning of the XX century with examples of lightweight modular construction such as the Voisin House, industrialisation in the building industry has not been constant nor is its comercialisation comparable to massive and heavy construction. The terms industrialised building, prefabricated building, modular building and lightweight building, do not always refer to the same thing and they are not always synonymous. A building can be prefabricated yet not be modular or lightweight. To give an example, this is the case of building with prefabricated concrete panels. What is constant is that, in the case of lightweight modular construction, prefabrication and industrialisation are almost always implicit in many historical and contemporary examples. Energy efficiency (nZEB or even NZEB) is not normally linked to lightweight modular construction and/or industrialised lightweight; rather, it is united to the idea of massive closureswith high thermal inertia typical of design standards such as the Passive House; and although other concepts that subtract value from it are generally associated with lightweight building (short useful life, limited forms and function, inappropriate toany aesthetic pattern; limitation in comfort levels, etc.), the advances being achieved in technology for benefitting from energy and renewable systems of generation may well reverse these ideas and unify the criteria of efficiency + lightweight modular construction. Academic prototypes and projects - such as the Solar Decathlon competition organised by the US Department of Energy and celebrated since 2002, with its corresponding European events such as those held in 2010 and 2012, place a different slant on the idea of industrialised, modular and lightweight building within the context of energy efficiency, with prototypes of homes measuring approximately 60m2, proposed by university competitors, whose aim is to reach and/or develop the NZEB concept, or the zero energy building. This building option does not only signify durability, security and aesthetics, but also fast manufacture and assembly. It also has high energy benefits, as has been demonstrated in successive events of the Solar Decathlon. This type of initiative for the development of building technologies, does not only aim at energy efficiency, but also at the global concept of net energy, Energy Plus and zero CO2 emissions. The level of emissions in the manufacture and introduction of building materials in many cases depends not only on the inherent nature of the material, but also on the quantity of resources used to produce a specific unit of measurement (kg, m3, m2, ml, etc.). Thus in many cases itcould be validly arguedthat with less weight and smaller size, there will be fewer global emissions of greenhouse effect gases and less contamination. For the research carried out in this thesis prototypes such as the CML (3D Module) and CIL (panelled and elements) have been used as valid study references, becauseboth systems are comparablefor the purpose of analysing the energy benefits of closure materials. So as to reach a basic conclusion in this doctoral thesis - that sets out to demonstrate the technological/industrial viability of the combination of energy efficiency and lightweight modular construction - the departure point is the study of the state of the technique (from the selection of materials and the possible processes of industrialisation in manufacture, to their use on site, functioning and use, respecting the concepts of zero consumption, zero emissions of carbon and Energy Plus). Moreover, with the state of the technique identifying the current situation, tests and practices have been carried out with a natural scale prototype and test cells so as to verify the behaviour of the composite elements of these in certain climatic conditions. These types of result are contrasted with those obtained through computer simulation based on the same parameters and done, principally, using simplified methods of calculation, validated by institutions competent in energy efficiency in Spanish building and in line with the rules in force.

ESPIRITUALIDADE NO MUNDO CORPORATIVO: APROXIMAÇÕES ENTRE PRÁTICA RELIGIOSA E VIDA PROFISSIONAL

O tema Espiritualidade no mundo corporativo: aproximações entre a práxis religiosa e a vida profissional, é compreendido no campo das Ciências da Religião, especificamente na área de Práxis religiosa na sociedade, e foi pesquisado de acordo com o método histórico crítico, tendo como metodologia para a coleta de dados a pesquisa bibliográfica e documental. O estudo do tema buscou verificar duas hipóteses, a saber: a espiritualidade no mundo corporativo como resposta às necessidades espirituais da sociedade contemporânea, em substituição às expressões religiosas institucionalizadas, e a espiritualidade no mundo corporativo como conceito solidário à práxis religiosa para a promoção humana no mercado e na sociedade. Os conceitos de espiritualidade em Paul Tillich e práxis em Casiano Floristán foram utilizados como referencias teóricos para estudo do tema. A dissertação foi estruturada em três capítulos. No primeiro, há definições e relações dos termos que determinam o campo semântico da espiritualidade, que são: espiritualidade e religião, religioso e secular, sagrado e profano. No segundo, há o registro das origens do movimento, identificando seu período de florescimento, seus principais atores, seu contexto científico, ideológico, religioso, econômico e filosófico, e principalmente lista os diferentes conceitos que o termo espiritualidade adquire no mundo corporativo. Esse capítulo esclarece os fatores sociais e históricos que possibilitaram a inserção da espiritualidade no local de trabalho e a inclusão do tema no mundo corporativo. Finalmente, o terceiro e último capítulo analisa três possíveis utilizações do conceito de espiritualidade no mundo corporativo: a espiritualidade a serviço da religião (proselitismo), do capital (performance) e do ser humano (práxis). Possibilitando assim ao leitor ampliar seus conhecimentos sobre o tema que é o objeto desta dissertação.(AU)