Escuela de Politécnica Superior

Light profoundly impacts many aspects of human physiology and behaviour, including the synchronization of the circadian clock, the production of melatonin, and cognition. These effects of light, termed the non-visual effects of light, have been primarily investigated in laboratory settings, where light intensity, spectrum and timing can be carefully controlled to draw associations with physiological outcomes of interest. Recently, the increasing availability of wearable light loggers has opened the possibility of studying personal light exposure in free-living conditions where people engage in activities of daily living, yielding findings associating aspects of light exposure and health outcomes, supporting the importance of adequate light exposure at appropriate times for human health. However, comprehensive protocols capturing environmental (e.g., geographical location, season, climate, photoperiod) and individual factors (e.g., culture, personal habits, behaviour, commute type, profession) contributing to the measured light exposure are currently lacking. Here, we present a protocol that combines smartphone-based experience sampling (experience sampling implementing Karolinska Sleepiness Scale, KSS ratings) and high-quality light exposure data collection at three body sites (near-corneal plane between the two eyes mounted on spectacle, neck-worn pendant/badge, and wrist-worn watch-like design) to capture daily factors related to individuals’ light exposure. We will implement the protocol in an international multi-centre study to investigate the environmental and socio-cultural factors influencing light exposure patterns in Germany, Ghana, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey (minimum n = 15, target n = 30 per site, minimum n = 90, target n = 180 across all sites). With the resulting dataset, lifestyle and context-specific factors that contribute to healthy light exposure will be identified. This information is essential in designing effective public health interventions.

This study delves into the fascinating history of the destruction of the walls of Jericho as describedinthe biblical account in the book of Joshua. Over the last century, prominent archaeologistssuchasCarl Watzinger, John Garstang, Kathleen Kenyon, and Bryant Wood have excavatedthesite,confirming the existence of the ancient city and its fortified walls during the approximate periodoftheevent.The study explores the possibility that the destruction of Jericho's walls could haveascientificexplanation based on natural phenomena. The theory of resonance is proposed, suggestingthat soundwaves generated by the human shouting might have matched the natural frequency of thewalls,weakening their structure and causing their collapse. Resonance calculations indicate that humanshouting (300 Hz) was closer to the wall's natural frequency (121.72 Hz) than the trumpets (1400Hz),implying a higher potential for resonance with the shouting.Despite these plausible explanations, thestudy emphasizes the historical and religious ambiguity surrounding the event. The biblical accountofthe conquest of Jericho has been regarded as a miraculous event, and the exact cause of thewalls'destruction remains unresolved. This event has left a profound impact on Westerncultureandreligion, with interpretations continuing to be subject to debate and contemplation.Thestudyhighlights the significance of dialogue between science and religion. Archaeology and scienceofferanobjective and data-based perspective, while religious beliefs provide spiritual and moral meaningtohistorical events. The coexistence of these approaches enriches our understanding of thepastandcultural heritage.The present work offers a multidisciplinary view that encompasses archaeology,science, and religious beliefs. Although plausible scientific explanations have been proposed, theexactnature of the destruction of Jericho's walls remains a mystery, underscoring the richness of historicaland cultural interpretations surrounding this event.

One of Andrés de Vandelvira's most singular pieces is the sacristy of the Sacred Chapel of El Salvador in Úbeda. It is also notable for its connection with the church. This connection is made through the left chapel, which was originally intended to fulfil these functions, leaving this small chapel. This article analyses the causes and reasons that led the author to place the sacristy door in the corner of the left side chapel. Its plan geometry and the reasons for its three-dimensional geometry are analysed. Some of the reasons are related to the shape of the sacristy, a typical Spanish Renaissance structure. Others are related to the necessary proximity of this space to the volume of the church. Finally, it solved the problem of the lack of contact between the adjoining walls of the sacristy and the left chapel. There is no doubt that the solution proposed by Vandelvira was logical if it is understood from the origin of the project, which does not detract from the great mastery with which he developed this unusual corner passage.

El capítulo analiza cómo el concepto de vivienda ha evolucionado a lo largo del tiempo, acumulando diversos adjetivos que reflejan las ideologías y necesidades de diferentes épocas, mostrando cómo la vivienda ha sido vista no solo como un espacio físico, sino también como un indicador de valores sociopolíticos y económicos. Estos adjetivos, aunque útiles para entender las transformaciones en el concepto de vivienda, también pueden vaciar de contenido el término "vivienda" en sí. La vivienda adjetivada se convierte en un reflejo de las presiones del mercado, la economía y la política, y su estudio permite rastrear los intereses y preocupaciones de la sociedad en diferentes momentos históricos.

The resilient modulus (MR) of different pavement materials is one of the most important input parameters for the mechanistic-empirical pavement design approach. The dynamic triaxial test is the most often used method for evaluating the MR, although it is expensive, time-consuming, and requires specialized lab facilities. The purpose of this study is to establish a new model based on Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks for predicting the MR of stabilized base materials with various additives during wet-dry cycles (WDC). A laboratory dataset of 704 records has been used using input parameters, including WDC, ratio of calcium oxide to silica, alumina, and ferric oxide compound, Maximum dry density to the optimal moisture content ratio (DMR), deviator stress (σd), and confining stress (σ3). The results demonstrate that the LSTM technique is very accurate, with coefficients of determination of 0.995 and 0.980 for the training and testing datasets, respectively. The LSTM model outperforms other developed models, such as support vector regression and least squares approaches, in the literature. A sensitivity analysis study has determined that the DMR parameter is the most significant factor, while the σd parameter is the least significant factor in predicting the MR of the stabilized base material under WDC. Furthermore, the SHapley Additive exPlanations approach is employed to elucidate the optimal model and examine the impact of its features on the final result.

El texto reflexiona sobre cómo los objetos cotidianos pueden transformarse en arquitectura, destacando el proceso de tomar algo común y convertirlo en una forma arquitectónica. Los estudiantes de arquitectura son los protagonistas de esta idea, al igual que la influencia de artistas como Duchamp, que rompió las convenciones del arte al convertir objetos cotidianos en obras artísticas. El ejercicio pedagógico propuesto busca eliminar prejuicios y anima a los estudiantes a trabajar sin miedo, produciendo formas que luego pueden ser perfeccionadas. La arquitectura, en este enfoque, no solo se trata de crear nuevas formas, sino de aprovechar y transformar las existentes. Los objetos sacados de su contexto habitual son vistos como formas esperando significado, y el arquitecto tiene el poder de apropiarse de ellos, seleccionarlos y darles un nuevo sentido. Este ejercicio es presentado como una forma de sabiduría y pureza creativa

La letra inicial de los manuscritos medievales se iluminaba con una mayús-cula que representaba bestias, dragones, profetas y santos. Bucles dorados, bermejos o azules se arremolinaban en esa primera letra que era a la vez dibujo y escrito. Ese primer gesto del manuscrito iniciaba e inspiraba el resto del texto, que a partir de ese comienzo ya solo tenía que dejarse fluir. De la soberbia palabra latina “íncipit” que marcaba el inicio de un obra, per-vive nuestra gastada palabra “incipiente”.

La arquitectura y las ciudades están profundamente ligadas al tiempo, que actúa como un agente transformador constante. Desde el experimento de Overton Down hasta las fisuras de Roma, se resalta cómo el paso del tiempo convierte las obras en ruinas y estas en portadoras de significados. La arquitectura no es estática; es un "retrato del tiempo", un testigo que envejece, transmite mensajes y conserva la memoria de su contexto. Las fisuras, el desgaste y la corrosión son signos del devenir temporal, símbolos del movimiento del mundo. Las ciudades, por su parte, son colages de fragmentos que reflejan tanto su construcción como su destrucción, convirtiéndose en recipientes óptimos del tiempo y en espejos de nuestra propia historia. Finalmente, proyectar en arquitectura es una forma de anticipar futuros posibles, materializando sueños y significados en cada decisión

En un mundo hiperconectado donde el interior está permanentemente expuesto a miradas ajenas, la capacidad de las puertas para construir un límite está en entredicho. Nuestra relación con las puertas es amplia pero no tanto las principales teorías históricas que han tratado de buscar su esencia fe-nomenológica. Los estudios de Van Gennep, de Simmel o de Bachelard abordan aspectos complementarios sobre los umbrales y las puertas, pero no alcanzan a explicar aspectos como su papel en la formación de la habitación, el significado de su desgaste, o la importancia de su número en la configuración de la intimidad. Sin embargo existe en los umbrales de la propia casa de Alison y Peter Smithson, en el trabajo de Van Eyck, en la historia de la pintura y en algún tirador de puerta contemporáneo, imágenes óptimas desde las que abordar estas problemáticas. Una problemática que no se detiene solamente en la puerta que limita la casa sino que encuentra en la puerta entre habitaciones motivos para reivindicar el poder constitutivo de la propia estancia y de la intimidad.