Application of geoarchaeological evolutionary models for the interpretation of complex archaeological structures in the central Ebro Basin (Spain)

In landscapes that are extremely sensitive to small environmental changes, like some Mediterranean areas, archaeological contexts could present some problems to their interpretation and evolutionary reconstruction. This is the case of Los Pedregales archaeological site, located in the Hoya de Huesca (NE of Spain), where several stone mounds of unknown age and function were found in an extensive badland. The geomorphological, edaphological, and archaeological study, together with radiocarbon and OSL datings and contextualization into the geomorphological regional framework, made it possible to interpret these structures and to establish an evolutionary model. It was determined that they were silos excavated in Pleistocene sands and silts (Unit 1) during the Visigothic and Early Muslim epochs (6th-7th centuries), and that they were later filled with limestone blocks. Successive aggradational and degradational stages (Units 2, 3 and 4) during MCA (Medieval Climatic Anomaly) and LIA (Little Ice Age) periods covered and incised the area, leaving the shape of positive structures included in the badland

Aportaciones de la antracología al conocimiento del marco paleoecológico y paleoeconómico del castillo de Juslibol (Zaragoza) en época medieval

Se presentan los resultados del estudio antracológico de los macrorrestos vegetales contenidos en la muralla del castillo medieval de Juslibol (Zaragoza) construido en época islámica (s. X). Las muestras analizadas han sido recogidas en los paramentos caídos. La aproximación al registro arqueobotánico se produce desde una doble perspectiva. Por un lado, desde un punto de vista paleoecológico, los datos revelan las características de la vegetación del área circundante a esta fortificación compuesta por especies propias de un clima mediterráneo continental, estepario y semiárido. Por otro lado, documentamos un elevado porcentaje de especies relacionadas con la arboricultura. Es llamativo el alto contenido en nogal (Juglans regia) que, junto con la relativa distancia a sus hábitats naturales potenciales, indicaría una cierta abundancia de este árbol en zonas próximas como cultivo de regadío. Esto nos aporta información paleoeconómica a través de las estrategias de aprovechamiento del entorno forestal, como la amortización de los restos de poda en la construcción de la muralla del castillo de Juslibol (Zaragoza) que, en el contexto de la defensa de Saraqusta frente al avance de las tropas cristianas procedentes del norte, parece atender a criterios económicos

Manejo de la inmunosupresión en pacientes trasplantados de riñón con COVID19. Estudio multicéntrico nacional derivado del registro COVID de la Sociedad Española de Nefrología

Introduction: SARS CoV2 infection has had a major impact on renal transplant patients with a high mortality in the first months of the pandemic. Intentional reduction of immunosuppressive therapy has been postulated as one of the cornerstone in the management of the infection in the absence of targeted antiviral treatment. This has been modified according to the patient`s clinical situation and its effect on renal function or anti-HLA antibodies in the medium term has not been evaluated.Objectives: Evaluate the management of immunosuppressive therapy made during SARS-CoV2 infection, as well as renal function and anti-HLA antibodies in kidney transplant patients 6 months after COVID19 diagnosis.Material and methods: Retrospective, national multicentre, retrospective study (30 centres) of kidney transplant recipients with COVID19 from 01/02/20 to 31/12/20. Clinical variables were collected from medical records and included in an anonymised database. SPSS statistical software was used for data analysis.Results: renal transplant recipients with COVID19 were included (62.6% male), with a mean age of 57.5 years. The predominant immunosuppressive treatment prior to COVID19 was triple therapy with prednisone, tacrolimus and mycophenolic acid (54.6%) followed by m-TOR inhibitor regimens (18.6%). After diagnosis of infection, mycophenolic acid was discontinued in 73.8% of patients, m-TOR inhibitor in 41.4%, tacrolimus in 10.5% and cyclosporin A in 10%. In turn, 26.9% received dexamethasone and 50.9% were started on or had their baseline prednisone dose increased. Mean creatinine before diagnosis of COVID19, at diagnosis and at 6 months was: 1.7 +/- 0.8, 2.1 +/- 1.2 and 1.8 +/- 1 mg/dl respectively (p < 0.001). 56.9% of the patients (N = 350) were monitored for anti-HLA antibodies. 94% (N = 329) had no anti-HLA changes, while 6% (N = 21) had positive anti-HLA antibodies. Among the patients with donor-specific antibodies post-COVID19 (N = 9), 7 patients (3.1%) had one immunosuppressant discontinued (5 patients had mycophenolic acid and 2 had tacrolimus), 1 patient had both immunosuppressants discontinued (3.4%) and 1 patient had no change in immunosuppression (1.1%), these differences were not significant.Conclusions: The management of immunosuppressive therapy after diagnosis of COVID19 was primarily based on discontinuation of mycophenolic acid with very discrete reductions or discontinuations of calcineurin inhibitors. This immunosuppression management did not influence renal function or changes in anti-HLA antibodies 6 months after diagnosis

Tree growth response to drought partially explains regional-scale growth and mortality patterns in Iberian forests

Tree-ring data has been widely used to inform about tree growth responses to drought at the individual scale, but less is known about how tree growth sensitivity to drought scales up driving changes in forest dynamics. Here, we related tree-ring growth chronologies and stand-level forest changes in basal area from two independent data sets to test if tree-ring responses to drought match stand forest dynamics (stand basal area growth, ingrowth, and mortality). We assessed if tree growth and changes in forest basal area covary as a function of spatial scale and tree taxa (gymnosperm or angiosperm). To this end, we compared a tree-ring network with stand data from the Spanish National Forest Inventory. We focused on the cumulative impact of drought on tree growth and demography in the period 1981–2005. Drought years were identified by the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index, and their impacts on tree growth by quantifying tree-ring width reductions. We hypothesized that forests with greater drought impacts on tree growth will also show reduced stand basal area growth and ingrowth and enhanced mortality. This is expected to occur in forests dominated by gymnosperms on drought-prone regions. Cumulative growth reductions during dry years were higher in forests dominated by gymnosperms and presented a greater magnitude and spatial autocorrelation than for angiosperms. Cumulative drought-induced tree growth reductions and changes in forest basal area were related, but initial stand density and basal area were the main factors driving changes in basal area. In drought-prone gymnosperm forests, we observed that sites with greater growth reductions had lower stand basal area growth and greater mortality. Consequently, stand basal area, forest growth, and ingrowth in regions with large drought impacts was significantly lower than in regions less impacted by drought. Tree growth sensitivity to drought can be used as a predictor of gymnosperm demographic rates in terms of stand basal area growth and ingrowth at regional scales, but further studies may try to disentangle how initial stand density modulates such relationships. Drought-induced growth reductions and their cumulative impacts have strong potential to be used as early-warning indicators of regional forest vulnerability.This study was financially supported by Xunta de Galicia, Grant/Award Number PGIDIT06PXIB502262PR, GRC GI-1809; INIA, Grant/Award Number RTA2006-00117; CANOPEE, 2014-2020-FEDER funds, Spanish Science Ministry RTI2018-096884-B-C31, RTI2018-096884-B-C33, AGL2017-83828-C2-2R, RTI2018-096884-B-C3,1 and RTI2018-096884-B-C32 projects. Gabriel Sangüesa-Barreda was supported by a “Juan de la Cierva-Formación” grant from MINECO (FJCI 2016-30121). Antonio Gazol and Paloma Ruiz-Benito were supported by a project “2018 Leonardo Grant for Researchers and Cultural Creators, BBVA Foundation.” Ana-Maria Hereş was supported by the project PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2019-1099 financed by the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research through UEFISCDI. Raúl Sánchez-Salguero was supported by VULBOS project (UPO-1263216, FEDER Funds, Andalusia Regional Government, Consejería de Economía, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidad 2014-2020). Paloma Ruiz-Benito was supported by the Community of Madrid Region under the framework of the multi-year Agreement with the University of Alcalá (Stimulus to Excellence for Permanent University Professors, EPU-INV/2020/010) and the University of Alcalá “Ayudas para la realización de Proyectos para potenciar la Creación y Consolidación de Grupos de Investigación.” Andrea Hevia was supported by PinCaR project (UHU-1266324, FEDER Funds, Andalusia Regional Government, Consejería de Economía, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidad 2014-2020).Peer reviewe

Association of candidate gene polymorphisms with chronic kidney disease : Results of a case-control analysis in the NEFRONA cohort

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major risk factor for end-stage renal disease, cardiovascular disease and premature death. Despite classical clinical risk factors for CKD and some genetic risk factors have been identified, the residual risk observed in prediction models is still high. Therefore, new risk factors need to be identified in order to better predict the risk of CKD in the population. Here, we analyzed the genetic association of 79 SNPs of proteins associated with mineral metabolism disturbances with CKD in a cohort that includes 2,445 CKD cases and 559 controls. Genotyping was performed with matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. We used logistic regression models considering different genetic inheritance models to assess the association of the SNPs with the prevalence of CKD, adjusting for known risk factors. Eight SNPs (rs1126616, rs35068180, rs2238135, rs1800247, rs385564, rs4236, rs2248359, and rs1564858) were associated with CKD even after adjusting by sex, age and race. A model containing five of these SNPs (rs1126616, rs35068180, rs1800247, rs4236, and rs2248359), diabetes and hypertension showed better performance than models considering only clinical risk factors, significantly increasing the area under the curve of the model without polymorphisms. Furthermore, one of the SNPs (the rs2248359) showed an interaction with hypertension, being the risk genotype affecting only hypertensive patients. We conclude that 5 SNPs related to proteins implicated in mineral metabolism disturbances (Osteopontin, osteocalcin, matrix gla protein, matrix metalloprotease 3 and 24 hydroxylase) are associated to an increased risk of suffering CKD

Isla de calor y confort térmico en Zaragoza durante la ola de calor de julio de 2015

Ponencia presentada en: X Congreso de la Asociación Española de Climatología celebrado en Alicante entre el 5 y el 8 de octubre de 2016.[ES]En este trabajo se analiza la isla de calor y la isla de sequedad del verano del año 2015 a partir de la red de sensores de temperatura y humedad existentes en la ciudad y su entorno inmediato. Asimismo, se evalúa la incidencia de la ciudad sobre las temperaturas y la humedad durante la intensa ola de calor del mes de julio, y se caracteriza el régimen de confort a partir del índice de confort térmico THI, de Thom.[EN]This paper analyzes both the heat island and the island of dryness of the summer of 2015 from the network of temperature and humidity sensors existing in the city and its surroundings. Furthermore, we evaluate the incidence of the city within the temperatures and humidity during the intense July heat wave. Finally, we characterized the thermal comfort index from the thermal comfort index THI, Thom

Contributions of anthracology to the knowledge of the palaeoecological and palaeoeconomical framework of Juslibol (Zaragoza) castle in Medieval Age

The results of the wood charcoal analysis of plant macroremains contained in the walls of the Juslibol (Zaragoza) medieval castle built in Islamic period (tenth century) are presented. Analyzed samples have been recovered in fallen walls. The approach to archaeobotanical record occurs from two perspectives. On the one hand, from a palaeoecological perspective, the data show the characteristics of vegetation around this fortification composed of a typical Mediterranean climate, steppe and semi-arid species. On the other hand, we documented a high percentage of species related to arboriculture. Walnut high percentages and relative distance of its potential natural habitats, indicate a possible abundance of this tree in surrounding areas as irrigation crop. This provides palaeoecological information through use strategies of the forest environment, such as the amortization of pruning in the construction of the wall of Juslibol (Zaragoza) castle, in the context of the defense of Saraqusta against the advance Christian troops from the north, which seems to be due to economic criteria.Se presentan los resultados del estudio antracológico de los macrorrestos vegetales contenidos en la muralla del castillo medieval de Juslibol (Zaragoza) construido en época islámica (s. X). Las muestras analizadas han sido recogidas en los paramentos caídos. La aproximación al registro arqueobotánico se produce desde una doble perspectiva. Por un lado, desde un punto de vista paleoecológico, los datos revelan las características de la vegetación del área circundante a esta fortificación compuesta por especies propias de un clima mediterráneo continental, estepario y semiárido. Por otro lado, documentamos un elevado porcentaje de especies relacionadas con la arboricultura. Es llamativo el alto contenido en nogal (Juglans regia) que, junto con la relativa distancia a sus hábitats naturales potenciales, indicaría una cierta abundancia de este árbol en zonas próximas como cultivo de regadío. Esto nos aporta información paleoeconómica a través de las estrategias de aprovechamiento del entorno forestal, como la amortización de los restos de poda en la construcción de la muralla del castillo de Juslibol (Zaragoza) que, en el contexto de la defensa de Saraqusta frente al avance de las tropas cristianas procedentes del norte, parece atender a criterios económicos

Dynamic changes in the lower Gállego River (Ebro Basin, NE Spain) and their relationship with anthropic activities and the quaternary substrate

The lower Gállego River has been strongly degraded since the 1960s due to human activity (gravel mining, dump accumulation, channeling works), which has produced a deep channel incision. Although these human-driven processes are usually reported in fluvial bibliography, in this case, more complex results are observable. For instance, regarding the depth and incision rates, we observed no relationship between the most anthropically impacted areas and the sections with the deepest incisions; moreover, the deepening process continues 40 years after the human interventions ceased. The reason for this maladjustment is the role played by the exhumation of the underlying Pleistocene substrate, affected by the synsedimentary processes of karstification. The appearance of paleodolines filled with fine sediments on the incision bottom and sides is the main factor conditioning the continuity and magnitude of the process. Besides, these paleodepressions direct the river dynamics and course, thus favoring its widening when they appear and causing the development of a new riverbed (Qt13) while the 1960s floodplain (Qt12) is becoming an old terrace located between 5 and 11 m above the new alluvial bottom. There are no previous records about this kind of consequences in the regional fluvial dynamics.El curso bajo del río Gállego ha sido fuertemente degradado desde los años 1960 por la actividad antrópica (extracción de áridos, acumulaciones de escombros, obras de encauzamiento) que ha conducido a una fuerte incisión. Aunque este tipo de procesos inducidos por el hombre son habituales en la bibliografía fluvial, en este caso se aprecian efectos más complejos. Son, por ejemplo, la profundidad y velocidad de la incisión, la falta de relación entre puntos de máxima intervención y los de mayor incisión o la continuidad del proceso cuarenta años después de cesar ese tipo de acciones. La respuesta a estos desajustes está en el papel que está jugando la exhumación del sustrato pleistoceno infrayacente, afectado por procesos sinsedimentarios de karstificación. La aparición de paleodolinas rellenas de sedimentos finos en el fondo y laterales de la incisión es actualmente el principal determinante de su importancia y continuidad. Además, estas paleodepresiones dirigen la dinámica y trazado del río y puntualmente favorecen ensanchamientos laterales. Esto propicia la aparición de un nuevo lecho (Qt13) a medida que el lecho de los años 1960 (Qt12) va quedando como una terraza colgada entre 5 y 11 m sobre el nuevo fondo aluvial. No hay antecedentes de este tipo de consecuencias en la dinámica fluvial regional

Holocene alluvial sequence in the Val de Zaragoza (Los Monegros) in the palaeoenvironmental context of the Ebro Basin (NE Spain)

Flat-bottomed valleys formed by Holocene fills are the most characteristic landforms in the center of the Ebro basin. This paper analyzes, within a regional framework, a small fluvial basin located in the north of the Alcubierre Range. Three Holocene morphosedimentary units (H1-H3) and a sub-functional level (H4) are identified. These units are representative of the regional geomorphological evolutionary process in the Ebro basin. New chronological insights on climate and landscape management are provided by a study of the Bastarás weir, a construction made for water flow management during the Little Ice Age (LIA). The integration of Val de Zaragoza radiocarbon datings into the regional framework enables the authors to identify the main formation stages, as well as the influence of climatic and human factors on its evolution. The intensification of human pressure in the territory is reflected in a progressive increase in sediment accumulation rates in the valleys, peaking during Roman times and the Little Ice Age.Los valles de fondo plano formados por rellenos holocenos constituyen los paisajes más característicos del sector central de la cuenca del Ebro. En este trabajo se analiza una pequeña cuenca fluvial localizada en el norte de la Sierra de Alcubierre, en la que se han identificado tres unidades morfosedimentarias holocenas (H1-H3) y un nivel subfuncional (H4), que son representativos de la evolución geomorfológica regional de la Cuenca del Ebro. Uno de los aspectos más relevantes del valle lo constituye el azud de Bastarás, construcción realizada durante la Pequeña Edad del Hielo para el aprovechamiento del agua, que aporta nuevos datos cronológicos sobre dicha época y acerca de la gestión del territorio. La integración de las dataciones radiocarbónicas obtenidas en la Val de Zaragoza en un marco regional ha permitido precisar las principales etapas de formación de los valles de fondo plano, así como la importancia de los factores climáticos y humanos en su evolución. La intensificación de la presión humana sobre el territorio queda reflejada en un progresivo aumento en las tasas de acumulación de sedimentos en los valles, alcanzando sus picos máximos en Época Romana y en la Pequeña Edad del Hielo

Aportación al conocimiento de los paleoambientes cuaternarios del macizo del Tremedal (Sierra de Albarracín, Teruel)

18 Pags., 4 Figs., 4 Tabls., 4 Fots.Se realizan das sondeos en turberas del Macizo del Tremedal (Cordillera Iberica, Teruel) con el fin de aportar datos pata la reconstrucción paleoamblental del Holoceno. En el sondeo “Ermita Tremedal” se estudia una secuencia de turba datada en 7.480±45 BP, es decir, en el llamado Óptimo Climático período Atlantico, mostrando una composición vegetal con taxones propios de medios templados húmedos. El sondeo ‘Toriles” se realizó en una laguna estacional situada a 1.800 m de altura, mostrando su registro polínico una transición desde medios húmedos a condiciones muy similares a las actuales, todo ello probablemente dentro de un momento indeterminado del Holoceno Reciente.Este trabajo se ha llevado a cabo a partir de una Ayuda a la Investigación concedida por el Instituto de Estudios Turolenses en 2003.Peer reviewe