Peopling of Huelva coast in Roman times and its relation to high-energy marine events

Las investigaciones geomorfológicas y arqueológicas que actualmente se están desarrollando en el Paraje Natural Marismas del Odiel −reserva de la Biosfera por la UNESCO−, especialmente en el cordón arenoso de La Cascajera, han ofrecido interesantes resultados que permiten retomar los estudios sobre la ocupación del litoral onubense en época romana desde un punto de vista diacrónico en el tránsito del bajo imperio hacia la tardo-antigüedad. A este respecto son numerosas las factorías pesqueras (cetariae) que jalonan la costa más occidental de la antigua Provincia Baetica y en las cuales, ahora tras un proceso de revisión, se pueden intuir o comprobar momentos de ruptura y recuperación en sus explotaciones que habría que poner en relación con eventos marinos catastróficos (Extreme Waves Event - EWE) que, de manera histórica, han afectado a estas costas.The geomorphologic and archaeological research that currently is being developed in the Odiel Marshland Nature Reserve −Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO−, especially in the sand barrier of La Cascajera, have provided interesting results that allow know about the occupation of Huelva coast in Roman times from a diachronic point of view in the transition from Late Empire to the Late Antiquity. In that respect are numerous fish salting plants (cetariae) that dot the western coast of the former province Baetica and which now after a review process, it can sense or see moments of breakdown and recovery in their holdings should be put in relation to extreme wave events (EWE) that historically have affected these shores

Marine events and coastal settlements in Southwestern Iberia

La costa es una de las zonas más dinámicas del sistema terrestre, donde se produce la interacción de los procesos terrestres y marinos. Los cambios en el nivel relativo del mar, la evolución costera y los fenómenos extremos, como tormentas y tsunamis, son de gran interés local y global. La forma en que las culturas pasadas han hecho frente a los cambios ambientales y a los riesgos naturales proporciona importantes lecciones para la respuesta humana a los cambios futuros. Es frecuente que algunos estudio geoarqueológicos actuales, con enfoques geomorfológicos, paleoambientales y sedimentológicos, carezcan de la adecuada integración de datos arqueológicos e históricos. Este número especial de la revista Cuaternario y Geomorfología tiene como objetivo proporcionar una plataforma multidisciplinar que sirva para definir el estado actual de la ciencia geoarqueológica, en relación con los eventos marinos pasados de alta energía registrados en la costa ibérica del golfo de Cádiz. Confiamos que las contribuciones que aquí se presentan estimulen un fructífero debate sobre estos nuevos enfoques interdisciplinares y se mejore el conocimiento sobre la interacción entre los asentamientos humanos costeros y los riesgos geológicos pasadosOne of the most dynamic parts of the earth system is where terrestrial processes interact with marine processes on the coast. Changes in relative sea level, coastal evolution and extreme events such as storms and tsunamis are of local and global interest. Such events hinder individual well-being and intensify/enhance environmental degradation. In a changing world, in which climate and sea-level change impact on human habitats, geoarchaeological research is highly relevant. The way past cultures coped with environmental change and natural hazards provide important lessons for human responses to future environmental changes. Geomorphological, palaeoenvironmental and sedimentological approaches in geoarchaeological studies frequently lack the integration of archaeological and historical data. This special issue of the journal "Cuaternario y Geomorfología" therefore aims to provide a multidisciplinary platform to define the present state of geoarchaeological science throughout the Iberian coast of the Gulf of Cádiz. All the contributions will stimulate the debate on new approaches to study human-environmental interaction and address research themes such as 'palaeo-geohazards' (e.g. tsunami, earthquake and coastal and fluvial flooding

Poor Physical Performance Is Associated with Postoperative Complications and Mortality in Preoperative Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Introduction: Poor physical performance has been shown to be a good predictor of complications in some pathologies. The objective of our study was to evaluate, in patients with colorectal neoplasia prior to surgery, physical performance and its relationship with postoperative complications and in-hospital mortality, at 1 month and at 6 months. Methods: We conducted a prospective study on patients with preoperative colorectal neoplasia, between October 2018 and July 2021. Physical performance was evaluated using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) test and hand grip strength (HGS). For a decrease in physical performance, SPPB < 10 points or HGS below the EWGSOP2 cut-off points was considered. Nutritional status was evaluated using subjective global assessment (SGA). The prevalence of postoperative complications and mortality during admission, at 1 month, and at 6 months was evaluated. Results: A total of 296 patients, mean age 60.4 ± 12.8 years, 59.3% male, were evaluated. The mean BMI was 27.6 ± 5.1 kg/m2. The mean total SPPB score was 10.57 ± 2.07 points. A total of 69 patients presented a low SPPB score (23.3%). Hand grip strength showed a mean value of 33.1 ± 8.5 kg/m2 for men and 20.7 ± 4.3 kg/m2 for women. A total of 58 patients presented low HGS (19.6%). SGA found 40.2% (119) of patients with normal nourishment, 32.4% (96) with moderate malnutrition, and 27.4% (81) with severe malnutrition. Postoperative complications were more frequent in patients with a low SPPB score (60.3%vs38.6%; p=0.002) and low HGS (64.9%vs39.3%, p=0.001). (...)This research was partially funded by the 2019 research grants of SANCYD (Sociedad Andaluza de Nutrición Clínica y Dietética) and by an unrestricted grant from Persan Farma. Partial funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málag

Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression Symptoms and Their Relationship with Nutritional Status and Mortality in Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Background: Anxiety and depression are common in patients with cancer. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients awaiting elective surgery and whether there is an association with their preoperative nutritional status and postoperative mortality. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 215 patients with CRC proposed for surgery. Data about nutritional status were collected using the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria, while anxiety and depression symptoms data were collected using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results: HADS detected possible anxiety in 41.9% of patients, probable anxiety in 25.6%, possible depression in 21.9%, and probable depression in 7.9%. GLIM criteria found 116 (53.9%) patients with malnutrition. The HADS score for depression subscale was significantly higher in malnourished patients than in well-nourished (5.61 ± 3.65 vs. 3.95 ± 2.68; p = 0.001). After controlling for potential confounders, malnourished patients were 10.19 times more likely to present probable depression (95% CI 1.13–92.24; p = 0.039). Mortality was 1.9%, 4,2%, and 5.6% during admission and after 6 and 12 months, respectively. Compared to patients without depressive symptomatology, in patients with probable depression, mortality risk was 14.67 times greater (95% CI 1.54–140.21; p = 0.02) during admission and 6.62 times greater (95% CI 1.34–32.61; p = 0.02) after 6 months. Conclusions: The presence of anxiety and depression symptoms in CRC patients awaiting elective surgery is high. There is an association between depression symptoms, preoperative nutritional status, and postoperative mortality.This research was partially funded by the 2019 research grants of SANCYD (Sociedad Andaluza de Nutrición Clínica y Dietética) and by an unrestricted grant from Nestlé Health Science

Silver and bismuth as tracers of historical pollution in the Tinto-Odiel estuary (SW Spain)

Este trabajo analiza la evolución vertical de facies y el contenido en Ag y Bi de un testigo continuo extraído en el estuario medio del río Tinto (S.O. España). El análisis sedimentológico y paleontológico permite definir cuatro facies sedimentarias, características de depósitos aluviales (F1: 6,5-6,2 ka BP), la presencia de facies estuarinas durante la inundación marina del sector coincidente con el máximo transgresivo holoceno y el periodo inmediatamente posterior (F2: 6,2-5,2 ka BP), el tránsito a marismas (F3: 5,2 ka BP-siglo XIX) y un relleno antrópico de finales del siglo XX. Los contenidos de Ag y Bi permiten precisar tres periodos principales de contaminación histórica: i) inicio de las actividades mineras y explotación de Ag durante la edad de Bronce (~4,5-3,2 ka BP); ii) periodo de máxima intensidad de la explotación minera romana (siglos I-II DC); y iii) minería intensiva reciente (desde 1870).This paper analyzes the vertical evolution of facies and the Ag and Bi contents of a continuous core extracted in the middle estuary of the Tinto river (S.O. Spain). The sedimentological and paleontological analysis allows to define four sedimentary facies, characteristics of alluvial deposits (F1: 6.5-6.2 ka BP), the marine flooding of the sector during the maximum of the Holocene transgression and the period immediately after (F2: 6.2 -5.2 ka BP), the transition to marshes (F3: 5.2-19th century) and an anthropic landfill since the end of the 20th century. The concentrations of Ag and Bi make it possible to specify three main periods of historical contamination: i) the start of mining activities and the exploitation of Ag during the Bronze Age (~ 4.5-3.2 ka BP); ii) the period of maximum intensity of Roman mining (1st-2nd centuries DC); and iii) recent intensive mining (since 1870)

Comparison of radiometric dating in Late Holocene seashell samples: the example of the Huelva Estuary tempestites

El estudio del registro sedimentario holoceno del estuario de los ríos Tinto y Odiel (Huelva) se ha realizado históricamente por medio de sondeos y de afloramientos superficiales. Nuevos perfiles naturales en la Isla de Saltés (La Cascajera) están ofreciendo una nueva perspectiva sobre la génesis y cronología de los depósitos. Para la determinación temporal de estos procesos se llevaron a cabo dataciones radiométricas mediante el análisis de series de Uranio y de radiocarbono. El contraste de los resultados de ambas técnicas ha permitido observar grandes desfases temporales en las series de Uranio, siendo las edades de 14C unos 200 años más antiguas que las de U/Th, para las mismas muestras. La contaminación postsedimentaria en estos sistemas abiertos, ha favorecido el rejuvenecimiento de la edad de la muestra, por el continuo aporte al sistema de 234U y 238U. Esto pone de manifiesto lo inapropiado del método U/Th en sedimentos estuarinos recientes y, sobre todo, altamente contaminados; no debiendo utilizarse este método de forma exclusiva. El método de radiocarbono parece ser más preciso y adecuado, aplicándose a los resultados las pertinentes calibraciones marinas regionales (ΔR), siendo aconsejable su modelización Bayesiana (OxCal).The study of the Holocene sedimentary record of the Estuary of the Tinto and Odiel rivers (Huelva) has been carried out historically by boreholes and surficial outcrops. New natural profiles on Saltés Island (La Cascajera) are offering a new perspective on the genesis and chronology of the deposits. For the temporal determination of these processes, radiometric dating was carried out by radiocarbon and uranium series analysis, being the ages of 14C are about 200 years older than those of U / Th, for the same samples. The contrast of the results of both techniques has allowed us to observe large time lags in the uranium series. Post-sedimentary contam ination in these open systems has favored the rejuvenation of the age of the samples, due to the continuous contribution of 234U and 238U to the system. This highlights the inappropriateness of the U/Th method in recent estuarine sediments and, above all, highly polluted; therefore, this method shouldn’t be used exclusively. The radiocarbon method seems to be more precise and adequate, always applying the pertinent regional marine calibrations (ΔR) to the conventional results, being advisable a Bayesian modeling (OxCal)

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries