Noves tendències didàctiques en l’ensenyament del llatí i la cultura clàssica: les trobades d’alumnes de Llatí a 4t d’ESO

Les trobades d’alumnes de Llatí de 4t d’ESO, organitzades per l’Equip ICE Dolors Condom de Cultura Clàssica, pretenen acostar l’alumnat al món clàssic a través d’una jornada ludicodidàctica. Aquestes trobades es realitzen cada any en un lloc diferent i en una zona de les comarques gironines on hi ha restes arqueològiques romanes: Empúries, Roses, Girona, Caldes de Malavella i, fins i tot, la via romana del Capsacosta; així l’alumnat pot veure in situ les restes arqueològiques i al mateix temps realitzar activitats lúdiques i d’aprenentatge sobre el món clàssic. Per tal de poder dur a terme aquesta activitat necessitem la implicació de les diferents entitats de la zona, en primer lloc els ajuntaments, però també els museus, els jaciments arqueològics, la Universitat de Girona, el Bisbat de Girona i organitzacions culturals com els manaies o les colles geganteres. Però el que engresca més l’alumnat és el fet de conèixer altres joves com ells i realitzar les activitats conjuntament, sobretot les més lúdiques i les relacionades amb les noves tecnologies, que els són més familiars. La intenció és que s’interessin i apreciïn la influència del món clàssic en el nostre entorn més pròxim

The Palma Echo Platform: Rationale and Design of an Echocardiography Core Lab

Background: The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Characterization of cardiac structural and functional abnormalities due to the MetS can help recognize individuals who would benefit the most from preventive interventions. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) provides an opportunity to identify those abnormalities in a reproducible and cost-efficient manner. In research settings, implementation of protocols for the acquisition and analysis of TTE images are key to ensure validity and reproducibility, thus facilitating answering relevant questions about the association of the MetS with cardiac alterations. Methods and Results: The Palma Echo Platform (PEP) is a coordinated network that is built up to evaluate the underlying structural and functional cardiac substrate of participants with MetS. Repeated TTE will be used to evaluate 5-year changes in the cardiac structure and function in a group of 565 individuals participating in a randomized trial of a lifestyle intervention for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. The echocardiographic studies will be performed at three study sites, and will be centrally evaluated at the PEP core laboratory. Planned analyses will involve evaluating the effect of the lifestyle intervention on cardiac structure and function, and the association of the MetS and its components with changes in cardiac structure and function. Particular emphasis will be placed on evaluating parameters of left atrial structure and function, which have received more limited attention in past investigations. This PEP will be available for future studies addressing comparable questions. Conclusion: In this article we describe the protocol of a central echocardiography laboratory for the study of functional and structural alterations of the MetS.Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers R01HL137338 and K24HL148521, and administrative supplement to promote diversity 3R01HL137338-03S1. This work was supported by the official Spanish Institutions for funding scientific biomedical research, CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), through the Fondo de Investigación para la Salud (FIS), which was co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (PI13/00673, PI13/00492, PI13/00272, PI13/01123, PI13/00462, PI13/00233, PI13/02184, PI13/00728, PI13/01090, PI13/01056, PI14/01722, PI14/00636, PI14/00618, PI14/00696, PI14/01206, PI14/01919, PI14/00853, PI14/01374, PI14/00972, PI14/00728, PI14/01471, PI16/00473, PI16/00662, PI16/01873, PI16/01094, PI16/00501, PI16/00533, PI16/00381, PI16/00366, PI16/01522, PI16/01120, PI17/00764, PI17/01183, PI17/00855, PI17/01347, PI17/00525, PI17/01827, PI17/00532, PI17/00215, PI17/01441, PI17/00508, PI17/01732, PI17/00926, PI19/00957, PI19/00386, PI19/00309, PI19/01032, PI19/00576, PI19/00017, PI19/01226, PI19/00781, PI19/01560, PI19/01332, PI20/01802, PI20/00138, PI20/01532, PI20/00456, PI20/00339, PI20/00557, PI20/00886, and PI20/01158); the Especial Action Project entitled: Implementación y evaluación de una intervención intensiva sobre la actividad física Cohorte PREDIMED-Plus; the European Research Council (Advanced Research Grant 2014–2019; agreement #340918); the Recercaixa (number 2013ACUP00194); grants from the Consejería de Salud de la Junta de Andalucía (PI0458/2013, PS0358/2016, PI0137/2018); the PROMETEO/2017/017 grant from the Generalitat Valenciana; the SEMERGEN grant; none of the funding sources took part in the design, collection, analysis, interpretation of the data, or writing the report, or in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication

Comparative efficacy of two primary care interventions to assist withdrawal from long term benzodiazepine use: A protocol for a clustered, randomized clinical trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although benzodiazepines are effective, long-term use is not recommended because of potential adverse effects; the risks of tolerance and dependence; and an increased risk of hip fractures, motor vehicle accidents, and memory impairment. The estimated prevalence of long-term benzodiazepine use in the general population is about 2,2 to 2,6%, is higher in women and increases steadily with age. Interventions performed by General Practitioners may help patients to discontinue long-term benzodiazepine use. We have designed a trial to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of two brief general practitioner-provided interventions, based on gradual dose reduction, and will compare the effectiveness of these interventions with that of routine clinical practice.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>In a three-arm cluster randomized controlled trial, general practitioners will be randomly allocated to: a) a group in which the first patient visit will feature a structured interview, followed by visits every 2-3 weeks to the end of dose reduction; b) a group in which the first patient visit will feature a structured interview plus delivery of written instructions to self-reduce benzodiazepine dose, or c) routine care. Using a computerized pharmaceutical prescription database, 495 patients, aged 18-80 years, taking benzodiazepine for at least 6 months, will be recruited in primary care health districts of three regions of Spain (the Balearic Islands, Catalonia, and Valencia). The primary outcome will be benzodiazepine use at 12 months. The secondary outcomes will include measurements of anxiety and depression symptoms, benzodiazepine dependence, quality of sleep, and alcohol consumption.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Although some interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing benzodiazepine consumption by long-term users, the clinical relevance of such interventions is limited by their complexity. This randomized trial will compare the effectiveness and safety of two complex stepped care interventions with that of routine care in a study with sufficient statistical power to detect clinically relevant differences.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>Current Controlled Trials: <a href="http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN13024375">ISRCTN13024375</a></p

Assessment of the efficacy of ethyl silicate and dibasic ammonium phosphate consolidants in improving the durability of two building sandstones from Andalusia (Spain)

We performed a comparative study of the efectiveness of ethyl silicate (TEOS) and dibasic ammonium phosphate (DAP) on two varieties of natural stone used in the architectural heritage of Andalusia (Spain): Arenisca Ronda (calcarenite) and Molinaza Roja (arkose). The consolidants were applied on healthy samples with a paintbrush, a method frequently used in real building works, and the study was divided into three phases: (a) petrophysical analysis and analysis of the porous system prior to application of the consolidants; (b) evaluation of the changes that have taken place after each application; (c) evaluation of the durability of the two varieties of treated rock when subjected to the salt crystallization ageing test. The results obtained show that there is a compositional afnity between the consolidant and the rock and that this afnity has an infuence on the efcacy of the product. This explains why DAP performed better in Arenisca Ronda, which is rich in carbonates, while TEOS was more efective for Molinaza Roja, which is rich in silicates. The change in the porous system was not important, although it showed positive aspects such as an improvement in the drainage of the water during the drying process. We also measured the level of penetration of both products, which reached a depth of 3–5 mm depending on the product applied. We also noticed a negative result, namely the change in the colour of both rocks after treatment with the consolidants, especially in the case of DAP. Finally, the stones were subjected to a salt crystallization test, the results of which show that the consolidants increased the durability of the materials

Noves tendències didàctiques en l’ensenyament del llatí i la cultura clàssica: les trobades d’alumnes de Llatí a 4t d’ESO

Les trobades d’alumnes de Llatí de 4t d’ESO, organitzades per l’Equip ICE Dolors Condom de Cultura Clàssica, pretenen acostar l’alumnat al món clàssic a través d’una jornada ludicodidàctica. Aquestes trobades es realitzen cada any en un lloc diferent i en una zona de les comarques gironines on hi ha restes arqueològiques romanes: Empúries, Roses, Girona, Caldes de Malavella i, fins i tot, la via romana del Capsacosta; així l’alumnat pot veure in situ les restes arqueològiques i al mateix temps realitzar activitats lúdiques i d’aprenentatge sobre el món clàssic. Per tal de poder dur a terme aquesta activitat necessitem la implicació de les diferents entitats de la zona, en primer lloc els ajuntaments, però també els museus, els jaciments arqueològics, la Universitat de Girona, el Bisbat de Girona i organitzacions culturals com els manaies o les colles geganteres. Però el que engresca més l’alumnat és el fet de conèixer altres joves com ells i realitzar les activitats conjuntament, sobretot les més lúdiques i les relacionades amb les noves tecnologies, que els són més familiars. La intenció és que s’interessin i apreciïn la influència del món clàssic en el nostre entorn més pròxim

Assessing benthic marine habitats colonized with <i>posidonia oceanica</i> using autonomous marine robots and deep learning: a Eurofleets campaign

This paper presents a methodology for observing and analyzing marine ecosystems using images gathered from autonomous marine vehicles. Visual data is composed in photo-mosaics and classified using machine learning algorithms. The approach expands existing solutions, enabling extended monitoring in time, space, and depth. Imagery was collected during a field campaign in the Spanish marine and terrestrial protected area of Cabrera, Balearic Islands, colonized by the endemic seagrass species Posidonia oceanica (Po). The operations were performed using three distinct platforms, an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), an Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV) and a Lagrangian Drifter (LD). Results are compared to prior habitat maps to assess seagrass meadow distribution. The proposed solution can be scaled and adapted to other locations and species, considering limitations in data storage and battery endurance

Evaluation of a multicomponent intervention consisting of education and feedback to reduce benzodiazepine prescriptions by general practitioners: The BENZORED hybrid type 1 cluster randomized controlled trial.

BackgroundCurrent benzodiazepine (BZD) prescription guidelines recommend short-term use to minimize the risk of dependence, cognitive impairment, and falls and fractures. However, many clinicians overprescribe BZDs and chronic use by patients is common. There is limited evidence on the effectiveness of interventions delivered by general practitioners (GPs) on reducing prescriptions and long-term use of BZDs. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention for GPs that seeks to reduce BZD prescriptions and the prevalence of long-term users.Methods and findingsWe conducted a multicenter two-arm, cluster randomized controlled trial in 3 health districts in Spain (primary health centers [PHCs] in Balearic Islands, Catalonia, and Valencian Community) from September 2016 to May 2018. The 81 PHCs were randomly allocated to the intervention group (n = 41; 372 GPs) or the control group (n = 40; 377 GPs). GPs were not blinded to the allocation; however, pharmacists, researchers, and trial statisticians were blinded to the allocation arm. The intervention consisted of a workshop about the appropriate prescribing of BZDs and tapering-off long-term BZD use using a tailored stepped dose reduction with monthly BZD prescription feedback and access to a support web page. The primary outcome, based on 700 GPs (351 in the control group and 349 in the intervention group), compared changes in BZD prescriptions in defined daily doses (DDDs) per 1,000 inhabitants per day after 12 months. The 2 secondary outcomes were the proportion of long-term users (≥6 months) and the proportion of long-term users over age 65 years. Intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis was used to assess all clinical outcomes. Forty-nine GPs (21 intervention group and 28 control group) were lost to follow-up. However, all GPs were included in the ITT analysis. After 12 months, there were a statistically significant decline in total BZD prescription in the intervention group compared to the control group (mean difference: -3.24 DDDs per 1,000 inhabitants per day, 95% confidence interval (CI): -4.96, -1.53, p 0.001), and the adjusted absolute difference in long-term users over age 65 years was -0.87 (95% CI: -1.44, -0.30, p = 0.003). A key limitation of this clustered design clinical trial is the imbalance of some baseline characteristics. The control groups have a higher rate of baseline BZD prescription, and more GPs in the intervention group were women, GPs with a doctorate degree, and trainers of GP residents.ConclusionsA multicomponent intervention that targeted GPs and included educational meeting, feedback about BZD prescriptions, and a support web page led to a statistically significant reduction of BZD prescriptions and fewer long-term users. Although the effect size was small, the high prevalence of BZD use in the general population suggests that large-scale implementation of this intervention could have positive effects on the health of many patients.Trial registrationISRCTN ISRCTN28272199

Evaluating the Implementation of a Multicomponent Intervention Consisting of Education and Feedback on Reducing Benzodiazepine Prescriptions by General Practitioners: BENZORED Hybrid Type I Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: General practitioners (GPs) in developed countries widely prescribe benzodiazepines (BZDs) for their anxiolytic, hypnotic, and muscle-relaxant effects. Treatment duration, however, is rarely limited, and this results in a significant number of chronic users. Long-term BZD use is associated with cognitive impairment, falls with hip fractures, traffic accidents, and increased mortality. The BENZORED IV trial was a hybrid type-1 trial conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of an intervention to reduce BZD prescription in primary care. The purpose of this qualitative study was to analyze the facilitators and barriers regarding the implementation of the intervention in primary care settings. Methods: A qualitative interview study with 40 GPs from three Spanish health districts. Focus group meetings with GPs from the intervention arm of the BENZORED IV trial were held at primary healthcare centers in the three districts. For sampling purposes, the GPs were classified as high or low implementers according to the success of the intervention measured at 12 months. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) was used to conduct the meetings and to code, rate, and analyze the data. Results: Three of the 41 CFIR constructs strongly distinguished between high and low implementers: the complexity of the intervention, the individual Stage of Change, and the key stakeholder’s engagement. Seven constructs weakly discriminated between the two groups: adaptability in the intervention, external policy and incentives, implementation climate, relative priority, self-efficacy, compatibility, and engaging a formally appointed implementation leader. Fourteen constructs did not discriminate between the two groups, six had insufficient data for evaluation, and eleven had no data for evaluation. Conclusions: We identified constructs that could explain differences in the efficacy in implementation of the intervention. This information is relevant for the design of successful strategies for implementation of the intervention