On the Nature of Fossil Galaxy Groups: Are they really fossils ?

We use SDSS-DR4 photometric and spectroscopic data out to redshift z~0.1 combined with ROSAT All Sky Survey X-ray data to produce a sample of twenty-five fossil groups (FGs), defined as bound systems dominated by a single, luminous elliptical galaxy with extended X-ray emission. We examine possible biases introduced by varying the parameters used to define the sample and the main pitfalls are discussed. The spatial density of FGs, estimated via the V/V_ MAX} test, is 2.83 x 10^{-6} h_{75}^3 Mpc^{-3} for L_x > 0.89 x 10^42 h_{75}^-2 erg/s consistent with Vikhlinin et al. (1999), who examined an X-ray overluminous elliptical galaxy sample (OLEG). We compare the general properties of FGs identified here with a sample of bright field ellipticals generated from the same dataset. These two samples show no differences in the distribution of neighboring faint galaxy density excess, distance from the red sequence in the color-magnitude diagram, and structural parameters such as a$_{4}$ and internal color gradients. Furthermore, examination of stellar populations shows that our twenty-five FGs have similar ages, metallicities, and $\alpha$-enhancement as the bright field ellipticals, undermining the idea that these systems represent fossils of a physical mechanism that occurred at high redshift. Our study reveals no difference between FGs and field ellipticals, suggesting that FGs might not be a distinct family of true fossils, but rather the final stage of mass assembly in the Universe.Comment: 18 pages, Accepted to A

Associated factors to the control Of cardiovascular risk in a low-income population from the caribbean region of Colombia

To identify associated factors to the control of blood pressure (BP), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and glycated hemoglobin (hba1c) in a low-income population from the Caribbean region of Colombia, enrolled in “De todo corazón -DTC” program between 2013-201

Effectiveness of a cardiovascular disease prevention program in the control of cardiovascular risk factors in a low-income population from the caribbean region of Colombia

To evaluate the effectiveness of a cardiovascular disease prevention program in the control of cardiovascular risk factors in a low-income population from the Caribbean region of Colombi

SPIDER - IV. Optical and NIR color gradients in Early-type galaxies: New Insights into Correlations with Galaxy Properties

We present an analysis of stellar population gradients in 4,546 Early-Type Galaxies with photometry in $grizYHJK$ along with optical spectroscopy. A new approach is described which utilizes color information to constrain age and metallicity gradients. Defining an effective color gradient, $\nabla_{\star}$, which incorporates all of the available color indices, we investigate how $\nabla_{\star}$ varies with galaxy mass proxies, i.e. velocity dispersion, stellar (M_star) and dynamical (M_dyn) masses, as well as age, metallicity, and alpha/Fe. ETGs with M_dyn larger than 8.5 x 10^10, M_odot have increasing age gradients and decreasing metallicity gradients wrt mass, metallicity, and enhancement. We find that velocity dispersion and alpha/Fe are the main drivers of these correlations. ETGs with 2.5 x 10^10 M_odot =< M_dyn =< 8.5 x 10^10 M_odot, show no correlation of age, metallicity, and color gradients wrt mass, although color gradients still correlate with stellar population parameters, and these correlations are independent of each other. In both mass regimes, the striking anti-correlation between color gradient and alpha-enhancement is significant at \sim 4sigma, and results from the fact that metallicity gradient decreases with alpha/Fe. This anti-correlation may reflect the fact that star formation and metallicity enrichment are regulated by the interplay between the energy input from supernovae, and the temperature and pressure of the hot X-ray gas in ETGs. For all mass ranges, positive age gradients are associated with old galaxies (>5-7 Gyr). For galaxies younger than \sim 5 Gyr, mostly at low-mass, the age gradient tends to be anti-correlated with the Age parameter, with more positive gradients at younger ages.Comment: Accepted for Publication in the Astronomical Journa

Effectiveness of a cardiovascular risk management program in reducing the probability of premature death due to cardiovascular events in the Colombian caribbean region

Effectiveness of a cardiovascular risk management program in reducing the probability of premature death due to cardiovascular events in the Colombian Caribbean regio

Usefulness of preoperative determination of serum MR-proadrenomedullin levels to predict the need for postoperative organ support in abdominal oncological surgery

Producción CientíficaThe need for postoperative organic support is associated with patient outcomes. Biomarkers may be useful for detecting patients at risk. MR-ProADM is a novel biomarker with an interesting profile that can be used in this context. The main objective of this study was to verify whether there was an association between the preoperative serum levels of MR-ProADM and the need for organic support after elective abdominal cancer surgery, and to determine the preoperative MR-ProADM value that predicts the need for postoperative organic support. This was a multicenter prospective observational study conducted by four tertiary hospitals in Spain between 2017 and 2018. Plasma samples were collected for the quantification of MR-ProADM from adults who underwent major abdominal surgery during 2017–2018. The primary outcome was the need for organic support in the first seven postoperative days and its association with the preoperative levels of MR-ProADM, and the secondary outcome was the preoperative levels of MR-ProADM in the study population. This study included 370 patients with a mean age of 67.4 ± 12.9 years. Seventeen percent (63 patients) required some postoperative organic support measures in the first week. The mean preoperative value of MR-ProADM in patients who required organic support was 1.16 ± 1.15 nmol/L. The AUC-ROC of the preoperative MR-ProADM values associated with the need for organic support was 0.67 (95% CI: 0.59–0.75). The preoperative MR-ProADM value, which showed the best compromise in sensitivity and specificity for predicting the need for organic support, was 0.70 nmol/L. The negative predictive value was 91%. A multivariate analysis confirmed that a preoperative level of MR-ProADM ≥ 0.70 nmol/L is an independent factor associated with risk of postoperative organic support (OR 2, 6). Elevated preoperative MR-ProADM levels are associated with the need for postoperative organic support. Therefore, MR-ProADM may be a useful biomarker for perioperative risk assessment

Burden of disease in young population of a colombian health insurance company

To estimate the burden of disease of population between 10-24 years old enrolled in the SER JOVEN program of a Colombian insurance company using disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). Incidences were estimated from the administrative claims data of Mutual SER EPS. The ICD-10 codes of the main diagnosis were identified and regrouped according to the categories of diseases reported in the global burden of disease (GBD) study. To estimate the years of life lost (YLL), the difference between the age of death and the life expectancy at that age was obtained in a reference mortality population. The years lived with disability (YLD) were obtained by multiplying the estimated morbidity and the disability weights of the GBD 2017. DALYs were calculated by adding YLD and YLLs. We used the information of 512 patients insured to Mutual SER-EPS between 10-24 years, who died during January 2015 to December 2017 from all causes, and the healthcare registers of young people aged 10-24 years residing in 21 municipalities where Mutual SER EPS has presence. In the studied population, premature deaths and disability produced 5,355 DALYs, for 2017. Of these, 67.1% (3,591) of the burden of disease was due to non-communicable causes; followed by communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases (15.9%). The remaining 17% were due to unintentional and vital injuries and unclassified causes. The specific causes with the highest reported burden were substance use disorders and mental disorders, and this relationship remained constant between 2015-2017. In both sexes the first cause was non-communicable diseases; in men, injuries; and in women, communicable, maternal, neonatal diseases. In the analyzed population there was a considerable burden of disease associated with mental disorders and substance use. It is recommended to implement effective strategies that allow prioritizing the diseases that generate the greatest burden

Adherence to long-acting reversible contraceptive methods in low- income young women from the caribbean region of Colombia

Adolescent pregnancies are more likely to occur in poor communities, commonly driven by lack of education and employment opportunities. We aimed to estimate the subdermal implant discontinuation rate and to establish the factors associated with the discontinuation of long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods in a cohort of poor women in the Caribbean region of Colombia. A retrospective cohort study of LARC method use through review of administrative record data was conducted. A population of 2,192 adolescents and young women between 10-24 years old enrolled in the “SER JOVEN” program and who received subdermal implants between 2015-2018 was considered for eligibility. This program is for young people affiliated to a health care company in the Caribbean region of Colombia. We realized a follow-up time-person of the retrospective cohort, and we estimated the incidence of discontinuation of the subdermal implant at six months, one year, two years, and three years. Kaplan-Meier estimator for survival curves, and Cox proportional hazard model were used to ascertain factors associated with method discontinuation risk. A p-value <0.050 was considered significant. A total of 2,192 women were selected with a mean (standard deviation -SD) age of 19.4 (2.8) years and a mean duration of use of subdermal implant of 2.6 (0.8) years. We estimated the subdermal implant discontinuation rate at six months in 0.7% [CI95% 0.3-1.1], a year later in 1.5% [CI95% 1-2], two years later in 2.1% [CI95% 1.5-2.7] and finally at three years in 2.2% [CI95% 1.6-2.8]. Women who stated they have children at baseline were about 70% less risk to discontinue subdermal implants (HR: 0.3 [CI95% 0.1 – 0.8]). Adolescent pregnancy is a public health problem, and it is an important cause of poverty and illness. Then, the use of subdermal implants is an effective alternative to prevent unintended pregnancies

Obsolescence in the neighbourhood of Nuestra Señora del Carmen

Actualmente, áreas urbanas donde habita un importantísimo sector poblacional están afectadas por una compleja problemática que se materializa en cuestiones arquitectónicas (desencaje tipológico, deficiencias técnicas, deterioro físico), urbanísticas (aislamiento, carencias funcionales, degradación del espacio público) y sociales (desempleo, segregación, conflictividad). El análisis del estado de obsolescencia de la barriada de El Carmen ha sido el punto de inicio de este trabajo de investigación. A partir de indicadores de obsolescencia socioeconómicos y físicos, anteriormente definidos por el proyecto de investigación «Intervención en barriadas residenciales obsoletas: manual de buenas prácticas» (G-GI3001/IDIH), financiado por la Unión Europea –Fondos FEDER– y gestionado por la Consejería de Fomento y Vivienda de la Junta de Andalucía, se ha establecido la situación de la barriada con referencia a valores máximos y mínimos, hallados a través del estudio de un número representativo de barriadas andaluzas. Tras la valoración del estado de obsolescencia de la barriada, se profundizó en su estudio a través de la comparación del cumplimiento de las recomendaciones establecidas como buenas prácticas en la publicación Intervención en barriadas residenciales obsoletas. Manual de buenas prácticas. Esta verificación permitió la elaboración de un diagnóstico pormenorizado basado en el análisis de los diferentes aspectos atendidos por las buenas prácticas, donde se evaluaban las deficiencias de El Carmen a escala urbana y arquitectónica, y dentro de estas, en diferentes categorías, siendo las urbanas: compacidad, conectividad, zonas verdes, funcionalidad, seguridad e inclusividad; y las arquitectónicas: hibridación, diversidad y flexibilidad, comunidad y accesibilidad. Esta evaluación detallada de las deficiencias y potencialidades de la barriada establecía los fundamentos para la definición de criterios y estrategias de intervención. Estos criterios de intervención tenían como base una selección de las buenas prácticas más adecuadas de acuerdo con las circunstancias halladas en la barriada, sistematizando las actuaciones que priorizan la atención de aspectos primordiales o que actúan mitigando carencias graves. Los criterios que se establecen son: sostenibilidad, la mejora de la calidad de vida de sus residentes y la atracción de nueva población a la barriada. Respondiendo a este estudio y la definición de criterios se proponen actuaciones estratégicas englobadas en cuatro líneas de trabajo: relación con la ciudad y su contexto, cualificación del espacio público y dotaciones existentes, cualificación de edificios existentes y actualización tipológica.Today, a number of high-occupancy urban areas are being affected by a complex problem that materialises in architectural issues (typological mismatch, technical deficiencies, physical deterioration), urban planning issues (isolation, functional inadequacies, deterioration of public space) and social issues (unemployment, segregation, conflict). Analysing the state of obsolescence of the neighbourhood of El Carmen was the starting point of this research project. Using socio-economic and physical obsolescence indicators established in an earlier research project–“Intervention in Obsolete Residential Neighbourhoods: Manual of Best Practices” (G-GI3001/IDIH), funded by the ERDF and managed by the Regional Ministry of Public Works and Housing of Andalusia–the situation of this neighbourhood was defined with reference to minimum and maximum values identified by studying a representative number of Andalusian neighbourhoods. After assessing the neighbourhood’s state of obsolescence, it was then studied to determine the degree of compliance with the best practices recommended in the publication Intervención en barriadas residenciales obsoletas. Manual de buenas prácticas. This verification made it possible to come up with a detailed diagnosis based on the analysis of different aspects addressed in that manual of best practices, evaluating the urban and architectural deficiencies of El Carmen and subdividing each into different categories. Urban deficiencies included compactness, connectivity, green areas, functionality, safety and inclusiveness; and architectural deficiencies were hybridisation, diversity, flexibility, community and accessibility. This detailed analysis of the neighbourhood’s shortcomings and potential improvements provided a solid foundation for defining intervention criteria and strategies. Those intervention criteria were based on a selection of the best practices deemed most appropriate in light of the neighbourhood’s current situation, systematising actions that address the most important aspects or attempt to mitigate serious deficiencies. The established criteria are as follows: sustainability, improving the residents’ quality of life, and bringing new residents to the neighbourhood. Based on this study and the defined criteria, strategic courses of action were proposed in four general areas: relationship with the city and its context, qualification of existing facilities and public spaces, qualification of existing buildings, and typological modernisation