Analysis of stratigraphical sequences at Cocina Cave (Spain) using rare earth elements geochemistry

This study investigates the stratigraphical sequence of Cocina Cave (Spain) employing and testing for the first time the capability of rare earth elements as markers of human activities in caves. Located in Dos Aguas (Valencian Community, Spain), Cocina Cave is characterized by the presence of several Holocene archaeological deposits from the final Mesolithic to the present day and is a pivotal site for understanding the socio‐ecological dynamics of the last hunter‐gatherer inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula and the transition to pastoral and agricultural economies in the Western Mediterranean. However, the identification of strata from particular time‐periods in the cave is often difficult due to the homogeneity of layers, the poor archaeological record in some strata and the presence of severe disturbance phenomena. The methodological approach of this study consisted of cross‐referencing rare earth elements and other chemical markers with the archaeological stratigraphical interpretation, in an attempt to not only support the identification of the anthropic contribution to the formation of Cocina Cave strata, but also to characterize and confirm different natural and occupational episodes, particularly those associated with hunter‐gatherer, early agriculturalist, and shepherd activities. Sediments were collected from different excavation areas and analysed for major elements, trace elements, rare earth elements (REE), soil organic matter (SOM) amounts and pH. Multivariate statistics were employed to group samples according to their elemental profile, and these were then compared to the archaeological temporal interpretation. The obtained results showed that REE amount and fractionation geochemical processes were regulated by carbonates, phosphates and pH. The use of REE as markers was particularly useful as their concentrations and their calculated ratios and anomaly distributions were demonstrated to be highly consistent with the archaeological stratigraphical interpretation

Metodología de muestreo expeditivo ambiental/productivo para la determinación de líneas de base prediales en planes MBGI

En el Manejo de Bosque con Ganadería Integrada (MBGI); las propuestas técnicas se basan en el manejo adaptativo de los componentes forestales; ganaderos; forrajeros; y ambientales que se deben plasmar en la presentación de un Plan MBGI con propuestas factibles de implementar. Este tipo de manejo implica un proceso de monitoreo de la evolución de los distintos componentes en el que los aciertos y los errores de las prácticas de manejo son fuentes de conocimiento. Se trata de un proceso abierto que atiende la historia del sistema e incluye intereses y expectativas de usuarios presentes y futuros. Para llevar a cabo el ordenamiento predial bajo el concepto del manejo adaptativo; es imprescindible contar con un sistema de monitoreo que verifique que la planificación cumple con los objetivos en todas las dimensiones de la sustentabilidad: ambiental; social-económica y productiva. A través de la metodología actualmente propuesta para el monitoreo de planes prediales a campo para Patagonia (Peri et al.; 2021); se relevan datos para el cálculo o estimación de 12 indicadores ambientales; 2 socio económicos y 6 productivos. En este diseño se procura optimizar la obtención de datos de calidad; basados en la economía de los recursos del monitoreo y el tiempo. Atento a esta premisa; se propone establecer como base una transecta lineal; fajas de diferentes anchos asociadas a la misma y cuadros de censo cada 5 metros de transecta; para cada unidad de muestreo específica (tipos de vegetación).Estación Experimental Agropecuaria BarilocheFil: Varela, Santiago Agustin. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria (INTA). Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Area Forestal. Grupo de Ecologia Forestal; ArgentinaFil: Diez, Juan Pablo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria (INTA). Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Area Forestal. Grupo de Ecologia Forestal; ArgentinaFil: Gazzotti, Juan Ignacio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria (INTA). Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Agencia de Extensión Rural San Martin de los Andes; ArgentinaFil: Valiña, Pablo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria (INTA). Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Agencia de Extensión Rural San Martin de los Andes; ArgentinaFil: Furlan, Natalia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria (INTA). Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Agencia de Extensión Rural San Martin de los Andes; ArgentinaFil: Cardozo, Andrea Gabriela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria (INTA). Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Agencia de Extension Rural El Bolson; ArgentinaFil: Farina, Clara Maria. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria (INTA). Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Area Produccion Animal; ArgentinaFil: Castillo, Daniel Alejandro. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria (INTA). Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Area Desarrollo Rural; ArgentinaFil: Umaña, Fernando. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria (INTA). Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Area Desarrollo Rural. Laboratorio de Teledetección; ArgentinaFil: Raffo, Fernando. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Area de Recusos Naturales. Laboratorio de Teledetección; ArgentinaFil: Borrelli, Laura Beatriz. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria (INTA). Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Area de Recursos Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Claps, Leonardo Luis. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria (INTA). Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Area Desarrollo Rural; ArgentinaFil: Aramayo, Maria Valeria Del Luján. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria (INTA). Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Area Recursos Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Amoroso, Mariano Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales, Agroecologia y Desarrollo Rural; ArgentinaFil: Von Müller, Axel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria (INTA). Estacion Experimental Agroforestal Esquel. Area Forestal; Argentin

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

Respuesta docente frente a la pandemia de la COVID-19: el uso de Blackboard y Flipped Teaching en la asignatura de Metodología Arqueológica

El sistema educativo universitario se basa en gran medida en clases presenciales. Un evento inesperado como la pandemia de la COVID-19, que estalló durante los primeros meses del 2020, llevó a las autoridades a declarar el estado de alerta y a tomar, entre otras medidas, la interrupción de la actividad docente presencial. El profesorado universitario tuvo que adaptar la actividad docente a un sistema, para muchos, novedoso: la docencia en línea. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo mostrar los instrumentos y las estrategias empleadas para dar una rápida respuesta a una situación de emergencia. Nuestro caso se centra en la enseñanza de una asignatura de tercer curso del Grado de Historia en la Universitat de València: metodología Arqueológica, adaptada a un sistema de tutorías y clases por e-learning.El empleo de Blackboard Collaborate ha demostrado ser una herramienta muy positiva que complementa el aula virtual simple y potencia la enseñanza y la tutoría en línea, implementada con cuestionarios en Moodle y Kahoot!. Esta plataforma, en colaboración con el modelo pedagógico de aula inversa como modalidad de aprendizaje, ha sido una estrategia motivadora y efectiva para el estudiantado. Esta adaptación ha permitido mantener la trasmisión de los contenidos con resultados de aprendizaje positivos. The university education system is largely based on face-to-face classes. An unexpected event such as the pandemic development of COVID-19 during the first months of 2020, led the authorities to declare a state of alert and, among other measures, the interruption of teaching activity at the university took action. Both professors and students have suddenly adapted the teaching activity to an online mode. The aim of this paper is to show the instruments and strategies used to give a quick response to a sanitary emergency in the teaching of Archaeological Methodology (degree of History at the University of Valencia), adapting tutoring and classes to the e-learning tools. The use of the Blackboard Collaborate platform as a simple and robust virtual classroom solution to enhance online teaching and tutoring, coupled with the Flipped Teaching pedagogical model as a learning modality, implemented with both Moodle and Kahoot questionnaires, has worked as a motivating and effective strategy to the students. Finally, the methods adopted has led to keep the transmission of contents high, with positive results reflected in the passing of the assessment by the students

Marketing I - AM216 - 202202

El curso Marketing I pertenece a las asignaturas de especialidad de la carrera de Administración y Marketing de la UPC; muestra al alumno el panorama general de la actividad del Marketing, los conceptos claves utilizados en esta disciplina, la forma en que las diversas variables del Marketing interactúan, y las últimas tendencias que la influyen; proporcionando los conceptos fundamentales, teorías, ideas, técnicas y herramientas para comprender y gestionar la función de marketing de una organización. La asignatura es de carácter teórico y práctico, en donde se proporciona un preámbulo sobre la importancia de la información para obtener conocimiento del mercado, con el objeto de realizar el planeamiento de marketing de una empresa. Propósito: El presente curso desarrolla la competencia general de Uso de la información para el pensamiento crítico en el nivel 1, al cuestionar un tema o una situación, analizar información y utilizarla de manera ética para llegar a una o más conclusiones

Archaeological assessment reveals Earth’s early transformation through land use

Humans began to leave lasting impacts on Earth's surface starting 10,000 to 8000 years ago. Through a synthetic collaboration with archaeologists around the globe, Stephens et al. compiled a comprehensive picture of the trajectory of human land use worldwide during the Holocene (see the Perspective by Roberts). Hunter-gatherers, farmers, and pastoralists transformed the face of Earth earlier and to a greater extent than has been widely appreciated, a transformation that was essentially global by 3000 years before the present.Science, this issue p. 897; see also p. 865Environmentally transformative human use of land accelerated with the emergence of agriculture, but the extent, trajectory, and implications of these early changes are not well understood. An empirical global assessment of land use from 10,000 years before the present (yr B.P.) to 1850 CE reveals a planet largely transformed by hunter-gatherers, farmers, and pastoralists by 3000 years ago, considerably earlier than the dates in the land-use reconstructions commonly used by Earth scientists. Synthesis of knowledge contributed by more than 250 archaeologists highlighted gaps in archaeological expertise and data quality, which peaked for 2000 yr B.P. and in traditionally studied and wealthier regions. Archaeological reconstruction of global land-use history illuminates the deep roots of Earth's transformation and challenges the emerging Anthropocene paradigm that large-scale anthropogenic global environmental change is mostly a recent phenomenon

Global variation in postoperative mortality and complications after cancer surgery: a multicentre, prospective cohort study in 82 countries

© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licenseBackground: 80% of individuals with cancer will require a surgical procedure, yet little comparative data exist on early outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared postoperative outcomes in breast, colorectal, and gastric cancer surgery in hospitals worldwide, focusing on the effect of disease stage and complications on postoperative mortality. Methods: This was a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of consecutive adult patients undergoing surgery for primary breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer requiring a skin incision done under general or neuraxial anaesthesia. The primary outcome was death or major complication within 30 days of surgery. Multilevel logistic regression determined relationships within three-level nested models of patients within hospitals and countries. Hospital-level infrastructure effects were explored with three-way mediation analyses. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03471494. Findings: Between April 1, 2018, and Jan 31, 2019, we enrolled 15 958 patients from 428 hospitals in 82 countries (high income 9106 patients, 31 countries; upper-middle income 2721 patients, 23 countries; or lower-middle income 4131 patients, 28 countries). Patients in LMICs presented with more advanced disease compared with patients in high-income countries. 30-day mortality was higher for gastric cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (adjusted odds ratio 3·72, 95% CI 1·70–8·16) and for colorectal cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (4·59, 2·39–8·80) and upper-middle-income countries (2·06, 1·11–3·83). No difference in 30-day mortality was seen in breast cancer. The proportion of patients who died after a major complication was greatest in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (6·15, 3·26–11·59) and upper-middle-income countries (3·89, 2·08–7·29). Postoperative death after complications was partly explained by patient factors (60%) and partly by hospital or country (40%). The absence of consistently available postoperative care facilities was associated with seven to 10 more deaths per 100 major complications in LMICs. Cancer stage alone explained little of the early variation in mortality or postoperative complications. Interpretation: Higher levels of mortality after cancer surgery in LMICs was not fully explained by later presentation of disease. The capacity to rescue patients from surgical complications is a tangible opportunity for meaningful intervention. Early death after cancer surgery might be reduced by policies focusing on strengthening perioperative care systems to detect and intervene in common complications. Funding: National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Unit

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licenseBackground: Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide. Methods: A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study—a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital. Findings: Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3·85 [95% CI 2·58–5·75]; p<0·0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63·0% vs 82·7%; OR 0·35 [0·23–0·53]; p<0·0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer. Interpretation: Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised. Funding: National Institute for Health and Care Research