Technological change and cultural resistance among southeast Iberian potters: analytical characterisation of Early Iron Age pottery from Castellar de Librilla

The beginning of relationships between autochthonous communities and Phoenicians from the earliest contacts in the 8th century BC made possible the exchange of ideas, technologies and people. This work analyses the development of the Early Iron Age potteries of the Iberian Southeast, the impact of the Phoenician presence and the agency that these local groups exercised on their ceramic assemblages until the 5th century BC. The incorporation of new archaeometric data from Castellar de Librilla, one of the region's main autochthonous settlements, has been essential to improve our approach to these cultural encounters. A total of 63 representative individuals have been analysed through X‐ray fluorescence (XRF), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), thin-section petrography and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results point to the local production of ceramics previously considered as Western Phoenician pottery, and to the degree of specialisation of the potters established in the autochthonous settlements, combining traditional and new techniques from early in the period of contact

Central Mediterranean Phoenician pottery imports in the Northeastern Iberian Peninsula

Over recent years, there has been a growing interest in the analytical investigation of Phoenician pottery recovered from sites in Catalonia (NE Iberian Peninsula). Studies which integrate mineralogical, chemical and microstructural analysis have been carried out at seven sites in the Ilercavonia and Cossetania areas, analysing a total of 123 ceramic samples. The characterization of these samples has confirmed the presence of Phoenician Central Mediterranean pottery, all in the form of tableware. Themain objectives of this paper are to determine the provenance of these products, to study theirmineralogical characteristics and to understand the consumption of this Phoenician Central Mediterranean pottery in the context of the sites of Ilercavonia and Cossetania. All individuals have been analysed by means of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), with selected samples analysed by means of thin-section petrography and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results of this study demonstrate the presence of Sicilian, Sardinian and Tunisian products, allowing us to see preferences of vessel types according to source

System-on-Chip for Real-Time Satellite Photovoltaic Curves Telemetry

This paper presents a System-on-Chip design for real-time satellites photovoltaic curves telemetry. In these applications, the limitation of memory and communication bandwidth makes quite difficult to store and to transmit the whole characteristic current-voltage (I–V) curve of any solar section in real-time. The proposed solution is based on the real-time calculation of the equivalent singlediode model of the solar section. The single-diode model fits accurately the behavior of any solar panel, so once the parameters are calculated, saved, and transmitted, at any working conditions, that specific curve could be later reproduced. The system is based on a LEON3 32-bit microprocessor core implemented in a Field Programmable Gate Array. The LEON microprocessors were originally designed by the European Space Agency, Paris, France, to be used in space projects where high reliability is required. In addition, in order to design the system as simple and reliable as possible, from all the methods available in the literature to extract the five parameters of the equivalent model, the Oblique Asymptote Method has been chosen for its simplicity and precision. Finally, some experimental results are presented to demonstrate the accuracy of the final system

Phoenician Pottery in the Western Mediterranean: A New Perspective Based on the Early Iron Age (800-550 BC) Settlement of Sant Jaume (Alcanar, Catalonia)

One of the most important reception sites for Phoenician pottery imports in the NE Iberian Peninsula is the Early Iron Age (800-550 BC) settlement of Sant Jaume. This site is exceptional in terms of preservation and the large number of complete vessels recovered. Moreover, the ceramic assemblage comprises one of the best collections of the earliest wheel-thrown pottery that is considered evidence of trade from the western Phoenician colonies and their specific interest in exploiting metallurgical resources. In this research, a sample of 58 individuals of wheel-thrown pottery has been analysed by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), petrography (PE), and scanning electron microscopy attached with an energy dispersive X-ray unit (SEM-EDX). It was possible to identify 29 ceramic groups, some of which correspond to known Phoenician workshops of southern Andalusia and Ibiza, though the origin of most groups remains to be determined. The wide variety of sources identified illuminates the patterns of trade and exchange that the Phoenicians developed during the Early Iron Age and the export of their manufactured products. This information is fundamental to our understanding of the economic system developed by the Western Mediterranean Phoenician colonies that affected and transformed indigenous communities in the Mediterranean region

¿Cómo influye el tratamiento intensivo de los factores de riesgo cardiovascular en la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud de los pacientes diabéticos?

ObjetivosValorar la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS) de los diabéticos tras la aplicación de un protocolo de tratamiento intensivo para control de los factores de riesgo cardiovascular (FRCV).DiseñoEnsayo clínico aleatorizado por agrupaciones. Muestreo de conveniencia de 65 médicos de atención primaria (AP), asignación aleatoria al grupo control e intervención. Muestreo aleatorio sistemático de los diabéticos de cada médico.El seguimiento de los pacientes del grupo control se realizó mediante la práctica habitual y del grupo intervención a través del protocolo de tratamiento intensivo para el control de los FRCV.EmplazamientoEl estudio se realizó en 17 centros de salud de la Comunidad Valenciana.ParticipantesSe incluyó a 184 pacientes, 93 en el grupo control y 91 en el grupo de intervención. Los criterios de inclusión fueron: diabéticos tipo 2 entre 45 y 70 años, diabetes de 2 a 20 años de evolución y riesgo cardiovascular mayor del 20% a los 10 años (ecuación de Framingham). Los criterios de exclusión fueron: antecedentes de cardiopatía isquémica, enfermedad terminal, cirrosis hepática, insuficiencia renal, insuficiencia cardíaca de grados III-IV y alteraciones mentales.Los pacientes autocumplimentaron los cuestionarios de calidad de vida relacionada con la salud: COOP/WONCA y ADDQoL al inicio y a los 6 y 12 meses.Mediciones principalesValores medios de viñetas COOP/WONCA y ADDQoL. Comparación entre grupos mediante el test de la U de Mann-Whitney. El seguimiento de cada grupo se realizó con la prueba de Wilcoxon.ResultadosNo encontramos diferencias significativas en las viñetas COOP/WONCA. A los 12 meses sólo encontramos diferencias significativas en la viñeta sentimientos (p=0,024; grupo control 1,86±1,03; grupo intervención 2,23±1,11). Se observa un impacto negativo de la diabetes en todas las dimensiones del ADDQoL. No se han encontrado diferencias en el ADDQoL entre los grupos ni a lo largo del estudio. El impacto más negativo se obtiene en las dimensiones relacionadas con la dieta.ConclusionesLa CVRS en pacientes con diabetes tipo 2 no resulta afectada por el tratamiento intensivo de los FRCV. La diabetes tiene un impacto negativo en la CVRS de los individuos del estudio.ObjectiveTo assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in diabetic patients who have followed a protocol of intensive treatment of cardiovascular risks (CVR).DesignClinical trial randomised by cluster. A convenience sample of 65 primary care practitioners, randomly assigned to a control or intervention group. Patients were selected by systematic sampling from diabetic lists. The followup for the control group was by normal practice and the intervention group by using the intensive control of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) protocol.SettingSeventeen health-centres in the Valencia Community, Spain.ParticipantsOne hundred and eighty-four patients, 93 in the control group and 91 in the intervention group. Inclusion criteria: patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2, aged between 45-75 years, DM for more than 2 years and less than 20 years and a cardiovascular risk (CVR) >20% after 10 years (Framingham equation). The exclusion criteria were: history of ischaemic heart disease, terminal illness, hepatic cirrhosis, renal failure, grade III-IV cardiac failure, and mental disorders.The patients self-completed the Spanish versions of the COOP/WONCA charts and a diabetes-specific tool (ADDQol questionnaire) at the start, and after 6 months and 12 months.Main measurementsMeans of COOP/WONCA charts and ADDQol. Comparison between groups using Mann-Whitney U test, and the group follow ups using the Wilcoxon test.ResultsNo significant differences were found in the COOP/WONCA charts. At 12 months the only significant difference was in the feelings chart (P=. 024; control group 1.86±1.03: intervention group 2.23±1.11). A negative impact of diabetes was seen in all the dimensions of ADDQoL. The most negative impact of diabetes was related to diet. There were no significant differences between groups in the ADDQoL throughout the study.Conclusions The HRQoL in diabetic patients is not affected by intensive therapy of cardiovascular risk factors. Diabetes has a negative impact on HRQoL in the patients studied