A territorial approach on land use in prehispanic Gran Canaria (XI-XV centuries)

Este trabajo muestra una aproximación preliminar a la ocupación y creación del territorio en la Gran Canaria prehispánica, entre los siglos xi y xv. La isla en sí misma es la unidad geográfica de estudio, analizando un total de 28 sitios arqueológicos, tanto habitacionales como de almacenamiento. Se ha evaluado de forma cuantitativa la potencialidad agraria de los terrenos en su entorno. Usando modelos de coste-distancia en un Sistema de Información Geográfica (SIG) se han generado los polígonos correspondientes a quince minutos, media hora, cuarenta y cinco minutos y una hora de marcha a pie desde cada yacimiento. Con ellos se han medido las superficies de los suelos clasificados según el sistema de evaluación del Mapa de Clases Agrológicas. A su vez, se ha calculado el control visual directo sobre los diferentes tipos de suelos a 800 m y a 2.000 m. Los resultados iniciales se trabajaron a través de estadística multivariante, con el objetivo de crear una tipología que permita dirimir tantos patrones de uso del suelo, cuya definición histórica se discute.This paper shows a preliminary approach on the occupation and creation of the Gran Canaria Prehispanic between the 11th and 15 th centuries. The island itself is the geographical unit of study, we studied a total of 28 archaeological sites, both settlement and Storages sites. It is intended to evaluate in quantitative way the agrarian potentiality of the lands in their surrounding catchment areas. Cost-distance models in a Geographic Information System (GIS) have been used to generate isochronic polygons for, fifteen minutes, half-an-hour, forty-five minutes walk and one-hour walk from each site. These polygons have been used to measure the land extension of soils classified in agrological types. In turn, we have calculated the direct visual control on the different types of soils at 800 m and 2.000 m. Initial results were worked through multivariate statistics, with the goal of creating a typology that enable it to determine both land use patterns, as certain trends of space occupation Island

The fortified metallurgical settlement from the Middle-Late Chalcolithic in Puente de Santa Bárbara (Huércal-Overa, Almería)

El poblado fortificado calcolítico de Puente de Santa Bárbara (Huércal-Overa, Almería), de 1,5 ha, está situado a 3 km de las minas de cobre de Cerro Minado, explotadas al menos durante el Calcolítico Final, y presenta mineral en bruto, escorias parcialmente procesadas y nodulillos de cobre. Un 4% de todos los fragmentos cerámicos corresponde a fragmentos de vasijas de reducción y crisoles, distribuidos espacialmente por los tres sectores excavados del yacimiento y sugieren la generalización de la metalurgia dentro del hábitat. El porcentaje de evidencias metalúrgicas solo podría equipararse en el sudeste de la Península Ibérica a los poblados calcolíticos de Parazuelos (Lorca, Murcia) y Agua Amarga (Lorca, Murcia), otro pequeño poblado de 0,25 ha. Estos datos permiten plantear la hipótesis de si ya en el Calcolítico Final pudieron surgir en el sudeste de la Península Ibérica pequeños asentamientos especializados en la producción de útiles o pequeños lingotes metálicos elaborados en crisoles rectangularesThe fortified chalcolithic settlement in Puente de Santa Bárbara (Huércal-Overa, Almería), with 1.5 ha, located 3 km away from the Cerro Minado copper mines, and exploited at least during the Late Chalcolithic, presents copper ores, crucible smelting and melting debris such as slags, casting prills, reduction vessels and crucibles. 4% of all the ceramic fragments correspond to reduction vessel and crucible fragments, spatially distributed in the three excavated sectors and suggest the generalization of the metallurgy within the habitat. The percentage of metallurgical evidences could only be compared in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula to the Copper Age settlements of Parazuelos (Lorca, Murcia) and Agua Amarga (Lorca, Murcia), another minor site of 0.25 ha. These data suggest the hypothesis of small settlements specialized in the production of tools or small metallic ingots made in rectangular crucibles during the Late Chalcolithic in the Southeast of the Iberian Peninsul

Settlement and Social Change of an Isolated Territory? Proposals on the Evolution of the Territorial Occupation of the Island of Gran Canaria in Pre-Hispanic Age

The colonization of the Canary Islands has been the subject of several studies, however human settlement in the different territories and its evolution over time is an issue that has received practically no research attention. In this paper we provide an interpretative proposal of the occupation dynamics of Gran Canaria between the 3rd and 15th centuries ad from a temporal and comparative perspective based on the Braudelian longue durée. To this end, different variables –soils, visibility, accessibility, etc.– were established and analysed by means of a Geographic Information System –gis–, using the isochrones as a minimum observation reference. Thus, the statistical study first, and then the historical and territorial analysis of the archaeological sites, made it possible to implement a diachronic scenario of the aboriginal settlement of Gran Canaria, taking environmental infill theories as a reference. The result is the interrelation of different ways of land use, both materially and ideologically, conforming, accordingly, different archaeological landscapes.La colonización de las Islas Canarias ha sido objeto de diversos trabajos; sin embargo, la implantación humana en los diferentes territorios y su evolución en el tiempo es una cuestión que prácticamente no ha recibido atención en la investigación. En este trabajo presentamos una propuesta interpretativa de las dinámicas de ocupación de la isla de Gran Canaria entre los ss. III y XV d. C. desde una perspectiva temporal y comparada basada en la longue durée braudeliana. Para ello se han establecido diferentes variables –tipo de suelo, visibilidad, accesibilidad, etc.– que han sido analizadas a través de un Sistema de Información Geográfica –SIG–, tomando como unidad de observación mínima diferentes isócronas. Así, el estudio estadístico primero, y luego el análisis histórico y territorial de los yacimientos, han permitido implementar un escenario diacrónico del poblamiento aborigen de Gran Canaria, teniendo como referencia las teorías de relleno ambiental. El resultado se presenta como la interrelación de diferentes formas de utilización del territorio, tanto a nivel material como ideológico, conformándose, en consonancia, diferentes paisajes arqueológicos

Cemeteries, social change and migration in the time of the Ancient Canarians

This paper delves into the proposal for periodisation of funerary practices among the Ancient Canarians. New radiocarbon dates are provided together with a Bayesian treatment used to estimate the onset and later tempo of the three burial categories previously established: caves, tumuli, and pit-graves/cists, as well as their temporal activity patterns. Changes in funerary practices can only be understood within the social framework of reference which in the case of Gran Canaria needs to be reconsidered. To substantiate this claim, the period corresponding to pit-graves and cist burials from 11th-15th centuries AD is reviewed, in an attempt to identify the innovations that arise during this phase. It is concluded that the new developments identified in the archaeological record seem to be caused by foreign stimuli, stemming from the arrival of new North African settlers that act as agents of change.Este trabajo profundiza en la periodización de las prácticas funerarias de los antiguos ca-narios. Se aportan nuevas fechas y se usa un tratamiento bayesiano de las dataciones para examinar los intervalos de inicio, final y tasa de cambio de las tres categorías sepulcrales definidas: cuevas, túmulos y fosas/cistas. Los cambios en las prácticas funerarias solo pueden ser entendidos en el marco social de referencia, que en el caso grancanario necesita ser re-pensado. Para probar este planteamiento se testea el periodo vinculado a las fosas y cistas, siglos xi-xv d.C., tratando de reconocer las innovaciones que surgen en esta fase. A la luz de los resultados, las novedades identificadas en el registro arqueológico de este periodo parecen estar promovidas por estímulos foráneos, a partir de la llegada de nueva población norteafricana, que actúan como factor dinamizador del cambio

Cementerios, cambio social y migración en el tiempo de los antiguos canarios

Este trabajo profundiza en la periodización de las prácticas funerarias de los antiguos ca-narios. Se aportan nuevas fechas y se usa un tratamiento bayesiano de las dataciones para examinar los intervalos de inicio, final y tasa de cambio de las tres categorías sepulcrales definidas: cuevas, túmulos y fosas/cistas. Los cambios en las prácticas funerarias solo pue-den ser entendidos en el marco social de referencia, que en el caso grancanario necesita ser repensado. Para probar este planteamiento se testea el periodo vinculado a las fosas y cistas, siglos xi-xv d.C., tratando de reconocer las innovaciones que surgen en esta fase. A la luz de los resultados, las novedades identificadas en el registro arqueológico de este periodo parecen estar promovidas por estímulos foráneos, a partir de la llegada de nueva población norteafricana, que actúan como factor dinamizador del cambio.This paper delves into the proposal of periodization for the funerary practices of the ancient Canarians. New radiocarbons dates are provided together with a Bayesian treatment used to estimate the onset and later tempo of the three burial categories previously established: caves, tumuli, and pit-graves/cists, as well as their temporal activity patterns. Changes in funerary practices can only be understood within the social framework of reference which in Gran Canaria case needs to be rethought. To test this approach, the period linked to the pit-graves and cist burials, 11th-15th centuries AD, is reviewed, trying to recognize the innovations that arise at that moment. It is concluded that the novelties identified in the archaeological record seem to be promoted by foreign stimuli, from the arrival of new North African population, which act as a dynamizing factor of change

Las cerámicas aborígenes de Gran Canaria (Islas Canarias) a través del yacimiento de La Cerera: materias primas, tecnología y función

[spa] Se analizan los materiales cerámicos prehispánicos del yacimiento de La Cerera en Gran Canaria (siglos VII-XIII D.C.). Se integra la clasificación morfotécnica y funcional, y la caracterización instrumental mediante fluorescencia de rayos X (FRX), difracción de rayos X (DRX), petrografía óptica (PO) y microscopía electrónica de barrido (MEB) relacionando cada nivel de estudio aplicado. Comoresultado se detectaron diferentes cadenas operativas, conectadas con la función de los vasos y su cronología. Además se observaron importantes cambios diacrónicos en las características del material. Estos parecen coincidir con otros identificados en el registro del propio yacimiento y en otros sitios de la isla. También se discuten los posibles efectos de la intensificación de la producción sobre la homogeneidad de las fábricas cerámicas. [eng] Pre-Hispanic ceramics from the site of La Cerera at Gran Canaria are studied in this paper (7th century cal AD - 13th century cal AD). An integrated approach combining various levels of analysis has been carried out, employing morphological, technical and functional analysis of the pots, as well as instrumental characterization: X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, optical petrography and scanning electron microscopy. As result, different operative chains have been detected, linked to pots function and chronology. Other differences were observed, as important changes in the characteristics of the archaeological materials through time. Those transformations seem to coincide with others changes already observed for different elements of the aboriginal material culture at the site, as well as at other parts of the island. Effects of production intensification over the homogeneity of ceramic fabrics are also discussed

Spread of a SARS-CoV-2 variant through Europe in the summer of 2020.

Following its emergence in late 2019, the spread of SARS-CoV-21,2 has been tracked by phylogenetic analysis of viral genome sequences in unprecedented detail3–5. Although the virus spread globally in early 2020 before borders closed, intercontinental travel has since been greatly reduced. However, travel within Europe resumed in the summer of 2020. Here we report on a SARS-CoV-2 variant, 20E (EU1), that was identified in Spain in early summer 2020 and subsequently spread across Europe. We find no evidence that this variant has increased transmissibility, but instead demonstrate how rising incidence in Spain, resumption of travel, and lack of effective screening and containment may explain the variant’s success. Despite travel restrictions, we estimate that 20E (EU1) was introduced hundreds of times to European countries by summertime travellers, which is likely to have undermined local efforts to minimize infection with SARS-CoV-2. Our results illustrate how a variant can rapidly become dominant even in the absence of a substantial transmission advantage in favourable epidemiological settings. Genomic surveillance is critical for understanding how travel can affect transmission of SARS-CoV-2, and thus for informing future containment strategies as travel resumes. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Differential clinical characteristics and prognosis of intraventricular conduction defects in patients with chronic heart failure

Intraventricular conduction defects (IVCDs) can impair prognosis of heart failure (HF), but their specific impact is not well established. This study aimed to analyse the clinical profile and outcomes of HF patients with LBBB, right bundle branch block (RBBB), left anterior fascicular block (LAFB), and no IVCDs. Clinical variables and outcomes after a median follow-up of 21 months were analysed in 1762 patients with chronic HF and LBBB (n = 532), RBBB (n = 134), LAFB (n = 154), and no IVCDs (n = 942). LBBB was associated with more marked LV dilation, depressed LVEF, and mitral valve regurgitation. Patients with RBBB presented overt signs of congestive HF and depressed right ventricular motion. The LAFB group presented intermediate clinical characteristics, and patients with no IVCDs were more often women with less enlarged left ventricles and less depressed LVEF. Death occurred in 332 patients (interannual mortality = 10.8%): cardiovascular in 257, extravascular in 61, and of unknown origin in 14 patients. Cardiac death occurred in 230 (pump failure in 171 and sudden death in 59). An adjusted Cox model showed higher risk of cardiac death and pump failure death in the LBBB and RBBB than in the LAFB and the no IVCD groups. LBBB and RBBB are associated with different clinical profiles and both are independent predictors of increased risk of cardiac death in patients with HF. A more favourable prognosis was observed in patients with LAFB and in those free of IVCDs. Further research in HF patients with RBBB is warranted

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