Archaeoseismological Evidence of Seismic Damage at Medina Azahara (Córdoba, Spain) from the Early 11th Century

The “Caliphal City of Medina Azahara” was built in 936–937 CE or 940–941 CE (depending on the source) by the first Caliph of al-Andalus Abd al-Rahman III, being recently inscribed (2018) on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The abandonment and destruction of the city have been traditionally related to the civil war (“fitna”) that started between 1009 and 1010 CE. However, we cannot rule out other causes for the rapid depopulation and plundering of the city just a few decades after its foundation. The archaeoseismological study provides the first clues on the possible role played by an earthquake in the sudden abandonment and ruin of the city. Eleven different types of Earthquake Archaeological Effects (EAEs) have been identified, such as dropped key stones in arches, tilted walls, conjugated fractures in brick-made walls, conjugated fractures and folds in regular pavements and dipping broken corners in columns, among others. Besides that, 163 structural measures on EAEs were surveyed resulting in a mean ground movement direction of N140°–160° E. This geological structural analysis clearly indicates a building-oriented damage, which can be reasonably attributed to an earthquake that devastated Medina Azahara during the 11st or 12th centuries CE. If this were the case, two strong earthquakes (≥VIII MSK/EMS) occurred in 1024–1025 CE and 1169–1170 CE could be the suspected causative events of the damage and destruction of the cit

3D VMAT Verification Based on Monte Carlo Log File Simulation with Experimental Feedback from Film Dosimetry.

A model based on a specific phantom, called QuAArC, has been designed for the evaluation of planning and verification systems of complex radiotherapy treatments, such as volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). This model uses the high accuracy provided by the Monte Carlo (MC) simulation of log files and allows the experimental feedback from the high spatial resolution of films hosted in QuAArC. This cylindrical phantom was specifically designed to host films rolled at different radial distances able to take into account the entrance fluence and the 3D dose distribution. Ionization chamber measurements are also included in the feedback process for absolute dose considerations. In this way, automated MC simulation of treatment log files is implemented to calculate the actual delivery geometries, while the monitor units are experimentally adjusted to reconstruct the dose-volume histogram (DVH) on the patient CT. Prostate and head and neck clinical cases, previously planned with Monaco and Pinnacle treatment planning systems and verified with two different commercial systems (Delta4 and COMPASS), were selected in order to test operational feasibility of the proposed model. The proper operation of the feedback procedure was proved through the achieved high agreement between reconstructed dose distributions and the film measure- ments (global gamma passing rates > 90% for the 2%/2 mm criteria). The necessary discre- tization level of the log file for dose calculation and the potential mismatching between calculated control points and detection grid in the verification process were discussed. Besides the effect of dose calculation accuracy of the analytic algorithm implemented in treatment planning systems for a dynamic technique, it was discussed the importance of the detection density level and its location in VMAT specific phantom to obtain a more reliable DVH in the patient CT. The proposed model also showed enough robustness and efficiency to be considered as a pre-treatment VMAT verification system.Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología SAF2011- 27116; IPT-2011-1480-900000

Monte carlo clinical dosimetry

The choice of the most appropriate strategy for radiotherapy treatment is mainly based on the use of a planning system. With the introduction of new techniques (conformal and/or small fields, asymmetrical and non coplanar beams, true 3D calculation, IMRT) the trustworthiness of the algorithms used is questioned. An alternative verification procedure has become increasingly more necessary to warranty treatment delivery.The reliability of the Monte Carlo method is generally acknowledged. However, its clinical use has not been practical due to the high CPU time required. During the last few years our objective has decreased CPU time by means of a new process distribution technique. This reduction has made it feasible, not only to apply physical dosimetry under special conditions, but also to use it in numerous clinical cases employing photon and electron conformal fields, in radiosurgery, and IMRT.The procedure carried out is presented. Furthermore, conventional Treatment Planning System calculations are compared with the Monte Carlo simulations

Recent Changes in Breast Cancer Incidence in Spain, 1980–2004

BACKGROUND: Since the 1980s, Spain experienced two decades of sharply increasing breast cancer incidence. Declines in breast cancer incidence have recently been reported in many developed countries. We examined whether a similar downturn might have taken place in Spain in recent years. METHODS: Cases of invasive female breast cancer were drawn from all population-based Spanish cancer registries that had at least 10 years of uninterrupted registration over the period 1980-2004. Overall and age-specific changes in incidence rates were evaluated using change-point Poisson models, which allow for accurate detection and estimation of trend changes. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS: A total of 80,453 incident cases of invasive breast cancer were identified. Overall age- and registry-adjusted incidence rates rose by 2.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.7% to 3.1%) annually during the 1980s and 1990s; there was a statistically significant change in this trend in 2001 (95% CI = 1998 to 2004; P value for the existence of a change point <.001), after which incidence declined annually by 3.0% (95% CI = 1.8% to 4.1%). This trend differed by age group: There was a steady increase in incidence for women younger than 45 years, an abrupt downturn in 2001 for women aged 45-64 years, and a gradual leveling off in 1995 for women aged 65 years or older. Separate analyses for registries that had at least 15 years of uninterrupted registration detected a statistically significant interruption of the previous upward trend in breast cancer incidence in provinces that had aggressive breast cancer screening programs and high screening participation rates, including Navarra (change point = 1991, P < .001), Granada (change point = 2002, P = .003), Bizkaia (change point = 1998, P < .001), Gipuzkoa (change point = 1998, P = .001), and Araba (change point = 1997, P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: The recent downturn in breast cancer incidence among Spanish women older than 45 years is best explained by a period effect linked to screening saturation.Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP) (AC07-005 to M.P., PM07-004 to R.P-B.) and Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII-CIBERESP collaborative agreement “Acción Transversal del Cancer”).S

Actualización del Mapa del Cuaternario de España (E. 1:1.000.000) y contribución española al “International Quaternary Map Of Europe (E. 1:2.500.000)”

En: Una visión global del Cuaternario. El hombre como condicionante de procesos geológicos (J. P. Galve, J. M. Azañón, J. V. Pérez Peña y P. Ruano, Eds.), pp. 113-116. XIV Reunión Nacional de Cuaternario, Granada (España)This contribution deals about a new project started by the Geological and Mining Institute of Spain with a dual purpose. First, to update the geological data of the Quaternary Map of Spain at 1:1,000,000 scale, and also to update its format and data model. Second, to contribute with cartographic data about the Quaternary geology at 1: 2,500,000 of the Spanish european territory (Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands) for carrying out a new digital version of the International Quaternary Map of Europe (IQUAME-2500), an international project based on a multi-institutional collaborative framework. In order to achieve these goals, multiple factors shall be taken into account such as the diverse scientific-technical requirements, the sources of the key data, the different tasks to be performed and the potential synergies with other data sets about Quaternary geology.Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME)Peer reviewe

La gamificación del aula universitaria: jugar para aprender

Esta memoria resume los objetivos y resultados del proyecto de innovación docente nº 57, de título "La gamificación del aula universitaria: jugar para aprender". La gamificación es una técnica didáctica por medio de la cual se introducen elementos propios del juego en contextos que, en principio, no se conciben como juegos. Más concretamente, el proyecto se ha centrado en la implementación de las herramientas Edpuzzle, Kahoot, Mentimeter, Padlet, Quizlet y Socrative. Los resultados demuestran que estas herramientas contribuyen a mejorar no sólo el interés y motivación de los alumnos sino también su trabajo colaborativo y adquisión de contenidos

FuSiE (Fuzzy Systems Editor)

En este trabajo se realiza el diseño de una herramienta para modelizar sistemas basados en lógica borrosa. Dicho diseño presenta numerosas ventajas, carentes algunas de ellas en herramientas consultadas en la literatura al efecto. Varias de esas ventajas son: reusabilidad, comprehensión de los datos, y flexibilidad frente a los cambios y mejoras que surgen durante el periodo de explotación. Además, se ha formalizado el diseño creado mediante un prototipo experimental, que contiene la funcionalidad básica del sistema diseñado. [ABSTRACT] In this work we realize the design of a tool that are able to build, use and maintain fuzzy systems. This design presents numerous advantages, lacking some of them in tools consulted in the literature to the effect. Several of these advantages are: reusability, and flexibility in case of changes and improvements that arise during the period of development. In addition, there has been formalized the design created by means of an experimental prototype, which contains the basic functionality of the designed system

2,3-Di-O-pentyl-6-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-β-cyclodextrin as a Chiral Stationary Phase in Capillary Gas Chromatography

2,3-Di-O-pentyl-6-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-β-cyclodextrin has been evaluated as an enantioselective stationary phase for capillary gas chromatography. Experimental results show a good enantioselectivity towards compounds with different functional groups (haloalkanes, alcohols, esters, terpenoids, amino acid derivatives, and heterocycles). Column stability improves mixing the chiral phase with polysiloxane SE-54 (1 : 1).Peer reviewe

Caracterización espacial de la deformación frágil en las islas de Tenerife y Lanzarote (Islas Canarias, España)

Uno de los parámetros que controla la geodinámica de una determinada zona geográfica es el campo de deformación. Los estudios de deformación frágil en las Islas Canarias son escasos, por esta razón este trabajo está centrado en el estudio de microfallas en las islas de Lanzarote y Tenerife, mediante técnicas de análisis poblacional de fallas. Los resultados obtenidos después del análisis indican la presencia de dos campos de deformación perpendiculares entre sí. Uno de dirección NO-SE asociado con la apertura de la Dorsal Centroatlántica, al cual hemos denominado Campo Atlántico y otro perpendicular que hemos nombrado como Campo Local.Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, EspañaUnidad de Canarias, Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, EspañaDepartamento de Geografía, Universidad de La Laguna, Españ

Caracterización espacial de la deformación frágil en la isla de La Palma (Islas Canarias, España)

Reunión Ibérica sobre Fallas Activas y Paleosismología (3ª. 2018. Alicante). - Texto en español con resumen y palabras claves en inglés y españolUno de los parámetros que controla la geodinámica de una determinada zona geográfica es el campo de deformación. Los estudios de deformación frágil en las Islas Canarias son escasos, por esta razón este trabajo está centrado en el estudio de microfallas en la isla La Palma, mediante técnicas de análisis poblacional de fallas. Los resultados obtenidos después del análisis indican la presencia de dos campos de deformación perpendiculares entre sí. Uno de dirección NO-SE asociado con la apertura de la Dorsal Centroatlántica, al cual hemos denominado Campo Atlántico, y otro perpendicular que hemos nombrado como Campo Local = One of the parameters that control the dynamics of a zone in the crust is the strain field. The studies of brittle strain in Canary Islands are scarce, for this reason this paper is focussed in the study of microfaults by means of fault population analysis in La Palma Island. The results of the fault analysis show two perpendicular strain fields in the islands. The NW-SE strain field is associated with the extension of the mid Atlantic ridge, named the Atlantic Field. The other strain field has a mean direction which is perpendicular to the Atlantic Field, and has been named Local FieldInstituto Geológico y Minero de España, EspañaUnidad de Canarias, Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, EspañaDepartamento de Geografía, Universidad de La Laguna, Españ