Open data on Covid-19 in the Spanish autonomous communities: reutilization in spatial epidemiology studies

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for governments and health administrations at all levels to have an open data registry that facilitates decision-making in the planning and management of health resources and provides information to citizens on the evolution of the epidemic. The concept of “open data” includes the possibility of reutilization by third parties. Space and time are basic dimensions used to structure and interpret the data of the variables that refer to the health status of the people themselves. Hence, the main objective of this study is to evaluate whether the autonomous communities’ data files regarding Covid-19 are reusable to analyze the evolution of the disease in basic spatial and temporal analysis units at the regional and national levels. To this end, open data files containing the number of diagnosed cases of Covid-19 distributed in basic health or administrative spatial units and temporal units were selected from the portals of the Spanish autonomous communities. The presence of infection-related, demographic, and temporal variables, as well as the download format and metadata, were mainly evaluated. Whether the structure of the files was homogeneous and adequate for the application of spatial analysis techniques was also analyzed. The results reveal a lack of standardization in the collection of data in both spatial and temporal units and an absence of, or ambiguity in, the meaning of the variables owing to a lack of metadata. An inadequate structure was also found in the files of seven autonomous communities, which would require subsequent processing of the data to enable their reuse and the application of analysis and spatial modeling techniques, both when carrying out global analyses and when comparing patterns of evolution between different regions

Relaciones históricas entre olmos y vides

In Spanish, the expression «You cannot ask an elm for pears» denotes something that is impossible. Although its origin is unknown, it can be dated back to the 1st century BC, when appeared the Latin maxim Pirum, non ulmum accedas, si cupias pira (You should go to a pear-tree for pears, not to an elm), a sentence from which we believe the Spanish saying comes. The objective of this paper is to show how the historical relationship of elms and vines can be related to these expressions, because elms did not give pears but, figuratively, did give grapes. The cultivation of vines was soon included among the domestic plants at the beginning of the Neolithic Age. During the Assyrian Empire (7th century BC), vines are represented growing up around pine-like trees. The first documentary evidence of the marriage between elms and vines is found in the Ancient Greece: a wine called Pteleaikós oinos is mentioned, which refers to the region where it was produced, Ptelea (Elm). During the Roman Ages, the cultivation of vines married to elms became more important as it is reflected in the treatises in agriculture. This technique was so common that it appears recurrently as a topic in Poetry and Drama. The classical books were copied during the Middle Ages, and only the Arabian agronomists in the Iberian Peninsula gave new evidence of the relationship between vines and elms in the 12th century. Some four hundred years later the use of elms as props for vines was rare in Spain and, although not to elms, the marriage of vines to trees lasted in the South of Spain until the 19th century. In Italy, elms and vines were even planted together in the 20th century, before the Dutch Elm Disease began to kill the plantations of trees and farmers were forced to replace them with poles.En castellano, la expresión «No se le puede pedir peras al olmo» indica algo imposible. A pesar de que su origen es desconocido, puede situarse en el siglo I A.C., cuando aparece la máxima latina Pirum, non ulmum accedas, si cupias pira (Al peral acude, no al olmo, si quieres peras), de la cual creemos que procede la expresión española. En este trabajo se pretende mostrar que la relación histórica de los olmos y las vides puede estar relacionada con estas expresiones en la medida en que los olmos no daban peras mas, en sentido figurado, daban uvas. La vid fue una de las primeras plantas cultivadas ya desde el comienzo del Neolítico. En el Imperio Asirio (s. VII A.C.), las vides aparecen representadas creciendo alrededor de árboles que se asemejan a pinos. La primera evidencia documental del maridaje de olmos y vides la encontramos en la Grecia Clásica, donde se menciona un vino llamado Pteleaikós oinos que hace referencia a la región dónde se producía, Ptelea (Olmo). Durante la época Romana el cultivo de las vides maridadas a los olmos adquiere mayor importancia, como se refleja en los tratados de agricultura. La práctica fue tan común que aparece de modo recurrente como tópico en la literatura. Los textos clásicos son copiados durante la Edad Media, y sólo los agrónomos árabes de la península Ibérica proporcionan nuevas evidencias de la relación entre vides y olmos ya en el siglo XII. Cuatro siglos después la utilización de olmos como tutores de las vides era rara en España, pero el maridaje de las vides con árboles, aunque no olmos, duró en el Sur de España hasta el siglo XIX. Sin embargo en Italia olmos y vides se plantaban juntos incluso en el siglo XX, antes de que la grafiosis comenzara a matar las plantaciones de árboles y los agricultores se vieran obligados a sustituirlos por postes

Fijación interna versus percutánea en fracturas diafisarias de metacarpianos: estudio de casos-controles

Objetivos: comparación de resultados clínicos de fijación interna versus fijación percutánea. Material y Métodos: estudio retrospectivo de casos y controles de 58 fracturas de metacarpianos (43 pacientes). Se incluyeron las fracturas diafisarias, sin afectación articular. Se excluyeron si había afectación del pulgar o de falanges, fracturas abiertas o más de 3 fracturas en la misma mano. Un total de 26 fracturas fueron tratadas con fijación interna y 32 con percutánea. Con un seguimiento medio de 2,5 años (rango, 1-4), se valoró la función mediante movilidad activa total (MAT), fuerza, DASH, EAV de dolor y resultado radiográfico. Resultados: con ambos tratamientos los resultados fueron satisfactorios. El tiempo de consolidación y alineación radiográfica fueron similares. Todas las valoraciones clínicas, objetivas y subjetivas, fueron mejores en el grupo de fijación interna, así como la tasa de retorno a las actividades previas. En el grupo de fijación interna hubo un caso de pseudoartrosis que fue reoperado y otro de déficit de movilidad. En el grupo percutáneo hubo 4 casos con déficit de movilidad. Discusión y conclusiones: ambas técnicas ofrecen resultados adecuados, pero con la fijación interna se obtuvieron mejores resultados respecto a movilidad, fuerza, mayor facilidad para realización de las actividades previas y retorno a las laborales y deportivas, a pesar de las complicaciones inherentes a la cirugía abiertaObjectives: comparison of outcomes with internal fixation versus percutaneous fixation. Material and Methods: retrospective case-control study of 58 metacarpal fractures (43 patients). Shaft fractures without joint involvement were included. Exclusion criteria were involvement of the thumb or phalange, open fracture, or more than 3 fractures in the same hand. There were 26 fractures treated with internal fixation and 32 with percutaneous fixation. With a mean follow-up of 2,5 years (range, 1-4), functional evaluation was performed by total active motion (TAM), strength grip, DASH, pain VAS, and radiographic results. Results: satisfactory outcomes were obtained with both treatments. Consolidation time and radiographic alignment were similar. All clinical objective and subjective assessments were better in the internal fixation group, as well as the rate of return to previous activities. In the internal fixation group, there was one case with nonunion, which was reoperated, and other with lack of motion. In the percutaneous group, there were 4 cases with mobility deficits. Discussion and conclusions: satisfactory results were offered by both methods, but better outcomes were obtained by internal fixation with regard to motion, strength, best facility for previous activities, and return to work and sport activities. All this was spite of the inherent complications of open surger

Fracturas supracondíleas de fémur tratadas con clavo retrógrado versus tornillo condilar dinámico

Objetivo: valorar los resultados mediante tratamiento con clavo intramedular retrógrado (CIR). Material y Métodos: se revisaron 54 pacientes con fracturas supracondíleas de fémur tipos AO A y C1, con edad media de 68 años, de los que 23 fueron tratados con CIR y 31 con tornillo condilar dinámico (TCD). Seguimiento medio de 5 años (rango, 2 a 9). Se valoraron clínicamente con las escalas Knee Society y cuestionario Womac y radiográficamente. Resultados: no hubo diferencias significativas respecto a los datos perioperatorios, resultados funcionales, movilidad de rodilla, calidad de vida o tiempo medio de consolidación. En el grupo CIR no hubo pseudoartrosis y 2 pacientes tuvieron acortamiento mayor de 2 cm. En el grupo TCD hubo 2 pseudoartrosis que precisaron reintervención y otros 4 casos tuvieron consolidación con desviación angular de al menos 5º, 2 de ellos además con acortamiento mayor de 2 cm. Discusión: los resultados fueron similares en ambos grupos pero, aunque no significativamente, con el CIR hubo menor número de complicaciones de alineación y de consolidación. Conclusiones: el CIR es un método satisfactorio para las fracturas supracondíleas sin o poca afectación articular, tanto en jóvenes como en ancianos.Objective: To evaluate functional and radiographic results after retrograde intramedullary nail (RIN). Material and Methods: We reviewed 54 supracondylar femoral fractures, AO-types A and C1, in patients with mean aged of 68 years, of which 23 were treated with RIN and 31 with dynamic condylar screw (DCS). Mean follow-up of 5 years (range, 2 to 9). They were evaluated clinically by means Knee Society scores and Womac self-form, and radiographically. Results: There were no significant differences with reagard to perioperative data, functional results, knee mobility, quality of life, or mean healed time. In the RIN group, there was no nonunion, and 2 patients had shortening greater than 2cm. In the DCS group, there were 2 nonunion which required revision, and other 4 healed with angular malunion greater than 5º, 2 of which had also shortening greater than 2cm. Discussion: Outcomes were similar in both groups. Although no significantly, the RIN group had lower malunion and nonunion rates. Conclusion: RIN is a satisfactory method for supracondylar fractures with little or no joint involvement, for both young and elderly patients

Academic literacy and student diversity: evaluating a curriculum-integrated inclusive practice intervention in the United Kingdom

The sustainability of universities is based, among other aspects, on their ability to adapt to changes and the needs of students, an increasingly diverse population. In this sense, Academic literacy provision at universities tends to be centralized and to offer language support for general academic literacy purposes rather than language development that responds in a more nuanced way to the particular literacy needs of students’ disciplines. Yet, in recent years, several studies have supported the integration of academic literacy into subject teaching outlining the principles of an inclusive model of academic literacy instruction. This paper draws on a theoretical framework developed by Wingate to evaluate a curriculum-integrated inclusive practice intervention in the United Kingdom with students from a first-year credit-bearing module at Middlesex University Business School. The study used a mixed methods approach that includes a literature review, secondary data, feedback questionnaire and a focus group to evaluate our teaching method and reflect on the collaboration of the team members to develop this inclusive pedagogical approach. The findings suggest that, on the whole, this intervention was perceived by both the module teaching team and students as positive, welcoming and often crucial for supporting undergraduate students into the disciplinary discourse of their subject of study. Yet, recommendations were made with respect to developing better guidelines for subject lecturers on how to deliver the integrated academic literacy as well as the importance of the participation of students, student learning assistants and graduate teaching assistants in the design of the intervention. This study contributes to the literature on inclusive practice intervention and pedagogical approaches to integrating academic literacy into subject teaching for a diverse student population, contributing to the social sustainability of the universities

Topografía de la densidad mineral osea: Método de estudio "in vivo" de la cabeza femoral humana mediante TAC

Presentamos un método, no descrito anteriormente, que permite obtener un mapa muy preciso de la distribución topográfica de la densidad mineral ósea relativa de cualquier parte del esqueleto, en el sujeto vivo, a partir de una imagen TAC convencional. El método se basa en la medición directa de los niveles de gris de la imagen TAC, los cuales guardan una relación de linealidad con las Unidades Honsfield, de manera que la densidad óptica de un punto concreto se correlaciona con la densidad ósea del mismo. En nuestro estudio lo hemos aplicado a la cabeza femoral humana, obteniendo la imagen topográfica tridimensional de sus densidades óseas.We describe a new method to obtain an accurate mapping of the bone mineral density which can be applied to any area of the human skeleton in a live subject using conventional CT scan imaging. The method involves direct measurement of grey colour intensity from the CT image. The colour intensity maintains a direct relationship with the Honsfield Units, therefore the optic density of a given area is related to the bone density. In our study this method has been applied to the human femoral head to obtain a three-dimensional topography of the bone density

Fracturas articulares de calcáneo: tratamiento incruento versus quirúrgico

Se analiza la problemática que supone el tratamiento de las fracturas articulares de calcáneo. Han sido revisadas 85 fracturas tratadas, 43 ortopédicamente, y 42 según técnica de Westhues-Ehalt. El seguimiento medio fue de 24 meses. Los resultados clínicos fueron satisfactorios en el 43,5 %, no existiendo correlación con la disminución radiográfica del ángulo de Bóhler. El tipo de tratamiento empleado no influyó significativamente en el resultado clínico final, pero sí el grado de comunicación de la fractura. Aparecieron secuelas en el 67% de los casos, siendo la principal causa de discapacidad en la artrosis subastragalina.The treatment of intraarticular fractures of the calcaneus may entail difficult problems. From 1985 to 1995, 85 patients with intraarticular fractures of the calcaneus, 43 treated with a conservative method, and 42 with surgery (Westhues-Ehalt technique) were reviewed. The average follow-up was 24 months. Clinical results were excellent- good in 43.5%. No difference in functional results between conservative and surgical treatment was found, but as the severely of the fracture increase the results deteriorate. Late complications appeared in 67% of the patients with subtalar degenerative osteoarthrosis being the principal cause of permanent disability

Sheep husbandry in the early Neolithic of the Pyrenees: new data on feeding and reproduction in the cave of Chaves

Sheep predominate the Early Neolithic faunal assemblages in the Iberian Peninsula. Their exploitation for meat and milk production made them key to the economy of these early farming societies. Management of sheep breeding season and feeding in the context of the local environment were decisive in obtaining these livestock products. This work focuses on these aspects through stable isotope and dental microwear analyses on sheep teeth from the cave of Chaves (Huesca, Spain). The results show the existence of “out of season” (autumn/early winter) sheep births in the Early Neolithic, contrasting significantly with spring lambing prevailing in Neolithic husbandries elsewhere in Europe and confirming the antiquity of a western Mediterranean characteristic in this regard. Furthermore, little changes in sheep diet throughout the year have been documented, as far as could be evidenced from stable carbon isotope ratios and dental microwear. Only two individuals showed higher variability in diet on a seasonal scale with possible contribution of C4 plants, possibly from grazing in the valley steppes at lower altitudes. Overall the results suggest good adaptation of sheep to the Pyrenean mid-altitude environment and strong zootechnical knowledge of the earliest shepherds in this area

Dendro-anthracological tools applied to Scots type pine forests exploitation as fuel during the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition in the southern central pre-Pyrenees (Spain)

This work focuses on the reconstruction of fuelwood procurement during the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition in the southern central Pre-Pyrenees (Spain). The study combines wood charcoal identification with the application of dendro-anthracological approaches in the archaeological sequence of Esplugón (9.4–6.8 kyr cal BP) (Sabiñanigo, Huesca). Scots type pine (Pinus sylvestris tp.) reaches in this record around 90% of exploited firewood in line with its abundance in the inner Iberia mountainous areas during the onset of the Holocene. The classification of pine wood fragments in anthraco-groups is based on the combination of different dendro-anthracological tools: i) pith location tool and wood diameter estimation based on the trigonomethric method tool (ADmodel), ii) the study of growth rate based on the annual tree-ring width measurements, and iii) a modern dendrological dataset. There are hardly any differences observed in firewood procurement between the last hunter-gatherers and the first farmers in the long sequences from rock-shelters with recurrent human occupations. First results from this site point to the exploitation of whole trees but a high use of small pine branches probably from the gathering of branch shedding