Arqueología informática: el computador UNIVAC en los inicios de la computación moderna

[ES] El UNIVAC I fue diseñado en la década de los años 50 del siglo XX por la empresa Remington Rand y es considerado el primer computador comercial desarrollado en Estados Unidos. Concebido por los pioneros informáticos John W. Mauchly y John P. Eckert, este computador estaba orientado a grandes empresas, tanto privadas como públicas, debido a su elevado coste y sus requerimientos de instalación. Con este computador, entre otras cosas, se elaboró el censo en los Estados Unidos del año 1951 y se predijo correctamente el ganador de las elecciones presidenciales en 1952. En ambas tareas el UNIVAC I, por aquel entonces una estrella mediática, demostró ser una máquina rápida y precisa. En este trabajo se desarrolla un análisis del contexto histórico y social en el que se desarrolla el diseño e implementación de este computador. Así mismo, se estudia su arquitectura y programación con el fin de entender cómo se desarrollaba el proceso de programación en aquella fase inicial de la informática, al tiempo que se establecen comparaciones con la programación de un procesador moderno. Dado el gran valor histórico del UNIVAC I, este trabajo incluye el diseño de una página web de carácter didáctico destinada al Museo de Informática de la Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Informática de la Universidad Politécnica de Valencia a fin de contribuir con su proyecto de difusión del patrimonio informático.[CA] L’UNIVAC I va ser dissenyat en la dècada dels anys 50 del segle XX per l’empresa Remington Rand i és considerat el primer computador comercial desenvolupat als Estats Units. Concebut pels pioners informàtics John W. Mauchly i John P. Eckert, aquest computador estava orientat a grans empreses, tant privades com públiques, a causa del seu elevat cost i els seus requeriments d’instal·lació. Amb aquest computador, entre altres coses, es va elaborar el cens als Estats Units de l’any 1951 i es va predir correctament el guanyador de les eleccions presidencials en 1952. En ambdós tasques l’UNIVAC I, en aquell moment una estrela mediàtica, va demostrar ser una màquina ràpida i precisa. En aquest treball es du a terme una anàlisi del context històric i social en el què es desenvolupa el disseny i la implementació d’aquest computador. Així mateix, s’estudia la seua arquitectura i programació a fi d’entendre com era el procés de programació en aquella fase inicial de la informàtica, alhora que s’estableixen comparacions amb la programació d’un processador modern. Donat el gran valor històric de l’UNIVAC I, aquest treball inclou el disseny d’una pàgina web de caràcter didàctic destinada al Museu d’Informàtica de l’Escola Tècnica Superior d’Enginyeria Informàtica de la Universitat Politècnica de València a fi de contribuir al seu projecte de difusió del patrimoni informàtic.[EN] The UNIVAC I was designed in the late 50s of the twentieth century by the company Remington Rand and is considered the first commercial computer developed in the United States. Conceived by pioneers John W. Mauchly and John P. Eckert, this computer was aimed at large companies, both private and public, because of its high cost and installation requirements. With this computer, among other things, the census was developed in the United States in 1951 and correctly predicted the winner of presidential elections in 1952. In both tasks the UNIVAC I, at that time a media star, proved to be a machine quickly and accurately. This paper presents an analysis of the historical and social context in which the design and implementation of this computer develops. Likewise, its architecture and programming is studied in order to understand how the programming process developed in this initial phase of computing, while comparisons are made with the programming of a modern processor. Given the great historical value of the UNIVAC I, this work includes designing a website didactic designed the Museum of Informatics School of Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Valencia in order to contribute to the project diffusing computer heritage.García Garijo, D. (2016). Arqueología informática: el computador UNIVAC en los inicios de la computación moderna. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/68603.TFG

Community-based screening of Chagas disease among Latin American migrants in a non-endemic country: an observational study

Background: Chagas disease is a parasitic disease endemic to Latin America, but it has become a disease of global concern due to migration flows. Asymptomatic carriers may host the parasite for years, without knowing they are infected. The aim of this study is to assess prevalence of Chagas disease and evaluate the participants' level of knowledge between Latin American migrants attending a community-based screening campaign. Methods: Three community-based campaigns were performed in Alicante (Spain) in 2016, 2017 and 2018, including educational chats and blood tests for Trypanosoma cruzi serology. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing knowledge about the mechanisms of transmission, disease presentation, diagnosis, and treatment. People seropositive for T. cruzi underwent diagnostic confirmation by two different tests. Results were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression and expressed as adjusted odds ratios (aORs), adjusting for age, sex, and time in Spain. Results: A total of 596 participants were included in the study; 17% were aged under 18 years. Prevalence in adults was 11% [54/496; 95% confidence interval (CI): 8.3-14.5%] versus 0% among children. All but one case were in Bolivians. Diagnosis was independently associated with having been born in Bolivia (aOR: 102, 95% CI: 13-781) and a primary school-level education (aOR: 2.40, 95% CI: 1.14-5.06). Of 54 people diagnosed with Chagas disease (most of whom were asymptomatic), 42 (77.7%) returned to the clinic at least once, and 24 (44.4%) received treatment. Multivariable analysis showed that coming from Argentina (aOR: 13, 95% CI: 1.61-1188) or Bolivia (aOR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.19-3.39) and having received information about Chagas disease in Spain (aOR: 4.63, 95% CI: 2.54-8.97) were associated with a good level of knowledge on the disease. Having primary level studies (aOR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.34-0.98) and coming from Ecuador (aOR: 4.63, 95% CI: 2.52-847) were independently associated with a lower level of knowledge. Conclusions: Community-based interventions are a good strategy for diagnosing neglected diseases such as Chagas disease in non-endemic countries and for identifying and treating infected, asymptomatic individuals.This study was partially supported by the third call for research grants (J-M.R.-R.) from the Institute of Health and Biomedical Research of Alicante (ISABIAL)/FISABIO Foundation (III convocatoria de ayudas a proyectos de investigación del Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL) – Fundación FISABIO) (UGP-16-158); and by the collaborative agreement between ISABIAL/Fundación FISABIO and Fundación Mundo Sano-Spain, in accordance with the Sponsorship Law. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.S

Asymptomatic Strongyloidiasis among Latin American Migrants in Spain: A Community-Based Approach

Strongyloides stercoralis infection is frequently underdiagnosed since many infections remain asymptomatic. Aim: To estimate the prevalence and characteristics of asymptomatic S. stercoralis infection in Latin American migrants attending a community-based screening program for Chagas disease in Spain. Methodology: Three community-based Chagas disease screening campaigns were performed in Alicante (Spain) in 2016, 2017, and 2018. Serological testing for S. stercoralis infection was performed using a non-automatized IVD-ELISA detecting IgG (DRG Instruments GmbH, Marburg, Germany). Results: Of the 616 migrants from Central and South America who were screened, 601 were included in the study: 100 children and adolescents (<18 years of age) and 501 adults. Among the younger group, 6 participants tested positive (prevalence 6%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.5% to 13.1%), while 60 adults did so (prevalence 12%, 95% CI 9.3% to 15.3%). S. stercoralis infection was more common in men than in women (odds ratio adjusted [ORa] 2.28, 95% CI 1.289 to 4.03) and in those from Bolivia (ORa 2.03, 95% CI 1.15 to 3.59). Prevalence increased with age (ORa 1.02, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.05). In contrast, a university education had a protective effect (ORa 0.29, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.88). Forty-one (41/66; 62.1%) of the total cases of S. stercoralis infection were treated at the health care center. Positive stool samples were observed in 19.5% of the followed-up positive cases. Conclusion: Incorporating serological screening for S. stercoralis into community-based screening for Chagas disease is a useful intervention to detect asymptomatic S. stercoralis infection in Central and South American migrants and an opportunity to tackle neglected tropical diseases in a transversal way. The remaining challenge is to achieve patients' adherence to the medical follow-up.This study was partially supported by the 3rd call for research project grants for the Institute of Health and Biometric Research of Alicante (ISABIAL)/FISABIO Foundation (UGP-16-158), and by the collaboration agreement regulated under the Law of Patronage between ISABIAL/FISABIO and the Foundation Mundo Sano, Spain.S