Consumer populations and nutritional transition in Spain in the 20th century: A methodology for their reconstruction

One feature of the modern nutrition transition is the growing consumption of animal proteins. The most common approach in the quantitative analysis of this change used to be the study of averages of food consumption. But this kind of analysis seems to be incomplete without the knowledge of the number of consumers. Data about consumers are not usually published in historical statistics. This article introduces a methodological approach for reconstructing consumer populations. This methodology is based on some assumptions about the diffusion process of foodstuffs and the modeling of consumption patterns with a log-normal distribution. This estimating process is illustrated with the specific case of milk consumption in Spain between 1925 and 1981. These results fit quite well with other data and indirect sources available showing that this dietary change was a slow and late process. The reconstruction of consumer population could shed a new light in the study of nutritional transitions.

Health intervention and decline in infant mortality rates. Milk depots in Spain (1900-1936)

The role of public health has been a central topic on the classical debate about the historical mortality decline in Europe. One of these health initiatives were the Milk Depots. Spain set up those centres from the late 19th century until the beginning of the Civil War. The goal of this paper is to evaluate the effect of this health intervention on the infant mortality decline during this period. This study works out three kinds of sources: Statistical Yearbooks, Official documents and local records produced by the same Milk Depot. It analyses data available for all the country and one local case such as the Barcelona’s Milk Depot (1904-1935). The main methodological issue deals with the measurement of the effect of the Milk Depot activities on the pattern of changes of infant mortality. Results suggest that Milk Depots have a positive but quite moderate effect on the improving of overall levels of child survival.

Fluctuaciones de precios y dinámina demográfica en Cataluña (1600-1850)

Editada en la Fundación Empresa PúblicaEn el contexto de la demografía histórica regional española, la población catalana se ha caracterizado por aunar los tempranos smtomas de la modernización económica y social con los cambios demográficos. Este artículo pretende evaluar la interrelación entre ambas dinámicas a lo largo del período 1600-1850. Con este objetivo reúne series parroquiales y de precios de un conjunto de localidades catalanas y cuantifica la magnitud de la respuesta en el corto plazo de las series demográficas a las fluctuaciones en los niveles de vida. Los resultados muestran: a) La persistencia secular de un mayor efecto de las variaciones en los niveles de vida sobre la mortalidad que sobre la fecundidad, b) La presencia, en primer lugar, de la nupcialidad en el siglo XVIII y, en segundo, de la fecundidad, en la primera mited del XIX, como aqueUas variables a través de las que la población catalana intentará ajustar, en el corto plazo, la tensión entre población y recursos producida en el proceso de crecimiento económico.A common view in the Spanish population history has been to show the variety of its regional demographies. In this regional setting the population of Catalonia has been characterized by its early connection between economic and social modemization and demographical change. This article aims to evalúate these connections between economic and demographical dynamics in Catalonia in the pre-industrial era (1600-1850). Series of vital events and prices from a sample of Catalan villages have been collected and demographical responses to short run fluctuations in standards of living evaluated through lag time series models. The main results show: a) Leveis of mortality responses to fluctuations in standards of living are higher than levéis of fertility throughout two and a half centuries. b) Nuptiality, in the XVIII th century, and fertility, in the first half of XIX th century, are the demographical mechanisms applied by the Catalan population in order to avoid tensions between population and resources during the process of economic growth.Publicad

Consumer Populations and Nutritional Transition in Spain in the Twentieth Century

Une des caractéristiques de la transition nutritionnelle moderne est la consommation croissante des protéines animales. La démarche la plus habituelle dans l’analyse quantitative de cette transition est l’étude des moyennes de consommation des aliments par habitant. Cependant, ce type d’analyse reste incomplet du fait de la méconnaissance du nombre de consommateurs. Cet article présente une stratégie méthodologique pour la reconstruction de la population des consommateurs, fondée d’une part sur des hypothèses concernant le processus de diffusion des aliments et, d’autre part sur la modélisation des distributions de la consommation. Ce processus d’estimation est illustré dans le cas spécifique de la consommation du lait en Espagne de 1925 à 1981. Les résultats concordent avec d’autres données et de sources indirectes qui montrent que ce changement de régime alimentaire a été lent et tardif. La reconstruction de la population consommatrice peut apporter de nouvelles perspectives d’études sur les transitions alimentaires.One feature of modern nutritional transition is the growing consumption of animal proteins. Previously, the most common approach in the quantitative analysis of this change was the study of food consumption averages. This mode of analysis, however, seems to be incomplete unless the number of consumers is also known, and data on consumers are not usually published in historical statistics. This article introduces a methodological approach for reconstructing consumer populations, based on assumptions about the diffusion process of foodstuffs and on the modeling of consumption patterns. The specific case of milk consumption in Spain between 1925 and 1981 is used to illustrate the approach. The results correlate reasonably well with other data and with the sources available, which show that this dietary change was a slow and belated process. The reconstruction of consumer populations could shed new light on the study of nutritional transitions

La implantación de las Gotas de Leche en España (1902-1935): un estudio a partir de la prensa histórica

Milk Depots were health care institutions involved in fighting against high levels of child mortality in Spain in the first third of 20th century. They promoted the improvement of food hygiene of the newborn. This article reconstructs the trajectory of its implementation until the Spanish Civil War. Given the limited number of statistical sources available, it has been used as documentary source digitized historical newspapers. Analysis of these documents and other published studies leads to the estimation that this institution was deployed in 79 cities between 1902 and 1935. Milk Depots were settled mostly in provincial capitals, in all regions, including the Spanish protectorate in Morocco. Before 1936, a complete sequence of expansion and stabilization took place in the opening of these centers. This opening seems to respond most to influence of existing medical and charitable institutions that infant mortality levels prevailing at that time. Examination of the news shows as setting up a Milk Depot was not the outcome of a simple decision process, implemented quickly. The management was not exempt from difficulties. They came mainly from the lack of financial support or they were consequence from greater demand for their services.Las Gotas de Leche eran instituciones sanitarias que intervinieron en la reducción de la mortalidad infantil en España promoviendo la mejora en la higiene alimentaria de los recién nacidos. Este artículo reconstruye la trayectoria de su implantación hasta la Guerra Civil. Dada la limitada información estadística disponible, se ha empleado como base documental las hemerotecas históricas digitalizadas. El análisis de la misma y de otros estudios permite estimar que el despliegue de esta institución entre 1902 y 1935 involucró, al menos, a 79 localidades. Se establecieron mayoritariamente en capitales de provincia, en todas las regiones, incluido el protectorado español en Marruecos. Antes de 1936 tuvo lugar una secuencia completa de expansión y estabilización en la apertura de estos centros. La creación de Gotas de Leche parece que respondió más a la influencia de las instituciones médicas y benéficas existentes en una localidad que a los niveles de mortalidad infantil. El examen de las noticias de prensa muestra como la creación de una Gota de Leche no acostumbró a ser fruto de un proceso de decisión ágil ejecutado rápidamente. La gestión tampoco estuvo exenta de dificultades. Una parte relevante de las mismas eran de origen financiero o derivadas de una mayor demanda de sus servicios

Estatura y condición nutricional de la población infantil en una ciudad industrial española: el caso de Barcelona (1900-1969)

Because of urban and sanitary reforms implemented in Barcelona from the second half of 19th century mortality declined. Biological changes in the population under 15 years were a relevant explanatory factor. This article analysis published anthropometric statistics with the aim of reconstructing the trajectory of the biological development of that population and diagnosing its nutritional status over seven decades of the 20th century. The main results show (a) Children born before the Spanish Civil War increased their heights (7 to 13 years) less than one centimeter per decade as an average. However, those who were born from the early fifties overcame the two centimeters per decade. b) Malnutrition was mostly moderate (around twenty percent) and showed a significant reduction from the 1950s onwards c) Differences in heights according to gender, social class and residential place remained throughout those decades, although children population experienced a general trend of increase in heights in all ages.Como consecuencia de un conjunto de reformas urbanas y sanitarias a partir de la segunda mitad del siglo XIX la mortalidad de Barcelona descendió. Los cambios biológicos en la población menor de 15 años son relevantes para explicarlo. Este artículo los analiza en base a estadísticas antropométricas publicadas. Se reconstruye la evolución secular de su crecimiento y se diagnostica su estado nutricional a lo largo de siete décadas del siglo XX. Los resultados muestran: a) Entre los nacidos antes de la Guerra Civil los incrementos medios de estatura (de 7 a 13 años) por decenio eran menores de un centímetro. Aquellos que lo hicieron a partir de los cincuenta superaron los dos centímetros. b) Los niveles de malnutrición fueron principalmente moderados (en torno al 20%) con una reducción significativa a partir la década de los cincuenta. c) Las diferencias de género, sociales y residenciales persistieron a lo largo de las siete décadas, aun participando toda la población infantil en el incremento general de las tallas en todas las edades

Association between parameters related to oxidative stress and trace minerals in Athletes

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the basal concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) nonenzymatic antioxidants, such as ascorbic acid, a-tocopherol, and retinol in plasma or erythrocytes, and the plasma concentrations of 16 trace minerals in endurance athletes from Extremadura (Spain). In addition, we aimed to assess the possible relationships between some parameters related to cellular oxidative stress with plasma concentrations of some trace minerals. Sixty-two national long-distance men athletes participated in this study. The parameters related to oxidative stress and antioxidant activity were analyzed through high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), and trace minerals analysis was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). We found that plasma MDA was positively correlated with selenium and rubidium. Plasma ascorbic acid was positively correlated with manganese and negatively correlated with cobalt and cadmium. Erythrocyte ascorbic acid was related to arsenic and cesium. Plasma a-tocopherol correlated with copper and manganese negatively and positively with arsenic. Erythrocyte a-tocopherol was positively related to copper, rubidium, and lithium. The findings show that athletes with a high degree of training should monitor their intake and concentrations of a-tocopherol for its fundamental role of neutralizing the excess of reactive oxygen species produced by exercise and the prooxidant effects of several minerals such as arsenic, copper, and lithium

Physical fitness and upper limb asymmetry in young padel players: differences between genders and categories

This study aimed to assess the physical fitness and upper body asymmetries of young padel players aged between 13 and 16 years and to determine the possible differences between genders and categories. A total of 60 padel players were divided into four groups: under-14 male (n = 15; age: 13.75 ± 0.45 years; height: 1.64 ± 0.07 m; weight: 54.7 ± 8.3 kg), under-14 female (n = 15; age: 13.75 ± 0.44 years; height: 1.60 ± 0.05 m; weight: 51.5 ± 6.0 kg), under-16 male (n = 15; age: 15.44 ± 0.51 years; height:1.71 ± 0.04 m; weight: 63.88 ± 6.2 kg) and under-16 female (n = 15; age:15.46 ± 0.52 years; height:1.63 ± 0.05 m; weight: 55.08 ± 3.6 kg). Handgrip strength, ischiosural flexibility, gestural speed of the dominant arm, vertical jump, cardiorespiratory capacity, lateral movement, lateral acceleration and reaction time were measured. Male players showed better results in manual grip strength, vertical jump power, cardiorespiratory capacity and lateral movement (p < 0.05). Moreover, males presented a higher percentage of asymmetry in upper limb strength. Female players showed better reaction time and greater flexibility (p < 0.05). Regarding the differences between categories, the under-16 players showed greater flexibility, gestural speed, vertical jump power, cardiorespiratory capacity and lateral movement compared to the under-14 players. These results can be used as reference values for coaches/physical trainers of younger categories to improve health control and physical performance planning

Red de Empleabilidad y Emprendimiento en los estudiantes del Grado de Trabajo Social

Este proyecto sigue las líneas definidas en el Proyecto de Innovación y Mejora de la Calidad Docente de la Convocatoria 2016/2017, con el nº 109, con el tema: “El impulso del emprendimiento como competencia transversal en los estudiantes del Grado de Trabajo Social”, premiado en la VII EDICIÓN de PREMIOS EMPRENDEDOR UNIVERSITARIO UCM, en la 4ª modalidad de Premio Innova docente. Al mismo tiempo se ha implementado con el inicio de la experiencia del Proyecto de Aprendizaje Servicio “UCM_MEDIMAYOR_ ALUMNI”, de formación en mediación a un grupo de mayores pertenecientes al Centro de Día Peñagrande del Ayuntamiento de Madrid. La responsabilidad social de la universidad, puede encontrase en esta función ya que se ha potenciado la adquisición de competencias profesionales

Adquisición de competencias profesionales en los estudiantes del Grado de Trabajo Social. La argumentación y elaboración en el diagnóstico social a través de diferentes instrumentos

Se presentan los resultados obtenidos en el Proyecto Nº 21 Adquisición de competencias profesionales en los estudiantes del Grado de Trabajo Social. La argumentación y elaboración en el diagnóstico social a través de diferentes instrumentos, acerca de reforzar la argumentación en el alumnado del Grado de Trabajo Social a través de instrumentos, que refuercen su aprendizaje en la elaboración del diagnóstico social, donde se visualiza la calidad y eficacia de la intervención profesional