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Background: The evidence for the health benefits of physical activity is growing; however, the prevalence of unhealthy lifestyles continues to contribute to the increase in chronic non-communicable diseases. We know that occupational-time physical activity does not provide the same benefits as leisure-time physical activity, which has been shown to reduce mortality and pain. We also know that multiple factors influence pain; however, there are no studies that specifically analyze the impact of type of working time and occupational-time physical activity on the impairment of daily activities due to pain. We aimed to study the influence of both personal and occupational factors on the impairment of daily activities due to pain, assessing whether leisure-time physical activity acts as a protective factor. Methods : A cross-sectional, population-based design was used based on the 2017 National Health Survey in Spain (ENSE). Sociodemographic, leisure-time physical activity, and work-related variables were collected. The outcome variable was the impairment of daily activities due to pain. Ordinal logistic regression was applied, and the analysis was complemented with simple correspondence analysis. Results : A total of 1,441 workers between 18 and 65 years of age were studied. Significant differences were found between sexes for all variables except age and leisure-time physical activity. Logistic regression revealed significant associations between sex, primary and secondary education levels, no leisure-time physical activity, and overweight with impairment of daily activities due to pain. Simple correspondence analysis showed that the categories doing leisure-time physical activity several times a week as well as several times a month are closer to the categories of little or no pain. Conclusion : Female gender, low educational level, overweight, and lack of leisure-time physical activity were associated with increases in impairment of daily activities due to pain. Occupational-time physical activity and work shift were not related to impairment of daily activities due to pain. Implications for Occupational Health Practice : Occupational Health Nursing interventions through education and counseling on the importance of leisure-time physical activity promotion programs potentially can reduce the impairment of daily activities due to pain in working populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyse the influence of the COVID‐19 pandemic and the perception of self‐efficacy on the health professionals of the Spanish out‐of‐hospital emergency services. Design: Observational, cross‐sectional and descriptive with a survey methodology of 1710 participants from Spain (1 February–30 April, 2021). Methods: The mental health of healthcare workers was assesed in terms of stress, anxiety and depression, as well as their self‐efficacy. Linear and logistic regression models were fitted to predict these variables. A moderation analysis was conducted to determine the effect of self‐efficacy on mental health. Results: The means of the sample for stress, anxiety, depression and self‐efficacy were 20.60, 15.74, 13.07 and 70.87, respectively. In the regression models, being a woman was the most significant factor for severe mental health impairment. Female gender was also a relevant factor for self‐efficacy. Self‐efficacy had a direct effect on the mental health for working in patient care. Conclusions: Healthcare workers showed moderate stress, severe anxiety, mild depression and good self‐efficacy. Direct patient care was associated with more stress and severe anxiety. Age, female gender, job changes and job adjustment were associated with levels of stress, anxiety and depression. Self‐efficacy is a determining factor of mental health in the direct care modality. Implications: The mental health of healthcare workers has been of great importance in the aftermath of the pandemic, but out‐of‐hospital emergency workers have been neglected in research. The levels of stress, anxiety and depression during the pandemic justify the creation of prevention and early diagnosis programmes, as they are essential in a health disaster. Surprisingly, their high level of perceived self‐efficacy directly impact on the mental health of patient helthcare workers, so improving it will reduce the psychological risk. Reporting Method: We have followed the STROBE guidelines. It has been partially funded by the Asistencia Sanitanitaria Interprovincial de Seguros ‐ ASISA Foundation (Spain). Patient or Public Contribution: 'No patient or public involvement'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to disengage attention and reengage elsewhere has been proposed as a fundamental deficit in the autism spectrum, potentially disrupting development of higher cognitive domains. Eye-movements were recorded while 16 autism spectrum children of mixed ability, and 18 typically developing age-matched controls, completed the Gap-Overlap paradigm. A significant difference in latency to fixate target was found between Gap and Overlap conditions. A significant interaction with group was due to autism spectrum participants' shorter latencies to fixate target in the Gap condition, but similar group responses in the Overlap condition. Considerable within-group variability emerged. We predicted that attentional disengaging would be related to specific features of the phenotype; however, there was no evidence of an association with receptive language, non-verbal IQ, sensory behaviors, or autistic severity in autism spectrum or typically developing groups. In conclusion, while atypical visual attention mechanisms may be a feature of autism spectrum, this is not explained by impaired visual disengaging but is more likely due to increased susceptibility of visual fixation offset cueing. Despite best efforts, nine additional autism spectrum children could not complete testing, and data from a further six were unusable; more work is needed to develop research methods that enable individuals across the spectrum to participate.

We tested the capability of deaf adolescents, including a group of users of cochlear implants, to generate inferences during spoken language comprehension and whether they benefited from the use of sign-supported speech (SSS). Stimuli consisted of 24 short video-recorded texts in spoken language and in SSS. Participants responded to literal and inferential multiple-choice questions. In spoken language cochlear implant users had more difficulty in processing inferential than literal information and found predictive inferences harder than associative inferences. The level of spoken language proficiency was related to inference generation, especially for predictive inferences. Similarly, deaf native signers had more difficulties in generating predictive inferences, although SSS increased their comprehension. Lip-reading skills and working memory were positively related to accuracy in SSS. The inclusion of SSS only had a positive impact on the comprehension of native signers. Results suggest that cochlear implant users would benefit from an intervention to enhance verbal skills.

Infestation by the sheep bot fly Oestrus ovis was firstly reported in a single roe deer from Central Spain in 2022. For assessing the current situation of nasal myiases in this ungulate in this area, the nasopharyngeal cavities of 184 roe deer hunted in Central Spain between January-June 2023 were examined. All larvae were recovered and morphologically identified; in addition, species identification was molecularly confirmed in a subset of specimens. Forty-four roe deer (23.9%; CI 95 17.95–30.74) were positive for different Oestrinae larval stages. Twenty-six animals (14.1%; CI 95 9.44–20.02%) were infested by the roe deer nasal bot fly (Cephenemyia stimulator) with a mean intensity of 35.2 (SD 49.71) larvae/infested animal, and eighteen (9.8%; CI 95 5.90-15.02%) roe deer harboured the sheep bot fly (O. ovis), with a mean intensity of 2.0 (SD 1.33) larvae/infested animal. No mixed infestations by both Oestrinae were found in a single animal. All larval instars (L1, L2 and L3) of both species were identified. Most C. stimulator specimens were located at the nasal turbinates, and a small percentage (3.2%) at the pharynx; all O. ovis larvae were found at the nasal turbinates. Since O. ovis is highly prevalent in sheep and goat flocks from Central Spain, the high sympatry between roe deer and small ruminant populations in the studied area may have increased the risk of cross-infection. Moreover, the finding of mature L3 of O. ovis suggests that this species can complete its life cycle in roe deer. Therefore, monitoring bot flies in sheep and goat flocks as well as in sympatric wild ruminants is strongly recommended for achieving an optimum control of nasal myiases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study is to describe the performance of deaf and hearing people while speechreading Spanish, a language with transparent orthography, and to relate this skill to reading efficiency. Three groups of 27 participants each were recruited: a group of deaf participants, a chronological age-matched hearing group and a reading age-matched hearing group. All three were tested on vocabulary, phonological awareness, reading speed, speechreading and, only in the group of deaf people, speech intelligibility. The results indicate that deaf people are better speechreaders than younger hearing people, but they are no better than their age-matched peers, and that speechreading is related to reading only in deaf people.

Summary: Background and Objectives: Research on the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and strain values in children and adolescents is limited. Our aim was to analyse the relationship between BMI and strain values of both ventricles and left atrium in children and adolescents. Methods: Both ventricles and left atrial strain values were compared among different BMI categories in children and adolescents from a town in the South of Spain. Results: Of the 198 subjects, aged 6–17 years, 53% were of normal weight, 26% were overweight and 21% had obesity. Lower absolute values of left ventricular global longitudinal strain (25.9 ± 2.0% vs. 26.9 ± 2.2%, p = 0.002) and right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (29.5 ± 4.2% vs. 30.8 ± 4.5%, p = 0.04) were found in subjects with obesity and overweight versus subjects with normal weight. A lower right ventricular four‐chamber longitudinal strain was also observed in males with obesity and overweight (24.8 ± 3.3% vs. 26.4 ± 3.6%, p = 0.03). Statistically significant negative correlations of BMI were found for all ventricular, but not atrial, strain values in univariate analysis. This association turned non‐significant for right ventricular four‐chamber longitudinal strain in multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Utilizing this new strain software, children and adolescents with high BMI were associated with significantly lower values for left and right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain, without impact in left atrial strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The prognosis of relapsed B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B‐ALL) is poor and few patients can be successfully rescued with conventional therapies. Inotuzumab ozogamicin (IO), an antibody against the CD22 antigen linked to calicheamicin, has been approved as a rescue treatment in relapsed/refractory (R/R) B‐ALL. Patients and Methods: This was an observational, retrospective, multicenter study of adult patients included in the Spanish program of compassionate use of IO in centers from the PETHEMA group (Programa Español de Tratamientos en Hematología). Results: Thirty‐four patients with a median age of 43 years (range, 19–73) were included. Twenty patients (59%) were refractory to the last treatment, IO treatment was given as ≥3rd salvage treatment in 25 patients (73%) and 20 patients (59%) received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation before IO treatment. After a median of 2 cycles of IO, 64% of patients achieved complete response (CR)/complete response with incomplete recovery. The median response duration, progression‐free survival and overall survival (OS) were 4.7 (95%CI, 2.4–7.0 months), 3.5 (95%CI, 1.0–5.0 months) and 4 months (95%CI, 1.9–6.1 months) respectively, with better OS for patients with relapsed B‐ALL versus refractory disease (10.4 vs. 2.5 months, respectively) (p =.01). There was a trend for better OS for patients with first CR duration >12 months (7.2 months [95%CI, 3.2–11.2] vs. 3 months [95% CI, 1.8–4.2] respectively) (p =.054). There was no sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) event during IO treatment, but three patients (9%) developed grade 3–4 SOS during alloHSCT after IO treatment. Conclusions: Our study showed slightly inferior outcomes of the pivotal trial probably due to poorer risk factors and late onset of IO therapy of recruited patients. Our results support early use of IO in relapsed/refractory ALL patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 35 male roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) from Lugo province (north‐western Spain) were examined for pedicle myiasis between 2020 and 2022. All these animals had died by different causes and were examined or preserved just after their death to avoid post‐mortem infestations. After external and internal head inspection, five animals were diagnosed with severe myiasis at the basis of the antlers (14.29%; 95% confidence interval = 5.38–31.04). All the affected bucks presented a cutaneous wound (1.5–15 cm in diameter) around the pedicles with extensive tissue destruction, exposition of frontal and parietal bones, and massive infestation by dipteran larvae (2–12 mm long). Four of five roe deer showed whitish egg clusters adhered to the basis of the antlers. Moreover, in one animal, six larvae had penetrated the cranial cavity, and in two of them larvae were also found in the nasopharyngeal cavity. All the cases were recorded in summer (May–August). Morphological identification and subsequent molecular confirmation revealed that all animals were infested by different larval stages of Lucilia caesar (Diptera: Calliphoridae). This study represents the first report of pedicle myiasis in Spain. Since this disease is reported sporadically, the detection of five cases in a short period of time suggests an increase in the incidence of this myiasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Pasado y Memoria. Revista de Historia Contemporánea is the property of Pasado y Memoria and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study analyses the extent to which European legislation and, in particular, the latest regulatory initiatives for audiovisual media and for digital markets and services affect the regulation of public service media (PSM) in Spain. A three-fold analysis is performed using a document review methodology. Firstly, the influence of European competition policies on the origin, development and adaptation of PSM to the digital market is studied. Secondly, the transposition into Spanish law of the 2018 Audiovisual Media Services Directive (EU, 2018) is evaluated. Third and lastly, the impact of the draft European Acts referring to digital platforms on PSM in Spain and the European Union (European Commission, 2020a; 2020b) is analysed, as is that of the European Media Freedom Act (European Commission, 2022). The concept of Europeanisation (Harcourt, 2002) is taken as the basis for the assessment of such impact. The conclusions show that while the European regulatory umbrella is a necessary and influential framework, it is insufficient when it comes to understanding the regulatory and political development of PSM in Spain. The path dependence and circumstances of each country are crucial to understanding the why and how of specific regulation. There is European convergence on economic and competition policy protection issues, but not on political and cultural issues, such as the definition of PSM governance or structure, where the European Union's influence is much weaker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to determine the evolution of Instagram use, body dissatisfaction and physical appearance comparisons throughout the coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, and to explore whether there was a relationship between the changes in Instagram use throughout the pandemic and body dissatisfaction and physical appearance comparisons. Method: A total of 272 Spanish women (16–70 years old) were followed‐up across four waves of assessment between November 2019 (before the pandemic started) and July 2021. Body dissatisfaction, social appearance comparisons, and Instagram use were assessed using the Eating Disorders Inventory‐3, the Physical Appearance Comparison Scale‐Revised, and an ad hoc questionnaire for Instagram use, respectively. Results: No statistically significant changes were found in the frequency of Instagram use, nor on the proportion of women following appearance‐focused accounts on Instagram, among the data collection periods. Body dissatisfaction significantly increased from T1 to T4, and physical appearance comparisons significantly increased from T1 to T2, T3, and T4. These increases were not found to be significant for those with eating disorder risk. No significant differences were found in body dissatisfaction and physical appearance comparisons depending on whether participants' frequency of Instagram use had changed or remained the same, or whether they had started/stopped/continued following appearance‐focused accounts on Instagram during the pandemic. Discussion: Women's body dissatisfaction and physical appearance comparisons seem to have increased throughout the pandemic. The experiences of individuals with eating disorder risk throughout the pandemic, and the relationship between the pandemic and Instagram use, might be complex and need further research. Public Significance: This study suggests that women's body dissatisfaction and physical appearance comparisons have increased throughout the COVID‐19 pandemic. However, this increase might not be as clear for those who had eating disorder risk before the pandemic. Instagram frequency of use, and the percentage of women following appearance‐focused accounts on Instagram, do not seem to have significantly increased. More research is needed to explore the impact of the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Overweight and obesity are affected by factors such as dietary transgressions and lack of exercise, as well as less obvious factors such as shift work and sedentary working. (i) To explore the associations between overweight and obesity (O/O) with working conditions such as type of job position, and work shifts; (ii) to know the associations between O/O with lifestyles (physical activity, eating habits, and tobacco and alcohol consumption). Methods and results A cross-sectional, population-based design was used based on the Spanish National Health Survey. The final sample consisted of 9097 workers aged between 18 and 65. The influence of the explanatory variables on the outcome variable (body mass index) was examined using logistic regression. The prevalence of O/O increased by 4% for every additional year of age (P  <   0.001) and was 3.1 times more frequent among men (P  < 0.001). It also was 20% higher in night work or rotating shifts (P  <   0.01), and 14.9% lower in sedentary job positions (P  <   0.05). Low consumption of the following foods was significantly associated with a reduction in O/O: meat (16.2%), fish (75.4%), cured meats (35.1%), dairy products (33.3%), and snacks (47.1%). Conclusion Age, men, engaging in moderate or low levels of physical activity, being an ex-smoker, working during the night or rotating shifts, holding a non-sedentary job position, having a low to moderate consumption of pasta, potatoes, and rice, a moderate consumption of bread and cereals, as well as dairy products, vegetables, sugary foods, and fast food, have been significantly associated with a higher prevalence of O/O. No relationships were identified between the consumption of alcohol, fruit, eggs, pulses, and sugary soft drinks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Quality of care (QoC) is a highly important topic in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We recently elaborated a decalogue of QoC indicators (IQCARO-QoC) developed by IBD patients. The aim of the present study was to assess the factors associated with patients' evaluation of QoC in Spain using the IQCARO-QoC Decalogue recently developed by IBD patients.Methods: A survey including patients' socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, and the IQCARO-QoC Decalogue, was completed by IBD patients. We described patients' assessment of QoC across Spanish patients. A univariable and multivariable analysis was performed to explore the associations between patients' characteristics and QoC.Results: Questionnaires from 788 participant patients were analysed. Participants' mean age was 43.4 years, 63% were females and 58% had Crohn's disease. The mean QoC score was 8.1 (± 2.4 SD) points out of a maximum of 10. Items with the lowest score were related to the provision of information and the implication of the medical team throughout the entire patient care. Factors associated with better QoC scores included: being employed better disease control, fewer numbers of unscheduled visits, and being followed by a gastroenterologist specialized in IBD.Conclusions: Spanish patients' reported QoC seems to be globally good although there is room for improvement, especially in providing adequate information to patients. Care provided by specialized IBD gastroenterologists seems to be related with higher QoC scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spain hosts the fourth largest number of immigrants in Europe, resulting in a large proportion of migrant workers. To date, few studies have examined the working conditions of immigrants in Southern Spain who are known to be at risk for adverse working conditions. This study aimed to investigate the patterns of work and working conditions of immigrants living in southern Spain and to understand how these factors may affect their health. Methods: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted throughout 2019 and included 93 immigrants. Transcription, literal reading, and theoretical categorization were performed and a narrative content analysis was carried out. Results: Three themes emerged on working conditions of this study population, including social and labor-related characteristics, working conditions, and occupational health issues. Four employment sectors were most commonly occupied by these immigrants, including caregiving and food service for women and agriculture and construction for men. Most immigrants were from Latin America, unemployed or working part-time jobs, and not hired under an employment contract. Most worked in low-qualified jobs, and were exposed to occupational hazards such as falls from heights, manual handling of materials, and psychological strain. The lack of training on occupational risk prevention and labor rights was related to a low identification of work situations having a negative impact on the health of immigrants. Conclusions/Application to Practice: These findings should be taken into account by the government and public health managers to provide better assistance to immigrant workers in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Behavioral Psychology / Psicologia Conductual is the property of Fundacion VECA para el Avance de la Psicologia Clinica Conductual and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This research aimed to show that using different cutoff points for women and men in nutritional assessment through the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and different anthropometric variables, improves the diagnostic accuracy of malnutrition among people over 65 years. A cross-sectional study was carried out in a sample of 240 patients of 65 to 104 years in Córdoba (Spain) between 2013 and 2015. Excluded were those with disabling diseases that prevented informed consent. We assessed Nutritional status using the MNA and the Chang Method (Gold Standard). Global cut points per sex were determined for each independent variable using Receiver Operating Characteristic curves, choosing the best of each according to the highest Youden´s index (J). None of the variables studied showed high precision in the diagnosis of malnutrition in the elderly. Different cutoff points were found for all variables by sex, as well as variations in their validity indexes. The number of lymphocytes was more accurate in women (J = 0.58), being the muscular circumference of the arm the best in men (J = 0.8). Regarding MNA, the Long Form version showed higher sensitivity (S) in women (S = 76%) and short versions in men (S = 71% and 59%) at different cutoff points. The introduction of the sex variable seems determinant to achieve a more accurate diagnostic of malnutrition, avoiding biases derivate from a global study without considering its effect in the development of diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Spain has been one of the countries more heavily stricken by SARS‐CoV‐2, which has had huge implications for stroke care. The aim was to analyse the impact of the COVID‐19 epidemic outbreak on reperfusion therapies for acute ischaemic stroke in the northwest of Spain. Methods: This was a Spanish multicentre retrospective observational study based on data from tertiary hospitals of the NORDICTUS network. All patients receiving reperfusion therapy for ischaemic stroke between 30 December 2019 and 3 May 2020 were recorded, and their baseline, clinical and radiological characteristics, extra‐ and intra‐hospital times of action, Code Stroke activation pathway, COVID‐19 status, reperfusion rate, and short‐term outcome before and after the setting of the emergency state were analysed. Results: A total of 796 patients received reperfusion therapies for ischaemic stroke. There was a decrease in the number of patients treated per week (46.5 patients per week vs. 39.0 patients per week, P = 0.043) and a delay in out‐of‐hospital (95.0 vs. 110.0 min, P = 0.001) and door‐to‐needle times (51.0 vs. 55.0, P = 0.038). Patients receiving endovascular therapy obtained less successful reperfusion rates (92.9% vs. 86.6%, P = 0.016). COVID‐19 patients had more in‐hospital mortality. Conclusion: A decrease in the number of patients benefiting from reperfusion therapies was found, with a delay in out‐of‐hospital and door‐to‐needle times and worse reperfusion rates in northwest Spain. COVID‐19 patients had more in‐hospital mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It has been established that people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have difficulties understanding spoken language. Understanding reflexive and clitic pronouns is vital to establishing reference‐based inference, but it is as yet unclear whether such constructions pose specific difficulties for those with ASD. Pronoun interpretation seems be connected to the development of pragmatic abilities, and can therefore be considered a plausible marker in the differential diagnosis between ASD and developmental language disorder (DLD). Aims: To establish whether or not there are differences between ASD and DLD in relation to their understanding of pronoun constructions (both reflexive and clitic). The working hypothesis was that although no differences were expected between groups in relation to automatic (online) pronoun processing, the comprehension of reflexive pronouns would constitute a diagnostic marker between the group with ASD and language disorder and the DLD group. Methods & Procedures: The study carried out two experiments with three clinical groups (two with ASD and different levels of language proficiency and one with DLD) and two control groups with typically developing people (with equivalent language levels), analysing their on‐ and offline processing in pronoun resolution tasks. The first experiment uses an online method (eye‐tracking) to record pronoun processing in real time. The second uses an offline method to analyse comprehension accuracy. Outcomes & Results: The results of the two experiments indicated no differences in the way in which the clinical and control groups resolved the tasks, but a shorter reaction time was observed only in the age‐matched control group in comparison with the ASD group without language disorder in the first experiment, perhaps due to the fact that processing pronouns involves a greater cognitive load among the latter group. Conclusions & Implications: The comprehension of reflexive pronouns cannot be considered a diagnostic marker for distinguishing ASD from DLD. What this paper addsWhat is already known on the subjectPrevious studies have found that the performance of children with ASD in the comprehension of personal pronouns is equivalent to youngest control groups, but poorer regarding the interpretation of reflective pronouns. However, children with DLD do not usually have problems with the use of pronouns, which suggests that their pronoun processing is not affected. As pronoun interpretation seems be connected to the development of pragmatic abilities, it could be considered a plausible marker in the differential diagnosis between ASD and DLD.What this paper adds to existing knowledgeThis paper presents the results of two experiments involving pronoun processing by those with ASD (both with and without language disorder) and those with DLD. The design enables us to analyse the reflexive and clitic pronoun processing in people with ASD and DLD, regardless of their language proficiency. One experiment uses an eye‐tracking methodology that allows us to obtain data about how the pronouns are processed in real time. It represents an attempt to identify language markers that may help distinguish between the two groups and adapt the interventions to the specific problems experienced by each one.What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?The results indicate that it is not possible to identify any specific impairment in pronoun processing among the clinical groups (ASD and DLD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common voles (Microtus arvalis) are widespread in the European agricultural landscape from central Spain to central Russia. During population outbreaks, significant damage to a variety of crops is caused and the risk of pathogen transmission from voles to people increases. In 2019, increasing or unusually high common vole densities have been reported from several European countries. This is highly important in terms of food production and public health. Therefore, authorities, extension services and farmers need to be aware of the rapid and widespread increase in common voles and take appropriate measures as soon as possible. Management options include chemical and non-chemical methods. However, the latter are suitable only for small and valuable crops and it is recommended to increase efforts to predict common voles outbreaks and to develop and field test new and optimized management tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although concurrent chemoradiotherapy (cCRT) increases survival in patients with inoperable, locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), there is no consensus on the treatment of elderly patients. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) and its ability to predict toxicity in this setting.Methods: We enrolled 85 consecutive elderly (⩾75 years) participants, who underwent CGA and the Vulnerable Elders Survey (VES-13). Those classified as fit and medium-fit by CGA were deemed candidates for cCRT (platinum-based chemotherapy concurrent with thoracic radiation therapy), while unfit patients received best supportive care.Results: Fit (37%) and medium-fit (48%) patients had significantly longer median overall survival (mOS) (23.9 and 16.9 months, respectively) than unfit patients (15%) (9.3 months, log-rank P=0.01). In multivariate analysis, CGA groups and VES-13 were independent prognostic factors. Fit and medium-fit patients receiving cCRT (n=54) had mOS of 21.1 months (95% confidence interval: 16.2, 26.0). In those patients, higher VES-13 (⩾3) was associated with shorter mOS (16.33 vs 24.3 months, P=0.027) and higher risk of G3-4 toxicity (65 vs 32%, P=0.028).Conclusions: Comprehensive geriatric assessment and VES-13 showed independent prognostic value. Comprehensive geriatric assessment may help to identify elderly patients fit enough to be treated with cCRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To estimate the occupational disease linked to temporary incapacity (not work‐related illness). Background: The under‐reporting of occupational disease is a recognized problem in Europe. Methods: Cross‐sectional study conducted in Spanish adult population using periods of temporary incapacity recorded in primary care during 2015. Rates of occupational disease were estimated using the García & Gadea study. Results: A total of 130,771 episodes of temporary incapacity were studied from 91,448 people, and 56,092 were women (61.3%). The overall prevalence rate was 2,096 and was higher in women (2,504) than in men (1,665) (p < 0.001). It was estimated that 6,580 (7.2%) could be suffering from an occupational disease. Musculoskeletal complaints were the commonest, affecting 75,165 people (82.2%). For the binary logistic regression, the dependent variable was the existence or lack of incapacity due to a musculoskeletal pathology. Age acts as a protective factor (adjusted OR = 0.978). The periods off work due to musculoskeletal complaints are lower in the first quarter of the year [OR > 1; p < 0.001]. Conclusions: 7.2% of the population was estimated to be off work due to an occupational disease. This estimate reflects the well‐known under‐reporting of occupational diseases which are dealt with by the Public Health System instead of specialized clinics. Implications for Nursing Management: The interdisciplinary role of the occupational health nurse makes it an adequate professional to detect the cases of occupational diseases in primary care settings. Occupational Health Nursing has been recognized by the managers as the most suitable professionals to carry out the screening of occupational diseases in Primary Care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to compare the predictive ability of waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) compared with other anthropometric indicators in the incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and to propose cutoff values for its early detection in nursing practice. A longitudinal cohort study was conducted on a sample of 630 workers (137 exposed and 493 nonexposed), free of MetS at baseline. WHtR was compared with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and the percentage of body fat (BF%). In the Cox regression, the adjusted values of hazard ratio (HR) were 5.4 (confidence interval [CI] = [3.1, 9.5]) for WHtR and 7.4 (CI = [3.7, 14.9]) for components of MetS. WHtR obtained the largest area under the curve 0.82 (CI = [0.76, 0.88]), and with a cutoff value of 0.54, values were obtained for sensitivity (70%) and specificity (77%). WHtR was the best predictor of incidence of MetS, with a cutoff value of 0.54. Nursing can improve the early detection of MetS by measuring WHtR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To validate the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) in a Spanish population over 65 years of age with varying degrees of independence.Design: This cross-sectional validation study used the Chang nutritional assessment method as a reference test.Participants: 248 subjects (72.2% female), with a mean age of 81.3, completed the study. They were classified into three groups: (i) autonomous patients who were able to take part in activities outside their home; (ii) patients who require help with daily self-care; (iii) patients living in a residential health care facility.Setting: Three health centres and three residential care homes situated in Cordoba (Spain).Results: The kappa values for intra-observer and inter-observer agreement were 0.870 and 0.784, respectively. The intra-class correlation coefficient intra-observer was 0.874 and the inter-observer was 0.789. The sensitivity and specificity readings for the diagnostic accuracy of MNA were 63.2% and 72.9% in the total sample, respectively. The area under the curve was 0.726. For patients in the Group A, B and C, the sensitivity was 89.3%, 60.7% and 18.8%, and the specificity was 23.3%, 56.8% and 94.1%, respectively.Conclusion: The results for the reliability of the survey were excellent, and its internal consistency was acceptable. The diagnostic accuracy, as measured by the sensitivity and specificity readings, was lower than that obtained with the original survey. It can therefore be considered more suitable for a population with limited autonomy, and less appropriate for independent patients. The results may not be relevant to patients outside of the Cordova region in Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Problems with pragmatic aspects of language are well attested in individuals on the autism spectrum. It remains unclear, however, whether figurative language skills improve with language status and whether problems in figurative language are no longer present in highly verbal individuals with autism. Aims To investigate whether highly verbal individuals with autism perform similarly as age-, intelligence- and verbal comprehension-matched controls on the processing of one of the most common types of figurative language, metaphors. The goal was to establish whether the participants with autism are primed similarly to controls by figurative expressions (metaphors) presented in different conditions. Methods & Procedures The experiment was designed as a cross-modal lexical-decision task where metaphors served as primes for target words related to their figurative or literal meaning. Outcomes & Results Our findings show that both ASD and control participants made very few errors in the experimental task. However, the participants with ASD presented with problems in performance on the task, reflected in significantly slower reaction times compared with the typically developing peer groups. The similar response speed observed between the younger typical control children and the adult ASD participants suggests that the mechanisms underlying metaphor processing (e.g., selection of metaphorical versus literal interpretation) are still developing in high-functioning autism, very much like in typical children. Conclusions & Implications These results may suggest that metaphor processing requires more than adequate language competences. The findings are also suggestive of a delay in developing sensitivity to figurative language, rather than sheer inability. This suggests that a timely training programme can be implemented to improve figurative language abilities in ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On March 9th, 2018 the new Law 9/2017, of November 8th, on Public Contracts («LCSP») will come into force. One of the most eagerly awaited developments is the new approach to the social issues. First of all the LCSP envisages more flexibility to the use of public procurement as a strategical tool by means of social clauses used throughout the procurement procedure. Secondly, the LCSP delves into the intersections between procurement and labour law issues. Thus, the LCSP contains (and somehow clarifies) provisions on employment subrogation or consolidation of workers, among others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We propose a new method for the early detection of metabolic syndrome in the working population, which was free of biomarkers (non-invasive) and based on anthropometric variables, and to validate it in a new working population. Methods: Prevalence studies and diagnostic test accuracy to determine the anthropometric variables associated with metabolic syndrome, as well as the screening validity of the new method proposed, were carried out between 2013 and 2015 on 636 and 550 workers, respectively. The anthropometric variables analysed were: blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, waist–height ratio, body fat percentage and waist–hip ratio. We performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis and obtained receiver operating curves to determine the predictive ability of the variables. The new method for the early detection of metabolic syndrome we present is based on a decision tree using chi-squared automatic interaction detection methodology. Results: The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 14.9%. The area under the curve for waist–height ratio and waist circumference was 0.91 and 0.90, respectively. The anthropometric variables associated with metabolic syndrome in the adjusted model were waist–height ratio, body mass index, blood pressure and body fat percentage. The decision tree was configured from the waist–height ratio (⩾0.55) and hypertension (blood pressure ⩾128/85 mmHg), with a sensitivity of 91.6% and a specificity of 95.7% obtained. Conclusions: The early detection of metabolic syndrome in a healthy population is possible through non-invasive methods, based on anthropometric indicators such as waist–height ratio and blood pressure. This method has a high degree of predictive validity and its use can be recommended in any healthcare context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study was to compare the processing of social information in deaf and hearing adolescents. A task was developed to assess social information processing (SIP) skills of deaf adolescents based on Crick and Dodge's (1994; A review and reformulation of social information-processing mechanisms in children's social adjustment. Psychological Bulletin, 115, 74-101) reformulated six-stage model. It consisted of a structured interview after watching 18 scenes of situations depicting participation in a peer group or provocations by peers. Participants included 32 deaf and 20 hearing adolescents and young adults aged between 13 and 21 years. Deaf adolescents and adults had lower scores than hearing participants in all the steps of the SIP model (coding, interpretation, goal formulation, response generation, response decision, and representation). However, deaf girls and women had better scores on social adjustment and on some SIP skills than deaf male participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Readers with autism (ASD), poor comprehension (PC), and typical development (TD) took part in three reading experiments requiring the production of inferences. In Experiments 1 and 2 reading times for target phrases-placed immediately after text implicitly indicating the emotion of a protagonist or after a number of filler sentences, respectively-were used as measures of inferencing. In Experiment 3, participants were explicitly asked to identify the protagonist's emotion. There were no significant differences among groups in Experiment 1. Compared to TD readers, the PC group performed poorly in Experiments 2 and 3. ASD readers performed worse than PC participants only in the explicit-question task. Although ASD readers can produce inferences, they respond to questions about them with difficulty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different studies have showed poor reading performance in the deaf compared to the hearing population. This has overshadowed the fact that a minority of deaf children learns to read successfully and reaches levels similar to their hearing peers. We analyze whether deaf people deploy the same cognitive and learning processes in reading as their hearing peers. For this purpose, we analyzed the relation between phonological processing, speechreading, vocabulary, reading speed, and accuracy with reading efficiency in a sample of deaf people and two control groups respectively matched on chronological age and reading level. The results indicate that deaf people’s level of reading efficiency is lower than hearing people’s of the same age, but that deafness status in itself is not a good predictor of reading level. The results do not support the idea that deaf people’s reading is the result of different processes from the hearing population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On April 5, 2013, under the Plan for Children and Adolescents 2013-2016, the adoption of new Selfregulatory codes on audiovisual content on the part of the media was announced. On January 14, 2013 the first Co-regulation Agreement applicable to broadcast advertising was signed by radio service providers. Proper assessment of instituting these codes requires previous analysis of more than one issue, one being the reason for applying these instruments to the audiovisual market, and another being an analysis and evaluation regarding the characteristics of the digital audiovisual market. This study delves deep into said aspects for the purpose of evaluating the future application of self-regulation and of co-regulation to the media sector within Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context and Objective To describe clinical and resource utilization patterns in patients with refractory neuropathic pain ( NeP) who were prescribed pregabalin for the first time in routine medical practice in primary care settings. Methods Post-hoc analysis of a 12-week prospective observational study including pregabalin naïve adult patients with refractory chronic NeP of at least 6-months duration. Self-reported pain intensity, disability, sleep disturbances, symptoms of anxiety and depression, disability, health-related quality of life ( HRQoL), health care resource utilization, and corresponding costs were assessed in this post-hoc analysis. Results One thousand three hundred fifty-four patients were enrolled in the study, and three treatment groups were identified: 1) 598 patients replaced prior pain treatments with pregabalin as monotherapy; 2) 589 added pregabalin to their existing pain treatments; and 3) 167 other pain treatments were prescribed according with physician routine medical practice. Statistically significant differences were reported at baseline for intensity of pain, patient disability, severity of depressive symptoms, and HRQoL ( P < 0.01 in all cases). No statistically significant differences were reported among the three treatment groups for anxiety severity or sleep disturbances. Subjects who received add-on pregabalin had greater use of direct and indirect resources vs the other groups, resulting in significantly higher quarterly overall costs per patient: €2,397 (2,308), €2,470 (1,857), and €3,110 (2,496), respectively ( P < 0.001). Conclusion These findings suggest that primary care physicians chose pregabalin as an option for treating refractory patients who tended to have much more severe NeP profiles, costing society more than when they chose other therapeutic strategies not including pregabalin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European rabbit is a growing problem for agriculture in parts of its natural range. In this study, our aim was to use historical records over two periods within the last 50 years to analyze trends in the number of requests made for rabbit control in Central Spain. We gathered data on rabbit control applications made in 1967 from Rabbit and Hare Control Authorization Records (CARs) and corresponding information for 2005 from Technical Hunting Plans (THPs). THPs are currently the official mechanism to apply for rabbit control licenses in the country. We show that although only 4.2 % of municipalities requested to control rabbits in 1967, this proportion was 71 % in 2005. Given that there is no evidence of rabbit population increases in the study region, we suggest that other factors may explain the observed rise in control requests. We contend that sport hunting is the main reason for the higher numbers of control requests in 2005. Evidence for this is the fact that hunting has increased since the 1960s as a means of augmenting income for landowners, and that the most requested method for control was the shotgun. Based on these results, we recommend that in order to adequately assess the real negative impacts of rabbits on human interests in Spain there is a need to implement a more robust data-gathering mechanism when control requests are made. We suggest the development of a more detailed control application form, similar to that used in Spain in the 1960s, in which the reason(s) for a rabbit control request can be clearly described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A transfer of undertakings according to paragraph 44 of the Statute of Workers could be deemed to be taking place when recovery involves real estate in which a business activity has been recently carried out (or is being carried out at the time when possession is taken). This would give rise to significant labour and social security liabilities. However, if the object recovered is «merely real estate and nothing more», it can be reasonably concluded that no transfer of undertakings is taking place (even if the mortgage not only relates to the real estate but also to personal property). This was the conclusion of the Labour Chamber of the Supreme Court in its 15 rulings for the unification of doctrine, which repealed the doctrine of the Labour Chamber of the High Court of Justice of Andalusia (Malaga) in relation to the «Las Dunas» hotel (according to which a transfer of undertakings under paragraph 44 Statute of Workers is deemed to be taking place when the mortgage not only relates to the real estate but also to personal property). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the influence of the Spanish Cádiz Constitution of 1812 on the political systems of the territories in the Americas. The author comments on the development of the concept of sovereignty in the region and describes the political changes that occurred in the first third of the 19th century in Latin America as a result.

Abstract: Objective: To estimate the cost-effectiveness of pregabalin versus usual care (UC) in the management of community-treated patients with refractory painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (pDPN) in primary care settings (PCS) in Spain. Methods: Data was extracted from a 12-week registry study assessing costs of neuropathic pain in Spain. Pregabalin-naïve outpatients treated with UC or newly prescribed pregabalin were selected for inclusion in the cost-effectiveness analysis. Effectiveness was expressed as quality-adjusted life years (QALY) gain. Perspectives of the Spanish National Health System (NHS) and society (2006) were applied for cost calculations. Results were expressed as incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Bootstrapping techniques (10,000 re-samples) were used to obtain the probabilistic ICER and the cost-effectiveness acceptability curve. Results: A total of 189 patients were included in the economic analysis. Compared with UC, pregabalin was associated with higher QALY gain in a period of 12-weeks; 0.0406±0.0343 versus 0.0285±0.0350 (p =0.167). Overall total costs (€1368±1229 vs. €1258±1474; p =0.587) and healthcare costs (€628±590 vs. €469±420; p =0.134) were similar for both pregabalin and UC, respectively. ICERs for pregabalin varied from €5302 (95% CI: dominant; €144,105) for total costs to €14,381 (dominant; €115,648) for healthcare costs. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses showed that 79–84% of ICERs were below the threshold of €30,000/QALY. Conclusion: This study suggests that pregabalin may be cost-effective in the management of community-treated refractory outpatients, with pDPN when compared with usual care in the primary care setting in Spain. These findings may help policy makers when making health decision in the management of diabetes in the community. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of International Journal of Cultic Studies is the property of Cultic Studies Review and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective. The objective of this study was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of pregabalin vs usual care (UC) in outpatients with refractory neuropathic pain (NeP), treated according to routine medical practice in primary care settings in Spain. Methods. Patients were extracted from a 12-week noninterventional prospective study conducted to ascertain the costs of NeP. Pairs of pregabalin-naïve patients receiving UC or pregabalin, matched by age, gender, pain intensity, and refractory to previous treatment, were selected in a 1:1 ratio. Refractory was considered a patient with actual pain (scoring >40 in a 100 mm in a pain visual analog scale) after receiving a course of a standard analgesic, at its recommended doses. Perspectives of the Spanish National Healthcare System and society were included in the analysis. Effectiveness was expressed as quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gain. Results of the cost-effectiveness analysis were expressed as an incremental cost per QALY (ICER) gained. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis using bootstrapping techniques was also carried out. Results. A total of 160 pairs were extracted. Compared with UC, pregabalin was associated with significantly higher QALY gain; 0.0374 ± 0.0367 vs 0.0224 ± 0.0313 ( P < 0.001). Despite drug acquisition costs being higher for pregabalin (€251 ± 125 vs €104 ± 121; P < 0.001), total and health care costs incurred for pregabalin were similar in both groups; €1,335 ± 1,302 vs €1,387 ± 1,489 ( P = 0.587) and €529 ± 438 vs €560 ± 672 ( P = 0.628), respectively, yielding a dominant ICER for both total and health care costs in the base case scenario; 95% confidence intervals, respectively, dominant to €17,268, and dominant to €6,508. Sensitivity analysis confirmed results of the basecase scenario. Conclusion. This study showed that pregabalin may be cost-effective in the treatment of refractory NeP patients when compared with UC in routine medical practice in Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acciones e Investigaciones Sociales is the property of Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y del Trabajo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: The Jarama–Henares interfluve is located south of the Ayllon range, one of the easternmost ranges of the “Sistema Central” mountains in central Spain. The Henares river valley is asymmetric, with 20 topographic benches along its right bank and a series of glacis-terraces on its left bank. We investigated the soil-geoform units in the Jarama–Henares interfluve and the Henares river valley using several indices to quantify and understand the evolution of soil and landscape patterns of the area during the Plio-Quaternary. Features such fragmentation, dominance, geopedologic unit diversity, relative spatial diversity, size and shape, neighbourhood and interaction were analysed in geopedologic maps prepared at two scales (1:18,000 and 1:50,000) using ancillary data, aerial photographs and field observations. Likewise, the taxonomic pedorichness and pedodiversity were assessed on plot maps at 1:100 scale representing three fluvial terrace areas of different age. Soil diversity analysis was carried out at the subgroup level of the USDA Soil Taxonomy using (1) the number of individuals included in a given pedotaxum, and (2) the areal proportion occupied by each soil taxum in a given map unit. One of the main findings was that the values of the indices were higher and the number of indices required to describe appropriately the soilscape patterns was smaller at the local than at the regional scale, the relative spatial diversity being one of the most useful indices. At the plot scale, taxonomic pedorichness and pedodiversity of soil subgroups increased from low/young to high/old terraces. Thus, pattern indices can be used to characterise soilscape evolution aspects such as diversification due to the behaviour of the depositional system or to relief dissection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Police selection includes a period of training in which candidates acquire the relevant skills and knowledge for work. This study was carried out with the Local Police of Zaragoza. It examines the validity of general mental ability, the personality dimensions and theoretical knowledge applied to work, in order to predict training proficiency. A multiple regression correlational analysis and path analysis were carried out using the data of 240 candidates to be police officers. The results show that training proficiency can be predicted by general mental ability, theoretical knowledge applied to the job and three personality dimensions: conscientiousness, openness to experience and agreeableness. A causal model is presented, including the direct and indirect effects the variables have on training proficiency in the case of local police officers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The legal status of television in Spain is still controversial. Currently, the Commission is reviewing the polemic financing of RTVE, adopted in September 2009, and its compatibility with Community law. However, in addition to the important issue of the financing of public television lies another more extensive issue affecting the legal status of television in general: its definition, assignation of functions, organization and control. This study seeks to frame this debate about the financing of public television in some substantive issues that affect television regulation in Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines administrative prescription under Spanish law, specifically where it concerns individual action of responsibility. The act of cease of administrator within the framework of mercantile law is explored, as well as the concept of damage under article 1968.2 of the Spanish civil code.

Background and objective: Different studies have shown pain to be one of the most frequent causes of health-care resource utilization, and a major public health concern because of its social repercussions. In Spain there are no recent data on the prevalence and management of neuropathic pain in the general primary-care setting. This study aimed to gain epidemiological insight into neuropathic pain in the Spanish primary-care setting. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, one-day, multicentre, observational epidemiological study involving 623 primary-care physicians in Spain. Patients who experienced pain were classified into three groups: pure neuropathic pain, mixed neuropathic pain or nociceptive pain. Pain intensity was evaluated on a visual analogue scale (VAS), range 0-10. Information on the location, duration, aetiology and current treatment of pain was obtained, together with data on whether the patients were referred to specialized care and to which type of specialist. Results: In a single day, 23 529 patients received primary care, and of these, 7220 experienced pain (30.7% [95% CI 29.5, 31.7]). Patients with pure neuropathic pain comprised 11.8% (95% CI 10.5, 13.2) of the 3044 patients for whom pain was the reason for consultation and the type of pain was documented, patients with mixed neuropathic pain accounted for 13.4% (95% CI 12.0, 14.8) of this group, and patients with nociceptive pain for 74.9% (95% CI 73.1, 76.7). Patients with pure neuropathic pain mostly received exclusively pharmacological treatment (84.6% [95% CI 80.3, 89.0]), with anti-epileptic drugs being the most widely used substances (52.5% [95% CI 47.3, 57.7]), followed by non-opioid analgesics (35.2% [95% CI 30.2, 40.1]) and NSAIDs (26.8% [95% CI 22.2, 31.4]). The mean duration of neuropathic pain was 11.7 ± 23.3 months. The mean pain intensity on the VAS exceeded 6 in all groups. Over half of the patients were diagnosed in the primary-care centre, and a large proportion in turn were referred to a specialist, most frequently an orthopaedist. Conclusion: The results of the present study show the high prevalence of neuropathic pain at the primary-care level in Spain. In addition, the data presented here point to a need to improve the management of outpatients with neuropathic pain in the Spanish primary-care setting, particularly in relation to the higher than recommended use of NSAIDs (which are not indicated for neuropathic pain) and the lower than recommended use ofantiepileptic drugs with an analgesic indication for pain with a neuropathic component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subjective and objective measures of quality of life (QoL) were obtained for adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) living in Andalusia (Spain). Seventy-four families responded to questionnaires about objective QoL indicators such as employment, health, adaptive behaviour and social network, and were asked to act as proxies for subjective QoL measures. Outcome on objective QoL was extremely poor. Social networks were most frequently composed of family members. Community-oriented resources were absent in most cases. For two-thirds of the families, the ability to act as proxies for subjective QoL was seriously limited by the participants' poor social and communicative abilities. The results are indicative of the need for additional support to families of adults with ASD and increased community-based resources. Further conceptualization of indicators and measurement of subjective QoL in individuals with severe disabilities and ASD is also needed in order to include their own perspective in the evaluation of service provision. Subjective and objective measures of quality of life (QoL) were obtained for adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) living in Andalusia (Spain). Seventy-four families responded to questionnaires about objective QoL indicators such as employment, health, adaptive behaviour and social network, and were asked to act as proxies for subjective QoL measures. Outcome on objective QoL was extremely poor. Social networks were most frequently composed of family members. Community-oriented resources were absent in most cases. For two-thirds of the families, the ability to act as proxies for subjective QoL was seriously limited by the participants' poor social and communicative abilities. The results are indicative of the need for additional support to families of adults with ASD and increased community-based resources. Further conceptualization of indicators and measurement of subjective QoL in individuals with severe disabilities and ASD is also needed in order to include their own perspective in the evaluation of service provision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why is Spain's role as a colonizing power in the Americas overlooked by scholars of white settler colonialism? If European ventures in such disparate places as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, the United States, Angola, and Algeria can all be viewed through the scholarly lens of white settler colonialism, why not Latin America? In this essay, I attempt to answer these questions through an analysis of the confrontation of racial ideologies that occurred between Mexicans and Anglos in the U.S. Southwest. Legally, Mexican Americans were considered part of the "white" race after 1897, but how did Mexican Americans understand this putative whiteness, especially given their racial inscription as mestizos under Spanish colonial and Mexican postcolonial law? I examine the desegregation cases brought on behalf of Mexican American plaintiffs between 1929 and 1954, in which Mexican American litigators argued that as Mexicans were racially white, schools and juries in the Southwest violated their due process rights by segregating them or discriminating against them in jury selection. Chicano historiography has derided this generation of civil rights activists as race traitors. However, I examine the court records, letters, and speeches of these legal activists, as well as Américo Paredes's "George Washington Gómez," to see how these civil rights activists challenge the very meaning of "whiteness" when they claim it in the face of racial exclusion and violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The concept of diversity and its measurement is becoming increasingly attractive to soil scientists. This theme is explored using a terrace chronosequence in the Henares River valley, NE Madrid. Pedodiversity was computed at different hierarchical levels (Great Group, Subgroup and family of Soil Taxonomy) using appropriate indices including abundance and the Shannon diversity index. Taxonomic pedodiversity, i.e., the diversity of soil types, increased with time (from low to high terraces) at high hierarchical levels but no clear relationship was found at family level. Richness–area analysis showed that a logarithmic function fitted data from the low and middle terraces, while the high terrace data could be fitted with a power model. The geostatistical analysis revealed a decrease in the variability of soil properties from young to old deposits. This study showed that, at the Henares site, diversity and spatial variability of soil properties are not synonymous concepts. Indeed, the terrace with the highest taxonomic pedodiversity at Great Group and Subgroup levels, showed a low spatial variability of soil properties. Also, the same terrace exhibited the lowest connectance values. A non-linear dynamical system approach can be useful to explain these apparently contradictory results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article describes the groundwater situation in the Aragon zone of the hydrographic basin of the Ebro River. It provides a historical overview, the main geological characteristics of Aragon, the volume limits of groundwater currently available and the total amount of water resources. With respect to water quality, it includes a description of its natural content and the problems caused by nitrates and industrial pollutants. Finally it indicates the main groundwater concerns that are currently being looked at and the principal challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catastrophic collapse of a mine tailings dam released several million cubic meters of toxic mud and acidic water into the Guadiamar River valley, southern Spain, in 1998. Remediation efforts removed most of the sludge from the floodplain, but contamination persists. Clean-up activities also produced clouds of aerosolized materials that further contaminated the surrounding landscape. Whole-body concentrations of 21 elements in the Moorish wall gecko, Tarentola mauritanica, a common inhabitant of both rural and urban areas, were compared among seven locations. Locations spanned an expected contamination gradient and included a rural and an urban non-mine-affected location, two mine-affected towns, and three locations on the contaminated floodplain. Multivariate analyses of whole-body concentrations identified pollutants that increased across the expected contamination gradient, a trend particularly evident for As, Pb, and Cd. Additionally, higher contaminant concentrations occurred in prey items eaten by geckos from mine-affected areas. Comparison of element concentrations in tails and whole bodies suggests that tail clips are a viable nondestructive index of contaminant accumulation. Our results indicate that areas polluted by the mine continue to experience contamination of the terrestrial food chain. Where abundant, geckos represent useful taxa to study the bioavailability of some hazardous pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]