Fluid dynamic simulation suggests hopping locomotion in the Ordovician trilobite Placoparia.

Colonization of the water column by animals occurred gradually during the early Palaeozoic. However, the morphological and functional changes that took place during this colonization are poorly understood. The fossil record provides clear evidence of animals that were well adapted for swimming near the seafloor or in the open ocean, but recognising transitional forms is more problematic. Trilobites are a good model to explore the colonization of marine ecosystems. Here, we use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to test between competing functional hypotheses in the Ordovician trilobite Placoparia. The CFD simulations exhibits hydrodynamics that promote detachment from the seafloor but also promote return to the seafloor following detachment, this is compatible with hopping locomotion. The results suggest that Placopara was not able to swim, but its hydrodynamics allowed it to hop long distances. This is consistent with the fossil record, as some ichnofossils show evidence of hopping. This type of locomotion could be useful to avoid predators as an escape mechanism. In addition, CFD simulation shows how the morphology of Placoparia is adapted to protect anterior appendices of the trunk and generate a ventral vortex that send food particles directly to the trilobite mouth. Adaptations in Placoparia allowed the first steps to evolved a new ecological habitat and consequently nektonization during the GOBE.

Proporción de carga asistencial generada por la diabetes mellitus en las consultas de enfermería de atención primaria de salud / Proportion of workload generated by diabetes in primary health care nurse consultations

Objetivo: La mayoría de enfermos con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2) se controla en atención primaria de salud (APS). La atención y educación proporcionadas por enfermería son clave para controlar la glucemia y prevenir las complicaciones macro y microangiopáticas de la DM. El objetivo de este trabajo es conocer la proporción de carga asistencial atribuible a la DM en consultas de enfermería de APS. Material y método: Estudio observacional, analítico y transversal. Durante 2 semanas consecutivas se registraron datos de todos los enfermos que acudieron a 15 consultas de enfermería de APS ubicadas en 14 Áreas Básicas de Salud (ABS) de la provincia de Barcelona. Las variables de estudio fueron: edad, sexo, situación laboral, motivo de consulta, duración de la visita, presencia de DM y, en los enfermos diabéticos, el tipo de tratamiento. La recogida de datos se realizó en 2 períodos. El primero entre noviembre del año 2003 y enero del 2004 y el segundo en abril de 2005. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo de estas variables con un intervalo de confianza del 95% y la asociación entre variables mediante el programa SPSS v.11.1. Resultados: Tenía DM el 29% de los pacientes. La DM es el primer motivo de consulta (29,1%), aumenta con la edad y llega al 40% en mayores de 65 años. La duración media de una visita por DM es de 14,59 min, un 30,8% más elevada que la duración media del resto de los problemas de salud. Globalmente, las mujeres consultan más que los varones (56,6%) excepto en DM, curas y hábito tabáquico. Conclusiones: La DM es el problema de salud que genera más demanda y consume más tiempo de enfermería en la APS. Esta realidad y el futuro que se prevé con relación al incremento de la prevalencia de DM exigen considerar nuevas estrategias organizativas y formativas, y establecer criterios para mejorar la gestión de recursos y promover estrategias educativas más efectivas (AU)

Objective: Most patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) are followed-up in primary care (PC). The healthcare and education provided by nurses are crucial to glycemic control and the prevention of macro- and microangiopathic complications. The aim of this study was to determine the workload generated by DM2 in PC nurse consultations. Material and method: An observational, analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted. For 2 consecutive weeks, data were registered from all patients attending 15 PC nurse consultations located in 14 basic health areas in Barcelona. The variables studied were age, gender, employment, reason for consultation, duration of the visit, and the presence or absence of DM2; among patients with DM2, the type of treatment was recorded. Data collection was performed in 2 periods: from November, 2003 to January, 2004 and in April, 2005. A descriptive analysis of these variables was carried out at a 95% confidence interval, and associations among variables were studied using the statistical software program SPSS v. 11.1. Results: Twenty-nine percent of the patients had DM2. DM2 was the main reason for consultation (29.1%) and increased with age, reaching a prevalence of 40% among patients over 65 years of age. The mean duration of the visit was 14.59 minutes, representing a 30.8% increase over the mean duration of visits for other reasons. Overall, women consulted more often than men (56.6%), except for DM2, topical treatments, and smoking-related issues. Conclusions: DM2 is the health issue generating the greatest demand and requiring the highest proportion of nurses' time in PC. In view of these findings and the expected increase in the prevalence of DM2, new organizational and educational strategies should be considered. In addition, criteria to improve resource management and foster more effective educational strategies should be established (AU)