ABSTRACT
Altamira Cave (north of Spain) contains one of the world's most prominent Paleolithic rock art paintings, which are threatened by a massive microbial colonization of ceiling and walls. Previous studies revealed that exchange rates between the cave and the external atmosphere through the entrance door play a decisive role in the entry and transport of microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) and nutrients to the interior of the cave. A spatial-distributed sampling and measurement of carrier (CO2) and trace (CH4) gases and isotopic signal of CO2 (δ(13)C) inside the cave supports the existence of a second connection (active gas exchange processes) with the external atmosphere at or near the Well Hall, the innermost and deepest area of the cave. A parallel aerobiological study also showed that, in addition to the entrance door, there is another connection with the external atmosphere, which favors the transport and increases microorganism concentrations in the Well Hall. This double approach provides a more complete knowledge on cave ventilation and revealed the existence of unknown passageways in the cave, a fact that should be taken into account in future cave management.
Subject(s)
Caves/microbiology , Environmental Monitoring/methods , Gases/analysis , Bacteria/growth & development , Carbon Isotopes/analysis , Fungi/growth & development , Fungi/physiology , SpainABSTRACT
Different types of land use are usually present in the areas adjacent to many shallow karst cavities. Over time, the increasing amount of potentially harmful matter and energy, of mainly anthropic origin or influence, that reaches the interior of a shallow karst cavity can modify the hypogeal ecosystem and increase the risk of damage to the Palaeolithic rock art often preserved within the cavity. This study proposes a new Protected Area status based on the geological processes that control these matter and energy fluxes into the Altamira cave karst system. Analysis of the geological characteristics of the shallow karst system shows that direct and lateral infiltration, internal water circulation, ventilation, gas exchange and transmission of vibrations are the processes that control these matter and energy fluxes into the cave. This study applies a comprehensive methodological approach based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to establish the area of influence of each transfer process. The stratigraphic and structural characteristics of the interior of the cave were determined using 3D Laser Scanning topography combined with classical field work, data gathering, cartography and a porosity-permeability analysis of host rock samples. As a result, it was possible to determine the hydrogeological behavior of the cave. In addition, by mapping and modeling the surface parameters it was possible to identify the main features restricting hydrological behavior and hence direct and lateral infiltration into the cave. These surface parameters included the shape of the drainage network and a geomorphological and structural characterization via digital terrain models. Geological and geomorphological maps and models integrated into the GIS environment defined the areas involved in gas exchange and ventilation processes. Likewise, areas that could potentially transmit vibrations directly into the cave were identified. This study shows that it is possible to define a Protected Area by quantifying the area of influence related to each transfer process. The combined maximum area of influence of all the processes will result in the new Protected Area. This area will thus encompass all the processes that account for most of the matter and energy carried into the cave and will fulfill the criteria used to define the Protected Area. This methodology is based on the spatial quantification of processes and entities of geological origin and can therefore be applied to any shallow karst system that requires protection.
Subject(s)
Archaeology , Caves , Conservation of Natural Resources/methods , Geographic Information Systems , Environment , Models, Theoretical , SpainABSTRACT
Objetivo: Revisar la evidencia científica existente respecto al tratamiento de hipoterapia en niños con parálisis cerebral en función de diferentes variables. Métodos Se ha realizado una búsqueda bibliográfica en las bases de datos Pubmed/Medline, Web of Knowledge, Cochrane, PEDro, Enfispo, y en los metabuscadores Trip Data Base y Excelencia clínica. Los términos utilizados en la búsqueda fueron: equine-assisted therapy, cerebral palsy, hippotherapy y horseback riding, combinados generalmente con el operador boleano AND. Resultados Después de eliminar artículos duplicados de las diferentes bases de datos se obtuvieron 25 artículos. Siete de ellos eran revisiones sistemáticas o metaanálisis, 7 eran ensayos clínicos y 11 estudios eran series clínicas no controladas o estudios descriptivos. La calidad de la evidencia científica proporcionada por los estudios utilizados en esta revisión sistemática fue de nivel I para 7 de ellos, de nivel III (evidencia científica proporcionada buena a regular) para otros 7 artículos, y de nivel VIII (evidencia científica proporcionada pobre) para los restantes 11 artículos. Discusión Las principales limitaciones encontradas en los estudios revisados han sido el tamaño muestral reducido, el uso de herramientas de valoración no estandarizadas y/o la heterogeneidad de los protocolos de tratamiento utilizados. Conclusión Resulta difícil encontrar evidencia científica del tratamiento de hipoterapia en niños con parálisis cerebral como consecuencia de diferentes factores, como son los reducidos tamaños muestrales utilizados por los estudios, la diversidad de escalas de valoración y de protocolos de tratamiento utilizados (AU)
Objective: To review the current scientific evidence regarding hippotherapy treatment in children with cerebral palsy through the analysis of different study variables.Methods: A bibliographic research of Pubmed/Medline, Web of Knowledge, Cochrane, PEDro,Enfispo databases and Trip Data Base and Excelencia clínica metasearchers was carried out. The terms used in the search were: Equine-Assisted Therapy, Cerebral Palsy, Hippotherapy and Horseback riding, usually combined with the Boolean operator AND. Results: After eliminating duplicated articles in the different databases, 25 articles were found. Seven of them were systematic reviews or meta-analysis, 7 articles were clinical trials and11 studies were uncontrolled clinical series or descriptive studies. The quality of scientific evidence provided by the studies used in this systematic review was level I for seven of them, level III for seven articles (scientific evidence provided good to regular) and level VIII (scientificevidence provided poor) for the remaining eleven articles. Discussion: The main limitations found in the studies reviewed have been small sample sizes, use of non-standardized assessment tools and/or heterogeneity of the treatment protocolsused. Conclusion: It is difficult to find scientific evidence regarding hippotherapy treatment in children with cerebral palsy due to different factors such as the small sample sizes used in the studies, the diversity of assessment scales and treatment protocols used (AU)
