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Source text - Spanish El consumo de cocaína en España se ha disparado en los últimos diez años. Según datos, se trate de la segunda droga ilegal más consumida, después del cannabis. La tasa de prevalencia en el grupo de edad de 15 a 64 años es del 2%, casi el doble que en el resto de Europa – donde se sitúa en el 1,1%. El 7% de la población de 15 a 64 años ha probado la cocaína alguna vez y el 1,6% de la población total la ha consumido en el último mes.
Una encuesta sobre convivencia escolar y seguridad en Catalunya demuestra que la oferta de cocaína ya llega a los niños de doce años. La franja comprendida entre los 15 y los 18 años es la que declara haber recibido más oferta, sobre todo de marihuana (52,3%), seguida de cocaína (16,3%), setas halucinógenas (13,5%), anfetaminas (9,7%), LSD (9%) éxtasis (6,3%), heroína (4,8%) y ketamina (3,3%).
La cocaína es un potente estimulante del sistema nervioso central. Después de su administración por cualquier vía, la cocaína llega al cerebro y estimula de forma directa los centros de recompensa. El blanco de la cocaína se encuentra en la sinapsis. Esta estimulación la realiza a través de la inhibición del transportador de la dopamina en los circuitos dopaminérgicos localizados en el área tegumental ventral, el núcleo acumbente y la corteza prefrontal (sistemas de recompensa). La ocupación del receptor de dopamina está relacionado con la dosis, es decir, a dosis más altas, mayor el porcentaje del transportador inhibido.
En el caso de la addicción, las únicas armas con las que se cuenta para abandonar el consumo son la voluntad del enfermo y el tratamiento psicosocial. La vacuna contra la cocaína – todavía en fase experimental - que desarrolla un grupo de investigadores de EEUU, abre la puerta al tratamiento farmacológico de esta adicción.
La vacuna está diseñada para generar anticuerpos específicos que capturan la cocaína en la sangre. Juntos formarían una molécula de gran tamaño, lo suficientemente grande como para no atravesar la barrera hematoencefálica, una especie de filtro entre los vasos sanguíneos y el cerebro. De esta manera se evita que la droga llegue hasta el cerebro y los efectos psicoactivos no se producen. El organismo eliminaría la cocaína de forma natural y el enfermo no notaría los estímulos propios de esa droga. La vacuna no suprime el deseo de consumir cocaína, solo evita los efectos psicoactivos y bloque el refuerzo del deseo si una persona que está dejando la adicción sufre una recaída.
José Pérez de los Cobos, director de la Sociedad Española de Toxicomanías explicó que en EEUU ya hay grupos partidarios de administrar esta vacuna con carácter preventivo entre los jóvenes. ‘Nosotros somos partidarios de aplicarla en los casos en los que ya existe una adicción y siempre que el paciente quiera. Todavía está en una fase muy incipiente de investigación y tardará en comercializarse. La prevención para que nadie se inicie en su consumo sigue siendo la mejor arma’.
Translation - English Cocaine consumption has shot up in Spain in the last ten years. According to statistics, it is the second most consumed illegal drug after cannabis. In the 15-64 age group, the current rate is 2%, almost double the rest of Europe, where it is 1.1%. At some point in time, 7% of the population aged 15-64 has tried cocaine and 1.6% of the total population has used it in the last month.
A survey on health and safety procedures in Catalan schools shows that cocaine is already being offered to 12 year old children. The group of 15-18 year olds polled says that it receives the most offers, especially of marijuana (52.3%), followed by cocaine (16.3%), magic mushrooms (13.5%), amphetamine (9.7%), LSD (9%), ecstasy (6.3%), heroin (4.8%) and ketamine (3.3%).
Cocaine is a potent stimulator of the central nervous system. After any means of ingestion, cocaine reaches the brain and directly stimulates the “reward centres”. Cocaine’s target is found in the synapse. This stimulation is achieved through the dopamine inhibition transmitter in the dopamine circuits located in the ventral tegument zone, the accumbent nucleus and the prefrontal cortex (the reward systems). The activity of the dopamine receptor is linked to the dosage, that is to say, the higher the dosage, the greater the percentage of transmitter inhibited.
In the case of addiction, the only weapons available to stop consumption are the patient’s willpower and psychosocial treatment. The cocaine vaccine, being developed by a group of researchers in the US and still in the experimental phase, opens the door to pharmacological treatment for this addiction.
The vaccine is designed to create specific antibodies that trap cocaine in the blood. Together they would form a large-sized molecule, large enough so as not to cross the hematoencephalic barrier, a type of filter located between the blood vessels and the brain. In this way the drug does not manage to reach the brain and the psychoactive effects do not occur. The body would eliminate the cocaine naturally and the patient would not experience any of the drug’s stimuli. The vaccine does not suppress the desire to take cocaine; it just does not produce the psychoactive effects and blocks the craving should the person stopping suffer a relapse.
José Pérez de los Cobos, head of the Sociedad Española de Toxicomanías, explained that in the US there are already groups in favour of administering this vaccine in a preventive capacity to young people. ‘We are in favour of administering it in those cases where there is already an addiction and only if the patient so wishes. This vaccine is still in the very early stages of research and it will be some time before it comes on to the market. Prevention is still the best weapon to deter anyone starting to take it’.
Spanish to English: Medicine River
Source text - Spanish Medicamentos en el río
Un estudio científico ha identificado la presencia de unos 20 medicamentos en las aguas del Ebro. Analgésicos, antiinflamatorios, antidepresivos, antihistamínicos viajan en la corriente del río en concentraciones sucifientes para ocasionar efectos adversos sobre los peces y otros organismos acuáticos. En principio no se prevé que esta contaminación vaya a tener efectos negativos directos sobre la salud de las personas. Pero los científicos están preocupados por la presencia masiva de antibióticos, que inducen la resistencia en los microorganismos, y de los estrógenos, capaces de provocar cambios en el sexo de los peces y alteraciones metabólicas en los humanos.
¿Cómo han ido a parar los medicamentos al río? "A través del lavabo", es la simple respuesta de Damià Barceló, científico catalán responsable del estudio.
"Hay muchos fármacos cuyo compuesto activo sobrevive al metabolismo humano y se excreta en una proporción muy elevada" explica. Además, a pesar de todas las campañas de información realizadas por las administraciones sanitarias, la gente sigue deshaciéndose de muchos medicamentos arrojándolos al retrete. El 25% de los europeos así lo hace, según encuestas realizadas al respecto. De hecho, las concentraciones halladas en el Ebro son muy similares a las encontradas en otros ríos; por ejemplo, el Danubio o el Elba.
Para seguir la pista de los medicamentos, el equipo de Barceló ha establecido 18 estaciones de muestreo a lo largo del Ebro, desde Álava hasta Tortosa. {....}
En todas estas estaciones, las concentraciones de medicamentos en el agua del río se acercan o superan los 600 nanogramas por litro (ng/L).
Los restos de fármacos que se han encontrado con mayor frecuencia en los puntos de control situados a lo largo del río Ebro son dos reguladores lipídicos: el ácido clofíbrico y el gemfibrozil, que se detectan en el 100% y el 80%, respectivamente, de las estaciones de muestreo. A continuación figuran tres sustancias antiinflamatorias y analgésicas: acetaminofeno, diclofenaco y naproxeno, detectadas en algo más del 60% de las estaciones. El antiinflamatorio ibuprofeno, el antiepiléptico carbamazepina y el antibiótico azithromicina se observan en el 60% de los puntos de control, seguidos del beta-bloqueante atenolol (50%).
El agua de salida de la depuradora es la que presenta las concentraciones más altas de medicamentos. Por ejemplo, la depuradora de Zaragoza vierte al río agua con más de 3.000 ng/L de ibuprofeno (en la entrada hay 12.000 ng/L) y entre 350-400 ng/L de carbamazapina. La de Pamplona vierte más de 1.000 ng/L de diclofenaco y la de Logroño 1.900 ng/L de naproxeno, entre otros muchos compuestos.
Los peces que viven cerca del chorro de salida del agua depurada reciben un auténtico baño de fármacos. Cabe esperar que la actuación de moléculas tan diferentes como antiepilépticos, antihistamínicos, etcetera, actuando de forma definitiva sobre los organismos vivos, produzca efectos adversos. Barceló cree que esto tendrá consecuencias: "Los peces, los anfibios, las plantas, etcétera, están expuestos cada día, de forma continua. A la larga, la biodiversidad puede verse alterada."
Translation - English Medicine River
A scientific study has identified around 20 pharmaceuticals present in the waters of the Ebro. There are sufficient concentrations of analgesics, anti-inflammatories, antidepressants and antihistamines cruising along the river’s current that are having an adverse effect on fish and other aquatic forms of life. In principle, these pollutants are not expected to have a direct and dire impact on human health. However, scientists are concerned about the large amount of antibiotics, to which micro-organisms become resistant, and estrogens, which are capable of causing fish to change sex and alter human metabolism.
How have pharmaceuticals ended up in the river? “Through the loo” is Damià Barceló’s simple answer. Professor Barceló is the Catalan scientist in charge of the study. He explains that “there are a lot of drugs whose active compound survives human metabolism and is excreted in very high quantities”. Furthermore, in spite of all the information campaigns carried out by health authorities, people still get rid of a lot of medicine by throwing it down the toilet. According to polls carried out on this subject, 25% of people in Europe dispose of medicines in this way. In fact, concentrations found in the Ebro are very similar to those found in other rivers; for example, the Danube and the Elba.
In order to follow the pharmaceutical trail, Barceló’s team have set up 18 sampling stations along the Ebro, from Alava to Tortosa. {….} The medicinal concentration in the river’s water at all these stations is close to or exceeds 600 nanogrammes per litre (ng/l).
The drug residues most frequently discovered at the control points located along the river Ebro are two lipidic regulators: clofibric acid and gemfibrozil, that have been found in 100% and 80% respectively, of sampling stations. The following three anti-inflammatory and analgesic substances: acetaminofen, diclofen and naproxen, have been found in slightly more than 60% of the stations. The anti-inflammatory ibuprofen, the anticonvulsant carbamazepine and the antibiotic azithromicin have been detected at 60% of the control points, followed by the beta-blocker atenolol at 50% of them.
The highest medicinal concentrations are at the outlet of the sewage treatment plant. For example, the treatment plant in Zaragoza spews out more than 3,000 ng/l of ibuprofen (there are 12,000 ng/l at the inlet) and between 350-400 ng/l of carbamazapine into the river. The plant in Pamplona spews out more than 1,000 ng/l of diclofenac and the plant in Logroño 1,900 ng/l of naproxen, among many other compounds.
Fish living close to the stream at the purified water’s outlet enjoy a real drug dip. The behaviour of radically different molecules like anticonvulsants, anti-histamines, etc, having a permanent effect on living organisms, is expected to produce adverse effects. Barceló believes that this will have consequences: “Fish, amphibians, plants, etc., are continuously exposed on a daily basis. In the long term, biodiversity itself can become altered”.
Portuguese to English: NASA Report
Source text - Portuguese NASA: subida do nível do mar pode ser maior do que se pensa
A subida do nível do mar e o degelo dos pólos podem ser fenómenos bem mais graves do que se previa, de acordo com os oceanógrafos da agência espacial norte-americana, NASA.
Um ano antes da revolução industrial, no século XVIII, o aumento do nível do mar ocorria à razão de um milímetro por ano. Agora, dois séculos mais tarde, esse aumento é três vezes superior, ou seja, três milímetros por ano. Segundo os especialistas, este fenómeno é provocado pela combinação de aquecimento global do planeta, degelo das calotes polares e longos ciclos de alteração natural dos níveis do mar.
“Tudo indica que este processo vai acelerar”, afirmou Eric Lidstrom, chefe do departamento de oceanografia da NASA, durante uma conferência sobre os oceanos que decorreu em Hobart, na Austrália.
Os modelos de previsão do degelo nos pólos têm evoluído muito nos últimos cinco anos e a ciência está hoje apta a responder com mais exactidão a esta problemática, disse o especialista, que apontou o ano de 2002 como muito importante para a Antárctida. Nesse ano, forma registados fenómenos nunca vistos no último século, como a libertação de icebergues da placa antárctica maiores do que alguns dos países mais pequenos.
Hoje sabe-se que as alterações naquelas placas geladas não são tão lentas como se pensava, que ocorrem muio depressa e que esse facto reflecte-se na subida do nível do mar.
Segundo Eric Lidstrom, se as grandes placas polares se envolverem nessas alterações, “o nível do mar pode subir dezenas de metros”.
O último relatório do Painel inter-Governamental para as Alterações Climáticas (organsimo das Nações Unidas), apresentado no mês passado em Paris, alertou para uma alteração dos níveis do mar de 28 a 43 centímetros até 2100 e para um aumento das temperatures de 2 a 4,5 graus, tendo em conta concentrações de dióxido de carbono na atmosfera na ordem de 550 partes por milhão. As concentrações estão actualmente fixadas em 380.
Translation - English NASA: Rise in sea levels could be greater than thought
Oceanographers from NASA, the American space agency, agree that the rise in sea levels and polar melting could be much more serious phenomena than was previously predicted.
A year before the industrial revolution, in the 18th century, sea levels rose at the rate of one millimetre a year. Now, two centuries later, this increase is three times greater, in other words, three millimetres a year. According to experts, this phenomenon is caused by a combination of global warming, polar ice caps melting and long cycles of natural change in sea levels.
Eric Lidstrom, head of NASA’s oceanography department, stated in a conference on oceans that took place in Hobart, Australia, that “everything indicates that this process is going to accelerate”. He went on to say that prediction models of polar melting have progressed a lot over the last five years and therefore science today is able respond to the problem much more accurately. Lidstrom specified the year 2002 as very important for the Antarctic. In this year, phenomena not seen at all in the previous century, such as glaciers larger than the size of some small countries breaking away from the Antarctic plate, were recorded.
Today it is known that changes in those ice plates are not as slow as previously thought. They are happening very quickly and this fact is reflected in the rise in sea levels.
According to Lidstrom, if the large polar plates are involved in these changes, “sea levels could rise by tens of metres”.
The latest report from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, presented in Paris last month, warned of a change in sea levels from 28 to 43 centimetres by the year 2100. It also warned of an increase in temperature from 2 to 4.5 degrees, based on concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in the region of 550 parts per million. Current concentrations are set at 380 parts per million.
Spanish to English: Intermon Oxfam report
Source text - Spanish España acoge a 700.000 inmigrantes irregulares según Intermon Oxfam. (J. RAGEL / EFE)
Intermon Oxfam asegura que 700.000 'irregulares' viven en España
ACN. Madrid
España es el segundo país del mundo que mayor número de inmigrantes acoge dentro de sus fronteras. Sin embargo, alrededor de 700.000 personas procedentes de otros países se encuentran en una situación ilegal, según denunciaron este lunes desde Intermón Oxfam en la presentación del informe Puertas al Mar.
La directora general de Intermón Oxfam, Ariane Arpa, fue rotunda al explicar que la inmigración "ya es un hecho". Por ese motivo denunció que "los inmigrantes en situación ilegal se encuentran entre los grupos marginales dentro de la sociedad". En 2007 la cifra de irregulares en España descendió debido a que con la entrada en la UE de Rumanía y Bulgaria se "regularizaron a muchos ciudadanos europeos".
Según explicó Arpa, la inmigración ilegal debe erradicarse, entre otras razones, porque "damos cabida a 200.000 inmigrantes al año, cuando necesitamos 400.000 inmigrantes", advirtió.
Del informe se desprenden datos que aseguran que en la Unión Europea más de diez millones de personas se encuentran en situación irregular. Pero, sin embargo, son los EEUU el que mayor número de ilegales recibe -doce millones-.
Por su parte, Arpa mostró las alternativas que "podrían dar la vuelta a estas situaciones". Por ello lanzó la dos ideas: liberalizar el movimiento migratorio y flexibilizar un programa que facilite el retorno de los inmigrantes. "No se atreven a volver a sus países por si luego no recuperan su empleo", aseguró la presidenta.
Según advirtió, los efectos del cambio climático suponen una amenaza a 450 millones de pobres que, debido a la sequía por el aumento de las temperaturas, "provocarán un desplazamiento masivo de personas y comunidades" al influir en la agricultura. "El país que más afectado se verá por esta situación es Mauritania", denuncia el informe. Por ello la presidenta recordó que en España "no se están cumpliendo los compromisos de Kioto".
Arpe, además, se mostró reacia a los "modos de evitar la entrada de inmigrantes". Como ejemplo recordó que durante la tercera fase de la valla de Melilla se destinaron veinte millones de euros. "Con esa cantidad de dinero se podrían facilitar tratamientos contra la malaria a once millones de niños africanos", denunció, para añadir "¿Qué preferimos vallas sofisticadas o erradicar la malaria?"
Desigualdades
Por su parte, el coordinador de investigaciones de Intermón Oxfam, Gonzalo Fanjul, aseguró que los inmigrantes "aportan más dinero del que gastan". Según explicó, en 2005, la contribución neta de los inmigrantes fue de 5.000 millones de euros.
También denunció que entre los inmigrantes y los nacionales existen diferencias en la renta per cápita ajustada al poder de compra. "Un español cobra cinco euros y, por el mismo trabajo, un ecuatoriano gana uno", delató Fanjul.
En la misma línea de denuncia hizo un llamamiento a la reducción del coste en las remesas. "Reducir el coste de remesas a la mitad supondrían 212.000.000 de euros" y añadió "esta cantidad es superior a toda la ayuda bilateral de España a 42 países de Africa subsahariana", explicó.
Con respecto a los derechos a una vivienda digna y al voto Fajón aseguró que los inmigrantes pagan, de media, 3,5 puntos más por su hipoteca."Se debe al prisma de riesgo y es un aprovechamiento", sentenció.
"Los extranjeros no comunitarios deben tener los mismo derechos de voto que los europeos" por lo que proponen que tengan acceso a las elecciones municipales y europeas. "Estamos hablando de derechos esenciales", dijo.
Entre las causas que llevan a los inmigrantes africanos a elegir España se encuentran que "está cerca y hay trabajo" aseguró Fanjul. Además, desde Intermón Oxfam explicaron que las mujeres que proceden de países donde sus derechos son vulnerados son más reacias a regresar a su lugar de origen, "al contrario que los hombres".
Translation - English Spain receives the second largest number of immigrants in the world. However, last Monday during a presentation of the report Puertas al Mar (Doors to the Sea),
Intermón Oxfam revealed that about 700,000 people originally from other countries are in Spain illegally.
The director general of Intermón Oxfam, Ariane Arpa, was emphatic when she explained that immigration “is now a fact”. Therefore she complained that “illegal immigrants are among the most marginalised groups in society”. In 2007 the figure for irregular immigrants in Spain dropped because “many European citizens became regularised”with Romania and Bulgaria’s entry to the EU.
According to Arpa, illegal immigration should be eradicated because, among other reasons, “we accommodate 200,000 immigrants a year when we need 400,000 immigrants”.
Data from the report shows that there are more than ten million irregular people in the European Union. However, the United States receives the highest number of illegal entrants: twelve million.
Arpa gave alternatives that “could turn this situation around”, by proposing two ideas: liberalising the migratory movement and drawing up a more flexible programme which facilitates the return of immigrants. She says “they dare not go back to their own countries in case they do not get their jobs back”.
She warned that the effects of climate change threaten 450 million poor people, because the droughts due to rising temperatures, “will cause a huge displacement of people and communities” when they impact on agriculture. The report states that the country most affected is Mauritania. Therefore, the president admitted that “the agreements made in Kyoto are not being fulfilled” in Spain.
Furthermore, Arpe was opposed to “ways to avoid immigrants entering”. As an example, she recalled that 20 million euros was allocated during the third phase of the fence in Melilla: “with this amount of money, malaria treatment for 11 million African children could have been provided”. She also added “what do we prefer: sophisticated fences or the eradication of malaria?”
Inequalities
The coordinator of research at Intermón Oxfam, Gonzálo Fanjul, stressed that immigrants “generate more money than they spend”. He explained that in 2005 immigrant net contribution was 5,000 million euros.
He also complained that there are differences in income per capita adjusted to purchasing power between the immigrant population and the national one: “a Spanish person earns five euros and an Ecuadorian earns one euro for the same work”.
Along the same line of complaint, he called for a reduction in the cost of remittances: “reducing the cost of remittances by half would free up 212,000,000 euros” and added “this amount is higher than all of Spain’s bilateral help to 42 countries in sub-Saharan Africa”.
With regard to the right to a decent home and vote, Fajón stressed that immigrants pay, on average, 3.5 points more for their mortgages: “because of the risk point of view and it is complete exploitation”.
“Non-community foreigners should have the same right to vote as Europeans”, which means access to local and European elections. “We are talking about basic rights”.
Fanjul also added that some of the reasons Africans choose Spain are because it is nearby and there is work. Besides, Intermón Oxfam said that women originally from countries where their rights are abused are more reluctant to return to their places of origin, “in contrast to the men”.
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English mother tongue with the following language combinations:
Spanish > English Portuguese > English. MA in Translation & Linguistics; BA (Hons) in Spanish & Latin American Studies. Experience with Wordfast, MemoQ and Trados. Translation experience: Contributing translator to the Institute of Race Relations' European Race Bulletin since 2001. The documents I translate are mainly media reports and academic papers. Freelance translator since 2007. Interpreting experience: Sessional interpreter (Spanish > English) for the NHS and Social Services 2000 - 2013 as well as doing medical translations.
Revising/Proofreading experience: experience in all these fields. General experience: Holder of several part-time posts in the NHS since graduating, which have helped develop my writing and keyboard skills, plus insight into various disciplines to expand language skills and subject specialisation.
Arts-based education adds to list of interests as well as subject knowledge. Recent areas of translation: human rights, health, general business/commerce, law, marketing, creative and media, esoteric practices/philosophy
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Keywords: Spanish to English translator, Portuguese to English translator, traductora del espanol al ingles, traductora do portugues ao ingles, immigration, human rights, international development, international organisations, international cooperation, general medical. See more.Spanish to English translator, Portuguese to English translator, traductora del espanol al ingles, traductora do portugues ao ingles, immigration, human rights, international development, international organisations, international cooperation, general medical, medical, healthcare, advertising, public relations, business, commerce, certificates, diplomas, licences, CVs, general, conversation, greetings, letters, government, politics, legal contracts, marketing, market research, general science, anthropology, architecture, arts, arts and crafts, painting, restoration, cinema, film, tv, drama, education, pedagogy, esoteric practices, yoga, meditation, history, nutrition, philosopy, psychology, tourism and travel, interpreting, editing, proofreading, revising, copyrighting. See less.
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