Gully cut- and- fill cycles as related to agromanagement : a historical curve number simulation in the Tigray Highlands

Gully cut-and-fill dynamics are often thought to be driven by climate and/or deforestation related to population pressure. However, in this case-study of nine representative catchments in the Northern Ethiopian Highlands, we find that neither climate changes nor deforestation can explain gully morphology changes over the twentieth century. Firstly, by using a Monte Carlo simulation to estimate historical catchment-wide curve numbers, we show that the landscape was already heavily degraded in the nineteenth and early twentieth century – a period with low population density. The mean catchment-wide curve number (> 80) one century ago was, under the regional climatic conditions, already resulting in considerable simulated historical runoff responses. Secondly, twentieth century land-cover and runoff coefficient changes were confronted with twentieth century changing gully morphologies. As the results show, large-scale land-cover changes and deforestation cannot explain the observed processes. The study therefore invokes interactions between authigenic factors, small-scale plot boundary changes, cropland management and sociopolitical forces to explain the gully cut processes. Finally, semi-structured interviews and sedistratigraphic analysis of three filled gullies confirm the dominant impact of (crop)land management (tillage, check dams in gullies and channel diversions) on gully cut-and-fill processes. Since agricultural land management – including land tenure and land distribution – has been commonly neglected in earlier related research, we argue therefore that it can be a very strong driver of twentieth century gully morphodynamics

Adherence issues related to sublingual immunotherapy as perceived by allergists

Objectives: Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is a viable alternative to subcutaneous immunotherapy to treat allergic rhinitis and asthma, and is widely used in clinical practice in many European countries. The clinical efficacy of SLIT has been established in a number of clinical trials and meta-analyses. However, because SLIT is self-administered by patients without medical supervision, the degree of patient adherence with treatment is still a concern. The objective of this study was to evaluate the perception by allergists of issues related to SLIT adherence. Methods: We performed a questionnaire-based survey of 296 Italian allergists, based on the adherence issues known from previous studies. The perception of importance of each item was assessed by a VAS scale ranging from 0 to 10. Results: Patient perception of clinical efficacy was considered the most important factor (ranked 1 by 54% of allergists), followed by the possibility of reimbursement (ranked 1 by 34%), and by the absence of side effects (ranked 1 by 21%). Patient education, regular follow-up, and ease of use of SLIT were ranked first by less than 20% of allergists. Conclusion: These findings indicate that clinical efficacy, cost, and side effects are perceived as the major issues influencing patient adherence to SLIT, and that further improvement of adherence is likely to be achieved by improving the patient information provided by prescribers. © 2010 Scurati et al, publisher and licensee Dove Medical Press Ltd

Padrões de industrialização, riscos e meio ambiente Patterns of industrialization risks and environment

Este artigo aborda a questão dos riscos industriais e de seus impactos sobre a saúde e o meio ambiente, buscando fazer uma retrospectiva histórica acerca da formação dos atuais padrões de trabalho, produção e consumo nas sociedades ocidentais contemporâneas. Neste percurso, salienta desafios e dilemas emergentes nas últimas décadas com os avanços da globalização da economia, da reestruturação produtiva e das formas de gestão do trabalho viabilizadas pela adoção de políticas neoliberais. Focaliza a historicidade da relação entre riscos industriais e meio ambiente e apresenta resultados de pesquisa que dizem respeito à mobilidade dos riscos e acidentes industriais no espaço socioeconômico-ambiental da Região Metropolitana de Salvador, resgatando aspectos concernentes às formas de gestão industrial e de organização do trabalho, com destaque para a terceirização.<br>This article deals with industrial risks and its effects on health and environment, in a retrospective historical analysis of the creation of present patterns of work, production and consumption in contemporary western societies. Challenges and emerging dilemas from the few past decades are highligted and discussed by the authors in terms of economic globalization, productive restructuring and work management strategies conducted by neoliberal policies. The article focus on the relationship between industrial risks and environment and present research data on morbidity and risks related to industrial accidents in the social-economical-environmental space of the Metropolitan area of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. In doing so, concerns on industrial management and labour organization are highligted

Metodologias ativas de ensino-aprendizagem na formação profissional em saúde: debates atuais Active teaching-learning methodologies in health education: current debates

As vertiginosas transformações das sociedades contemporâneas têm colocado em questão, de modo cada vez mais incisivo, os aspectos relativos à formação profissional. Este debate ganha contornos próprios no trabalho em saúde, na medida em que a indissociabilidade entre teoria e prática, o desenvolvimento de uma visão integral do homem e a ampliação da concepção de cuidado tornam-se prementes para o adequado desempenho laboral. Com base nestas considerações, o objetivo do presente artigo é discutir as principais transformações metodológicas no processo de formação dos profissionais de saúde, com ênfase na apreciação das metodologias ativas de ensino-aprendizagem.<br>The vertiginous transformations of the contemporary societies have been raising questions concerning aspects of professional education. Such questions have been raised in a more and more incisive way. This debate gains a new shape when applied to health work, where theory and practice cannot be dissociated, and where the development of an integral vision of the human being and the amplification of the concept care are essential for a proper performance. Based on these considerations, this article aims to discuss the main methodological transformations in the education process of health professionals, with emphasis to active teaching-learning methodologies