On the Impact of Trees on Ventilation in a Real Street in Pamplona, Spain

This paper is devoted to the quantification of changes in ventilation of a real neighborhood located in Pamplona, Spain, due to the presence of street trees Pollutant dispersion in this urban zone was previously studied by means of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations. In the present work, that research is extended to analyze the ventilation in the whole neighborhood and in a tree-free street. Several scenarios are investigated including new trees in the tree-free street, and different leaf area density (LAD) in the whole neighborhood. Changes between the scenarios are evaluated through changes in average concentration, wind speed, flow rates and total pollutant fluxes. Additionally, wind flow patterns and the vertical profiles of flow properties (e.g., wind velocity, turbulent kinetic energy) and concentration, horizontally-averaged over one particular street, are analyzed. The approach-flow direction is almost perpendicular to the street under study (prevailing wind direction is only deviated 4º from the perpendicular direction). For these conditions, as LAD increases, average concentration in the whole neighborhood increases due to the decrease of wind speed. On the other hand, the inclusion of trees in the street produces an increase of averaged pollutant concentration only within this street, in particular for the scenario with the highest LAD value. In fact, the new trees in the street analyzed with the highest LAD value notably change the ventilation producing an increase of total pollutant fluxes inward the street. Additionally, pollutant dispersion within the street is also influenced by the reduction of the wind velocity along the street axis and the decrease of turbulent kinetic energy within the vegetation canopy caused by the new trees. Therefore, the inclusion of new trees in a tree-free street should be done by considering ventilation changes and traffic emissions should be consequently controlled in order to keep pollutant concentration within healthy levels

SURVEYING POPULATIONS OF RED-BILLED CURASSOWS (CRAX BLUMENBACHII) IN THE ATLANTIC FOREST OF BRAZIL

Threatened species are frequently difficult to monitor, leading to a lack of information for the selection of the best conservation strategies. A case in point is the Red-billed Curassow (Crax blumenbachii, Cracidae, Galliformes), whose populations have declined due to deforestation of the northern Atlantic Forest and increased poaching in the late 1960s. The species is presently absent from most forest frag- ments within its geographic range, occurring only in forest remnants on the states of Bahia and Espírito Santo, Brazil. In this study, we esti- mated encounter rates and recorded the periods of activity of the Red-billed Curassow in three large Atlantic Forest fragments in the north- eastern Brazilian state of Bahia, using line-transect sampling. The northern region of Serra do Conduru State Park (0.29 sighting/10 km) and Descobrimento National Park (0.27 sighting/10 km) presented slightly greater encounter rates of this endangered cracid, compared to the Una Biological Reserve (0.13 – 0.20 sighting/10 km). We recorded Red-billed Curassows throughout the day, mainly between 10:00–11:00 h and 14:00–17:00 h. Our study is the first step for long-term monitoring of the Red-billed Curassow. These findings serve as baseline infor- mation, which may contribute to future assessments of the conservation status and support future conservation actions for the species

Co-evaluación y autoevaluación a través de Moodle-UA para asignaturas de lenguas y literaturas extranjeras

La implementación de la evaluación formativa en asignaturas del Departamento de Filologías Integradas desde hace ya cinco años, cuando iniciamos nuestra investigación en este campo, nos ha llevado a plantearnos la utilización de nuevos instrumentos y herramientas de evaluación. La plataforma virtual Moodle-UA 2 disponía de utilidades a las que podían adaptarse perfectamente las asignaturas de lenguas y literaturas extranjeras que impartimos desde del departamento de Filologías Integradas. Nuestro principal propósito ha sido el de formarnos en la utilización y conocimiento de las posibilidades que esta plataforma virtual ofrecía en materia de evaluación. Nos hemos centrado sobre todo en la adaptación de los cuestionarios de autoevaluación y coevaluación vinculados a las actividades formativas evaluables de nuestras asignaturas, a las herramientas de la plataforma. En este sentido, hemos trabajado en la manera de vincular todos los aspectos de la evaluación formativa a través de la plataforma Moodle- UA para así optimizar y agilizar el proceso, tanto para el docente como para el discente

Prevalencia de caídas en ancianos asilados del município de Rio Grande, Brasil

OBJECTIVE: The increase of life expectancy in developing countries has been a source of concern about quality of life and well-being of elderly people, especially regarding falls. The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of falls in institutionalized elderly and to describe factors associated. METHODS: Cross-sectional study carried out in the city of Rio Grande (Southern Brazil). A total of 180 elderly (65 years old or more), living in institutions were included in the study. The elderly were interviewed and a pre-tested instrument with questions on falls was administered. In addition to a bivariate analysis (Wald), Poisson's regression analysis was conducted and prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) adjusted for confounders were estimated. RESULTS: The prevalence of falls among institutionalized elderly was 38.3%. Falls were most frequently seen at the home premises (62.3%) and mostly in the bedroom (23%). In the adjusted analysis, falls remained associated to white color skin, separated and divorced elderly, depression, and higher continuous use of medications. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that the prevalence of falls among institutionalized elderly is high and that they can be disabling to this population. Although some of the associated factors are preventable, accidental falls still occur in settings that should be safe, such as the elderly's bedroom.OBJETIVO: El aumento de la expectativa de vida en los países en desarrollo ha provocado preocupación con la calidad de vida y el bienestar de los ancianos, principalmente la ocurrencia de caídas. En ese sentido, el objetivo del estudio fue describir la prevalencia de caídas en ancianos que viven en asilos y factores asociados. MÉTODOS: Se realizó estudio de delineamiento transversal en la ciudad de Rio Grande (Sur de Brasil), en 2007. Participaron 180 individuos ancianos (65 años o mas) residentes en asilos para protección. En entrevista, los ancianos respondieron las preguntas de instrumento pre-evaluado sobre la ocurrencia de caídas. Además de un análisis bivariado (Wald), se realizó un análisis por regresión de Poisson con cálculo de razones de prevalencia e intervalos de confianza de 95% ajustada para las variables de confusión. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia de caídas entre los ancianos asilados estudiados fue de 38,3%. Las caídas fueron más comunes en el ambiente del asilo (62,3%), siendo el cuarto el ambiente donde ocurrió el mayor número de caídas (23,0%). En el análisis ajustado, las caídas se mantuvieron asociadas con el color blanco de la piel, con los ancianos separados y divorciados, con la depresión, y mayor cantidad referida de medicamentos para uso continuo. CONCLUSIONES: El estudio muestra que la prevalencia de caídas entre los ancianos asilados es alta. A pesar de que algunos de los posibles factores asociados sean pasibles de prevención, aún ocurren caídas en lugares que deberían ser considerados seguros, como el cuarto del anciano.OBJETIVO: O aumento da expectativa de vida nos países em desenvolvimento tem provocado preocupação com a qualidade de vida e o bem-estar dos idosos, principalmente a ocorrência de quedas. Nesse sentido, o objetivo do estudo foi descrever a prevalência de quedas em idosos que vivem em asilos e fatores associados. MÉTODOS: Estudo de delineamento transversal na cidade de Rio Grande (RS), em 2007. Participaram 180 indivíduos idosos (65 anos ou mais) residentes em asilos para acolhimento. Em entrevista, os idosos responderam a questões de instrumento pré-testado sobre a ocorrência de quedas. Além de análise bivariada (Wald), foi realizada análise por regressão de Poisson com cálculo de razões de prevalência e intervalos de confiança de 95%, ajustada para as variáveis de confusão. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de quedas entre os idosos asilados estudados foi de 38,3%. As quedas foram mais comuns no ambiente do asilo (62,3%), sendo o quarto o ambiente onde ocorreu o maior número de quedas (23%). Na análise ajustada, as quedas se mantiveram associadas com cor da pele branca, com os idosos separados e divorciados, com depressão, e maior quantidade referida de medicamentos para uso contínuo. CONCLUSÕES: O estudo mostra que a prevalência de quedas entre idosos asilados é alta. Embora alguns dos possíveis fatores associados sejam passíveis de prevenção, ainda ocorrem quedas em locais que deveriam ser considerados seguros, como o quarto do idoso

Anatomia da Madeira de Melia azedarach L. (Meliaceae)

A anatomia da madeira de Melia azedarach L. é descrita de acordo com IAWA (1989) e ilustrada com fotomicrografias, com base em material procedente de Jaguari, RS, Brasil. Na estrutura da madeira destacam-se: poros em múltiplos radiais; placas de perfuração simples; elementos vasculares pequenos; pontoações intervasculares pequenas, alternas e ornamentadas; parênquima axial vasicêntrico, confluente e marginal; raios homogêneos; e fibras libriformes não septadas

Specific interaction of citrate with bis(fluorophoric) bibrachial lariat aza-crown in comparison with the other components of the Krebs cycle

Clares Garcia, M. Paz, [email protected] ; Garcia-España Monsonis, Enrique, [email protected] ; Soriano Soto, Concepcion, [email protected] ; Tejero Toquero, Roberto, [email protected]

Evaluación por pares en asignaturas de literatura extranjera y plataformas de enseñanza-aprendizaje

La investigación en evaluación formativa como metodología de evaluación, así como la utilización de la plataforma virtual Moodle-UA 2 en asignaturas de literatura y cultura extranjeras del departamento de Filologías Integradas de la Universidad de Alicante nos ha llevado, después de varios años de trabajo y experimentación, a integrar en nuestra investigación e implementación de la evaluación formativa, la co-evaluación o evaluación entre pares, como herramienta de interacción del alumnado en el proceso de evaluación de las diferentes actividades formativas. La plataforma Moodle ofrece a través de las opciones Taller y Rúbrica la posibilidad de integrar la evaluación entre pares en el proceso de enseñanza–aprendizaje y garantiza así la plena participación de los/las discentes a la hora de reflexionar sobre la evaluación de las competencias. En esta memoria, reflejamos cómo hemos llevado a cabo un primer esbozo del diseño del Taller y la Rúbrica para adaptarlo a las necesidades y características de cada una de las asignaturas, qué dificultades hemos encontrado a la hora de ponerlo en práctica, cuál ha sido la opinión del alumnado y qué propuestas de mejora nos planteamos para cursos venideros

Relationship between coronary plaque morphology of the left anterior descending artery and 12 months clinical outcome: the CLIMA study

Abstract Aims The CLIMA study, on the relationship between coronary plaque morphology of the left anterior descending artery and twelve months clinical outcome, was designed to explore the predictive value of multiple high-risk plaque features in the same coronary lesion [minimum lumen area (MLA), fibrous cap thickness (FCT), lipid arc circumferential extension, and presence of optical coherence tomography (OCT)-defined macrophages] as detected by OCT. Composite of cardiac death and target segment myocardial infarction was the primary clinical endpoint. Methods and results From January 2013 to December 2016, 1003 patients undergoing OCT evaluation of the untreated proximal left anterior descending coronary artery in the context of clinically indicated coronary angiogram were prospectively enrolled at 11 independent centres (clinicaltrial.gov identifier NCT02883088). At 1-year, the primary clinical endpoint was observed in 37 patients (3.7%). In a total of 1776 lipid plaques, presence of MLA 180° (HR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2–4.8), and OCT-defined macrophages (HR 2.7, 95% CI 1.2–6.1) were all associated with increased risk of the primary endpoint. The pre-specified combination of plaque features (simultaneous presence of the four OCT criteria in the same plaque) was observed in 18.9% of patients experiencing the primary endpoint and was an independent predictor of events (HR 7.54, 95% CI 3.1–18.6). Conclusion The simultaneous presence of four high-risk OCT plaque features was found to be associated with a higher risk of major coronary events