Adapting viticulture to climate change in the Mediterranean region: Evaluations accounting for spatial differences in the producers-climate interactions

Effective adaptation of viticulture to climate change requires impact and response scenarios. Although climate and production impact scenarios are based on the evaluation of a spatially heterogeneous system, conventional response scenarios do not take into account the variation of the producers-climate interactions. These interactions are often extremely heterogeneous and unevenly distributed in space, leading to errors in the needs and adaptation plans, especially in large areas. Here we develop a novel framework for adaptation that considers the heterogeneity of the responses given by producers to climate, and applies the concept to adaptation of viticulture to climate change in the Mediterranean region. We use future climate scenarios at 0.5 ∘ resolution to estimate the adaptation of viticulture by the end of the 21st century. Results suggest that most of the Mediterranean region may urgently need adaptation plans, leading to potential opportunities. By incorporating spatially explicit information on the diversity of viticulture systems, management practices, and climate vulnerability, this approach may contribute to adaptation policy

Wellbeing Training Based on Contemplative Practices in a Sample of Intensive Care and Homecare Professionals: A Pilot and Feasibility Non-Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Intensive care unit (ICU) and homecare unit professionals are susceptible to higher levels of stress and burnout than other healthcare professionals, which has an impact on their well-being, and in turn on their patients. In terms of data, there is not much research about the effects of psychological interventions on ICU and homecare professionals. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of Wellbeing Training based on Contemplative Practices (WTCP) for the increase of psychological functioning in a sample of ICU and homecare professionals. Methods: A pilot and feasibility non-randomized clinical trial was conducted. Participants in the WTCP group (n = 19) attended an at-work 8-session/2 h group WTCP program aimed at directly training four basic skills: (a) sustained positive emotions, (b) recovery from negative emotions, (c) pro-social behavior and generosity, and (d) mind wandering, mindfulness, and “affective stickiness”. Nineteen professionals were allocated in the control group. Results: Results indicated that WTCP had a positive impact on self-compassion, personal accomplishment (burnout), and frequency of negative emotions. Moreover, a thematic analysis of participant interviews (n = 14) was conducted. Conclusions: These preliminary results are promising, though future research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of WTCP using randomized controlled trial methodologies.This research was funded by the grant 03-CaViPro-GALIANA-BLASCO-2017-A, funded by the VLC-BICOLINIC 2017 Program (University of Valencia and INCLIVA), and grants RTI2018-097835-A-I00 and RTI2018-094089-I00, both of them funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and FEDER Una manera de hacer Europa

Health Plans for Suicide Prevention in Spain: A Descriptive Analysis of the Published Documents

The number of deaths by suicide worldwide each year is more than 800,000 people, which is equivalent to one death every 40 seconds. Suicide prevention has been listed by the World Health Organisation as a global imperative and has become a priority for global public health. This descriptive study describes and compares the intervention components included in the suicide prevention plans in the different provinces of Spain. We analysed the published documents through an extensive literature search and summarised the findings using descriptive content analysis. The search was carried out through the official websites of the government and health departments of each province in addition to consulting other official digital platforms such as the National Suicide Observatory, the World Health Organisation and the National Institute of Statistics. The results show the most relevant differences between the prevention plans, revealing that although all the activities included were related to the health sector, not all of them include prevention aimed at the general population level. We conclude that there is a lack of interventions related to the application of universal prevention, while selective and indicated prevention are the most developed tools in Spain

Level densities and thermodynamical properties of Pt and Au isotopes

The nuclear level densities of $^{194-196}$Pt and $^{197,198}$Au below the neutron separation energy have been measured using transfer and scattering reactions. All the level density distributions follow the constant-temperature description. Each group of isotopes is characterized by the same temperature above the energy threshold corresponding to the breaking of the first Cooper pair. A constant entropy excess $\Delta S=1.9$ and $1.1$ $k_B$ is observed in $^{195}$Pt and $^{198}$Au with respect to $^{196}$Pt and $^{197}$Au, respectively, giving information on the available single-particle level space for the last unpaired valence neutron. The breaking of nucleon Cooper pairs is revealed by sequential peaks in the microcanonical caloric curve

Tele-Rehabilitation Versus Local Rehabilitation Therapies Assisted by Robotic Devices: A Pilot Study with Patients

The present study aims to evaluate the advantages of a master-slave robotic rehabilitation therapy in which the patient is assisted in real-time by a therapist. We have also explored if this type of strategy is applicable in a tele-rehabilitation environment. A pilot study has been carried out involving 10 patients who have performed a point-to-point rehabilitation exercise supported by three assistance modalities: fixed assistance (without therapist interaction), local therapist assistance, and remote therapist assistance in a simulated tele-rehabiliation scenario. The rehabilitation exercise will be performed using an upper-limb rehabilitation robotic device that assists the patients through force fields. The results suggest that the assistance provided by the therapist is better adapted to patient needs than fixed assistance mode. Therefore, it maximizes the patient’s level of effort, which is an important aspect to improve the rehabilitation outcomes. We have also seen that in a tele-rehabilitation environment it is more difficult to assess when to assist the patient than locally. However, the assistance suits patients better than the fixed assistance mode.This work was funded by the Conselleria d’Educacio, Cultura i Esport of Generalitat Valenciana by the European Social Fund—Investing in your Future, through the grant ACIF 2018/214, PEJ2018-002684-A and PEJ2018-002670-A, and by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the project PID2019-108310RB-I00

Percutaneous mitral repair: current and future devices

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is the second most common valvular heart disease and its prevalence is increasing with population ageing. In the recent years we have witnessed the development of several transcatheter devices to correct MR in patients at high-risk for surgery. The majority of evidence regarding safety and efficacy of this new therapy comes from MitraClip studies. However, new alternatives on the field of valve repair have emerged with promising results. The aim of this review is to portrait the landscape of transcatheter mitral repair alternatives, from currently used devices to those that will have a role in the near future

Do users benefit from additional information in support of operational drought management decisions in the Ebro basin?

We follow a user-based approach to examine how information supports operational drought management decisions in the Ebro basin and how these can benefit from additional information such as from remote sensing data. First we consulted decision-makers at basin, irrigation district and farmer scale to investigate the drought-related decisions they make and the information they use to support their decisions. This allowed us to identify the courses of action available to the farmers and water managers, and to analyse their choices as a function of the information they have available to them. Based on the findings of the consultation, a decision model representing the interrelated decisions of the irrigation association and the farmers was built. The purpose of the model is to quantify the effect of additional information on the decisions made. The modelled decisions, which consider the allocation of water, are determined by the expected availability of water during the irrigation season. This is currently informed primarily by observed reservoir level data. The decision model was then extended to include additional information on snow cover from remote sensing. The additional information was found to contribute to better decisions in the simulation and ultimately higher benefits for the farmers. However, the ratio between the cost of planting and the market value of the crop proved to be a critical aspect in determining the best course of action to be taken and the value of the (additional) information. Risk-averse farmers were found to benefit least from the additional information, while less risk-averse farmers stand to benefit most as the additional information helps them take better informed decisions when weighing their options.</p