Species distribution models predict range expansion better than chance but not better than a simple dispersal model

The evaluation of species distribution models (SDMs) is a crucial step; usually, a random subsample of data is used to test prediction capacity. This procedure, called cross-validation, has been recently shown to overestimate SDMs performance due to spatial autocorrelation. In the case of expanding species, there exists the possibility to test the predictions with non-random geographically structured data, i.e., a new data set which corresponds to the last occupied localities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the capacity of SDMs to predict the range expansion pattern of six free-living deer species in Great Britain and to assess whether SDMs perform better than a simple dispersal model - a null model that assumes no environmental control in the expansion process. Distribution data for the species prior to 1972 were used to train the SDMs (ENFA, MAXENT, logistic regression and an ensemble model) in order to obtain suitability maps. Additionally, the geographical distance to the localities occupied in 1972 was considered a proxy of the probability that a certain locality has to be occupied during an expansion process considering only dispersal (GD model). Subsequently, we analysed whether the species increased their ranges between 1972 and 2006 according to the estimated suitability patterns and whether or not SDMs predictions outperformed GD predictions. SDMs showed a high discrimination capacity in the training data, with the ensemble models performing the best and ENFA models the worst. SDMs predictions also worked better than chance in classifying new occupied localities, although differences among techniques disappeared and the predictions showed no difference with respect to GD. Spatial autocorrelation of both the environmental predictors and the expansion process may explain these results which illustrate that GD is a much more parsimonious model than any of the SDMs and may thus be preferable both for prediction and explanation. Overestimation of SDMs performance and usefulness may be a common fact.M.R.-R. was supported by project POII10-0076-4195 of JCCM, A.J.-V. by the MEC Juan de la Cierva Program and P.A. was funded from the SFRH/BPD/90320/2012 post-doctoral grant by Portuguese Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) and European Social Fund.Peer Reviewe

La mediación como vía complementaria de resolución de conflictos

[ES] La mediación es una vía de solución de conflictos que no ha sido lo suficientemente explotada en nuestro ordenamiento jurídico y que, sin embargo, puede resultar adecuada para resolver muchos de ellos, motivo por el cual el autor centra en la misma el objeto del estudio.[EN] Mediation is a means of conflict resolution has not been sufficiently exploited in our legal system, however, may be appropriate to address many of them, why the author focuses on the same object of study

Intervenciones psicosociales efectivas en pacientes con trastorno de bipolaridad

Treball Final de Màster Universitari en Rehabilitació Psicosocial en Salut Mental Comunitària. Codi: SAX014. Curs acadèmic: 2021-2022Introducción: El trastorno bipolar se define como un trastorno mental grave, incapacitante y recurrente, que afecta a >1% de la población mundial. Emerge a edades tempranas, a causa de la interacción de factores genéticos, biológicos y ambientales. Dada la complejidad de esta enfermedad, actualmente los investigadores no sólo se centran en la remisión clínica, sino también en la recuperación funcional y el bienestar. Es por ello por lo que la farmacoterapia por sí sola no es suficiente, esta debe ir acompañada de intervenciones de rehabilitación psicosocial. Objetivos: Revisar la literatura científica existente para conocer y documentar aquellas intervenciones psicosociales más efectivas en la recuperación del paciente con trastorno bipolar, y lograr así, junto con la farmacoterapia, la estabilización de este. Destacar, además, el estudio de la Terapia Interpersonal y del Ritmo Social en el presente trabajo. Metodología: Se llevó a cabo una revisión bibliográfica en las bases de datos PubMed, Scielo, Scopus, Cuiden, Cinahl y PyscInfo. Se incluyeron estudios que investigaran acerca de las intervenciones psicosociales más efectivas en la recuperación de la persona que sufre trastorno de bipolaridad. Resultados: Tras realizar un análisis minucioso, se seleccionaron finalmente 20 artículos. La mayoría de los estudios consideraron intervenciones psicosociales más efectivas la intervención familiar y de pareja, la psicoeducación, la terapia cognitivo-conductual, la remediación cognitiva y la terapia interpersonal y del ritmo social, entre otras. Sobre esta última, es necesario estudiar aún más sobre su mayor o menor efectividad en combinación con otras terapias psicológicas. Conclusión: El trastorno bipolar es la principal causa de discapacidad en los jóvenes, ya que puede provocar un deterioro cognitivo y funcional y un aumento de la mortalidad, en particular por suicidio. En esta revisión se ha podido comprobar que es fundamental combinar farmacoterapia con tratamiento psicosocial, ya que todas las aquí estudiadas mejoran la adherencia al tratamiento y reducen la tasa de recaídas, entre otras funciones, logrando así mantener al paciente en estado eutímico.Introduction: Bipolar disorder is defined as a severe, disabling, recurrent mental disorder, affecting >1% of the world's population. It emerges at an early age, due to the interaction of genetic, biological and environmental factors. Given the complexity of this disease, researchers are currently not only focused on clinical remission, but also on functional recovery and well-being. That is why pharmacotherapy alone is not enough, it must be accompanied by psychosocial rehabilitation interventions. Objectives: To review the existing scientific literature to know and document those psychosocial interventions that are most effective in the recovery of patients with bipolar disorder, and thus achieve, together with pharmacotherapy, its stabilization. Also highlight the study of Interpersonal Therapy and Social Rhythm in this work. Methodology: A bibliographic review was carried out in the PubMed, Scielo, Scopus, Cuiden, Cinahl and PyscInfo databases. Studies that investigated the most effective psychosocial interventions in the recovery of the person suffering from bipolar disorder were included. Results: After a thorough analysis, 20 articles were finally selected. Most of the studies considered more effective psychosocial interventions: family and couple intervention, psychoeducation, cognitive-behavioral therapy, cognitive remediation, and interpersonal and social rhythm therapy, among others. On the latter, it is necessary to study even more about its greater or lesser effectiveness in combination with other psychological therapies. Conclusion: Bipolar disorder is the principal cause of disability in young people, as it can lead to cognitive and functional decline and increased mortality, particularly from suicide. In this review it has been possible to verify that it is essential to combine pharmacotherapy with psychosocial treatment, since all those studied here improve adherence to treatment and reduce the rate of relapse, among other functions, thus managing to keep the patient in a euthymic state

Long-term avian influenza virus epidemiology in a small Spanish wetland ecosystem is driven by the breeding Anseriformes community

During 2007–2009 and 2012–2014, avian influenza virus (AIV) was studied in a wild avian community of a northern Spanish wetland using non-invasive sampling methods and host identification by COI barcoding. The aim of this longitudinal study was to evaluate AIV dynamics in a natural wetland ecosystem, taking into account both virological aspects and ecological traits of hosts. Global AIV prevalence decreased significantly during the second sampling period (0.3%) compared to the first (6.6%). Circulating subtype distributions were also different between periods, with a noteworthy H5 and H7 subtype richness during the first sampling period. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos was identified as the main AIV host, although not all positive samples could be ascribed to the host. We modelled AIV prevalence with regard to the avian host community composition and meteorological data from the wetland. Statistical analysis revealed seasonal differences in AIV detection, with higher prevalence during the breeding season compared to other phenological events. The model also shows that the lower AIV prevalence during the second study period was associated with a significant reduction of breeding Anseriformes in the wetland, revealing a long-term fluctuation of AIV prevalence driven by the breeding Anseriformes community. This longitudinal study on AIV epidemiology in a natural ecosystem reveals that although prevalence follows seasonal and annual patterns, long-term prevalence fluctuation is linked to the breeding community composition and size. These results are relevant to understanding the influence of host ecology on pathogen transmission for preventing and managing influenza emergence.This study has been funded by the Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA) (RTA2011-00111-C03 Grant) and Departamento de Desarrollo Económico e Infraestructuras del Gobierno Vasco. OT was recipient of an INIA predoctoral grant. PA is supported by Ministerio de Economia, industria y competitividad del Gobierno de España and Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha through “Ramón y Cajal” contract (RYC-2012-11970).Peer reviewe

Effects of online palliative care training on knowledge, attitude and satisfaction of primary care physicians

Background: The Spanish Palliative Care Strategy recommends an intermediate level of training for primary care physicians in order to provide them with knowledge and skills. Most of the training involves face-to-face courses but increasing pressures on physicians have resulted in fewer opportunities for provision of and attendance to this type of training. The effectiveness of on-line continuing medical education in terms of its impact on clinical practice has been scarcely studied. Its effect in relation to palliative care for primary care physicians is currently unknown, in terms of improvement in patient's quality of life and main caregiver's satisfaction. There is uncertainty too in terms of any potential benefits of asynchronous communication and interaction among on-line education participants, as well as of the effect of the learning process. The authors have developed an on-line educational model for palliative care which has been applied to primary care physicians in order to measure its effectiveness regarding knowledge, attitude towards palliative care, and physician's satisfaction in comparison with a control group. The effectiveness evaluation at 18 months and the impact on the quality of life of patients managed by the physicians, and the main caregiver's satisfaction will be addressed in a different paper. Methods: Randomized controlled educational trial to compared, on a first stage, the knowledge and attitude of primary care physicians regarding palliative care for advanced cancer patients, as well as satisfaction in those who followed an on-line palliative care training program with tutorship, using a Moodle Platform vs. traditional education. Results: 169 physicians were included, 85 in the intervention group and 84 in the control group, of which five were excluded. Finally 82 participants per group were analyzed. There were significant differences in favor of the intervention group, in terms of knowledge (mean 4.6; CI 95%: 2.8 to 6.5 (p = 0.0001), scale range 0-33), confidence in symptom management (p = 0.02) and confidence in terms of communication (p = 0.038). Useful aspects were pointed out, as well as others to be improved in future applications. The satisfaction of the intervention group was high. Conclusions: The results of this study show that there was a significant increase of knowledge of 14%-20% and a significant increase in the perception of confidence in symptom management and communication in the intervention group in comparison with the control group that received traditional methods of education in palliative care or no educational activity at all. The overall satisfaction with the intervention was good-very good for most participants. This on-line educational model seems a useful tool for palliative care training in primary care physicians who have a high opinion about the integration of palliative care within primary care. The results of this study support the suggestion that learning effectiveness should be currently investigated comparing different Internet interventions, instead of Internet vs. no intervention. © 2011 Pelayo et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.This work was funded by the National Health Research Fund (grant number FIS: PI070515); and the Hospital Ribera Fund. The study sponsors had no influence on the study design, data collection, analysis, data interpretation, or decision to submit the manuscript for publication.Pelayo, M.; Cebrián, D.; Areosa, A.; Agra, Y.; Izquierdo, JV.; Buendía García, F. (2011). Effects of online palliative care training on knowledge, attitude and satisfaction of primary care physicians. BMC Family Practice. 12(37):1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2296-12-371111237Salinas AM, Asensio AF, Armas J, Benítez del Rosario MA: Palliative care in primary care: professionals' opinion. Aten Primaria. 1999, 23: 187-91.Esteva MC, Llobera JC, Miralles JX, Bauza MA: Management of terminal cancer patients: attitudes and training needs of primary health care doctors and nurses. Support Care Cancer. 2000, 8: 464-71. 10.1007/s005200000157.Barclay S, Todd Ch, Grande G, Lipscombe J: Controlling cancer pain in primary care: the prescribing habits and knowledge base of general practitioners. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2002, 23: 283-92.Shipman C, Addington-Hall J, Barclay S, Briggs J, Cox I, Daniels L, Millar D: Educational opportunities in palliative care: what do general practitioners want?. Palliat Med. 2001, 15: 191-6. 10.1191/026921601678576176.Pelayo-Alvarez M, Agra Y: Systematic review of educational interventions in palliative care for primary care physicians. Palliat Med. 2006, 20: 673-83. 10.1177/0269216306071794.Slotnick HB: Physicians' learning strategies. Chest. 2000, 118: 18S-23S. 10.1378/chest.118.2_suppl.18S.Grau-Perejoan O: Formacion on line. EDUC MED. 2008, 11: 139-46.Curran VR, Fleet L: A review of evaluation outcomes of web-based continuing medical education. Med Educ. 2005, 39: 561-67. 10.1111/j.1365-2929.2005.02173.x.Chumley-Jones HS, Dobbie A, Alford CL: Web-based learning: sound educational method or hype? A review of the evaluation literature. Acad Med. 2002, 77 (10 Suppl): 86-93.Wutoh R, Boren SA, Balas EA: E-learning: a review of Internet-based continuing medical education. J Contin Educ Health Prof. 2004, 24: 20-30. 10.1002/chp.1340240105.Casebeer L, Kristofco RE, Strasser S, Reilly M, Krishnamoorthy P, Rabin A, Zheng S, Karp S, Myers L: Standardizing evaluation of on-line continuing medical education: physician knowledge, attitudes, and reflection on practice. J Contin Educ Health Prof. 2004, 24: 68-75. 10.1002/chp.1340240203.Curran V, Lockyer J, Sargeant J, Fleet L: Evaluation of learning outcomes in Web-based continuing medical education. Acad Med. 2006, 81 (10 Suppl): S30-S34.Weston CM, Sciamanna C, Nash D: Evaluating online continuing medical education seminars: evidence for improving clinical practices. Am J Med Qual. 2008, 23: 475-83. 10.1177/1062860608325266.Shojania KG, Jennings A, Mayhew A, Ramsay C, Eccles M, Grimshaw J: Effect of point-of-care computer reminders on physician behaviour: a systematic review. CMAJ. 2010, 182 (5): E216-E225.Fordis M, King JE, Ballantyne CM, Jones PH, Schenider KH, Spann SJ, Greenberg SB, Greisinger AJ: Comparison of the instructional efficacy of Internet-based CME with live interactive CME workshops. A randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2005, 294: 1043-51. 10.1001/jama.294.9.1043.Klueber KK, Bruera E: Interactive collaborative consultation model in end-of-life care. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2000, 20: 202-9. 10.1016/S0885-3924(00)00176-7.Thompson AR, Savidge MA, Fulper-Smith M, Strode SW: Testing a multimedia module in cancer pain management. J Cancer Educ. 1999, 14: 161-3.Pereira J, Bruera E, Quan H: Pallaitive care on the net: an online survey of health care professionals. J Palliat Care. 2001, 17: 41-5.Cauffman JG, Forsyth RA, Clark VA, Foster JP, Martin KJ, Lapsys FX, Davis DA: Randomized controlled trials of continuing medical education: what makes them most effective?. J Contin Educ Health Prof. 2002, 22: 214-21. 10.1002/chp.1340220405.Peterson MW, Galvin JR, Dayton Ch, D'Alessandro MP: Delivering pulmonary continuing medical education over the Internet. Chest. 1999, 115: 1429-36. 10.1378/chest.115.5.1429.Programa de la especialidad de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria: Comisión nacional de la especialidad. 2002, Madrid: Ministerio de Sanidad y ConsumoEHS: E-learning Health Scotland: e-Hospital e-learning while in hospital. 2008, [ http://www.ehospital-project.net/ ]HUSC: Hospital Universitario San Cecilio Granada. 2008, [ http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/servicioandaluzdesalud/hsc/moodle/ ]PHT: Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust. 2008, [ http://www.i-am-in-the-moodle.co.uk/ ]Brown G, Atkins M: Effective teaching in higher education. 1991, Ed: London, Routledge reprKoczwara B, Francis K, Marine F, Goldstein D, Underhill C, Olver I: Reaching further with online education? The development of an effective online program in palliative oncology. J Canc Educ. 2010Arenella Ch, Yox S, Eckstein DS, Ousley A: Expanding the reach of a cancer palliative care curriculum through web-based dissemination: a public-private collaboration. J Canc Educ. 2010Casebeer L, Engler S, Bennett N, Irvine M, Sulkes D, Deslauriers M, Zhang S: A controlled trial of the effectiveness of internet continuing medical education. BMC Medicine. 2008, 6: 37-10.1186/1741-7015-6-37.Leong L, Ninnis J, Slatkin N, Rhiner M, Schroeder L, Pritt B, Kagan J, Ball T, Morgan R: Evaluating the impact of pain management education on physician practice patterns-a continuing medical education outcomes study. J Canc Educ. 2010Cook DA: Learning and cognitive styles in Web-based learning: theory, evidence and application. Acad Med. 2005, 80: 266-78. 10.1097/00001888-200503000-00012.van Marwijk H, Haverkate L, van Royen P, Anne-Mei T: Impact of euthanasia on primary care physicians in the Netherlands. Palliat Med. 2007, 21: 609-14. 10.1177/0269216307082475.Cook DA, Levinson AJ, Garside S, Dupras DM, Erwin PJ, Montori VM: Internet-based learning in the health professions: a meta-analysis. JAMA. 2008, 300: 1181-96. 10.1001/jama.300.10.1181.Kevin Mc: Launch of a new online training program to enhance palliative training in rural areas. Aust J Rural Health. 2007, 15: 389-Kuziemsky CE, Weber-Jahnke JE, Lau F, Downing M: An interdisciplinary computer-based information tool for palliative severe pain management. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2008, 15: 374-82. 10.1197/jamia.M2519.Street AF, Swift K, Annells M, Woodruff R, Gliddon T, Oakley A, Ottman G: Developing a web-based information resource for palliative care: an action-research inspired approach. BMC Medical Informatics & Decision Making. 2007, 7: 26-10.1186/1472-6947-7-26.Murray MA, O'Connor A, Stacey D, Wilson KG: Efficacy of a training intervention on the quality of practitioner's decision support for patients deciding about place of care at the end of life: A randomized control trial: Study protocol. BMC Palliative Care. 2008, 7: 4-10.1186/1472-684X-7-4

L'ús de les carpetes d'aprenentatge virtuals (cavi) en cinc assignatures de cinc departaments a la UAB. Primeres aproximacions d'una innovació docent

La comunicació parteix d'un projecte d'innovació docent on es troben involucrats professors de la UAB de diferents àrees de coneixement i interessats per les carpetes virtuals d'aprenentatge (CAVI) a l'educació superior (més conegudes com a e-portfolio de l'estudiant). Entre aquests professors, hi ha tres docents de la Facultat de Ciències de l'Educació (CCEE), un de l'Escola Tècnica Superior d'Enginyeria (ETSE) i un de Veterinària. La finalitat d'aquest projecte és desenvolupar diferents CAVI com a eina d'aprenentatge i d'avaluació de l'estudiant. En aquest desenvolupament, els instruments que s'han dissenyat han estat: un qüestionari inicial, sobre experiències prèvies dels estudiants amb l'ús de carpetes d'Ap; els índexs de les respectives carpetes d'ap; un qüestionari final, sobre les percepcions, opinions i valoracions dels estudiants. El conjunt d'actuacions d'aquest treball està sent un procés emergent, progressiu i flexible, fruit de la interacció entre la teoria construïda i la pràctica observada i analitzada al llarg del curs. El diàleg permanent entre l'una i l'altra ens està guiant la presa de decisions i la reconstrucció constant i permanent del procés de cadascuna de les assignatures que s'han desenvolupat dins el marc d'aquesta innovació. Actualment, estem en l'anàlisi de totes les dades per comprovar si l'ús de les CAVI com a eina d'avaluació ha millorat alguns dels aspectes plantejats a l'inici del projecte (l'aprenentatge autònom, la comunicació i participació, la gestió del treball i el control del temps, el treball cooperatiu, l'autoregulació, la reflexió crítica, la relació entre coneix., l'assoliment de competències d'alt nivell, l'ús adequat de les TIC, l'organització i estructuració de la informació rebuda i del coneixement construït...).This communication results from a teaching innovation project, in which professors from different fields of knowledge in the UAB (Barcelona Autonomous University), share their interest in electronic learning portfolios within Higher Education, also called student's e-portfolio. Among these professors, there are three teachers from the Faculty of Education, one from the Superior Technical School of Engineers and another one from the School of Veterinary Medicine. The aim of this project is to develop different electronic learning portfolios (CAVI) as a tool for students' learning and assessment. Throughout this process, the tools being designed have been the following: a) the initial questionnaire (about students' previous experiences in portfolio's usage), b) the indexes of the different portfolios according to the subject matter and, c) the final questionnaire (about general perceptions, opinions and students' suggestions). The whole implementation of this work is gradually taking place and it is continuous, flexible and results from the interaction of the constructed theory and the observed practice, which we analyse throughout the whole academic year. Thus, the permanent dialogue between these two essential items (theory and practice) is guiding us into taking decisions and continuously reconstructing the process each and every of the subjects involved in this innovation project undergoes. Nowadays, we are analysing all the data collected during our experimentation to check whether the use of e-learning portfolios as an assessment tool has improved some of the aspects considered at the beginning of the project (autonomous learning, communication and participation of students/teachers, work management, time control, cooperative work, selfassessment, critical thinking, high level competences accomplishment, proper use of CIT (Communication and Information Technology), organization and structuring of the received information and the constructed knowledge, etc.)

Analyses of the Impact of Soil Conditions and Soil Degradation on Vegetation Vitality and Crop Productivity Based on Airborne Hyperspectral VNIR–SWIR–TIR Data in a Semi-Arid Rainfed Agricultural Area (Camarena, Central Spain)

Soils are an essential factor contributing to the agricultural production of rainfed crops such as barley and triticale cereals. Changing environmental conditions and inadequate land management are endangering soil quality and productivity and, in turn, crop quality and productivity are affected. Advances in hyperspectral remote sensing are of great use for the spatial characterization and monitoring of the soil degradation status, as well as its impact on crop growth and agricultural productivity. In this study, hyperspectral airborne data covering the visible, near-infrared, short-wave infrared, and thermal infrared (VNIR–SWIR–TIR, 0.4–12 µm) were acquired in a Mediterranean agricultural area of central Spain and used to analyze the spatial differences in vegetation vitality and grain yield in relation to the soil degradation status. Specifically, leaf area index (LAI), crop water stress index (CWSI), and the biomass of the crop yield are derived from the remote sensing data and discussed regarding their spatial differences and relationship to a classification of erosion and accumulation stages (SEAS) based on previous remote sensing analyses during bare soil conditions. LAI and harvested crop biomass yield could be well estimated by PLS regression based on the hyperspectral and in situ reference data (R2 of 0.83, r of 0.91, and an RMSE of 0.2 m2 m−2 for LAI and an R2 of 0.85, r of 0.92, and an RMSE of 0.48 t ha−1 for grain yield). In addition, the soil erosion and accumulation stages (SEAS) were successfully predicted based on the canopy spectral signal of vegetated crop fields using a random forest machine learning approach. Overall accuracy was achieved above 71% by combining the VNIR–SWIR–TIR canopy reflectance and emissivity of the growing season with topographic information after reducing the redundancy in the spectral dataset. The results show that the estimated crop traits are spatially related to the soil’s degradation status, with shallow and highly eroded soils, as well as sandy accumulation zones being associated with areas of low LAI, crop yield, and high crop water stress. Overall, the results of this study illustrate the enormous potential of imaging spectroscopy for a combined analysis of the plant-soil system in the frame of land and soil degradation monitoring

Is Deep Sea Cold Water Corals distribution constrained by CO2 distinct signatures?

conferenceObjectThe MEDWAVESThe MEDWAVES (MEDiterranean out flow WAter and Vulnerable EcosystemS) cruise was developed in the framework of the ATLAS project, with the main objective of determining areas under the influence of the Mediterranean Overflow Water within the Mediterranean and Atlantic areas. MEDWAVES cruise (LEG 1: Cadiz – Punta Delgada and LEG 2: Punta Delgada – Málaga) was completed between September-October 2016 on board the Spanish R/V Sarmiento de Gamboa. Within the specific aim of evaluating the biogeochemichal role of the Mediterranean Water, over and around the Formigas, Ormonde and Seco de los Olivos seamounts, and the Gazul Mud volcano, some CO2 system variables were measured on board (pH, total alkalinity and carbonate ion concentration) together with dissolved oxygen samples. The chemistry of the CO2 in the Mediterranean Sea is very particular, characterised by warm, salty and high alkalinity waters [1]. The Mediterranean Water goes into the Atlantic Ocean through the strait of Gibraltar, being clearly identified as the most saline water of the water column located at approximately 1000 dbar [2]. Apart from the water mass characteristic, other properties and organism characteristics of the Mediterranean Sea are spilt into the Atlantic. According to the objectives of MEDWAVES cruise and taking into account the fine scale sampling made over the 400m above the bottom, we will characterise the CO2 system of the four different areas, trying to distinguish the signature of the Mediterranean Water in each seamount. The presence of depth cold water coral in those seamounts is poorly known and we would like to connect those of Mediterranean Sea with those of the continental shelf of Portugal, the Azores and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge with the CO2 variables. Hence, a second step will be to evaluate the connexion between the cold water corals and the CO2 system

Propuestas y sugerencias para un proyecto docente de un módulo de fundamentos matemáticos: hacia la integración de las ingenierías técnicas en el marco del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior

Aunque aún falta precisar el significado, cometido e instrumentación de la propuesta de 60 créditos ECTS comunes a los títulos de cada una de las Ramas de conocimiento establecidas, estamos convencidos de que materias básicas del área de Matemática Aplicada estarán presentes en todos los planes de estudios de la Rama de Ingeniería y Arquitectura. El objetivo de esta comunicación es presentar propuestas concretas para insertar en proyectos docentes de módulos de Fundamentos Matemáticos, diseñadas en el ámbito específico de las escuelas de Ingeniería Técnica Agrícola y de Ingeniería Técnica Industrial de Barcelona (Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña), que podrán ser implementadas en las correspondientes titulaciones de grado enmarcadas en el EEES. A partir de la experiencia docente acumulada en las mencionadas escuelas, hemos articulado propuestas específicas que permitirán contextualizar de forma conveniente contenidos básicos comunes para estos módulos en el EEES, facilitando distintas configuraciones para las competencias específicas. Estas sugerencias combinan diferentes metodologías docentes y alternan distintos tipos de actividades para favorecer el desarrollo de competencias en la resolución de problemas. Problemas que en esta presentación se centrarán en el contenido “Optimización”, proponiendo actividades formativas con sus créditos ECTS y su relación con las competencias que debe adquirir un estudiante en los estudios de estas escuelas universitarias

Ecological factors driving avian influenza virus dynamics in Spanish wetland ecosystems

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.-- et al.Studies exploring the ecological interactions between avian influenza viruses (AIV), natural hosts and the environment are scarce. Most work has focused on viral survival and transmission under laboratory conditions and through mathematical modelling. However, more integrated studies performed under field conditions are required to validate these results. In this study, we combined information on bird community, environmental factors and viral epidemiology to assess the contribution of biotic and abiotic factors in the occurrence of low pathogenic AIV in Spanish wetlands. For that purpose, seven locations in five different wetlands were studied during two years (2007-2009), including seven sampling visits by location. In each survey, fresh faeces (n = 4578) of wild birds and water samples were collected for viral detection. Also, the vegetation structure, water physical properties of wetlands, climatic conditions and wild bird community composition were determined. An overall AIV prevalence of 1.7%±0.4 was detected in faecal samples with important fluctuations among seasons and locations. Twenty-six AIV were isolated from the 78 RRT-PCR positive samples and eight different haemagglutinines and five neuraminidases were identified, being the combination H3N8 the most frequent. Variation partitioning procedures identified the combination of space and time variables as the most important pure factor - independently to other factors - explaining the variation in AIV prevalence (36.8%), followed by meteorological factor (21.5%) and wild bird community composition/vegetation structure (21.1%). These results contribute to the understanding of AIV ecological drivers in Spanish ecosystems and provide useful guidelines for AIV risk assessment identifying potential hotspots of AIV activity.This work was financially supported by INIA (Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria), project FAU2006-00019-C03-00 and by Department of Environment, Territorial Planning, Agriculture and Fisheries of the Basque Government. P. Acevedo was supported by a Beatriu de Pinós fellowship funded by Comissionat per a Universitats i Recerca del Departament d'Innovació, Universitats i Empresa, of the Generalitat de Catalunya and the COFUND Programme-Marie Curie Actions under 7th Marc Programme of the European Community.Peer Reviewe