Contribution of agronomy to land management issues - A Comparison of five interdisciplinary PhD theses

An introductory literature review highlights the growing attention within the processes taking place at farming region and landscape scale beside the classical spatial scales at cultivated/experimental plot level. This recent evolution in agronomy finds its origin in newly emerging land management issues. Meanwhile, geography and other disciplines are stressing the need for a greater integration of multifunctional agricultural activities into the decision-making processes at the various levels of land management, such as provinces, municipalities or watersheds. This requires also that studies on farmland management include explicitly the different environmental and social contexts influencing farming activities. In this paper we aim to analyse how recent agronomic oriented research are facing and supporting various land management issues. We have compared five interdisciplinary PhD theses examining their definitions and methods of analysis for: the farming system, the local land management issues at stake, the spatial scale selected for the study, the stakeholders' involvement and the interaction with other disciplines. Common issues which emerged from this comparison are delivery of agro-environmental services, sustainable land management and landscape conservation. Multiple spatial levels were considered, which included at least one administrative unit of policy decision/implementation. Consequently, the explicit (re)definition of some agronomic concepts and methods was needed. Regarding the interdisciplinary framework, the theses have stressed the interactions among agronomy, geography and ecology. All theses aimed at delivering tools for decision-making support, mainly in the form of cartography. Nevertheless the participation of local stakeholders was generally included as a final step; herewith the settings of stakeholders' involvement were various. In conclusion, we discuss how the produced knowledge has enhanced the land management issues in local planning tools. On these bases, we stress finally the issues at stake to strengthen the roles and contributions of agronomic oriented education and research to agricultural land management and development. (Résumé d'auteur

Aproximación al estudio del cementerio Nuestra Señora del Carmen, de la ciudad de Formosa

Fil: Rizzo, Antonia. Laboratorio de Análisis Cerámico, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, UNLPFil: Marotte, Nora Marta. Laboratorio de Análisis Cerámico, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, UNL

L’efficacia della musica a scuola: una rassegna delle evidenze

The Italian school legislation supports the educational use of music from preschool to lower secondary school for the improvement of skills included in the student’s profile at the end of the first cycle of education. In the framework of inclusive education, musical teaching is part of the school’s commitment to promote the development of academic skills, executive functions, self-regulation as well as emotional, affective, and social dimensions. All those elements are needed for improving learning and developing attitudes towards the consideration of the differences. This work presents an umbrella review of the evidence on the effectiveness of educational musical activities for the improvement of cognitive skills, socio-emotional skills, and school performance from pupils attending K-12 as well as the factors that are relevant for improving the quality of music interventions in school. The review includes meta-analyses already conducted on the effectiveness of music and presents the method adopted for searching, selecting, and coding the studies. By reviewing the evidence, it emerges the need to carry out new research in the field of music teaching that should be more rigorous in the method than the ones included in this umbrella review

Postoperative analgesia for laparotomic surgery provided by bilateral single-shot quadratus lumborum block

A special neural block for postoperative analgesi

Contribución al conocimiento de Porosagrotis gypaetina (Guen.) (Lep.:Noctuidae)

p.15-22Este trabajo tiene por finalidad brindar una descripcion detallada de los diferentes estados de desarrollo, asi como de los estadios larvales, de Porosagrotis gypaetina (Guen.) y estimar sus principales parametros biologicos. Se trata de una oruga conocida vulgarmente como gusano pardo que frecuenta cultivos de alfalfa, trebol bianco, maiz y girasol y determinadas malezas. Los caracteres considerados para su identificacion fueron, en el huevo: numero y distribucion de costas; en la larva: pigmentacion, distribucion de manchas y cerdas corporales; en la pupa: tamaño, forma y color y caracteristicas del cremaster; y en el adulto: ubicacion y coloracion de maculas y nervaduras alares. La emergencia de imagos alcanzo su maximo en abril y mayo. El periodo embrionario se completo en 22 a 26 dias. Aproximadamente la mitad de las larvas cumplieron su ciclo en 6 estadios y las restantes en 7; la duracion total del periodo larval fue de 134 a 141 dias, sin considerar la forma prepupal e independientemente del numero de estadios. Las orugas permanecieron como prepupas durante la temporada estival (aproximadamente 161 dias). El estado pupal duro 40 a 57 dias. Las observaciones realizadas permiten expresar que, inediante los caracteres descriptos, es factible reconocer la especie a traves no solo de los adultos, sino de sus estados inmaduros. Posee una sola generacion anual; transcurre el inviemo como larva; el daño tipico de corte lo produce a partir del cuarto estadio larval

Intra-hospital complications in acute traumatic spinal cord injury

Há poucos dados sobre complicações hospitalares em pacientes com LMT aguda. Objetivo: Reportar as características de complicações em pacientes com LMT em um grande centro de trauma. Método: Estudo transversal com 434 pacientes com LMT aguda de 2004 a 2014. Os desfechos foram a frequência e característica das complicações, o tempo de internação (TDI), e fatores associados com seu aumento. Resultados: Incidência de complicações foi 82,2%, sendo as mais frequentes: infecção do trato urinário (ITU)=64,4%, úlcera de pressão (UP)= 50,6% e pneumonia= 23,7%. Pneumonia, intubação, e ser submetido a qualquer cirurgia para UP foram independentemente associados com aumento do TDI. Conclusão: ITUs e UP foram as complicações mais prevalentes, e devem ser melhor estudadas para melhor atenção a LMT. As investigações sobre as complicações na lesão medular traumática devem ser mandatórias nos centros e unidades dedicadas ao tratamento da Lesão Medular.There is scarce data about intra-hospital complications in acute traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI). Objective: To report characteristics of complications in patients with TSCI in a major trauma center. Method: This is a cross-sectional study with 434 patients with acute TSCI from 2004 to 2014. Outcomes were frequency and description of complications, length of hospital stay (LOS), and causes of increased LOS. Results: Patients presented at least 1 complication in 82.2% of the cases: urinary tract infection (UTI) = 64.4%, pressure ulcers (PU) = 50.6%, and pneumonia = 23.7%. Pneumonia, intubation and cases of surgical corrections for PU were independently associated with increased LOS. Conclusion: UTIs and PUs were the most frequent complications. Investigating its causes and consequences is paramount in the care of patients with SCI. Possible reasons for such complications could comprise time, and frequency of repositioning in bed. Investigating intra-hospital complications is paramount in SCI centers

Neurophysiological biomarkers of motor improvement from Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy and Robot-Assisted Therapy in participants with stroke

BackgroundThe mechanism of stroke recovery is related to the reorganization of cerebral activity that can be enhanced by rehabilitation therapy. Two well established treatments are Robot-Assisted Therapy (RT) and Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT), however, it is unknown whether there is a difference in the neuroplastic changes induced by these therapies, and if the modifications are related to motor improvement. Therefore, this study aims to identify neurophysiological biomarkers related to motor improvement of participants with chronic stroke that received RT or CIMT, and to test whether there is a difference in neuronal changes induced by these two therapies.MethodsThis study included participants with chronic stroke that took part in a pilot experiment to compare CIMT vs. RT. Neurophysiological evaluations were performed with electroencephalography (EEG) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), pre and post rehabilitation therapy. Motor function was measured by the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) and Fugl-Meyer Assessment Upper Limb (FMA-UL).ResultsTwenty-seven participants with chronic stroke completed the present study [mean age of 58.8 years (SD ± 13.6), mean time since stroke of 18.2 months (SD ± 9.6)]. We found that changes in motor threshold (MT) and motor evoked potential (MEP) in the lesioned hemisphere have a positive and negative correlation with WMFT improvement, respectively. The absolute change in alpha peak in the unlesioned hemisphere and the absolute change of the alpha ratio (unlesioned/lesioned hemisphere) is negatively correlated with WMFT improvement. The decrease of EEG power ratio (increase in the lesioned hemisphere and decrease in the unlesioned hemisphere) for high alpha bandwidths is correlated with better improvement in WMFT. The variable “type of treatment (RT or CIMT)” was not significant in the models.ConclusionOur results suggest that distinct treatments (RT and CIMT) have similar neuroplastic mechanisms of recovery. Moreover, motor improvements in participants with chronic stroke are related to decreases of cortical excitability in the lesioned hemisphere measured with TMS. Furthermore, the balance of both EEG power and EEG alpha peak frequency in the lesioned hemisphere is related to motor improvement

Progettare un curricolo di classe accessibile e sostenibile per la comprensione del testo tra scuola e Università: Un progetto di ricerca

The Universal Design for Learning framework represents one of the main levers of change to contribute, in the school, to make learning sustainable, inclusive and transformative for all. The article presents a quasi-experimental research project. The project began with the idea that inclusive design represents a starting point of a strategic nature capable of indicating a series of operational possibilities valid in specific learning contexts to characterize them as effective training contexts. Starting from a benchmark model developed by SApIE, the project envisaged both the preparation of a didactic kit for the use of the reciprocal teaching-RT strategy for the development of the comprehension of the written text in third grade primary school classes also attended by students. with special educational needs-SEN, and the realization of a teachers training of the experimental classes, aimed at promoting their skills for the application of RT. The effect sizes obtained by students with typical development and with SEN demonstrate the effectiveness of the program, especially for the latter, whose results show 5 months of gain in learning of the experimental group compared to the control group on reading comprehension ( ES = + 0.38), 6 months on vocabulary (ES = + 0.45) and 7 months on summary +0.56.Il framework Universal Design for Learning rappresenta una delle principali leve di cambiamento per contribuire, nella scuola, a rendere l'apprendimento sostenibile, inclusivo e trasformativo per tutti. L'articolo presenta un progetto di ricerca quasi sperimentale. Il progetto è nato dall’idea che la progettazione inclusiva rappresenti un punto progettuale di partenza di natura strategica in grado da indicare una serie di possibilità operative valide negli specifici contesti di apprendimento per connotarli quali contesti formativi efficaci. A partire da un modello benchmark messo a punto da SApIE, il progetto ha previsto sia la predisposizione di un kit didattico di impiego della strategia del reciprocal teaching-RT per lo sviluppo della comprensione del testo scritto in classi terze di scuola primaria frequentate anche da allievi con bisogni educativi speciali-SEN, sia la realizzazione di una formazione degli insegnanti delle classi sperimentali, finalizzato a promuovere le loro competenze per l’applicazione del RT. Gli effect size ottenuti dagli allievi a sviluppo tipico e con SEN dimostrano l’efficacia del programma, in particolar  modo, per questi ultimi, i cui risultati evidenziano 5 mesi di guadagno negli apprendimenti del gruppo sperimentale rispetto al gruppo di controllo sulla comprensione del testo (ES=+0.38), 6 mesi sul vocabolario (ES=+0.45 ) e 7 mesi sul riassunto +0.56

Rehabilitation of patients after COVID-19 recovery: An experience at the Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Institute and Lucy Montoro Rehabilitation Institute

OBJECTIVES: As patients recovering from the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) present with physical, respiratory, cognitive, nutritional, and swallowing-related impairments and mental health complications, their rehabilitation needs are complex. This study aimed to describe the demographic, clinical, and functional status after the discharge of COVID-19 survivors who underwent intensive multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation at the Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Institute of the University of Sao Paulo Medical School General Hospital and Lucy Montoro Rehabilitation Institute. We determined the most important factors related to the length of inpatient rehabilitation treatment and present the functional outcomes. METHODS: This was a retrospective study based on electronic medical records. In addition to the severity of COVID-19 and length of hospital stay for the management of COVID-19 and comorbidities, we collected sociodemographic data including age, sex, height, and weight. Functional assessments were performed using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM); Short Physical Performance Battery; Montreal Cognitive Assessment; Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale; Revised Impact of Events Scale; bioelectrical impedance; Functional Oral Intake Scale; oropharyngeal dysphagia classification; and nutritional assessment. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in FIM before and after inpatient rehabilitation treatment (p<0.0001). Muscle strength and walking capacity were significantly improved (p<0.01). The most important factors related to the length of inpatient rehabilitation treatment were improvement in FIM scores (Spearman's r=0.71) and gain in lean mass (Spearman's r=0.79). CONCLUSIONS: Rehabilitation of patients after COVID-19 recovery improves their functional status and should be considered in the post-acute phase for selected patients with COVID-19

Wireless link emulation in OneLab

This paper presents a work in progress to add emulation of IEEE 802.11 wireless links to the OneLab platform - a PlanetLab derivative. As for other emulators, our goal is to enable researchers to run repeatable experiments under controlled network conditions, and overcome limitations due to unavailable or expensive hardware. Our emulation model aims at reproducing the effects of wireless media on live traffic, but at the packet level and with a timing resolution in the order of 100μs or higher, comparable with the resolution of events visible to appli- cation processes. To this purpose, we define a simplified, packet level model of the wireless link, and extend the pop- ular dummynet emulator to support this model. In the paper we describe the overall architecture of our emulation extension, discuss the wireless model used, and illustrate the user- and system- interfaces to configure and access the emulated environment