Reflexiones sobre el diseño por competencias en el trabajo de campo en Geología

Learning activities outside the classroom in Earth Sciences are considered fundamental to achieve an adequate level of knowledge. New pedagogical perspectives, structured in competency-based activities, provide a useful tool to improve the effectiveness of field geology classes. In this paper, we point out some general educational aspects, and we propose a curriculum design focused on accomplishing the competencies that go with fieldtrips in Geology course

Métodos de reconocimiento del subsuelo

The aim of this workshop is to present the main methods of subsoil studies (namely mechanical and geophysical methods) to the Earth Sciences professorate. These methods frequently involve the use of specific material. The different methods are usually taught in the classroom where there is no real contact between the students and the equipment. Several activities, all of them taking place in surrounding areas of the university campus of Girona, will provide the assistants to the workshop with the opportunity of making measurements with different equipment. These activities will be made in the field so as to contribute to the resolution of a problem which will have been previously proposed. The problems presented are situations, most of them real, when subsoil investigation techniques are usually used. These cases have been employed as teaching-learning strategies with university and second grade students in the area of Girona. Finally, some examples of exercises involving the treatment of data obtained through subsoil investigation techniques are also presented to complement the workshopEl taller tiene como objeto principal facilitar al profesorado de Ciencias de la Tierra el contacto directo con los principales tipos de métodos que se utilizan en el estudio del subsuelo. Éstos comprenden un conjunto de equipos que generalmente son explicados en el aula sin que haya habido un contacto directo con los mismos (los sondeos mecánicos de reconocimiento y los instrumentos geofísicos son los casos más habituales). A través de diversas actividades, ubicadas en el entorno del campus universitario de Girona, los asistentes participan en la realización de las mediciones mediante equipos diversos. Estas actividades se desarrollan en campo con el objeto de contribuir a la resolución de una problemática concreta planteada. Se trata de situaciones, reales en su mayoría, en las cuales suele ser habitual la utilización de métodos de reconocimiento del subsuelo. Los casos presentados han sido utilizados como estrategias de enseñanza-aprendizaje con estudiantes universitarios y de secundaria de nuestro entorno. El taller se complementa con la presentación de varios ejemplos de una tipología de ejercicios que incluyen el tratamiento de datos obtenidos mediante métodos de reconocimiento del subsuel

Nitrate pollution of groundwater; all right…, but nothing else?

Contamination from agricultural sources and, in particular, nitrate pollution, is one of the main concerns in groundwater management. However, this type of pollution entails the entrance of other substances into the aquifer, as well as it may promote other processes. In this study, we deal with hydrochemical and isotopic analysis of groundwater samples from four distinct zones in Catalonia (NE Spain), which include 5 different aquifer types, to investigate the influence of fertilization on the overall hydrochemical composition of groundwater. Results indicate that intense fertilizer application, causing high nitrate pollution in aquifers, also homogenize the contents of the major dissolved ions (i.e.; Cl(-), SO4(2-), Ca(2+), Na(+), K(+), and Mg(2+)). Thus, when groundwater in igneous and sedimentary aquifers is compared, significant differences are observed under natural conditions for Cl(-), Na(+) and Ca(2+) (with p-values ranging from <0.001 to 0.038), and when high nitrate concentrations occur, these differences are reduced (most p-values ranged between 0.054 and 0.978). Moreover, positive linear relationships between nitrate and some ions are found indicating the magnitude of the fertilization impact on groundwater hydrochemistry (with R(2) values of 0.490, 0.609 and 0.470, for SO4(2-), Ca(2+) and Cl(-), respectively). Nevertheless, the increasing concentration of specific ions is not only attributed to agricultural pollution, but to their enhancing effect upon the biogeochemical processes that control water-rock interactions. Such results raise awareness that these processes should be evaluated in advance in order to assess an adequate groundwater resources management.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Clinical consensus recommendations regarding non-invasive respiratory support in the adult patient with acute respiratory failure secondary to SARS-CoV-2 infection

La enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) es una infección del tracto respiratorio causada por un nuevo coronavirus emergente que se reconoció por primera vez en Wuhan, China, en diciembre de 2019. Actualmente la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) ha definido la infección como pandemia y existe una situación de emergencia sanitaria y social para el manejo de esta nueva infección. Mientras que la mayoría de las personas con COVID-19 desarrollan solo una enfermedad leve o no complicada, aproximadamente el 14% desarrollan una enfermedad grave que requiere hospitalización y oxígeno, y el 5% pueden requerir ingreso en una unidad de cuidados intensivos. En casos severos, COVID-19 puede complicarse por el síndrome de dificultad respiratoria aguda (SDRA), sepsis y shock séptico y fracaso multiorgánico. Este documento de consenso se ha preparado sobre directrices basadas en evidencia desarrolladas por un panel multidisciplinario de profesionales médicos de cuatro sociedades científicas españolas (Sociedad Española de Medicina Intensiva y Unidades Coronarias [SEMICYUC], Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica [SEPAR], Sociedad Española de Urgencias y Emergencias [SEMES], Sociedad Española de Anestesiología, Reanimación y Terapéutica del Dolor [SEDAR]) con experiencia en el manejo clínico de pacientes con COVID-19 y otras infecciones virales, incluido el SARS, así como en sepsis y SDRA. El documento proporciona recomendaciones clínicas para el soporte respiratorio no invasivo (ventilación no invasiva, oxigenoterapia de alto flujo con cánula nasal) en cualquier paciente con presentación sospechada o confirmada de COVID-19 con insuficiencia respiratoria aguda. Esta guía de consenso debe servir como base para una atención optimizada y garantizar la mejor posibilidad de supervivencia, así como permitir una comparación fiable de las futuras intervenciones terapéuticas de investigación que formen parte de futuros estudios observacionales o de ensayos clínicos.Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory tract infection caused by a newly emergent coronavirus, that was first recognized in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has defined the infection as a global pandemic and there is a health and social emergency for the management of this new infection. While most people with COVID-19 develop only mild or uncomplicated illness, approximately 14% develop severe disease that requires hospitalization and oxygen support, and 5% require admission to an intensive care unit. In severe cases, COVID-19 can be complicated by the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), sepsis and septic shock, and multiorgan failure. This consensus document has been prepared on evidence-informed guidelines developed by a multidisciplinary panel of health care providers from four Spanish scientific societies (Spanish Society of Intensive Care Medicine [SEMICYUC], Spanish Society of Pulmonologists [SEPAR], Spanish Society of Emergency [SEMES], Spanish Society of Anesthesiology, Reanimation, and Pain [SEDAR]) with experience in the clinical management of patients with COVID-19 and other viral infections, including SARS, as well as sepsis and ARDS. The document provides clinical recommendations for the noninvasive respiratory support (noninvasive ventilation, high flow oxygen therapy with nasal cannula) in any patient with suspected or confirmed presentation of COVID-19 with acute respiratory failure. This consensus guidance should serve as a foundation for optimized supportive care to ensure the best possible chance for survival and to allow for reliable comparison of investigational therapeutic interventions as part of randomized controlled trials

Distribución de radón-222 en el sistema acuifero del Empordà (NE España) : aportaciones al modelo de recarga regional

La concentración radioactiva del isótopo radón-222 en aguas subterráneas es usada habitualmente como trazadores del sistema de flujo. En esta contribución se presentan y discuten los valores de concentración de radon-222 en las aguas subterráneas de la depresión del Emporda con el objetivo de caracterizar los sistemas de recarga.Los datos obtenidos en el Empordà muestran dos conjuntos de formaciones distinguibles por un umbral en la concentración de 222Rn de 15 Bq/L. El agua subterránea muestreada en formaciones sedimentarias de edad paleógena y neógena presentan valores inferiores a 15 Bq/L; mientras que aquellas procedentes de captaciones en materiales cristalinos paleozoicos o en formaciones fluvio-deltaicas cuaternarias pueden alcanzar valores máximos de 34 Bq/L.En este sentido, algunos valores elevados en formaciones cuaternarias en el sector sur se atribuyen a la recarga relacionada con flujos a gran escala cuya circulación está condicionada por las estructuras regionales. Otros, a la naturaleza litológica del área fuente de estas formaciones. El análisis conjunto de la concentración de 222Rn con datos hidroquímicos e isotópicos ha sido indispensable para enmarcar los datos de radón en el contexto hidrogeológico apropiado.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Distribución de radón-222 en el sistema acuifero del Empordà (NE España) : aportaciones al modelo de recarga regional

La concentración radioactiva del isótopo radón-222 en aguas subterráneas es usada habitualmente como trazadores del sistema de flujo. En esta contribución se presentan y discuten los valores de concentración de radon-222 en las aguas subterráneas de la depresión del Emporda con el objetivo de caracterizar los sistemas de recarga.Los datos obtenidos en el Empordà muestran dos conjuntos de formaciones distinguibles por un umbral en la concentración de 222Rn de 15 Bq/L. El agua subterránea muestreada en formaciones sedimentarias de edad paleógena y neógena presentan valores inferiores a 15 Bq/L; mientras que aquellas procedentes de captaciones en materiales cristalinos paleozoicos o en formaciones fluvio-deltaicas cuaternarias pueden alcanzar valores máximos de 34 Bq/L.En este sentido, algunos valores elevados en formaciones cuaternarias en el sector sur se atribuyen a la recarga relacionada con flujos a gran escala cuya circulación está condicionada por las estructuras regionales. Otros, a la naturaleza litológica del área fuente de estas formaciones. El análisis conjunto de la concentración de 222Rn con datos hidroquímicos e isotópicos ha sido indispensable para enmarcar los datos de radón en el contexto hidrogeológico apropiado.Peer Reviewe

Distribución de radón-222 en el sistema acuifero del Empordà (NE España) : aportaciones al modelo de recarga regional

La concentración radioactiva del isótopo radón-222 en aguas subterráneas es usada habitualmente como trazadores del sistema de flujo. En esta contribución se presentan y discuten los valores de concentración de radon-222 en las aguas subterráneas de la depresión del Emporda con el objetivo de caracterizar los sistemas de recarga.Los datos obtenidos en el Empordà muestran dos conjuntos de formaciones distinguibles por un umbral en la concentración de 222Rn de 15 Bq/L. El agua subterránea muestreada en formaciones sedimentarias de edad paleógena y neógena presentan valores inferiores a 15 Bq/L; mientras que aquellas procedentes de captaciones en materiales cristalinos paleozoicos o en formaciones fluvio-deltaicas cuaternarias pueden alcanzar valores máximos de 34 Bq/L.En este sentido, algunos valores elevados en formaciones cuaternarias en el sector sur se atribuyen a la recarga relacionada con flujos a gran escala cuya circulación está condicionada por las estructuras regionales. Otros, a la naturaleza litológica del área fuente de estas formaciones. El análisis conjunto de la concentración de 222Rn con datos hidroquímicos e isotópicos ha sido indispensable para enmarcar los datos de radón en el contexto hidrogeológico apropiado.Peer Reviewe

Photometric Catalogue for Space and Ground Night-Time Remote-Sensing Calibration: RGB Synthetic Photometry from <i>Gaia</i> DR3 Spectrophotometry

Recent works have made strong efforts to produce standardised photometry in RGB bands. For this purpose, we carefully defined the transmissivity curves of RGB bands and defined a set of standard sources using the photometric information present in Gaia EDR3. This work aims not only to significantly increase the number and accuracy of RGB standards but also to provide, for the first time, reliable uncertainty estimates using the BP and RP spectrophotometry published in Gaia DR3 instead of their integrated photometry to predict RGB photometry. Furthermore, this method allows including calibrated sources regardless of how they are affected by extinction, which was a major shortcoming of previous work. The RGB photometry is synthesised from the Gaia BP and RP low-resolution spectra by directly using their set of coefficients multiplied with some basis functions provided in the Gaia catalogue for all sources published in Gaia DR3. The output synthetic magnitudes are compared with the previous catalogue of RGB standards available

RGB photometric calibration of 15 million Gaia stars

Although a catalogue of synthetic RGB magnitudes, providing photometric data for a sample of 1346 bright stars, has been recently published, its usefulness is still limited due to the small number of reference stars available, considering that they are distributed throughout the whole celestial sphere, and the fact that they are restricted to Johnson V < 6.6 mag. This work presents synthetic RGB magnitudes for ∼15 million stars brighter than Gaia G = 18 mag, making use of a calibration between the RGB magnitudes of the reference bright star sample and the corresponding high-quality photometric G, GBP, and GRP magnitudes provided by the Gaia EDR3. The calibration has been restricted to stars exhibiting -0.5 < GBP - GRP < 2.0 mag, and aims to predict RGB magnitudes within an error interval of ±0.1 mag. Since the reference bright star sample is dominated by nearby stars with slightly undersolar metallicity, systematic variations in the predictions are expected, as modelled with the help of stellar atmosphere models. These deviations are constrained to the ±0.1-mag interval when applying the calibration only to stars scarcely affected by interstellar extinction and with metallicity compatible with the median value for the bright star sample. The large number of Gaia sources available in each region of the sky should guarantee high-quality RGB photometric calibrations. © 2021 The Author(s) Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Astronomical Society.The authors acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Programa Estatal de I+D + i Orientada a los Retos de la Sociedad under grant RTI2018-096188B-I00, which is partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), S2018/NMT-4291 (TEC2SPACE-CM), and ACTION, a project funded by the European Union H2020-SwafS-2018-1-824603. The participation of ICCUB researchers was (partially) supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and University (MICIU/FEDER, UE) through grant RTI2018095076-B-C21, and the Institute of Cosmos Sciences University of Barcelona (ICCUB, Unidad de Excelencia 'María de Maeztu') through grant CEX2019-000918-M. SB acknowledges Xunta de Galicia for financial support under grant ED431B 2020/29. The participation of ASdM was (partially) supported by the EMISSI@N project (NERC grant NE/P01156X/1). This work has made use of data from the European Space Agency (ESA) mission Gaia (https://www.cosmos.esa.int/gaia), processed by the Gaia Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC, https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/gaia/dpac/consortium). Funding for the DPAC has been provided by national institutions, in particular the institutions participating in the Gaia Multilateral Agreement.With funding from the Spanish government through the Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence accreditation SEV-2017-0709.Peer reviewe

Pro-apoptotic properties and mitochondrial functionality in platelet-like-particles generated from low Aspirin-incubated Meg-01 cells

Long-term therapy with low Aspirin (ASA) dose is basis to prevent thrombotic acute events. However, the anti-platelet mechanisms of ASA remain not completely known. The aim was to analyze if in vitro exposure of human megakaryocytes to low ASA concentration may alter the apoptotic features of the newly formed platelets. Cultured Meg-01 cells, a human megakaryoblastic cell line, were stimulated to form platelets with 10 nmol/L phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) in the presence and absence of ASA (0.33 mmol/L). Results revealed that platelet-like particles (PLPs) derived from ASA-exposed Meg-01 cells, showed higher content of pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and Bak than PLPs from non-ASA incubated Meg-01 cells. It was accompanied of reduced cytochrome C oxidase activity and higher mitochondrial content of PTEN-induced putative kinase-1 in PLPs from ASA-incubated Meg-01 cells. However, only after calcium ionophore A23187 stimulation, caspase-3 activity, the cytosolic cytochrome C content, and reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential were higher in PLPs from ASA-incubated megakaryocytes than in those from Meg-01 without ASA. Nitric oxide synthase 3 content was higher in PLPs from ASA-exposed Meg-01 cells than in PLPs from non-ASA incubated Meg-01 cells. The L-arginine antagonist, NG-Nitro-L-arginine Methyl Ester, reduced caspase-3 activity in A23187-stimulated PLPs generated from ASA-incubated Meg-01 cells. As conclusions exposure of megakaryocyte to ASA promotes that the newly generated PLPs have, under stimulating condition, higher sensitivity to go into apoptosis than those PLPs generated from Meg-01 cells without ASA. It could be associated with differences in mitochondrial functionality and NO formation