19 research outputs found

    Electromagnetic induction as a basis for soil salinity monitoring within a Mediterranean irrigation district

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    28 Pag., 4 Tabl., 9 Fig. The definitive version is available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00221694Soil salinity encroachment is an increasing concern in many irrigated lands, because of the undesirable effects of soluble salts on agricultural production and on water quality. From this point of view, the design and management of irrigation districts can be evaluated by monitoring the soil salinity. There are few cases in the world where comparisons can be undertaken from ‘historic’ data sets for extents other than individual plots. We demonstrate a monitoring procedure using electromagnetic induction (EMI) survey in an irrigated district in Spain. This district is the only one having an established soil salinity baseline. The EMI data acquired at the same plots were converted to soil electrical conductivity by calibrating with augered soil samples. The presented calibrations improve the baseline for future comparisons and for the treatment and understanding of new acquisitions of field data in next surveys. A shortcoming inherent to destructive soil sampling is its potential for biasing effects on long-term monitoring of soil salinity by means of GPS or other means of accurate localization and relocalization of soil sampling, the herein called “localization paradox”, rarely treated in scientific papers. The localization paradox is relevant for any variable soil property requiring repeated sampling. This issue is discussed, and a way for its overcoming by using EMI readings displaced from the augering is presented. EMI needs calibration with a reduced number of soil samples analyzed in the lab. The adoption of our data treatment procedures will facilitate soil salinity monitoring.This article was completed thanks to the funds of the Spanish projects GALC-006-2008, PIE-CSIC 200840I246, and AGL2009-08931/AGR.Peer reviewe

    Electromagnetic induction as a basis for soil salinity monitoring within a Mediterranean irrigation district

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    28 Pag., 4 Tabl., 9 Fig. The definitive version is available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00221694Soil salinity encroachment is an increasing concern in many irrigated lands, because of the undesirable effects of soluble salts on agricultural production and on water quality. From this point of view, the design and management of irrigation districts can be evaluated by monitoring the soil salinity. There are few cases in the world where comparisons can be undertaken from ‘historic’ data sets for extents other than individual plots. We demonstrate a monitoring procedure using electromagnetic induction (EMI) survey in an irrigated district in Spain. This district is the only one having an established soil salinity baseline. The EMI data acquired at the same plots were converted to soil electrical conductivity by calibrating with augered soil samples. The presented calibrations improve the baseline for future comparisons and for the treatment and understanding of new acquisitions of field data in next surveys. A shortcoming inherent to destructive soil sampling is its potential for biasing effects on long-term monitoring of soil salinity by means of GPS or other means of accurate localization and relocalization of soil sampling, the herein called “localization paradox”, rarely treated in scientific papers. The localization paradox is relevant for any variable soil property requiring repeated sampling. This issue is discussed, and a way for its overcoming by using EMI readings displaced from the augering is presented. EMI needs calibration with a reduced number of soil samples analyzed in the lab. The adoption of our data treatment procedures will facilitate soil salinity monitoring.This article was completed thanks to the funds of the Spanish projects GALC-006-2008, PIE-CSIC 200840I246, and AGL2009-08931/AGR.Peer reviewe

    L' Aprenentatge basat en problemes a través de casos clínics simulats. Una proposta metodològica de disseny i avaluació docent

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    RESUM Les exigències actuals de la professió de d’infermeria requereixen que la docència vagi orientada a interrelacionar els diferents rols a desenvolupar enla pràctica diària, per adquirir experiència en l’aprenentatge i així augmentar la qualitat de les cures d’infermeria. Per assolir aquest objectiu és important l’aprenentatge basat enproblemes. Aquest pretén en primer lloc que els estudiants aprenguin allò que permet desenvolupar-se enla vida professional de la manera més natural possible a partir d’una idea clara i profunda de l’evidència sobre la que s’ha d’actuar. Amb aquesta finalitat es vandissenyar casos clínics amb uns objectius que requerien la integració de coneixements, actituds i valors, en diferents fases a desenvolupar en un període de temps predeterminat. També ens vam proposar una estratègia docent que permetés a l’estudiant incorporar el coneixement científic que dóna suport a la pràctica assistencial per aproximar teoria i pràctica. Es pretén que els estudiants busquin una resposta basada en la millor evidència científica disponible, per prendre una decisió respecte a les cures del pacient. Els objectius de l’estudi són: Avaluar globalment l’aprenentatge basat en la simulació de casos Avaluar com els estudiants valoren la integració del model d’infermeria i del procés d’atenció en l’aprenentatge basat en la simulació de casos. Valorar les sensacions percebudes per l’estudiant durant la simulació del cas. Valorar l’actitud d el’estudiant en relació a la incorporació de l’evidència científica per una millora en la pràctica clínica. Avaluar el grau de dificultat manifestat per l’estudiant en relació al procés de documentació. Avaluar la idonietat de l’argumentació i la decisió de l’estudiant a la pregunta formulada en el cas clínic. Metodologia: L’assignatura d’Infermeria Medicoquirúrgica. Adult I del Departament d’Infermeria de la Universitat de Vic, va iniciar una experiència d’aprenentatge basat en la resolució de problemes, amb estudiants de 2on curs. Les professores responsables dels seminaris van realitzar una avaluació de l’experiència a través d’una enquesta. Aquesta es responia al cap d’un mes de la simulació al laboratori, quan es contrastaven els resultats obtinguts en aquesta entre professores i estudiants després de visualitzar la gravació feta durant el mateix. En el context del seminari de simulació de casos, es va introduir una pregunta/problema, a partir de la que els estudiants, en grup, havien de documentar-se amb el suport d’una guia. Per valorar l’actitud davant aquesta pregunta/problema es va dissenyar un qustionari tipus Likert. L’avaluació del grau de dificultat s’ha registrat a través d’unes escales de puntuació. Per a l’avaluació de la decisió presa, es van valorar les síntesis resum entregades en els treballs escrits pels diferents grups. Resultats: La realització de la simulació en el laboratori va ser avaluada per un alt percentatge d’estudiants (68,8%) amb puntuacions entre 6 i 8 mentre que un 26,6% la van situar en tre 9 i 10, només un 4,7 % la van puntuar amb 5. La integració del model d’infermeria va ser valorada pel 86% amb una puntuació entre 7 i 10. La valoració global de la simulació va ser qualificada pels estudiants amb una puntuació de 8 (34,4%) seguida d’un 28,1% amb una consideració de 7. Un 7,2% van puntuar entre 9 i 10. El 93,3% van assegurar que conèixer les fonts documentals els serviria per millorar l’assistència, el 86,7% esperen obtenir arguments sòlids respecte les seves desicions si la documentació consultada és de qualitat. Un 77,8% dels estudiants consideren estar més satisfets al saber incorporar la presa de decisions basada en evidències. Respecte el grau de dificultat en el procés de documentació la dificultat més gran la presenten en com buscar en les bases de dades de referències bibliogràfiques. Conclusions: L’aprenentatge dels estudiants a través de la simulació de casos és una estratègia vàlida que l’estudiant valora positivament al mateix temps que permet desenvolupar habilitats per a la pràctica professional. L’estratègia docent dissenyada per integrar les evidències en la presa de decisions es considera positiva, no obstant, després d’analitzar els resultats, s’han de modificar alguns aspectes per a la seva millora; tutoritzar per a millorar el procés de documentació i incidir més en la crítica i reflexió, de manera que les troballes de la investigació siguin canalitzades cap a la pràctica.ABSTRACT To be able to answer the present demands of the nursing profession, the teaching must interrelate the different roles that are developed in daily practice, gaining experience in the learning process to be able to improve the quality in nursing care. To achieve this goal, problem based learning is important. It is intended that the students will be able to manage themselves in their professional life in the most natural way, departing from a clear and deep idea of evidence based practice. For this purpose, clinical cases were designed with goals that made necessary the integration of knowledge, aptitudes and values, with different stages to be developed in a predetermined time. Also we designed a teaching strategy to allow the student to incorporate the scientific knowledge supporting the care teaching practice, to approximate theory and practice. It is intended that the students will look for an answer based on the best scientific evidence available, to take a decision regarding patient care. The goals of the study are: - To holistically evaluate learning based on the simulation of cases. - To evaluate how the students value the integration of the nursing model with the care process in the learning based on the simulation of cases. - To evaluate the sensations as perceived by the students during the simulation process. - To evaluate the students’ attitude in relation with the incorporation of the scientific evidence to improve clinical practice. - To evaluate the degree of difficulty manifested by the student in relation with the documentation process. - To evaluate the suitability of the argumentation and the student’s decision to the question formulated in the clinical case. Methodology: the subject of Medical-chirurgic nursing. Adult 1 from the Nursing Department of the Universitat de Vic initiated a learning experience based on problem solving, with 2nd year students. The lecturers responsible for the seminars developed the evaluation of the experience via survey. This survey was answered a month after the simulation in the laboratory, when the results obtained in this laboratory were contrasted between the students and the teachers, after visualizing the recording developed during the simulation. In the context of the seminar on case simulations of cases, a question/problem was introduced. Departing from this, the students, in group, had to document themselves with the support of a guide. To evaluate the attitude in front of the question/problem a type Likert questionnaire was designed. The evaluation of the degree of difficulty was registered through the evaluation scales. To evaluate the decision taken, the abstracts developed by the 13 practical groups in their essays were evaluated. Results: the development of the simulation at the laboratory was evaluated with a high degree of the students (68,8%) with a scoring between 6 and 8, while a 26,6% evaluated it between 9 and 10. Just 4,7% of the students evaluated it with a 5. The integration of the Nursing model was evaluated by 86% of the students between 7 and 10. The global evaluation of the simulation was evaluated by the students with a score of 8 (34,4%), followed by the score of 7 (28,1%). 7,2% scored it 9 to 10. 93,3% assured they knew the literature that would help them to improve their assistance 86,7% are expecting to achieve solid arguments in relation with their decisions if the consulted documentation has quality. 77,8% of the students consider to be more satisfied as they know how to incorporate the evidence based on practice. Regarding to the degree of difficulty in the documentation process, the biggest is how to search in the literature reference data bases. Conclusions: learning through the simulation of cases is a validated strategy that the student values positively, while it allows to develop skills for professional practice. The teaching strategy to integrate the evidences in the decision making is considered positive, but, after analysing the results, some aspects must be modified to improve it, to further assess the documentation process and to further affect the criticism and the reflection, so the research findings can be applied in practice.RESUMEN Las exigencias actuales de la profesión de Enfermería requieren que la docencia vaya encaminada a interrelacionar los distintos roles a desarrollar en la práctica diaria, para adquirir experiencia en el aprendizaje, y así aumentar la calidad de los cuidados de enfermería. Para alcanzar este objetivo es importante el aprendizaje basado en problemas. Éste pretende en primer lugar que los estudiantes aprendan aquello que permite desenvolverse en la vida profesional de la manera más natural posible a partir de una idea clara y profunda de la evidencia sobre la que se debe actuar. A este efecto se diseñaron casos clínicos con unos objetivos que requerían la integración de conocimientos, aptitudes y valores, con distintas fases a desarrollar en un período de tiempo predeterminado. También nos propusimos diseñar una estrategia docente que permita al alumno incorporar el conocimiento científico que da soporte a la práctica asistencial para aproximar teoría y práctica. Se pretende que los alumnos busquen una respuesta basada en la mejor evidencia científica disponible, para tomar una decisión respecto al cuidado del paciente. Los objetivos del estudio son: · Evaluar globalmente el aprendizaje basado en la simulación de casos. · Evaluar como los estudiantes valoran la integración del modelo de enfermería y del proceso de atención en el aprendizaje basado en la simulación de casos. · Valorar las sensaciones percibidas por el estudiante durante la simulación del caso. · Valorar la actitud del alumno en relación a la incorporación de la evidencia científica para una mejora en la práctica clínica. · Evaluar el grado de dificultad manifestado por el estudiante en relación al proceso de documentación. · Evaluar la idoniedad de la argumentación y la decisión del alumno a la pregunta formulada en el caso clínico. Metodologia:La asignatura de Enfermería Medico-Quirúrgica. Adulto I del Departamento de Enfermería de la Universitat de Vic, inició una experiencia de aprendizaje basado en la resolución de problemas, con alumnos de segundo curso. Las profesoras responsables de los seminarios realizaron una evaluación de la experiencia a través de una encuesta. Ésta encuesta se respondía al cabo de un mes de la simulación en el laboratorio, cuando se contrastaban los resultados obtenidos en ésta, entre profesoras y estudiantes después de visualizar la grabación hecha durante el mismo. En el contexto del Seminario de Simulación de Casos, se introdujo una pregunta/problema, a partir de la cual los estudiantes, en grupo, tenian que documentarse con el soporte de una guía Para valorar la actitud ante esta pregunta/problema se diseñó un cuestionario tipo Likert. La evaluación del grado de dificultad se ha registró a través de unas escalas de puntuación. Para la evaluación de la decisión tomada, se valoraron las síntesis resumen entregadas en los trabajos escritos por los 13 grupos de prácticas. Resultados: La realización de la simulación en el laboratorio fue evaluada por un alto porcentaje de estudiantes (68,8%) con puntuaciones entre 6 y 8 mientras que un 26,6% la situaron entre 9 y 10. Solo un 4,7% la puntuaron con 5. La integración del Modelo de enfermería fue valorada por el 86% con una puntuación entre 7 y 10. La valoración global de la simulación fue calificada por los estudiantes con una puntuación de 8 (34,4%) seguida de un 28,1% con una consideración de 7. Un 7,2% puntuaron entre 9 y 10. El 93,3% aseguraron que conocer las fuentes documentales les serviria para mejorar la asistencia, el 86,7% esperando obtener argumentos sólidos respecto sus decisiones si la documentación consultada es de calidad. Un 77,8% de los alumnos consideran estar más satisfechos al saber incorporar la toma de decisiones basada en evidencias. Respecto al grado de dificultad en el proceso de documentación presentan la mayor dificultad en cómo buscar en las bases de datos de referencias bibliográficas, Conclusiones: El aprendizaje de los estudiantes a través de la simulación de casos es una estrategia válida que el estudiante valora positivamente al mismo tiempo que permite desarrollar habilidades para la práctica profesional. La estrategia docente diseñada para integrar las evidencias en la toma de decisiones se considera positiva, no obstante, después de analizar los resultados, se deben de modificar algunos aspectos para su mejora; tutorizar para mejorar el proceso de documentación y incidir más en la crítica y reflexión, de manera que los hallazgos de la investigación sean canalizados hacia la práctica

    Evaluating the impact of filming on the number of errors committed by nursing students to determine the efficacy of simulated clinical situations

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    Clinic simulation as a training and knowledge method allows people experiment a real event representation with the aim of acquiring knowledge, abilities and aptitudes. The filming of the staging represents a useful tool to review the decisions taken and the actions they did, with the purpose to highlight the strengths, weaknesses and the areas for improvement. The article describes a study carried out by a group of students in second course of nursing, and it tries to evaluate if there is any influence if somebody is filming you during the clinic simulation, does it make you do more errors or not?Peer Reviewe

    Lapsuuden kiintymyssuhteiden vaikutukset myöhemmin elämässä : Kirjallisuuskatsaus

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    Tämä on kirjallisuuskatsaus, jossa selvitettiin lapsuuden kiintymyssuhteiden merkityksiä myöhemmin elämässä. Kiintymyssuhde lähtee muodostumaan lapsen ja hoivaajan välille heti syntymästä alkaen vuorovaikutuksen pohjalta. Turvallisessa kiintymyssuhteessa lapsen tarpeisiin ja hätään vastataan johdonmukaisesti ja turvallisesti. Turvattomassa kiintymyssuhteessa ja sen eri muodoissa lapselle ei kyetä luomaan turvallisuuden tunnetta ja hoivaajan vastaaminen lapsen tunteisiin on ristiriitaista. Lapsuuden kiintymyssuhteiden merkitykset myöhemmin elämässä toimi kirjallisuuskatsauksen tutkimuskysymyksenä. Kirjallisuuskatsaukseen valikoitui 16 artikkelia, jotka vastasivat tutkimuskysymykseen ja läpäisivät sisäänottokriteerit. Tutkimuksista luokiteltiin tulokset fyysisiin, psyykkisiin ja sosiaalisiin vaikutuksiin ja turvalliseen ja turvattomaan kiintymyssuhteeseen. Fyysisiä vaikutuksia oli paljon. Useissa tutkimuksissa kävi ilmi turvattoman kiintymyssuhteen vaikutus altistavana tekijänä lapsuusiän lihavuuteen ja fyysisiin sairauksiin. Uniongelmien ja kiintymyssuhteiden välillä yhteyttä ei havaittu. Hermostollisesti eroavia vaikutuksia turvallisessa ja turvattomassa kiintymyssuhteessa ilmeni aikuisuudessa asti. Turvattomassa kiintymyssuhteessa ilmeni enemmän fyysisiä oireita migreenissä sekä lisääntyneitä masennusoireita ja itsemurha-ajatuksia. Sosiaalisista vaikutuksista ainoaksi alaluokaksi valikoituivat sosiaaliset taidot. Turvaton kiintymyssuhde oli selvä riski huonompiin sosiaalisiin taitoihin myöhemmin elämässä. Jatkotutkimusehdotuksena on tarkempi tutkimus kiintymyssuhteiden ja mielenterveyden, lihavuuden tai syömishäiriön välisestä yhteydestä.The thesis was a literature review on the effects of childhood attachment relationships on later life. Attachment between a child and a caretaker begins to form right after the birth. In a secure attachment relationship, the needs of a child are met consistently and in a safe manner. In an insecure attachment relationship, and in its various forms, the needs are responded to in a conflicting fashion, thus generating a feeling of insecurity. With the help of a research question the effects of childhood attachments on later life were examined. A total of sixteen research articles on childhood attachment met the se-lection criteria for the thesis. The themes of the articles were categorized into physical, mental and social effects. Physical effects were abundant. Many studies revealed that insecure attachment led to childhood and adolescence obesity, physical illnesses and other disorders. However, no connection between insecure attachment and sleeping disorders was recognized. The security and insecurity of the attachment were found to be associated with differ-ences in the nervous system in adulthood. Moreover, there was a connection between childhood insecurity and physical symptoms in migraines. Depression and suicide-ideas were the most important mental effects linked with an insecure attachment. Social skills were the only social effect that was reviewed. Insecure attachment appeared to be a risk for poorer social skills. Suggestion for further research could be a study on the connection between attachment and mental health, obesity or eating disorders

    Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

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    Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

    Soil salinity changes over 24 years in a Mediterranean irrigated district

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    The editor final version is available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00167061Soil degradation from salt accumulation, sodication, or both, is a threat or a fact in many irrigated lands. Salinization has often been assessed from changing cropping patterns over time, and often the trends in salinization have not been quantified. Our objective was to identify trends in salinization or desalinization by direct measurements of soil salinity where a consistent methodology was maintained over time. The soils of the Flumen irrigation district (27,500 ha) in Aragón, Spain, were sampled in 1975. The same plots were sampled again in 1985/86 and in 1999. There were 140 sampling points in 1975, and 66 in each of the other two surveys. The mean sampling depth was 103 cm, resulting in 909 soil samples and 8603 analytical determinations. Analytical results for salinity, individual ions, and pH retrieved from the first survey are compared with the two subsequent surveys. The electrical conductivity of the saturated extract (ECe) and the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) of the extract were determined through the soil profiles, allowing us to compare the results from the three surveys. The upper meter of the soil was less saline in 1999 than in 1975. The median ECe of non-saline soils changed only slightly, while in the saline areas the median ECe for comparable soil depths averaged over 1 m was 5.9 dS m-1 in 1975, 3.1 dS m-1 in 1985/86, and 1.9 dS m-1 in 1999. The median of the maximum SAR to the same depth also decreased from 22.0 (mmol/L)0.5, to 15.1 (mmol/L)0.5, and to 10.5 (mmol/L)0.5 for the same three periods. Thus, soil salinity in the upper meter of soil has decreased during the last 24 years.This article is a result of the research project AGL2000-1775-C03-01 funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology, and of several previous projects funded by INIA.Peer reviewe

    Overland water and salt flows in a set of rice paddies

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    The final version is available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03783774Cultivation of paddy rice in semiarid areas of the world faces problems related to water scarcity. This paper aims at characterizing water use in a set of paddies located in the central Ebro basin of Spain using experimentation and computer simulation. A commercial field with six interconnected paddies, with a total area of 5.31 ha, was instrumented to measure discharge and water quality at the inflow and at the runoff outlet. The soil was classified as a Typic Calcixerept, and was characterised by a mild salinity (2.5 dS m 1) and an infiltration rate of 5.8 mm day-1. The evolution of flow depth at all paddies was recorded. Data from the 2002 rice growing season was elaborated using a mass balance approach to estimate the infiltration rate and the evolution of discharge between paddies. Seasonal crop evapotranspiration, estimated with the surface renewal method, was 731 mm (5.1 mm day-1), very similar to that of other summer cereals grown in the area, like corn. The irrigation input was 1,874 mm, deep percolation was 830 mm and surface runoff was 372 mm. Irrigation efficiency was estimated as 41%. The quality of surface runoff water was slightly degraded due to evapoconcentration and to the contact with the soil. During the period 2001-2003, the electrical conductivity of surface runoff water was 54% higher than that of irrigation water. However the runoff water was suitable for irrigation. A mechanistic mass balance model of inter-paddy water flow permitted to conclude that improvements in irrigation efficiency can not be easily obtained in the experimental conditions. Since deep percolation losses more than double surface runoff losses, a reduction in irrigation discharge would not have much room for efficiency improvement. Simulations also showed that rice irrigation performance was not negatively affected by the fluctuating inflow hydrograph. These hydrographs are typical of turnouts located at the tail end of tertiary irrigation ditches. In fact, these are the sites where rice has been historically cultivated in the study area, since local soils are often saline-sodic and can only grow paddy rice taking advantage of the low salinity of the irrigation water. The low infiltration rate characteristic of these saline-sodic soils (an experimental value of 3.2 mm day-1 was obtained) combined with a reduced irrigation discharge resulted in a simulated irrigation efficiency of 60%. Paddy rice irrigation efficiency can attain reasonable values in the local saline-sodic soils, where the infiltration rate is clearly smaller than the average daily rice evapotranspiration.This research was funded by the Plan Nacional de I+D+i of the Government of Spain, through grant AGL2000-1775. Olga Pérez Coveta received a scholarship from the Plan Nacional de Formación de Personal Investigador of the Government of Spain.Peer reviewe
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