The european higher education area at work: Lights and shadows defining continuous assessment

The aim of this paper is to analyse how learning assessment, particularly the Continuous Assessment system, has been defined in the Public Administration and Management Diploma Course of the University of Barcelona (Spain). This course was a pioneering experiment at this university in implementing the guidelines of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), and thus represents a good case study for verifying whether one of the cornerstones of the EHEA has been accomplished with success. Using data obtained from the Teaching Plans elaborated by the lecturers of each subject, we are able to establish that the CA system has been progressively accepted to such an extent that it is now the assessment formula used by practically all of the lecturers, conforming in this way to the protocols laid down by the Faculty of Law in which this diploma course is taught. Nevertheless, we find that high dispersion exists in how Continuous Assessment is actually defined. Indeed, it seems that there is no unified view of how Continuous Assessment should be performed. This dispersion, however, seems to diminish over time and raises some questions about the advisability of agreement on criteria, considering the potential which CA has as a pedagogical tool. Moreover, we find that the Unique Assessment system, which students may also apply for, is an option chosen only by a minority, with lecturers usually defining it as merely a theoretical and/or practical test, of little innovation in relation to traditional tests.

Diagnostic contribution of cardiac magnetic resonance in patients with acute coronary syndrome and culprit-free angiograms.

BACKGROUND: In spite of robust knowledge about underlying ischemic myocardial damage, acute coronary syndromes (ACS) with culprit-free angiograms raise diagnostic concerns. The present study aimed to evaluate the additional value of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) over commonly available non-CMR standard tests, for the differentiation of myocardial injury in patients with ACS and non-obstructed coronary arteries. MATERIAL/METHODS: Patients with ACS, elevated hs-TnT, and a culprit-free angiogram were prospectively enrolled into the study between January 2009 and July 2013. After initial evaluation with standard tests (ECG, echocardiography, hs-TnT) and provisional exclusion of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in coronary angiogram, patients were referred for CMR with the suspicion of myocarditis or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC). According to the result of CMR, patients were reclassified as having myocarditis, AMI, TTC, or non-injured myocardium as assessed by late gadolinium enhancement. RESULTS: Out of 5110 patients admitted with ACS, 75 had normal coronary angiograms and entered the study; 69 of them (92%) were suspected for myocarditis and 6 (8%) for TTC. After CMR, 49 patients were finally diagnosed with myocarditis (65%), 3 with TTC (4%), 7 with AMI (9%), and 16 (21%) with non-injured myocardium. The provisional diagnosis was changed or excluded in 23 patients (31%), with a 9% rate of unrecognized AMI. CONCLUSIONS: The study results suggest that the evaluation of patients with ACS and culprit-free angiogram should be complemented by a CMR examination, if available, because the initial work-up with non-CMR tests leads to a significant proportion of misdiagnosed AMI.

INTERMED predicts non-return to work in an occupational rehabilitation setting for individuals with orthopaedic trauma-part 2

Introduction.- The model presented in part I (19 predictors) had good predictive values for non-return to work 2 years after vocational rehabilitation for orthopaedic trauma. However, the number of predictors is high for the detection of patients at risk in a clinic. For example, the INTERMED for itself consists of 20 questions and needs 20 minutes to be filled in. For this reason, the aim of this study was to compare the predictive value of different models for the prediction of non-return to work.Patients and methods.- In this longitudinal prospective study, the cohort consisted of 2156 included inpatients with orthopaedic trauma attending a rehabilitation hospital after a work, traffic, sport or leisure related injury. Two years after discharge, 1502 patients returned a questionnaire regarding return to work. We compared the area under the receiver-operator-characteristics curve (ROC) between different models: INTERMED total score, the 4 partial INTERMED scores, the items of the most predictive partial score; with or without confounders.Results.- The ROC for the total score of the INTERMED plus the five confounders of the of the part one (qualified work, speaking French, lesion of upper extremity, education and age) was 0.72. The sole partial INTERMED score to predict return to work was the social sub score. The ROC for the five items of the latter sub score of the INTERMED was 0.69. The ROC for the five items of the social subscale of the INTERMED combined with five predictors was 0.73. This was significantly better than the use of only the five items from INTERMED alone (delta 0.034; 95% CI 0.017 to .050). The model presented in part I (INTERMED total score plus 18 predictors) was not significantly better than the five items INTERMED social score plus five confounders.Discussion.- The use of a model with ten variables (INTERMED social five items plus five confounders) has good predictive value to detect patients not returning to work after vocational rehabilitation after orthopaedic trauma. The parsimony of this model facilitates its use in a clinic for the detection of patients at risk.

The influence of work context on demand for master's studies: a comparative analysisi between Brasil and Spain

The communication presents the results of an investigation of exploratory and comparative character which objective is to analyze the influence of the actual labour situation into the demand of official master studies in the field of education. The study has been developed in two countries with a very different labour situation: Brasil, country of economic expansion and Spain, in recession due to the actual economic crisis. In that sense, the study provides data for deep thinking about the influence of the constriction or expansion of employment on the behaviour and demand of the students who access master studies and on how the previous formative and labour trajectory affects their expectations, demands and future projects. The working methodology is qualitative and the strategy for data collection the “focus group”. As a first approach, two groups of discussion have been formed with master students. A first one with students from Universidad de Barcelona- España and another one with members of Universidade do Vale do Itajaí- Brasil. Then, we constituted a mixed group of discussion in order to analyze differences and similarities.

¿Y después del trabajo, qué? Más allá de la integración laboral de las personas con discapacidad = What happens after work? Going further than labour integration for disabled people

La actividad profesional es fundamental en la vida de cualquier persona y en el caso de las que padecen una discapacidad tiene una gran importancia para contribuir a configurar su identidad adulta. En este sentido, la finalidad del artículo es valorar la importancia del trabajo en los procesos de participación social y de calidad de vida de las personas con discapacidad. Por ello, en el artículo se pone de manifiesto la relación que se establece entre la dimensión laboral y la integración social de los individuos con discapacidad mediante el análisis de investigaciones desarrolladas en nuestro contexto, entre las que figuran diversos estudios realizados por nuestro grupo de investigación durante los últimos años. Con la voluntad de conocer con más detalle esta cuestión, se presenta una investigación reciente realizada por nuestro equipo. En ella desarrollamos un estudio de casos centrado en personas con discapacidad psíquica que han participado en experiencias de integración laboral en el mercado ordinario, con el objetivo de obtener información sobre la incidencia de la inserción laboral en diferentes dimensiones de la vida de los trabajadores con discapacidad. Los resultados nos permiten valorar que la experiencia genera cambios positivos, sobre todo a nivel personal (expectativas personales, potenciación del proyecto de vida, mejora de competencias…). Sin embargo, a pesar de que se aprecian mejoras en la dimensión social, el estudio plantea la necesidad de emprender acciones alternativas para potenciar la participación comunitaria de las personas implicadas en la investigación. El artículo concluye con algunas propuestas orientadas a mejorar los procesos de inserción social del colectivo

Effects of three harvesting work methods on Harwarder productivity in final felling

Abstract

Simulation of growth and development of irrigated cowpea in Piauí State by CROPGRO model

The objective of this work was to adapt the CROPGRO model, which is part of the DSSAT system, for simulating the cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) growth and development under soil and climate conditions of the Baixo Parnaíba region, Piauí State, Brazil. In the CROPGRO, only input parameters that define crop species, cultivars, and ecotype were changed in order to characterize the cowpea crop. Soil and climate files were created for the considered site. Field experiments without water deficit were used to calibrate the model. In these experiments, dry matter (DM), leaf area index (LAI), yield components and grain yield of cowpea (cv. BR 14 Mulato) were evaluated. The results showed good fit for DM and LAI estimates. The medium values of R² and medium absolute error (MAE) were, respectively, 0.95 and 264.9 kg ha-1 for DM, and 0.97 and 0.22 for LAI. The difference between observed and simulated values of plant phenology varied from 0 to 3 days. The model also presented good performance for yield components simulation, excluding 100-grain weight, for which the error ranged from 20.9% to 34.3%. Considering the medium values of crop yield in two years, the model presented an error from 5.6%.

Poverty and living arrangements among youth in Spain, 1980-2005

One of the most relevant demographic events in Spain from a recent historical perspective was the baby boom of the 1960s and 1970s. The “adapting to circumstances” of these generations of youth and their families through delayed emancipation and childbearing has been key in preventing a decline in their economic status. The results show that the reduction of the poverty risk among non-emancipated youth for the period 1980-2005 is explained by the fact that an increasing number of young Spaniards live with two employed parents. Thus, emancipation delay is found most in those families that can best afford it. Furthermore, the salaries of young workers remaining in the parental home have become an important factor in reducing their family poverty risk. On the other hand, fertility decline is readily explained by the economic difficulties young couples encounter in sustaining their offspring

Le couple à l'épreuve du désengagement sportif : accompagnements, arrangements et tensions

At the end of a sporting career, triathletes are often living as a couple and the cessation of sport has an effect on the their relationship. While a large part of the existence and identity of the couple is dedicated to the triathlon, disengagement from sport undeniably changes the gender balance. The allocation of roles is not a linear process in a couple, and the effects of giving up sport have not really been studied. Therefore, this article focuses on how couples deal with the various ways a sporting career comes to an end, which are characterized by changes in direction and temporary or permanent cessation. Sex, roles, age, social class, respective commitments or the fact of having children are variables taken into account in this analysis. The survey is based on interviews conducted with 10 couples. The analysis suggests that the disengagement from sport depends on how compromise was established during the sporting career. Between those who support their partner's sporting career, those who share it intermittently and those who pursue their own activities even to the exclusion of the other, the way to manage disengagement can vary depending on the situation and the roles assigned to each person.

Escenarios del impacto de la inmigración en la longevidad y dependencia de los mayores en la población española

Introduction: The composition of the Spanish population has recently changed due to immigration. The present study aimed to estimate the magnitude of change in the calculation of healthy life expectancy and life expectancy in disability, taking the population of foreign residents into account. For this population, there is no information on mortality or the prevalence of disability. Material and methods: Data were extracted from the 1999 Survey on Disabilities, Handicaps and Health Status to estimate healthy life expectancy and life expectancy in disability using the Sullivan method. Data were taken from the Spanish Statistical Institute and the World Health Organization, Sullivan's method was adapted to the case of two different populations, and possible scenarios were established. Results: The differences between the mortality table estimated for the foreign resident population and that estimated for the Spanish population were considerable and were more evident in women. At 65 years of age and in the worst scenario, which occurs when all the members of the foreign resident population are disabled, life expectancy in disability would be 2 more years for men and 3 more years for women than when the foreign population was not considered. Conclusions: Our scenarios reveal that the impact of immigration on the calculation of healthy life expectancy and life expectancy in disability is moderate.

Étude des sédiments quaternaires, de la molasse et sa tectonique, dans le Grand Lac (Léman) à partir de données sismiques 2D et 3D

RESUME L'Institut de Géophysique de l'Université de Lausanne a développé au cours de ces dernières années un système d'acquisition de sismique réflexion multitrace à haute résolution 2D et 3D. L'objectif de cette thèse était de poursuivre ce développement tout améliorant les connaissances de la géologie sous le lac Léman, en étudiant en particulier la configuration des grands accidents sous-lacustres dans la Molasse (Tertiaire) qui forme l'essentiel du substratum des formations quaternaires. En configuration 2D, notre système permet d'acquérir des profils sismiques avec une distance inter-CDP de 1,25 m. La couverture varie entre 6 et 18 selon le nombre de traces et la distance inter-tir. Le canon à air (15/15 eu. in.), offre une résolution verticale de 1,25 ni et une pénétration maximale de 300 m sous le fond de l'eau. Nous avons acquis au total plus de 400 km de sections 2D dans le Grand Lac et le Haut Lac entre octobre 2000 et juillet 2004. Une campagne de sismique 3D a fourni des données au large d'Evian sur une surface de 442,5 m sur 1450 m, soit 0,64 km2. La navigation ainsi que le positionnement des hydrophones et de la source ont été réalisés avec des GPS différentiels. Nous avons utilisé un traitement sismique conventionnel, sans appliquer d'AGC et en utilisant une migration post-stack. L'interprétation du substratum antéquaternaire est basée sur l'identification des sismofaciès, sur leurs relations avec les unités géologiques adjacentes au lac, ainsi que sur quelques données de forages. Nous obtenons ainsi une carte des unités géologiques dans le Grand Lac. Nous précisons la position du chevauchement subalpin entre la ville de Lausanne, sur la rive nord, et le bassin de Sciez, sur la rive sud. Dans la Molasse de Plateau, nous avons identifié les décrochements de Pontarlier et de St. Cergue ainsi que plusieurs failles non reconnues jusqu'ici. Nous avons cartographié les accidents qui affectent la Molasse subalpine ainsi que le plan de chevauchement du flysch sur la Molasse près de la rive sud du lac. Une nouvelle carte tectonique de la région lémanique a ainsi pu être dressée. L'analyse du substratum ne montre pas de failles suggérant une origine tectonique de la cuvette lémanique. Par contre, nous suggérons que la forme du creusement glaciaire, donc de la forme du lac Léman, a été influencée par la présence de failles dans le substratum antéquaternaire. L'analyse des sédiments quaternaires nous a permis de tracer des cartes des différentes interfaces ou unités qui les composent. La carte du toit du substratum antéquaternaire montre la présence de chenaux d'origine glaciaire dont la profondeur maximale atteint la cote -200 ni. Leur pente est dirigée vers le nord-est, à l'inverse du sens d'écoulement actuel des eaux. Nous expliquons cette observation par l'existence de circulations sous-glaciaires d'eau artésienne. Les sédiments glaciaires dont l'épaisseur maximale atteint 150 ni au centre du lac ont enregistré les différentes récurrences glaciaires. Dans la zone d'Evian, nous mettons en évidence la présence de lentilles de sédiments glaciolacustres perchées sur le flanc de la cuvette lémanique. Nous avons corrélé ces unités avec des données de forage et concluons qu'il s'agit du complexe inférieur de la pile sédimentaire d'Evian. Celui-ci, âgé de plus de 30 000 ans, serait un dépôt de Kame associé à un lac périglaciaire. La sismique réflexion 3D permet de préciser l'orientation de l'alimentation en matériel détritique de l'unité. La finesse des images obtenues nous permet également d'établir quels types d'érosion ont affecté certaines unités. Les sédiments lacustres, dont l'épaisseur maximale imagée atteint plus de 225 m et sans doute 400 ni sous le delta du Rhône, indiquent plusieurs mécanismes de dépôts. A la base, une mégaturbidite, épaisse d'une trentaine de mètres en moyenne, s'étend entre l'embouchure de la Dranse et le delta du Rhône. Au-dessus, la décantation des particules en suspension d'origine biologique et détritique fournit l'essentiel des sédiments. Dans la partie orientale du lac, les apports détritiques du Rhône forment un delta qui prograde vers l'ouest en s'imbriquant avec les sédiments déposés par décantation. La structure superficielle du delta a brutalement évolué, probablement à la suite de l'évènement catastrophique du Tauredunum (563 A.D.). Sa trace probable se marque par la présence d'une surface érosive que nous avons cartographiée. Le delta a ensuite changé de géométrie, avec notamment un déplacement des chenaux sous-lacustres. Sur l'ensemble de nos sections sismiques, nous n'observons aucune faille dans les sédiments quaternaires qui attesterait d'une tectonique postglaciaire du substratum. ABSTRACT During the last few years the institute of Geophysics of the University of Lausanne cleveloped a 2D and 3D high-resolution multichannel seismic reflection acquisition system. The objective of the present work was to carry on this development white improving our knowledge of the geology under Lake Geneva, in particular by studying the configuration of the large accidents affecting the Tertiary Molasse that makes up the basement of most Quaternary deposits. In its 2D configuration, our system makes it possible to acquire seismic profiles with a CDP interval of 1.25 m. The fold varies from 6 to 18 depending on the number of traces and the shooting interval. Our air gun (15/15 cu. in.) provides a vertical resolution of 1.25 m and a maximum penetration depth of approximately 300 m under water bottom. We acquired more than 400 km of 2D sections in the Grand Lac and the Haut Lac between October 2000 and July 2004. A 3D seismic survey off the city of Evian provided data on a surface of 442.5 m x 1450 m (0.64 km2). Ship's navigation as well as hydrophone- and source positioning were carried out with differential GPS. The seismic data were processed following a conventional sequence without .applying AGC and using post-stack migration. The interpretation of the pre-Quaternary substratum is based on sismofacies, on their relationships with terrestrial geological units and on some borehole data. We thus obtained a map of the geological units in the Grand Lac. We defined the location of the subalpine thrust from Lausanne, on the north shore, to the Sciez Basin, on the south shore. Within the Molasse de Plateau, we identified the already know Pontarlier and St Cergue transforms Fault as well as faults. We mapped faults that affect subalpine Molasse as well as the thrust fault plane between alpine flysch and Molasse near the lake's south shore. A new tectonic map of the Lake Geneva region could thus be drawn up. The substratum does not show faults indicating a tectonic origin for the Lake Geneva Basin. However, we suggest that the orientation of glacial erosion, and thus the shape of Lake Geneva, vas influenced by the presence of faults in the pre-Quaternary basement. The analysis of Quaternary sediments enabled us to draw up maps of various discontinuities or internal units. The top pre-Quaternary basement map shows channels of glacial origin, the deepest of them reaching an altitude of 200 m a.s.l. The channel's slopes are directed to the North-East, in opposite direction of the present water flow. We explain this observation by the presence of artesian subglacial water circulation. Glacial sediments, the maximum thickness of which reaches 150 m in the central part of the lake, record several glacial recurrences. In the Evian area, we found lenses of glacio-lacustrine sediments set high up on the flank of the Lake Geneva Bassin. We correlated these units with on-land borehole data and concluded that they represent the lower complex of the Evian sedimentary pile. The lower complex is aider than 30 000 years, and it could be a Kame deposit associated with a periglacial lake. Our 3D seismic reflexion survey enables us to specify the supply direction of detrital material in this unit. With detailed seismic images we established how some units were affected by different erosion types. The lacustrine sediments we imaged in Lake Geneva are thicker than 225 m and 400 m or more Linder the Rhone Delta. They indicate several depositional mechanisms. Their base is a major turbidite, thirty meters thick on average, that spreads between the Dranse mouth and the Rhone delta. Above this unit, settling of suspended biological and detrital particles provides most of the sediments. In the eastern part of the lake, detrital contribution from the Rhone builds a delta that progrades to the west and imbricates with the settling sediments. The shallow structure of the Rhone delta abruptly evolved, probably after the catastrophic Tauredunum event (563 A.D.). It probably coincides with an erosive surface that we mapped. As a result, the delta geometry changed, in particular associated with a displacement of water bottom channels. In all our seismic sections, we do not observe fault in the Quaternary sediments that would attest postglacial tectonic activity in the basement.

Escenarios del impacto de la inmigración en la longevidad y dependencia de los mayores en la población española

Introduction: The composition of the Spanish population has recently changed due to immigration. The present study aimed to estimate the magnitude of change in the calculation of healthy life expectancy and life expectancy in disability, taking the population of foreign residents into account. For this population, there is no information on mortality or the prevalence of disability. Material and methods: Data were extracted from the 1999 Survey on Disabilities, Handicaps and Health Status to estimate healthy life expectancy and life expectancy in disability using the Sullivan method. Data were taken from the Spanish Statistical Institute and the World Health Organization, Sullivan's method was adapted to the case of two different populations, and possible scenarios were established. Results: The differences between the mortality table estimated for the foreign resident population and that estimated for the Spanish population were considerable and were more evident in women. At 65 years of age and in the worst scenario, which occurs when all the members of the foreign resident population are disabled, life expectancy in disability would be 2 more years for men and 3 more years for women than when the foreign population was not considered. Conclusions: Our scenarios reveal that the impact of immigration on the calculation of healthy life expectancy and life expectancy in disability is moderate.

Performance and hormonal profile in broiler chickens fed with different energy levels during post restriction period

The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of diet energy level on performance and hormonal profiles of broilers during post restriction period. It was a split-plot experiment, and the main treatments were in a 2x2 factorial scheme. Birds were fed restricted to 30% of the ad libitum intake, from 7 to 14 days of age. After the restriction period, birds were fed ad libitum with diets containing low (2,900 kcal ME/kg) or high (3,200 kcal ME/kg) energy until 49 days of age. Broilers fed with high energy ration showed lower feed intake and better feed conversion and decreased carcass protein; however, abdominal fat pad, and total carcass fat were not affected by ration energy levels or feeding program. Neither diet energy level nor feed restriction program changed body weight at 49 days. The profile of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was reduced during the feed restriction period, but increased at refeeding period. Feeding program and ration energy level did not affect T3, T4 and growth hormone serum concentrations. Feed restriction at 30% of ad libitum intake is not enough to promote changes on carcass quality, related to fat deposition, and on metabolic hormone levels, except IGF-1 seric level that has rapid increase after feed restriction.