Estilos, autoconcepto y estrategias de aprendizaje en estudiantes con altas habilidades.

Analizar los recursos cognitivos que utiliza el superdotado haciendo especial referencia al estilo, autoconcepto y estrategias que emplea cuando se enfrenta a las tareas escolares. Proponer un modelo de respuesta educativa para atender a las necesidades educativas que precisan estos alumnos, dadas sus especiales caraterísticas de sobredotación. La parte empírica del trabajo tiene como objetivo detectar las diferencias individuales entre los alumnos superdotados y los de inteligencia media, con relación a los aspectos ya referidos. Muestra compuesta por 275 alumnos de séptimo y octavo de EGB, pertenecientes a cuatro centros públicos de la Región de Murcia. Dos urbanos, uno semiurbano y otro rural. La elección se realizó al azar y participaron todos los alumnos de los mencionados cursos. El 58,9 por ciento eran chicos y el 41,1 chicas. El trabajo se desarrolló en dos fases. En la primera se procedió a la identificación y selección de sujetos con distinto nivel de habilidad intelectual, utilizando diferentes criterios para su definición, criterios que recogen las conceptualizaciones tradicionales sobre inteligencia y las características que definen actualmente la alta capacidad. En esta fase se emplea una prueba tradicional de evaluación de la habilidad intelectual (Factor G de Cattell) y otra prueba (Tareas Insight, de Sternberg). Se procede a la identificación de los sujetos y se analiza la consistencia de la clasificación realizada en ambas pruebas, que incluyen sujetos clasificados como de altas por las dos pruebas, o en una de las dos y sujetos clasificados de habilidades normales o medias en ambas. En la segunda fase del trabajo se estudian las características diferenciales de los grupos en una serie de variables relevantes para la comprensión de la alta habilidad intelectual, relacionadas con los estilos intelectuales, las habilidades metacognitivas, el autoconcepto y las estrategias del aprendizaje. Estas variables son consideradas como fuentes de diferencias individuales entre los sujetos con distinto nivel intelectual, estando asociadas especialmente con las altas habilidades cognitivas. Pruebas de Inteligencia Factor G de Cattell. Tareas de Insight de Sternberg. Inventario de Estilos Intelectuales para Alumnos de Sternberg (IEPA), Escala de Autoconcepto de Marsh y col. Inventario de Habilidades Metacognitivas. Escala de Estrategias de Aprendizaje (ACRA). Pruebas de rendimeinto escolar (exámenes y calificaciones). Fiabilidad (consistencia interna de las pruebas), Alpha de Cronbach. Consistencia de la decisión (identificación de sujetos según su habilidad intelectual) con las pruebas utilizadas (Cattell y Sternberg) a través del análisis de varianza y, entre pares de grupos de variables, se utilizó la prueba del rango Duncan. Análisis de varianza realizado sobre las variables de autoconcepto, estilo intelectual, habilidad metacognitiva, estrategia de aprendizaje y calificaciones de asignaturas. Análisis de varianza no paramétrico para examinar las diferencias entre más de dos grupos mediante la prueba de Kruskal- Wallis. 1. La identificación de sujetos con altas habilidades mediante los dos criterios empleados no parce tener un alto grado de concordancia. Se producen diferencias entre los grupos de alta habilidad intelectual según se defina ésta mediante pruebas tradicionales de inteligencia o a través de pruebas que incorporan la evaluación de procesos relacionados con el procesamiento de la información significativa en contextos determinados o en situaciones novedosas; 2. Los sujetos con altas habilidades tienen tendencia a poseer un estilo más legislativo, más progresista y más global; 3. Los sujetos de mayor habilidad mostraron mayor autoconcepto académico, no presentando diferencias significativas con respecto al autoconcepto general, en relación a los estudiantes medios; 4. Los sujetos con altas habilidades intelectuales recurren más que los de habilidades medias a las autorreflexiones sobre sus propios pensamientos; 5. Existen diferencias significativas a favor de los estudiantes con altas habilidades en todas las calificaciones escolares. El desarrollo normativo de la LOGSE establece, al regular las adaptaciones curriculares y como parte esencial en el proceso evaluativo, la determinación del estilo de aprendizaje del alumno como algo básico y fundamental para la aplicación de esta medida de personalización de los procesos de enseñanza aprendizaje.

Formación y profesionalización de los Enfermeros Internos Residentes pertenecientes a las Unidades Docentes de Matrona de nuestro país.

Conocer, analizar, describir y valorar las cinco dimensiones del autoconcepto de los Enfermeros Internos Residentes (EIR) de todas las Unidades Docentes de España. Población: todos los enfermeros internos residentes que cursan estudios de matrona en la convocatoria de 2002 para acceso en 2003 (Orden PRE 2719 2002, de 29 de octubre) N: 229 (población diana); N: 183 (población de estudio). Se enviaron los cuestionarios a todas las Unidades Docentes de Matrona de España (excepto la de la Virgen de Candelaria de Tenerife). Las aplicaciones fueron responsabilidad de las coordinadoras o jefes de estudios de las Unidadesa Docentes quienes recibieron, junto a los cuestionarios, unas instrucciones para su aplicación. La investigación aborda la relación existente entre las dimensiones familiar, social, emocional, física y académico-laboral que presenta el autoconcepto. El modelo teórico con más influencia y que sintetiza los aspectos del autoconcepto es el multidimensional y jerárquico de Shavelson, Hubner y Staton (1976), Marsh y Shavelson (1985), Byrne y Shavelson (1985), revisado posteriormente por Marsh (1990). Los datos se trabajan desde un enfoque cuantitativo, descriptivo y transversal- observacional. Cuestionario de Autoconcepto Forma 5 (García y Musitu, 2001) para evaluar las dimensiones del autoconcepto académico- profesional, social, emocional, familiar y físico de los enfermeros. Entre los resultados: 1. El análisis de la Escala de Autoconcepto muestra que los residentes de la especialidad obstétrico-ginecológica obtienen la puntuación más alta en el autoconcepto académico- laboral: 8, 045 (en una escala de 0 a 10) y la más baja en el emocional: 5,864. Que la dimensión emocional sea la más baja de las dimensiones del autoconcepto en los enfermeros internos puede ser debido a la percepción general sobre la responsabilidad del desempeño del rol de matrona, por el alto grado de exigencia de la especialidad y la vulnerabilidad de los usuarios atendidos. Por el contrario, la dimensión académico-laboral hace referencia a la percepción que el efermero interno tiene de la calidad del desempeño de su rol profesional como estudiante universitario.

Efecto diferencial del estilo educativo materno y paterno sobre el autoconcepto f??sico del adolescente

Resumen basado en el de la publicaci??n

Ecological analysis of periphytic diatoms in Mediterranean coastal wetlands (Empordà wetlands, NE Spain)

S'han estudiat els efectes dels factors ambientals sobre el perífiton dels sistemes lenític fluctuants del aiguamolls de l'Empordà. L'estudi s'ha realitzat als tres nivells d'integració: nivell d'ecosistema considerant el rol del perífiton envers els altres productors primaris; a nivell de comunitat, estudiant la composició específica de les diatomees i a nivell de població estudiant la plasticitat fenotípica d'una espècie de diatomea (Nitzschia frustulum). A nivell d'ecosistema s'observa que els factors que afavoreixen el predomini dels diferents tipus de productors primaris (perífiton, fitoplàncton i macròfits) són la renovació i el grau d'eutròfia de l'aigua. A nivell de comunitat els factors determinants en la composició i distribució de les espècies de diatomees són els gradients confinament-inundació així com la productivitat del sistema. En funció d'aquest factors s'han establert 5 associacions de diatomees. A nivell de població es demostra que tant la salinitat, com la relació N : P a l'aigua com el moviment de l'aigua afecten la morfologia i ultraestructura de la valva de N. frustulum. De forma interessant s'observa que la salinitat, considerada com a factor individual, afecta N. frustulum a nivell poblacional provocant-li modificacions en la morfologia de la valva, per en canvi, no afecta a nivell de comunitat, ja que totes les espècies de diatomees presents en ambients de salinitat fluctuant són eurihalines.

Limnological characteristics and zooplankton community structure of Mediterranean coastal lagoons undergoing restoration

Entre 1999 i 2003 es va desenvolupar un projecte Life de restauració a la maresma de La Pletera, afectada per un pla urbanització, i a la llacuna del Ter Vell, amb un elevat grau d'eutròfia (aiguamolls del Baix Ter, NE Península Ibèrica). L'objectiu d'aquesta tesi és establir el funcionament d'ambdós ecosistemes, analitzar-ne la problemàtica ambiental i avaluar els efectes de la restauració. A la maresma de la Pletera, es va analitzar el paper de la hidrologia en la composició i dinàmica dels nutrients i del zooplàncton en cinc llacunes, tres de les quals havien estat creades dins el projecte de restauració com a nous refugis per una espècie de peix amenaçada (Aphanius iberus). La hidrologia es va caracteritzar per un llarg període de confinament sense entrades d'aigua, interromput de manera irregular per inundacions puntuals. La dinàmica del nitrogen inorgànic es va relacionar amb les entrades d'aigua, mentre que la del fòsfor, del nitrogen total i de la matèria orgànica es va relacionar amb els processos d'acumulació i reciclatge intern durant el confinament. El zooplàncton es va analitzar mitjançant la combinació d'aproximacions taxonòmiques i de mides. L'estructura de mides de la comunitat es va veure més afectada per les interaccions tròfiques (depredació i competència) mentre que l'estructura taxonòmica va ser més sensible a factors abiòtics (nutrients). El ràpid creixement de la població A. iberus en les noves llacunes va suggerir que aquestes havien proporcionat l'hàbitat adequat per a l'espècie, almenys a curt termini. Les actuacions de restauració a la llacuna del Ter Vell es van centrar en la millora de la qualitat de l'aigua mitjançant (1) la construcció d'uns aiguamolls per depurar l'aigua d'entrada i (2) el dragat del sediment en diversos punts. Simultàniament a la restauració, però de forma independent, la gestió agrícola de l'aigua va reduir dràsticament el cabal d'entrada d'aigua dolça a la llacuna, provocant un canvi en el règim hídric. Es van analitzar els efectes a curt termini d'aquest canvi sobre la limnologia i el zooplàncton de la llacuna. Abans del canvi, la hidrologia era artificial ja que s'havia prolongat l'entrada d'aigua dolça d'acord amb la demanda agrícola, i per tant la llacuna presentava una elevada taxa de renovació de l'aigua i majors concentracions de nutrients. Després del canvi, la hidrologia va dependre més del clima, es van reduir les entrades d'aigua i es va allargar el període de confinament. La composició y dinàmica dels nutrients va tendir a assemblar-se a l'observada a les llacunes de la maresma, mentre que la comunitat del zooplàncton no ho va fer. L'estat ecològic de la llacuna va millorar després del canvi en el règim hídric.

California's Endangered Belding’s Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis beldingi): Tolerance of Pedestrian Disturbance

Salt marshes constitute habitat islands for many endemic animal species, particularly along the California coast, where urban sprawl has fragmented this habitat. Recreational activities in salt marshes have increased recently, posing an interesting problem: how do endemic species lacking alternative habitat modify their tolerance to humans? We assessed seasonal and site variations in three tolerance parameters (distances at which animals became alert, fled, and moved after fleeing) of California's endangered Belding’s Savannah Sparrow ((Passerculus sandwichensis beldingi). We approached individuals on trails in three salt marshes with different levels of vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Belding’s Savannah Sparrows became aware and fled at shorter distances in the salt marsh coincident with greater levels of recreational activity as a result of habituation or visual obstruction effects. Seasonal effects in tolerance varied between sites. Alert and flight initiation distances were higher in the pre-nesting than in the non-breeding season in the site with the highest levels of recreational use likely due to greater exposure of breeding individuals; however, the opposite seasonal trend was found in each of the two sites with relatively lower human use, probably because individuals were less spatially attached in the non-breeding season when they foraged in aggregations. Distance fled was greater in the non-breeding than in the breeding season. Our findings call for dynamic management of recreational activities in different salt marshes depending on the degree of exposure to humans and seasonal variations in tolerance. We recommend a minimum approaching distance of 63 m and buffer areas of 1.3 ha around Belding's Savannah Sparrows.

Influence of vegetation on the nocturnal foraging behaviors and vertebrate prey capture by endangered Burrowing Owls

Restrictions in technology have limited past habitat selection studies for many species to the home-range level, as a finer-scale understanding was often not possible. Consequently, these studies may not identify the true mechanism driving habitat selection patterns, which may influence how such results are applied in conservation. We used GPS dataloggers with digital video recorders to identify foraging modes and locations in which endangered Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia) captured prey. We measured the coarse and fine-scale characteristics of vegetation at locations in which owls searched for, versus where they caught, vertebrate prey. Most prey items were caught using hover-hunting. Burrowing Owls searched for, and caught, vertebrate prey in all cover types, but were more likely to kill prey in areas with sparse and less dense vegetative cover. Management strategies designed to increase Burrowing Owl foraging success in the Canadian prairies should try to ensure a mosaic of vegetation heights across cover types.

An eclectic morphostratigraphic model for the sedimentary response to Holocene sea-level rise in northwest Europe

The improved empirical understanding of silt facies in Holocene coastal sequences provided by such as diatom, foraminifera, ostracode and testate amoebae analysis, combined with insights from quantitative stratigraphic and hydraulic simulations, has led to an inclusive, integrated model for the palaeogeomorphology, stratigraphy, lithofacies and biofacies of northwest European Holocene coastal lowlands in relation to sea-level behaviour. The model covers two general circumstances and is empirically supported by a range of field studies in the Holocene deposits of a number of British estuaries, particularly, the Severn. Where deposition was continuous over periods of centuries to millennia, and sea level fluctuated about a rising trend, the succession consists of repeated cycles of silt and peat lithofacies and biofacies in which series of transgressive overlaps (submergence sequences) alternate with series of regressive overlaps (emergence sequences) in association with the waxing and waning of tidal creek networks. Environmental and sea-level change are closely coupled, and equilibrium and secular pattern is of the kind represented ideally by a closed limit cycle. In the second circumstance, characteristic of unstable wetland shores and generally affecting smaller areas, coastal erosion ensures that episodes of deposition in the high intertidal zone last no more than a few centuries. The typical response is a series of regressive overlaps (emergence sequence) in erosively based high mudflat and salt-marsh silts that record, commonly as annual banding, exceptionally high deposition rates and a state of strong disequilibrium. Environmental change, including creek development, and sea-level movement are uncoupled. Only if deposition proceeds for a sufficiently long period, so that marshes mature, are equilibrium and close coupling regained. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Granulometric characterization and evaluation of annually banded mid-Holocene estuarine silts, Welsh Severn Estuary (UK): coastal change, sea level and climate

Holocene silts (salt marshes) and highest intertidal-supratidal peats are superbly exposed on a 15 kin coastal transect which reveals two laterally extensive units of annually banded silts (Beds 3, 7) associated with three transgressive-regressive silt-peat cycles (early sixth-early fourth millennium BC). Bed 3 in places is concordantly and gradationally related to peats above and below, but in others transgresses older strata. Bed 7 also grades up into peat, but everywhere overlies a discordance. The banding in Bed 3 at three main and two minor sites was resolved and characterized texturally at high-resolution (2.5/5 mm contiguous slices) using laser granulometry (LS230 with PIDS) and a comprehensive scheme of data-assessment. Most of Bed 3 formed very rapidly, at peak values of several tens of millimetres annually, in accordance with modelled effects of sea-level fluctuations on mature marshes (bed concordant and gradational) and on marshes growing up after coastal erosion and retreat (bed with discordant base). Using data from the modern Severn Estuary, the textural contrast within bands, and its variation between bands, points to a variable but overall milder mid-Holocene climate than today. The inter-annual variability affected marsh dynamics, as shown by the behaviour of the finely divided plant tissues present. Given local calibration, the methodology is applicable to other tidal systems with banded silts in Britain and mainland northwest Europe. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Holocene tidal palaeochannels, Severn Estuary Levels, UK: a search for granulometric and foraminiferal criteria

Holocene tidal palaoechannels, Severn Estuary Levels, UK: a search for granulometric and foraminiferal criteria. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, 117, 329-344. Grain-size characteristics (by laser granulometry) and foraminiferal assemblages have been established for silts accumulated in five, dissimilar tidal palaeochannels of mid or late Holocene age in the Severn Estuary Levels, representative of muddy tidal systems. For purposes of general comparison, similar data were obtained from a representative active tidal inlet in the area, but all of these channels have been subject to human interference and are not relied upon as a model for environmental interpretation. Although the palaeochannel deposits differ substantially in their bedding characteristics and stratigraphical relationships from the level-bedded salt-marsh platform and mudflat deposits with which they are associated, and although the channel environment is distinctive morphologically and hydraulically, no critical textural differences could be found between the channel deposits and the associated facies. Similarly, no foraminiferal assemblages distinctive of a tidal channel were encountered. Instead, the assemblages compare with those from mudflats and salt-marsh platforms. It is concluded that the sides of the subfossil channels carried some vegetation, as was observed to be the case in the modern inlet. An alternative approach is necessary if concealed palaeochannel deposits are to be recognized in muddy systems from limited numbers of subsurface samples. Although the palaeochannels afforded no characteristic textural signature, they yield transverse grain-size patterns pointing to coastal movements during their evolution. Concave-up trends suggest outward coastal building, whereas convex-up ones point to marsh-edge retreat.

Seasonality of delta C-13 and C/N ratios in modern and mid-holocene sediments in the Severn Estuary levels, SW Britain

Bulk organic VC and C/N ratios from mid-Holocene salt-marsh deposits with sedimentary banding reveal subtle but significant differences between coarse- and fine-grained deposits. These are consistent with findings from seasonally sampled modern silts, and with the interpretation, on physical and palynological grounds, of the fine-grained and coarse-grained components as warm-season and cold-season deposits, respectively. The control is considered to be seasonal variations in the character of the organic matter supplied.

Autocyclic erosion in tidal marshes

A common mode whereby destruction of coastal lowlands occurs is frontal erosion. The edge cliffing, nonetheless, is also an inherent aspect of salt marsh development in many northwest European tidal marshes. Quite a few geomorphologists in the earlier half of the past century recognized such edge erosion as a definite repetitive stage within an autocyclic mode of marsh growth. A shift in research priorities during the past decades (primarily because of coastal management concerns, however) has resulted in an enhanced focus on sediment-flux measurement campaigns on salt marshes. This, somewhat "object-oriented" strategy hindered any further development of the once-established autocyclic growth concept, which virtually has gone into oblivion in recent times. This work makes an attempt to resurrect the notion of autocyclicity by employing its premises to address edge erosion in tidal marshes. Through a review of intertidal morphosedimentology the underlying framework for autocyclicity is envisaged. The phenomenon is demonstrated in the Holocene salt marsh plain of Moricambe basin in NW England that displays several distinct phases of marsh retreat in the form of abandoned clifflets. The suite of abandoned shorelines and terraces has been identified in detailed field mapping that followed analysis of topographic maps and aerial photographs. Vertical trends in marsh plain sediments are recorded in trenches for signs of past marsh front movements. The characteristic sea level history of the area offers an opportunity to differentiate the morphodynamic variability induced in the autocyclic growth of the marsh plain in scenarios of rising and falling sea level and the accompanied change in sediment budget. The ideas gathered are incorporated to construct a conceptual model that links temporal extent of marsh erosion to inner tidal flat sediment budget and sea level tendency. The review leads to recognition of the necessity of adopting an holistic approach in the morphodynamic investigations where marshes should be treated as a component within the "marsh-mudflat system" as each element apparently modulates evolution of the other, with an eventual linkage to subtidal channels. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Onset of recent rapid sea-level rise in the western Atlantic Ocean

A high-resolution record of sea-level change spanning the past 1000 years is derived from foraminiferal and chronological analyses of a 2m thick salt-marsh peat sequence at Chezzetcook, Nova Scotia, Canada. Former mean tide level positions are reconstructed with a precision of +/- 0.055 in using a transfer function derived from distributions of modern salt-marsh foraminifera. Our age model for the core section older than 300 years is based on 19 AMS C-14 ages and takes into account the individual probability distributions of calibrated radiocarbon ages. The past 300 years is dated by pollen and the isotopes Pb-206, Pb-207, Pb-210, Cs-137 and Am-241. Between AD 1000 and AD 1800, relative sea level rose at a mean rate of 17cm per century. Apparent pre-industrial rises of sea level dated at AD 1500-1550 and AD 1700-1800 cannot be clearly distinguished when radiocarbon age errors are taken into account. Furthermore, they may be an artefact of fluctuations in atmospheric C-14 production. In the 19th century sea level rose at a mean rate of 1.6mm/yr. Between AD 1900 and AD 1920, sea-level rise accelerated to the modern mean rate of 3.2mm/yr. This acceleration corresponds in time with global temperature rise and may therefore be associated with recent global warming. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.