Using a top predator as a sentinel for environmental contamination with pathogenic bacteria: the Iberian wolf and leptospires

The Iberian wolf (Canis lupus) is the top predator in the Iberian environments in which it lives, feeding on a wide range of species, thus encountering a wide range of disease agents. Therefore, the wolf can serve as sentinel of environmental contamination with pathogens. We investigated the exposure of free-living wolves to 14 serovars of Leptospira interrogans sensu lato. Kidney samples from 49 wolves collected from 2010-2013 in northwestern Spain were analysed by culture, direct immunofluorescence and polymerase chain reaction. Tissue fluids were analysed for antibodies by a microscopic agglutination test. Ten wolves (observed prevalence: 20%, 95% confidence interval = 11-33%) showed evidence of contact with leptospires, eight through direct detection and nine through serology (7 wolves were positive according to both techniques). Titres below the cut-off level were also detected in seven cases. Serovars confirmed were Canicola (n = 4), Icterohaemorrhagiae (n = 3) and Sejroë, Ballum and Grippotyphosa (n = 1 each), indicating that wolves were infected with serovars for which dogs, rodents and ungulates, are the natural hosts and supporting the utility of the wolf and other large predators as environmental sentinels for pathogens.

Terapia de exposición mediante realidad virtual e internet en el trastorno de ansiedad/fobia social: una revisión cualitativa / Virtual reality exposure therapy and internet in social anxiety disorder: a review

La Terapia de Exposición mediante Realidad Virtual e Internet constituyen dos nuevos formatos de aplicación de la terapia de conducta y constituyen una alternativa a la exposición en vivo estándar. El presente trabajo estudia la relevancia de estas modalidades de tratamiento en el Trastorno por Ansiedad/Fobia Social. Se ha llevado a cabo una búsqueda de estudios realizados al respecto, concluyéndose tanto que la evidencia disponible muestra indicios razonables de su efectividad como que resultan necesarios nuevos estudios con mayores tamaños muestrales.

Virtual reality exposure therapy and the Internet are two new formats for the application of behavior therapy and are an alternative to standard in vivo exposure. The present study examines the relevance of these treatment modalities in Social Anxiety/Phobia Disorder. It has carried out a search of the studies performed, thus concluding that the evidence shows prima facie evidence of its effectiveness as a resulting need for new studies with larger sample sizes.

A inteligência emocional no âmbito acadêmico: uma aproximação teórica e empírica / Emotional intelligence in the academic environment: a theoretical and empirical approach

O conceito de Inteligência Emocional surgiu em 1990, proposto pelos pesquisadores Peter Salovey e John Mayer. No entanto, tornou-se conhecido mundialmente após a publicação do livro Inteligência Emocional, em 1995, por Daniel Goleman. Desde então, além do interesse popular gerado, o construto também provocou certo “rebuliço” no âmbito científico. Para compreender alguns aspectos dessa polêmica, a primeira parte deste artigo apresenta uma aproximação teórica ao novo construto, relacionando-o com perspectivas teóricas acerca da inteligência e da emoção, situando a inteligência emocional no bojo das propostas alternativas à definição e compreensão clássica da inteligência humana. A segunda parte apresenta os resultados de um trabalho de pesquisa, divulgado no I Congresso de Inteligência Emocional (realizado em 2007, Málaga-Espanha), que consistiu em analisar sistematicamente uma parte da produção acadêmica proveniente dos cursos de pós-graduação stricto sensu (Mestrado Profissional, Mestrado Acadêmico e Doutorado) do Brasil, para averiguar que interesse científico o construto da Inteligência Emocional despertou no âmbito acadêmico brasileiro. Foram revisados os resumos de teses e dissertações, registrados no Banco de Teses da CAPES, abarcando o período de 1990 a 2006. A freqüente afirmação de que “o interesse científico pela inteligência emocional tem sido crescente” não se evidencia com relação à produção acadêmica analisada. Os resultados desse trabalho exploratório mostram a existência de um descontínuo interesse científico pelo novo construto nos cursos de pós-graduação do Brasil.

Emotional Intelligence as a concept came up in 1990 suggested by researchers Meter Saloveyand John Mayer. Though it was not until the publication of Daniel Goleman's book EmotionalIntelligence in 1995 that it came to be worlwide known. Since then, besides the popular interest,the new construct have caused some kind of commotion in the scientific field. So as to understandsome aspects of this controversy, the first part of the article presents a theoretical approximationto the new construct related to theoretical perspectives about intelligence and emotion situatingemotional intelligence in the center of the alternative proposals to a definition and a classicalcomprehension of human intelligence. The second part brings the results of a research workbrought out in the I Congress on Emotinal Intelligence (hold in 2007 in Malaga-Spain), inwhich a part of the academic production belonging to the strictu sensu post graduation coursesfrom Brazil (Professional Masters, Academic Masters and Doctorates) is sistematically analysedaiming to find out the scientific interest promoted by the Emotional Intelligence construct in theBrazilian academic enviroment. The abstracts of theses and dissertations registered from 1990to 2006 in the CAPES Bank of Theses were ckecked. The frequent statement "the scientific intereston emotional intelligence has been increasing" does not prove evident in the analysed academicproduction. The results of this exploratory work show the existence of a discontinuous scientificinterest on the new construct in the post-graduation courses in Brazi

Las competencias del professor en el espacio europeo de educación superior / Professor's competences on the european higher education space

En este trabajo analizamos Ias características de Ia profesión de profesor, así como algunos obstáculos para su desarrollo profesional. Estudiamos Ias competencias que se le exigen en Ias sociedades actuales. Comentamos estudios sobre Ia formación deI profesor en el Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior. Proponemos un modelo reflexivo y crítico (metacognitivo) para el análisis y desarrollo de Ias competencias dei profesorado.

This work analyses the professor profession characteristics, like some obstacles to its professionaldevelopment. The competences required by the modern society, were studied. It discusses thestudies about the professor education on the European Higher Education space. A reflexive andcritical model (metacognitive) is proposed, for the analysis and development of the professorcompetences.

Morbilidad por insuficiencia renal crónica en la provincia de Cienfuegos / Morbidity by chronic renal insuficiency in Cienfuegos province

Se hizo un estudio de la morbilidad por insuficiencia renal crónica en la provincia de Cienfuegos durante un año. Se encontró una frecuencia de 30,9 casos con una creatinina sérica de 1,2 mg% o más, por cada 100 000 habitantes. De ellos, el 37,6% tenía un filtrado glomerular entre 49 y 20mL/min;el 48,5 entre 19 y 10 y el 12.8 menor de 10. Las causas fundamentales encontradas de la insufiencia renal crónica fueron la nefropatía diabética en el 20,79% de los pacientes, la nefroangioescierosis maligna en el 14,85, la uropatía obstructiva en el 13,8 y la glomerulonefritis crónica en el 10.89