Resumen En México persiste la necesidad de mejorar la calidad educativa, lo que incluye evaluar la eficacia docente; sin embargo, evaluar el desempeño profesional es una tarea compleja. Investigaciones en el tema coinciden en que se requiere la aplicación de modelos integrales, basados en estándares e indicadores múltiples. Este artículo analiza cualitativamente las percepciones y experiencias de un grupo de docentes que laboran en escuelas primarias públicas ubicadas en ocho Estados de la República, acerca del proceso de evaluación del servicio profesional del que formaron parte en el marco de la Reforma Educativa implementada durante el sexenio 2012-2018. Los participantes señalaron estar a favor de la evaluación, consideran que sirve para conocer sus aspectos positivos y áreas de oportunidad, y que requieren procesos de formación y actualización constante que les ayude en su trabajo. Identificaron dificultades en la implementación del proceso evaluativo: se adoptaron aspectos de otros contextos que no se adecuaron a las particularidades del país; la evaluación se basó en amenazas, lo que desmotivó a los docentes; hubo mucha incertidumbre y problemas de comunicación.

Abstract In Mexico, the need to improve educational quality persists, which includes evaluating teacher effectiveness. However, evaluating professional performance is a complex task. Research on the subject agrees that the application of comprehensive models, based on standards and multiple indicators, is required. This article qualitatively analyzes the perceptions and experiences of a group of elementary school teachers in the public system -from eight States of the Mexican Republic- about the process of professional evaluation they were part of, in the framework of the Educational Reform implemented during the six-year term 2012-2018. The participants indicated that they were in favor of the evaluation, they considered that it serves to know their positive aspects and areas of opportunity, and that they require constant training and updating processes to help them in their work. They also identified difficulties in the implementation of the evaluation process: aspects from other contexts were not adapted to the particularities of Mexico; the evaluation was based on threats, which demotivated teachers; and uncertainty and miscommunication was a big issue.

Abstract During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, there was a marked requirement for critical care beds, supplies and trained professionals to assist patients with severe respiratory failure. The Argentine Society of Intensive Care (SATI) designed a study to characterize these aspects in intensive care units (ICUs). Multicenter, prospective cohort study; the participating ICUs completed a form at the end of the study (31/10/2020) on hospital characteristics, number of beds in pre- and intra-pandemic critical areas, incorporation of professionals, technological resources, and workload. Fifty-eight ICUs participated; 28(48%) were located in Buenos Aires Province, 22(38%) in Buenos Aires Autonomous City and 10 (17%) in other provinces; 31 (53%) of UCIs belonged to the public sector; 23 (47%) to the private-social security. In 35/58 (60%) of the hospitals critical care beds increased from 902 to 1575 (75%), 37% in ICU and 63% mainly in Coronary Care Unit and Emergency-shock room. In 41/55 (75%) UCIs, staff were incorporated: 27(49%) physicians (70% intensivists), 36 (65%) nurses, 28 (51%) respiratory therapists, 20(36%) cleaning staff, and 1(2%) others. A 96% of the ICUS reported having sufficient ventilators and 95% enough sup plies and PPE. Of all patients on invasive mechanical ventilation, 55% [43-64] had COVID-19. Oxygen therapy was required as noninvasive support in 14% [8-24] of COVID-19 admissions. There was a significant expansion of critical operational areas, secondary to the increase in beds, staff, and adequate availability of ventilators and essential supplies. The burden of critical illness from COVID-19 was intense, with more than half of patients on mechanical ventilation.

Resumen Durante la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2 hubo un marcado requerimiento de camas de cuidados críticos, insumos y profesionales entrenados para asistir a pacientes con insuficiencia respiratoria grave. La Sociedad Argentina de Terapia Intensiva (SATI) diseñó un estudio para caracterizar estos aspectos en las Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos (UCIs). Estudio multicéntrico, de cohorte prospectiva; las UCIs participantes completaron un formulario al final del estudio (31/10/2020) sobre características hospitalarias, número de camas de áreas críticas pre- e intra-pandemia, incorporación de profesionales, insumos y recursos tecnológicos, y carga de trabajo. Participaron 58 UCIs; 28(48%) de Provincia de Buenos Aires, 22(38%) de Ciudad Autónoma de Bue nos Aires, 10(17%) de otras; 31(53%) UCIs pertenecían al sector público; 23(47%) al privado-seguridad social. En 35/58(60%) hospitales las camas de cuidados críticos aumentaron de 902 a 1575(75%); 37% en UCI y 63% principalmente en Unidad Coronaria y Emergencias-shock room. En 41/55(75%) UCIs se incorporó personal: 27(49%) médicos/as (70% intensivistas), 36(65%) enfermeros/as, 28(51%) kinesiólogos/as, 20(36%) personal de limpieza, y 1(2%) otros/as; 96% de las UCIS reportaron disponer de respiradores suficientes, y 95%, insumos y EPP suficientes. De todos los pacientes en ventilación mecánica invasiva, 55% [43-64] presentaron COVID-19. Se requirió oxigenoterapia como soporte no invasivo en 14% [8-24] de los ingresos por COVID-19. Se registró una importante expansión de las áreas críticas operativas, secundariamente al aumento de camas, personal, y adecuada disponibilidad de respiradores e insumos esenciales. La carga de la enfermedad crítica por COVID-19 fue intensa, constituyendo más de la mitad de los pacientes en ventilación mecánica.

Objective: To investigate empathic abilities in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) compared to control subjects. OCD is characterized by persistent obsessions and compulsions. Previous studies have proposed specific emotion recognition deficits in patients with OCD. The ability to recognize emotion is part of the broad construct of empathy that incorporates mentalizing and experience-sharing dimensions. Methods: Twenty-four subjects with a diagnosis of OCD and 23 control subjects underwent empathic measures. Results: Patients with OCD compared to control subjects showed deficits in all mentalizing measures. They were incapable of understanding the mental and emotional states of other people. On the other hand, in the sharing experience measures, the OCD group was able to empathize with the emotional experience of other people when they expressed emotions with positive valence, but were not able to do when the emotional valence was negative. Conclusion: Our results suggest that patients with OCD show a difficulty in mentalizing ability, whereas the deficit in sharing ability is specific for the negative emotional valence.

RESUMO OBJETIVO: O exercício isométrico é caracterizado por promover uma sobrecarga no sistema cardiovascular devido à contração pulsátil seguida por aumento significativo no fluxo sanguíneo muscular. As respostas hemodinâmicas durante o exercício e durante a recuperação do exercício de resistência estão bem documentados. No entanto, existem poucos estudos com dados concretos sobre a influência do exercício isométrico no controle autônomo, a qual pode ser obtida pela análise da variabilidade da frequência cardíaca. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar publicações sobre a regulação autonômica cardíaca durante o exercício isométrico. MÉTODOS: Os artigos utilizados neste estudo foram selecionados do Pubmed, PEDro, Medline, Lilacs e SciELO. A pesquisa foi feita através do cruzamento das seguintes palavras-chave: exercício isométrico, sistema nervoso autônomo, sistema cardiovascular, e variabilidade da frequência cardíaca, que foram definidas com base nos descritores das rubricas de Saúde (MeSH). RESULTADOS: A pesquisa forneceu 17 artigos sobre modulação autonômica em exercício isométrico: esta modulação caracterizou-se pela diminuição da ação vagal, seguida de aumento da modulação simpática e sua reversão logo após o cessar da contração. CONCLUSÃO: Durante o exercício isométrico, ocorre aumento da modulação simpática e redução da modulação vagal sobre o nódulo sinusal.

OBJECTIVE: Isometric exercise is characterized by promoting an overload on the cardiovascular system due to pulsatile contraction followed by a significant increase in muscle blood flow. The hemodynamic responses during exercise and during recovery from endurance exercise are well documented. However, there are few studies with hard data regarding the influence of isometric exercise on autonomic control, which can be obtained by analysis of heart rate variability. Thus, the object of this study was to analyze reports on cardiac autonomic regulation in isometric exercise. METHODS: The articles used in this study were selected fromPubmed, PEDro,Medline, Lilacs and SciELO. The search wasmade by crossing the following keywords: isometric exercise, autonomic nervous system, cardiovascular system, and heart rate variability, which were defined based on descriptors of Health Headings (MeSH). RESULTS: The search provided 17 articles in isometric exercise autonomic modulation characterized by decreased vagalmodulation followedby increased sympatheticmodulation and its reversal shortly after the endof the activity. CONCLUSION: During isometric exercise, increased sympathetic modulation and reduced vagal modulation of the sinus node have been reported.

OBJECTIVES: Flexible poles can provide rapid eccentric and concentric muscle contractions. Muscle vibration is associated with a "tonic vibration reflex” that is stimulated by a sequence of rapid muscle stretching, activation of the muscle spindles and stimulation of a response that is similar to the myotatic reflex. Literature studies analyzing the acute cardiovascular responses to different exercises performed with this instrument are lacking. We investigated the acute effects of exercise with flexible poles on the heart period in healthy men. METHOD: The study was performed on ten young adult males between 18 and 25 years old. We evaluated the heart rate variability in the time and frequency domains. The subjects remained at rest for 10 min. After the rest period, the volunteers performed the exercises with the flexible poles. Immediately after the exercise protocol, the volunteers remained seated at rest for 30 min and their heart rate variability was analyzed. RESULTS: The pNN50 was reduced at 5-10 and 15-20 min after exercise compared to 25-30 min after exercise (p = 0.0019), the SDNN was increased at 25-30 min after exercise compared to at rest and 0-10 min after exercise (p = 0.0073) and the RMSSD was increased at 25-30 min after exercise compared to 5-15 min after exercise (p = 0.0043). The LF in absolute units was increased at 25-30 min after exercise compared to 5-20 min after exercise (p = 0.0184). CONCLUSION: A single bout of exercise with a flexible pole reduced the heart rate variability and parasympathetic recovery was observed approximately 30 min after exercise.

INTRODUCTION. Aim of this study was to implement and validate the Italian version of the Screening Questionnaire for Disaster Mental Health (SQD), a tool for the screening of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression in the long-term aftermaths of a natural disaster. METHODS. A convenience sample of 116 subjects living in L'Aquila after the 2009 earthquake were administered the SQD and two gold-standard instruments for PTSD and depression. Reliability, concurrent validity and convergent validity of SQD were estimated. RESULTS. Cronbach's alpha was 0.86. Concurrent validity as measured by the Spearman correlation coefficient resulted statistically significant both for PTSD and depression SQD subscales, as well as convergent validity as measured by ROC-AUC method. CONCLUSIONS. SQD is a valid, efficient and easy-to-use screening instrument for PTSD and depression after natural disasters.

INTRODUCTION: In the present work we describe the mental health condition of L'Aquila population in the aftermath of the earthquake in terms of structural, process and outcome perspectives. METHOD: Literature revision of the published reports on the L'Aquila earthquake has been performed. RESULTS: Although important psychological distress has been reported by the population, capacity of resilience can be observed. However if resilient mechanisms intervened in immediate aftermath of the earthquake, important dangers are conceivable in the current medium-long-term perspective due to the long-lasting alterations of day-to-day life and the disruption of social networks that can be well associated with mental health problems. CONCLUSIONS: In a condition such as an earthquake, the immediate physical, medical, and emergency rescue needs must be addressed initially. However training first responders to identify psychological distress symptoms would be important for mental health triage in the field.

INTRODUZIONE: Il presente lavoro intende descrivere la condizione della salute mentale della popolazione dell'Aquila a seguito del terremoto in termini di prospettive di struttura, di processo ed esito. METODO: È stata eseguita una revisione di letteratura relativa gli articoli pubblicati sul terremoto dell'Aquila. RISULTATI: Anche se la popolazione ha manifestato un disagio psicologico importante, viene rilevata capacità di resilienza. Tuttavia, se sono intervenuti meccanismi resilienti nel periodo immediatamente successivo al terremoto, è verosimile considerare pericoli importanti a medio-lungo termine a causa della lunga durata delle quotidiane difficoltà di vita e della disgregazione delle reti sociali che possono essere ben associate a problemi di salute mentale. CONCLUSIONI: In una situazione quale quella di un terremoto le esigenze immediate di soccorso per problematiche di ordine fisico, medico e di emergenza devono essere affrontate per prime. Tuttavia sarebbe importante la formazione dei soccorritori di primo intervento per identificare i sintomi di stress psicologico e permettere un triage per la salute mentale sul campo.

Damage to health associated with emissions from coal power stations can vary greatly from one location to another depending on the size of the plant, location and the characteristics of the population. Population-based studies conducted by independent groups in different locations around the world show effects on health in populations at higher risk, but failed to definitely demonstrate direct effects on morbidity and mortality, to be exclusively attributed to the presence of active power stations. However, evidence on the role of micropollutants from power station activities suggests that a complete and thorough analysis should be made on the environmental cycle. Therefore danger should in any case be assessed as carefully as possible while assuming, at most, that all micropollutants may come into direct contact with man through the various potential pathways throughout their entire lifetime, regardless of the factors that reduce their presence.

Il danno alla salute associato alle emissioni delle centrali a carbone può variare notevolmente da un sito all'altro, in funzione della dimensione della centrale, della sua localizzazione e delle caratteristiche della popolazione. Studi su base di popolazione condotti da gruppi indipendenti e in località diverse in tutto il mondo documentano l'esistenza di un impatto sanitario su popolazioni a maggior rischio, ma non hanno ancora confermato in modo definitivo l'esistenza di effetti diretti, in termini di morbosità e mortalità, attribuibili in modo esclusivo alla presenza di centrali attive. Tuttavia, l'evidenza sul ruolo dei microinquinanti derivanti dall'attività delle centrali impone la necessità di analisi complete e profonde sul ciclo ambientale. Pertanto, il rischio dovrebbe sempre essere valutato in dettaglio, assumendo che tutti i microinquinanti vengano a contatto diretto con l'uomo attraverso le diverse vie potenziali e per la loro intera permanenza nell'ambiente, e questo indipendentemente dai fattori che possono ridurre la loro presenza.

Investigamos a produção de serapilheira e a taxa de decomposição foliar em uma área de cerrado sensu stricto. Coletamos mensalmente a serapilheira do componente arbustivo-arbóreo de abril de 2001 a março de 2002 e de julho de 2003 a julho de 2004. Dispusemos sistematicamente 13 coletores (0,5 x 0,5 m) em uma linha, com distância de 10 m entre eles. Separamos a serapilheira nas frações 'folhas', 'galhos', 'estruturas reprodutivas' e 'miscelânea'; as secamos em estufa a 80 °C até atingirem massa constante; e pesamos o material seco. Para analisar a taxa de decomposição foliar, acondicionamos folhas caídas recentemente em sacos de decomposição. Dispusemos sete conjuntos de nove sacos de decomposição em uma linha, distantes 10 m um do outro, sobre a superfície do solo e retiramos nove sacos a cada coleta depois de 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9 e 12 meses. As produções totais e de folhas apresentaram um padrão estacional. A queda de folhas foi o atributo fenológico que melhor respondeu à estacionalidade e à seca. A decomposição foi mais lenta no cerrado sensu stricto que estudamos do que em um fragmento de cerradão, o que refletiu em suas diferenças estruturais e ambientais. Portanto, as taxas de decomposição devem aumentar das fisionomias de cerrado abertas para as fechadas, provavelmente devido ao aumento da umidade e dos nutrientes do solo.

We investigated annual litterfall and leaf decomposition rate in a cerrado site. We collected woody plant litter monthly from April 2001 to March 2002 and from July 2003 to June 2004. We placed systematically 13 litter traps (0.5 x 0.5 m) in a line, 10 m one from the other. We sorted litter into 'leaves', 'stems', 'reproductive structures', and 'miscellanea' fractions, oven-dried them at 80 °C until constant mass and weighed the dry material. To assess leaf decomposition rate, we packed leaves recently shed by plants in litter bags. We placed seven sets of nine litter bags in a line, 10 m one from the other, on the soil surface and collected nine bags each time after 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months. Total and leaf litter productions showed a seasonal pattern. Leaf litterfall was the phenological attribute that showed the strongest response to seasonality and drought. Decomposition was slower in the cerrado that we studied compared to a more closed cerrado physiognomy, reflecting their structural and environmental differences. Thus, decomposition rates seem to increase from open to closed cerrado physiognomies, probably related to an increase of humidity and nutrients in the soil.