Soil erosion modelling: A bibliometric analysis.

Soil erosion can present a major threat to agriculture due to loss of soil, nutrients, and organic carbon. Therefore, soil erosion modelling is one of the steps used to plan suitable soil protection measures and detect erosion hotspots. A bibliometric analysis of this topic can reveal research patterns and soil erosion modelling characteristics that can help identify steps needed to enhance the research conducted in this field. Therefore, a detailed bibliometric analysis, including investigation of collaboration networks and citation patterns, should be conducted. The updated version of the Global Applications of Soil Erosion Modelling Tracker (GASEMT) database contains information about citation characteristics and publication type. Here, we investigated the impact of the number of authors, the publication type and the selected journal on the number of citations. Generalized boosted regression tree (BRT) modelling was used to evaluate the most relevant variables related to soil erosion modelling. Additionally, bibliometric networks were analysed and visualized. This study revealed that the selection of the soil erosion model has the largest impact on the number of publication citations, followed by the modelling scale and the publication's CiteScore. Some of the other GASEMT database attributes such as model calibration and validation have negligible influence on the number of citations according to the BRT model. Although it is true that studies that conduct calibration, on average, received around 30% more citations, than studies where calibration was not performed. Moreover, the bibliographic coupling and citation networks show a clear continental pattern, although the co-authorship network does not show the same characteristics. Therefore, soil erosion modellers should conduct even more comprehensive review of past studies and focus not just on the research conducted in the same country or continent. Moreover, when evaluating soil erosion models, an additional focus should be given to field measurements, model calibration, performance assessment and uncertainty of modelling results. The results of this study indicate that these GASEMT database attributes had smaller impact on the number of citations, according to the BRT model, than anticipated, which could suggest that these attributes should be given additional attention by the soil erosion modelling community. This study provides a kind of bibliographic benchmark for soil erosion modelling research papers as modellers can estimate the influence of their paper.

Fingerprinting changes in source contribution for evaluating soil response during an exceptional rainfall in Spanish pre-pyrenees.

In the Mediterranean region, floods are expected to increase as a result of climate change and knowledge of soil erosion hot spots during exceptional rainfalls is required to support mitigation measures. This study quantifies the main sediment sources during an exceptional rainfall event in 2012 (235 mm) at the outlet of two catchments located in NE Spain. To this purpose, suspended sediments were collected during the flood event, complemented with entrapped sediments in mat taken one year after the event. We used fingerprinting methodology and applied the FingerPro unmixing model to estimate the contribution from main sources. The selected tracers clearly distinguished agricultural, rangeland, subsoil and channel banks as the four potential sources in both catchments. In the Vandunchil catchment, the 8 time-integrated suspended sediment samples revealed changes in source contribution during the 2-h sampling sequence. There were relatively high contributions from rangeland, agriculture and subsoil at the beginning of the sampling, representing 30, 40 and 35% of the total source contributions, respectively. Our records captured the delivery of pulses of eroded surface soil transported by runoff with direct connectivity to the stream. The sequence was followed by a sharp increase in channel bank contribution (up to 90%) in comparison to the other sources, reflecting streambank erosion and landslide occurrence, which manifested during the flood. In contrast, in the La Reina catchment, agricultural soils contributed the most (65%) and, together with subsoils (32%), were the main sources. These results reflect the effect of the higher connectivity and slope gradient of these cultivated fields of the La Reina catchment in comparison with those of the Vandunchil catchment. We discuss the possibility of using different properties, such as radionuclides, geochemistry and magnetic measurements, as tracers to distinguish between potential sources during an exceptional event in upland Mediterranean catchments. Our results support the use of fingerprinting techniques to determine variations in source contribution and sediment provenance during flood events, as extreme rainfalls are main drivers of sediment mobilization and key factors in changing landscapes. This is essential in identifying vulnerable hot spots, in which early-stage interventions are needed, and for helping policy makers with management of soil and water resources.

Patient perceptions of disease burden and treatment of myasthenia gravis based on sentiment analysis of digital conversations.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare, autoimmune, antibody-mediated, neuromuscular disease. This study analyzed digital conversations about MG to explore unprovoked perspectives. Advanced search, data extraction, and artificial intelligence-powered algorithms were used to harvest, mine, and structure public domain digital conversations about MG from US Internet Protocol addresses (August 2021 to August 2022). Thematic analyses examined topics, mindsets, and sentiments/key drivers via natural language processing and text analytics. Findings were described by sex/gender and treatment experience with steroids or intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). The 13,234 conversations were extracted from message boards (51%), social media networks (22%), topical sites (21%), and blogs (6%). Sex/gender was confirmed as female in 5703 and male in 2781 conversations, and treatment experience was with steroids in 3255 and IVIg in 2106 conversations. Topics focused on diagnosis (29%), living with MG (28%), symptoms (24%), and treatment (19%). Within 3176 conversations about symptoms, eye problems (21%), facial muscle problems (18%), and fatigue (18%) were most commonly described. Negative sentiments about MG were expressed in 59% of conversations, with only 2% considered positive. Negative conversations were dominated by themes of impact on life (29%), misdiagnosis problems (27%), treatment issues (24%), and symptom severity (20%). Impact on life was a key driver of negativity in conversations by both men (27%) and women (34%), and treatment issues was a dominant theme in conversations by steroid-treated (29%) and IVIg-treated (31%) patients. Of 1382 conversations discussing treatment barriers, 36% focused on side effects, 33% on lack of efficacy, 21% on misdiagnosis, and 10% on cost/insurance. Side effects formed the main barrier in conversations by both steroid-treated and IVIg-treated patients. Capturing the patient voice via digital conversations reveals a high degree of concern related to burden of disease, misdiagnosis, and common MG treatments among those with MG, pointing to a need for treatment options that can improve quality of life.

Soil erosion modelling: A global review and statistical analysis.

To gain a better understanding of the global application of soil erosion prediction models, we comprehensively reviewed relevant peer-reviewed research literature on soil-erosion modelling published between 1994 and 2017. We aimed to identify (i) the processes and models most frequently addressed in the literature, (ii) the regions within which models are primarily applied, (iii) the regions which remain unaddressed and why, and (iv) how frequently studies are conducted to validate/evaluate model outcomes relative to measured data. To perform this task, we combined the collective knowledge of 67 soil-erosion scientists from 25 countries. The resulting database, named 'Global Applications of Soil Erosion Modelling Tracker (GASEMT)', includes 3030 individual modelling records from 126 countries, encompassing all continents (except Antarctica). Out of the 8471 articles identified as potentially relevant, we reviewed 1697 appropriate articles and systematically evaluated and transferred 42 relevant attributes into the database. This GASEMT database provides comprehensive insights into the state-of-the-art of soil- erosion models and model applications worldwide. This database intends to support the upcoming country-based United Nations global soil-erosion assessment in addition to helping to inform soil erosion research priorities by building a foundation for future targeted, in-depth analyses. GASEMT is an open-source database available to the entire user-community to develop research, rectify errors, and make future expansions.

NDVI, 137Cs and nutrients for tracking soil and vegetation development on glacial landforms in the Lake Parón Catchment (Cordillera Blanca, Perú).

The present dominant trend of retreating and shrinking glaciers is leading to the formation of new soil in proglacial zones. The Cordillera Blanca located in the Peruvian Andes includes the Lake Parón catchment known for the Artesonraju Glacier and its rapid retreat, forming the largest proglacial lake in the region. This work aims to gain knowledge of soil and vegetation development on the most representative proglacial landforms existing in the Parón catchment. Previous research in proglacial environments suggests that soil properties might indicate different ages of ice retreat besides the normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI), which is known to be a powerful tool for assessing vegetation development. In the area surrounding Lake Parón up to the glacier tongue, an altitudinal transect (4200-4700 m a.s.l.) was established for sampling topsoils. A total of 40 surface soil samples (0-3 cm) were collected from the main glacial landforms, moraines, colluvium, glacio-fluvial terraces and alluvial fans, developed after different stages of glacier retreat. Soil organic carbon (SOC) and SOC fractions (active and stable), total nitrogen (TN) and 137Cs were analysed. A multitemporal analysis of NDVI was performed to assess the vegetation dynamics in the Parón catchment and over the different glacial landforms over time (1987-2018). The NDVI increase in recent decades indicates an expansion of vegetation cover and density. We compared NDVI values with the SOC and TN content to assess the relationships with vegetation growth in mountain soils. NDVI and the distribution of SOC and TN content show a positive correlation between vegetation evolution and the enrichment in soil nutrients that are more abundant in older moraines in coincidence with highest NDVI. These results outline the effect of shrinking mountain glaciers on generating new soils in parallel with the growth of vegetation.

Vertical and lateral distribution of fallout 137Cs and soil properties along representative toposequences of central Rif, Morocco.

The purpose of this study is to understand and quantify the relationships between current 137Cs inventories and the soil properties and the physiographic characteristics. A total of 36 cores were taken in seven transects with different slopes, lithology and land use. The analysis focused on the 137Cs mass activity as well as inventories and its relationship with soil properties as grain size and organic matter. The mass activity of 137Cs and the inventories varied between 3.6 and 63.7 Bq kg-1 and between 521.7 and 3304.4 Bq m-2, respectively. At uncultivated soils, high concentrations of 137Cs are located in the top 10 cm and decreased exponentially in depth. Cultivated soils record disturbed and heterogeneous 137Cs profiles with values of mass activity and inventories up to 38.7 Bq kg-1 and 2510.8 Bq m-2, respectively. The 137Cs inventories were significantly higher in uncultivated soils (mean: 2086.9 Bq m-2) compared to cultivated soils (mean: 1397.1 Bq m-2). The 137Cs mass activity showed a significant positive correlation with organic matter, silt and clay, but it was negatively correlated with sand and pH respectively. High levels of 137Cs were found at altitudes between 500 m and 640 m a.s.l, and at slopes from 8° to 11°, as well as in dense scrub land and Fersialitic soils. A principal component analysis showed that more than 86.7% of the variance in 137Cs mass activity was explained by the organic matter content and the land use. The results of this study provide insights into the effects of soil properties and physiographic factors on the behaviour of 137Cs in soils of Mediterranean environments of North Africa and strengthen the reliability of this radioisotope as an erosion tracer.

Radionuclides and soil properties as indicators of glacier retreat in a recently deglaciated permafrost environment of the Maritime Antarctica.

Many ice-free environments in Maritime Antarctica are undergoing rapid and substantial environmental changes in response to recent climate trends. This is the case of Elephant Point (Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands, SSI), where the glacier retreat recorded during the last six decades exposed 17% of this small peninsula, namely a moraine extending from the western to the eastern coastlines and a relatively flat proglacial surface. In the southern margin of the peninsula, a sequence of Holocene raised beaches and several bedrock plateaus are also distributed. A main issue in this environment is the role of glacier retreat and permafrost controlling the recently formed soils. To this purpose, a total of 10 sites were sampled along a transect crossing raised beaches and moraine materials following the direction of glacier retreat. At the selected sites surface samples were collected until 12cm depth and sectioned at 3cm depth intervals to analyse main properties, grain size, pH, electrical conductivity and carbonates. Besides, elemental composition and fallout (FRNs) and environmental radionuclides (ERNs) were analysed. To assess if profile characteristics within the active layer are affected by glacier retreat variations of organic carbon and carbon fractions and 137Cs contents were examined. The presence of organic carbon (range: 0.13-3.19%), and 137Cs (range: bdl-10.1Bqkg-1) was only found at the raised beaches. The surface samples had abundant coarse fractions in rich sandy matrix with increasing acidic pH towards the coast. Significant differences were found in the elemental composition and the radionuclides between the moraine and raised beaches. Soil forming processes are related to the time of exposure of the landforms after glacier retreat. The results obtained confirm the potential for using geomorphological, edaphic and geochemical data to assess the influence of different stages of glacier retreat in recent soils and sediments.

Elementos para abordar la necesidad de información de las familias en una unidad de cuidados intensivos / Elements for Approaching the Information Needs of the Family at the ICU / Elementos para abordar a necessidade de informação das famílias em uma unidade de terapia intensiva

Introducción: el cuidado del paciente crítico de forma holística debe incluir el abordaje de la familia, que experimenta necesidades específicas derivadas de la situación crítica, una de ellas la necesidad de información. El presente estudio establece los elementos que la enfermera debe tener en cuenta para abordar efectivamente la necesidad de información. Método: revisión integrativa de la producción científica generada entre 2007 y 2016. Se incluyeron 23 artículos, por su aporte en la comprensión de los elementos para abordar la necesidad. Resultados: se establecieron seis categorías que denotan los elementos para el abordaje: características de la información, valoración e identificación de la necesidad de información, habilidades indispensables de la enfermera para abordar la necesidad de información, participación familiar en el cuidado para satisfacción de necesidad de información, condiciones para abordar la necesidad de información y tipo de información. Conclusiones: estos elementos facilitarán el abordaje de la enfermera y contribuirán así a satisfacer la necesidad de información, mejorar la calidad de vida de los familiares y los estándares de calidad en la atención, además de contribuir a la formación académica de los profesionales con elementos basados en la evidencia científica

Introduction: Holistic care of a critical patient should include approaching her/his family, as they are living specific needs caused by this critical situation. One of them is the information need. This study sets the elements that a nurse should take into account to effectively approach those information needs. Methods: It is a unifying review of the scientific production on this topic between 2007 and 2016. Twenty-three articles were included due to their contribution to understand the elements required to approach the needs described herein. Results: Six categories were defined to denote the elements for the nursing approach: information characteristics; assessment and identification of the information needs; essential skills in a nurse for approaching the information needs; family participation in the care so as to satisfy their information needs; conditions to approach the information needs; and type of information. Conclusions: These elements will make easier for a nurse to approach the family and will contribute to fulfil their information needs, to improve their quality of life, and enhance the quality standards in the health care. In addition, it contributes to the educative formation of health professionals thanks to the items based on the scientific evidence.

Introdução: O cuidado do paciente crítico de forma holística deve incluir a abordagem da família, que experimenta necessidades específicas derivadas da situação crítica, uma delas a necessidade de informação. O presente estudo estabelece os elementos que a enfermeira deve levar em conta para abordar efetivamente a necessidade de informação. Método: Revisão integrativa da produção científica gerada entre 2007 e 2016. Incluíram-se 23 artigos, pela sua contribuição na compreensão dos elementos para abordar a necessidade. Resultados: Foram estabelecidas seis categorias que denotam os elementos para a abordagem: características da informação, valoração e identificação da necessidade de informação, habilidades indispensáveis da enfermeira para abordar a necessidade de informação, participação familiar no cuidado para satisfação de necessidade de informação, condições para abordar a necessidade e tipo de informação e tipo de informação. Conclusões: Estes elementos facilitarão a abordagem da enfermeira e contribuirão assim a satisfazer a necessidade de informação, melhorar a qualidade de vida dos familiares e os padrões de qualidade na atenção, além de contribuir à formação académica dos profissionais com elementos baseados na evidência científica.

Establishing a tracer-based sediment budget to preserve wetlands in Mediterranean mountain agroecosystems (NE Spain).

Mountain wetlands in Mediterranean regions are particularly threatened in agricultural environments due to anthropogenic activity. An integrated study of source-to-sink sediment fluxes was carried out in an agricultural catchment that holds a small permanent lake included in the European NATURA 2000 Network. More than 1000 yrs of human intervention and the variety of land uses pose a substantial challenge when attempting to estimate sediment fluxes which is the first requirement to protect fragile wetlands. To date, there have been few similar studies and those that have been carried out have not addressed such complex terrain. Geostatistical interpolation and GIS tools were used to derive the soil spatial redistribution from point (137)Cs inventories, and to establish the sediment budget in a catchment located in the Southern Pyrenees. The soil redistribution was intense and soil erosion predominated over soil deposition. On the areas that maintained natural vegetation the median soil erosion and deposition rates were moderate, ranging from 2.6 to 6 Mg ha yr(-1) and 1.5 to 2.1 Mg ha yr(-1), respectively. However, in cultivated fields both erosion and deposition were significantly higher (ca. 20 Mg ha yr(-1)), and the maximum rates were always associated with tillage practices. Farming activities in the last part of the 20th century intensified soil erosion, as evidenced by the 1963 (137)Cs peaks in the lake cores and estimates from the sediment budget indicated a net deposition of 671 Mg yr(-1). Results confirm a siltation risk for the lake and provide a foundation for designing management plans to preserve this threatened wetland. This comprehensive approach provides information useful for understanding processes that influence the patterns and rates of soil transfer and deposition within fragile Mediterranean mountain wetlands subjected to climate and anthropogenic stresses.

Información: La principal necesidad de las Familias en Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) / Information: The main need of the Families in Unit of Intensive Care (ICU)

El cuidado del paciente crítico de forma holística debe incluir el abordaje de la familia, quienes experimentan necesidades específicas derivadas de la situación crítica, siendo principal la necesidad de información. El presente estudio buscó establecer los elementos fundamentales que la enfermera debe tener en cuenta para abordar la necesidad de información a través de una revisión integrativa, basada en el análisis crítico de 23 piezas científicas retomadas de una búsqueda exhaustiva con palabras claves en inglés y español en 11 bases de datos. Dentro de los resultados se determinaron 6 categorías que denotan los elementos fundamentales para el abordaje: Características de la información, valoración e identificación de la necesidad de información, habilidades indispensables de la enfermera para abordar la necesidad de información, participación familiar en el cuidado para satisfacción de necesidad de información, condiciones para abordar la necesidad de información, y tipo de información. Estos elementos facilitarán el abordaje de la enfermera contribuyendo así a satisfacer la necesidad, evitar la perpetuación de la carga emocional negativa y por ende el estrés postraumático, de tal forma que la familia logre una mejor adaptación a la situación crítica.

Holistic patient's care in a critical condition should include family, since they experience specific needs arising from the health situation. The main demand is information. This current study sought to find key elements which nurses should consider to address the necessity for information through an integrative review. This search was based upon critical analysis of 23 studies from an exhaustive investigation using English and Spanish keywords among 11 databases. As a result of that seeking, It was found out that these categories include essential elements to make that holistic approach possible: Characteristics of information, assessment and identification of informational needs, essential nurse's skills to address informational needs, family participation in care actions to satisfy the need of information, conditions to approach informational needs, kinds of information. These elements ease nurse-person approximation and they are useful to meet patient's need. Moreover, they also avoid negative emotional charge perpetuation and posttraumatic stress, which helps families to reach a better adaptation meanwhile critical situation lasts.