Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

Total monthly recharges, discharges by groundwater flow to discharge zones and losses by direct evapotranspiration from the water table are studied from the daily variation of the water table level in a shallow well in the flat area of the Azul stream basin., located at the Pampean plain. The phreatic levels were recorded using a piezoresistive pressure sensor. The analyzed phreatic aquifer is the Pampeano aquifer. The phreatic levels varied in the period analyzed (2007-2018) between 0.5 and 4 m deep. Direct evapotranspiration discharges from the water table have been found to be a relevant fraction of the total recharge (42%). Direct evapotranspiration discharges are higher in warm months, although the least inter-annual variability occurs in cold and warm months. The greatest variability occurs in autumn and spring. In the period 2007-2018, the average annual total recharge was 252 mm, the average annual loss of recharge to the atmosphere was 105 mm, with a standard deviation of 25 mm and a coefficient of variation of 0.24. This important percentage of the total recharge that is lost by direct evapotranspiration means that the soil water balances must be considered with special attention to estimate the recharge to the aquifer (which does not consider this loss) and explains certain inconsistencies with the groundwater flow models. that required a decrease in recharge in the flattest area to enable the adjustment of the water table levels.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of a cover crop (CC) in a soybean-soybean sequence, on the losses of water and soil produced by water erosion in different environments of an eroded soil. The experiment was developed on a typical Argiudol soil, with a divided plot design, where the largest plots were the environments of the experimental site, differentiated by their topography in: Hump (average slope 0.15%), Half hump (average slope 0.9%) and Low (mean slope <0.1%) and the smaller plots corresponded to the treatment sub-factor, with two levels: CCC (with cover crops) and SCC (without cover crops) based on a mixture oats (Avena sativa L.) and vicia (Vicia sativa L.). The dry matter production (DM) of the CC was obtained and simulated rains were applied in each plot, at a constant intensity of 60 mm.h-1 and a duration of 1 h, in pre-flowering of the successor soybean crop. In each plot, after the simulated rain, the total loss of water in mm (l.m2) was recorded and the respective percentage of the total applied rain was calculated. Before applying the simulated rains, the vegetation cover (%) and the surface roughness in mm (RR) were evaluated. Total soil loss was measured for each rain in g.m-2. Surface coverage and RR increased significantly due to the inclusion of CC. The total water losses due to surface and soil runoff in Hump, Half hump and Low CCC were significantly lower in SCC. The water erosion processes were mitigated by the CC through the increase in surface coverage and roughness.

A distributed groundwater flow model has been constructed, with aggregated inputs and parameters for the entire modeling domain. This simplified approach was carried out in order to characterize general processes and adjust the preliminary conceptual model of the sector. Methodologies to complete the discontinuous series of water tables, which were used as the upstream condition, have been proposed. A linear regression between daily precipitation minus evapotranspiration anomalies with a weekly delay and water table levels was selected due to its good results. The aquifer transmissivity, the storage coefficient, a recharge coefficient, a critical depth for evapotranspiration and a shape coefficient for the evapotranspiration vs. water table depth curve were considered as global calibration parameters. The Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficients between modeled and observed levels in six wells ranged between 0.58 and 0.72. After the calibration, it can be affirmed that the parameters obtained allow a satisfactory representation of the evolution of observed groundwater levels and of the spatial patterns of the iso-phreatic curves. The prominent role of the evapotranspiration processis evident, which directly impacts in the aquifer, which representing a very relevant output from the system. In the simulationperiod of 43 months, with dry characteristics, the recharge constituted 17% of the precipitation, 87% of it returned to the atmosphere as evapotranspiration, and the aquifer supplied the 12.7% of the ETo of the period. It was considered that the simplified modeling allowed an acceptable representation of the water table dynamics. 

The reel machines irrigation technique has expanded in recent years thanks to the technological improvements that have been introduced. Several investigations have been carried out regarding the effectiveness of the irrigation of this equipment with “gun” type water distribution systems, but very few about the “boom with emitters”. This includes methodological or calculation procedures for dimensioning irrigation in an agricultural area. Therefore, the objective of this work is to establish a comprehensive methodology for the correct dimensioning of irrigation by reel machines with water distribution systems of the "gun" and "boom with emitters" type. Agronomic design is addressed as a fundamental part, and hydraulic design up to the necessary pressure in the hydrant. The relevant aspects in this procedure are that, formulations are included for the dimensioning of irrigation with water distribution systems of the “boom with emitters” type, and that correct values and criteria are used to support the methodology, because these come from authors and institutions of international prestige.

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The purpose of this research was to analyze the positioning of Panamanian universities in terms of academic quality and research in two of the 2018 international rankings: the QS Latin America Ranking and the Ibero-American Ranking of Higher Education Institutions (SCImago). For this research, the indicators of academic reputation, employer reputation, and the proportion of teachers per student have been analyzed: the indicators evaluated at the QS Latin America University. This study also analyzed indicators such as Output, International Collaboration, Standardized Impact, High-Quality Publications, Scientific Leadership and Excellence, six fundamental factors in the SCImago Institution Ranking. This research demonstrates that the low scores in the indicators of the international rankings, and therefore, the scarce presence of Panamanian universities in the Rankings, constitutes one of the great challenges in academic quality and research culture, which should lead to the improvement of the teaching, competitiveness, innovation and teaching of institutions at a higher level.

Desde las concepciones de cada una de las culturas, las mujeres indígenas forman un pilar importante dentro de sus comunidades, son ellas las formadoras del núcleo familiar, de las tradiciones y una de las más grandes representaciones del origen de un pueblo ancestral.En muchos de los espacios contra la represión, la desigualdad, la violencia y el conflicto son las mujeres quienes se han posicionado por la defensa de los derechos colectivos, es así como muchas se han dedicado a fortalecer y exigir por las voces de sus pueblos. 

The general objective of this study was to analyze the coaching and its relationship to leadership and development of soft skills, as well as to describe the status of coaching in companies in Panama. 20 companies, 7 multinationals, 5 regional and 8 national companies were interviewed, from medium to large size companies, in Panama City, with coaching processes in the last three years. The information was collected between March and July 2018, and was analyzed through descriptive statistics and content analysis. Leadership development and communication improvement were simultaneously the motivations and perceived benefits most mentioned by companies to implement coaching processes. The processes carried out by external coaches derive mostly from specific needs and focus on management levels. About a third of companies considered having a coaching culture. Most companies did not consider applying specific tools for measuring benefits. The research provided knowledge about the use of coaching in companies in Panama, main motivations, and perceived benefits connected with leadership and soft skills development.

This article reviews the literature on transformational leadership, applies it to the unique context of higher education, and elaborates on an educational intervention in transformational leadership to faculty supervisors at higher education institutions in Panama. A mixed-methods study evaluated the impact of the intervention on the perspectives and attitudes of the participants. The results demonstrate that the professional development program was effective in generating reflections among faculty supervisors that reflected a deep understanding of the importance of transformational leadership as a tool to influence faculty and potentially generate higher levels of faculty engagement.

This article addresses issues of reading and interpreting construction from architectural, social, educational, and religious angles. We argue in this essay that reading the landscape of a city and the intricacies of a community are the same as reading a book. This reading act implies a very complex process that includes not only comparing and analyzing visual, historical, socio-cultural, and verbal information to connect the dots of inequality. It also involves acting within a social realm to bridge the gap between the silenced voices of the disenfranchised and the voices of power holders. Two examples of social builders in regards to this topic have been provided.