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

An annual mean temperature map was calculated using the Kriging interpolation method for the north-central zone of Mexico to obtain the current aridity, as well as possible scenarios for the near and distant future. The altitudinal gradient was estimated by linear regression, and it was used to estimate the mean temperature. Climate Influence Areas (CIA) were obtained by superimposing the official precipitation layer and the annual mean temperature layer using Geographic Information Systems tools. Monthly databases of climatic variables were generated for each CIA and potential evapotranspiration was estimated using the Thorthwaite methodology. The Aridity Index (AI) was calculated and mapped for a base scenario (1970-2000). Subsequently, the aridity behavior of some scenarios was projected and mapped using the global climate models HADGEM 2.0, GFDLCM 3.0, MIP_ESM, and CRNMCM5. Under the best scenario projected, aridity will weaken the humid ecosystems and in the worst scenario, hyper-arid climates will appear in the study region.

Air pollution is the most important environmental problem in Zonguldak, Turkey due to excessive coal combustion and thermal power plant emissions. The city center is located on a complex terrain near the Black Sea shore. There exist some previous studies about PM10 pollution in this area, but none of them is related to the spatial distribution of the pollutant. This air quality modeling study aims to fill this gap in the literature. Firstly, a PM10 emission inventory has been prepared for point, line, and area sources for the year 2011, when bituminous coal was the principal fuel for domestic heating in houses and to generate electricity in thermal power plants, therefore particulate matter (PM10) was the leading air pollutant. Emission inventory calculations revealed that 2710.2 t of PM10 have been emitted to the atmosphere from all sources in the study area. Then, the air quality modeling has been performed for PM10 by using two air quality models: AERMOD and CALPUFF. According to the modeling results, PM10 pollution levels may pose a health threat to the inhabitants of Zonguldak. The maximum PM10 concentrations predicted by the CALPUFF model were higher than that of AERMOD. Predicted values plus background concentration were validated against the PM10 measurements by using fractional bias, index of agreement, geometric mean bias, and geometric mean-variance. According to the model performance analysis, CALPUFF showed slightly better performance as compared to AERMOD.

Earth’s surface temperature has oscillated greatly throughout time. From near total freezing during the “snowball Earth” (2.9) Ga to an ice-free world in the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum 55 (Ma). These changes have been forced by internal (e.g., changes in the chemical composition of the atmosphere) or external (e.g., changes in solar irradiance) drivers that varied through time. Thus, if we understand how the radiation budget evolved at different times, we can approximate past global climate, a fundamental comparison to situate current climate change in the context Earth’s history. Here I present an analytical framework employing a simple energy balance derived from the Stephan-Boltzmann law, that allows for quick comparison between drivers of global temperature at multiple times during the history of our planet. My results show that current rates of increase in global temperature are at least four times faster than any previous warming event.

Secondary school teachers recognize the existence of conflicting problems and personal circumstances regarding respect towards sexual diversity and, more specifically, the rights of LGTBIQ+ students and teachers. This study analyses the characteristics of those teachers that approach this issue with positive involvement and attitudes, in relation to variables such as their level of creativity, gender, sexual orientation, age and religious beliefs. A total of 124 secondary school teachers—from both public and private, secular and religious schools, and aged between 27 and 65 years—participated in the study by answering a series of questionnaires. The results show that teachers who like to think and get involved in new and original projects, and consider themselves to be more creative, also have a more active and positive position and involvement towards sexual diversity. The gender variable is also significant. The variables age and religiosity appear to be significant in interaction with sexual orientation: older heterosexual teachers, as well as more religious homosexual ones, present more negative attitudes. These results are discussed in light of their educational implications.

Reading and mathematical competences are necessary to achieve personal development and self-fulfillment. The aim of this study has been to assess—with a gender perspective—the mathematical competence and reading competence of pre-service teachers, and to make progress in the knowledge about the relationship between these two skills. A cross-sectional quantitative research design has been used. The questionnaire that has been applied involved two assessment instruments about mathematical and reading competence. 209 first year students have participated (female = 67%) from the degree in Primary Education at the University of Murcia (Spain). A statistically significant difference (p < 0.01) in mathematical competence and reading competence has been found, in favour of men. The findings of this study deepen and increase the knowledge about the relationship between mathematical competence and reading competence, through the use of statistical regression techniques. It has been demonstrated that, among all the cognitive processes of reading competence, only integration of information shows a predictive effect on the probability of being quite or very competent in mathematics. Furthermore, a gender gap in reading competence and mathematical competence, in favour of men, has been shown.

The increase in the number of students of foreign origin in Spanish schools has caused new educational challenges to be raised since the end of the 20th century, as well as the development of plans and projects with intercultural nuances and within the framework of inclusion and coexistence. For this reason, this study aims to deepen the level of recognition of cultural diversity in the official documentation of Primary Education schools in Spain, as well as to learn about the management of coexistence from an intercultural perspective in relation to the variable of the presence of foreign students at school. The methodology used, of a mixed nature, is based on a telephone survey conducted in 1,730 primary education centers in Spain and in 4 school ethnographies in Catalonia. Results suggest, firstly, a need to implement actions, plans and projects of intercultural coexistence in schools with low percentages of culturally diverse students and, secondly, the existence of conflicts related to cultural diversity, especially due to racism and/or xenophobia.

In order to ensure an optimal teaching and learning process, the mathematics teacher must be able to analyse, interpret and assess the mathematical activity of his/her students when they solve the tasks he/she sets them. This competence enables the teacher to understand the learning achievements and difficulties that students show to make relevant decisions for action. The aim of this paper is to describe and analyse the competence of a group of 130 prospective primary school teachers to interpret students' responses to a situation of proportionality (comparison problem). Among the results obtained, we highlight an insufficient didactic-mathematical knowledge of proportional reasoning, which prevents future teachers from interpreting in a relevant way the degree of correctness in the solutions or the apparent mathematical thinking of the students.

This article presents a study dealing with a self-evaluation by teachers about the promotion of inclusive education in Early Childhood and Primary schools. It is a non-probabilistic, descriptive, quantitative research, which seeks to discern whether inclusive values are taught in the school context. The ACADI self-assessment questionnaire was used as an instrument to amass information, specifically 36 items out of a total of 101 in area A (school context). For data analysis, version 26 of the SPSS statistical program was used. The sample consisted of 59 teachers of preferential educational attention centres in the XXXXX. The results show that teachers have a good perception of inclusive values, especially when it comes to those related to the School-based Educational Project and the Individualised Work Plan. It is concluded that all teachers need to be trained in order to cater for students with specific learning needs. 

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Sierra de Otontepec Ecological Reserve is an isolated mountain in the Coastal Plain of the Gulf of Mexico with high scientific relevance. However, it lacks climatological information to support the studies of the ecosystems that have been carried out in recent years. GIS modeling characterized its climatology, and climate variability scenarios were created for the period 1981-2010. From temperature and precipitation data recorded in situ, vertical gradients of both variables were obtained in relation to the orography of the zone. The records were correlated with data from nearby weather stations so that by using a DEM, it was possible to obtain raster layers with a resolution of 15 meters per pixel (MPP) for temperature in the summer and winter seasons; and for precipitation in the rainy and dry seasons; the annual value was also calculated for both variables. The climatic variability detected in the zone indicates a gradual increase in air temperature over time and a spatial variation in the distribution of precipitation. The spatial resolution of the modeling is precisely adjusted to the relief of the mountain, allowing the flora and fauna elements found within each pixel to be analyzed with a good level of detail. This work represents the most viable and effective alternative to estimate temperature and precipitation values in mountain systems lacking climatological stations, demonstrating that beyond providing climate information, which is increasingly necessary for ecosystems, it is possible to model their Spatio-temporal dynamics to understand the complex climate variability of our days.