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This study proposes by means of analytical characterization techniques, a structural evaluation of the surface modification of a ferrous material by three-dimensional ion implantation plasma technology. Carbon steel substrates immerse in a gaseous atmosphere, were surface-implanted with nitrogen ions via high voltage pulse discharges activated at a low-pressure range ("high vacuum"). The effect of the surface treatment on the structure, composition, and morphology of the substrates was verified by microscopy and spectroscopy techniques. From the micrographs obtained by scanning electronic microscopy and the analysis elemental by energy dispersive spectroscopy the morphology and nitrogen concentration of the treated and non-treated samples were analyzed and compared. As for the elemental analysis by energy dispersive spectroscopy, nitrogen concentration in the implanted substrates were detected and determined at a relatively low amount. In regard to the x-ray diffraction results, a decrease in the intensity of the (110), (200) and (211) planes of the treated substrate compared with the reference substrate, was observed. The analysis of phases-formation on the surface material performed by Raman spectroscopy, identified mainly ferric oxy-hydroxides typical uniform corrosion products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The clinical simulator, specifically the simulated patient, generates a significant learning and an approach to reality, preparing the undergraduate student for better performance and quality in the care. Objective: To evaluate the influence of the use of the simulated patient to get a meaningful learning of the content about the procedure "wound healing" and how this learning has been used in the clinical practice. Materials and Methods: A quantitative, comparative quasi-experimental study was designed. The use of the simulated patient was implemented in a group of 60 students from the first year of the nursing degree; while in another group, also of 60 students, traditional teaching was used. Subsequently, in clinical practice, the execution of the procedure was evaluated against real patients in both groups. Results: Concerning the student's perception, it was found that both groups reported the importance of the use of specific instructional strategies such as simulation. There were significant differences between groups in knowledge level, skills, and procedure execution. The execution improved in the intervention group. Conclusions: The students perceive the difference between the two methods. However, they say that it is better to continue teaching by repetition (traditional). They diminish abilities acquired in analogous practice, especially that carried out by simulators. However, when facing the real patient's attention, those who used the simulator perform the procedures better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to identify psychological processes related with posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTS) and posttraumatic growth (PTG). Through a path analysis it was evaluated a model that related the PTS and PTG with subjective severity of trauma, impact on the basic beliefs, social sharing and rumination related to an event. Were selected 291 college students who were exposed to the earthquake and tsunami in Chile, 2010. The final model obtained shows that the PTS and PTG are produced by different routes, even when in some phases the same psychological variables are involved such as the subjective severity and social sharing. The intrusive rumination appears as a mediator of the PTS and the deliberate rumination of the PTG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]