Benedo Rojas y Bernardino Vega

Benedo Rojas y Bernardino Vega. La memoría viviente de Ulloa, Diciembre de. C. 1998.

Plan estratégico de administración de riesgo para evitar los desastres físico-naturales de las familias residentes en los barrios modelo y la vega del municipio de San Salvador.

En este documento se presentan las condiciones de riesgo físiconaturales que viven las 60 familias residentes en la zona de los Barrios Modelo y la Vega en el Municipio de San Salvador; la cual se ha determinado como de alto riesgo y precaria, a través de un exhaustivo estudio en la zona afectada. El objetivo de la investigación radica en la elaboración de un Plan Estratégico de Administración de riesgo, que contribuya a evitar los desastres físico-naturales y que ayude a reducir la vulnerabilidad de las personas y bienes expuestos a los peligros y riesgos naturales. Para el desarrollo del estudio fue necesario el uso de diferentes fuentes secundarias como referencias bibliográficas y experiencias de países vecinos, entre otras; como también la realización de la investigación de campo, como fuentes de información primaria, utilizando para ello el Método Científico, ya que indica el procedimiento que debe seguirse para llevar a cabo una investigación que busque dar una explicación lógica, así como comprobar fenómenos o situaciones de carácter natural; se utilizó el método deductivo y se hizo uso de las técnicas de la encuesta y la observación directa para la recolección de información. Entre los principales hallazgos encontrados en las comunidades en estudio se tienen: 1) No cuentan con un Plan Estratégico de Administración de Riesgo que contenga la información necesaria y oportuna que les permita a los residentes de la zona tomar decisiones adecuadas para salvaguardar sus vidas y bienes materiales; 2) Las familias no poseen los recursos económicos necesarios para adquirir una vivienda digna alejada de los márgenes de ríos y quebradas, tal es el caso del Río Acelhuate; 3) No existe ningún tipo de organización entre los residentes de la zona que les permita realizar la gestiones y acciones adecuadas en el momento de presentarse un evento de emergencia. En cuanto a las recomendaciones que se elaboraron están: 1) La elaboración de un Plan Estratégico de Administración de Riesgo orientado a disminuir las condiciones de riesgo que enfrentan los habitantes; 2) Búsqueda de los recursos financieros y humanos necesarios que permita llevar a cabo la implementación del Plan; 3) La creación de un Comité Administrador de Riesgos, que se encargue de capacitar a los residentes de los Barrios Modelo y la Vega en materia de organización comunal, lo cual permitiría realizar enlaces con las autoridades gubernamentales y no gubernamentales; 4) Dar a conocer a los habitantes de la zona, herramientas útiles como mapas con rutas de evacuación, avisos de alerta temprana y simulacros para casos de emergencia. Se presenta la propuesta de un Plan Estratégico, en el cuál se establecen los Objetivos, Metas, Estrategias, Políticas, y Programas encaminados a la concientización y sensibilización de los residentes con el fin de reducir la vulnerabilidad, se detallan además las principales fuentes de recursos para el financiamiento del mismo. Finalmente se presentan los pasos a seguir para la implementación del Plan Estratégico el cual lo llevará a cabo el Comité Administrador de Riesgos, en coordinación con el Distrito Cinco de la alcaldía Municipal de San Salvador quienes serán los encargados de impulsar y motivar a las personas involucradas en la ejecución satisfactoria del mismo.

Análisis comparativo de la percepción que los jóvenes de la comunidad Darío González del Barrio de San Jacinto, en el Municipio de San Salvador y el Barrio la Vega del Municipio de San Antonio los Ranchos, en Chalatenango tienen sobre el Noticiero Código 21 desde el mes de febrero hasta junio de 2016

La televisión se ha convertido gradualmente en el medio de comunicación más influyente de los últimos años en la vida cotidiana de las audiencias, independientemente del lugar donde éstas habiten o el estrato social al que pertenezcan. En ese sentido, desde el punto de vista comunicativo, resulta importante tratar de comprender de mejor manera la forma cómo se produce dicho fenómeno social, es decir, por qué consumen los productos comunicativos las audiencias, de qué manera los consumen o si les resulta de utilidad observar de forma continua o con cierta regularidad estos materiales transmitidos a través de un canal de televisión. Para lograr dicho propósito, existen diversas formas y elementos fundamentales mediante los cuales se puede conocer y observar, directa o indirectamente, no sólo la opinión de los televidentes respecto a un programa en particular, sino también se puede determinar en alguna medida si esta audiencia pasa de una actitud pasiva a una activa, debido a que arranca con la atención hacia el programa que observa para luego pasar a una etapa de comprensión, selección, valoración de lo percibido y finalmente puede o no compartir dicha información, ya sea con su familia, amigos, conocidos, entre otras personas

TRIBUNAL ARBITRAL DE D&S S.A, CONSTRUCCIONES NAMUS S.A, SOHINCO CONSTRUCTORA S.A, YAMIL SABBAGH SOLANO y DAVID VEGA LUNA (MIEMBROS DE LA UNION TEMPORAL AGUAS TINTAL) VS. EMPRESA DE ACUEDUCTO Y ALCANTARILLADO DE BOGOTÁ E.S.P.

1993

Airborne particulate matter at a bus station : concentration levels and governing parameters

Traffic emissions are an important contributor to ambient air pollution, especially in large cities featuring extensive and high density traffic networks. Bus fleets represent a significant part of inner city traffic causing an increase in exposure to general public, passengers and drivers along bus routes and at bus stations. Limited information is available on quantification of the levels, and governing parameters affecting the air pollution exposure at bus stations. The presented study investigated the bus emissions-dominated ambient air in a large, inner city bus station, with a specific focus on submicrometer particles. The study’s objectives were (i) quantification of the concentration levels; (ii) characterisation of the spatio-temporal variation; (iii) identification of the parameters governing the emissions levels at the bus station and (iv) assessment of the relationship between particle concentrations measured at the street level (background) and within the bus station. The results show that up to 90% of the emissions at the station are ultrafine particles (smaller than 100 nm), with the concentration levels up to 10 times the value of urban ambient air background (annual) and up to 4 times the local ambient air background. The governing parameters affecting particle concentration at the station were bus flow rate and meteorological conditions (wind velocity). Particle concentration followed a diurnal trend, with an increase in the morning and evening, associated with traffic rush hours. Passengers’ exposure could be significant compared to the average outdoor and indoor exposure levels.

Molecular architecture of the human sinus node: insights into the function of the cardiac pacemaker.

BACKGROUND: Although we know much about the molecular makeup of the sinus node (SN) in small mammals, little is known about it in humans. The aims of the present study were to investigate the expression of ion channels in the human SN and to use the data to predict electrical activity. METHODS AND RESULTS: Quantitative polymerase chain reaction, in situ hybridization, and immunofluorescence were used to analyze 6 human tissue samples. Messenger RNA (mRNA) for 120 ion channels (and some related proteins) was measured in the SN, a novel paranodal area, and the right atrium (RA). The results showed, for example, that in the SN compared with the RA, there was a lower expression of Na(v)1.5, K(v)4.3, K(v)1.5, ERG, K(ir)2.1, K(ir)6.2, RyR2, SERCA2a, Cx40, and Cx43 mRNAs but a higher expression of Ca(v)1.3, Ca(v)3.1, HCN1, and HCN4 mRNAs. The expression pattern of many ion channels in the paranodal area was intermediate between that of the SN and RA; however, compared with the SN and RA, the paranodal area showed greater expression of K(v)4.2, K(ir)6.1, TASK1, SK2, and MiRP2. Expression of ion channel proteins was in agreement with expression of the corresponding mRNAs. The levels of mRNA in the SN, as a percentage of those in the RA, were used to estimate conductances of key ionic currents as a percentage of those in a mathematical model of human atrial action potential. The resulting SN model successfully produced pacemaking. CONCLUSIONS: Ion channels show a complex and heterogeneous pattern of expression in the SN, paranodal area, and RA in humans, and the expression pattern is appropriate to explain pacemaking.

Melt electrospinning of polycaprolactone and its blends with poly(ethylene glycol)

Melt electrospinning is one aspect of electrospinning with relatively little published literature, although the technique avoids solvent accumulation and/or toxicity which is favoured in certain applications. In the study reported, we melt-electrospun blends of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and an amphiphilic diblock copolymer consisting of poly(ethylene glycol) and PCL segments (PEG-block-PCL). A custom-made electrospinning apparatus was built and various combinations of instrument parameters such as voltage and polymer feeding rate were investigated. Pure PEG-block-PCL copolymer melt electrospinning did not result in consistent and uniform fibres due to the low molecular weight, while blends of PCL and PEG-block-PCL, for some parameter combinations and certain weight ratios of the two components, were able to produce continuous fibres significantly thinner (average diameter of ca 2 µm) compared to pure PCL. The PCL fibres obtained had average diameters ranging from 6 to 33 µm and meshes were uniform for the lowest voltage employed while mesh uniformity decreased when the voltage was increased. This approach shows that PCL and blends of PEG-block-PCL and PCL can be readily processed by melt electrospinning to obtain fibrous meshes with varied average diameters and morphologies that are of interest for tissue engineering purposes. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry

Continuous passive motion applied to whole joints stimulates chondrocyte blosynthesis of PRG4

Continuous passive motion (CPM) is currently a part of patient rehabilitation regimens after a variety of orthopedic surgical procedures. While CPM can enhance the joint healing process, the direct effects of CPM on cartilage metabolism remain unknown. Recent in vivo and in vitro observations suggest that mechanical stimuli can regulate articular cartilage metabolism of proteoglycan 4 (PRG4), a putative lubricating and chondroprotective molecule found in synovial fluid and at the articular cartilage surface. ----- ----- Objectives: (1) Determine the topographical variation in intrinsic cartilage PRG4 secretion. (2) Apply a CPM device to whole joints in bioreactors and assess effects of CPM on PRG4 biosynthesis.----- ----- Methods: A bioreactor was developed to apply CPM to bovine stifle joints in vitro. Effects of 24 h of CPM on PRG4 biosynthesis were determined.----- ----- Results: PRG4 secretion rate varied markedly over the joint surface. Rehabilitative joint motion applied in the form of CPM regulated PRG4 biosynthesis, in a manner dependent on the duty cycle of cartilage sliding against opposing tissues. Specifically, in certain regions of the femoral condyle that were continuously or intermittently sliding against meniscus and tibial cartilage during CPM, chondrocyte PRG4 synthesis was higher with CPM than without.----- ----- Conclusions: Rehabilitative joint motion, applied in the form of CPM, stimulates chondrocyte PRG4 metabolism. The stimulation of PRG4 synthesis is one mechanism by which CPM may benefit cartilage and joint health in post-operative rehabilitation. (C) 2006 Osteoarthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

High-pressure Raman spectroscopic and other structural studies of hydrotalcites containing intercalated dicarboxylic acid anions

The results of pressure-tuning Raman spectroscopic, X-ray powder diffraction and solid-state 13C-NMR studies of selected dicarboxylate anions intercalated in a Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (talcite) lattice are reported. The pressure dependences of the vibrational modes are linear for pressures up to 4.6 GPa indicating that no phase transitions occur. The interlayer spacings show that the oxalate, malonate and succinate dianions are oriented perpendicular to the layers, but the glutarate and adipate are tilted. The solid-state 13C-NMR spectra of these materials show full chemical shift anisotropy and, therefore, the anions are not mobile at room temperature.

Raman microscopy study of tyrolite : a multi-anion arsenate mineral

The Raman spectrum of tyrolite, CaCu5(AsO4)2(CO3)(OH) 4.6H2O, from Brixlegg, Tyrol, Austria, is reported. Comparison with copper hydroxy-arsenate and basic carbonates was used to achieve assignments of the observed bands. The AsO43- group is characterized by two υ4 modes around 433 and 480 cm-1 plus a broad band around 840 cm-1 as the υ overlapping with the υ. The υ3 mode is observed as a single band around 355 cm -1. The CO32- υ1 mode is observed around 1035 and 1088 cm-1, although this assignment is difficult because of the in-plane OH bending vibrations at similar frequencies. Two υ4 modes are assigned to the 717 and 755 cm-1 bands. The υ3 mode is present as three bands at 1431, 1463, and 1498 cm-1. A large split caused by bridging carbonates may explain the band at 1370 cm -1. The H2O bending region shows two bands at 1635 and 1667 cm-1 together with stretching modes around 3204 and 3303 cm-1, the first associated with adsorbed H2O, while the second indicates more strongly bonded H2O. Three bands around 3534, 3438, and 3379 cm -1 are assigned to OH stretching modes of the OH groups in the crystal structure. The 202, 262, 301, 524, and 534 cm-1 bands are assigned to Cu-OH bending and stretching modes, whereas the bands around 179, 202, and 217 cm-1 are ascribed to O-(Ca, Cu)-O(H) with the O(H) at much greater distance from the cation. The bands around 503, 570, and 598 cm-1 are ascribed to the Cu-O stretching modes.

Contribution of take-out food consumption to socioeconomic differences in fruit and vegetable intake : a mediation analysis

Lower fruit and vegetable intake among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups has been well documented, and may be a consequence of a higher consumption of take-out foods. This study examined whether, and to what extent, take-out food consumption mediated (explained) the association between socioeconomic position and fruit and vegetable intake. A cross-sectional postal survey was conducted among 1500 randomly selected adults aged 25–64 years in Brisbane, Australia in 2009 (response rate = 63.7%, N = 903). A food frequency questionnaire assessed usual daily servings of fruits and vegetables (0 to 6), overall take-out consumption (times/week) and the consumption of 22 specific take-out items (never to ≥once/day). These specific take-out items were grouped into “less healthy” and “healthy” choices and indices were created for each type of choice (0 to 100). Socioeconomic position was ascertained by education. The analyses were performed using linear regression, and a bootstrap re-sampling approach estimated the statistical significance of the mediated effects. Mean daily serves of fruits and vegetables was 1.89 (SD 1.05) and 2.47 (SD 1.12) respectively. The least educated group were more likely to consume fewer serves of fruit (B= –0.39, p<0.001) and vegetables (B= –0.43, p<0.001) compared with the highest educated. The consumption of “less healthy” take-out food partly explained (mediated) education differences in fruit and vegetable intake; however, no mediating effects were observed for overall and “healthy” take-out consumption. Regular consumption of “less healthy” take-out items may contribute to socioeconomic differences in fruit and vegetable intake, possibly by displacing these foods.

A mask-based approach for the geometric calibration of thermal-infrared cameras

Accurate and efficient thermal-infrared (IR) camera calibration is important for advancing computer vision research within the thermal modality. This paper presents an approach for geometrically calibrating individual and multiple cameras in both the thermal and visible modalities. The proposed technique can be used to correct for lens distortion and to simultaneously reference both visible and thermal-IR cameras to a single coordinate frame. The most popular existing approach for the geometric calibration of thermal cameras uses a printed chessboard heated by a flood lamp and is comparatively inaccurate and difficult to execute. Additionally, software toolkits provided for calibration either are unsuitable for this task or require substantial manual intervention. A new geometric mask with high thermal contrast and not requiring a flood lamp is presented as an alternative calibration pattern. Calibration points on the pattern are then accurately located using a clustering-based algorithm which utilizes the maximally stable extremal region detector. This algorithm is integrated into an automatic end-to-end system for calibrating single or multiple cameras. The evaluation shows that using the proposed mask achieves a mean reprojection error up to 78% lower than that using a heated chessboard. The effectiveness of the approach is further demonstrated by using it to calibrate two multiple-camera multiple-modality setups. Source code and binaries for the developed software are provided on the project Web site.

A classification framework for design-build variants from an operational perspective

Design-build (DB) is a generic form of construction procurement, and, rather than simply representing a single system, it has evolved in practice into a variety of forms, each of which is similar to, and yet different from each other. Although the importance of selecting an appropriate DB variant has been widely accepted, difficulties occur in practice due to the multiplicity of terms and concepts used. What is needed is some kind of taxonomy or framework within which the individual variants can be placed and their relative attributes identified and understood. Through a comprehensive literature review and content analysis, this paper establishes a systematic classification framework for DB variants based on their operational attributes. In addition to providing much needed support for decision-making, this classification framework provides client/owners with perspectives to understand and examine different categories of DB variants from an operational perspective.