Rural electrification in central america and east africa, two case studies of sustainable microgrids

This paper deals with the electrification of rural villages in developing countries using Sustainable Energy Systems. The rural electrification feasibility study is done using Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable PRO (HOMER PRO). The HOMER PRO energy modelling software is an optimization software improved by U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. It helps in designing, comparing and optimizing the design of power generation technologies. In this paper, two rural electrification case studies are modelled and analysed using HOMER PRO. Technical and economic evaluation criteria are applied to study the feasibility of a micro-hydro plant in El Díptamo (Honduras), and a hybrid plant composed of photovoltaic module arrays, Diesel generators, and flow batteries, in a small island on Victoria Lake. For both cases, we show the results of the studies of the daily and yearly loads, of the resources available in the area and the economic evaluation of the chosen plants configuration

Relación entre salud y accidentalidad vial en conductores colombianos: estudio desde variables epidemiológicas

Actualmente los accidentes de tránsito son un problema de salud en Colombia. Las cifras de accidentalidad generan diferentes inquietudes, entre ellas: cuáles son los factores que inciden en su ocurrencia, cuál es el rol de los conductores, y cuál es el impacto recíproco de los accidentes de tráfico sobre la salud de la población. Con el objetivo de identificar la relación existente entre salud y accidentalidad vial en Colombia, este estudio recurrió a una metodología basada en la epidemiología social y a la encuesta como técnica. Se elaboró un cuestionario de autoreporte que se aplicó a una muestra nacional de 2000 conductores colombianos entre los 16 y los 77 años de edad. Se realizaron análisis de tipo descriptivo, de regresión lineal múltiple y modelación mediante Ecuaciones Estructurales para establecer la relación entre variables epidemiológicas y accidentalidad vial. Los resultados y modelos obtenidos muestran que existen factores de tipo psicológico, demográfico, socioeconómico y laboral, entre los cuales cabe destacar la ira y el estrés, la experiencia e intensidad horaria de la conducción, la salud general y los hábitos de vida, cuyos valores inciden significativamente en el comportamiento del fenómeno de la accidentalidad. Asimismo, este trabajo resalta la necesidad del estudio diferencial de los conductores según las características específicas de la tarea y la importancia de evaluar la validez predictiva de los instrumentos empleados con esta población. Se sugieren lineamientos prácticos orientados al trabajo integral desde las instituciones, la sociedad y la política, con una perspectiva interdisciplinar para fortalecer la prevención de los accidentes de tráfico.Abstract. Currently traffic accidents are a health problem in Colombia. The accident rates generated different concerns including issues about the factors that influence their occurrence, the role of drivers, and which is the reciprocal impact of road accidents on health of the population. In order to identify the relationship between health and road accidents in Colombia, this study developed a methodological approach based on the social epidemiology, using a survey such as technique. A self-report questionnaire was developed and applied to a national sample of 2,000 Colombian drivers between 16 and 77 years old. Descriptive analysis, multiple linear regression and structural equation modeling (SEM) were performed to establish the relationship between epidemiological variables and road accidents. The results and models obtained show that there are psychological, demographic, socioeconomic and occupational factors, including anger and stress, experience and intensity of driving task, general health and lifestyle factors, whose values affect significantly the behavior of the phenomenon of accidents. Also, this work highlights the need to perform a differential study of drivers according to the specific characteristics of the task, and the importance of assessing the predictive validity of the instruments used in this population. Practical guidelines related to the integral work from institutions, society and politics, with an interdisciplinary perspective, are suggested to strengthen the prevention of accidents.Maestrí

Comparing Job Stress, Burnout, Health and Traffic Crashes of Urban Bus and BRT Drivers

Professional driving is a very demanding task. According to the recent scientific evidence, Bus drivers tend to report high levels of occupational stress, burnout and occupational traffic accidents. With the implementation of new transportation modes, some substantial benefits and adverse circumstances for public transport operators have been documented. BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) systems have been implemented in different cities worldwide as an efficient alternative to fulfill difficulties and limitations related to traditional Urban Bus systems. However, in order to compare the efficiency of different public transport modes, it is important to assess, in addition to objective indicators, the incidence of psychosocial factors and other work-related issues over its operators. Aim: The aim of this study was to compare job stress, burnout, health indicators and traffic accidents suffered between two samples of professional bus drivers: Urban/City Bus and BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) drivers. Methods: The study sample was composed by 361 Colombian male Bus drivers with a meanage of 41.46 years, 222 of them working in Urban Bus companies, and 139 in BRT companies. It was designed a questionnaire composed by four sections: a) demographics and accident rates, b) job stress, c) burnout, and d) health indicators. Results: Significant differences were found between urban and BRT drivers for the case of different work-related variables, i.e., occupational stress, burnout and traffic accident rates, being these results more adverse, in all cases, for Urban Bus operators. Furthermore, both BRT and urban bus drivers reported elevated prevalence of adverse health habits and results. Conclusions: This study showed that the prevalence of work-related stress and burnout are significantly elevated among Colombian bus drivers. In addition, it was found that the bus drivers' job stress is related to burnout indicators. Comparatively, BRT drivers tend to present better outcomes in terms of occupational stress, burnout and occupational accidents than Urban Bus operators. The intervention on these factors represent a potentially successful alternative for the prevention of occupational traffic accidents and negative health outcomes in Bus drivers

A Randomized Trial for the Treatment of Refractory Status Epilepticus

Background: Refractory status epilepticus (RSE) has a mortality of 16-39%; coma induction is advocated for its management, but no comparative study has been performed. We aimed to assess the effectiveness (RSE control, adverse events) of the first course of propofol versus barbiturates in the treatment of RSE. Methods: In this randomized, single blind, multi-center trial studying adults with RSE not due to cerebral anoxia, medications were titrated toward EEG burst-suppression for 36-48h and then progressively weaned. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with RSE controlled after a first course of study medication; secondary endpoints included tolerability measures. Results: The trial was terminated after 3years, with only 24 patients recruited of the 150 needed; 14 subjects received propofol, 9 barbiturates. The primary endpoint was reached in 43% in the propofol versus 22% in the barbiturates arm (P=0.40). Mortality (43 vs. 34%; P=1.00) and return to baseline clinical conditions at 3months (36 vs. 44%; P=1.00) were similar. While infections and arterial hypotension did not differ between groups, barbiturate use was associated with a significantly longer mechanical ventilation (P=0.03). A non-fatal propofol infusion syndrome was detected in one patient, while one subject died of bowel ischemia after barbiturates. Discussion: Although undersampled, this trial shows significantly longer mechanical ventilation with barbiturates and the occurrence of severe treatment-related complications in both arms. We describe practical issues necessary for the success of future studies needed to improve the current unsatisfactory state of evidenc

Perception of the impact of certain health conditions on driving performance

Driving task requires the joint performance of many abilities which can be altered by several psychophysical conditions. Furthermore, a large number of recent studies on driving has found that there are several conditions that may affect the ability to operate safely motor vehicles and to prevent road crashes. The objective of this study was to describe the perception of drivers about the effect of certain health conditions on driving performance. This cross-sectional study used a total sample of n=1200 (666 [56%] men and 534 [44%] women) Spanish drivers, who answered a questionnaire designed to collect data about their psychosocial characteristics, driving habits and perceptions about the driving task. One-way ANOVA and Bonferroni's Post-hoc tests were performed to compare data among groups of drivers. Results showed that that drivers consider that the influence of alcohol, drugs, drowsiness and medicine consumption may impair their driving, but do not take into account certain health conditions that may be common among the population of drivers, such as diabetes, allergies, joint pains, myopia, heart or post-heart-attack problems, as well as headaches and migraines, as risk-related, regarding its potential negative impact on driving performance. In short, there is a substantial lack of correspondence between driver's perceptions and behaviors with respect to the impact of health conditions on crash risk, and a growing need to raise people's awareness regarding certain health conditions that may impair driving through road safety formation and media campaigns. Furthermore, taking into account the frequency of the health conditions analyzed and their high impact on driving, this research suggests implementing systems that fulfill two basic requirements: to improve the flow of preventive information for drivers, and strengthen the control and monitoring of their health through a joint action of the health care system and the traffic syste

Drivers' opinion on the driver selection system and the possible new models in Spain

One of the objectives of the driver selection system in Spain is to determine if drivers have any psychophysical disorders that may impair their driving, in order to show the psychophysical aptitudes of people when obtaining or renewing a driving license. The general objective of this research was to understand drivers' opinions on the reliability and exhaustiveness of the actual selection of driver systems, as well as whether drivers agreed with the proposal of suspending the driving license after a medical check-up, if necessary. For this national study, it was used a total sample of n=1200 (666 [56%] men and 534 [44%] women) Spanish drivers, who answered a questionnaire designed to collect data about psychosocial characteristics and their perceptions about the driver selection system and their driving habits and conditions. More than half of the drivers considered that the process to assess their psychophysical aptitudes at the Centers for Selection of Drivers was unreliable or very unreliable. On the contrary, a high percentage of drivers considered that it was appropriate to temporarily suspend their driving license after a check-up, when it was necessary. It was concluded, in other words, that drivers have not enough confidence in the current driver selection system

Socioeconomic Status, Health and Life-Style Settings as Psychosocial Risk Factors for Road Crashes in Young People: Assessing the Colombian Case

The social determinants of health influence both psychosocial risks and protective factors, especially in high-demanding contexts, such as the mobility of drivers and non-drivers. Recent evidence suggests that exploring socioeconomic status (SES), health and lifestyle-related factors might contribute to a better understanding of road traffic crashes (RTCs). Thus, the aim of this study was to construct indices for the assessment of crash rates and mobility patterns among young Colombians who live in the central region of the country. The specific objectives were developing SES, health and lifestyle indices, and assessing the self-reported RTCs and mobility features depending on these indices. A sample of 561 subjects participated in this cross-sectional study. Through a reduction approach of Principal Component Analysis (PCA), three indices were constructed. Mean and frequency differences were contrasted for the self-reported mobility, crash rates, age, and gender. As a result, SES, health and lifestyle indices explained between 56.3-67.9% of the total variance. Drivers and pedestrians who suffered crashes had higher SES. A healthier lifestyle is associated with cycling, but also with suffering more bike crashes; drivers and those reporting traffic crashes have shown greater psychosocial and lifestyle-related risk factors. Regarding gender differences, men are more likely to engage in road activities, as well as to suffer more RTCs. On the other hand, women present lower healthy lifestyle-related indices and a less active implication in mobility. Protective factors such as a high SES and a healthier lifestyle are associated with RTCs suffered by young Colombian road users. Given the differences found in this regard, a gender perspective for understanding RTCs and mobility is highly suggestible, considering that socio-economic gaps seem to differentially affect mobility and crash-related patterns

Parasitism, life history traits and immune defence in cyprinid fish from Central Europe

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens