Recent and ongoing transformations of the Nevado Coropuna tropical cryosphere (Central Andes): the Ground-Penetrating Radar perspective

The evaluation of presence and origin of ground-ice in the non-glaciated peripheral areas of Nevado Corpuna can contribute to a more refined estimation of its real extent, as well as of the ongoing and recent transformation processes (i.e. permafrost aggradation/degradation). We carried out GPR surveys in sectors immediately outside the glacial tongues which diverge from the glaciated area, both on rock glaciers and debris-covered glaciers. The data acquisition was made with an unshielded antenna operating at a central frequency of 25 MHz, and according longitudinal and cross profiles. We defined a processing sequence particularly effective in removing in air-reflections generated by isolated blocks on the surface, and the numerous point-source diffractions. The signal-to-noise ratio consents a data imaging interpretable up to 25-30 m of depth, according to the estimated velocity of GPR waves propagation. In some sectors we calibrated the GPR data (depth and reflection amplitude) with those obtained from Vertical Electric Sounding. The rock glaciers examined show a reflective pattern consistent with a permafrost that extends from 2-4 m to more than 20 m depth. The GPR reflections also depict a permafrost stratigraphic architecture, and potential deformation structures in the frozen layers (i.e. shear planes). The GPR profiles made on debris-covered glaciers show a high-amplitude reflection consistent with the presence of near-surface (2-3 m depth) (sedimentary) ice, which in depth exhibits a radar facies less characterized by reflection events than those of rock glaciers. Also in this case an ice stratigraphy and potential deformation features in layers highly rich in ice are visible. The GPR data allowed a view of ice-ground presence in the ice-free areas in Nevado Coropuna and can be integrated with the glaciological evolution of the last decades to build a forecasting model that considers the transformation from clean-ice to debris-covered glacier or permafrost landforms

Effect of the consumption of high oleic palm oil and extra-virgin olive oil on the levels of plasma lipids and lipoproteins

El aceite de palma alto oleico proviene del cruzamiento entre la palma americana (Elaeis oleifera) y la palma africana (Elaeis guineensis). Se ha encontrado que el aceite de palma alto oleico (Elaeis oleifera x Elaeis guineensis) posee un elevado contenido de antioxidantes y compuestos cardioprotectores como beta-caroteno, tocoferoles y tocotrienoles. Sin embargo, hasta el presente estudio no se contaba con documentación de los efectos del consumo de este aceite en la salud humana. Por esta razón, el objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar el efecto del consumo de aceite de palma alto oleico (grupo experimental) y de aceite de oliva extra-virgen (grupo control) sobre el perfil lipídico de individuos mayores de 50 años. Los resultados del estudio señalan que después del consumo de estos aceites los sujetos de ambos grupos mostraron una disminución significativa en el colesterol total y las lipoproteínas de baja densidad. Considerando que ambos aceites mostraron resultados similares, se concluye que el aceite de palma alto oleico podría ser considerado como el “equivalente tropical” del aceite de oliva extra-virgen, aportando beneficios similares a este último para la salud cardiovascular.32-4

Application of machine learning techniques for the estimation of seismic vulnerability in the city of Port-au-Prince (Haiti)

High resolution, city-level exposure databases are important tools for risk planning and damage assessment. However, this kind of information is not always available, especially in developing countries where cities have grown rapidly without excessive planning or oversight, and sending a team of engineers to manually generate such a database by traditional means can be prohibitively costly. In recent years, we have seen tremendous growth in the availability of Earth Observation (EO) data, such as multispectral imagery or LiDAR point clouds, and also the processing capabilities of said data, not just in raw computing power but also in novel statistical modeling and analytical techniques known as Machine Learning (ML) and Computer Vision (CV). The aim of this work is to apply Machine Learning methods to aid in the generation of such databases as a case study in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and to expose these methods in a comprehensible, reproducible fashion, as a series of open-source programming scripts

SUSTAINABLE RURAL CITY OF JALTENANGO: PROS AND CONS FOR LAND PLANNING

Este artículo tiene como objetivo analizar los resultados del Programa de Ciudades Rurales Sustentables (CRS) implementado por el Gobierno del Estado de Chiapas, México, tomando como referencia la Ciudad Rural Sustentable de Jaltenango (CRSJ), edificada en el municipio de Ángel Albino Corzo en el año 2012. El Programa tiene la finalidad de atender a la población en situación de riesgo ante desastres naturales, dispersión geográfica y marginación. En este trabajo se presentan los resultados de cuatro de los subsistemas que componen el Programa de CRS: demográficosociocultural, económico-productivo, urbano-territorial y gestión municipal. Entre los resultados obtenidos se encuentran tanto los beneficios como algunos efectos no esperados de la implementación de esta política, los cuales deben ser considerados en las revisiones y evaluaciones del Programa, para mejorar las decisiones que los actores involucrados deben tomar sobre los problemas públicos que se buscan solucionar.This article analyzes the results of the Sustainable Rural Cities Program (CRS, por its name in Spanish) implemented by the government of Chiapas. It refers to the Sustainable Rural City of Jaltenango, built in 2012, in the township of Angel Albino Corzo. The program aims at assisting the population at risk of natural disasters, geographic dispersion and marginalization. This paper presents the results from four subsystems of the CRS Program: socio-demography, economic productivity, urban-land, and municipal management. Results show the benefits and some unexpected effects of the implementation of this policy. These effects must be considered in the program reviews and assessment to improve the decisions that stakeholders should make if they look for solutions to public problems

Shapes of river networks

River network scaling laws describe how their shape varies with their size. However, the regional variation of this size-dependence remains poorly understood. Here we show that river network scaling laws vary systematically with the climatic aridity index. We find that arid basins do not change their proportions with size, while humid basins do. To explore why, we study an aspect ratio L /L ∥ between basin width L and basin length L ∥. We find that the aspect ratio exhibits a dependence on climate and argue that this can be understood as a structural consequence of the confluence angle. We then find that, in humid basins, the aspect ratio decreases with basin size, which we attribute to a common hydrogeological hierarchy. Our results offer an explanation of the variability in network scaling exponents and suggest that the absence of self-similarity in humid basins can be understood as a morphological expression of subsurface processes.United States. Department of Energy. Office of Basic Energy Sciences. Chemical Sciences, Geosciences and Biosciences Division (Award FG02-99ER15004

¡Pícaros a escena! Teatralizaciones de la novela picaresca en el siglo XXI

This ten hands article brings together one of the conferences and two interviews-dialogue from the seminar ¡Pícaros a escena! Teatralizaciones de la novela picaresca en el siglo XXI, held at the Posada del Potro at Córdoba on 9 December 2022. It includes the adaptation by Els Joglars (2014) of El coloquio de los perros by Miguel de Cervantes (Albert Boadella and Ramón Fontseré), the rewrite of Rinconete y Cortadillo (also by the author of the Novelas ejemplares) in the hands of Alberto Conejero (2016) and the frame of La pícara Justina by Francisco López de Úbeda, La hija de Celestina by Alonso Jerónimo de Salas Barbadillo and La niña de los embustes. Teresa de Manzanares by Alonso de Castillo Solórzano in Malvivir (2022) by Álvaro Tato and Ron Lalá.Este artículo a diez manos recoge una de las conferencias y sendas entrevistas-diálogo de la jornada ¡Pícaros a escena! Teatralizaciones de la novela picaresca en el siglo XXI, celebrada en la Posada del Potro de Córdoba el 9 de diciembre de 2022. Se fundan sobre la adaptación de El coloquio de los perros de Miguel de Cervantes por Els Joglars (Albert Boadella y Ramón Fontseré) (2014), la reescritura de Rinconete y Cortadillo (también del autor de las Novelas ejemplares) a cargo de Alberto Conejero (2016) y el bastidor de La pícara Justina de Francisco López de Úbeda, La hija de Celestina de Alonso Jerónimo de Salas Barbadillo y La niña de los embustes. Teresa de Manzanares de Alonso de Castillo Solórzano en Malvivir (2022) de Álvaro Tato y Ron Lalá

Using remote sensing for exposure and seismic vulnerability evaluation: is it reliable?

Conducting field surveys for exposure and seismic vulnerability evaluation is the most costly, resource-intensive task when assessing earthquake risk. During the past decade, risk analysts have been trying to alleviate this using remote sensing for building characterization. However, the use of vulnerability databases created with remote sensing had not been sufficiently validated thus far. In this paper, we have created an exposure and seismic vulnerability database in Port Prince (Haiti) using freely accessible aerial ortho-imagery and LiDAR points. We have validated this database against two reference datasets from different, independent studies. Then, we have computed an earthquake damage scenario to test whether remotely sensed data are actually valid for seismic risk evaluation. We have seen how our vulnerability database yields an accurate damage distribution with a low Mean Absolute Percentage Error of 3.78% when compared to the damage obtained with the reference vulnerability dataset. Further, we have conducted a thorough comparison of the cost that entails creating a vulnerability database using remote sensing with a traditional field survey. Twelve international experts have collaborated in the cost estimation of a typical in-field building inspection. As a result, we have found that using remote sensing techniques allows for saving up to 75% of the cost and 85% of the time. These outcomes seem to prove both, the technical and economic feasibility of remote sensing for seismic vulnerability assessment. Thus, we have proposed a 5-step approach for evaluating building vulnerability that combines both, the analysis of remotely sensed data and a reduced, targeted field survey to optimize time and cost. The final goal is to help cities reach the Sustainable Development Goal nr. 11.B to increase their resilience against disasters

Determinants of performance of health systems concerning maternal and child health: a global approach.

AimsTo assess the association of social determinants on the performance of health systems around the world.MethodsA transnational ecological study was conducted with an observation level focused on the country. In order to research on the strength of the association between the annual maternal and child mortality in 154 countries and social determinants: corruption, democratization, income inequality and cultural fragmentation, we used a mixed linear regression model for repeated measures with random intercepts and a conglomerate-based geographical analysis, between 2000 and 2010.ResultsHealth determinants with a significant association on child mortality(ConclusionsImproving access to water and sanitation systems, decreasing corruption in the health sector must become priorities in health systems. The ethno-linguistic cultural fragmentation and the detriment of democracy turn out to be two factors related to health results

Weighted beta coefficients for cultural-ethnic fragmentation and infant mortality rate <5 years per quartiles.

<p>Weighted beta coefficients for cultural-ethnic fragmentation and infant mortality rate <5 years per quartiles.</p