Walkability index for the city of Bogotá

La movilidad peatonal es un aspecto recurrente en los discursos de la ciudad actual. Se espera que en las ciudades se generen espacios urbanos que fomenten la caminabilidad y, de esta manera, se promueva la reducción de la movilidad vehicular y la recuperación de la calidad ambiental, a fin de mejorar la calidad de vida de los ciudadanos. De esta manera, es necesario evaluar en términos cuantitativos las diferentes condiciones que permitan tener desplazamientos a pie, y con ello servir de base para la implementación de políticas de movilidad y espacio público que aporten a la generación de entornos más amigables. Para el caso de Bogotá se plantea la construcción y medición del índice de caminabilidad basado en cinco componentes: calidad ambiental, densidad, confort, proximidad y entropía aplicados en las Unidades de Planeamiento Zonal (UPZ), mediante el análisis de bases de datos espaciales y herramientas de sistemas de información geográfica (SIG). Se construye el índice entendiendo que es un indicador relativo de qué tan bien está el entorno construido en diferentes áreas para caminar, y qué condiciones de entorno propician dicho comportamiento. Se logra diagnosticar cuáles son los grados de caminabilidad por cada UPZ, y se distinguen diversas condiciones en los sectores analizados.A mobilidade de pedestres é um aspecto recorrente nos discursos da cidade atual. Espera-se que, nas cidades, sejam gerados espaços urbanos que fomentem a caminhabilidade e, dessa maneira, seja promovida a redução da mobilidade veicular e a recuperação da qualidade ambiental a fim de melhorar a qualidade de vida dos cidadãos. Assim, é necessário avaliar, em termos quantitativos, as diferentes condições que permitem ter deslocamentos a pé e, com isso, servir de base para implantar políticas de mobilidade e espaço público que contribuam para gerar ambientes mais amigáveis. Para o caso de Bogotá, Colômbia, são propostas a construção e a mediação do índice de caminhabilidade baseado em cinco componentes: qualidade ambiental, densidade, conforto, proximidade e entropia aplicados nas Unidades de Planejamento Zonal (UPZ), mediante a análise de bases de dados espaciais e ferramentas de sistemas de informação geográfica (SIG). Foi construído o índice entendendo que é um indicador relativo de quão bem está o ambiente construído em diferentes áreas para caminhar e quais condições de entorno propiciam esse comportamento. Pode-se diagnosticar quais são os graus de caminhabilidade por cada UPZ e foram diferenciadas as condições nos setores analisados.Pedestrian mobility has been a recurrent aspect in discourses on the contemporary city. It is expected that cities generate urban spaces that encourage walkability, promoting thus the reduction of vehicular mobility and the recovery of environmental quality, seeking to improve the quality of life of citizens. For this reason, it is necessary to quantitatively evaluate different conditions that allow citizens to have displacements on foot, and to use this as a basis for the implementation of mobility and public space policies that allow generating more pedestrian-friendly environments. In the case of Bogotá and its administrative divisions, the paper proposes the construction and measurement of a walkability index based on five components (environmental quality, density, comfort, proximity, and entropy) at the level of Zonal Planning Units (UPZ), through the analysis of spatial databases and Geographic Information System tools. This index is a relative indicator of how well the environment is constructed in different areas with respect to walking and what environmental conditions favor such behavior. It helps to diagnose the degree of walkability for each UPZ, as well as to distinguish diverse conditions in the analyzed areas

Estimation of the plasma spectrum RMS signal as an alternative spectroscopic approach for arc-welding quality monitoring

Plasma spectroscopy has demonstrated its potential within the framework of welding process quality monitoring. The analysis of the welding plasma spectrum, which is formed by several emission lines from the different elements participating in the process, gives rise to spectroscopic parameters exhibiting a direct correlation to the quality of the resulting seams. The plasma electronic temperature has been the traditional selection in this regard, mainly by using an approximation where only two emission lines from the same species are involved in the calculations. However, for a completely automated system, the computational cost involved in the process could be a serious drawback. In this paper we propose the use of the plasma spectrum RMS (Root Mean Square) signal as an alternative spectroscopic approach, as it will be demonstrated that this parameter can be also used to identify the appearance of weld defects in an on-line quality monitoring system

Spectroscopic Polymer Optical Fiber sensor for orbital arc-welding on-line monitoring

Plasma optical spectroscopy has proved to be a promising solution for the on-line monitoring of both laser and arc-welding processes, where quality assurance plays a mayor role, especially in some particular industrial scenarios like aeronautics. Despite the robustness provided by these spectroscopic analysis techniques, the implementation of an efficient and non-invasive optical sensor system is not always feasible. Input optics based on optical collimators are commonly employed, but when complex shapes are to be welded, or specific welding processes are being considered, a different approach must be designed. In this paper we propose an optical sensor based on the use of a Polymer Optical Fiber (POF) as the input optics. The external protection of the POF is removed, providing an acquisition of the plasma radiation from the fiber cladding. Experimental welding tests will show the feasibility of the proposed POF sensor

Conocimientos, Actitudes y Prácticas de Higiene y Prevención del Tracoma en la Población Indígena del Departamento del Vaupés de la Amazonia Colombiana

El programa colombiano para acabar con el tracoma implementa el componente F de la estrategia SAFE en el departamento de Vaupés en la selva amazónica. Las barreras culturales, lingüísticas, geográficas y la coexistencia de un sistema médico ancestral demandan la adecuación técnica y sociocultural de este componente. En 2015 se realizó una encuesta transversal combinada con discusiones de grupos focales para comprender los conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas de la población indígena en relación con el tracoma. De los 357 jefes de hogar que participaron, el 45,1 % asoció el tracoma con la falta de higiene. , y el 94,7% asoció el concepto de higiene con la realización de uno o más baños corporales al día, utilizando jabón comercial o artesanal. En total, el 93 % informó limpiar la cara y los ojos de sus hijos con más frecuencia cuando tienen conjuntivitis, pero el 66. El 1% también lo hizo con ropa o toallas en uso, y el 52,7% de las personas compartió toallas; en total, el 32,8% indicó que utilizaría la medicina ancestral para prevenir y tratar el tracoma. La estrategia SAFE en Vaupés requiere un enfoque intercultural para facilitar el apoyo y la participación de las partes interesadas para promover la higiene general y facial, lavar la ropa con jabón y no compartir toallas y ropa para secar y limpiar la cara de los niños para la eliminación efectiva y sostenible del tracoma como salud pública. problema. Esta evaluación cualitativa facilitó un abordaje intercultural a nivel local y en otras localidades amazónicas. © 2023 por los autores. La estrategia SAFE en Vaupés requiere un enfoque intercultural para facilitar el apoyo y la participación de las partes interesadas para promover la higiene general y facial, lavar la ropa con jabón y no compartir toallas y ropa para secar y limpiar la cara de los niños para la eliminación efectiva y sostenible del tracoma como salud pública. problema. Esta evaluación cualitativa facilitó un abordaje intercultural a nivel local y en otras localidades amazónicas. © 2023 por los autores. La estrategia SAFE en Vaupés requiere un enfoque intercultural para facilitar el apoyo y la participación de las partes interesadas para promover la higiene general y facial, lavar la ropa con jabón y no compartir toallas y ropa para secar y limpiar la cara de los niños para la eliminación efectiva y sostenible del tracoma como salud pública. problema. Esta evaluación cualitativa facilitó un abordaje intercultural a nivel local y en otras localidades amazónicas.The Colombian program to end trachoma implements the component F of the SAFE strategy in the Vaupés department of the Amazon rainforest. Cultural, linguistic, and geographical barriers and the coexistence of an ancestral medical system demand the technical and sociocultural adaptation of this component. A cross-sectional survey combined with focus-group discussions to understand the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the indigenous population related to trachoma was conducted in 2015. Of the 357 heads of households that participated, 45.1% associated trachoma with a lack of hygiene, and 94.7% associated the concept of hygiene with taking one or more body baths per day, using commercial or handcrafted soap. In total, 93% reported cleaning their children’s faces and eyes more often when they have conjunctivitis, but 66.1% also did this with clothes or towels in use, and 52.7% of people shared towels; in total, 32.8% indicated that they would use ancestral medicine to prevent and treat trachoma. The SAFE strategy in Vaupés requires an intercultural approach to facilitate stakeholder support and participation to promote general and facial hygiene, washing clothes with soap, and not sharing towels and clothes to dry and clean children’s faces for effective and sustainable elimination of trachoma as a public health problem. This qualitative assessment facilitated an intercultural approach locally and in other Amazonian locations

Copper-doped titania photocatalysts for simultaneous reduction of CO2 and production of H-2 from aqueous sulfide

Copper-doped titanium dioxide materials with anatase phase (Cu-TiO2, atomic Cu contents ranging from 0 to 3% relative to the sum of Cu and Ti), and particle sizes of 12-15 nm, were synthesised by a solvo-thermal method using ethanol as the solvent and small amounts of water to promote the hydrolysiscondensation processes. Diffuse reflectance UV-vis spectroscopy show that the edges of absorption of the titania materials are somewhat shifted to higher wavelengths due to the presence of Cu. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicate that Cu(II) is predominant. Photocatalytic CO2 reduction experiments were performed in aqueous Cu-TiO2 suspensions under UV-rich light and in the presence of different solutes. Sulfide was found to promote the efficient production of H-2 from water and formic acid from CO2. The effect of the Cu content on the photoactivity of Cu-TiO2 was also studied, showing that copper plays a role on the photocatalytic reduction of CO2.Financial support by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Severo Ochoa and CTQ2012-32315) is gratefully acknowledged. F.G. and B.J.-L. are thankful for financial support from Spanish Government (AP2010-2748 PhD grant and MAT2011-27008 project) and Jaume I University (P1 1B2014-21 project). SCIC from Jaume I University and Servicio de Microscopia Electronica at Universitat Politecnica de Valencia are also acknowledged for instrumental facilities. A.V.P. is grateful to both the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientifficas (CSIC) and the European Social Fund (ESF) for a JAE-Doc postdoctoral grant. Lichen Liu is gratefully acknowledged for assistance in recording HRTEM images.Gonell-Gómez, F.; Puga Vaca, A.; Julián López, B.; García Gómez, H.; Corma Canós, A. (2016). Copper-doped titania photocatalysts for simultaneous reduction of CO2 and production of H-2 from aqueous sulfide. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental. 180:263-270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2015.06.019S26327018

Pedagogical strategy for lifelong learning.

Based on one of the fundamental principles of the educational model of the European Higher Education Area concerning the development of the capacity to achieve lifelong learning, this project has been carried out in which a set of active teaching activities have been implemented for the acquisition of key competences in the challenge of achieving one of the most important objectives that any educational system must provide: lifelong learning. The aim of this model is to facilitate the incorporation of new university graduates into the world of work. This project has been developed in the context of subjects in the field of Electronics. However, in order to facilitate transfer to other subjects, the catalogue of active teaching activities is sufficiently varied to facilitate their extrapolation and use in other subjects, thanks to the fact that teachers have a wide variety of activities to choose from. Finally, a survey has been carried out to evaluate the satisfaction, impact and improvement of this new active methodology in order to find out the students' perspectives once they have worked with this catalogue of activities.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Adaptation to climate variability among the coffee farmers of the watersheds of the rivers Porce and Chinchiná, Colombia

ABSTRACT: This article seeks to explain the practices used by small farmers to cope with climate variability and extreme weather events in the basins of the Chinchiná and Porce rivers located on the central Andes in Colombia. The information wasglacie collected through interviews, observations on farms and workshops with farmers. Additionally historical averages on temperature, precipitation and sunshine were compared with those values recorded in 2010 during the transition between El Niño an La Niña events. During the first quarter of 2010 the average temperature in Chinchiná increased by 1.4 C° and the solar brightness by 14%, while the precipitation experienced a 46% reduction. In contrast, during the second half of the year there was a decrease of 0.8 C° in temperature, a 31% reduction in solar brightness and an increase in precipitation of 62%. The coffee production in the years 2011 and 2012 was the lowest in the country in the last 35 years despite the cultivated area increased.RESUMEN: Este artículo pretende dar cuenta de las prácticas usadas por algunos caficultores de dos cuencas andinas colombianas para enfrentar la variabilidad climática. La información fue recogida a través de entrevistas, observaciones en las fincas y talleres. Los resultados indican que el manejo de la sombra en los cafetales, la renovación con variedades resistentes a la roya, la asociación de cultivos, las coberturas vegetales, la siembra escalonada y la reforestación son estrategias utilizadas para minimizar los efectos de la variabilidad climática. Sin embargo, en una de las cuencas estas estrategias son más frecuentes que en la otra, donde la producción ha cambiado hacia un sistema más tecnificado. Los caficultores utilizan además otras alternativas como el agroturismo, la integración de la mano de obra familiar, la asociatividad comunitaria y gremial, el jornaleo y estrategias de comercialización como los mercados justos y las certificaciones que ayudan a mejorar los precios de venta para resistir los momentos de crisis

Drug prescription pattern in exotic pet and wildlife animal practice: a retrospective study in a Spanish veterinary teaching hospital from 2018 to 2022

[EN] Exotic companion animals have had an important role in our society since ancient times. Preserving animal health is necessary to do a responsible use of veterinary medicines. This study aimed to describe the prescription patterns of drugs in exotic pets and wildlife animals attending the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of León (HVULE). A retrospective study was carried out between 2018 and 2022. Birds were the largest group of exotic animals attending the HVULE. Visits were related to emergency reasons and for musculoskeletal disorders. One-third of the animals were eventually euthanised. Regarding pharmacological treatments, the most frequently active ingredients used were pentobarbital, isoflurane, meloxicam, and within antibiotics, marbofloxacin (category B in the classification of European Medicines Agency).S

Physical and chemical treatment of the acid wastewater poured from Aznalcollar quarry (Sevilla-Spain)

En este trabajo se presentan los resultados experimentales de Ios ensayos de tratamiento fisicoquímico llevados a cabo en el Grupo de Tratamiento de Aguas Residuales de la Universidad de Sevilla, con el agua vertida tras la rotura de la balsa minera de Aznalcóllar el pasado 25 de abril de 1998.E1 objeto de los ensayos era neutralizar la acidez inicial del agua y disminuir las elevadas concentraciones de metales pesados en solución. Entre los tratamientos empleados, la combinación de hidróxido cálcico y policloruro de aluminio proporcionó el mejor rendimiento en términos dé eficacia en la elevación del pH del agua y en Ia eliminación de metales pesados en solución. Los resultados obtenidos sugieren que una estrategia de tratamiento basada en el uso combinado de agentes correctores de pH y coagulantes químicos, contribuye eficazmente a romper ia estabilidad de las partículas metálicas en disolución y a lograr su eliminación del agua por sedimentación. TaIes procedimientos podrían resultar de gran utilidad en el tratamiento de aguas superficiales contaminadas por metales.In this work, laboratory results of physical and chemical treatment of the acid wastewater poured from Aznalcóilar quarry (Sevilla, Spain) the last april 25, 1998, are presented. Experiments were carried out in the facilities of the Wastewater Treatment Research Group, University of Sevilla. Objectives were to adjust pH and to remove heavy metals from the water. Comparative results showed application of calcium hydroxide and aluminium polychloride as the most effective physical and chemical treatment for the water, in terms of pH adjustment and heavy metal removal. Data suggest that treatment systems including preliminary adjustment of water pH followed by addition of chemical coagulants, significantly alter the physical state of dissolved heavy metals and facilitate their removal by sedimentation. Such procedures might be useful for the treatment of surface waters polluted with high concentrations of heavy metals

Spectroscopic optical sensors for welding diagnostics

A review of solutions involving plasma optical spectroscopy applied to on-line welding quality monitoring is presented in this paper. After a brief introduction to welding processes and their requirements in terms of quality monitoring, different proposals for on-line monitoring will be addressed. The basics of welding monitoring via plasma spectroscopy in terms of light capture and hardware and processing requirements will be also introduced, and different approaches will be presented. Finally, a variety of examples regarding field trials in different sectors will be also discussed