The Global Pandemic is Still Global

Californians feel an understandable sense of relief as the economy is reopened and more normal life resumes. But COVID‐19 is still killing hundreds if not thousands of people around the country, and many, many more in countries where vaccine supplies are far less available or not at all. Less than 10 percent of the world’s population has been fully vaccinated, most of them in rich industrialized nations like ours. In other countries like Mexico, where I grew up and still have a large family, only about 12 percent of the population of about 130 million has been fully vaccinated and the total number of deaths is estimated at around 600,000. These numbers are abstractions until they touch you personally. Through all of 2020 no one in my family got sick with COVID‐19, but that changed quickly this year: first my mother got it, then one of my sisters, then two of my brothers along with members of their families. My younger brother, Paco, died after three weeks in intensive care, while Luis miraculously survived after being unconscious in the ICU for almost two months. Paco’s death has shaken our family on both sides of the border in unimaginable ways, and I feel deep sorrow and empathy for the millions here with relatives all around the world suffering terrible losses who can’t practice the rituals for the dead because of the pandemic. It is easy to focus on our immediate surroundings and ignore the great pain and suffering that many parts of our one world are still experiencing. This is a worldwide pandemic and no one is completely safe until everyone is safe from this terrible disease. Solidarity with our local neighbors who lost relatives and friends in distant places is a good way for me to remember my brother Paco and for all of us to honor our common humanity

Working Bodies: A Photo Essay on Tulare County Citrus Workers

Many a times, when people think about their food, they think about origins. Where did it come from? Was it hygienic? Were the animals treated humanely? They seldom include the workers in their thought process, though the workers of the Ag industry provide what is arguably a vital part of the Ag industry. They do back-breaking labor in often lethal conditions for little pay (NFWM). The families of these workers often suffer economically, physically, and emotionally. In Tulare County, one of the top Agricultural counties in the country, the agricultural worker is often below the poverty line (Taylor, 2015). They often live in subsidized housing and likely lack access to proper healthcare. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, six out of ten farm workers were here undocumented. This often presents issues of unreported inhumane treatment of the workers. This project will explore the lives of the citrus workers, their stories, and the inadequacies they often live through while helping sustain an ever-growing population

Service response and evaluation of prestressed concrete bridges through load testing

During the last two decades, self-consolidating concrete (SCC) has emerged as an alternative to produce structures with longer life expectancy. Despite the advantages that come with using SCC, there are some concerns related to its structural and serviceability response. The effect of the larger paste content and smaller coarse aggregate size is of particular interest because this combination may inhibit the development of the SCC\u27s target mechanical properties. Field tests are an effective method to monitor the service response of infrastructure. In addition, field tests have largely confirmed reserves of strength capacity in existing bridges despite their visual condition and age. Sources that explain the difference in the reported strength capacity are diverse and may be attributed to in-situ parameters that are not considered during the design or evaluation of a bridge. This study aimed at presenting an evaluation protocol using experimental data to obtain the load rating of prestressed concrete bridges in Load and Resistance Factor Rating (LRFR) format. The proposed experimental evaluation approach will enable bridge owners to estimate, isolate and remove the unreliable parameters\u27 contribution from a bridge load rating. Bridge A7957 is the first implementation project executed by MoDOT using high-strength and normal-strength SCC in prestressed concrete members. In addition, Bridge A7957 was a unique opportunity to monitor and establish the baseline service response and strength capacity of its main supporting members. The proposed experimental data and evaluation methodology are expected to encourage more discussion among bridge evaluators to better understand and improve current bridge analysis and evaluation practices of prestressed concrete bridges --Abstract, page iv

Experiencing Poverty in an Online Simulation: Effects on Players’ Beliefs, Attitudes and Behaviors about Poverty

Digital simulations are increasingly used to educate about the causes and effects of poverty, and inspire action to alleviate it. Drawing on research about attributions of poverty, subjective well-being, and relative income, this experimental study assesses the effects of an online poverty simulation (entitled Spent) on participants’ beliefs, attitudes, and actions. Results show that, compared with a control group, Spent players donated marginally more money to a charity serving the poor and expressed higher support for policies benefitting the poor, but were less likely to take immediate political action by signing an online petition to support a higher minimum wage. Spent players also expressed greater subjective well-being than the control group, but this was not associated with increased policy support or donations. Spent players who experienced greater presence (perceived realism of the simulation) had higher levels of empathy, which contributed to attributing poverty to structural causes and support for anti-poverty policies. We draw conclusions for theory about the psychological experience of playing online poverty simulations, and for how they could be designed to stimulate charity and support for anti-poverty policies

Efecto de la inyeccion de agua en un acuifero confinado

[Effect of water injection into a confined aquifer

Análisis y configuración del desarrollo regional. Un enfoque desde los actores

En el presente ensayo intentamos reconfigurar las ideas de región y desarrollo como conceptos macro que han entrado en crisis y mostrado sus límites dentro de un discurso y realidad dominantes. Es un hecho irrefutable que el desarrollo no se ha logrado en gran parte del mundo contemporáneo. La región se construye desde lo local y se liga al desarrollo posible y variado mediante los distintos actores, sujetos y agentes, a partir de las relaciones y las comunicaciones intersubjetivas. Así, región y desarrollo requieren ser analizadas en una nueva óptica.En el presente ensayo intentamos reconfigurar las ideas de región y desarrollo como conceptos macro que han entrado en crisis y mostrado sus límites dentro de un discurso y realidad dominantes. Es un hecho irrefutable que el desarrollo no se ha logrado en gran parte del mundo contemporáneo. La región se construye desde lo local y se liga al desarrollo posible y variado mediante los distintos actores, sujetos y agentes, a partir de las relaciones y las comunicaciones intersubjetivas. Así, región y desarrollo requieren ser analizadas en una nueva óptica

The urban development of the metropolitan area as a social construction of new realities: the case of Tecámac, State of Mexico

El mundo neoliberal ha enaltecido la urbanización, considerándola un símbolo de desarrollo y progreso; las urbes, grandes, medianas y pequeñas, son el espacio donde tienen lugar los encuentros y desencuentros de diversos actores económicos, políticos y sociales. Particularmente, la urbanización es relevante en los espacios locales, donde se lucha por el territorio y sus recursos. Para algunos representan espacios vitales, para otros son esperanza e ilusión de vida; otros más ven en sus moradores un recurso político, o la perspectiva de negocio, ganancia y lucro. Aquí abordamos los aspectos de un fenómeno poblacional centralizado económica y políticamente, tomando en cuenta a los diversos constructores de los nuevos espacios. Este es el caso del municipio de Tecámac, Estado de México, un lugar en expansión y con una derrama poblacional histórica en la Zona Metropolitana de la Ciudad de México

Medidas de mitigación de olores para un tanque homogeneizador de una Planta de Tratamiento de Aguas Residuales en Costa Rica

[Objective] The objective of this study was to evaluate the short-term response of four different odor mitigation measures in a homogenization tank of a university WWTP. [Methodology] Aeration, addition of lime, addition of iron sulfate, and addition of the commercial product BiOWiSH® Odor were implemented over a study period equal to four hydraulic retention times. Monitoring was conducted for the influent water and within the tank for each period, including a baseline measurement for comparison. pH, oxidation-reduction potential, and dissolved oxygen were measured in triplicates every 30 minutes, along with the concentration of dissolved sulfide. An odor perception survey was administered to WWTP visitors, evaluating intensity, offensiveness, and character with a total of 15 surveys per period. Differences between the mitigation measures and baseline were determined using t-student tests for quantitative data and Mood's medians for qualitative data. Minitab 2019 was used with a confidence level of 95%. [Results] All the mitigation measures significantly decreased the concentration of dissolved sulfide in the tank. Aeration prevented oxygen depletion, reducing conditions, and acid fermentation, favoring the oxidation of odorous compounds. It was the only studied mitigation measure that led to a reduction in intensity and offensiveness of the odor. [Conclusions] The application of aeration induced changes in the tank's behavior and odor perception, confirming its effectiveness. The addition of iron sulfate, lime, and BiOWiSH® did not generate significant changes in odor perception.[Objetivo] El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la respuesta a corto plazo de cuatro diferentes medidas de mitigación de olores en un tanque de homogeneización de una PTAR universitaria. [Metodología] Se aplicaron las medidas de aireación, adición de cal, adición de sulfato de hierro y adición del producto comercial BiOWiSH® odor; durante cuatro tiempos de retención hidráulico. Se monitoreó el afluente y la unidad en cada periodo, utilizando una línea base como comparación de las medidas. Se midió por triplicado cada 30 min el potencial de Hidrógeno, potencial de oxidación reducción, oxígeno disuelto y la concentración de sulfuro disuelto. Se aplicó una encuesta de percepción de olores a visitantes de la PTAR evaluando intensidad, ofensividad y carácter con un total de 15 encuestas por periodo de monitoreo. Se determinaron diferencias entre medidas de mitigación y línea base con pruebas t-student (datos cuantitativos) y medianas de Mood (datos cualitativos). Se utilizó Minitab2019 y un límite de confianza de 95%. [Resultados] Todas las medidas de mitigación disminuyeron significativamente la concentración de sulfuro disuelto en la unidad. La medida aireación evitó el agotamiento de oxígeno, régimen reductivo y fermentación ácida, favoreciendo la oxidación de odorantes, además fue la única medida de mitigación estudiada que generó una reducción en la intensidad y ofensividad del olor. [Conclusiones] La aplicación de aireación generó un cambio en el comportamiento de la unidad y la percepción de olor, confirmando su efectividad. La adición de sulfato de hierro, cal y BiOWiSH® no generaron cambios significativos en la percepción de olor