Evaluación acústica de espacios educativos en el Ecuador, estudio de caso en un ambiente universitario

El presente trabajo se centra en la evaluación de la calidad acústica de ambientes educativos universitarios en Quito (Ecuador). Se estudia el caso específico de la Universidad Tecnológica Equinoccial. En dicha institución, se estudiaron 12 salas con diversas características en su forma, tamaño y composición interior. En ellas se realizaron medidas de parámetros acústicos relacionados con la calidad acústica de salas y con la medida de la inteligibilidad. Además, fueron realizadas pruebas de inteligibilidad subjetiva mediante el uso de logatomos, y empleando como fuente a oradores. En esta comunicación se presentan los resultados preliminares encontrados

Análisis del ruido en la ciudad de Concepción (Chile) en relación a la funcionalidad de las vías urbanas / Análise do ruído na cidade de Concepción (Chile) em relação à funcionalidade das estradas urbanas

La contaminación acústica es uno de los principales problemas medioambientales existentes en las ciudades de todo el mundo y responsable del deterioro de la salud y la calidad de vida de los residentes. El tráfico rodado es la principal fuente de ruido en las zonas residenciales debido a que este es el principal medio de transporte para que los ciudadanos se desplacen entre las distintas zonas de la ciudad o entre ciudades. En el presente estudio se analizó la aplicabilidad del método de categorización en la ciudad de Concepción. Este método se basa en estratificar las vías urbanas de acuerdo a su funcionalidad como medio de comunicación. Esta funcionalidad relacionada con la movilidad urbana va a tener una influencia en los niveles sonoros. Los resultados muestran como las distintas categorías viales presentan niveles sonoros significativamente diferentes y como estos niveles superan los valores límites recomendados por organizaciones internacionales. Los niveles sonoros están significativamente relacionados con el flujo del tráfico rodado. Por lo tanto, el problema del ruido también está presente en las ciudades chilenas y para hacer frente a este problema ambiental son necesarias medidas llevadas a cabo desde la planificación y gestión urbana

Molecular epidemiology of an enterovirus A71 outbreak associated with severe neurological disease, Spain, 2016

Altres ajuts: We wish to thank I Bustillo, H del Pozo and P Higueras for their technical assistance. We also sincerely wish to thank all technical staff from microbiology departments and medical staff from paediatrics departments from all participating hospitals. Some of the samples are included in an ongoing project (PI15CIII-00020) which was supported by a grant by the Health Research System (AES).Introduction: Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) is an emerging pathogen that causes a wide range of disorders including severe neurological manifestations. In the past 20 years, this virus has been associated with large outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease with neurological complications in the Asia-Pacific region, while in Europe mainly sporadic cases have been reported. In spring 2016, however, an EV-A71 outbreak associated with severe neurological cases was reported in Catalonia and spread further to other Spanish regions. Aim: Our objective was to investigate the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of the outbreak. Methods: We carried out a retrospective study which included 233 EV-A71-positive samples collected during 2016 from hospitalised patients. We analysed the clinical manifestations associated with EV-A71 infections and performed phylogenetic analyses of the 3'-VP1 and 3Dpol regions from all Spanish strains and a set of EV-A71 from other countries. Results: Most EV-A71 infections were reported in children (mean age: 2.6 years) and the highest incidence was between May and July 2016 (83%). Most isolates (218/233) were classified as subgenogroup C1 and 217 of them were grouped in one cluster phylogenetically related to a new recombinant variant strain associated with severe neurological diseases in Germany and France in 2015 and 2016. Moreover, we found a clear association of EV-A71-C1 infection with severe neurological disorders, brainstem encephalitis being the most commonly reported. Conclusion: An emerging recombinant variant of EV-A71-C1 was responsible for the large outbreak in 2016 in Spain that was associated with many severe neurological cases

Molecular epidemiology of an enterovirus A71 outbreak associated with severe neurological disease, Spain, 2016

IntroductionEnterovirus A71 (EV-A71) is an emerging pathogen that causes a wide range of disorders including severe neurological manifestations. In the past 20 years, this virus has been associated with large outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease with neurological complications in the Asia-Pacific region, while in Europe mainly sporadic cases have been reported. In spring 2016, however, an EV-A71 outbreak associated with severe neurological cases was reported in Catalonia and spread further to other Spanish regions.AimOur objective was to investigate the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of the outbreak.MethodsWe carried out a retrospective study which included 233 EV-A71-positive samples collected during 2016 from hospitalised patients. We analysed the clinical manifestations associated with EV-A71 infections and performed phylogenetic analyses of the 3'-VP1 and 3Dpol regions from all Spanish strains and a set of EV-A71 from other countries.ResultsMost EV-A71 infections were reported in children (mean age: 2.6 years) and the highest incidence was between May and July 2016 (83%). Most isolates (218/233) were classified as subgenogroup C1 and 217 of them were grouped in one cluster phylogenetically related to a new recombinant variant strain associated with severe neurological diseases in Germany and France in 2015 and 2016. Moreover, we found a clear association of EV-A71-C1 infection with severe neurological disorders, brainstem encephalitis being the most commonly reported.ConclusionAn emerging recombinant variant of EV-A71-C1 was responsible for the large outbreak in 2016 in Spain that was associated with many severe neurological cases.S

Analysis of Sampling Methodologies for Noise Pollution Assessment and the Impact on the Population

Today, noise pollution is an increasing environmental stressor. Noise maps are recognised as the main tool for assessing and managing environmental noise, but their accuracy largely depends on the sampling method used. The sampling methods most commonly used by different researchers (grid, legislative road types and categorisation methods) were analysed and compared using the city of Talca (Chile) as a test case. The results show that the stratification of sound values in road categories has a significantly lower prediction error and a higher capacity for discrimination and prediction than in the legislative road types used by the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications in Chile. Also, the use of one or another method implies significant differences in the assessment of population exposure to noise pollution. Thus, the selection of a suitable method for performing noise maps through measurements is essential to achieve an accurate assessment of the impact of noise pollution on the population

Analysis of Sampling Methodologies for Noise Pollution Assessment and the Impact on the Population

Today, noise pollution is an increasing environmental stressor. Noise maps are recognised as the main tool for assessing and managing environmental noise, but their accuracy largely depends on the sampling method used. The sampling methods most commonly used by different researchers (grid, legislative road types and categorisation methods) were analysed and compared using the city of Talca (Chile) as a test case. The results show that the stratification of sound values in road categories has a significantly lower prediction error and a higher capacity for discrimination and prediction than in the legislative road types used by the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications in Chile. Also, the use of one or another method implies significant differences in the assessment of population exposure to noise pollution. Thus, the selection of a suitable method for performing noise maps through measurements is essential to achieve an accurate assessment of the impact of noise pollution on the population

La percepción del ruido en la ciudad de Talca, Chile

El ruido urbano es uno de los principales problemas ambientales que existen en las ciudades de todo el mundo. Los mapas de ruido se considera la herramienta principal para el análisis y evaluación del ruido urbano. Sin embargo, los niveles de ruido registrados en los mapas de ruido deben ser contrastados con la percepción de la población residente. Por ello, en este estudio se analizó la percepción del ruido en los distintos entornos de la ciudad de Talca. Además, se analizó la satisfacción a otras características ambientales con la finalidad de ser comparadas y de estudiar su relación con la percepción global. Los resultados muestran que el ruido diurno y nocturno son las características ambientales peor valoradas, además de presentar una relación significativa con respecto a la valoración global y a los niveles sonoros registrados en las distintas categorías. Por lo tanto, el ruido debe ser un objetivo prioritario por parte de las autoridades locales si se desea mejorar la calidad de vida de la población de Talca.Urban noise is one of the main environmental problems in cities around the world. Noise maps are considered the major tool for the analysis and assessment of urban noise. However, noise levels registered in noise maps must be contrasted with the perception of resident population. For this reason, this study analysed the noise perception in different environments of Talca city. Moreover, the satisfaction with other environmental features was analysed in order to compare them and to study their relation with the global perception. The results show that daytime and nighttime noise are the environmental features worst assessed, and also they have a significant relation regarding to the global assessment and to the sound levels registered in the different categories. Therefore, noise should be a priority aim for the local authorities to improve the quality of life of the population of Talca.• Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (Chile). Proyecto FONDECYT de iniciación a la investigación n. 11140043 • Universidad Autónoma de Chile. Programa de Iniciación Científica 2016: Tus primeros pasos en la CienciapeerReviewe

Possible relation of noise levels in streets to the population of the municipalities in which they are located

Se presenta un avance de los resultados de la aplicación de un método de categorización a veinte ciudades con poblaciones comprendidas entre 2200 y 700 000 habitantes y superficies comprendidas entre 0,57 km2 y 59 km2. Esto representa una ampliación significativa del tamaño de la población y de la superficie de los emplazamientos urbanos estudiados con este método, con variaciones de dos a tres órdenes de magnitud, incluida la cuarta ciudad más poblada de España. Se constata que existe una relación entre ruido urbano y habitantes, y también entre ruido urbano y superficie habitada, reflejando la estructura urbana definida en los estratos del método de categorización.A preview of the results of applying a categorization method to twenty towns with populations between 2200 and 700 000 inhabitants and areas between 0.57 km2 and 59 km2 is presented. This represents a significant expansion of the population size and area of urban sites studied by this method, with variations of two to three orders of magnitude, including the fourth most populous town in Spain. It is found that there is a relationship between urban noise and inhabitants, and also between urban noise and inhabited area, reflecting the urban structure defined in the strata of the categorization method.• Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia. Proyecto N. TRA2006-03115 • Junta de Extremadura. Proyecto n. PRI06A271 • Fondos FEDERpeerReviewe