Comparación de índices de vegetación a partir de imágenes modis en la región del libertador Bernardo O´Higgins, Chile, en el período 2001-2005

Se comparan cinco índices de vegetación, NDVI, SAVI, ARVI, GreenNDVI y EVI, calculados a partir de imágenes MODIS en la Región del Libertador General Bernardo O´Higgins, Chile. Se determina las características de sus comportamientos según cubiertas vegetales distintas, zonas agrícolas, praderas y forestal, y dos periodos contrastados a lo largo del año, verano e invierno de los años 2001, 2003 y 2005. Los resultados indican que si bien las tendencias generales de las mediciones de vigor vegetal que hacen estos índices son semejantes, existen diferencias localizadas que hacen evidente la necesidad de elegir correctamente el tipo de índice de acuerdo a las necesidades que cada investigación requiera. Se hace particular énfasis en la necesidad de contar con una mayor discriminación de cubiertas vegetales para hacer una evaluación más refinada de las semejanzas y diferencias entre los índices estudiados.Five vegetation indices, NDVI, SAVI, ARVI, GreenNDVI and EVI, obtained from MODIS images in the Región del Libertador General Bernardo O´Higgins, Chile, are compared. The characteristics of their behavior according different vegetation cover layers, agricultural, grasslands and forestal zones, in both dry and wet seasons, along the years in 2001, 2003 and 2005 are determined. Results shows that global tendencies in the behavior of this indices are similar, there are some localized differences that make evident the necessity of the correct election of the right index for each situation. The importance of a more detailed discrimination in land cover types in order to achieve a better assesstment of similarities and differences between the indices is emphatized

Smoking behaviour, involuntary smoking, attitudes towards smoke-free legislations, and tobacco control activities in the European Union

The six most important cost-effective policies on tobacco control can be measured by the Tobacco Control Scale (TCS). The objective of our study was to describe the correlation between the TCS and smoking prevalence, self-reported exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) and attitudes towards smoking restrictions in the 27 countries of the European Union (EU27)

An open path for gender equality in research : when female scientists question the state of science and the institutions embrace the criticism

The institutionalisation of equality policy in science, both at the national and the European scale, should facilitate progress towards equality in a space that wants to consider itself merit (and ability) driven. But discriminatory practices, both conscious and unconscious, direct or indirect, leave women out of many of the positions that they should occupy according to their accomplishments and capabilities. Many scientific institutions and their professionals still do not understand that if gender equality is only formally achieved and actual compliance is not monitored, they will lose part of the talent they are trying to cultivate

Secondhand smoke risk perception and smoke-free rules in homes: a cross-sectional study in Barcelona (Spain)

Objective: to describe the voluntary adoption of smoke-free homes in Spain among general population and to identify variables associated with its voluntary adoption. Methods: cross-sectional study of a representative sample (n=731) of the adult population (>26 years) of Barcelona, Spain, in 2013-2014. We defined smoking rules inside the households as complete indoor rules (when smoking was not allowed inside the house), and partial or absent indoor rules (when smoking was allowed in some designated places inside the house or when smoking was allowed everywhere) and described them according to the perceived risk of the secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure. We calculated the prevalence and prevalence ratios (PR) according to sociodemographic variables. Results: 57.4% of households had complete indoor smoke-free rules. The prevalence of households with complete indoor rules was higher among women (PRa: 1.15; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.33), married (PRa: 1.18; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.38), never-smokers (PRa: 2.68; 95% CI 2.06 to 3.50) and in households where a minor lived (PRa: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.20-1.65). Believe that breathing tobacco smoke from smokers is dangerous for non-smokers (PRa: 1.77; 95% CI: 1.06-2.97) is associated with the voluntary adoption of complete indoor smoke-free home. Conclusions: risk perceptions of SHS exposure were associated with the voluntary adoption of indoor smoke-free homes

Identifying High-risk Individuals For Lung Cancer Screening: Going Beyond Nlst Criteria

Background There are two main types of strategies to identify target population for lung cancer screening: 1) strategies based on age and cumulative smoking criteria, 2) risk prediction models allowing the calculation of an individual risk. The objective of this study was to compare different strategies to identify the proportion of the Spanish population at high risk of developing lung cancer, susceptible to be included in a lung cancer screening programme. Methods Cross-sectional study. We used the data of the Spanish National Interview Health Survey (ENSE) of 2011-2012 (21,006 individuals) to estimate the proportion of participants at high risk of developing lung cancer. This estimation was performed using the U.S. national lung screening trial (NLST) criteria and a 6-year prediction model (PLCOm2012), both independently and in combination. Results The prevalence of individuals at high risk of developing lung cancer according to the NLST criteria was 4.9% (7.9% for men, 2.4% for women). Among the 1,034 subjects who met the NLST criteria, 533 (427 men and 106 women) had a 6-year lung cancer risk >= 2.0%. The combination of these two selection strategies showed that 2.5% of the Spanish population had a high risk of developing lung cancer. However, this selection process did not take into account different groups of subjects = 2%, such as heavy smokers <55 years old who were long-time former smokers, and ever smokers having smoked <30 pack-years with other risk factors. Conclusions Further research is needed to determine which selection strategy achieves a higher benefit/harm ratio and to assess other prevention strategies for individuals with elevated risk for lung cancer but who do not meet the screening eligibility criteria

El papel de transparencia por Colombia en la lucha contra la corrupción

Transparencia por Colombia en sus dos décadas de existencia ha realizado aportes significativos para la lucha contra la corrupción, si bien es difícil establecer la cuantía de los actos de corrupción, podemos resaltar que el papel de esta ONG ha permitido que exista mejor y mayor acceso a la información por parte de la ciudadanía y esto se evidencia en el aumento de denuncias y en rechazos a través de las redes sociales y otros medios de comunicación a los actos de corrupción .En el presente artículo se describen algunos de los programas que esta entidad ha venido desarrollando en procura de reducir los actos de corrupción y fomentar la denuncia por parte de la sociedad civil. La información recolectada, proviene de la página web de dicha institución y entrevistas telefónicas con algunos colaboradores de la entidad. Se concluye que las propuestas de la ONG han servido parcialmente para reducir los riesgos de corrupción de las entidades públicas a nivel local, municipal y nacional

Electronic cigarette use among adult population: a cross-sectional study in Barcelona, Spain (2013–2014)

Objective: This study seeks to analyse the prevalence and correlates of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use, purchase location and satisfaction with its use in a sample of the general population of the city of Barcelona, Spain. Design, setting and participants We used participants from a longitudinal study of a representative sample of the adult (≥16 years old) population of Barcelona (336 men and 400 women). The field work was conducted between May 2013 and February 2014. We computed the prevalence, adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: The prevalence of ever e-cigarette use was 6.5% (95% CI 4.7% to 8.3%): 1.6% current use, 2.2% past use and 2.7% only e-cigarette experimentation. 75% (95% CI 62.8% to 87.3%) of ever e-cigarette users were current cigarette smokers at the moment of the interview. E-cigarette use was more likely among current smokers (OR=54.57; 95% CI 7.33 to 406.38) and highly dependent cigarette smokers (OR=3.96; 95% CI 1.60 to 9.82). 62.5% of the ever users charged their e-cigarettes with nicotine with 70% of them obtaining the liquids with nicotine in a specialised shop. 39.6% of ever e-cigarette users were not satisfied with their use, a similar percentage of not satisfied expressing the smokers (38.9%) and there were no statistically significant differences in the satisfaction between the users of e-cigarettes with and without nicotine. Conclusions: E-cigarette use is strongly associated with current smoking (dual use) and most users continue to be addicted to nicotine. Six out of 10 e-cigarette users preferred devices that deliver nicotine. The satisfaction with e-cigarette use is very low

Secondhand smoke in outdoor settings: smokers' consumption, non-smokers' perceptions, and attitudes towards smoke-free legislation in Spain

Objective: to describe where smokers smoke outdoors, where non-smokers are exposed outdoors to secondhand smoke (SHS), and attitudes towards smoke-free outdoor areas after the implementation of national smoke-free legislation. Design: this cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2011 and March 2012 (n=1307 participants). Setting: Barcelona Participants: representative, random sample of the adult (≥16 years) population. Primary and secondary outcomes: proportion of smoking and prevalence of exposure to SHS in the various settings according to type of enclosure. Percentages of support for outdoor smoke-free policies according to smoking status. Results: smokers reported smoking outdoors most in bars and restaurants (54.8%), followed by outdoor places at work (46.8%). According to non-smokers, outdoor SHS exposure was highest at home (42.5%) and in bars and restaurants (33.5%). Among non-smoking adult students, 90% claimed exposure to SHS on university campuses. There was great support for banning smoking in the majority of outdoor areas, which was stronger among non-smokers than smokers. Over 70% of participants supported smoke-free playgrounds, school and high school courtyards, and the grounds of healthcare centres. Conclusions: extending smoking bans to selected outdoor settings should be considered in further tobacco control interventions to protect non-smokers from SHS exposure and to establish a positive model for youth. The majority of public support for some outdoor smoke-free areas suggests that it is feasible to extend smoking bans to additional outdoor settings

Comparación de valores de óxido nítrico exhalado en niños sanos y asmáticos

El asma es la enfermedad crónica respiratoria más frecuente en la niñez y existe consenso mundial en que el evento siopatológico subyacente más importante, es la in amación de la vía aérea. Actualmente es ampliamente aceptado que la fracción espirada de óxido nítrico (FENO) es un marcador útil de la presencia de in amación eosinofílica en pacientes asmáticos. En nuestro país no existen estudios comparativos de valores de FENO entre niños asmáticos y sanos. Este estudio se realizó para comparar los valores de FENO obtenidos en 177 niños asmáticos diagnosticados por especialista y 190 niños sanos cuyas mediciones se hicieron mediante un dispositivo analizador computarizado (Niox MINO, modelo 09-1000 Aerocrine, Suecia) portátil y de acuerdo con las recomendaciones internacionales. Los valores promedio de FENO en los niños asmáticos (26,58 ppb IC 95% 23,33-29,83) fueron signi cativamente mayores que en los niños sanos (16,39 ppb IC 95% 15,54-17,24), p&lt;0.001. Los valores de FENO se asociaron directamente con la edad, pero solamente en el grupo de niños asmáticos. Un 8,4% IC95% 5,3-13,2) de los niños sanos tuvieron FENO anormal (sobre 27 ppb) y en los asmáticos ese porcentaje fue de 33,3% IC 95% 26,8-40,6). Este estudio demuestra que el FENO es un indicador de asma en niños y junto con la clínica representa una herramienta útil para discriminar entre sujetos sanos y asmáticos. Palabras claves: Oxido nítrico; Exhalado; FENO; Asma; Sanos; Niños

Perception of electronic cigarettes in the general population: does their usefulness outweigh their risks?

Objective: To describe and compare the perceptions of the general population about the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) on users and on those passively exposed to e-cigarettes and the perceptions about e-cigarette usefulness for reducing or eliminating tobacco smoking. Design, setting, and participants: We analysed cross-sectional data from a longitudinal study of a representative sample of the general adult (≥16 years) population of Barcelona, Spain (336 men and 400 women). The fieldwork was conducted between May 2013 and February 2014. We computed the percentages, adjusted OR and their corresponding 95% CI among participants with some awareness of e-cigarettes (79.2% of the sample). Primary and secondary outcome measures: We assessed the perception about harmfulness for e-cigarette users and for passively exposed non-e-cigarette users, as well as the perception of usefulness for smokers of cigarette cessation and reduction