Dinámica espacio-temporal de la ornitofauna asociada a una marisma contaminada por petróleo

Information is presented on the results of 16 bird censuses of the western inlet and saltmarsh of the Puerto Espora area (Tierra del Fuego) on the first narrows of the Straits of Magellan. This area was one of the most affected by the oil spilled from the VLCC Metula in august 1974. The censuses were carried out periodically between September 1976 and September 1979. A total of 36 species were recorded, of which one third is commonly found. Topics analyzed include: the presence of species by sectors within the study area; the general diversity for each census, its variation through time and cluster analysis

Evaluation of the pilot program to reduce salt/sodium in bread in Santiago of Chile

Indexación: Web of Science; ScieloAntecedentes: Considerando la alta carga de enfermedades asociadas a un excesivo consumo de sal, Chile inició un programa piloto entre el Ministerio de Salud (MINSAL), la Federación de Industriales Panaderos (FECHIPAN) y la Asociación Chilena de Supermercados (ASACH) con el propósito de lograr una disminución paulatina de la sal con que se fabrica el pan. Objetivo: Analizar la concentración de sodio (mg/100 g) en muestras de pan de panaderías adheridas al programa y panaderías no participantes, del Gran Santiago. Materiales y métodos: Estudio transversal analítico; muestreo aleatorio de dos muestras de pan en cinco panaderías del programa piloto y cinco panaderías control. Análisis de sodio por espectrofoto-metría de absorción atómica y determinación del promedio de éste en las muestras (mg/100 g de pan). Para la comparación de promedios se utilizó t de Student, considerando significativo un p < 0,05. Resultados: La concentración promedio de sodio en el pan en el grupo control fue 597,2 ± 106,4 mg/100 g y en el grupo intervenido 600,9 ± 106,2 mg/100 g, sin diferencias significativas entre ellos. Existe bastante variabilidad en los niveles de sodio en ambos grupos, con valores extremos de 403 y 824 mg/100 g. Discusión: La concentración de sodio en el pan fue similar en ambos grupos. La reducción del sodio en panaderías no participantes en el programa, sugiere preocupación de la industria por fabricar un pan más saludable. Son necesarios estudios con mayor representatividad para conocer mejor la realidad nacional.Introduction: Considering the high burden of disease associated with excessive salt intake of the population, Chile initiated a pilot program between the Ministry of Health (MINSAL), the Industrial Bakers Federation (FECHIPAN) and the Chilean Association of Supermarkets (ASACH) in order to achieve a gradual reduction of salt in bread. Objective: To analyze the amount of sodium in bread samples from bakeries belonging to the program and those not participating in Santiago. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study with random sampling of two products in five pilot and five control bakeries. Sodium was analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and the mean was used for analysis (mg/100 g of bread). For comparison the Student's t test was utilized and significance was established at p <0,05. Results: The average sodium concentration in the control group was 597,2 ± 106,4 mg/100 g bread while in the experimental group was 600,9 ± 106,2 mg/100 g bread showing no significant differences between them. There was considerable variability in the levels of sodium in both groups, with values ranging from 403 to 824 mg/100 g. Discussion: The concentration of sodium in the bread was similar in both groups, suggesting a reduction in salt content in the control bakeries. More studies are needed to better understand the national reality in this matter.http://ref.scielo.org/jk3rk

Case History of Microtunneling through a Very Soft Soil Condition

Waikiki Public Bath Force Main Replacement Project consists of 1,037 m of 400 mm force main that carries the wastewater from the Public Bath pump station to a gravity sewer on the Kuhio Avenue. This force main transports wastewater underneath Kalakaua Ave, very close to some of the most expensive real state in the world. This area is the heart of Waikiki beach, and it is full of beach resorts, five star hotels, shopping, etc. The soil strata can be described as 2.50 to 3.00 m deep of beach sand on top of half a meter of a very hard coral ledge on top of a lagoon deposit layer (very soft gray fat clay). The NSPT values in this lagoon deposit layer range from zero to eight. The specified construction method for this project was microtunneling of 700 mm of Permalok steel casing with a 400 mm PVC carrier pipe inside the casing. The annular space between the two pipes was grouted with low density grout. Many problems were encountered during the construction phase of this project. This paper is a retrospective review of the project from the contractor’s point of view. It covers the design and construction aspects of this project in addition to the encountered problems and the lessons learned from that project

Comparison of Personality Traits among Estimators, Project Managers, and the Population

The intuitive hypothesis that Construction Management Professionals (CMP) must have a high level of people skills implies that they should be different than the population at large in terms of people skills. In addition, estimators do not deal with as many people as project managers; therefore, they may not have/need as high of people skills as project managers. This paper tests these hypotheses through the analysis of 47 personality traits of 102 experienced applicants for construction management positions and compares this analysis to the traits of the overall population. The analysis suggested that (1) CMP were significantly different from the general population in 34 traits, and they were not significantly different in 13 other traits; (2) construction estimators and project managers were not significantly different except in two traits: human services and gregariousness

Impact of Prevailing Wages on the Cost among the Various Construction Trades

In 1997, the Ohio Senate passed Senate Bill 102 which established the Ohio School Facilities Commission as a separate agency to oversee the rebuilding projects of the public schools in Ohio. The bill also exempted the construction contractors from paying prevailing wages on these projects on the hypothesis that this exemption would lower the construction cost. The purpose of this study is to investigate this hypothesis through the statistical analysis of 8,093 bids received from the years 2000 through 2007 for the schools’ construction. Union contractors who paid their workers union wages and non-union contractors who did not pay prevailing wages bid these projects. The hypothesis, that prevailing wage laws increased the construction cost, was tested by comparing the bids/ SF (square foot) from both groups (union and nonunion) for the different construction trades. The study indicated that there was statistical significant difference between the bids/square foot for union contractors and the bids/square foot for non-union contractors for only the following trades: earthwork, existing conditions, plumbing, electrical and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning). The averages of bids/SF from the union contractors were higher than those from the non-union contractors for earthwork, existing conditions and plumbing works, and the opposite for electrical and HVAC works. There was no statistical significant difference in the bids from the communications, concrete, conveying equipment, electronic safety and security, equipment, finishes, fire suppression, furnishings, masonry, openings, structural steel, thermal and moisture protection, plastics and composites and wood works

Comparison of Union and Non-Union Bids on Ohio School Facilities Commission Construction Projects

In 1997, the Ohio senate passed Senate Bill 102 which established the Ohio School Facilities Commission as a separate agency to oversee the rebuilding projects of the public schools in Ohio. To lower the construction cost, the bill exempted construction contractors from paying prevailing wages on these projects based on the hypothesis that this exemption would save the Ohio tax payer 10.7%. Many other studies concluded that these savings would range from 1.5 to 26%. The purpose of this research was to investigate this hypothesis through the statistical analysis of 8093 bids received for the schools’ construction from the years 2000 through 2007. Union contractors- who paid their workers union wages-and non-union contractors- who did not pay prevailing wages- bid these projects. By comparing the bids/SF from both groups (union and nonunion), the hypothesis was tested. The research indicated that there was no significant difference between the bids for union contractors and the bids for non-union contractors

The effect of pipe bursting on nearby utilities, pavement, and structures

This dissertation has involved field and analytical studies of ground movements, ground vibrations and other design issues associated with trenchless pipe replacement (or pipe bursting, as it is commonly known). The process is used to replace an existing underground service pipe with a completely new pipe but without the disturbance and cost of excavating a trench from the surface. The process typically involves the insertion of a tool into the existing pipe that has a maximum diameter that is slightly larger than the existing pipe. This tool is used to break the existing pipe into pieces and to displace the pieces and neighboring soil outwards into the surrounding ground while a new pipe is installed behind the tool. There are several variations of the process with different approaches to various aspects of the breakage and replacement. The trenchless pipe replacement offers advantages of low cost, reduced surface disturbance, and the ability to replace an old pipe with a new pipe of equal or larger diameter and capacity Concerns about the use of the method have centered principally on the ground movements and vibrations produced by the technique--particularly when existing pipe is being replaced by a larger diameter pipe-- and also on any damage experienced by the replacement pipe as it is being pulled into the ground. By further development of the understanding of the effects of the process and by refining the safe limits for the replacement process in terms of soil type, groundwater conditions, type of pipe being burst, degree of up-sizing, proximity to existing services, depth below the street, etc., it is expected that many of the concerns expressed by owners and consultants about the use of the techniques will be allayed and attention directed to the particular circumstances where special precautions need to be used. The cost advantages inherent in on-line replacement over open-cut replacement in many circumstances, and the resulting potential growth of this market, make the improved understanding of ground movements and impacts on adjacent structures well worthwhile

Resistance and resilience of social–ecological systems to recurrent typhoon disturbance on a subtropical island: Taiwan

Tropical cyclones (TCs) have major effects on ecological and social systems. However, studies integrating the effects of TCs on both social and ecological systems are rare, especially in the northwest Pacific, where the frequency of TCs (locally named typhoons) is the highest in the world. We synthesized studies of effects of recurrent typhoons on social and ecological systems in Taiwan over the last several decades. Many responses to TCs are comparable between social and ecological systems. High forest ecosystem resistance, evident from tree mortality below 2% even following multiple strong typhoons, is comparable with resistance of social systems, including the only 4% destruction of river embankments following a typhoon that brought nearly 3000 mm rainfall in three days. High resilience as reflected by quick returns of leaf area index, mostly in one year, and streamwater chemistry, one to several weeks to pre‐typhoon levels of ecosystems, are comparable to quick repair of the power grid within one to several days and returns of vegetable price within several weeks to pre‐typhoon levels of the social systems. Landslides associated with intense typhoons have buried mountain villages and transported large quantities of woody debris to the coast, affecting the coastal plains and reefs, illustrating a ridge‐to‐reef link between ecological and societal systems. Metrics of both social and ecological function showed large fluctuations in response to typhoons but quickly returned to pre‐disturbance levels, except when multiple intense typhoons occurred within a single season. Our synthesis illustrates that the social–ecological systems in Taiwan are highly dynamic and responsive to frequent typhoon disturbance, with extraordinarily high resistance and resilience. For ecosystems, the efficient responsiveness results from the selective force of TCs on ecosystem structure and processes. For social systems, it is the result of the effects of TCs on planning and decision making by individuals (e.g., farmers), management sectors, and ultimately the government. In regions with frequent TCs, the social–ecological systems are inevitably highly dynamic and rapid responses are fundamental to system resistance and resilience which in turn is key to maintaining structure and function of the social–ecological systems

Urinary incontinence related to perineal muscle strength in the first trimester of pregnancy: cross-sectional study

Objective To analyze pelvic floor muscle strength (PFMS), urinary continence and quality of life related to urinary incontinence (UI) of women in the first trimester of pregnancy. Method Cross-sectional study with a sample of 500 women who started prenatal care in a complementary healthcare facility in Guarulhos, state of São Paulo, from 2012 and 2013. Pelvic floor muscle strength was evaluated through perineometry. The pregnant women who presented UI answered the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF). Results It was found that maternal age (OR=1.06; CI95% 1.02-1.11) and prior UI (OR=15.12; 95%CI 8.19-27.92) are the variables that, in tandem, best explain the occurrence of UI at the beginning of pregnancy. The mean score on the ICIQ-SF was 8.2 (SD=3.9), considered a moderate impact on quality of life. Conclusion Older pregnant women with prior UI are more likely to have UI in the first trimester of pregnancy.
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