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In Ecuador, the regulatory framework for the remediation of petroleum-contaminated soils is based on predefined concentration endpoints for a selected range of petroleum hydrocarbon compounds. However, such approach may lead to over or under-estimation of the environmental risk posed by contaminated soils. In this study, the end-point remediation criteria according to Ecuadorian Environmental legislation were evaluated using different approaches. The first one was based on Total Extractable Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TEPH) and the second one on Total Bioavailable Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TBPH). Both were compared with ecotoxicological determinations using EC50 -Microtox® bioassay at 5 and 15 min of exposure. The correlation (R2) between EC50 values vs TEPH was of 0.2 and 0.25 for 5 and 15 min, respectively. Meanwhile, R2 between EC50 and TBPH was of 0.9 and 0.65 for 5 and 15 min, respectively, demonstrating a stronger correlation. Our results suggest that a contaminated site where the concentration of the TEPH is higher than the relevant regulatory concentrations may be deemed to present an acceptable risk even though their concentrations exceed the target values in soils. The results also challenge the notion that hormesis is associated with TEPH, contrary to some literature. This study is the first in Ecuador to propose incorporating bioavailability into environmental regulations, highlighting the need for further research to establish realistic and achievable remediation goals based on toxicity studies involving various trophic levels.
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One of the purposes of Artificial Intelligence tools is to ease the analysis of large amounts of data. In order to support the strategic decision-making process of the airlines, this paper proposes a Data Mining approach (focused on visualization) with the objective of extracting market knowledge from any database of industry players or competitors. The method combines two clustering techniques (Self-Organizing Maps, SOMs, and K-means) via unsupervised learning with promising dynamic applications in different sectors. As a case study, 30-year data from 18 diverse US passenger airlines is used to showcase the capabilities of this tool including the identification and assessment of market trends, M&A events or the COVID-19 consequences.
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Introducción: La salud visual es de vital importancia para el individuo, habiendo una mayor incidencia de oftalmopatías sobre los 50 años. Pese a su impacto sanitario, Chile carece de estudios epidemiológicos suficientes. La gran variabilidad de sus presentaciones hace importante conocer cuales ameritan el tratamiento intrahospitalario. Objetivo: Describir las principales causas de egresos hospitalarios por enfermedades del ojo y sus anexos en el Hospital Regional Guillermo Grant Benavente entre los años 2018 y 2021. Materiales y métodos: Estudio ecológico que analizó 1764 egresos hospitalarios por enfermedades del ojo y sus anexos del Hospital Guillermo Grant Benavente entre los años 2018 y 2021. Los datos corresponden al Departamento de Estadísticas e Información en Salud (DEIS). Resultados: Las patologías más prevalentes fueron: Trastornos De La Coroides Y De La Retina (33%) (TCR) Trastornos Del Cristalino (14,7%), Trastornos De La Esclerótica, Córnea, Iris Y Cuerpo Ciliar (10,2). Trastornos Del Párpado, Aparato Lagrimal Y Órbita (12,7%) (TPAO) Esta última con diferencias estadísticamente significativas para el sexo. Conclusión: Se ve una disminución de la atención hospitalaria desde el año 2020 debido a la pandemia del virus SARS-COV-2. No hay diferencias por sexo, excepto para la TPAO, similar a lo visto en la literatura. La acumulación de oftalmopatías en el rango de población adulta y adulta mayor, refleja un envejecimiento poblacional. Se reconoce además a los TCR como la patología con mayor incidencia. El estudio contribuye a la epidemiologia local, aportando a la falta de conocimientos actualizados, describiendo los diagnósticos más frecuentes de la especialidad.
Introduction: Eye care is vital for the individual, with a higher incidence of ophthalmopathy over 50 years. Despite its health impact, Chile lacks sufficient epidemiological studies. The great variability of their presentations makes it important to know which ones merit in-hospital treatment. Objective: To describe the main causes of hospital discharges for eye diseases and its adnexa at the Guillermo Grant Benavente Regional Hospital between 2018 and 2021. Material and methods: An ecological descriptive study that analyzed 1,764 hospital discharges for eye diseases and its adnexa from the Hospital Guillermo Grant Benavente between the years 2018 and 2021. The data corresponds to the Department of Statistics and Health Information (DEIS). Results: The most prevalent pathologies were: Disorders of the Choroid and Retina (33%) (TCR), Disorders of the Lens (14.7%), Disorders of the Sclera, Cornea, Iris, and Ciliary Body (10.2). Disorders of the Eyelid, Lacrimal Apparatus and Orbit (12.7%) (TPAO) The latter with statistically significant differences for sex. Conclusion: A decrease in hospital care is seen since 2020 due to the SARS-COV-2 virus pandemic. There are no differences by sex, except for PPAO, similar to what has been seen in the literature. The accumulation of ophthalmopathy in the range of the adult population and older adults, reflects an aging population. TCR is also recognized as the pathology with the highest incidence. The study contributes to the local epidemiology and the lack of updated knowledge, describing the most frequent diagnoses of the specialty.
