FlowSOM clustering - A novel pattern recognition approach for water research: Application to a hyper-arid coastal aquifer system.

Monitoring and understanding of water resources have become essential in designing effective and sustainable management strategies to overcome the growing water quality challenges. In this context, the utilization of unsupervised learning techniques for evaluating environmental tracers has facilitated the exploration of sources and dynamics of groundwater systems through pattern recognition. However, conventional techniques may overlook spatial and temporal non-linearities present in water research data. This paper introduces the adaptation of FlowSOM, a pioneering approach that combines self-organizing maps (SOM) and minimal spanning trees (MST), with the fast-greedy network clustering algorithm to unravel intricate relationships within multivariate water quality datasets. By capturing connections within the data, this ensemble tool enhances clustering and pattern recognition. Applied to the complex water quality context of the hyper-arid transboundary Caplina/Concordia coastal aquifer system (Peru/Chile), the FlowSOM network and clustering yielded compelling results in pattern recognition of the aquifer salinization. Analyzing 143 groundwater samples across eight variables, including major ions, the approach supports the identification of distinct clusters and connections between them. Three primary sources of salinization were identified: river percolation, slow lateral aquitard recharge, and seawater intrusion. The analysis demonstrated the superiority of FlowSOM clustering over traditional techniques in the case study, producing clusters that align more closely with the actual hydrogeochemical pattern. The outcomes broaden the utilization of multivariate analysis in water research, presenting a comprehensive approach to support the understanding of groundwater systems.

Hydrogeochemical Characterization and Identification of Factors Influencing Groundwater Quality in Coastal Aquifers, Case: La Yarada, Tacna, Peru.

The coastal aquifer La Yarada has anthropogenic and geogenic contamination that adversely affect the quality of groundwater for population and agricultural use. In this scenario, multivariate statistical methods were applied in 20 physicochemical and isotopic parameters of 53 groundwater pumping wells in October 2020, with the aim of characterizing the hydrogeochemical processes that dominate the groundwater of the coastal aquifer and the factors that cause them to optimize the effective management of water resources, delimiting areas affected by more than one salinization process. The samples were grouped into three clusters (C1, C2, and C3) with cluster analysis, the spatial distribution of C2 and C3 (reclassified in stiff diagrams), evidenced hydrogeochemical facies associated with the flow and recharge directions governed by the structural lineaments (NE-SO), favoring some areas more than others, arising different facies and hydrogeochemical processes. Factor analysis was applied from three different approaches: (1) main elements, (2) trace elements, and (3) physicochemical and isotopic parameters; exposing 6 distinguishable hydrogeochemical processes in the aquifer and factors that cause them: (i) salinization-marine intrusion, (ii) fertilizer leaching and dissolution of (Ca2+, Mg2+), (iii) wastewater mixture (NO3-), (iv) reducing conditions (Fe, Mn, Al), (v) contributions of (B, Sr), (vi) conservative mixtures and dissolution (As, F). It was validated with water quality indices (WQI) according to the national limits, delimiting 67 km2 parallel to the coast with "bad" to "very bad" quality for human consumption and unsuitable for irrigation according to the Wilcox diagram thus pre-treatment in this area is indispensable.

Predicting adverse scenarios for a transboundary coastal aquifer system in the Atacama Desert (Peru/Chile).

The Caplina/Concordia transboundary coastal aquifer system, located in the Atacama Desert, is the primary source of water supply for domestic use and irrigation for La Yarada-Los Palos (Peru) and Concordia (Chile) agriculture districts, and to a lesser extent, for Tacna province public supply use (Peru). Despite the scarce amount of rainfall (<20 mm/year) in the area and the limited recharge coming from the Andean highlands, this transboundary aquifer system has been overexploited mainly for agriculture since before the 2000s on the Peruvian side. Consequently, this has caused groundwater depletion and seawater intrusion. In this study, comprehensive hydrogeological information was integrated to understand the aquifer system's behavior and the effects to which it has been subjected to groundwater overexploitation. To that end, a 3D hydrogeological framework was developed using the LEAPFROG software and a constant-density groundwater flow model with equivalent heads was generated in FEFLOW software, which was adjusted with Monte Carlo analysis and conventional automated calibration. Finally, eight scenarios, considering various water resource management options proposed by the authority and potential climatic trends (CMIP6), were simulated from 2020 to 2040. The results showed that between 2002 and 2020, the increase in the seawater wedge and the average groundwater level decline were 216 hm3/year and 7 m, respectively. It is expected that the depletion will continue with a groundwater level decline between 5 and 8 m and an increase in the seawater wedge between 1120 hm3/year and 1175 hm3/year for the forecast period. The study concludes that the aquifer system will remain unsustainable for the next 20 years, regardless of the selected scenarios, and suggests that any mitigation measure requires the participation of stakeholders from Peru, Chile, and Bolivia.

Desarrollo motor de una cohorte retrospectiva de niños colombianos de hasta un año de edad corregida, según la escala motora infantil de Alberta / Corrected motor development in a retrospective cohort of Colombian children of up to one year of age according to the Alberta Infant Motor Scale / Desenvolvimento motor de uma coorte retrospectiva de crianças colombianas até um ano de idade corrigida, de acordo com a Alberta Children's Motor Scale

RESUMEN Objetivos La escala motora infantil de Alberta (escala de Alberta en el texto) es utilizada a nivel mundial para evaluar el desarrollo motor en niños menores de 18 meses tanto pretermino como a término. En Colombia la herramienta es utilizada, pero hay poca información sobre los resultados que arroja. El objetivo del estudio fue caracterizar a una cohorte retrospectiva de niños menores de un año según la escala de Alberta para generar información sobre los resultados de la aplicación de esta en población colombiana atendida en un hospital de cuarto nivel. Métodos Estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo, transversal, donde se evaluaron las historias clínicas de 411 niños con edad corregida entre 0 y 12 meses de edad y antecedentes de edad gestacional de menos de 40 semanas, a todos los niños se les aplico la escala de Alberta entre 2010 y 2016 y los puntajes según esta se analizaron estadísticamente en forma descriptiva. Resultados La mayoría de los pacientes fueron clasificados por la escala como "desarrollo normal" como se esperaría por sus antecedentes, los niños de nuestra muestra presentan puntajes inferiores a los de la muestra original de Canadá en todas las edades. Conclusiones La escala se mostró útil en el tamizaje del niño normal, sin embargo, los pacientes presentaron menores puntajes al ser evaluados por la escala que en el estudio original, se genera evidencia sobre la necesidad de validar la escala en Colombia y generar curvas de referencia para esta.(AU)

ABSTRACT Objectives The Alberta Infant Motor Scale is used worldwide to assess motor development in children under 18 months of age, both preterm and full-term. In Colombia, the scale is used, but there is little information on the results it yields. The objective of this study was to characterize a retrospective cohort of children under one year of age according to the Alberta scale to generate information about the results of its application in a Colombian population treated at a highly specialized hospital. Methods Descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional study, in which the medical records of 411 children with corrected age between 0 and 12 months and a history of gestational age less than 40 weeks were evaluated. The Alberta scale was applied to all children between 2010 and 2016, and scores were analyzed statistically in a descriptive form. Results Most patients were classified by the scale as "normal development" as would be expected based on their medical history. The children in our sample had lower scores than those of the original Canadian sample at all ages. Conclusions The scale was useful for screening normal children; however, the patients had lower scores when they were evaluated by the scale than in the original study, thus making evident the need to validate the scale in Colombia and generate reference curves.(AU)

RESUMO: Objetivos A Escala Motora Infantil de Alberta (escala Alberta no texto) é usada globalmente para avaliar o desenvolvimento motor em crianças menores de 18 meses, pré-termo e termo. Na Colômbia, a ferramenta é usada, mas há pouca informação sobre os resultados mostrados. O objetivo do estudo foi caracterizar uma coorte retrospectiva de crianças menores de um ano, de acordo com a escala de Alberta, para gerar informações sobre os resultados de sua aplicação na população colombiana atendida em um hospital de quarto nível. Métodos Estudo descritivo, retrospectivo, transversal, onde foram avaliados os prontuários de 411 crianças com idade corrigida entre 0 e 12 meses e histórico de idade gestacional inferior a 40 semanas, a escala de Alberta foi aplicada a todas as crianças entre 2010 e 2016 e as pontuações correspondentes foram analisadas estatisticamente de forma descritiva. Resultados A maioria dos pacientes foi classificada pela escala como "desenvolvimento normal", como seria de esperar em sua história; as crianças de nossa amostra tiveram escores mais baixos do que a amostra canadense original em todas as idades. Conclusões A escala foi útil na triagem da criança normal; no entanto, os pacientes tiveram escores mais baixos quando avaliados pela escala do que no estudo original; foram geradas evidências sobre a necessidade de validar a escala na Colômbia e gerar curvas de referência.(AU)

[Corrected motor development in a retrospective cohort of Colombian children of up to one year of age according to the Alberta Infant Motor Scale]. / Desarrollo motor de una cohorte retrospectiva de niños colombianos de hasta un año de edad corregida, según la escala motora infantil de Alberta.

OBJECTIVES: The Alberta Infant Motor Scale is used worldwide to assess motor development in children under 18 months of age, both preterm and full-term. In Colombia, the scale is used, but there is little information on the results it yields. The objective of this study was to characterize a retrospective cohort of children under one year of age according to the Alberta scale to generate information about the results of its application in a Colombian population treated at a highly specialized hospital. METHODS: Descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional study, in which the medical records of 411 children with corrected age between 0 and 12 months and a history of gestational age less than 40 weeks were evaluated. The Alberta scale was applied to all children between 2010 and 2016, and scores were analyzed statistically in a descriptive form. RESULTS: Most patients were classified by the scale as "normal development" as would be expected based on their medical history. The children in our sample had lower scores than those of the original Canadian sample at all ages. CONCLUSIONS: The scale was useful for screening normal children; however, the patients had lower scores when they were evaluated by the scale than in the original study, thus making evident the need to validate the scale in Colombia and generate reference curves.

OBJETIVOS: La escala motora infantil de Alberta (escala de Alberta en el texto) es utilizada a nivel mundial para evaluar el desarrollo motor en niños menores de 18 meses tanto pretermino como a término. En Colombia la herramienta es utilizada, pero hay poca información sobre los resultados que arroja. El objetivo del estudio fue caracterizar a una cohorte retrospectiva de niños menores de un año según la escala de Alberta para generar información sobre los resultados de la aplicación de esta en población colombiana atendida en un hospital de cuarto nivel. MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo, transversal, donde se evaluaron las historias clínicas de 411 niños con edad corregida entre 0 y 12 meses de edad y antecedentes de edad gestacional de menos de 40 semanas, a todos los niños se les aplico la escala de Alberta entre 2010 y 2016 y los puntajes según esta se analizaron estadísticamente en forma descriptiva. RESULTADOS: La mayoría de los pacientes fueron clasificados por la escala como "desarrollo normal" como se esperaría por sus antecedentes, los niños de nuestra muestra presentan puntajes inferiores a los de la muestra original de Canadá en todas las edades. CONCLUSIONES: La escala se mostró útil en el tamizaje del niño normal, sin embargo, los pacientes presentaron menores puntajes al ser evaluados por la escala que en el estudio original, se genera evidencia sobre la necesidad de validar la escala en Colombia y generar curvas de referencia para esta.

Tolerancia de diez especies de diatomeas (Bacillariophyceae) a los factores físico-químicos del agua en el Río Sarapiquí, Costa Rica / The tolerance of ten diatom species (Bacillariophyceae) to water's physico-chemical factors in the Sarapiqui River, Costa Rica

ResumenLas diatomeas del bentos son el componente más estudiado del perifiton en los ríos de Costa Rica, sin embargo aún queda mucho por conocer sobre su ecología. Por eso en el presente estudio se analizó el perifiton en seis diferentes sitios en la cuenca medio del Río Sarapiquí en el 2010, 2011 y 2012. En cada uno de los muestreos se realizó el conteo de 400 frústulas, de las cuales se obtuvo la abundancia relativa de las especies: Achnanthidium exiguum, Coconneis placentula, Cymbella tumida, Luticola goeppertiana, Luticola ventricosa, Navicula symmetrica, Nitzchia clausii, Nupela praecipua, Reimeria sinuata y Synedra goulardi. Esta información fue relacionada con los datos físico químicos (oxígeno disuelto, temperatura, conductividad, total de sedimentos en suspensión, turbidez, pH y alcalinidad) medidos en cada uno de los sitios. Con el propósito de observar las relaciones entre los diferentes sitios dentro de la cuenca, se utilizó un análisis de correspondencia canónica (ACC), lo que permitió distinguir tres sectores de acuerdo a la altitud. Estos sectores se diferencian en el tipo de sustrato, cobertura riparia vegetal y parámetros físico-químicos, lo que propicia diferencias en la composición de especies de diatomeas entre ellos. Se obtuvieron los valores óptimos calculados y tolerancia calculada para cada una de las especies. Los resultados obtenidos indican que las especies: A. exiguum, R. sinuata,L. ventricosa y C. tumida, dominan en aguas limpias, oxigenadas y baja temperatura. Las especies N. praecipua, S. goulardi, C. placentula, L. goeppertiana, N. clausii y N. symmetrica se encuentran en aguas cálidas, alta turbidez y poco oxigenadas. Las especies A. exiguum, R. sinuata, prevalecen en sitios con agua alcalina y baja conductividad y las especies N. symmetrica, C. tumida y L. ventricosa presentan una relación positiva con la conductividad y el pH de las aguas. Las especies estudiadas mostraron buenos indicios de su valor como indicadores de calidad del agua, sin embargo, debido a diferencias de interpretación por varios autores, es necesario realizar más estudios en otras cuencas hidrográficas en el país.

Abstract The tolerance of ten diatom species (Bacillariophyceae) to water's physico-chemical factors in the Sarapiqui River, Costa Rica. Benthic diatoms are the periphyton component most studied in Costa Rican rivers, yet there is still much to be known about their ecology. This study aims to contribute to this knowledge. Periphyton samples from six locations along the middle reach of Sarapiquí river and some of its tributaries were taken and analyzed from 2010 to 2012. A total count of 400 frustules was performed in each sample to obtain relative abundances of each species. Ten species, which were easily recognized at the light microscope, were analyzed here: Achnanthidium exiguum, Coconneis placentula, Cymbella tumida, Luticola goeppertiana, Luticola ventricosa, Navicula symmetrica, Nitzchia clausii, Nupela praecipua, Reimeria sinuata and Synedra goulardi. Their abundance was related to physico chemical data at each site for every sampling date (dissolved oxygen, temperature, conductivity, total suspended solids, turbidity, pH and alkalinity) with a canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) that allowed distinguishing three sectors along the river according to altitude. These sectors differed by substrate, riparian vegetation cover, and physic-chemical parameters, all of which resulted in differences in diatom species composition among them. Optimum values and tolerances form each environmental parameter were calculated for each species. Our results showed that A. exiguum, R. sinuata,L. ventricosa and C. tumida, were dominant in clean and well oxygenated waters with low temperatures. The species N. praecipua, S. goulardi, C. placentula, L. goeppertiana, N. clausii and N. symmetrica inhabited warm waters with high turbidity and low oxygen. The species A. exiguum, R. sinuata were dominant in sites with low alkalinity and conductivity, whereas species like N. symmetrica, C. tumida and L. ventricosa showed a positive relationship with conductivity and pH. The studied species showed good characteristics of their value as water quality indicators, yet due to different interpretations by several authors, it is necessary to perform further studies at more river basins in the country. Rev. Biol. Trop. 64 (1): 105-115. Epub 2016 March 01.

[The tolerance of ten diatom species (Bacillariophyceae) to water's physico-chemical factors in the Sarapiqui River, Costa Rica]. / Tolerancia de diez especies de diatomeas (Bacillariophyceae) a los factores físico-químicos del agua en el Río Sarapiquí, Costa Rica.

Benthic diatoms are the periphyton component most studied in Costa Rican rivers, yet there is still much to be known about their ecology. This study aims to contribute to this knowledge. Periphyton samples from six locations along the middle reach of Sarapiquí river and some of its tributaries were taken and analyzed from 2010 to 2012. A total count of 400 frustules was performed in each sample to obtain relative abundances of each species. Ten species, which were easily recognized at the light microscope, were analyzed here: Achnanthidium exiguum, Coconneis placentula, Cymbella tumida, Luticola goeppertiana, Luticola ventricosa, Navicula symmetrica, Nitzchia clausii, Nupela praecipua, Reimeria sinuata and Synedra goulardi. Their abundance was related to physico chemical data at each site for every sampling date (dissolved oxygen, temperature, conductivity, total suspended solids, turbidity, pH and alkalinity) with a canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) that allowed distinguishing three sectors along the river according to altitude. These sectors differed by substrate, riparian vegetation cover, and physic-chemical parameters, all of which resulted in differences in diatom species composition among them. Optimum values and tolerances form each environmental parameter were calculated for each species. Our results showed that A. exiguum, R. sinuata, L. ventricosa and C. tumida, were dominant in clean and well oxygenated waters with low temperatures. The species N. praecipua, S. goulardi, C. placentula, L. goeppertiana, N. clausii and N. symmetrica inhabited warm waters with high turbidity and low oxygen. The species A. exiguum, R. sinuata were dominant in sites with low alkalinity and conductivity, whereas species like N. symmetrica, C. tumida and L. ventricosa showed a positive relationship with conductivity and pH. The studied species showed good characteristics of their value as water quality indicators, yet due to different interpretations by several authors, it is necessary to perform further studies at more river basins in the country.

Trauma ocular por artefactos explosivos y armas de fuego en el Hospital Central PNP / Ocular trauma by explosive devices and firearms in Central Hospital PNP

Durante las dos décadas (80 y 90) de terrorismo que sufrió nuestro país, el Hospital Central PNP recibió innumerables efectivos policiales politraumatizados y con severo compromiso ocular. Se quiso determinar las características de esta población afectada. Objetivo: Realizar una revisión de trauma ocular por artefacto explosivo y arma de fuego en el Servicio de Oftalmología del HCPNP durante el período comprendido entre enero de 1980 y junio del 2000. Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo, descriptivo, determinando la prevalencia para lo cual se diseñó un protocolo de estudio. Material y métodos: Se revisaron historias clínicas completas de 37 pacientes con 52 ojos comprometidos, con el diagnóstico mencionado. Se llenó el protocolo de estudio por cada ojo afectado. Resultados: El 62 por ciento estuvo comprendido entre 21 y 30 años de edad. La totalidad fue de sexo masculino. El 41 por ciento tuvo compromsio bilateral, 32 por ciento ojo derecho. 81 por ciento fueron sub oficiales. 81 por ciento causados por explosivos. Por actos de terrorismo 97 por ciento. El 46 por ciento ocurrió en edificios públicos. Las lesiones corneoesclerales fueron las frecuentes en 90 por ciento, compromiso de retina y vítreo en 65 por ciento. Presentó trauma ocular por CEIO el 46 por ciento y 19 por ciento trauma ocular perforante. Mejor pronóstico visual > 0.1 en lesiones por artefactos explosivos 36 por ciento, y peor pronóstico visual (NPL) 86 por ciento por arma de fuego. 14 casos fueron enucleados y 3 eviscerados. Conclusión: El agente traumático más frecuente fue explosivos 81 por ciento. Por acciones terroristas 97 por ciento. El trauma ocular por CEIO fue mayor 46 por ciento, el grupo etáreo más afectado fue 21 a 30 años (62 por ciento). Tuvieron mejor pronóstico visual las lesiones por explosivos que aquellas por PAF. Se recomienda establecer Programas de Prevención y Rehabilitación de injurias oculares, enfatizando el uso de protector ocular adecuado.

Instrumentacion del centro de salud Ernesto Regener de Río Chico / Instrumentacion of the health center Ernesto Regener of Rio Chico

El objetivo del presente trabajo ha sido cumplir con el requisito académico, para optar a la Credencial del Curso Médico de Salud Pública en Administración de Hospitales. Se realizó un trabajo de campo, donde se efectuó un análisis en relación a la realidad del Hospital Ernesto Regener de Río Chico, se valoró el rendimiento con respecto a los costos operatorios. Se busco cotejar los factores económicos, humanos y ecológicos que deben ser tomados en cuanta para la programación funcional del Hospital