[Suicide rates in the Araucania Region of Chile]. / El suicidio en la Región de La Araucanía: dinámica socioespacial durante los años 2004-2015.

BACKGROUND: Suicide is a public health problem in the world. In Chile, suicide rates increased since 1990 with regional differences in rates. AIM: To analyze the geographical distribution of deaths due to suicide that occurred in the Region of Araucanía between the years 2004-2015. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The geographic distribution of suicide in the Araucania Region at district level (2004-2015) was analyzed using death data available at the web page of the Ministry of Health. Socio-demographic variables of suicide were characterized. The spatial distribution of suicide rates was represented using cartography, and suicide spatial clusters were identified through spatial-temporal exploration. RESULTS: There were 1,562 suicides, 86% in men, with a mean rate of 13.07 x105 inhabitants. The highest rates were registered in people aged over 70 years. Most individuals committing suicide were active workers. Hanging was the most common method to accomplish suicide. The territories from the coastal area in Cautín, and Nahuelbuta registered the highest suicide rates. Two statistically significant conglomerates with high incidence of suicide cases were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The use of geographic methods and the disaggregation of suicide cases at district level, allowed the identification of territorial variability in the distribution of suicide rates within the Araucanía Region. Spatial patterns of areas with high suicide risk were found.

El suicidio en la Región de La Araucanía: dinámica socioespacial durante los años 2004-2015 / Suicide rates in the Araucania Region of Chile

Background: Suicide is a public health problem in the world. In Chile, suicide rates increased since 1990 with regional differences in rates. Aim: To analyze the geographical distribution of deaths due to suicide that occurred in the Region of Araucanía between the years 2004-2015. Material and Methods: The geographic distribution of suicide in the Araucania Region at district level (2004-2015) was analyzed using death data available at the web page of the Ministry of Health. Socio-demographic variables of suicide were characterized. The spatial distribution of suicide rates was represented using cartography, and suicide spatial clusters were identified through spatial-temporal exploration. Results: There were 1,562 suicides, 86% in men, with a mean rate of 13.07 x105 inhabitants. The highest rates were registered in people aged over 70 years. Most individuals committing suicide were active workers. Hanging was the most common method to accomplish suicide. The territories from the coastal area in Cautín, and Nahuelbuta registered the highest suicide rates. Two statistically significant conglomerates with high incidence of suicide cases were identified. Conclusions: The use of geographic methods and the disaggregation of suicide cases at district level, allowed the identification of territorial variability in the distribution of suicide rates within the Araucanía Region. Spatial patterns of areas with high suicide risk were found.

Macromolecular composition and anaerobic degradation of the sludge produced in a sequencing batch reactor

The effect of sequencing batch reactor (SBR) operating conditions on sludge macromolecular composition and the effect of sludge macromolecular composition on the anaerobic degradation of the sludge produced in SBR was investigated in this work. A SBR, fed with synthetic wastewater, was operated at different air flow rates. The resulting sludge was analyzed in terms of protein, carbohydrate, phospholipid and polyhydroxybutyrate concentrations. Methane production during anaerobic digestion of the sludge was also measured. Ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, dissolved oxygen and chemical oxygen demand (COD) track studies in the SBR were carried out in order to relate SBR performance and sludge macromolecular composition. The lowest air flow rate at which the SBR was operated was 2 l min-1, in which case the dissolved oxygen concentration was lower than 0.5 mg l-1 in the SBR and partial denitrification occurred during the feeding phase. An increased air flow rate caused a decrease in protein concentration, as well as an increase in carbohydrate concentration. Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) concentration in the sludge was independent of air flow rate. At different air flows, the methane production rates were similar, but the total volume of methane was greater during anaerobic digestion of the sludge produced at low air flow rates. These results indicate a strategy by which changes in sludge composition can optimize the operation of anaerobic sludge digesters.