City Argentina Research Articles

La tv del centro de la periferia. Casos Córdoba y Rosario

El presente artículo presenta y analiza las características estructurales de la organización del sistema televisivo en tres de las principales ciudades argentinas, en particular en Córdoba y Rosario, a partir de las relaciones de propiedad, asociación y provisión de programación desde los canales cabecera situados en la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (CABA). Cuatro de los canales que emiten en Córdoba y Rosario son comerciales y privados, mientras que hay uno de tipo estatal universitario, que pertenece a la Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. El análisis comprende la situación de la tv de conglomerados urbanos de gran importancia, como Córdoba y Rosario, tomando en cuenta las tendencias históricas inherentes al sistema de medios de la Argentina, la vinculación societaria de las emisoras de las ciudades mencionadas, los ingresos por publicidad oficial y las capacidades productivas instaladas.

Safety of child passengers who ride to school on a motorcycle: An observational study in two Argentine cities

In low- and middle-income countries, the motorcycle has increasingly become a means of family transportation due to its low cost and the poor quality of public transportation. Consequently, many child motorcycle passengers are at an elevated risk of serious injury in the event of a traffic crash. The available research on child safety devices is scarce and focused mainly on helmet use, while other devices (e.g. high-visibility clothing) have received little attention. This observational study documented the safety conditions and related factors of primary schoolchildren who rode to school as motorcycle passengers in two cities of Argentina.Data was obtained in the vicinity of 27 public primary schools in two cities of Argentina (one mid-sized city and the other a small city by the country's standards) between May 2018 and September 2019. A total of 1440 motorcycle occupants (656 drivers and 784 child passengers) were observed.The use of an adequate helmet was lower among children (vs. drivers). Most of the children were unable to reach the motorcycle's footrests, did not use high-visibility clothing or a fastening device, carried a backpack, and mounted and dismounted the motorcycle in an unsafe place. Some children rode in front of the driver or in a motorcycle with three or four occupants. Use of helmet by drivers and driver sex (woman) were related with an increase in safety in children. The indicators were worse in the larger city.The results revealed a low level of adoption of safety measures in children as well as in adults in both cities. This suggests that motorcycle travel is unsafe. Greater effort is needed to improve motorcycle safety, especially for children. It is important to debate regulatory details such as a minimum age for passengers, a limit on the number of passengers, and other safety criteria. It is also important to conduct educational campaigns that include the distribution of safety devices.

A Complementary Approach to Traditional Energy Balances for Assessing Energy Efficiency Measures in Final Uses: The Case of Space Heating and Cooling in Argentina

Energy balances have been historically conceived based on a supply-side perspective, providing neither detailed information about energy conversion into useful services nor the effects that may be induced by the application of policies in other sectors to energy consumption. This article proposes an approach to a thorough assessment of the impact of efficiency policies on final energy uses, focusing on residential space heating and cooling, and capable of: (1) quantifying final useful services provided and (2) accounting for the global impact of efficiency policies on final energy use, taking advantage of Input–Output analysis. This approach is applied in five cities of Argentina. Firstly, the quantity of energy service provided (i.e., level of thermal comfort) for each city is evaluated and compared with the defined target. It is found out that heating comfort is guaranteed approximately as established, whereas in the cooling case the provision is twice the established level. Secondly, primary energy consumption of heating and cooling services is evaluated before and after different efficiency improvement policies. The results show that the major primary energy saving (52%) is obtained from the upgrading appliances scenario and reflect the importance of accounting for embodied energy in goods and services involved in interventions.

May Measurement Month 2018: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Argentinean cohort.

Hypertension continues to be the leading cause of death and disability in the industrialized world, with a high level of unawareness and unacceptably poor control. Therefore, the Argentinian Society of Hypertension, in agreement with the May Measurement Month (MMM) initiative of the International Society of Hypertension, implemented for the second consecutive year an educational campaign during the month of May 2018. A volunteer cross-sectional survey was carried out in public spaces and health centres during the month of May 2018 across 33 cities in Argentina. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (BP) ≥140 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg based on the mean of the 2nd and 3rd of three consecutive BP measurements, or in those on treatment for high BP. Statistical analysis including multiple imputation followed the MMM protocol. A total of 70 418 individuals were screened during MMM18, after excluding those under 18 years old. Of the total, 43.8% of participants were classified as hypertensive, 77.7% were aware of their diagnosis, 69.1% were on pharmacological treatment, and 38.7% were controlled. Of those on antihypertensive medication, 56.0% were controlled. It is necessary to reinforce strategies not only to increase the awareness and control of hypertension but also to identify the population groups, in which these strategies would have the greatest impact, helping to reduce the enormous health burden attributed to hypertension.

The avertive <i>hube de</i> + infinitive in Spanish

In this contribution, we present the results of a representative perception study that was carried out to determine how the verbal periphrase hube de + inf. is understood in Cuban and Argentinian Spanish and whether the Galician avertive lead to the presence of this category in those varieties. By means of analyzing interviews conducted in different Spanish cities (Barcelona, Madrid, Santiago de Compostela), Argentinian cities (Buenos Aires, Mendoza, Santiago del Estero, Tucumán, Córdoba and other cities in the province of Córdoba), Uruguay (Montevideo), and Cuba (Havana, Santa Clara), it was possible to show that in the Cuban variety of Spanish and in River Plate Spanish—Uruguay, Buenos Aires, Argentinian Northwest—there is no trace of an influence of the Galician avertive hube de + inf., while it gives proof of the existence of at least a perception of the avertive hube de + inf. in the Cordoban variety of Argentinian Spanish.

Crop proximity index for monitoring of peri-urban land use in agro-industrial crop regions

The agro-industrial production of genetically modified organisms uses great amounts of pesticides, close to cities, which generates growing concern due to the numerous evidence of their negative effects on health and the environment. In a context of the lack, or inaccessibility, of official data on crop dynamics and pesticide use, environmental indicators using satellite data are needed for the proper monitoring of peri-urban areas. The objective of this research is to make a crop proximity index using satellite information to assess and monitor peri-urban agro-industrial activity. Twenty cities in Argentina and ten in the United States were selected. The CPI index is designed to evaluate a city and its peri-urban areas as a whole by taking account of the land uses and factors that can potentially influence the proximity to agro-industrial activity to the population living in those cities. Agriculture factor was weighted by proximity or remoteness using perimeter rings from the urban edge. All the necessary data for the calculation of the CPI index were obtained through the classification and processing of Sentinel 2 satellite images with software and the Google Earth Engine platform. The results show a worrying situation, 90% of cities in Argentina and 80% in the United States have a negative CPI. Most of the cities examined are extremely close to extensive areas of crops, that use a high amount of pesticides and which do not have the protection of trees or buffer zones.

Conflict or Cooperation? Political Relations between Governors and Mayors in Major Cities in Argentina

This article explores the nature of the relations between the governors and the mayors of major cities in Argentina. The vast majority of the literature assumes that municipal governments in Argentina are weak, and that mayors therefore align with the provincial authorities. This study argues that there is more diversity in the relations between officials of both levels, and that, in some cases, these relations are openly contentious. Four ideal types of relations are identified, based on political affiliation and type of relation, through the systematisation of 43 cases of major Argentine cities.

Rotavirus contamination of surface waters from the northwest of Argentina.

Fecal pollution of water is a serious concern because it is associated with the transmission of pathogens. The aim of this study was to analyze the occurrence of group A rotavirus (RVA) in surface waters from the Arias-Arenales River in Salta, a northern city in Argentina, and to define possible sources of fecal viral pollution. A total of 116 water samples were analyzed and RVA was detected in 3.4% (95% CI: 0.1-7.0%), with concentrations ranging from 1.9 × 105 to 3.8 × 106 genome copies per liter. RVA strains were characterized as G1P[8], G4P[8] and G9P[8], which are common genotypes circulating in the local population. The Arias-Arenales River presented unusual and sporadic contamination by RVA, originated from stormwater discharges and a variety of non-identified sources, and support the essential need of viral indicators for enhanced monitoring of water quality.

Current situation regarding herbicide regulation and public perception in South America

AbstractSouth American countries are important agricultural players worldwide. Pesticides are key components of their production systems and, in some cases, complement environmentally sound systems, such as no-till, which contributes to preserving soil productivity. In this review, presented in the symposium Global Perspective on Herbicides Being Banned during the 2019 Weed Science Society of America meeting, we describe the regulatory framework and current situation of restricted and banned herbicides in South America. We also discuss where the pressure for herbicide bans is coming from and the opportunities for improving herbicide use and public perception. Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Uruguay were chosen as representative countries of the region. They all have regulatory systems in place for pesticide registration and reevaluation based on science. Glyphosate, paraquat, and some 2,4-D formulations are in the spotlight. Glyphosate is being reevaluated in Brazil and, although banned within the city limits in some cities in Argentina and Uruguay, it can still be used in agriculture. Paraquat is prohibited for aerial applications in Colombia and is the only herbicide that needs a professional prescription in Uruguay. It was reevaluated in Brazil, resulting in a use-restriction phase in effect until 2020, when it will be permanently banned. Ester formulations of 2,4-D have been banned in Brazil since the early 2000s and have restrictions in some provinces in Argentina, where 2,4-D butyl and isobutyl esters will be prohibited starting April 2021. In Uruguay, atrazine is the only herbicide banned for agricultural use. The regulatory frameworks ensure that herbicides on the market are effective and safe. Reevaluation is an important part of the system and is conducted when there are reasonable concerns. There are opportunities to continue training pesticide handlers and applicators and to communicate the importance of adopting the best management practices where herbicides are part of the production system.

Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) Is the Main Driver of Nocturnal Feral Pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica) Foraging in Urban Areas.

Simple SummaryArtificial light at night is one of the most extreme alterations in urban areas, which drives nocturnal activity in diurnal species. However, the role of artificial light in the nocturnal activity of the Feral Pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica) is unknown. The objective of this study is to assess the environmental factors associated with the nocturnal activity of the Feral Pigeon in Argentinian cities. Nocturnal foraging by the Feral Pigeon was recorded in three of four surveyed cities. Artificial light at night was positively related to nocturnal foraging activity in Salta and Buenos Aires. The results obtained suggest that urbanization would promote nocturnal activity in Feral Pigeons. Moreover, nocturnal activity was mainly driven by artificial light, which probably alters the circadian rhythm of pigeons.Artificial light at night (ALAN) is one of the most extreme environmental alterations in urban areas, which drives nocturnal activity in diurnal species. Feral Pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica), a common species in urban centers worldwide, has been observed foraging at night in urban areas. However, the role of ALAN in the nocturnal activity of this species is unknown. Moreover, studies addressing the relationship between ALAN and nocturnal activity of diurnal birds are scarce in the Southern Hemisphere. The objective of this study is to assess the environmental factors associated with nocturnal activity of the Feral Pigeon in Argentinian cities. Environmental conditions were compared between sites where pigeons were seen foraging and randomly selected sites where pigeons were not recorded foraging. Nocturnal foraging by the Feral Pigeon was recorded in three of four surveyed cities. ALAN was positively related to nocturnal foraging activity in Salta and Buenos Aires. The results obtained suggest that urbanization would promote nocturnal activity in Feral Pigeons. Moreover, nocturnal activity was mainly driven by ALAN, which probably alters the circadian rhythm of pigeons.

Home-based HIV testing: Using different strategies among transgender women in Argentina

BackgroundIn Argentina, HIV prevalence among transgender women (TGW) has been reported at 34%. The stigma is one of the most important factors limiting their access to healthcare services. The aims of this study were to compare different HIV testing methodologies, to determine the factors associated with HIV diagnosis and to determine the feasibility of a home-based HIV testing service for TGW.MethodsA multidisciplinary team performed home-based HIV testing interventions in four cities of Argentina. Participants self-identified as TGW, older than 14 years and with a negative or unknown HIV status. Blood samples were screened by two rapid tests (RT), one based on antibodies (Determine™ HIV-1/2) and the other on antigen and antibodies (Determine™ HIV-1/2 Combo), and the subsequent blood processing via 4th generation ELISA (VIDAS HIV DUO). All reactive samples were confirmed with a viral load (VL). We compared the results of both RT with the ELISA. Samples were pooled in groups of 6 and a VL (Abbott Real Time) performed to identify acute HIV infections. Factors associated with HIV infection were evaluated with multivariate logistic regression analysis.ResultsA total of 260 TGW were tested, 51 tested positive (HIV prevalence 19.6%). There were no discordant results between both RTs nor between RTs and 4th generation ELISA, therefore the correlation was 100%. The VL identified 2 additional positive samples. The final analytic sample for positive cases consisted of 53 TGW. In the multivariate analysis, factors associated with a positive HIV result were history of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and not being previously tested for HIV. TGW tested for the first time were at 4 times greater risk of being HIV positive compared to those that were tested previously.ConclusionsA multidisciplinary home-based HIV testing service among TGW is feasible and effective to detect cases of HIV infection. The testing algorithm should start with an RT followed by molecular diagnosis. The history of STIs and never having been tested for HIV were the factors associated with HIV-positive results and should determine efforts to reach this population. Home-based testing reaches individuals that were not tested before and who have more risk of acquiring HIV.

Integrated mathematical models for drinking water reservoirs and constructed wetlands as a tool for restoration planning

In this work, we propose the integration of mechanistic models for eutrophic reservoirs and constructed wetland within a dynamic optimization framework for the optimal design of wetlands for water quality restoration purposes. A partial differential equation system results from dynamic mass balances for the main biogeochemical variables in both reservoir and wetland. The integrated model is formulated as an optimal control problem within a control vector parameterization approach. The optimization model includes wetland areas as design variables and the fractions of tributaries that are diverted through the wetlands as control variables. The objective function is the minimization of the sum of the integral of the quadratic difference between total phosphorus concentration and a desired value below eutrophication limits and the integral of the quadratic difference between total nitrogen concentration and a desired value below eutrophication limits, along a twelve-year time horizon. The case of study is the eutrophic Paso de las Piedras Reservoir which supplies drinking water to two cities in Argentina, and it has two tributaries which run through an important agricultural area in the region. Numerical results provide: a) the optimal areas for constructed wetlands next to tributaries, b) optimal temporal profiles for diverted fraction of tributaries through wetlands, and c) temporal profiles of the main biogeochemical variables within the lake and the wetlands. The integrated model, which constitutes a useful management tool for a more rational planning of water quality restoration.

Alcohol drinking in pregnant women from an Argentinian city

Alcohol drinking during pregnancy might lead to detrimental consequences to the mother and fetus, being Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) the most severe. In many Latin-American countries, there is a paucity of information about prenatal exposure to alcohol. Aim. To estimate alcohol drinking in pregnant women and describe it concerning sociodemographic characteristics. Method. Data were collected from a random sample of women attending the public health care system (N=852) in 2016. Alcohol drinking, including binge drinking (BD), was evaluated before and after pregnancy recognition. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed. Results. While pregnant, two out of ten women reported drinking. Moreover, 2% engaged in BD and 3% presented indicators of alcohol dependence. BD before pregnancy was related to drinking during pregnancy and frequency, quantity, and BD before pregnancy with BD during pregnancy. Conclusions. Alcohol consumption in pregnant women was higher than the estimated for most Latin-American countries, and of the considered characteristics, was almost exclusively related to consumption patterns before pregnancy.

Urban Populations of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) From Central Argentina: Dispersal Patterns Assessed by Bayesian and Multivariate Methods.

Aedes aegypti (L.), the main vector of dengue and other arboviruses, was declared eradicated from Argentina in 1964; however, in 1987, it was detected again and nowadays it occurs in most of the country territory. To understand the transmission of vector-borne diseases, knowledge of the dispersal of vector populations is essential to evaluate the risk of pathogen transmission. We conducted a population genetic analysis of Ae. aegypti in 20 neighborhoods from Córdoba, the second largest city in Argentina, using 10 microsatellite loci. High genetic differentiation and the absence of an isolation by distance pattern was found using Weir and Cockerham's θ. Bayesian and multivariate clustering analyses showed that the studied sites included individuals with high membership coefficients (Q) in their populations, individuals with membership in another cluster, and admixed individuals. Individuals with high Q in clusters different from the population in which they were collected strongly suggests that passive transport is important in shaping the Ae. aegypti dispersal pattern in Córdoba city. Knowing the genetic structure of Ae. aegypti populations and their dispersal patterns would contribute to the implementation of vector control programs.

PLANES URBANOS Y DISPUTAS LOCALES ALREDEDOR DE LOS PREDIOS FERROVIARIOS: LA HISTORIA DE BAHÍA BLANCA, ENTRE GRANDES ANHELOS Y MODESTAS ACTUACIONES

<p>Durante el siglo XX Bahía Blanca fue un caso peculiar en la reestructuración ferroviaria argentina. Si bien la ciudad había sido un importante núcleo ferroportuario, la racionalización de infraestructuras —a cargo del Ministerio de Transporte e iniciada en 1948— estuvo concentrada en otras ciudades del país. Por ello, en la historia urbana y urbanística de Bahía Blanca la sensación de un desarrollo incompleto contrasta con grandes aspiraciones inalcanzadas. El objetivo del artículo es comparar imaginarios y realidades en torno a los predios ferroviarios desafectados, analizando documentos de la prensa y de los planes urbanos. Dicha tarea ha sido concebida en referencia a la historia del urbanismo en la Argentina y a sus paradigmas disciplinares.</p>

Grass pollination in different cities of Argentina and Paraguay in 2018: a comparative study

Grass pollination in different cities of Argentina and Paraguay in 2018: a comparative study

Segregación residencial en la Región Metropolitana de Córdoba en el nuevo modelo de urbanización en Argentina: Censos 2001 y 2010

Córdoba, al igual que otras ciudades de Argentina y del mundo, expande su territorio más rápido que su población y como consecuencia su densidad bruta residencial ha caído un 1% anual en los últimos veinticinco años. En este contexto de expansión del entorno metropolitano, la construcción de urbanizaciones cerradas en la periferia se consolida como el uso de suelo predominante en este nuevo modelo de urbanización, donde predomina la polarización y fragmentación socioterritorial como consecuencia de la valorización del suelo urbanizable. Esta investigación tiene por objetivo analizar el fenómeno de la segregación residencial socioeconómica, a partir de la variable años de escolaridad promedio del jefe de hogar, en la Región Metropolitana de Córdoba en 2010, y las modalidades en las que ella opera en este nuevo modelo de urbanización; como así también indagar dicho fenómeno al interior de los municipios que componen este espacio metropolitano.

Treatment Adherence in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients from Argentina: A Multicenter Study.

Methods A multicenter cross-sectional study involving seven referral centers from three cities of Argentina was undertaken. Patients with a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn's disease (CD), or indeterminate colitis (IBDU/IC) were invited to answer an anonymous survey, which included a 5-point Likert scale to evaluate adherence to therapies. Independent variables associated with inadequate adherence were evaluated. Results Overall, 447 UC/IBDU and 135 CD patients were enrolled. Median age was 37 years (range 21-72); 39.8% were male; median time from diagnosis was 6 years (0.5-35). 91.4% were under treatment with at least one oral medication; 50.3% of patients reported inadequate adherence to oral medications. Patients with UC/IBDU had a lower risk of inadequate adherence when compared to patients with CD (OR 0.57 (0.37-0.87)). 21.8% reported inadequate adherence to biologics; subcutaneous administration was significantly associated with inadequate adherence to biologics (OR 4.8 (1.57-14.66)). Conclusion Inadequate treatment adherence is common among patients with IBD, and potentially modifiable factors were identified.

Unequal Appropriation of Urban Vegetation in Argentine Cities

Seventy-five percent of the human population will live in urban areas by 2050, and urban vegetation will be the main source of ecosystem services. Unequal access to urban vegetation might exacerbate existing socioeconomic differences. Studies performed in cities of developed countries show that the population with higher socioeconomic status has more access to ecosystem services provided by vegetation. In urban areas, with small internal climatic variation, plant productivity measured through satellite imagery is a good indicator of vegetation availability that can be mapped. In this study, we characterized the distribution of plant productivity in 40 Argentine urban centers and we identified socio-environmental variables that control its spatial patterns within and among urban centers. We used socioeconomic indicators obtained from the 2010 National Population and Households Census and a 4-year mean plant productivity measured through the integration of NDVI values derived from MODIS satellite images. In most of the analyzed cities, plant productivity increased as socioeconomic status decreased; and only in 25% of the cities, we found a positive relationship between socioeconomic status and plant productivity. In the latter case, most of the cities were placed in arid environments, where both the cost of watering and the effect of subsidized water on plant productivity are proportionally higher. Buenos Aires and Bariloche, which also showed positive associations between socioeconomic status and plant productivity, are located in humid environments, but Buenos Aires is the most densely populated city of Argentina and Bariloche is a touristic city; in these cities, the relative cost of keeping green spaces instead of building housing infrastructure is also high. These results show that vegetation distribution among socioeconomic status is more diverse than suggested by the literature and that the appropriation of vegetation productivity by groups with higher socioeconomic status only occurs when vegetation cost increases to the point of becoming a luxury good.

Adherence to antihypertensive therapy in Argentina

Abstract Background Adherence to antihypertensive medication is a major challenge in the management of hypertension, and non-adherence is an important barrier to effective management of hypertension. Objectives To determine the adherence rate to hypertensive drug treatment and the factors that influence non-adherence in a cohort of the Argentinean population. Methods A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in eight cities of Argentina. Consecutive hypertensive patients seen in general practice offices, receiving pharmacological treatment for at least six months were included. Blood pressure measurements were performed by physicians during the patient visit. The level of adherence was assessed using the Morisky questionnaire, and patients were divided into non-adherent and adherent. Continuous variables were compared using independent t-test. Categorical variables were compared using the χ2 test. To identify the variables independently associated with non-adherence, a forward stepwise binary regression logistic model was performed, and the results expressed as odds ratio (OR) with 95% of confidence interval. All tests were two-tailed, and p-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results A total of 852 individuals (52% women, 62 ± 13 years) were included. The main reason for lack of adherence was forgetfulness of medication intake and errors in the time of intake (~ 40% in both). Individuals with more cardiovascular risk factors (smoking, diabetes, dyslipidemia and previous cardiovascular events) had lower adherence to antihypertensive treatment, and considerably younger (~ five years younger). Conclusions Adherence rate to antihypertensive drug treatment in our study group was higher than the one reported in previous studies, and the main reason for non-adherence was forgetfulness of medication intake. (Int J Cardiovasc Sci. 2020; 33(3):272-277)