Downtown Santiago Research Articles

Hero's Legacy: Martial Strength and Race in Republican Chile

This article examines the Roto Chileno war memorial in downtown Santiago as a complex site of Chilean identity making in the republican era. Conflating two separate nineteenth-century military victories over the combined forces of Bolivia and Peru, the memorial was a physical manifestation of an intricate process of identity construction that celebrated the mestizo heritage of average citizen-soldiers while also emphasizing the idea that Chileans were racially superior compared to other South American nations. The memorial being dedicated specifically to the roto, a mutable racialized term that can be perceived as pejorative even in the present, is therefore an especially evocative example of how this conceptual combination was visually rendered to access elements of white identity. Using fine art media coverage, this article highlights the entangled relationship between memory, nationalism, and race in late nineteenth-century Latin America to consider the role that militarism and masculinity play in the construction of whiteness.

Sex in Santiago

It is the middle of the afternoon, searing hot, as is often the case throughout autumn in downtown Santiago. In the park, the only slice of green inside a rumbling ocean of gray concrete rising vertically as it tumbles out horizontally, there are many reclining couples seeking surcease from the sun, entwined beneath the penumbras of trees, their humped shadows on cool grass like pooled silhouettes of black paint.

2068. Molecular and Clinical Features of New HIV-1 diagnoses in Northern Dominican Republic

Abstract Background Surveillance of transmitted drug resistance (TDR) and molecular epidemiology of newly diagnosed persons with HIV can impact care and prevention and inform efforts towards ending the HIV epidemic. Both interventions are not routinely available in the Dominican Republic (DO). Methods During 10/2019-4/2021, we attempted to enroll all newly HIV-diagnosed antiretroviral naïve adults (≥18 years) presenting at the regional hospital in Santiago, DO. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected, and blood samples obtained for partial pol genotyping. Subtyping and resistance interpretation were done with Stanford Database tools. Maximum likelihood phylogenies were inferred by RAxML and clusters were defined as clades with bootstrap support of ≥0.8. Extended phylogenetic analyses included ∼1,500 publicly available Caribbean sequences. Demographics and TDR were compared by cluster status using Fisher Exact or Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Results Of 100 HIV-diagnosed participants (mean age 40 years; 61% male; 84% heterosexual; 50% never tested prior), 56% were hospitalized, 48% tested via doctor advise and 28% for feeling sick. Available CD4 count was < 200 cells/µL in 49% (43/87) more prevalent (vs CD4 >200) in heterosexuals (93% vs 7% in gay/bisexuals; p=0.003). Genotyping from 68/100, were 29% HIV-1 subtype B, 69% B-containing recombinants and one HIV-1 subtype C. TDR was in 12% (95% CI: 5-22%), all to NNRTIs (K103N and Y188L most common; two with multiple mutations). Six identified clusters included 25% of participants, 92% from downtown Santiago. Individuals in the largest 6-member cluster met partners online and were gay/bisexual. Participants in clusters had higher TDR (24% vs 8%, p=0.100), were younger (34 vs 43 years, p=0.01), and were gay/bisexual (41% vs 8%, p=0.003). In extended phylogenetic analyses participant sequences clustered with other DO sequences, as well as some from Haiti. Conclusion In this snapshot of new HIV diagnoses in the DO, findings of high AIDS at diagnosis, particularly in heterosexuals, high TDR, more clustering in gay/bisexual younger individuals, and existing non-local-only transmission networks, should inform focused surveillance and prevention strategies to disrupt HIV transmission and improve care. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures.

Seismic Vulnerability Assessment of the Yungay’s Historic Urban Center in Santiago, Chile

ABSTRACT In this paper, a modified empirical large-territorial-scale procedure to assess the seismic vulnerability of aggregate buildings in urban areas located within a highly seismic context is proposed. The methodology is applied to a group of unreinforced masonry (URM) aggregates located in the Yungay’s historic center in downtown Santiago, Chile. This assessment was carried out by modifying and integrating a vulnerability-index-based procedure, a specific existing approach called first level macro-seismic method used to predict seismic damage and loss scenarios through fragility curves of structural components. The procedure was calibrated using the observed damage after the 2010 Chile earthquake in 292 URM structural units. The results of this new damage index for URM aggregate buildings are used to derive Probability Mass Functions (PMFs) of the different damage states and preliminary Empirical Fragility Functions (EFFs). To the best of the authors’ knowledge, these EFFs are the first publicly available for aggregate Chilean URM buildings. This research and its results are the starting point for a more comprehensive study for assessing damage scenarios and vulnerabilities of aggregate URM buildings in historic centers of older Chilean cities. These functions may be used in risk assessment, and are useful to prioritize possible future damage mitigation strategies and other processes involving this historical heritage. We foresee that these results could be at least partially applied to other historical urban areas in Chile, and perhaps other old Latin American cities located along the subduction convergence region between the Pacific and Continental plates, which were founded similarly.

Palacio Pereira: recuperación como cuidado sociocultural

When intervening heritage, the prospect of mere conservation is often the most obvious answer. However, a building declared as a historical monument should not necessarily remain frozen and oblivious to the changes that happen around it. The restoration work of the Palacio Pereira, in downtown Santiago, proposes that caring for a monument includes its reintegration into the socio-cultural fabric and, thus, into the life of the city.

Deep winter intrusions of urban black carbon into a canyon near Santiago, Chile: A pathway towards Andean glaciers

Black carbon transport from the Santiago Metropolitan Area, Chile, up to the adjacent Andes Cordillera and its glaciers is of major concern. Its deposition accelerates the melting of the snowpack, which could lead to stress on water supply in addition to climate feedback. A proposed pathway for this transport is the channelling through the network of canyons that connect the urban basin to the elevated summits, as suggested by modelling studies, although no observations have validated this hypothesis so far. In this work, atmospheric measurements from a dedicated field campaign conducted in winter 2015, under severe urban pollution conditions, in Santiago and the Maipo canyon, southeast of Santiago, are analysed. Wind (speed and direction) and particulate matter concentrations measured at the surface and along vertical profiles, demonstrate intrusions of thick layers (up to 600 m above ground) of urban black carbon deep into the canyon on several occasions. Transport of PM down-valley occurs mostly through shallow layers at the surface except in connection with deep valley intrusions, when a secondary layer in altitude with return flow (down-valley) at night is observed. The transported particulate matter is mostly from the vicinity of the entrance to the canyon and uncorrelated to concentrations observed in downtown Santiago. Reanalyses data show that for 10% of the wintertime days, deep intrusions into the Maipo canyon are prevented by easterly winds advecting air pollutants away from the Andes. Also, in 23% of the cases, intrusions proceed towards a secondary north-eastward branch of the Maipo canyon, leaving 67% of the cases with favourable conditions for deep penetrations into the main Maipo canyon. Reanalyses show that the wind directions associated to the 33% anomalous cases are related to thick cloud cover and/or the development of coastal lows.

Emergency visits and mortality caused by ischemic heart disease attributable to fine particulate matter during the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile

BackgroundA reduction in PM2.5 was reported worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Santiago, the capital and largest city of Chile, is characterized by high concentrations of PM2.5, being vehicular traffic a major contributor. Its air quality was improved as a collateral effect of the lockdown imposed in the second quarter of 2020. We aimed at highlighting an ensuing decrease of emergency visits for treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and deaths due to ischemic heart diseases (IHD) attributable to PM2.5, comparing equivalent periods in 2019 and 2020. MethodsIn Santiago, air quality monitoring is carried out by nine monitors located in nine communes: Cerro Navia, Cerrillos, El Bosque, Pudahuel, Independencia, La Florida, Quilicura, downtown Santiago and Las Condes (ranked from highest to lowest in terms of multidimensional poverty).We described average daily PM2.5 concentration with time-series graphs of means and standard deviations. AMI-emergency visits and IHD deaths were reported for each quarter by year. To estimate the impact of PM2.5 excess, we estimated the population attributable fractions (PAF) for AMI-emergency visits and IHD-related deaths. ResultsDaily average PM2.5 decreased in eight out of nine communes in Santiago. However, the reduction was significant in only three communes. AMI-emergency visits and IHD-related deaths attributable to PM2.5 decreased slightly but significantly in these three communes. The PAF in other communes remained similar to 2019 despite the lockdown. ConclusionsA significant reduction of PM2.5 PAF potentially responsible for AMI emergency visits and IHD deaths was observed only in communes with a significant reduction of the daily average concentration of PM2.5 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trends in particle matter and its elemental composition in Santiago de Chile, 2011 – 2018

ABSTRACT Daily fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM10-2.5) particle matter (PM) samples collected at Parque O’Higgins station in downtown Santiago de Chile have been studied to find the trends in concentration from 1998 to 2018. Elemental concentration was obtained using X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Regression models from previous studies indicate that the PM2.5 and PM10-2.5 fractions have had a continuous decrease since 1988 mostly due to several policy control measures carried out over several decades. PM2.5 has decreased from 68.3 in 1988 to 27.6 μg/m3 in 2018 (60.4%). However, if only the last 8 years are considered (2011–2018), a leveling off can be observed in PM10-2.5 and PM2.5, which points to a change in the tendency. Cluster analysis of the elements in the fine and coarse fractions were identified to evaluate trends in the contributing sources. In the fine fraction, the mass contribution of crustal elements (Si, Al, Ca, and Fe) has remained stable in the last 8 years, and mass contribution of elements (Pb, Br, and Cl) associated to anthropogenic sources (traffic, wood burning) has also remained stable in the same period. For the coarse fraction, the contribution of one group of elements associated to crustal or anthropogenic sources has remained stable, and another group has decreased in the last 8 years. The leveling off can be ascribed to decreased rainfall during the last 8 years that have promoted soil dryness and resuspension of dust facilitated by wind or vehicular traffic. Mean temperatures have increased in the last 30 years, but have not contributed directly to the leveling of the concentration. Implications: Regression models indicate that the PM2.5 (fine) and PM10-2.5 (coarse) fractions at Parque O’Higgins station in Santiago de Chile have had a continuous decrease since 1988 mostly due to several policy control measures carried out over several decades. However, in the last 8 years (2011–2018), a leveling off can be observed in PM10-2.5 and PM2.5. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis was performed in the fine fractions indicating that the mass contribution of crustal elements (Ca, Al, Si, Fe) to the fine fraction has remained stable. This phenomenon can be ascribed to decreased rainfall during the last 8 years that have promoted soil dryness and resuspension of dust facilitated by wind or vehicular traffic. The crustal elements in the coarse fraction have also remained stable.

Defending the Family: Female Begging and the Policing of Female Begging on the Streets of Pinochet's Santiago (1973–90)

AbstractEconomic crises during Chile's civic–military dictatorship (1973–90) forced a growing number of people onto the streets, including women who commuted from peripheral neighbourhoods to beg in downtown Santiago. Under military rule, impoverished women in public spaces became a police problem. Despite their constant presence on the streets throughout the twentieth century, Chile's begging laws were rarely applied to women, except for a brief period under Pinochet, when begging emerged as a female crime in Santiago. This paper examines female begging and the policing of female begging, revealing both to be framed as a defence of the family.

The layered city: pedestrian networks in downtown Santiago and their impact on urban vitality

A distinctive feature of downtown Santiago is its three-layered pedestrian network, consisting of streets, pedestrian zones and commercial galleries. This research shows that an important part of the vitality of downtown Santiago is because of its physical and configurational structure of streets, pedestrian zones and commercial galleries. This three-layered pedestrian network has been able to introduce a progressive differentiation of pedestrian flows into the urban block, thereby allowing for lower rents and the diversification of retail, which in turn facilitates the social diversity of service providers and users in the historic centre of Santiago.

Temporal evolution of main ambient PM<sub>2. 5</sub> sources in Santiago, Chile, from 1998 to 2012

Abstract. The inhabitants of Santiago, Chile have been exposed to harmful levels of air pollutants for decades. The city's poor air quality is a result of steady economic growth, and stable atmospheric conditions adverse to mixing and ventilation that favor the formation of oxidants and secondary aerosols. Identifying and quantifying the sources that contribute to the ambient levels of pollutants is key for designing adequate mitigation measures. Estimating the evolution of source contributions to ambient pollution levels is also paramount to evaluating the effectiveness of pollution reduction measures that have been implemented in recent decades. Here, we quantify the main sources that have contributed to fine particulate matter (PM2. 5) between April 1998 and August 2012 in downtown Santiago by using two different source-receptor models (PMF 5.0 and UNMIX 6.0) that were applied to elemental measurements of 1243 24 h filter samples of ambient PM2.5. PMF resolved six sources that contributed to ambient PM2. 5, with UNMIX producing similar results: motor vehicles (37.3 ± 1.1 %), industrial sources (18.5 ± 1.3 %), copper smelters (14.4 ± 0.8 %), wood burning (12.3 ± 1.0 %), coastal sources (9.5 ± 0.7 %) and urban dust (3.0 ± 1.2 %). Our results show that over the 15 years analyzed here, four of the resolved sources significantly decreased [95 % confidence interval]: motor vehicles 21.3 % [2.6, 36.5], industrial sources 39.3 % [28.6, 48.4], copper smelters 81.5 % [75.5, 85.9], and coastal sources 58.9 % [38.5, 72.5], while wood burning did not significantly change and urban dust increased by 72 % [48.9, 99.9]. These changes are consistent with emission reduction measures, such as improved vehicle emission standards, cleaner smelting technology, introduction of low-sulfur diesel for vehicles and natural gas for industrial processes, public transport improvements, etc. However, it is also apparent that the mitigation expected from the above regulations has been partially offset by the increasing amount of private vehicle use in the city, with motor vehicles becoming the dominant source of ambient PM2. 5 in recent years. Consequently, Santiago still experiences ambient PM2. 5 levels above the annual and 24 h Chilean and World Health Organization standards, and further regulations are required to reach ambient air quality standards.

Influence of surface and subsidence thermal inversion on PM2.5 and black carbon concentration

A study of particulate matter and temperature in the atmosphere in several places in Chile has been carried out in three different years with the objective of determining a common pattern of the influence of thermal inversions on PM2.5 and black carbon. Temperature measurements were used to separate days with and without inversions. In all sites it was found that the days with thermal inversions had higher black carbon or PM2.5 than days without inversions. In the rural site, black carbon was 57% higher during inversion days. In the downtown Santiago site the PM2.5 was 35% higher during inversion days. At the western Santiago site it was possible to separate the days into three categories; only surface, surface and subsidence, and no thermal inversion. In days with both types of inversion, PM2.5 was 84% higher than days without any type of inversion. During days with only surface inversion, PM2.5 was higher only during the morning and the average PM2.5 was only 14% higher. Although during inversion days the concentrations were higher, it was not possible to find a significant correlation between the strength or intensity of the inversion with black carbon or PM2.5 in the sites without temperature measurements as function of height. However, when this data is available, a moderate correlation is found, indicating that the complete vertical temperature profile is needed in order to find a relationship between those variables.

Indoor PM2.5 in Santiago, Chile, spring 2012: Source apportionment and outdoor contributions

Indoor and outdoor PM2.5 sampling campaigns were carried out at Santiago, Chile (6 million inhabitants, 33.5°S, 70.6°W) in spring 2012. A pair of samplers was placed inside each household studied and an additional pair of samplers was placed at a fixed outdoor location for measuring trace elements and elemental (EC) and organic carbon (OC) in Teflon and quartz filters, respectively. A total of 47 households in downtown Santiago were included in this study. Mean outdoor and indoor PM2.5 concentrations were 19.2 and 21.6 μg/m3, respectively. Indoor concentrations of PM2.5 were affected by socioeconomic status (p = 0.048) but no such evidence was found for PM2.5 species, except lead (p = 0.046). Estimated species infiltration factors were 0.70 (±0.19), 0.98 (±0.21), 0.80 (±0.12) and 0.80 (±0.03) for PM2.5, OC, EC and sulfur, respectively. Estimated household infiltration factors had a median of 0.75, mean of 0.78, standard deviation of 0.18 and interquartile range (IQR) 0.67–0.86.For the very first time, Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF3) was applied to an indoor PM2.5 chemical composition data set measured at Santiago. Source identification was carried out by inspection of key species and by comparison with published source profiles; six sources were identified. Three of them were outdoor contributions: motor vehicles with 5.6 (±0.7) μg/m3, street dust with 2.9 (±0.5) μg/m3 and secondary sulfates with 3.4 (±0.5) μg/m3. The indoor sources were: indoor dust with 1.6 (±0.3) μg/m3, cleaning and cooking with 2.3 (±0.3) μg/m3 and cooking and environmental tobacco smoke with 6.1 (±0.7) μg/m3. There is potential for further reducing PM2.5 population exposure in the short term —by improving ventilation of indoor air and controlling indoor sources — and in the long term — with filtration of outdoor air and household improvements to reduce air change rates.

Looking ahead: a vision-based software for predicting pedestrian movement

This paper presents ongoing research on the use of agents equipped with “exomatic visual architecture” (Turner et al., 2001). The main objective was to test whether some rarely explored isovist measures, like drift and longest line of sight, are associated with aggregated movement patterns of downtown Santiago, Chile. To test this idea, a series of algorithms were created and compared with observed data recorded at approximately 200 points during an entire workday. The main results show that drift-based algorithms were better suited to predict aggregated patterns than random behavior, although the extent of such relation is still weak (r2 = 0.27). From a theoretical point of view, these results seem to be in accordance with current cognitive theories (Clark, 2009; Thompson, 2007) stressing the dynamic nature of human behavior.

Personal exposure to particulate matter in commuters using different transport modes (bus, bicycle, car and subway) in an assigned route in downtown Santiago, Chile

The objective of this study was to compare personal exposure to particulate matter (fine and ultrafine particles) in commuters using different transport modes (bicycle, bus, car and subway) in a busy, assigned route in downtown Santiago, Chile. Volunteers carrying personal samplers completed scheduled commutes during the morning rush hours, while central site measurements were conducted in parallel. A total of 137 valid commutes were assessed. The impact of central site, traffic and other variables was explored with regression models. PM2.5 personal concentrations were equal to or slightly above central site measurements, while UFP personal concentrations were above them. Regression models showed impacts of both background levels and traffic emissions on personal PM2.5 and UFP exposure. Traffic impacts varied with transport modes. Estimates of traffic impacts on personal PM2.5 exposure were 2.0, 13.0, 16.9 and 17.5 μg m(-3), for car, bicycle, subway and bus, respectively; while for UFP exposure were 8400, 16 200, 25 600 and 30 100 counts per cm(3), for subway, car, bicycle and bus, respectively. After controlling the central site and transport mode, higher temperatures increased PM2.5 exposure and decreased UFP ones, while the wind direction affected UFP personal exposure. In conclusion, we found significant impacts of both central site background measurements and traffic emissions on personal exposure of volunteer commuters in an assigned route in Santiago, with impacts varying with transport modes.

El teatro de lo urbano en Santiago: espacio público a fines de la Colonia

Public space, a place supposedly meant for both meeting and participation, has changed through the history of the city. How has it been transformed in Santiago de Chile? To answer this question, we must first ask ourselves how this place was experienced in the past. The next article, result of the first part of our doctoral research, addresses the generation of the notion of public space at the end of the Colonial period in old downtown Santiago. Adopting a perspective based on the dynamics of its concrete subjective experiences, we have worked with several documental sources of the time related to this subject.

Preschool Children’s Beliefs about Gender Differences in Academic Skills

Evidence from different Latin American countries shows a gap in the academic achievement of girls and boys. Chilean children’s achievement is a case in point, with the gender gap being especially large for mathematics achievement. These differences can be explained partly from the viewpoint of beliefs and implicit theories. Research in this field has focused mainly on elementary and secondary students, and there is no relevant data on preschool children. This study examines Chilean kindergarten children’s beliefs about differences in the academicals skills of girls and boys. Eighty-one preschool children (34 girls, mean age 5 years and 11 months) were recruited from schools serving a middle SES population from downtown Santiago. An instrument to test children’s implicit beliefs about gender differences in academic ability was adapted from previous research. Results support the hypothesis that boys and girls at the age of 5 already hold stereotypical expectations about boys’ and girls’ academic achievement. When asked about which school subject a character liked more, was better at, and found easier, participants showed no preference between math and language when reasoning about a male character, but they indicated that a female character would find math harder, perform worse at it, and like it less than language. These responses did not differ according to the gender of the participating children. Implications of these findings are addressed and limitations and future research are discussed.

Phenol and nitrophenols in the air and dew waters of Santiago de Chile

Phenol, nitrophenols and dinitrophenols were measured in air and dews in downtown Santiago de Chile. In both systems, phenol, 2-nitrophenol (2-NP), and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) were the compounds found in higher concentrations and with major frequency. Temporal profiles in air were compatible with a significant direct incorporation from mobile sources. The data can be explained in terms of a faster removal of 2-NP than 4-NP, with the former predominating in fresh air masses and 4-NP in more aged samples. All these compounds, as well as dinitrophenols, were found in dew waters. Simultaneous measurements in air and dew indicate that phenol present in dew exceeds that expected in equilibrated samples, while the opposite occurs with 4-NP. This last result is associated to mass transfer limitations for the highly water soluble nitroderivative.

DIFFERENCE IN PERSONAL EXPOSURE TO PARTICULATE AIR POLLUTANTS IN USERS OF DIFFERENT TRANSPORT MODES (AUTOMOBILE, BUS, SUBWAY AND BICYCLE) IN SANTIAGO, CHILE: STUDY DESIGN

Background and Aims: Daily, people can be exposed to high levels of air pollutants during their home-work trips because of their closer proximity to traffic emissions and their exposures may vary according to the mode of transport used (bus, automobile, subway and bicycle). Little is known about exposure to air pollutants in transport´s users in Chile, and even less is known regarding difference in exposure by transport mode. Here, we present a study that compares air pollutant exposures in users of different modes of transport in Santiago, Chile. Methods: (Arial, 8pt, bold) We will conduct a first, observational cross-sectional study of personal exposure to air pollutants in users of different modes of transport in their normal routes. 68 volunteer subjects that have similar home-work routes will be recruited, allocating about 17 subject to each mode (bus, automobile, subway and bicycle). Each participant will perform its morning and evening trips as usual except that they will carry personal monitors to measure particulate air pollutants PM2.5 and ultrafine particles. Additionally, both PM fractions will be measured at a central site in order to separate the contribution of the transport microenvironment from the background. This study will be complemented with a second cross-sectional study where exposure in the different modes will be evaluated in an assigned route (Alameda Street in downtown Santiago) during morning trips. Data will be analyzed using regression models to compare the modes, and determine the effects of environmental factors such as temperature, meteorology, traffic density, and so on, on personal exposure levels. Results: Some preliminary results are expected by the time of the conference. Conclusions: identification of environmental factors that determine increases in pollutant’s exposure may guide actions aimed to reduce people’s exposure to air pollutants during their home-work trip.

In Chile, Explaining Massive Protests Entails Remembering the Past

Let's start with the numbers. On May 28, an estimated twenty thousand people flooded into downtown Santiago and marched on the presidential palace to protest the HidroAysén project, a plan to build a series of hydroelectric dams on two of Chilean Patagonia's most iconic rivers. The peaceful protest was a welcome relief to organizers after a fortythousand- person march in Santiago a week earlier led to fifty-three arrests and outbreaks of violence. The images of demonstrators launching Molotov cocktails and destroying private property had been broadcast alongside footage of riot police confronting marchers. Since May, protesters and police have clashed in at least twenty-seven cities. At this writing in early summer, there are few signs that the nationwide movement is waning, as protests continue to attract thousands of Chileans to the streets. Meanwhile, the administration of President Sebastián Piñera has voiced support for the estimated $10 billion project, a private venture headed by two private-sector partners, a European conglomerate and a Chilean electricity giant. Though HidroAysén was temporarily stalled by a Court of Appeals ruling, the Chilean Supreme Court recently found in favor of HidroAysén, and the project continues to move forward. Perhaps the most telling and relevant statistics of all: 74 percent of Chilean citizens oppose HidroAysén, yet 72 percent believe that the project will be completed anyway, according to a May 2011 survey.