Revista Geográfica de Chile Terra Australis

A Multi-State Analysis of the Effectiveness of PowerGrid's Cold Chain Equipment Distribution Program: Corporate Social Responsibility in Pandemic Response

2025-05-06T13:13:31-04:00

This study examines the implementation and impact of PowerGrid's cold chain equipment distribution initiative across diverse states in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research focuses on a comprehensive survey conducted in multiple districts of Punjab, Sikkim, Ladakh, and Mizoram to evaluate the effectiveness of the cold chain infrastructure in supporting vaccine distribution and storage. The primary objectives included assessing the adequacy, functionality, and accessibility of the deployed equipment, while considering the unique geographical and demographic challenges of each region. The study involves a detailed evaluation of various operational aspects, including procurement efficiency, distribution strategies, and overall enhancement of vaccine storage capabilities. Particular attention was paid to analysing how PowerGrid's intervention contributed to overcoming logistical challenges in remote and difficult-to-access areas, ensuring consistent vaccine availability and maintaining proper storage conditions throughout the distribution network. The research provides insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the implemented cold chain system, identifying critical factors that influenced its success and areas requiring improvement. The findings demonstrate PowerGrid's initiative that enhanced the capacity of remote health centers to maintain vaccine efficacy through proper storage and handling. The study also reveals the crucial role of strategic equipment distribution in strengthening the overall healthcare infrastructure during the pandemic response. This research contributes to the existing literature on public health infrastructure development and emergency response systems, particularly in the context of large-scale vaccination programs in geographically diverse regions.

Road infrastructure and its impact on urban mobility in Chiclayo Peru, 2023

2025-06-03T13:57:07-04:00

This study focuses on road infrastructure and its impact on urban mobility in Chiclayo, 2023, with an emphasis on evaluating current conditions and proposing improvements for more efficient and sustainable transit. The methods combine quantitative techniques and assessment of public perception through surveys, evaluating elements such as the effectiveness of rigid pavement, the integration of soil mechanics studies in planning, and the influence of environmental impact on transit. The results highlight a significant positive correlation between improving road infrastructure and optimizing urban mobility, indicating that investments in road improvements are essential to alleviate congestion and improve urban quality of life. Specific strategies are suggested to manage vehicular saturation, improve signage and safety, and promote the use of eco-friendly public transportation. The research confirms that adequate planning and investment in road infrastructure are crucial for fostering a sustainable and functional urban environment in Chiclayo.

Flood forecasting in rapid response basins – A case study of the Yacupugro micro-basin of the slopes of the Pichincha Volcano in Quito, Ecuador

2025-06-02T15:01:22-04:00

The current study presents a flood analysis methodology applicable to urban basins with concentration times less than 20 minutes, being the case of the Yacupugro micro-basin in Ecuador, which has a concentration time of 15.22 minutes, a slope of 31%, causing violent floods. The rainiest month is December, followed by February, March, November, April and January in order according to the number of frequency and probability of occurrence of floods. Since there was a lack of data on flows measured in the micro-basin, indirect hydrometeorological methods based on maximum rainfall in 24 hours and intensity, duration and frequency curves - IDF were used, allowing to compare results. The Metropolitan Public Company of Potable Water and Sanitation of Quito (EPMAPS) has built a trapezoidal canal (h = 1.70 m, b = 3.80 m and m = 1.5) that collects water from the Yacupugro and Unnamed river (S/N) micro-basins, leads to a reservoir located in the San Isidro micro-basin located to its southwest of, and then deposits it in the EPMAPS sewer system. It was modeled with a total flow of 7.60 m³ / s, corresponding to a rainfall of 85.3 mm and a return period of 100 years. Thus, it was observed that the canal operates at its maximum capacity and the reservoir with its structures plates this type of floods without overflowing, fulfilling its function, as long as these structures are clean. The alert was based on the threshold of previous precipitation (water accumulated in the soil during the last 10, 7, 5 and 3 days), considering the type of soil to reach the field capacity reaching a depth of one meter, needing to absorb at least 129 mm of water. With this it was possible to conclude that the forecast system is able to start with an advance warning if the antecedent rainfall in 3 to 7 days once it exceeds 129 mm. Thus, it can be forecast well in advance of the time of concentration.

Scoping review: Artificial intelligence in risk management and natural disasters

2025-06-09T12:14:39-04:00

En los últimos años, los desastres naturales como inundaciones, terremotos, incendios forestales y huracanes
han tenido impactos devastadores en la vida humana e infraestructura. Estos se han intensificado debido al
cambio climático y urbanización descontrolada, lo que resalta la necesidad de herramientas efectivas para su
gestión y mitigar así sus consecuencias. Los métodos tradicionales suelen ser insuficientes por limitaciones en
precisión, velocidad de respuesta y adaptabilidad a distintos escenarios. La Inteligencia Artificial (IA) actualmente
es una solución clave e innovadora para la gestión de riesgos y desastres, para la predicción, prevención y
respuesta ante estos eventos. El objetivo de esta revisión de alcance es mapear y analizar los trabajos acerca de
aplicaciones de la IA publicados durante 2019 y 2024 en este ámbito mediante una búsqueda sistemática en la
base de datos Scopus. Las técnicas más utilizadas incluyen redes neuronales y aprendizaje automático. Estas
tecnologías han demostrado su efectividad, mejorando la precisión y velocidad en la toma de decisiones en
situaciones críticas. Sin embargo, aún hay desafíos importantes, como el acceso limitado a datos de calidad,
sesgos en los modelos de IA y barreras tecnológicas en regiones con menos recursos. Entonces, se requieren
modelos más inclusivos, robustos y adaptables que maximicen el impacto positivo de la IA en la gestión de
desastres. Esta revisión no solo identifica las innovaciones más relevantes, sino que también destaca futuras
líneas de investigación para optimizar el uso de estas tecnologías en distintos escenarios de riesgo.
Palabras clave: Gestión de Riesgos, Desastres Naturales, Inteligencia Artificial (IA), Reducción de Riesgos, A, Mitigación de
Desastres

Post-pandemic global coverage of human papillomavirus screening

2025-06-09T14:44:01-04:00

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the leading cause of cervical cancer, one of the main causes of female mortality worldwide. Early detection through screening programs, including HPV testing and cytology, is crucial to prevent progression to invasive cancer and reduce mortality. However, the coverage of these programs presents marked geographic disparities, reflecting inequalities in access and resources. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, screening coverage was already insufficient, especially in low- and middle-income countries, where rates were significantly lower than in high-income countries. The pandemic exacerbated this problem, generating a significant reduction in screening coverage during pandemic. The impact after the health emergency has been analyzed in this review. The decline in coverage has not recovered to pre-pandemic levels, representing a relevant threat to public health, especially among the most vulnerable populations. The data showed a clear correlation between a country's income level and its ability to maintain adequate cervical cancer screening coverage. While high-income countries maintain relatively high coverage, low- and middle-income countries continue to face significant access barriers, including limitations in infrastructure, economic resources, access to screening exams and access to trained personnel. Identifying and addressing these inequalities is crucial to designing and implementing effective prevention and control strategies that reduce cervical cancer morbidity and mortality globally. Significant investment is required in health infrastructure, health education programs, and public policies that promote equity in access to quality health services.

Performance of a prototype anaerobic reactor coupled to a rotary biological contactor for domestic wastewater treatment

2025-03-31T14:06:12-03:00

Decentralized wastewater treatment is increasingly seen as a sustainable option to address the problems caused by untreated or poorly treated wastewater discharges. In our context, it is essential to develop solutions that are not only more efficient in contaminant removal but also in terms of energy and environmental impact. In this regard, compact systems are gaining importance. This study proposes a combined system with a compartmentalized anaerobic reactor (ABR) and a rotating biological contactor (RBC). This combination promises greater efficiency than a conventional RBC system, as the anaerobic pre-treatment significantly reduces the organic load. When operating at optimal load levels, the RBC improves its performance. A major advantage of this study is that it was developed at the prototype level, allowing the flow and organic load conditions to reflect the operational reality of these systems. The results showed that the ABR-RBC system is capable of removing up to 88% of total COD, 81% of dissolved COD, and 88% of TSS. This translates to effluent concentrations of 79 mg/l of total COD, 51 mg/l of dissolved COD, and 16 mg/l of TSS. Additionally, compared to a conventional RBC, efficiency improved by up to 8%.

Impact of land use changes on water quality in the chavantes reservoir, Brazil. Evaluation through multiespectral imagery

2025-06-03T13:40:17-04:00

This study investigates the relationship between changes in land use and the presence of suspended sediment in the Chavantes reservoir (São Paulo and Paraná), in the context of increasing urbanisation driven by tourism. Sentinel-2 satellite imagery and Google Earth Engine processing were used to calculate NDSSI and NDVI in four study areas over the period 2018-2023. The results reveal a cyclical pattern in NDSSI, where maximum and minimum peaks and troughs associated with rainfall seasonality are identified. During the rainy season, heavy rainfall dilutes the sediments, showing minima in the NDSSI (between -0.7 and -0.8) that indicate a large accumulation of suspended solids. In contrast, in the dry season, with rainfall close to 0 mm, less extreme values are observed, which translates into better water quality. Percentile analysis showed that the maximum values of NDVI (P90), reflecting higher photosynthetic vigour, coincide with the minimum values of NDSSI (P10) during the rainy season, while low agricultural activity in the dry season favours optimal water conditions. In addition, severe drought in the Paranapanema river basin since 2020 has drastically reduced water storage levels, intensifying the impact of pollutant and agrochemical runoff. These findings highlight the importance of preserving permanent protection areas and implementing sustainable management strategies to mitigate environmental risks and ensure the conservation of water resources.

Global distribution and epidemiological relevance of NDM, KPC, VIM, IMP AND OXA-48-like Carbapenemases

2025-05-22T12:05:11-04:00

Carbapenemase-mediated resistance, driven by enzymes that inactivate last resort carbapenem antibiotics, has emerged as a critical global health threat. To delineate its true scope, we conducted an exhaustive review of the past five years’ literature, focusing on the five principal carbapenemases (KPC, NDM, VIM, IMP, and OXA-48-like) in human clinical isolates. All relevant studies were synthesized into a unified database, which served as the basis for generating individual world maps for each enzyme and a composite map illustrating their co-occurrence. These visual tools illuminate the uneven yet interconnected nature of carbapenemase dissemination, underscoring the value of spatially resolved data in combating antimicrobial resistance. Our findings reveal distinct regional patterns: KPC dominates much of the Americas and Western Europe; NDM is most burdensome in the Indian subcontinent and North Africa; VIM remains concentrated in Southern Europe; IMP is endemic in Japan and parts of China; and OXA-48-like enzymes prevail around the Mediterranean and in the Middle East. These disparities reflect local genetic transfer dynamics, via plasmids, integrons, and other mobile elements, as well as variations in antibiotic use practices and surveillance capacity. Accurate, up-to-date distribution maps are therefore indispensable for tailoring surveillance strategies, optimizing antimicrobial stewardship, and directing research funding, all of which are vital for slowing the spread of these formidable resistance determinants.

Perception on Livestock Changes and Its Socio-Economic Implications Among Agro-pastoralists: A Case Study of Agro-pastoralists in Joshimath Block in Chamoli

2025-06-12T11:19:21-04:00

This study examines evolving livestock ownership and management patterns among agro-pastoralist communities in Joshimath block, Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, analysing their socio-economic implications. Using stratified random sampling, primary data were collected from 50 households across three elevation zones through structured questionnaires, in-depth interviews with key informants, and focus group discussions. The research reveals significant transformations over three decades (1990-2024), with a 32.5 percent decline in overall livestock numbers. Sheep numbers dropped by 48.6 percent and goats by 27.9 percent, while cattle ownership increased by 22.6 percent, buffalo ownership by 75 percent, and pack animals by 88.9 percent. Management practices shifted from long-distance transhumance (declining from 68 percent to 36 percent of households) toward settled livestock keeping and stall feeding systems. Key drivers include climate change impacts on highland pastures, labour constraints due to outmigration, emerging tourism opportunities, and land use restrictions. Livestock's contribution to household income declined, while tourism income increased. Gender roles transformed as well, with women now performing more hours of daily livestock management tasks compared to the past. Cultural implications include erosion of traditional ecological knowledge. The study documents remarkable adaptive capacity, with improved cattle breeds and pack animals offering the highest investment returns. The agro-pastoralist communities are undergoing dynamic reconfiguration rather than decline, blending traditional elements with new opportunities. Policy interventions should support sustainable adaptations while preserving traditional knowledge through integrated approaches, including cooperative herding, value-added products, and knowledge transmission programs.