Volumen 2 No. 2 (2011)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://dspace-test.ucuenca.edu.ec/handle/123456789/5375

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Modeling hydrological consequences of climate and land use change Progress and Challenges
(Universidad de Cuenca, 2011-12) Feyen, Jan; Vázquez Zambrano, Raúl Fernando; Universidad de Cuenca; Dirección de Investigación de la Universidad de Cuenca
This paper provides the state-of-the-art in hydrologic modeling regarding its capability of predicting the effects of climate and land use change on the hydrological cycle. In conclusion, the research challenges are pinpointed, which the community should address as to be able to observe and model, at a regional-scale, the coupled climate-water cycle in response to the human induced changes in climate and land use. The findings presented herein are a compilation resulting from an extensive literature review and the personal expertise of the authors. Given the focus on hydrologic modeling, many other aspects such as the best practices of integrated water resources management, cross-boundary water governance, the establishment of institutional frameworks, empowerment of local communities to participate effectively in water management and policy making, among many other very relevant aspects, were intentionally not considered as not to dilute the focus of the paper.
Evaluación de las emisiones de vapor mercurial en procesos de amalgamado artesanal: caso Cantón Ponce Enríquez, Provincia del Azuay
(Universidad de Cuenca, 2011-12) Carrillo Rojas, Galo José; Astudillo A., Ana; Universidad de Cuenca; Dirección de Investigación de la Universidad de Cuenca
Small-scale mining as applied at several locations in the Canton Ponce Enriquez, located in the Province of Azuay, Ecuador, use commonly the mercury amalgamation process whereby elemental mercury is mixed with silt or ore dust that contain tiny pieces of gold. The amalgam is heated and his mercury evaporates, leaving pure gold or silver. During the process miners and anyone else in the vicinity are at risk of inhaling mercury. In this study the variation in the concentration of mercury vapor was examined as a function of the distance from the focal point of heating at four different locations. Results reveal that mercury vapor levels released during the amalgam thermal separation largely exceed the international norms and security and health limits within a distance of one meter of the focal point. At further distance a notable decrease in the concentration of mercury vapor is recorded. The observations will be instrumental for the formulation of policies and regulations that mitigate the hazardous effects of the inhaling of mercury.
Manejo de la hipertensión arterial desde los servicios de atención primaria
(Universidad de Cuenca, 2011-12) Segarra Espinoza, Edgar Enrique; Encalada Torres, Lorena Esperanza; García Alvear, Jorge Luis
The aim of this study was to validate a Primary Health Care model for hypertensive patients in two health centers of the city of Cuenca; in order to identify risk factors, implement an educational intervention program, assess adherence to treatment and the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) related to hypertension. We performed a prospective, analytical study with a quasi-experimental design. The sampling method was cluster sampling; included 100 patients in the intervention group and 219 in the control group. The intervention was implemented over 12 months and involved educational activities, group clinical consultation and clinical guidelines. The mean age was 66,73 years for the intervention group and 69,26 years for the control group, with female predominance in both groups (75% and 71,7%) respectively. Studied risk factors that showed statistical significance were age, schooling and adherence to treatment. We achieved lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure at 13,26 and 2,19 mmHg respectively. The prevalence of risk factors (snuff, alcohol, sedentary lifestyle) showed a statistically significant decrease. Also, adherence (p = 0,001) and the degree of KAP (p = 0,059) were increased. We conclude that the intervention was effective in reducing the levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, decreasing risk factors, increasing adherence to treatment and the degree of KAP.
Percepciones sobre la diversidad sexual en adolescentes escolarizados de la ciudad de Cuenca
(Universidad de Cuenca, 2011-12) Pinos Vélez, Verónica Patricia; Pinos Abad, Guido Marcelo; Palacios Madero, María Dolores
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are a minority group, whose recognition awakens emotional reactions, perceptions and attitudes; the majority with negative tendence. The perceptions and attitudes of rejection are due in large part to the prejudice against this group, which often leads to a stigmatization of LGBT people. Assessment of the perceptions of adolescents towards LGBT individuals was the main purpose of the research. A survey, consisting of a series of qualitative and quantitative questions offering the surveyed people the possibility of providing to the questions personal comments and observations, was applied to 1130 college students and 31 teachers. The students in general stated that it is incorrect mistreating LGBT people. They strongly perceive that family, school and especially the society as hostile environments for LGBT. Moreover, most of the surveyed adolescents expressed serious concern that if they were LGBT, they would worry about the emotional reaction of family, friends, teachers and peers. In the worst case, they even expect being rejected by friends and peers, experience pressure from their family to change attitude, and likely be confronted by an indifferent attitude of their teachers as the latter usually seldom care about the personal situation of students. Given the widespread public opinion and the risk to become the target of strong negative attitudes some adolescents stated to be very reluctant to make public their sexual orientation. It is believed that for achieving social equity for LGBT people one has to work towards the liberation for the broader society from sexual oppression, requiring the initiation of a series of activities, such as the initiation of educational programs aiming de-ligitimization of the prejudice and the opening of people’s mind.
Análisis de los factores que influyen el emprendimiento y la sostenibilidad de las empresas del área urbana de la ciudad de Cuenca, Ecuador
(Universidad de Cuenca, 2011-12) Cordero López, Juan Francisco; Astudillo Durán, Silvana Vanessa; Delgado Noboa, Jorge Washington; Amón Martínez, Oswaldo; Carpio Guerrero, Ximena Catalina; Universidad de Cuenca; Dirección de Investigación de la Universidad de Cuenca
This article presents the results of an analysis of the traits affecting entrepreneurial activity and the evaluation of the aspects that promote the entrepreneurial spirit and the sustainability of small to medium-sized businesses in the city of Cuenca. The analysis focused on external and internal factors, favoring and hindering the entrepreneurial process, respectively financing, market conditions and legal framework, and the level of education, entrepreneurial and motivational behavior. Data was collected via a descriptive cross-sectional survey, applied to 200 businesses, gathering general information about the manager, and the factors affecting entrepreneurship and company sustainability. The authors expect that the results of the survey will positively enhance the discussion between public, non-governmental and private actors and instructors on key policies stimulating the emergence of new enterprises and the strengthening of existing ones.
Monitoreo de movimientos de ladera en el sector de San Pedro de Vilcabamba mediante procedimientos GPS
(Universidad de Cuenca, 2011-12) Zárate Torres, Belizario A.; DIUC; Universidad de Cuenca; Dirección de Investigación de la Universidad de Cuenca
Landslides often affect large areas, developing latent due to the slowness of the internal dynamics and in most cases only notable by geomorphologic evidences such as soil fissures, which in several cases can be the reflection of other processes. Triggered by extreme rainfall passive potential landslides can convert quickly to active landslides causing huge economic losses, which can be accompanied by loss of human life. Landslide control, consisting in the collection of data to predict the behavior of slopes in time, does not yet exist in Ecuador. According to international literature, surveying the activity of the surface of potential landslide areas using GPS as monitoring technique permits to understand the limits, size, level of activity, direction and velocity of earth movement. In this paper, the technique was applied to quantify the movement of a landslide area in the San Pedro sector of Vilcabamba, southern Ecuador.
Métodos para el análisis de la estabilidad de pendientes
(2011) Bojorque Iñeguez, Jaime Asdrúbal
This document presents, in a concise manner, different methods that have been developed for slope stability analysis. These methods are compared from the point of view of the assumptions that each of these methods uses to solve the problem. Among the most used methods are: the Limit Equilibrium Method with its variants, the Limit Analysis Method based on the theorems of the lower-bound and upper-bound, and the Numerical Methods with emphasis on the Finite Element Method, which uses the soil strength reduction technique. This document also presents a compilation of references for each method, which may form the starting point for further improvement of each methodology used in slope stability analysis.

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