On the adoption of stricter energy efficiency standards for residential air conditioners: Case study Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Space cooling is the fastest-growing energy end-use in buildings worldwide, and Ecuador is no exception. Nevertheless, the last update of the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for air conditioners was in 2013 (EER 3.2W/W); since then, no new standards have been proposed in Ecuador. This study is the first assessment of stricter MEPS and estimation of benefits for the consumers and society of the residential sector in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The life cycle cost, payback time, net present value, electricity savings, and CO2 mitigation are the outputs from the Policy Analysis Modeling System (PAMS) methodology followed. The analysis considers future economic scenarios until 2035. Also, a new engineering approach based on linear optimization defines ACs designs in compliance with the proposed MEPS at the lowest cost. Therefore we can avoid setting less ambitious energy-efficiency targets when efficiency options are limited in the market (this is the Ecuadorian case). The analyzed MEPS are those proposed by UNEP and by the renewal program of inefficient equipment of the Ecuadorian Government. Our estimates show that AC demand can reach 17.3% of the total residential electricity demand in the business-as-usual scenario and 21.4% in the high economic growth scenario until 2035. Furthermore, the results show a significant gap between the proposed MEPS which can be progressively bridged. The best standard from the consumer perspective is EER 4.3W/W, while from the societal perspective, it is EER 5.5W/W. Stricter MEPS can reduce AC electricity demand and energy-related emissions between 5.7% and 31%, depending on the selected scenario. Therefore, stricter MEPS for AC represents a cost-effective option to reduce energy needs and emissions from air conditioners and a concrete action to support the national energy efficiency policies and nationally determined contributions for the residential sector.

History of contact with the SARS-COV-2 virus and the sense of coherence in the development of psychological distress in the occupational health professionals in Spain.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the psychological well-being of healthcare professionals, among them, on medical and nursing occupational specialists. This study describes the psychological distress that this group has suffered, analyzing the effect that the sense of coherence related with the history of contact with infected people has generated in their mental health. Cross-sectional descriptive study using online questionnaires. Data were collected on a sample of 499 subjects, representing 42.0% and 38.8% of the associations of specialists in Occupational Medicine and Nursing, respectively. A univariate data analysis, independence test, and the CHAID multivariate method were carried out. The percentage of workers with high psychological distress was higher among women than among men; this was also higher in public sector workers than in the private sector. No differences have been observed regarding psychological distress and educational level, coexistence, having children, working away from home, having a pet, or between being a physician or nurse. The most efficient measure to prevent psychological distress was acting regarding the comprehensibility dimension of the sense of coherence. Sex, contact with any infected person, age, living as a couple, working in public or private centers, the availability of diagnostic tests, and the correlation with the manageability dimension were modulating factors. Sense of coherence is an effective measure to prevent psychological distress due to contact with people affected by COVID-19 in Occupational Health professionals.

Relationship of Smoking with the CD4+ T cell count and Viral Load in Patients with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus in the HIV health care center at the Hospital Regional Universitario José María Cabral y Báez in the Dominican Republic: a Cross-sectional Descriptive Study / Relación entre tabaquismo, conteo de CD4+ y carga viral en pacientes con infección por Virus de Inmunodeficiencia Humana en el centro de atención para VIH del Hospital Regional Universitario José María Cabral y Báez de Republica Dominicana: estudio descriptivo transversal

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the relationship between tobacco use and viral load and CD4+ T cell count in HIV patients. Results: The research conducted was a descriptive study of 317 patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), 18 years old and above, who attended the "Unidad de Atención Integral" (UAI) at the Hospital Regional Universitario José María Cabral y Báez, in Santiago, Dominican Republic. Of those 317 patients, 172 were included in the data analysis. It was found that a 77.3% of smokers had a CD4+ T cell count equal to or below 250 cells/mm3. 75% of smokers had a viral load equal to or greater than 400 copies/ml. In addition, 82.9% of nonsmokers presented with a viral load below 400 copies/ml. The smokers were more likely to have a viral load equal to or greater than 400 copies/ml (OR = 6.285, P < 0.001), in comparison with nonsmokers. Patients younger than 45 years old were more likely to have a viral load equal to or above 400 copies/ml compared to older patients (OR = 3.313, P = 0.024).

Resumen Objetivo: Evaluar la relación entre el consumo de tabaco, la carga viral y el recuento de linfocitos T CD4+ en pacientes con VIH. Resultados: La investigación fue realizada mediante un estudio descriptivo a 317 pacientes en terapia antirretroviral de alta actividad (TARGA), de 18 años o ma yores, que asistían a la Unidad de Atención Integral (UAI) del Hospital Regional Universitario José María Cabral y Báez, en Santiago, República Dominicana. De esos 317 pacientes, 172 se incluyeron en el análisis de datos. Se encontró que un 77,3% de los fumadores tenían un recuento de células T CD4 + igual o inferior a 250 células / mm3. El 75% de los fumadores tenían una carga viral igual o superior a 400 copias / ml. Además, el 82,9% de los no fumadores presentaba una carga viral inferior a 400 copias / ml. Los fumadores tenían más probabilidades de tener una carga viral igual o superior a 400 copias / ml (OR = 6.285, P <0.001), en comparación con los no fumadores. Los pacientes menores de 45 años tenían más probabilidades de tener una carga viral igual o superior a 400 copias / ml en comparación con los pacientes mayores (OR = 3,313, P = 0,024).

Procesos de reestructuración empresarial y su impacto en la salud psicofísica en una población laboral: "Estudio PREISAP" / Corporate restructuring processes and their impact on psychophysical health in a working population: "PREISAP study"

La literatura especializada coincide en señalar que los procesos de reestructuración empresarial, sobre todo los que conllevan reducciones de personal, provocan un empeoramiento de los factores psicosociales y están relacionados con la inseguridad laboral afectando de forma negativa el bienestar de los trabajadores. El estudio PREISAP tiene como objetivo medir el impacto de los factores de riesgo psicosocial alterados sobre el nivel de salud mental percibida, tras las reestructuraciones sufridas por dos empresas españolas en el periodo 2007-2014. Se analizan los datos recogidos de los reconocimientos médicos de 444 empleados, aplicando el protocolo PSICOVS2012. Se evaluó el índice de riesgo psicosocial (IFRP-Q) y se consideró la presencia de acontecimientos traumáticos. Para medir el grado de bienestar laboral, se consideró el nivel de Salud Mental (GHQ12), la Salud Percibida (SF36), el nivel de Estrés (FOIH), el índice General de Malestar (IGM) y la Suspicacia Paranoide (IFC). Se estudia la asociación entre las características personales/laborales y tipo de reestructuración con el índice de bienestar, indicando los valores p de cada prueba, empleando el Coeficiente de Correlación de Pearson, la t de Student y Anova. Para el análisis multivariable se calcularon las Odd Ratio (IC 95%). Los resultados muestran valores alterados de los factores psicosociales según el tipo de reestructuración, un empeoramiento de la salud general y la salud mental, mayores niveles de estrés e IGM; con diferencias significativas según género, edad y ocupación. Estos datos coinciden con lo señalado en la bibliografía, lo que sugiere la necesidad de actuar a nivel preventivo para promover procesos de cambio saludable (AU)

The specialized literature agrees that business restructuring processes, especially those involving staff reductions, lead to a worsening of psychosocial factors and are related to job insecurity, negatively affecting the welfare of workers. The PREISAP study aims to measure the impact of altered psychosocial risk factors on the level of perceived mental health, following the restructurings suffered by two Spanish companies in the period 2007-2014. Data collected from the medical examinations of 444 employees are analyzed using the PSICOVS2012 protocol. The psychosocial risk index (IFRP-Q) was evaluated and the presence of traumatic events was considered. The level of Mental Health (GHQ12), Perceived Health (SF36), Stress Level (FOIH), General Discomfort Index (IGM) and Paranoid Suspicion (IFC) were considered. The association between the personal / work characteristics and the type of restructuring with the welfare index is studied, indicating the p-values of each test, using Pearson's Correlation Coefficient, Student's t and Anova. Odd Ratio (95% CI) was calculated for the multivariable analysis. The results show altered values of psychosocial factors according to the type of restructuring, a worsening of general health and mental health, higher levels of stress and IGM; With significant differences according to gender, age and occupation. These data coincide with what is indicated in the literature, suggesting the need to act at a preventive level to promote healthy change processes (AU)