Fernando Valero

Estudio de la incidencia de listeriosis en España

We performed a descriptive retrospective study of cases of listeriosis occurring in Spain from 2001 to 2007 to determine the burden and trend of this disease in our setting. Several sources of information were used. Epidemiological information was collected from 1.242 cases of listeriosis, representing a mean incidence rate of 0,56 cases per 100.000 inhabitants per year, which was extrapolated as an overall estimate for Spain. The annual incidence showed a statistically significant increasing trend (p <0,001) over the study period. This figure was higher than that reported in Spain (0,16) by the Microbiological Information System, which is voluntary, showing that underreporting exists. The inclusion of listeriosis in the Mandatory Notification System would allow determination of the distribution and characteristics of this infection in humans, as well as promotion of effective prevention and control.

Automatic Validation of Flowmeter Data in Transport Water Networks: Application to the ATLLc Water Network

In this paper, a methodology for data validation and reconstruction of flow meter sensor data in water networks is presented. The raw data validation is inspired on the Spanish norm (AENOR-UNE norm 500540). The methodology consists in assigning a quality level to data. These quality levels are assigned according to the number of tests that data have passed. The methodology takes into account not only spatial models but also temporal models relating the different sensors. The methodology is applied to real-data acquired from the ATLLc Water Network. The results demonstrate the performance of the proposed methodology in detecting errors in measurements and in reconstructing them.

Chemical characterization and relative toxicity assessment of disinfection byproduct mixtures in a large drinking water supply network

In order to reduce the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) during potabilization of water it is necessary to explore the potential of the source water and the applied treatment to generate these chemicals. This is actually more challenging in large drinking water networks that use different source waters to satisfy drinking water demand. In this regard, this work investigated the formation of DBPs in water matrices that are commonly supplied to the city of Barcelona and its metropolitan area. The regulated trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids were the most abundant DBP classes in these waters, followed by haloacetamides and haloacetonitriles or trihalogenated acetaldehydes (THALs). On the contrary, the formation potential of iodo-DBPs was minor. Mixing of drinking water treatment plant finished waters with desalinated water decreased the overall DBP formation potential of the water but resulted in the increased formation of brominated DBPs after long chlorine contact time. The formation of most DBPs was enhanced at high water temperatures (except for Br-THALs) and increasing residence times. Potential cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of the DBP mixtures were mainly attributed to the presence of nitrogen-containing DBPs and HAAs.

Sensor Data Validation and Reconstruction

In a real water network, a telecontrol system must periodically acquire, store and validate sensor data to achieve accurate monitoring of the whole network in real time. For each sensor measurement, data are usually represented by one-dimensional time series. These values, known as raw data, need to be validated before further use to assure the reliability of the results obtained when using them. In real operation, problems affecting the communication system, lack of reliability of sensors or other inherent errors often arise, generating missing or false data during certain periods of time. These data must be detected and replaced by estimated data. Thus, it is important to provide the data system with procedures that can detect such problems and assist the user in monitoring and processing the incoming data. Data validation is an essential step to improve data reliability. The validated data represent measurements of the variables in the required form where unnecessary information from raw data has been removed. In this chapter, a methodology for data validation and reconstruction of sensor data collected from a water network is developed, taking into account not only spatial models, but also temporal models (time series of each sensor) and internal models of the several components in the local units (e.g., pumps, valves, flows, levels). The methodology is illustrated by means of its application to flow and level meters of the Catalonia Regional Water Network.

In search of the origin of municipal pharmacists

The evolution of public health in Spain during the 19th century can be divided into three stages. In the first stage (1812-1833), the reign of Fernando VII prevented the development of the liberal postulates: >. The second stage (1833-1873), was characterized by the legislative development of sanitary organization in Spain. As a result of this new legislative framework, and in the context of social hygiene ( >), the figures of municipal health professionals appeared, engaged by the city councils to be in charge of the medical assistance of the poor (municipal physician), of the pharmaceutical assistance of the poor (municipal pharmacist), and of the health inspection of meat from the slaughterhouses (municipal veterinarian). The third stage (1873-1904), marked the beginning of a new age (microbiology) and the beginning of the scientific method. Microbiology prompted the creation of municipal laboratories throughout the state and laid the foundations for the creation of the Healthcare Services of Medicine, Pharmacy and Veterinary Science at the beginning of the xx century. These organizations would have a well-defined organizational structure with wider functions.

Artículo especialEn busca del origen de los farmacéuticos titularesIn search of the origin of municipal pharmacists

The evolution of public health in Spain during the 19th century can be divided into three stages. In the first stage (1812-1833), the reign of Fernando VII prevented the development of the liberal postulates: <<the autonomy of the city councils in the matter of hygiene and public health>>. The second stage (1833-1873), was characterized by the legislative development of sanitary organization in Spain. As a result of this new legislative framework, and in the context of social hygiene (<<social inequality as the origin of disease>>), the figures of municipal health professionals appeared, engaged by the city councils to be in charge of the medical assistance of the poor (municipal physician), of the pharmaceutical assistance of the poor (municipal pharmacist), and of the health inspection of meat from the slaughterhouses (municipal veterinarian). The third stage (1873-1904), marked the beginning of a new age (microbiology) and the beginning of the scientific method. Microbiology prompted the creation of municipal laboratories throughout the state and laid the foundations for the creation of the Healthcare Services of Medicine, Pharmacy and Veterinary Science at the beginning of the xx century. These organizations would have a well-defined organizational structure with wider functions.The evolution of public health in Spain during the 19th century can be divided into three stages. In the first stage (1812–1833), the reign of Fernando VII prevented the development of the liberal postulates: «the autonomy of the city councils in the matter of hygiene and public health». The second stage (1833–1873), was characterized by the legislative development of sanitary organization in Spain. As a result of this new legislative framework, and in the context of social hygiene («social inequality as the origin of disease»), the figures of municipal health professionals appeared, engaged by the city councils to be in charge of the medical assistance of the poor (municipal physician), of the pharmaceutical assistance of the poor (municipal pharmacist), and of the health inspection of meat from the slaughterhouses (municipal veterinarian). The third stage (1873–1904), marked the beginning of a new age (microbiology) and the beginning of the scientific method. Microbiology prompted the creation of municipal laboratories throughout the state and laid the foundations for the creation of the Healthcare Services of Medicine, Pharmacy and Veterinary Science at the beginning of the xx century. These organizations would have a well-defined organizational structure with wider functions.

En busca del origen de los farmaceuticos titulares

The evolution of public health in Spain during the 19th century can be divided into three stages. In the first stage (1812-1833), the reign of Fernando VII prevented the development of the liberal postulates: <<the autonomy of the city councils in the matter of hygiene and public health>>. The second stage (1833-1873), was characterized by the legislative development of sanitary organization in Spain. As a result of this new legislative framework, and in the context of social hygiene (<<social inequality as the origin of disease>>), the figures of municipal health professionals appeared, engaged by the city councils to be in charge of the medical assistance of the poor (municipal physician), of the pharmaceutical assistance of the poor (municipal pharmacist), and of the health inspection of meat from the slaughterhouses (municipal veterinarian). The third stage (1873-1904), marked the beginning of a new age (microbiology) and the beginning of the scientific method. Microbiology prompted the creation of municipal laboratories throughout the state and laid the foundations for the creation of the Healthcare Services of Medicine, Pharmacy and Veterinary Science at the beginning of the xx century. These organizations would have a well-defined organizational structure with wider functions.The evolution of public health in Spain during the 19th century can be divided into three stages. In the first stage (1812–1833), the reign of Fernando VII prevented the development of the liberal postulates: «the autonomy of the city councils in the matter of hygiene and public health». The second stage (1833–1873), was characterized by the legislative development of sanitary organization in Spain. As a result of this new legislative framework, and in the context of social hygiene («social inequality as the origin of disease»), the figures of municipal health professionals appeared, engaged by the city councils to be in charge of the medical assistance of the poor (municipal physician), of the pharmaceutical assistance of the poor (municipal pharmacist), and of the health inspection of meat from the slaughterhouses (municipal veterinarian). The third stage (1873–1904), marked the beginning of a new age (microbiology) and the beginning of the scientific method. Microbiology prompted the creation of municipal laboratories throughout the state and laid the foundations for the creation of the Healthcare Services of Medicine, Pharmacy and Veterinary Science at the beginning of the xx century. These organizations would have a well-defined organizational structure with wider functions.

Estudio de las torres de refrigeración asociadas a brotes comunitarios de legionelosis

Objetive: To evaluate the factors of risk of the risk cooling towers associated to a community outbreak of legionellosis according to its characteristics of maintenance and the quality of the water with the purpose of improving the systems of prevention of this one disease. Method: To compare the piece of information gathered between the 4 types of cooling towers: control 1, control 2, probable and confirmed. A total of 184 cooling towers have been studied associated to 17 community outbreak of legionellosis of the province of Barcelona (Spain) during the year 2004, of which 112 are control 1, 54 control 2, 8 probable and 10 confirmed. Results: The confirmed towers are characterized by: high levels of conductivity, total aerobes, calcic hardness, total solids in dissolution, temperature and turbidity; low levels of chlorine (< 2 ppm); of use hypochlorite as disinfectant in a 10%; greater degree of breach of the revision program and cleaning of the internal elements of the tower (tray, stuffed and separating of drops); degree of performance of the periodic disinfections and the cleaning of deposits of the 100%. A 47% of the investigated towers do not use the previous treatments of the water in spite of diminishing the parametric values of the quantitatives variables. Conclusions: Measures of prevention of the legionellosis would be due to guarantee: a good quality of the water and the pursuit of its quantitatives variables; chlorine levels superior to 2 ppm; the evaluation of the individual risk for each installation; the performance of the 100% of the program of revision of the internal elements of the towers.