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This article provides a comprehensive qualitative synthesis of EFL writing studies published in Colombian journals between 1990 and 2020. We synthesised 63 research reports regarding authorship, publication year, focus, methodology (context, participants, research paradigm, design, and data collection methods and analyses), validity, reliability, ethics, findings, limitations, and further research. Our findings reveal that EFL writing is a developing research area in Colombia, characterised as a predominantly qualitative inquiry into adult writing instruction and learning at universities. From the findings, we propose a research agenda and some guidelines for authors and reviewers to enhance and evaluate research reports.

This paper reports an action-research study on language learning strategies in tertiary education at a Colombian university. The study aimed at improving the English language performance and language learning strategies use of 33 first-year pre-service language teachers by combining elements from two models: the cognitive academic language learning approach and task-based language teaching. Data were gathered through surveys, a focus group, students' and teachers' journals, language tests, and documentary analysis. Results evidenced that the students improved in speaking, writing, grammar, vocabulary and in their language learning strategies repertoire. As a conclusion, explicit strategy instruction in the proposed model resulted in a proper combination to improve learners' language learning strategies and performance.

Over the past few decades, information and communication technologies have been integrated into the language teaching and learning scenario with relatively great success. Accordingly, teachers' role in this process is fundamental in order to make this integration really relevant for students' learning. This paper reports the results obtained in a study that was addressed to examine what teachers believe about the effectiveness of using technology in an English program at university level and how these beliefs affect the use of these types of tools in their classes. The research conducted was a qualitative study and the analysis of data revealed that the use of technology-based activities in the English classroom is twofold: reinforcing already studied topics in class and promoting motivation.

Copyright of Journal of Eating Disorders is the property of BioMed Central and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Within the new world scenario, the internationalization of science, technology and innovation represents a fast track for the development of nations and the solution of the global challenges posed by the 2030 Agenda. The above reflects on the importance of science and technology as determining factors to promote sustainable development and especially to overcome any scenario of health and economic crisis generated by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has promoted the creation of programs that are in favor of investment in human resources and infrastructure to strengthen local capacities, long-term financing for the development of scientific and technological projects, as well as the implementation of new mechanisms that favor the institutionalization of science, technology and innovation policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modeling and simulation have become fundamental tools for the microclimatic analysis of greenhouses under various climatic conditions. These models allow precise control of the climate inside the structures and the optimization of their performance under any situation. In Colombia, the availability of energy balance models adapted to local greenhouses and their climate is limited, which affects the decision-making of both technical advisors and growers. This study focused on calibrating and evaluating a dynamic energy balance model to predict the thermal behavior of an innovative type of plastic-covered greenhouse designed for the Bogotá savanna. The selected model considers fundamental heat and mass transfer processes, incorporating parameters that depend on the architecture of the structure and local climatic conditions, making it suitable for protected agriculture in Colombia. The results of the post-calibration evaluation showed that the model is highly accurate, with a temperature prediction efficiency close to 86%. This ensures that the model can accurately predict the thermal behavior of the greenhouse being evaluated. It is important to note that the model can also anticipate phenomena characteristics of Colombian greenhouses, such as thermal inversion. This advance has become a valuable tool for decision-making in protected agriculture in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to understand the organizing principles of the social representations of democracy in higher education students in Colombia, and their anchoring in sociodemographic and territorial variables. In three periods of time (2010, 2012 and 2017) students at university and technical/technological careers (total number: 12,171) from the 32 capital cities of each department in Colombia responded to a Scale of Social Representations of Democracy (ERSD) and to a list of sociodemographic variables. In a macro-level analysis, departmental averages of Democracy Balance were crossed with macro indicators of crime, extreme poverty, life expectancy and indigenous population percentage. Results show a seven dimensions factorial structure without significant relationships with age, gender or social class. At a macro level, regions with a high proportion of indigenous population showed a more positive evaluation of democracy over time, while higher crime rates are associated with a more negative evaluation of democracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of a diagnostic L2 reading test applied to first-semester students at a higher education institution in Colombia demonstrated that most of the population entered the university with a lower reading comprehension level than the required for the entrance to tertiary education. According to MEN. The results gathered were categorized taking into account the CEFR levels (B2, B1, A2, A1, and -A1). This test's results revealed that the 85% of the evaluated population was classified at level A1; the 35% was placed at level A2; and the last 8% was classified at level -A1; on the other hand, there were no students placed in the higher levels (B1, B2). It is observed that most of the participants were place in level A1, according to the CEFR, which means that these students lack the required standards to start college studies, regarding L2 reading skills. In order to face this situation, some university professors in this context were also observed with the intention of identifying the positive practices in terms of reading comprehension and the chances to improve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current accounting systems assume a purely financial approach, without including environmental information, such as environmental costs and companies' expenses. On the one hand, this study proposes a framework that considers the environmental impact of firms within their accounting system, the Green Accounting System (GAS). On the other hand, and in the context of developing countries, Colombia carried out an exploratory study. With a sample of 150 Colombian industrial and commercial companies, this research revealed that 100% of them had not yet implemented environmental practices within the accounting system. Therefore, this research would be useful not only for academia, but also for practitioners and governments. As GAS would contribute to traceability in the quantification of environmental accounting, it would simultaneously generate a movement toward cleaner production that would increase environmental quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ingeniería y Competitividad is the property of Universidad del Valle and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Disgust specific to sexual stimuli has been thought to be an adaptation that serves purposes of pathogen-avoidance, partner selection and social dominance. While the link between disgust responses and homonegative and transnegative attitudes has been relatively established, it is not yet clear why. Literature using evolutionary psychology perspectives of these phenomena is scarce in areas with substantial LGBT-related violence like Colombia. This research aimed to study the interplay of predispositional (e.g. sociodemographic, reported contact), affective (e.g. disgust sensitivity) and cognitive (e.g. Right-Wing Authoritarian) variables in homonegative and transnegative attitudes of Colombian adults. Participants (N = 272) had a mean age of 26.38 (SD = 9.47), women comprised 72% of the sample and men 28%. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that increased sexual specific disgust sensitivity and greater RWA predicted stronger homonegativity and transnegativity. The relationship between sexual disgust and prejudice was partially mediated by RWA. Findings suggest that sexual disgust sensitivity adaptations in homonegativity and transnegativity may respond to selection pressures that differ from pathogen-avoidance perspectives, and that are associated with maintaining social hierarchy and social dominance. Anti-prejudice initiatives would benefit from targeting emotional responses of sexual disgust, especially within communities and institutions that have historically endorsed conservative and traditional values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Profile: Issues in Teachers' Professional Development is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Facultad de Ciencias Humanas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Tendencias: Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Administrativas is the property of Universidad de Narino, Facultad de Ciencias Economics y Administrativas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Agronomía Colombiana is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Lecturas de Economia is the property of Universidad de Antioquia, Facultad de Ciencias Economicas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Short term, collaborative, immersive and situated learning experiences through cross cultural design projects are key to elevating design students' global perspectives and ability to perform in international contexts. In this article we examine students' experiences during an international study tour that took Australian university undergraduates to collaborate with peer students in a design project at a university in Colombia. Our examination identifies three key dimensions contributing to the enhancement of students' global perspectives: 1) intercultural engagement through peer-to-peer exchange, 2) cross cultural collaboration during remote and immersive design work, and 3) immersing in place-based experiences that enable cultural sensitivity. An analysis of students' essays and design work demonstrates how these three dimensions were fundamental to broaden their worldviews and ability to perform globally. In the context of increasing participation of graduates from the Creative Industries in the global economy, this article contributes to the discourse about the value of short-term mobility programs in Design in Higher Education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research study examines the environmental impact of an artisanal mine dedicated to the exploitation of clay in Manaure (La Guajira, Colombia). In Colombia's La Guajira region, there is no procedure to assess the sustainability of the clay mining industry. An indicator system is implemented to measure the degree of environmental sustainability in this mining sector. The methodology applied included a survey, interviews, and checklists. The clay mine is assessed with three indicators: 1) ecological footprint, 2) carbon footprint, and 3) water footprint. The results provide annual estimate values for the ecological (1.0812 kgCO2/person), carbon (282946 KgCO2), and water (3.4 L water/brick) footprints. It is concluded that the clay mine assessed has negative effects on both the environment and natural resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops and analyzes four energy scenarios for Colombia that consider the El Niño phenomenon and the inclusion of renewable energies in the energy generation matrix for the period 2020–2035. A comparative analysis is presented between the results of the different scenarios proposed. The most relevant finding is the use of the reserve margin as an indicator of system reliability. A scenario which included 7214 MW of large-scale non-conventional renewable energy, 10,000 MW of distributed generation, and 12,240 MW of hydroelectric power was assumed, with a reserve margin of over 50%. Additionally, it was found that for the scenarios in which a generation capacity with non-conventional renewable energies of less than 10,000 MW in 2034 was assumed, the reserve margin of the system in the seasons of the El Niño phenomenon will be less than historical records of the system. Alternatively, it was found that the scenarios in which the inclusion of at least 9600 MW of the electric power generation capacity of non-conventional renewable energies proposed by 2034 offer benefits in the reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which contributes to the achievement of the emission reduction objectives of the Paris Agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of an analysis on how the educational level of those who graduate from college, influences their social and cultural conditions, this article presents a detailed review of the main laws and policies that, have been promoted in Colombia since the early 1980’s. The purpose of this review has been to gather the laws, plans and policies that have guided the educational processes to improve the quality of life and wellness of the people. For this, we have included documents on education for the last 40 years. After conducting a preliminary review, the following were selected; The National Development Plans, the Decennial Plans, the Washington Consensus, The 2000 Dakar Forum on Education, the ECLAC proposal of 1992 and the International Wisemen Committee of 2019. Also included in this review are the Law 115 and Law 30 that focuses on higher education. After the corresponding analysis, we can conclude that public policies in Colombia have been consistent in having Education in the center of their foundations for social transformation, but there have also been inefficiency while executing them and inability to get to further territories. In addition, they have been unable to guarantee equality and equity for all. Another important finding has to do with the lack of clarity and continuity on the initiatives and adjustments made based on global changes and trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Revista de Ciencias Agricolas is the property of University of Narino, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Stereotypes of dangerousness are common predictors of stigmatising attitudes towards Severe Mental Illness (SMI). However less is known about pathogen avoidance mechanisms underlying stigma towards SMI, specially in samples of non-industrialised societies of Latin America and the Caribbean. The primary aim of this study was to examine pathogen-disgust sensitivity and danger appraisal mechanisms in responses of stigma towards SMI. Methods: Cross-sectional design with convenience sampling. Using an online survey, volunteers at the Universidad del Norte in Colombia (N = 271) provided their sociodemographic data and completed the Three-Domain Disgust Scale (TDDS). Participants were randomised to different descriptions of someone with SMI that varied in terms of aggressiveness (with and without danger) and causes of the SMI. Then, following the attribution questionnaire (AQ-27), respondents reported affective and discriminatory responses to the person in the description. Results: Increased disgust sensitivity to pathogen stimuli resulted in stronger reports of anger (β =.14; p =.03), and fear (β = 0.27; p < 0.001). The relationship between disgust sensitivity and discriminatory responses was indirectly mediated by fear towards SMI (Bootstrapped CI =—.04,—.009). Dangerousness attributions in the description of SMI predicted stronger feelings of anger (β =.23; p = 0.001) and fear (β =.40; p <.001), as well increased support for coercion-segregation of SMI (β =.34; p = 0.04), but less intentions to help (β = -.26; p = 0.003). The relationship between dangerousness and support for coercion was mediated by fear (Bootstrapped CI =.72, 1.37) and anger (Bootstrapped CI =.06,.44), whereas pity (Bootstrapped CI =.03,.38) and fear (Bootstrapped CI = -1.39, -.69) mediated responses of support for coercion-segregation of SMI. Attributions about causes and personal responsibility were not significantly linked to stigma towards SMI (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Findings suggested that pathogen avoidance and danger appraisal systems interplay in the generation of discriminatory behaviour towards SMI. Anti-stigma programs and policy makers would benefit from introducing strategies that challenge stereotypes of dangerousness and unpredictability by promoting positive contact with people with SMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Duazary. Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud is the property of Universidad del Magdalena and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We analyze the role of the auditor in the contracts done in Valle del Cauca, in a period after the issuance of the Anti-Corruption Statute. A total of 64 Merit Contest contracts signed were reviewed. The study revealed that there is a variety in the scope of performance of the financial auditor in contracts with similar contractual objects, the gaps in the current legislation and inconsistencies in financial requirements. General recommendations are also included on appropriate procedures for contracting auditing. The role of the auditor in Colombia as overseer of the terms agreed in public infrastructure contracts is essential for the fulfillment of the contractual object. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Criterio Libre is the property of Revista Criterio Libre and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study describes the current state of research in the area of accounting education in Colombia. In recent years, research in this area has been acquiring great importance, formalizing an intellectual accounting structure from different points of view. For this purpose, a bibliometric study is carried out between the years 2000-2020, analyzing the production published in 42 journals registered in Publindex. As a result, 264 articles related to accounting education were identified; the journal with the highest number of published works is the Revista Contaduría Universidad de Antioquia. Likewise, it was determined that one author publishes 52% of the documents, and the participation of women in this area of knowledge is especially highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes the violence and epistemic injustices suffered by trans* women that can be traced in conventional statements of the medical, legal, and media discourses about the murder of trans* women; these statements reinforce each other perpetuating epistemic injustices against trans* women in Colombia. We will use Miranda Fricker's notion of epistemic injustice and the proposals of other contemporary authors such as Moira Pérez, Blas Radi, and Judith Butler and we will show how identity prejudices and the testimonial and hermeneutic injustice to which trans* femininities are exposed, imply marginalizing them through social practices of signification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suicide has increased close to 60% in the last four decades worldwide. In Colombia, during the year 2019, 10,9% of violent deaths were due to suicide. This study aimed to identify risk factors predicting repeated suicide attempts. It also aimed to describe the management of suicidal behaviour within an emergency department of Northern Colombia. Dataset comprised 336 medical records of individuals seeking medical assistance for intentional selfharm between 2008-2019; 136 medical records were associated with previously reported suicide attempts. Results from a multivariate logistic regression showed that suicide ideation and having a history of psychiatric disorders significantly predicted repeated suicide attempts. Furthermore, repeated attempts were more likely in underaged individuals and young adults. Management of patients engaging in suicidal behaviour involved hospitalization and outpatient mental health services. However, a few patients were sent home with recommendations or were noncompliant. Findings from this study highlight the importance to develop evidence-based screening and monitoring protocols that prevent repeated suicide attempts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Colombian Applied Linguistics Journal is the property of Colombian Applied Linguistics Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The environmental crisis involves several responsible parties, and industries are one of them. Therefore, it is important to interrelate the environment and economy to generate an environmental commitment by industries. Green accounting arises with the aims of providing quantitative and qualitative information on the company's environmental aspects. This paper describes the current state of green accounting in the leading mining companies in Colombia according to the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Colombia. Findings show that 80% of the selected mining companies integrate green accounting in their management system. However, the underlying procedures are not always put into practice. Therefore, accounting studies must lead to the development of an environmental accounting model and the implementation of mandatory regulations for green accounting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays there is very little information about the properties of the main vegetable fibers used in artisanal production in southern Colombia. The present comparative study analyzes the physical-chemical and mechanical properties of Fique (Furcraea macrophylla), Tetera (Stromanthe stromathoides or Stromanthe jacquinii), Totora (Schoenoplectus californicus) and Iraca or Toquilla Palm (Carludovica palmata), with the intention of identifying its strengths and weaknesses like an artisan raw material. The study found that fibers with higher elasticity such as Fique can be used for items such as clothing, while stronger fibers such as Tetera can be used to create items such as baskets that require more resistance to weight and rigidity. It was also found that Iraca and Totora could be better applied in the textile industry, and that the high moisture content in all fibers can affect their technological characteristics and the quality life cycle of artisan products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Justicia (0124-7441) is the property of Universidad Simon Bolivar and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Literatura y Lingüística is the property of Universidad Catolica Cardenal Raul Silva Henriquez and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The study of human-nature relationship has made possible to understand the life dynamics of the communities and the biodiversity with which they cohabit. Although there has been a rise of ethnobiological studies over the last decade, little is known about human interaction with herpetofauna in South America and Colombia. In this work, we analyzed the knowledge, perception, and interaction of a local community located in the forest reserve of Quininí (RFPCQ) in Cundinamarca (Colombia), concerning to the herpetofauna that inhabits the area. Methods: We performed semi-structured surveys containing 30 questions categorized into three groups: academic knowledge (1), use and cultural beliefs (2), and interactions (3) related to the herpetofauna that occurs in the region. The obtained data in question groups 1 and 2 are presented as a qualitative summary. For the question group 3, we assigned the answers to a hostility value according to the possible reaction of each individual interviewed in a hypothetical encounter with the herpetofauna and built tendency charts in order to see the positive or negative reactions due to the birthplace (urban/rural) and gender (male/female). Results: The community recognized the presence of amphibians and reptiles that cohabit their space, as well as their potential habitats. Besides, the role of herpetofauna was recognized in the magical/religious traditions for some inhabitants of the region, mainly associated with the fate and cure of chronic diseases. In general, the perception of amphibians and reptiles varied according to the origin and gender of the people, which tend to have a more positive perception of reptiles than compared to amphibians in most cases. Conclusions: Although there was a general lack of knowledge on the part of the inhabitants of the RFPCQ about the biological and ecological aspects of herpetofauna, the population recognized the basic information about the habitats of these animals within the reserve area. There is a wide variety of uses of amphibians and reptiles in traditional medicine. Greater efforts should be made in the transmission and dissemination of knowledge about the ecological functions of herpetofauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: this article is a Background Review that derives from an investigation and intervention with rural women in support of associative groups in the department of Nariño. It is, then, to analyze various experiences of rural women in Colombia about resistance practices that involve principles of government of the commons and that these associations are presented as resistance strategies for the claim of the identity of the rural women and their political positioning in the deconstruction of economic inequality and structural violence. Methodology: documentary review was applied in the main databases such as Ebosh, Proquest and Redylac, in order to collect updated information on the object of study, with quality criteria. Results: it was possible to synthesize three sections based on the material that was collected: 1) challenges of the peasants in the framework of the Havana agreements, 2) the associations of women farmers, 3) the ethical and political project of Social Work. Conclusions: it is concluded that, although the proposals had economic or memory senses, it is always necessary to have an integrative approach that puts the economic and the political perspective in a gender perspective in conversation with the cultural. From there, the reflexive praxis of the social worker must influence the construction of these associations in order to position women, especially in rural contexts still affected by violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the affective features of the linguistic attitudes of students from different geolectal areas of Colombia who attend to a university in Cali. This city is characterized by its cultural and dialectal plurality, partly due to forced migrations from armed conflict areas. In addition, in recent years, the Colombian State has boosted the access of top students to the university, mostly from rural areas. The diversity of uses of the language that students have built in their home contexts could get in tension with the dynamics of the college environment. From a mentalist perspective in which internal phenomena susceptible of self-observation prevail, it seeks to extrapolate the affective features of the linguistic attitudes of the population studied through a matched-guise and a questionnaire, instruments that inquire perceptions regarding five dialects very frequent used in the university. The results show different assessments of the dialects and an opinion on the Bogota accent as central, prestigious and standard, strongly associated with forms of academic orality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salmonella spp. prevails as the main cause of raw meat foodborne illnesses. Implementation of food safety management systems such as Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points in swine abattoirs can help to mitigate pathogen exposure. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the impact of the HACCP system in slaughterhouses in Colombia on reducing Salmonella spp. exposure due to the consumption of fresh pork meat. Two slaughtering plants with a different degree of HACCP implementation were selected and a quantitative microbiological mapping was built by collecting 820 samples of Salmonella spp. enumeration at different processing stages. The overall Salmonella spp. mean concentration was 1.15 ± 0.55 log MPN/g, with no significant differences among plants (P > 0.05). Deficiencies during carcass disinfection and temperature during distribution of meat cuts from the slaughterhouse lacking of HACCP resulted in a significant increase of Salmonella spp. prevalence (20–40%) (P < 0.05). Processing stages with the highest pathogen prevalence were transport (28–32%) and hanging (16–36%). The exposure assessment model estimated a higher degree of pathogen contamination at the time of consumption in meat cuts from the slaughterhouse without HACCP (3.36 versus 3.68 log MPN/g) and 10-fold increase in the probability a consumer would acquire a contaminated portion (0.011 versus 0.105). Implementation of the HACCP system in swine slaughterhouses represents tangible Salmonella spp. reduction control and public health protection measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species, Ateuchus tona, from the eastern Andes of Colombia is described and illustrated. The unique set of characters of this species, particularly the unusual sexual dimorphism in the sixth abdominal ventrite, which is largely expanded medially only in males, clearly separates this species from all other known species of Ateuchus. The species was found in 2004 during a single sampling event in a protected area. Since in Colombia most of the cloud forests are subject to extensive deforestation, additional sampling is needed to gather information about the species' conservation status. Additionally, two species, A. parvus and A. freudei, new to Colombia are presented rising the number of the Ateuchus species known for the country to eleven. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Cuadernos de Turismo is the property of Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Murcia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The objective of this investigation was to determine how the factors that influence the entrepreneurial intention (EI) in Colombia are associated and which of them are of greater relevance. The methodology that was used was descriptive with a correlational focus. This study was based on the Theory of Planned Behavior,, involving socioeconomic variables and the facility to do business according to Doing Business. To this end, an information collection instrument was used on a sample of 485 students enrolled in 36 Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree programs in Colombia. Data were processed using two statistic methods: Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) and Logistic Regression (LR). This research led to establish nine factors that characterize the Colombian entrepreneurial intention (EI) in MBA students in Colombia, from which three correspond to social norms, two of them are associated with attitudes, two of them belong to behavior control, and two others involving socioeconomic issues. Similarly, according to MCA, it was found that students with a higher EI are closely related with cities that have high and medium facilities to do business. This relationship may be based on the fact that the populations in which there are more opportunities to create companies have a more appropriate context that facilitates entrepreneurial activity. In conclusion, a higher entrepreneurial intention is determined by the combination of these variables, which in order of importance correspond to social norms, attitudes, and behavior control together with some socioeconomic issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Profile: Issues in Teachers' Professional Development is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Facultad de Ciencias Humanas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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Copyright of Revista de Ciencias is the property of Universidad del Valle and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article discusses habitability in ship design, citing the program initiated in Colombia by the Science and Technology Corporation for the Development of the Naval, Maritime and Riverine Industry (COTECMAR). It describes habitability as human-centered ship design focused on enhanced internal conditions for the comfort of people onboard. Discussed are the processes, challenges, and outcomes of the COTECMAR design program.