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Background: Sucrose accumulation in sugarcane is affected by several environmental and genetic factors, with plant moisture being of critical importance for its role in the synthesis and transport of sugars within the cane stalks, affecting the sucrose concentration. In general, rainfall and high soil humidity during the ripening stage promote plant growth, increasing the fresh weight and decreasing the sucrose yield in the humid region of Colombia. Therefore, this study aimed to identify markers associated with sucrose accumulation or production in the humid environment of Colombia through a genome-wide association study (GWAS). Results: Sucrose concentration measurements were taken in 220 genotypes from the Cenicaña's diverse panel at 10 (early maturity) and 13 (normal maturity) months after planting. For early maturity data was collected during plant cane and first ratoon, while at normal maturity it was during plant cane, first, and second ratoon. A total of 137,890 SNPs were selected after sequencing the 220 genotypes through GBS, RADSeq, and whole-genome sequencing. After GWAS analysis, a total of 77 markers were significantly associated with sucrose concentration at both ages, but only 39 were close to candidate genes previously reported for sucrose accumulation and/or production. Among the candidate genes, 18 were highlighted because they were involved in sucrose hydrolysis (SUS6, CIN3, CINV1, CINV2), sugar transport (i.e., MST1, MST2, PLT5, SUT4, ERD6 like), phosphorylation processes (TPS genes), glycolysis (PFP-ALPHA, HXK3, PHI1), and transcription factors (ERF12, ERF112). Similarly, 64 genes were associated with glycosyltransferases, glycosidases, and hormones. Conclusions: These results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in sucrose accumulation in sugarcane and contribute with important genomic resources for future research in the humid environments of Colombia. Similarly, the markers identified will be validated for their potential application within Cenicaña's breeding program to assist the development of breeding populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic and government responses led to a halt in economic activity. While this reduced pollution in urban areas, its effect on deforestation in areas outside of cities is unclear. Deforestation may have decreased due to the restrictions on economic activity, but, it may have increased due to the drying up of alternative income sources. We analyzed bi-weekly data on tropical forests worldwide in relation to the dates when different countries implemented lockdown restrictions. Our analysis found that while lockdowns did reduce mobility in forest municipalities, the average effect on deforestation was not significant. However, we did observe variations in the impact of lockdowns on deforestation based on the share of lockdown-vulnerable GDP and the level of government effectiveness. These results stand across tropical countries and within Colombia. These findings highlight the importance of alternative income sources and strong state capacity for effective policies aimed at reducing deforestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite Arthropoda being a major animal taxon, it is underrepresented in South American scientific publications. Here, we present the results of a bibliometric analysis of published studies on insects and arachnids in Colombia to understand the general patterns of knowledge of both taxa across this megadiverse country. We compiled 3119 studies on insects and 353 on arachnids published between 1918 and 2019 in more than 600 journals. Research on both insects and arachnids reflects the effort done by researchers working in Colombian institutions, but because publications are mainly domestic, their international impact is limited. The studies included 19 taxonomic orders of insects and 72 families of arachnids with a bias toward a few well-studied taxa like Diptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Araneidae, and Salticidae, while the majority of taxa are understudied. The geographic coverage of the studies was broad and includes Colombia's 32 departments, but their distribution was heterogeneous being the Andean region the most studied, while the Caribbean and Orinoquia regions could be considered knowledge gaps. Considering our analysis, we give recommendations to expand and advance the knowledge of Colombian insects and arachnids, a major scientific enterprise in which collaboration among researchers from different institutions is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trypanosoma cruzi causes Chagas disease and has a unique extranuclear genome enclosed in a structure called the kinetoplast, which contains circular genomes known as maxi- and minicircles. While the structure and function of maxicircles are well-understood, many aspects of minicircles remain to be discovered. Here, we performed a high-throughput analysis of the minicirculome (mcDNA) in 50 clones isolated from Colombia's diverse T. cruzi I populations. Results indicate that mcDNA comprises four diverse subpopulations with different structures, lengths, and numbers of interspersed semi-conserved (previously termed ultra-conserved regions mHCV) and hypervariable (mHVPs) regions. Analysis of mcDNA ancestry and inter-clone differentiation indicates the interbreeding of minicircle sequence classes is placed along diverse strains and hosts. These results support evidence of the multiclonal dynamics and random bi-parental segregation. Finally, we disclosed the guide RNA repertoire encoded by mcDNA at a clonal scale, and several attributes of its abundance and function are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista U.D.C.A Actualidad & Divulgación Científica is the property of Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales U.D.C.A 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.)

Patients with cancer have a higher risk of severe bacterial infections. This study aims to determine the frequency, susceptibility profiles, and resistance genes of bacterial species involved in bacteremia, as well as risk factors associated with mortality in cancer patients in Colombia. In this prospective multicenter cohort study of adult patients with cancer and bacteremia, susceptibility testing was performed and selected resistance genes were identified. A multivariate regression analysis was carried out for the identification of risk factors for mortality. In 195 patients, 206 microorganisms were isolated. Gram-negative bacteria were more frequently found, in 142 cases (68.9%): 67 Escherichia coli (32.5%), 36 Klebsiella pneumoniae (17.4%), and 21 Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10.1%), and 18 other Gram-negative isolates (8.7%). Staphylococcus aureus represented 12.4% (n = 25). Among the isolates, resistance to at least one antibiotic was identified in 63% of them. Genes coding for extended-spectrum beta-lactamases and carbapenemases, blaCTX-M and blaKPC, respectively, were commonly found. Mortality rate was 25.6% and it was lower in those with adequate empirical antibiotic treatment (22.0% vs. 45.2%, OR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.1–0.63, in the multivariate model). In Colombia, in patients with cancer and bacteremia, bacteria have a high resistance profile to beta-lactams, with a high incidence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases and carbapenemases. Adequate empirical treatment diminishes mortality, and empirical selection of treatment in this environment of high resistance is of key importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria remains a significant public health problem worldwide, particularly in low-income regions with limited access to healthcare. Despite the use of antimalarial drugs, transmission remains an issue in Colombia, especially among indigenous populations in remote areas. In this study, we used an SIR Ross MacDonald model that considered land use change, temperature, and precipitation to analyze eco epidemiological parameters and the impact of time lags on malaria transmission in La Pedrera—Amazonas municipality. We found changes in land use between 2007 and 2020, with increases in forested areas, urban infrastructure and water edges resulting in a constant increase in mosquito carrying capacity. Temperature and precipitation variables exhibited a fluctuating pattern that corresponded to rainy and dry seasons, respectively and a marked influence of the El Niño climatic phenomenon. Our findings suggest that elevated precipitation and temperature increase malaria infection risk in the following 2 months. The risk is influenced by the secondary vegetation and urban infrastructure near primary forest formation or water body edges. These results may help public health officials and policymakers develop effective malaria control strategies by monitoring precipitation, temperature, and land use variables to flag high-risk areas and critical periods, considering the time lag effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversification of agricultural and livestock production matrixes has the potential to generate value-added products in industrial and promising crops. Specifically, the countries in the Amazon basin have in the Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) a species oriented toward market niches such as food, oils, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and biofuels, whose exploitation and use are aligned with the bioeconomy and circular economy megatrends. The aim of this publication was to identify and analyze the evolution of scientific and technological research in the Sacha Inchi value chain worldwide, based on a methodological design that combines technological intelligence, the analysis of scientific landscapes and bibliometric indicators and content analysis, to establish a baseline for the identification of key elements for the design of an agro-industrial production model. The methodology includes the integration of surveillance and scientific intelligence methods, scientometrics, and critical analysis of key documents selected through bibliometric indicators and expert judgment. The analysis made it possible to identify the research development lines in Sacha Inchi worldwide, and the reference documents that comprise key elements of the activities from cultivation to processing of the product obtained. The basic investigations identified will contribute to the development of productive models of Sacha Inchi in Colombia, where technical aspects must be adapted or validated in suitable agroecological zones or with productive potential to improve the yield and quality of seed for agroindustry. Medium-term research is required to genetically identify the planting material, to facilitate the selection of materials oriented to the production of fruits with the quality required by the agroindustry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia 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.)

This article demonstrates the possibility of producing hybrid cementitious materials (pastes, mortars, concretes, and precast elements) based on fly ash (FA) and construction and demolition wastes (CDW) using alkaline activation technology. Sodium sulfate was used as an activator and fine and coarse aggregates were obtained from CDW residues. An addition of Portland cement (OPC) (10 to 30%) allowed for improvement in the mechanical behavior of the hybrid cements and them to be cured at room temperature (25 °C). The FA and CDW cementitious materials obtained compressive strengths of 37 MPa and 32 MPa, respectively. The compressive strength of FA and CDW alkali-activated concretes at 28 days of curing was 22 MPa and 18 MPa, respectively, which identifies them as structural concretes according to NSR-10 title C in Colombia. The potential use of these concretes was validated by obtaining and classifying precast materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report an acute Chagas disease outbreak among soldiers in Colombia. Trypanosoma cruzi infection was confirmed through parasitology, serology, and molecular methods. Among 9 affected soldiers, 2 died; 7 were hospitalized and received benznidazole treatment, which produced favorable outcomes. Personnel patrolling rural areas in Colombia could be at increased risk for Chagas disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Jangwa Pana is the property of Revista Jangwa Pana 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 species Zanthoxylum caribaeum belongs to the Rutaceae family, from which several chemical nuclei are known, including alkaloids and coumarins. In addition, its essential oil has been characterized, showing differences in composition and various antimicrobial activities. In the present study, the essential oil of Z. caribaeum collected in the department of Tolima, central Colombia, was characterized by gas chromatography with mass selective detector (GC-MS). The essential oil showed a composition of about 43 compounds (including major and minor), whose main components, according to their abundance, are the following: germacrene D (228.0 ± 1.6 mg/g EO), (E)-β-farnesene (128.0 ± 1.5 mg/g EO), β-elemene (116.0 ± 1.6 mg/g EO) and (E)-nerolidol (74.0 ± 2.2 mg/g EO). This oil was tested against microorganisms that affect cocoa production in Colombia and in tropical countries where the production of this commodity is very important for the economy. The antifungal tests were performed on the fungal species Moniliophthora roreri and showed promising and significant activity, inhibiting growth by more than 95% at concentrations of 50 µL/mL and 100 µL/mL. This remarkable antifungal activity could be due to the presence of major and minor compounds that synergistically enhance the activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cultura del Cuidado Enfermería is the property of Revista Cultura del Cuidado Enfermeria 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 Revista de la Facultad de Derecho y Ciencias Políticas is the property of Revista Faculdad de Derecho y Ciencias Politicas 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 impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health of adolescents are emerging and require particular attention in settings where challenges like armed conflict, poverty and internal displacement have previously affected their mental wellbeing. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anxiety symptoms, depressive symptomatology, probable post-traumatic stress disorder and resilience in school-attending adolescents in a post-conflict area of Tolima, Colombia during the COVID-19. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 657 adolescents from 12 to 18 years old, recruited by convenience sampling in 8 public schools in the south of Tolima, Colombia, who completed a self-administered questionnaire. Mental health information was obtained through screening scales for anxiety symptoms (GAD-7), depressive symptomatology (PHQ-8), probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PCL-5) and resilience (CD-RISC-25). The prevalence observed for moderate to severe anxiety symptoms was 18.9% (95% CI 16.0–22.1) and for moderate to severe depressive symptomatology was 30.0% (95% CI 26.5–33.7). A prevalence of probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) of 22.3% (95% CI 18.1–27.2) was found. The CD-RISC-25 results for resilience had a median score of 54 [IQR 30]. These results suggest that approximately two-thirds of school-attending adolescents in this post-conflict area experienced at least one mental health problem such as anxiety symptoms, depressive symptomatology or probable PTSD during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future studies are of interest to establish the causal relationship between these findings and the impact of the pandemic. These findings highlight the challenge that schools have after pandemic to address the mental health of their students in order to promoting adequate coping strategies and implement prompt multidisciplinary interventions to reduce the burden of mental health problems in adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants of the genus Scutellaria (Lamiaceae) have a wide variety of bioactive secondary metabolites with diverse biological properties, e.g., anti-inflammatory, antiallergenic, antioxidant, antiviral, and antitumor activities. The chemical composition of the hydroethanolic extracts, obtained from dried plants of S. incarnata, S. coccinea, and S. ventenatii × S. incarnata, was determined by UHPLC/ESI-Q-Orbitrap-MS. The flavones were found in a higher proportion. Baicalin and dihydrobaicalein-glucuronide were the major extract components in S. incarnata (287.127 ± 0.005 mg/g and 140.18 ± 0.07 mg/g), in S. coccinea (158.3 ± 0.34 mg/g and 51.20 ± 0.02 mg/g), and in S. ventenatii × S. incarnata (186.87 ± 0.01 mg/g and 44.89 ± 0.06 mg/g). The S. coccinea extract showed the highest antioxidant activity in the four complementary techniques employed to evaluate all extracts: ORAC (3828 ± 3.0 µmol Trolox®/g extract), ABTS+• (747 ± 1.8 µmol Trolox®/g extract), online HPLC-ABTS+• (910 ± 1.3 µmol Trolox®/g extract), and β-carotene (74.3 ± 0.8 µmol Trolox®/g extract). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia 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.)

Population subdivision among several neotropical malaria vectors has been widely evaluated; however, few studies have analyzed population variation at a microgeographic scale, wherein local environmental variables may lead to population differentiation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the genetic and geometric morphometric structure of Anopheles nuneztovari and Anopheles albimanus in endemic localities of northwestern Colombia. Genetic and phenetic structures were evaluated using microsatellites markers and wing geometric morphometrics, respectively. In addition, entomological indices of importance in transmission were calculated. Results showed that the main biting peaks of Anopheles nuneztovari were between 20:00 and 22:00, whereas Anopheles albimanus exhibited more variation in biting times among localities. Infection in An. nuneztovari by Plasmodium spp. (IR: 4.35%) and the annual entomological inoculation rate (30.31), indicated high vector exposure and local transmission risk. We did not detect Plasmodium-infected An. albimanus in this study. In general, low genetic and phenetic subdivision among the populations of both vectors was detected using a combination of phenotypic, genetic and environmental data. The results indicated high regional gene flow, although local environmental characteristics may be influencing the wing conformation differentiation and behavioral variation observed in An. albimanus. Furthermore, the population subdivision detected by microsatellite markers for both species by Bayesian genetic analysis provides a more accurate picture of the current genetic structure in comparison to previous studies. Finally, the biting behavior variation observed for both vectors among localities suggests the need for continuous malaria vector surveys covering the endemic region to implement the most effective integrated local control interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problems of artisanal brick production in Colombia are diverse and environmental, technical, economic, and social criteria that influence the development of this economic activity can be appreciated. For this purpose, an exploration of the existing brick kiln technologies was carried out through a hierarchical analysis of processes-AHP, a study of physical ergonomics, a study related to the allocation and layout, and finally, a simulation of the production process to generate the design of a new production plant. Very high levels of postural risk were found in the case of brick loading (REBA=11) and high in the case of Molding and Drying (REBA=10). Based on the Systematic Layout Planning (SLP) method, the new layout suggests a U-shaped orientation and the simulation has shown that the new plant will be able to manufacture 55 batches of 12,000 bricks per year with annual revenues of more than COP$264,000,000, which represents an internal rate of returnon-investment IRR of 16.71%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To assess antibiotic susceptibility of World Health Organization (WHO) priority bacteria (Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae) in blood cultures at the Orinoquía regional hospital in Colombia. Methods. This was cross-sectional study using routine laboratory data for the period 2019--2021. Data on blood samples from patients suspected of a bloodstream infection were examined. We determined: the total number of blood cultures done and the proportion with culture yield; the characteristics of patients with priority bacteria; and the type of bacteria isolated and antibiotic resistance patterns. Results. Of 25 469 blood cultures done, 1628 (6%) yielded bacteria; 774 (48%) of these bacteria were WHO priority pathogens. Most of the priority bacteria isolated (558; 72%) were gram-negative and 216 (28%) were gram-positive organisms. Most patients with priority bacteria (666; 86%) were hospitalized in wards other than the intensive care unit, 427 (55%) were male, and 321 (42%) were ≥ 60 years of age. Of the 216 gram-positive bacteria isolated, 205 (95%) were Staphylococcus aureus. Of the 558 gram-negative priority bacteria isolated, the three most common were Escherichia coli (34%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (28%), and Acinetobacter baumannii (20%). The highest resistance of Staphylococcus aureus was to oxacillin (41%). For gram-negative bacteria, resistance to antibiotics ranged from 4% (amikacin) to 72% (ampicillin). Conclusions. Bacterial yield from blood cultures was low and could be improved. WHO priority bacteria were found in all hospital wards. This calls for rigorous infection prevention and control standards and continued surveillance of antibiotic resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to confirm the internal structure of the Environmental Reward Observation Scale (EROS) and to collect evidence of its relationship with other constructs in a Colombian sample of 902 adults who voluntarily consented to participate. Method: Psychometric analyses were performed using Classical Test Theory and the Rasch model. Evidence of validity based on internal structure and relations of scores with other variables was collected. Results: Good indexes were obtained in McDonald's Alpha and Omega coefficients, 9 of the 10 items had good adjustments in the Infit and Outfit indexes, and item 8 presented DIF in the educational level. The unidimensional structure of the EROS was confirmed and was invariant with respect to sex and educational level. Scores had high magnitude correlations with emotional symptomatology and variables related to Behavioral Activation. Conclusions: The EROS presented high psychometric qualities for its use in the Colombian population; however, its use is recommended only for screening assessment because the levels of information are centered in a reduced area along the Logit scaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article points out the benefits of free competition for the agenda of the current national government. It examines the possible role of the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce in achieving policy objectives such as economic, social, and environmental justice. It first synthesizes the pillars of the transformation blocks proposed by the government and then shows that adequate enforcement of competition policy contributes to achieving some social goals such as equitable distribution of resources, equality, promotion of an economy integrated by small and mediumsized enterprises, and improvement of the quality of life of the population. It then argues that the rigorous application of the competition regime is fundamental to maintain the direction of the country's economic agenda in the next four years and some reflections derived from the analysis are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Estudios Socio-Jurídicos is the property of Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Senora del Rosario 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 International Journal of Education & Health (IJEH) / Revista Internacional de Educação e Saúde is the property of Revista Internacional de Educacao e Saude 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 Signos is the property of Universidad Santo Tomas 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: Colombia has a long history of an armed conflict that has severely affected communities with forced internal displacement and violence. Victims of violence and armed conflicts have higher rates of mental health disorders, and children and adolescents are particularly affected. However, the mental health needs of this population are often overlooked, especially in low- and middle-Income countries, where scarcity of resources exacerbates the problem that has been further compounded by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, special attention should be paid to the development of interventions that target this population. Objective: Our research aims to adapt an existing patient-centered digital intervention called DIALOG+ from a clinical setting to an educational setting using stakeholders' (teachers'and students') perspectives. We aim to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and estimated effect of implementing this intervention as a tool for the identification and mobilization of personal and social resources to mitigate the impact of social difficulties and to promote mental well-being. Methods: We will conduct an exploratory mixed methods study in public schools of postconflict areas in Tolima, Colombia. The study consists of 3 phases: adaptation, exploration, and consolidation of the DIALOG+ tool. The adaptation phase will identify possible changes that the intervention requires on the basis of data from focus groups with teachers and students. The exploration phase will be an exploratory cluster randomized trial with teachers and school counselors to assess the acceptability, feasibility, and estimated effect of DIALOG+ for adolescents in school settings. Adolescents' data about mental health symptoms and wellness will be collected before and after DIALOG+ implementation. During this phase, teachers or counselors who were part of the intervention group will share their opinions through the think-aloud method. Lastly, the consolidation phase will consist of 2 focus groups with teachers and students to discuss their experiences and to understand acceptability. Results: Study recruitment was completed in March 2022, and follow-up is anticipated to last through November 2022. Conclusions: This exploratory study will evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and estimated effect of DIALOG+ for adolescents in postconflict school settings in Colombia. The use of this technology-supported tool aims to support interactions between teachers or counselors and students and to provide an effective student-centered communication guide. This is an innovative approach in both the school and the postconflict contexts that could help improve the mental health and wellness of adolescents in vulnerable zones in Colombia. Subsequent studies will be needed to evaluate the effectiveness of DIALOG+ in an educational context as a viable option to reduce the gap and inequities of mental health care access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has affected the geographical distributions of most species worldwide; in particular, insects of economic importance inhabiting tropical regions have been impacted. Current and future predictions of change in geographic distribution are frequently included in species distribution models (SDMs). The potential spatial distributions of the fruit fly Anastrepha striata Schiner, the main species of agricultural importance in guava crops, under current and possible future scenarios in Colombia were modeled, and the establishment risk was assessed for each guava-producing municipality in the country. SDMs were developed using 221 geographical records in conjunction with nine scenopoetic variables. The model for current climate conditions indicated an extensive suitable area for the establishment of A. striata in the Andean region, smaller areas in the Caribbean and Pacific, and almost no areas in the Orinoquia and Amazonian regions. A brief discussion regarding the area's suitability for the fly is offered. According to the results, altitude is one of the main factors that direct the distribution of A. striata in the tropics. The Colombian guava-producing municipalities were classified according to the degree of vulnerability to fly establishment as follows: 42 were high risk, 16 were intermediate risk, and 17 were low risk. The implementation of future integrated management plans must include optimal spatial data and must consider environmental aspects, such as those suggested by the models presented here. Control decisions should aim to mitigate the positive relationship between global warming and the increase in the dispersal area of the fruit fly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chagas disease is considered a public health issue in Colombia, where many regions are endemic. Triatoma dimidiata is an important vector after Rhodnius prolixus, and it is gaining importance in Boyacá, eastern Colombia. Following the recent elimination of R. prolixus in the region, it is pivotal to understand the behavior of T. dimidiata and the transmission dynamics of T. cruzi. We used qPCR and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to evaluate T. cruzi infection, parasite load, feeding profiles, and T. cruzi genotyping for T. dimidiata specimens collected in nine municipalities in Boyacá and explored T. dimidiata population genetics. We found that T. dimidiata populations are composed by a single population with similar genetic characteristics that present infection rates up to 70%, high parasite loads up to 1.46 × 109 parasite-equivalents/mL, a feeding behavior that comprises at least 17 domestic, synanthropic and sylvatic species, and a wide diversity of TcI genotypes even within a single specimen. These results imply that T. dimidiata behavior is similar to other successful vectors, having a wide variety of blood sources and contributing to the circulation of different genotypes of the parasite, highlighting its importance for T. cruzi transmission and risk for humans. In the light of the elimination of R. prolixus in Boyacá and the results we found, we suggest that T. dimidiata should become a new target for vector control programs. We hope this study provides enough information to enhance surveillance programs and a future effective interruption of T. cruzi vector transmission in endemic regions. Author summary: Chagas disease is a complex zoonotic infection caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. This pathology is endemic in the Americas and causes a tremendous burden in terms of public health. The feces of triatomine bugs mainly transmit this parasite. A massive diversity of triatomines can be found in the north of South America, where Rhodnius is considered the most epidemiologically relevant genus. However, government efforts have attempted to control the vector transmission of specific regions. That is the case of Boyaca in eastern Colombia, which has several municipalities certified as free of R. prolixus transmission of the parasite. However, other species such as Triatoma dimidiata can occupy the left niche due to R. prolixus elimination. We explored the infection rate, parasite load, feeding preferences, and T. cruzi diversity in T. dimidiata specimens collected in municipalities with no R. prolixus infestation. Our results highlight the preponderant need for increasing serological surveillance and prevention in those communities due to the risk of a plausible reactivation of T. cruzi vector transmission due to T. dimidiata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article was to establish the association between exposure to particulate matter and respiratory symptoms evaluated in students who remain in schools at the municipality of Guachetá (Colombia). This is a cross-sectional study conducted on children between 4 and 17 years old, in two schools in the municipality of Guachetá. During a period of 11 consecutive working days, using a personal sampling pump and a low-cost real-time sensor, concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 were measured. A survey was applied to a sample of 276 students, obtaining respiratory symptoms and general data. A prevalence ratio (PR) was estimated to show the possible association between exposure to particulate matter and respiratory symptoms. The school with the highest concentrations of particulate matter presented a possible association with all the respiratory symptoms evaluated in the school facilities, with a PR of 3.05 (95%CI:1.62-5.76) for cough, 1.85 (95%CI:1.06-3.24) for phlegm, 5.12 (95%CI:2.17-12.07) for shortness of breath, 3.83 (95%CI:2.07-7.10) for sneezing and 2.25 (95%CI:1.12-4.54) for dry nasal passages. In conclusion, children who are located in the school closest to a coke furnace and disrepair roads where heavy traffic circulates, are possibly associated with the presence of respiratory symptoms during their stay in the school facilities. For living in the urban area, cooking with firewood or charcoal, and living with smokers at home, a possible association with the evaluated respiratory symptoms was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper estimates the Laffer curve through a comparative statical analysis and an econometric exercise. Starting from a microeconomic specification, it first analyzes the distortion caused by an indirect tax and the welfare implications of maximizing tax collection. Then, using data on real per capita tax revenue and the tax rate, an estimate of an econometric model to calculate the optimal tax rate in Colombia is made. The results show that Laffer's postulates are proven with an optimal rate of 32% and suggest that the government has a margin of almost 12 percentage points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple efforts have been performed worldwide around diverse aspects of land administration. However, land administration data and systems' notorious heterogeneity remains a longstanding challenge to develop a harmonized vision. In this sense, the traditional Spatial Data Infrastructures adoption is not enough to overcome this challenge since data sources' heterogeneity implies needs related to harmonization interoperability, sharing, and integration in land administration development. This paper proposes a graph-based representation of knowledge for integrating multiple and heterogeneous data sources (tables, shapefiles, geodatabases, and WFS services) belonging to two Colombian agencies within a decentralized land administration scenario. These knowledge graphs are developed on an ontology-based knowledge representation using national and international standards for land administration. Our approach aims to prevent data isolation, enable cross-datasets integration, accomplish machine-processable data, and facilitate the reuse and exploitation of multi-jurisdictional datasets in a single approach. A real case study demonstrates the applicability of the land administration data cycle deployed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia 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.)

Latin America has suffered disproportionately during the COVID-19 pandemic. The human impact has been chaotically and catastrophically evident across the three countries we examine here: Colombia, Chile, and México. Those nations were already creaking under the effect of generations of neoliberal ideology: their intellectual, political, and ruling-class fractions had long-embraced its core project of redistributing income upwards and privatizing public goods, notably healthcare. In response to that raging inequality, uprisings had occurred through new citizen movements in 2019. They intensified in 2020 and 2021, as citizenship was enacted in powerful ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Currently, there is a worldwide health crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic; consequently, it is necessary to find effective vaccines in order to immunize the population and prevent the transmission of the disease. Likewise, it is important to know vaccine progress and efficacy research, mainly in Latin American countries where no studies have been conducted yet to know the scientific production on COVID-19. METHODS: A retrospective and descriptive study was carried out and COVID-19 vaccine publications in Scopus-indexed journals were considered as a unit of analysis for the period between 2020 and June 2021, with authors affiliated to Latin American institutions. Results: We found 141 published Scopus-indexed COVID-19 vaccine articles with authors affiliated to Latin American institutions. Brazil has the highest scientific production with 33.33%, followed by Mexico, Colombia, Argentina and Chile. Regarding productivity by institution, 137 international institutions have participated in the Latin American COVID-19 vaccine production. The journals with the highest number of published articles are Vaccines and Vaccine. Both journals are located in Q1 of the SJR. The most frequently used descriptor was coronavirus disease 2019. CONCLUSION: The Latin American scientific production on COVID-19 vaccines included 141 published Scopus-indexed articles. Likewise, Brazil is the Latin American country with the highest scientific production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Diasporus is described from the lowlands of southwestern Colombia. The new species exhibits a yellowish coloration in life, a character that it shares with other three species in the genus-Diasporus citrinobapheus, D. gularis, and D. tigrillo. The new species differs from all other congeners in having two chrome orange spots (=glandlike protrusions) on sacral region, smooth ventral skin, basal webbing between the toes, and distal papillae at tips of disc covers on fingers II-IV and toes II-IV. Further, the new species differs from all congeners by an uncorrected p-distance of > 5.56% of the 16S rRNA gene fragment examined. In addition to the new species described herein, we demonstrated that the possession of a yellowish coloration in life optimizes unambiguously as a synapomorphy of a clade within Diasporus, which may be recognized as the Diasporus diastema species group. We also discussed the phylogenetic significance of two morphological characters previously considered of systematic value in Diasporus, the occurrence of oval palmar tubercles (undivided) and longitudinal folds (of the vocal sacs) on the throat. On this basis, we demonstrated that these characters appear to be symplesiomorphies rather than synapomorphies of Diasporus. Regarding pointed disc covers (ungual flap) present in some species of Diasporus, we show that this character conflates various characters, involving variation in pad shape, dorsal outline of the disc (ungual flap), and dependence between discs of different digits. Finally, considering that phenotypic data are a valuable source of evidence in testing phylogenetic hypotheses of terraranan frogs, we encourage future research to incorporate phenotypic evidence into phylogenetic studies involved in the genus Diasporus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To categorise and map, at high resolution, the risk of malaria incidence in the Pacific region, the main malaria-endemic region of Colombia.Methods: The relationship between the environmental variables Normalized Difference Vegetation Index Normalized Difference Water Index, Topographic Wetness Index, precipitation and temperature with the observed Annual Parasitic Index was evaluated using a generalised linear model. An incidence risk map at a resolution of 1 km2 was constructed and projected to the entire endemic region. Associations of malaria risk categories with both presence records and co-occurrence of the three main malaria vectors were determined.Results: A significant correlation was found for the incidence of malaria with precipitation and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (R2  = 0.98, P < 0.05), whereas there was no significant correlation with the remaining environmental and topographic variables. Moderate- to high-risk areas were located mainly in central Chocó Department along the San Juan and Atrato rivers and in areas west of the Cauca River and Pacific lowlands of the Andes Mountains. There was a statistically significant relationship for the presence of the two main vectors Anopheles darlingi and Anopheles nuneztovari with the high malaria risk category. Furthermore, malaria risk was directly proportional to the number of co-occurring vector species.Conclusions: The map obtained provides useful information on the risk of malaria in particular places of the Colombian Pacific region. The data can be used by public entities to optimise the allocation of economic resources for vector control interventions and surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the existing fundamental niche, potential distribution and degree of niche overlap for the three main Colombian malaria vectors Anopheles albimanus, Anopheles darlingi and Anopheles nuneztovari in the major malaria endemic Pacific region.Methods: We used models based on presence records and Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data, created using the maximum entropy algorithm.Results: The three vector species occupied heterogeneous environments, and their NDVI values differed. Anopheles albimanus had the largest niche amplitude and was distributed mainly on coastal areas. Environmentally suitable areas for An. albimanus and An. nuneztovari were the dry forest of inter-Andean Valleys in south-western Colombia, as confirmed for An. albimanus during model validation. There was a slight degree of niche overlap between An. darlingi and An. nuneztovari, and the species co-occurred in humid forests, predominantly in riparian zones of the San Juan and Atrato rivers.Conclusion: The information obtained may be used for the implementation of vector control interventions in selected priority areas to reduce malaria risk in this region while optimising resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Pedagogía y Saberes is the property of Universidad Pedaggica Nacional 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 describe the structure of the Ithomiini butterfly community in a tropical dry forest fragment in the Río Cauca Valley, Colombia. We assessed the impact of two climatic seasons on their abundance, and used wing condition to estimate age structure. We recorded 11 species in six months (March to August, 2019). The most abundant species were Mechanitis menapis, Mechanitis polymnia and Tithorea harmonia, accounting for 85 % of the relative abundance; there were no significant changes in abundance patterns, when compared with previous studies. In both cases, the correlation between climate factors and butterfly abundance is significant. Species turnover was not affected by climatic season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vocational training evaluations focus on trainees' earnings. This focus may understate these programs' benefits if training improves participants' and relatives' educational attainment. We use Colombian administrative data and a randomization design to examine the long-term employment and education impacts on trainees and their relatives. Eleven years after randomization, trainees increased higher education enrollments, and their relatives increased secondary school attainment. Training helped relax credit constraints for women, while improving field-specific knowledge for men. Including improved education impacts from training increases the program's estimated internal rate of return from 22.2 percent to 24.1 percent for females and from 10.2 percent to 25.5 percent for males. [End Page 178] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista CES Derecho is the property of Universidad CES 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 Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is an emerging public health problem. This study explores the specifics of CRKP epidemiology in Colombia based on whole genome sequencing (WGS) of the National Reference Laboratory at Instituto Nacional de Salud (INS)'s 2013–2017 sample collection. Methods A total of 425 CRKP isolates from 21 departments were analyzed by HiSeq-X10®Illumina high-throughput sequencing. Bioinformatic analysis was performed, primarily using the pipelines developed collaboratively by the National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Unit (GHRU) on Genomic Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), and AGROSAVIA. Results Of the 425 CRKP isolates, 91.5% were carbapenemase-producing strains. The data support a recent expansion and the endemicity of CRKP in Colombia with the circulation of 7 high-risk clones, the most frequent being CG258 (48.39% of isolates). We identified genes encoding carbapenemases bla KPC-3, bla KPC-2, bla NDM-1, bla NDM-9, bla VIM-2, bla VIM-4, and bla VIM-24, and various mobile genetic elements (MGE). The virulence of CRKP isolates was low, but colibactin (clb3) was present in 25.2% of isolates, and a hypervirulent CRKP clone (CG380) was reported for the first time in Colombia. ST258, ST512, and ST4851 were characterized by low levels of diversity in the core genome (ANI > 99.9%). Conclusions The study outlines complex CRKP epidemiology in Colombia. CG258 expanded clonally and carries specific carbapenemases in specific MGEs, while the other high-risk clones (CG147, CG307, and CG152) present a more diverse complement of carbapenemases. The specifics of the Colombian situation stress the importance of WGS-based surveillance to monitor evolutionary trends of sequence types (STs), MGE, and resistance and virulence genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The creation of the abbreviated special criminal process in Colombia, with Law 1826 of 2017, represents an initiative that was necessary in national legislature, since it addresses the high levels of congestion in the judicial system. Within this abbreviated criminal process in the private accuser - which corresponds to other figures of international law, through which the accuser can help the prosecutor's office to advance the investigation and accusation of the punishable act. Through a comparative qualitative methodology, this report exposes the particularities of the figure of the private accuser in Colombian legislation, to later compare it with the figures of the private complainant and the adjunct complainant of Peru and Guatemala, respectively. In order to explore their powers, applicability, procedures and effectiveness within each legislation, to examine if their application really allows a better judicial procedure in the three countries where they are applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to identify compositional changes in the intestinal microbiota of parasitized hosts is important for understanding the physiological processes that may affect animal productivity. Within the field of host–parasite interactions, many studies have suggested that helminths can influence the microbial composition of their hosts via their immunomodulatory effects. Bovine fascioliasis is a helminthiasis widely studied by immunologists, but with little information available regarding gut microbial communities. Thus, we aimed to describe the composition of the intestinal microbiota of Holstein Fasciola-positive and -negative cattle using parasitological methods and ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Bovine fecal samples (n = 65) were obtained from livestock slaughter plants in the Cundi-Boyacense Colombian highlands (a hyperendemic region for bovine fascioliasis) and studied by amplicon-based next-generation 16S-rRNA and 18S-rRNA gene sequencing. From these samples, 35 were Fasciola hepatica-negative and, 30 were F. hepatica-positive in our detection analysis. Our results showed a reduction in the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Ascomycota in the Fasciola-positive samples, along with decreased relative abundances of the commensal taxa previously associated with fermentation and digestion processes. However, metabolomic approaches and functional analyzes of the intestinal microbiota are necessary to support this hypothesis. These findings are a small first step in the development of research aimed at understanding how microbial populations in bovines are modulated in liver helminth infections. Author summary: Fasciola hepatica, a liver parasite, infects a wide variety of hosts, mostly ruminants. Ruminant infections with this parasite cause economic losses worldwide, mainly in livestock. Given its importance, much research has been carried out on this parasite, a lot of which has focused on its ability to alter the immune responses of its host. However, little is known about the numerous other interactions it has with the host and how they might affect the host's intestinal microbiota. Here, we observed a reduction in the abundance of microorganisms associated with the fermentation and digestion of vegetable fiber, two important processes in animal health and productivity. Therefore, it is possible that F. hepatica, in addition to the previously documented liver alterations, also generates changes in the intestinal microbiota that may impact its bovine host. These findings are a small first step in the research of microbial populations in cattle infected with liver helminths which open the door to further research aimed at identifying alternative treatments for parasites such as F. hepatica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the mechanical design of a single axis solar tracking system, as well as the electronic design of a system that to record in real time the electric power delivered by the solar tracker and to evaluate its performance. The interface was developed in Labview and it compares the power supplied by the tracker with the power supplied by static solar panel of the same characteristics. The performance is initially simulated using Pv-Syst software, and later validated with the data obtained by the interface. As a result, the use of the solar tracker increases the power delivered by a minimum of 19%, and it can go as high as 47.84%, with an average in increase in power of 19.5% in the monthly energy production. This experimental result was compared with the simulation by Pv-Syst software and shows a difference of only 2.5%, thus validating the reliability of the simulation. This behavior pattern coincides with previous studies carried out for equatorial latitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Decent work is not only a concept that has become increasingly entrenched as part of the problem of employment and its characteristics but has become part of it because by lacking these conditions employment may have views of precariousness as argued by the ILO (International Labour Organization). Outsourcing in both Colombia and Mexico is a practice that has grown as a model of procurement, with benefits in terms of lower labour costs for businesses, as well as a competitive advantage, because through it greater specialization can be achieved to improve business productivity, however, it is also problematic to the extent that it upsets traditional industrial relations, which makes it relevant to ask about how job outsourcing is or does not undermine what the ILO has defined as decent work. Objective. Determine the implications of outsourcing on decent work. Materials and Methods. In this quantitative investigation, we have given ourselves to the task, through the application to outsourced workers (of Entities of Medellin in Colombia and Michoacán in Mexico) of a structured instrument based on dimensions with the approach that several authors consider in relation to the measurement of decent work, to find out whether the characteristics under which this contract is given, provide the necessary variables to be considered as decent employment. The study defined 9 dimensions and 36 items for determining the implications of outsourcing or outsourcing on decent work, in accordance with the guidelines presented by ILO, a base of 435 respondents who fulfill the paraments was worked on to achieve reliability in the data validated with the Cronbach Alpha statistic and the suitability of the structure of the correlation matrix was verified with the adequacy test of the measure of Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin and Bartlett's sphericity test. Results. The study found that, of the nine dimensions analyzed, seven of them are correlated with decent work, on the dimensions of work reconciliation with family life and the safe working environment there is no impact on the study carried out. According to the results, the ease presented for the attainment of work in an outsourced manner is concluded, being the employment opportunity that responds to the ILO's approaches in the sense that decent work promotes opportunities for equality for all. Conclusions. The results obtained show among other points the fact that in the absence of this type of hiring the employee feels that there is an opportunity to be employed, however, the characteristics of this employment lack in some sense some qualities of decent work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia 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.)

Small-scale fisheries (SSF) harvesting on coastal and inland aquatic ecosystems sustain the livelihood of hundreds of millions around the world. In Colombia, as in many other developing countries, SSF suffer from multiple pressures and conflicts. Yet the research on SSF conflicts is scarce and the typology of these conflicts is poorly systematized and understood. Existing studies lack the necessary interdisciplinary integration to address social-ecological processes involved in SSF. Moreover, scientific research requires building trust with fishers in order to gain an accurate picture of relevant intra-community processes and values. In face of this situation, we compiled information from nonfiction films about fishing conflicts, with the double aim of underpinning scientific knowledge on conflicts over SSF and analyzing the use of the films to promote transformations in these conflicts. Our empirical evidence relies on the organization of an ad hoc docu-conference where filmmakers, fishers, and the general public engaged in a meaningful discussion on the issues affecting SSF communities in Colombia. Films represent the range of conflicts over SSF in 31 locations of 16 Colombian departments and provide data about types of actors involved in the conflicts, types of conflicts and their causes, and possible courses of action. We gained insights into fishing conflicts as processes of change that involve drivers and impacts with common patterns in both inland waters, and marine and coastal environments but evolve in diverging responses or calls for action. Beyond the variables emerging in the films, audiovisual content supports stakeholders in their pursuit of knowledge sharing, political mobilization, and social functioning. Films about SSF conflicts expand knowledge and relatedness that propel intellectual processes tending to exacerbate the conflict and/or stimulate sense of place, enhance governance, and give a boost to alternatives. Research participants (filmmakers, fishers, and the public) discussed advantages and limitations of using films to tackle the SSF crisis in Colombia. We demonstrate the value of films in social-ecological research and provide evidence of how they can support and bring about transformative change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]