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Abstract Objective: To estimate the economic burden associated with COVID-19 in Córdoba, Colombia, 2020 and 2021. Methods: Economic burden study. Direct costs were analyzed from the third-party payer perspective using healthcare administrative databases and interviews from a cohort of confirmed COVID-19 cases from Córdoba. Costing aggregation was performed by the bottom-up method. Indirect costs were estimated using the productivity loss approach. Contrast tests and statistical models were estimated at 5% significance. Results: We studied 1,800 COVID-19 cases. The average economic cost of COVID-19 per episode was estimated at US$ 2,519 (95%CI 1,980;3,047). The direct medical cost component accounted for 92.9% of the total; out-of-pocket and indirect costs accounted for 2% and 5.1%, respectively. Conclusion: COVID-19 economic cost was mainly due to direct medical costs. This study provided evidence of the economic burden faced by households due to COVID-19, with the most vulnerable households bearing much of the burden on their income.

Background: Schizophrenia (SZ) is a multifactorial chronic psychiatric disorder with a worldwide prevalence of 1%. Altered expression of PLCβ occurs in SZ patients, suggesting alterations in the PLCβ/IP3/Ca2+ signaling pathway. This cascade regulates critical cellular processes in all cell types, including the neuronal lineage; however, there is scarce evidence regarding the functionality of this transduction signaling in neuronal cells derived from SZ patients. Objective: We evaluated the functionality of the PLCβ/IP3/Ca2+ pathway in olfactory neuronal precursor cells (hONPCs) obtained from SZ patients. Methods: Cryopreserved hONPCs isolated from SZ patients and healthy subjects (HS) were thawed. The cellular types in subcultures were corroborated by immunodetection of the multipotency and lineage markers SOX-2, Musashi-1, nestin, and β-III tubulin. The PLCβ/IP3/Ca2+ pathway was activated by GPCR (Gq) ligands (ATP, UTP, serotonin, and epinephrine). In addition, PLCβ and IP3R were directly stimulated by perfusing cells with the activators m-3M3FBS and ADA, respectively. Cytosolic Ca2+ was measured by microfluorometry and by Ca2+ imaging. The amount and subcellular distribution of the PLCβ1 and PLCβ3 isoforms were evaluated by confocal immunofluorescence. IP3 concentration was measured by ELISA. Results: The results show that the increase of cytosolic Ca2+ triggered by GPCR ligands or directly through either PLCβ or IP3R activation was significantly lower in SZ-derived hONPCs, regarding HS-derived cells. Moreover, the relative amount of the PLCβ1 and PLCβ3 isoforms and IP3 production stimulated with m-3M3FBS were reduced in SZ-derived cells. Conclusions: Our results suggest an overall functional impairment in the PLCβ/IP3/Ca2+ signaling pathway in SZ-derived hONPCs.

El adobe es resistente a cambios súbitos de temperatura y al fuego, actuando como una eficaz barrera térmica y acústica en la construcción de viviendas. Este artículo investiga las propiedades térmicas, de resistencia, compresión, plasticidad y absorción del adobe biocompósito, proponiendo que la combinación de adobe con bagazo de agave mejora significativamente su eficiencia en comparación con los bloques compuestos de zacate, fibra de agave y tierra. El estudio se realizó en una zona productora de mezcal y adobe tradicional en el Estado de México, en línea con los principios de la economía circular. Los resultados indican que el adobe enriquecido con bagazo de agave presenta varias mejoras en sus propiedades físicas y mecánicas, lo que reduce su impacto ambiental. Esta investigación resalta la importancia del adobe como elemento fundamental en la revaloración de la arquitectura de tierra, contribuyendo al fomento de la identidad patrimonial edificada.

Abstract Background Despite Colombia's robust well-child visits program, Colombian children and mothers still suffer from anemia, especially in populations of lower socioeconomic status. In this study, we aimed to quantify the prevalence and risk factors among mothers and their children attending their well-child visits in Apartadó, a municipality in the Urabá region of the Colombian Caribbean. Methods There were 100 mother–child pairs enrolled in this secondary data-analysis study from a health facility in the municipality of Apartadó, Urabá, Colombia, during well-child visits. Self-reported data included child illnesses in the past two weeks (diarrheal, fever, or respiratory symptoms), child feeding practices (breastfeeding, complementary feeding), child vaccinations, and demographic characteristics (mother’s and child’s age, mother’s education, marital status, race, and child sex) and socioeconomic status. Mother and child anthropometry data were collected via standardized weight and height measurements. Mother or child anemia status was collected via a blood test. Chi-squared tests and multivariable logistic regression were used to assess associations between risk factors and anemia. Result The anemia prevalence in children (74%) and mothers (47%) was higher than the Colombian national prevalence. Reported child comorbidities in the preceding two weeks were not significantly associated with child anemia and included respiratory illnesses (60%), fever (46%), and diarrhea (30%). Stunting (8%) was not significantly associated with anemia. Wasting (0%) was not observed in this study. Reported child breastfeeding and complementary feeding were also not significantly associated with child anemia. In adjusted models, the child's significant risk factors for anemia included the mother's "Mestiza" race (OR: 4.681; 95% CI: 1.258, 17.421) versus the Afro-Colombian race. Older children (25–60 months) were less likely to develop anemia than younger (6–24 months) children (OR: 0.073; 95% CI: 0.015, 0.360). Conclusions The finding of high anemia prevalence in this study advances our understanding of child and maternal anemia in populations of low socioeconomic status where health care is regularly accessed through well-child programs.

Antecedentes: El Parque Nacional El Chico (PNC), una de las primeras áreas naturales protegidas (ANP) en México, es relevante por los servicios ambientales y biodiversidad que alberga, por lo que es necesario conocer su flora. Preguntas: ¿Cuál es la riqueza y distribución de licopodios y helechos en los diferentes tipos de vegetación del PNC? ¿Cómo es la diversidad beta, en ambos grupos de plantas en el PNC, con respecto a otras ANP del estado de Hidalgo? Especies de estudio: Helechos y licopodios Sitio y años de estudio: Parque Nacional El Chico, 2008-2009, 2022 Métodos: Se recolectaron ejemplares en 18 localidades y siete tipos de vegetación y se determinaron a nivel de especie. Se estimó diversidad taxonómica, semejanza en composición de especies, diversidad beta y complementariedad, con técnicas estándar. Resultados: Se recolectaron 205 ejemplares que representan 63 especies de helechos y cinco de licopodios. Las familias representativas fueron Aspleniaceae, Dryopteridaceae, Polypodiaceae, Pteridaceae y Selaginellaceae (> 5 especies cada una). La riqueza fue alta en los bosques de Abies-Quercus, galería, Quercus y Abies (> 22 especies en cada uno). El número de especies por unidad de área fue elevado, comparado con otras ANP y regiones aledañas; la complementariedad fue alta con respecto a las dos ANP de mayor extensión territorial en Hidalgo. Conclusiones: El PNC alberga 60.2 % de las especies de licopodios y helechos de la cuenca de México, y presenta alta diversidad taxonómica y complementariedad, comparado con otras ANPs de la entidad, lo cual resalta su importancia como reservorio de biodiversidad.

Aging is characterized by increased reactive species, leading to redox imbalance, oxidative damage, and senescence. The adverse effects of alcohol consumption potentiate aging-associated alterations, promoting several diseases, including liver diseases. Nucleoredoxin (NXN) is a redox-sensitive enzyme that targets reactive oxygen species and regulates key cellular processes through redox protein–protein interactions. Here, we determine the effect of chronic alcohol consumption on NXN-dependent redox interactions in the liver of aged mice. We found that chronic alcohol consumption preferentially promotes the localization of NXN either into or alongside senescent cells, declines its interacting capability, and worsens the altered interaction ratio of NXN with FLII, MYD88, CAMK2A, and PFK1 proteins induced by aging. In addition, carbonylated protein and cell proliferation increased, and the ratios of collagen I and collagen III were inverted. Thus, we demonstrate an emerging phenomenon associated with altered redox homeostasis during aging, as shown by the declining capability of NXN to interact with partner proteins, which is enhanced by chronic alcohol consumption in the mouse liver. This evidence opens an attractive window to elucidate the consequences of both aging and chronic alcohol consumption on the downstream signaling pathways regulated by NXN-dependent redox-sensitive interactions.

Abstract Background The ability of SARS-CoV-2 to remain in asymptomatic individuals facilitates its dissemination and makes its control difficult. Objective. To establish a cohort of asymptomatic individuals, change to the symptomatic status, and determine the most frequent clinical manifestations. Methods Between April 9 and August 9, 2020, molecular diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed in 154 asymptomatic people in contact with subjects diagnosed with COVID-19. Nasopharyngeal swabs were performed on these people in different hospitals in Córdoba, the Caribbean area of Colombia. The genes E, RdRp, and N were amplified with RT-qPCR. Based on the molecular results and the Cq values, the patients were subsequently followed up through telephone calls to verify their health conditions. Results Overall, of 154 asymptomatic individuals, 103 (66.9%) remained asymptomatic, and 51 (33.1%) changed to symptomatic. The most frequent clinical manifestations in young people were anosmia and arthralgia. Adults showed cough, ageusia, and odynophagia; in the elderly were epigastralgia, dyspnea, and headache. Mortality was 8%. Conclusions A proportion of 33% of presymptomatic individuals was found, of which four of them died. This high rate could indicate a silent transmission, contributing significantly to the epidemic associated with SARS-CoV-2.

Abstract Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the current COVID-19 pandemic, has evolved to have a wide range of hosts, including non-human primates, wild and domestic animals. The ACE2 protein has a high level of conservation and is the common receptor invertebrate species for a viral infection to occur; this receptor could give rise to anthroponotic events. This article describes the first event of symptomatic transmission in Latin America from a human to a dog by the B.1.625 lineage of SARS-CoV-2. We found 21 shared mutations in the complete genomes of viral sequences from owners and dogs. Further phylogenetic and molecular analysis showed that 100% co-localization of the clade helps to understand human-animal transmission. Prediction of the Spike protein structure of the sequenced virus and docking analyzes showed that the E484K mutation in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) could contribute to the viral affinity of dACE2. Therefore, close contact between SARS-CoV-2-infected humans and pets should be avoided to prevent the emergence of novel mutations of public health importance from anthroponotic events.

La representación social del cuerpo en las redes sociales impone ciertos estándares de la estética del cuerpo europeo, que generalmente, no coinciden con nuestra cultura. La posesión del supuesto cuerpo perfecto (producto de una construcción sociocultural) hace vulnerable a estudiantes de ambos sexos, a sufrir episodios de maltrato, discriminación y violencia. El objetivo es comprender cuál es la representación social del cuerpo en el alumnado implicado en episodios de ciberacoso como factor que influye para perpetuar o sufrir acoso a través de redes sociales. El enfoque fue mixto. La muestra fue de 34 hombres y 36 mujeres entre 15 y 18 años, estudiantes del nivel medio superior de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, durante el periodo 2019. La metodología incluye un análisis mixto, aplicando entrevistas y cuestionarios con diversas categorías y un análisis interpretativo, para construir el imaginario del cuerpo e identificar las diferencias entre sexos. La conclusión más reveladora fue que el estudiantado presentó una preocupación casi obsesiva por tener cuerpo delgado, a costa de su salud.

Abstract Introduction Currently, more than 4.5 billion doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have been applied worldwide. However, some developing countries are still a long way from achieving herd immunity through vaccination. In some territories, such as the Colombian Amazon, mass immunization strategies have been implemented with the CoronaVac® vaccine. Due to its proximity to Brazil, where one of the variants of interest of SARS-CoV-2 circulates. Objective To determine the effectiveness of the CoronaVac® vaccine in a population of the Colombian Amazon. Methods Between February 24, 2021, and August 10, 2021, a descriptive observational study was carried out in which a population of individuals over 18 years of age immunized with two doses of the CoronaVac® vaccine was evaluated. The study site was in the municipality of Mitú, Vaupés, in southeastern Colombia, a region located in the Amazon bordering Brazil. Results. 99% of the urban population of the Mitú municipality were vaccinated with CoronaVac®. To date, 5.7% of vaccinated individuals have become ill, and only 0.1% of these require hospitalization. One death was attributable to COVID-19 has been reported among vaccinated individuals, and the vaccine has shown 94.3% effectiveness against mild disease and 99.9% against severe infection. Conclusions The herd immunity achieved through mass vaccination in this population has made it possible to reduce the rate of complicated cases and mortality from COVID-19 in this region of the Colombian Amazon. Highlights CoronaVac® has shown 94.3% effectiveness against mild disease and 99.9% against severe infection in this indigenous population. CoronaVac® reduces the mortality rate from 2.2% in 2020 to 0.22% in 2021. The herd immunity was achieved through mass vaccination in this region of the Colombian Amazon.

Introduction: Despite the high volume of infections, some clinical aspects of this disease are still unknown. There are currently no studies in Colombia that describe the disease’s clinical and treatment aspects in detail. Objective: Describe the characteristics and clinical management of a group of admitted patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection in a private clinic in Montería, Córdoba-Colombia. Patients and methods: A descriptive observational study was carried out between May and August 2020 in 209 hospitalized patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. Upon admittance, clinical, sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, and complications were analyzed. Additionally, the effect of the following medications was described: 1—antibiotics (cefepime, piperacillin, tazobactam, meropenem, vancomycin) + low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) + corticosteroids (dexamethasone–methylprednisolone) + colchicine. 2— Antibiotic + LMWH + corticosteroids. 3—LMWH + corticosteroids. 4—LMWH + corticosteroids + colchicine. 5—Other treatments (Tocilizumab). Results: 107 (51%) of the 209 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 passed away. The main comorbidities related to mortality of these hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were obesity and kidney disease (P

BACKGROUND Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a virus of zoonotic origin that can bind to ACE2 receptors on the cells of many wild and domestic mammals. Studies have shown that the virus can circulate among animals mutate, lead to animal-to-human zoonotic jump, and further onward spread between humans. Infection in pets is unusual, and there are few human-to-pet transmission reports worldwide. OBJECTIVE To describe the SARS-CoV-2 infection in a domestic animal in Córdoba, Colombian Caribbean region. METHODS A cross-sectional molecular surveillance study was carried out, oral and rectal swabs were taken from cats and dogs living with people diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). RESULTS SARS-CoV-2 was found in a cat living with a person with COVID-19. Genome sequencing showed that the B.1.111 lineage caused the infection in the cat. The owner’s sample could not be sequenced. The lineage is predominant in Colombia, and this variant is characterised by the presence of the D614D and Q57H mutation. CONCLUSION The present work is the first report of an infected cat with SARS-CoV-2 with whole-genome sequencing in Colombia. It highlights the importance of detecting SARS-CoV-2 mutations that could promote the transmissibility of this new coronavirus. There is still a significant information gap on human-to-cat-to-human infection; we encourage self-isolation measures between COVID-19 patients and companion animals. The findings of this study give a preliminary view of the current panorama of SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals in Colombia.

Los paisajes evanescentes están marcados por improntas espaciales, donde las metáforas sirven para imaginar lo heterogéneo, y las narraciones ritualizadas, para concretarlas, y requieren apertura del juego entre lo homogéneo y la fragmentación. El propósito es visibilizar y analizar cómo la realidad actual, multifactorial, tecnológica y fluida, ha provocado una entropía negativa de lugares, reflejada en una sociedad cultural y socialmente “desespacializada”, con tendencia a enajenar al individuo respecto a su relación con el espacio; una condición que lleva a la desprolijidad, la disuasión y el desencuentro de algunos actores con sus lugares de origen, que así se reducen a no-lugares contemporáneos. Después de una revisión de literatura social y geográfica, se diseñó un modelo de integración identitaria y relacional del no-lugar a partir de herramientas metodológicas y se aplicaron entrevistas para explicar qué hace familiar a un lugar y para quién es familiar ese lugar, su vinculación o su desvinculación con el espacio y su identidad.

La mirada busca un cuerpo dónde posarse. Se asume que cada género, observa, identifica y representa diversos aspectos y detalles del cuerpo, de su contraparte; dicha representación social se traslada a la elaboración de imágenes artísticas que se suman a identidades individuales y colectivas, pero con sesgos; es decir, una mirada diferente por cada género. Ciertos estudios científicos demostraron que las mujeres miraban de modo distinto que los hombres, particularmente cuando se trata de sexualidad, y se percibió, en aquellos estudios de obras artísticas, que había un modo diferenciado donde el observador recorría o exploraba puntos de interés de forma heterogénea o asimétrica respecto a su otro. Para este caso, esas diferencias genéricas corresponden a las maneras en que las fotógrafas captan el cuerpo de los varones, develando su propia narrativa para crear un arte personal. Así, se puede plantear una visualidad genérica; aquí se hace un símil entre pintura y fotografía—dada la reciente incursión femenina en la fotografía artística—, lo que se pretende observar es que, históricamente, las mujeres no han pintado desnudos masculinos o muy pocos, especialmente en períodos moralizantes; en vez de eso han plasmado rostros, figuras paternales o conyugales como sus aspectos centrales. Desde Derrida, Bauman y otros teóricos de la posmodernidad se plantea la dinámica inmanente y conceptual de las prácticas fotográficas como una consolidación de los estudios culturales y de género para establecer un evidente diálogo, todo ello desde la teoría feminista y la semiótica.

Leprosy is a granulomatous infection caused by infection with Mycobacterium leprae or M. lepromatosis. We evaluated skin biopsy and slit skin smear samples from 92 leprosy patients in Colombia by quantitative PCR. Five (5.4%) patients tested positive for M. lepromatosis, providing evidence of the presence of this pathogen in Colombia.

Abstract Background Leprosy is is still considered a public health issue and in Colombia 7–10% of new cases are found in children, indicating both active transmission and social inequality. We hypothesized that circulating antibodies against Natural Octyl Disaccharide-Leprosy IDRI Diagnostic (NDO-LID) (a combination of Mycobacterium leprae antigens) could reveal the social and environmental aspects associated with higher frequencies of M. leprae infection among children and adolescents in Colombia. Methods An observational cross-sectional study was conducted involving sampling from 82 children and adolescents (younger than 18 years of age) who had household contact with index leprosy patients diagnosed in the last 5 years. Data were analyzed through bivariate analysis made by applying a Pearson x2 test for qualitative variables, while quantitative variables, depending on their distribution, were analyzed using either a Student’s t-test or Mann-Whitney U test. Multivariate analysis was performed using a multiple regression and binomial logistic approach. Results A bivariate analysis demonstrated that antibody titers against NDO-LID were significantly greater in children and adolescents with a low socioeconomic status that had: lived in vulnerable areas of the UAChR shared region; eaten armadillo meat; exposure of over 10 years to an index case and; not received BCG immunization. Moreover, a multivariate analysis showed that residing in the UAChR region has a strong association with a greater possibility of M. leprae infection. Conclusions M. leprae transmission persists among young Colombians, and this is associated with social and environmental conditions. An intensification of efforts to identify new leprosy cases in vulnerable and forgotten populations where M. leprae transmission continues therefore appears necessary.

Nucleoredoxin (NXN), an oxidoreductase enzyme, contributes to cellular redox homeostasis by regulating different signaling pathways in a redox-dependent manner. By interacting with seven proteins so far, namely disheveled (DVL), protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK1), translocation protein SEC63 homolog (SEC63), myeloid differentiation primary response gene-88 (MYD88), flightless-I (FLII), and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II type alpha (CAMK2A), NXN is involved in the regulation of several key cellular processes, including proliferation, organogenesis, cell cycle progression, glycolysis, innate immunity and inflammation, motility, contraction, protein transport into the endoplasmic reticulum, neuronal plasticity, among others; as a result, NXN has been implicated in different pathologies, such as cancer, alcoholic and polycystic liver disease, liver fibrogenesis, obesity, Robinow syndrome, diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer’s disease, and retinitis pigmentosa. Together, this evidence places NXN as a strong candidate to be a master redox regulator of cell physiology and as the hub of different redox-sensitive signaling pathways and associated pathologies. This review summarizes and discusses the current insights on NXN-dependent redox regulation and its implication in different pathologies.

Introduction: Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, a debilitating disease that affects the skin and peripheral nerves. It is possible that tissue changes during infection with leprosy are related to alterations in the activity of the Notch signaling pathway, an innate signaling pathway in the physiology of the skin and peripheral nerves.Methods: This is a descriptive observational study. Thirty skin biopsies from leprosy patients and 15 from individuals with no history of this disease were evaluated. In these samples, gene expressions of cellular components associated with the Notch signaling pathway, Hes-1, Hey-1, Runx-1 Jagged-1, Notch-1, and Numb, were evaluated using q-PCR, and protein expression was evaluated using immunohistochemistry of Runx-1 and Hes-1.Results: Changes were observed in the transcription of Notch signaling pathway components; Hes-1 was downregulated and Runx-1 upregulated in the skin of infected patients. These results were confirmed by immunohistochemistry, where reduction of Hes-1 expression was found in the epidermis, eccrine glands, and hair follicles. Increased expression of Runx-1 was found in inflammatory cells in the dermis of infected patients; however, it is not related to tissue changes. With these results, a multivariate analysis was performed to determine the causes of transcription factor Hes-1 reduction. It was concluded that tissue inflammation was the main cause.Conclusions: The tissue changes found in the skin of infected patients could be associated with a reduction in the expression of Hes-1, a situation that would promote the survival and proliferation of M. leprae in this tissue.

Pure neural leprosy, defined as a peripheral neuropathy in which the patient has no skin lesions, is difficult to diagnose. Its verification by bacteriological index and histopathology is not possible in the majority of the patients. We describe four cases of pure neural leprosy diagnosed by clinical criteria. The clinical outcome of three of the patients after specific treatment was satisfactory, while the other one developed progressive neural damage despite the therapy. All patients were treated in a specialized center for the management and control of Hansen’s disease in the municipality of Contratación, Santander, Colombia.

Introduction. COVID-19 is a pathology caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported more than 225 million cases and 4.5 million deaths worldwide. Objective: To describe the seropositivity, spatial distribution, and clinical and sociodemographic variables of SARS-CoV-2 in a community of the Colombian Amazon region. Methods. In December 2020, a cross-sectional observational study was carried out in a population located in the Colombian Amazon in the municipality of Mitú. Sociodemographic and clinical data were taken. Besides, 589 blood samples were taken, and an antibody detection was carried out with an ELISA and a recombinant protein N antigen of SARS-CoV-2. Results. A seropositivity of 57.6% was observed. The highest proportion of the infection is located in inter-municipal transport zones. The bivariate analysis did not show differences in the SARS-CoV-2 infection rate concerning the variables sex, age range, and the presence of comorbidities (p > 0.05). The bivariate and multivariate analysis showed that being symptomatic and presenting neurological manifestations of the upper respiratory tract are clinical variables associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection (p < 0.05). One of the causes of this virus’s high spread in this community could be that 53.3% of the people were asymptomatic. Conclusions. Our data showed a high burden and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the indigenous community. This could be linked to cultural behaviors and the high infection rate in asymptomatic patients.

Plant species that inhabit the Andes, have developed unique features, only found in these ecosystems in the Americas, due to the rough conditions of temperature and altitude that they tolerate. Among these species is the Chuquiraga jussieui JF Gmel, known for its medicinal properties. The whole plant was harvested, dried and powdered. afterwards an aqueous extract was obtained and a phytochemical screening was performed in order to trace secondary metabolites. Skin and eye irritation tests were also performed on rabbits and guinea pigs. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tripterpenos and/or steroids, phenols and/or tannins, resins and flavonoids. Flavonoids were also identified by thin layer chromatography. The study of skin irritability allowed to categorized the compounds as skin non-irritant; the study of ophthalmic irritability classified them as moderate eye irritant, and in albino rabbits, as well; and the sensitization study in guinea pigs classifies them as non-sensitizing. It was concluded that the active ingredients present in the extracts have low toxicity, which allows the development of their biofunctional applications

El objetivo del presente estudio, consiste en demostrar precisamente la validez de la hipótesis de que existe un estrecho vínculo entre la lectura y la autonomía del estudiante de ciencias administrativas para su aprendizaje, generando y fortaleciendo sus habilidades gerenciales, llegando a predecir que el conocimiento por estos, de lecturas automotivadoras como "Aprendiendo a Quererse a sí mismo" de Walter Riso, "El factor Fred" de Mark Sanborn y "Los Siete Hábitos de la Gente altamente Efectiva" de Stephen Covey, ya sea en el colegio o en la universidad, permiten reafirmar dicha hipótesis; la metodología aplicada fue no experimental, exploratoria y descriptiva, el presente estudio se realizó en la Universidad Estatal de Milagro UNEMI, concluyendo que la lectura de textos motivacionales fortalecen sus habilidades blandas o humanas, porque aportan en su motivación y proyección como el líder que supera la zona de confort y que demuestra apertura al cambio. CITACIÓN: Serrano Mantilla, H., Cardenas Cobo, J., Vinueza Morales, M., & Robles Salguero, R. (2015). Impacto de Covey, Riso y Sanborn en habilidades gerenciales. Podium, 28, 127–143. doi:10.31095/podium.2015.28.8 ENLACE DOI: https://doi.org/10.31095/podium.2015.28.8

El proyecto de investigación tiene la finalidad de repercutir significativamente en los procesos de gestión empresarial, específicamente en el de talento humano, porque desde ese proceso es donde se producen mejores resultados para la empresa. Las pequeñas y medianas empresas se constituyen en un terreno fértil al momento de aplicar procesos de Coaching. Varias Pymes en algunas situaciones se encuentran limitadas por paradigmas errados que las limitan e impiden generar una etapa de transición, entre una gestión limitada de técnica de formalidad, a una enriquecida con herramientas en la gestión del Talento Humano, como es el Coaching que busca destrabar el potencial de una persona. Se analiza una Pyme dedicada a la comercialización de productos alimenticios que se encuentra ubicada en el Cantón Milagro, Provincia del Guayas, en donde no solo se han validado las hipótesis de una investigación con los resultados de un censo, sino que se profundizó con una generación de un plan piloto que al ser aplicado brindó resultados que se estima pertinente compartir a través de la redacción del presente artículo y que se aspira que se pueda replicar en organizaciones de similares características

Basándose en el presente estudio realizado, se ha constatado que la responsabilidad social corporativa no es correctamente asimilada en su aplicación. Esta investigación está enfocada en la población del cantón Milagro. Al momento de analizar todo lo obtenido con la presente investigación, se determina la necesidad de una activa participación de la Universidad Estatal de Milagro con la comunidad, mediante convenios y programas de capacitaciones, cursos, foros, que fomentarían el conocimiento de la responsabilidad social en las organizaciones y las oportunidades que estos brindan a la empresa como a sus colaboradores y a la comunidad a la cual pertenece, lo que contribuye al desarrollo de una cultura empresarial dentro del entorno social existente.

El cuerpo es el portador de símbolos sociales donde concurren las nociones culturales, sobre él recaen los límites de las instituciones sociales; en ese espacio de socialización, es donde se inserta la noción de identidad y corporalidad de cada individuo, pero su expresión hacia la erotización toma caminos diferenciados, no solo desde los géneros, sino desde posiciones que incluyen la clase, la raza, el poder, la represión religiosa y otros factores que determinan que un cuerpo erotizado o erotizante pueda concebirse en unas culturas como una manifestación humana natural o bien por otras, como un tabú o un vínculo hacia fuerzas maléficas. Por ello, se pretende analizar aquí, sucintamente la intersección de tres amplios temas: el erotismo a través del deseo, las artes plásticas y el género, lo cual,implica revisar sus complejidades y trasgresiones.

The purpose of this article is to analyze the categories: body, nudity and hair, articulated by symbolic violence against women. Likewise, it seeks to demonstrate the degree of “naturalization” of female stereotypes, in this case, the use of long hair as a gender identity characteristic, whose discretionary use allows the indiscriminate exercise of male power. Among other cases, the use of the Muslim yihab is shown, due to the enormous resemblance to the veil of catholic nuns, and its function is, precisely, the denial of the hair, preventing the enjoyment and eroticization of men. This situation is opposite to that of the exhibition of the nudity and the hair of women before the male spectator, especially within intimate spaces, both familiar and for sexual encounter. For the purpose of this article, nudity is understood as one of the expressions of corporality, in this case, feminine, which has been the channel of reception or object for the permanent exercise of male power, that is, seen as an unequivocal manifestation of the androcentric social order. The three categories of analysis are interwoven with the transversal axis of symbolic violence, sometimes referring to historical, artistic and semiotic references.

From the first years of life, each human being receives an accumulation of attitudes, conducts andvalues that are learned and apprehended sometimes like specific learning ideals and some others like imitation models ofadult’s behavior. This context has been structured historically from the binary system of masculinity/femininity, whosecultural reduction determines gender inequalities that affect social interactions. The gender inequalities are identified in thedomestic and the massive circulation of images that contribute with the configuration of codes and representations thatpromote confusing gender identities. The aim of this article is to show some visual codes presented in a group of photographsthat exhibit the perpetuation of gender inequalities.

Se realizó un estudio anatómico de las flores de algunas especies en los subgéneros Polianthes y Bravoa del género Polianthes L. (Agavaceae), con el propósito de investigar si la actual clasificación subgenérica es adecuada. Los taxa analizados del subgénero Polianthes fueron P. densiflora, P. nelsonii y P. platyphylla, y del subgénero Bravoa, P. geminiflora var. geminiflora, P. howardii y P. multicolor. Las características anatómicas florales entre las especies son similares y comparten con otros miembros de la familia Agavaceae los nectarios septales y los óvulos anátropos, bitégmicos y crasinucelados. En los taxa del subgénero Bravoa, los filamentos se originan en la base del tubo floral, mientras que en el subgénero Polianthes se originan por debajo de los tépalos internos del perianto. Anteriormente, sin considerar la anatomía de las flores, se planteaba que los filamentos se originaban en ambos subgéneros desde la base del tubo del perianto y que éstos permanecían adnados al mismo, separándose a diferentes niveles. En el nivel interespecífico, P. howardii presenta nectarios de mayor longitud que los lóculos, en relación con los de las otras especies estudiadas.An anatomical floral study of some species of the genus Polianthes (Agavaceae), of both subgenus Polianthes and subgenus Bravoa (Agavaceae) was carried out, with the aim of testing the adequacy of the present subgeneric classification. The taxa studied of subgenus Polianthes were P. densiflora, P. nelsonii and P. platyphylla; and P. geminiflora var. geminiflora, P. howardii and P. multicolor of subgenus Bravoa. The anatomical characters between these species are similar, sharing with other members of the Agavaceae family the septal nectaries and the anatropous, bitegmic, and crassinucellated ovules. In the taxa of subgenus Bravoa, the filaments originate from the floral tube base, while in subgenus Polianthes they originate near the base of the internal tepals from the perianth tube. Before this anatomical study, it was considered that stamens originated in both subgenera at the base of the perianth tube, with their filaments remaining adnate to the perianth tube, getting separated at different levels. At interspecific level, the nectary/locule length ratio in P. howardii is larger than in the rest of the studied species.

Se parte de personajes mitológicos para analizar la relación triádica entre erotismo/ creación, sufrimiento/pulsión de muerte y psicoanálisis, disertación que hacen los autores desde sus diversas prácticas docentes y de investigación. Para ello se retoma la idea de que la creatividad no es coto de poder de algún campo disciplinar específico, que se puede abordar como proceso epistémico, comunicativo, artístico, sensoperceptual, inconsciente. Entrar al mundo de la creación es entrar al mundo de las posibilidades, para imaginar y recrear universos excluidos.

Desde los primeros años de vida, todos los seres humanos recibimos un cúmulo de actitudes, conductas y valores que son aprendidos ya sea como modos de aprendizaje o como modelos de imitación del comportamiento de los sujetos adultos. Estas predeterminaciones sociales se han estructurado históricamente a partir del sistema binario masculinidad/feminidad, cuya reducción cultural propicia inequidades de género que afectan la convivencia social y que se manifiestan en la circulación doméstica o masiva de imágenes que construyen códigos y representaciones culturales que confrontan equívocamente a las identidades sexuales. Bajo esta perspectiva general, en este artículo pretendemos resaltar, a través de un análisis semiótico y multidisciplinario, algunos códigos visuales manifiestos en una selección de fotografías que evidencian la perpetuación de la inequidad de género.

Se parte de personajes mitológicos para analizar la relación triádica entre erotismo/ creación, sufrimiento/pulsión de muerte y psicoanálisis, disertación que hacen los autores desde sus diversas prácticas docentes y de investigación. Para ello se retoma la idea de que la creatividad no es coto de poder de algún campo disciplinar específico, que se puede abordar como proceso epistémico, comunicativo, artístico, sensoperceptual, inconsciente. Entrar al mundo de la creación es entrar al mundo de las posibilidades, para imaginar y recrear universos excluidos.

Music and magazines are methods of symbolic communication for youth, through which they receive and send concrete messages about social constructs of gender. The aim of this paper is to report the results obtained in the analysis of visual and textual codes in music and magazines consumed by young Mexicans daily. In general terms, the results show a wealth of meanings and values about sexual identity anchored in traditional stereotypes that in some way continue promoting violence against women.

Roca Barcelona Gallery trae, por primera vez a Barcelona, Sueños de un grifo. Diseño con alma de agua, una exposición cedida por la Empresa Nacional de Innovación (ENISA), del Ministerio de Industria, Energía y Turismo, y el Círculo de Bellas Artes de Madrid, que explora el papel de los objetos como interlocutores entre nosotros y el agua, y muestra cómo el diseño se convierte en una herramienta indispensable para establecer un diálogo claro y humano. Sin este diálogo, no sólo no podríamos utilizarla, sino que tampoco podríamos transportarla o protegernos de ella.

Se estudió la germinación y desarrollo postemergente de Polianthes geminiflora (Lex.) Rose var. geminiflora, Polianthes sp. y P. longiflora Rose. La viabilidad de las semillas va rió de 94 a 100%. Las semillas fueron remojadas en agua a 25ºC durante tres, seis y doce horas; en este tratamiento, así como en el testigo, se observó un incremento en el porcentaje, velocidad y uniformidad de germinación. Por otro lado, a 40ºC por tres, seis y doce horas las semillas de P geminiflora var. geminiflora. resistieron mejor esta temperatura de remojo que las de Polianthes sp. y P. longiflora. Las tres especies presentaron germinación epígea y su cotiledón desarrolló un haustorio. Las semillas estudiadas no presentan latencia y son ortodoxas. Se registraron diferencias significativas en la longitud de la primera hoja entre las species estudiadas. Finalmente la morfología de las semillas, su proceso germinativo y el desarrollo de plántulas fueron similares e n las tres especies.