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This research article on feminism gives an account of the interaction between a female teacher and her students at a public university in Tunja, Colombia. The study aims to evidence features of feminism within an English as a foreign language classroom by analyzing the transcriptions of the teacher's discourse using the Feminist Poststructuralist Discourse Analysis. As a result of the study, it can be stated that feminism is not determined by gender, but rather, it is an individual choice that is socially constructed and transmitted through power relationships. Findings suggest that being female or male does not guarantee having a definite position towards feminism; instead, it is mostly demarcated by the specific situations and circumstances that each individual experiences within a society.

As part of an unprecedented collaborative outreach effort, we implemented an innovative STEM outreach project, where more than 80 middle and high school students from different traditionally underrepresented school districts in Colombia--with no previous knowledge on material science or photovoltaics--created Last Generation Solar Cells (LGSCs) that were part of several suborbital spaceflight missions. As a result, the students were able to contrast visual and instrumental data obtained from the solar cells and modules that were launched to space with similar samples that remained on earth to measure the degradation that occurs during spaceflight conditions. At the same time, the students that participated were able to cultivate their curiosity, strengthen their scientific skills and increase their interest in pursuing careers in STEM fields. These experiences were possible thanks to an extraordinary collaborative network between public and private entities and the use of project-based education as a powerful driver of development, especially for low-to-middle-income countries, such as Colombia. Here, we share our methodology for constructing photovoltaic devices in rural settings, and we show the progression and impact of this novel scientific outreach project.

This article describes a pedagogical proposal, based on debates, to determine the type of arguments that pre-service English language teachers constructed at a public university in Tunja, Colombia. We implemented a series of debate workshops about educational issues. Thirteen modern languages pre-service teachers in their sixth semester participated in the debates. In each debate, we collected data through recordings, focus groups, and field notes to understand the impact of the pedagogical intervention. Findings suggest that the arguments pre-service teachers built were based on examples. In this sense, the arguments built were based on their personal experiences and their partners' opinions. We argue for the need to implement more research proposals that will contribute to the understanding and awareness of what argumentation implies.

This study presents the formulation of a quantitative and qualitative index of quality for accredited institutions based on their performance in five components related to institutional quality: research, students' performance, dropout rates, employability, and accreditation. This index will allow each accredited institution to identify its competences and shortcomings in contrast to the rest, not with the intention of establishing a stiff metrics and positioning system, but of generating information inputs that are flexible and relevant and that allow the revision of each university's status, thus constituting the foundations for a Colombian accreditation observatory for the purpose of continuous improvement.

Few studies have examined how the personal characteristics of students, together with factors from their local social environments and communities, affect students living in generally high levels of social disruption. We examined the influence that personal characteristics as well as factors from the local social environments and communities may have on Colombian students' levels of depressive symptoms shortly after the end of the of armed conflict. Data were collected from 710 students attending the fifth grade in a random sample of elementary schools in the province of Sucre in Colombia. Information was gathered on the students' ages and gender as well as characteristics of their parents, school factors, and community factors. A five-level hierarchical regression model was used to determine the extent to which all these variables predicted depression scores, as measured by the Adolescent Depression Rating Scale. While personal, parental, school and community factors were all found to predict depression scores, the category, parental factors had the most impact. That was followed by school factors, community factors and finally personal characteristics. Multiple social and environmental factors were associated with the level of depression experienced by Colombian students. Plain language summary: Few studies have examined how the characteristics of students, together with their local social environments and communities, affect students living in generally high levels of social disruption. We examined the influence that personal characteristics as well as factors from the local social environments and communities may have on Colombian students' levels of depressive symptoms shortly after the end of the of armed conflict. Data were collected from 710 students attending the fifth grade in a sample of Colombian, elementary schools. Information was gathered on the students' ages and gender as well as characteristics of their parents, schools, and communites. We used regression analyses to determine the extent to which all these variables predicted students' levels of depression. While the personal, parental, school and community characteristics of students were all found to predict depression scores, how students were parented had the most impact. That was followed by characteristics of their schools, communities and their personal characteristics. We concluded that multiple social and environmental factors were associated with the level of depression experienced by Colombian students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Malnutrition is a global problem that affects all countries in one or more of its forms, representing one of the greatest challenges worldwide. One of the key contributing factors is food insecurity, which must be evaluated in children with moderate and severe acute malnutrition, as they are at imminent risk of death. Objective: Our objective was to assess food insecurity among children under 5 years old with moderate, and severe malnutrition from Valle del Cauca, a state located in the southwestern region of Colombia. Methods: A descriptive observational study was conducted, including children whose weight-for-height (W/H) indicator was below 2 SD, as recorded on the World Health Organization (WHO) growth charts, or who exhibited severe malnutrition phenotypes such as marasmus or Kwashiorkor. Family and child food security were evaluated using the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale (ELCSA). Results: 58.6% of households with acutely malnourished children experienced food insecurity. A statistically significant relationship was found between food insecurity and children of Afro-Colombian and Indigenous descent. According to caregivers' perceptions, 30.2% of child malnutrition cases were related to poor feeding and caregiving practices. Conclusions: Not all children with acute malnutrition suffer from food insecurity. Therefore, the findings of this research suggest that governmental efforts should focus not only on ensuring food availability, but also on educating caregivers about the importance of a balanced and nutritious diet tailored to the specific characteristics of each region and promoting appropriate caregiving practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a learning experience called EduCamp, which was launched by the Ministry of Education of Colombia in 2007, based on emerging concepts such as e-Learning 2.0, connectivism, and personal learning environments. An EduCamp proposes an unstructured collective learning experience, which intends to make palpable the possibilities of social software tools in learning and interaction processes while demonstrating face-to-face organizational forms that reflect social networked learning ideas. The experience opens new perspectives for the design of technology training workshops and for the development of lifelong learning experiences. (Contains 1 table and 4 figures.)

This study describes an investigation we carried out in order to identify how the specific roles that 7th grade public school students assumed when they worked cooperatively were related to their development of speaking skills in English. Data were gathered through interviews, field notes, students' reflections and audio recordings. The findings revealed that students who were involved in cooperative activities chose and assumed roles taking into account preferences, skills and personality traits. In the same manner, when learners worked together, their roles were affected by each other and they put into practice some social strategies with the purpose of supporting their embryonic speaking development.

Background: In the scientific literature on Malaria in Pregnancy (MiP), no studies have been conducted on lifestyles based on critical theory. The objective of this study was to analyse the lifestyles or singular processes of social determination of health in MiP in northwestern Colombia. Methods: Mixed QUAN-QUAL convergent triangulation study. In the quantitative component, a psychometric evaluation and a cross-sectional design were conducted in 400 pregnant women to whom the Pender-Walker lifestyle scale and a survey on MiP prevention were applied. In the qualitative study, a critical ethnography was conducted with 46 pregnant women in whom their narratives and practices regarding lifestyles at home and healthcare were described. Results: The frequency of MiP was 9%, and a higher occurrence of the disease was identified in those who did not control stagnant water (29%), did not use insecticide-treated net (16%) and went to the hospital (14%) or the microscopist (20%) when they had fever. This coincides with the presence of unhealthy lifestyles, little knowledge about malaria, and a low perception of the risk of getting sick, as well as meanings and experiences about MiP, maternity, and pregnancy that show a high clinical, cultural, and socioeconomic burden for the women studied. Conclusion: This epidemiological profile and the approach to lifestyles based on the postulates of critical theory in health evidence that pregnant women exposed to malaria suffer serious social, cultural and health injustices that are not possible to impact with the current health model of malaria control in Colombia guided by aetiopathogenic, biomedical, positivist and utilitarian theories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Global South has suffered an accelerated population and urban growth. This has created multiple impacts at the regional level such as erosion, soil degradation and biodiversity loss, as well as temperature increase in the cities causing urban heat islands. Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, is one of the largest cities in the Global South and in the last five decades has undergone a rapid urban transition, impacting surrounding ecosystems. However, little is known about how urbanization affects the local flora. To understand how plants are responding and adapting to urbanization processes in the city of Bogotá, we used a land cover gradient of urban, peri-urban and rural areas, and four plant functional traits (leaf area [LA], specific leaf area [SLA], leaf dry matter content [LDMC] and wood density [WD]). We analyzed 16 species shared in at least two land covers. Although urban and peri-urban areas had higher temperatures and higher LDMC and lower SLA values than rural areas, there were no significant differences in functional traits between land covers. Some species showed significant changes between land covers, indicating that there is a species-specific response to urbanization. Considering the need for urban areas to prioritize species that promote cooling and exhibit resistance to stress, as well as the capacity to adapt to climate change, it is essential to include plants possessing different combinations of functional traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The number of people suffering from chronic diseases requiring palliative care (PC) is increasing rapidly. Therefore, PC teaching in undergraduate health science programs is necessary to improve primary PC based on international recommendations and available scientific evidence. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. Active undergraduate medical and nursing programs that were approved by the Colombian Ministry of Education and integrated PC teaching into their curricula were included in the study. The total sample consisted of 48 programs: 31 nursing and 17 medical programs. Results: PC competencies are distributed throughout the curriculum in 41.67% of programs, in elective courses in 31.25%, and in mandatory courses in 27.08% of the programs. The average PC teaching hours is 81 for nursing and 57.6 for medicine. PC clinical rotations are not offered in 75% of the programs. For undergraduate nursing programs, the most frequent competencies taught are the definition and history of PC and identifying common symptoms associated with advanced disease. In undergraduate medicine, the most common competencies are pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain management and identification of PC needs. Conclusions: PC teaching in undergraduate health science programs mainly addresses the conceptual and theoretical aspects of PC, which are part of the competencies present throughout the programs' curricula. Low availability of PC clinical rotations was identified. Future studies should assess whether the low availability of clinical rotations in PC limits the ability of students to develop the practical competencies necessary to provide quality PC. Trial registration: Not applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we describe a new ophthalmosaurid specimen found in the lower Barremian beds of the Paja Formation at Villa de Leiva, Boyacá, Colombia. The specimen represents a new species of Platypterygius, P. elsuntuoso sp. nov. defined by three unique features within the genus: a small ventral peg in the anterior ventral border of the extracondylar area of the basioccipital; a supratemporal groove in the quadrate; and a shallow neck at the base of the acellular cementum ring on the teeth root. In support of our taxonomic determination, in this contribution we also assess the species composition of the genus Platypterygius, comparing the known anatomy of the type species P. platydactylus with that of the other species previously assigned to the genus. We found that a great morphological affinity in the forelimb of the species P. americanus, P. australis, P. hercynicus, and P. sachicarum (lower Barremian to lower Cenomanian) with that of the type species (Aptian) is unquestionable and differentiate them from all other ophthalmosaurids. Three new diagnostic features (synapomorphies of the genus) support their inclusion in Platypterygius. Consequently, the genus name "Kyhytysuka", recently proposed to differentiate P. sachicarum from the genus Platypterygius is here rejected. A careful comparison of the cranial characteristics of Platypterygius specimens preserving associated cranial and fin remains demonstrate that Platypterygius is a genus distinguishable from other ophthalmosaurids not only by a typical forelimb but also by a particular combination of skull features. In this context, the skull morphology of "Simbirskiasaurus" concurs with that defining Platypterygius and its minor differences are not sufficient to support its generic distinction. The morphological comparisons and our phylogenetic analysis show the new species P. elsuntuoso more closely related to the Colombian species P. sachicarum than to other species of Platypterygius. Given that the new species came from the lower Barremian and P. sachicarum came from the upper Barremian, the minor differences in dentition found between the two species suggest a speciation by adaptation to new food sources in the Cretaceous epicontinental sea of Colombia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Direito e Práxis is the property of Editora da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (EdUERJ) 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 first record of well-preserved chondrocranial elements in mosasaurids is here described. These elements are preserved in situ in a Coniacian skull found in north-central Colombia, inside a calcareous concretion. Based on a 3D model generated from computed tomography scans, we identified elements of the nasal and orbitotemporal regions. Our descriptions show that in this specimen, the chondrocranium was reduced, more so than in most lacertilians (including their closest recent relatives, the varanids), but not as severely as in snakes or amphisbaenians (which have an extremely reduced chondrocranium and limbs). The new evidence suggests that the reduction in the chondrocranium in mosasaurids could be related to modification of their limbs when adapting to aquatic environments, but also that in mosasaurids, the olfactory tract was reduced, and the optic muscle insertions occurred mainly in the interorbital septum. The exceptional preservation of the chondrocranial elements in the specimen is facilitated by a gray mineralization covering them. XRD analysis and thin section observations indicated that this mineralization is composed of microcrystalline quartz and calcite. We infer that this material was produced by a partial silicification process promoted by lower pH microenvironments associated with bacterial breakdown of non-biomineralized tissues during early diagenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pregnancy Associated Malaria (PAM) include malaria in pregnancy (MiP), placental malaria (PM), and congenital malaria (CM). The evidence available in Colombia on PAM focuses on one of the presentations (MiP, PM or CM), and no study longitudinally analyses the infection from the pregnant woman, passing through the placenta, until culminating in the newborn. This study determined the frequency of MiP, PM, and CM caused by Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium falciparum, or mixed infections, according to Thick Blood Smear (TBS) and quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR). Identifying associated factors of PAM and clinical-epidemiological outcomes in northwestern Colombia. Methods: Prospective study of 431 pregnant women, their placenta, and newborns registered in the data bank of the research Group "Salud y Comunidad César Uribe Piedrahíta" which collected information between 2014 and 2020 in endemic municipalities of the departments of Córdoba and Antioquia. The frequency of infection was determined with 95% confidence intervals. Comparisons were made with the Chi-square test, Student t-test, prevalence ratios, and control for confounding variables by log-binomial regression. Results: The frequency of MiP was 22.3% (4.6% using TBS), PM 24.8% (1.4% using TBS), and CM 11.8% (0% using TBS). Using TBS predominated P. vivax. Using qPCR the proportions of P. vivax and P. falciparum were similar for MiP and PM, but P. falciparum predominated in CM. The frequency was higher in nulliparous, and women with previous malaria. The main clinical effects of PAM were anaemia, low birth weight, and abnormal APGAR score. Conclusions: The magnitude of infections was not detected with TBS because most cases were submicroscopic (TBS-negative, qPCR-positive). This confirmed the importance of improving the molecular detection of cases. PAM continue being underestimated in the country due to that in Colombia the control programme is based on TBS, despite its outcomes on maternal, and congenital health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was considered a major public health burden worldwide. Multiple studies have shown that susceptibility to severe infections and the development of long-term symptoms is significantly influenced by viral and host factors. These findings have highlighted the potential of host genetic markers to identify high-risk individuals and develop target interventions to reduce morbimortality. Despite its importance, genetic host factors remain largely understudied in Latin-American populations. Using a case–control design and a custom next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel encompassing 81 genetic variants and 74 genes previously associated with COVID-19 severity and long-COVID, we analyzed 56 individuals with asymptomatic or mild COVID-19 and 56 severe and critical cases. In agreement with previous studies, our results support the association between several clinical variables, including male sex, obesity and common symptoms like cough and dyspnea, and severe COVID-19. Remarkably, thirteen genetic variants showed an association with COVID-19 severity. Among these variants, rs11385942 (p < 0.01; OR = 10.88; 95% CI = 1.36–86.51) located in the LZTFL1 gene, and rs35775079 (p = 0.02; OR = 8.53; 95% CI = 1.05–69.45) located in CCR3 showed the strongest associations. Various respiratory and systemic symptoms, along with the rs8178521 variant (p < 0.01; OR = 2.51; 95% CI = 1.27–4.94) in the IL10RB gene, were significantly associated with the presence of long-COVID. The results of the predictive model comparison showed that the mixed model, which incorporates genetic and non-genetic variables, outperforms clinical and genetic models. To our knowledge, this is the first study in Colombia and Latin-America proposing a predictive model for COVID-19 severity and long-COVID based on genomic analysis. Our study highlights the usefulness of genomic approaches to studying host genetic risk factors in specific populations. The methodology used allowed us to validate several genetic variants previously associated with COVID-19 severity and long-COVID. Finally, the integrated model illustrates the importance of considering genetic factors in precision medicine of infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ternstroemia is a genus with ca. 141 species, of which 87–103 are present in the Neotropics. As part of the studies of the genus in Colombia, here we propose four new species: Ternstroemia pacifica (from Chocó), T. fandango (Caribe-Cordillera Central transition), T. cachalu, and T. religiosa (both from Cordillera Oriental). Ternstroemia pacifica and T. fandango show morphological affinities with Amazonian species, T. cachalu with a Central Andean species, and T. religiosa present no clear affinities. Since some species have been either excluded or included for the country in literature, we clarify how many species occur in Colombia. From a total of 21 recorded species, we exclude the presence of six. After the present revision, Colombia harbors 18 species of Ternstroemia, nine (i.e. 50%) of which are endemic. Illustrations, color plates, distribution maps, and notes on ecology, habitat, and conservation status are provided for the four new species, as well as habitat, geographic distribution, biogeographic province, and global distribution for the remaining ones. An actualized key for the taxa growing in the country is also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Colombian peace accords of 2016 involved a formal commitment to peace between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia‐People's Army (FARC‐EP in Spanish) and the national government. Despite this advance, societal reconciliation and sustainable peace remain key challenges. Through a longitudinal qualitative design, we investigate the encounter between former guerrilla members and urban university students in a community‐based educational space in rural Colombia. Drawing on a social representational approach, we focus on youth's representations of self (students), the remote other (former guerrilla members) and peace and reconciliation as they are produced before, during and after the encounter. Participants were 24 students enrolled in a service‐learning course at an urban university in Bogotá. Data collection included written narratives, audio‐visual material, focus groups and interviews. Thematic analyses show that as urban youth meet, spend time, and share space and common activities with the former combatants, both representations and identities are transformed. These transformations in self–other understandings unsettle hegemonic narratives supporting an ethos of conflict and introduce alternative representations that prefigure the consolidation of peace‐supporting counternarratives. Our results highlight both the resilience of hegemonic narratives and the long‐term effects of small‐scale educational knowledge encounters for producing agents of peace, recognising the other and prefiguring social change. Reconciliation as process must be thus understood as the uneven development of meaningful self–other interactions that recasts the social fabric as interdependent and builds shared intentionality for achieving sustainable peace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some characteristics of the Colombian political culture are traced, through the categories of myth, authoritarianism, alienation, and elitism, from an approach to the urban narrative of Álvaro Salom Becerra. The concept of political culture is addressed and its reception and development in Latin America, especially in Colombia, is exposed. Then the reflective potential of the confluences between philosophy and literature is discussed to study political culture, through an interpretive approach to his novels. It is concluded that literature allows exploring new ways of understanding the tensions between power and culture, also promotes a disruptive nature that dislocates the naturalization of the social order and favors the establishment of instituting actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Universitas Scientiarum is the property of Pontificia Universidad Javeriana 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.)

Alternaria is a saprophytic and opportunistic fungus with a worldwide distribution that can affect the quality of various agricultural products, such as fruits, cereals, and pseudocereals. This research was carried out to investigate the population of this genus associated with quinoa cultivation in plots located in the Boyacá department (Colombia), the country's third-largest quinoa-producing department. The present study found 17 Alternaria isolates, of which 13 were identified as A. alternata and 4 as A. scrophulariae (formerly A. conjuncta) employed molecular markers of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and translation elongation factor 1α (TEF-1α). In the pathogenicity test under greenhouse conditions, all the Alternaria isolates showed some degree of pathogenicity on Piartal quinoa cultivar plants although no significant differences were found in isolates. The severity indices ranged from 2 to 5, and the percentage of affected leaves per plant ranged between 15% and 40%. This fungus affected the foliar tissue of quinoa, resulting in chlorotic and necrotic spots, symptoms that can generate a reduction in the quality and productivity of crops. This is the first time that the pathogenicity of Alternaria spp. in the Piartal variety has been described and the first report of this genera in quinoa crops of Colombia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Villa de Leiva - Sáchica - Sutamarchán region is the most prolific locality for Early Cretaceous marine vertebrates in Colombia and one of the richest in these vertebrates in the world. All of these vertebrates come from beds of the Barremian-Aptian Arcillolitas abigarradas Member of the Paja Formation. Although many of the specimens have already been taxonomically studied, no publications have discussed their stratigraphic position and distribution within the Barremian-Aptian interval. Herein, we provide, for the first time, detailed stratigraphic information for the majority of the Barremian-Aptian marine vertebrates of the Villa de Leiva - Sáchica - Sutamarchán region reported so far. Based on 10 stratigraphic sections described in the several specimens finding sites, together with biostratigraphic information associated with specimens of imprecise geographical origin, we determined the stratigraphic provenance of 26 marine vertebrate specimens. We also refined the stratigraphic provenance of some specimens including the holotypes of Muiscasaurus catheti, "Kyhytysuka" sachicarum, and Protolamna ricaurtei whose stratigraphic origin was not previously specified beyond the Arcillolitas abigarradas Member. The data obtained allowed us to identify four vertebrate assemblages representing coeval faunas within the Barremian-Aptian interval, two from the Barremian and two from the upper Aptian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the preparation of gas pipelines in Colombia for the transportation of natural gas and hydrogen blends. It highlights the importance of renewable energies and the potential of hydrogen as solutions for energy and environmental challenges. Colombia is having a significant impact on the hydrogen economy and the fight against climate change. The need to define projected demand and future requirements for hydrogen production, storage, transportation, distribution, and final use in the country is raised. The importance of evaluating the capacity of existing gas pipelines to transport hydrogen and the need to implement safety measures and comply with international industry standards are also mentioned. Additionally, the need for a trained workforce in the hydrogen sector and the importance of adapting university curricula to the new needs of energy transformation are emphasized. [Extracted from the article]

This article presents a critical study regarding the existing articulation challenges in the policy of substitution of crops for illicit use and the policy of conservation and sustainable use in ethnic territories in Colombia from a casuistic perspective referring to the orders issued by the judges of restitution of lands where orders have been issued regarding the restoration of ecosystems and biocultural rights. The axis of analysis of this article is guided by the following question: What are the conditions for the strategies of substitution of crops for illicit use in ethnic territories to be effectively articulated with the conservation and forest restoration tools? One of the findings and inputs for the discussion refers to the low integration and coordination of actions available to solve the problems of environmental scope associated with the territorial affectations produced by events related to the armed conflict in Colombia. By way of conclusion, the conditions that must be modified to solve the legal problems of restoration of rights and administrative disarticulation in terms of environmental policy and the policy of reparation to victims are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Colombiana de Psiquiatria is the property of Asociacion Colombiana de Psiquiatria 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 Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica 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.)

Mixed methods are essential in public health research and malaria control, because they allow grasping part of the complexity and diversity of the factors that determine health-disease. This study analyzes the mixed studies on malaria in Colombia, 1980–2022, through a systematic review in 15 databases and institutional repositories. The methodological quality was assessed with Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT), STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE), and Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR). The qualitative and quantitative findings were grouped into a four-level hierarchical matrix. The epidemiological profile of malaria morbidity, from traditional epidemiology, has been sustained by environmental problems, armed conflict, individual risk behaviors, and low adherence to recommendations from health institutions. However, the qualitative component reveals deeper causes that are less studied, of greater theoretical complexity, and that reflect challenges to design and implement health interventions, such as socioeconomic and political crises, poverty, and the neoliberal orientation in the malaria control policy; the latter reflected in the change in the role of the State, the fragmentation of control actions, the predominance of insurance over social assistance, the privatization of the provision of health services, the individualistic and economistic predominance of health, and low connection with popular tradition and community initiatives. The above confirms the importance of expanding mixed studies as a source of evidence to improve malaria research and control models in Colombia, and to identify the underlying causes of the epidemiological profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The meanings and experiences related to malaria in pregnancy (MiP) and its processes of social determination of health (PSDH) have not been reported in the world scientific literature. The objective was to understand the meanings and experiences of MiP, and to explain their PSDH in an endemic area from Colombia, 2022. Methods: Critical ethnography with 46 pregnant women and 31 healthcare workers. In-depth and semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, participant and non-participant observations, and field diaries were applied. A phenomenological-hermeneutic analysis, saturation and triangulation was carried out. The methodological rigor criteria were reflexivity, credibility, auditability, and transferability. Results: At the singular level, participants indicated different problems in antenatal care and malaria control programmes, pregnant women were lacking knowledge about MiP, and malaria care was restricted to cases with high obstetric risk. Three additional levels that explain the PSDH of MiP were identified: (i) limitations of malaria control policies, and health-system, geographic, cultural and economic barriers by MiP diagnosis and treatment; (ii) problems of public health programmes and antenatal care; (iii) structural problems such as monetary poverty, scarcity of resources for public health and inefficiency in their use, lacking community commitment to preventive actions, and breach of institutional responsibilities of health promoter entity, municipalities and health services provider institutions. Conclusion: Initiatives for MiP control are concentrated at the singular level, PDSH identified in this research show the need to broaden the field of action, increase health resources, and improve public health programmes and antenatal care. It is also necessary to impact the reciprocal relationships of MiP with economic and cultural dimensions, although these aspects are increasingly diminished with the predominance and naturalization of neoliberal logic in health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliability analysis is usually required as input for feasibility assessments of rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems. This study introduces the concept of elasticity between the volumetric reliability and a cost function to optimize the storage capacity. The elasticity was estimated for three tanks at a campus of the Universidad de Santander, Colombia; by means of a daily water balance under specific conditions of demand (non-potable uses), infrastructure (area and coverage of surface), and climatic variability. This method showed that, the average expected efficiency ranges from 29% to 58% with tanks of 60 m3. These values are 7–10% lower than those expected just from the water balance, but the size of tanks decreases by up to 53%. Therefore, the present method allows not only a comparison between expected efficiencies from average estimations with the optimization from daily water balance, but also with that estimated in conjunction with costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scourge of explosive devices such as landmines, improvised explosive devices and unexploded ordnance, a product of armed conflicts in several countries around the world, has set a great precedent in the violation of fundamental human rights. In Colombia, the efforts of the government and NGOs to reduce their effects have succeeded in clearing minefields of more than 8 million square metres and destroying more than 7000 explosive devices. The standards for finding and clearing minefields (Confirmed Hazardous Areas - CHAs) include the determination of geographical coordinates (Latitude and Longitude) based on DATUM WGS84. However, the precision or accuracy in the location of these coordinates according to their capture method has been little studied and analysed, so this research investigates three methods for capturing coordinates on a simulated minefield (CHAs), finding interesting results: (1) The static method with dual frequency GNSS receivers presented a standard deviation of 4 millimetres corroborating a high accuracy, by Stop and Go it ranged between 4 and 19 millimetres with respect to the mean showing also a high accuracy, control by simple radiation confirmed obtaining a mean positional difference of 4.62 centimetres, (2) the capture of coordinates obtained with navigator yielded a mean positional difference of 219.28 centimetres, very similar to that obtained with (3) azimuths and distances without correction for a magnetic declination of 235.73; However, when corrected for magnetic declination, it gave a positional mean with correction of 53. 32, which showed a reliability of the method as long as the declination correction is applied and starting from a point with sufficient coordinate accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recently prepared fragment of the anterior end of a snout comprising occluded upper and lower jaws of a juvenile individual of Stenorhynchosaurus munozi Páramo-Fonseca et al., 2016 (Plesiosauria, Pliosauridae) is described herein. The specimen was found in the 1990s at Sutamarchán (Boyacá, Colombia), in Barremian beds of the Arcillolitas abigarradas Member of the Paja Formation. Its description provides hitherto unknown valuable morphological information on the species: dorsal anterior extension of the vomer, five premaxillary teeth (not four as was previously suggested), and anteriorly directed orientation of the first premaxillary alveolus (procumbent). New observations made on previously studied material corroborated the existence of procumbent anterior premaxillary teeth in the species. The presence of this trait highlights the close relationship of S. munozi with other early-diverging brachauchenines from the Lower Cretaceous of Russia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the COVID‐19 pandemic. This name was given to the disease caused by the SARS‐CoV 2 virus at its outbreak in December 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei, China. In Colombia, a significant number of cases have been confirmed. The aim of this study was to evaluate children with respiratory symptoms caused by SARS‐CoV2 infection, identifying independent predictors of risk of having a severe illness, thus leading to an early approach and intervention in our patients, especially in children with comorbidities. An analytical cross‐sectional study was conducted between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021 at a fourth‐level referral institution in Bogotá on patients under 18 years of age with respiratory symptoms and a COVID‐19 diagnosis confirmed in the laboratory. An explanatory binary logistic regression model was performed with an outcome variable of admission to the intensive care unit. A total of 385 children were included in the study, with ages between 9 months and 17 years of age; 50.1% were male, and the ICR was 9.75 years. 41.6% had some comorbidity, 13.5% were admitted to the pediatric ICU, and 3.6% of the total number of patients died. The predictor variables were: use of antibiotics in the first 24 h, neurological comorbidity, and consolidation shown in the chest X‐ray. This explains 38.7% of the variability of the variable. In this cohort of patients with COVID‐19‐associated respiratory symptoms, we identified predictors of severity, so we consider that these patients require a risk approach that allows timely and adequate care. [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]

Quinoa is a plant commonly-resistance to adverse biotic and abiotic factors. However, this crop can be affected by phytopathogenic fungi. There is a lack of knowledge about the fungi associated with quinoa plants in Colombia. Through morphological and molecular identification in this study were identified four Fusarium species associated with quinoa crops: Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium equiseti, and Fusarium culmorum. For this, we collected samples of panicles, leaf tissue, root tissue, and soil for isolation of different isolates of Fusarium. We performed a pathogenicity test of the fungi strains, under greenhouse conditions to evaluate the pathogenicity in seedlings of the Piartal cultivar with two inoculation methods. First inoculating the stem through a nodal wound or second inoculating the abaxial face with a brush. The results indicate the presence of four species with both molecular markers, phylogenetically distributed in these groups. The four species turned out to be pathogenic but with different degrees of virulence with significant differences between F. graminearum and F. oxysporum depending on the inoculation method. This is the first report on the presence of Fusarium species isolated from Quinoa in Colombia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID‐19 pandemic impacted people's lives all over the world, requiring health and safety measures intended to stop the virus from spreading. This study explores whether an unintended consequence of these measures is a new form of ageism. We explore, using qualitative methods, the experiences of older adults living through the pandemic in the United Kingdom and Colombia. Although there were some small differences between countries, for the most part, the experiences were similar. We found that older adults reported that they were seen as a homogenous group and experienced both benevolent and hostile ageism and a loss of autonomy as a consequence of COVID‐19 protection measures. Participants from both countries expressed anger and frustration, and increased anxiety, and felt that their individuality was ignored. We recommend that policy‐makers, the media, and wider society consider the impact of such health and safety measures on older adults in preparing for future pandemics and health challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban heritage is a category of cultural heritage. Historic centers are protected by a legal framework that safeguards the values that are the object of the declaration. The study of urban heritage protection policy in Colombia has been limited by the classical perspective. In contrast, this research performs a case study on conservation legislation and the historical centers declared in Colombia as Assets of Cultural Interest (BIC, in Spanish) between 1954 and 2019 from historical institutionalism. The methodology used is the Path Dependence Application Scheme (EAPD, in Spanish), which seeks to recognize the relationships between the variables, periods, and trajectory of the object of study; to demonstrate the hypothesis of this work, namely the emergence of urban heritage and protection mechanisms is due to the debilitation of the law and ideas of historical heritage. The preliminary conclusions outline five periods and emphasize the mutual dependence of urban heritage and protection policies, as well as the recent emergence of citizen participation, and the loss of flexibility and versatility of the legal framework with manifestations of irreversibility in the conservation of urban heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors of this study inquire about the association between handgrip strength (HGS) and the risk of falls in physically active older women. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 135 women between 50 and 90 years of age who were referred for the follow-up evaluations of HGS using dynamometry and the Tinetti scale to determine the risk of falls. The mean age was 68.8 ± 8.5 years. A total of 31.9% of women had a high risk of falls, and 55% reported five or more falls in the past six months. In addition, our results indicated that grip strength decreases as risk of falls increases (minimal risk = 42.8, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 39.8, 45.8; moderate risk = 31.3, 95% CI: 29.1, 33.5; high risk = 21.9, 95% CI: 19.3, 24.6). It should be considered that in physically active women aged over 50 years, the grip strength could be a predictor of falls and risk of falls. Evaluation of grip strength is a low-cost type of assessment that can be included as a part of physical tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Ciencia y Tecnología Agropecuaria is the property of Agrosavia 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 Granja, de Ciencias de la Vida is the property of Universidad Politecnica Salesiana 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 Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia is the property of Revista de la Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia 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: Knowledge of severe malaria (SM) or complicated malaria is insufficient in all its components. The least known type is the one associated with Plasmodium vivax, compared to that caused by P. falciparum. The aim of this study was to provide a general overview of epidemiological information about the burden of SM, obtained from the National Public Health Surveillance System (SIVIGILA) for the period 2007–2020 in Colombia. Methods: A descriptive, retrospective, and cross-sectional study of secondary information was performed via SIVIGILA. Results: There were 9881 SM cases among 1,060,950 total malaria cases in Colombia in 2007–2020: 9.31 SM cases per 1000 malaria cases. During this period, there were 7145 SM cases due to the following species: Plasmodium vivax, 57.6%; P. falciparum, 38.6%; severe mixed malaria, 3.2%; and P. malariae, 0.6%. The most compromised organ systems are the hematological system (54.9%), the liver (9.1%), the kidneys (4.2%), the lungs (1.9%) and the brain (1.6%). Conclusions: There has been a reduction in malaria incidence in Colombia in the last 10–15 years, but there has also been a strong increase in SM incidence. We suggest emphasizing the prevention of the onset of severe malaria, with the early and accurate diagnosis of plasmodial infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's world, globalization has brought about profound alterations in society and changes in our behavior. Thanks to technological advances, connectivity is part of today's lifestyle. This transformation gives a new general standard of cultural consumption worldwide and how creative and cultural products and services are created, produced, distributed and marketed. In this context, the growing prominence of the 21st century recognizes that creativity and human talent, beyond traditional factors such as labor and capital, have become instruments of promotion and development. The metropolitan area of Cúcuta, where the research takes place, is a border area whose economy has traditionally depended on the political and economic ups and downs between Colombia and Venezuela and shares a great culture, values, history and traditions between the two countries. For this reason, developing the creative economy in the border region is fundamental to creating economic development opportunities and preserving the culture and social identity. This research aims to characterize the Colombian-Venezuelan border's creative industry using the qualitative and documentary methodology, with an exploratory scope. The main results indicate that 1,545 companies are registered in the region and develop diverse activities such as software development, publications, news, music, plastic arts, conservation of historical sites, etc. The type of organization is microenterprises and family businesses with homegrown capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Dixi is the property of Universidad Cooperativa 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.)

Newcastle disease virus (NDV), also known as avian paramyxoviruses 1 (APMV-1) is among the most important viruses infecting avian species. Given its widespread circulation, there is a high risk for the reintroduction of virulent strains into the domestic poultry industry, making the surveillance of wild and domestic birds a crucial process to appropriately respond to novel outbreaks. In the present study, we investigated an outbreak characterized by the identification of sick pigeons in a large municipality in Northeastern Brazil in 2018. The affected pigeons presented neurological signs, including motor incoordination, torticollis, and lethargy. Moribund birds were collected, and through a detailed histopathological analysis we identified severe lymphoplasmacytic meningoencephalitis with perivascular cuffs and gliosis in the central nervous system, and lymphoplasmacytic inflammation in the liver, kidney, and intestine. A total of five pigeons tested positive for NDV, as assessed by rRT-PCR targeted to the M gene. Laboratory virus isolation on Vero E6 cells confirmed infection, after the recovery of infectious NVD from brain and kidney tissues. We next characterized the isolated NDV/pigeon/PE-Brazil/MP003/2018 by next-generation sequencing (NGS). Phylogenetic analysis grouped the virus with other NDV class II isolates from subgenotype VI.2.1.2, including two previous NDV isolates from Brazil in 2014 and 2019. The diversity of aminoacid residues at the fusion F protein cleavage site was analyzed identifying the motif RRQKR↓F, typical of virulent strains. Our results all highlight the importance of virus surveillance in wild and domestic birds, especially given the risk of zoonotic NDV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Introduction: young university students face a social dynamics that has generated complex lifestyles and, especially, an imbalance in the intake of macro and micronutrients, characterized by having a high caloric density intake, which results in significant excess of weight. It is unknown if these consumption patterns are related to body composition. This research aimed to determine the relationship between pattern of food consumption and body composition in university students. Method: an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study with a sample of 189 students. Sociodemographic variables obtained by a survey, body composition variables obtained by bioimpedance, and food groups and their categories obtained via a 24-hour reminder method were included. A multinomial logistic regression model was performed to explain body composition according to consumption of food groups. Results: statistically significant associations were obtained between food consumption and body composition for visceral fat and consumption of eggs, meats, sausages and grains (p = 0.024), and consumption of sugars with bone mass (p = 0.029) and muscle mass (p = 0.013). The multiple regression model showed that sugar consumption increases the risk of having visceral fat (OR = 2.71), and increases the probability of being classified as an obese person (OR = 2.55). Consumption of eggs, meats, sausages, and grains favors an acceptable percentage of visceral fat (OR = 0.14). The consumption of fruits and vegetables increases the risk of having a high percentage of water (OR = 5.41), and low fat percentage (OR = 3.60). Conclusions: the consumption of sugars seems to have a close relationship with variables of body composition such as visceral fat, bone mass, and muscle mass. The consumption of fruits and vegetables was related to a low percentage of fat; however, their consumption is proportionally related to high levels of body water. Studies to establish associations between body composition and food consumption should be carried out taking into account specific intakes in order to establish a more accurate association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on Gestational Malaria (GM) is scarce in America's. In the few available studies in Colombia, the analysis of immunological or parasitological aspects predominates, with few analyzes of epidemiological aspects. The objectives were to determine the frequency of GM and submicroscopic infections (positive with PCR and negative with thick blood smears), to identify obstetric and malaria history associated with GM, and to describe maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with GM, in northwestern Colombia. A retrospective study with records of 825 pregnant women was conducted. qPCR and thick blood smear were performed. Frequencies were determined with 95% confidence intervals. Comparisons were made with the Chi-square test, Mann–Whitney U test, and prevalence ratios adjusted in a log-binomial model. The frequency of GM was 35.8% (95% CI 32.4–39.1) of submicroscopic infection was 16.2% (95% CI 13.7–18.8). According to the multivariable model, the subgroups with the highest frequency of GM were pregnant women without healthcare coverage (32.3%), in the third trimester of pregnancy (30.5%), nulliparous (35.6%), and with a previous diagnosis of malaria in the current pregnancy (64.0%). GM was associated with more frequency of gestational anemia, infection in neonates, and lower birth weight. The results indicate in a precise and direct way that malaria control in this northwestern region of Colombia is far from adequate, which is even more serious considering the affectations for the mother and the neonate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In genes related to drug pharmacokinetics, molecular variations determine interindividual variability in the therapeutic efficacy and adverse drug reactions. The assessment of single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) is used with growing frequency in pharmacogenetic practice, and recently, high-throughput genomic analyses obtained through next-generation sequencing (NGS) have been recognized as powerful tools to identify common, rare and novel variants. These genetic profiles remain underexplored in Latin-American populations, including Colombia. In this study, we investigated the variability of 35 genes included in the ADME core panel (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) by whole-exome sequencing (WES) of 509 unrelated Colombian individuals with no previous reports of adverse drug reactions. Rare variants were filtered according to the minor allele frequencies (MAF) <1% and potential deleterious consequences. The functional impact of novel and rare missense variants was assessed using an optimized framework for pharmacogenetic variants. Bioinformatic analyses included the identification of clinically validated variants described in PharmGKB and ClinVar databases. Ancestry from WES data was inferred using the R package EthSEQ v2.1.4. Allelic frequencies were compared to other populations reported in the public gnomAD database. Our analysis revealed that rare missense pharmacogenetic variants were 2.1 times more frequent than common variants with 121 variants predicted as potentially deleterious. Rare loss of function (LoF) variants were identified in 65.7% of evaluated genes. Regarding variants with clinical pharmacogenetic effect, our study revealed 89 sequence variations in 28 genes represented by missense (62%), synonymous (22.5%), splice site (11.2%), and indels (3.4%). In this group, ABCB1 , ABCC2 , CY2B6 , CYP2D6 , DPYD , NAT2 , SLC22A1 , and UGTB2B7 , are the most polymorphic genes. NAT2, CYP2B6 and DPYD metabolizer phenotypes demonstrated the highest variability. Ancestry analysis indicated admixture in 73% of the population. Allelic frequencies exhibit significant differences with other Latin-American populations, highlighting the importance of pharmacogenomic studies in populations of different ethnicities. Altogether, our data revealed that rare variants are an important source of variability in pharmacogenes involved in the pharmacokinetics of drugs and likely account for the unexplained interindividual variability in drug response. These findings provide evidence of the utility of WES for pharmacogenomic testing and into clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]