Influencia del uso del suelo en la diversidad y composición de artrópodos edáficos en la Granja Tunguavita

The modification of the landscape, the intense exploitation of natural resources through intensive agriculture and the advance of the agricultural frontier result in the homogenization of the landscape and alteration of soil physicochemical conditions. These soil alterations cause changes in the composition and diversity of edaphic arthropod communities that can be used as biomonitoring and diagnostic tools in local areas. The objective of the study was to evaluate the diversity of edaphic arthropods and their association to different physicochemical parameters (i.e., pH, real density, bulk density, %OC, %OM and gravimetric and volumetric humidity) in three soil uses (permanent crop, rotational crop and pasture) in the experimental farm Tunguavita Paipa - Boyacá. The plot sampling technique was used to obtain data on biological and physicochemical variables. Samples were taken in three soil uses, permanent crop, rotational crop and cattle ranch. The edaphic arthropods and physicochemical variables were determined in the soil laboratory of the Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia. The highest diversity of edaphic arthropods (309 individuals) was recorded in the permanent crop plot, followed by the rotational crop plot, both with high average values of %OM (1.82 - 1.90) and %OC (1.05 - 1.10). The Oligochaeta, Diplopoda and Araneae group were the major contributors to the biological differentiation between land uses. The changes in the abundance of edaphic arthropods were related to % gravimetric humidity, %volumetric humidity, pH, %OM and %OC, while the values of real density and bulk density did not correlate to a great extent with the changes in abundance. These variations allow the differentiation of land uses in an intervention gradient.  La modificación del paisaje, la intensa explotación de recursos naturales mediante agricultura intensiva y el avance de la frontera agrícola da resultado la homogeneización del paisaje y alteración de condiciones fisicoquímicas del suelo. Estas alteraciones en el suelo provocan cambios en la composición y diversidad de las comunidades de artrópodos edáficos que pueden ser utilizados como herramientas de biomonitoreo y diagnostico en zonas locales. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar la diversidad de artrópodos edáficos y su asociación a diferentes parámetros fisicoquímicos (i.e., pH, densidad real, densidad aparente, CO, MO y humedad gravimétrica y volumétrica) en tres usos del suelo (cultivo permanente, cultivo rotativo y pastoreo) en la granja experimental Tunguavita Paipa – Boyacá. Para obtener los datos de las variables biológicas y fisicoquímicas se usó la técnica de muestreo por parcela. Las muestras fueron tomadas en tres usos de suelo, cultivo permanente, cultivo rotativo y lote de ganadería. Los artrópodos edáficos y se determinó las variables fisicoquímicas en el laboratorio de suelos de la Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia. La mayor diversidad de artrópodos edáficos (309 individuos), se registró en el lote de cultivo permanente, seguido del cultivo rotativo ambos con valores promedio altos de %MO (1.82 – 1.90) y %CO (1.05 – 1.10). El grupo de Oligochaeta, Diplopoda y Araneae fueron los que contribuyeron en mayor proporción a la diferenciación biológica entre usos de suelo. Los cambios en la abundancia de artrópodos edáficos, se relacionaron con % Humedad gravimétrica, %Humedad volumétrica, pH, %MO y %CO, mientras que los valores de densidad real y densidad aparente, no se correlacionaron en gran medida con los cambios de abundancia. Estas variaciones permiten la diferenciación de usos de suelo en un gradiente de intervención

Nuevos chamanes en la Colombia accidentalizada

Este es un ensayo de una pequeña investigación de pregrado en donde se busca hacer una revisión bibliográfica de los temas asociados al chamanismo en la ciudad, o neochamanismo (como algunos lo llaman). Para este ensayo se muestra cómo puede estar funcionando la teoría en un caso etnografico concreto en un lugar de Bogotá. Este ensayo fue escogido para participar como ponencia , en 2009, en el Primer Foro Interno de Debate y Reflexión Escuela de Ciencias Humanas de la Universidad del Rosari

Status of neutrino oscillations 2018: first hint for normal mass ordering and improved CP sensitivity

We present a new global fit of neutrino oscillation parameters within the simplest three-neutrino picture, including new data which appeared since our previous analysis~\cite{Forero:2014bxa}. In this update we include new long-baseline neutrino data involving the antineutrino channel in T2K, as well as new data in the neutrino channel, data from NO$\nu$A, as well as new reactor data, such as the Daya Bay 1230 days electron antineutrino disappearance spectrum data and the 1500 live days prompt spectrum from RENO, as well as new Double Chooz data. We also include atmospheric neutrino data from the IceCube DeepCore and ANTARES neutrino telescopes and from Super-Kamiokande. Finally, we also update our solar oscillation analysis by including the 2055-day day/night spectrum from the fourth phase of the Super-Kamiokande experiment. With the new data we find a preference for the atmospheric angle in the upper octant for both neutrino mass orderings, with maximal mixing allowed at $\Delta\chi^2 = 1.6 \, (3.2)$ for normal (inverted) ordering. We also obtain a strong preference for values of the CP phase $\delta$ in the range $[\pi,2\pi]$, excluding values close to $\pi/2$ at more than 4$\sigma$. More remarkably, our global analysis shows for the first time hints in favour of the normal mass ordering over the inverted one at more than 3$\sigma$. We discuss in detail the origin of the mass ordering, CP violation and octant sensitivities, analyzing the interplay among the different neutrino data samples.Comment: Updated neutrino oscillation analysis using the most recent results from T2K, NO$\nu$A, RENO and Super-Kamiokande. 17 pages, 8 figures, 1 tabl

Between Reality and Fantasy: The Narrative Strategies of the Horror Genre in Productions by Laika Studios (2009-2015)

The purpose of this study is to explore the narrative strategies used to communicate the horror genre in the scripts of Laika studios and to investigate both the extent to which they contribute to imbuing the genre with a unique character in aesthetic and dramatic terms within mainstream animation cinema and the role they fulfil within the framework of their thematic approaches. To this end, a textual analysis of the studio’s productions was conducted for Coraline (Henry Selick, 2009), ParaNorman (Chris Butler & Sam Fell, 2012), The Boxtrolls (Graham Annable & Anthony Stacchi, 2014) and Kubo and the Two Strings (Travis Knight, 2016). The analysis was based on the knowledge categories proposed by Jule Selbo’s (2010) study on the creation of a mental space for the genre. The categories are divided into schematic, specific, and relevant knowledge. Finally, this study demonstrates how the tactics of the horror genre used in these films have enabled a different view of common themes in family-oriented Hollywood animation by communicating a stark image of the family and growing up. Although this image is not transgressive, it is certainly innovative by virtue of its thematic content, in which warnings against romanticising reality abound.El presente trabajo tiene por objeto explorar las estrategias narrativas que se refieren a la comunicación del género de terror en los guiones del estudio Laika, indagando en qué medida contribuyen a darle un carácter singular en términos estéticos y dramáticos dentro del cine de animación mainstream, así como cuál es el papel que estas cumplen en el marco de sus planteamientos temáticos. Para ello se realiza un análisis textual de sus producciones Coraline (Henry Selick, 2009), Paranorman (Chris Butler & San Fell, 2012); The Boxtrolls (Graham Annable & Anthony Stacchi, 2014) y Kubo and the Two String (Travis Knight, 2016), a partir del estudio de las categorías propuestas por Jule Selbo (2010) para la creación de un espacio mental del género: el conocimiento esquemático, el conocimiento específico y el conocimiento relevante. Por último, se logra evidenciar cómo las tácticas del género de terror en estas obras han facilitado el tratamiento de temas frecuentes en el cine familiar de animación hollywoodense con un prisma distinto, comunicando una visión descarnada de la familia y del crecer, que si bien no es transgresora sí es innovadora en virtud del contenido de sus propuestas temáticas, en la que prima una advertencia sobre la no idealización de la realidad

Low genetic diversity in the locus encoding the Plasmodium vivax P41 protein in Colombia's parasite population

Background: The development of malaria vaccine has been hindered by the allele-specific responses produced by some parasite antigens' high genetic diversity. Such antigen genetic diversity must thus be evaluated when designing a completely effective vaccine. Plasmodium falciparum P12, P38 and P41 proteins have red blood cell binding regions in the s48/45 domains and are located on merozoite surface, P41 forming a heteroduplex with P12. These three genes have been identified in Plasmodium vivax and share similar characteristics with their orthologues in Plasmodium falciparum. Plasmodium vivax pv12 and pv38 have low genetic diversity but pv41 polymorphism has not been described.Results: Similarly to other members of the 6-Cys family, pv41 had low genetic polymorphism. pv41 3′-end displayed the highest nucleotide diversity value; several substitutions found there were under positive selection. Negatively selected codons at inter-species level were identified in the s48/45 domains; p41 would thus seem to have functional/structural constraints due to the presence of these domains.Methods. The present study was aimed at evaluating the P. vivax p41 (pv41) gene's polymorphism. DNA sequences from Colombian clinical isolates from pv41 gene were analysed for characterising and studying the genetic diversity and the evolutionary forces that produced the variation pattern so observed.Conclusions: In spite of the functional constraints of Pv41 s48/45 domains, immune system pressure seems to have allowed non-synonymous substitutions to become fixed within them as an adaptation mechanism; including Pv41 s48/45 domains in a vaccine should thus be carefully evaluated due to these domains containing some allele variants. © 2014Forero-Rodríguez et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

Heterogeneous genetic diversity pattern in Plasmodium vivax genes encoding merozoite surface proteins (MSP) -7E, -7F and -7L

Background: The msp-7 gene has become differentially expanded in the Plasmodium genus; Plasmodium vivax has the highest copy number of this gene, several of which encode antigenic proteins in merozoites. Methods: DNA sequences from thirty-six Colombian clinical isolates from P. vivax (pv) msp-7E, -7F and -7L genes were analysed for characterizing and studying the genetic diversity of these pvmsp-7 members which are expressed during the intra-erythrocyte stage; natural selection signals producing the variation pattern so observed were evaluated. Results: The pvmsp-7E gene was highly polymorphic compared to pvmsp-7F and pvmsp-7L which were seen to have limited genetic diversity; pvmsp-7E polymorphism was seen to have been maintained by different types of positive selection. Even though these copies seemed to be species-specific duplications, a search in the Plasmodium cynomolgi genome (P. vivax sister taxon) showed that both species shared the whole msp-7 repertoire. This led to exploring the long-term effect of natural selection by comparing the orthologous sequences which led to finding signatures for lineage-specific positive selection. Conclusions: The results confirmed that the P. vivax msp-7 family has a heterogeneous genetic diversity pattern; some members are highly conserved whilst others are highly diverse. The results suggested that the 3′-end of these genes encode MSP-7 proteins' functional region whilst the central region of pvmsp-7E has evolved rapidly. The lineage-specific positive selection signals found suggested that mutations occurring in msp-7s genes during host switch may have succeeded in adapting the ancestral P. vivax parasite population to humans. © 2014 Garzón-Ospina et al

Evidence of functional divergence in MSP7 paralogous proteins : a molecular-evolutionary and phylogenetic analysis

Background: The merozoite surface protein 7 (MSP7) is a Plasmodium protein which is involved in parasite invasion; the gene encoding it belongs to a multigene family. It has been proposed that MSP7 paralogues seem to be functionally redundant; however, recent experiments have suggested that they could have different roles. Results: The msp7 multigene family has been described in newly available Plasmodium genomes; phylogenetic relationships were established in 12 species by using different molecular evolutionary approaches for assessing functional divergence amongst MSP7 members. Gene expansion and contraction rule msp7 family evolution; however, some members could have had concerted evolution. Molecular evolutionary analysis showed that relaxed and/or intensified selection modulated Plasmodium msp7 paralogous evolution. Furthermore, episodic diversifying selection and changes in evolutionary rates suggested that some paralogous proteins have diverged functionally. Conclusions: Even though msp7 has mainly evolved in line with a birth-and-death evolutionary model, gene conversion has taken place between some paralogous genes allowing them to maintain their functional redundancy. On the other hand, the evolutionary rate of some MSP7 paralogs has become altered, as well as undergoing relaxed or intensified (positive) selection, suggesting functional divergence. This could mean that some MSP7s can form different parasite protein complexes and/or recognise different host receptors during parasite invasion. These results highlight the importance of this gene family in the Plasmodium genus. © 2016 The Author(s)

Changes in diet and trophic position of a top predator 10 years after a mass mortality of a key prey

After the disappearance of primary prey, seabirds exhibit gradually decreased breeding performance, and eventually the population size drops. Results are presented of an investigation into the diet of little penguins (Eudyptula minor) at Phillip Island, Australia, during a period when their key prey, pilchard (Sardinops sagax), declined dramatically. Data from stomach flushing (1982-2006) were used, supported by stable isotope (δ 15N, δ13C) analyses of blood samples (2003, 2004, and 2006). The effect of the pilchard mortality on penguin diet was immediate, the birds shifting to a diet almost devoid of pilchard, and this was followed by 2 years of low breeding success, with considerably fewer penguins coming ashore. During periods when pilchard was not part of the diet, penguins consumed prey of a higher trophic level, e.g. higher values of δ15N. Variability in penguin blood δ15N coincided with years of low prey diversity. The disappearance of pilchard resulted in a decrease in prey diversity and led penguins to >fish up> the foodweb, possibly because of the simplified trophic structure. After 1998, however, breeding success re-attained average levels and the numbers of penguins coming ashore increased, probably because of increased abundance of prey other than pilchard after a 3-year period of food scarcity. Although little penguins apparently compensated over time, a less-flexible diet could make them ultimately vulnerable to further changes in their foodweb. © 2010 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.Peer Reviewe

Caracterización de la cadena productiva de cuyes en el sur de Colombia e identificación de los factores determinantes para la adecuada prestación de servicios de extensión

The development of agrifood systems in Latin America reflects contrasting policy goals. Most governments advocate that “modernization,” measured as increased rates of technology adoption, is the way to address persistent food insecurity. By contrast, peasants’ and indigenous people’s organizations and social movements propose advancing knowledge co-production and co-innovation to increase the resilience of agrifood systems. Colombia reformed the National Innovation System for Agriculture in 2017. The policy reform instructed transitioning from providing “technical advice” to rural extension services. The research aimed to fill the knowledge gap regarding the transition to rural extension along the guinea pig production chain.   In addition to characterizing the production chain, we conducted qualitative and reflectivity analyses to understand better how institutional practices and research cultures hinder or promote transitioning to rural extension. The investigation revealed that small-scale farmers who rely on the production and commercialization of guinea pigs as a livelihood strategy have continued receiving advice to adopt the latest technologies. In closing, besides addressing technological deficits or inefficiencies, a systemic approach that considers cultural context and identity must integrate into rural extension to ensure technological adoption is aligned with the sustainability and resilience objectives of the guinea pig production chain.El desarrollo de los sistemas agroalimentarios en América Latina refleja objetivos de política contrarios. La mayoría de los gobiernos defienden que la “modernización”, medida como mayores tasas de adopción de tecnología, es la forma de abordar la inseguridad alimentaria persistente. Por el contrario, las organizaciones campesinas e indígenas y los movimientos sociales proponen avanzar en la coproducción de conocimiento y la coinnovación para aumentar la resiliencia de los sistemas agroalimentarios. Colombia reformó el Sistema Nacional de Innovación para la Agricultura en 2017, la cual instruyó la transición de prestación del servicio de asistencia técnica al de extensión rural. El propósito de la investigación fue llenar el vacío de conocimiento sobre la transición al extensionismo rural a lo largo de la cadena productiva cuyícola. Además de caracterizar la cadena productiva, se realizaron análisis cualitativos y de reflexividad para comprender mejor la manera en que las prácticas institucionales y las culturas de investigación obstaculizan o promueven la transición hacia la extensión rural. La investigación reveló que los pequeños agricultores quienes dependen de la producción y comercialización de cuyes como estrategia de subsistencia han seguido recibiendo asesoramiento para adoptar las últimas tecnologías. Se concluyó que, además de abordar los déficits o las ineficiencias tecnológicas, se debe integrar un enfoque sistémico que considere el contexto cultural y la identidad al extensionismo rural a fin de garantizar que la adopción tecnológica se ajuste a los objetivos de sostenibilidad y resiliencia de esta cadena productiva