Short comunication. First report of flesh fly eggs (DIPTERA: SARCOPHAGIDAE) in Pristimantis achatinus (ANURA: CRAUGASTORIDAE) from Colombia

En este trabajo presentamos el primer registro de una mosca de la carne (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) depositando sus huevos en el cuerpo de una rana de hojarasca, Pristimatis achatinus.In this work, we present the first record of a flesh fly (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) depositing its eggs on the body of a leaf litter frog, Pristimatis achatinus

Mapa do Processo de Internacionalização das Instituições colombianas de Ensino Superior

The objective of the present investigation was oriented to structure the map of the internationalization process of the Colombian Higher Education Institutions (IESC), in this way, the strategic, key and support activities that really generate value were identified. The main authors considered are: Sorolla (2019), Mayer and Catalano (2019), Castro and Wolf (2018), Ganga, Pérez and Mansilla (2018), Hoyos and Villamizar (2018), Colciencias (2017), Colotta, Lavallen and Presa (2017), Pérez (2009), among others. Research is considered descriptive, under a qualitative approach, with a non-experimental, transectional design. In a first phase, IES internationalization models were reviewed in countries such as China, Argentina, Costa Rica, Mexico, Cuba, among others. Next, work tables were developed to classify the activities that make up the process map. From this study, a series of open interviews were conducted with the staff of the internationalization area of the main IES located in the Department of Antioquia. Finally, the structure of the Internationalization process is proposed, indicating not only the fundamental activities, but also the strategic interrelation that they must maintain, to ensure its effectiveness.El objetivo de la presente investigación estuvo orientado a estructurar el mapa del proceso de internacionalización de las Instituciones de Educación Superior Colombianas (IESC), de tal forma, se identificaron las actividades estratégicas, clave y de apoyo, que realmente generan valor. Los principales autores considerados son: Sorolla (2019), Mayer y Catalano (2019), Castro y Wolf (2018), Ganga, Pérez y Mansilla (2018), Hoyos y Villamizar (2018), Colciencias (2017), Colotta, Lavallen y Presa (2017), Pérez (2009), entre otros. La investigación se considera de tipo descriptiva, bajo un enfoque cualitativo, con un diseño no experimental, transeccional. En una primera fase se procedió a revisar modelos de internacionalización de IES en países como China, Argentina, Costa Rica, México, Cuba, entre otros. Seguidamente, se desarrollaron mesas de trabajo para clasificar las actividades que componen el mapa de procesos. A partir de este estudio, se realizaron una serie de entrevistas abiertas al personal del área de internacionalización de las principales IES de ubicadas en el Departamento de Antioquia. Finalmente, se propone la estructura del proceso de Internacionalización, indicando no solo las actividades fundamentales, sino también la interrelación estratégica que las mismas deben mantener, para asegurar la efectividad del mismo.O objetivo da presente investigação esteve orientado a estruturar o mapa do processo de internacionalização das Instituciones de Educación Superior Colombianas (IESC), de tal forma, se identificaram as actividades estratégicas, chave e de apoyo, que realmente agregam valor. Os principais autores considerados são: Sorolla (2019), Mayer e Catalano (2019), Castro e Wolf (2018), Ganga, Pérez e Mansilla (2018), Hoyos e Villamizar (2018), Colciencias (2017), Colotta, Lavallen e Presa (2017), Pérez (2009), entre outros. A investigação considera-se de tipo descriptiva, uma abordagem qualitativa, com um desenho não experimental. Numa primera fase se procedeu a revisar os modelos de internacionalização de IES em países como: China, Argentina, Costa Rica, México, Cuba, entre outros. Seguidamente, desenvolveram-se actividades laboráis para classificar as actividades que compõem o mapa de processos. A partir deste estudo, realizaram-se una serie de entrevistas abertas ao pessoal da área de internacionalização das principais IES de localizadas no Departamento de Antioquia. Finalmente, propõem-se a estructura do processo de Internacionalização, indicando não só as actividades fundamentais, mas também a inter-relação estratégica que as mesmas devem manter, para assegurar a efectividade ddo mesmo

Niveles de citoquinas en suero de adictos a heroína bajo consumo activo o en terapia de mantenimiento con metadona y controles sanos en Pereira (Colombia)

Introduction: methadone constitutes the standard therapy for the management of heroin addiction. During the rehabilitation, patients improve their health status and seem to become immunocompetent, a fact attributed to the decrease in risk practices, better nutrition and the cessation of heroin consumption, whose immunosuppressive effects are known. However, since methadone is also a glutamate antagonist, it might have an additional immunostimulant activity.Aim: to compare serum levels of the cytokines TNF-a, IFN-y and IL-10 between heroin addicts under active consumption (CA=32), addicts under methadone maintenance therapy (Met=20) and healthy controls without history of addiction (Cont=20).Materials and methods: seventy two individuals from both sexes, under 18 years-old, without any recent infection or a positive HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C test, were included in the study. None of the subjects were taking drugs with effects on the immune system.Results: there were no differences between the groups in terms of gender (91,7 % men), age (25,2 ± 8 years) and time of heroin abuse (5,3 ± 2,9 years). All the addicts reported the use of other illicit drugs such as marijuana (96%), cocaine/ bazuco (79%) and other psychoactive drugs (52%). In the Met group, none of the individuals reported the use of cocaine/bazuco but most of them kept on consuming marijuana. Significant differences in the TNF-a (p=0.0004), IFN-y (p=0.014) and IL-10 (p=0.0001) levels between the studied groups were found; these differences persist when we compared addicts and control individuals.Conclusion: a differential pattern of cytokine production in the sera of addicts and healthy individuals was found, however, a clear pattern of immune response induced by the methadone treatment could not be determined.Introducción: el tratamiento con metadona constituye el estándar de manejo de adictos a heroína. Durante la rehabilitación los pacientes mejoran su estado de salud y parecen volverse inmunocompetentes; hecho atribuido al abandono de prácticas de riesgo, mejor nutrición y suspensión de la heroína, cuyo efecto inmunodepresor es conocido. Pero como la metadona es también antagonista del glutamato, podría tener actividad inmunoestimulante adicional.Objetivo: comparar niveles séricos de las citoquinas FNT-a, IFN-y e IL-10, entre adictos a heroína en consumo activo (CA=32), adictos tratados con metadona (Met=20) y controles sanos sin historia de adicción (Cont=20).Materiales y métodos: participaron 72 individuos de ambos sexos, mayores de edad, con pruebas serológicas para VIH/SIDA, hepatitis B y C negativas, que no utilizaran fármacos con efectos sobre el sistema inmune.Resultados: no hubo diferencias entre los grupos respecto a género (91,7% hombres), edad (25,2 ± 8 años) y tiempo de abuso de heroína (5,3 ± 2,9 años). Todos los adictos reportaron consumo de otras drogas ilícitas: 96% marihuana, 79% cocaína/basuco y 52% otros psicoactivos. Ningún individuo del grupo Met seguía consumiendo cocaína/basuco, pero la mayoría continuaba el consumo de marihuana. Se encontraron diferencias significativas en los niveles de FNT-a (p=0,0004), IFN-y (p=0,014) e IL-10 (p=0,0001) entre los tres grupos estudiados; esta diferencia se conserva para las tres citoquinas cuando se comparan adictos con no adictos.Conclusión: se encontró un patrón de producción de citoquinas séricas diferencial entre adictos y no adictos, pero no fue posible determinar un patrón de respuesta inmune inducido por metadona

Automating biological monitoring on the Northern Andes of South America: combining biology and machine learning for conservation

The northern Andes in South America harbors one of the most diverse biological diversity on the planet. Yet, it is one of the most threatened regions as a result of habitat fragmentation, invasive species, agriculture and cattle grazing, and global climate change. It is therefore critical to implement robust conservation strategies and effective monitoring plans. In the region, biological monitoring relies on traditional methods such as direct observation and capture. These methods are expensive and require a large effort specially for rare species. As an alternative, automated passive bioacoustics allow to obtain large amounts of data both in time and space and in comparison, with traditional methods at low cost. The main challenge in passive monitoring is to handle and analyze these rivers of information in order to obtain meaningful results from acoustic data. We have implemented a passive bioacoustic monitoring since 2012 on the northern Andes in Colombia, a highly diverse region in the Neotropics. Our goals are two fold: first, we want to develop analytical strategies to process large amounts of sound files and second we are interested in answering biological questions from individuals to the landscape. As a result of this monitoring, we have developed a machine learning algorithm based on syllable recognition to automatically identify frog species (Ecol. Inf. 24: 200-209). We also have developed an algorithm to estimate the amount of rain from acoustic recordings (Ecol. Ind. 75:95-100). We have answered biological questions ranging from acoustic niche partitioning, interaction of traditional community indices with acoustic indices, and association of acoustic indices with landscape features. Now, we are using passive monitoring to fit complex occupation models and to determine assembling rules in anuran communities. In addition, we are assessing acoustic indices aiming to develop tools with more functions for soundscape analysis (Ecol. Inf. 45:16-25). We show how the continuous feedback between biologists and engineers will spike the implementation and analysis of passive monitoring in imperiled tropical hotspots

Clinical and etiological characterization of a sam-ple of children and adults with dysphagia treated in two healthcare centers in Medellín/Colombia: a retrospective study

Introduction: Dysphagia is a frequent disorder throughout the life cycle, which has different etiolo-gies in relation to its clinical type in oropharyngeal or esophageal.Objective: Clinical and etiological characterization of a sample with dysphagia attended in two health care centers in the city of Medellín (Colombia), showing the etiology and clinical type of dysphagia according to age groups. Methods: Observational, descriptive, and retrospective study, through the review and analysis of and clinical records of patients with a diagnosis of dysphagia, treated between 2012 and 2018 in a university hospital and a speech therapy center in swallowing. Results: Sample of 527 patients. Distributed in tho-se under 18 years 45.4% (239/527); 18 to 59: 20.1% (106/527) and over 60: 34.5% (182/527). Clinical type, etiology, and most frequent health condition in the entire sample: oropharyngeal dysphagia, functional etiology, and neurological diseases. The most frequent conditions causing dysphagia in children under 18 years of age were childhood development disorders; group 18 to 59 years, cancer and, in those over 60 years of age, neurodegenerative processes. Conclusion: Oropharyngeal dysphagia due to functional etiology is common throughout the life cycle, and neurological diseases seem to largely explain its pathophysiology. In older adults it is associated with neurodegenerative disorders, and in those under 60 years of age (including children) the etiology is diverse. Its causes and clinical characteristics must be considered for promotion, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation processes