Economic and social convergence in Colombia

GDP has usually been used as a proxy for human well-being. Nevertheless, other social aspects should also be considered, such as life expectancy, infant mortality, educational enrolment and crime issues. With this paper we investigate not only economic convergence but also social convergence between regions in a developing country, Colombia, in the period 1975-2005. We consider several techniques in our analysis: sigma convergence, stochastic kernel estimations, and also several empirical models to find out the beta convergence parameter (cross section and panel estimates, with and without spatial dependence). The main results confirm that we can talk about convergence in Colombia in key social variables, although not in the classic economic variable, GDP per capita. We have also found that spatial autocorrelation reinforces convergence processes through deepening market and social factors, while isolation condemns regions to nonconvergence.

Is the wage curve formal or informal? Evidence for Colombia

Using microdata from the 2002-2006 Colombian Continuous Household Survey, we find an elasticity of individual wages to local unemployment rates of -0.07. However, the elasticity for informal workers is significantly higher, a result which is consistent with efficiency wage theoretical models and relevant for regional labour markets analysis in developing countries.

Condiciones de trabajo psicosociales y desgaste psíquico en trabajadores de diversos sectores empresariales de Centro Oriente, Suroccidente y región Caribe en Colombia

Peer-reviewed

Sevillian transport jars in early colonial America: the case of Santa María La Antigua del Darién (Colombia)

Within the scope of the TECNOLONIAL (HAR2008-02834/HIST) project, an archaeologi- cal and archaeometric research is being conduct- ed in order to clarify and systematize transport jars production in the Iberian peninsula and their distribution abroad, especially to the Americas, from the 15th to the 17th century. The production centre of Seville, in the Crown of Castile, produced large glazed and unglazed transport jars, called botijas, which were mainly devoted to the Atlantic trade network. The pres- ent study accounts for the first results obtained from an initial sample of 34 transport jars dated around the 15th-16th centuries from the produc- tion centre of Seville and the reception site of Santa María de la Antigua del Darién (gulf of Urabá, Colombia). This latter site is especially significant since it was the first Spanish founda- tion (1510) in continental America that obtained the title of town, and was the seat for the Governor of the new region called Castilla de Oro, as well as for the first diocese. All individuals were analyzed by means of x-ray fluorescence and diffraction analyses and then compared with the majolica production database from Seville. The results enabled us to define the first refer- ence groups for such modern transport jars, and to get a first insight into the jars coming to the Americas in the early 16th century whose prove- nance can be linked to Seville, but not Triana.

Is the wage curve formal or informal? Evidence for Colombia

The objective of this paper is to analyse the existente or not of a wage curve in Colombia, paying special attention to the differences between formal and informal workers, an issue that has been systematically ignored in the wage curve literature. The obtained results using microdata from the Colombian Continuous Household Survey (CHS) between 2002 and 2006 show the existence of a wage curve with a negative slope for the Colombian economy. Using information on metropolitan areas, the estimates of the elasticity of individual wages to local unemployment rates was -0.07, a value that is very close to those obtained for other countries. However, the disaggregation of statistical information for formal and informal workers has shown significant differences among both groups of workers. In particular, for the less protected groups of the labour market, informal workers (both men and women), a high negatively sloped wage curve was found. This result is consistent with the conclusions from efficiency wage theoretical models and should be taken into account when analysing the functioning of regional labour markets in developing countries.

Condiciones de trabajo psicosociales y desgaste psíquico en trabajadores de diversos sectores empresariales de centro-oriente, suroccidente y región Caribe en Colombia

Objetivo: Determinar la percepción de trabajadores de distintos sectores empresariales de Colombia sobre los factores psicosociales presentes en su entorno laboral y la relación entre los factores psicosociales nocivos y los síntomas subjetivos y alteraciones de la salud. Materiales y métodos: Estudio no experimental, transversal y cuantitativo. Participaron 370 trabajadores, de diferentes sectores empresariales de Colombia (Centro-Oriente, Suroccidente y región Caribe). Instrumento: batería para el estudio de las condiciones de trabajo de carácter psicosocial (CTCPS-MAC), validada para población iberoamericana, permite evaluar cuatro dimensiones: Contexto de trabajo, Contenido de trabajo, Factores individuales y Desgaste psíquico e incluye catorce factores psicosociales. Los datos se analizaron con IBM SPSS statistics 21. Se realizó análisis bivariado y regresión logística multivariante de factores psicosociales nocivos y desgaste psíquico. Resultados: Los factores formación, baja médica, contexto de trabajo, contenido de trabajo y factores individuales están asociados en este estudio con desgaste psíquico. El contexto de trabajo es la variable que infiere mayor riesgo (p=0.000; Exp (B)= 5.355) para provocar desgaste psíquico, seguida de la formación técnica o superior y del contenido del trabajo. Conclusiones: Si bien aquellos trabajadores cuya percepción nociva del contexto de trabajo (interrelación trabajo-vida familiar/personal, cultura de la organización, gestión de la empresa, etc.), del contenido de trabajo (concepción tareas, carga y ritmo de trabajo, etc.) y los que tienen formación técnica o superior tienen mayor probabilidad de padecer desgaste psíquico, se observan aspectos positivos de las condiciones de trabajo psicosocial y su influencia en los trabajadores y en las organizaciones.

Extracción de compuestos con actividad antioxidante de frutos de guayaba cultivada en Vélez-Santander, Colombia

The effects of the extraction system (50% methanol or 50% methanol pH 2.0), volume/material ratio, temperature, time and extractions with 70% acetone were evaluated in the total phenolic compounds (TPC) extraction and in antioxidant activities (AA) using FRAP and ABTS assays in guava fruit. The best yield was obtained when 0.5 g of guava were extracted first with 20 mL 50% methanol and then four times with 20 mL 70% acetone during 30 min at 50 °C. Among the different trials guava fruit exhibited high levels of AA as well as TPC.

Determinación de vitamina C, compuestos fenólicos totales y actividad antioxidante de frutas de guayaba (Psidium guajava L.) cultivadas en Colombia

Some physicochemical parameters, vitamin C, total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity (AA) measured by ABTS, FRAP and DPPH methods were determinated in four different varieties of ripe guava produced in Colombia. Samples were statistically similar in their titratable acidity. Soluble solids were statistically similar and higher in "Pear", "Pink Regional", and "White Regional", but lower in "Apple" guavas. Vitamin C was statistically lower in "Pear" guava. Phenolics, ABTS-, FRAP-, and DPPH-AA were statistically lower in "Apple" guava if compared in wet basis. "Pink Regional" and "White Regional" contained the highest levels in vitamin C, phenolics and antioxidant activity.

Actitudes hacia la química de estudiantes de diferentes carreras universitarias en Colombia

This work reports a study on the attitudes of Colombian students towards Chemistry in different undergraduate programs. The research was performed on 769 students belonging to several Chemistry courses, by applying an adaptation of Salta and Tzougraki's test and using Likert's scale. The results revealed that Chemistry is being considered as difficult and little useful, but very interesting. Thus, the difficulty to learn Chemistry may be associated with its language and abstract conceptual nature. In addition, more attention should be given to the class contents and methodologies provided to the students, in order to engage them with those interest aspects and meaningful topics of each program

Reacción a Moniliophthora roreri en Theobroma spp. en Caquetá, Colombia

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar in situ la reacción de 50 materiales genéticos de tres especies de Theobroma(T. cacao, T. grandiflorum y T. bicolor) a la inoculación controlada de tres aislados autóctonos de Moniliophthora roreri (agente causal de la moniliasis del cacao) en el Departamento de Caquetá (Amazonia colombiana). Las variables incidencia de la enfermedad (IMr), severidad externa (SE) y severidad interna (SI), se evaluaron nueve semanas después de la inoculación de mazorcas de 2 a 3 meses de edad con una suspensión de esporas de 1,2 x 105 esporas/mL. La enfermedad se evidenció en las tres especies de Theobroma, sin embargo, ésta no se presentó en 13 de los 50 materiales genéticos evaluados, representados así: seis T. grandiflorum, cinco T. bicolor y dos T. cacao. Los materiales genéticos de T. bicolor y T. grandiflorum fueron los menos afectados comparados con los de T. cacao. Se encontraron diferencias significativas para IMr, SE y SI entre las tres especies de Theobroma y entre los 50 materiales genéticos. Diferencias significativas entre los aislados solo ocurrieron para SE. La incidencia y la severidad de la enfermedad entre materiales genéticos, fueron influenciadas por el patógeno aislado. Los materiales genéticos con menor reacción a M. roreri pueden ser utilizados en programas de mejoramiento por resistencia a la moniliasis.

GANANCIA GENÉTICA ESPERADA EN MELINA ( Gmelina arborea Roxb.) EN CÓRDOBA (COLOMBIA)1

RESUMEN El Departamento de Córdoba (Colombia) planea plantar 200000 ha para el 2025 yGmelina arborea es una de las opciones dada su alta producción de biomasa en turnos cortos. El objetivo del estudio fue estimar el potencial de mejoramiento genético basado en la selección fenotípica de árboles plus en Córdoba y Magdalena. La selección se basó en la evaluación y comparación de cada árbol candidato con sus cuatro mejores vecinos en un radio de 20m, con base en su DAP, altura comercial, volumen comercial y, calidad del fuste basada en la calificación de sus primeras cuatro trozas de 2,5 m de largo. Los árboles plus se clasificaron como A cuando superaron tanto en volumen como en calidad a todos sus vecinos y, como B cuando solamente superaron en volumen o en calidad a sus vecinos. La ganancia genética se estimó para cada caracter mediante el producto de su diferencial de selección por un valor de heredabilidad esperable para G. arborea según literatura, tanto si se clonan (H2), como si se toma su semilla para plantar (h2). Se construyó un índice de selección que integró el volumen (60%) con la calidad (40%). De 57 árboles seleccionados, 35 fueron clasificados como plus A, que si se clonaran se estima se obtendrían ganancias genéticas de 5, 15, 36 y 34%, para el diámetro, altura comercial, volumen comercial y calidad del fuste, respectivamente. Los resultados sugieren un progreso genético importante con G. arborea en Córdoba, Colombia. Es necesario ampliar la base genética y comprobar estas estimaciones mediante ensayos genéticos.

Experiencia en dos hospitales de tercer nivel de atención del suroccidente de Colombia en la aplicación del Registro Internacional de Trauma de la Sociedad Panamericana de Trauma

OBJETIVO: Describir la experiencia en la implementación de un Sistema de Registro de Trauma (SRT) en dos hospitales en Cali, Colombia. MÉTODOS: El SRT incluye información prehospitalaria, hospitalaria y estatus de egreso del paciente. Cada hospital tiene una estrategia para la captura electrónica de datos. Se presenta un análisis descriptivo exploratorio durante un piloto de tres meses. RESULTADOS: Se han registrado 3293 pacientes, 1626(49.4%) del Hospital Público y 1613(50.6%) en el Privado. 67.2% fueron hombres; edad promedio 30,5±20 años, 30,5% menores de 18 años. Mortalidad global 3,52 %. Causa más frecuente de consulta fueron las caídas (33,7%); 11.6% fueron heridas por arma de fuego, la mortalidad en este grupo fue del 44.7%. CONCLUSIÓN: Se determinaron las necesidades para la implementación del SRT y los mecanismos para darle continuidad. El registro se convierte en una fuente de información para el desarrollo de la investigación. Se identificaron las causas de consulta, morbilidad y muerte por trauma que permitirá una mejor planeación de los servicios de urgencias y del sistema regional de trauma con el fin de optimizar y de reducir los costos de atención. A partir de este sistema de información de trauma se podrán plantear los ajustes indispensables para rediseñar el sistema de trauma y emergencias del suroccidente colombiano.

Toxoplasma gondii in semen of experimentally infected swine

Eight reproductive boars were divided into three groups and inoculated with Toxoplasma gondii [GI (n=3) 1.5x10(4) oocysts strain P; GII (n=3) 1.0x10(6) tachyzoites strain RH; and GIII (n=2) non-inoculated control]. Clinical, hematological, parasitemia and serological tests and studies of the parasite in the semen through bioassay and PCR, and in reproductive organs (Bioassay and immunohistochemical analyses) were conducted to evaluate the toxoplasmic infection. Blood and semen were collected on day -2, -1, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 14 and weekly up to 84 days post-inoculation (DPI). No clinical or hematimetric alteration was observed in the boars. Parasitemia was detected in one boar inoculated with oocysts at the 7th DPI and in another boar infected with tachyzoites (GII) at the 3rd and 49th DPI. Serological tests revealed antibodies against T. gondii in animals inoculated with oocysts or tachyzoites at the 7th DPI with dilutions of 1:256 and 1:64, which reached peaks of 1:4096 at day 11 and 9, respectively. The bioassays revealed the presence of the parasite in semen samples of a boar inoculated with oocysts (GI) at 3, 49 and 56 DPI and from two boars infected with tachyzoites (GII), one animal at 5 and two animals at 49 days DPI. Mice inoculated with semen from the control group (GIII) remained serologically negative. PCR analysis showed T. gondii DNA in the semen of Boar 1 and Boar 3 inoculated with tachyzoites and oocysts, respectively. The immuno-histochemical tests showed T. gondii in the reproductive organs of Boar 1 and Boar 2, inoculated with tachyzoites and oocysts, respectively. These findings suggest the possible occurrence of venereal transmission of T. gondii in swine.

Transmission of porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) by semen and viral distribution in different piglet tissues

Porcine circovirus infections are caused by the porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2). Among six different clinical manifestations involving respiratory, enteric, nervous and reproductive signs, the postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) is the most important and studied disease. However, reproductive failures associated with PCV2 have been increasingly reported. Some studies have shown the possible contamination of sows by semen of PCV2 positive boars. In order to investigate the transmission of PCV2 by contaminated semen and its ability to infect the sow and piglets, 20 PCV2 negative sows were inseminated, 10 with negative boar semen and 10 with previously nested-PCR tested positive boar semen. The sows were weekly monitored and blood samples were collected. Based on the results, 4 out 20 sows were selected (1 sow was PCR negative and inseminated with a negative semen, 2 sows were PCR negative and inseminated with a positive semen and 1 sow was PCR negative and inseminated with a positive semen, but became PCR positive around the 30 days of pregnancy). After weaning, 12 male piglets, 3 of each sow, were selected and maintained under isolation. In order to investigate which organs harbored the virus, the young pigs were necropsied around 9 months of age. Samples of serum collected monthly were tested by immunocitochemistry (ICC), and all 12 pigs serum converted. Samples of lymphoid, systemic and reproductive organs were analyzed by nested-PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Evaluation of the samples by nested-PCR, revealed that several tissues were positive in 10 of 12 pigs, mainly the lymph nodes, bone marrow and spleen. Various samples were positive by IHC in 8 of 12 piglets, being the lymph nodes, tonsils and bulbourethral glands the most frequently positive. Thus, the results of testing different samples, in the 3 tests (ICC, nested-PCR and IHC) were complementary. These results show that PCV2 transmission through semen to the sows and piglets may occur and may also represent a potential risk for the herd.