A new species of land planarian of Gigantea Ogren and Kawakatsu, 1990 (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Terricola) from Colombia, with taxonomic remarks on the genus

A new species of land planarian from Colombia, Gigantea maupoi sp. nov., is described herein. The penis papilla of the new species is provided with numerous accessory genital organs, or mgo. These mgo are of a unique morphology, consisting of a very strong barrel-shaped circular muscle coat and an underlying longitudinal one, both derived from the subepithelial musculature of the penis papilla. The central mass of each mgo contains secretions and 8-15 canalicula that open to the male atrium on the central region of the organ. Differences in structures constituting the mgo and details of the muscular systems and of the reproductive organs among the 11 Gigantea species from literature and from type material of G. bistriata (Hyman, 1962), G. chiriquii (Hyman, 1962), and G. sandersoni (Prudhoe, 1949) reexamined here show that the genus is heterogeneous.

Spatial aspects of trade liberalization in Colombia: A general equilibrium approach

This paper offers some preliminary steps in the marriage of some of the theoretical foundations of new economic geography with spatial computable general equilibrium models. Modelling the spatial economy of Colombia using the traditional assumptions of computable general equilibrium (CGE) models makes little sense when one territorial unit, Bogota, accounts for over one quarter of GDP and where transportation costs are high and accessibility low compared to European or North American standards. Hence, handling market imperfections becomes imperative as does the need to address internal spatial issues from the perspective of Colombia`s increasing involvement with external markets. The paper builds on the Centro de Estudios de Economia Regional (CEER) model, a spatial CGE model of the Colombian economy; non-constant returns and non-iceberg transportation costs are introduced and some simulation exercises carried out. The results confirm the asymmetric impacts that trade liberalization has on a spatial economy in which one region, Bogota, is able to more fully exploit scale economies vis--vis the rest of Colombia. The analysis also reveals the importance of different hypotheses on factor mobility and the role of price effects to better understand the consequences of trade opening in a developing economy.

CHARACTERIZATION OF AGROINDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE SUCRO-ENERGETIC SECTORS OF BRASIL AND COLOMBIA

Concern about the growing demand of food and fuel has focused the attention on countries with conditions to provide for global requirements. Also, the build-up of an environmental awareness has compelled several governments to implement programs for the addition of biofuels to oil derivatives. Considering their relevance as world and South American producers, this study makes a characterization of the sucro-energetic sectors of Brazil and Colombia, based on a view of agro-industrial systems, industrial organization and transaction cost economy. The approach followed considered of a secondary information survey and in-depth interviews. The main differences found are centered on institutional development level and production volumes. However, the use of the same raw material, sugarcane, trade opening policies, cultural approaches and regional integration, are factors that could generate links of commercial exchange and technological cooperation between the two countries.

A second known species of Eratomyia Amorim & Rindal (Diptera, Rangomaramidae, Chiletrichinae) from Colombia

A second species of the genus Eratomyia Amorim & Rindal-E. risaralda, sp. n.-is described from Risaralda, Colombia, based on one male and three females. The female of Eratomyia is described for the first time. A number of striking modifications in the female terminalia shared with Chiletricha Chandler support the hypothesis that they are sister genera within the Rangomaramidae. The position of Chiletricha and Eratomyia within the Chiletrichinae is discussed.

Molecular characterization of the Hepatitis B virus genotypes in Colombia: A Bayesian inference on the genotype F

Hepatitis B is a worldwide health problem affecting about 2 billion people and more than 350 million are chronic carriers of the virus. Nine HBV genotypes (A to I) have been described. The geographical distribution of HBV genotypes is not completely understood due to the limited number of samples from some parts of the world. One such example is Colombia, in which few studies have described the HBV genotypes. In this study, we characterized HBV genotypes in 143 HBsAg-positive volunteer blood donors from Colombia. A fragment of 1306 bp partially comprising HBsAg and the DNA polymerase coding regions (S/POL) was amplified and sequenced. Bayesian phylogenetic analyses were conducted using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) approach to obtain the maximum clade credibility (MCC) tree using BEAST v.1.5.3. Of all samples, 68 were positive and 52 were successfully sequenced. Genotype F was the most prevalent in this population (77%) - subgenotypes F3 (75%) and Fib (2%). Genotype G (7.7%) and subgenotype A2 (15.3%) were also found. Genotype G sequence analysis suggests distinct introductions of this genotype in the country. Furthermore, we estimated the time of the most recent common ancestor (TMRCA) for each HBV/F subgenotype and also for Colombian F3 sequences using two different datasets: (i) 77 sequences comprising 1306 bp of S/POL region and (ii) 283 sequences comprising 681 bp of S/POL region. We also used two other previously estimated evolutionary rates: (i) 2.60 x 10(-4) s/s/y and (ii) 1.5 x 10(-5) s/s/y. Here we report the HBV genotypes circulating in Colombia and estimated the TMRCA for the four different subgenotypes of genotype F. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Molecular Characterization, Distribution, and Dynamics of Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes in Blood Donors in Colombia

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a frequent cause of acute and chronic hepatitis and a leading cause for cirrhosis of the liver and hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV is classified in six major genotypes and more than 70 subtypes. In Colombian blood banks, serum samples were tested for anti-HCV antibodies using a third-generation ELISA. The aim of this study was to characterize the viral sequences in plasma of 184 volunteer blood donors who attended the ""Banco Nacional de Sangre de la Cruz Roja Colombiana,`` Bogota, Colombia. Three different HCV genomic regions were amplified by nested PCR. The first of these was a segment of 180 bp of the 5`UTR region to confirm the previous diagnosis by ELISA. From those that were positive to the 5`UTR region, two further segments were amplified for genotyping and subtyping by phylogenetic analysis: a segment of 380 bp from the NS5B region; and a segment of 391 bp from the E1 region. The distribution of HCV subtypes was: 1b (82.8%), 1a (5.7%), 2a (5.7%), 2b (2.8%), and 3a (2.8%). By applying Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation, it was estimated that HCV-1b was introduced into Bogota around 1950. Also, this subtype spread at an exponential rate between about 1970 to about 1990, after which transmission of HCV was reduced by anti-HCV testing of this population. Among Colombian blood donors, HCV genotype 1b is the most frequent genotype, especially in large urban conglomerates such as Bogota, as is the case in other South American countries. J. Med. Virol. 82: 1889-1898, 2010. (C) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Karyotype variability in KP1(+) and KP1(-) strains of Trypanosoma rangeli isolated in Brazil and Colombia

In the present study, the molecular karyotypes of 12 KP1(+) and KP1(-) Trypanosoma rangeli strains were determined and 10 different molecular markers were hybridized to the chromosomes of the parasite, including seven obtained from T. rangeli [ubiquitin hydrolase (UH), a predicted serine/threonine protein kinase (STK), hexose transporter, hypothetical protein, three anonymous sequences] and three from Trypanosoma cruzi [ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 (UBE2), ribosomal RNA methyltransferase (rRNAmtr), proteasome non-ATPase regulatory subunit 6 (PSMD6)]. Despite intraspecific variation, analysis of the karyotype profiles permitted the division of the T rangeli strains into two groups coinciding with the KP1(+) and KP1(-) genotypes. Southern blot hybridization showed that, except for the hexose transporter probe, all other probes produced distinct patterns able to differentiate the KP1(+) and KP1(-) genotypes. The UH, STK and An-1A04 probes exclusively hybridized to the chromosomes of KP1(+) strains and can be used as markers of this group. In addition, the UBE2, rRNAmtr and PSMD6 markers, which are present in a conserved region in all trypanosomatid species sequenced so far, co-hybridized to the same T. rangeli chromosomal bands, suggesting the occurrence of gene synteny in these species. The finding of distinct molecular karyotypes in KP1(+) and KP1 (-) strains of T rangeli is noteworthy and might be used as a new approach to the study of genetic variability in this parasite. Together with the Southern blot hybridization results, these findings demonstrate that differences at the kDNA level might be associated with variations in nuclear DNA. (c) 2009 Elsevier BY. All rights reserved.

Late Devonian acanthodians from Colombia

Acanthodian remains occur in micaceous siltstone lenses (presumed to have been deposited during a marine incursion) in the Cuche Formation (?Frasnian) of northeast Colombia. The acanthodians are represented by patches of scales from climatiidid Nostolepis sp. cf. N. gatijensis and a fin spine and scales from a new diplacanthid. Type material of N. gaujensis is from the Frasnian Sventoji regional stage in the Baltic, and Nostolepis sp. cf. N. gaujensis has been recorded in the Frasnian of Iran, as well as from Colombia. The new diplacanthid taxon shows affinity to Baltic and Antarctic diplacanthids. The fauna thus shows possible links to both Gondwanan and Euramerican acanthodian assemblages. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

G??nero, ra??a e espa??os de poder: o caso de Maria Ant??nia e Geraldo

O caso relata uma situa????o de promo????o em ??rg??o p??blico na qual dois funcion??rios ??? uma mulher negra e um homem branco - se mostram como candidatos ao cargo. S??o apresentados os perfis e habilidades profissionais dos dois servidores e, ao final, a decis??o tomada pelo Secret??rio, chefe de ambos. O estudo suscita discuss??es sobre pr??ticas discriminat??rias nos espa??os de poder das institui????es p??blicas e o papel do dirigente para combater ou difundir tais pr??ticas. Pode ser aplicado em cursos sobre lideran??a, gest??o de pessoas e ??tica e servi??o p??blico

O gerenciamento contratual aplicado no ??mbito das contrata????es do Poder Judici??rio de Alagoas

O estudo de caso trata de mudan??as na estrutura de gest??o dos contratos administrativos do Tribunal de Justi??a de Alagoas. Com a finalidade de minimizar o desperd??cio de recursos p??blicos e conferir mais transpar??ncia ?? fiscaliza????o de contratos, o ??rg??o decidiu inserir uma unidade de gest??o contratual entre a figura do fiscal do contrato e o ordenador de despesa. O caso ilustra uma melhoria na forma de gest??o de contratos administrativos e pode ser utilizado em cursos de gest??o de contratos, licita????o e temas afins para an??lise de experi??ncia bem-sucedida de mudan??a organizacional focada na gest??o contratual

Qualidade de vida no trabalho: a perspectiva dos servidores e colaboradores de uma institui????o p??blica do poder executivo federal

O presente trabalho buscou identificar os aspectos que tecem o conceito de Qualidade de Vida no Trabalho ??? QVT sob a ??tica dos trabalhadores, no contexto de trabalho de um ??rg??o p??blico do Poder Executivo federal. A abordagem metodol??gica fundamentou-se na Ergonomia da Atividade Aplicada ?? Qualidade de Vida no Trabalho. O instrumento utilizado na pesquisa foi a parte qualitativa do macrodiagn??stico Invent??rio de Avalia????o de Qualidade de Vida no Trabalho/IA_QVT, validado no ??mbito da Administra????o P??blica brasileira. Participaram da pesquisa 37 trabalhadores de diferentes ??reas e v??nculos funcionais da Institui????o p??blica. A an??lise qualitativa dos dados, feita com base na an??lise de conte??do das representa????es dos respondentes, evidenciou que os trabalhadores relacionam QVT com os seguintes fatores: Rela????es socioprofissionais de trabalho harmoniosas; Condi????es adequadas de trabalho; Organiza????o eficaz do trabalho; Reconhecimento e crescimento profissional; Elo entre trabalho e vida social. A pesquisa ainda permitiu identificar os principais fatores que interferem nas representa????es de bem-estar e mal-estar da amostra de trabalhadores da institui????o. Este diagn??stico pode ensejar o interesse da Institui????o pelo aprofundamento da pesquisa para subsidiar a constru????o da pol??tica e do programa de QVT, calcado na ??tica de quem nela trabalha

Rela????es de parceria entre poder p??blico e entes de coopera????o e colabora????o no Brasil

O primeiro volume da s??rie Inova????o na Gest??o P??blica trata dos v??nculos de coopera????o entre a administra????o p??blica e entidades civis sem fins lucrativos, apresentando texto elaborado a partir de pesquisa financiada pela AECID sobre a dissemina????o no Brasil dos institutos do Servi??o Social Aut??nomo (SSA), da Organiza????o Social (OS) e da Organiza????o da Sociedade Civil de Interesse P??blico (OSCIP), no ??mbito dos governos federal, estadual e municipal. Esta publica????o est?? organizada como segue: o Cap??tulo I cont??m uma an??lise geral das rela????es entre o Poder P??blico e o chamado Terceiro Setor, desde as origens hist??ricas da atividade assistencial, e seus impactos no modelo assistencial brasileiro. O cap??tulo discute, tamb??m, o conceito de Terceiro Setor e os atuais formatos de financiamento das entidades civis que atuam no campo da assist??ncia social. O Cap??tulo II, por sua vez, contempla os resultados do diagn??stico das formas de relacionamento da Administra????o P??blica com entes de coopera????o e colabora????o, segundo pesquisa realizada entre novembro de 2008 e fevereiro de 2009 no ??mbito da coopera????o entre a extinta Secretaria de Gest??o (SEGES) e a AECID. O Cap??tulo III trata dos principais aspectos do processo de avalia????o e fiscaliza????o dos contratos de gest??o firmados entre o Poder Executivo Federal e as OS, com ??nfase no processo de presta????o de contas dos resultados do contrato

Rede Nacional de Escolas de Governo no Brasil: aprendizagens e desafios

Este artigo apresenta a evolu????o de reflex??es sobre o papel da Rede Nacional de Escolas de Governo no Brasil, em sequ??ncia a trabalhos apresentados em congressos anteriores do CLAD (Carvalho, 2005, 2009). O contexto brasileiro, nos aspectos que mais afetam os desafios postos aos processos de capacita????o profissional de servidores p??blicos, ?? inicialmente apresentado, para facilitar a apreens??o das experi??ncias que ser??o analisadas. Em seguida, ?? feita a caracteriza????o da Rede Nacional, apontando-se alguns de seus resultados. Outras experi??ncias de Rede, em geral atuando como ???sub-redes??? da Rede Nacional s??o descritas: relata-se a situa????o da articula????o das escolas de governo no ??mbito do Poder Executivo Federal, o chamado ???Sistema de Escolas de Governo da Uni??o???; em seguida s??o apresentadas tr??s experi??ncias existentes no n??vel subnacional, de redes em funcionamento em tr??s dos estados brasileiros, tratando dos casos da ???Rede Estadual de Escolas de Governo do Paran?????, do projeto em implanta????o denominado ???Rede Escola de Governo do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul???, e da ???Rede Estadual de Escolas de Governo do Cear?????. Em seguida, faz-se o relato da articula????o em rede das escolas vinculadas aos tribunais de contas, a ???Rede de Educa????o Corporativa dos Tribunais de Contas???. Ao final, s??o constru??das reflex??es sobre o que essas distintas experi??ncias de redes de capacita????o apontam de espec??fico, com vista a contribuir para o debate sobre as diversas op????es pol??tico-organizativas que podem ser implementadas para o aumento da sinergia e capacidade de atua????o das entidades formadoras, com vista ?? melhoria da qualidade do servi??o p??blico brasileiro, por meio do investimento na educa????o e qualifica????o profissional dos agentes p??blicos

O papel das ouvidorias na comunica????o p??blica do poder judici??rio

Este artigo objetiva propor o debate sobre qual ser?? o papel das ouvidorias judiciais no processo de comunica????o social do Poder Judici??rio brasileiro. A inten????o ?? iniciar a discuss??o em busca de quais podem ser as contribui????es dessa importante ferramenta de participa????o popular e promo????o da cidadania para a melhoria da comunica????o p??blica realizada pelos tribunais. Essa reflex??o se faz necess??ria no atual cen??rio em que a sociedade brasileira vem, cada vez mais, exigindo maior transpar??ncia da administra????o p??blica, mormente ap??s a edi????o da Lei de Acesso ?? Informa????o.

Metas do Conselho Nacional de Justi??a 2012/2013: uma an??lise dos contornos gerenciais assumidos pela reforma do poder judici??rio no Brasil

Este artigo tem como objetivo avan??ar no estudo do processo de reforma do Poder Judici??rio brasileiro, o qual se insere no processo de reforma do Estado p??trio. A partir das contribui????es de Osborne e Gaebler (1992) e Abrucio (2006), buscou-se tra??ar um paralelo entre as l??gicas gerencial e fiscal e esclarecer como as mesmas refletiram nos indicadores de efic??cia, efici??ncia e efetividade do Poder Judici??rio no Brasil. Para atingir o objetivo proposto, optou-se por utilizar como m??todo a an??lise de conte??do de Bardin (2002), pela regra de enumera????o do tipo frequ??ncia, buscando, com isso, observar o papel que o Conselho Nacional de Justi??a exerceu nesse processo e a l??gica do plano de metas estabelecido pela institui????o para os anos de 2012 e 2013. Como resultado, observou-se que as metas estabelecidas para o bi??nio buscaram implantar uma gest??o mais eficaz nesse n??cleo estrat??gico do Estado, com ??nfase na celeridade processual, gest??o administrativa e informatiza????o dos procedimentos. Percebeu-se que a l??gica gerencial continua exercendo grande influ??ncia no modelo de gest??o adotado. Como novidade, verificou-se a inser????o de indicadores de efetividade, os quais podem permitir aproximar os objetivos dessa esfera de poder com os da sociedade brasileira, repercutindo na elabora????o de metas futuras.