Título del artículo:

Discontinuation of GLP-1 agonists in obesity management: When and how to do it using clinical judgment?

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Gaceta Medica De Caracas

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May Measurement Month 2022: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Colombia

The May Measurement Month (MMM) campaign was carried out in Colombia in 2022 with the aim of raising awareness of raised blood pressure (BP). Here, we report on the findings of the campaign. Adults aged ≥18 years were recruited opportunistically at healthcare and public facilities in 11 departments. Three seated BP readings were taken for each participant, along with completion of a questionnaire on demographics, lifestyle factors, and comorbidities. Hypertension was defined as a systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg or being on antihypertensive medication. Controlled BP was defined as being on antihypertensive medication with a BP < 140/90 mmHg. Multiple imputation was used to estimate any missing BP readings. In total, 38 924 were screened, with a mean age of 46.3 years and 52.9% of whom were female. Of all participants, 10 738 (27.6%) had hypertension, of whom 7058 (65.7%) were aware, and 6925 (64.5%) were on antihypertensive medication. Of those on antihypertensive medication, 4600 (66.4%) had controlled BP, and of all participants with hypertension, 42.8% had controlled BP. However, those under 50 years had lower hypertension control (<30%). Women had a higher BP control than men (49.5% vs. 36.3%). High education was associated with lower systolic BP (−2.37 mmHg). The MMM campaign in Colombia identified significant numbers of participants with either untreated or inadequately treated hypertension. MMM22 results point to the need to continue improving awareness and seek a broader implementation of strategies with proven efficacy in controlling hypertension.

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European Heart Journal Supplement

Título del artículo:

Suicidal Risk in Penitentiary Facilities in Bucaramanga (Colombia): A Logit Model for Early Detection

Introduction. People deprived of liberty are exposed to multiple risk factors that lead to physical and emotional deterioration, thereby increasing their vulnerability to suicide. It is imperative to identify reliable warning signs to prevent this issue and to guide the implementation of life-preserving interventions. Objectives. To analyze sociodemographic, penitentiary, and psychological factors associated with suicidal risk among individuals incarcerated in correctional facilities in Bucaramanga. Materials and Methods. The SCL-90 Symptom Inventory and the Plutchik Suicide Risk Scale were administered to a non-random sample of 73 incarcerated individuals who voluntarily agreed to participate. In addition to descriptive analyses and tests comparing means and proportions across groups defined by suicide risk status, a logit model was estimated to identify variables influencing the probability of suicidal risk. Results and Discussion. The prevalence of suicidal risk in the sample was 70%. The presence of suicidal ideation (AME = 18.96 pp, p = 0.042), together with certain psychosomatic dimensions—such as obsessive-compulsive behavior (AME = 24.46 pp, p = 0.029) and sensitivity (AME = 21.82 pp, p= 0.004)—emerged as relevant indicators for early detection of suicidal risk. Conclusions. The findings are consistent with prior studies reporting a high incidence of suicidal risk in this population, significantly influenced by psychosomatic factors and suicidal ideation. Life preservation programs (AME = –21.91 pp, p= 0.061) may contribute to mitigating this issue.

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Innovaciencia

Título del artículo:

Factors Related to Suicidal Ideation in Higher Education Institution Students

Introduction: Suicidal ideation is a topic of great relevance in the health field, due to the serious affectations it entails, especially in young adults. Early identification of this phenomenon is crucial to implement preventive measures that can avoid serious outcomes. Objective: To analyze the risk of suicidal ideation in undergraduate health and psychology students of a private university of higher education during the year 2023. Methods: A cross-sectional and analytical study was carried out with stratified and equi-probabilistic sampling by academic program, using a sociodemographic questionnaire, PANSI scale and family apgar. A descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analysis was carried out to calculate odds ratio (OR) in logistic regression. Results: 693 students participated. A 2.31% (16 students) were identified with high risk of suicidal ideation, while 38.82% (269 students) presented medium risk. Among the relevant factors, severe family dysfunction was found to have an OR of 7.73 (95% CI: 4.09; 14.61, p-value < 0.001). In addition, students with a history of self-harm showed an OR of 6.63 (95% CI: 3.80; 11.53, p-value < 0.001), and those who reported receiving specialized treatment by psychiatry presented an OR of 2.87 (95% CI: 1.68; 4.9, p-value < 0.001). Conclusions: 41.13% of the students presented a high and medium risk of suicidal ideation. Family dysfunction, history of self-harm and the presence of psychiatric pathology were statistically significantly related to the risk of suicidal ideation.

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Investigacion En Educacion Medica

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Correction: Complications and clinical factors associated with pediatric percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in a Colombian cohort (Frontiers in Pediatrics, (2025), 13, (1623355), 10.3389/fped.2025.1623355)

Affiliation 2 Postgraduate Department in Pediatric Critical Care, Universidad de Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia was omitted for author Carlos Augusto Cuadros Mendoza. This affiliation has now been added for author Carlos Augusto Cuadros Mendoza. Affiliation 3 Epidemiology Department, Fundación Cardiovascular de Colombia, Piedecuesta, Colombia was omitted for authors Alexandra Hurtado-Ortiz, Maricel Licht-Ardila and Alejandra Mendoza-Monsalve. This affiliation has now been added for authors Alexandra Hurtado-Ortiz, Maricel Licht-Ardila and Alejandra Mendoza-Monsalve. Authors Alexandra Hurtado-Ortiz, Maricel Licht-Ardila and Alejandra Mendoza-Monsalve were erroneously assigned to affiliation 2 Postgraduate Department in Pediatric Critical Care, Universidad de Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia. This affiliation has now been removed for authors Alexandra Hurtado-Ortiz, Maricel Licht-Ardila and Alejandra Mendoza-Monsalve. The original version of this article has been updated.

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Frontiers in Pediatrics

Título del artículo:

Computational Thinking: Empowering Elementary School Teachers to Transform the Classroom

The effectiveness of a curricular proposal designed to develop Computational Thinking competencies in primary school teachers in Colombia was evaluated. The main objective was to determine whether the educational intervention was able to improve the level of competence of teachers. A quasi-experimental design was used with a group of 99 teachers in training and in practice, through a series of reflective workshops based on the curricular proposal, their learning process was intervened. A pretest and a posttest were applied to evaluate the level of competence. The results showed a significant increase in the level of competence. Substantial improvements were observed in the understanding of fundamental concepts and in the ability to solve problems using computational tools. It is important to recognize some limitations. The quasi-experimental design and the sample size could limit the generalizability of the findings. In addition, the duration of the intervention might not be sufficient to evaluate the long-term impact. Future studies with more robust designs and large samples are recommended to corroborate these results and explore the impact. Furthermore, it is suggested that quantitative analyses be complemented with qualitative studies to gain a deeper understanding of teachers’ learning processes. Despite these limitations, the results support the effectiveness of the curricular proposal in developing CT skills in primary school teachers and suggest the need to implement similar programs in other educational contexts.

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Data and Metadata

Título del artículo:

Mechanical-enzymatic isolation and characterization of primary human gingival epithelial cells for reproducible in vitro oral mucosa models

The establishment of reliable in vitro oral mucosa models is essential for advancing studies in epithelial barrier function, wound healing, and host-microbe interactions. However, the widespread use of immortalized cell lines such as HaCaT or TR146 limits physiological relevance owing to altered differentiation profiles and genetic drift. In this study, we developed a robust mechanical-enzymatic protocol for isolating and expanding primary human gingival keratinocytes from healthy gingival explants without feeder layers. The resulting cells demonstrated high viability, maintained consistent proliferative capacity across passages, and exhibited characteristic cobblestone morphology. Comprehensive phenotypic validation included immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry confirming strong expression of epithelial markers CK18, AE1/AE3, and MUC1, with absence of the mesenchymal marker vimentin. Transcriptomic analysis using RT-qPCR corroborated epithelial lineage fidelity, revealing stable MUC1 expression and lack of MUC5AC transcripts, indicative of a nonglandular phenotype. Metabolic competence was supported by WST-1 assays that correlated strongly with manual cell counts, underscoring functional viability. Importantly, AGS and 293T/17 cell lines were processed in parallel as orthogonal controls to confirm assay specificity and lineage discrimination. Under rigorously standardized, within-laboratory conditions, our workflow yielded high interdonor concordance in epithelial identity and growth kinetics across a young-adult cohort (n = 3), supporting its use as a practical primary-cell platform for downstream applications. Generalizable reproducibility-across age strata, operators, and sites-will require formal, preregistered multicenter validation. By mitigating limitations inherent to immortalized lines, this approach enables more accurate investigations of epithelial biology and strengthens the reliability of in vitro experimental systems relevant to oral regenerative medicine and mucosal immunology.

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Histochemistry and Cell Biology

Título del artículo:

Structural and functional analysis of Escherichia coli membrane disruption by Ib-M peptides

Antimicrobial resistance represents a critical global public health challenge, leading to increased mortality and morbidity due to the ineffectiveness of current antibiotics against bacterial infections. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) offer a promising alternative for treating bacterial infections because of their broad-spectrum activity, biocompatibility, and rapid bactericidal action. Recent studies have demonstrated that Ib-M peptides exhibit bactericidal activity against pathogenic Escherichia coli clinical isolates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the mechanisms by which Ib-M peptides destabilize and disrupts E. coli membranes. We showed by dilutions assays that Ib-M peptides had a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 12.5 µM against E. coli. Electron microscopy studies confirmed that Ib-M peptides were directly implicated in E. coli membrane disruption, altered bacterial shape and subsequent disintegration. To understand bacterial membrane interaction with Ib-M peptides at the molecular level, we evaluated structure-function relationships using circular dichroism spectroscopy and in silico simulations. These studies demonstrated the strong amphipathic, hydrophobic and cationic properties of Ib-M peptides. At sublethal concentrations, these peptides interacted with bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS), leading to outer and inner membrane permeation and cytoplasmic membrane depolarization. This effect was transient at sublethal Ib-M peptides concentrations, as evidenced by the recovery of bacterial growth in lag phase kinetics. At higher concentrations, there was high depolarization of cytoplasmic membrane, disruption of outer membrane and inner membranes and irreversible bacterial lysis. When mammalian cells were exposed Ib-M1 peptide cytotoxic effect was only reached when MIC was increased 10-fold. In conclusion, Ib-M peptides inhibited E. coli growth by disrupting bacterial membranes via interactions with LPS and increased membrane permeation yet, they have low cytotoxicity on mammalian cells. This study highlights the mechanisms of action on Ib-M peptides as antimicrobials and paves the way for further research on the clinical use of these peptides as antimicrobial agents against multidrug resistant bacterial infections.

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Plos One

Título del artículo:

Climatic, socioeconomic, and migratory factors on the epidemiological dynamics of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia, 2007-2021

The World Health Organization considers cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) to be one of the most important neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). The application of geostatistical models, in conjunction with sociodemographic and environmental factors, enables the understanding of disease epidemiology and facilitates the implementation of targeted measures and effective case management. This research aimed to evaluate the association between climatic, sociodemographic, and socioeconomic factors with the monthly CL incidence rate at the municipality level in Colombia from 2007 to 2021. An ecological study was conducted, including laboratory-confirmed notifications of CL reported in municipalities located below 1,700 meters above sea level through the National Public Health Surveillance System. Climate data were sourced from NASA, and sociodemographic and socioeconomic variables were obtained from the National Planning Department. Hierarchical spatio-temporal regression models within a Bayesian framework were used to analyze the monthly CL. A total of 121,828 cases of CL were analyzed, with an annual median of 7,605 cases. Standardized incidence rates (SIR) ranged from 0 to 16,072 per 100,000 population (median: 105.7; IQR: 46.7-419). Eight of the 11 studied factors were associated with the monthly cases of CL: rainfall, urban dimension, and Venezuelan migration were associated with a decrease in CL cases, while qualitative housing deficit, internal migration, the multidimensional poverty index, the index of unmet basic needs, and forest coverage were associated with an increase in CL cases. CL incidence in Colombia fluctuated during the study period, with high spatial heterogeneity linked to climatic, sociodemographic. and socioeconomic factors. These findings highlight the necessity for customized territorial approaches to the prevention and control of CL, emphasizing the importance of considering municipal characteristics and aligning strategies with the Colombian Strategic Plan for CL.

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Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases

Título del artículo:

Assessment of HARMS2-AF for risk stratification: a 10-year follow-up study (2014–2024) in a northwestern Colombian population

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent arrhythmia worldwide and represents a significant public health burden. Several modifiable risk factors (RFs) — such as hypertension, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep apnea, and physical inactivity — contribute to its development. However, their combined effect has not been thoroughly assessed in Latin American populations. Objective: to develop and validate the HARMS2-AF model to predict AF risk based on modifiable RFs, assessing its applicability in primary care settings. Materials and Methods: an observational retrospective cohort study was conducted with 2,482 participants from Northwestern Colombia, followed over 10 years. RFs evaluated included hypertension, obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m²), smoking, alcohol consumption (≥15 standard drinks/week), sleep apnea, physical inactivity, diabetes mellitus, age, and sex. Cox proportional hazards regression models (univariate and multivariate) were used to generate HARMS2-AF scores based on beta coefficients. Model performance was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and calibration tests. Results: hypertension was the most prevalent RF (79.1%) and the strongest predictor of AF (HR 4.0; 95% CI: 3.2–4.8). Obesity, high alcohol intake, smoking, and sleep apnea were also significantly associated with AF. Physical inactivity and diabetes mellitus did not reach statistical significance in multivariate analysis. The HARMS2-AF model showed a two-fold increase in AF risk per 1-point increment (HR 2.38; 95% CI: 2.14–2.62), with an AUC of 0.81. Conclusion: the HARMS2-AF model is a simple and effective tool for predicting AF risk based on modifiable RFs. Its implementation in primary care could enhance early identification and targeted prevention strategies in Latin American populations.

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Revista De La Federacion Argentina De Cardiologia

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Burkholderia pseudomallei in Colombia: Laboratory Approaches to Enhance Diagnostic Accuracy

Background: Melioidosis is a challenging disease to diagnose, and diagnostic complications can delay treatment, adversely impacting patient outcomes. Methods: Over a period of 1 year, 68 isolates, initially identified as Burkholderia spp. or oxidase-positive nonfermenting Gram-negative bacilli (excluding Pseudomonas aeruginosa), were collected from laboratories in three Colombian cities. Four commercial identification systems were employed. After recovery on blood agar, all strains were cultured on Ashdown’s and CHROMID Colistin R media. Comparative identification using automated systems was performed, and definitive identification was achieved through multiplex PCR. Result: PCR identified three Burkholderia pseudomallei isolates and 59 Burkholderia cepacia complex isolates. The Microscan and Vitek 2 Compact systems successfully identified the B. pseudomallei isolates, whereas the Phoenix and MALDI-TOF Bruker systems did not. Ashdown’s CHROM colistin media supported the growth of B. pseudomallei and various other genera and species. Species-level misidentifications were frequent. Conclusion: Due to limitations of commercial identification systems and the morphological similarities between species, the use of molecular tools or a combination of confirmatory tests is crucial for accurately diagnosing B. pseudomallei in Colombia.

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International Journal of Microbiology

Título del artículo:

Glyphosate-Based Herbicide Exposure Increases GFAP-Immunoreactivy in Ventral Lateral Hypothalamic and Supraoptic Nuclei of Male Rats

The effects of glyphosate, aminomenthylphosphoric acid (AMPA) and Roundup® Active on the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity area were studied in male rats in the following hypothalamic nuclei: anterior hypothalamic, lateroanterior hypothalamic, ventrolateral hypothalamic (VLH), preoptic area, paraventricular, periventricular, suprachiasmatic and supraoptic (SO). No difference in water intake containing these xenobiotics was observed (p > 0.05). A significant increase in the GFAP immunoreactivity area was only observed in VLH in animals treated with glyphosate or Roundup® Active, whereas in SO, only the exposure to Roundup® Active resulted in a larger GFAP immunoreactivity area. AMPA did not affect the GFAP immunoreactivity areas of the hypothalamic nuclei. Small/ medium size astrocytes containing GFAP, and typical cytoplasmic processes were observed in most cases, but large and overlapping astrocytic processes were visualized in SO. GFAP immunoreactivity increase suggests a neuro-inflammatory reaction due to xenobiotics. These results are compatible with a pronounced effect of adjuvants and surfactants present in glyphosate commercial formulations.

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International Journal of Morphology

Título del artículo:

MIP-based local search for permutation flowshop scheduling with makespan objective

The permutation flowshop scheduling problem with makespan objective, or PFM for short, is a classic NP-hard scheduling problem. At present, the most promising heuristics for the PFM are based on variations of local search. This led us to consider five new neighbourhoods for the PFM. Each neighbourhood is of exponential size, but can be explored quite quickly by solving a small mixed-integer program. We propose a matheuristic framework that incorporates our proposed neighbourhoods to evaluate and compare their effectiveness. Extensive computational experiments show that integrating our best neighbourhood to the proposed matheuristic reduces the makespan by over 60% on average, compared to the variant without it, on both the classical Taillard benchmark instances and the more recent instances proposed by Vallada, Ruiz and Framinan.

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Computers and Operations Research

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Draft genome sequence of Brucella canis strain isolated from Mexico State, Mexico

Brucella canis is a zoonotic Gram-negative coccobacillus of significant public health concern. This bacterium harbors multiple virulence factors that facilitate infection. We report the draft genome sequence of a B. canis strain isolated from an infected dog in Mexico and provide an annotation of genes associated with its virulence factors.

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Microbiology Resource Announcements

Título del artículo:

Petrology of serpentinites associated with the Romeral Suture Zone in the Central Cordillera (Colombia)

Serpentinized ultramafic bodies in the Romeral Suture Zone (Colombia) include lithologies from the Angelópolis Ultramafite (AU), Arquía Complex (AC) and Cajamarca Complex (CC). Serpentinites show evidence of three serpentinization events; AU serpentinites and partially serpentinized peridotites recorded a first hydration event within the ocean floor characterized by transformation of olivine to lizardite. A second serpentinization event is recorded in the AU, AC and CC serpentinites, which consist in the transformation of lizardite into antigorite during prograde metamorphism. A third alteration event led to the retrogression of antigorite to chlorite and antigorite to lizardite recorded in AU and AC serpentinites (450–320°C,,350°C). Pressure–temperature pseudosections show the following peak metamorphic temperatures: (i) 325–400°C at 10 kbar for AU serpentinites, (ii) 450–480°C at 15–20 kbar for AC serpentinites and (iii) 475–625°C below 28 kbar for CC serpentinites. AU and CC protoliths correspond to oceanic mantle peridotites (840°C, FMQ −0.4 to 0.19), whereas the AC represents mantle wedge peridotites (689°C, FMQ 0.6–0.8). We proposed that serpentinites from Angelópolis Ultramafite and Arquía Complex represent mantle from an ancient oceanic lithosphere and mantle wedge fragments, which were subducted and mixed in the subduction channel below the Early Cretaceous Quebradagrande Arc in NW South America, subsequently exhumed forming the Romeral Suture Zone.

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Geological Society Special Publication

Título del artículo:

Competency Development for Employability: A Comparative Analysis by University Majors

The study analyzed the development of transversal competencies in university students from various professional programs at a Peruvian university, with an emphasis on the differences according to the academic program. Using a non-experimental comparative descriptive design, the Graduate Transversal Competencies Assessment Questionnaire (CECTGRA) was applied to a sample of 242 students distributed across six programs: Accounting, Nursing, Hospitality and Tourism, Engineering, International Business, and Psychology. The results highlight that systemic competencies are the most valued by students in terms of importance, followed by interpersonal and instrumental competencies, evidencing the relevance of critical thinking and problem-solving in professional performance. However, the Kruskal-Wallis test revealed significant differences in instrumental competencies according to the professional career (p < 0.05), with Nursing and International Business showing better results in this dimension. On the other hand, no significant differences were found in interpersonal and systemic competencies between careers, highlighting their universal importance in professional training. These findings underscore the need to adjust university curricula to strengthen instrumental competencies in specific disciplines and ensure comprehensive training that prepares students for the demands of the globalized and competitive job market.

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Proceedings of the Laccei International Multi Conference for Engineering Education and Technology

Título del artículo:

Thermochronological constraints for reconstructing the tectonic history of the northern Central Cordillera (Serranía de San Lucas), Colombia

The Northern Andes are characterized by episodes of exhumation at around 80, 60–50, 40, 25 and 15–0 Ma in the Central and Eastern Cordilleras, Santander Massif, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and Merída Andes. Here we present a preliminary set of low-temperature thermochronological data from the Serranía de San Lucas in the northern Central Cordillera, which demonstrate that the timing of exhumation of this region is different from that of the surrounding massifs such as the Antioquia batholith, the Santander Massif or the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The thermochronological data show that the volcanic rocks of the Early Jurassic Noreán Formation exposed in the Serranía de San Lucas to the west of the Middle Magdalena River basin and the northern Santander Massif were buried beneath 6–7 km of Upper Jurassic to Upper Cretaceous/Paleocene sedimentary rocks, then slow erosional exhumation resumed at about 80–60 Ma as reflected by slow cooling rates of 2– 4°C/myr. No evidence is found for exhumation at 25 Ma as it has been previously detected in the Antioquia batholith or the Santander Massif. The Serranía de San Lucas tectonic evolution is seen in connection with Mid-Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous extension and Late Cretaceous compression and accretion of oceanic blocks to the western margin of the South American plate, and flat slab subduction of the Caribbean plate during the Eocene–Oligocene.

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Geological Society Special Publication

Título del artículo:

Surficial serpentinite emplacements and their potential links with the mantle wedge in NW South America

Understanding the distribution and behaviour of serpentinite bodies in subduction zones is crucial for unravelling the complex processes associated with subduction dynamics. This study presents a geophysical analysis of serpentinite bodies at west of the RSZ (Romeral Suture Zone) to investigate their occurrence patterns and potential implications for the subduction system. The results indicate that serpentinite bodies in the RSZ exhibit a distinct occurrence trend. They are primarily located in zones characterized by low anomalies of geothermal gradient, negative Bouguer anomalies, positive magnetic anomalies and areas of intermediate depth seismicity (100–160 km). Notably, these bodies are predominantly distributed west of the active volcanic arc, coinciding with a region of reduced volcanism. The presence of some serpentinite bodies correlates with areas of low seismicity and high anomalies of the b-value parameter, suggesting a connection between the fracturing behaviour of these rocks and seismic activity. Detailed profiles crossing the RSZ provide further insights into the characteristics of serpentinite bodies. High anomalies of b-values are observed in areas where serpentine slivers crop out, indicating their association with ductile volumes. Seismicity patterns also support the presence of magmatic reservoirs at depths beyond 50 km, exhibiting a dominant ductile behaviour. Moreover, the absence of volcanic activity signals on the surface inside the central area of the current volcanic arc corresponds to regions of minimal seismicity, suggesting the presence of either ductile rocks or highly resistant rocks beneath the critical stress threshold. These rocks may represent magmatic bodies that are potentially connected to volcanic manifestations at the surface. Geophysical evidence, including negative anomalies, reveals lateral and depth connections between serpentinite bodies in the RSZ. These anomalies are situated within the zone of influence of the RSZ and the Western Cordillera, suggesting their association with the ongoing subduction process. The spatial distribution of serpentinite bodies is influenced by the lithospheric structure, particularly the Caldas Tear, which leads to flatter, thicker and continuous occurrences of serpentines north of the tear. Interpretations of geophysical anomalies are not conclusive in hypothesizing a possible lateral and depth connection between serpentinite bodies along the RSZ. These anomalies are also situated within a broad zone of influence between the RSZ and the Western Cordillera, suggesting their possible association with the current mantle wedge and conforming a pervasive structure in the continental lithospheric. This study proposes the presence of large serpentine layers with contrasting thicknesses at the north and south of the Caldas Tear and as extensions of the mantle wedge at the base of the continental crust. These layers may contribute to changes in plate buoyancy and provide an additional mechanism to explain the phenomenon of flat subduction. The findings highlight the importance of considering serpentinite bodies and their associated fracture regimes in understanding subduction dynamics, particularly in active subduction systems such as the RSZ. This research sheds light on the interplay between geophysical characteristics, such as b-values, a seismological parameter used to interpret seismicity rates and physical strength heterogeneity of the rocks during the earthquake cycle, and the presence of serpentinite bodies. It contributes to our understanding of subduction processes, providing valuable insights into the behaviour of rocks within the subduction system and their implications for the evolution of the RSZ. Further studies integrating geological and geophysical data will enhance our knowledge of serpentinite dynamics and their role in subduction zones, ultimately improving our comprehension of plate tectonics and associated geological hazards.

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Geological Society Special Publication

Título del artículo:

New Coronavirus in Colombian Caribbean Bats: In Silico Analysis Reveals Possible Risk of Interspecific Jumping

Since the appearance of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus, there has been increased interest in understanding the role of bats in the maintenance and circulation of coronaviruses. This study aimed to describe the phylogenetic and evolutionary relationships and antigenic architecture of a new coronavirus detected in bats in the Department of Córdoba. In a surveillance study of pathogens of interest to public health, a bat Phyllostomus hastatus was captured. Rectal swabs samples were collected from the bats, and RNA was extracted and sequenced using NGS with MGI-G50 equipment. The results were analyzed using bioinformatics software. A contig of 28,619 nucleotides associated with the Coronaviridae family was obtained. Phylogenetic and molecular clock analyses of the ORF1ab gene revealed a novel divergent Alphacoronavirus that originated directly from an ancestral node. The analysis of the spike (S) protein and receptor-binding domain (RBD) is similar to that of humans (HCoV-229E) and porcine coronaviruses. In silico analysis suggests potential RBD interaction sites with human and pig cellular receptor aminopeptidase N. There is a possible risk of interspecies jumping of the new AlphaCoV/P. hastatus in humans and pigs. This is the first study to perform phylogenetic, evolutionary, and antigenic characterization of bat coronaviruses in Colombia.

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Viruses

Título del artículo:

Scaling NeuroSymbolic AI Integration for Seismic Event Detection

This paper presents sKGlable-VEO (scalable Knowledge Graph for Volcano Event detection), a framework designed for scalable seismic event detection through the integration of NeuroSymbolic AI and Knowledge Graphs. The system is structured around three modular pipelines: 1) a Knowledge Graph construction pipeline that transforms seismic data from Seismic Analysis Code (SAC) files into an ontology-based Knowledge Graph, 2) a Deep Learning training pipeline that trains neural network models on normalized seismic signals, and 3) an event detection pipeline that classifies seismic events using the trained models. Utilizing Docker containers, the sKGlable-VEO framework enables large-scale processing of seismic data while seamlessly integrating advanced AI models. This work advances seismic event detection by merging symbolic reasoning with machine learning in a scalable, efficient pipeline.

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Lecture Notes in Computer Science

Título del artículo:

Education in endocrinology for primary care: towards comprehensive and efficient management

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Revista Medica Herediana

Título del artículo:

Performance of Gram Stain, Leukocyte Esterase, and Nitrite in Predicting the Presence of Urinary Tract Infections: A Diagnostic Accuracy Study

Introduction: While urine culture is the gold standard for the urinary tract infection (UTI) diagnosis, delays in results highlight the need for rapid tests. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of urine Gram staining, leukocyte esterase, and nitrite in predicting the presence of UTI. Methods: A cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study was conducted on adult patients undergoing urine culture at a high-complexity hospital in northeastern Colombia. The results of Gram staining and urinalysis (nitrite and leukocyte esterase) were compared to urine culture as the gold standard test, and screening performance characteristics were calculated and reported for individual and combined tests. Results: A total of 2,123 urine cultures were analyzed, with 49.8% testing positive. Escherichia coli was the most common pathogen (24.7%), and 76.17% of patients received antibiotics, primarily ceftriaxone (38.7%). Gram staining showed 56.9% (95% confidence interval (CI)=54.4 to 59.4) sensitivity and 76.8% (95% CI=72.6 to 80.5) specificity, leukocyte esterase had 67.9% (95% CI= 65.3 to 70.4) sensitivity and 84.5% (95% CI=81.4 to 87.2) specificity, and nitrite demonstrated the highest sensitivity (85.3%, 95% CI=82.0 to 88.2). The combination of Gram staining (+), leukocyte esterase (+), and nitrite (+) achieved 87.6% (95% CI=84.2 to 90.5) sensitivity and 94.6% (95% CI=93.1 to 95.9) negative predictive value (NPV), with the decision tree identifying this combination as having the highest diagnostic utility (positive likelihood ratio (PLR) = 23.77, 95% CI=18.34 to 30.80). Conclusion: It seems that, integrating urine Gram staining with leucocyte esterase and nitrite improves UTI diagnosis in high-complexity emergency settings, reducing unnecessary urine cultures and antibiotic use while enhancing resource utilization and mitigating bacterial resistance.

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Archives of Academic Emergency Medicine

Título del artículo:

Sea surface temperature modulates El Niño and La Niña driven leptospirosis patterns: Evidence from causal machine learning in Colombia

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease prevalent in tropical regions influenced by climatic factors such as precipitation and soil moisture, which are regulated by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). This study examines the causal relationship between El Niño and La Niña episodes and leptospirosis cases in Colombia at the municipal level from 2007 to 2023. Using an ecological longitudinal design, we analyzed laboratory-confirmed cases from the National Public Health Surveillance System, environmental data from remote sensing, and socioeconomic data, employing a causal machine learning framework with doubly robust estimation and overlap weighting. We estimated the Average Treatment Effect (ATE) and the Conditional Average Treatment Effect (CATE) for three scenarios: Neutral vs. La Niña, Neutral vs. El Niño, and El Niño vs. La Niña. Results showed 10,629 cases, predominantly in males, with the highest incidence in Cali, Barranquilla, San José del Guaviare, and Cartagena. La Niña was associated with a 1.2 percentage point reduction in the probability of excess leptospirosis cases (ATE = -0.012, 95% CI: -0.015 – -0.008), while El Niño corresponded with a 7.2 percentage point increase in the probability of excess leptospirosis cases (ATE = 0.072, 95% CI: 0.041 – 0.103) compared to Neutral episodes. The El Niño vs. La Niña comparison showed no significant effect. As sea surface temperatures rose in the Pacific Ocean off the Colombian coast, the impact of both El Niño and La Niña episodes was observed to diminish, according to the CATE analysis. Regional variations, particularly in the Orinoco and Amazon regions, seem to drive these national trends, probably due to inverse hydro-climatic responses to ENSO. Refutation tests indicated the presence of remaining bias for the scenarios Neutral vs. El Niño and El Niño vs. La Niña. These findings highlight the complex interplay between climate and leptospirosis, underscoring the need for region-specific public health strategies to mitigate climate-driven disease risks in Colombia.

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Plos Global Public Health

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Validation of a simulation model in TRNSYS for an institutional photovoltaic system: Case study at the University of Santander - UDES

The objective of this study is to develop and validate an energy simulation model in TRNSYS to evaluate the performance of the grid-connected photovoltaic system installed in the Guane building of the University of Santander (UDES), located in Bucaramanga, Colombia. A technical characterization of the system was performed, followed by the design of a model in TRNSYS using real configuration, operational, and meteorological data. Subsequently, an experimental validation was carried out based on the comparison between simulated values and measured data during the year 2024, using statistical metrics such as absolute error, relative error, and accuracy. The model achieved an average relative error of 3.3%, with an average absolute difference of 146.47 W, demonstrating an overall agreement of more than 96% between simulated and experimental results. These results show that the model reproduces, with high fidelity, the behavior of the photovoltaic system under real conditions. The validated model represents a useful tool for energy management, maintenance planning, and operational optimization of institutional solar systems, and it is replicable in similar tropical contexts. In addition, it enables the exploration of expansion scenarios and sustainable energy transitions from both academic and technical perspectives.

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Periodicals of Engineering and Natural Sciences

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Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery (ARCAPA): Clinical spectrum in the pediatric population based on a case report and scoping review

The anomaly of the right coronary artery originating from the pulmonary artery (ARCAPA) is an exceptionally rare congenital cardiovascular malformation, with an incidence of 0.002 % among congenital heart diseases. We present the case of a 4-month-old male infant with diaphoresis during crying, diagnosed by echocardiography and confirmed by coronary angiography. The patient underwent successful surgical reimplantation of the right coronary artery to the ascending aorta. Additionally, we conducted a scoping review of 86 pediatric cases reported in the literature, identifying clinical presentation patterns according to age groups. This report highlights the importance of timely diagnosis and early surgical management in this coronary anomaly.

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Progress in Pediatric Cardiology