University of Antioquia

COVID-19 and other pandemic viruses continue being important for public health and the global economy. Therefore, it is essential to explore the pathogenesis of COVID-19 more deeply, particularly its association with inflammatory and antiviral processes. In this study, we used the RNA-seq technique to analyze mRNA and non-coding RNA profiles of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy individuals after SARS-CoV-2 in vitro exposure, to identify pathways related to immune response and the regulatory post-transcriptional mechanisms triggered that can serve as possible complementary therapeutic targets. Our analyses show that SARS-CoV-2 induced a significant regulation in the expression of 790 genes in PBMCs, of which 733 correspond to mRNAs and 57 to non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). The immune response, antiviral response, signaling, cell proliferation and metabolism are the main biological processes involved. Among these, the inflammatory response groups the majority of regulated genes with an increase in the expression of chemokines involved in the recruitment of monocytes, neutrophils and T-cells. Additionally, it was observed that exposure to SARS-CoV-2 induces the expression of genes related to the IL-27 pathway but not of IFN-I or IFN-III, indicating the induction of ISGs through this pathway rather than the IFN genes. Moreover, several lncRNA and RNA binding proteins that can act in the cis-regulation of genes of the IL-27 pathway were identified. Our results indicate that SARS-CoV-2 can regulate the expression of multiple genes in PBMCs, mainly related to the inflammatory and antiviral response. Among these, lncRNAs establish an important mechanism in regulating the immune response to the virus. They could contribute to developing severe forms of COVID-19, constituting a possible therapeutic target.

Understanding and recognizing emotional states through speech has vast implications in areas ranging from customer service to mental health. In this paper, we investigate the relationship between adults and children for the task of automatic speech emotion recognition, focusing on the critical issue of limited datasets for children’s emotions. We use two databases: IEMOCAP, which contains emotional speech recordings from adults, and AIBO, which includes recordings from children. To address the dataset limitations, we employ transfer learning by training a neural network to classify adult emotional speech using a Wav2Vec model for feature extraction, followed by a classification head for the downstream task. However, the labels between IEMOCAP and AIBO do not align perfectly, presenting a challenge in emotional mapping. To tackle this, we perform inference on children’s data to examine how emotional labels in IEMOCAP correspond to those in AIBO, highlighting the complexities of cross-age emotional transfer. This approach achieved F-scores of up to 0.47. In addition, we trained male and female IEMOCAP models to determine how variations in gender within adult speech affect emotional mapping in children data. Some of our findings indicate that female samples align more with high arousal emotions, while male samples align more with low arousal emotion, underscoring the importance of gender in emotion recognition. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in the field of deep learning applications on emotion recognition that analyses the effects of genders and age groups on emotional mapping.

Introduction Limited information is available on the association between depressive symptoms and waist circumference (WC) in individuals with normal weight. This study aimed to analyze the association between depressive symptoms and WC among individuals aged 18 years or older with normal weight in the Peruvian population between 2019 and 2021. Methods Analytical cross‐sectional study. Data from the Peruvian Demographic and Health Survey (2019–2021) were analyzed. The sample consisted of 26 933 participants. The outcome variable was WC. The exposure variables included the overall Patient Health Questionnaire‐9 (PHQ‐9) score and severity of depressive symptoms. Generalized linear models of the Gaussian family estimated the effects with β coefficients for the associations between WC and depressive symptoms stratified by age and sex. Results A significant inverse association was observed between depressive symptoms and WC in young (< 35 years) individuals of both sexes. In young males, a dose–response relationship emerged, with greater severity of depressive symptoms associated with progressively lower WC. Specifically, inverse associations were found for moderate ( β = −1.74, 95% CI: −3.25 to −0.23), moderately severe ( β = −2.81, 95% CI: −4.71 to −0.91), and severe ( β = −2.75, 95% CI: −5.11 to −0.40) depressive symptoms. Conclusions Among young individuals of both sexes with a normal weight, depressive symptoms were inversely associated with WC. These findings underscore the need for nuanced considerations of age and sex when exploring the interplay of depression and abdominal adiposity in individuals with normal weight.

This work presents a stable and switchable dual-band generation from a polarization-dependent Erbium-doped fiber laser mode-locked by monolayer graphene as a saturable absorber. The ultrashort generated pulses at single band exhibit spectral (temporal) widths of 8.8 nm (305 fs) and 9 nm (384 fs) at 1536 nm and 1557 nm, respectively, while the simultaneous dual-band state ensured a spectral width of 5 and 6 nm for both wavelengths, which are the best dual-band mode-locked performances of the literature obtained from an EDFL. Also, its dual-band spectral evolution was analyzed by changing the pumping power and the intracavity polarization state via a motorized polarization controller. Finally, our simulation provided an excellent qualitative explanation of the laser switching as a function of pumping power due to the change in EDF gain. We found a relative percentage error between experimental results and simulation of 22.7% , 13.3% , 9% , and 8.3% for 1530 nm, 1556 nm, and dual-band left and right central wavelength, respectively.

The characterization of non-retroviral integrated RNA virus sequences (NIRVS) in mosquitoes has emerged as a significant area of research that could yield insight into virus-host interactions. This study aimed to characterize NIRVS in the Anopheles darlingi reference genome and identify putative transcribed NIRVS in field-collected mosquitoes from Colombia. The An. darlingi reference genome was analyzed to identify and characterize NIRVS by conducting a BLAST query with all the virus sequences previously identified in arthropods available in the NCBI-virus repository. In addition, An. darlingi field-collected mosquitoes were examined for NIRVS using a metatranscriptomic approach. As a result, 44 NIRVS were identified in the An. darlingi genome, constituting integrations of negative single-stranded RNA viruses (ssRNA-) from the families Rhabdoviridae, Chuviridae and Phasmaviridae, and integrations of double-stranded RNA viruses (dsRNA) from the families Partitiviridae and Sedoreoviridae. These NIRVS were not randomly distributed but clustered in specific regions of the genome enriched with BEL/Pao and Ty3/Gypsy long terminal repeat elements. Furthermore, putative NIRVS-like sequences were present in the transcriptomic data from all the Colombian An. darlingi natural populations. This study is significant as it represents the first identification of NIRVS in the most important malaria vector of the Neotropics. The findings help in understanding the intricate relationship between the mosquito and its virome, and the regulation of viruses’ mechanisms in the Anopheles genus.

Background Easy-to-use, rapid, scalable, high-throughput, and cost-effective HPV tests are urgently needed for low-resource settings. Atila Biosystems’ high-throughput, cost-effective, and clinically validated ScreenFire HPV Risk Stratification (RS) assay identifies 13 high risk HPV (hrHPV) in 4 groups based on their oncogenic risk (i.e., HPV16, HPV18/45, HPV31/33/35/52/58, and HPV51/59/39/56/68). The current standard format is subject to laboratory contamination, which is common for any molecular PCR test. To overcome this drawback, Atila has recently upgraded it into an innovative, contamination-free Zebra BioDome format. The contamination-free feature makes this novel assay format more suitable for large-scale community- and population-based cervical screening. This study evaluated the analytical performance of the Zebra BioDome format. Methods We conducted a study to test the analytical performance of Zebra Biodome format in comparison to the results of using the ScreenFire HPV RS assay standard format on Biorad CFX-96 real-time PCR instrument. We used overall agreement rate and unweighted kappa value to compare the performance. Results The overall agreement for detection of hrHPV was 96.0% with unweighted kappa value 0.94 (95% confidence interval: 0.90–0.98). The agreement rates between hrHPV genotype 16 and risk stratification genotype group (HPV18/45, HPV31/33/35/52/58, and HPV51/59/39/56/68) were all > 97.5%. Conclusion The innovative ScreenFire HPV RS assay Zebra BioDome format produced highly concordant results with the standard format. The shared features by the two assay formats, such as easy-to-use, high throughput, cost-appropriate, and no requirements for DNA extraction. The unique contamination-prevention feature along with no requirement of preparation of reagents make the Zebra BioDome format more suitable for large-scale HPV screening to reduce global cervical cancer burden.

English has spread throughout the world and with it the number of language centers (LCs) selling not just English courses, but also colonial views of English as the language of being, knowledge and power through a myriad of linguistic landscape (LL) resources. Parting from this assumption and framed on decolonial and LL theories, this multisite case study set out to investigate the colonial mechanisms and ideological strategies employed by English LCs located in Bogotá and Medellín (Colombia) to present English this way, and how these were actually put in place. Data for the study included pictures of the façades of 15 LCs located in these cities. These were analyzed using Kress and van Leeuwen’s (2001) framework for multimodal analysis. Results suggest that LCs use a series of colonial mechanisms and ideological strategies, such as epistemic violence, homogenization, and legitimation, which are put in place through the use of different semiotic resources.

This chapter analyses the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the teaching of natural sciences within the 5.0 Industrial Revolution framework. It highlights how AI personalizes and enriches the educational experience through advanced simulations and virtual assistance. However, it faces technical, economic, and ethical challenges that require due attention. The humanization of AI is essential, promoting systems that reinforce human dignity and equity. AI promises to provide students with knowledge and skills necessary for an ever-changing future.

Objective Physical activity (PA) has been linked to reduced Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk. However, less is known about its effects in the AD preclinical stage. We aimed to investigate whether greater PA was associated with lower plasma biomarkers of AD pathology, neural injury, reactive astrocytes, and better cognition in individuals with autosomal‐dominant AD due to the presenilin‐1 E280A mutation who are virtually guaranteed to develop dementia. Methods Twenty‐eight cognitively unimpaired mutation carriers (ages x̄ = 29.28) wore a FitBit Charge‐4 for 14 days. We calculated their average steps to measure locomotion, and Training Impulse (TRIMP) to quantify the intensity and duration of PAs using heart rate. Plasma amyloid beta 42/40 ratio, phosphorylated tau 181, neurofilament light chain, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were measured. Cognition was assessed with the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease word list learning and delayed recall, Trail Making Test Part A, and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale‐version IV Digit Span Backward. We conducted multiple linear regressions controlling for age, sex, body mass index, and education. Results There were no associations among steps or TRIMP with plasma biomarkers or cognition. Greater TRIMP was related to higher GFAP levels. Conclusions PA was not associated with cognition or plasma biomarkers. However, greater intensity and duration of PAs were related to higher GFAP. Participants engaged very little in moderate to vigorous PA. Therefore, light PA may not exert a significant protective effect in preclinical AD. Future work with larger samples and longitudinal data is needed to elucidate further the potential impact of PA on AD progression in the preclinical stages. Highlights Locomotion (average steps) was not associated with plasma biomarkers or cognition. Greater training load (training impulse) was related to higher glial fibrillary acidic protein levels in mutation carriers. Light physical activity may not suffice to exert a protective effect on Alzheimer's disease.

Geographic understanding is an important ability to be developed in learning communities in islands, since, as previously established, they have unique interactions with natural and human systems. In the case of the Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia, and Santa Catalina, the curriculum standards, guidelines, and textbooks are designed mostly considering mainland learning communities of white/mestizo ancestry and overlooking the different backgrounds and needs of ethnic minority students, resulting in a total absence of a culturally responsive approach. In this chapter, we propose the geo-literacy umbrella as a tool to improve teacher training and institutional capabilities, previously proposed by academics as points of intervention to close the educational breach by 2030. The seascapes and landscapes protected by the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve offer a rich spatial template for context-based teaching and learning, particularly in local high schools where Geo-literacy might be also useful for introducing general knowledge about sustainability in islands. The General Law for Education in Colombia, provides guidelines that could be used by teachers as anchor points to integrate concepts and methods about sustainability in islands that challenge students to think about real-world problems.

Background Gastroparesis is a delay in gastric emptying without mechanical obstruction, lacking a clear pathophysiological mechanism, but with multiple histological abnormalities including loss of interstitial cells of Cajal, which may alter slow waves. We can assess slow waves with electrogastrography. Objectives To determine the prevalence and range of abnormalities in gastric slow waves in adults with gastroparesis using electrogastrography. Methods We systematically searched Medline, Embase, LILACS, Web of Science, and Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials. We included studies with patients older than 18 years with gastroparesis, assessed using electrogastrography. We evaluated the percentage of duration of the recording in which the dominant power was in normogastria, tachygastria, and bradygastria; dominant frequency; power ratio; change in post-stimulus dominant power; and dominant frequency instability coefficient. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool. Data were synthesized using narrative summary and meta-analysis. Results A total of 3730 articles were reviewed, including 31 articles with 1545 patients and 340 controls. Compared to controls, gastroparetics patients had less normogastria (fasting: 50.3% versus 65.8%) (post-stimulus: 54.3% versus 66.5%), more bradygastria (fasting: 37.7% versus 13%) (post-stimulus: 31.9% versus 16.3%), and more tachygastria (fasting: 16.1% versus 4.6%) (post-stimulus: 18.3% versus 5.2%). Gastroparetics had less change in post-stimulus dominant power (1.45 dB versus 5.03 dB) and less power ratio (1.4 versus 5.26). Conclusions Gastroparetic patients present abnormalities in the frequency and changes in the post-stimulus power of slow waves, possibly secondary to a reduced number of interstitial cells of Cajal, as described in these patients.

This research focused on analysing drought trends in a geographically diverse coastal region in northern Colombia (10°76′–11°14′′N, 72°85′–72°71′W) from 1982 to 2022, using a rigorous methodology. We used the Standardised Precipitation Index (SPI) to study the variability of meteorological drought monthly and annually. Our analysis incorporated precipitation data from the ERA5-Land dataset and monthly precipitation records from four weather stations in the study area. It allowed us to refine the accuracy of the drought index by accounting for bias. The SPI index was calculated considering the 12-month total precipitation accumulation period. Our findings revealed two significant characteristics of estimated surface precipitation in the region: higher precipitation levels were observed between August and November compared to the months from December to April, and a bimodal pattern was identified showing peaks in May and October. Analysis based on the SPI index identified medium and long-term drought trends, with several extreme drought events occurring between 1997–1998 and 2014–2016.

Lycopale Hull, 1944 is a small Neotropical flower fly genus (Syrphidae: Eristalinae: Eristalini: Helophilina) with six described species. Recent surveys in the Colombian and Ecuadorian Andean Forest and Paramo ecosystems revealed the discovery of two species new to science: Lycopale mendozai sp. nov. and Lycopale radioheadi sp. nov. Simultaneously, the species Lycopale magnifica (Bigot, 1880) was rediscovered and is redescribed here, nearly a century after its original description, including photographs of its habitus and illustrations of the male genitalia. A new key is proposed, including illustrations of thoracic and abdominal patterns of all known species to distinguish them from the new taxa. Distributional patterns are illustrated and discussed. Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences are provided for the three species, L. magnifica, L. mendozai sp. nov., and L. radioheadi sp. nov. The discovery of these two new species suggests that the Tropical Andes diversity of flower flies is still underestimated and many more unnamed species remain to be discovered and described from this biodiversity hotspot.

To achieve sustainable targets, international panels call for a transformative change in human–nature interactions to foster human well‐being and promote pro‐environmental behaviour. The extent to which people considered themselves as part of nature—known as human–nature connectedness—has been shown to be a key societal trait for achieving such a transformative change. Human–nature connectedness is linked to improved human welfare and actions for nature conservation and can be increased by direct contact with natural environments in adults living in the Global North. It has not been shown whether these relations are true across lifetimes and in the Global South, making it difficult to generalise about the effects of human–nature connectedness globally. Here, we conducted a cross‐sectional study to examine and compare human–nature connectedness across ages in 1858 participants aged 3–87 years from two countries: France (N = 1059) and Colombia (N = 799). We also investigated the links between human–nature connectedness, pro‐environmental behaviours, well‐being and two indicators of opportunity to experience nature (i.e. degree of urbanisation and forest cover around the participants' municipality of residence). Results show that human–nature connectedness is positively related to well‐being and pro‐environmental behaviours in both countries. Analyses revealed an age‐related pattern of human–nature connectedness with a significant decline from childhood to the mid‐teens in both countries. Overall, Colombian participants have a higher human–nature connectedness than French participants and individuals' human–nature connectedness was negatively linked to the urbanisation's indices in both countries. Here, we show that human–nature connectedness is linked to sustainable outcomes in a Global South country, just as it is in the Global North. Our study also suggests that increasing contact with nature during formative teenage years could mitigate the observed decline in human–nature connectedness. Future studies are warranted combining qualitative and quantitative measures related to human–nature connectedness, nature experiences, values and practices in relation to nature, in multiple countries from the global South. Our study indicates that enhancing human–nature connectedness could provide an additional tool for achieving sustainable targets globally, not just in highly developed northern‐hemisphere countries. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

The polarization state of an erbium-doped fiber laser was changed, and its dependence on the spectral width and mean power generated at the end of a high-nonlinear fiber was investigated. The GK-Means algorithm was applied to identify clustering patterns in the spectral width and mean power. Finally, linear polarized vectorial solitons were simulated as the input of the high-nonlinear fiber, providing a physical interpretation of the clusters proposed by GK-Means. A comparison of the simulation and experimental data revealed approximately 42% of coincidences.