The University of Cundinamarca (Spanish: Universidad de Cundinamarca), is a public, departmental, coeducational university located primarily in the city of Fusagasugá in Cundinamarca, Colombia. The university has satellite campuses across the department in the cities of Chía, Chocontá, Facatativá, Girardot, Soacha, Ubaté and Zipaquirá..
The research aimed to study the social representations of representations political participation circulating in different groups of young Neapolitan university students, identify the variables involved in their cognitive-affective positioning and identify the correlations between representations, political behaviour, anomie, and perceived self-efficacy. Using a semi-Structured questionnaire, it was possible to reach a total sample of 327 university students, divided into three subgrops according to political orientations: young right-wingers (n = 37) , young left-wingers ( n = 44) and young non-partisans (n = 246) The internal structure of social presentations was reconstructed through Hierarchical vocations. At the same time, political behaviour, anomic and perceived self-efficacy were investigated through unique psychometric scales. Young right-wingers constrict their social representation of political participation around the core constituted by values, linked to peripheral elements such as commitment and community. For these participants, the disengagement scale correlates negatively with all the dimensions analysed. In the case of young left-wingers, the practice of demonstrating is central reflecting the correlations that emerged between the variables of formal participation and activism. Finally, voting is central to the representation provided by the non-pattisan youth, who show a tendency towards disillusionment with parties and institutions. Although political participation is represented differently among the groups analysed, there is no clear distinction between conventional & raquo; and & laquo;unconventional modes of participation but the phenomenon evolves over time and in different contexts, adopting updated tools and nurturing innovative practices.
Yellow fever (YF) remains a major public health concern in Latin America. We characterise the early-2025 outbreak, compare it with prior waves-especially Southeast Brazil (2016-2018)-and examine environmental, structural, and policy-related drivers. We reviewed regional surveillance data and mortality records from January to April 2025, comparing them to historical outbreak data. Case fatality rate (CFR), geographic spread, and population vulnerability patterns were analyzed. We also reviewed published literature and health alerts to contextualize contributing factors. In 2025, 301 confirmed cases and 124 deaths were reported (CFR 41.1%), mostly in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru, concentrated among unvaccinated populations at the forest-urban interface. Transmission remains sylvatic, but peri-urban spillover risk is rising. Deforestation, climate variability, cross-border migration, and political instability heighten vulnerability; surveillance is fragmented and vaccine uptake insufficient in high-risk groups. YF is re-emerging through intertwined biological, ecological, and socio-political forces. Preventing another large-scale epidemic requires strengthened, integrated surveillance, including Non-Human Primates (NHP) epizootics, equity-centred immunisation in remote areas, and coordinated regional action focused on prevention, early detection, and health-system resilience.
Background: The global biodiversity crisis has severely affected amphibians, a key group for ecosystem health, yet social perceptions that shape human-amphibian interactions remain poorly documented in the Colombian Caribbean. We investigated how gender, age, and education influence local knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, and willingness to support conservation for 13 amphibian species in tropical dry forest landscapes located between Tayrona National Natural Park and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. We also assessed how perceived morphological traits (body size, skin color, skin type, and leg function) relate to perceptions, recognition of ecosystem services (e.g., "good for the forest" and medicinal uses), and conservation support. Methods: We conducted 200 semi-structured photo-elicitation surveys in rural communities . PERMANOVA tested differences in responses among age, gender and education groups. Distance-based linear models with AICc model selection identified which perceived morphological traits best explained variation in perceptions, attitudes, ecosystem-service recognition, and conservation support. Results: Skin color and leg function were the most influential traits for perceived ecological function, medicinal associations, attitudes, and conservation support. Rhinella horribilis, Dendrobates truncatus, and Boana platanera were the most recognized species, whereas Elachistocleis panamensis had the lowest recognition. Disgust and fear predominated, yet most respondents reported non-harmful reactions (64% would leave the animal undisturbed; 1% reported intent to kill). Support for protecting the 13 species was high (85.5%), although willingness to participate in monitoring was comparatively low, indicating an attitude-action gap. Conservation attitudes varied by gender and were more positive among respondents with higher education. Conclusions: Overall knowledge of amphibians was limited, likely reflecting infrequent or negative encounters and persistent cultural fears. Althought the community recognizes the need for protection, barriers such as fear and limited environmental education remain. D. truncatus and E. panamensis could serve as flagship species for future conservation efforts. Implications for Conservation: The findings highlight the need for inclusive environmental education programs, community-based monitoring, and collaborative networks involving schools, authorities, and local communities, with attention to gender- and education- linked differences in perceptions and engagement to improve local conservation efforts.
Different bioplastics, such as polylactic acid (PLA) and cellulose, are increasingly used in fresh food packaging because they can constitute integrated and complex preservation systems while increasing sustainability. In this work, the biodegradation of the different components of an integrated packaging system composed of a rigid PLA tray, a heat-sealed PLA film, and cellulose sachets inside is discussed. Biodegradation tests were carried out both under composting and soil burial conditions, both based on the cumulative evolved CO2. The different packaging components were cut into 1 & times; 1 cm squares to facilitate biodegradation. Nonbiodegradable polymeric materials were included in the tests for comparison. After 60 days, biodegradation between 11.5 and 22.7 % was obtained for PLA under composting conditions, while biodegradation of 3.0-6.8 % was obtained under soil conditions, respectively. The thickness of the PLA sheets considerably affected the degree of biodegradation under the two conditions. For cellulose sheets, biodegradation was 82.4 % and 85.1 % under composting and soil conditions, respectively, while in the case of nonbiodegradable polymers, the values obtained were less than 2.0 % after 60 days. The need arises for the previous separation and preconditioning of this type of material after use in integrated packaging, so that biodegradation occurs under the most favorable conditions.
Este articulo analiza la capacidad tecnológica y la colaboración entre actores (Universidad, Empresa y Estado) en las organizaciones dedicadas a la elaboración de productos lácteos del municipio de Ubaté. El objetivo es identificar el nivel de implementación y las capacidades tecnológicas del sector, así como examinar la relación entre actores, los resultados muestran que existen espacios de colaboración; sin embargo, se evidencian necesidades relacionadas con la adaptación de estrategias y una mejor coordinación institucional. Asimismo, las capacidades tecnológicas de las organizaciones se ubican principalmente en niveles medio y bajo, lo que podía ser asociado con la cultura organizacional de cada organización. Estos hallazgos resaltan la importancia de fortalecer las alianzas entre los actores para impulsar el desarrollo sostenible y competitivo del sector, así como promover procesos de capacitación que favorezcan la adopción de tecnologías e innovación.
