http://www.agenciadenoticias.unal.edu.co/ English en http://www.agenciadenoticias.unal.edu.co/typo3conf/ext/tt_news/ext_icon.gif http://www.agenciadenoticias.unal.edu.co/ 18 16 English TYPO3 - get.content.right http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Thu, 23 May 2013 14:04:00 -0500 http://www.agenciadenoticias.unal.edu.co/ndetalle/article/bacteria-could-control-potato-disease.html UNal Biotechnology Research Institute (IBUN) researchers are using a bacteria which battles the... English Thu, 23 May 2013 14:04:00 -0500 http://www.agenciadenoticias.unal.edu.co/ndetalle/article/unal-adopts-who-patient-safety-culture-guide.html With an initiative headed by the Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, UNal joined the World Health... What is patient Safety?  It is the healthcare discipline which applies science safety methods with the purpose of achieving a trust system in healthcare provision. Patient safety is also a healthcare system attribute which minimizes incidence and impact of adverse effects and maximizes recovery when they are produced, as defined in the WHO Multi-Professional Patient Safety Curriculum Guide.    WHO recognizes three world challenges around the patient safety topic:  The first is hygiene in healthcare services and is basically, hand washing: “clean care is safe care”.  The second challenge is for patient safety during surgery. The catch phrase is “safe surgery save lives”. For this the WHO proposes using a checklist, similar to what aircraft pilots use. Professor Medina says that WHO evidenced that one of the most secure industries in the world is aviation and they have adopted some of their safety strategies.  The third challenge is the “battle against bacterial resistance”. Antibiotics are increasingly not responding in many cases because microorganisms have acquired resistance. Professor Medina thinks that this is due to inadequate use of drugs.]]> English Thu, 23 May 2013 09:01:00 -0500 http://www.agenciadenoticias.unal.edu.co/ndetalle/article/claro-river-marble-could-be-used-as-cement.html A novel geosciences project established that marble for the Claro River, located between the... La Dorada, in the Province of Caldas.  According to the researcher, she took samples with support from Holcim Colombia S.A., a firm which provided her the chance to work with these materials. Afterwards, she returned to Bogotá and performed petrography analyses, which consists of removing thin sections of rock. Then the sections are polished obtaining a transparent material so light can cross the material. She could determine the minerals that form marble: essentially diopside and muscovite calcium carbonate (calcite). These types of calcium are very particular as they can alter the physical and chemical properties of cement if marble is used as raw material.  Then she carried out a cathode-luminiscence study. This is a process using an electron beam through the transparent section of the rock. These electrons excite the mineral atoms to obtain a luminescent response. This response is then used to characterize the mineral and say if it is cathode-luminescent or not. Later, by means of cathode-luminiscence equipment the mineral is identified.  With these analyses she could determine the minerals in the samples and the effects produced in cement. For example, magnesium produces cracks when it solidifies, which constitutes a great difficulty in construction. Sulphur expels sulphuric acid which is contaminating and   corrosive, therefore inadequate for cement fabrication.  Research also allowed determining genesis, in other words, how the rock was formed, taking into account temperature and pressure conditions which crystalizes minerals. According to Hernández the process was orogenic metamorphism (linked to mountain formation), where rocks rose due to compressive forces, generated by crust deformations. In this particular case, these rocks were formed at a temperature between 400 and 600° C and a pressure of approximately 400 to 800 Mpa.  “The importance of this project is that we used our knowledge. Not only for analyzing the material, but once we knew how the rocks emerged, we used it form something practical, in this case cement. This is a relevant contribution to geosciences, as many times research is only theoretical and without any type of applicability”, says Hernández.  Hernández says that this characterization provides insight to construction companies, as they now have evidence on the type of marble which may be used to make cement.  The research project was entitled “Petrographic and geochemical characterization of Claro River marbles for its cement application” which was completed at the end of 2012 and recently obtained an award for the Best Undergraduate Geosciences Work.]]> English Wed, 22 May 2013 15:56:00 -0500 http://www.agenciadenoticias.unal.edu.co/ndetalle/article/despite-being-a-producer-colombia-imports-50-of-its-pork.html Growth of more than 50% in pork imports compels Colombian producers to modernize its productive... Meat technology  With the purpose of providing more participation and tools for the sector and improve its added value and consumer trust, PORCICOL and the Catalunya Generalitat Research Institute will host the First International Seminar on Pork Technology in several universities of the country.  Due to the experience of UNal–Palmira in Zootechniques, they will host one of the conferences this May.      “This type of events promotes trust and awareness amongst producers and consumers alike. It also helps for a more economic production”, says professor Sarria.  The conferences will be provided by two recognized researchers. One is Mr. Narcís Grébol, who will speak of fresh, cooked, cured and fermented meat products, as well as opportunities in new consumption forms. The second will be Mr. M. Álgels Oliver, who will discuss the main quality shortcomings and genetics, nutrition and sex factors.  People interested can register at the following email asistenteinvestigación@porcicol.org.co or call UNal-Palmira at (2) 2868888 ext. 35747.]]> English Wed, 22 May 2013 15:51:00 -0500 http://www.agenciadenoticias.unal.edu.co/ndetalle/article/new-macroalgae-species-discovered-in-the-san-andres-archipelago.html Discovering a minute red algae species and reported by UNal-Caribbean researchers, demonstrates... Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; University of Michigan Herbarium Professor Michael J. Wynne is also part of the research team. The discovery will be published in the International Journal of Tropical Biology and Conservation of the University of Costa Rica.]]> English Tue, 21 May 2013 13:59:00 -0500 http://www.agenciadenoticias.unal.edu.co/ndetalle/article/colombia-united-states-free-trade-agreement-still-to-show-tangible-benefits.html After a year of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with United States, results leave doubts on when... Universidad Central Economic Sciences Faculty Dean, Germán Umaña, told UN Radio’ UN Análisis program*: “What I said a year ago is now true. Independent statistic firms have progressed in their measurements. Export towards United States grew almost 20% and Colombian exports of all types of goods decreased just a little. This means the positive trade balance with the U.S. decreases, contributing to current account deficit growth”.  The Farmers Society of Colombia (SAC, for its acronym in Spanish) President, Rafael Mejía, said that 90% of the basic products of the country have nothing to do with the FTA. Therefore the agricultural/livestock sector has not fared well; the agricultural-industrial sector has 10% of the exports towards the United States, while this country imports 100%.  However, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism, Sergio Díaz-Granados, has said that currently Colombia sells to the United States approximately 187 new products which we didn’t sell last year, we use to only sell coffee, cocoa, flowers, coal, and petroleum. Furthermore, he claims that the policy of having more exported goods and new businesses that sell to the American market have been successful.   “We need to analyze not only imports and exports of goods, but also services exports in the global context of the Colombian economy —exports fell 20% last year—. Although direct foreign investment trend with respect to the U.S. fell”, said Umaña    Then Hernando José Gómez, FTA Leveraging Office Director said: “Evidently, we are talking about trade policy instruments which enable us to have preferential access ground rules to the U.S. market which Mexico, Canada, Chile, Peru and Central America already have. They have increased their exports to other countries and caused structural changes in their export apparatus. Colombia’s wager is to become part of the international market and obtain greater production towards these new customers, transforming and modernizing our economy”.  Thereafter, Jorge Botero, former Trade Minister of Colombia, added: “These are long-term trade liberation and internal modernization projects, to benefit from access to new markets, with the purpose of competing in appropriate terms with foreign production. Unfortunately, the country is not advancing swiftly and there are flaws in infrastructure, education, and the labor market. Although the predicted disasters have not occurred, results are frustrating in face of what was expected”.  “A year is relatively a short period of time to show a balanced scorecard and to measure the results of a trade agreement of this nature. Although the change in attitude is surprising as well as not hearing about the measures Colombia should take to increase its economic growth”, said UNal Economic Sciences Faculty Professor Álvaro Zerda  Finally, Cecilia López, advisor to the Office of the Governor of the Island of San Andrés and former Senator said: “The issue with the FTA and with all public policies in the last two decades is that they are tainted with ideology. People in power are obsessed with orthodox economic policy and cannot even accept their own mistakes and listen to other voices, such as the studies which demonstrated the weaknesses of the negotiation”.   * Listen to this radio program again (in Spanish) at http://www.unradio.unal.edu.co/detalle/cat/un-analisis/article/un-ano-del-tlc-colombia-estados-unidos-de-america.html.  UN Análisis is broadcast Monday through Friday at 7:30 a.m. on UN Radio (98.5 FM in Bogotá and 100.4 in Medellín) and also at www.unradio.unal.edu.co. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.]]> English Tue, 21 May 2013 10:05:00 -0500 http://www.agenciadenoticias.unal.edu.co/ndetalle/article/threat-modeling-helps-design-prevention-and-mitigation-measures.html Many years of research evidence the need to recognize the natural phenomena which threat humanity.... Universidad de los Andes, included concepts related to mathematical modeling (probability and set theory), as well as natural risk probability assessment, analysis procedure and metrics.  “We first need to know the events which could impact a city, for example earthquakes, floods, intense rain, and landslides amongst others. Once we have characterized them, we need to know what instruments we have and which are the exposed structures such as buildings, houses, aqueducts, sewage systems, electric distribution networks communication networks, in other words, all the elements of a city. We also need to know historical data as they are useful to determine which events could leave the worst scenarios, which could occur simultaneously, which would occur first and with certain frequency”, he said.  “With the recorded data, we begin to create computer analytical information models in order to simulate threats, intensity distribution across the territory and the behavior of structural elements during these events. Finally we will obtain event valuations of what could happen and what would be the economic, social and physical consequences” says the researcher. Researchers foresee scenarios describing what will happen, allowing authorities to take reactive, preparative and mitigation measures, supporting emergency plans and community care programs and plans.  Regarding the project, it seeks to unite efforts to maximize risk management by means of knowledge and development of information systems through training. Yamin, also a consultant for this project says that there are no records in the country for this kind of project and it is one of the most relevant ever performed in terms of assessments and measures for a region to protect itself and improve care.  “It has been demonstrated that Manizales could endure events with considerable economic, physical and human impacts. Therefore this is a relevant initiative for the country, because it’s a kind of model. The idea behind the project is having tools which will allow assessing scenarios such as those occurred in the rainy seasons of 2010 y 2011, knowing the vulnerabilities and try to diminish consequences of future scenarios in order to develop local capacities, conform work groups, develop methodologies and apply this experience to other regions of the country”, says the expert.]]> English Mon, 20 May 2013 13:59:00 -0500 http://www.agenciadenoticias.unal.edu.co/ndetalle/article/sugarcane-research-from-the-province-of-valle-del-cauca-is-recognized-around-the-world.html Sugarcane Research Center (CENICAÑA, for its Spanish acronym) Agronomy Coordinator says that... English Mon, 20 May 2013 11:39:00 -0500 http://www.agenciadenoticias.unal.edu.co/ndetalle/article/unal-participates-with-15-of-the-projects-approved-by-the-national-royalties-system.html The General Royalties System established the Science and Technology and Innovation Fund (CTeI, for... Support Center “University administration, through the Research Vicerector’s Office, founded the CTeI Royalties Project Support Center, which offers proposal information, support and management services to the fund. We have continued working and supporting the approved projects and advising new project formulation in order to respond to the required parameters established by the General Adjusted Methodology for public investment projects, used by the National Planning Department (DNP, for its Spanish acronym)”, says Gómez. The Center also provides advice in regulation, legal frameworks, guarantees and procedures for proposal presentation. Furthermore it provides information support on regional priority CTeI lines as well as establishing contacts and alliances for initiative presentation. Project Bank Currently the Support Center is a consultant for 69 new UNal projects. “We have 36 ideas, we are producing 26 and 7 more are waiting evaluation from the respective OCAD. The center consultancy is for professors and researchers of all UNal faculties and campuses, who want to address concerns they have about the fund”, says Gómez. These projects are directed towards influencing and contributing to regional development in science technology and innovation.]]> English Fri, 17 May 2013 17:42:00 -0500 http://www.agenciadenoticias.unal.edu.co/ndetalle/article/without-a-market-niche-it-will-be-difficult-to-conquer-the-us-market.html After a year, a fragmented offer of consumer goods and reduced added value in exported products... English Fri, 17 May 2013 11:35:00 -0500