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Slide 1 of 5 Publicación Acceso Abierto
Emerging and traditional pollutants in water resources: A perspective on the American Continent
(Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2025-11-19) De la Parra-Guerra, Ana C.; Acevedo Barrios, Rosa Leonor; Carvajal-Ruiz, Angie; MONROY-LICHT, ANDREA; Retamoza-Chamorro, Katy; Grupo de Investigación Estudios Químicos y Biológicos; Semillero de Investigación en Ciencias Ambientales
The increasing presence of emerging contaminants (ECs) is directly associated with the widespread use of personal care products, pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs, microplastics, and other organic and inorganic compounds driven by modern consumer culture. These substances, often unregulated, continuously enter the environment through sewage, domestic and industrial effluents, and inefficient wastewater treatment, leading to endocrine disruption and reproductive issues in wildlife, as well as broader ecological and human health risks. In contrast to traditional pollutants (TPs) such as heavy metals, which are better studied, and partially regulated ECs remain a growing concern due to their persistence and unknown long-term effects. Even though efforts have been made to standardize some heavy metals, their toxicity still poses challenges to water quality and public health. Therefore, continuous monitoring of both ECs and TPs is crucial to track contamination sources, assess environmental and health impacts, and support the development of remediation technologies and environmental policies. This review aimed to compile and analyze scientific literature on the incidence and effects of ECs and TPs in water resources, focusing on their most common types, environmental pathways, and biological models used for toxicity testing. The bibliometric analysis encompassed 200 research articles from the Americas, highlighting the most studied contaminants, methodological trends, and data essential for modeling pollution dynamics and guiding evidence-based decisions. The findings provide a foundational framework for improving water resource management and underscore the urgent need to integrate ECs into regulatory and monitoring programs to ensure aquatic ecosystem sustainability.
Slide 2 of 5 Publicación Acceso Abierto
Astrobiology and planetary sciences in Colombia
(Springer, 2025-11-04) Tovar, David; Leal, María Angélica; Sánchez, Jimena; Reyes, Rosa; Ceferino, Trinidad; Argenis, Bonilla; Tchegliakova, Nadejda; Orozco, María Camila; Melgarejo, Luz Marina; Figueroa, Liliana; Acevedo Barrios, Rosa Leonor; Ocampo, Walter; Molina, Carlos; Guerrero-Caicedo, Alejandro; Pelegrin, Jonathan; Tovar, David; Leal, María Angélica
This chapter presents a historical and contemporary review of the devel- opment of astrobiology and planetary sciences in Colombia, highlighting their ori- gins, progress, and future projections. Beginning with the emblematic fall of the Santa Rosa de Viterbo meteorite in 1810—an event that symbolizes the country’s initial engagement with cosmic knowledge—the chapter traces the key milestones in research, education, outreach, and the formation of scientific communities. It examines the early initiatives in exobiology, the consolidation of research groups, the role of museums and planetariums, as well as strategies for the social appropriation of scientific knowledge. Furthermore, it explores major research lines in extreme environments and planetary analogs, alongside the development of educational programs and specialized scientific events. Finally, it outlines the per- spectives that position Colombia as an emerging actor in the field of space sci- ences, leveraging its biodiversity, geodiversity, and the strengthening of interdisciplinary networks.
Slide 3 of 5 Persona
Slide 4 of 5 Publicación Acceso Abierto
A Study on the Impact of Temperature Variations on the Pyrolysis of Corn-cob Waste (zea Mays) for Bioenergy Production
(Chemical Engineering Transactions, 2025-10-12) Puello-Mendez, Juliana; Pasqualino, Jorgelina Cecilia; Leon-Mendez, Glicerio; Osorio-Herrera, Shirley; Cuesta-Peña, Miguel; Lambis-Miranda, Henry A.; Grupo de Investigación Sistemas Ambientales e Hidráulicos (GISAH)
Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) characterized the thermal stability and degradation of corn-cob waste (Zea mays). Results indicate that exposure to temperatures exceeding 240 °C causes approximately 50% mass loss. At this temperature, the drying stage removed traces of moisture and some low molecular weight aromatic molecules. The degradation of corn-cob waste was carried out through pyrolysis in a Nitrogen (N2) atmosphere, with these tests being carried out at 500, 550 and 600 °C, in order to observe how the variation in temperature affects the characteristics of the solid products obtained, to know their stability, tests are carried out on each of the solid products at each indicated temperature; While 550 °C exhibited the highest percentage of weight loss, 600 °C was selected. This choice maintains a gradual progression in the percentage of weight loss, even though 500 °C and 600 °C showed similar mass loss values.
Finally, FTIR tests were implemented, which were responsible for decoding the signal, which results in the generation of spectra that are used to identify or quantify the material existing in the samples. According to the results, it is inferred that the pyrolysis of corn-cob waste has caused the elimination of the molecules responsible for the vibrations of the O-H, C-H, and C-O bonds. This loss could be explained by the degradation of polysaccharides; Instead, the bonds CO, CH, C=C, C=O, CO and CH are conserved, the latter being commonly found in ethers and aromatic compounds that include hydroxyl groups.
Slide 5 of 5 Publicación Acceso Abierto
Funciones ejecutivas como predictores de los síntomas de TDAH y problemas conductuales en escolares colombianos
(2025-10-30) Gutiérrez Ruiz, Karol Patricia; Revollo Carrillo, Nelly; Grupo de Investigación Desarrollo, Salud y Desempeño Humano; Semillero de Investigación en Neurociencia Cognitiva
El presente estudio examinó la relación entre las funciones ejecutivas (FE) y la sintomatología del Trastorno por Déficit de Atención e Hiperactividad (TDAH), así como su impacto en los problemas de conducta, en una muestra de estudiantes de educación primaria y secundaria con TDAH en Cartagena, Colombia. Participaron 41 niños con diagnóstico de TDAH de presentación combinada, evaluados mediante la Escala de Evaluación del Déficit de Atención
con Hiperactividad (EDAH), pruebas cognitivas de memoria de trabajo, flexibilidad cognitiva e inhibición, y la evaluación conductual de las FE a través del Inventario de Evaluación Conductual de las Funciones Ejecutivas – Segunda Edición (BRIEF-2), completado por sus docentes. Se realizaron análisis de regresión lineal múltiple para identificar la contribución de las FE a los síntomas de TDAH y los problemas de conducta. Los resultados indicaron que la flexibilidad cognitiva fue un predictor significativo de la inatención, mientras que la inhibición y la supervisión de la tarea se asociaron con
la hiperactividad. Además, la sintomatología combinada fue explicada por la flexibilidad cognitiva y el control de interferencia, y los problemas de conducta fueron predichos por el control emocional. Estos hallazgos resaltan el papel de las FE en la manifestación del TDAH y subrayan la necesidad de intervenciones educativas adaptadas, enfocadas en mejorar el desarrollo de habilidades ejecutivas. Se recomienda la implementación de estrategias de apoyo educativo personalizadas que optimicen el rendimiento académico y la adaptación conductual en estudiantes con TDAH.
