Universidad del Norte, Colombia

About: Universidad del Norte, Colombia is a education organization based out in Barranquilla, Colombia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 3562 authors who have published 4355 publications receiving 37861 citations. The organization is also known as: University of the North, Colombia & Uninorte.

Regulación en el mercado farmacéutico colombiano

Abstract: La industria farmaceutica es un sector estrategico en la mayoria de los paises y se caracteriza por una estructura oligopolica intensiva en conocimiento y tecnologia, por lo que es una de las industrias mas influenciadas por la regulacion, siendo tres sus objetivos principales: preservar los incentivos para las actividades de I&D, certificar la seguridad y efectividad de los medicamentos y controlar la cantidad y calidad del gasto. Asi, con el objetivo de analizar el cumplimiento de estos tres propositos en el sistema regulatorio de la industria farmaceutica colombiana se realiza una investigacion exploratoria y descriptiva que se basa en la revision de literatura e informacion secundaria. Del analisis se puede concluir que la reglamentacion en Colombia se ha desviado de los objetivos propuestos en terminos teoricos y se ha orientado principalmente a temas de organizacion, dejando de lado aspectos que faciliten el pleno abastecimiento de medicamentos a traves de los canales de distribucion institucional y privado.

Contradictions and power play in service encounters : An activity theory approach

Abstract: We present a perspective on the interpersonal element of service in which economic and social collaboration takes place in real time: the service encounter. We view it as a site of conflict for power and control where social identities are anchored and collective meanings are constituted and reproduced. Our theoretical underpinning is taken from the Activity Theory (AT) to shed light on the service encounter as a contradictory, political locus of tension between providers and customers (internal and external) in the Higher Education (HE) market.

Using genetic algorithm feature selection in neural classification systems for image pattern recognition

Abstract: Pattern recognition performance depends on variations during extraction, selection and classification stages. This paper presents an approach to feature selection by using genetic algorithms with regard to digital image recognition and quality control. Error rate and kappa coefficient were used for evaluating the genetic algorithm approach Neural networks were used for classification, involving the features selected by the genetic algorithms. The neural network approach was compared to a K-nearest neighbor classifier. The proposed approach performed better than the other methods.

Challenges and opportunities for diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in Latin America

Abstract: Latin America (LA) is a multicultural region, with an estimate of just over 600 million inhabitants, displaying great heterogeneity among their nations LA countries exhibit complex demographic characteristics because of the interaction of factors such as the different ethnic background of its population, a history of colonialism, and varying immigration patterns, resulting in a diversified population that differs in every country within the region [1] The LA region has experienced a health transition characterized by fast and complex epidemiological changes in the past decades, combining increasing rates of non-communicable diseases and injuries, while keeping uncontrolled many existing endemic and emerging diseases The national health care systems within the LA area are heterogeneous in their organizational structure and complex in their operational configuration, and in the principles guiding the public and private sector roles in the provision of health care services In LA, medical attention for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) faces a dual challenge, on one side, competes with a budget designed to fight poverty, lack of education, an increasing number of patients, and on the other hand, the demographic and epidemiological transitions; the insufficient number of rheumatologists and concentration of the workforce in large cities; an insufficient budget for education and research; and the backlog of accumulated problems characteristic of underdeveloped societies [2] In consequence, RA is not yet considered a public health priority for the national health care systems, Therefore, explaining why only 56 % of RA patients had access to full medical health coverage (thus often excluding biologics), only 58 % had more than 7 years of education, and 58 % were of a low/low-middle socioeconomic status [3] Previous efforts has been made to overcome this situation including: the identification of barriers to health care [4], promoting access to a prompt diagnosis and treatment, developing algorithms according these realities [5], educating patients and doctors [6], or estimating the economic impact of the disease in the region [7] and, recently, setting the standards to harmonize the treatment provided to RA patients in LA, by developing a program focused in establish centers of excellence that would offer to RA patients, a better care [8] Additionally, technological progress, drug development and diagnostic capabilities, advanced in the past two decades has resulted in major improvements in health outcomes for RA patients in developed countries, but the cost of these innovations including joint prostheses, access to biological medications and the lack of trained health personnel to deliver the specialized care, still puts these out of the reach of people with RA in most low and middle income countries Education and training of health professionals also remains an unmet key priority [2] The Pan American League of Associations for Rheumatology (PANLAR) is an umbrella organization of Rheumatology National Societies in the American Continent, encompassing 21 countries, of those, 19 nations are located in the LA and Caribbean region PANLAR seeks the following main goals [9]: Foster cooperation between different countries through existing national societies, organizations and colleges of Rheumatology and cooperating extensively with international organizations such as: EULAR, APLAR, AFLAR and ILAR Promote the educational activities and organize in conjunction with the national societies the Pan American Congress of Rheumatology, as well as to promote national or regional meetings and encourage publication and dissemination of the scientific proceedings of meetings Promote the educational activities and research of the PANLAR study groups Develop new channels of communication among the member societies and stimulate scientific research into all aspects of the aims of PANLAR With these goals in mind and with the main objective focused on the revision and updating of the current challenges, difficulties and barriers faced by LA rheumatologists when treating RA and to find potential solutions (leverage points) to overcome the identified barriers, PANLAR is presenting in this supplement of Clinical Rheumatology nine relevant, challenging, and updated issues unique to LA region: Social and economic impact of RA and its relationship with health priorities The path in seeking medical care of patients with RA The importance of early diagnosis Challenges and solutions Proper management of RA What the guidelines recommend? Access to optimal treatment Current situation Education of patients with RA The training of allied health professionals The model of comprehensive care Challenges in LA for the implementation of an ideal model of health care center in patients with RA: are we ready to implement? Each chapter has been developed by a Latin-American leading expert in the field in association with a group of experienced rheumatologists as coworkers, encompassing nine different countries in the region, thus reflecting the real challenges and opportunities for diagnosis and treatment of RA in LA This review helps us to increase and improve the knowledge and approaches to this health condition in the region, thus promoting equity, quality, and efficiency of RA healthcare The review includes not only the burden of the condition in LA but also its social, educational, and financial related aspects, furthermore, patient access to care, training of human resources, and novel approaches to models of care are analyzed Due to the current and future impact from RA in developing settings, health care systems need to develop coherent policies and strategies for dealing with this burden Further epidemiological and health economics research is urgently needed [10] in this area and to better inform policy for dealing with RA in LA, to encourage multiple stakeholders (including funders, insurers, policy makers, educators, researchers, consumers, and health care givers) to co-operatively develop and implement efficient models of care to manage RA in developing countries

A systematic review of microorganisms as indicators of recreational water quality in natural and drinking water systems

Abstract: The purpose of this review was to highlight the most frequent biological indicators used to estimate the microbiological quality of drinking and recreational water. It was observed that the incorporation of other microbiological indicators should be considered to strengthen the decision-making process on water quality management and guarantee its safe consumption in recreational activities.