Universitas (León)

Systematization of the first doctoral program in Medical Sciences in Nicaragua: Design, implementation and outcomes (2019-2024)

2025-09-01T21:46:30+00:00

The training of researchers at the doctoral level is a strategic pillar for countries' social and economic development. This article systematizes the experience of the first PhD program in Medical Sciences implemented in Nicaragua by UNAN-León between 2019 and 2024. Through a qualitative systematization of experiences study, structured into three axes (initial situation, intervention processes, and outcomes), 36 institutional and academic documentary sources were analyzed. The program, designed under a competency-based approach with three majors (Infectious Diseases, Occupational Health, Epidemiology and Global Health), was rooted in four decades of Swedish international cooperation that enabled the development of prior scientific capacities. The results show the graduation of the first doctoral cohort, the generation of research relevant to national public health —including studies on oral health in at-risk youth, antimicrobial resistance in pregnant women, cardiovascular disease epidemiology across nine departments, and congenital anomalies surveillance— and the initiation of a critical self-assessment process. Institutional strengths and weaknesses were identified, leading to an improvement plan with concrete actions. This experience demonstrates that international cooperation, aligned with national health policies, can consolidate sustainable doctoral programs with local impact, positioning UNAN-León as a research and advanced training reference in Central America. The program's scientific production, published in open-access regional journals, contributes to the regional scientific dialogue while its capacity-building model offers lessons for other developing countries seeking to strengthen their research autonomy.

Contribution and impact of "Índice, Revista de Educación de Nicaragua", on the visibility of research from community and intercultural universities

2025-09-22T14:50:17+00:00

This essay analyzes the impact of Índice, Revista de Educación de Nicaragua on the visibility of research conducted by community-based and intercultural universities, such as the Bluefields Indian & Caribbean University (BICU) and the University of the Autonomous Regions of the Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast (URACCAN). The journal has played a key role in disseminating local knowledge and consolidating an inclusive educational model that integrates traditional and academic knowledge. The paper describes the challenges of achieving scientific visibility in multicultural contexts and proposes strategies to strengthen scientific productivity through knowledge democratization, open access, internationalization, and research capacity development. It also highlights how Índice contributes to the global recognition of intercultural universities by prioritizing culturally relevant and socially impactful research. The analysis includes specific examples of published research on sustainability, bilingual education, and community health, demonstrating how these initiatives strengthen academic collaboration networks and promote sustainable development. Finally, it addresses the epistemological and structural challenges faced by community-based universities in their efforts to align their objectives with international quality standards. The essay concludes that Índice is a transformative tool for consolidating a higher education model that values epistemological diversity, interculturality, and local impact with global reach.

Robotics in School: A Learning Strategy for Children in León, Nicaragua

2025-12-11T15:26:53+00:00

This research article addresses the implementation of Robotics in primary school children in León, Nicaragua. Based on the experience with boys and girls in applying this educational reinforcement strategy, a review of the state of the art of similar projects developed in the region has been carried out (García, 2022). The main objective focuses on developing skills that foster interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics among students from public schools in León, Nicaragua. The growing demand for technological skills in the labor market and the importance of innovation in economic development motivated the creation of this educational program. The project’s methodology is based on a practical and collaborative approach. Some of the results obtained include a greater interest among students in technology-related careers, as well as increased participation from families and the local community in robotics events and fairs. In addition, the program has strengthened collaboration between schools and technology companies.

Detection of the gltA, OmpA, and OmpB genes for the identification of Rickettsia in animal ticks

2025-12-19T22:54:25+00:00

Rickettsiae are obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacteria transmitted by tick bites. The genus Rickettsia is subdivided into four groups: the typhus group, the spotted fever group, a transitional group, and an ancestral group. This study aimed to detect the gltA, ompA, and ompB genes for the identification of Rickettsia in animal ticks. 1250 ticks were collected from cattle, horses, and dogs. The ticks were taxonomically classified, DNA was extracted, and nested PCR was performed to identify the gltA, ompA, and ompB genes of Rickettsia. Four tick species were identified, and 209 were found to be positive for Rickettsia. For Rhipicephalus boophilus microplus, in cattle 21 amplified for the gltA gene, 19 for OmpA and 9 for OmpB, in horses 6 amplified for gltA, 5 for OmpA and 3 for OmpB; for Amblyomma mixtum, 17 cattle amplified the gltA gene, 16 for OmpA and 13 for OmpB, in horses 4 amplified for gltA, 3 for OmpA and 2 for OmpB and in dogs 1 amplified for the gltA, OmpA and OmpB genes; for Dermacentor nitens, 2 cattle amplified for the gltA gene, 3 for OmpA and 2 for OmpB, in horses 23 amplified for the gltA gene, 26 for OmpA and 22 for OmpB; For Rhipicephalus sanguineus in canines, 4 amplified the gltA gene, 4 the OmpA gene, and 2 the OmpB gene. The presence of Rickettsia was confirmed in different tick species parasitizing domestic animals.

Detection of the 16S rRNA gene in ticks of the genus Ixodidae from animals

2026-01-12T15:10:35+00:00

Morphological characteristics are useful for distinguishing between soft and hard ticks, but numerous difficulties remain in taxonomic characterization between species and in determining the geographic origin of ticks. This study detected the 16S rRNA gene in ticks of the genus Ixodidae from animals. Five ticks per animal were collected from 130 cattle, 100 horses, and 20 dogs from farms located in eighteen communities in Leon Municipality. The ticks were extracted with forceps and placed in tubes containing 90% alcohol, then transported to the Microbiology Laboratory of Veterinary Medicine at UNAN – León. Taxonomic classification was performed using a stereomicroscope and morphometric keys. Subsequently, DNA was extracted from the ticks (in groups of five, grouped by animal species and tick), using a commercial kit. For the PCR assay, an endpoint thermocycler and specific primers that detect the 16S mitochondrial rRNA gene were used. The tick species identified in cattle were Rhipicephalus boophilus microplus 93/130 (71.5%), Amblyomma cajennense 29/130 (22.3%), and Dermacentor nitens 8/130 (6.2%); in horses, Rhipicephalus boophilus microplus 51/100 (51%), Amblyomma cajennense 5/100 (5%), and Dermacentor nitens 44/100 (44%); and in dogs, Rhipicephalus sanguineus 19/20 (95%) and Amblyomma cajennense 1/20 (5%). According to PCR, all tick species belong to the family Ixoidae.

Preliminary Study on the Influence of Breed, Age, and Diet on the Nutritional Quality of Goat Milk

2026-01-12T15:28:51+00:00

The Nicaraguan market for goat products, particularly milk, has shown recent growth; however, its nutritional quality is limited by non-standardized management practices. This study evaluated physicochemical parameters of goat milk and their relationship with breed, age, and feeding. Milk samples were analyzed from Anglo-Nubian (22 months) and Toggenburg (18 months) goats subjected to different diets. The results showed differences between breeds: pH ranged from 6.4–6.6 in Anglo-Nubian and 7.0–7.2 in Toggenburg; lactic acidity from 16.3–16.9 °D versus 15.3–15.4 °D; density of 0.9989 and 1.009 g/mL; total solids of 10.1% in both cases; protein content of 3.3% and 4.3%; and fat content of 4.6% and 2.3%, respectively. The Toggenburg breed showed higher protein and acidity values, associated with better quality. Age showed no significant influence on pH, acidity, or protein, although it did affect fat content. In contrast, feeding and breed produced relevant variations in several parameters, while density and total solids remained stable. It is concluded that goat milk quality depends mainly on feeding and breed rather than age, making their optimization essential to strengthen the competitiveness of the goat production sector in Nicaragua. Furthermore, the interaction between breed and diet particularly influenced fat content, highlighting the need for integrated management strategies to improve milk quality.

Inclusive Technology in Chemistry: Validation of an Arduino Talking pH Meter

2025-11-25T19:11:26+00:00

The present study shows the assembly and design of a talking pH meter on the Arduino platform, with the aim of promoting inclusion in chemistry laboratories for students with visual impairments. The equipment uses a pH-4502C module, an E201-BNC electrode, and a DS18B20 temperature sensor, mounted on an Arduino UNO development board. An audio system with speakers was implemented to communicate pH and temperature measurements simultaneously, thus facilitating the inclusion of visually impaired students. The performance of the Arduino-based equipment was evaluated with respect to the Orion Star A111 commercial pH meter through calibration analysis, weighted linear regression, and ANOVA tests with pH 4.00, 7.00, and 10.00 buffer solutions. The results showed very good linearity (r² > 0.998), with slopes of -59.03 mV/pH (Arduino) and -58.6 mV/pH (A111), and efficiencies of 99.78% and 99.39%, respectively. Statistical tests show no significant differences between both devices (Fcal < Ftab), although greater dispersion was detected in the readings of the Arduino system in alkaline conditions, attributable to the ADC resolution and absence of automatic temperature compensation. However, the prototype meets the accuracy requirements for academic purposes, representing a viable, accessible, and inclusive alternative for the development of experimental skills in inclusive educational environments.

The relevance of the historical program of the Sandinista National Liberation Front in the educational transformation in Nicaragua

2025-12-11T15:59:57+00:00

The educational transformation promoted by the FSLN in the 1980s emerged in a context of urgent need for literacy, in a country where more than 50% of the adult population was unable to read or write. This historic program addressed the problem through a comprehensive approach, promoting education as a tool for social equity and justice. Analyzing this process allows for an understanding of the past and the projection of a future in which education continues to serve as a driver of social change. This study is qualitative, exploratory, and based on documentary review. Strategies included the search and analysis of bibliographic sources and key documents: the FSLN’s historic program, the National Human Development Plan, the National Plan to Combat Poverty, the National Education Strategy, and the Sociopolitical and Economic Model of Nicaragua. In this second stage of the Revolution, the Government of Reconciliation and National Unity (GRUN), under the leadership of Co-President Daniel Ortega Saavedra and Co-President Rosario Murillo Zambrana, continues to advance the transformation of free and quality education through the National Education Strategy “Blessings and Victories 2024–2026,” aimed at comprehensive human development. The commitment to inclusive education that respects cultural diversity is reflected in a positive impact on the national education system. Since 2007, policies have been promoted to strengthen infrastructure, foster social inclusion, and contribute to the reduction of illiteracy.