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There is scarce information related to transplacental antibody transfer against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with different homologous and heterologous vaccination schemes. This study aimed to correlate the magnitude of transplacental transfer anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in different homologous and heterologous schemes. An observational cross-sectional study was developed to identify pregnant women vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. They were questioned about their immunization status; blood samples from the mother, umbilical cord during labor, and the newborn 72 h after birth were taken to measure anti-S1 and anti-S2 specific IgG antibodies for SARS-CoV-2. We recruited 104 women with a median age of 29 (SD 1.17). We found antibodies in all newborns with vaccinated mothers. Homologous BNT162b2 mRNA regimen had the highest mean (SD) antibody titers (AU/mL) in maternal (994.93 (3.08), p = 0.039), umbilical cord (1316.43 (2.79), p = 0.016), and newborn (1192.02 (3.55), p = 0.020) blood. The generalized linear model showed a positive effect over antibodies with at least one dose in maternal (β = −1.1, p = 0.002) and newborn (β= −0.717, p = 0.044) blood, and with two doses (β = −0.684, p = 0.026) in umbilical cord blood. In conclusion, antibodies were detected in all vaccinated women and their newborns. Transfer of antibodies was found from the first dose, and the levels increased with the number of vaccine doses. Vaccination should be encouraged in pregnant women with any available scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Ecuador, the agriculture and livestock sectors are very important within the economy of rural areas. These activities generate a large amount of waste whose management is not optimized. Thus, the aim of this work was to characterize different agro-livestock wastes generated in a rural area, the parish of San Andrés (Chimborazo-Ecuador), in order to know their composition to design suitable composting processes for their treatment. To this end, different physicochemical and chemical parameters were determined in 24 crop residue samples and 18 manure samples, and two piles were elaborated with the same proportion of wastes (51% vegetable residue + 35% cow manure + 14% sawdust) and composted by turning or passive aeration. Throughout the composting process, the temperature and oxygen concentration were recorded and the evolution of different physicochemical, chemical, and biological parameters and the quality of the final composts were studied. The results indicated that the agro-livestock residues presented notable macro and micronutrient and organic matter contents and low levels of heavy metals, these properties being positive for their subsequent treatment in a co-composting experiment. This experiment demonstrated that the composting processes are a feasible strategy for the treatment of these residues and yield compost with an adequate agricultural quality (notable nitrogen content, low heavy metal and soluble mineral salt contents and 92–94% in germination index). Moreover, the passive aeration system can be recommended because this aeration method reduced composting times and the work associated with the process. However, more studies are required on this composting system and other agro-livestock wastes to establish a management protocol for all the waste generated, which will contribute to the sustainability of the agro-livestock sector in the area studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six new species of Piezocerini (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae) are described: Alienosternus sanjacintero , Hemilissa bifasciata , Hemilissa erikae , Hemilissa claudiae , and Migorybia santossilvai from Colombia and Alienosternus wappesi from Bolivia. The genus Alienosternus Martins, 1976 is recorded for the first time for Colombia and Bolivia, and the genus Migorybia Martins, 1985 is recorded for the first time for Colombia. The geographical distribution of three species is expanded, and keys to species of Alienosternus and Hemilissa Pascoe, 1858 are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of Elaphidiini from Colombia are described: Sphaerion costae sp. nov., and Mephritus costae sp. nov. The keys to species of Sphaerion Audinet-Serville, 1834 and Mephritus Pascoe, 1866 are translated and modified to include the new species. Chromatic variations of Mephritus apicatus (Linsley, 1935) are reported. Moreover, the geographical distribution is expanded for 12 species of Elaphidiini. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Governance in the developing world is fraught with problems of corruption, weak institutions, and inadequate expertise among bureaucrats. Failing to enforce laws and regulations is one way in which these problems manifest themselves. In this paper, we evaluate changes across three institutions charged with oversight or administration of labor justice in Mexico. We find that both autonomy from the executive and professionalization are necessary to improve compliance with labor law over time. Our study shows that professionalization can occur in several ways, including through training, merit hiring, and introducing experienced external administrators. The implications of the study are that reforms that increase the independence and legal authority of oversight institutions should be complemented by efforts to strengthen the professionalism of bureaucrats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of Beraba from Colombia (Bolívar) are described: Beraba anae sp. n. and Beraba angeli sp. n. The most recent key to species of the genus was modified to incorporate the new species. The male of Beraba limpida Martins, 1997 is described and illustrated for the first time. Moreover, the geographical distribution of 12 species of Eburiini is expanded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Gnomidolon from Colombia is described and illustrated: Gnomidolon franciscoi sp. nov.; and the previous key for the genus is modified to include the new species. The male of Gnomidolon hamatum Linsley, 1935 is described and illustrated for the first time. Additionally, a chromatic variation in some species of Hexoplonini from Colombia is reported and the geographical distribution of four species is expanded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amoebiasis caused by Entamoeba histolytica continues to be one of the most common parasitic diseases in the developing world. Despite its relevance, due to the lack of accurate diagnostic methods, the true clinical and public health importance of this parasite remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to develop a new diagnostic tool to differentiate E.   histolytica from the morphologically undistinguishable E.   dispar and E.   moshkovskii . We developed a specific, fast and simple PCR-RFLP method that was able to accurately differentiate experimentally-obtained restriction patterns from the three Entamoeba species. This new method could prove useful for clinical and epidemiological purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the impact of trade-based social clauses on labor rights enforcement. Drawing on insights from recent theoretical work on transnational advocacy networks and labor rights, the study examines how transnational groups and domestic actors engage the labor rights mechanisms under the NAFTA labor side agreement, the NAALC. A statistical analysis of original data drawn from NAALC cases complements interviews with key participants to analyze the factors that predict whether the three national mediation offices review labor dispute petitions. This study suggests that transnational activism is a key factor in explaining petition acceptance. Transnational advocates craft petitions differently from other groups and, by including worker testimony in the petitions, signal to arbitration bodies the possibility of corroborating claims through contact with affected workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article offers an account of cooperation between Mexico and the United States around labor issues from 1994, when the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) labor side agreement first made labor issues relevant to United States-Mexico foreign relations, to the present, where that cooperation has broken down substantially. I offer a panorama of the scope and content of labor cooperation between Mexico and the United States, across both formal channels of representation, such as the NAFTA institutions and bilateral meetings, as well as the informal channels, including those forged by civil society and labor unions across borders. I then provide insight into the erosion of labor cooperation in recent years, discuss the wavering commitment to labor issues across successive administrations in both Mexico and the United States, and speculate as to what impact this may have on U.S.-Mexican relations more broadly. Este artículo ofrece un recuento de la cooperación entre México y los Estados Unidos acerca de temas laborales desde 1994, cuando el acuerdo paralelo del Tratado de Libre Comercio de América del Norte (TLCAN) hizo relevantes por primera vez temas laborales para las relaciones exteriores de ambos países, hasta el presente, cuando la cooperación ha fracasado substancialmente. Ofrezco un panorama del alcance y contenido de la cooperación laboral entre México y los Estados Unidos, a través de tanto canales formales de representación tales como las instituciones del TLCAN y las reuniones bilaterales, como también de canales informales, incluyendo aquellos creados por la sociedad civil y sindicatos a través de las fronteras. Proveo entonces una visión de la erosión de la cooperación laboral en años recientes, discuto el vacilante compromiso en temas laborales a través de las administraciones tanto en México como en los Estados Unidos, y especulo sobre el impacto más amplio que esto puede tener en las relaciones Estados Unidos-México. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne Flavivirus with a positive-sense RNA genome, which are generally transmitted through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. ZIKV infections could be associated with neurological sequelae that, and otherwise produces similar clinical symptoms as other co-circulating pathogens. Past infection with one member of the Flavivirus genus often induces cross-reactive antibodies against other flaviruses. These attributes complicate the ability to differentially diagnose ZIKV infection from other endemic mosquito-borne viruses, making it both a public health issue as well as a diagnostic challenge. We report the results from serological analyses using arbovirus-specific peptides on 339 samples that were previously collected from 6 countries. Overall, we found that our multiplexed peptide-based ELISA was highly efficient for identifying ZIKV antibodies as early as 2 weeks post infection, and that it correlates with microneutralization, plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNTs) and commercial tests for ZIKV in previously characterized samples. We observed that seropositivity varied by patient cohort, reflecting the sampling period in relation to the 2015–2016 ZIKV outbreak. This work evaluates the accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity of our peptide-based ELISA method for detecting ZIKV antibodies from geographically diverse regions. These findings can contribute to ongoing serological methods development and can be adapted for use in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its 2013 emergence in the Americas, Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has posed a serious threat to public health. Early and accurate diagnosis of the disease, though currently lacking in clinics, is integral to enable timely care and epidemiological response. We developed a dual detection system: a CHIKV antigen E1/E2-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a lateral flow test using high-affinity anti-CHIKV antibodies. The ELISA was validated with 100 PCR-tested acute Chikungunya fever samples from Honduras. The assay had an overall sensitivity and specificity of 51% and 96.67%, respectively, with accuracy reaching 95.45% sensitivity and 92.03% specificity at a cycle threshold (Ct) cutoff of 22. As the Ct value decreased from 35 to 22, the ELISA sensitivity increased. We then developed and validated two lateral flow tests using independent antibody pairs. The sensitivity and specificity reached 100% for both lateral flow tests using 39 samples from Colombia and Honduras at Ct cutoffs of 20 and 27, respectively. For both lateral flow tests, sensitivity decreased as the Ct increased after 27. Because CHIKV E1/E2 are exposed in the virion surfaces in serum during the acute infection phase, these sensitive and specific assays demonstrate opportunities for early detection of this emerging human pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]