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While internationalization is among the top strategic priorities of universities and colleges globally, research into the expanse of internationalization in the kinesiology discipline is not well researched. Given this gap, critical consideration of the state and status of the phenomenon is needed. Knowing more about what is being done in the name of internationalization within kinesiology and reflecting on how those actions and outcomes are aligned, or not, with key theoretical guidance is necessary in order to plan for improvement accordingly. For these reasons, this paper first provides a primer on internationalization in higher education, including how the phenomenon has come to be defined as well as key contemporary critiques associated with it. In particular, we highlight Beck's (2012) theoretical concept of 'eduscape' to critically consider the influences of globalization on internationalization within higher education kinesiology as well as Khoo, Taylor, and Andreotti's (2016) principles of intelligibility, dissent, and solidarity to consider the ways kinesiology scholars engage critically with internationalization processes. Presented next is a review of the kinesiology literature that is explicitly focused on internationalization. Then, the results of a pilot survey into the views of National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education (NAKHE) members and other Western kinesiology scholars on internationalization is reported next. The paper concludes with recommendations as to how NAKHE and the broader community of Western kinesiology scholars might best navigate internationalization moving forward. We recommend the complexity-informed and principle-driven approach of inclusive leadership as a means of pursuing cognitive justice in the 21st century.

This paper analyzes the activities, members, and effects of an inter-American expert network for the diffusion of psychometric knowledge, specifically of standardized aptitude testing for university admission in Latin America during the 1960s and 1970s. Within the framework of educational transfer studies, the role of international, nongovernmental, and philanthropic organizations is examined. It is argued that circulation of psychometric knowledge and technologies led to a new governing regime for learning and learners. The paper discusses the effect of convergence and Americanization, in the context of US-promoted "Alliance for Progress," but also of divergence and resistance.

Copyright of Boletín Científico Centro de Museos de Historia Natural is the property of Universidad de Caldas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Bucaramanga seismic nest has the highest concentration in volume of intermediate depth seismic events with light and moderate magnitudes (Mb > 4.8) worldwide. Despite the nest depth (Zhypo ≥ 100 km), these events play a crucial role in the seismic hazard assessment for several cities in northern South America (NoSAm), particularly those situated close to their epicenters. Moreover, these earthquakes are widely felt across the country, even hundreds of kilometers away from the nest. This paper assesses the performance of commonly used subduction intraslab Ground Motion Models (GMMs) in predicting the updated nest database gathered and processed by the Colombian Geological Survey. This analysis confirms the necessity of a partially non-ergodic ground motion model for estimating the spectral accelerations produced by Bucaramanga nest earthquakes in northern South America. The GMM presented herein is the first model developed specifically for seismic nests in the region and is conceived as a regionalization of the recent NGA-Sub Abrahamson and Gülerce (Earthq Spectra 38(4):2638−2681, 2022) GMM. Additionally, we provide estimates of the variance components at both the earthquake and station levels and compare the developed GMM with the spectral accelerations recorded for typical earthquakes, for the highest magnitude earthquake in the database, and for a recent Bucaramanga nest earthquake having a moment magnitude over 5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the introduction to this special issue on Latin American housing policies, we address the common elements evident in this collection of papers with the aim of enabling a better knowledge exchange between the 'global North' and the 'global South' on potentially common issues. These include the changing relationship between state and capital, with special emphasis on the new role adopted by the State as a facilitator for financial private capital in an increasingly privatised housing sector; the need to address precarious housing conditions among vast sectors of the population, including international migrants; and the various innovative roles played by civil society in housing provision. Notwithstanding these similarities between world regions, our editorial introduction highlights a number of particularities in housing research in the Latin American region, underscoring the need to reflect critically on the applicability of concepts and models created in different geographical contexts with different historical, social and political realities. Within this editorial, we also introduce the main themes discussed in the specific articles and attempt to place them within the more general scope of earlier research on housing policies in the region. We conclude by acknowledging that a solution to long lasting housing inequality in Latin America remains an unfulfilled promise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The processes of bird diversification in South America have long been a focus of evolutionary biologists and this paper partly acts as an introduction to a selection of such work published in the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society and collated into a Virtual Issue (). At the beginning of the 20th century, Frank M. Chapman, curator of birds at the American Museum of Natural History, conducted a series of expeditions in Colombia and Ecuador to 'discover the geographic origins of South American bird-life'. The expeditions produced almost 30 000 specimens, obtained in a sampling scheme aimed at revealing the geographical and elevational distributions of birds. Chapman proposed a series of ideas about the evolutionary origins of the tropical Andean avifauna. Despite being nearly 100 years old, Chapman's evolutionary hypotheses on the role of the appearance of new environments and geographical barriers on speciation, have an enduring influence. With the development of molecular methods and tools for the study of the mechanisms and timing of speciation events, Chapman's hypotheses have seen a revival in the recent scientific literature. Recent work has provided support for some of Chapman's hypotheses, but has also revealed greatly complex processes of biotic differentiation in the Neotropics. What is remarkable is that with means that today seem precarious, Chapman envisioned evolutionary processes at a continental scale that remain valid, in fields that currently advance at an accelerated rhythm and soon render older ideas obsolete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to focus on the way in which land transformation related to the grabbing process are directly involved in people's livelihoods and life projects. We use the term territorial grabbing instead of green grabbing (or just land grabbing), because even though the case that we illustrate in our work can be describe as a green grab, we make a call for the necessity of a comprehensive analysis of the socio-spatial implications that polices such as the governmental environmental conservation agenda can implicate for individuals and communities in terms of impacts, influences, and [re]significations of their territories and territorialities. Therefore, our objective is to go beyond the discussion on the appropriation of land and resources for environmental purposes (and therefore the discussion of land dynamics in relation to globalization, foreign investment, markets liberalization, violence, and control) to bring also into the debate the diverse socio-spatial implications and meanings that create a geographical imagination capable of having profound influences on the way in which people and groups understand their place in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Body mass is one of the most important phenotypic attributes in animal ecology and life history. This trait is widely used in the fields of ecology and macroevolution, since it influences physiology, morphological functions, and a myriad of ecological and social interactions. In this data set, our aim was to gather a comprehensive bird and mammal body mass data set from northern South America. We report body mass, discriminated by sex, for 42,022 individual birds and 7,441 mammals representing 1,317 bird species (69% of Colombia's avifauna) and 270 mammal species (51% of Colombian mammals) from the Neotropics. The data were sourced from vouchers collected between 1942 and 2020 and from individuals captured and released at banding stations over the last two decades for birds (2000–2020) and the last decade for mammals (2010–2020), by 10 research groups and institutions in Colombia. This data set fills gaps identified in other similar databases, as it focuses on northern South America, a highly diverse Neotropical region often underrepresented in morphological data sets. We provide wide taxonomic coverage for studies interested in information both at regional and local scales. There are no copyright restrictions; the present data paper should be appropriately cited when data are used for publication. The authors would appreciate learning about research projects, teaching exercises, and other uses given to this data set and are open to contribute in further collaborations using these data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a synthesis on the existing of the role of plants on the adaptive strategies of human groups that settled in Northwest South America since the Pleistocene/Holocene transition. To contextualize the analysis, a brief description of the Colombian Pleistocene sites is presented. The paper presents a broad description of the lithic technology, archaeobotanical record and radiocarbon dates. Plant resources played a key role in the settling of human groups in the forests of the Neotropics. Furthermore, it is suggested that for some areas there is evidence of cultivation as a strategy to increase the carrying capacity of the surrounding environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The department of Antioquia, Colombia, lies in the northwestern corner of South America and provides a biogeographical link among divergent faunas, including Caribbean, Andean, Pacific and Amazonian. Information about the distribution of biodiversity in this area is of relevance for academic, practical and social purposes. This data paper describes the dataset containing all bird specimens deposited in the Colección de Ciencias Naturales del Museo Universitario de la Universidad de Antioquia (MUA). We curated all the information associated with the bird specimens, including the georeferences and taxonomy, and published the database through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility network. During this process we checked the species identification and existing georeferences and completed the information when possible. The collection holds 663 bird specimens collected between 1940 and 2011. Even though most specimens are from Antioquia (70%), the collection includes material from several other departments and one specimen from the United States. The collection holds specimens from three endemic and endangered species (Coeligena orina, Diglossa gloriossisima, and Hypopirrhus pyrohipogaster), and includes localities poorly represented in other collections. The information contained in the collection has been used for biodiversity modeling, conservation planning and management, and we expect to further facilitate these activities by making it publicly available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) is not only a prominent, globally promoted policy to foster nature conservation, but also increasingly propagated as an innovative and self-sustaining governance instrument to support poverty alleviation and to guarantee water, food, and energy securities. In this paper, we evaluate a PES scheme from a multi-scalar and political-ecology perspective in order to reveal different power dynamics across the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus perspective. For this purpose, we analyze the PES scheme implemented in the Hidrosogamoso hydropower project in Colombia. The paper shows that actors' strongly divergent economic and political power is determinant in defining how and for whom the Nexus-related water, food, and energy securities are materialized. In this case, the PES scheme and its scalar politics, as fostered by the private/public hydropower alliance, are instrumental to guaranteeing water security for the hydropower scheme, which is a crucial building-block of Colombia's energy security discourse. For this, the water and food securities of the adjacent, less powerful communities are sacrificed. Examining the on-the-ground politics of WEF Nexus is key to understanding their impact on equitable and sustainable governance of water, energy, and food in the everyday lives of millions of resource users. We conclude that politicizing the Nexus can help to trace both the flows of resources and the flows of power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper summarizes the results of on-going archaeological and palaeoecological research on the floodplain of the river Cauca and adjacent piedmont, with the aim of reconstructing an outline history of the human occupation of the region and its interaction with the environment, beginning in the Late Pleistocene. The difficulties of locating occupation sites in this landscape cannot be overestimated. Although valuable for its preservation of palaeosols, the accumulation of sediment deposited by the river Cauca and its tributaries during periods of flooding can be extremely rapid and the earlier archaeological sites (1000 B.C. to 500 A.D.) are generally buried beneath several metres of alluvium. Under these circumstances, traditional site survey has limited potential and the most promising strategy is the location of palaeosols with evidence of human activity based on soil analysis and palaeobotanical studies. Sedimentology from a dozen deep cores is providing invaluable information on the environments that early human populations in the area would have enjoyed or coped with. The cores testify to a highly dynamic river Cauca and its tributaries resulting in a series of rapid local environmental changes. Besides extensive periodic flooding, past populations were probably affected by tectonic events since numerous faults cross the region. Volcanic ash is a component of many of the soil cores but much was redeposited material from earlier falls, probably during the Pleistocene. Direct archaeological evidence of human activity during the Early and Middle Holocene is limited to a mastodon skeleton with butchering marks on its ribs, and to a surface find of a stone tool (azada) characteristic of this period. Of the numerous fertile palaeosols detected in cores, some have agricultural characteristics and there is evidence of fires, possibly for clearing fields, from the late seventh millennium B.C. while by the third millennium B.C. a site provides evidence of burning in combination with the cultivation of maize (Zea mays) and arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea). While a relatively large number of archaeological sites testify to human activity over much of southwestern Colombia during the Early and Middle Holocene, research has drawn attention to a period of archaeological silence between 2500 and 1000 B.C. when Formative societies were developing in other regions of South America. An important focus of this project is the search for traces of human activity during this period. The palaeosols have important potential for acquiring information on this question since stratigraphical evidence suggests that many lie within this time range. By the Late Holocene (c. 500 B.C.) the Ilama population was established in that region of the alluvial valley centred on Lake Sonso and the town of Palmira, followed by Yotoco and, further south, Malagana; in contrast, in the northern sector of the valley evidence for this sequence remains tentative. Here the only settlement site located so far with very late Formative characteristics produced an entirely new style of pottery. This site (first century B.C.) was in wooded marshland where houses must have been built on stilts, contrasting with Late Period sites (c. AD 500–1500), occupied by a sequence of different cultural groups of the Sonsoide tradition and located on slightly higher ground within the flood plain or in the piedmont. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decade, South American countries have been promoting physical integration of the territory in response to regional export-driven industrialisation policies and the global demand for agriculture products, livestock, and energy sources. A prominent example of this is the Initiative for the Integration of Regional Infrastructure in South America (IIRSA), which was launched at the Meeting of South American Presidents in 2000. At the time of writing, 514 infrastructure projects (including roads, pipelines, waterways, dams and telecommunications systems), with an estimated investment of US$69 billion, had been initiated. Importantly, previous similar development processes in the region have caused serious negative environmental and social impacts. Therefore, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) has been mandated to ensure that the social and environmental issues are adequately addressed in the project planning process. This paper identifies the conditions under which: (a) the SEAs of the IIRSA projects have been undertaken, and (b) the Action Plans have been (or will be) implemented. Using case studies, it analyses whether the SEAs that have been carried out for the IIRSA's projects can be considered effective under these conditions. Finally, drawing on the case study findings, potential ways for improving SEA performance and maximising effectiveness in South America are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To determine the level of stability or change in topic areas published by public health journals in Latin America and the Caribbean, using keywords and co-word analysis, in order to support evidence-based research planning. Methods. Keywords were extracted from papers indexed in Scopus® that were published by the Revista de Salud Pública (RSP; Colombia), the Salud Pública de México (SPM; Mexico), and the Revista Peruana de Medicina Experimental y Salud Pública (RPMESP; Peru) for three periods: 2005 - 2007, 2008 - 2010, and 2011 - 2013. Co-word analysis was used to examine keywords extracted. Textual information was analyzed using centrality measures (inbetweenness and closeness). The hypothesis of stability/change of thematic coverage was tested using the Spearman's rho correlation coefficient. VOSviewer was used to visualize the co-word maps. Results. A moderate level of change in thematic coverage was observed in 2005 -- 2010, as evidenced by the correlation coefficients for two of the 3-year periods, 2005 -- 2007 and 2008 -- 2010: 0.545 for RSP and 0.593 for SPM. However, in 2008 -- 2013, more keywords remained constant from one period to the next, given the size of the correlation coefficients for the last 3-year periods: 2008 -- 2010 and 2011 -- 2013: 0.727 for RSP and 0.605 for SPM. Conclusion. The research hypothesis was partially accepted given that just two consecutive 3-year periods showed a statistically-significant degree of stability in thematic coverage in public health studies. In that sense, this study provides compelling evidence of the effectiveness of using a combined approach for examining the dynamics of thematic coverage: centrality measures for identifying the main keywords and visual inspection for detecting the structure of textual information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whereas in the Global North the energy transition narrative focuses on the idea of 'global sustainability', in the Global South it is increasingly connected to old and new challenges that derive from dependence on natural resource extractivism and rentierism. In vast regions of South America, for instance, fossil fuels extractivism and the idea of (post-)development are inextricable. On the one hand, capitalist modernisation, energy security, and even political stability hinge on domestic use of fossil fuels and the rent generated by their exports. On the other hand, the idea of ending extractivism, which is again topical in Latin America, invites policymakers to dream on post-development and the possibility of converging toward the 'green' energy transition. This contribution builds on insights from Ecuador and Colombia, as paradigmatic examples, to address the juncture triggered by the energy transition in the Global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health is a key issue for populations affected by conflict. The evidence base on the mental health of internally displaced Colombians is undefined, as well as protective strategies utilised by this group. This systematic literature review aims to identify and assess the evidence base on the mental health of Colombian internally displaced persons (IDPs). Specific objectives are to examine (1) prevalence and incidence rates of common mental disorders (CMDs) amongst adult Colombian IDPs, (2) risk factors associated with CMDs amongst this group, and (3) coping strategies used by these displaced persons. A database search was conducted in May 2021. Included studies reported quantitative and/or qualitative mental health outcomes of CMDs, and/or coping strategies, among Colombian IDPs. The search yielded 34 articles. Study quality ranged from adequate to poor, with several containing serious shortcomings. PTSD prevalence ranged from 1.2%-97.3%, anxiety from 0.0%-60.0%, depression from 5.1%-100%, and problematic alcohol use from 8.0%-33.5%. Factors significantly associated with CMDs were inconsistent. Seeking social support and problem-solving strategies were the two most-commonly reported coping strategies. Associations between mental health and coping were largely unreported. As the evidence base is weak, there is a clear need for better quality research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The northwestern corner of South America presents a highly complex geodynamical setting including the convergence between South America, Nazca, and Caribbean plates; which also entails heterogeneity and complexity in the lithospheric structure. Here, we present depth‐migrated common‐conversion point (CCP) teleseismic receiver function profiles carried out using seismological data between 2011 and 2020 from the Colombian Geological Service, combined with some stations of observatories and international networks. These profiles provide better constraints on the lateral interpretation of the main lithospheric discontinuities in this region. We provide an updated crustal thickness map displaying some differences from previous studies, especially in the northernmost part of the cordilleran system. Our results also show some intracrustal features such as the regional detachment surface beneath the Eastern Cordillera and the presence of deep melt reservoirs under the Central Cordillera and the Paipa‐Iza complex in the Eastern Cordillera. We also discuss the lithospheric thickness and the potential existence of a highly hydrated and serpentinized mantle wedge under the forearc over the slab segment south of the Caldas tear. Furthermore, the CCP profiles further support the subduction system segmentation under northwestern South America, with at least five slab segments, two of them overlapping between ∼5.5 and ∼8°N, three belonging to the Nazca plate, and two having a Caribbean origin. The Bucaramanga nest appears to be linked to the interaction between the two northmost slab segments, while the Cauca cluster might be related to a slab dehydration process of a highly fractured zone. Plain Language Summary: The Colombian tectonic configuration is highly complex with the convergence of three major tectonic plates. Despite extensive recent studies in this region, some of the important tectonic features are still under discussion. In this study, we present cross‐section images of the lithospheric and upper mantle structure beneath Colombia, carrying out an analysis of teleseismic wave conversions corresponding to data collected between 2011 and 2020 by the Colombian Geological Service, volcanological and seismological observatories, and international stations. The results show that the crust is thinner than estimated in previous studies in the northernmost part of the Colombian cordillera system, and provide some material on intracrustal features and lithospheric thickness. Moreover, our images support other studies on the subduction system in this area, showing the presence of five slab segments on the Pacific side subducting beneath Colombia, including an overlapping segment between ∼5.5 and ∼8°N. The two densest seismic clusters, the Bucaramanga nest and the Cauca cluster, seem to be linked to the interaction of two plates at depth and the dehydration of a fractured slab zone, respectively. Key Points: Crustal thickness beneath northwestern South America with some significant changes from previous studiesWe observe five different slab segments under northwestern South AmericaRegional detachment surface under the Eastern Cordillera ranging between 10 and 30 km depth [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azorella is a genus with 26 species of Azorelloideae (Apiaceae) that grow from Costa Rica to the subantartic islands, being distintive and dominant in different environments of the Andean Cordilleras from Venezuela to Patagonia. The species of Azorella that grow in Argentina have been revised taxonomically in a previous study. However, knowledge of the remaining species is fragmentary and uneven. The aim of this paper is to update and standardize the information of the 11 species of Azorella absent in Argentina and present in Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and/or Venezuela. We provide descriptions for those species and update distributional maps, and we solve nomenclatural and typification problems for 41 names, designating 2 type species, 16 lectotypes and 1 neotype. In addition, we provide 10 new illustrations, and an identification key for all the species of the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric deep convection in equatorial continental regions is not homogeneously distributed in space or time, primarily due to surface inhomogeneities such as elevated topography and coastlines. This is the case in northwestern South America, which has particularly complex topography which, together with its geographical location, is responsible for some of the most prominent precipitation features around the globe. Although some of these features have been previously investigated in detail, others have not yet been studied, and some not even documented in the literature. The diverse atmospheric convective activity that takes place in this region constitutes a natural laboratory that can provide important insights into fundamental questions relevant for global climate. We use seven years of infrared brightness temperature data in 30 min intervals from the GOES‐13 geostationary satellite to estimate the spatial, seasonal and diurnal distributions of deep convective events in this region. By doing so, we bring forward several relevant features, providing a starting point for future investigations. For example, we find that deep convective events have a bimodal seasonal distribution throughout most of the Colombian Orinoco and Amazon basins, where precipitation is known to have a unimodal distribution. Furthermore, deep convective events in this region tend to be comparable in size to those offshore the Colombian Pacific coast or over the Magdalena river valley, but with significantly shorter lifetimes. On the other hand, nocturnal convection dominates at several continental locations; one of these, the middle‐lower Magdalena river valley, has been previously identified as one of the most active lightning hotspots on Earth, but its convective mechanisms have not yet been fully investigated. Another such location worth investigating is the middle Magdalena river valley, which may have strong similarities with the Maracaibo Lake area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intimate partner violence (IPV) effects over a third of Latin American women and results in significant health, economic and social consequences. While theory suggests that increasing the status of women, in their homes and neighborhoods, should prevent IPV, little empirical work has tested this in South America, in particular examining neighborhood-level indicators. We conduct multilevel analysis to identify predictors of recent emotional and physical and/or sexual IPV within a longitudinal sample of 1312 low-income women living in northern Ecuador, near the Colombian border. Status indicators, measured at the household and neighborhood-level, included women's asset ownership, intra-household decision making, labor force participation, and education, age, and salary relative to male partner. Females' increasing participation in household decision-making (between time 1 and time 2) was associated with decreased risk of physical and/or sexual (AOR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.21, 0.78) and emotional IPV (AOR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.30, 1.06), although the latter was marginally significant. Increases in neighborhood-level decision-making was protective against emotional IPV (AOR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.61, 0.99). Women with lower education than their partners were significantly more likely to experience IPV than women with the same or more education as their partner. Indicators of economic status of women were not associated with IPV outcomes in the expected directions. Findings support policies and interventions seeking to raise the status of women as a mechanism to reduce IPV. Future research can explore economic empowerment and IPV, as well as the interaction between household and neighborhood-level factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper reports of Siamese twins Bubalus bubalis bubalis (Murrah x Nili Ravi) on a farm, dedicated to the exploitation of this species of livestock and located in the municipality of San Marcos, Sucre Department, Colombia. The Siamese infants were identified by external characteristics regarding the type of union as isquiópagos sincéfalos. Data of the autopsy and a description of organs and internal structures of animals are showed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper evaluates the impact that the “Rural Education Project—PER” had on Colombian rural schools. This supply-side scheme program included the implementation of flexible educational models adapted to the needs of the rural community and the provision of specialized didactic material and teacher training. We find positive and significant effects on measures of efficiency (dropout, passing, and failure rates) and quality in the schools where PER was implemented. The estimation is based on census information comprising more than 21,000 rural schools and is robust to three different methodologies of estimation and different comparison groups. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Scientia Medica is the property of EDIPUCRS - Editora Universitaria da PUCRS and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We describe Serpocaulon psychotrium, a new species from northern South America, and provide for it a discussion of similar species, line drawings, field photographs, and a distribution map. It is often confused with, and probably related to, the species commonly called S. caceresii, also widespread in South America. We reinterpret S. caceresii as a heterotypic synonym of S. articulatum, an older name, and review the nomenclature of that species. Also, we provide a list of representative specimens for both species and a key to all pinnate species of Serpocaulon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildfires have increasingly damaged Andean tropical forests. However, both a poor understanding of wildfire dynamics and ecosystem response limits awareness about the magnitude of the problem and design management strategies. We estimate the impacts and significant drivers of wildfires by dating and mapping recent wildfires in an Andean tropical forest area, the Iguaque mountains. A large part of Iguaque hosts a population of the only Quercus species in South America, Quercus humboldtii. We used remote-sensing, official reports and social mapping to reconstruct the recent history of wildfires and change in oak forest patches in Iguaque. Between 1990 and 2017, 25 wildfires were recorded, with fire intervals between 4 and 21 years. These events burned 28.4% of the Iguaque mountains and showed a significant increasing trend in extent. Wildfires mostly occurred in the south, during the driest months, and their number and extent showed substantial interannual variations related to El Niño–Southern Oscillation cycles. Wildfires contributed to a 45% reduction in oak forests along with the fragmentation of existing populations. Our study presents evidence of the extent and impact of wildfires in Iguaque and provides new insights on fire dynamics in Andean tropical forests. We used complementary approaches to map wildfires and estimate their recurrence in a tropical Andean region, the Iguaque mountains, Colombia. Wildfires represent a significant disturbance in these forests and have contributed to the severe decrease in extent of Quercus humboldtii forests and their fragmentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuropsychological normative data for Latin America have been recently published, and for Colombia, in particular, but longitudinal neuropsychological outcomes after stroke have not yet been examined in this global region. The purpose of the current study was to compare functioning of individuals with stroke in Colombia, South America during the first year post-stroke to healthy controls across neuropsychological assessments of memory, language, and visuoperceptual impairments. A sample of 50 individuals with stroke (mean age = 51.58) and 50 matched healthy controls (mean age = 51.54) from Colombia were included in this study. Because of a lack of access to health services, individuals with stroke did not receive any inpatient or outpatient cognitive or behavioral rehabilitation. Participants were assessed on 10 visuoperceptual, language, and memory tasks at 3, 6, and 12 months. Trajectories of neuropsychological performance were significantly worse among individuals with stroke than healthy controls across every index. Further, hierarchical linear models suggested that although both individuals with stroke and controls generally improved over time on these assessments, the improvements among individuals with stroke were often of no greater magnitude than the improvements seen in controls, suggesting extremely low levels of rehabilitation gains in Colombia. Only three of the 10 neuropsychological assessments did a significant time*group interaction occur, suggesting greater gains for the stroke group than controls. These findings suggest profound disparities in post-stroke cognitive functioning in Colombia compared to other more developed global region and underscore the importance of comprehensive cognitive rehabilitation services for individuals with stroke in Colombia and other similar global regions. Because this study found only negligible cognitive improvements beyond practice effects over the first year after stroke in Colombia among individuals without access to acute rehabilitation, it is imperative that comprehensive cognitive rehabilitation services be implemented immediately during the acute rehabilitation period. Memory, language, and visuoperceptual training strategies can be implemented for people with stroke in underserved global regions as part of the standard of care for stroke rehabilitation. Cognitive rehabilitation strategies should be adapted into Spanish and pilot tested in Latin America to ensure cultural equivalence. Culturally competent cognitive rehabilitation strategies should be tailored based on varied educational and literacy levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coexistence of several anoles in the same place is attributed to differential partitioning of resources. Although several mainland and island communities show a similar structure, differences in life-history traits, absence of niche complementarity, higher food supply and higher numbers of predators in mainland environments support the idea that predation, rather than competition, is a more important structuring force in mainland than in island anole communities. To analyse the pattern of ecological structure in mainland anole communities, we studied communities in three tropical rain forests of north-western South America to obtain data about the use of resources on three niche axes [spatial, thermal and morphological (as a proxy of diet)] for 17 species of anoles. We analysed the patterns of niche overlap for each axis and found that overlap on the dietary axis was less than the overlap on the other axes, indicating that species using similar spatial or thermal resources diverge strongly in their diet. In addition, we identified a niche complementarity among niche axes, suggesting that intraspecific competition is also an important process in those communities. Finally, this study revealed a similar ecological structure in different communities of mainland rain-forest anoles, which share seven ecomorphs, suggesting ecological adaptation and convergence in mainland anoles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The changing composition of the atmosphere, driven by anthropogenic emissions, is the cause of anthropogenic climate change as well as deteriorating air quality. Emission inventories are essential to understand the contribution of various human activities, model and predict the changing atmospheric composition, and design cost-effective mitigation measures. At present, national emission inventories in South America (SA) focus on Greenhouse Gases (GHG) as part of their obligation to the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCC) within the framework of their national communications. Emission inventories other than GHG in SA focus mainly on growing urban areas and megacities. Therefore, studies examining air quality at national, regional or continental scales in SA depend on (down-scaled) global emission inventories. This paper examines the emission estimates of air pollutants from various global inventories for five SA countries, namely Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru. A more detailed analysis is conducted for the EDGAR and ECLIPSE emission inventories, in particular comparing local city-scale inventories of a major city in each country. Although total emissions between down-scaled global inventories and local city inventories are often comparable, large discrepancies exist between the sectoral contributions. This is critical, as the mitigation of poor air quality will depend on addressing the right sources. Potential sources of discrepancies between global and local inventories include the spatial distribution proxies, difference in emission factors used and/or the use of generic statistical country data when estimating emissions. This highlights the importance of using local information when generating national emission inventories, especially for air quality modeling and development of effective mitigation measures. This study represents the first step towards an increased understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of emissions information in SA. • Emissions from various inventories for 5 South American (SA) countries are examined. • Downscaled Global & city emissions present large discrepancies for the same domain. • Global emission inventory to derive city emission for AQ modeling is not suggested. • Increasing the understanding of strengths and weaknesses of emissions data for SA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A severe neurological disorder, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is the leading cause of acute flaccid paralysis. Enhanced surveillance of GBS in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) following the 2015–2016 Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic presents an opportunity to estimate, for the first time, the regional incidence of GBS. Methods and findings: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched nine scientific databases and grey literature from January 1, 1980 to October 1, 2018. Sources with primary data on incident GBS cases in LAC within a well-defined population and timeframe, published in English, Spanish, Portuguese, or French, were included. We calculated the annual GBS incidence rates (IRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each source based on published data. Following an assessment of heterogeneity, we used random-effects meta-analysis to calculate the pooled annual IR of GBS. The study is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42018086659. Of the 6586 initial citation hits, 31 were eligible for inclusion. Background annual GBS IRs in Latin America ranged from 0.40 in Brazil to 2.12/100,000 in Chile. The pooled annual IR in the Caribbean was 1.64 (95% CI 1.29–2.12, I2<0.01, p = 0.44). During the ZIKV epidemic, GBS IRs ranged from 0.62 in Mexico to 9.35/100,000 in Martinique. GBS increased 2.6 (95% CI 2.3–2.9) times during ZIKV and 1.9 (95% CI 1.1–3.4) times during chikungunya outbreaks over background rates. A limitation of this review is that the studies included employed different methodologies to find and ascertain cases of GBS, which could contribute to IR heterogeneity. In addition, it is important to consider that data on GBS are lacking for many countries in the region. Conclusions: Background IRs of GBS appear to peak during arboviral disease outbreaks. The current review contributes to an understanding of the epidemiology of GBS in the LAC region, which can inform healthcare system planning and preparedness, particularly during arboviral epidemics. Trial registration: Registered with PROSPERO: . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) is a globally invasive ladybird. It has been intentionally introduced in many countries as a biological control agent, whereas it has been unintentionally released in many others. Climatic factors are important in limiting the spread of H. axyridis. For example, very few records are known from tropical or desert regions. Currently, no published reports are known from Central America. Here, we report H. axyridis from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, and Puerto Rico. Specimens were either observed by the authors, discovered in dried insect collections, or retrieved from searching through online photographs available from the citizen science project iNaturalist and the photo-sharing website Flickr. These new records and the wide distribution of H. axyridis in Latin America suggest several invasion events, which have gone unnoticed until now. We stress the need for further, large-scale monitoring and show the advantage of citizen science to assess the presence of invasive alien species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dengue virus (DENV) is a flavivirus responsible for the most common and burdensome arthropod-borne viral disease of humans[]. DENV evolution has been extensively studied on broad geographic and time scales, using sequences from a single gene[,]. It is believed that DENV evolution in humans is dominated primarily by purifying selection due to the constraint of maintaining fitness in both humans and mosquitoes[,]. Few studies have explored DENV evolutionary dynamics using whole genome sequences, nor have they explored changes in viral diversity that occur during intra-epidemic periods. We used deep sequencing of the viral coding region to characterize DENV-1 evolution in a Colombian population sampled during two high-prevalence dengue seasons in which serotype dominance shifted. Our data demonstrate patterns of strain extinction and replacement within DENV-1 as its prevalence waned and DENV-3 became established. A comparison of whole-genome versus single-gene-based phylogenetic analyses highlights an important difference in evolutionary patterns. We report a trend of higher nonsynonymous to synonymous diversity ratios among non-structural (NS) genes, and statistically significantly higher values among these ratios in the NS1 gene after DENV-1 strain replacement. These results suggest that positive selection could be driving DENV evolution within individual communities. Signals of positive selection coming from distinct samples may be drowned out when combining multiple regions with differing patterns of endemic transmission as commonly done by large-scale geo-temporal assessments. Here, we frame our findings within a small, local transmission history which aids significance. Moreover, these data suggest that the NS1 gene, rather than the E gene, may be a target of positive selection, although not mutually exclusive, and potentially useful sentinel of adaptive changes at the population level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tropical rain forests of northwest South America fall within the Chocó-Darien Global Ecoregion (CGE). The CGE is one of 25 global biodiversity hotspots prioritized for conservation due to its high biodiversity and endemism as well as threats due to deforestation. The analysis of land-use and land-cover (LULC) change within the CGE using remotely sensed imagery is challenging because this area is considered to be one of the rainiest places on the planet (hence high frequency of cloud cover). Furthermore, the availability of high-resolution remotely sensed data is low for developing countries before 2015. Using the Random Forest ensemble learning classification tree system, we developed annual LULC maps in the CGE from 2002 to 2015 using a time series of cloud-free MODIS vegetation index products. The MODIS imagery was processed through a Gaussian weighted filter to further correct for cloud pollution and matched to visual interpretations of land cover and land use from available high spatial resolution imagery (WorldView-2, Quick Bird, Ikonos and GeoEye-1). Validation of LULC maps resulted in a Kappa of 0.87 (Sd = 0.008). We detected a gradual replacement of forested areas with agriculture (mainly grassland planted to support livestock grazing), and secondary vegetation (agriculture reverting to forest) across the CGE. Forest loss was higher between 2010–2015 when compared to 2002–2010. LULC change trends, deforestation drivers, and reforestation transitions varied according to administrative organization (countries: Panamanian CGE, Colombian CGE, and Ecuadorian CGE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We aimed to assess the maternal and family determinants of four anthropometric typologies at the household level in Colombia for the years 2000, 2005 and 2010. Design: We classified children <5 years old according to height-for-age Z -score (<−2) and BMI-for-age Z -score (>2) to assess stunting and overweight/obesity, respectively; mothers were categorized according to BMI to assess underweight (<18·5 kg/m2) and overweight/obesity (≥25·0 kg/m2). At the household level, we established four final anthropometric typologies: normal, underweight, overweight and dual-burden households. Separate polytomous logistic regression models for each of the surveyed years were developed to examine several maternal and familial determinants of the different anthropometric typologies. Setting: National and sub-regional (urban and rural) representative samples from Colombia, South America. Subjects: Drawing on data from three waves of Colombia's Demographic and Health Survey/Encuesta Nacional de Salud (DHS/ENDS), we examined individual and household information from mothers (18–49 years) and their children (birth–5 years). Results: Higher parity was associated with an increased likelihood of overweight and dual burden. Higher levels of maternal education were correlated with lower prevalence of overweight, underweight and dual burden of malnutrition in all data collection waves. In 2010, participation in nutrition programmes for children <5 years, being an indigenous household, food purchase decisions by the mother and food security classification were also associated with the four anthropometric typologies. Conclusions: Results suggest that maternal and family correlates of certain anthropometric typologies at the household level may be used to better frame policies aimed at improving social conditions and nutrition outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nolis lizards are one of the most diverse vertebrate genera and are the classic example of adaptive radiation and convergent evolution. Anoles exhibit great morphological diversity produced by the ecological opportunity to exploit several arboreal niches. Anole radiation in the Caribbean islands is well studied, but the mainland radiation is less understood. We used a large morphological data set and a molecular phylogeny to describe the morphological diversification of anoles from northwestern South America, a region with the highest anole diversity on a mainland. We describe morphological diversity as summarized by ten morphotypes, defined mainly by body size, limb proportions, and subdigital lamellae. We show that some morphotypes are limited to forested lowlands and others to Andean highlands; by contrast, A nolis assemblages from tropical rainforests are comprised of the same four morphotypes. We demonstrate that morphological diversification followed a pattern of adaptive radiation across a landscape of adaptive peaks. Our results are consistent with the most recent hypothesis of convergence stated for Caribbean radiation, and demonstrate convergence between mainland morphotypes and Caribbean ecomorphs, which suggests that common processes are driving both radiations. © 2016 The Linnean Society of London [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil is critical to the world, supplying virtually all of the food and fiber that sustain the human population and providing the space for the ecosystems that support life. The characterization of soil properties through laboratory analysis is an essential part of the diagnosis of the potential use of lands and their fertility. However, conventional soil chemical analyses are expensive and time consuming, hampering the adoption of soil management practices. In recent years, farmers are also increasingly demanding rapid, cost-effective, and nondestructive methods for monitoring changes as well as measuring the physical–chemical properties in soils. This article reviews applications of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to assess, monitor, and classify soils in South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large development projects commonly cause damage to ecosystems, even after measures have been taken to avoid and reduce impacts on site. Governments are increasingly seeking to offset losses through ecological compensation programs to maintain overall levels of biodiversity and ecosystem services. The key to successful programs are criteria that reduce uncertainty and transaction costs while enhancing ecological equivalency. In South America, the government of Brazil, and Colombia have implemented compensation programs, and Peru has recently published broad guidelines and is developing detailed rules. Brazil emphasizes regulatory simplicity, which mitigates cost uncertainty, over ecological equivalence. Colombia has sophisticated methods for establishing ecological equivalence, but has yet to develop institutions necessary to reduce transaction costs. These experiences suggest a trade-off between rules that rigorously compensate losses with ecologically equivalent areas, and simpler approaches that have low transaction costs but may fail to ensure specific biodiversity goals. The success of Peru’s system will depend on being practical enough to implement at scale and rigorous enough to deliver environmental benefits. We describe a series of mutually compatible recommendations to balance both needs. Ecological compensation is still a nascent effort in the neotropics and policy adjustments will be necessary as better information on success and failure becomes available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mustela felipei Izor and de la Torre, 1978, is a mustelid commonly called the Colombian or Don Felipe's weasel and is South America's smallest weasel. It is also the darkest weasel in South America, with little variation in dorsal coloration; the venter is cream-colored with an oval spot the same color as the dorsum. The species is endemic to the Andes. Known from 6 specimens and 5 localities in Colombia and Ecuador, it may be the rarest carnivore in South America. Globally, it is considered 'Vulnerable' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, although in Colombia it is considered 'Endangered.' [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new species of eriophyoid mites associated with native palm trees (Arecaceae) from the Amazon and Pantanal, Brazil, and from Cocora Andean Valley, Colombia, are described and illustrated. They include three new species in the Eriophyidae, all inNotostrixKeifer –Notostrix speciosasp. nov., fromAttalea speciosaMart. ex. Spreng;Notostrix jumasp. nov., fromBactris glaucescensDrude; andNotostrix colombianasp. nov., fromCeroxylon quindiuenseH. Karst; and one new species in the Phytoptidae,Propilus flechtmannisp. nov., fromAstrocaryum murumuruMart. ex. Spreng. Morphological differences betweenNotostrixandPropilusspecies, including the new taxa herein described, are summarized. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:802465BF-BA15-4915-83CA-C8847A878723 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to examine cruise passengers' characteristics, preferences and their overall experience in a port of call. Based on 1,361 survey data collected from passengers in the port of call of Cartagena, during the third quarter of 2009, a three-step multivariate market segment analysis is employed. First, a correspondence analysis is run to reveal the underlying factors in the data; second, based on the correspondence analysis, a hierarchical cluster investigation is performed to segment the sample into homogeneous groups; third, a decision tree is computed to characterise each group. The cluster analysis identifies six distinct market segments differentiated by nationality, satisfaction, safety perception and expenditure. The findings imply several policy directions. In particular, institutions should enhance the perception of safety in Cartagena to guarantee repeated visits, an ad hoc marketing policy may encourage revisit by young South Americans, and managers should extend the inland visiting time that is likely to produce local multiplier effects. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

* Premise of the study: Reconstruction of floristic patterns during the early diversification of angiosperms is impeded by the scarce fossil record, especially in tropical latitudes. Here we collected quantitative palynological data from a stratigraphic sequence in tropical South America to provide floristic and climatic insights into such tropical environments during the Early Cretaceous. * Methods: We reconstructed the floristic composition of an Aptian-Albian tropical sequence from central Colombia using quantitative palynology (rarefied species richness and abundance) and used it to infer its predominant climatic conditions. Additionally, we compared our results with available quantitative data from three other sequences encompassing 70 floristic assemblages to determine latitudinal diversity patterns. * Key results: Abundance of humidity indicators was higher than that of aridity indicators (61% vs. 10%). Additionally, we found an angiosperm latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) for the Aptian, but not for the Albian, and an inverted LDG of the overall diversity for the Albian. Angiosperm species turnover during the Albian, however, was higher in humid tropics. * Conclusions: There were humid climates in northwestern South America during the Aptian-Albian interval contrary to the widespread aridity expected for the tropical belt. The Albian inverted overall LDG is produced by a faster increase in persample angiosperm and pteridophyte diversity in temperate latitudes. However, humid tropical sequences had higher rates of floristic turnover suggesting a higher degree of morphological variation than in temperate regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a research conducted in order to describe a detailed description of adult seasonal activity and male response to sex attractants of the scarab beetle, Phyllophaga lissopyge isolated from South America. It discusses the construction of a male capture response curve for each Phyllophaga species to illustrate the proportional capture of males with respect to pheromone treatment.

Chironomid assemblages of 22 artificial water bodies, mainly fountains, in two South American cities were surveyed. We found surprisingly low diversities, with a total of 11 taxa, averaging two taxa per site. The typical fountain assemblages mainly consisted of common species that have a wide distribution pattern and are tolerant to organic pollution. Also taxa independent of the natural aquatic sources, such as tap-water and semi-terrestrial species were represented. There was no significant difference between the taxa richness of the two S. American regions, however, the assemblage structures of the water bodies of Quito and Bogotá differed significantly. There was no correlation between sample similarities and distances among the sites either. The low number of taxa recorded can be attributed to the combination of naturally limited species pool and the heavy pollution in natural water bodies as colonization sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South America has gained international media attention due to its ongoing arms race, with politicians and analysts warning about the possibility of war. Nevertheless, since the Chaco War in the 1930s, the region has seldom faced major inter-state wars, all of which have been short-lived and with relatively few casualties. This article will discuss in greater detail the ongoing arms race in South America, portraying it as a race 'of levels', with not all countries carrying out massive weaponry purchases. Finally, I will discuss regional geopolitics, geosecurity and integration as part of an analysis regarding the unlikelihood of war. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]