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This work aims to provide a non-moralistic exploration and understanding of the high prevalence of adolescent pregnancy and resulting motherhood among low-income adolescent women in Greater Mendoza, Argentina. The study acknowledges that, based on official statistics, adolescent pregnancy remains a significant issue within this social group compared to teenagers from other socioeconomic backgrounds. By delving into the sexual and reproductive practices of these adolescents, the research seeks to uncover their life strategies within the context of their challenging living conditions, characterized by limited job opportunities and an inadequate, reactive educational system. Through in-depth interviews and focus groups, the study captures the lived experiences and perspectives of adolescent mothers themselves. Utilizing a sociological analysis of this empirical data, the research argues that in the face of extreme social exclusion, a lack of family support, and limited cultural capital, the concept of "class 'habitus'" sheds light on and explains the adolescent practices that contribute to not avoid pregnancies, often influenced by traditional societal expectations of women's roles.

This work aims to provide a non-moralistic exploration and understanding of the high prevalence of adolescent pregnancy and resulting motherhood among low-income adolescent women in Greater Mendoza, Argentina. The study acknowledges that, based on official statistics, adolescent pregnancy remains a significant issue within this social group compared to teenagers from other socioeconomic backgrounds. By delving into the sexual and reproductive practices of these adolescents, the research seeks to uncover their life strategies within the context of their challenging living conditions, characterized by limited job opportunities and an inadequate, reactive educational system. Through in-depth interviews and focus groups, the study captures the lived experiences and perspectives of adolescent mothers themselves. Utilizing a sociological analysis of this empirical data, the research argues that in the face of extreme social exclusion, a lack of family support, and limited cultural capital, the concept of "class habitus " sheds light on and explains the adolescent practices that contribute to not avoid pregnancies, often influenced by traditional societal expectations of women's roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work provides a new record that extends the western limit of the geographic distribution of Synbranchus marmoratus towards the Central Andes of Argentina, in the Department of Calingasta, Province of San Juan. In addition, an update of the geographical distribution map of the species in the country is provided based on this record and a complete literature review. We collected a specimen of this species on 12 September 2016 during an ichthyofaunal survey of high Andean rivers. This record corresponds to the westernmost distribution in the country. This finding is interesting since this species is considered an indicator of the ichthyofauna of the Biogeographic Provinces Greats Rivers and Pampean, while the ichthyofauna of the study area of this new record belongs to the Andean Cuyo Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communal nest egg-laying refers to females laying their eggs with those of their conspecifics under or within artificial or natural structures. Homonota aff. darwinii is a recently discovered species that has not yet been formally described. The objective of this work is to characterise the oviposition of this species in the Puna region in the Central Andes of Argentina. We recorded the type and surface of the rocks where the eggs were laid, the temperature of the substrate, and the temperature of the rock surface facing the substrate. In addition, we recorded the daily temperature variation that a randomly selected potential spawning site would experience based on the characteristics of the rocks where the eggs were observed and the higher frequency of encounters with adult individuals. In January we found a nest with four hatched eggs under a rock. Later, in March we found two nests under two different rocks. One of the nests contained an unhatched egg, while the other nest contained an unhatched egg along with a hatched egg. Both unhatched eggs weighed 0.4 g and had a volume of 164.93 and 220.84 mm³. The embryo of one of the eggs was in an advanced stage of development, close to hatching. The rocks where the eggs were deposited were granitic and greyish. Each rock had a surface area of 768 and 1392 cm2, substrate temperature of 38.8 and 23.2 °C, and rock temperature of 35.5 and 24.9 °C, respectively. The potential nesting site registered a thermal amplitude of 15 °C (15–30 °C). It has been observed that H. darwinii in Patagonia has a one-egg clutch and an annual-biennial reproductive cycle, therefore, we hypothesize that the encounter of a nest with at least two unhatched eggs could indicate the occurrence of communal nests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Argentinean quarantine is among the strictest and longest quarantines in the world. To determine if a worsening pattern on mental health would emerge with a prolonged quarantine duration, a longitudinal analysis pertaining to the lengthy mandatory Argentinean quarantine was conducted. To examine depression and anxiety changes in college students, as a function of quarantine duration, demographic and health-related factors, during successive time cuts of the lengthy mandatory quarantine in Argentina. We used a longitudinal design, N = 1492 college students. For the first measurement, successive samplings were carried out across quarantine sub-periods of up to 106-days duration. The follow-up was one month later. Particularly women, young, and having a history of mental disorder and suicidal behavior, were more depressed and anxious under mandatory restrictive quarantine conditions. Repeated measures of both depression and anxiety scores remained constantly high during the more restrictive quarantine sub-periods of up to 13 and 53-days duration, and decreased during the less restrictive quarantine sub-period of up to 106-days duration, but with small effect sizes (0.10–0.08). Restrictive quarantine has negative effects on mental health outcomes. Partial spontaneous remissions of depression and anxiety symptoms may be expected with further quarantine relaxations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Argentina, there is a clear consensus between neoliberals and neodevelopmentalists regarding the increase of exports as the first step towards development, consolidating the political and economic power held by the exporting business elite and, at the same time, creating an unsustainable development path in socio-environmental terms. A labyrinth with no way out. This paper has set out to retrace this labyrinth, building bridges between different currents of economic heterodoxy that enable the construction of an exit. The powerful consolidation of neodevelopmentalism at the academic and political level in Argentina shows the relevance of this discussion, which transcends national boundaries to become a global development problem due to the elements at stake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ectotherms thermoregulate to maintain their body temperature within the optimal range needed for performing vital functions. The effect of climate change on lizards has been studied as regards the sensitivity of locomotor performance to environmental temperatures. We studied thermoregulatory efficiency and locomotor performance for Liolaemus fitzgeraldi in the Central Andes of Argentina. We determined body temperature, micro‐environmental temperatures and operative temperatures in the field. In the laboratory, we measured preferred temperatures and calculated the index of thermoregulatory efficiency. We estimated the thermal sensitivity of locomotion by measuring sprint speed (initial velocity and long sprint) and endurance at five different body temperatures. Body temperature was not associated with either micro‐environmental temperature, nor did it show differences with preferred temperatures. Thermoregulatory efficiency was moderate (0.61). Initial velocity and long sprint trials showed differences at different temperatures; however, endurance did not. Moreover, the optimal temperatures for the performance trials showed no significant differences among themselves. We conclude that Liolaemus fitzgeraldi has thermal sensitivity in locomotor performance with respect to body temperature and that it is an eurythermic lizard that experiences a large variation in body temperature and that has thermal flexibility in the cold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In particular, in this article, the authors investigate the degree of persistence in the credit-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio in 44 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) economies in the context of nonlinear deterministic trends. Design/methodology/approach: The authors use Chebyshev's polynomials in time, which allow us to model changes in the data in a smoother way than by structural breaks. Findings: This study's results indicate that approximately one-quarter of the series display non-linear structures, and only Argentina displays a mean reverting pattern. Research limitations/implications: Policy implications of the results obtained are discussed at the end of the manuscript. Originality/value: The authors use an approach developed that allows for non-linear trends based on Chebyshev polynomials in time, with the residuals being fractionally integrated or integrated of order d, where d can be any real value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooperative breeding is a reproductive system in which one or more adults (helpers) assist others in rearing their offspring. Cooperative breeding occurs in 9% of birds, encompassing remarkable variation in mating systems and patterns of social organization. Understanding how this diversity evolved requires assessing social and genetic relationships across a broad range of cooperative systems. Yet, for some geographical regions like the Neotropics, detailed genetic studies of cooperatively breeding birds are still comparatively scarce. We used double‐digest restriction‐site associated DNA sequencing to define the genetic relationships within and between cooperative groups in a Neotropical facultative cooperative breeder, the Greyish Baywing Agelaioides badius. Between 2015 and 2018, we banded and sampled adults and nestlings of 41 breeding groups from a population in the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. We found that helpers were primarily males, the majority of which were genetically related to the individuals they assisted, either as previous offspring of the breeding pair or as first‐ or second‐order relatives of the breeding male. However, we also observed unrelated male and female helpers. Parentage analysis indicates that reproduction was strongly skewed towards the dominant pair and helpers never gained paternity within and only once outside their social group. This scenario is consistent with helping behaviour being driven primarily by kin selection rather than by direct genetic benefits to helpers. However, the occasional occurrence of helpers unrelated to the breeding pair suggests that non‐reproductive direct benefits such as increased access to resources or future breeding opportunities may also influence helping decisions in this species. We found weak evidence consistent with male natal philopatry, and fine‐scale genetic structure, as adult males in our population showed higher relatedness at close geographical distances than females. Future studies that further examine the mechanisms behind group formation and the fitness pay‐offs of helping behaviour will increase our understanding of the complex cooperative system of the Greyish Baywing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Geomechanik und Tunnelbau is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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 functioning of Agroindustrial Supply Chains is affected by the different internal and external contexts in which they develop. The objective of this work is to apply the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis method in an agroindustrial production chain in the Northwest of Argentina and identify the potential failures that may appear throughout its operation. Through a descriptive research and a previous background analysis, the instrument was applied in the different links of the production chain and a series of corrective measures were designed. The results obtained demonstrate the need to formulate a comprehensive Management Model for agroindustrial supply networks, which will improve their performance and contribute to the decision making process. The tool used can be adapted and replicated in agroindustrial production chains with similar characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Neotropical Biodiversity is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd 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.)

Leaf‐cutting ants are the most economically important pest of plantation forests in the Neotropics. These social insects can defoliate whole trees, reducing their growth ability and occasionally causing tree mortality. Control of leaf‐cutting ants in plantations is mainly carried out by using insecticides such as sulfluramid or fipronil. Foresters that adhere to voluntary sustainability certification systems are requested to implement integrated pest management programmes that reduce the use of insecticides. However, this approach is much delayed since it requires a better understanding of ant ecology, including quantitative data on the long‐term impact that leaf‐cutting ants have on tree plantations. In this study, we show, for the first time, the results on the long‐term impact of Atta sexdens L. on a Pinus taeda L. plantation in NE Argentina. The annual growth in diameter, height, volume and mortality of P. taeda trees in two 11 ha stands were evaluated up to the middle of the harvest cycle (i.e. 6 years). One of the stands had no control of A. sexdens nests, and in the other stand, all ant nests were removed (total control). After six years since planting, P. taeda trees show significant reductions in total height (19%), diameter at breast height (4.4%) and wood volume (21%) in sites with A. sexdens present. Moreover, tree mortality reached 31.2% when ants were present. Forest managers could use these results to improve their integrated management programmes, by better adjusting their economic damage threshold parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reflects on the multiple worlds generated around waterscapes in the diverse Mapuche territory, Wallmapu. We contrast the responses of three Mapuche communities to external interventions and water availability in the Chimehuin and Lepá rivers in Argentina, and the Huenehue River in Chile. The comparison reveals the nature of Mapuche waterscapes, the tensions provoked by the global economy, and its impacts on water management. Mapuche communities establish an intersubjective relationship with water, securing and protecting their water supply. Waterscapes are constituted as living entities where human and nonhuman stories converge and on which biocultural memory is periodically enriched in its response to a changing environment. We conclude that coexistence between Mapuche and non-Mapuche worlds, however diverse the communities might be, is sustained through equivocal relations and partial connections. Established views of water management in Wallmapu could be greatly enriched by the Mapuche's views and practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for temporary cardiopulmonary support is one of the most intense and technologically complex therapies offered in medicine. It is a high-risk procedure that requires specific knowledge and technical skills to perform it with good results. Objective: The main goal of this study is to describe our extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) training program based on the study of specialized nurses and physicians of a simulation teaching experience, conducted in a pediatric cardiac intensive care unit. The program was developed as a theoretical-practical course with final exam and annual maintenance training sessions, caring for ECMO patients, its implementation and results. Methods: A descriptive study for registered nurses, intensivists, and cardiac surgeons. A self-administered, anonymous, and voluntary survey was conducted to assess the long-term perception about the program. Demographic data to describe the population was required, and questions about satisfaction and confidence in acquired skills and competences were asked. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed; patient survival and complications were compared before and after ECMO program using chi-square test, and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Twenty-four training courses were performed for 68 professionals. More than 88% of the professionals considered the course components to be adequate and complete; and 94% felt trained to manage the ECMO circuit. Most valued activities were workshops and clinical cases. Since the implementation of the training program, 88 patients were assisted, with a survival rate at discharge of 58%, higher than in the previous period (P=0.03). Conclusion: More than 80% of the professionals considered the workshops and simulations as the most useful components. Reliance on the circuit care was higher than in training problem scenarios. Since 2013 we assisted 88 patients on ECMO, with a survival rate at discharge of 58%, within international standards results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detailed description of the solar resource (spatial distribution and temporal variations) is highly desirable in the context of climate monitoring, agricultural planning and energy technologies; however, one shortcoming is the low density of solarimetric networks in many extended regions. Satellite-based estimations have become a potential key tool, provided their data show adequate temporal frequency, high resolution and acceptable accuracy. GL1.2 Model currently runs at Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (CPTEC/INPE), based on GOES VIS channel imagery. It was tested for characterizing solar radiation regime over Pampa Region in Argentina, which extends over more than 600,000 km2. Comparison with time series of nine stations of the Pampa network in the period 2011–2018 showed close agreement for daily mean irradiance using 10-days as well as monthly values (mean bias error generally |MBE| < 6 W m-2 standard deviation STD ≈ 10-15 W m-2 and resulting root mean square error RMSE ≈ 10–16 W m−2). Completeness of GL time series and high spatial definition (0.04°) allowed further time and space analysis of solar radiation regime. It confirmed that Pampean region is rather homogeneous with annual mean GL increasing from 185 W m−2 on coastal region up to 220 W m−2 on the western and northern limits. In addition, GL data detects sharper variations in a scale of few kilometers, such as transition between ground and water in oceanic coast or large rivers. Regional interannual variability is low: COV ≈ 3–4%. All stations in Pampa network show a well definite annual cycle, closely followed by GL estimates. Fourier analysis for GL monthly series shows a dominant deterministic one year signal (H8 harmonic), accounting for 93–95% of variance for all stations and throughout the Pampa region, in phase with the end of Southern Hemisphere spring. The H8 amplitude varies from 100 W m−2 along inner continental boundary up to 120 in southwestern and coastal bound. It is concluded that GL 1.2 model data can be used to accurately describe time series of daily mean irradiance, for 10-days and monthly scales and 4 km resolution, providing a "Test Reference Year" (TRY). This is precious in order to describe spatial-temporal patterns of regional solar climate. An otherwise "random signal" of 20 W m−2 is associated to transient meteorological phenomena with durations shorter than 10-days, such as cold fronts or convective activity. Their deterministic and/or statistical structure could be improved by the combined analysis of short-time scales Pampa network and GL data (daily, hourly or even minutely). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to analyze the ability of agrifood systems to construct "customized competitiveness" strategies that can allow firms to meet the specific and constantly changing demands of foreign markets. Design/methodology/approach: The research performs a comparative analysis of three case studies of agrifood systems in Argentina: lemon, pork, and dairy products. The authors obtained primary data from 79 semi-structured interviews with key persons in each agrifood system carried out online between March 2020 and February 2021. Secondary data was obtained from databases, academic studies, and reports from business associations and public agencies. Findings: The authors find wide disparities in the development of customized competitiveness strategies between the studied agrifood systems (higher in lemon, lower in dairy products, and incipient in pork). The authors attribute the disparity to the varying degrees in which these systems are capable of coordinating their own actions and their interactions with State agencies. Originality/value: The paper provides comparative evidence about the role of private coordination in the ability of agrifood systems to construct customized competitiveness strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Despite newer type 2 diabetes (T2D) medications, patients do not always achieve metabolic targets, remaining at risk for cardiorenal complications. Therapeutic decisions are generally made by the healthcare team without considering patients' preferences. We aimed to evaluate patients' T2D treatment preference in two Latin-American countries between two different oral medication profiles, one resembling dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i) and another resembling sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i). Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional, multicenter study from June to September 2020, patients with T2D from Argentina and Mexico (n = 390) completed a discrete choice experiment questionnaire to identify preferences between DPP4i (medication profile A) and SGLT2i (medication profile B). The reason behind patients' choice, and the association between their baseline characteristics and their preference were evaluated using logistic regression methods. Results: Most participants (88.2%) preferred SGLT2i's profile. Participants with older age (p = 0.0346), overweight or obesity (p < 0.0001), high blood pressure (BP; p < 0.0001), high total cholesterol (p = 0.0360), and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) < 7% (p = 0.0001) were more likely to choose SGLT2i compared with DPP4i's profile. The most and least important reasons to choose either drug profile were HbA1c reduction and genital infection risk, respectively. The likelihood of selecting the SGLT2i's profile significantly increased in participants with increased body mass index (BMI; odds ratio [OR] = 8.9, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.5– 22.5, p < 0.05), high BP (OR = 4.9, 95% CI: 1.9– 12.4, p < 0.05), and lower education level (OR = 3.6, 95% CI: 1.0– 12.6, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Latin-American patients with T2D preferred medication with a profile resembling SGLT2i over one resembling DPP4i as a treatment option. A patient-centered approach may aid the healthcare team in decision-making for improved outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examines Argentinean health care workers in order to 1) test self-perceived job performance levels and the presence of psychological symptoms compatible with common mental disorders, and 2) examine within-person changes in general discomfort and psychological distress, adjusting for demographic factors, region, and health-related factors during two time points of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: This longitudinal study comprised 305 healthcare workers who completed a survey at two time points approximately 4 months apart. We used the General Health Questionnaire and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale to measure mental health outcomes. To address the first aim we calculated differences (Student's t test for paired samples) and correlations (Pearson's r coefficient). To address the second aim we used fixed effects model by means of a multilevel approach, a linear model that considers dependency in the data. Results: Self-perceived job performance deteriorated across time. From the first measurement to the four-month follow-up, more health care workers presented common mental disorders (40% vs 45.57%), depression, and/or anxiety (52.46% vs 62.62%). A meaningful worsening of mental health was observed in healthcare workers who expressed concern about being infected with COVID-19, whether asymptomatic (greater general discomfort and psychological distress) or symptomatic (greater general discomfort). Likewise, there were significant interactions between a history of mental disorder and concern about COVID-19 infection. Conclusions: Among healthcare workers, the uncertainty about the COVID-19 infection may have larger negative mental health impacts than actually being infected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many of the works that have tried to understand the proximate causes of the Great Depression have emphasized the consequences of maintaining the Gold Standard during the interwar period, as its innate inflexibility prevented the use of expansive monetary policies and generated recessionary deflationary processes. Another perspective, both complementary and different, is that offered by new works that consider the Great Depression as to some extent a consequence not so much of a Gold Standard per se, but of the return to redemability at an overvalued parity after the Great War. The novelty of this new approach is to stress the negative effect of maintaining an unbalanced price for the metal over time. The models that have analyzed the currency crises suffered in recent decades by many Latin American countries help to understand the path that led the world to the Great Depression, with the convertibility regime applied in Argentina between 1991 and 2001 being particularly relevant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Difficulties in negative and positive emotion regulation (i.e., emotion dysregulation) underlie risky behaviors in college emerging adults. The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-Positive (DERS-P) are widely used to measure emotion dysregulation; however, they lack Spanish-language versions with consistent psychometric properties. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the DERS and the DERS-P in Argentinian college emerging adults. An accidental non-probability sampling process was conducted, yielding a sample of 392 participants (64.54% women) aged 18 to 28 years (M = 21.40; SD = 2.24) who attended 2 public universities in the city of Córdoba, Argentina. Confirmatory factor analyses of the original factor structure of the DERS and the DERS-P revealed excellent and satisfactory fit respectively. For both scales, satisfactory internal consistency values (Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability) were observed. The DERS and the DERS-P exhibited evidence of convergent validity with maladaptive strategies and divergent validity with adaptive strategies of cognitive emotion regulation (assessed with the CERQ). Moreover, they exhibited evidence of concurrent validity with Positive Urgency and Negative Urgency (assessed with the UPPS-P scale) and with Positive Affect and Negative Affect (assessed with the PANAS). Replicating these results in samples of students enrolled in a variety of college programs, incorporating the examination of test-retest reliability, might contribute to the validation of the DERS and the DERS-P in college emerging adults in Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is aimed to: analyze differences in mental health state (MHS) indicators (depression, state-anxiety, trait-anxiety, and suicidal risk), during three quarantine sub-periods (starting since the first quarantine extension); assess multiple relationships between each MHS indicator and potentially affecting factors. We used a cross-sectional design with a convenience sample including 1100 participants. Data were collected online. Depression revealed a worsening pattern as quarantine sub-periods went by. Anxiety (both state and trait), just like suicidal risk, partially follow such a pattern, with mean scores increasing from the first to the second/third quarantine extensions, but then maintaining to the fourth extension. Predictors having protective effects on almost all the MHS indicators were: availability of current economic income (except for state-anxiety, without significant effect) and absence of suicide attempt history. Conversely, sex (woman), younger age, and mental disorder history had an increasing risk effect on all the MHS indicators. Overall, our findings indicate that quarantine have negative mental health impacts and that quarantine duration is a relevant aspect to be taken into account when measuring such an impact. More attention needs to be paid to vulnerable groups such as the young, women, and people with history of mental disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To validate the systemic lupus activity questionnaire (SLAQ) in Spanish language. Methods: The SLAQ questionnaire was translated and adapted in Spanish. Consecutive SLE patients from 8 centers in Argentina were included. A rheumatologist completed a Systemic Lupus Activity Measure (SLAM), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI)-2K, and a physician's assessment. Reliability was assessed by internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), stability by test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient), and construct validity by evaluating the correlation with clinically relevant scores. Sensitivity and specificity for clinically significant disease activity (SLEDAI ≥6) of different S-SLAQ cut-off points were evaluated. Results: We included 97 patients ((93% female, mean age: 40 years (SD14.7)). Internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach's alpha = 0.84, p < 0.001), and the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.95 (p < 0.001). Mean score of S-SLAQ was 8.2 (SD 7.31). Correlation of S-SLAQ was moderate with Patient NRS (r= 0.63 p < 0.001), weak with SLAM-no lab (r = 0.42, p <0.001) and SLAM (r = 0.38, p < 0.0001), and very weak with SLEDAI-2K (r = 0.15, p =0.1394). Using the S-SLAQ cutoff of five points, the sensitivity was 72.2% and specificity was 37.9%, for clinically significant disease activity. Conclusions: The S-SLAQ showed good validity and reliability. A good correlation, similar to the original instrument, was observed with patient´s global disease activity. No correlation was found between S-SLAQ and gold standard disease activity measures like SLEDAI-2K and SLAM. The S-SLAQ cutoff point of 5 showed a good sensitivity to identify the active SLE population and therefore could be an appropriate screening instrument for disease activity in clinical and epidemiological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a parasitic zoonosis caused by infection with the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus (s.l.). This study investigated the prevalence and potential risk factors associated with human CE in the towns and rural areas of Ñorquinco and Ramos Mexia, Rio Negro province, Argentina. Methods: To detect abdominal CE cysts, we screened 892 volunteers by ultrasound and investigated potential risk factors for CE using a standardized questionnaire. Prevalence ratio (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was used to measure the association between CE and the factors investigated, applying bivariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Abdominal CE was detected in 42/892 screened volunteers (4.7%, 95% CI 3.2–6.1), only two of whom were under 15 years of age. Thirteen (30.9%) CE cases had 25 cysts in active stages (CE1, CE2, CE3a, according to the WHO Informal Working Group on Echinococcosis [WHO-IWGE] classification). The most relevant risk factors identified in the bivariate analysis included: living in rural areas (P = 0.003), age > 40 years (P = 0.000), always drinking water from natural sources (P = 0.007), residing in rural areas during the first 5 years of life (P = 0.000) and having lived more than 20 years at the current address (P = 0.013). In the multivariate final model, the statistically significant risk factors were: frequently touching dogs (P = 0.012), residing in rural areas during the first 5 years of life (P = 0.004), smoking (P = 0.000), age > 60 years (P = 0.002) and living in rural areas (P = 0.017). Conclusions: Our results point toward infection with CE being acquired since childhood and with constant exposure throughout life, especially in rural areas with a general environmental contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ghost shrimp Turbiocheir minutospinata has so far been known only from its holotype from the Eocene/Oligocene rocks of Río Turbio, Patagonia in Argentina. Recently, the additional specimen has been found in the Eocene strata of the Boca Lebu Formation of the Arauco Basin, Chile. New material adds information on the morphology of chelipeds and allows evaluation of the degree of heterochely of the studied ghost shrimp. Moreover, comparison of Turbiocheir minutospinata with extant ghost shrimp taxa allows synonymisation of Turbiocheir with Anacalliax. With this act the fossil record of Anacalliax is extended into early Eocene. The occurrence of Anacalliax minutospinata comb. nov. is proposed to represent a reliable calibration point for Anacalliacidae, which was not available until now. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of BMJ Quality & Safety is the property of BMJ Publishing Group 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.)

Recently, the basal beds of the lower section of the Lumbrera Formation have been referred to the early Eocene (Ypresian) based on the identification of a succession of hyperthermal events globally dated between 52 and 55 Ma. Nevertheless, this section have also been referred to the middle Eocene (Lutetian) based on the 'evolutionary stage' of its fossil mammals. In this contribution, we present a new 238U-206Pb isochron age (46.2 Ma) obtained from samples taken on various independent points across paleosol and matrix positioned at the top of the lower section of the Lumbrera Formation. The new age is consistent with the hyperthermal scheme and constrains the deposition of the lower section of the Lumbrera Fm. between 55–46.2 Ma. In this new geochronological framework, we present one of the most ancient cingulate assemblages from America, recorded during the early Eocene hyperthermal. The specimens involved were recovered from the lowest levels of the lower section of the Lumbrera Formation at Los Cardones National Park, Calchaquí Valleys, Salta Province, Argentina. This cingulate assemblage is formed by the armadillos Pucatherium parvum, a species widely distributed in the Eocene of northwestern Argentina and a new taxon, Noatherium emilioi, gen. et sp. nov. In this new geochronological framework, the taxonomic composition and morphological variations observed in the two species described here and their probably contemporaneous Riostegotherium yanei from the Itaboraí basin (Brazil) support an early diversification of the Cingulata during the Paleocene, and reinforce an intertropical origin for the group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving citizens' subjective well-being (SWB) has become an increasingly visible policy goal across industrialized countries. Although an increasing number of studies have investigated SWB at the individual level, little is known about subjective evaluation at social levels, such as the community and national levels. While the relationships between these levels have been analyzed in previous research, these assessments, which are part of the same unique construct of SWB, are under-investigated. The purpose of this study was to examine the dimensionality and reliability of a single measure of SWB, which contained individual, community, and national levels across three Latin-American countries (Argentina, Chile, and Venezuela), using a bifactor model analysis. Findings showed that the bifactor model exhibited a good fit to the data for the three countries. However, invariance testing between countries was not fully supported because of each item's specific contribution to both specific and general constructs. The analyses of each country showed that the SWB construct was in a gray area between unidimensionality and multidimensionality; some factors contributed more to the general factor and others to the specific level, depending on the country. These findings call for integrating more distant levels (community and country levels) into the understanding of SWB at the individual level, as they contribute not only to an overall construct, but they make unique contributions to SWB, which must be considered in public policy making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is limited evidence on the clinical characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Latin America. We present findings from a nationwide study in Argentina. Research question: What is disease severity measures and risk factors are associated with admission to an intensive care unit and mortality? Study design and methods: Data were extracted from the COVID-19 database of the Integrated Argentina Health Information System, encompassing the period of March 3rd to October 2nd, 2020, using a standardized case report form that included information on contact history, clinical signs and symptoms, and clinical diagnosis. Information was collected at the initial site of care and follow-up conducted through calls by the regional healthcare authorities. A confirmed case of COVID-19 was defined as having a positive result through sequencing or real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay of nasal and pharyngeal swab specimens. Results: RT-PCR testing was positive in 738,776 cases. Complete datasets were available for analysis in 207,079 cases. Mean age was 42.9±18.8 years, 50.0% were males. Frequent co-existing conditions included hypertension (19.2%), diabetes (9.7%), asthma (6.1%) and obesity (5.2%). Most common symptoms included fever (58.5%), cough (58.0%), headache (45.4%), and sore throat (42.1%). Death or ICU admission were independently associated with older age, male, coma, dyspnea or tachypnea, and seizures, with underlying co-morbidities such as immunodeficiency, chronic renal failure, and liver disease showing the strongest effects. Interpretation: Most cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in Argentina were mild and had a favorable outcome, but fatality rates were relatively elevated. Risk factors for adverse outcome included older age, male sex, coma and seizures, and the concurrent presence of several morbidities. These data may be useful for healthcare providers and healthcare policy makers of low-middle income and Latin American countries to guide decisions toward optimized care during the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Junin virus (JUNV) is a New World arenavirus that is the causative agent of Argentine hemorrhagic fever (AHF). Candid#1 (Can) is a live-attenuated vaccine strain of JUNV that since its introduction has resulted in a marked decrease in AHF incidence within the endemic regions of the Pampas in Argentina. Originally, the viral determinants and mechanisms of Can attenuation were not well understood. Recent work has identified the glycoprotein as the major attenuating factor for Can. The establishment of attenuating strategies based on any of the other viral proteins, however, has not been pursued. Here, we document the role of Can Z resulting in incompatibilities with wild type JUNV that results in decreased growth in vitro. In addition, this incompatibility results in attenuation of the virus in the guinea pig model. Further, we identify a single mutation (V64G) in the Z protein that is able to confer this demonstrated attenuation. By establishing and characterizing a novel attenuation strategy for New World mammarenaviruses, we hope to aid future vaccine development for related emerging pathogens including Machupo virus (MACV), Guanarito virus (GTOV), and Sabia virus (SABV). Author summary: The continual development of safe, effective vaccines against emerging diseases is one of the greatest challenges facing the scientific community. The New World group of mammarenaviruses contains multiple human pathogens, each capable of causing severe hemorrhagic disease. Among these, only Junin virus has a distributed vaccine. By utilizing this vaccine, we are able to determine vaccine development strategies for related New World viruses that represent an emerging threat. Here we demonstrate that manipulation of the viral Z protein is able to produce an incompatibility that ultimately attenuates the virus. This provides yet another tool for future vaccine development to further global public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study looks at the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on four education and technical colleges from the San Nicolas District in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. We analyse information collected from directors, a regional teacher trainer, and an education specialist on how colleges react, adapt, and respond to student-teacher needs during the tine of the pandemic. We also examine the changes to the practicum for 21 teachers. The reality of the pandemic has inspired management and teachers from training and technical institutions to propose an innovative educational response for the student-teachers and to contemplate how teacher training can reshape practice and learning moving from the old to the new normal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The A.A.E.E.H has developed this guideline for the best care of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from Argentina. It was done from May 2018 to March 2020. Specific clinical research questions were systematically searched. The quality of evidence and level of recommendations were organized according to GRADE. HCC surveillance is strongly recommended with abdominal ultrasound (US) every six months in the population at risk for HCC (cirrhosis, hepatitis B or hepatitis C); it is suggested to add alpha-feto protein (AFP) levels in case of inexeperienced sonographers. Imaging diagnosis in patients at risk for HCC has high specificity and tumor biopsy is not mandatory. The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer algorithm is strongly recommended for HCC staging and treatment-decision processes. Liver resection is strongly recommended for patients without portal hypertension and preserved liver function. Composite models are suggested for liver transplant selection criteria. Therapies for HCC with robust clinical evidence include transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and first to second line systemic treatment options (sorafenib, lenvatinib, regorafenib, cabozantinib and ramucirumab). Immunotherapy with nivolumab and pembrolizumab has failed to show statistical benefit but the novel combination of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab has recently shown survival benefit over sorafenib in frontline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mental health practices consider unemployment as a suicide main risk factor, based on models built for populations of developed countries. Aim: This study assesses the association between the occupational risk factor and suicidal behaviors, by considering sex, age and temporal distribution, in a Latin American Andean population from north westernmost Argentina. Methods: Data include 481 suicide attempt cases assisted by emergency service psychologists at a head hospital in the Jujuy Province, northern Argentina, during two biennials. General categories and specific types of occupational situation, sex, age and temporal distribution were analyzed. Results: 83.58% of cases corresponded to the with occupation category, but without occupation characterized male cases (p -value =.01). The type no referred occupation (19.15%) mainly contributed to this association (p -value =.02). Unemployed only represented 1.6%. These features revealed independent from the biennial period of assistance (p -value =.96 (general), p -value =.86 (specific)). Associations by age ranges did not seem to be specific of suicidal attempts. Conclusion: The present contribution provides an occupational characterization of suicide attempts in an Andean population from north westernmost Argentina. Unemployment is not associated with suicidal behavior in this population, suggesting that dissimilar patterns underlie suicidal behavior of populations from developed and developing regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The objective of this study was to describe temporal variations in the diet and parasitological aspects in Liolaemus parvus. In order to examine the diet, we determined the volume, numerousness, and frequency of occurrence for each prey item and calculated the relative importance index. We removed nematodes from the stomach and estimated parasitic indicators. Liolaemus parvus presents an active searching mode. It is a predominantly insectivorous species with low intake of plant material and a specialist in feeding on prey items of the family Formicidae, although it also feeds on other arthropods like coleopterans, hemipterans, and spiders. We found temporal variations in its diet. The first record of Parapharyngodon riojensis nematodes is reported herein. Males showed higher nematode prevalence than females. We have expanded the number of host species and the distribution range of Parapharyngodon riojensis. The information provided about trophic ecology and parasitism is the first contribution to this lizard species' biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Computer Science & Technology (JCS&T) is the property of Journal of Computer Science & Technology 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.)

In this paper, a theory of cultural marginality is used in examining the role behavior of American business executives in an Argentine community. The data presented verify the hypothesis that although these executives are accepted in their limited roles as workers and guests within the country, they are marginal in that they are not accepted as people willing to share in its culture. The findings suggest that contrary to the charges of some critics, these executives are clearly not manipulating the power structure of the host community, even though a sizable proportion of adults in Argentine City believe that they are. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Locomotion is relevant to the ecology of reptiles because of its presumed influence on an organism’s Darwinian fitness. Moreover, in ectothermic species, physiological performance capacity is affected by body temperature. We analyzed two components of locomotor performance in three species of lizards, Phymaturus extrilidus, Liolaemus parvus, and Liolaemus ruibali, in the Puna environment of Argentina. First, we estimated the thermal sensitivity of locomotion by measuring sprint speed at four different body temperatures. We included two measures of sprint speed: initial velocity and long sprint for sustained runs. Based on these data, we calculated the optimal temperature for performance and the optimal performance breadth. We also estimated endurance capacity at a single temperature. Maximum sprint speed for L. parvus was greater than L. ruibali and P. extrilidus in both initial velocity and long sprint. In contrast, L. parvus exhibited lower levels of endurance than L. ruibali and P. extrilidus. However, endurance in L. ruibali exceeded that of P. extrilidus. The species differed in the optimal temperature for the initial velocity with the lowest for L. ruibali (31.8 °C) followed by P. extrilidus (33.25 °C) and then L. parvus (36.25 °C). The optimal temperature for long sprint varied between 32 and 36 °C for all species. We found that all species attained maximum performance at body temperatures commonly experienced during daily activity, which was higher than the thermal quality of the environment. We found evidence for thermal sensitivity in locomotor performance in these species. However, we also show that the broad thermal breadth of performance suggests that the lizards are capable of sustaining near optimal levels of locomotor performance at ambient temperatures that would appear to be suboptimal. Thus, this lizard assemblage is capable of coping with the highly variable climatic conditions in the Puna region of Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to evaluate fruit yield and harvest distribution, and to identify the main factors that affect the fruit yield of two parthenocarpic fig varieties trained under an intensive pruning system in the temperate-humid central area of Santa Fe, Argentina. Fig trees of the cultivars ‘Guarinta’ and ‘Brown Turkey’ were planted 4 × 2 m apart and trained in small open vases. Fruit yield per plant, number of nodes and fruits per shoots, shoot length, and number of unripened fruits per shoot were registered during 10 years after planting (2006–2016). Relationships between meteorological data and plant parameters were determined. Fruit yield varied between 4.43 and 12.1 t ha −1 according to the year and variety. Commercial fruit yield tended to diminish four years after planting. Annual duration of the harvesting period ranged from 8 to 21 weeks and showed a positive relationship with the annual fruit yield. The harvesting period was negatively affected by both tree age and weather variables, such as the number of rainy days and the accumulated precipitation from January to May. The last three years of experimentation were the rainiest, so it was not possible to clearly establish if the declination of fruit yield and the duration of the harvesting period with tree age were a consequence of climatic conditions, tree age, or both factors. The end of the harvest period was not due to the absence of fruits but to the lack of ripeness in all years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Community surveys of mental disorders and service use are important for public health policy and planning. There is a dearth of information for Latin America. This is the first representative community survey in the Argentinean population. The purpose is to estimate the 12-month prevalence and severity of mental disorders, socio-demographic correlates and service use in a general population survey of adults from urban areas of Argentina.Methods: The World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview was administered to 3927 individuals aged 18 years and older participating in a multistage clustered area probability household survey. The response rate was 77%.Results: The 12-month prevalence of any disorder was 14.8%, and a quarter of those disorders were classified as severe. Younger participants and those with lower education had greater odds of any disorder and most classes of disorder. 11.6% of the total population received treatment in the prior 12 months and only 30.2% of those with a severe disorder. Women and those never married were more likely to receive or seek treatment, whereas those with low and low-average education were less likely.Conclusion: Most individuals with a mental disorder in the past year, even those with a severe disorder, have not received treatment. Because low education is a barrier to treatment, initiatives aimed at mental health education might help timely detection and treatment of these disorders in Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review includes the location, the biogeographic characteristics and the production systems of the Mendoza plain. The procedure for estimating the carrying capacity for cattle was described. For its evaluation, annual forage production was estimated from the dependable annual rain (f0.8) and the rain-use efficiency factor (kg DM ha-1 year-1. mm-1). The yearlong proper use factor of available forage was 30%, while the herbaceous and woody accessible layers to cattle were 80% and 50%, respectively. The estimated carrying capacity was, on average, 24.3 ha AU-1. This evaluation, denoted the need to have forage reserves from 2 years, in 10 not included in the model. The use of spineless cactus was considered as buffer feed reserve. Its benefits and restrictions are mentioned. The major limitation to plantations of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. for fodder in Mendoza plain is cold winter temperatures. To overcome this constraint, ten progenies of the interspecific cross between Opuntia lindheimerii Engelm. (cold hardy) and O. ficus-indica were examined for freezing hardiness. Due to the great importance of cactus as suitable crop for livestock production in arid areas, the economic feasibility of its plantation for both cattle and goat production systems was included in the review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Body temperature is the most important ecophysiological variable affecting reptiles’ life history. Moreover, thermoregulation in ectotherms implies a struggle to reach preferred temperatures in natural conditions due to the influence of biotic and abiotic factors. Our objective was to evaluate and compare the thermal biology of two syntopic species, Phymaturus extrilidus and Liolaemus parvus , in the Puna region of San Juan, Argentina. We determined body temperature (T b ), micro-environmental temperatures (T a and T s ) and operative temperatures (T e ) in the field. In the laboratory, we measured preferred temperatures (T pref ) and calculated the index of thermoregulatory efficiency (E). Neither body temperatures in the field nor preferred temperatures varied between seasons and sexes. Body temperatures were lower than preferred temperatures for both species. Nevertheless, regardless of the low thermal offer available in habitat, both species did achieve body temperatures higher than operative temperatures during activity. Thermoregulatory effectiveness was moderate in P. extrilidus (E=0.65), while L . parvus presented greater thermoregulatory efficiency (E=0.78). We conclude that under the rigorous climate conditions of the Puna, Phymaturus extrilidus and Liolaemus parvus are able to actively and efficiently thermoregulate, maintaining body temperatures close to the preferred and higher than those of its habitat. Differences in thermal characteristics between Phymaturus extrilidus and Liolaemus parvus are a consequence of differential limitations imposed on each species by the environment and of forces inherent to their life histories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to create a path model linking cognitive functioning in individuals with dementia, caregiver burden and mental health, and quality of care provided for the individual with dementia in Argentina. One hundred and two dementia caregivers from San Lucas, Argentina completed questionnaires assessing these constructs. Regressions found that caregiver burden, depression, anxiety, and satisfaction with life explained 18.8% of the variance in quality of care—respect and 14.7% of the variance in quality of care—provide. A structural equation model with generally adequate fit indices uncovered that cognitive functioning in individuals with dementia was inversely associated with caregiver burden, caregiver burden was inversely associated with mental health, and mental health was positively associated with quality of care. Further, patient cognitive functioning yielded a significant indirect effect on caregiver mental health through caregiver burden, as did burden on quality of care through mental health. Despite this negative cascade, these relationships may also be reversed with the development and use of dementia caregiver interventions that improve caregiver burden and mental health and as a result, the quality of care for individuals with dementia in Latin America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Two Homelands / Dve Domovini is the property of Scientific Research Centre of Slovenian Academy of Sciences & Arts 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.)

Objective: To describe the history, current situation, and future challenges of Argentinian neuropsychology.Method: A brief historical description highlighting the most representative authors and publications is made. In addition, a survey was administered to a sample of 135 neuropsychologists practicing neuropsychology in Argentina. The survey explored the current neuropsychological practices among the respondents.Results: Results show that most Argentinian neuropsychologists are: psychologists, women, and work in the clinical field in the country’s major cities. Besides, the practice of neuropsychology is mostly unregulated with few training opportunities.Conclusions: Argentinian neuropsychology emerged from neurology in the early twentieth century and slowly progressed until the 1960s when the first organized research groups were created. Since then, a substantial and steady progress followed. However, more training opportunities and a better regulation of the discipline are needed. No similar studies have been conducted in the past, thus becoming one of the first to describe the development of neuropsychology in Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The early Miocene Santa Cruz Formation (SCF) in southern Patagonia hosts the Santacrucian South American Land Mammal Age (SALMA), whose age is known mainly from exposures along the Atlantic coast. Zircon U-Pb ages were obtained from intercalated tuffs from four inland sections of the SCF: 17.36 ± 0.63 Ma for the westernmost Río Bote locality, and 17.04 ± 0.55 Ma–16.32 ± 0.62 Ma for central Río Santa Cruz localities. All ages agree with the bounding age of underlying marine units and with equivalent strata in coastal exposures. New ages and available sedimentation rates imply time spans for each section of ∼18.2 to 17.36 Ma for Río Bote and 17.45–15.63 Ma for central Río Santa Cruz (Burdigalian). These estimates support the view that deposition of the SCF began at western localities ∼1 Ma earlier than at eastern localities, and that the central Río Santa Cruz localities expose the youngest SCF in southern Santa Cruz Province. Associated vertebrate faunas are consistent with our geochronologic synthesis, showing older (Notohippidian) taxa in western localities and younger (Santacrucian) taxa in central localities. The Notohippidian fauna (19.0–18.0 Ma) of the western localities is synchronous with Pinturan faunas (19.0–18.0 Ma), but older than Santacrucian faunas of the Río Santa Cruz (17.2–15.6 Ma) and coastal localities (18.0–16.2 Ma). The Santacrucian faunas of the central Río Santa Cruz localities temporally overlap Colloncuran (15.7 Ma), Friasian (16.5 Ma), and eastern Santacrucian faunas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study region is one of the most endangered area from wind erosion in the country. This process, coupled with recurrent droughts in last decades and the mishandling of productive practices have generated desertification. This study presents a review of the interaction of these processes based on literature, field survey and perception of producers. Recommendations for rehabilitation are proposed. The area covers 6.5 million hectares, hosting in 2002: 550,000 people and 7,825 farms in irrigated and non-irrigated lands. Irrigated lands are devoted to agricultural production. Non-irrigated have a mixed production system (beef cattle-wheat). Mean annual rainfall in 1940-2014 was 407 mm. In 60% of these years, rainfall was below the mean. Desertification in the area is a consequence of drought and mismanagement. In wet cycles, producers increase stocking rate and wheat-sown area using the same practices of the humid pampa. As a consequence of dry cycles, land is abandonment and fields covered by sand and invasive plants. Over 20 cm of soil has blown away and sand accumulates in fences and stays suspended in the atmosphere, reaching Bahía Blanca city and up to 400 km into the Atlantic Ocean. The area requires deep structural changes in production systems and their management. Emphasis should be on sustainable management, which involves a mentality change of producers and decision makers. Recommendations were made for cleared and non-cleared lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Life expectancy is increasing in Latin America resulting in the need for more family caregivers for older adults with dementia. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationships between personal strengths (optimism, sense of coherence [SOC], and resilience) and the mental health of dementia caregivers from Latin America. Method: Primary family dementia caregivers (n = 127) were identified via convenience sampling at the Instituto de Neurociencias de San Lucas, Argentina, and CETYS University, in Baja California, Mexico and completed measures of these constructs. Findings: Personal strengths explained between 32% and 50% of the variance in caregiver mental health. In a series of hierarchical multiple regressions, more manageability (β = −.38, p = .001), general resilience (β = −.24, p = .012), and social competence (β = −.21, p = .034) were uniquely associated with lower depression. Greater comprehensibility (β = −.28, p = .008) was uniquely associated with decreased burden, and manageability was marginally related (β = −.21, p< .10). Greater optimism (β = .37, p< .001) and manageability (β = .27, p = .004) were uniquely associated with increased life satisfaction. Discussion: The personal strengths of caregivers in Latin America may be particularly important for their mental health because of the culturally imbedded sense of duty toward older family members. Implications: Incorporating strengths-based approaches into research on caregiver interventions in regions where caregiving is a highly culturally valued role such as Latin America may have the potential to improve the mental health of dementia caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]