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Writers of this article share their seminal work of creating the Latin American Region (LAC) as part of the United States NASPA-Student Affairs Administration in the Higher Education Association's Global Division. Webinars, exchanges, conferences, some research initiatives, and a new student affairs administration minor as part of a higher education master's degree are beginning to shape the work of student affairs in South America.

The aim of the research and investigation methodology was based on an expert survey, using questionnaires translated into German, English, French, Spanish and Portuguese languages. The experts, interviewed in this study as part of the international community, represent institutions or organizations, that are involved in educational policy or in university research and teaching contexts with the topics and content as well as the implementation of ESD. The answers of the experts provide a different and wide range of variations in assessments of the implementation of the UN Decade and its characteristics of democratic potential and support. This shows that the potential democratic influences can always be assessed much more positively through sustainable development than that of actual democratic changes, particularly in reference to good governance, to the basic and human rights, to the protection of minorities, to civil society participation and to the separation of powers and the rule of law.

This article focuses on communities' contributions to a way of learning that seems to be common in many Indigenous communities of the Americas and among people with heritage in such communities: "Learning by Observing and Pitching In" to family and community endeavours (LOPI). We briefly contrast this with community contributions in "Assembly-Line Instruction," a way of learning that is common in Western schooling, to highlight the distinct contributions of community in these two ways of learning. We theoretically situate the two ways of learning, considering communities and individuals as mutually constituting aspects of the process of life, not as separate entities. Then we discuss the contributions of community to the reasons that people participate, how they interact, and the underlying theory of learning and purpose of learning in LOPI. We briefly address the role of community in how people communicate with each other and evaluate learning. To conclude, we consider the prevalence of LOPI both within Indigenous-heritage communities of the Americas and elsewhere, and our hopes for the contribution of describing this way of learning. [Translation from English by Mercè Rius.]

The aim of this study was to explore the differential relationships between students' science performance and their ICT availability, ICT use, and attitudes toward ICT based on the data from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2015 across the countries and regions including South/ Latin America, Europe, and Asia and Pacific. Before 2015, the PISA tests were paper-based, but in 2015, for the first time, a computer-based test was used. The mean score in science performance decreased dramatically in PISA 2015. In order to propose a plausible reason for this decrease, the relationships between students' science performance and students' ICT availability, ICT use, and attitudes toward ICT were examined. The ICT Development Indexes (IDI) of 35 countries were used to investigate whether the relationships vary across countries. Two-level regression was employed for the analysis, taking into account plausible values and sample weights. The results indicated that there was a differential relationship among countries and regions for how much of the total variance was explained through ICT related factors. Controlling major student- and school-level variables, as IDI scores of countries increase, explained variances of science scores by ICT use, availability and attitude increase in South/ Latin America, whereas, for countries in Europe, the explained variances decrease. In Asia and Pacific, explained variances across countries were similar. Further implications are discussed emphasizing the importance of regions-based perspectives.

I brought together two strands of literature, one investigating the moderate but persistent underachievement of girls in mathematics in most countries, and the other examining the role of self-efficacy and other self-beliefs in predicting behaviour and achievement. I implemented detailed decompositions of the gender mathematics gap, both at the mean and for low and high performing students, for a large and diverse group of countries. I found considerable heterogeneity and different cross-country patterns in decomposition components and the contribution of self-beliefs. In OECD-Europe and more affluent East Asian countries, most or all of the gap is explained by gender differences in self-beliefs, especially self-efficacy; on the other hand, in Latin America and the Middle East, most of the gap remains unexplained. I also investigated the cross-country relationship between the gender mathematics gap and gender equity and found that a clearly negative association can be established after controlling for cross-country heterogeneity in gender differences in mathematics self-beliefs, which correlate with gender equality.

Violence across Latin America is an increasingly important factor influencing migration to the US. A particular form of violence that is experienced by many Latinx migrants is extortion. This research analyzes the extortion experiences of Latinx immigrant adults arriving at the US southern border and the impact these experiences have on mental health. We find that on average, participants paid $804 in extortion during their migration. The most common perpetrators of extortion in our study were police followed by immigration officials throughout Latin America. Pregnant participants were less likely to experience extortion and adults traveling with children were more likely to be extorted. Participants who were extorted for money reported significantly greater severity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms compared to those who were not extorted. This research is the first of its kind to analyze extortion experiences among Latinx immigrants to the US, quantifying the prevalence, amounts paid, countries where extortion occurs, and perpetrators of extortion. In addition, extortion experiences are associated with negative effects on the mental health of newly arrived Latinx immigrants to the US. Based upon these findings, we recommend that extortion should be considered a significant stressor in the migrant experience, particularly for those adults traveling with children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) poses a significant threat to public and animal health. Clade 2.3.4.4b recently emerged from the Eastern hemisphere and disseminated globally, reaching the Latin American (LATAM) region in late 2022 for the first time. HPAI in LATAM has resulted in massive mortalities and culling of poultry and wild birds, causing infection in mammals and humans. Despite its meaningful impact in the region, only occasional evidence about the genetic and epitope characteristics of the introduced HPAI is reported. Hence, this study seeks to phylogenetically characterize the molecular features and the source of HPAI in LATAM by evaluating potential antigenic variations. For such a purpose, we analyzed 302 whole genome sequences. All Latin American viruses are descendants of the 2.3.4.4b clade of the European H5N1 subtype. According to genomic constellations deriving from European and American reassortments, the identification of three major subtypes and eight sub-genotypes was achievable. Based on the variation of antigenic motifs at the HA protein in LATAM, we detected three potential antigenic variants, indicating the HA-C group as the dominant variant. This study decidedly contributes to unraveling the origin of the 2.3.4.4b clade in LATAM, its geographic dissemination, and evolutionary dynamics within Latin American countries. These findings offer useful information for public health interventions and surveillance initiatives planned to prevent and manage the transmission of avian influenza viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research objective is to explore Chile's entrepreneurial landscape by assessing individual characteristics and institutional factors through a 'pillars' framework and compare it against Colombia, and Brazil; to identify socioeconomic, individual, and institutional differences using the Global Entrepreneurship Index (GEI); to apply bottleneck approach to highlight areas requiring policy intervention. GEI features individual and institutional stage variables in a method where every variable collaboratively interacts, incorporating 14 foundational elements and three sub - indexes: attitudes, abilities, and aspirations. Ranking 18th on the GEI globally and the best in Latin America, Chile excels in key entrepreneurial pillars, showcasing strengths in innovation and a robust entrepreneurial culture. Brazil closely rivals Chile in competition and networking, emphasizing political and economic influence. Colombia surpasses Chile in internationalization and growth-stimulating policies but faces challenges like historical conflicts and wealth distribution. This study identified areas where immediate policy intervention may be necessary by examining Chiles's entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Penalty for Bottleneck (PFB) technique identif ied the weakest pillars highlighting process innovation, competition, and internationalization. The primary component identified as a bottleneck for resource allocation is Process Innovation, accounting for 73% of the allocation, followed by Competition at 23%. The findings show that allocating more resources to process innovation may improve greatly the overall GEI score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To address the need for standardized, comprehensive chemotherapy/biotherapy education in Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries, the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON) Pediatric Chemotherapy/Biotherapy Provider and Instructor program courses were culturally adapted, translated to Spanish, and piloted. The process of course adaptation and implementation are described. A Context, Input, Process, Product model outcomes evaluation determined: (a) differences in pass rates by test version and pilot location, (b) predictors of pass rates, (c) course appropriateness for nurses' education and practice levels, and (d) strategies for course improvements. Methods: The Spanish APHON Pediatric Chemotherapy/Biotherapy Provider program was piloted four times and the Instructor program twice with nurses from Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, South America, and Spain. Statistical analysis identified factors associated with pass rates. Results: Of the 203 students in four Spanish APHON Provider program courses, data from 108 students (three pilots) were analyzed (one unplanned pilot excluded for missing data). Significant predictors of pass rates included: pediatric oncology frontline nurses (OR = 9.86; 95% CI [2.56, 65.23]; p =.004), nurses dedicated to an inpatient or outpatient unit (non-rotating) (OR = 6.79 [1.29, 51.98]; p =.033), and graduation from a 5-year nursing program (OR = 5.92; 95% CI [1.30, 33.15]; p =.028). Discussion: The Spanish APHON Pediatric Chemotherapy/Biotherapy program was determined appropriate for nurses' education and practice levels in LAC countries. Through the APHON Spanish language instructor network, pediatric oncology nurses in LAC countries have increased access to standardized, comprehensive chemotherapy/biotherapy education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neoanthylla (Kormilev, 1951) is a Neotropical genus of Phymatinae with three valid species: Neoanthylla bucki (Kormilev), Neoanthylla horvathi (Handlirsch), and Neoanthylla peruviana Kormilev. Morphologically, it is characterized by the elongated and oval profemur with the cuticular surface smooth and shiny; the procoxa long and subequal to the mesofemur; the prosternal carina long, reaching the anterior margin of the mesosternum; and the abdomen posteriorly entire. Neoanthylla species are scarcely documented in the literature, and the genital structures are unknown. In addition, the Brazilian species (N. bucki and N. horvathi) are known only by female specimens. Here, Neoanthylla is revisited, the diagnoses of the valid species are improved, images of the holotypes of N. horvathi and N. peruviana are provided, and the male of N. horvathi is described for the first time, including genital characters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The catalogued collection of South American terrestrial gastropods, including the Caribbean ABC islands and Trinidad & Tobago, of the Auckland War Memorial Museum (AM), New Zealand, is discussed here. In total, 264 specimen lots from South America were found in the AM collection, including eight type lots. Twelve of the specimens represent new geographic distribution data, including the first known precise locality for the species Bostryx luridus (L. Pfeiffer, 1863) and potentially for Drymaeus cf. waldoschmidti Parodiz, 1962 as well. The specimens of Lopesianus crenulatus Weyrauch, 1967 allowed for the revision of the monospecific genus Lopesianus Weyrauch, 1958, which is herein considered valid in the family Simpulopsidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Occupational Therapy / Cadernos Brasileiros de Terapia Ocupacional is the property of Cadernos de Terapia Ocupacional da UFSCar 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.)

Copyright of Revista de Direito Internacional is the property of Revista de Direito Internacional 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.)

This article advances a novel approach to investigating geographies of settler colonialism and environmental justice through a critical physical geography (CPG) of water scarcity in the South American Chaco. Drawing from multimethod research conducted in collaboration with Enxet and Sanapaná communities in Paraguay, I evaluate how waterscape change produces social vulnerability with a focus on Indigenous access to safe drinking water. Stemming from a seemingly simple question—how have annual flood and drought events in the Chaco become malignant for Enxet and Sanapaná peoples—my analysis centers on current struggles for Indigenous rights amidst Paraguay's booming ranching industry. I use an eclectic data set—from historical missionary accounts, seventy-two household questionnaires, mapping new waterscapes, and a political economy of cattle ranching—to show how settler waterscapes produce environmental racism by limiting Indigenous access to "good" water. I argue that the prevalence of water scarcity in Indigenous communities across the Bajo Chaco is not a natural result of biophysical geography but a socially produced outcome of how settler waterscapes rework hydrosocial relations along racial lines. CPG offers a way to bridge biophysical analysis with critical social theory to expand geographic understandings of settler colonialism and its effects on Indigenous environmental justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), historical shifts away from traditional, plant-sourced food production and consumption patterns may undermine both nutritional status and environmental sustainability. Although agricultural intensification and increasingly animal-centric dietary preferences in the region are well-documented, their influence on environmental degradation remains unknown. Objectives This study aimed to 1) characterize the environmental impacts of current food consumption patterns in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean; and 2) identify food groups that minimize impact while maintaining adequate nutrient availability. Methods Apparent regional food consumption was derived using data from the FAO's Food Balance Sheets on per capita food availability and levels of imported and local food production. Region-specific life cycle assessment data on greenhouse gas emissions (GHGEs), land use, and freshwater consumption were leveraged to estimate total, food group–level, and nutrient-specific environmental impacts. Results Annual overall GHGEs were highest in Caribbean food consumption patterns (2521.2 kg/capita), largely derived from meat (26.7%) and fruit (23.8%) production. Land use (1941.0 m2/capita) and water consumption (2060.8 m3/capita), in contrast, were highest for the South American pattern, owing to high consumption of meat and dairy. Across the regions, meat constituted 7.5%–12.7% of food consumption yet accounted for as much as 73.1% of GHGEs, 56.6% of land use, and 54.2% of water consumption. In contrast, legumes and seeds, cereals, roots, and vegetables demonstrated overall low environmental impacts, particularly relative to their contributions to dietary protein, iron, and zinc availability. Conclusions Findings point to the capacity of plant-sourced food consumption to minimize environmental harm without necessarily jeopardizing nutrient availability in LAC. Local agriculture can contribute to food system sustainability by producing diversified plant-sourced foods, cornerstones of many traditional food customs, and mitigating the impacts of industrialized livestock operations and imported, animal-centric dietary habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare disease that frequently occurs in young women of childbearing age, with variable clinical presentation in regions with limited access to diagnostic imaging or specialized neurological care. In the last decade, there has been an increase in the number of studies on CVT in Latin America, which may contribute to a better epidemiological description of the disease in this region and, consequently, its early diagnosis. Objectives: Our study aims to review the risk factors, clinical and radiological characteristics of CVT in Latin America, being critically compared with data from world literature. Methods: PubMed, ScienceDirect, BVS, and Scopus were searched to identify studies reporting CVT in Latin American countries published up to July 2022. We excluded case reports and case series reporting < 5 patients later in the final analysis. Results: We identified a total of 3714 studies and 26 qualified for the quantitative analysis, which described 1486 cases of CVT. Headache was the most frequent symptom (82.1%) and the use of oral contraceptives in women was the main risk factor (46.7%). The transverse sinus was the most frequent location of the thrombus (52%). The treatment used most in the acute phase was heparin (88.5%) and oral anticoagulation was widely used at hospital discharge (67.8%). The mortality was low (6.5%), and most patients achieved complete recovery (75.3%). Conclusion: Despite considerable dissimilarities in studies between countries, particularities were identified in the risk factors of CVT in Latin America compared to other regions of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides an overview of the development of exotic animal medicine in Latin America (LATAM), highlighting its historical evolution, current evidence, and future considerations. The practice of exotic animal medicine began in the 1970s and 1980s. The lack of knowledge and scientific resources led to the extrapolation of veterinary care for exotic species from human and companion animal medicine. However, from the 21st century onwards, globalization and collaboration among veterinary professionals have allowed greater access to knowledge and techniques for the treatment of exotic species in LATAM., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

• Human T-lymphotropic viruses 1 (HTLV-1) infection is endemic in many regions of South America and the Caribbean. • Meta-analysis of HTLV1/2 infection in South American and Caribbean pregnant women was done. • The prevalence of HTLV1/2 infection among pregnant women is 1.3% (most HTLV-1). • This rate is greater than for other microbial agents checked in antenatal screening. • HTLV1/2 antenatal testing should be recommended in South America and Caribbean pregnant women. Human T-lymphotropic viruses (HTLV)-1 infection is endemic in many countries of Central and South America and Caribbean (CSA&C). Neither screening nor surveillance programs exist for HTLV-1/2 infection among pregnant women in this region. Neither in Western nations with large migrant flows from HTLV-1/2 endemic regions. Systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of HTLV-1/2 infection among CSA&C pregnant women. We included studies searching EMBASE, PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception to February 15, 2023. This systematic review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting guidelines. We identified a total of 620 studies. Only 41 were finally included in the meta-analysis. Most studies (61.0%) were from Brazil and Peru (14.6%). The total number of participants was 343,707. The pooled prevalence of HTLV-1/2 infection among CSA&C pregnant women was 1.30% (95% CI: 0.96-1.69) using anti-HTLV-1/2 antibody screening tests. There was a high heterogeneity (I2 = 98.6%). Confirmatory tests gave an HTLV-1 infection rate of 1.02% (95% CI: 0.75-1.33). The prevalence of HTLV-1/2 infection among CSA&C pregnant women is 1.3%, most cases being HTLV-1. This rate is greater than for other microbial agents regularly checked as part of antenatal screening (such as HIV, hepatitis B, or syphilis). Thus, HTLV-1/2 antenatal testing should be mandatory among CSA&C pregnant women everywhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article traces the aesthetics, fundaments, and poietic practices developed by the members of the School of Architecture and Design of the Catholic University of Valparaíso during the 1960s, which enabled them to elaborate a geo-poetic perspective linked to the land, or "Interior Sea", of Latin/South America. In order to unpack this perspective, we present how their poetic exploration of ontological and epistemological questions about Latin/South America led to their performance of the Travesía de Amereida (1965), a radical poetic journey oriented around crossing and being crossed by the continental interior lands, and to the subsequent invention of the epic poem Amereida (1967). By examining the different Acts performed during the Travesía and analysing excerpts from the poem, we establish how the School situated actions together with the tropes of the unknown, or not-knowing, and the Interior Sea, as original ways to critically confront and question the coloniality imposed upon and still present in the continent. Concomitantly, we stress how this geo-poetic perspective grounded within the School generated a radical turn and delinking of the academicist episteme in design, which provides stimulating perspectives not only for design studies developed in the region but also for the field of cultural studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a disease that affects the normal function of the spinal cord. Road traffic accidents (RTAs) represent the main cause of SCI worldwide. SCI may generate physical disability and economic dependency, which is especially significant in low- and middle-income countries such as most of the Latin American countries. The main objective of this study was to present an epidemiological review of SCI secondary to RTAs. Stronger evidence on this condition in Latin America is important for future-specific data collection and prevention strategies. A literature review was carried out using specific search strategies in databases of indexed journals from the period 2000 to 2019. Data on SCI secondary to RTAs in the Latin American region were collected and analyzed. After initial screening and removal of duplicates, 16 articles met the inclusion criteria and were chosen for analysis. Data from 7 Latin American countries were retrievable. On average, RTAs were responsible for 40.81% of SCI. Data from different studies are heterogeneous. Car accidents and moto accidents were equally responsible for SCIs (50.61% vs. 49.06%). The thoracic segments were the most commonly affected (57.87%). Males in their 30s were the most affected category (76.6%). SCI due to RTAs may represent a severe but preventable condition that affects mostly men in their productive age, generating important social and economic issues. Data about this condition in Latin America are scarce, and could limit prevention and treatment strategies. Prospective data collection about this condition is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research intends to understand the relationship between aesthetics and young people's intention to continue using smartphones. In particular, the study validates a research model that proposes aesthetics as an antecedent of variables that explain the intention to continue using smartphones (performance expectancy, hedonic motivation, and habit). An online questionnaire was conducted to develop the empirical study in two countries of South America, using a non-random sample of young smartphone users. A total of 306 valid answers were analysed using a structural equation modelling approach. The validation of the research model was based on partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The results indicate, on the one hand, the validation of the scale of measurement of smartphone aesthetics in Latin America and, on the other hand, the research model explains 52% of the intention to continue using a smartphone. In conclusion, the findings support the idea that aesthetics is a necessary antecedent to explain the continued use of smartphones. This study contributes to the professional field of marketing and design in the sense of understanding what makes young smartphone consumers continue using them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: at the end of the last decade of the 20th century, Latin America witnessed the arrival of an intense flow of foreign investment for exploration and mining activities. This article covers the impact of extractivism on some of the conflicts in Latin America. Methodology: the research used the political science comparative method to analyze quantitative and qualitative data, both governmental and non-governmental, to understand the socio-environmental conflicts caused by mining, especially gold mining in Latin America. The results are geo-referenced as a way to represent the intensity of conflicts in the geographic space. Results: the race of corporate, state and hegemonic actors to be lords and masters of natural biomass and mineral reserves has revealed interests in controlling not only how states manage, but also nature itself. Conclusions: it is found that large multinationals are negatively impacting social, economic, and political conflicts in South America and the Caribbean. The social license to operate granted to multinationals fails to reduce conflicts in the territories. Governmental policies, despite recognizing social and environmental rights, continue to give free rein to the exploitation of nature: ignoring the objectives of sustainable development, favoring the accumulation of capital of northern countries by dispossessing the environmental and social wealth of the countries of South America and the Caribbean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Occupational Therapy / Cadernos Brasileiros de Terapia Ocupacional is the property of Cadernos de Terapia Ocupacional da UFSCar 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.)

Aims: There is a lack of evidence related to the prevalence of mental health symptoms as well as their heterogeneities during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Latin America, a large area spanning the equator. The current study aims to provide meta-analytical evidence on mental health symptoms during COVID-19 among frontline healthcare workers, general healthcare workers, the general population and university students in Latin America. Methods: Bibliographical databases, such as PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO and medRxiv , were systematically searched to identify pertinent studies up to August 13, 2021. Two coders performed the screening using predefined eligibility criteria. Studies were assigned quality scores using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. The double data extraction method was used to minimise data entry errors. Results: A total of 62 studies with 196 950 participants in Latin America were identified. The pooled prevalence of anxiety, depression, distress and insomnia was 35%, 35%, 32% and 35%, respectively. There was a higher prevalence of mental health symptoms in South America compared to Central America (36% v. 28%, p < 0.001), in countries speaking Portuguese (40%) v. Spanish (30%). The pooled prevalence of mental health symptoms in the general population, general healthcare workers, frontline healthcare workers and students in Latin America was 37%, 34%, 33% and 45%, respectively. Conclusions: The high yet heterogenous level of prevalence of mental health symptoms emphasises the need for appropriate identification of psychological interventions in Latin America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Papeles de Europa is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid 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.)

Copyright of Cultura Latinoamericana is the property of Universidad Catolica de Colombia 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.)

Culture influences responses to psychological measurements in ways unrelated to target constructs, thus biasing test scores and potentially contributing to under- and over-diagnosis of mental health problems in populations for which measures have not yet been normed. We conducted a systematic review of publications addressing response style among Latinx population groups in North and South America. In a final corpus of 24 studies, Latinx/Latin American populations were generally found to exhibit higher levels of extreme response style ( n = 17), acquiescent response style ( n = 10), and socially desirable responding ( n = 5). The few publications ( n = 3) that investigated midpoint responding reported no differences. Seven publications (29%) attempted to adjust scores to mitigate response style bias, using both scale design and statistical techniques. Findings suggest that researchers and clinicians should directly assess culturally patterned response style as a construct, rather than inferring style indirectly using other measures. For clinicians, knowledge of response style represents another facet of case conceptualization., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Population‐based cancer registries (PBCRs) are the only means to provide reliable incidence and survival data as a basis for policy‐making and resource allocations within cancer care. Yet, less than 3% and 10% of the respective populations of Central America and South America are covered by high‐quality cancer registries. The Global Initiative for Cancer Registry Development provides support to improve this situation via the International Agency for Research on Cancer Regional Hub for Latin America. In this paper, we summarize activities (advocacy, technical assistance, training and research) over the last 5 years, their impact and current challenges, including the implementation of new PBCR in four countries in the region. Despite the favorable political support to cancer registration in many countries, the sustainability of cancer registration remains vulnerable. Renewed efforts are needed to improve data quality in Latin America while ensuring maximum visibility of the data collected by disseminating and promoting their use in cancer control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Educación Física y Ciencia is the property of Universidad Nacional de La Plata 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.)

Dolichomitus Smith, 1877 is a genus of Darwin wasps characterised by their large bodies and long ovipositors, that includes more than 75 species worldwide, 20 of which occur in the Neotropical Region. Due to recent efforts, the number of species of this genus continues to increase in South America. New information A new iridescent species of Pimplinae, Dolichomitus meii sp. nov., is described and illustrated. It was discovered from the biological station of Yanayacu located in the north-eastern slopes of the tropical Andes. It may be separated from all other species of Dolichomitus Smith by the striking colour pattern and apically strongly decurved ovipositor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The support of host country nationals (HCNs) is critical for expatriate adjustment and performance. Drawing from social identity theory and self-categorization theory, this study investigates the antecedents of HCNs' support toward expatriates in Central/South America, focusing on cultural similarities and expatriate race. Design/methodology/approach: We conducted a quasi-experimental study to understand the antecedents that promote the willingness of HCNs to offer required support to expatriates. Data were gathered from 117 Latin American participants, who were asked to respond to questions about their perceptions of expatriates from the USA and their willingness to offer support to those expatriates. Findings: Overall, our findings suggest that HCNs are likely to provide support to expatriates when they perceive the expatriates as similar in terms of culture and race. Specifically, African Americans received more positive attitudes and support than White Americans in South/Central America. The effect of cultural similarity on HCN willingness to support expatriates was mediated by perceived trustworthiness. Originality/value: The present study extends the research on HCN support to expatriates, to Central/South America, an important region that has been under-studied in the expatriate–HCN context. Another novel feature of our study is that we investigate the role of expatriate race and cultural similarity and illuminate the underlying mechanism of the relationship between expatriate race and HCN support. [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]

At the beginning of the twenty-first century, Brazil became a crucial player as the principal advocate of South American integration. To Mercado Común del Sur (Mercosur) was added the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), reaffirming regional policies around the idea of "South America." Today, however, the withdrawal of Brazilian leadership along with the reversals and loss of focus in UNASUR and Mercosur have damaged the credibility of the region's initiatives, as well as finding South America's common voice. Despite this, this article argues that Brazil has not entirely disengaged from the region or abandoned the principle of regionalism. Recognition of Latin America's distinctive history the authors to construct a model that incorporates complexity and disorder in which Brazil's institutional political development will have significant repercussions for the future of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histoplasmosis is the most frequent opportunistic infection and the first cause of mortality in HIV-infected patients in French Guiana and presumably in much of Latin America. Mucocutaneous lesions of histoplasmosis are considered as rare and late manifestations of the disease. It has been debated whether the greater proportion of cutaneo-mucous presentations in South America relative to the USA was the reflection of Histoplasma strains with increased dermotropism or simply delayed diagnosis and advanced immunosuppression. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical presentation, frequency, prognosis and temporal trends of cutaneomucous histoplasmosis in French Guiana. A retrospective study of patients with AIDS-related disseminated histoplasmosis followed in the three hospitals of French Guiana was performed between 1981 and 2014. Incident cases of histoplasmosis, proved by pathology and/or mycological examinations, were studied. Mucocutaneous histoplasmosis was confirmed by a positive cutaneous or mucosal biopsy. Mucocutaneous lesions were polymorphic. Ninety percent of patients were profoundly immunocompromised patients (CD4<50/mm3) and over 80% were not on antiretroviral treatment. The frequency of mucocutaneous forms and case fatality of disseminated histoplasmosis within one month of antifungal treatment significantly decreased over time (p<0,001). In this South American territory, diagnostic and therapeutic improvements have led to the quasi disappearance of cutaneous manifestations. There may be South American dermotropism in the laboratory but at the bedside early diagnosis seems to be the main parameter explaining the proportion of cutaneomucous presentations in South America relative to the USA. Author summary: Histoplasmosis is the most frequent opportunistic infection and the first cause of mortality in HIV-infected patients in French Guiana and presumably in much of Latin America. Mucocutaneous lesions of histoplasmosis are considered as rare and late manifestations of the disease. It has been debated whether the greater proportion of cutaneo-mucous presentations in South America relative to the USA was the reflection of Histoplasma strains with increased dermotropism or simply delayed diagnosis and advanced immunosuppression. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical presentation, frequency, prognosis and temporal trends of cutaneomucous histoplasmosis in French Guiana. A retrospective study of patients with AIDS-related disseminated histoplasmosis followed in the three hospitals of French Guiana was performed between 1981 and 2014. Incident cases of histoplasmosis, proved by pathology and/or mycological examinations, were studied. Mucocutaneous histoplasmosis was confirmed by a positive cutaneous or mucosal biopsy. Ninety percent of patients were profoundly immunocompromised patients (CD4<50/mm3) and over 80% were not on antiretroviral treatment. The frequency of mucocutaneous forms and case fatality of disseminated histoplasmosis within one month of antifungal treatment significantly decreased over time. Hence, in this South American territory, diagnostic and therapeutic improvements have led to the quasi-disappearance of cutaneous manifestations. There may be South American dermotropism in the laboratory but at the bedside early diagnosis seems to be the main parameter explaining the proportion of cutaneomucous presentations in South America relative to the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this research is to investigate the causal relationship between trade openness (TO) and life expectancy (LE) at birth in Latin American countries over the period of 1980–2014. Design/methodology/approach: The bootstrap panel Granger causality test proposed by Emirmahmutoglu and Kose (2011) was used to determine the direction of causality in the presence of cross-sectional dependency and heterogeneity among Latin American countries. Also, four different tests were employed in order to determine the cross-sectional dependency and slope homogeneity. The stationarity properties of variables were inspected by employing a unit root test. Findings: The findings indicated that Granger causality existed between TO and LE, at birth which was running from the former to the latter for panel. On a country basis, TO Granger caused LE at birth for countries with low level of economic development and higher taxes on income and profits. Practical implications: This study provides new insights for policymaking regarding the role of TO in achieving comprehensive economic reforms to increase LE at birth during a period of intense trade rivalry across nations. Originality/value: Although research in the literature has mainly focused on the impact of TO on LE at birth with panel data, most studies ignored the regional effects. It is the authors' concern that the direction of causality can be country-specific and have regional characteristics. In this regard, instead of dividing countries for a specific region into two parts such as developing and developed, the authors investigated the pattern of trade–health link for a specific region, Latin America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Participatory approaches to fisheries management are gaining increasing support from researchers, non-governmental organizations, and governments in Latin America, and different forms of participatory monitoring have been implemented over the last few decades. Among several advantages, these initiatives allow incorporation of fishers' knowledge on ecology, fishing practices, social aspects, markets, regulations, into different stages of management. In this paper, we analyze key features of participatory monitoring programs in small-scale coastal fisheries in South America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay) through a literature review complemented by expert opinion. Our review considered the fisheries and variables monitored; objectives, duration, institutional context of the monitoring programs; and factors that affect the extent of fishers' participation and the incorporation of fishers' knowledge. We found 14 case studies described in the literature, most of which correspond to benthic fisheries. Most cases focused on ecological and/or catch and effort variables; few initiatives included social variables. Initiatives were mainly driven by researchers in partnership with fishers and other stakeholders under formal or informal institutional arrangements. Institutional arrangements were largely responsible for the effectiveness of participation. In most cases, fishers' participation in monitoring was fostered as a component of a broader participatory co-management approach. Despite the challenges, participatory monitoring approaches are gaining traction in South America, receiving significant support from researchers in most cases, and from nongovernmental organizations in some cases. Increased governmental support for implementing and sustaining long-lasting participatory monitoring programs would strengthen monitoring initiatives that emerge locally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The impact of using GHI satellite estimates out of their recommended area is assessed. • GOES-East solar estimates outperform MSG based due to lower satellite viewing angles. • Cloudiness affect McClear's output as short-term atmosphere variability is modelled. • A region-representative assessment is done for Heliosat-4 and locally adjusted CIMs. • Satellite spatial smoothing gain is quantified in the region for hourly GHI estimates. CAMS provides global solar radiation estimates for clear-sky (McClear model) and all-sky (Heliosat-4 method) conditions, the latter based on MSG satellite information. A performance assessment of these estimates (with site-adaptation and spatial smoothing) is done, using hourly data from 10 sites in the Pampa Húmeda region of South America. Two locally adjusted Cloud Index Models (CIM) using GOES-East satellite information are also evaluated. One of them (CIM-ESRA) is based on the ESRA clear-sky model and the other (CIM-McClear) on the McClear clear-sky model. Under clear-sky conditions, the site-adapted McClear is found to perform best with a relative root mean square deviation (rRMSD) of 2.8%. However, in the presence of clouds in the real atmosphere, the model tends to provide lower clear-sky estimates than the ESRA model which, in our implementation, is only sensitive to average atmospheric trends. Under all-sky conditions, both CIMs show a small but consistent underestimation of - 1.1 % in the region and perform significantly better than the site-adapted Heliosat-4, with rRMSDs of 12.1 % (CIM-McClear), 12.5 % (CIM-ESRA) and 16.8 % (site-adapted Heliosat-4). This performance difference is not a statement about the relative quality of the models, since it can be explained by the difference in satellite view angle (significantly higher for the MSG satellite than for the GOES-East satellite). The performance downgrade due to using MSG satellite images out of their recommended area is quantified. Both CIMs, based on using GOES-East imagery, provide accurate solar irradiation estimates over this region and can be extended to other areas of Latin America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Limited data are available regarding contemporary multiple myeloma (MM) treatment practices in Latin America. In this retrospective cohort study, medical records were reviewed for a multinational cohort of 1103 Latin American MM patients (median age, 61 years) diagnosed in 2008–2015 who initiated first‐line therapy (LOT1). Of these patients, 33·9% underwent autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). During follow‐up, 501 (45·4%) and 129 (11·7%) patients initiated second‐ (LOT2) and third‐line therapy (LOT3), respectively. In the LOT1 setting, from 2008 to 2015, there was a decrease in the use of thalidomide‐based therapy, from 66·7% to 42·6%, and chemotherapy from, 20·2% to 5·9%, whereas use of bortezomib‐based therapy or bortezomib + thalidomide increased from 10·7% to 45·5%. Bortezomib‐based therapy and bortezomib + thalidomide were more commonly used in ASCT patients and in private clinics. In non‐ASCT and ASCT patients, median progression‐free survival (PFS) was 15·0 and 31·1 months following LOT1 and 10·9 and 9·5 months following LOT2, respectively. PFS was generally longer in patients treated with bortezomib‐based or thalidomide‐based therapy versus chemotherapy. These data shed light on recent trends in the management of MM in Latin America. Slower uptake of newer therapies in public clinics and poor PFS among patients with relapsed MM point to areas of unmet therapeutic need in Latin America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking as a point of departure an evaluation conducted for the International Labour Organization's Programme to Promote ILO Convention No. 169 (PRO 169) this article examines the strategic approaches of the ILO towards the promotion of indigenous peoples' rights. Through technical assistance to a wide range of stakeholders, PRO 169 sought to work at various levels to increase awareness, build capacity, and support policy initiatives within individual countries and geographic regions. This article describes a Spanish-funded project within PRO 169 that had specific focus in Latin America and in Southern Africa. We examine the specific dynamics in each of these regions, and the impact of the programme on the ground. This project ended abruptly when the Spanish government was unable to renew funding, and the entire PRO 169 programme was folded into the restructuring of the ILO a few years later. We argue that the technical support for the promotion of indigenous peoples' rights that the ILO has been providing is critical, and that it should receive core funding, and not be dependent upon external funding and vulnerable to economic and political vagaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coffee farmers are already experiencing the impacts of climate change, yet recommended resilience strategies are often cost-prohibitive for smallholder producers and/or maladapted to local conditions and contexts. We collaborated with smallholder coffee cooperatives in Latin America to assess the feasibility of climate change resilience strategies they selected: crop diversification; rainwater collection systems; pest monitoring and management; collective coffee seed banks and nurseries; and solar coffee dryers. Data was collected through key actor and cooperative leader semi-structured interviews and focus groups with cooperative members. Our results provide criteria that can be used to determine if these five resilience strategies are appropriate for given environmental, socioeconomic, and political contexts. They also demonstrate the need for tailoring resilience strategies to fit local conditions. The framework we applied serves to select appropriate, effective and equitable resilience strategies, combining a participatory action research approach to incorporate local knowledge, capital assets analysis for a holistic and realistic understanding of feasibility, and access analysis for an assessment of who will benefit and who will not. This framework can be applied to assess the feasibility of climate change resilience strategies with smallholders in a wide variety of geographies, contexts and agroecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) is a group of neuromuscular disorders of heterogeneous genetic etiology with more than 30 directly related genes. LGMD is characterized by progressive muscle weakness involving the shoulder and pelvic girdles. An important differential diagnosis among patients presenting with proximal muscle weakness (PMW) is late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD), a rare neuromuscular glycogen storage disorder, which often presents with early respiratory insufficiency in addition to PMW. Patients with PMW, with or without respiratory symptoms, were included in this study of Latin American patients to evaluate the profile of variants for the included genes related to LGMD recessive (R) and LOPD and the frequency of variants in each gene among this patient population.Results: Over 20 institutions across Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, and Chile) enrolled 2103 individuals during 2016 and 2017. Nine autosomal recessive LGMDs and Pompe disease were investigated in a 10-gene panel (ANO5, CAPN3, DYSF, FKRP, GAA, SGCA, SGCB, SGCD, SGCG, TCAP) based on reported disease frequency in Latin America. Sequencing was performed with Illumina's NextSeq500 and variants were classified according to ACMG guidelines; pathogenic and likely pathogenic were treated as one category (P) and variants of unknown significance (VUS) are described. Genetic variants were identified in 55.8% of patients, with 16% receiving a definitive molecular diagnosis; 39.8% had VUS. Nine patients were identified with Pompe disease.Conclusions: The results demonstrate the effectiveness of this targeted genetic panel and the importance of including Pompe disease in the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with PMW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]