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Purpose: The use of economic sanctions has grown dramatically in recent decades. Nevertheless, many arguments are presented in the public policy space regarding their effects on target populations. The author presents the first systematic analysis of the effects of sanctions on living conditions in target countries. Design/methodology/approach: This paper provides a comprehensive survey and assessment of the literature on the effects of economic sanctions on living standards in target countries. The author identifies 31 studies that apply quantitative econometric or calibration methods to cross-country and national data to assess the impact of economic sanctions on indicators of human and economic development. The author provides in-depth discussions of three sanctions episodes—Iran, Afghanistan and Venezuela—that illustrate the channels through which sanctions affect living conditions in target countries. Findings: Of the 31 studies, 30 find that sanctions have negative effects on outcomes ranging from per capita income to poverty, inequality, mortality and human rights. The author provides new results showing that 54 countries—27% of all countries and 29% of the world economy— are sanctioned today, up from only 4% of countries in the 1960s. In the three cases discussed, sanctions that restricted the access of governments to foreign exchange limited the ability of states to provide essential public goods and services and generated substantial negative spillovers on private sector and nongovernmental actors. Originality/value: This is the first literature survey that systematically assesses the quantitative evidence on the effect of sanctions on living conditions in target countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lord Salisbury, according to the historiography, was notoriously sceptical of international arbitration. Yet, at the end of the nineteenth century, Salisbury's last government entered into an arbitration agreement with Venezuela in relation to its border dispute with British Guiana and a general arbitration agreement with the US. It then took the lead in establishing a permament court of international arbitration at the fist Hague Peace Conference in 1899. This article explains why that change in Salisbury's outlook occurred, how Salisbury developed a distinctively Conservative approach to arbitration in international relations and how the British contribution to the development of an institutional international rule of law at the end of the nineteenth century was as much a Conservative moment as a liberal one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hard ticks of the genus Ixodes are one of the most diverse groups in the Neotropical region, but some species are known only from historical records. In Colombia and Venezuela, Ixodes montoyanus is known from records obtained more than 50 years ago. In this study, we performed morphological and molecular evaluations of immature and adult stages of I. montoyanus collected from Pudu (Pudella) mephistophiles, in the municipality of Puracé, Cauca, in the Andean region of Colombia. The results include the first morphological evaluations of larvae, nymphs, females and males of I. montoyanus, confirming each of these stages with their respective sequences of a fragment of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene, and nymphs and females with a fragment of the mitochondrial cox1 gene. These results represent the first molecular information of I. montoyanus from Colombia, allowing differentiation of this species from others within Ixodes distributed in the country. The data generated consolidate valuable information for the genus Ixodes, which plays an important role in pathogen transmission. The information is also key to addressing the controversy regarding the identification, validity and distribution of various species within the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between 1837–1863, the government on the Dutch colony of Curacao registered the escape attempts from all enslaved persons on the island. By combining the structured information of the 'register of runaway slaves' with other sources, it becomes clear that running away during slavery was a multi-faceted phenomenon. The 1,613 registered escape attempts included not only escapees, trying to flee the island, but also a majority of truants who fled temporarily but stayed on the island. Escapees were mostly young men, who normally worked in groups and had to prepare their attempts well, in order to have a chance to escape the island. An analysis of the profiles of truants show that they were a wide range of persons, from pregnant women to elderly people, fleeing alone or in groups. All these people not only needed an opportunity to flee, but also a place to go to. Together, they created a 'maroon landscape', a mental map of opportunities available to enslaved people. Their mental landscape did include locations, people and circumstances on Curacao, but also the sea surrounding it. Moreover, seasonal effects like harvest time and changes abroad altered the 'maroon landscape' continuously and lead to an adjustment of behavior, which is most obvious after the abolition of slavery in nearby Venezuela in 1854. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Forcibly displaced adolescents face increased risks for mental illness and distress, with adolescent girls disproportionately affected in part due to heightened gender inequity. Although the family unit has the potential to promote healthy development in adolescents, few family interventions have employed a gender transformative approach or included male siblings to maximize benefits for adolescent girls. Methods: This study will assess a whole-family and gender transformative intervention-Sibling Support for Adolescent Girls in Emergencies (SSAGE)-to prevent mental health disorders among adolescent girls in Colombia who were recently and forcibly displaced from Venezuela. The study will employ a hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation pilot randomized control trial (RCT) to test the program's effectiveness to explore determinants of implementation to establish the feasibility, acceptability, and fidelity of SSAGE. To address these aims, we will enroll 180 recently arrived, forcibly displaced adolescent girls in an RCT and examine the program's effectiveness in the prevention of mental illness (through reduction in anxiety, depression, interpersonal sensitivity, and somatization symptoms) one-month post-intervention. We will use contextually adapted to collect data on the hypothesized mechanistic pathways, including family attachment, gender-equitable family functioning, self-esteem, and coping strategies. The implementation evaluation will employ mixed methods to assess the program's feasibility, acceptability, fidelity, and barriers and facilitators to successful implementation. Discussion: Findings can support humanitarian program implementation, as well as inform policy to support adolescent girls' mental health and to prevent the myriad disorders that can arise as a result of exposure to displacement, conflict, and inequitable gender norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infanticide and adoption have been attributed to sexual selection, where an individual later reproduces with the parent whose offspring it killed or adopted. While sexually selected infanticide is well known, evidence for sexually selected adoption is anecdotal. We report on both behaviors at 346 nests over 27 y in green-rumped parrotlets (Forpus passerinus) in Venezuela. Parrotlets are monogamous with long-term pair bonds, exhibit a strongly male-biased adult sex ratio, and nest in cavities that are in short supply, creating intense competition for nest sites and mates. Infanticide attacks occurred at 256 nests in two distinct contexts: 1) Attacks were primarily committed by nonbreeding pairs (69%) attempting to evict parents from the cavity. Infanticide attacks per nest were positively correlated with population size and evicting pairs never adopted abandoned offspring. Competition for limited nest sites was a primary cause of eviction-driven infanticide, and 2) attacks occurred less frequently at nests where one mate died (31%), was perpetrated primarily by stepparents of both sexes, and was independent of population size. Thus, within a single species and mating system, infanticide occurred in multiple contexts due to multiple drivers. Nevertheless, 48% of stepparents of both sexes adopted offspring, and another 23% of stepfathers exhibited both infanticide and long-term care. Stepfathers were often young males who subsequently nested with widows, reaching earlier ages of first breeding than competitors and demonstrating sexually selected adoption. Adoption and infanticide conferred similar fitness benefits to stepfathers and appeared to be equivalent strategies driven by limited breeding opportunities, male-biased sex ratios, and long-term monogamy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Unusual clinical course. Background: Histoplasma capsulatum is a spore-forming fungal organism found in soil that is considered endemic in Venezuela. Histoplasmosis has 3 different clinical presentations that primarily affect immunocompromised individuals. A type of injectable dermal cosmetic treatment uses platelet-rich plasma (PRP). This report is of a 35-year-old immunocompetent Venezuelan woman with primary cutaneous histoplasmosis (PCH) following cosmetic injection of PRP. Case Report: This report presents a rare case of PCH following a cosmetic procedure of PRP injection in a 35-year-old immunocompetent patient, who was initially treated with self-administered antibiotics. During her first appointment, an atypical mycobacterial infection was suspected, and empirical antibiotic therapy targeting these pathogens was initiated. Complementary tests were conducted, ruling out immunosuppression and systemic infections. After 1 month of treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, the lesions had completely resolved. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of PCH with intracytoplasmic inclusions of Histoplasma. In this case, the patient had no evident risk factors for PCH, and it is suspected that the infection was likely introduced during the PRP procedure due to inadequate hygiene measures. Conclusions: This case demonstrates that PCH can arise in immunocompetent patients, emphasizing the need to include histoplasmosis as a diagnostic option, particularly in endemic locations. Direct inoculation of Histoplasma might occur following aesthetic procedures that do not follow basic hygiene precautions. Finally, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole can be considered an alternate therapy option, and additional research into this strategy may benefit patients with similar clinical circumstances or when optimal treatment options are unavailable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyses of the migrations from Morocco in the second half of the twentieth century tend to view them as part of a larger pattern of South-to-North postcolonial circular migration, while Jewish Moroccan migration is deemed an exceptional national phenomenon, unrelated to the study of these global developments. Yet, Jewish migration from northern Morocco to Venezuela was characterised and influenced by a number of sub-regional, ethno-religious, linguistic, and even racial peculiarities, whose analyses may broaden our perspective on the global dynamics of Moroccan postcolonial migration: for example, the status of northern Morocco and Venezuela as a hub for Spanish settlers, Venezuela's post-1945 open-door policy toward European immigration, and the Judeo-Spanish backgrounds of immigrants from Morocco. In the absence of bilateral migration agreements between Morocco and Venezuela, examining Moroccan Jewish migration to the latter can also shed light on the prominent role of informal networks in shaping global migration from North Africa, and explain why Muslim Moroccans did not immigrate to Venezuela even as many were migrating elsewhere. A focus on grassroots histories of this sort may help advance the scholarship beyond the narratives of mass minority departure, labour migration, and integration that usually treat Morocco and other countries of emigration as homogeneous national units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dwarf caiman species of the genus Paleosuchus (Paleosuchus palpebrosus and Paleosuchus trigonatus) are old, widespread crocodilian lineages with populations affected by habitat modification. For both species, phylogeographical studies revealing crucial information have already been performed, but for important ecoregions, such as the Orinoco, knowledge is lacking. In this study, the phylogenetic identity of individuals of Paleosuchus spp. from the Orinoco basin of Colombia and Venezuela was evaluated. The genetic structure of the two species of Paleosuchus was also determined and their genetic diversity quantified. The results show a marked genetic structuring in both species, also indicating that the populations of P. trigonatus and P. palpebrosus of the Orinoco basin are well differentiated from those of other hydrographic basins. For Colombia, it was possible to infer that there are two independent management units for both species (Orinoco and Amazonas) and that the populations of the Orinoco basin present high genetic and haplotypic diversity. In Venezuela, only one management unit was identified for each species. This finding, together with the results of previous studies, show that, in total, there are at least five management units for P. palpebrosus and six for P. trigonatus , throughout their distribution areas. It is necessary to take this information into account when establishing conservation strategies for these species, although it is stressed that the geographical sampling must be improved in future phylogeographical studies, because information gaps persist at the geographical level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In March 2022, human remains were discovered submerged 15 metres underwater, near Cubagua Island, Venezuela. The remains were intricately entangled and secured to the seafloor. The investigation was conducted by the Servicio Nacional de Medicina y Ciencias Forenses (SENAMECF) of Venezuela, and it involved an underwater recovery operation, followed by a comprehensive examination. The medicolegal, anthropological, odontological, and taphonomical analyses alongside diatom test were conducted to ascertain the identity of the remains, determine the cause of death, and estimate the post-mortem interval (PMI)/post-mortem submersion interval (PMSI). Collaborative efforts with international experts on adipocere and barnacle analyses allowed for the refinement of the enhanced the precision of information provided in plea announcements, which facilitated the identification of the subject. Forensic analyses on incomplete and highly decomposed human remains present inherent complexities, which are exacerbated in underwater environments. Compounded by the limited experience and expertise in aquatic forensics among law enforcement agencies worldwide, the present case exemplifies a successful professional collaboration that surmounted a diverse array of challenges. This case underscores the critical importance of knowledge-sharing within the continuously evolving field of forensic science, serves as an illustrative example, and provides guidelines for the investigation of similar cases in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In March 2022, human remains were discovered submerged 15 metres underwater, near Cubagua Island, Venezuela. The remains were intricately entangled and secured to the seafloor. The investigation was conducted by the Servicio Nacional de Medicina y Ciencias Forenses (SENAMECF) of Venezuela, and it involved an underwater recovery operation, followed by a comprehensive examination. The medicolegal, anthropological, odontological, and taphonomical analyses alongside diatom test were conducted to ascertain the identity of the remains, determine the cause of death, and estimate the post-mortem interval (PMI)/post-mortem submersion interval (PMSI). Collaborative efforts with international experts on adipocere and barnacle analyses allowed for the refinement of the enhanced the precision of information provided in plea announcements, which facilitated the identification of the subject. Forensic analyses on incomplete and highly decomposed human remains present inherent complexities, which are exacerbated in underwater environments. Compounded by the limited experience and expertise in aquatic forensics among law enforcement agencies worldwide, the present case exemplifies a successful professional collaboration that surmounted a diverse array of challenges. This case underscores the critical importance of knowledge-sharing within the continuously evolving field of forensic science, serves as an illustrative example, and provides guidelines for the investigation of similar cases in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While there has been scholarly attention to the politics of the third wave of regionalism in South America, this typically focuses on the performance of the Executive Branch rather than the domestic constraints. This article innovatively compares the behaviour of Mercosurian parliaments to understand their role in regional integration. It contributes to Foreign Policy Analysis, by drawing on Qualitative Comparative Analysis to systematically identify the configurations of conditions for rapid approval of enlargement treaties and investigate the impact of national parliaments. Nine cases are analysed related to the episodes of enlargement of Mercosur to empirically test the political conditions to achieve fast approval of treaties. The key finding is that domestic support (channelled in national parliaments) is important to confirm and conduct international projects – and specifically regional integration. This has implications for understanding the possibilities for how future accessions to Mercosur and other regional organisations will take place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postcards, as ‘travelling communication devices’, have been identified as excellent tools for their ability to collapse ‘the field’ in a new, visually experiential way. Though often presented as a (post)colonial medium that has exoticized ‘the other’, they may also be able to give snapshots of diverse biographies otherwise silenced, and can therefore be utilised as a form of collaborative ethnography. This paper analyses postcards sent from Venezuelans living in Bogota during the pandemic. It will suggest that when migrants express lived‐experience via postcards, the coloniality of the medium is challenged and reimagined as collaborative ethnography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many tropical species show declining populations. The pantropical order Trogoniformes has 76% of its species ranked as declining, reflecting a worldwide problem. Here, we report on the reproductive ecology and life history traits of the declining and near‐threatened old world Whitehead's Trogon (Harpactes whiteheadi), the declining new world Collared Trogon (Trogon collaris), and the stable Masked Trogon (T. personatus). We also reviewed the literature on reproductive ecology and life history traits of trogons to assess possible commonalities that might help explain population declines. We found that the declining Whitehead's and Collared Trogons had reasonable nest success (32% and 25%, respectively), while the stable Masked Trogon had poor reproductive success (9%), all contrary to population trends. However, the limited literature data suggested that poor reproductive success may be common among trogons, which may contribute to population declines. Parents fed young at a low rate and had long on‐bouts for incubation and nestling warming that reduced activity at the nest, as favored by high nest predation risk over evolutionary time. We found that young fledged from the nest with poorly developed wings, as also favored by high nest predation risk. Evolved nestling periods among trogon species suggests that poor wing development is likely common. Wing development has been shown to affect juvenile survival after leaving the nest. The poor wing development may be an important contributor to population declines that deserves more attention. Evolved life history traits are important to recognize as creating population vulnerabilities in a changing world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The last decade saw the emergence of a new significant migration corridor due to the mass migration of Venezuelans to neighboring countries in South America. Since 2018, Brazil became the third host country of Venezuelan displaced populations. Little is known about how migratory processes affect needs, access to social programs, and public health services of migrant women. The goal of this study is to shed light on the socio-economic profile, living conditions, and use of health services of Venezuelan migrant women in two main reception cities in Brazil. Methods: A survey was conducted using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) in the cities of Boa Vista (Roraima), and Manaus (Amazonas). The study included 2012 Venezuelan migrant women aged between 15 and 49 years old who migrated from Venezuela to Brazil between 2018 and 2021. Relative prevalence was calculated, and the χ2 test was used to analyse the homogeneity of proportions. All analyses considered the complex sampling. Results: The main reasons for migrating relate to difficulties obtaining food (54%) and accessing health services (37.8%) in their country of origin. They were young and mixed race (65.7%) and had high school education (69.9%). In Manaus, 3.7% of the interviewees declared that they had no family income in the last month, while in Boa Vista, it was higher (66.2%) (p-value < 0.001). Almost one-third of them sought health care in the last 15 days, and 95% of them received care. The residents of Boa Vista arrived more recently and family income and access to paid work improved with time of residence in Brazil. Conclusions: Given the increasing flow of Venezuelan migrants crossing to Brazil, a reception system was established for the provision of food, shelter, access to health services, and income transfer programs to migrants. This was the case despite high unemployment and poverty levels and income inequality, particularly in the city of Boa Vista. However, the majority had legal migrant status and had access to the public and universal healthcare system in Brazil (SUS). The use of the SUS was similar in both cities, acting as a buffer for the differences in opportunities offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to analyze the execution of the National Surgical Plan in Venezuela, taking the Human Rights Approach as a conceptual framework. In order to achieve this objective, documents emanating from the national government, experts on the subject, multilateral agencies of the United Nations and national and international non-governmental organizations were examined. The documentary review carried out shows that the National Surgical Plan, in force since 2017, has focused on quantitative criteria such as the number of patients operated on and not on substantive aspects that guarantee the health and dignity of vulnerable people who require this service and avoid risks unnecessary. The lack of information about the criteria that were used to schedule the surgeries and the resources used; as well as the absence of clear mechanisms for both monitoring and control and citizen participation in decisionmaking, transparency and accountability are indicative elements of a failure to comply with international preaching about the need for health policies and programs whose center is dignity. of the human person. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To exist in relation to the State, it becomes necessary to be "counted," that is, to be part of the official statistics that underpin political and public action and control. In the case of individuals injured by firearms, not only are data not published, but there are no official statistics that reveal the number, context, and situation of gunshot victims, rendering these individuals invisible victims of a State that does not recognize them as citizens or victims, nor does it take responsibility for the failures in its function of monopolistic control over violence and the firearms that cause it. For this reason, the absence of statistics on individuals injured by firearms in Venezuela is addressed, highlighting the invisibility and neglect of these victims by the State. Hospital records were collected from three healthcare centers in Caracas, subsequently converted into statistical data to describe and bring visibility to the issue of individuals injured by bullets in this city. The analysis of the data reveals the lack of access to information, potential abuses by security forces, and the masculinization of armed violence. It is concluded by emphasizing the need to recognize these individuals as victims, demand their inclusion in public policies, and improve the conditions of care. Finally, the importance of having accurate statistics to effectively address armed violence and its consequences in Venezuelan society is underscored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El articulo analiza la obra teatral de José Ignacio Cabrujas, destacando cuatro obras que exploran la fe, la desilusión y la catarsis en situaciones y personajes venezolanos. Examina cómo sus experiencias personales influyeron en su visión artística, especialmente en la relación entre sus creencias católicas y comunistas.

El articulo discute un evento conmemorativo realizado en 2023 por el IESA y la AVE en Venezuela. también se enfoca un seminario celebrado en 1963 en Maracay, donde líderes empresariales, gubernamentales y sociales debatieron sobre el papel social de las empresas. Otros teams relacionados son la evolución de la responsabilidad social empresarial y la necesidad actual de que los gerentes venezolanos.

Many tropical species show declining populations. The pantropical order Trogoniformes has 76% of its species ranked as declining, reflecting a worldwide problem. Here, we report on the reproductive ecology and life history traits of the declining and near‐threatened old world Whitehead's Trogon (Harpactes whiteheadi), the declining new world Collared Trogon (Trogon collaris), and the stable Masked Trogon (T. personatus). We also reviewed the literature on reproductive ecology and life history traits of trogons to assess possible commonalities that might help explain population declines. We found that the declining Whitehead's and Collared Trogons had reasonable nest success (32% and 25%, respectively), while the stable Masked Trogon had poor reproductive success (9%), all contrary to population trends. However, the limited literature data suggested that poor reproductive success may be common among trogons, which may contribute to population declines. Parents fed young at a low rate and had long on‐bouts for incubation and nestling warming that reduced activity at the nest, as favored by high nest predation risk over evolutionary time. We found that young fledged from the nest with poorly developed wings, as also favored by high nest predation risk. Evolved nestling periods among trogon species suggests that poor wing development is likely common. Wing development has been shown to affect juvenile survival after leaving the nest. The poor wing development may be an important contributor to population declines that deserves more attention. Evolved life history traits are important to recognize as creating population vulnerabilities in a changing world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifactorial autoimmune disease that may affect the oral mucosa. The variable spectrum of oral lesions observed in SLE can pose challenges in diagnosis, particularly when the lesions occur in isolation. The aim of this study was to describe the oral lesions occurring in patients with SLE from Latin America. Methods: This collaborative record-based study involving 11 oral and maxillofacial pathology and medicine services across Venezuela, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Mexico describes the clinicopathological profile of SLE-related oral lesions. Results: Seventy patients with SLE and oral lesions were included in the study. The majority were females (75.7%; female/male ratio: 3.1:1) and white (62.1%), with a mean age of 38.4 years (range: 11–77 years). The most common site of oral lesions was the hard/soft palate (32.0%). Clinically, oral lesions predominantly presented as ulcers (26.6%), erosions (26.6%), and white lesions (23.4%). Isolated oral lesions occurred in 65.2% of individuals, while cutaneous manifestations occurred in 80.3%. The main clinical diagnostic hypothesis in 71.4% of cases was an immune-mediated disease. Oral biopsies followed by histopathological analysis were performed in 50 cases. Conclusion: Oral lesions of SLE exhibit a variety of clinical and histopathological features. A key point in diagnosis is that unusual oral changes without an obvious local cause may indicate a possible systemic condition presenting with oral lesions. A multidisciplinary approach, which includes regular oral examination, is warranted to identify oral lesions and provide treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work of Rufino Blanco Fombona (1874–1944) and Rómulo Gallegos (1884–1969) is generally understood as reinforcing the then-common Venezuelan representation of race as biological and binary – as separable into either "white" or "non-white", with the latter category including all mixed-race people who made up 60% of Venezuela's total population at the time. These authors' narratives attempt to reinforce these binaries by racially classifying Jewish immigrants at the beginning of the twentieth century – by understanding where they fit within this racial taxonomy. Instead, as I show, these attempts destabilise the categories themselves, leaning first on biological determinism, and then on cultural and ethnic profiling. To make this argument, I analyze Blanco Fombona's Judas Capitolino (1912) contextualised by his writings on race outside of his fiction, alongside Gallegos's short-story "Los inmigrantes" (1922). These works take biologically deterministic positions on race in their caricatures of Jews and mixed-race individuals, demonstrating the inability of Jewish immigration to whiten what Gallegos denotes as the"raza autóctona", the Venezuelan mixed-race individual that he believes to be barbaric and impure. Without the correct shade of whiteness to lighten Venezuela's mixed-race majority, the "raza autóctona" will take over positions of power, becoming a ruling "barbarocracia", threatening the white order and dooming Venezuela's (white) future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Von Willebrand disease is the most common inherited bleeding disorder • The spectrum of novel mutations found mirrors the multi-ethnicity in Venezuela. • Our work emphasizes the importance of VWF multimer and genetic analysis for the appropriate classification of VWD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathogen Paracoccidioides lutzii (Pb01) is found in South America countries Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and Brazil, especially in the central, west, and north regions of the latter. It belongs to the Ajellomycetaceae family, Onygenales order, and is typically thermodimorphic, presenting yeast cells when it grows in animal tissues, but mycelia when in the environment, where it produces the infectious propagule. This fungus is one of the etiologic agents of Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), the most important endemic fungal infection in Latin America. Investigations on its genome have contributed to a better understanding about its metabolism and revealed the complexity of several metabolic glycolytic pathways. Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase from Paracoccidioides lutzii (Pl GAPDH) is considered a moonlighting protein and participates in several biological processes of this pathogen. The enzyme was expressed and purified, as seen in SDS-PAGE gel, crystallized and had its three dimensional structure (3D) determined in complex with NAD+, a sulphate ion and d -galactonic acid, therefore, a type of 'GAA site'. It is the first GAPDH structure to show this chemical type in this site and how this protein can bind an acid derived from oxidation of a linear hexose. [Display omitted] • A new ligand (d -Galactonic Acid) in complex with GAPDH. • First observation of an aldonic sugar acid (GAA) or a hexose derived acid in complex with GAPDH. • Unique hydrophilic stretch (HSSSNN) holds potential for targeted inhibitor design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four-dimensional COAMPS Dynamic Initialization (FCDI) analyses that include high-temporal- and high-spatial-resolution GOES-16 Atmospheric Motion Vector (AMV) datasets are utilized to understand and predict why pre-Bonnie (2022), designated as a Potential Tropical Cyclone (PTC 2), did not undergo rapid intensification (RI) while passing along the coast of Venezuela during late June 2022. A tropical cyclone lifecycle-prediction model based on the ECMWF ensemble indicated that no RI should be expected for the trifurcation southern cluster of tracks along the coast, similar to PTC 2, but would likely occur for two other track clusters farther offshore. Displaying the GOES-16 mesodomain AMVs in 50 mb layers illustrates the outflow burst domes associated with the PTC 2 circulation well. The FCDI analyses forced by thousands of AMVs every 15 min document the 13,910 m wind-mass field responses and the subsequent 540 m wind field adjustments in the PTC 2 circulation. The long-lasting outflow burst domes on both 28 June and 29 June were mainly to the north of PTC 2, and the 13,910 m FCDI analyses document conditions over the PTC 2 which were not favorable for an RI event. The 540 m FCDI analyses demonstrated that the intensity was likely less than 35 kt because of the PTC 2 interactions with land. The FCDI analyses and two model forecasts initialized from the FCDI analyses document how the PTC 2 moved offshore to become Tropical Storm Bonnie; however, they reveal another cyclonic circulation farther west along the Venezuelan coast that has some of the characteristics of a Caribbean False Alarm event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Neotropical deer genus Mazama is characterized by homoplastic morphological characters, a high karyotypic diversity, and a polyphyletic condition. The species of the genus have been recovered into two multigeneric lineages, the subtribes Odocoileina and Blastocerina, of the tribe Odocoileini (New World deer) in the family Cervidae. Within the Blastocerina, gray brockets include two non-sister species, Subulo gouazoubira, occurring south of the Amazon region, and Passalites nemorivagus, occurring in the Guianas and in the Amazon region. We clarify the taxonomic status and phylogenetic position of Mazama americana citus Osgood, 1912 (referred to as either S. gouazoubira or P. nemorivagus by other authors). We collected a topotype of M. a. citus from the eastern shore of Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela, characterize it morphologically and cytogenetically (conventional banding and fluorescence in situ hybridization), and carry out a phylogenetic analysis of its whole mitogenome and Cytb alongside two additional specimens of M. a. citus from northwestern Venezuela. Our analyses reveal the topotype to be a large gray brocket with a cinnamon band above the eyes and 2n = 61 and FN = 70 karyotype. Using cattle whole chromosome painting and bacterial artificial chromosome X probes, we determined its karyotype to differ in at least 10 rearrangements from that of S. gouazoubira. Bayesian inference recovers M. a. citus within the Blastocerina subtribe, separated phylogenetically from other gray brockets (100% branch value), revealing the Osgood's gray brocket to be a valid species that should be assigned to a new genus. We propose the generic name Bisbalus, with Bisbalus citus (Osgood, 1912) as the type species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What explains elevated hostility toward immigrants? We identify two concerns that affect support for immigration: labor market competition and social proximity between immigrants and natives. Relying on a conjoint experiment embedded in an original face-to-face survey, we explore these dynamics in one of the largest migratory flows of the last decade: the Venezuelan exodus to Colombia. We find that respondents primarily reject lower-skill migrants. While ethnic proximity does not mitigate xenophobic attitudes in our context, familial ties and personal contact do. These findings confirm the relevance of pocketbook considerations in guiding attitudes toward foreigners but challenge the common assumption of positive in-group bias among co-ethnics. Moreover, we affirm the relevance of individual and familial proximity as key contributing factors to attenuating xenophobia in response to immigration in the Global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the end of the second decade of the 21st century, Latin American migration to Spain showed a new quantitative increase in flows of such magnitude that we can speak of the existence of a second migratory boom. In contrast to what happened with the first migration boom at the beginning of the century, when pull factors dominated (mainly due to the expansion of the Spanish labour market), after the economic crisis of 2008 push factors played a more important role. Three processes leading to large-scale emigration are identified in Latin America: high levels of political instability in many Latin American countries such as Venezuela; growing insecurity, especially—but not only—in Central American countries, where it also coincides with increasing difficulties in entering the USA; and the effect of neoliberal policies, with growing tensions in many countries, as would be the case of Argentine migrants. COVID-19 has slowed down these flows and has led to increased numbers of returnees although the previous migratory intensities began to recover at the end of 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Matthew Wilde, A blessing and a curse: Oil, politics, and morality in Venezuela. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2023. Mariya Ivancheva, The alternative university: Lessons from Bolivarian Venezuela. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To analyze the self-rated health (SRH) of migrants born in Venezuela using the Survey of Recent Immigration (LAMP-ENIR 2021). Materials and methods. The survey collected information of migrants in three cities in Colombia-Cúcuta, Barranquilla and Santa Martha-, San José Costa Rica and Santiago de Chile. We analyze (1) if the SRH varies by city and the changes before and after the international move; and (2) the association between the SRH and the sociodemographic profile, the type of occupation and the education of migrants. We estimated ordinal and logistic models to identify the factors related to the SRH and changes before and after the migration. Results. We found significative differences in the SRH by sex, occupation and among cities; in addition, women, those out of the labor force and those who reported pre-existing diseases have a higher probability of expressing a deterioration in their health after the migration occurred. Conclusions. Disadvantages are emphasized in the SRH regarding the type of employment of migrants, but not regarding education. The differences between host countries may be associated with particularities in migration management, integration policies and access to health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the balsamic contents, total phenolic contents, flavoneflavonol contents, and flavanones-dihydroflavonols contents, and antimicrobial effects of seven geopropolis samples produced by four neotropical stingless bee species: Venezuelan Melipona favosa, and Bolivian M. grandis, Scaptotrigona depilis, S. polysticta. The balsamic content value was found highest in the sample of S. polysticta (sample 7) collected from Bolivia, highest total phenolic content in M. favosa geopropolis (sample 1) from Venezuela, highest flavone-flavonol content in M. favosa geopropolis (sample 2) collected from Venezuela and highest flavones-dihydroflavonols content in S. polystica (sample 7) from Bolivia. As a result, except for balsamic content values, other investigated values were lower compare to the previous researches about different stingless bee species geopropolis. This is proved that climatic conditions, bee species and collecting area affected the chemical content of geopropolis significantly. The antimicrobial findings indicated that the examined geopropolis extracts displayed different degrees of inhibition against the growth of Gram-positive bacteria and fungi, which correlated with their phenolic contents. Nevertheless, these extracts did not demonstrate a comprehensive inhibitory effect on Gram-negative bacteria. Standardized geopropolis samples, rich in phenolic content, can complement antibiotics naturally for preventing and treating infections from Gram-positive bacteria and Candida albicans. However, further studies are still needed regarding the clinical applications of geopropolis in various infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the first recorded live-stranding of an Antarctic Minke Whale (AMW) in the Caribbean Sea, providing details on the identification process and morphological characteristics.Topics include the migration patterns of AMWs, diagnostic characteristics for identification, and potential causes for their presence in non-native regions.

This study unveils the causal effect of authoritative violence on individuals’ likelihood to migrate. Specifically, we examine the migration patterns of Venezuelans during the 2017–2018 political and economic crisis. We draw insights from regional-level data on civilian casualties caused by security forces, along with information extracted from the ENCOVI-2018 survey data that captures migration flows. The estimates rely on travel time from the capital city as an instrumental variable and are robust to the inclusion of several household- and socio-economic regional-level characteristics. The findings strongly suggest that authoritative violence is a significant non-economic push factor for international migration. Moreover, additional evidence indicates that this type of violence influences the skill composition of migrants, especially in the context of South-to-South migration flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Venezuelan refugee crisis has triggered Latin America's largest mass migration, displacing over a fifth of the country's population. A significant number of migrants have sought refuge in neighboring countries like Peru. Within this context, Venezuelan migrants confront an array of vulnerabilities, including xenophobia and economic hardship, which have compelled some to sex work for their livelihoods. Venezuelan sex workers (VSWs) in Peru face amplified challenges, including heightened risks for HIV and sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) and exposure to various forms of violence. Addressing the urgent need to comprehend and enhance HIV and STBBI preventive services tailored to this marginalized group in Peru's capital is paramount. Our biobehavioural HIV prevention study combines sequential mixed methods: we start with a rapid ethnography, followed by semi-structured interviews and finally incorporate cross-sectional surveys with HIV and STBBI testing. The present study protocol presents the integrated and initial rapid ethnographic component of the study which explores the dynamics of street-based sex work in Lima and the sociocultural narratives surrounding VSWs. Data collection will involve systematic fieldnote taking including non-person photos during in-person and virtual participant observation. This comprehensive approach will provide a nuanced understanding of the complex landscape of sex work and HIV/STBBI vulnerabilities among VSWs in Lima. The rapid ethnography endeavors to offer valuable insights that can underpin evidence-based healthcare interventions, specifically tailored to cater to the unique requirements of this marginalized population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The book "Venezuela - Dimensions of a Crisis: A Perspective on Democratic Backsliding" edited by Miguel Angel Latouche, Wolfgang Muno, and Alexandra Gericke provides a multidimensional analysis of the crisis in Venezuela. The book is divided into three sections, covering theoretical perspectives, domestic factors, and international interactions. It explores the rise of Chavismo and the decline of liberal democracy in Venezuela, examining ideological factors, the role of political parties, and the impact on public administration and the military. The book also discusses the international dimension of the crisis, including the positions of the European Union and the United States, as well as the relationship with neighboring Colombia. While the book does not extensively explore the role of China and Russia, it offers valuable insights into the limits of democracy in Venezuela. [Extracted from the article]

This article examines the biography of adolescents who emigrated from Venezuela with family members due to economic hardship. It aims to highlight how a common crisis produces a variety of experiences, but that resilience is a central aspect of all life courses. It analyzes the stages of the adolescents' migratory trajectory: their departure, journey, and settlement in Peru. The results show that the crisis homogenises the living conditions and produces a heterogeneity of migration experiences in which resilience is ever-present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with the conflict between Venezuela and Guyana in the Essequibo border region. This long-standing dispute could escalate due to the new Latin America strategy of the USA, which includes a military deterrence strategy against the growing influence of China and Russia. Brazil has strengthened its armed forces at the borders with Venezuela and Guyana. The conflict revolves around the Essequibo territory, which is rich in oil and natural resources and affects various international treaties on border settlement between Venezuela and Guyana. There have been attempts at a settlement, but the conflict has further intensified with threats and military actions from both sides. There is hope for a peaceful solution through dialogue and negotiations. The conflict has a geostrategic dimension between the USA and Latin America and has global significance in the context of the new West-South/East conflict. [Extracted from the article]

It cannot be assumed that the experience of having an autistic child is the same across countries since demographic and systemic factors are as diverse as the manifestation of ASD symptomatology. This study explores the lived experiences of 20 Venezuelan parents after receiving an autism diagnosis for their child. Applied thematic analysis was used to analyze parental attitudes, challenges in identifying their child's delay, access to diagnostic services, beliefs towards autism, professional evaluations, family support, and perceptions toward health and educational services for autistic children. Venezuelan parents reported a generalized lack of autism awareness, an unsupportive school system, and judgment from their extended family. Despite the universal health coverage in the country, Venezuelan parents commented on the scarcity of services, as well as the lengthy and costly processes to receive an ASD diagnosis. The results support previous research findings showing that socioeconomic factors influence how parents experience the process of obtaining an autism diagnosis for their children. For most Venezuelan parents, it might imply a long journey in which limited resources and knowledge about autism will determine its route and length. For parents, cultural values and spiritual and religious beliefs will serve as both coping mechanisms and barriers to accessing services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are major global public health issues. Migrants represent a vulnerable group that faces multiple barriers to access to healthcare services, including HIV/STI testing. This study aimed to assess the factors associated with access to HIV/STI testing in male and female Venezuelan migrants in Peru. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving secondary data analysis of the 2022 Venezuelan Population Residing in Peru Survey. The study was conducted in the eight most populated cities inhabited by Venezuelan migrants and refugees. For each city, the sampling design was probabilistic, stratified, and independent. The outcome variable was whether participants had access to HIV or other STI testing during their stay in Peru. Statistical analysis was stratified by sex owing to potential effect modification. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios were calculated using generalized linear models Poisson family with log link function. Confidence intervals were calculated to 95%. Results: A total of 3,723 male and 3,984 female migrants were included. Access to HIV/STI testing among male and female migrants was 19.85% and 25.16%, respectively. Among male migrants, being LGBTI, health insured, and married or cohabiting were associated with increased access to HIV/STI testing. Among females, those aged 18–44 years, those who were married or cohabiting and were health insured, and those residing for more than 1 year in Peru were significantly more likely to have access to HIV/STI testing. Moreover, physical/mental disability and unemployed status were associated with a lower probability of HIV/STI testing in females. Conclusions: Only two in ten Venezuelan migrants and refugees in Peru were screened for HIV/STI, with fewer males than females. Sex-specific sociodemographic, health-related, and migration-related variables were independently associated with access to HIV/STI testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted multiple health services, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing, care, and treatment services, jeopardizing the achievement of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS 90-90-90 global target. While there are limited studies assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Latin America, there are none, to our knowledge, in Venezuela. This study aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among PLHIV seen at the outpatient clinic of a reference hospital in Venezuela. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among PLHIV aged 18 years and over seen at the Infectious Diseases Department of the University Hospital of Caracas, Venezuela between March 2021 and February 2022. Results: A total of 238 PLHIV were included in the study. The median age was 43 (IQR 31–55) years, and the majority were male (68.9%). Most patients (88.2%, n = 210) came for routine check-ups, while 28 (11.3%) were newly diagnosed. The majority of patients (96.1%) were on antiretroviral therapy (ART), but only 67.8% had a viral load test, with almost all (95.6%) being undetectable. Among those who attended regular appointments, 11.9% reported missing at least one medical consultation, and 3.3% reported an interruption in their ART refill. More than half of the patients (55.5%) had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while the rest expressed hesitancy to get vaccinated. Most patients with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy were male (65.1%), younger than 44 years (57.5%), employed (47.2%), and had been diagnosed with HIV for less than one year (33%). However, no statistically significant differences were found between vaccinated patients and those with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Older age was a risk factor for missing consultations, while not having an alcoholic habit was identified as a protective factor against missing consultations. Conclusion: This study found that the COVID-19 pandemic had a limited impact on adherence to medical consultations and interruptions in ART among PLHIV seen at the University Hospital of Caracas, Venezuela. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El articulo discute sobre la creación y éxito de PDVSA, la industria petrolera venezolana y sus raíces en el período de Antonio Guzmán Blanco (1870-1899). El articulo también se centra en las audaces medidas para atraer inversión extranjera y conceder oportunidades de negocios, el modelo económico desarrollado por Antonio Guzmán Blanco para el desarrollo petrolero y el posterior auge petrolero impulsado por empresas extranjeras como la Shell, culminando en la formación de PDVSA en 1976.

El artículo discute el fenómeno del retorno de migrantes venezolanos que huyeron debido a la crisis en su país. Examina si este retorno es significativo, quiénes están regresando y en qué condiciones. Aunque el número exacto es incierto, se estima que alrededor de 300,000 venezolanos han regresado desde 2020 debido a la vulnerabilidad y dificultades en los países de acogida.

El artículo analiza la migración venezolana en América Latina, destacando su sostenibilidad económica y contribuciones fiscales positivas en países como Perú, Ecuador, República Dominicana y Panamá. La crisis política y económica en Venezuela, condiciones de vulnerabilidad, agravadas por la pandemia de COVID-19 y la integración socioeconómica de los migrantes enfrenta obstáculos, como la dificultad para validar títulos profesionales y el acceso limitado a servicios de salud.

Money supply adapts to the demand of credit and has a crucial impact in determining production levels. However, at the same time, under certain conditions the issuance of money may also boost inflation. In this article, with the help of Shaikh's 'classical theory', we explain the main reasons for the recent hyperinflation experienced in Venezuela. On the supply side, we analyze the context of loss of competitiveness due to the overvaluation of the national currency. On the other hand, we explore how the credit to the oil company (PDVSA) has led to an exponential growth in aggregate demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article has the purpose of establishing, describing, and analyzing the religious ideology of Venezuela following the theoretical assumptions of Bloom (2009), who proposes a religious criticism to understand such social issues and show that, in this country, there are six religious groups based on Christianity. and how textually and explicitly they differ from each other. For its part, for the analysis, the Theory of Action proposed by Argyris and Schön (1974) was used to establish the common aspects and similarities shared by the six religious groups selected for the present investigation. The results show that there are ten common beliefs among all these religions, so the Christian Religion in Venezuela has defined itself through publications that promote what they believe, statutes, and precepts having God as the only magnanimous and regent deity, Jesus of Nazareth as a connection of humans with God as well as being an incarnation of divine perfection in the world and that actively practicing religion in public allows keeping faithful believers as pristine as they are focused, who will receive everlasting rewards for their obedience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this essay is to describe the (non)observance of state obligations regarding the legal security of housing awarded through the Great Housing Mission Venezuela (GHVV). The review is carried out from the human rights-based approach (HRBA) because it places people as rights holders and the State as the main bearer of obligations. The analysis highlights the existence of a regulation, of varying relevance, that is supposed to be aimed at protecting the human right to adequate housing, especially for low-income families, which coexists with situations that represent risks to the effective realization of its purposes, such as limitations on the ownership of real estate and complaints of forced evictions and discrimination based on political affiliation or nationality [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Looking at the recent cases of security force defection in Belarus and Venezuela, this paper develops a theory of security force "confidence" to supplement the existing literature on security force defection. Security forces' confidence (or lack thereof) in the regime, other security forces, the opposition, and their future prospects in a transition help to explain why security forces in both countries have stayed cohesive and loyal to the regime during crisis. Our research found little data to support some of the other arguments that are popularly used to explain these cases, namely external support, differences in protester tactics, and counterbalancing by the regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the legal framework of national virtual currencies and so-called Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) from a comparative law perspective. The authors define the meaning of the terms “means of payment” and “legal tender” and determine the legal consequences of classifying certain means of payment as legal tender. Building on this, the authors present new developments in the field of sovereign virtual currencies and shed light on their evolution through a comparative legal analysis of various national virtual currencies. In this context, the authors present developments in various African countries, Venezuela’s initiative to introduce the first state-backed crypto token, the first CBDC pilot projects in Uruguay and China, and considerations to introduce a CBDC in the EU. Based on the analyzed systems, problems regarding privacy, user protection and effective regulation of transactions are highlighted in order to present the legal challenges for the establishment of a fully functional (supra-)national euro CBDC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines how the Venezuelan diaspora has been portrayed in the media during the Colombian presidential election of 2022 and how it has influenced voters' preferences there. It examines presidential debates and conversations on X (formerly Twitter), as well as traditional legacy media and digital natives' media material. The authors used a population‐based sample of 17,372 articles on the 2022 elections to analyse data from a stratified sample. Our findings point to a potential socio‐political turning point away from the social imaginary that had been equating Venezuelan realities with leftist ideologies in Colombia and other parts of Latin America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Venezuela, Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) have declined mainly due to habitat loss and degradation, but other threats to the species persist. The objective of this work was to investigate the manatee distribution and conservation issues in Maracaibo Lake, Venezuela. Aiming to collect evidence on manatee presence, we conducted 404.14 hours of boat-based surveys and observations from the shore during 2003, 2004, 2009, and 2010. Environmental parameters were collected in areas where manatees were observed including pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, transparency, and depth. Also, we recorded plants or algae that could serve as potential food for manatees. We developed 96 informal and opportunistic talks with local fishermen, to gather information about manatee occurrence, boat traffic, and people’s perception of the species. Finally, we reviewed published and unpublished documents containing information on manatees in Maracaibo Lake. The resulting database contains information on 39 sightings and 13 reports of dead manatees. The known causes of death were poaching, vandalism, boat collision, and entanglement in fishing nets. The Maracaibo Lake offers many suitable habitats for manatees, but also faces a wide array of conservation problems that represent critical threats to this endangered subspecies. Long-term monitoring of this population and potential sources of mortality is highly needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]