America Research Articles

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 10 and Huntington disease-like 2 in Venezuela: Further evidence of two different ancestral founder effects.

The American continent populations have a wide genetic diversity, as a product of the admixture of three ethnic groups: Amerindian, European, and African Sub-Saharan. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 10 (SCA10) and Huntington disease-like 2 (HDL2) have very ancient ancestral origins but are restricted to two populations: Amerindian and African Sub-Saharan, respectively. This study aimed to investigate the genetic epidemiological features of these diseases in Venezuela. In-phase haplotypes with the expanded alleles were established in seven unrelated index cases diagnosed with SCA10 and in 11 unrelated index cases diagnosed with HDL2. The origins of remote ancestors were recorded. The geographic origin of the ancestors showed grouping in clusters. SCA10 had a minimal general prevalence of 1:256,174 families in the country, but within the identified geographic clusters, the prevalence ranged from 5 per 100,000 to 43 per 100,000 families. HDL2 had a general prevalence of 1:163,016 families, however, within the clusters, the prevalence ranged from 31 per 100,000 to 60 per 100,000 families. The locus-specific haplotype shared by all families worldwide, including the Venezuelans, supports a single old ancestral origin in each case. Knowing the genetic ancestry and geographic origins of patients in Ibero-American mixed populations could have significant diagnostic implications; thus, both diseases in Venezuela should always be first explored in patients with a suggestive phenotype and ancestors coming from the same known geographic clusters.

Prevalence of Chagas disease among Latin American immigrants in non-endemic countries: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundChagas disease (CD), endemic in 21 Latin American countries, has gradually spread beyond its traditional borders due to migratory movements and emerging as a global health concern. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of available data to establish updated prevalence estimates of CD in Latin American migrants residing in non-endemic countries. MethodsAa systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, and LILACS via Virtual Health Library (Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde - BVS), including references published until November 1st, 2023. Pooled prevalence estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using random effect models. Heterogeneity was assessed by the chi-square test and the I2 statistic. Subgroup analyses were performed to explore potential sources of heterogeneity among studies. The study was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42022354237). FindingsFrom a total of 1,474 articles screened, a total of 51 studies were included. Studies were conducted in eight non-endemic countries (most in Spain), between 2006 and 2023, and involving 82,369 screened individuals. The estimated pooled prevalence of CD in Latin American migrants living in non-endemic countries was 3.5% (95% CI: 2.5-4.7; I2: 97.7%), considering studies in which screening was indicated simply because the person was Latin American. Per subgroups, the pooled CD prevalence was 11.0% (95% CI: 7.7-15.5) in non-targeted screening (unselected population in reference centers) (27 studies); in blood donors (4 studies), the pooled prevalence was 0.8% (95% CI: 0.2-3.4); among people living with HIV Latin American immigrants (4 studies) 2.4% (95% CI: 1.4-4.3) and for Latin American pregnant and postpartum women (14 studies) 3.7% (95 CI: 2.4-5.6). The pooled proportion of congenital transmission was 4.4% (95% CI: 3.3-5.8). Regarding the participants’ country of origin, 7,964 were from Bolivia, of which 1,715 (21,5%) were diagnosed with CD, and 21,304 were from other Latin American countries of which 154 (0,72%) were affected. InterpretationCD poses a significant burden of disease in Latin American immigrants in non-endemic countries, suggesting that CD is no longer a problem limited to the American continent and must be considered as a global health challenge. FundingThis study was funded by the World Heart Federation, through a research collaboration with Novartis Pharma AG.

Natriuretic peptides, kidney function and clinical outcomes in heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction: pooled data from the I-PRESERVE, TOPCAT, PARAGON and DELIVER trials

Abstract Background The prognostic utility of N-terminal pro-B-type (NT-proBNP) in patients with heart failure and chronic kidney disease (CKD) is incompletely understood since elevations in NT-proBNP could be related either to decreased clearance by the kidney or to increased severity of structural heart disease. Purpose We sought to assess the association of NT-proBNP with cardiovascular and mortality outcomes in patients with heart failure and mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction, stratified by baseline kidney function. Methods We conducted a pooled analysis of individual participants with NT-proBNP and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) measured at baseline in the I-PRESERVE, TOPCAT (Americas region), PARAGON and DELIVER trials. We evaluated the relationship between NT-proBNP and kidney function using piecewise linear regression. Using multivariable Cox and Poisson regression models, we assessed the association of NT-proBNP with clinical outcomes across different levels of eGFR (≥60, 45-<60 and <45 mL/min/1.73m2). The primary outcome was hospitalisation for heart failure or cardiovascular death. Results Among 14,831 participants (mean age 72.1 years, 50.3% female, mean eGFR 63.3 mL/min/1.73m2 and median NT-proBNP 840 pg/mL) followed for a median 33.5 months, there were 3,092 primary outcomes, 2,184 heart failure hospitalisations, 1,465 cardiovascular and 1,049 non-cardiovascular deaths. Participants in lower eGFR categories were more likely to be older, female, and have atrial fibrillation and diabetes (all p<0.001). NT-proBNP levels increased by 9%, 8%, and 23% per 10 mL/min/1.73m2 lower eGFR in patients with baseline eGFR ≥60, 45-60, and <45 mL/min/1.73m2, respectively (P for non-linearity <0.001). For any given NT-proBNP concentration, participants with eGFR <45 mL/min/1.73m2 were at highest risk (Figure 1). Each doubling in NT-proBNP was associated with a 37% relative increase in the primary outcome (HR 1.37, 95% CI 1.34-1.41), consistent across different eGFR categories (P-interaction=0.42). Association between NT-proBNP and other clinical outcomes were also consistent across different levels of kidney function (all P-interaction>0.3; Figure 1). Equivalent risk for the primary outcome was apparent at NT-proBNP levels approximately 2.5- to 3.5-fold lower in patients eGFR <45 mL/min/1.73m2, compared to those with eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73m2. (Figure 2). Conclusion NTproBNP is a potent predictor of risk in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction across the spectrum of kidney function. However, in patients with reduced kidney function, lower NT-proBNP levels confer absolute risk of cardiovascular outcomes similar to substantially higher NT-proBNP levels in patients with normal kidney function. Accordingly, interpretation of NTproBNP levels should vary according to kidney function, particularly in those with eGFR <45 mL/min/1.73m2.

Self-reported health effects from wildfire smoke: A cross-sectional study in New York State

Abstract Background Wildfires and exposure to wildfire smoke (WFS) are forecasted to increase, in part driven by climate change. As witnessed in 2023, regions in Europe and North America are facing more sustained periods of poor air quality due to WFS. Growing evidence suggests average daily WFS correlates with morbidity and mortality, but the impact of prolonged WFS exposure remains understudied, especially in areas where WFS is a newer occurrence. We examine associations between consecutive days of WFS experienced and self-reported health symptoms in the northeastern United States. Methods This retrospective cross-sectional study explored New York State (NYS) residents’ experience with WFS in summer 2023 via an online survey. Participants reported the longest period of consecutive WFS days and symptoms experienced. Log-binomial regression models estimated prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results 553 NYS residents were included, representing a healthy, primarily female and White population, ranging from 18 to 86 years. 549 (99.3%) reported experiencing WFS, with the longest period of consecutive WFS days varying (≤3 days: n = 152; 4 to 6 days: n = 255; ≥7 days: n = 146). 490 (88.6%) reported ≥1 health symptom, with itchy/watery eyes, sore throat, and headache as the most frequent. Compared to ≤ 3 consecutive WFS days, symptom prevalence was 9.1% higher for those reporting 4 to 6 days (PR [95% CI]:1.09 [1.00, 1.19]) and 16.7% higher for ≥7 days (1.17 [1.07, 1.27]). The trend of increased symptom prevalence with longer WFS periods persisted and was pronounced for specific symptoms. Control for potential confounders did not appreciably change estimates. Conclusions Our findings suggest longer sustained WFS exposure associates with higher symptom prevalence, which may be precursors to more serious health conditions. As global populations face more WFS with climate change, public health professionals should prioritize strategies to mitigate prolonged exposure. Key messages • In a convenience sample of 553 primarily healthy New York State residents, 99.3% reported experiencing wildfire smoke and 88.6% reported at least 1 symptom of poor health during summer 2023. • Associations between consecutive days of wildfire smoke experienced and prevalence of any and specific symptoms tended to vary in a dose-response manner.

A Satellite-Based Indicator for Diagnosing Particulate Nitrate Sensitivity to Precursor Emissions: Application to East Asia, Europe, and North America.

Particulate nitrate is a major component of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and a key target for improving air quality. Its formation is varyingly sensitive to emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx ≡ NO + NO2), ammonia (NH3), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Diagnosing the dominant sensitivity is critical for effective pollution control. Here, we show that satellite observations of the NO2 column and the NH3/NO2 column ratio can effectively diagnose the dominant sensitivity regimes in polluted regions of East Asia, Europe, and North America, in different seasons, though with reduced performance in the summer. We demarcate the different sensitivity regimes using the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model and apply the method to satellite observations from the OMI (NO2) and IASI (NH3) in 2017. We find that the dominant sensitivity regimes vary across regions and remain largely consistent across seasons. Sensitivity to NH3 emissions dominates in the northern North China Plain (NCP), the Yangtze River Delta, South Korea, most of Europe, Los Angeles, and the eastern United States. Sensitivity to NOx emissions dominates in central China, the Po Valley in Italy, the central United States, and the Central Valley in California. Sensitivity to VOCs emissions dominates only in the southern NCP in the winter. These results agree well with those of previous local studies. Our satellite-based indicator provides a simple tool for air quality managers to choose emission control strategies for decreasing PM2.5 nitrate pollution.

Sexual harassment among higher education students: a worldwide review

Abstract Introduction Sexual harassment is an uprising problem in higher education systems worldwide with major impacts on students. The aim of this study was to describe and meta-analyze quantitative data on sexual harassment prevalence among higher education students. Methods We searched in seven databases and included studies published in English and French from 2000 until 2023 if they measured sexual harassment prevalence on students attending higher education, and they were quantitative cross-sectional studies. Prevalence estimates disaggregated by gender identity, and world region were meta-analyzed using a random-effects model and reported following PRISMA guidance. Results We identified 53 articles, from 6 different regions of the world, with highly variable sample sizes, ranging from 164 to 779,170. 45% of the samples were from the United States. 32% of studies used convenience or purposive sampling and 39% random sampling. The meta-analyzed prevalence of sexual harassment was globally 36.9% (95% CI [30.6, 43.6], 43.7% for women, 16.8% for men, 33.4% for non-binary. In additional, variations in prevalence were observed across the different world regions. In particular, the Eastern Mediterranean region presented the highest prevalence estimates for sexual harassment among women, reaching 67.5%, while the Americas region presented the highest prevalence estimates for sexual harassment among men, at 18.8%. Discussions Higher education institutions, especially in low- and middle-income countries, should commit to the conduct of surveys to monitor the prevalence of sexual harassment, and policymakers should allocate specific funds and resources to support the implementation of sexual harassment prevention and intervention initiatives in higher education, prioritizing the safety and well-being of students. Key messages • High prevalence of sexual harassment in higher education underscores urgent need for proactive measures to ensure student safety and well-being. • Policymakers should allocate specific funds and resources to support the implementation of SH prevention and intervention initiatives in higher education.

Probabilities of transitions among endogenous regimes in asset returns and Environmental, Social and Governance scores

AbstractAssets' returns can be efficiently clustered in regimes, that are suitably defined non‐overlapping intervals creating a partition of the real numbers. This paper explores the relationship between the transition probabilities from one regime to another in assets' returns and the assets' MSCI Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) scores. We apply the proposed methodology to the relevant empirical instance of the assets in the STOXX® Global 1800 Index. We consider three regimes—low, medium and high, on the basis of the variation range of the considered returns. Regimes are endogenous, in that their identification comes out from an entropy‐based optimization problem over the possible ranges of variation of the returns. We specifically investigate the possible linear relationship between transition probabilities among regimes and the ESG scores for different geographic regions, namely, America, Europe and Asia Pacific. The reference empirical period is the quadrennium 2018–2021. Results suggest that assets that are low ranked in ESG tend to remain in the low state of returns, if they are in the low state, while they tend to switch from higher to lower return states when the initial state is higher. On the other hand, assets that are highly ranked in the ESG dimensions, are likely to switch from a lower to a higher return state, when they are in a lower state or to remain in the same state when they are in a higher state. Results are more evident for America and Asia Pacific regions rather than Europe where regulation on ESG integration is at a more developed stage with respect to the other regions.

Evolution of the Arctic Strategy of the USA and its Influence on the Foreign Policy Strategy of Russia in the Arctic

"Arctic" is translated from Greek as "northern" or as "bear", which is often associated with Russia and its efforts to develop this region. This is a single physical and geographical region of the Earth adjacent to the North Pole and including the margins of the continents of Eurasia and North America, almost the entire Arctic Ocean with islands (except for the coastal islands of Norway), as well as adjacent parts of the Atlantic and Pacifi c Oceans. The southern border of the Arctic coincides with the northern border of the tundra zone. Now the actions of the United States and NATO in the Arctic region have acquired a clearly anti- Russian character, which was especially manifested in the latest edition of the Arctic Doctrine of the United States. NATO's expansion into the region continues, the scale of the alliance's military exercises conducted there is increasing, which actively involve non-Arctic member countries of the bloc, which does not exclude the emergence of an armed conflict with Russia in the Far North.

Teledentistry in the detection of oral potentially malignant disorders and oral cancer in the Latin American region: a review of literature with current possibilities

Teledentistry has emerged as a promising tool in bridging the gap in healthcare accessibility, particularly in regions like Latin America region, where resources for oral healthcare are often limited. Drawing upon a comprehensive review of literature, this overview assessed the applications and clinical outcomes of teledentistry in diagnosing oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) and oral cancer, highlighting the challenges and opportunities specific to the Latin American context. Moreover, it examined the integration of artificial intelligence algorithms and teledentistry for enhancing diagnostic accuracy, thereby optimizing resource allocation and improving patient outcomes. By elucidating the current landscape and future prospects, this overview provided insights for policymakers, healthcare providers, and researchers, fostering advancements in oral healthcare delivery with the aim of reducing the burden of OPMDs and oral cancer in the Latin American region.

Building Identities: Ancient Legacies and Modern Visions in Architecture of the Americas

Review of Antes de America: Fuentes originarias en la cultura moderna, an exhibition at the at Fundación Juan March, Madrid, Spain, 6 October 2023–10 March 2024, curated by Manuel Fontán del Junco, María Toledo Gutiérrez, and Rodrigo Gutiérrez Viñuales. This exhibition explored the artistic and architectural connections between Spain and the Americas, focusing on the reinterpretation of the forms and meanings of ancient Indigenous cultures of the American continent from the late 18th century to the early 20th century. It also highlighted the fascination with ‘the ancestral’, a paradigm that has significantly influenced the aesthetics of both the recent past and the present.

Organizational Contribution to E-business Adoption for SMEs in The World

The aim of this study is to identify the issues faced by SMEs all around the world in adopting ebusiness. This is a work of literature study with the classification based on technological,organizational, and environmental (TOE). The study collects 116 articles from various journal portals.The finding of this study is the factors that concerned the most in adopting e-business among theSMEs which are related to the organization. The organization has a contribution of 50% compared totechnology and the environment. Under the organization, human resource is a prominent key to beimproved if the SMEs want to adopt e-business well. This situation applies in the continents of AsiaAmerica, Europe, Australia, and Oceania. Only African SMEs concern more about managementrather than human resources. This study does not consider the interplay between the factors, however,the practical implication of this study is that the finding can be used as input for decision-makers whohave an interest in improving the performance of SMEs or raising the level of SMEs in their region,one of which is by increasing the adoption rate of e-business among SMEs. Further, there is anopportunity for future research in investigating the strength of the relationship in each factor to theadoption of e-business, or even in between factors. The contribution of this study is to providethorough synopsis regarding the factors that need to be considered by the SMEs if they want to adopte-business.

Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of the Sunda stink-badger (Mydaus javanensis) from the island of Borneo.

The Mephitidae is a family of skunks and stink-badgers that includes 12 extant species in four genera, namely, Mydaus, Conepatus, Mephitis and Spilogale. Mydaus is the only genus within Mephitidae found outside the American continent, with its distribution limited to the islands of Borneo, Indonesia and Philippines. There are two extant species of Mydaus i.e., javanensis and marchei. Currently, complete mitogenomes are unavailable for either species. Here, we present the characterization of the first complete mitogenome for the Sunda stink-badger (Mydaus javanensis) from the island of Borneo. Muscle tissue was obtained and the DNA was sequenced using a combination of Illumina Barcode Tagged Sequence (BTSeq) and Sanger sequencing techniques. The genome was annotated with MITOS and manually checked for accuracy. A circular map of the mitogenome was constructed with Proksee. Relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) and codon frequency were calculated using MEGA-X. The protein coding genes (PCGs) were aligned with reference sequences from GenBank and used for the construction of phylogenetic trees (maximum liklihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI)). Additionally, due to the lack of available complete genomes in public databases, we constructed another tree with the cyt b gene. The complete circular mitogenome was 16,391 base pairs in length. It comprises the typical 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, two ribosomal RNA genes, one control region (CR) and an L-strand replication origin (OL). The G+C content was 38.1% with a clear bias towards A and T nucleotides. Of the 13 PGCs, only ND6 was positioned in the reverse direction, along with five other tRNAs. Five PCGs had incomplete stop codons and rely on post-transcriptional polyadenylation (TAA) for termination. Based on the codon count, Leucine was the most common amino acid (589), followed by Threonine (332) and Isoleucine (325). The ML and BI phylogenetic trees, based on concatenated PCGs and the cyt b gene, respectively, correctly clustered the species with other members of the Mephitidae family but were unique enough to set it apart from Conepatus, Mephitis and Spilogale. The results confirm Mydaus as a member of the mephitids and the mitogenome will be useful for evolutionary analysis and conservation of the species.

Revealing the Genetic Differentiation of Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout 1769) Populations by Analyzing Two Mitochondrial Markers

Rattus norvegicus (Brown rat) has a great importance for public health and economy because it lives in close association with human populations. However, molecular systematic studies on global populations of R. norvegicus are very few. In this study, sequences obtained from Europe, Asia, Africa, and America regions were analyzed using mitochondrial Cytochrome-b and Cytochrome oxidase-I gene regions and genetic differentiation levels between these populations were revealed. Accordingly, samples belonging to the studied populations did not split in Bayesian Inference trees and Median-joining networks; these samples also formed common haplotypes, and mean genetic distance and fixation index values were generally low. The results of the study showed that gene flow between these populations may be continuing due to the transportation activity by humans.

Scorpion Envenoming as an Emerging Public Health Problem in Paraguay, Bolivia, and Midwest Brazil: Involvement of Tityus confluens and the Need for a Panregional Evaluation of Available Antivenoms.

This contribution highlights the emergence of a newly endemic region for scorpion envenoming in South America, covering eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, and the midwestern Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. These areas have not historically been known to harbor life-threatening scorpion species. Tityus confluens, a parthenogenetic species of medical significance in Argentina, has been identified in severe and lethal human cases in Bolivia and Paraguay. Given that the clinical use of scorpion antivenom preparations in the region has often lacked preclinical data and considering the significant burden of scorpion envenoming, we propose a panregional evaluation of available anti-Tityus antivenoms. This evaluation, along with interdisciplinary efforts at a multinational scale to control scorpionism, aims to determine their true neutralization capacity and potential clinical efficacy against known culprits in the Southern Cone of South America and other regions endemic for scorpion envenoming on the continent.

IDENTITY CONFUSION IN DOROTHY WEST’S THE LIVING IS EASY

Literature is a media for conveying the authors’ ideas and feelings to the payers, or it is a mean of relief for them to bare their souls. In this context, literature involves an enormous place in human life. In this regard, African American literature has an important place in American literature and culture. It is also one of the strongest pillars of the literature produced by black writers in the United States of America. African American literature goes and continues in the course of history as oral literature from generation to generation. Since African Americans’ place changes gradually in the USA- due to racism in particular- their viewpoint of literature changes, too. African American history predates the foundation of the United States of America as an independent country, so their literature has deep roots, consisting of rich oral culture in poetry, including gospel music, blues, rap, and spirituals along with written poetry, and slave narrations. Although African Americans come from slave ancestors, they have been able to leave a deep effect on the literature of the United States when they are brought to the continent of America. African American literature is mainly based on autobiographical spiritual narratives, and before the American Civil War African Americans’ literature consists of memoirs of people who escape from slavery. So, African American literature has witnessed the problem of racial discrimination in its existential aspect. But in the progress of time, black writers go deep into verbal literature and perform their own experiences. Dorothy West, in her novel Living is Easy criticizes the blacks who mimes the whites. When we scrutinize, it is possible to penetrate that the writer wants to reflect her own experiences via narration and criticizes her own past. Writing is a kind of purgation for West since she writes about herself. In this study, we aim to point out the impulses that foster Dorothy West’s narration from a Freudian point of view.

Źródła i rola idei uprawnień naturalnych w „Pamflecie bostońskim”

For many centuries, the idea of natural rights has been one of the most important philosophical and legal concepts. Its importance results not only from the importance of the postulates but also, and perhaps above all, because it played a role in the course of changes taking place in modern times. The Boston Pamphlet is one of the first documents issued on the American continent in which revolutionary theses, in particular regarding relations with Great Britain, were formulated in the language of natural rights. The purpose of the article is to analyze the idea of the inalienable rights of the individual, which was expressed in this document. It was indicated that the revolutionary postulates of the authors of the document found as justification and intellectual foundation in a specific vision of inalienable individual rights (and more precisely in the vision proposed by John Locke). The analysis was preceded by a reference to the so-called English liberties, which allowed to place the Pamphlet and the idea of natural rights in a broader context. Attention was also drawn to the fact that although the concept of the inalienable rights of the individual was visible in earlier writings, it was brought to the fore only on the eve of the revolution. The analysis of the concept expressed in the document required the disclosure of those aspects of Locke’s doctrine that played a key role or were even transferred entirely to the content of the document.

Non-communicable diseases in the world over the past century: a secondary data analysis.

We analyzed the changes in the top 10 non-communicable diseases (NCDs) over the past century across the World Health Organization (WHO) regions. The data were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) studies. After we accessed this source, all NCDs were sorted according to their prevalence in 2019, and the 10 most common NCDs were selected. Then, the incidence, prevalence, and mortality rates of these 10 NCDs were compared to the rates in 2000. Diabetes and kidney disease had the highest increase in incidence (49.4%) and prevalence (28%) in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Substance use disorders had a huge increase (138%) in the mortality rates among women in the Americas region. On the other hand, women in Southeast Asia experienced the greatest decrease in incidence (-19.8%), prevalence (-15.8%), and mortality rates (-66%). In recent years, nearly all NCDs have shown an increase, yet mortality rates have declined across all regions. Lifestyle can be a major cause of this increase, but advancements in health and medical services, such as screening and treatment, have played a crucial role in improving survival rates.

Links between deforestation, conservation areas and conservation funding in major deforestation regions of South America

Abstract Land‐use change is a major driver of biodiversity loss, affecting tropical forests and savannas at an unprecedented rate. To protect these ecosystems and their biodiversity, national conservation areas and international conservation funding have increased considerably in these regions. Understanding of how conservation funding allocation relates to dynamics in deforestation and conservation areas is crucial to identifying what mobilizes and distributes conservation funding. By applying fixed‐effect models on 30 years of dynamics in forest cover, conservation areas and conservation funding in the main deforestation regions of South America, we analysed the conservation funding allocation strategies in relation to deforestation (proactive vs. reactive), conservation areas (expanding or consolidating) and previous investment (agglomerating or not). We also assessed whether allocation strategies vary across regions and the stages of deforestation and conservation. We found that funding allocation followed conservation areas and higher prior funding levels over space and over time, across all regions and deforestation stages. This highlights the important role of recognized conservation areas (including protected areas and Indigenous territories) in mobilizing financial support for conservation. The allocation strategies relating to forest dynamics, however, varied depending on the scale of analysis, whether we look at the temporal or spatial dimension, and in which regions we assessed the allocation patterns. Capturing region‐level biases and within‐region dynamics is crucial for more effective and equitable conservation. As public and private actors commit to mobilizing more conservation funding and conserving more areas of the Earth, our insights on the relations between forest change and conservation efforts can help improve the allocation of conservation areas and conservation funding. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Impunity in cases of serious human rights violations: three relevant aspects of contention in the jurisprudence of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights

ABSTRACT The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) is a pioneer in international human rights law in developing jurisprudence against impunity. Since the 1970s, the American continent has been prone to political and policymaking processes to ensure impunity for those responsible for serious human rights violations. This impunity has aimed at, among others, enforcing amnesty and self-amnesty laws or implementing procedural institutions (such as the ne bis in idem principle) that intend to prevent the investigation and punishment of those responsible for serious human rights violations. The paper examines the jurisprudence of the IACtHR to determine some fundamental lines of argument that seek to combat impunity in cases of serious human rights violations. To this end, it emphasizes the particularities of the duty to investigate established by the IACtHR, the development of jus cogens in relation to these serious situations, and the scope of reparations. From a comparative perspective, it also highlights the need for other international Courts, such as the European Court of Human Rights, to assume these jurisprudential approaches to combat impunity in cases of serious violations.

Infectious Diseases Ethics: A Worldwide Survey

ObjectivesCOVID-19 unravelled new ethical issues in the neglected field of infectious diseases ethics (IDE). We investigated IDE involvement among ID professionals. MethodsA global survey was disseminated during 2021-2022. Responses were stratified by demographics, WHO region, income, and ethics training. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to identify two themes representing IDE relevant areas (Theme 1, including stigma, inequity, vulnerability, public health, and global impact) and emerging topics (Theme 2, including inequity and research integrity in COVID-19, increased ethics interest, and gaps in IDE). Quantile and logistic regression analyses investigated determinants of ethics themes and responders’ ethics attitude. ResultsWe included 477 participants from 71 countries. Most were females (282/460, 61%) and clinicians (327/457, 72%). Participants advocated further personal (289/443, 65%) or societies’ (374/450, 83%) involvement in bioethics. Only 5% (22/477) of respondents claimed to have received enough bioethics training and 28% (114/412) were dissatisfied with it. Dedicated courses or expert case discussion were the preferred ways for receiving education in bioethics. Theme 1 and 2 median values were above 7 (on a 1-10 scale), showing high interest in IDE. CFA showed optimal and acceptable fit, respectively. Being from the region of Americas was associated with Theme 1, while having received bioethics training was associated with both themes. Females, respondents trained in bioethics, and those from the Americas and Europe regions reported lower involvement in bioethics activities, while those aged between 44-54 years and trained in bioethics were more involved. Age above 55 years and non-clinical role were negatively associated with aspiration for further bioethics involvement. ConclusionsWe identified IDE themes that can inform on gaps in bioethics. Ethics training was associated with interest in IDE and bioethics activities and should be offered to integrate this discipline into daily clinical practice across age, gender, and different areas worldwide.