Latin Research Articles

Philippine industrial policy? Why not?

Recent changes in trade policies in developed countries are sparking new interest in industrial policy programs. Among developing countries, failures against expected outcomes of structural adjustment programs in Latin America and Africa versus the perceived development successes of East Asia generate lessons about how different configurations of industrial policy can be more effective. This overview paper presents a definition of industrial policy and surveys the arguments for and against industrial policy. In the Philippine context, the consideration of industrial policy is a contravention of the state project since the 1980s to rely on an open trade regime as a key pillar of a development strategy. In the last decade, however, numerous legislative initiatives have sprung up to support industrial policy interventions. The papers in this volume represent updated thinking about industrial policy challenges and opportunities as they apply to the Philippine situation

Can Powerful Dictators Escape ‘The Market as Prison’? The Case of Pension Privatisation in Pinochet's Chile

Abstract The central role of economic elites in shaping public policy in Latin America has become increasingly clear. Yet most of the recent literature on the subject focuses on democratic contexts. This paper analyses pension privatisation in Chile as a case study for improving our understanding of business–state interaction in authoritarian contexts. Globally, the 1981 pension reform carried out during the Pinochet dictatorship became an example for pension privatisation elsewhere. Analysis of the policy-making process, based on novel empirical material, shows that from 1973 financial groups accumulated growing power which enabled them to first (a) defeat their opponents within the economic elite, (b) overpower their rivals within the state and, finally, (c) force Pinochet into passing pension privatisation legislation. Our results stress the need to include the study of different actors’ power resources – along with ideological issues and the regime structure – in attempts to understand the outcome of policy processes in authoritarian contexts.

Governance and Currency Crises in Latin America Post-Nineties: A Machine Learning Approach

Governance and Currency Crises in Latin America Post-Nineties: A Machine Learning Approach

Podcasts impact on the listening skill development in a private school in a Latin American country

Podcasts are digital tools, which consist in audio files that can be downloaded from any technological devices connected to internet. There is some research that support the use of this tool in the processo of EFL classes, but there is a research gap in the field in our country. For this reason, this research analyzed the effectiveness of the use of podcasts as a didactic tool to improve the listening comprehension skill in English in eighth grade students. A population of 72 students was evaluated through a pre-test and post-test. This is a quasi-experimental design with quantitative data. Satistical analyses were used to measure the impact of the intervention. The Mass Whitney test was applied due to the lack of normality in the data. The results of the Mann Whitney U test revealed a significant difference in the development of the skill after the implementation. Likewise, the paired t-test results demonstrated a relevant variation in the English listening comprehension skills before and after the implementation of the podcast, with a p value less than the significance level of 0.05. The research findings suggest that the use of podcasts as a teaching tool is effective in improving listening comprehension skills. The results open the door for implications aimed at the use of podcasts in English classes to help students reach proficiency in the language.

Consensus for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in primary care: resolving myths and legends based on evidence

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a disease that significantly impacts the quality of life of patients. Although there are multiple evidence-based guidelines, they are usually aimed at providing recommendations to AD specialists rather than primary care physicians (PCPs). The aim of this study was to construct a consensus document for PCPs, with the aim of presenting evidence-based recommendations that allow general practitioners, family physicians, pediatricians, internists and emergency physicians to provide appropriate care to AD patients, facilitating their diagnosis, management, and avoiding delays that can deteriorate patients' f quality of life. As a central source of information, we used the recommendations of different international AD guidelines. Delegates from distinct medical societies identify barriers to care and possible solutions for the application of recommendations in primary care. Subsequently, a second evaluation for physicians from different Latin American countries was carried out. The main doubts and barriers that PCPs face in applying the recommendations proposed by the guidelines were identified across different areas, diagnostic criteria, non-pharmacological therapies, pharmacological therapies, management in special conditions and guidelines for referral to a specialist. Consensus solutions were proposed for each identified issue. In conclusion, this consensus contains recommendations regarding the management and treatment of AD in children and adults, which clarify doubts and provide tools to primary care physicians to offer effective treatment for patients and their families.

Anticoagulants for the Control of the Common Vampire Bat (Desmodus rotundus).

In Latin America, there is a high incidence of vampire bat-transmitted rabies in cattle causing increased mortality of livestock, which heavily impacts the agricultural sector. Anticoagulants-based control methods for the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) have been employed continuously since the 1970s with various methods of application, presentations, doses and active ingredients. Studies from half a century ago still serve as a reference for the current use of anticoagulants for bat-borne rabies control in Latin America. The objective of this study was to structurally and bibliometrically review literature on the use of anticoagulants for the control of D. rotundus as a means of rabies control. Scientific literature on the use of anticoagulant products for D. rotundus control was obtained, reviewed and analysed. Articles were retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science databases. Research articles from 1971 to 2021 in Spanish, English and Portuguese were included in the review. Results were visualised using RStudio, Bibliometrix and VOSviewer. The body of literature indicates effectiveness of up to 100% in the use of anticoagulants to induce bat mortality. The effectiveness of anticoagulants for rabies control, however, remains uncertain. No evidence was found to support or refute the use of anticoagulants for rabies control. Instead, literature suggests that disturbing bat colonies increases rabies prevalence. This finding suggests that anticoagulants may have the opposite intended effect on rabies control and highlights the importance of further research on the practical methods for bat-borne rabies prevention. Field experimental studies that include control groups over areas and periods that account for D. rotundus ecology are needed to determine the effectiveness of anticoagulants for rabies control in livestock. In conclusion, the use of anticoagulants for rabies control is questionable.

Exploring Trends and Variability of Water Quality over Lake Titicaca Using Global Remote Sensing Products

Understanding the current water quality dynamics is necessary to ensure that ecological and sociocultural services are provided to the population and the natural environment. Water quality monitoring of lakes is usually performed with in situ measurements; however, these are costly, time consuming, laborious, and can have limited spatial coverage. Nowadays, remote sensing offers an alternative source of data to be used in water quality monitoring; by applying appropriate algorithms to satellite imagery, it is possible to retrieve water quality parameters. The use of global remote sensing water quality products increased in the last decade, and there are a multitude of products available from various databases. However, in Latin America, studies on the inter-comparison of the applicability of these products for water quality monitoring is rather scarce. Therefore, in this study, global remote sensing products estimating various water quality parameters were explored on Lake Titicaca and compared with each other and sources of data. Two products, the Copernicus Global Land Service (CGLS) and the European Space Agency Lakes Climate Change Initiative (ESA-CCI), were evaluated through a comparison with in situ measurements and with each other for analysis of the spatiotemporal variability of lake surface water temperature (LSWT), turbidity, and chlorophyll-a. The results of this study showed that the two products had limited accuracy when compared to in situ data; however, remarkable performance was observed in terms of exhibiting spatiotemporal variability of the WQ parameters. The ESA-CCI LSWT product performed better than the CGLS product in estimating LSWT, while the two products were on par with each other in terms of demonstrating the spatiotemporal patterns of the WQ parameters. Overall, these two global remote sensing water quality products can be used to monitor Lake Titicaca, currently with limited accuracy, but they can be improved with precise pixel identification, accurate optical water type definition, and better algorithms for atmospheric correction and retrieval. This highlights the need for the improvement of global WQ products to fit local conditions and make the products more useful for decision-making at the appropriate scale.

Evaluation instruments for public health policies for elderly care: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionThe global phenomenon of population ageing is expanding rapidly, with WHO projecting that the number of individuals aged 60 and over will reach 2.1 billion by 2050, a significant rise...

MET Exon 14 Skipping and Novel Actionable Variants: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Implications in Latin American Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients.

Targeted therapy indications for actionable variants in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have primarily been studied in Caucasian populations, with limited data on Latin American patients. This study utilized a 52-genes next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel to analyze 1560 tumor biopsies from NSCLC patients in Chile, Brazil, and Peru. The RNA sequencing reads and DNA coverage were correlated to improve the detection of the actionable MET exon 14 skipping variant (METex14). The pathogenicity of MET variants of uncertain significance (VUSs) was assessed using bioinformatic methods, based on their predicted driver potential. The effects of the predicted drivers VUS T992I and H1094Y on c-MET signaling activation, proliferation, and migration were evaluated in HEK293T, BEAS-2B, and H1993 cell lines. Subsequently, c-Met inhibitors were tested in 2D and 3D cell cultures, and drug affinity was determined using 3D structure simulations. The prevalence of MET variants in the South American cohort was 8%, and RNA-based diagnosis detected 27% more cases of METex14 than DNA-based methods. Notably, 20% of METex14 cases with RNA reads below the detection threshold were confirmed using DNA analysis. The novel actionable T992I and H1094Y variants induced proliferation and migration through c-Met/Akt signaling. Both variants showed sensitivity to crizotinib and savolitinib, but the H1094Y variant exhibited reduced sensitivity to capmatinib. These findings highlight the importance of RNA-based METex14 diagnosis and reveal the drug sensitivity profiles of novel actionable MET variants from an understudied patient population.

House Mice in the Atlantic Region: Genetic Signals of Their Human Transport.

The colonization history of house mice reflects the maritime history of humans that passively transported them worldwide. We investigated western house mouse colonization in the Atlantic region through studies of mitochondrial D-loop DNA sequences from modern specimens. We assembled a dataset of 758 haplotypes derived from 2765 mice from 47 countries/oceanic archipelagos (a combination of new and published data). Our maximum likelihood phylogeny recovered five previously identified clades, and we used the haplotype affinities within the phylogeny to infer house mouse colonization history, employing statistical tests and indices. From human history, we predefined four European source areas for mice in the Atlantic region (Northern Europe excluding Scandinavia, Southern Europe, Scandinavia, and Macaronesia) and we investigated the colonization from these source areas to different geographic areas in the Atlantic region. Our inferences suggest mouse colonization of Scandinavia itself from Northern Europe, and Macaronesia from both Southern Europe and Scandinavia/Germany (the latter likely representing the transport of mice by Vikings). Mice on North Atlantic islands apparently derive primarily from Scandinavia, while for South Atlantic islands, North America, and Sub-Saharan Africa, the clearest source is Northern Europe, although mice on South Atlantic islands also had genetic inputs from Macaronesia and Southern Europe (for Tristan da Cunha). Macaronesia was a stopover for Atlantic voyages, creating an opportunity for mouse infestation. Mice in Latin America also apparently had multiple colonization sources, with a strong Southern European signal but also input from Northern Europe and/or Macaronesia. D-loop sequences help discern the broad-scale colonization history of house mice and new perspectives on human history.

Sustainable Economic Perspective: A Commitment to Agriculture in Latin American Countries

This document aims to find a space for reflection and analysis from a sustainable economic perspective, thus, the challenges that are part of agriculture in Latin American countries impact economic sectors and promote the creation of marketing strategies. This includes a vision of the challenges and opportunities that sustainable agriculture has in a commitment to the creation of green jobs and the strengthening of communities. The research method considered involves the preliminary and critical review of the literature, favoring the reflective analysis of its relationship with key aspects such as sustainable agriculture and economic development in the populations of Latin America, providing a place of tension and meeting for discussion, about the sustainable agriculture alternatives, that nations actually use to improve a notable increase in economic indices and expand market options in Latin American countries.

La singularidad de los animales en la lírica tradicional de México: posibles resonancias del pensamiento prehispánico

Starting from the premise that animals that appear in popular Mexican couplets have certain distinctive features compared to other Latin American traditional lyrics, in these lines a comparative approach is made between the lyrical tradition of the ancient Mexican poets and the of our current popular verses, in order to find out how pertinent it is to think that some symbolic representations of animals in pre-Hispanic thought could have penetrated into the Hispanic verses, granting, over the years, part of the personality that various animals display today in traditional Mexican couplets.

DETERMINING THE HUMAN CAPITAL PERFORMANCE OF LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES AND TÜRKİYE WITH CRITIC-BASED ARAS METHOD

The aim of this study is to determine the human capital performance of Latin American Countries and Türkiye using the CRITIC (Criteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation) and ARAS (Additive Ratio Assessment) techniques. In the analysis, CRITIC-based ARAS method has been used. This method is a combination two methods. The CRITIC method has provided the objective weights of the criteria, and human capital performances and ranking of the countries are obtained by ARAS method. In order to evaluate the human capital stock of the countries the following criteria are utilized: the infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births), unemployment rate (percentage of the total labor force), average life expectancy at birth, total (years), labor force participation rate (percentage of the total population aged 15-64), current health expenditure (percentage of GDP), internet users (percentage of the total population), and population aged 15-64 (percentage of the total population). The analysis covers the years of 2019, 2020 and 2021. According to the CRITIC method results, the infant mortality rate has been the least significant criterion for every year under study, whereas the unemployment rate is the most significant. The ARAS method suggests that in every year examined, Cuba has done the best in terms of human capital. Chile and Uruguay rank second and third, respectively, after Cuba. Throughout the years under study, Guinea has performed the worst, followed by Haiti. Venezuela in 2021 and Honduras in 2019 and 2020 rank third-worst. Among the 22 nations, Türkiye ranks 15th in 2019, 12th in 2020, and 13th in 2021.

Innovation and Technology in Health: Current Perspectives from Latin American Public Policies and the SDGs

Objective: To examine and analyze the most relevant theoretical aspects of the academic literature on innovation and technology in the health sector, focusing on how they are integrated and developed within public policies in Latin America. Theoretical Framework: Innovation and technology gain importance as basic pillars to transform the health area in Latin America, which is a region that faces important challenges related to equity, access and quality of health services. Method: The methodology of the study consisted of an exhaustive narrative review of academic sources and relevant documents on technological innovation in health in Latin America, between 2021 and 2024. Results and Discussion: Although the region is promising on a path of technological transformation, the sustainability and expansion of these innovations depend on the commitment of governments and the development of public policies that promote investment in infrastructure and staff training. Research Implications: Collaboration between governments, health institutions and the private sector is essential to overcome existing barriers and maximize the impact of emerging technologies, thus achieving a more efficient, accessible and equitable health system, which guarantees a healthy life for all (SDG:3). Originality/Value: This study is original in analyzing the integration of technological innovation in public health policies in Latin America, highlighting inter-institutional collaboration as a key to a more efficient and accessible health system.

Global disparities in drug-related adverse events of patients with multiple myeloma: a pharmacovigilance study

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a complex hematological malignancy of clonal plasma cells driven by alterations to the chromosomal material leading to uncontrolled proliferation in the bone marrow. Ethnic and racial disparities persist in the prevalence, diagnosis, management, and outcomes of MM. These disparities are multifaceted and intersect with various factors, including demographics, geography, socioeconomic status, genetics, and access to healthcare. This study utilized the openFDA human drug adverse events (AEs) to analyze global data pertaining to MM patients and patterns of treatment-related AEs. We identified ten most frequently used drugs and drug regimens in six distinct regions, including North America (NA), Europe (EU), Asia (AS), Africa (AF), Oceania (OC), and Latin America & the Caribbean (LA). AE patterns were evaluated using the reporting odds ratio combined with a 95% confidence interval. AE reports were more prevalent in men than in women across all regions. Cardiotoxicities were more likely observed in AS and EU, while secondary neoplasms were more frequently reported in the EU. Nephropathies were prominent in OC, AF (in males), and AS (in females), while vascular toxicity, including embolism and thrombosis, was more common in NA (in males). A notable improvement in survival, particularly in AS, EU, and NA, with a significant decline in death rates was observed. Hospitalization rates displayed less variation in AS and EU but exhibited more pronounced fluctuations in AF, LA, and OC. In conclusion, this comprehensive analysis offers valuable insights into the demographic, geographic, and AE patterns of MM patients across the globe.

Exploring the ventricular morphology of the heart of Brycon amazonicus (Agassiz, 1829) (Teleostei, Characiformes).

Brycon amazonicus, a fish species widely distributed along freshwater rivers in Latin America, is important in maintaining ecological balance. Although some morphological/physiological aspects of B.amazonicus have been reported, the cardiac histomorphology of this species remains poorly understood. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the heart, emphasizing coronary distribution and ventricular myoarchitecture, correlating its structure with its functional activity. Ten adult specimens were anesthetized and perfused with Trident® ink to highlight the coronary branching. Subsequently, the animals were euthanized to collect the hearts, which were collected and processed for histological and histochemical techniques and scanning electron microscopy. We observed that the heart of B.amazonicus has a pyramidal ventricle, mixed myocardium, and coronary vessels restricted to the compact layer, according to classifications in the literature. The compact layer comprises two types of muscle bundles, arranged in longitudinal and circular orientations. The coronary circulation, which originates in the lateral cephalic region, starts from the heart and extends to the ventricular myocardium. Therefore, B.amazonicus has a cardiac morphology similar to that of other teleost species already described in the literature, expanding information on the Characiformes group. The description obtained of the heart of this species may contribute to further studies that seek a better understanding of the ecophysiology and evolution of teleost fish in the freshwaters of the Neotropical region.

Hearts and mines. Communication, dissent and counterinsurgency around extractive projects from Canada to Colombia

ABSTRACT Extractivism has contributed to update Reason of State doctrines in Latin America since the mid-2000, translating cold-war categories – like that of the ‘internal enemy’ – into new ones better adapted to ‘reconciliation’ meta discourses. While the securitisation of extractive conflicts in Colombia builds on a well-established counterinsurgency expertise, emerging claims and mobilisations – around environmental issues, Indigenous rights and territorial autonomy – have also forced significant adaptations. This opened opportunities for extractive norm entrepreneurs to disseminate Canadian innovations for the management of the social environment surrounding extractive projects. These innovations can be summarised in two parts: 1. The subordination of law to practices of engagement and communication between companies and local communities through so-called Corporate Social Responsibility mechanisms; and 2. The projection of a moral imperative of transparency on communities and social actors. Beyond the strictly operational level, these normative innovations also articulate a specific kind of politico-legal doctrine aimed at mitigating the destabilising effects of emergent rights claims and neutralising the emancipatory potential of law. In this paper, we provide historical antecedents for the development of these innovations in Canada, analyse how norm entrepreneurs disseminate this doctrine between Canada and Colombia, and look at its implications for democratic uses of law.

Spatio-temporal analysis of scientific research on models to estimate water balance in hydrographic basinsV

Objective: To identify in the world the main models or tools used to evaluate changes in water regulation,through a bibliometric review in the especialized in scientific information, Scopus database, in order to knowthe main variables evaluated that affect the hydrological regime of the basins.Design/methodology/approach: With the help of bibliometric techniques, scientific articles available untilDecember 2022 in the Scopus database were collected using the SUBJAREA (envi) TITLE-ABS-KEY (“waterbalance” AND “land use”) AND (LIMIT-TO (OA, “all”)) AND (LIMIT-TO (DOCTYPE, “ar”)).Results: 407 scientific articles were collected from 1965 to 2022, this scientific production shows an exponentialgrowing trend that was concentrated above all in countries with agricultural traditions such as the UnitedStates (89 publications), China (33), Germany (28), the United Kingdom (25) and Australia (21).Limitations on study/implications: Most of the research was developed on topics associated with land usechange (82 texts), climate change (48), hydrological processes (44), subsoil water (34) and evapotranspirationcalculation (33). The most recurrent models for calculating the water balance were the Direct Water Balance(230 texts) and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (83).Findings/conclusions: No research development was found in Latin American and African countries, sothese results can help redirect efforts in the research centers of these countries, with the aim of generating newknowledge that helps make decisions about how to improve the efficient use of water in the face of climatechange scenarios and dynamics of land use change

Diagnostic accuracy of screening tests for eating disorders in adolescents and adults in primary health care: protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

IntroductionEating disorders can be irreversible and, in many cases, fatal. However, the symptoms full recovery is possible, and early diagnosis is one, of many, important factors for the success of...

Comparison of the Export Competitiveness of Limes from Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Brazil to the European Union

Objective: To determine the competitiveness in the world and in the European Union of the main Latin lime-producing countries through the calculation of the normalized revealed comparative advantage to generate a discussion around the use of the free trade agreement that the countries have with the European Union. Design/Methodology/Approach: Official sources were used to obtain the information in the period from 2001 to 2021, the normalized revealed comparative advantage was calculated and the behavior in the global market and in the European Union was forecasted. The Prais-Wisten method was used for the correction of autocorrelation. Results: Competitiveness was estimated through the Normalized Revealed Comparative Advantage Index, both globally and in the European Union, for the main Latin American limes producers. Study limitations/implications: The limitation of the study was that it was only compared with Latin American countries, the study could expand its comparison with other regions of the world. Findings/Conclusions: The main Latin American lime producers were compared using the NRCA. Mexico has maintained a competitive advantage since 2003, while Argentina lost it in 2004. Brazil became competitive in 2021, while Colombia is not. Argentina has the biggest advantage, although declining, and Brazil has surpassed Mexico since 2019. Projections show that Mexico and Brazil will continue to improve their competitiveness, while Argentina will reduce it. The concentration of production in Mexico is an opportunity for other regions with similar conditions to increase production and export to the European market. The proposed hypothesis is accepted