Latin Research Articles

Socio-technical transitions towards sustainable development: A proposal for learning assessment in livestock SMEs in the semi-arid Pampas of Argentina

The urgency to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in the face of climate change has increased interest in studies on innovation niches in food systems. Strategic Niche Management in the framework of the Multi-Level Perspective considers that deep learning must be achieved in experimenting with innovations and demands greater understanding of instrumental aspects to guide the evolution of a niche. This study proposes to assess the progress of innovative performance towards sustainability of small and medium livestock enterprises in the Southwest of Buenos Aires, a fragile region of the Pampas biome of Argentina, as a result of learning generated in rural extension activities of the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) in order to identify leverage points in the process of technological change towards more sustainable systems. An exploratory-descriptive study was carried out using qualitative-quantitative methods. Ten producers were interviewed and the MESMIS method was proposed for the construction of indicators and assessment of learning goals towards sustainability. A rapprochement of producers from modal practices to more innovative ones was observed, reflecting conditions for the progress and consolidation of the niche. However, they need for greater professionalization and institutional articulation. The study generated a measurement instrument for the self-assessment of the niche enterprises and the planning of INTA's intervention strategies. It sought to broaden empirical research in Latin America, which is still scarce in approaches to socio-technical transitions, and to advance in the evaluation of experiments in transformative innovations on the agenda for the literature.

Terrorism in the Cold War: State Support in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Sphere of Influence by Adrian Hänni, Thomas Riegler, and Przemysław Gasztold, eds.; and Terrorism in the Cold War: State Support in the West, Middle East and Latin America by Adrian Hänni, Thomas Riegler, and Przemysław Gasztold, eds.

<i>Terrorism in the Cold War: State Support in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Sphere of Influence</i> by Adrian Hänni, Thomas Riegler, and Przemysław Gasztold, eds.; and <i>Terrorism in the Cold War: State Support in the West, Middle East and Latin America</i> by Adrian Hänni, Thomas Riegler, and Przemysław Gasztold, eds.

Implementation of the WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionThe WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist (WHO SCC) was developed to accelerate adoption of essential practices that prevent maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality during childbirth. This study aims to summarise...

Conceptions and Historicity of Clinical Social Work in Latin America: A Contemporary Overview

Conceptions and Historicity of Clinical Social Work in Latin America: A Contemporary Overview

Transforming efl (en glish as a foreign language) education in virtual environments through quizizz

The research explores the transformative impact of Quizizz on virtual English as a Foreign Language (EFL) education post-COVID-19, highlighting the shift towards online learning and the need for effective digital tools to enhance language proficiency and student motivation. The study, set in Latin America, aims to assess how Quizizz influences students' motivation and English skills, utilizing a quantitative methodology with a quasi-experimental design. It examines the engagement and performance of 197 students in reading and writing tasks, revealing significant improvements and high acceptance of the gamified learning platform. Results indicate that Quizizz not only boosts motivation and language proficiency but also offers a flexible and interactive solution for overcoming the challenges of virtual education, suggesting broader application and integration into the virtual learning ecosystem.

B2B informal networking influences on relational outcomes in emerging and developed nations: a multiregional empirical study

Purpose This study aims to investigate how indigenous socio-cultural (ISC) practices within informal networks, such as guanxi and wasta, provide benefits beyond mere access. Specifically, the authors explore their global impact on B2B relationships, focusing on reciprocity. A multiregional sample extends research on ISC practices in B2B relationships by examining contingency effects of informal network ties. Design/methodology/approach The authors surveyed 404 buyers in two developed (Hong Kong and Portugal) and two emerging economies (Kuwait and Colombia), and also categorized by strong and weak informal network ties. Using structural equation modeling, the authors examined a relationship marketing (RM) model from a typology (Clubs, Sociocracies, Clans and Compadres) for assessing contingency effects. Findings The study reveals that in developed economies with strong formal institutions, negative aspects of favor reciprocity norms intensify unless informal networks are driven by strict sociomoral obligations. This supports research indicating that contractual governance competes rather than complements relational governance. Moreover, trust-building processes are crucial in regions with low uncertainty tolerance to mitigate adverse effects. Practical implications Suppliers from developed nations need more than cultural communication insights when engaging in business in emerging markets. We acknowledge changes buyers may expect adherence to reciprocity rules embedded in the ISC practices of their informal networks. Originality/value This study pioneers a typology of social structures to analyze ISC practices across buyers with varying formal institutional strength and informal network ties. It sheds light on institutional dynamics, trust-building processes, and nuances surrounding both positive and negative aspects of reciprocity practices. Furthermore, it broadens the scope of RM to Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.

Development and validation of the Enright Forgiveness Inventory 30-item version in Argentina

AbstractResearch on forgiveness has received growing academic interest. The Enright Forgiveness Inventory (EFI) is one of the most widely used interpersonal forgiveness measures in the world. However, its validation study had not been conducted in Latin America. This study aimed to investigate the structural validity of the EFI 30-item version (EFI-30) in Argentina. An online survey was administrated including the EFI-30 and a social desirability scale, as well as demographic questions. A convenience sample (N = 472) was recruited. All participants were originally from Argentina, and 47.2% were married or cohabiting in a relationship. Factor analysis was used to evaluate structural validity. Part of the EFI-30 is a single-item forgiveness question that was used to examine the inventory’s convergent validity. Other conventional psychometric tests were also performed to validate the previous analyses. The results confirmed the six-factor structure of the EFI-30, namely, positive affect, negative affect, positive behaviour, negative behaviour, positive cognition, and negative cognition. Findings are consistent with previous validation studies across countries. The strong scalability of the Argentine EFI-30 provides multiple avenues for future research. The study might be replicated among other demographic groups (e.g., adolescents) in Argentina.

Lope de Vega and the Epístolas of Amarilis and Belardo: Poetic Authority and Transatlantic Dialogue

Abstract An example of epistolary discourse in seventeenth-century Spain that merits further examination is the correspondence between Lope de Vega (writing under the assumed name of “Belardo”) and a presumed poet from Latin America known only as “Amarilis.” This study moves beyond the focus of most criticism, which attempts to arrive at an identity for this Amarilis. It proves how transatlantic epistolary dialogue can be egalitarian as much as esthetically meaningful, as both authors demonstrate poetic authority.

Crude credit: The political economy of natural resource booms and sovereign debt management

Oil, gas, and minerals have notoriously adverse effects on institutional quality. But when global liquidity is high, risk-tolerant investors are more willing to lend to all borrowers, even resource-rich countries with low-quality institutions. Despite the availability of cheaper credit during commodity booms, we argue that countries do not increase current borrowing to mitigate future revenue shortfalls during commodity busts. Instead, they rely on resource windfalls to meet their current financing needs, fearing they would otherwise forfeit national policy discretion to global financial markets. We leverage primary evidence from extensive field research across five Latin American countries to show that national economic officials (i.e. finance ministers and central bank governors) are wary of high indebtedness, after past commodity booms ended in cycles of lofty spending, borrowing, and default. For sovereign borrowers, high bond market indebtedness often reduces government discretion over economic policy, whereas windfalls increase it; all else equal, governments will favor the latter. Using data on 22 Latin American and Caribbean countries from 1996 to 2020, we find that governments issue bonds less frequently, in smaller amounts, as their oil and gas production or GDP share from resource rents increases. These findings make an important contribution to our understanding of how commodity cycles affect global capital markets: sovereign borrowers do not fully leverage commodity booms to expand their fiscal space to finance more spending over time.

Urban air pollution evaluation in downtown streets of a medium-sized Latin American city using AERMOD dispersion model.

The transport sector is considered the largest contributor of air pollutants in urban areas, mainly on-road vehicles, affecting the environment and human health. Bahía Blanca is a medium-sized Latin American city, with high levels of traffic in the downtown area during peak hours. In this regard, it is necessary to analyze air pollution using an air quality model considering that there are no air pollutant measurements in the central area. Furthermore, this type of study has not been carried out in the region and since the city is expected to grow, it is necessary to evaluate the current situation in order to make effective future decisions. In this sense, the AERMOD model (US-EPA version) and the RLINE source type were used in this work. This study analyzes the variations of pollutant concentrations coming from mobile sources in Bahía Blanca's downtown area, particularly carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) during the period Jul-2020 to Jun-2022. It is interesting to note the results show the maximum concentration values detected are not directly associated with maximum levels of vehicle flow or emission rates, which highlights the importance of meteorological parameters in the modeling. In addition, alternative scenarios are proposed and analyzed from a sustainable approach. Regarding the scenario analysis, it can be concluded that diesel vehicles have a large influence on NOx emissions. Moreover, restrictions as strict as those proposed for a Low Emission Zone would be less applicable in the city than alternative temporary measures that modify traffic at peak hours.

Aid and developing regional integration

This paper examines megatrends and interdependence of the loan aid-capital investment links across developing regions. Theoretically, it contributes to the existing studies by providing a novel theoretical framework with a dual-objective donor-giving grant (driven by a benevolent objective) and loan aid (profitability motive), as well as a public–private partnership-like investment structure and multi-region feedback mechanism. Empirically, this paper adds to the literature by allowing for cross-heterogeneity and interdependencies across regions of loan aid-capital investment link. We estimate a panel structural VAR model of grant aid, loan aid, private consumption, and aggregate capital stock using data from nine developing regional country blocs covering the 1961-2017 period. Amidst a generally weak aid-investment link, we find loan aid to Granger causes capital accumulation, and among African regions, it is the most (least) productive – in terms of within- and spillover effects – in the IGAD (ECOWAS) region. In addition, our results suggest deeper regional integration between the Sub-Saharan African regions than the collective Latin American & Caribbean regions and the two Southern Asian regions (Southeast Asia and South Asia) examined.

Navigating the landscape of tourism, leisure, and sport studies in Mexico

ABSTRACT Research in tourism, leisure, and sports in Mexico is justified by the country's rich cultural, natural, and traditional diversity, as well as its economic and sociocultural relevance. Despite growth in these fields, challenges persist, such as lack of international recognition, limitations in interdisciplinary research, and barriers to knowledge publication and dissemination. This work presents a consensus derived from the Latin American Colloquium on Interspecies Relations in Tourism, Leisure, and Sports in 2023. The consensus highlights the increase in interdisciplinary collective research in these areas but acknowledges the scarcity of scientific studies in Mexico. Complex sociocultural practices and conditions shape various tourism, leisure, and sports activities, implying a need and opportunity for research in the country. Additionally, the importance of integrating local Mexican knowledge into the global academic discourse and overcoming challenges such as editorial biases and language barriers is emphasised. Lastly, Mexican academics and the global community are urged to collaborate in disseminating and challenging intellectual colonialism concerning knowledge about leisure, tourism, and sports in Mexico.

Book Review: Crime, Violence, and Justice in Latin America by Carlos Solar, and Carlos A Pérez Ricart

Book Review: <i>Crime, Violence, and Justice in Latin America</i> by Carlos Solar, and Carlos A Pérez Ricart

How Can Language Education Contribute to Securing a Livable Planet?

AbstractThe aim of this study was to test the notion of ecological citizenship empirically in the English language classroom in an underrepresented region, Latin America. A pedagogic project aimed at the development of students as ecological citizens was designed and implemented in 2019 in four English language classrooms in a public secondary school in Argentina. Participants were 111 teenagers aged 15–17 taking their fourth or fifth years. The project addressed the theme ‘the world we want’ using the UN sustainable development goals as a foundation, in particular, those concerned with environmental issues. The study is theoretically grounded on the notion of ecological citizenship and the research question is: How can language education contribute to securing a livable planet? Data types include Instagram publications (video, text, and a variety of semiotic resources); Instagram comments; student artifacts created in class (graphs, charts, tables, icons); infographics sewed together to make a quilt; a project video; the Autobiography of Intercultural Encounters; and a final student survey. Qualitative analysis was done in three phases and findings indicate that the creative arts and community engagement in combination fostered students' development as ecological citizens in this context. Implications for language education are considered.

Low back pain: justification of treatment standards (literature review)

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons reported that approximately 75–85 % of Americans experience low back pain (LBP) during their lifetime. There is considerable heterogeneity among epidemiologic studies of LBP, which limits the ability to compare and generalize the data. One-year incidence of the first episode of LBP ranges from 6.3 to 15.4 %, while 1-year incidence of any episode of low back pain is from 1.5 to 36 %. In hospital-based studies, episode remission after one year ranges from 54 to 90 %. Experts from Europe, Australia and Latin America identified 15 clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of low back pain in primary care settings. The authors pay attention to the fact that the data on the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the mentioned guidelines are contradictory. Enzymatic oxidation of arachidonic acid has been shown to lead to the formation of potent pathological agents by two main pathways. Those in the prostaglandin (PG) pathway, particularly PGE2, have been considered inflammatory mediators for many years. The discovery of the biological activity of thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin, as well as the destructive oxygen-centered radical as additional products of this biosynthetic pathway now require their consideration as potential inflammatory mediators. Like PGE2, their biosynthesis is inhibited by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. There is also an alternative lipoxygenase pathway that yields arachidonic acid oxygenation products called leukotrienes and eicosanoids, which have also been shown to be important inflammatory mediators resistant to NSAIDs. It was shown that dexamethasone suppresses the release of arachidonate from human epithelial cells by inducing the synthesis of the p11 protein and inhibiting the activity of phospholipase A2, that is, it affects the pathological mechanisms of inflammation that are lacking in NSAIDs, namely, it blocks the release of arachidonic acid salts. Dexamethasone has been shown to affect both exudative and proliferative phases of inflammation. Inflammatory mediators block active sulfhydryl groups of proteins, enzymes, receptors, and ion channels. The positive role of donors of such groups in the treatment of LBP is shown in the literature. In the treatment of allodynia, bisphosphonates, which normalize calcium metabolism and reduce calcification of cartilage and ligaments, have proven themselves to be the best: they cause a decrease in the intensity of pain and swelling and improve nerve function. Racetams have been shown to be useful for the treatment of not only neuropathic pain, but also cognitive impairment. Racetams are especially active in combination with choline donors. Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a common disease with an incidence of approximately 8 % in the elderly. Neuropathic pain has a high prevalence in the general population and affects more than half of all patients with PN. The pathophysiology of PN is characterized by damage to myelin-producing Schwann cells in peripheral nerves. Regeneration/protection of the myelin sheath after nerve injury is a fundamental element of recovery in PN. Nucleotides such as uridine monophosphate have been shown to be effective in treating the cause of myelin damage in several experimental and clinical models. B vitamins such as В12, В6, В3, В1 are essential for nerve health. These vitamins can aid in the healing of damaged nerves and relieve symptoms of nerve damage like numbness and tingling, that is why they are called neurotropic vitamins. In confirmation of the clinical value of these arguments, a clinical case is presented, when the patient was managed with a combination of the discussed drugs and felt significantly better.

The Nursing Inter Shift Handover: A Moment of Care for Patients and Their Family Caregivers.

Precedents: The transfer between nursing shifts must guarantee the quality of care for patients and their families in the hospital. This study aimed to transform the handover between nursing shifts to strengthen the care capacity of patients and their family caregivers, and improve the care capacity of nursing staff, in a Latin American university hospital. Methods: This is a Nursing Methodology Research developed in the following phases: (a) identification of the best handover practices between nursing shifts to apply them within the institutional culture; (2) diagnosis of the transfer between shifts in the hospital; (3) design and validation of the transformation proposal; (4) measurement of transfer indicators; and (5) definition of a path to improve this transfer. Results: The proposal developed focuses on the patient and their family caregiver. The proposed protocol considered the perspective of the care recipients, the nursing staff, and the best available evidence. The overall transfer rating over 10 months went from 65% to 84%. Conclusions: The adjustment to the transfer process made it possible to strengthen the care capacity of patients and their family caregivers and improve the care capacity of the nursing staff.

Regulatory lag, efficiency, and performance. Lessons from a case study

Our main contribution is to identify the risks implied by the existence of prolonged regulatory lags. We hypothesize that a likely first response is to reduce OPEX, increasing efficiency. If the lag persists for enough time, a vicious circle of inefficiency, disinvestment, and reduced performance can follow. We use a regulatory episode affecting natural gas distributors in Argentina as a natural experiment, controlling with other Latin American countries’ utilities not exposed to the same regulatory stimuli. We evaluate the relative efficiency of fourteen firms for five countries, in seven years, using Stochastic Frontiers Analysis (SFA). Thus, we perform a regulatory impact analysis (RIA) to assess the consequences on the performance of two idiosyncratic regulatory policy instruments applied in the distribution gas industry in Argentina in the 1998–2021 period (the 2002 Public Emergency Law and the 2016 Integral Tariff Review).

Assessing Electoral Personalism in Latin American Presidential Elections

Assessing Electoral Personalism in Latin American Presidential Elections

Understanding The Influence Of Shadow Economy And Foreign Direct Investment On Corporate Tax Revenue In Latin America: The Moderating effect Of Corruption Control

Taxation is an essential mechanism that funds government expenditures and underpins the growth and development of any country. This research examines the influence of the shadow economy and foreign direct investment (FDI) on corporate income tax revenue in Latin America, considering the moderating role of corruption control. Using panel data regression analysis, we analyze data from various Latin American countries to explore the complex interactions between these economic factors and tax revenue. Our findings indicate that corruption control has a positive and significant effect on corporate income tax revenue. However, the relationship between the shadow economy and tax revenue changes when moderated by corruption control. Without moderation, the shadow economy positively impacts tax revenue, but in the presence of higher corruption control, it leads to reduced tax revenue. Similarly, while FDI initially shows a positive impact on tax revenue, this effect turns negative when considering corruption control. These findings shed light on the nuanced relationships between economic factors and tax revenue in Latin America, offering valuable insights for policy formulation and future research.

Development Planning in Rural Communities in Bolivia: A Study in the Department of Oruro

This research aims to determine the most important elements that contribute to the development planning processes in the rural communities of the department of Oruro, Bolivia; It is based on the proposition that democracy in Latin America is in a situation characterized by advances in political rights and deficiencies in the civil and social rights of citizens, rural communities are where the most acute indicators of political, social, cultural and economic exclusion occur. Therefore, the effective membership of rural communities emerges as a peremptory task for the consolidation of their development based on community development planning. It assumes a quantitative qualitative approach, and is of a correlational descriptive type, which seeks the association and relationship of the variables that intervene and influence the community planning processes. A survey is applied to 384 people who live in communities in rural areas, among them the actors in the development of the localities are considered, such as community leaders and heads of households. For the statistical analysis, descriptive statistics and a multiple regression model are incorporated. The research establishes that community participation, ancestral knowledge, along with natural resources are the most important elements that contribute to the planning of the development of rural communities.   Received: 16 February 2024 / Accepted: 8 April 2024 / Published: 5 May 2024