Latin American Research Research Articles

Science diplomacy in the European and Latin American and Caribbean research infrastructure collaboration

Abstract Research infrastructures (RIs) are crucial for scientific progress, innovation, and global development, necessitating international collaboration due to their complexity and cost. Science diplomacy (SD) plays a vital role in facilitating policy design, resource pooling, and governance for effective collaboration in RIs. Multinational cooperation in RIs provides financial relief and access to advanced technology and promotes cutting-edge research, benefiting scientific development and socioeconomic growth. This article explores the role of SD in European-Latin American and Caribbean (EU-LAC) RI collaboration, underscoring the importance of diverse and equitable inter-RI collaboration. The study addresses challenges in EU-LAC collaboration, emphasizing the unequal development of RIs and the need for political support. Through interpretive policy studies and stakeholder interviews, the research contributes to formulating an ideal type and a feasible scenario for sustainable collaboration, discussing policy implications and highlighting the pivotal role of SD in successful international RI partnerships.

Toward Understanding Research Evolution on Indirect Drivers of Ecosystem Change along the Interface of Protected and Non-Protected Lands

Against a backdrop of rapid environmental degradation and increasing pressures on natural resources, a broad list of innovations has emerged to support the vision of the post-2020 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and strengthen regional and country-level biodiversity strategies along the interface of protected areas and non-protected lands. The success of these strategies depends in large part on science-informed consideration and approaches to the underlying and indirect drivers of change for natural systems and ecosystem services. This paper aims to inform future strategies and action plans for conservation efforts and sustainable practices globally and regionally, with a specific focus on Latin America’s environmental challenges. Bibliometric analysis, covering two decades from 2003 to 2023, focused on global and Latin American research trends related to the indirect drivers of change for natural systems and ecosystem services at the interface of protected and non-protected lands. Through structured analysis, key opportunities for increased collaboration, impact, and research focus are identified, highlighting the need to expand research collaboration strategies and reach, enhance research dissemination through open and equitable innovations, and strengthen capacity to the complex and interrelated challenges underlying accelerated change in natural systems, which affects biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Assessment of professional empowerment among midwives in selected LAC: A multisite descriptive study

Objectiveto identify the perception of professional empowerment among midwives in selected Latin American countries (LA). Specifically, this study aimed to compare i) the global level of empowerment among midwives in different LA countries, ii) the scores according to the different dimensions of the scale, and iii) scores according to area the of expertise. DesignA quantitative, observational, analytical, cross-sectional and multisite study using an adaptation of the Perceptions Midwifery Empowerment Scale (PEMS). SettingsClinical, educational and managerial midwifery positions in 5 LA countries belonging to a Latin American Research Network in Midwifery. All the participating countries reported a similar profile regarding type of education, association and regulation procedures. ParticipantsA total of 1127 responses from midwives with different professional backgrounds were included in the study. FindingsA total mean score of 73.28 (74.23–72.03) points was reported. Chile reported the lowest score of empowerment compared to the other countries, while Argentina reported the highest. Midwives' perceptions of empowerment within their area of expertise, primary health care (PHC) was the area of reference, and gynaecology reported a significantly lower score. Midwives working in management were significantly more empowered compared with those in other areas. Midwives who had continuous education and postgraduate studies were the most empowered. Regarding the provision of woman-centred Care, Chile and El Salvador differed significantly from Argentina (reference), while Uruguay reported a significantly higher score in this dimension. Midwives working in hospital wards reported significantly lower scores compared to those working in PHC. Key conclusions and implications for practiceThis study suggests that midwifery programmes in the LA countries would benefit from prioritising professional empowerment, especially in the areas of hospital practice, where midwives' perceptions of empowerment were most limited.

Which are the most influential marketing journals for Latin American researchers? A journal co-citation analysis

Which are the most influential marketing journals for Latin American researchers? A journal co-citation analysis

Parkinson's Disease Gene Screening in Familial Cases from Central and South America.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease following Alzheimer's disease. Nearly 30 causative genes have been identified for PD and related disorders. However, most of these genes were identified in European-derived families, and little is known about their role in Latin American populations. Our goal was to assess the spectrum and frequency of pathogenic variants in known PD genes in familial PD patients from Latin America. We selected 335 PD patients with a family history of PD from the Latin American Research Consortium on the Genetics of PD. We capture-sequenced the coding regions of 26 genes related to neurodegenerative parkinsonism. Of the 335 PD patients, 324 had sufficient sequencing coverage to be analyzed. We identified pathogenic variants in 41 individuals (12.7%) in FBXO7, GCH1, LRRK2, PARK7, PINK1, PLA2G6, PRKN, SNCA, and TARDBP, GBA1 risk variants in 25 individuals (7.7%), and variants of uncertain significance in another 24 individuals (7.4%) in ATP13A2, ATP1A3, DNAJC13, DNAJC6, GBA1, LRKK2, PINK1, VPS13C, and VPS35. Of the 70 unique variants identified, 19 were more frequent in Latin Americans than in any other population. This is the first screening of known PD genes in a large cohort of patients with familial PD from Latin America. There were substantial differences in the spectrum of variants observed in comparison to previous findings from PD families of European origin. Our data provide further evidence that differences exist between the genetic architecture of PD in Latinos and European-derived populations. © 2024 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

International research collaboration in personalized medicine between Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract An analysis of research collaboration in personalized medicine between European and Latin American and Caribbean countries has been conducted in order to identify significant aspects allowing such collaboration. It aims to comprehend strategic issues for establishing research collaborations in personalized medicine between the two regions, as well as the structural factors that facilitate the collaboration. An exhaustive literature review of the subject was the basis for the development of a framework covering several factors that are significant at different stages of the collaboration process. The framework assisted in developing a questionnaire and defining relevant questions for a final survey, which was sent to more than 1,800 corresponding authors of publications resulting from collaborations between European and Latin American and Caribbean researchers. The results point out interesting issues like the profile of the collaboration partners, types of research collaboration, factors and motivations favouring the participation in collaborative research, ways to contact partners, funding sources and tools, main outputs or principal barriers to collaboration. Due to the lack of available information on research collaborations in the field of personalized medicine, this type of analysis is valuable to support science and research policy-making and to evaluate the various actions, initiatives and projects carried out in this scenario. Although our methodology and analysis focused on the field of personalized medicine, the results obtained could be helpful to better understand the reality of international scientific collaborations and support the design of collaborative funding programmes in other fields.

Latin American research on ecotourism and Peru's contribution: A bibliometric overview

Objective. A bibliometric review of the scientific production in ecotourism in Latin America was carried out, with a focus on the contribution of Peru. Design/Methodology/Approach. Bibliometric techniques were combined with a content analysis approach to collect and analyze the literature on ecotourism in Latin America. Articles from 1992 to 2024 were collected using the Scopus database, and VOSviewer software was used to perform a bibliometric analysis. Results/Discussion. A total of 414 articles on ecotourism in Latin America were identified, with a diversity of thematic areas, including ecotourism and sustainable development; tourism, diseases, and dissemination; conservation and ecology; protected areas and marketing; and ecology and spatiotemporal analysis. The analysis revealed low collaboration between authors and the need to diversify the topics investigated in Peru. In addition, there has been an increase in the number of publications in recent years, indicating a growing interest in ecotourism research in the region. Conclusions. Scientific production in ecotourism in Latin America shows growth but with low collaboration and a need for diversification. In Peru, opportunities for improvement were identified, such as increasing research and promoting international collaboration to increase its visibility and impact.

ELLAS Architecture and Process: Collecting and Curating Data on Women’s Presence in STEM

The underrepresentation of women in STEM fields needs to be highlighted through data to assist decision-makers and public policy creators in addressing the issue effectively. However, the lack of structured, organized data published openly in this domain is still a reality. To address this problem, a Latin American research network called ELLAS was created. The project's goal is to develop a platform with Semantic Web-based technologies to structure and concentrate data from Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia, initially. This paper presents the processes defined for the collection and curation of both unstructured and structured data, sourced from scientific articles, social networks, and existing open data. We explore the architecture design in a way that facilitates understanding of the details of the processes and the actors involved for each data source. We present the preliminary results from the application of these processes, and the strategies for future work, which include the data extraction and curation, and the ontology and knowledge graph development We also present some of the undergoing work, such as the survey development and application as well as showing what still hasn't been done, such as the platform development.

Assessing the Occurrence and Influence of Cancer Chemotherapy-Related Pharmacogenetic Alleles in the Chilean Population.

Pharmacogenomic knowledge as a biomarker for cancer care has transformed clinical practice, however, as current guidelines are primarily derived from Eurocentric populations, this limits their application in Latin America, particularly among Hispanic or Latino groups. Despite advancements, systemic chemotherapy still poses challenges in drug toxicity and suboptimal response. This study explores pharmacogenetic markers related to anticancer drugs in a Chilean cohort, filling a gap in Latin American research. Notably, the influence of native South American Mapuche-Huilliche ancestry. To explore pharmacogenetic markers related to anticancer drugs, we utilized an ethnically Admixed Chilean genome-wide association studies (GWAS) dataset of 1095 unrelated individuals. Pharmacogenomic markers were selected from PharmGKB, totaling 36 level 1 and 2 evidence single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 571 level 3 SNPs. Comparative analyses involved assessing SNP frequencies across diverse populations from the 1000 Genomes Project. Haplotypes were estimated, and linkage disequilibrium was examined. Ancestry-based association analyses explored relationships between SNPs and Mapuche-Huilliche and European ancestries. Chi-square distribution with p ≤ 0.05 and Bonferroni's multiple adjustment tests determined statistical differences between allele frequencies. Our study reveals significant disparities in SNP frequency within the Chilean population. Notably, dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) variants (rs75017182 and rs67376798), linked to an increased risk of severe fluoropyrimidine toxicity, exhibit an exceptionally low frequency (minor allele frequency (MAF) < 0.005). Nudix hydrolase 15 (NUDT15) rs116855232, associated with hematological mercaptopurine toxicity, is relatively common (MAF = 0.062), and is further linked to Mapuche-Huilliche ancestry. Thiopurine methyltransferase enzyme (TPMT), implicated in severe toxicity to mercaptopurines, SNPs rs1142345 and rs1800460 of TMPT gene demonstrate higher MAFs in Admixed Americans and the Chilean population (MAF range 0.031-0.057). Finally, the variant in the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1 gene (UGT1A1) rs4148323, correlated with irinotecan neutropenia, exhibits the highest MAF in East Asian (MAF = 0.136) and Chilean (MAF = 0.025) populations, distinguishing them from other investigated populations. This study provides the first comprehensive pharmacogenetic characterization of cancer therapy-related SNPs and highlights significant disparities in SNP frequencies within the Chilean population. Our findings underscore the necessity for inclusive research and personalized therapeutic strategies to ensure the equitable and effective application of precision medicine across diverse global communities.

Using scientometrics to mapping Latin American research networks in emerging fields: the field networking index

Using scientometrics to mapping Latin American research networks in emerging fields: the field networking index

An analysis of meiofauna knowledge generated by Latin American researchers

An analysis of meiofauna knowledge generated by Latin American researchers

On (missing) links between German, Latin American, and French Mediatization Research: Reflections on Diverse Research Milieus and Their Traditions

Mediatization research is no European invention, being also rooted in Latin American Cultural Studies and semiotics. Building on an analytical scheme on how to analyze the history of a study field in communication research in terms of its corpus of ideas and its social corpus, this article discusses the transnational (dis-)connections in the field of mediatization research regarding a) the Latin American and French roots of this research field and b) by trying to answer why they are still so unknown, at least in German communication studies. Still today, E. Verón, Martín-Barbero, A. Mattelart, and others are more or less unknown authors in German communication studies.

Communication Processes in the Communication Office Government Speech Formats: A Discursive Analysis of the News Published on the Rn Government Portal

The article presents an approach to the discourse produced by government communication offices, based on the communication developed in the news published in the institutional media of government agencies, as a public power. It highlights the relevant need to do Public Communication, respecting equal rights, through equity applied between political and governmental communication, in defense of public interests in the production of news content. In this context, it makes an clipping from Brandão's dissertation (2023). It fosters a discussion that supports the practical development of communication based on democratic principles and the exercise of citizenship, through the institutional information built. This research work aims to contribute theoretically and empirically, with Latin American research in the field of media communication, which defend the applicability of Public Communication. In addition, the study aims to expand this discussion on the international scene, to promote theoretical-empirical knowledge of the theoretical perspectives of PC and French Discourse Analysis (DA), which are the main study methods used in the research. It is intended to encourage future publications by researchers who are interested in the theme of construction public discourse. The results show the predominant types of communication in the 14 news analyzed, verifying the democratic contributions of the Communication Office of the Government of Rio Grande do Norte, however it is verified that the communication exercised, presents in the production of meanings of the narratives, more discursive elements of a political-governmental communication.

Latin American research in heart failure: visual and bibliometric analysis of the last 20 years

To visually and bibliometrically analyze Latin American research on heart failure in the last 20 years. A bibliometric study using the Scopus database. A non-systematic search was carried out to collect data, which were analyzed using Bibliometrix, a tool of the R programming language. A total of 10204 documents were included in a period between 2003 to 2023. Of these, 66.9% (n=6824) corresponded to original articles, followed by review articles (15.5%; n=1583). International collaboration was present in 38.41% (n=3919) of the articles. Brazil stood out with the highest number of prolific authors and institutions (70% and 60%, respectively), consolidating its position as leader in the region, followed by Argentina and Mexico. These countries also presented the papers with the highest impact and most outstanding metrics. This study identified a significant increase in heart failure research in Latin America over the last two decades, with Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico being the main drivers of this trend. Extensive and strong collaboration, mainly with high-income countries, appears to be critical to the momentum and the advancement of research in this area. Data systematization and resynchronization therapy are some of the topics of greatest interest at present.

Does cycling infrastructure prioritize gentrifying neighborhoods? The case of Mexico City

ABSTRACTThis paper aims to test the existence of a relationship between gentrification and the presence of cycling infrastructure in central Mexico City using a sample of 555 neighborhoods in central Mexico City and drawing from open spatial data. This research is contextualized within a growing body of Latin American research on state-led gentrification and the role of infrastructure as a tool for urban revalorization. Results show the existence of a clear and significant correlation between cycling infrastructure and gentrification, revealing that the city’s improved bike infrastructure has overwhelmingly favored gentrifying neighborhoods, and support existing research on these programs as a tool of gentrification. In addition, when controlling for other variables, the level of cycling infrastructure acts as the main predictor of gentrification. These findings are compelling and have implications for mobility equity policy in the Mexico City context.

The History of New World Leishmaniases From a Brazilian Perspective

Abstract This article addresses the leishmaniases in the Americas from a Brazilian perspective. The first cases of cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis were described in 1909 in São Paulo. Latin American researchers gained international projection because of their work on this disease they considered autochthonous, which came to be known as American tegumentary leishmaniasis. But visceral leishmaniasis only emerged as a public health problem in the Americas in 1934 thanks to a new diagnostic technique for yellow fever. Zoonoses earned greater attention later, especially in the laboratory founded in 1965 at the Evandro Chagas Institute by Ralph Lainson and Jeffrey Shaw. Here we examine their connections with other teams and the resulting changes when they proved that parasite, vector, and host populations were much more heterogeneous than previously imagined. Technical innovations provided a better understanding of the distinct epidemiological characteristics of the illnesses caused by different Leishmania amid a backdrop of far-reaching transnational networks.

Randomized controlled trials in nursing conducted by Latin American research teams: A scoping review.

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the cornerstone of systematic reviews and other evidence synthesis. RCT identification remains challenging because of limitations in their indexation in major databases and potential language bias. Scientific production in Latin American nursing is steadily increasing, but little is known about its design or main features. We aimed to identify the extent of evidence from RCTs in nursing conducted by Latin American research teams and evaluate their main characteristics, including potential risk of bias. Scoping review with risk of bias assessment. We conducted a scoping review including a comprehensive electronic search in five relevant databases. We completed a descriptive data analysis and a risk of bias assessment of eligible studies using Cochrane's guidance. We identified 1784 references of which 47 were RCTs published in 40 journals. Twenty (42.6%) RCTs were published in journals in English. Chronic diseases were the most common health conditions studied (29.7%). Fifteen (31.9%) RCTs had a high risk of bias. Thirty (75%) journals were included in the Journal Citation Report (JCR) catalog and 5 (16.7%) were journals classified under nursing category. Twenty-one (52.5%) journals explicitly required CONSORT checklist recommendations for RCTs reporting. Publication of RCTs in nursing by Latin American authors has increased. Most journals where RCTs are published are in English and not specific to nursing. Searches in journals of other disciplines may be necessary to facilitate identification of RCTs in nursing. CONSORT statements need to be actively promoted to facilitate rigorous methodology and reporting of RCTs. This study highlights the need for an increased research focus on RCTs in nursing in Latin America, and the importance of enhancing the reporting quality of these studies to support evidence-based nursing practice.

Medical Research Disparities in Latin America

AbstractClinical research is an essential aspect of advancing medical knowledge, improving patient outcomes, and reducing the burden of diseases. However, there are significant discrepancies in access to high-quality research worldwide, particularly in Latin American countries. Despite being crucial for evidence of efficacy in clinical research, randomized controlled trials are relatively scarce in Latin America compared with developed countries like the United States. This article explores the challenges and limitations that Latin American researchers face when conducting health-related clinical trials, including lack of economic resources, political instability, language barriers, and scarcity of indexed journals. Moreover, this article sheds light on the challenges in the fields of diagnostic radiology and interventional radiology in Latin America, such as limited resources, inadequate infrastructure, low awareness of the importance of imaging for accurate diagnoses and treatment, lack of specialized training programs, few opportunities for research, and insufficient funding. Addressing these challenges is crucial for Latin American researchers to produce high-quality clinical research and contribute to global medical knowledge, ultimately improving health outcomes and quality of life for people worldwide.

Ecophysiology of neotropical amphibians and reptiles: lessons learned from Colombia.

Ecophysiology and herpetology share a close historical relationship, but earlier work at the interface of these disciplines was carried out in temperate regions. Tropical regions like the Neotropics exhibit the highest species richness for amphibians and reptiles, but the pace for ecophysiological research on tropical herpetofauna has been slower relative to temperate counterparts. We are a group of early-career, Latin American researchers interested in the physiological diversity exhibited by neotropical herpetofauna. As such, we have engaged in the organization of the Symposium on the Ecophysiology of Neotropical Amphibians and Reptiles (ECOPHYSHERP) to integrate the scientific community interested on these topics. ECOPHYSHERP has been held three times already within the Colombian Congress of Herpetology, and collectively it has hosted >60 contributions from researchers at 26 institutions and eight countries. Participation has been diverse in terms of gender, age, and career stage, but most participants have been young undergraduate biology students. This generation of early-career researchers is producing excellent research in a broad range of topics, but difficulties to convert this research into scientific publications may exist. Identifying and contributing in order to solve such problems are priorities for this organizing committee, and also our endeavours towards ECOPHYSHERP 4.0 in Santa Marta in 2025.

The ‘biocultural approach’ in Latin American ethnobiology

Contemporary ethnobiologists employ the biocultural approach to different contexts and countries, and they seek to describe the relationship between biological and cultural diversity. For Latin American researchers, this approach is particularly interesting from a critical standpoint. We offer a review of the concept of “biocultural”, departing from Mexican ethnobiologist contributions. Later, we analyze different uses of this concept in several regional meetings, including the SOLAE Congress of 2015 in Colombia, the SOLAE Congress of 2017 in Ecuador, and the SOLAE Congress of 2019 in Bolivia. Likewise, we reflect on the 2018 congress at Belém do Pará, Brazil, which commemorated the creation of the ISE there thirty years earlier. We argue that the importance of the biocultural approach becomes influential insofar as non-academic and academic people meet and promote Latin American discussion in terms of local realities.