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Simple Summary: Understanding the diversity, distribution, and ecological roles of leaf-mining Lepidoptera across different biomes is both intriguing and important for advancing our knowledge of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Despite extensive studies on leaf-mining Nepticulidae in tropical environments, no one had previously explored trapping in completely dry deciduous forests, especially during the peak of the dry season when trees are bare and even grass is dried out. This paper reveals an unexpected and astonishing abundance of minuscule plant-mining Nepticulidae moths in such dry deciduous forests. Our study ecoregion, the tropical dry forests of Honduras, includes the Pacific coastal lowlands and premontane areas extending into low-altitude regions further inland, known for their rich biodiversity and high levels of endemism. In these tropical dry forests, we identified five species of pygmy moths belonging to the genus Acalyptris Meyrick, including three new species. These moths are characterized by their distinctive grey coloration and exceptionally small size, classified as "extremely small". Despite their similarities, they exhibit significant differences in genital structures and molecular profiles, indicating distinct species groups. Our research also uncovered novel atypical morphological traits in Nepticulidae from this ecoregion. These findings highlight the unique and highly specific nature of the Nepticulidae fauna in tropical dry forests. A key question arises regarding the presence of Nepticulidae adults during the dry season: could they be mining plant bark instead of leaves? This paper aims to stimulate further exploration of micromoths in other tropical dry forests, which, despite their limited and fragmented distribution, are found not only in Central America but also in other regions worldwide. Our investigation centered on the tropical dry forests along the Pacific coast of Honduras, aiming to elucidate the presence and abundance of minuscule grey moths during the dry season. Through specimen dissections and the taxonomic identification of the collected material, we have described three new species: Acalyptris podenasi sp. nov., A. palpiformis sp. nov., and A. tortoris sp. nov. Additionally, we documented two species previously known from neighboring countries, A. lascuevella Puplesis & Robinson and A. basicornis Remeikis & Stonis. The females of A. lascuevella were previously unknown and are documented here for the first time. Morphological examinations were complemented by DNA barcoding, particularly highlighting variation in A. lascuevella. The paper's primary significance lies not only in the description of new species but also in uncovering their taxonomic, morphological, and molecular importance. We found that these species are unique and indicative of the previously unstudied dry forests as a distinct ecosystem. Our findings revealed several novel atypical morphological traits within the studied Nepticulidae, including unusually large signum cells in the female genitalia, a dorso-ventrally divided uncus, and asymmetrical valvae in the male genitalia. These discoveries underscore the morphological diversity of Acalyptris Meyrick and their significance in evolutionary biology. Consequently, the paper addresses a previously unknown phenomenon of the occurrence and astonishing abundance of minuscule plant-mining micromoths in dry deciduous forests during the peak of the dry season. We hope that this paper will encourage Lepidoptera taxonomists to explore micromoths in other tropical dry forests, which, while limited in distribution, hold global importance. The paper is extensively illustrated with photographs of Acalyptris adults and their genitalia, along with maps, habitats, and molecular phylogenetic trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Invasive species are considered a threat to the conservation of different environments. Annotating the numbers and species of these invasive organisms is critical to developing conservation strategies. This research gives background information on the types and possible origins of invasive species from the arthropod and chordate groups in Panama. The results indicated that approximately 141 exotic arthropod and chordate species have been reported as invasive species in Panama. Most of these species are believed to have been introduced via the Panama Canal Zone or accidentally. With the information compiled, this study will serve as preliminary data on the sources of introduction and will provide information for future research and plans to prevent the impact of those species. Invasive species are one of the five main causes of biodiversity loss, along with habitat destruction, overexploitation, pollution, and climate change. Numbers and species of invasive organisms represent one of the first barriers to overcome in ecological conservation programs since they are difficult to control and eradicate. Due to the lack of records of invasive exotic species in Panama, this study was necessary for identifying and registering the documented groups of invasive species of the Chordates and Arthropod groups in Panama. This exhaustive search for invasive species was carried out in different bibliographic databases, electronic portals, and scientific journals which addressed the topic at a global level. The results show that approximately 141 invasive exotic species of the Arthropoda and Chordata phyla have been reported in Panama. Of the 141 species, 50 species belonged to the Arthropoda phylum and 91 species belonged to the Chordate phylum. Panamanian economic activity could facilitate the introduction of alien species into the country. This study provides the first list of invasive exotic chordate and arthropod species reported for the Republic of Panama. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eight member countries of the Central American Integration System (SICA)—Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and the Dominican Republic—are signatories to the Convention for the Protection of World Heritage and the Convention on Biological Diversity. Both binding international instruments use the terms 'cultural landscape' and 'protected landscape', respectively. For this reason, the environmental/natural and cultural legislation of the SICA region has been analyzed to identify the legal frameworks that allow for the declaration of the categories mentioned above for the protection of landscapes. In five of the eight SICA member states, 38 'protected landscapes' were found to exist under environmental law. No designation has been reported for cultural legislation in this region. In addition, the designations and management plans for 'protected landscapes' were reviewed, and it was noted that most of them were similar in denomination, but their protection objectives were not aligned with the binding instruments from which they were derived. Thus, we conclude that, given the particular natural and cultural wealth of the SICA region, it is necessary to identify and map landscapes and establish common guidelines for managing them to foster harmony between nature and mankind and according to the international conventions' objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates ionospheric response characteristics from multiple perspectives based on globally distributed GNSS data and products, ionosonde data, FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2 occultation data, and Swarm satellite observations caused by the total solar eclipse of 8 April 2024 across North and Central America. The results show that both GNSS-derived TEC products have detected the ionospheric TEC degradation triggered by the total solar eclipse, with the maximum degradation exceeding 10 TECU. The TEC data from nine GNSS stations in the path of the maximum eclipse reveal that the intensity of ionospheric TEC degradation is related to the spatial location, with the maximum degradation value of the ionospheric TEC being about 14~23 min behind the moment of the maximum eclipse. Additionally, a negative anomaly of foF2 with a maximum of more than 2.7 MHz is detected by ionosonde. In the eclipse region, NmF2 and hmF2 show trends of decrease and increase, with percentages of variation of 40~70% and 4~16%, respectively. The Ne profile of the Swarm-A satellite is significantly lower than the reference value during the eclipse period, with the maximum negative anomaly value reaching 11.2 × 105 el/cm3, and it failed to show the equatorial ionization anomaly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Maize is one of the major crops of the world for feed, food, and industrial uses. It originated in Central America and was first introduced into Europe at the end of the 15th century. Due to its adaptability, farmers and breeders across Europe have developed a wide diversity of local maize varieties with different characteristics over the past centuries. Many of these are conserved in genebanks' seed collections, but little is known about their specific characteristics. Here, we present results obtained by the European Evaluation Network for Maize, a private–public partnership with partners from nine countries aimed at promoting the valorization of maize genetic resources in breeding programs. The work describes the selection and the genetic and phenotypic evaluation of a collection of 626 maize landraces preserved in European genebanks, providing evidence for historic introductions and geographic adaptation. In a world where climate change, rising food prices, and other issues are affecting food security and the environment, the conservation and use of crop diversity is becoming increasingly important. The results of our study will facilitate the use of maize genetic resources in breeding for resilience to climate change, for sustainable agriculture, food security, and food quality. The ECPGR European Evaluation Network (EVA) for Maize involves genebanks, research institutions, and private breeding companies from nine countries focusing on the valorization of maize genetic resources across Europe. This study describes a diverse collection of 626 local landraces and traditional varieties of maize (Zea mays L.) from nine European genebanks, including criteria for selection of the collection and its genetic and phenotypic diversity. High-throughput pool genotyping grouped the landraces into nine genetic groups with a threshold of 0.6 admixture, while 277 accessions were designated admixed and likely to have resulted from previous breeding activities. The grouping correlated well with the geographic origins of the collection, also reflecting the various pathways of introduction of maize to Europe. Phenotypic evaluations of 588 accessions for flowering time and plant architecture in multilocation trials over three years confirmed the great diversity within the collection, although phenotypic clusters only partially correlated with the genetic grouping. The EVA approach promotes conservation of genetic resources and opens an opportunity to increase genetic variability for developing improved varieties and populations for farmers, with better adaptation to specific environments and greater tolerance to various stresses. As such, the EVA maize collection provides valuable sources of diversity for facing climate change due to the varieties' local adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruits of the cherimoya tree (Annona cherimola Mill.) were consumed by native cultures in Central America, from where the crop was disseminated to South America in pre-Columbian times. Despite its historical significance and cultivation in subtropical regions worldwide, cherimoya remains an underutilized crop, particularly in its area of origin where the conservation of its genetic diversity is under threat. In this study, we provide a comprehensive overview of the research performed on this fruit tree over the past two decades, shedding light on its current status in terms of commercial production and germplasm conservation efforts in the main cherimoya producing countries in the Americas and Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food insecurity is a critical issue in the Americas, with severe impacts in the Caribbean, Mesoamerica, and South America, particularly affecting older adults in Indigenous and rural contexts where it intersects with poverty, gender, and ethnicity. This study aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the current research about food insecurity among older Indigenous adults in Latin America and the Caribbean. A comprehensive literature review was conducted, utilizing specific search queries and the population, intervention, comparison, and outcome (PICO) strategy across multiple databases to identify the pertinent studies. The findings indicate an increase in academic output on this topic since 2018, with significant emphasis on the interplay between climate change and food insecurity. The review highlights the importance of developing targeted food programs, reforming policies, and fostering collaboration between academia and local communities to implement practical interventions. Despite the growing body of literature, a notable research gap persists in rural areas of Latin America and the Caribbean. This study underscores the necessity of balancing the geographic distribution of research and emphasizes the preservation of cultural practices and the adaptation of public policies to support traditional food practices. It advocates for culturally sensitive interventions and interdisciplinary collaboration to formulate comprehensive strategies. The originality and value of this study lie in its focused analysis of older Indigenous adults, contributing crucial insights to the international literature on food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses the variability of coastal extreme sea levels globally by utilizing nearly three decades of along-track, multi-mission satellite altimetry data. An altimetry-based global coastal database of the non-tidal residual sea level component has been produced. The climate variability of extremes is modeled through a parametric, non-stationary statistical model. This model captures intra-annual, inter-annual and long-term variations in non-tidal residual return levels. Comparisons with tide gauge data demonstrate the ability of altimetry data to capture the variability of coastal extreme sea levels. Our findings reveal a greater complexity in the monthly variability patterns of non-tidal residual extremes in tropical latitudes, often exhibiting multiple storm periods, contrasting with coasts in extratropical latitudes, which are mostly controlled by a winter–summer pattern. This study also highlights the significant influence of established climate circulation patterns on sea level extremes. The positive phase of the Arctic Oscillation pattern leads to increases of over 25% in non-tidal residual return levels in Northwestern Europe with respect to a neutral phase. Furthermore, return levels in the western coast of Central America could be 50% higher during El Niño compared to La Niña. Our results show a robust increasing trend in non-tidal residual return levels along most global coastlines. A comparative analysis shows that variations during the 1995–2020 period were primarily driven by intra-annual variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of vulnerability to sex trafficking has been the subject of intense academic debate. It is well documented in the literature that child sex trafficking is facilitated by the abuse of a position of vulnerability, though limited research has focused on children's order of birth as an element of vulnerability to sex trafficking. The objective of this article, based on a sample of 112 Central American women smuggled to the United States for the sex trade before they had attained the age of eighteen years, is to examine whether the order of birth constitutes an element of vulnerability to sex trafficking. Trafficked minors had vulnerabilities linked to structural-level and individual-level factors. We conclude that sisters occupying the first place in the order of birth are the most susceptible to being recruited by an international network that smuggles women for prostitution. On the contrary, the youngest and middle sisters are less at risk due to the protection and guidance of the other sisters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zoapatle, a native plant utilized for centuries in traditional Mexican medicine, is abundantly found in Mesoamerica and northern South America. Pleiotropic effects of this genus have been recognized, primarily inducing alterations in smooth muscle contractility in animal models. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Zoapatle on the hypertrophy index and the gene expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, NF-κB, STAT5, and the PRLR in the brain, left ventricle, and renal cortex of rats with isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Three groups were studied, the control group (n = 4), hypertrophy group (n = 4) and hypertrophy group treated with Zoapatle (n = 4). A ventricular hypertrophy model was developed with 150 mg/kg/day of isoproterenol intraperitoneally administered over two days with a 24 h interval between applications. Zoapatle was administered for 28 consecutive days (25 mg/kg). Gene expression was determined with RT-qPCR. Subsequently, a principal component analysis (PCA) was performed using the RNA expression variables. A notably reduced left ventricle mass index was observed in the Zoapatle group. Additionally, Zoapatle administration in cardiac hypertrophy demonstrated a significant decrease in the gene expression of TNF-α, IL-1B, STAT 5, and the PRLR. TNF-α and the transcription factor STAT5 exhibited a similar trend in both the left ventricle and renal cortex, suggesting a correlation with the inflammatory state in these tissues due to ventricular hypertrophy. The findings suggest that Zoapatle reverses the hypertrophy index in a hypertrophy model, concurrently reducing several proinflammatory mediators associated with the hypertrophy index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central America is home to one of the most abundant herpetofauna in the Americas, occupying only 7% of the continent's total area. Vipers and lizards are among the most relevant venomous animals in medical practice due to the consequences of envenomation from the bite of these animals. A great diversity of biomolecules with immense therapeutic and biotechnological value is contained in their venom. This paper describes the prominent leading representatives of the family Viperidae, emphasizing their morphology, distribution, habitat, feeding, and venom composition, as well as the biotechnological application of some isolated components from the venom of the animals from these families, focusing on molecules with potential anti-thrombotic action. We present the leading protein families that interfere with blood clotting, platelet activity, or the endothelium pro-thrombotic profile. In conclusion, Central America is an endemic region of venomous animals that can provide many molecules for biotechnological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the Americas, deaths by diseases avoidable with vaccines are a significant contributor to child mortality. An essential means of reducing this is through broad vaccine coverage. The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a potential disruption to vaccine coverage due to its effects on the healthcare system. Objectives: this study aims to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on DTP3 vaccination coverage in the Americas, investigating trends from 2012 to 2022 to identify significant changes, regional disparities, and the overall effect of the pandemic on progress towards global immunization targets. Methods: This study used the coverage data for the third dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine (DTP3) pulled from UNICEF databases spanning 2012 to 2022. We conducted a Joinpoint regression to identify points of significant trend changes. The annual percentage change (APC) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated for America and its regions. We also used segmented regression analysis. Using the Chi-square test, we compared DTP3 vaccination coverage for each country between 2019 and 2022. Results: Overall, America saw a decrease in vaccine coverage during this period, with an APC of −1.4 (95% CI −1.8; −1.0). This trend varied across regions. In North America, the decrease was negligible (−0.1% APC). South America showed the steepest decrease, with an APC of −2.5%. Central America also declined, with an APC of −1.3%. Our findings suggest a concerning trend of declining DTP-vaccination rates in the Americas, exacerbated in certain regions, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The absolute decrease in vaccine coverage in the Americas was −4% between 2019 and 2022, with the most important drop being in Central America (−7%). However, six countries reported increased vaccination rates post-COVID-19, led by Brazil, with a 7% increase. Conversely, twenty-two countries registered a decline in DTP3 vaccine coverage, with the average decrease being −7.37%. This decline poses an important challenge to achieving the WHO's target of 90% coverage for the third dose of DTP by 2030, as evidenced by the reduction in the number of countries meeting this target from 2019 to 2022. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted vaccine coverage in America, leading to a decrease, especially across Central America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Guatemala remains one of the poorest countries in Central America and suffers from high rates of social inequality and violence. In addition to the negative impact that two years without attending school has had on Guatemalan children due to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, this unfavourable socioeconomic context poses a risk to children's emotional and cognitive development. This work presents a protocol for implementing a cognitive and emotional stimulation program aimed at increasing the academic performance of these children and consequently improving their quality of life. Methods: The protocol proposes the implementation of a randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy of a 24-session-long stimulation program. It targets the cognitive functions of attention, language, executive functions, and social cognition, using the digital neurorehabilitation platform NeuronUP. The participants (n = 480) will be randomly assigned to an Experimental or Control group. Pre- and post-intervention assessments will be carried out, together with a follow-up in the next academic year, in which both groups will change roles. Results will be compared for the first and second years, looking for differences in academic and cognitive performance between groups. Discussion: Mid- and long-term outcomes are still unknown, but effective interventions based on this protocol are expected to facilitate the following benefits for participants: (1) improved cognitive and emotional development; (2) improved academic performance; (3) improved well-being. We expect to create a validated neuropsychological stimulation program that could be applied in similar socioeconomically disadvantaged contexts around the world to help these children improve their life chances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent U.S. policy changes have contributed to longer waiting periods for migrant families in Mexican border cities. This study centers on four Honduran families enrolled in the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) policy, also referred to as 'Remain in Mexico,' while undergoing prolonged waiting periods in the Mexican border town of Monterrey, Nuevo Léon. Centering on young people's voices, we ask what they learn during this prolonged period of transit. Through ethnographic and digital participatory storytelling interviews, we illustrate how children learned about the politics of border crossing through fraught interactions with im/migration officials, prolonged periods of immobility, and evolving understandings of legality. Building on theories of 'border thinking' and 'politicized funds of knowledge,' we highlight ways that young people employed their evolving understandings of national borders and the legal contours of their transborder asylum process, while protecting themselves and their families from danger and discrimination. We argue that transit is not simply time that young people are forced to endure; rather, the experience of forced transit is constitutive of young people's learning about state power and their evolving understanding of borders, rights, and belonging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhanced immigration enforcement measures are now a dominant practice throughout the world. The concept of transnationalism, used by scholars to illuminate the complex dynamics these measures have across nation-state borders, has been critiqued for its replication of methodological nationalism—the assumption that the nation-state is a natural social and political form of the modern world. How then can migration scholars deepen the understanding of the mobilities of migrant children and youth without replicating methodological nationalism? We propose a relational socio-cultural analytic that synthesizes settler colonial theory and the theory of racialized legal status to comprehend the complex experiences of Indigenous migrant Maya youth and families throughout the Americas. Our use of a relational critical comparative analysis challenges structural functionalist approaches that limit the study migration dynamics within nation-state contexts, which can unwittingly sustain national membership in a state(s) as an aspirational emblem of belonging. We explore how Indigenous Maya experience and challenge the meaning of statelessness and the spillover effects of immigration enforcement measures along the US–Mexico and Mexico–Guatemala borders. We argue that a relational socio-cultural analytic lens serves as a powerful tool for understanding how nation-states co-produce stateless Indigenous populations and how these populations persist throughout the Americas and the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The papaya mealybug, Paracoccus marginatus, is an invasive pest species found all over the world. It is native to Mexico and Central America. It can now be found in more than 50 countries and regions, seriously threatening the safety of the agricultural and forestry industries. In the current study, the potential global distribution regions of P. marginatus were predicted under current and future climatic conditions using MaxEnt. The results suggested that the highly suitable areas were mainly present in tropical and subtropical regions, including South America, southern North America, Central America, Central Africa, Australia, and South and Southeast Asia. Under four climate scenarios (SSP126, SSP245, SSP370, and SSP585) in the 2050s and 2070s, the total suitable areas will change very little. In addition, the results showed that the min temperature of coldest month (bio6) was the most important factor influencing the distribution of P. marginatus, accounting for 46.8% of all contributions. Overall, the current study can provide a reference framework for the future control and management of papaya mealybug and other invasive insect species. The papaya mealybug, Paracoccus marginatus, is an invasive pest species found all over the world. It is native to Mexico and Central America, but is now present in more than 50 countries and regions, seriously threatening the economic viability of the agricultural and forestry industry. In the current study, the global potential distribution of P. marginatus was predicted under current and future climatic conditions using MaxEnt. The results of the model assessment indicated that the area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC-AUC) was 0.949, while the TSS value was 0.820. The results also showed that the three variables with the greatest impact on the model were min temperature of coldest month (bio6), precipitation of wettest month (bio13), and precipitation of coldest quarter (bio19), with corresponding contributions of 46.8%, 31.1%, and 13.1%, respectively. The results indicated that the highly suitable areas were mainly located in tropical and subtropical regions, including South America, southern North America, Central America, Central Africa, Australia, the Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia. Under four climate scenarios in the 2050s and 2070s, the area of suitability will change very little. Moreover, the results showed that the area of suitable areas in 2070s increased under all four climate scenarios compared to the current climate. In contrast, the area of suitable habitat increases from the current to the 2050s under the SSP370 and SSP585 climate scenarios. The current study could provide a reference framework for the future control and management of papaya mealybug and other invasive species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The royalty of the Classic Maya of Mesoamerica, and later sages of the Maya, used a powerful diphrastic kenning chab akab', glossed as "generation-darkness" to convey a range of objectives, conjuring foremost among them. Known principally from hieroglyphic written expressions, but also depicted in the form of sacrificial instruments and offerings, Eleanor Harrison-Buck, following Timothy Knowlton, proposed that the kenning references sexual intercourse. This essay proposes that a black steatite carved figure stylistically dating to the Middle Preclassic period (900–350 CE) depicts this incantation as an old woman giving birth to her maleness in the form of a circumcised penis. A second Middle Preclassic figure of a dancing child, found as an heirloom in a Classic tomb, is compared to show the link between Preclassic and Classic meaning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pacaya palm (Chamaedorea tepejilote Liebm) is an important food that is commonly consumed in Mexico and Central America due to its nutritive value. It is also used as a nutraceutical food against some chronic diseases, such as hypertension and hyperglycemia. However, few reports have indicated its possible potential. For this reason, the goal of this research was to evaluate the effects of the enzymatic activity of the pacaya palm inflorescence rachis on both hypertension and hyperglycemia and the effects of thermal treatments on the enzymatic activity. The enzymatic inhibition of ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme), DPP-IV (dipeptidyl peptidase-IV), α-glucosidase and α-amylase were evaluated, all with powder extracts of pacaya palm inflorescences rachis. The results indicated that thermally treated rachis showed increased enzymatic inhibitory activity against α-amylase and DPP-IV. However, all rachis, both with and without thermal treatment, showed low- or no enzymatic activity against α-glucosidase and ACE. Apparently, the mechanism of action of the antidiabetic effect of rachis is mediated by the inhibition of α-amylase and DPP-IV and does not contribute with a significant effect on enzymes involved in the hypertension mechanism. Finally, the properties of the extract were modified via the extraction method and the temperature tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orf virus (ORFV) belongs to the genus Parapoxvirus (Poxviridae family). It is the causative agent of contagious ecthyma (CE) that is an economically detrimental disease affecting small ruminants globally. Contagious ecthyma outbreaks are usually reported in intensive breeding of sheep and goats but they have also been reported in wildlife species. Notably, ORFV can infect humans, leading to a zoonotic disease. This study aims to elucidate the global evolutionary history of ORFV genomes in sheep and goats, including the first genomes from Central America in the analyses. In comparison to the last study on ORFV whole genomes, the database now includes 11 more sheep and goat genomes, representing an increase of 42%. The analysis of such a broader database made it possible to obtain a fine molecular dating of the coalescent time for ORFV S and G genomes, further highlighting the genetic structuring between sheep and goat genomes and corroborating their emergence in the latter half of 20th century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes four interpretations of the adverb siempre 'always' that do not belong to general Spanish. The continuative and the progressive-comparative interpretations are argued to be calques of Italian, often attested in Rioplatense Spanish. In the first one, siempre is equivalent to Eng. still or 'continue to + infinitive', while in the second one it admits paraphrases with more and more, less and less, and the adverbs gradually and progressively. The third interpretation, in which siempre is roughly equivalent to after all, finally, and 'end up + gerund', will be argued to be concessive-adversative. This reading is more frequent in Mexico and Central America, but it is also attested in other American countries. The fourth reading is the attenuated interpretation, registered in part of the Andean area. In this meaning, siempre is equivalent to roughly or so so. It is argued that, with the possible exception of the last reading (whose origin is insecure), these different meanings of siempre coincide in the interpretation of this adverb as a universal quantifier, while they differ in the semantic nature of the quantified variable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is considered one of the major health diseases worldwide, one that requires immediate alternatives to allow treatments for DM to be more effective and less costly for patients and also for health-care systems. Recent approaches propose treatments for DM based on that; in addition to focusing on reducing hyperglycemia, they also consider multitargets, as in the case of plants. Among these, we find the plant known as chia to be highlighted, a crop native to Mexico and one cultivated in Mesoamerica from pre-Hispanic times. The present work contributes to the review of the antidiabetic effects of chia for the treatment of DM. The antidiabetic effects of chia are effective in different mechanisms involved in the complex pathogenesis of DM, including hypoglycemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, and the inhibition of the enzymes α-glucosidase and α-amylase, as well as in the prevention of the risk of cardiovascular disease. The tests reviewed included 16 in vivo assays on rodent models, 13 clinical trials, and 4 in vitro tests. Furthermore, chia represents advantages over other natural products due to its availability and its acceptance and, in addition, as a component of the daily diet worldwide, especially due to its omega-3 fatty acids and its high concentration of dietary fiber. Thus, chia in the present work represents a source of antidiabetic agents that would perhaps be useful in novel clinical treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The worldwide increase in the prevalence and incidence of sleep disturbances represents a major public health issue. Among multiple determinants affecting sleep health, an individual's socioeconomic status (SES) is the most ignored and underestimated throughout the literature. No systematic review on the relation between SES and sleep health has been previously conducted in Latin America. Methods: PRISMA guidelines were used. Results: Twenty articles were included in the final sample (all cross-sectional studies), and twelve among them were rated as fair or poor quality. Among these studies, 80.0% (n = 16) were performed in Brazil, 10.0% (n = 2) were performed in Peru, 5.0% (n = 1) were performed in Chile, and 5.0% (n = 1) were multicentric (11 countries). The combined total number of participants was N = 128.455, comprising 3.7% (n = 4693) children, 16.0% (n = 20,586) adolescents, and 80.3% (n = 103,176) adults. The results show the following: (1) The sleep outcomes analyzed were sleep duration, sleep quality/sleep disturbance, insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)/sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) symptoms, and bruxism. (2) The most used determinants were income, education level, employment status/occupation, wealth/assets, and composite indices. (3) Higher SES was associated with shorter sleep duration. (4) Lower SES was associated with a decrease in sleep quality, less frequent snoring, more prevalent EDS, and sleep bruxism. (5) Lower education was associated with insomnia. (6) Higher education was associated with more sleep bruxism. (7) The pooled prevalence using a meta-analysis of the random effects model was 24.73% (95%CI, 19.98–30.19), with high heterogeneity (I2 = 100%). (8) The prevalence of sleep disturbances decreased with high education (OR, 0.83; 95%CI, [0.69–0.99]; I2 = 79%), while it increased with low income (OR, 1.26; 95%CI, [1.12–1.42]; I2 = 59%), unemployment (OR, 2.84; 95%CI, [2.14–3.76]; I2 = 0%), and being a housewife (OR, 1.72; 95%CI, [1.19–2.48]; I2 = 55%). Discussion: This meta-analysis shows that lower SES (education, income, and work) was associated with sleep disturbances in Latin America. Therefore, sleep disturbance management should be addressed with a multidimensional approach, and a significant investment in targeted public health programs to reduce sleep disparities and support research should be made by the government before the situation becomes uncontrollable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the fall of Tenochtitlan in 1521, the first groups of friars arrived in Mexico to Christianize the native inhabitants of Mesoamerica. This task was anything but easy, as explaining Christian doctrine to the Indigenous people posed both a linguistic and a theological challenge. The need to learn Indigenous languages and to prepare doctrinal materials dedicated specifically to the Christianization of this land was a task that might have seemed almost impossible to conduct in a short period of time, yet by the 1540s, the first printed catechisms (doctrinas) in Nahuatl began to appear. One of the earliest and broadest of these works is the 1548 Dominican Doctrina Christiana en Lengua Española y Mexicana, in which the friars attempted to explain all of the principles of Catholic theology to the Indigenous people. This paper analyses how through highly detailed descriptions and a meticulous choice of vocabulary, the authors strove to impart the tenets of Christian doctrine to the Nahuas in such a way as to make it both fully understandable and as unlikely as possible to be misinterpreted. It points to the sources on which the friars relied while writing the text. The article formulates a theory that the creation of the Doctrina Christiana would not have been possible without the participation of the native speakers of Nahuatl in the project, even though their role in writing the catechism would have had to be hidden from the religious authorities. The Indigenous authors served as cross-cultural bridges in the process of preparing the doctrinal materials. On the one hand, they could therefore help to explain crucial parts of the doctrine to the Indigenous audience. On the other hand, allowing Indigenous concepts to permeate the Christian discourse often led to the creation of ambiguity and provided a space of contestation that could influence the understanding of the Catholic concepts by the Indigenous audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic kidney disease of non-traditional origin (CKDnt) in Central America, also known as Mesoamerican Nephropathy (MeN), is of particular concern in agricultural populations. The member states of the Central American Integration System (SICA) determined in 2013 that there was an imperative need to address the situation in a comprehensive manner and defined policies for the intervention of the disease. A situation that currently worries health authorities is that cases are on the rise—without distinguishing or implementing effective actions to achieve a decrease in disease prevalence. The incidence of heat and strenuous activities on renal health is undeniable; however, labeling these variables as the only responsible causes for MeN has not catalyzed the implementation of health measures to lead to a preventive approach to solve the epidemic or to achieve a decrease in the number of new cases. This review addresses the role nephrotoxic metals present in the environment, mainly in soils and water, may have as part of a scenario of exposure to environmental toxins in which environmental, occupational, geographic and population variables interact. An integral approach was used to encompass the multicausality that is attributed to MeN and based on the multidisciplinary concept of the re-emerging discipline called medical geology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical coastal karst areas represent dynamic, fragile, and biodiverse environments. Central America's karst regions have been scarcely studied, with most of the research focused on the northern part of the region and on several larger cave systems. The coastal carbonate zones of the Central American region represent a unique karstic landscape, which, so far, has been insufficiently studied. Therefore, in this paper, we aim to describe the (i) landscape geomorphology and (ii) chemical conditions that define Ciénega de El Mangle in Panama as a distinctive karstic site. Carried geomorphological mapping and the characterization of karstic features have resulted in the identification of the different karstic forms and processes that are present within this unique karstic area. Considering that the chosen karstic study area is located in a marine–coastal fringe on the periphery of a lagoon, it is affected by a combination of several factors and processes, including seawater intrusion (through sinkholes), the formation of conchiferous limestone (CaCO3), and NaCl precipitation related to efflorescence. Due to the seasonally humid tropical climate, the chemical weathering processes are intense, thus forming alkaline soils that are hindering the development of mangrove vegetation. The geomorphology of the area results from intense evaporation combined with an influx of brackish groundwater, due to which a landscape has evolved in the marine–coastal strips, of seasonal tropical climates, that exhibit saline beaches, known as a littoral shott. In total, 24 karstic microdolines have evolved within the shott, of which six represent domical geoforms formed by gradual evaporitic precipitation, while seven other geoforms represent active karstic sinkholes filled with brackish water. These results are key for understanding the past and present climate interactions and conditions that have led to the formation of tropical karst environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extreme weather that humanity has been confronting in recent years is the result of climate change. All over the world, unknown plant species are disappearing daily, which humankind has not discovered and will never know. Since 1900, the angiosperms and gymnosperms have been disappearing at a frequency of three species per year, but it is worrying that this rate of disappearance is up to 500 times higher currently. These data, correlated with the information provided by the United Nations (the world population will reach 10 billion by the year 2050) and FAO (food insecurity and the decrease of feedstock) lead to a crucial need to conserve and study plant germplasm. Therefore, plant germplasm conserved, especially in gene banks, can represent an important source for the development of varieties with an increased resistance to abiotic stress factors. Considering the origin of the current species of Phaseolus vulgaris L. as being in two distinct centers with different gene pools (Andean and Mesoamerica), the aim of the article is to infer the ancestry of 27 landraces according to their sampling geographical origin and morphological and molecular traits based on DNA sequences of three genes associated with abiotic stress tolerance (drought and thermal stress): PvREB5A, PvDREB6B, and PvRPS4. Phaseolus vulgaris L. has two different centers of origin: the Mesoamerican and the Andean basins. In this research, 27 landraces were evaluated from different counties in Romania. Three genes, PvREB5A, PvDREB6B, and PvRPS4, were amplified by the PCR reaction, sequenced by the Sanger technique, and the data obtained were analyzed using MEGA XI software. For morphological data, the GraphPad Prism 9 software was used. According to PvDREB5A, 81.5% of all studied landraces belong to the Mesoamerican gene pool and 18.5% belong to the Andean. PvDREB6B revealed a high nucleotide and amino acid diversity between the Andean and Mesoamerican genotypes compared to the other evaluated genes. Also, the PvRPS4 gene from the chloroplast genome showed one SNP within its coding region, different for those two gene pools, which is directly involved in a nonsynonymous substitution. The morphological characteristics, such as weight for 100 seeds, length, height, width, weight, seed flatness, flatness index, seed elongation, and eccentricity index were determined. European landraces of Mesoamerican origin indicated a large seed size compared to Andean genotypes. This work can be a foundation for the identification of interesting traits that establish plant adaptation to abiotic stress and conserve landraces of common beans from genetic depletion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a 100% renewable and diversified system taking advantage of the available energy potential of renewable energies in Mexico with a view to a planned energy transition in cooperation with the environment. The processes of change that are experienced worldwide in favor of the planet make us reflect and propose alternatives that break traditional schemes in the production of energy (for which reason Mexico cannot deviate from its current model). It is here that this research becomes a transcendental and important reference for decision-making and the transformation of the energy sector in Mexico. The current electrical system relies on fossil fuels that need to be replaced by renewable energy sources (and it is necessary to satisfy growing demands in the long term). The methodological process is carried out with the use of the 100% renewable energy market design tool EnergyPLAN, which puts the concept of intelligent energy into practice by 2050. Finally, after analyzing the results, it is concluded that a good energy mix for 2050 is 30% solar photovoltaic, 25% wind, 14.5% hydraulic, 13.8% CSP plants, and 16.7% other technologies. Surpluses may be sold to the United States and Central America through interconnection points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Climate change is causing an increase in air temperature, and consequently, animals are increasingly subject to heat stress, which is responsible for causing changes in their physiological and behavioral reactions, as well as reductions in feed intake, efficiency, growth, reproduction and milk and meat production. There are not only climate spaces for daily functions, but also climate cliffs that cause reproductive failures in the face of climate warming. The objective of this study was to develop a state-of-the-art model that calculates the impacts of climate and animal variables on milk production, metabolic rate, feed consumption and water needs. The study identifies current and future monthly latitudinal climate change impacts on milk production and feed and water needs in dairy cows on high-grain versus high-forage diets at three arbitrary north latitudes, 12°, 30° and 60°, for North and Central America and Asia. These three latitudes encompass current northern hemisphere bovine production environments and possible future production locations. The greatest impacts of climate change will be in the low elevations in tropical and subtropical regions. Global regions above 30° and below 60° latitude with reliable rainfall will be least affected by current projected levels of climate change. The effects of climate change on animals are typically viewed in terms of survivability and wellbeing. In this study, we broaden that purview to include climate impacts on reproductive capability. There are not only climate spaces for daily function, but climate cliffs that represent reproductive failures in the face of climate warming. This alternative focus suggests that climate warming challenges may be more immediate and profound than initially imagined. This research describes a state-of-the-art mechanistic model, Dairy Niche Mapper (DNM), and independent validation tests. Where test data are absent, the calculated results are consistent with expected responses. Simulations of metabolic chamber conditions reveal the local steady-state impacts of climate and animal variables on milk production capacity, metabolic rate, food consumption and water needs. Simulations of a temperature humidity index (THI) show strengths and limitations of that approach. Broader time- and spatial-scale calculations applied in the western and eastern halves of the northern hemisphere identify current and future monthly latitudinal climate change impacts on milk production potential, feed and water needs in dairy cows of different sizes. Dairy Niche Mapper (DNM) was developed from a broadly tested mechanistic microclimate-animal model, Niche Mapper (NM). DNM provides an improved quantitative understanding of the complex nonlinear interactions of climate variation and dairy bovine properties' effects on current and future milk production, feed and water needs for grazing and confinement dairy operations. DNM outputs include feasible activity times, milk production and water and feed needs of different-sized Holstein cows on high-grain (confinement feeding) versus high-forage (grazing feeding) diets at three arbitrary north latitudes, 12°, 30° and 60°, for North and Central America and for Asia. These three latitudes encompass current northern hemisphere bovine production environments and possible future production locations. The greatest impacts of climate change will be in the low elevations in tropical and subtropical regions. Global regions above 30° and below 60° latitude with reliable rainfall will be least affected by current projected levels of climate change. This work provides the basis for computational animal design for guiding agricultural development via breeding programs, genetic engineering, management options including siting or the manipulation of other relevant environmental and animal variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of deformation dynamics in Guatemala city and its surrounding region presented in this paper holds significant relevance due to the high vulnerability of this area to natural disasters, combined with its rapid urbanization, similar to most Central American cities, contrasting with a lack of InSAR and deformation studies in the region. A total of 226 SAR images from Sentinel-1 A and B satellites in both ascending and descending geometries were processed with the Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) technique employing the SNAP-StaMPS integrated processing chain. The study area encompasses the Metropolitan Region of Guatemala, which is characterized by a diverse and active geological framework, with a historical record of earthquakes, intense groundwater extraction, and local subsidence phenomena, causing fissures and sinkholes. Four active areas were identified in the study area, each covering more than 50 hectares, with subsidence velocities greater than 10 mm/yr. This study provides valuable insights into fostering the sustainable development of this region by identifying deformation patterns, characterizing main active areas, and evaluating associated risks for disaster management and prevention. The results can also aid informed decision-making processes and guide urban planning and resource management strategies in other Central American countries. The application of InSAR studies is crucial for improving safety and sustainability in urban environments and natural resource management in vulnerable regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into the long-term atmospheric transport and deposition of 210Pb in the Northern Hemisphere by using the atmospheric transport model HIRAT. The calculation for the four-year (2012–2015) period showed an average deposition flux of 13.0 Bq m−2 month−1 with significant seasonal variations characterized by higher deposition rates during summer and lower during winter. High deposition was found in the Northern Bay of Bengal and Bangladesh regions, Southern China, the Western Philippine Sea, the Eastern Japan Sea, the Northwestern Pacific region, the Eastern and Western coasts of North America, the Caribbean Sea, the Eastern Pacific region off of Central America, the Central Atlantic region between Central America and Africa, and the Northwestern Atlantic Ocean. Deposition patterns varied across latitudinal zones, with tropical areas experiencing the highest deposition and polar/subpolar zones the lowest. This study emphasized the impact of monsoons on the significantly large 210Pb deposition in the Japan Sea region. Furthermore, this study showed that the lower troposphere (0 to 3 km) dominates with about 53%, and the middle troposphere (3 to 6 km) and upper troposphere (above 6 km) also contribute significantly to the total 210Pb inventory with 37% and 10%, respectively. These findings provide essential insights into the characteristics of atmospheric transport and deposition of 210Pb, and their mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Cylapocoris is a genus of the cylapine tribe Fulviini distributed in the Neotropics, with most species being recorded from Central America. By the descriptions of five new species and redescriptions of six species, we provide a robust amount of morphological data, including the novel study of female genitalia, offering an updated diagnosis and description of the genus. This paper also elucidates the phylogenetic position of the genus and the interrelationships of the species within it as well as confirming the monophyly of Cylapocoris. This paper provides descriptions of five new species of the Neotropical genus Cylapocoris Carvalho, 1954 (C. bimaculatus n. sp., C. brooksi n. sp., C. carvalhoi n. sp., C. scutellatus n. sp., and C. simplexoides n. sp.). Cylapocoris and Cylapocoroides Carvalho, 1989 are redescribed and rediagnosed. Illustrations of male genitalia, scanning electron micrographs of selected structures of certain taxa, and an identification key to species are provided. Female genitalia are described and illustrated for the first time for Cylapocoris in nine out of 19 known species. A cladistic analysis of the genus, based on 62 morphological characters, is presented as a contribution to the understanding of relationships within Cylapocoris and its relationships with other groups of Cylapinae. The analysis comprises 16 ingroup species and 15 outgroup taxa. Both equal and implied weighting parsimony analyses were used in the phylogenetic reconstruction. We confirm the monophyly of Cylapocoris and its sister-group relationship with Cylapocoroides. Additionally, we identify subgroupings within Cylapocoris. Intertribal relationships within Cylapinae are briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Re-emerging arboviruses represent a serious health problem due to their rapid vector-mediated spread, mainly in urban tropical areas. The 2013–2015 Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak in South and Central America has been associated with cases of microcephaly in newborns and Guillain–Barret syndrome. We previously showed that the conjugate gallic acid—Hecate (GA-FALALKALKKALKKLKKALKKAL-CONH2)—is an efficient inhibitor of the hepatitis C virus. Here, we show that the Hecate peptide is degraded in human blood serum into three major metabolites. These metabolites conjugated with gallic acid were synthesized and their effect on ZIKV replication in cultured cells was evaluated. The GA-metabolite 5 (GA-FALALKALKKALKKL-COOH) was the most efficient in inhibiting two ZIKV strains of African and Asian lineage at the stage of both virus entry (virucidal and protective) and replication (post-entry). We also demonstrate that GA-metabolite 5 does not affect cell growth after 7 days of continuous treatment. Thus, this study identifies a new synthetic antiviral compound targeting different steps of ZIKV replication in vitro and with the potential for broad reactivity against other flaviviruses. Our work highlights a promising strategy for the development of new antivirals based on peptide metabolism and bioconjugation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In insects, including tephritid fruit flies, some of which are notorious pests of commercially grown fruit, the antenna harbors the sensilla responsible for the perception of odors (chemicals carried by air), temperature, humidity, and movement. As one of the methods used to monitor and control these agricultural pests is using traps baited with attractive odors, or toxic bait sprays, both of which an adult fly detects through the antenna, the study of this organ is crucial in understanding the behavior of the insect and applying this information in its environmentally friendly control/management. In this study, we detected up to 16 different subtypes of sensilla and various other hitherto unknown structures with the help of various types of microscopes in the antenna of the Mexican Fruit Fly, Anastrepha ludens, a pest of citrus and mango. We describe these sensilla/structures and suggest possible functions. As other researchers have previously worked on this topic, we made a special effort to uniformize the criteria used to classify these key structures, update the terminology, and better describe each sensilla with the help of detailed photographs. Using light, transmission, scanning electron, and confocal microscopy, we carried out a morphological study of antennal sensilla and their ultrastructures of the Mexican Fruit Fly Anastrepha ludens (Loew), an economically important species that is a pest of mangos and citrus in Mexico and Central America. Our goal was to update the known information on the various sensilla in the antennae of A. ludens, involved in the perception of odors, temperature, humidity, and movement. Based on their external shape, size, cuticle-thickness, and presence of pores, we identified six types of sensilla with 16 subtypes (one chaetica in the pedicel, four clavate, two trichoid, four basiconic, one styloconic, and one campaniform-like in the flagellum, and three additional ones in the two chambers of the sensory pit (pit-basiconic I and II, and pit-styloconic)), some of them described for the first time in A. ludens. We also report, for the first time, two types of pores in the sensilla (hourglass and wedge shapes) that helped classify the sensilla. Additionally, we report a campaniform-like sensillum only observed by transmission electronic microscopy on the flagellum, styloconic and basiconic variants inside the sensory pit, and an "hourglass-shaped" pore in six sensilla types. We discuss and suggest the possible function of each sensillum according to their characteristics and unify previously used criteria in the only previous study on the topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past few decades, Central American countries have seen a steady increase in their energy needs. Luckily, the region has abundant renewable energy resources and, as a result, has been busy constructing wind and photovoltaic power facilities. However, while these renewable sources are promising, they come with some risks—mainly, their variable power generation can pose a challenge to the interconnected regional system. This paper explores the current state of the Central American power system and the obstacles it faces as it strives to transition to a more environmentally-friendly energy system. To do so, the authors employed power flow analysis and transient stability studies, which were conducted using ETAP (Electrical Transient Analyzer Program) to model and simulate the power system. Their study revealed that the Central American power system is at risk of instability, and they suggest that integrating ancillary services and storage solutions could strengthen its resilience. Additionally, the authors advocate for the development of microgrids, energy management, and sustainable decarbonization plans. Lastly, the authors emphasize the importance of short-, medium-, and long-term power planning to make better decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is a disease typically confined to South and Central America, whereby human disease is characterised by a transient systemic infection and occasionally severe encephalitis, which is associated with lethality. Using an established mouse model of VEEV infection, the encephalitic aspects of the disease were analysed to identify biomarkers associated with inflammation. Sequential sampling of lethally challenged mice (infected subcutaneously) confirmed a rapid onset systemic infection with subsequent spread to the brain within 24 h of the challenge. Changes in inflammatory biomarkers (TNF-α, CCL-2, and CCL-5) and CD45+ cell counts were found to correlate strongly to pathology ( R > 0.9 ) and present previously unproven biomarkers for disease severity in the model, more so than viral titre. The greatest level of pathology was observed within the olfactory bulb and midbrain/thalamus. The virus was distributed throughout the brain/encephalon, often in areas not associated with pathology. The principal component analysis identified five principal factors across two independent experiments, with the first two describing almost half of the data: (1) confirmation of a systemic Th1-biased inflammatory response to VEEV infection, and (2) a clear correlation between specific inflammation of the brain and clinical signs of disease. Targeting strongly associated biomarkers of deleterious inflammation may ameliorate or even eliminate the encephalitic syndrome of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Tropical mountains are rather interesting ecosystems that exhibit a diverse array of features of an ecological niche that shapes the geographic distribution of species and their co-occurrence patterns. Both historical and contemporary factors significantly influence species and lineages diversification and distribution on mountains. We studied the Peromyscus mexicanus rodent group, distributed across mountains in Guatemala-Chiapas and Central America. We aimed to describe the phylogeography, demography, current distribution, and potential range changes due to future climate change. Based on a framework of genetic (mitochondrial and nuclear sequences) and ecological niche modeling methods, we show that lineages with particular ecological features and distribution on lowlands and highlands have distinctive demographic histories associated with glacial and interglacial cycles during the Pleistocene–Holocene. Additionally, the distribution range of some lineages will potentially be significantly reduced by future climate change. This information is crucial for management and conservation purposes for these lineages in particular, but also as a cautionary tale for potential climate change impacts on a variety of mountain taxa. Mountains harbor a significant number of the World's biodiversity, both on tropical and temperate regions. Notably, one crucial gap in conservation is the consideration of historical and contemporary patterns influencing differential distribution in small mammal mountain species and how climate change will affect their distribution and survival. The mice Peromyscus mexicanus species group is distributed across mountains in Guatemala-Chiapas and Central America, which experienced significant effects of glacial and interglacial cycles. We determined phylogeographic and demographic patterns of lowlands and highlands mountain lineages, revealing that the radiation of modern P. mexicanus lineages occurred during the Pleistocene (ca. 2.6 mya) along Nuclear Central America. In concert with climatic cycles and the distribution of habitats, lowland and highland lineages showed recent population size increase and decrease, respectively. We also estimated the current and future distribution ranges for six lineages, finding marked area size increase for two lineages for which vegetation type and distribution would facilitate migrating towards higher elevations. Contrastingly, three lineages showed range size decrease; their ecological requirements make them highly susceptible to future habitat loss. Our findings are clear evidence of the negative impacts of future climate change, while our ability to manage and conserve these vulnerable ecosystems and mountain species is contingent on our understanding of the implications of climate change on the distribution, ecology, and genetics of wildlife populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Murcielago gold placer is located in the Lepaguare Valley, Olancho Department (Central Honduras). The placer mineralogy includes silicates (quartz, garnets, amphibole, Ca-pyroxene, micas, epidote, and tourmaline); calcite; and in the heavy fraction, zircon, ilmenite–rutile, magnetite, hematite, cassiterite, and cinnabar. Gold grains recovered from the Murcielago placer production plant are mainly flattened grains with a moderately to high elliptical shape. The composition of the gold grains varies continuously in the range Au 46 Ag 54 to Au 88 Ag 12 . Few of them are characterized by Au-rich rims of a few microns in size (Ag 3-1 atoms percent (at%)). Gold from the Canan lode deposit, a nearby hydrothermal Au mineralization area, has a composition (from Au 54 Ag 44 to Au 81 Ag 19 ) overlapping the composition of the Murcielago grains. Inclusions in the alluvial gold particles are arsenopyrite, pyrite, acanthite, sphalerite, and hematite. On the basis of the placer mineralogy and the gold grains analyses, possible gold source(s) include the Canan lode and skarn gold deposits in the area. We obtained new data on the Murcielago gold placer that will be the basis for an exploration of the potential sources of gold in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments and central banks worldwide implemented a wide range of policies to support households and businesses, among them a series of measures to support the availability of credit. This paper quantitatively assesses how monetary and regulatory policy measures helped lessen the effect of the economic downturn on bank credit to the private sector, and on non-performing loans, and focuses on small EMEs, which have been the subject of little analysis in this regard. Specifically, it looks at a number of countries in the Central American region. The resulting estimates show that the policies implemented substantially reduced the negative impact of the crisis on bank credit and nonperforming loans, and that the measures largely responsible for this mitigation were regulatory rather than monetary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In January and February 2001, El Salvador was hit by two strong earthquakes that triggered thousands of landslides, causing 1259 fatalities and extensive damage. The analysis of aerial and SPOT-4 satellite images allowed us to map 6491 coseismic landslides, mainly debris slides and flows that occurred in volcanic epiclastites and pyroclastites. Four different multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) models were produced using different predictors and landslide inventories which contain slope failures triggered by an extreme rainfall event in 2009 and those induced by the earthquakes of 2001. In a predictive analysis, three validation scenarios were employed: the first and the second included 25% and 95% of the landslides, respectively, while the third was based on a k-fold spatial cross-validation. The results of our analysis revealed that: (i) the MARS algorithm provides reliable predictions of coseismic landslides; (ii) a better ability to predict coseismic slope failures was observed when including susceptibility to rainfall-triggered landslides as an independent variable; (iii) the best accuracy is achieved by models trained with both preparatory and trigger variables; (iv) an incomplete inventory of coseismic slope failures built just after the earthquake event can be used to identify potential locations of yet unreported landslides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cuphea P. Browne (Lythraceae) is a monophyletic taxon comprising some 240–260 species that grow wild in the warm, temperate, and tropical regions of South and Central America and the southern part of North America. They have been valued as traditional medicinal remedies for numerous indications, including treating wounds, parasitic infections, hypertension, digestive disorders, cough, rheumatism, and pain. Modern pharmacological research provides data that support many of these traditional uses. Such a wide array of medicinal applications may be due to the exceptionally rich phytochemical profile of these plants, which includes bioactive compounds classified into various metabolite groups, such as polyphenols, triterpenes, alkaloids, and coumarins. Furthermore, Cuphea seed oils, containing medium-chain fatty acids, are of increasing interest in various industries as potential substitutes for coconut and palm oils. This review aims to summarize the results of phytochemical and pharmacological studies on Cuphea plants, with a particular focus on the therapeutic potential and molecular mechanisms of the action of polyphenolic compounds (especially flavonoids and tannins), which have been the subject of many recently published articles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Creating a suitable travel package has become increasingly difficult for businesses within the tourism industry because of various factors affecting tourists' decision-making behavior and businesses' desire to make profits. This paper proposes a novel approach to service design within the tourism industry by integrating the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the theory of inventive problem solving (TRIZ) to design a suitable travel package while taking into account both consumer and business perspectives. Through a case study application, we identify the most important consumer and business factors with AHP and the Delphi method and then solve the existing contradiction with TRIZ. We collect both qualitative and quantitative data from experts and visitors through a survey approach consisting of 56 fully completed responses for a target of only 35 responses as required by AHP. We analyze these data using Super Decisions software to obtain the necessary results. AHP helps weigh and rank the 4 criteria and 16 sub-criteria, whereas TRIZ provides recommendations to resolve the contradiction, based on the 40 inventive principles, to create a cost-effective travel package to Belize in Central America. The main contradiction was feasibility versus cost, and the most applicable corresponding principles were dynamization, self-service, local quality, and prior action. Overall, this paper gives vital insights into the tourism sector to anyone interested in this topic and provides a precise AHP-TRIZ application framework with clear procedures. The results and methodologies could also help scholars and academics with future AHP-TRIZ applications in other research fields or possible expansions of this new approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guatemala is recognized for its diverse and rich flora and fauna. It is estimated that over 1200 orchid species, classified in 223 genera, are known to occur in this rather small, yet megadiverse country. While studying the diversity of this plant group in the department of Baja Verapaz, we found individuals that clearly belonged to the genus Schiedeella, but whose features did not fit any previously known species. At that time, nine terrestrial taxon representatives were known to occur in Guatemala. We conducted the morphological analysis in accordance with the standard procedures of classical taxonomy. For phylogenetic reconstruction, 59 sequences of the ITS region and 48 of the trnL-trnF marker were applied. The topology of trees was obtained based on the Bayesian inference. Schiedeella bajaverapacensis was described and illustrated based on morphological evidence, and its taxonomic position was confirmed by phylogenetic analyses. The new entity is the 10th Schiedeella representative known from Guatemala. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The serological tests using blood stage antigens might be helpful for detecting recent exposure to Plasmodium parasites, and seroepidemiological studies would aid in the elimination of malaria. This work produced recombinant proteins of PvMSP142 variants and evaluated their capacity to detect IgG antibodies in symptomatic patients from Mesoamerica. Methods: Three variant Pvmsp142 genes were cloned in the pHL-sec plasmid, expressed in the Expi293F™ eukaryotic system, and the recombinant proteins were purified by affinity chromatography. Using an ELISA, 174 plasma or eluted samples from patients infected with different P. vivax haplotypes were evaluated against PvMSP142 proteins and to a native blood stage antigen (NBSA). Results: The antibody IgG OD values toward PvMSP142 variants (v88, v21, and v274) were heterogeneous (n = 178; median = 0.84 IQR 0.28–1.64). The correlation of IgG levels among all proteins was very high (spearman's rho = 0.96–0.98; p < 0.0001), but was lower between them and the NBSA (rho = 0.771; p < 0.0001). In only a few samples, higher reactivity to the homologous protein was evident. Patients with a past infection who were seropositive had higher IgG levels and lower parasitemia levels than those who did not (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The PvMSP142 variants were similarly efficient in detecting specific IgG antibodies in P. vivax patients from Mesoamerica, regardless of the infecting parasite's haplotype, and might be good candidates for malaria surveillance and epidemiological studies in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two patterns are apparent in the altitudinal distribution of Neotropical passalid beetles: (a) species that occur only in lowland forest habitats but have broad geographic distributions, and (b) montane endemic species with relatively limited distributions. The transition zone between these distributions in upper Mesoamerica occurs, on average, at approximately 1500 m above sea level (a.s.l.). We studied the altitudinal stratification of passalid beetle communities living on two volcanoes in Guatemala (Atitlan and Santa Maria), revisiting a study conducted in 1981 by MacVean and Schuster. We collected passalid beetles at the same study sites and compared the community composition along the altitudinal gradient. We collected all but one of the species reported by MacVean and Schuster and found three additional species. We observed two key differences in the passalid communities observed in 1981 versus the present: (a) for the Atitlan site, the species' turnover line from lowland to montane species shifted from 1600 to 1800 m a.s.l.; and (b) in both volcanoes, we collected passalid beetles well above 2700 m a.s.l., which was the upper limit at which they were found in 1981. Both observations are consistent with a shift of the passalid beetle community to higher elevations, perhaps in response to changes in local climate/habitat conditions, including increased temperatures and changes in forest composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cucurbita moschata, commonly known as winter squash, tropical squash, and calabaza, is native to Central America. This tropical squash thrives in tropical and subtropical climates, including parts of the southeastern U.S. and is very popular among people of Hispanic and West Indian heritage. Development of calabaza cultivars that meet consumer acceptability is a major goal in breeding programs. The current study aims to determine and compare the quality parameters of novel calabaza germplasm lines with that of commercially available cultivars of calabaza (La Estrella and Soler) and butternut squash (Whatman Butternut). All cultivars ranged greatly in quality parameters, with the most promising germplasms highlighted within the study including UFTP 8 and UFTP 24. The basis of this ranking was dependent on these germplasm lines' desirable attributes, including their color saturation (chroma (>80) (using the CIELAB scale)), °Brix (11.6 and 10.7 respectively), yeast fermentable extract (>67%), and firmness/hardness, (>3600). These findings show the potential to enhance consumer preferences for calabaza through breeding and provides a basis for commercial release of the superior germplasm identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesoamerican nephropathy (MeN) is a form of chronic kidney disease found predominantly in young men in Mesoamerica. Strenuous agricultural labor is a consistent risk factor for MeN, but the pathophysiologic mechanism leading to disease is poorly understood. We compared the urine metabolome among men in Nicaragua engaged in sugarcane harvest and seed cutting (n = 117), a group at high risk for MeN, against three referents: Nicaraguans working less strenuous jobs at the same sugarcane plantations (n = 78); Nicaraguans performing non-agricultural work (n = 102); and agricultural workers in Spain (n = 78). Using proton nuclear magnetic resonance, we identified 136 metabolites among participants. Our non-hypothesis-based approach identified distinguishing urine metabolic features in the high-risk group, revealing increased levels of hippurate and other gut-derived metabolites and decreased metabolites related to central energy metabolism when compared to referent groups. Our complementary hypothesis-based approach, focused on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) related metabolites, and revealed a higher kynurenate/tryptophan ratio in the high-risk group (p = 0.001), consistent with a heightened inflammatory state. Workers in high-risk occupations are distinguishable by urinary metabolic features that suggest increased gut permeability, inflammation, and altered energy metabolism. Further study is needed to explore the pathophysiologic implications of these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on two years of ethnographic data gathered, including 81 h of life-history interviews and 70 h of participant observation with 10 youth who migrated to the United States from Central America, this paper argues that negative labels that often stereotypically depict immigrant youth experiences are often socially imposed on immigrant youth prior to migration. More specifically, this article examines youths' understanding and perceptions of the ways in which family members employ socially available "stigmatizing scripts." Stigmatizing scripts, as described by study participants, are often used by family members in an attempt to protect youth. Analysis of the data suggests that the youth experienced stigmatizing scripts as a way to describe their lives "at-risk" and in need of protection, while simultaneously criminalizing many of their experiences. Furthermore, the article details youth description of the transnational continuity of stigmatizing scripts by describing family members 'usage of scripts but in the US context. The article expands on immigrant families' scholarship, highlighting family dynamics and their impacts on youths' wellbeing and families' unintentional contribution in youths' stigmatization and criminalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]