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The problem of this research is to determine the economic value that the people from Eldorado assign to hydrological services of the native forests. The general objective of this project is to evaluate the hydrological environmental services that native forests provide to the Schwarzenberg watershed, for a forest restore project. The following activities have already been developed: a compilation of antecedents; characterization of the present watershed´s condition; the determination of protection services provided by the native forests; and the economic valuation of environmental service, using the contingent valuation method. The results indicate that the eldoradenses have assigned a monetary value of 2,025 pesos per hectare per year to the environmental service, and the conclusion was that without the surrounding protective forest, the maximum flow and the torrential condition of the basin increase. Families are willing to pay for the hydrological environmental services that native forests provide to the basin; and it is recommended to do more studies to outline a payments system for environmental services, considering that the Schwarzenbergs watershed drains into the Piray Mini stream, a short distance upstream from the outlet of the public water supply system of Eldorado.

El problema de investigación es determinar el valor económico que los eldoradenses asignan a los servicios hidrológicos del bosque nativo. El objetivo general del proyecto es valorar los servicios ambientales hidrológicos que brindan los bosques nativos a la cuenca del arroyo Schwarzenberg, para un proyecto de restauración de los bosques. Se desarrollaron las actividades siguientes: Recopilación de antecedentes; caracterización de la situación de la cuenca; determinación de los servicios de protección que prestan los bosques nativos; y valoración económica del servicio ambiental, mediante el método de valoración contingente. Los resultados indican que los eldoradenses asignaron un valor monetario de 2.025 pesos por hectárea y por año al servicio ambiental, y se concluyó que sin bosque protector, aumentan el caudal máximo y el estado torrencial de la cuenca. Las familias están dispuestas a pagar por los servicios ambientales hidrológicos que brindan los bosques nativos a la cuenca vertiente; y se recomienda realizar más estudios para diseñar un sistema de pagos por servicios ambientales, considerando que esta cuenca hidrográfica desagua en el arroyo Piray Miní, a poca distancia aguas arriba de la toma del sistema público de abastecimiento de agua de Eldorado.

Introduction: The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Latin American labor markets continue to be quantified, to identify the social and economic impacts that this pandemic had, and to design more efficient public policies that would protect the most vulnerable groups. For this reason, the research question was as follows: what were the changes in the labor formality rates before and two years after the main contingency measures of the COVID-19 pandemic were implemented? Methods: Using data from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay, the formality rate (t) was analyzed, which was calculated using a weighted average between the formal employment rates of the number (i) of economic sectors (p) in a specific period (t). Results: The results suggest that the weighted labor formality rate increased in the countries of the region. These changes in formality could be the result of greater capital accumulation, the integration of productive processes, the integration of commercialization processes, and differentiated fiscal stimuli (i.e., the intrasectoral aspect), but it was not due to the displacement of workers from highly informal economic sectors to more formalized sectors (i.e., the intersectoral component). Discussion: The findings emphasized the precarious situation of women in the region, regardless of the country, particularly in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina. These findings suggest the need to design public policies that reverse the current situation of the labor market and prevent future economic shocks, with special emphasis on the informal sector and women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Encephalocele is a rare congenital malformation of the central nervous system. The prevalence is estimated to be about 1 in 5,000-40,000 live births. It can affect various anatomical locations such as the occipital, frontal, temporal, and parietal regions. The fourth and fifth weeks of embryonic development are critical for the development of the head and neck. When there is a failure in the separation of the superficial ectoderm from the neuroectoderm, neural tube defects occur, from which encephaloceles may arise. Genetically it can be explained by the dysembryological theory, which involves certain mutated genes that interfere with important cellular mechanisms in early neuronal development. Currently, thanks to prenatal screening tools such as ultrasound, it is possible to identify them from intrauterine life. It is extremely important to make an early diagnosis to establish protocols and provide individualized treatment, involving a multidisciplinary team will be involved. Even though some cases are usually compatible with life, the expected prognosis of the anatomical site involved as well as timely surgical management. One of the most important sequelae is intellectual deficit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Albino-Martínez, O. and Rosales-Casián, J.A., 2024. Ecology of economically important fish at a temperate Pacific Island of Baja California, Mexico. Journal of Coastal Research, 40(5), 919–928. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. Economically important fish were caught in rocky reefs around Isla San Martin, Baja California, Mexico to determine the composition and spatio-temporal variations, their possible relationship with temperature, upwelling and depth, and the size structure of the most abundant species. Five seasonal surveys were carried out using traps and hook-and-line at four different sites from June 2021 to May 2022. A total of 595 fish individuals (417 kg) were caught, comprising of 23 species from 10 families, and the Sebastidae family contributed the largest number of 12 species. The most abundant fish species were Caulolatilus princeps, Paralabrax clathratus, Semicossyphus pulcher, Paralabrax nebulifer, Sebastes auriculatus, S. umbrosus, and S. rastrelliger that contributed 90.2% of the total abundance. C. princeps contributed 60.8% of the abundance and 60.2% of the biomass. The first three fish species were the most important in terms of relative abundance and frequency of occurrence. The catch means (abundance and biomass) per trap or angler did not change over time; however, between sites, the average fish catch per trap (abundance and biomass) was significantly different, which presented a positive and significant relationship with depth, only. The fish richness (number of species) varied between nine (fall 2021) and 14 species in spring 2021 and 2022. The highest diversity of fish species (H' = 1.9) occurred in summer (C. princeps 41.1% abundance), and the lowest diversity (H' = 1.0) during fall (C. princeps 74.1%. abundance). Among fishing sites, the greatest diversity occurred close to Isla San Martín (El Bufeo, H' = 2.1), and the lowest diversity in the deeper sites far from the island (Bajo 6, H' = 1.0). Caulolatilus princeps presented 100% frequency of occurrence, while Chromis punctipinnis, Halichoeres semicinctus, Medialuna californiensis, and Sebastes serranoides occurred with the lowest value (4.5% each). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spina bifida (SB) is a rare congenital disease characterized by not only physical but also neuropsychological disturbances. Among these neuropsychological impairments, memory deficits are a significant concern, as they substantially hinder aspects of crucial importance in the lives of individuals with SB such as medical needs or daily life activities. The main objective is to conduct a systematic review of the current evidence on the memory deficits in the SB population, including children, adolescents, and adults. Methods: Four databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and ProQuest) were systematically screened for eligible studies. Results: The present review reveals cognitive difficulties in different memory types among individuals with SB. These deficits, identified in childhood, seem to persist into adulthood. Specifically, impairments are evident in short-term memory, working memory, and long-term memory. The neuropsychological instruments applied in the studies that were included in this systematic review vary, however, most reach the same conclusions. Conclusions: The present findings underscore the importance of incorporating cognitive assessments, particularly those focused on the memory domain, into routine childhood evaluations for individuals with SB. Early identification of these cognitive difficulties allows for the timely implementation of cognitive interventions that could leverage the inherent plasticity of the developing brain, and prevent or delay the onset of these deficits in later adulthood for people with SB, ultimately improving their functionality and quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informal caregivers of older people face demanding responsibilities that can negatively affect their wellbeing, highlighting the relevance of interventions that address their specific needs. This study aimed to assess the effects of a group music therapy program based on different songwriting approaches applied to informal caregivers of older adults with dependency. A sample of 113 caregivers participated, being assigned either to the intervention (n = 60) or the control group (n = 53). The intervention group caregivers received 10 weekly sessions of the songwriting program, while the control group continued with their usual care service. Psychological symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were assessed at baseline and follow-up using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Zarit Burden Interview, and SF-36. Group × Time interactions revealed significant improvements in the intervention group compared to the control one in trait anxiety (p = 0.022), social functioning (p = 0.013), role limitations due to physical problems (p = 0.020), and physical component summary (p = 0.022). These findings provided valuable evidence on this novel intervention, showing positive effects for caregivers' wellbeing. The current research emphasizes the importance of considering music therapy as a potential intervention among caregiver support programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective: To estimate the baseline to measure one of the three indicators of the World Health Organization (WHO) End TB strategy (2015–2035), measure the costs incurred by patients affected by tuberculosis (TB) during a treatment episode and estimate the proportion of households facing catastrophic costs (CC) and associated risk factors, in Colombia, 2021. Material and methods: A nationally representative cross-sectional survey was conducted among participants on TB treatment in Colombia, using telephone interviews due to the exceptional context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey collected household costs (direct [medical and non-medical out-of-pocket expenses] and indirect) over an episode of TB, loss of time, coping measures, self-reported income, and asset ownership. Total costs were expressed as a proportion of annual household income and analyzed for risk factors of CC (defined as costs above 20% annual household income). Results: The proportion of TB-affected households incurring in costs above 20% annual household income (CC) was 51.7% (95%CI: 45.4–58.0) overall, 51.3% (95%CI: 44.9–57.7) among patients with drug-sensitive (DS) TB, and 65.0% (95%CI: 48.0–82.0) among drug-resistant (DR). The average patient cost of a TB case in Colombia was $1,218 (95%CI 1,106–1,330) including $860.9 (95%CI 776.1–945.7) for non-medical costs, $339 (95%CI 257–421) for the indirect costs, and $18.1 (95%CI 11.9–24.4) for the medical costs. The factors that influenced the probability of facing CC were income quintile, job loss, DR-TB patient, and TB type. Conclusion: Main cost drivers for CC were non-medical out-of-pocket expenses and income loss (indirect costs). Current social protection programs ought to be expanded to mitigate the proportion of TB-affected households facing CC in Colombia, especially those with lower income levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]