INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL CAPITAL MOBILITY IN LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES

This study examines the role of global, regional and domestic saving for domestic investment financing in the panel of Latin American and Caribbean countries along with its three regional integration blocks, namely SICA, Andean Community and MERCOSUR. Panel regression and rolling-window estimation results reveal that global saving is the main source of domestic investment financing in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean, SICA, Andean Community and MERCOSUR. The role of domestic and regional savings is rather limited, implying that there are weak regional and domestic channels that can funnel domestic and regional savings into investment in the analysed samples. The importance of regional agreement saving is insignificant and decreases over the analysed period except for the Andean Community. The results indicate low financial integration of the member-countries within the three regional trade agreements.

Nation Branding in the Andean Community: Decision 876 of 23 April 2021 for a Common Nation Brand Regime

On 23 April 2021, the Andean Community, comprised of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, adopted and published Decision 876 regulating the common nation brand regime for its territory. As a result, this integrated bloc of Latin American countries became a pioneer in this area. Decision 876 establishes a common regime for protecting country brands against any possible unauthorized registrations or the use of identical or similar signs in the Community’s Members Countries. It is interesting to note that, unlike other integration blocs in Latin America, the Andean Community has made notable progress in harmonizing regional regulations on intellectual property. In this sense, Decision 876 adds to its extensive legal corpus on the topic, with no similar rule existing in the other integration processes in the region. The Decision sets out the basic criteria related to Member Countries’ and third countries’ nation brands, the procedure for their protection and enforcement, and infringements.

In Silico Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance Integrons in Salmonella enterica Isolates from Countries of the Andean Community

Antimicrobial resistance genes are often associated with integrons, which promote their movement between and within DNA molecules. IntFinder 1.0 and I-VIP v1.2 were used for the detection of integrons and their associated resistance genes in assembled sequences and raw reads. A dataset comprising 1688 sequenced Salmonella enterica isolates from countries of the Andean Community was developed. A total of 749 and 680 integrons were identified by IntFinder 1.0 and I-VIP v1.2, respectively; class 2 integrons were the most abundant followed by class 1, whereas no class 3 integrons 3 were detected. These elements were mainly associated with isolates from animal sources. S. Infantis ST32 contained the majority of integrons. Trimethoprim resistance genes (dfrA) were found in greater numbers than others, including aadA and bla genes. The presence of these resistance integrons may come as a response to antibiotic misuse, especially of co-trimoxazole. This represents a public health risk as novel resistant strains might appear due to gene dissemination. The information gathered from in silico studies not only contributes to our understanding of integron dynamics in pathogenic Salmonella, but also helps identify potential emergent patterns of resistance in the region, which is fundamental for developing pertinent antibiotic surveillance programs.

Posthuman rights struggles and environmentalisms from below in the political ontologies of Ecuador and Colombia

In a decolonial determination to resist the modern ontological separation of nature from culture, political ontologies and posthuman legalities in Andean Community countries increasingly recognize natural and cultural forces as inextricably interrelated under the principle of the pluriverse. After years of Indigenous struggles, new social movement mobilizations and citizen activism, twenty-first-century constitutional changes in the region have affirmed the plurinational and intercultural natures of the region’s polities. Drawing upon extensive interdisciplinary ethnographic research in Ecuador and Colombia, the article illustrates how Indigenous, Afro-descendant and campesino communities express multispecies relations of care and conviviality in opposition to modern extractivist development through the concept of buen vivir. These grassroots collective life projects and life plans articulate rights ‘from below’ to support new practices of territorialization that further materialize natures’ rights and community ideals. Although human rights have modern origins, the implementation of third generation collective biocultural rights to fulfill natures’ rights may help to materially realize community norms, autonomies and responsibilities that exceed modern ontologies. The ecocentric territorial rights struggles and posthuman legalities we explore are examples of a larger emergent project of decolonizing human rights in a politics appropriate to the Anthropocene.

Between Hierarchy and Individuality: the Andean Community of Nations’ historical rationalities

En sus 50 años de vida, la CAN ha enfrentado importantes desafíos, algunos de los cuales incluso han amenazado su existencia. Sin embargo, el hecho de que haya sobrevivido es un testimonio de su éxito. Frente a entornos políticos y económicos muy cambiantes, la continuidad de su trabajo se explica por su capacidad de adaptación a las circunstancias. En este medio centenar de años, el organismo ha atravesado más de una crisis existencial y las ha abordado con importantes autorreformas. Estas modificaciones han buscado renovar su relevancia. Con el fin de darle sentido a esta adaptación, este artículo utiliza la teoría cultural de cuadrícula y grupo (grid-group cultural theory) para identificar las principales racionalidades o visiones del mundo que han impulsado este proceso de integración regional. El análisis muestra que CAN se ha movido principalmente entre formas de vida jerárquicas e individualistas y señala algunas implicaciones para su futuro cercano.

Epidemiology and associated factors of irritable bowel syndrome in an Andean community from Peru

Introduction: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic functional bowel condition with an average world prevalence of 11.2%. Is associated with multiple factors as female sex, young age, stress, anxiety and depression which can have a negative impact on quality of life. IBS in Peru is not investigated at all specially in the Andean region. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence and associated factors of IBS in an Andean community from Peru using the Rome IV criteria. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study in a rural community dedicated to livestock and agriculture in Peru at 3,235 meters above sea level. Questionnaires provided by the Rome Foundation as the Rome IV – Diagnostic questionnaire for adults, Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Symptom Severity Scale and Bristol stool scale were used. Results: 130 residents met the inclusion criteria. 46.9% were males with an average age of 54 years old. 11.54% presented red flags and were not included in the analysis. 13.1% were diagnosed with IBS and 52.9% presented constipation as predominant bowel pattern. 52.9% presented a mild course of the disease. In the chi-square analysis, factors as depression, anxiety, female sex, younger age, liquefied petroleum gas exposure for cooking and education achievement were statistically significant associated to IBS. In the logistic regression analysis, anxiety was the unique independent predictor factor with an OR of 9.6 (95% IC: 1.78-51.82). Conclusion: IBS is a prevalent condition in the Andean region and should be managed as a public health issue to improve quality of life.