Changes in parrot diversity after human arrival to the Caribbean.

Humans did not arrive on most of the world's islands until relatively recently, making islands favorable places for disentangling the timing and magnitude of natural and anthropogenic impacts on species diversity and distributions. Here, we focus on Amazona parrots in the Caribbean, which have close relationships with humans (e.g., as pets as well as sources of meat and colorful feathers). Caribbean parrots also have substantial fossil and archaeological records that span the Holocene. We leverage this exemplary record to showcase how combining ancient and modern DNA, along with radiometric dating, can shed light on diversification and extinction dynamics and answer long-standing questions about the magnitude of human impacts in the region. Our results reveal a striking loss of parrot diversity, much of which took place during human occupation of the islands. The most widespread species, the Cuban Parrot, exhibits interisland divergences throughout the Pleistocene. Within this radiation, we identified an extinct, genetically distinct lineage that survived on the Turks and Caicos until Indigenous human settlement of the islands. We also found that the narrowly distributed Hispaniolan Parrot had a natural range that once included The Bahamas; it thus became "endemic" to Hispaniola during the late Holocene. The Hispaniolan Parrot also likely was introduced by Indigenous people to Grand Turk and Montserrat, two islands where it is now also extirpated. Our research demonstrates that genetic information spanning paleontological, archaeological, and modern contexts is essential to understand the role of humans in altering the diversity and distribution of biota.

A review of immunization legislation for children in English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean countries.

Objective: To assess the legislative frameworks concerning childhood vaccination in the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean and propose a model legislative framework for Caribbean countries. Methods: This study included a survey of 22 countries and territories in the Caribbean regarding legal vaccination mandates for school entry, budget allocations, sanctions, or exemptions. A legal consultant conducted a comprehensive search and analysis of legislation regarding vaccination among 13 Caribbean countries/territories. A comparative analysis of the legislation under five themes-legislative structure, mandatory vaccination, national immunization schedule, sanctions, and exemptions-formed the basis for the proposed model legislation. Results: Among the 22 Caribbean countries/territories, 17 (77%) had legislation mandating vaccination, 16 (94%) mandated vaccination for school entry, 8 (47%) had a dedicated budget for immunization programs, and 13 (76%) had no legislated national schedules. The source of legislation includes six (35%) using the Education Act, eight (47%) the Public Health Act, and five (29%) a free-standing Vaccination Act. Three countries/territories-Jamaica, Montserrat, and Saint Lucia-had immunization regulations. In 12 (71%) of the 17 countries with legislation, sanctions were included, and 10 (59%) permitted exemptions for medical or religious/philosophical beliefs. Conclusions: Several countries in the Caribbean have made failure to vaccinate a child an offense. By summarizing the existing legislative frameworks and approaches to immunization in the Caribbean, the analysis guides policymakers in making effective changes to immunization legislation in their own countries.

A review of immunization legislation for children in English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean countries

[ABSTRACT]. Objective. To assess the legislative frameworks concerning childhood vaccination in the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean and propose a model legislative framework for Caribbean countries. Methods. This study included a survey of 22 countries and territories in the Caribbean regarding legal vaccination mandates for school entry, budget allocations, sanctions, or exemptions. A legal consultant conducted a comprehensive search and analysis of legislation regarding vaccination among 13 Caribbean countries/ territories. A comparative analysis of the legislation under five themes—legislative structure, mandatory vaccination, national immunization schedule, sanctions, and exemptions—formed the basis for the proposed model legislation. Results. Among the 22 Caribbean countries/territories, 17 (77%) had legislation mandating vaccination, 16 (94%) mandated vaccination for school entry, 8 (47%) had a dedicated budget for immunization programs, and 13 (76%) had no legislated national schedules. The source of legislation includes six (35%) using the Education Act, eight (47%) the Public Health Act, and five (29%) a free-standing Vaccination Act. Three countries/ territories—Jamaica, Montserrat, and Saint Lucia—had immunization regulations. In 12 (71%) of the 17 countries with legislation, sanctions were included, and 10 (59%) permitted exemptions for medical or religious/ philosophical beliefs. Conclusions. Several countries in the Caribbean have made failure to vaccinate a child an offense. By summarizing the existing legislative frameworks and approaches to immunization in the Caribbean, the analysis guides policymakers in making effective changes to immunization legislation in their own countries.

[RESUMEN]. Objetivo. Evaluar los marcos legislativos relativos a la vacunación infantil en el Caribe de habla inglesa y neerlandesa y proponer un modelo de marco legislativo para los países del Caribe. Métodos. En este estudio se incluyó una encuesta en 22 países y territorios del Caribe sobre los requisitos legales de vacunación para el ingreso escolar, asignaciones presupuestarias, sanciones o exenciones. Un consultor jurídico realizó una búsqueda y un análisis exhaustivos de la legislación relativa a la vacunación en 13 países y territorios del Caribe. Un análisis comparativo de la legislación dividido en cinco temas (estructura legislativa, vacunación obligatoria, calendario nacional de vacunación, sanciones y exenciones) formó la base del modelo de legislación propuesto. Resultados. Entre los 22 países y territorios del Caribe, 17 (77%) contaban con leyes sobre vacunación obligatoria, 16 (94%) exigían la vacunación para el ingreso escolar, 8 (47%) tenían un presupuesto dedicado a los programas de vacunación y 13 (76%) no disponían de calendarios nacionales estipulados por ley. Entre las fuentes de la legislación, seis países y territorios (35%) empleaban la ley de educación, ocho (47%) la ley de salud pública y cinco (29%) una ley independiente de vacunación. Tres países y territorios —Jamaica, Montserrat y Santa Lucía— disponían de regulaciones sobre vacunación. Doce (71%) de los 17 países con legislación tenían sanciones y 10 (59%) permitían exenciones por creencias médicas o religiosas o filosóficas. Conclusiones. Varios países del Caribe han tipificado como delito el no vacunar a un niño o niña. Al resumir los enfoques y marcos legislativos existentes para la vacunación en el Caribe, este análisis ofrece orientaciones a los responsables de formular las políticas para que realicen modificaciones efectivas en la legislación relativa a la vacunación en sus propios países.

[RESUMO]. Objetivo. Avaliar as estruturas da legislação relativas à vacinação em crianças no Caribe de língua inglesa e holandesa e propor um modelo de legislação para os países caribenhos. Métodos. Este estudo incluiu uma pesquisa relativa à exigência legal em 22 países e territórios do Caribe de vacinação para admissão em escolas, alocações orçamentárias, sanções ou isenções. Um consultor jurídico realizou ampla pesquisa e análise da legislação relativa à vacinação em 13 países/territórios do Caribe. Uma análise comparativa da legislação referente a cinco temas – estrutura legislativa, vacinação obrigatória, cronograma nacional de imunização, sanções e isenções – formou a base para o modelo de legislação proposto. Resultados. Entre os 22 países/territórios caribenhos, 17 (77%) tinham legislação que exigia a vacinação; em 16 (94%), a vacinação era obrigatória para admissão na escola; 8 (47%) tinham orçamento exclusivo para programas de imunização; e em 13 (76%), a legislação não contemplava cronogramas nacionais. Com relação à fonte da legislação, seis (35%) países usavam a legislação de educação; oito, (47%) a Legislação de Saúde Pública; e cinco (29%), legislação de vacinação independente. Três países/territórios - Jamaica, Montserrat e Santa Lúcia - tinham regulamentações para imunização. Dos 17 países com legislação, 12 (71%) incluíam sanções e 10 (59%) permitiam isenções por crenças médicas ou religiosas/filosóficas. Conclusões. Diversos países do Caribe estabelecem que não vacinar uma criança é violação da lei. Ao resumir as estruturas de legislação existentes e as abordagens da imunização no Caribe, a análise orienta os formuladores de políticas a realizar mudanças efetivas na legislação de imunização em seus próprios países.

A review of immunization legislation for children in English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean countries / Revisión de los marcos legislativos sobre vacunación infantil en países de habla inglesa y neerlandesa del Caribe / Revisão da legislação relativa à imunização em crianças nos países do Caribe de língua inglesa e holandesa

ABSTRACT Objective. To assess the legislative frameworks concerning childhood vaccination in the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean and propose a model legislative framework for Caribbean countries. Methods. This study included a survey of 22 countries and territories in the Caribbean regarding legal vaccination mandates for school entry, budget allocations, sanctions, or exemptions. A legal consultant conducted a comprehensive search and analysis of legislation regarding vaccination among 13 Caribbean countries/territories. A comparative analysis of the legislation under five themes—legislative structure, mandatory vaccination, national immunization schedule, sanctions, and exemptions—formed the basis for the proposed model legislation. Results. Among the 22 Caribbean countries/territories, 17 (77%) had legislation mandating vaccination, 16 (94%) mandated vaccination for school entry, 8 (47%) had a dedicated budget for immunization programs, and 13 (76%) had no legislated national schedules. The source of legislation includes six (35%) using the Education Act, eight (47%) the Public Health Act, and five (29%) a free-standing Vaccination Act. Three countries/territories—Jamaica, Montserrat, and Saint Lucia—had immunization regulations. In 12 (71%) of the 17 countries with legislation, sanctions were included, and 10 (59%) permitted exemptions for medical or religious/philosophical beliefs. Conclusions. Several countries in the Caribbean have made failure to vaccinate a child an offense. By summarizing the existing legislative frameworks and approaches to immunization in the Caribbean, the analysis guides policymakers in making effective changes to immunization legislation in their own countries.

RESUMEN Objetivo. Evaluar los marcos legislativos relativos a la vacunación infantil en el Caribe de habla inglesa y neerlandesa y proponer un modelo de marco legislativo para los países del Caribe. Métodos. En este estudio se incluyó una encuesta en 22 países y territorios del Caribe sobre los requisitos legales de vacunación para el ingreso escolar, asignaciones presupuestarias, sanciones o exenciones. Un consultor jurídico realizó una búsqueda y un análisis exhaustivos de la legislación relativa a la vacunación en 13 países y territorios del Caribe. Un análisis comparativo de la legislación dividido en cinco temas (estructura legislativa, vacunación obligatoria, calendario nacional de vacunación, sanciones y exenciones) formó la base del modelo de legislación propuesto. Resultados. Entre los 22 países y territorios del Caribe, 17 (77%) contaban con leyes sobre vacunación obligatoria, 16 (94%) exigían la vacunación para el ingreso escolar, 8 (47%) tenían un presupuesto dedicado a los programas de vacunación y 13 (76%) no disponían de calendarios nacionales estipulados por ley. Entre las fuentes de la legislación, seis países y territorios (35%) empleaban la ley de educación, ocho (47%) la ley de salud pública y cinco (29%) una ley independiente de vacunación. Tres países y territorios —Jamaica, Montserrat y Santa Lucía— disponían de regulaciones sobre vacunación. Doce (71%) de los 17 países con legislación tenían sanciones y 10 (59%) permitían exenciones por creencias médicas o religiosas o filosóficas. Conclusiones. Varios países del Caribe han tipificado como delito el no vacunar a un niño o niña. Al resumir los enfoques y marcos legislativos existentes para la vacunación en el Caribe, este análisis ofrece orientaciones a los responsables de formular las políticas para que realicen modificaciones efectivas en la legislación relativa a la vacunación en sus propios países.

RESUMO Objetivo. Avaliar as estruturas da legislação relativas à vacinação em crianças no Caribe de língua inglesa e holandesa e propor um modelo de legislação para os países caribenhos. Métodos. Este estudo incluiu uma pesquisa relativa à exigência legal em 22 países e territórios do Caribe de vacinação para admissão em escolas, alocações orçamentárias, sanções ou isenções. Um consultor jurídico realizou ampla pesquisa e análise da legislação relativa à vacinação em 13 países/territórios do Caribe. Uma análise comparativa da legislação referente a cinco temas - estrutura legislativa, vacinação obrigatória, cronograma nacional de imunização, sanções e isenções - formou a base para o modelo de legislação proposto. Resultados. Entre os 22 países/territórios caribenhos, 17 (77%) tinham legislação que exigia a vacinação; em 16 (94%), a vacinação era obrigatória para admissão na escola; 8 (47%) tinham orçamento exclusivo para programas de imunização; e em 13 (76%), a legislação não contemplava cronogramas nacionais. Com relação à fonte da legislação, seis (35%) países usavam a legislação de educação; oito, (47%) a Legislação de Saúde Pública; e cinco (29%), legislação de vacinação independente. Três países/territórios - Jamaica, Montserrat e Santa Lúcia - tinham regulamentações para imunização. Dos 17 países com legislação, 12 (71%) incluíam sanções e 10 (59%) permitiam isenções por crenças médicas ou religiosas/filosóficas. Conclusões. Diversos países do Caribe estabelecem que não vacinar uma criança é violação da lei. Ao resumir as estruturas de legislação existentes e as abordagens da imunização no Caribe, a análise orienta os formuladores de políticas a realizar mudanças efetivas na legislação de imunização em seus próprios países.

The Effects of Differentiated Organic Fertilization on Tomato Production and Phenolic Content in Traditional and High-Yielding Varieties.

The challenge of sustainable agriculture is to increase yields and obtain higher quality products. Increased antioxidant compounds such as polyphenols in harvest products may be an added value for sustainable agriculture. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether three organic fertilization treatments with different levels of carbon and nitrogen, i.e., N-rich, N-rich+C, and N-poor+C, affected the phenolic content of different tomato varieties. The examined parameters were productivity, plant nutritional status, δ13C, and tomato phenolic content as an indication of the antioxidant capacity. The best production was obtained with 'Cornabel', a high-yielding Pebroter variety. The total phenolic content was highest in the traditional 'Cuban Pepper' variety regardless of treatment, while naringenin levels were high in all the Pebroter varieties. In N-poor+C fertilized plants, a lower N-NO3 content in leaves was correlated with higher levels of total polyphenols in the fruit. The high-water stress suffered by Montserrat varieties coincided with a low total phenolic content in the tomatoes. In conclusion, organic fertilization with reduced N did not influence the tomato yield but positively affected phenolic compound levels in varieties less sensitive to water stress.

[Archivos: a Success!] / Archivos: ¡un acierto!

En tres meses Archivos de Prevención de Riesgos Laborales cumple un cuarto de siglo. En 1998, la entonces Societat Catalana de Seguretat i Medicina del Treball, hoy Associació Catalana de Salut Laboral, presidida por Jaume de Montserrat, anunciaba una nueva revista, que nacía con 35 años de historia y 120 números publicados en la extinguida Medicina de Empresa. Fernando G. Benavides asumía la tarea (1998-2005). Archivos nació con una clara voluntad de hacer realidad un instrumento "de difusión de información relevante, rigurosa y actual que necesita todo campo de conocimiento para su desarrollo y evolución" parafraseando a su segunda directora, Ana M García (2005-2015) y además de acuerdo con los criterios internacionales de calidad científica.….

Forensic Genetic Analyses of Melanistic Iguanas Highlight the Need to Monitor the Iguanid Trade.

Lizards within the Iguana iguana species complex are among the most common reptilian pets, with the widest natural geographic range among iguanids. Deep phylogenetic divergence distinguishes multiple mitochondrial clades, and several taxonomic changes have recently been proposed. These small populations, typically island endemics, are threatened by numerous factors, including the international pet trade. Recent investigations reveal the absence of required CITES permits for lawful export of animals, providing evidence of ongoing illegal trade. Additional monitoring of trade in iguanas can be achieved through the application of forensic molecular techniques. In this study, two captive melanistic iguanas were genotyped for molecular markers for which geographic distributions of alleles have been established. Mitochondrial sequencing indicates that both animals carry a haplotype known to originate from the islands of Saba and Montserrat, populations taxonomically proposed to be Iguana melanoderma. Genotypes at 15 microsatellite loci are equally consistent with this origin, given the results of a principal component analysis. This first forensic genetic assessment within the extensive I. iguana pet trade highlights the presence of illegal activity. The need for additional forensic assessments of pet-trade iguanas is evident, especially given that their value is driven by variety and rarity, which is further intensified by recent taxonomic changes.

Genetic signature of blind reintroductions of Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica) in Catalonia, Northeast Spain.

The Iberian ibex is one of the most singular species of the Iberian Peninsula. Throughout the years, this species suffered several threats which led the population to its decline. Many reintroductions and translocations were made, however, none of those actions took into account the genetic patterns of both reintroduced individuals and the target populations. In this paper, we explored the genetic traits of three populations of Iberian ibex in Catalonia, which experienced blind reintroductions in past years: The populations of Iberian ibex from Els Ports de Tortosa i Beseit National Game Reserve (TBNGR), Montserrat Natural Park (Monserrat) and Montgrí, les Illes Medes i el Baix Ter Natural Park (Montgrí) Based on the genetic patterns of the three populations coupled with the absence of genetic introgression with domestic goats-inferred using mitochondrial and nuclear markers-we propose that these should be regarded as two different management units: TBNGR coupled with Montserrat, and Montgrí. Montserrat population should be targeted as a population model for ecology and evolution studies. Although we did not detect evidences of recent bottleneck events, this population seems to be monomorphic for the mtDNA haplotype. Our results suggest that the blind reintroductions from TBNGR to Montserrat failed on maximizing the genetic diversity of the latter. We enhance the importance of genetic monitoring of both the source population and the selected individuals to be re-introduced. We conclude that the three studied population of Iberian ibex must be monitored to explore which strategy would be advantageous for maintaining the genetic diversity. On the other hand, TBNGR should be monitored to assess the existence of its singular genetic variation, where stochastic events could preserve this lost genetic variation.

Mental health systems in six Caribbean small island developing states: a comparative situational analysis.

BACKGROUND: Small island developing states (SIDS) have particular mental health system needs due to their remoteness and narrow resource base. We conducted situational analyses to support mental health system strengthening in six SIDS: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat and Turks and Caicos Islands. METHODS: The situational analyses covered five domains: 1. Socio-economic context and burden of mental disorders, 2. Leadership and governance for mental health 3. Mental health and social care services 4. Strategies for promotion and prevention in mental health and 5. Information systems, evidence and research for mental health. First, a desk-based exercise was conducted, in which data was drawn from the public domain. Second, a field visit was conducted at each site, comprising visits to facilities and consultation meetings with key stakeholders. RESULTS: Our key findings were 1. Despite most of these SIDS being high-income economies, social inequalities within states exist. There was no population-level data on mental health burden. 2. All SIDS have a mental health policy or plan, but implementation is typically limited due to lack of funds or staff shortages. There was minimal evidence of service user involvement in policy or service development. 3. All SIDS have a specialist, multi-disciplinary mental health workforce, however Montserrat and Anguilla rely on visiting psychiatrists. Child and adolescent and dedicated crisis intervention services were found in only two and one SIDS respectively. A recovery-oriented ethos was not identified in any SIDS. 4. Mental illness stigma was prevalent in all SIDS. Promotion and prevention were objectives of mental health strategies for all SIDS, however activities tended to be sporadic. No mental health non-Governmental organisations were identified in three SIDS. 5. Health information systems are generally underdeveloped, with paper-based systems in three SIDS. There has been no rigorous local mental health research. CONCLUSION: Cross-cutting recommendations include: to develop mental health action plans that include clear implementation indicators; to facilitate community surveys to ascertain the prevalence of mental disorders; to explore task-sharing approaches to increase access to primary mental health care; and to develop programmes of mental health promotion and prevention.

Disaster aid? Mapping historical responses to volcanic eruptions from 1800-2000 in the English-speaking Eastern Caribbean: their role in creating vulnerabilities.

This paper uses volcanic eruptions on the Caribbean islands of Montserrat and Saint Vincent to explore the role that British colonial rule in the past and near past (1800-2000) has played in response to and recovery from hazardous events, and in turn, the influence that the nature of the hazards has on these responses. It shows that systemic vulnerabilities to natural hazards have been created by inadequate aid responses and longer-term chronic problems and demonstrates that hazard impacts are compounded by them. Vulnerabilities could be reduced by analysing integrated hazard impacts to generate mitigative measures across hazards and identify actions that more closely match timescales of political decision-making. Incorporating local knowledge and experience into risk analysis will enable the most effective use of aid resources, ahead of emergencies. Finally, coupling aid for long-term development with emergency response would improve outcomes and adaptation to longer-term vulnerabilities in immediate rebuilding and short-term recovery.

Profesionales enfermeros. ¿Se puede mejorar la seguridad de los pacientes más jóvenes con reservorio venoso subcutáneo sin que repercuta en su calidad de vida? / Nursing professionals. Can the safety of younger patients with a subcutaneous venous reservoir be improved without affecting their quality of life?

Los enfermeros Jordi Torralbas y Montserrat Selvas del Consorci Corporació Parc Taulí, en Sabadell, han encabezado una iniciativa de investigación, el Proyecto SELTO, orientado a los pacientes pediátricos portadores de un reservorio venoso subcutáneo y del impacto de este en su vida social y cómo conjugarlo con su seguridad. Nos atienden para hablar de su proyecto y de la importancia de compaginar estos dos aspectos para la calidad de vida de este tipo de afectados.(AU)

COVID-19 Situation Update, n. 149 (30 January 2022)

The situation in some countries and territories (hitherto referred to as countries) follows the trend from last week of peaks in the current Omicron wave having been reached and declining cases & hospitalizations. This week, Antigua & Barbuda, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have joined British Virgin Islands, French Guiana, Grenada and St. Kitts and Nevis in showing a declining 7 day moving incidence rates as well as a decline in the 7 day average of test positivity. Both these indicators are converging in these nine countries. In St. Vincent & the Grenadines, information for total RDTs tested, albeit partial, has recently been published so estimates of test positivity aren't sufficiently reliable. Nonetheless including RDTs, the test positivity in last 3 days is around 16%, comparable to other countries who consider RDT results to be confirmatory and are showing declining trend (Grenada). In Barbados and Martinique, 7 day case incidence shows a slight dip in the last 2-3 days but it is too early to say that a peak has been reached. The new Minister of Health of Barbados mentioned that the country is at "...halfway point in Omicron surge" on Jan 29, 2022. Currently the rate of increase in total tests conducted in seven days in that country is higher than than the increase in cases, which shows that health authorities are prioritizing the right areas even when one of every four people tested in the last week in Barbados had Barbados. Anguilla, on the other hand, shows a clear decline in incidence but in the absence of testing information, a decline in COVID-19 is plausible for now.

A new species of frog from the Caribbean island of Montserrat (Eleutherodactylidae, Eleutherodactylus).

I describe a new species of frog, Eleutherodactylus montserratae sp. nov., from Montserrat, previously confused with E. johnstonei Barbour. It is native to that island and has been introduced, and established, on other Lesser Antillean islands west of 62 degrees west longitude including Anguilla, St. Martin/St. Maarten, St. Barthélemy, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Christopher, and Nevis, as well as Bermuda. Previous chromosome and molecular studies have shown that populations from these islands are distinct from E. johnstonei, a species occurring east of 62 degrees west longitude in the Lesser Antilles, and elsewhere, but could not identify diagnostic morphological differences. Here, I show that the new species differs morphologically in being smaller (males and females) and having a proportionately larger tympanum, a wider head, and greater separation between the nostrils. Both species have been introduced within and outside of the Caribbean region and will likely expand their ranges in the future.

The Governance of Helmet Safety to Prevent Traumatic Brain Injury in the Caribbean.

BACKGROUND: The Caribbean is a unique region of islands and cays home to nearly 43 million people. A significant challenge facing this population is the burden of traumatic brain injury, which disproportionately affects younger individuals and carries a significant economic burden. A preventive measure to reduce this burden is consistent wearing of helmets. This study aims to assess TBI prevention through helmet safety in Caribbean nations in order to demonstrate the regional impact of public health solutions. METHODS: We assess the member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and sought to evaluate CARICOM nations' TBI prevention through helmet safety with relation to public health, policy, laws, infrastructure, and regulations. We produced the Rolle Scoring System (RSS) to ascertain the influence of governance around helmet safety for TBI prevention. The RSS aims to provide a quantifiable method of how well a CARICOM nation is performing in efforts to reduce TBI. The RSS is broken down into 2 categories, with scores ranging from 1 (worst) to 5 (best). The range of possible scores a CARICOM nation could receive was 8 to 40. RESULTS: Fourteen CARICOM nations were ultimately incorporated into our analysis. From the initial cohort, 3 were removed. These nations were Anguilla, Saint Kitts & Nevis, and Montserrat. We analyzed values derived from the RSS, finding a mean Rolle score of 22. We further subdivided the nations into low Rolle score (8-24) and high Rolle score (>24). Trinidad and Tobago had the highest Rolle score at 29. Haiti was found to have the lowest Rolle score at 8. CONCLUSION: Several Caribbean nations have demonstrated leadership pertaining to TBI prevention through helmet safety. The regional momentum of helmet safety in the Caribbean can serve as a model for other geographical regional blocs that share interests and culture to consider comprehensive approaches to public health challenges.

Medidas sanitárias de que a Bahia precisa: as Delegacias de Saúde, o Hospital de isolamento e a Reforma Sanitária em Salvador (1921-1930) / Sanitary measures that Bahia needs: the Health Police Stations, the Isolation Hospital and the Sanitary Reform in Salvador (1921-1930)

Analisa o papel das Delegacias de Saúde e do Hospital de Isolamento de Mont'Serrat, no processo da Reforma Sanitária que ocorreu na Bahia na década de 1920

Medidas sanitárias de que a Bahia precisa: as Delegacias de Saúde, o Hospital de isolamento e a Reforma Sanitária em Salvador (1921-1930) / Sanitary measures that Bahia needs: the Health Police Stations, the Isolation Hospital and the Sanitary Reform in Salvador (1921-1930)

Analisa o papel das Delegacias de Saúde e do Hospital de Isolamento de Mont'Serrat, no processo da Reforma Sanitária que ocorreu na Bahia na década de 1920

An experimental evaluation of the effect of escape gaps on the quantity, diversity, and size of fish caught in traps in Montserrat.

Coral reef fisheries are vital to the livelihoods of millions of people worldwide but are challenging to manage due to the high diversity of fish species that are harvested and the multiple types of fishing gear that are used. Fish traps are a commonly used gear in reef fisheries in the Caribbean and other regions, but they have poor selectivity and frequently capture juvenile fish, impacting the sustainability of the fishery. One option for managing trap fisheries is the addition of escape gaps, which allow small fish to escape. We compared catches of traps with and without two 2.5 cm (1 inch) escape gaps on the Caribbean island of Montserrat. No significant differences were found in the mean fish length, total fish biomass, number of fish, fish species richness, and Shannon diversity index between hauls of the two trap designs, though traps with escape gaps did catch larger proportions of wider-bodied fish and smaller proportions of narrow-bodied fish. Furthermore, traps with gaps caught a smaller proportion of small-sized fish and fewer immature fish (though differences were not statistically significant). Linear mixed effect models predict that soak time (the length of time between trap hauls) increases the mean catch length, total catch biomass and total number of species in the catch. The relatively modest evidence for the effect of the gaps on catch may be explained by the long soak times used, which could have allowed most smaller-sized fish to escape or be consumed by larger individuals before hauling in both traps with and without escape gaps. Despite the small differences detected in this study, escape gaps may still offer one of the best options for improving sustainability of catches from fish traps, but larger escape gaps should be tested with varying soak times to determine optimum escape gap size.

Revision of the subfamily Ostomopsinae (Coleoptera: Cerylonidae).

The subfamily Ostomopsinae of Cerylonidae is revised. Six nominal species are recognized and described or redescribed: Ostomopsis cudak sp. n. (Thailand), O. kuscheli sp. n. (New Caledonia), O. neotropicalis Lawrence Stephan (USA: Florida; Mexico: San Luis Potosi, Veracruz; Panama, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Guadeloupe, Montserrat), O. solitaria Scott (Seychelles, New Caledonia, Christmas Island, Northern Mariana Islands), O. solomon sp. n. (Solomon Islands), and O. watti sp. n. (New Caledonia). Morphological structures of the type species of Ostomopsis are illustrated and described in detail, and identification key to Ostomopsis species is given.

The complete mitogenome of the Mountain chicken frog, Leptodactylus fallax.

The mountain chicken frog (Leptodactylus fallax) is a critically endangered frog native to the Caribbean islands of Dominica and Montserrat. Over the past 25 years their populations have declined by over 85%, largely due to a chytridiomycosis outbreak that nearly wiped out the Montserratian population. Within the context of developing tools that can aid in the conservation of the mountain chicken frog, we assembled its complete mitochondrial genome, contributing the first complete mitogenome of the genus Leptodactylus (Genbank Accession number MW260634). The circular genome is 18,669 bp long and contains 37 genes. A phylogenetic analysis reveals that L. fallax forms a clade with Leptodactylus melanonotus, highlighting the close relationship of Leptodactylus spp. relative to other species from the superfamily Hyloidea included in the analysis.

The threshold between life and death in Cistus albidus L. seedlings: mechanisms underlying drought tolerance and resilience.

Drought can lead to important shifts in population dynamics if it occurs during seedling establishment. With the aim of elucidating the underlying mechanisms of drought tolerance and resilience, here we monitored the survival of seedlings of the Mediterranean shrub Cistus albidus L. throughout a year growing in the natural Park of the Montserrat Mountains (Spain) and, additionally, we studied the response to severe drought and subsequent recovery after rewatering of seedlings grown in growth chambers. To find possible mechanisms explaining how seedlings respond to drought, growth and survival together with physiological-related parameters such as chlorophyll contents, vitamin E and stress-related phytohormones were measured. We found that survival decreased by 30% at the end of summer and that the main proxy of seedling survival was total chlorophyll. This proxy was further confirmed in the growth chambers, where we found that seedlings that recovered from drought had higher levels of total chlorophyll compared with the seedlings that did not recover. Furthermore, modulation of vitamin E and jasmonates contents appeared to be crucial in the drought response of C. albidus seedlings. We propose a prediction model of survival that includes total chlorophyll height, leaf mass area and maximum photosystem II efficiency with chlorophyll contents being a good long-term predictor of C. albidus seedling survival under severe stress, which, in turn, could help to better foresee population fluctuations in the field.