Mangroves protect coastal economic activity from hurricanes.

This paper evaluates whether mangroves can mitigate the impact of hurricanes on economic activity. The paper assembles a regionwide panel dataset that measures local economic activity using nightlights, potential hurricane damages using a detailed wind field model, and mangrove protection by mapping the width of mangrove forests on the path to the coast. The results show that hurricanes have negative short-run effects on economic activity, with losses likely concentrated in coastal lowlands that are exposed to both wind and storm surge hazards. In these coastal lowlands, the estimates show that nightlights decrease by up to 24% in areas that are unprotected by mangroves. By comparison, the impact of the hurricanes observed in the sample is fully mitigated in areas protected by mangrove belts of 1 km or more.

The effects of public health insurance in labor markets with informal jobs: Evidence from Mexico.

This paper studies the labor market effects of the most significant public health insurance expansion in the Americas: Mexico's Seguro Popular (SP). To identify its impact, I exploit the staggered rollout of SP across municipalities. I find that SP increases labor supply by reducing the likelihood of informal workers exiting the labor market. This reduction is driven by women, who experience a 15% decrease in the probability of transitioning from informal employment to inactivity. I also find that this reduction is concentrated among female secondary earners residing in households with dependents. These findings suggest that SP may operate through a novel channel, namely that health insurance enables caregivers to continue working by reducing health shocks among dependents.

Protección social y transformaciones de las políticas sociales en Argentina / Social protection and social policy changes in Argentina

El presente trabajo se propone analizar el sistema de protección social y las políticas sociales en Argentina. Para ello, se desarrollan las características de la protección social en el país y los diferentes programas de lucha contra la pobreza que se han implementado desde las reformas efectuadas en la década de los '90. Posteriormente, se consideran las transformaciones que el sistema ha tenido desde el año 2003, especialmente en materia previsional, de asignaciones familiares y de cobertura para los jóvenes. Luego se desarrollan los principales programas de transferencias monetarias, destacando las líneas vigentes de los mismos, especialmente el Programa Argentina Trabaja (Ingreso social con trabajo, entre otros.) Se concluye que la actual disposición de prestaciones sociales mantiene y profundiza la estructura de riesgos sociales existente, ya que las transferencias del Estado pueden ser interpretadas como una subvención estatal a las empresas del sector informal.

This paper analyzes the system of social protection and social policies in Argentina. To do this, the characteristics of social protection system and the different programs to combat poverty which have been implemented since the reforms made in the 90,are developed.. Later, we consider the changes that the system has had since 2003, especially in security matters, family allowances and coverage for young people. The main cash transfer programs are then developed, highlighting the current line thereof, especially the Argentina Works Program (Entry with social work, among others.) We conclude that the current provision of social benefits maintains and deepens the structure of social risks existing as state transfers can be interpreted as a state grant to companies in the informal sector.

Protección social, acción estatal y estructura de riesgos sociales / Social protection, state action and social risk structure

El presente artículo tiene como objetivo realizar una serie de reflexiones en torno a los sistemas de protección social en América latina. Para ello, parte de una reflexión teórica sobre la acción estatal y defiende la tesis de que las formas de intervención estatal en las relaciones sociales se derivan de la relación sistémica que, dentro del capitalismo existe, entre el estado y la economía. A partir de ello, el artículo plantea la hipótesis de la sobre determinación de las formas de intervención estatal y la necesidad de que la política social sea planteada a partir del análisis sobre el rol del Estado. En la segunda parte, el texto analiza los límites que presenta la política social y plantea el desajuste entre la estructura de riesgos y la arquitectura de los actuales sistemas de protección para ello, se describen las características principales de los sistemas de protección social y los cambios a los que se vieron sometidos durante el procesos de reformas estructurales y ajuste económico. Posteriormente, se analiza la nueva estructura de riesgos a partir de definir al riesgo social y plantear la existencia de un desajuste entre la protección social y la estructura de riesgos emergente. La conclusión a la que se arriba plantea la necesidad de consolidar una nueva estructura de protección social sobre la base de un nuevo modelo fiscal.

This article aims to present some reflections on social protection systems in Latin America. For this, we started from a theoretical reflection on the action of the state and argue that this intervention in social relations is an outcome of the systemic relationship between the state and the economy. In a second part, the article develops the hypothesis about the structural’s determinations of state’s intervention and the need, for the social policy analysis to considerer the role of the state in the capitalist society. After that, argues about limitations presented by social policy systems and develops the idea that there is a mismatch between the risk structure and architecture of social protection systems. To do this, describes the main features of social protection systems and the changes that they suffered during the process of reforms and economical adjustment. Then, starting on the definition of social risk describes the new risk structure and proposes the existence of a mismatch between social protection and the structure of emerging risks. The conclusion defends the idea that is necessary to build a new social protection structure starting from the rebuilt of the fiscal model.

Firing rates of motor units during strong dynamic contractions.

Muscle behavior is usually studied during isometric contractions but many tasks include contractions that involve changes in muscle length. Our aim was to record motor unit action potentials and surface electromyograms (EMGs) from triceps brachii muscles during rhythmic dynamic contractions (3-s concentric, 3-s eccentric; 40 degrees/s; four subjects) performed at the highest voluntary forces subjects could exert (maximal concentric contraction) and at various submaximal intensities. Mean unit firing rates and surface EMG increased significantly with contraction intensity in both concentric and eccentric contractions, but at each intensity mean concentric values were significantly higher than eccentric values. In contrast, mean unit firing rates and surface EMGs were similar during maximal concentric and maximal isometric contractions. These data suggest muscles were activated maximally during the strongest concentric contractions but submaximally during the strongest eccentric efforts. After estimated eccentric contraction intensity was adjusted using surface EMG data, mean unit firing rates during eccentric contractions were still lower than the concentric values. Thus, protective mechanisms may limit motor unit firing rates during forceful lengthening contractions to minimize damage.

Motor unit firing rates during isometric voluntary contractions performed at different muscle lengths.

Firing rates of motor units and surface EMG were measured from the triceps brachii muscles of able-bodied subjects during brief submaximal and maximal isometric voluntary contractions made at 5 elbow joint angles that covered the entire physiological range of muscle lengths. Muscle activation at the longest, midlength, and shortest muscle lengths, measured by twitch occlusion, averaged 98%, 97%, and 93% respectively, with each subject able to achieve complete activation during some contractions. As expected, the strongest contractions were recorded at 90 degrees of elbow flexion. Mean motor unit firing rates and surface EMG increased with contraction intensity at each muscle length. For any given absolute contraction intensity, motor unit firing rates varied when muscle length was changed. However, mean motor unit firing rates were independent of muscle length when contractions were compared with the intensity of the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) achieved at each joint angle.

La movilización sinérgica en la rehabilitación inmediata de los injertos tendinosos / Synergic movilization in the inmediate rehabilitation of tendinous grafs

Se presenta una serie de 27 injertos tendinosos en lesionados no recientes, de los tendones flexores de la mano, a los cuales se les practicó la rehabilitación precoz mediante la movilización sinérgica de los injertos, utilizando la férula sinérgica asociada a una terapia medicamentosa esteroidea enérgica. La evaluación se realizó con el uso de la escala de Buck Grameko. De los injertos realizados, el 92 por ciento obtovo resultados satisfactorios (excelentes y buenos) y sólo el 8 por ciento tuvo malos resultados. El tiempo promedio de incapacidad fue de 74 días

El movimiento sinérgico en la cirugía del injerto tendinoso: resultados en 78 injertos realizados

Se presenta una serie de 78 injertos tendinosos en 52 pacientes, utilizando el injerto largo de tendón en un solo tiempo para la reconstrucción secundaria tardía de las lesiones de los tendones flexores en la zona 2 de la mano. Todos los casos fueron tratados con la movilización precoz de los dedos en la férula sinérgica con el empleo del ejercicio plus-sinérgico asociado con la aplicación de una terapia esteroidea combinada con diuréticos. Se obtuvieron resultados satisfactorios en el 90(por ciento) de los casos operados con un movimiento activo total promedio de 209 grados, excelentes 48(por ciento) (232 grados), buenos 42(por ciento)(195 grados), discretos 5(por ciento) y pobres 5(por ciento). El seguimiento promedio fue de 8,9 meses. Los factores que ejercieron influencia sobre los resultados finales fueron: las condiciones locales preoperatorias, la edad y la cantidad de dedos operados simultáneamente (p menor que 0,05. La hiperextensión de la articulación interfalángica proximal 5(por ciento), ruptura de polea 4(por ciento), distrofia simpática 2,5(por ciento) y sepsis 1,2(por ciento). Se demuestra que la utilización del movimiento sinérgico en el manejo posoperatorio precoz del injerto de tendón es un medio eficiente y seguro para garantizar un deslizamiento efectivo del injerto y la administración de la terapia antiinflamatoria combinada lo facilita sin complicaciones(AU)