Andre Soares

Este informe ha realizado un gran esfuerzo dedicado a poner el foco de atencion sobre una agenda comercial ignorada en gran medida durante el periodo de auge del comercio de China con America Latina y el Caribe (ALC). En materia de barreras arancelarias y no arancelarias, ambos lados de la relacion, obnubilados por extraordinarias ganancias de exportacion, miraron generalmente hacia otro lado -salvo contadas excepciones- y, en consecuencia, no fueron capaces siquiera de documentar y medir el impacto de estas, ni de negociar su eliminacion. Para cerrar esta brecha, este estudio ofrece un analisis detallado de las barreras mencionadas, incluyendo estimaciones rigurosas de su impacto en los flujos comerciales bilaterales. Por ejemplo, el impacto mediano de una convergencia de los aranceles de importacion de China a niveles de la OCDE, seria el 53 por ciento para las exportaciones agricolas de ALC y 46.5 por ciento para sus exportaciones de manufactura. Igualmente, una convergencia similar en los aranceles de importacion de ALC a niveles de la OCDE tendria un impacto mediano de 16 por ciento en las exportaciones de manufactura de China a la region.

Introduction: Physical therapy (PT) is recommended after stroke, but relationship between its dose and recovery during acute hospitalization remains unclear. This study aimed to assess whether PT volume and frequency are associated with meaningful improvement in functional mobility at hospital discharge. Review of Literature: Studies of early rehabilitation, especially in critical care settings, show that short, frequent mobilization can enhance independence in the months after stroke. While long-term effects are well documented, more research is needed on early recovery in the first one to two weeks of hospitalization, as it influences access and decisions about post-discharge rehabilitation. Subjects: Adults admitted to a stroke center over ten months, excluding those with late admissions, pre-existing functional impairments, palliative care needs, or those independent post-stoke. Methods: Retrospective analysis of medical records. The primary outcome was a ≥4 points improvement on the Functional Status Score for the Intensive Care Unit (FSS-ICU) from hospital admission to discharge, defined as a meaningful change. Multivariable logistic regressions identified factors independently associated with this improvement. Results: 331 patients were included, with a median age of 51 (44-63) years and 240 (72.5%) males. FSS-ICU improved from 19 (11-26) to 26 (17-33). 201 patients achieved a meaningful improvement in functional mobility. This group received 4 (3-7) PT sessions and 115 (71-204.5) PT minutes, while the group that did not meaningfully improve (n = 130) received 3 (2-4) PT sessions and 88 (59.5-136) PT minutes (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). After adjusting for other variables, the number of PT sessions (p = 0.01) and PT minutes (0.037) were independently associated with meaningful improvement. Conclusion: Increased PT frequency and minutes may enhance short-term recovery in patients with stroke. These findings contribute to the limited evidence on PT provision and outcomes during acute hospitalization

This study makes a concerted effort to draw attention to a trade agenda that remained largely ignored during the China-LAC trade boom. Mesmerized by epic export gains, both sides of the relationship largely looked the other way when it came to tariffs and non-tariff barriers and, as a result, have essentially failed to document, measure their impact and negotiate their removal. To close this gap, this study offers a detailed analysis of these barriers, including rigorous estimates of their impact on bilateral trade flows. The results suggest that both sides have much to gain from a more activist trade policy. For instance, the median impact of a convergence of China’s import tariffs to OECD levels would be 53 percent for LAC agricultural exports, and 46.5 percent for its manufacturing exports. Likewise, a similar convergence in LAC import tariffs to OECD levels would have 16 percent median impact on China’s manufacturing exports to the region.

How to build a convergence within the diversity of integrationist experiences? How can global efforts converge with regional and national realities through a glocal (global + local) governance that supports a productive integration and generates sustainable jobs? In this context of new challenges, Latin America must face the transformation of the Chinese economic model. After years of keeping prices of raw materials high, an exponential growth and an active investment policy in the region, Chinese economy grows at a slower rate, shows greater financial volatility, and shifts the focus from production to consumption. How will this metamorphosis impact on Latin-American development? What are the ways to overcome the stage of mere exchange of commodities for industrial products? How to move forward to a technology transfer that fosters innovation and facilitates export diversification? World-class authors, diplomats, negotiators, academics and private sector representatives analyze here the outlook of the linkage with the Asian giant. From an interdisciplinary approach, the Institute for the Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean (INTAL), a unit of the Department of Integration and Trade of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), makes through this volume a contribution to building a regional agenda to jointly address the questions of the current scenario.