Financial Literacy and Financial Fragility in Mexico

Alfabetización Financiera y Fragilidad Financiera en MéxicoEl objetivo de esta investigación es analizar la relación entre la fragilidad financiera de los mexicanos y las siguientes variables: alfabetización financiera, ahorro, tenencia de activos, shocks financieros, educación financiera e inclusión financiera. También se identifican las características socioeconómicas y demográficas asociadas a la fragilidad financiera. Se utiliza un modelo Probit dicotómico estimado con datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Inclusión Financiera, 2021. Los resultados muestran que la alfabetización financiera, el ahorro (formal e informal), la educación financiera y la tenencia de activos se relacionan negativamente con la probabilidad de ser financieramente frágil. Los altos ingresos y la tenencia de ahorros formales e informales son los predictores más robustos de fragilidad financiera, con un efecto marginal de -9.40%, -5.34% y -5.27%, respectivamente. La probabilidad de ser financieramente frágil está relacionada con bajos ingresos y bajo nivel educativo, así como haber experimentado sobreendeudamiento en el último año. Los hallazgos pueden ser de utilidad para el diseño de estrategias de educación financiera que brinden a la población capacitación y de esta forma protección contra la disminución de ingresos.The objective of this research is to analyze the relationship between Mexicans’ financial fragility and the following variables: financial literacy, savings, assets owning, financial shocks, financial education, and financial inclusion. Likewise, socioeconomic and demographic characteristics associated with financial fragility are identified. The dichotomous Probit model is used for the analysis, estimated with data from the 2021 National Survey of Financial Inclusion. The results show that financial literacy, savings (formal and informal), financial education and possession of assets are negatively related to the probability of being financially fragile. High income and holding formal and informal savings are the most robust predictors of financial fragility, with a marginal effect of -9.40%, -5.34% and -5.27%, respectively. The probability of being considered financially fragile is related to low income and a low educational level, plus having overspent in the last year. The findings can be useful for financial education strategies design, to provide the population financial training in resources administration and protection against income decrease

Mapping of social initiatives as a model of local development against depopulation in rural areas. The Valle del Genal case (Andalusia, Spain)

The cultural heritage of many rural areas, such as the villages of Valle del Genal in Andalusia, is endangered. Factors such as the depopulation suffered in the last 25 years have prevented the knowledge transfer from the elderly to the young. This paper focuses on mapping the social, economic and habitat resources as a preliminary step to the implementation of measures and policies against the abandonment of these areas. The aim is to create a map regarding the cultural identity and idiosyncrasy of each village in the valley. The mapping of these local entities is carried out through a combination of participatory work with the communities in the area and the data tracking from geo-positioning and social networks applications. During the identification and inventory process, the relationship between different citizen initiatives and social groups are analysed. This cartography pretends to offer a base of accessible knowledge for inhabitants and visitors.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Planeación, gobernanza y sustentabilidad Retos y desafíos desde el enfoque territorial

Frente a la compleja realidad actual, resulta ineludible el desarrollo de la investigación científica de los fenómenos y procesos urbanos, territoriales y ambientales, que contribuya a su comprensión y la construcción de alternativas de solución a los retos y desafíos vigentes. En este contexto, el abordaje de las ciudades y regiones metropolitanas, el ordenamiento del territorio y la ocupación del espacio, así como la relación sociedad-naturaleza y la complejidad ambiental, precisa la generación de metodologías y procesos de investigación multi e inter disciplinarios que contribuyan a la comprensión de los procesos socioterritoriales, el mejoramiento de las condiciones de vida y la conservación ambiental.Programa de Fortalecimiento de la Calidad Educativa PFCE-2016 proyecto K0313101

Novel genes and sex differences in COVID-19 severity

[EN] Here, we describe the results of a genome-wide study conducted in 11 939 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) positive cases with an extensive clinical information that were recruited from 34 hospitals across Spain (SCOURGE consortium). In sex-disaggregated genome-wide association studies for COVID-19 hospitalization, genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10−8) was crossed for variants in 3p21.31 and 21q22.11 loci only among males (P = 1.3 × 10−22 and P = 8.1 × 10−12, respectively), and for variants in 9q21.32 near TLE1 only among females (P = 4.4 × 10−8). In a second phase, results were combined with an independent Spanish cohort (1598 COVID-19 cases and 1068 population controls), revealing in the overall analysis two novel risk loci in 9p13.3 and 19q13.12, with fine-mapping prioritized variants functionally associated with AQP3 (P = 2.7 × 10−8) and ARHGAP33 (P = 1.3 × 10−8), respectively. The meta-analysis of both phases with four European studies stratified by sex from the Host Genetics Initiative (HGI) confirmed the association of the 3p21.31 and 21q22.11 loci predominantly in males and replicated a recently reported variant in 11p13 (ELF5, P = 4.1 × 10−8). Six of the COVID-19 HGI discovered loci were replicated and an HGI-based genetic risk score predicted the severity strata in SCOURGE. We also found more SNP-heritability and larger heritability differences by age (<60 or ≥60 years) among males than among females. Parallel genome-wide screening of inbreeding depression in SCOURGE also showed an effect of homozygosity in COVID-19 hospitalization and severity and this effect was stronger among older males. In summary, new candidate genes for COVID-19 severity and evidence supporting genetic disparities among sexes are provided.S

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

The evolution of the ventilatory ratio is a prognostic factor in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 ARDS patients

Background: Mortality due to COVID-19 is high, especially in patients requiring mechanical ventilation. The purpose of the study is to investigate associations between mortality and variables measured during the first three days of mechanical ventilation in patients with COVID-19 intubated at ICU admission. Methods: Multicenter, observational, cohort study includes consecutive patients with COVID-19 admitted to 44 Spanish ICUs between February 25 and July 31, 2020, who required intubation at ICU admission and mechanical ventilation for more than three days. We collected demographic and clinical data prior to admission; information about clinical evolution at days 1 and 3 of mechanical ventilation; and outcomes. Results: Of the 2,095 patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU, 1,118 (53.3%) were intubated at day 1 and remained under mechanical ventilation at day three. From days 1 to 3, PaO2/FiO2 increased from 115.6 [80.0-171.2] to 180.0 [135.4-227.9] mmHg and the ventilatory ratio from 1.73 [1.33-2.25] to 1.96 [1.61-2.40]. In-hospital mortality was 38.7%. A higher increase between ICU admission and day 3 in the ventilatory ratio (OR 1.04 [CI 1.01-1.07], p = 0.030) and creatinine levels (OR 1.05 [CI 1.01-1.09], p = 0.005) and a lower increase in platelet counts (OR 0.96 [CI 0.93-1.00], p = 0.037) were independently associated with a higher risk of death. No association between mortality and the PaO2/FiO2 variation was observed (OR 0.99 [CI 0.95 to 1.02], p = 0.47). Conclusions: Higher ventilatory ratio and its increase at day 3 is associated with mortality in patients with COVID-19 receiving mechanical ventilation at ICU admission. No association was found in the PaO2/FiO2 variation