Evaluation of the Financial Impact of Flood Management on Residential Losses

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impacts that the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has had on the costs of flooding and on their distribution among payers. This study thus probes the NFIP's financial impact, the centerpiece question about program effectiveness. For the analysis, this paper models the institutional and economic framework of flood relief compensation into the HAZUS-flood model, and calculates the NFIP impact on the distribution of payers for flood losses in special flood hazard areas.Risk and Uncertainty,

Hacia la constitucionalización del precedente judicial en Colombia, ¿un esfuerzo por controlar a las fuentes del derecho?

El activismo judicial y la creación derivada del derecho han situado al precedentecomo fuente de derecho, algunas veces, fuente principal para la práctica jurídica. En realidad, se argumenta, el constituyente derivado parecería llegar tarde a lainstitucionalización del precedente como fuente principal de derecho. El juez colombiano no ha sido neófito en la creación de normas jurídicas por medio de la cosa juzgada implícita. Por ello, se explorará cuál ha sido el recorrido, en lapráctica colombiana, de la reforma constitucional dirigida a regular los efectos relativos de la producción jurisprudencial

Heterogeneous effects of risk-taking on bank efficiency : a stochastic frontier model with random coefficients

We estimate a stochastic frontier model with random inefficiency parameters, which allows us not only to identify the role of bank risk-taking on driving cost and profit inefficiency, but also to recognize heterogeneous effects of risk exposure on banks with different characteristics. We account for an integral group of risk exposure covariates including credit, liquidity, capital and market risk, as well as bank-specific characteristics of size and affiliation. The model is estimated for the Colombian banking sector during the period 2002-2012. Results suggest that risk-taking drives inefficiency and its omission leads to over (under) estimate cost (profit) efficiency. Risk-taking is also found to have different effects on efficiency of banks with different size and affiliation, and those involved in mergers and acquisitions. In particular, greater exposures to credit and market risk are found to be key profit efficiency drivers.Likewise, lower liquidity risk and capital risk lead to higher efficiency in both costs and profits. Large, foreign and merged banks benefit more when assuming credit risk, while small, domestic and non-merged banks institutions take advantage of assuming higher market riskJorge E. Galán acknowledges financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science, research project ECO2012-340

Parasitoids of Polistes myersi Bequaert, 1934 (Vespidae, Polistinae)

Information about parasitoids of neotropical vespids is scarce. Parasitoids collected from 43 colonies of Polistes  myersi Bequaert, 1934 and one ofPolistes erythrocephalus Latreille, 1813 are reported from an Andean region of Colombia.  Colony parasitism rates in P. myersi ranged from 35 % to 57 %, being higher in colonies with more cells; however, the number of parasitized colonies did not differ when considering the mean number of adult wasps (8.2 vs. 8.1 respectively). Parasitoidism ranged from one up to four species per colony. P.  myersi parasitoids were: Seminotalaeviceps (Cresson, 1879) (Trigonalidae); Signiphora polistomyiella Richards, 1935 (Signiphoridae); Elasmuspolistis Burks, 1971 (Eulophidae, Elasminae); and a new species of Xenos(Strepsiptera, Xenidae). The latter three are first records for Colombia. P. myersi and P.  erythrocephalus are the first host reports for the trigonalid S.laeviceps. We also report an unknown Tachinid fly species of the tribe Blondeliini attacking P. myersi

Manejo de la vía aérea en pacientes llevados a cirugía bariátrica en el Hospital Universitario de San Ignacio, Bogotá, Colombia

ResumenIntroducciónLa obesidad ha aumentado en los últimos años y aún más los obesos mórbidos, en quienes se han reconocido comorbilidades que dificultan el manejo perioperatorio anestésico, incluido el manejo de la vía aérea. En la valoración preanestésica existen parámetros del examen físico y de la historia clínica que son predictores de intubaciones difíciles o fallidas, y es en estos casos cuando el fibroscopio retromolar de Bonfils ha sido una herramienta útil.ObjetivoObservar los predictores de vía aérea difícil a partir del examen físico, la incidencia de intubación difícil y las herramientas utilizadas para el manejo de la vía aérea en pacientes obesos.Material y métodosEstudio observacional descriptivo de 352 pacientes obesos llevados a cirugía bariátrica en el Hospital Universitario de San Ignacio, Bogotá, en quienes se evaluó índice de masa corporal, apertura oral, Mallampati, distancia tiromentoniana, circunferencia del cuello y uso de laringoscopio o fibroscopio retromolar de Bonfils y su dificultad en la utilización.ConclusionesLa intubación con fibroscopio retromolar de Bonfils es exitosa en el 100% de los casos observados en pacientes obesos y la dificultad de la intubación con dicho dispositivo no se correlaciona con los parámetros evaluados.AbstractIntroductionObesity has increased in the past few years, more so for the morbidly obese; in whom comorbilities that complicate the perioperative anaesthetic and airway management have been identified. The pre-anaesthetic assessment of the patient includes parameters of physical examination and medical history that predict difficulties when intubating or failure to do so. In such cases, the Bonfils retromolar fibroscope has proven to be a useful tool.GoalTo observe and identify predicting evidence of a difficult airway through physical examination; to revise the incidence of difficult intubation and the use of tools for airway management of obese patients.Material and methodsThis is a descriptive observational study carried out on 352 obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery at Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá. On these patients we assessed the following parameters: body mass index (BMI), oral opening, mallampati score, distance between thyroid and chin, neck circumference, use of laryngoscope or Bonfils retromolar fibroscope and the difficulties encountered for both.ConclusionsIntubation with the Bonfils retromolar fibroscope proves successfull in 100% of observed cases of obese patients, and intubation difficulty does not correlate with the parameters considered in our assessment

Fine particulate matter pollution and risk of community-acquired sepsis

While air pollution has been associated with health complications, its effect on sepsis risk is unknown. We examined the association between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution and risk of sepsis hospitalization. We analyzed data from the 30,239 community-dwelling adults in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort linked with satellite-derived measures of PM2.5 data. We defined sepsis as a hospital admission for a serious infection with ≥2 systemic inflammatory response (SIRS) criteria. We performed incidence density sampling to match sepsis cases with 4 controls by age (±5 years), sex, and race. For each matched group we calculated mean daily PM2.5 exposures for short-term (30-day) and long-term (one-year) periods preceding the sepsis event. We used conditional logistic regression to evaluate the association between PM2.5 exposure and sepsis, adjusting for education, income, region, temperature, urbanicity, tobacco and alcohol use, and medical conditions. We matched 1386 sepsis cases with 5544 non-sepsis controls. Mean 30-day PM2.5 exposure levels (Cases 12.44 vs. Controls 12.34 µg/m3; p = 0.28) and mean one-year PM2.5 exposure levels (Cases 12.53 vs. Controls 12.50 µg/m3; p = 0.66) were similar between cases and controls. In adjusted models, there were no associations between 30-day PM2.5 exposure levels and sepsis (4th vs. 1st quartiles OR: 1.06, 95% CI: 0.85–1.32). Similarly, there were no associations between one-year PM2.5 exposure levels and sepsis risk (4th vs. 1st quartiles OR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.78–1.18). In the REGARDS cohort, PM2.5 air pollution exposure was not associated with risk of sepsis

First record of the Sclerogibbidae (Hymenoptera) from the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.

Las Islas Galápagos son de gran importancia debido a su papel en los albores y la consolidación del modelo de evolución darwiniano (Sulloway 1982); su origen geológicamente reciente y su ubicación oceánica los convierten en un laboratorio natural para el estudio de muchos procesos evolutivos y ecológicos (Schluter 1986, Grant & Grant 2009). Como consecuencia, varios grupos de organismos, como los vertebrados, han sido ampliamente estudiados (De Roy 2009, Steadman 2009); sin embargo, preguntas básicas como la riqueza de las islas requieren más estudio, y aparecen sorpresas continuamente, incluso de los grupos más obvios, como los vertebrados mismos (Gentile & Snell 2009). Los artrópodos son un grupo para el cual el inventario de las islas se ha desarrollado de manera desigual y aún requiere un gran esfuerzo a pesar de las múltiples expediciones realizadas. Según Linsley y Usinger (1966), en ese momento el mejor compendio de estudios entomológicos, desde la visita pionera de Charles Darwin en 1835 hasta 1966, se produjeron alrededor de ocho expediciones individuales y 21 grupales, lo que dio como resultado una lista de 618 especies: 192 coleópteros, 97 lepidópteros y 31 himenópteros. Curiosamente, grandes grupos de himenópteros como Braconidae, Pteromalidae y Encyrtidae no figuran en la lista o se mencionan en publicaciones con menos de cinco especies (Heraty y Herrera 2017). Roque-Álbelo y Landry (2016) enumeraron 311 especies de lepidópteros, y Heraty y Herrera (2017) compilaron un total de 71 himenópteros. Curiosamente, grandes grupos de himenópteros como Braconidae, Pteromalidae y Encyrtidae no figuran en la lista o se mencionan en publicaciones con menos de cinco especies (Heraty y Herrera 2017). Roque-Álbelo y Landry (2016) enumeraron 311 especies de lepidópteros, y Heraty y Herrera (2017) compilaron un total de 71 himenópteros. Curiosamente, grandes grupos de himenópteros como Braconidae, Pteromalidae y Encyrtidae no figuran en la lista o se mencionan en publicaciones con menos de cinco especies (Heraty y Herrera 2017).The Galapagos Islands are of great importance due to their role in the dawn and consolidation of the Darwinian model of evolution (Sulloway 1982); their recent geological origin and oceanic location are recent in a natural laboratory for the study of many evolutionary and ecological processes (Schluter 1986, Grant & Grant 2009). As a consequence, several groups of organisms, such as vertebrates, have been specifically studied (De Roy 2009, Steadman 2009); however, basic questions such as the wealth of the affected islands are more studied, and surprises continually appear, even from the most obvious groups, such as the vertebrates themselves (Gentile & Snell 2009). Arthropods are a group for which the inventory of the islands has been unevenly developed and still require a great effort despite the multiple expeditions carried out. According to Linsley and Usinger (1966), at that time the best compendium of entomological studies, from Charles Darwin's pioneering visit in 1835 to 1966, produced around eight individual and 21 group expeditions, resulting in a list of 618 species: 192 beetles, 97 lepidoptera and 31 hymenoptera. Interestingly, large groups of hymenoptera such as Braconidae, Pteromalidae, and Encyrtidae are not listed or mentioned in publications with fewer than five species (Heraty and Herrera 2017). Roque-Álbelo and Landry (2016) listed 311 species of lepidoptera, and Heraty and Herrera (2017) compiled a total of 71 hymenoptera. Interestingly, large groups of hymenoptera such as Braconidae, Pteromalidae, and Encyrtidae are not listed or mentioned in publications with fewer than five species (Heraty and Herrera 2017). Roque-Álbelo and Landry (2016) listed 311 species of lepidoptera, and Heraty and Herrera (2017) compiled a total of 71 hymenoptera. Interestingly, large groups of hymenoptera such as Braconidae, Pteromalidae, and Encyrtidae are not listed or mentioned in publications with fewer than five species (Heraty and Herrera 2017)

First record of the Sclerogibbidae (Hymenoptera) from the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.

Las Islas Galápagos son de gran importancia debido a su papel en los albores y la consolidación del modelo de evolución darwiniano (Sulloway 1982); su origen geológicamente reciente y su ubicación oceánica los convierten en un laboratorio natural para el estudio de muchos procesos evolutivos y ecológicos (Schluter 1986, Grant & Grant 2009). Como consecuencia, varios grupos de organismos, como los vertebrados, han sido ampliamente estudiados (De Roy 2009, Steadman 2009); sin embargo, preguntas básicas como la riqueza de las islas requieren más estudio, y aparecen sorpresas continuamente, incluso de los grupos más obvios, como los vertebrados mismos (Gentile & Snell 2009). Los artrópodos son un grupo para el cual el inventario de las islas se ha desarrollado de manera desigual y aún requiere un gran esfuerzo a pesar de las múltiples expediciones realizadas. Según Linsley y Usinger (1966), en ese momento el mejor compendio de estudios entomológicos, desde la visita pionera de Charles Darwin en 1835 hasta 1966, se produjeron alrededor de ocho expediciones individuales y 21 grupales, lo que dio como resultado una lista de 618 especies: 192 coleópteros, 97 lepidópteros y 31 himenópteros. Curiosamente, grandes grupos de himenópteros como Braconidae, Pteromalidae y Encyrtidae no figuran en la lista o se mencionan en publicaciones con menos de cinco especies (Heraty y Herrera 2017). Roque-Álbelo y Landry (2016) enumeraron 311 especies de lepidópteros, y Heraty y Herrera (2017) compilaron un total de 71 himenópteros. Curiosamente, grandes grupos de himenópteros como Braconidae, Pteromalidae y Encyrtidae no figuran en la lista o se mencionan en publicaciones con menos de cinco especies (Heraty y Herrera 2017). Roque-Álbelo y Landry (2016) enumeraron 311 especies de lepidópteros, y Heraty y Herrera (2017) compilaron un total de 71 himenópteros. Curiosamente, grandes grupos de himenópteros como Braconidae, Pteromalidae y Encyrtidae no figuran en la lista o se mencionan en publicaciones con menos de cinco especies (Heraty y Herrera 2017).The Galapagos Islands are of great importance due to their role in the dawn and consolidation of the Darwinian model of evolution (Sulloway 1982); their recent geological origin and oceanic location are recent in a natural laboratory for the study of many evolutionary and ecological processes (Schluter 1986, Grant & Grant 2009). As a consequence, several groups of organisms, such as vertebrates, have been specifically studied (De Roy 2009, Steadman 2009); however, basic questions such as the wealth of the affected islands are more studied, and surprises continually appear, even from the most obvious groups, such as the vertebrates themselves (Gentile & Snell 2009). Arthropods are a group for which the inventory of the islands has been unevenly developed and still require a great effort despite the multiple expeditions carried out. According to Linsley and Usinger (1966), at that time the best compendium of entomological studies, from Charles Darwin's pioneering visit in 1835 to 1966, produced around eight individual and 21 group expeditions, resulting in a list of 618 species: 192 beetles, 97 lepidoptera and 31 hymenoptera. Interestingly, large groups of hymenoptera such as Braconidae, Pteromalidae, and Encyrtidae are not listed or mentioned in publications with fewer than five species (Heraty and Herrera 2017). Roque-Álbelo and Landry (2016) listed 311 species of lepidoptera, and Heraty and Herrera (2017) compiled a total of 71 hymenoptera. Interestingly, large groups of hymenoptera such as Braconidae, Pteromalidae, and Encyrtidae are not listed or mentioned in publications with fewer than five species (Heraty and Herrera 2017). Roque-Álbelo and Landry (2016) listed 311 species of lepidoptera, and Heraty and Herrera (2017) compiled a total of 71 hymenoptera. Interestingly, large groups of hymenoptera such as Braconidae, Pteromalidae, and Encyrtidae are not listed or mentioned in publications with fewer than five species (Heraty and Herrera 2017)