Communal laying is the behaviour of females laying eggs together with those of other females of the same species and/or with eggs of other species. Homonota aff. darwinii is a recently discovered species that has not yet been formally described. A previous study suggested that this new species could be a communal laying species. The aim of this study is to confirm communal laying of eggs in nests by H. aff. darwinii. These new findings confirm previous observations and expand knowledge of other aspects of oviposition by H. aff. darwinii in the Central Andes region of Argentina.

To compare demographic, clinical, functional, and therapeutic characteristics of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) across 3 Latin American regions using data from the Registro de Espondiloartritis Axial de America (ESPALDA) registry between January 2019 and December 2024. This cross-sectional study included 418 patients diagnosed with axSpA who fulfilled the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society classification criteria. Participants were recruited from 3 Latin American regions: northern (Mexico), Andean (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela), and southern (Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay). Collected data included demographic characteristics, HLA-B27 status, extraarticular manifestations, disease activity, radiographic damage, and treatments. The northern region showed the highest prevalence of HLA-B27 (81%) and uveitis (36.3%), along with lower frequencies of peripheral involvement and fewer patients with magnetic resonance imaging-defined sacroiliitis (7.3%; all P ≤ 0.003). In contrast, the southern region reported a later onset of inflammatory back pain (median 39 vs 22 years; P = 0.01), higher Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index scores (median 4.6 vs 3.3, P = 0.005), and a lower response to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (59.8% vs 79%; P = 0.001). Use of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs was lowest in the northern region (34.7%) compared with the Andean (57.9%) and southern (53.8%) regions (P ≤ 0.002 for northern vs other regions). The median diagnostic delay was 40.9 (IQR 12.0-121.1) months, with no significant regional differences. Two clinical phenotypes of axSpA appear to exist in Latin America: a predominantly axial, HLA-B27-positive phenotype in the northern region, and a second phenotype in the Andean and southern regions characterized by greater peripheral involvement and, in the southern region, later symptom onset and worse functional status.

Unraveling the Phenotypes of Dyspnea and Leg Discomfort Symptoms During Exercise and Their Clinical Relevance: A Multicenter Real-Life Study in the Andean Region

ObjectiveTo determine the estimated birth prevalence of orofacial clefts in Ecuador, describe the demographic characteristics of these children, evaluate temporal trends, assess regional and provincial disparities, and perform spatial analyses to identify geographic clusters.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingEcuador; national hospital discharge and live birth registries maintained by the National Institute of Statistics and Census, 2018-2024.Patients, participantsChildren diagnosed with cleft lip (CL), cleft palate (CP), or cleft lip and palate (CLP) between 2018 and 2024 (ICD-10 codes Q35-Q37).InterventionsNone; observational study.Main Outcome MeasureThe estimated birth prevalence of cleft lip and/or cleft palate (CL/P) was defined as the number of cases per 10,000 live births.ResultsA total of 3970 children were identified with CL/P between 2018 and 2024, corresponding to an estimated birth prevalence of 21.94 per 10,000 live births. The lowest estimated birth prevalence occurred in 2020, and only CP diagnosis demonstrated a significant temporal change, with a decline from 2018 to 2020 followed by an increase from 2020 to 2024. The Highlands region exhibited the highest estimated birth prevalence. Provincial estimated birth prevalence ranged from 11.04 to 43.56 per 10,000, with Carchi and Napo showing the highest burdens. Flexible and circular spatial scan statistics consistently identified high-risk clusters concentrated in the central and northern Highlands, confirming robust geographic clustering.ConclusionOrofacial clefts in Ecuador demonstrate one of the highest estimated births prevalences reported worldwide, with substantial regional and provincial variation. High-prevalence clusters were concentrated in the Highlands.

The impact of the low number of records when selecting for uniformity: a simulation study of birth weight in guinea pigs.

We describe a new species of widow spider (Araneae, Theridiidae, Latrodectus) from the Andean region. DNA barcode sequences are provided. The species is documented from museum specimens across Peru and identified from photographs on iNaturalist, extending its inferred distribution into Ecuador, Bolivia, and Chile. We integrate specimen and citizen-science occurrences to generate a species distribution model using WorldClim bioclimatic variables, predicting highest suitability along temperate to high-elevation Andean regions. We discuss the utility and limitations of citizen-science imagery for delimiting and mapping species and summarize available information on clinical aspects of envenomation in Peru associated with the local “lucacha” widow spider.

Solar irradiation variability in the high Andean region of Amazonas-Peru: Spatiotemporal climatic perspective to evaluate the potential for solar energy implementation

The Lithium Road. Political practices in favor of extractive infrastructures in the Bolivian Altiplano.

An intense gene flow between Native, European, and African groups, since the colonial period, has led to complex admixture patterns throughout Colombia. To investigate this genetic structure, we analyzed 23 Y-STRs in 975 males from five major regions of the country: Andes, Pacific, Caribbean, Orinoquía, and Amazon. To explore the paternal lineages and to reconstruct the underlying historical and demographic processes, a subset of 175 individuals was genotyped for 859 Y-SNPs using massively parallel sequencing. A high haplotypic diversity was found for the 23 Y-STRs (0.9998), compared to other Latin American populations studied. Pairwise genetic distance analyses (FST and RST) showed a clearer differentiation among Colombian regions, when increasing the number of Y-STRs from 17 to 23. In population comparisons, Caribbean and Orinoquía regions clustered closer to European and Admixed populations, while the Pacific region moves towards African populations. The Amazon clustered with Peru and Ecuador that have high Native American ancestry. The predominant paternal ancestry in the Caribbean and Andes was European (79% and 87.9%, respectively), with macrohaplogroup R being the most frequent (39% and 64%, respectively). In the Caribbean region, sub-Saharan African lineages are the second most prevalent (16%), while in the Andean region the Native American lineages are the second most represented (7.6%), followed by a smaller proportion of sub-Saharan African lineages (4.5%). The results attest to the extensive regional genetic diversity within the country. The Y-STRs showed good intra and inter-population discrimination capabilities and support the establishment of specific regional databases for forensic purposes.

Road drainage infrastructure in ENSO-vulnerable Andean regions faces compounding threats from climatic variability, geometric inadequacy, and systemic maintenance neglect. This study presents a STEM-integrated Project-Based Learning (PjBL) diagnostic framework applied to 42 road segments along corridors connecting Loja, Ecuador, selected through a purposive-stratified spatial-coverage protocol. Using ArcGIS Survey123, standardised field data were collected on structure presence, geometry, failure modes, and condition across four structure types: crown gutters, road gutters, hydraulic chutes, and culverts. The Composite Drainage Deficiency Index (DDI, 0–100) was derived from five equally weighted binary indicators and validated through Monte Carlo Dirichlet weight-perturbation analysis and jackknife leave-one-out resampling, confirming rank-order invariance to admissible alternative weightings. The results reveal severe systemic deficiencies, including crown gutters absent at 88.1% (95% CI: 75.0–94.8) and road gutters at 81.0% (95% CI: 66.7–90.0) of sites. Every segment exhibited at least one drainage failure (100%; 95% CI: 91.6–100). The DDI identified 73.8% of segments in the High or Critical band (DDI ≥ 60; mean = 60.2 ± 20.4). Hierarchical clustering isolated one geometric outlier whose exclusion altered the aggregate metrics by <1.2%. These findings establish a georeferenced baseline for maintenance prioritisation and validate the methodological reproducibility of academically integrated field protocols for infrastructure diagnostics.

Ambrosia arborescens Mill., a native medicinal plant traditionally used in the Andean region, has a poorly characterized essential oil (EO), with no prior reports on its anticholinesterase or antioxidant potential. As a first report and preliminary screening study, this work characterizes the chemical composition of the EO and evaluates its acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory and antioxidant activities. The EO was isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and flame ionization detection (GC-FID). The biological activities were evaluated using the Ellman method to determine AChE inhibition and using ABTS and DPPH assays to determine antioxidant activity. Analysis of the chemical composition revealed 31 compounds, and the major components were γ-curcumene (28.63%), trans-muurola-4(14),5-diene (27.85%), and eucavone (18.46%). The EO showed moderate AChE inhibitory activity, with an IC50 value of 28.04 ± 1.02 µg/mL, and limited antioxidant activity, with ABTS SC50 = 373.75 ± 1.30 µg/mL and DPPH SC50 = 1101.84 ± 1.63 µg/mL. These findings demonstrate that the EO possesses selective anticholinesterase activity and limited antioxidant capacity. Given the structural diversity of its constituents, the observed bioactivity is likely the result of the combined contributions of multiple components; however, the specific active constituents and potential synergistic interactions require further investigation through bioassay-guided fractionation. These findings represent the first preliminary screening of the biological activities of A. arborescens EO and provide a foundation for future bioactivity-guided investigations.

Background: Cerebral hydatidosis is a rare parasitic disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus. While it most commonly affects the liver and lungs, cerebral involvement occurs in only 1–2% of cases. Pediatric patients from endemic Andean regions represent the population most commonly affected.Methods: We present a case series of 10 pediatric patients diagnosed with cerebral hydatid disease and treated at Instituto Nacional de Salud del Niño – Breña and Hospital Nacional Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen in Peru. We performed a descriptive analysis encompassing epidemiological, clinical, radiological, surgical, and pathological features.Results: Patients ranged from 3 to 14 years old, with 7 males and 3 females. Nine patients originated from endemic highland regions. Headache was present in all patients, vomiting in six patients, and motor deficits in six patients. Neuroimaging revealed large, well-defined cystic lesions without perilesional edema, mostly located in the cerebral hemispheres. Serological testing was positive in three patients. Complete intact cyst excision was achieved in all patients in whom microsurgical dissection was combined with the Dowling–Orlando technique, whereas the only intraoperative rupture occurred in the case operated without microsurgical assistance. Histopathology confirmed Echinococcus granulosus in all patients. Two patients presented with hydrocephalus and required ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement in addition to cyst removal.Conclusion: Cerebral hydatidosis must be considered in children from endemic regions presenting with cystic brain lesions. Early diagnosis and complete surgical removal remain the cornerstone of management. The combined use of the Dowling–Orlando technique with meticulous microsurgical principles is essential to achieve safe and successful excision, particularly in large or complex cysts.

Design and experimental investigation of a thermally managed solar latent heat storage system using hydrogenated palm stearin as a sustainable phase change material under high-altitude Andean conditions

Climate change is a pressing global issue. Research on living populations fails to capture the full range of possible responses. Archaeological and bioarchaeological research offers a window into how people adapted to past climatic changes. We investigate the relationship between human health and precipitation among archaeological populations in the Andes region of South America. We conduct a path analysis of precipitation, cribra orbitalia, and age-at-death to assess the evidence for metabolic responses to climate change. Our models suggest that cribra orbitalia was less common, and that fertility was higher, when precipitation was greater. Model results were characterized by uncertainty, emphasizing the high variety in human responses to environmental change.

Context: Honey contains phenolic constituents and minerals that contribute to measurable in vitro antioxidant capacity, which may vary with botanical and geographic origin. Aims: To evaluate physicochemical parameters, total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), mineral composition, and in vitro antioxidant capacity in artisanal honey samples collected from coastal and Andean regions of Peru. Methods: Eleven coded honey samples were analyzed in triplicate (analytical replicates). TPC was determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu assay and TFC by an AlCl₃-based colorimetric assay. Antioxidant capacity was assessed using DPPH and FRAP assays. Minerals were quantified by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry after incineration and acid digestion. Results: TPC and TFC differed across samples, and DPPH/FRAP responses varied by sample. A significant correlation was observed between TPC and TFC, and between DPPH and FRAP; however, no significant monotonic association between antioxidant capacity and TPC/TFC was detected in this dataset. Conclusions: Peruvian artisanal honey samples showed acceptable physicochemical indices and variable in vitro antioxidant capacity. Botanical authentication and compound-level profiling are required to strengthen floral-origin conclusions and to clarify the determinants of antioxidant capacity.

Alternative forages, such as chicory and plantain, have been successfully applied in various animal species. As a result, these forages could serve as an alternative for raising guinea pigs in high Andean regions; however, few, if any, reports have been published on the effects of their inclusion on growth, production, and carcass yield. This study aimed to determine the effects of incorporating chicory and plantain into the diet of guinea pigs on growth, production, and carcass yield, elucidating the possibility of using these species for feeding guinea pigs. The study was conducted in Andahuaylas-Perú, in an experimental period of 6 weeks. Five guinea pigs were randomly assigned to each diet treatment (30% chicory-70% lucerne, 30% plantain-70% lucerne, 50% chicory-50% lucerne, 50% plantain-50% lucerne, and 100% lucerne as a control). Growth, production, and carcass yield were measured. Covariance analysis was performed using R software, and the means were compared using Dunnett's method (α = 0.05). Diets with chicory (30%-50%) improved the final live weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and hot carcass weight, whereas diets with plantain (30%) improved the final live weight, dry matter intake, feed conversion ratio, and carcass weight compared with diets with 100% lucerne. Chicory and plantain can optimize the growth, production, and hot carcass weight of guinea pigs in high Andean areas, surpassing traditional lucerne diets.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a crucial legume as fodder for livestock, especially in high Andean regions. Despite its growing national importance, production remains limited by agroecological and climatic factors, mainly altitude. In this context, this study estimated the profitability and risks of alfalfa production in the district of San Andrés de Tupicocha, located in the highlands of Lima, Peru. To this end, surveys were conducted with producers during the year 2024, collecting information on yields, costs and risk perceptions. Profitability was analyzed using a stochastic Monte Carlo simulation of the Net Present Value (NPV), complemented by statistical tests comparing two zones with different altitudes and agroecological conditions. On average, the NPV/ha was S/ 159,555; with S/ 134,832 in the high zone (up to 4000 m.a.s.l) and S/ 188,286 in the low zone (up to 2500 m.a.s.l). The high zone showed a higher probability of economic losses, mainly due to frost and heavy rains. These findings suggest that, in order to improve productive efficiency and mitigate risks, it is necessary to implement strategies differentiated according to altitude and local agroecological characteristics. This differentiation will allow optimizing land use and available resources, favoring the sustainability of alfalfa production in the district.

Understanding of carrot growth dynamics and ecophysiological functioning in tropical highland environments remains limited, despite the crop’s productive importance in the Colombian Andean region. This study aimed to characterize biomass accumulation and partitioning, as well as the photosynthetic response to radiation, in two carrot (Daucus carota L.) cultivars (Berlicum- and Flakkee-type) grown under high-altitude Andean tropical conditions in Rionegro, Antioquia. To account for field spatial heterogeneity, four beds were used as blocks, and both cultivars were evaluated in parallel under comparable field conditions. Weekly destructive samplings were performed to quantify total dry biomass, shoot biomass, root biomass, leaf number, and leaf area. In addition, the response of net CO2 assimilation to photosynthetically active radiation was evaluated using a portable gas-exchange system. Total and root biomass were described using logistic models, shoot biomass using a Gaussian model, and the photosynthetic response using an exponential model. Berlicum showed higher biomass accumulation, whereas Flakkee exhibited an earlier response of growth and photosynthetic activity. In both cultivars, the highest functional capacity was concentrated in stage III, coinciding with the strengthening of the storage-root sink. Overall, the results indicate contrasting temporal patterns in biomass partitioning and photosynthetic performance between the two carrot cultivars and provide a useful ecophysiological framework for interpreting crop management and harvest timing under high-altitude Andean tropical conditions.

In Peru, the high Andean regions made up of grasslands are important for the sustainability of local systems. Improving and promoting the sustainability of forage production and quality allows producers to be resilient in the face of constant environmental changes. In this study, the morphological characteristics (plant height, leaf length and width), yield (fresh and dry matter) and nutritional characteristics [ash, ether extract, crude protein (CP), crude fiber, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), in vitro digestibility of dry matter (IVDMD), nitrogen-free extract (NFE) and gross energy] of Cichorium intybus L. and Plantago lanceolata L. were evaluated, according to the cutting interval. Six experimental plots were implemented, three per species in each of C. intybus and P. lanceolata. An analysis of variances under a linear mixed model was performed of morphological and yield characteristics, including the cutting interval (28, 35 and 42 days), and the harvest (1, 2, 3 and 4 harvests) as fixed effects, while the plants were considered as a random effect. Tukey's multiple comparisons test (p < 0.05) was used to group the results by species using R software. The number of leaves in C. intybus and P. lanceolata were higher at a cutting interval of 42 days of age and in the third and fourth harvest (p<0.05). The dry matter yield of C. intybus and P. lanceolata at 42 days was higher than that of the 28 and 35 days cut, with values of 1645 kg/ha and 1545 kg/ha, respectability. The nutritional parameters of C. intybus and P. lanceolata varied significantly according to harvest age (p<0.05). Ash, CP, NDF and ADF decreased, while IVDMD and NFE increased according to age. The CP concentration was 20.84% at 28 days, 18.99% at 35 days and 17.82% at 42 days in C. intybus and 19.29% at 28 days, 17.80% at 35 days and 15.17% at 42 days, while the IVDMD increased from 88.5% to 94.00% in C. intybus and 77.82% to 88.65% in P. lanceolata. Harvest age is key to optimizing yield and quality of C.intybus and P. lanceolata in high Andean livestock systems.

We describe a new species of the genus Ilocomba Brescovit, 1997 from the Andean region of Colombia using an integrative taxonomic approach that combines morphological and molecular data. We assess the phylogenetic position of the new species using four molecular markers: COI, 16S, 28S, and H3. The distinctiveness of the new species, Ilocomba yotoco sp. nov., is supported by its placement in the phylogenetic tree, unique morphological characteristics, and uncorrected pairwise genetic distances. We also provide new morphological data and geographic records for Ilocomba marta Brescovit, 1997. Additionally, we present a distribution map of the genus and an updated identification key for all known species of Ilocomba.