Highland Communities Research Articles

Andean tubers: traditional medicine and other applications

Tubers are a staple food in Andean highland communities, valued for their rich carbohydrate content with starch being the predominant component. Additionally their consumption is preferred for various health benefits, including anti-inflammatory effects, pain relief, digestive system improvement, diabetes management and wound healing, among others. Several studies have focused on Andean tubers such as Oxalis tuberosa, Tropaeolum tuberosum, Ullucus tuberosus, Arracacia xanthorrhiza and Smallanthus sonchifolius, revealing different compounds with pharmacological effects on humans and strengthening the immune system. Therefore, the objective of this review was to compile information from different databases such as Scopus and Web of Science on research conducted in the last decade on these tubers, highlighting their health benefits and potential for technological innovation for the benefit of the Andean communities that produce these crops. These tubers have been little marketed outside their production areas due to a lack of awareness. Although their applications have been limited, they have shown positive results, making them promising sources of health-beneficial phytochemicals. They could be used in technological developments to benefit health, particularly in addressing diseases that cause the most deaths.

Perceived Impacts of Tourism on Community Identity: Perspectives of Two Scottish Highland Communities

ABSTRACT The Scottish Highlands tourism industry has grown significantly due to the successful launch of the North Coast 500 route. This study investigates the perceived tourism impact on rural communities based on a survey and semi-structured interviews conducted in Elphin and Ullapool in 2021. By approaching community identity as a combination of emotional identity, functional identity, and community participation, the paper identifies key differences in the identities of two communities usually framed as belonging to one homogenous region. This provides host community perspectives on which aspects of their identities may be targeted to support effective tourism developments. We conclude that although the overall strength of both communities identities seem unaffected by growing tourism levels, they do shape their nature, particularly when different concerns intersect such as environmental degradation and limited affordable housing. Addressing resident concerns through meaningful contributions to decision-making processes is key to the success of regional tourism policies.

The Safety Assessment of Mutagenicity, Acute and Chronic Toxicity of the Litsea martabanica (Kurz) Hook.f. Water Leaf Extract.

Litsea martabanica (Kurz) Hook.f. has traditionally been used as an anti-insecticidal agent and as a medication due to its hepatoprotective properties by highland communities in Thailand. This study examined the mutagenicity, as well as the acute and chronic toxicity, of the L. martabanica water leaf extract in Sprague-Dawley rats. The pharmacognostic evaluation of L. martabanica was performed in this study to ensure its authenticity and purity. Then, the sample was extracted using decoction with water to obtain the crude water extract. The assessment of acute toxicity involved a single oral administration of 5000 mg/kg, whereas the chronic toxicity assessment comprised daily oral doses of 250, 750, and 2250 mg/kg over 270 days. Various physiological and behavioral parameters, as well as body and organ weights, were systematically monitored. The endpoint assessments involved hematological and biochemical analyses plus gross and histopathological assessments of the internal organs. Our results exhibited no mutagenic activation by the L. martabanica water leaf extract in the Ames test, and no acute toxicity was observed. In the chronic toxicity tests, no abnormalities were found in rats receiving the L. martabanica water leaf extract across multiple measures, comprising behavioral, physiological, and hematological indices. Crucially, the histopathological assessment corroborated previous studies, reporting an absence of any tissue abnormalities. The results revealed that the L. martabanica water leaf extract had no adverse effects on rats over 270 days of oral administration. This demonstrates its safety and crucial scientific evidence for informing public policy and enabling its potential future commercial use in both highland and lowland communities.

The Ameliorative Effect of Litsea martabanica (Kurz) Hook. f. Leaf Water Extract on Chlorpyrifos-Induced Toxicity in Rats and Its Antioxidant Potentials.

Litsea martabanica root's antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity showed promise as a pesticide detoxification agent in our previous study. In addition to its root, leaves can help alleviate pesticide exposure, although there is limited scientific evidence supporting their efficacy. However, the use of roots in several countries, such as Thailand, could contribute to environmental degradation, as highland communities traditionally used leaves instead of roots. This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant activity and anti-pesticide potential of water extract from L. martabanica leaves through in vitro and in vivo investigations. In the in vitro study, L. martabanica water extract and its fractions demonstrated antioxidant activity and induced apoptosis in hepatic satellite cells. In the in vivo study, treatment with the leaf extract led to increased AChE activity, decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, and reduced glutathione in chlorpyrifos-exposed rats. Histopathological examination revealed that chlorpyrifos-treated rats exhibited liver cell damage, while treatment with the water extract of L. martabanica exhibited a protective effect on the liver. In conclusion, L. martabanica water extract exhibited antioxidant activity, enhanced AChE activity, and improved histopathological abnormalities in the liver.

The Andean zinc rush: Green extractivism and climate vulnerabilities in the Peruvian highland waterscapes

Zinc is a green mineral that is increasingly required for manufacturing low-carbon technology. This demand has been promoted mainly by the Global North-led green policies to mitigate the impacts of climate change. However, simultaneously expanding zinc mining risks further entrenching climate threats in fragile socio-ecological environments such as the Peruvian highlands. This article analyses the linkages between the accelerated green extractivism of zinc and its associated climate-related vulnerabilities in the Cunas watershed in the Central highlands of Peru. The study draws on ethnographic-oriented fieldwork in the area in 2019, and 2022 and a review of policy documents on climate mitigation and zinc mining in Peru. The analysis particularly focuses on the recently reopened Azulcocha zinc mine and its intertwined socio-ecological effects on the local waterscapes amid climate change. The analysis draws the theoretical approaches of the political ecology of green extractivism and vulnerability to disentangle the multi-scalar power dynamics embedded in the global low-carbon transition and green extractivism and how these shape climate-related vulnerabilities. The study shows that with the impacts of climate change, accelerated extractivism risks (re)producing multiple vulnerabilities in the Andean highland communities. The findings highlight the urgent need to rethink the global climate proposals in such a way that they do not deepen climate damage in the already marginalized waterscapes in the Andes and elsewhere in the Global South.

Adaptive Migration: Climate Change, Climate Migration, and Climate Adaptation in Peru’s Highlands Communities

Adaptive Migration: Climate Change, Climate Migration, and Climate Adaptation in Peru’s Highlands Communities

Overtourism Impacts on Cameron Highlands Community’s Quality of Life: The Intervening Effect of Community Resilience

ABSTRACT This study investigates the impacts of overtourism on the quality of life of highland communities, with a specific focus on the mediating role of community resilience. Data was collected from Cameron Highland residents using a quantitative approach to understand their experiences and perspectives on the impacts of overtourism in the Malaysian setting. The results indicate that while overtourism does not significantly diminish quality of life, it positively influences community resilience. Furthermore, community resilience strongly correlates with quality of life and mediates between overtourism and quality of life. The study highlights the positive economic effects of overtourism, contributing to improved living standards for locals despite challenges. It emphasises the need for sustainable tourism practices and inclusive community involvement in future tourism development plans to safeguard both economic benefits and the well-being of residents. The findings provide insights into how tourism can be managed to benefit both tourists and residents.

Cultural Impact on Adolescent Behavior Advancing Health, Gender: A Scoping Review

Background: Sexual and reproductive health is critical to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Various factors contribute to premarital sexual behaviour among adolescents, with culture being a pervasive influence in many countries. Adolescents in mountain communities are particularly vulnerable to engaging in premarital sexual behaviour. Aims: This review aims to explore research findings related to the cultural factors influencing premarital sexual behaviour among adolescents in general and specifically in mountain communities, contributing to the achievement of the SDGs. Method: This study employs a scoping review methodology. Search terms used in the articles include MeSH terms ["Adolescent" or "Teen"], ["Cultural impact" or "Cultural Role"], ["Premarital sex" or "Premarital sexual intercourses"], and ["Highland Communities" or "Mountain Communities"]. Databases utilised for article search include Science Direct, Proquest, and PubMed. Five journals published between 2019 and 2023 that meet the inclusion criteria were selected. Results: This review synthesises findings from 5 articles, narrowed down from an initial pool of 10,923 articles. All selected papers employ quantitative methods and originate from Ethiopia (3 articles), Nepal, and Tanzania. Conclusion: The review highlights the social, economic, and environmental influences on mountain communities, emphasising the cultural roles of alcohol consumption, social norms (customs), and family culture in shaping premarital sexual behaviour among adolescents. Education on the consequences of adolescent sexual behaviour is crucial, especially in cultures that tolerate such behaviours.

Highland communities’ climate change perceptions, climatic shocks and livelihood practices during COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Highland areas are more susceptible to climate change impacts. This study investigates the highland communities’ climate change perceptions, climatic hazards, and livelihood practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a multi-stage random sampling technique, survey data were gathered from 425 respondents living in highland areas of Panchagarh district, a drought-prone region in Bangladesh. Perception analysis indicates that most respondents (77%) believe their area's climate has significantly changed over the past 10 years. The bivariate and multivariate regression model results reveal that age, education, income, occupation, land ownership, and socioeconomic status substantially impact local community perceptions of climate change and climatic shocks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides, land ownership, socioeconomic level, and crop sowing are also important determinants of erratic rainfall that impacts climate change and shocks during COVID-19. This study suggests the local government get involved and enhance the highland community's ability to adapt to climatic shocks.

The Political Behavior of the Batulanteh Highlands Community in the Regional Head Election of Sumbawa Regency in 2020

his research aims to determine the political behavior of voters and the factors behind them choosing the people of the Batulanteh highlands in the 2020 Sumbawa Regency regional elections. This is interesting to research becauseeach voter has their own reasons and interests in determining political choices, so that candidates can determine strategy in campaigning to get results that are in line with the target. This study is qualitative research. The results of the research showthat the tendency for political behavior to vote for the people of the Batulanteh highlands tends to be dominated by aspects of the figure and campaign issues as well as the candidate's work program. This is closely related to the real condition of Batulanteh which is still very underdeveloped and far from development aspects. The factors behind the political behavior of Batulanteh Community voters are the voter's social circle as a variable that is outside the voter but has an influence in determining individual political choices. Individual voters' decisions are strongly influenced by group cohesion processes, not purely individual decisions and actions. This creates a "threat" if an individual in a group makes a decision that is different from the group's decision, including the decision not to vote. Then there are patron client relationships, money politics, and an assessment of regional socio-economic conditions. Of the various aspects above, the most determining aspect is money politics. Meanwhile, thepatron-client aspect is relative, one-off, and not literate. The existence of money politics is considered the most determinant in influencing a person's voting decisions. This is caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, making money politics easier to accept andincreasing nominal vote buying. Money politics succeeded in influencing voting behavior because candidates used personal loyalist strategies to influence voters through their social environment. The use of money politics is an effort to strengthen voters'preferences for certain candidates and strengthen the confidence of regional head candidates to be able to get guaranteed voter compliance

HEALTHCARE SERVICES UTILIZATION IN ELDERLY RESIDENTS OF A PERUVIAN HIGHLAND COMMUNITIES: AUNQUI-ANDES STUDY

Abstract It is estimated that approximately one out of every three Peruvians does not utilize healthcare services when facing an ailment. Nevertheless, this frequency could be higher in highland regions, given the limited availability of healthcare services. The aim was to estimate the prevalence of non-utilization of healthcare services among elderly residents of a Peruvian highland community during 2022. We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study in the district of Totos (average altitude of 3286 meters above sea level) in the Ayacucho region of Peru during 2022. A census sampling method was employed, including residents aged 60 and older in Totos. Non-utilization of healthcare services was defined as a participant not seeking healthcare services when facing a health issue. The current study was approved by the Institutional Research Ethics Committee of Universidad Científica del Sur. We evaluated 272 elderly adults with an average age of 74 years, of which 60.3% were female, 62.5% were cohabiting or married, 82.3% had not completed primary education, and 65.4% reported being beneficiaries of a social program for economic support. We found that 28.3% did not use healthcare services, while 44.9% reported using traditional medicine, and 13.2% practiced self-medication. Participants reported that the nearest health center to their residence was, on average, 55 minutes away. We found that approximately one out of every five elderly adults did not use healthcare services. It is necessary to reduce cultural barriers to increase healthcare service utilization, as well as to enhance their availability for elderly individuals living at high altitudes.

Do mountains kill states? Exploring the diversity of Southeast Asian highland communities

Abstract Mountains and highlands are not what scholars have conventionally imagined them to be: environments that limit and constrain their inhabitants in deterministic ways. Rather, mountains and highlands provide unique opportunities for people to engage in creative transformation of their societies. Highland communities are connected to a wider world, and they radically remake and experiment with their landscapes, settlements, and societies. Mountains serve as birthplaces and testing grounds for statecraft, urbanism, irrigation, and monumental landscape engineering. Here we explore the diversity of highland communities by analysing the latest archaeological and historical discoveries from three regions across Southeast Asia: the Kulen mountains (Cambodia), the volcanoes of central Java (Indonesia), and the Ifugao highlands (the Philippines). We find that, far from being a negative image of the ‘civilized’ lowlands, mountains were creative, diverse, dynamic, and well-connected places. This compels us to change the way we conceive of today’s highland communities and their relationships to modern nation-states.

The presence of Rickettsia felis in communities in the central highlands of Vietnam

Rickettsia felis is an emerging flea-borne spotted fever pathogen that causes febrile illness in humans. In Vietnam, R. felis was detected in hospitalized patients, but there is no information on its presence in the Vietnamese community. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the presence of R. felis in humans of the Central Highlands of Vietnam. A total of 158 blood and 213 serum samples were subjected to PCR and IFAT, respectively, to detect the presence of R. felis DNA and antibodies against R. felis. PCR assays detected R. felis DNA in four out of 158 blood samples, accounting for a prevalence of 2.53 % (95 % CI: 0.81 %-6.76 %). Phylogenetic analysis indicated the presence of R. felis and R. felis genotype RF2125 in the communities in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. The result of IFAT identified seven out of 213 serum samples (3.29 %, 95 % CI: 1.45 %-6.93 %) positive for antibodies against R. felis. This study was the first to demonstrate the presence of active R. felis infections in the communities in the Central Highlands of Vietnam utilizing both molecular and serological methods.

Engaging with Indigenous Water Realities: Agricultural Cycle Rituals and Oral Tradition

The Nahua communities in the Central Highlands of Guerrero have a ritual-agricultural cycle closely related to seasonality, environmental processes, agriculture, and landscape. The most important celebrations in the region are those asking for a good rainy season, for the rain to end, and to thank for the harvest. Building upon the ethnoecological framework, the article explores ritual-agricultural practices and the water realities these practices make, as well as their implications in the conservation and management of water.

Molecular detection of Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125 from household dogs in the central highlands of Vietnam

Rickettsia felis, a zoonotic vector-borne bacteria, is reported globally in humans, animals, and its invertebrate hosts. This study was designed to detect antibodies against R. felis and the DNA of R. felis in blood of domestic dogs in the Central Highlands of Vietnam using immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), and ompB- and gltA-PCRs, respectively. Using IFAT, 23 out of 338 plasma samples collected from household dogs were seropositive for R. felis, accounting for 6.80% (CI 95%: 4.45–10.1%). Of 171 buffy coat samples from household dogs, 50 were positive for spotted fever group rickettsioses using ompB-PCR assay, accounting for 29.2% (CI 95%: 22.6–36.7%). The gltA-PCR assay detected R. felis in 30% (15/50) of ompB-positive samples. DNA sequencing of ompB-PCR and gltA-PCR products confirmed the presence of R. felis and Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125 / R. asembonensis. Our findings suggest a potential risk of R. felis infection in the communities in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, and the reservoir role of dogs to Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125.

Starch grains on human teeth as evidence for 4000 BCE potato consumption at the Cruz Verde site, northern coast of Peru

Cruz Verde, located on the north coast of Peru in the Chicama River Basin, is an artificial mound formed by the continuous disposal of food residues between 4200 and 3800 cal. BC. It is a vital archaeological site for understanding the early maritime community that was established in the coastal areas of Peru during the middle Holocene period. Previous studies focusing on animal remains have shown that a wide range of marine resource uses were flexibly maintained in a changing environment. However, the use of plants by coastal fishermen, which has been reported in recent years at other sites in the same region, was not evident at Cruz Verde. This paper reports on an examination of starch grains preserved in the dental calculus of human teeth excavated from the mound at Cruz Verde, which provides direct evidence of the early consumption of cultivated food plants, such as maize (Zea mays), manioc (Manihot esculenta), squash (Cucurbita sp.), and potatoes (Solanum tuberosum). Not only did the results indicate early use of maize indicated in previous studies, but they also confirmed that the use of potatoes at the site dates back to at least 4000 cal. BC—the oldest example from the coastal region of Peru. The micro-botanical data from Cruz Verde suggest that fishing and plant cultivation were combined in the development process of early settlement. Furthermore, the data on this earliest potato use in the coastal area are significant because they contribute to the empirical foundation of understanding the early relationship with maritime and highland communities during this period.

Futuremaking in a disaster zone: Everyday climate change adaptation amongst Quechua women in the Peruvian Cordillera Blanca

The Peruvian Andes has experienced widely publicized, climate change induced glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), which increasingly threaten the lives of thousands of the region's residents. However, the everyday adaptations of the most historically marginalized populations in the Andes—often Quechua women in highland communities—are frequently obscured by a singular focus on glacier and water management to prevent high-impact but infrequent GLOFs. This focus on glacier hazards downplays and renders invisible the ways that Quechua women actually adapt to climate change by labeling them 'highly vulnerable' despite a limited understanding of their daily lives. Through a case study in the Cordillera Blanca mountain range, this article advances a feminist framework of everyday adaptation called ‘futuremaking’ that challenges the current ice-and-water-focused paradigm of adaptation policy in glaciated regions. We draw on interviews with Quechua women, participant observation on adaptation planning teams, and informal expert interviews to advance the futuremaking framework, which prioritizes the everyday and future desires of women and households over technical adaptations that view people as vulnerable. Futuremaking is a feminist process of everyday adaptation in a disaster zone that relies on A) Prioritizing the everyday over the someday; B) Intergenerational well-being and community networks of care, and; C) Dynamic and embodied adaptations to uncertainty. We argue that futuremaking both challenges the efficacy of adaptation projects currently underway in the Andes and charts a path towards more transformative adaptation interventions by prioritizing capabilities and feminist networks of care over managing damage and disaster.

Russian Black Sea Trade in Early 19<sup>th</sup> Century E.P. Kudryavtseva

This research article examines the development of trade in Crimea and Novorossiya following their incorporation into Russia. In the early 19th century, the grain trade in these regions had yet to gain momentum due to their limited development. However, ports in Feodosia, Taganrog, and Odessa regularly received ships from Constantinople and the Greek islands, while the port of Sevastopol primarily served military purposes. In 1821, under the decree of Alexander I, a port was established in Kerch to serve as an outpost at the entrance to the Sea of Azov and initiate trade relations with the mountain peoples along the Caucasian coast of the Black Sea. The Russian authorities faced challenges such as arms smuggling and the flourishing slave trade during this period. Establishing trade relations between Crimea and Circassia was intended to promote peaceful interactions with the inhabitants of the Caucasian coast. To facilitate this, the Stewardship of Trade with the Circassians and Abazians was established, regulating ship dispatch to the Caucasian coast and overseeing the operations of markets in Kerch and Bugaz. Relations with the highland communities proved difficult, as they frequently captured Russian ship crews and demanded ransoms. Even after the Treaty of Adrianople in 1829, when these territories became part of the Russian Empire, the local populations resisted submission to the new government, just as they had resisted the authority of the Turkish Sultan previously.

Exploring Asset-Based Community-led Development (ABCD) Elements for Determining Farm Technologies in Rural Rice Farming Community – Kelabit Highlands, Sarawak

Malaysia is a net importer of rice, and Sarawak itself contributes approximately 8.2% of total national rice production. Although Malaysia national policy targeting to achieve 80% self-sufficient level of rice for national food security agenda, another alternative is to explore some premium quality traditional rice varieties that potentially entering into premium market for the socioeconomic advancement especially for the rural areas. Traditionally, the choice of farm technologies are implemented through government direction in a top-down approach, through decisions, strategies, and diffusion processes driven by the agencies. This study aims to explore the elements of Asset-Based Community-led Development (ABCD) as an alternative to conventional needs-based development within a community of rice farmers based in the Kelabit Highlands – a rural community in the highlands of the East Malaysia state of Sarawak. The study collected interview data from rice farmers in the Kelabit Highlands community and also discussed the role of agencies and their efforts to form partnerships, and peer collaborations based on those assets identified and community strength. The study also evaluated the ABCD framework as a means to visualize community-based assets. Clarifying these factors would identify suitable farming technologies that are socially desirable in the Kelabit Highlands and determine a bottom up method for other rural communities to evaluate and pave a path forward in selecting farming technologies that fit into their landscape.
 
 Keywords: ABCD, bottom-up, farm technologies, rice farming, top-down

Judge rules in favor of former coach

Case name: Smith, et al. v. Highland Community College, et al., No. 22‐CV‐02048 (D. Kan. 01/24/23).