CONCLUSIONS:The results of the study showed that OSI is a useful parameter for evaluating large amounts of intraocular scattering that can be used, in combination with other conventional procedures, as a valuable tool in the clinical practice to objectively grade cataracts.

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Some rural areas of Ecuador, including the Imbabura Province of the Andes Highlands, are experiencing a double burden of malnutrition where micronutrient deficiencies persist at the same time obesity is increasing as many traditional home-grown foods are being replaced with more commercially prepared convenience foods. Thus, the relationships among agricultural food production diversity (FPD), dietary diversity (DD), and household food insecurity (HFI) of the rural small holder farmers need further study. Therefore, we examined these associations in small holder farmers residing in this Province in the Andes Highlands (elevation > 2500 m). Non-pregnant maternal home managers (n = 558, x age = 44.1, SD = 16.5 y) were interviewed regarding the number of different agricultural food crops cultivated and domestic animals raised in their family farm plots. DD was determined using the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women Score (MDD-W) based on the number of 10 different food groups consumed, and household food insecurity (HFI) was determined using the 8-item Household Food Insecurity Experience Scale. The women reported consuming an average of 53% of their total food from what they cultivated or raised. Women with higher DD [MMD-W score ≥ 5 food groups (79% of total sample)] were on farms that cultivated a greater variety of crops (x = 8.7 vs. 6.7), raised more animals (x = 17.9 vs. 12.7, p < 0.05), and reported lower HFI and significantly higher intakes of energy, protein, iron, zinc, and vitamin A (all p < 0.05). Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that FPD was only modestly related to DD, which together with years of education, per capita family income, and HFI accounted for 26% of DD variance. In rural areas of the Imbabura Province, small holder farmers still rely heavily on consumption of self-cultivated foods, but greater diversity of crops grown in family farm plots is only weakly associated with greater DD and lower HFI among the female caretakers.

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Chionanthus pubescens Kunth and C. virginicus seeds present double dormancy, what represents a problem for their sexual reproduction, given that it prevents them from reaching adequate germination rates. This research aimed to apply pre-germinative treatments to overcome the double dormancy in C. pubescens and C. virginicus seeds, as well as to improve both the germination speed and the amount of obtained seedlings. A completely randomized design was applied, with four treatments for each species (soaking seeds in cold water, soaking seeds in hot water, mechanical scarification and control) and three replications. For C. pubescens, the pre-germinative treatment with the best results was mechanical scarification, with a 39.22 % germinative capacity; while, for C. virginicus, the best treatment was soaking seeds in hot water (49.00 %).

Los ecosistemas de montaña son extremadamente vulnerables al cambio climático, razón por la cual se encuentran particularmente en riesgo las poblaciones de montaña que dependen de la actividad agrícola y ganadera. Esta investigación se desarrolló en cinco sitios, en las provincias de Imbabura y Carchi con el objetivo de determinar la tasa de fijación de carbono (C) en sistemas agroforestales gestionados por pequeños productores en los Andes del Ecuador. Adicional a esto, se adaptó la metodología al contexto socioeconómico y productivo de los pequeños productores. Las unidades experimentales fueron cinco prácticas agroforestales representativas de la región andina norte. Se cuantificó el contenido de C a partir de la biomasa aérea para cada especie forestal. Para cuantificar la biomasa de las especies agrícolas y pastos, se utilizó el método directo de muestreo des­tructivo. La cantidad de C de cada una de las prácticas agroforestales fue determinada multiplicando el valor de biomasa aérea por la fracción de C 0,5. La mayor tasa de fijación de C fue de 87,13 Mg CO2 ha-1 y se registró en la práctica silvopastoril de Eucalyptus globulus en asocio con Pennisetum clandestinum. Tanto en esta práctica como en las que Alnus nepalensis está asociado con Coffea arabica, e Inga insignis asociado con Phaseolus vulgaris, las especies forestales fijan el 89% del C total y las especies agrícolas el 11%. Los sistemas agroforestales andinos manejados por pequeños productores fijan C con tasas superiores a sistemas similares desarrollados en otros sitios localizados tanto dentro como fuera del país.

Objectives It is unclear if agricultural biodiversity (ABD) in family farm plots predicts dietary diversity (DD) and household food insecurity (HFI) in rural areas of Ecuador where individuals rely heavily on home-cultivated food crops/animals and less on commercially processed foods. The objective of this study was to examine the magnitude of the relationships among ABD, DD, and HFI in a semi-randomly selected sample of women residing in 12 different rural parishes of the Imbabura Province in the Andes highlands (elevation >2500 m). Methods Using a cross-sectional design, maternal heads of households (n = 576, x age = 44.1, SD = 16.5 y) were interviewed regarding the number of different agricultural food crops cultivated and domestic animals raised in their family farm plots, HFI based on the 8-item Spanish Household Global Food Insecurity Experience Scale (possible range: 0–8, with 0 being the lowest and 8 being the highest degree of FFI), and DD based on the 10-food group Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women Score (MDD-W FAO, possible range, 0–10, higher score = greater DD). Results The women reported consuming average of 53% of their total food from what they cultivated or raised. There were wide ranges in the numbers of different food crops cultivated (x = 8.3, SD = 5.2), food animals raised (x = 15.8, SD = 20.6), HFI (x = 3.2, SD = 2.8), and in DD (x MDD-W = 5.7, SD = 1.5). Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that respondent age, number of cultivated food crops, per capita earned family income, and HFI were significant independent predictors of DD (multiple R = 0.42, P < 0.0001). Women with lower DD [MMD-W score <5 (21% of total sample)] were in families that cultivated fewer crops (x = 6.7 vs 8.7), raised fewer animals (x = 12.7 vs 17.9), engaged in less dairy animal husbandry, and reported significantly lower intakes of protein, iron, zinc, and vitamin A, the nutrient deficiencies most common in Ecuador. Conclusions Among families that rely heavily on their own agricultural cultivation for food consumption, greater diversity of crops grown in family farm plots is linked to less HFI and greater DD among the female heads of households. Future initiatives should explore ways to increase ABD in family farm plots to improve dietary diversity and reduce food insecurity in this region. Funding Sources Colorado School of Public Health @ Colorado State University.

Guadua angustifolia bamboo is historically used by an important percentage of the rural and peri-urban population of Ecuador, especially in the construction of bridges, when events like El Niño and its consequential flooding occur. This study aimed to determine, in light of some climate change scenarios, the vulnerability rate of ecosystems where the G. angustifolia bamboo species occurs, in the coastal region of continental Ecuador. The analysis methodology, with focus on the sampled units, was based on vulnerability assessment tools for climate adaptation recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.Temperature presented the highest correlation coefficient with the vulnerability rate of the ecosystems, followed by the increase in the sea level, winds and landslides. It was concluded that as the exposure and sensitivity variables increase, the adaptive capacity of ecosystems with occurence of this species decreases, and isolated plants and monoculture plantations are the most vulnerable to climate changes.