In Ecuador, illegal gold mining has led to significant environmental impacts, with the release of harmful elements such as mercury (Hg) into the environment. Mercury, due to its physical–chemical characteristics and the transport elements involved between different environmental matrices, can easily percolate through the soil and reach groundwater. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mercury concentration levels in the Andean region in order to perform a human health risk assessment. For this purpose, 175 water samples were analyzed, of which 9.71% exceeded the maximum permissible limit (MPL) established for drinking water in accordance with Ecuadorian regulations. The risk analysis was conducted by applying two approaches: deterministic and probabilistic. The deterministic approach involves a specific analysis based on the calculation of the risk quotient (HQ) and risk index (HI) for both receptors (adults and children) and scenarios (residential and recreational) considered; the probabilistic approach is based on the use of stochastic simulation techniques. The results obtained from the two approaches show a discrepancy, with the deterministic analysis providing more conservative results; however, they coincide in showing higher risk for the child population; decision-makers could use these results to identify areas to be monitored and plan more detailed investigation plans.

Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) is a source of supply in many areas of the world, especially in developing countries. This is often carried out illegally using toxic substances such as mercury. Mercury, due to its chemical–physical properties and the transport factors involved between the different environmental matrices, can percolate through soil and from surface water to groundwater. The objective of this study was to conduct a human health risk assessment. For this purpose, a screening of mercury concentrations was carried out, collecting 67 water samples at selected points, and a risk assessment was performed applying both a deterministic and a probabilistic approach. A deterministic approach is a specific analysis based on determining the values of the risk quotient (HQ) and the risk index (HI) for each receptor category (adults and children) and scenario (residential and recreational) considered; a probabilistic approach is based on stochastic simulation techniques and the evaluation of the statistical quantities. There was found to be a discrepancy between the results provided by the two approaches, with the deterministic approach suggesting a more worrisome picture. However, in general, the results showed a greater exposure in the provinces of El Oro and Esmeraldas, and a greater vulnerability of child receptors.

El artículo examina como el Movimiento de Economía Social y Solidaria del Ecuador (MESSE) busca construir una sociedad basada en la solidaridad y la convivencia con la naturaleza, destacando las transformaciones sociales y los cambios legales en las regulaciones estatales de la economía social de Ecuador, centrándose en las cooperativas no financieras. Explora cómo el algoritmo K-Means puede mejorar las decisiones en sectores críticos como el transporte interprovincial. Analiza los principios de la economía solidaria y su alineación con las cooperativas. Se describe el uso de K-Means como metodología para segmentar clientes en transporte, con resultados detallados. Se analizan las implicaciones operativas y estratégicas, con énfasis en la adaptación de los servicios a los usuarios y en el potencial tecnológico para transformaciones económicas y sociales. El artículo proporciona una visión integral de cómo los cambios legislativos afectan la economía social en Ecuador, con un enfoque en las cooperativas y cómo el análisis de datos mejora la toma de decisiones en sectores clave como el transporte interprovincial.

La producción agroecológica ocupa posiciones débiles en las cadenas productivas y son relegados a abastecimiento de materia prima y mano de obra barata para mercados urbanos. Este sistema de producción proporciona del 60 al 70% de la producción de alimentos que se consumen en el Ecuador, en especial para la población urbana, que representa el 63%. A través de los años se realizan varios esfuerzos que buscan transformar la sociedad, a través de alternativas productivas y comerciales que distribuyan las ganancias de los sistemas productivos de una manera justa, por lo que la Universidad debe ser parte activa de este proceso de trasformación para que a través de la formación la sociedad se beneficie y llegue a alcanzar un desarrollo sostenible, para lo que se han desarrollado actividades en torno al comercio justo. Para la ejecución de la propuesta, se levantó la información con el diagnóstico de situación inicial a través de talleres participativos. Posteriormente, se aplicó un estudio de mercado para conocer las necesidades del mismo y para lograr los objetivos propuestos; se trabaja en alianza con organizaciones sociales, fundaciones y el municipio de la ciudad, quienes constantemente aportan con actividades que permite garantizar la sostenibilidad de la propuesta.

The breeding and exploitation of chickens at the backyard or commercial family level is an activity of great economic relevance for families in Ecuador. In addition to providing protein of high biological value for food security, it revalues local food resources that could provide productive benefits. With this objective, a study has been conducted in order to explore the effect of C. longa flour on the final weight as well as morphometric characteristics of the organs of female chickens. Therefore, a total of 200 birds were randomly distributed into four homogeneous groups, being Control, basal diet only, followed by T1, basal diet + 1 g/d, T2, basal diet + 2 g/d and T3, basal diet + 3 g/d of C. longa. The data analyzed under a general linear model yielded that including C. longa between 1 or 2 g/d did not differ in the final weight compared to the control (2763 ± 28 g, on average; P < 0.32). In the morphometry of the upper organs, T1 indicated a shorter length of the esophagus (3.7 ± 0.5 mm; P < 0.002) and gizzard (4.9 ± 0.3 mm), but with a larger heart than the other treatments (P < 0.02). In addition, differences were evident in the liver, gallbladder and cecum (P = 0.01 to 0.001) that were more marked when C. longa was administered between 1 or 2 g/d. In conclusion, supplementation of female chickens with C. longa proved to be a potential option to have greater final weights with important findings in the morphometric characteristics that could improve different aspects of their development, productivity and well-being. Therefore, more studies at the level of immunology and histology are recommended to support the benefits of C. longa.

The Organic Law of Popular and Solidarity Economy (LOEPS), in the second general provision determines that the organizations subject to this law, will incorporate to their management reports the SOCIAL BALANCE SHEET (BS); the research aims to demonstrate the level of compliance with the principles and social objectives regulated in article 4 and 21 of the LOEPS, the research analyzed the social balance sheets of 382 organizations domiciled in the provinces of zone 3 of Ecuador, of the group "transport cooperatives". The interviews with managers and the documentary review generated results on macro dimensions of the BS.