Characterization and geophysical evaluation of the recent 2023 Alausí landslide in the northern Andes of Ecuador

The province of Chimborazo located in the northern Andes of Ecuador presents many intrinsic factors, which contribute to the occurrence of mass movements, leaving in many of the cases registered damages of materials and loss of life. The recent landslide of March 26, 2023, in the Alausí canton is an event of great interest due to the magnitude of the occurred destruction and the corresponding fatalities. Therefore, there are two predominant objectives of the current study, of which the first has been to determine the most relevant characteristics of this mass movement by identifying and analyzing the geomorphology of the recorded slope movement and the lithological units involved, by field work and through geophysical surveys. Secondly, we performed a preliminary study of the possible triggers of the movement by means of the historical analysis of the precipitations during the months of January to March of the last decade and the study of the recent seismic series. However, through the obtained analysis, it is determined that the study site is composed of three distinctive lithological units. The observed mass movement is of the rotational type, as result of the intense rainfall that occurred during the first quarter of 2023, being hereby the most probable triggering factor. This corresponds to a 600% increase in the average monthly rainfall compared to the period from 2010 to 2022.Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature

Effect of organic and chemical fertilization on the onion crop (Allium cepa L.)

The bulb onion (Allium cepa L.) is a vegetable widely cultivated and in high demand in national and international markets. Due to the risks that the indiscriminate use of agrochemicals represents for human health and the environment, the present study aimed to make a comparative analysis of the effects of organic vs chemical fertilization currently used in the cropping of red hybrid bulb onion (Eureka). Three organic fertilizers (Zumsil®, ComCat® and EcoFungi®) were compared to three chemical fertilizers (15-15-15®, Muriate of Potash® and Nitrofoska®). The response variables were: plant height at 30 and 60 days after transplanting (DAT), length, diameter and average weight of bulbs, yield in tons per hectare and the relationship between height at 30 and 60 DAT. The experiment was carried out under a completely randomized design with four replicates, seven treatments and 28 experimental units. The statistics used include an analysis of variance and a Canonical Biplot that allowed to obtain groups of variables and to determine their correlation with each one of the treatments. Additionally, a marginal analysis of dominant treatments was performed. Positive response of variables was strongly associated with organic fertilizers. From the economic point of view, the ComCat® organic fertilizer represented an ecological alternative with excellent benefits for the producer. This research is in line with the trends for agrochemical-free foods

Indicadores geomorfológicos y bioestratigráficos para la reconstrucción paleoclimática de Jaramijo: potenciales amenazas geológicas registradas en sedimentos

Análisis geomorfológicos, estratigráficos, y geoquímicos realizados en secuencias sedimentarias cuaternarias del sitio costero de Jaramijó (costa central del Ecuador) han permitido reconstruir terrazas marinas y paleoacantilados recientes desde el pleistoceno superior al holoceno, como la t1 a una altitud de 20 m.s.n.m (1.190 ± 30 b.p. a 1.030 ± 30 b.p.), terraza t2 a una altitud entre los 30 m.s.n.m. (43.245 ± 460 b.p.) y la t3 a una altitud entre los 43 a 57 m.s.n.m. (120.000 años)GuayaquilMaestría en Cambio Climátic

Coastal hazard assessment and climate change record since MIS-3, central coast of Ecuador

Stratigraphic, biological and geochemical analyzes have provided sufficient information to reconstruct the paleographic and climatic evolution of the coast of the Jaramijó canton. One of the most remarkable results is the identification and delineation of a paleo sea-cliff of age 14C 43,245 ± 460 B.P. (belonging to the MIS-3). This MIS-3 is associated with a period of glaciation, but the data obtained and interpreted in this study indicate that the central coast of Ecuador has an interstadial phase (warm years in a glacial stage). Two more paleo-coastal cliffs have been mapped from orthofotos analysis, but these are younger. The Holocene transgression has modified the central coast of Ecuador and increased the level of coastal climate hazard by sea-level rise. Paleo-coastlines have been evidenced in the depth contours of -5.5m and -7.6m, at 440 and 650 m distances from the up-to-date coastline. For the Jaramijó site, the rate of cliff-erosion and wave-cut platforms is in the order of 1.1 to 2.4 m/yr. These cliff-erosion rates can be increased if we consider mathematical models with an estimated sea-level rise scenario to be in 2100 of about +1 to +1.4m

Evaluation of a quality improvement intervention to reduce anastomotic leak following right colectomy (EAGLE): pragmatic, batched stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized trial in 64 countries

Background Anastomotic leak affects 8 per cent of patients after right colectomy with a 10-fold increased risk of postoperative death. The EAGLE study aimed to develop and test whether an international, standardized quality improvement intervention could reduce anastomotic leaks. Methods The internationally intended protocol, iteratively co-developed by a multistage Delphi process, comprised an online educational module introducing risk stratification, an intraoperative checklist, and harmonized surgical techniques. Clusters (hospital teams) were randomized to one of three arms with varied sequences of intervention/data collection by a derived stepped-wedge batch design (at least 18 hospital teams per batch). Patients were blinded to the study allocation. Low- and middle-income country enrolment was encouraged. The primary outcome (assessed by intention to treat) was anastomotic leak rate, and subgroup analyses by module completion (at least 80 per cent of surgeons, high engagement; less than 50 per cent, low engagement) were preplanned. Results A total 355 hospital teams registered, with 332 from 64 countries (39.2 per cent low and middle income) included in the final analysis. The online modules were completed by half of the surgeons (2143 of 4411). The primary analysis included 3039 of the 3268 patients recruited (206 patients had no anastomosis and 23 were lost to follow-up), with anastomotic leaks arising before and after the intervention in 10.1 and 9.6 per cent respectively (adjusted OR 0.87, 95 per cent c.i. 0.59 to 1.30; P = 0.498). The proportion of surgeons completing the educational modules was an influence: the leak rate decreased from 12.2 per cent (61 of 500) before intervention to 5.1 per cent (24 of 473) after intervention in high-engagement centres (adjusted OR 0.36, 0.20 to 0.64; P < 0.001), but this was not observed in low-engagement hospitals (8.3 per cent (59 of 714) and 13.8 per cent (61 of 443) respectively; adjusted OR 2.09, 1.31 to 3.31). Conclusion Completion of globally available digital training by engaged teams can alter anastomotic leak rates. Registration number: NCT04270721 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov)