Introduction. Globalization, the internationalization of markets and competition have posed challenges in business management, which must be addressed from different perspectives to be able to successfully overcome them. In this context, intellectual capital emerges as a new concept to be considered, which encompasses knowledge, skills, and attitudes of human talent, essential for decision-making. Objective. The present research aims to determine the importance of intellectual capital in companies in the agricultural sector in the Ambato canton, Tungurahua province. Methodology. The methodology applied consisted of a bibliographic review and the application of the VAIC model to measure intellectual capital in the study sector. Results. The results have allowed us to establish a very strong and positive correlation between ROE and ROA, that is, the Return on Equity (ROE) and the Return on Assets (ROA) maintain a direct relationship, which is consistent given that both indicators reflect the profitability of the company. Conclusion. In conclusion, efficient management of intellectual capital is crucial for the financial success and sustainability of companies. Companies must focus on holistic strategies that integrate the development of human, structural and intellectual capital to improve their performance and competitiveness in the market. General study area: Accounting and Auditing. Specific study area: Intangible assets. Type of study: Original article.

Introduction: Bayesian nonparametric (BNP) models have emerged as flexible approaches for clustering and segmentation by allowing data-driven identification of latent structures. Despite their methodological advances, their application in marketing remains limited. Objective: To systematically examine the literature on Bayesian nonparametric (BNP) models for clustering and segmentation, with a focus on their applicability in marketing contexts. Methodology: A PRISMA-based protocol was employed to identify and analyze 43 Scopus-indexed peer-reviewed articles. Bibliometric and thematic analyses were conducted to characterize research trends and methodological developments. Results: The results indicate a marked growth in scientific output, concentrated in statistical and methodological journals, with a strong emphasis on Dirichlet processes, mixture models, and clustering techniques. A taxonomy is proposed that structures the literature into six categories, ranging from foundational BNP models to advanced hierarchical and data-adaptive extensions. Conclusions: The findings reveal a persistent gap between methodological advances and their application in marketing, where traditional clustering approaches prevail. BNP models remain underutilized despite their capacity to capture latent heterogeneity and emergent segmentation structures. General study area: Marketing. Specific study area: Market segmentation, Bayesian nonparametric models, clustering. Article type: Systematic literature review.

Introduction.  The inherent non-stationarity of Andean climate series limits the efficacy of classical linear models. Objective.  To develop a comparative methodological framework integrating traditional statistical models (ARIMA/SARIMA) with Ensemble Learning algorithms (Random Forest, XGBoost) and deep neural networks (LSTM) for meteorological variable prediction, evaluating their causal impact on agroproduction via VAR modeling. Methodology.  Quantitative longitudinal study with 1,642,217 observations (2016-2023). Robust preprocessing (Isolation Forest, KNN Imputer) and walk-forward temporal validation were applied. Multivariate analysis utilized unit root tests (ADF), Granger causality, and Forecast Error Variance Decomposition (FEVD). Results.  Random Forest significantly outperformed SARIMA (RMSE 0.74 vs 1.66; R² 0.67 vs -0.63). The VAR (6) model evidenced significant Granger causality (p < 0, 001) between precipitation/temperature and corn yield, with a dynamic lag of 6 months. Conclusion.  Non-parametric methods better capture the conditional heteroscedasticity of climate data, providing robust tools for precision agriculture. General Area of Study: Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. Specific area of study: Agroclimatic predictive modeling. Type of study: Original articles.

Introduction: the reliability of electricity supply depends largely on the behavior of non-repairable equipment installed in distribution networks, whose failure condition requires direct replacement. At Empresa Eléctrica Rio, the lack of a systematic quantitative analysis of this equipment limited maintenance planning to a mostly reactive approach. Objective: this study aimed to apply reliability engineering methodologies to non-repairable equipment on the medium-voltage feeder in the Penipe sector, to estimate indicators that support maintenance planning and asset management. Methodology: the research followed a mixed, descriptive, and applied approach, based on a database of more than 2500 failure events recorded between November 2023 and October 2025. Times to failure were fitted using a two-parameter Weibull distribution, and repair times using a Lognormal distribution, to calculate reliability, maintainability, failure rate, and availability. Results: the results show a shape parameter of β = 1.3, indicating a gradual wear-out process rather than random failures. The average MTTF was 562 h, with monthly dispersion below 4%, and the average MTTR was 13.9 h, resulting in an average intrinsic availability of 98%. The availability projection as a function of operating time confirmed this value, stabilizing above 95% after 300 hours. Conclusions: it is concluded that the analyzed feeder shows an identifiable wear-out behavior and high operational availability, sustained mainly by short repair times rather than the absence of failures. The study contributes a replicable procedure for quantitatively characterizing non-repairable equipment using existing administrative records, without the need for additional instrumentation, and establishes a methodological baseline applicable to other feeders in the network. General field of study: Maintenance. Specific field of study: Reliability Engineering. Type of study: Original article.

Introduction: The palm (Ceroxylon echinulatum Galeano) is a non-timber forest product of cultural and economic importance in the Ecuadorian highlands. Its buds are harvested every year to make Easter handicrafts, but little is known about how its commercialization is organized in Chimborazo, despite being an endangered species and under intense pressure for the harvest. Objectives: This study identified and characterized the links of its production chain in the Colta canton and measured how margins are distributed among the actors. Methodology: The work was descriptive and explanatory, 30 harvesters from the Juan de Velasco parish and 6 collectors-artisans from Riobamba and Licán were surveyed. Results: The chain turned out to have four links: producers of raw materials (harvesters), transporters, collectors-artisans, and final consumers. It is shorter than the one described for the northwest of Pichincha because the forest is community owned and the transporter also acts as an intermediary. The price per leaf rose from $0.8 at the combined to $1.6 at the conveyor and $6 at the artisan, i.e., margins of 100%, 200%, and 375% over the purchase price. The one who earns the least is the harvester, precisely the one who puts in the extraction effort and runs the legal risk of Article 247 of the COIP. In eleven years, the price of the bundle and the leaf doubled, while the harvest decreased due to the conservation campaigns. Conclusions: It is concluded that the chain does not distribute the benefits equitably to the producer and that sustaining the activity requires ordering the harvest technically and legally. General area of study: Forest Sciences. Specific study area: Use and conservation of non-timber forest products, Geographic Information Systems. Item type: Original.

Introduction: the demography of pets in urban areas is a cause for concern due to the high rate of zoonotic diseases registered in recent times. Objectives: the objective of this study was to determine the demographic characteristics of the population of dogs (Canis familiaris) and cats (Felis catus) in the center of Babahoyo. A structured survey was applied in a sample of 150 randomized households. Methodology: descriptive statistics such as mean, median, mode was applied, which served to describe, compare, and analyze the behavior of the data, the analysis was conducted in the statistical software InfoStat. The average number of dogs and cats per household was 0.85 (128 dogs/150 households) and 0.70 (105 cats/150 households), respectively. Results: the results showed a higher population of dogs (128) than cats (105), likewise, they showed that there are a higher proportion of males than females in the case of dogs and a greater number of females than males in the case of cats. Ignorance of zoonotic diseases resulted in 29% of the households surveyed. 25% of the households surveyed were unaware of the term responsible for ownership. Conclusions: it is concluded that in the center of Babahoyo there is a gap to be filled in terms of epidemiological surveillance with respect to zoonotic diseases that could be transmitted by pets that live in the sector. General area of study: Public health. Specific area of study: veterinary. Item type: Original.

Introduction: The quality of urban public transport service is a fundamental pillar for the effective functioning of daily activities in mid-sized Ecuadorian cities, particularly given the existing deficiencies and challenges regarding infrastructure, accessibility, and user information. This research analyzes the implementation of "smart bus stops" as a strategy to improve urban public transport service quality, taking various factors into account. Methodology: The study employed a descriptive, field-based methodology involving a technical assessment of existing stops across the city's 17 urban routes. Variables considered included horizontal and vertical signage, lighting, shelters, accessibility, street furniture, information systems, and boarding/alighting conditions (Ministry of Transport and Public Works of Ecuador, 2013). Results: The results revealed that a large proportion of the stops suffer from poor infrastructure and a lack of user-oriented technological features. It was determined that implementing smart bus stops would significantly improve perceptions regarding the quality, safety, accessibility, and comfort of the urban public transport system. Additionally, the study proposes a smart bus stop prototype equipped with real-time information systems, lighting, wireless connectivity, solar panels, and universal accessibility features. Although the financial analysis highlighted economic constraints regarding immediate implementation, the project demonstrates high social viability due to its positive impact on urban mobility and the user experience. Conclusion: Finally, the study concludes that smart bus stops represent an innovative and functional alternative for strengthening public transport systems in mid-sized Ecuadorian cities. General field of study: Social Sciences. Specific field of study: Transport. Article type: Original research.