Woman Varayoc of Peruvian Andes.

This study focuses on the importance of the symbolism of social control by the woman as the Varayoc (an office of authority of Incan origin) in a community in the Peruvian Andes. The objective is to explain the survival of the office of the Varayoc-traditionally held exclusively by men-and the acceptance of Andean women to it as a recognition of gender equality. In this field investigation, we interviewed and observed the most important activities of a woman Varayoc administering justice and present in all communal tasks. We conclude that women in the Peruvian Andes are approaching a status of equality with men in their position as the Varayoc, while maintaining the Incan tradition of local governance through the symbolism of the rod of command, which is also called Varayoc. It is evident that more women in the Andean community are interested in assuming political leadership with the symbolism of the ancestral Varayoc.

Native Potato Starch and Tara Gum as Polymeric Matrices to Obtain Iron-Loaded Microcapsules from Ovine and Bovine Erythrocytes.

Iron deficiency leads to ferropenic anemia in humans. This study aimed to encapsulate iron-rich ovine and bovine erythrocytes using tara gum and native potato starch as matrices. Solutions containing 20% erythrocytes and different proportions of encapsulants (5, 10, and 20%) were used, followed by spray drying at 120 and 140 °C. Iron content in erythrocytes ranged between 2.24 and 2.52 mg of Fe/g; microcapsules ranged from 1.54 to 2.02 mg of Fe/g. Yields varied from 50.55 to 63.40%, and temperature and encapsulant proportion affected moisture and water activity. Various red hues, sizes, and shapes were observed in the microcapsules. SEM-EDS analysis revealed the surface presence of iron in microcapsules with openings on their exterior, along with a negative zeta potential. Thermal and infrared analyses confirmed core encapsulation within the matrices. Iron release varied between 92.30 and 93.13% at 120 min. Finally, the most effective treatments were those with higher encapsulant percentages and dried at elevated temperatures, which could enable their utilization in functional food fortification to combat anemia in developing countries.

Nanoencapsulation of Phenolic Extracts from Native Potato Clones (Solanum tuberosum spp. andigena) by Spray Drying.

Native potato clones grown in Peru contain bioactive compounds beneficial to human health. This study aimed to optimize the spray-drying nanoencapsulation of native potato phenolic extracts utilizing a central composite design and response surface methodology, obtaining the optimal treatment to an inlet temperature of 120 °C and an airflow of 141 L/h in the nano spray dryer B-90, which allowed maximizing the yield of encapsulation, antioxidant capacity (DPPH), encapsulation efficiency (EE), total phenolic compounds, and total flavonoids; on the other hand, it allowed minimizing hygroscopicity, water activity (Aw), and moisture. Instrumental characterization of the nanocapsules was also carried out, observing a gain in lightness, reddening of the color, and spherical nanoparticles of heterogeneous size (133.09-165.13 nm) with a negative ζ potential. Thermal, infrared, and morphological analyses confirmed the encapsulation of the core in the wall materials. Furthermore, an in vitro release study of phenolic compounds in an aqueous solution achieved a maximum value of 9.86 mg GAE/g after 12 h. Finally, the obtained nanocapsules could be used in the food and pharmaceutical industry.

Bioactive Compounds and Sensory Quality in Chips of Native Potato Clones (Solanum tuberosum spp. andigena) Grown in the High Andean Region of PERU.

Native potatoes (Solanum tuberosum spp. andigena) have diverse pigments and are cultivated in Peru's high Andean regions; they are characterized by containing bioactive compounds that prevent various degenerative diseases. The study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical and sensory quality in chips of native potato clones grown at 3496 m altitude, for which the potatoes were cut into slices and fried in extra virgin olive oil at 180 °C for 200 s. This was determined by proximal analysis, reducing sugars, minerals, color, antioxidant capacity (AC), total phenolic compounds (TPC), and anthocyanins in fresh and chips; an instrumental characterization by FTIR and SEM and sensory tests were also performed. The native potatoes presented low moisture and reduced sugar contents; when frying, their bioactive properties improved, increasing AC, TPC, and trace elements, such as K, Mg, Ca, P, Fe, and Zn. To conclude, fresh clones have high yields in the field and are an essential source of nutrients and bioactive; the salt-free chips of clone B presented better physicochemical properties and greater sensory acceptance, closely followed by clone A. Both clones could be used as raw material by food companies that produce snacks to benefit high Andean agricultural producers.

Microencapsulation of Propolis and Honey Using Mixtures of Maltodextrin/Tara Gum and Modified Native Potato Starch/Tara Gum.

Ethanolic extracts of propolis and bee honey contain substances beneficial to human health. Mixtures of wall materials were compared in spray-drying microencapsulation of ethanolic extracts of propolis and bee honey rich in bioactive compounds. Maltodextrin and tara gum were used to obtain microencapsulates A, and modified native potato starch and tara gum were used for microencapsulates B. High values of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity were obtained in microcapsules A and B, and the results obtained in terms of encapsulation efficiency, yield, hygroscopicity, solubility, moisture, Aw, bulk density, and color were typical of the spray-drying process. On the other hand, spherical and elliptical microparticles of sizes between 7.83 and 53.7 µm with light and medium stability were observed. Thermogravimetric properties were similar in both microencapsulates; total organic carbon, SEM-EDS, and FTIR analyses corroborated the encapsulation. X-ray diffractogram exhibited amorphous structures, and the release kinetics of phenolic compounds presented high values from 8.13 to 12.58 mg GAE/g between 7 and 13 h. Finally, modified potato starch is a better encapsulant than maltodextrin because it has better core protection and controlled release of the encapsulated bioactive compounds.

The native potato, a symbol of macho expression in the Quechua culture of Peru.

The present field research focuses on the native potato varieties, Wira pasña and Llumchuy waqachi, cultivated in the Peruvian highlands at roughly 4,000 m above sea level. The objective is to analyze the macho essence of the names assigned to the native potato, names that represent the social manifestation of women in Quechua culture. Participant observation and interviews about the different daily activities of the participants facilitated the research on the macho essence of the names of the native potato in the Quechua culture. The preponderant Quechua oral sources in the Peruvian Andes did not allow us to identify exactly how names associated with the macho way of social life were assigned to the native potatoes.

The spectacle of feminism and machismo in two Peruvian cumbia singers: Marisol and Tony Rosado.

The objective of this research is to analyze and interpret the entertainment section of the most important media in Peru, concentrated on two private companies: Grupo La República and Grupo El Comercio, with great journalistic dominance of national information. The entertainment section is as old as the foundation of the newspapers themselves. The method of analysis with qualitative documents has allowed us to reach the conclusion that the fight for gender equality promoted by the government is a spectacle for the national press. The entertainment section of the Peruvian press has exposed the private lives of representative characters such as the singers Marisol, "La Faraona de la Cumbia" and Tony Rosado, "El Ruiseñor de la Cumbia", from there the differences in feminism tolerated in Marisol and machismo censored in Rosado are popularized. It is concluded that the exposure of the struggle for gender equality is entertainment news where machismo and feminism are underhandedly justified with the parameter established with these public figures, that is, Peruvian cumbia singer-songwriters, and that offers evidence of the tolerance to the feminine voice that incites machismo, justifies the mistreatment of men and makes the male complaint a synonym of cowardice.