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Effects of a dual intervention (motor and virtual reality-based cognitive) on cognition in patients with mild cognitive impairment: a single-blind, randomized controlled trial

2024 , Buele, Jorge , Avilés-Castillo, Fátima , Carolina Del-Valle-Soto , Varela Aldas, José , Guillermo Palacios-Navarro

Abstract Background The increase in cases of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) underlines the urgency of finding effective methods to slow its progression. Given the limited effectiveness of current pharmacological options to prevent or treat the early stages of this deterioration, non-pharmacological alternatives are especially relevant. Objective To assess the effectiveness of a cognitive-motor intervention based on immersive virtual reality (VR) that simulates an activity of daily living (ADL) on cognitive functions and its impact on depression and the ability to perform such activities in patients with MCI. Methods Thirty-four older adults (men, women) with MCI were randomized to the experimental group (n = 17; 75.41 ± 5.76) or control (n = 17; 77.35 ± 6.75) group. Both groups received motor training, through aerobic, balance and resistance activities in group. Subsequently, the experimental group received cognitive training based on VR, while the control group received traditional cognitive training. Cognitive functions, depression, and the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) were assessed using the Spanish versions of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-S), the Short Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS-S), and the of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL-S) before and after 6-week intervention (a total of twelve 40-minutes sessions). Results Between groups comparison did not reveal significant differences in either cognitive function or geriatric depression. The intragroup effect of cognitive function and geriatric depression was significant in both groups (p < 0.001), with large effect sizes. There was no statistically significant improvement in any of the groups when evaluating their performance in ADLs (control, p = 0.28; experimental, p = 0.46) as expected. The completion rate in the experimental group was higher (82.35%) compared to the control group (70.59%). Likewise, participants in the experimental group reached a higher level of difficulty in the application and needed less time to complete the task at each level. Conclusions The application of a dual intervention, through motor training prior to a cognitive task based on Immersive VR was shown to be a beneficial non-pharmacological strategy to improve cognitive functions and reduce depression in patients with MCI. Similarly, the control group benefited from such dual intervention with statistically significant improvements. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06313931; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06313931.

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Perceptions and Dispositions of Parents and Teachers Toward Technological Learning Communities

2023 , Núñez-Hernández C. , Buele, Jorge

The search for strategies to improve students’ academic performance is increasingly common in education. Parents’ participation and teachers’ attention are key factors in forming a learning community. This article presents the results of a survey in which relevant statistical data was obtained. A significant association (p = 0.571) was found between the frequency with which parents help their children understand school content and their willingness to be part of a learning community, representing 40.65% of the population. In addition, it was found that 66.67% of parents frequently meet with their children’s teachers because they often solve the children’s doubts. Regarding the attention of teachers, it was evidenced that 64.71% of parents who meet very frequently with teachers do so with those who very frequently resolve children’s doubts effectively, which shows a correlation significant (p = 0.467). Finally, the relationship between the degree of mastery of teachers in learning management platforms and their participation in forming learning communities was analyzed. A significant correlation (phi = 0.321) was found between the degree of mastery of teachers in these platforms and their participation in the formation of learning communities, with 28.24% of teachers having sufficient mastery and 20.61% of those with a moderate domain. These findings highlight the importance of parent-teacher collaboration in fostering a culture of learning in school and improving student academic achievement. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2023.

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Suitable electric generator for pico-hydro power plant in ambato–huachi–pelileo water irrigation channel

2020 , Cumbajín Alferez, Myriam , Sánchez, Patricio , Hidalgo, A. , Gordón, C.

We present the analysis of the selection of electric generator suitable for Pico-Hydro Power Plant in the Ambato-Huachi-Pelileo irrigation channel in Ecuador. For which a meticulous literary review has been carried out about the main characteristics of the Pico-Hydro Power Plant as it is the height, the hydric resource, the turbine and the generator. Considering the water resource, which in our case is provided by the Ambato-Huachi-Pelileo irrigation channel, the parameters of low height and slow speed have been taken around 1.6 m3/s, which has allowed us to analyze the generator suitable for the required Pico-Hydro Power Plant. Therefore, the study conducted has allowed us to conclude that the electric generator suitable for the Pico-Hydro Power Plant in the Ambato-Huachi-Pelileo irrigation channel is a radial flux permanent magnet generator that is capable of providing sufficient electrical power with a simple structure, low revolutions, and high efficiency. Also, a Matlab simulation was developed in order to predict the power which is capable of provide the radial flux permanent magnet generator which in this case is 3.8 KW. This work aims to provide several benefits to the society bordering the irrigation channel, such as generating energy for self-consumption as a contribution to the lighting of the channel at no cost to the public in order that it is not dangerous for the passers at night and providing the ability for maintenance works at any time. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020.

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Virtual Reality applications based on activities of daily living (ADL) for cognitive diagnosis and rehabilitation

2022 , Buele, Jorge , Varela Aldas, José , Palacios-Navarro G.

Traditionally, screening tools are available to help diagnose a person's cognitive problem. Therefore, rehabilitation techniques are lab exercises that lack adequate ecological validity. In this paper, we propose to establish the projection of a methodology for the development of serious games based on activities of daily living (ADL). Both for real and immersive environments, to assess what provides better results when applied in healthy patients at first, but with a focus on those suffering from Alzheimer's disease. It is expected that when this research is completed, precedents will be established for the development of new proposals based on virtual environments. © 2022 IEEE.

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Virtual reality applications based on instrumental activities of daily living (iADLs) for cognitive intervention in older adults: a systematic review

2023 , Buele, Jorge , Varela-Aldás J.L. , Palacios-Navarro G.

Background: In recent years, the use of virtual reality (VR) as a complementary intervention in treating cognitive impairment has significantly increased. VR applications based on instrumental activities of daily living (iADL-VR) could offer a promising approach with greater ecological validity for intervention in groups with cognitive impairments. However, the effectiveness of this approach is still debated. Objective: This systematic review aims to synthesize the effects of iADL-VR interventions to rehabilitate, train, or stimulate cognitive functions in healthy adults and people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and different types of dementia. Methods: A systematic search was performed in the Scopus, PubMed, IEEE Xplore, Web of Science, and APA PsycNet databases until September 2022 and repeated in April 2023. The selected studies met the search terms, were peer-reviewed, included an iADL-VR intervention, and were written in English. Descriptive, qualitative studies, reviews, cognitive assessment, non-intervention studies, those unrelated to VR or iADL, those focused on motor aspects, and non-degenerative disorders were excluded. The PEDro scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the controlled studies. To present and synthesize the results, we organized the extracted data into three tables, including PEDro scores, participant characteristics, and study characteristics. Results: Nineteen studies that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included. The total sample reached 590 participants, mostly women (72.67%). Approximately 30% were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, and 20% had mild cognitive impairment. Variables such as authors and year of publication, study design, type of intervention and VR applied, duration of the intervention, main findings, and conclusions were extracted. Regarding demographic characteristics, the sample size, age, sex, years of education, neurological diagnosis, dropouts, and the city and country where the intervention took place were recorded. Almost all studies showed improvements in some or all the outcomes after the intervention, generally greater in the iADL-VR group than in the control group. Conclusion: iADL-VR interventions could be beneficial in improving the performance of cognitive functions in older adults and people with MCI and different types of dementia. The ecological component of these tasks makes them very suitable for transferring what has been learned to the real world. However, such transfer needs to be confirmed by further studies with larger and more homogeneous samples and longer follow-up periods. This review had no primary funding source and was registered with PROSPERO under registration ID: 375166. © 2023, The Author(s).

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Predicting Academic Performance in Mathematics Using Machine Learning Algorithms

2022 , Espinosa Pinos, Carlos Alberto , Ayala-Chauvin, Manuel Ignacio , Buele, Jorge

Several factors, directly and indirectly, influence students’ performance in their various activities. Children and adolescents in the education process generate enormous data that could be analyzed to promote changes in current educational models. Therefore, this study proposes using machine learning algorithms to evaluate the variables influencing mathematics achievement. Three models were developed to identify behavioral patterns such as passing or failing achievement. On the one hand, numerical variables such as grades in exams of other subjects or entrance to higher education and categorical variables such as institution financing, student’s ethnicity, and gender, among others, are analyzed. The methodology applied was based on CRISP-DM, starting with the debugging of the database with the support of the Python library, Sklearn. The algorithms used are Decision Tree (DT), Naive Bayes (NB), and Random Forest (RF), the last one being the best, with 92% accuracy, 98% recall, and 97% recovery. As mentioned above, the attributes that best contribute to the model are the entrance exam score for higher education, grade exam, and achievement scores in linguistic, scientific, and social studies domains. This confirms the existence of data that help to develop models that can be used to improve curricula and regional education regulations. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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Psychosocial Risk and Work Stress in Logistics and Distribution

2023 , Lara Calle, Andrés , Prado D.

The research is focused on studying the psychosocial risk factors and work stress in the logistics and distribution personnel of a company in the city of Latacunga, Ecuador. It contributes to the thematic area of the Psychology of Engineering, and the methodology follows a quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design and correlational scope. For data collection, the evaluation method of psychosocial factors designed by the National Institute of Safety and Health at Work of Spain through the FPSICO 4.0 software and the Work Stress Questionnaire developed by the World Health Organization are used. The study is conducted on 25 workers. The results show a 70% presence of psychosocial risk with a moderate to a high level, and there is low work stress of 68%. To identify if there is a possible relationship between psychosocial risk and work stress, the variables are analyzed. Initially, the Shapiro-Wilk normality test is performed, obtaining values less than 0.05, and there is no homogeneity between variables. Therefore, the non-parametric statistical test of Spearman’s correlation is established, in which a value of 0.38 is obtained, accepting the alternative hypothesis with a low correlation between the variables. In this sense, this demonstrates the importance of evaluating the work environment to identify the existence of risks that may be affecting the performance of workers and the fulfillment of business objectives. Finally, these results allow for creating awareness in the country to reduce or mitigate the existing risks and prioritize the health of workers. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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Energy Harvesting System with Solar Panels to Supply Low Power Electronic Devices

2023 , Cumbajín M. , Sánchez, Patricio , Núñez M. , Gordón C.

Solar panels allow acquiring energy from the environment which can be stored for Energy Harvesting purposes. The objective of this work is to design, simulate and characterize different configurations in the harvesting stage, constituted by solar panels for energy harvesting systems of low consumption, identifying the most adequate arrangement to achieve the highest amount of energy together with the conversion stage. The methodology used has been design, simulation in Matlab-Simulink software and characterization with mini solar panels. The developed system consists of 3 stages which are: energy harvesting, DC-DC converter, and storage, focusing on the Energy Harvesting stage. The results obtained in simulation of 4.8V and 160 mA, and measurement of 4.60V and 134.5mA show that the mixed configuration is the one that presents better results in both voltage and current, concluding that the simulated and measured values are very close obtaining an error of 0.05% and 0.16% in voltage and current respectively and an output voltage of the converter of up to 26V. Finally, these results are very promising for Energy Harvesting applications. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.

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AN ASSESSMENT OF CUBAN FOOD SECURITY BASED ON THE AGRICULTURAL AREA UNDER CULTIVATION AND AGRICULTURAL YIELDS

2022 , Cosío, E.C. , Suárez del Villar, Alexis , Álvarez Sánchez, Ana , Cruz, I.A.

The research was carried out with official data published in the country, collected from official information sources from 2007 to 2019. In the variables analyzed, the following were considered as having high explanatory power: land distribution, total area, agricultural area, cultivated area, yields of selected crops. For the calculation of the nutritional needs of the population, the nutritional recommendations for the Cuban population were taken into account and the productions were grouped ac-cording to the classification established for the food groups in Cuba. The country’s agricultural area is 6400.18 Mha in 2019, which its use decreases for all the items studied, except for banana, bell pepper, bean, lemon, guava and pump fruit. In addition, yields of the main crops are low, as is the productivity of the livestock sector analyzed. To contribute to the achieve-ment of food security for the Cuban population in correspondence with the standards of the National Institute of Nutrition, an area with technological package (irrigation and optimal yields) of 3942577.82 ha is needed, existing agricultural area in the country; and without technological package (without irrigation), an area of 6424285.82 ha, which are insufficient in 23485 ha. © 2022, University of Cienfuegos, Carlos Rafael Rodriguez. All rights reserved.

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Smart IoT Monitoring System for Pico-Hydropower Station Based on Permanent Magnet Generator with Radial Flux

2022 , Cumbajín M. , Sánchez P. , Flores E. , Gordón C.

We present the development of an Intelligent Internet of Things Monitoring System for a Pico-Hydropower Station based on a radial flux permanent magnet generator. The system mainly acquires the physical and electrical variables of the Pico-Hydropower Station located in the Ambato - Huachi - Pelileo irrigation channel, in the province of Tungurahua in Ecuador and then provides the information in real time on a Web page and stores it in a database. The IoT Monitoring System mainly provides information for the efficient management of the Pico-Hydropower Station. The IoT Monitoring system uses voltage, current, and Hall effect sensors that feed the information to an Arduino Uno development board. The data is then sent to a Raspberry PI development board, where it is displayed on a monitor screen at via VNC, they are published on the website and stored for further processing. The IoT Monitoring System is a convenient system to provide information on electricity production at any time and allows monitoring the appearance of any problems which is a valuable information to make the right decision when is required. So the system is a good contribution to maintenance management and smart cities of the future. © 2022, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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