Centro de Investigación de Ciencias Humanas y de la Educación
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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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A Simple Method for Implementation of a Solar Oven for Lumber Drying

2024 , Escudero-Villa P. , Pachacama A. , Núñez-Sánchez J. , Topón-Visarrea L.

In Ecuador, the small and medium-sized wood industries dedicated to the manufacture of boards use a form of natural drying, which takes six months to two years depending on the moisture content, the type of wood, and the thickness. In regular bases, the natural drying process requires six months to obtain dry wood that can be processed to final products, which causes delays in the delivery of production batches and loss of time, affecting the internal economy. In this work, we present a design for a simple implementation of a solar oven to dry wood and derivatives. For this objective, we included the oven chamber physical dimensioning, the requirements and thermodynamic analysis, and a comparison with the standard traditional method. The oven was dimensioned to keep a range of temperature from 15 to 45° in a chamber of . The result of this design allows a time saving of 66.67% and profits of 304% per month for a standard wood processed. These results are possible due to the specific geographical location and climate of Ecuador, which directly influence the effectiveness of a solar oven. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2024.

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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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Salty Taste Intensity Classifier Through Multivariate Analysis

2022 , Fuentes E.M. , Varela Aldas, José , Verdú S. , Grau Meló R. , Barat J.M. , Alcañiz M.

Voltammetric electronic Tongues (VET) are widely used on the industry, especially when focused on sample classification, adulteration recognizement and quality control, a VET equipment developed by the Interuniversity Institute of Molecular Recognition and Technological Development of the UPV-UV (IDM) was employed to develop the study, the results of each test were 7920 data, and different Chloride of Sodium concentrations such as 1.25 mM, 2.5 mM, 5 mM and 10 mM were tested. This is a part of a series of studies related with basic flavor recognize though VET, so the aim of this work was to study the capability of the VET to recognize different intensity of salt concentrations, supported on multivariate analysis. The results showed a concordance of more than 70.31% in the separation of samples, allowing to conclude as acceptable the performance of the classifier and the data acquired through the voltammetric electronic tongues. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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Development of a Scale Prototype of Smart Bed Controlled Using a Mobile Application

2022 , Soberon J.C. , Gamboa G. , Castillo F. , Palacios-Navarro G. , Varela Aldas, José

The need for a technological system for health care for sick people is evident. This work develops a scale prototype of a smart bed controlled through a mobile application. The electronic design consists of two servomotors that act to position the bed; these actions can be activated through the mobile application. At the same time, the patient can be monitored by a camera and an infrared thermometer that sends the data to the application through the Internet. The local operating code is designed so that the position of the bed changes automatically according to a preset sequence. The electronic system is based on the ESP32 board; this chip integrates WiFi communication that allows the connection of the bed with the cloud-based in Firebase. Temperature tests were carried out with the help of people to ensure that the data taken was correct. In addition, bed positions and reception of camera images were tested on a mannequin. As a result, adequate communication was obtained between the mobile application and all the devices installed in the smart bed. Finally, an acceptance test is applied that validates this proposal with a good score. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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System Identification and Nonlinear Model Predictive Control with Collision Avoidance Applied in Hexacopters UAVs

2022 , Recalde, Luis , Guevara, B.S. , Carvajal, C.P. , Andaluz, V.H. , Varela Aldas, José , Gandolfo, D.C.

Accurate trajectory tracking is a critical property of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) due to system nonlinearities, under-actuated properties and constraints. Specifically, the use of unmanned rotorcrafts with accuracy trajectory tracking controllers in dynamic environments has the potential to improve the fields of environment monitoring, safety, search and rescue, border surveillance, geology and mining, agriculture industry, and traffic control. Monitoring operations in dynamic environments produce significant complications with respect to accuracy and obstacles in the surrounding environment and, in many cases, it is difficult to perform even with state-of-the-art controllers. This work presents a nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) with collision avoidance for hexacopters’ trajectory tracking in dynamic environments, as well as shows a comparative study between the accuracies of the Euler–Lagrange formulation and the dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) models in order to find the precise representation of the system dynamics. The proposed controller includes limits on the maneuverability velocities, system dynamics, obstacles and the tracking error in the optimization control problem (OCP). In order to show the good performance of this control proposal, computational simulations and real experiments were carried out using a six rotary-wind unmanned aerial vehicle (hexacopter—DJI MATRICE 600). The experimental results prove the good performance of the predictive scheme and its ability to regenerate the optimal control policy. Simulation results expand the proposed controller in simulating highly dynamic environments that showing the scalability of the controller. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

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Between the hygiene and the salvation: Cognitive framework, metaphors and educative work of psychologists in Chilean schools. [Entre la higiene y la salvación: marcos cognitivos, metáforas y trabajo educativo de psicólogos en escuelas chilenas]

2019 , Díaz, D.P. , Kawada F.H. , Chávez R.C. , Morales P.G. , Espinoza S.L. , Díaz J.S

The purpose of the article is to understand the metaphors produced by psychologists to organize and define their work in Chilean schools. Considering that metaphor, rather than a rhetorical embellishment, is a linguistic figure that affects our ways of perceiving, thinking and acting in social reality, in this research, positioned from the Critical Discourse Studies, we examine its ideological potential to build and perpetuate particular visions of the world. According to this, we interviewed seven psychologists who work in schools classified as "emerging"within the framework of the Chilean Policy called Ley de Subvención Escolar Preferencial . We analyze discursively the information produced with a special emphasis on the rhetorical movements that revealed metaphors. Our main findings were two frameworks that join metaphors that psychologists use to explain their work in the schools: hygienist frame and salvation frame. Each one promotes particular conceptions of education, roles of school, the participation of the actors, and psychologist s work. Conflictly interconnected around a structural metaphor that conceives education as a commodity and school as a company, these frames are discussed from the interconnections between psychology and education in a context of educational neoliberalization and from the need to build alternative frames to market hegemony. © 2019 Universidad Pompeu Fabra. All rights reserved.

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Body Temperature Control Using a Robotic Arm

2021 , Varela Aldas, José , Moreira A. , Criollo P. , Ruales, María Belén

At the end of 2019, a highly contagious virus appears, changing the form of interaction between humans, this has implied the use of technology as a support tool to counteract the effects of the new disease (COVID-19). Although many technologies have been successfully adapted, applied robotics promises to reduce or even eliminate the need for person-to-person contact. This article presents the control of the body temperature of the clients of a commercial premises through the implementation of a system that includes a robotic arm, two sensors and a mobile device. The robotic arm is constructed using 3D printing and a low-cost electronic circuitry, body temperature is obtained using an infrared sensor, and a mobile device displays, alerts, and stores the information. The developed code allows remote control of the robot positions or a pre-programmed sequence is automatically activated that includes temperature measurement and hand disinfection. The results show the robot in operation and the data acquired by the system, observing adequate temperatures in most of the users and a single alert during the tests carried out. The conclusions establish the importance of the system in the real application and highlight the multiple benefits of this proposal. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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Experience of Using PBL and Gamification as an Active Methodology in Time of Pandemic in Ecuador

2023 , Manuel G.J.

During the COVID 19 pandemic, the use of innovative and attractive strategies within educational environments has been demonstrated, where teaching is focused on the student, in the development of skills. These strategies conceive learning as a constructive and motivating process. To do this, a topic that generates great interest in the current educational scenario was analyzed: the active methodologies applied within the current situation experienced by the pandemic; which is eminent because through its use it is possible to continue with the teaching/learning process between teacher and student in difficult times such as those currently experienced by society in general. The objective is to know the experiences of teachers in the application of PBL and Gamification as strategies of active methodologies in the teaching process. The methodology is qualitative approach. The sample consisted of 15 teachers from the Sierra del Ecuador educational system. The survey technique was applied. In conclusion, it has been confirmed that the application of active methodologies encourages students to learn, in a practical way, useful and concrete knowledge that they will usually find in their daily context and curiosity about learning is rewarded. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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Development of Behavior Profile of Users with Visual Impairment

2020 , Guevara Maldonado, César Byron , Arias Flores, Hugo Patricio , Varela Aldas, José , Castillo Salazar, David Ricardo , Borja M. , Fierro-Saltos W. , Rivera R. , Hidalgo-Guijarro J. , Yandún-Velasteguí M.

The interaction of the user with visual impairment with assistive technologies, and in particular with screen readers, generates a group of actions and events during their navigation. These interactions are defined as behavioral patterns, which have a sequence that occurs at specific time slot. Understanding user behavior by analyzing their interaction with applications, in addition, details the characteristics, relationships, structures and functions of the sequence of actions in a specific application domain. The objective of this document is to find activity patterns from a set of commands used by the user, combining data mining and a Bayesian model. This model calculates the probability of the functions used with the screen reader and generates a behavior profile to improve the user experience. For this study, the screen reader JAWS version 2018, the Open Journal Systems platform version 3.0.1 and a computer with Windows 10 operating system were used. During the first phase, command history used by the user by interacting with the Open Journal Systems platform were collected. The result is that the accessibility of users with visual impairment to interact with the computer and its applications has been improved by applying this model. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020.

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