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Virtual Environment for the Mashing and Boiling Process in Craft Beer Production

2023 , Pogo S.I. , Granizo J. , Andaluz V.H. , Varela Aldas, José

Process automation allows to increase production and improve the quality of craft products. This paper presents the implementation of closed-loop control algorithms for a mashing and brewing plant of craft beer. The proposed control scheme is implemented through the HIL technique, for which a virtual environment that simulates the behavior of the industrial process and a control card where the control algorithms are implemented are considered. To represent the behavior of the plant level and temperature processes, the mathematical model of each process is obtained, this model is used for the design of the control algo-rhythms, and the plant is modeled in 3D and incorporated into the graphics engine also has effects of realism together with been 3D in order to increase the level of realism to the process. For user interaction with the environment, an HMI type mantle center is incorporated to visualize and control the process manually, semi-automatically, and automatically, in order to test the control algorithms safely and avoid the risk of instrumentation damage or loss of real materials. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

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Structural and Electromagnetic Signatures of Anatase and Rutile NTs and Sheets in Three Different Water Models under Different Temperature Conditions

2023 , Ruiz E.P.E. , Thirumuruganandham, Saravana Prakash , Lago J.C.L.

Experimental studies of TiO2 nanotubes have been conducted for nearly three decades and have revealed the remarkable advantages of this material. Research based on computer simulations is much rarer, with research using density functional theory (DFT) being the most significant in this field. It should be noted, however, that this approach has significant limitations when studying the macroscopic properties of nanostructures such as nanosheets and nanotubes. An alternative with great potential has emerged: classical molecular dynamics simulations (MD). MD Simulations offer the possibility to study macroscopic properties such as the density of phonon states (PDOS), power spectra, infrared spectrum, water absorption and others. From this point of view, the present study focuses on the distinction between the phases of anatase and rutile TiO2. The LAMMPS package is used to study both the structural properties by applying the radial distribution function (RDF) and the electromagnetic properties of these phases. Our efforts are focused on exploring the effect of temperature on the vibrational properties of TiO2 anatase nanotubes and an in-depth analysis of how the phononic softening phenomenon affects TiO2 nanostructures to improve the fundamental understanding in different dimensions and morphological configurations. A careful evaluation of the stability of TiO2 nanolamines and nanotubes at different temperatures is performed, as well as the adsorption of water on the nanosurface of TiO2, using three different water models. © 2023 by the authors.

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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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IoT-Based Alternating Current Electrical Parameters Monitoring System

2022 , Varela Aldas, José , Silva, S , Palacios-Navarro, G.

Energy monitors are indispensable for achieving efficient electrical grids and even more so in the age of the Internet of Things (IoT), where electrical system data are monitored from anywhere in the world. This paper presents the development of a two-channel electrical parameter-monitoring system based on the M5 Stack Core2 kit. The acquisition of variables is done through PZEM 004T V3.0 sensors, and the data are sent to the ThingSpeak cloud database. Local readings are done through the LCD, and data re stored on a micro SD card. Remote monitoring is done through two applications, namely a web application and a mobile application, each designed for different purposes. To validate this proposal, a commercial device with IoT features (Gen 2 Vue Energy Monitor) is used, comparing the active power and active energy readings recorded continuously for 7 days. The results indicate an accuracy of up to 1.95% in power and 0.81% in energy, obtaining a low-cost compact product with multiple features. © 2022 by the authors.

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Constructivist Didactics in the Teaching-Learning Process

2022 , Núñez-Naranjo, Aracelly Fernanda

This paper reflects on the applicability of didactics in the constructivist approach, derived from different ideologies and worldviews associated with the teaching-learning process, based on the analysis of the tradition of educational practices in the classroom, as well as the characteristics adopted by teachers in the applicability of the curriculum, within the comprehensive training. The methodology was based on the systemic bibliographic review and in which the performance responds to the questions what, how and when to teach. The results show that there are different didactic strategies aimed at constructivism. Reference is also made to constructivist didactics as an organized and complex activity, in which the learner constructs their own learning, through interest, previous learning and transformations. It is concluded that the evolution of education has undergone significant transformations, where the passivity of the learner assumes a role in innovation and creativity. © 2022 IEEE.

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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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Una aproximación cualitativa Learning experiences in virtual teacher training during confinement by COVID-19. A qualitative approach [Experiencias de aprendizaje en la formación virtual de docentes durante el confinamiento por COVID-19.]

2023 , Suárez V.G. , Monzón N.S. , Mesa M.L.C. , Paredes D.G.L.

Teachers’ university training during the confinement caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has been influenced by various factors. This research’s main objective was to analyse the learning experiences of undergraduate students in Basic Education at an Ecua-dorian university. The current study involves a qualitative approach using a thematic content analysis of narratives written as reflective reports. The sample was composed by 5th semester students of the Basic Education career. They were between 19 and 38 years old, and their narratives were selected taking into account these selection parameters: the stories were set up in a reasonable and meaningful way, followed the structure: introduction, development, conclusion; and they were deep, but very clear in the reflections made that direct the future perspective of the subject in question. This study was organized as part of a project for the improvement of teachers’ training, taking into account the six categories that have a direct influence on student education and that define a didactic and pedagogical challenge of those who are in charge of university processes. According to the previous argument, some of these categories are the use of electronic devices and access to learning technologies; the adaptation and use of teaching strategies in the virtual context; the development of students’ creativity during virtual learning; learning environment and family coexistence at home; and physical and emotional well-being. The findings indicate: greater relevance of information and communication technologies (ICT) as a platform for teaching and receiving classes; improvement of the teaching-learning process; means of social interaction; resources for research on the internet. Moreover, the training of future teachers currently depends on the possession of devices to be able to access training activities; this technological gap makes social inequality increasingly visible. Another important result is that the pandemic tested the capacity of both, students and teachers to restructure and adapt to the virtual context. This is related to the status of most teachers as digital migrants and of students as digital natives. In the case of teachers, they have not yet managed to adapt to the use of teaching strategies in the virtual context, while students mastered ICTs. For those who found their applications and tools for the first time in the context of the pandemic, it was a welcomed learning opportunity. The development of students’ creativity during virtual learning was marked by the role assumed by teachers, as a consequence of the intensive use of ICTs that has allowed young people to keep busy and learn while having fun. Teachers have focused more on their use in order to enhance their emotional intelligence to face new and stressful situations in their professional practice. Regarding the family environment, beyond the leading role that families have assumed as facilitators of the teaching-learning process, members may hinder attention, concentration, comprehension, and memorization of knowledge due to the different distractions generated at home. According to some of the teachers in training consulted for this research, student and teacher communication was flexible, and many students have been able to pass every subject. The teachers in training consulted recognized the practices that threaten their physical and emotional well-being and the need to rethink new styles of healthcare for themselves and their families. Finally, it is concluded that the experiences manifested were presented bearing in mind the fundamental categories of the study. Students confirmed the different perceptions on categories that influence their training and the need to advance in an integrative strategy between education and health professionals that incorporates the particularities described for a more inclusive approach to teacher training. © (2023), All Rights Reserved.

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Control of an Arm-Hand Prosthesis by Mental Commands and Blinking

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

Patients who lack upper and lower extremities have difficulties in carrying out their daily activities. The new technological advances have allowed the development of robotic applications to support people with disabilities, also, portable electroencephalographic (EEG) sensors are increasingly accessible and allow the development of new proposals which involve the mental control of electronic systems. This work presents the control by mental orders of an arm-hand prosthesis using low-cost devices, the objective is to command the arm using the user’s attention and blinking, where the components are a brain signal sensor, a prosthesis, an Arduino board, six servomotors, and a computer. The developed program in Matlab allows controlling the arm by means of an attention level y blinking. The results show the functioning of the system through experimental tests and a usability test is applied, finally, the conclusions establish adequate coordination in the movements of the prosthesis and the patient indicate satisfaction with the proposal. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020.

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Gamification: From Motivation and Challenges to Improving Academic Performance in Learning Mathematics

2024 , Núñez Naranjo, Aracelly , Sinailin-Peralta J. , Morales-Urrutia E.

Gamification is a didactic strategy that motivates and improves teaching processes, for this reason the present study has been proposed in which a methodological proposal is structured that seeks to improve academic performance using gamification as a strategy for teaching operations with applied polynomials. Students of the first year of high school of an educational institution in the city of Quito, the methodology is addressed from a descriptive and correlational level given the exploratory approach that has been carried out, for the development of the proposal the principles of gamification that relate to motivation with learning challenges, we worked with 28 students in scheduled class meetings, a pre-test and a post-test were applied to them, obtaining the following average course results: initial pre-test evaluation 4.93 and post-test -test, a value of 8.61 was obtained, evidencing an increase in the total average, with these data it is concluded that the gamification of activities and assessments if it improves the academic performance of students. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.

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Improving English Language Skills with a Technological Approach in Teaching

2024 , Núñez Naranjo, Aracelly , Chimarro Reinoso S.E. , Morales-Urrutia E.

Worldwide, the teaching of the English language has gained strength and attitude as it is the most studied and spoken language in the world, whether as a first language or a second language. However, it has been seen that the process of teaching the English language presents certain shortcomings in promoting the development of the four skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking) in students by identifying the lack of digital platforms in the extension of skills. The objective of the research is to validate the use of a digital platform through activities that promote the development of the four skills of learning the English language in students. The use of the platform is promoted through activities aimed at teaching the language, develop each of the skills in Basic Education students. For this research, the mixed methodology was used that combined the qualitative and quantitative approach with a population of 59 students, which allowed an evaluation of the pre-test and post-test to evaluate the development of skills, obtaining a value of 6.82. In the pre-test and a value of 8.77 in the post-test. When measuring the effect of this statistical improvement, it is calculated using Cohen’s d, which determines a very large effect of this improvement. With this result, it is identified that the development English language skills improved significantly after using the platform, both in listening, reading, writing and speaking skills. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.