Universidad Indoamérica
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Quito
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INDOAMÉRICA es una Institución de educación superior con más de tres décadas al servicio de la ciencia y la formación de profesionales de excelencia. Nuestros orígenes se remontan a los años ochenta, cuando fue constituido el Centro de Estudios de Computación “Servisistemas Informáticos Indoamérica”. Su nombre, INDOAMÉRICA, expresa un profundo sentido de pertenencia a la cultura latinoamericana, lo cual constituye la base fundamental de nuestra identidad.

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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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Factors Influencing University Dropout in Distance Learning: A Case Study

2023 , Núñez Hernández, Corina , Buele, Jorge

In the field of higher education in Ecuador, there is a phenomenon where students abandon the career, they were initially enrolled in. This research article aims to identify the determining factors that influence dropout, analyzing sociodemographic variables and economic, technological, institutional, and academic variables. The methodology used is action research built from educational practice. A survey was used to address several factors applied to 260 students of the second, fourth, and seventh levels of undergraduate study at a private institution. As a result, it was found that the most determining factor for a student to abandon their university career in the distance mode, with 72.31%, is the economic factor. Finally, it is concluded that students' permanence is affected mainly by socioeconomic aspects, which cause economic resources, illness, lack of time, and academic performance to be the most representative factors when deciding whether to remain or abandon a university career. This information increases the bibliography that deals with student behavior to search for alternatives to work on students' permanence. © 2023, North American Business Press. All rights reserved.

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Geo-colonizing Mars: A fun way to raise awareness about environment caring and teach Geometry

2021 , Arroyo-Cruz L. , Chacón-Castro M. , Jadán Guerrero, Janio

The technological boom in which we are immersed has caused the game rules in education to change to adapt to the new educational needs demanded by society. An increasingly digital age, where speed, change and transformation have become its fundamental characteristics. This article describes a pedagogical strategy that integrates elements, dynamics and games' mechanics in order to increase motivation in learning geometry, making it more active, lasting, meaningful and fun for Primary Education students. This proposal is based on a Breakout called Geo-Colonizing Mars, an immersive game that includes problem solving activities, experimentation, debates, and research related to geometry. The immersion is supported by a narrative that raises awareness about environment caring through videos and interactive material developed with Genially, Kahoot, Edpuzzle and Flippity. To evaluate this proposal, an intervention was carried out with 51 6th year Primary Education students from a public institution in Spain. The results showed a motivational change that led to a proactive attitude towards learning, collaborative work and problem solving. © 2021 ACM.

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Empowering Electronics Learning through a Hands-on Approach: Arduino Projects in the Classroom

2023 , Moncayo H. , Alulima L. , Mena M. , Zárate L.

This study addresses the practical approach of Project Based Learning with Arduino in the subject of electronics, the problem identified lies in the disconnection between theory and practical application, which can result in a superficial understanding of the concepts. The objective was to implement projects with Arduino in the classroom and evaluate their impact on the learning of electronics. Mixed methodology was employed to collect qualitative and quantitative data, combining classroom observation, student surveys, and student performance evaluations. The results of the study showed that the hands-on approach with Arduino projects significantly motivated students, increased their interest in the subject, and improved their understanding of electronics concepts. The projects fostered creativity, collaboration, and the development of relevant technical skills. In conclusion, Project Based Learning with Arduino in the electronics subject is revealed as an effective strategy to enhance learning. The results indicate that this hands-on approach can bring students closer to the reality of electronics, preparing them more effectively to face challenges in the professional environment and promoting more meaningful and lasting learning. © 2023 IEEE.

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Temporal Focus as a Mediator between Cultural Values and Subjective Happiness: Evidence from Ecuador and Russia [Временной фокус как медиатор взаимосвязи между культурными ценностями и субъективным счастьем: на материале Эквадора и России]

2022 , Zabelina E.V. , Cruz Cárdenas, Jorge , Guadalupe-Lanas J. , Deyneka O.S.

Though numerous scholars have studied subjective time, its predictors and effects, the general model considering demographic variables, cultural values and level of wellbeing is not presented. This study seeks to bridge this gap by contributing a comparative study of two very different countries: Ecuador (N=745, aged 19—76, 48.7% male), a Latin American developing country, and Russia (N=428, aged 18— 72, 40.2% male), an emerging Eurasian nation. We assumed that temporal focus plays the role of a mediator in the relationship between cultural values and subjective happiness in both countries. To predict the temporal focus (Temporal Focus Scale by Shipp, Edwards, and Lambert, 2009) in both countries, based on the previous literature the study tests the importance of three groups of variables: demographic factors (gender, age, education, income), subjective happiness (Subjective Happiness Scale by Lyubomirsky and Lepper, 1999), and cultural values (Cultural Values Scale by Yoo, Donthu and Lenartowics, 2011). The first stage of analysis involved confirmatory factor analyses and invariance tests for the scales used. Subsequently, multiple regression models made it possible to establish that sociodemographic variables, introduced as covariates, had little influence on the prediction of people's temporal orientation. However, the cultural and psychological variables (long-term orientation, uncertainty avoidance and subjec - tive happiness) introduced as predictors played an important role in the prediction of temporal (current, past and future) focus. Additionally, there are some cultural and psychological predictors of temporal focus specific for each country. Ultimately, structural equation models demonstrated that temporal focus plays the role of the mediator in the relationship between cultural values and subjective happiness in both Ecuador and Russia. © 2022. Cultural-Historical Psychology. All Rights Reserved.

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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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Analyzing serious games and literacy

2022 , Pucha G. , Arias Flores, Hugo Patricio , Borja-Galeas C.

Technology allows access to a wealth of resources that facilitate learning, in the case of literacy offers audiovisual resources that streamline cognitive skills. However, pedagogical strategies are required to implement technologies and achieve meaningful learning. Serious games arise as a proposal that seeks the development of learning through the development of activities of the game adjusting to the main way in which it is learned: through what is said and done. In this context, the objective of the research is to establish the use of serious games aimed at reinforcing literacy skills that strengthen the learning of second-year students of EGB. The focus of the research is qualitative with a descriptive scope, in which interviews were conducted with the actors of the educational process. The results show that children fail to develop their literacy skills, due to scarce didactic resources, ignorance of methodologies, lack of practice exercises and poor integration of innovative strategies that stimulate collaborative learning in the learning environment. The development of a strategy based on serious games, from mobile applications for the strengthening of literacy skills, with positive reinforcement and constant feedback, will allow students to maintain interest and develop these skills that are indispensable to continue in the educational process. © 2022 IEEE Computer Society. All rights reserved.

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Anthropization and growth of the electricity grid as variables for the analysis of urban infrastructure

2020 , Ayala-Chauvin, Manuel Ignacio , Huaraca D. , Varela Aldas, José , Ordóñez A. , Riba G.

City growth goes together with the development of infrastructure, and the power network is one of the most relevant towards economic development. The study of urban infrastructure through the analysis of anthropization coupled with power network growth can produce a tool that supports sustainable infrastructure planning, both economic and environmental. The case study focuses on Ambato, Ecuador, in the period from 1950 to 2019, and assesses quantitatively the changes in the city layout and the evolution of its power network. The data are adjusted to a sigmoid-type objective function through a non-linear least squares problem, that is solved using the Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno (BFGS) method. Anthropization data show how the urban area grew during the study period: 37% (1950-1960), 53% (1960-1970), 80% (1970-1980), 35% (1980-1990), 39% (1990-2000), 38% (2000-2010), and 11% (2010-2019), mostly at the expense of agricultural land. The forecast for new power network users by 2050 yields a result of 203,630 total users with a population density of 4850 people/km2. The conclusion is that this type of analysis can help city planners and decision makers further understand city and infrastructure growth dynamics and produce policies that bolster sustainable city growth. © 2020 by the authors.

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Unusual records of Cochlearius cochlearius (Linnaeus, 1766) (Aves: Ardeidae) in the Andes of Ecuador

2014 , Bahamonde-Vinueza D. , Cadena-Ortiz H. , Cajas-Bermeo C. , Bonaccorso E.

We report two high altitude sightings of Boat-billed Heron in the Andes of Ecuador. Based on identification and the localities were the sightings were reported, we suggest that both individuals belong to the Amazonian population of this species. © 2014 Check List and Authors.

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THE THEORY OF DETERMINATION OF THE PENALTY CLAIMS GUILT IN ITS STRUCTURE

2022 , López Soria, Yudith , Sánchez Oviedo, Danny Xavier

For more than three centuries, the scientific community of Criminal Law, universally speaking, tries to explain the concept of crime in a systematic way, emerging the Theory of crime, which reveals the concept of crime through the structural elements that make it up. Process that has gone through several Schools or currents of thought, with greater intensity in the Italian and German Schools, the latter, with greater validity today. All agree in conceptualizing the crime as the typical, unlawful and guilty action (conduct) that has a sanction planned. However, the content of its elements has varied from one school to another, and the element that has suffered the most has been guilt, which today, according to the Finalist and Functionalist Schools, con-tinues to be considered the third dogmatic element within of the concept of crime. The objective of this article is to persuade the scientific community of criminal law that guilt is misplaced in the theory of crime and must be dogmatically conceived in the theory of sentencing. For this, a qualitative research approach is applied with the implementation of methods such as the historical-logical, the analytical-synthetic and the inductive. © 2022, University of Cienfuegos, Carlos Rafael Rodriguez. All rights reserved.

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