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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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Algorithm for preventing the spread of COVID-19 in airports and air routes by applying fuzzy logic and a markov chain

2021 , Guevara C. , Bonilla D.

Since the start of COVID-19 and its growth into an uncontrollable pandemic, the spread of diseases through airports has become a serious health problem around the world. This study presents an algorithm to determine the risk of spread in airports and air routes. Graphs are applied to model the air transport network and Dijkstra’s algorithm is used for generating routes. Fuzzy logic is applied to evaluate multiple demographics, health, and transport variables and identify the level of spread in each airport. The algorithm applies a Markov chain to determine the probability of the arrival of an infected passenger with the COVID-19 virus to an airport in any country in the world. The results show the optimal performance of the proposed algorithm. In addition, some data are presented that allow for the application of actions in health and mobility policies to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

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Virtual Tours of Museums to Promote Tourism

2024 , Cóndor-Herrera, Omar , Ramos Galarza, Carlos , Bolaños-Pasquel, Mónica

Museums represent a collection of ancient and modern knowledge which must be protected, disseminated, and transmitted in the best viable way. Digital development and technology in recent years have made it possible to transform the way of interacting with museums through virtual tours (Palmieri et al in Springer Series in Design and Innovation, pp 71–82, 2023 [1]), which gained strength in times of pandemic, the products generated for virtual tours range from physical reproductions/faithful virtual images of historical artifacts to digital libraries that can be used by experts and others, in addition to 360º technology which allows a 360° viewing angle to be covered in two axes. That is, we can see everything around the point where it was made the photo or video. In this article, the virtual tours offered by some museums are analyzed, as well as the use of these tours as a tourism marketing strategy, giving the user the opportunity to interact with the place they plan to visit in a new way (Cóndor-Herrera and Ramos-Galarza in Marketing and smart technologies. Smart innovation, systems and technologies, pp 443–449, 2022 [2]). © 2024, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

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The complex evolutionary history of the tympanic middle ear in frogs and toads (Anura)

2016 , Pereyra M.O. , Womack M.C. , Barrionuevo J.S. , Blotto B.L. , Baldo D. , Targino M. , Ospina-Sarria J.J. , Guayasamin, Juan M. , Coloma L.A. , Hoke K.L. , Grant T. , Faivovich J.

Most anurans possess a tympanic middle ear (TME) that transmits sound waves to the inner ear; however, numerous species lack some or all TME components. To understand the evolution of these structures, we undertook a comprehensive assessment of their occurrence across anurans and performed ancestral character state reconstructions. Our analysis indicates that the TME was completely lost at least 38 independent times in Anura. The inferred evolutionary history of the TME is exceptionally complex in true toads (Bufonidae), where it was lost in the most recent common ancestor, preceding a radiation of >150 earless species. Following that initial loss, independent regains of some or all TME structures were inferred within two minor clades and in a radiation of >400 species. The reappearance of the TME in the latter clade was followed by at least 10 losses of the entire TME. The many losses and gains of the TME in anurans is unparalleled among tetrapods. Our results show that anurans, and especially bufonid toads, are an excellent model to study the behavioural correlates of earlessness, extratympanic sound pathways, and the genetic and developmental mechanisms that underlie the morphogenesis of TME structures. © The Author(s) 2016.

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Neuropsychological analysis in a case of Global Aphasia [Análisis neuropsicológico en un caso de Afasia Global]

2023 , Ramos Galarza, Carlos , Gaibor-Estévez J.

Acquired brain damage generates a series of neuropsychological alterations, among which we can highlight aphasia. This syndrome is characterized by language impairment, with its main features being deficits in fluency, comprehension, repetition, naming, reading, writing and calculation. In this article we present the case of a patient suffering from global aphasia, who presents severe linguistic alterations. The state of the disease and its neuropsychological condition are analyzed. Finally, we close this analysis, highlighting the need for a correct neuropsychological approach at the level of diagnosis and rehabilitation which can help the patient. © 2023 Fundacion para la difusion neurologica en Ecuador - FUNDINE. All rights reserved.

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COLLECTIVE RIGHTS AND THE NON-BINDING NATURE OF PRIOR CONSULTATION

2023 , Moya M.I.C. , Hidalgo L.R.M.

The term Nation-State is related to various types of government within a given constituency, being subject to rights and du-ties, in addition to establishing as the main state assignment, the respectful coexistence between each of the individuals that comprise it. The historical celebration of the Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador of 2008, considered as a guarantee, due to the great catalog of rights that it promulgates, introduced precepts such as interculturality and plurinationality, reflected as a reflection of the historical struggle of vulnerable groups. The state’s disrespect for the non-binding nature of prior consultation against Collective Rights will be analyzed in this paper through a qualitative research modality, using scientific methods such as documentary, analytical and inductive bibliographic review. With which it is possible to conclude that the collective rights and the consideration of the results of the prior consultation in a mandatory manner, is not considered by the Ecuado-rian State, showing the urgent need to achieve an effective protection of the aforementioned right, as well as, to integrate the real binding character within the consultative process. © 2023, University of Cienfuegos, Carlos Rafael Rodriguez. All rights reserved.

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Building an Escape Room to Raise Awareness of Bullying and Cyberbullying

2022 , Jadán Guerrero, Janio , Chacón-Castro M. , Illescas L. , Chacón J.

Aggressive conflicts are part of the natural social behavior of students in schools, which can lead to bullying when there is a form of discrimination or abuse of power, either because of their characteristics or their way of life (sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, immigration status, ethnicity, sex, socioeconomic status, health, disability, religious beliefs, pregnancy, among others). In the face-to-face mode, the aggressors could be identified and in some way the conflicts were mediated by teachers or authorities of the institution. However, since education changed to a virtual modality caused by the global coronavirus pandemic, new forms of aggressive behavior have emerged with cyberbullying. In this new scenario teachers, parents and law enforcement should take an active role in raising awareness about bullying and cyberbullying. The main objective of this paper is to describe a proposal based on gamification strategy to prevent and raise awareness of aggressive behaviors among students in a virtual environment. The study focuses on three objectives: a) to study the use of visual methods based on microlearning and the techniques to engage students; b) to identify game scenarios and strategies to design an interactive Escape Room; and c) to evaluate the design and content with three experts in psychology. The results indicate that the Escape Room is a different alternative to understand the problems derived from Bullying and cyberbullying. In the future, we are planning to carry out an intervention with students from Ecuador and Colombia to evaluate the impact. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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PARENTAL AUTHORITY AND PARENTAL CO-RESPONSABILITY: AN AP-PROACH TO THE SHARED TREND IN ECUADOR [Y CORRESPONSABILIDAD PARENTAL: UN ACERCAMIENTO A LA TE-NENCIA COMPARTIDA EN EL ECUADOR]

2022 , Salcedo E.R.R. , Sánchez N.N.C. , Durán J.A.A. , Vinana J.A.M. , Maisa A.S.V.

The rights of boys and girls are anchored to parental responsibility and the legal protection of the State. Taking as a reference the multiple advances and the progression of the law, several countries have adopted shared tenure within their legal systems. Ecuador is characte-rized by having a broadly guaranteeing regulatory framework, however this legal figure has not yet been contemplated, leaving open the debate regarding the existence or not of discrimination. The objective of this article is to present the main arguments tending to justify the need to share parental responsibility as one of the main rights in favor of children. Through the analysis of tenure and parental authority, some criteria found in the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court are being considered to favor vulnerable groups. Methodologically, qualitative research was used, reviewing investigative articles related to the subject, and the regulations that support the debate have been highlighted. Finally, the need to guarantee equal rights for parents is exposed, as well as the application of the principle of proportionality between them. As a conclusion, the lack of assessment and weighting of rights is established, especially when both parents are effective. © 2022, University of Cienfuegos, Carlos Rafael Rodriguez. All rights reserved.

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Morphometric relations of freshwater fishes of the Suaza River (Huila department, Colombia)

2016 , Tobes I. , Miranda R. , Gaspar S. , Peláez-Rodríguez M.

The knowledge of freshwater fishes in remote Andean mountains is scarce and restricted to changes of occurrence distribution along a specific gradient. The high number of endemic fish species requires further studies regarding their biology and their conservation status. The present study aims to estimate the length-weight, length- length, and length-girth relations for nine native freshwater fish species representing five families (Loricariidae, Characidae, Heptapteridae, Crenuchidae, and Parodontidae): Chaetostoma thomsoni Regan, 1904; Lasiancistrus caucanus Eigenmann, 1912; Rineloricaria jubata (Boulenger, 1902); Bryconamericus huilae Román-Valencia, 2003; Gephyrocharax melanocheir Eigenmann, 1912; Pimelodella chagresi (Steindachner, 1876); Rhamdia guatemalensis (Quoy et Gaimard, 1824); Characidium fasciatum Reinhardt, 1867; Parodon suborbitalis Valenciennes, 1850. The fishes were collected in the Suaza River (Huila, Colombia). These are the first length-weight relations reported for all these species, mostly endemic to the Colombian Andes. The report also provides the new maximum size for four species. © 2016, Scientific Society of Szczecin. All rights reserved.

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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.