Now showing 1 - 10 of 84
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3D Object Reconstruction Using Concatenated Matrices with MS Kinect: A Contribution to Interiors Architecture

2020 , Buele, Jorge , Varela Aldas, José , Castellanos E.X. , Jadán Guerrero, Janio , Barberán J.

Interior architecture is part of the individual, social and business life of the human being; it allows structuring the spaces to inhabit, study or work. This document presents the design and implementation of a system that allows the three-dimensional reconstruction of objects with a reduced economic investment. The image acquisition process and treatment of the information with mathematical support that it entails are described. The system involves an MS Kinect as a tool to create a radar that operates with the structured light principle to capture objects at a distance of less than 2 meters. The development of the scripts is done in the MATLAB software and in the same way the graphical interface that is presented to the user. As part of the initial tests of this prototype, the digitization of geometric shape structures has been performed with an accuracy of over 98%. This validates its efficient operation, which serves as the basis for the development of modeling in interior architecture for future work. © 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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Impact of different types of rennet on sustainability and safety in cheese production

2024 , Buele, Jorge , Michael Villafuerte , Steven Paucar , Lara Calle, Andrés

Cheese production, an ancient technique that has endured through the centuries, has evolved to incorporate a variety of coagulants, each with specific characteristics and applications. However, the industry now faces a sustainabilityrelated challenge: the need to find ethical and efficient alternatives to calf rennet, as its use raises significant environmental concerns, as well as ethical and occupational health issues due to exposure to contaminants in the production environment. This study explores how different types of rennets (animal, vegetable, microbial, and recombinant) can contribute to a more sustainable, productive, and safer cheese production, adapting to the growing market demands for environmentally respectful practices. Through a methodology that included a literature review, the characteristics of these rennets and their effect on the organoleptic, microbiological, and productivity aspects of cheese production were identified and compared. The results indicated that, although calf rennet remains preferred for its coagulating properties, vegetable and microbial alternatives are gaining ground due to their adaptability, efficiency, and lower environmental impact. This diversification of rennet sources not only meets ethical, commercial, and food security demands but also affects the income of small producers by enabling more sustainable practices. However, more empirical research is needed to optimize these processes across different production contexts and enhance both productivity and sustainability.

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Robotics in higher education and its impact on digital learning

2025 , Zamora Lascano, Patrick , Lozada, Alan , Buele, Jorge , Avilés-Castillo, Fátima

In recent years, robotics has transformed various industrial processes but has also influenced teaching methodologies. Although there are literature reviews on its application in professional training, many are outdated or lack a current focus on its impact in higher education. Addressing this gap, the present mini review examines the impact, challenges, and opportunities of this technology in the university setting. To this end, a search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, APA PsycNet, and Web of Science databases, selecting 11 studies that addressed diverse applications of robotics, including educational robotics, robotic telepresence, human-robot interaction, and artificial intelligence applications. Their effects on teaching, the factors influencing their adoption, and the strategies used to optimize their implementation were analyzed. The findings show that educational robotics enhances student motivation and engagement, with prediction models reaching an accuracy of 98.78% in assessing academic engagement. Additionally, robotic telepresence emerges as an effective alternative for hybrid education, and social robots and AI-based tutors demonstrated their potential to personalize learning. However, methodological and structural challenges persist, such as the need to develop more accurate evaluation metrics and ensure accessibility and educational equity. Future research should focus on improving these aspects, enabling more efficient integration to enhance teaching processes. This study was registered in the Open Science Framework under the code: 10.17605/OSF.IO/KHDTU.

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Prototype of a Low Cost Turbine for the Generation of Clean Energy in the Ecuadorian Amazon

2020 , Guáitara B. , Buele, Jorge , Salazar F.W. , Varela Aldas, José

Access to electricity supply in remote areas is limited, despite having wealth of other natural resources such as water. This document presents the design and construction of a scale electric generation system, taking advantage of the hydraulic energy produced by a constant flow of water flow. For this, the turbine design is described, which is based on the principles of Francis and Kaplan. In addition, the structural design made in CAD/CAM software and the actual implementation of the system are shown. To determine the generated electric potential, the electromagnetic analysis is performed based on the Maxwell-Faraday equation and the respective calculations. The validation of this proposal is determined by conducting experimental tests with balanced, unbalanced, series and parallel coils and with their implementation in a home. © 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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Exploring the Landscape of Data Analysis: A Review of Its Application and Impact in Ecuador

2023 , Ayala-Chauvin, Manuel Ignacio , Avilés-Castillo F. , Buele, Jorge

Latin America has shown increased big data adoption since 2012; Ecuador is now entering this transformative field. Science and engineering in Ecuador have benefited most from data analysis, with untapped potential in health and services sectors. Big data is shaping sectors in Ecuador, including disaster prediction, agriculture, smart city development, and electoral data analysis. Despite public sector inefficiencies, residential ICT adoption provides opportunities for Ecuador’s smart city advancements. Despite some data underutilization, big data’s transformative potential is evident in Ecuador’s healthcare and education advancements. Highlights: Data analysis is increasingly critical in aiding decision-making within public and private institutions. This paper scrutinizes the status quo of big data and data analysis and its applications within Ecuador, focusing on its societal, educational, and industrial impact. A detailed literature review was conducted from academic databases such as SpringerLink, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, Web of Science, and ACM, incorporating research from inception until May 2023. The search process adhered to the PRISMA statement, employing specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. The analysis revealed that data implementation in Ecuador, while recent, has found noteworthy applications in six principal areas, classified using ISCED: education, science, engineering, health, social, and services. In the scientific and engineering sectors, big data has notably contributed to disaster mitigation and optimizing resource allocation in smart cities. Its application in the social sector has fortified cybersecurity and election data integrity, while in services, it has enhanced residential ICT adoption and urban planning. Health sector applications are emerging, particularly in disease prediction and patient monitoring. Educational applications predominantly involve student performance analysis and curricular evaluation. This review emphasizes that while big data’s potential is being gradually realized in Ecuador, further research, data security measures, and institutional interoperability are required to fully leverage its benefits. © 2023 by the authors.

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Contemporary Strategies and Trends in Nursing Care for Women with Breast Cancer

2025 , Soto Ayala, Monica , Taruchaín Pozo, Fernando , Aguayza Mendieta, Carlos , Villavicencio Soledispa, José , Buele, Jorge

HER2-positive breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of this disease, presents significant therapeutic challenges due to its complexity and high recurrence. Subcutaneous therapies, such as trastuzumab and pertuzumab, have improved treatment efficacy and patient quality of life, but pose challenges for nursing professionals in patient education, prevention of complications, and use of remote monitoring technologies. This study reviewed literature from 2015 to 2024 in databases such as PubMed, Scopus, APA PsycNet, Scielo, and Web of Science to analyze advances in the management of subcutaneous therapies and nursing care. The findings confirm that subcutaneous administration of trastuzumab and pertuzumab is safe and well tolerated, reducing complications compared to traditional methods, especially when using devices such as PICC catheters and subcutaneous ports. The integration of telemedicine and remote monitoring allowed for improved adherence, minimized complications, and optimized resources. Furthermore, ongoing training of nursing staff was identified as essential for effective management of devices and fostering patient autonomy. This review underlines the importance of integrating technologies and education into public health policies to address emerging issues in breast cancer management, especially in vulnerable populations with limited access to services. This review was registered in the Open Science Framework (OSF). (Registration number: DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/KWPC9)

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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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Ethical and Social Challenges in Virtual Reality: A Bibliometric Analysis

2024 , Buele, Jorge , Homero J. Velastegui , Avilés-Castillo, Fátima , Hugo Paz-León , Guillermo Palacios-Navarro

Virtual reality has revolutionized human interaction with digital environments, creating immersive simulations that have significantly impacted sectors such as education, urban planning, and mental health. Along with its transformative potential, VR presents ethical and societal challenges. This study analyzes trends in research addressing these challenges, focusing on articles published through 2023 in the Web of Science database. Visual and statistical analyses reveal a sustained increase in publications since 2013. Patterns in authorship and collaboration networks emphasize the global and interdisciplinary nature of VR research. Dominant themes include the metaverse and therapeutic applications, as well as concerns about data privacy, virtual identity representation, and psychological effects such as cybersickness. Research highlights temporary symptoms such as nausea and eye strain associated with immersive systems, demonstrating the need for ergonomic design and age-specific usage guidelines. Furthermore, active video games using VR have shown promise in promoting physical activity, offering innovative solutions to combat sedentary lifestyles. Looking ahead, efforts must prioritize equitable access, user safety, and robust ethical frameworks to ensure the responsible and sustainable integration of VR technologies.

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Impact of Educational Technology on Enhancing Children’s Competencies in Mobile Classrooms

2025 , Mantilla, Mónica , Núñez Hernández, Corina , Buele, Jorge

Technology can be used as an effective strategy to enhance cognitive, motor, and linguistic skills in children of all ages. However, its implementation in itinerant contexts, where resources and infrastructure are limited, poses a challenge. This study addressed this issue by evaluating the effectiveness of an educational intervention based on educational technology in itinerant classrooms. A quasi-experimental design was conducted with 128 children, using a pre-test and post-test to measure the impact on 17 competencies, such as visuomotor coordination, visual memory, and attention. The 17 competencies were evaluated using standardized tools designed to measure aspects such as visuomotor coordination, visual memory, attention, motor skills, visual perception, and linguistic abilities. The evaluation results were used to identify difficulties and the need for pedagogical support, enabling detailed tracking of each child’s development. Over the course of 8 weeks, five digital educational tools, such as Mundo Primaria and Minecraft, were used and adapted to be appropriate for the children’s ages and needs. The results showed significant improvements in all the competencies evaluated, indicating that technology can serve as a catalyst for children’s cognitive abilities even in unconventional environments. Itinerant classrooms benefited from the flexibility and adaptability of technological resources, enabling them to overcome the typical physical and logistical limitations of these contexts. The integration of educational technology in early childhood education is highly effective and can offer a viable solution to improve the learning outcomes of primary school students.

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Implementation of an electro-optical sensor in the twin otter fae plane for the strengthening of the strategic surveillance capacity [Implementación de un sensor electro-óptico en el avión twin otter fae para el fortalecimiento de la capacidad estratégica de vigilancia]

2020 , León G. , Enríquez V. , Salazar F.W. , Guallo J.F. , Urrutia F. , Buele, Jorge

In this research work, a feasibility study is presented in order to install an electro-optical sensor on the Twin Otter DHC-6 aircraft of the Ecuadorian Air Force, to strengthen the strategic capacity of surveillance, reconnaissance and intelligence. The study took into consideration the limitations and restrictions inherent to the aircraft, which is why it was decided to make a temporary, non-invasive and easy to assemble installation. For the study of affectation, the aerodynamic, structural analysis, loads, weight and balance were considered. Mechanical components and a fairing have been designed in composite materials, so that the sensor attachment is safe and has an aerodynamic surface that reduces the drag coefficient generated. To validate this prototype, a comparison of the aircraft in its normal state with respect to the adhesion of this device is made through tests and simulations. © 2020, Associacao Iberica de Sistemas e Tecnologias de Informacao. All rights reserved.