Torres Rodriguez, Ariel Antonio

Preferred name
Torres Rodriguez, Ariel Antonio
Main Affiliation
Quito

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    Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Prisons of Latin America and the Caribbean: A Critical Reflection on Structural Challenges and Gaps
    (2026)
    Torres Rodriguez, Ariel Antonio  
    ;
    Sánchez Redrobán, José  
    ;
    Trujillo Lopez, Gisselle  
    Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) represents a major public health threat, particularly in the prisons of Latin America and the Caribbean, where rates are up to 40 times higher than those observed in the general population. These facilities act as community amplifiers due to overcrowding, poor ventilation, diagnostic delays, and treatment discontinuity. This study offers a critical reflection on the magnitude, determinants, and implications of DR-TB in regional penitentiary contexts. A reflective analytical review was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SciELO, and LILACS, complemented by WHO and PAHO reports, prioritising studies from 2019 to 2024. The findings reveal MDR-TB and pre-extensively drug-resistant (pre-XDR) outbreaks in Peru, Paraguay, and the Dominican Republic, as well as community transmission linked to prisons in Brazil and Colombia. Persistent gaps remain in systematic screening, drug susceptibility testing coverage, and post-release follow-up. Scientific production continues to be uneven and predominantly biomedical, with limited consideration of social and human rights determinants. DR-TB in prisons reflects the structural deficiencies of health and justice systems; its control requires intersectoral policies, genomic surveillance, and strategies that ensure early diagnosis, treatment continuity, and dignified detention conditions. © 2026 by the authors.
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    Altmetrics in the evaluation of scholarly impact: a systematic and critical literature review
    (2025)
    Paloma González
    ;
    Martha Fors
    ;
    Torres Rodriguez, Ariel Antonio  
    Altmetrics have emerged as a complementary tool to traditional citation-based metrics in the assessment of scholarly impact. Unlike traditional metrics that primarily capture academic citations over long periods, altmetrics reflect immediate online attention across platforms such as Twitter, blogs, news outlets, and Mendeley. This article critically examines whether altmetrics can serve as a substitute for traditional metrics by exploring their strengths, limitations, disciplinary variations, and correlation with conventional indicators. Through a review of recent empirical studies and theoretical debates, the article argues that while altmetrics offer valuable insights into social impact and engagement, they are not yet mature or standardized enough to fully replace traditional metrics. Instead, a hybrid model that integrates both systems may offer a more holistic and inclusive measure of research influence.
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    Integration of Information Technologies for Smart and Sustainable Management of Personal Protective Equipment Warehouses
    (2026)
    Álvarez Sánchez, Ana  
    ;
    Suárez del Villar, Alexis  
    ;
    Torres Rodriguez, Ariel Antonio  
    The management of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) warehouses in sectors such as mining is crucial to ensuring safety and operational efficiency, although challenges persist in developing countries such as Ecuador due to a lack of automation and manual processes. This study aimed to analyze the impact of digitization through technologies such as barcode readers and inventory software on PPE logistics management in an Ecuadorian mining company. A mixed approach was used, combining qualitative and quantitative methods, with a descriptive cross-sectional design, collecting data through interviews, observation, and documentary records, and evaluating inventory accuracy, traceability, and automation before and after the intervention. The results showed an increase in inventory accuracy from 82% to 98.7% and traceability improved to nearly 95%, in addition to a 40% reduction in delivery and replenishment times and 15% operational savings (This percentage corresponds mainly to the reduction in costs associated with labor and logistics resources, not including the initial costs of implementing the software). Acceptance of the new system was high, with ratings above 4.5 for ease of use and error reduction. The main conclusion is that digitization in PPE warehouse management significantly optimizes logistics efficiency, improves traceability, and reduces occupational risks, demonstrating its viability and benefits in the Ecuadorian context. These findings support technological modernization in similar sectors and lay the groundwork for future research that delves deeper into indicators such as service quality, staff satisfaction, and budget efficiency, thereby contributing to strengthening occupational safety and operational sustainability in critical industries. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.
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    Face-to-face versus virtual education in biostatistics: a comparative study among medical students in Ecuador during the COVID-19 pandemic
    (2026)
    Paloma González
    ;
    Martha Fors
    ;
    Torres Rodriguez, Ariel Antonio  
    Introduction: The abrupt shift from face-to-face to virtual teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic challenged universities worldwide. In this study, we examine how this transition affected learning outcomes and student experiences in a biostatistics course for medical students at the Universidad de Las Américas in Quito, Ecuador. Methods: We surveyed 57 students (34 face-to-face in 2019, 23 virtual in 2020–21) to explore perceptions of learning facilitation, teacher and peer interaction, and self-regulated learning. Additionally, we compared academic performance across modalities using statistical analysis. Results: We found that students taught in person reported significantly higher levels of instructor contact and peer collaboration (p ≤ 0.05), while no statistically significant difference emerged in final grades between modalities (face-to-face mean = 8.89 ± 0.89; virtual mean = 9.01 ± 0.56; p = 0.967). Conclusion: These findings suggest that although virtual instruction can achieve comparable academic outcomes, the student experience differs markedly and may favor in-person formats for interaction and collaboration. For medical education contexts, our results highlight the value of integrating robust instructional design and peer collaboration in online environments. Future research should adopt longitudinal designs and explore mixed-mode (blended) strategies to harness the strengths of both modalities. Copyright © 2026 González, Fors and Torres.
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