Las tic como estrategia didáctica dentro del proceso educativo de estudiantes universitarios sordos

El presente artículo muestra cómo las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TIC) son implementadas como estrategias didácticas dentro del proceso educativo de los estudiantes universitarios sordos. Además, se presenta el significado de TIC, didáctica, aprendizaje significativo como enfoque pedagógico, enmarcado dentro de un modelo constructivista. Igualmente se define discapacidad, sordera, y su clasificación. Adicionalmente se presentan algunas reflexiones bibliográficas de experiencias en universidades de Europa y Colombia donde se evidencia la importancia de las TIC en los procesos educativos con estudiantes sordos, resaltando la importancia de la universidad en la educación inclusiva, intentando la democratización del conocimiento. Al finalizar el artículo se concluye la relevancia de las TIC como estrategia didáctica importante en los procesos educativos de los estudiantes universitarios sordos desde el aprendizaje significativo como enfoque pedagógic

Challenges associated with insulin therapy progression among patients with type 2 diabetes: Latin American MOSAIc study baseline data

Background: Poor glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes is commonly recorded worldwide; Latin America (LA) is not an exception. Barriers to intensifying insulin therapy and which barriers are most likely to negatively impact outcomes are not completely known. The objective was to identify barriers to insulin progression in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in LA countries (Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina). Methods: MOSAIc is a multinational, non-interventional, prospective, observational study aiming to identify the patient-, physician-, and healthcare-based factors affecting insulin intensification. Eligible patients were ≥18 years, had T2DM, and were treated with insulin for ≥3 months with/without oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs). Demographic, clinical, and psychosocial data were collected at baseline and regular intervals during the 24-month follow-up period. This paper however, focuses on baseline data analysis. The association between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and selected covariates was assessed. Results: A trend toward a higher level of HbA1c was observed in the LA versus non-LA population (8.40 ± 2.79 versus 8.18 ± 2.28; p ≤ 0.069). Significant differences were observed in clinical parameters, treatment patterns, and patient-reported outcomes in LA compared with the rest of the cohorts and between Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina. Higher number of insulin injections and lower number of OADs were used, whereas a lower level of knowledge and a higher level of diabetes-related distress were reported in LA. Covariates associated with HbA1c levels included age (-0.0129; p < 0.0001), number of OADs (0.0835; p = 0.0264), higher education level (-0.2261; p = 0.0101), healthy diet (-0.0555; p = 0.0083), self-monitoring blood glucose (-0.0512; p = 0.0033), hurried communication style in the process of care (0.1295; p = 0.0208), number of insulin injections (0.1616; p = 0.0088), adherence (-0.1939; p ≤ 0.0104), and not filling insulin prescription due to associated cost (0.2651; p = 0.0198). Conclusion: MOSAIc baseline data showed that insulin intensification in LA is not optimal and identified several conditions that significantly affect attaining appropriate HbA1c values. Tailored public health strategies, including education, should be developed to overcome such barriers.Centro de Endocrinología Experimental y Aplicad

Analysis of the effect of El Niño and La Niña on Tecocomulco Lake, central basin, Mexico

Tecocomulco Lake is a relic of the great basin of the central plateau of Mexico. Its surface area changes in response to both the variation in the inputs from inland areas and the effects of the climatic phenomena of El Niño and La Niña. It is endorreic, with a low rainfall and a low and intermittent fluvial input, a high evaporation, and a considerable influx of sediment due to deforestation and a bad management of the basin. The most important plant species is Schoenoplectus californicus that grows massively in muddy areas, decreasing the depth and reducing the flooded area. The lake is visited by birds from USA and Canada, that arrive to nest and reproduce. During the extremely dry years that coincide with the El Niño, approximately 9% of the dry surface is used by the local inhabitants as cropland, which generates a social problem during the extremely rainy years that coincide with the La Niña when the lake area increases and floods the cultivated land. In the 2001-2002 El Niño, the surface of Tecocomulco Lake decreased by 37% and the depth was 0.75-1 m. This may be associated with a higher temperature, and in consequence a high evaporation, a situation that requires corroboration through future studies

Challenges associated with insulin therapy progression among patients with type 2 diabetes: Latin American MOSAIc study baseline data

Background: Poor glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes is commonly recorded worldwide; Latin America (LA) is not an exception. Barriers to intensifying insulin therapy and which barriers are most likely to negatively impact outcomes are not completely known. The objective was to identify barriers to insulin progression in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in LA countries (Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina). Methods: MOSAIc is a multinational, non-interventional, prospective, observational study aiming to identify the patient-, physician-, and healthcare-based factors affecting insulin intensification. Eligible patients were ≥18 years, had T2DM, and were treated with insulin for ≥3 months with/without oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs). Demographic, clinical, and psychosocial data were collected at baseline and regular intervals during the 24-month follow-up period. This paper however, focuses on baseline data analysis. The association between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and selected covariates was assessed. Results: A trend toward a higher level of HbA1c was observed in the LA versus non-LA population (8.40 ± 2.79 versus 8.18 ± 2.28; p ≤ 0.069). Significant differences were observed in clinical parameters, treatment patterns, and patient-reported outcomes in LA compared with the rest of the cohorts and between Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina. Higher number of insulin injections and lower number of OADs were used, whereas a lower level of knowledge and a higher level of diabetes-related distress were reported in LA. Covariates associated with HbA1c levels included age (-0.0129; p < 0.0001), number of OADs (0.0835; p = 0.0264), higher education level (-0.2261; p = 0.0101), healthy diet (-0.0555; p = 0.0083), self-monitoring blood glucose (-0.0512; p = 0.0033), hurried communication style in the process of care (0.1295; p = 0.0208), number of insulin injections (0.1616; p = 0.0088), adherence (-0.1939; p ≤ 0.0104), and not filling insulin prescription due to associated cost (0.2651; p = 0.0198). Conclusion: MOSAIc baseline data showed that insulin intensification in LA is not optimal and identified several conditions that significantly affect attaining appropriate HbA1c values. Tailored public health strategies, including education, should be developed to overcome such barriers.Centro de Endocrinología Experimental y Aplicad

Adquisición y reconocimiento de imágenes por medio de técnicas de visión e inteligencia artificial

Este proyecto presenta un sistema que permite reconocer diferentes figuras geométricas, que se encuentran en una banda transportadora. Para el posicionamiento de la banda transportadora se utiliza la técnica de lógica difusa. El control de posicionamiento presenta un error aceptable debido a los protocolos de comunicaciones usados. El reconocimiento de imágenes se realiza a través de técnicas de Visión Artificial y Redes Neuronales. El sistema de reconocimiento de imágenes consta de tres etapas: adquisición de imágenes digitales a color, procesamiento de imágenes y extracción de las diferentes características de las imágenes e identificación de la figura geométrica. Este sistema puede diferenciar siete formas geométricas (círculo, cuadrado, triángulo, rectángulo, elipse, rombo, estrella de cinco puntas), doce colores (Rojo, rojo claro, rojo oscuro, azul, azul claro, azul oscuro, azul lila, verde, verde claro, verde oscuro, amarillo, amarillo quemado) y tres tamaños (grande, mediano, pequeño). El tratamiento de las imágenes de las figuras requiere técnicas diversas para la identificación de forma como: métrica y diferencia entre ejes principales. Estas características de las imágenes son usadas en la etapa de identificación de las figuras por medio de las técnicas clásicas de visión artificial y a su vez conforma los vectores de entrada a las redes neuronales. Con los resultados obtenidos se comparan las técnicas de visión artificial y redes neuronales, con el fin de determinar qué herramienta presenta un mejor desempeño en el problema planteado