The determinants of subjective wellbeing in a developing country: The Ecuadorian case

Ecuador is a country characterized by deep social and territorial inequalities. In order to overcome this issue the national government setup in 2008 the National Plan of Wellbeing, a master plan whose objective is to put at the centre of the political action the wellbeing of the human being. This study aims to analyze the individual and contextual determinants of subjective wellbeing in Ecuador by examining a set of variables linked to the specific social and territorial characteristics of the country and to its main policy priorities. The assessment is based on econometric techniques able to account for the nested structure of the data, namely ordinary least squares and ordered logit with clustered standard errors and multilevel ordered logit. The results are robust and show that institutional trust, income, good housing conditions and education fosters wellbeing. On the other hand, being a woman, belonging to an ethnic minority or living in an oil dependent area is negatively correlated to subjective wellbeing. The policy implications range from an improvement of the institutional framework and redistributive system to better inclusion policies.JRC.B.3-Territorial Developmen

Theranostic: a new tecnique againts cancer

Theranostic, has positioned itself as a promising technique to fight cancer, especially when using radioactive isotopes, where it has demonstrated good efficiency in human cancer treatment and in the animal phase study. The technique basically consists in using a chemical element with several radioactive isotopes. One diagnostic (gamma or β+ emitter) and another isotope of the same therapeutic element (alpha, β+, β- or Auger electrons). These isotopes must be linked to a vector molecule expressed by the tumor cells of the corresponding type of cancer. Radioisotopes can also be encapsulated in nanoparticles

Experiencias de docentes chilenos profesionalizados de la carrera de odontología. Un estudio cualitativo.

Introduction:The active learning process is certainly one of the most complex challenges in dental education. It is essential for the development of critical thinking and clinical skills. There is evidence of the need for teacher professionalization, but there is scarce literature reporting on the positive changes in the teaching profession based on such professionalization. The aim of the present study is to explore the experiences of the pedagogical performance of professionalized educators in dentistry. Material and Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using a design based on content analysis. The sample was selected for convenience and included dentists who have completed a master's degree in teaching in higher education, who were part of the teaching staff of a dental university program and with a career experience of at least 5 years. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, with three initial dimensions: Teaching Career, Motivation for Teacher Professionalization, and Impact on the teaching-learning process. The interviews were verbatim transcribed and content analysis was performed by the researchers using data triangulation. The research was approved by the research and ethics committee. Results: Six categories were established: Generational clash, Motivations to practice teaching, Motivations to professionalize teaching, Competences acquired after professionalization, Effects of professionalization in the classroom context, and Shortcomings of the professionalized educator. Conclusion: Professionalized dental educators show comprehensive improvements in their performance. They have developed practical competences for the specific needs of the courses they give.Introducción: El proceso activo de aprendizaje es sin duda uno de los desafíos de mayor complejidad en la educación dental, el cual resulta imprescindible para el desarrollo del pensamiento crítico y habilidades clínicas. Existe evidencia de la necesidad de profesionalización docente, pero escasa literatura en odontología que exprese los cambios positivos desde el quehacer docente a partir de dicha profesionalización. El presente estudio tiene el objetivo de explorar las experiencias del quehacer pedagógico a los docentes profesionalizados de la carrera de Odontología Material y Métodos: Estudio cualitativo con un diseño basado en el análisis de contenido. La muestra fue seleccionada por conveniencia, buscando seleccionar cirujano-dentistas que hayan cursado un magíster en docencia para la educación superior, que sean parte del plantel docente de la carrera de odontología y que posean trayectoria de al menos 5 años. Se realizaron entrevistas semi-estructuradas, con tres dimensiones iniciales: Trayectoria Docente, Motivación de Profesionalización Docente e impacto en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje. Las entrevistas se transcribieron verbatim y se realizó análisis de contenido, realizando triangulación entre los investigadores. La investigación contó con la aprobación del comité de ética e investigación. Resultados: Se generaron 6 categorías: Choque generacional, Motivaciones para ejercer la docencia, Motivaciones para profesionalizar la docencia, Competencias adquiridas tras la profesionalización, Efectos de la profesionalización en el contexto de aula y Falencias como docente profesionalizado. Conclusion: Los docentes profesionalizados de odontología evidencian mejoras integrales en sus quehaceres; desarrolladas de forma específica para la singularidad de cada curso

Las organizaciones de Economía Popular y Solidaria y el Estado: una relación que asegura la sostenibilidad: estudio del Centro Comunitario Floreana Provincia de Galápagos

The main interest of this investigation is to analyze the relationship between the popular and solidarity economy organizations and the State, with the aim to set up the factors that interfere in the daily actions and determine its sustainability. The central theme turns around the organizations of the real sector, the state intervention in their actions and the caused effects, emphasizing the strategies developed by them to look forward in defense of their membership. Semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and participant observation were applied to the members of the organization; In addition, a through bibliographic review was taken. As a result, it was established that the organization opted for organizational strategies in order to rise its objectives. This investigation is shown as an input for the deployment of public policies, since the decision makers have as their mission to ensure the sustainability of the popular and solidarity economy organizations.El interés de este estudio es analizar la relación de las organizaciones de economía popular y solidaria con el Estado bajo la pretensión de establecer los factores que interfieren en el accionar cotidiano y que determinan su sostenibilidad. El tema central gira alrededor de las organizaciones del sector real, la intervención estatal en su accionar y los efectos causados, enfatizando en las estratégicas desarrolladas por éstas para continuar en defensa de su pertenencia. Se aplicaron entrevistas semiestructuradas, grupos focales, observación participante a los integrantes de la organización; además se tomó mano de una profunda revisión bibliográfica. Como resultado se estableció que la organización optó por estrategias organizativas para adaptar la consecución de sus objetivos. Este estudio se muestra como insumo para la implementación de las políticas públicas, dado que los tomadores de decisiones tienen como misión asegurar la sostenibilidad de las organizaciones de la EPS

Bubble and Dew Point Calculations in Multicomponent and Multireactive Mixtures

Bubble and dew point calculations are useful in chemical engineering and play an important role in the study of separation equipments for non-reactive and reactive mixtures. To the best of the authors’s knowledge, few methods have been proposed for these calculations in systems with several chemical reactions. The objective of this paper is to introduce new conditions for performing bubble and dew point calculations in reactive mixtures. We have developed these conditions based on the application of transformed variables of Ung and Doherty (1995). Using these transformed variables, the solution space is restricted to compositions that are already at chemical equilibrium and by consequence the problem dimension is also reduced. The reliability and efficiency of three equation-solving methods are tested and compared using our equilibrium conditions: a) a simultaneous equation-solving approach using Newton method (SESN), b) an equation-decoupling approach using successive substitution method (EDSS) and c) an optimization approach using the stochastic optimization method Simulated Annealing(OSA). Our results indicated that even for simple reactive systems, bubble and dew point calculations are challenging for classical equation-solving methods and require robust strategies. We conclude that OSA and EDSS methods are reliable to locate bubble and dew points in reactive systems. EDSS is more efficient than OSA; however, OSA does not need initial guesses and is more suitable for difficult problems

Evaluación de la distribución de compuestos fenólicos en las fases del alperujo: aporte a su manejo

La finalidad de la presente publicación es transferir al sector agrícola y agroindustrial los resultados de los estudios llevados a cabo por nuestro equipo de investigación en la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias de la UNCA y que fueran presentados en eventos científicos y evaluados por expertos en la temática.Fil: Gomez, Patricia. Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Segovia, Adrian Federico. Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Lorenzo, María Emilia. Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Ribotta, Pablo Daniel. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Secretaría de Ciencia y Tecnología. Instituto Superior de Investigación, Desarrollo y Servicio de Alimentos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Bravo, Maria. Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Burgos, Antonella. Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentin

Derivación de valores económicos de la producción de leche de bovinos en la parroquia Mulaló utilizando funciones de beneficio.

Due to lack of a genetic improvement plan for bovines Ecuador, the poor farmers management and low knowledge in their farms, milk production is inefficient, therefore, a descriptive research has been conducted in order to determine the economic values of bovine milk production on Cotopaxi province, Latacunga city - Mulaló parish, which is set to be genetic baseline of improvement project. The research included 235 bovines from 34 producers to whom the project was socialized to strengthen and discuss key points to be developed, and data collection was applied to the owners through surveys of each cattle. As a result, 132 cattle are producing cows (56.2%), female sex (95.3%), Holstein predominates the parish (79.3%), daily weight gain (800 g/day), negative to California mastitis test (84.6%), most purchased feed green banana (30%), balanced with (26%); milk costs range from 0.38 to 0.43 cents at the parish. At the end of data collection, selection of criteria were determined by the gain weight, density and open days. This research is the basis for genetic selection of criteria associated to cattle production systems and selecting the best cattle for genetic improvement.Por la falta de un plan de mejoramiento genético en bovinos en Ecuador, la mala administración de los ganaderos y el desconocimiento en sus predios, la producción de leche es ineficiente, por lo tanto, se realizó una investigación descriptiva para determinar los valores económicos de una producción lechera bovina en la provincia de Cotopaxi, en la ciudad de Latacunga, en la parroquia de Mulaló, la cual será la línea base del proyecto de mejora genética. En la investigación se incluyeron a 235 bovinos, de 34 productores a quienes se socializó el proyecto para afianzar y discutir puntos claves a desarrollar, se aplicó la toma de datos a los propietarios mediante encuestas de cada una de sus cabezas de ganado. Dando como resultado, 132 bovinos son vacas productoras (56,2%), sexo hembra (95,3%), Holstein predomina la parroquia (79,3%), ganancia de peso diario (800 g/día), negativos al california mastitis test (84,6%), alimento más comprado plátano verde (30%), balanceado con un (26%), los costos de la leche van de 0,38 a 0,43 ctvs dentro de la parroquia. Al finalizar la recolección de datos se determinó los criterios de selección siendo, ganancia de peso, densidad y días abiertos. Esta investigación es la base para la toma de criterios de selección genética, asociada a la economía de los sistemas de producción del ganado bovino y seleccionar los mejores bovinos para el mejoramiento genético

Gibbs Energy Minimization Using Simulated Annealing for Two-phase Equilibrium Calculations in Reactive Systems

Phase equilibrium calculations in systems subject to chemical reactions are involved in the design, synthesis and optimization of reactive separation processes. Until now, several methods have been developed to perform simultaneously physical and chemical equilibrium calculations. However, published methods may face numerical difficulties such as variable initialization dependence, divergence and convergence to trivial solutions or unstable equilibrium states. Besides, these methods generally use conventional composition variables and reactions extents as unknowns which directly affect the numerical implementation, reliability and efficiency of solving strategies. The objective of this work is to introduce and test an alternative approach to perform Gibbs energy minimization in phase equilibrium problems for reactive systems. Specifically, we have employed the transformed composition variables of Ung and Doherty and the stochastic optimization method Simulated Annealing for two-phase equilibrium calculations in reacting systems. Performance of this strategy has been tested using several benchmark problems and results show that proposed approach is generally suitable for the global minimization of transformed Gibbs energy in reactive systems with two-phase equilibrium