Influence of Self-Regulated Learning on the Academic Performance of Engineering Students in a Blended-Learning Environment

The pandemic environment experienced for more than two years strongly accelerated the use of technological resources to support learning. Using these resources made it evident that higher education students expecting to succeed academically must master digital strategies. The combination of learning experiences and autonomous work required students to selfregulate their learning well to attain the expected performance levels for competitive work that characterizes the engineering profession. So, we designed an exploratory study to evaluate the effect of self-regulated learning on mechanical design students in a Blended Learning (BL) environment using Flipped Learning/Classroom didactics (FPC). Fifty-one students studying under two different educational-model curricula participated. The research employed a mixed methodology. For the quantitative part, the students’ academic grades and results of the Motivation and Learning Strategies Questionnaire (MSLQ SF) applied in its short Spanish version were employed. A questionnaire for self-study management and a competency observation rubric based on the Marzano & Kendall New Taxonomy were used for the qualitative part. The results showed that the students with the best levels of self-regulated learning in BL and FPC contexts obtained the best results in cognitive, organizational, and motivational resource management strategies. They also improved their disciplinary skills and had a higher academic performance

Plataforma Ubicua para la Gestión de Cuidados Paliativos en Panamá

La atención a los pacientes de cuidados paliativos en Panama es una necesidad primordial tanto para el enfermo como para sus familiares. Solo en el 2014 mas de 2600 pacientes fueron atendidos dentro del programa de cuidados paliativos. Aplicando ingeniería de software en el contexto de la salud electrónica, se ha analizado, modelado, desarrollado e implementado la primera plataforma de cuidados paliativos en la república de Panamá para el beneficio de pacientes en todo el país

Simbología de poder en Guayabo de Turrialba

Inferences are made on the symbolic purpose of the architectonic compounds at the Guayabo de Turrialba National Monument, in regard to rank and sociopolitical power in the prehispanic chiefdom society of the Reventazón watershed (200 B.C.-A.D. 1300). Data analyses are performed on the cultural history, chronology of monumental architecture, size and volume of public works, and estimated requirements of labor and building materials. Se examina el propósito simbólico de los conjuntos arquitectónicos del Monumento Nacional Guayabo de Turrialba, respecto del fenómeno de rango y poder sociopolítico en la antigua sociedad cacical de la cuenca media del Reventazón (200 a.C.-1300 d.C.). Se evalúa la historia cultural; cronología y estructura arquitectónica; volumen de las obras civiles y requerimientos de materiales constructivos y de fuerza de trabajo. 

Diseño de sistema de aislamiento sísmico en la base con dispositivos LRB para un centro hospitalario aporticado según norma en la ciudad de Trujillo 2020

La presente investigación nace por realizar el diseño sísmico con dispositivos LBR según nueva Norma Técnica E.031 de “Aislamiento Sísmico”, aprobado mediante el decreto supremo N° 030-2019 – Vivienda. La investigación tiene como objetivo comparar el comportamiento estructural con y sin aisladores sísmicos de un sistema esencial aporticado. La construcción de Hospitales con aisladores sísmicos es importante en nuestro país ya que protege la estructura de los efectos de movimiento del suelo mediante la separación de la base, siendo un edificio esencial que cuya función no debería ser interrumpida después de un sismo. Por eso se planteó diseñar las propiedades de los dispositivos del sistema de aislamiento LRB cuya metodología consiste en revisión teórica donde se estudió el comportamiento dinámico con base aislada. Se realizó el predimensionamiento y estructuración de los elementos estructurales, se pre diseñaron las propiedades de los dispositivos del sistema de aislamiento, el diseño definitivo de los dispositivos se realizó a través de un análisis dinámico lineal donde se calcularon las máximas repuestas del edificio en términos de derivas, aceleraciones, desplazamientos y fuerzas. Luego se desarrolló el análisis de los elementos estructurales, obteniendo como resultado un daño leve de los elementos estructurales después de un sismo extremo

Efecto a corto plazo de un simbiótico en la viscosidad y la capacidad tampón salival; Un estudio cuasi experimental.

Evaluate the effect of a synbiotic on salivary viscosity and buffer capacity. Materials and Methods: A follow-up one-week study was performed on 24 healthy volunteers in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, during July 2017. Volunteers must have had active tooth decay at the moment of study. All 24 patients were given a Lactiv® probiotic package, advising not to modify usual oral hygiene practices, and were followed up during 6 days. Primary output variable was salivary viscosity while the secondary was salivary buffer capacity. Salivary viscosity was assessed by using an Ostwald Pipette and buffer capacity with bromocresol purple. Results: A total of 8 male patients (33.3%) and 16 females (66.6%) patients were included, with an average age of 10.92 years. All the volunteers completed the study. Comparisons between pre- and post-treatment showed a decrease in salivary viscosity, while buffer capacity was showed to increase. Conclusion: The use of a synbiotic during a short period of time lowered the viscosity of saliva and increased salivary buffer capacity. valuar el efecto de un sinbiótico sobre la viscosidad salival y la capacidad de tampón de la saliva. Materiales and Métodos: Se realizó un estudio de seguimiento de una semana en 24 voluntarios sanos en San Luis Potosí, México, durante julio de 2017. Los voluntarios cursaban caries dental activa en el momento del estudio. Los 24 pacientes recibieron un paquete de probióticos Lactiv®, fueron aconsejados a no modificar las prácticas habituales de higiene oral, y fueron seguidos durante 6 días. La variable primaria fue la viscosidad salival mientras que la secundaria fue la capacidad tampón. La viscosidad salival se evaluó usando una pipeta Ostwald y capacidad tampón con bromocresol púrpura. Resultados: Se incluyeron un total de 8 pacientes varones (33,3%) y 16 mujeres (66,6%), con una edad promedio de 10,92 años. Todos los voluntarios completaron el estudio. Las comparaciones entre el pretratamiento y el postratamiento mostraron una disminución de la viscosidad salival, mientras que se demostró que la capacidad del tampón aumentó. Conclusión: El uso de un sinbiótico durante un corto período de tiempo mostró un efecto sobre la disminución de la viscosidad y el aumento de la capacidad del tampón salival

Validation of models with constant bias: an applied approach

Objective. This paper presents extensions to the statistical validation method based on the procedure of Freese when a model shows constant bias (CB) in its predictions and illustrate the method with data from a new mechanistic model that predict weight gain in cattle. Materials and methods. The extensions were the hypothesis tests and maximum anticipated error for the alternative approach, and the confidence interval for a quantile of the distribution of errors. Results. The model evaluated showed CB, once the CB is removed and with a confidence level of 95%, the magnitude of the error does not exceed 0.575 kg. Therefore, the validated model can be used to predict the daily weight gain of cattle, although it will require an adjustment in its structure based on the presence of CB to increase the accuracy of its forecasts. Conclusions. The confidence interval for the 1-α quantile of the distribution of errors after correcting the constant bias, allows determining the top limit for the magnitude of the error of prediction and use it to evaluate the evolution of the model in the forecasting of the system. The confidence interval approach to validate a model is more informative than the hypothesis tests for the same purpose

Developing a long short-term memory-based model for forecasting the daily energy consumption of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in buildings

Forecasting the energy consumption of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems is important for the energy efficiency and sustainability of buildings. In fact, conventional models present limitations in these systems due to their complexity and unpredictability. To overcome this, the long short-term memory-based model is employed in this work. Our objective is to develop and evaluate a model to forecast the daily energy consumption of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems in buildings. For this purpose, we apply a comprehensive methodology that allows us to obtain a robust, generalizable, and reliable model by tuning different parameters. The results show that the proposed model achieves a significant improvement in the coefficient of variation of root mean square error of 9.5% compared to that proposed by international agencies. We conclude that these results provide an encouraging outlook for its implementation as an intelligent service for decision making, capable of overcoming the problems of other noise-sensitive models affected by data variations and disturbances without the need for expert knowledge in the domain.Se buscó pronosticar el consumo de energía de los sistemas de calefacción Heating, ventilating y aire acondicionado (HVAC) para la eficiencia energética de los edificios. En este estudio, se desarrolla un modelo de red neuronal artificial (RNA) recurrente del tipo Long short-term memory (LSTM) destinada a pronosticar el consumo de energía de un sistema HVAC en los edificios, en concreto una bomba de calor del Teatro Real de España. El trabajo comparó diferentes configuraciones del modelo con respecto a los datos reales proporcionados por el BMS del edificio y se identificó los hiperparámetros adecuados para el LSTM. El objetivo fue desarrollar y evaluar el modelo para pronosticar el consumo diario de energía de los sistemas HVAC, lográndose una predicción del uso de la energía según los criterios indicados por las directrices de American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers ASHRAE, The International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol IPMVP y The Federal Energy Management Program organismos que validan un modelo HVAC. La contribución del solicitante se centró en el diseño del LSTM, y en la validación de las pruebas con los datos experimentales, así como en el análisis de los resultados obtenidos

Ubiquitous and ambient-assisted living eHealth platforms for Down’s syndrome and palliative care in the Republic of Panama: A systematic review

In this work, the authors present two eHealth platforms that are examples of how health systems are migrating from client-server architecture to the web-based and ubiquitous paradigm. These two platforms were modeled, designed, developed and implemented with positive results. First, using ambient-assisted living and ubiquitous computing, the authors enhance how palliative care is being provided to the elderly patients and patients with terminal illness, making the work of doctors, nurses and other health actors easier. Second, applying machine learning methods and a data-centered, ubiquitous, patient’s results’ repository, the authors intent to improve the Down’s syndrome risk estimation process with more accurate predictions based on local woman patients’ parameters. These two eHealth platforms can improve the quality of life, not only physically but also psychologically, of the patients and their families in the country of Panama.In this work, the authors present two eHealth platforms that are examples of how health systems are migrating from client-server architecture to the web-based and ubiquitous paradigm. These two platforms were modeled, designed, developed and implemented with positive results. First, using ambient-assisted living and ubiquitous computing, the authors enhance how palliative care is being provided to the elderly patients and patients with terminal illness, making the work of doctors, nurses and other health actors easier. Second, applying machine learning methods and a data-centered, ubiquitous, patient’s results’ repository, the authors intent to improve the Down’s syndrome risk estimation process with more accurate predictions based on local woman patients’ parameters. These two eHealth platforms can improve the quality of life, not only physically but also psychologically, of the patients and their families in the country of Panama

Economic and Productive Impact of the Implementation and Use of Agricultural Irrigation in the State of Tabasco, Mexico

O Objective: Three support programs for agricultural irrigation in 8 municipalities in the State of Tabasco were evaluated for a total area of 972.4 ha with 7 crops per municipality. One production cycle was used for the evaluation of the irrigation units in the State of Tabasco. Design/methodology/approach: The software "System for the Evaluation of Irrigation Units" SISEVUR 3.0 was used for the integration and evaluation of a) general operation of infrastructure; b) producer satisfaction with the infrastructure; c) aspects of improvement in the quantity and quality of production; d) benefits of irrigation on agricultural production and suggestions and opinions of producers regarding hydro-agricultural programs e). The economic/financial evaluation. Results: The crops that responded best to the application of irrigation were: 1) forage corn, with an increase in production of 140.7%; 2) lemon with 97.98%; 3. banana with 58.6%, and 4 sugar cane with 41%. Limitations on study/implications: Data collection required several visits to the producer to improve the collection of reliable data. However, there is a margin of error that could not be quantified due to the particularities of the producers and the work. Findings/conclusions: Bananas and citrus improved production quality and product maintenance throughout the year, favoring supply and demand commitments in the domestic and international markets

Adaptable Data Warehouse Based on the Research Factor of the NAC Institutional Accreditation Model

One of the main challenges of higher education institutions is continuously improving educational quality. In Colombia, the National Accreditation Council is in charge of evaluating if an institution provides high-quality education. One of the stages in obtaining recognition of high quality requires submitting a self-assessment report with quantitative data by the institution. This stage is very demanding for the institutions because it requires handling data extracted from various sources. Data warehouses are an alternative solution since they allow information from various sources to be centralized and support decision-making. This article proposes dimensional models adaptable to the availability of information sources for institutions and focuses on investigative processes. The research methodology used is the Iterative Research Pattern, where the problem was observed through the review of related studies and self-assessment reports submitted to the National Accreditation Council by public institutions. Subsequently, the requirements of the model were created and validated by a group of experts in institutional quality accreditation. Then, the solution was developed, and six adaptable dimensional research models were proposed using the MiPymes methodology, which is validated through a focus group of experts in dimensional modeling of data warehouses that considered the degree of adaptability of the models is 100% to the identified requirements