“The Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions, LACCEI”, is a non-profit organization consisting of institutions that offer academic programs in Engineering and Technology with the goal of collaborating with other LACCEI partners. The word “institution” includes universities, colleges and schools.
Massive Open Online Course in Electrical Microgrids Cybersecurity, State Estimation and Optimization utilizing Open Science Datasets
Smart Grids represent one of the most important sustainable electrical power systems. Microgrids are vital components of the smart grid, supplying energy to different types of customers in both stand alone or grid connected modes. Therefore, the study of microgrids is of extreme relevance. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have become a useful alternative for millions of students and professionals that wish to learn about a specific topic. In this scenario the design of a MOOC to study aspects of a microgrid such as Cybersecurity, State Estimation and Optimization represents a step towards the modernization of the education associated with electrical systems. This paper describes the main aspects in the design process of a MOOC in Cybersecurity, State Estimation and Optimization for Electrical Microgrids. The process of design has been supported by the eFellows program administered by the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and funded by the US National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions (LACCEI). The MOOC includes practical online laboratories using engineering software, such as MATLAB, Python and Google Colaboratory, utilizing real datasets for solar radiation, electrical demand, voltage, current, among other variables. The real datasets, provided by the Ministry of Mines and Energy of the Dominican Republic, have been placed in Open Science Framework’s repository, granting free access to other researchers, professors and students.
MOOC, microgrids, cybersecurity, state estimation, optimization, online laboratories, open science
Technological Surveillance on Social Insertion Strategies Aimed at the Female Prison Population
This article presents the application of technological intelligence tools such as technological surveillance TS, to analyze existing social insertion strategies in the female prison population. The purpose is to offer interested parties a bibliometric analysis through the biblioshiny interface, as a tool for quantitative research in scientometric and bibliometric studies levels of analysis (sources, authors, and documents) and structural analysis (conceptual, intellectual and social). The database used for the search is science Direct, where a temporal filter was applied to obtain studies published between 2015 and 2022. The analysis results manage to identify the most relevant, emerging, and declining strategies, according to the selected data search.
Technological intelligence system, technological surveillance, social reintegration, female prison population, bibliometric analysis.
Application of Interpolatory Methods of Model Reduction to an Elevated Railway Pier
Be it due to time constraints or insufficient processing power – or a combination of both – the use of models with large numbers of Degrees of Freedom (DoF) may be unsuitable to provide a client with results in a timely manner. The use of physics-based reduced models – or proxy structures – are popular among practitioners to solve this issue, as they keep intact all the underlying properties of the 2nd Order Problem at a fraction of the cost. In this report, Interpolatory Methods of Model Reduction are explored as an alternative, and applied to a 3D Space Frame. The methods chosen allow for structure-preserving reduced models, and differ mainly on the selection of interpolation points. A comparison between the response of these reduced models and a proxy structure against two different types of inputs show that Interpolatory Methods are a viable, more flexible option when it comes to reducing the internal DoFs of a structural model, though engineering judgement is required to ensure it adequately captures the most relevant aspects of the response for the specific application.
Dynamics, Structures, Reduced Order Modeling, Interpolatory Methods, Seismic
Lean 4.0, Industrial Processes Optimization at SMEs in the Great Buenos Aires Region
The adoption of Lean manufacturing strategy significantly boosts the performance of an industrial company, focusing on activities that add value, and seek to eliminate all waste or activity that does not add value to the customer. On the other hand, the Industry 4.0 model is considered a world-class paradigm that aims to empower people and optimize processes through various technologies arising from digitization. The combination of these models resulted in terms like "lean 4.0". However, there is no clear and detailed definition of the result of the integration of both paradigms. This work investigates the opportunities and strengths generated by the complementation of Lean management and Industry 4.0, and how the Industry 4.0 model can facilitate and strengthen the adoption of Lean methodology. The article addresses the importance of an innovation ecosystem for its diffusion in the productive framework, and the role of the University in the process of adopting new practices in companies. The new industrial model includes a complexity and depth that cannot be addressed by a single institution, the successful models in Europe and particularly Germany are supported by Innovation ecosystems. This article from an Industrial Engineering Research Group, based in the Faculty of Engineering of the National University of Lomas de Zamora presents a conceptual framework, and the work is being done with local SMEs. The paper presents three cases of firms that are optimizing production processes with the aid of Lean 4.0 strategy. The importance of an innovation ecosystem in the approach of the SMEs firms to the new paradigm is highlighted in the paper.
Lean Manufacturing, Industry 4.0, Digital Transformation, Smart Production, Innovation Ecosystem
The Incidence of Information Technologies on the Profitability of Service Firms
The purpose of the research is to determine the influence of information technology (IT) on the profitability of service companies (including educational institutions), considering the moderating effect of the explanatory variables investment in training, investment in knowledge management and the administrative practices. The study is non-experimental, with a correlational scope and a quantitative approach. Secondary data sources were used, obtained through official databases, from the year 2011 to 2017. The study presents an analysis of panel data from a Cobb-Douglas production function and regression models for the long term analysis. The results show that investment in IT positively influences profitability and that knowledge management plays the role of moderating variable in the short and long term.
information technologies profitability service companies panel data knowledge management.
Introduction to the movement of non-spherical bodies in flows of moderate or low number of Reynolds
This work describes a project designed for teaching fluid mechanics content to engineering students and advanced students (academic internships) of the industrial design career of the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism of the University of Buenos Aires (FADU- UBA). This project approach is to adhere to constructivist theories postulates, to the guidelines of the TPACK group and to the principles of project didactics (achieve an integrative, personalized, experiential, synthesizing, systematizing, conducive to the design process, participatory and selective teaching). It is considered strategic for 21st century engineering education to train students in creative thinking, train them to think about the new, about what is possible or what can be, enhancing their creativity in interdisciplinary work groups through academic activities that allow them to enhance their capacities thanks to the scientific knowledge acquired and the use of available technological tools. A simple Stokes device (design and instrumentation) is presented and a series of experiments in the range of 0.2 Re 10, which allow active learning of core concepts of fluid mechanics such as: deviation from sphericity of Stokes' law, the consequences of working with non-infinite flows, the sensitivity of the drag force to different flow patterns -particularly when the role of viscosity becomes predominant as the Re number is reduced-, the importance of the shape, the size, the relative orientation of the object to the flow direction, the surface treatment of the objects (whether natural or artificial), the mechanisms to reduce the drag force.
-- Education, fluid mechanics, Stokes' law, moderate Reynolds number, deviation from sphericity
Design and fabrication of a low-cost coil winding machine for slotless toroidal stators
Slotless axial flux permanent magnet machines, so-called Torus, are particularly suitable for applications that require short axial length and a high power-to-weight ratio. The ease of construction of the slotless toroidal stator core enables the use of highly efficient amorphous and nanocrystalline alloys. However, winding the coils requires either a specific winding machine -which can be too expensive at a prototyping stage-, a purely manual process -which is highly tedious and inefficient-, or a cut ferromagnetic core to insert the pieces into pre-wound coils -which deteriorates the magnetic properties of the toroidal stator core-. Here, we demonstrate a winding technology suited for Torus’ stator prototypes. The device transfers the wire from the primary copper spool onto a secondary circular spool and then unwinds it onto the toroidal core. We designed 3D-printed accessories to achieve coils with good accuracy and repeatability. Our Torus winding machine is easy to build and use, and yet keeps the prototyping process cost low.
winding machine, electric machine, toroidal stator, Torus, soft magnetic material
The empirical as a mobilizer of skills based on the topic of heat and energy efficiency.
In this work, are presented a diagnosis of the situation of the traditional way and of the teaching methods in a Faculty of the Electromechanical Engineering career and a proposal to motivate students to solve problems associated with laboratory experiences or workshops, which mobilize the competencies in training from the perspective of teachers and students. One of the empirical experiences that reveals competencies in group approaches and focused on students is presented, generated by the need to solve a specific problem whose prototype they had to build.
skills, practices, laboratories, teaching
MagAnalyst: A toolbox for analyzing and fitting magnetization curves in MATLAB
Here, we introduce a newly developed and easy-to-use toolbox for modeling magnetization curves in MATLAB. The tool implements the physically based approach recently proposed by Silveyra and Conde Garrido to describe the ideal anhysteretic curve. The equation of state is simple and, at the same time, accurate, as has been demonstrated for various material scenarios. MagAnalyst first plots a set of curves to help identify the number of magnetic components to model. It then finds the model parameters without requiring programming or optimization skills from the user. As a result, noisy data from the most challenging scenarios can be accurately described with a single analytical function in which both magnetization and susceptibility are continuous and differentiable. We believe MagAnalyst can be a valuable resource for the magnetic materials community.
magnetization, modeling, optimization, Matlab toolbox, soft magnetic materials
Accompaniment students' formative trajectory, in a context of curriculum innovation
In 2014, the Faculty of Engineering and Sciences (FICA) of the Universidad de la Frontera (UFRO), together with the Faculties of Engineering of the Chilean universities of Bio-Bio and Talca, were awarded the contest "Implementation of the strategic plan - new engineering for 2030", a project whose main purpose was to "train world-class engineers", by incorporating in its educational process the international quality standards identified for the discipline, as well as its advances. The Chilean State, through the Production Development Corporation (CORFO) financed these initiatives, in which curricular innovation processes were promoted in the different engineering careers of these higher education institutions, under a process of harmonization understood as the degree of convergence, homologation and/or compatibility between the different elements that make up the training plans. Thus, in the year 2021, in the midst of the pandemic, and after many years of reflection and curricular construction, the Board of Directors of the UFRO approved the curricular innovation of the twelve civil engineering careers taught at this university, among the approved changes are: New degree profiles, Redesign of the basic cycle, incorporation of the bimester (academic period of 8 weeks duration) in the mathematics subjects of the first year, incorporation of pedagogical and psychological elements of accompaniment to the students, through an articulated work with internal instances of the university. Readjustment of degree mechanisms, and design of an integrative line of educatión in engineering and science to develop design, social responsibility and innovation competencies, applying STEM methodologies. As can be seen, it is a complex process of curricular innovation, which will begin to be implemented in 2022 under pandemic scenarios, product of COVID-19, which has affected the profile of students' entry to higher education, which is why it was necessary to analyze this context and the challenges that these curricula bring with them, This is the reason why we had to analyze this context and the challenges that these curricula bring with them, in order to look for options to implement the new curricular designs in the best possible way, providing all the necessary help to the main actors of the formative process, the students, to achieve success in their university studies, thus creating the System of accompaniment of the student's formative trajectory.
Curriculum, innovation in engineering education, students' formative trajectory
Women and engineering, from college to the world of work
From the observation, in the Delta Regional Faculty of the National Technological University, Campana town in the province of Buenos Aires, of the current and historical situation of the female shelling in the Engineering career, carrying out a theoretical analysis about the general panorama of gender inequalities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) university careers, it is desired to determine the perception of graduates at the time of their insertion in the world of work. It is also desired to understand and document the reasons why a significantly lower number of women engineers are denoted in senior management positions, considering that there are many women in equal conditions than men, to ascend to this type of positions and who do not achieve or they can't do it. This work plans to focus on the barriers perceived by a group of women engineers graduated from the Delta Regional Faculty of the National Technological University, classifying these barriers as internal, social, interpersonal, attitudinal or interactive if they act before or after the insertion or if they are the product of the interactivity (or interaction) of combined factors at different moments of the passage through academic life.
women – students – graduates – labor market.
Nickel removal using low-cost lignocellulosic materials
The world is constantly changing, awareness about caring for our planet is growing and brings with it changes, among which is the paradigm of the economy. Reducing the economic and environmental cost of the processes must be the challenge. Contamination with metals can cause different harmful effects since they are not degradable and bioaccumulative. Although some metals are essential, in excess all of them can produce harmful effects on the biota and consequently generate the loss of biodiversity with destruction of the ecosystem in the long term. In Argentina, the National Law 24,051 on hazardous waste places limits on the discharge of large amounts of substances, including metallic species such as nickel, chrome, copper, lead, etc. On the other hand, large amounts of natural materials are considered waste that, however, could be reused as pollutant-removing materials, entering a circular economy loop. Thus, water treatment using materials discarded by another industry could be the solution. Residues such as peanut shells (Argentina, with 400,000 tons per year, is the tenth largest producer in the world) or certain aquatic plants considered a pest by the FAO can be used as metal adsorbent materials. Aquatic macrophytes Salvinia molesta, Azolla pinnata, Lemna minor, Limnobium leaveigatum and Pistia stratiotes peanut shell (Arachis hypagaea), trunks, branches and moringa (Moringa oleifera) husks were used as adsorbents in tests for metal removal. These previously treated materials were characterized by the BET isotherm, FTIR studies, impurity release by TXRF, zero charge pH curves and later used for metal removal. For nickel, depending on the working conditions, removal efficiencies greater than 92% will be obtained for Azolla, peanut shells, moringa residues and Salvinia. For Lemna, Limnobium and Pistia stratiotes the % removal was less than 30 %. Subsequently, the dosage curves, the kinetic and adsorption equilibrium studies were carried out with the adjustment of the different models to the experimental data.
Lumped flood routing through an interactive web application
Lumped flood routing in reservoirs is a fundamental topic in introductory hydrology courses in engineering programs. Understanding the associated concepts is of great importance for their subsequent application in professional life, such as in the design and operation of reservoirs. Students often have difficulty understanding the relationships between variables, parameters, and limitations between methods. In turn, experience shows that students waste time on spreadsheet calculations, and consequently, learning of concepts is not prioritized. In this work, an application is developed that solves lumped flood routing in a reservoir, where various parameters such as reservoir characteristics, input hydrographs, and the dam discharge organ can be modified. The tool has an interface that allows the user to interact in a simple way, since by easily modifying the parameters, the effect on the result of the lamination can be graphically seen. This application is open source and is available for any device with internet access.
Water Resources, Hydrology, Lumped Flood Routing, Reservoirs, Web Application
Removal of cadmium and chromium using activated carbons developed from lignocellulosic wastes
Agroindustrial peanut production in Argentina covers 3% of world demand. The surface area sown exceeds 400000 Ha and is mainly carried out in the Province of Córdoba. This generates a large amount of waste, being the shell the main waste. In the present work, a sample of activated carbon is developed from peanut shells by chemical activation. The activating agent used was orthophosphoric acid and the carbonization of the sample was carried out in an autogenerated atmosphere at a temperature of 450ºC. The study of the textural characteristics of the activated carbon prepared showed an extensive BET specific surface area (1253 m2/g) and a great development of the pore structure with a total volume of 1.01 cm3/g. The morphological study, by means of SEM micrographs, allowed visualizing the pronounced porosity of the material. From the analysis of the pore size distribution it could be determined that the carbonaceous material is of the mesoporous type. The performance of the activated carbon in the adsorption of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) in batch processes was studied. The results showed that the adsorbent material developed presented a good performance in the removal capacity of both pollutants.
Activated Carbon, Adsorption, Chromium, Cadmium.
Mapa diagnóstico de la inserción laboral de personas con discapacidad en Mar del Plata: un estudio exploratorio.
Resumen: El objetivo de este trabajo es elaborar un mapa de diagnóstico sobre la inserción laboral de personas con discapacidad (PCD) en la ciudad de Mar del Plata. Se trata de un estudio descriptivo que utiliza un diseño de investigación no experimental, selectivo y transversal. El artículo se centra en trabajadores de organismos públicos y privados y estudiantes de ingeniería de la ciudad de Mar del Plata (N= 252). Para la recolección de datos se utilizan cuestionarios semiestructurados, con preguntas cerradas con opción de respuesta múltiple y preguntas abiertas. En el análisis de los datos se aplican estadística descriptiva y análisis por categorías del discurso para interpretar las respuestas. Al analizar los resultados se puede destacar que el impacto de la inserción laboral de PCD mejora la RSE, cultura organizacional y reputación, y además, se observa que predominan barreras estructurales, falta de información y desinterés por parte de las empresas al momento de contratar PCD.
disabled person - labor insertion - public organizationes -private organizations - engineering.
Improving the resolution of STED microscopy using the SUPPOSe algorithm
Here we apply the gSUPPOSe algorithm on images acquired using Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) microscopy with the aim of improving the resolution limit achieved. We processed images of the nuclear pore complex (NPC) from cell lines in which the Nup96 nucleoporin was endogenously labeled. This reference protein forms a ring whose diameter is ~107 nm with 8 corners ~42 nm apart from each other. The stereotypic arrangement of proteins in the NPC has been used as reference structures to characterize the performance of a variety of microscopy techniques. STED microscopy images resolve the ring arrangement but not the eightfold symmetry of the NPC. After applying the gSUPPOSe algorithm to the STED images, we were able to solve the octagonal structure of the NPC. After processing 500 Regions Of Interest (ROIs), the average radius of the NPC was found to be R = 54.2 ± 2.9 nm, being consistent with the theoretical distances of this structure. To verify that the solutions obtained are compatible with a NPC-type geometry, we rotate the solutions to optimally fit an eightfold-symmetric pattern and we count the number of corners that contain at least one localization. Fitting a probabilistic model to the histogram of the number of bright corners gives an effective labeling efficiency (ELE) of 31%, which is in agreement with the values reported in for other cell lines and ligands used in STORM images, showing that SUPPOSe can reliably retrieve sub-resolution, nanoscale objects even in such noisy conditions.
Microscopy, STED, SUPPOSe, NPC, Superresolution
Studies of Adsorption-Desorption of Methylene Blue in a Fixed-Bed Reactor Filled with Cotton and Tanine Industry Waste
In this paper, a laboratory scale fixed-bed reactor filled with cotton husk and quebracho chips was used to test the capabilities of these materials to be employed as dyes adsorbent materials in effluent treatment of textile industries. The adsorption-desorption processes of methylene blue on both adsorbents were studied and the number of effective cycles was determined in each case. Desorbent efficiency of three substances was evaluated: NaCl 0.1 M, ethanol 50% (V/V) and tap water. As much as three adsorption-desorption cycles were obtained in all cases.
Methylene blue, fixed-bed reactor, cotton husk, quebracho chip.
Integration of the Gender Vision in Training by Competences in Engineering
The international call to highlight the problems related to women's equal rights and opportunities is growing. One of these problems is the minority participation of women in engineering programs, which is due to multiple factors and is evident both in access, permanence and graduation. This negatively impacts society with the loss of women's talents to build a sustainable world, an issue that is closely related to the sustainable development agenda of the United Nations Organization, through two of its objectives: SDG 5, to achieve Gender Equality, and SDG 4, Quality Education, to which the Faculties of Engineering adhere. It is propitious that, among the generic competences for engineering training in Latin America, which were proposed by CONFEDI in 2006 and assumed by ASIBEI in 2014, are the so-called Social, Political and Attitudinal. Also noteworthy is the joint recognition made by ACOFI, LACCEI and CONFEDI to the existence of the gender gap in the field of Engineering, through the creation of the Matilda Latin American Open Chair and Women Engineers, in 2020, and Commissions that address the theme in their own contexts. Quality education in Engineering finds an opportunity to consolidate strengths and address weaknesses, especially in instances of change of study plans and in the proximity of accreditation processes for the Argentine context, the gender gap being a challenge to consider. In line, and with the idea of contributing to these processes of transformation and innovation, a proposal is presented for the integration of the gender vision as part of the formation of social, political and attitudinal competences in engineering programs.
Training, Competencies, Engineering, Gender Perspective
Radiofrequency applicator for biomass heating
In electromagnetic biomass processing, which has gained academic and industrial interest in recent years, an electromagnetic field interacts with the biomass, heating it. Its applications include the defrosting, cooking and pasteurization of food, the disinfestation of fruits, and the production of biofuels, among others. The main advantage of electromagnetic processing methods is that the heating takes place in the entire volume of the biomass to be treated in addition, it has great flexibility for its application in batch or continuous processing, resulting in faster and efficient processes. Although applications at microwave frequencies have recently received more attention than the radio frequency range, the latter has an important advantage: as the operating frequency is lower, the radiation penetration depth is greater, allowing more uniform heating and the possibility of processing larger volumes. This work presents the design, construction and electrical characterization of an electromagnetic heating system suitable biomass processing. From reflection coefficient measurements between 1MHz and 30MHz, an equivalent electrical model is developed and its parameters are determined. The operation of the system is described, with emphasis on the applicator.
Radiofrequency heating, biomass, biodiesel, permittivity, transesterification
Superficial microanalysis of marine algae for sustainable effluent treatment
The recognition tests of the structural, chemical, superficial and morphological characteristics of the adsorbents is a key point to take into account when the use of these materials is proposed as filling in adsorption columns for the treatment of industrial effluents. The superficial microanalysis of the material by SEM-EDS allows to study the pattern of distribution of the contaminants and to identify the possible functional groups participating in the adsorptive process. In this work, preferential adsorption zones have been found due to heterogeneities and the presence of organic groups on the surface of the material made up of marine algae with different affinities for each of the adsorbates tested (metal ions).
Surface microanalysis, adsorbent. effluent treatment.
Design and fabrication of a fume extractor controller for pulsed laser deposition of thin films
The deposition of thin films by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) is performed inside a deposition chamber. When the chamber is opened to change substrates and/or targets, the material deposited on the inner walls of the chamber releases vapors that are toxic in high concentrations. In order to improve user safety and to optimize time and resources, we fabricated a low-cost fume extraction system based on a domestic vacuum cleaner motor. The system, which proved to achieve an efficient flow rate and to work at acceptable temperature and noise levels, has been operational at the INTECIN Laser Ablation Laboratory since 2021. In this work we present a controller of the vapor extraction system. It uses an Arduino Nano development board, with which it provides assistance to the user through an interactive menu on an LCD display and a push button. It electronically controls the switching on and off of the extractor motor and the acoustic box coolers. It has protection sensors: a liquid sensor to detect possible water leaks from the cooling system, two cooler failure sensors, and a digital temperature sensor to stop the extractor motor when high temperatures are reached. It provides warning indications through the display, a buzzer and a series of LED lights.
controller, Arduino, extractor, laser ablation, PLD
Web platform for the calculation of astronomical tide predictions: Implementation for the Buenos Aires maritime coast and its continental shelf.
The astronomical tide is a phenomenon that influences complex physical and dynamic processes in the ocean, and practical problems such as port access for ships and the determination of nautical chart datums. Nonspecialized users who require accurate tide predictions for the Argentine coast have only the 51 locations published by the Naval Hydrographic Service in its Tide Tables. This paper describes the operation of the web platform that allows obtaining accurate astronomical tide predictions for any location by entering only the date and the geographic coordinates of interest. The ease of access to the predictions is achieved through the optimization of the calculation for web queries, and the modeling of this phenomenon through empirical or hydrodynamic models. As an example, the region comprising the Buenos Aires maritime coast and its adjacent continental shelf is developed, where the amplitudes and epochs necessary for the calculation of the predictions are obtained from the result of the implementation of the ADCIRC hydrodynamic model for the area, in-situ observations and satellite altimetry.
astronomical tide predictions, web platform, Buenos Aires maritime coast
Improvements Implemented in guiEditor and its Use in Teaching of Process Control Systems
This paper presents an overview of the recent enhancements implemented in guiEditor, a graphical user interface (GUI) editor for GNU Octave. The focus is on the improved functionality and usability of the tool, which is designed to facilitate the development of applications for teaching industrial process control systems. The potential of this tool for solving classroom problems and supporting laboratory experiences for students is demonstrated. The success achieved in the implementation of guiEditor is a evidence to its efficacy and encourages further development of the tool. These promising results motivate future research to explore the potential of guiEditor in facilitating the development of educational tools for industrial process control systems.
idactic object, process control system, engineering education, GNU Octave, GUI Editor
Discussion about the effect of the ground plane on the fields radiated by a dipole antenna
There are several studies about the effects produced by antennas over ground planes and the wave reflections at far field distances. However, there are few studies about electromagnetic fields near the antenna. The objective of this paper is to determine the far field distance as the antenna is elevated from the ground plane, and to show the variation of the electric field at each case. To achieve this, an analysis of both modulus and phase of wave impedances is made, instead of commonly used expressions resulting in a more accurate prediction than by traditional methods.
Near Fields, Far Field, Dipole antenna, Impedance wave, ground plane
A Study of the Relationship Between Educational Background, Psychological Factors, and Soft Skills Among Bioengineering Students
The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of educational factors on students' psychological factors, including locus of control and need for achievement, as well as their soft skills self-perception. A regression analysis was conducted for each independent variable, and the results showed that none of the tested formative factors significantly affected locus of control. However, the type of sport students practiced and their residence during university had a significant effect on their need for achievement. Additionally, certain educational factors, such as the type of school attended before college, as well as the student's residence during high school and university, and the type of sport practiced, had a significant impact on students' self-assessment of their soft skills. These findings suggest that understanding the impact of educational factors on students' need for achievement and soft skills could help promote entrepreneurship among students from different educational backgrounds.
educational factors, locus of control, need for achievement, soft skills
Analysis of the management of medical supplies in Ecuador during the Covid-19 pandemic through Twitter
Historically, the management of medical supplies in Ecuador has represented an obstacle in the timely treatment of diseases due to the insufficiency of these [1]– [4]. This situation worsened in early 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Consequently, people chose to use social networks, such as Twitter, to obtain medicines and medical equipment. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the management of medical supplies in Ecuador by citizens, through the social network Twitter using text mining techniques applied to big data, to determine the degree of effectiveness during the pandemic of the Covid-19 from March 2020 to March 2021. To achieve this, interviews were conducted with doctors to find out the most demanded supplies. From this, web scraping was applied on Twitter to extract publications on the management of inputs. Subsequently, text-mining techniques were applied to identify emotions, classify needs and validate the information. Finally, effectiveness indicators were established. The results revealed that March and July 2020 and January 2021 were critical times, especially in provinces such as Guayas, Azuay, Imbabura, and Santa Elena being consistent with the information reported by the Emergency Operations Committee (COE) of Ecuador. It is concluded that this study provides information of interest for the formulation of public policies related to the supply of inputs and medical care.
Medical supplies, Coronavirus, Twitter, Effectiveness, Ecuador
Soft skills development in bioengineering students through problem-based learning: An analysis of educational impact
This study aimed to evaluate the perception and self-assessment of soft skills development among bioengineering students using problem-based learning (PBL) methodology. A survey was conducted to assess the relevance perception and self-assessment of seven soft skills with different attributes, before and after the PBL course. The study found that bioengineering students recognized the importance of developing soft skills alongside technical expertise. Communication, critical thinking and problem-solving, entrepreneurship, ethics and professional moral, leadership, continuous learning and information handling, and teamwork skills were consistently improved with the PBL course. The PBL methodology had a positive impact on the development of soft skills attributes, as students either improved or maintained their skill levels. However, significant differences were observed in five of the seven soft skills attributes. The use of technology for making presentations and the impact of understanding the external factors were the least developed attributes among students. The study suggests that PBL may not have included enough opportunities for students to develop these skills, and specific activities may need to be incorporated in the future. Overall, the results underscore the importance of integrating soft skills development into bioengineering education and training programs, as these skills are crucial for success in the field.
Soft skills, bioengineering students, Problem-based learning, innovative education.
Promoting bioconstruction as an efficient and sustainable alternative
This work aims to show bioconstruction with different constructive alternatives. It is done by going through various cases, in which several of the members of this work participated. They show different construction techniques such as: adobe, quincha, pallets with bottles, direct modeling and superadobe. In addition, it seeks to disseminate it, since it is an alternative for the reduction of greenhouse gases, among other things because the materials do not travel or have a minimum of transport since they are mostly local and the energy to obtain them is lower. than in traditional construction. The use of natural or recycled materials, in addition to being able to be reused, provide a habitat with thermal comfort, reducing energy costs for heating and cooling. In conclusion, we can say that these types of constructions can be carried out in different regions, using their native and nearby natural resources, they can also be applied to different social classes, for self-construction and different applications of use.
Bioconstruction, Sustainable, Efficiency, Materials
Shear strengthening of concrete beams: Feasibility of using steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) jacketing
A large part of civil works that are carried out involves the repair and/or reinforcement of existing reinforced concrete structures. This work focuses on reinforcing the load-carrying capacity in shear of existing reinforced concrete beams, for which there currently exist various reinforcement technologies. The applicability of a particular type of reinforcement depends, among other factors, on the physical conditions and mechanical properties of the original element, physical space limitations, available technology at the construction site, and costs. Among the new advances in reinforcement methodologies is the use of steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC) for jacketing or thickening, a material that due to its mechanical properties, durability and constructability is suitable for its use in shear reinforcement. However, its use is not widespread and information regarding its behavior as a reinforcement methodology is scarce. This work compares different shear reinforcement methodologies, in order to evaluate the suitability of SFRC as an alternative to existing methodologies and to identify the aspects in which it is necessary to deepen knowledge in order to ensure its applicability.
Fiber Reinforced Concrete, Shear retrofitting of reinforced concrete beams, Concrete jacketing
Improving predictive modeling of polymeric materials using a hybrid approach of machine learning and expert intervention
This work describes a hybrid methodology that combines machine learning and the intervention of experts to improve the predictive modeling of properties of high interest of polymeric materials. Although these materials have many advantages, developing a new material with specific properties from a new molecular structure is very challenging and time-consuming and expensive. The demand for materials with very specific properties continues to grow, so machine learning techniques have been applied to predict these properties. The hybrid methodology was developed in an evolutionary way from an expert intervention at the end of the machine learning process, to a more decisive intervention throughout the cycle. This allows obtaining more robust and reliable models for the design of new materials, which can help designers obtain property profiles for prototypes prior to the synthesis stage, saving time and resources.
Polymeric materials, Machine learning, Expert-in-the-Loop, Mechanical properties, Refractive index.