Religación

Risk analysis of medium voltage underground network maintenance personnel and their prevention methods in private companies in Ecuador

2025-10-14T14:01:51+00:00

The research is based on a subjective-interpretative paradigm and seeks to answer the following scientific question: What are the risks faced by maintenance personnel working on medium-voltage underground networks and their prevention methods in private companies in Ecuador? This question is aligned with the overall research objective: To identify and analyze the risks associated with maintenance personnel working on medium-voltage underground networks and their prevention methods in private companies in Ecuador. The risk analysis of maintenance personnel working on medium-voltage underground networks is a critical aspect of ensuring operational safety and efficiency in the electricity distribution sector. The research will be carried out through a systematic review of the scientific literature of studies and results published in scientific journals found in databases such as Scopus, Scielo, Web of Science, Direct Science, search engines such as Google Scholar with search engines validated in the UNESCO Thesaurus. Scientific articles focused on labor productivity will be tracked, and a consistency matrix will be constructed with the information collected from scientific databases and reviewed journals. The study categories that will be analyzed in relation to prevention methods are: heat stress, electrification/tetanization, heat stroke, work overload, and manual lifting of loads, which will be studied against the research phenomenon: prevention methods. The conclusions of this research will answer the scientific question posed and fulfill the overall objective. In addition, they will demonstrate the practical benefits of implementing the prevention methods identified from this systematic review.

Ergonomic risks in workers of savings and credit cooperatives, as the key to well-being in a collaborative environment in the city of Guaranda-Ecuador

2025-10-14T14:12:00+00:00

This study investigated the ergonomic risks faced by credit union workers in the city of Guaranda, Ecuador, in order to understand their impact on occupational wellbeing in a collaborative environment. The main objective was to identify and evaluate these risks, considering their influence on the health and productivity of the personnel. The methodology was based on a qualitative approach, with a systematic review of scientific literature of the last five years, under the subjective-interpretative paradigm and exploratory level. Theories such as AMO, Herzberg, McGregor, self-determination and work adjustment were applied to theoretically support the research. The main findings show that factors such as poor posture, physical discomfort, work stress and lack of active breaks have a direct impact on the well-being of workers, generating musculoskeletal disorders and affecting their performance. In conclusion, the need to implement ergonomic strategies and continuous monitoring systems in these cooperatives to improve occupational health, comply with current regulations and promote a healthy work environment is highlighted. This study seeks to contribute to the academic and labor community with practical recommendations that strengthen the quality of life and performance of personnel in the cooperative financial sector.

Mechanized substrate conditioning: Impact on physicochemical properties, seedling viability, and nursery productivity

2025-10-07T17:35:27+00:00

Substrate preparation in nurseries in the Andean region is a fundamental operation that directly impacts seedling viability and overall productivity. However, traditional manual methods represent a production bottleneck, create inconsistencies in the quality of the final product, and expose operators to significant ergonomic risks. This article presents the design, validation, and impact evaluation of a semi-automated mechatronic system that integrates the processes of sifting and mixing for soil preparation. The design methodology included conceptualization based on user needs, followed by numerical validation using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Discrete Element Method (DEM) to optimize structural integrity and particle dynamics. The implemented prototype was experimentally evaluated at the Tunducama Nursery (Cotopaxi, Ecuador). The results demonstrate a substantial improvement in substrate quality, reflected in a 31.63% increase in the seedling survival rate.Additionally, a 5.00% increase in daily production capacity was recorded, while the required workforce was reduced from six to two operators. It is concluded that the mechanized integration of these processes offers a viable and high-impact technological solution that optimizes resources, standardizes agronomic product quality, and mitigates the physical burden on workers.

IoT system for CO₂ measurement in urban areas: A systematic approach

2025-10-01T15:48:49+00:00

The concentration of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in urban areas constitutes a key environmental challenge, given the impact of mobile and industrial emissions and the complexity of urban microclimates. In this context, IoT systems utilizing low-cost sensors, connectivity architectures like LoRaWAN and NB-IoT, and cloud analysis platforms emerge as a complementary alternative to traditional regulatory networks. This systematic review, developed following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, analyzed studies published between 2015 and 2025 in databases such as Scopus, IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, and ScienceDirect, applying strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Out of 125 initial records, 15 studies were selected for qualitative synthesis and 10 for meta-analysis. Results indicate that low-cost NDIR sensors achieve accuracies of 8–12 ppm after calibration and co-location processes, while eCO₂ sensors derived from VOCs lack reliability for urban decision-making. LoRaWAN proved to be the most energy-efficient option, although NB-IoT demonstrated greater robustness in high-interference scenarios. Heterogeneity in performance metrics and a lack of standardized interoperability protocols were evident. The review concludes that IoT systems offer advantages in cost and scalability but require improvements in calibration, quality assurance, and their integration with predictive models and digital twins to enhance their value for urban public policies.

Improvements in the cost recovery processes for care provided to patients belonging to the comprehensive public health network of the Yerovi Mackuart Basic Hospital

2025-10-01T15:32:53+00:00

The research addressed the low cost recovery at the Yerovi Mackuart Basic Hospital, where only 58% of billable services were recovered. The main objective was to analyze the effectiveness of cost recovery for decision-making at the Yerovi Mackuart Basic Hospital. A quantitative approach was applied, with a non-experimental, descriptive, and correlational design, using a sample of 17 administrative and financial workers. The findings indicated a Cronbach's alpha of 0.966, a KMO of 0.918, and a high positive correlation Rho of 0.849 between administrative optimization and cost recovery. Furthermore, it was concluded that technical improvement, training, and standardization reinforced institutional sustainability.