Introduction: the corrosion of steel structural components is one of the key pathologies at the level of civil engineering since it represents serious risks to the resistance and life of infrastructures. Objectives: this research aims to investigate the practical effectiveness of electrical surveys as a non-destructive technique for the diagnosis of corrosion of metal structures, especially in environments where the system becomes highly susceptible, such as bridges, tanks, pipes, and reinforced concrete elements. Methodology: the study was conducted through a systematic review of case studies and comparing experimental data with different survey configurations (Wenner, Schlumberger, dipole-dipole). Results: an analysis of electrical resistivity was conducted by environmental variables (humidity, salinity, chloride content), descriptive statistics and correlational analysis. The study found that 85% of the cases, with resistivity <100 Ω·m, presented conditions that were likely to be active corrosion. Similarly, we found an inverse correlation (r = -0.73) between resistivity and structural deterioration. The results indicated that the accuracy used was better in homogeneous soils, although it was also shown to fail in heterogeneous environments. Conclusions: it is suggested that electrical surveys can be an effective instrument to establish risk areas, however, if they are combined with techniques such as half-cell potential or impedance spectroscopy. This method allows for the development of planned maintenance plans, and this optimization of resources can improve and extend the life of the infrastructure. General area of study: Civil Engineering. Specific area of study: Metal structure. Type of article: bibliographic review.

Introduction. Participation in complementary experiences can broaden students' academic and social integration, whereas academic engagement reflects behavioral, affective, and cognitive involvement in their education. Objective. To determine the relationship between participation in complementary activities and academic engagement among students at Instituto Superior Tecnológico Vicente León. Methodology. A quantitative, descriptive-correlational, non-experimental, cross-sectional study was conducted. For methodological and academic purposes, a 292-case database was analyzed using a 24-item Likert questionnaire. Internal consistency was estimated with Cronbach's alpha and associations with Spearman's rho. Results. Complementary participation reached a mean of 3.28 (SD = 0.89), with the medium level predominating (45.89%), while academic engagement reached 3.71 (SD = 0.72), with the high-level predominating (56.85%). The overall association was positive and significant (rho = 0.42; p < .001). Conclusion. Greater participation is associated with higher academic engagement; the association does not imply causality and should be confirmed with institutional field data. General Area of Study: Education. Specific area of study: Higher education and student participation. Type of study: Original article.

Introduction. Black Sigatoka, caused by Pseudocercospora fijiensis, progressively reduces functional leaf area and is a major phytosanitary constraint in banana production. Objective. To evaluate the epidemiological response of the disease to different foliar calcium (Ca) rates used as a complement to commercial phytosanitary management. Methodology. A randomized complete block design with five treatments and four blocks was established in a commercial banana plantation in El Guabo, El Oro, Ecuador. All units received mancozeb at 1.4 kg/ha and differed in SOLEI CaO 20µ rates of 0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 L/ha. Disease dynamics were evaluated for 100 days through eight fortnightly assessments. Results. At L8, significant differences were detected for EE₃, EE₄, EE₅ and H+VLQ >5%. EE₅ showed the largest effect size (η² = 0.160). T3 (2.0 L/ha) recorded the lowest EE₅ (131.55), representing a 9.31% reduction relative to the control. Conclusion. The 2.0 L/ha rate showed the best performance within the evaluated range. Foliar Ca should be considered a complementary nutritional tool within integrated management and not a substitute for fungicidal control. General Area of Study: Agricultural Sciences. Specific area of study: Plant Pathology and Plant Epidemiology. Type of study: Original article.

Introduction. The accelerated growth of web applications has increased HTTP traffic and has made this protocol one of the main targets for those seeking to compromise information security. Objective. To create a technological solution based on a machine learning model capable of detecting cyberattacks in HTTP traffic. Methodology. This was an applied study with a mixed approach. The HTTP DATASET CSIC 2010 was used; eight quantitative features were extracted, and Random Forest, SVM, and XGBoost were evaluated through accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score, using grid search and five-fold stratified cross-validation. Results. XGBoost achieved the best overall performance, with 91.1% accuracy and an F1-score of 0.888, followed by Random Forest, with 90.7% accuracy and an F1-score of 0.884. SVM achieved a recall of 0.627 and failed to detect many attacks. Conclusion. Random Forest and XGBoost demonstrated the ability to identify anomalous patterns without relying on predefined signatures and constitute safer alternatives than SVM for a future production detection system. The findings support the viability of the proposed machine learning approach for strengthening cybersecurity in web environments. Future validation should use institutional HTTP traffic from the Technical University of Manabí and assess model performance under real operating conditions. General area of study: Engineering and technology. Specific area of study: Cybersecurity and machine learning. Type of study: Original article.

Introduction. Artisanal cheese constitutes a food with high microbiological risk due to its production and commercialization conditions. Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogen known for its ability to produce enterotoxins associated with foodborne illnesses. Objective. To determine the presence of S. aureus in cheese samples sold in the 9 de Octubre market in the city of Cuenca, Ecuador, in the year 2025. Methodology. A quantitative study of an observational and descriptive cross-sectional type was conducted. For this purpose, 30 samples of fresh cheese collected at the 9 de Octubre market in the city of Cuenca were analyzed. The isolation was evidenced using Compact Dry X-SA plates, with confirmation on mannitol salt agar and biochemical tests of catalase and coagulase. The quantification was conducted by counting CFUs according to the INEN 1528:2012 standard. Antimicrobial susceptibility was evaluated using the disk diffusion method. Results. The presence of a high microbial load was determined in all serial dilutions, evidencing the presence of S. aureus, with a predominance of counts too numerous to count. 73.3% of the isolates were coagulase positive; additionally, total sensitivity (100%) to clindamycin and cefoxitin was observed, along with resistance to penicillin (22.7%) and erythromycin (9.1%). Conclusion. The presence of S. aureus in cheeses sold in the 9 de Octubre market in Cuenca was determined, quantifying their CFU according to the INEN 1528:2012 standard and evaluating their antimicrobial sensitivity profile using the disk diffusion method. General Area of Study: Biochemistry and Pharmacy. Specific area of study: Food. Type of study: Original article.

Introduction. This article is a narrative literature review, with a non-experimental design and a descriptive-explanatory level. Objective. The objective was to synthesize the available scientific evidence on the training of large felids using operant conditioning with positive reinforcement and to evaluate its role as a tool for animal welfare under human care. Methodology. A search was conducted through PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar covering the period from 1990 to 2026, resulting in a final sample of 24 references, 60% of which were published within the last five years. Findings show that positive reinforcement enables voluntary participation in veterinary procedures: six lionesses at Lory Park Zoo learned clicker training and targeting within two weeks; over an 18-month period, 750 vaginal swabs and 650 blood samples were collected without physical restraint. Results. Among rescued Indian leopards, a structured 12-to-16-week program significantly reduced stereotypic pacing and aggression while increasing exploration and affiliative behaviors. In Latin America, a program involving Bengal tigers at Matecaña Zoological Park reduced the need for physical and chemical restraint. Protected contact is established as the recommended method for ethical and safety reasons, and training is interpreted as a practical manifestation of agency and choice key principles of the Five Domains model. Conclusion. The review notes taxonomic and geographic biases with Neotropical felids such as jaguars and pumas being underrepresented and proposes prioritizing studies featuring large sample sizes, long-term monitoring, and standardized protocols. Thus, cooperative training emerges as a concrete pathway for transitioning from coercive management to voluntary cooperation. General Area of Study: Veterinary. Specific area of study: Felids. Type of study: Narrative systematic review.

Introduction. The growing global demand for poultry production historically drove the use of Antibiotic Growth Promoters (AGPs). However, regulatory restrictions, such as the ban on these drugs in livestock, have led to public health problems caused by antimicrobial resistance and residues in food. This has spurred the search for alternative feed additives to improve poultry performance. Probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotic have emerged as alternatives to AGPs. These are live microorganisms that act on pathogens, non-digestible substrates that stimulate microorganisms in the gut, and synergistic combinations of probiotics and prebiotics, respectively. Objective. To analyze, through a systematic literature review conducted under the PRISMA declaration, the effect of supplementation with probiotics, prebiotics and symbiotic on live weight, daily weight gain, and feed conversion in poultry. Methodology. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect using MeSH terms. Fifty-six studies (50 productive) published between 2021 and 2026, evaluating approximately 18,544+ birds, were included. Results. Probiotics (Bacillus subtilis strain) increased live weight by 7.4 to 8.1% (p<0.05). Prebiotics (MOS, FOS, β-glucans) improved feed conversion by 3–11%. Symbiotic showed the greatest effectiveness in daily weight gain (100% of studies with positive results). The optimal dose identified was 2 × 10⁹ CFU/kg for probiotics and 0.1–0.5% for prebiotics. Conclusion. Probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotic are effective alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters, with Bacillus subtilis PS-216 and commercial symbiotic being the most consistent options for improving production parameters in poultry. General Area of Study: Veterinary medicine. Specific area of study: Animal Nutrition. Type of study: Systematic bibliographic review.

Introduction. The incorporation of artificial intelligence in education requires teachers to articulate digital mastery, pedagogical criteria, creativity, and responsibility. Objectives. The objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of a digital guide based on artificial intelligence to strengthen the computer skills of 15 teachers from a single school. Methodology. A pre-experimental quantitative study of a particular group was structured, with pre-test and post-test measurements. The intervention was supported by activities from NotebookLM, ChatGPT, Educaplay IA and Suno. The 30-item instrument was submitted to the judgment of ten experts and reached Cronbach’s alpha of 0.87. The hypothesis stated that the post-test score would be significantly higher than that of the pre-test. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, Student’s T-test for related samples, and Cohen’s D test were applied. Results. In analytical part, the global mean increased from 51.60 to 72.60 points; the average gain was 21.00 points (95% confidence interval [18.56; 23.44]). The difference was significant, t (14) = 18.47, p < 0.001, with an exceptionally large effect, dz = 4.77. Conclusions. Creative competence showed the greatest relative change. The guide articulates situated practice, source verification, inclusive planning, and resource creation. General area of study: Education. Specific area of study: Educational technology and teacher training. Type of study: Original article.

Introduction: Institutional identity, heraldry, and historical tribute are strategic pillars of police training, helping to consolidate the ethos, the sense of belonging, and the transmission of values within the National Police of Ecuador. At the "General Alberto Enríquez Gallo" Higher Police School, the class name, the police hero, and the emblem of each graduating class go beyond a ceremonial or graphic function and operate as pedagogical and organizational socialization tools. However, the records of classes 58 to 89 show that their selection has lacked a consistent methodology, with heterogeneous heraldic designs and no designated hero in several classes. Objective: To establish guidelines for the selection of the class name, police hero, and emblem of each graduating class to strengthen institutional identity, ethos, and the sense of belonging of future officers. Methodology: A mixed, non-experimental, descriptive, and proposal-oriented study. The documentary record of 32 classes was analyzed, 150 cadets answered an 11-item Likert-scale questionnaire, two police-doctrine instructor officers were interviewed, and the institutional regulatory framework was compared with the insignia and emblem regulations of the Federal District Military Police of Brazil. Results: No hero had been designated for 37.5% of the classes, and the emblems show graphic heterogeneity. Of the cadets, 82.0% reported having received instruction on the meaning of the symbols, and between 76.0% and 93.3% supported the criteria and benefits of having guidelines (overall M = 4.32; α = 0.82). Support varied by year of training (H = 17.44; p < 0.001). The interviewed officers agreed that the process is empirical and lacks a unified graphic line and disagreed on whether a technical committee should approve the proposals. A proposal of ten guidelines was structured based on historical legitimacy, exemplarity, symbolic relevance, visual simplicity, institutional participation, and formal registration. Conclusion: The proposed guidelines allow the name, hero, and emblem of each class to respond to police doctrine and become permanent vectors of memory, cohesion, and institutional belonging. General Area of Study: Social Sciences. Specific area of study: Public Safety and Police Sciences. Type of study: Original article.

Introduction. Diseases associated with the consumption of contaminated food represent a significant public health concern. Among the bacterial agents of greatest importance is Listeria monocytogenes, which causes listeriosis, a severe disease that primarily affects pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals. Artisanal fresh cheeses are susceptible to microbiological contamination due to variable production, handling, and storage conditions, particularly when the cold chain is not properly maintained. Objective. To determine the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in artisanal fresh cheeses sold at different points of sale in the city of Cuenca. Method. A total of 43 samples of artisanal fresh cheeses sold in different markets were collected and analyzed using microbiological detection methods based on the INEN-ISO 11290 standard. Compact Dry LM plates were used as a screening method for the presumptive identification of Listeria monocytogenes. Results: The presence of bacteria of the genus Listeria was detected in 79% of the samples analyzed, of which 18.6% corresponded to Listeria monocytogenes and 60.4% to Listeria spp. Conclusion. Microbiological contamination was detected in most of the artisanal fresh cheeses analyzed, representing a health risk to consumers and indicating deficiencies in the hygiene and marketing conditions of these products. General Area of Study: Biochemistry and Pharmacy. Specific area of study: Food Safety and Food Microbiology. Type of study: Original article.

Introduction. Research on intermediate retail urban forms frequently suffers from analytical subsumption under the regional shopping mall paradigm, obscuring the unique socio-spatial dynamics of intermediate commercial plazas (strip malls) within medium-sized cities. Objective. To characterize and empirically contrast user socio-behavioral patterns, tenant mix operational efficiency, spatial appropriation modes, and socio-sensory responses across a representative sample of commercial plazas in Cuenca, Ecuador. Methodology. Employing a descriptive-analytical qualitative design, a non-participant structured observation protocol was executed across 5,318 sampling units in seven commercial nodes (Santa Ana, Wayra, Soleil, 33, Ocho, Challuabamba, and Roma). Data collection was temporally stratified into three daily timeframes (morning, afternoon, and evening) and operationalized across six interconnected analytical dimensions. Results. Empirical findings demonstrate a clear dominance of individual (40.2%) and dual-person visits (36.1%), primarily structured around gastronomic consumption (57.7%) and financial/convenience services (21.4%). Distinct functional typologies emerged: highly concentrated gastronomic hubs (Soleil, Ocho), convenience/service-oriented developments (Challuabamba), and multi-purpose nodes featuring elevated multi-brand circulation rates (Roma, 45.8%). Furthermore, first-location transaction completion remained uniformly high across all sites (87.9% average), indicating highly target-driven mobility patterns. Conclusion. Commercial plazas function as heterogeneous socio-spatial nodes wherein baseline traffic generation capacity does not automatically induce internal cross-circulation or tenant synergy. The interplay of spatial layout, functional diversity, and tenant mix curation critically governs the transition of these environments from purely utilitarian transaction centers into sociopetal "third places" for urban interaction. General Area of Study: Urban Geography / Commercial Architecture. Specific Area of Study: Retail Studies and Consumer Behavior. Type of study: Original article.