Studies on the effectiveness of the Project-Based Learning (PBL) method in different local contexts require non-conventional approaches that clarify if the methodology is suitable in other settings compared to the conventional teaching practice. This study examined students’ perception of the effectiveness of the PBL method in developing cross-curricular competencies and improving the academic performance of undergraduate students in the Colombian Caribbean coast. A sum of Wilcoxon ranges and Spearman’s correlation coefficient were used on two groups of 481 students who were taught using the traditional method and the PBL method from six professors of the Economic Development course. It was observed that the autonomy and problem-solving competencies received a positive impression from the students and that the application of the PBL method was superior to the traditional teaching method in improving academic performance. However, it was found that the characteristics of social communication within the local context limited the reflection of the participants in the PBL group. This study contributes to future studies by using a complementary instrument that provides an analysis of the effectiveness of teaching methods in different geographical contexts.

Chagas is a neglected tropical disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi with no effective treatment in all its forms. There is a need to find more effective therapeutic alternatives with reduced toxicity. In this contribution, multiple linear regression models were used to identify the molecular descriptors that best describe the inhibitory activity of 52 fenarimol analogues against Trypanosoma cruzi. The topological, physicochemical, thermodynamic, electronic, and charge descriptors were evaluated to cover a wide range of properties that frequently encode biological activity. A model with high predictive value was obtained based on geometrical descriptors and descriptors encoding hydrophobicity and London dispersion forces as necessary for the inhibition of Trypanosoma cruzi-CYP51. Docking methodology was implemented to evaluate molecular interactions in silico. The virtual screening results in this study can be used for rational design of new analogues with improved activity against Chagas disease.

Traffic is one of the most important variables used in pavement design methods. There are currently two methods for characterizing wheel load repetitions: equivalent single axle load (ESAL) and load spectra, which is a more precise characterization of traffic but relies on the same input data used to calculate ESALs. Although the load spectra are described using a bimodal mixture distribution, samples taken in Colombia indicate that the load spectra exhibit an intermediate region that can be modelled with an additional distribution. This research proposes the use of a mixture of three distributions: two log-normal distributions for the description of the peaks and a normal distribution for the intermediate region, finding a closed statistical solution for the formal evaluation of its properties, and deduces the expression of the nth moment that facilitates obtaining important features of the proposed distribution. In a case of application in two geographic regions of Colombia, with more than 53,00...

Satisfaction of customers' quality expectations is a fundamental attribute for any company willing to succeed in a competitive environment. The achievement of such expectations typically involves the implementation of costly measures like quality inspection procedures. From an economic point of view, the optimal decision about whether to implement or not this type of measures should be the result of a balance between the costs associated with their application and the potential economic losses caused by failing to satisfy customers' quality levels. In this paper, we develop a model that addresses to attain such balance. A distinguishing feature of our work is that it combines in a single model logistic and quality costs. Our model provides a set of inspection plans to be implemented for both incoming and outgoing units, as well as the values of the parameters for such inspection plans. A solution methodology is presented as well as a case study. Possible future research directions are offered.

The Moral Disengagement Scale (MDS) is a widely employed tool for assessing moral neutralization strategies in the context of bullying. However, studies conducted globally exhibit inconsistencies in both the factor structure and the number of items comprising the MDS. This study was conducted to assess the reliability and factor structure of the MDS within a sample of Colombian adolescents ( N = 375; M age = 13.3; SD = 1.69) and to compare the use of MD mechanisms across victims, perpetrators, non-involved students, and bystanders of school bullying. To begin, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) compared the fit indices of theoretical models proposed in the existing literature. The results revealed that all previously suggested models exhibited similar fit indices, indicating that these structures could be equally applicable for evaluating various dimensions of moral disengagement among adolescent populations. In order to identify the most suitable model for our culturally specific sample, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) pointed towards a more concise 13-item version of the MDS as the optimal solution. Individuals meeting the scores for “bullies” employed more MD mechanisms compared to victims and non-involved students. There were no significant differences in MDS scores between pro-victim bystanders and those remaining passive or supporting aggressors. In light of these findings, targeting cognitive mechanisms that neutralize moral self-sanctions in perpetrators and potential bystanders of bullying may prove to be a valuable strategy in enhancing the effectiveness of anti-bullying interventions.

The use of properly designed educational videos has proven effective in strengthening intercultural competence in higher education. In this article, we present the results of an investigation whose objective was to determine the characteristics of learning activities that use videos to promote the development of the intercultural competence of students of virtual courses. The study was carried out using a mixed approach in which quantitative and qualitative techniques were used for data collection and analysis. The results showed that the significant changes in students occurred when the activities were based on videos that presented different situational and real contexts, promoting cultural knowledge, critical reflection and experiential analysis. The role of the teacher is paramount in the design of activities and in their role as facilitator and guiding them.