This article reviews technological advances and global trends in the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of cardiovascular diseases. A bibliometric analysis was conducted using the SCOPUS database, following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, to identify relevant publications on technologies applied in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. An increase in scientific output since 2018 was observed, reflecting a growing interest in the technologies available for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, with terms such as “telemedicine”, “artificial intelligence”, “image analysis”, and “cardiovascular disease” standing out as some of the most commonly used terms in reference to CVDs. Significant trends were identified, such as the use of artificial intelligence in precision medicine and machine learning algorithms to analyse data and predict cardiovascular risk, as well as advances in image analysis and 3D printing. Highlighting the role of artificial intelligence in the diagnosis and continuous monitoring of cardiovascular diseases, showing its potential to improve prognosis and reduce the incidence of acute cardiovascular events, this study presents the integration of traditional cardiology methods with digital health technologies—through a transdisciplinary approach—as a new direction in cardiovascular health, emphasising individualised care and improved clinical outcomes. These advances have great potential to impact healthcare, and as this field expands, it is crucial to understand the current research landscape and direction in order to take advantage of each technological advancement for improving the diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life of cardiovascular patients. It is concluded that the integration of these technologies into clinical practice has important implications for public health. Early detection and personalised treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) can significantly reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with these diseases. In addition, the optimisation of public health resources through telemedicine and telecare can improve access to quality care. The implementation of these technologies can be a crucial step towards reducing the global burden of cardiovascular diseases.

This study compares the structural and morphological changes in Guadua angustifolia Kunth (GAK) fiber prepared in three different ways (chips, barkless and crushed) when non-conventional alkaline treatment is applied. Moreover, it shows the improvement of mechanical properties of cement composites reinforced with these treated fibers. The three different preparations of Guadua were treated with a saturated solution of calcium hydroxide (5%) at 125 °C and 1.25 kPa for 3 h to remove non-cellulosic compounds. Then, their chemical, morphological, and structural properties were examined. The fibers exhibiting the higher delignification rate were selected to prepare cement composite boards, whose mechanical properties were successively compared with those of composites reinforced with untreated G. angustifolia fibers. The water/cement ratios of the cement mixed with the Ca(OH)₂-treated and the untreated fibers were, respectively, around 0.3 and 0.25. The flexural strength and toughness of the two composites were evaluated after 7, 28, and 90 days of curing. The calcium hydroxide treatment showed higher efficiency in removing non-cellulosic materials when performed on crushed bamboo; moreover, the mechanical properties of the composites reinforced with the treated fibers were higher than those mixed with the untreated ones. After 90 days of curing, the flexural strength increased by around 40% and the toughness became three times higher (p < 0.05). The mechanical improvement by the Ca(OH)₂ treatment of G. angustifolia fibers demonstrates its potential for the fabrication of cement composites.

The aim of this work is to study the physicochemical characterization of commercial instant corn flour (CICF) and traditional instant corn flour (TICF) prepared with threshed corn. The chemical analysis shows that there are a few amounts of fat, fiber, and minerals but the protein shows small variations in relation to the threshed corn. The CICF is characterized by coarse particles. Differential scanning calorimeter corroborated that the flours are gelatinized; but in the case of CICF the starch granules are partially disrupted and some of them are integer, producing structural changes which are identified using X-ray diffraction. A pasting analysis based on the pasting curves was conducted in order to study the apparent viscosity of these flours. The CICF shows quick water absorption at low temperatures and major values in peak viscosity than the threshed corn flour which may be related to presence of hydrocolloids. The TICF apparent viscosity showed a complete gelatinized starch.

The need to satisfy the increasing demand for building materials and the challenge of reusing plastic to help improve the critical environmental crisis has led to the recycling of plastic waste, which is further exploited and transformed into new and creative materials for the construction industry. This study looked into the use of low-density recycled polyethylene (LDPE) to produce non-conventional plastic sand cobbles. LDPE waste was melted in order to obtain enough fluid consistency which was then mixed with sand in a 25/75 plastic-sand ratio respectively, such a mixture helped producing cobbles of 10 cm × 20 cm × 4 cm. Water absorption, weight, and density measurements were performed on both commercial and non-conventional plastic sand cobbles. Moreover, compression, bending, and wear resistance were also conducted as part of their mechanical characterization. Plastic sand cobbles showed lower water absorption and density values than commercial cobbles. The mechanical properties evaluated showed that plastic sand cobbles have a higher modulus of rupture and wear resistance than commercial cobbles. In addition, plastic sand cobbles meet the Colombian Technical Standard in lightweight traffic for pedestrians and vehicle, officially known as Norma Técnica Colombiana (NTC), with 25.5 MPa, 16.3 MPa, and 12 mm compression resistance, modulus of rupture and footprint length in wear resistance respectively. Finally, a market study was conducted to establish a factory to produce this type of cobbles in Ibague, Colombia. Not only the study showed positive financial indicators, which means that it is feasible running a factory to manufacture plastic sand cobbles in the city of Ibague, but it also concluded that nonconventional plastic sand cobbles could be explored to provide a comprehensive alternative to LDPE waste.

Owing to the ongoing accumulation of industrial by-products, the management and disposal of waste have emerged as a significant issue. Employing these industrial wastes as an alternative to replace cement holds potential as a promising solution for conserving energy and reducing CO₂ emissions. In this study, pig and beef bone powder were used as cement replacements in concrete, and the mechanical properties were studied. Bone powders were prepared from random bones collected from local slaughterhouses, butchers, and restaurants. The pig bone powder (PBP) and beef bone powder (BBP) were prepared by direct fire contact, oven-calcined for 4 h at 300 °C, crushed, and sieved to size 0.4 to 2 mm. A concrete mix design was formulated for a target compressive strength of 21 MPa at 28 days of curing. This design included three different levels of cement replacement with each type of bone powder (10%, 15%, and 20% by mass). These mixes were then evaluated and compared to a control mix without any bone powder replacement (PB-0). This study evaluated the mechanical properties via compressive strength and flexural testing. The results showed that the workability of the mixtures decreased with the increase in bone powder content. Bone powder functions as a pozzolanic substance, engaging in a chemical reaction with the calcium hydroxide in concrete to produce compounds that exhibit cement-like properties; however, an increase in bone powder content worsened the mechanical properties. The most promising results were obtained for a 10% replacement percentage of BBP and PBP, obtaining strengths of 21.15 MPa and 22.78 MPa, respectively. These are both above the design strength, with PBP concrete even exceeding the strength of PB-0 (21.75 MPa). These results showed a good agreement with the standard values and allow to use these wastes as a replacement for cement, becoming a sustainable solution to the exploitation of quarry materials and, in turn, to the problem of contamination by biological waste from the meat industry.

This research addresses the inherent limitations of low mechanical strength in FDM-printed materials by studying Carbon Fibre-reinforced Polylactic Acid (PLA-CF) composites. The low strength limitation of PLA-CF in FDM requires identifying the most suitable print angle and layer height parameters. This study maximises its structural robustness, filling a knowledge gap regarding its combined effect on tensile and flexural strength. The main objective was to find the best printing angle and layer height to improve mechanical performance, an important requirement for advancing additive manufacturing applications. A total of 210 FDM-printed specimens of the PLA-CF material were subjected to uniaxial tensile (ASTM D3039) and three-point bending (ASTM D790) tests, systematically varying the printing angles (0–90°) and layer heights of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mm, following a full experimental design matrix. The ANOVA method has been used to determine the significant effect of factors on the established parameters. The findings indicated that both factors had a pronounced effect on the mechanical strength. Printing at lower angles (0° and 15°) provided, on average, greater resistance under tension (up to ~3920 N for a layer height of 0.1 mm), as well as under bending (up to 88.54 N for the same layer height), attributed to favourable fibre alignment and better load distribution. Conversely, higher angles (60° to 90°) drastically reduced strength (tensile failures due to delamination; bending forces as low as 30.02 N for a layer height of 0.3 mm, highlighting the weakness of perpendicular layer interfaces. Furthermore, lower layer height could result in better overall mechanical properties. In conclusion, FDM parameters with low print angles and reduced layer heights are essential for maximising the mechanical robustness and structural integrity of PLA-CF parts, enabling the identification of improved production processes for industrial applications and educational prototypes, among others.