(Tables 1-3) Water chemistry of cloud forest streams at baseflow conditions, Rio San Francisco, Ecuador

We investigated controls on the water chemistry of a South Ecuadorian cloud forest catchment which is partly pristine, and partly converted to extensive pasture. From April 2007 to May 2008 water samples were taken weekly to biweekly at nine different subcatchments, and were screened for differences in electric conductivity, pH, anion, as well as element composition. A principal component analysis was conducted to reduce dimensionality of the data set and define major factors explaining variation in the data. Three main factors were isolated by a subset of 10 elements (Ca2+, Ce, Gd, K+, Mg2+, Na+, Nd, Rb, Sr, Y), explaining around 90% of the data variation. Land-use was the major factor controlling and changing water chemistry of the subcatchments. A second factor was associated with the concentration of rare earth elements in water, presumably highlighting other anthropogenic influences such as gravel excavation or road construction. Around 12% of the variation was explained by the third component, which was defined by the occurrence of Rb and K and represents the influence of vegetation dynamics on element accumulation and wash-out. Comparison of base- and fast flow concentrations led to the assumption that a significant portion of soil water from around 30 cm depth contributes to storm flow, as revealed by increased rare earth element concentrations in fast flow samples. Our findings demonstrate the utility of multi-tracer principal component analysis to study tropical headwater streams, and emphasize the need for effective land management in cloud forest catchments.

A Qualitative Assessment of Breast Cancer Advocates in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2016-06

PICTOAPRENDE: Design and evaluation of a tool that contributes to the personal autonomy of children and youth diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in Ecuador

This paper presents the development and evaluation of PICTOAPRENDE, which is an interactive software designed to improve oral communication. Additionally, it contributes to the development of children and youth who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Ecuador. To fulfill this purpose initially analyzes the intervention area where the general characteristics of people with ASD and their status in Ecuador is described. Statistical techniques used for this evaluation constitutes the basis of this study. A section that presents the development of research-based cognitive and social parameters of the area of intervention is also shown. Finally, the algorithms to obtain the measurements and experimental results along with the analysis of them are presented.

Aplicación de la escala National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) en pacientes ingresados en el Hospital Vicente Corral Moscoso con diagnóstico de enfermedad cerebrovascular isquémica, enero-diciembre de 2004, Cuenca-Ecuador

Estudio descriptivo de pacientes con ictus isquémico ingresados en el Hospital Vicente Corral dentro de las 24 horas de inicio de síntomas, desde enero a diciembre de 2004. El daño neurológico inicial fue cuantificado usando la NIHSS. El desenlace neurológico fue valorado a los 7 días y 3 meses utilizando el Indice de Barthel. Resultados: De 75 pacientes ingresados en el período de estudio, 24 cumplieron los criterios de inclusión y 23 completaron el seguimiento. A los 3 meses 66.7de pacientes, con puntaje inicial NIHSS menor que 6 evolucionaron a un resultado excelente. Los pacientes con un puntaje NIHSS igual o mayor que 16 tuvieron un mal desenlace. El 50de pacientes con un puntaje de 16 a 20 y los pacientes con puntaje mayor que 20 fallecieron. En el análisis estadístico, un puntaje mayor a 13 tuvo un Odds Ratio de 49.5 (IC 954.5 - 480.5) para un desenlace fatal a los 3 meses. La asociación fue significativa lo que otorga al punto de corte de 13 puntos una gran validez para pronosticar un buen o mal desenlace. Conclusión. Aplicando el NIHSS a los pacientes con ictus isquémico observamos que un puntaje igual o mayor a 16 predice una alta probabilidad de muerte o severa incapacidad, mientras que un puntaje igual o menor a 6 pronostica una buena recuperación. Descriptores DeCS. Ictus isquémico, NIHSS, Índice de Barthel

Convenio de Colaboración entre la University of Victoria (Representada por el Department of Hispanic and Italian Studies), Victoria, Columbia Británica, Canadá, y la Universidad de Cuenca (Programa de Español para Extranjeros, Departamento de Idiomas), Cuenca, Ecuador

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Who Governs Educational Change? The Paradoxes of State Power and the Pursuit of Educational Reform in Post-Neoliberal Ecuador (2007-2015)

This study identifies and compares competing policy stories of key actors involved in the Ecuadorian education reform under President Rafael Correa from 2007-2015. By revealing these competing policy stories the study generates insights into the political and technical aspects of education reform in a context where state capacity has been eroded by decades of neoliberal policies. Since the elections in 2007, President Correa has focused much of his political effort and capital on reconstituting the state’s authority and capacity to not only formulate but also implement public policies. The concentration of power combined with a capacity building agenda allowed the Correa government to advance an ambitious comprehensive education reform with substantive results in equity and quality. At the same time the concentration of power has undermined a more inclusive and participatory approach which are essential for deepening and sustaining the reform. This study underscores both the limits and importance of state control over education; the inevitable conflicts and complexities associated with education reforms that focus on quality; and the limits and importance of participation in reform. Finally, it examines the analytical benefits of understanding governance, participation and quality as socially constructed concepts that are tied to normative and ideological interests.

Memorandum Of Understanding On Academic Cooperation Between Royal Roads University Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and Universidad de Cuenca. Cuenca,Ecuador

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Memorandum of Understanding between Coastal Carolina University Conway, South Carolina, USA and Universidad de Cuenca. Cuenca, Ecuador

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Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Maryland, College Park the United States of America and Universidad de Cuenca. Cuenca, Ecuador

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Massachusetts College of Art and Design y Universidad de Cuenca. Acuerdo de Intercambio Estudiantil. Memorándum de Acuerdo entre Massachusetts College of Art and Design (Massart), Boston, Massachusetts, U:S:A. y la Universidad de Cuenca, Ecuador

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Acuerdo Marco de Cooperación entre la Universidad de Cuenca (Ecuador) y el A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution (Moscow, Russia)

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Cooperation Agreement between Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences-Munich, Germany and Universidad de Cuenca, Ecuador

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Memorandum of Understanding between The University of Cuenca (Ecuador) and Ghent University

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Memorandum of understanding between Universidad de Cuenca (Ecuador) and NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences, Academies for Tourism, Leisure and Hotel Management & Facility Management Breda, The Netherlands

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A REMOTE SENSING APPROACH TO CHARACTERIZE THE HYDROGEOLOGY OF MOUNTAINOUS AREAS: APPLICATION TO THE QUITO AQUIFER SYSTEM (QAS), ECUADOR

Climate change, intensive use, and population growth are threatening the availability of water resources. New sources of water, better knowledge of existing ones, and improved water management strategies are of paramount importance. Ground water is often considered as primary water source due to its advantages in terms of quantity, spatial distribution, and natural quality. Remote sensing techniques afford scientists a unique opportunity to characterize landscapes in order to assess groundwater resources, particularly in tectonically influenced areas. Aquifers in volcanic basins are considered the most productive aquifers in Latin America. Although topography is considered the primary driving force for groundwater flows in mountainous terrains, tectonic activity increases the complexity of these groundwater systems by altering the integrity of sedimentary rock units and the overlying drainage networks. Structural controls affect the primary hydraulic properties of the rock formations by developing barriers to flow in some cases and zones of preferential infiltration and subterranean in others. The study area focuses on the Quito Aquifer System (QAS) in Ecuador. The characterization of the hydrogeology started with a lineament analysis based on a combined remote sensing and digital terrain analysis approach. The application of classical tools for regional hydrogeological evaluation and shallow geophysical methods were useful to evaluate the impact of faulting and fracturing on the aquifer system. Given the spatial extension of the area and the complexity of the system, two levels of analysis were applied in this study. At the regional level, a lineament map was created for the QAS. Relationships between fractures, faults and lineaments and the configuration of the groundwater flow on the QAS were determined. At the local level, on the Plateaus region of the QAS, a detailed lineament map was obtained by using high-spatial-resolution satellite imagery and aspect map derived from a digital elevation model (DEM). This map was complemented by the analysis of morphotectonic indicators and shallow geophysics that characterize fracture patterns. The development of the groundwater flow system was studied, drawing upon data pertaining to the aquifer system physical characteristics and topography. Hydrochemistry was used to ascertain the groundwater evolution and verify the correspondence of the flow patterns proposed in the flow system analysis. Isotopic analysis was employed to verify the origin of groundwater. The results of this study show that tectonism plays a very important role for the hydrology of the QAS. The results also demonstrate that faults influence a great deal of the topographic characteristics of the QAS and subsequently the configuration of the groundwater flow. Moreover, for the Plateaus region, the results demonstrate that the aquifer flow systems are affected by secondary porosity. This is a new conceptualization of the functioning of the aquifers on the QAS that will significantly contribute to the development of better strategies for the management of this important water resource.