This study evaluated the activity concentrations of 226Ra in cassava pulp, peel, and derived starch cultivated in three production sectors of Chone, Ecuador, and assessed soil-to-plant transfer and associated dietary exposure. Results show pronounced sector-dependent variability in radionuclide distribution, with consistently lower 226Ra levels in starch relative to raw plant fractions. Estimated ingestion doses for both children and adults were negligible and well below international reference values. These findings provide the first multi-matrix baseline for 226Ra transfer in cassava under tropical Ecuadorian conditions and support site-specific radiological risk assessments.
The selective determination of tryptophan in pasteurized milk is an indicator of quality, as its presence indicates that the process has been carried out at the correct temperatures. Tryptophan analysis is costly for industries, but the use of a sensor would reduce both costs and analysis times. A sensor using l-tryptophan dehydrogenase (TrpDH) was optimized, with the system immobilized using an electrode to quantify the tryptophan content in industrial milk. The stability of the enzyme was studied at a controlled temperature of 4 °C, and it was observed that it maintained 90
Microbe-engineered nanocatalysts offer a sustainable and adaptable platform for green chemical transformations in thermal, photocatalytic, and electrocatalytic systems. Biological synthesis techniques using bacteria, fungi, yeast, and algae enable the controlled formation of nanoparticles via enzymatic reduction, respiratory metal transformation, and photosynthetic redox pathways. However, previous reviews have mostly emphasised biological synthesis pathways, with limited quantitative integration of structure-activity connections and cross-platform catalytic performance measurements. These biogenic nanocatalysts typically have particle sizes ranging from 2 to 100 nm, high defect densities, variable surface functionalisation, and organic capping layers to improve colloidal stability and catalytic selectivity. Quantitative study demonstrates activation energy reductions of 20-60%, turnover frequencies of 0.1-10 s-1, and overpotentials as low as 200-500 mV in electrocatalytic systems. Environmental applications exhibit removal efficiency of over 90% for dyes, heavy metals, and pharmaceutical micropollutants. Energy applications show hydrogen evolution rates of up to 10 mmol g-1 h-1 and CO2 conversion selectivity of up to 90%. Despite these performance benchmarks, the field faces significant hurdles in batch-to-batch reproducibility and standardized reporting of metal-normalized activity. Structure-activity relationships suggest that nanoscale defect engineering, active site density, and surface biomolecule interactions all have a significant impact on catalytic performance. This review combines quantitative measures from synthesis, structural characterisation, catalytic mechanisms, and environmental deployment to provide a cohesive framework for rationally designing next-generation bioinspired nanocatalysts for sustainable chemical processes.
La gestión documental es un desafío constante para las instituciones públicas, ya que su correcta organización afecta la eficiencia administrativa y la disponibilidad de información clave para la toma de decisiones. Esta investigación se enfoca en la creación de un repositorio centralizado que integre los documentos gestionados dentro de la Secretaría del Agua en Ecuador. El estudio se basa en la recopilación de documentos y en los retos encontrados para respaldar múltiples procesos. Este proyecto surge como respuesta a la creciente demanda de un sistema que permita manejar eficientemente los archivos. Para abordar esta problemática, se implementó una metodología cuantitativa, aplicando técnicas de entrevistas en distintas direcciones de la institución sobre la gestión de archivos y procesos. La solución busca priorizar la disponibilidad de respaldos y el acceso oportuno a la información, optimizando la eficiencia en la ejecución de procesos específicos. Durante la implementación, se evidenció que pocas áreas invierten en herramientas de gestión documental y que no se reconoce su importancia estratégica para impulsar mejoras significativas. Se alcanzó un 83,7% de consenso en que deben existir normas para el manejo de la documentación institucional. Los resultados de este estudio son relevantes para la toma de decisiones y para adoptar un enfoque más proactivo en la incorporación de tecnologías avanzadas y prácticas innovadoras, garantizando que la información crucial esté disponible para la toma de decisiones. La adecuada organización de la documentación es fundamental para asegurar la eficiencia en las instituciones públicas.
Cancer remains one of the major global health challenges, with a significant impact on morbidity and mortality worldwide, making early detection crucial for improving survival rates through more timely interventions and treatments. However, the early diagnosis of liver cancer presents complexities and often relies on technologies and methods with inherent limitations. This study aims to develop an early detection model for liver cancer from abdominal Computed Tomography scan images, applying an experimental methodology based on the phases of the CRISP-DM process. Analysis of results demonstrates that the model achieved 95
