Universidad Pedagógica Nacional Francisco Morazán

Introduction: This study evaluated a Virtual Exchange (VE) project based on United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) to connect students and faculty across five universities from the USA, Brazil, Honduras, and Algeria. Methods: A four-week program combined synchronous and asynchronous activities, allowing for flexible, self-selected participation. This paper presents a description of this VE project as well as its outcomes. Results: The project successfully fostered global awareness and collaborative dialogue, filling a gap in participants’ regular studies. Participants valued the global connections through the program. Discussion: The VE project demonstrated the potential of self-determined participation in promoting global connections and collaborative learning. The SDGs created a productive space for authentic dialogue framed within a sense of community. Limitations: This project is limited to the scope of exploring selected relevant SDGs and does not include data from the participants´ interactions for analysis and discussion. Conclusions: The VE proved valuable for international educational exchange, particularly benefiting students with limited access to traditional international programs. Future research should include quantitative analysis and explore adding practical action components linked to SDG implementation to enhance impact.

Medium-entropy alloys (MEAs) allow the formation of different phases, generally in a solid-solution state, and compounds that favor obtaining alloys with properties superior to those of conventional alloys. In this study, medium-entropy CuNiSiCrCoTiNbx alloys were fabricated via melting in a vacuum induction furnace. The influence of the Nb addition (X = 0, 0.5 and 1 wt%) alloying elements on the microstructure, hardness, and wear resistance of the CuNiSiCrCoTiNb0 (M1), CuNiSiCrCoTiNb0.5 (M2), and CuNiCoCrSiTiNb1 (M3) alloys were explored using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and a ball-on-disc tribometer, respectively. In general, the results indicated that the incorporation of Nb alloying element promoted the evolution of the microstructure, increased the hardness, and improvement of the wear resistance. The XRD and SEM findings demonstrate that higher Nb addition and aging heat treatment (AT) modification mainly favored the formation of dendritic regions and the precipitation of the Co2Nb, Cr3Si, and Ni2Si phases, which promoted the refinement and strengthening of the microstructure. Significant increases in hardness were recorded: 11.95% increased, promoted by the addition of Nb before (E1) and after (E2, E3, and E4) the heat treatments. The maximum hardness values recorded were 92 ± 0.11 (AC) and 103 ± 0.5 HRB (AT-60 min) for the M3 alloy. The increase in hardness caused by Nb addition and aging heat treatments contributed to the dry sliding wear resistance response, decreasing material loss by 20%. This was related to the high concentration of precipitated phases rich in CoNb, CrSi, and NiSi with high hardness. Finally, the M3 alloy aged for 60 min exhibited the best specific wear rate behavior, with a material loss of 1.29 mm3. The commercial Cu-Be C17510 alloy experienced a maximum hardness of 83.47 Hardness Rockwell B, HRB, and a high wear rate of 3.34 mm³.

Children’s screen use is ubiquitous, with toddlers in particular demonstrating increases after the pandemic and negative associations with cognitive abilities. Thus, the objective of this cross-cultural study was to broaden and deepen existing results by describing Latin American toddlers’ screen use and its association with parental reports of language skills, developmental milestones, and sociodemographic variables. A sample of 1878 toddlers from 12 to 48 months (M.age = 27.55, SD = 9.68, male = 933, low-SES = 945) from 19 different Latin American countries was evaluated. Parent-report measures of children’s use of screens, SES, language, and developmental milestones were administered virtually or face-to-face. Results indicated that infants’ screen exposure times were longer than recommended, with TV and smartphone being the most frequent screen media among them. Also, most of the screen time was shared with an adult. These results were consistent across parent-reported SES and nationality. In addition, negative and significant associations were generally found between screen time and language skills, which were in turn positively associated with shared reading times. The frequency of shared screen use with adults demonstrated positive correlations with language skills, after controlling for sociodemographic variables. Lastly, entertainment and educational content was associated with higher levels of language skills compared to music. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the importance of promoting responsible and accompanied use of screens with age-appropriate content during the first years of life across different contexts.

The 18e saturated rhodium(III) species [Rh(H)(X)(κ²‐NSitBu2)(bipyMe2)] (NSitBu2={4‐methylpyridine‐2‐yloxy}ditertbutylsilyl; bipyMe2=4,4'‐dimethylbipyridine) (X=Cl, 1; OTf, 2) have been prepared and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and in the case of 2 it has been possible to determine its solid‐state structure by X‐ray diffraction. Complex 1 has proven to be an effective catalyst precursor for the reaction of styrene derivatives with hydrosilanes in CD2Cl2. However, under catalytic conditions complex 2 decomposes. The performance of the 1‐catalyzed reaction of styrene with hydrosilanes strongly depends on the nature of the silane, the best catalytic performance was achieved using HSiMe2Ph. Theoretical and ¹H NMR studies indicate that the hemilabile nature of the NSi ligand is key to understanding the catalytic activity of compound 1.

Academic procrastination, a prevalent issue in higher education, has been associated with various adverse outcomes. This study aims to discern and compare the degrees of academic procrastination among university students in Honduras and Spain while also investigating the relationship between academic procrastination and the Big Five personality factors alongside self-esteem. The sample comprised 457 university students, encompassing 237 Hondurans and 220 Spaniards. The research employed descriptive, comparative, correlational, and regression analyses. Honduran university students exhibited a significantly lower level of academic procrastination. Correlational analyses revealed that self-esteem and all Big Five personality factors, except for neuroticism in the Spanish cohort, displayed noteworthy associations with academic procrastination. Further regression analyses demonstrated that conscientiousness emerged as a significant predictor of procrastination in both samples. This study's findings can be pivotal in identifying students at risk of procrastination at an early stage. Additionally, the results can inform the development of intervention programs designed to mitigate procrastination tendencies among university students.

The chemistry of transition‐metal (TM) complexes with monoanionic bidentate (κ²‐L,Si) silyl ligands has considerably grown in recent years. This work summarizes the advances in the chemistry of TM‐(κ²‐L,Si) complexes (L=N‐heterocycle, phosphine, N‐heterocyclic carbene, thioether, ester, silylether or tetrylene). The most common synthetic method has been the oxidative addition of the Si−H bond to the metal center assisted by the coordination of L. The metal silicon bond distances in TM‐(κ²‐L,Si) complexes are in the range of metal‐silyl bond distances. TM‐(κ²‐L,Si) complexes have proven to be effective catalysts for hydrosilylation and/or hydrogenation of unsaturated molecules among other processes.

Background SARS-CoV-2 infection had specific characteristics in the pediatric population described in previous studies. These clinical features included specific COVID-19 presentation, antibiotic usage, and predictors of disease severity. In addition to patient related factors, external influences could affect COVID-19 outcomes. The features of children with COVID-19 of five Latin American countries were described. Study participants were members of the Prevencionistas e Infectólogos para Cáncer Pediátrico en América Latina (PRINCIPAL) Network of the Global Infectious Diseases Program at St Jude Children's Research Hospital. This study aims to analyze the differences between patients with non-severe and severe disease when the circulation of the Delta variant was predominant, and few children had received SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Methods This is a retrospective, observational, multinational study that included children with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 between January 2021 and January 2022. Epidemiological, clinical, and treatment characteristics are described and compared between patients with severe and non-severe disease. Frequencies and percentages are presented as well as median and interquartile ranges (IQR). Comparisons were made using the chi-squared test for proportions and the Wilcoxon test for nonparametric quantitative variables. Results 745 patients were included. Patients had a median age of 51 (13-139) months, 194 (26%) had comorbidities, and 701 (94%) presented with symptomatic disease. Fever was present in 524 (74.8%) patients, respiratory symptoms in 550 (78.5%), followed by gastrointestinal manifestations in 218 (31.1%). X-ray findings were abnormal in 175/362 patients, with interstitial infiltrates being the most common finding, 123 (70.7%). Almost a third of patients (29%) received an antibiotic; ceftriaxone was most frequently prescribed in 123/216 cases. Of 745 patients, 526 (70.8%) were hospitalized, of which 165 (31.4%) required PICU admission. Patients presenting with severe disease and requiring PICU admission we more likely to have a comorbidity, 128 (22%) vs. 66 (40%), p<0.001. Mucocutaneous findings or adenitis were more frequently described in severe cases, 19 (11.5) vs. 18 (5.0%), p=0.007. Regarding laboratory results, low lymphocytes 2445 vs. 1676 (p<0.001) and low platelets 294,000 vs. 250,000 (p=0.0002) were most common in patients with severe disease. The proportion of patients with lymphocytopenia was also higher in those with severe disease, 39% vs. 52% p= 0.010. Not surprisingly, antibiotic usage (broad and narrow spectrum) was higher in patients admitted to the PICU (32 vs. 16.5%) p=0.001, despite no significant difference in the frequency of bacterial coinfection (5.56% vs. 9.7% p=0.081) when compared to patients with non-severe disease. Specific treatment strategies were more frequent in PICU patients (39.1% vs. 72.1%) p<0.001, and steroids were the most frequently used drug, 35.2% vs. 70.7% (p<0.001). Table 1. Conclusions Regardless of the variant, COVID-19 is an important cause of hospitalization in children. Fever, respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms are the most frequent manifestations in children. Despite the low frequency of bacterial coinfection, a high proportion of antibiotic usage is described. Compared to recent publications, mucocutaneous involvement, lower lymphocyte and platelet counts, and higher inflammatory markers were more frequently found in admissions to the PICU. Currently, with higher vaccine coverage and more comprehensive knowledge of the disease, optimization of pediatric COVID-19 management is expected, especially concerning antibiotic use. It is essential to continue multicenter surveillance of the behavior of COVID-19 in the pediatric population.

Correction for 'Iridium-(κ2-NSi) catalyzed dehydrogenation of formic acid: effect of auxiliary ligands on the catalytic performance' by Alejandra Gomez-España et al., Dalton Trans., 2023, 52, 6722-6729, https://doi.org/10.1039/d3dt00744h.

La motivación y la comunicación educativa son elementos que el docente del siglo XXI debe priorizar como estrategias didácticas para eliminar la comunicación y la enseñanza mecánica y tradicional; para transformarlas en habilidades motivadoras que atraigan la indagación, investigación y los proyectos de extensión y vinculación social. Con este ensayo se pretende reflexionar sobre las debilidades y fortalezas que los docentes universitarios tenemos al desarrollar una clase. La empatía, la experiencia y afecto del docente hacia sus estudiantes, y la participación activa en metodologías participativas dedicadas a la comunicación y a la motivación; pueden definir el éxito o fracaso de los estudiantes universitarios.

Correction for 'Iridium-(κ2-NSi) catalyzed dehydrogenation of formic acid: effect of auxiliary ligands on the catalytic performance' by Alejandra Gomez-España et al., Dalton Trans., 2023, https://doi.org/10.1039/d3dt00744h.

The iridium(III) complexes [Ir(H)(Cl)(κ2-NSitBu2)(κ2-bipyMe2)] (2) and [Ir(H)(OTf)(κ2-NSitBu2)(κ2-bipyMe2)] (3) (NSitBu2 = {4-methylpyridine-2-yloxy}ditertbutylsilyl) have been synthesized and characterized including X-ray studies of 3. A comparative study of the catalytic activity of complexes 2, 3, [Ir(H)(OTf)(κ2-NSitBu2)(coe)] (4), and [Ir(H)(OTf)(κ2-NSitBu2)(PCy3)] (5) (0.1 mol%) as catalysts precursors for the solventless formic acid dehydrogenation (FADH) in the presence of Et3N (40 mol%) at 353 K has been performed. The highest activity (TOF5 min ≈ 3260 h-1) has been obtained with 3 at 373 K. However, at that temperature the FTIR spectra show traces of CO together with the desired products (H2 and CO2). Thus, the best performance was achieved at 353 K (TOF5 min ≈ 1210 h-1 and no observable CO). Kinetic studies at variable temperature show that the activation energy of the 3-catalyzed FADH process is 16.76 kcal mol-1. Kinetic isotopic effect (5 min) values of 1.6, 4.5, and 4.2 were obtained for the 3-catalyzed dehydrogenation of HCOOD, DCOOH, and DCOOD, respectively, at 353 K. The strong KIE found for DCOOH and DCOOD evidenced that the hydride transfer from the C-H bond of formic acid to the metal is the rate-determining step of the process.

In Honduras and El Salvador, coffee (Coffea arabica) is one of the leading agricultural exports, and the share of specialty coffee is growing each year. However, despite the importance of specialty coffee production and exports, there is a knowledge gap regarding its cost structure and profitability, particularly those associated with labor costs. The specific objectives of the study were to determine the cost structure of specialty coffee in Honduras and El Salvador and to estimate the costs and profitability of producing specialty coffee in these countries. A semi-structured survey instrument was administered to 14 farmers in Honduras and El Salvador selected as a convenience sample to represent different farm sizes, regions, and specialty-conventional and organic production systems. Specialty-conventional refers to high-quality coffee with or without certifications. Then,cost-profitability models were developed using an economic cost approach, which considered cash, noncash cost, and the opportunity costs of inputs. The results showed that although both countries are neighbors and economically and culturally similar, the cost structure of producing specialty coffee differed significantly. Costs were lower and profits were higher in Honduras than in El Salvador, and the specialty-conventional coffee production system was more profitable than the organic production system.

The reaction of [IrH(Cl)(κ2-NSitBu2)(coe)] (1) with 1 equiv of PCy3 (or PHtBu2) gives the species [IrH(Cl)(κ2-NSitBu2)(L)] (L = PCy3, 2a; PHtBu2, 2b), which reacts with 1 equiv of AgOTf to afford [IrH(OTf)(κ2-NSitBu2)(L)] (L = PCy3, 3a and PHtBu2, 3b). Complexes 2a, 2b, 3a, and 3b have been characterized by means of NMR spectroscopy and HR-MS. The solid-state structures of complexes 2a, 2b, and 3a have been determined by X-ray diffraction studies. The reversible coordination of water to 3a, 3b, and 4 to afford the corresponding adduct [IrH(OTf)(κ2-NSitBu2)(L)(H2O)] (L = PCy3, 3a-H2O; PHtBu2, 3b-H2O; coe, 4-H2O) has been demonstrated spectroscopically by NMR studies. The structure of complexes 3b-H2O and 4-H2O have been determined by X-ray diffraction studies. Computational analyses of the interaction between neutral [NSitBu2]• and [Ir(H)L(X)]• fragments in Ir-NSitBu2 species confirm the electron-sharing nature of the Ir-Si bond and the significant role of electrostatics in the interaction between the transition metal fragment and the κ2-NSitBu2 ligand. The activity of Ir-(κ2-NSitBu2) species as catalysts for the hydrolysis of HSiMe(OSiMe3)2 depends on the nature of the ancillary ligands. Thus, while the triflate derivatives are active, the related chloride species show no activity. The best catalytic performance has been obtained when using complexes 3a, with triflate and PCy3 ligands, as a catalyst precursor, which allows the selective obtention of the corresponding silanol.

El cierre inesperado de los campus universitarios debido a la pandemia por COVID-19, ha derivado en un modelo de enseñanza remota de emergencia. Este artículo presenta los resultados de un estudio cuyo objetivo era analizar la satisfacción de los estudiantes universitarios con los entornos de aprendizaje virtual y el impacto que las variables sociodemográficas y la autoeficacia informática tienen sobre la misma. Para ello se administró un cuestionario en línea a 4,469 estudiantes de la Universidad Pedagógica Nacional Francisco Morazán (UPNFM) de Honduras. Los datos se analizaron por medio de la prueba no paramétrica de Wilcoxon, un modelo de regresión lineal y un modelo multinivel como prueba de robustez. Los resultados revelan que la satisfacción con los entornos virtuales de aprendizaje difiere según la modalidad de estudio a la que pertenece el estudiante; adicionalmente, las variables sociodemográficas y la autoeficacia informática influyen en la satisfacción.

Objetivo. Evaluar la promoción de la competencia cooperativa en el contexto de la formación inicial docente desde la percepción del alumnado y del equipo de docentes. Metodología. Se diseñó desde un enfoque cualitativo y desde las tradiciones metodológicas de la investigación-acción en el aula y de la narrativa-biográfica, una propuesta curricular basada en el guion metodológico del espacio pedagógico de psicología del aprendizaje, como formato didáctico a implementar en el aula; desde una mirada evaluativa se analizaron tres fases: inicial, procesual y final. Los instrumentos empleados fueron un cuestionario cerrado, para evaluar las necesidades formativas del alumnado, el diario del investigador o investigadora para registrar las reflexiones del equipo docente y una entrevista semiestructurada aplicada a estudiantes. Las personas participantes fueron 47 estudiantes y el equipo docente estuvo integrado por 3 profesionales. Resultados. Los resultados indican que, para el alumnado, la experiencia formativa implementada favoreció la reconstrucción de significados, experiencias y comprensiones sobre el trabajo cooperativo en el contexto de la profesión y, desde la percepción del personal docente permitió nuevos espacios de reflexión e integración de la teoría y la práctica. Conclusión. La experiencia curricular implementada en un contexto dialógico y cooperativo permitió comprender que la competencia cooperativa, no es un fin en sí misma, sino que favorece la construcción de la identidad docente.

El artículo presenta los resultados de una investigación cuyo propósito fue analizar las condiciones y desafíos en la formación investigadora de los estudiantes de magisterio. Para ello, se aplicó un cuestionario a 299 estudiantes y se entrevistó a 8 profesores responsables de las asignaturas dedicadas a fortalecer las competencias investigativas. Se utilizó un modelo de regresión lineal y un modelo multinivel para el estudio de los datos cuantitativos; mientras que para la información cualitativa se realizó análisis textual. Los resultados revelan que un sistema de creencias y concepciones favorables con la investigación, el perfil de ingreso del estudiante y la estructura curricular juegan un papel importante en el desarrollo de las competencias. Asimismo, la modalidad de estudio, el grado académico y el rendimiento investigativo del docente están vinculados con la formación en investigación.

p style="text-align: justify;">The objective of this study was to promote the use of metaphorical stories based on classical Greek myths in academic teacher training. The aim is to favour processes of personal assemblage and the constitution of teacher identity. Based on 8 classical myths, 4 of them featuring a female character and another 4 a male character, the group of participants narrated positive as well as disappointing experiences they had lived through during their academic training. Moreover, they selected the myths, among those proposed, that provided the metaphors that best described their specific personal trajectories. Adopting a qualitative approach, we followed a narrative-biographical tradition and collected 37 stories. This narrative corpus was analysed using the AQUAD software. The results showed that classical Greek myths contain and provide a powerful and illuminating narrative scaffolding, helping students to adopt a different perspective in the narration of their own academic trajectories. The myths equally helped them to become more aware of the most genuine life and personal experiences that shaped their own teacher identity.</p

The Resplendent Quetzal ( Pharomachrus mocinno ) exhibits characteristics that are common to species prone to extinction, such as occurring at low densities, presenting strict ecological requirements, and inhabiting locations with high rates of degradation. The lack of data on the abundance of threatened species makes it difficult to make management decisions and does not allow to know trends over time, which is essential for conservation in their distribution areas. The abundance and density of the Resplendent Quetzal was estimated from audio/visual detections analyzed with distance sampling techniques. Data was collected in the public use sector of La Tigra National Park, a reserve of virgin and secondary growth cloud forest in Honduras, Central America. A population N = 136 was found with a density of 40 quetzals per km ² . There are no systematic studies on the population size and density of the species for this site since 1979, in which a population of 145 quetzals was reported. The estimation of the Resplendent Quetzal population for the total area of the park is a main research priority, which will make it possible to evaluate the viability of the species and the establishment of a new baseline for conservation policies and environmental education efforts in the area of influence.