Conference Agenda

This article presents an analysis of the Panamanian economy before, during, and after COVID-19. It analyzes overall unemployment figures in Panama, broken down by gender, and specifically for young people, for the period 2020 to 2024. A survey was designed and administered between April and July 2022. The research employed a mixed-methods approach, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data. It analyzed past actions related to the COVID-19 situation in the region and Panama and aimed to determine the difficulties and impacts of the virus on the Panamanian labor market. This analysis then informs the proposal of a roadmap based on the Vision 2050 priority projects list for the country, categorized by province.

The research presented addressed inventory decisions in tourist restaurants in the Lambayeque region, recognizing key management factors to ensure service quality. The main objective was to characterize decision-making in the sector, emphasizing methodology, uncertainty management, and inventory classification. To achieve this, a qualitative approach with a phenomenological design was used, with a sample of six managers chosen for convenience. Data analysis, using thematic coding, detected patterns in management methods. The result was that inventory decisions are based on practical rationality, where intuition prevails over analytical models, and empirical strategies converge with the digital transformation process.

The research article was developed based on the modeling of precipitation and temperature parameters. The data were obtained through the installation of a Taylor rain gauge for precipitation measurement and satellite-based temperature monitoring using the AccuWeather Software
Cerro de Hula is located between the municipalities of Santa Ana and San Buenaventura, approximately 15 kilometers south of Tegucigalpa. This area is characterized by a high diversity of flora and fauna, positioning itself as an area of environmental importance for the inhabitants. The area is characterized by a wide diversity of flora and fauna, which positions it as an environmentally significant area for surrounding communities.
The general objective of the research was to model precipitation and temperature parameters in Cerro de Hula, Honduras, and to analyze their possible implications in the context of climate change. Specifically, the study aimed to calculate accumulated precipitation during the observed period, identify the maximum recorded precipitation and the days with the highest and lowest precipitation, determine the degree of correlation between the variables, and generate mathematical models of accumulated precipitation and minimum, mean and maximum temperature.
The research was theoretically grounded in climate and climate change theories and adopted a quantitative methodological approach, using a non-experimental field method and a correlational research design. Primary and secondary research sources were used, along with a finite population and a probabilistic sample. The observation technique was employed, supported by a data recording logbook for data analysis, discussion of results, and formulation of final conclusions.

Mathematical modeling is a central component of engineering education, as it allows for the articulation of mathematical concepts with real-world situations encountered in professional practice. However, its implementation in university mathematics courses remains a challenge, especially when students struggle to connect formal representations with authentic contexts and to use digital tools meaningfully. In this context, digital technologies, and in particular dynamic mathematical software environments, offer new possibilities for enriching teaching and learning processes.

This work, conceived as a work in progress, presents ongoing research being conducted at Universidad Siglo 21 (Argentina). Its objective is to explore the integration of mathematical modeling activities based on environmental imagery and supported by the use of GeoGebra in university engineering courses. The study places particular emphasis on analyzing the digital competencies of students and instructors, considered a key factor in the design and implementation of innovative pedagogical approaches.

Using a mixed-methods approach, classroom experiences are analyzed and preliminary data are collected through questionnaires and observations to identify strengths and challenges in the use of GeoGebra for mathematical modeling. Initial results suggest that, while students possess basic digital skills, they experience difficulties in the autonomous and reflective use of the software for modeling tasks. These findings guide the design of future teaching interventions that integrate mathematical modeling and the development of digital competencies in higher education.

The mining company lacks a detailed cost control system, which hinders efficient cost management. It presents a process costing model to improve cost control. The research is applied rather than experimental, using both qualitative (observational) and quantitative (historical data) methods. The literature review focused on cost accounting systems including process costing, standard costing, and activity based costing (ABC). It includes an analysis of the company’s strategyc situation using SWOT analysis and identifies the main problems and solutions. The steps for designing a process costing system are described, including summarizing physical units, calculating equivalent units, summarizing total costs, calculating costs per equivalent unit, and allocating costs to finished goods and work in process. It also includes an economic evaluation of the proposed costing system, including implementation costs and potential benefits. It concludes with recommendations for the company to improve its cost control system.

The absence of specific technical guidelines for waterproof cementitious mortars used in water reservoirs in residential buildings in Peru has led to empirical practices, recurrent construction failures, and health risks. This research aimed to develop and validate a prototype of technical specifications for this type of mortar by applying the Design Thinking methodology. The study adopted an applied and mixed-methods approach, carried out in five phases: empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test. Data collection included in-depth interviews, brainstorming sessions, and Likert-scale surveys addressed to construction sector specialists. The results showed a high level of acceptance of the proposed prototype (4.95/5), as well as technical deficiencies in the products currently available on the market. It is concluded that the prototype constitutes a viable technical tool to standardize selection criteria and contribute to the durability and safety of water reservoirs in residential buildings.

This study analyzes the relationship between short- and long-term sigma levels in a metal bottle manufacturing process using an approach based on the Six Sigma methodology. Although in the 1990s, Mikel Harry established an average difference of 1.5 sigma between these two metrics, the present work questions the validity of this value, considering technological advances and the evolution of industrial processes. A six-stage methodological design was employed, including identifying a critical response variable, collecting 800 data points by controlled sampling, and statistical analysis to determine short- and long-term sigma levels. The results show that for this process, the short-term sigma level is 1.455, while the long-term level is 0.423, generating a ratio of 1.023. This suggests that the gap established by Harry does not apply universally. The results conclude that updating the metrics used in Six Sigma projects is necessary to improve decision-making accuracy, opening new opportunities to investigate this relationship in other industrial sectors.

The use of chemical synthesis products to control plant diseases has caused an imbalance in the ecological balance of microorganisms and the environment. The research was carried out in the Biological Sciences Laboratory at ESPOCH, and the active ingredients used were azadirachtin, propamocarb, dimethomorph, azoxystrobin, boscalid, cuprocalcium sulfate, difenoconazole, cartap hydrochloride, glyphosate and deltamethrin. Five concentrations of pesticides were used. A 50 μl suspension of B. subtilis was seeded in Petri dishes and incubated. The number of CFU/ml was recorded and the percentage of inhibition of each treatment. The active ingredient with the greatest inhibitory effect (88.75%) on B. subtilis growth was cuprocalcium sulfate, therefore, it was classified as moderately toxic. Difenoconazole, azoxystrobin, dimethomorph and boscalid were classified as slightly toxic, and propamocarb and glyphosate presented an inhibitory percentage of less than 29%, they were classified as harmless. The analysis of the qualitative characteristics of the B. subtilis colonies showed that no pesticide substantially affected their morphology.

Food waste represents a significant inefficiency in contemporary food systems, particularly at the retail stage, where storage, handling, and commercialization practices contribute to the discard of foods with high nutritional value. This study aimed to estimate the nutritional losses associated with fruit and vegetable waste in retail markets in the city of Córdoba, Argentina, as an indicator of the system’s capacity to preserve the nutritional value of fresh foods. An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted between July and December 2024 in 125 retail fruit and vegetable shops. Data collection included hygienic–sanitary checklists, semi-structured surveys administered to shop managers, and direct recording of discarded products. Nutritional losses were estimated using official food composition tables (SARA 2), applying edible portion correction factors. The analysis was structured at two levels: a general estimation based on the total volume of food waste, using a representative basket of frequently discarded products (banana, peach, pear, leafy vegetables, tomato, and avocado), and a specific estimation by food type. All surveyed retailers reported food waste, with an average discard of 250.86 ± 197.58 kg per week per shop, equivalent to 13% of total purchases. Estimated weekly nutritional losses included 786,028 mg of potassium, 68,401 mg of vitamin C, 112,887 µg of folic acid, 282 g of dietary fiber, and 174,800 kcal of energy. These findings show that retail food waste involves not only economic and environmental losses, but also a substantial loss of nutritional value from foods that remain suitable for consumption.