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Antonio Cano-Ortiz,1 Pablo Morales,2 Álvaro Sánchez-Ventosa,1 Isabel Leiva-Gea,3,4 Alberto Membrillo,1,5 Vasyl Druchkiv,6,7 Timoteo González-Cruces,1 José-María Sánchez-González,8 Jaime Beltrán,7 Alberto Villarrubia1 1Instituto de Oftalmología la Arruzafa, Córdoba, Spain; 2Department of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Clínica Baviera, Málaga, Spain; 3Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Málaga, Spain; 4Istituto de Biomedicina de Málaga (IBIMA), Málaga, Spain; 5Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain; 6University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; 7Department of Research & Development, Clínica Baviera, Valencia, Spain; 8Department of Physics of Condensed Matter, Optics Area University of Seville, Seville, SpainCorrespondence: Pablo Morales; Isabel Leiva-Gea Málaga, SpainTel +34 669 232 767; Tel +34 677254051Email pblmorales@hotmail.com; isabeleiva@hotmail.comPurpose: To assess the safety, aberrometric and keratometric changes, and stability of trans-epithelial topography-guided phototherapeutic keratectomy (TE-TG-PTK) with mitomycin C (MMC) using the ALLEGRO Topolyzer platform for the treatment of irregular astigmatism.Methods: This is a retrospective case series including 57 eyes that underwent TE-TG-PTK + MMC using the ALLEGRO Topolyzer platform for the treatment of irregular astigmatism. CDVA, manifest refraction (MR), keratometry readings, and aberrometry readings were analyzed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months.Results: Causes of corneal irregularity included non-infectious leucoma (n=23), infectious leucoma (n=7), adenoviral keratitis (n=20), corneal haze (n=2), post-penetrant keratoplasty (PKP) (n=1), and others (n=4). Overall, 76% of the eyes (n=40) gained lines of vision; patients gained 1, and 2 or more lines of vision in 76%, and 38% of cases, respectively. Only 1 patient (2%) lost 5 lines of vision. Mean preoperative CDVA (LogMAR) was 0.37 ± 0.31 and improved to 0.14 ± 0.18 (p< 0.001) at final follow-up (12 months). CDVA remained unchanged in 10 eyes (21%). No significant changes were observed in mean keratometry (Kmean) and keratometric astigmatism readings. Regarding aberrometry, only changes in coma proved to be significant 6 months after surgery (P< 0.01). No intraoperative/postoperative complications were reported.Conclusion: At final follow-up, significant improvements were observed in CDVA and coma. TE-TG-PTK + MMC proved to be an effective and safe procedure for the treatment of corneal irregular astigmatism due to several causes.Keywords: topography-guided phototherapeutic keratectomy, irregular astigmatism. laser refractive surgery, mitomycin C

The post-COVID-19 educational landscape requires novel teaching strategies to cultivate skills in a global environment where knowledge can be shared between similarly demanding and evaluated universities. This research focuses on the Collaborative International Online Learning (COIL) strategy at a Higher Education Institution in Mexico. Its objective is to assess the COIL approach to generate advice on improvement opportunities for other COIL experiences at the global scale. Answers to a survey applied to students and educators participating in a COIL experience were analyzed using a mixed-method approach. It consisted of an ordinal answer scale part and open questions. Additionally, the opinions of the COIL management personnel of the universities participating in the ERASMUS + project were collected in a focus group. Our findings show that the COIL program is a ground-breaking platform that benefits students and faculty. The opportunity to collaborate with international peers is highly appreciated. However, we identified some areas that require improvement, such as providing better faculty training and support for adapting courses, increasing the opportunities for student-instructor and student-student interaction, improving the organization between implementing instructors, and promoting guidelines flexibility inside organizations. We found that implementing COIL enhances students' competency development by contextualizing knowledge, fostering collaboration and innovation among universities, creating an international professional network for students and instructors, and nurturing future skills. The results reported in this work constitute valuable insights for developing effective digital communication in education globally.

Tragedies are neither sought nor requested. Unfortunately, they happen and affect all areas of life, especially education. However, they leave lessons that work to face new challenges. This study aims to analyze the transition from classroom classes to distance classes due to an earthquake that hit Mexico City in 2017, damaging its buildings and infrastructure, to find the necessary aspects for an efficient transition in these cases, using different Tecnologico de Monterrey's institutional data. Faculty members were interviewed about their views during the transition. The student's grades were also compared. Student responses were analyzed in the teacher satisfaction surveys. Challenges encountered by faculty during the sudden implementation of online courses were difficulties in the use of digital technologies, the amount of time spent preparing the class, the new ways of communication, the lack of use and knowledge of the online model, and the student's evaluation in online settings. The advantages mentioned by the faculty were flexibility, recorded classes, and the new tools that can be used for teaching. It was also observed that the student averages were higher in the semester after the earthquake. However, although young faculty with excellent technology management or experienced faculty with good use of technology and who are very well trained were the profiles that students better evaluated, no correlation was found between their teacher-associated variables and teacher performance indicators with the student averages. This experience served as a basis for meeting the contingency of 2020 with COVID-19. It represented itself as one antecedent in evaluating online education, allowing the establishment of a more expeditious and efficient online educational system.

The objective of this article was to demonstrate that the third-grade elementary school mobile application for mathematics, Matercergrado, enhanced collaborative problem-solving. The instructional design of the application followed the ADDIE methodology, and its creation employed the Mobile-D methodology. The research approach was mixed and descriptive, with a convenience sample of 18 participants from an elementary school in the municipality of Nezahualcóyotl, State of Mexico. These participants completed a Likert-type survey, validated using the Delphi method and Cronbach’s Alpha, which evaluated usability, interface design, functionality, thematic content, and comprehension of exercises and components. The results indicated that students highly appreciated Matercergrado, and teachers validated its thematic content and explanatory procedures for teaching mathematics. In addition, students reported collaborative and union sentiments while solving problems and doing exercises. Overall, Matercergrado achieved excellent results during the study, showing the potential to enhance students’ understanding and academic performance.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, higher education students had to switch to online classes to avoid infections, so universities had to adapt to a situation known as emergency remote education and had to provide digital content to simulate the traditional classroom experience. Now, as we transition from the pandemic, returning to in-person education has been a challenge. This period, often referred to as the "new normal," is characterized by a mix of in-person and digital learning. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate students' preferences for digital education in this new educational landscape. In this exploratory empirical study, the preferences of undergraduate students at a private university in Mexico were evaluated through a survey. This survey was applied by the Directorate of Educational Innovation and Digital Learning through institutional means in September 2022. It had multiple-choice questions and an open final question. A total of 2725 responses were obtained. Student responses were analyzed using a mixed methods methodology. Responses to multiple-choice questions were analyzed quantitatively using descriptive statistics, while responses to open-ended questions were analyzed using content analysis. The results show that although students prefer academic programs with 80 to 100% in-person, they also prefer digital or remote classes. This preference is highlighted by students who work and study simultaneously. These studies show that the hybrid and flexible format (HyFlex) can take off in this new normal. However, more studies are required to demonstrate its effectiveness in learning.

Introduction: Multiple aspects of the Mpox epidemics during 2022-2024 have been explored, including clinical features, diagnostic aspects, therapies, and vaccines. However, socioeconomic aspects have been poorly assessed regarding the epidemiological associated factors. No studies have been published on the relationships between international tourism, measured as the annual number of arrivals per country, and the morbidity and mortality from Mpox. Methods: This study was conducted globally, encompassing data from 114 countries. We collected arrivals data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) (2022/2023), the Tourism Statistics Database, and disease incidence data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). We calculated incidence rates and assessed the annual variation of these variables. Non-linear regression models were then applied using Stata/MP® v.14.0. Results: The non-linear regression models revealed significant findings. The relationship between epidemiological factors and arrivals was found to be significant. During this epidemic, a higher number of cases was observed in countries with a higher number of arrivals (r2 = 0.2663; p < 0.0001), as well as the incidence rates (cases per 100,000 pop.) were higher also in those with a higher number of arrivals (r2 = 0.3039; p < 0.0001). We found 88 countries (42.7%) globally that have not reported cases of Mpox and 118 that have reported Mpox (57.2%); 25 of them (28.4%) are low-income countries, and 33 (37.5%) are from Africa. Discussion/conclusions: Our findings have interesting implications. They highlight the role of tourism and international travel, which may play a significant role in viral circulation for emerging diseases, such as Mpox. This is particularly relevant, considering that those countries with the highest income tourism should consider preparedness for other similar emerging conditions in the future. Despite the epidemics of 2022-2024, Mpox remains a neglected condition worldwide; with a resurgence in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2023-2024, high-income countries may experience new epidemics of Mpox. These findings underscore the urgent need for further studies on multiple epidemiological factors of Mpox. Keywords: Mpox, Epidemics, Tourism, Global, Surveillance. Conflicts of interest: There was no conflicts of interest. Ethics and financing: No financial support.

IntroductionThis research explores leveraging Industry 4.0 technologies and best practices to address the challenges faced by Continuing Engineering Education (CEE) in Higher Education, ensuring its sustainability and relevance. CEE is essential for engineers' continuous professional growth and adaptability, especially in an era marked by swift technological progress and changing job requirements. CEE must adapt to rapid technological advancements and evolving workforce demands. Nevertheless, traditional pedagogical methods often lag behind the needs of modern engineering professionals.MethodsThrough a case study, this study aims to show how skills visualization allows the creation of comparisons between professional scenarios to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of CEE programs. To achieve this goal, we utilized a platform based on the KSA taxonomy, which enables the visualization of skills and supports creating personalized and adaptive learning.ResultsOur results demonstrate the transformative potential of integrating new technologies and learning approaches in CEE programs. By leveraging Industry 4.0 technologies, developing personalized learning experiences, and embracing Education 4.0 principles, CEE programs can empower the workforce of the future to thrive in an increasingly complex and dynamic landscape.DiscussionsThis study underscores the significance of Education 4.0 principles in shaping the future of CEE programs, emphasizing the crucial role of innovative learning approaches and technological integration in empowering the future engineering workforce in the Industry 4.0 era.

Objectives: This sub-analysis seeks to delineate and characterize factors influencing hospitalization in individuals diagnosed with Mpox disease amidst the initial outbreak in Spain in the onset of 2022. Methods: Employing a non-probabilistic convenience sampling approach, a retrospective multicenter investigation was carried out to examine Monkeypox virus infection within Spanish healthcare facilities. Results: The median duration of the disease was 16 days, with 4.2 % of cases resulting in hospitalization. There was a single ICU admission leading to fatality. Sequelae were observed in 2.3 % of cases. Multivariate analysis revealed that hospitalization decisions were influenced by immunosuppression and severe symptoms, including gastrointestinal, neurological, ear-nose-throat, and respiratory manifestations. Significant analytical parameter differences were restricted to hemoglobin levels at diagnosis. Conclusions: This study elucidates factors influencing hospitalization decisions for Monkeypox patients in Spain, emphasizing the importance of immunosuppression and extracutaneous symptoms involving the gastrointestinal, ear-nose-throat, and respiratory pathways. In summary, hospitalization determinations arise from the interplay of these crucial dimensions.

The world's cultural heritage (customs, practices, places, objects, artistic expressions, and values that signify a legacy of the history of humanity) provides identity to communities. In Mexico, the case of the World Heritage City of Xochimilco involves a sustainable agroecological system designed by its ancient inhabitants more than 500 years ago. Currently, the biodiversity and the chinampas (floating agricultural gardens) are at risk due to inconsistent government oversight and the lack of incentives for communities to carry on with the culture of agricultural production on Lake Xochimilco. Through a Challenge-Based Learning, a culturally relevant academic experience for university students was designed to involve them in preserving biodiversity while developing research and problem-solving skills. Satisfaction surveys and course evaluations indicated that this didactic methodology encouraged students to consider their connection to social justice issues and prompted them to expand their knowledge in their different disciplines. Socially-oriented experiential learning is an effective pedagogy that fosters a sense of social responsibility in students.