Avanzando en el conocimiento: Una mirada a la investigación contemporánea en CienciAmérica

Abstract

Volume 14, Issue 1 of CienciAmérica features a valuable collection of research addressing critical challenges in neuropsychology, education, the environment, medicine, and forensic science. In the field of cognitive functioning, several studies stand out focusing on executive functions (EF) and their impact on populations with special needs. One study explores the relationship between EF and academic performance in children with ADHD, emphasizing the crucial role of working memory and inhibition. Another examines EF in individuals with intellectual disabilities, identifying both cognitive strengths and weaknesses. Interventions aimed at improving social-communication skills in children and adolescents with ASD are also discussed, highlighting the positive effects of group-based approaches targeting attention and memory. In the educational domain, the use of technology by nursing educators is analyzed, revealing a gap between willingness and effective use of ICT, which underscores the need for ongoing professional development. In environmental science, land cover and land use changes in Morona Santiago (Ecuador) between 2000 and 2018 are assessed, identifying a systematic shift from "Forest" to "Agricultural Land"—a classic pattern of Amazonian deforestation. Another study in Tabacundo (Ecuador) quantifies the expansion of intensive floriculture between 2014 and 2024, which displaces traditional agriculture and impacts natural ecosystems. This research validates the use of remote sensing methodologies for territorial monitoring. In the field of health, a review on cervical cancer evaluates advancements in biomarkers (miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs) for diagnostic and prognostic purposes, as well as targeted therapies (immunotherapies, monoclonal antibodies), which have shown promising results in advanced stages. Finally, in forensic science, the lack of a standardized methodology in Ecuador for identifying forged fingerprints is addressed. The high morphological fidelity of these forgeries poses a risk to the integrity of judicial evidence, underscoring the urgent need for advanced protocols and instrumental techniques.