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Purpose: This paper aims to describe the statistical arguments produced by third-grade students (8-9 years old) and to identify the teaching support for collective argumentation in a lesson based on data comparison. A Lesson Study Group researched and planned the lesson around a problem from the official mathematics textbook. Design/methodology/approach: From an interpretative perspective, we have analysed the arguments produced by students in a situation where they should give reasons to support or refute some claims based on data analysis. We looked at how some teaching support strategies promoted collective argumentation. Findings: The strategies outlined in the lesson plan enabled the teacher to foster collective argumentation, encouraging students to provide reasoning based on data analysis. The lesson plan served as a means of improving the context presented in the textbook, guiding the development of well-structured teaching, and promoting high-quality teaching practices. Research limitations/implications: One of the limitations, and future lines of research by the LSG is the deepening of teachers' understanding of the support required for CA in their classrooms so that they can distinguish the components of an argument and their role in and interpretation of the effectiveness of the arguments. In addition, the lesson plan did not consider in depth aspects such as the argumentative processes of the students, nor did it implement specific actions to promote argumentation. Addressing these limitations would be interesting and is necessary, considering that teachers still do not understand the key role of argumentation in learning and that the mastery of CA strategies is still a challenge for initial teacher training and for professional development programs for teachers. Practical implications: For research purposes, evidence is presented of the types of teacher support in collective argumentation in a comparative task of two dot plots. For teaching purposes, these types of support can be pointed out within Lesson Study Groups and included in lesson plans, allowing discussions and base-data argumentation. Social implications: The research has social implications in civic development, educational inclusion, and adaptation to technological and pandemic changes, with a focus on inferential statistical reasoning and the crucial role of the teacher in facilitating collective argumentation in the online school classroom. Originality/value: The study enriches knowledge about the potential of Lesson Study and the possibilities of planned online lessons to develop professional learning on collective argumentation with data, as exemplary teaching practices that should be widely shared.

Education is the core of the factors that improved people for a better lifestyle and increases the level of society' development. Quality education is one of the most vital goals of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) due to actualizing these factors. Using relational network data envelopment analysis (DEA), which have three interrelated substages, this current paper computes the educational economy efficiency of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries bearing in mind the characteristics related to SDGs. The contribution of our study is the use of a novel approach to computing the educational economy efficiency using relational network DEA with GAMS. Even though some interesting differences reveal in the efficiency of the countries, the findings show that countries with high-efficiency scores are clustered around countries like Latvia, Slovenia, and Korea.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the utility of combining event-centred and variable-centred approaches when analysing big data for higher education institutions. It uses a large, university-wide data set to demonstrate the methodology for this analysis by using the case study method. It presents empirical findings about relationships between student behaviours in a learning management system (LMS) and the learning outcomes of students, and further explores these findings using process modelling techniques. Design/methodology/approach: The paper describes a two-year study in a Chilean university, using big data from a LMS and from the central university database of student results and demographics. Descriptive statistics of LMS use in different years presents an overall picture of student use of the system. Process mining is described as an event-centred approach to give a deeper level of understanding of these findings. Findings: The study found evidence to support the idea that instructors do not strongly influence student use of an LMS. It replicates existing studies to show that higher-performing students use an LMS differently from the lower-performing students. It shows the value of combining variable- and event-centred approaches to learning analytics. Research limitations/implications: The study is limited by its institutional context, its two-year time frame and by its exploratory mode of investigation to create a case study. Practical implications: The paper is useful for institutions in developing a methodology for using big data from a LMS to make use of event-centred approaches. Originality/value: The paper is valuable in replicating and extending recent studies using event-centred approaches to analysis of learning data. The study here is on a larger scale than the existing studies (using a university-wide data set), in a novel context (Latin America), that provides a clear description for how and why the methodology should inform institutional approaches.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to assess the research efficiency of the Chilean higher education institutions (HEIs). As it has been argued in the literature, universities in Chile are far from being considered research-oriented institutions. Current governmental reforms have put pressures on the efficient use of public resources, especially, public expenditures in higher education. In response, the proposed data-driven approach can be used to inform educational managers and policy makers about research efficiency. Therefore, a better allocation of the scarce educational resources can be achieved. Design/methodology/approach: Data envelopment analysis is used to assess the research efficiency of a set of Chilean universities. Four models are proposed based on different parameters to cover various drivers of the research productivity. Findings: The paper provides evidence that only a few universities in Chile are efficient in regards to research. Moreover, interesting results in terms of the differences in efficiency between traditional universities and private universities were found. Universities with a mixed-funding structure (private traditional) are more efficient than both public and purely private universities. Additionally, universities that receive direct funds from the government are on average 3.3 times more efficient than private universities. According to the models, only one private university appeared at the top 10 based on the research efficiency ranking. Practical implications: Current pressures in the funding structures of the higher education system have led to an increased awareness in the utilization of resources. The results provided in this study are useful for guiding a better allocation of public resources and providing insights about efficient funding structures. Originality/value: An understanding of the current status of research efficiency and the identification of the best performers allows educational managers to improve their resource allocation processes.

In Latin American universities, Learning Analytics (LA) has been perceived as a promising opportunity to leverage data to meet the needs of a diverse student cohort. Although universities have been collecting educational data for years, the adoption of LA in this region is still limited due to the lack of expertise and policies for processing and using educational data. In order to get a better picture of how existing data-related practices and policies might affect the incorporation of LA in Latin American institutions, we conducted a mixed methods study in four Latin American universities (two Chilean and two Ecuadorian). In this paper, the qualitative data were based on 37 interviews with managers and 16 focus groups with 51 teaching staff and 45 students; the quantitative data were collected through two surveys answered by 1884 students and 368 teachers, respectively. The findings reveal opportunities to incorporate LA services into existing data practices in the four case studies. However, the lack of reliable information systems and policies to regulate the use of data imposes challenges that need to be overcome for future LA adoption.

This paper presents a teacher professional development programme, based on a university-schools partnership and a collective reflection model, addressing the needs of in-service teacher education in Chile. First, the main challenges faced by both teachers and teacher education in Chile are summarised. Then, the foundations of this model are presented. Finally, an illustration of the model is provided by presenting two pilot studies implemented in Chile. A qualitative analysis of interviews showed that the programme was successful in promoting teacher reflection, leading to reported changes in their practices. Finally, the advantages and the challenges arising from this study, and the educational possibilities of this model of professional development, are discussed.

In this paper, environmental and geographical subject expertise is explored, based on the notion of expertise as rooted both in subject knowledge and knowledge of teaching and as acquired through experience. The research questions that guided this study focused on the importance of understanding how teachers negotiate their assumptions and what sources of knowledge support their claims. As such, teachers' knowledge was investigated as a step towards the professionalisation of their practices. In terms of methodology, 21 teachers were interviewed in the context of a larger research project currently being conducted on Chilean teachers' thought processes. Semi-structured interviews were designed to elicit data on teachers' practices and conceptualisations. Data analysis involved codification of these same practices and conceptualisations, and defining categories that encapsulated teachers' expertise. The key findings from analysing teacher narratives included the observation that their practices and notions of subject expertise were identified as experience-based. Teachers' uncertified expertise in areas where they had had no formal training could be understood as mechanisms they have developed during their professional career. These elements could be seen as an implicit self-generated supporting system for teachers' practices.

Copyright of Revista Complutense de Educación is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Effective learning in computer programming courses has been a constant challenge for university teachers and has become a relevant competence for current professionals. The literature on gamification in learning presents mixed results, mainly due to problems in instructional design and inconsistency in gamification. Studies with positive empirical results on computer programming formative activities and showing under what conditions gamification is effective still need to be included. Objectives: This study aimed to quantify the effects of gamification techniques in software tools that support computer programming learning applied to data‐structures university students. The study focused on determining whether there are differences in learning when using gamification techniques in online exercising formative activities. The effects of gamification on learning objectives with diverse complexity are studied. Methods: The study was conducted on computer engineering university students following a pretest‐intervention‐posttest design. They were divided into control and experimental groups, where both used a bank of exercises in Moodle to support learning. The experimental group considered gamification techniques, including points, leaderboards, and badges. Results and Conclusions: Gamification techniques significantly outperformed in learning gains in exercising activities without gamification. Regarding learning complexity, increasing taxonomic complexity did not negatively affect gamification learning effects. Lay Description: What is currently known about the subject matter?: Gamification has been explored as a strategy to enhance learning motivation in various educational contexts, including computer programmingLiterature shows mixed quantitative results on learning improvements under gamification.Few studies cover formative exercises, deal with computer programming tasks, or use a LMS like Moodle.Lack of literature exploring the conditions for effective gamification use, and involving learning objective complexity. What does this paper add to the existing body of research?: Quantifies the impact of gamification techniques on learning outcomes, specifically focusing on computer‐programming in university.Provides empirical evidence on gamification significantly improving learning gains compared to non‐gamified data‐structures exercisesGamification is effective in tasks of diverse levels of taxonomic complexity, with consistent effectiveness regardless of learning difficulty. Implications of study findings for practitioners: Gamification techniques, can be used in higher education to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes in computer programmingThe gamification information (e.g. points and ranking) do not require an automatic update, can be processed manually and published daily.It is effective to use gamification for learning tasks of medium‐high difficulty in Moodle on computer programming topics.It is key a thoughtful instructional design when applying gamification, ensuring alignment with learning objectives and task complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Scientiae (1517-4492) is the property of Acta Scientiae and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper addresses the grammatical challenges associated with the development of clause complexity, focusing on the performance of a group of monolingual Spanish-speaking schoolchildren with Specific Language Impairment/Developmental Language Disorder (SLI/DLD) in a longitudinal corpus of oral narrative samples. The study examines the presence of interclause relations of subordination and equivalence (hypotaxis and parataxis) in language samples of two groups: an experimental group made up of 24 schoolchildren with SLI/DLD and a control group made up of 24 schoolchildren with typical development (TD). The results show that while both groups use parataxis as the most common relation between clauses in all school grades, there is a significant decrease in paratactic relations and a significant increase in hypotactic relations from first to fourth grade of primary education. Although the development patterns are highly similar, the SLI/DLD group shows greater difficulties in mastering more complex (hypotactic) relations in fourth grade compared to the control group, indicating that it is less sophisticated in the use of these types of complex relations. These findings suggest that focused support on the most complex structures is needed towards the fourth grade of primary education, given the demands of the school academic register from 6 and 7 years of age and the potential problems that the development of clause complexity can cause in school-age children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the current study is to examine the relationship between polyvictimization, school social climate, and depression in adolescents. Authors also looked at whether school social climate acts as a moderator of the interaction between polyvictimization and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, to have a deeper analysis, they included—as control variables—factors that have been shown in previous research to have an impact on depression, including age, gender discrimination, family support, and mood control. In total, 411 Chilean adolescents participated in the study from public (72.2 percent), semiprivate (17.4 percent), and private schools (10.4 percent). Four paper-based instruments were used to measure school social climate, depression, family support, and polyvictimization, and additional information was solicited with a sociodemographic data questionnaire. Regression analysis showed that both polyvictimization (β =.10, p =.03) and school social climate (β = –.10, p =.03) were predictors of depressive symptomatology. However, the interaction between polyvictimization and school social climate was not significant (β =.07, p =.73). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medical knowledge is accumulated in scientific research papers along time. In order to exploit this knowledge by automated systems, there is a growing interest in developing text mining methodologies to extract, structure, and analyze in the shortest time possible the knowledge encoded in the large volume of medical literature. In this paper, we use the Latent Dirichlet Allocation approach to analyze the correlation between funding efforts and actually published research results in order to provide the policy makers with a systematic and rigorous tool to assess the efficiency of funding programs in the medical area. Results: We have tested our methodology in the Revista Médica de Chile, years 2012-2015. 50 relevant semantic topics were identified within 643 medical scientific research papers. Relationships between the identified semantic topics were uncovered using visualization methods. We have also been able to analyze the funding patterns of scientific research underlying these publications. We found that only 29% of the publications declare funding sources, and we identified five topic clusters that concentrate 86% of the declared funds. Conclusions: Our methodology allows analyzing and interpreting the current state of medical research at a national level. The funding source analysis may be useful at the policy making level in order to assess the impact of actual funding policies, and to design new policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Construction projects usually suffer delays, and the causes of these delays and its cost overruns have been widely discussed, the weather being one of the most recurrent. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the influence of climate on standard construction work activities through a case study. Design/methodology/approach – By studying the extent at which some weather variables impede outdoor work from being effectively executed, new maps and tables for planning for delays are presented. In addition, a real case regarding the construction of several bridges in southern Chile is analyzed. Findings – Few studies have thoroughly addressed the influences of major climatic agents on the most common outdoor construction activities. The method detailed here provides a first approximation for construction planners to assess to what extent construction productivity will be influenced by the climate. Research limitations/implications – Although this study was performed in Chile, the simplified method proposed is entirely transferable to any other country, however, other weather or combinations of weather variables could be needed in other environments or countries. Practical implications – The implications will help reducing the negative social, economic and environmental outcomes that usually emerge from project delays. Originality/value – Climatic data were processed using extremely simple calculations to create a series of quantitative maps and tables that would be useful for any construction planner to decide the best moment of the year to start a project and, if possible, where to build it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current paper describes Spanish acquisition of rhotic onset clusters. Data are also provided on related singleton taps/trills and /l/ as a singleton and in clusters. Participants included 9 typically developing (TD) toddlers and 30 TD preschoolers in Chile, and 30 TD preschoolers and 29 with protracted phonological development (PPD) in Granada, Spain. Results showed age and developmental group effects. Preservation of cluster timing units preceded segmental accuracy, especially in stressed syllables. Tap clusters versus singleton trills were variable in order of mastery, some children mastering clusters first, and others, the trill. Rhotics were acquired later than /l/. In early development, mismatches (errors) involved primarily deletion of taps; where substitutions occurred, [j] frequently replaced tap. In later development, [l] more frequently replaced tap; where taps did occur, vowel epenthesis sometimes occurred. The data serve as a criterion reference database for onset cluster acquisition in Chilean and Granada Spanish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Migration exposes children and youth to vulnerabilities, including uprooting, lack of protection, limited access to services, and violence. Previous studies have shown that victimization experiences impact the mental health of migrant children, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. This study aims to examine the co-occurrence of multiple forms of maltreatment (polyvictimization) among migrant and Chilean children and youth and its association with depressive symptoms, addressing a research gap in Latin America. Methods: Secondary data from the National Polyvictimization Survey (NPS) conducted by the Chilean Ministry of the Interior were analyzed. Measures assessing polyvictimization and depressive symptoms were administered to a sample of 1362 participants, with equal group sizes for migrants and Chilean-born individuals. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, group comparisons, correlation analyses, and multiple regression analyses. Results: The study revealed marked differences in experiences of conventional crime victimization and polyvictimization between migrant and Chilean-born participants, with migrants facing slightly higher incidences. Correlational analysis indicated variable strengths of association between victimization types and depressive symptoms across groups, with Chilean-born individuals showing stronger correlations for certain victimization forms. Multiple regression analysis highlighted gender, polyvictimization, child maltreatment, internet victimization, sexual victimization, and peer/sibling victimization as significant predictors of depressive symptoms across the sample. Notably, an interaction was observed between child maltreatment and migrant status, indicating a mitigated impact of maltreatment on depressive symptoms among migrant adolescents. This suggests the potential for unique resilience or coping mechanisms in this group. Conclusions: This study elucidates the varied victimization experiences of migrant children and youth in Chile, with a notable emphasis on the mitigating effect of migrant status on the relationship between child maltreatment and depressive symptoms. It highlights the resilience and potential adaptive strategies of migrant minors facing adversity. The findings underscore the necessity of developing support and intervention strategies that recognize the specific needs and strengths of migrant children and youth, advocating for policies that protect and empower this vulnerable demographic amidst new environmental challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed the tasks associated with measures of central tendency proposed to Chilean students from 5th to 8th year of basic education. For this purpose, the activities involving mean, median, and/or mode were identified through the revision of two series of textbooks (16). The units of analysis were (1) type of measure, (2) task, (3) context, (4) support, and (5) cognitive skill. The main findings allowed us to indicate that the texts are aligned with the curricular guidelines, with tasks mostly associated with mean and mode, prioritizing calculation. Additionally, the tasks lack a context that gives meaning to the data. The support in which the data is presented is written and tabular. Finally, regarding the type of cognitive skills with the greatest presence in the textbooks, these are at a basic level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Gerokomos is the property of Indemm Farma SL and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This research hinges upon the relationship between fiscal decentralization and life satisfaction. It contributes to the field by performing an empirical analysis focused on the case of Chile, by merging the national household survey (CASEN) with municipal level information. This analysis is based on a hierarchical empirical model, in which data from both sources are integrated. Our results show a significant positive effect of municipal level fiscal decentralization on individual subjective wellbeing. Nonetheless, we also show that said result is contingent upon residents' political representation, which is in line with the hypothesis that citizens' oversight of local authorities is a necessary condition for the effect of fiscal decentralization to emerge. From the viewpoint of how fiscally decentralized measures should be implemented in practice, above evidence suggests that said process should be accompanied by the strengthening of local residents' participation in community relevant matters. Further confirmation of this is presented in this research, by showing that residents' membership in organized groups further increases individual subjective well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The state of confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic affected the quality of life of the general population. This study aims to define and contrast an explanatory model of the quality of life in adults and to analyze the relationships between these variables based on the state of confinement and sex. A total of 872 people from Chile aged between 17 and 50 (M = 21.70 years; SD= 3.272), of both sexes (60.90% male and 39.1% female) participated in this research, of whom 46.6% were not confined when tested and 53.4% were confined, analyzing the quality of life. A model of multi-group structural equations was performed, which adjusted very well (χ2 = 559.577; DF = 38; p < 0.001; IFC = 0.934; NFI = 0.916; IFI = 0.934; RMSEA = 0.061). The results show a positive and direct relationship among all the variables studied and the structural equation model proposed according to confinement and sex reveals a good fit in all the evaluation indexes. Stress and sleep, personality, and introspection were the indicators with the greatest influence in the four models, followed by the family and friends indicator with a medium correlation strength, such as the health monitoring dimension, although this was not as influential in confined individuals. The main conclusions are that the best adjustments are obtained in confined adults and females, and the data show that the psychological indicators obtained (stress and sleep, personality, and introspection) have the greatest influence on adults in the four models proposed with regard to their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildland–urban interface (WUI) regions are particularly vulnerable to wildfires due to their proximity to both nature and urban developments, posing significant risks to lives and property. To enhance our understanding of the risk profiles in WUI areas, we analysed seven fire case studies in central Chile. We developed a mixed-method approach for conducting local-scale analyses, which involved field surveys, remote-sensing through satellite and drone imagery, and GIS-based analysis of the collected data. The methodology led to the generation of a georeferenced dataset of damaged and undamaged dwellings, including 16 variables representing their physical characteristics, spatial arrangement, and the availability of fire suppression resources. A binary classification model was then used to assess the relative importance of these attributes as indicators of vulnerability. The analysis revealed that spatial arrangement factors have a greater impact on damage prediction than the structural conditions and fire preparedness of individual units. Specifically, factors such as dwelling proximity to neighbours, distance to vegetation, proximity to the border of dwelling groups, and distance from the origin of the fire substantially contribute to the prediction of fire damage. Other structural attributes associated with less affluent homes may also increase the likelihood of damage, although further data are required for confirmation. This study provides insights for the design, planning, and governance of WUI areas in Chile, aiding the development of risk mitigation strategies for both built structures and the broader territorial area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores data retrieved from Educational Immersive Virtual Worlds to describe pre-service teachers’ skills and perceptions about the simulation tasks. This project had 10 participants who were immersed for 3 years in the Technology and Pedagogical Models in Immersive Worlds island, a multi-user virtual environment in Second Life and Open Simulator. In this project, we evaluated how three-dimensional virtual environments can facilitate the achievement of teaching and learning processes. Based on quantitative and qualitative methodologies, two data collection instruments were applied. Through observation grids and personal log books, professional performance of the 18 pedagogical challenges implemented was collected. The statistical analysis shows that the students improved their technology skills and educational aspects about good practices in classes, regardless of the type of platform used. The analysis through Constant Comparing Method reported a positive assessment of the use of virtual environments, especially about the use of teaching strategies. Main conclusions regarding the pedagogical context reflect the importance of peer assessment on teaching performance, as well as the complexity of role-plays as intellectual challenges to enhance pre-service teachers’ skills. The main difficulties identified during the development of the activities were technical in nature, reporting hardware and connectivity issues. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The public health system has restricted economic resources. Because of that, it is necessary to know how the resources are being used and if they are properly distributed. Several works have applied classical approaches based in Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) for this purpose. However, if we have hospitals with different casemix, this is not the best approach. In order to avoid biases in the comparisons, other works have recommended the use of hospital production data corrected by the weights from Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs), to adjust the casemix of hospitals. However, not all countries have this tool fully implemented, which limits the efficiency evaluation. This paper proposes a new approach for evaluating the efficiency of hospitals. It uses a graph-based clustering algorithm to find groups of hospitals that have similar production profiles. Then, DEA is used to evaluate the technical efficiency of each group. The proposed approach is tested using the production data from 2014 of 193 Chilean public hospitals. The results allowed to identify different performance profiles of each group, that differs from other studies that employs data from partially implemented DRGs. Our results are able to deliver a better description of the resource management of the different groups of hospitals. We have created a website with the results (). Data can be requested to the authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildland-urban interface (WUI) regions are particularly vulnerable to wildfires due to their proximity to both nature and urban developments, posing significant risks to lives and property. To enhance our understanding of the risk profiles in WUI areas, we analysed seven fire case studies in central Chile. We developed a mixed-methods approach for conducting local-scale analyses which involved field surveys, remote-sensing through satellite and drone imagery, and GIS-based analysis of the collected data. The methodology led to the generation of a georeferenced dataset of damaged and undamaged dwellings, including 16 variables representing their physical characteristics, spatial arrangement, and the availability of fire suppression resources. A binary classification model was then used to assess the relative importance of these attributes as indicators of vulnerability. The analysis revealed that spatial arrangement factors have a greater impact on damage prediction than the structural conditions and fire preparedness of individual units. Specifically, factors such as dwelling proximity to neighbours, distance to vegetation, proximity to the border of dwelling groups, and distance from the origin of the fire substantially contribute to the prediction of fire damage. Other structural attributes associated with less affluent homes may also increase the likelihood of damage, although further data is required for confirmation. This study provides insights for the design, planning, and governance of WUI areas in Chile, aiding the development of risk mitigation strategies for both built structures and the broader territorial area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This 36th volume of the International Journal of Sustainable Energy Planning and Management starts at the global scale with a survey of the economy of the oil industry. Limitations of singlesector analyses of Chile is the focal point of a commentary on a previously published study in the journal Energies. The authors of the commentary find that limitation in literature survey, methodology, and data result in a signification underestimation of, e.g., the potential for photo voltaics. The potential for hydro power is affected by changes in water flows as analysed by Melo, which brings some level concern as hydro power is a key element in Brazil's renewable energy exploitation effort. Lasty, Dall-Orsoletta et al. look into system dynamic models and whether they include social aspects in the modelling. This is only found in a minority of system dynamic models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The copper mining industry is increasingly using artificial intelligence methods to improve copper production processes. Recent studies reveal the use of algorithms, such as Artificial Neural Network, Support Vector Machine, and Random Forest, among others, to develop models for predicting product quality. Other studies compare the predictive models developed with these machine learning algorithms in the mining industry as a whole. However, not many copper mining studies published compare the results of machine learning techniques for copper recovery prediction. This study makes a detailed comparison between three models for predicting copper recovery by leaching, using four datasets resulting from mining operations in Northern Chile. The algorithms used for developing the models were Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, and Artificial Neural Network. To validate these models, four indicators or values of merit were used: accuracy (acc), precision (p), recall (r), and Matthew's correlation coefficient (mcc). This paper describes the dataset preparation and the refinement of the threshold values used for the predictive variable most influential on the class (the copper recovery). Results show both a precision over 98.50% and also the model with the best behavior between the predicted and the real values. Finally, the obtained models have the following mean values: acc = 0.943, p = 88.47, r = 0.995, and mcc = 0.232. These values are highly competitive when compared with those obtained in similar studies using other approaches in the context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In operational and planning studies in power electric distribution systems, one of the most important tasks is to quantify the evolution of the system. In particular, it is necessary to be able to measure the growth of electrical demand, with special attention to residential consumption. For that reason, it is fundamental to predict its future values. Considering the availability of real measure data, statistic parametric methods are widely used to describe and forecast those residential loads. This paper reviews the principal statistical linear parametric methods and implements four of them to analyse real measure data from Chilean systems. Additionally, those methods are compared among them and the performance of a non-tested continuous approach based on diffusion processes can be evaluated. In each case, the parametric adjustment and the validation methods are explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employers’ civil liability for work injuries and subsequent compensation for non-economic losses represent challenges for many countries. Several countries in Latin America and Europe still do not apply non-economic damage standards, and even when they do, the task of assessing damages is often left to a judges’ discretion. Similarly, common and civil law jurisdictions have shown non-standard ways about how these losses should be assessed and understood. This paper therefore, aims to compare England and Chile in terms of employers’ civil liability and subsequent non-economic damages compensation after work-related accidents. It focuses on the current progress made by both countries in terms of non-economic loss definition and assessment. This is a qualitative study. Research data consisted on a review of case law within the last five years in both countries. Additional, contextual data was gathered by looking at published documents examining the current English context and four interviews were carried out to further understand the Chilean context. Data was analyzed using framework analysis and the Nvivo software. From a comparative perspective, findings show that England has made important progress in terms of types of employer’s liability, understanding of non-economic loss, and standards of assessment. Although several advances have been made in Chile over the last few years, a number of challenges still remain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and aims: Substance use is a significant global concern. Strengthening parenting in families with adolescents has been shown to reduce substance use initiation. The ! Vamos por Más! ( ! VxM!) program is a positiveparenting program developed in Chile to improve family relations and reduce adolescent substance use that combines in-person school workshops, multimedia messaging and personalized support. This manuscript reports a mixed-methods evaluation of the pilot implementation of the ! VxM! program utilizing the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and Proctor's taxonomy for process outcomes. Methods: An explanatory sequential design was used. Quantitative methods evaluated program use, acceptability, appropriateness, and fidelity, and were followed by qualitative focus groups (FGs) to assess the implementation process and understand these outcomes. Thirteen FGs stratified by school and role, including school leaders, program facilitators, participants, and researchers, were conducted. Results: The program was implemented in three schools, reaching 253 families with in-person workshops (40.5% of potential participants), 257 parents who viewed on average 72.1% of sent multimedia messages, and 2 families who used the personalized support (0.3%). Overall, the program was viewed as acceptable and appropriate by participants and implementers due to the high quality of program materials, targeted content, and activities. Implementation differed by schools. Key implementation factors were the outer context, inner school setting, and implementation processes. Conclusions: This comprehensive evaluation, including both intervention implementers and participants, identified implementation facilitators, barriers, and outcomes. Future ! VxM! implementations should alter program components of schools with lower engagement to improve program implementation and outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Ciencias Médicas de Pinar del Río is the property of Editorial Ciencias Medicas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The objective of this research was to examine the mediating role that organizational dehumanization plays between authentic leadership and job satisfaction. The study was carried out with a sample of 422 participants, 50.7% were men and 49.3% women, with an average age of 38.96 years. The workers belong to different public and private organizations in Chile, and they responded to instruments of sociodemographic characterization, employment history and the scales of organizational dehumanization, authentic leadership, and job satisfaction. Data analysis included descriptive, correlational, and mediation analyses. The results allow us to maintain the hypothesis that organizational dehumanization plays a mediator role in the relationship between authentic leadership and job satisfaction. Implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Customer's trust in vendors' reputation is a key factor that facilitates economic transactions in e-commerce platforms. Although the trust-sales relationship is assumed robust and consistent, its empirical evidence remains neglected for Latin American countries. This work aims to provide a data-driven comprehensive framework for extracting valuable knowledge from public data available in the leading Latin American e-commerce platform with commercial operations in 18 countries. Only Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Uruguay, and Venezuela showed the highest trust indexes among all nations analyzed. The trust-sales relationship was statistically inconsistent across nations but worked as the most important predictor of sales, followed by purchase intention and price. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research was to analyze the eating patterns of preschool- and school-aged children with ASD, as provided by their families, in the La Araucanía Region of Chile. It involved a cross-sectional study with 72 families with children diagnosed with ASD aged between 2 and 12 years old. Food selectivity, appetite, body mass index (BMI) and frequency of food consumption were studied. The research determined that 97.67% present food selectivity, corresponding to alterations in the frequency of consumption of specific food groups. Moreover, 93.06%, 90.28%, 80.56% and 62.50% of children in the study do not meet the daily recommendations for fruit, fish, water and vegetable consumption, respectively. Therefore, it is important for these findings to be considered when designing and carrying out educational interventions regarding food in families with children with ASD for greater assertiveness and effectiveness in improving health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several authors are studying sexual abuse via the Internet and its consequences. However, the available studies have not sufficiently detected factors that could help reduce the symptoms that victims may experience. Given the importance of peers during adolescence, especially in the online world, the objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between online sexual abuse, perceived peer support, and internalizing and externalizing symptomatology. Three hundred and eighty Chilean adolescents (M = 16.12 years, SD =.52, 49.7% girls, 50.3% boys) responded to a set of self-report instruments. The results showed a relationship between online sexual abuse and depressive symptomatology, as well as self-injurious and antisocial behaviors. In turn, peer support was inversely associated with internalizing symptomatology. Results of the study highlight the relevance of peers as factors in intervention programs for adolescents dealing with online sexual abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the difficulties of evaluating hypnotizability in Chile is the limited existence of validated instruments. In this study, the Mexican version of Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C, was semantically adapted and validated. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in 102 Chilean university students. The content validation was performed by 3 experts; the internal consistency was evaluated with KR-20. The difficulty of the items was measured with a difficulty index. The majority of the students were classified with high hypnotizability. The mean score obtained was 7.41 (SD = 1.84). The internal consistency was acceptable (KR-20 = 0.73). The item with the least difficulty was arm lowering, whereas the auditory hallucination was the item with the greatest difficulty. The survey showed metric properties to be considered as a valid and reliable instrument to measure the level of hypnotizability in the Chilean population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyse the psychometric properties of the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, 6‐item version (DJGLS‐6), in a multiethnic sample of older Chilean adults. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was designed using a sample of 800 older people, and 71% were self‐declared indigenous. Data quality and acceptability, internal consistency, and construct and structural validity of DJGLS‐6 were analysed. The scale was also analysed according to the Rasch model. Results: The DJGLS‐6 scored higher for the non‐indigenous group than for Aymara and Mapuche (P <.001). KR‐20 coefficients (internal consistency) for emotional loneliness subscale reached 0.44 for Aymara and Mapuche and 0.62 for non‐indigenous, and from 0.73 (non‐indigenous) to 0.86 (Aymara) for social loneliness subscale. The confirmatory factor analysis identified one dimension. None of the two subscales fit the Rasch model. Conclusion: The results indicate that DJGLS‐6 is a reliable and adequate scale for non‐indigenous Chilean older people. However, it should be culturally adapted to indigenous ethnic minorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the association between perceived family support, online risk behaviors, and online sexual abuse. This is a cross-sectional, quantitative study. The participants were 380 Chilean students aged 15 to 17 (M =16.12, SD = 0.59, 49.7% female, 50.3% male) who answered self-report instruments. Females experienced more online sexual abuse; however, males engaged in more online risk behaviors. The results of the regression analysis suggested that online risk behaviors was a predictor for online sexual abuse in both males and females. However, high perceived family support was only a protective factor against online risk behaviors and online sexual abuse for females. In addition, online risk behaviors was found to partially mediate the relationship between perceived family support and online sexual abuse for females only. The results of this study highlight the importance of online risk behaviors in the process of online sexual abuse. Also, the results highlighted the importance of family support as a protective factor against online sexual abuse and online risk behaviors mainly in females. For that reason, we think it is necessary to consider the gender variables in the prevention and intervention programs to face the risk of the internet during the adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children who exhibit mental health problems are more likely to be targets of peer victimization. However, little is known about how mental health risk interacts with other individual and school-level factors in this relationship. In the current study, we explored the associations between peer victimization and mental health in 10,532 Chilean sixth grade students attending 405 of the lower SES schools in the country. Children were screened for mental health and classroom adaptation problems using standardized parent and teacher rating scales at the beginning of the school year, and completed questionnaires on self-reported peer victimization, classroom climate, and school climate at the end of the year, as part of an ongoing national school mental health program, which includes monitoring for school violence and school climate. Data were analyzed through logistic regression and multilevel analyses, incorporating sex, absenteeism due to physical health, school attendance, and individual SES as covariates. Results showed that the odds of being victimized by peers were five times greater for students who were identified at risk for mental health problems based on parent reports, and one time greater for students identified by teachers with attention and concentration difficulties. However, multilevel analyses showed that the relative contribution of mental health risk to peer victimization significantly diminished when other individual and school-level variables were included. Particularly relevant was the contribution of individual SES, classroom climate, and absenteeism due to physical health; and of school-level SES. These findings suggest the complex nature of the influence of mental health on peer victimization and the relevance of the social context interacting with student’s mental health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to assess the validity of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) for measuring sedentary behaviour (SB) in the Chilean adult population. About 217 adults (93/124 male/female, 43.8 ± 15.75 years) who were randomly selected during National Health Survey 2009–2010 completed the protocol. The participants wore an ActiGraph GT3X (AG) for 7 consecutive days and then completed the GPAQ (single-item question for measuring time spent sitting in a usual day). Validity was examined using Spearman’s correlation, mean bias and limits of agreement (LoA), with AG (vertical axis <100 counts · min−1) as the reference standard for estimates of SB in bouts of 1 (AG1), 5 (AG5) and 10 (AG10) min. Agreement between the GPAQ and AG for classifying data into quartiles and tertiles was assessed with kappa method. The GPAQ showedfaircorrelation with AG1, AG5 and AG10 (range = 0.23–0.26), with large mean biases (range = −293.9, −76.12 min · day−1). Agreement between the GPAQ and AG1, AG5 and AG10 was poor for categorising time spent in SB into tertiles and quartiles. The single question from the GPAQ has shown fair validity for measuring SB and poor ability for correctly classifying individuals into tertiles or quartiles of SB in a Chilean population. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Extreme rainfall data are widely used in several hydrological models and civil engineering design. Despite high temporal resolution rainfall data are not commonly available, daily rainfall data series are easily found. When these available data series are short in length the Regional Frequency Analysis (RFA) is a good tool to enlarge them by joining stations into homogeneous regions. This is by far, the most complicated step in RFA. This work presents a new method to form homogeneous regions of extreme annual daily rainfall data series. Daily rainfall data series from 53 weather stations in the Maule Region (Chile) have been used. Their fractal dimensions spectra have been obtained by applying the box counting method. Each station has been characterized by the fractal dimensions D1 and D2. A cluster analysis has been carried out based on these at-site characteristics and three regions have been obtained. After performing a RFA of extreme daily annual rainfall data series within each region they have shown as homogeneous. Only one of the available stations has not been possible to be included into any homogeneous regions, being the local frequency analysis the only suitable method to be applied at this location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Perceptions of the 'Truth and Reconciliation' and 'Political Imprisonment and Torture' commissions and related beliefs, emotions and socio-emotional climate were analysed in people affected and unaffected by past political violence in Chile ( N = 1278). People directly affected regard institutional apologies as less sincere and effective, and they were more critical of the commissions. Those who have a positive appraisal of the commissions, compared with people who disagree with the commissions activities, are less prone to forget past collective violence; report higher levels of negative emotions, such as shame, and positive ones, such as pride and hope, about the collective past; and consider that the commissions contributed to knowing the truth about what happened to victims and helped bring human rights violators to justice. Those appraising the commissions in a positive fashion also perceive a more positive emotional climate and inter-group trust, have more confidence in institutions and report more universalistic values. A multiple-regression analysis suggests that commissions play a relatively successful role as transitional justice rituals, reinforcing reconciliation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study examined the association between access to urban green spaces and markets with anthropometric measurements, biological markers, sociodemographic, and healthy lifestyle. Methods: Geographic information systems were used to establish a correlation between environmental features and cardiovascular risk parameters. A total number of 832 (age range 18–74 years) individuals were selected for this study. Results: Body mass index was significantly and positively related to the distance to parks (ρ = 0.079,p < 0.05), but negatively related to the distance to markets (ρ = −0.125,p < 0.05). In addition, waist circumference was similar and positively related to distance to parks (ρ = 0.097,p < 0.05) and negatively related to distance to markets (ρ = −0.092,p < 0.05). With respect to biochemical parameters, when there was an increase in the distance to markets, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased and glycemia decreased. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest the importance of the role of environmental factors such as parks and markets in the development of cardiovascular risk. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

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Aim To identify how the severity of dementia influences functional recovery and mortality in elderly patients hospitalized for hip fracture. Methods An observational retrospective study of 1258 patients aged older than 69 years and diagnosed with hip fracture who received care within an orthogeriatrics unit from 2004 to 2008 was carried out. During a 12-month follow-up period, functional recovery and mortality outcomes were measured. Results Dementia was present in 383 (28.1%) patients: it was mild in 183 (48%), moderate in 102 (26.5%) and severe in 98 (25.5%). Compared with patients with preserved cognitive status, patients with dementia had the following statistically significant differences (means [standard deviation] or percentage): older age (preserved, 82.29 years [6.5 years]; mild, 83.63 years [6.1 years]; moderate, 83.47 years [5.9 years]; severe, 84.46 years [6.1 years]; P < 0.001); lower Barthel Index (89.7 [21.6], 72.7 [24.6], 58.9 [28.6], 38.0 [28.1]; P < 0.001); delirium (11.7%, 25.6%, 37.6%, 44.7%; P < 0.001); less ambulation at 6 months postdischarge (83.9%, 72.8%, 56.9%, 41.7%; P < 0.001); and higher mortality at discharge (4%, 5.7%, 8.2%, 10.6%; P < 0.001) and 12 months after discharge (21.2%, 32.3%, 46.3%, 53.5%; P < 0.001). Patients with severe dementia had lower probability of functional recovery at discharge ( OR 0.272, 95% CI 0.140-0.526, P < 0.001) and 6 months after discharge ( OR 0.439, 95% CI 0.197-0.979, P = 0.04), as well as a greater probability of dying ( HR 1.640, 95% CI 1.020-2.635, P = 0.04). Conclusions We observed higher 12-month mortality and less functional recovery with increasing severity of dementia. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2015; 15: 289-295. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open-space networks in cities in disaster-prone environments can be designed to facilitate recovery. This study explores residents' perceptions of urban wetlands in earthquake-prone Concepción, Chile. Two scenarios were posed, one representing everyday life and a second representing life after an earthquake, in which wetlands were perceived in terms of their utility. Multivariate data analysis revealed the residents' cognitive structure underlying perception of the wetlands in each scenario. The cognitive structures, comprising objective biophysical attributes related to subjective utilitarian attributes, varied with context. These findings can inform the design of open space in disaster-prone cities to ensure their resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate whether daytime sleepiness, poor sleep quality, and morningness and eveningness preferences are associated with common mental disorders (CMDs) among college students.Methods: A total of 963 college students completed self-administered questionnaires that collected information about sociodemographic characteristics, sleep quality characteristics, CMDs, and other lifestyle behaviors.Results: The prevalence of CMDs was 24.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] [21.5%, 27.1%]) among all students. Prevalence estimates of both excessive daytime sleepiness and poor sleep quality were higher among females (35.4% and 54.4%) than males (22.0% and 45.8%). Cigarette smoking was statistically significantly and positively associated with having CMDs (p= .034). Excessive daytime sleepiness (odds ratio [OR] = 3.65; 95% CI [2.56, 4.91]) and poor sleep quality (OR = 4.76; 95% CI [3.11, 7.29]) were associated with increased odds of CMDs.Conclusion: Given the adverse health consequences associated with both sleep disorders and CMDs, improving sleep hygiene among college students is imperative to public health. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Due to an extensive history of mining activities common to Mexico, Chile and Australia there is a vast mine waste legacy. Whilst these wastes present ongoing challenges regarding their management, they may represent a source of elements supporting the transition towards a low carbon future. Hence, our study aims to demonstrate the value of establishing a chemical database from publicly available tailings data collated from the three countries to assess their potential as a secondary resource of elements classified as critical or with high economic relevance. Overall, 2976 data samples were identified, analysed and georeferenced from 159, 642 and 7 Mexican, Chilean and Australian deposits, respectively. Data analysis shows that Mexico has significant potential for Bi, Sb, W, In, Zn and Mo with outstanding values in Sonora State, while Chile has significant potential for Bi, Sb, W and Mo, mostly from northern to central regions and Zn to the south. Whilst data from Australia are still being compiled, the potential for Co was recognised. The research exposes that available information is insufficient and highlights the need for an international report or assessment code for mine waste that encourages resource recovery from these resources and circular economy practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the 2009-2010 Chilean National Health Survey aimed at studying the associations of latitude, solar radiation, and ambient temperature with blood pressure in the country. It details the study's findings suggesting that higher blood pressure and an increased prevalence of hypertension are associated with increasing distance from the equator and with lower levels of solar radiation and ambient temperatures.

Advances in genomics increase the possibility of using SNP markers in selecting new parental genotypes for poplar breeding or new poplar varieties for commercial deployment. Here, we use a classificatory linear mixed model and a quantitative genetic approach for the combined analysis of SNP and phenotypic data from poplar hybrids at the beginning of their testing program. The main objective was to compare genetic parameters estimated based on two classification criteria: original (hybrid) taxa and SNP clustering. Height growth measurements obtained in three consecutive years from a poplar trial planted in 2002 in the center of Chile were included. In 2016, DNA was extracted from leaves of the same hybrids and genotyped by sequencing. An increasing number of clusters based on the similarity of SNP information was obtained. Broad sense heritability values observed at all levels of genomic clustering were larger than the only estimate obtained by using the original taxa classification. Thus, the method can help to predict a higher genetic gain in the early selection of poplars, based on initial height growth. The method did not affect the accuracy of the heritability estimation. The systematic increment in the intra-clonal covariance with the clustering level also suggests a highly positive genotype-by-time interaction effect at high levels of SNP clustering, which can also be positive for selection purposes. We concluded that the use of SNP clustering allowed the expression of larger genetic differences among hybrids in initial height growth, regardless of the original hybrid taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]