Chilean Context Research Articles

Experimental Study of the Mechanical Properties of Mortar with Biobío Region Clam Shells Used as a Partial Replacement for Cement

The use of seashells as a partial substitute for cement in construction not only offers an innovative solution for marine waste management but also contributes to reducing the carbon footprint of the cement industry, decreasing the CO2 emissions associated with cement production and promoting more sustainable construction practices. This study addresses the mechanical behavior of mortar specimens with partial cement replacement using crushed Biobío region clam shells, both calcined and uncalcined, at substitution rates of 5% and 10%. This approach allows the analysis of their effect on the mechanical strength and properties of the mortar, which has not been widely investigated in the Chilean context or with this particular species of shell. For the mechanical characterization of the specimens, tensile flexural tests and compressive tests were were conducted at ages of 3, 7, 14, and 28 days. The compressive strengths of the samples that incorporated calcined residue with partial cement replacements of 5% and 10% were 83.69% and 78.27%, respectively, of the average strength of 20.97 MPa reached by the standard sample. In terms of their tensile flexural strength, these samples reached average strengths of 104.31% and 104.04% of the strength of 12.12 MPa obtained by the standard sample. In the case of the uncalcined samples, the 5% and 10% replacements reached 103.55% and 102.64% of the tensile strength of 15.54 MPa obtained by the standard sample, while they reached 92.32% and 80.07% of the compressive strength of 27.81 MPa achieved by the standard sample. From these results, it is determined that the calcined shells did not improve the mechanical resistance of the mortar, suggesting that the calcination process must be studied in depth.

How Much Participation Is Participatory? Opportunities and Challenges of Doing Participatory Action Research With Latin American teachers.

This paper provides a detailed account of a participatory action research project carried out with trainee teachers in Chile. Two participant cohorts embarked upon a research study seeking to identify instances of violence and exclusion in their classrooms. Such exploration was conducted through a series of participatory workshops that explored the link between violence and inequality, as well as how nonviolent approaches might assist in fostering more inclusive learning environments. Both participatory action research (PAR) and workshops as a research methodology constitute novel approaches within the Chilean context, where a large number of studies interrogating issues of inequality and classroom violence are of a descriptive rather than empirical nature. Consequently, this paper gives a rationale for using PAR in the first place, then provides a detailed account of how each iteration was designed, the changes that were made in between and the degree of participation achieved with each cohort. Further, the paper makes an argument for a wider use of PAR as a method that strives for social justice and equity in education, while at the same time exploring its advantages, common critiques, and the challenges encountered during the study. Finally, and in light of what transpired in this study, this paper posits that workshops constitute a sustainable participatory research method that provides space for collaboration, creativity, and self-inquiry, while considering several improvements and modifications for future studies.

Behavioral patterns in elderly single-person households

The global rise in the aging population and the increase in older adults living alone have raised concerns about health-related behaviors, particularly sedentary lifestyles and reduced daily activities. These behaviors are linked to higher risks of physical and cognitive conditions. While many global studies have explored these patterns, research within the Chilean context remains limited. This work presents a analysis of behavioral patterns in elderly individuals living alone in Chile, offering valuable insights into this population. Using clustering techniques, we identified two distinct activity patterns among the participants. The first pattern is characterized by a gradual increase in activity during the day, peaking around midday and followed by a decline, likely associated with meal preparation and rest. The second pattern demonstrates a more dynamic lifestyle, with a rapid surge in activity after waking and sustained levels throughout the day, suggesting a potentially healthier approach to aging. These findings align with previous studies indicating high levels of sedentary behavior in older adults, reinforcing the need for interventions tailored to diversify daily routines and promote physical activity. This study is the first to explore these patterns in the Chilean context, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of elderly care and informing future strategies for improving the well-being of older adults living alone.

Development of a Generative Design System for 3D-Printed Houses in Chile

Three dimensional-printing construction is an emerging technology with significant potential for faster building execution and more precise, controllable designs. This technology utilizes material deposition managed by computer data, enabling additive construction of shapes. This research aims to develop a generative design system for 3D-printed houses in Chile, addressing the country’s growing demand for housing across diverse geographical locations and social groups, also present in other parts of the world. The development process involves synthesizing the external form features of existing Chilean houses and analyzing prototypes of 3D-printed houses worldwide to establish a set of geometric characteristics suitable for 3D-printed homes in Chile. A procedure is then outlined to create design alternatives using parametric programming on a BIM platform, followed by toolpath development for printing the building components. Various models are generated to demonstrate housing shapes’ versatility and adaptability to Chilean contexts and 3D-printed construction methods. Finally, a detailed design is created and printed to construct a housing prototype, testing the entire digital workflow. This experience highlights the variety of 3D-printed housing shapes that can be developed while assessing their feasibility for the Chilean context. This research complements the flexible design capabilities of 3D printing construction, resulting in buildings better suited to various locations and occupancy needs.

Educational research on medical residency programs in Chile: a scoping review and analysis of the impact of the new accreditation policy

BackgroundAccrediting medical specialties programs are expected to influence and standardize training program quality, align curriculum with population needs, and improve learning environments. Despite global agreement on its necessity, methods vary widely. In the Chilean context, a recent new accreditation criteria includes research productivity in relation to educational research on resident programs, so we aimed to define it. What is the profile of publications in educational research produced by Chilean medical specialty residency programs in the last five years? Based on these results, we intend to analyze the potential impact of the new accreditation policy on medical specialty programs in Chile.MethodsWe performed a preliminary bibliometric search to identify the use of the term “resident” in literature. After that, we conducted a literature search, using a six-step approach to scoping reviews, including the appraisal of the methodological quality of the articles.ResultsBetween 2019 and 2023, an average of 6.2 articles were published yearly (19%). The bibliometric analysis revealed that the dominant thematic area of the journals was clinical, accounting for 78.1%. Most articles focused on residents (84.38%), with only two articles including graduates as participants. One university was responsible for 62.50% of the articles and participated in all multicenter studies (9.38%). Surgical specialties produced 15 research articles focused on procedural training using simulation. Psychiatry was the second most productive specialty, with 5 articles (15.63%) covering standardized patients, well-being, and mental health assessment. The most frequent research focus within residency programs over the five-year period was teaching and learning methodologies, with 19 articles representing almost 60% of the total analyzed.ConclusionsResearch on medical education in Chile’s postgraduate residency programs is limited, with most studies concentrated in a few universities. The new accreditation criteria emphasize educational research, posing challenges for many institutions to meet higher standards. Understanding unexplored areas in educational research and learning from successful programs can enhance research productivity and align efforts with accreditation expectations. Continuous evaluation and new research on residents’ satisfaction, skills acquisition, and well-being are needed to ensure training quality and accountability.

Potential of membrane distillation for water recovery and reuse in water stress scenarios: Perspective from a bibliometric analysis

Climate change and related issues such as water scarcity and the urgent need for a transition to sustainable energy sources have motivated the development of novel processes and techniques that can be applied for water treatment, recovery and reuse. Among these emerging processes, membrane distillation in its different configurations has been extensively studied and reported in the literature. A bibliometric analysis was performed to investigate the research documents published in the scientific database Scopus until 2024, related to use of membrane distillation for water recovery and reuse. The main quantitative attributes of the research during this period were identified. The results of this analysis showed a very low scientific production until 2005, followed by a rapid exponential increase since then. The combined contribution of the two most productive countries (China and USA respectively) accounted for more than 41 % of the total number of publications, followed by Australia and Saudi Arabia, which occupied the third and fourth positions in the ranking. Chemical engineering was the most important subject category (57.4 % contribution), closely followed by environmental sciences. The review of the most cited documents and keywords showed that membrane wetting is one of the main drawbacks that can reduce the performance of membrane distillation and the use of innovative superhydrophobic, omniphobic or Janus membranes resulted an adequate solution to avoid this problem. Moreover, the desalination of seawater, brines and other highly saline solutions can be considered as the most studied application of membrane distillation. The consideration of the energetic aspects of membrane distillation and its coupling with other technologies were identified as relevant topics during the bibliometric network analysis. Special attention was given to the potential of membrane distillation for water recovery and reuse in the Chilean context of water stress for the production of drinking water and the treatment of domestic greywater and wastewater from mining and other industrial activities.

Assessment Norms Development of the Subjective Work Environment Battery “B-SWE” for Chilean Organizations

The objective of this research was to generate evaluation norms for the scores of the Subjective Work Environment Battery "B-SWE" from a base of 1,413 valid response protocols of workers belonging to 11 complex organizations in the central-south region of Chile. The B-SWE seeks to identify and analyze the subjective factors of work climate, understood as the result of the interrelation of the dimensions of organizational climate and culture, professional burnout, psychosomatic symptomatology, and coping strategies in specific socio-occupational contexts, which reflect the human dimension of the productive processes of an organization. Scales were obtained according to administrative dependency (public or private) and gender. The B-SWE comprises 136 Likert-type items with a five-option scaling, presenting adequate evidence of internal structure in the Chilean context. The results showed the existence of "differentiating dimensions" according to gender and dependency of the organizations, from which centile norms are constructed for the raw scores of the 15 dimensions of the B-SWE. Once the norms were obtained, differentiated and specific interpretations were presented for each dimension. In conclusion, the workers in public organizations showed higher levels of Organizational Trust, Job Satisfaction, Reflective Action, and Personal Fulfillment. In contrast, female workers presented higher levels of Affective Seeking, Spiritual Support, and Psychosomatic Symptoms and lower levels of Affective Hardening.

Acceptability, feasibility and fidelity of the culturally adapted version of Unplugged (“Yo Se Lo Que Quiero”), a substance use preventive program among adolescents in Chile: a pilot randomized controlled study

IntroductionThe consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis is a public health problem that impacts the cognitive, social, and emotional development of adolescents. Prevention strategies such as the “Unplugged” program are effective in delaying the progression of daily smoking and episodes of drunkenness among adolescents. “Yo Se Lo Que Quiero” (YSLQQ) corresponds to the adaptation of this program to the Chilean context. This study assesses the acceptability and feasibility of implementing this program to the local reality.Material and methodsThis was a cluster-randomized controlled pilot study conducted on six public schools. All consented students attending 6th, 7th, and 8th grades (n = 1,180) participated in the study. The schools were randomly assigned to one of two conditions in a 1:1 ratio: (1) the “YSLQQ” intervention group (n = 526), and (2) the Control group (n = 654). The program consisted of a 12-hour class-based curriculum based on a comprehensive social-influence approach delivered by a trained facilitator. The acceptability and feasibility were assessed in the intervention group at the end of the intervention using questionnaires answered by students and facilitators. The quality and fidelity of the program were evaluated during the implementation using self-ported surveys answered by the facilitators and the assessment of video-recorded sessions rated by external observers. Finally, a pre-test and a post-test survey assessing past and current substance use and risk and protective factors were conducted before and immediately after the program’s implementation.ResultsA high proportion of students (49.6%) liked the sessions. 79.2% reported that the YSLQQ helped them learn about the dangers of substances, while 65.8% reported having more skills to avoid substance use in the future. Regarding students’ satisfaction with YSLQQ, 62.9% reported being happy or very happy with the program. Facilitators reported implementing the intervention according to the manual in 73.9% of sessions. Regarding substance use, students who participated in the intervention groups reported a significant reduction in drunkenness in the last year and last 30-day prevalence and also a significant reduction in a lifetime and 30-day prevalence of cannabis use when compared with those students in the control group.ConclusionsOur results suggest that YSLQQ has adequate acceptability and feasibility to be implemented in the Chilean context, and there were promising results in reducing drunkenness and cannabis use. Future research should confirm these results in a larger RCT study.Trial registrationThe trial was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04566627; registration date: 01/03/2019

A Simplified Framework to Integrate Databases with Building Information Modeling for Building Energy Assessment in Multi-Climate Zones

BIM models are seldom used for the energy certification of buildings. This paper discusses the advantages of linking two important fields: building information modeling (BIM) and building environmental assessment methods (BEAM), presented as a rating system and a proposal for the Chilean context. The state of the art in both fields around the world is discussed, with an in-depth examination of current BIM software and related applications, followed by a discussion about previous research on integrating them. A lack of interoperability and data losses between BIM and BEM were found. A new tool is presented that addresses these challenges to ensure accurate rating system data, and this new framework is based on database exchange and takes crucial information from BIM to BEAM platforms. The development of the method includes BIM programming (API), database links, and spreadsheets for a Chilean building energy certification through a new tool, also applicable to multiclimactic zones. This new semi-automatic tool allows architects to model their design in a BIM platform and use this information as input for the energy certification process. The potential and risks of this method are discussed. Several improvements and enhancements of the energy certification process were found when incorporating this new framework in comparison to current methodologies.

La emergencia de la formación en gestión cultural en Chile

This article originates from a review of the state of the art of cultural management training in Chile carried out by the author as part of his doctoral research. Its main objective is to analyze, understand and explain the factors that have influenced the evolution of a training and academic field dedicated to cultural management in Chile, recognizing that this process is still in development. To achieve this purpose, a bibliographic review has been carried out that addresses various aspects, such as the emergence of cultural management, the process of professionalization in this field, as well as the emergence of training programs in cultural management at the global level and, particularly, in the Chilean context, where the relevant cultural agents that allowed its emergence are analyzed. The results of this study provide an explanatory framework for the emergence of university education in cultural management in Chile, configured from the interaction of sociocultural, political, economic and cognitive factors that have taken place in the historical context characterized by the advance of capitalism worldwide and the globalization process, especially during the last decades of the twentieth century, and that continue to influence today.

RETRACTION NOTICE: Complementary therapies for oral mucositis caused by conventional chemotherapy

Retraction note: Helo, L., Ramos, N. & Salgado, S. (2022). Complementary therapies for oral mucositis caused by conventional chemotherapy: Possible use in the Chilean context. TECHNO REVIEW. International Technology, Science and Society Review Revista Internacional De Tecnología, Ciencia Y Sociedad, 12(2), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.37467/revtechno.v11.4493 The Editorial Office of Eurasia Academic Publishing Group has retracted this article. An investigation carried out by our Research Integrity Department has found a group of articles, among which this one is found, that are not within the thematic scope of the journal. We believe that the editorial process was manipulated and, furthermore, acceptance decisions were made under possibly inappropriate peer review.

Exploring the Influence of Construction Companies Characteristics on Their Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Chilean Context

The COVID-19 pandemic was a significant disruption to the construction industry around the globe with multiple impacts, such as workforce limitations and contractual conflicts. Multiple studies have explored the impacts of the pandemic in the construction sector so far. However, little is known about how construction companies responded to the pandemic and what companies’ characteristics may have influenced their responses. The objective of this study is to explore the impacts of COVID-19 and how construction companies responded to the pandemic. To do so, semi-structured interviews with experienced professional working in Chile are qualitatively analyzed to leverage their experience. Furthermore, characteristics of construction companies that influenced how companies responded to the pandemic, namely, size, experience, and financial standing, are explored. The results obtained suggest that the focus in responding to the pandemic was taking care of workers’ safety, improving the planning of projects under highly uncertain conditions, and dealing with the financial stress of developing construction projects. When looking at the influence of companies’ experience, size, and economic capacity, experienced and large companies’ responses were related to implementing teleworking and dealing with a limited workforce. Regarding the economic capacity of construction companies, the focus was placed on responding to the pandemic using multiple sources of financing. Differences identified in how construction companies responded to the pandemic emphasizes the importance of understanding attributes that led companies to having better responses to the pandemic and being prepared for the post-pandemic context.

Bibliometric Analysis of Urban Coastal Development: Strategies for Climate-Resilient Timber Housing

Urban development in coastal areas has become increasingly important due to the climate crisis and its effects on sea level rise and extreme events, which increased the vulnerability of coastal zones. Therefore, it is important to analyze possible sustainable development techniques in urban planning and residential housing construction based on low-carbon footprint materials such as timber. These techniques should be capable of mitigating the effects of flooding and uncontrolled rises in coastal areas, as well as identifying normative and economic differences in their application in the Chilean context. For this purpose, a bibliometric analysis of 3882 articles selected from the Web of Science database between 1987 and 2022 was conducted, allowing us to identify a range of possible solutions to be developed in the study area. This includes evaluating their potential for normative application and a cost analysis of these solutions. In this regard, housing solutions such as amphibious houses and houses on stilts are two types of flood-resistant homes that are gaining popularity worldwide. Following the technical–economic analysis, it was observed that the solution on stilts can be up to 50% more cost-effective to implement in Chile. However, both options offer a promising solution to minimize the risks of coastal flooding and should be taken into account in the urban planning of coastal areas.

Identity capital and future concerns in urban adolescents from La Araucanía-Chile

IntroductionLate modernity influences the construction and constitution of identity and the management of adolescents’ future lives. Research has shown that identity capital predicts the resolution of a successful identity; however, in Latin America, no antecedents have conducted studies under this conceptual framework.AimTo analyze the relationship pattern between identity capital components and future concerns.MethodsThe participants were 703 adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 years who, in the year 2021, were in the third and fourth years of high school in urban educational establishments in La Araucanía Chile, to whom questions from the Governance of Educational Trajectories in Europe (GOETE) adapted to the Chilean context and the general self-efficacy scale were applied. Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFA) were performed to determine the suitability of the indicators to measure the constructs of interest and a structural equation analysis to determine the pattern of relationships between variables.ResultsThe final model obtained excellent indicators of the goodness of fit [χ2 (422) = 965.858, p < 0.001; CFI = 0.977; TLI = 0.975; RMSEA = 0.043; SRMR = 0.056], in which it is evident that parental support and interaction are related to self-efficacy and self-concept and these, in turn, is associated with adolescents’ future concerns.ConclusionThe relationship pattern tested shows that associations between tangible elements at the family level are related to intangible aspects of a personal nature, which can be protective factors against future concerns, and provide empirical support for the psychometric usefulness of the GOETE indicators in the Chilean context.

An understanding of school libraries within the technical vocational education and training system: Chile’s CRA school libraries

Our study seeks to explore how official Chilean governmental normative documents envision school libraries within its Technical Vocational Education and Training system. This system has not been exempted from the discursive rhetoric that maintains that for today’s society being able to engage with information is indispensable. While the library has been argued to be a model space for developing such practices, this need not be the case. The role of the library and librarians is not fixed but rather runs within a continuum. Given that libraries’ roles are not fixed, exploring the underlying assumptions of documents that set out standards for libraries is important. Failing to question such assumptions can lead to problematic implementations where discrepancies between rhetoric and practice become common. Within the Chilean context, normative documents as well as teachers explicitly assign the school library responsibility for the development of practices to engage with information. Additionally, in Chile, the enactment of public policy concomitant to school libraries originated from the idea that they were fundamental for developing literacy and practices to purposefully engage with information. Methodologically, we have conducted a post-foundational discourse analysis. Two documents central to the detailing of school library standards underwent a synchronic heuristic discourse analysis as understood by relational-ontology. Findings indicate that the understandings of school libraries are closer to that of a passive annex, or resource, of a school and not as a site for instruction and learning. Our findings indicate that such an understanding slants toward an understanding of libraries mainly conceived in quantitative terms, ultimately leading to the potential thwarting of practices to engage with information.

Agricultural water accounting: Complementing a governance monitoring schema with remote sensing calculations at different scales

Water use requires monitoring and quantification at different spatial scales to enhance water security, especially in regions facing water scarcity and threats to food security. Consequently, water metering has been implemented in various countries as part of water governance frameworks. This study aims to evaluate the implementation of a water metering network within the Chilean water governance system, which is based on the commoditisation of water through water rights. Additionally, it assesses the potential of supplementing the water metering network with remote sensing-based estimates of actual evapotranspiration (AET) and discusses the need to integrate these estimates into an appropriate water governance scheme. To conduct this study, publicly available water use reports were obtained from the Water Resources Directorate and subsequently processed to eliminate anomalies in the withdrawal time series. Water withdrawal data was supplemented with information on granted water rights to provide additional insights and contrast water allocations with actual withdrawals. AET estimates from the Mapping EvapoTranspiration at high Resolution with Internalised Calibration (METRIC) model using Landsat scenes were also acquired for the period from 2019 to 2022 to compare withdrawals and water demand in the agricultural sector. It was found that only a small fraction of water rights ( ∼ 2%) is currently being metered. Actual reported withdrawals, on average, amount to approximately one fifth to one fourth of the volumes granted through water rights. However, water extractions vary depending on geographical locations and usage categories. Remote sensing-based AET demonstrates a good correlation with withdrawals, suggesting its potential in auditing water withdrawal records provided by water users and calculating water availability and withdrawals at aggregated scales within an adaptive water governance framework. While different applications were explored within the Chilean context, these have a broader application in global water governance, particularly in regions experiencing similar challenges in water resource management.

Cultural adaptation of the MISSCARE tool for use in the Chilean context

Resumen Objetivo validar el instrumento de cuidado perdido de enfermería (MISSCARE), para ser utilizado en contexto chileno. Método adaptación sociolingüística de MISSCARE a través de traducción y retrotraducción, seguida por evaluación de profesionales de enfermería con manejo de idioma inglés y finalmente validación de contenido a través de revisión, adecuación cultural y de contenido, por expertos del área. Resultados el instrumento en su versión 2.0 demostró validez aparente y de contenido. El cuidado de enfermería perdido es un evento adverso que amenaza la seguridad y calidad de la atención en salud. Contar con un instrumento validado que mida el cuidado perdido será un indicador para mejorar la calidad en la atención prestada. Conclusiones e implicaciones para la práctica el instrumento MISSCARE en su versión adaptada es una herramienta confiable y válida para medir el cuidado perdido en instituciones hospitalarias. Estudiar los cuidados omitidos generará conocimientos clave para mejorar la calidad de la atención en salud y desarrollar indicadores de gestión. Estos conocimientos impulsarán estrategias e intervenciones para optimizar servicios y garantizar un estándar más alto en la atención.

Barriers and Facilitators to Including Students With Down Syndrome in Integrated Physical Education: Chilean Physical Educators’ Perspectives

The purpose of this study was to explore Chilean physical educators’ perspectives on barriers and facilitators to students with Down syndrome experiencing inclusion in integrated physical education. Data were collected from a cohort of 91 physical educators, comprising 50 males and 41 females from various regions in Chile, who responded to an online survey between March 2023 to June 2023. A two-step coding protocol was used to analyze responses. Cumulatively, the respondents identified 350 barriers (3.84 per participant) and 393 facilitators (4.32 per participant), which they perceived to influence feelings of inclusion among students with Down syndrome. Predominantly, factors that centered around teachers themselves were emphasized as both facilitators and barriers, as well as the role of a welcoming environment and supportive peers. This study, the first within the Chilean context, demonstrates that teachers believe that inclusiveness predominantly stems from educators’ initiatives, complemented by the surrounding environment and peer interactions.

Adaptação cultural do instrumento MISSCARE para uso no contexto chileno

Abstract Objective to validate the MISSCARE instrument for use in the Chilean context. Method sociolinguistic adaptation of MISSCARE involved translation and back-translation, followed by evaluation by English-speaking nurses. Finally, content validation was achieved through expert review, focusing on cultural and content adaptation. Results the 2.0 version of MISSCARE demonstrated both face and content validity. Missed care is an adverse event that threatens the safety and quality of health care. Having a validated instrument to measure missed care will serve as an indicator to improve the quality of health care provided. Conclusions and implications for practice the adapted version of MISSCARE is a reliable, valid tool for measuring missed nursing care in hospitals. The study of missed nursing care will generate essential knowledge to improve the quality of health care and to develop management indicators. These insights will drive strategies and interventions in order to optimize services and ensure a higher standard of care.

Emotions, subjective well-being and gender in basketball learning in teacher education: a case study

The narrative study of emotions in Physical Education teacher training allows us to approach the associated personal and social meanings. The first objective of this research was to understand in a Chilean context the emotional meanings of university Physical Education students in their learning of basketball. Secondly, the objective was to interpret these emotional meanings from a gender perspective. A qualitative, interpretative, and phenomenological methodology was used. Four women and seven men from the Physical Education Pedagogy program at a private Chilean university in the Metropolitan Region participated in the study. The data were collected through personal diaries, which were subjected to a deductive-inductive content analysis with the Atlas.ti 22 program. The results show 14 categories referring to four positive emotions and six negative emotions for subjective well-being. There were nine shared and five separate categories between male and female gender. It is concluded that the recognized meanings can be used to favor subjective well-being by means of didactic adaptations in basketball learning.