Universidad De Research Articles

An analysis of Chilean universities based on their research outputs and funded projects (2008-2022)

Objective. We analyzed the research output of Chilean universities with the primary objective of guiding leadership teams in formulating and prioritizing their strategic goals. Design/Methodology/Approach. The research was descriptive and documentary in nature, involving a systematic, comprehensive, transparent, and detailed review of articles published in various indexed scientific journals. Between 2008 and 2022, we searched the Scopus database at each institution to obtain information on its scientific production. Results/Discussion. We have demonstrated the presence of a select group of universities with exceptionally high levels of scientific productivity, as indicated by significant performance metrics. The analysis of university productivity shows that, in absolute terms, the most outstanding institutions are the Universidad de La Frontera, the Universidad de Tarapacá, and the Universidad de Chile. This study highlights the efficiency and performance of these academic institutions in terms of their scientific output. Only 12 institutions manage to exceed the national average in terms of productivity, while 19 universities perform at an alarmingly low level. Conclusion. This research provides valuable insights into institutions that achieve commendable results but remain underrepresented in rankings due to their smaller size. It underscores the importance of valuing outcomes over raw numbers, providing a more nuanced understanding of scientific productivity.

Breaking the mold: a university case study of successful english language online teaching without textbooks

This case study examines the viability of teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) online synchronously without textbooks. Likewise, a pilot course conducted from May to September at the Language Institute from Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas (UFA-ESPE) in Ecuador assessed this approach. The current research aimed to investigate the feasibility of this textbook-free, synchronously online ESL teaching method. Employing a one-group, post-test only design, with a qualitative approach and a descriptive scope, the study assessed student engagement, learning outcomes, and promising benefits. Of twenty-one students who agreed to be part of this study in the super intensive course, fourteen approved successfully a mock A2 Key exam, demonstrating potential results. The course fostered a dynamic and learner-centered environment, suggesting alternative approaches for online ESL education without utilizing textbooks. However, limitations like sample size and the absence of a control group suggest further research for conclusive evidence.

Limits of Stability during a Therapeutic Exercise Intervention for Instability: Progression, Responders' and Non-Responders' Analysis and Predictors.

Background/Objectives: Instability is one of the main symptoms in patients with vestibular and neurological disorders and therapeutic exercise interventions are increasing in popularity as a form of treatment. Additionally, the limits of stability measurement are known to be a good tool for balance evaluation and monitoring of these interventions. The aim of this work is to better understand how a specific protocol provokes changes on this variable and to study the characteristics of those who do and do not respond to it. Methods: A retrospective study was developed with the data of 40 patients treated in the Otorhinolaryngology department in Clínica Universidad de Navarra (Madrid, Spain). They had an initial reduction in limits of stability, completed the proposed protocol with home-based and hospital-based exercises and with frequent limits of stability remeasurement, and were assisted to a follow-up retest after 1-2 months. Results: A progressive improvement in limits of stability measure was developed through the intervention and was partially retained at follow-up visit. Several differences were found between those patients who improved with the treatment (responders) and those who did not improve (non-responders). More specifically an initial measure of the limits of stability was able to differentiate those groups with a cut-off data of 56 cm2. Conclusions: The proposed protocol was able to induce motor learning in patients included in this study with good retention after 1-2 months. Furthermore, there is some variability in how patients respond to the treatment. Age and diagnosis should be considered and an interesting cut-off data for clinal decision making was found.

Platelet-Rich Plasma and Related Orthobiologics for the Treatment of Equine Musculoskeletal Disorders-A Bibliometric Analysis from 2000 to 2024.

(1) Background: There is increasing interest in the use of platelet-rich plasma and related orthobiologics for the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal disorders in horses; however, there is no information on the bibliometric impact of the literature published in this area. (2) Methods: A bibliometric analysis was performed using the bibliometrix R package by analyzing the documents registered in the WOS and Scopus databases from 2000 to 2024. The included registers were evaluated according to the menu of results from the biblioshiny web app (overview, sources, authors, documents, words, trending topics, clustering, conceptual structure, and social structure). (3) Conclusions: The documents produced were mainly published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, BMC Veterinary Research, and the American Journal of Veterinary Research). The most productive institutions were Universidad de Caldas, Colorado State University, University of California-Davis, and University of Leipzig, and the most productive countries were the USA, Brazil, and Colombia. Horse, platelet-rich plasma, equine, osteoarthritis, and autologous conditioned serum were the most frequently used keywords. The trending topics in this area are platelet lysates and orthobiologics. The collaboration network of authors, institutions, and countries shows an isolated development of individual author networks with modest collaboration between institutions and countries.

Grit y responsabilidad social en estudiantes con Educación 4.0 y proyectos de Aprendizaje y Servicios

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an enhanced Education 4.0 proposal incorporating Service Learning (SL) among university students. A quantitative research was conducted with a sample of 30 students from Universidad de Aconcagua (Chile) during the period from April to June 2024. Data were collected using questionnaires with sufficient validity and reliability; the first instrument assessed Grit on the 12-item Grit-O scale with scores ranging from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest level, and the second instrument measured social responsibility from 1 to 6, with 6 as the maximum value. The results indicate that the use of Education 4.0 along with Service Learning showed a significant increase in social responsibility, rising from 4.96 to 5.37 (p<0.05), and a slight increase in Grit, from 4.36 to 4.41, achieving better outcomes than students who only used Education 4.0. The findings suggest that Education 4.0 with Service Learning projects is a more effective methodology than Education 4.0 alone for increasing Grit and social responsibility among university students.

Socio-ecological influences on access to abortion care in Costa Rica: a qualitative analysis of key perspectives from clinical and policy stakeholders

Costa Rica prohibits abortion except under narrow circumstances to save the pregnant person’s life. The country boasts historically strong support for social policy and human rights, while also presenting a complex and restrictive abortion access landscape. From September 2021 to March 2022, we conducted 23 interviews with obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN) physicians, OB/GYN medical residents, and policy stakeholders to explore the socio-ecological influences on abortion access in Costa Rica. We sampled clinicians and policy stakeholders from the Universidad de Ciencias Médicas listserv through snowball sampling and conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews in Spanish. We identified limited access to comprehensive sexual health education, lack of support from interpersonal networks, inadequate provider knowledge and training, financial and migratory status, and both provider and community stigma as substantial barriers to abortion access. This study addresses a gap in published research around the social determinants of abortion in Costa Rica and sheds light on the attitudes and opinions of the medical and policy stakeholder communities about abortion access. The results highlight the need for expanded access to comprehensive sexual health education, abortion-related training for healthcare providers, and increased programming efforts, such as funding, outreach, and implementation, to ensure comprehensive reproductive health services are available and accessible, especially for vulnerable populations in Costa Rica.

Medical education for undergraduate research: Proposals from the experience of two national student conferences of the Universidad de Valparaíso.

Scientific research promotes the development of essential skills for medical practice. However, student participation in research projects is low, with multiple limitations and students' perceptions of deficient research skills. This study aims to describe the organization of the two medical student conferences held by the Scientific Society of Medical Students of the Universidad de Valparaíso and to analyze the papers presented. Finally, we make recommendations for promoting scientific research among medical students. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted, including all the presentations given at the conferences. The conferences comprised four phases: registration, evaluation, selection, and presentation. A total of 399 papers were received. A total of 157 case reports and 12 cross-sectional studies were presented, including 797 authors (56.7% women) from 21 universities. Most of the first authors were women in the internship cycle at public universities. The specialties with the highest representation were internal medicine (32.5%), pediatrics (18.3%) and surgery (13%). In the case reports, the best-evaluated section was the title (6.66 ± 0.76), and the worst-evaluated section was the discussion (6.17 ± 0.84). The case reports from private universities scored significantly higher in six of the eight items assessed. Greater participation was represented by students in their internship cycle presenting case reports. The worst evaluated section was the discussion, which could reflect difficulties in the research process. It is crucial to increase student participation from the first years of the career and encourage their involvement in research. More studies are needed to evaluate student participation and barriers to scientific research.

Who Trusts Russia? Members of Parliament (MPs') Support for Putin's Government and Multilateralism

This article examines the ambivalent stance of Latin American governments towards Russia's actions in Ukraine. Using Proyecto Élites Parlamentarias de la Universidad de Salamanca (PELA‐USAL) data, it explores ideological self‐placement, Putin's approval and alliance preferences among Latin American Members of Parliament, highlighting the influence of anti‐imperialism and multilateralism on their international alignments and support for Russia.

Costa Rica’s potential for entotechnology development: an ecosystem and entomophagy perspective

Abstract Entotechnology integrates scientific and technical knowledge to leverage the potential of insects for societal benefit, encompassing fields such as medicine, agriculture, food, and biotechnology. This article aims to assess and promote the potential of Costa Rica to develop entotechnology from an ecosystem and entomophagy perspective, including an updated list of edible insect species in the region. Costa Rica boasts a biodiversity of 48 edible insect species. To date, two notable projects by the Universidad de Costa Rica have been successfully implemented. However, the current legislation in Costa Rica needs to provide better conditions to foster industrial insect farming within a circular economy. Universities play a crucial role in encouraging the formalization and appreciation of insect rearing, entomophagy, and entotechnology studies. Prioritizing the exploration of new uses for edible insect species is essential for the advancement of this field.

Institutional contamination produced by student waste at the Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE Latacunga campus during the may-september 2023 semester

Institutional contamination by student waste at the Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE, Sede Latacunga, is of concern due to lack of environmental awareness, inadequate infrastructure and clear recycling policies. The research reveals a strong awareness among students about the importance of separating waste and recycling, although there are challenges in infrastructure and policies. Students perceive recycling as beneficial for the environment and health. Most support the implementation of recycling and waste separation systems. The need for adequate containers and awareness campaigns is highlighted. Health risks associated with hazardous waste are identified. The university should lead changes towards more sustainable practices, promoting recycling infrastructure, waste reduction and local partnerships. Continuous monitoring and evaluation, increased student participation, and clear policies and environmental education programs are recommended

A new LHe-free cryostat for the heterodyne SIS receiver for the Leighton Chajnantor Telescope

Abstract The Leighton Chajnantor Telescope (LCT) is an international collaborative program among Caltech, Shanghai Normal University (ShNU), and Universidad de Concepción (UdeC), aiming at the refurbishment and relocation of the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO) telescope from Mauna Kea, Hawaii, to the Chajnantor Plateau, northern Chile. A suite of excellent-sensitivity heterodyne superconductor–insulator–superconductor (SIS) receivers will be deployed to the telescope as the first set of instrumentations for high-resolution spectral observation. However, the current refrigeration technology for this receiver utilizes liquid helium (LHe), which greatly increases the cost of cooling and labor. To address this problem, a new LHe-free cryostat for the LCT heterodyne SIS receiver has been designed, fabricated, and tested. Mechanical and thermal analyses were performed to ensure that the cryostat meets the requirements of the telescope pointing accuracy and the SIS junction working environment, respectively. The experiment testing results are in good agreement with the calculation and analysis, indicating that the proposed LHe-free cryostat meets the operational requirements of the telescope at the new site.

Spectrum of Oral Lesions Histopathologically Diagnosed at the Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad de Costa Rica

Spectrum of Oral Lesions Histopathologically Diagnosed at the Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad de Costa Rica

BRAV3 Project: Cardiac regenerative medicine

BRAV3 Project: Cardiac regenerative medicine Prof Felipe Prósper, Head of Department, and Dr Manuel Mazo, from the University of Navarra & Clínica Universidad de Navarra, shares his expertise in cardiovascular diseases, focusing on the work of the BRAV3 project, which includes research in cardiac regenerative medicine. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), that is, those affecting the heart and the blood vessels, account for almost half of deaths worldwide. Amongst them, cardiac ischemia, often termed myocardial infarction, is the leading single cause of death globally. The increase in population ageing, added to the normalisation of sedentary and unhealthy lifestyles, has turned this disease into a healthcare emergency. Patients who survive the acute insult are chained to lifelong medical oversight and multi-medication.

Gastronomic revaluation of vegetable discards generated in the culinary transformation of products

Currently, food waste and food loss have become issues of great interest worldwide. Approximately 1300 million tons of food are lost or wasted each year worldwide (FAO, 2020). To contribute to the mitigation of food loss, the gastronomy programs of the Universidad Autónoma de Manizales and the Institución Universitaria Colegio Mayor de Antioquia, along with the Food Engineering Program of the Universidad de Caldas, proposed a project. The project aimed to characterize the vegetable waste (VW) obtained in the cooking workshops of one of the institutions during a regular academic period of 18 weeks. Through this project, they identified 351 kg of VW generated. Based on this information, 16 recipes were designed, formulated, and prepared. Among them, eight recipes were selected based on their gastronomic potential. These selected recipes were then rated on a scale of one to eight by gastronomic experts. Following this evaluation, the first four recipes from the list were chosen. The results of the quality analysis indicated that the products made from vegetable discards are microbiologically viable, meaning they are suitable for consumption. Both acceptance tests and sensory analysis yielded favorable results. However, significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed among certain samples in terms of preference and attributes such as color, odor, and flavor. In conclusion, vegetables composed of by-products such as hulls and seeds, as well as non-compliant food items, are deemed suitable for gastronomic processing and human consumption.

Evaluación de la sensibilidad y especificidad de la sigmoidoscopia en comparación con la colonoscopia en la detección de actividad inflamatoria intestinal en el seguimiento de pacientes con colitis ulcerosa

IntroductionUlcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disease characterized by periods of inflammatory activity and remission, which vary from the rectum to the proximal colon. Currently, mucosal healing is a long-term goal in the management of inflammatory bowel disease, with colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy being the recommended tools for evaluation. ObjectiveTo assess the effectiveness of both examinations in determining the presence of inflammatory activity in the follow-up of patients with UC. MethodsRetrospective observational study analyzing colonoscopies performed as part of the follow-up of UC patients between January 2021 and July 2023 by gastroenterologists from the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program at the Clínica Universidad de los Andes. The study compared endoscopic and histological activity observed in the rectosigmoid region with that found in the rest of the colon. Sensitivity and specificity were determined using concordance and correlations tests. ResultsA very good concordance and correlation were observed regarding endoscopic findings, with a Kappa index of 0.97 and a Spearman coefficient of 0.97. The Positive Predictive Value (PPV) of sigmoidoscopy for endoscopic activity was 1, and the Negative Predictive Value (NPV) was 0.96. In relation to histological activity, the concordance had a Kappa index of 0.93 and a Spearman coefficient of 0.93, with a PPV of sigmoidoscopy for histological activity being 1 and an NPV of 0.91. ConclusionThis cohort suggests that sigmoidoscopy is a cost-effective option for evaluating mucosal healing in UC patients in symptomatic and biomarker remission. However, complete colonoscopy should be considered in cases of discrepancies with the clinical picture or in colorectal cancer surveillance.

First record of Acarophenacidae (Acari: Heterostigmata) from Mexico, with description of a new species of Paracarophenax associated with Cerambycidae (Insecta: Coleoptera)

Paracarophenax (Acari: Heterostigmata: Acarophenacidae) comprises eight distinct species of egg parasitoids associated mainly with various beetles, distributed across different global regions. In this study, a new species of Paracarophenax was found associated with cerambycid beetles´ collection samples deposited in the Colección de Insectos de la Universidad de Morelos, Morelos, Mexico. The aim of this paper is to describe the ninth species of the Paracarophenax, and provide an updated taxonomic key of the genus. The new species can be separated from others congeners by the presence of one spiniform seta on genu II, the seta l’ on femur I slightly spatulate, one seta on femur III, setae e slightly longer than f, and the distance between setae e and f slightly longer or equal to the distance between setae h&lt;sub&gt;1&lt;/sub&gt; and h&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;. This study reports the family Acarophenacidae for the first time from Mexico, and the genus Paracarophenax from the Neotropical Region.

Digital dissemination practices: An analysis of explanatory strategies in the process of recontextualising specialised knowledge

Researchers and scientists are increasingly encouraged by their institutions, by external organizations and by societal demands to foster the global dissemination of their knowledge production. Such dissemination is nowadays very frequently carried out online through different digital practices and texts. The current Web 2.0 and Science 2.0 context requires complex discursive practices to recontextualise and communicate specialised knowledge in a way that is accessed, understood and accepted by multiple audiences. The use of explanatory strategies has been highlighted by previous research as playing a key role in the recontextualisation of scientific findings. Such strategies can be realised verbally and non-verbally through diverse semiotic modes and affordances of the digital medium. A taxonomy of verbal explanatory strategies (elaboration, explicitation, exemplification, enumeration and comparison) and non-verbal (visual representations and spatial organisation) is presented stemming from the data-driven analysis of a sub-corpus of web-hosted practices, which is part of the SciDis Database compiled by the InterGEDI research group at Universidad de Zaragoza. In particular, the sub-corpus consists of 30 texts: 10 author-generated digital texts – from the knowledge dissemination community The Conversation –, and writer-mediated digital texts – 10 feature articles and 10 research digests – on circular economy and sustainability. Results show that verbal explanatory strategies are more frequent than non-verbal ones and that within the latter exemplification and explicitation are most common across all three types of digital dissemination practices. Author-generated scientific digital texts present more non-verbal explanatory strategies than writer-mediated ones – feature articles, and especially than research digests. The findings on the strategies resorted to and their realisation can be used to design tools for researchers, scientists and scriptwriters, mediators of disciplinary knowledge, who need to communicate such knowledge through digital platforms to diversified audiences.

The use of project pedagogy in teletandem sessions

This article describes an online language learning context in which teletandem sessions (Telles, 2009) have been integrated into the syllabus of a Modern Languages Degree Course at the Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Brazil, as an internationalization at home action. In the second semester of 2021, the subject “Aprendizaje de Portugués y Español en Teletandem” was offered with the participation of ten Brazilian students who were majoring in Spanish at the UFG, nine Argentine students from different undergraduate courses from the Universidad de Cuyo, and one undergraduate student from the Universidad de Buenos Aires. In this virtual learning context, the Brazilians could teach Portuguese to the Argentinians and improve their fluency in Spanish through interactions with them. They also had to develop a project about a chosen theme and work on it, considering the Brazilian and Argentine contexts. The data for this case study (Johnson, 1992) was obtained through video recordings of the interviews of two pairs of students. The results show that the participants could learn an additional language, improve their intercultural skills, and talk about real-world problems in Brazil and Argentina, like the lack of water in some cities, the devaluation of women’s work, etc. The students’ reflections on these topics made them more socially aware of living in a more harmonious world where diversity is highly valued.

Empagliflozin and Dapagliflozin Improve Endothelial Function in Mexican Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Double-Blind Clinical Trial.

To assess the acute effect of empagliflozin versus dapagliflozin administration on flow-mediated vasodilation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A double-blind clinical trial, at the Experimental and Clinical Therapeutics Institute, University Health Sciences Center, at the Universidad de Guadalajara, in inpatients with T2D according to the 2023 ADA criteria. Thirty patients (15 males and 15 females), aged between 35 and 65 years, were included in this study, according to the 2023 ADA criteria. The eligible patients were randomly assigned to three groups: empagliflozin 25 mg once daily, dapagliflozin 10 mg once daily, or placebo once daily. Anthropometric parameters were taken using validated techniques. FMD was measured using a high-resolution semiautomatic ultrasound UNEX-EF 38G (UNEX Co., Ltd., Nagoya, Japan). Arterial tension was determined with the OMRON electronic digital sphygmomanometer (HEM 907 XL, Kyoto, Japan). The group of patients who received empagliflozin had a significantly lower baseline flow-mediated dilation (FMD) compared to the group receiving dapagliflozin (p = 0.017); at the end of this study, the empagliflozin group achieved a comparable FMD to the dapagliflozin group (p = 0.88). After the treatment period, the empagliflozin and dapagliflozin groups achieved similar FMD, suggesting a class effect.

Policies, Projects, and Initiatives for Sustainable Higher Education with Gender Equity: Literature Review and Case Study—Universidad de La Frontera

Policies, Projects, and Initiatives for Sustainable Higher Education with Gender Equity: Literature Review and Case Study—Universidad de La Frontera