vgaraujov/thesis-chile huggingface dataset:
Sodium restriction in patients with cirrhotic ascites: a protocol for a systematic review

Abstract Background Avid renal sodium and water retention among other mechanisms produce ascites in patients with cirrhosis. The main guidelines recommend sodium intake reduction in order to counteract this complication. However, some randomized controlled trials have suggested a lack of benefit with a sodium-restricted over an unrestricted diet, and even an increase in ascites and renal complications has been reported. There are no systematic reviews addressing this question. Methods A systematic review protocol has been designed and will be reported in line with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P). We will search for randomized controlled trials evaluating a salt-restricted versus unrestricted regime in patients with cirrhosis and ascites in EMBASE, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. We will also try to identify literature by reviewing reference list of included studies and relevant reviews, screening main conference proceedings, and searching for unpublished and ongoing trials in the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. Two researchers will independently undertake selection of studies, data extraction, and assessment of the quality of included studies. We will estimate pooled risk ratios for dichotomous data and the mean difference or standardized mean difference for continuous outcomes. A random effect model will be used for meta-analyses. Data synthesis and other analyses will be conducted using RevMan software. Ethics and dissemination: no ethics approval is considered necessary. Results of this study will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications and social networks Discussion Sodium restriction is a widely accepted coadjuvant therapy for ascites; however, this indication is based primarily on expert recommendations. As far as we know, this will be the first systematic review assessing the effects of a sodium-restricted diet for ascites in cirrhotic patients. Our systematic review will aim to provide a high-quality synthesis of current evidence for patients and clinicians about this question. The main limitation might result from the reduced number and quality of primary studies available. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42015022161
On cognitive ecology and the environmental factors that promote Alzheimer disease: lessons from Octodon degus (Rodentia: Octodontidae)

Abstract Cognitive ecologist posits that the more efficiently an animal uses information from the biotic and abiotic environment, the more adaptive are its cognitive abilities. Nevertheless, this approach does not test for natural neurodegenerative processes under field or experimental conditions, which may recover animals information processing and decision making and may explain, mechanistically, maladaptive behaviors. Here, we call for integrative approaches to explain the relationship between ultimate and proximate mechanisms behind social behavior. We highlight the importance of using the endemic caviomorph rodent Octodon degus as a valuable natural model for mechanistic studies of social behavior and to explain how physical environments can shape social experiences that might influence impaired cognitive abilities and the onset and progression of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer disease. We consequently suggest neuroecological approaches to examine how key elements of the environment may affect neural and cognitive mechanisms associated with learning, memory processes and brain structures involved in social behavior. We propose the following three core objectives of a program comprising interdisciplinary research in O. degus, namely: (1) to determine whether diet types provided after weaning can lead to cognitive impairment associated with spatial memory, learning and predisposing to develop Alzheimer disease in younger ages; (2) to examine if early life social experience has long term effects on behavior and cognitive responses and risk for development Alzheimer disease in later life and (3) To determine if an increase of social interactions in adult degu reared in different degree of social stressful conditions alter their behavior and cognitive responses.
Persistently high venous-to-arterial carbon dioxide differences during early resuscitation are associated with poor outcomes in septic shock

Abstract Introduction Venous-to-arterial carbon dioxide difference (Pv-aCO2) may reflect the adequacy of blood flow during shock states. We sought to test whether the development of Pv-aCO2 during the very early phases of resuscitation is related to multi-organ dysfunction and outcomes in a population of septic shock patients resuscitated targeting the usual oxygen-derived and hemodynamic parameters. Methods We conducted a prospective observational study in a 60-bed mixed ICU in a University affiliated Hospital. 85 patients with a new septic shock episode were included. A Pv-aCO2 value ≥ 6 mmHg was considered to be high. Patients were classified in four predefined groups according to the Pv-aCO2 evolution during the first 6 hours of resuscitation: (1) persistently high Pv-aCO2 (high at T0 and T6); (2) increasing Pv-aCO2 (normal at T0, high at T6); (3) decreasing Pv-aCO2 (high at T0, normal at T6); and (4) persistently normal Pv-aCO2 (normal at T0 and T6). Multiorgan dysfunction at day-3 was compared for predefined groups and a Kaplan Meier curve was constructed to show the survival probabilities at day-28 using a log-rank test to evaluate differences between groups. A Spearman-Rho was used to test the agreement between cardiac output and Pv-aCO2. Finally, we calculated the mortality risk ratios at day-28 among patients attaining normal oxygen parameters but with a concomitantly increased Pv-aCO2. Results Patients with persistently high and increasing Pv-aCO2 at T6 had significant higher SOFA scores at day-3 (p < 0.001) and higher mortality rates at day-28 (log rank test: 19.21, p < 0.001) compared with patients who evolved with normal Pv-aCO2 at T6. Interestingly, a poor agreement between cardiac output and Pv-aCO2 was observed (r2 = 0.025, p < 0.01) at different points of resuscitation. Patients who reached a central venous saturation (ScvO)2 ≥ 70% or mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) ≥ 65% but with concomitantly high Pv-aCO2 at different developmental points (i.e., T0, T6 and T12) had a significant mortality risk ratio at day-28. Conclusion The persistence of high Pv-aCO2 during the early resuscitation of septic shock was associated with more severe multi-organ dysfunction and worse outcomes at day-28. Although mechanisms conducting to increase Pv-aCO2 during septic shock are insufficiently understood, Pv-aCO2 could identify a high risk of death in apparently resuscitated patients.
Potential for broad-scale transmission of Ebola virus disease during the West Africa crisis: lessons for the Global Health security agenda

Abstract Background The 2014–2016 Ebola crisis in West Africa had approximately eight times as many reported deaths as the sum of all previous Ebola outbreaks. The outbreak magnitude and occurrence of multiple Ebola cases in at least seven countries beyond Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea, hinted at the possibility of broad-scale transmission of Ebola. Main text Using a modeling tool developed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the Ebola outbreak, we estimated the number of Ebola cases that might have occurred had the disease spread beyond the three countries in West Africa to cities in other countries at high risk for disease transmission (based on late 2014 air travel patterns). We estimated Ebola cases in three scenarios: a delayed response, a Liberia-like response, and a fast response scenario. Based on our estimates of the number of Ebola cases that could have occurred had Ebola spread to other countries beyond the West African foci, we emphasize the need for improved levels of preparedness and response to public health threats, which is the goal of the Global Health Security Agenda. Our estimates suggest that Ebola could have potentially spread widely beyond the West Africa foci, had local and international health workers and organizations not committed to a major response effort. Our results underscore the importance of rapid detection and initiation of an effective, organized response, and the challenges faced by countries with limited public health systems. Actionable lessons for strengthening local public health systems in countries at high risk of disease transmission include increasing health personnel, bolstering primary and critical healthcare facilities, developing public health infrastructure (e.g. laboratory capacity), and improving disease surveillance. With stronger local public health systems infectious disease outbreaks would still occur, but their rapid escalation would be considerably less likely, minimizing the impact of public health threats such as Ebola. Conclusions The Ebola outbreak could have potentially spread to other countries, where limited public health surveillance and response capabilities may have resulted in additional foci. Health security requires robust local health systems that can rapidly detect and effectively respond to an infectious disease outbreak.
Prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma response to 90Yttrium radioembolization using volumetric ADC histogram quantification: preliminary results

Abstract Purpose To assess the predictive value of volumetric apparent diffusion coefficient (vADC) histogram quantification obtained before and 6 weeks (6w) post-treatment for assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) response to 90Yttrium radioembolization (RE). Methods In this retrospective study, 22 patients (M/F 15/7, mean age 65y) who underwent lobar RE were included between October 2013 and November 2014. All patients underwent routine liver MRI pre-treatment and 6w after RE. Two readers assessed index tumor response at 6 months after RE in consensus, using mRECIST criteria. vADC histogram parameters of index tumors at baseline and 6w, and changes in vADC (ΔvADC) histogram parameters were calculated. The predictive value of ADC metrics was assessed by logistic regression with stepwise parameter selection and ROC analyses. Results Twenty two HCC lesions (mean size 3.9 ± 2.9 cm, range 1.2–12.3 cm) were assessed. Response at 6 months was as follows: complete response (CR, n = 6), partial response (PR, n = 3), stable disease (SD, n = 12) and progression (PD, n = 1). vADC median/mode at 6w (1.81–1.82 vs. 1.29–1.35 × 10− 3 mm2/s) and ΔvADC median/max (27–44% vs. 0–10%) were significantly higher in CR/PR vs. SD/PD (p = 0.011–0.036), while there was no significant difference at baseline. Logistic regression identified vADC median at 6w as an independent predictor of response (CR/PR) with odds ratio (OR) of 3.304 (95% CI: 1.099–9.928, p = 0.033) and AUC of 0.77. ΔvADC mean was identified as an independent predictor of CR with OR of 4.153 (95%CI: 1.229–14.031, p = 0.022) and AUC of 0.91. Conclusion Diffusion histogram parameters obtained at 6w and early changes in ADC from baseline are predictive of subsequent response of HCCs treated with RE, while pre-treatment vADC histogram parameters are not. These results need confirmation in a larger study. Trial registration This retrospective study was IRB-approved and the requirement for informed consent was waived.
Reliability and validity of the revised impact on family scale (RIOFS) in the hospital context

Abstract Background The lack of formal instruments to measure Burden in primary caregivers of Children in a hospital context is limited because mostly of published instruments are related to cancer survivors, ambulatory environment or general context for children with chronic conditions, but none of them adapted property to prolonged hospitalization context. This leaves the rising population of hospitalized chronic children’s caregivers without a proper assessment. The aim of this study was to develop a version of the Revised Impact on Family Scale adapted to primary caregivers of chronic hospitalized children. A cross-sectional study with two main stages was conducted. The first one describes the linguistic and contextual adaptation process of the instrument, and the second refers to the psychometric testing and analysis.. Results Less than 15% of the participants expressed problems with some adapted items in the scale. Eighty-six caregivers were evaluated at Josefina Martinez Hospital, mostly female (34.2 ± 11.6 years old). Majority of participants were graduated from high school, salaried employee and mothers of the chronic child. The scale exhibits a high level of internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha 0.73), excellent intra-observer reliability (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient 0.9), acceptable empirical evaluation of content validity and low and negative construct validity (Pearson’s correlation coefficient − 0.23). Conclusions This adapted version of the Revised Impact on Family Scale to the hospital context is a reliable, valid, self-administered and simple instrument to implement in order to assess the burden of primary caregivers with chronic hospitalized children.
Geoparque del paisaje tectónico: metodología de interpretación de los valores culturales y estéticos de geositios, entre las ciudades de Illapel y Combarbalá, región de Coquimbo

Las ciudades de Illapel y Combarbalá, ubicadas entre los cerros de la mediana montaña en el interior de la región de Coquimbo, poseen actualmente la mayor cantidad de faenas mineras de escala artesanal del país, encontrándose el trabajo extractivo del pirquinero presente y cargando al paisaje que rodea a estas ciudades con un valor cultural para quienes los habitan, recorren y trabajan. Esto se relaciona a procesos y movimientos geológicos que han conformado este territorio y que componen la diversidad geológica del paisaje. Este paisaje se inserta en el contexto de un clima semiárido, de transición entre el desierto del norte y el clima mediterráneo de la zona central. Esta investigación propone la construcción del concepto de Paisaje Tectónico en este territorio, dado desde el movimiento de tierra del trabajo extractivo artesanal y de procesos geológicos, es decir, de lo que ocurre sobre y bajo la superficie, y la manera en que esa interacción se ve reflejada en las formas de las excavaciones de la minería. Se busca develar este paisaje a través de la construcción de experiencias turísticas en un proyecto de geoparque, que integre los procesos activos del territorio con un interés cultural y científico - geológico en distintos geositios, donde, en el cual se generan distintos actos para el turista mediante el diseño de artefactos de interpretación del paisaje que recorren.
Lo Individual en lo colectivo: edificación modular de mediana altura en madera a partir del caso de la casa A-frame en la alta montaña

A partir del estudio estructural y espacial de las casas A-frame, se busca diseñar un edificio de mediana altura en alta montaña de carácter modular en madera, donde la estructura de la casa A-frame caracterizada como individual tanto estructural como programáticamente será utilizada como módulo para superponerlos entre ellos, estructurando un edificio de carácter colectivo. Luego de variadas iteraciones de superposiciones de los módulos, se llega a un diseño estructural de un edificio de mediana altura (6 pisos) modular, donde la estructura de la casa A ajustada a nuevas dimensiones, debido al aumento de cargas responde a correctamente, creando distintas dimensiones de espacialidades que las da ese único módulo. Finalmente el proyecto de arquitectura responde a esa estructura de tipología A-frame tomada en su totalidad, tanto sus marcos triangulares estables como sus planos arriostrantes inclinados. Siendo capaz de mantener esa condición estructural y lograr que se identifique el módulo individual programático espacial de la casa A-frame dentro del proyecto de carácter colectivo
Análisis de los ciclos de patentamiento en comparación con los ciclos económicos para industrias basadas en commodities.

Trabajos recientes han revivido la hipótesis Schumpeteriana acerca de la relación entre innovación y crecimiento económico. Mientras la literatura más antigua ha mostrado que las recesiones facilitan la innovación, en tanto liberan recursos con un costo de oportunidad menor; estudios más recientes han argumentado que la correlación es, por el contrario, procíclica. A pesar de tener una visión común donde existe una clara correlación, los estudios previos argumentan con bases sólidas, tanto a favor o en contra de un comportamiento procíclico. Este estudio argumenta que el crecimiento económico está positivamente correlacionado con la actividad de R&D en industrias basadas en commodities, medida como la cantidad de patentes de invención registradas, y la correlación ha mostrado ser procíclica con un lag. Esto significa que el crecimiento económico y la innovación son procíclicos con un efecto retardado.
BM-BC: a Bayesian method of base calling for Solexa sequence data

Abstract Base calling is a critical step in the Solexa next-generation sequencing procedure. It compares the position-specific intensity measurements that reflect the signal strength of four possible bases (A, C, G, T) at each genomic position, and outputs estimates of the true sequences for short reads of DNA or RNA. We present a Bayesian method of base calling, BM-BC, for Solexa-GA sequencing data. The Bayesian method builds on a hierarchical model that accounts for three sources of noise in the data, which are known to affect the accuracy of the base calls: fading, phasing, and cross-talk between channels. We show that the new method improves the precision of base calling compared with currently leading methods. Furthermore, the proposed method provides a probability score that measures the confidence of each base call. This probability score can be used to estimate the false discovery rate of the base calling or to rank the precision of the estimated DNA sequences, which in turn can be useful for downstream analysis such as sequence alignment.
Propuesta de metodología para cuantificar ruptura morfológica en manzanas: factores de diferencia de escala en manzana con presencia de torres de vivienda en altura y vivienda de baja altura en Santiago poniente

La población en Santiago ha experimentado un alto incremento en los últimos años, provocando un crecimiento en expansión y, por otro lado, impactando en la densificación de sectores consolidados como la comuna de Santiago. Esta comuna ha aumentado su población en aproximadamente 74% en los últimos treinta y cinco años. Parte de este crecimiento por densificación hacia el interior de la ciudad ha ocurrido en Santiago Poniente. Allí actualmente conviven tipologías preexistentes de viviendas, en su mayoría de baja altura y torres con más de ocho pisos que se han emplazado en este sector en las últimas décadas, rompiendo con la morfología construida del sector. En consecuencia, generando manzanas sin relación entre edificaciones aledañas, segmentando el tejido. Esta investigación busca proponer un método que cuantifique la ruptura morfológica de cada manzana para poder compararlas, y así desarrollar proyecto de arquitectura que genere mayor homogeneidad disminuyendo la diferencia de escalas en un caso de manzana ubicada en Santiago Poniente.
Competencias y habilidades científicas para el acceso a la educación superior

Este estudio se enmarca en el proyecto FONDEF Habilidades y Competencias para la Educación Superior. Desarrollo de instrumentos y propuestas que aporten a un nuevo Sistema de Admisión. En este proyecto de magister se pretende evaluar la pertinencia de la competencia y habilidades científicas, propuestas en la Prueba de Competencia Científica planteado por el DEMRE, como criterios de acceso de estudiantes de enseñanza media a carreras del área de las ciencias de distintas instituciones de educación superior de Chile. Mediante la estrategia metodológica de estudio de caso se indaga en la identificación de habilidades científicas consideradas fundamentales para directores de Centros de Formación Técnica, Institutos Profesionales y Universidades de la Región Metropolitana. Este estudio da cuenta que el desarrollo de las competencias y habilidades científicas en los estudiantes de enseñanza media permite su participación ciudadana y la continuidad de sus estudios en la enseñanza superior. Este trabajo aporta valiosa información que sirve para la toma de decisiones sobre la propuesta de un nuevo sistema de evaluación para la competencia científica de estudiantes chilenos.
Psicoterapia y recuperación de un episodio de esquizofrenia : experiencia subjetiva de pacientes y terapeutas chilenos

La esquizofrenia es un trastorno de alta carga social, que se asocia a un importante sufrimiento tanto para quienes la padecen como para sus cuidadores. El interés por minimizar los costos sociales y subjetivos asociados ha motivado, a nivel global y local, el desarrollo de políticas públicas y programas de salud mental que subrayan la necesidad de tratamiento integral y oportuno. Por otra parte, los modelos clínicos actuales han ampliado el concepto de recuperación de la esquizofrenia, favoreciendo un énfasis en la dimensión subjetiva del proceso de recuperación y ya no solo en la remisión psicopatológica. En el contexto de las estrategias de tratamiento integral, dicho énfasis ha favorecido un renovado interés en la psicoterapia de la esquizofrenia, entendida como una intervención dirigida a abordar los profundos y complejos procesos psicológicos asociados a la recuperación de un episodio psicótico. La presente tesis doctoral compendia seis artículos elaborados en el marco de un estudio cualitativo, centrado en la caracterización de la experiencia psicoterapéutica vivida durante el tratamiento de un episodio de esquizofrenia , que reconstruyó los aspectos relevantes del proceso terapéutico desde las perspectivas subjetivas de los participantes: pacientes y terapeutas. El objetivo general del estudio fue caracterizar la experiencia vivida en la psicoterapia, desde la perspectiva subjetiva de pacientes chilenos que recibieron psicoterapia durante el tratamiento integral de un episodio de esquizofrenia y sus terapeutas. En términos globales, la tesis brinda una descripción, anclada en la experiencia subjetiva de los participantes, de los aportes de la psicoterapia al proceso de recuperación de un episodio de esquizofrenia; visibilizando la contribución de la psicoterapia a sus estrategias de tratamiento integral.
Estudio nietzscheano del mandamiento "ama al prójimo como a ti mismo" (Mateo 22:39)

Nuestra investigación tiene por origen el desafío que plantea el mandamiento: amarás al prójimo como a ti mismo, (Mateo 22:39), en adelante <nuestro mandamiento>. El interés surge de las dificultades que se presentan en la relación de los dos modos de amor contenidos en el mandato cristiano: el amor a sí mismo y el amor al prójimo en el contexto de la crítica nietzscheana al tipo de vida del animal de rebaño.