Search

Background: As Compassionate Communities (CCs) are developing worldwide, there is a growing need to systematically assess if they are having the expected effects on the community. Although having a single strategy would be ideal in terms of standardization and comparison, due to the inherent heterogeneity of CCs, it is not known how feasible this would be. Objectives: To assess the feasibility of creating a general strategy, based on the results of a series of focus groups conducted across three diverse CCs, to guide the evaluation of already existing programs and the development of new ones. Design: Focus groups in three cities, including different types of stakeholders, were conducted to identify potential outcomes (benefits) from CCs, as the base of a general strategy to assess CCs. Methods: We coded the discussions and built a list of the outcomes mentioned. Then, we merged those similar enough into a more general one that encompassed the others. We extracted from reviews all the CCs outcomes that have been measured. We merged the outcomes from the focus groups and the reviews and built a single list. Results: We obtained a final list of 46 outcomes; 44 were reported from the focus groups, and two more were added from the reviews. Of the 44 from the focus groups, 22 (50%) were present in the three CCs, 14(32%) were present in two CCs, and the remaining 8 (18%) were present only in one compassionate community. There were outcomes commonly reported both in the three CCs and in the literature reviews related to training the general community in compassion and end-of-life topics, facilitating the development of community networks, and generating public spaces for social integration. Conclusion: Half of the identified outcomes were reported in the three CCs. This indicates the feasibility of creating a single strategy but also reflects the need to leave room to include other aspects specific to each community according to its context in the assessment.

Video games are a valuable tool for studying the effects of training and neural plasticity on the brain. However, the underlying mechanisms related to plasticity-associated brain structural changes and their impact on brain dynamics are unknown. Here, we used a semi-empirical whole-brain model to study structural neural plasticity mechanisms linked to video game expertise. We hypothesized that video game expertise is associated with neural plasticity-mediated changes in structural connectivity that manifest at the meso‑scale level, resulting in a more segregated functional network topology. To test this hypothesis, we combined structural connectivity data of StarCraft II video game players (VGPs, n = 31) and non-players (NVGPs, n = 31), with generic fMRI data from the Human Connectome Project and computational models, to generate simulated fMRI recordings. Graph theory analysis on simulated data was performed during both resting-state conditions and external stimulation. VGPs’ simulated functional connectivity was characterized by a meso‑scale integration, with increased local connectivity in frontal, parietal, and occipital brain regions. The same analyses at the level of structural connectivity showed no differences between VGPs and NVGPs. Regions that increased their connectivity strength in VGPs are known to be involved in cognitive processes crucial for task performance such as attention, reasoning, and inference. In-silico stimulation suggested that differences in FC between VGPs and NVGPs emerge in noisy contexts, specifically when the noisy level of stimulation is increased. This indicates that the connectomes of VGPs may facilitate the filtering of noise from stimuli. These structural alterations drive the meso‑scale functional changes observed in individuals with gaming expertise. Overall, our work sheds light on the mechanisms underlying structural neural plasticity triggered by video game experiences.

La vivienda incremental nace como respuesta a la dificultad de muchos hogares vulnerables para acceder a una solución formal, ofreciéndoles un mínimo habitacional como opción. Esto genera desafíos para la política pública, ya que la propia acción de los habitantes puede afectar la calidad de las viviendas, entendida como una dimensión clave para la comprensión de la pobreza energética. Este artículo utiliza un encuadre de la trialéctica del espacio de Pierre Bourdieu para estudiar las interacciones individuales y comunitarias en un condominio de viviendas incrementales con 10 años de antigüedad. De esta manera se pretende relevar la manera en que las familias expuestas a la pobreza energética sufren también la falta de recursos económicos, culturales, sociales y simbólicos. Para esto se utiliza un modelo mixto de análisis que incluye levantamientos constructivos, entrevistas en profundidad y registros de parámetros ambientales. La interpretación de los resultados deja ver que la acción individual bajo situación de precariedad de las propias familias no consigue configurar un espacio simbólico ni físico de representación colectiva, con una materialización adecuada para la habitabilidad de las viviendas. Esto se expresa en desfavorables condiciones de desempeño energético y calidad ambiental interior, altamente vinculadas a las modificaciones constructivas realizadas.

Resumen: Introducción: la integridad académica se define como la adopción por parte del estudiantado de valores que rigen su formación profesional como la honestidad, la confianza, la responsabilidad, el respeto y la justicia. En los programas de farmacia las faltas a la integridad académica llegan hasta el 90%, encontrándose entre los principales factores las razones socioeconómicas, personales y académicas. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar los factores que influyen en la integridad académica del alumnado de Química y Farmacia de la Universidad Católica del Norte. Métodos: estudio descriptivo de corte transversal, que incluyó al estudiantado de Química y Farmacia, a quienes se les aplicó una encuesta de 31 enunciados con respuesta en escala tipo Likert, que permitió recopilar los factores que influyen en la integridad académica. Resultados: de los 113 estudiantes, 60,2% fueron mujeres, edad promedio 23,1 ± 3,2 años y 16 (14,1%) correspondieron a las cohortes 2020-2021. Las principales motivaciones que percibió el alumnado para cometer actos deshonestos fueron razones «socioeconómicas, socioculturales y familiares» y «características personales», como el miedo a perder la beca, salir eliminado de la carrera o reprobar el curso. La comparación de las cohortes 2020-2021 con el resto de las generaciones evidenció diferencias significativas en las percepciones agrupadas en la categoría «socioeconómicas, socioculturales y familiares» (p = 0,002). Conclusión: reconocer las causas de la deshonestidad académica permiten focalizar la implementación de estrategias preventivas hacia el desarrollo de una cultura de integridad académica y de habilidades actitudinales de autoeficacia en el estudiantado, que contribuyan a una formación y desempeño ético profesional. Abstract: Introduction: Academic integrity is defined as the adoption by the student body of values that govern their professional training such as honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage. In pharmacy programs, lack of academic integrity reaches up to 90%, with socioeconomic, personal, and academic reasons being among the main factors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the factors that influence academic integrity of Chemistry and Pharmacy students at the Universidad Católica del Norte. Methods: Descriptive cross - sectional study, which included Pharmacy students, to whom a survey of 31 statements with responses on a Likert-type scale was applied, which allowed us to collect the factors that influence academic integrity. Results: Out of a total of 113 students, 60.2% were female, average age of 23.1 ± 3.2 years, and 16 (14.1%) corresponded to the 2020-2021 cohorts. The main motivations to commit dishonest acts perceived by the students were “socioeconomic, socio-cultural and family” reasons as well as “personal characteristics”, such as the fear of losing scholarships, failing a course and fear of career failure. The comparison between 2020-2021 cohorts and the rest of the generations showed significant differences in the ''socioeconomic, sociocultural and family'' grouped perceptions category (p = 0.002). Conclusion: Recognizing the causes of academic dishonesty allows us to implement preventive strategies that focus towards the development of an academic integrity based culture and attitudinal skills of self-efficacy in the student body, which contribute to an ethical professional training and performance.

Background: Communities and local governments invest in compassionate communities (CCs) a great deal of time, money, effort, and work. However, it is not known whether the CCs are having the effect they are expected to have, so the value of continuing with these initiatives is unknown, and there is a need for a model for evaluating CCs to solve the question. Objectives: To identify a set of core outcomes or benefits that should be measured to assess the impact of the CCs. Design: Multiple-methods study involving three communities, each in a different country (Argentina, Colombia, and Switzerland). Methods and analysis: To identifying the set of core outcomes, which is the first step in developing the CC evaluation model, five phases will follow: online meetings, literature review, fieldwork, Delphi survey, and social transfer. We will involve members of the local communities of Bern, Buenos Aires, and Medellin at three different levels: (1) citizens (e.g. patients, caregivers, and family members), (2) organizations and institutions involved in the program implementation (e.g. health care organizations, churches, non-governmental organizations, and schools), and (3) political and governmental sectors. Ethics: The study will be conducted following existing international regulations and guidance such as the Declaration of Helsinki. The ethics committee of Pallium Latin America and the ethics committee of the canton of Bern considered our application exempt from the need for approval. Ethics approval in Bern and Buenos Aires is in the process of being obtained. The ethics committee of the Pontifical Bolivarian University approved this protocol. Discussion: We expect that this project will help bridge the gap in knowledge regarding the measurable impact of the CCs and enhance more CC development.

Resumen: Introducción: más de la mitad del alumnado universitario comete fraude o plagio en las actividades académicas, llegando hasta el 90% en estudiantes de Farmacia. No existen publicaciones en Chile que aborden la integridad académica. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la percepción sobre las conductas relacionadas a la integridad académica en el alumnado de Licenciatura en Química y Farmacia de la Universidad Católica del Norte, Chile. Métodos: estudio no probabilístico por conveniencia, cuantitativo, descriptivo y transversal, que aplicó una encuesta, distribuida por correo electrónico y redes sociales, con 11 situaciones de simulación escrita que mostraban conductas deshonestas, validada por pares expertos; donde el estudiantado debía reconocer quien había cometido la falta e indicar si la habían presenciado en la universidad. Resultados: de los 126 estudiantes, 60% fueron mujeres, edad promedio 22,9 ± 3,2 años y 21 (16,7%) correspondieron a las cohortes 2020-2021. El 98,8% reconoció el plagio en los escenarios de simulación escritos; la conducta menos reconocida fue encubrimiento (58,7%; p < 0,0001). El 90% indicó que presenció en la universidad una situación que involucraba engaño y encubrimiento. La comparación de las cohortes 2020-2021 con el resto de las generaciones no evidenció diferencias estadísticamente significativas en una situación de encubrimiento (p = 0,115) y de colusión (p = 0,186). Conclusión: implementar estrategias preventivas que promuevan la formación ética, permitirá al alumnado detectar actitudes deshonestas en contextos universitarios, contribuyendo positivamente en su formación profesional. Abstract: Introduction: Over 50% of college students commit either fraud or plagiarism in their academic activities, reaching up to 90% among pharmacy students. There are no articles available in Chile to address academic integrity. The aim of this Study is to assess the perception on the conducts that relate to academic integrity of pharmacist students of the Universidad Católica del Norte, Chile. Method: A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional and non-probabilistic study for convenience sample, in which an email and social network distributed expert peers aproved survey was conducted, including 11 written simulations showing dishonest conducts; students were required to recognize in every situation the person accountable of misconduct and to point out if they had witnessed these conducts during their college career. Results: Out of a total of 126 students, 60% where female, average age of 22.9±3.2 years and 21 (16.7%) belonged to the 2020-2021 cohort. 98.8% of the students recognized plagiarism in the written simulation scenarios; the least recognized conduct was concealment (58.7%; p