Artículos Gobierno

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Tarko, Vlad. Elinor Ostrom: una biografía intelectual
(2024) Fabrega, Jorge
Reseña
Determinantes sociales del consumo combinado de alcohol y medicamentos sin prescripción médica en personas mayores: Un estudio poblacional en Chile
(2024) Tala, Yamil; Skewes, Camila; Fernández, Miguel Angel
El consumo problemático de alcohol por parte de personas mayores ha sido llamado la “epidemia silenciosa”. Una población envejeciendo y altos niveles de consumo de alcohol incrementan el desafío a futuro para la epidemiología y salud pública. Así mismo el uso indebido de medicamentos recetados es un problema creciente de salud pública, asociado con mayores hospitalizaciones y complicaciones de salud en adultos mayores. Objetivo: Analizar los determinantes sociales asociados al consumo problemático de alcohol y medicamentos sin prescripción en la población de personas mayores en el país. Mate riales y Método: Análisis de fuente secundaria: “Encuesta Poblacional de Consumo de Drogas y Alcohol de Adultos Mayores del SENDA” del año 2021. Se empleo un modelo estadístico multivariado para identificar los factores que incrementan o disminuyen la probabilidad de ocurrencia del fenómeno. Resultados: La prevalencia de consumo combinado de alcohol y medicamentos sin prescripción médica en personas mayores en Chile alcanza un 12,8%. A nivel multivariado, son los hombres, con menor apoyo social y sin cohabitación sentimental quienes poseen mayores probabilidades de combinar el consumo de ambos elementos. Conclusiones: La combinación de alcohol y medicamentos sin prescripción médica es un potencial problema de salud pública, especialmente entre personas mayores. Este estudio representa el primer esfuerzo nacional por comprender este fenómeno, identificando grupos más vulnerables de prevalencia de consumo que deben ser atendidos con especial atención por la política pública de prevención.
The impact of pre-stroke formal education on language testperformance in aphasic and non-aphasic stroke survivors
(2024) Roberts, Sophie M.; Bruce, Rachel; Hope, Thomas M.H.; Geva, Sharon; Anderson, Storm; Woodgate, Hayley; Ledingham, Kate; Gajardo-Vidal, Andrea; Lorca-Puls, Diego L.; Crinione, Jennifer T.; Leff, Alexander P.; Green, David W.; Price, Cathy J.
Background: A greater amount of education is known to positivelyimpact language skills in neurotypical populations, but its influenceon language outcomes and recovery after stroke remains unclear.Aims: This study of 749 stroke survivors, with and without aphasia,investigated (A) which aphasia assessment tasks benefitted mostfrom more pre-stroke education; and whether the effect of educa-tion (B) differs for aphasic and non-aphasic participants or otherstroke and non-stroke-related variables, and/or (C) facilitates recov-ery from post-stroke aphasia.Methods: Participants ranged from one month to 42 years post-stroke. They were assessed using (i) the Comprehensive AphasiaTest (CAT), and (ii) self-report questionnaires that measured speechproduction, comprehension, reading, and writing at one week andone year post-stroke. Multiple regression analyses investigated theeffect of education amount, and its interaction with other variables,on language outcomes and recovery. Bayesian statistics assessedthe strength of the evidence for any observed effects. Many vari-ables including lesion size, age at stroke, and initial severity werecontrolled for.Results: (A) More years of formal education were associated withbetter overall language skills, with significant, albeit small effectsfound for semantic and letter fluency (β = 0.123 and 0.166) andspoken picture description, specifically, the number of words pro-duced (β = 0.085) and grammatical well-formedness (β = 0.087). (B)The benefit of more pre-stroke education was mostly additive withthe effects of other variables including initial aphasia severity andleft hemisphere lesion size, but was reduced in older participants who had large lesions with severe initial symptoms. Finally, (C) nosignificant effect of education on language recovery was observed.Conclusion: More pre-stroke formal education is associated withhigher post-stroke language scores on a wide range of tasks forboth aphasic and non-aphasic participants, but, in participants withlarge lesions that cause severe aphasia, this advantage diminisheswith age. These results suggest a generic benefit of education onlanguage test performance rather than a specific role of pre-strokeeducation in aiding language outcomes and recovery. An indivi-dual’s educational background should therefore be consideredwhen interpreting assessment scores.
Potentiation of Motor Adaptation Via Cerebellar tACS: Characterization of the Stimulation Frequency
(2024) Figueroa-Taiba, Paulo; Álvarez-Ruf, Joel; Ulloa, Paulette; Bruna-Melo, Trinidad; Espinoza-Maraboli, Liam; Burgos, Pablo Ignacio; Mariman, Juan J.
Motor adaptation is critical to update motor tasks in new or modified environmental conditions. While the cerebellum supports error-based adaptations, its neural implementation is partially known. By controlling the frequency of cerebellar transcranial alternating current stimulation (c-tACS), we can test the influence of neural oscillation from the cerebellum for motor adaptation. Two independent experiments were conducted. In Experiment 1, 16 participants received four c-tACS protocols (45 Hz, 50 Hz, 55 Hz, and sham) on four different days while they practiced a visuomotor adaptation task (30 degrees CCW) with variable intensity (within-subject design). In Experiment 2, 45 participants separated into three groups received the effect of 45 Hz, 55 Hz c-tACS, and sham, respectively (between-subject design), performing the same visuomotor task with a fixed intensity (0.9 mA). In Experiment 1, 45 Hz and 50 Hz of c-tACS accelerated motor adaptation when participants performed the task only for the first time, independent of the time interval between sessions or the stimulation intensity. The effect of active c-tACS was ratified in Experiment 2, where 45 Hz c-tACS benefits motor adaptation during the complete practice period. Reaction time, velocity, or duration of reaching are not affected by c-tACS. Cerebellar alternating current stimulation is an effective strategy to potentiate visuomotor adaptations. Frequency dependent effects on the gamma band, especially for 45 Hz c-tACS, ratify the oscillatory profile of cerebellar processes behind the motor adaptation. This can be exploited in future interventions to enhance motor learning.
Jealousy as Predicted by Allocation and Reception of Resources in an Economic Game
(2024) Barbato, María Teresa; Fernández, Ana María; Rodriguez-Sickert, Carlos; Muñoz Reyes, José Antonio; Polo; Polo Rodrigo, Pablo; Buss, David
Evidence is abundant that evolution by selection has produced sex differences in the design of adaptations to solve the problems surrounding reproduction. A prime example is the design of human jealousy, which research suggests is triggered by distinct evoking acts that are specific challenges for women and men in their exclusive reproductive bond. It follows that jealousy would be directed toward driving away interlopers who could potentially threaten the bond with the romantic partner or increase mate retention efforts in response to sex-specific threats. To explore this possibility, we use as a methodological innovation an eco nomic game for the evocation of jealousy. With a modified dictator game, we showed men and women in a committed relationship, conditions in which the partner or an intrasexual rival allocates money to (investing condition), or obtains money from (receiving condition), the partner or an opposite sex third party that they recently met. A sample of 56 heterosexual couples (n =112) participated in a laboratory setting. Our results show the different scenarios of this dictator game exerted the expected evocation of jealousy (controlling individual differences), with women being more jealous by the partner’s allocation of resources to a rival, and men reporting slightly more jealousy by their partner receiving money from a rival. We discuss the implications of this method to advance the comprehension of the adaptive function of sex differences in jealousy, the use of economic games, and possible modifications to improve the similarity of the game to a real assessment of actual male jealousy
Patients recovering from COVID‑19 who presented with anosmia during their acute episode have behavioral, functional, and structural brain alterations
(2024) Kausel, Leonie; Figueroa-Vargas, Alejandra; Zamorano, Francisco; Stecher, Ximena; Carvajal-Paredes, Patricio; Márquez-Rodríguez, Víctor; Martínez-Molina, María Paz; Román, Claudio; Soto-Fernández, Patricio; Valdebenito-Oyarzo, Gabriela; Manterola, Carla; Uribe-San-Martín, Reinaldo; Silva, Claudio; Henríquez-Ch., Rodrigo; Aboitiz, Francisco; Polania, Rafael; Guevara, Pamela; Munoz Venturelli, Paula; Soto-Icaza, Patricia; Billeke, Pablo
Patients recovering from COVID-19 commonly exhibit cognitive and brain alterations, yet the specific neuropathological mechanisms and risk factors underlying these alterations remain elusive. Given the significant global incidence of COVID-19, identifying factors that can distinguish individuals at risk of developing brain alterations is crucial for prioritizing follow-up care. Here, we report findings from a sample of patients consisting of 73 adults with a mild to moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection without signs of respiratory failure and 27 with infections attributed to other agents and no history of COVID-19. The participants underwent cognitive screening, a decision-making task, and MRI evaluations. We assessed for the presence of anosmia and the requirement for hospitalization. Groups did not differ in age or cognitive performance. Patients who presented with anosmia exhibited more impulsive alternative changes after a shift in probabilities (r = - 0.26, p = 0.001), while patients who required hospitalization showed more perseverative choices (r = 0.25, p = 0.003). Anosmia correlated with brain measures, including decreased functional activity during the decision-making task, thinning of cortical thickness in parietal regions, and loss of white matter integrity. Hence, anosmia could be a factor to be considered when identifying at-risk populations for follow-up.
Estrategias y recomendaciones para enfrentar la enfermedad por virus respiratorio sincicial el año 2024
(2024) Paris, Enrique; Daza Narbona, Paula; Tapia, Lorena; Díaz, Juan Pablo; Cruces Romero, Pablo; Castillo, Andrés; González, Cecilia; Endeiza, María Luz; Jofré, Leonor; Castro, Fabiola; Zamorano, Alejandra; Rodríguez, Jaime; Acevedo, Johanna; Santa Cruz, Teresita; González, Jaime; Escárate, Raúl; Moreno, Juan Pablo; Cisternas, Paula
Durante el invierno de 2023, Chile enfrentó una compleja situación relacionada con al virus respiratorio sincicial (VRS). Después de experimentar una disminución en la circulación del VRS durante los años de la pandemia de SARS-CoV-2, se observó un brote tardío en la primavera de 2022 y un inicio anticipado del brote en 2023, con un aumento significativo en el número de casos graves. La poca efectividad en la planificación estratégica y comunicación de riesgo contribuyeron a la complejidad de la situación. Para evitar lo anterior el próximo invierno, se sugieren medidas como vigilancia activa, unificación de definiciones para infecciones respiratorias agudas, identificación de variantes del VRS, educación pública sobre contagios y preparación anticipada respecto a camas hospitalarias y personal de salud. Se destaca la importancia de la inmunización y colaboración intersectorial para adquirir nuevas alternativas preventivas como también la necesidad de una comunicación temprana sobre la importancia de la inmunización e identificación de grupos de alto riesgo, mejora en capaci taciones del personal médico y planificación estratégica del Ministerio de Salud buscando un enfoque proactivo y colaborativo para abordar la compleja situación del VRS en futuros inviernos. El Comité Asesor en Vacunas y Estrategias de Inmunización de Chile ya realizó un análisis y recomendación sobre una nueva alternativa de prevención. Este grupo de trabajo apoyará cualquier decisión del Ministerio de Salud en políticas públicas que intenten un cambio en el paradigma del control de esta enfermedad por la salud de los niños/as de nuestro país.
Overcoming Health Inequities: Spatial Analysis of Seroprevalence and Vaccination Against COVID-19 in Chile
(2024) Muriel Ramírez-Santana , Juan Hormazábal, Luis Canales, Pablo Vial, and Ximena Aguilera; Correa, Juan; Núñez Franz, Loreto; Apablaza, Mauricio; Rubilar, Paola; Vial Cox, María Cecilia; Cortes, Lina Jimena; Hormazabal, Juan; Canales, Luis; Vial, Pablo; Aguilera, Ximena
Background: In unequal economies, the spread of the ﬁrst waves of the COVID-19 was usually associated withlow socioeconomic status of individuals and their families. Chile exempliﬁed this. By mid-2020, Chile had one ofthe highest SARS-CoV-2 infection rates in the world predominantly in poorer areas. A year later, the countrylaunched a universal vaccination campaign based on the national strategy of immunization established in1975. By 2022, Chile presented one of the highest COVID-19 vaccination coverages globally, reaching 94.3%of the population with the primary scheme by the end of 2022.Objective: This study analyzes the spatial distribution of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence at the beginning of the pan-demic (2020) compared with the seroprevalence after 2 years of ongoing epidemic and COVID-19 vaccinationcampaigns (2022).Methods: Two population-based random samples of individuals aged 7 years and older from two Chilean citieswere studied. Utilizing an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test, IgG antibodies were measured in serum of1061 participants in 2020, and 853 in 2022.Results: Using the Global Moran’s Index, the seroprevalence distribution pattern for the year 2020 showed clus-tering in the two cities. Conversely, seroprevalence and vaccinations were homogeneously distributed in 2022.These results show the success of the vaccination campaign in Chile, not only in coverage but also because itwidely reached all individuals.Conclusions: The uptake of this preventive measure is high, regardless of the social and economic factors,achieving broad population immunity. The extensive deployment of the primary health care network contrib-uted to reducing health inequities and promoting to universal health access.
Quantitative evaluation of a theoretical-conceptual model based on affective and socio-behavioral dimensions to explain the academic performance of mathematics students
(2024) Marín-Álvarez, Felipe; Flores-Prado, Luis; Figueroa, Oriana; Polo Rodrigo, Pablo; Varela, Jorge; Muñoz Reyes, José Antonio
Objective: There is evidence that suggests that affective dimensions, personality traits, as well as students’ cooperative interpersonal interactions, are an important element in the students learning process. In this work we propose a theoretical model, based on evidence, that shows the direct and indirect relationships between these factors and academic performance in mathematics courses, in undergraduate and school students. Methods: To understand the type of relationships between these variables, the PANAS psychometric test of positive and negative affect, the BIG FIVE personality test and the economic decision game DUPLES GAME were applied. The study sample was 130 students between 17 and 22 years of age from undergraduate and school (M ± SD = 20.1 ± 3.99). Results: From a path analysis, statistically significant relationships were found, for example, a direct relationship between neuroticism and positive affect, which in turn is related to academic performance. We also found a direct relationship between neuroticism and negative affect, extraversion and positive affect. This allows us to propose that some of the independent variables of the model directly and indirectly influence the academic performance of students in the subject of mathematics. Conclusion: Positive affect and negative affect directly affect academic performance in mathematics, neuroticism has a direct impact on negative affect and extraversion direct impact on positive affect. Consequently, there are direct and indirect relationships between personality traits and affective dimensions, which affect the academic performance of mathematics students.
Social isolation consequences: lessons from COVID-19 pandemic in a context of dynamic lock-down in Chile
(2024) Patrono, Alessandra; Renzetti, Stefano; Guerini, Cristian; Macgowan, Mark; Moncada, Stefanny M.; Placidi, Donatella; Memo, Maurizio; Lucchini, Roberto G.
Background Chile did not adopt general and unifed lockdowns for the whole nation but organized itself with dynamic and sometimes irregular lockdowns. These dynamics and consequences of social isolation could be generalized to other contexts of isolation such as those afecting minorities such as immigrants, prisoners, refugees. Methods In this study, we investigated the physical and mental health symptoms associated with lifestyle changes due to lockdown among university students in Chile. We examined psychopathological variations in relation to mental health problems in a healthy young population. Our goal was to develop interventions to address these new psychosocial problems in potentially comparable post-pandemic contexts. From May 10th 2021 to June 2th 2021, 420 University students took part in an anonymous survey asking for information on habits and symptoms that emerged during the lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Three health outcomes were assessed: digestive disorders; headache; fear of COVID-19. Covariates including conditions and lifestyle during the pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 infections in the family, fnancial situation and productivity were considered in the analysis. Results Participants experienced headache and fear of COVID-19 quite frequently during the lockdown period. More than half of the sample also experienced social isolation. Female gender, sleep quality, memory difculties, and a change in eating habits resulted associated with an increased risk of health outcomes such as headaches and digestive disorders. Conclusions The results of this study ft within an original pandemic context: The results of this study can help identify needs and promote solutions applicable to diferent contexts. Future interventions should focus on the promotion and implementation of healthy habits focused on sleep hygiene, psychoeducation on the use of mobile devices and gender medicine with the support of healthcare organizations and University
Más allá de la ley. La virginidad en la genealogía del liberalismo
(2024) Martínez Rivas, Rafael
Los estudios foucaultianos sobre la gubernamentalidad neoliberal han prestado mucha atención a la tercera parte de Las confesiones de la carne, en la que Foucault traza la arqueología del “hombre de deseo” y del sujeto jurídico. Sin embargo, la literatura ha tendido a prestar poca atención a la segunda parte del libro, dedicada al estudio de la virginidad. Es esta parte la que este trabajo pretende estudiar, reconstruyendo críticamente los argumentos de Foucault y mostrando el lugar que la virginidad cristiana ocupa en la genealogía del sujeto moderno y de la gubernamentalidad liberal. Por último, el trabajo pretende mostrar que la virginidad cristiana primitiva, tal y como la presentan Brown y Foucault, puede definirse como lo que este último denominó una “contraconducta”.
Chimera states and information transfer in interacting populations of map-based neurons
(2024) Márquez-Rodríguez, V. J.; Tucci, K.; Cosenza, M. G.
We investigate the synchronization behavior and the emergence of chimera states in a system of two interacting populations of maps possessing chaotic neural-like dynamics. We characterize four collective states on the space of coupling parameters of the system: complete synchronization, generalized synchronization, chimera states, and incoherence. We quantify the information exchange between the two neuron populations in chimera states. We have found a well-defined direction of the flow of information in chimera states, from the desynchronized population to the synchronized one. The incoherent population functions as a driver of the coherent neuron population in a chimera state. This feature is independent of the population sizes or population partitions. Our results yield insight into the communication mechanisms arising in brain processes such as unihemispheric sleep and epileptic seizures that have been associated to chimera states.
The political business cycle of tax reforms
(2024) Rossel, Lucia; Huysmans, Martijn; Ferwerda, Joras
A political business cycle (PBC), with governments adjusting and timing economic policy for electoral gains, has long been hypothesized. A lack of data has so far limited testing of this phenomenon for government policies as opposed to fiscal outcomes such as tax revenue or government deficit, especially at the national level. We use new monthly data on tax reform announcements for a set of 22 democracies, 1988–2014, to test the PBC hypothesis for taxation. In addition to the traditional electoral strategy formulation of the PBC, we also put forward and test a capacity version of the PBC. We find evidence for the capacity version but not the traditional version of the PBC: tax reforms are less likely to be announced before elections and more likely after elections, independently of whether they are increases or decreases. Our evidence suggests that while a PBC exists, it may be less driven by strategic electioneering and more innocuous than previously assumed.
Vaccine effectiveness in reducing COVID-19-related hospitalization after a risk-age-based mass vaccination program in a Chilean municipality: A comparison of observational study designs
(2024) Urquidi, Cinthya; Sepúlveda-Peñaloza, Alejandro; Valenzuela, María T.; Ponce, Alexander; Menares, Verónica; Cortes, Claudia P.; Benítez, Rosana; Santelices, Emilio; Anfossi, Renato; Moller, Andrea; Santolaya, María E.
Background: Case–control studies involving test-negative (TN) and syndrome-negative (SN) controls are reliable for evaluating influenza and rotavirus vaccine effectiveness (VE) during a random vaccination process. However, there is no empirical evidence regarding the impact in real-world mass vaccination campaigns against SARS-CoV-2 using TN and SN controls. Objective: To compare in the same population the effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on COVID-19-related hospitalization rates across a cohort design, TN and SN designs. Method: We conducted an unmatched population-based cohort, TN and SN case–control designs linking data from four data sources (public primary healthcare system, hospitalization registers, epidemiological surveillance systems and the national immunization program) in a Chilean municipality (Rancagua) between March 1, 2021 and August 31, 2021. The outcome was COVID-19-related hospitalization. To ensure sufficient sample size in the unexposed group, completion of follow-up in the cohort design, and sufficient time between vaccination and hospitalization in the case–control design, VE was estimated comparing 8-week periods for each individual. Results: Among the 191,505 individuals registered in the primary healthcare system of Rancagua in Chile on March 1, 2021; 116,453 met the cohort study’s inclusion criteria. Of the 9,471 hospitalizations registered during the study period in the same place, 526 were COVID-19 cases, 108 were TN controls, and 1,628 were SN controls. For any vaccine product, the age- and sex-adjusted vaccine effectiveness comparing fully and nonvaccinated individuals was 67.2 (55.7–76.3) in the cohort design, whereas it was 67.8 (44.1–81.4) and 77.9 (70.2–83.8) in the TN and SN control designs, respectively. Conclusion: The VE of a COVID-19 vaccination program based on age and risk groups tended to differ across the three observational study designs. The SN case-control design may be an efficient option for evaluating COVID- 19 VE in real-world settings.
Impact of urban facilities spatial inequality on sustainable travel mode
(2024) Urrutia-Mosquera, Jorge; Flórez-Calderón, Luz; Cortés, Yasna; Troncoso, Rodrigo; Lufin, Marcelo
With the implementation of sustainable development objectives in developing countries, urban planning, land use regulation, and urban mobility policies are expected to help reduce inequalities in access to urban facilities. Urban transport policies are also expected to encourage travel by non-motorised modes and public transport. These are considered to be the sustainable modes of urban transport. In this paper, we investigate how inequality of urban facilities impacts trips made by sustainable modes in the city of Santiago de Chile. We use aPoisson regression model and its geographical extension, the geographically weighted Poisson regression model (GWPR). The results suggest that the inequality of urban facilities impacts trips made by sustainable modes. The variables with the highest relevance are the spatial distribution of mixed land use, the spatial distribution of urban services related to transport infrastructure, primary and secondary education, as well as the spatial distribution of demographic variables related to people’s life cycle.
The parietal cortex has a causal role in ambiguity computations in humans
(2024) Valdebenito-Oyarzo, Gabriela; Martínez-Molina, María Paz; Soto-Icaza, Patricia; Zamorano, Francisco; Figueroa-Vargas, Alejandra; Larraín-Valenzuela, Josefina; Stecher, Ximena; Salinas, César; Bastin, Julien; Valero-Cabré, Antoni; Polania, Rafael; Billeke, Pablo
Humans often face the challenge of making decisions between ambiguous options. The level of ambiguity in decision-making has been linked to activity in the parietal cortex, but its exact computational role remains elusive. To test the hypothesis that the parietal cortex plays a causal role in computing ambiguous probabilities, we conducted consecutive fMRI and TMS-EEG studies. We found that participants assigned unknown probabilities to objective probabilities, elevating the uncertainty of their decisions. Parietal cortex activity correlated with the objective degree of ambiguity and with a process that underestimates the uncertainty during decision-making. Conversely, the midcingulate cortex (MCC) encodes prediction errors and increases its connectivity with the parietal cortex during outcome processing. Disruption of the parietal activity increased the uncertainty evaluation of the options, decreasing cingulate cortex oscillations during outcome evaluation and lateral frontal oscillations related to value ambiguous probability. These results provide evidence for a causal role of the parietal cortex in computing uncertainty during ambiguous decisions made by humans.
Analysis of the Assessment of Vocal Performance Samples of Students of Acting from a Social Behavioral Perspective
(2024) Fernandez-Fresard, Gala; Flores Prado, Luis; Duarte, Maria; Muñoz Reyes, José Antonio; Polo Rodrigo, Pablo
The present study proposes an innovative analysis of the assessment of vocal performance samples (VPSs) from a social–behavioral perspective. The study’s main purpose was to analyze the cooperative tendency of teacher–student interaction to estimate the impact of cooperation on the formative nature of VPSs’ assessment experience. The latter was held in two different contexts based on the teachers’ perception: as an evaluator and as a spectator. The formative nature was judged through the students’ learning achievement and measured by their grades and their perceptual valuing of the assessment results provided by the teachers. The experiment was conducted at a Chilean university with twenty-two teachers and fourteen students of acting. The results indicate that no significant differences were observed in the control group (students assessed under the traditional system) between teachers who did not exhibit cooperative tendencies and those who did. However, in the experimental group (students assessed using a social–behavioral perspective system), teachers who did not exhibit cooperative tendencies were valued significantly lower than those who did. It was concluded that the presence of cooperative components in the teacher–student interaction contributes to determining the formative nature of the assessment experience in terms of how the students perceive it. The following is true as long as the structure of this experience promotes a collaborative interaction between teachers and students. This type of formative assessment can improve the assessment experience by fostering a teacher–student interaction that allows the co-construction of the theatrical phenomenon, which could potentially positively impact students’ vocal expressiveness.
Estimating multinomial logit models with endogenous variables: Control function versus two adapted approaches
(2024) Grange, Louis de; González, Felipe; Marechal, Matthieu; Troncoso, Rodrigo
It is shown that the control function (CF) method’s estimates of the modal constants in a multinomial logit model (MNL) with endogenous explanatory variables are biased. This has not previously been reported in the literature, and has consequences in demand analysis, transportation policy design and project evaluation. Two adaptations of existing approaches are proposed as alternatives to CF for deriving estimators of parameters in MNL models with endogenous explanatory variables that evidence good consistency properties. The first approach is based on moment conditions while the second one combines parameters obtained in two consecutive estimation stages. Both approaches employ instrumental variables. These two adapted approaches are implemented using simulated data from a transport mode choice problem. The results are compared with those obtained using the classic control-function method, typically used by practitioners for estimating transport demand models with endogenous variables and making quantitative evaluations of transport policies and projects. All three approaches generate similar estimates for the parameters of the explanatory variables, but the two proposed adaptations produce considerably more accurate estimates of the modal constants. This greater accuracy has potentially significant consequences for multinomial logit models’ predictive ability and estimates of marginal effects, elasticities and the social benefits of projects based on con sumer surplus calculations.
Translating the behaviour change technique taxonomy version 1 into Spanish: Methodology and validation
(2024) Castro, Oscar; Fajardo, Gabriela; Johnston, Marie; Laroze, Denise; Leiva-Pinto, Eduardo; Figueroa, Oriana; Corker, Elizabeth; Chacón-Candia, Jeanette A.; Duarte, Giuliano
Background: Precise and unequivocal specification of intervention content is key to facilitating the accumulation and implementation of knowledge. The Behaviour Change Technique Taxonomy v1 (BCTTv1) is the most widely used classification of behaviour change techniques (BCTs), providing a shared, standardized vocabulary to identify the active ingredients of behavioural interventions. However, the BCTTv1 is only available in English and this hampers its broad use and adoption. The aim of the present article is to report the process of translation of the BCTTv1 into Spanish. Methods: A bilingual team led the translation of the BCTTv1, involving seven iterative steps: (i) establish a Committee, (ii) forward translation from English to Spanish, (iii) back translation from Spanish to English, (iv) comparison of original BCTTv1 and back translation, (v) opportunistic comparison against an independent BCTTv1 translation, (vi) empirical testing, and (vii) final Committee review. Results: Changes as a result of the translation process included relabelling BCTs, amending definitions, and fixing conceptual and grammatical inconsistencies, yielding the final version. Very satisfactory inter-coder reliability in BCT identification was observed as part of the empirical testing (i.e., prevalence and bias-adjusted kappa scores > 0.8). Conclusions: This work provides the Spanish-speaking population with a rigorous and validated BCTTv1 translation which can be used in both research and practice to provide a greater level of intervention detail for evidence synthesis, comparison, and replication of behaviour change interventions. The translation process described here may prove helpful to guide future translation efforts in behavioural science and beyond.
Lateral prefrontal theta oscillations causally drive a computational mechanism underlying conflict expectation and adaptation
(2024) Martínez-Molina, María Paz; Valdebenito-Oyarzo, Gabriela; Soto-Icaza, Patricia; Zamorano, Francisco; Figueroa-Vargas, Alejandra; Carvajal-Paredes, Patricio; Stecher, Ximena; Salinas, César; Valero-Cabré, Antoni; Polania, Rafael; Billeke, Pablo
Adapting our behavior to environmental demands relies on our capacity to perceive and manage potential conflicts within our surroundings. While evidence implicates the involvement of the lateral prefrontal cortex and theta oscillations in detecting conflict stimuli, their causal role in conflict expectation remains elusive. Consequently, the exact computations and neural mechanisms underlying these cognitive processes still need to be determined. We employed an integrative approach involving cognitive computational modeling, fMRI, TMS, and EEG to establish a causal link between oscillatory brain function, its neurocomputational role, and the resulting conflict processing and adaptation behavior. Our results reveal a computational process underlying conflict expectation, which correlates with BOLD-fMRI and theta activity in the superior frontal gyrus (SFG). Modulation of theta activity via rhythmic TMS applied over the SFG induces endogenous theta activity, which in turn enhances computations associated with conflict expectation. These findings provide evidence for the causal involvement of SFG theta activity in learning and allocating cognitive resources to address forthcoming conflict stimuli. Similar content being viewe

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