Sleep duration and fatigue in construction workers: A preliminary study

The construction industry is known for its high rate of accidents. Among the different possible causes of this situation, we could find lack of sleep and fatigue. Chronic sleep deprivation is a determining factor in the deterioration of vigilance and alert, and consequently a risk factor for occupational accidents. Fatigue is the answer of our organism to sustained physical and mental stress. Regretfully, those topics have been ovelooked in the construction industry. The objective of this study is to understand better these phenomena, such as sleep duration and fatigue, and whether they are interrelated, and to propose strategies to mitigate them and contribute to the reduction of accidents in construction projects. We worked with 154 male construction workers from one Chilean construction company. To assess sleep quality, we used the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). To evaluate fatigue, we used a personal computer version of the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PC-PVT) that measures alertness and vigilance. This 5-minute test was performed on construction workers on-site in the morning. Those people who took part in the test were classified into various groups according to self-reported sleep hours, namely: 7–9 h (26%), 5–7 h (61.7%), and <5 h (12.3%). These results were compared for three variables (Mean Reaction Time (RT), 10% faster, and 10% slower) using an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test. Differences were found for Mean RT and Slowest 10%, the difference being greater in the group that reported sleeping <5 h, but without statistical significance. Studies with a greater number of subjects and measurements are required throughout the working day

DOCODE 3.0 (DOcument COpy DEtector): A system for plagiarism detection by applying an information fusion process from multiple documental data sources

Plagiarism refers to the act of presenting external words, thoughts, or ideas as one’s own, without providing references to the sources from which they were taken. The exponential growth of different digital document sources available on the Web has facilitated the spread of this practice, making the accurate detection of it a crucial task for educational institutions. In this article, we present DOCODE 3.0, a Web system for educational institutions that performs automatic analysis of large quantities of digital documents in relation to their degree of originality. Since plagiarism is a complex problem, frequently tackled at different levels, our system applies algorithms in order to perform an information fusion process from multi data source to all these levels. These algorithms have been successfully tested in the scientific community in solving tasks like the identification of plagiarized passages and the retrieval of source candidates from the Web, among other multi data sources as digital libraries, and have proven to be very effective. We integrate these algorithms into a multi-tier, robust and scalable JEE architecture, allowing many different types of clients with different requirements to consume our services. For users, DOCODE produces a number of visualizations and reports from the different outputs to let teachers and professors gain insights on the originality of the documents they review, allowing them to discover, understand and handle possible plagiarism cases and making it easier and much faster to analyze a vast number of documents. Our experience here is so far focused on the Chilean situation and the Spanish language, offering solutions to Chilean educational institutions in any of their preferred Virtual Learning Environments. However, DOCODE can easily be adapted to increase language coverage

VALIDAÇÃO DA ESCALA SERVICE PERFORMANCE EM UM CENTRO TOXICOLÓGICO DE CHILE

Objective: To assess construct validity and SERVPERF scale reliability in users requiring information by phone at the Toxicology Information Center of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (CITUC, Spanish acronym).Methodology: Instrument validation study for telephone service. The sample was made up of 180 users who required telephone information in a three-month period. Internal consistency of the instrument was determined using Cronbach´s alpha (?). Construct validity was assessed by exploratory factor analysis. Results: Factor analysis yield a 6-factor structure and showed that some items tend to blend among dimensions. When determining reliability for the dimensions we obtained: reliability, ?= 0.678; responsibility, ?=0.852; assurance, ?=0.878 and empathy, ?=0.887. Service provided by CITUC professionals was given the maximum score when assessed by users. Conclusions: SERVPERF scale gets adequate reliability levels; thus, the instrument has consistency and stability. Further analysis of construct validity would be interesting since empirical evidence is not consistent with theoretical evidence.Objetivo: evaluar la validez de constructo y confiabilidad de la escala SERVPERF en los usuarios que solicitan información vía telefónica al Centro de Información Toxicológica de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (CITUC). Metodología: estudio de validación de instrumento para servicio telefónico. La muestra fueron 180 usuarios que solicitaron información telefónica en un periodo de tres meses. Se determinó la consistencia interna del instrumento mediante Alfa de Cronbach (?). La validez de constructo fue evaluada mediante análisis factorial exploratorio. Resultados: el análisis factorial, arrojó una estructura de 6 factores y se evidenció que algunos ítems tienden a mezclarse entre las dimensiones. Al determinar confiabilidad se obtuvo para la dimensión de: confiabilidad, ?= 0,678; responsabilidad, ?=0,852; seguridad, ?=0,878 y empatía, ?=0,887. Los usuarios evaluaron con puntaje máximo la atención brindada por los profesionales del CITUC. Conclusiones: la escala SERVPERF obtiene niveles adecuados de confiabilidad por lo que el instrumento tiene consistencia y estabilidad. Interesante es avanzar más en análisis de validez de constructo ya que la evidencia empírica no es consistente con la teórica.Objetivo: Determinar a validade do modelo e a confiabilidade da escala SERVPERF em usuários solicitando informações pelo telefone ao Centro de Informação Toxicológica da Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Chile (CITUC). Metodologia: estudo de validação de instrumentos para atendimento telefônico. A amostra abrange 180 usuários que solicitaram informações telefônicas em um período de três meses. A consistência interna do instrumento foi determinada pelo Alfa de Cronbach (?). A validade do modelo foi avaliada pela análise fatorial exploratória. Resultados: a análise fatorial, mostrou uma estrutura de 6 fatores e evidenciou que alguns itens tendem a se misturar entre as dimensões. Ao determinar a confiabilidade foi obtida ? = 0,678 para a dimensão de: confiabilidade,; responsabilidade, ? = 0,852; segurança, ? = 0,878 e empatia, ? = 0,887. Os usuários avaliaram com uma pontuação máxima a atenção prestada pelos profissionais do CITUC. Conclusões: a escala SERVPERF obtém níveis adequados de confiabilidade, de modo que o instrumento tem consistência e estabilidade. Interessante é avançar mais na análise da validade do modelo pois a evidência empírica não é consistente com a teórica

Validación de la escala Service Performance en un Centro Toxicológico de Chile

Objetivo: evaluar la validez de constructo y confiabilidad de la escala SERVPERF en los usuarios que solicitan información vía telefónica al Centro de Información Toxicológica de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (CITUC). Metodología: estudio de validación de instrumento para servicio telefónico. La muestra fueron 180 usuarios que solicitaron información telefónica en un periodo de tres meses. Se determinó la consistencia interna del instrumento mediante Alfa de Cronbach (?). La validez de constructo fue evaluada mediante análisis factorial exploratorio. Resultados: el análisis factorial, arrojó una estructura de 6 factores y se evidenció que algunos ítems tienden a mezclarse entre las dimensiones. Al determinar confiabilidad se obtuvo para la dimensión de: confiabilidad, ?= 0,678; responsabilidad, ?=0,852; seguridad, ?=0,878 y empatía, ?=0,887. Los usuarios evaluaron con puntaje máximo la atención brindada por los profesionales del CITUC. Conclusiones: la escala SERVPERF obtiene niveles adecuados de confiabilidad por lo que el instrumento tiene consistencia y estabilidad. Interesante es avanzar más en análisis de validez de constructo ya que la evidencia empírica no es consistente con la teórica

Mujeres que Consumen Sustancias y su Vulnerabilidad frente al VIH en Santiago de Chile (Women Who Consume Substances and Their Vulnerability to HIV in Santiago of Chile)

Women represent 15% of the people living with HIV in Chile. Risk behaviors for HIV are: multiple partners, unsafe sex, and exchange of sex for drugs/money. A correlational design was used. A sample of 203 women who were sexually active and consumed substances within the last 3-months were selected for this study. The average age of the participants was 32.4 years (SD = 9.2) and 68.1% were housewives. The substance most commonly used was alcohol (95.1%) and marijuana (49.8%); 23.7% of the women were drunk or drugged before having sex; 74.4% had multiple sexual partners and 95.6% had unprotected sex. There is a significant correlation (p < 0.05) between substance abuse and HIV risk behaviors. It is necessary to develop more research to understand in depth the relationship between substance use and HIV risk among Chilean women. It is important to consider the use of substances to develop and implement HIV prevention programs in the Chilean community

Control del pensamiento, esfuerzo cognitivo y lenguaje fisionómico-organísmico: tres manifestaciones expresivas del lenguaje interior en la experiencia humana

The present article reports the results of a quantitative exploratory study whose objective was to identify interior language forms and its expressive manifestations in gestures. 50 university students were individually submitted to two events of inner language elicitation: an instrumental music and a story. After each stimulus participants were asked to reflect in silence the contents elicited by each stimulus, and then participate in a qualitative video-assisted interview. Gestural categories were coded and analyzed through descriptive statistical analysis, Pearson’s correlation and principal component analysis. The results show three forms of inner language that are associated with different nonverbal expressive movements. First, there is an internal language at the service of the control of thought associated with nonverbal movements of control and voluntary search of thought. Second, there is evidence of a cognitive effort inner language, which involves iterative gestures that manifest information processing. Finally, an internal physiognomy-organismic language, associated with non-verbal expressions that manifest an interiority full of sense. These findings contribute to the understanding of the symbols formation, describing their internal and external forms, understanding the human experience as unique, total and holistic.El presente artículo reporta los resultados de un estudio cuantitativo exploratorio, cuyo objetivo fue identificar formas de lenguaje interior y sus manifestaciones expresivas en la gestualidad. Los participantes, 50 estudiantes universitarios, fueron sometidos individualmente a dos eventos de elicitación de lenguaje interior: una música instrumental y un cuento. Luego de cada estímulo, se les solicitó reflexionar en silencio los contenidos elicitados por cada uno, para posteriormente participar en una entrevista cualitativa videoasistida. Las categorías gestuales fueron codificadas y analizadas a través de un análisis estadístico descriptivo, correlaciones de Pearson y análisis de componentes principales. Los resultados evidencian tres formas de lenguaje interior asociados a diferentes movimientos expresivos no verbales. En primer lugar, aparece un lenguaje interno al servicio del control del pensamiento, asociado a movimientos no verbales de control y búsqueda voluntaria del pensamiento. En segundo lugar, un lenguaje interior de esfuerzo cognitivo, que implica gestos iterativos que manifiestan procesamiento de información. Finalmente, se observa un lenguaje interno fisionómico-organísmico, asociado a expresiones no verbales que manifiestan una interioridad cargada de sentido. Estos hallazgos contribuyen a la comprensión de la formación de símbolos, con la descripción de sus formas internas y externas, entendiendo la experiencia humana como única, total y holista

Control del pensamiento, esfuerzo cognitivo y lenguaje fisionómico-organísmico: tres manifestaciones expresivas del lenguaje interior en la experiencia humana

The present article reports the results of a quantitative exploratory study whose objective was to identify interior language forms and its expressive manifestations in gestures. 50 university students were individually submitted to two events of inner language elicitation: an instrumental music and a story. After each stimulus participants were asked to reflect in silence the contents elicited by each stimulus, and then participate in a qualitative video-assisted interview. Gestural categories were coded and analyzed through descriptive statistical analysis, Pearson’s correlation and principal component analysis. The results show three forms of inner language that are associated with different nonverbal expressive movements. First, there is an internal language at the service of the control of thought associated with nonverbal movements of control and voluntary search of thought. Second, there is evidence of a cognitive effort inner language, which involves iterative gestures that manifest information processing. Finally, an internal physiognomy-organismic language, associated with non-verbal expressions that manifest an interiority full of sense. These findings contribute to the understanding of the symbols formation, describing their internal and external forms, understanding the human experience as unique, total and holistic.El presente artículo reporta los resultados de un estudio cuantitativo exploratorio, cuyo objetivo fue identificar formas de lenguaje interior y sus manifestaciones expresivas en la gestualidad. Los participantes, 50 estudiantes universitarios, fueron sometidos individualmente a dos eventos de elicitación de lenguaje interior: una música instrumental y un cuento. Luego de cada estímulo, se les solicitó reflexionar en silencio los contenidos elicitados por cada uno, para posteriormente participar en una entrevista cualitativa videoasistida. Las categorías gestuales fueron codificadas y analizadas a través de un análisis estadístico descriptivo, correlaciones de Pearson y análisis de componentes principales. Los resultados evidencian tres formas de lenguaje interior asociados a diferentes movimientos expresivos no verbales. En primer lugar, aparece un lenguaje interno al servicio del control del pensamiento, asociado a movimientos no verbales de control y búsqueda voluntaria del pensamiento. En segundo lugar, un lenguaje interior de esfuerzo cognitivo, que implica gestos iterativos que manifiestan procesamiento de información. Finalmente, se observa un lenguaje interno fisionómico-organísmico, asociado a expresiones no verbales que manifiestan una interioridad cargada de sentido. Estos hallazgos contribuyen a la comprensión de la formación de símbolos, con la descripción de sus formas internas y externas, entendiendo la experiencia humana como única, total y holista