English language textbooks are widely used as one of the essential resources in education. In Ecuador, local authorities created specific course books for state schools and high schools called pedagogical modules. Hence, the terms pedagogical textbook, course book, and modules will be used interchangeably. This study aims to explore perceptions of Ecuadorian English as a Foreign Language teachers on implementing the pedagogical modules to state schools, which were provided by the Ministry of Education. Besides, participants will provide perceptions on the connection of the mentioned textbooks with the Ecuadorian National Curriculum. The study includes an exploratory qualitative design using a focus group interview with eight EFL teachers from primary and secondary schools. The focus group interview findings indicated that teachers have both positive and negative perceptions towards using these pedagogical textbooks. Teachers agree that these pedagogical modules promote English learning success in a contextualized and authentic way by connecting aspects from the curriculum and current ELT principles. Nonetheless, all of the teachers indicated that integrating the pedagogical modules to state schools was, in many ways, disorganized. Based on the results, this study suggests constructive changes to specialists in charge of creating and editing EFL pedagogical modules. 

Los libros de inglés son ampliamente utilizados como uno de los recursos más esenciales en la educación. Este estudio tiene como objetivo explorar las percepciones de los profesores ecuatorianos de inglés como lengua extranjera sobre la integración, utilidad, y funcionalidad de los módulos pedagógicos proporcionados por el Ministerio de Educación, así como su conexión con el currículum nacional ecuatoriano. Se realizó un diseño cualitativo exploratorio utilizando una entrevista de grupo focal a ocho maestros de inglés como lengua extranjera de primaria y secundaria. Los resultados de la entrevista del grupo focal indican que los maestros tienen percepciones positivas y negativas sobre el uso de estos módulos pedagógicos de inglés. Ellos están de acuerdo en que estos módulos pedagógicos promueven el aprendizaje de inglés de una manera contextualizada y auténtica al conectar aspectos del currículum nacional y los nuevos paradigmas relacionados a la enseñanza de inglés. No obstante, todos los maestros indicaron que la integración de estos nuevos módulos pedagógicos se llevó a cabo de manera confusa y desorganizada. Con base en los hallazgos, este estudio sugiere cambios constructivos a los especialistas que están a cargo de crear y editar dichos módulos para hacer que su integración, uso, y aplicación sean más eficientes.

Samples of fish organs (kidney and spleen) from the main salmonid species farmed in Chile were analyzed through the nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR) to detect the presence of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV). The technique proved to be efficient and sensitive, allowing amplification of viral genetic material for sequencing directly from tissue, even from samples that could not be isolated in cell culture. The phylogenetic analysis showed the two genogroups previously described in the country, i.e., European (Genogroup 5) and American (Genogroup 1), being the IPNV that belong to Genogroup 5 the dominant one (78.8%). It is clear that the Chilean IPN viruses are clustered within the Genogroup 1 forming a sub-group that is separated from the reference strains (e.g., WB, VR-299), hence we propose its denomination as a Chilean genotype. Additionally, a statistically significant host-specific relationship was observed between the genogroups identified: viruses from Genogroup 5 were detected in Salmo salar, while the ones from Genogroup 1 were detected in Oncorhynchus mykiss or O. kisutch (P < 0.001). The association of this host-specific relationship with the virulence can provide important information for the management and control of IPNV in Chile.

Se analizaron muestras de órganos (riñón y bazo) de las principales especies de salmónidos cultivados en Chile a través de la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa anidada (PCR anidado) para detectar la presencia del virus de la necrosis pancreática infecciosa (IPNV). La técnica resultó ser eficiente y sensible, permitiendo amplificar material genético del virus para su secuenciación directamente desde los tejidos, incluso desde muestras que no pudieron ser aisladas en cultivo celular. A través del análisis filogenético se detectaron los dos genogrupos descritos previamente en el país, i.e., europeo (Genogrupo 5) y americano (Genogrupo 1), siendo cuantitativamente predominantes los IPNV del Genogrupo 5 (78,8%). Dentro del Genogrupo 1, se observó claramente la formación de un sub-grupo de virus chilenos separados de las cepas de referencia (e.g., WB, VR-299), por lo que se propone su denominación como genotipo chileno. Adicionalmente, se observó una relación estadística-mente significativa hospedador-específica entre los genogrupos identificados: los virus del Genogrupo 5 provienen de Salmo salar mientras que los del Genogrupo 1 provienen de Oncorhynchus mykiss u O. kisutch (P < 0,001). La asociación de esta relación hospedador-específica con la virulencia puede proveer información importante para el manejo y control de IPNV en Chile.

Background: The genomes of several infectious pancreatic necrosis viruses (IPNVs) isolated in Chile were sequenced with a single amplification approach for both segments A and B. The resulting sequences were then used to determine the conservation of the primer-binding regions used in polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnostic methods proposed in the literature. Thus, the robustness of each technique was studied, particularly the eventual effect of further mutations within the primer-binding sites. Results: On analysis, most methods currently used to detect Chilean IPNV varieties were deemed adequate. However, the primers were designed to be genogroup specific, implying that most detection methods pose some risk of detecting all strains prevalent in the country, due to the coexistence of genogroups 1 and 5. Conclusions: Negative results must be interpreted carefully given the high genomic variability of IPNVs. Detection techniques (quantitative reverse transcription (qRT)-PCR) based on degenerate primers can be used to minimize the possibilities of false-negative detections.

O presente trabalho trata-se de estudo descritivo e transversal realizado em Santiago do Chile, que teve como objetivo avaliar o raciocínio científico e a comunicação oral e escrita dos estudantes graduados em enfermagem. A amostra foi constituída por 37 estudantes graduados em enfermagem que participaram da pesquisa concebida em três etapas: I) criação e validação do instrumento; II) formação dos professores participantes da equipe para aplicação uniforme do instrumento; III) aplicação do instrumento e análise de dados. Os dados mostram diferentes porcentagens desta competência, predominando o raciocínio científico (83,16%), seguido de comunicação oral e escrita (78,37%). Conclui-se que esta pesquisa demonstra a utilidade para as escolas de enfermagem da implementação de uma avaliação formal que permita determinar o perfil de egresso do graduado em enfermagem garantindo a qualidade da formação.

This descriptive, cross-sectional study was performed in Santiago de Chile, with the objective to evaluate the scientific reasoning and the oral and written communication of nursing graduates. The sample consisted of 37 nursing graduates who participated in the three stages of the study: I) creation and validation of the instrument; II) training the faculty participating in the study to apply the instrument uniformly; and III) application of the instrument and data analysis. The data show different percentages regarding this competency, with the predominance of scientific reasoning (83.16%), followed by oral and written communication (78.37%). In conclusion, this study demonstrates the value for nursing schools to implement a formal evaluation that allows for determining the profile of nursing graduates, guaranteeing the quality of their training and education.

Estudio descriptivo, transversal, realizado en Santiago de Chile. Tuvo como objetivo evaluar el razonamiento científico y comunicación oral y escrita en el licenciado en enfermería. Muestra constituida por 37 estudiantes licenciados en la carrera de enfermería. La investigación fue diseñada en tres etapas: I) creación y validación del instrumento; II) capacitación del equipo de docentes participantes para la aplicación uniforme del instrumento; III) aplicación del instrumento y análisis de datos. Los principales resultados muestran porcentajes diferentes de competencia obtenidos por los licenciados en enfermería, prevaleciendo el logro del razonamiento científico (83,16%); seguido de la comunicación oral y escrita (78,37%). Esta investigación muestra la utilidad para las Escuelas de Enfermería de implementar un sistema para evaluar el perfil de egresados del grado de licenciado en enfermería que garantice la calidad de la formación.

This descriptive, cross-sectional study was performed in Santiago de Chile, with the objective to evaluate the scientific reasoning and the oral and written communication of nursing graduates. The sample consisted of 37 nursing graduates who participated in the three stages of the study: I) creation and validation of the instrument; II) training the faculty participating in the study to apply the instrument uniformly; and III) application of the instrument and data analysis. The data show different percentages regarding this competency, with the predominance of scientific reasoning (83.16%), followed by oral and written communication (78.37%). In conclusion, this study demonstrates the value for nursing schools to implement a formal evaluation that allows for determining the profile of nursing graduates, guaranteeing the quality of their training and education.

Estudio descriptivo, transversal, realizado en Santiago de Chile. Tuvo como objetivo evaluar el razonamiento científico y comunicación oral y escrita en el licenciado en enfermería. Muestra constituida por 37 estudiantes licenciados en la carrera de enfermería. La investigación fue diseñada en tres etapas: I) creación y validación del instrumento; II) capacitación del equipo de docentes participantes para la aplicación uniforme del instrumento; III) aplicación del instrumento y análisis de datos. Los principales resultados muestran porcentajes diferentes de competencia obtenidos por los licenciados en enfermería, prevaleciendo el logro del razonamiento científico (83,16%); seguido de la comunicación oral y escrita (78,37%). Esta investigación muestra la utilidad para las Escuelas de Enfermería de implementar un sistema para evaluar el perfil de egresados del grado de licenciado en enfermería que garantice la calidad de la formación.

O presente trabalho trata-se de estudo descritivo e transversal realizado em Santiago do Chile, que teve como objetivo avaliar o raciocínio científico e a comunicação oral e escrita dos estudantes graduados em enfermagem. A amostra foi constituída por 37 estudantes graduados em enfermagem que participaram da pesquisa concebida em três etapas: I) criação e validação do instrumento; II) formação dos professores participantes da equipe para aplicação uniforme do instrumento; III) aplicação do instrumento e análise de dados. Os dados mostram diferentes porcentagens desta competência, predominando o raciocínio científico (83,16%), seguido de comunicação oral e escrita (78,37%). Conclui-se que esta pesquisa demonstra a utilidade para as escolas de enfermagem da implementação de uma avaliação formal que permita determinar o perfil de egresso do graduado em enfermagem garantindo a qualidade da formação.

Background: Chile is receiving immigrant populations coming from other Latin-American countries. Aim: To determine the prevalence of Common Mental Disorders (CMD) among immigrants who live in Independencia, a quarter in Santiago, Chile. Material and Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in the primary health care clinic and in the state-funded school of Independencia. A representative sample of 282 adults and 341 children were interviewed. Mental disorders were diagnosed using CIS-R and MINI structured interviews. Results: The interviewed immigrants came mostly from Peru. The prevalence of mental disorders in the adult population was 17.8% and among children, it was 29.3%. Conclusions: The adult immigrants have a lower prevalence of mental disorders than the Chilean population but it increases among children. Barriers of access to health services, that should be solved, were detected.