Psychometric validation of the 15-item Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery in Spain (QPR-15-SP).

Introduction: Reliable and valid instruments are needed to measure the impact of mental health services and programs on the journeys of recovery of service users. The aim of this study was to explore the psychometric properties of the cross-culturally adapted 15-item Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery in Spain (QPR-15-SP). Methods: One hundred and ten participants from three locations in Spain (Málaga, Barcelona and Madrid), who were users of primary and specialized mental health services, were interviewed from October 2021 to June 2022. Results: The internal consistency obtained was excellent: ω =.93 and α =.92. Temporal reliability using intraclass correlation coefficients was moderate (ICC=.684, p <.000). Regarding convergent validity, the QPR-15-SP had a moderate correlation with the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure (CORE-OM) (ρ =-.500, p <.000), a Visual Numeric Recovery Scale (VNRS) (ρ =.591, p <.000), and the Stages of Recovery Instrument (STORI) (r =.566, p <.000). Correlations between advanced stages of recovery and higher QPR-15-SP scores were found (Moratorium: ρ =-.579, p <.000; Awareness: ρ =-.130, p =.189; Preparation: r =-.043, P=.665; Rebuilding: r =.460, p <.000; Growth: ρ =.697, p <.000). In terms of divergent validity, the QPR-15-SP had low correlation with the DUKE-UNC Functional Social Support Scale (ρ =.273, p <.005). The confirmatory factor analysis of the 1-factor structure obtained reasonable goodness of fit indexes. Discussion: The QPR-15-SP has acceptable psychometric properties, providing support for measuring recovery in Spain and allowing international comparison research.

Quantitative spectroscopy analysis of prokaryotic cells: vegetative cells and spores.

Multiwavelength ultraviolet/visible (UV-Vis) spectra of microorganisms and cell suspensions contain quantitative information on properties such as number, size, shape, chemical composition, and internal structure of the suspended particles. These properties are essential for the identification and classification of microorganisms and cells. The complexity of microorganisms in terms of their chemical composition and internal structure make the interpretation of their spectral signature a difficult task. In this paper, a model is proposed for the quantitative interpretation of spectral patterns resulting from transmission measurements of prokaryotic microorganism suspensions. It is also demonstrated that different organisms give rise to spectral differences that may be used for their identification and classification. The proposed interpretation model is based on light scattering theory, spectral deconvolution techniques, and on the approximation of the frequency dependent optical properties of the basic constituents of living organisms. The quantitative deconvolution in terms of the interpretation model yields critical information necessary for the detection and identification of microorganisms, such as size, dry mass, dipicolinic acid concentration, nucleotide concentration, and an average representation of the internal scattering elements of the organisms. E. coli, P. agglomerans, B. subtilis spores, and vegetative cells and spores of Bacillus globigii are used as case studies. It is concluded that spectroscopy techniques coupled with effective interpretation models are applicable to a wide range of cell types found in diverse environments.

Growth behavior of microorganisms using UV-Vis spectroscopy: Escherichia coli.

Multiwavelength transmission spectra of microorganisms and cell suspensions consist of combined absorption and scattering phenomena resulting from the interaction of light with microorganisms or cells typically suspended in a nonabsorbing media. The distribution of intensities as a function of wavelength depends on the size, shape, and optical properties of the sample. The optical properties are functions of the chemical composition and the state of aggregation, or association, of the chromophoric groups contained in the microorganisms. This article explores the growth behavior of Escherichia coli from the perspective of multiwavelength UV-Vis spectroscopy. Experimentally, it is demonstrated that the spectral signatures of the microorganism evolve as a function of time. It is also demonstrated that the spectral changes observed during growth are consistent with data reported elsewhere. From the theoretical point of view, it is demonstrated that the spectral signatures can be adequately represented with an interpretation model based on light-scattering theory. The parameters from the interpretation model reflect changes in size and chemical composition known to take place in the microorganisms during growth.