Propiedades de una escala de preocupación por la COVID-19: análisis exploratorio en una muestra peruana / Properties of a scale of concern for COVID-19: Exploratory analysis in a Peruvian sample

OBJETIVO: La preocupación por enfermar podría ayudar a prevenir enfermedades. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar las propiedades psicométricas de una escala de preocupación por la COVID-19 (EPCov-19). MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: El estudio es de tipo instrumental y se recogió información de 224 personas de nacionalidad peruana en el contexto de aislamiento social. Se realizó una adaptación de los ítems de la escala de preocupación por el cáncer. RESULTADOS: Se obtuvo una escala con propiedades psicométricas satisfactorias. Con una matriz de correlaciones policóricas se obtuvieron valores superiores al estándar en los 6 ítems (r > 0,3) y la confiabilidad fue aceptable (alfa = 0,866; IC del 95% = 0,83-0,89). El análisis paralelo sugirió la unidimensionalidad de la EPCov-19, la varianza explicada fue del 79,7% y las saturaciones fueron superiores a 0,4. Los índices de bondad de ajuste son satisfactorios (CFI = 0,995; GFI = 0,997; TLI = 0,991 y RMSEA = 0,059, IC del 95% = 0,012-0,077). CONCLUSIONES: Se presenta un instrumento válido y confiable para medir la preocupación por el contagio de COVID-19 y puede ser usados en futuros estudios

OBJECTIVE: Concern about getting sick could help prevent disease. The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of a COVID-19 concern scale (EPCov-19). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an instrument-based study and information was collected from 224 people of Peruvian nationality in the context of social isolation. The items of the Cancer Concern Scale were adapted for this study. RESULTS: A scale with satisfactory psychometric properties was obtained. With a matrix of polychoric correlations, values higher than the standard were obtained in all 6 items (r > 0.3) and the reliability was acceptable (alpha = 0.866; 95% CI = 0.83 - 0.89). Parallel analysis suggested unidimensionality of the EPCov-19, the variance explained was 79.7% and saturations were higher than 0.4. Goodness-of-fit índices were satisfactory (CFI = 0.995; GFI = 0.997; TLI = 0.991; and RMSEA = 0.059, 95% CI = 0.012 - 0.077). CONCLUSIONS: This is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring concern about the spread of COVID-19 and can be used in future studies

Properties of a scale of concern for COVID-19: Exploratory analysis in a Peruvian sample.

OBJECTIVE: Concern about getting sick could help prevent disease. The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of a COVID-19 concern scale (EPCov-19). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an instrument-based study and information was collected from 224 people of Peruvian nationality in the context of social isolation. The items of the Cancer Concern Scale were adapted for this study. RESULTS: A scale with satisfactory psychometric properties was obtained. With a matrix of polychoric correlations, values higher than the standard were obtained in all 6 items (r > 0.3) and the reliability was acceptable (α = 0.866; 95% CI = 0.83-0.89). Parallel analysis suggested unidimensionality of the EPCov-19, the variance explained was 79.7% and saturations were higher than 0.4. Goodness-of-fit índices were satisfactory (CFI = 0.995; GFI = 0.997; TLI = 0.991; and RMSEA = 0.059, 95% CI = 0.012-0.077). CONCLUSIONS: This is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring concern about the spread of COVID-19 and can be used in future studies.

OBJETIVO: La preocupación por enfermar podría ayudar a prevenir enfermedades. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar las propiedades psicométricas de una escala de preocupación por la COVID-19 (EPCov-19). MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: El estudio es de tipo instrumental y se recogió información de 224 personas de nacionalidad peruana en el contexto de aislamiento social. Se realizó una adaptación de los ítems de la escala de preocupación por el cáncer. RESULTADOS: Se obtuvo una escala con propiedades psicométricas satisfactorias. Con una matriz de correlaciones policóricas se obtuvieron valores superiores al estándar en los 6 ítems (r > 0,3) y la confiabilidad fue aceptable (α = 0,866; IC del 95% = 0,83-0,89). El análisis paralelo sugirió la unidimensionalidad de la EPCov-19, la varianza explicada fue del 79,7% y las saturaciones fueron superiores a 0,4. Los índices de bondad de ajuste son satisfactorios (CFI = 0,995; GFI = 0,997; TLI = 0,991 y RMSEA = 0,059, IC del 95% = 0,012-0,077). CONCLUSIONES: Se presenta un instrumento válido y confiable para medir la preocupación por el contagio de COVID-19 y puede ser usados en futuros estudios.

[Properties of a scale of concern for COVID-19: Exploratory analysis in a Peruvian sample]. / Propiedades de una escala de preocupación por la COVID-19: análisis exploratorio en una muestra peruana.

OBJECTIVE: Concern about getting sick could help prevent disease. The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of a COVID-19 concern scale (EPCov-19). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an instrument-based study and information was collected from 224 people of Peruvian nationality in the context of social isolation. The items of the Cancer Concern Scale were adapted for this study. RESULTS: A scale with satisfactory psychometric properties was obtained. With a matrix of polychoric correlations, values higher than the standard were obtained in all 6 items (r >0.3) and the reliability was acceptable (α=0.866; 95% CI=0.83 - 0.89). Parallel analysis suggested unidimensionality of the EPCov-19, the variance explained was 79.7% and saturations were higher than 0.4. Goodness-of-fit índices were satisfactory (CFI=0.995; GFI=0.997; TLI=0.991; and RMSEA=0.059, 95% CI=0.012 - 0.077). CONCLUSIONS: This is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring concern about the spread of COVID-19 and can be used in future studies.

Complex modular architecture around a simple toolkit of wing pattern genes.

Identifying the genomic changes that control morphological variation and understanding how they generate diversity is a major goal of evolutionary biology. In Heliconius butterflies, a small number of genes control the development of diverse wing color patterns. Here, we used full genome sequencing of individuals across the Heliconius erato radiation and closely related species to characterize genomic variation associated with wing pattern diversity. We show that variation around color pattern genes is highly modular, with narrow genomic intervals associated with specific differences in color and pattern. This modular architecture explains the diversity of color patterns and provides a flexible mechanism for rapid morphological diversification.

Population genomics of parallel hybrid zones in the mimetic butterflies, H. melpomene and H. erato.

Hybrid zones can be valuable tools for studying evolution and identifying genomic regions responsible for adaptive divergence and underlying phenotypic variation. Hybrid zones between subspecies of Heliconius butterflies can be very narrow and are maintained by strong selection acting on color pattern. The comimetic species, H. erato and H. melpomene, have parallel hybrid zones in which both species undergo a change from one color pattern form to another. We use restriction-associated DNA sequencing to obtain several thousand genome-wide sequence markers and use these to analyze patterns of population divergence across two pairs of parallel hybrid zones in Peru and Ecuador. We compare two approaches for analysis of this type of data-alignment to a reference genome and de novo assembly-and find that alignment gives the best results for species both closely (H. melpomene) and distantly (H. erato, ∼15% divergent) related to the reference sequence. Our results confirm that the color pattern controlling loci account for the majority of divergent regions across the genome, but we also detect other divergent regions apparently unlinked to color pattern differences. We also use association mapping to identify previously unmapped color pattern loci, in particular the Ro locus. Finally, we identify a new cryptic population of H. timareta in Ecuador, which occurs at relatively low altitude and is mimetic with H. melpomene malleti.

Transcriptome analysis reveals novel patterning and pigmentation genes underlying Heliconius butterfly wing pattern variation.

BACKGROUND: Heliconius butterfly wing pattern diversity offers a unique opportunity to investigate how natural genetic variation can drive the evolution of complex adaptive phenotypes. Positional cloning and candidate gene studies have identified a handful of regulatory and pigmentation genes implicated in Heliconius wing pattern variation, but little is known about the greater developmental networks within which these genes interact to pattern a wing. Here we took a large-scale transcriptomic approach to identify the network of genes involved in Heliconius wing pattern development and variation. This included applying over 140 transcriptome microarrays to assay gene expression in dissected wing pattern elements across a range of developmental stages and wing pattern morphs of Heliconius erato. RESULTS: We identified a number of putative early prepattern genes with color-pattern related expression domains. We also identified 51 genes differentially expressed in association with natural color pattern variation. Of these, the previously identified color pattern "switch gene" optix was recovered as the first transcript to show color-specific differential expression. Most differentially expressed genes were transcribed late in pupal development and have roles in cuticle formation or pigment synthesis. These include previously undescribed transporter genes associated with ommochrome pigmentation. Furthermore, we observed upregulation of melanin-repressing genes such as ebony and Dat1 in non-melanic patterns. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies many new genes implicated in butterfly wing pattern development and provides a glimpse into the number and types of genes affected by variation in genes that drive color pattern evolution.

Trade-offs between reproductive coloration and innate immunity in a natural population of female sagebrush lizards, Sceloporus graciosus.

Trade-offs between immune function and reproduction are common to many organisms. Nevertheless, high energetic resources may eliminate the need for these trade-offs. In this study, we consider the effects of food availability on these trade-offs in a wild population of female sagebrush lizards (Sceloporus graciosus) during the breeding season. We manipulated food availability by supplementing some lizards but not others. We measured female orange side coloration as an indicator of reproductive state and calculated the bacterial killing capability of collected plasma exposed to Escherichia coli ex vivo as a measure of innate immunity. We found that female lizards show a natural trade-off between reproductive effort and immune function; females under high reproductive investment had lower innate immunity than those at a later reproductive state. We did not detect this trade-off with food supplementation. We show that trade-offs depend on the energetic state of the animal, illustrating that trade-offs between immune function and reproduction can be context-dependent.

Food supplementation and testosterone interact to influence reproductive behavior and immune function in Sceloporus graciosus.

The energetic resources in an organism's environment are essential for executing a wide range of life-history functions, including immunity and reproduction. Most energetic budgets, however, are limited, which can lead to trade-offs among competing functions. Increasing reproductive effort tends to decrease immunity in many cases, and increasing total energy via supplemental feedings can eliminate this effect. Testosterone (T), an important regulator of reproduction, and food availability are thus both potential factors regulating life-history processes, yet they are often tested in isolation of each other. In this study, we considered the effect of both food availability and elevated T on immune function and reproductive behavior in sagebrush lizards, Sceloporus graciosus, to assess how T and energy availability affect these trade-offs. We experimentally manipulated diet (via supplemental feedings) and T (via dermal patches) in males from a natural population. We determined innate immune response by calculating the bacterial killing capability of collected plasma exposed to Escherichia coli ex vivo. We measured reproductive behavior by counting the number of courtship displays produced in a 20-min sampling period. We observed an interactive effect of food availability and T-patch on immune function, with food supplementation increasing immunity in T-patch lizards. Additionally, T increased courtship displays in control food lizards. Lizards with supplemental food had higher circulating T than controls. Collectively, this study shows that the energetic state of the animal plays a critical role in modulating the interactions among T, behavior and immunity in sagebrush lizards and likely other species.

Courtship attention in sagebrush lizards varies with male identity and female reproductive state.

Previous experiments suggest that males spend more time with the more receptive of 2 novel females or the one with the higher fitness potential. However, males often court individual females repeatedly over a season; for example, male lizards sequentially visit familiar females as they patrol territorial boundaries. It may benefit males to vary display intensity as they move between multiple females. In this study, we explored the factors influencing amount of male courtship to familiar females in the sagebrush lizard, Sceloporus graciosus. We tested whether males vary the amount of courtship exhibited due to individual differences among males, female reproductive state, or female fitness potential. Each male was allowed to interact separately, but repeatedly, with 2 females until both females laid eggs. Male courtship behavior with each of the 2 females was assayed at an intermediate point, after 3 weeks of interaction. We found that individual differences among males were considerable. The number of male courtship displays was also positively correlated with female latency to lay eggs, with males displaying more often toward females with eggs that had not yet been fertilized. Courtship behavior was not well predicted by the number of eggs laid or by female width, both measures of female quality. Thus, male S. graciosus appear to alter courtship intensity more in response to signals of female reproductive state than in response to variation in potential female fitness.