Multidimensional Intelligences Model as a predictor for coming out acceptance and growth among LGB non-migrant Hispanics: A pilot study.

The coming out process has biopsychosocial components that occur whenever a lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) person shares their sexual orientation with another person. It is a complex and difficult process, but it has been described as an essential component for identity formation and integration. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess a Multidimensional Intelligences Model (MIM) (Body, Emotional, Social, and Ecological Intelligences) as predictor of the coming out acceptance (COA) and growth (COG).The objectives of this study were to 1) examine if MIM can predict COA and COG among LGB individuals; and 2) determine differences in the MIM between the four stratified groups (lesbian women, bisexual women, gay men, bisexual men). This pilot study had a quantitative method with an exploratory cross-sectional design. A total of 67 LGB participants completed an online survey. The results shows that the MIM could not predict the COA. However, the MIM could predict the COG and explained 20.6% of the variance. We believe this can be explained because in the COA people do not have control of how other people can feel and react. However, in the COG the person could have full self-control of their own growth.

El proceso de salir del clóset tiene componentes biopsicosociales que ocurren cuando una persona lesbiana, gay o bisexual (LGB) comparte su orientación sexual con otra persona. Es un proceso complejo y difícil, pero ha sido descrito como un componente esencial para la formación e integración de la identidad. El propósito de este estudio piloto fue evaluar un Modelo de Inteligencias Multidimensionales (MIM) (Inteligencia Corporal, Emocional, Social y Ecológica) como predictor de la aceptación después de la salida del clóset (ASC) y el crecimiento después de la salida del clóset (CSC). Los objetivos de este estudio fueron 1) examinar si MIM puede predecir el ASC y el CSC entre personas LGB; y 2) determinar diferencias en el MIM entre los cuatro grupos estratificados (mujeres lesbianas, mujeres bisexuales, hombres gays, hombres bisexuales). Este estudio piloto contó con un método cuantitativo con un diseño transversal exploratorio. Un total de 67 participantes LGB completaron una encuesta en línea. Los resultados muestran que el MIM no predice la ASC. Sin embargo, el MIM sí predice el CSC, explicando el 20,6% de la varianza. Creemos que esto se puede explicar porque en la ASC las personas no tienen control de cómo otras personas pueden sentir y reaccionar. Sin embargo, en la CSC la persona puede controlar su propio crecimiento.

Dissociative Experiences Scale: Psychometric Analysis in Puerto Rico and Contributions to the Discussion of the Factor Structure / Escala de Experiencias Disociativas: Análisis Psicométrico en Puerto Rico y Aportaciones a la Discusión sobre la Estructura Factorial

Introduction: The Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II) is a widely used psychometric tool to assess dissociative symptoms. Over the years, it has been the subject of numerous studies and research in various fields of psychology and psychiatry. Numerous studies have supported the validity and reliability of the DES-II as a reliable measure of dissociative experiences. The most problematic aspect of the DES-II is the inconsistency in its factor structure. Objective: This research aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the DES-II in a clinical and non-clinical sample from Puerto Rico. Method: This research had an instrumental design. An availability sampling of 341 adult participants was used. Several competing models of the DES-II were analyzed, including a bifactor model. Result: Psychometric analyses concluded that the scale has a unidimensional structure, strong reliability, and construct validity. All 28 items met adequate discrimination values. Participants with dissociative disorders obtained higher means on the DES-II than the other diagnostic groups. Furthermore, the more adverse experiences in childhood, the more dissociative experiences in adulthood. Conclusion: The DES-II should be treated and interpreted as a unidimensional dissociation index rather than a multidimensional instrument. This study will advance further research on dissociation and dissociative disorders in Puerto Rico and Latin America.

Introducción: La Escala de Experiencias Disociativas (DES-II) es una herramienta psicométrica ampliamente utilizada para evaluar síntomas disociativos. A lo largo de los años, ha sido objeto de numerosos estudios e investigaciones en diversos campos de la psicología y la psiquiatría. Numerosos estudios han respaldado la validez y la fiabilidad de la DES-II como una medida confiable de las experiencias disociativas. El aspecto más problemático del DES-II es la inconsistencia de su estructura factorial. Objetivo: Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo examinar las propiedades psicométricas de la DES-II en una muestra clínica y no clínica de Puerto Rico. Método: Esta investigación tuvo un diseño instrumental. Se utilizó un muestreo por disponibilidad compuesto por 341 participantes adultos. Se analizaron varios modelos competitivos de la DES-II, incluyendo un modelo bifactorial. Resultados: Los análisis psicométricos concluyeron que la escala posee una estructura unidimensional y una sólida confiabilidad y validez de constructo. Los 28 ítems cumplieron con valores adecuados de discriminación. Los participantes con trastornos disociativos obtuvieron medias más altas en la DES-II que los otros grupos diagnósticos. Además, a mayores experiencias adversas en la infancia, mayores experiencias disociativas en la adultez. Conclusión: La DES-II debería tratarse e interpretarse como un índice unidimensional de disociación y no como un instrumento multidimensional. Este estudio permitirá el avance de nuevas investigaciones sobre disociación y trastornos disociativos en Puerto Rico y América Latina.

Inventario breve de luchas religiosas y espirituales: Validación inicial y estudio psicométrico

Introducción: Las luchas religiosas y espirituales son conflictos psicológicos asociados a la relación con una divinidad o a las prácticas y enseñanzas particulares de organizaciones religiosas. Estas luchas pueden afectar la salud y el bienestar, provocando angustia y dolor emocional. Objetivo: El propósito de este estudio fue desarrollar y validar una medida breve que examine las luchas religiosas y espirituales (R/E) desde el marco teórico de Exline. Método: Esta investigación tuvo un diseño instrumental. Se utilizó un muestreo por disponibilidad compuesto por 312 participantes residentes de Puerto Rico. Resultados: Los análisis psicométricos confirmaron que la escala posee una estructura de cuatro dimensiones (luchas divinas, luchas interpersonales, luchas malignas, luchas intrapersonales) y una sólida confiabilidad, validez de constructo y validez convergente. Los 14 ítems cumplieron con valores adecuados de discriminación. Conclusiones: Estos resultados sugieren que el instrumento tiene el potencial para medir e identificar cuatro tipos de luchas R/E en adultos puertorriqueños. Además, permitirá el avance de nuevas investigaciones sobre las luchas R/E en Puerto Rico y América Latina.

Background: Religious and spiritual struggles are psychological conflicts associated with a relationship with divinity or religious organizations' particular practices and teachings. These struggles can affect health and well-being, causing emotional distress and pain. Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a brief measure that examines religious and spiritual struggles (R/E) from the theoretical framework of Exline. Method: This research had an instrumental design. An availability sampling composed of 312 participants residing in Puerto Rico was used. Results: The psychometric analysis confirmed that the scale has a four-dimensional structure (divine struggles, interpersonal struggles, evil struggles, intrapersonal struggles), solid reliability, construct validity, and convergent validity. The 14 items met good discrimination values. Conclusions: These results suggest that the instrument can measure four types of R/E struggles in Puerto Rican adults. Furthermore, this new instrument will allow the advancement of new research on R/E struggles in Puerto Rico and Latin America.

RNA oxidation in chromatin modification and DNA-damage response following exposure to formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde is an environmental and occupational chemical carcinogen implicated in the damage of proteins and nucleic acids. However, whether formaldehyde provokes modifications of RNAs such as 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoG) and the role that these modifications play on conferring long-term adverse health effects remains unexplored. Here, we profile 8-oxoG modifications using RNA-immunoprecipitation and RNA sequencing (8-oxoG RIP-seq) to identify 343 RNA transcripts heavily enriched in oxidations in human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cell cultures exposed to 1 ppm formaldehyde for 2 h. RNA oxidation altered expression of many transcripts involved in chromatin modification and p53-mediated DNA-damage responses, two pathways that play key roles in sustaining genome integrity and typically deregulated in tumorigenesis. Given that these observations were identified in normal cells exhibiting minimal cell stress and death phenotypes (for example, lack of nuclear shrinkage, F-actin alterations or increased LDH activity); we hypothesize that oxidative modification of specific RNA transcripts following formaldehyde exposure denotes an early process occurring in carcinogenesis analogous to the oxidative events surfacing at early stages of neurodegenerative diseases. As such, we provide initial investigations of RNA oxidation as a potentially novel mechanism underlying formaldehyde-induced tumorigenesis.

Escala de Ansiedad por Coronavirus: Un Nuevo Instrumento para Medir Síntomas de Ansiedad Asociados al COVID-19 / Coronavirus Anxiety Scale: A New Instrument to Measure Anxiety Symptoms Associated with COVID-19

RESUMEN Introducción : El propósito de este estudio fue adaptar y validar el Coronavirus Anxiety Scale en una muestra de hispanos residentes en Puerto Rico. Este instrumento es un breve cernimiento de salud mental para identificar síntomas de ansiedad asociados específicamente al COVID-19. Método : Se utilizó un muestreo por disponibilidad y una muestra de 327 participantes de habla hispana. Resultados : Los análisis psicométricos confirmaron que la escala posee una estructura unidimensional y una sólida confiabilidad (Ω = .93) y validez. Los 5 ítems cumplieron con valores adecuados de discriminación, demostrando que el instrumento puede distinguir entre personas que presentan síntomas de ansiedad asociados al COVID-19 y los que no presentan síntomas. El punto de corte, según los análisis realizados, para identificar síntomas significativos de ansiedad por coronavirus fue ≥ 10. La prevalencia de síntomas significativos de ansiedad por coronavirus fue de 15.29% (n = 50). Conclusión : Estos resultados respaldan la escala como una herramienta eficaz y válida para la investigación y práctica clínica.

ABSTRACT Background : The purpose of this study was to adapt and validate the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale in a sample of Hispanic residents in Puerto Rico. This instrument is a brief mental health screening to identify anxiety symptoms associated with COVID-19. Method : An availability sampling and a sample of 327 Spanish-speaking participants were used. Results : Psychometric analyses confirmed that the scale has a one-dimensional structure and solid reliability (Ω = .93) and validity. The five items met fair discrimination values, demonstrating that the instrument can distinguish between people with anxiety symptoms associated with COVID-19 and those without symptoms. According to the analyses performed, the cut-off points to identify significant symptoms of coronavirus anxiety was ≥ 10. The prevalence of significant symptoms of coronavirus anxiety was 15.29% (n = 50). Conclusions : These results support the scale as a useful and valid tool for clinical research and practice.

Post-transcriptional air pollution oxidation to the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway promotes pulmonary stress phenotypes.

The impact of environmentally-induced chemical changes in RNA has been fairly unexplored. Air pollution induces oxidative modifications such as 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoG) in RNAs of lung cells, which could be associated with premature lung dysfunction. We develop a method for 8-oxoG profiling using immunocapturing and RNA sequencing. We find 42 oxidized transcripts in bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells exposed to two air pollution mixtures that recreate urban atmospheres. We show that the FDFT1 transcript in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway is susceptible to air pollution-induced oxidation. This process leads to decreased transcript and protein expression of FDFT1, and reduced cholesterol synthesis in cells exposed to air pollution. Knockdown of FDFT1 replicates alterations seen in air pollution exposure such as transformed cell size and suppressed cytoskeleton organization. Our results argue of a possible novel biomarker and of an unseen mechanism by which air pollution selectively modifies key metabolic-related transcripts facilitating cell phenotypes in bronchial dysfunction.

Multiple Small RNAs Interact to Co-regulate Ethanol Tolerance in Zymomonas mobilis.

sRNAs represent a powerful class of regulators that influences multiple mRNA targets in response to environmental changes. However, very few direct sRNA-sRNA interactions have been deeply studied in any organism. Zymomonas mobilis is a bacterium with unique ethanol-producing metabolic pathways in which multiple small RNAs (sRNAs) have recently been identified, some of which show differential expression in ethanol stress. In this study, we show that two sRNAs (Zms4 and Zms6) are upregulated under ethanol stress and have significant impacts on ethanol tolerance and production in Z. mobilis. We conducted multi-omics analysis (combining transcriptomics and sRNA-immunoprecipitation) to map gene networks under the influence of their regulation. We confirmed that Zms4 and Zms6 bind multiple RNA targets and regulate their expressions, influencing many downstream pathways important to ethanol tolerance and production. In particular, Zms4 and Zms6 interact with each other as well as many other sRNAs, forming a novel sRNA-sRNA direct interaction network. This study thus uncovers a sRNA network that co-orchestrates multiple ethanol related pathways through a diverse set of mRNA targets and a large number of sRNAs. To our knowledge, this study represents one of the largest sRNA-sRNA direct interactions uncovered so far.

Computational evolution of an RNA-binding protein towards enhanced oxidized-RNA binding.

The oxidation of RNA has been implicated in the development of many diseases. Among the four ribonucleotides, guanosine is the most susceptible to oxidation, resulting in the formation of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine (8-oxoG). Despite the limited knowledge about how cells regulate the detrimental effects of oxidized RNA, cellular factors involved in its regulation have begun to be identified. One of these factors is polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase), a multifunctional enzyme implicated in RNA turnover. In the present study, we have examined the interaction of PNPase with 8-oxoG in atomic detail to provide insights into the mechanism of 8-oxoG discrimination. We hypothesized that PNPase subunits cooperate to form a binding site using the dynamic SFF loop within the central channel of the PNPase homotrimer. We evolved this site using a novel approach that initially screened mutants from a library of beneficial mutations and assessed their interactions using multi-nanosecond Molecular Dynamics simulations. We found that evolving this single site resulted in a fold change increase in 8-oxoG affinity between 1.2 and 1.5 and/or selectivity between 1.5 and 1.9. In addition to the improvement in 8-oxoG binding, complementation of K12 Δpnp with plasmids expressing mutant PNPases caused increased cell tolerance to H2O2. This observation provides a clear link between molecular discrimination of RNA oxidation and cell survival. Moreover, this study provides a framework for the manipulation of modified-RNA protein readers, which has potential application in synthetic biology and epitranscriptomics.

Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21): Construct Validity Problem in Hispanics.

The main purpose of this research was to examine the construct validity of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21) in order to determine whether it is able to adequately discriminate between symptoms of depression and anxiety in the Hispanic population in Puerto Rico. This study has an instrumental design. A total of 1073 Hispanics participated in this psychometric study. The results showed that the DASS-21 has serious psychometric deficiencies, especially related to the construct validity, as well as convergent and discriminatory validity. In addition, it was shown that DASS-21 do not replicate the three-dimensional structure of the original instrument in the Hispanic community. Finally, it was confirmed that the DASS-21 have difficulty in properly identifying and discriminating between symptoms associated with depression and anxiety in a Hispanic population.

Conflicts in Romantic Relationships over Facebook Use: Validation and Psychometric Study.

: The present study evaluates the psychometric properties of the Conflicts in Romantic Relationships Over Facebook Use Scale with a sample of Puerto Rican adults. A total of 300 Puerto Ricans participated in this confirmatory and psychometric study. The results confirmed that the scale has a multidimensional structure. These dimensions are: Partner Facebook intrusion, Conflict over Facebook use, and Jealousy over Facebook use. A total of 18 items complied with the criteria of discrimination and presented appropriate factorial loads (six items per dimension). The Cronbach's alpha indexes of the dimensions ranged between 0.87⁻0.95, and the omega coefficients ranged between 0.88⁻0.95. In summary, the instrument has the appropriate psychometric properties to continue with validation studies, as well as to be implemented in various work areas, both theoretical and applied.

Are Believers Happier than Atheists? Well-being Measures in a Sample of Atheists and Believers in Puerto Rico / ¿Realmente son los creyentes más felices que los ateos? Medidas de Bienestar en una Muestra de Ateos y Creyentes en Puerto Rico

Currently, not much has been written about the empirical psychological well-being of the atheist community in Puerto Rico and Latin America. The objective of the present study is to analyze if there are statistically significant differences in the levels of life satisfaction and psychological flourishing between believers in God and self-identified atheists. For this purpose, a sample of 821 participants (415 believers and 406 atheists) ranging from the ages of 19 to 85 years was selected. The results show that there is a slight average difference regarding life satisfaction and psychological flourishing between these groups; however, the difference is not substantial enough to ensure that believers in God or atheists have a better quality of life. Both believers and atheists exhibit high levels of life satisfaction and psychological flourishing. This study provides empirical evidence to demystify certain traditional assumptions about the supremacy of religious beliefs over secular convictions or vice versa. We hope that these findings create social awareness and could be used as a basis for future research concerning the population of non-believers

Existe poca literatura en Puerto Rico y América Latina que trate empíricamente asuntos relacionados al bienestar psicológico de la comunidad ateísta. El presente estudio tuvo como propósito analizar si existen diferencias estadísticamente significativas en los niveles de satisfacción con la vida y florecimiento psicológico entre creyentes en Dios y ateos identificados. Con este fin, se reclutó una muestra de 821 participantes (415 creyentes y 406 ateos) entre las edades de 19 y 85 años. Los resultados evidenciaron una ligera diferencia significativa en las medias de satisfacción con la vida y florecimiento psicológico entre los grupos, pero no lo suficientemente distante como para afirmar categóricamente que los creyentes o los ateos tienen una mejor calidad. Tanto creyentes como ateos, presentaron niveles robustos de satisfacción con la vida y florecimiento psicológico. El estudio aporta evidencia empírica a la desmitificación de ciertos postulados tradicionales sobre la supremacía de las creencias religiosas sobre las convicciones seculares o vice versa. Esperamos que estos hallazgos despierten la atención social y sirvan de base para futuras investigaciones con la población de no-creyentes

Relationship Satisfaction and Infidelity-Related Behaviors on Social Networks: A Preliminary Online Study of Hispanic Women.

The purpose of this online study was to develop an explicative model regarding the origin of infidelity-related behaviors on social networks for Hispanic women. We propose that sexual satisfaction and emotional intimacy have a direct impact on the satisfaction of couple relationships, and an indirect impact in the development of infidelity-related behaviors on social networks. To investigate this proposal, we used a non-probabilistic sample of 341 Hispanic women living in Puerto Rico. Statistical analyses confirmed that satisfaction and ambivalence in couple relationship completely mediate the association between sexual satisfaction and infidelity-related behaviors on social networks, as well as the relationship between emotional intimacy and infidelity-related behaviors on social networks. Overall, women who practice infidelity-related behaviors on social networks showed less sexual satisfaction, less emotional intimacy, less relationship satisfaction, and greater ambivalence. Our results provide theoretical and empirical evidence on how infidelity-related behaviors on social networks develop in couple relationships, and these results could help to inform possible forms of prevention and intervention.

Análisis factorial confirmatorio de la escala de espiritualidad personal en adultos puertorriqueños / Confirmatory Factorial Analysis of the Personal Spirituality Scale in Puerto Ricans Adults

La espiritualidad se define como la capacidad multidimensional de búsqueda de sentido y conexión en las relaciones con uno mismo, con las demás personas, con la naturaleza o lo sagrado. El objetivo de este estudio fue examinar la fiabilidad y la estructura factorial de la versión revisada de la Escala de Espiritualidad Personal (EEP-R) en adultos puertorriqueños. Un total de 577 puertorriqueños participaron en este estudio de carácter confirmatorio y psicométrico. Los resultados confirmaron que la escala posee una estructura multidimensional. Estas dimensiones son Conexión Intrapersonal, Conexión Interpersonal y Conexión Transpersonal. Los doce ítems de la escala cumplieron con los criterios de discriminación y los índices de confiabilidad obtenidos para la escala fluctuaron entre .81 y .95. En síntesis, la EEP-R cuenta con las propiedades psicométricas adecuadas para seguir con estudios de validación, así como para implementarla en diversas líneas de trabajo, tanto teóricas como aplicadas.

Spirituality is defined as the multidimensional capacity of search for meaning and connection in relationships with oneself, other people, nature or the sacred. The aim of this study was to analyze the reliability and factor structure of Personal Spirituality Scale (PSS-R) in a sample of Puerto Ricans adults. A total of 577 Puerto Ricans participated in this psychometric study. The results confirmed that the PSS has a multidimensional structure. These dimensions were Intrapersonal Spirituality, Interpersonal Spirituality and Transpersonal Spirituality. The twelve items complied with the criteria of discrimination. The reliability index obtained fluctuated between .81 to .95. The PSS-R has appropriate psychometric properties useful for validation studies. It can be used in different lines of research, theoretical as well as applied.

Phubbing en las Relaciones Románticas: Uso del Celular, Satisfacción en la Pareja, Bienestar Psicológico y Salud Mental / Phubbing in Romantic Relationships: Cell Phone Use, Couple Satisfaction, Psychological Well-Being and Mental Health

El propósito del estudio fue examinar si el uso frecuente del celular (phubbing) impacta directamente la satisfacción en las relaciones románticas e indirectamente el bienestar psicológico y la salud mental de los puertorriqueños. El Estudio 1 analiza las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Phubbing en la Pareja y de la Escala de Conflictos Relacionados al Uso del Celular. Los análisis demostraron que las escalas son confiables y válidas. El Estudio 2 evaluó el objetivo principal del estudio con una muestra no probabilística de 392 puertorriqueñas seleccionados por disponibilidad. Los resultados confirmaron el rol mediador que tiene la satisfacción en la relación de pareja entre el phubbing, el bienestar psicológico y la salud mental. En general, los participantes que reportaron mayor phubbing, mostraban menor satisfacción en la relación de pareja, mayor sintomatología asociada a depresión, ansiedad y estrés, y menor bienestar psicológico. Nuestro estudio aporta evidencia sobre el efecto negativo que puede tener el uso desmedido del celular en las relaciones románticas, así como en la salud mental de los individuos.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate if frequent cell phone use (phubbing) has a direct impact in the couple's satisfaction, and an indirect effect on the psychological well-being and mental health of Puerto Rican. Study 1 examines the psychometric properties of the Partner Phubbing Scale and the Cell Phone Conflict Scale. The scales were found to be highly reliable and valid. Study 2 assessed the study's proposed relationships among a non-probabilistic sample of 392 Puerto Ricans, selected by availability. The results showed a significant mediation of couple's satisfaction in the relationship between phubbing, psychological well-being and mental health. Overall, participants who rated more phubbing in their relationships also reported lower couple's satisfaction, more symptoms related to depression, anxiety and stress, and lower psychological well-being. Our study provides empirical evidence on the negative effect of excessive use of cell phones within romantic relationships, as well on people's mental health.

A high-throughput and rapid computational method for screening of RNA post-transcriptional modifications that can be recognized by target proteins.

There are over 150 currently known, highly diverse chemically modified RNAs, which are dynamic, reversible, and can modulate RNA-protein interactions. Yet, little is known about the wealth of such interactions. This can be attributed to the lack of tools that allow the rapid study of all the potential RNA modifications that might mediate RNA-protein interactions. As a promising step toward this direction, here we present a computational protocol for the characterization of interactions between proteins and RNA containing post-transcriptional modifications. Given an RNA-protein complex structure, potential RNA modified ribonucleoside positions, and molecular mechanics parameters for capturing energetics of RNA modifications, our protocol operates in two stages. In the first stage, a decision-making tool, comprising short simulations and interaction energy calculations, performs a fast and efficient search in a high-throughput fashion, through a list of different types of RNA modifications categorized into trees according to their structural and physicochemical properties, and selects a subset of RNA modifications prone to interact with the target protein. In the second stage, RNA modifications that are selected as recognized by the protein are examined in-detail using all-atom simulations and free energy calculations. We implement and experimentally validate this protocol in a test case involving the study of RNA modifications in complex with Escherichia coli (E. coli) protein Polynucleotide Phosphorylase (PNPase), depicting the favorable interaction between 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine (8-oxoG) RNA modification and PNPase. Further advancement of the protocol can broaden our understanding of protein interactions with all known RNA modifications in several systems.

Defective Ribonucleoproteins, Mistakes in RNA Processing, and Diseases.

Ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) are vital to many cellular events. To this end, many neurodegenerative diseases and cancers have been linked to RNP malfunction, particularly as this relates to defective processing of cellular RNA. The connection of RNPs and diseases has also propagated a shift of focus onto RNA targeting from traditional protein targeting treatments. However, therapeutic development in this area has been limited by incomplete molecular insight into the specific contributions of RNPs to disease. This review outlines the role of several RNPs in diseases, focusing on molecular defects in processes that affect proper RNA handling in the cell. This work also evaluates the contributions of recently developed methods to understanding RNP association and function. We review progress in this area by focusing on molecular malfunctions of RNPs associated with the onset and progression of several neurodegenerative diseases and cancer and conclude with a brief discussion of RNA-based therapeutic efforts.

Validación y análisis de la dimensionalidad de la Escala de Autoestima de Rosenberg en mujeres puertorriqueñas: ¿unifactorial o bifactorial? / Validation and Analysis of the Dimensionality of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale in Puerto Rican Women: Unifactorial or Bifactorial

La Escala de Autoestima Rosenberg (EAR) es el instrumento más utilizado a nivel mundial para medir autoestima. La autoestima se define como un sentimiento hacia uno mismo, positivo o negativo, que se construye por medio de una autoevaluación de las propias características. El objetivo de este estudio fue examinar la fiabilidad, la validez y la estructura dimensional de la EAR en mujeres puertorriqueños. Un total de 340 mujeres participaron en este estudio de carácter confirmatorio y psicométrico. Los resultados confirmaron que la escala posee una estructura bifactorial. Estas dimensiones son autoestima positiva y autoestima negativa. Los diez ítems de la escala cumplieron con los criterios de discriminación y el índice de confiabilidad para las escalas fue 0’87 cada una. En síntesis, la EAR (versión adaptada para mujeres) cuenta con las propiedades psicométricas adecuadas para seguir con estudios de validación, así como para implementarla en diversas líneas de trabajo, tanto teóricas como aplicadas

The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) is the most widely used instrument to assess self-esteem. Self-esteem is defined as a feeling towards oneself, positive or negative, that is constructed through a self-evaluation of one’s own characteristics. The aim of this study was to analyze the reliability, validity and factor structure of EAR in a sample of Puerto Ricans women. A total of 340 women participated in this confirmatory and psychometric study. The results confirmed that the scale has a bifactorial structure. These dimensions were Positive Self-Esteem and Negative Self-Esteem. The ten items complied with the criteria of discrimination. The reliability index for the scales was .87 each. In conclusion, the RSES (version adapted for women) has the appropriate psychometric properties to continue with validation studies, as well as to be used in future research on self-esteem, both theoretical and applied

Fabrication of an Amperometric Flow-Injection Microfluidic Biosensor Based on Laccase for In Situ Determination of Phenolic Compounds.

We aim to develop an in situ microfluidic biosensor based on laccase from Trametes pubescens with flow-injection and amperometry as the transducer method. The enzyme was directly immobilized by potential step chronoamperometry, and the immobilization was studied using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The electrode response by amperometry was probed using ABTS and syringaldazine. A shift of interfacial electron transfer resistance and the electron transfer rate constant from 18.1 kΩ to 3.9 MΩ and 4.6 × 10(-2) cm s(-1) to 2.1 × 10(-4) cm s(-1), respectively, evidenced that laccase was immobilized on the electrode by the proposed method. We established the optimum operating conditions of temperature (55°C), pH (4.5), injection flow rate (200 µL min(-1)), and applied potential (0.4 V). Finally, the microfluidic biosensor showed better lower limit of detection (0.149 µM) and sensitivity (0.2341 nA µM(-1)) for ABTS than previous laccase-based biosensors and the in situ operation capacity.