Development, factorial structure and reliability of the Multidimensional Scale of Emotional Regulation for Adolescents (MSERA): Preliminary analysis

The evaluation of emotion regulation has been focused on the cognitive component and the emotion dysregulation. However, it is also important to include emotion identification and modulation of the response for the evaluation of the regulatory process. The aim of this study was to develop a multidimensional measure of emotion regulation process in adolescents and to examine its factorial structure and reliability. An instrumental study was performed with 887 Mexican adolescents aged 13 to 18. A preliminary version of the Multidimensional Scale of Emotion Regulation for Adolescents (MSERA) was developed based on focus groups and considering the assumptions of the theoretical models. The exploratory factor analysis yielded 56 items distributed in eight factors: Recognition of positive emotions, Expression of positive emotions, Emotional control, Suppression, Cognitive change, Physical reactions, Recognition of negative emotions and Difficulty to regulate. A confirmatory factor analysis using the Robust Unweighted Least Squares, corroborated the initial solution of eight factors and showed acceptable fit indexes, considering 47 items. Ordinal alpha coefficients obtained for the factors of the final model, indicated a good internal consistency (.85-.95). Results suggest that the MSERA can be used as a valid and reliable measure of emotion regulation in adolescents.Desarrollo, estructura factorial y fiabilidad de la Escala Multidimensional de Regulación Emocional para Adolescentes (MSERA). La evaluación de la regulación emocional se ha enfocado en el componente cognitivo y la desregulación; sin embargo, es importante incluir la identificación emocional y la modulación de respuesta para la evaluación del proceso regulatorio. El objetivo de esta investigación fue desarrollar una medida multidimensional del proceso de regulación emocional en adolescentes y examinar su estructura factorial y fiabilidad. Se realizó un estudio instrumental con 887 adolescentes mexicanos de 13 a 18 años. Se elaboró una versión preliminar de la Escala Multidimensional de Regulación Emocional para Adolescentes (MSERA) basada en los grupos focales y en modelos teóricos. El análisis factorial exploratorio arrojó 56 ítems distribuidos en ocho factores: Expresión de emociones positivas, Control emocional, Supresión, Cambio cognitivo, Reacciones físicas, Reconocimiento de emociones negativas y Dificultad para regular. El análisis factorial confirmatorio con el método de mínimos cuadrados robustos no ponderados, corroboró la solución de ocho factores con 47 ítems, con índices de ajuste aceptables. Las alfas ordinales del modelo final (.85-.95), indicaron buena consistencia interna. Los resultados sugieren que el MSERA se podría utilizar como una medida válida y fiable, de la regulación emocional en adolescentes

Roots and recourse mortgages: handing back the keys

Summary of Banco de España Working Paper no. 220

Roots and recourse mortgages: handing back the keys

En este estudio identificamos diferencias en las condiciones de las hipotecas asociadas al arraigo de los prestatarios tras separar este efecto de otros factores que explican dichas condiciones. Para esto usamos datos de préstamos hipotecarios en España de la Central de Información de Riesgos, complementados con datos de hipotecas titulizadas para un ciclo financiero completo. Identificamos que los prestatarios extranjeros con poco arraigo pagan tipos de interés más altos que aquellos con mayores vínculos en el país. También encontramos que un bajo nivel de arraigo está asociado con tasas más altas de impago y con mayores incentivos a no continuar pagando la deuda hipotecaria ante situaciones de patrimonio neto negativo. En general, identificamos que el arraigo es un factor muy relevante que explica las diferencias en las condiciones de las hipotecas en el momento de su concesión, así como las decisiones de impago. Desde el punto de vista de la política, nuestros resultados tienen importantes implicaciones para el entendimiento de las consecuencias de transitar hacia un régimen de dación en pago, y para la efectividad de la política macroprudencial.In this study we disentangle the effect of roots from other confounding factors to explain differences in immigrants’ outcomes in the mortgage market. Using loan-level data from the Spanish Credit Register complemented with data on securitized mortgages over a complete financial cycle, we identify that foreign-born borrowers with shallow roots to the host country pay higher mortgage rates at origination than similar debtors that are better-settled. We also find that weak roots are associated with higher default rates and with greater incentives to go into default in negative equity situations. Overall, we show that rootedness explains differential loan conditions at origination and default behavior in mortgages. From a policy perspective, our results have important implications for understanding the potential consequences of moving away from recourse mortgage regimes, and for the effectiveness of macroprudential policy

La eficacia a largo plazo de un programa de intervención basada en la atención plena (MBI) para la tartamudez: un estudio de caso

A mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) to address emotional factors that may negatively impact the fluency of the subjects was implemented. A MBI consisting of 5 weekly 2-h sessions was designed and applied to two stuttering cases. The goals were to lower stuttering and to reduce anxiety through the acquisition of mindfulness skills. Participants were asked to video-record a speaking task and to fill out anxiety and mindfulness skills self-reports pre and post-intervention. Both participants diminished stuttering error rates from severe (participant 1) and moderate (participant 2) to mild. Participant 2, who showed high pre-treatment anxiety, showed a significant reduction. A year-follow-up revealed that therapeutic gains in anxiety, mindfulness skills, and stuttering were successfully maintained in both participants. This is the first study focused on emotional aspects of stuttering showing long-term improvements through a MBI. MBI programs could serve as a promising complement for stuttering treatments.Se utilizó una intervención basada en mindfulness (MBI) para abordar los factores emocionales que pueden afectar negativamente a la fluidez de los sujetos a través de un estudio de caso. Se diseñó un MBI que constaba de 5 sesiones semanales de 2 horas y se aplicó a dos casos de tartamudez. Los objetivos eran dismunuir la tartamudez y reducir los síntomas de ansiedad mediante la adquisición de habilidades de atención plena. Se pidió a los participantes que grabaran en video una tarea oral y que cumplimentaran los autoinformes de ansiedad y de habilidades de atención plena antes y después de la intervención. En ambos participantes disminuyó el índice de errores de tartamudeo de grave (participante 1) y moderado (participante 2) a leve. El participante 2, que mostró una elevada ansiedad previa al tratamiento, mostró una reducción significativa. Al año de seguimiento los beneficios terapéuticos en ansiedad, habilidades de atención plena y tartamudeo se mantuvieron con éxito en ambos participantes. Se trata del primer estudio centrado en los aspectos emocionales de la tartamudez que muestra mejoras a largo plazo a través de un MBI. Por lo tanto, los programas MBI podrían servir como complemento prometedor a los tratamientos de tartamudezJennifer E. Moreno-Jiménez was granted a predoctoral fellowship, FPI-UAM 2017 of the Universidad Autónoma de Madri

Non-communicating hydrocephalus from pork tapeworm obstructing the foramina of Monro and its endoscopic management; a case report from Europe

Introduction: Taenia solium is the main causative agent of neurocysticercosis. The tapeworm can manifest inside the ventricles, usually in the form of intracranial hypertension. We present a case of hydrocephalus as a result of a neurocysticercosis lesion obstructing both foramina of Monro. Research question: A comprehensive review of the management is provided, as well as video footage (an invaluable resource to compare, critique and learn with other institutions). Material and methods: A 23-year-old female from Honduras presented with a 7-day complaint of headache. On exam, she was hyperreflexic, but otherwise normal. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a non-specific lesion at the level of the foramina of Monro, with associated hydrocephalus. Additional testing was normal. Results: The patient underwent an endoscopic ventriculoscopy with partial excision of the lesion and subsequent implantation of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. On postoperative MRI, hydrocephalus resolved and pathological analysis identified the parasite as Taenia solium. Albendazole was administered for 14 days. Discussion and conclusion: Neurocysticercosis should be considered in patients presenting with hydrocephalus, especially those from endemic areas. The long-term prognosis of ventricular neurocysticercosis might be favourable, provided that adequate care is given timely. Endoscopic surgery seems to be effective for the removal of parasitic lesions. However, studies comparing open versus endoscopic surgery are lacking. The majority of cases in the literature correspond to America and Asia. This case shows that neurocysticercosis is also present in Europe, and that a high index of suspicion is necessar

El embarazo como factor predisponente sistémico en el desarrollo de gingivitis crónica en pacientes embarazadas, que acuden al centro de salud Alejandro Dávila Bolaños de la ciudad de Masaya, en el período de octubre a noviembre del 2012

Tesis (Cirujano Dentista)--Universidad Americana, Managua, 2013Este estudio pretende determinar la relación que existe entre el embarazo como factor predisponente sistémico y el desarrollo de la gingivitis crónica en las pacientes embarazadas, que acuden al centro de salud Alejandro Dávila Bolaños de Masaya, dando a conocer a las autoridades del centro de salud los factores de riesgos sistémicos y locales de la gingivitis crónica, en las pacientes embarazadas que acuden a este centro y de esa manera tomar en cuenta un proceso de promoción de la salud, para dichas pacientes incorporándolo dentro del protocolo de atención odontológica que reciben

Resonant breakup of 19C on a proton target

The resonant breakup of 19C on a proton target at 70 MeV/nucleon is analyzed using Faddeev-Alt, Grassberger, Sandhas (Faddeev-AGS) and continuum-discretized coupled-channels (CDCC) reaction frameworks, where in both cases a three-body model (18C+n+p) for the reaction is considered. Taking a 18C + p potential from a global nucleon-nucleus parametrization and a L-independent Gaussian proton-neutron potential, both methods provide very similar results for the calculated observables. However, when this simplified proton-neutron potential is replaced by the more realistic CD-Bonn potential, the breakup cross section, calculated with the Faddeev AGS formalism, decreases by almost one order of magnitude, largely underestimating the experimental data. From this calculation, we conclude that, within a core + valence neutron model, the single-particle mechanism gives a negligible contribution to the calculated resonant breakup and therefore core-excitation mechanisms should be taken into account.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España) FPA2009-0765

Psychometric properties of the Spanish validation of the children's empathic attitudes questionnaire (CEAQ)

The prevalence of antisocial behavior in school settings is still discouraging. Students that often engage in aggressive acts may lack in the ability to appreciate the emotional consequences of their behaviors and share others’ emotions. The Children’s Empathic Attitudes Questionnaire (CEAQ) is one of the questionnaires used to assess empathy in children and early adolescents. This study is aimed to validate the Spanish version of CEAQ. The sample comprised 297 children (50% males), aged from 7 to 12 years (M = 9.53, SD = 1.2), from Madrid. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated an excellent fit for a unidimensional model, χ2(89) = 110.702, p = .059; CFI = .972; RMSEA = .029, 95% CI [.000, .045]. Multigroup invariance analysis showed no significant gender-related differences in all levels. Results also referred an acceptable reliability (ω = .824, r = .610). These results provide psychometric support for the use of the Spanish version of CEAQ as a valid and reliable instrument to assess empathy in children and youth population, especially for school-based intervention

A Network Analysis of the Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)

Objectives: The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) is a popular self-report instrument for mindfulness assessment. However, several studies report mixed evidence regarding its reliability and validity. While recent replication studies have shown several issues regarding its latent structure, first-order facets seemed to replicate successfully. This study proposes an exploratory approach to these facets on an item level in one sample, with cross-validation in another sample. Methods: Using a snowball sampling, 1008 participants were recruited in the first sample. Psychometric networks were applied to explore relations between items and item clusters. We compared these exploratory latent variable proposals with previous literature. A second sample of 1210 participants was collected from an FFMQ validation study, and confirmatory factor analyses were applied to cross-validate findings on the first sample. Results: The FFMQ showed a positively correlated network. Exploratory analyses suggested the 5-facet structure as stable with alternatives of 4-facet (merging Observe and Non-Judging) and 6-facet (splitting Acting with Awareness in two) solutions. However, the CFAs in the second sample did not provide clear support to any solution. Conclusions: The FFMQ showed unclear evidence on its latent structure. We propose researchers and users of the FFMQ to use the most fitting solution between the 5 and 6-facet solutions in their data, since the 4-facet solution is difficult to interpret. We also propose cautionary notes and guidelines for researchers and applied users of the FFMQ and regarding this instrument. We conclude that more research is needed in mindfulness assessment to provide robust measurement

Biscay AGL. An observatory for state of the art operational oceanography at IEO. Derived products, sensor networks and future developments.

Since 1991, shelf and slope waters of the Southern Bay of Biscay are regularly sampled in a monthly hydrographical section north of Santander. From 2003, a deep hydrological standard section was included and on June 2007, an ocean-meteorological buoy was moored at the end of Santander Section (www.boya_agl.st.ieo.es). All of three are part of IEOOS (IEO Observing System). Biscay AGL is one observatory for the EU FixO3 project. The combination of these resources leads to a powerful tool, Biscay AGL, which is more than the combination of the AGL Buoy and the hydrographical samplings. This tool produces not only time series of several parameters at different time resolutions but also derived products, both real and delayed time. Derived products from this buoy include, annual cycles as well as anomalous values. In particular ones such as air-sea heat fluxes, salinity and water temperatures anomalies, sub inertial currents series, chlorophyll surface series, estimate of the mixed layer depth and wind and currents roses. Many sensor networks have been deployed to monitor marine environment, and more will follow in the future. Due to the large number of sensor manufacturers, integrating diverse sensors into observation systems is not straightforward. By defining standardized service interfaces it is possible to enable access to sensor networks and archived sensor data that can be discovered and accessed using standard protocols and application programming interfaces. Future developments include the deployment of a full sensor network as well as adding new devices to the Biscay AGL tool in order to achieve deeper knowledge of the ocean