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El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la validez y fiabilidad en los estudios científicos, identificando métodos y buenas prácticas que aseguren la robustez de los resultados. Se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura, abarcando investigaciones publicadas entre 2019 y 2024 que analizan la evaluación de instrumentos de medición en diversos campos del conocimiento. Los estudios seleccionados fueron evaluados cualitativa y cuantitativamente, utilizando el enfoque PRISMA para garantizar la rigurosidad metodológica y la transparencia en el proceso de revisión. La validez del constructo y la fiabilidad interna son esenciales para asegurar que los instrumentos de medición cumplan su propósito en el contexto de la investigación. Se destacó la importancia de la validación externa y la replicación de estudios en diferentes contextos para generalizar los hallazgos obtenidos, lo que contribuye a la robustez de los resultados. Se identificaron herramientas como el análisis factorial confirmatorio y el coeficiente alfa de Cronbach como métodos útiles para evaluar la validez y fiabilidad, aunque se advirtió sobre sus limitaciones en ciertos contextos. Se concluye que implementar buenas prácticas en la evaluación de la validez y fiabilidad es fundamental para mejorar la calidad de la investigación científica. Esto facilitará la aplicación de los resultados en la práctica profesional y en la formulación de políticas, asegurando que las decisiones basadas en la evidencia sean sólidas y confiables. Se recomienda fomentar la capacitación de los investigadores en métodos de validación y fiabilidad, así como la publicación de resultados que contribuyan al avance del conocimiento científico.

Introducción: La agricultura moderna busca mejorar la sostenibilidad y reducir el impacto ambiental, al mismo tiempo que busca satisfacer las necesidades alimenticias de la las generaciones actuales y futuras. Una estrategia prometedora es el uso de bioestimulantes microbianos para incrementar los rendimientos de los cultivos y disminuir la dependencia de agroquímicos y fertilizantes. Dentro de estos bioestimulantes sobresalen los que utilizan microorganismos benéficos como las bacterias promotoras del crecimiento en plantas. Este estudio lo enfocamos en aislar e identificar bacterias ácido-lácticas presentes en bioles de fabricación artesanal, y caracterizarlas por su capacidad para producir compuestos indólicos. Los hallazgos sugieren que algunas bacterias ácido-lácticas presentes en las dos muestras de bioles pueden actuar como productoras de compuestos indólicos, como el ácido 3-indolacético, lo que las convierte en una alternativa prometedora para prácticas agrícolas más sostenibles y respetuosas con el ambiente. Objetivo: Aislar, e identificar bacterias ácido-lácticas presentes en dos muestras de bioles de fabricación artesanal, y caracterizarlas por su crecimiento y su capacidad para producir compuestos indólicos. Métodos: Utilizamos técnicas moleculares como el análisis del gen 16S rRNA y un análisis de secuenciación de tipificación multilocus para identificar las cepas de bacterias ácido-lácticas presentes en bioles de fabricación artesanal. Posteriormente, caracterizamos las cepas aisladas mediante cinéticas de crecimiento y pruebas colorimétricas para la detección de compuestos indólicos, y la cuantificación de dichos compuestos mediante cromatografía líquida de alta eficiencia (HPLC). Resultados: Identificamos tres géneros distintos de especies de bacterias ácido-lácticas los cuales fueron Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, Lactiplantibacillus sp., y Lacticaseibacillus pantheris. Destacaron por su capacidad para producir ácido 3-indolacético las especies Lactiplantibacillus sp. (M2) y Lacticaseibacillus paracasei (M4) con una concentración de 16,75µg/mL y 4,57µg/mL, respectivamente. Conclusión: Nuestros resultados sugieren que algunas de las bacterias ácido-lácticas presentes en los bioles de fabricación artesanal pueden actuar como productoras de compuesto indólicos como ácido 3-indolacético e indol, lo que las convierte en una alternativa prometedora para prácticas agrícolas más sostenibles y respetuosas con el ambiente.

Internalizing symptoms associated with anxiety and depression have been correlated with harmful alcohol use among Latino/as, but little attention has been paid to assessing the association between perceived discrimination and harmful alcohol use. The present study was designed to investigate the association between perceived discrimination, internalizing symptoms associated with anxiety and depression, and harmful alcohol use among Latino/a immigrants living in the United States (US). Our sample included 426 Latino/a immigrants. Their mean age was 40.05 years (SD = 6.50), 65.50% were women, 80.00% had a partner, 54.20% lived on less than $2,000 a month, and 41.50% reported having attained a college degree. Perceived discrimination was assessed using the Perceived Discrimination Scale, anxious symptoms were assessed using the GAD-7, depressive symptoms were assessed using the CES-D short form, and harmful alcohol use was assessed using AUDIT. We estimated a linear regression model using cross-sectional, self-reported data. The model was statistically significant, R2 = 0.38, F (8, 425) = 32.09, p < 0.01. Discrimination was significantly associated with AUDIT scores, (β = 0.21, p < 0.01) after accounting for covariates and for symptoms of anxiety and depression. Our results indicate that experiences of discrimination in the US are associated with increased harmful alcohol use even after controlling for other variables. These findings may be useful in designing coping interventions specifically for Latino/a immigrants to reduce the risk of alcohol use disorder. This study also has political and public health implications for acknowledging the detrimental health consequences of experiencing discrimination, providing support to the position that reducing racism and discrimination represent important public health priorities.

Although Indian Americans constitute the second-largest immigrant group in the United States, there is a paucity of information about Indian American youth, particularly with respect to substance use risk. We examined the relationship of social factors to permissive substance use beliefs (a proxy for substance use risk since they can lead to adulthood substance use and misuse) and family functioning. The study used structural equation modeling to examine the prevalence of permissive substance use beliefs in a sample of Indian American youth ages 12–17 (N = 223) and examined the degree to which discrimination, bicultural identity integration, and endorsement of the model minority stereotype were associated with permissive substance use beliefs. Findings suggest that bicultural identity integration (B = 0.267 [SE = 0.112], p = 0.01) and discrimination (B = 0.294 [SE = 0.087], p = 0.001) are positively associated with permissive substance use beliefs. Bicultural identity integration (B = 0.415 [SE = 0.090], p = 0.0001) was positively associated with family support (B= −0.329 [SE = 0.108], p = 0.002) which, in turn, was associated with less permissive substance use beliefs. In contrast, endorsement of the model minority stereotype (B = 0.351 [SE = 0.090], p = 0.001) was positively associated with family closeness (B = 0.232 [SE = 0.927], p = 0.01) which, in turn, was associated with family support and then with less permissive substance use beliefs. Discrimination and bicultural identity integration emerged as key constructs related to substance use risk among Indian American youth. These youth could benefit from culturally appropriate prevention programming that addresses the negative impact of discrimination and its effect on permissive substance use beliefs and highlights protective factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with potential for the development of multi-product processes are necessary for the valorization of side streams obtained during the biotechnological production of lactic acid (LA). In this study, 14 LAB strains isolated from pineapple agro-industrial residues in Costa Rica were cultivated in microplates, and the six strains with the highest growth were selected for fermentation in microbioreactors to evaluate the production of LA and acetic acid, and the consumption of glucose. Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 6710 and L. paracasei 6714 presented the highest OD600 values (1.600 and 1.602, respectively); however, the highest LA (in g/L) production was observed in L. paracasei 6714 (14.50 ± 0.20) and 6712 (14.67 ± 0.42). L. paracasei 6714 was selected for bioreactor fermentation and reached a maximum OD600 of 6.3062 ± 0.141, with a LA yield of 84.9% and a productivity of 1.06 g L−1 h−1 after 21 h of fermentation. Finally, lipoteichoic acid (LTA) detection from biomass was performed and the antimicrobial activity of the compounds present in the supernatant was studied. LTA was detected from L. paracasei 6714 biomass, and its supernatant caused significant inhibition of foodborne surrogate microorganisms. LAB isolated from pineapple silage have biotechnological potential for multiproduct processes.

Industrial biotechnology is a continuously expanding field focused on the application of microorganisms to produce chemicals using renewable sources as substrates. Currently, an increasing interest in new versatile processes, able to utilize a variety of substrates to obtain diverse products, can be observed. A robust microbial strain is critical in the creation of such processes. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are used to produce a wide variety of chemicals with high commercial interest. Lactic acid (LA) is the most predominant industrial product obtained from LAB fermentations, and its production is forecasted to rise as the result of the increasing demand of polylactic acid. Hence, the creation of new ways to revalorize LA production processes is of high interest and could further enhance its economic value. Therefore, this review explores some co-products of LA fermentations, derived from LAB, with special focus on bacteriocins, lipoteichoic acid, and probiotics. Finally, a multi-product process involving LA and the other compounds of interest is proposed.

Steam sterilization is a technique widely implemented in different biotechnological processes, among them the growth of microorganisms in bioreactors, which require initial aseptic conditions. In the present paper, it was studied the relationship between the lethality and the death rate of Bacillus cereus grown in 7 liter jacked stirred tank bioreactors was examined, where sugar cane molasses was utilized as the main culture medium. The sterilization process was tested with an industrial autoclave within data loggers in bioreactors, which measure the temperature in the cold point to quantify the accumulated lethality. Through data analysis a contour plot allows a graphical prediction of the microbiological sterilization results in terms of colony forming units (CFU). The case study shows that there is range between 16 and 20 minutes, approaching 123 °C, with a null presence of contaminant microorganisms. The surface chart demonstrates the existing non-linear relationship between the variables temperature and time involved. A positive correlation was observed using Ratkowsky mathematical model with a 0,971 correlation coefficient and the estimated value of α = 11,04 and β = -1,49 for the non-lineal model of parameterization. With these results, it is possible to predict the CFU based on data. This could provide an interesting base for future sterilization practices and a methodology as a starting point for sterilization trials in industry and save time and costs.

This paper shows the results of field research, descriptive, transversal and quantitative, that includes a qualitative and descriptive analysis, in which it was determined that arts such as dancing, theater, music, painting and sculpture which are immersed in the Aesthetic Education area, in the levels of Basic Education and Baccalaureate in educational institutions of the canton Milagro, Guayas Province in Ecuador were not taught properly. Also it was analyzed the influence of the Aesthetic Education in the development of the human being. It is concluded that the personality development of the child or young person whose lives were influenced by art, in different ways, would allow them to acquire essential skills within the affective dimensions of interpersonal relationships and social interaction, and as a subject with integral development also possess the ability for self-enjoyment and a good living.

The uncertainty brought about by COVID-19 in times of mass migration adds an extra layer of perceived threat and competition for resources among host residents in migrant-receiving societies. This convergence of perceived threat potentially exacerbates implicit stereotypes about immigrants and can increase intergroup discord. We used panel data and a linear structural equation model to assess the distinct indirect effects of prejudice, as well as positive and negative intergroup emotions, within the associations of contact with immigrants and perceived COVID-19 threat (not directly related to immigrants) among host residents from 7 European countries, the United States, and Colombia (total N = 13,645). In addition, we examined potential underlying explanations regarding the role that implicit stereotypes of immigrants as disease carriers/spreaders (spillover effect) may play within the aforementioned associations. We introduce the concept of incidental intergroup threat to refer to the spillover of implicit immigrant stereotypes as disease spreaders onto emotional responses related to the presence of newcomers and pandemic threat perceptions. Our findings offer novel evidence that intergroup emotions exert indirect effects, above and beyond the effects of prejudice, vis-à-vis the association between intergroup contact and incidental pandemic threat. These results also suggest that, during global health disasters, spillover effects may yield incidental intergroup threats. Future interventions designed to address intergroup exclusionary reactions during disease pandemics could benefit from integrating threat regulation strategies into efforts to prevent spillover effects and incidental intergroup threats within immigrantreceiving societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The present study was designed to compare cultural stressors, psychological distress, and their interrelationships between recent Venezuelan immigrants in the United States and in Colombia. Cultural stress theory suggests that immigrant groups in receiving contexts that are more culturally similar to them would report less discrimination, and a less negative context of reception, compared to immigrant groups settling in countries that are more culturally dissimilar. We therefore hypothesized that recent Venezuelan immigrants in Colombia would report less cultural stress, and less psychological distress (depressive and anxiety symptoms), compared to recent Venezuelan immigrants in the US. Method A sample of 647 Venezuelan immigrants (78% had migrated within one year prior to assessment) completed surveys assessing perceived discrimination, negative context of reception, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms. Results Contrary to expectations, Venezuelan immigrants in Colombia reported significantly (p <.05) greater discrimination, a worse context of reception, and more depressive symptoms, compared to their counterparts in the US. Mediational models indicated that a negative context of reception was related to depressive and anxiety symptoms indirectly through experiences of discrimination. Conclusion The mean differences contradict what cultural stress theory would predict, and suggest that mechanisms other than cultural similarity and dissimilarity may be responsible for the observed differences. However, the structural relationships among these factors are consistent with theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The political climate often changes following the installment of a new president. This volatility presents opportunities for examining how elections might affect vulnerable subgroups such as Hispanic/Latino (HL) adolescents. The present study explored the perception of negative political climate among HL adolescents before and after the 2020 U.S. presidential election and its association with internalizing symptoms and substance use. We conducted the study in Los Angeles and Miami between 2020 and 2021, with a sample of 304 HL adolescents (Females = 60.8 %), aged 15.3 years on average. Participants completed measures of negative political climate (pre- post-election) and measures of depressive symptoms, anxiety, substance misuse, and substance use intentions after the election. We used paired tests and linear mixed-effects modeling to explore changes in perceived negative climate before and after the election. Structural equation modeling was used to determine predictors of negative political climate and its associations with internalizing symptoms and substance use. Results indicated that following the election negative political climate increased significantly in Miami and among Cuban-origin adolescents but not in Los Angeles or among Mexican-origin adolescents. Pre-election perceived negative political climate was significantly predicted by gender, study site, and mother's nativity. Pre-election negative political climate predicted post-election internalizing symptoms and substance use intentions indirectly through post-election negative political climate. HL youth's perceived political climate is a complex construct that might vary across different sociopolitical contexts and populational sub-groups. Exploring variations in politically-based cultural stressors and their role as mental health and substance use risk factors is crucial to addressing HL disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]