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This article discusses a participatory action research (PAR) team's response and adaptation to the COVID-19 pandemic amid multiple crises in Puerto Rico. Drawing on an ethnographic study of a PAR collaboration, the article: 1) examines four key dilemmas that emerged during the study, 2) emphasizes the significance of reciprocal partnerships anchored in solidarity, and 3) underscores the vital role of a decolonial feminist approach in sustaining and maintaining the projects at the onset of the pandemic.

In the wake of Hurricane Maria and in response to the negligent inefficiency of the local and federal governments, community groups and collectives, grassroots organizations, and activists of multiple causes began organizing under the principles of mutual aid and solidarity in Puerto Rico. One of these is the Colectivo Casco Urbano de Cayey (CCUC), a community organization comprised of local activists and community leaders, undergraduate students, and a professor. This essay brings together four members of the collective in a dialogue where they reflect on the central role of solidarity in the CCUC's organizing and projects and the ways solidarity operates as a praxis of self-determination in the face of neoliberal austerity measures in Puerto Rico. We also highlight the relational work that was done prior to establishing the CCUC that enabled its creation. We also discuss how we negotiate our collaborative relationship across difference through critical dialogue and reflection, the challenges that arise because of our colonial subjectivities, and the ways we circumvent colonial logics through other ways of being and relating anchored in solidarity and interdependence.

Background: The COVID‐19 pandemic underscored the need for rapid and accurate diagnostic tools. In August 2020, the Abbott BinaxNOW COVID‐19 Antigen Card test became available as a timely and affordable alternative for SARS‐CoV‐2 molecular testing, but its performance may vary due to factors including timing and symptomatology. This study evaluates BinaxNOW diagnostic performance in diverse epidemiological contexts. Methods: Using RT‐PCR as reference, we assessed performance of the BinaxNOW COVID‐19 test for SARS‐CoV‐2 detection in anterior nasal swabs from participants of two studies in Puerto Rico from December 2020 to May 2023. Test performance was assessed by days post symptom onset, collection strategy, vaccination status, symptomatology, repeated testing, and RT‐PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values. Results: BinaxNOW demonstrated an overall sensitivity of 84.1% and specificity of 98.8%. Sensitivity peaked within 1–6 days after symptom onset (93.2%) and was higher for symptomatic (86.3%) than asymptomatic (67.3%) participants. Sensitivity declined over the course of infection, dropping from 96.3% in the initial test to 48.4% in testing performed 7–14 days later. BinaxNOW showed 99.5% sensitivity in participants with low Ct values (≤ 25) but lower sensitivity (18.2%) for participants with higher Cts (36–40). Conclusions: BinaxNOW demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity, particularly in early‐stage infections and symptomatic participants. In situations where test sensitivity is crucial for clinical decision‐making, nucleic acid amplification tests are preferred. These findings highlight the importance of considering clinical and epidemiological context when interpreting test results and emphasize the need for ongoing research to adapt testing strategies to emerging SARS‐CoV‐2 variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article illustrates how a classroom community characterized by "confianza"--a feeling of mutual understanding, respect, and emotional closeness--facilitated the English language learning of Spanish-speaking students in a content-based English as a second language class at a Puerto Rican public university. To understand the processes by which this language learning took place qualitative data were collected through classroom observations and focus groups. The authors examined the language choices students made in their interactions with professors, teaching assistants, and peers as they engaged in classroom conversations using both Spanish and English as learning tools. The central claim of the article is that "confianza" created the conditions through which learners were able to activate their zone of proximal development.

Background: Refractive errors, including myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism, are the leading causes of visual impairment in school-aged children and can significantly impact their academic performance and quality of life. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of refractive errors among school children from economically disadvantaged areas in Northwest México, using a consistent methodology to facilitate comparison with global data. Methods: We adopted the Refractive Error Study in Children (RESC) protocol by the World Health Organization to examine the prevalence of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. The study comprised a systematic sampling of children aged 6 to 18 years from diverse schools in Northwest México. Trained optometrists conducted visual acuity testing and autorefraction, while ophthalmologists performed cycloplegic refraction to ensure accuracy. Results: The study found a myopia (SE ≤−1.50 D at least one eye) prevalence of 14.55% (95% CI: 13.27–15.91), with a higher incidence in females (6.92%) compared to males (6.00%) in at least one eye. Hyperopia (SE ≥ +1.00 D at least one eye) was less common, at 3.23% (95% CI: 2.61–3.95), with a slightly higher occurrence in males in at least one eye. Astigmatism (Cylinder ≥ 0.75 D at least one eye) was present in 18.63% (95% CI: 17.21–20.12) of the students in at least one eye, with no significant difference between genders. These findings are consistent with other studies in regions such as Puerto Rico and Iran, indicating widespread refractive error issues among schoolchildren. Conclusions: The high prevalence of refractive errors, particularly myopia and astigmatism, highlights the critical need for regular vision screenings in schools and the implementation of public health interventions to provide corrective eyewear. Our study confirms the importance of utilizing standardized methodologies like the RESC protocol to compare refractive error prevalence across different geographical and socio-economic contexts, thereby informing global public health strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Puerto Rico (PR) is facing an unprecedented healthcare crisis due to accelerating migration of physicians to the mainland United States (US), leaving residents with diminishing healthcare and excessively long provider wait times. While scholars and journalists have identified economic factors driving physician migration, our study analyzes the effects of spatial stigma within the broader context of coloniality as unexamined dimensions of physician loss. Drawing on 50 semi‐structured interviews with physicians throughout PR and the US, we identified how stigmatizing meanings are attached to PR, its people, and its biomedical system, often incorporating colonial notions of the island's presumed backwardness, lagging medical technology, and lack of cutting‐edge career opportunities. We conclude that in addition to economically motivated policies, efforts to curb physician migration should also address globally circulating ideas about PR, acknowledge their roots in coloniality, and valorize local responses to the crisis that are in danger of being lost to history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social acceptability of forestry practices plays a key role in defining sustainable forestry policies and strategies. In this study an online survey was distributed among members of environmental, non-governmental, professional, and academic organizations to assess the acceptability of forestry practices in Puerto Rico among members of civic society interested in environmental management issues. Participants were asked about their perception of forest uses, their preference of tree harvesting technologies, methods that may apply in small scale wood production settings, and trust in organizations providing forest information. We also inquired about attitudes towards economic activity in forests and the impact of such activity on recreation and biodiversity. The results show that even though participants do not place a high priority on economic development through forestry activities, acceptance of forest management for wood harvesting will be possible by considering adherence to particular forestry technologies and methods to safeguard current recreation activities and biodiversity conservation. Social acceptability information would be worthwhile when seeking consensus among a broader group of local stakeholders. As a next step we suggest the creation of a council constituted by diverse forestry sector stakeholders that would engage in a strategic planning exercise to delineate a clear road map that can guide short and long-term sustainable forest management, including wood industry development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of HETS Online Journal is the property of Hispanic Educational Technology Services, Inc. (HETS) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A new family of antipatharian corals, Ameripathidae (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Antipatharia), is established for Ameripathes pseudomyriophylla Opresko & Horowitz, gen. et sp. nov. The new family resembles Myriopathidae and Stylopathidae in terms of the morphology of the polyps and tentacles and the pinnulate branching of the corallum. Phylogenetic analysis using a genomic data set of 741 conserved element loci indicates that the new family is sister to a clade containing the Myriopathidae, Stylopathidae, Antipathidae, and Aphanipathidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of the Sociology of Language is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Since 2000, an exodus of Puerto Ricans leaving the island has reduced the local population by almost 20 per cent. One of the migratory waves of greatest concern is that of physicians due to its potential impact on Puerto Rico's (PR) public health. Strategies to curtail their migration have overlooked the island's unique cultural and geographic strengths that could encourage physicians to stay. This article, influenced by place attachment theory, explores the perspectives of physicians who have chosen to stay in PR. The presented data stems from qualitative interviews with 24 physicians. The findings underscore how place attachment, including an appreciation for PR's geography and culture, influences their decision to stay. We discuss how it is crucial to integrate place attachment into any comprehensive strategy to retain physicians on the island, as it becomes an intrinsic part of their identities and lifestyles. Thus, emphasis should be placed on the environmental and social benefits of remaining in PR, not solely economic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although researchers have argued that textbooks should be customized to local cultures and experiences, they rarely are. Ciencia Puerto Rico, a non-profit group interested in promoting science literacy and education among Latino(a)s/Hispanics, identified a need to provide schools with culturally relevant materials. The result was the publication of the book "¡Ciencia Boricua! Ensayos y anécdotas del científico puertorro," an anthology of short, multidisciplinary science essays written by Puerto Rican scientists to develop awareness of Puerto Rican science and scientists. The purposes of this manuscript are (a) to provide evidence of instances of contextualization and cultural relevance in "¡Ciencia Boricua!," and (b) to determine the extent to which the use of "¡Ciencia Boricua!" and related activities changed the perception toward science of 57 elementary and middle school students enrolled in a public school in Puerto Rico, and which contextualized science activities students preferred. The results showed that the contextualized activities improved the perception about science in many children, particularly boys. Students preferred activities with more interactivity, like presenting their science posters during Closing Night, visiting a science laboratory, and receiving guest scientists at the school. Results showcase a successful strategy for developing culturally relevant and contextualized science education resources.

Empirically supported interventions are warranted to achieve desired clinical outcomes and improve service delivery. Thus, efforts to identify, adopt, and implement Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) are underway across various Latinx communities, including Puerto Ricans, where there is a growing recognition and prevalence of mental health and substance use disorders. This study investigated the needs and attitudes toward EBPs among an interdisciplinary sample of mental health professionals in Puerto Rico. An anonymous survey was distributed to social workers, psychologists, and professional counselors (N = 237). Using structural equation modeling, four dimensions of attitudes towards EBPs (openness, divergence, appeal, and requirement) were regressed on various individual and organizational factors. Some socio-demographic characteristics, educational opportunities, and organizational factors significantly contributed to specific attitudes related to the adoption of EBPs. Female participants and those working in rural settings scored higher in the openness to innovation dimension. Greater organizational support and graduating from a private institution were associated with more divergence from research, while married individuals and those trained on EBPs scored lower on this dimension. The lack of exposure to EBPs in college and younger age predicted greater interest in the appeal of adopting an EBP intervention (i.e., would adopt an EBP if it made sense). No differences in attitudes toward EBPs were found by professional discipline or work setting (i.e., clinical, community, and schools). Recommendations to increase openness and interest in the appeal of EBPs among Spanish-speaking professional communities in Latin America are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Do voters update their racialized political preferences in response to new information? To answer this long-standing question, we conduct an original survey examining U.S. mainland attitudes toward towards Puerto Rican statehood, a rare consequential racialized issue of low salience. To test whether public support for statehood can be changed, we embedded an information experiment describing Puerto Rico's political status and its relationship to the U.S. The treatment was designed to increase the perceived connection between the groups through effortful thinking. Descriptively, our results indicate that Americans are generally ambivalent to the idea of Puerto Rico becoming the 51st state. We further find that opposition to statehood is related to anti-immigration attitudes, conservative ideology, and lack of knowledge about the issue. Nonetheless, we also show that highly racialized opposition to statehood can be significantly decreased among all groups of voters by providing simple background information on U.S. and Puerto Rico's relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the author addresses the need to implement a gender perspective education in Puerto Rico. The importance of dismantling oppressive and colonial systems through (re)education that promotes gender equality and social justice is highlighted. The text presents a summary of an interdisciplinary research course that took place at the University of Puerto Rico-Cayey, focused on social transformation through the combination of action and reflection. The influence of Paulo Freire's pedagogy of liberation and decolonial feminist theory in the construction of a decolonial feminist pedagogy is mentioned. Additionally, the importance of solidarity and equitable participation in building relationships based on social justice is emphasized. The article also discusses the lack of a gender perspective in public education in Puerto Rico and the conservative resistance to the implementation of gender perspective education. The importance of decolonizing the educational system and working to reduce oppression caused by the capitalist system is mentioned. The text highlights the role of public universities in critical thinking and the formation of individuals committed to socioeconomic development and community life. [Extracted from the article]

Meiofauna is a group of heterotrophic organisms smaller than macroinvertebrates but larger than microfauna and characterized by groups such as testate amoebae, ciliates, and nematodes. They are a link between bacteria and resources and macroinvertebrates. However, tropical meiofauna is poorly studied; thus, our goal was to characterize meiofaunal community composition and abundance and assess potential environmental variables controlling these community dynamics. Monthly samplings of meiofauna were conducted for eight months in Quebrada Prieta, El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico. Sampling was made in 12 pools, and data on discharge, sediment characteristics, and biotic variables were also collected. A total of 62 meiofaunal morphospecies were identified, with nematodes dominating the community, followed by testate amoebae. Bacterivores and detritivores taxa dominated the community. Meiofaunal abundance was negatively related to discharge and positively to the percentage of coarse sand, nitrate, and macroinvertebrate abundance. The composition of meiofauna in Quebrada Prieta is like the composition reported for temperate streams, at least in major meiofaunal groups present. However, the community in Quebrada Prieta was dominated by testate amoebae. In contrast, temperate streams are often dominated by rotifers and nematodes. Both abiotic and biotic variables are important for meiofaunal communities in the headwater streams in Puerto Rico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, 1908 (Hemiptera: Liviidae), is a phloem-feeding insect pest of Citrus L. (Sapindales: Rutaceae), Murraya J. Koenig ex L. (Sapindales: Rutaceae), and other Rutaceae, native to the Indian subcontinent and transmits the citrus greening pathogens (huanglongbing). We herein evaluate the occurrence of D. citri in Puerto Rico at a fine scale and the potential invasion history of the Caribbean from the native range. We found that the genetic diversity of D. citri in Puerto Rico, using the mitochondrial genetic marker CO1, indicated that the Caribbean haplotype is unique and more related to Southwest Asia haplotypes than other groups. Results then suggest that the invasion of the Caribbean did not occur from the United States. Also, we found that isothermality was the abiotic variable that influenced D. citri species distribution model performance the most in current and future climate change scenarios. Given the data available from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) for present D.citri reported occurrence, future projections suggest that climate change might promote an expansion of the pest to other Caribbean islands and Latin American countries. Still, it might elicit a range contraction across the Cordillera Central in Puerto Rico, possibly promoting citriculture. Regarding pest management strategies, we must consider a holistic approach to understanding D. citri invasion and resilience in novel habitats by including broader and more robust genetic population structure studies and if its current distribution reflects projected models across the neotropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the use of Esmeralda Santiago's autobiography "When I Was Puerto Rican" (1994b) as the foundation for an experiential learning project that brought two language communities: suburban college students studying intermediate Spanish and urban Puerto Rican students in an English-as-a-second-language (ESL) class. The researchers relate how the respective classes analyzed the text and its cultural framework in preparation for a cross-cultural encounter when both groups of students discussed their reaction to Santiago's story. This case study is offered as an example of how to use a literary text to achieve the objectives outlined in the "Standards for Foreign Language Learning," standard 5: communities.

Constructed wetlands are an efficient and cost-effective system for the treatment of wastewater that can be reused for diverse purposes, including irrigation; however, few studies have determined the efficiency of microbial removal by constructed wetlands in tropical regions. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the microbial quality of the influent and effluent of a constructed wetland in Puerto Rico, using traditional bacterial indicators (i.e., thermotolerant coliforms and enterococci), as well as somatic and male-specific (F+) coliphages. Results showed that over 99.9 and 97.7% of thermotolerant coliforms and enterococci were removed after treatment by constructed wetlands, respectively. Notably, approximately 84.0% of male-specific (F+) coliphages were removed, while somatic and total coliphages exhibited differing removal percentages at different steps during treatment by constructed wetlands. The potential risk of the presence of enteric viruses in treated wastewater by constructed wetlands may increase when considering traditional bacterial indicators exclusively. The present study may aid in the efforts to determine public health concerns associated with the exposure of bioaerosols resulting from wastewater treatment by constructed wetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This interpretative phenomenological study explored play experiences between mothers who had completed, or were receiving treatment for, breast cancer and their young children and disease-related factors influencing those experiences. Six Puerto Rican mothers who had young children at the time of their primary treatment were interviewed. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed through constant comparative method. Two themes emerged: (a) "changes and challenges," which contextualized disease-related factors affecting the maternal role; and (b) "play and relationships with children" described play moments and how treatment affected these. Participants emphasized the benefits of playing and relating with their children while in treatment. Play as a co-occupation and an effective means to connect mothers with their children must be considered in the practice of occupational therapy. Future studies with more diverse samples of mothers at different stages of the disease are warranted to expand this exploratory work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imagine--you must bring water to a hurricane-ravaged area. There is only one bridge and only one truck, and the bridge can only hold so much weight. Your calculations determine if the truck--and its load of water--can make it safely over the bridge. This is a typical challenge during two-week summer camps for third-through fourth-grade students held in the Construct, Discover, and Learn (CDL) schools across Puerto Rico. The camps--and the CDL schools in which they take place--are part of a systemic professional development program directed by the University of Puerto Rico Resource Center and sponsored by the Puerto Rico Department of Education to support the development of inquiry-based science and mathematics instruction for elementary students.

We reconstructed the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic caused by Omicron variant in Puerto Rico by sampling genomes collected during October 2021-May 2022. Our study revealed that Omicron BA.1 emerged and replaced Delta as the predominant variant in December 2021. Increased transmission rates and a dynamic landscape of Omicron sublineage infections followed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lathberry Clade includes seven species of Eugenia sect. Umbellatae (Myrtaceae) distributed from Puerto Rico through the Lesser Antilles. Members of the Lathberry Clade are trees and shrubs distinguished from other Antillean species by a combination of dull twigs, glabrous leaves with a raised midvein, glomerate or fasciculate inflorescences predominantly borne below the leaves on old wood, closely spaced and ascending inflorescence bracts, spheroidal fruits turning red or purple at maturity with the calyx lobes erect or spreading and often torn away, and a unique, large deletion in the plastid psbA-trnH intergenic spacer region. We examined the morphology, leaf venation, and seed coat anatomy of the Lathberry Clade and constructed a phylogeny using non-coding nuclear genetic regions. The taxonomic treatment includes a key to the species, distribution maps, and extinction risk assessments. We recognize Eugenia sintenisii from Puerto Rico and E. cordata var. caribaea (nom. nov.) from the Lesser Antilles in place of E. cordata var. sintenisii and synonymize E. earhartii with E. stirpi-flora. Six lectotypes are designated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we present The Palgrave Biographical Encyclopedia of Latin American Psychology, an impressive effort edited by Ana María Jacó-Vilela, Hugo Klappenbach and Carlos Ardila whose publication is scheduled for 2023 by Springer Macmillan, Cham. This encyclopedia includes around 600 biographical sketches of persons that have contributed to the development of Psychology in Latin America. Many of these biographical sketches have already been published in line since 2021. The Puerto Rican contribution to this encyclopedia included 54 professionals who made contributions to the development of Psychology in our country. In this article we present a brief biographical sketch of the first five Psychology teachers at the University of Puerto Rico in Río Piedras--their academic backgrounds their multiple theoretical perspectives, and their contributions to the development of Psychology in Puerto Rico. These professors studied different scientific areas of study in Puerto Rico, Spain, and United States of America. The professors included are Domingo Rubio Arana, Charles W. St. John, Juan B. Soto, Fred C. Walters y Néstor I. Vincenty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the wake of Hurricane Maria and in response to the negligent inefficiency of the local and federal governments, community groups and collectives, grassroots organizations, and activists of multiple causes began organizing under the principles of mutual aid and solidarity in Puerto Rico. One of these is the Colectivo Casco Urbano de Cayey (CCUC), a community organization comprised of local activists and community leaders, undergraduate students, and a professor. This essay brings together four members of the collective in a dialogue where they reflect on the central role of solidarity in the CCUC's organizing and projects and the ways solidarity operates as a praxis of self-determination in the face of neoliberal austerity measures in Puerto Rico. We also highlight the relational work that was done prior to establishing the CCUC that enabled its creation. We also discuss how we negotiate our collaborative relationship across difference through critical dialogue and reflection, the challenges that arise because of our colonial subjectivities, and the ways we circumvent colonial logics through other ways of being and relating anchored in solidarity and interdependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Impacts of COVID-19 mitigation measures on seasonal respiratory viruses is unknown in sub-tropical climates. Methods: We compared weekly testing and test-positivity of respiratory infections in the 2019–2020 respiratory season to the 2012–2018 seasons in southern Puerto Rico using Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Results: Compared to the average for the 2012–2018 seasons, test-positivity was significantly lower for Influenza A (p<0.001) & B (p<0.001), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (p<0.01), respiratory adenovirus (AdV) (p<0.05), and other respiratory viruses (p<0.001) following March 2020 COVID-19 stay at home orders. Conclusions: Mitigation measures and behavioral social distancing choices may have reduced respiratory viral spread in southern Puerto Rico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Together with traditional and social media, printed regional newspapers are useful means to disseminate knowledge to a broad readership and engage people in research. An updated directory of Puerto Rican printed regional newspapers is provided. During 2022, ten printed, regional newspapers circulated in the island continuing their decreasing trend in total number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The year 2022 marks the centennial of the Supreme Court's ruling in Balzac v. People of Porto Rico (Balzac v. Porto Rico 1922), perhaps the most consequential of the Insular Cases. Balzac affirmed the federal government's power to rule Puerto Rico and its residents separately and unequally within the US polity (Torruella 1988). All the efforts to get the United States Supreme Court to revoke this precedent explicitly have failed. In a way, it is "the elephant in the room" that the federal government is now trying to ignore--not very successfully--in the context of the apparent decay of the colonial system put in place through the Foraker Organic Act of 1900 (Foraker Organic Act of 1900). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable forestry is key to increase the adaptive capacity and resilience of regions exposed to extreme atmospheric events. Understanding social acceptability of forest management practices through a public dialogue that involves a diversity of stakeholders is important to define management policies and strategies. Here, we inquire about social acceptability of a sustainable forestry industry in Puerto Rico by convening a set of local experts from private, non-profit, and public sectors through focus group discussions. We presented three scenarios characterized by different elements of sustainability. Discussions included organizational and management considerations, potential products and markets, and the impact of extreme weather events. The results show that greater agreement was observed within groups than across groups. Most of the private sector participants valued mainly financial viability, while the public and the non-profit sectors gave more importance to social equity and environmental protection. This suggests that there is no single ideal model; thus, participation from all sectors in subsequent conversations would be worthwhile to seek a model that would work for most of the stakeholders. As a next step, we suggest expanding the stakeholder consultation effort to delineate a clear road map that can inform sustainable forestry planning at the local level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To describe prevalence of chronic diseases and evaluate associations between comorbidities and quality of life in gynecologic cancer patients in Puerto Rico. Methods. A cross-sectional study among 233 women aged ≥21 years with a gynecologic cancer diagnosis. Through telephone interviews, information on comorbidities, quality of life, and other covariates were assessed. Quality of life included six items, assessing physical and mental health. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate magnitude of association between the comorbidities under study (diabetes, cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases) and quality-of-life items, through adjusted prevalence odds ratio (aPOR; 95% confidence interval [CI]). Results. Most women (90.1%) reported one or more comorbidities in addition to their cancer diagnosis; cardiovascular diseases (63.1%) were more common than autoimmune diseases (37.3%) and diabetes (33.9%). Between 30% and 40% of the sample indicated dysfunctions in their general health (39.5%) and frequent physical (33.9%) and mental distress (31.8%). Adjusting for age and gross family income, women with autoimmune diseases presented higher prevalence of frequent limitations for daily activities (aPOR 2.00; 95% CI 1.05-3.81), poor general health (aPOR 3.52; 95% CI 1.90-6.49), frequent mental distress (aPOR 2.19; 95% CI 1.19-4.03), and dissatisfaction with life (aPOR 4.86; 95% CI 1.82-12.95) compared to those who did not report autoimmune diseases. No associations with cardiovascular diseases and diabetes were observed. Conclusions. Quality-of-life dysfunctions were highly prevalent in this population of gynecologic cancer patients. Suffering from autoimmune comorbidities significantly exacerbated those dysfunctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studied how acculturative stress affects self-esteem of 240 upper elementary school children in Puerto Rico, half of whom had never migrated, and half of whom had spent at least one academic year in the United States. Data suggest lower self-esteem for migrants and more disadvantages because they are placed in second-language programs and delayed in content areas. (SLD)

Arboviral diseases transmitted by Aedes species mosquitoes pose an increasing public health challenge in tropical regions. Wolbachia-mediated population suppression (Wolbachia suppression) is a vector control method used to reduce Aedes mosquito populations by introducing male mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia, a naturally occurring endosymbiotic bacterium. When Wolbachia-infected male mosquitoes mate with female wild mosquitoes, the resulting eggs will not hatch. Public support is vital to the successful implementation and sustainability of vector control interventions. Communities Organized to Prevent Arboviruses (COPA) is a cohort study to determine the incidence of arboviral disease in Ponce, Puerto Rico and evaluate vector control methods. Focus groups were conducted with residents of COPA communities to gather their opinion on vector control methods; during 2018–2019, adult COPA participants were interviewed regarding their views on Wolbachia suppression; and a follow-up questionnaire was conducted among a subset of participants and non-participants residing in COPA communities. We analyzed factors associated with support for this method. Among 1,528 participants in the baseline survey, median age was 37 years and 63% were female. A total of 1,032 (68%) respondents supported Wolbachia suppression. Respondents with an income of $40,000 or more were 1.34 times as likely [95% CI: 1.03, 1.37] to support Wolbachia suppression than those who earned less than $40,000 annually. Respondents who reported repellant use were 1.19 times as likely to support Wolbachia suppression [95% CI: 1.03, 1.37]. A follow-up survey in 2020 showed that most COPA participants (86%) and non-participants living in COPA communities (84%) supported Wolbachia suppression during and after an educational campaign. The most frequent questions regarding this method were related to its impact on human and animal health, and the environment. Continuous community engagement and education efforts before and during the implementation of novel vector control interventions are necessary to increase and maintain community support. Author summary: Vector control is key to decrease the incidence of viral infections transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, like dengue, but traditional control methods like insecticides and breeding sites reduction can be time-consuming, ineffective, and challenged by insecticide resistance. In the method known as Wolbachia suppression, male mosquitoes infected with the bacterium Wolbachia are released to mate with wild female mosquitoes. As the resulting eggs do not hatch, the mosquito population decreases over time. As public support is key to implement and maintain any vector control method, we assessed community support for Wolbachia suppression through focus groups and interviews with residents of Ponce, Puerto Rico, where a community cohort has been implemented. Support for this method in this population was high and increased after an educational campaign. Respondents with higher income and those who used repellent in the last 30 days were more likely to support Wolbachia suppression. Questions regarding the impact of this method on human and animal health, and the environment, were the most reported. Community engagement activities to increase the understanding of the method, including clear and specific information on health risk assessments, should be conducted before and during the implementation of Wolbachia suppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the person, environment, and occupation-related self-management strategies used by older Hispanic men to cope with disabilities in different types of daily activities. A concurrent transformative mixed method design (with priority given to the qualitative phase) guided by the Environment and Occupational Performance Model was used to collect and analyze data of 12 participants with functional disabilities. Quantitative data was gathered using the PROMIS Physical Function Short Form-20. Qualitative data was obtained from in-depth semi-structured interviews on participants' self-management strategies. The average T-score (35.96) was below the national average. Participants reported higher levels of functional disabilities in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and predominantly used practical social support and change in method of performance to manage their difficulties in self-care, IADL, and functional mobility activities. These strategies may be used with similar populations to design interventions aimed at increasing older Puerto Rican's function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is intended to share my academic experience in a research course with teachers during COVID-19 Pandemic. The objective is to describe various active learning teaching approaches that I experimented with considering virtual classroom learning curriculum resources. These activities were conceptualized and incorporated into the course during academic recess and social curfew in Puerto Rico. After days of professional reflection, recommendations from my academic educational leaders and related readings, five active learning approaches were selected to achieve the intended learning outcomes in a Graduate Teacher Level I, Research Course. These were: (1) using collaborative virtual classrooms, (2) providing constant motivational feedback, (3) using thinking, pairing and sharing information, (4) using authentic assessment to improve learning and (5) promoting professional research reflection to constantly improve my teaching and research skills in collaboration with the teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) for Zika virus on whole-blood specimens compared with NAAT on serum and urine specimens among asymptomatic pregnant women during the 2015-2016 Puerto Rico Zika outbreak. Using NAAT, more infections were detected in serum and urine than in whole blood specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In this testimonio, I bridge the political, academic, and personal by situating my experiences as an autoethnographer conducting research in Puerto Rico during the months following Hurricane Maria. As a Puerto Rican living in the diaspora, not being in the archipelago with my parents during the storm and its aftermath produced a sense of loss, grief, powerlessness, and survivor's guilt. I grapple with questions such as: what multiple subjectivities do I inhabit as a researcher visiting my home island? How do I negotiate those subjectivities and identities within myself and with others? In answering these questions, I offer a nuanced account of my intersecting identities and how they impact my interactions with those in the field and how they impacted my choices as an emerging researcher. I argue for a decolonial approach to autoethnography anchored in collective practices, particularly solidarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hurricane Maria, a category 4 tropical cyclone, hit the US non-incorporated territory of Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017. Widespread physical and natural infrastructure damage was observed, especially in already vulnerable coastal communities. As public sector funding availability for natural infrastructure (ex. coastal ecosystems) increases, mechanisms for its efficient and equitable allocation are lacking. An accessible and replicable coastal vulnerability indicator framework is presented to assist state and federal policy makers in the allocation of funding for coastal natural infrastructure recovery. To assess funding priorization gaps and test the applicability of the proposed framework, spatial patterns in the estimated funding need identified in state-led post-Hurricane Maria assessments for natural infrastructure rehabilitation efforts were compared to physical and social coastal vulnerability estimations. Three main challenges that emerge during the implementation of a vulnerability indicator framework were considered for its design: (1) the compressed time frame in which decisions are made after an extreme weather event, (2) the availability of data to calculate indicators in a reduced time frame, and (3) the accessibility of results to a broad variety of stakeholders. We propose a vulnerability indicator framework that can become operational in a relatively short period of time, attempts to simplify data gathering efforts, and uses methods that aim to be more transparent and understandable to a broad group of stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, I address how my interlocutors, members of the Rastafari community in Puerto Rico, claim that they identify with Blackness and Africanness in a manner different from other Black-identifying Puerto Ricans. Their identification process presents a spiritual and global construction of Blackness that does not fit within the typical narratives often used to discuss Black identity in Puerto Rico. I argue that their performance of a spiritually Black identity creates a different understanding of Blackness in Puerto Rico, one that is not nation-based but rather worldwide. This construction of Blackness and Black identity allows my interlocutors to create an imagined community of Blackness and African descent that extends past Puerto Rico's borders toward the greater Caribbean region and African continent. In the first section, I discuss how Blackness is understood and emplaced in Puerto Rico and why this construction is considered too limiting by my interlocutors. I then address their own construction of Blackness, what I refer to as "spiritual Blackness," and how they believe it diverges from Afro-Boricua/Black Puerto Rican identity. In the final section, I direct focus to how Africa is centralized in the construction of spiritual Blackness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]