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Resumen Antecedentes: la evidencia sobre personas que presentan daño de motoneurona superior y desarrollan un patrón de espasticidad en extremidad superior (EES) es limitada. Este signo positivo de disfunción o secundario al daño de la motoneurona superior se asocia con pérdida de función y disminución de la independencia, provocando discapacidad y alterando la calidad de vida. Objetivo: determinar la distribución de frecuencias de los patrones de EES, muñeca, dedos y pulgar posterior a un daño de motoneurona superior. Método: diseño descriptivo de corte transversal prospectivo. Se realizó una medición a 206 sujetos pertenecientes a 17 centros de salud, quienes cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión y firmaron el consentimiento. La evaluación incluyó datos clínicos y la evaluación del patrón de EES (Clasificación de Hefter), muñeca, dedos (Zancolli adaptado) y pulgar (Clasificación de House). Resultados: El análisis consideró cada una de las taxonomías de los patrones de EES evaluados (Hefter I a V). La distribución de frecuencias fue investigada mediante la prueba χ2 de bondad de ajuste, seguida de la inspección post hoc de los residuos estandarizados (z) en cada celda. Se identificaron frecuencias significativamente mayores en: el patrón III de extremidad superior, el patrón cubitalizado neutro de muñeca, el patrón del flexor profundo y mixto de Zancolli adaptado, y en los patrones 3, 4 del pulgar. Ninguna taxonomía se asoció al tiempo de evolución y tipo de ACV. Conclusión: El estudio aporta evidencia relevante sobre la distribución frecuencia de patrones espásticos, posterior a un daño de motoneurona superior. La información proporcionada busca apoyar el proceso de decisión terapéutica potenciando la recuperación funcional de la extremidad superior.

Understanding the internal diversity of transgender communities is essential for developing optimal, inclusive policies and service provision. To date, research on this topic remains scarce in Chile. We conducted a survey study describing sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex assigned at birth, onset age, nationality, education, sex work, having a partner, having children, sexual orientation, religiousness, gender identification, and gender affirmation pathways). A snowball sample of 377 self-identified transgender adults living in Chile (Mage = 31.88, rangeage = 18–67) was collected for the purpose of this study. According to their sex assigned at birth, 139 participants were female and 238 male. Results revealed that sex assigned at birth was significantly associated with almost all the sociodemographic variables. Eight gender self-identification categories were obtained based on self-declaration. These gender identification categories varied according to sex assigned at birth. Finally, four patterns (clusters) of gender affirmative actions were identified among participants. These patterns indicated that the longer the gender affirmation pathway time, the greater the invasiveness level of the medical procedures used. Sex assigned at birth moderated the association between gender affirmation pathways and gender identity categories. Results were discussed highlighting the heterogeneity found in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, gender identification, and gender affirmation pathways.

Documentos complementarios al artículo “Propósitos de uso de tecnologías digitales en estudiantes de pedagogía chilenos: Construcción de una escala basada en competencias digitales” de los autores Cristian Cerda, Miriam León, José L. Saiz, y Lorena Villegas: Escala de Propósitos de Uso y Competencias Digitales (EPUCD). Competencias digitales propuestas por el Marco Europeo de Competencias Digitales DIGCOMP incluidas en la EPUCD. Resultados adicionales de los 29 análisis factoriales exploratorios. Este estudio fue financiado por el Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico (CONICYT) de Chile mediante el proyecto FONDECYT Regular 1191193. Email de contacto: cristian.cerda@ufrontera.cl

Documentos complementarios al artículo “Propósitos de uso de tecnologías digitales en estudiantes de pedagogía chilenos: Construcción de una escala basada en competencias digitales” de los autores Cristian Cerda, Miriam León, José L. Saiz, y Lorena Villegas: Escala de Propósitos de Uso y Competencias Digitales (EPUCD). Competencias digitales propuestas por el Marco Europeo de Competencias Digitales DigComp incluidas en la EPUCD. Resultados adicionales de los 29 análisis factoriales exploratorios. Resultados adicionales de los 20 análisis factoriales confirmatorios. Este estudio fue financiado por el Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico (CONICYT) de Chile mediante el proyecto FONDECYT Regular 1191193. Email de contacto: cristian.cerda@ufrontera.cl

Background: Transgender population is at a higher risk of suffering mental health problems than cisgender population (people whose sex and gender identity are in agreement) and other sexual minorities (gays, lesbians, and bisexuals), partly due to the greater stress that they suffer or for being victims of sexual prejudice. Aim: To describe positive and negative mental health indicators in a sample of transgender people living in Chile. Material and Methods: An intentional sample of 377 transgender individuals older than 18 years, living in the country's northern, center and southern zones were studied. Sociodemographic and well-being features, negative emotional symptoms, suicidal behavior, and substance consumption were assessed. Results: A precarious mental health was confirmed among participants. A high frequency of depression, ideation and suicide attempts, and high levels of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms were identified. Also, a high frequency of substance abuse was found. These mental health indicators varied according to the sex assigned at birth and gender self-identification. Conclusions: Transgender people experience precariousness and vulnerability in their mental health.

Resumen El Modelo de Estrés de las Minorías (Meyer, 2003) ha permitido explicar de qué forma el prejuicio sexual produce efectos negativos en la salud y bienestar de personas pertenecientes a las minorías sexuales, a través de la identificación de estresores de tipo distales y proximales. Este estudio buscó indagar los efectos del prejuicio sexual en la salud mental de personas transgénero en Chile desde un enfoque cualitativo. Se realizaron entrevistas semi-estructuradas a 17 personas transgénero femeninas y masculinas en cuatro ciudades del país. Los resultados nos permite identificar la presencia de factores distales asociados a discriminación manifiesta y factores proximales asociados a la vivencia del estigma y su relación con el autoconcepto. Finalmente, se describen efectos en la salud mental, entre los que destacan la presencia de sintomatología ansioso-depresiva, ideación e intentos suicidas, conductas autolesivas y consumo de alcohol y otras sustancias.

In the context of multidimensional structures, with the presence of a common factor and multiple specific or group factors, estimates of reliability require specific estimators. The use of classical procedures such as the alpha coefficient or omega total that ignore structural complexity are not appropriate, since they can lead to strongly biased estimates. Through a simulation study, the bias of six estimators of reliability in multidimensional measures was evaluated and compared. The study is complemented by an empirical illustration that exemplifies the procedure. Results showed that the estimators with the lowest bias in the estimation of the total reliability parameter are omega total, the two versions of greatest lower bound (GLB) and the alpha coefficient, which in turn are also those that produce the highest overestimation of the reliability of the general factor. Nevertheless, the most appropriate estimators, in that they produce less biased estimates of the reliability parameter of the general factor, are omega limit and omega hierarchical.

espanolResumen Aunque la Escala de Satisfaccion con la Vida (SWLS) se ha usado para comparar personas de distintas naciones/culturas, no siempre su invarianza de medicion ha sido demostrada. La aculturacion forzada de las minorias indigenas y sus particulares roles de genero podrian afectar las respuestas de esas personas a esta escala. Este estudio tuvo por objetivo examinar la invarianza de la SWLS en un grupo indigena chileno, considerando el genero y los tipos aculturativos mas frecuentes (i.e., aculturados y biculturales). Ochocientos adultos mapuches respondieron, en castellano, la SWLS y la Escala de Aculturacion Mapuche. Se encontro apoyo para invarianza estricta entre aculturados y biculturales y, ademas, entre hombres y mujeres aculturados. Se encontro invarianza estricta parcial entre hombres y mujeres biculturales; especificamente, la varianza residual del item 3 fue mayor en mujeres que en hombres. Siendo el castellano un idioma con distincion de generos, se propuso una explicacion linguistica para la falta de invarianza de ese item. Se discute la importancia de redactar cuidadosamente los items cuando son administrados en contextos aculturativos multilingues. EnglishAbstract Although the Life Satisfaction Scale (SWLS) has been used to establish comparisons among nations/cultures, the measurement invariance of this scale has not always been demonstrated. The forced acculturative experience of indigenous minorities and its differentiation of gender roles could impact how people respond to this scale. The purpose of this study was to examine the measurement invariance of the SWLS when it is applied to a Chilean indigenous group, considering gender and their most frequent acculturative types (i.e., acculturated and bicultural). Eight hundred adults of Mapuche origin answered a Spanish version of the SWLS and the Mapuche Acculturation Scale. The results supported the SWLS strict invariance between acculturated and bicultural and also between acculturated men and women. Partial strict invariance was found between bicultural men and women; specifically, the residual variance of Item 3 was higher in women than in men. Since Spanish is a gendered language, a linguistic explanation is proposed for the non-invariance of this item. The importance of careful wording of the items, when administered in multilanguage acculturation contexts, is discussed.

Background Spastic hypertonia of the upper limb after stroke or traumatic brain injuries (TBI) is a prevalent clinical sign causing abnormal postures and movement patterns due to hyperexcitability of the upper motor neurons and rheological alterations in the affected muscles. These alterations limit the use of the upper limb, restricting its functional activities and affecting the individual's quality of life and social participation. Objective To determine the association between spastic patterns of the upper limb, wrist, fingers and thumb, and independence in everyday activities after a stroke or TBI. Methods The design is a cross-sectional descriptive and correlational study. The sample consisted of 206 individuals who complied with the eligibility criteria and signed an informed consent. Clinical evaluation was carried out, including determination of the postural pattern of the upper extremity according to Hefter's taxonomy and postural pattern classification of the wrist, fingers and thumb. Functional independence was evaluated using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and the Barthel Index (BI). Results Univariate between-subject ANOVAs were used to examine associations of the four pattern classifications with the two independence measures, FIM and BI. Results indicate that Pattern I of Hefter's upper limb taxonomy is associated with lesser functional independence according to FIM and BI mean scores. Conclusions The postural pattern of the upper limb after TBI or stroke is related to the patient's functional independence. Specifically, Pattern I tends to co-occur with low independence.

Transgender population is at a higher risk of suffering mental health problems than cisgender population (people whose sex and gender identity are in agreement) and other sexual minorities (gays, lesbians, and bisexuals), partly due to the greater stress that they suffer or for being victims of sexual prejudice.To describe positive and negative mental health indicators in a sample of transgender people living in Chile.An intentional sample of 377 transgender individuals older than 18 years, living in the country's northern, center and southern zones were studied. Sociodemographic and well-being features, negative emotional symptoms, suicidal behavior, and substance consumption were assessed.A precarious mental health was confirmed among participants. A high frequency of depression, ideation and suicide attempts, and high levels of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms were identified. Also, a high frequency of substance abuse was found. These mental health indicators varied according to the sex assigned at birth and gender self-identification.Transgender people experience precariousness and vulnerability in their mental health.

RESUMEN: Las personas transgénero han logrado progresivamente visibilidad y derechos en muchas sociedades occidentales. La investigación psicosocial sobre dicha población es reciente y se focaliza en el estudio del prejuicio sexual y su impacto sobre la salud mental de las personas transgénero. En este artículo se busca clarificar algunas definiciones conceptuales usadas en la investigación psicosocial, sintetizar la evidencia obtenida en Chile y observar cómo esta dialoga con la literatura internacional. Si bien el foco es la salud mental, se examinan también los efectos del prejuicio y el rechazo social como precursores de una salud mental deteriorada. Este artículo pretende contribuir al debate e investigación en temas conceptuales y metodológicos aún pendientes referidos a la población transgénero en América Latina.

Weight stigmatization is defined as the devaluation of others based on weight, a visible and specific characteristic that cannot be hidden. The consequences of weight stigmatization have been studied in victims and healthcare providers. This narrative literature review describes the consequences of weight stigmatization in victims and healthcare practitioners. According to several studies, high levels of psychological dysfunction in victims coexist with negative stereotypes in healthcare professionals, since the latter are exposed to the same negative media messages about obesity. Thus, weight stigmatization contributes to increase the burden of obesity, since when obese patients perceive that they are discriminated by healthcare professionals, their unhealthy behaviors persist and they have a low adherence to obesity treatment and medical recommendations.

BACKGROUND Population ageing and changes in the epidemiological profile of neurological pathologies has resulted in an increase in patients with disabilities. Rehabilitation strategies such as Modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMTm) play a key role in treating patients with neurologic deficiencies and motor impairments. This intervention is intended to mitigate disability, promote maximum functional independence, and optimize social and economic participation of patients with upper extremity weakness. Our goal was to assess the recovery of functional independence in patients after a stroke using to CIMTm. PATIENTS AND METHOD Thirty-six subjects who had suffered stroke took part in a randomised clinical trial. The treatment was applied through either collective or individual modalities for three hours per day for a period of ten days. Participant's functional independence was assessed using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scale at the before and after of the intervention. RESULTS An analysis of covariance carried out on the pre-test assessments indicates that the dependent variable presents significant differences (F1.31 = 42.78, p

Emerging adulthood (EA) is a stage of development in which, having finished adolescence, the assumption of adulthood is postponed. There is evidence that the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) can be related to the tasks of the EA. Using the EA approach, the present quantitative study aimed to characterize the use of ICT in emerging adults, all students of Chilean universities, and examine the effect of sex, socioeconomic status and age in such use. An intentional sample of 1,469 students answered a questionnaire that investigated different aspects of the experience with ICT. The results show that, compared to the general population, students access more to the computer and use ICT more frequently for a set of activities. In the time of daily use of ICT an effect of sex was observed but not of socioeconomic level nor of age. In addition, four types of ICT use were identified: communicative, informative, hedonistic and utilitarian. Men make greater hedonistic use and less utilitarian use than women. The socioeconomic level is related to the informative and hedonistic use; on the other hand, age is associated with communicative and informative use.

Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of collective versus individual neurorehabilitation in improving the social support for patients who have suffered a stroke. Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted, in which 36 post-stroke patients participated; they worked for three hours per day for ten days with constraint-induced movement therapy, divided into two treatment types: collective and individual therapy. Social support was assessed at the beginning and end of the study using the medical outcomes study-social support survey (MOS-SSS). Results: Monitoring the pre-treatment scores, a covariance analysis indicated that social support presents significant differences in favor of collective therapy. Conclusion: Both treatment types improved social support for post-stroke patients. However, the clinical and practical effectiveness of collective therapy was significant.

Approval of hierarchy and inequality in society indexed by social dominance orientation (SDO) extends to support for human dominance over the natural world. We tested this negative association between SDO and environmentalism and the validity of the new Short Social Dominance Orientation Scale in two cross-cultural samples of students ( N = 4,163, k = 25) and the general population ( N = 1,237, k = 10). As expected, the higher people were on SDO, the less likely they were to engage in environmental citizenship actions, pro-environmental behaviors and to donate to an environmental organization. Multilevel moderation results showed that the SDO–environmentalism relation was stronger in societies with marked societal inequality, lack of societal development, and environmental standards. The results highlight the interplay between individual psychological orientations and social context, as well as the view of nature subscribed to by those high in SDO.

An extensive corpus of literature supports the positive impact of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) on neuroplasticity and the recovery of function. However, its clinical applicability is limited by the time of intervention and individual modality. We propose to assess the efficacy of modified CIMT protocols through a group therapy intervention. To determine the effectiveness of a group therapy, compared with individual modified CIMT, in increasing the use and functionality of movement of a paretic upper limb. The study was a single-blind, randomized parallel trial. Thirty-six patients who had had a stroke more than 6 months previously were divided randomly into two intervention groups. The independent variable was the implementation of group or individual modalities for 3 h for 10 consecutive days and the dependent variables were evaluated by the Motor Activity Log and Action Research Arm Test, at baseline (preintervention evaluation), end (postintervention evaluation), and 6 months after intervention (follow-up). By controlling the preintervention evaluations, analyses of covariance indicated that both dependent variables presented significant differences in favor of the group therapy at both the postintervention evaluation and the follow-up evaluations. Both types of intervention generated increases in the function and use of the upper extremity, with these increases being higher in the group therapy. The effects of the group therapy modality were maintained 6 months after the intervention ended.

This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the academic and recreational use of digital technologiesand academic achievement, specifically the use of academic digital video as a supporting tool for autonomouslearning. A total of 149 Chilean mathematics student teachers answered a questionnaire. Results show a mediumpermanent level of academic and recreational use of technology, within which only academic use shows a positivecorrelation with courses in areas such as calculus, algebra, and probability. Similarly, the academic use of videoshows an elevated and constant use throughout the university years, correlating negatively with courses in areasincluding calculus and algebra. Therefore, the study shows a dimension that is scarcely explored: the autonomoususe of digital technology as a supporting tool for constructing pedagogical knowledge in teacher training., Esta investigación tuvo como propósito analizar la relación entre uso académico y recreativo de tecnologíasdigitales y logro académico, en específico el uso académico de videos como medio de apoyo al aprendizajeautónomo. Un total de 149 estudiantes Chilenos de pedagogía en matemática participaron del estudio contestandoun cuestionario. Los resultados muestran un uso académico y recreativo de nivel medio permanente en el tiempo.Solo el uso académico de tecnologías digitales correlaciona positivamente con logro académico en asignaturasde las áreas de cálculo, geometría y probabilidades. De igual manera, el uso académico de video es elevado yconstante en el tiempo, correlacionando negativamente con asignaturas de las áreas de cálculo y álgebra. Elestudio devela una dimensión de uso de tecnologías digitales poco estudiada, aquella relacionada con decisionesautónomas orientadas a utilizar tecnologías digitales como medio de apoyo a la construcción de conocimientopedagógico durante la formación inicial docente.

La presente investigación tiene como objetivo identificar las posibles relaciones entre género, desempeño académico y uso de habilidades de aprendizaje autodirigido. En el estudio participaron 404 estudiantes que cursan programas de pedagogía en una universidad chilena. Se utilizó una escala basada en el modelo de Garrison para medir la capacidad de aprendizaje autodirigido en tres dimensiones: autogestión, motivación y automonitoreo. El desempeño académico fue calculado con base en el promedio de notas acumulado (PGA). Los resultados muestran diferencias de género en las dimensiones de autogestión y automonitoreo a favor de las mujeres. Complementariamente se identificaron diferencias en aprendizaje autodirigido según carrera disciplinar cursada y años de estudio. The objective of this study is to identify the possible relationships that might exist between gender, academic performance and the use of self-directed learning skills. The sample was comprised of 404 students who are enrolled in education programs at a Chilean university. A scale based on Garrison's model was used to measure capacity for self-directed learning in three dimensions: self-direction, motivation and self-monitoring. Academic performance was calculated based on cumulative grade point averages (CGA). The results show gender differences in self-direction and self-monitoring in favor of women. Differences in self-directed learning according to academic major and years of study were observed as well. A presente pesquisa tem como objetivo identificar as possíveis relações que possam existir entre gênero, desempenho acadêmico e uso de habilidades de aprendizagem autodirigida. Do estudo, participaram 404 estudantes que cursam programas de Pedagogia em uma universidade chilena. Utilizou-se uma escala baseada no modelo de Garrison para medir a capacidade de aprendizagem autodirigida em três dimensões: autogestão, motivação e automonitoramento. O desempenho acadêmico foi calculado com base na média de notas acumuladas (PGA). Os resultados mostram diferenças de gênero nas dimensões: autogestão e automonitoramento a favor das mulheres. Complementarmente, identificaram-se diferenças na aprendizagem autodirigida segundo o curso disciplinar realizado e os anos de estudo.

El editor lamenta que este articulo es un duplicado accidental de unarticulo ya publicado en la revista Revista Kinesiologia. 1; 24-36, septiembre 2016. Procedemos a retirar el articulo duplicado.

The Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief (SPQ-B) is a commonly-used tool for measuring schizotypal personality traits and due to its wide application, its cross-cultural validity is of interest. Previous studies suggest that the SPQ-B either has a three- or four-factor structure, but the majority of studies have been conducted in Western contexts and little is known about the psychometric properties of the scale in other populations. In this study factorial invariance testing across three cultural contexts–Australia, China and Chile was conducted. In total, 729 young adults (Mean age = 23.99 years, SD = 9.87 years) participated. Invariance testing did not support the four-factor model across three countries. Confirmatory Factor Analyses revealed that neither the four- nor three-factor model had strong fit in any of the settings. However, in comparison with other competing models, the four-factor model showed the best for the Australian sample, while the three-factor model was the most reasonable for both Chinese and Chilean samples. The reliability of the SPQ-B scores, estimated with Omega, ranged from 0.86 to 0.91. These findings suggest that the SPQ-B factors are not consistent across different cultural groups. We suggest that these differences could be attributed to potential confounding cultural and translation issues.

Introduccion: El acceso a rehabilitacion en usuarios con ataque cerebro vascular es fundamental, considerando las discapacidades fisicas y psicologicas que genera y el impacto social que conlleva. Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad de la neurorehabilitacion en modalidad colectiva, comparada con la modalidad individual, en la mejora del apoyo social en usuarios con ACV, despues de la aplicacion de la terapia de restriccion inducida de movimiento. Metodo: Se realizo un ensayo clinico aleatorizado con 36 usuarios con ACV divididos en dos grupos de intervencion. La variable independiente fue la implementacion de la terapia en modalidad colectiva o individual por 3 horas diarias durante 10 dias consecutivos y la variable dependiente fue el apoyo social percibido evaluado mediante la Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS) antes (pretest) y despues (post-test) de la intervencion. Resultados: Controlando los puntajes pre-test, analisis de covarianza revelaron diferencias significativas a favor de la modalidad colectiva en todas las dimensiones post-test del apoyo social. Conclusiones: La rehabilitacion en modalidad colectiva, en comparacion con la modalidad individual, mejora significativamente diversos aspectos del apoyo social percibido del usuario, apoyando asi su efectividad clinica y practica.

Personal and political action on climate change is traditionally thought to be motivated by people accepting its reality and importance. However, convincing the public that climate change is real faces powerful ideological obstacles(1-4), and climate change is slipping in public importance in many countries(.)(5,6) Here we investigate a different approach, identifying whether potential co-benefits of addressing climate change(7) could motivate pro-environmental behaviour around the world for both those convinced and unconvinced that climate change is real. We describe an integrated framework for assessing beliefs about co-benefits(8), distinguishing social conditions (for example, economic development, reduced pollution or disease) and community character (for example, benevolence, competence). Data from all inhabited continents (24 countries; 6,196 participants) showed that two co-benefit types, Development (economic and scientific advancement) and Benevolence (a more moral and caring community), motivated public, private and financial actions to address climate change to a similar degree as believing climate change is important. Critically, relationships were similar for both convinced and unconvinced participants, showing that co-benefits can motivate action across ideological divides. These relationships were also independent of perceived climate change importance, and could not be explained by political ideology, age, or gender. Communicating co-benefits could motivate action on climate change where traditional approaches have stalled.

Weight stigmatization is defined as the devaluation of others based on weight, a visible and specific characteristic that cannot be hidden. The consequences of weight stigmatization have been studied in victims and healthcare providers. This narrative literature review describes the consequences of weight stigmatization in victims and healthcare practitioners. According to several studies, high levels of psychological dysfunction in victims coexist with negative stereotypes in healthcare professionals, since the latter are exposed to the same negative media messages about obesity. Thus, weight stigmatization contributes to increase the burden of obesity, since when obese patients perceive that they are discriminated by healthcare professionals, their unhealthy behaviors persist and they have a low adherence to obesity treatment and medical recommendations.

Background: Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is a treatment strategy that has been shown to improve the function of an upper limb affected by stroke. Although an extensive corpus of literature supports the positive impact of CIMT on neuroplasticity and the recovery of function, has evaluated CIMT conducted individually. Evidence is limited for the application of a CIMT in a collective modality and investigation is needed. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of a modified version of CIMT as a part of combined or collective treatment, as compared to individual CIMT, in increasing the use and functionality of movement of a paretic upper limb. Methods and subjects: The study was a single-blind, randomized parallel trial. Thirty-six patients who had had a stroke for up to 6 months were randomly divided into two intervention groups. The independent variable was the implementation of collective or individual therapy for 3 h for 10 consecutive days and the dependent variables were amount of use and dexterity of the affected upper extremity in activities of daily life. Dependent variables were evaluated by the Motor Activity Log (MAL) and Action Research Arm test (ARAT), at baseline (pre-intervention evaluation), end (post-intervention evaluation) and six months after intervention (follow-up). Results: By controlling the pre-intervention evaluations, analyses of covariance indicated that both dependent variables presented significant differences and the results were in favor of the group therapy at both the postintervention evaluation and follow-up evaluations. Conclusion: Both types of intervention generated increases in the function and use of the upper extremity, with these increases being higher in the collective modality. The effects of the collective modality were maintained 6 months after the intervention ended.

This study examines differences in prejudice, perceived similarity, and social dominance in members of the majority who favor integration as a means of minority acculturation. A total of 342 non-Gypsy Spanish participants filled out a questionnaire about their relationship to one of three outgroups: Maghrebians, Gypsies, and Latin Americans. Hierarchical cluster analysis showed that a three-cluster solution was most fitting for every outgroup. ANOVAs applied to the three clusters indicated significant differences in prejudice, perceived similarity, and social dominance. Referring to Gypsies the largest effect size was observed in manifest prejudice (η2= .63), in Maghrebians, the largest effect size was observed in subtle prejudice (η2=.77), while for Latin Americans, perceived similarity had the largest effect size η2( = .60). The results reveal a need to modify existing measures of integration; we recommend using questionnaires to measure behaviors that members of the majority would be willing to implement.

El influjo de la cultura tanto en las disposiciones y procesos psicologicos como en los comportamientos es un hecho bien establecido en la literatura internacional (Matsumoto & Juang, 2013). El abordaje de las relaciones entre cultura y psicologia adquiere especial relevancia en nuestro contexto iberoamericano debido, al menos, a dos circunstancias: la heterogeneidad cultural presente en este contexto y la estrecha dependencia de nuestra psicologia iberoamericana respecto, primordialmente, al desarrollo disciplinario generado en y para la cultura anglosajona. Aunque estas dos circunstancias subrayan la necesidad de cualificar culturalmente el conocimiento psicologico a fin de garantizar su pertinencia local, son escasos los estudios que atienden esta necesidad en nuestro medio.

Despite the proven psychometric quality of the MACI in Chile, 6 of its clinical scales differentiate in a reversed fashion between adolescents who seek or receive psychological help and those who do not; in addition, these scales appear inversely associated with psychological disorders. Contrary to the theoretical foundations of the MACI, this pattern of results suggests that these scales might not be assessing psychological maladjustment in Chile but rather the absence of it, which points to the possibility of construct bias in these counter-theoretical (CT) scales. To examine this issue, a purposive sample of 49 Chilean clinical psychologists were asked to assess, using a 5-point scale, the extent to which the definition of the construct measured by each CT scale and the content of their items reflected psychological maladjustment in Chilean adolescents. One-sample t-tests suggest that the definitions of the Submissive and Egoistic scales and nearly all the items of the CT scales show construct bias. These results are discussed in terms of cultural differences regarding the notion of adolescent maladjustment, the original item selection criteria, and the implications of CT scales for professional practice.

Although a substantial body of research has now documented the negative mental and physical health impacts of discrimination on various minority/non-dominant groups, little has been reported on the impacts of such discrimination on indigenous populations. In this study, we investigated the self-reported emotional reactions, coping responses and long-term impacts of discriminatory experiences among 50 Mapuche adults in Chile. The limited literature suggests that a substantial proportion of the Chilean majority society is prejudiced and discriminatory towards the indigenous Mapuche population, and that the Mapuche experience discrimination. Interviews with participants indicated that discrimination was psychologically wounding, and aroused anger, undifferentiated bad feelings, shame and a sense of powerlessness. Participants responded with self-protective, self-controlled or confronting actions. Although negative long-term effects were reported, ethnic re-affirmation and strengthening of bonds within the Mapuche community were positive outcomes that seem to provide resilience for the participants. This does not discount however, the need for more research assessing the impacts of discrimination in Chile nor the need for anti-discrimination measures to be implemented. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

With similar settler-colonial histories having left them occupying the position of marginalized minority groups, indigenous people in Chile and Australia are struggling to assert their rights and retain their cultures. Research in each location suggests that there is widespread prejudice and discrimination against them, even though the mainstream society sees itself as tolerant and harmonious. This paper reports on a study in which thirty Mapuche people in Chile were interviewed about their perceptions of discrimination against them. Their responses were systematically analysed using a taxonomy of racist experiences established in a study of Aborigines in Australia. Like indigenous Australians, the Mapuche people of Chile reported that they experience extensive discrimination in all areas of life. These findings are discussed with respect to the issues related to relationships between settlers and colonized communities.

12 p.-6 fig.-4 tab., The Ejl amidase is coded by Ej-1, a temperate phage isolated from the atypical pneumococcus strain 101/87. Like all the pneumococcal cell-wall lysins, Ejl has a bimodular organization; the catalytic region is located in the N-terminal module, and the C-terminal module attaches the enzyme to the choline residues of the pneumococcal cell wall. The structural features of the Ejl amidase, its interaction with choline, and the structural changes accompanying the ligand binding have been characterized by CD and IR spectroscopies, differential scanning calorimetry, analytical ultracentrifugation, and FPLC. According to prediction and spectroscopic (CD and IR) results, Ejl would be composed of short beta-strands (ca. 36%) connected by long loops (ca. 17%), presenting only two well-predicted alpha-helices (ca. 12%) in the catalytic module. Its polypeptide chain folds into two cooperative domains, corresponding to the N- and C-terminal modules, and exhibits a monomer dimer self-association equilibrium. Choline binding induces small rearrangements in Ejl secondary structure but enhances the amidase self-association by preferential binding to Ejl dimers and tetramers. Comparison of LytA, the major pneumococcal amidase, with Ejl shows that the sequence differences (15% divergence) strongly influence the amidase stability, the organization of the catalytic module in cooperative domains, and the self-association state induced by choline. Moreover, the ligand affinity for the choline-binding locus involved in regulation of the amidase dimerization is reduced by a factor of 10 in Ejl. Present results evidence that sequence differences resulting from the natural variability found in the cell wall amidases coded by pneumococcus and its bacteriophages may significantly alter the protein structure and its attachment to the cell wall., This work was supported by DGICYT Grants PB96-0850, PB96-0809, BIO2000-1307,and BMC2000-1002, and by CAM Grant of the Program for Strategic Groups.

Intrafamily gene diversification has led to three prototype galectins in chicken [i.e., chicken galectin (CG)-1A, CG-1B, and CG-2] that show distinct expression profiles and developmental regulation. In order to pinpoint structural disparities among them, we determined the crystal structure of CG-1B. Alteration of the position of the Trp ring in the lectin site and the presence of only two ordered water molecules therein, as well as changes in the interface region between the two subunits, set the structure of CG-1B clearly apart from that of CG-1A. Intriguingly, the unique presence of two Cys residues at positions 2 and 7 in the N-terminal region translated into formation of an intersubunit disulfide bridge between the Cys7 residues of the homodimer in the crystal. In solution, oxidation is associated with significant shape changes in the dimeric protein and the additional occurrence of a compacted form with an intrasubunit disulfide bridge between Cys2 and Cys7. The single-site mutant C7S/C7V was not subjected to such changes, supporting the crucial role of Cys7 in redox-dependent shape changes. These results point to the functional significance of the distinctive presence of the two Cys residues in the N-terminal region of CG-1B.

Mediante una réplica y ampliación de un estudio realizado en 1988 por Saiz (1991), se examinó la evolución de los estereotipos que estudiantes universitarios no indígenas atribuyen a dos categorías cronológicas de mapuches: pretéritos y contemporáneos. Este examen fue realizado según el contenido, favorabilidad, notoriedad y uniformidad de los estereotipos. Mediante un cuestionario, 407 participantes asignaron atributos a las dos categorías de mapuches. Confirmando lo esperado, los estereotipos replican, en general, aquellos reportados por Saiz (1991) y surgen, además, dos nuevos estereotipos desfavorables sugeridos en la literatura. La preservación de los estereotipos es discutida mediante el enfoque de subtipos y subgrupos (Richards & Hewstone, 2001), en tanto que el surgimiento de nuevos estereotipos es analizado desde la teoría del conflicto realista (Campbell, 1965).Replicating and expanding a study by Saiz (1991), we examined the evolution of the stereotypes that non-indigenous university students ascribe to two distinctive Mapuche chronological categories: past and present.The content, favorability, salience, and uniformity of the stereotypes were analyzed. Using a questionnaire, 407 participants assigned attributes to both Mapuche categories. As expected, almost all the stereotypes replicated those reported by Saiz (1991) and, at the same time, two new unfavorable stereotypes emerged.The persistence of stereotypes is discussed according to the process of subtyping and subgruping (Richards & Hewstone, 2001). The development of new stereotypes is analyzed from the realistic conflict theory perspective (Campbell, 1965).

This paper reports a survey (N = 1,465) conducted in Chile that was conceived to understand the role of coalition identification as an important sociopsychological mechanism for promoting positive affects toward own-coalition party members in a multiparty system, above and beyond interparty political differences. Participants judged their own political party, parties within coalitions (fellow coalition members and opposing parties), and political coalitions as a whole on affective dimensions (trust, liking, and admiration). The results provide substantial support for the five hypotheses addressed in the study. Overall, perceived interparty distance and political identity threat had a negative impact on affect toward coalition party members. Above and beyond these effects, identification with the coalition positively predicted affect toward allies. Ingroup party affect was positively correlated with affect toward own-coalition party members and own coalition as a whole, but was not negatively associated with affect toward opposing-coalition parties. Moreover, the relationship between own-party affect and affect toward own-coalition party members was mediated by affect toward own coalition. Overall, evidence for the benefits of promoting coalition identification in a multiparty system is provided and discussed alongside the limitations and practical implications derived from the study.

Prototype galectins are versatile modulators of cell adhesion and growth via their reactivity to certain carbohydrate and protein ligands. These functions and the galectins' marked developmental regulation explain their attractiveness as models to dissect divergent evolution after gene duplication. Only two members have so far been assumed to constitute this group in chicken, namely the embryonic muscle/liver form {C-16 or CLL-I [16 kDa; chicken lactose lectin, later named CG-16 (chicken galectin-16)]} and the embryonic skin/intestine form (CLL-II or C-14; later named CG-14). In the present study, we report on the cloning and expression of a third prototype CG. It has deceptively similar electrophoretic mobility compared with recombinant C-14, the protein first isolated from embryonic skin, and turned out to be identical with the intestinal protein. Hydrodynamic properties unusual for a homodimeric galectin and characteristic traits in the proximal promoter region set it apart from the two already known CGs. Their structural vicinity to galectin-1 prompts their classification as CG-1A (CG-16)/CG-1B (CG-14), whereas sequence similarity to mammalian galectin-2 gives reason to refer to the intestinal protein as CG-2. The expression profiling by immunohistochemistry with specific antibodies discerned non-overlapping expression patterns for the three CGs in several organs of adult animals. Overall, the results reveal a network of three prototype galectins in chicken.

Spermadhesins are a family of seminal plasma proteins composed of a single CUB domain, which appear to be involved in various aspects of the fertilization process in pigs. PSP-I and PSP-II, the most abundant porcine spermadhesins, occur in seminal plasma as noncovalent heterodimers devoid of heparin-binding capability. Of note is the stability of this dimer, which is significantly affected by physiologically relevant conditions such as Zn2+ ions. Here, we show that PSP-I and PSP-II when separated appear to conserve the overall fold of the CUB domain observed in the crystal structure of the PSP-I/PSP-II heterodimer, as concluded from gel filtration, analytical ultracentrifugation, differential scanning calorimetry, and circular dichroism analyses. However, Zn2+ concentrations in the range of those found in boar seminal plasma induce the unfolding and self-association of PSP-I, apparently as a consequence of the exposure of hydrophobic core residues, whereas they have no effect on PSP-II. Remarkably, Zn2+-denatured and self-associated (but not structured monomeric) PSP-I is retained on a heparin column, resembling the behavior of free PSP-I and homologous spermadhesins of the heparin-binding fraction of boar seminal plasma, which also exhibit different aggregation states. Thus, the modulation of the structural organization and heparin-binding ability of PSP-I by Zn2+ might be a physiological phenomenon in seminal plasma.

Spermadhesins are a family of 12-16 kDa proteins with a single CUB domain. PSP-I and PSP-II, the most abundant boar spermadhesins, are present in seminal plasma as a noncovalent heterodimer. Dimerization markedly affects the binding ability of the subunits. Notably, heparin and mannose 6-phosphate binding abilities of PSP-II are abolished, indicating that the corresponding binding sites may be located at (or near) the dimer interface. Pursuing the hypothesis that cryptic binding sites in PSP-I/PSP-II may be exposed in specific physiological environments, we examined the influence of Zn2+ and acidic pH on the heterodimer stability. According to near-UV CD spectra, the core native fold is preserved in the presence of physiological concentrations of Zn2+, a cation unusually abundant in boar seminal plasma. However, the thermostability of the heterodimer decreases significantly, as observed by CD and differential scanning calorimetry. The effect is Zn2+-specific and is reversed by EDTA. Destabilization is also observed at acidic pH. Gel filtration analysis using radioiodinated PSP-I/PSP-II reveals that dissociation of the heterodimer at low (nanomolar) protein concentrations is promoted by both Zn2+ and acidic pH. Although the integrity of the heterodimer in seminal plasma seems to be guaranteed by its high concentration, dissociation may be facilitated in the female genital tract because of dilution of the protein in the intraluminal fluids of the cervix and the uterus, and the acidic fluid of the uterotubal junction. Such a mechanism may be relevant in the regulation of uterine immune reactions.