The Impact and Consequences of Correcting for Acquiescence When Correlated Residuals are Present.

Background: In spite of the interest generated by controlling variance unrelated to the content in personality measures, few studies have assessed the combined impact of acquiescence (ACQ) and correlated residuals in the factor-analytic structural solutions that serve as a basis for item calibration.

Method: This article compares three control procedures in databases that simultaneously exhibit acquiescence (ACQ) and correlated residuals: the SIREN method (Navarro-Gonzalez, et al., 2024; ACQ control), the MORGANA method (Ferrando et al.

Linear and Nonlinear Indices of Score Accuracy and Item Effectiveness for Measures That Contain Locally Dependent Items.

The problem of local item dependencies (LIDs) is very common in personality and attitude measures, particularly in those that measure narrow-bandwidth dimensions. At the structural level, these dependencies can be modeled by using extended factor analytic (FA) solutions that include correlated residuals. However, the effects that LIDs have on the scores based on these extended solutions have received little attention so far.

Modeling maladaptive personality traits with unipolar item response theory: The case of Callousness.

Most IRT applications in personality assume that the measured trait is a bipolar dimension, normally distributed in the population. These assumptions, however, could be questionable for maladaptive, (quasi) pathological traits that still fall in the normal range. This study focuses on one such trait, Callousness, and uses two different instruments and samples to determine whether there is a basis for modeling it as a unipolar trait instead of a bipolar one.

A Relative Normed Effect-Size Difference Index for Determining the Number of Common Factors in Exploratory Solutions.

Descriptive fit indices that do not require a formal statistical basis and do not specifically depend on a given estimation criterion are useful as auxiliary devices for judging the appropriateness of unrestricted or exploratory factor analytical (UFA) solutions, when the problem is to decide the most appropriate number of common factors. While overall indices of this type are well known in UFA applications, especially those intended for item analysis, difference indices are much more scarce. Recently, Raykov and collaborators proposed a family of effect-size-type descriptive difference indices that are promising for UFA applications.

Measuring Unipolar Traits With Continuous Response Items: Some Methodological and Substantive Developments.

In recent years, some models for binary and graded format responses have been proposed to assess unipolar variables or "quasi-traits." These studies have mainly focused on clinical variables that have traditionally been treated as bipolar traits. In the present study, we have made a proposal for unipolar traits measured with continuous response items.

Determining Sample Size Requirements in EFA Solutions: A Simple Empirical Proposal.

In unrestricted or exploratory factor analysis (EFA), there is a wide range of recommendations about the size samples should be to attain correct and stable solutions. In general, however, these recommendations are either rules of thumb or based on simulation results. As it is hard to establish the extent to which a particular data set suits the conditions used in a simulation study, the advice produced by simulation studies is not direct enough to be of practical use.

Acellular dermal matrix imaging features in breast reconstructive surgery: a pictorial review.

Acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) are biological engineered tissues, which may provide an immunologically inert scaffold in breast reconstruction. Since the literature on imaging features of ADMs is limited, radiologists must be aware of the common imaging appearances of ADM, to differentiate normal conformation from residual or recurrent disease. Our purpose is to review the current role of ADMs in implant-based breast reconstruction, describing the normal imaging findings at ultrasound, mammography, and MRI also considering the possible changes over time.

Psychometric Properties and Measurement Invariance of the Herth Hope Index in Spanish Cancer Patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties, differential item functioning, factorial invariance, and convergent validity of the Spanish version of the Herth Hope Index (HHI) in patients with cancer.

Method: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to explore the scale, dimensionality, functioning of items, test for strong measurement invariance across sex, age, tumor site, and expected survival, and an extended structural equation model to assess external validity in a cross-sectional, multicenter, prospective study of 863 cancer patients from 15 Spanish hospitals.

Results: The results do not support the original 3-factor scale but instead suggest a one-factor structure, which explained 62% of the common variance.

Gulliksen's pool: A quick tool for preliminary detection of problematic items in item factor analysis.

Exploratory factor analysis is widely used for item analysis in the earlier stages of scale development, usually with large pools of items. In this scenario, the presence of inappropriate or ineffective items can hamper the process of analysis, making it very difficult to correctly assess dimensionality and structure. To minimize, this (quite frequent) problem, we propose and implement a simple procedure designed to flag potentially problematic items before we specify any particular factorial solution.

Compliance with COVID-19 Preventive Measures: The Role of Intelligence, the Dark Triad and Dysfunctional Impulsivity.

Background: Although measures to prevent COVID-19 infection have been greatly relaxed in many countries, they are still quite stringent in others. However, not all citizens comply with them to the same extent. Many studies show the importance of personality traits in predicting compliance with these measures, but it is not so clear what the role of intelligence is.

Should Acellular Dermal Matrices Be Used for Implant-based Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy? Clinical Recommendation Based on the GRADE Approach.

Unlabelled: Acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) entered the market in the early 2000s and their use has increased thereafter. Several retrospective cohort studies and single surgeon series reported benefits with the use of ADMs. However, robust evidence supporting these advantages is lacking.

Are older teens more frustrated than younger teens by the covid-19 restrictions? The role of psychological maturity, personality traits, depression and life satisfaction.

Many studies have shown the negative impact of lockdowns on adolescents, but there is less evidence on how they are affected by other stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, and, especially, whether there are any differences between early and late adolescence. The current study focuses on the frustration felt by adolescents because of the severe COVID-19 restrictions in a non-lockdown situation. We aimed to (a) assess the role of maturity and two personality traits (emotional stability and extraversion) in predicting their frustration, and (b) compare the levels of frustration, depressive symptoms, and life satisfaction in older and younger adolescents.

Which profile of people tends to ignore preventive measures against COVID-19? The role of intelligence and the big five personality traits.

Although a considerable amount of research has been done on the role of personality traits in the prediction of compliance with COVID-19 preventive measures, the possible role of intelligence has been studied far less. For this reason, the main goal of the current study was to determine what the predictive role of intelligence is when considered together with the Big Five personality traits. A total of 404 participants answered three instruments: the Overall Personality Assessment Scale (OPERAS), which assesses personality traits, the COmpliance with pandemic COmmands Scale (COCOS), which assesses compliance, and the test of intelligence International Cognitive Ability Resource (ICAR Sample Test).

Development of a Revised Version of the Statistical Anxiety Scale.

Background: Statistics anxiety is a common problem in students taking statistics courses in the social sciences. It is most widely measured by the statistical anxiety scale. The various adaptations of this instrument have shown certain problems in the replication of its factorial structure and do not have a system to control possible response bias effects.

Measurement properties of the Spanish version of the brief resilient coping scale (BRCS) in cancer patients.

Background/objective: Resilience is the capacity to adaptively confront stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties, convergent validity, and factorial invariance of the Spanish version of the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS).

Method: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses based on a cross-validation were conducted to explore the scale's dimensionality and test for strong (scalar) measurement invariance across gender, age, tumor site, and survival, by fitting multiple-group confirmatory solutions.

The Role of Psychological Maturity and the Big Five Personality Traits in the Victimization Through Indirect Aggression.

Background: Peer victimization is a problem that affects adolescents worldwide. Since so few studies have been made on the relationship between maturity and indirect peer victimization, the main objective of this study was to determine if maturity provides incremental validity beyond the personality traits when predicting indirect victimization. Another objective was to test a model of how all these variables are related to depressive symptomatology and life satisfaction.

Use of selective gut decontamination in critically ill children: protocol for the Paediatric Intensive Care and Infection Control (PICnIC) pilot study.

Introduction: Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill children. In critically ill adults, there are data that suggest the use of Selective Decontamination of the Digestive tract (SDD), alongside standard infection control measures reduce mortality and the incidence of HCAIs. SDD-enhanced infection control has not been compared directly with standard infection prevention strategies in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) population.

Translation, adaptation and psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the numerical rating scale when used with children and adolescents.

Objective: The 0-10 Numerical Rating Scale (NRS-11) is widely used with Arabic-speaking pediatric populations. However, there is no data about its validity or reliability. Thus, the aims of this research were to translate the NRS-11 into Arabic and study its dimensionality and construct (convergent and discriminant) validity, and reliability.

Safety and Efficacy of Subcutaneous Rituximab in Previously Untreated Patients with CD20+ Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma or Follicular Lymphoma: Results from an Italian Phase IIIb Study.

Subcutaneous (SC) rituximab may be beneficial in terms of convenience and tolerability, with potentially fewer and less severe administration-related reactions (ARRs) compared to the intravenous (IV) form. This report presents the results of a phase IIIb study conducted in Italy. The study included adult patients with CD20+ DLBCL or FL having received at least one full dose of IV RTX 375 mg/m during induction or maintenance.

[Decalogue for the Factor Analysis of Test Items].

Unlabelled: Decalogue for the Factor Analysis of Test Items.

Background: In the study of the psychometric properties of the items of a test, a fundamental aspect is the analysis of their dimensional structure. The objective of this work is to provide some guidelines that allow the factor analysis of the items to be carried out in a rigorous and systematic way.

COmpliance with pandemic COmmands Scale (COCOS): The relationship between compliance with COVID-19 measures and sociodemographic and attitudinal variables.

Several studies in different countries have reported that part of the population does not fully comply with the measures recommended to prevent COVID-19, and therefore poses a risk to public health. For this reason, several measures have been developed to assess the level of compliance, although many of them have methodological limitations or do not include a comprehensive set of items. The main goal of the current study was to develop a new instrument with suitable psychometric properties, which includes a more complete set of items and controls the impact of acquiescence bias.

Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30).

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the internal structure of the EORTC QLQ-C30, to examine the validity and normative data for cancer patients.

Method: Exploratory and Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to explore the scale's dimensionality and test for strong measurement invariance across sex and tumor site. All the analyses were based on a multicenter cohort of 931 patients who completed the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-18) and the EORTC QLQ-C30.

An Advanced Surgical Dressing for High-risk Patients Undergoing Breast Cancer Surgery: a Case-control Study.

Unlabelled: Oncological breast surgeries, classified as breast conserving surgery, oncoplastic surgery, and mastectomies (standard or with tissue sparing and reconstruction), are burdened with an overall complication rate up to 33%. Aquacel Ag Surgical is a combined hydrofiber-hydrocolloids dressing. The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence of surgical site complications in patients presenting with three or more risk factors (or two, of which at least one classified as "high risk"), undergoing breast cancer surgery with/without reconstruction, comparing advanced (Aquacel Ag Surgical) with traditional dressing.

Is Correcting for Acquiescence Increasing the External Validity of Personality Test Scores?

Background: Balanced scales control for acquiescence (ACQ) because the tendency of the respondent to agree with the positive items is cancelled out by the tendency to agree with opposite-pole items. When full balance is achieved, ACQ is not expected to affect external validity. Otherwise, attenuated estimates are expected to appear if no control methods such as Lorenzo-Seva & Ferrando's (2009) are used.