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This study was carried out to compare the concurrent validity of the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test – Second Edition (KBIT-2) with that of two Wechsler Intelligence Scales (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Fifth Edition (WISC-V) and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence – Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV)) in an Asian setting. A retrospective study reviewed the medical records of 101 children with developmental disorders who were being followed up at a tertiary child development unit. Pearson product moment correlation coefficients were calculated between the KBIT-2 and Wechsler assessment scores. Simple regression analysis was used to calculate standard errors of estimation to assess the accuracy of predicting Wechsler scores using KBIT-2 scores. A strong positive correlation was observed between KBIT-2's Intelligence Quotient (IQ) Composite and WISC-V's Full-Scale IQ (FSIQ) scores (r = 0.722, p < 0.01). KBIT-2 IQ composite scores showed a moderately strong positive correlation with WPPSI-IV FSIQ scores (r = 0.648, p < 0.01). Simple regression analysis showed that KBIT-2 scores tended to underestimate or overestimate the Wechsler scores, with the highest variability seen in KBIT-2's Non-Verbal IQ and Wechsler's Fluid Reasoning Index scores (error limits: -53.1 to 39.7). Our study demonstrates that KBIT-2 has good concurrent validity when compared to other IQ tests such as the Wechsler scales, and it suggests that KBIT-2 is a good screening tool for assessing intelligence in a group of children with developmental disabilities. Further studies are needed to determine whether KBIT-2 can be used for the purpose of diagnostic decision-making or special education program placement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the lack of established models for assessing Digital Employee Experience (DEX) by developing and validating an assessment instrument. The content validity of the instrument was assessed using the Content Validity Index (CVI) by five experts. Of the initial 63 items, 25 were eliminated, while another 38 items were accepted. The instruments that have been evaluated, contribute valuable insights into the multifaceted dimensions of DEX. The instruments can be used to understand DEX and identify areas for improvement. Further research and validation studies are recommended to establish the reliability and validity of the instrument in accurately measuring DEX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increasing acceptance of universal developmental screening in primary care, it is essential to evaluate the local validity and psychometric properties of commonly used questionnaires like the parent-completed Ages and Stages Questionnaires, 3rd Edition (ASQ-3) in identifying developmental delays. The aim of this study is to assess the convergent validity of the ASQ-3 with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-3rd edition (Bayley-III) in identifying developmental delay in a low-risk term cohort in Singapore. ASQ-3 and Bayley-III data was collected prospectively with generation of ASQ-3 cut-off scores using three different criteria: 1-standard deviation (SD) (Criterion-I) or 2-SD (Criterion-II) below the mean, and using a Receiver Operator Curve (ROC) (Criterion-III). Sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values were calculated. Correlations between the ASQ-3 and Bayley-III domains were evaluated using Pearson coefficients. With all three criteria across different domains ASQ-3 showed high specificity (72–99%) and NPV (69–98%), but lower sensitivity (19–74%) and PPV (11–59%). Criterion-I identified 11–21% of children as "at-risk of developmental delay," and was the most promising criterion measure, with high specificity (82–91%), NPV (69–74%) and overall agreement of 64–71%. Moderate-strong correlations were seen between ASQ-3 Communication and Bayley-III Language scales (r = 0.44–0.59, p < 0.01). The lowest sensitivities were seen in the motor domains. ASQ-3 is reliable in low-risk settings in identifying typically developing children not at risk of developmental delay, but it has modest sensitivity. Moderate-strong correlations seen in the communication domain are clinically important for early identification of language delay, which is one of the most prevalent areas of early childhood developmental delay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a lack of outcome measures for the assessment of physical activity in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). For this matter, the modified Short QUestionnaire to Assess Health (mSQUASH) was developed and validated, originally in Dutch. To translate and cross-culturally adapt the mSQUASH into Spanish and to evaluate the equivalence of the translated version in patients with axSpA. The mSQUASH was translated following forward-backward procedure according to the protocol of Beaton. Two bi-lingual translators produced independent forward translations of the mSQUASH into Spanish, and the versions were harmonized in a consensual version. Another translator back translated the synthesized version into Dutch. A scientific committee reached consensus on discrepancies and developed a pre-final version of the questionnaire. The field test with cognitive debriefing involved 10 patients with axSpA with different gender, age, disease duration, educational level and working status. The translation process of the mSQUASH was completed without major issues. The first translation needed several iterations due to small discrepancies in the wording. Back-translation was performed without difficulties, and the scientific committee agreed upon a final version of the questionnaire. Cognitive debriefing showed the Spanish questionnaire to be clear, relevant, understandable and comprehensive. The preliminary version was accepted with minor modifications. The resulting Spanish version of the mSQUASH showed good linguistic and face validity according to the field test, revealing potential for use in clinical practice and research. In order to conclude the cross-cultural adaptation of the mSQUASH into Spanish, the next step is the assessment of psychometric properties of the Spanish version. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Japanese Orthopaedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ) is a reliable and sensitive measure of disability to determine functional status and evaluate curative effects in low back pain, it has now been cross-cultural translated into many other languages and adapted for use in different countries. We aim to evaluate the translation procedures and measurement properties of cross-cultural adaptations of the JOABPEQ. Studies related to cross-cultural adaptation of the JOABPEQ in a specific language/culture were searched in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, SciELO, PsycINFO, SinoMed, and Web of Science from their inception to March 2022. The Guidelines for the Process of Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Self-Report Measures and the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Status Measurement Instruments guideline were used for evaluation. Nine different versions of cross-cultural JOABPEQ adaptations in 8 different languages/cultures were included. The adaptation process was not strictly performed, such as standard forward translation and expert committee review were rarely reported. Content validity (8/9), floor and ceiling effects (3/9), reliability (4/9), and interpretability (6/9) were assessed in most of the adaptations, while agreement (2/9), responsiveness (2/9), and the internal consistency (2/9) were not. JOABPEQ can replace functional and quality of life score to reduce the burden of scientific research. We recommend Persian-Iranian, simplified Chinese–Chinese Mandarin, Thai and Gunaydin G's Turkish adaptations for application. The numerical pain rating scale/visual analogue scale in low back pain and lower extremities, as well as numbness in lower extremities could not be neglected in JOABPEQ adaptations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foot problems are one of the main causes of seeing a doctor. According to the World Health Organization's definition of health, the healthcare system must consider patients' quality of life as an important entity. In this regard, many tools have been developed to evaluate patients' opinions about their health status. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the Foot Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAFE-Q) in patients with foot orthopedic problems. 215 people aged 17–60 years with orthopedic foot problems were included in this cross-sectional study. The Spearman correlation coefficient of SAFE-Q questionnaires versus Foot Function Index (FFI) questionnaire was evaluated for the convergent validity. Forty-three people randomly completed SAFE-Q again one week later. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach's alpha was calculated to evaluate the test-retest reliability and internal consistency of the SAFE-Q, respectively. A strong relationship was found between the SAFE-Q total score and other scales with FFI questionnaire (r = 0.52 to 0.87). ICC test-retest reliability and Cronbach's alpha were 0.981 and 0.98 for SAFE-Q, respectively. The results indicate that the Persian version of the SAFE-Q questionnaire has acceptable validity and reliability and can be used to assess the health status and quality of life of Persian speakers with orthopedic foot problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a classical clustering algorithm, K-means algorithm has a profound research background. In the of big data era, K-means algorithms will play a greater advantage, being able to quickly divide similar data into the same cluster. Combining K-means algorithm with MapReduce distributed computing framework and running on Hadoop big data platform can significantly improve the clustering effect. Based on MapReduce framework structure, this paper studies K-means model, including K-means principle, distance calculation, content validity index and external validity index. On this basis, the K-means clustering flow based on MapReduce big data programming framework is proposed, and the execution process of the algorithm flow is described in detail, which provides a guide for the algorithm implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to create an educational game application based on the theme of motherly roles in the platformer genre. The game application is designed to feature three levels consisting of multiple-choice questions about the roles of a mother. The Extreme Programming (XP) method is utilized to create the game application. Extreme Programming (XP) is a branch of the Agile Development method used to develop systems with uncertain or rapid requirements changes. The steps of the XP method consist of planning, designing, coding, and testing. The game application is evaluated both internally and outside. Black-box testing and eight golden rules are used for internal review. The findings of black-box testing can be used to determine the viability of a game application. The evaluation findings of the eight golden rules are required to evaluate the game application's user interface. The Game Experience Questionnaire is used for external review (GEQ). The GEQ was distributed through Google Forms, and 67 respondents completed it. The result of the GEQ was then tested for validity and reliability, calculated to find the mean number and standard deviation, and analyzed. Therefore, it was concluded that the game application provides a good user experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proponer una modificación consensuada del Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) según los valores, idioma y cultura predominantes en la sociedad española actual. En primer lugar, se realizó una revisión de alcance de la literatura y una encuesta a usuarios del HAQ para identificar las limitaciones de este cuestionario. En una segunda fase se celebró una reunión con profesionales expertos para discutir los resultados y diseñar propuestas de modificación. La revisión de alcance permitió describir las principales versiones del HAQ, así como sus propiedades psicométricas. En la encuesta a usuarios del HAQ se valoraron el grado de comprensión, la utilidad, la actualidad y la universalidad de cada uno de los ítems y se admitieron sugerencias y opiniones sobre sus principales inconvenientes. Durante la reunión de discusión se propusieron modificaciones de los ítems en función de los resultados de la revisión de alcance y de la encuesta a usuarios. Además, se tuvieron en cuenta la dificultad de comprensión de los ítems, su dificultad para evaluar los movimientos previstos, el carácter redundante, su obsolescencia y el posible sesgo de género. Se propone una actualización de la versión española del HAQ en base a la revisión de la literatura y a la opinión de expertos que pone de manifiesto el cambio de paradigma en los valores culturales y que pretende aumentar la validez de contenido y capacidad de discriminación de este cuestionario. To propose a consensus modification of the HAQ according to the predominant values, language, and culture of the society. First, a scoping review of the literature and a survey of HAQ users were conducted to identify the problems of this questionnaire. In a second phase, a meeting was held with expert professionals to discuss the results and design proposals for modification. The scoping review allowed us to describe the main versions of the HAQ, as well as their psychometric properties. The HAQ users survey assessed the degree of comprehension, usefulness, timeliness, and universality of each of the items, and suggestions and opinions on its main limitations were accepted. During the discussion meeting, modifications to the items were proposed based on the results of the scoping review and the users survey. In addition, the difficulty of understanding the items, their difficulty in assessing intended movements, redundancy, obsolescence, and possible gender bias were taken into account. An update of the Spanish version of the HAQ is proposed based on the literature review and expert opinion that highlights the paradigm shift in cultural values and aims to increase the content validity and discrimination capacity of this questionnaire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-based dietary patterns are comprised of a range of foods, and increasingly, diet quality indices are used to assess them and their associations with health outcomes. As the design of these indices varies, a review of existing indices is necessary to identify common features, strengths, and considerations. This scoping review aimed to synthesize the literature on plant-based diet quality indices by examining their 1) basis for development, 2) scoring methodology, and 3) validation approaches. MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Global Health databases were systematically searched from 1980 to 2022. Observational studies were included if they assessed plant-based diets in adults, using an a priori methodology with food-based components. Studies conducted among pregnant/lactating people were excluded. Thirty-five unique plant-based diet quality indices were identified in 137 included articles published between 2007 and 2022. Indices were developed to reflect epidemiological evidence for associations between foods and health outcomes (n = 16 indices), previous diet quality indices (n = 16), country-specific dietary guidelines (n = 9), or foods from traditional dietary patterns (n = 6). Indices included 4 to 33 food groups, with fruits (n = 32), vegetables (n = 32), and grains (n = 30) the most common. Index scoring comprised of population-specific percentile cutoffs (n = 18) and normative cutoffs (n = 13). Twenty indices differentiated between healthy and less healthy plant-based foods when scoring intakes. Validation methods included construct validity (n = 26), reliability (n = 20), and criterion validity (n = 5). This review highlights that most plant-based diet quality indices were derived from epidemiological research, the majority of indices differentially scored healthy and unhealthy plant and animal foods, and indices were most often evaluated for construct validity and reliability. To ensure best practice use and reporting of plant-based dietary patterns, researchers should consider the basis for development, methodology, and validation when identifying appropriate plant-based diet quality indices for use in research contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sarcopenia Quality of Life (SarQoL) questionnaire has been translated into various languages. This study validated the Taiwanese version of the SarQoL (SarQoL-TW) questionnaire. Forward–backward translation was conducted, along with a test of the prefinal version of the translated questionnaire. To validate the psychometric properties of the questionnaire, 50 older adults with sarcopenia and 50 older adults without sarcopenia completed the SarQoL-TW, the Short Form12 Health Survey (SF-12), and the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire. Participants with sarcopenia were asked to complete the SarQoL-TW questionnaire once more after 2 weeks. Validating the psychometric properties of the SarQoL-TW questionnaire involved assessing its discriminative power, internal consistency, construct validity, test–retest reliability, and potential floor and ceiling effects. The SarQoL-TW questionnaire was translated without major difficulties. The psychometric analysis revealed that older adults with sarcopenia scored significantly lower on the SarQoL-TW, both overall and in some of the domains. The Cronbach's alpha of 0.846 indicated high internal consistency. The SarQoL-TW questionnaire correlated well with similar constructs on the SF-12 and EQ-5D-3L for convergent validity and correlated weakly with distinct domains for divergent validity, confirming its favorable construct validity. The test–retest reliability was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.970). Neither floor nor ceiling effects were observed. The SarQoL-TW questionnaire is a reliable and valid questionnaire, useful for assessing quality of life in older adults with sarcopenia in clinical practice and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In aerial load transportation applications, knowing the mass of the load in advance is not always possible. The load dynamics depend on its mass and using a high-performance model-based controller with an inaccurate mass will introduce unmodeled disturbances to the system that will negatively affect the closed-loop performance. This paper addresses the design of a trajectory tracking controller for a quadrotor with a slung-load that has an unknown mass. The proposed solution is an adaptive controller with online estimation designed using the backstepping technique. Nonlinear control laws for thrust and angular velocity, and an adaption law for mass estimation are proposed, which guarantee the convergence of the trajectory tracking and the estimation errors to zero, and are robust to variations in load mass. Simulation and experimental results are presented to assess the validity and performance of the proposed controller. • A rigorous stability proof shows that the trajectory tracking and estimation errors converge asymptotically to zero. • The adaption law is updated online, compensating the unknown mass while the load tracks a reference trajectory. • The swing motion of the load is allowed to follow naturally the aggressiveness of the reference trajectory. • High-performance experimental results are showcased, including trajectory tracking and aggressive maneuvers with varying load mass and large load swings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening tests differ in benefits, harms, and processes, making individual informed decisions preference based. The objective was to analyze the preferences of insurees in Germany for characteristics of CRC screening modalities. A generic discrete choice experiment with 2-alternative choice sets and 6 attributes (CRC mortality, CRC incidence, complications, preparation, need for transportation, and follow-up; 3 levels each) depicting characteristics of fecal testing, sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy was generated. Participants completed 8 choice tasks. Internal validity was tested using a within-set dominated pair. Between June and October 2020, written questionnaires were sent to a stratified random sample (n = 5000) of 50-, 55-, and 60-year-old insurees of the AOK (Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse) Lower Saxony, who had previously received an invitation to participate in the organized screening program including evidence-based information. Preferences were analyzed using conditional logit, mixed logit, and latent-class model. From 1282 questionnaires received (26% [1282 of 4945]), 1142 were included in the analysis. Approximately 42% of the respondents chose the dominated alternative in the internal validity test. Three heterogeneous preference classes were identified. Most important attributes were preparation (class 1; n = 505, 44%), CRC mortality (class 2; n = 347, 30%), and CRC incidence (class 3; n = 290, 25%). Contrary to a priori expectations, a higher effort was preferred for bowel cleansing (class 1) and accompaniment home (classes 1 and 2). Internal validity issues of choice data need further research and warrant attention in future discrete choice experiment surveys. The observed preference heterogeneity suggests different informational needs, although the underlying reasons remained unclear. • This discrete choice experiment on characteristics of colorectal cancer screening tests revealed significant heterogeneous preferences among German insurees. Three groups were identified: the largest group valued—unexpectedly—a process parameter the most, that is, comprehensive bowel preparation, whereas the other 2 groups focused on potential benefits, that is, either reduction in cancer-specific mortality or incidence. • The experiment included a within-set dominated pair for validity testing. A total of 42% chose the dominated alternative (type B respondents) and revealed significantly different preferences than type A respondents. The underlying reasons and individuals' considerations remain unknown. Internal validity issues of choice data warrant adequate attention in future discrete choice experiments. • Observed preference heterogeneity suggests different informational needs that are to be addressed by public health and healthcare services to support everyone regardless of their health literacy level in making individual informed decisions in the context of colorectal cancer screening by weighing tests' benefits, harms, and processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large number of the elderly in Indonesia are affected by an increasing number of disabilities, with reduced mobility being one of the causes. Locomotive syndrome may cause decreased mobility, and its progression can impair the activities of daily living. Early screening is essential to halt its progression. The loco-check, a screening tool for locomotive syndrome, is available in English. A cross-cultural adaptation of this tool for an Indonesian version is important to maintain the validity of the questionnaire for its implementation in Indonesia. The aim of this study was to obtain a valid Indonesian version of the loco-check questionnaire that has been adapted as per Indonesian language and cultural conventions (through a cross-cultural adaptation process). The subjects in the study were community-dwelling geriatrics over 65 years of age who were recruited using consecutive non-probability judgment sampling according to the inclusion criteria. This study, conducted from February to October 2019, was divided into two stages consisting of: (1) language and cultural adaptation; (2) validity and reliability testing. The seven items on the loco-check were translated using forward-backward translation. The final questionnaire was generated through an expert panel discussion. The validity and reliability were evaluated using concurrent validity and Cronbach's alpha using SPSS Version 23.0. In the first stage, the first and second trials showed a strong correlation between the English and Indonesian versions of the questionnaire with r = 0.997 (p < 0.001) and r = 0.825 (p = 0.003), respectively. The final Indonesian version of the loco-check had a good validity and reliability with r = 0.981 (p < 0.001) and Cronbach's alpha of 0.768, respectively. The Indonesian cross-cultural adaptation of the loco-check questionnaire is a valid and reliable general questionnaire that could enable screening for locomotive syndrome in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to compare discriminant validity evidence of 2 generic patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), the Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey (VR-12) and level 5 of EQ-5D (EQ-5D-5L), for use in emergency departments (EDs).Methods: Data were obtained via a cross-sectional survey of 5876 patients in British Columbia (Canada) who completed a questionnaire after visiting an ED in 2018. We compared the extent to which the VR-12 and the EQ-5D-5L distinguished among groups of ED patients with different levels of comorbidity burden and self-reported physical and mental or emotional health status. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the ability of the 2 PROMs to identify patients presenting with a mental health (MH) condition.Results: All the measures produced small effect sizes (ESs) for discriminating comorbidity levels (R2 range: 0.00 [VR-12 mental component summary {MCS}] to 0.10 [VR-12 physical component summary score]). The EQ-5D visual analog scale offered the largest ES for discriminating self-reported physical health (R2 = 0.48), whereas the MCS, the VR-12 MH domain, and the EQ-5D-5L anxiety/depression dimension had the largest ESs for discriminating self-reported mental or emotional health (R2 = 0.42, 0.40, and 0.38, respectively). The MCS produced a medium ES (R2 = 0.42) along with the VR-12 utility score (R2 = 0.27) compared with the EQ-5D-5L index (R2 = 0.19). Having a MH condition was predominantly identified by the MCS (Pratt index = 0.56).Conclusions: The VR-12 PROM provides a more comprehensive measurement of MH than the EQ-5D-5L, which is important to inform healthcare service needs for patients who present in EDs with MH challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• VMD can separate signals with different variation features from dam displacement. • TSVR and GRU have outstanding nonlinear processing capabilities. • The proposed decomposition-ensemble model has excellent predictive performance. Considering the strong nonstationarity and nonlinearity of the measured displacement, a displacement prediction model of concrete dams is proposed using variational mode decomposition (VMD), twin support vector regression (TSVR) and gated recurrent unit (GRU). Firstly, VMD is adopted to decompose the measured displacement into several signals according to the time series features, and sample entropy (SE) method is used to avoid over-decomposition. Secondly, K -means clustering algorithm is utilized to categorize the decomposed signals into trend, periodic, semi-periodic and stochastic signals, and the trend, periodic and semi-periodic signals are utilized to reconstruct the displacement. Thirdly, the reconstructed displacement is predicted with TSVR-based hydrostatic-seasonal-time (HST) model, and the stochastic signals are predicted with GRU network-based model. Considering the influence of parameters on modelling performance, seagull optimization algorithm (SOA) is employed to determine the optimal parameters of TSVR and GRU. Finally, a displacement prediction model is established by superimposing the predicted values of TSVR-based and GRU-based models. The measured displacement of a gravity dam is utilized to elaborate the implementation process and to test the validity of the proposed model. Results show that the model has excellent predictive performance, which demonstrates that the model is feasible and powerful for precisely predicting dam displacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A frequently used patient-reported outcome measure for assessing physical functioning in patients with hip problems is the 5-item Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score-Physical Function Shortform (HOOS-PS). Nevertheless, its content validity (whether this instrument adequately reflects the construct of physical functioning) is unknown. This study aimed to assess the content validity of the HOOS-PS. A quantitative and qualitative research approach was used. Physical functioning was defined as the ability to perform activities that require physical actions, ranging from self-care to more complex activities that require a combination of skills, often within a social context. Patients (n = 51) and experts (n = 25) completed questionnaires regarding the relevance, comprehensiveness, and comprehensibility of the HOOS-PS. Semistructured interviews (n = 5) explored issues identified in the quantitative data in more depth. Thematic content analysis was conducted using a coding frame. One of the 5 items was considered relevant to measure physical functioning. Comprehensiveness was considered insufficient by both patients and experts. Furthermore, comprehensibility was considered inadequate. Several items were found ambiguous or double barreled. Regarding interpretability, floor or ceiling effects were not found. This study showed concerns about the content validity of the HOOS-PS: most items are considered not relevant, the HOOS-PS is considered not comprehensive, and several items are considered not comprehensible. These findings challenge the applicability of the HOOS-PS in clinical practice, research, value-based healthcare, and benchmarking. • This study showed that the content validity of the Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score-Physical Function Shortform (HOOS-PS) in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty is problematic in 3 areas: (1) lack of relevance, (2) insufficient comprehensiveness, and (3) insufficient comprehensibility of the items. • Given that the HOOS-PS does not reflect physical functioning in total hip arthroplasty patients, this will challenge the applicability of the HOOS-PS in clinical practice, research, and benchmarking. • The lack of content validity in the observed data can subsequently lead to drawing incorrect conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To introduce the garbage class mixed logit (MIXL) model as a convenient alternative to manually screening and accounting for respondents with low data quality in discrete choice experiments. Garbage classes are typically used in latent class logit analyses to designate or identify group(s) of respondents with low data quality. Yet, the same concept can be applied to MIXL models as well. Based on a reanalysis of 4 discrete choice experiments that were originally analyzed using a standard MIXL model, it is shown that garbage class MIXL models can achieve the same effect as manually screening for (and excluding) respondents with low data quality based on the more commonly used root likelihood test, but with less effort and ambiguity. Including a garbage class in MIXL models removes the influence of respondents with a random choice pattern from the MIXL model estimates, provides an estimate of the number of low-quality respondents in the dataset, and avoids having to manually screen for respondents with low data quality based on internal or statistical validity tests. Although less versatile than the combination of standard MIXL estimates with separate assessments of data quality and sensitivity analyses, the proposed garbage class MIXL model provides an attractive alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to perform a systematic review of published evidence on the psychometric properties of 3-level version of EQ-5D-Y and 5-level version of EQ-5D-Y (EQ-5D-Y-5L). A literature search on the MEDLINE, Embase, and EuroQol website (until June 2021) was conducted. Original studies on EQ-5D-Y psychometric properties such as feasibility, distribution properties (ceiling and floor effects), reliability (test-retest, interrater, intermodal), validity (known-groups, convergent), and responsiveness, published as full-text articles in English, were included. Studies on experimental EQ-5D-Y versions were excluded. The following data were pooled using random effects models: missing values, the ceiling effect, and correlations coefficients with other measures. A total of 47 studies (inclusive of 7 on EQ-5D-Y-5L) containing data from 45 310 children and 2690 proxy respondents representing 15 countries were included. These studies were characterized as being high quality according to the quality index. The most represented areas were school populations and musculoskeletal diseases and orthopedics. The EQ-5D-Y dimensions, EQ visual analog scale, and EQ index were reported in 89%, 77%, and 26% of studies, respectively. Most articles addressed validity (known-groups, n = 27; convergent, n = 21) and reliability (test-retest and interrater, n = 10 each). Convergent validity studies showed that, where the assessment of the child's functioning at school is required, EQ-5D-Y should be supplemented with other school-specific measures. This systematic review provides a summary of measurement properties and the psychometric performance of 3-level version of EQ-5D-Y and EQ-5D-Y-5L. The existing evidence supports using the EQ-5D-Y descriptive system and EQ visual analog scale in children and adolescent populations. Further research on test-retest reliability and the responsiveness of the EQ-5D-Y index obtained with child-specific value sets is needed. • The EQ-5D-Y is a generic, self-complete health status instrument, which was developed in 2010 to measure the health-related quality of life of children and adolescents. • A systematic review was conducted to identify published evidence on the psychometric properties (including validity, reliability, and responsiveness) of the 3-level version of EQ-5D-Y and 5-level version of EQ-5D-Y questionnaires. • We identify the research gaps, such as the evidence of reliability and responsiveness of the EQ-5D-Y index estimated based on child-specific value sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to determine if organizational flexibility and support generate innovation in IT solutions, providing firms with enhanced competitiveness. It also explores the mediating role of organizational learning in its flexibility and innovation dynamics and the moderating influence of employees' perceived organizational support on its flexibility and learning. The paper argues that the inimitable internal resources of flexibility, learning capabilities, and a supportive climate can help service-oriented firms innovate to enhance their competitive advantage. A quantitative approach was adopted to conduct a cross-sectional survey of 1350 IT solution-providing companies concentrating on Software Export zones based in India. The structural equation modeling technique was adopted to test the validity and reliability of the measurement models, followed by the proposed direct, mediating, and moderating relationships among organizational flexibility, learning, support, and service innovation. The findings illuminate the significant positive influence of firm-level resources of organizational flexibility on learning, leading to amplified innovation in its services. Additionally, perceived support from the organization's side towards the employees mitigates the positive relationship between organizational flexibility and organizational learning, indicating a negative association. This study also highlighted the untested influence of organizational support as a mitigator of learning in flexible organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive data and computational requirements limit the application of existing urban hydrology models at municipal scales. Community-enabled Lifecycle Analysis of Stormwater Infrastructure Costs (CLASIC) is a web-based deployment of the SWMM model with decoupled hydrologic and hydraulic components to enable hydrologic assessment at the municipal and larger scales. This study comprehensively evaluates the performance validity of CLASIC for characterization of hydrologic responses against SWMM and observed data. Furthermore, global sensitivity analysis is used to explore the significance of hydrologic and hydraulic model parameters across spatial and temporal scales. CLASIC reliably represents the urban hydrological processes and accurately quantifies stream discharge at the municipal scale and temporal scales greater than the catchment's time of concentration. Notably, the computational requirements of CLASIC are substantially lower than those of SWMM as the catchment drainage area increases. The application of CLASIC for flood assessment may be conducted with careful examination of the estimated peak discharge at sub-daily timescales. • A new web-based urban hydrology model, called CLASIC, was demonstrated. • CLASIC's hydrological performance was assessed across spatial and temporal scales. • CLASIC significantly reduces runtime at large spatial scales. • Results emphasize the importance of channel parameters at sub-daily scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a simple diagnostic check for face validity assessment of willingness to pay (WTP) estimates derived from choice experiments (CEs). The check is based on a threshold value for WTP that is related to the highest cost attribute level, which can be used to assess plausibility of estimated WTP. If the threshold value is exceeded, WTP estimates are considered to overshoot. This may be due to issues with (i) the design of the CE and/or (ii) respondents' behavior deviating from assumptions underpinning CEs. Applying the check to a sample of publications, this paper provides evidence on the incidence and magnitude of overshooting of WTP in the agricultural and environmental CE literature. Based on a random sample of publications including 304 observations representing individual studies and population samples, the results show that overshooting of WTP is widespread, with 65% of observations exceeding the overshooting threshold value. An exploratory analysis to identify factors associated with overshooting of WTP across studies reveals that study design factors, and in particular the design of the cost attribute, play an important role. We recommend that researchers apply the diagnostic check for the design of choice experiments and to motivate further scrutiny of choice experiment results. • We present a simple check of plausibility of WTP estimates from choice experiments (CEs). • We apply the check to a large sample of choice experiment studies. • We find that 65% of studies fail the face validity check: WTP "overshoots". • Overshooting points to concerns with study design or respondent behavior. • The check should be used for CE design and to scrutinize CE results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• VBT is used in transportation as the basis for autonomous driving. • VBT integrates environmental factors with real-time scene interpretation. • The technology is validated on a population of professional bus drivers. • Results show that VBT is a valid indicator of driving safety and car crash involvement. Introduction: Due to the relative rarity of crashes, researchers use traffic offenses, police records, public complaints, and In-Vehicle Data Recorder (IVDR) data as proxies for assessing crash risk. In this study, a unique IVDR system, called Vision-Based Technology [(VBT), (Mobileye Inc.)] was used to monitor perilous naturalistic driving events, such as insufficient distance from other vehicles and pedestrian or bicycle rider near-misses. The study aimed to test the convergent validity of VBT as an indicator of crash involvement risk. Methods: Data from 61 professional drivers working for a large bus company were analyzed (16 of 77 in the original data cohort were excluded for insufficient VBT data). Data included: recorded VBT data, objective data collected from official records (crash records provided by the bus company, and public complaints of reckless driving), self-report data regarding crash involvement, and police tickets. The correlation between VBT, objective and self-reported data was analyzed. Binary-logistic regression modeling (BLM) was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) for participants involved in a car crash. Results: Correlations were found between the total VBT risk score and official crash records, public complaints, and self-reports of crash involvement. The BLM correctly classified 90% of those who were involved in a crash (sensitivity) and 60% of those who were "crash-free" (specificity). The VBT total risk score was the only significant contributing factor to crash risk, and for each point of increase, the odds of being involved in a crash increased by a factor of 1.55. Conclusions: It is the first study to provide empirical evidence validating the VBT as an indicator of crash involvement and driver safety among professional bus drivers. Practical Applications: VBT technology can provide researchers and clinicians a better understanding of bus drivers' risky driving behaviors- a valuable contribution to road safety interventions for this target group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We summarize insights from developing six industry-specific safety climate scales. • Safety climate has been inconsistently operationalized and specific issues are identified. • The conceptualization of safety climate dimensions differs within industries. • Best practice guidelines to develop robust safety climate scales are offered. Introduction: Researchers are finding merits in utilizing industry-specific safety climate scales that capture the nuances of context, and tend to show stronger associations with safety behavior and outcomes like incidents. Yet, to date, guidance around the practicalities of developing and validating such industry-specific scales is lacking in the safety science literature. Method: In this paper we outline our experiences developing six industry-specific safety climate scales and highlight strengths and limitations of our approach. We also briefly review the industry-specific safety climate literature and offer highlights for consideration when developing such scales. Our method to develop industry-specific safety climate scales followed an established best practice structure: literature review of existing published industry scales, collation and review of existing scale items, consultation interviews with industry experts, item drafting, exploratory and confirmatory statistical analyses, and finally, a real-world ecological validity test. Results: Our research highlighted the diversity of safety climate dimensions (both the conceptual and content domains of each dimension) when it is considered at an industry level. Also, the literature reviews revealed a dearth of industry-specific safety climate scales in the areas we engaged with, so our project filled a glaring gap in research and practice. Best practice safety climate scale development methods are provided to stimulate further research. Conclusions: We conclude with reflections on the nature of safety climate within and across industries, and offer suggestions for future lines of research across other contexts (e.g., national culture, geography, and regulatory settings). We suggest that industry-specific safety climate scales have a specific use case, such as identifying specific areas to improve and evaluating the impact of safety interventions. Practical Applications: This article provides applications for both applied researchers (to improve capabilities in safety climate scale development) and practitioners who wish to measure organisational safety climate and design effective interventions. Engaging with regulators to build safety climate scales is powerful because their personnel have rich experiences to share across multiple workplaces. Organisational researchers can engage with survey panels to build robust scales. Finally, industry-specific nuances can lead to richer insights into an organisation's safety climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the most commonly used internal validity tests in the discrete choice experiment (DCE) literature and establish their sensitivity and specificity.Methods: A structured literature review of recent DCE articles (2018-2020Q1) published in the health, marketing, transport economics, and environmental science literature was used to identify commonly used internal validity tests. The 2 most frequently used internal validity tests were incorporated in 4 new data collections. Respondent preferences in each application were summarized using a mixed logit model, which served as the benchmark for the subsequent sensitivity and specificity calculations. The performance of the internal validity tests was also compared with that of the root likelihood (RLH) test, which is a likelihood-based statistical validity test that is commonly used in marketing applications.Results: Dominant and repeated choice tasks were most commonly included in health-related DCE designs. Based on 4 applications, their specificity and sensitivity depend on the type of incorrect response pattern to be detected and on design characteristics such as the number of choice options per choice task and the number of internal validity tests as included in the experimental design. In all but one scenario, the performance of the dominant and repeated choice tasks was considerably worse than that of the RLH test.Conclusions: Dominant and repeated choice tasks are unreliable screening tests and costly in terms of statistical power. The RLH test, which is a statistical test that does not require additional choice tasks to be included in the DCE design, provides a more reliable alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To validate the Spanish Low Vision Qualify of Life (SLVQOL) questionnaire, a quality of life instrument specifically designed for patients with visual impairment, and evaluate its psychometric properties. The study included 170 visually impaired patients and 195 healthy subjects. Participants were administered the SLVQOL, the NEI VFQ-25, and the EQ 5D-5L questionnaires. Reliability, test–retest reproducibility, feasibility, and construct validity of the SLVQOL were assessed. The Generalized Partial Credit Model was used to fit the data and the performance of each item was characterized using category response curves and item information. The reliability of the SLVQOL was 0.981 (95% CI: 0.978–0.985). Test–retest reproducibility was good (ρ = 0.864, P <.001). A cut-off point of 105 or 106 was optimal to detect visual impairment, with a sensitivity of 95.4% and a specificity of 91.8%. Construct validity was shown by the corresponding convergence or divergence correlations between the score of the SLVQOL and its dimensions and the overall and partial scores of the NEI VFQ-25 and the EQ 5D-5L. Item response theory analysis showed discrimination and information parameters ranging from 0.539 to 3.063 and from −1.894 to 1.074, respectively. The SLVQOL was able to quantitatively assess and identify differences in the quality of life among patients with visual impairment and normal subjects. The evaluated psychometric properties suggest that this tool has excellent validity, internal consistency, and reproducibility, but may benefit from a reduction of the number of items. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying race, which is a major physical feature in humans, is still a challenging task owing much to the lack of a concrete definition of race and the diversity of population across the globe. In this paper, we try to address the problem of race identification of four broad racial groups namely Caucasian, African, Asian and Indian. The newly developed BUPT Equalised Face dataset bearing about 1.3 M images in unrestricted environment is used to train our deep convolution network (R-Net) which achieves a state-of-the-art accuracy of 97%. To test the validity of this model it is evaluated on other datasets namely UTK and CFD. R-Net is also compared with fine-tuned VGG16 model for race estimation. Experimental results prove the robustness of this model for use in unconstrained environments. And finally, Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) is applied to get a visual explanation of the deep learning model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloud computing provides many advantages services to its users like online resources accessibility, better cost management, dynamic resource pooling, and efficient Virtual Machine (VM) allocation. With so many useful services, cloud computing also introduces several security risks of cloud user information privacy as well as select the minimum number of VM to execute task load and improve resource utilization are some challenging issues. The objective of this work is to achieve higher resource utilization rate while considering the security of the cloud data. We extended the natural phenomena based Intelligent Water Drop (IWD) algorithm and proposed a VM allocation algorithm which optimizes the task execution in a secure cloud environment. The proposed work is implemented on the CloudSim simulation toolkit, and to test the validity of the algorithm, a comparison is performed with other well-known VM allocation policies in the cloud computing. The experimental simulation results showed that the proposed VM allocation policy performed better than exiting VM allocation approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persistent sinonasal symptoms are common in children with chronic rhinosinusitis. The Sinus and Nasal Quality of Life (QoL) Survey (SN-5) was the first validated questionnaire measuring sinonasal-related QoL in populations aged 2–12 years. No norm has been established for Chinese-speaking countries. We translated the SN-5 into traditional Chinese and evaluated validity and reliability. From December 2016 to December 2017, healthy volunteers and children with persistent sinonasal symptoms were enrolled. Guardians of the participants completed the SN-5, a visual analog scale (VAS) of nasal symptoms, and the Obstructive Sleep Apnea-18 (OSA-18); the responses were used to assess internal consistency, discriminant validity, and treatment responsiveness. A nontreatment group was administered the SN-5 1 week later to assess test–retest reliability. We recruited 31 healthy volunteers and 85 children with rhinosinusitis, 50 and 35 in the treatment and nontreatment groups, respectively. The SN-5 demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.86) and test–retest reliability (0.74, p < 0.01). It exhibited good discriminant validity between the healthy and rhinosinusitis groups (p < 0.001). The SN-5 scores were correlated with the VAS scores (0.63, p < 0.001). The effect size of the SN-5 scores was 0.51. The total SN-5 and OSA-18 scores changed significantly after 4-week treatment (p < 0.05) and demonstrated good responsiveness. The SN-5 and OSA-18 scores were significantly and positively correlated (r 2 = 0.53, p < 0.001). Our traditional Chinese version of the SN-5 is reliable and valid for measuring sinonasal-related QoL in children in Chinese-speaking countries. NCT04836403. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tradicionalmente, la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS) de los pacientes con lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES) ha sido evaluada utilizando instrumentos que desatienden las características específicas de la enfermedad. Este estudio determina la validez del cuestionario Lupus Quality of Life (LupusQoL) como instrumento psicométricamente estable para medir la CVRS de los pacientes con LES en Venezuela, y establece los puntos de corte del cuestionario para la población venezolana. Se realizó un estudio de corte transversal que incluyó pacientes con LES desde abril hasta julio de 2018. Los pacientes completaron el LupusQoL y la escala Generalitat de Catalunya (GENCAT); se obtuvieron los datos sociodemográficos, índices de actividad (SLEDAI) y daño acumulado (SLICC). Se evaluó la fiabilidad mediante consistencia interna y se determinó la validez convergente del LupusQoL con la escala GENCAT. De los 100 pacientes, el 93% eran mujeres, la media de edad fue de 42 años (DE: 13) y la media de duración de la enfermedad fue de 11 años (DE: 9); la media de SLEDAI y SLICC fue de 3 y 1, respectivamente. El punto de corte que definió una «mejor» o «peor» CVRS para el LupusQoL fue 64,55 puntos. Se encontró una convergencia moderada posterior a la agrupación, según los puntos de corte, del LupusQoL con la escala GENCAT (coeficiente kappa de Cohen = 0,556; p = 0,000). El LupusQoL es válido como instrumento psicométricamente estable para medir la CVRS de los pacientes con LES en Venezuela. Se establecieron los puntos de corte que permiten estratificar la CVRS de los pacientes venezolanos con LES, siendo de utilidad para complementar una evaluación integral. Traditionally, the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been assessed using instruments that neglect the specific characteristics of the disease. This study determines the validity of the Lupus Quality of Life (LupusQoL) questionnaire as a psychometrically stable instrument to measure the HRQoL of patients with SLE in Venezuela and establishes the cutoff points of the questionnaire for the Venezuelan population. A cross-sectional study was conducted that included patients with SLE from April to July 2018. Patients completed the LupusQoL and the Generalitat de Catalunya (GENCAT) scale; sociodemographic data, activity index (SLEDAI) and accumulated damage (SLICC), were obtained. Reliability was evaluated by internal consistency and the convergent validity of the LupusQoL was determined with the GENCAT scale. Of the 100 patients, 93% were women, the mean age was 42 years old (SD: 13) and the mean duration of the disease was 11 years (SD: 9); the mean of SLEDAI and SLICC was 3 and 1, respectively. The cutoff point that defined a "better" or "worse" HRQoL for LupusQoL was 64.55 points. A moderate convergence was found after grouping, according to the cutoff points, of the LupusQoL with the GENCAT scale (Cohen's kappa coefficient =.556; p =.000). The LupusQoL is a valid psychometrically stable instrument to measure the HRQoL of patients with SLE in Venezuela. Cutoff points were established to stratify the HRQoL in the Venezuelan population with LES, being useful to complement a comprehensive evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Identifying individuals at risk of drunk driving could reduce drunk driving rates. • The use of implicit measures could overcome problems related to self-report. • We tested the predictive utility of a new implicit measure for drunk driving. • Implicit measure scores predicted past and future likelihood of drunk driving. • This measure could be a promising tool for drunk driving risk assessment. Introduction: Drunk driving is one of the primary causes of road traffic injuries and fatalities. A possible approach to reduce drunk driving rates is to identify which individuals are at risk of such behavior and establish targeted prevention. Simply asking individuals about drunk driving in real-world contexts would be problematic because of potential deception. The use of implicit measures such as the Implicit Association Test (IAT) could overcome this problem because they are less controllable than self-reports and thus less susceptible to deception. However, previous studies have shown poor predictive utility of implicit measures for drunk driving behavior. The current studies aimed to test the predictive utility of a variant of the IAT designed to assess beliefs about past driving under the influence (the P-DUI-IAT). Method: Study 1 (N = 216) tested whether the P-DUI-IAT could predict self-reported prior drunk driving and future likelihood of drunk driving. We also examined incremental predictive validity of the P-DUI-IAT for these outcomes. Study 2 (N = 159) examined whether results from Study 1 were reproducible. Results. In both studies, results showed that the P-DUI-IAT discriminated well between participants who had engaged in drunk driving and participants who had not. The P-DUI-IAT also showed independent and incremental predictive validity for past drunk driving and future likelihood of drunk driving. Conclusions: These studies provided initial evidence for the predictive utility of the P-DUI-IAT for drunk driving. Practical Applications: The P-DUI-IAT is a promising tool for identifying which individuals are at risk of drunk driving. The application of this measure could especially be valuable for identifying young novice drivers at risk for drunk driving-related accidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are very few patient-centred global outcome measures of recovery in the days or weeks after surgery. This meta-analysis evaluated the psychometric properties and clinical acceptability of the 15-item quality of recovery (QoR-15) scale.Methods: We searched bibliographic databases for studies undertaking psychometric evaluation of the QoR-15 or using the QoR-15 as an outcome measure after surgery. Record screening, data extraction, and quality assessments were independently done by two researchers. Weighted averages estimating overall summary statistics across all the studies were calculated using random-effects meta-analysis. Pooled correlation coefficients were transformed using a Fisher z-transformation and then back-transformed to calculate pooled results. The four co-primary endpoints were validity, reliability, responsiveness, and clinical utility of the QoR-15 scale.Results: A total of 26 unique studies met the eligibility criteria, yielding up to 22 847 patients across 16 countries, in 15 languages. A further 172 studies in a further 18 countries and six languages used the QoR-15 as an outcome measure. The QoR-15 had excellent discriminant validity, with the mean difference in QoR-15 scores in patients with and without postoperative complications (9.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.9-13.3; P<0.001), and good convergent validity (for a global visual analogue recovery scale, pooled r=0.63; 95% CI, 0.54-0.71). There was excellent reliability: internal consistency (pooled α=0.85; 95% CI, 0.83-0.87), split-half reliability=0.80 (95% CI, 0.75-0.84), and test-retest reliability=0.97 (95% CI, 0.95-0.98). There was also high responsiveness (pooled standardised response mean=0.87; 95% CI, 0.65-1.08), patient recruitment into evaluation studies (96%; 95% CI, 93-99), and excellent completion and return rates (91%; 95% CI, 84-96). The mean time to complete the QoR-15 was 2.7 (95% CI, 2.2-3.1) min.Conclusions: The QoR-15 is a valid, reliable, and responsive patient-centred outcome metric in surgical patients. It is highly acceptable to both patients and clinicians.Registration: Open Science Framework Identifier: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/78HTA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to appraise the evidence relating to the measurement properties of unidimensional tools to quantify pain after surgery. Furthermore, we wished to identify the tools used to assess interference of pain with functional recovery.Methods: Four electronic sources (MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO) were searched in August 2020. Two reviewers independently screened articles and assessed risk of bias using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist.Results: Thirty-one studies with a total of 12 498 participants were included. Most of the studies failed to meet the methodological quality standards required by COSMIN. Studies of unidimensional assessment tools were underpinned by low-quality evidence for reliability (five studies), and responsiveness (seven studies). Convergent validity was the most studied property (13 studies) with moderate to high correlation ranging from 0.5 to 0.9 between unidimensional tools. Interpretability results were available only for the visual analogue scale (seven studies) and numerical rating scale (four studies). Studies on functional assessment tools were scarce; only one study included an 'Objective Pain Score,' a tool assessing pain interference with respiratory function, and it had low-quality for convergent validity.Conclusions: This systematic review challenges the validity and reliability of unidimensional tools in adult patients after surgery. We found no evidence that any one unidimensional tool has superior measurement properties in assessing postoperative pain. In addition, because promoting function is a crucial perioperative goal, psychometric validation studies of functional pain assessment tools are needed to improve pain assessment and management.Clinical Trial Registration: PROSPERO CRD42020213495. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to present the face validity and psychometric stages performed in Spanish in Argentina, the only Spanish-speaking country of an international collaboration that undertook the construction of a new measure that can be used in economic evaluation across health, social care, and public health, the EQ EQ-HWB (EQ Health and Wellbeing). We also explored the relationship among 3-level version EQ-5D (EQ-5D-3L), 5-level version EQ-5D (EQ-5D-5L), and EQ-HWB.Methods: Face validity was based on semistructured face to face interviews of a purposive sample to explore translatability of language and concepts of 97 candidate items, translated into Argentina Spanish. The psychometric evaluation using an online panel assessed the psychometric properties of 64 items that were carried forward (floor and ceiling effects, item correlations, known-group differences in relevant prespecified subgroups by the international and local teams, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, and item response theory). EQ-5D-3L, EQ-5D-5L, and EQ-HWB correlations were explored.Results: In the face validity stage, 24 interviews with carers, general public, patients, and users of social services were included. Most items showed adequate face validity. In the psychometric assessment, 497 participants were recruited (64% reporting a long-term health condition). Most of the items showed adequate psychometrics in an Argentinian context. EQ-5D-3L and EQ-5D-5L had strong correlations, and EQ-HWB was moderately correlated to EQ visual analog scale. The Argentina team recommended 23 of the final 25 items.Conclusions: The assessment of Spanish items contributed to the overall development of EQ-HWB and helped inform the design of an internationally relevant 25-item and a short 9-item measure intended to be used in economic evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The development of measures such as the EQ-HWB (EQ Health and Wellbeing) requires selection of items. This study explored the psychometric performance of candidate items, testing their validity in patients, social carer users, and carers.Methods: Article and online surveys that included candidate items (N = 64) were conducted in Argentina, Australia, China, Germany, United Kingdom, and the United States. Psychometric assessment on missing data, response distributions, and known group differences was undertaken. Dimensionality was explored using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Poorly fitting items were identified using information functions, and the function of each response category was assessed using category characteristic curves from item response theory (IRT) models. Differential item functioning was tested across key subgroups.Results: There were 4879 respondents (Argentina = 508, Australia = 514, China = 497, Germany = 502, United Kingdom = 1955, United States = 903). Where missing data were allowed, it was low (UK article survey 2.3%; US survey 0.6%). Most items had responses distributed across all levels. Most items could discriminate between groups with known health conditions with moderate to large effect sizes. Items were less able to discriminate across carers. Factor analysis found positive and negative measurement factors alongside the constructs of interest. For most of the countries apart from China, the confirmatory factor analysis model had good fit with some minor modifications. IRT indicated that most items had well-functioning response categories but there was some evidence of differential item functioning in many items.Conclusions: Items performed well in classical psychometric testing and IRT. This large 6-country collaboration provided evidence to inform item selection for the EQ-HWB measure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The Michigan Hand Questionnaire (MHQ) is a commonly used evaluation for hand problems, but previous work reports conflicting evidence regarding the subscale structures. Rasch analysis uses probabilistic modeling of items and responses: if scale items can be fit to the Rasch model, it provides evidence of construct validity and interval-level measurement for precise statistical estimates. We conducted Rasch analysis on the MHQ to evaluate model fit, unidimensionality of the subscales, bias across person factors, and conversion to interval metrics.Methods: We conducted a secondary Rasch analysis of MHQ data from 924 persons with thumb basal joint osteoarthritis using the RUMM2030 software. Modeling was based on responses for the most affected hand and person factors including age, sex, type of work, whether the dominant side was the most affected, and surgical status. The analysis plan followed the published recommendations for examinations of person and item fit, with iterative adjustments as required.Results: A total of 11 of the 37 items required rescoring to create orderly progression of scoring thresholds. Only the overall hand function and pain subscales could be fit to the Rasch model, demonstrating unidimensionality and good reliability of fit estimates. Dividing the activities of daily living subscale into unilateral and bilateral activities also allowed unilateral activities to fit the model. Persistent misfitting in other subscales suggested local dependency and response bias across multiple person factors.Conclusions: This Rasch analysis of the MHQ raises concerns regarding the validity and fundamental measurement properties of this widely used outcome evaluation when used as a summary score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercity Demand Responsive Transit (IDRT) systems, providing on-demand "door-to-door" services for intercity travelers, have been recently implemented in a few cities and gained popularity. To devise a theoretical tool for designing efficient IDRT systems, this study proposes a continuous approximation (CA) model to describe the operation metrics of the IDRT. In a two-city system, an optimization model is proposed to study the zoning strategies in the main city, the service area in the satellite city, and headways. The objective is to minimize the average system cost, including the costs of both the operators and the passengers. A two-stage partition algorithm is proposed to generate a near-optimal solution by combining the greedy algorithm and sensitivity-based coordination optimization method. Subsequently, we develop a direct solution algorithm to establish a lower bound for the optimal solution, facilitating a comparison with the near-optimal solution. Throughout all sensitivity analyses, the gaps between the near-optimal solution and the lower-bound solution remain below 3 %. The comparison results demonstrate that the computation time and solution quality of the two-stage partition algorithm are considered acceptable. Simulation is performed to test the validity of the CA model, and the errors in the average system costs are less than 1.16 %. Sensitivity analyses are carried out to evaluate the impacts of several key parameters (e.g., demand densities and line-haul distances) on the optimization results. By comparison with Intercity Fixed Route Transit (IFRT), it can be seen that the choice of IDRT depends on passengers' preference for door-to-door transportation. This study may serve as a valuable reference for the practical implementation of IDRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a direct reference tool to reflect the operational status and development level of national industry, industrial statistics hold significant value for numerous systematic studies. Nevertheless, it is crucial to recognize that the quality of these statistics can be compromised by the common occurrence of missing value. This issue poses a substantial challenge for analyzing and utilizing industrial statistics, impeding progress in tasks reliant upon them. Given the severity of the missing value problem in industrial statistical databases and the limitations of existing literatures on missing value imputation in terms of research objects and modeling approaches, this paper proposes a novel missing value imputation modeling approach for single-indicator panels of industrial statistics based on the idea of data-characteristic-driven (DCD). Accordingly, taking the inter-provincial "monthly power generation" data from China as an example, the imputation model was constructed and its validity was tested under different imputed objects (Jiangsu and Jilin), different missing types (continuous and discrete), and different missing rates (5%, 10% and 20%) respectively. The results indicate that the proposed DCD modeling approach in this paper exhibits excellent efficacy. The imputation model, constructed based on the data characteristic of the imputed object, demonstrates clear advantages in handling missing value with different missing types and rates. This is evident in its superior consideration of numerical accuracy, directional accuracy, and imputation stability, resulting in an outstanding comprehensive imputation effect. • A novel DCD modeling approach for missing value imputation of industrial statistics is proposed. • A data characteristic recognition path of single-indicator panel data is constructed. • The match between data characteristic and model mechanisms improves imputation performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients' self-reporting is increasingly considered essential to measure quality-of-life and treatment-related side-effects. However, if multiple patient-reported instruments are used, redundancy may represent an overload for patients. Patient-Reported Outcomes Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE) are a tool allowing direct patients' reporting of side-effects. We tested psychometric properties of a selected list of PRO-CTCAE items, in a cohort of 303 breast cancer patients, using validated instruments for quality of life assessment as anchors. The analysis of convergent validity with HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and EORTC BR-23 sub-scales, and the analysis of responsiveness with the PGIC (Patients Global Impression of Change) score supported that a selected list of PRO-CTCAE symptoms might represent a standardized, agile tool for both research and practice settings to reduce patient burden without missing relevant information on patient perceptions. Among patients using digital devices, those with a higher education levels required shorter time to fulfil questionnaires. In conclusion, a selected list of PRO-CTCAE items can be considered as a standardized, agile tool for capturing crucial domains of side-effects and quality of life in patients with breast cancer. The study is registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04416672). [Display omitted] • PRO-CTCAE allow patients' self-reporting of adverse events. • Convergent validity of selected PRO-CTCAE items with HADS and BR-23 was good. • Responsiveness to patients' impression of change was good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A possible violation of the weak gravity conjecture (WGC) by cosmic censorship is one of the major challenges in the field of general relativity. The cosmic censorship is a fundamental principle that ensures the consistency of the theory of gravity. According to this principle, a charged black hole in four dimensions cannot violate the weak cosmic censorship conjecture (WCCC) under normal conditions. However, in this paper, we explore the possibility of reconciling the WGC and the WCCC by considering Reissner-Nordström (R-N) black holes embedded in perfect fluid dark matter (PFDM) in asymptotically flat spacetimes. These two conjectures are seemingly unrelated, but a recent proposal suggested that they are connected surprisingly. In particular, We argue a promising class of valid counterexamples to the WCCC in the four-dimensional Einstein-Maxwell theory, considering a charged black hole when WGC is present. We demonstrate that by imposing certain constraints on the parameters of the metric, the WGC and the WCCC can be compatible. Furthermore, we investigate the properties of the charged black hole in the presence of PFDM for Q > M and present some intriguing figures to test the validity of the WGC and the WCCC simultaneously. When PFDM is absent (γ = 0), the RN black hole either has two event horizons if Q 2 / M 2 ≤ 1 or none if Q 2 / M 2 > 1. The second scenario results in a naked singularity, which contradicts the WCCC. But when PFDM is present (γ ≠ 0), the RN black hole has event horizons with regard to Q and M. This implies that the singularity is always covered, and the WGC and the WCCC are fulfilled. Furthermore, we demonstrate that there is a critical value of γ , called γ e x t , that makes the RN black hole extremal when γ = γ e x t. In this situation, the black hole has an event horizon, and the WGC and the WCCC are still fulfilled. We infer that PFDM can make the WGC and the WCCC compatible with the RN black hole and that the WGC and the WCCC agree with each other when PFDM is present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Inspired by millepedes, a miniature self-moving ultrasonic actuator (MSMUA) is developed by bonding PZT plates to the bar-shaped vibrating body. • The MSMUA is driven with a flexural traveling wave induced by a pair of longitudinal vibrations with phase difference. • The key dimensions are adjusted to increase the driving-force-to-weight ratio and make the elliptical motion shape close to the unit. • In a tethered manner, the MSMUA yielded a maximum payload of 433 g, equal to 27.7 times of its own weight. • In an untethered manner, the MSMUA produced a minimal step displacement of 19.2 nm. To accomplish high carrying/positioning capability with compact structure, in this study, a miniature self-moving ultrasonic actuator (MSMUA) is developed by exciting a flexural traveling wave induced by dual longitudinal vibrations. Here, four lead-zirconate-titanite plates are bonded onto the bilateral ends of the bar-shaped vibrating body to efficiently generate the vibration. Interestingly, the MSMUA imitates the millipede in terms of the simple configuration and the operating principle. To test the validity, first, by using a Krimhertz-transmission-theory-based model, the key dimensions were adjusted to not only increase the driving-force-to-weight ratio but also make the elliptical motion shape close to the unity. Then, a prototype with the size of 87.5 × 9 × 9 mm3 and the weight of 15.67 g was fabricated, its moving/carrying/positioning performance was evaluated, and an array of MSMUAs was constructed to achieve flexible movement. At 105.44 kHz working frequency, the MSMUA in a tethered manner yielded the maximum payload of 433 g (equal to 27.7 times of its own weight), the maximum speed of 378 mm/s, and the maximum towing force of 0.4 N. Meanwhile, it crossed the gully 21 mm in width and climbed the slope of 7.4° Installed with an onboard circuit and 3.7 V batteries, the MSMUA provided the minimum step displacement of 19.2 nm. Moreover, the array of MSMUAs produced the turning movements (whose directions, angular speeds, and steering radii were adjustable) and the in-situ rotations. This study demonstrates the MSMUA's high carrying capability and nanometer resolution, and provides a new approach to design powerful ultrasonic actuators. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study replicated the method proposed by Page (2001) to infer the effect of traffic safety culture on traffic safety performance for the United States. • The results suggest that a positive traffic safety culture can have a protective effect by producing a lower-than-expected fatality rate. • Conversely, a negative traffic safety culture can have an exacerbating effect by producing larger-than-expected fatality rate. • The derived metric for estimating traffic safety culture had strong concurrent validity by correlating with the ranking of states based only on total crash fatality rate. • Consistent with Page (2001), the analysis also identified common risk factors across states including per capita alcohol consumption and unemployment rate. Introduction: Traffic safety performance (crash fatalities per billion vehicle miles traveled) is influenced by many factors related to the physical and social environment. The traffic safety culture in the local environment can influence behaviors that influence the risk of a fatal crash. However, if traffic safety culture is defined as "shared beliefs," it is not possible to directly observe the effect of culture on traffic safety performance. Method: This study replicated the method proposed by Page (2001) to infer the effect of traffic safety culture on traffic safety performance for U.S. states between 1994 and 2014. This method infers the influence of traffic safety culture from the error between actual and predicted performance based on observable variables that measure the physical and social environment as well as behavioral hazards. Results: The results suggest that a positive traffic safety culture can have a protective effect by producing a lower-than-expected fatality rate. Conversely, a negative traffic safety culture can have an exacerbating effect by producing a larger-than-expected fatality rate. Conclusion: The derived metric for estimating traffic safety culture had strong concurrent validity by correlating with the ranking of states based only on total crash fatality rate. Practical Implications: Consistent with Page (2001), the analysis also identified common risk factors across states including per capita alcohol consumption and unemployment rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel maximum volume sampling model is proposed. • A new maximum volume optimization method is developed. • The uniform sampling strategy and Givens transformation are adopted. • The validity is proved by testing both numerical and engineering examples. In this study, a maximum volume sampling model is proposed to improve the accuracy and efficiency of reliability computation. An ellipsoid is constructed with the maximum volume approach in a safe domain, and a new maximum volume optimization method is proposed. The sampling model only computes the samples outside the ellipsoid, which considerably enhances computational efficiency. Furthermore, the uniform sampling strategy and Givens transformation are adopted to efficiently solve the maximum volume optimization model. A series system example, a three-dimensional rock slope example, and an arch bridge example are tested to verify the validity of the proposed maximum volume sampling model. The results indicate that the maximum volume sampling model displays high accuracy and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Circadian rhythms coordinate multiple biological processes, and time of eating is an important entrainer of peripheral circadian clocks, including those in the gastrointestinal tract and liver. Whereas time of eating can be assessed through valid and reliable tools designed to measure nutrient intake (24-h recalls), currently there is no easily administered, valid, and reliable tool designed to specifically assess both time of food intake and sleep. Objectives The objective of this study was to test the validity and reliability of 2 questionnaires developed to measure food and sleep-wake timing, the Food Timing Questionnaire (FTQ) and Food Timing Screener (FTS), and the agreement between these 2 tools. Methods The content validity of these tools was assessed by an expert panel of 10 registered dietitian nutritionists. Adult volunteers (n  = 61) completed both tools to assess internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Criterion-related validity was determined through the association of FTQ and FTS with 2 valid instruments, the Automated Self-Administered 24-hour recall (ASA24®) Dietary Assessment tool and the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire. Agreement between the FTQ and FTS was tested by calculating the Pearson's correlations for both food and sleep-wake timing. Results The content validity indexes for both tools were >0.80, and internal consistency and test-retest reliability coefficients were >0.50 for all meals and sleep-wake times. Correlation coefficients were >0.40 between both tools and criterion measures of food intake and sleep except for snacks. Correlations between the FTQ and FTS for all eating events and sleep were >0.60 except for snack 1. Conclusions Both the FTQ and FTS are valid and reliable instruments for meal timing and sleep. However, further psychometric testing in a more expansive and diverse sample will improve the ability of these tools to accurately assess food timing and sleep and their impact on health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the design and analysis of a novel variable-stiffness robotic gripper, the RobInLab VS gripper. The purpose is to have a gripper that is strong and reliable as rigid grippers but adaptable as soft grippers. This is achieved by designing modular fingers that combine a jamming material core with an external structure, made with rigid and flexible materials. This allows the finger to softly adapt to object shapes when the capsule is not active, but becomes rigid when air suction is applied. A three-finger gripper prototype was built using this approach. Its validity and performance are evaluated using five experimental benchmark tests implemented exclusively to measure variable-stiffness grippers. To complete the analysis, our gripper is compared with an alternative gripper built by following a relevant state-of-the-art design. Our results suggest that our solution significantly outperforms previous approaches using similar variable stiffness designs, with a significantly higher grasping force, combining a good shape adaptability with a simpler and more robust design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of EQ-5D-5L-Y and to compare the performance of EQ-5D-5L-Y with EQ-5D-3L-Y in children and adolescents.Methods: The Spanish versions of the 3L and 5L of EQ-5D for youths, were administered to children and adolescents from the general population. Feasibility and reliability were determined for the EQ-5D-5L-Y. The EQ-5D-5L-Y and EQ-5D-3L-Y were evaluated in terms of ceiling effects, informativity, and correlations with other generic measurements of health-related quality of life.Results: A total of 714 healthy children and adolescents (10.7 ± 2.1 years old) from the general population participated in the study. Most of the sample reported full health status. The feasibility and reliability for the EQ-5D-5L-Y were acceptable, but the questionnaire showed a low convergent validity. Absolute informativity (Shannon index) showed a slight increase in all dimensions of the 5L compared with the 3L; nevertheless, there were only statistically significant differences between 5L and 3L in the dimension "feeling worried, sad, or unhappy" and also on the overall system. Relative informativity (Shannon evenness index) showed a decrease in the 5L compared with 3L for all dimensions, except for "looking after myself." Correlations with other health measurements, in both 3L and 5L, showed similar results to those observed in the international EQ-5D-3L-Y validation study.Conclusion: The results show that EQ-5D-5L-Y is feasible, consistent, and reliable, but there are minor differences in the ceiling effect and informativity between the EQ-5D-5L-Y and EQ-5D-3L-Y versions in the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to develop and assess the content validity of a patient-reported outcomes (PROs) instrument to measure symptoms and impacts experienced by patients with active multiple myeloma (MM).Methods: The PRO instrument was developed using an iterative, mixed-methods approach. The list of concepts was generated based on a review of existing evidence (qualitative studies and literature) and post hoc psychometric evaluations of 2 PRO instruments in 3 clinical trials. A total of 30 adult patients with MM from the United States participated in hybrid concept elicitation/cognitive debriefing interviews to validate the content validity of the newly developed PRO instrument. Translatability assessment was completed in 8 languages.Results: The item generation process resulted in 17 symptom and 9 impact concepts for evaluation. The concept elicitation interviews and analysis were based on the first 25 participants; evidence of saturation was observed. The cognitive debriefing interviews and analysis were based on the last 23 participants across 4 waves of interviews. On the basis patient feedback, 10 items were removed, and 1 item was added to the PRO instrument. The translatability assessment resulted in 1 minor revision. The multiple myeloma symptom and impact questionnaire (MySIm-Q) includes 11 symptom and 6 impact concepts, organized within 8 hypothesized subdomains, with each concept measured using a 5-point verbal rating scale and a 7-day recall period.Conclusions: The MySIm-Q instrument was developed using rigorous and mixed methodology and with direct input from patients who received a diagnosis of MM. The MySIm-Q has good content validity and is culturally relevant for use in global clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on two-grid discretization and domain decomposition approach, this paper presents and studies two local and parallel finite element algorithms for the 2D/3D steady Stokes equations with nonlinear damping term. Starting point of the algorithms is that for a solution of the Stokes equations with damping, we first approximate the low-frequency component on a relatively coarse grid, and then compute the high-frequency component on a locally fine grid via some local and parallel procedures. The proposed algorithms are easy to implement and have low communication complexity. With the use of the technical tool of local a priori estimate for finite element solution, we derive error estimates of the approximate solutions from the proposed algorithms. Some numerical results are provided to test the validity of the present algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]