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The present study introduces the concept of validating data quality indicators through re-classification. We use the term re-classification to mean the evaluation of how well an indicator detects the quality of different versions of a survey question for which the quality is known a priori. We illustrate its application with two examples. In both, we make use of 12 questions from prior experiments that manipulated text features of questions to create 'low' and 'high' quality versions of each question. In the first example, we coded each question version in SQP 2.1 to obtain indicators of validity, reliability, and quality. We compared these indicators between the two versions of each question to assess whether the SQP outcomes were sensitive to text features. In the second example, we used a pretest survey to obtain three indicators of survey quality: response latencies, item nonresponse, and consistency over time. Again, we compared these indicators between question versions to assess whether the indicators were sensitive to text features. We give recommendations for applying re-classification and an outlook for future research opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the development and validation of an airflow model to support climate prediction for Citrus Under Protective Screens (CUPS) in California. CUPS is a permeable screen structure designed to protect a field of citrus trees from large insects including the vector that causes the devastating citrus greening disease. Because screen structures modify the environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, relative humidity, airflow), farm management and treatment strategies (e.g., pesticide spraying events) must be modified to account for these differences. Toward this end, we develop a model for predicting wind speed and direction in a commercial-scale research CUPS, using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. We describe the model and validate it in two ways. In the first, we model a small-scale replica CUPS under controlled conditions and compare modeled and measured airflow in and around the replica structure. In the second, we model the full-scale CUPS and use historical measurements to back test the models accuracy. In both settings, the modeled airflow values fall within statistical confidence intervals generated from the corresponding measurements of the conditions being modeled. These findings suggest that the model can aid decision support and smart agriculture solutions for farmers as they adapt their farm management practices for CUPS structures.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the reliability and agreement of manual and automated morphological measurements, and agreement in morphological diagnoses. METHODS: Thirty pelvic radiographs were randomly selected from the World COACH consortium. Manual and automated measurements of acetabular depth-width ratio (ADR), modified acetabular index (mAI), alpha angle (AA), Wiberg center edge angle (WCEA), lateral center edge angle (LCEA), extrusion index (EI), neck-shaft angle (NSA), and triangular index ratio (TIR) were performed. Bland-Altman plots and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to test reliability. Agreement in diagnosing acetabular dysplasia, pincer and cam morphology by manual and automated measurements was assessed using percentage agreement. Visualizations of all measurements were scored by a radiologist. RESULTS: The Bland-Altman plots showed no to small mean differences between automated and manual measurements for all measurements except for ADR. Intraobserver ICCs of manual measurements ranged from 0.26 (95%-CI 0-0.57) for TIR to 0.95 (95%-CI 0.87-0.98) for LCEA. Interobserver ICCs of manual measurements ranged from 0.43 (95%-CI 0.10-0.68) for AA to 0.95 (95%-CI 0.86-0.98) for LCEA. Intermethod ICCs ranged from 0.46 (95%-CI 0.12-0.70) for AA to 0.89 (95%-CI 0.78-0.94) for LCEA. Radiographic diagnostic agreement ranged from 47% to 100% for the manual observers and 63%-96% for the automated method as assessed by the radiologist. CONCLUSION: The automated algorithm performed equally well compared to manual measurement by trained observers, attesting to its reliability and efficiency in rapidly computing morphological measurements. This validated method can aid clinical practice and accelerate hip osteoarthritis research.

In January 2020, a workshop was held at EMBL-EBI (Hinxton, UK) to discuss data requirements for the deposition and validation of cryoEM structures, with a focus on single-particle analysis. The meeting was attended by 47 experts in data processing, model building and refinement, validation, and archiving of such structures. This report describes the workshop's motivation and history, the topics discussed, and the resulting consensus recommendations. Some challenges for future methods-development efforts in this area are also highlighted, as is the implementation to date of some of the recommendations.

Comparative analysis of (meta)genomes necessitates aggregation, integration, and synthesis of well-annotated data using standards. The Genomic Standards Consortium (GSC) collaborates with the research community to develop and maintain the Minimum Information about any (x) Sequence (MIxS) reporting standard for genomic data. To facilitate the use of the GSC's MIxS reporting standard, we provide a description of the structure and terminology, how to navigate ontologies for required terms in MIxS, and demonstrate practical usage through a soil metagenome example.

Background: Despite the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, the proportion of exclusively breastfed children remains low in rural China. Self-efficacy is one of the most crucial modifiable factors predicting breastfeeding behavior. However, existing instruments in China do not specifically measure self-efficacy for exclusive breastfeeding but rather measure self-efficacy for any breastfeeding. Furthermore, they have been validated only in high-income Chinese settings. We sought to adapt and validate an instrument to measure exclusive breastfeeding self-efficacy within rural Chinese contexts. Methods: We introduced relevant items to Dennis' Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF), which can assess maternal self-efficacy for exclusive breastfeeding. It was then implemented in a multistage random cluster sampling design and cross-sectional survey with home-visit interviews among women 0–6 months postpartum (n = 654) in the rural areas of four counties in Sichuan, China. We performed item-total and adjusted item-total correlations, as well as exploratory factor analysis to remove redundant items and determine the latent factor structure. We further applied confirmatory factor analysis to test the dimensionality of the scale. We then assessed the reliability of the scale and conducted tests of predictive and divergent validity. Known group comparisons were made by primiparous status and breastfeeding support level. We compared the validated Exclusive Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale with the BSES-SF in terms of reliability and validity to explore the added value of scale modification. Results: Our modification of the BSES-SF to target exclusive breastfeeding produced 19 items. This was further reduced to 15 items based on adjusted item-total correlations and exploratory factor analysis, forming the Exclusive Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale. This scale had three dimensions: "Breast milk supply and quality," "Breastfeeding skills," and "Exclusive breastfeeding" subscales. The Exclusive Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale demonstrated strong internal consistency and overall reliability with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.91. Predictive and divergent validity and known group comparison assessments supported its validity. Robust psychometric evaluations demonstrated enhanced validity and reliability compared to the original BSES-SF. Conclusions: Our Exclusive Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale is valid and reliable for measuring exclusive breastfeeding self-efficacy within rural Chinese contexts and is ready for adaptation and validation for clinical and programmatic use elsewhere, particularly within LMICs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is defined as a pathological fixation on eating healthy and pure food. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Düsseldorf orthorexia scale (DOS) in a clinical sample. Methods: A total of 385 individuals, 117 with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), 108 with major depressive disorder (MDD), 56 with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and 104 healthy controls, participated in the study. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Eating Attitude Test (EAT-40), Orthorexia Nervosa Inventory (ONI) and Düsseldorf Orthorexia Scale (DOS) were applied to all participants. Results: The DOS demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.87) and good construct validity. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a one-factor structure, explaining a significant portion of variance among responses. In the analyses performed to test the convergent validity of DOS, a positive correlation was found with ONI and EAT scores (p < 0.001 for each). There was no significant correlation between DOS and HAM-D and HAM-A scores (p > 0.05 for each). The severity of orthorexic symptoms measured by DOS was similar between each patient group and healthy control group. DOS was applied to 70 more participants two weeks apart and the test–retest reliability was determined as 0.99. Conclusions: This study shows that the Turkish version of DOS is valid and reliable in clinical samples and healthy individuals, is largely consistent with ONI, and that this scale can be used in studies investigating ON. Plain English Summary: Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is a phenomenon in which there is intense effort to eat foods that are believed to be healthy and pure. It has been stated that there is a decrease in the professional, social and academic functionality of orthorexic individuals due to their efforts on healthy eating, and their physical health may be affected over time. Therefore, there is a need for an appropriate screening scale for rapid screening of orthorexic symptoms. The Düsseldorf orthorexia scale (DOS) is a self-report scale consisting of 10 questions created to assess ON. Our study is the first study to evaluate this scale in a Turkish clinical sample. The main aim of our study was to test the psychometric properties of DOS in patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive–compulsive disorder. The results showed that DOS had satisfactory psychometric properties in the Turkish clinical sample and could be a short, useful, and valid scale to screen for ON in these individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBackgroundMethodsResultsConclusionDiagnosing acute disease in older adults is challenged by vague and atypical symptoms. Point-of-care tests (POCTs) at home may improve diagnostics and clinical decision-making. We compared various POCT devices to routine testing in acutely ill older adults to assess their clinical reliability.We enrolled participants aged 65+ years requiring acute in-home assessment with signs of acute conditions. Venous and capillary blood samples were collected and analysed on-site using POCT, while identical samples were transported and analysed in a routine laboratory. Agreement between POCT and laboratory testing was assessed using scatter plots with linear regression, Pearson’s correlation coefficient (PCC), limits of agreement, and Bland-Altman plots. Misclassification rates were calculated based on clinically meaningful cut-offs to assess POCT’s clinical reliability.We included 100 participants with a mean age of 81.6 (±8.4 SD) years. Strong correlation was found between POCT and routine measurements (PCC: 0.76–0.94 for capillary samples and 0.85–0.98 for venous samples). Venous samples showed higher PCC than capillary, except for neutrophils (0.93 for capillary, 0.89 for venous). Misclassification occurred in capillary samples for haemoglobin (10/62) and total WBC (6/50), while in venous samples, misclassification was observed for haemoglobin (4/54), total WBC (4/50), K+ (5/47), urea (5/47), and creatinine (3/42). No misclassification was observed for Na+.POCT provides acceptable, clinically reliable measurements in acutely ill older adults, potentially enhancing diagnostics and treatments during in-home assessment. Venous blood testing is preferable due to a lower misclassification rate, but capillary blood remains a pragmatic alternative, despite higher variation and inaccuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Work-related sense of coherence (Work-SoC) is defined as the perceived comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness of an individual's work situation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factor structure, invariance, reliability, and validity of the Polish version of the Work-SoC Scale. Method: The research was carried out between September and November 2023 in a diverse sample of employees. Factor structure, internal consistency, and measurement equivalence analysis were performed on sample N1 = 622. Criterion validity was checked on sample N2 = 255. Temporal stability was checked on sample N3 = 60 using the test-retest method. Results: A three-factor solution was the best fit for the data, and invariant across sex, age, occupational group, and education. The Work-SoC was strongest in white-collar workers. Strength of Work-SoC was positively related to seniority (r = 0.23, p < 0.001). The reliability of the Work-SoC Scale was high (α = 0.84, ω = 0.84). Work-SoC was positively correlated with general SoC (r = 0.36, p < 0.001) and job satisfaction (r = 0.50, p < 0.001), and negatively correlated with job burnout (r = -0.32, p < 0.001). The temporal stability of the measurement for the overall scale was high (r = 0.80, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The Polish adaptation of the Work-SoC Scale has an identical structure and is as reliable as the original version. The high criterion validity, measurement stability, and the invariant structure of the scale by sex, age, occupational group, and education suggest that the Work-SoC Scale is a valuable tool for future research on employee health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting sustainability within university institutions entails conducting assessments to lay the groundwork for developing educational methodologies. This article presents the validation of a quantitative 36-item scale questionnaire to measure university students' perceptions towards sustainability. A total of 285 university students from different Spanish Universities participated in completing the questionnaire. The reliability and validity of the instrument were statistically assessed through Cronbach's alpha and confirmatory factor analysis. The questionnaire is of mixed character, combining 6-point Likert scale questions (ranging from "Strongly disagree" to "Strongly agree"), closed and open-ended questions. It was structured into six dimensions: knowledge, attitude, willingness to act, behavior, self-efficacy, and affective. The first five dimensions were confirmed by a confirmatory factor analysis, demonstrating a good fit level in the model (RMSEA = 0.043, CFI = 0.972, SRMR = 0.076, TLI = 0.970 and X2/df = 1.45), while the affective dimension was analyzed using a qualitative approach. Internal reliability, found using Cronbach's alpha, varies between 0.737 and 0.909. The results show that the instrument meets the validity and reliability criteria. Consequently, a valuable tool for academic utilization is suggested, offering a diagnostic and monitoring mechanism for evaluating sustainability perceptions, a topic that has recently garnered significant attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The personal qualities of health workers determine the way health services are provided to clients. Some key personal qualities (also called behavioural competencies) of physicians that contribute to quality healthcare delivery include ethical responsibility, empathy, patient-centeredness, diligence, good judgment, respectful, teamwork, team leadership/conflict management, ability to take correction and tolerance. In this study, we developed and validated clinical scenarios (dilemmas) for assessing priority behavioural competencies for medical practice in Nigeria. Methods: Drawing on prioritized competencies generated via a scoping review and nominal group technique (NGT) exercises in a previous study in the study series, Faculty members from the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital were consulted to develop or adapt clinical scenarios that could be used to assess these competencies in a physician. The clinical scenarios and options were framed as situational judgement tests (SJTs) and these tests were administered to a random sample of 192 undergraduate and 111 postgraduate medical doctors in a tertiary hospital in Enugu State. Using Kane's validity argument framework, we assessed scoring and generalization inferences of situational judgment tests (SJT) based on the developed scenarios. Result: Scoring inference – difficulty and discrimination index – shows that most of the SJT items are good test items and can differentiate between high and low performers. The corrected point biserial correlations show positive correlation for most of the items. Generalization inference shows the items represent the domains of interest and are internally consistent. However, few items that show poor difficulty and discrimination index were subjected to re-evaluation and possible elimination. Conclusion: This study has produced a set of valid clinical scenarios that can be used to evaluate specific behavioural competencies among trainee medical doctors. It demonstrates that SJTs can be used to assess behavioural competencies for medical practice. However, further research is needed to establish the applicability of SJT beyond the immediate context, such as the medical school, in which it is developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Validated predictions of wildlife population density would be very useful for managers of overabundant wildlife and their effects on biodiversity. In this study such predictions were generated by modelling population dynamics of 18 non‐culled populations of Eastern Grey Kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) across small biodiversity conservation reserves in Canberra. Predictions were validated using three analyses of independent, out‐of‐sample, data from 11 populations which were non‐culled or culled. Association (analysis 1) showed observed and predicted densities were significantly positively correlated (R2 = 0.79, P = 0.045, n = 5) with unbiased slope and y intercept for non‐culled populations, though observed and predicted densities of culled populations were unrelated (R2 = 0.32, P = 0.24, n = 6). Coverage (analysis 2) showed predicted densities were within the 95% confidence interval of observed densities in five of five non‐culled populations and four of six culled populations, with one underestimate and one overestimate in the latter group. Bias (analysis 3) showed the mean bias (=observed – predicted) was 0.18 (±0.23 SE) kangaroos/ha for non‐culled and 0.08 (±0.23 SE) for culled populations. The results have been used to adjust kangaroo management approaches in Canberra as part of adaptive management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of socioemotional teaching skills has been highlighted for its link with better academic, social, emotional, and behavioral results of students, as well as for its contribution to the work wellbeing, mental health, and prosperity of teachers. However, there are few instruments that measure these skills in teachers in the context of their professional practice. The purpose of this research was to analyze the psychometric properties of the socioemotional Skills Instrument for Teachers (SEMS-IT). An instrumental design and a sample of 853 Chilean secondary school teachers were used. To evaluate the dimensional structure of the instrument, a portion of the sample (n = 468) underwent a network estimation method with exploratory graph analysis (EGA) using a Gaussian GLASSO model. Then, in order to confirm the structural consistency and stability of the items, the analysis was replicated in a second sample (n = 385), where these results were additionally contrasted with those of the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The EGA findings confirmed a structure of four dimensions and 19 items in total: (a) cognitive management of teacher emotion (four items), (b) teacher empathic concern (four items), (c) teacher–student relationship (four items), and (d) adverse classroom climate (seven items), with a 7-point Likert scale response format. The CFA showed good and acceptable fit indicators, X2 (171) = 354.546 (p < 0.001), Comparative Fit Index (CFI) = 0.971, Tucker–Lewis index (TLI) = 0.966, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) = 0.061, and Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR) = 0.062. In conclusion, a tool for the assessment of teachers' socioemotional skills, valid for school-based educational research, is provided. Implications of the findings at the theoretical and practical levels are discussed, as well as limitations and future projections for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence-based practice (EBP) lowers costs, guarantees staying current with new technology and abilities, and enables the provision of high-quality care. Evidence-based practice (EBP) considered the foundation for safe patient care. Aim: is to validate and carry out the linguistic-cultural adaptation of the S-EBPQ for the Arabic language. Design: A methodological study design was used. Method: There were two primary stages: translation and validation. Three experts reviewed the contents during the translation and validation in order to ensure their relevancy. 15 nursing students conducted face validation to confirm the produced items' clarity and understandability. Reliability assessment was achieved by conducting a pilot study on 72 nursing students. Ethical approval was taken. For statistical analysis, SPSS software was used. The internal reliability of the questionnaire was evaluated using Cronbach's Alpha. The Pearson Correlation was used to test the relationship between the student's score on the questionnaire and their age and gender. Results: The Scale-Content Validity Index was 0.90; Cronbach's Alpha value was 0.963. Students in face validation phase confirmed that wording, clarity, and understandable language of the items were achieved. The Mean of students total score was 80.2 (SD = 21.5). Pearson test revealed that there was a weak positive correlation between students' scores and age R = 0.320 (p = 0.001). Also, it demonstrated that there was no correlation between the students' scores and the gender R =—0,028 (p = 0.817). Conclusion: The Arabic version of the S-EBPQ generally had a solid structure and it demonstrated high validity and reliability. The questionnaire could be used in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whilst western diet and sedentary lifestyles heavily contribute to the global obesity epidemic, it is likely that chemical exposure may also contribute. A substantial body of literature implicates a variety of suspected environmental chemicals in metabolic disruption and obesogenic mechanisms. Chemically induced obesogenic metabolic disruption is not yet considered in regulatory testing paradigms or regulations, but this is an internationally recognised human health regulatory development need. An early step in the development of relevant regulatory test methods is to derive appropriate minimum chemical selection lists for the target endpoint and its key mechanisms, such that the test method can be suitably optimised and validated. Independently collated and reviewed reference and proficiency chemicals relevant for the regulatory chemical universe that they are intended to serve, assist regulatory test method development and validation, particularly in relation to the OECD Test Guidelines Programme. To address obesogenic mechanisms and modes of action for chemical hazard assessment, key initiating mechanisms include molecular-level Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor (PPAR) α and γ agonism and the tissue/organ-level key event of perturbation of the adipogenesis process that may lead to excess white adipose tissue. Here we present a critical literature review, analysis and evaluation of chemicals suitable for the development, optimisation and validation of human PPARα and PPARγ agonism and human white adipose tissue adipogenesis test methods. The chemical lists have been derived with consideration of essential criteria needed for understanding the strengths and limitations of the test methods. With a weight of evidence approach, this has been combined with practical and applied aspects required for the integration and combination of relevant candidate test methods into test batteries, as part of an Integrated Approach to Testing and Assessment for metabolic disruption. The proposed proficiency and reference chemical list includes a long list of negatives and positives (20 chemicals for PPARα, 21 for PPARγ, and 11 for adipogenesis) from which a (pre-)validation proficiency chemicals list has been derived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Allium is a prominent member of the Amaryllidaceae family and encompasses approximately 1,063 species worldwide. These diverse species vary in appearance and flavor but they share biochemical similarities. Underutilized Alliums present a promising alternative to onion and garlic in various Indian regions, given their adaptability, versatile utility, and nutraceutical properties. Their adaptation in the plains of India is a great opportunity to add medicinal and nutraceutical value to Indian cuisine. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the underutilized raw Allium leaves for their sensory perception by hedonic test (n = 60), consumer perceptions and willingness to purchase (n = 180), and the development and validation of value chain model (n = 30) to popularize these species in plains. For the various sensory attributes evaluated, Allium tuberosum Kazakhstan CGN-1587 emerged out to be the most suitable for its advancement into the consumer survey. The consumer perception study recorded 74.44% willingness to purchase of total respondents and a majority preference for consuming it in cooked form (38.30%). A value chain model of Allium tuberosum Kazakhstan CGN-1587 with supply chain agencies was subsequently developed. Validation of this value chain model was done with a panel of different stakeholders. Panelists perceived the value chain as highly valid, particularly in terms of economic feasibility (4.30 ± 0.70) and sustainability (4.20 ± 0.81). Thus, the present study provides valuable insights that can support and promote the use of underutilized Alliums in non-traditional areas of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) stands as a severe complication linked to the use of bisphosphonates, particularly zoledronic acid, which is widely prescribed for managing conditions like osteoporosis and bone metastasis. This study is geared towards the development and validation of a clinical prediction model for ONJ in patients undergoing zoledronic acid treatment. Methods: We harnessed data from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) as our training dataset, while the Canada Vigilance Adverse Reaction (CVAR) database served as the testing dataset. The study encompassed patients treated with zoledronic acid and subsequently diagnosed with ONJ. We analysed a range of predictive factors, including breast cancer, bone metastasis, osteoporosis, vitamin D and calcium levels, comorbidities, the number of concomitant medications, dosage, age, weight, and gender. Logistic regression and nomogram analysis were the chosen methodologies for constructing the predictive model. To evaluate the model's performance, we utilized receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: The study encompassed a total of 2,126 patients in the training cohort, 911 patients in the internal test cohort from the FAERS database, and 121 patients in the external test cohort from the CVAR database. Notable predictors for ONJ included bone metastasis (OR: 1.65, 95% CI: 1.22–2.24), osteoporosis (OR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.21–0.52), the number of concomitant medications (OR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.05–1.09), and the dosage of zoledronic acid (OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.10–1.39). The nomogram exhibited robust discriminatory power, evidenced by an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.77 in the training cohort, 0.76 in the internal test cohort, and 0.90 in the external test cohort. Calibration plots demonstrated a strong alignment between observed and predicted probabilities. Furthermore, DCA highlighted the prediction model's significant net benefit across various threshold probabilities. Conclusion: By leveraging data from both the FAERS and Canadian databases, this study has successfully developed and validated a clinical prediction model for ONJ in patients receiving zoledronic acid. This model stands as a valuable tool for clinicians, enabling them to pinpoint high-risk patients and make evidence-based treatment decisions to minimize the risk of ONJ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the psychometric properties of the Spanish King's Parkinson's Disease Pain Scale (KPPS). Design: A descriptive transversal study at a Spanish hospital. Methods: Fifty‐three Parkinson's disease (PD) patients suffering from otherwise explained pain (34 females, age = 63.42 ± 10.52 years, time with disease = 7.25 ± 4.65 years) were evaluated by the KPPS, Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), two Pain Pressure Thresholds (PPTs), Widespread Mechanical Hyperalgesia (WMH), and Conditioned Pain Modulation (CPM). A retest of the KPPS was performed 7–15 days later. Internal consistency, test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)), measurement error, factor structure, and criterion/convergent validity were assessed. Results: Internal consistency of the Spanish KPPS was acceptable (Cronbach's alpha = 0.77). The mean test and retest total KPPS scores were similar (test = 34.83 ± 23.50 points, retest = 35.87 ± 26.23 points), and test–retest reliability was good (ICC = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.75–0.91). Standard error of measurement (SEM) was 9.1 points and smallest detectable change (SDC) was 25.22 points. The sampling adequacy was not sufficient to perform factor analysis. The total KPPS score was not correlated to the BPI intensity subscale (r = 0.18, p = 0.19), but it was moderately and positively correlated to the interference subscale (r = 0.43, p = 0.001). The total KPPS was moderately and negatively correlated to both the remote PPT (r = −0.4, p = 0.003) and WMH (r = −0.38, p = 0.005). No statistical correlations were found with local PPT or CPM. Conclusion: The present study provides evidence that the Spanish KPPS effectively measures pain in individuals with PD, with its total score demonstrating good reliability, minimal measurement error, and adequate criterion and convergent validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to develop and validate the Brief Eating Self-Efficacy Scale (ESEBS-BR) in Brazilian Portuguese, addressing the lack of tools to assess eating self-efficacy beliefs in Portuguese-speaking populations. Method: The study sought to cross-culturally adapt the scale, evaluate its internal structure, validate its reliability and validity, and explore potential associations between eating self-efficacy and eating behaviors. The cross-cultural adaptation process involved translation and back-translation, expert committees, and pre-testing. Scale validation was conducted with 228 participants, including reliability analyses, confirmatory factor analysis, and correlations with established measures of eating behavior. Results: The ESEBS-BR, maintaining all 8 original items, demonstrated high reliability, with a two-factor structure model confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis. Significant correlations were found between ESEBS-BR scores and measures of binge eating and eating behaviors, validating its criterion validity. Conclusions: The development and validation of the ESEBS-BR represent a significant contribution to the assessment of eating self-efficacy in the Brazilian population. The scale proved to be sensitive, reliable, and valid, offering an important tool for research and clinical interventions related to eating behavior. Level of evidence: V, descriptive cross-sectional study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: All cosmetic ingredients must be evaluated for their safety to consumers. In the absence of in vivo data, systemic concentrations of ingredients can be predicted using Physiologically based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models. However, more examples are needed to demonstrate how they can be validated and applied in Next-Generation Risk Assessments (NGRA) of cosmetic ingredients. We used a bottom-up approach to develop human PBPK models for genistein and daidzein for a read-across NGRA, whereby genistein was the source chemical for the target chemical, daidzein. Methods: An oral rat PBPK model for genistein was built using PK-Sim® and in vitro ADME input data. This formed the basis of the daidzein oral rat PBPK model, for which chemical-specific input parameters were used. Rat PBPK models were then converted to human models using human-specific physiological parameters and human in vitro ADME data. In vitro skin metabolism and penetration data were used to build the dermal module to represent the major route of exposure to cosmetics. Results: The initial oral rat model for genistein was qualified since it predicted values within 2-fold of measured in vivo PK values. This was used to predict plasma concentrations from the in vivo NOAEL for genistein to set test concentrations in bioassays. Intrinsic hepatic clearance and unbound fractions in plasma were identified as sensitive parameters impacting the predicted Cmax values. Sensitivity and uncertainty analyses indicated the developed PBPK models had a moderate level of confidence. An important aspect of the development of the dermal module was the implementation of first-pass metabolism, which was extensive for both chemicals. The final human PBPK model for daidzein was used to convert the in vitro PoD of 33 nM (from an estrogen receptor transactivation assay) to an external dose of 0.2% in a body lotion formulation. Conclusion: PBPK models for genistein and daidzein were developed as a central component of an NGRA read-across case study. This will help to gain regulatory confidence in the use of PBPK models, especially for cosmetic ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Scoliosis Research Society SRS-22 questionnaire is a standard tool to assess the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in scoliosis patients but, because of cultural differences limited use among Arabic patients. The aim is to perform a cross-cultural adaptation and validation of Arabic version of Scoliosis Japanese Questionnaire-27 and test it on Saudi patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). This a cross sectional study run between July 2021 and December 2022 recruited 194 patients. The cross-cultural adaptation process was performed using the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) Outcomes Committee method. All patients had completed the Arabic version of Scoliosis Japanese Questionnaire-27 and SF-12 preoperatively and 3-month postoperatively. The validity and internal consistency were tested using the Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Cronbach alpha, Pearson correlation coefficient, and confidence interval (CI). We analyzed the result of 194 female adolescent patients. The average age is 14 ± 2.4 years (range from 10 to 21 years). The majority of patients have a Lenke type 1 curve (54 %). The overall Cronbach alpha (CA) of all domains of Scoliosis Japanese Questionnaire-27 is 0.92. However, the Cronbach alpha for the mental health (Q17,18,20,21,23,24) and, self-image (Q12-14,22,25,26) are 0.93 and 0.84 respectively. The Arabic version of Scoliosis Japanese Questionnaire-27 is a reliable and valid instrument and can be applied to evaluate the quality of life in patients with AIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Acne is the most frequent chronic inflammatory skin condition in adolescence but occurs also in later age. Our study aimed to characterise the epidemiology, geographical distribution, comorbidity and healthcare of acne juvenilis (AJ) and acne tarda (AT). Methods: Statutory health insurance (SHI) data from 2016 to 2020 were analysed. Prevalence rates, including geographical distribution, comorbidities and drug use by specialists group, were measured. Results: In 2020, the prevalence of acne among adults was 1.50% (AT > 25 years) and among adolescents was 3.88% (AT ≤ 25 years). The highest prevalence (13.02%) was observed at the age of 17 years. Sex differences were higher in AT (73.80% in women) than in AJ (64.55% in women). Compared with non-affected persons, individuals with acne – in particular with AT – showed significantly higher rates of skin-related comorbidities, including folliculitis (rate ratio (RR) 8.89), pyoderma (RR 7.27) and rosacea (RR 5.53), and non-skin-related comorbidities, such as ovarian dysfunction (RR 2.36), rhinitis allergica (RR 1.84) and Crohn's disease (RR 1.79). Preferred systemic therapeutics prescribed were anti-infectives in AT (46.86%) and retinoids in AJ (52.35%). In the majority of cases, dermatologists were involved in the treatment of acne (AT 65.77%; AJ 76.27%). The most commonly prescribed topical agents were adapalene with benzoyl peroxide (AT 87.72%; AJ 85.75%), while systemic isotretinoin (AT 81.20%; AJ 90.06%) was also a frequently used drug. General practitioners were more likely to prescribe anti-infectives, especially topical antibiotics such as chlortetracycline (AT 52.38%; AJ 44.44%) and systemic antibiotics, especially tetracycline (AT 58.33%; AJ 67.50%). Conclusion: Acne affects a relevant proportion of the German population not only in adolescence, and management of this inflammatory skin disease does not naturally follow medical guidelines or specialist recommendations. These findings emphasise the importance of specialised care and comprehensive therapeutic management that should also consider the exploration of comorbidities. Plain Language Summary: We performed an analysis on the frequencies of illness and concomitant diseases of acne in Germany based on health insurance data. Furthermore, the treatment of acne in regard to drug choices and prescribers was characterised. In 2020, about 2 million people in Germany had acne. The mean age was 31 years, and women were more often affected (68.58%). The highest proportion of acne was observed at the age of 17 years (13.02%). Overall, adolescent acne (younger than 25 years) was more frequent than adult acne (older than 25 years). People with acne, especially with adult acne, had higher rates of concomitant diseases (compared with non-affected persons, both related to the skin and beyond). About a third of people with acne were not treated by a dermatologist, and the majority of these patients were not treated according to guidelines. In conclusion, acne and related concomitant diseases affect a relevant proportion of adolescents and adults in Germany. The high prevalence of adult acne suggests a special focus also on this age group, including exploration of hormonal and psychological disorders. Early and effective treatment, adapted to the severity of the acne, can prevent complications such as scarring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The evaluation of Theory of Mind (ToM) in the clinical setting remains limited due to the lack of valid instruments for a quick and reliable assessment. In this study, the psychometric properties of the Yoni-36 task were tested, and correction grids, equivalence scores, and normative data were computed. Methods: In total, 318 healthy subjects (169 females; mean age = 42.22 ± 18.11 years; mean education = 15.01 ± 3.43 years) were enrolled and administered the Yoni-36 task. Results: Statistical analysis showed good-to-high internal consistency, split-half reliability, and discrimination ability (especially for the second-order items) of the Yoni-36 task. Regression models highlighted the predictive role of age and education on second-order, affective, cognitive accuracy, and response time scores. Education influenced the first-order ToM response time score as well. Based on β values of the regressions, raw scores of the Yoni task were adjusted for sex, age, and education, and correction grids were computed. The equivalent scores indicated an accuracy index score < 0.69 and a response time index score < 0.83 as cut-off points for ToM competence. Normative data reported a mean accuracy and response time index score of 0.90 ± 0.11 and 0.91 ± 0.05 in the Italian population, respectively. Conclusions: The Yoni-36 proved to be a valid instrument for a quick and reliable ToM assessment, suitable to be included in neuropsychological batteries and to be used in routine clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To improve national drowning surveillance efforts, we developed and evaluated a definition for unintentional drowning for use in the National Syndromic Surveillance Program's ESSENCE platform (Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community-Based Epidemics) and described drowning-related emergency department (ED) visits from 2019 through 2022 using the new definition. Methods: We adapted an unintentional drowning definition from a previous version, which included all drowning-related ED visits regardless of intent (including drowning related to assault and suicide, as well as unintentional drowning). We reviewed a random sample of 1000 visits captured by the new definition of unintentional drowning and categorized visits as likely, possibly, and unlikely to be related to unintentional drowning. We compared monthly drowning-related ED visits from 2020, 2021, and 2022 with monthly drowning ED visits from 2019, overall and by sex and age group. Results: A total of 35 431 ED visits related to unintentional drowning (10.71 per 100 000 ED visits) occurred from 2019 through 2022. Most visits (86%) captured by the new definition and manually reviewed were likely related to unintentional drowning. Rates were highest among males (14.04 per 100 000 ED visits) and children aged <1 to 4 years (65.61 per 100 000 ED visits). The number of drowning-related ED visits was higher in May and August 2020, May and June 2021, and May 2022 as compared with the same months in 2019 among people aged 18 to 44 years. Conclusions: The definition for unintentional drowning is available in the National Syndromic Surveillance Program's ESSENCE platform for state and local jurisdictions to use to monitor unintentional drowning-related ED visits in near-real time to inform prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The evidence on complication rates after gynecological surgery is based on multiple types of studies, and the level of evidence is generally low. We aimed to validate the registration of complications in the Swedish National Quality Register of Gynecological Surgery (GynOp), by cross‐linkage to multiple national registers. Material and Methods: A national register‐based study using prospectively collected data was conducted, including women who had surgery on the uterus or adnexa for benign indications from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2020. In Sweden, complications after gynecological surgery are registered in GynOp, and if the complication has rendered any interaction with healthcare, it is also in national health registers. The GynOp register, the National Patient Register, the Prescribed Drugs Register, and the Cause of Death Register were cross‐linked. Complications in GynOp and complications according to ICD10 were analyzed, as well as the cause of death if occurring within 3 months of surgery and prescription of antibiotics ≤30 days. Comparisons between the registries were descriptive. Results: During the study period 32 537 surgeries were performed, of which 26 214 (80.6%) were minimally invasive. Complications were reported in GynOp for 569 women (1.7%) at surgery, 1045 (3.2%) while admitted, and 3868 (13.7%) from discharge to 3 months after surgery. In comparison, according to the Patient Register, 2254 women (6.9%) had postoperative complications within 3 months of discharge (difference of 6.8 percentage points [95% confidence interval 6.2–7.2]). Furthermore, 4117 individuals (12.7%) had a prescription of antibiotics ≤30 days which could indicate a postoperative infection. The rates of hemorrhage, wound dehiscence, and thrombosis were comparable between GynOp and the Patient Register while diagnoses not leading to contact with specialized care had higher rates in the quality register. The coverage of complications was 79.1% in GynOp and 46.1% in the Patient Register, using the total number of complications from both registers as the denominator. Conclusions: A higher frequency of complications is captured in GynOp than in the National Patient Register. Patient‐reported outcomes assessed by a physician are beneficial in identifying complications indicating the importance of structured pre‐defined follow‐up over a set period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Identifying people at high risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia allows for timely intervention, which, if successful, will result in preventing or delaying the onset of the disease. METHODS: Utilizing data from the Chicago Health and Aging Project (CHAP; n = 2130), we externally evaluated four risk‐prediction models for AD dementia, including Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Dementia (CAIDE), Australian National University Alzheimer's Disease Risk Index (ANU‐ADRI), Brief Dementia Screening Indicator (BDSI), and Dementia Risk Score (DRS), in Black or African American and White adults. RESULTS: BDSI had the highest discriminate abilities for AD dementia (c‐statistics of 0.79 in Black and 0.77 in White adults), followed by ANU‐ADRI, within the age range and follow‐up period of the original development cohort. CAIDE had the lowest discriminating power (c‐statistic ≤0.55). With increasing follow‐up periods (i.e., 10–15 years), the discrimination abilities for all models declined. DISCUSSION: Because of racial disparities in AD dementia and longer preclinical and prodromal stages of disease development, race‐specific models are needed to predict AD risk over 10 years. Highlights: Utilizing risk‐prediction models to identify individuals at higher risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia could benefit clinicians, patients, and policymakers. Clinicians could enroll high‐risk individuals in clinical trials to test new risk‐modifiable treatments or initiate lifestyle modifications, which, if successful, would slow cognitive decline and delay the onset of the disease.Current risk‐prediction models had good discriminative power during the first 6 years of follow‐up but decreased with longer follow‐up time.Acknowledging the longer preclinical phase of AD dementia development and racial differences in dementia risk, there is a need to develop race‐specific risk‐prediction models that can predict 10 or 20 years of risk for AD and related dementias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Mental health encompasses more than just the absence of mental disorders. Thus, a Mental Health Surveillance (MHS) and reporting system for Germany should monitor mental well-being in addition to psychopathology to capture a more complete picture of population mental health. The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) is an internationally established inventory for the integrated assessment of different aspects of mental well-being (i.e., hedonic and eudaimonic) in population samples that has not yet been validated for Germany. Methods: Using data from a cross-sectional online survey of a convenience sample of N = 1.048 adults aged 18–79 years (51% female) living in Germany, the factorial structure, measurement invariance (age, sex) and psychometric properties of the WEMWBS in its long (14 items) and short (7 items) versions were analyzed. Additionally, correlations to relevant factors (e.g., health-related quality of life, psychological distress) were investigated as indicators of criterion validity. Results: Means of model fit indices did not confirm a unidimensional factor structure for either version. The three-factor-correlative models showed moderate to good fit while the bifactor model with one general mental well-being factor and three grouping factors fitted the data best. The full range of possible responses was used for all items, and the distribution of both scales was approximately normal. Moreover, the results revealed measurement invariance across sex and age groups. Initial evidence of criterion validity was obtained. Internal consistencies were α = 0.95 and α = 0.89, respectively. Average mental well-being was comparable to that of other European countries at 3.74 for the long version and 3.84 for the short version. While there were no differences by sex, comparisons between age groups revealed higher mental well-being among the older age groups. Conclusions: Both versions of the WEMWBS showed sound psychometric characteristics in the present German sample. The findings indicate that the instrument is suitable for measuring mental well-being at the population level due to its distributional properties. These results are promising, suggesting that the scale is suitable for use in a national MHS that aims to capture positive mental health in the population as a foundation for prevention and promotion efforts within public mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Globally, there is mounting evidence about the importance of father involvement for improving child and family wellbeing. However, there are limited measurement tools available for assessing father involvement in low-resource settings globally. The objective of this study was to develop and validate a scale for measuring fathers' engagement in caregiving activities for young children and families in rural Kenya. Methods: We used baseline data collected in February–March 2023 from a cluster-randomized controlled trial of a parenting intervention aimed at improving early child development in Nyamira and Vihiga counties in Western Kenya. The analytic sample comprised 460 primary caregivers of children under 18 months of age (91.3% mothers) who were in a relationship with a male caregiver of the young child (i.e., father). The primary caregiver reported on the 25-item father involvement scale. We conducted exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to determine the dimensionality of the measure and estimated latent variable regression models to assess construct and predictive validity in terms of associations with sociodemographic factors, other paternal and maternal psychosocial measures, and early child development outcomes. Results: The scale had a four-factor structure representing father involvement in (1) childcare activities, (2) play and affection, (3) household chores, and (4) early learning activities. Each factor showed good internal consistency reliability and evidence of multiple forms of validity. The four factors were associated with child and household sociodemographic characteristics and more positive paternal and maternal psychosocial outcomes. Father involvement across all four domains was associated with higher early child cognitive, language, motor, and socioemotional development scores. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the multidimensional nature of fathers' caregiving roles in the lives of young children and their families. We establish a valid tool for assessing father involvement in rural Western Kenya that has potential for use in other similar contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mycoplasma bovis is a global pathogen of cattle but was detected for the first time in New Zealand in 2017, triggering a response under their Biosecurity Act as an "unwanted organism". Following a lengthy eradication campaign, the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) now requires all bovine semen destined for export to New Zealand to be screened with an M. bovis-specific real-time PCR (rtPCR) compliant with amended import health standard (IHS) test requirements aimed at preventing the accidental importation of M. bovis. The standard stipulates that semen samples cannot be centrifuged prior to DNA extraction. To comply with these strict requirements, one of the listed tests was validated together with different DNA preparation steps and compared with existing in-house procedures. DNA was extracted from semen straws using the current in-house semi-automated platform procedures for processing culture, tissue and body fluid sample submissions and was compared with the stipulated test requirements. DNA from centrifuged and unspun semen samples spiked with M. bovis was also compared. Results: The rtPCR had a sensitivity and specificity of 100% (95% confidence interval = 79–100% and 74–100%, respectively) when testing DNA from other Mycoplasma species or bovine semen spiked with the latter, with a high level of repeatability for within- and between- run replicates. The consistent limit of detection was 0.001 pg/µl M. bovis DNA and between 5.3 × 102 and 7.5 × 102 CFU/ml M. bovis when artificially spiked in semen. DNA extracted using the KingFisher Flex was detected with lower Cq values than the Maxwell 16, but the comparable improvements in sensitivity were mainly associated with non-centrifuged samples (p < 0.001). None of the procedures tested impeded the detection sensitivity of M. bovis in the presence of competitor organisms Acholeplasma laidlawii, Mycoplasma bovigenitalium and Ureaplasma diversum, confirming M. bovis specificity of the polC target. Conclusions: Under the experimental conditions applied, this rtPCR test efficiently detected M. bovis in extended bovine semen straw samples from DNA extracted using both semi-automated extraction platforms, irrespective of prior centrifugation of extended semen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Objective Methods Results Conclusion The MDS‐UPDRS has been available in English since 2008, showing satisfactory clinimetric results and being proposed as the new official benchmark scale for Parkinson's disease (PD), being cited as a core instrument for PD in the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Common Data Elements program. For this reason, the MDS created guidelines for development of MDS‐UPDRS official, clinimetrically validated translations.This study presents the formal process used to obtain the officially approved Portuguese version of the MDS‐UPDRS.The study consisted of three phases: (1) Independent translation by Portuguese and Brazilian teams followed by a challenging consensus process that this article particularly emphasizes; (2) Cognitive pretest involving raters and patients from both Portugal and Brazil; (3) Validation test with a sample of 367 native Portuguese‐speaking PD patients.The overall factor structure of the Portuguese version was consistent with the English version based on a comparative fit index ≥0.96 for all four parts of the MDS‐UPDRS.This version can be designated as the official Portuguese version of the MDS‐UPDRS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Predicting neurological outcomes following in-hospital cardiac arrest is crucial for guiding subsequent clinical treatments. This study seeks to validate the effectiveness of the CASPRI, GO-FAR, and PIHCA tools in predicting favorable neurological outcomes after in-hospital cardiac arrest. Method: This retrospective study utilized a Utstein-style structured form to review the medical records of patients who experienced in-hospital cardiac arrest between March 2018 and March 2023. Predictors were examined using multivariable logistic regression, and the validity of the tools was assessed using ROC curves. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25 software. Results: Out of the 1100 patients included in the study, 42 individuals (3.8%) achieved a favorable neurological outcome. multivariable regression analysis revealed that age, respiratory failure, resuscitation shift, duration of renal failure, and CPC score 24 h before cardiac arrest were significantly associated with favorable neurological outcomes. The predictive abilities of the CASPRI, GO-FAR, and PIHCA scores were calculated as 0.99 (95% CI, 0.98–1.00), 0.98 (95% CI, 0.97–0.99), and 0.96 (95% CI, 0.94–0.99) respectively. A statistically significant difference was observed in the predictive abilities of the CASPRI and PIHCA scores (P = 0.001), while the difference between CASPRI and GO-FAR did not reach significance (P = 0.057). Additionally, there was no significant difference between the predictive abilities of GO-FAR and PIHCA scores (P = 0.159). Conclusion: The study concludes that CASPRI and GO-FAR scores show strong potential as objective measures for predicting favorable neurological outcomes post-cardiac arrest. Integrating these scores into clinical decision-making may enhance treatment and care strategies, in the Iranian healthcare context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: SARC-F questionnaire is a simple and convenient tool for sarcopenia screening, and SARC-CalF is a modified version of it. The developments of their Chinese versions are warranted for the clinical use for Chinese population. This study aimed to culturally adapt the SARC-F questionnaire into Chinese using standardized methods, validate the reliability and diagnostic accuracy of the Chinese version SARC-F and SARC-CalF against five sarcopenia diagnosis criteria, and determine optimal cut-off values for clinical practice in Chinese population. Methods: The translation and cross-cultural adaptation of SARC-F into Chinese were conducted following the methodological report from European Union Geriatric Medicine Society Sarcopenia Special Interest Group. The Chinese version of SARC-F was validated through a diagnostic test, using diagnostic criteria of sarcopenia recommended by the revised 2019 European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) consensus, Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS2019) consensus, the International Working Group on Sarcopenia (IWGS), the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) Biomarkers Consortium and the Sarcopenia Definition and Outcomes Consortium (SDOC). Additional analysis was done against the criteria of severe sarcopenia according to the revised EWGSOP2 and AWGS2019. Results: The Chinese version of SARC-F was well translated and demonstrated good reliability and acceptability. The diagnostic test included 1859 community-dwelling older individuals from two medical centers. Against five different definitions of sarcopenia, the Chinese version of SARC-F showed reasonable diagnostic accuracy for sarcopenia screening (AUC 0.614–0.821), and was demonstrated low sensitivity (13.7–37.9%) but high specificity (94.8–97.7%) with a cut-off value of ≥ 4. SARC-CalF significantly enhanced the diagnostic accuracy of SARC-F when using definitions of EWGSOP2, AWGS2019 and IWGS (all P ≤ 0.001). A score of ≥ 2 for SARC-F and ≥ 7 for SARC-CalF were established as optimal cut-off points for identifying older individuals as at risk of sarcopenia in Chinese population. Conclusions: The Chinese version SARC-F is of reasonable reliability and validity for sarcopenia screening. Despite its low sensitivity, it proves to be a useful tool to identify severe cases in community taking advantage of its simplicity. SARC-CalF appears to be a more suitable screening tool for clinical use in detecting sarcopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sarcopenia represents a constant threat to the health of older adults, and accurate risk perception is essential for disease prevention and control. However, current methodologies lack rigorously validated instruments to assess the perceived risk of sarcopenia among this group. Thus, this study aimed to develop and validate a sarcopenia disease risk perception scale for older adults. Design: The study was conducted in two phases: development of the initial scale and its psychometric evaluation. A STROBE checklist was employed. Methods: Based on the two-factor model of risk perception theory and the health belief model, the initial draft of the scale was created through literature review, expert consultations, and a preliminary survey with a small sample. Then, we used a cross-sectional study methodology to conveniently select 438 Chinese older adults. Item analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to refine and validate the scale items. Internal consistency and external consistency were assessed to confirm the scale's reliability. Results: These evaluations established the scale's framework: content validity, item analysis, and EFA. The two factors extracted from the initial analysis explained 62.250% of the observation variance. The CFA confirmed a good fit for the model, demonstrating the scale's robust reliability and validity. The finalized scale includes 15 items and two dimensions: perceived susceptibility (eight items) and perceived severity (seven items). Conclusion: The Sarcopenia Disease Risk Perception Scale for Older Adults is reliable and valid, making it appropriate for assessing the risk perception level in the target population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Individuals exhibit varying degrees of flexibility depending on different characteristics, conditions, and diagnoses. The Flexibility Scale is a comprehensive informant-report measure used to assess multiple aspects of flexibility in autistic and non-autistic children and youth, with an emphasis on cognitive aspects. This tool has not been adapted nor validated for use in Spain. Methods: In this paper we aim to provide a culturally adapted and validated version of the Flexibility Scale for Spain. We detail the procedure followed by our research team to obtain a cultural adaptation of the scale for Spain, including forward and back translations, cognitive interviews, feedback from experts, and preliminary validation. Our participants in the validation process were 75 autistic and 39 typically developing children and adolescents between the ages of 6 and 17. Results: We reached a culturally adapted and preliminary validated version of the Flexibility Scale for Spain (Escala de Flexibilidad). Conclusions: We make the scale available to researchers and practitioners working in Spain. This contributes to laying the groundwork for further testing and adaptations in Spanish-speaking countries and communities worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the article is to describe the validation process of a research tool used to measure the intensity and direction of medical personnel’s attitudes towards immigrant patients. Design: An instrument validation design with a cross-sectional survey was conducted. The validation process was carried out in two phases. In phase 1, the content validity of the tool was analyzed. The competent judges method was used. The reliability of the judges was verified in terms of the consistency of evaluations (the I-CVI index was calculated). In phase 2, the questionnaire was tested among 340 healthcare professionals who have professional contact with immigrants, in terms of its factorial validity (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis), internal consistency (reliability measured by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient) and absolute stability (measured by the test-retest method). Results: The research results indicate satisfactory content validity of the tool (I-CVI>0.8). The reliability of the tool measured by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was high (0.86). The reliability study based on the test - retest method (after 3 weeks) showed high consistency of measurements (0.75). Exploratory factor analysis allowed extracting 1 factor, which explains 55.7% of the variance. The validity of the one-factor solution was confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis. Satisfactory goodness of fit indices were obtained (RMSEA = 0.038; PCLOSE = 0.624; AGFI = 0.966; GFI = 0.990; CFI = 0.996). Conclusion: The presented tool has satisfactory psychometric properties. The AHPI is a tool that can be used for quick assessment of the intensity and direction of attitudes of medical students and healthcare professionals towards immigrant patients, which can help shape educational and training processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The recent advances of large language models (LLMs) have opened a wide range of opportunities, but at the same time, they pose numerous challenges and questions that research needs to answer. One of the main challenges are the quality and correctness of the output of LLMs as well as the overreliance of students on the output without critically reflecting on it. This poses the question of the quality of the output of LLMs in educational tasks and what students and teachers need to consider when using LLMs for creating educational items. In this work, we focus on the quality and characteristics of conceptual items developed using ChatGPT without user-generated improvements. Introduction: The recent advances of large language models (LLMs) have opened a wide range of opportunities, but at the same time, they pose numerous challenges and questions that research needs to answer. One of the main challenges are the quality and correctness of the output of LLMs as well as the overreliance of students on the output without critically reflecting on it. This poses the question of the quality of the output of LLMs in educational tasks and what students and teachers need to consider when using LLMs for creating educational items. In this work, we focus on the quality and characteristics of conceptual items developed using ChatGPT without user-generated improvements. Results and discussion: In this way, after careful prompt engineering, thorough analysis and selection of fully automatically generated items by ChatGPT, we were able to create concept items that had only a slightly lower quality than carefully human-generated concept items. The procedures to create and select such a high-quality set of items that is fully automatically generated require large efforts and point towards cognitive demands of teachers when using LLMs to create items. Moreover, the results demonstrate that human oversight or student interviews are necessary when creating one-dimensional assessments and distractors that are closely aligned with students' difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Methods Results Conclusion To validate the performance of autonomous diabetic retinopathy (DR) grading by comparing a human grader and a self‐developed deep‐learning (DL) algorithm with gold‐standard evaluation.We included 500, 6‐field retinal images graded by an expert ophthalmologist (gold standard) according to the International Clinical Diabetic Retinopathy Disease Severity Scale as represented with DR levels 0–4 (97, 100, 100, 103, 100, respectively). Weighted kappa was calculated to measure the DR classification agreement for (1) a certified human grader without, and (2) with assistance from a DL algorithm and (3) the DL operating autonomously. Using any DR (level 0 vs. 1–4) as a cutoff, we calculated sensitivity, specificity, as well as positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV). Finally, we assessed lesion discrepancies between Model 3 and the gold standard.As compared to the gold standard, weighted kappa for Models 1–3 was 0.88, 0.89 and 0.72, sensitivities were 95%, 94% and 78% and specificities were 82%, 84% and 81%. Extrapolating to a real‐world DR prevalence of 23.8%, the PPV were 63%, 64% and 57% and the NPV were 98%, 98% and 92%. Discrepancies between the gold standard and Model 3 were mainly incorrect detection of artefacts (n = 49), missed microaneurysms (n = 26) and inconsistencies between the segmentation and classification (n = 51).While the autonomous DL algorithm for DR classification only performed on par with a human grader for some measures in a high‐risk population, extrapolations to a real‐world population demonstrated an excellent 92% NPV, which could make it clinically feasible to use autonomously to identify non‐DR patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Increased abdominal wall thickness and size of left lobe of liver affect the ergonomics of bariatric surgery increasing its difficulty and leading to need of special preparations such as extra-long instruments. Computed tomography (CT) abdomen is the gold standard modality in assessment of abdominal wall thickness and size of left lobe of liver, but it has many drawbacks such as radiation and contrast. In this study, we validate ultrasound as an alternative to CT by comparing its results with CT abdomen and operative findings. Results: Abdominal ultrasound examination gives accurate results in assessment of anterior abdominal wall thickness and size of left lobe of liver in morbidly obese patients compared to CT and intra-operative with slight difference between values which is clinically accepted. Accuracy of ultrasound examination was 78.6%, 74.1%, and 100% for midline measurements, midclavicular line measurements and size of lt lobe of liver measurements, respectively. Ultrasound examination has sensitivity of 75%, 66.7% and 63.2% for midline measurements, midclavicular line measurements and size of lt lobe of liver measurements, respectively. Ultrasound examination specificity was 50%, 77.1% and 75.3% for midline measurements, midclavicular line measurements and size of lt lobe of liver measurements, respectively. Conclusion: Abdominal ultrasound examination is a valid method in preoperative assessment of anterior abdominal wall thickness and size of left lobe of liver in morbidly obese patients. It is reliable, easy, and cheap and avoids drawbacks of CT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to design a low-cost, simulation training platform for the ligation of deep dorsal vein (DVC) complex in radical prostatectomy and validate its training effectiveness. Methods: A simplified prostate urethra model was produced by 0-degree silica gel and pulse pressure banding. This model was placed on a slope of about 30 degrees using cardboard to thus creating a narrow environment of the pelvis. The DVC ligation was performed by a 2D laparoscopy simulator. A total of 27 participants completed the study include 13 novices, 10 surgical residents and 4 urology experts. The novices were trained five trails with 24 hours interval, the residents and experts completed the DVC ligation once. The construct validity of this simulation training platform was performed by completing time, the GOALS (Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills) and TSA (i.e. Task Specific Assessments) score. The face validity and content validity were performed by a specific closed-ended questionnaire. Results: There was no significant difference among three groups in demographic or psychometric variables (p > 0.05). Compared to the novices, the residents spend a shorter time to complete the DVC ligation (p < 0.05) and had higher GOALS scores (p < 0.05), but had no significant difference in TSA scores (p > 0.05). Additionally, the experts groups had a better performance compared to residents group in the completing time (p < 0.05), GOALS score (p < 0.05) and TSA score (p < 0.05). The learning curve of novices significantly promoted along with the increased times of training. Almost 90 percent of subjects considered that this simulator had a good performance in the realism and practicability. Conclusion: We developed a novel low-cost a simulation training platform for the ligation of deep dorsal vein complex in radical prostatectomy, and this simulator had a good performance in the construct validity, face validity and content validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various healthcare domains have witnessed successful preliminary implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, including radiology, though limited generalizability hinders their widespread adoption. Currently, most research groups and industry have limited access to the data needed for external validation studies. The creation and accessibility of benchmark datasets to validate such solutions represents a critical step towards generalizability, for which an array of aspects ranging from preprocessing to regulatory issues and biostatistical principles come into play. In this article, the authors provide recommendations for the creation of benchmark datasets in radiology, explain current limitations in this realm, and explore potential new approaches. Clinical relevance statement: Benchmark datasets, facilitating validation of AI software performance can contribute to the adoption of AI in clinical practice. Key Points: Benchmark datasets are essential for the validation of AI software performance. Factors like image quality and representativeness of cases should be considered. Benchmark datasets can help adoption by increasing the trustworthiness and robustness of AI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Screening for malnutrition among hospitalized children is essential, and the Screening Tool for the Assessment of Malnutrition in Pediatrics (STAMP) is a validated tool for this purpose. The study aimed to modify STAMP for a Saudi context and assess the sensitivity and specificity of both the original and modified tools. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 307 hospitalized children, where both the original and Saudi-modified STAMP were applied. Anthropometric measurements were also recorded, and statistical analysis using SPSS and validity parameters was used to assess the tools' validity. Results: The Saudi-modified STAMP identified a higher percentage of children at high risk of malnutrition compared to the original STAMP (91.6% vs. 62.9%). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy, and agreement of the Saudi-modified STAMP compared to the original were 94.3%, 13.2%, 64.8%, 57.7%, 0.654, and 0.089, respectively. Conclusions: The Saudi-modified STAMP showed excellent sensitivity and varied negative predictive value, indicating its potential effectiveness in screening for the risk of malnutrition among hospitalized children compared to the original STAMP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In athletic training and research, the evaluation of sprint speed is widely used, and its accurate measurement is especially demanding. High-cost photocells are the gold-standard system for sprint time assessment, although low-cost smartphone applications can be a suitable option. This study assesses the validity and reliability of an application to measure sprint time compared to photocells. Five physically active subjects completed six sprints of 10 m and 20 m at maximal speed and a 5 m go and return sprint to evaluate the validity of the Photo Finish® app (Version 2.30). To assess reliability, six trials of 5 m go and return sprints were measured by two smartphones. The validity results showed a mean bias of 0.012 s (95% CL: 0.000, 0.024) between the application and the photocells for the 10 m sprint, 0.007 s (95% CL: −0.007, 0.022) for the 20 m sprint and 0.005 s (95% CL: −0.005, 0.017) for the 5 m go and return test. The results also found R2 between both systems (R2= 0.9863, 0.990 and 0.958) for each distance (10 m, 20 m and 5 m go and return, respectively). As for reliability, the application showed outstanding consistency between two smartphones operating simultaneously (ICC 0.999; R2: 0.999). This study shows that the Photo Finish® app is an accurate and reliable tool to measure sprint time with an error of 0.09 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: ActiMotus, a thigh-accelerometer-based software used for the classification of postures and movements (PaMs), has shown high accuracy among adults and school-aged children; however, its accuracy among younger children and potential differences between sexes are unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of ActiMotus to measure PaMs among children between 3 and 14 years and to assess if this was influenced by the sex or age of children. Method: Forty-eight children attended a structured ~1-hour data collection session at a laboratory. Thigh acceleration was measured using a SENS accelerometer, which was classified into nine PaMs using the ActiMotus software. Human-coded video recordings of the session provided the ground truth. Results: Based on both F1 scores and balanced accuracy, the highest levels of accuracy were found for lying, sitting, and standing (63.2–88.2%). For walking and running, accuracy measures ranged from 48.0 to 85.8%. The lowest accuracy was observed for classifying stair climbing. We found a higher accuracy for stair climbing among girls compared to boys and for older compared to younger age groups for walking, running, and stair climbing. Conclusions: ActiMotus could accurately detect lying, sitting, and standing among children. The software could be improved for classifying walking, running, and stair climbing, particularly among younger children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep tracking by consumers is becoming increasingly prevalent; yet, few studies have evaluated the accuracy of such devices. We sought to evaluate the accuracy of three devices (Oura Ring Gen3, Fitbit Sense 2, and Apple Watch Series 8) compared to the gold standard sleep assessment (polysomnography (PSG)). Thirty-five participants (aged 20–50 years) without a sleep disorder were enrolled in a single-night inpatient study, during which they wore the Oura Ring, Fitbit, and Apple Watch, and were monitored with PSG. For detecting sleep vs. wake, the sensitivity was ≥95% for all devices. For discriminating between sleep stages, the sensitivity ranged from 50 to 86%, as follows: Oura ring sensitivity 76.0–79.5% and precision 77.0–79.5%; Fitbit sensitivity 61.7–78.0% and precision 72.8–73.2%; and Apple sensitivity 50.5–86.1% and precision 72.7–87.8%. The Oura ring was not different from PSG in terms of wake, light sleep, deep sleep, or REM sleep estimation. The Fitbit overestimated light (18 min; p < 0.001) sleep and underestimated deep (15 min; p < 0.001) sleep. The Apple underestimated the duration of wake (7 min; p < 0.01) and deep (43 min; p < 0.001) sleep and overestimated light (45 min; p < 0.001) sleep. In adults with healthy sleep, all the devices were similar to PSG in the estimation of sleep duration, with the devices also showing moderate to substantial agreement with PSG-derived sleep stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]