Adequate Levels Of Reliability Research Articles

The Port Sector in Italy: Its Keystones for Energy-Efficient Growth

Italy has been defined as the “logistics platform” of the Mediterranean Sea. The Italian port system, with 11.6 million TEUs handled and 61.4 million passengers in 2022 (Assoporti data January–December 2022), is the key to fulfilling this title through adequate levels of reliability, safety, and sustainability. This contribution addresses port logistics and shipping, focusing on primary issues related to the energy sector with a specific focus on what can be observed in the Italian context. Specifically, the decarbonization of the maritime sector and related infrastructural problems (e.g., cold ironing or alternative fuels, where the uncertainty about resource availability and related costs do not allow for easy strategic planning by both the ship owner and the port authority), as well as policies such as the Emission Trading System (ETS), will be analyzed. All these issues, hereafter addressed with a systematic critical review of the existing literature and other relevant sources, could represent the driving force of the growth of the national port sector toward its competitiveness at a global scale. The review was performed through a wide search and analysis of studies published in well-known online research databases (Scopus, Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect), sector studies, or specialized technical magazines. The review focuses on the results of each analyzed contribution rather than on the analysis method adopted with the final aim to identify useful hints and innovative ideas for further studies on the topic.

Research competencies assessment: Case of university students in the Peruvian Amazon

In the university context, research competences acquire a transcendental role for the integral development of students and the advancement of knowledge in all academic disciplines. Therefore, the objective of the present research was to evaluate the research competences of students of the Peruvian Amazon universities who attend the ninth and tenth semester. The investigation was developed under a quantitative approach; the design was non-experimental and the type was cross-sectional descriptive. The sample was made up of 135 students to whom the Research Competences Questionnaire was administered, an instrument with an adequate level of validity and reliability. According to the results, the level of development of the research competences of 43.7% of students were low, of 37% was medium, while 19.3% was high. Likewise, the organizational competences, communicational competences and collaborative competences dimensions were also valued at a low level. On the other hand, it was found that the level of research competencies was significantly associated with the semester of study in which the students were (p<0.05). It was concluded that the level of development of the research competences that characterized students was low. Therefore, it is recommended that the competent university authorities promote a culture of research in the academic environment and provide specific research training programs.

Adaptation of Academic Self-Efficacy Measuring Tools using the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA)

Students with higher self-efficacy, are more self-confident, can set higher learning goals, and are better at problem solving, which may lead to better academic performance. This research aims to adapt and validate The Scale of Sources of Self-efficacy in Mathematics (SSSEM) in the context of Indonesian culture and language and test its reliability in high school students. The research sample consisted of 200 students from six high schools in the city of Palangkaraya. All items were analyzed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The research results show the construct validity of the instrument with the index criterion value 𝜒2 = 170.749 p = 0.97 or (p-value > 0.05) meaning there is a match between the data and the model, then the RMSEA value = .028 (≤ 0.09), CMIN/DF = 1.154 (≤ 2.00), GFI = 0.920, CFI = 0.994, TLI = 0.993 and AGFI = 0897 (≥ 0.90). The results of the reliability analysis show that the scale has an adequate level of reliability. Then the construct reliability has good reliability with coefficient values for each dimension of 0.89 0.88, 0.89 and 0.87. Cronbach's Alpha value is above 0.70. This adapted scale had a good fit with empirical data after several modifications. Therefore, the Indonesian version of the SSSEM can be used as a valid and reliable measuring tool to measure self-efficacy in high school students in Indonesia.

Distinction between Arcing Faults and Oil Contamination from OLTC Gases

Power transformers are the most important and expensive assets in high-voltage power systems. To ensure an adequate level of reliability throughout the transformer’s lifetime, its maintenance strategy must be well defined. When an incipient fault occurs in the transformer insulation, a gas concentration pattern, representative of the type of fault, is generated. Fault-identification methods use gas concentrations and their ratios to identify the type of fault. None of the traditional or new fault-identification methods attempt to detect transformer oil contamination from on-load tap changer (OLTC) gases. In this study, from dissolved gas analysis (DGA) samples of transformers identified as contaminated in a previous study, fault-identification methods based on graphical representations were used to observe the patterns of results. From such patterns, Duval’s triangle and pentagon methods were modified to include a new zone indicating oil contamination (OC) from OLTC gases. Finally, the proposed modifications were validated using 75 DGA samples extracted from previous studies that were identified as D1 or D2 faults or contaminated from OLTC. This validation showed that only 14.7% and 13.3% of the DGA samples fell within the new OC zone of the proposed triangle and pentagon, respectively.

Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, reliability and validity of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the ‘Fit to Dance?’ survey

BackgroundThe ‘Fit to Dance?’ survey has been used in a number of studies to understand the health and wellbeing of dancers. These data have not been collected in Brazil as there is no validated questionnaire available in Brazilian Portuguese, culturally validated in Brazil with a scope as broad and comprehensive as that of ‘Fit to Dance?‘. ObjectiveTranslate into Brazilian Portuguese and culturally validate the questionnaire ‘Fit to Dance?’ in Brazil. MethodsThis was a validity and reliability study of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the ‘Fit to Dance?’ Survey. The stages of the research were: translation into the target language (Brazilian Portuguese), translation synthesis, translation validation and cross-cultural adaptation by a committee of experts in Dance Medicine and Science (DMS), reverse translation into English, pilot study (test/retest), and final version of the questionnaire. ResultsThe questionnaire was applied to 21 dancers of different dance genres, with an age average of 25 ± 7.0 years. Cronbach's alpha (0.705), ICC (0.984) and Kappa (0.794) results reached adequate values. ConclusionThe Brazilian Portuguese version of the questionnaire ‘Fit to Dance?’ is effective, has adequate levels of validity and reliability, and can be used to report injuries and aspects of health and well-being of Brazilian dancers.

Naive skepticism scale: development and validation tests applied to the chilean population

BackgroundSkepticism has traditionally been associated with critical thinking. However, philosophy has proposed a particular type of skepticism, termed naive skepticism, which may increase susceptibility to misinformation, especially when contrasting information from official sources. While some scales propose to measure skepticism, they are scarce and only measure specific topics; thus, new instruments are needed to assess this construct.ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop a scale to measure naive skepticism in the adult population.MethodThe study involved 446 individuals from the adult population. Subjects were randomly selected for either the pilot study (phase 2; n = 126) or the validity-testing study (phase 3; n = 320). Parallel analyses and exploratory structural equation modelling were conducted to assess the internal structure of the test. Scale reliability was estimated using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficients Finally, a multigroup confirmatory factor analysis was performed to assess invariance, and a Set- Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling was applied to estimate evidence of validity based on associations with other variables.ResultsThe naive skepticism scale provided adequate levels of reliability (ω > 0.8), evidence of validity based on the internal structure of the test (CFI = 0.966; TLI = 0.951; RMSEA = 0.079), gender invariance, and a moderate inverse effect on attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccines.ConclusionsThe newly developed naive skepticism scale showed acceptable psychometric properties in an adult population, thus enabling the assessment of naive skepticism in similar demographics. This paper discusses the implications for the theoretical construct and possible limitations of the scale.

Assessment of Information Literacy Competences in Peruvian University Students: An Exploratory Study

The objective was to evaluate the perception of the informational literacy competences of the university students of the Peruvian Amazon. The investigation was developed under a quantitative approach, the design was non-experimental and cross-sectional descriptive type. The sample was made up of 707 students to whom the Informational Literacy Competences Questionnaire was given, an instrument with an adequate level of content validity and reliability. According to the results, the level of development of the informational literacy competencies of 37.5% of students was low, 35% was medium, and 27.5% was high. Likewise, the dimensions of information retrieval, information assessment and information processing were also valued at a low level. However, the information communication dimension of information was valued at a medium level. On the other hand, it was found that the level of informational literacy competences was significantly associated with the year of study in which the students were (p<0.05). It was concluded that the level of development of the informational literacy competencies that characterized the students was low.

Reliability of Municipal Solid Waste Landfills within the Eurocode Framework

Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill slope failures can have significant consequences for the economy, environment, and human health. One potential cause of slope failure is insufficient reliability, resulting from inadequate design. The usual practice in the design of MSW landfills involves utilizing established geotechnical codes, such as Eurocode 7 (EC7), to perform slope stability assessments. Considering the substantial heterogeneity of MSW relative to soil, questions arise regarding the justification of such an approach in the design of MSW landfills. This study examines the suitability of applying EC7 in MSW landfill design, analyzing the stability and reliability of landfill slopes across various heights, front slope angles, design approaches, and consequence classes. This study finds that, in most cases considered, EC7 does not ensure an adequate level of reliability for MSW landfill slopes. Therefore, it is suggested that EC7 should be complemented with specific guidelines for incorporating MSW in geotechnical analyses to achieve the desired structural reliability. Adopting this strategy will not only enhance the reliability of landfill design but also promote the development of solutions that are economically and environmentally sustainable.

Mental Health Upon Return to Face-To-Face Classes: Burnout Syndrome in Basic Education Teachers

Introduction: During the return to face-to-face classes, teachers are facing new challenges and demands because students were unable to learn adequately through the virtual modality implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, the increase in workload could affect their mental health and cause the appearance of burnout syndrome. Objective: Describe the level of burnout syndrome in basic education teachers upon return to face-to-face classes. Methods: The approach is quantitative, the design non-experimental and the descriptive type cross-sectional. The sample consisted of 170 teachers of whom applied the Maslach Burnout Inventory, an instrument with adequate levels of validity and reliability.

Assessment of Research Competences in University Students from the Peruvian Amazon: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: In the university context, research competences acquire a transcendental role for the integral development of students and the advancement of knowledge in all academic disciplines. Therefore, the objective of the present research was to evaluate the research competences of students of the Peruvian Amazon universities who attend the ninth and tenth semester. Method: The investigation was developed under a quantitative approach; the design was non-experimental and the type was cross-sectional descriptive. The sample was made up of 135 students to whom the Research Competences Questionnaire was administered, an instrument with an adequate level of validity and reliability. Results: According to the results, the level of development of the research competences of 43.7% of students were low, of 37% was medium, while 19.3% was high. Likewise, the organizational competences, communicational competences and collaborative competences dimensions were also valued at a low level. On the other hand, it was found that the level of research competencies was significantly associated with the semester of study in which the students were (p<0.05). Conclusions: It was concluded that the level of development of the research competences that characterized students was low. Therefore, it is recommended that the competent university authorities promote a culture of research in the academic environment and provide specific research training programs.

The Challenge of Teaching in the Digital Era: Computer Visual Syndrome in Basic Education Teachers

Objective: At present, technology has become an indispensable tool in the educational field, especially for basic education teachers who face a growing digitalization of the educational environment. However, this change towards digital is not exempt from consequences, and one of the emerging challenges is computer visual syndrome, which can affect its quality of life. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate the presence of computer visual syndrome in teachers of four Peruvian educational institutions of basic education. Method: The research approach was quantitative; the design was non-experimental and the type was a cross-sectional descriptive. The sample was made up of 161 teachers who were given the Computer Visual Syndrome Questionnaire (CVS-Q), an instrument with adequate levels of reliability and validity. Results: The results indicate that the level of computer visual syndrome of 47.8% of teachers was mild, 32.9% was moderate and 19.3% were severe. Similarly, it was found that the symptoms suffered by teachers were most frequently itching, burning or sensation of burning of the eyes, dry eye, feeling of having a foreign body in the eye and heaviness in the eyelids. On the other hand, it was found that visual computer syndrome was significantly associated with the daily digital device usage time, to have pre-existing eye diseases and the implementation of preventive strategies. Conclusions: In the present research, it was concluded that the predominant level of computer vision syndrome in teachers was low. Therefore, the implementation of awareness programs and the application of ergonomic measures to improve the visual health of teachers are suggested.

Validating Social Control, Self-Control, and Social Learning Constructs Among a Sample of Youth in Nine English-Speaking Caribbean Nations

Measures in international self-report surveys drawn from criminological theories have rarely been validated. Instruments that have been tested suggest that they might lack reliability and validity depending on the nation. The present study uses a large sample of school-attending youth in nine English-speaking Caribbean countries to examine the reliability and validity of three theoretical constructs—social control, self-control, and social learning—included in the Eurogang Youth Survey instrument. Our findings suggest that the theoretical constructs contained in the Eurogang Youth Survey instrument are relevant to explaining Caribbean delinquency and show adequate reliability levels. Our results also show consistency in the measurement structure of these theoretical constructs across the study nations.

Continuance Intention Pada Aplikasi Mobile Payment Dengan Menggunakan Extended Expectation Confirmation Model

This study aims to identify the factors that influence the intention to continue using the mobile payment application during the new normal period after the COVID-19 pandemic, using the Extended Expectation Confirmation Model (EECM) approach. EECM combines aspects of the Expectation Confirmation Model (ECM) with other external factors, ECM is used to understand and explain decision-making related to the continued use of mobile payments. This research was conducted by analyzing data from respondents who have used mobile payment applications after the pandemic. The data was collected through an online survey and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with the help of Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) software, 406 individuals were selected to serve as research participants. The results of the analysis show that factors such as satisfaction, and trust have a significant influence on the continuance intention of mobile payments. In addition, in the context of the new normal, factor such as social influence factors are known to have no significant influence on mobile payment continuance intention. As a result, this research contributes to understanding the factors that influence the intention to continue using mobile payment applications. The validity and reliability test results show that the survey instrument used has an adequate level of validity and reliability, supporting the quality and reliability of the analysis conducted.

The cross-sectional resistance of square and rectangular hollow steel sections loaded by bending moment and shear force

This paper presents an evaluation of the design rules for the bending moment–shear force (M−V) interaction of cold- and hot-formed square, and rectangular hollow steel sections (SHS & RHS). More specifically, the design rules, as provided by EN1993-1-1 regarding RHS and SHS of section class 1 and 2 are covered for the steel grades S235 up to and including S460. A 4-point bending test was simulated by means of a finite element model, which was validated on the basis of experimental tests from existing literature. A parametric study was performed and numerical M−V interaction results were compared to the provisions in EN1993-1-1. This comparison indicates that the current design rules in EN1993-1-1 regarding M−V interaction are conservative and overestimate the reduction of the bending resistance due to the presence of shear. Alternative design rules for the shear area and M−V interaction of RHS and SHS are proposed and evaluated by means of a statistical assessment procedure based on existing literature and EN1990-1-1. Both newly developed design rules are shown to ensure an adequate reliability level when a partial safety factor equal to 1 is used.

Validation of the social provisions scale in a sample of undergraduate students of social work in Spain

Providing validated instruments in higher education on social support perceived by students allows research and improvement of university policies aimed at developing the psychosocial well-being of future social workers. The objective of the study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the social provisions scale (SPS) in a sample of uniiversity students of social work in Spain. The results obtained through structural equation modeling confirmed the structure of six correlated factors and adequate levels of reliability; and factorial invariance analysis indicates that the SPS remains stable up to the level of metric invariance for the sex variable.

From theory to practice: A study on sustainable consumption practices among university students in a region of Peru

Objective: In recent years, sustainable consumption has been promoted in order to preserve natural resources for present and future generations. In that sense, the objective of this research was to evaluate sustainable consumption practices in university students in the Amazon region of Madre de Dios, Peru. Method: The approach was quantitative, the design was non-experimental and the type, cross-sectional descriptive-comparative. The sample was made up of 357 students who answered the Questionnaire on Socially Responsible Sustainable Consumption Practices, an instrument with adequate levels of validity and reliability. Results: It was found that sustainable consumption practices of 46.8% of the students were not common, 35% were unusual and 18.2% were common. On the other hand, it was determined that sustainable consumption practices and informed purchase dimensions, responsible use, respect for people and animals and quality and territoriality were significantly associated with some sociodemographic variables. Conclusions: It was concluded that sustainable consumption practices in university students were not common, therefore, universities are suggested to implement environmental education in a transverse and integral way to concretize sustainable development objectives.

Exploring the relationship between technostress and psychological well-being in basic education teachers: a cross-sectional study

Objective: In the current digital age, teachers face additional challenges due to the constant use of technology in their work. Although technology has provided numerous educational opportunities and tools, it has also resulted in a new form of stress known as technostress. In this sense, the objective of the present investigation was to determine if technostress is significantly related to psychological well-being of basic education teachers. Method: The research approach was quantitative; the design was non-experimental and the type corresponded to a descriptive-correlation study of transverse cutting. The sample was made up of 169 basic education teachers who were given the Technostress Questionnaire and the Psychological Well-being Scale for Adults, instruments with adequate levels of content validity and reliability. Results: Preliminary, it was found that teachers were characterized by presenting low levels of technostress and high levels of psychological well-being. In addition, it was determined that Pearson correlation coefficient between both variables was -0.465 (p<0.05). Inverse and significant correlations were also observed between the technostress and acceptance (r= -0.442, p<0.05), autonomy (r= -0.474, p<0.05), connections (r= -0.411, p<0.05) and projects (r= -0.452, p<0.05). Similarly, it was found that there were reverse and significant correlations between psychological well-being and skepticism (r= -0.440, p<0.05), fatigue (r= -0.461, p<0.05), anxiety (r= -0.441, p<0.05) and inefficacy (r= -0.417, p<0.05). Conclusions: There is an inverse and significant relationship between technostress and psychological well-being of basic education teachers. Therefore, it is recommended to promote healthy practices in the use of technology, such as practicing digital disconnection, promoting self-care and promoting conscious and balanced use of technology, to protect and improve the psychological well-being of teachers.

The Use Of Temporary Towers To Optimize The Completion Of Reconductoring And Tower Replacement Of 150 Kv High Voltage Overhead Lines (SUTT)

Transmission lines play an important role in the successful and stable operation and distribution of power grids both for power evacuation from power plants and as a link from one Substation to another. The construction of new transmission lines as a form of meeting high electricity needs in the current era of Globalization has many obstacles, both in terms of rejection from residents, expensive licensing arrangements, and very expensive investment costs. Reconductoring is one of the methods of increasing transmission capacity at minimum cost with an adequate level of quality and reliability. Reconductoring is the best solution today to increase conductor conducting capacity with the least investment and get maximum economic efficiency. However, considering that reconductoring is an addition of transmission capacity using old or existing lines and also requires tower replacement, so an outage with a long duration is needed which is feared to have an impact on system reliability. Therefore, the use of emergency towers is believed to be a solution to shorten the blackout time. Emergency towers are used as tools in reconductor work and tower replacement. A study was conducted by calculating the Cost Budget Plan (RAB) and schedule analysis using the Microsoft Project Application to determine the comparison of the duration of time needed to complete reconductoring work and tower replacement between using an emergency tower and without an emergency tower. From the time schedule made, it will be known which work method uses a shorter duration of time so that it can save or speed up the blackout time. This study is expected to produce a shorter schedule of reconductoring and tower replacement work using temporary/emergency towers and with a smaller RAB compared to Total Operating Costs so as to shorten the duration of the outage time at an efficient cost.

Examining the Relationship Between Academic Burnout and the University Student's Engagement: A Cross-Sectional Study on the Return to Face-to-Face Classes

Objective: Academic burnout is considered a psychological condition that students present and is characterized by low motivation and a feeling of failure due to the inability to cope with academic stress or excessive academic demands. In this sense, the objective of the present investigation was to determine if academic burnout is related to the university student's engagement in the Peruvian Amazon to return to face-to-face classes. Method: The approach was quantitative, the design was non-experimental and the type was descriptive - correlational, cross-sectional. The sample consisted of 342 students who were administered the Maslach Burnout Inventory Student Survey and the UWES-S Scale, instruments with adequate levels of validity and reliability. Likewise, to identify the relationship between the study variables, Pearson correlation coefficient was used. Results: The preliminary results indicate that the students were characterized by presenting moderate levels of academic burnout and engagement. On the other hand, it was determined that the Pearson correlation coefficient between both variables was -0.722 (p<0.05). Significant correlations were also reported between academic burnout and the dimensions vigor (r= -0.701, p<0.05), dedication (r= -0.712, p<0.05) and absorption (r= -0.694, p<0.05). In the same way, significant correlations were found between student engagement and the dimensions emotional exhaustion (r= -0.711, p<0.05), cynicism (r= -0.700, p<0.05) and inefficacy (r= -0.687, p <0.05). On the other hand, the β coefficients indicate that academic burnout (β= 0.204), emotional exhaustion (β= 0.259), cynicism (β= 0.196) and inefficacy (β= 0.337) significantly predicted student engagement. Conclusions: It was concluded that there is an inverse and significant relationship between academic burnout and the university student's engagement in the Peruvian Amazon to return to face-to-face classes.

Validation of the PHQ-15 questionnaire version for the Mexican population to assess psychosomatic symptoms

Psychosomatic symptoms are physical manifestations of psychological origin that are not adequately explained by organic causes. For this reason, it is difficult to differentiate them from other conditions, so health sciences must consider their diagnosis and research on them a priority. The PHQ-15 (Patient Health Questionnaire) is an instrument that allows its diagnosis through a list of 15 psychosomatic symptoms. The purpose of this research was to validate the PHQ-15 for the Mexican adult population, obtaining indicators of reliability, construct, and convergent validity. First, the instrument was translated and culturally adapted. This version was evaluated by mental health specialists and doctors. The PHQ-15 and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were applied to 420 Mexican participants through an online survey. A Confirmatory Factor Analysis was performed that rectified the unifactorial structure. The results showed acceptable fit indicators and a significant contribution of all the reagents to the model. The correlations between the PHQ-15 and the HADS showed a directly proportional relationship between psychosomatic symptoms with depression and anxiety, which provides evidence of convergent validity. Regarding internal consistency, it showed adequate levels of reliability.