Appropriate Level Of Reliability Research Articles

Assessment of Human Errors in the Operation of the Water Treatment Plant

The water supply system (WSS) is an anthropotechnical system whose reliability depends on proper human activity. Research indicates that 75% of WSS failures are due to human errors. The water treatment plant (WTP) is a key element of the WSS. The water treatment process requires human control as the operator. His task is to maintain an appropriate level of reliability and safety for the system by controlling the technological objects. The aim of the work was to assess the reliability of the WTP operator. The paper presents a Human Reliability Assessment (HRA) of the operator of the WTP using the Fuzzy-Bayes CREAM method. The values of the Human Error Probability (HEP) for operators were determined, which are key to carrying out further analyses of the human impact on the reliability and operational safety of anthropotechnical critical infrastructure systems. The HEP value of the water treatment plant operator varies in the range of 0.0005–0.0746 (depending on the technological process). Identification of new threats related to the impact of the human factor on the WSS’s functioning and taking them into account in reliability calculations will allow for a better representation of actual operating conditions.

Методологічний підхід до розв’язання проблеми надійності функціонування автомобільних транспортних систем

An analysis of methods and techniques for solving the problem of increasing and ensuring the appropriate level of reliability of technical systems was carried out, which made it possible, based on the use of analogies, to find out the directions for ensuring the reliability of automobile transport systems. The essence of the concept of the reliability of the functioning of automobile transport systems for the transportation of goods and passengers from a methodological point of view is clarified. The insufficiency of regulatory and legal documentation for the development of methods and techniques for assessing the reliability of transport systems is substantiated. The synthesis of the concepts of "management" and "reliability" of the functioning of transport systems in comparison with similar concepts of technical systems is considered. The expert method and methodology of expert assessment of the reasons for failures of the production subsystem of the motor vehicle enterprise and its services are considered. It was found that factor analysis in combination with expert assessment makes it possible to assess the significance of the reasons for failure of transport systems and their frequency. In accordance with the classification of failures of technical systems, an analysis of their belonging to automobile transport systems was carried out. The classification of failures of technical systems according to different sets of features is analyzed. It was established that the classification of failures of automobile transport systems is based on the use of analogy with the classification of failures of technical systems, as well as on the results of the analysis of the factors of the causes of failures that occur in the production system of the carrier's enterprise. It was revealed that the selection of significant factors affecting the failure of automobile transport systems is based on the method of expert evaluations, their ranking by importance was carried out, and their relative frequencies were calculated. The results of the factor analysis of the reasons for the failure of the production subsystem of the motor vehicle enterprise are given. It is assumed that by analogy with technical automobile transport systems, they are also subject to decomposition by stages of the life cycle. Therefore, a sudden failure of automobile transport systems is characterized by a sudden change in the values of one or more initial parameters agreed with the customer, and a gradual one occurs as a result of a slow, gradual deterioration of the functioning characteristics of the subsystem or the system as a whole or a participant in the transportation of goods and passengers.

Spectroscopic clarifications, topological insights, Hirshfeld interactions, and quantum chemical computational analysis of antibacterial agent benzimidazolium picrate

The distribution of density at the B3LYP level with a 6–311++G(d,p) basis set for Benzoimidazolium Picrate was presumably assessed to comprehend additional information regarding its molecular shape, harmonic emission, and complex kinetic spectra. Leveraging VEDA software, spectral investigations were conducted for each system which enabled us to gain both qualitative and quantitative assessments of the Raman and IR spectra. Simulations were additionally implemented for net Mulliken charge, Fukui inquiry, RDG review, and intact coupling orbital analyses. The likelihood of shifting charges in the molecule's structure is foretold by the FMO potential gap of 3.9719 eV. Conceptual and feasible computations were employed to evaluate the UV–vis optical properties of BP. The dimensions, design, charge concentration dispersion, and the chemical activity region of the components were established with the electrostatic potential layer (ESP). The morphological attributes of BP were further depicted via ELF and LOL charts. The hyperpolarizability ratings of the drug demonstrate an appropriate level of reliability, and found to be 24 times than urea. To identify the target molecule's appropriate bonding energy with amino acids, a docking virtual reality was conducted.

Enhancing group recommender systems: A fusion of social tagging and collaborative filtering for cohesive recommendations

AbstractThis study examines the challenges and opportunities of using group recommendation systems in an information overload scenario. Social network recommendation systems are increasingly important because they deliver users customized choices. Most existing solutions are geared for single users, making it difficult to propose for a group with different interests. This paper analyses group recommendation systems and exposes their flaws. This study tested whether the suggested approach outperforms the one without tagging information in recall, precision, and user satisfaction. Empirical evidence indicates that the algorithm exhibits appropriate levels of reliability and accuracy compared to conventional methods. The proposed approach has the potential to substantially enhance the existing state of social network group recommendation systems, thereby facilitating users in their quest to identify and participate in groups that align with their preferences.

Fast Operation of Determining the Sign of a Number in RNS Using the Akushsky Core Function

This article presents a study related to increasing the performance of distributed computing systems. The essence of fog computing lies in the use of so-called edge devices. These devices are low-power, so they are extremely sensitive to the computational complexity of the methods used. This article is aimed at improving the efficiency of calculations while maintaining an appropriate level of reliability by applying the methods of the Residue Number System (RNS). We are investigating methods for determining the sign of a number in the RNS based on the core function in order to develop a new, fast method. As a result, a fast method for determining the sign of a number based on the Akushsky core function, using approximate calculations, is obtained. Thus, in the course of this article, a study of methods for ensuring reliability in distributed computing is conducted. A fast method for determining the sign of a number in the RNS based on the core function using approximate calculations is also proposed. This result is interesting from the point of view of nebulous calculations, since it allows maintaining high reliability of a distributed system of edge devices with a slight increase in the computational complexity of non-modular operations.

Tax planning and forecasting with a risk-based approach

Tax planning and forecasting is of great strategic importance as part of the formation of a long-term development plan for both the tax system and the national economy. Thanks to tax planning and forecasting, budgets of the budgetary system of the Russian Federation are formed, the funds of which are mainly used to solve social problems, increase the level of human capital and ensure the comprehensive economic development of the country and its regions. This article examines the essence of tax planning and forecasting, and also substantiates the need to apply a risk-based approach in the tax sphere, which contributes to achieving an appropriate level of reliability and quality of tax planning and tax forecasting, improving the efficiency of the tax system and ensuring the tax security of the state.

Measurement of barriers to perform periodic examinations: development and psychometric properties scale

Objectives. Due to recent changes in workplace risks, it is required to investigate the motivations of employees and employers for occupational examination performance. This study aims to develop a self-report scale to overcome prior methodological defects and evaluate barriers of performing periodic examinations. Methods. The study was conducted with 200 participants, including employers, occupational health inspectors, occupational physicians and occupational health experts working in the industrial sector, aged 25–70 years. The subjects supplied sociodemographic information and completed the experimental version of the instrument. Results. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) provided evidence for a five-factor model, including knowledge, quality, law, capability and service, with 62.68% variance. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) proved stability rates of both models (root mean square error of approximation [rmsea] = 0.062, comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.92, Tucker–Lewis index [TLI] = 0.906, incremental fit index [IFI] = 0.921, normed fit index [NFI] = 0.835, relative fit index [RFI] = 0.808). The scale also revealed appropriate levels of reliability (α = 0.916 and composite reliability [CR] >0.7) and validity (average variance extracted >0.5). Conclusion. The psychometric characteristics of the scale demonstrated acceptable validity and reliability. This study developed this valid instrument to be used by health decision-makers for assessing barriers of performing periodic examinations.

Method for quantitative criterion based transformation of the video information alphabet

Subject of study: technologies implemented in modern video coding algorithms to ensure the appropriate level of reliability in the conditions of their compact presentation. The goal is to develop a technology for transforming the alphabet of a video information based on a quantitative criterion while ensuring the required quality in networks. Objectives: to formulate requirements to video images in dynamic video surveillance systems; to analyze the existing factors leading to an imbalance between the compression and quality characteristics of existing video coding algorithms; to develop a technology for transforming the alphabet of a video information based on a quantitative criterion (attribute) for the best presentation of the encoded data; to develop a mathematical model for the formation of a quantitativeindicator for the transformation of the video images; to analyze the effectiveness of using the developed mathematical model for the formation of a quantitative indicator to provide the required trustworthiness of data for the video information resource; to assess the effectiveness of the developed technology for transforming the original message in terms of a quantitative indicator to ensure the best presentation of the encoded data; to investigate the dynamics of the probabilistic and statistical characteristics of the original message as a result of transformation according to the quantitative criterion of the significance of the elements. The research methods: compression coding methods implemented on the basis of the JPEG algorithms. The research results: a new approach has been proposed based on the transformation of the encoded alphabet of data by use of a quantitative criterion. A mathematical model has been developed for the formation of a quantitative attributethat determines the significance of the elements of the original message. Conclusions. A technology has been developed for transforming the alphabet of the original message, which allows creating conditions for a more profitable presentation of the encoded data due to a significant increase in the dynamic range of probabilistic and statistical characteristics for the transformed message while ensuring the required level of video image quality.

Optimal scheduling of flexible ramp product and emerging flexible resources considering short-term variability impacts in power system with high RESs penetration: A novel robust UC approach

The short-term variability impacts associated with high renewable energy sources (RESs) penetration in power system will significantly jeopardize the feasible and economically efficient operation of system while necessitating the enhancement of flexibility provision to guarantee the appropriate levels of reliability. To address these challenges, this paper introduces a unique unit commitment (UC) formulation with focus on the allocation and deployment of flexible ramp products. Alongside conventional generation units, emerging flexible resources have recently attracted much attention as desirable options to promote the flexibility degree in power system. Under this perspective, this paper develops a multi-resolution robust UC (RUC) incorporating flexible technologies in a co-optimized energy and reserve market. The proposed model not only optimizes the hourly commitment and dispatch scheduling of resources but also develops a novel nondeterministic flexible ramp product which can be adaptively adjusted into the net-load sudden variations based on intra-hourly intervals. To conquer the drawbacks of the conventional two-stage robust optimization including over-conservativeness, non-causality and heavy computational tractability, and to reduce the sub-optimality gaps brought by the conventional affinely adjustable robust (AAR) methodology, a novel augmented affinely adjustable robust (AAAR) strategy is recommended in the current paper. The superiority of the proposed approach upon the conventional AAR counterpart (AARC) is also investigated from both theoretical and practical aspects. Then, the merits of the coordinated operation of flexible resources are evaluated through the extensive comparisons. The applicability of the proposed model is validated by the results of the numerical tests conducted on both IEEE 24-bus reliability test system (RTS) and the IEEE 118-bus test system.

Development of the external restructuring method to increase the efficiency of information resource data encoding

The existing methods of data restructuring, implemented in modern algorithms for coding data of information resources, are investigated. The problematic aspects of using methods of external data restructuring are analyzed from the standpoint of ensuring the appropriate level of reliability. The main ones among them are the possibility of losing key information during the reconstruction of the original message, which can lead to the adoption of erroneous and untimely decisions by the relevant security sector authorities to overcome crisis situations. Requirements for information resources used in the interests of security sector bodies in the context of the need for a prompt response to overcoming crisis situations are being formed. In order to increase the efficiency of data coding of an information resource from the position of a compact representation in conditions of ensuring an appropriate level of quality, a method of external restructuring is being developed, which additionally allows to eliminate psycho-visual, statistical and structural redundancy of the message. External restructuring of data means the formation of a new message alphabet (color palette for an image). A new approach to restructuring these information resources is proposed, the essence of which is to determine the significance of individual elements in the initial message by a quantitative indicator, and then adjust the power of the original message, which allows creating more favorable conditions for further coding.

A hindrance to proper health care: psychometric development and validation of opiophobia questionnaire among doctors in Pakistan

PurposeThere is an ever-increasing number of patients suffering from various forms of acute and chronic pain and getting treatment for such ailments is a basic human right. Opioid analgesics remain one way of managing and attending to such patients. However, due to the prevalence of opiophobia, many doctors avoid prescribing opioid-based medicines, even at the cost of patients suffering leading to a hindrance in providing optimal health care. Up till now, there has been no reliable and valid instrument to measure the severity of opiophobia in doctors. For this reason, the purpose of this study is to represent the construction of a precise and reliable instrument for measuring opiophobia along with its validation for doctors in Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachInterviews and theoretical knowledge relating to opiophobia were used as the basis for the purpose of generating an item pool. The generated item pool was evaluated by subject matter experts for content validity and inter-rater reliability, followed by Velicer’s minimum average partial method and maximum likelihood factor analysis for establishing the factorial structure of the scale. As opiophobia in doctors prevails the most and causes a lower ratio of prescription of opioid analgesics. The present sample selected for the study was that of n = 100 doctors (men = 50; women = 50) from various hospitals, treating patients with chronic pain, in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.FindingsA two-factor structure was suggested by Velicer’s minimum average partial method and maximum likelihood factor analysis, which were labeled as fear of opioid analgesics and justified acceptance of opioids. The developed opiophobia questionnaire along with its subscales displayed appropriate levels of reliability α = 0.733, α = 0.760 and α = 0.725, respectively, suggesting the scale to be reliable.Research limitations/implicationsLike any other study, this study also tried to address every essential aspect, but still lacked at some places which should be considered and catered for in future studies. In the first place the sample size was very limited which was due to the fact, the study was conducted during a pandemic and physically going for data collection was unavailable, thus leading to consequent sample size. It is recommended a correspondent study can be conducted with larger sample size, so they can get more reliable results with greater precision and power. Then, they will have the advantage of a small margin of error. The second limitation was the study involved only doctors as that was the main focus of the present study. However, other hospital staff such as nurses should also be incorporated to assess their level of opiophobia. The current scale suggests the severity of opiophobia with higher scores though no cutoff point has been suggested. Future studies should try and incorporate a cutoff point to assess the difference between doctors who have conventional levels of reservations against opioids and those suffering from opiophobia. Another limitation was that the present scale did not establish additional validities such as convergent and divergent validity. Future studies should collect data from a larger sample to establish these validities to further refine the scale.Practical implicationsThis instrument can be immensely effective in identifying doctors who have concerns and fears about prescribing opioids to patients with chronic pain. The findings acquired on such a scale can help in developing appropriate academic and psychological interventions which can help such doctors to overcome their opiophobia. This can enable more doctors to prescribe appropriate medicine to their patients instead of letting them suffer from pain. Additionally, researchers can equally benefit from the instrument as it can enable them to investigate opiophobia with other possible variables.Social implicationsDeveloping such a scale about the fear faced by doctors while treating patients would be very useful as it is not possible to take such fear when it comes to a patient’s life. This fear is also common among patients where they have a fear about the undesirable effects, addiction of drugs and fear of dying. Better awareness should be given to them which will be helpful for successful and less painful treatment in hospitals.Originality/valueThis scale is an original work with the aim of accessing opiophobia among doctors toward (chronic) patients with severe pain. There was a lot of research work that has been done on opiophobia in developed countries and few Pakistani researchers have also worked on opiophobia and its impact on pain management but still, no scale has been developed to measure the extent or tendency of opiophobia among doctors or patients. This scale can be used globally on both men and women doctors to access the tendency of opiophobia among them.

ALGORITHMIC PROVISION OF ERROR-CORRECTING MULTI-COLORED BARCODE PATTERNS BASED ON GF(p)

Background. In recent years, there has been a steady trend towards the using of multi-colored barcodes. This increases the information density of the data compared to black and white barcodes. However, this complicates the processes of recognition and decoding of bar code images. Therefore, in order to reliably read multi-colored barcodes from an object, it is necessary to ensure noise immunity of bar code patterns – the minimum structural units of the bar code image. Objective. The purpose of the paper is development of a method for the synthesis of symbolics of multi-colored bar codes, which have the property of noise immunity at the level of bar code patterns. Methods. This goal is achieved through the using of multivalued incomplete Hemming codes as the basis for constructing bar code patterns. The numerical equivalent of the bar code pattern is a code word of the multi-valued Hemming code, in which the encoding-decoding operations are performed according to the rules of a finite field GF(p). Results. A number of error-correcting multi-colored barcodes have been proposed, in which one-time distorted element (error) is corrected at the level of barcode pattern and a significant number of multiple distortions are detected. The error-correcting capability of multi-colored barcode patterns has been evaluated. Conclusions. The proposed method of the synthesis of symbolics of multi-colored barcodes allows creating barcodes with improved error-correcting characteristics, which provides the appropriate level of reliability of the process of reading multi-colored barcodes in automatic identification systems.

The Development of Instructional Leadership Scale of Elementary School Principals in Indonesia

This research aims to develop a scale to measure the practice of instructional leadership of elementary school principals in Indonesia. A sequential mixed-methods approach was chosen involving 238 school principals at public elementary schools in Bogor regency, Indonesia. The new instructional leadership scale showed appropriate levels of reliability and validity. The reliability of the developed scale was 0,875. The construct validity was examined; second-ordered confirmatory factor analysis was at a satisfactory level, Chi-square χ2=434.489, CFI =.934, p=.113, TLI=.928, RMSEA=.019, SRMR=.046. Convergent and discriminant validity were at an acceptable level as well. Qualitative results concluded that there were three identities of instructional leadership: instructional knowledge, attitude, and skills. By providing a new scale to measure instructional leadership roles, it could help navigate effectively that the roles of school leaders for learning reforms.

Прогнозування запасів промислового підприємства в умовах волатильності попиту

The aim of the article is to provide tools for obtaining reliable forecasts of the level of inventories of the enterprise in conditions of volatility in demand for products. Most types of demand for industrial products are unstable, so it is important to form stocks based on demand forecasts to reduce logistics risks. The results of the analyses. Analytical tools for forecasting maximum level of inventories in conditions of volatility of demand for products of machine-building enterprises have been developed, which provides an opportunity to obtain the most reliable sales forecast and estimate the maximum required stocks for a certain type of demand. The method, which is obtained by analytical tools, is based on a three-stage algorithm: a) identification of trends in a time series of sales; b) obtaining optimal sales forecasting models; c) plotting of interval forecasts of product sales and risk assessment of the formation of its maximum stocks. The developed methodology identifies logistics risks, which depend on sales forecasts, for nine machine-building enterprises of Ukraine. A method for statistical assessment of logistics risks of machine-building enterprises by confidence intervals has been developed, in which maximum stocks are determined by two confidence intervals of sales forecasts, and the risk of error is associated with the appropriate levels of reliability of these intervals. It is proposed to build the upper limits of two confidence intervals, for example, 95% and 99%, according to the forecast inventory level estimates, and to consider them as maximum inventory level estimates with corresponding probabilities. The risk of stock shortages is defined as the probability of going beyond the upper limit of the corresponding interval. It is proved that the dynamics of monthly or quarterly sales of enterprises can be typed by four patterns: the presence of seasonal fluctuations and trends; the presence of purely seasonal fluctuations without a pronounced trend; no seasonal fluctuations, but the presence of a trend; no seasonal fluctuations and trends. Conclusions and perspectives for further research. It is proved that the volatility of monthly or quarterly sales volumes of enterprises can be typed by four patterns: 1) the presence of seasonal fluctuations and trends; 2) the presence of purely seasonal fluctuations without a pronounced trend; 3) no seasonal fluctuations, but the presence of a trend; 4) no seasonal fluctuations and trends. Based on this, the theoretical and methodological principles and analytical tools for forecasting the maximum stocks of an industrial enterprise in conditions of demand volatility were improved. Keywords: seasonality, volatility, inventory level forecasting, maximum stocks, demand forecasting.

Теоретичне обґрунтування експлуатаційних властивостей деталей автомобілів, зміцнених композиційними покриттями, методом кластерних компонентів

A number of parts of car systems and units in the process of operation are subject to intensive wear and fatigue processes, and therefore do not withstand the planned service life. An important reserve for increasing the reliability and efficiency of such equipment is the strengthening of the working surfaces of its parts with composite materials and coatings. This method of strengthening makes it possible, controlling the structure of composite materials and coatings, to form the necessary set of performance properties of parts to ensure the appropriate level of reliability and increase durability. However, this requires theoretical justification to establish a correspondence between the structure, composition, distribution of chemical elements applied to the parts of the composite coating and their performance properties, such as wear resistance, fatigue strength, etc. The purpose of this work is a theoretical justification for the use of the method of cluster components to determine and form a set of necessary performance properties that ensure reliable and efficient operation of parts of systems and units of cars. The article theoretically substantiates the operational properties of automobile parts hardened with composite coatings using the method of cluster components. By choosing certain sets of parameters, as well as varying the system of restrictions on them, it is possible to form a complex of operational properties of parts. To simplify the packing model for composite materials and coatings, it is assumed that fillers of different compositions have an isometric shape and the same size. A regular structure is proposed, corresponding to the packing of spheres of the same size. It is shown that such packings form lattices similar to atomic crystal structures. The dependences of the function of the properties of composite coatings on the content of each of the types of cluster components are revealed. The method of cluster components, describing changes in the properties of composite coatings from the ratio of components, makes it possible to control a set of operational properties and obtain high-quality coatings to increase the durability of parts of systems and vehicle units. As a result of the conducted researches it is offered to consider composite coverings and composite materials as the systems characterized by a certain complex of operational properties depending on filler content and regularity of structure. According to the theory of cluster components, the content of the component determines the parameters and properties of composite coatings and materials. The method of cluster components makes it possible to present a set of operational properties as an additive model of its components. The packaging of components in composite coatings and materials is represented by atomic crystal structures: simple cubic, volume-centered cubic, face-centered cubic and hexagonal densely packed. The implementation of the method of cluster components on the example of a binary system of components A and B is considered. The basic configuration in accordance with the approximations of the statistical ordering theory is chosen. The visual interpretation and physical content of a mixture of powders, components of composite coatings and materials, particles A and B are given. The configurational entropy and formation of cluster components of the intermediate composition AB along with the basic AA and BB are considered. Based on the π-theorem, a complete set of quasi-chemical reactions is outlined. For binary composite coatings and materials АСВ1-С the matrices of size and relative content of components are constructed, the quasi-chemical formalism of the method of cluster components and the law of active masses for volume-centered cubic lattice are used. This is taken into account when building functional models of operational properties. Their specification on the criterion of correctness is carried out.

Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the COPD exercise self-regulatory efficacy scale.

The concept of self-efficacy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the development of self-efficacy in individuals are extremely significant. Increasing the self-efficacy level in individuals with COPD will contribute to the effective management of symptoms. Moreover, exercise is essential in COPD management and nursing care. This study aimed to evaluate the results of the validity and reliability study of the Turkish version of the COPD Exercise Self-Regulatory Efficacy Scale (Ex-SRES) developed by Davis et al. METHODS: This is a methodological study conducted with 160 patients diagnosed with COPD. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form and COPD Ex-SRES. Moreover, the Cronbach's α value was calculated, and the test-retest reliability was performed for reliability analysis. The item total correlation scores of the Turkish version were between 0.608 and 0.853 points. The total score correlation coefficients of all the items in the scale were over 0.30. In this respect, the item total correlation values of the Turkish version of the Ex-SRES were at an appropriate level of reliability. In addition, the total Cronbach's α coefficient of the scale was calculated as 0.96. The Turkish version of the Ex-SRES was found to have high validity and reliability and to be a precise tool that specifically measures exercise self-efficacy in the COPD patient group.

The generalised slenderness‐based resistance method for the design of CHS and EHS

AbstractSelected, extended paper from the SDSS 2019 special session ECCS/TC8 – Structural StabilityThis paper presents the development and assessment of an innovative cross‐section design method for structural steel circular and elliptical hollow sections (CHS and EHS) – the generalised slenderness‐based resistance method (GSRM). A numerical simulation programme was first conducted to expand the data pool for CHS and EHS. Finite element (FE) models were established, validated against existing test data and then utilised for parametric studies, where a total of over 3 700 cross‐section resistance data were numerically generated. The development of the GSRM for CHS and EHS is then presented. Key design parameters, including the reference resistances and the generalised local slenderness, are initially defined. The general design procedure is subsequently introduced. Two design alternatives for CHS and EHS – a strength‐based approach, and a deformation‐based approach based on the continuous strength method (CSM), are developed and presented. Finally, the proposed GSRM is assessed using the previously collected test results and freshly generated FE data, where excellent accuracy and consistency in the resistance predictions are clearly revealed for all loading scenarios. Subsequent reliability analyses demonstrate that the current partial safety factor used in EN 1993‐1‐1 can be applied to the GSRM, achieving an appropriate level of reliability.

Avaliação de Estudantes quanto a Práticas Docentes para Criatividade na Pós-graduação

The purpose of this study was to investigate how master and doctoral students’ assess the extension to which graduate education professors favor the development of creativity in the classroom. The participants were 371 students from public and private universities. It was used the Inventory of Teaching Practices for Creativity in Higher Education, originally prepared for undergraduate students and adapted to the graduate context. The study also aimed to obtain evidence of internal validity of this instrument. The Inventory was valid to measure a dimensionality of three factors: General, Encouragement of New Ideas, and Interest in Student Learning. The third factor did not present an appropriate level of reliability. The results indicated a positive evaluation of graduate students with respect to their professors, as well as significant differences regarding the students’ evaluation considering type of institution and whether student works or not.Keywords: creativity, teaching, graduate level, scale.

Validity of the Health Systems Science Examination: Relationship Between Examinee Performance and Time of Training.

The health systems science (HSS) framework articulates systems-relevant topics that medical trainees must learn to be prepared for physician practice. As new HSS-related curricula are developed, measures demonstrating appropriate levels of reliability and validity are needed. The authors describe a collaborative effort between a consortium of medical schools and the National Board of Medical Examiners to create a multiple-choice HSS examination in the areas of evidence-based medicine/population health, patient safety, quality improvement, and teamwork. Fifteen schools administered the 100-question examination through 2 academic years a total of 1887 times to 1837 first-time takers. Total test score mean was 67% (SD 11%). Total test reliability as measured by coefficient α was .83. This examination differentiated between medical students who completed the examination before, during, and after relevant training/instruction. This new HSS examination can support and inform the efforts of institutions as they integrate HSS-related content into their curricula.

Optimal management of vegetation maintenance and the associated costs of its implementation in overhead power distribution systems

Network operators work constantly to maintain an appropriate level of reliability in their power supply and to preserve the integrity of the vegetation growing underneath overhead power distribution systems. Accordingly, this article proposes and adopts different approaches to optimally manage vegetation maintenance in such field. Mathematical modeling is used to represent the problem in terms of several aspects involved in vegetation management, based on the technical capacity of the utility company and the reliability goals established by governmental regulatory entities. The solution is a vegetation maintenance schedule in terms of when, where, and which crews must perform the pruning activities along the distribution network. As a result, the Non-Served Energy Level NSEL is minimized and the financial resources earmarked for this type of maintenance tasks are optimized.