Comprehensive Measures Research Articles

Construct validity and responsiveness of feasible composite disease activity measures for use in daily clinical practice in patients with psoriatic arthritis

ObjectiveThere is a need for a widely accepted comprehensive disease activity measure for use in daily practice in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). For this reason, the 3-item Visual Analogue...

Measurement of salinity in building materials: a synopsis of current practices and potential innovations

This article provides an overview of the various techniques used to measure the salt content of building materials. The authors discuss the importance of salinity measurement, as high salinity can lead to degradation and damage in building materials. They then consider the traditional methods of salinity measurement, including conductivity measurement and chemical titration. While reliable, these methods are often time-consuming, destructive and may not provide a complete picture of the salt distribution within the material. The authors then focus on emerging non-destructive techniques that offer the potential for in-situ salinity measurement. These include X-ray Dffraction (XRD), Thermal Analysis and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Each method is discussed, with the authors highlighting its advantages, limitations and potential applications. The article concludes with a discussion of the future of salinity measurement in building materials. The authors propose a multimodal approach combining traditional and new methods to achieve more accurate and comprehensive salinity measurements. They also emphasise the need for further research and development in this area, particularly to improve the accuracy and reliability of non-destructive techniques.

Comprehensive psychological crisis intervention of college students with anxiety disorder

BackgroundAnxiety disorder is one of the common mental health problems in college students, which hurts their study, work, and life. Comprehensive psychological crisis intervention is a complete psychological treatment method expected to be essential in treating anxiety disorders in college students.Subjects and MethodsOne hundred college students with anxiety disorder were selected as research subjects and randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group received comprehensive psychological crisis intervention treatment and comprehensive intervention measures such as psychological assistance, cognitive behavioral therapy, and intimate relationship training. The control group received traditional psychotherapy, including counseling and medication. The Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), and other assessment tools were used to carry out psychological measurements of the two groups of patients before, after, and at the follow-up point, respectively. The collected information was statistically analyzed by SPSS23.0 software.ResultsAfter the comprehensive psychological crisis intervention treatment, the anxiety and depression levels of the experimental group were significantly reduced (P<0.001), and life satisfaction was significantly increased (P<0.001). Compared with the control group, the experimental group showed obvious advantages in curative effect.ConclusionsComprehensive psychological crisis intervention has shown remarkable efficacy in college students with anxiety disorders, can effectively reduce anxiety and depression, and improves the life satisfaction of patients. This approach may become an essential option for treating anxiety disorders in college students.Acknowledgement2021 Humanities and Social Sciences Research Project for Basic Research Business Expenses of Provincial Undergraduate Universities in Heilongjiang Province. No. 2021- kyywf-0384.

LB-Chain: Load-Balanced and Low-Latency Blockchain Sharding via Account Migration

Blockchain sharding has been increasingly used to improve blockchain systems' performance, in which a blockchain is split into multiple smaller, disjoint shards. In practice, however, sharding can only achieve limited throughput and latency improvement, especially for the <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">user-perceived transaction confirmation delay.</i> The performance degradation is believed to be caused by the cross-shard transactions. However, we show, through comprehensive system deployment and measurement studies, that the main culprit is the <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">imbalanced transaction load</i> on different blockchain shards. To address this problem, we propose a novel sharding system, called LB-Chain, which <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">dynamically</i> balances the transaction load on different shards by periodically <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">migrating active accounts</i> from heavily-loaded shards to less-loaded ones. We have implemented a prototype of LB-Chain, and evaluated its performance through large-scale blockchain deployment using real-world transaction traces. Extensive experiments confirm that LB-Chain significantly boosts sharding performance, reducing the transaction confirmation delays by up to 90% while increasing the transaction throughput by more than 10%. The delay difference between different accounts is also reduced dramatically, leading to improved fairness in the system.

Alleviation effect of innovative music therapy on neurogenic anorexia

BackgroundAnorexia nervosa is a serious mental disorder characterized by extreme food restriction and excessive demands for weight and appearance. Music therapy can help individuals relax both physically and mentally through methods such as music appreciation and music therapy. The University Union can provide various forms of health management services, offer rehabilitation support for anorexia, and enhance the positive psychology of faculty and staff.Subjects and Methods150 faculty members aged between 25 and 50 in a certain university were selected, including 40 males and 110 females. According to the results of the Anorexia Self Test Scale, 20 people showed symptoms of anorexia nervosa. Among them, there are 18 people aged 25-29, 2 people aged 30-35, 3 males, and 17 females. Music therapy is used to treat patients, and psychological counseling from university unions is arranged twice a week. Six months later, the results of the Anorexia Self Test Scale were analyzed again using SPSS3.0 software.ResultsAfter six months of treatment, 8 out of 20 patients recovered, 10 of them achieved significant improvement, and 2 of them achieved minor improvement. The P-value of the score data before and after treatment is less than 0.05, and the difference is statistically significant.ConclusionsThrough the application of music therapy and the health management services of university unions, more comprehensive and diverse measures can be provided to alleviate anorexia, promoting the psychological health and positive psychological development of faculty and staff.

Emergence of High-Temperature Superconducting Phase in Pressurized La3Ni2O7 Crystals

The recent report of pressure-induced structural transition and signature of superconductivity with T c ≈ 80 K above 14 GPa in La3Ni2O7 crystals has garnered considerable attention. To further elaborate this discovery, we carried out comprehensive resistance measurements on La3Ni2O7 crystals grown in an optical-image floating zone furnace under oxygen pressure (15 bar) using a diamond anvil cell (DAC) and cubic anvil cell (CAC), which employ a solid (KBr) and liquid (glycerol) pressure-transmitting medium, respectively. Sample 1 measured in the DAC exhibits a semiconducting-like behavior with large resistance at low pressures and gradually becomes metallic upon compression. At pressures P ⩾ 13.7 GPa we observed the appearance of a resistance drop of as much as ∼ 50% around 70 K, which evolves into a kink-like anomaly at pressures above 40 GPa and shifts to lower temperatures gradually with increasing magnetic field. These observations are consistent with the recent report mentioned above. On the other hand, sample 2 measured in the CAC retains metallic behavior in the investigated pressure range up to 15 GPa. The hump-like anomaly in resistance around ∼ 130 K at ambient pressure disappears at P ⩾ 2 GPa. In the pressure range of 11–15 GPa we observed the gradual development of a shoulder-like anomaly in resistance at low temperatures, which evolves into a pronounced drop of resistance of 98% below 62 K at 15 GPa, reaching a temperature-independent resistance of 20 μΩ below 20 K. Similarly, this resistance anomaly can be progressively shifted to lower temperatures by applying external magnetic fields, resembling a typical superconducting transition. Measurements on sample 3 in the CAC reproduce the resistance drop at pressures above 10 GPa and realize zero resistance below 10 K at 15 GPa even though an unusual semiconducting-like behavior is retained in the normal state. Based on these results, we constructed a dome-shaped superconducting phase diagram and discuss some issues regarding the sample-dependent behaviors on pressure-induced high-temperature superconductivity in the La3Ni2O7 crystals.

Comprehensive and Short-Form Measures of Family Supportive Supervisor Behaviors

Resumo O suporte do supervisor à família conceitua-se como comportamentos dos supervisores voltados a apoiar os papéis familiares dos funcionários. O presente estudo objetivou obter evidências de validade da Medida de Comportamento Suporte do Supervisor à Família, nas versões abrangente e reduzida, em amostras brasileiras. Participaram desta pesquisa 503 trabalhadores, de ambos os sexos. As análises fatoriais confirmatórias evidenciaram que a versão abrangente ficou composta por 14 itens, divididos em quatro fatores de primeira ordem (emocional, instrumental, modelo de papéis e gestão criativa) e um fator de segunda ordem. A versão reduzida unifatorial compôs-se por quatro itens. Ambas as versões apresentaram bons índices de consistência interna. Os instrumentos correlacionaram-se positivamente com o enriquecimento trabalho-família, suporte do supervisor e satisfação no trabalho, e negativamente com o conflito trabalho-família e intenção de rotatividade. Concluiu-se que os instrumentos apresentaram propriedades psicométricas que recomendam seu uso em investigações futuras.

Between Realities: Information Sharing Practices of Deepfake Creators

ABSTRACTDeepfakes are AI‐generated multimedia that convincingly graft or replace one person's likeness onto another, resulting in remarkably realistic yet fabricated content. These sophisticated manipulations challenge users' ability to discern factual visual information as they portray individuals engaging in actions and uttering words that never occurred. This research takes a unique approach by delving into the perspective of deepfake creators through the analysis of 15 tutorial videos on YouTube. By examining creators' information‐sharing practices, this study aims to identify creators' motivations for disseminating knowledge on deepfake creation and their understanding or lack of understanding of the ethical implications of sharing such information. Achieving such an understanding can play a vital role in informing the development of regulatory measures. By examining creators' intentions and comprehending their societal impact, patterns, and characteristics, this research can contribute to the creation of effective detection technologies and strengthen content platform guidelines. Analyzing deepfake creation tutorials can facilitate the implementation of targeted and comprehensive regulatory measures, enhancing protection against potential risks and misuse.

Tuberculosis Trends in the Sverdlovsk Region

Introduction: Medical and social importance of a continuous decrease in tuberculosis morbidity and mortality remains high implementation of tuberculosis control programs involves the analysis of current regional trends in the epidemic situation and interdepartmental cooperation in taking comprehensive measures to prevent the spread of this infectious disease. Objective: To analyze local trends and features of the spread of tuberculosis in the population of the Sverdlovsk Region. Materials and methods: Based on the results of a retrospective and prospective study for 2012–2022, we analyzed tuberculosis incidence, prevalence and mortality rates, bacterial carriage, drug resistance, combination with HIV infection, and the structure of clinical forms of tuberculosis in the Sverdlovsk Region. The data were retrieved from the reports of the Federal State Statistics Service, Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor), Ministries of Health of the Russian Federation and the Sverdlovsk Region, the Federal Register of Tuberculosis Patients, and departmental statistics of prison health care. Results: We observed a decline in the regional tuberculosis incidence, prevalence and death rates over the study period that were consistently higher than the national averages. The proportion of patients with bacterial excretion, multidrug resistance, and tuberculosis/HIV coinfection was increasing among the incident cases while the proportion of cases of disseminated and intrathoracic lymph node tuberculosis was rising in the structure of clinical forms. The main regional factors influencing the epidemiological situation of tuberculosis include a large number of prisoners and a higher prevalence of HIV infection among the general population. Conclusion: Based on the analysis of the situation, further implementation of a set of measures for interdepartmental cooperation for monitoring and combating tuberculosis is envisaged by the regional program.

Refined urban disaster vulnerability assessment based on elements at risk: A case study of Dalian, China

With the rapid development of global urbanization, cities tend to suffer higher frequencies and risks of various hazards and are becoming more vulnerable, especially under the circumstance of global warming. Hence, people have begun to attach importance to the study of urban disaster vulnerability gradually. However, existing studies focus more on the multi-dimensional expression and comprehensive measurement of disaster vulnerability at the macro scale, which cannot reflect the changes of disaster vulnerability within the small scale. It is difficult for the research results to provide practical information for accurate disaster prevention and reduction. For this purpose, this study proposed a framework for refined urban disaster vulnerability assessment from the perspective of elements at risk, which includes three quantitative models: exposure assessment model, sensibility assessment model, and coping capability assessment model. Then, the framework and its quantitative models were applied to assess the disaster vulnerability of Dalian at the scale of 30 × 30 m grid. Furthermore, the main factors contributing to vulnerability were highlighted based on of exposure, sensibility, and coping capability indexs. Results showed that the disaster vulnerability of Dalian was autocorrelative and heterogeneous spatially. This research could provides some implications for disaster mitigation and risk reduction strategies at the urban scale.

Refining decomposition stage estimation: A study of seasonal insect composition and carcass weight change

AbstractIn this study, we explore the interplay of seasonal insect assemblages and carcass weight change to refine the estimation of minimum post‐mortem interval (PMImin), a key variable in forensic investigations. By integrating these parameters, we shed light on their combined influence on decomposition stages, thus paving the way for a more robust method of PMImin estimation. Our approach relies on rigorous field studies examining pig carcasses across spring, summer and autumn, with comprehensive measurements of carcass weight and detailed documentation of insect succession. We observed distinct insect assemblages and weight‐change trends characteristic of each season, underlining the influence of seasonal variability on decomposition dynamics. To further enhance the reliability of our model, we combined the novel parameter of carcass weight change with the conventional total body score (TBS) method, ensuring a more objective assessment of decomposition stages. Although our study indicates promising advancements, it also acknowledges the limitations of using a single pig carcass per season, suggesting future research should incorporate larger sample sizes.

Coupling coordination and spatio-temporal pattern evolution between ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin

The Yellow River Basin is one of the most important economic development belt and ecological management regions in China, it is of vital importance to study the coupling coordination between ecological protection and high-quality development. However, the systematic research from the perspective of ecological-production-living is still lacking. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation index system including 29 indicators is constructed from ecological, production and living dimension. To evaluate the high-quality development level and coupling coordination degree of 61 cities in the Yellow River Basin, a comprehensive measurement model and coupling coordination model are established using the entropy weight TOPSIS method. With the help of ArcGIS, the spatial characteristics of high-quality development level and coupling coordination are visually illustrated. The results showed that: (1) From 2011 to 2020, the high-quality development of 61cities in the Yellow River Basin showed an increasing trend, and the level of upper and lower reaches was higher than that of the middle reaches. (2) According to the high-quality development level of 61 cities, it was divided into three types: sustainable growth type with 44 cities, the fierce fluctuation type with 11 cities and the other 6 cities was stable type. (3) The coupling coordination degree of ecology, production and living system also showed an increasing trend, while the degree was not high. (4)About the year-on-year growth rate of coupling coordination degree for 61 cities in 2020 compared with 2011, there are 19 cities more than 30 %, and 23 cities between 20% and 30 %, 11cities was 10%–20 %, the other 8 cities was less than 10 %. (5) There is a significant spatial difference in the level of high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin, while coupling coordination degree does not significant in spatial layout. Therefore, the development of different regions should adjust measures to local conditions, give full play to their advantages, and make up for their shortcomings to promote the overall development of the city.

RUSSIA’S FALIN–KVITSINSKY ENERGY DOCTRINE: HISTORY AND EXPERIENCE APPLYING TO SELECTED CENTRAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

This article discusses the evolution of the energy security of Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine since the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), in terms of natural gas supplies. Instead of framing energy dependencies on Russia in a descriptive way, this article shows the empirical validation of the Falin–Kvitsinsky doctrine, which includes the use of energy resources as tool in foreign policy. Therefore, the authors propose a three-element Falin–Kvitsinsky doctrine indicator to measure the power of this doctrine using the yearly data for 1991–2021. Authors argue that the impact of this doctrine should be assessed through the lens of energy supply security and then measured by appropriate indicators. This approach might be seen as opposite to the mainstream publications which are mostly descriptive in this field. In the article, the authors provided clear evidence of the Falin–Kvitsinsky doctrine existence until the end of 2021, which was applied during the Russian-Ukrainian war. Actions taken by Russia over the years were aimed at making Central European countries dependent on natural gas supply, which would then prompt these countries to limit their aid to Ukraine during the conflict that began in 2022. In conclusion, Russia is able to pursue its political goals in the manner suggested by the Falin–Kvitsinsky doctrine as long as each Central European country tries to ensure its own energy security. However, the Falin-Kvitsky doctrine did not fully meet its objectives, as Central European countries, as a result of the Russian-Ukrainian war, were able to quickly take steps to diversify the sources and directions of natural gas supplies by taking comprehensive measures and strengthening cooperation.

Economic reform in Iraq after 2014 (obstacles and prospects)

The study deals with the difficulties facing the economic reform process in Iraq, in light of the economic and political challenges that the country faces, particularly since 2014, as a result of the dual crisis that afflicted the Iraqi economy, as a result of the dominance of ISIS gangs over a third of the area of Iraq, in addition to the sharp decline in oil prices.&#x0D; The process of economic reform in Iraq faces many obstacles, foremost of which is the rentier nature of the Iraqi economy and the spread of corruption, in addition to the poor infrastructure and the decline in foreign investments.&#x0D; In order to achieve effective economic reform in Iraq, comprehensive reform measures should be implemented aimed at improving economic conditions, improving infrastructure and attracting foreign investments, in addition to combating corruption and dealing with structural obstacles that impede the process of economic reform in Iraq. This requires enhancing transparency and improving financial and banking management, as well as strengthening the capacities of governmental and private institutions to participate in the economic reform process.

Measuring Islamic Banking Performance Using Maqashid Shariah Index and RGEC: The Malaysian and Indonesian Islamic Banking

Islamic banking in Malaysia and Indonesia ranks first (Malaysia) and third (Indonesia) based on the top Islamic financial development indicator (IFDI) countries. However, this great potential has not been matched by a comprehensive performance measurement covering social and sharia aspects as well as the health of Islamic banks. Therefore, this study aims to measure the performance of Islamic banks through the Maqashid Syariah Index and RGEC approaches using quantitative methods. The results showed that through the MSI approach, Malaysian Islamic banking is superior to Indonesian Islamic banking in the aspects of justice and benefit. Through the RGEC approach, the NPF, ROA, FDR, and CAR ratios show that Malaysian Islamic banking is superior. The implications of this research can be useful for Islamic banking in developing the right strategy in order to improve sharia and social performance and bank health.

Big data management algorithms in artificial Internet of Things-based fintech

Research background: Fintech companies should optimize banking sector performance in assisting enterprise financing as a result of firm digitalization. Artificial IoT-based fintech-based digital transformation can relevantly reverse credit resource misdistribution brought about by corrupt relationship chains. Purpose of the article: We aim to show that fintech can decrease transaction expenses and consolidates firm stock liquidity, enabling excess leverage decrease and cutting down information asymmetry and transaction expenses across capital markets. AI- and IoT-based fintechs enable immersive and collaborative financial transactions, purchases, and investments in relation to payment tokens and metaverse wallets, managing financial data, infrastructure, and value exchange across shared interactive virtual 3D and simulated digital environments. Methods: AMSTAR is a comprehensive critical measurement tool harnessed in systematic review methodological quality evaluation, DistillerSR is harnessed in producing accurate and transparent evidence-based research through literature review stage automation, MMAT appraises and describes study checklist across systematic mixed studies reviews in terms of content validity and methodological quality predictors, Rayyan is a responsive and intuitive knowledge synthesis tool and cloud-based architecture for article inclusion and exclusion suggestions, and ROBIS appraises systematic review bias risk in relation to relevance and concerns. As a reporting quality assessment tool, the PRISMA checklist and flow diagram, generated by a Shiny App, was used. As bibliometric visualization and construction tools for large datasets and networks, Dimensions and VOSviewer were leveraged. Search terms were “fintech” + “artificial intelligence”, “big data management algorithms”, and “Internet of Things”, search period was June 2023, published research inspected was 2023, and selected sources were 35 out of 188. Findings &amp; value added: The growing volume of financial products and optimized operational performance of financial industries generated by fintech can provide firms with multifarious financing options quickly. Big data-driven fintech innovations are pivotal in banking and capital markets in relation to financial institution operational efficiency. Through data-driven technological and process innovation capabilities, AI system-based businesses can further automated services.

Cultural Insights into Pakistan: Development and Validation of Perceived Cultural Logic Scale

Dignity, honor, and face culture is a new and different normative script for behavior in social interaction and negotiations. The main objective of the study was to develop and validate a theoretical model to measure the cultural logic of dignity, honor, and face culture. The study was configured in three phases using samples from different Universities in Pakistan with an age range of 18-25. In phase A, items were developed using a literature review and Thematic Analysis of data obtained through focused group discussions and interviews. Phase B was comprised of scale development in which the factor structure of the scale was confirmed using Principal Axis Factoring on the sample of N=348 emerging adults. In phase C, the measure was further subjected to confirmatory factor analysis, reliability, and validity procedures (N= 422). It was established through CFA that the measure had construct validity. Coefficient alpha ranged from .93 to .95. Validity of the measure was established through Average Variance Extracted (AVE= .64-.73), Maximum Variance Extracted (MSV= .02-.10) Fornell - Lacker Criterion and Hetro-trait Mono-trait criteria. Overall results indicated that the Perceived Cultural Logic Scale is a self-report, psychometrically sound, and comprehensive measure comprised of 23 items that can be used to evaluate the perception of cultural logic among emerging adults.

A Critical Review on Adolescent Health Indicators: The Importance of Comprehensive Measurement

A Critical Review on Adolescent Health Indicators: The Importance of Comprehensive Measurement

Experimental investigation of dynamic wind tower augmented with solar heating unit for improved thermal comfort in buildings during cold conditions

Wind towers have been used in buildings for centuries to harness natural airflow and ventilation. Their usefulness comes from their capacity to absorb wind energy and direct it into interior areas, promoting airflow and exchange. Scientific evidence shows that buildings are a substantial contributor to global warming and energy use. HVAC systems contribute to a significant percentage of this energy demand. In this situation, using wind towers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is a viable and cost-effective option.In this work, a novel approach of integrating a rotation unit into the wind tower was carried out to enhance the performance. By enabling the wind tower to rotate and align with the direction of maximum wind velocity, the system could optimize the ability to capture the wind lead up to enhanced ACR and improved indoor air quality. This study further incorporates two solar heating units (SHU) to heat the incoming fresh air, which can reduce the thermal load on conventional heating systems.Through comprehensive measurements and analysis, this work studied the performance of the wind tower system under different wind velocities and solar radiation levels. The results showed that the rotation unit (RU) increased the average Air Change Rate by as much as 61%. Due to the incorporation of SHU and RU, the overall average temperature inside the test room increased by 6.09%. Also, the average velocity intake in the wind tower rose by 15–30% due to the RU. The findings discussed in this paper provide valuable insights for architects, engineers, and researchers involved in designing and optimizing ventilation and heating systems, paving the way for more environmentally friendly and comfortable living environments.

ТЕНДЕНЦІЇ У РОЗПОДІЛІ ДОХОДІВ НАСЕЛЕННЯ УКРАЇНИ В УМОВАХ РИЗИКІВ ВОЄННОГО СТАНУ

The article examines current trends in the distribution of incomes of the Ukraine’s population under the conditions of the risks of martial law. The article includes an analysis of the latest research and publications on the issue, and also considers the practical aspects of the analysis of income distribution by key indicators: Gini index and Lorenz curve. The purpose of the article is to justify the current trends in the formation of the population's income in Ukraine in the conditions of combating the risks of wartime. The article examines the historical aspects of population income formation by representatives of various scientific schools, as well as analyzed statistical data on the aggregate resources of Ukrainian households, the differentiation of the population’s standard of living and its distribution by the level of average per capita income. The article provides an analysis of the existing parameters of the population’s income under the conditions of the introduction of martial law in Ukraine. In general, the real situation with economic inequality and poverty in Ukraine requires decisive actions from the government – from revising state social guarantees to reforms in the field of labor protection, encouraging retraining, mastering innovative (digital) products, comprehensive measures in the field of education, medicine, health care etc.