Development Of Instrument Research Articles

The model for assessing disaster literacy in nurses: Instrument development and cross-sectional validation study

The model for assessing disaster literacy in nurses: Instrument development and cross-sectional validation study

Oculomics: A Crusade Against the Four Horsemen of Chronic Disease.

Chronic, non-communicable diseases present a major barrier to living a long and healthy life. In many cases, early diagnosis can facilitate prevention, monitoring, and treatment efforts, improving patient outcomes. There is therefore a critical need to make screening techniques as accessible, unintimidating, and cost-effective as possible. The association between ocular biomarkers and systemic health and disease (oculomics) presents an attractive opportunity for detection of systemic diseases, as ophthalmic techniques are often relatively low-cost, fast, and non-invasive. In this review, we highlight the key associations between structural biomarkers in the eye and the four globally leading causes of morbidity and mortality: cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and metabolic disease. We observe that neurodegenerative disease is a particularly promising target for oculomics, with biomarkers detected in multiple ocular structures. Cardiovascular disease biomarkers are present in the choroid, retinal vasculature, and retinal nerve fiber layer, and metabolic disease biomarkers are present in the eyelid, tear fluid, lens, and retinal vasculature. In contrast, only the tear fluid emerged as a promising ocular target for the detection of cancer. The retina is a rich source of oculomics data, the analysis of which has been enhanced by artificial intelligence-based tools. Although not all biomarkers are disease-specific, limiting their current diagnostic utility, future oculomics research will likely benefit from combining data from various structures to improve specificity, as well as active design, development, and optimization of instruments that target specific disease signatures, thus facilitating differential diagnoses.

Validation of a White Light and Fluorescence Augmented Panoramic Endoscopic Imaging System on a Bimodal Bladder Wall Experimental Model

Background: Fluorescence visualization of pathologies, primarily neoplasms in human internal cavities, is one of the most popular forms of diagnostics during endoscopic examination in medical practice. Currently, visualization can be performed in the augmented reality mode, which allows to observe areas of increased fluorescence directly on top of a usual color image. Another no less informative form of endoscopic visualization in the future can be mapping (creating a mosaic) of the acquired image sequence into a single map covering the area under study. The originality of the present contribution lies in the development of a new 3D bimodal experimental bladder model and its validation as an appropriate phantom for testing the combination of bimodal cystoscopy and image mosaicking. Methods: An original 3D real bladder-based phantom (physical model) including cancer-like fluorescent foci was developed and used to validate the combination of (i) a simultaneous white light and fluorescence cystoscopy imager with augmented reality mode and (ii) an image mosaicking algorithm superimposing both information. Results: Simultaneous registration and real-time visualization of a color image as a reference and a black-and-white fluorescence image with an overlay of the two images was made possible. The panoramic image build allowed to precisely visualize the relative location of the five fluorescent foci along the trajectory of the endoscope tip. Conclusions: The method has broad prospects and opportunities for further developments in bimodal endoscopy instrumentation and automatic image mosaicking.

A Review of Frameworks and Instruments of Teacher Emotion Regulation Strategies

Teaching is a highly emotionally demanding job and can present educators with a variety of emotional challenges. Therefore, exploring teacher emotion regulation strategies can effectively help teachers build resilience and enhance their own sense of well-being. This study adopts literature analysis approach to review the existing representative research on the frameworks and instruments of teacher emotion regulation strategies from 1998 to 2023, and analyzes the development trends and the connection among the scales from the perspective of research objects, contexts, advantages and disadvantages. It is found that research on the development and application of frameworks and instruments of teacher emotion regulation strategies is gradually becoming more and more systematic and abundant. This study can provide reference for subsequent empirical research and provide a basis for the development of more instruments, effectively guiding teachers in regulating their own emotions and improving their teaching effectiveness.

A Critical Review of Breastfeeding Instruments Derived From Self-Determination Theory.

Understanding the motivational factors that influence breastfeeding behavior is critical for addressing suboptimal breastfeeding outcomes. Self-determination theory has been used as a framework to understand these factors. The aim of this article is to identify and critically review breastfeeding instruments derived from self-determination theory and their subsequent uses in the literature. This critical review was guided by Grant and Booth's typological description. Eligibility criteria included full-text, peer-reviewed original instrument development and validation articles, written in the English language without limitation to specific years. Articles describing the use of the eligible instruments were also included. There were 164 articles identified initially, and four instruments were included in the final sample. Finally, five articles, including subsequent uses of the instruments were critically analyzed and an overview, assessment of validation, and analysis of subsequent use of each instrument is presented. All instruments examine the degree of autonomy underlying breastfeeding motivation. The extent and quality of validation varied. Two instruments have been used in subsequent studies; one was adapted and translated into Turkish and used in three other studies, and another was used in full in one subsequent use and in part in another study. Three of four were initially developed for prenatal administration. Instruments derived from self-determination theory hold promise in exploring the autonomy underlying breastfeeding motivations. Researchers who wish to use or adapt these instruments should consider the instruments' domains, validity, and administration. New measures are needed to explore other constructs from self-determination theory related to breastfeeding.

Development and validation of a survey instrument towards attitude, knowledge, and application of educational robotics (AKAER)

ABSTRACT Educational robotics activities have proven instrumental in creating a dynamic learning environment that provides students with hands-on experiences, aligning with the interdisciplinary principles advocated by STEM education. The integration of educational robotics into the educational process significantly impacts students of various age groups, fostering the acquisition and enhancement of diverse skills. However, the effective implementation of robotics hinges on teachers. This research aims to design a valid instrument (AKAER) to quantitatively capture teachers’ attitudes, knowledge, and application of educational robotics. The six-phase development process, encompassing design, construction, quantitative evaluation, and validation, ensures the precision of the instrument. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) on data from 307 preschool and primary school teachers extracts a 49-item, five-factor model. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) cross-validates the model, yielding satisfactory fits (CMIN/DF = 2.145, RMR = .60, PNFI = .683, PCFI = .784, CFI = .827, RMSEA = .061, SRMR = .0852). AKAER's reliability, assessed by Cronbach's Alpha coefficient (α = .929), indicates high internal consistency. Overall, these results affirm the reliability and validity of the constructed instrument, confirming its suitability for data collection. This validation positions the instrument as a potential catalyst for advancing research understanding and stimulating educational innovations in the teaching and utilization of educational robotics.

Assessment of Children’s Skill in Noticing Unfamiliar Words within Informational Context

ABSTRACT Reading and language standards, such as the Common State Standards for English Language Arts, indicate that primary-grade students should be able to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words from grade-level context. However, to be able to attempt determining the meaning of an unfamiliar word, the word must first be noticed. There is a lack of research on young children developing skill in noticing unfamiliar words, which may be an important skill for their vocabulary development and comprehension. In the present study, theories of word learning, earlier experimenter-created assessments with older learners, and research with multilingual learners guided the development of such an assessment, the Noticing Unfamiliar Words Assessment (NUWA). Instrument development methods, including expert review and piloting, were performed prior to administering the NUWA to a sample of 55 second graders. Results of the exploratory factor analysis supported the hypothesized unidimensional factor structure and indicated that the assessment had an adequate fit and internal consistency reliability. Findings suggest that the NUWA may be helpful in better understanding the developmental nature of skill in noticing unfamiliar words from context while listening and how it contributes to children’s vocabulary knowledge and other literacy skills.

Gábor Transform-Based Signal Isolation, Rapid Deconvolution, and Quantitation of Intact Protein Ions with Mass Spectrometry.

High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) is a powerful technique for the characterization and quantitation of complex biological mixtures, with several applications including clinical monitoring and tissue imaging. However, these medical and pharmaceutical applications are pushing the analytical limits of modern HRMS techniques, requiring either further development in instrumentation or data processing methods. Here, we demonstrate new developments in the interactive Fourier-transform analysis for mass spectrometry (iFAMS) software including the first application of Gábor transform (GT) to protein quantitation. Newly added automation tools detect signals from minimal user input and apply thresholds for signal selection, deconvolution, and baseline correction to improve the objectivity and reproducibility of deconvolution. Additional tools were added to improve the deconvolution of highly complex or congested mass spectra and are demonstrated here for the first time. The "Gábor Slicer" enables the user to explore trends in the Gábor spectrogram with instantaneous ion mass estimates accurate to 10 Da. The charge adjuster allows for easy visual confirmation of accurate charge state assignments and quick adjustment if necessary. Deconvolution refinement utilizes a second GT of isotopically resolved data to remove common deconvolution artifacts. To assess the quality of deconvolution from iFAMS, several comparisons are made to deconvolutions using other algorithms such as UniDec and an implementation of MaxEnt in Agilent MassHunter BioConfirm. Lastly, the newly added batch processing and quantitation capabilities of iFAMS are demonstrated and compared to a common extracted ion chromatogram approach.

Development of Measurement Instruments for Teachers’ Lifelong Learning Mindset, Learning Habits and Self-Directed Learning

Lifelong learning is a crucial process that contributes to the continuous professional advancement opportunities for teachers. To promote teachers as lifelong learners, it is essential to leverage comprehensive insights into key mobilizing factors for lifelong learning, including a Lifelong Learning Mindset, Learning Habits, and Self-Directed Learning. This research aims to 1) develop measurement instruments for teachers’ Lifelong Learning Mindset, Learning Habits, and Self-Directed Learning, and to 2) examine the quality of the measurement instruments, including the establishment of norms for all three variables. The research sample consisted of 943 elementary school teachers, selected using stratified random sampling. The measurement instrument consisted of a questionnaire containing 35 items each utilizing a 5-point rating scale. The research findings show that item content validity ratio (CVR) values for each of the instrument subscales ranged between .71 and 1.00, while the content validity index (S-CVI) value for the entire scale was .97. The internal consistency reliability values for the individual variable subscales ranged from .925 to .963, while the construct validity using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) as measured by the Mplus program showed that the measurement model fit the empirical data at the .05 significance level. This study also established percentile norms for the developed instruments.

Effectiveness of Exercise Programs for Alleviation of Upper Body Pain in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review

(1) Background: Upper body pain, particularly in the limbs and shoulders, is a common symptom among patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and wheelchair users. Despite the focus on resistance muscle training as a suitable intervention for SCI individuals, findings across different populations and conditions have been inconsistent. (2) Methods: We conducted a systematic review to elucidate the correlations among exercise interventions, muscle strength enhancement, and pain reduction. A comprehensive literature search was performed using the keywords “spinal cord injury,” “pain,” “exercise,” “disability,” “paraplegia,” and “tetraplegia” across the DBpia, EMBASE, PubMed, and Science Direct databases. (3) Results: From 191 identified articles, 13 studies (1 from Korea and 12 from other countries) were selected for analysis. The results indicate that exercise interventions are effective in reducing pain in patients with SCI, with a particular emphasis on alleviating shoulder pain. (4) Conclusion: Exercise is essential for pain reduction in patients with SCI, especially those experiencing shoulder pain. However, there is a notable lack of experimental research focusing primarily on pain. The development of appropriate measurement instruments is crucial for the prevention and relief of pain in this patient population.

Problematic aspects of the influence of the legal system on social phenomena

The article examines the problem of the interaction of law with other social phenomena. On the one hand, law can be used to protect other social phenomena, such as moral norms, economic interests, cultural values, and on the other hand, social phenomena can influence the formation of legal norms and law and order in society. An important aspect of research is the interaction of legal norms with such social phenomena as politics, economy, culture, morality, and others, as well as the influence of legal norms on social reality and the interaction of various aspects of society’s life. The article examines the problem of the correlation of legal policy with certain social phenomena, and also determines the role of law in the formation of social reality. In addition, the author investigates the problem of regulation of social phenomena by the norms of national and international law in the context of social phenomena. Understanding the relationship between law and various social phenomena is important for the development of legal policy in the conditions of constantly changing social realities. Studying the relationship between law and other social phenomena allows us to understand the causes of such conflicts and find ways to solve problems. Understanding the relationship between law and social phenomena is important for the effective functioning of the legal system, ensuring the protection of human rights and freedoms, the development of international law and legal awareness. Knowledge of this interaction helps to understand trends in the development of law as a social phenomenon, as well as social phenomena as components of law. Also, understanding the relationship between law and other social phenomena is important for the development of the international legal system and the implementation of international legal cooperation. In connection with the growth of globalization and international cooperation, there is a need for the development of international law and legal instruments that regulate relations between different states and international organizations. Understanding legal norms and their relationship with social phenomena contributes to the formation of a high legal culture in society and ensuring the protection of human rights and freedoms.

Development of character assessment instrument on English learning for middle school students

There is a present-day necessity to construct character education assessment instruments in English courses. Employing the ADDIE development model, this research undergoes stages encompassing analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation to craft a meticulously designed assessment instrument. The resulting instrument is a self-assessment for English subjects, subjected to scrutiny through both Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The instrument attests to content validity, indicated by an Aiken index of 0.955, and construct validity using EFA & CFA. Outcomes showcasing loading factor values exceeding 0.4 for each item and the model for measuring student character aligns seamlessly with the hypothesized model, substantiated by statistical results of p-values = 0.056; CFI = 0.979; TLI = 0.972; RMSEA = 0.031; SRMR = 0.055. Furthermore, the item reliability in each dimension/factor surpasses 0.7. The study's revelations uncover that 46% of students predominantly concentrate on character development, while 35% prioritize character emphasis. Cultivated character for 14%, whereas a mere 5% of students necessitate guidance. This instrument not only guides educators and researchers in developing character assessment tools but also meets valid and reliable criteria, ensuring credibility and usability across various education levels.

Development of a novel X-ray fluorescence instrument equipped with a noble gas filter.

In X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis, which has been used to analyze elements in various samples, it is important to decrease the background (BG) intensity. Generally, BG signals are reduced by inserting metal foils of various types and thicknesses between the X-ray tube and sample as primary X-ray filters. In this study, we developed a unique gas filter-XRF (GF-XRF) instrument to easily reduce the BG effect by changing the pressure of the gas to ensure that the absorption edge of the gas element is slightly lower than the energy of the XRF peak of the target element. The advantage of using a gas is that the gas pressure can be altered easily. To evaluate the performance of this instrument, Ti and Zr were selected as target elements, and Ar and Kr were selected as the filtering gases. When the XRF spectra of the Ti sample were recorded using the Ar gas filter, as the Ar gas pressure increased, the background signal in the energy region of the Ti Kα peak decreased, resulting in an increase in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of that peak. When the Kr gas filter was used, both the SNR and the minimum detection limit of Zr improved. These results demonstrate that the unique GF-XRF instrument is useful for high-sensitivity analyses.

Perceptions of Academic Grief in Baccalaureate Nursing Programs: An Instrument Development Study.

Background and Purpose: Nursing students and graduates experience grief when not achieving curricular benchmarks or passing the NCLEX-RN. This study developed the perceptions of academic grief (PAG) instrument for baccalaureate nursing program completers experiencing academic failure. Methods: Content analysis methods generated items and achieved face validity. Focus group interview and experts' judgment of item relevance established content validity. A purposeful sample of registered nurses (RNs) and nursing students (N = 70) completed the pilot test on the 40-item instrument. Results: The highest ranked items included being disappointed, trying again to prove they could become a nurse, life investment in nursing school, and fear of failing again. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was .94. Conclusions: The instrument was developed to measure nursing students' and RNs' academic grief. The PAG showed beginning reliability and validity and needs additional testing.

Development and Validation of Instruments for Assessing the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Students in Higher Education

<p style="text-align:justify">The role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education remains incompletely understood, demanding further evaluation and the creation of robust assessment tools. Despite previous attempts to measure AI's impact in education, existing studies have limitations. This research aimed to develop and validate an assessment instrument for gauging AI effects in higher education. Employing various analytical methods, including Exploratory Factor Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, and Rasch Analysis, the initial 70-item instrument covered seven constructs. Administered to 635 students at Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology – Gabaldon campus, content validity was assessed using the Lawshe method. After eliminating 19 items through EFA and CFA, Rasch analysis confirmed the construct validity and led to the removal of three more items. The final 48-item instrument, categorized into learning experiences, academic performance, career guidance, motivation, self-reliance, social interactions, and AI dependency, emerged as a valid and reliable tool for assessing AI's impact on higher education, especially among college students.</p>

Division of Powers of Public Authorities in Modern Conditions

In the context of the implementation of the provisions of the Constitution of the Russian Federation regarding the formation of a unified system of public power, the issue of improving the delimitation of powers of public authorities remains relevant. Significant amount of problems has been accumulated over the course of more than twenty-five years. This fact has an impact on the sustainability of regional budgets. The author of the article is considering the authority of regional government bodies in questions of joint jurisdiction of the Russian Federation and its constituent entities. The purpose of the work is to develop recommendations for improving the division of powers of public authorities and financial support this process from the position of increasing the sustainability budgets of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. In the course of the work, based on scientific methods such as institutional, retrospective and comparative analyses, it was concluded that there are problems in the mechanism for delimiting regional powers that impede the increase in the sustainability of regional budgets. The main results of the study include suggestions for the harmonization of budget legislation and legislation in the field of delimitation of powers from the position of expanding the rights of regions to participate in the implementation of non-transferred powers, regulation of the process of introducing new powers, inventory count of regional powers established by subordinate legislation or bylaws, introduction of the practice of financial support for certain regional powers in cases and to the extent of receipt of certain non-tax revenues and the development of debt financing instruments for powers, as well as for improving the practice of financial support for delegated powers. The prepared recommendations may be useful when conducting the inventory count of regional powers from the standpoint of increasing the sustainability of regional budgets; introducing a reasonable assessment of the resource provision for new powers proposed for the implementation; shifting the emphasis from the subordinate or by-law regulation of regional powers towards strengthening their legislative regulation.

Calibration and pose measurement of a combined vision sensor system for industrial robot grasping of brackets

Recently, visual sensing measurement and its application in industrial robot operations have been widely researched, promoting the development of instrumentation and automation. This study proposes a combined vision sensor system for robot grasping, focusing on combined sensor system calibration and bracket pose measurements. The system configuration and working strategy of the combined vision system are introduced. Thereafter, the calibration of the combined vision coordinate systems is presented, wherein a global vision system acts as the external measuring equipment for accurately calibrating the local vision. Furthermore, a pose estimation method using a local vision system (LVS) is proposed, including morphology-based image enhancement and principal component analysis based corner recognition methods. Verification experiments, including combined calibration and bracket pose measurements, were performed to validate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed combined vision measurement strategy. The results demonstrated that the proposed system applies to industrial robot grasping of brackets. In addition, the proposed robot-sensor calibration method improves calibration accuracy. Finally, the proposed corner detection method is effective and accurate for different bracket detection applications. This study provides a system that improves robot grasping results by considering key factors, such as vision measurement accuracy, and calibration methods.

Navigating a Hostile Medium: Observations of the Environment As an Aid to Oceanic Voyaging in the Age of Sail

Abstract European navigation in the age of sail owes much to the scientific revolution of the seventeenth century and the development of instruments and advanced mathematical techniques. Important though these developments were, it is argued here that close observation of the environment: of the weather, ocean currents, clouds, birds, mammals, and a host of other factors played a far more important role in safe navigation from one part of the globe to another.

Direct sub-atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry: Evaporation/sublimation-driven ionization is amazing, fundamentally, and practically.

This paper covers direct sub-atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry (MS). The discovery, applications, and mechanistic aspects of novel ionization processes for use in MS that are not based on the high-energy input from voltage, laser, and/or high temperature but on sublimation/evaporation within a region linking a higher to lower pressure and modulated by heat and collisions, are discussed, including how this new reality has guided a series of discoveries, instrument developments, and commercialization. A research focus, inter alia, is on how best to understand, improve, and use these novel ionization processes, which convert volatile and nonvolatile compounds from solids (sublimation) or liquids (evaporation) into gas-phase ions for analysis by MS providing reproducible, accurate, sensitive, and prompt results. Our perception on how these unprecedented versus traditional ionization processes/methods relate to each other, how they can be made to coexist on the same mass spectrometer, and an outlook on new and expanded applications (e.g., clinical, portable, fast, safe, and autonomous) is presented, and is based on ST's Opening lecture presentation at the Nordic Mass spectrometry Conference, Geilo, Norway, January 2023. Focus will be on matrix-assisted ionization (MAI) and solvent-assisted ionization (SAI) MS covering the period from 2010 to 2023; a potential paradigm shift in the making.

A Screening Instrument for Trauma-Related Behavior Among Young Primary School Students: Development and Validation of the RaPTOSS

AbstractThis article reports on the development and psychometric evaluation of a new teacher observation instrument to systematically assess young primary school students’ well-being and detect potential indicators of psychological trauma, the RaPTOSS: Risk and Protective factors Trauma Observation School Situations. The RaPTOSS is developed specifically for preschool and early primary school teachers, because of the limited abilities their young students have to verbally reflect and report on their well-being and stressful experiences. We examined the factor structure, internal consistency, convergent validity and criterion validity of the RaPTOSS in a sample of 406 4- to 8-year-old regular education students. Exploratory factor analyses yielded a four-factor structure for the risk items with the following factors: Withdrawn, Dysphoria, Destructive and Inattentive. The protective factor items revealed a four-factor structure closely aligning the theoretical factor structure: Safety and Relations, Self-Image, Everyday Life and Self-Regulation. All factors exhibited good to excellent internal consistency. Correlations between the RaPTOSS and existing measures of psychosocial well-being without a specific focus on trauma-related behavior demonstrated good convergent validity. Criterion validity was supported, as indicated by moderate to large positive correlations between teacher worries about a student and RaPTOSS risk factors, and moderate to large negative correlations between teacher worries and RAPTOSS protective factors. We conclude that the RaPTOSS is a promising measure for trauma-informed teaching and research, although future research is needed to establish its psychometric qualities in specific samples such as children diagnosed with PTSD and refugee children.