External Criteria Research Articles

Validation, Factor Structure and Measurement Invariance of the Duke University Religion Index Among Puerto Rican Adults.

Religiosity is a determinant of human flourishing and a protective/risk factor on health. In recent years the DUREL has been one of the most used measures in studies of religion and health worldwide. This scale has five items to assess three domains: organizational religiosity (item 1), non-organizational religiosity (item 2), and intrinsic/subjective religiosity (items 3, 4 and 5). Through an online survey, we examined the psychometric properties, factor structure and measurement invariance of the Duke University Religion Index among 411 Spanish-speaking Puerto Rican adults. We found alpha and omega reliability coefficients of .91. In confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with robust maximum likelihood estimation, best-fit models were those with three factors. We observed adequate convergent/discriminant validity via CFA-related statistics. Using multigroup CFA, the DUREL was gender-invariant. Correlations with external criteria supported its concurrent validity. Our findings support DUREL's utility as a religiosity measure for Puerto Ricans.

Development of a Symptom Validity Index for the Beck Anxiety Inventory

Objective: Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent psychiatric disorders experienced by individuals in the United States, and anxiety is often assessed with anxiety symptom inventories. At present, though, there are no anxiety symptom inventories that include symptom validity indices. The present study sought to develop a symptom validity index for the most commonly used anxiety symptom inventory in neuropsychological practice, the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Method: A sample of 244 veterans seeking outpatient neuropsychological assessments were included in the study. Participants were divided into valid and invalid groups based on external criterion symptom validity tests. The valid participants were then divided into clinical subgroups (Current Anxiety, Lifetime Anxiety, and No Anxiety). A validity index derived from the BAI total score was examined for the total sample and all subgroups. Results: A cutoff of ≥ 29 was identified when utilizing the Valid Full Sample, which resulted in a 0.91 specificity rate and 0.54 sensitivity rate. However, cutoffs had to be adjusted when applied to the clinical subgroups. The Valid Current Anxiety subgroup required the largest cutoff increase (i.e. ≥ 36), which resulted in a 0.91 specificity rate and a 0.42 sensitivity rate. Conclusions: This is the first published article to develop a symptom validity index for the BAI. To minimize false positive errors, a BAI total score of ≥ 36 is recommended.

The cross-cultural big two: A culturally decentered theoretical and measurement model for personality traits.

A "big two" model has shown stronger cross-cultural replicability and links to theory than other contemporary models of personality trait structure. However, its theoretical and measurement models require better specification. We address this to create an initial English-language version of the Cross-Cultural Big Two Inventory with an empirically informed and culturally decentered approach, meaning that input from global contexts is used from the outset, without prioritizing Western perspectives. Four studies are reported: (1) Fifty-five items were identified from commonalities among 11 global lexical studies to define two factors. Communion/Social Self-Regulation captures the internalization of versus resistance to the normative codes of one's society, with components of warmth, morality, respect, industriousness, and even temper. Agency/Dynamism captures approach versus avoidance tendencies, with components of competence, confidence, fearlessness, positive mood, sociability, and surgency. (2) Items were reduced to the 45 most consistent across English-speaking contexts based on (a) frequency of use in World English corpora; (b) familiarity and exploratory factor analysis results among Africa Long Life Study participants, who were 18-year-olds from Namibia, Kenya, and South Africa (N = 2,958); and (c) distribution test statistics, exploratory factor analysis results, and test-retest reliability in online data from 13 diverse English-speaking countries (N = 63,720). (3) The 45-item Cross-Cultural Big Two Inventory was assessed psychometrically and validated against external criteria in the Africa Long Life Study samples and (4) in the online data and additionally compared to existing two-factor frameworks. The relation of the cross-cultural big two to other two-factor models and theories, its future development, and the potential and importance of culturally decentered models and inventories are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Developing a Scale to Measure Public Health Nurses' Advocacy Practices in Group and Community Settings in Japan.

This study aimed to develop a scale to assess public health nurses' (PHNs') advocacy practices in groups and communities in Japan and determine its reliability and validity. This study is a cross-sectional investigation. The sample comprised PHNs across various municipalities in Japan. Anonymous self-administered questionnaires were conducted, including the attributes of PHNs, a preliminary scale, and external criteria. Reliability was assessed by calculating the alpha coefficient. To ascertain construct validity, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted. A total of 432 questionnaires were analyzed. The scale comprised 27 items divided into five factors: "Raising awareness of the challenging situation faced by disadvantaged individuals," "Empowering disadvantaged individuals to improve their situation autonomously," "Establishing a foundation in local governments and community groups of disadvantaged individuals for advocacy initiatives," "Working toward policy changes," and "Collaborating with stakeholders and organizations to enhance the effectiveness of activities." The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for this scale was 0.945. Model fit indices included a comparative fit index of 0.907, a goodness-of-fit index of 0.840, an adjusted goodness-of-fit index of 0.806, and a root mean square approximation of 0.067. The developed scale demonstrated satisfactory reliability and validity.

Competing Models of the Structure of Subjective Well-Being: Have All Won and Must All Have Prizes?

The tripartite model of subjective well-being (SWB) posits three components: positive affect, negative affect, and life satisfaction. The fundamental issue regarding the structure of SWB and the meaning of the general SWB factor remains unresolved. Across three studies and six samples (total N = 9304), we evaluated competing models of SWB and tested the criterion-related validity of SWB components operationalized within different models. In addition to a standard confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and bifactor-CFA, we used exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) and bifactor-ESEM approaches. Latent factor models were applied to examine the nomological network of SWB in relation to several external criteria (e.g., positive expectations, depression, and anxiety). We found evidence supporting the three-factor and bifactor-ESEM models of SWB. The meaning and interpretability of the general and specific factors of SWB were found to depend on the indicators used to assess affective well-being. Several issues concerning the bifactor-CFA model were identified. Both the general and specific factors of SWB exhibited meaningful and interpretable nomological networks. The structure of SWB, the value of incorporating a general factor, and the nature of general and specific SWB factors depend on the instruments used to measure SWB.

Impact of patient characteristics on ASDAS disease activity state cut-offs in axial spondyloarthritis: results from nine European rheumatology registries.

To re-evaluate cut-offs for disease activity states according to the Axial Spondyloarthritis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS), and study the impact of sex, age, calendar time, disease and symptom duration on ASDAS and ASDAS cut-offs in a large contemporary cohort. Data from 2939 patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) starting their first tumour necrosis factor inhibitor in nine European registries were pooled and analysed. Receiver operating characteristic analyses were performed to identify cut-offs against external criteria. Six-month data including patient and physician global assessments, both ≤1 (0-10 integer scale), and Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society partial remission were used for separation of inactive disease (ID) from low disease activity (LDA), while patient and physician global ≤3 were applied as external criteria to separate LDA from high disease activity (HDA). Patient and physician global ≥6 were applied to separate HDA from very high disease activity in baseline data. The three ASDAS cut-offs identified to separate the four disease activity states in the overall patient population were <1.3, <2.0 and >3.5. Cut-offs for ID and LDA in women were higher (<1.5 and <2.0, respectively) than in men (<1.3 and <1.9), as were cut-offs in patients ≥45 years (<1.5 and <2.2) versus ≤34 years (<1.2 and <1.9) and 35-44 years (<1.3 and <1.8). Cut-offs were independent of calendar time and disease duration. Re-evaluation of ASDAS cut-offs for disease activity states in a large multi-national axSpA cohort resulted in cut-offs similar to those currently endorsed. Differences in cut-offs between sex and age groups for ID and LDA were observed, but the differences were minor.

Exploring facets of student motivation using a Bass Ackward strategy and the conceptual lens of self-determination theory

Motivational constructs have proliferated in educational psychology, reflecting the complexity of what moves people to engage and learn. In this exploratory research, we focused on students’ motivation for higher education. Our goal was to understand how a wide range of motives are empirically and conceptually related. We also examined how this diversity of motivational content relates to the motivational typology postulated by Self-Determination Theory (SDT). In Study 1, we extracted items from a broad collection of measures, formatted them with a common set of instructions, and administered them to multiple samples of current and former U.S. college students. Using Goldberg’s (2006) Bass Ackward factor-analytic method, we distilled twenty-six distinct facets that capture a wide variety of motivational contents. Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) suggested a dimension that resembled SDT’s continuum of relative autonomy, with some facets similar to amotivation and others falling along a range from less to more autonomous or volitional forms of motivation. In Study 2, we administered these provisionally labelled motivational facets alongside SDT’s regulatory styles and a set of external criteria covering multiple outcomes of interest in higher education. MDS analyses replicated the general pattern found in Study 1, recovering a dimension resembling SDT’s continuum of autonomy. Motivational facets were also associated with external criteria in a theoretically coherent manner. We discuss the implications of these exploratory findings for understanding the structure of self-reported motivation and for theory and measurement of student motivation.

The Cancer-Specific Health Economic Measure QLU-C10D is Valid and Responsive for Assessing Health Utility in Patients with Thyroid Cancer.

Background: Health economic appraisals often rely on the assessment of health utilities using preference-based measures (PBM). The cancer-specific PBM, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Utility - Core 10 Dimensions (EORTC QLU-C10D), was developed recently, and now needs to be validated in various clinical populations. Methods: In a multicenter, multinational prospective cohort study, we longitudinally collected EORTC QLQ-C30 and EQ-5D-5L data from patients with thyroid cancer. We applied seven country-specific value sets to the QLQ-C30 data to derive country-specific utility values and used the EQ-5D-5L as a comparator PBM. Criterion validity was assessed by correlating index scores and Bland-Altman plots. Construct validity was investigated by correlating domain scores. Known-group comparisons and responsiveness were assessed using external clinical criteria. Results: A total of 181 patients with thyroid cancer from nine countries (three continents) provided analyzable data. Patients were included if they had differentiated, medullary, or anaplastic thyroid cancer. Mean utility values of both instruments were generally lower compared to general population norms. No floor or ceiling effects were present for the QLU-C10D. The intra-class correlation for EQ-5D-5L and QLU-C10D index values ranged from 0.761 to 0.901 across the measurement timepoints, supporting criterion validity. Spearman's correlation coefficients ranged from 0.289 to 0.716 for theoretically corresponding domain pairs. The QLU-C10D detected differences in 9 of 15 known-group comparisons, supporting sensitivity. Clinically important changes were detected by all QLU-C10D country specific value sets, supporting responsiveness. Further, the QLU-C10D had higher statistical efficiency than the EQ-5D-5L in 74.7% of comparisons. Conclusions: The QLU-C10D is a valid PBM for health economic evaluations in thyroid cancer studies. We recommend its use to estimate health utilities in economic evaluations of thyroid cancer therapies.

In silico aquatic toxicity prediction of chemicals toward Daphnia magna and fathead minnow using Monte Carlo approaches

The fast-increasing use of chemicals led to large numbers of chemical compounds entering the aquatic environment, raising concerns about their potential effects on ecosystems. Therefore, assessment of the ecotoxicological features of organic compounds on aquatic organisms is very important. Daphnia magna and Fathead minnow are two aquatic species that are commonly tested as standard test organisms for aquatic risk assessment and are typically chosen as the biological model for the ecotoxicology investigations of chemical pollutants. Herein, global quantitative structure–toxicity relationship (QSTR) models have been developed to predict the toxicity (pEC(LC)50) of a large dataset comprising 2106 chemicals toward Daphnia magna and Fathead minnow. The optimal descriptor of correlation weights (DCWs) is calculated using the notation of simplified molecular input line entry system (SMILES) and is used to construct QSTR models. Three target functions, TF1, TF2, and TF3 are utilized to generate 12 QSTR models from four splits, and their statistical characteristics are also compared. The designed QSTR models are validated using both internal and external validation criteria and are found to be reliable, robust, and excellently predictive. Among the models, those generated using the TF3 demonstrate the best statistical quality with R 2 values ranging from 0.9467 to 0.9607, Q 2 values ranging from 0.9462 to 0.9603 and RMSE values ranging from 0.3764 to 0.4413 for the validation set. The applicability domain and the mechanistic interpretations of generated models were also discussed.

Capacity assessment for euthanasia in dementia: A qualitative study of 60 Dutch cases.

The number of patients with dementia who are granted euthanasia or assisted suicide (EAS) increases yearly in the Netherlands. By law, patients need to be decisionally competent or have an advance directive. Assessment of decisional capacity is challenging as dementia progressively affects cognitive performance. We aimed to assess qualitatively which factors, and how, influence the judgment of decisional capacity in EAS cases with dementia. We performed a qualitative study of 60 dementia EAS case summaries published by the Dutch regional euthanasia review committees between 2012 and 2021. Included reports were evaluated using the grounded theory approach. All quotes related to decisional capacity were coded independently by two researchers and compared in an iterative process to formulate an overarching framework on the assessment of decisional capacity. We selected 20 patients who had an advance directive and were judged to be decisionally compromised, as well as a selection of 40 EAS cases judged to be decisionally competent, half of which also had an advance directive (purposive sampling). Decisional capacity was present in every case report. Predefined, external criteria were rarely described explicitly, but physicians indirectly referred to the (cognitive) criteria set by Appelbaum and Grisso. Whether the thresholds for these dimensional criteria were met was influenced by six supporting factors (level of communication, psychiatric comorbidity, personality, presence of an advance directive, consistency of the request, and, finally, the patient-physician relationship) that also directly contributed to the judgment of capacity. The involved physicians and executed investigations were the two contextual factors providing a background. Decisional capacity regarding euthanasia is a multidimensional construct, often implicitly assessed and influenced by supporting and contextual factors. The subjectivity of the final judgment poses ethical and legal issues and argues for continuous quality improvement processes.

Validity and reliability of Brier scoring for assessment of probabilistic diagnostic reasoning.

Educators need tools for the assessment of clinical reasoning that reflect the ambiguity of real-world practice and measure learners' ability to determine diagnostic likelihood. In this study, the authors describe the use of the Brier score to assess and provide feedback on the quality of probabilistic diagnostic reasoning. The authors describe a novel format called Diagnostic Forecasting (DxF), in which participants read a brief clinical case and assign a probability to each item on a differential diagnosis, order tests and select a final diagnosis. DxF was piloted in a cohort of senior medical students. DxF evaluated students' answers with Brier scores, which compare probabilistic forecasts with case outcomes. The validity of Brier scores in DxF was assessed by comparison to subsequent decision-making in the game environment of DxF, as well as external criteria including medical knowledge tests and performance on clinical rotations. Brier scores were statistically significantly correlated with diagnostic accuracy (95 % CI-4.4 to-0.44) and with mean scores on the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) shelf exams (95 % CI-474.6 to-225.1). Brier scores did not correlate with clerkship grades or performance on a structured clinical skills exam. Reliability as measured by within-student correlation was low. Brier scoring showed evidence for validity as a measurement of medical knowledge and predictor of clinical decision-making. Further work must evaluated the ability of Brier scores to predict clinical and workplace-based outcomes, and develop reliable approaches to measuring probabilistic reasoning.

A Molecular Temporal Evolutionary Framework of Land Plants and the Age of Angiosperms

A series of Bayesian molecular clock analyses with varying model combinations, parameters, and tree topologies were conducted to establish a temporal evolutionary framework of land plants and to estimate the age of angiosperms. The data consisted of five organellar and nuclear genes, 633 taxa, and 23 fossil calibration points (FCPs). The analyses were evaluated using an internal search thoroughness measure, effective sample sizes, and two external criteria: the consensus land plant phylogeny and a newly developed method that used the Hennigian reciprocal illumination principle to compare molecular age estimates of 21 nodes representing major land plant clades and the root split in green plants with those of their fossils in an a posteriori fashion. The results show that an analysis using a general time reversible (GTR) DNA substitution model, log normal branch-rate distribution, and Yule tree prior represented the best model combination, with the Birth-Death tree prior being equally optimal. This analysis estimated the age of the land plant crown group as 496.95 million years (MY), with a 95% highest posterior density (HPD) of 465.66–531.43 MY, and the age of the angiosperm crown group as 219.93 MY, with a 95% HPD of 184.09–256.82 MY. The former agrees with the fossil evidence, but the latter is significantly older than the fossil ages. A thorough examination of fossil evidence of angiosperms, as well as their evolutionary history in light of recent knowledge of morphology, physiology, and atmospheric CO2 concentration in the Mesozoic era, suggests that angiosperm radiation might have been delayed after their origin and that the current fossil record probably reflects only the products of that radiation, not the origin of angiosperms. Overall, the study shows that both molecular clock analyses and fossil studies, while agreeing on some aspects but disagreeing on others, can help develop a complete understanding of the temporal evolutionary history of land plants.

Measuring fidelity to manualised peer support for people with severe mental health conditions: development and psychometric evaluation of the UPSIDES fidelity scale

BackgroundPeer support workers provide support for people experiencing mental health conditions based on their own lived experience of mental health problems. Assessing fidelity to core ingredients of peer support is vital for successful implementation and intervention delivery. Modifications to its implementation are needed when scaling up to different socio-economic settings, raising further uncertainty about fidelity. As part of a large multi-centre study on peer support called Using Peer Support In Developing Empowering Mental Health Services (UPSIDES), we developed and evaluated the psychometric properties of the UPSIDES Fidelity Scale.MethodsWe constructed the fidelity scale based on an initial item pool developed through international expert consultation and iterative feedback. Scale refinement involved site-level expert consultation and translation, resulting in a service user-rated 28-item version and a peer support worker-rated 21-item version assessing receipt, engagement, enactment, competence, communication and peer support-specific components. Both versions are available in six languages: English, German, Luganda, Kiswahili, Hebrew and Gujarati. The scale was then evaluated at six study sites across five countries, with peer support workers and their clients completing their respective ratings four and eight months after initial peer support worker contact. Psychometric evaluation included analysis of internal consistency, construct validity and criterion validity.ResultsFor the 315 participants, item statistics showed a skewed distribution of fidelity values but no restriction of range. Internal consistency was adequate (range α = 0.675 to 0.969) for total scores and all subscales in both versions. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated acceptable fit of the proposed factor structure for the service user version (χ2/df = 2.746; RMSEA = 0.084) and moderate fit for the peer support worker version (χ2/df = 3.087; RMSEA = 0.093). Both versions showed significant correlations with external criteria: number of peer support sessions; perceived recovery orientation of the intervention; and severity of illness.ConclusionsThe scale demonstrates good reliability, construct and criterion validity, making it a pragmatic and psychometrically acceptable measure for assessing fidelity to a manualised peer support worker intervention. Recommendations for use, along with research and practical implications, are addressed. As validated, multi-lingual tool that adapts to diverse settings this scale is uniquely positioned for global application.Trial registrationISRCTN, ISRCTN26008944. Registered on 30 October 2019.

Global Stock Markets during Covid-19: Did Rationality Prevail?

This study assesses the validity of the Efficient Markets Hypothesis (EMH) during the Covid-19 period by evaluating whether various stock markets around the world accurately predicted economic performance in their respective countries. The underlying premise is that stock prices should discount future company cash flows, and the projection of these cash flows can be proxied by investors' ability to forecast macroeconomic conditions. We assess stock market performance from January 2020 to February 2022 in 16 countries, equally split between developed and emerging markets. While results varied, the study suggests that stock markets generally predicted economic activity during Covid-19. The modeling test indicated that stock markets significantly predicted economic activity in 11 out of 16 countries, particularly in developed markets. Furthermore, incorporating the stock market as a variable, improved economic forecasts in all 16 countries. Unlike other studies that mainly focused on the characteristics of share price movements, this research judges the rationality of stock markets against an external criterion. Ultimately, it suggests that EMH was mostly vindicated during the Covid-19 period.

Cultural adaptation and psychometric analysis of Communication Activities of Daily Living third edition in Spanish and Catalan for people with aphasia.

In the Spanish and Catalan context, there is currently a lack of standardized, linguistically adapted tools to assess people with communication disorders. This lack is especially evident when it comes to instruments designed to assess functional communication. The main objective of this study is to adapt the instrument entitled Communication Activities of Daily Living 3rd edition (CADL-3) into European Spanish (CADL-3VE) and Catalan (CADL-3VC), thus providing a new tool to assess the functional communication of patients with aphasia in the Spanish and Catalan populations. A total of 152 people, all residents of Catalonia, took part in the study. The CADL-3VE test was administered to 125 Spanish-speaking participants, who were divided into two groups, one consisting of patients with aphasia and the other a control group. The CADL-3VC test was administered to 27 Catalan-speaking patients with aphasia. Other tests and assessment scales were used for the external validation of the test. Reliability scores were recorded for both new versions of the test. There was a very strong correlation between the CADL-3VE test and external criteria. The scores for both of the new versions showed significant differences in terms of performance between the aphasia and control groups. Both versions displayed similarities with the original test with respect to most of the psychometric analyses carried out. The test makes it possible to assess everyday communicative functioning and participation in real-world contexts. As such, it helps inform the creation of personalized, interdisciplinary treatment plans aimed at functional objectives that consider the patient's context. What is already known on the subject In order to effectively assess aphasia based on a bio-psycho-social perspective, it is necessary to examine functional communication. In other words, there is a need to explore the kinds of communication difficulties that people face in their everyday lives. Communication Activities of Daily Living (CADL-3) is an English-language test that was developed to assess functional communication by simulating certain everyday activities. What this study adds This paper offers an analysis of the items, reliability and validity of the Spanish and Catalan versions of the CADL-3 test. What are the clinical implications of this work? This new instrument has the potential to play an essential role in assessing the everyday functional communication of people with aphasia in Spain.

Adaptation of the 12-item medication adherence scale ( the Questionnaire for assessment of adherence to Medication) on a Russian-speaking sample of patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus

Poor adherence to treatment among patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) hinders the effective use of antidiabetic agents and the achievement of optimal glycemic control, reducing their quality of life and outcomes. Assessing adherence to treatment using a questionnaire can help identify and eliminate factors and barriers that negatively affect adherence to medical recommendations and satisfaction with treatment. To conduct linguistic and cultural adaptation of the 12-item Medication Adherence Scale (MAS-12) questionnaire and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Russian version of the MAS-12 questionnaire among patients suffering from T1DM and T2DM. A survey of 198 patients with T1DM and T2DM was carried out, including self-completion of the MAS-12 questionnaire in Russian. Average age: 47.1±18.62 years, proportion of women - 76%. Average duration of the disease: 13.08±10.05 years. The construct validity of the MAS-12 questionnaire was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis. As an external criterion for assessing convergent validity, the KOP-25 method was used - the Russian Questionnaire for Quantitative Assessment of Treatment Adherence (KOP-25). Reliability of the MAS-12 was assessed using Cronbach's α internal consistency and participant retest after 1 to 4 months. The factor structure of the MAS-12 questionnaire is reproduced for the first time on a Russian sample of patients with diabetes. Recommended fit indicators for the measurement model (CFI=0.983, RMSEA=0.049, TLI=0.968) were achieved by excluding two items (9 and 12) that did not demonstrate statistically significant contributions to their respective subscales. The internal consistency of the subscales (α ϵ [0.522; 0.857]) and the questionnaire as a whole (α=0.766) was assessed as sufficient. Significant correlations of the adapted methodology and its subscales with the scales of the KOP-25 questionnaire were obtained. The closest connections (r ϵ [0.333; 0.431], p&lt;0.010) are observed with the COP-25 scales related to drug therapy, which indicates good external validity of the adapted methodology. The Russian version of the MAS-12 questionnaire "Questionnaire for assessing adherence to medication treatment" (PML-10), consisting of 10 questions, has good psychometric properties, is a valid and reliable tool for assessing medication adherence among patients with T1DM and T2DM and can be recommended for use in clinical practice, including for monitoring treatment adherence in Russia.

ПРОБЛЕМЫ ГЕЙМИФИЦИРОВАННОГО ОБУЧЕНИЯ РКИ И МЕТОДЫ ИХ РЕШЕНИЯ

The article considers gamification in education as a principle for organizing the educational process, its pros and cons in teaching Russian as a foreign language, as well as ways to prevent the formation of negative habits among students. The authors draw attention to the fact that the introduction of new teaching methods requires the adaptation of teachers to modern strategies and to the continuous development of advanced technologies. The text demonstrates the need for conscious and accuracy when using gamification in order to avoid oversimplification and evaluation of results by external criteria. The danger of students becoming accustomed to easily obtaining results and superficial assimilation of material in gamified courses is discussed. The text also returns to the idea of the importance of recording and visualizing information in the educational process. The authors note the significance of students’ own analytical work, awareness when performing tasks, deep immersion in the process of cognition and the development of creative thinking. Finally, the article emphasizes that gamification is a method that requires caution, careful attitude, and an emphasis on formation of students' cognitive skills.

Performance of cut-offs of the ASAS Health Index to discriminate between treatment groups in patients with axial spondyloarthritis in the TICOSPA trial

ObjectiveTo test trial and longitudinal known group discrimination of thresholds of meaning for improvement and health states of the ASAS Health Index (ASAS HI) in patients with active axSpA treated in a randomized study. MethodsData from baseline and week 48 from the tight-controlled, treat-to-target trial TICOSPA study were used. The performance of different thresholds to assess change or health states of the ASAS HI were evaluated between arms and against changes in patients’ relevant outcomes and various external responder criteria. Analyses were performed by comparing the mean values t-tests or proportion of responders of continuous and dichotomous external criteria respectively. Trial discrimination of the ASAS HI thresholds were assessed by odds ratios and Phi coefficient in a large number of potential ASAS HI thresholds. Differences in health states in relevant external outcomes between ASAS HI responders and non-responders was assessed by comparing the best performing improvement and state thresholds by using t-tests and chi-square, as appropriate. Missing data on outcomes was handled by non-responder imputation (NRI). ResultsAll 160 patients had available ASAS HI data. Trial discrimination was larger for absolute ASAS HI change of ≥2.0, ≥2.5, and ≥3.0 points followed by ASAS HI 20 % improvement. Odds ratio ranged between 1.27 and 1.75 for absolute and between 1.0 and 1.64 for relative improvement outcomes. Longitudinal discrimination of ASAS HI improvement ≥30 % or ≥ 3.0 points had a larger reduction in patient global and disease activity and reached more often remission compared to patients with no significant improvement in global functioning. Patients who achieved ASAS HI ≤ 5.0 compared with patients who did not achieve such states were more likely to have ASAS partial remission, ASDAS inactive disease or ASDAS low activity at week 48. ConclusionsThe data-driven thresholds of the ASAS HI identified in a longitudinal observational setting perform well in the context of a randomized trial.

Predicting mechanical properties of sustainable green concrete using novel machine learning: Stacking and gene expression programming

Abstract Using rice husk ash (RHA) as a cement substitute in concrete production has potential benefits, including cement consumption and mitigating environmental effects. The feasibility of RHA on concrete strength was investigated in this research by predicting the split tensile strength (SPT) and flexural strength (FS) of RHA concrete (RHAC). The study used machine learning (ML) methods such as ensemble stacking and gene expression programming (GEP). The stacking model was improved using base learner configurations ML models, such as, random forest (RF), support vector regression, and gradient boosting regression. The proposed models were validated by statistical tests and external validation criteria. Moreover, the effect of input parameters was investigated using Shapley adaptive exPlanations (SHAP) for RF and parametric analysis for GEP-based models. The analysis revealed that the stacking ensemble integrates base learner predictions and demonstrated superior performance, with R values greater than 0.98 and 0.96. Mean absolute error and root mean square error values for both SPT and FS were 0.23, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 MPA, respectively. The SHAP analysis demonstrated water, cement, superplasticizer, and age as influential parameters for the RHAC strength. Furthermore, the SPT and FS of RHAC can be predicted with an acceptable error using the GEP expressions in the standard design procedure.

Computer-aided molecular modeling and design studies of some N-(4-(dimethyl amino) phenyl)-4-methoxy-3-propionamidobenzamide derivatives as NS5B polymerase inhibitors

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a stealthy ailment, and most people are unaware they have it in the early stages. Insilco modeling was used to develop a model with high predictive power for N-(4-(dimethyl amino) phenyl)-4-methoxy-3-propionamidobenzamide inhibitors. The inhibitors were optimized using Density Functional Theory (DFT) based on a notion of B3LYP/6–31 G* levels. The genetic function algorithm (GFA) was utilized to create the QSAR models. The best model was chosen based on its statistical fitness using the subsequent measurement parameters: R2trng = 0.828181, R2adj = 0.800468, Q2cv = 0.734795, R2test = 0.7028, and LOF = 0.613985, led to its selection and publication. The model underwent additional assessments, including the Y-scrambling test, and applicability domain, and was considered to have statistical significance. The docking results demonstrate that compound 17 has the greatest inhibitory effect on NS5B-polymerase of any drug in the dataset. Using this compound as a template, novel anti-hepatitis C compounds were developed by including a few beneficial substituents. The docking results of the proposed compounds yielded a high MolDock score (−152.12), indicating effective binding to the target's active sites. Two comparable compounds (SBD4 and SBD3) were shown to be superior to the food drug administration (FDA) approved medication, revibirin/pegylated interferon. The chemicals were determined to be orally accessible after passing Lipinski's criteria, a drug similarity test. Furthermore, the synthesized compounds were found to have favorable pharmacokinetic (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) properties. In conclusion, using the QSAR model, a model with excellent prediction power for certain Biaryl amide inhibitors was constructed. The model was validated and determined to have good internal and external assessment criteria. According to the docking results, compound 17 inhibits NS5B-polymerase the most out of the compounds in the dataset. Furthermore, the compounds' oral bioavailability met drug-like standards. The ultimate goal of this research is to contribute to the development of new therapeutic agents for the treatment of HCV infections, addressing the pressing need for effective antiviral medications.