Development Of Instrument Research Articles

Факторы и тенденции постиндустриальной трансформации экономики проблемных регионов Северо-Кавказского федерального округа

The article presents the results of empirical studies on the identification of the degree of post-industrial orientation of the regional economy, carried out on the factual basis of problematic entities of the North Caucasian Federal District. It is shown that in the context of planning the regional policy of post-industrial transit of the economy, it is necessary to be guided by the synthetic level of its post-industrial orientation, which consists of the current and forecast state of the innovation and infrastructure component and the level of activity of creative capital. Institutional support and management coordination The tasks of operational development of corrective directions, mechanisms and instruments of regional socio-economic policy aimed at changing the technological structure, ensuring the dominance of post-industrial sectors and industries of the economy, accumulating creative capital are impossible in their implementation without a detailed analysis of the accumulated transformation potential. In the article, from the standpoint of diagnosing the degree of post-industrial orientation of the regional economy, parametric and methodological support for calculating aggregate indices of innovative development and the degree of innovativeness of the economy is formed. Using the proposed analytical apparatus, reliable empirical estimates of the degree of post-industrial orientation of the regional economy of the subjects of the North Caucasian Federal District were obtained. The article is an addition to the cycle of researchers' works on the problems of economic transformation of the regions of the South of Russia. The obtained analytical results, empirical estimates and calculation material for the subjects of the North Caucasian Federal District can be used in further scientific research.

Creating a New Payment Instrument for BRICS Countries as an Alternative to Petrodollars

This research work is dedicated to the comprehensive analysis of the potential impact of the creation of a new payment instrument by the BRICS countries on international trade, the economy, and the relations between the countries of this bloc. The research aims to identify possible changes in the structure of global trade, to investigate its impact on the interaction with tax, customs, and other barriers, and to determine potential benefits for the participating countries of this initiative. The research methodology is based on a comprehensive analysis of both theoretical and practical aspects of the relationship between international trade and currency mechanisms. The methods employed in writing this research work include extensive analysis of statistical data, examples from contemporary economic practice, as well as scientific, historical, and news publications from various time periods. The results and conclusions drawn by the researchers indicate that the creation of a new payment instrument by the BRICS countries may lead to significant shifts in the structure of international trade, facilitated by a reduction in dependence on the US dollar and encouragement of the use of alternative currency mechanisms. Furthermore, it is concluded that the development and implementation of a new payment instrument could have a positive impact on streamlining trade operations by improving interaction with customs barriers, thereby enhancing the efficiency of international trade and reducing costs associated with cross-border transactions. The research findings have a broad scope of application, encompassing international trade, foreign economic relations, geopolitics, financial market policies, and strategic economic development planning. The authors’ conclusions underscore the importance of creating fundamentally new currency settlement mechanisms to establish infrastructure for ensuring sustainable and equitable global economic development, as well as to enhance the competitiveness of participating countries and their integration into global economic processes.

One Century of Evolution of Surface Science, a personal perspective

Compared to the bulk, surfaces of materials usually exhibit unique chemical, structural and electronic properties due to their distinct interactions with the external phase, such as vacuum, gas, liquid or another solid. Breakthroughs in this field are typically driven by significant instrumental development. In this review we will highlight a few developments in surface science in the last 40 years, as well as the discoveries they brought to the scientific and engineering communities. These findings, together with relevant technical developments, enable a deeper understanding of phenomena critical to catalysis, energy conversion, and nanotechnology.

Spanish-Speaking Children’s Attitudes Toward School Science: Instrument Development and Psychometric Analysis

Spanish-Speaking Children’s Attitudes Toward School Science: Instrument Development and Psychometric Analysis

Assessing the validity and reliability of the Indonesian version of Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Global Health Scale v1.2

BackgroundThe assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) is essential in clinical outcomes, focusing on the subjective perception of individuals regarding the physical, mental, and social aspects of health status. However, conducting a large-scale HRQoL assessment poses various challenges that necessitate the development of a non-burdensome instrument. One promising solution is adapting Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Global Health Scale v1.2 through translation, validation, and cross-cultural testing for non-English populations. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Indonesian version of PROMIS Global Health Scale for comprehensive HRQoL assessment.MethodThis cross sectional study involved a total of 343 participants, comprising patients, caregivers, and residents of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. PROMIS Global Health Scale v1.2 was subjected to translation and cultural adaptation using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) method. Content validity was tested by five experts using the Scale-Content Validity Index (S-CVI), and structural validity was evaluated through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Internal consistency and test–retest reliability were examined using Cronbach's Alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively.ResultThe Indonesian version of PROMIS Global Health Scale v1.2 showed strong validity and reliability. Content validity analysis produced a S-CVI/Universal Agreement of 0.90 with item analysis factor loading’s of > 0.3. Structural validity results were χ2/df (1.53), RMSEA (0.04), RMR (0.03), and CFI (0.99). The reliability results showed that Cronbach's Alpha for Global Physical Health (GPH) and Global Mental Health (GMH) was 0.61 and 0.77, respectively. Test–retest reliability assessment performed using intraclass correlation coefficients generated values of 0.72 for GPH (95% CI, [0.65,0.78])and 0.70 (95% CI [0.63,0.76]) for GMH.ConclusionThe Indonesian version of PROMIS Global Health Scale v1.2 showed sufficient content validity, structural validity, internal consistency, and reliability, which supported the application of this tool for HRQoL assessment in clinical and research settings.

Prerequisites for self-care actions in individuals with restless legs syndrome-A deductive qualitative analysis based on the COM-B model.

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) affects 3% of the world's population, causing tingling sensations primarily in the legs. Incorporating self-care activities could improve the management of RLS symptoms, yet knowledge about effective self-care actions is limited. This study employs the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) model to explore self-care behaviours in individuals with RLS, as research in this area is sparse. Qualitative content analysis of interviews with 28 participants with RLS, 26 subcategories emerged, aligning with the COM-B model's components. The first part, Capability, highlighted the importance of being able to be in motion, while the second, Opportunity referred to situations where there was a lack of trust and guidance for self-care. The third part, Motivation, emphasised the importance of fixed routines of sleep, rest, and activity. These identified prerequisites can inform the development of screening instruments and patient-reported outcome measures to evaluate self-care needs and interventions for individuals with RLS.

A narrative review of psychopathy research: current advances and the argument for a qualitative approach

ABSTRACT Psychopathy has interested researchers since its conceptualization by Cleckley in 1941. This interest has come almost exclusively in the form of quantitative inquiries. Quantitative studies have provided valuable insights into the etiology, heterogeneity, and treatment of the disorder. At the same time, rich phenomenological descriptions of psychopathy have a role to play in the field since they can inform the development of variant-specific assessment instruments, as well as the development or tailoring of psychological interventions. Qualitative methods offer distinct advantages, since their flexibility and explorative nature allow the capture of unanticipated, novel, or nuanced psychopathy aspects, which can be overlooked when using pre-set hypotheses and structured measures. In light of these considerations, the present narrative review aims to (a) provide an overview of the state-of-the-art in psychopathy research, by combining insights from both quantitative and qualitative studies and (b) draw attention to the need for a qualitative approach in the field. It dives into conceptualization, etiology, youth psychopathy and temporal stability of psychopathic traits, the distinction between variants (primary versus secondary), and treatment, before reviewing qualitative studies and formulating an argument in favor of exploring the lived experience of psychopathy. The most recent developments in the field are also examined, including the first contemporary theory on secondary psychopathy etiology and the first-ever treatment studies exploring differential outcomes between variants.

Storm Peak Laboratory: A Research and Training Facility for the Atmospheric Sciences

Abstract Storm Peak Laboratory, located on the Steamboat Springs Ski Resort in Colorado on the west summit of Mount Werner at 10,532 ft (3220 m) ASL, is an internationally recognized high-elevation atmospheric research station that has been in use for over 40 years. This article provides a brief history of the Storm Peak Laboratory and the major research themes it has supported and discusses opportunities to leverage mountain observatory measurements to advance our understanding of the atmospheric processes. This facility provides long-term measurements of meteorology, clouds, aerosols, snow hydrology and atmospheric gases, and serves as a “proving ground” for instrument development and testing. Storm Peak Laboratory is part of multiple national and international observational networks. Due to the unique capabilities of Storm Peak Laboratory, there is a long history of targeted field campaigns primarily within the following research areas: mixed phase cloud microphysics, atmospheric chemistry pertaining to the formation, characterization, and hygroscopicity of aerosols; and transport and transformation of atmospheric mercury. Research training has been central to the mission of SPL over the last 40 years. Currently, SPL hosts both undergraduate and graduate level courses in atmospheric science and snow hydrology organized by numerous institutions. Examples of these unique research training opportunities are provided.

Assessing teacher candidate knowledge of the mathematical practices

AbstractThe Standards for Mathematical Practice (SMPs; CCSSI, 2010) describe mathematical behaviors and habits that students should express during mathematics instruction. Teacher candidates should have knowledge about the SMPs and their implications for mathematical instruction. This study aims to share the validity evidence for interpretations of outcomes from the SMP‐Knowledge Assessment (KA) as a measure of teacher cadidates' knowledge related to the SMPs. Knowledge of the SMPs involves both mathematics content and a knowledge of students' behaviors as they engage with mathematics. The SMPs are an important part of teacher candidates growth in their knowledge for teaching. As such, teacher educators and researchers need robust ways of monitoring and measuring teacher candidates learning of growth in their knowledge of the SMPs. The SMP‐KA is an instrument to measure K‐12 teacher candidates' complex knowledge of the SMPs. The gathering of validity evidence with teacher candidates for the SMP‐KA followed validation standards (AERA, APA, & NCME, 2014). The results provide sufficient validity evidence to support the use of the SMP‐KA to assess teacher candidates' knowledge of the SMPs. We encourage other instrument developers to report validity evidence with the teacher candidate population.

Development of a novel instrument to measure Japanese psychiatric nurses' technological competency as caring in nursing.

To effectively advance person-centered care (PCC) practice, it is important to equip healthcare providers with person-centered values and beliefs while simultaneously transforming their work environment to align with PCC. Thus, instruments to measure caring practice status in nursing competency for psychiatric-specific behavioral limitations, ethico-moral behavior, technology use, and PCC need to be developed. This study developed the Technological Competency as Caring in Psychiatric Nursing Instrument (TCCNPNI) to measure practice status and test its content and construct validity. Five different phases were followed: 1) Literature Review; 2) Operational definition of the construct and development of items; 3) Two-round Delphi method; 4) Validity measure; and 5) Reliability measure. The online survey was conducted in 2024. The developed instrument comprises 22 items with a 4-factor structure: competency to practice caring and person-centered care (Factor 1); competency to recognize and respond to ethical issues in psychiatry (Factor 2); competency to utilize technology in psychiatry (Factor 3); and competence to practice care for the preservation of human dignity and shared decision making (Factor 4). Cronbach's alpha for the entire scale was 0.864, while that for factors 1-4 was 0.911, 0.814, 0.773, and 0.64, respectively. Cumulatively, these four factors contributed 49.6% and explained nearly 50% of the total data. Item-total correlation values were 0.6 or higher among factors 1-3. However, factor 4, for which items were Q30, Q33, Q34, and Q35 (r = 0.03, 0.04, 0.21, 0.11, respectively), were inverted items and had low I-T correlation values. These low correlations suggest that these items capture different concepts. The developed TCCNPNI allows for the measurement of the practice of nursing as caring in psychiatry, the state of ethico-moral behavior, and the practice status of technological competency as caring in psychiatric nursing. This study demonstrated satisfactorily and efficiently evaluated the practice status of technological competency in psychiatric nurses' caring. Measuring technological competency as caring in psychiatric nursing can be an important adjunct for in-service education in psychiatric hospitals or formalized nursing education in nursing universities.

Developing and Validating a Video-Based Measurement Instrument for Assessing Teachers’ Professional Vision of Language-Stimulation Interactions in the ECE Classroom

This study reports on the development and validation of a video-based instrument to assess early childhood education (ECE) teachers’ professional vision (PV) of language-stimulation (LS) interactions. PV refers to noticing and reasoning about key classroom interactions, a skill that can be trained and distinguishes experts from novices. The instrument targets the PV of three language-stimulation (LS) strategies: language input (LI), opportunities for language production (OLP), and feedback (FB). The instrument measures noticing through comparative judgement (CJ) and reasoning through multiple-choice items. Construct validity was assessed using the AERA framework, using three samples: a sample of professionals (n = 22), a pre-service teachers’ sample (n = 107), and a mixed sample with in- and pre-service teachers (n = 6). Reliability and validity were confirmed, with strong reliability scores for the CJ master rank orders (SRR: 0.827–0.866). Think-aloud procedures demonstrated that respondents’ decisions during CJ were mainly based on LS-relevant video features. Decisions unrelated to LS require further study. Multiple-choice reasoning items were developed from professionals’ open-ended feedback. Pre-service teacher reasoning scores showed no significant predictors. Using real classroom videos, this instrument provides an ecologically valid, scalable tool for assessing teachers’ professional vision of LS interactions. This validated instrument offers a foundation for professional development programs aimed at addressing the theory–practice gap in early language education.

Выравнивающая региональная политика социально-экономического развития субъектов СКФО: аналитическое обеспечение для идентификации глубины межрегиональной неравномерности

The article presents the results of research on the formation of an information and analytical support system for the prompt establishment of the depth of socio-economic differentiation of regions within the boundaries of a single federal district. It is shown that the existing methods for calculating interregional asymmetry are based on the convolution of local indicators and the reduction of the original space of multidimensional data. The tasks of prompt development of corrective directions, mechanisms and instruments of regional socio-economic policy of the equalizing type require the availability of reliable and relevant information on the ongoing processes of territorial stratification. Without this, it is impossible to adequately plan and implement measures of regulatory impact on the meso-level economic space in the context of territorial development management by the federal center. In the article, from the standpoint of developing recommendations for adjusting regional socio-economic policy, an express diagnostics of the depth of interregional socio-economic differentiation is carried out. The most effective methods and sources of obtaining primary data for conducting multidimensional comparisons in the interregional context are determined. Using a system of multidimensional assessments and rating, reliable estimates of the depth of interregional asymmetry were obtained not only at the time of the study, but also in the dynamic aspect. The article complements the cycle of scientific and analytical publications of the author on the problems of development, formation and assessment of the effectiveness of the implementation of regional socio-economic policy. The obtained analytical results, empirical assessments and factual material on the regions of the North Caucasus Federal District can be useful to the structures and institutions of regional government and management, scientists and researchers dealing with the problem of leveling socio-economic asymmetry and spatial polarization of entities within the framework of regional policy for the development of territories.

The Chinese version of the patients' experiences scale for older inpatients in the medical group: Instrument development and cross-sectional validation study.

Value-based healthcare is increasingly emphasizing attention to patients' self-reported experiences. However, due to the lack of effective tools, older patients in China lack feedback on the comprehensive care experience. Based on the psychometric assessment procedure, we developed a new geriatric inpatient experience scale (GIES). The study comprised two stages: (1) instrument development and (2) empirical testing. Through literature screening and Delphi methods, 26 preliminary items were identified. The content and facial validity tests then produced 23 items across eight factors: 'Doctor-patient communication', 'Engagement', 'Privacy', 'Right to know', 'Services timeliness', 'Continuity care', 'Visiting environment', and 'Overall satisfaction'. Using reliability analysis, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis to evaluate psychometric characteristics, GIES showed good reliability and structural validity. As a multidimensional instrument for the experience of older patients, the application of GIES in clinical practice can assist healthcare providers in identifying areas for improvement to improve care experiences and outcomes for older patients.

Development and Pilot Psychometric Testing of the Cancer Nurse Self-Assessment Tools for Early and Metastatic Breast Cancer.

To develop and psychometrically test two newly developed Cancer Nurse Self-Assessment Tools for early and metastatic breast cancer (CaN-SAT-eBC and CAN-SAT-mBC). Instrument development and psychometric testing of content validity, reliability and construct validity. A three-phase procedure was conducted. Phase 1: An expert working group was formed to design and develop each tool using Benner's Model of Clinical Competence. Phase 2: The Content Validation Index (CVI) was used to assess the relevance and clarity of each item on the tools with breast cancer nurse experts and nursing educators. A CVI ≥ 0.78 was required for an item to be included in each tool. Phase 3: The tools were tested for internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha and construct validity using principal component analysis (PCA). The Guidelines for Reporting Reliability and Agreement Studies were followed in reporting this study. Each tool underwent two rounds of content validation. Ten experts were involved in the content validation for the CaN-SAT-eBC and 12 experts involved for CaN-SAT-mBC. The final versions comprised 18 (CAN-SAT-eBC) and 22 elements (CaN-SAT-mBC). All items obtained a satisfactory CVI of 0.83-1.0. Data from 159 and 126 nurses were analysed to evaluate reliability for CaN-SAT-eBC and CaN-SAT-mBC, respectively. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients for all elements were between 0.83 and 0.98. The PCA supported that each element was unidimensional and composed of internally correlated items, with the exception of the 'Diagnostics' element of practice which has a two-component structure measuring basic and advanced diagnostic tasks. The two CaN-SATs are comprehensive, valid and reliable. They can be used for self-assessment by nurses in relation to breast cancer care and for identifying learning needs for long-term professional development. The self-assessment tools can also be used to develop education initiatives for specialised breast cancer nurses. No patient or public contribution.

Perspective on the development of XPS and the pioneers who made it possible

As of 2024, the use of X-photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), initially called Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis (ESCA), has grown to become the most widely used surface analysis method. In this paper we offer a perspective of the early development of XPS and describe some of the advances and pioneers who made them that provided the foundation for it to grow into the technique we know today. Included is information about the early development of photoelectron spectroscopy, the seminal work of Kai Siegbahn, influential conferences that helped spread excitement and provide a fundamental understanding of the method, early development of commercial instruments, and identification of the need for systematic metrology. Because hundreds of researchers have contributed to advancing the method, we note that this is our perspective, with likely a different emphasis than others may have chosen. To limit the scope somewhat, we have chosen to focus on authors whose contributions started before 1980.

DOP084 Development of a core outcome set for Inflammatory Bowel Disease patients with stomas

Abstract Background A significant number of patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) undergo surgery resulting in a stoma. For many, an ostomy is not curative. Patients may continue to experience disease exacerbations and require continued medical therapies. Despite this, patients with IBD and stomas are excluded from clinical trials, largely due to the heterogeneity in outcomes and the lack of validated measurement tools for this cohort. The TOAST-IBD project aimed to address this issue by developing a Core Outcome Set (COS) for IBD patients with stomas. Methods A long-list of candidate outcomes was generated through a systematic review and patient focus groups. Consensus was established via a two-round Delphi process using a 9-point Likert scale based on how important candidates felt it was in determining treatment success. This was followed by a final consensus meeting. Stakeholders were recruited internationally and grouped into 4 panels (patients, specialist and research nurses, colorectal surgeons, and gastroenterologists). Participants received feedback from their panel in the first round and from all participants in the second round to allow refinement of their scores. Results A total of 68 outcomes were extracted via a systematic review of the existing literature and an additional 11 unique outcomes were added from 4 90-minute online patient focus groups. A further 9 outcomes were proposed by the study working group, generating a total of 88 outcomes to be included in the voting process. 76 stakeholders (73.1% response rate) from 17 countries carried forward 37 outcomes through a two-round Delphi process. The final consensus meeting of 37 experts and patients agreed on a six domain COS. The COS included the maintenance of hydration and volume status, the maintenance of nutritional status, symptom-based clinical activity, objective marker-based disease activity and two quality of life (QOL) domains (IBD-related QOL and stoma-specific QOL). Adverse effects from treatment did not reach a consensus to be included in the core outcome set but was considered important to be captured where applicable. Conclusion An IBD Stoma COS has been produced by all key stakeholders. This COS will serve as the foundation for development of relevant measurement instruments for IBD patients with stomas so as to include this underrepresented cohort in future clinical trials.

Mempertanyakan Sepuluh Tahun Pengukuran Kemampuan Berpikir Spasial dalam Penelitian Pendidikan Geografi di Indonesia (2013-2023)

The measurement of spatial thinking skills (KBS) in Indonesia requires adjustments to align with the historical context and local conditions. In geography education, the measurement of KBS generally focuses on the dimension of spatial relationships, although research shows that KBS encompasses various distinct spatial skills. Testing for specific skills does not necessarily reflect other spatial abilities, and the significant differences in measurement methods often lead to inconsistencies in findings. Furthermore, KBS research in Indonesia is not connected to its development context in Western countries and has not undergone a structured adaptation to the local culture and environment. This study aims to map the test instruments used and evaluate the practices of measuring KBS in geography education in Indonesia. The literature review follows the PRISMA 2020 procedure, as adapted by the author, with 100 articles meeting the criteria, including 28 conference papers and 72 journal articles. Most studies employ instruments developed independently, while standardized instruments for repeated use are rarely applied. KBS test instruments can be classified into seven types with two approaches. The measurement of KBS is conducted with descriptive, causal, interrelational, and instrument development objectives. Despite the variation in measurement methods, the conclusions drawn tend to be uniform, which necessitates scrutiny of the content validity of the instruments. Additionally, the measurement of KBS is often limited to the dimension of spatial relationships, with research directions being difficult to map due to the unstructured adaptation process. This study recommends reaching a consensus on the concepts, methodologies, and measurement standards that align with the local needs in Indonesia.

Development and Preliminary Validation of a Novel Instrument to Assess Re-Injury Associated Anxiety Following Traumatic Orofacial and Dental Injury in Young Boxers.

An injury sustained during sports activity can lead to the development of reinjury anxiety and hamper performance. Although tools exist to assess re-injury anxiety, a domain of interest in the field of sports medicine, research in the psychological impact of an orofacial injury is rudimentary. The present study envisaged to develop an instrument to assess the presence of reinjury anxiety following orofacial and dental injury in boxers aged between 10 and 16 years. In Phase 1, items were generated following literature search and focus-group discussions (FGD). In Phase 2, a group discussion was conducted with three experienced boxing coaches to assess face validity, followed by two rounds of scrutiny by expert groups to assess the content validity through the content-validity-index (CVI), respectively. In Phase 3, the modified tool was pre-tested on an independent sample of young boxers. Finally, in Phase 4, to determine dimensionality, the modified tool was administered to 183 young boxers and their responses were subject to an exploratory factor analysis through Principal component analysis, followed by Promax rotation to determine the factor loading. Internal consistency reliability was measured through calculation of Cronbach's-alpha. From the 29-items devised initially, the tool was sequentially modified. Analysis of the responses by the second expert group, an average Scale-level-CVI of 0.9 and Universal agreement of 0.526 was obtained, which resulted in the inclusion of 20 items for the final phase of the study. From the factor analysis, the items were found to fit to a five-factor structure, which explained 56.4% of the variance in the constructs. Internal consistency of the tool was measured to be 0.74. A 10-item oral re-injury anxiety scale for young boxers (ORAS-YB) tool was developed. It was found to have high face and content validity, and acceptable reliability. Further research with a larger sample is required to confirm the factor structure and determine test-retest reliability of the developed tool.

Financial technologies as an object of financial and legal regulation

The article analyses financial technologies as an object of financial and legal regulation in the context of globalisation and development of the digital economy. The author examines the essence and features of financial technologies, their development, as well as the problems arising in the process of their implementation and application. The article examines how the rapid development of innovative financial instruments, in particular cryptocurrencies, blockchain technologies, mobile payment systems and systems based on artificial intelligence, poses new challenges and requirements to legal institutions. In particular, the article examines the stages of development of financial technologies, ranging from traditional banking operations to the latest digital financial instruments that are actively changing financial markets and the structure of traditional financial institutions. An important place is occupied by the analysis of legal issues related to the need to adapt national and international norms to new realities, in particular, insufficient regulation of a number of financial innovations, such as cryptocurrencies, decentralised financial systems, etc. Given the high level of rapidly developing innovations, the article emphasises the need to create specialised legislative mechanisms and regulations for effective regulation of financial technologies. The authors pay special attention to the experience of international practice, in particular, legislative initiatives of the European Union, where the introduction of regulations such as PSD2 has contributed to the development of new payment systems and technologies. In particular, the author emphasises the importance of legal support for the security of financial transactions, protection of users’ rights and prevention of risks associated with the use of new technologies. The article concludes with conclusions on the need for a comprehensive approach to the legal regulation of financial technologies, which will ensure stability, transparency and security of financial markets. The authors emphasise that an important component of this process is the interaction of government agencies, international organisations and financial institutions to create a unified legal environment that will promote innovation in the financial sector and protect the rights and interests of all financial market.

Development, validation, and usage of metrics to evaluate the quality of clinical research hypotheses

ObjectivesMetrics and instruments can provide guidance for clinical researchers to assess their potential research projects at an early stage before significant investment. Furthermore, metrics can also provide structured criteria for peer reviewers to assess others’ clinical research manuscripts or grant proposals. This study aimed to develop, test, validate, and use evaluation metrics and instruments to accurately, consistently, systematically, and conveniently assess the quality of scientific hypotheses for clinical research projects.Materials and methodsMetrics development went through iterative stages, including literature review, metrics and instrument development, internal and external testing and validation, and continuous revisions in each stage based on feedback. Furthermore, two experiments were conducted to determine brief and comprehensive versions of the instrument.ResultsThe brief version of the instrument contained three dimensions: validity, significance, and feasibility. The comprehensive version of metrics included novelty, clinical relevance, potential benefits and risks, ethicality, testability, clarity, interestingness, and the three dimensions of the brief version. Each evaluation dimension included 2 to 5 subitems to evaluate the specific aspects of each dimension. For example, validity included clinical validity and scientific validity. The brief and comprehensive versions of the instruments included 12 and 39 subitems, respectively. Each subitem used a 5-point Likert scale.ConclusionThe validated brief and comprehensive versions of metrics can provide standardized, consistent, systematic, and generic measurements for clinical research hypotheses, allow clinical researchers to prioritize their research ideas systematically, objectively, and consistently, and can be used as a tool for quality assessment during the peer review process.