Original Version Research Articles

Backtranslate what you are saying and I will tell who you are

AbstractWith this work, we hypothesize that semantically enriching a user's text corpus using backtranslation and expansion modules can improve performance for author profiling tasks. To perform this textual enrichment, we translate an author's representative text. Translations are made from one language—the source language—into another—the target language—and then back to the original one. Finally, we expand an author's text by integrating the original version with the back‐translated one. Our framework includes these backtranslation and expansion modules followed by a SOTA classifier successfully employed for text classification. The framework is tested on three author profiling datasets from the last three years’ shared tasks on fake news, hate speech, irony and stereotypes detection hosted at the CLEF conference for the PAN Lab. This work is an extension of our previous one where we just presented our main idea. Here we improve our framework, and we also investigate more languages and more datasets. Finally, a qualitative analysis is provided. The results confirm that the backtranslation and expansion add‐on modules improve model performance on all three datasets evaluated.

The Swedish version of the Alabama parenting questionnaire: Psychometric evaluation and norm data.

The Alabama parenting questionnaire (APQ) is a commonly used instrument for assessing parenting practices and evaluating treatment outcomes of parent-training interventions targeting child conduct problems. In the present study we translated and developed a Swedish version of the APQ parent version and tested it on a community sample of 799 parents of children between 6 and 15 years with diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Data were collected through an online survey distributed through school newsletters and social media. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) suggested a five-factor model with 23 items. Four of these factors correspond to the subscales suggested in the original version of the APQ: inconsistent discipline, poor monitoring, involvement, and positive parenting. The fifth subscale from the original APQ, corporal punishment, did not show up as a factor in our data sample. Instead, a new factor, which we refer to as contingency management, was revealed. A confirmatory factor analysis further suggested some misalignment between the original APQ subscale structure and our sample, which we interpret as a signal that the instrument may need refinement to better reflect contemporary parenting methods in diverse cultural contexts. Despite this limitation, and with the exclusion of the corporal punishment subscale, which should be employed judiciously, our results suggest that the Swedish version of the APQ can be a useful instrument in measuring parenting practices in Sweden. We present norm data stratified by child age, which practitioners and researchers can use as a reference for assessment of parenting practices in the Swedish population.

Translation and linguistic validation into Spanish of the Owner-Reported Outcome Measure "Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs".

Assessing chronic pain in dogs has been greatly favoured by the development of Owner-Reported Outcome Measures. Among them, the Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (LOAD) has been widely used for this purpose. Most of these tools have been written in English and its use by non English natives requires not only translation but also linguistic validation for use by veterinarians and owners. For its use, the LOAD has not undergone translation into Spanish and the objective was to generate a linguistically validated Spanish translation of the LOAD. Following the World Health Organisation and the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research published guidelines, the original LOAD English version underwent analysis and translation by two native linguists proficient in the target language. Both translations were then reviewed by a third native linguist to identify potential disparities and establish a cohesive translation (reconciliation). Subsequently, an independent linguist, fluent in both English and the target language, conducted the back translation. Finally, the research team compared the original and back translated versions to pinpoint and resolve any significant differences. Following the creation of the translated version, a cognitive debriefing was conducted to assess the questionnaire within the target population. A total of 89 surveys were distributed to dog owners of varying ages, genders, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Although there were some suggestions and comments, and some adjustments were made, all respondents found the survey to be clear, achieving a linguistic validation of the Spanish LOAD.

Improving extreme learning machine model using deep learning feature extraction and grey wolf optimizer: Application to image classification

The Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) is a highly efficient model for real-time network retraining due to its fast learning speed, unlike traditional machine learning methods. However, the performance of ELM can be negatively impacted by the random initialization of weights and biases. Moreover, poor input feature quality can further degrade performance, particularly with complex visual data. To overcome these issues, this paper proposes optimizing the input features as well as the initial weights and biases. We combine both Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Convolutional AutoEncoder (CAE) extracted features to optimize the quality of the input features. And we use our hybrid Grey Wolf Optimizer-Multi-Verse Optimizer (GWO-MVO) metaheuristic for initializing weights and biases by applying four fitness functions based on: the norm of the output weights, the error rate on the training set, and the error rate on the validation set. Our method is evaluated on image classification tasks using two benchmark datasets: CIFAR-10 and CIFAR-100. Since image quality may vary in real-world applications, we trained and tested our models on the dataset’s original and noisy versions. The results demonstrate that our method provides a robust and efficient alternative for image classification tasks, offering improved accuracy and reduced overfitting.

Point- and contact-symmetry pseudogroups of dispersionless Nizhnik equation

Applying an original megaideal-based version of the algebraic method, we compute the point-symmetry pseudogroup of the dispersionless (potential symmetric) Nizhnik equation. This is the first example of this kind in the literature, where there is no need to use the direct method for completing the computation. The analogous studies are also carried out for the corresponding nonlinear Lax representation and the dispersionless counterpart of the symmetric Nizhnik system. We also first apply the megaideal-based version of the algebraic method to find the contact-symmetry (pseudo)group of a partial differential equation. It is shown that the contact-symmetry pseudogroup of the dispersionless Nizhnik equation coincides with the first prolongation of its point-symmetry pseudogroup. We check whether the subalgebras of the maximal Lie invariance algebra of the dispersionless Nizhnik equation that naturally arise in the course of the above computations define the diffeomorphisms stabilizing this algebra or its first prolongation. In addition, we construct all the third-order partial differential equations in three independent variables that admit the same Lie invariance algebra. We also find a set of geometric properties of the dispersionless Nizhnik equation that exhaustively defines it.

The Italian Validation of the Healthcare Professional Humanization Scale for Nursing.

Purpose: The Healthcare Professional Humanization Scale (HUMAS) is a measure of the evaluation of the humanization of care in nursing professions. Despite being validated for the Spanish language, there still needed validation in Italian, which seems essential considering the cultural differences. Aim: We aimed to test the validity and reliability of the HUMAS with an Italian sample of registered nurses. Methods: The present study used cross-sectional data from 300 nurses that completed the survey. The study's main phases were (a) construction of the Italian version; (b) testing and analyzing the psychometric properties of the scale. The exploratory factor analysis and the Content Validity Index (CVI) were performed. Cronbach's alpha and test-retest were used to determine the reliability. Findings: The final Italian version of HUMAS (HUMAS-I) comprised 19 items grouped into five correlated latent factors, accounting for 68.4% of the variance. Additionally, it exhibited a satisfactory Cronbach's alpha for each latent component and an average CVI for the entire scale of 0.68. Conclusions: The HUMAS-I shows acceptable psychometric proprieties as the original Spanish version. Therefore, it could be an advantageous instrument for use in nursing practice and research.

Exploring the role of aerosol-ozone interactions on O3 surge and PM2.5 decline during the clean air action period in Eastern China 2014–2020

The China implemented the Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) in September 2013 to address the pressing air pollution problem. This initiative yielded a noteworthy reduction in PM2.5 while simultaneously witnessing the O3 elevation. Here, we used a revised WRF-Chem model to study the drivers (anthropogenic emissions (EMI), meteorological changes (MET)) of decreasing PM2.5 and increasing O3 in eastern China across the four seasons from 2014 to 2020, focusing on the response of aerosol-ozone interaction (AOI) to emission reduction (AOI_ER). In contrast to the original version, the model provided more comprehensive feedback of aerosols on O3, including radiation effects and heterogeneous chemistry. Our survey showed that EMI was the main factor causing the PM2.5 decline and O3 increase. The influence of MET on both O3 and PM2.5 exhibited seasonal variations. Compared to 2014, emission reduction during CAAP weakened the inhibition of aerosol radiative effect on meteorological parameters and photolysis rate, causing a rise in surface shortwave radiation (SW), temperature (T2), planetary boundary layer height (PBLH), wind speed (WS10), JNO2, and JO1D throughout the CAAP period. This increased the O3 by 0.57–2.11 ppb in the four seasons and enhanced the emission-reduction-induced O3 increase by 22.2%–57.3%. Emission reduction alleviated the summer negative feedback of AOI on PM2.5, increasing by 4.61 μg m−3, thereby offsetting the 16.7% emission reduction efficacy. Oppositely, in spring, autumn, and winter, emission reduction weakened the promotion of AOI on PM2.5, resulting in a decrease by 2.5–3.12 μg m−3, amplified the emission-reduction-induced PM2.5 reduction by 8.3%–26.6%. Nitrate and sulfate aerosols generated by heterogeneous chemistry emerged as the primary components driving the alterations in PM2.5 within the context of emission reduction. Our research emphasized the importance of considering changes in AOI when formulating emission control policies and evaluating their effectiveness. More effective emission policies should focus on comprehensively considering the emissions and the weakened aerosol effects to achieve better air quality and health benefits.

A Widow and a Questionable Autoethnographer

There are two aims in writing this paper. Firstly, I reflect on several incidents that highlighted for me what it meant to be a widow in the eyes of others. The intention is to bring to light how becoming a widow reinforces how people define you relative to a man, more poignant because that man is absent. Providing personal insights sifted through theory is a form of feminist autoethnography that functions here as an intervention into more common views of widowhood. The second aim is to consider my experience of having the original version of this paper rejected by a journal. The reviewers’ comments made me understand that my execution of feminist autoethnography was seen as problematic. This experience has spurned me to explore the need for methodological risk-taking, particularly when the topic being discussed, in this case widowhood, requires personal resilience to bring out of the shadows. Discussing issues that are “heartfelt” can contribute to debates about the construction of knowledge because they invite consideration of what is taken to be rational and what is taken to be emotional.

The importance of individual characteristics on bicycle performance during alcohol intoxication

Corrections have been made to the original article version published on 14 February 2024 (e000042, vol. 6, 2024, https://doi.org/10.55329/vmgb9648).

Psychometric Validation of the Patient-Reported Experience Measure (PREM) Questionnaire “HowRwe” in Patients With Respiratory Disease Receiving Home Respiratory Therapies

IntroductionThe patient experience is defined as all the interactions that occur between patients and the healthcare system. The experience of patients with respiratory disease with home respiratory treatments (HRT) is not captured in currently available Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROM). We present the psychometric validation of the Patient-Reported Experience Measure (PREM) ‘HowRwe’ in Spanish and for respiratory patients with HRT. Material and methodsAfter translation following ISPOR guidelines (International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research), the questionnaire was administered to adult respiratory patients who were receiving treatment at Hospital Universitario de La Princesa. The administration was done in two stages with 6 months of difference between the pre- and post-test. ResultsWe studied 228 respiratory patients, with a mean (SD) age of 64.1 (13.2) years, 52.2% were men, 68.0% were married or coupled, and 56.6% were retired. Reliability coefficients of the scale were adequate, with α=.921 and Ω=.929 for pre-test, and α=.940 and Ω=.958 for post. The confirmatory factor analysis tested for pre- and post-intervention, showed an excellent overall fit: χ2(2)=49.380 (p<.001), CFI=.941 and SRMR=.072; and χ2(2)=37.579 (p<.001), CFI=.982 and SRMR=.046, respectively. No statistically significant associations were observed for neither age, adherence nor quality of life, except between HowRwe post-test and quality of life pre-test (r=.14 [.01,.26]; p=.035). No significant differences were found in sociodemographic variables. No differences in pre-test or post-test were found in effect of HRT. 85.6% of patients found the content of HowRwe “Useful”, and the preferred channel to respond it were paper, app and email. ConclusionsThe Spanish version of the ‘HowRwe’ questionnaire to measure the experience in respiratory patients with home respiratory treatments (HRT), has adequate psychometric properties and conceptual and semantic equivalence with the original English version.

Improving Performance of Massive Text Real-Time Classification for Document Confidentiality Management

For classified and sensitive electronic documents within the scope of enterprises and organizations, in order to standardize and strengthen the confidentiality management of enterprises and meet the actual needs of secret text classification, a document automatic classification optimization method based on keyword retrieval and the kNN classification algorithm is proposed. The method supports keyword classification management, provides users with keywords of multiple risk levels, and then combines a matching scanning algorithm to label keywords of different levels. The text with labels is used as the training set of the kNN algorithm to classify the target text and realize the classification protection of text data. Aimed at solving the shortcomings of large feature vector dimension, low classification efficiency, and low accuracy in existing kNN text classification methods, an optimization method is proposed using a feature selection algorithm and a kNN algorithm based on an AVX instruction set to realize real-time classification of massive texts. By constructing a keyword dictionary and an optimized feature vector, parallel calculation of the feature vector weight and distance vector is realized, and the accuracy and efficiency of text classification are improved. The experimental results show that the multi-classification effect of the feature selection algorithm used in this paper, tf-DE, is better than that of the traditional tf-idf algorithm, and the classification effect of kNN is comparable to that of the support vector machine (SVM) algorithm. With the increase in feature vector dimensions, the classification effect of the text classification algorithm is improved and the classification time also increases linearly. The AVX-256 acceleration method takes about 55% of the time of the original version, thus verifying the effect of multi-classification of massive texts for document confidentiality management.

Mapping Essential Tremor to a Common Brain Network Using Functional Connectivity Analysis.

In the Research Article "Mapping Essential Tremor to a Common Brain Network Using Functional Connectivity Analysis" by Younger et al.,1 the heat bars for Figure 4, panels B and C, should have been labelled as "p value". In addition, the first author's name should have been listed as "Ellen F.P. Younger" in the byline. The article has been replaced by a corrected version. The original version with the changes highlighted is available from a link in the corrected article. The publisher regrets the errors.

Development of a revised version of the transdiagnostic skills scale (T2S-R).

The transdiagnostic approach has been shown to offer promising prospects in psychopathology, based on the observation that common factors may be involved in different psychiatric disorders. The transdiagnostic skills scale (T2S) was developed recently to assess the skills that are disrupted in these disorders. However, studies have shown that the T2S has lower predictive power for externalizing than internalizing disorders. This may be due to the fact that the skills assessed do not include the control of urges and cravings. The aims of the current study are thus to develop a revised version of the T2S (T2S-R) integrating this dimension, and to assess its factor structure and invariance across employment status (workers vs. students) and the level of psychopathology. We recruited 1,298 French participants online through social media. They completed the revised version of the T2S and the symptomatic transdiagnostic test (S2T), which evaluates 11 clusters of psychiatric symptoms. We assessed the factor structure, internal consistency, invariance, and predictive validity of the revised T2S. We found a good fit for a bifactor exploratory structural equation modeling (B-ESEM) approach including a global skills factor and seven specific factors. The results also indicate that the new dimension (i.e., control of urges and cravings) has good predictive value, especially for externalizing problems. We also found total invariance of the scale across employment status and partial invariance across the level of psychopathology. The revised version of the T2S-R has good psychometric properties. It predicts better externalizing problems than the original version. However, the scale remains more correlated with internalizing than externalizing problems. We discuss the implications of the results on the transdiagnostic conceptualization and the interest of using a mixed approach combining transdiagnostic and diagnostic analyses.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Thai Xerostomia Inventory and Summated Xerostomia Inventory.

To cross-culturally adapt and validate the Thai version of the Xerostomia Inventory (XI) and Summated Xerostomia Inventory (SXI) for subjective evaluation of oral dryness in Thai middle-aged and older adults. The original English versions of the XI and SXI were cross-culturally translated into Thai. Content validity was examined by the expert panel and 30 pilot subjects. The XI/SXI-Thai were then administered to 200 Thai adults (aged 50 years or older) for further assessment of psychometric properties. The standard question, the Bother Index, and the Xerostomia Questionnaire were used as comparator instruments for the evaluation of criterion and construct validity, respectively. Internal consistency reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. The final XI/SXI-Thai were found to have good content validity. Both scales were able to distinguish between xerostomia and non-xerostomia groups. We observed moderate to strong correlation between the XI/SXI-Thai and other comparator instruments, reflecting good criterion and construct validity. Cronbach's alpha values were 0.875 and 0.847 for the XI-Thai and SXI-Thai, respectively. The XI-Thai and SXI-Thai were found to be valid, reliable, and easily administrable instruments for xerostomia assessment in Thai middle-aged and older individuals in both clinical and research settings.

Mutant crtRB1 gene negates the unfavourable effects of opaque2 gene on germination and seed vigour among shrunken2-based biofortified sweet corn genotypes.

Sweet corn is one of the most popular vegetables worldwide. However, traditional shrunken2 (sh2 )-based sweet corn varieties are poor in nutritional quality. Here, we analysed the effect of (1) β-carotene hydroxylase1 (crtRB1 ), (2) opaque2 (o2 ) and (3) o2+crtRB1 genes on nutritional quality, germination, seed vigour and physico-biochemical traits in a set of 27 biofortified sh2 -based sweet corn inbreds. The biofortified sweet corn inbreds recorded significantly higher concentrations of proA (16.47μg g-1 ), lysine (0.36%) and tryptophan (0.09%) over original inbreds (proA: 3.14μg g-1 , lysine: 0.18%, tryptophan: 0.04%). The crtRB1 -based inbreds had the lowest electrical conductivity (EC), whereas o2 -based inbreds possessed the highest EC. The o2 +crtRB1 -based inbreds showed similar EC to the original inbreds. Interestingly, o2 -based inbreds also had the lowest germination and seed vigour compared to original inbreds, whereas crtRB1 and o2 +crtRB1 introgressed sweet corn inbreds showed similar germination and seed vigour traits to their original versions. This suggested that the negative effect of o2 on germination, seed vigour and EC is nullified by crtRB1 in the double mutant sweet corn. Overall, o2 +crtRB1 -based sweet corn inbreds were found the most desirable over crtRB1 - and o2 -based inbreds alone.

Translation and validation of the Persian version of the perception to care in acute situations (PCAS-P) scale in novice nurses

BackgroundNovice nurses providing care in acute conditions should have satisfactory performance. Accurate and appropriate evaluation of the performance of novice nurses in providing care in acute situations is essential for planning interventions to improve the quality of patient care. This study was conducted to translate and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Perception to Care in Acute Situations (PCAS-P) scale in novice nurses.MethodsIn this methodological study, 236 novice nurses were selected by the convenience sampling method. 17-item scale PCAS-P was translated into Persian by the forward-backward process. Then, this version was used for psychometric evaluation. For this purpose, face validity, content validity, and construct validity were assessed using confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency and stability reliability were calculated. The data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS software.ResultsThe PCAS-P scale maintained the meaning of the original English version and was clear, explicit, and understandable for novice nurses. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that this Persian version is consistent with the proposed model and confirmed the fit of the three-factor model. The values of Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, McDonald’s omega, Coefficient H, and average inter-item correlation were excellent for the overall scale and its dimensions, and the three latent factors had good convergent and discriminant validity. Additionally, the average measurement size was 0.944 ICC (95% CI 0.909 to 0.969).ConclusionThe PCAS-P scale is valid and reliable for measuring novice nurses’ perception of acute situations.

A Lightweight Method for Detecting and Correcting Errors in Low-Frequency Measurements for In-Orbit Demonstrators.

In the pursuit of enhancing the technological maturity of innovative magnetic sensing techniques, opportunities presented by in-orbit platforms (IOD/IOV experiments) provide a means to evaluate their in-flight capabilities. The Magnetic Experiments for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (MELISA) represent a set of in-flight demonstrators designed to characterize the low-frequency noise performance of a magnetic measurement system within a challenging space environment. In Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, electronic circuits are exposed to high levels of radiation coming from energetic particles trapped by the Earth's magnetic field, solar flares, and galactic cosmic rays. A significant effect is the accidental bit-flipping in memory registers. This work presents an analysis of memory data redundancy resources using auxiliary second flash memory and exposes recovery options to retain critical data utilizing a duplicated data structure. A new and lightweight technique, CCM (Cross-Checking and Mirroring), is proposed to verify the proper performance of these techniques. Four alternative algorithms included in the original version of the MELISA software (Version v0.0) are presented. All the versions have been validated and evaluated according to various merit indicators. The evaluations showed similar performances for the proposed techniques, and they are valid for situations in which the flash memory suffers from more than one bit-flip. The overhead due to the introduction of additional instructions to the main code is negligible, even in the target experiment based on an 8-bit microcontroller.

Maslach Burnout Inventory – General Survey

Abstract: This study sought to investigate the measurement properties of a “gold standard” instrument for measuring burnout, the Maslach Burnout Inventory – General Survey (MBI-GS), with a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of studies that had as the primary aim its psychometric validation. The search spanned from January 1996 to December 2022 using the following databases: Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, APA PsychINFO, ScienceDirect, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global. Our search identified 35 eligible studies for inclusion in the systematic review. Of these, 17 were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis of the original 16-item version studies supported a three-dimensional representation of burnout with modest internal consistencies. However, similar to the narrative findings, it also indicated the viability of a two-factor solution. Consequently, the structural validity of the MBI-GS remains unclear, and so does its cross-cultural validity. The criterion validity of the cynicism and personal efficacy scales also raised a few questions. Overall, the findings provided some support for the adequacy of the measurement properties of the MBI-GS as a research tool measuring exhaustion, cynicism, and professional efficacy. However, we also identified challenges and practices of which researchers should be cognisant and that they should consider in future burnout projects.

Point-symmetry pseudogroup, Lie reductions and exact solutions of Boiti–Leon–Pempinelli system

We carry out extended symmetry analysis of the (1+2)-dimensional Boiti–Leon–Pempinelli system, which corrects, enhances and generalizes many results existing in the literature. The point-symmetry pseudogroup of this system is computed using an original megaideal-based version of the algebraic method. A number of meticulously selected differential constraints allow us to construct families of exact solutions of this system, which are significantly larger than all known ones. After classifying one- and two-dimensional subalgebras of the entire (infinite-dimensional) maximal Lie invariance algebra of this system, we study only its essential Lie reductions, which give solutions beyond the above solution families. Among reductions of the Boiti–Leon–Pempinelli system using differential constraints or Lie symmetries, we identify a number of famous partial and ordinary differential equations. We also show how all the constructed solution families can significantly be extended by Laplace and Darboux transformations.

Reliability of the original and brief versions of the Eating Disorder Examination in binge-eating disorder.

Psychometric studies evaluating the reliability of eating-disorder assessment among individuals with binge-eating disorder (BED) have been limited. The current study documents the interrater reliability and internal consistency of the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) interview when administered to adults with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition) (DSM-5)-defined BED. Participants (N = 56) were adults seeking treatment for BED in the context of clinical trials testing pharmacological and psychological treatments. Doctoral-level, trained, and supervised clinical researchers evaluated eating-disorder psychopathology using the EDE interview and audio-recorded the interview. A second doctoral-level, trained, and supervised clinical researcher, who did not conduct the initial assessment, coded eating-disorder psychopathology using the audio recording. Agreement among raters on the number of binge-eating episodes was near perfect. There was excellent interrater reliability for nearly all scales of the EDE interview. Agreement among raters for behavioral indicators of loss of control and marked distress regarding binge eating ranged from moderate to perfect. Internal consistency was variable for all scales, ranging from unacceptable to good. Our study suggests that the EDE can be administered reliably by multiple interviewers to assess adults with BED. However, internal consistency was mostly subpar. Tests of reliability and other psychometric properties (e.g., validity) in other patient groups such as children with BED are warranted.