Reflective Measurement Research Articles

Psychological Well-Being and Substance Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Ethnic/Racial Identity, Discrimination, and Vigilance.

Emerging evidence indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health disparities among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) through increased exposure to racism. Although ethnic/racial identity (ERI) and mental health were associated among BIPOC young adults pre-pandemic, it is unclear how these associations may differ in the exacerbated hostile racial environment of the pandemic. The current study examined the associations between ERI exploration and commitment within the context of ethnic/racial discrimination (ERD) and race-related vigilance with psychological well-being and substance use as explained by rumination. Data from a cross-sectional online survey of 450 AIAN, Asian, Black, and Latinx young adults (18-25years) collected in April 2020 included demographic variables, standardized measures of ERI, ERD, race-related vigilance, rumination brooding and reflection, substance use, and psychological well-being. Black respondents reported more exposure to ERD than AIAN and Asian young adults. ERI exploration and commitment were positively associated with well-being. ERI exploration, ERD, and rumination were associated with higher levels of substance use. An association between ERI exploration and more substance use and lower well-being was partially accounted for by higher levels of rumination. An association between ERI commitment and more substance use was fully accounted for by higher levels of rumination. Although ERI exploration and commitment were associated with better psychological well-being among BIPOC young adults, a significant association was found between ERI commitment and more substance use as explained by rumination. Public health efforts should cultivate culturally sensitive mental health services to decrease rumination and its negative association with substance use and well-being.

How does an online writing for publication group promote reflective practice? Voices from two EFL lecturers

Reflective practice has been a prominent issue on English language teaching since it involves a deliberate action to improve one’s professional knowledge, skills, and awareness. One way to encourage reflective practice for EFL teachers is to form an online academic group. The current study examines how the discussion in an online academic writing for publication group promotes reflective thinking. This study involved two EFL teachers who participated and learned academic writing in a weekly online meeting on WhatsApp to reflect on their study. The online group discussion was recorded and coded according to the topics they talked about in the group. The topics served as a measure of critical reflectivity. Findings indicated that the EFL teachers talked over and studied academic writing in terms of how to prepare an eligible manuscript for international publication. They also discussed the problems or issues they encountered during writing a research article for publication. The issues were concerned with the research topics, writing an introduction section, difficulties in reporting the research method and procedure, and the use of academic words in their writing, to mention a few. Those issues have an implication to the difficulty in preparing an eligible manuscript and in publishing their articles This study calls for further initiations to develop reflective practice of Indonesian EFL lecturers through a series of intensive academic writing for publication purposes workshops. The foci of the workshops can address the issues on developing each section of the research article or selecting academic words suitable for writing the paper so that the process of undergoing the international publication can be less demanding.

Developing reflective dialogue educational approach using the Moodle distance learning platform

ABSTRACT Modern education is a rapidly developing field of social practice. Requirements for the professional skills of future specialists are being developed; mechanisms are being created that stimulate improving the quality of education. This research is aimed to identify the level of students’ reflective competencies with the formation of a distance curriculum within the Moodle platform. The study sample consisted of 71 psychology students from Kazakh universities: Toraighyrov University, NJSC, Pavlodar Pedagogical University, NJSC, and L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. The reflective competencies were measured using a diagnostic map based on the “Method for determining the individual measure of reflection” (A.V. Karpov, V.V. Ponomareva). The test for reliability and validity was justified: the calculation showed a good value for the internal consistency of the diagnostic map: α = 0.887 in the experimental group and α = 0.822 in the control group. The findings show a significant improvement in the reflection level: from predominantly middle to high in the experimental group. More than half of the experimental group and one-fifth of the control group improved their reflective skills. This paper has a practical value: further investigation of education digitalization’s impact on the development of reflective competencies in students from other regions.

Testing the validity and reliability of the Matching Familiar Figures Test-2021: An updated behavioral measure of reflection-impulsivity.

The Matching Familiar Figures Test (MFFT) is a well-known and extensively used behavioral measure of reflection-impulsivity. However, the instrument has several deficiencies, including images designed for school-age children in the United States during the 1960s. Most importantly, an adult version of the instrument is currently unavailable and the lack of a single repository for the images raises questions regarding the MFFT's validity and reliability. We developed a 21st century version of the MFFT using images that are familiar to adults and reside in a freely accessible repository. We conducted two studies examining validity and reliability issues. In Study 1, participants interacting with the MFFT-2021, versus those interacting with the original MFFT20, spent more time on the task, took more time in making their first response, and were more likely to complete the task without errors, even though the average number of errors was higher than the comparison group. The coherence of these results is evidence of convergent validity. Regarding predictive validity, the MFFT-2021 remained a reliable predictor of rational thinking, such that participants who demonstrated more reflection (less impulsivity) tended to avoid rational thinking errors. Also, performance on the MFFT-2021 predicted higher quality judgments in processing job characteristic cues with embedded interactions, a form of configural information processing. We also found evidence of concurrent validity: performance on the MFFT-2021 differed in a predictable manner for participants grouped by their performance on the Cognitive Reflection Test. In Study 2, we tested discriminant validity by comparing participant performance on the MFFT-2021 to their performance on the Information Sampling Task (IST), another behavioral measure of reflection-impulsivity used in studies of psychopharmacological and addiction behaviors. For our participants (undergraduate business students), we found that the MFFT was a stronger predictor of performance on rational thinking tasks, and, contrary to prior studies, our exploratory factor analysis identified separate factors for the MFFT-2021 and the IST, supporting discriminant validity, indicating that these two instruments measure different subtypes of reflection-impulsivity.

Abstract 14300: Arterial Stiffness is Associated With Intermediate-Term Home Blood Pressure Variability: The Electronic Framingham Heart Study

Introduction: Short-term blood pressure variability (BPV) is associated with arterial stiffness in patients with hypertension. Few studies examined associations between arterial stiffness and digital home BPV over an intermediate time span. Objective: We investigated if antecedent arterial stiffness was associated with home BPV among participants in the electronic Framingham Heart Study (eFHS). We hypothesize that higher arterial stiffness predicts higher intermediate-term home BPV over one-year follow-up. Methods: At an FHS research exam (2016-2019), participants underwent arterial tonometry to acquire mean arterial pressure (MAP) and measures of arterial stiffness (carotid femoral pulse wave velocity, CFPWV; forward pressure wave amplitude, FWA) and wave reflection (reflection coefficient, RC). Participants who agreed to enroll in eFHS were provided with a digital blood pressure (BP) cuff to measure home BP weekly. Participants with < 3 weeks of BP readings were excluded. Linear regression models were used to examine associations of arterial measures with home average real variability (ARV) of systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) BP adjusting for covariates. We obtained ARV as an average of the absolute differences of consecutive BP measurements. ARV considers not only the dispersion of the BP readings around the mean, but also the order of BP readings. We used p<0.05 for significance. Results: Among 857 eFHS participants (mean age 54 years, 59% women, mean BP 119/76, 47% hypertension, mean ARV of DBP 5.50, mean ARV of SBP 8.61), higher FWA and RC were associated with higher ARV of SBP ( Table ). Higher CFPWV was associated with lower ARV of DBP ( Table ). Conclusion: In eFHS, higher FWA and RC were associated with higher intermediate-term home BPV of SBP while higher CFPWV was associated with blunted BPV of DBP. Our findings suggest that higher aortic stiffness and wave reflection may affect day-to-day modulation of blood pressure in a home-based setting.

Impact of acute and chronic regular exercise on arterial stiffness and reflection measures in coronary artery disease patients: A Protocol for Randomized Clinical Trial

Vascular stiffness due to arteriosclerosis reduces arterial elasticity which is as an independent and non-invasive predictor of future incidence of coronary heart disease and stroke. There is limited evidence of the benefits of regular exercise on arterial stiffness in populations suffering from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) especially coronary artery disease (CAD).Aim. To determine the acute and chronic effects of aerobic, resistance and combined exercise on arterial and hemodynamic function in patients with CAD.Material and methods. This study will be a prospective, single-blind, randomized study examining the effects of exercise on arterial stiffness. The study will be conducted at a tertiary care hospital for a continuous period of one year. Patients with CAD (n=105) will be selected using systematic sampling techniques and allocated randomly to one of the four treatment groups using computer-generated, random number sequence for age, sex and health status of CAD (Group-I: aerobic exercise, Group-II: resistance exercise, Group-III: combined aerobic and resistance exercise, and Group-IV: control) as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All recruited subjects will be informed about the assessment and intervention procedure before getting the consent form filled. This project followed the guidelines of standard protocol for randomized clinical trials (spirit).Perspective. It is expected that this study protocol shall through light and be helpful in better quality of life along with decline in drug dependency for the people suffering from CAD. Further this study will be valuable is designing exercise protocol for the people suffering from CAD.

Clinical research in the field of cardiorehabilitation: problems of planning and interpretation of results

See: Gaurav Kapoor, Avinash Swaroop, Sandeep Singh. Impact of acute and chronic regular exercise on arterial stiffness and reflection measures in coronary artery disease patients: A Protocol for Randomized Clinical Trial in Studies and registers, pp. 57-64.

Effects of feeding injury from Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) on soybean spectral reflectance and yield.

Remote sensing has been shown to be a promising technology for the detection and monitoring of plant stresses including insect feeding. Popillia japonica Newman, is an invasive insect species in the United States, and a pest of concern to soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., in the upper Midwest. To investigate the effects of P. japonica feeding injury (i.e., defoliation) on soybean canopy spectral reflectance and yield, field trials with plots of caged soybean plants were established during the summers of 2020 and 2021. In each year, field-collected P. japonica adults were released into some of the caged plots, creating a gradient of infestation levels and resulting injury. Estimates of injury caused by P. japonica, ground-based hyperspectral readings, total yield, and yield components were obtained from the caged plots. Injury was greatest in the upper canopy of soybean in plots infested with P. japonica. Overall mean canopy injury (i.e., across lower, middle, and upper canopy) ranged from 0.23 to 6.26%, which is representative of injury levels observed in soybean fields in the Midwest United States. Feeding injury from P. japonica tended to reduce measures of soybean canopy reflectance in near infra-red wavelengths (~700 to 1000 nm). These results indicate that remote sensing has potential for detection of injury from P. japonica and could facilitate scouting for this pest. Effects of P. japonica injury on total yield were not observed, but a reduction in seed size was detected in one of the two years. The threat to soybean yield posed by P. japonica alone appears minimal, but this pest adds to the guild of other defoliating insects in soybean whose combined effects could threaten yield. The results of this research will guide refinement of management recommendations for this pest in soybean and hold relevance for other cropping systems.

The power of reflection for would‐be leaders: Investigating individual work reflection and its impact on leadership in teams

SummaryThis paper examines the key role that individual work reflection plays in facilitating individuals' leadership in teams. Consistent with the functional perspective on leadership, we argue that individual work reflection allows individuals to better understand their team's needs, and therefore enact higher levels of task‐, relational‐, and change‐oriented leadership behaviors and be more effective leaders in their teams. We first conducted a series of measure development studies to validate a measure of individual work reflection comprising four dimensions of reflection at work: goals‐, methods‐, relationships‐, and self‐focused reflection. Then, across two independent studies assessing individuals in self‐managing teams over time, we found support for our theoretical model linking individual work reflection to peer‐rated leadership behaviors (Main Studies 1 and 2) and leadership effectiveness (Main Study 2). In further support of our theorizing, Main Study 2 also indicates that individual work reflection shapes leadership behaviors and effectiveness via understanding the team's needs, beyond a wide range of related constructs (e.g., feedback seeking, mindfulness, and rumination), as well as commonly studied predictors of leadership behaviors (i.e., the Big Five). Our theory and empirical findings help advance insights on the role of individual work reflection in improving leadership outcomes in organizations.

Dublin Anti-Bullying Self-Efficacy Models and Scales: Development and Validation.

Literature on anti-bullying programs shows a growing consensus about promoting victims and bystanders' self-efficacy against bullying, but provides no theoretical model nor measurement scale to assess the extent of achieving this aim. The current research aims to address these theoretical and empirical gaps by proposing the Dublin Anti-Bullying Self-Efficacy Models and Scales, using a convenience sample of 14-year-old students in Ireland (N = 1,100). After establishing both content and face validity, four separate scales were tested to measure anti-bullying self-efficacy beliefs among offline victims (20-item), online victims (20-item), offline bystanders (20-item), and online bystanders (20-item). Thereafter, four separate exploratory factor analyses of the scale items were followed by reflective measurement analyses of their internal consistency and construct (convergent and discriminant) validity. Results indicated sufficient psychometric properties of each scale measuring five dimensions of anti-bullying self-efficacy: recognition, emergency comprehension, responsibility, knowledge, and intervention. Further research is needed to test the proposed model and scale for assessing effectiveness of an anti-bullying program in promoting self-efficacy beliefs.

Spatially resolved reflectance from turbid media having a rough surface. Part II: experiments.

Spatially resolved reflectance measurements are a standard tool for determining the absorption and scattering properties of turbid media such as biological tissue. However, in literature, it was shown that these measurements are subject to errors when a possible rough surface between the turbid medium and the surrounding is not accounted for. We evaluated these errors by comparing the spatially resolved reflectance measured on rough epoxy-based samples with Monte Carlo simulations using Lambertian surface scattering, the Cook-Torrance model, and the generalized Harvey-Shack model as surface scattering models. To this aim, goniometric measurements on the epoxy-based samples were compared to the angularly resolved reflectance of the three surface models to estimate the corresponding model parameters. Finally, the optical properties of the phantoms were determined using a Monte Carlo model with a smooth surface.

Exploring the conceptual framework and measurement model of intrinsic capacity defined by the World Health Organization: A scoping review.

WHO has defined intrinsic capacity (IC) as the composite of all physical and mental capacities of an individual covering five subdomains: cognition, locomotion, sensory, vitality, and psychological. Despite this well accepted definition, the conceptual and measurement model of IC remains unclear, which hampers a standardized operationalization of the construct. We performed a scoping review to give a comprehensive overview of the extent to which the current literature of IC addresses and assumes the conceptual framework and measurement model of IC as reflective or formative. For inclusion, we considered all types of articles that were published in peer-reviewed journals except for protocol articles. A systematic search of 6 databases from different disciplines led to the inclusion of 31 papers. We found inconsistency and gaps in the descriptions of IC. Most of the papers did not define the measurement model. In the conceptual background and validation articles, we identified descriptions of both reflective and formative measurement models while in empirical studies applying IC measurements the underlying assumptions remained mainly unclear. Defining a measurement model is not merely a theoretical matter but influences the operationalization and validation processes of the construct. This study raised questions about the most fundamental features of the IC construct and discusses whether IC should be considered as an underlying latent trait of all capacities (reflective construct) or an aggregate summary measure of the subdomain capacities (formative construct).

Associations Between Cardiovascular Reactivity and Automatic Evaluation of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors

Effort mobilization, or the amount of resources individuals mobilize to execute behavior, is central to the dual-process theory. One’s evaluation or perception of task difficulty (target behavior) is directly related to effort. Automatic or habitual behaviors require little effort, while reflective or controlled processes require greater effort mobilization, and even greater effort when behavioral automaticity and the goal task conflict. Cardiovascular (CV) reactivity to cognitive challenge is an objective and reliable measure of effort mobilization, but has yet to be evaluated in the automatic evaluation (AE) of PA behavior. PURPOSE: To explore relationships among CV reactivity, AE and reflective measures of PA behavior. METHODS: This pilot study includes a subset of 30 subjects (57% women, 24±10 y, 27±5 kg/m2) from a larger project examining interactions between AE and reflective processes in relation to PA behavior. A computerized test (Single Category Implicit Association Test [SCIAT]) was used to measure AE of PA behaviors (positive scores reflected positive AE of the target behavior). Heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were measured continuously and noninvasively using a finger cuff. CV reactivity was quantified using average values obtained during the SCIAT and percentage change (∆) from rest. Accelerometers measured habitual PA (min/d) and questionnaires captured reflective PA outcomes (e.g., intention, enjoyment). Bivariate correlations were used to explore the relationships among variables (α=0.05). RESULTS: SBP during the SCIAT correlated with habitual PA (r=0.41). HR during the SCIAT correlated with intention to perform exercise (r=-0.51) and PA enjoyment scale (r=-0.56), while ∆HR correlated with light intensity PA SCIAT scores (r=-0.40; all p≤0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Lower CV reactivity during the SCIAT was related to positive AE toward PA behavior and greater PA intention, suggesting that these subjects found PA stimuli to be less stressful (required less effort). Conversely, CV reactivity was higher among those with positive AE toward sedentary behavior, suggesting that PA stimuli was more stressful (required greater effort). By focusing efforts on changing how individuals perceive PA, future PA guidelines may be more successful in increasing long-term PA adherence.

Satellite-based evaluation of AeroCom model bias in biomass burning regions

Abstract. Global models are widely used to simulate biomass burning aerosol (BBA). Exhaustive evaluations on model representation of aerosol distributions and properties are fundamental to assess health and climate impacts of BBA. Here we conducted a comprehensive comparison of Aerosol Comparisons between Observations and Models (AeroCom) project model simulations with satellite observations. A total of 59 runs by 18 models from three AeroCom Phase-III experiments (i.e., biomass burning emissions, CTRL16, and CTRL19) and 14 satellite products of aerosols were used in the study. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) at 550 nm was investigated during the fire season over three key fire regions reflecting different fire dynamics (i.e., deforestation-dominated Amazon, Southern Hemisphere Africa where savannas are the key source of emissions, and boreal forest burning in boreal North America). The 14 satellite products were first evaluated against AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) observations, with large uncertainties found. But these uncertainties had small impacts on the model evaluation that was dominated by modeling bias. Through a comparison with Polarization and Directionality of the Earth’s Reflectances measurements with the Generalized Retrieval of Aerosol and Surface Properties algorithm (POLDER-GRASP), we found that the modeled AOD values were biased by −93 % to 152 %, with most models showing significant underestimations even for the state-of-the-art aerosol modeling techniques (i.e., CTRL19). By scaling up BBA emissions, the negative biases in modeled AOD were significantly mitigated, although it yielded only negligible improvements in the correlation between models and observations, and the spatial and temporal variations in AOD biases did not change much. For models in CTRL16 and CTRL19, the large diversity in modeled AOD was in almost equal measures caused by diversity in emissions, lifetime, and the mass extinction coefficient (MEC). We found that in the AeroCom ensemble, BBA lifetime correlated significantly with particle deposition (as expected) and in turn correlated strongly with precipitation. Additional analysis based on Cloud-Aerosol LIdar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) aerosol profiles suggested that the altitude of the aerosol layer in the current models was generally too low, which also contributed to the bias in modeled lifetime. Modeled MECs exhibited significant correlations with the Ångström exponent (AE, an indicator of particle size). Comparisons with the POLDER-GRASP-observed AE suggested that the models tended to overestimate the AE (underestimated particle size), indicating a possible underestimation of MECs in models. The hygroscopic growth in most models generally agreed with observations and might not explain the overall underestimation of modeled AOD. Our results imply that current global models contain biases in important aerosol processes for BBA (e.g., emissions, removal, and optical properties) that remain to be addressed in future research.

The factor structure of cognitive reflection, numeracy, and fluid intelligence: The evidence from the Polish adaptation of the Verbal CRT

AbstractThe Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT) is one of the most popular measures of individual differences in rational thought and decision making. To overcome the issue of overlap with numeracy, a novel measure of cognitive reflection less related to numeracy and math anxiety than Numerical CRT was developed—Verbal CRT. The present research had two main aims: first to investigate the generalizability of Verbal CRT in cultural contexts outside the United States/United Kingdom and second to test the factor structure linking traditional—numerical—CRT, Verbal CRT, numeracy, and fluid intelligence. In Studies 1a and 1b, we adapted and tested the validity and psychometric properties of Polish versions of tasks and scales. Next, using a large and diverse sample of Polish adults, we tested five models of the factor structure of cognitive abilities and thinking dispositions (Study 2). The most parsimonious and best‐fitted model contained three latent variables: Verbal CRT, numeracy (composed of the items from the Berlin Numeracy Test and traditional—numerical—CRT), and fluid intelligence. In line with previous research, our results show that Verbal CRT is a valid cognitive reflection measure that provides a clearer interpretation than traditional CRT, even in a different language and cultural context.

Partial least squares as a tool for scientific inquiry: comments on Cadogan and Lee

PurposeIn their paper titled “A Miracle of Measurement or Accidental Constructivism? How PLS Subverts the Realist Search for Truth,” Cadogan and Lee (2022) cast serious doubt on PLS’s suitability for scientific studies. The purpose of this commentary is to discuss the claims of Cadogan and Lee, correct some inaccuracies, and derive recommendations for researchers using structural equation models.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses scenario analysis to show which estimators are appropriate for reflective measurement models and composite models, and formulates the statistical model that underlies PLS Mode A. It also contrasts two different perspectives: PLS as an estimator for structural equation models vs. PLS-SEM as an overarching framework with a sui generis logic.FindingsThere are different variants of PLS, which include PLS, consistent PLS, PLSe1, PLSe2, proposed ordinal PLS and robust PLS, each of which serves a particular purpose. All of these are appropriate for scientific inquiry if applied properly. It is not PLS that subverts the realist search for truth, but some proponents of a framework called “PLS-SEM.” These proponents redefine the term “reflective measurement,” argue against the assessment of model fit and suggest that researchers could obtain “confirmation” for their model.Research limitations/implicationsResearchers should be more conscious, open and respectful regarding different research paradigms.Practical implicationsResearchers should select a statistical model that adequately represents their theory, not necessarily a common factor model, and formulate their model explicitly. Particularly for instrumentalists, pragmatists and constructivists, the composite model appears promising. Researchers should be concerned about their estimator’s properties, not about whether it is called “PLS.” Further, researchers should critically evaluate their model, not seek confirmation or blindly believe in its value.Originality/valueThis paper critically appraises Cadogan and Lee (2022) and reminds researchers who wish to use structural equation modeling, particularly PLS, for their statistical analysis, of some important scientific principles.

Learning deliberate reflection in medical diagnosis: does learning-by-teaching help?

Deliberate reflection has been found to foster diagnostic accuracy on complex cases or under circumstances that tend to induce cognitive bias. However, it is unclear whether the procedure can also be learned and thereby autonomously applied when diagnosing future cases without instructions to reflect. We investigated whether general practice residents would learn the deliberate reflection procedure through ‘learning-by-teaching’ and apply it to diagnose new cases. The study was a two-phase experiment. In the learning phase, 56 general-practice residents were randomly assigned to one of two conditions. They either (1) studied examples of deliberate reflection and then explained the procedure to a fictitious peer on video; or (2) solved cases without reflection (control). In the test phase, one to three weeks later, all participants diagnosed new cases while thinking aloud. The analysis of the test phase showed no significant differences between the conditions on any of the outcome measures (diagnostic accuracy, p = .263; time to diagnose, p = .598; mental effort ratings, p = .544; confidence ratings, p = .710; proportion of contradiction units (i.e. measure of deliberate reflection), p = .544). In contrast to findings on learning-by-teaching from other domains, teaching deliberate reflection to a fictitious peer, did not increase reflective reasoning when diagnosing future cases. Potential explanations that future research might address are that either residents in the experimental condition did not apply the learned deliberate reflection procedure in the test phase, or residents in the control condition also engaged in reflection.

Non-line of Sight Transient Rendering

Non-line of sight imaging reconstructs hidden geometry using time-resolved measurements of indirect diffuse reflections emitted by a laser. To help develop new applications, we simulate light transport in these occluded scenes and introduce a set of simple, yet effective subpath sampling techniques for efficiency, with an open-source implementation.

Competency Framework of Agriculture Educators Vocational College: Measurement Model Using Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling

<p style="text-align: justify;">Competent instructors need to have the skills, abilities, and competencies to perform tasks effectively, which will affect student learning achievement. This study is guided by the theory of Boyatzis developed by Spencer and Spencer. The Iceberg Competency Model was used as a guideline to identify the competency elements of educators from the agricultural stream in vocational colleges (KV). This research study aims to explore and identify the existing competency elements of agricultural educators in KV. This study used a study population comprising 243 respondents of agricultural educators in KV. To answer the research question, the data analysis was done by Partial Least Squares - Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). This study is a study built to observe the relationship between the latent constructs studied. These constructs consisted of exogenous and endogenous constructs. In this study, exogenous constructs comprised value constructs, social roles, self-image, motives, traits and constraints. At the same time, endogenous constructs involved constructs of skills and knowledge. To ensure that the construct of this study gives meaning to the reflective measurement model, it was evaluated based on internal consistency reliability and validity. Regarding the framework, some indicators that did not qualify were dropped based on factor loading and average variance extracted (AVE). From the analysis conducted, 16 indicators were dropped since they did not meet PLS-SEM requirements. The total number of items retained was 71 indicators. At the final stage of this study, the evaluation model was implemented to form a framework involving the evaluation of the constructs linked to each other.</p>

Dynamics retrieval from stochastically weighted incomplete data by low-pass spectral analysis.

Time-resolved serial femtosecond crystallography (TR-SFX) provides access to protein dynamics on sub-picosecond timescales, and with atomic resolution. Due to the nature of the experiment, these datasets are often highly incomplete and the measured diffracted intensities are affected by partiality. To tackle these issues, one established procedure is that of splitting the data into time bins, and averaging the multiple measurements of equivalent reflections within each bin. This binning and averaging often involve a loss of information. Here, we propose an alternative approach, which we call low-pass spectral analysis (LPSA). In this method, the data are projected onto the subspace defined by a set of trigonometric functions, with frequencies up to a certain cutoff. This approach attenuates undesirable high-frequency features and facilitates retrieving the underlying dynamics. A time-lagged embedding step can be included prior to subspace projection to improve the stability of the results with respect to the parameters involved. Subsequent modal decomposition allows to produce a low-rank description of the system's evolution. Using a synthetic time-evolving model with incomplete and partial observations, we analyze the LPSA results in terms of quality of the retrieved signal, as a function of the parameters involved. We compare the performance of LPSA to that of a range of other sophisticated data analysis techniques. We show that LPSA allows to achieve excellent dynamics reconstruction at modest computational cost. Finally, we demonstrate the superiority of dynamics retrieval by LPSA compared to time binning and merging, which is, to date, the most commonly used method to extract dynamical information from TR-SFX data.