Root Mean Square Error Of Approximation Research Articles

Validating and Adapting the Brief Resilient Coping Scale for Greek Humanitarian Workers

IntroductionHumanitarian workers (HWs) face significant challenges while providing aid to those in need, often leading to psychological exhaustion and the risk of primary or secondary trauma.ObjectivesOur study aimed to validate and adapt the Greek version of the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS) for HWs in Greece.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study between September and December 2022. Participants were recruited through a self-administered questionnaire distributed via social media to humanitarian groups. Additionally, the questionnaire was sent via email to these groups’ members, who then forwarded it to their respective networks. The questionnaire included the BRCS, a 4-item measure designed to capture tendencies to cope with stress in a highly adaptive manner. A score of 4-13 points indicates low resilient copers, 14-16 points medium resilient copers and 17-20 points high resilient copers. Cronbach’s alpha was used to assess internal consistency. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was employed to evaluate model fit. Adequate or good fit criteria included a χ2 test p-value ≥ 0.05, Root Mean Square Error Approximation (RMSEA) ≤ 0.08, Standardized Root Mean Squared Residual (SRMR) ≤ 0.05, and a Comparative Fit Index (CFI) or Tucker–Lewis Index (TLI) ≤ 0.90. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA and SPSS software.ResultsA total of 151 humanitarian workers (76% females), with a mean age of 39.3±10.6 years participated in the study. The mean BRCS score was 65.6/100. Participants were categorized as follows: 34.6% as low resilient copers, 38.6% as medium resilient copers, and 26.8% as high resilient copers. Cronbach’s alpha for the BRCS was 0.84, indicating good internal consistency. CFA results supported the one-factor solution proposed by the original researchers, with acceptable global fit indices: Chi-square p-value = 0.303, SRMR = 0.028, RMSEA = 0.036, CFI = 0.991, TLI = 0.974.ConclusionsThe findings of our study show that the Greek version of BRCS is a valid and reliable tool that can be used to evaluate resilient coping among humanitarian workers in Greece.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Portuguese Version of the Multidimensional Scale of Dating Violence 2.0 in Young University Students.

Dating violence has become a problem of social relevance with short- and long-term health consequences. Nurses are in a privileged position to detect and address this problem in health facilities and as school nurses in schools, providing health education and detecting this violence correctly. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cross-cultural validation of the Portuguese version of the Multidimensional Scale of Dating Violence-Short (MSDV 2.0). A validation investigation was carried out in two phases: (1) cross-cultural adaptation of the items and content validation of the Portuguese version of MSDV 2.0 and (2) psychometric validation. Phase (1): The items of the original version include a cross-cultural translation from Spanish to Portuguese and analysed by a group of experts in gender violence and by the authors of the original scale, then a back translation was made and again reviewed by the experts. Young university students also participated for face validity, and a pilot test was carried out. Phase (2): Confirmatory factor analysis was performed using the robust maximum-likelihood estimation method, which confirmed the five-dimensional structure, obtaining good fit rates (chi-square significance (χ2) = 187.860 (p < 0.0001); root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.049; comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.937; Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) = 0.923). Reliability analysis indicated adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha (α) = 0.88 to 0.70). Finally, scores of the Portuguese versions MSDV 2.0 were correlated, as expected, positively with the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) (r = 0.36 to 0.16) and negatively with the Medical Outcomes Study Questionnaire Short Form 36, Health Survey (SF-36) (r = -0.30 to -0.14). To date, it is the only instrument that measures dating violence in a multidimensional way validated in the Portuguese university context.

Asymptotic Relative Efficiency Comparison for some Fit Indices in Structural Equation Modeling

There are many fit statistics used in the structural equation modeling, and new ones are consistently being developed. Because of the variety of fit statistics, it is very important to be able to decide which fit statistics are appropriate to use in studies. When comparing any two statistics, the asymptotic relative efficiency (ARE) between them is used. The ARE can use as a power of the fit indices is one of the familiar optimal criteria. It is frequently more convenient, and also more suggestive, to use a measure of relative merit called the relative efficiency. This study aimed to compare of fit indices using Fraser’s asymptotic relative efficiency. The data sets were derived from the multivariate normal distribution using the mean vector and covariance matrix. It was determined that the most efficient fit indices in terms of asymptotic relative efficiency were Z-Test of Wilson &amp;amp; Hilferty (W&amp;amp;H), Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA), and Chi-Square indices, respectively.

Validation of Quality-of-Life assessment tool for Ethiopian old age people.

A valid and reliable quality of life (QOL) assessment tool is critical for identifying health issues, evaluating health interventions, and establishing the best health policies and care plans. One of the tools for this goal is the World Health Organization's Quality of Life Old module (WHOQOL-OLD). It is validated and available in more than 20 languages globally, except Amharic (the widely spoken language in Ethiopia). As a result, the purpose of this study was to translate it into Amharic language and validate it among the elderly people in Bahir Dar City, Northwestern Ethiopia. This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 180 community-dwelling old age people in Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia, from January 16 to March 13, 2021. Psychometric validation was achieved through Cronbach's alpha of the internal consistency reliability test and construct validity from confirmatory factor analysis. The study participants were aged between 60 and 90 years, with a mean age of 69.44. Females made up 61.7% of the study population, and 40% of them could not read or write. The results showed a relatively low level of quality of life, with a total transformed score of 58.58±23.15. The Amharic version of the WHOQOL-OLD showed a Cronbach's Alpha value of 0.96 and corrected item-total correlations of more than 0.74. The confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the six-domain model with a chi-square (X2) of 341.98 and a p-value less than 0.001. The comparative fit index (CFI) was 0.98, Tucker-Lewis's index (TCL) was 0.97, and the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) was 0.046. The Amharic version of the WHOQOL-OLD indicated good internal consistency reliability and construct validity. The tool can be utilized to provide care to Ethiopian community-dwelling old age people.

The psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the dieting beliefs scale (DBS)

BackgroundThere are relatively few data about the association between locus of control and weight loss in Arabic populations. A tool does exist, the Dieting Belief Scale (DBS), that was designed to measure individuals’ beliefs regarding their ability to control their body weight. The aim of this study was to translate this tool into Arabic and to evaluate its psychometric properties. MethodsThe forward translation of the DBS from English to Arabic was completed by two professional bilingual translators, while the back translation from Arabic to English was independently performed by another two different professional bilingual translators. An online survey using the tool was then completed by 245 participants, fully aware of the study's purpose. Psychometric analyses were subsequently conducted to assess the reliability and validity of the Arabic DBS.Internal consistency was examined using Cronbach's α and McDonald's ω coefficients. Test-retest reliability was also assessed. Confirmatory factor analysis was employed to evaluate the fit of a three-factor model, with indices including Comparative Fit Index (CFI), Tucker Lewis Index (TLI), Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA), and Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR). Convergent validity was assessed by examining the correlation between the Arabic DBS and the Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) previously translated into Arabic, the latter identifying attitudes, feelings and behaviors related to eating. ResultsThe Arabic translated DBS scale demonstrated high translation accuracy and content validity estimates. Cronbach's α and McDonald's ω reliability coefficients for the translated scale were approximately 0.91. Test-retest reliability was 0.96. The three-factor model showed an acceptable fit (CFI = 0.93, TLI = 0.92, RMSE = 0.08, SRMR = 0.06). The Arabic version of the DBS was found to have good convergent validity, as evidenced by the significant correlation between the EAT-26 and DBS questionnaires (r = 0.53, p < 0.01). ConclusionThe Arabic version of the DBS is highly reliable and has sufficient content validity to measure belief about personal ability to control one's weight.

Evaluating the cross-cultural competence instrument for healthcare professionals (CCCHP) among nurses in Okinawa, Japan

BackgroundTo provide better quality healthcare services to patients with different linguistic and cultural backgrounds, the cross-cultural competence of medical professionals is important. However, assessing and improving the cross-cultural competence of healthcare professionals is difficult in Japan, as there is no standardized scale to measure the competence. This study’s purpose was to translate the Cross-Cultural Competence instrument for Healthcare Professionals (CCCHP), which was developed and used in Europe, and to examine its reliability and validity among Japanese nurses.MethodsDuring June and July 2021, nursing staff were invited to take web- and paper-based surveys in Okinawa Japan. The CCCHP (five-factor model with 27 items across motivation, attitude, skills, emotion, and knowledge) was translated using a combination translation method, and a five-point Likert scale was used for responses. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and known-group method were used to examine structural validity, while Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was used to test reliability.ResultsA total of 294 responses were analyzed; 77.2% had more than five years of experience. Since the fit index indicated that the five-factor model was not a good fit, it was modified to a four-factor model (J-CCCHP24) by moving three variables, removing the knowledge factor, and using the error covariance of the variables. The fit index after the modification was improved to comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.92, Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) = 0.91, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.05, and standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) = 0.06, and Cronbach’s alpha was 0.85. The mean scores of J-CCCHP24 were significantly higher in the group with a history of overseas travel, higher foreign language skill, training in intercultural care, experience of foreign patient care, and intercultural interactions outside the workplace than in the group without these characteristics.ConclusionThis study confirmed the validity and reliability of the modified Japanese version of the CCCHP (four-factor model with 24 items). The results suggest that the exposure to different cultures on a personal level may help improve nurses' cross-cultural competence. Further refinement of this scale for practical use would encourage the implementation of necessary countermeasures to improve the cross-cultural competence of Japanese healthcare professionals.

Validation study of the Amharic version Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ) in public hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundIn Ethiopia, there is a growing concern about improving patients’ safety in healthcare facilities. However, the lack of a valid and reliable instrument sensitive to the Ethiopian culture for measuring health professional practice environment leads to difficulty in constructing evaluations of safety climate and further linking organizational research to outcomes research. This research study examined the psychometric properties of the Safety Attitude Questionnaire (SAQ) in the Amharic language within an Ethiopian healthcare context.MethodA hospital-based cross-sectional study design was conducted. The SAQ was meticulously translated into Amharic using forward and backward translation methods. Content validity was evaluated with input from seven patient safety and healthcare quality experts. Face validity was established through feedback from healthcare professionals. Then, the Amharic SAQ (SAQ-A) was distributed to 648 participants working in 11 public hospitals, and a total of 611 valid questionnaires were completed and returned (95.2% response rate). Cronbach’s alpha, McDonald’s omega, composite reliability, correlation analysis, and average variance estimation were calculated, and confirmatory factor analysis was performed. Descriptive analyses were performed to describe socio-demographic characteristics. A P-value of ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Tables, figures, charts, and texts are used for data presentation.ResultThe overall internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) for the 31-item SAQ-A was 0.903, indicating excellent reliability. Confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated a good model fit for each dimension and the entire construct (χ2=1086.675, df=412, p<0.001, comparative fit index (CFI)=0.923, Tucker Lewis index (TLI)=0.913, and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA)=0.052). The positive response rate of healthcare workers in hospitals was 32.1%. The positive response rates of the six dimensions were teamwork climate (59.7%), safety climate (41.9%), job satisfaction (57.1%), working conditions (37.5%), perception of management (37.6%), and stress recognition (46.2%).ConclusionThe Amharic translation of the SAQ showed good psychometric properties, making it a valuable tool for assessing safety attitudes among Amharic-speaking Ethiopian healthcare practitioners.

Validity arguments for creating a short motivation scale through adaptation of the Japanese motivated strategies for learning questionnaire

Background The coronavirus disease pandemic has substantially altered the mode of medical education, transitioning it from in-person to online. Online learning requires a strong motivational foundation to support self-directed studying. In our previous study, an adapted 31-item Japanese motivation measurement scale using the motivational section from the Japanese version of the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (J-MSLQ) was developed. The present study aimed to collect evidence on the validity of the motivation section of the J-MSLQ and clarify whether further revision was necessary. Methods The motivation section of the J-MSLQ comprises a seven-point Likert scale survey containing 31 items. Of 127 fourth-year Japanese medical students invited to participate, 112 responded. Confirmatory factor analysis with structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed using R and R studio for all data analysis. Results The initial SEM model that incorporated all 31 items exhibited inadequate goodness of fit metrics: χ2 = 823.674 (p &lt; 0.001), the comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.786, the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.093, the standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) = 0.112, the goodness of fit index (GFI) = 0.664, and the adjusted goodness of fit index (AGFI) = 0.602. We optimized the scale by eliminating 12 items with a Z test statistic &lt; 10. Improvements in the goodness of fit metrics of the optimized SEM model were observed, demonstrating moderate model fit: χ2 = 205.602 (p &lt; 0.001), CFI = 0.929, RMSEA = 0.080, SRMR = 0.063, GFI = 0.837, AGFI = 0.768. Conclusions A compact 18-item version of the motivation scale was developed and validated, which alleviated the respondent burden and enabled the researchers to collect data in a shorter time.

Validation of the Brazilian 10-item Cervantes Scale for the assessment of menopausal symptoms.

To validate the 10-item Cervantes Scale (CS-10) among Brazilian women. This is a cross-sectional observational study involving women in the community aged 40-55 years in the Southern region of Brazil. They completed a general health, habits and socio-demographic questionnaire, the CS-10 and the Women's Health Questionnaire (WHQ). Women unable to understand the survey, not consenting to participate, or having incapacity imposing difficulties during the completion of the questionnaire were excluded. A Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted with the AMOS 16.0 software. Chi-square of degrees of freedom (χ2/df), the Comparative Fit Index (CFI), the Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) and the Root-Mean-Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) were used as indices of goodness of fit. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used for internal consistency. A total of 422 women were included (premenopausal n=35, perimenopausal n=172, postmenopausal n=215). The CFA for the CS-10 showed a good fit (χ²/df=1.454, CFI=0.989; TLI=0.985; RMSEA=0.033; CI 90%=0.002-0.052; PCLOSE=0.921; Model p=0.049). Good reliability was established in CS-10 and WHQ (Cronbach's alpha=0.724). Postmenopausal women had higher total CS-10 scores (p≤0.0001), reflecting worse quality of life (QoL) related to menopause symptoms and confirming the greater symptomatology evaluated by high total scores for WHQ found in this population when compared to those in the premenopausal period (p=0.041). The CS-10 is a consistent tool for health-related QoL in Brazilian mid-aged women.

Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the sunlight exposure questionnaire.

This study aimed to translate and validate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Philippines Sunlight Exposure Questionnaire. A total of 392 Chinese individuals aged at least 18 years, residing in various cities in Sichuan province for at least 1 year, were recruited. The reliability of the Chinese version of the questionnaire was measured through internal consistency, split-half reliability, and retest reliability, while validity was determined using the content validity index and the structure validity index. The Chinese version of the Sunlight Exposure Questionnaire, which includes 19 items covering 5 factors, demonstrated McDonald's omega coefficient of 0.788. The split-half reliability of the questionnaire was 0.823, and the retest reliability was 0.940. The content validity index (S-CVI) was 0.952. The five-factor structure, supported by eigenvalues, explained 66.2% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated favorable model fit. The chi-square value degrees of freedom ratio (χ2/df) = 1.852, the goodness-of-fit index (GFI) = 0.938, the normed fit index (NFI) = 0.922, the incremental fit index (IFI) = 0.962, the comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.962, the Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) = 0.952, and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.047. The indicators of the fit of the model were within reasonable bounds. The Chinese version of the Sunlight Exposure Questionnaire shows validity and good reliability for assessing sun exposure among adults in a Chinese cultural context.

Maximal aerobic exercise and acute visual performance in females: Implications for concussion side-line testing

PurposeMany sports-related concussion (SRC) outcomes can be prevented by removing affected athletes and allowing return after full recovery. Diagnosing concussions on the side-line is challenging, as tools often rely on visual performance assessment. Since acute exercise can affect vision, it is vital to determine if exercise can mask potential brain injury if visual performance assessments are used. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a single bout of maximal aerobic exercise on acute visual performance. MethodsEighty previously sedentary females were randomly assigned to an experimental group (N = 40) or control group (N = 40) and completed an identical visual task test battery. Two weeks later, participants returned to participate in the test battery, with the experimental group doing so immediately following a maximal treadmill exercise protocol. ResultsSignificant (P < 0.05) improvements were found in accommodation facility, saccadic eye movement, speed of recognition, peripheral awareness, and hand-eye coordination (P < 0.001 for all), but not in visual memory (P = 0.556). All visual tasks, barring visual memory, loaded onto a single factor and approximated the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) threshold value (RMSEA = 0.112 [90 %CI: 0.047–0.182]), and a significant large main effect was found on all factors as a universal visual task performance (P < 0.001; d = 1.01). ConclusionThis study shows that exercise can affect performance across multiple, but not all, visual tasks and should be utilised with caution in comprehensive side-line SRC assessments. Visual memory may be more stable to the effects of acute exercise and be considered for inclusion in side-line SRC assessments.

Translation and Validation of the Premenstrual Assessment Form-Short Form Questionnaire in Hungarian.

Premenstrual symptoms, including premenstrual syndrome and its more severe form premenstrual dysphoric disorder, are a set of somatic and psychological symptoms that occur during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Our research aimed to adapt the Hungarian version of the Premenstrual Assessment Form-Short Form (PAF-SF), a questionnaire suitable for assessing premenstrual symptoms, and to examine its reliability, validity, and applicability. The questionnaire was validated according to Beaton's six-step guidelines. Our sample consisted of 198 menstruating women, 50 of whom completed the instrument for a second time to assess reliability. Descriptive statistics were calculated presenting mean (standard deviation), the internal consistency was measured by Cronbach's alpha value, the test-retest reliability using intraclass correlation coefficients, Spearman rank correlation was applied to test the criterion validity of the questionnaire, and discriminant validity was examined using the independent-sample t test using IBM SPSS 28.0 software. The structural validity was evaluated by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using IBM AMOS 29.0 software. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Our sample (average age 25.37 ± 4.80 years) scored 28.08 ± 9.49 points out of the maximum 60 points when filling out the PAF-SF questionnaire. The result of Cronbach's alpha calculation, which supports the reliability of the questionnaire, was 0.845. During the CFA, the three-factor structure (Affect, Water Retention, and Pain) was supported (root mean-square error approximation [RMSEA] = 0.054; Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.965; Comparative Fit Index = 0.976; χ2 = 48.642; df = 31; p = 0.023; χ2/df = 1.569). The PAF-SF questionnaire proved to be a reliable measuring tool for assessing premenstrual symptoms among women of reproductive age.

Factor structure and longitudinal invariance for the Chinese Mainland version of the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale during pregnancy

BackgroundThere are inconsistent results on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale's (EPDS) factor structure and longitudinal invariance among different cultures. Furthermore, limited relevant studies in Chinese pregnant women exist. PurposeTo test the factor structure of the Chinese Mainland EPDS during pregnancy and conduct longitudinal invariance analyses. MethodsA national multi-centre cohort study was conducted among 1207 pregnant women selected consecutively by convenience sampling from five hospitals in Zhuhai, Taiyuan, Haidian, Changchun, and Shenzhen in China between August 2015 and October 2016. Depression was measured by the EPDS during gestational weeks 10–13, 15–18, 23–25, 30–32 and 36–37, respectively.s ResultsThree factors with eigenvalues nearly larger than 1.0 were optimal for the Chinese Mainland EPDS, labelled “anxiety,” “anhedonia,” and “depression,” and contained items 3–5, 1–2, and 6–10, respectively. The confirmatory factor analysis results of standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) = 0.034, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.049, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.968, Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) = 0.954, and χ2, p < 0.05 indicated good fit. For the longitudinal invariance tests, the configural invariance was met, with the CFI and TLI both higher than 0.90 and the RMSEA lower than 0.08 (CFI = 0.919, TLI = 0.908, and RMSEA = 0.034). The metric-, scalar-, and strict invariances were met. ConclusionsThe three-factor model of the Chinese Mainland EPDS is invariant in pregnancy, suggesting stability and comparability in identifying the women screened positive at different points during pregnancy and making the scale feasible to screen prenatal depression and anxiety simultaneously.

Validity and reliability of Korean version of the nursing staff preparedness for palliative and end-of-life care in long-term care homes: A methodological study

Purpose: Globally, the issue of palliative and end-of-life care (PEOLC) in nursing homes is a common concern, and the need to measure the preparedness of nursing staff for end-of-life care is increasing. This study aimed to verify the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the self-reported scale for the Staff Preparedness for PEOLC in long-term care homes. Methods: A total of 161 staff took part in the study; among them were nine nurses, 19 nursing assistants, 133 care workers at four nursing homes located in Wonju and Suncheon cities, South Korea. The scale was translated according to the guidelines of World Health Organization guidelines and Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments, and its reliability and validity were evaluated through assessing its internal consistency, stability, and construct validity (confirmatory factor analysis, CFA). Results: CFA confirmed that the measurement tool had a good fit (comparative fit index=.96, Turker-Lewis index=.95, root mean-squared error of approximation=.07). The items’ internal consistencies of the items were found to be reliable with Cronbach’s alpha=.94; the Pearson’s correlation coefficient between test and retest of the tool was .86 (p&lt;.001); and the intraclass correlation coefficient value was .91 (95% confidence interval: .85~.96). Conclusion: The Korean version of the Staff Preparedness for PEOLC in long-term care homes was confirmed to be a useful and reliable scale for measuring the preparedness of nursing staff in Korean long-term care facilities in Korea for PEOLC.

Adjustment Estimation and Validation of the Addiction to Social Networks Scale Using the SEM Methodology

Currently, social networks serve as communication tools, but the problem of excessive usage leading to addiction is on the rise. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to validate the Social Network addiction (SNA) scale in university students. The study is developed from a quantitative approach, of an exploratory and confirmatory type. The type of sampling is non-probabilistic by self-determination, and the participation of 200 students was achieved, to whom the reason for the survey was explained, who agreed to participate voluntarily. For data analysis, the instrument was validated according to Cronbach's alpha criteria and after, for the analysis, the SEM methodology was used. The most important findings show only the conformation of a two-factor model, which includes the seven most representative items, and which are feasible to analyze in this study group. The goodness-of-fit index (GFI) value is acceptable since it exceeds the theoretical threshold greater than 0.9 and the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) is less than 0.05. The Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) and the norm adjustment index (NFI) are greater than 0.9. Based on the results, it can be concluded that students exhibit a strong desire for connectivity. Furthermore, they invest a significant amount of time in their online networks and experience uncertainty about how to occupy their when they are not connected.

Drug content determination of low-dosed hot-melt extruded filaments using Raman spectroscopy

The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of a non-disruptive Raman spectroscopic method to quantify drug concentrations below 5 w% within a polymer matrix produced by hot-melt extrusion (HME). For calibration, praziquantel (PZQ)—polyvinylpyrrolidone-vinylacetat-copolymer (PVP-VA) mixtures were extruded. By focusing the laser light of the Raman probe to a diameter of 1 mm and implementing a self-constructed filament holder, the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio could be reduced considerably. The obtained Raman spectra show quite high fluorescence, which is likely to be caused by dissolved pharmaceutical active ingredient (API) in the polymer matrix. For content determination, HPLC analysis was conducted as a reference method using the same filament segments. A partial least squares (PLS) model, regressing the PZQ concentrations from HPLC method analysis versus the off-line collected Raman spectra, was developed. The linear correlation for a suitable extrusion run for the production of low-dosed filaments (extrusion 1, two kneading zones) is acceptable (R 2 = 0.9915) while the correlation for a extrusion set-up with low miscibility (extrusion 2; without kneading zone) is unacceptable (R 2 = 0.5349). The predictive performance of the calibration model from extrusion 1 is rated by the root mean square error of estimation (RMSEE), which was 0.08%. This calibration can now be used to validate the content of low-dosed filaments during HME.

Validity and Reliability of Child-Friendly School Policy Evaluation Instruments in Primary Schools: Confirmatory Factor Analysis

&lt;p style="text-align:justify"&gt;Evaluation of child-friendly school (CFS) policies is essential to determine the achievements of school efforts in reducing violence cases. This research aims to proving the reliability and validity of CFS policy evaluation instruments in elementary schools with different locations. This investigation uses the Context Input Process Product (CIPP) evaluation model to confirm the factor structure or dimensions of several observed variables (items) to evaluate the reliability and validity of the CFS policy evaluation tool in elementary schools. The validity and reliability of previously created instruments are evaluated quantitatively, but this study utilises different subjects and study sites. There were 320 respondents, with 145 school principals and 175 teachers taken randomly. Confirmatory factors analysis (CFA) results show goodness of fit (GOF), and the model is acceptable. The CFS evaluation instrument can be accepted after eliminating several question items and modifying them. All items of the teal instrument meet the goodness of fit criteria in terms of chi-square and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA). The instrument for evaluating CFS policies in primary schools using the CIPP model has met a valid and reliable psychometric property test so that it can be applied.&lt;/p&gt;

Assessing suboptimal health status in the Saudi population: Translation and validation of the SHSQ-25 questionnaire.

Suboptimal Health Status (SHS) is realised as a vital feature for improving global health. However, the Arabian world does not have a validated instrument for screening SHS in their population. Therefore, the study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of Arabic-translated SHS (ASHSQ-25) in the Saudi Arabian population. We conducted a cross-sectional study among the conveniently sampled 1590 participants from the Saudi population (with a 97.4% response rate). The data was gathered through an online survey and then exported into SPSS and AMOS version 26.0 for analysis. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to identify the median difference between demographic groups. The one-tailed 90% upper limit of SHS scores was chosen as the cut-off criteria for SHS. Reliability and confirmatory analysis were performed for the psychometric evaluation of ASHSQ-25 in the Saudi Arabian context. This study demonstrates that the ASHSQ-25 has good internal consistency, interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.92; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.91-0.93) and reliability (Cronbach's α = 0.92). The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results indicated a good fit of the databased on the CMIN/degrees of freedom (df) = 4.461, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.94, Tucker Lewis index (TLI) = 0.93, and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) = 0.05. The result factor loadings for each item were high (≥ 0.55), except for one item from the immune system subscale. The SHS cut-off point for ASHSQ-25 was 33, leading to a 23.7% prevalence of SHS. This study reveals that ASHSQ-25 has appropriate internal consistency and structural validity to assess SHS in an Arabic-speaking population; therefore, it is recommended.

Confirmatory factor analysis of the Race-Based Traumatic Stress Symptom Scale in a sample of Asian American adults.

The present study examined the factor structure of the Race-Based Traumatic Stress Symptom Scale (RBTSSS) in a sample of Asian American adults. The sample (n = 403) comprised 78% women, ages 18-72 years, who were administered the RBTSSS in a survey. A first-order and second-order confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted. The RBTSSS demonstrated good internal consistency in the present study, Cronbach's αs = .78-.94. The first-order CFA revealed mixed model fit indices, χ²(1,253) = 3,431.52, p < .001, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = .066, comparative fit index (CFI) = .875, Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) = .868. The second-order CFA revealed similar mixed findings, χ²(1,267) = 3,559.93, p < .001, RMSEA = .067, CFI = .869, TLI = .863. Findings demonstrated mixed support for the factor structure of the RBTSSS in a sample of Asian American adults. Future research may consider additional testing of the RBTSSS in Asian Americans and further exploring the construct of racial trauma in Asian Americans. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Estimating the number of factors in exploratory factor analysis via out-of-sample prediction errors.

Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) is one of the most popular statistical models in psychological science. A key problem in EFA is to estimate the number of factors. In this article, we present a new method for estimating the number of factors based on minimizing the out-of-sample prediction error of candidate factor models. We show in an extensive simulation study that our method slightly outperforms existing methods, including parallel analysis, Bayesian information criterion (BIC), Akaike information criterion (AIC), root mean squared error of approximation (RMSEA), and exploratory graph analysis. In addition, we show that, among the best performing methods, our method is the one that is most robust across different specifications of the true factor model. We provide an implementation of our method in the R-package fspe. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).