Assessing Patient Preferences: Examination of the German Cooper-Norcross Inventory of Preferences

Despite the positive effects of including patients’ preferences into therapy on psychotherapy outcomes, there are still few thoroughly validated assessment tools at hand. We translated the 18-item Cooper-Norcross Inventory of Preferences (C-NIP) into German and aimed at replicating its factor structure. Further, we investigated the reliability of the questionnaire and its convergence with trait measures. A heterogeneous sample of N = 969 participants took part in our online survey. Performing ESEM models, we found acceptable model fit for a four-factor structure similar to the original factor structure. Furthermore, we propose an alternative model following the adjustment of single items. The German C-NIP showed acceptable to good reliability, as well as small correlations with Big-Five personality traits, trait and attachment anxiety, locus of control, and temporal focus. However, we recommend further replication of the factor structure and further validation of the C-NIP.

Establishment of the dependence of the strength indicator of the composite material of pressure hoses on the character of single damages

Experimental studies are presented and the dependence of the change in the strength of the material of a pressure head fire hose of type T with an inner diameter of 77 mm in the longitudinal direction is established, taking into account single damages. The work describes the plan of the experiment and carried out a number of field experiments to determine the effect of the length ld and the depth K damage on the strength F of the hose material, that is, obtaining the dependence F=f (ld, K). A mathematical method of experiment planning was used and a plan was drawn up for a complete multivariate experiment of type 2k with an acceptable model accuracy of 5 %. The limits of variation of the factors are set taking into account a priori information, experimental capabilities and on the basis of the results of preliminary search experiments. The dependence in the coded and natural values of the factors is obtained. The reliability of the relationship was checked using the Fisher test, the calculated value of which was 5.98, which confirms the adequacy of the described process with a probability of 95 %. Analyzing experimental studies of the dependence of the change in the strength of the hose material on the length and depth of damage, it can be said that the change in the strength of the hose almost linearly depends on the specified damage parameters. It is found that with increasing damage, the strength of the hose material significantly decreases. When varying the length factor and the greatest depth of damage, K=0.4 mm, the strength of the hose material decreases from 11.67 kN to 8.77 kN, and in percentage terms by 25 %. The results obtained can be used in practical units of emergency rescue teams, when diagnosing hidden damage in pressure head fire hoses in order to prevent their failure in case of fires

Rapid Assessment of Fresh Beef Spoilage Using Portable Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

The objective of this study was to develop a prediction model to assess fresh beef spoilage directly with the use of a portable near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), without conducting a chemical method. Three fresh beef samples were bought from a slaughterhouse and traditional market on separate days. Spectra were acquired using a portable Scio spectrometer with wavelength 740-1070 nm, and two-third was used for calibration sets and one-third for validation sets. Partial least square regression and cross-validation were used to develop a model and equation for predicting beef spoilage. The changes observed were changed in color, water loss, and muscle hardness. The best predictive model was obtained from the original spectra (no pre-process) results as follows (R2C = 0.9, Rp = 0.86, SEC = 0.61, SEP = 0.69 and RPD = 3.53). Multiple Scattered Correlation (MSC) pre-processing method gave a good and acceptable model with results as follows; Rc = 0.89, SEC = 0.66, SEP = 0.83 and RPD = 2.91. NIRS showed variability of the samples and rate of spoilage, hence, can be used to assess quality and safety. Further studies are needed to develop a robust model to predict fresh beef spoilage using a portable NIRS Scio.

Full-Field History-Matching of Commingling Stacked Reservoirs: A Case Study of an Oman Southern Asset

This paper presents an innovative and practical workflow framework implemented in an Oman southern asset. The asset consists of three isolated accumulations or fields or structures that differ in rock and fluid properties. Each structure has multiple stacked members of Gharif and Alkhlata formations. Oil production started in 1986, with more than 60 commingling wells. The accumulations are not only structurally and stratigraphically complicated but also dynamically complex with numerous input uncertainties. It was impossible to assist the history matching process using a modern optimization-based technique due to the structural complexities of the reservoirs and magnitudes of the uncertain parameters. A structured history-matching approach, Stratigraphic Method (SM), was adopted and guided by suitable subsurface physics by adjusting multi-uncertain parameters simultaneously within the uncertainty envelope to mimic the model response. An essential step in this method is the preliminary analysis, which involved integrating various geological and engineering data to understand the reservoir behavior and the physics controlling the reservoir dynamics. The first step in history-matching these models was to adjust the critical water saturation to correct the numerical water production by honoring the capillary-gravity equilibrium and reservoir fluid flow dynamics. The significance of adjusting the critical water saturation before modifying other parameters and the causes of this numerical water production is discussed. Subsequently, the other major uncertain parameters were identified and modified, while a localized adjustment was avoided except in two wells. This local change was guided by a streamlined technique to ensure minimal model modification and retain geological realism. Overall, acceptable model calibration results were achieved. The history-matching framework's novelty is how the numerical water production was controlled above the transition zone and how the reservoir dynamics were understood from the limited data.

Validation of Korean Version of the Hardiness Resilience Gauge

Hardiness and resilience are known as internal traits that buffer the negative effects of stress and play important roles in individuals’ well-being and psychological sustainability. This study aimed to validate the Korean version of the hardiness resilience gauge (HRG Korean). Reliability and validity were analyzed using data obtained from 389 Korean adults. Confirmatory factor analysis with three factors (challenge, control, and commitment) for the HRG Korean showed acceptable model fit, with satisfactory RMSEA and SRMR indices, allowing for some covariance in error terms. Cronbach’s α for challenge, control, commitment subscales, and the total HRG Korean were 0.84, 0.74, 0.86, and 0.92, respectively. Analyses of the concurrent validity revealed that the total score of the HRG Korean was closely correlated with the scores of the KHD-SF and MR-KA, which measure hardiness and resilience in Korea, respectively. In addition, the HRG Korean was relatively strongly correlated with life satisfaction and subjective happiness. These findings suggest that the HRG is a valid instrument for measuring Koreans’ hardiness and resilience to promote their well-being and sustainability.

Genome-Wide Mutation Scoring for Machine-Learning-Based Antimicrobial Resistance Prediction

The prediction of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) based on genomic information can improve patient outcomes. Genetic mechanisms have been shown to explain AMR with accuracies in line with standard microbiology laboratory testing. To translate genetic mechanisms into phenotypic AMR, machine learning has been successfully applied. AMR machine learning models typically use nucleotide k-mer counts to represent genomic sequences. While k-mer representation efficiently captures sequence variation, it also results in high-dimensional and sparse data. With limited training data available, achieving acceptable model performance or model interpretability is challenging. In this study, we explore the utility of feature engineering with several biologically relevant signals. We propose to predict the functional impact of observed mutations with PROVEAN to use the predicted impact as a new feature for each protein in an organism’s proteome. The addition of the new features was tested on a total of 19,521 isolates across nine clinically relevant pathogens and 30 different antibiotics. The new features significantly improved the predictive performance of trained AMR models for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter freundii, and Escherichia coli. The balanced accuracy of the respective models of those three pathogens improved by 6.0% on average.

Translation and validation of the Canadian assessment of physical literacy-2 in a Danish sample

Background The aim of this study was to translate the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy, second edition (CAPL-2) into Danish language, adapt it to Danish context and to test the measurement properties on a sample of Danish school children. Methods The CAPL-2 measurement tool was translated into Danish language and adapted for the Danish context. This Danish version of the CAPL-2 was then tested on 891 Danish school children from 50 classes in 12 different schools. Results Confirmatory factor analysis using the four-factor model, as suggested by the CAPL-2 original developers, showed an acceptable model fit for the Danish version (CFI = .973; TLI = .957; RMSEA = 0.040 (90% CI 0.033–0.054); SRMR = 0.040). Positive significant correlations between the domains were found. The domains as well as the total CAPL-2 score were found to be positively associated with physical education teachers’ assessment of their pupil’s in four central aspects of PL (i.e. enjoyment, confidence, motor skills, and diversity) indicating predictive validity. High internal consistency of the instrument used to measure motivation and confidence domain were found. Conclusion The translated and context-adapted Danish version of CAPL-2 is a valid and reliable measurement tool ready to use in Danish research studies.

Gravitational collapse of compact stars in f(R) = ξR4 gravity

In this paper, model of gravitational collapse of anisotropic compact stars in a new theory of [Formula: see text] gravity has been developed. The author considers the modified gravity model of [Formula: see text] to investigate a physically acceptable model of gravitational collapse of anisotropic compact stars. First, the author presents a brief review of the development of field equations of gravitational collapse in [Formula: see text] gravity for a particular interior metric for compact stars. Then analytical solutions for various physical quantities of collapsing anisotropic compact stars in [Formula: see text] gravity have been developed. By analyzing plots of various physical parameters and conditions, it is shown that the model is physically acceptable for describing the gravitational collapse of anisotropic compact stars in [Formula: see text] gravity.

Uncertainty in World Politics: New “Normality” or New “Abnormality”

In the conditions of turbulent transformations of the world order, life itself, with its contradictions, difficulties and surprises, extremely actualizes the problems associated with unforeseen risks and challenges to world development. The coronavirus pandemic has created a new “normality” or, more precisely, a new “abnormality” in which countries find themselves regardless of their geopolitical status and place in the international hierarchy. The global coronavirus crisis has exacerbated the already growing uncertainty in global political processes. Uncertainty and the associated strategic instability is a breeding ground for preserving acutely problematic nodes of global politics and delaying the search for constructive solutions that bring them closer to a mutually acceptable model of the coming world order. The phenomenon of apolarity is becoming more and more complicated and has been linked in recent years with the growing weight and influence of new geopolitical players and centers of power — China, India, Latin America states. The international positions of Russia have significantly strengthened, which has acquired a full-fledged role in global politics. In the context of the current geopolitical confrontations and competitive rivalry, the experience of understanding uncertainty in the scientific and expert communities of Russia acquires special practical and political significance.

Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the German Version of the Family Expressiveness Questionnaire (FEQ-GR)

Background: This study aimed to develop a German version of the Family Expressiveness Questionnaire (FEQ; Halberstadt, 1983 , 1986 ), which investigates emotional expressiveness within the family context while growing up. While a theoretically derived four-factor structure was postulated, 2- and 3-scale versions have been applied in research. Methods: In Study 1 ( N = 650), these existing models were tested against each other. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted for the solution that best fitted the data with half of the sample, and results were cross-validated in the other half. Construct validation was investigated in Study 2 ( N = 225). Results: An acceptable model fit for a three-factor solution was attained in Study 1. In Study 2, correlation patterns indicated a good convergent and discriminant validity. Reliability estimates in both studies were in an acceptable to excellent range. Conclusion: Findings suggest that the FEQ German version is a psychometrically sound instrument for assessing expressiveness within the family.