Spectral subtraction-based filter for experimental modal analysis under harmonics excitation force

In modal analysis, measurement of input force and vibration response are crucial to accurately measure the transfer function of the structure. However, under operating condition, the force induced by operating machinery is impossible to be measured due to the sensor placement issue. In this case, the ambient response induced by the operating force should be suppressed to minimize the error in the Frequency Response Function (FRF) calculation. This paper presents the utilization of a modified spectral subtraction filter for ambient suppression. The introduction of effective ambient magnitude in gain function calculation has increased the efficiency of spectral subtraction filter. This parameter is calculated based on the phase information of the reconstructed artificial ambient response. The measurement using EMA was carried out on a motor-driven structure to verify the proposed technique. Two sets of data under shutdown and running condition were recorded to observe the effect of ambient operating force. Under the operating condition, the measured FRF show the non-identical features at operating frequencies as compared to the baseline data. The utilization of filtering process shows the ambient features contained in the transfer function was effectively suppressed. The output of filtering algorithm could provide an alternative option to perform EMA procedure under running condition.

Testing the Validity of the Modified Vaccine Attitude Question Battery across 22 Languages with a Large-scale International Survey Dataset

In this study, we tested the validity of the modified version of the Vaccine Attitude Question Battery (VAQB) across 22 different languages. Validity test was conducted with a large-scale international survey dataset, COVIDiSTRESSII Global Survey, collected from 20,601 participants from 62 countries. We employed exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, measurement invariance test, and measurement alignment for internal validity test. Moreover, we examined correlation between the VAQB score, vaccination intent, compliance with preventive measures, and trust in public health-related agents. The results reported that the modified VAQB, which included five items, showed good validity across 22 languages with measurement alignment. Furthermore, the VAQB score showed negative association with vaccination intent, compliance, and trust as expected. The findings from this study provide additional evidence supporting the validity of the modified VAQB in 22 languages for future large-scale international research on COVID-19 and vaccination.

Validity Testing of the Conspiratorial Thinking and Anti-Expert Sentiment Scales Across 24 Languages from a Large-Scale Global Dataset

In this study, we tested the validity across two scales addressing conspiratorial beliefs that may influence behaviors related to public health, government, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The 4-item Conspiratorial Thinking Scale and 3-item Anti-Expert Sentiment Scale were validated across 24 languages and dialects using the COVIDiSTRESSII Global Survey dataset, with 12,261 participants who completed the survey in languages with greater than 100 participants per language. We employed confirmatory factor analysis, measurement invariance test, and measurement alignment for internal consistency testing. To test convergent validity of the two scales, we assessed correlations with trust in seven agents related to government, science, and public health. Although scalar invariance was not achieved when measurement invariance test was conducted initially, we found that both scales can be employed in further international studies with measurement alignment. Moreover, both conspiratorial and anti-expert beliefs were significantly and negatively correlated with trust in all agents. Findings from this study provide supporting evidence for the validity of both scales across 24 languages for future large-scale international research.

Evaluating Psychometric Properties of the New Teachers’ Perceptions of Collective Efficacy to Handle Bullying Scale (TCEB)

Collective efficacy is a promising theoretical construct that has been used to explain bullying rates in school. The development of school collective efficacy scales has increased in bullying research in recent years; however, gaps remain in measuring collective efficacy to handle bullying. This research assessed the psychometric properties of a new scale to evaluate collective efficacy against bullying. This first-order one-dimensional scale is called the teachers’ perceptions of collective efficacy to handle bullying (TCEB) scale. A sample of 804 Mexican primary teachers completed questionnaires. The sample was randomly split into two subsamples for calibration (n = 402) and cross-validation analysis (n = 402). The factor structure was supported by confirmatory factorial analysis. Measurement equivalence was confirmed by gender. The latent means differences showed no statistically significant differences by teachers’ gender. The TCEB correlation with school environment factors (e.g., principal support, school climate, and bullying) confirms the scale’s discriminant and concurrent validity. Our findings suggest that TCEB is a suitable instrument to assess teachers’ perceptions of collective efficacy to handle bullying, a construct that has proved to help predict a positive whole-school context and student bullying involvement.

A New Analytical Design Methodology for a Three-Section Wideband Wilkinson Power Divider

In this paper, a new analytical design technique for a three-section wideband Wilkinson power divider is presented. The proposed design technique utilizes the dual-frequency behavior of commensurate transmission lines for the even-mode analysis and contributes a set of completely new and rigorous design equations for the odd-mode analysis. Measurement of a fabricated prototype utilizing the proposed technique shows an excellent return-loss (>16 dB), insertion loss (<3.35 dB), and excellent isolation (>22.7 dB) over 104% fractional bandwidth extending beyond the minimum requirements.

Evaluation of Marblewood Dust’s (Marmaroxylon racemosum) Effect on Ignition Risk

The paper deals with the selected characteristics, such as moisture, average bulk density, and fraction size, of tropical marblewood dust (Marmaroxylon racemosum) that influence its ignition risk. Research was focused on sieve analysis, granulometric analysis, measurement of moisture level in the dust, and determination of the minimum ignition temperatures of airborne tropical dust and dust layers. Samples were prepared using a Makita 9556CR 1400W grinder and K36 sandpaper for the purpose of selecting the percentages of the various fractions (<63, 63, 71, 100, 200, 315, 500 μm). The samples were sized on an automatic vibratory sieve machine Retsch AS 200. More than 65% of the particles were determined to be under 100 μm. The focus was on microfractions of tropical wood dust (particles with a diameter of ≤100 µm) and on the impact assessment of particle size (particle size <100 µm) on the minimum ignition temperatures of airborne tropical dust and dust layers. The minimum ignition temperature of airborne marblewood dust decreased with the particle size to the level of 400 °C (particle size 63 μm).

Assessment of Regional Development Institutions and Executive Authorities of the Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation

Regional development management involves the use of development institutions, which are designed to enhance the functionality in solving the problems of the regions. For Russian regions, it is quite often proposed to borrow such institutions, for example, in the form of agencies and corporations for regional development, which looks very unreasonable. The task of distributing resources between regions, which cannot be considered solved in Russia, involves assessing the effectiveness of regional management, executive authorities, for which a system of indicators (of 20 parameters) and corresponding methods have been developed and approved, which are currently being improved and processed. The unresolved nature of these problems makes us once again turn to the validity of the decisions made and the argumentation of the position on the use of development agencies as institutions. This study provides a critical analysis of the borrowing of development institutions for the regions, demonstrating the importance of the project management method, which involves a comprehensive assessment of the feasibility of new functions, which is difficult to implement without a reliable assessment of the reasons for the negative work of existing functions and institutions at the regional level. Using a comparative survey method of analysis, measurement principles suitable for assessing the effectiveness of management, an alternative methodology for measuring the effectiveness of regional authorities in Russia is proposed. It allows you to assess the economic, social, administrative, budgetary and environmental aspects of the development of the region and the solution to breakdown in these areas by the executive bodies of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation. The advantage of the proposed alternative methodology is the smaller number of indicators, as well as the use of an already established accounting and measurement system, with minimal costs for the creation of new methods and their testing. Like any approach of this type, the assessment is conditional, but the convenience of the methodology, flexibility and simplicity, allow us to give a generalized assessment of both the development of the region and the management of its development. At the same time, the use of private indicators characterizing individual spheres of the region’s functioning can occur within the framework of each of the areas of work of a government body. Thus, the analysis performed casts doubt on the need for regional agencies and corporations as an institutional panacea for development. In addition, it allows us to propose a different institution for assessing the effectiveness of management, on which the procedures for allocating resources between regions will depend, which is especially important in connection with the goals of restructuring regional debts and the implementation of infrastructure loans declared by the Federal government.

Analisis Kinerja Website Dinas Komunikasi dan Informatika Menggunakan Metode Pieces

The Diskominfo website is a means of communication to convey various information to the wider community. The existence of a website helps at the same time cover up the government's limitations in the dissemination of various information so that the public does not experience information gaps. This website is analyzed using the Pieces method such as performance, information, economic, control, efficiency, and service by testing using the GT Matrik Tools and Google Transparency Report, while the test results obtained after the analysis are obtained that the average page speed grade is 27%. or in grade F. This means that the quality of the Diskominfo website based on the index generated by Google is still very low, the same thing is also produced by YSlow Grade from Yahoo where the average YSlow Grade is 66% or grade D. The low quality of the web will certainly affect website performance. While testing based on the results of control measurements, the Diskominfo website is safe for public visits. The Diskominfo website has good efficiency, because the existing system can be used properly and can also produce the expected output. In the analysis measurement results, the menu structure that is built can be seen from its initial purpose, which is to provide services to the community, however, this service is still not optimal because the content of the service is not well filled. D. Rendahnya kualitas web tersebut tentu akan mempengaruhi kinerja website. Sedangkan pengujian Berdasarkan hasil pengukuran control, website Diskominfo aman untuk dikunjungi oleh masyarakat. Website Diskominfo telah memiliki efisiensi yang baik, karena sistem yang ada telah dapat digunakan dengan baik dan juga dapat menghasilkan output yang diharapkan. Pada hasil pengukuran analisis bahwa struktur menu yang dibangun dapat dilihat tujuan awalnya yaitu dapat memberikan pelayanan kepada masyarakat, Akan tetapi pelayanan ini masih belum maksimal dikarenakan konten pelayanan belum banyak terisi dengan baik.