A method for analyzing generalized characteristics of the South Asia Low structure taking into account a thermal regime of underlying surface

The South Asia Low is considered, that is a seasonal center of atmospheric action, a predominant type of circulation in the lower troposphere during the warm season over the Near and Middle East. The generalized factorial model of the low for the levels of 1000, 925, and 850 hPa is presented. The dependence of generalized characteristics of the low structure on surface air temperature in the summer months is estimated for different types of the low. The results of the present study extend information about the seasonal center of atmospheric action: they allow obtaining typical fields of the low taking into account the features of internal structure; revealing peculiarities of meteorological conditions for different types of the low (in different parts of the analyzed macroregion). The identified generalized characteristics of the low structure can be used for constructing forecast models. Keywords: South Asia Low, geopotential height, reanalysis, isobaric level, factor, cluster, correlation coefficient

Meaningful work, work and life satisfaction: Spanish adaptation of Work and Meaning Inventory Scale

Meaningful work is the subjective experience that work has meaning and is understood as an avenue for personal development, from a eudaimonic point of view. The aim of this study is to adapt the WAMI scale of meaningful work to Spanish, as well as to explore its relationship with job and life satisfaction. Two independent studies were developed. A first study analyzed the consistency of the original factorial model using a sample of Spanish varied workers (N = 350) through a confirmatory factor analysis. Results show an adequate replication of the original model and the validity of the Spanish version. A second study addressed the predictive capacity of the scale in relation to two satisfaction measures in a sample of Spanish health workers (N=312), through a mediation analysis. The relationship between meaningful work and job satisfaction is mediated by life satisfaction. The idea of meaningful work as a eudaimonic construct discards it as a variable resulting from or consequence of work, as it is an inherent part of occupational activity itself.

Escala de avaliação do stress parental na unidade de neonatologia: Validação estatística para a população portuguesa

Objetivo: Realizar la traducción, adaptación cultural y lingüística y la valoración de las cualidades psicométricas de la Escala de Evaluación de Estrés Parental en la Unidad de Neonatología - versión modificada.Método: Estudio metodológico con enfoque cuantitativo, para validar la Escala de Evaluación de Estrés Parental en la Unidad de Neonatología. Los padres fueron seleccionados por muestreo no aleatorio (n = 406 padres). En la estimación de la sensibilidad, validez y confiabilidad de la Escala de Evaluación de Estrés Parental en Neonatología se utilizó estadística descriptiva, alfa de Cronbach estandarizado y análisis factorial confirmatorio (índices de calidad del ajuste del modelo χ2 / df, CFI, TLI, RMSEA, P (RMSEA).Resultados: Los índices empíricos de la calidad del ajuste del modelo factorial EASPUN-VM, presentan una calidad aceptable (χ2 / gl = 3.3; CFI = 0.8; GFI = 0.8; TLI = 0.8 y PRMSEA = 0,07).Conclusión: La Escala de Evaluación de Estrés Parental en la Unidad de Neonatología - versión modificada es un instrumento psicométricamente sensible, válido y confiable que permitirá la evaluación sistemática del estrés parental, cuando los niños ingresan en las unidades de Neonatología, facilita la toma de decisiones de enfermeras en el seguimiento de los padres y derivación a otros profesionales de la salud. Objective: To translate the Neonatal Unit Parental Stress scale into Portuguese and culturally and linguistically adapt it for Portugal, and to evaluate the psychometric qualities of the Neonatal Unit Parental Stress Assessment Scale - Modified Version (EASPUN-MV). Method: This was a quantitative methodological study to validate the Neonatal Unit Parental Stress Assessment Scale. Parents were selected by non-probabilistic sampling (n = 406 parents). Descriptive statistics, standardized Cronbach's alpha, and confirmatory factor analysis were used to calculate the sensitivity, validity, and reliability of the Neonatology Unit Parental Stress Assessment Scale (indexes of the model's goodness of fit χ2/df, CFI, TLI, RMSEA, P(RMSEA). Results: The empirical indexes of the EASPUN-MV’s factorial model showed acceptable goodness of fit (χ2/df=3.3; CFI=0.8; GFI=0.8; TLI=0.8 and P(RMSEA)=0.07). Conclusion: The Neonatology Unit Parental Stress Assessment Scale - Modified Version is a psychometrically sensitive, valid and reliable instrument that can systematically assess parental stress and facilitate the decision-making of nurses, the follow-up care of parents, and their referral to other healthcare professionals. Objetivo: Fazer a tradução, adaptação cultural e linguística e a avaliação das qualidades psicométricas da Escala de Avaliação do Stress Parental na Unidade de Neonatologia-versão modificada.Método: Estudo metodológico com abordagem quantitativa, para validação da Escala de Avaliação do Stress Parental na Unidade de Neonatologia. Os pais foram selecionados por amostragem não aleatória (n=406 pais). Na estimação da sensibilidade, validade e fiabilidade da Escala de Avaliação do Stress Parental na Neonatologia recorreu-se à estatística descritiva, alfa de Cronbach estandardizado e análise fatorial confirmatória (índices de qualidade do ajustamento do modelo χ2/df, CFI, TLI, RMSEA, P(RMSEA). Resultados: Os índices empíricos da qualidade do ajustamento do modelo fatorial da EASPUN-VM, apresentam uma qualidade aceitável (χ2/df=3,3; CFI=0,8; GFI=0,8; TLI=0,8 e PRMSEA=0,07). Conclusão: A Escala de Avaliação do Stress Parental na Unidade de Neonatologia-versão modificada é um instrumento psicometricamente sensível, válido e fiável que permitirá a avaliação sistematizada do stress parental, aquando do internamento dos filhos nas unidades de Neonatologia, facilita a tomada de decisão dos enfermeiros no acompanhamento dos pais e no encaminhamento para outros profissionais de saúde.

Psychometric Validation of a Questionnaire to Assess Perception and Knowledge About Exposure to Pesticides in Rural Schoolchildren of Maule, Chile

Exposure to pesticides during infancy is associated with numerous adverse health outcomes. The assessment of knowledge and perception of pesticides exposure and risk among children has not been thoroughly studied. The aim of the study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of a questionnaire that measures the knowledge and perception of exposure to organophosphate pesticides among rural schoolchildren. The questionnaire was administered to 151 schoolchildren between 9 and 13years from four Chilean rural schools. An internal consistency analysis of the ordinal alpha coefficient and a polychoric factor analysis for categorical data were used. The results show that the ordinal alpha was 0.95. Polychoric matrices of rotated components show the 17 questions summarized pesticide knowledge in five factors extracted after promax rotation. This factorial model explains 56.3% of the variance. The questions were grouped as follows: knowledge about pesticides (Factor 1); knowledge of health effects related to pesticides exposure (Factor 2); pesticide exposure through the growing of fruits and vegetables (Factor 3); perception and action against pesticides exposure at school (Factor 4); and perception and action against pesticides exposure at home (Factor 5). The questionnaire provides a useful tool for examining pesticide exposure in agricultural regions, allowing younger community members to participate.

Change of Land Quality with the Introduction of the Biochar Combination and Cocoa Waste Compost

This study examines the introduction of a combination of cocoa husk biochar which has been a cocoa plantation waste combined with fermented cocoa leaf waste. This study was conducted in West Sulawesi. This study used a randomized block design using a factorial model where the first factor was the administration of cocoa husk biochar with 3 levels, namely without administration (B0), 6 kg plant biochar-1 (B1), 12 kg plant biochar-1(B2) while the second factor was application of fermented cocoa leaf waste (K) which consists of 3 levels, namely without giving cocoa leaf waste (K0), giving 6 kg plant-1 (K1), biochar 12 kg plant-1 (K2). The nine treatment combinations were repeated three times to obtain 27 plant samples. The analysed soil characteristics are calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K) showed that the combination of cocoa rind Biochar and fermented cocoa leaf waste had an effect on increasing calcium (Ca) by 9.23. Magnesium 1.66 and for the element Potassium had no significant effect on the interaction of the combination of cocoa husk biochar and fermented cocoa leaf waste, but gave a very significant effect on the administration of biochar 12 kg plants-1.

Use of Paper Microdevices in the Identification and Quantification of Cocaine in Seized Street Samples

The growing consumption of illicit drugs in Brazil is becoming increasingly problematic for society. It is therefore critical to develop technologies to combat drug trafficking that allow for rapid, non-invasive evaluation of drug samples. Microfluidics is a technology that manipulates and studies small amounts of fluids, using structures with dimensions from ten to hundreds of micrometers (microdevices). The main advantages of microfluidic approaches are its low cost, speed, and ability to provide results in loco. Here, paper microfluidics were developed to perform the modified Scott test to calculate the cocaine hydrochloride content in seized samples of cocaine (n = 30) and crack (n = 30). A smartphone with the Photometrix® app was used to construct a model for quantifying the samples. A factorial model was developed to optimize microfluidic analytical parameters such as spot size (6, 8 and 10 mm), reagent content (50, 75, and 100% cobalt thiocyanate II), cocaine hydrochloride concentration (4, 6 and 8 mg mL-1) and response time (or analyte detection; t = 0, 0.5 1, 12 and 24 h). After experimental planning, a diameter of ΜPADs = 8 mm - [Co(SCN)2] = 100% and a 1 h response time were identified as the best conditions. We observed that the cocaine hydrochloride concentration did not influence the model. A sample concentration of 15 mg mL-1 was used to quantify cocaine hydrochloride in street samples apprehended by the Forensic Police of Espírito Santo state (with n = 60). The quantification curve constructed to determine the cocaine hydrochloride concentration showed a determination coefficient, R2, of 0.98246 and RMSEC (root mean squares error calibration - mean square error of the calibration) of 0.39480, with a LOD and LOQ of 0.09 and 0.30 mg mL-1, respectively. For the crack samples, the cocaine hydrochloride concentrations ranged from 2.5 to 60.8 wt% with an average purity content of 21.3 ± 13.3 wt%. For the seized cocaine samples, variation in hydrochloride content from 1.2 to 22.6 wt% was observed with a mean percentage of 14.19 ± 6.92 wt%. Finally, chemometric tools such as principal component analysis were used to assess the similarity among the samples.

Validation and psychometric properties of the Brazilian-Portuguese dispositional flow scale 2 (DFS-BR)

Introduction: Flow state is a psychological concept used to describe the optimal engagement in different activities. Therefore, the DFS-2 has been developed as an instrument to measure an individual’s dispositional tendency to flow state as a personality trait. Objective: Aiming to obtain an adapted version of the DFS-2 for the Brazilian-Portuguese language (DFS-BR) and for general activities, we performed its forward- and backward-translation, and we validated it. Methods: After gathering answers from 681 Brazilian participants, we performed: (1) the construct validity of the DFS-BR; and (2) the psychometric item quality analysis. Results: the Confirmatory Factorial Analysis (CFA) indicates the best fit for the gathered data is a nine multi-correlated factorial model (χ2/df = 4.23, CFI = 0.94, TLI = 0.93 and RMSEA = 0.069). Reliability tests performed in this structure indicates excellent internal consistency for the DFS-BR. The item quality analysis indicates that its difficulty and discriminating parameters have a good endorsement to estimate the dispositional flow state. Additionally, we proposed and validated a short version of the DFS-BR (composed of only nine items). The validation results indicates good fit (χ2/df = 2.94, CFI = 0.98, TLI = 0.97 and RMSEA = 0.053) and good internal consistency. The Test Information Curve of the short version indicates that it is very informative in the estimation of individual dispositional flow state. Discussion and Conclusions: In view of these results, we conclude that the DFS-BR showed good evidence of its validity to be used with Brazilian people. We also suggest the use of a short version when we need only measure the person’s flow state based on the principle of Occam’s razor. This principle is supported by the analysis presented in this article.

A Portuguese Adaptation of the Teruel Orthorexia Scale and a Test of Its Utility with Brazilian Young Adults

The aims for this study were to perform a Portuguese language cross-cultural adaptation of the Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS) and to evaluate the scale’s psychometric properties, including verifying the frequency of behaviors characteristic of orthorexia nervosa and healthy orthorexia, among a group of Brazilian gym users. First, we adapted the Spanish version of the TOS to the Brazilian Portuguese language following international protocols to guarantee idiomatic, semantic, conceptual, and cultural equivalence. Then participants completed both the new Portuguese version of the TOS and a socioeconomic questionnaire. Among our sample of 226 young Brazilian adults (63.7% men; M age = 28.8, SD = 5.1 years), we assessed the bi-factorial model of the TOS through factorial, convergent, and discriminant validity, reliability, and factorial invariance. We calculated the mean scores of the TOS factors and the frequency of behaviors of both orthorexia nervosa and healthy orthorexia. The new Portuguese version was well understood by participants, and the TOS bi-factorial model presented adequate psychometric properties and showed invariance in independent subsamples and in men and women. The mean scores were different between sexes only for orthorexia nervosa, with women obtaining higher values. The frequency of orthorexia nervosa behaviors was 5.3% and of healthy orthorexia was 41.2%. Based on these findings, the Brazilian Portuguese version of the TOS can be a useful tool for investigating orthorexia-like behaviors in future research.