Search Results (1,629)

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adolescents reflects their perception of physical, psychological, and social well-being within a specific cultural context, considering developmental stage and individual differences. The KIDSCREEN-27 is a self-report instrument designed to assess HRQoL in children and adolescents, with demonstrated validity and reliability in international samples. Objective: To examine the psychometric properties (i.e., reliability, construct validity, convergent and discriminant validity, and measurement invariance) of the KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaire in a sample of Mexican adolescents. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 1124 Mexican adolescents aged 10–17 years (M = 13.37, SD = 1.08; 53.5% female; 83.6% secondary education) obtained through non-probabilistic convenience sampling. Reliability (Cronbach’s α, McDonald’s ω), structural validity through exploratory (AFE) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA), measurement invariance by gender, and convergent and discriminant validity via correlations with self-esteem, well-being, stress, and anxiety–depressive symptoms were evaluated. Results: Analyses showed strong internal consistency (α = 0.912, ω = 0.914). EFA supported a five-dimensional structure. CFA showed an optimal fit after including specific covariances (χ²/df = 3.62, RMSEA = 0.048, CFI = 0.929, TLI = 0.919, SRMR = 0.043). Metric and scalar gender invariance were supported. Positive correlations emerged with well-being (r = 0.76, p < 0.01), self-esteem (r = 0.64, p < 0.01), and satisfaction with life (r = 0.52, p < 0.01), and negative correlations with stress (r = −0.61, p < 0.01), academic stress (r = −0.32, p < 0.01) and anxiety–depressive symptomatology (r = −0.53, p < 0.01), providing evidence of convergent and discriminant validity. Conclusions: The KIDSCREEN-27 demonstrated adequate psychometric properties, supporting its use among Mexican adolescents, enabling the identification of well-being needs, monitoring of interventions, informed decision-making in health and educational practice and supporting cross-cultural comparisons of adolescent well-being. Full article

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) is a widely used material for applications in microsensors, actuators, and transducers. Due to its high piezoelectric coefficient, large dielectric constant, and strong polarization capability near the morphotropic phase boundary (Zr/Ti ≈ 52/48), it is considered one of the most attractive materials for micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS). These advantageous material properties strongly depend on the PZT layer’s microstructure and crystallinity, which are primarily determined by the choice of seed layer, deposition conditions, and the post-deposition annealing treatment that promotes the formation of the PZT’s perovskite phase. In this contribution, sputter-deposited PZT thin films were crystallized by conventional furnace annealing (CFA) to evaluate the effect of heating/cooling rates (1 °C·min⁻¹–7 °C·min⁻¹) within a temperature range of 450 °C to 700 °C on structural, electrical, and ferroelectric properties, with consideration of the seed layer preparation. We characterized the materials’ properties by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and measurements of the ferroelectric hysteresis, capacitance, and leakage current. All samples annealed at temperatures of at least 500 °C fully crystallized into the perovskite phase, independently of the heating/cooling rate. The best ferroelectric performance was achieved at 550 °C with a 1 °C·min⁻¹ heating/cooling rate, yielding a saturation polarization of 82.8 µC·cm⁻² and a remnant polarization of 36.9 µC·cm⁻² under a maximum applied field of 300 kV·cm⁻¹. Full article

The article introduces the Hylomorphism Inventory (HI), a new instrument designed to measure lay beliefs about the soul–body relationship that are congruent with the Aristotelian–Thomistic framework of hylomorphism. Although research on intuitive ontology has predominantly focused on dualist and monist models, the hylomorphic perspective—central to Catholic anthropology yet difficult to articulate in everyday cognition—remains largely unexplored. Drawing on research in intuitive anthropology, we conceptualize hylomorphic beliefs as endorsing the human person as a psychophysical unity in which the soul functions as the organizing form of the body. Using a theory-driven approach and expert evaluation, we developed an initial 10-item scale and tested it in a nationwide online sample of Polish adults (n = 407). Exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA), supported by nonparametric Mokken scaling, converged on a primarily unidimensional 9-item solution with high internal consistency (α = 0.89, ordinal α = 0.91, ω ≈ 0.90). Validity analyses revealed that HI scores were strongly associated with beliefs emphasizing the integration of body, mind, and soul, but only weakly related to their mere endorsement as components. This pattern suggests that what distinguishes hylomorphism at the psychological level is not belief in the soul per se, but belief in the unity of the human person. The HI provides a parsimonious tool for differentiating lay anthropological models and enables empirical investigation of how hylomorphism-congruent beliefs relate to moral reasoning, spiritual practices, and broader psychological functioning. Full article

This study developed and validated a curriculum-aligned instrument to assess preservice primary teachers’ geometric reasoning skills. Addressing the limited availability of domain-specific tools in teacher education research, the study examined preservice teachers’ conceptual strengths and weaknesses across key geometry domains relevant to primary mathematics teaching. A two-phase quantitative research design was employed. In Study 1, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Item Response Theory (IRT) were used to evaluate the psychometric properties of the instrument with a sample of 221 preservice teachers, providing evidence of construct validity and internal consistency. Geometric reasoning was conceptualised as a four-factor structure comprising Conceptualisation of Geometric Properties (GP), Geometric Transformation Reasoning (GT), Reasoning with Representations of Three-Dimensional Objects (RE), and Measurement Reasoning (MS). In Study 2, the validated Geometric Reasoning Test (GRT) was administered to a larger sample of 406 preservice primary teachers from three education colleges in Myanmar. Descriptive statistics and group comparisons were conducted using Welch’s t-tests and Welch’s ANOVA to examine differences by gender, year level, and institution. The findings indicate that preservice primary teachers’ geometric reasoning remains underdeveloped across training stages, highlighting the need for greater emphasis on geometry and spatial reasoning in teacher education. Full article

The increasing emphasis on sustainable construction has positioned regulatory frameworks as critical drivers of sustainable building construction project delivery (SBCPD), particularly in developing countries such as South Africa. However, the effectiveness of different regulatory instruments remains insufficiently understood. This study investigates the influence of regulatory factors on SBCPD by examining two key constructs: Compulsory Enforcement and Incentivisation (CEI) and the Sustainable Building National Framework (SBNF). A quantitative research design was adopted, and data were analysed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to assess the relationships between regulatory mechanisms and project delivery outcomes. The findings reveal that CEI does not exhibit a statistically significant influence on SBCPD when modelled as a combined construct, despite showing significance when tested independently. This suggests that aggregating compulsory and voluntary regulatory instruments may weaken their explanatory power due to underlying interaction effects. In contrast, SBNF demonstrates a strong and statistically significant positive influence on SBCPD, highlighting the critical role of government-led policies, institutional frameworks, and certification systems in shaping sustainable construction practices. The study contributes to theory by advancing our understanding of regulatory hybridity and the role of institutional drivers in sustainable construction. In practice, the findings underscore the need for coherent, well-articulated policy frameworks, strengthened enforcement capacity, and strategic alignment between voluntary and mandatory instruments. The study concludes that government-led frameworks remain the primary catalyst for sustainable construction delivery in developing economies. These insights provide valuable guidance for policymakers and industry stakeholders seeking to enhance sustainability performance in the built environment. Full article

Choosing a future career represents a complex developmental task, often accompanied by multiple concerns and anxieties. The Social Cognitive Career Theory and Life Design paradigm emphasize the importance of supporting individuals in managing career-related challenges. However, global stressors—such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and increasing awareness of the climate emergency—have introduced new and multifaceted sources of uncertainty that are not adequately captured by existing instruments. This gap highlights the need for a psychometrically sound measure to assess emerging career-related concerns in the contemporary context. Accordingly, the study aimed to develop and validate the Career Concerns related to Perceived Environmental Challenges (CC-PEC Scale). Four studies were conducted. Study 1 employed exploratory factor analysis, supporting a three-factor structure (Career-related COVID-19 pandemic concern, Career-related war concern, and Career-related climate emergency concern). Study 2 confirmed this structure using confirmatory factor analysis and demonstrated measurement invariance across gender, supporting a hierarchical factorial model. Study 3 provided evidence of concurrent and discriminant validity through associations with related constructs. Study 4 offered preliminary evidence of stability and predictive validity using life satisfaction and flourishing as outcome variables. Overall, the findings support the CC-PEC Scale as a reliable and valid instrument for assessing career-related concerns linked to global environmental challenges. These results have important implications for research and career guidance interventions aimed at supporting young people’s career development in increasingly uncertain contexts. Full article

In light of China’s mandatory garbage sorting policy, residents’ engagement in waste sorting tends to be short-term. To address this issue, this study proposes a conceptual framework to examine the relationships among motivation, green self-perception, and proactive garbage sorting behavior (PGSB). A total of 1550 questionnaires were collected across 31 provinces in China. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to assess measurement quality, and hierarchical regression combined with bootstrapping was employed to test the parallel mediating effects of green self-perception and its three dimensions (green self-identity, green self-efficacy, and green self-connection). The results indicate that both obligation-based and enjoyment-based intrinsic motivations are positively associated with PGSB and its sub-dimensions. Green self-perception shows a statistical indirect effect in the relationship between intrinsic motivation and behavior. Specifically, green self-identity and green self-efficacy serve as consistent and significant mediators across all behavioral outcomes. In contrast, the mediating role of green self-connection varies across behavioral types. For obligation-based motivation, it only acts as a significant negative mediator for constrained proactive garbage sorting, with no significant effect on other behaviors. For enjoyment-based motivation, it exerts a positive mediating effect on self-development PGSB but suppresses participatory and constrained PGSBs. These findings suggest that fostering green self-perception may be an important pathway associated with PGSB. The study provides policy-relevant insights for shifting residents from compliance-driven to more self-initiated participation in waste sorting. Full article

Background: This study aims to psychometrically validate the abbreviated version of the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10) in Peruvian nurses, evaluating its convergent validity through its association with perceived stress and empathy. Methods: A cross-sectional psychometric study was conducted in 374 Peruvian nurses to evaluate the psychometric properties of CD-RISC-10 through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Furthermore, concurrent validity was assessed through correlational analysis using Spearman’s rho coefficient to evaluate the relationships among resilience, perceived stress, and empathy. Results: The CFA supported the predominantly one-dimensional model showing an adequate fit when the residual covariance between Items 4 and 7 was specified after correlating the residuals of Items 4 and 7 (CFI = 0.978, TLI = 0.971, RMSEA = 0.080, and SRMR = 0.044). Ordinal Cronbach’s alpha of 0.89 and McDonald’s omega of 0.81 were obtained. Concurrent validity showed significant correlations with perceived stress (rho = −0.53, p < 0.001) and empathy (rho = 0.31, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The CD-RISC-10 has adequate psychometric properties in Peruvian nurses. Future studies are needed to evaluate its factorial invariance between clinical specialties and establish normative thresholds. Full article

Background/Objectives: Digital media play an important role in the lives of contemporary adolescents. While associated with many benefits, they also pose risks to physical health related to prolonged screen time and non-ergonomic body posture. This study analyzed the frequency of self-reported physical complaints among Polish adolescents in relation to time spent on different screen-based activities. Methods: The study included 9083 students aged 13–17 who completed an online survey in March and April 2024 in schools located in western Poland (approximately 30% of the region’s student population). Physical symptoms selected from the HBSC-SCL instrument were analyzed and supplemented with neck or shoulder pain and eye strain. Results: Longer screen time was associated with more frequent occurrence of all analyzed complaints. A 5-item index ranging from 0 to 20 points was proposed, including headache, neck or shoulder pain, eye strain, dizziness, and problems falling asleep (mean 6.56 ± 5.15). The index showed reliability at the level of α = 0.744 and good model fit according to CFA (RMSEA = 0.025). In a multivariate linear regression model (R² = 0.153), after adjusting for age, gender, place of residence, and family affluence, the variability of this index was most strongly associated with time spent on social media (β = 0.40) and browsing websites (β = 0.30). Gender-specific models were also compared. Conclusions: The results confirm the co-occurrence of physical complaints during adolescence and a significant association between their severity and screen-based activities, particularly engagement in social media. Full article

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Arabic version of the Chronic Heart Failure Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire (CHFQOLQ-20) among patients with heart failure in Jordan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 399 adults with heart failure recruited from a tertiary hospital in Jordan (median age 68 years; 55.9% male). The CHFQOLQ-20 was translated using forward–backward procedures. Construct validity was examined using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and a multidimensional Partial Credit Model. Differential item functioning by sex and internal consistency were assessed. Results: CFA supported the original four-domain structure (physical, cognitive, mental, and general health), with all items showing significant factor loadings. Item-level analyses demonstrated acceptable model fit, ordered response thresholds, and minimal sex-related bias. Physical health scores were lower than other domains. Conclusions: The Arabic CHFQOLQ-20 is a valid, reliable, and multidimensional measure of HRQoL in patients with heart failure, supporting its use in clinical practice and research. Full article

Background/Objectives: To evaluate construct (convergent and divergent) validity and conduct confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD) Wellness Assessment (NWA) tool. Methods: A cross-sectional survey validation study utilizing secondary data. We assessed Spearman correlations between NWA and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), NWA and Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ) and NWA and Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) scores to determine construct validity. A CFA was conducted to test the appropriateness of a three-factor model for NWA. Results: Data from 149 participants were used to assess construct validity and from 180 participants for CFA. Both correlations between NWA mental wellness domain and SF-36 mental component scores and between NWA emotional/spiritual wellness domain and SF-36 emotional well-being scores were 0.61 (p < 0.001 for both). The correlation between NWA physical wellness domain and SF-36 physical component score was −0.06 (p = 0.45). The correlations of NWA with GLTEQ overall and with health contribution scores were 0.26 and 0.30, respectively (p < 0.001 for both). The correlations of all NWA domain and MFIS subscale scores ranged between −0.42 and −0.25 (p < 0.05). The CFA model’s comparative fit index was 0.90. Conclusions: The NWA physical wellness domain did not demonstrate strong convergent validity, as mental and emotional/spiritual wellness domains did. All domains showed strong divergent validity, and CFA showed evidence supporting a three-factor model. Future efforts will emphasize refining and reevaluating the physical wellness domain until it achieves strong psychometric properties. Full article

Rework continues to be a critical issue in construction projects, contributing to cost escalation, schedule delays, and compromised quality. While earlier studies have identified isolated causes such as design deficiencies, communication failures, and inadequate workmanship, the structural relationships among these factors have not been sufficiently examined. This study investigates the interdependencies among major rework causation domains using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) based on survey responses from 200 construction professionals. A total of 43 observed variables, identified through an extensive literature review, were grouped into four latent constructs: contractor-related, owner-related, design-related, and resource/workforce-related factors. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted to validate the measurement model, followed by structural path analysis to examine causal linkages. The findings reveal that design-related and owner-related factors exert the most significant direct and indirect influence on rework, followed by contractor- and workforce-related factors. The proposed model demonstrates satisfactory goodness-of-fit indices, confirming its reliability and applicability. Compared to conventional ranking and fuzzy-based approaches, SEM provides a more systematic and comprehensive understanding of rework dynamics. The findings provide practical guidance for project managers and decision-makers by identifying the most critical drivers of rework, enabling targeted mitigation strategies and improved resource allocation to enhance overall construction project performance. Full article

Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate inflammatory responses and have emerged as potential minimally invasive biomarkers of disease. However, comprehensive profiling of circulating miRNAs in naturally occurring inflammatory conditions in dogs remains limited. This study aimed to characterize circulating miRNA expression profiles using small RNA sequencing in plasma samples from dogs with pyometra, non-reproductive inflammatory diseases, and healthy controls to identify shared and disease-related miRNA alterations. Global expression patterns, including heatmap and principal component analysis (PCA), demonstrated separation between healthy controls and diseased dogs. Based on DESeq2 analysis (adjusted p-value < 0.05), 39 circulating miRNAs were commonly altered in both pyometra and non-reproductive inflammatory diseases compared with healthy controls. A total of 83 miRNAs were differentially expressed in the pyometra group, whereas 4 miRNAs were differentially expressed in the non-reproductive inflammatory disease group. Direct comparison between the two disease groups further identified three circulating miRNAs—cfa-miR-885, cfa-miR-599, and cfa-miR-122—as significantly differentially expressed. These findings suggest that circulating miRNA profiles in dogs with pyometra reflect both systemic inflammation and condition-related molecular variation. Further studies with larger cohorts are warranted to validate the clinical relevance of these candidate circulating miRNAs. Full article

Ka-band carrier-frequency-agility (CFA) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) employs pulse-to-pulse random wide-range frequency hopping to enhance anti-interference capability. However, the random hopping disrupts the azimuth phase continuity, and the millimeter-wave wavelength of the Ka band makes the imaging quality extremely sensitive to motion errors. To address these challenges, this paper proposes an auto-focusing imaging framework and performs a performance analysis for Ka-band CFA SAR. First, a back-projection (BP)-based imaging model is derived to restore the coherent phase history from the hopped echoes. Second, to compensate for the residual phase errors inevitable in high-resolution millimeter-wave imaging, an auto-focusing framework is developed. This framework incorporates a dynamic sub-aperture strategy and an adaptive spectral notching mechanism to ensure precise phase error estimation in complex scattering environments. Furthermore, the imaging performance under different frequency-selection modes is analyzed to provide a guideline for the parameter selection of the Ka-band CFA SAR. Experiments with a vehicle-mounted Ka-band SAR system demonstrate that the proposed method achieves well-focused images with 5 cm resolution. Full article

Background/Objectives: Idiopathic epilepsy is a lifelong neurologic disorder in dogs, but its genetic basis remains incompletely understood in many breeds. This study aimed to identify risk-associated markers in Siberian Huskies, quantify their effects, assess potential risk modifiers, and characterize the shared haplotype background of the associated signal. Methods: A genome-wide association study was conducted in 113 Siberian Huskies genotyped on the Illumina CanineHD array, integrating association, regression, and haplotype/IBD analyses. An independent follow-up cohort of 57 additional dogs was genotyped at the lead marker by Sanger sequencing. Sex and gonadectomy status/timing were also evaluated as potential modifiers of risk, using multivariable regression and time-to-event analyses. Results: A strong, localized association was identified on canine chromosome 3 (CFA3) within KCNIP4. The lead intronic marker was significantly enriched in cases, with all risk-allele homozygotes affected, most heterozygotes affected, and no control homozygotes observed. Risk-associated chromosomes shared extended haplotypes across the region, consistent with carriers inheriting a common risk haplotype from a relatively recent shared ancestor. Among carriers, male sex was associated with higher odds of epilepsy and earlier seizure onset, with more tentative evidence for a similar association with gonadectomy before 5 years of age. Conclusions: These findings prioritize a CFA3 region encompassing KCNIP4 as a major risk locus for idiopathic epilepsy in Siberian Huskies. Fine-mapping with high-coverage sequencing and functional follow-up will be required to pinpoint the causal variant(s) and support development of risk assessment tools. Until those studies are completed, this marker should be regarded as a research finding rather than a predictive test. Full article