The Brief Health Literacy Scale for Adults: Adaptation and Validation of the Health Literacy for School-Aged Children Questionnaire

The Health Literacy for School-Aged Children (HLSAC) is a brief, generic instrument measuring health literacy among school-aged children. Given its brevity and broad conceptualization of health literacy, the HLSAC is a potentially valuable measuring instrument among adults as well. This validation study aimed to adapt the HLSAC questionnaire to an adult population through assessment of content validity and subsequently determine the structural validity of the adapted instrument, the Brief Health Literacy scale for Adults (B-HLA). The content validity of the HLSAC was assessed through interviews with respondents and experts, and the structural validity of the adapted instrument (B-HLA) was evaluated using Rasch analysis. The content validity assessment (n = 25) gave rise to adjustments in the wording of five items. The B-HLA demonstrated an overall misfit to the Rasch model (n = 290). Items 6 and 8 had the poorest individual fits. We found no signs of local dependency or differential item functioning concerning sex, age, education, and native language. The B-HLA demonstrated unidimensionality and ability to discriminate across health literacy levels (PSI = 0.80). Discarding items 6 or 8 resulted in an overall model fit and individual fit of all items. In conclusion, the B-HLA appears to be a valid and reliable instrument for assessing health literacy among adults.

Simultaneous Measurements of Noncommuting Observables: Positive Transformations and Instrumental Lie Groups

We formulate a general program for describing and analyzing continuous, differential weak, simultaneous measurements of noncommuting observables, which focuses on describing the measuring instrument autonomously, without states. The Kraus operators of such measuring processes are time-ordered products of fundamental differential positive transformations, which generate nonunitary transformation groups that we call instrumental Lie groups. The temporal evolution of the instrument is equivalent to the diffusion of a Kraus-operator distribution function, defined relative to the invariant measure of the instrumental Lie group. This diffusion can be analyzed using Wiener path integration, stochastic differential equations, or a Fokker-Planck-Kolmogorov equation. This way of considering instrument evolution we call the Instrument Manifold Program. We relate the Instrument Manifold Program to state-based stochastic master equations. We then explain how the Instrument Manifold Program can be used to describe instrument evolution in terms of a universal cover that we call the universal instrumental Lie group, which is independent not just of states, but also of Hilbert space. The universal instrument is generically infinite dimensional, in which case the instrument's evolution is chaotic. Special simultaneous measurements have a finite-dimensional universal instrument, in which case the instrument is considered principal, and it can be analyzed within the differential geometry of the universal instrumental Lie group. Principal instruments belong at the foundation of quantum mechanics. We consider the three most fundamental examples: measurement of a single observable, position and momentum, and the three components of angular momentum. As these measurements are performed continuously, they converge to strong simultaneous measurements. For a single observable, this results in the standard decay of coherence between inequivalent irreducible representations. For the latter two cases, it leads to a collapse within each irreducible representation onto the classical or spherical phase space, with the phase space located at the boundary of these instrumental Lie groups.

Simultaneous Momentum and Position Measurement and the Instrumental Weyl-Heisenberg Group

The canonical commutation relation, [Q,P]=iℏ, stands at the foundation of quantum theory and the original Hilbert space. The interpretation of P and Q as observables has always relied on the analogies that exist between the unitary transformations of Hilbert space and the canonical (also known as contact) transformations of classical phase space. Now that the theory of quantum measurement is essentially complete (this took a while), it is possible to revisit the canonical commutation relation in a way that sets the foundation of quantum theory not on unitary transformations but on positive transformations. This paper shows how the concept of simultaneous measurement leads to a fundamental differential geometric problem whose solution shows us the following. The simultaneous P and Q measurement (SPQM) defines a universal measuring instrument, which takes the shape of a seven-dimensional manifold, a universal covering group we call the instrumental Weyl-Heisenberg (IWH) group. The group IWH connects the identity to classical phase space in unexpected ways that are significant enough that the positive-operator-valued measure (POVM) offers a complete alternative to energy quantization. Five of the dimensions define processes that can be easily recognized and understood. The other two dimensions, the normalization and phase in the center of the IWH group, are less familiar. The normalization, in particular, requires special handling in order to describe and understand the SPQM instrument.

On the Pitfalls of Estimating and Using Standardized Reliability Coefficients

The population discrepancy between unstandardized and standardized reliability of homogeneous multicomponent measuring instruments is examined. Within a latent variable modeling framework, it is shown that the standardized reliability coefficient for unidimensional scales can be markedly higher than the corresponding unstandardized reliability coefficient, or alternatively substantially lower than the latter. Based on these findings, it is recommended that scholars avoid estimating, reporting, interpreting, or using standardized scale reliability coefficients in empirical research, unless they have strong reasons to consider standardizing the original components of utilized scales.

High Precision Human Skin Temperature Fluctuations Measuring Instrument

This paper describes the experimental results of testing a prototype of a high precision human skin rapid temperature fluctuations measuring instrument. Based on the author’s work, an original circuit solution on a miniature semiconductor diode sensor has been designed. The proposed circuitry provides operation in the full voltage range with automatic setting and holding the operating point, as well as the necessary slope of the conversion coefficient (up to 2300 mV/°C), which makes it possible to register fast temperature oscillations from the surface of the human body and other biological objects. Simulation results in the Microcap 12 software and laboratory tests have confirmed all declared design specifications: temperature resolution of 0.01 °C, transducer thermal time constant of 0.05 s. An original thermostat and an experimental setup for the simultaneous registration of the electrocardiogram, pulse wave signals from the Biopac polygraph MP36 and a signal of temperature oscillations from the prototype thermometer have been designed for further investigations. The preliminary test results indicates that using the designed measuring instrument gives a possibility to provide an in-depth study of the relationship between micro- and macro-blood circulations manifested in skin temperature fluctuations.

Descriptors for High Throughput in Structural Materials Development

The development of novel structural materials with increasing mechanical requirements is a very resource-intense process if conventional methods are used. While there are high-throughput methods for the development of functional materials, this is not the case for structural materials. Their mechanical properties are determined by their microstructure, so that increased sample volumes are needed. Furthermore, new short-time characterization techniques are required for individual samples which do not necessarily measure the desired material properties, but descriptors which can later be mapped on material properties. While universal micro-hardness testing is being commonly used, it is limited in its capability to measure sample volumes which contain a characteristic microstructure. We propose to use alternative and fast deformation techniques for spherical micro-samples in combination with classical characterization techniques such as XRD, DSC or micro magnetic methods, which deliver descriptors for the microstructural state.

Multiple-Component Measurement Instruments in Heterogeneous Populations: Is There a Single Coefficient Alpha?

This note confronts the common use of a single coefficient alpha as an index informing about reliability of a multicomponent measurement instrument in a heterogeneous population. Two or more alpha coefficients could instead be meaningfully associated with a given instrument in finite mixture settings, and this may be increasingly more likely the case in empirical educational and psychological research. It is argued that in such situations explicit examination of class-invariance in the alpha coefficient must precede any statements about its possible value in the studied population. The approach permits also the evaluation of between-class alpha differences as well as point and interval estimation of the within-class alpha coefficients. The method can similarly be used in situations with (a) known class membership when distinct (sub)populations are investigated while their number is known beforehand and membership in them is observed for studied persons, as well as (b) in settings where only the number of latent classes is known for a population under investigation. The outlined procedure is illustrated with numerical data.

Thanks Coefficient Alpha, We Still Need You!

This note discusses the merits of coefficient alpha and their conditions in light of recent critical publications that miss out on significant research findings over the past several decades. That earlier research has demonstrated the empirical relevance and utility of coefficient alpha under certain empirical circumstances. The article highlights the fact that as an index aimed at informing about multiple-component measuring instrument reliability, coefficient alpha is dependable then as a reliability estimator. Therefore, alpha should remain in service when these conditions are fulfilled and not be abandoned.

A neuropsychological instrument measuring age-related cerebral decline in older drivers: development, reliability, and validity of MedDrive

When facing age-related cerebral decline, older adults are unequally affected by cognitive impairment without us knowing why. To explore underlying mechanisms and find possible solutions to maintain life-space mobility, there is a need for a standardized behavioral test that relates to behaviors in natural environments. The aim of the project described in this paper was therefore to provide a free, reliable, transparent, computer-based instrument capable of detecting age-related changes on visual processing and cortical functions for the purposes of research into human behavior in computational transportation science. After obtaining content validity, exploring psychometric properties of the developed tasks, we derived (Study 1) the scoring method for measuring cerebral decline on 106 older drivers aged ≥70 years attending a driving refresher course organized by the Swiss Automobile Association to test the instrument's validity against on-road driving performance (106 older drivers). We then validated the derived method on a new sample of 182 drivers (Study 2). We then measured the instrument's reliability having 17 healthy, young volunteers repeat all tests included in the instrument five times (Study 3) and explored the instrument's psychophysical underlying functions on 47 older drivers (Study 4). Finally, we tested the instrument's responsiveness to alcohol and effects on performance on a driving simulator in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo, crossover, dose-response, validation trial including 20 healthy, young volunteers (Study 5). The developed instrument revealed good psychometric properties related to processing speed. It was reliable (ICC = 0.853) and showed reasonable association to driving performance (R (2) = 0.053), and responded to blood alcohol concentrations of 0.5 g/L (p = 0.008). Our results suggest that MedDrive is capable of detecting age-related changes that affect processing speed. These changes nevertheless do not necessarily affect driving behavior.

Correct calibration procedure for the Q-switched ruby laser and checking the treatment irradiation pattern

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

There are many Q-switched lasers. The Q-switched ruby laser is the one most popularly used in dermatology, aesthetic surgery and plastic surgery, to remove pigmented lesions or tattoos. Correct and regular calibration of such a system is essential. However, some clinics fail to perform this with the excuse of having no measuring instrument (MI) in their offices or treatment rooms in some of their hospitals or clinics, or even the case of well-known medical universities in Japan. The present article explains the precise calibration procedure and beam pattern checking for the Q-switched ruby systems in the first author's clinic.

RATIONALE

In the case of treatment with a medical laser, the calibration and the irradiated pattern (IP) check of the laser being used for treatment are the most important factors for treatment efficacy and safety. If these factors change, the treatment result could be different from that expected. Such kind of data are not acceptable as scientific information for a presentation or published paper. With such unreliable results and incorrect beam pattern, replicating such a study would be impossible Regular calibration check: In our clinic, we have 2 Q-switched ruby laser systems. On a daily basis, the beam patterns, both the optical axis of the beam and its treatment footprint, are checked on dedicated printed sheets and footprint paper, respectively, at the beginning of the day and after the last procedure. Every two weeks we calibrate our systems in-house using a precise MI. Every six months we calibrate the systems in-house with the MI, and then we send the systems back to the manufacturers for calibration. Once every year, we have our MI calibrated by an accredited facility in Japan. In this way, we are not only ensuring accurate and safe treatment for our patients, but we are also producing accurate system and treatment data which can be replicated by others, the basis of evidence-based medicine.