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Careful cleaning and disinfection of pigpens is essential to prevent disease spread and avoid the resultant economic losses. Hygiene in pigpens is generally evaluated by visual monitoring supplemented with bacteriological monitoring, which includes counting the total aerobic bacteria (TAB) and/or fecal indicator bacteria (FIB). However, these methods present drawbacks such as time and labor requirements. As adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is ubiquitous in all living organisms including microorganisms, this study aimed to directly compare the results of microbial assessment and ATP quantification, and to suggest possible detailed application methods of the ATP test for hygiene evaluation in pigpens of a farrowing unit. Before and after standard cleaning procedures, samples were collected from the floor corner, floor center, and feeding trough of four pigpens at different time points. No FIB were detected and both the TAB and ATP levels were significantly decreased in the floor center area after cleaning. FIB were continuously detected after cleaning and disinfection of the floor corners, and there was no significant ATP level reduction. The feeding trough did not show any significant difference in these values before and after cleaning, indicating insufficient cleaning of this area. The levels of TAB and ATP after cleaning were significantly correlated and the average ATP value was significantly lower in the absence of FIB than in their presence. In the absence of standard references, a more thorough hygiene management could be achieved evenly by supplementing cleaning or disinfection based on the lowest ATP results obtained at the cleanest test site, which in the present study was the floor center. Overall, these results indicate that the on-farm ATP test can be used to determine the cleanliness status, in addition to visual inspection, as an alternative to laboratory culture-based testing for the presence of microorganisms.

The purpose of the current study was to examine the causal relationship between loneliness and depression among adolescent game players and whether there are gender differences. The current study analyzed the Korean Creative Content Agency “Game Players Panel Data”. The results of the autoregressive cross-lagged model showed that loneliness at the prior time had a positive effect on depression at the later time. Similarly, there was a positive effect of depression on loneliness at a later time. However, there were no gender differences in the relationship between these two variables. Based on these results recommendations are made for service adjustments for loneliness and depression among adolescent game players such as counseling and strengthenning by digital-based social network activities and exploring career paths. Finally, the limitations of this study are noted and suggestions for follow-up research are presented.

Purpose: To test the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Person-centered Climate Questionnaire - staff version (KPCQ-S) in long-term care institutions. Methods: A total of 297 staff in long-term care institutions including nine nursing homes (NHs) and 4 long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) were included. The KPCQ-S was developed following the WHO guidelines of the process of translation and adaptation of instruments. An internal consistency using Cronbach’s ? was tested for reliability. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to examine the construct validity. Convergent and discriminant validity were examined using Pearson correlation. Results: EFA demonstrated the construct validity of the 14-item KPCQ-S with three-factor solutions, specifically three factors (safety, everydayness, and community) in NHs and four factors (safety, everydayness, community, and comprehensibility) in LTCHs. Convergent validity was found in the correlation with the work satisfaction (r=.55). The KPCQ-S showed satisfactory internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s ?=.91). Conclusion: The KPCQ-S is found to be a reliable and valid tool for measuring staff perceptions of the person centeredness of long-term care environments.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to test hypothesized relationships among experiences of uncertainty, depression, and social support in a sample of subjects undergoing renal replacement therapy in Korea. Methods Path analysis was used in the sample to examine the relationships among depression and experiences of uncertainty, direct social support, indirect social support, and demographic variables. The size of the sample was 104 patients. Patients received either hemodialysis at one of three clinics or continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Results One hundred and four subjects participated in the study. It was found that 6.2% of variance in uncertainty was predicted by direct social support (b=?.267), and 46.2% of variance in depression was predicted by three variables: direct social support (b=?.517), economic status (b = .299), and number of admissions (b = .275). Unlike the theoretical model, experiences of uncertainty could not predict depression. Conclusion The effectiveness of social support in relieving experiences of uncertainty and consequently depression was shown in this study. Moreover, depression in this population could be predicted by direct social support, economic status, and frequency of admission. The study was needed to investigate the relationship between depression and experiences of uncertainty with time covariates, as well as to find the factors that influence depression in patients with chronic renal failure. [Asian Nursing Research 2008; 2(2):92?101]

Purpose: This methodological study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Self-Care of Coronary Heart Disease Inventory version 3 (SC-CHDI v3) in a Korean context. Methods: The SC-CHDI v3 was translated into Korean following a rigorous translation process. Participants were 452 patients who had experienced coronary heart disease (CHD), all recruited from a tertiary hospital in Korea. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to test construct validity. Concurrent validity was examined by correlating scores from the Korean version of the SC-CHDI v3 with those from the Cardiac Self-Efficacy Scale. Internal consistency was analyzed using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega. Results: The Korean version of the SC-CHDI v3 consists of 21 items, excluding two from the original instrument. The self-care maintenance subscale identified a two-factor structure: "treatment adherence" and "health-promoting behaviors." The goodness-of-fit indices were satisfied: χ2 = 18.19, p = .110, comparative fit index (CFI) = .97, Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) = .95, and standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) = .04. The self-care monitoring subscale consisted of a one-dimensional structure ("monitoring behaviors") and the goodness-of-fit indices were satisfied: χ2 = 19.19, p = .059, CFI = .99, TLI = .99, and SRMR = .04. The self-care management subscales had a two-factor structure of "consulting behaviors" and "problem-solving behaviors." The goodness-of-fit indices were satisfied: χ2 = 16.44, p = .037, CFI = .99, TLI = .98, and SRMR = .03. Scores from the Cardiac Self-Efficacy Scale showed a positive correlation with the Korean version of SC-CHDI v3 subscales. Reliability estimates were ≥ .80 for all subscales except for the self-care maintenance subscale. Conclusions: The Korean version of the SC-CHDI v3 consists of 21 items in 3 subscales and is a valid and reliable instrument. Therefore, healthcare providers can effectively utilize it to assess the self-care levels of patients with CHD.

The ongoing softwarization of networks creates a big need for automated testing solutions to ensure service quality. This becomes even more important if agile environments with short time to market and high demands, in terms of service performance and availability, are considered. In this paper, we introduce a novel testing solution for virtualized, microservice-based network functions and services, which we base on TTCN-3, a well known testing language defined by the European standards institute (ETSI). We use TTCN-3 not only for functional testing but also answer the question whether TTCN-3 can be used for performance profiling tasks as well. Finally, we demonstrate the proposed concepts and solutions in a case study using our open-source prototype to test and profile a chained network service.

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to test the validity and reliability of the Indonesian version of the Dietary Sodium Restriction Questionnaire (DSRQ-I) among patients with hypertension. Methods: The cross-sectional study enrolled hypertensive patients from a cardiac outpatient department in Indonesia using convenience sampling. Eligible patients received a demographic questionnaire and DSRQ-I during a one-month period of data collection. Content and construct analysis examined the validity, whereas internal consistency assessment checked reliability. Participation required 10-15 minutes on average. Results: One hundred thirty-five patients participated: mostly females (54.1%) and married (82.9%) with mean age of 58.18 ± 10.44 years. The item of content validity index was .97, and subscale content validity index was .81 for DSRQ-I. The KaisereMeyereOlkin test gave a value of .83, indicating adequate sampling, and the Bartlett's test of sphericity reached significant result (p < .001). The principal component analysis indicated three components, with 64.2% explaining variance, including perceived behavioral control (35.5%), attitude (19.3%), and subjective norm (9.4%). Confirmatory factor analysis produced a parsimonious model on the three-factor outcome by removing a single item. The indices of good fit model was achieved at x2/df = 2.17, goodness fit index = .85, root mean square error of approximation = .09, standardized root mean square means = .07, and Bentler comparative fit index = .90 (p < .001). Cronbach's alpha coefficients for attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control were .85, .87, and .85, respectively. All interitem and item-total correlations indicated adequate outcome and acceptable result. Consequently, 15 items were determined reliable measurement and included in the final version of DSRQ-I. Conclusion: The DSRQ-I is a valid and reliable instrument to measure facilitators and barrier of sodium restriction among hypertensive patients in Indonesia.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to test the reliability and validity of the Behavior Assessment for Children (BAC) in a community of school-aged children in Taiwan. Method: A school-based sample comprising third grade and fourth grade students was recruited from Taichung City in Taiwan. The parents (n = 248) and teachers (n = 15) of these students completed structured questionnaires, including the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the proposed BAC. Content validity, concurrent validity, construct validity, internal consistency, and inter-rater reliability of the BAC were assessed. Results: The BAC comprised three subscales (attention, emotion, and self-control) that included 17 items. The content validity index (CVI) score was 0.98. The result of the confirmatory factor analysis (goodness of fit = .90, root mean square of residual = .03, root mean square error of approximation = .06, and comparative fit index = .94) supported the construct validity of the three BAC subscales. The concurrent validity of the BAC subscales significantly correlated with the compatible CBCL subscales (r = .59-.78, p < .001). Cronbach a of the subscales of the BAC ranged from .78 to .92. The intraclass correlation coefficient between the parents and teachers ranged from .31 to .44, and the joint probability of agreement ranged from 31.4% to 92.2%. Conclusions: The BAC is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating behavioral problems in schoolaged children.

The process of biased hypothesis testing, which occurs when people tend to search for information that would provide support for their hypotheses and ignore hypotheses-disconfirming information, may influence the ways individuals interact with other people, and may end up eliciting behaviors in others that actually correspond to their initial hypotheses, leading them to provide behavioral evidence for the initial expectancies. These processes of biased hypothesis testing and behavioral confirmation have been extensively studied, especially in the instructional setting as a type of self-fulfilling prophecies. In the current paper manifestations of the processes of biased hypothesis testing and behavioral confirmation in three areas of the legal system, legal decision making, police interrogations (false confessions), and eyewitness identifications, were discussed. Furthermore, procedures that can be used to minimize problems resulting from biased hypothesis testing and behavioral confirmation were explored.

Purpose: Fathers' involvement in newborn care positively affects both work sharing between parents, newborn quality of life, and the relationship between father and newborn. However, there is no valid and reliable measurement tool to evaluate fathers' self-efficacy levels for newborn care. This study aimed to develop the fathers' self-efficacy scale for newborn care (FSSNC) and to examine its psychometric properties. Methods: This study is an instrument development and validation study. After a comprehensive literature review, expert opinion, and pilot application stages, an item pool was developed. For validity and reliability analyses, data were collected between March and December 2022 from 442 individuals, including fathers with newborn babies and expectant fathers whose partners are pregnant. Validity assessments included content, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and convergent validity. The scale was also evaluated for its internal consistency, and two-half-test reliability. In this study, the STROBE checklist was used as a guideline. Results: The final version of the scale consisted of three subdimensions (hygiene, safety, and nutrition). The total number of items is 17. Confirmatory factor analysis results confirm the results of exploratory factor analysis. There was a strong correlation between the scale score and the participants' self-assessment score. Conclusions: The study demonstrates that the FSSNC was a valid, reliable, and user-friendly measurement tool used to evaluate fathers' self-efficacy regarding hygiene, safety, and nutrition in newborn care.

In children's mental health, many psychological assessments are critical to measure end outcomes. And equally valid measures are essential for health services outcome research in diverse populations. Examination of equal validity in tests measuring the emotional, motivational, attitudinal, and interpersonal characteristics of children can be achieved with factor analytic tools. Factor analysis assumes a particular measurement model, effect indicator model. However, some psychological measures such as Child Behavior Checklist are not clear whether effect indicator model is assumed. In this paper, an alternative measurement model, causal indicator model, was introduced. Measurement equivalence of CBCL was tested using multiple group analysis based on effect indicator model and using principal component analysis based on causal indicator model. The results showed that measurement equivalence tests based on the two measurement models in CBCL led to similar conclusions. We conclude that the two measurement models could be complementary for explaining differential validity of psychological measures across sub-populations.

Purpose: The purpose of this micro-ethnography is to examine whether science and societal changes impact family communication patterns among a convenience sample of 16 Korean women. Methods: The authors observed family communication in the context of a new breast cancer genetic screening and diagnostic testing program to detect BRCA gene mutations in Korean women at highest risk. Results: Analysis of in-depth interviews and field notes taken during participant observation illustrated that communication patterns in families vary according to a woman’s position in the family. If a grandmother tests positive for a gene mutation, her daughters make decisions on her behalf; they open and maintain the communication channel among family members. If a housewife is diagnosed with cancer and a genetic mutation, she immediately consults her husband and her sisters. The husband creates an open communication channel between his wife, his parents and his siblings. As a result, a woman’s cancer is a concern for the whole family not merely a woman’s secret or crisis. Conclusion: Cultural differences are important to consider when designing new genetic service programs in different countries.

Drones have gained increasing attention in the healthcare industry for mobility and accessibility to remote areas. This perspective-based study proposes a drone-based sample collection system whereby COVID-19 self-testing kits are delivered to and collected from potential patients. This is achieved using the drone as a service (DaaS). A mobile application is also proposed to depict drone navigation and destination location to help ease the process. Through this app, the patient could contact the hospital and give details about their medical condition and the type of emergency. A hypothetical case study for Geelong, Australia, was carried out, and the drone path was optimized using the Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithm. The proposed method aims to reduce person-to-person contact, aid the patient at their home, and deliver any medicine, including first aid kits, to support the patients until further assistance is provided. Artificial intelligence and machine learning-based algorithms coupled with drones will provide state-of-the-art healthcare systems technology.

Purpose: This study sought to develop the Breastfeeding Adaptation Scale-Short Form (BFAS-SF) for use at 4 weeks postpartum, to test its validity and reliability, and to examine its measurement invariance. The latent mean score of the BFAS-SF across multiple groups was also compared. Methods: This methodological research study was conducted to develop a short form of the BFAS and to test its psychometric properties and measurement invariance. Data were collected twice for measurement invariance testing. The sample included 431 and 272 breastfeeding mothers at 2 weeks and 4 weeks postpartum, respectively. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis supported six dimensions of the BFAS-SF at 4 weeks postpartum. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis revealed evidence for invariance of the BFAS-SF according to employment status, parity, delivery mode, and the postpartum period. There were statistically significant latent mean differences. Mothers who were unemployed and who had a vaginal delivery showed significantly higher scores for breastfeeding confidence, sufficient breast milk, and baby’s satisfaction with breastfeeding. Conclusion: The BFAS-SF is valid, reliable, and an appropriate instrument for assessing mothers’ breastfeeding adaptation. It can be used to compare mean scores according to employment status and delivery mode.

ABSTRACT Background To normalize infraspinatus muscle activity among different exercises or positions, it is necessary to isolate the infraspinatus from the surrounding musculature. Purpose We sought to determine the best position in which to obtain an isolated infraspinatus electromyography (EMG) signal for normalization of the infraspinatus muscle in four selected positions. Study design Comparative, repeated measures design. Methods To measure infraspinatus maximal voluntary muscle contraction (MVIC), 13 healthy participants performed four test positions (side-lying with the shoulder adducted, prone, shoulder abducted, and side-lying wiper external rotation [SWE]). EMG activity was measured in the infraspinatus, middle trapezius, and posterior deltoid muscles. Results The EMG ratio was significantly higher for SWE than for the other test positions. To maximize the EMG ratio, high infraspinatus activity and low surrounding muscle (middle trapezius and posterior deltoid) activity are required. Conclusions We recommend switching from prone external rotation to SWE to normalize the infraspinatus EMG signal.

The role of injunctive norms in promoting healthy behaviors is explored and a model of injunctive normative influence (i.e., MINI) is proposed and tested. Health communication is employed as the context to test the model focusing on dentist-patient communication about flossing behavior. The model explores how messages from sources with legitimate power (i.e., dentists) promote injunctive norms which, in turn, promote healthy behaviors. Declarative (i.e., messages indicating normative behavior) and evaluative (i.e., messages assessing adherence to norm) communication are considered for their effect on injunctive norms. The effect of injunctive norms on behavioral intent is posited to be mediated by guilt. A test of the model employing 319 (143 men and 176 women) participants was performed looking at perceptions of dentist-patient communication, flossing injunctive norms, guilt related to flossing behavior, and behavioral intent to floss. All direct links proposed in the model are supported but the indirect link from declarative communication to behavioral intent is not significant. Unanticipated direct links emerge from evaluative communication to guilt and behavioral intent. Overall, results are largely supportive of the proposed model though evaluative communication plays a greater role than anticipated while declarative communication has a more limited scope.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify and prioritize the importance of the moral virtue indicators forundergraduate nursing students and to test the noninvariant indicators across class levels. Methods: Secondary data from a sample of 1,000 Thai undergraduate nursing students from two nursingeducation institutes (one university nursing school and one nursing college of the Ministry of PublicHealth) were split into the first-, second-, third-, and fourth-year student groups (n ¼ 247, 229, 246, and278, respectively). A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to identify and prioritize the importanceof the moral virtue indicators in four student groups separately. The noninvariant indicators testingacross the four class levels was used using multiple-group analysis. Results: The 10 indicators were crucial for nursing students' moral virtue across the first to fourth years. The most important indicator for the first- and second-year student nurses was cooperation, whilehonesty was the most crucial indicator for the third-year student nurses, and caring was the mostdominant indicator for the fourth-year student nurses. The testing of noninvariant indicators confirmedthat each indicator contributed differently to the moral virtue of junior and senior students. Conclusion: The findings spotlight the importance of the 10 moral virtue indicators for undergraduatenursing students. Besides, the junior and senior student nurses prioritized the importance of the 10indicators measuring moral virtue differently. Therefore, administrators and nurse educators shouldprovide the ethical scenarios and issues for classroom discussion and implement clinically authenticcase-based simulations with timely feedback in laboratories for junior students. A regulatory process onmoral virtues, using critical reflection, assessment criteria, and multirater assessors, should be deliberatedin clinical training for senior students so that they adhere to moral virtues. These tailored strategiesmay help student nurses recognize their ethical behavior and gain personal and professional developmentas future nurses.

Purposes: The study aimed to translate the Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale (ESES) into Indonesian and test the cultural equivalence, reliability, and validity of the new version for university students. Methods: The cross-sectional study recruited 379 Indonesian university students using convenience sampling. Phase 1, a culturally appropriate version of the ESES was developed in the Indonesian language. Phase 2, the psychometric properties were determined through exploratory factor analysis, bootstrap factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. The internal consistency reliability was tested using Cronbach's a, whereas the stability using intraclass correlation coefficient to assess. Results: The students' ages ranged from 17 to 39 years, and 65.0% were women. For translation equivalence, the mean item content validity indexes ranged from 3.5 to 4, and all items were understandable. The 16-item scale exhibited cross-cultural appropriateness and readability, with a three-factor model explaining 62.3% of the variance in exercise self-efficacy. A bootstrap analysis using 100 resamples further confirmed the three-factor model. The indices of the good-fit model that used the three-factor by two-stage least squares method were satisfactory, with c2/df ¼ 3.3, goodness of fit index = .88, and root mean-square error of approximation = .05 (p < .001). The Cronbach's a was .78, .80, and .92 for factors 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The test?retest reliability was demonstrated with an intraclass correlation coefficient of .91, indicating adequate measurement stability. Conclusion: The 16-item ESES-I has acceptable validity and reliability; however, a broader application of the scale requires further testing in different populations to confirm its external validity.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to modify and test the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the work control scale (C-WCS). Methods: The translated scale was administered to 840 nurses in Shanghai. Validity was assessed in terms of content validity and construct validity using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency and testeretest reliability were estimated using Cronbach a and the intraclass correlation coefficient. Results: Psychometric analyses of the C-WCS indicate high reliability and good content and construct validity. Conclusion: The C-WCS has good psychometric properties and can be used as a valid tool for measuring work control among nurses in China. The C-WCS will help to further explore the correlations between perceived work control and organizational quality indicators such as nurses' satisfaction, job stress, wellbeing, or intention to stay. It can also be used in nursing outcome studies of work control strategies.

Purpose: To examine the psychometric properties of a Turkish version of the Diabetes Fear of Injecting and Self-testing Questionnaire (D-FISQ). Methods: Forward-backward translation of the D-FISQ from English into Turkish was conducted. Original English and translated forms were examined by a panel group. Validity was investigated using content, confirmatory factor analysis, and divergent validity. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach a values, item-total correlations, and intraclass correlations. The sample comprised 350 patients with diabetes. Data were analyzed using SPSS 15.0 for Windows and LISREL 8. Results: The content validity index for the panel members was .90, which indicated perfect content validity; items in D-FISQ were clear, concise, readable, and distinct. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the original construct of the D-FISQ. All items had factor loadings higher than the recommended level of .40. The D-FISQ scores were discriminated by the level of anxiety. Reliability results were also satisfactory. Cronbach a values were within ideal limits. Item-total correlation coefficient ranged from .72 to .86. In terms of test-retest reliability, intraclass correlation coefficient was found to be over .90. Conclusions: D-FISQ is a valid and reliable questionnaire in assessing needle-prick fear among Turkish patients with diabetes. We recommend performing the Turkish D-FISQ in determining and screening patients with diabetes who have fear related to self-insulin injection and finger-prick test. Thus, health care professionals should be aware of the potential consequences of injection fear such as insulin misuse and poor self-monitoring of blood glucose, which may have unfavorable effects on optimal diabetes management.