BACKGROUND: COVID-19 protective behaviors are key interventions advised by the World Health Organization (WHO) to prevent COVID-19 transmission. However, achieving compliance with this advice is often challenging, particularly among socially vulnerable groups.
OBJECTIVE: We developed a social vulnerability index (SVI) to predict individuals\' propensity to adhere to the WHO advice on protective behaviors against COVID-19 and identify changes in social vulnerability as Omicron evolved in African countries between January 2022 and August 2022 and Asia Pacific countries between August 2021 and June 2022.
METHODS: In African countries, baseline data were collected from 14 countries (n=15,375) during the first Omicron wave, and follow-up data were collected from 7 countries (n=7179) after the wave. In Asia Pacific countries, baseline data were collected from 14 countries (n=12,866) before the first Omicron wave, and follow-up data were collected from 9 countries (n=8737) after the wave. Countries\' socioeconomic and health profiles were retrieved from relevant databases. To construct the SVI for each of the 4 data sets, variables associated with COVID-19 protective behaviors were included in a factor analysis using polychoric correlation with varimax rotation. Influential factors were adjusted for cardinality, summed, and min-max normalized from 0 to 1 (most to least vulnerable). Scores for compliance with the WHO advice were calculated using individuals\' self-reported protective behaviors against COVID-19. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to assess the associations between the SVI and scores for compliance to WHO advice to validate the index.
RESULTS: In Africa, factors contributing to social vulnerability included literacy and media use, trust in health care workers and government, and country income and infrastructure. In Asia Pacific, social vulnerability was determined by literacy, country income and infrastructure, and population density. The index was associated with compliance with the WHO advice in both time points in African countries but only during the follow-up period in Asia Pacific countries. At baseline, the index values in African countries ranged from 0.00 to 0.31 in 13 countries, with 1 country having an index value of 1.00. The index values in Asia Pacific countries ranged from 0.00 to 0.23 in 12 countries, with 2 countries having index values of 0.79 and 1.00. During the follow-up phase, the index values decreased in 6 of 7 African countries and the 2 most vulnerable Asia Pacific countries. The index values of the least vulnerable countries remained unchanged in both regions.
CONCLUSIONS: In both regions, significant inequalities in social vulnerability to compliance with WHO advice were observed at baseline, and the gaps became larger after the first Omicron wave. Understanding the dimensions that influence social vulnerability to protective behaviors against COVID-19 may underpin targeted interventions to enhance compliance with WHO recommendations and mitigate the impact of future pandemics among vulnerable groups.

BACKGROUND: To establish a novel vault prediction formula after implantable collamer lens (ICL) implantation that considers both anterior and posterior chamber characteristics with multi-modal parameters.
METHODS: A total of 103 and 65 eyes were included in the development and validation groups, respectively. Exploratory factor analysis was performed using data from optical coherence tomography and ultrasound biomicroscopy in the development group to synthesise summative factors with different clinical significance. Dominant original metrics with heavy loadings on significant factors (absolute value of the loading coefficient >0.5) were screened for multivariate linear regression models using a stepwise method. The newly derived formula was evaluated and compared to the NK and KS formulas in the validation group.
RESULTS: Six factors (anterior chamber angle, horizontal width, lens, iris, iridociliary complex and ciliary body) were generated after dimension reduction via factor analysis. Factors 2 (horizontal width), 3 (lens), and 5 (iridociliary complex) had a significant influence on the vault. When dominant metrics on these factors were screened for further model building, ICL size, anterior chamber width, crystalline lens rise, iris curvature, and iris-ciliary process distance were retained in the final formula, with an adjusted R2 of 0.698, a median absolute error of 81.97 mm, and a root-mean-square error of 103.35 mm.
CONCLUSIONS: Multiple intraocular components, including the lens, iris, and ciliary body, play important roles in vault determination. The new formula exhibits good accuracy for vault predictions and ICL size recommendations.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop a culturally adapted Chinese version of the Value-based Stigma Inventory (VASI) and to evaluate its psychometric properties, including reliability and validity, among the general Chinese population.
METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional study. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 708 general citizens from Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, China. The VASI\'s internal consistency, split-half reliability, and test-retest reliability were tested to assess the translated scale\'s reliability. Several validity tests were performed, including expert consultation, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, United States) and AMOS 23.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, United States).
RESULTS: The Chinese version of the VASI showed good reliability, with a Cronbach\'s α value of 0.808, and the dimensions ranged from 0.812 to 0.850. Test-retest reliability showed good temporal stability with a value of 0.855, and the split-half reliability value was 0.845, indicating a high degree of consistency. The scale also demonstrated good content validity with a content validity index of 0.952. After conducting exploratory factor analysis, a five-factor structure was identified, including factors of self-realization, personal enrichment, reputation, meritocratic values, and security. In the confirmatory factor analysis, all recommended fit indicators were found to be within the acceptable range, including χ2/DF = 1.338, GFI = 0.960, AGFI = 0.940, RMSEA = 0.031, TLI = 0.985, CFI = 0.989, IFI = 0.989, PGFI = 0.640, and PNFI = 0.729.
CONCLUSIONS: The Chinese version of the VASI is valid and reliable among the Chinese general public. The five-factor structured scale effectively assessed public stigma against mental illness, including the value orientations associated with personal stigma. Given the harsh and widespread public stigma against mental illness, the findings from the questionnaire may inform the development of future public health education programs. Public health education is needed to reduce the stigma of mental illness, increase public awareness of mental health issues, and mitigate the continued stigmatization of mental illness.

Domestic violence (DV) is a significant concern within China. Currently, there are few standardized measurement tools to gauge Chinese stakeholders\' perceptions and beliefs concerning DV. This research sought to validate tools to be used with such stakeholders. Factor analyses were utilized on cross-sectional, survey data from a purposive sample of 683 Chinese DV professionals working in four institutions in Guangdong. Analyses developed three scales for measuring DV Definitions, DV Attitudes, and DV Policing. The development of these scales is beneficial to advance the already growing research related to DV in China in ways that are relevant to the Chinese context.

This paper focuses on county-level grain production and food security in North China; selects 17 indicators from both climatic conditions and human activities; applies yield fluctuation coefficients, spatial econometric modelling, the random forest method, and factor analysis to study the characteristics of grain production in North China and the influencing factors; and evaluates the situation of food security in North China based on grain production capacity. The following results were obtained: (1) The spatial and temporal changes in grain production located in North China from 2000 to 2020 are obvious. The grain output in North China from 2000 to 2020 maintains fluctuating growth at a rate of 0.38 × 1011 kg/10a. The east and south are the key areas for grain production in North China. Grain output was relatively stable except for 2003. with the cold spots of grain production being mainly in the northwestern area and the hot spots in the central and southern areas. (2) The changes in grain production in North China from 2000 to 2020 were less affected by climate and mainly influenced by human activity indicators. (3) As time progresses, the area of food shortage zones decreases in size, becoming evenly distributed and dispersed from the initial concentration in northern Hebei and most of Shanxi; the change in the supply-demand equilibrium zones is not obvious; and the area of surplus grain zones increases markedly in size, with a tendency to expand from the south and centre of the study area to the west and north. The grain production capacity of counties in the northwest and north is generally low, and even counties located in surplus grain areas have potential food security risks. However, in the east and south, due to their high grain production capacity, the per capita grain supply situation may be alleviated even in counties located in grain shortage areas. This study can deepen the understanding of the characteristics of food production in North China and enrich the research on food security. Analyses of factors influencing food production will improve a deeper understanding of food security. Food security evaluation based on food production capacity will contribute to a more precise and comprehensive understanding of the food security pattern in North China.

Terrorism refers to the claims and acts that create social panic, endanger public security, infringe upon persons and property, or threaten state organs and organizations to achieve political and ideological goals through violence, sabotage, intimidation and other means. According to the survey, 92 % of the world\'s countries have been subjected to terrorist attacks to varying degrees, involving South America, the Middle East and North Africa. Since 1970, there have been about 200,000 terrorist incidents worldwide. Global terrorist attacks have a wide range of targets, involving nearly 20 groups, resulting in up to 280,000 deaths and 360,000 injuries. Based on the GTD database, this paper selects the relevant data from 1998 to 2017, and uses the factor analysis model to establish the evaluation index system of terrorist attack harm from the perspective of terrorist attack harm. At the same time, GIS is used for quantitative analysis of the data, and time series model is used for correlation prediction. The results show that the comprehensive evaluation model of terrorist attacks has objectively and accurately evaluated the terrorist attacks in the past 20 years, among which 9/11 incident has the highest degree of harm, followed by the Salam Embassy bombing. The ranking of the harmfulness of the incident is basically consistent with the reports of mainstream media at home and abroad. From the perspective of the global spatial scope of terrorist attacks, terrorist attacks are shifting from North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula to the eastern front, and the Middle East has continued to gather, and the situation of terrorist attacks in the Middle East is not optimistic. At present and for some time to come, international terrorism will remain at a high level, and terrorist attacks will remain concentrated in the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula.

Multivariate calibration models often encounter challenges in extrapolating beyond the calibration instruments due to variations in hardware configurations, signal processing algorithms, or environmental conditions. Calibration transfer techniques have been developed to mitigate this issue. In this study, we introduce a novel methodology known as Supervised Factor Analysis Transfer (SFAT) aimed at achieving robust and interpretable calibration transfer. SFAT operates from a probabilistic framework and integrates response variables into its transfer process to effectively align data from the target instrument to that of the source instrument. Within the SFAT model, the data from the source instrument, the target instrument, and the response variables are collectively projected onto a shared set of latent variables. These latent variables serve as the conduit for information transfer between the three distinct domains, thereby facilitating effective spectra transfer. Moreover, SFAT explicitly models the noise variances associated with each variable, thereby minimizing the transfer of non-informative noise. Furthermore, we provide empirical evidence showcasing the efficacy of SFAT across three real-world datasets, demonstrating its superior performance in calibration transfer scenarios.

UNASSIGNED: The questionnaire Apathy Evaluation Scale-Self (AES-S) has been widely adopted globally, demonstrating high reliability and validity. However, direct translation of the AES into Chinese does not fit well into the Chinese cultural setting, so a structured and comprehensive revision is needed to obtain a high reliability and validity version of the scale.
UNASSIGNED: In this study, 436 adults aged ≥ 60 years from two communities in Beijing were assessed using a modified AES-S. The methodology included item analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. The scale\'s validity was tested using the Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (TEPS) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Reliability assessment included retest reliability, internal consistency reliability, and split-half reliability.
UNASSIGNED: The modified Apathy Evaluation Scale-Self-Assessment (AES-S-C) presented a first-order four-factor structure with higher reliability and validity than the original version within the Chinese older adult community.
UNASSIGNED: The revised AES-S-C is more suitable for the Chinese older adults in community settings.
UNASSIGNED: This self-rated scale is suitable for screening apathy among older adults in community or nursing facilities, aiding in the identification of cognitive impairment and promoting mental health.

OBJECTIVE: Psychosocial factors affect individuals\' desire for physical activity. A newly developed instrument (Tendency to Avoid Physical Activity and Sport; TAPAS) has been designed to assess the avoidance of physical activity. Considering cultural differences could be decisive factors, the present study aimed to translate and validate the TAPAS into Chinese (Mandarin) for Taiwanese youths, and further cultural comparisons are expected.
METHODS: Standard translation procedure (i.e., forward translation, back translation, and reconciliation) was used to translate the English TAPAS into the Chinese TAPAS. Following translation, 608 youths (mean [SD] age 29.10 [6.36] years; 333 [54.8%] women) participated in the study via a snowballing sampling method with an online survey. All participants completed the Chinese TAPAS and additional instruments assessing weight stigma and psychological distress. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the factor structure of the Chinese TAPAS and multigroup CFA to examine measurement invariance across gender (men vs. women) and weight status (overweight vs. non-overweight). Pearson correlations were used to examine the concurrent validity; independent t-tests between gender groups and weight status groups were used to examine the known-group validity.
RESULTS: Consistent with the English version, the Chinese TAPAS was found to have a one-factor structure evidenced by CFA results. The structure was invariant across gender and weight status groups evidenced by multigroup CFA results. Concurrent validity was supported by significant associations with the related constructs assessed (r = 0.326 to 0.676; p < 0.001). Known-group validity was supported by the significant differences in TAPAS total scores between gender and weight status groups (p = 0.004 and < 0.001; Cohen\'s d = 0.24 and 0.48).
CONCLUSIONS: The Chinese version of the TAPAS is a valid and reliable instrument assessing individuals\' avoidance of physical activity and sports due to underlying psychosocial issues among Taiwanese youths. It is anticipated to be applied within a large Asian population, as well as cross-cultural comparisons, for further explorations in health, behavioral and epidemiological research and practice.

UNASSIGNED: The objective of this research was to introduce, translate, and verify the Patient Participation Scale (PPS) within a Chinese context.
UNASSIGNED: We applied a combination of internal consistency testing, item analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. The research involved 453 individuals, comprising both outpatients and inpatients, across three Jinzhou Medical University-affiliated hospitals in China. Additionally, a subgroup of 50 patients underwent a retest after a 2-week interval to assess reliability.
UNASSIGNED: The adapted Chinese edition of the PPS included 21 items. Exploratory factor analysis identified four distinct factors, accounting for 66.199% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a suitable four-factor structure ( χ / d f : 2.045, RMSEA: 0.048, GFI: 0.935, AGFI: 0.914, TLI: 0.958, CFI: 0.965, and PGFI: 0.712). The factor loadings corresponded to each item exceeded 0.6, the average variance extracted (AVE) exceeded 0.5, and the composite reliability (CR) exceeded 0.7. The correlation coefficients stayed below the square root of the AVE, demonstrated relatively favourable convergent and discriminant validity.The Chinese PPS edition demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach\'s alpha: 0.919), with dimensional Cronbach\'s alpha ranged from 0.732 to 0.918. Split-half as well as retest reliabilities were recorded at 0.737 and 0.864, respectively. The content validity index for the Chinese PPS edition stood at 0.974.
UNASSIGNED: The Chinese edition of the PPS emerges as a valid and reliable tool for assessing patient engagement in their own treatment as well as care, applicable in both inpatient as well as outpatient settings.