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Background: Sport-related concussion is a public concern with between 1.6 and 3.8 million sport- and recreationrelated injuries occurring annually. An estimated 65% to 90% of concussed athletes show oculomotor disruption such as difficulty with saccades, accommodation, smooth pursuit, and fixation. A rapid number-naming saccade test, the King-Devick (K-D) test, has shown promising results as part of a multifaceted concussion assessment tool. Purpose: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the two versions of the K-D in collegiate aged (18-24) athletes to determine the agreement between versions. A secondary purpose was to investigate the association of K-D scores with sport, sex, use of glasses or contacts, and age of the athlete. Study design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: Division 1 NCAA collegiate athletes across ten sports were recruited to participate in baseline concussion assessments at the beginning of their respective athletic season. Correlations and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the association of K-D scores with sex and age. Results: One-hundred and nine athletes (69 males, 40 females; mean age =20.40±1.38 years) were baseline tested. There was excellent agreement (ICC=0.93, 95% CI: 0.90, 0.95) between the paper and computer version. Preseason K-D scores were statistically different (r2=0.873, p<0.05) with athletes scoring a mean of 37.58 seconds on the paper version (95% CI, 36.21, 38.96) and athletes scoring a mean of 41.48 seconds for the computerized tablet version (95% CI, 40.17, 42.91). There were no significant differences in sex, sport, or use of glasses noted for both versions. Age differences were identified; eighteen-year-old athletes took statistically longer than their peers for both K-D versions. Pairwise comparisons showed statistically significant differences between 18-year olds up to the age of 21-year-olds (p<0.05) for the computer version and statistically significant differences between 18-year olds up to 22-year-olds (p<0.05) for the paper version. Conclusion: This study supports the use of either version of the K-D test as a potential part of a multifaceted concussion assessment. The age of the athlete influences scores and therefore a K-D baseline should be repeated annually for collegiate athletes. Clinicians should not substitute K-D versions (computer vs. paper) in comparing baseline to a post-concussion K-D score as the scores are quite different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proposed way of estimating the associated macroeconomic index based on a supply chain network is a novel strategy that might give useful insights for firms and organizations trying to enhance their supply chain logistics operations. To aid in this process, the suggested technique utilizes multiple regression analysis and adaptive extreme learning machine models to determine the relative importance of each indicator in the supply chain logistics decision-making process. Firms may be able to save expenses and boost economic value by employing enhanced genetic algorithms and mathematical modeling to develop a logistics distribution model for urban supply chains based on reconstructive genetic algorithms. It is possible that the paper's study of the issues plaguing the current distribution of logistics in metropolitan areas would prove valuable to organizations that are seeking to improve their own supply chain logistics procedures. This paper appears to take a thorough strategy that might assist assure the accuracy of the forecasting method by preprocessing macroeconomic indicators using imputation, classification, and other approaches to generate a time series consistency model. Some novel ways that may shed light on logistics in the supply chain include using a two-dimensional discrete mesh structure built on wireless sensors to depict the national economic development scenario and using a coding matrix to convey the extent of economic growth. A thorough and all-encompassing way that might aid organizations in making better judgments about their supply chain logistics strategies is to employ multiple regression analysis, an adaptive extreme learning machine model, and other approaches to examine the effect degree of each key indicator. Experiments demonstrating excellent and steady prediction accuracy of the algorithm model are encouraging and point to the possible usefulness of the suggested forecasting approach. The paper's contributions, including its analysis of supply chain logistics cost accounting, determination of the basic path optimization, improvement of the genetic algorithm, and design of the mathematical model of supply chain logistics distribution path decision, all look promising in terms of their potential to help businesses cut costs and boost economic value. The positive outcome of the successful design of the mathematical model demonstrates the possible efficacy of the suggested technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Site visits (SVs) are a common component of clinical education. The purpose of this paper was to explore clinicians' perspectives regarding SVs, including methods of communication used and their effectiveness, purposes of SVs, and the level of interaction between the stakeholders. Review of the Literature. Several communication methods are used to conduct SVs, with varying levels of "richness" and effectiveness. Previous studies have explored the perceptions of physical therapist (PT) students and Directors of Clinical Education regarding communication methods used during SVs, as well as reporting the purposes, effectiveness, and logistics. Subjects. Clinicians, including clinical instructors (CIs) and Site Coordinators of Clinical Education, from across the United States, representing various geographical locations and settings were invited to participate. Methods. An electronic survey was distributed to participants using information from 2 PT education programs and the Physical Therapist Clinical Performance Instrument database. Results. A total of 273 responses were included in the analysis. Clinicians ranked in-person visits as their first choice of communication for future SVs (n = 157, 59.9%) and indicated that inperson communication was "very effective" (n = 143, 52.4%) when compared with videoconferencing (n = 55, 20.1%) and telephone (n = 49, 17.9%). Clinicians ranked verifying the competency level of the student and verifying site resources during the SV as "extremely important" or "important" (n = 257, 94.2% and n = 250, 91.5%, respectively). Answering CI's questions and providing support to the CI were also identified as "extremely important" or "important" (n = 262, 96% and n = 244, 89.4%, respectively). Analysis of open-ended responses revealed 5 themes: Communication is important, flexibility allows best fit for a situation, on-site visits offer a more complete picture, real-time dialog is preferred, and email can lead to misinterpretation. Discussion and Conclusion. Communication is a key component of the clinical-academic relationship. Although clinicians prefer in-person communication, flexibility is necessary when planning and conducting SVs. Future research recommendations include gathering student and clinician perceptions regarding faculty involvement in SVs, as well as gathering faculty perspectives regarding their participation in SVs. In addition, the impact of the pandemic on the future of SVs warrants further exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the impact of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and oral health-related QOL (OHRQOL) and the association between the downstaging of MRONJ and OHRQOL. The HRQOL and OHRQOL of 44 patients with MRONJ were assessed using the SF-36v2 and the General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI), respectively. Treatment was performed in accordance with the AAOMS position paper (2014). The SF-36v2 and GOHAI scores at the beginning of the survey were used to evaluate the impact of MRONJ on QOL. Potential confounders affecting the association between downstaging and QOL improvement were selected using directed acyclic graphs. Multiple regression analysis was performed to evaluate causal inferences. HRQOL scale scores declined below the national average. The three-component summary score (3CS), comprising the physical component summary (PCS), mental component summary (MCS), and role/social component summary (RCS), revealed that performance status and primary disease significantly affected the PCS and RCS (P = 0.005 and P < 0.001, respectively) and PCS and MCS (P = 0.024 and P = 0.003, respectively). The MRONJ stage did not influence the 3CS; however, OHRQOL declined in a stage-dependent manner (P = 0.005). Downstaging of MRONJ was independently associated with the improvement rate of the total GOHAI scores after adjusting for variables (P = 0.045). The HRQOL of patients with MRONJ declined; however, this may depend on the underlying disease status rather than the MRONJ stage. Improvement of the disease status can potentially predict an improvement in OHRQOL, regardless of the treatment modality. • HRQOL and OHRQOL declined in patients with MRONJ, especially in oncology patients. • The extent of MRONJ can decrease OHRQOL in a stage-dependent manner. • HRQOL was not affected by MRONJ stage. • Downstaging of MRONJ is directly associated with OHRQOL improvements. • Downstaging of MRONJ can be a predictor of improvement of OHRQOL in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Industria Textila is the property of Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Textile si Pielarie and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A multitude of factors contribute to quality service in restaurants, classified into dimensions such as tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy. Gratifying guests is crucial for retaining current patrons and enticing new ones, resulting in benefits like heightened loyalty and positive word-of-mouth promotion. This, in turn, influences profitability and the restaurant's long-term presence in the market. This paper seeks to analyze the factors impacting guest satisfaction in Kosovo's restaurants, including assessing the quantifiable impact of these factors on overall guest contentment. A structured questionnaire on Five point Licker scale was used to collect the data. The survey covers 200 guests in classic restaurants in different cities in Kosovo. A cross-tabulation of the survey variables was performed, applying the correlation method and multiple regression analysis to determine the direction and strength of each group of factors on guest satisfaction in Kosovo. The study reveals a positive impact of all service quality dimensions on guest satisfaction, including tangible elements (correlation 0.859, determination 0.738), reliability (correlation 0.870, determination 0.758), responsiveness (correlation 0.948, determination 0.889), assurance (correlation 0.876, determination 0.768), and empathy (correlation 0.804, determination 0.646). This underscores the importance for restaurants to focus on these dimensions to retain existing and attract new guests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. Introduction.: Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students must meet high standards throughout their lives and careers, which can cause stress and anxiety, with potentially devastating impacts. This quantitative study examined whether and to what extent perfectionism, demographic characteristics, and coping strategies relate to state (situation-related) and trait (personality-related) anxiety in DPT students. Review of Literature.: Existing literature demonstrates high anxiety levels in DPT students; also, maladaptive perfectionism is associated with higher levels of stress. The predictive relationship between coping, perfectionism, and anxiety in DPT students has not been assessed. Subjects.: Convenience sample of DPT students in their first through third years across 8 different DPT programs (n = 206). Methods.: This paper was a cross-sectional, nonexperimental, multisite project. A hierarchical linear regression assessed the relationship between variables (demographics, coping, perfectionism, state anxiety, and trait anxiety). Results.: Approximately 81.5% of the sample reported being not a perfectionist, 7.0% maladaptive perfectionists, and 11.5% adaptive perfectionists. Students using adaptive coping comprised 72.3% of the sample, whereas 28.0% used primarily maladaptive coping mechanisms. State Trait Anxiety Inventory scores were higher for this sample of DPT students when compared with published studies in the normal population. Significant predictor variables for state anxiety were sex, type of coping strategies used, and class year in the DPT program. For trait anxiety, sex, coping strategy type, maladaptive perfectionism, and class year were significant. Discussion and Conclusion.: There is a predictive relationship between sex, type of coping strategies used, and year within the DPT program for both state and trait anxiety in DPT students. Presence of maladaptive perfectionism was an additional predictive variable for trait anxiety. This knowledge can help educational institutions better identify at-risk students for anxiety and tailor programs to better meet the individual needs of our students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to examine ways in which managers can keep their organizations ethical and ethical behavior of employess. In the study an online survey was utilized to collect the data via convenience sampling method. The research adopted a construct to measure how managers kept their companies ethical and ethical behavior of employees. The results of the study, using multiple linear regression analysis, showed that the two hypotheses; a. The cooperation of managers with employees affected the company's ethics and b. The way managers worked affected the company's ethics was accepted and was significant. Due to time and financial constraints, the sampling size was limited to the survey participants only. As a result, the findings of this research were not generalized to the entire population. In addition, the study focused only on the ways in which managers could keep their company's ethical policy, there were also other factors that affected company ethics. The research highlighted how company managers influenced company ethics, it was also understood what effected company ethics, positive or negative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Two research questions are posed in the paper that investigate and analyze the relationship between profitability and microeconomic determinants of business activity classified under J62 in the Republic of Croatia on a sample of 280 IT firms in the period from 2019-2021. Methodology: The present research is based on the resource-based view (RBV) approach - firm-specific determinants of firm profitability. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to investigate the determinants of industry profitability, as determined by ROA and ROE. Results: Further analyses investigated a correlation between the identified internal factors and the profitability of IT firms. Finally, two profitability models were set up, defined by a single set of internal factors with different correlations and statistical significance. It was shown that the independent variables Debt (DBT), Total assets (SIZE), and EBIT have statistical significance in both models, ROA and ROE demonstrate a strong correlation, the variables Stratification and Current liquidity (CL) show a correlation with the ROA model, and the lagged variables have different predictive abilities in terms of mROE. Conclusion: The results of multiple regression analysis show that there is a correlation between internal factors and profitability at the firm level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to present the impact of online communication channels in the consumer decision-making process. Through this research we will create knowledge about the Kosovo market and the impact of these channels (Email Marketing, Online Advertising and Social Media). The paper is based on empirical analysis, for sampling probabilistic samples were selected (simple random sample), part of the sample are 200 consumers in Kosovo. Data were collected through an online questionnaire. The data were analyzed and processed with SPSS program, while the study hypotheses were verified through factor analysis (Principal Component Analysis - PCA) and multiple regression analysis. From the results of this study we conclude that digital channels such as: social media and online advertising have a positive impact on the consumer decision-making process while e-mail marketing does not have a high impact on this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of the decline of time-honored brands, activating time-honored brands by means of product extension is an effective guarantee for the long-term development of time-honored brands and an important way for them to achieve lasting success. In this paper, Ye Chun Tea House is taken as the parent brand. Through consumer testing sashimi buns and hamburger are identified as two extension products with significant differentiation degree of perceived fit with the parent brand. Student's t test and multiple regression analysis were used to explore the positive or negative impact of extension products with different perceived fit on brand, as well as the effect of perceived fit on brand attachment and brand loyalty. The cross-multiplicative model is used to discuss the strength of the above influence in different gender, age and income consumer groups. The empirical analysis and research conclusions of this paper focus on two aspects: first, extension products with high perceived fit improve brand loyalty, while extension products with low perceived fit reduce brand loyalty. Second, for extension products with high perceived fit, perceived fit positively affects brand loyalty. Brand attachment plays a mediating role between perceived fit and brand loyalty. Age had a negative moderating effect on perceived fit and brand attachment, perceived fit and brand loyalty, while income level only had a positive moderating effect on cultural fit and brand attachment, cultural fit and brand loyalty. Based on the research conclusions, this paper provides policy-making advice for government departments in four aspects: research and development of new products, optimization of financing services, loose loan policies and construction of omni-channel marketing platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Promoting interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) is necessary. Consequently, investigating strategies associated with increased interprofessional socialization, the beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes underlying socialization toward IPCP is suggested. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship, in the presence of control variables, between students' perception of servant leadership by physical therapy faculty mentors and interprofessional socialization. Review of the Literature. Although faculty mentors are associated with influencing students' socialization process and servant leadership is suggested to support collaborative care, investigations exploring these concepts within physical therapy education are limited. Subjects. Three cohorts of students (60 each) at an entry-level physical therapist education program in the Midwest of the United States. One hundred seventy individuals completed an anonymous paper-based composite survey, with 117 identifying the presence of an informal physical therapy faculty mentor. Methods. This cross-sectional survey study, inclusive of student demographic control variables, examined the relationship between interprofessional socialization and perceptions of physical therapy faculty mentors, as measured by the Interprofessional Socialization and Valuing Scale (ISVS-21) and the Servant Leadership Measure (SL-7), respectively. Multiple linear regression was used to obtain the semi-partial correlation (sr) between the SL-7 and the ISVS-21, with significance accepted at P < .05. Results. Upon necessary assumptions being met, 114 participants were included with an analysis of variance identifying the model to be significant (F(8,105) = 2.59, P = .01). Multiple linear regression analysis found that the SL-7, in the presence of control variables, was associated with a significant proportion of ISVS-21 scores (R2 = 0.17, F(8,105) = 2.59, P = .01). Notably, only the SL-7 demonstrated a significant contribution to ISVS-21 estimates (β = 0.358, P < .001), with a significant and positive sr of 0.34 (P < .001). Discussion and Conclusion. Perceptions of servant leadership by faculty mentors were positively correlated with interprofessional socialization. Findings bolster the theoretical link between servant leadership and interprofessional socialization, servant leadership in the development of faculty and mentorship programs, and the relevance of informal social interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Withholding workers' salaries for months as a punishment for engaging in a strike may natively affect and influence their psychological distress. This study assessed the correlation between physical activity, psychological distress, and socioeconomic status, and explored the factors influencing psychological distress among the striking workers in Nigeria. Methods: This cross-sectional face-to-face and online study conveniently sampled a total of 234 lecturers aged 27-69 years. The sociodemographic, physical, socio-economic, and psychological distress was assessed by the university strike physical and psychological distress questionnaire (USPAPDQ). Data analysis includes descriptive statistics, multiple linear regression, Spearman's correlation, and Man whiney U-test, using a P<0.05 as the level of significance. Results: The mean age, number of papers, and frequency/duration of exercise were 45.4±10.36 years, 4±5.82, 2.19±1.63 day/week, and 30.49±29.82 minutes/day, respectively. An inverse significant relationship was established between anxiety and age (r=-0.27; P<0.01), contemplating changing my job (r=-0.40; P<0.01), number of children (r=-0.19; P<0.01), academic rank (r=-0.27; P<0.01), frequency (r=-0.18; P<0.01), and duration (r=-0.16; P=0.02) of exercise. The significant predictors of anxiety were marital status (ß=-0.207, P<0.01), contemplation on changing my job if the strike continues (P<0.01, ß=-0.198), see anything positive about the strike (P<0.01, ß=0.178), and numbers of children (P<0.01, ß=-0.193). The significant predictors of depression were, an alternate source of income (P=0.04, ß=0.126), contemplation on changing my job if the strike continues (P=0.03, ß=-0.149), seeing anything positive about the strike (P=0.05, ß=0.118), and time (hours) spent watching television (P=0.03, ß=0.124). Discussion: Overall, the significant negative predictors of psychological distress include marital status, contemplating changing my job, and number of children. The positive predictors were seeing anything positive about the strike, alternate sources of income, and time spent watching television. The government may prevent the reoccurrence of strikes by honouring existing agreements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of lean tools and techniques to reduce waste from the workflow has been prominently gaining popularity in the construction industry worldwide. Last Planner System (LPS) is one such distinguished tool used by construction majors. Much research suggests that LPS plays a significant role in improving collaboration among project team members and the firm's organizational culture. This paper reports the intermediating effect of organizational culture on construction projects that implement the Last Planner System and also identifies the effect of LPS on the project's operational performance. Various survey items pertaining to each variable were identified and validated through Content Validation. All the established items were then compiled into a questionnaire, and multiple data were collected from a variety of projects. The data were analysed using bivariate correlation and multiple regression analysis. Additionally, the "organizational culture assessment instrument" was utilized to compare the organizational cultures of various construction sites. It was discovered that the Last Planner System had a positive but negligible relationship with the operational performance of the project, and the organizational culture. It was observed that all the projects implementing LPS had a balance culture. The contribution of this work is the knowledge that implementation of the Last Planner System is not necessarily enhanced by culture to a great extent. However, it has a positive impact on both the operational performance of the project and the organizational culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In data analysis, analyzing the relationships between the variables such as correlation analysis and regression analysis are very important. Correlation analysis and regression analysis are not only very important in analyzing the influence relationship and causal relationship of variables but also serve as the basis for statistical analysis. Furthermore, they are essential and important as basic analysis for machine learning analysis such as deep learning. This is because in analyzing the input and output in deep learning, variables with high correlation are selected first, and in analyzing the causal relationship, it is basic to first conduct basic analysis such as regression analysis. Especially, when data are observed as fuzzy data with ambiguous information, it is difficult to propose unique methods for those analyses due to its complexity. However, the application of fuzzy theory to correlation analysis for data with such ambiguous information has not been an effective study, and several studies have been conducted in cases where the data is not general fuzzy data or interval estimation. As a result, the effectiveness of the fuzzy theory was not highlighted. In particular, the variable selection method for selecting important variables in multiple regression analysis is a very important and essential process in regression analysis. A variable that is significant in simple regression analysis may not be significant in multiple regression analysis due to its relationship with other variables. Therefore, not all variables that affect the dependent variable can be used as independent variables in multiple regression analysis. Therefore, multiple regression analysis goes through the process of excluding some variables. But until now, the process of fuzzy multiple regression analysis has not been applied without a variable selection method and the significance of important variables has not been emphasized that much. In this paper, a fuzzy correlation coefficient and multiple fuzzy regression analysis using variable section method are proposed. For this, first defuzzification and fuzzy ordering are defined. And then fuzzy correlation coefficient is proposed using L 2 distance. Next, fuzzy sum of squares are defined for F-statistics to test the significance of the regression model. Using this F-statistics, fuzzy R2, and fuzzy RMSE, several variable selection methods are proposed based on distance approach. For the data analysis, foreign exchange reserve data and house price of South Korea have been applied which are important indicators for economic crisis. The financial data is mostly recorded as closing values, but the closing values cannot be the representative of the given period of time. Therefore, we can deal with the financial data as fuzzy data which have some fluctuation that can be considered as vagueness that the data originally include. We have used foreign exchange reserve data and house price data with several financial variables. And the proposed fuzzy correlation coefficient and variable selection for fuzzy regression analysis are applied to these financial data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gardens are unique ecosystems with the potential to deliver an array of important environmental and health benefits, particularly for urban populations. A large body of research has established that contact with nature and activities within green spaces (including gardening) are beneficial for our physical, mental and social health. An adjacent body of research has explored whether and how pro-environmental behaviours are also linked to positive outcomes for human health and wellbeing. But published research has not yet established whether pro-environmental behaviour in the context of gardening ("sustainable horticulture") further increases the health and wellbeing benefits that gardeners derive. This paper uses evidence from a nationally representative UK survey (n=2086) conducted in August 2021 to explore this question. We used multiple regression analysis to quantitatively demonstrate that a positive association between gardening more sustainably and perceived health benefits from gardening exists at the population level amongst UK adults. This finding implies the possibility that promoting environmentally-minded gardening techniques may lead to an increase in the health and wellbeing benefits that gardeners can derive from their actions. The paper puts forth a range of potential mechanisms that could explain the identified positive association between sustainable gardening and perceived health benefits and identifies related policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional big data clustering methods for complex attributes have problems of poor clustering results and long clustering running time. Therefore, this paper proposes a nonlinear big data clustering method for complex attributes based on cloud computing. Based on cloud computing environment, the storage framework of big data is constructed to extract the characteristics of information flow model of big database. Multiple regression analysis method is used to obtain the output update rules of big data clustering with nonlinear complex attributes, and achieve balanced configuration of big data transmission channels. Hash function of nonlinear complex attributes is obtained according to p-stable distribution, and hierarchical sampling method is used to achieve big data classification with nonlinear complex attributes. Cloud computing technology is used to complete sample allocation and clustering of nonlinear complex attribute big data. Experiments show that the clustering effect of complex attribute big data proposed in this paper is good, and the clustering running time is significantly shortened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Ciencias Sociales (13159518) is the property of Revista de Ciencias Sociales de la Universidad del Zulia Venezuela and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of the Institute of Educational Research / Zbornik Instituta za Pedagoška Istrazivanja is the property of National Library of Serbia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: This paper examines the determinants of long-term economic growth and sustainable development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a chosen one-resource economy that relies on massive oil production. Methodology is based on the econometric methods of multiple regression analysis and the multicollinearity test for the period from 2010 to 2020. The research was conducted on the basis of a model of 13 variables, where the dependent variable is the annual rate of GDP, and the independent variables are inflation, budget deficit, oil exports, imports, unemployment rate, foreign direct investment, labour productivity, public debt, labour force, GDP per capita, HDI index, total rent of natural resources and adjusted net savings. Results indicate a strong connection between gross domestic product and the selected variables and the existence of factors that are of strategic importance for the growth of the Saudi economy, but on the other hand, the negative effects of certain factors on sustainable development. Conclusion: Based on the results, it is suggested that investment in human capital is an urgent step to achieve long-term sustainability and reduce reliance on natural resource operations in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper investigates whether within the European countries with a prevalent number of companies in particular sectors the corrupt rent-seeking practice is more likely to contaminate the entire business sector. Methodology: Multiple regression analysis was conducted to investigate the determinants of corruption pressure on the business sector. Results: We found that the share of retail and wholesale trade and public companies in the economy is related to bribery incidence experienced in the domestic business sector as a whole and that the ease of doing business together with EU membership reduces the spread of corruption risk. The transmissible effect of bribery incidence in one sector on the rest of the companies is observed, notwithstanding the posttransition status of a European country. Conclusion: There is a relationship between the share of retail and wholesale trade and public companies in an economy and bribery incidence experienced by the entire business sector indicating that there might be a spillover effect of bribing in one sector on the rest of the companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Sociology & Space / Sociologija i Prostor is the property of Institut za drustvena istrazivanja u Zagrebu (Institute for Social Research of Zagreb) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of African Journal of Reproductive Health is the property of Women's Health & Action Research Centre and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The main motive of this research paper is to identify the elements that are affecting the performance of the employees that belonged to Teaching and Non-Teaching Staffs in enhancing the recognition of PrivateColleges according to the ideal perspective and realistic perspective. The main purpose of this paper is to increase the retention of PrivateColleges. The questioner was used in the method of data collection in which 325 closed-ended questions were shared. The managers of different private colleges were its respondents. For the purpose of validation and verification of the framework, the method of linear regression analysis was used. As this research is quantitative that is why the statistical techniques like multiple regression and path analysis, factor analysis, and t-test were used to analyze the differences between Teaching and Non-Teaching Staffs to increase the retention of PrivateColleges. Particularly, the performance of the employees seems to be eased and employed with the intention of enhancing the retention of PrivateColleges. Similarly, if there is a high improvement in the performance of the employees then there will be a high rate of acceptance among the teaching staff and non-teaching staff. As a result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While consumer acceptance of anthropomorphized robots has gained significant attention, limited research has examined the effectiveness of anthropomorphizing robots from a social cognitive perspective. This paper delves into the specific conditions and individual characteristics where the anthropomorphism strategy is most effective. Specifically, Studies 1 and 2 explore the moderating roles of human staff presence and consumers' perceived financial constraints on the robot anthropomorphism effect on consumer visit intention. Both studies employ multiple regression analyses. The findings reveal that the robot anthropomorphism effect on consumer visit intention is more pronounced when a human staff is deployed alongside a robot (Study 1) and for consumers with higher levels of perceived financial constraints (Study 2). Moreover, perceived humanness and effort of service robots explain the underlying mechanism. Managerially, anthropomorphized robots are recommended especially for operations where human staff is present and for budget-friendly businesses that cater to consumers experiencing financial constraints. • The presence of human staff enhances the social schema of anthropomorphized robots. • Financial constraints boost the social appeal of anthropomorphized robots. • Activated social schemas enhance consumers' appreciation of robot effort. • Consumers' perception of robot effort significantly influences their visit intention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the most basic travel mode of residents, walking trip takes place more frequently in residential districts. It is of great significance to study the land use characteristics of the residential district suitable for walking in order to create a good walking environment and land use model. In this paper, 18 residential blocks in Xi'an are taken as the research object, based on the relevant data of the pedestrian flow rate and land use of residential blocks, this paper analyzes the interactive relationship between the non-commuting hours during the week, the commuting hours during the week and the weekends by using the multiple linear regression model, and the land use characteristics of residential blocks under the guidance of walking trip are revealed. The results show that the land use factors related to pedestrian flow rate are mainly 9 factors, such as building density, buildings mixing degree, mixing degree of business functions and density of functional formats. In different hours, walking trips have different demands on various elements of land use. During the non-commuting hours during the week, the demand for walking trips for building density, mixing degree of business functions, density of functional formats and footpath area ratio is large. During the commuting hours during the week, the demand for walking trips for buildings mixing degree, density of functional formats, road network connectivity, and green area ratio of footpath is large. During the weekends, the demand for building density, density of functional formats, road network density, and footpath density is large. Through the above analysis, the optimization strategy is proposed for residential blocks in Xi 'an, which provides a theoretical basis for the optimization and transformation of the space environment of residential blocks to promote walking trip. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic portfolios (e-portfolios) have been widely used to help learners collect evidence of their learning, reflect on their evaluation, and promote self-directed learning. Through the introduction of an e-portfolio platform in a cluster of lessons in a module in a polytechnic in Singapore, this paper aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the e-portfolio through the learners' perceptions. A cross-sectional design using an online survey was employed with 226 students taking part in this study. There was high internal consistency among the survey items. Exploratory factor analysis suggested a 5-factor structure: (1) perceived usefulness (PU), (2) organisation (ORG), (3) collaboration (COL), (4) evaluation (EVA), and (5) perceived value of learning (PVL). In addition, confirmatory factor analysis verified that the proposed 5-factor solution was a good model fit. The final research instrument comprised 19 items. A further multiple regression analysis showed that all the independent variables, except for evaluation, were positive and significant predictors of learners' PVL. Specifically, the ORG variable was the most influential predictor of PVL. In comparison, the PU variable was a relatively weaker predictor of PVL. The practical implications and further direction for research are discussed in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This research paper examines continuing professional development as it relates to the Saudi Vision 2030 Human Development Programs. The goal of this study is to examine how professionals perceive CPD and how they view their work. This study examines the personalities and technical skills of professionals and examines if these factors have an immediate impact on how they see things. The researcher pinpoints and examines personality, technical proficiency, training and development, perception, and its impact on participants' attitudes and level of commitment to their jobs about CPD practices. The researcher pinpoints and examines personality, technical proficiency, training and development, perception, and its impact on participants' attitudes and level of commitment to their jobs about CPD practices. As Saudi professionals participate increasingly in CPD, the researcher examines their demands and expectations. The research also focuses on the relationship between professional achievement and professional attitudes. Design/Methodology/Approach: The researcher used a stratified sampling technique to find 100 professionals in top management roles in the public and private sectors of various industries. In this study, the researcher used structured questionnaires and interviews to gather primary data from 100 samples from various portfolios. The researcher uses one-way ANOVA and multiple regression analysis to analyze how professionals see themselves and their devotion to their jobs. Through "Multiple Regression Analysis," professionals' success in their fields is demonstrated. The search for theoretical model fit is conducted using structural equation modelling (SEM). The structural bond is examined using the "multivariate" statistical technique known as "structural equation modelling." Findings: The findings show that professional achievement is directly impacted by attitude and perception of CPD. The SEM results show that knowing the dependence of each element listed and how they relate to one another improves CPD and productivity. According to the connection results, technical proficiency and personality are significantly correlated with how professionals see CPD activities. Implications: Findings of this study will be helpful for human resource managers and policy makers to focus on CPD practices. Novelty: The research examines and proves that Attitude on CPD has a direct effect on professional success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Customer relationship and retention is the key to success for banks. One of the way to achieve it, is through improvement in overall service quality of online banking. This paper have identified factors influencing overall service quality of online banking by survey of 1014 online banking users and have proposed a model. Next, model was validated through a comparative study of public and private sector banks in India. Paper concludes that all independent factors of proposed model do influence overall service quality of online banking of both types of banks but the individual factor influence differently with different bank types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• High scores for forest governance were frequently related to reduced tropical deforestation. • Revision of governance frameworks would be beneficial as some indicators were hardly applied, others were interrelated. • The structure – agency concept can help to structure the numerous governance indicators. • Governance was moderated by context factors like corruption, population and technology. • Results are based on a content analysis of 28 most frequently cited papers. In view of a continuing global decrease of forest cover, many authors mention forest governance as a basic concept contributing to reduced deforestation, specifically in the tropics. There are numerous definitions for forest governance. The concept is commonly understood as a broad approach and assessment tools comprise dozens of indicators. However, there is no information about relations between single indicators, their individual importance and whether contextual factors modify their effects. This article aims to analyze if the hypothesized relation between governance leading to reduced tropical deforestation in general holds true, to identify the most decisive governance components and to explore if the wider socio-economic and political context influences potential governance effects. The structure - agency concept is used as theoretical basis to identify underlying mechanisms and as conceptual basis for discussing individual indicators. We employ a quantitative literature review based on scientific articles on governance and deforestation. From a total of 810 articles we select the most frequently cited publications related to the subject. From the resulting 198 papers only those are studied that contain empirical relations between governance and deforestation. The remaining 28 studies are analyzed by applying the governance indicators of the World Resource Institute as categories for content analysis. Likert scores are used to quantify governance effects as input for subsequent principal component analysis and multiple linear regressions. Results show that indeed high governance scores frequently relate to lower rates of deforestation and we thus recommend continued political support for the concept. But the reviewed studies mostly focus on a smaller number of classical governance indicators, which suggests that the governance concept might benefit from streamlining into a more targeted approach. In this respect, several indicators were related to underlying principal components reflecting the agency and structure concept. Even though we cannot claim a statistically significant stronger effect of one or the other component, single structural indicators were more strongly and more consistently linked to reduced deforestation in comparison to agency related indicators. The concept can thus be helpful to guide policy design and implementation. We show this by applying it to the ongoing discussion on results based payments under REDD+ as a prominent example for agency related measures. The reviewed literature in addition suggests that governance effects are moderated by deforestation drivers such as corruption, illegal logging and population growth and by interventions like technology transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to establish the regression equation based upon a set of samples prepared through structured design of experiment and form a prediction model for prediction of the areal density gram per square meter (GSM) of the embroidered fabrics and study the influence of basic input parameters. Design/methodology/approach -- Embroidery samples are prepared taking input parameters as GSM of the base fabric, linear density of the embroidery thread and stitch density of the embroidery design. Three levels of values are identified for each of the input parameters. Taguchi and Box-Behnken experiment design principles are used to prepare two sets of samples. Linear multiple regression is used to determine the prediction equations based upon each of the two sets and the combined set as well. Prediction equations are statistically verified for the prediction accuracy. Also, surface curves are prepared to study the influence of embroidery parameters on the GSM. Findings -- It is found that all the three prediction models developed in this study can predict with a very satisfactory level of accuracy. However, the regression equation based upon the data set prepared according to Taguchi experiment design is emerged as the prediction model with highest level of prediction accuracy. Corresponding equation coefficients and several three-dimensional surface curves are used to study the influence of embroidery parameters and it is found that the stitch density is the most influential input parameter followed by stitch length and the GSM of base fabric. Research limitations/implications -- This can be used to assess the GSM of embroidered fabrics before starting the actual embroidery process. So, this model can help the embroidery designers significantly to pre-estimate the GSM of the embroidered fabrics and select the design parameters accordingly. Also, this model can be a useful tool for estimation of thread consumption and thread cost in embroidery. Practical implications -- The input parameters used here are very basic parameters related to design and materials, which can be easily available. And also, a simple linear multiple regression is used to make the prediction equation simple and easy to use. So, this model can help the embroidery designers or garment designers to select/adjust the embroidery parameters and thread parameters accordingly in the planning and designing stage itself to ensure that the GSM of embroidered fabrics remains within desirable range. Also, this prediction model developed hereby may be a very useful tool for estimation of the consumption and cost of embroidery threads. Originality/value -- This paper presents a very fundamental study to reveal the effect of embroidery parameters on the GSM, through development of regression equations. It can help future researchers in optimizations of input parameters and forming a technical guideline for the embroidery designers for selection of the design parameters for a desired GSM of embroidered fabric. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents empirical evidence on financial-stress (FSF) and educationalteaching (ETF) factors to students. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to identify whether these factors were related to each-other, as well as if they affected students' performance during online learning during the Cov19 pandemic. Correlation analysis (Pearson test r) and multiple regression analysis (R, R2, Adj. R2, Std. Error, F, Sig. F, Durbin-Watson, Anova) were used during this study. The data were collected from 380 students surveyed at the PhD, Master and Bachelor level at the Kosovos' Universities, where through version 23.0 Windows of the SPSS program, 57 factors were tested which were divided into 11 categories. The results (a=0.84, r=.873, R=.982, Sig.=000) showed that there was a correlation between the financial stress factor (FSF) and the educational-teaching factor (ETF) for students, so to increase performance during online learning the following findings should be considered: 1) students should have had concentration, adaptation and good communication during the lesson, 2) students should have had good financial conditions within the family to adapt to the new learning and teaching environment, 3) stress factors should be removed to increase learning motivation, 4) the university should provide suitable learning opportunities for students who have worked so as not to lose their jobs, 5) there should be reductions in tuition fees or flexible ways to pay them, 6) professors should provide information about exams, lecture, graduations so that students did not have educational-financial stress. Therefore, the six most important findings of this research should be taken into account to increase student performance during online learning. Research implications suggest that focusing during online learning enhances student performance, and that families who have good financial standing have less financial stress to create the conditions for a new learning environment, so these findings may become a reference for subsequent research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learning performance prediction can help teachers find students who tend to fail as early as possible so as to give them timely help, which is of great significance for online education. With the availability of online data and the continuous development of machine learning technology, learning performance prediction in large-scale online education is gaining new momentum. Traditional prediction methods include statistical methods, machine learning and neural networks. Among them, statistical methods and machine learning have low prediction efficiency. Although neural network can improve prediction efficiency, it ignores the impact of artificial feature filtering on model performance, and cannot find key factors for performance prediction, making predictions uninterpretable. Therefore, this paper proposes an online academic performance prediction model that integrates feature selection and neural network. Multiple linear regression analysis is used for feature extraction to obtain key influence features, and then deep neural networks is used for prediction. The results show that the F1 score of our model on large-scale data set is 99.25%, which is 1.25% higher than that of other related models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction industry has long been recognized as a stressful industry, due to its complexity and management of a large number of stakeholders. Occupational stress causes a negative impact on both the work and personal life of professionals. Previous studies have established that occupational stress of construction professionals is strongly associated with low productivity, high absenteeism, and poor work performance. However, there is a lack of scientific studies that provide linkages between occupational stressors and the dimensions of work-life balance. The present research aims to study the perceived level of occupational stress and assess its relationship with the dimensions of work-life balance among construction professionals. Within an established theoretical framework, eight hypotheses were formulated to investigate the above relationship. A cross-sectional survey-based approach was adopted to assess the level of occupational stress and work-life balance. The survey was administered among construction project managers, project engineers, and site engineers in the Indian context. With 285 valid responses, relative importance index and multiple regression analysis methods were utilised to analyse the collected data. The findings revealed major stressors that contribute to high levels of occupational stress under work-related and organisation-related stressor categories. The top five identified stressors included job nature demands coordination with multiple stakeholders, tight time frame for work, unstable working hours, bureaucracy, and quantitative work overload. With regards to the relationship between the categories of occupational stress and work-life balance, the results indicate that work-related stressors are significantly and positively related to work interference to personal life (WIPL) and personal life interference to work (PLIW) and negatively relate to work enhancement of personal life (WEPL) and personal life enhancement of work (PLEW). In the case of organisationrelated stressors, both organisation policy and organisation position-related stressors significantly and positively influence WIPL however, no significant relationship was noticed with PLIW, WEPL, and PLEW. While the existing studies have provided evidence that work-life imbalance causes occupational stress, one of the major contributions of the present study is that it provides valid scientific evidence that occupational stress significantly influences work-life life balance negatively. The study's findings with regards to unveiling the relationship between the categories of occupational stressors and dimensions of work-life balance would help organisations derive relevant policies for creating a supportive work environment. To this end, the paper advances our collective understanding of occupational stress and work-life balance with multiple dimensions and perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geopolymer concrete is excellent for thermal insulation because of its low thermal conductivity, it may be utilized as a suitable insulation for building facades. Furthermore, it may lessen the impact of fire on the reinforcement for geopolymer constructions. Precise forecast of temperature increase during fire in buildings is crucial to evaluate efficacy of insulation and the performance of structures when exposed to high temperature. This paper introduced simple equations to predict the thermal properties (density, thermal conductivity, and specific heat) of normal and light weight GC when exposed to increased temperatures. Additionally, numerical investigation using the Ansys workbench software programme was performed to explore the temperature distribution in geopolymer concrete slabs when exposed to increased temperatures according to ISO 834 fire curve. Simple equations were created using multiple regression analysis for estimating the temperature distribution in geopolymer concrete slabs. Additionally, the predicted equations for thermal properties and the temperature rise predicted from the numerical study were experimentally validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migration is an important factor of humanity, being always a topic to be updated. In this article I will analyze the impact of the pandemic with COVID-19 on exits and entrances to the Romanian border. The purpose of the article is to outline the dynamics of migration as a result of the effects of the pandemic but also to analyze the political measures adopted to combat the effects. The analysis refers only to what happened in Romania by analyzing the data from 2020-2021, because in the current context the political, social and economic dynamics has been and is very high, since the beginning of the pandemic. For the analysis I will use the econometric analysis highlighted by a multiple regression. The variables of interest will be the number of entries and the number of exits from Romania and I will analyze the impact of the variables: Stingency Index, new cases of Covid, the number of hospitalized patients and the success of positive tests. Following the analysis I will observe the direct connection betIen these analyzed variables. The aim of the paper is to observe the poIr of the decisions taken by the country's leadership but also of Europe, on the migratory flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistant mufflers are commonly used in the wide band noise control of the exhaust of tractor internal combustion engines due to their simple structure, broadband frequency performance and long service life. In this paper, a corrugated perforated pipe muffler was proposed based on an improved design of a straight-through perforated pipemuffler to reduce the exhaust noise of internal combustion engines. The acoustic attenuation performance of the corrugated perforated tubemuffler under the action of nonuniform flow and a temperature gradient was predicted by using the onewayflow-acoustic couplingmethod, which combines computationalfluid dynamics and the acoustic finite element method. The pressure loss and self-noise of the corrugated perforated tube muffler were compared with those of the straight-through perforated tubemuffler. The influence of the structural parameters of the corrugated perforated tubemufflers on the transmission loss was analyzed. The significance level of the perforation diameter, peak height, distance between adjacent peaks, and peak width on the transmission loss of the corrugated perforated tubemufflerwas studied by multiple linear regression analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim was to evaluate the impact of untreated dental caries on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and the effects of children’s OHRQoL on family distress and function domains. Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted with children aged 2 to 6 years. Study included 34 children with ASD and 34 unaffected children (control group-CO). Untreated dental caries was determined for both groups. Parents/caretakers answered the Brazilian version of Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (B-ECOHIS). The statistical analyses were performed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, Mann-Whitney U-test, the Effect Size and Power, Wilcoxon test, Poisson regression, and Cronbach’s alpha. Results: The untreated dental caries in ASD was significantly less (41.1%) than in CO (64.7%). Higher impact was observed in untreated lesions in both groups. The self-image/social interaction (p = 0.015) and symptoms domains (p = 0.001) were a major cause of impact CO. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between OHRQoL and sex for ASD and age for CO. In conclusion, untreated dental caries is associated with a negative impact on the OHRQoL of children with and without ASD and of their families. The impact was associated with parents’ distress in ASD group. This paper reinforces the importance in preventing and treating dental caries both children with and without ASD, because the occurrence of dental caries impairs children quality of life. The knowledge of effects of OHRQoL on the family of autistic children allows us to evaluate that both the children and their parents/caregivers deserve attention and support in a comprehensive way in order to provide a better quality of life for both. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the possibilities of company goodwill valuation and verification. The value of company goodwill is still an actual issue for the scientific community. Goodwill as an economic phenomenon has attracted the attention of economic experts since the nineteenth century. Nowadays, there are many approaches to goodwill valuation. However, its identification and quantification are still a challenge. The paper aim is to identify significant sources of company goodwill creation and their verification on the sample of 2 European countries with the similar business environment, political stability and regulatory platform - Slovak and Czech companies. The sample for the identification of significant sources of company goodwill creation consists of the financial statements of Slovak companies in 2015. The sample for data verification consists of the financial statements of Slovak and Czech companies in 2016. The paper identifies the determinants of goodwill creation by multiple regression analysis. The paper also verifies the total explanatory power of these determinants by matrixes of changes. Volatility and deviation of the results are captured by descriptive statistical methods. The paper's results point to a necessity to identify the key determinants of goodwill creation. They bring the construction of an econometric model for company goodwill valuation. It could be used to compute the value of company goodwill of the individual companies in the Slovak economic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to determine the influence of students’ engagement on academic performance. A total of 84 non-food science students enrolled in a food science course were chosen to answer the questionnaire. The overall mean of students’ engagement was found to be 3.63 (SD = .24). Respondents were found to be more engaged in social engagement (x̄= 3.98, SD = .63), followed by emotional engagement (x̄= 3.96, SD = .52), behavioural engagement (x̄= 3.46, SD = .44) and cognitive engagement (x̄= 2.80, SD = .28). Results showed significant positive relationship between overall students’ engagements with academic performance (r = 0.312; p < 0.001). Two components of students’ engagement, i.e., emotional engagement (r = 0.529**; p < 0.001) and cognitive engagement (r = 0.391; p < 0.001), both showed positive relationship to academic performance. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that emotional domain contributed to 38.6% of variation on students’ performance, hence plays a vital role in students’ academic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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BACKGROUND: A recent paper reported that low muscle mass in the erector spinae muscles (ESM) was strongly associated with poor prognosis and declining muscle mass over time in subjects with COPD. However, effects of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), if any, on ESM mass have not been reported. We hypothesized that PR reduces the annual decline in ESM mass. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. Thirty-nine subjects with COPD who received PR and underwent chest computed tomography before and after PR were evaluated (rehabilitation group). We also evaluated 39 age-matched subjects with COPD who did not receive PR (nonrehabilitation group). Data were collected from August 2010 until March 2020 in both groups. The ESM cross-sectional area (ESMCSA) was measured using axial computed tomography images, and annual changes were calculated. The 6-min walk distance (6MWD) was measured before and after PR; the minimum clinically important difference was defined as 30 m. RESULTS: ESMCSA declined in the nonrehabilitation group over time (-116.0 ± 141.2 mm²/y) but increased in the PR group (51.0 ± 95.3 mm2/y; P < .001). The annual increase in ESMCSA was significantly higher among subjects with an increase in 6MWD that exceeded the minimum clinically important difference compared with nonresponders in the rehabilitation group. The annual change in ESMCSA was negatively correlated with comorbidity index, and triple therapy (long-acting β2-agonist/long-acting muscarinic antagonist/inhaled corticosteroid) had a favorable effect on annual change in ESMCSA. Multiple regression analysis revealed that only PR was an independent factor for annual change in ESMCSA. CONCLUSIONS: ESM mass was shown to decline yearly in subjects with COPD. The annual decline in muscle mass was reduced by PR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death, of which non- small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have now become one of the main treatments for advanced NSCLC. This paper retrospectively investigated the effect of peripheral blood inflammatory indexes on the efficacy of immunotherapy and survival of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, in order to find strategies to guide immunotherapy in NSCLC. Methods Patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer who were hospitalized in The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from October 2018 to August 2019 were selected to receive anti-PD-1 (pembrolizumab, sintilimab or toripalimab) monotherapy or combination regimens. And were followed up until 10 December 2020, and the efficacy was evaluated according to RECIST1.1 criteria. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were followed up for survival analysis. A clinical prediction model was constructed to analyze the predictive value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) based on NLR data at three different time points: before treatment, 6 weeks after treatment and 12 weeks after treatment (0w, 6w and 12w), and the accuracy of the model was verified. Results 173 patients were finally included, all of whom received the above treat-ment regimen, were followed up for a median of 19.7 months. The objective response rate (ORR) was 27.7% (48/173), the disease control rate (DCR) was 89.6% (155/173), the median PFS was 8.3 months (7.491-9.109) and the median OS was 15.5 months (14.087-16.913). The chi-square test and logistic multi-factor analysis showed that NLR6w was associated with ORR and NLR12w was associated with ORR and DCR. Further Cox regression analysis showed that NLR6w and NLR12w affected PFS and NLR0w, NLR6w and NLR12w were associated with OS. Conclusion In patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, NLR values at different time points are valid predictors of response to immunotherapy, and NLR <3 is often associated with a good prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to answer the following research question: Is there any difference in the effects of collective intelligence on the open innovation between before (2001–2005) and after (2011–2015) of the introduction of smartphones and crowd web services regarding electronics and mathematics? The research method of this study includes multiple regression analysis, including (1) the effect of collective intelligence on open innovation (i.e., the number of citations), (2) the effect of the amount of knowledge (i.e., the number of references) on open innovation and (3) the moderating effect of the amount of knowledge (i.e., the number of references) between collective intelligence and open innovation. The research scope of this study is Scopus published papers from two periods, namely, 2001–2005 and 2011–2015. The scope here is limited to mathematics and electronics. According to the research conducted here, if the amount of knowledge increases in an economic system, collective intelligence will increasingly motivate open innovation. The implication of this study is that there are diverse methods for collective intelligence to impact open innovation and the consequent results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, a critical care outreach team was implemented in our hospital to guarantee multidisciplinary patient assessment at admission and prompt ICU support in medical wards. In this paper, we report the activity plan results and describe the baseline characteristics of the referred subjects. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated data from 125 subjects referred to the critical care outreach team from March 22 to April 22, 2020. We considered subjects with a ceiling of care decision, with those deemed eligible assigned to level 3 care (ward subgroup), and those deemed ineligible admitted to the ICU (ICU subgroup). Quality indicators of the outreach team plan delivery included number of cardiac arrest calls, number of intubations in level 2 areas, and ineffective palliative support. RESULTS: We enrolled 125 consecutive adult subjects with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. We did not report any emergency endotracheal intubations in the clinical ward. In the care ceiling subgroup, we had 2 (3.3%) emergency calls for cardiac arrest, whereas signs of ineffective palliative support were reported in 5 subjects (12.5%). Noninvasive forms of respiratory assistance were delivered to 40.0% of subjects in the ward subgroup (median 3 d [interquartile range (IQR) 2-5]), to 45.9% of subjects in the care ceiling subgroup (median 5 d [IQR 3-7]), and to 64.7% of subjects in the ICU subgroup (median 2.5 d [IQR 1-3]). Thirty of the 31 ward subjects (96.7%), 26 of the 34 ICU subjects, (76.4%), and 19 of the 61 ceiling of care subjects (31.1%) were discharged. CONCLUSIONS: In the context of a hospital and ICU surge, a multidisciplinary daily plan supported by a dedicated critical care outreach team was associated with a low rate of cardiac arrest calls, no emergency intubations in the ward, and appropriate palliative care support for subjects with a ceiling of care decision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental decisions and policies are often depicted as having win-lose trade-offs with humanity's ability to thrive. These zero-sum beliefs about the relationship between nature and humanity (ZSB-NH) have significant implications for how individuals behave concerning our natural environment. However, no measure exists to operationalise this construct. The aim of this paper thus is to develop and validate a scale that can reliably measure people's zero-sum beliefs about the human-environment relationship. This research provides a theoretical approach to the measurement of ZSB-NH, in which three studies (total N = 1921) assess the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the scale. In Australian samples, our initial pool of items was tested and refined into a final 6-item scale, and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted twice in two subsequent studies to assess construct validity. The final scale demonstrated excellent internal reliability across all three studies, while convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity was also supported. Unexpectedly, zero-sum beliefs in human relationships were found to be unrelated to the ZSB-NH. The predictive utility of ZSB-NH was also demonstrated, where hierarchical multiple regression analyses show the ZSB-NH accounts for unique variance in human pro-social intentions and pro-environmental behaviours, with medium effect sizes. Overall, the ZSB-NH promises to be a useful empirical tool when concerned with understanding barriers to supporting human pro-social and pro-environmental actions. • Believing the relationship between humans and nature is zero-sum (ZSB-NH) suggests win-lose trade-offs between humans and nature. • A self-report measurement tool, the ZSB-NH scale, was developed and validated. • ZSB-NH is a negative predictor of human prosocial and pro-environmental behaviours, with medium effect sizes. • The ZSB-NH scale will be useful to understand barriers to pro-environmental and human prosocial action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to assess the current knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of nursing staff regarding sarcopenia and explore associating factors that influence them. Sarcopenia has an insidious onset and is easily overlooked. However, it is has become very common in older people, seriously jeopardizing the quality of life in patients. The present situation of nurses in China is inadequate, even though they are the primary professionals tasked with screening for sarcopenia, the ability to recognize and effectively manage the disease, and the critical role they play in preventing and controlling sarcopenia in patients. We conducted a cross-sectional design of nurses. Facilitated sampling was used in seven hospitals in Jiangsu Province, China. A total of 409 hospital nursing staff participated in the survey from December 2022 to March 2023. The main survey instruments were the nursing staff about the knowledge of sarcopenia, beliefs, a behavior questionnaire, and a self-designed general information questionnaire. Descriptive of general data, t-test, and ANOVA for influencing factors of three dimensions, whereas multiple linear regression analyses were performed using SPSS23.0 software. Questionnaires were distributed to 460 nurses, and of the 426 (92.6%) questionnaires returned, 409 (96.0%) were valid. The total mean score of nurses' knowledge, beliefs, and behavior about sarcopenia was 125.42 (SD 18.97), the mean score of knowledge latitude was 29.09 (SD 7.80), the mean score of attitude dimension was 57.53 (SD 7.63), and the mean score of behavior latitude was 38.80 (SD 10.71). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the nurse's position, Knowledge of sarcopenia, whether or not they were specialist nurses and years of experience in the workplace were the most significant factors correlated with the level of knowledge, belief, and practice (P < 0.05). In China, nurses have little knowledge about sarcopenia, but their attitude towards sarcopenia care is positive. However, there is potential for improvement in nursing behavior toward sarcopenia management. Managers are advised to develop targeted training programs for nurses. Further, it improves their screening and diagnosing abilities, allowing them to prevent and control sarcopenia more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether place-based, internal resources are related to population growth in small rural communities. Presumably due to data unavailability, very few previous studies have tried to model population growth at the sub-municipality level so far. This paper attempts to fill some of this gap by using a unique parish sample ( n  = 489) to model population growth in rural parishes in Denmark during the period 2012–2017. The paper employs a capital framework approach and initially identifies six place-based stocks of capital that might be important to the population development in small rural communities. Moreover, the paper makes a distinction between rural parishes located in predominantly rural municipalities and rural parishes located in predominantly urban municipalities. Based on multiple regression analyses, initial levels of physical capital, economic capital and human capital were found to be related to population growth in rural parishes located in predominantly rural municipalities, whereas only symbolic capital (place reputation) was found to be related to population growth in rural parishes located in predominantly urban municipalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]