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This study introduces the New Exponential-Exponential Distribution (NEED) within the broader New Exponential-Generating (NE-G) family of distributions, targeting enhancements in rainfall data analysis. The significance of this research lies in addressing the need for sophisticated statistical models to accurately capture the complex variability of rainfall patterns, which are critical for effective environmental planning and disaster management. Aiming to refine rainfall data modeling, we employ the NEED model, emphasizing its application across diverse climatic conditions. Our methodology encompasses a comprehensive evaluation of seven distinct parameter estimation techniques, with a particular focus on the Anderson-Darling and maximum product spacing methods. These were selected based on their performance in minimizing bias and mean square error, assessed through a rigorous Monte-Carlo simulation study. Additionally, the study utilizes rainfall data from various geographical regions to validate the model's efficacy. The major conclusion of our investigation is the demonstrable superiority of NEED over traditional models in fitting rainfall data, as evidenced by its enhanced predictive accuracy. This outcome not only contributes to the theoretical advancements in statistical meteorology but also offers practical methodologies for improved weather forecasting. The integration of NEED with contemporary machine learning algorithms further suggests potential for groundbreaking applications in climate science and water resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many patients with heart failure (HF) are repeatedly hospitalized. Heart failure self-care may reduce readmission rates. Hospitalizations may also affect self-care. Objective: The purpose of this secondary analysis was to test the hypotheses that better HF self-care is associated with a lower rate of all-cause readmissions and that readmissions motivate patients to improve their self-care. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of patients with HF (N = 400) who were enrolled during a stay at an urban teaching hospital between 2014 and 2016. The Self-Care of Heart Failure Index v6.2 was administered during the hospital stay, along with other questionnaires, and repeated at 6-month intervals after discharge. All-cause readmissions and deaths were ascertained for 24 months. Results: A total of 333 (83.3%) were readmitted at least once, and 117 (29.3%) of the patients died during the follow-up period. A total of 1581 readmissions were ascertained. Higher Self-Care of Heart Failure Index Maintenance scores predicted more rather than fewer readmissions (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1. 17; P < .01). Conversely, more readmissions predicted higher Maintenance scores (b = 0.29; 95%confidence interval, 0.02-0.56; P < .05). Conclusions: These findings do not support the hypothesis that HF self-care maintenance or management helps to reduce the rate of all-cause readmissions, but they do suggest that the experience of multiple readmissions may help to motivate improvements in HF self-care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of facemask as precaution from COVID-19 cross-transmission have been strongly advocated by healthcare agencies as a public health management strategy to mitigate the pandemic burden on the healthcare system. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) according to facemask practice during COVID-19. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, t -test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multivariable linear regression was used to identify factor contributing to knowledge while Binomial analysis was used to investigate factors contributing to practice. Among 268 participants included in the study, those with medical-grade facemask had better knowledge score (88.8%) compared to non-medical facemask (86.3%) and those without facemask (78.6%). Majority of participants had positive attitudes on controlling COVID-19 pandemic (88.8%), the ability in overcoming the pandemic (99.2%) and use of facemask in a public place (98.9%). Participants using medical-grade facemask (Adjusted Odds Ratio; AOR 5.9, 95% CI 1.9–18.0; p =.002) have appropriate practices towards COVID-19. However, participants using medical-grade facemask were 9.2 times (AOR 9.2, 95% CI: 3.5–24.5, p <.001) more likely to reuse of facemask without washing. The results highlight adequate KAP among respondents. However hygienic use of facemask need to be disseminated among general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Postextubation respiratory support in pediatric ARDS may be used to support the recovering respiratory system and promote timely, successful liberation from mechanical ventilation. This study's aims were to (1) describe the use of postextubation respiratory support in pediatric ARDS from the time of extubation to hospital discharge, (2) identify potential risk factors for post-extubation respiratory support, and (3) provide preliminary data for future larger studies. METHODS: This pilot single-center prospective cohort study recruited subjects with pediatric ARDS. Subjects' respiratory status up to hospital discharge, the use of postextubation respiratory support, and how it changed over time were recorded. Analysis was performed comparing subjects who received postextubation respiratory support versus those who did not and compared its use among pediatric ARDS severity categories. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine variables associated with the use of postextubation respiratory support and included oxygenation index (OI), ventilator duration, and weight. RESULTS: Seventy-three subjects with pediatric ARDS, with median age and OI of 4 (0.6-10.5) y and 7.3 (4.9-12.7), respectively, were analyzed. Postextubation respiratory support was provided to 54/73 (74%) subjects: 28/45 (62.2%), 19/21 (90.5%), and 7/7 (100%) for mild, moderate, and severe pediatric ARDS, respectively, (P < .01). OI and mechanical ventilation duration were higher in subjects who received postextubation respiratory support (8.7 [5.4-14] vs 4.6 [3.7-7], P < .001 and 10 [7-17] d vs 4 [2-7] d, P < .001) compared to those who did not. At hospital discharge, 12/67 (18.2%) survivors received home respiratory support (6 subjects died prior to hospital discharge). In the multivariable model, ventilator duration (adjusted odds ratio 1.3 [95% CI 1.0-1.7], P 5 .050) and weight (adjusted odds ratio 0.95 [95% CI 0.91-0.99], P 5 .02) were associated with the use of postextubation respiratory support. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of intubated subjects with pediatric ARDS received respiratory support postextubation, and a substantial proportion continued to require it up to hospital discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Doppler ultrasonography is essential to provide insights into hemodynamic alterations and liver function changes in pre-cirrhotic and cirrhotic patients. Utilizing Doppler examinations, this study aims to explore the correlation between hepatic arterial hemodynamics and Model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores in chronic liver disease patients. Methods: A study of 50 chronic liver disease patients included sonographic assessments, measuring liver, portal vein size, and flow. Hepatic artery velocity, resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), and acceleration time (AT) were evaluated. Biochemical parameters (serum bilirubin, creatinine, INR) were used to calculate MELD scores, compared with different Doppler sonographic parameters. Results: The study found a mean peak systolic velocity (PSV) of 107.42 ± 48.10, with end-diastolic velocity (EDV) of 26.40 ± 14.68, RI of 0.74 ± 0.06, and PI of 1.47 ± 0.24. The mean MELD score was 19.28 ± 6.09. Correlations between MELD scores and PSV, EDV, RI, PI, and AT did not yield statistically significant correlations. 80% of subjects displayed high RI (> 0.7) values in the hepatic artery, and a significant correlation was found between portal vein thrombosis and hepatic artery PSV and RI (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Hepatic artery RI and PSV show a significant correlation with portal vein thrombosis. Doppler ultrasonography, while not directly tied to MELD scores, is valuable for non-invasive liver disease monitoring when invasive methods are impractical. Further research is needed to unravel the relationships between hemodynamic changes, MELD scores, and clinical outcomes in a broader patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the statistical significance testing, the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) is one of the most popular statistics widely used in experimental sciences. However, in recent years, the statistical significance testing has been widely criticized for its various shortcomings. To address this problem, in present article we developed the new ANOVA methodology in the paradigm of new statistics. In this methodology, effect size testing is added to six most used ANOVA methods and the finer p-value standardard is used in the statistical significance testing of eight ANOVA methods. Both online and offline computational tools are developed for free use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrologists pursue the long-term goals of studying the relationship between hydrological processes and geomorphological processes, establishing quantitative relationships between these processes and finding ways to directly derive hydrological processes from topographic parameters to reduce the dependence on hydrological data. In this study, the river network of the Haihe River Basin was extracted based on DEM, and 18 representative small basins were selected as samples. Four river network parameters (the river network density, average branch ratio, average length ratio and fractal dimension) and four topographic parameters (the slope, topographic relief, surface roughness and roundness rate) were calculated for 18 small basins. The river network features and topographic features of the basin were analysed. Correlation analysis, one-dimensional linear regression, partial correlation analysis and multiple linear regression (stepwise regression) methods were used to analyse the quantitative relationship between topographic parameters and river network parameters. The analysis results were tested by a significance test, the final goodness of fit of the regression model was good, and the results were reliable. The correlations are spatially heterogeneous and may show variable results in different regions. This study guides river network planning and management, and managers should pay attention to the correlation between river networks and topography in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: Implementing evidence-based practice (EBP) is essential for ensuring optimal quality care and obtaining positive outcome in treatment. Occupational therapists generally hold positive attitudes toward EBP; however, EBP is not always fully implemented. Objective: To explore the mediating role of self-efficacy on the relationship between implementing EBP and burnout among occupational therapists. Design: A cross sectional study. Setting: Data were collected through social media and WhatsApp groups using an online survey accessible through Qualtrics, a secured web-based data collection system; responses were anonymous. Participants: The final sample consisted of 261 female Israeli occupational therapists (ages 24–65 yr, with 1–40 yr of clinical experience). Outcomes and Measures: The following questionnaires assessed EBP implementation, burnout, and self-efficacy, respectively: the EBP Implementation Scale, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and the Occupational Therapy Self-Efficacy Questionnaire. Demographic data were also collected. Results: EBP implementation was low (0-43 points out of a maximum 72 points), moderate levels of burnout and high levels of self-efficacy were reported. Significant associations with medium effect sizes were found between EBP implementation and burnout: the higher the levels of EBP implementation, the lower the levels of burnout frequency and intensity. Moreover, self-efficacy mediated these relationships. EBP implementation was related to elevated self-efficacy, which, in turn, was associated with lower burnout. Conclusions and Relevance: EBP implementation may serve as an important tool to limit burnout among occupational therapists by fostering their trust in their ability to handle clinical challenges. Further research is needed. Plain-Language Summary: This study explored implementing evidence-based practice (EBP) and its relationships to burnout and work-related self-efficacy among occupational therapists. The study found that self-efficacy mediated the relationships between implementing EBP and burnout. Implementing EBP was associated with higher self-efficacy, which, in turn, was associated with lower burnout among occupational therapists. This study explored implementing evidence-based practice (EBP) and its relationships to burnout and work-related self-efficacy among occupational therapists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a narrative-based language intervention (NBLI) is evaluated in children with HL based on selected narrative outcome measures important for telling and retelling stories. Nine Danish children with slight to severe sensorineural HL in the age range of 4;11–8;8 years participated. The study had a single-arm early efficacy design. The NBLI consisted of four parts: (1) warm-up activity, (2) story retell-imitation task, (3) story-generation task, (4) repeated retellings. The NBLI entailed one session (50 min) a week for 6 weeks and targeted syntax and narrative story content and form. The following outcome measurements were included: Narrative Quality and Number of Different Words. Furthermore, a parental questionnaire administered three times (week 1, 3 and 6) was presented to monitor the outcome between sessions. The group of children with HL had a statistically significant gain in the test scores for Narrative Quality and Number of Different Words. This NBLI approach is interesting to investigate further in the future for a larger group of children with HL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis aimed to compare two different single-tooth extraction surgical approaches in anterior maxillary areas of the ankylosed teeth: less traumatic magneto-electrical (mag) versus conventional tooth extraction (con) in minimizing the adverse effects on post-extractive sockets. Parameters of clinical interest such as intra-surgical fracture of the buccal bone plate, presence of postoperative inflammation, and application of stitches were acquired from medical records. The data were subjected to Pearson's χ2 analysis or to Fisher's exact test with significance at 0.05. Sixty-six hopeless maxillary permanent ankylotic teeth were extracted in the same number of patients. In the mag group 2 incisors suffered a fracture. Two patients out of 40 had signs and symptoms of inflammation that resolved completely within 3 days. In the con group 18 out of 26 patients suffered from buccal alveolar fracture. Six of these patients experienced signs of inflamed tissue. The two groups showed significant differences with p-values ≤0.0009 with regards to fracture (2/38 vs. 18/8) and tissue inflammation variables (2/38 vs. 10/16). A significantly different distribution about the presence of sutures was registered between the mag (4/36) and the con (18/8) group with a p-value <0.0001. Mag group seemed to have reduced frequency of fractured and infected post-extractive sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During transvenous lead extraction (TLE), a GlideLight laser sheath (Philips) cannot always be advanced over the lead, and crossover to the Evolution system (i.e., an Evolution RL sheath or Evolution Shortie RL sheath [Cook Medical]) is required. We aimed to determine the associated factors and outcomes of such device crossover. Methods: This observational study included 112 patients who underwent TLE. The patients were divided into crossover and non‐crossover groups. Outcomes and associated factors of crossover were evaluated. Results: Overall, 57 (50.9%) patients required crossover to the Evolution system (crossover group), whereas 55 (49.1%) patients did not require crossover (non‐crossover group). Clinical success rate was similar between the two groups (98.3% vs. 100%; p = 1.00). No major intraprocedural complications related to powered sheaths occurred. Multivariate logistic regression analysis results showed that dwell time of the oldest extracted lead (per year) (odds ratio [OR]: 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–1.36; p =.026), number of leads extracted per procedure (OR: 7.23, 95% CI: 1.74–29.99; p =.007), and use of a femoral approach (OR: 21.09, 95% CI: 2.33–190.67; p =.007) were associated factors of crossover. The cutoff for crossover was 7.7 years from the implant (sensitivity 90.5%, specificity 64.9%, area under the curve 0.80). Conclusions: Both groups showed a high rate of clinical success. Switching to the Evolution system may facilitate a safe and effective TLE when a laser sheath does not advance despite laser activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Rapid urbanization has increased risk factors for respiratory morbidities, leaving the general population vulnerable. Potentially damaging agents are numerous, which result in damage to defence mechanisms, in turn causing respiratory morbidities. Shopkeepers and vendors in the semi-urban area, who mostly work outdoors at ground level, are continuously exposed to unhealthy environments and practices, and the majority are unaware of the situation. Aim: Our study will help identify the prevalence of respiratory morbidities and their association with risk factors. Thus, appropriate measures could be taken to impede respiratory morbidities. Settings and Design: Cross-sectional study in a semi-urban area. Methods: done among 260 subjects working for more than a year, while ones already on medication for respiratory illnesses were excluded. Statistical Analysis Used: Excel was used for data tabulation and Chi-square tests for significance, with the level of significance at a = 0.05. Results: A high prevalence of respiratory morbidities, with 64.62% of the study population showing one or more respiratory morbidities, was noted. Cough (23.85%), followed by breathlessness (22.31%), and were highly prevalent. The study revealed significant relationships between Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) and age, BMI, Total Exposure Period (TEP), respiratory morbidities, and addictions. However, no significant relation was found between PEFR and the type of shop, whereas prevalence was high on the roadside as compared to closed shops. Conclusions: The prevalence was high in subjects with shops situated on the roadside as compared to the closed ones. This was due to the high TEP, as the shopkeepers worked for longer durations owing to their socioeconomic demands. Therefore, the Total Exposure Period (TEP) plays a greater role than the type of shop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-stage bilateral hip replacement (SSBHR) is a safe and successful orthopaedic intervention for patients suffering from bilateral osteoarthritis of the hip. Data on short- and mid-term recovery outcome studies are, unfortunately, scarce. The purpose of this study was to investigate the change in the functional measures and quality of life after SSBHR and to determine the patient's willingness to undergo the same procedure again. Data were prospectively collected and analyzed from patients with bilateral symptomatic hip osteoarthritis who underwent SSBHR from January 2019 until December 2020. Patients were excluded only if they failed to sign an informed consent or were unable to fill out questionnaires due to language or cognitive problems. Preoperatively and 3 and 12 months after surgery, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and physical functioning were measured. Twelve months after surgery, patient satisfaction (willingness to undergo the same procedure again) was obtained. Complications, blood loss, and length of stay (LOS) were abstracted from the clinical notes and the electronic patient files. Patients improved significantly on all domains of HRQOL (16.0%-59.7%) and physical functioning (14.7%-15.8%) 3 months after surgery in comparison with preoperatively. No improvement was reported on HRQOL and physical functioning, except the Timed Up and Go score (14.1%), at 12 months after surgery in comparison with 3 months. No major or minor complications were found, and LOS was 2.9 days on average. One year after the surgery, all patients expressed satisfaction as suggested by their willingness to undergo the same surgical procedure again. Our study demonstrates that SSBHR offers a rapid recovery time and significant improvements in both functional status and HRQOL within 3 months after surgery. These findings can inform healthcare professionals and patients, suggesting that SSBHR is a viable treatment option for patients with bilateral hip osteoarthritis. Further research, including multicenter randomized controlled trials, is recommended to compare the recovery outcomes of SSBHR with two-stage bilateral hip replacement and confirm our findings. [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]

BACKGROUND: The precision of quasi-static airway driving pressure (DP) assessed in pressure support ventilation (PSV) as a surrogate of tidal lung stress is debatable because persistent muscular activity frequently alters the readability of end-inspiratory holds. In this study, we used strict criteria to discard excessive muscular activity during holds and assessed the accuracy of DP in predicting global lung stress in PSV. Additionally, we explored whether the physiological effects of high PEEP differed according to the response of respiratory system compliance (CRS). METHODS: Adults with ARDS undergoing PSV were enrolled. An esophageal catheter was inserted to calculate lung stress through transpulmonary driving pressure (DPL). DP and DPL were assessed in PSV at PEEP 5, 10, and 15 cm H2O by end-inspiratory holds. CRS was calculated as tidal volume (VT)/DP. We analyzed the effects of high PEEP on pressure-time product per minute (PTPmin), airway pressure at 100 ms (P0.1), and VT over PTP per breath (VT/PTPbr) in subjects with increased versus decreased CRS at high PEEP. RESULTS: Eighteen subjects and 162 end-inspiratory holds were analyzed; 51/162 (31.5%) of the holds had DPL 6 12 cm H2O. Significant association between DP and DPL was found at all PEEP levels (P < .001). DP had excellent precision to predict DPL, with 15 cm H2 O being identified as the best threshold for detecting DPL 6 12 cm H2O (area under the receiver operating characteristics 0.99 [95% CI 0.98--1.00]). CRS changes from low to high PEEP corresponded well with lung compliance changes (R2 0.91, P < .001) When CRS increased, a significant improvement of PTPmin and VT/PTPbr was found, without changes in P0.1. No benefits were observed when CRS decreased. CONCLUSIONS: In subjects with ARDS undergoing PSV, high DP assessed by readable end-inspiratory holds accurately detected potentially dangerous thresholds of DPL. Using DP to assess changes in CRS induced by PEEP during assisted ventilation may inform whether higher PEEP could be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Dental Hygiene is the property of Canadian Dental Hygienists Association 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.)

Background: Preoperative interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB) has been shown to reduce postoperative nausea and vomiting after shoulder arthroscopy performed under general anesthesia (GA), possibly via reduced consumption of opioids. Postoperative urinary retention (POUR) is another adverse effect after GA with higher incidence among the elderly patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of preoperative ISB on POUR. Methods: A historical cohort analysis of patients receiving shoulder arthroscopy under GA was conducted. Included patients were allocated to ISB+GA or GA only group. The difference in incidence of POUR between groups were explored as well as intraoperative requirement of inhaled anesthetics and fentanyl. Potential risk factors of POUR were also assessed with multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: There are 229 patients in ISB+GA group and 169 patients in GA only group. Patient characteristics shows no difference between groups. ISB+GA group required lower concentration of inhaled anesthetics (fraction of minimum alveolar concentration (fMAC) 0.71 (0.16) vs. 0.93 (0.15), p < 0.001) and less total fentanyl dose (mcg kg-1, 1.9 (0.7) vs. 2.7 (1.1), p < 0.001). The incidence of POUR is lower in ISB+GA group than GA only group (3.9% vs. 10%, p = 0.02) as well as the incidence of postoperative nausea (28.4% vs. 39%, p = 0.03), and postoperative vomiting (16.2% vs. 25%, p = 0.03). Multivariate analysis reveals increased age and intraoperative fentanyl dose are associated with increased POUR. Conclusion: Preoperative ISB is associated with decreased consumption of intraoperative opioids, which may contribute to a reduced incidence of POUR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the issue of false positives in the era of big data and high-frequency health measurement technologies ,published in the periodical, October 2023.

Introduction.: Hispanic/Latino students often underachieve in higher education programs in the health professions and have shown lower first-time pass rates on the National Physical Therapy Examination than their White peers. A plausible explanation for this difference is the lack of English proficiency. The purpose of this study was to determine predictive academic variables for passing licensure examination on the first attempt for Hispanic/Latino Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students. Review of the Literature.: Numerous studies have been conducted to determine the factors that predict success on the National Physical Therapy Examination; however, there is a scarcity of literature on the predictors of success for Hispanic/Latino DPT students, particularly on the influence of English proficiency. Subjects.: A nonprobability convenience sample of 67 Hispanic students from a single DPT program was used. Methods.: A retrospective, predictive, correlational study was conducted. Data collection was performed by secondary analysis of student academic profiles. Predictor variables included proficiency in the English language; undergraduate grade point average; verbal, quantitative, and written skills; and first-year and third-year grade point average while enrolled in the physical therapist education program. Results.: The first-time pass rate was 59.7% (n = 40). Results showed that students who passed and those who did not pass on their first attempt differed in first-year and third-year program grade point average with large effect sizes of d = 1.13 and d = 1.48, respectively; however, third-year grade point average was the only significant independent predictor of success. English proficiency and preadmission variables did not predict first-time success. Discussion and Conclusion.: The results suggest first-year and third-year grade point average may be used to identify at-risk students. Use of these variables is encouraged to monitor the progression of students. The study highlighted the need to identify additional predictors of performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: Parent coaching (PC) is a best practice for young children with, or at high risk for, cerebral palsy (CP). Occupational therapy practitioners in outpatient settings encounter barriers to implementing PC. Objective: To increase the documented use of PC in outpatient occupational therapy visits for children younger than age 2 yr with, or at high risk for, CP from 0% to 80%. Design: Multicenter quality improvement (QI) initiative with a time-series design. Setting: Three pediatric tertiary-care institutions, each with multiple outpatient occupational therapy clinics. Participants: Practitioners in the outpatient clinics and patients <2 yr old with, or at high risk for, cerebral palsy. Intervention: Plan–do–study–act cycles included interventions packaged as a toolkit: education sessions, quick references, electronic medical record (EMR) supports, and site-specific strategies. Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome measure was the use of PC in outpatient sessions. Process measures included pre- and posteducation practitioner knowledge scores and an EMR checklist. Balancing measures (ensuring that changes do not cause problems in other areas) of parent satisfaction/experience and practitioner productivity were measured pre- and postintervention. Results: The primary outcome measure goal (80% documented use of PC in sessions) was attained in the seventh month of the study, sustained for 4 mo, and settled at 79.1% for the remaining 6 mo. Practitioner knowledge scores increased from 83.1% to 87.9% after initial education sessions, t[56] = 3.289, p =.001. Parent satisfaction/experience and practitioner productivity scores did not change. Conclusions and Relevance: QI methodology can support PC implementation in pediatric outpatient practice. What This Article Adds: This multisite QI initiative shows that outpatient occupational therapy practitioners can implement PC as a best practice with the use of a toolkit. Results suggest that education alone does not result in changes to practitioner behavior and that QI methods can help when implementing best practices in a clinical setting. This multisite quality improvement (QI) initiative shows that outpatient occupational therapy practitioners can implement parent coaching as a best practice with the use of a toolkit. Results suggest that education alone does not result in changes to practitioner behavior and that QI methods can help when implementing best practices in a clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research has demonstrated that consistent external attentional focus instructions produce more reliable jumping measurements compared to nonconsistent focus of attention instructions. While previous research has examined the effects of different external attentional focus instructions, less is known about different external focus of attention instruction effects during a vertical jump. Given that previous work has demonstrated that consistent external focus of attention instructions produced reliable jumping estimations, we hypothesized that using multiple methods to direct attention externally would produce consistent vertical jump results. Using a within-participant design, college aged students (n = 35) completed two vertical jumps on a VertecTM within five conditions. Each condition was provided different external directing instructions conditions (control; external-lower near, -upper near, -upper far, -unreachable far). Data were analyzed using a repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results showed that jump heights in the control and external focus of attention conditions were not significantly different from one another, p = .119. The findings of this study suggest there are numerous external focus of attention instructions that can be provided during a vertical jump producing consistent results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polimery is the property of Industrial Chemistry Research Institute 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 purpose of this study was to examine extension workers' views about the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for extension services in Vietnam. A sample of 187 extension workers was randomly selected from a population of 354 extension workers in the South Coastal Central Vietnam. A questionnaire was employed to collect data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The extension workers used mobile phones, internet-connected computers and magazines/newspapers as the common ICT tools, and considered these as effective ICT tools for extension services. There were statistically significant relationships between the extent of mobile phone use and the extension workers' age, gender, the type of extension systems, education levels, income and participation in ICT training programs. Similarly, statistically significant relationships were found between the extent of internet-connected computer use and the extension workers' age, gender, education levels and participation in ICT training programs. Finally, a statistically significant relationship was found between the extent of newspaper/magazine use and extension workers' gender and participation in ICT training programs. Extension strategies designed to promote extension workers' use of mobile phones and internet-connected computers should consider extension workers' socio-technical characteristics including age, gender, education levels, types of extension systems and participation in ICT training programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A design experiment where students in Grade 5 (11–12 years old) play the Color Run game constitutes the context for investigating how students can be introduced to informal hypothesis testing. The result outlines a three-step hypothetical learning trajectory on informal hypothesis testing. In the first step, students came to favor sample space reasoning over idiosyncratic reasoning when the sample space was changed between color runs. In the second and third steps, students used degrees of variation in the distribution of the mode across samples to infer whether an unknown sample space was uniform. Students’ reasoning disclosed the logic: the larger the variation, the greater the reason for rejecting a uniform sample space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for patients suffering from end‑stage renal disease and health‑related quality of life (HRQoL) is routinely used for measuring the outcome. Although the generic HRQoL questionnaire provides useful information on multiple dimensions, they fail to capture emotional and behavioral components of well‑being, which is supplemented by the Transplant Effects Questionnaire (TxEQ). The present research studies the impact of these two questionnaires on various parameters affecting the health of kidney transplant recipients. Methodology: This cross‑sectional study included 500 postrenal transplant patients within 5 years of transplant (18–70 years) evaluating HRQoL using a Short Form Survey‑36 Questionnaire and emotional/behavioral outcomes using a TxEQ. Results: Mean age of participants was 44.92 ± 5.86 years and males constituted the majority (>75%). The mean physical component score (PCS) was 41.3 ± 9.2 and the mental component score (MCS) was 48.1 ± 8.4. The highest score was observed for bodily pain, followed by role limitations attributable to emotional problems (RE). The PCS was significantly higher among younger participants, among males, among participants who have got a transplant >24 months ago, and among participants who had serum creatinine levels <2 mg/dl (*P < 0.05). However, the mental component score did not differ significantly in any of the matched variables. In TxEQ, medication adherence had the highest mean score, followed by perceived responsibility toward others. Conclusion: In our study, we concluded that reduced physical functioning among female gender, illiterate patients, with increasing age, in employed section, and with associated comorbidities such as hypertension and with a history of rehospitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Intrinsic foot muscle (IFM) weakness can result in reduced foot function, making it crucial for clinicians to track IFM strength changes accurately. However, assessing IFM strength can be challenging for clinicians, as there is no clinically applicable direct measure of IFM strength that has been shown to be reliable and valid with the foot on the ground. Purpose The purpose was to investigate the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of a novel, budget-friendly IFM dynamometer and determine its agreement with a handheld dynamometer (HHD). The researchers also examined correlations of foot morphology and activity level to IFM strength. Study design Descriptive Laboratory Study Methods Two assessors measured IFM strength of 34 healthy volunteers (4 male, 30 female; age=21.14±2.57, height=164.66 ±7.62 cm, mass=64.45±11.93 kg) on two occasions 6.62±0.78 days apart with the novel dynamometer to assess intra- and inter-rater reliability. The HHD was used to measure IFM in the first session in order to assess validity. Results For the novel dynamometer, intra- and inter-rater reliability was moderate-to-excellent (ICC = 0.73 - 0.95), and the majority of the strength tests were within the 95% limits of agreement with the HHD. Wider foot morphology and a higher number of days walking over the prior seven days had small but significant correlations with IFM strength (dominant foot r = 0.34, non-dominant foot r = 0.39; r = -0.33, -0.39 respectively). Conclusion This novel IFM dynamometer is a budget-friendly ($75) tool that was shown to be reliable and valid in a healthy population. Levels of evidence Level 3 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online education is appreciated by an increasing number of people, and how to guarantee positive emotional experiences of learners during online learning becomes a core problem that has become the concern of education researchers. Online asynchronous interaction is an important communication method among learners during online learning. Owing to shortages and defects in time and space, interaction channel, and interaction content, online learning easily produces many "emotional blanks." This research reviewed studies on online asynchronous interaction and emotional experiences at home and overseas. A total of 356 students majoring in Nursing from 5 universities in Henan Province were invited for the questionnaire survey. Influences of online asynchronous interaction, including people-to-system (P2S), people-to-people (P2P), and people-to-content (P2C), on the positive emotional experiences of learners were analyzed. Differences in positive emotional experiences under different weekly online asynchronous learning hours were estimated. Research results showed that Cronbach's a of the questionnaire is 0.920, KMO value is 0.840, and the sphericity test significance is 0.000, indicating that the proposed questionnaire has very good reliability and validity. Evidently, P2S, P2P, and P2C can promote the positive emotional experiences of learners. Influences of weekly online asynchronous learning hours on frequency (F = 3.648, p = 0.006), intensity (F = 2.560, p = 0.038), and duration (F = 2.523, p = 0.041) of positive emotional experiences have statistical significance. Research results have important references in promoting online asynchronous interaction strategies, implementing specific interventions to online asynchronous interaction behaviors, and better providing convenient asynchronous online teaching services to students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Betting on sports is increasingly popular, and legal in the United States. Many states have moved to legalize sports betting both in-person and on-line. In this paper we evaluate the sports betting market and assess its efficiency in the financial sense. Using a large dataset of betting odds and outcomes across a wide range of sports over an extended period, we evaluate the weak-form efficiency of the sports betting market. While we find some minor technical inefficiencies, overall, the markets are generally efficient, and no odds-based betting strategy will yield statistically significant long-term profits. But some bets are better than others. Slight underdog bets in professional and collegiate football and the UFC have had positive returns over an extended time frame, though they do not clear a statistical significance test. On the other hand, we find some bets clearly under perform. Longshot bets in college basketball are among the worst bets and longshot biases can be shown to exist in collegiate football and basketball as well as baseball. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Sociologija/Sociology: Journal of Sociology, Social Psychology & Social Anthropology is the property of MOD International 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.)

Out of the estimated few trillion galaxies, only around a million have been detected through radio frequencies, and only a tiny fraction, approximately a thousand, have been manually classified. We have addressed this disparity between labeled and unlabeled images of radio galaxies by employing a semi-supervised learning approach to classify them into the known Fanaroff-Riley Type I (FRI) and Type II (FRII) categories. A Group Equivariant Convolutional Neural Network (G-CNN) was used as an encoder of the state-of-the-art self-supervised methods SimCLR (A Simple Framework for Contrastive Learning of Visual Representations) and BYOL (Bootstrap Your Own Latent). The G-CNN preserves the equivariance for the Euclidean Group E(2), enabling it to effectively learn the representation of globally oriented feature maps. After representation learning, we trained a fully-connected classifier and fine-tuned the trained encoder with labeled data. Our findings demonstrate that our semi-supervised approach outperforms existing state-of-the-art methods across several metrics, including cluster quality, convergence rate, accuracy, precision, recall, and the F1-score. Moreover, statistical significance testing via a t-test revealed that our method surpasses the performance of a fully supervised G-CNN. This study emphasizes the importance of semi-supervised learning in radio galaxy classification, where labeled data are still scarce, but the prospects for discovery are immense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consent waivers are a leading source of warrantless searches, although there is considerable debate whether these searches are truly knowing and voluntary. Scholars have called for Miranda-like warnings informing subjects of their right to refuse consent, which the Supreme Court has rejected. Some empirical evidence suggests that consent warnings would be ineffective, but no study evaluates the effectiveness of warnings suggested by Justice Thurgood Marshall, that police indicate a person may refuse consent and that the officer would respect their decision to decline. This study explores how the content of consent warnings might impact decisions to decline search requests. It was hypothesized that participants given Justice Marshall's 'I will respect your decision' statement would be more likely to decline a request than a control group. The hypotheses were tested through an experimental design with vignettes read by 359 crowd-sourced internet participants. In two of the three scenarios participants who were given the Justice Marshall instructions (right to decline and officer would respect decision) had higher levels of refusal to assent to the search. The results suggest that in some contexts the nature of consent search warnings may make recipients less likely to waive their constitutional protections from unreasonable searches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two trials paradigm plays a prominent role in drug development and has been widely and controversially discussed. Its purpose is to ensure replicability or substantiation of study results. This note investigates a simple generalization of the paradigm to more than two trials that preserves the project wise type-I error rate and power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When simultaneous comparisons are performed, a procedure must be employed to control the overall level (also known as the Type I Error rate). Hochberg's stepwise testing procedure is often used and here determination of the sample size needed to achieve a specified power for two pairwise comparisons when observations follow a normal distribution is addressed. Three different scenarios are considered: subsets defined by a baseline criterion, two treatments compared to a control, or one set of subjects nested within the other. The solutions for these three scenarios differ and are examined. The sample sizes for the differences in success probabilities for binomial distributions are presented using the asymptotic normality. The sample sizes and power using Hochberg's procedure are compared to the corresponding results using the Bonferroni approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented on the use of one-tailed hypothesis testing in medical and dental research, as opposed to two-tailed testing. It discusses the difference between one-tailed and two-tailed hypothesis tests and advocates for one-tailed thinking because it provides researchers with the best chance of being able to demonstrate the existence of the desired effect. It is further noted that one-tailed approach provides gains in statistical power and resources.

Three bovine rotaviruses A (RVAs) isolated from a cattle farm in Japan were serotyped by serum neutralization assay, as compared with the RVA strains contained in a vaccine used on the same farm. Antisera were prepared against the three isolates and the vaccine strains of bovine RVA. The results of cross-neutralization tests revealed that the RVA isolates from this farm differed somewhat in serotype. Collected plasma from calves for 6 weeks after colostrum ingestion showed that maternal antibodies acquired against all isolates gradually decreased, but antibodies toward one isolate increased by 6 weeks after the mentioned decreasing. These results suggest that rotavirus vaccines administered to cows should include all serotypes commonly found in calves with diarrhea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this research is to look into the effects of growth and capital composition on company value, as well as profitability as an influencing factor. During the period 2011-2017, there were 44 companies listed in IDX. A purposive sampling strategy was used to choose 17 companies. The data was examined using the SPSS ver. 20 program and the intervening regression and path analysis methods. The study employed the Sobel test to examine whether the interaction effect had a significant effect. The analysis indicated that growth and profitability have a substantial impact on company value, while the capital structure has a negative non-significant effect on profitability and has a positive non-significant effect on the value. Growth has a positive substantial impact on profitability, while asset base has a negative net effect on profitability, according to the findings of the study. Profitability had a mediation role in the relationship between growth and company value, according to the findings. On the other hand, the findings revealed that profitability had no impact on the link between capital structure and business value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Medical Imaging & Radiation Sciences is the property of Elsevier B.V. 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 increasing use of digital technologies has allowed organizations to improve their business processes, enhancing the productivity and efficiency of their operations. The implementation of Robotic Process Automation (RPA), a technology that allows replicating human actions in existing systems, given its benefits, can play an important role in achieving this goal, often referred as the digital transformation of organizations. However, the benefits of RPA implementation may not be perceived equally by managers, those responsible or that required its implementation, and lower-level employees. The work described in this paper aims not only to assess the perception that both groups have of the impacts of technology, but also to understand whether the use of robots by the employees of a shared services company positively influences their perception of the technology and whether it affects developments in additional robots in the future. A questionnaire, underpinned in a multidimensional evaluation model of the technology and given to all the company's employees, is used as the main research instrument, while results are analysed and interpreted using descriptive statistical techniques and hypothesis testing. We argue that this study may be an important contribution to the company for a better understanding of its employees' perception of RPA, allowing the tailoring of its future communication strategies to facilitate the acceptance of the technology and, thus, enhance the success and effectiveness of its implementation. Furthermore, the multidimensional evaluation model developed enhances the existing literature on the topic of RPA impacts, more specifically in terms of evaluating possible differences in perceptions between managers and other employees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Dental Hygiene is the property of Canadian Dental Hygienists Association 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.)

BACKGROUND: Endotracheal intubation is a routinely performed procedure in the ICU. Whereas it is recognized that endotracheal intubation can result in laryngeal and tracheal injury, this study evaluated factors that may affect the incidence of posterior vocal cord ulcers (PVCUs). METHODS: One thousand three hundred fifty-five patients were retrospectively screened from 2002-2018 that received a tracheostomy with routine bronchoscopy at a single institution. Post tracheostomy operative notes were reviewed and included only if proper visualization of the vocal cords was documented. Primary outcome measures included presence of PVCU, length of time on a ventilator until a tracheostomy, hospital length of stay, and mortality. Stratification of the data focused on the severity of the ulcer (mild, moderate, and severe) and was analyzed using analysis of variance, multivariate analysis, and Kaplan-Meier modeling of PVCU incidence over time. RESULTS: We enrolled 192 subjects with documentation of vocal cord visualization. Thirty-nine subjects did not have a PVCU, whereas 153 subjects did. A median duration of 9 (interquartile range [IQR] 5-13) d was associated with developing a mild PVCU, whereas individuals intubated for a median of 6 (IQR 4-7) d were ulcer free. Statistical difference between length of time on a ventilator before tracheostomy and the severity of the PVCU seen was significant (P < .001). The Kaplan-Meier model showed that beyond 2 weeks of endotracheal intubation subjects will have > 80% chance of developing a moderate vocal cord ulcer. Whereas by day 7, there is only a 20% chance of developing a moderate ulcer. CONCLUSIONS: Earlier tracheostomy placement was associated with reduced severity of vocal cord ulcer formation. The Kaplan-Meier model suggests that waiting for 14 d is likely too long and earlier placement of a tracheostomy, within a week, may decrease the morbidity of posterior vocal cord injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The DERs models have an impact on all studied variables. • The deterministic and probabilistic approaches show differences in their results. • The probabilistic approach and inferential statistics complement the analysis. • Co-simulation reduces calculation time and helps with results analysis. Distributed energy resources (DER) can have significant effects on distribution networks. Their growing integration makes it necessary to conduct characterisation studies on the effects of several operating scenarios. Such studies apply deterministic or probabilistic techniques to the modelling and simulation of networks and DER. Nevertheless, the lack of studies that integrate three DER within the same research to quantify the potential effects that each one singly and all jointly could have on the networks is perceptible. In addition, the analysis of the most significant number of parameters studied for correctly interpreting the results and using inferential statistics can be helpful. Moreover, we examined various modelling and simulation approaches to evaluate the differences and similarities among multiple scenarios. Accordingly, this paper presents and details deterministic and probabilistic analysis approaches to characterise the hourly impact of photovoltaic systems, storage units, and electric vehicle charging stations in a 13-node IEEE test feeder. This elucidates DER integration in networks and could guide future studies. Estimating the individual or collective effects of a DER consists of quantification and hourly comparison of RMS values of voltages and currents, voltage unbalance, chargeability of transformers, and power losses. We collected the data for analysis using a co-simulation PowerFactory-Python for eight operating scenarios. The hourly stochastic comparison between scenarios consisted of calculating the difference in sampling means and applying hypothesis testing of inferential statistics. This comparative analysis verifies that the applied approach (deterministic or probabilistic), specific hour of analysis and simultaneous number of DER in a simulated scenario influence the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using games in a classroom setting to help engagement and learning is becoming popular, but controlled investigations into the benefits of games are few. Games are potentially a way to incorporate retrieval practice into a class and garner subsequent benefits to memory. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether a board game assisted students to remember facts from a year one biological psychology module. Forty-seven participants (42 female, 5 male) took part in a seminar to test the hypothesis that playing the board game would enhance memory compared to taking part in a quiz. An experimental design was adopted with a between-subject factor (group: board game versus quiz) and two within-subjects factors: time of test (before the seminar, immediately after the seminar, 7-days after the seminar) and question type (seminar questions, i.e. questions contained in the game or quiz versus control lecture questions, i.e. questions that were not contained in the game or quiz but in a lecture). Contrary to the hypothesis, there were no differences in scores between the board game and quiz groups. We propose this is due to both groups having participated in retrieval practice during the game or the quiz. However, there was a significant main effect of time of test (scores immediately after the seminar increased) and a main effect of question type (scores were higher for seminar questions than control questions). The time of test x question type interaction was significant; post hoc analyses show that both groups scored higher on seminar questions compared to the control lecture questions in the after seminar test, and in the 7 days test. In conclusion, games can engage students and help them to remember complex material, but it is the use of retrieval practice specifically that aids memory. Our data show that retrieval practice can be equally effective in a board game or quiz, but students preferred the board game. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of RGO: Revista Gaúcha de Odontologia is the property of RGO: Revista Gaucha de Odontologia 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.)

BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing is an increasingly common test and is considered the accepted standard for assessing exercise capacity. Quantifying variability is important to assess the instrument for quality control purposes. Though guidelines recommend biologic control testing, there are minimal data on how to do it. We sought to describe variability for oxygen consumption (...), carbon dioxide production (...), and minute ventilation (...) at various work rates under steady-state conditions in multiple subjects over a 1-y period to provide a practical approach to assess and perform biologic control testing. METHODS: We performed a single-center, prospective study with 4 healthy subjects, 2 men and 2 women. Subjects performed constant work rate exercise tests for 6 min each at 25-100 W intervals on a computer-controlled cycle ergometer. Data were averaged over the last 120 s at each work rate to reflect stepwise steady-state conditions. Descriptive statistics, including the mean, median, range, SD, and coefficient of variation (CoV) are reported for each individual across the 4 work rates and all repetitions. As these data were normative, z-scores were utilized, and a value greater than ± 1.96 z-scores was used to define significant test variability. RESULTS: Subjects performed 16-39 biocontrol studies over 1-y. The mean CoV for all subjects in ... was 6.59%, ... was 6.41%, and ... was 6.32%. The ± 1.96 z-scores corresponded to a 9.4-18.1% change in ... a 9.6-18.1% change in ..., and a 9-21.5% change in ... across the 4 workloads. CONCLUSIONS: We report long-term variability for steady-state measurement of ..., ..., and ... obtained during biocontrol testing. Utilizing ± 1.96 z-scores allows one to determine if a result exceeds expected variability, which may warrant investigation of the instrument. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate and compare the effects of different thicknesses of medium-translucency monolithic zirconia and light curing times on the polymerization of two types of dual-cured resin cement. Methods: A total of 200 cement specimens were prepared from TheraCem and RelyX U200 cement. The specimens were divided into 5 groups: Group I, without interposing zirconia; Group II, 0.50 mm thickness; Group III, 1.00 mm; Group IV, 1.50 mm; and Group V, 2.00 mm thickness. Each group was subdivided into (1) RelyX U200 and (2) TheraCem. Each subgroup was subdivided according to the light-curing time into (a) 20 s and (b) 40 s (n =5). The polymerization was tested using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and a Vickers microhardness tester. The data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA, an independent sample t-test, and Tukey's test at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The control group had the highest values of DC and VMH, followed by 0.50, 1.00, and 1.50 mm, respectively, while the 2.00 mm group showed the lowest values. The specimens irradiated for 40 s had greater DC and VMH than those irradiated for 20 s. RelyX U200 revealed higher values for both parameters compared to TheraCem cement. Conclusion: The polymerization of self-adhesive cement depends on the thickness of the monolithic zirconia, the light curing time, and the composition of the cement. The cement should be irradiated for a longer period than recommended to overcome the light attenuation of zirconia. TEGDMA-based self-adhesive cement showed a higher DC and VMH than BISGMA-based cement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To compare the profile and overall survival of young adults and elderly people diagnosed with SCC. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out at a High Complexity Oncology Unit, between 2010 and 2016. A descriptive analysis, a bivariate analysis using the chi-square and Fisher's exact test and the Kaplan-Meier estimator were performed. The predictor variables were tested using the log-rank test and those with statistical significance and the literature were maintained for the Cox regression model. Results: 282 cases of SCC were recorded, with only 12.4% diagnosed in young adults. The profile was similar between groups, with the majority of cases of the disease occurring in males, smokers and alcohol consumers. The lesions predominantly located on the tongue and were diagnosed in an advanced stage of the disease, resulting in 35.7% of deaths. The median survival time was 30 months in the elderly and 31 months in young people. In the multivariate analysis, age was not statistically significant, only staging and treatment were predictors of reduced overall survival. Conclusion: Tumor staging, and treatment were prognostic factors for the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Flexible flatfoot is a common condition that is characterized by hindfoot valgus with longitudinal medialarch collapse. Many strategies for treatment have been reported but according to the current literature, controversy remains. Objectives: To compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of medializing calcaneal osteotomy utilizing modified step plate and subtalar arthroereisis utilizing conical subtalar implant for patients with symptomatic flexible pes planus. Methods: A prospective, randomized, double center study was conducted between May 2017 and May 2019 at the Foot and Ankle Department of Cairo University Hospital and El Sahel Teaching Hospital on 26 patients (37 feet) with flexible flat feet to compare between medial displacement calcaneal osteotomy using modified locked step plate (group A) compromising 17 feet and arthroereisis using subtalar implant (group B) compromising 20 feet. Results: By the end period of the study, 25 males and 12 females were available for our analysis of results with a mean follow-up period of 10.14 months (range 7-14 months), clinical scoring (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score, Foot Functional Index) with radiological analysis revealed a non-significant difference between both groups, the overall complication rate was 16.2%. Conclusion: Both medial displacement calcaneal osteotomy and subtalar arthroereisis significantly improved radiographic and subjective clinical outcome measures in the surgical treatment of painful flexible planovalgus feet. The less-invasive nature and lower potential morbidity suggest that judicious use of arthroereisis implants is an appropriate alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been an emerging interest in exploring the influence of individualism -collectivism and uncertainty avoidance cultural dimensions on risk perception at an individual level of analysis. This paper aims to evaluate the impact of both cultural dimensions on risk perception. For this purpose, a survey was conducted with 340 students; 214 Brazilian and 126 Spanish respondents participated. The data were evaluated using descriptive statistics and Fuzzy-set Quantitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) for hypotheses testing. Results demonstrate that collectivistic and uncertainty avoidance preferences negatively influence risk tolerance, leading to risk-avoidance behavior. The managerial contributions of this study focus on aspects that lead to a broader sense of the collective, social and environmental aspects. Furthermore, this study contributes to the academic literature by demonstrating how individualism-collectivism and uncertainty avoidance impacts risk perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effect of periodic changes in rotation speed on torsional stress and screw-in force using the dedicated alternative rotation technique (ART) motion of the EQ-M (Metabiomed, Cheongju, Korea) endodontic motor. Two ART modes of the EQ-M motor in 2 alternative techniques (ART30 and ART50) and continuous rotation were compared using ProTaper Next X2 (Dentsply Sirona, Charlotte, NC) files and simulated resin blocks (n = 12 per group). ART30 and ART50 were operated by continuous rotation of 350 rpm for 360° and then rotated at 30% increased speed from the base speed for 180° and at 50% increased speed for 180°, respectively. Before the test, the simulated resin blocks were pre-enlarged using ProTaper Gold S1 and S2 (Dentsply Sirona) and fixed on a metal stage connected to the force- and torque-measuring unit. During shaping the simulated canal in an automatic up-and-down manner, the parameters of maximum torque, sum of torque, maximum screw-in force, and maximum apical force were measured. The data were statistically analyzed using 1-way analysis of variance and the Tukey post hoc comparison test at the 95% significance level. The ART30 and ART50 groups showed a lower maximum torque, sum of torques, screw-in force, and apical drive force than the continuous rotation group. There was no significant difference between the ART30 and ART50 groups (P >.05). When the screw-in force increased suddenly, the torque correspondently increased. Under the limitations of this study, the ART mode could reduce the torsional stress and apical forces of the screw-in during instrumentation in comparison with continuous rotation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]