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The bipartite toughness t B (G) of a non-complete bipartite graph G = (X , Y) is defined as t B (G) = min { | S | c (G − S) } , in which the minimum is taken over all proper subsets S ⊂ X (or S ⊂ Y) such that G − S is disconnected and c (G − S) > 1. A non-complete bipartite graph G is t B - tough if | S | ≥ t B c (G − S) for every proper subset S ⊂ X (or S ⊂ Y) with c (G − S) > 1. By incorporating the toughness and spectral conditions, we provide spectral radius and edge conditions for 2-factors in 1-tough balanced bipartite graphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statistically based experimental designs have been available for over a century. However, many preclinical researchers are completely unaware of these methods, and the success of experiments is usually equated only with ' p < 0.05'. By contrast, a well-thought-out experimental design strategy provides data with evidentiary and scientific value. A value-based strategy requires implementation of statistical design principles coupled with basic project management techniques. This article outlines the three phases of a value-based design strategy: proper framing of the research question, statistically based operationalisation through careful selection and structuring of appropriate inputs, and incorporation of methods that minimise bias and process variation. Appropriate study design increases study validity and the evidentiary strength of the results, reduces animal numbers, and reduces waste from noninformative experiments. Statistically based experimental design is thus a key component of the 'Reduction' pillar of the 3R (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) principles for ethical animal research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to identify the factors affecting neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) disease stability after brolucizumab treatment. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 31 patients (31 eyes) with recalcitrant nAMD who were switched to brolucizumab after conventional anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment. We divided patients into two groups by treatment extension (TE) period: group 1 with TE < 12 weeks (N = 16) and group 2 with TE ≥ 12 weeks (N = 15). We compared outcomes between the groups at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks, including morphological characteristics of choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Logistic regression analysis identified factors associated with TE ≥ 12 weeks. Results: Group 2 had a significantly greater proportion of patients with dry macula (subretinal and intraretinal fluids absent) than group 1 (60 vs. 12.5%) at 2 weeks (P < 0.05). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) did not differ significantly between groups at all timepoints. Central subfield retinal thickness (CST) was significantly lower in group 2 at 2 (237.1 vs. 280.8 μm; P < 0.05), 4 (224.0 vs. 262.9 μm; P < 0.05), and 8 weeks (216.8 vs. 331.1 μm; P < 0.05). Group 2 had less vessel area (0.63 vs. 1.27 mm2; P < 0.05) and total vessel length (0.22 vs. 0.42 mm; P < 0.05). Choriocapillaris flow deficit (CCFd) was significantly lower in group 2 (42.7 vs. 48.2%; P < 0.05). Dry macula at 2 weeks (odds ratio [OR] = 8.3; P < 0.05) and a lower CCFd (OR = 0.73; P < 0.05) were associated with TE ≥ 12 weeks. Conclusions: Early fluid-free status after switching to brolucizumab and choriocapillary function around CNV were prognostic factors for disease stability in nAMD refractory to anti-VEGF treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Empathy is one of the fundamental factors enhancing the therapeutic effects of physician–patient relationships, but there has been no relevant research in China on the pediatric resident physicians' capacity for empathy or the influencing factors. Methods: A mixed-methods study was undertaken. The student version of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy was used to assess 181 postgraduate residents at Shanghai Children's Medical Center and Shanghai Children's Hospital. Differences in empathy ability among pediatric resident physicians of different genders and specialties were analyzed using independent sample t-tests and Mann–Whitney U tests. A one-way analysis of variance was used to analyze the differences in empathy ability at different educational levels and years of medical residency training. Seven third-year postgraduate pediatric residents from Shanghai Children's Medical Center participated in semi-structured interviews exploring the influencing factors. We analyzed the interview transcripts using thematic analysis. Results: The scale was completed by 154 pediatric residents. No statistically significant differences in empathy were found between educational level, postgraduate year, gender, or specialty. The factors influencing empathy in doctor–patient communication included the person who accompanied the child to see the doctor, how the children cooperated with doctors for medical treatment, the volume of pediatric outpatient and emergency visits, and the physician's ability to withstand pressure. All interviewed resident physicians regarded learning empathy as important but rarely spent extra time learning it. Conclusions: The evaluation results of resident physicians on changes in empathy after improving clinical abilities vary according to their understanding of empathy, and the work environment has an important impact on pediatricians' empathy ability. Their empathy score is relatively low, and this requires exploration and intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Globally, gastroenteritis (GE) significantly impacts children's health and contributes to societal, economic, and health burdens. Previous studies reporting risk factors of GE in children in high-income settings mainly rely on outbreak investigations, which inherently capture only a fractional representation of the overall spectrum of GE occurrences. In addition, there is paucity of comprehensive information pertaining to modifiable risk factors of GE. This scoping review aims to synthesize existing evidence concerning modifiable and behavioural risk factors associated with GE among children in high-income countries. Methods: PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Scopus were the databases from which articles were retrieved. A descriptive synthesis of the evidence was performed, following the Arksey and O'Malley scoping studies framework and enhanced by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis extension for Scoping Reviews checklist (PRISMA-ScR). Results: The systematic search identified 13,395 journal articles, which were subsequently screened, and duplicates removed, resulting in 19 articles for inclusion in the review. The majority of these studies (63.2%) employed a case-control design and were predominantly conducted in community settings (68.4%). Factors such as parental literacy, contact with individuals exhibiting gastrointestinal symptoms, and nappy-wearing were identified as significantly associated with childhood GE within domestic environments. Childcare-related variables, including enrolment size, mixing of personnel between child groups, the presence of central cleaning stations, and the implementation of hygiene and disease prevention policies, showed significant association with GE. In addition, the presence of sand pits, paddling pools, and animals in childcare centers correlated with increased incidences of GE among attending children. Conclusions: The scoping review reveals a complex and varied research landscape on factors influencing gastroenteritis (GE) for children in high-income countries. The findings suggest that while some variables are closely linked to specific pathogens, others may not be, highlighting variability across GE aetiology. The significant association between various household level and childcare-related factors and childhood GE points to a valuable direction for future research and public health intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable innovations offer opportunities to address environment and social concerns along with ensuring economic gains. To harness this opportunity, organisations require relevant organisational and strategic skills. This study uses a semi-systematic literature review combined with content analysis to identify and synthesise 87 peer-reviewed research papers and create a comprehensive conceptual framework of internal firm factors that enhance sustainability-oriented product and process innovations in an organisation. It identifies 10 variables that incorporate the four broad factors required for successful sustainable innovation performance, namely, requisite resources and capabilities, conducive organisational structures and processes, a culture that promotes sustainable innovations and leadership that is committed to sustainability goals. The framework provides a comprehensive and structured perspective on the internal factors promoting sustainable innovations, and, therefore, gives practical insights to organisations in their sustainability journey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Globally, ostomy creation rates are rising. Stomas, while life-saving, pose significant challenges. Nurses are vital in providing care and support to stoma patients. However, ostomy care practice and knowledge among Ethiopian nurses remain understudied. This study aimed to assess these aspects among nurses in Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia, in 2022. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted in three public hospitals in Bahir Dar City from September 19 to September 30, 2022. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 423 nurses. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to identify associated factors toward dependent variables by considering p -value <0.05 to be statistically significant. Result: From the total samples, 382(90.3%) responded to the questionnaire. The overall good knowledge and practice level of nurses regarding ostomy care was 55.2% and 52.1%, respectively. Taking ostomy care training {AOR = 2.44; 95% CI (1.29, 4.61)} and high level of a monthly income of study participants {AOR = 2.90; 95% CI (1.72, 4.91)} had a significant association with knowledge of ostomy care. On the other hand, taking courses on ostomy care {AOR = 1.76; 95% CI (1.06, 2.93)}, receiving training on ostomy care {AOR = 4.15; 95% CI (2.12, 8.09)} and good knowledge level on ostomy care {AOR = 2.13; 95% CI (1.32, 3.45)} were significantly associated with expressed practice of ostomy care. Conclusion: The study found that only half of nurses exhibit good knowledge and practice in ostomy care. Training and monthly income significantly influence nurses' knowledge, while practice level is associated with training, course attendance, and knowledge. These findings highlight the importance of targeted training programs and education initiatives to enhance nurses' competence in ostomy care. It is also crucial to address factors like nurses' income levels to ensure equitable access to educational resources and opportunities for professional development, thus enhancing their knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concrete compressive strength testing is crucial for construction quality control. The traditional methods are both time-consuming and labor-intensive, while machine learning has been proven effective in predicting the compressive strength of concrete. However, current machine learning-based algorithms lack a thorough comparison among various models, and researchers have yet to identify the optimal predictor for concrete compressive strength. In this study, we developed 12 distinct machine learning-based regressors to conduct a thorough comparison and to identify the optimal model. To study the correlation between compressive strength and various factors, we conducted a comprehensive analysis and selected blast furnace slag, superplasticizer, age, cement, and water as the optimized factor subset. Based on this foundation, grid search and fivefold cross-validation were employed to establish the hyperparameters for each model. The results indicate that the Deepforest-based model demonstrates superior performance compared to the 12 models. For a more comprehensive evaluation of the model's performance, we compared its performance with state-of-the-art models using the same independent testing dataset. The results demonstrate that our model achieving the highest performance (R2 of 0.91), indicating its accurate prediction capability for concrete compressive strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to examine the use of project management practices in Slovenian micro and small firms (MSFs) and to identify project success factors (SF) and project success criteria (SC). Research was conducted on a sample of 51 micro and 41 small firms in Slovenia. Data about project SF, SC, most influential decision makers on projects, to which extent selected project management tools are used, and about employment of full-time project managers in MSFs was gathered. Descriptive statistics was used for questionnaire survey data analysis. Similarities and differences between project management practices of micro and small firms were studied. Results show that 'Clearly defined project objectives' is the most important project SF, and 'Customer satisfaction' is the most important project SC in MSFs. The owner/director of the firm has been identified as the most influential decision maker on projects. Results reveal that 'Clearly defined project objectives' are identified as the most important for project success in MSFs. Understanding project SF and SC in MSFs and the involvement of project SF and SC in decision making can improve project management practices in MSFs. Based on the results of this study and other similar studies, it can be summarised that managers and decision makers can improve project success by focusing on a narrow area which is defined as project SF. A focus on clearly defined project objectives in the project planning phase is identified as the most important project SF in MSFs. Results also show that customer satisfaction regarding projects is the most important project SC and impacts project success in MSFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The estimated prevalence of DRE is 29.4 % in the Casablanca Settat region of Morocco. • This prevalence appears significant and more pronounced (37.5 %) in pediatric PWE. • The sole sociodemographic predictive factor for DRE was the allopathic therapies use. • EEG abnormalities were the only paraclinical predictor of DRE. • Comorbidities, structural etiology, and aura were the clinical predictors for DRE. Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) affects about one-third of people with epilepsy (PWE). Our study aims to estimate the DRE prevalence and its predictive factors in Morocco. A cross-sectional study was conducted over 18 months. PWE with clinical diagnosis of epilepsy, and with an antiseizure treatment duration >12 months were examined in the neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, and pediatrics departments, of different sampled clinical sectors for the Casablanca-Settat region. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected using a questionnaire during consultations. Antiseizure multi-therapy, a seizure freedom duration <12 months, compliance, and adequate posology were the determining factors for classifying DRE. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 21.0. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 and logistic regression was performed to determine the predictive factors. In our sample of 446 PWE, the median age is 25 years (IQR: 11.75–44.00). The DRE estimated prevalence was 29.4 %. Pseudo-resistant epilepsy (PRE) was 18.0 %. Multivariate logistic regression analysis reports that single marital status (ORa = 1.94; CI95%: 1.02–3.71), comorbidities and concomitant affections (ORa = 2.14; CI95%: 1.27–3.59), structural etiology (ORa = 1.96; CI95%: 1.16–3.30), pre-ictal aura (ORa = 1.90; CI95%: 1.09–3.29), inter-ictal EEG abnormalities (ORa = 2.45; CI95%: 1.24–4.84) and allopathic treatment use (ORa = 2.10; CI95%: 1.30–3.39) are the predictive factors for DRE. We report an alarming DRE prevalence. Associated factors found may contribute to the prognosis and early management. PWE awareness, facilitating healthcare access and the development of epilepsy surgery are the key points to limit DRE in Morocco and prevent its various complications, especially for the pediatric population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal 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.)

Worapot Srimanan Ophthalmology Division, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, ThailandCorrespondence: Worapot Srimanan, Ophthalmology Division, Phramongkutklao Hospital, 315 Ratchawithi Road, Thung Phayathai Subdistrict, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, Thailand, Tel +66 2-763-9300, Fax +66 2-354-9309, Email drworapotsmn@gmail.comPurpose: This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of surgical intervention for infantile esotropia at a tertiary care hospital.Patients and Methods: Medical records of patients with esotropia who underwent surgical correction at our tertiary hospital between January 2013 and June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Patient demographics, preoperative and postoperative ocular alignment, surgical techniques employed, complications or reoperations, and factors related to successful surgery were analyzed.Results: The study included 77 participants with an average age of 9.54 ± 10.87 years at the time of surgery. Postoperatively, 71.4% (55/77) patients achieved successful alignment, which was defined as an ocular deviation of ≤ 10 prism diopters (PD), at the final follow-up. The average follow-up period was 12 months, during which no complications were noted. Reoperation was required in 15.6% (12/77) patients. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that having a smaller preoperative deviation of < 50 PD positively influenced the success of strabismus surgery (adjusted odds ratio, 7.13; 95% CI, 2.04– 24.86).Conclusion: The surgical correction of infantile esotropia in a tertiary care setting yielded favorable alignment outcomes in most cases, with no complications and a low reoperation rate. A preoperative angle of < 50 PD emerged as a prognostic factor for successful surgical outcomes in this population. Further studies with longer follow-up periods are recommended to evaluate the long-term stability of these outcomes and identify additional influencing factors.Plain language summary: This study reviewed the outcomes of surgery for infantile esotropia, a condition where one or both eyes turn inward. We analyzed medical records of patients who underwent surgical correction for esotropia at a tertiary care hospital between January 2013 and June 2023. We collected information about patient demographics, eye alignment before and after surgery, the types of surgeries performed, any complications, and factors related to successful outcomes.The study included 77 patients, who had an average age of ~9.5 years at the time of surgery. After surgery, 71.4% (55 out of 77) of patients achieved successful eye alignment, defined as an eye deviation of 10 prism diopters or less. Patients returned for follow-up after an average of 12 months, and no complications were reported. However, 15.6% (12 out of 77) of patients required reoperation. Our analysis showed that patients with a smaller initial eye deviation (less than 50 prism diopters) were likely to have successful outcomes.In conclusion, surgery for infantile esotropia in our hospital resulted in good alignment in most cases, with no complications and a low rate of repeat surgeries. Having a smaller initial eye deviation strongly predicted the success of the surgery. Further research with longer follow-up periods is needed to determine the long-term outcomes and identify other factors that may influence outcomes.Keywords: esotropia, strabismus, surgery, success, factor

In this article, certain factors that influenced legal continuity during the Age of Enlightenment are discussed. The major processes of the period are analyzed, and the importance of legal traditions as the foundation of legal continuity is highlighted. A brief overview of the key approaches to understanding legal traditions is given. Particular attention is paid to the regional divergences of the Age of Enlightenment, with a focus on its specifics in England and later Great Britain, the German and Italian states, France, Russia, and the USA. It was revealed that all factors can be divided into two groups. The first group includes general conditions, circumstances, and prerequisites, which can be further classified into natural and social ones. Natural factors are largely unaffected by the landscape of the period, while social factors are closely tied to society. The factors pertaining to the Age of Enlightenment are part of the latter group. They are of two types. The first type is not actually related to the legal reality of the period. The second type reflects the Enlightenment political and legal doctrines. Conclusions are drawn about the direct and indirect impacts of these factors on the historical processes. It is also demonstrated that the factors of legal continuity formed a unique combination in each studied society, with their influence apparent even after the Age of Enlightenment.

Abstract Background Globally, gastroenteritis (GE) significantly impacts children’s health and contributes to societal, economic, and health burdens. Previous studies reporting risk factors of GE in children in high-income settings mainly rely on outbreak investigations, which inherently capture only a fractional representation of the overall spectrum of GE occurrences. In addition, there is paucity of comprehensive information pertaining to modifiable risk factors of GE. This scoping review aims to synthesize existing evidence concerning modifiable and behavioural risk factors associated with GE among children in high-income countries. Methods PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Scopus were the databases from which articles were retrieved. A descriptive synthesis of the evidence was performed, following the Arksey and O’Malley scoping studies framework and enhanced by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis extension for Scoping Reviews checklist (PRISMA-ScR). Results The systematic search identified 13,395 journal articles, which were subsequently screened, and duplicates removed, resulting in 19 articles for inclusion in the review. The majority of these studies (63.2%) employed a case-control design and were predominantly conducted in community settings (68.4%). Factors such as parental literacy, contact with individuals exhibiting gastrointestinal symptoms, and nappy-wearing were identified as significantly associated with childhood GE within domestic environments. Childcare-related variables, including enrolment size, mixing of personnel between child groups, the presence of central cleaning stations, and the implementation of hygiene and disease prevention policies, showed significant association with GE. In addition, the presence of sand pits, paddling pools, and animals in childcare centers correlated with increased incidences of GE among attending children. Conclusions The scoping review reveals a complex and varied research landscape on factors influencing gastroenteritis (GE) for children in high-income countries. The findings suggest that while some variables are closely linked to specific pathogens, others may not be, highlighting variability across GE aetiology. The significant association between various household level and childcare-related factors and childhood GE points to a valuable direction for future research and public health intervention.

Abstract Background Empathy is one of the fundamental factors enhancing the therapeutic effects of physician–patient relationships, but there has been no relevant research in China on the pediatric resident physicians’ capacity for empathy or the influencing factors. Methods A mixed-methods study was undertaken. The student version of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy was used to assess 181 postgraduate residents at Shanghai Children’s Medical Center and Shanghai Children’s Hospital. Differences in empathy ability among pediatric resident physicians of different genders and specialties were analyzed using independent sample t-tests and Mann–Whitney U tests. A one-way analysis of variance was used to analyze the differences in empathy ability at different educational levels and years of medical residency training. Seven third-year postgraduate pediatric residents from Shanghai Children’s Medical Center participated in semi-structured interviews exploring the influencing factors. We analyzed the interview transcripts using thematic analysis. Results The scale was completed by 154 pediatric residents. No statistically significant differences in empathy were found between educational level, postgraduate year, gender, or specialty. The factors influencing empathy in doctor–patient communication included the person who accompanied the child to see the doctor, how the children cooperated with doctors for medical treatment, the volume of pediatric outpatient and emergency visits, and the physician’s ability to withstand pressure. All interviewed resident physicians regarded learning empathy as important but rarely spent extra time learning it. Conclusions The evaluation results of resident physicians on changes in empathy after improving clinical abilities vary according to their understanding of empathy, and the work environment has an important impact on pediatricians’ empathy ability. Their empathy score is relatively low, and this requires exploration and intervention.

Abstract Introduction The purpose of this study is to identify the factors affecting neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) disease stability after brolucizumab treatment. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 31 patients (31 eyes) with recalcitrant nAMD who were switched to brolucizumab after conventional anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment. We divided patients into two groups by treatment extension (TE) period: group 1 with TE

Abstract Concrete compressive strength testing is crucial for construction quality control. The traditional methods are both time-consuming and labor-intensive, while machine learning has been proven effective in predicting the compressive strength of concrete. However, current machine learning-based algorithms lack a thorough comparison among various models, and researchers have yet to identify the optimal predictor for concrete compressive strength. In this study, we developed 12 distinct machine learning-based regressors to conduct a thorough comparison and to identify the optimal model. To study the correlation between compressive strength and various factors, we conducted a comprehensive analysis and selected blast furnace slag, superplasticizer, age, cement, and water as the optimized factor subset. Based on this foundation, grid search and fivefold cross-validation were employed to establish the hyperparameters for each model. The results indicate that the Deepforest-based model demonstrates superior performance compared to the 12 models. For a more comprehensive evaluation of the model’s performance, we compared its performance with state-of-the-art models using the same independent testing dataset. The results demonstrate that our model achieving the highest performance (R2 of 0.91), indicating its accurate prediction capability for concrete compressive strength.

Abstract Background More than half of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces limited access to safe drinking water. Unimproved water sources can pose risks to the health of entire households, particularly women and children. Despite the fact that East African countries have some of the poorest drinking water infrastructures globally, there is a lack of published data on this issue. Consequently, the objective of this study was to examine access to safe drinking water and its determinants among households in East Africa, utilizing recent nationally representative data. Methods This study analyzed data from recent demographic and health surveys conducted in 12 East African nations between 2011 and 2022. Data were gathered from 204,275 households. A stratified two-stage cluster sampling method was employed, with enumeration areas serving as the main sampling units and households serving as the secondary sampling units. Binary and multiple multilevel logistic regression were used to examine the relevant factors associated with the use of different sources of drinking water in the region. In binary regression and multiple regression, P values of ≤ 0.2 and 45 years (AOR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.14), those with secondary/higher education (AOR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.20–1.29), and individuals in wealth index categories of poorest (AOR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.16, 0.18), poorer (AOR = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.19, 0.22), middle (AOR = 0.25, 95% CI = 0.24, 0.27), and richer (AOR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.34, 0.38) were associated with improved sources of drinking water. Additionally, female household leaders (AOR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.20, 1.26), > 30 min of time taken to access the water source (AOR = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.95, 2.05), improved toilet facilities (AOR = 2.25, 95% CI = 2.19, 2.31), rural residence (AOR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.42, 0.45), high community wealth (AOR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.13–1.51), community media exposure (AOR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.15, 1.51) were associated with improved sources of drinking water, respectively. Conclusion Approximately three-quarters of the population in East Africa has access to improved drinking water, although the quality of water in the region is still considered poor. It is important for relevant organizations to collaborate in order to improve the quality of drinking water, with special attention given to high-risk groups such as communities with high poverty and low literacy rates, poor households, and rural residents. Strengthening women’s empowerment and increasing mass media exposure can also play a crucial role in accelerating the adoption of improved drinking water sources in East Africa.

Research in the field of entrepreneurship has become an intriguing area for further investigation. In an era where digital advancements are ubiquitous, previous researchers have identified a gap: the lack of a specific instrument to identify digital entrepreneur skills. Therefore, this study aims to determine the constructs of students’ digital entrepreneur skills. The analysis techniques include confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), exploratory factor analysis (EFA), Pearson correlation, Kendall’s, Spearman’s, and Cronbach’s alpha. The study was conducted over five phases with 235 participants from university students in Indonesia who run or own a business. The results revealed strong instrument validity with robustness ranging from significant Pearson, Kendall’s, and Spearman’s analyses (0.60). The exploratory factor analysis indicated a Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin value of 0.954 (>0.05) and Bartlett’s test (0.000 < 0.05), with all items having values of anti-image (>0.50), communalities (> 0.50), and factor loadings (> 0.40), uncovering three components. Lastly, the CFA demonstrated an overall good fit model, with high first-order factor loadings (>0.60) and a second-order construct digital entrepreneur skills comprising three components: interpersonal digital skills with a factor loading of 0.890, idea and technology management skills (0.920), and adaptation and innovation skills (1.020). The study highlights the critical need for students to develop digital entrepreneurial skills encompassing interpersonal digital skills, ideation, and technology management, as well as adaptation and innovation abilities to thrive in the digital economy and enhance their personal and professional growth. AcknowledgmentI want to thank all those who have helped make this research a success, especially for Sebelas Maret University as a place of affiliation and all respondents willing to participate in my study.

Anan S Jarab,1– 3 Razan Z Mansour,3 Suhaib Muflih,3 Walid Al-Qerem,4 Shrouq R Abu Heshmeh,3 Karem H Alzoubi,5,6 Yazid N Al Hamarneh,7 Salah Aburuz,8 Enaam M Al Momany9 1College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; 2AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; 3Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan; 4Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, 11733, Jordan; 5Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; 6Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 7Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; 8Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates; 9Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, JordanCorrespondence: Karem H Alzoubi, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan, Email khalzoubi@just.edu.jo; kelzoubi@sharjah.ac.aeBackground: The health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with myocardial infarction (MI) is suboptimal because of the disease’s life-threatening nature, the requirement for long-term lifestyle modifications, and the treatment regimens following MI. This study aimed to evaluate HRQOL and its associated factors in MI patients.Material and Methods: This study was conducted on patients with MI who attended the outpatient cardiology clinic at a major teaching hospital in Jordan. The EQ-5D-3L questionnaire was used to assess HRQOL of the study participants. Quantile regression analysis was conducted to identify the variables associated with HRQOL.Results: The study included 333 patients with a history of MI, with a median age of 58 (57– 60). The median of the total EQ-5D score was 0.65 (0.216– 0.805). Regression results revealed that male patients (Coefficient= 0.110, 95%Cl (0.022– 0.197), P=0.014) and not being diagnosed with diabetes (Coefficient= 0.154, 95%Cl (0.042– 0.266), P=0.007) were associated with increased HRQOL. On the other hand, low income (Coefficient= − 0.115, 95%Cl (− 0.203 - − 0.026), P=0.011), not receiving DPP-4 (Dipeptidyl Peptidase − 4) inhibitors (Coefficient= − 0.321 95%Cl (− 0.462 - − 0.180), P< 0.001), and having low (Coefficient= − 0.271, 95%Cl (− 0.395 - − 0.147), P< 0.001) or moderate (Coefficient= − 0.123, 95%Cl (− 0.202 - − 0.044), P=0.002) medication adherence was associated with decreased HRQOL.Conclusion: The current study demonstrated diminished HRQOL among patients with MI, highlighting the necessity of tailoring interventions to tackle medication adherence barriers in this population. Personalized interventions such as educational programs, counseling, and reminders that consider each patient’s needs and circumstances can greatly enhance medication adherence and, thus, the HRQOL of MI patients. Individuals with lower income levels, female patients, and those with diabetes should be the specific targets of these interventions.Keywords: health-related quality of life, myocardial infarction, EQ-5D, factor, Jordan

Background Objectives Design Methods Results Conclusions Relevance to Clinical Practice Catheter‐related thrombosis is a common complication of the peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) in neonates, leading to unintended tube removal and significantly affecting neonatal health and safety. Despite widespread reporting on the estimated occurrence and factors contributing to neonatal PICC‐related thrombosis, these findings have not been synthesized.The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and risk factors of neonatal PICC‐related thrombosis.Systematic literature review and meta‐analysis.Two independent researchers systematically explored multiple databases—such as PubMed, Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library—from their inception until October 2023. Our study aggregates and scrutinizes studies specifically addressing the incidence and risk factors of neonatal PICC‐related thrombosis. Employing the RevMan 5.3 software, a meta‐analysis was executed to determine the incidence of both thrombosis and odds ratios (OR), accompanied by their respective 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the risk factors.A total of 327 articles were screened, and data from 24 studies were used in synthesis. Neonatal PICC‐related thrombosis incidence varied from 0.23% to 17.91%. The pooled incidence was 2% (95% CI: 1%–2%; I2 = 94%; p < .0001). The study identified 12 risk factors, including insertion sites in the lower extremities (OR = 0.22; 95% CI: 0.09–0.56; p = .001), gestational age <28 weeks, abdominal pathology, fresh frozen plasma by day 5 > 50 mL/kg, PICC tip location (proximal placement), two lumens, three lumens, prolonged hospital stay, infection, mothers' use of anticoagulants, patients with cardiac insufficiency and being twin‐to‐twin transfusion syndrome donor.The analysis indicates an overall pooled incidence of neonatal PICC‐related thrombosis of 2%. Twelve factors were identified as risks associated with neonatal PICC‐related thrombosis. Understanding the risk factors can provide evidence‐based recommendations for improving awareness, control and treatment and better nursing management.This systematic review and meta‐analysis illuminates the incidence and risk factors linked to neonatal PICC‐related thrombosis, delivering essential insights pivotal for clinical decision‐making and enhancing patient care within neonatal health care settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To map the quality of life (QoL) profile of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and identify its influencing factors in Bali Province. Method: This study was conducted in the Pharmacy Department of two Government Hospitals in Bali Province, Indonesia. The 89 participants were T2DM patients undergoing outpatient therapy from November 2023 to February 2024. A cross-sectional design was used to determine the QoL of T2DM patients using SF-36 questionnaire. The medical and demographic data investigated were gender, age, BMI, glycemic profile, duration of DM, comorbidities, type of diabetes medication and history of severe hypoglycemia. Results: The quality-of-life profile of T2DM patients in Bali Province was generally poor while undergoing diabetes therapy (QoL score: 44.77 ± 24.71). The influential factors that could be modified included a history of severe hypoglycemia, BMI, glycemic control and comorbidities, while the non-modifiable factor was age. Conclusion: Patients with T2DM undergoing therapy at the hospital polyclinics outpatients unit in Bali Province, Indonesia during the period of study had a relatively low QoL. Factors contributing to these outcomes include patients' history of severe hypoglycemia, age, diabetes complications, glycemic control and BMI. It would be necessary to analyze the influence of patients' behavior and motivation in receiving health services, support system conditions, compliance, and other social conditions on QoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The satellite hardware differential code biases (SDCBs) are one of the important factors affecting the accuracy of GNSS-based ionospheric total electron content (TEC) estimation. The accuracy of SDCB estimates is directly influenced by the data processing methodology. To analyze the impact of various factors on multi-GNSS SDCB estimation, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the number of contributed stations, the data sampling rate, the contributed satellite systems, and the cut-off elevation angle. Two sets of GNSS data obtained from the International GNSS Service (IGS) multi-GNSS experiment (MGEX) network, covering both high and low solar activities during the ascending phase of solar cycle 25, were processed to estimate multi-GNSS SDCBs. The results indicate that the number of contributed stations is the primary factor that influences multi-GNSS SDCB estimation. To achieve a balance between computational efficiency and accuracy, a data sampling rate of 540 s is recommended, which results in a multi-GNSS SDCB root-mean-square (RMS) error of less than 0.01 ns compared to a 60-second sampling rate. The stability of SDCBs is hardly affected by incorporating observations from multiple GNSS systems, and the differences of the standard deviations of SDCBs for quad-, triple- and dual-system solutions are below 0.002 ns. Additionally, the results indicate that the optimal cutoff elevation angle for multi-GNSS SDCB estimation is between 20° and 30°, which ensures the best stability in the estimated multi-GNSS SDCBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Economic Series of the Bulletin of the L.N. Gumilyov ENU is the property of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University 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.)

Bamboo, as a green building material, plays a vital role in construction. Bamboo has good properties and appearance, making it highly attractive for building structures and designs. Since the compressive capacity of bamboo is considerably lower than its tensile capacity, with the ratio typically ranging between 300% to 900%, this limits its application dimensions in construction. Therefore, filling the original bamboo structural members with specific materials or applying different connection methods can not only maintain the appearance of the bamboo structure but also improve its compressive capacity and overall durability, thus expanding the application range of bamboo structural members and enhancing the performance of the architectural design process. Two hollow bamboo specimens were among the eight BFC specimens tested for this paper. Key components such as transverse stiffeners, steel bars, filler materials, and bamboo nodes were examined for their influence on the specimens' ductility, peak strain, ultimate bearing capacity, and failure mechanisms. The test results showed that the ratio of the ultimate bearing capacity of BFC specimens to hollow bamboo samples could reach up to 538%, while the peak strain differences were minimal. A non-linear finite element model was developed and its accuracy confirmed based on the test results. This work proposes a new approach to determine the final axial compressive capacity of BFC columns by creating an elastic model of transversely isotropic cylinders. As a result, the primary goal of this study is to establish a foundation for more scientific building design techniques and procedures by examining the axial compression mechanics of structural bamboo filled with cement and concrete (BFC) and how it influences building design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Theory & Practice in Education (JTPE) / Eğitimde Kuram ve Uygulama is the property of Journal of Theory & Practice in Education 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 objective of this investigation is to ascertain the determinants associated with the amelioration of symptoms in female patients suffering from overactive bladder (OAB) following treatment with 0.2 mg of imidafenacin. The study included 66 female OAB patients who had been prescribed a daily dose of 0.2 mg imidafenacin for a minimum of 3 months, spanning from March 2018 to June 2020. Various clinical parameters including age, coexistence of additional voiding symptoms, prior history of urological surgeries, and responses to the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score questionnaire (OABSS), both pre- and post-initiation of imidafenacin therapy, were evaluated. The mean total OABSS scores recorded before and 3 months subsequent to imidafenacin therapy were 8.36 ± 3.65 and 5.15 ± 3.22, respectively. Following the 3-month course of imidafenacin treatment, there was a statistically significant improvement in both the total OABSS score and the severity of OAB symptoms (p < 0.001 for both). Prior to treatment initiation, Group B (n = 38) exhibited significantly higher total OABSS scores and subscores compared to Group A (n = 28) (p < 0.05). Multivariable analysis identified the OABSS subscores for items 1 and 3 prior to treatment as significant predictors for the improvement of OAB severity subsequent to imidafenacin therapy (p = 0.046, OR 3.10, 95% CI 1.019–9.440 and p < 0.001, OR 2.77, 95% CI 1.671–4.587, respectively). Consequently, imidafenacin emerges as an efficacious therapeutic agent for alleviating OAB severity in female patients, with the OABSS subscores for items 1 and 3 prior to treatment initiation holding potential utility in predicting the efficacy of imidafenacin in managing OAB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research is to analyze and identify factors that influence the success of e-Voting, develop an e-Voting framework, and to examine the proposed e-Voting framework for utilization based on countries, organizations, or institutions that will be introduce e-Voting for elections. Based on research conducted, the analysis and identification results show that there are three aspects that influence the success of e-Voting: readiness, public perception, and technology. The quantitative research was conducted, and the number of respondents were 403 that covered West Java, Indonesia. Based on results, is shows that the factors that influence the success of e-Voting are technology readiness, human resources readiness, trust in the technology, trust in the government, trust in the election commission, constitution readiness, and technological. Whereas the proposed generic e-Voting framework were consisting of the technology readiness index, human resources readiness, trust in the technology, trust in the government, and trust in the election commission, issue laws and policies, e-Voting technology development by conducting socio-technical research, e-Voting technology design and development, and technology acceptance model research that need to be assess. Hopefully, the proposed e-Voting framework will contribute to the new era of digital technology, especially to overcome the issues of traditional vote. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: More than half of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces limited access to safe drinking water. Unimproved water sources can pose risks to the health of entire households, particularly women and children. Despite the fact that East African countries have some of the poorest drinking water infrastructures globally, there is a lack of published data on this issue. Consequently, the objective of this study was to examine access to safe drinking water and its determinants among households in East Africa, utilizing recent nationally representative data. Methods: This study analyzed data from recent demographic and health surveys conducted in 12 East African nations between 2011 and 2022. Data were gathered from 204,275 households. A stratified two-stage cluster sampling method was employed, with enumeration areas serving as the main sampling units and households serving as the secondary sampling units. Binary and multiple multilevel logistic regression were used to examine the relevant factors associated with the use of different sources of drinking water in the region. In binary regression and multiple regression, P values of ≤ 0.2 and < 0.05, respectively, were used to determine the statistical significance of variables in the final model. Results: Approximately 72.62% (95% CI = 72.43, 72.83) of households have utilized improved sources of drinking water. Household heads aged 25–35 years (AOR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.14), 36–45 years (AOR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.14), and > 45 years (AOR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.14), those with secondary/higher education (AOR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.20–1.29), and individuals in wealth index categories of poorest (AOR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.16, 0.18), poorer (AOR = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.19, 0.22), middle (AOR = 0.25, 95% CI = 0.24, 0.27), and richer (AOR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.34, 0.38) were associated with improved sources of drinking water. Additionally, female household leaders (AOR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.20, 1.26), > 30 min of time taken to access the water source (AOR = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.95, 2.05), improved toilet facilities (AOR = 2.25, 95% CI = 2.19, 2.31), rural residence (AOR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.42, 0.45), high community wealth (AOR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.13–1.51), community media exposure (AOR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.15, 1.51) were associated with improved sources of drinking water, respectively. Conclusion: Approximately three-quarters of the population in East Africa has access to improved drinking water, although the quality of water in the region is still considered poor. It is important for relevant organizations to collaborate in order to improve the quality of drinking water, with special attention given to high-risk groups such as communities with high poverty and low literacy rates, poor households, and rural residents. Strengthening women's empowerment and increasing mass media exposure can also play a crucial role in accelerating the adoption of improved drinking water sources in East Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The empirical study examines citizens’ expectations and perceptions about service quality in three major public institutions. The article adopts a quantitative approach. Citizens’ expectations and perceptions about service quality in the context of public institutions were examined through a questionnaire, utilizing a hybrid model of SERVQUAL with private and public service quality dimensions. The article presents the results of a quantitative study (sample of 310 citizens), distributed across three public institutions, illustrating factor, gap, paired correlation and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) of survey data. For factor extraction, rotation and interpretation, the Oblimin rotation technique was used, determining inter-correlation among the public service quality factors. As for ANOVA analysis, Levene’s test was used to verify the homogeneity of variance assumption (the variance in scores for each group of customers). The findings of the study suggest the re-distribution of components under the refined service quality factors. Different items of initial service quality dimensions are rotated under newly created factors. Gap analysis reveals no variations in terms of citizens’ expectations across public institutions, but suggests significant differences among public entities in regard to perceptions of services acquired. Adapted Hybrid Public Service Quality model will assist public institutions in developing and tailoring service quality management systems to citizens’ needs. This is the first attempt to carry out a quantitative approach to researching Service Quality in public institutions. The primary contribution of the study is that it has tested a hybrid model for measuring perceived public service quality, integrating service quality dimensions both from public and private sectors and proposed a refined model fit for the local context considering citizens’ characteristics and the current state of the public sector experiencing a shift toward modernization of services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Unsafe medication practices and medication errors are a major cause of harm in healthcare systems around the world. This study aimed to explore the factors that influence the risk of medication and provide medication risk evaluation model for adults in Shanxi province, China. Methods: The data was obtained from the provincial questionnaire from May to December 2022, relying on the random distribution of questionnaires and online questionnaires by four hospitals in Shanxi Province. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the factors affecting the KAP score of residents. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the independent risk factors, and the nomogram was verified by receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration and decision curve analysis. Results: A total of 3,388 questionnaires were collected, including 3,272 valid questionnaires. The average scores of drugs KAP were 63.2 ± 23.04, 33.05 ± 9.60, 23.67 ± 6.75 and 33.16 ± 10.87, respectively. On the evaluation criteria of the questionnaire, knowledge was scored "fair", attitude and practice were scored "good". Sex, monthly income, place of residence, insurance status, education level, and employment were regarded as independent risk factors for medication and a nomogram was established by them. Conclusion: Males, low-income, and low-educated people are important factors affecting the risk of medication. The application of the model can help residents understand the risk of their own medication behavior and reduce the harm of medication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper has analyzed main post-printing operations of book processing. A set of criteria indirectly influencing the qual)ity of post-press process execution is considered : manufacturing of booklets (including collation of printed sheets, trimming, folding, addition of supplementary elements), binding (options such as unstitched adhesive binding, sewing- adhesive bind)ing, thread sewing, wire stitching), assembly (inserting for small-volume publications, assembly for publications exceeding 80 pages), cover materials (including four types of covers and five types of bindings), treatment of book blocks (ensuring the appropriate block format, enhancing strength, durability, and attractiveness to readers through a series of operations, the combination of which depends on the characteristics of book block binding), embellishment (providing additional decorative elements to the book through embossing, varnishing, bronzing, die-cutting, etc.), final processing (including finishing operations such as pressing the book production, applying dust jackets, packaging), and project management (formulating a clear plan for post-press process execution). The description and demonstration of the connections between factors influencing the quality of post-press processes are provided. A pairwise comparison matrix of factors using the Saaty scale of relative importance of objects is formed. For convenience, the pairwise comparison matrix is presented in tabular form. We determine and normalize the principal eigenvector of the pairwise comparison matrix. The components of the normalized vector of the matrix correspond to the weighted values of the factors of the investigated technological process. To verify the consistency of the results and the adequacy of the solution, we calculate the maximum eigenvalue of the pairwise comparison matrix, the consistency index, and the consistency ratio. Model of priority impact of factors on the quality of post-press processes execution, where the highest priority belongs to the "project" factor, i.e., the factor with the highest weighted value has been developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the admission indicators and characteristics of individuals diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) to ascertain potential impact on the choice of glucose control therapy after discharge.MethodsA total of 398 eligible T1D patients were selected. We conducted multivariable logistic regression analysis to determine the independent influence of predictors on the selection of glucose control therapy after discharge. To explore the influencing factors of different subgroups, we additionally performed subgroup analyses based on gender and age.ResultsOur study revealed that body mass index (BMI) was noteworthy influence factor for prescription of insulin and non-insulin antidiabetic drug (NIAD prescription) in T1D patients of general population [OR = 1.109 (1.033-1.195), p = 0.006], male [OR = 1.166 (1.040−1.318), p = 0.011] and individuals below the age of 30 years [OR = 1.146 (1.020−1.301), p = 0.028]. Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was a protective factor for NIAD prescription in the general population [OR = 0.971 (0.949-0.992), p = 0.008] and women [OR = 0.955 (0.923−0.988), p = 0.008]. The other risk factor of NIAD prescription in men was dyslipidemia [OR = 4.824 (1.442−22.246), p = 0.020]. Pulse pressure [OR = 1.036 (1.007–1.068), p = 0.016] constituted an additional risk factor of NIAD prescription among individuals below the age of 30 years. The risk factors of NIAD prescription for people aged 30 to 50 years were length of stay [OR = 1.097 (1.014–1.196), p = 0.026] and initial blood glucose [OR = 1.078 (1.007–1.168), p = 0.047]. In the case of individuals aged above 50 years, physicians exhibited a higher tendency to prescribe supplementary non-insulin medications to men [OR = 9.385 (1.501–87.789), p = 0.029].ConclusionsWe identified notable factors that influence discharge prescriptions in patients with T1D. In order to enhance the treatment outcome for the patient, clinicians ought to have a special focus on these indicators or factors.

BackgroundDespite global efforts, progress in reducing maternal malnutrition falls short of international goals, which is the same for Ethiopia, provided that studying dietary knowledge, attitude, and practice and their determinants is crucial to developing and implementing effective interventions, which this review tried to investigate in an Ethiopian context.MethodsWe searched on Scopus, HINARI, PubMed, and Google Scholar on January 3, 2024. We used the Joanna Briggs Institute’s (JBI’s) tools and the “preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement” to evaluate bias and frame the review, respectively. The data were analyzed using Stata 17. Certainty was assessed using sensitivity and subgroup analyses and the Luis Furuya-Kanamori (LFK) index. The random effects model was used to determine the effect estimates with a p value less than 0.05 and a 95% CI.ResultsThe pooled good dietary knowledge, favorable attitude, and good practice were 48.0% (95% CI: 39.0–57.0%), 47.0% (95% CI: 38.0–55.0%), and 34.0% (95% CI: 28.0–40.0%), respectively. Knowledge and attitude had bidirectional relationships and were affected by sociodemographic variables and gynecological issues. The dietary practice was influenced by urban residency (OR = 6.68, 95% CI: 2.49–10.87), food security (OR = 3.51, 95% CI: 1.02–5.99), knowledge (OR = 4.53, 95% CI: 3.22–5.74), nutrition information (OR = 3.07, 95% CI: 1.13–5.02), attitude (OR = 2.32, 95% CI: 1.34–3.30), family support (OR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.43–2.85), perceived severity of malnutrition (OR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.82–2.31), and positive perception of dietary benefit (OR = 2.19, 95% CI: 1.56–2.82).ConclusionThe good dietary practice was lower than the knowledge and the favorable attitude toward it. It was influenced by sociodemographic variables, income and wealth, knowledge and information, attitudes and intentions, gynecological and illness experiences, family support and decision-making, and expectations of nutrition outcomes and habits. Sociodemographic and gynecological issues were also found to influence both dietary knowledge and attitude, which were also found to have bidirectional relationships.Systematic review registration: PROSPERO identifier: CRD42023440688.

Leaf, spike, stem, and root morphologies are key factors that determine crop growth, development, and productivity. Multiple genes that control these morphological traits have been identified in Arabidopsis, rice, maize, and other plant species. However, little is known about the genomic regions and genes associated with morphological traits in wheat. Here, we identified the ethyl methanesulfonate-derived mutant wheat line M133 that displays multiple morphological changes that include upward-curled leaves, paired spikelets, dwarfism, and delayed heading. Using bulked segregant RNA sequencing (BSR-seq) and a high-resolution genetic map, we identified TraesCS1D02G155200 (HB-D2) as a potential candidate gene. HB-D2 encodes a class III homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-ZIP III) transcription factor, and the mutation was located in the miRNA165/166 complementary site, resulting in a resistant allele designated rHb-D2. The relative expression of rHb2 in the mutant plants was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than in plants homozygous for the WT allele. Independent resistant mutations that disrupt the miRNA165/166 complementary sites in the A- (rHb-A2) and B-genome (rHb-B2) homoeologs showed similar phenotypic alterations, but the relative intensity of the effects was different. Transgenic plants expressing rHb-D2 gene driven by the maize UBIQUITIN (UBI) promoter showed similar phenotypes to the rHb-D2 mutant. These results confirmed that HB-D2 is the causal gene responsible for the mutant phenotypes. Finally, a survey of 1397 wheat accessions showed that the complementary sites for miRNA165/166 in all three HB2 homoeologs are highly conserved. Our results suggest that HB2 plays an important role in regulating growth and development in wheat.

Background and purpose: In recent years, there has been a decrease in the fertility rate in the country, including in Mazandaran province. A reduction in population growth led to economic, social, and cultural changes and a decrease in the political and military power of the country. Therefore, the goal of this study is to analyze the mixed regression model of the factors related to the motivation of childbearing in couples referring to the health centers of Mazandaran province. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional-analytical study was conducted in four cities of Mazandaran province between October and March 2022 on 468 couples using a multi-stage sampling method. Data collection was done with socio-demographic questionnaires, Naghibi et al. motivation childbearing, and Rammstedt and John Neo Personality Questionnaire. Data analysis was done with SPSS version 22 software. The significance level was considered 0.05 in all tests. Statistical indicators of number and percentage were used to describe qualitative variables, and mean and standard deviation were used for quantitative variables. To investigate the effect of all factors on the couple's motivation to have children, given that the study is a couple, a mixed linear regression model was used using the regression method. Results: In this study, the response rate was 93.2%, and the final analysis was performed on the information obtained from 468 couples. The mean and standard deviation of the age of women and men were 35.64±6.76 and 39.75±8.29, respectively, and the length of marriage was 12.85±7.81. In this study, 261 (55.8%) housewives, 167 (35.7%) working men, 329 (71.3%) of women with a history of cesarean section, 54 (11.5%) of childless couples and 372 (79.5 percent) of the couples lived in the urban. The mean score of motivation childbearing for women and men was 60.82±9.36 and 60.58±8.29, respectively. Based on the adapted regression coefficient, couples with favorable socioeconomic status (P

The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) has experienced rapid environmental changes, including climate warming and wetting, since the 1980s. These environmental changes significantly impact the shallow soil hydrothermal conditions, which have key roles in land–atmosphere feedback and ecosystem functions. However, the spatial variations and responses of soil hydrothermal conditions to environmental changes over the QTP with permafrost (PF) and seasonal frost (SF) remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the spatial variations in soil temperature (ST) and soil moisture (SM) changes over the QTP from 2000 to 2020 using 99 in-situ sites with observations at 4 depths (i.e. 10, 40, 100 and 200 cm). The main environmental controlling factors were further identified using a calibrated statistical model. Results showed that significant (p

Abstract Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) use is indicated for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Nevertheless, reports discussing the reasons for not prescribing HCQ are limited. We identified the factors that interfere with HCQ use in patients with SLE. This observational, single-center study included data from 265 patients with SLE in 2019. The patients were categorized into groups with and without a history of HCQ use. Between these groups, clinical characteristics were compared using univariate analysis and logistic regression models. Among the 265 patients, 133 (50.2%) had a history of HCQ use. Univariate analysis identified older age; longer disease duration; lower prednisolone dose, clinical SLE disease activity index 2000, and estimated glomerular filtration rate; higher C3 level; and lower anti-double-stranded DNA antibody concentration as HCQ non-use-related variables. Logistic regression models identified a positive association between HCQ non-use and longer disease duration (odds ratio [OR] 1.08), prednisolone dose ≤ 7.5 mg/day (OR 4.03), C3 level ≥ 73 mg/dL (OR 2.15), and attending physician having graduated > 10 years prior (OR 3.19). In conclusion, a longer disease duration, lower prednisolone dose, higher C3 level, and longer time since attending physicians’ graduation correlated with HCQ non-use. Physicians and patients should be educated to facilitate HCQ use despite these factors.

Introduction: Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) has been widely reported to improve outcomes and quality of life (QoL) in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), but there are still 15 - 20% of patients still experience pain, physical limitations, and other complications after TKA. Therefore, it is necessary to identify various factors that correlate with QoL from current evidence. The objective is to review the literature on factors that correlate with QoL in patients who underwent TKA. Materials and methods: A literature search was conducted on five databases, i.e. ProQuest, CINAHL, Medline, Embase, and Scopus, using the following keywords: total knee arthroplasty (TKA), post-operative, quality of life (QoL), and outcome. There were no restrictions on the research design. Results: This review found 14 articles (7 prospective studies and 7 retrospective studies) involving 15,972 patients who underwent TKA, with an age range of 32 - 94 years. All articles reported improvement in QoL after TKA. The review revealed 30 factors, of which 15 factors were significantly correlated with QoL after TKA. The factors were grouped into four types: demographic, socioeconomic, clinical, and psychosocial factors. Conclusion: Information regarding factors that correlate with QoL after TKA can be used for directing treatment and discharge planning according to the patient's factors.

Ailin Zhao, Li Zhang, Xiaomei Shi Department of Neurosurgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250001, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Xiaomei Shi, Department of Neurosurgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, No. 324 of Jing Wu Road, HuaiYin District, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250001, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 15552519354, Email shixm11xm@163.comObjective: To investigate the current nursing practice environment in Jinan, Shandong Province, and to identify the factors influencing the practice environment.Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study for nurses. From October to December 2022, using the clustering and stratified sampling methods, 2426 nurses from internal Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Outpatient Department and Intensive Care Department of the Provincial Hospital of Shandong Medical University were selected and then investigated and analyzed using the revised Nurse Practice Environment Assessment Scale.Results: The overall mean evaluation of the practice environment scored 75.13± 19.87, with a minimum value of 59.74 and a maximum value of 95.82. The items with higher scores were “the hospital has systematic training for new nurses”, “the work system is perfect”, and “the hospital can provide continuing education for nurses in accordance with the needs of their positions”. The items with lower scores were “nurses enjoy legal benefits”, “nurses have the opportunity to participate in hospital management decisions”, and “nurses have the opportunity to participate in hospital internal management”. The results of the multiple linear regression analysis of the factors influencing nurses’ practice environment showed that gender, education, position, and years of work were independent influences on nurses’ practice environment scores (p < 0.05), and they explained 48.127% of the variation in the total scores of the nurses’ practice environment scale. The estimated values (β) of sex, education, cheif nurse, nurses staff, work experience (year), and whether the only child variables were 3.141, 3.237, 2.713, 5.471, 2.074 and 0.732, respectively.Conclusion: The nurse practice environment still needs to be improved, mainly in terms of hospital management participation, human resource allocation and salary distribution system.Keywords: nurse, practice environment, cross-sectional survey, factor

Based on the analysis of the main factors influencing the reliability indicators of technical systems and ensuring their regulated performance, dependencies were formed to determine the extremum of economic efficiency indicators at a normalized value of the probability of failure-free operation. Based on an analysis of design, production and operation conditions, the parameters of the objective function were determined, including for restored objects. Regulation of reliability indicators was presented as a solution to a multifactor optimization problem. The problem of distributing requirements for the reliability of a complex technical system, consisting of statistically independent indicators of subsystems, was formulated as a conditional optimization problem. In relation to the regulation of reliability indicators and criteria for failures and limit states, factors were grouped according to the characteristics and internal indicators of the object of general classification characteristics, their stratification and ranking. The structure and procedure for preparing initial data was formed.

Abstract Background Given that antipsychotic medication is a cornerstone for treating and preventing relapse in people with schizophrenia, non-adherence has been indicated as a big challenge. This study aimed to assess antipsychotic medication non-adherence and factors associated among patients with schizophrenia in eastern Ethiopia. Methods We conducted an institution-based cross-sectional study in two public hospitals in Eastern Ethiopia from December 1, 2022, to January 31, 2023. Antipsychotic medication adherence was assessed using MOrisky medication adherence rating scale questionnaire, and insight was measured using the self-report insight scale for Psychosis (ISP). Multiple stepwise logistic regression models with Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were applied to identify the factors. Statistical significance was considered at p-value ≤ 0.05. Results We found that 44.57% of patients with schizophrenia experienced non-adherence to their antipsychotic medication. Being single (AOR = 2.48, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.71, 3.58), alcohol users (AOR = 2.00, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.46, 2.72), Khat chewers (AOR = 2.84, 95% confidence interval [CI]; 2.06, 3.90) and having no insight to their illness (AOR = 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.52, 2.90) were more likely to be non-adherent to their antipsychotic medications. Conclusions Our study revealed that antipsychotic medication non-adherence was high among individuals suffering from schizophrenia and that it was influenced by various factors such as single marital status, alcohol usage, Khat chewing, and having no understanding of their condition. As a result, comprehensive intervention methods should be developed to address the factors associated with psychotropic medication non-adherence among patients. Healthcare professionals should pay attention to these aspects and consider developing specific strategies to promote adherence to medications while treating individuals with schizophrenia.

The ZF2001 vaccine has demonstrated high efficacy in preventing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the clinical characteristics of breakthrough infections in vaccinated individuals and the risk factors for adverse outcomes in COVID-19 patients remain unclear. We conducted a retrospective single-center cohort study at Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, including 210 fully vaccinated COVID-19 inpatients from December 5, 2022, to January 31, 2023. Data on clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, disease severity, treatment, and prognosis were collected and analyzed. Our findings revealed that COVID-19 inpatients still experienced common symptoms at the onset of illness, but most laboratory findings were within the normal range, except for white blood cell count (WBC), lymphocyte count, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels. Following standard treatment, 95.7% of patients were discharged from the hospital. We identified seven variables significantly associated with a higher risk of adverse outcomes, including age over 65, elevated WBC count, reduced lymphocyte count, higher levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), LDH, troponin, D-dimer, and procalcitonin. This study supports the substantial clinical benefits of the ZF2001 vaccine for COVID-19 patients. Additionally, age over 65, elevated WBC count, reduced lymphocyte count, and higher blood levels of BUN, LDH, D-dimer, and procalcitonin may be used as predictive factors for disease progression in fully vaccinated COVID-19 inpatients.

To achieve successful prevention of fire incidents originating from human activities, it is imperative to possess a thorough understanding. This paper introduces a machine learning approach, specifically utilizing deep neural networks (DNN), to develop predictive models for fire occurrence in Keelung City, Taiwan. It investigates ten factors across demographic, architectural, and economic domains through spatial analysis and thematic maps generated from geographic information system data. These factors are then integrated as inputs for the DNN model. Through 50 iterations, performance indices including the coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), variance accounted for (VAF), prediction interval (PI), mean absolute error (MAE), weighted index (WI), weighted mean absolute percentage error (WMAPE), Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NS), and the ratio of performance to deviation (RPD) are computed, with average values of 0.89, 7.30 × 10−2, 89.21, 1.63, 4.90 × 10−2, 0.97, 2.92 × 10−1, 0.88, and 4.84, respectively. The model's predictions, compared with historical data, demonstrate its efficacy. Additionally, this study explores the impact of various urban renewal strategies using the DNN model, highlighting the significant influence of economic factors on fire incidence. This underscores the importance of economic factors in mitigating fire incidents and emphasizes their consideration in urban renewal planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: For patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), the incidence of malnutrition is quite high, and malnutrition has severe effects on NPC patients. However, there is currently no recognized gold standard or specific nutritional assessment tool available to assess malnutrition in NPC patients. Our objective was to develop and verify a new nomogram model for NPC patients. Methods: Data were collected from NPC patients. To evaluate risk factors for malnutrition, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used. Based on the risk factors, a new nomogram model was developed. The efficacy of the model was evaluated and validated. Results: Logistic regression analysis showed that age ≥ 65 years, the number of chemotherapy cycles completed ≥ 1, a high total radiation dose received, low body mass index (BMI), low albumin, and low chloride were the risk factors. The assessment effect of the new model was good by evaluation and validation; it can be used as an assessment tool for malnutrition in NPC patients. Conclusions: Age ≥ 65 years, completing ≥ 1 chemotherapy cycles, a high total radiation dose received, low BMI, low albumin, and low chloride levels are risk factors for malnutrition in NPC patients. The assessment effect of the new model, developed based on these risk factors, is good, and it can be used as an assessment tool for malnutrition in NPC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: In recent years, there has been a decrease in the fertility rate in the country, including in Mazandaran province. A reduction in population growth led to economic, social, and cultural changes and a decrease in the political and military power of the country. Therefore, the goal of this study is to analyze the mixed regression model of the factors related to the motivation of childbearing in couples referring to the health centers of Mazandaran province. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional-analytical study was conducted in four cities of Mazandaran province between October and March 2022 on 468 couples using a multi-stage sampling method. Data collection was done with socio-demographic questionnaires, Naghibi et al. motivation childbearing, and Rammstedt and John Neo Personality Questionnaire. Data analysis was done with SPSS version 22 software. The significance level was considered 0.05 in all tests. Statistical indicators of number and percentage were used to describe qualitative variables, and mean and standard deviation were used for quantitative variables. To investigate the effect of all factors on the couple's motivation to have children, given that the study is a couple, a mixed linear regression model was used using the regression method. Results: In this study, the response rate was 93.2%, and the final analysis was performed on the information obtained from 468 couples. The mean and standard deviation of the age of women and men were 35.64±6.76 and 39.75±8.29, respectively, and the length of marriage was 12.85±7.81. In this study, 261 (55.8%) housewives, 167 (35.7%) working men, 329 (71.3%) of women with a history of cesarean section, 54 (11.5%) of childless couples and 372 (79.5 percent) of the couples lived in the urban. The mean score of motivation childbearing for women and men was 60.82±9.36 and 60.58±8.29, respectively. Based on the adapted regression coefficient, couples with favorable socioeconomic status (P<0.001, β=-4.89) and somewhat favorable (P<0.001, β=-2.29) compared to people with unfavorable socioeconomic status have less motivation for childbearing. Also, people with extroverted personality traits (P<0.001, β=-50.0) had less motivation for childbearing than people with other personality traits. The results showed that with the increase in the years of life together, the couple's motivation for childbearing decreases (P<0.001, β=-0.11). While the couples who expressed that they wanted more children (P<0.001, β=14.63) and had a preference for a son (P<0.05, β=1.41) had more motivation for childbearing. In this study, there was no statistically significant difference between the score of motivation childbearing of urban and rural couples. Conclusion: This study has shown that individual and social factors such as socioeconomic status, length of the marriage, and personality traits affect the motivation to have children, so that in extroverted couples with a favorable socioeconomic status, the motivation to have children decreases with increasing years of marriage, so policymakers and Health planners should pay more attention to extroverted couples in the first years of marriage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the dynamic agrarian landscape, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) herald a transformative era for agricultural services, providing a realistic and efficient platform essential for adapting to constant change and optimizing agricultural productivity. A study was conducted in the year 2023 to delineate the accessibility of ICTs in two purposively selected districts of Odisha, having the highest numbers of farmers using ICTs i.e. Khurda and Bargarh, constituting randomly selected 200 respondents. The study categorizes accessibility of ICTs among farmers into high (30%), medium (41.5%), and low (28.5%) levels. The significant predictors were ICT accessibility, with educational qualification (b = 0.133, p < 0.01), annual income (b = 0.068, p < 0.01), social participation (b = 0.0341, p < 0.01), and media exposure (b = 0.478, p < 0.01) exhibiting positive regression coefficients. Conversely, age (b = -0.888, p < 0.01) demonstrated a negative association with ICT accessibility. By prioritizing equitable access to resources and tailored interventions, policymakers and development practitioners can contribute to inclusive agricultural development and digital empowerment in Odisha, thereby fostering sustainable growth and resilience in the agricultural sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]