Analysis Of Variance Research Articles

Modeling and optimization of biomass productivity of Chlorella vulgaris using response surface methodology, analysis of variance and machine learning for carbon dioxide capture

This study explores bioremediation's effectiveness in reducing carbon emissions through the use of microalgae Chlorella vulgaris, known for capturing carbon dioxide and producing biomass. The impact of temperature and light intensity on productivity and carbon dioxide capture was investigated, and cultivation conditions were optimized in a photobioreactor using response surface methodology (RSM), analysis of variance (ANOVA), and deep neural networks (DNN). The optimal conditions determined were 28.74 °C and 225 μmol/m2/s with RSM, and 29.55 °C and 226.77 μmol/m2/s with DNN, closely aligning with literature values (29 °C and 225 μmol/m2/s). DNN demonstrated superior performance compared to RSM, achieving higher accuracy due to its capacity to process larger datasets using epochs and batches. The research serves as a foundation to further in this field by demonstrating the potential of utilizing diverse mathematical models to optimize bioremediation conditions, and offering valuable insights to improve carbon dioxide capture efficiency in microalgae cultivation.

Mediating effects of sleep quality between clinical characteristics and quality of life in children with epilepsy: A cross-sectional study from Southwest China

BackgroundAlthough sleep quality (SQ) reportedly affects the health-related quality of life (QOL) of patients with epilepsy, little is known about the potential association between SQ and QOL, particularly in children with epilepsy (CWE). Our study aimed to investigate the mediating effect of SQ on the QOL of CWE to obtain more information for the prevention and treatment of epilepsy in children. MethodsWe collected general demographic and clinical data of 212 CWE and 79 controls (children who visited the Health Examination Department), and their guardians were instructed to answer the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) and the optimized Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy Questionnaire-16 (QOLCE-16). The t-test, analysis of variance, chi-square test, and Fisher’s exact test were used for between group comparisons. The Pearson correlation was used to analyze the correlation between variables. The direct, indirect, and total effects of predictors on the QOL of CWE were estimated based on an adjusted mediation model. ResultsCWE had significantly smaller long-term urban residence rates, less educated guardians, higher total CSHQ score, higher incidence of poor SQ, higher bedtime resistance, more sleep anxiety, worse sleep-disordered breathing, increased parasomnia, more daytime sleepiness, more frequent night waking, and greater sleep onset delay than controls (P < 0.05 for all). The univariable analysis showed significant differences in total CSHQ scores between CWE with different seizure frequency in the last month, whether or not drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE), and with different video electroencephalogram (VEEG) findings (P < 0.05 for all). Differences in QOLCE-16 scores between CWE with different guardian’s employment status, age at diagnosis, number of anti-seizure medication (ASM) types, seizure frequency in the last month, DRE status, seizure type, VEEG findings, neuropsychological evaluation findings, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, and etiology were statistically significant (P < 0.05 for all). The correlation study indicated that the total CSHQ score was negatively correlated with the QOLCE-16 score (P < 0.05). The mediation analysis showed that DRE and VEEG abnormalities had a standardized direct effect on the QOL. Seizure frequency in the last month, DRE, and VEEG abnormalities had an indirect effect on the QOL through SQ, and their mediating effect values of SQ were 31.61 %, 13.45 %, and 14.35 %, respectively. ConclusionOur findings uncovered the relationship of some clinical characteristics with SQ and QOL and characterized the nature of factors affecting the QOL of CWE. SQ could be a key factor in the prognosis of CWE experiencing epileptic seizures, and more attention should be paid on the management of SQ in interventions for epilepsy.

Phenotypic Selection to Avoid Discarding Target Genotypes for Four Fruit Traits Based on Environmental Variances in a Pineapple Cross-seedling Population

Early ripening [earlier than 1 Aug during fruit harvest time (FHT)], large fruit weight (FW; &gt;1000 g), high sugar content [&gt;17% soluble solids content (SSC)], and low acidity in fruit juice (&lt;0.7%) are important breeding targets of pineapple for table fresh fruit use in Japan. We investigated the efficiency of primary selection based on the four fruit traits using 129 first-fruiting F1 offspring population of ‘Yugafu’ × ‘Yonekura’ without replicates. Separately, environmental variances were estimated by an analysis of variance using evaluation data from 50 or 49 offspring in three replicates and two-year repeats. The phenotypic distribution in the 129 F1 population approached a normal distribution (P &gt; 0.05). The genotypic distribution was obtained as a normal distribution with the population mean as the mean and genotypic variance obtained by subtracting the environmental variance from the phenotypic variance. The target genotypes were estimated at 14.4%, 58.7%, 5.0%, and 50.0% of the F1 population for FHT, FW, SSC, and acidity, respectively. Critical phenotypic values were established as the upper (FHT and acidity) and lower (FW and SSC) limits of the critical genotypic values at the 95% probability level. The phenotypic selection was made based on the critical phenotypic value, resulting in 45.0%, 88.4%, 27.1%, and 79.1% of the offspring selected for FHT, FW, SSC, and acidity, respectively, and 12.4% simultaneously for all four fruit traits. The results showed that the phenotypic primary selection reduced the population size to 12.4%, avoiding the discarding of target genotypes with a low risk. If breeders intend to further reduce the population size, then increasing the number of traits subject to primary selection would be effective.

Anticonvulsant effects of Paeonia daurica subsp. macrophylla root extracts in pentylenetetrazol-induced seizure models in mice

IntroductionIn the present study, anticonvulsant effects of aqueous extract (AE), hydro-alcoholic crude extract (HE), and its fractions (F-CHCl3, F-EtOAc, F-MeOH) of Paeonia daurica subsp. macrophylla (P. daurica ssp. macrophylla) root examined by using a pentylenetetrazol-induced model (PTZ) on mice. MethodsHE and its fractions as well as AE, in concentrations of (100, 200 and 400mg/kg), valproate (Val) (100 and 200mg/kg), and saline (negative control) (10mg/kg) were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) 30min before PTZ (80mg/kg, i.p.). The time taken before the onset of myoclonic convulsions (MC), MC duration, time taken before the onset of generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS), the duration of GTCS, and the percentage of GTCS and mortality protection recorded. The plant's anticonvulsant mechanisms were assessed using flumazenil (5mg/kg, i.p.) before AE (100, 200, and 400mg/kg, i.p.) injection. GraphPad Prism software was used to compare the differences between various treatment groups with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey–Krammer multiple comparison tests. ResultsAll the plant samples except F-EtOAc significantly delayed the onset and decreased the duration of PTZ-induced MCS and GTCS, and significantly reduced the GTCS and mortality rate. Pretreatment with flumazenil diminished the significant anticonvulsant effects of AE against PTZ-induced seizures. ConclusionsIt can report that extract of P. daurica ssp. macrophylla might be a helpful guide for future studies in the treatment of epilepsy.

Family education: Instilling career expectations for woman

Because women in Indonesian society gain more experience in the family, one of which is education instilled through family gender culture, women's career aspirations are believed to have their own characteristics. In today's society, the current condition of female students' career expectations is apprehensive. Most of the female students do not have any professional characteristics, such as career aspirations. This research involving 109 female students from various cultural contexts will divide their findings into two categories: patriarchal family education and matriarchal family education. The main objective of this research is to investigate the career expectations of female students in relation to patriarchal and matriarchal family education, and to compare the two household categories. As a result, the majority of female students from societies that place a patriarchal emphasis on gender have expectations of career self-efficacy, whereas those from societies that place a matriarchal emphasis on gender have expectations of outcomes. Parametric analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used for comparative analysis. The test results show F = 75.011 for career expectations on self-efficacy and F = 145.467 for outcome expectation (OE). 0.000 is a significant value for both variations.

Optimization of mechanical properties for intelligent building materials combining with various steel fiber types and nano-Carbon black

The mechanical properties of building materials has emerged as a novel application criterion. However, the investigation of the influence of different steel fibers (SFs) types and nano-carbon black (CB) on the mechanical properties of intelligent building materials remains limited. In this paper, an orthogonal test is conducted to analyze the mechanical performance of building materials with various types of SF and different factors of SFs and CB content. The single-phase results reveal that the optimal content of SFs for intelligent building materials ranges from 0.20%∼0.80% when combined with air content and mechanical performance indicators, while the CB content range ranges from 0.25 wt%∼0.75 wt%. Additionally, the study employs the orthogonal experimental method to determine the mix proportion for intelligent building materials. The experiment selected orthogonal design conditions with four levels and three factors (including SF types and contents and CB content) and conducts range analysis and variance analysis on the experimental results of each group. The results demonstrate that the compressive strength and splitting tensile strength of building materials are optimized when the contents of shear-type SFs and CB are 0.40% and 0.75 wt%, respectively.

The Quality Analysis of Of Rolled Pancake with Carrot Extract Substitution as Natural Food Colouring

This research aims to analyze the effect of 0%, 15%, 30% and 45% substitution of carrot extract to the quality of rolled pancakes in terms of shape, color, aroma, texture and taste. This research was conducted in August 2023 at the Culinary Workshop, Department of Family Welfare Sciences, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality, Padang State University. This type of research is a pure experiment using a completely randomized design method consisting of 4 treatments and 3 repetitions. The data used is primary data obtained from 3 expert panelists using an organoleptic test format on the quality of rolled pancakes with the substitution of carrot extract. The data obtained was then tabulated in table form and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out. If F count &gt; F table then proceed with the Duncan test. The results of this research show that there is a significant effect of substitution of 0%, 15%, 30% and 45% carrot extract on the quality of color and aroma of rolled pancakes. The results of data analysis obtained the highest overall achievement scores, namely: neat shape 3.56 (45%), uniform shape 3.44 (30%), color 3.44 (45%), aroma 3.67 (45%), texture 3.67 (45%) and taste 4.00 (45%). The results of the quality test for rolled pancakes with the best carrot extract substitution were 45% (X3).

The Influence Of Corn Flour Substitution On The Quality Of Dry Noodles

The use of corn flour contains various essential components such as a source of plant-based vitamin A, also known as beta-carotene content, essential fatty acids, protein, carbohydrates, and high dietary fiber. However, the utilization of local corn flour is not maximized in the food industry, as it is mainly focused on supplying animal feed, even though corn is one of Indonesia's staple commodities in supporting the national food security program. The use of corn flour can replace synthetic coloring agents with a natural yellow color obtained from the use of local corn flour derived from the beta-carotene pigment contained in corn. This research aims to analyze the influence of substituting corn flour by 0% (X0), 20% (X1), and 40% (X2) on the quality of dry noodles in terms of color, aroma, texture, and taste. The research design used was a pure experiment with a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) method. The data used were obtained directly from three limited panelists using the organoleptic evaluation format for the quality of dry noodles with corn flour substitution. The collected data were then tabulated in table format, and an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was conducted. If the analysis of variance shows Fcount &gt; Ftable, then Duncan's test was carried out. The results of the research indicate a significant influence of corn flour substitution at 0% (X0), 20% (X1), and 40% (X2) on the quality of color (pale yellow), and texture (chewy). The best result was observed at the 20% substitution level (X1) with a 20% substitution of corn flour from the total amount of wheat flour used.

The Effect Of White Sweet Potato On The Quality Of Snow’s Cookies

This research is motivated by the increasing consumption of wheat, where wheat comes from imported wheat. To reduce dependence on wheat, local food ingredients such as white sweet potatoes can be used. Utilizing local food can create new innovations in snow white cookies using white sweet potatoes, as well as increasing public knowledge of the use of local food ingredients. This research aims to analyze the effect of white sweet potato substitution of 15%, 30% and 45% on the quality of Snow’s cookies including shape, color, aroma, texture and taste. This type of research is a pure experiment (true experiment) with a completely randomized design method with one factor. The type of data is primary data sourced from 3 expert panelists who filled in the organoleptic test format. The data obtained were tabulated in table form and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out, if significantly different, continued with the Duncan test. The results of the research showed that there was a significant effect between the substitution of white sweet potato at 15%, 30% and 45% on the texture and taste quality of the Snow’s cookies. Based on statistical tests, the data obtained Fcount (13.60) &gt; Ftable (4.76) on the quality of the crumbly textureand Fcount (12.25) &gt; Ftable (4.76) on the quality of the typical taste of white sweet potatoes, then continued with the test Duncan. The quality test results for the best white sweet potato snow’s cookies were found in the X3 treatment with 45% white sweet potato substitution. 

The Effect Of Substituting Butterfly Pea Extract As A Natural Dye In Mochi Production

Mochi is a traditional Japanese food made from glutinous rice flour with a sweet taste and a distinctive soft texture that turns chewy when eaten. Mochi is typically round in shape, filled with peanut paste, and coated with roasted cornstarch. In Indonesia, mochi has various variations, one of which involves modifying the mochi's outer layer by adding food coloring to the dough. As time progresses, people have become more aware of the negative effects of synthetic ingredients, leading consumers to shift towards using natural food colorings. Butterfly pea flowers are one alternative source of natural food coloring. These flowers contain anthocyanin compounds that can produce a blue color. The use of butterfly pea flowers does not affect the taste of food products since it only contains anthocyanins. The purpose of this study is to analyze the quality of mochi with the addition of butterfly pea flower extract. The research method employed is a pure experiment, using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three repetitions. Data was collected by surveying a limited group of panelists, who are Family Welfare Science lecturers with a concentration in Culinary Arts at the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality, Universitas Negeri Padang. Data was analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and if F-value &gt; F-table, then the Duncan test was conducted. The research results indicate a significant effect on color quality. However, the shape (neat and uniform), aroma, texture, and taste did not show a significant effect. The highest overall scores were as follows: neat shape 3.11 (X1), uniform shape 3.11 (X1), blue color 3.44 (X1), pleasant aroma 3.33 (X0), chewy texture 3.67 (X1), and sweet taste 3.33 (X1). The best result in this study was treatment (X1) with a 50% substitution of butterfly pea flower extract. 

Quality Of Tamarillo Marmalade With The Addition Of Pectin As A Gel-Forming Agent

Marmalade is a jam-like product with a thick texture and fruit pieces inside. It is made from fruit juice, fruit pieces, sugar, citric acid, and a gelling agent. Marmalade can serve as an alternative product for processing perishable ingredients like Tamarillo. Due to the limited variety of processed Tamarillo products, it is not a popular choice for consumption. However, when transformed into marmalade, Tamarillo has low pectin content, requiring the addition of pectin for optimal marmalade production. The aim of this research is to investigate the impact of adding pectin on the quality of Tamarillo marmalade. The expected benefits include optimizing the utilization of Tamarillo and enhancing its attractiveness and economic value. This study adopts a pure experimental design, specifically a true experiment, directly exploring the influence of pectin addition on Tamarillo marmalade quality. The research is conducted at the Workshop for Culinary Arts, Department of Family Welfare Sciences, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality, Universitas Negeri Padang. Evaluation involves Organoleptic Testing by expert panels using a questionnaire as the research instrument. Data analysis employs Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with four treatments and three replications. The observed marmalade qualities include color, aroma, texture, and taste. The results indicate that adding pectin at percentages of 0%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% does not significantly affect the color, aroma, and taste of Tamarillo marmalade. However, the addition of pectin at these percentages significantly influences the thick and easily spreadable texture of Tamarillo marmalade.

The Effect of Using Different Types of Ginger on the Quality of Dadak Beef Randang

This research aims to analyze the effect of using different types of ginger on the quality of meat rendang, based on the differences in the types of ginger and the chemical composition contained in red ginger, emprit ginger and elephant ginger. And people tend to use ground ginger so that the type and quality of ginger that has been finely ground is not known. The aim of this research is to examine differences in the quality of randang meat in terms of shape, color, aroma, texture and taste. This type of research is a pure experiment with the aim of revealing the influence and differences between three different variables. The research design used was a completely randomized design (CRD). Data was obtained from 3 expert panelists, using an organoleptic test format, then the data was analyzed using a variance analysis test. If the ANOVA results show that Fcount is greater than Ftable, then the Duncan test is carried out. The results of the study revealed that there was no significant effect on the use of different types of ginger on the quality of the meat rendang, including the quality of the shape, color, aroma, texture and taste of the randang. From this statement, it can be concluded that H0 is accepted, namely the type of ginger does not affect the quality of the dadak randang because Fcount &lt; Ftable.

Organoleptic Testing Of The Use Of Purple Sweet Potato Flour On The Quality Of Cookies

Cookies are dry cakes made from soft dough with a high fat content that are relatively crispy when broken and the cross-section of the pieces has a dense texture, made from a mixture of wheat flour, refined sugar, margarine, meizena flour and powdered milk. Purple sweet potatoes are more focused on developing flour and starch because the color of the flour produced is more like purple sweet potato flour, and purple sweet potatoes tend to be more fragrant and have a distinctive taste of purple sweet potatoes. So purple sweet potato flour can be used in making cookies. This research aims to analyze the effect of using 15%, 40% and 45% purple sweet potato flour on the quality of the shape, color, aroma, texture and taste of the cookies produced. This type of research is a pure experiment using a Completely Randomized Design method. The data used is primary data obtained directly from 3 expert panelists by filling in the organoleptic test format for the quality of cookies with the effect of using purple sweet potato flour. The data obtained was then tabulated in table form and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was carried out, if Fh&gt;Ft then continued with the Duncan Test. The results of the research showed that there was a significant effect of using 15%, 40%, and 45% purple sweet potato flour on the quality of color (purple), aroma (fragrant purple sweet potato), and sweetness (sweet taste and distinctive taste of sweet potato). The best results from the cookie quality test using purple sweet potato flour were 45%.

Substitution Of Potato Flour In Mangkok Cake Making

This research aims to analyze the effect of potato starch substitution on the quality of cupcakes by adding 20%, 40% and 60% potato starch. This type of research is pure experimental research with a completely randomized design (CRD) method consisting of 4 treatments and 3 repetitions. The object of this research is cupcakes with potato starch substitution of 20%, 40%, 60% for the quality of the cupcakes. The data collection technique for this research was carried out using organoleptic tests given to 5 expert panelists, namely lecturers in Family Welfare Science, Padang State University. The independent variable in this research is potato flour. The dependent variable of this research is the quality of the cupcakes produced including shape, color, aroma, texture and taste. The data analysis technique used is Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to analyze organoleptic test data. The data that has been obtained is then tabulated in table form and analyzed according to each data test. Then data analysis is carried out, if the data obtained by Fcount is greater than Ftable then proceed with the Duncan test. The results of this research show that there is a real influence on the quality of texture and taste of cupcakes, while there is no significant difference in the quality of shape, aroma and color. It can be concluded that the best quality test results for potato flour cupcakes were in treatment (X3) with 40% potato starch substitution. 

Virtual Reality Distraction for Needle-Related Pain and Distress in Children: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

This international multicenter randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) distraction with an identical non-VR game in reducing needle-related pain and anxiety in children undergoing venous blood draw. The study involved 304 children aged 5-9 years undergoing a blood draw procedure, randomly allocated to one of three groups: VR distraction, non-VR distraction, and control group (usual care). The distraction task was based on the Multiple Object Tracking (MOT) paradigm, and the game was identical in design and gameplay for both VR and non-VR distraction groups. The primary outcome was self-reported pain intensity using the Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R). Secondary outcomes included child distress, attention/distraction to the blood draw, and parent and medical staff satisfaction with procedure. Analyses were conducted using analysis of variance and multivariable linear regression models. The results showed that VR distraction and non-VR distraction performed similarly, showing large effect sizes compared with standard care. There was no significant difference between the two types of distraction. The study's findings suggest that VR and non-VR distraction are similarly effective in reducing needle-related pain and anxiety in children undergoing venous blood draw. This is the first well-powered study comparing modern VR distraction with an identical task displayed on a smartphone or monitor screen. The study's results have important implications for using VR in clinical settings and suggest that investing in expensive VR equipment for acute pain management may not be necessary. The study protocol was pre-registered on Open Science Framework at https://osf.io/frsyc.

Do We Make a Difference? The Effect of a Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Curriculum on Student Cultural Competence.

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) education programs have been charged with developing a culturally competent health care workforce to better meet the needs of diverse communities and reduce health inequities. The purpose of this longitudinal, quasi-experimental educational intervention study was to examine the effects of an integrated DPT program curriculum on student cultural competence at a public, midsize, midwestern university. There is an abundance of research on conceptual models and frameworks for the development of cultural competence within health care education with many studies relying on self-perception to measure outcomes. Using the Model of Interculturalization as a theoretical framework, this study explored the development of cultural competence among DPT students using the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). A purposeful convenience sample of DPT students (n = 177) was used. The IDI was administered to 3 student cohorts. One cohort had data at 4 different time points, including upon entry into the program (baseline) and at the end of the first, second, and third year. Two cohorts had data for 2 time points. IDI Developmental Orientation (DO) and Orientation Gap (OG) scores were used to measure cultural competence and accuracy of self-perception of cultural competence. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, independent and dependent sample t-tests, and analysis of variances. There were no differences between the cohorts. There were statistically significant improvements in both cultural competence (DO scores) and accuracy of self-perception of cultural competence (OG scores) for 2 cohorts. However, significant change only occurred during year 1. No other differences across time for any of the cohorts were significant. Findings can be leveraged and incorporated into recommendations for curricular revision and program reform targeting cultural competence development among DPT students.

Prediction of prostate cancer aggressiveness using magnetic resonance imaging radiomics: a dual-center study.

The Gleason score (GS) and positive needles are crucial aggressive indicators of prostate cancer (PCa). This study aimed to investigate the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiomics models in predicting GS and positive needles of systematic biopsy in PCa. A total of 218 patients with pathologically proven PCa were retrospectively recruited from 2 centers. Small-field-of-view high-resolution T2-weighted imaging and post-contrast delayed sequences were selected to extract radiomics features. Then, analysis of variance and recursive feature elimination were applied to remove redundant features. Radiomics models for predicting GS and positive needles were constructed based on MRI and various classifiers, including support vector machine, linear discriminant analysis, logistic regression (LR), and LR using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator. The models were evaluated with the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver-operating characteristic. The 11 features were chosen as the primary feature subset for the GS prediction, whereas the 5 features were chosen for positive needle prediction. LR was chosen as classifier to construct the radiomics models. For GS prediction, the AUC of the radiomics models was 0.811, 0.814, and 0.717 in the training, internal validation, and external validation sets, respectively. For positive needle prediction, the AUC was 0.806, 0.811, and 0.791 in the training, internal validation, and external validation sets, respectively. MRI radiomics models are suitable for predicting GS and positive needles of systematic biopsy in PCa. The models can be used to identify aggressive PCa using a noninvasive, repeatable, and accurate diagnostic method.

Independent Correlates of Glycemic Control among Adults with Diabetes in South Africa

Background: Globally, the prevalence of diabetes is increasing, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including those in the sub-Saharan African region. However, the independent socioeconomic correlates of glycemic control as measured by hemoglobin A1C have yet to be identified. Therefore, the aim of this analysis was to understand the independent correlates of glycemic control in South Africa. Methods: Data from the 2016 South Africa Demographic and Health Survey on adults with diabetes were used for this analysis. The dependent variable, glycemic control, was defined using hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Independent variables included: age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, region, urban/rural residence, ability to read, education, insurance, wealth, occupation, and employment in the last year. Analysis of variance was used to test for differences in mean HbA1c for each category of all independent variables, and a fully adjusted linear regression model was used to identify independent correlates of glycemic control (HbA1c). Results: Among the 772 people included in this analysis, there were significant differences in mean HbA1c by age (p &lt; 0.001), ethnicity (p &lt; 0.001), place of residence (p = 0.024), wealth index (p = 0.001), and employment in the last year (p = 0.008). Independent correlates of HbA1c included age, ethnicity, and wealth index. Conclusions: This study used data from a large diverse population with a high prevalence of diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa and provides new evidence on the correlates of glycemic control and potential targets for interventions designed to lower HbA1c and improve diabetes-related health outcomes of adults in South Africa.

PERFORMANCE, HAEMATOLOGY AND SERUM BIOCHEMISTRY OF RABBIT BUCKS FED SUPPLEMENTAL LEVELS OF Saccharomyces cerevisiae

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on growth performance, haematological and serum biochemical indices of rabbit bucks.  Eighteen bucks were used for the study. They were    assigned to three treatment groups with 6 bucks per treatment, replicated 3 times in a completely randomized design for twenty-eight (28) days. The bucks were allowed one week of acclimatization before the commencement of the study, during which they were fed commercial growers diets and forages. The bucks were fed a formulated ration supplemented with S. cerevisiae at 0.0, 0.3 and 0.6g respectively and were coded T1, T2 and T3 respectively. T1served as control. Growth parameters, haematological indices and serum chemistry were measured in the course of the study. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS version 21, and means were separated using Duncan of same software. The results revealed that S. cerevisae did not have effect (p&gt;0.05) on the growth parameters in the rabbit bucks. This study revealed that Saccharomyces cerevisiae did not have significant effect (p&gt;0.05) in the PCV of bucks in the study as T1, T2 and T3 all had similar (p&gt;0.05) PCV values of 39.00, 39.00 and 41.00% respectively. S. cerevisiae influenced (P&lt;0.05) serum enzymes but did not have significant effect (p&gt;0.05) on total protein, blood urea, ALT creatinine and glucose. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of S. cerevisiae at 0.60% did not have significant effect on growth parameters and most haematological and serum biochemical indices.  

Effects of Religious Versus Non-religious Self-compassion Interventions on Anxiety and Quality of Life of Iranian Infertile Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Anxiety is one of the common psychological problems among infertile women, which affects their quality of life. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of self-compassion intervention based on a religious and non-religious perspective regardingthe anxiety and quality of life of infertile women. A randomized clinical trial design with experimental and control groups was used. A total of 78 infertile women who lived in Yazd province, Iran, were referred to Yazd reproductive sciences institute, were selected by available sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental and one control groups. The participants of the first experimental group received eight sessions of self-compassion-focused intervention based on religious instructions. The second experimental group received eight sessions of non-religious self-compassion intervention, while the control group was put on the waiting list. Data were collected using Quality of Life in Infertile Couples Questionnaire (QOLICQ) and Beck anxiety inventory (BDI) in the pretest, posttest and 2-month follow-up phases and then analyzed using repeated measures as well as one-way analysis of variance. The results showed as compared to control group at the posttest and follow-up phases, the quality of life (p < 0.001) and anxiety (p < 0.001) of infertile women increased and decreased, respectively, across both experimental groups. Comparison of experimental groups showed that although the difference between the two groups in the subscales of social relationships and sexual satisfaction was not significant, the gain scores of quality of life and anxiety were significantly greater in the first experimental group. These findings indicate that given the religious background of infertile women, religious self-compassion intervention can be relatively more effective in improving the quality of life and anxiety of infertile women than non-religious intervention.