Analysis Of Variance Research Articles

Phenotypic diversity of rice bean collection [<i>Vigna umbellata</i> (Thunb.) Ohwi et Ohashi] in Burkina Faso based on quantitative traits

Ricebean (Vigna umbellata) is a multipurpose legume known for its richness in protein, minerals and vitamins. It is a plant used in soil protection and as green manure with nutritious fodder. Although very important, rice bean is a neglected and underutilized grain legume. In Burkina Faso, few studies have been carried out on this crop of interest. It is in this sense that this present study aimed at analysing the phenotypic diversity of the ricebean collection. The experiment was conducted at Farako-Bâ a research station in a randomized complete block design with three (3) replications. The accessions were evaluated on fifteen (15) quantitative variables. Analysis of variance revealed a highly significant difference (P < 0.001). The diversity analysis carried out with the quantitative traits revealed strong correlations between these traits. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed 70.80% of total variability. Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC) structured the accessions into four distinct groups, corroborated by discriminant factor analysis (DFA). Accessions R80, R85 distinguished themselves with both a short cycle and a better quantitative production of seeds and fodder. These early accessions, productive in seeds and fodder, could be exploited within the framework of future ricebean improvement programs.

The Chinese version of the Ohkuma questionnaire: reliability analysis and diagnostic value.

While the Ohkuma questionnaire is a simple, reliable, and easy-to-use tool to assess dysphagia, none of its versions can be used by the Chinese population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the internal consistency, reliability and clinical validity of a newly made Chinese version of the Ohkuma questionnaire, and to provide some objective basis for its application in screening dysphagia. From September 21 to June 2022, 96 patients with dysphagia and 89 asymptomatic subjects were recruited from three hospitals in China to form an observation and a control group, respectively. All subjects completed the Ohkuma questionnaire, Eating Assessment Tool-10, and a Video Fluoroscopy Study of Swallowing. The Cronbach's α coefficient measured in the questionnaire was 0.867, indicating acceptable internal reliability. The analysis of variance generated four main factors to be assessed, showing a good aggregation effectiveness of the questionnaire. The AVE square root values of three factors were greater than the maximum absolute value of the correlation coefficients between factors, indicating good differentiation effectiveness. The sensitivity and specificity scores, together with the positive and negative likelihood as well as diagnostic odds ratios indicate a good reactivity of the questionnaire. Lastly, after adjusting for age and sex, the results of the stepwise linear regression analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between the Ohkuma questionnaire and the penetration aspiration scale. The Chinese version of the Ohkuma questionnaire has good reliability and validity, and can be used as a rapid and effective screening tool for dysphagia.

ØCD: protocol for the development and evaluation of a cognitive-behavioral prevention program for obsessive-compulsive disorder

BackgroundObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) imposes significant burdens on individuals, families, and healthcare systems and the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have exacerbated OCD symptoms. Currently, there are no validated prevention programs for OCD, highlighting a critical gap in mental health services. This study aims to develop and validate the first ØCD prevention program, for at-risk adults, utilizing cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure response prevention (ERP) techniques.MethodsA single-blind, randomized controlled trial comparing the ØCD prevention program to a waitlist control group will be conducted. Participants, at-risk adults (18–65 years) with subclinical OCD symptoms (OCI-R score ≥ 12), will be recruited for the study. The ØCD prevention program compresise of six online group sessions incorporating CBT and ERP techniques over three modules. The primary outcomes are OCD symptom severity (measured by the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory- revised form; OCI-R), depression symptoms (measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire; PHQ-9), and anxiety symptoms (measured by the Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7-item; GAD-7). Secondary outcomes include OCD-related beliefs, experiential avoidance, resilience, quality of life, uncertainty intolerance, automatic thoughts, and distress. Outcome measures will be collected at baseline, at completion of the intervention, and one year later (follow-up). At follow-up, we will also analyze the OCD diagnostic incidence, using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5. We will employ a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) to explore whether significant differences exist between groups across dependent variables. To compare the OCD incidence levels from the pre-test to the follow-up we will use the chi-squared test.DiscusionThe present study may contribute novel data on the efficacy of OCD prevention approaches, leading to the development of an evidence-based OCD prevention program that could alleviate individual and societal burdens associated with OCD.Trial registrationThis trial was approved by the University Ethical Review Authority (937/ 28.11.2023) at Babeș-Bolyai University and is registered on clinicaltrials.gov (ID: NCT06262464).

Randomness of Shapes and Statistical Inference on Shapes via the Smooth Euler Characteristic Transform

In this article, we establish the mathematical foundations for modeling the randomness of shapes and conducting statistical inference on shapes using the smooth Euler characteristic transform. Based on these foundations, we propose two chi-squared statistic-based algorithms for testing hypotheses on random shapes. Simulation studies are presented to validate our mathematical derivations and to compare our algorithms with state-of-the-art methods to demonstrate the utility of our proposed framework. As real applications, we analyze a data set of mandibular molars from four genera of primates and show that our algorithms have the power to detect significant shape differences that recapitulate known morphological variation across suborders. Altogether, our discussions bridge the following fields: algebraic and computational topology, probability theory and stochastic processes, Sobolev spaces and functional analysis, analysis of variance for functional data, and geometric morphometrics.

Mean Performance and Genetic Variability Exploration for Fruit Yield and its Attributing Traits in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

The present study was conducted to access the relative performance, genetic variability, genetic advance and heritability in thirty genotypes of tomato crop. The crop was sown under Randomized Block Design (RBD) in three replications at Regional Research Station Karnal, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, during the Autumn Winter season of 2021-22. The observations were recorded for eight parameters pertaining to the fruit yield and its attributing traits in tomato. Statistics from analysis of variance showed substantial differences among the genotypes that unveils the plausible presence of significant genetic variability which could be positively exploited in crop improvement programs. The results obtained in the experiment showed that Pusa Ruby (38 days) was earliest to flower in 50% plants followed by EC-631351 (40 days). Genotype Selection 7 took the least (66) number of days to first picking and genotype Kashi Hemant took the maximum (155 days) number of days to last picking. Genotype EC-615056 recorded the maximum (57.71 g) average fruit weight and genotypes namely EC-631457, EC-631357 and Pusa Early Dwarf observed highest fruit yield per plant. Narrow differences were recorded for the phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation for all the characters, which denotes that environment had very little influence in expression of the characters and phenotype truly represents the genotype. High to moderate magnitude of genotypic coefficient of variation and phenotypic coefficient of variation was recorded for almost all the characters in our investigation. Plant characters days to first picking, days to 50% flowering, days to last picking, plant height at harvest recorded high (>70%) magnitude of heritability in broad sense implying least influence of environment over these characters. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for characters like days to 50% flowering and plant height at harvesting.

Studies on Genetic Variability, Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis for Yield and Yield Contributing Traits in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

A study was undertaken to analyse the genetic variability, correlation and estimates path coefficient analysis of yield and yield contributing traits in twenty-eight wheat genotypes grown at BAU Agricultural Farm, ranchi during Rabi season of 2019-2020 in three different dates of sowing with an interval of 15 days which is considered as three environments E1, E2, E3. In this investigation the pooled analysis of variance revealed that the treatments were highly significant for all the characters. Wide genetic variation was observed among genotypes for plant height, number of grains per spike, 1000 kernel weight, days to maturity and flag leaf area. Considering genetic parameters, high genotypic co-efficient of variation (GCV), was observed for 1000 kernel weight (11.95), no of grains per spike (12.73), flag leaf area (13.74), spike length (15.83), grain yield per plant (17.64), no of effective tillers (18.38) Whereas, low GCV was observed for plant height (3.49), days to 50% flowering (1.46), days to maturity (2.54) and harvest index (6.90). In most of the cases, phenotypic variances were higher than the genotypic variances. Environmental variance is much higher in harvest index (35.64), days to 50% flowering (33.47). low environmental variance was observed in plant height (16.75), flag leaf area (10.29), days to maturity (13.93), no of grains per spike (14.07), spike length (0.49) and biological yield (35.64). High heritability with low genetic advance in per cent of mean was observed for plant height, days to maturity, days to 50% flowering & harvest index which indicated the involvement of non-additive gene action for the expression of this character and selection for such trait might not be rewarding. High heritability with high genetic advance in per cent of mean was observed for grain yield per plant (27.73), no of grains per spike (20.93), 1000 kernel weight (23.58) and no of effective tillers (27.91) indicating that these traits were under additive gene control and selection for genetic improvement for these traits would be effective. Biological yield had high positive and significant correlation with plant height, number of effective tillers and number of grains per spike. Path coefficient analysis revealed maximum direct contribution towards yield per plot with sheath length followed by grains per spike.

Influence of Genotype × Environment Interaction on Yield Stability of Maize Hybrids with AMMI Model and GGE Biplot

Maize yields perform differently in different environments, so the selection of suitable genotypes in diverse environments is essential for variety selection to enable better site-specific planting. Hence, the objective of the study was to estimate the productivity of 11 maize hybrids (G) in 10 different environments (E) and select high-yield and stable varieties for adaptive cultivation in 2022 and 2023. The combined analysis of variance showed that G (4%), E (50%), and their interaction (31%) had a significant effect (p < 0.01) on maize yield, with E factors contributing the most. In addition, the average yield ranged from 9398 kg/ha to 10,574 kg/ha, and ZF-2208 and DY-519 performed relatively well in both years. The AMMI model showed that the varieties DY-213, DY-605, and DY-519 had high and stable production in 2022, whereas it was ZF-2209 and LX-24 in 2023. The “W-W-W” biplot showed that DY-519 and JG-18 were the optimal varieties in 2022, and ZF-2208 and ZF-2210 were optimal in 2023. The “mean vs. stability” biplot indicated that JG-18, DY-605, and DY-213 (in 2022) and ZF-2208, LX-24, and ZF-2209 (in 2023) were the optimal varieties. Additionally, both the discrimination and representative biplot and the ranking biplot reflected that BinChuan and ShiDian (in 2022) and GengMa and YongSheng (in 2023) were the ideal test environments. In conclusion, DY-519, DY-605, ZF-2208, and LX-24 hybrids could be used for variety promotion. Moreover, BinChuan, ShiDian, GengMa, and YongSheng were the ideal test environments for selecting varieties. Therefore, the AMMI model and GGE biplot can be used to complement each other for a comprehensive evaluation of maize yield. In this way, excellent maize hybrids with high yield and stability can be selected, which could promote the selection and popularization of varieties and shorten the breeding process.

Cigarette smoking and cognitive task performance: Experimental effects of very-low nicotine-content cigarettes.

Reductions in the nicotine content of cigarettes decrease smoking rate and dependence severity, but effects on cognition are less well established. The potential impacts of very-low nicotine-content (VLNC) cigarettes on cognitive task performance must be evaluated, especially in vulnerable populations. The aim of the present study is to experimentally examine the effects of VLNC cigarettes on cognitive performance. Adults who smoked daily (n = 775) from three vulnerable populations (socioeconomically disadvantaged reproductive-age women, individuals with opioid use disorder, affective disorders) were examined. Participants were randomly assigned to normal nicotine content (NNC; 15.8 mg nicotine/g tobacco) or VLNC (2.4 mg/g or 0.4 mg/g) cigarettes for 12 weeks. Response inhibition (stop-signal task), working memory (n-back task; n of 2-n of 0), and cognitive interference (nicotine Stroop task) were assessed at baseline, 2, 6, and 12 weeks. Results were analyzed using mixed-model repeated-measures analyses of variance. Extended exposure to VLNC cigarettes produced no significant changes in any measure of cognitive performance compared to NNC cigarettes. Over weeks, response times on the n-back task decreased across doses. No significant effects were observed on the stop-signal or nicotine Stroop tasks. All three vulnerable populations performed comparably on all three cognitive tasks. Extended exposure to VLNC cigarettes produced no impairments in cognitive performance on any of the assessed tasks compared to NNC cigarettes. These findings are consistent with the larger literature detailing other consequences following exposure to VLNC cigarettes and are encouraging for the adoption of a nicotine-reduction policy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Exploring the Impact of Campus Landscape Visual Elements Combination on Short-Term Stress Relief among College Students: A Case from China

Although the effect of campus landscape space on stress relief among college students has been confirmed, few existing studies have considered the impact on stress recovery from the perspective of factor combination, and the key visual elements and the most effective combination of visual elements to relieve stress are still unclear. This study attempts to conduct a natural experiment within Chinese campuses, measuring physiological indicators of stress such as heart rate (HR), frequency domain index of heart rate variability (LF/HF), skin conductance level (SCL), skin temperature (SKT), and respiratory rate (RESP) using physiological instruments. It explored the effects of visual elements and their combinations in campus landscape spaces on short-term stress relief among college students through semantic segmentation, multifactorial analysis of variance, and post hoc multiple comparison methods. Research results demonstrate that the presence of water elements in the field of vision can effectively improve the stress relief effects of landscape spaces. Reasonable combinations of natural landscape elements and artificial landscape elements in the design can also effectively promote stress relief among students. Building facade area and sky area, water area and sky area, and plant species and pavement area are three combinations of factors with the strongest interactive effects. “Natural water scenery” and “exquisite artificial” are two campus landscape design patterns most conducive to short-term stress relief.

Design and Parameter Optimization of Rotary Double-Insertion Device for Small Arched Insertion Machine

China’s small arched shed-building machinery suffers from a low degree of mechanization, building efficiency, and qualification rate for frame insertion. Therefore, we designed a rotary double-insertion device and established the equation for its motion trajectory. The analysis shows that in the rotary insertion process, a better point of entry into the soil exists. A simulation model was constructed in ADAMS, and the static and dynamic trajectories were analyzed. Additionally, the optimal planting and insertion speed ratios were determined. Considering the qualified rate of the insertion frame as the evaluation index to establish a regression model, we adopted a three-factor three-level experimental design and established the planting speed ratio, center distance of the planting arm, and length of the pressing rod arm as the main influencing factors. We used Design-Expert 13 to perform the analysis of variance and determined the optimal parameter combinations. The experimental results show that the planting speed ratio was 0.7, the center distance of the planting arm group was 554 mm, the length of the pressing rod arm was 923 mm, and the qualification rate of trellis planting at this time was 98.05%. The bench was adjusted and tested based on the optimal parameter combination. The average value of the measured trellis qualification rate was 96.73%, and the relative error between the test value and the theoretical optimization value was 1.32%, thereby verifying the reliability of the optimal parameter combination. Field verification test results show that the rotary double-insertion device had a planting speed ratio of 0.7 and a trellis qualified rate of 95.74% compared with the theoretical optimization value of 2.31%. Conforming to the design requirements of small arch shed-building machinery, the prototype operation performance was stable.

Is the cardioprotective effect of pre-infarction angina blunted by age?

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements None. Background Pre-infarct angina (PIA) has been demonstrated to reduce infarct size and improve prognosis in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, the effects of ischemic preconditioning with aging are still controversial. Purpose We aimed at comparing the effect of pre-infarction angina (PIA) on infarct size between two age groups. Methods We retrospectively studied consecutive STEMI patients treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) from January 2008 to December 2017. PIA was diagnosed if a patient had arm, jaw, or chest pain in the preceding eight days. Peak creatine kinase (CK) concentration was used as a surrogate of infarct size. Patients were divided into two groups, based on the median age: ≤62 years and >62 years. Multiple linear regression was used to identify independent predictors for infarct size that included total ischemic time and classic cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, and smoking). Interaction between age and PIA was evaluated by 2-way factorial ANOVA. Results From the 1131 patients included in the study, 590 (52,2%) had ≤62 years and 541 (47,8%) had >62 years. Older patients were more often women (17.2% vs 8.6%, p<0.001) and had longer total ischemic time [4.6(3.0-9.0) vs 3.5(2.3-6.0) hours, p<0.001]. They also had higher prevalence of hypertension (32.8% vs 22.8%, p<0.001), diabetes (30.7% vs 18.7%, p<0.001) and were less likely to be smokers (26.9% vs 71.4%, p<0.001). The prevalence of PIA was similar across age groups (≤62Y 31.2% vs >62Y 32.0%, p=0.668). In older patients, PIA was associated with smaller infarct size [1.29(0.72-2.33) vs. 1.76(0.97-2.91) U/Lx103, p<0.001]. This difference was not observed for younger patients [1.72(0.95-3.40) vs. 1.81(0.94-3.37) U/Lx103, p=0.392]. There was no significant interaction between the existence of PIA and age on peak CK (p=0.280 for interaction) (Figure 1). In multivariate analysis, overall, PIA was associated with reduced peak CK (β=-0,320, p=0.011). On subgroup group analysis, PIA was a predictor of infarct size only in the older patients (β=-0,459, p=0.005), but not in the younger group (β=-0,182, p=0.394). Conclusion Older patients with PIA had significantly lower infarct size compared to patients in the same age group without PIA. After adjustment for risk factors and total ischemic time, PIA was a predictor of lower infarct size only for the older patients. These results suggest that the effect of pre-ischemic conditioning is not blunted by age, indicating that older patients should not be excluded from clinical trials investigation of cardioprotective strategies in STEMI patients.

Optimization of parameters and formulation of numerical model employing GRA–PCA and RSM approach for friction stir welded Ti–6Al–4V alloy joints

Abstract In this work, an endeavor was made to determine the impact of the tool’s shoulder diameter, pin profile, rotational and traverse speeds on the mechanical properties of the friction stir welded namely Ti–6Al–4V alloy joints. A total of 21 experiments were carried out based on the central composite design (CCD) concept of response surface methodology (RSM). A quadratic regression based numerical model was formulated to ascertain the relationship amidst the parameters of FSW process and the mechanical properties of the fabricated Ti alloy joints. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to confirm the importance of parameters and their interactive impacts. Optimized process parameter combinations were ascertained by grey relation based analysis (GRA) was coupled together with principal component analysis (PCA), a hybrid based approach. Single score of GRG based response was determined and GRG scores were ranked for all experiments. 1st rank was attained by the experiment no. 20 possessing a GRG score of 2.9989. Optimized values of 25mm shoulder diameter having a taper cylindrical pin geometry employed at a tool traverse speed of 40 mm/min, rotational speed of 1400 rpm resulted in the generation of flaw free Ti alloy joint possessing a largest tensile strength of 809.8 MPa, yield strength of 778.7 MPa and percentage of elongation of 6.9%. SEM based fractography ofTi alloy joint specimens announced that taper cylindrical pin geometry along with 25m shoulder diameter of employed tool have an inevitable part in generating frictional heat in ideal volumes and a perfect stirring action during FSW process.

Surface roughness and optical characteristics evaluations after chairside adjustment of different zirconia types.

Limited evidence is available for the effect of chairside adjustment using rotary cutting instruments on the surface roughness and optical properties of different zirconia types. To evaluate the effect of simulated adjustments on surface roughness and optical properties of different zirconia types. Three Partially Stabilized Zirconia (PSZ) types based on mole percent yttria (Y) concentration from the same manufacturer (Katana; Kuraray) were used: 3Y-PSZ, 4Y-PSZ, and 5Y-PSZ. Thirty disk-shaped specimens (Ø14 × 1.2 mm) from different zirconia types (N = 90) were prepared. Specimens were either left without adjustment (NA), adjusted with Dialite ZR finishing and polishing system (Brasseler) (APol), or adjusted with course diamond instruments only (ADia). The specimens were distributed into 9 groups (n = 10): Group 3Y-PSZ/NA, Group 3Y-PSZ/APol, Group 3Y-PSZ/ADia, Group 4Y-PSZ/NA, Group 4Y-PSZ/APol, Group 4Y-PSZ/ADia, Group 5Y-PSZ/NA, Group 5Y-PSZ/APol, and Group 5Y-PSZ/ADia. The surface roughness of specimen was analyzed using an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) (Bruker's Dimension Icon, Bruker) and Root Means Square (RMS) were recorded (nm). Surface Gloss (SG), Translucency Parameter (TP), and Contrast Ratio (CR) values of all groups were recorded using an integrating sphere spectrophotometer. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's multiple comparison tests for pairwise comparisons at p < 0.05 and 95% confidence interval. APol had no effect on the surface roughness (p = 0.88) while ADia had a significant negative effect (p < 0.05) despite the type of zirconia. Out of the three testes optical properties, only SG was negatively affected by ADia for all types of zirconia (p < 0.05). The two adjustment types did not affect the TP of all the tested zirconia (p = 0.91). The CR was not affected by the tested adjustments for all zirconia types (p = 0.726). Proper zirconia adjustment following a sequence of burs and polishers can maintain acceptable roughness and optical properties. Adjustment of zirconia with rough diamond can lead to deleterious effects and should be avoided. Chairside adjustment of zirconia could lead to rougher surface and unpredictable changes of surface gloss. Therefore, zirconia adjustment should be minimized to the greatest extent possible and a proper protocol should be followed if had to be done.

An ANN Hardness Prediction Tool Based on a Finite Element Implementation of a Thermal–Metallurgical Model for Mild Steel Produced by WAAM

WAAM has emerged as a promising technique for manufacturing medium- and large-scale metal parts due to its high material deposition efficiency and automation level. However, its high heat accumulation and complex thermal evolution strongly affect the resulting microstructures and mechanical properties. The heterogeneous and unpredictable nature of these properties hinder the widespread application of WAAM in the steel construction industry. In this study, an artificial neural network (ANN) hardness model is developed, based on a thermal–metallurgical model for mild steel. The objective is to establish non-linear relationships between the input process parameters and the desired output, i.e., hardness. The thermal–metallurgical model utilizes a well-distributed heat source model, a death-and-birth algorithm, and a metallurgical model to simulate the temperature field and to calculate the microstructure phase fraction. The temperature prediction errors at four thermocouple positions are mostly below 20%. Because of the limited experimental data, twenty-five simulation experiments are performed using the L25 orthogonal array based on the Taguchi method. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) reveals that the travel speed has the greatest impact on hardness. With the dataset from the thermal–metallurgical model, an ANN model to predict hardness is developed. A comparison to experimental data shows excellent performance and accuracy, with the Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of ANN predictions within 10% of the targeted hardness.

Sustainable Development Goals in Corporate Reporting: Analysis of Economic, Social, and Environmental Disclosure (Survey among Public Listed Companies in Indonesia)

This research purpose was to describe the disclosure of the Sustainability Development Goals (SDG) in Indonesian companies’ corporate reporting to further analyse sustainability issues. This study employed a descriptive, quantitative method. This research collected data from 443 Indonesian publicly listed companies divided into nine types of industries. This study classified 17 SDG targets into three sustainability-related performance indicators: Economic, Social, and Environmental. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Analysis of Variance , and cluster analysis. This research found that: (1) the disclosure of the SDG items in corporate reporting is still low at 38%; (2) SDG disclosure made by the company still focused more on the economic theme of sustainability, rather than environmental or social; (3) there are significant differences among industries in terms of economic disclosure, but there are no differences in terms of environmental and social disclosure; (4) there are five clusters formed by the cluster analysis, and the general cluster descriptions indicate that only 15% of the companies have good disclosure quality in terms of Economic, Social and Environmental issues, and around 24% of the companies still have no or few disclosures of sustainability-related issues. This implies that Indonesian companies still face a significant challenge in promoting corporate reporting to satisfy investors’ need for sustainability.

Association between Gross Motor Competence and Physical Fitness in Chilean Children Aged 4 to 6 Years

The preschool period is considered critical for the development of motor competence, but as far as we know, no studies have investigated the association between motor competence and physical fitness in Chilean children. The aim of this study was to analyse the association between gross motor competence and physical fitness, controlling for possible confounding factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 144 preschool children (56.25% girls) with an average age of 5.3 years (4 to 6 years) from the Araucanía region, Chile. Motor competence was measured using the Children’s Movement Assessment Battery, 2nd Edition (MABC-2). Regarding physical fitness, the components of cardiorespiratory fitness, lower body muscle strength and speed/agility were evaluated using the Battery to Assess FITness in PREschool (PREFIT). Partial correlation models and analysis of variance (ANCOVA) were used to assess differences in physical fitness between motor competence categories, controlling for age and body mass index. The mean fitness scores for cardiorespiratory fitness, lower body muscle strength and speed/agility components were significantly higher in children with higher gross motor competence. In terms of effect size, large values were found for the lower body strength component in model 1 for boys and in model 2 for the total samples of girls and boys. The results of this study suggest that good levels of gross motor competence are associated with better physical fitness levels.

Characteristic Changes of the Stance-Phase Plantar Pressure Curve When Walking Uphill and Downhill: Cross-Sectional Study.

Monitoring of gait patterns by insoles is popular to study behavior and activity in the daily life of people and throughout the rehabilitation process of patients. Live data analyses may improve personalized prevention and treatment regimens, as well as rehabilitation. The M-shaped plantar pressure curve during the stance phase is mainly defined by the loading and unloading slope, 2 maxima, 1 minimum, as well as the force during defined periods. When monitoring gait continuously, walking uphill or downhill could affect this curve in characteristic ways. For walking on a slope, typical changes in the stance phase curve measured by insoles were hypothesized. In total, 40 healthy participants of both sexes were fitted with individually calibrated insoles with 16 pressure sensors each and a recording frequency of 100 Hz. Participants walked on a treadmill at 4 km/h for 1 minute in each of the following slopes: -20%, -15%, -10%, -5%, 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%. Raw data were exported for analyses. A custom-developed data platform was used for data processing and parameter calculation, including step detection, data transformation, and normalization for time by natural cubic spline interpolation and force (proportion of body weight). To identify the time-axis positions of the desired maxima and minimum among the available extremum candidates in each step, a Gaussian filter was applied (σ=3, kernel size 7). Inconclusive extremum candidates were further processed by screening for time plausibility, maximum or minimum pool filtering, and monotony. Several parameters that describe the curve trajectory were computed for each step. The normal distribution of data was tested by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests. Data were normally distributed. An analysis of variance with the gait parameters as dependent and slope as independent variables revealed significant changes related to the slope for the following parameters of the stance phase curve: the mean force during loading and unloading, the 2 maxima and the minimum, as well as the loading and unloading slope (all P<.001). A simultaneous increase in the loading slope, the first maximum and the mean loading force combined with a decrease in the mean unloading force, the second maximum, and the unloading slope is characteristic for downhill walking. The opposite represents uphill walking. The minimum had its peak at horizontal walking and values dropped when walking uphill and downhill alike. It is therefore not a suitable parameter to distinguish between uphill and downhill walking. While patient-related factors, such as anthropometrics, injury, or disease shape the stance phase curve on a longer-term scale, walking on slopes leads to temporary and characteristic short-term changes in the curve trajectory.

The effect of intraoperative low-dose ketamine versus dexmedetomidine infusion on postoperative bowel recovery in patients undergoing gastrointestinal malignancy surgeries: Placebo-controlled, randomized trial

Abstract Background and Aims: No studies have compared the effects of ketamine and dexmedetomidine on bowel recovery. We evaluated the effects of intraoperative low-dose ketamine or dexmedetomidine infusion on postoperative bowel recovery in patients undergoing gastrointestinal (GI) malignancy surgeries. Material and Methods: This placebo-controlled, randomized study was carried out in 84 American Society of Anesthesiologists II patients, aged 18–70 years, of either gender, undergoing elective open GI malignancy surgeries. Patients received intraoperative infusion of ketamine @ 0.1 mg kg-1 h-1 (KET), dexmedetomidine @ 0.25 μg kg-1 h-1 (DEX), or normal saline (placebo). Primary outcome was the time to first flatus and/or stool. Secondary outcomes included time to extubation, total analgesic requirement, postoperative pain scores, time to feeds, duration of intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay, and the incidence of adverse events. Continuous data were analyzed by the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) or the Kruskal–Wallis test. Categorical data were analyzed by the Chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test. Results: Median time to passage of flatus and/or stool was 3 [interquartile range (IQR) 2–3] days in the KET group, 2 [IQR 2–3] days in the DEX group, and 2 [IQR 2–3] days in the placebo group (P = 0.53 for placebo vs. KET, 0.81 for placebo vs. DEX, and 0.99 for KET vs. DEX). Pain scores and analgesic consumption were significantly less in the intervention groups versus placebo (P &lt; 0.001). No difference was seen in other secondary outcomes. Conclusion: Low-dose ketamine or dexmedetomidine did not result in early bowel recovery despite lower pain scores and opioid consumption in patients undergoing open GI malignancy surgeries. Key Message: What is known: Ketamine and dexmedetomidine may promote bowel recovery by improving analgesia and decreasing opioid usage.Main findings: This randomized controlled trial found no evidence of earlier bowel recovery with ketamine or dexmedetomidine versus placebo despite lower pain scores and analgesic consumption in the ketamine and dexmedetomidine groups.

The effect of different irrigation activation methods on the penetration of the irrigation solution into the dentinal tubules in teeth with calcium hydroxide applied and oval-shaped canals: Confocal laser scanning microscope analysis.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of different irrigation techniques including standard needle irrigation (SNI), passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI), EndoActivator (EA), XP-Endo Finisher (XPF), photon-induced photoacoustic streaming (PIPS), and shock wave enhanced emission photo-acoustic streaming (SWEEPS) systems on the penetration of irrigation solutions into dentinal tubules in teeth with calcium hydroxide (CH) applied and oval-shaped canals by confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). Ninety mandibular incisor teeth with oval-shaped canals were included in this study. After the preparation of teeth using Resiproc Blue R25 (VDW, Munich, Germany) canals were filled with a paste based on CH. The teeth were stored in 100% humidity at a temperature of 37°C for 14 days. According to the irrigation activation systems, the teeth were divided into six groups (n = 15); SNI, PUI, EA, XPF, PIPS, and SWEEPS. In each group, 3 irrigation/activation cycles of 20 s of irrigation and 20 s of activation were performed with the relevant activation method. The root canals were filled with fluorescein sodium (Sigma, Alldrich Co., St. Louis, MO, USA) and activated with the relevant activation method for 30 s. Specimens were sectioned horizontally to 1 ± 0.1 mm at 2, 5, and 8 mm from the apex and then examined under the CLSM. Maximum penetration depth, maximum penetration area and penetration percentage were measured by using Image J software. Data were analyzed using a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and posthoc Tukey tests (p = .05). No difference was found between the activation systems in terms of maximum penetration depth and maximum penetration area of irrigation solutions in the apical section (p > .05). The penetration percentage of irrigation solutions was higher in PUI and PIPS compared with EA and XPF at the apical section (p < .05). No difference was found between SNI, PUI, PIPS, and SWEEPS in terms of the penetration percentage of irrigation solutions in all sections (p > .05). The penetration percentage of irrigation solutions was higher in the middle and coronal sections compared to the apical section in EA and XPF (p < .05). Tubule penetration of irrigation solutions in SNI was similar between sections. The Tubule penetration area of irrigation solutions in PUI, EA, XPF, PIPS, and SWEEPS was lower in the apical section than in the middle and coronal sections. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: The tubule penetration depth and area of the irrigation solutions were similar between the activation systems tested in the apical sections. The Tubule penetration area of irrigation solutions in middle and coronal sections was higher in PUI and PIPS than in SNI.

Investigation of volatile compounds of Liberica coffee beans fermented at varying degrees of roasting

Liberica coffee (Coffea liberica Bull ex Hiern) has gained worldwide popularity, because it has a unique taste and aroma, and it is able to adapt to peatlands and is more tolerant of disease. Previous studies suggested that fermentation with hydrolytic bacteria could improve flavors, mostly determined by volatile compounds by the roasting process. However, studies about the volatile compounds and their roles in the taste and aroma of this coffee are still limited. This study aimed to investigate volatile compounds from fermented Liberica coffee beans roasted at light roast (150-160°C, 2.2 Mbar, 12 mins); medium roast (175-185°C, 2.2 Mbar, 7.30 mins); and dark roast (200-220°C, 2.2 Mbar, 10 mins). Samples were collected from various fermentation times 0, 4, 8, and 12 hrs and dried. Green beans with a moisture content of 12% were roasted in 3 roast stages. In this work, the extraction of volatile coffee compounds was performed using solid phase microextraction (SPME) and subsequently analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). To determine the significance of fermentation time and degree of coffee roasting in the area, a two-way univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used, followed by a Tukey's honest significant difference (HSD) test with a statistical significance level of p&lt;0.05. The results showed that a total of 59 of the 130 volatile compounds had a significant difference at different roasting degrees to the area of compounds with a statistical significance level of p&lt;0.05. Those compounds consisted of 5 aldehydes, 18 furans, 4 ketones, 9 phenols, 13 pyrazines, 5 pyridines and 5 pyrroles.