Normal Distribution Of Data Research Articles

Bounded Multivariate Contaminated Normal Mixture Model with an Application in Skin Cancer Detection

Introduction: In real-world datasets, outliers are a common occurrence that can have a significant impact on the accuracy and reliability of statistical analyses. Detecting these outliers and developing robust models to handle their presence is a crucial challenge in data analysis. For instance, natural images may have complex distributions of values due to environmental factors like noise and illumination, resulting in objects with overlapping regions and non-trivial contours that cannot be accurately described by Gaussian mixture models. In many real life applications, observed data always fall in bounded support regions. This leads to the idea of bounded support mixture models. Motivated by the aforementioned observations, we introduce a bounded multivariate cntaminated normal distribution for fitting data with non-Gaussian distributions, asymmetry, and bounded support which makes finite mixture models more robust to fitting, since rare observations are given less importance in calculations. Methods: A family of finite mixtures of bounded multivariate contaminated normal distributions is introduced. The model is well-suited for computer vision and pattern recognition problems due to its heavily-tailed and bounded nature, providing flexibility in modeling data in the presence of outliers. A feasible expectation- maximization algorithm is developed to compute the maximum likelihood estimates of the model parameters using a selection mechanism. Results: The proposed methodology is validated by conducting experiments on both simulated data and two real natural skin cancer images. We estimate the parameters by the proposed expectation-maximization algorithm. The obtained results shown that the proposed model has successfully enhanced accuracy in segmenting skin lesions. Conclusion: The reliable model-based clustering using finite mixtures of bounded multivariate contaminated normal distributions is introduced. An expectation-maximization algorithm was created to estimate parameters, with closed-form expressions utilized at the E-step. Practical tests on images for skin cancer detection showed enhanced accuracy in delineating skin lesions.

Joint Modelling of Longitudinal Measurements and Time-to-Event Outcomes With a Cure Fraction Using Functional Principal Component Analysis.

In studying the association between clinical measurements and time-to-event outcomes within a cure model, utilizing repeated observations rather than solely baseline values may lead to more accurate estimation. However, there are two main challenges in this context. First, longitudinal measurements are usually observed at discrete time points and second, for diseases that respond well to treatment, a high censoring proportion may occur by the end of the trial. In this article, we propose a joint modelling approach to simultaneously study the longitudinal observations and time-to-event outcome with an assumed cure fraction. We employ the functional principal components analysis (FPCA) to model the longitudinal data, offering flexibility by not assuming a specific form for the longitudinal curve. We used a Cox's proportional hazards mixture cure model to study the survival outcome. To investigate the longitudinal binary observations, we adopt a quasi-likelihood method which builds pseudo normal distribution for the binary data and use the E-M algorithm to estimate the parameters. The tuning parameters are selected using the Akaike information criterion. Our proposed method is evaluated through extensive simulation studies and applied to a clinical trial data to study the relationship between the longitudinal prostate specific antigen (PSA) measurements and overall survival in men with metastatic prostate cancer.

Predictors of mortality at 3 months in patients with skull base tumor resections in a low-income setting.

Globally, skull base tumors are among the most challenging tumors to treat and are known for their significant morbidity and mortality. Hence, this study aimed to identify robust associated factors that contribute to mortality of patients following surgical resection for a variety of skull base tumors at the 3-month follow-up period. This in turn helps devise an evidence-based meticulous treatment strategy and baseline input for quality improvement work. A retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing skull base tumor resection was conducted at two large-volume neurosurgery centers in Ethiopia. The categorical variables were expressed in frequencies and percentages. Normal distribution of continuous data was checked by histogram and the Shapiro-Wilk test. Median with interquartile range (IQR) was calculated for skewed data, while mean with standard deviation (SD) was used for normally distributed data. Odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) were used to express the result of univariate and multivariate binary logistic analyses, respectively. A p-value <0.005 was considered statistically significant at 95% confidence interval (CI). The study involved 266 patients. Of this, women accounted for 63.5% of patients. The median age of patients was 37 (±IQR = 17) years while the median size of the tumor in this study was 4.9 (±IQR 1.5) cm. The mean duration of symptoms at time of presentation was 17.3 (±SD = 11.1) months. Meningioma, pituitary adenoma, and craniopharyngioma contributed to 68.4%, 19.2%, and 9% of the skull-based tumors, respectively. Mortality following skull base tumor resection was 21.1%. On multivariable binary logistic regression analysis, intraoperative iatrogenic vascular insult (AOR = 28.76, 95% CI: 6.12-135.08, p = 0.000), intraventricular hemorrhage (AOR = 6.32, 95% CI: 1.19-33.63, p = 0.031), hospital-associated infection (AOR = 6.96, 95% CI: 2.04-23.67, p = 0.002), and extubation time exceeding 24 h (AOR = 12.89, 95% CI: 4.89-40.34, p = 0.000) were statistically significant with 3-month mortality. Mortality from skull base tumor resection remains high in our setting. Holistic pre-operative surgical planning, meticulous intraoperative execution of procedures, and post-operative dedicated follow-up of patients in a neurointensive care unit alongside quality improvement works on identified risks of mortality are strongly recommended to improve patient outcomes. The urgent need for setup improvement and further training of neurosurgeons is also underscored.

Layanan Konseling Kelompok : Penerapan Teknik Relaksasi Otot Progresif untuk Mengatasi Stress Belajar Siswa SLTP

The purpose of this research is to (1) provide an overview of how progressive muscle relaxation techniques and group counseling services affect student learning stress, (2) provide an overview of students' learning stress levels both before and after progressive muscle relaxation technique treatment, and (3) determine How progressive muscle relaxation techniques affect student learning stress. This type of quantitative research, pre-experimental with a one group pretest-posttest design approach, consisting of one treatment group. The research sample was 15 class VIII Tahfidz students who were identified as experiencing learning stress. Data collection was obtained using observation and the student learning stress scale, then analyzed using the Shapiro - Wilk test analysis which is used to test the normality of data distribution in a sample, especially in small to medium samples. The results showed that (1) students used the progressive muscle relaxation technique for learning stress in accordance with procedures that had been designed with several implementation stages, (2) the level of student learning stress before using the progressive muscle relaxation technique was high, and the level of student learning stress after using it Progressive muscle relaxation technique is low, and (3) Progressive muscle relaxation technique has the effect of helping students reduce learning stress. The results of this study indicate that the application of progressive muscle relaxation techniques can significantly reduce students' learning stress levels, providing empirical evidence that group counseling interventions are effective in improving students' psychological well-being.

Glycaemic Response to Acute Aerobic and Anaerobic Exercise Performed in the Morning or Afternoon in Healthy Subjects: A Crossover Trial.

The regular practice of physical activity is considered a health promoter and appears to be one of the main contributors to the prevention of chronic diseases. However, the potential effects of exercise on health depending on the time of day at which it is performed have not yet been fully elucidated. To evaluate the effect of physical exercise (aerobic or anaerobic) and chronobiology (morning or afternoon) on the glycemic metabolism of healthy subjects. Healthy subjects participated in aerobic or anaerobic physical exercise sessions, either in the morning or in the afternoon. Blood was drawn from the subjects before, at the end of the exercise and 2 hours after the end of the exercise. Glycemic parameters were analyzed at these time points. A general linear model test was performed after verifying the normal distribution of the raw data (as assessed by the Shapiro-Wilk test) or after a logarithmic/square root transformation, considering aerobic or anaerobic exercise and morning or afternoon exercise as independent variables. Twenty-three subjects (14 women and 9 men) were included in the study. The rate of change in glucose levels was significantly higher at the end of anaerobic exercise compared to aerobic exercise (1.19 ± 0.04 vs. 0.98 ± 0.02, respectively), with a more pronounced decrease in insulin and C-peptide levels following aerobic exercise. In addition, the increase of glucose was higher after the exercise in the morning compared with the afternoon (1.14 ± 0.03 vs. 1.03 ± 0.03, respectively). The type of exercise and chronobiology influence short-term glucose metabolism.

Anomaly Detection Using Complete Cycle Consistent Generative Adversarial Network.

This research presents a robust adversarial method for anomaly detection in real-world scenarios, leveraging the power of generative adversarial neural networks (GANs) through cycle consistency in reconstruction error. Traditional approaches often falter due to high variance in class-wise accuracy, rendering them ineffective across different anomaly types. Our proposed model addresses these challenges by introducing an innovative flow of information in the training procedure and integrating it as a new discriminator into the framework, thereby optimizing the training dynamics. Furthermore, it employs a supplementary distribution in the input space to steer reconstructions toward the normal data distribution. This adjustment distinctly isolates anomalous instances and enhances detection precision. Also, two unique anomaly scoring mechanisms were developed to augment detection capabilities. Comprehensive evaluations on six varied datasets have confirmed that our model outperforms one-class anomaly detection benchmarks. The implementation is openly accessible to the academic community, available on Github.a.

The Effect of Using Digital Flashcards on English Vocabulary Mastery at Seventh Grade Students of SMPN 17 Mataram

This study aimed to determine whether there is a significant effect of using digital flashcards vocabulary mastery in grade VII students of SMPN 17 Mataram. Researchers conducted quantitative research using a quasi-experimental method with a quasi-experimental design that is nonequivalent to a control group design. The subjects of this study were 60 seventh-grade students in Smpn 17 Mataram with class VIIA (experimental class) and VIIE (control class). Data collection was carried out using vocabulary tests, namely pretest and posttest. The Test consists of 25 questions. In using digital flashcards, the average value of the pretest in the experimental class is 55.40 while the average value of the posttest is 76.27. While students who do not use the media slightly increased from 53.00 on the pre-test to 60.73 on the post-test. The normality test used is the Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test shows the normal distribution of data. Based on data analysis using independent sample t-test on SPSS version 26. The significance test result is 0.001 which is smaller than the significance level of 0.05. It can be concluded that students who are taught by using digital flashcards as a medium of teaching materials are better than students who do not use any media.

An Analysis of the Health Literacy Levels of Students in A Public University's Faculty of Health Sciences

Aim: This study aimed to assess the health literacy levels of students in the Faculty of Health Sciences at a public university and to investigate the relationships and differences between participants' sociodemographic characteristics and their health literacy levels. Methods: The study employed a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional, and correlational research design. Data were gathered through face-to-face surveys, utilizing a socio-demographic data form and the THLS-32 scale. Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS 22.00. Descriptive statistics, including frequency distributions, percentages, standard deviations, and arithmetic means, were calculated. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to evaluate the normality of data distribution, which revealed a non-normal distribution. As a result, non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U Test and Kruskal-Wallis H Test) were applied. Correlation analyses were performed using Spearman’s Rho coefficient, and statistical significance was evaluated at a 95% confidence interval with a 5% margin of error. Results: The findings indicated that 66.3% of participants exhibited sufficient or excellent health literacy levels. Female students had significantly higher TS-AI perceptions than male students. Health Management (HM) students demonstrated higher health literacy levels compared to Emergency Aid and Disaster Management (EADM) students. The highest literacy levels were observed among final-year students, and students with social security had higher TS perceptions than those without. Conclusion: The study concluded that the health literacy levels of students in the Faculty of Health Sciences were generally high, with significant differences based on gender, department, academic year, and social security status. These findings suggest a need for targeted strategies to improve health literacy, particularly among students in certain departments and those without social security

Development of Augmented Reality-Based Digital Learning Media for Grade V Elementary School on the Topic of Food Chains

This research focuses on developing Augmented Reality (AR)-based digital learning media to enhance the learning outcomes. The research follows the Research and Development (R&amp;D) model with the ADDIE development approach, aiming to create learning media that can improve students' learning outcomes in the topic of food chains. The material validation scored 89.5, while the media validation scored 87.5, indicating that the media is deemed suitable for use. The normality test on a large scale yielded results of 0.99 and 0.21, signifying normal data distribution. Furthermore, the t-test results on a small scale were 0.00, and the N-Gain test on a large scale scored 71%. The normality test on a small scale yielded results of 0.55 and 0.42, indicating normal data distribution. The t-test on a small scale resulted in 0.01, and the N-Gain test on a small scale scored 84%, categorizing the effectiveness of Augmented Reality-based digital learning media on the topic of food chains as moderate. Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that an effective AR-based digital learning media on the topic of food chains has been successfully created to enhance the learning outcomes of fifth-grade students at Kasepuhan 02 Elementary School in Batang.

Effectiveness of Health Education with Booklet and Poster Method on Improving Knowledge and Attitude About 1000 HPK Among Primigravida Mothers in North Tapanuli District

&lt;div&gt;&lt;table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="left"&gt;&lt;tbody&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td align="left" valign="top"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;One of the efforts to change the knowledge and attitude of mothers towards 1000 HPK is to provide health education. Media is very essential in the successful delivery of messages. In choosing a good media, it is very helpful to successfully convey the message, otherwise the media that is not appropriate can result in the delivery of a bad message. One of the media used is booklet and poster media. The purpose of this study was to analyse the Effectiveness of Health Education with Booklet Method and Poster Method on Improving Knowledge and Attitude of Primigravida Mothers about 1000 HPK in North Tapanuli Regency in 2024. The research used is quantitative with a Quasi Experiment approach using a pre test and post test nonequivalent control group approach. Data analysis method is univariate analysis aimed at obtaining the frequency distribution of knowledge and attitudes studied and presented with a percentage. Bivariate data analysis aims to see the effectiveness of the independent variable with the dependent variable. Due to the normal distribution of data in this Peneltian, the research analysis used the independent Sample T Test which aims to see the difference between the booklet method and the poster method. Sampling in this study with Purposive Sampling technique as many as 16 samples on the booklet method and 16 samples on the poster method. The study used the T test and obtained p value for knowledge of 0.729 and for attitudes of 0.381 which means that the booklet method and poster are equally effective of primigravida about 1000 HPK at Siborong-borong, Pangaribuan, Sipahutar and &lt;/em&gt; &lt;em&gt;Siatas Barita Community Health Centre.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt; &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;/tbody&gt;&lt;/table&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Keyword:&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt; Booklet, Poster, Knowledge, Attitude, 1000 HPK&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;

Comparison of 18F-FDG and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT in surgically treated lung carcinoid tumors

Aims: This study aims to compare the efficacy of FDG-18 PET/CT and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT imaging techniques in patients with lung carcinoid tumors, identifying the most appropriate preoperative nuclear medicine technique for diagnosis and staging. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 123 patients who underwent surgery for lung carcinoid tumors at our center between 2009 and 2021. All of the patients were scanned with FDG-18 PET/CT before surgery. In addition to FDG-18 PET/CT, 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT scanning was performed in 28 patients: 17 in the preoperative and 11 in the postoperative period. Demographic data, mean higher maximal standard uptake (SUVmax) values of primary mass, lymph nodes and extrathoracic foci, pathologic subtype, and type of surgery were recorded. Compliance with normal distribution for numerical data was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was employed for groups meeting normal distribution to compare continuous numerical variables. The Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used when normal distribution assumptions were unsatisfied. Results: The mean SUVmax value in 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT was significantly higher than FDG-18 PET/CT in patients with a lung carcinoid tumor (20 vs 4.4). For 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT scan, typical carcinoids had higher mean SUVmax value than atypical carcinoids (26 and 5.6 respectively), and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.002). For that FDG18 PET/CT, on the contrary, the mean SUVmax value was higher in atypical carcinoids than typical carcinoids (5.4 and 3.8, respectively), and the difference was not significant (p=0.126) Conclusion: The SUVmax values from 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT and FDG-18 PET/CT in lung carcinoid tumors vary by tumor subtype. 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT demonstrates higher SUVmax values in typical carcinoid tumors, indicating its superiority over FDG-18 PET/CT for this subtype. Although 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT also shows elevated SUVmax in atypical carcinoid tumors, the difference compared to FDG-18 PET/CT does not reach statistical significance.

The Impact of the Project-Based Learning (PjBL) Model Assisted by Liveworksheet Media on Critical Thinking Skills of Vocational High School Students

This study investigates the effectiveness of the Project-Based Learning (PjBL) model integrated with Liveworksheet media in enhancing the critical thinking skills of vocational high school students. Employing a true experimental design with a pretest- posttest control group approach, the research compared two groups: the experimental group using PjBL with Liveworksheet and the control group receiving conventional instruction. Data collected from pretest and posttest assessments revealed that the experimental group demonstrated a significant improvement in critical thinking skills, with an average posttest score of 81, compared to 64 in the control group. The pretest scores showed no significant differences between the groups, indicating a similar starting point. Post-intervention results were analyzed using statistical tests, confirming the normal distribution and equal variances of data. The hypothesis testing further validated a substantial difference in critical thinking skills, favoring the PjBL model with Liveworksheet media. These results underscore the effectiveness of this innovative teaching approach in fostering critical thinking skills among vocational students

Evaluating the effectiveness of quantitative pupillometry in assessing dynamic aerobic training intensity

Sports injuries often arise from improper scheduling of exercise loads, and timely assessment of these loads is essential for minimizing injury risk. This article investigates the validity of using changes in pupillary light reflex (PLR) during dynamic aerobic training as a novel approach to evaluating exercise load. Dynamic aerobic training was conducted on a power bicycle for 15 min. With a 3-minute interval as the demarcation line, PLR measurement was performed before training and heart rate was recorded throughout the process. The Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale invented by Borg was used for scoring before training and after training. The normal distribution of data was confirmed through the Shapiro-Wilk test. Pearson correlation analysis was used to quantify the correlation between variables. The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under the curve (AUC) analysis were used to determine the indicators of exercise load. The optimal threshold of the indicators was calculated through the Youden index to evaluate sensitivity and specificity. Thirty male second-tier athletes with a mean age of 23.66 ± 2.21 years, a mean height of 175.3 ± 6.5 cm, and a mean weight of 68.99 ± 10.35 kg participated in this study. Based on the RPE scale results, it was confirmed that the 15-minute dynamic aerobic exercise successfully elicited varying levels of perceived exertion among the athletes. The findings of this study indicate significant changes in PLR and heart rate (HR) with increasing exercise duration and external load. There were strong correlations between RPE and maximum constriction velocity (MCV) (|r| = 0.8309, p < 0.001, negative correlation), maximum diameter (INIT) (r = 0.7641, p < 0.001, positive correlation), time to reach 75% recovery (T75) (|r| = 0.7289, p < 0.001, negative correlation), and HR (r = 0.8170, p < 0.001, positive correlation). Additionally, the results suggest that MCV is the most significant potential indicator for detecting internal load, exhibiting high specificity and sensitivity (AUC = 0.8509, p < 0.001). Further analysis using the Youden index identified 5.07 mm/s as the optimal cutoff value for MCV, indicating that when MCV ≤ 5.07 mm/s, the athletes’ internal load has reached an “Intense” state. PLR may be a potential indicator for assessing internal load Further investigation could involve developing a non-invasive exercise load detection system based on pupillary variable indicators, providing a valuable new approach for accurately measuring exercise load.

Effect of body mass index on quadriceps angle and tibial torsion in school-aged children

BackgroundThe prevalence of excessive body mass (BMI) is increasing in pediatric population. Accordingly, the number of musculoskeletal problems in this population is also likely to increase. The quadriceps angle (Q-angle) is a clinical measure used to measure knee alignment in relation to the hip, femur, and tibia, as well as evaluating alignment of the patella. Tibial torsion (T.T) is an important morphological feature of human tibia. The aim of that study was to study the relationship between the Q-angle and TT in children 8 to 12 years old, the effect of BMI on Q-angle and T.T, and the difference in Q-angle and TT between dominant and non-dominant side.Results“Seventy-five children from primary schools” were enrolled in the study and allocated into 3 groups (25 subjects in each group), according to BMI: group I (normal weight = 25), group II (overweight = 25), and group III (obese = 25). The mean value of age of groups I, II, and III was 10.35 ± 1, 10.74 ± 1.2, and 10.17 ± 1.18 years respectively; the mean value of weight was 29.88 ± 3.94, 43.68 ± 6.55, and 50.06 ± 10.44 kg respectively; the mean value of height was 135.28 ± 7.63, 143.2 ± 8.85, and 140.72 ± 9.3 cm respectively; and the mean value of BMI was 16.22 ± 1, 21.18 ± 1.4, and 25.17 ± 2.67 kg/m2. The number (%) of boys in groups I, II, and III was 15 (60%), 18 (72%), and 17 (68%) respectively and of girls was 10 (40%), 7 (28%), and 8 (32%) respectively.The significant values were Q-angle and TT. Data were expressed as mean ± SD. ANOVA was used to compare between subjects’ characteristics of the groups. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used for testing normality of data distribution. One-way MANOVA was used to compare parametric variables (Q-angle and TT) between the two groups. Compared with normal weight children, there was statistically significant increase in Q-angle and TT angle in overweight and obese children.ConclusionAny change in BMI would eventually lead to change in both Q-angle and TT angle. The greater the BMI values, the greater the values of Q-angle and TT angle.

On the efficiency of paired ranked set sampling for estimating the population mean in the presence of non-response

Non-response is a common problem faced by surveyors while conducting surveys; this introduces a potential bias in the estimates of population parameters. One method of dealing with non-response is subsampling of the non-respondents, which increases precision in estimates by increasing the sample size. This study proposes an unbiased mean estimator in the presence of non-response using the Paired Ranked Set Sampling (PRSS) technique. The proposed estimator is based on a suggested strategy for adapting the subsampled units into the initial sample. Variance of the proposed estimator is derived, and conditions are provided for which the proposed estimator performs better than existing estimators. We conduct a simulation study to evaluate the precision of the proposed estimator in comparison with other existing estimators for estimating the population mean. In simulation, we assume populations based on normal distribution, exponential distribution, and real-life data on abalone. Simulation results show that the proposed mean estimator exhibits a higher probability of precisely estimating the finite population mean.

Determination of Maxillary and Mandibular Arch Width in Angle’s Class I Patients

Introduction: The transverse dimension plays a key role in smile. Maintaining the pretreatment arch form is a key to obtaining stable results. Objectives: The main aim of this study was to determine mean intercanine arch width and mean intermolar arch width in Angle’s class I patients. Methods: Seventy-six pretreatment casts were obtained from the records of patients who sought orthodontic treatment in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. Four parameters were used in this study namely; intercanine arch width and intermolar arch width in maxilla and mandible. Linear measurements were carried out with digital caliper. Kappa test was done for intra-observer reliability. Shapiro-Wilk test was done to determine the normal distribution of data. The Pearson Correlation test was done to assess the correlation between intercanine and intermolar arch width in maxilla and mandible. The independent t-test was used to compare between intercanine and intermolar arch width with male and female. Results: Mean intercanine arch width in maxilla and mandible were 35.41±1.47 mm and 26.85±1.59 mm respectively. Mean intermolar arch width in maxilla and mandible were 53.82±2.82 mm and 51.71±2.60 mm respectively. Statistically significant difference was found between intercanine and intermolar arch width in maxilla and mandible between male and female. The intercanine and intermolar arch width in maxilla and mandible has significantly low correlation. Conclusions: Intercanine and intermolar arch width in male and female were statistically significant and male has lager intercanine and intermolar arch width than female.

The effect of erector spinae plane block on postoperative pain and quality of recovery in patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) is the preferred surgical procedure for treating renal stones larger than 2 cm. Patients may experience significant pain in the postoperative period due to factors such as the catheter entry site and tension in the renal capsule. Erector Spinae Plane (ESP) block provides perioperative muscle relaxation and reduces analgesic use. In this study, we investigated the effect of ESP block on postoperative pain scale and quality of recovery in patients undergoing PNL. The study was conducted with a total of 96 patients, with 45 patients receiving the ESP block and 51 patients not receiving the ESP block. Following the surgery, the visual pain scale (VAS) was completed at 0, 2, 6, 12, and 24 h, and the Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) scale along with the willingness scale were completed at the 24-hour mark. The normal distribution of data was evaluated with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, histogram, and skewness-kurtosis coefficients. For comparing paired groups, the Student’s T-test was used for normally distributed variables, while the Mann-Whitney U test was used for parameters that did not have a normal distribution. The comparison of postoperative pain, as measured by VAS scores between the groups, revealed statistically significantly lower scores in the ESP block group at 0, 2, 6, 12, and 24 h (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.008, p = 0.010, respectively). Our study results indicated that patients who received the ESP block experienced reduced pain levels and had higher QoR-15 scores compared to those who did not receive the ESP block.

Sulfur dioxide in white sugar: Source of income, reference values

Sulfur dioxide is one of the classic essential technological processing aids used in modern technology for the production of white beet sugar. The technological and safe use of sulfites (sulfur dioxide, sodium sulfite and sodium hydrosulfite) in the formation of the food system of the sugar production process flow has been substantiated, and their functional effect is shown. It has been established that the change in the content of sulfur dioxide in white sugar under the influence of an antifoam, antiscale agent and decolorant in the doses used in massecuite occurred in accordance with the principle of additivity. The presence of the additive property was confirmed by the maximum approximation of the algebraic sum of the effects of each agent, amounting to 5.6%, to the range of variation in the values of the sulfur dioxide content (5.9) at a significance level of p=0.05. The dependence of the sulfur dioxide content in white sugar in a range of 0 to 6.5 mg/kg on the influence of the decolorant and defoamer in a dose range of 100 to 200 and of 4 to 6 g/t of massecuite was established. It has been revealed that increasing the minimum optimal dose of the decolorant to the maximum leads to an increase in the content of sulfur dioxide in white sugar by 1.7 times. Confidence intervals for the general mean were calculated based on the assumption of normal data distribution and a significance level of p=0.05. The reference values for the sulfur dioxide content in white sugar of the four categories were 1.28–2.69 mg/kg, and the upper limit level with consideration for the confidence interval was 1.39–3.01 mg/kg. The established reference values can be used at sugar factories in the production control system, and also provide an evidence base for comparison and assessment of this indicator of the white sugar safety for industrial consumers.

Linking Thermal Conductivity to Equations of State Using the Residual Entropy Scaling Theory.

In recent years, the application of the residual entropy scaling (RES) method for modeling transport properties has become increasingly prominent. Based on Yang et al. (Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2021, 60, 13052) in modeling the thermal conductivity of refrigerants, we present here an RES model that extends Yang et al.'s approach to a wider range of pure fluids and their mixtures. All fluids available in the REFPROP 10.0 software, i.e., those with reference equations of state (EoS), were studied. A total of 71,554 experimental data of 125 pure fluids and 16,702 experimental data of 164 mixtures were collected from approximately 647 references, mainly based on the NIST ThermoData Engine (TDE) database 10.1. As a result, over 68.2% (corresponding to the standard deviation of a normal distribution) of the well-screened experimental data agree with the developed RES model within 3.1% and 4.6% for pure fluids and mixtures, respectively. Comparative analysis against the various models implemented in the REFPROP 10.0 (one of the state-of-the-art software packages for thermophysical property calculations) reveals that our RES model demonstrates analogous statistical agreement with experimental data yet with much fewer parameters. Regarding the average absolute value of the relative deviation (AARD) from experimental values to model predictions, the developed RES model shows a smaller or equal AARD for 74 pure fluids out of 125 and 76 mixtures out of 164. Besides, a detailed examination of the impact of the critical enhancement term on mixture calculations was conducted. To use our model easily, a software package written in Python is provided in the Supporting Information.

Nitrogen metabolism in blackmoiled cattle of Kuzbass

A research analysis of nitrogen metabolism in black-and-white cattle was carried out in the conditions of the Kuzbass region. Healthy animals at the age of 2nd lactation with a productivity level from 7300 to 10500 kg were selected for the experimental group. Laboratory studies were carried out at the Department of Veterinary Genetics and Biotechnology of the Novosibirsk State Agrarian University. Indicators of nitrogen metabolism in blood serum were assessed photometrically on a biochemical semi-automatic analyzer Photometer 5010 V5+. Reagent kits from Vector-Best and Olvex-Diagnosticum were used. When biometric data processing, standard descriptive statistics techniques and robust indicators were used. The Anderson-Darling test was used to assess the normality of data distribution. .When calculating correlation relationships, the Pearson coefficient was used. Calculations were performed in the “RStudio” programming environment. The obtained average values of nitrogen metabolism indicators were within the physiological norm. The strongest positive associations were observed between urea levels and uric acid, and urea and creatinine. No connection was found between other indicators of nitrogen metabolism. There were no differences in milk yield between cows with high and low levels of nitrogen metabolism. Graphs of the range of nitrogen content in black-and-white cows during lactation are presented. Calculations of reference indicators based on data from Kuzbass dairy cattle make it possible to more accurately assess the clinical condition of animals and timely detect deviations from established standard values. It is also necessary to take into account reference limits when monitoring the quality and completeness of cattle.