Friedman Test Research Articles

Analysis on dendritic deep learning model for AMR task

This study introduces a novel hybrid deep learning model featuring a dendritic layer for enhancing the performance of automatic modulation recognition (AMR). By replacing the fully connected layer, the proposed model demonstrates superior classification accuracy in AMR tasks. Comparative experiments with nine state-of-the-art deep learning models on the RadioML2016.10a dataset reveal its consistent superiority. Statistical analyses, including the Friedman test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test, confirm the significant advantage of the HDM-D model.

Hyperplane-Assisted Multi-objective Particle Swarm Optimization with Twofold Proportional Assignment Strategy

In the simultaneous optimization of multiple objectives, how to balance convergence promotion and diversity preservation in the evolutionary process is a key and challenging problem. In this research, a hyperplane-assisted multi-objective particle swarm optimization with a twofold proportional assignment strategy (tpahaMOPSO) is suggested to ameliorate the optimization performance of MOPSO. First, the external archive is maintained in combination with hyperplane-based convergence evaluation and shift-based density estimation to retain high-quality candidate solutions. Second, a twofold proportional assignment scheme is designed to search the surrounding region of candidate solutions with better potential to emphasize convergence and diversity, respectively. Third, the domination relationship and convergence difference are combined to select a more reasonable individual historical best and reduce the risk of particle aggregation. Finally, the proposed tpahaMOPSO was compared with ten representative and advanced multi-objective optimization algorithms on 22 widely used test functions with different characteristics. The simulation results present that the developed tpahaMOPSO got the best result in 11 benchmark functions for both IGD and HV criteria. Concurrently, the Friedman test was applied for ranking analysis and the proposed algorithm also obtained excellent statistical analysis results. The promising performance and strong competitiveness of the proposed tpahaMOPSO have been verified by different experimental studies.

Pilot Study on the Relationship Between Different Lower Limb Raising Velocities and Trunk Muscle Contraction in Active Straight Leg Raise

Background/Objectives: The active straight leg raise requires intricate coordination between the hip, knee, pelvis, and spine. Despite its complexity, limited research has explored the relationship between lower limb raising velocity and trunk muscle motor control during an active straight leg raise in healthy individuals. This study aimed to explore the potential effects of increased lower limb raising velocity on core muscle contractions during active straight leg raises. Methods: Six healthy adult men (mean age: 24.5 ± 2.5 years) participated in this study. Electromyography signals were recorded using surface electrodes placed on the rectus abdominis, external oblique, and internal oblique/transverse abdominis muscles. The participants performed active straight leg raises at three different velocities: 3 s, 2 s, and as fast as possible (max). The electromyography data were analyzed from 250 ms before to 1000 ms after movement initiation, with muscle activity expressed as a percentage of the maximal voluntary isometric contraction. Statistical analyses were conducted using non-parametric tests, including the Friedman test for overall differences, followed by pairwise Wilcoxon signed-rank tests with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons (p < 0.05). Results: During the 250 ms before movement initiation, the internal oblique/transverse abdominis, external oblique, and rectus abdominis muscles showed greater activity in the max condition compared to the 3 s and 2 s conditions (Friedman test, p < 0.05), but no significant differences were found in pairwise comparisons (Wilcoxon test, p > 0.05). Similarly, during the 500 ms after movement initiation, internal oblique/transverse abdominis activity was higher in the max condition, with no significant pairwise differences observed. Conclusions: Faster lower limb raising velocities during active straight leg raise may enhance core stability by activating anticipatory and sustained internal oblique/transverse abdominis, external oblique, and rectus abdominis activity on the raised limb side. Training to promote this activation could improve dynamic stability in rapid or asymmetric movements.

Implementation of Chernobyl disaster optimizer based feature selection approach to predict software defects

Background Software Defect Prediction (SDP) enables developers to investigate unscrambled faults in the inaugural parts of the software progression mechanism. However, SDP faces the threat of high dimensionality. Feature selection (FS) selects the finest features while carefully discarding others. Several meta-heuristic algorithms, like Genetic Algorithm, Particle Swarm Optimization, Differential Evolution, and Ant Colony Optimization, have been used to develop defect prediction models. However, these models have drawbacks like high cost, local optima trap, lower convergence rate, and higher parameter tuning. This study applies an innovative FS technique (FSCOA) rooted in Chernobyl Disaster Optimizer (CDO) technique. The proposed procedure intends to unwrap the best features for a prediction model while minimizing errors. Methods The proposed FSCOA investigated twelve public NASA software datasets from the PROMISE archive on Decision Tree, K-nearest neighbor, Naive Bayes, and Quantitative Discriminant Analysis classifiers. Furthermore, the accuracy of the recommended FSCOA method was correlated with existing FS techniques, like FSDE, FSPSO, FSACO, and FSGA. The statistical merit of the proposed measure was verified using Friedman and Holm tests. Results The experiment indicated that the proposed FSCOA approach bettered the accuracy in majority of the instances and achieved an average rank of 1.75 among other studied FS approaches while applying the Friedman test. Furthermore, the Holm test showed that the p-value was lower than or equivalent to the value of α/(A-i), except for the FSCOA and FSGA and FSCOA and FSACO models. Conclusion The results illustrated the supremacy of the prospective FSCOA procedure over extant FS techniques with higher accuracy in almost all cases due to its advantages like enhanced accuracy, the ability to deal with convoluted, high-magnitude datasets not grounded in local optima, and a faster convergence rate. These advantages empower the suggested FSCOA method to overcome the challenges of the other studied FS techniques.

Revising expectations

Abstract Research evidence predominantly based on studies with older learners suggests that Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) instruction yields significant language gains when exposure exceeds 300 hours (Muñoz, 2015). However, the impact of high-intensity CLIL on young learners’ oral proficiency remains underexplored. This study examined fluency, pronunciation, and productive vocabulary measures in young L1-Spanish learners (mean age = 10.46) across four groups: non-CLIL (n = 23), low-CLIL (n = 21), high-CLIL (n = 32), and a younger high-CLIL group (n = 32; mean age = 9.84) with 0, 707, 2473, and 2164 CLIL hours, respectively. Socioeconomic status and extramural exposure were controlled. Intraclass correlations, Kruskal-Wallis, post-hoc, and Friedman tests were conducted. Significant advantages were limited to both high-CLIL groups over the non-CLIL group at the vocabulary level, providing policymakers with empirical evidence about the markedly different outcomes of high, and low-CLIL programmes in relation to oral gains with young learners.

The Role of Visual Information Quantity in Fine Motor Performance

Background/Objectives: Fine motor movements are essential for daily activities, such as handwriting, and rely heavily on visual information to enhance motor complexity and minimize errors. Tracing tasks provide an ecological method for studying these movements and investigating sensorimotor processes. To date, our understanding of the influence of different quantities of visual information on fine motor control remains incomplete. Our study examined how variations in the amount of visual feedback affect motor performance during handwriting tasks using a graphic pen tablet projecting on a monitor. Methods: Thirty-seven right-handed young adults (20 to 35 years) performed dot-to-dot triangle tracing tasks under nine experimental conditions with varying quantities of visual cues. The conditions and triangle shape rotations were randomized to avoid motor training or learning effects. Motor performance metrics, including absolute error, time of execution, speed, smoothness, and pressure, were analyzed. Results: As visual information increased, absolute error (from 6.64 mm to 2.82 mm), speed (from 99.28 mm/s to 57.19 mm/s), and smoothness (from 4.17 mm2/s6 to 0.80 mm2/s6) decreased, while time of execution increased (from 12.68 s to 20.85 s), reflecting a trade-off between accuracy and speed. Pressure remained constant across conditions (from 70.35 a.u. to 74.39). Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated a moderate to strong correlation between absolute error and time of execution across conditions. The Friedman test showed significant effects of experimental conditions on all motor performance metrics except for pressure, with Kendall’s W values indicating a moderate to strong effect size. Conclusion: These findings deepen our understanding of sensorimotor integration processes and could potentially have implications for optimizing motor skills acquisition and training and developing effective rehabilitation strategies.

Comparison of apparent diffusion coefficients of resectable mid‑high rectal adenocarcinoma and distal paracancerous tissue.

Paracancerous tissues actively communicate with the tumor and undergo molecular alterations associated with tumorigenesis. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) can help distinguish between rectal adenocarcinoma (RA), tumor-adjacent and tumor-distant tissues. Preoperative determining optimal distal resection margin (DRM) is crucial for formulating surgical options. The present study aimed to assess ADC differences between RA and 1 cm-layer distal paracancerous tissues, providing a potential reference basis for preoperatively determining optimal DRM. A total of 110 consecutive patients with mid-high RA undergoing preoperative diffusion-weighted imaging were included. ADCs of RA and distal paracancerous tissues located ~1, 2 and 3 cm from the tumor margin (defined as D1, D2 and D3, respectively) were measured using five b-value pairs (0 and 50; 0 and 100; 0 and 800; 0 and 1,000; and 0 and 1,500 sec/mm2). Differences in ADCs between RA, D1, D2 and D3 were compared using the Friedman test with a post hoc Bonferroni correction. Variables that demonstrated statistical differences in multiple pairwise comparisons underwent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to assess diagnostic performance of ADCs in distinguishing between tissues. ADC at all b-value pairs demonstrated satisfactory performance in distinguishing RA from D1, D2 and D3 [areas under the ROC curves (AUCs), 0.838 to 0.996)]. When the maximum b-value was ≥800 sec/mm2, the ADC of D1 was significantly lower compared with those of D2 and D3 (P<0.001). ADC exhibited an optimal performance in differentiating D1 from D2 at b-values of 0 and 800 sec/mm2, and D1 from D3 at b-values of 0 and 1,000 sec/mm2 (AUCs: 0.652 and 0.692, respectively). However, ADCs of D2 and D3 demonstrated no differences at all b-value pairs (all P>0.05). In conclusion, ADC may distinguish RA from D1, D2 and D3, and D1 from D2/D3, but cannot distinguish between D2 and D3.

Accuracy of new intraocular lens calculation formulas in primary angle closure glaucoma patients who underwent phacoemulsification combined with goniosynechialysis.

This study aims to evaluate the accuracy of intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation formulas-including Kane, Emmetropia Verifying Optical (EVO) 2.0, SRK/T, Hoffer Q, Haigis standard, Haigis optimized, Holladay 1, Olsen, Barrett Universal II-in primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) eyes undergoing cataract surgery combined with goniosynechialysis (GSL). Preoperative biometric data were obtained using the OA-2000. The preoperative anterior chamber depth (ACD) was categorized into two subgroups: < 2.50mm and 2.50 to 3.50mm. The predictive accuracy of the formulas was assessed using the mean prediction error (PE), mean absolute error (MAE), median absolute error (MedAE), and proportions of eyes within ± 0.25D, ± 0.50D, ± 0.75D, and ± 1.00D. Differences in absolute error among the various formulas were examined utilizing the Friedman test. In the case of a significant result, post hoc analysis was conducted employing the Wilcoxon test with Bonferroni correction. A total of 141 eyes of 141 PACG patients were included in the analysis. The standard deviations of the PE, ranked from lowest to highest, were as follows: Holladay 1 (0.67), Kane (0.69), EVO 2.0 (0.71), SRK/T (0.71), Hoffer Q (0.72), Haigis standard (0.74), Haigis optimized (0.76), Olsen (0.77), Barrett Universal II (0.79). Statistically significant differences in absolute refractive errors among the formulas were observed (P = 0.001). Kane formula demonstrated the lowest MedAE (0.34), and the highest percentages of eyes within ± 0.25D (35.46%) and ± 1.00D (89.36%), while EVO 2.0 had the highest percentages within ± 0.50D (65.25%). In the ACD < 2.50mm subgroup, MedAE differed significantly among formulas (P = 0.001). The Holladay 1 formula had the lowest MedAE (0.33), followed by Kane (0.34), EVO 2.0 (0.37). In the 2.50 ≤ ACD < 3.50mm subgroup, refractive errors showed no statistically significant differences. Additionally, the percentages within ± 0.25D, ± 0.50D, ± 0.75D, and ± 1.00D demonstrated no significant differences in both subgroups (all P > 0.05). Among the nine formulas, Kane, Holladay 1, and EVO 2.0 demonstrated superior refractive outcomes in PACG eyes.

INVESTIGATING THE IMPACT OF SELF-EFFICACY AND RESILIENCE ON TEACHERS IN THE UAE

Purpose: This research aimed to explore the connection between self-efficacy and resilience among teachers. Method: A reliability assessment was performed on an 18-item self-efficacy scale and a 15-item resilience scale, yielding Cronbach's alpha values of 0.825 and 0.860, respectively. Responses were gathered using a structured questionnaire from teachers in the northern UAE region. The study employed a descriptive approach to evaluate the levels of self-efficacy and resilience among the participants. To identify potential relationships between the variables, correlation analysis, Friedman test, and Kruskal-Wallis test were utilized. Results: The analysis revealed a positive association between higher levels of self-efficacy and resilience in teachers. As predicted, there was a significant relationship between teachers' self-efficacy and their resilience. Conclusion: This research highlights a robust link between self-efficacy and resilience in teachers. The findings underscore the importance of developing comprehensive training programs to boost both self-efficacy and resilience among educators.

The effect of adding nilem fish meat flour (Osteochilus vittatus) on the organoleptic preference level of Kembang Goyang

Fish flour can be used for both substitution and partial fortification in raw materials such as wheat flour. The addition of nilem fish flour to kembang goyang can affect preference levels due to the resulting variations. This research aims to determine the appropriate level of adding nilem fish flour in making kembang goyang to obtain the most preferred product. This research is experimental research with data analysis using the Friedman test and Bayes test. The addition of nilem fish flour did not significantly affect the appearance and texture of kembang goyang in terms of organoleptic preference level. However, this affects the aroma and taste, where the higher the concentration of nilem fish flour added, the stronger the aroma and taste of kembang goyang.Keywords: Fortification; Kembang Goyang; Nilem Fish Meat Flour

Potentiation of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy with potassium iodide and methylene blue: targeting oral biofilm viability.

The study aimed to assess the impact of combining potassium iodide (KI) with methylene blue (MB) in antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) within an oral biofilm formed in situ. A single-phase, 14days in situ study involved 21 volunteers, who wore a palatal appliance with 8 bovine dentin slabs. These slabs were exposed to a 20% sucrose solution 8 times a day, simulating a high cariogenic challenge. Following the intraoral phase, the biofilms formed on the slabs were randomly assigned to the treatments: C (0.9% NaCl); CHX (0.2% chlorhexidine); KI (75mM KI); MBKI (0.005% MB + 75mM KI); L (0.9% NaCl + red laser 660nm, 18J, 180s); LMB (0.005% MB + laser); LKI (75mM KI + laser); LMBKI (0.005% MB + 75mM KI + laser). The treated biofilms were collected, diluted, and incubated to assess cell viability (CFU/mL) for total microorganisms, total lactobacilli, total streptococci, and mutans streptococci. Data were subjected to analysis using the Friedman test, followed by the Dunn test (α = 0.05). LMBKI group exhibited a noteworthy decrease in the viability of all microorganisms in comparison to groups C, KI, MBKI, MB, L, LMB, and LKI (p < 0.0001), and demonstrated a comparable reduction to the CHX group (p > 0.99). The combination of KI with MB in aPDT may be advocated as a non-invasive technique for diminishing the viability of polymicrobial oral biofilms, thereby aiding in the management of dental diseases.

Relationship between characteristics of segmental phase angles and walking ability in patients with hemiplegia after stroke and traumatic brain injury in a convalescent rehabilitation ward.

This study determined the characteristics of the phase angles (PhAs) of the trunk, affected limb, and unaffected limb at admission and their relationship with walking ability at discharge in patients with stroke and traumatic brain injury in a convalescent rehabilitation ward. Stroke and traumatic brain injury survivors with hemiplegia admitted to a convalescent rehabilitation ward were divided into independent- and dependent-walking groups. The trunk, affected limb, and unaffected limb PhAs were evaluated using bioelectrical impedance analysis and compared between the independent- and dependent-walking groups. Friedman's test was performed to analyze differences in the trunk, affected limb, and unaffected limb PhAs within each group. Multiple regression was performed to examine the association between walking ability and segmental PhAs. We enrolled 47 patients (independent-walking group: n = 12; dependent-walking group: n = 35). The dependent-walking group had a significantly lower trunk, affected limb, and unaffected limb PhAs. The segmental PhA was higher in the trunk than in the affected and unaffected limbs in the independent-walking group and lower in the affected limb than in the trunk and unaffected limb in the dependent-walking group. Only the trunk PhA at admission was significantly associated with walking ability at discharge (β = 0.367; P = 0.002). The trunk PhA at admission may be related to walking ability at discharge in patients undergoing stroke and traumatic brain injury rehabilitation.

A neighborhood rough sets-based ensemble method, with application to software fault prediction

Software fault prediction (SFP) aims to detect fault-prone software modules, which is beneficial for allocating software testing resources and improving software quality. Recently, ensemble learning(EL)-based SFP methods have attracted much attention. Although many EL algorithms have been applied to SFP, they are still insufficient to generate multiple accurate and diverse base learners. Therefore, this paper presents a multi-modal EL algorithm (called NRSEL) based on neighborhood rough sets. In NRSEL, the technique of neighborhood approximate reduct (NAR) is used to implement the perturbation of attribute space and the bootstrap sampling technique is used to implement the perturbation of sample space. As a novel technique for the perturbation of attribute space, NAR stems from the concept of approximate reduct in rough sets. We also consider the application of NRSEL to SFP, and employ a hybrid scheme (called SMOTE-NRSEL) to handle the problem of imbalanced data in SFP. We compare SMOTE-NRSEL with existing EL algorithms using 20 public datasets. Experimental results indicate that SMOTE-NRSEL is effective for SFP. Compared with the baseline algorithms, on average, SMOTE-NRSEL improves the AUC, F1-score, and MCC by 3.09%, 3.18%, and 7.5%, respectively. Moreover, the results of three statistical tests (including the paired t-test, Friedman test, and Nemenyi test) indicate that SMOTE-NRSEL is significantly better than the baseline algorithms in most cases. This paper shows that NAR is a good choice for the perturbation of attribute space. With the help of NAR and the multi-modal perturbation strategy based on it, SMOTE-NRSEL can generate accurate and diverse base learners. The code is available at https://github.com/jiangfeng0278/NRSEL.

Knowledge and Attitude of Emergency department Nurses about Care of Self-Harming Adolescents and Related Factors: A Cross Sectional Study

Introduction: Self-harm is a hidden health issue and an emergency priority that is relatively common among adolescents. The standard level of service management for self-harming patients is directly related to the knowledge and attitude of nurses when providing care to self-harming patients. Objective: This study aimed to determine the knowledge and attitude of nurses regarding the care of self-harming adolescents and related factors among emergency nurses. Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study involved 208 nurses with over 6 months of work experience in the emergency departments of educational hospital in Rasht, Iran. The nurses were included through census sampling. The data collection tool was a three-part questionnaire including demographic information, the Attitudes Towards Deliberate Self-Harm Questionnaire (ADSHQ), and knowledge. Data were analyzed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests, multiple linear regression, the Friedman test, and Spearman’s correlation coefficient. Results: Based on results the mean age of the participants was 34.8 ± 7.8 years and the majority of them (90.9%) were female and had bachelor’s degree (88.5%). The mean score of nurses’ knowledge was 0.67 ± 0.12. Nurses’ attitudes were positively evaluated with a mean score of 3.59 ± 0.28. Additionally, the attitude score had a positive correlation with the knowledge (r=0.252,p=0.001,). The knowledge score was significantly associated with nurses’ marital status (P= 0.042) and experience in caring for self-harming adolescents (P=0.016), Based on findings of multiple linear regression analysis, attitude score was significantly associated with nurses’ age (β=0.184, 95% CI; 0.061- 0.323, p=0.004) and experience in caring for self-harming adolescents (β=2.495% CI; 0.340 - 4.595, , p=0.023). Conclusion: Based on results, it is recommended to employ more experienced nurses in emergency departments to deal with these adolescents. Furthermore, it is necessary to develop orientation and retraining programs to familiarize nurses and strengthen positive attitudes, focusing on increasing empathy and self-confidence for effective care.

Identification of Game Periods and Playing Position Activity Profiles in Elite-Level Beach Soccer Players Through Principal Component Analysis.

Beach soccer has gained increasing interest for study in the sports sciences. In this sense, the analysis of activity profiles is important for training design and load individualization. Therefore, the aims of this study were to identify the most important variables to assess the activity profile and to compare them according to the playing position and game periods in international beach soccer matches. A total of 19 matches of the Spanish national beach soccer team were analyzed during their participation in different international competitions during the 2021-2022 season. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to objectively select the external load variables that best explain the data. Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin values of 0.705 and Bartlett's Sphericity (p < 0.01) were obtained. Kruskal-Wallis and Friedman tests was performed for playing positions and game period comparisons, respectively. The PCA showed seven components that grouped a total of 20 variables, explaining 66% of the total variance. Only PC1 and PC2 explained more than 15% (23% and 17%, respectively). Differences were found between playing positions (H > 22.73; p < 0.01) and between game periods (X2 > 16.46; p < 0.01). A significant decrease was found throughout the game, with the highest demands in period 1 and the lowest in period 3. The highest workloads were performed by wingers and the lowest by goalkeepers. The differences between positions and game periods were found in the following: Total Distance (m/min), HIBD (m/min), High Acc (m/s), High Dec (m/s), Acc 1-2 m/s2 (m), Acc 2-3 m/s2 (m), Imp 4-5G (n), Imp 5-6G (n), Sprint (n), and Dec 10-6 m/s2 (m) (p < 0.01). In conclusion, physical and tactical demands faced by elite-level beach soccer players will be influenced by playing positions and game periods. Coaches needs to develop position-specific training programs and optimize substitution strategies for enhancing overall team performance.

The Effectiveness of Focus of Attention in Static Balance and Functional Ability of Chronic Ankle Instability: A Pilot Study

Objectives: The focus of patients’ attention during the physiotherapy program has been reported to affect the rehabilitation goals. The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of an external focus of attention (EFA) on static balance and functional ability in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Methods: Fourteen subjects with CAI, aged from 19 to 25 years, were randomly assigned to two groups: external and internal focus of attention (IFA) group. The outcome measures of the study were static balance and functional ability. A pre-intervention evaluation was performed. Following instructions to an external or an IFA, subjects practiced on a balance board 3 times per week for 4 weeks. At the end of each week, they performed evaluation tests, including a time balance test, foot lift test, side hop test, figure-8 test, and star excursion balance test (SEBT). Parametric (mixed analysis of variance) and non-parametric analysis (the Mann–Whitney and Friedman tests) were performed between measurements and groups. Results: The intervention program showed a statistically significant improvement in static balance and functional ability in both groups. The results indicated the main effect of time (F(2.488, 29.855)=43.880, P&lt;0.001). For the time in balance test, analysis of variance revealed a main effect of time (F(2.571, 30.855)=11.188, P&lt;0.001). Regarding the SEBT, every direction indicated a main effect of time for both groups. No significant differences between the two groups were found in static balance and functional ability. Discussion: Even though there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups, both types of focus of attention contributed to the improvement of static balance and functional ability, which may reveal an increase in motor control and neuromuscular ability of the subjects with CAI.

Lack of agreement among analysers of infrared thermal images in the temperature of eye regions in sheep

Infrared thermography (IRT) is a non-invasive method to estimate body temperature in many animal species. The eye has been indicated as the ideal region for IRT, potentially serving as an early indicator of variations in body temperature triggered by various events and stimuli. Studies are being conducted to understand sources of variation in IRT temperature of the eye and develop comprehensive guidelines for veterinary medicine and animal production purposes. The present study adds information about variation in temperature estimated from different eye regions in sheep due to analysers. Thirty-one thermal images, fifteen of the right and sixteen of the left eyes of a ewe, captured with a FLIR E8-XT camera, were analysed by each of three analysers, and minimum (Tmin), maximum (Tmax) and average (Tavg) temperature in lacrimal caruncle (R1), medial canthus of the eye (R2) and eyeball (R3) were estimated. Differences among analysers were analysed by ANOVA (normal distribution) or Friedman test (non-normal distribution), considering thermal images as blocks. Limits of Agreement with the Mean (LOAM) were estimated and agreement plots were drawn. There were no differences (P>0.05) among analysers in temperature (°C, mean±standard deviation or median and 2.5%-97.5% quantiles) estimated in R1 (Tmin=36.3±0.87, Tmax=37.2 (35.9-37.7), Tavg=36.7±0.67), R2 (Tmax=37.2 (36.0-37.8)) and R3 (Tavg=36.1 (34.9-37.3)) for the right eye (n=45), and in R1 (Tmin=36.0 (34.3-37.3), Tmax=36.8±0.49, Tavg=36.4±0.53), R2 (Tmin=35.9±0.71, Tmax=36.7 (35.8-37.7), Tavg=36.3 (35.5-37.5)) and R3 (Tavg=35.9 (34.8-36.6)) for the left eye (n=48); but differences (P<0.05) were present in R3 (Tmin, Tmax) for both eyes and in R2 (Tmin and Tavg) for the right eye. The highest mean differences in temperature (°C) (P<0.05) among analysers were in R3 from the right eye (Tmin=0.70, Tmax=0.25) and the left eye (Tmin=0.64, Tmax=0.10), and in R2 from the right eye (Tmin=0.54, Tavg=0.50). Considering both eyes and all eye regions, the total range for the LOAM (°C) was lower for Tmax (0.42 to 0.93) and Tavg (0.63 to 1.17) than for Tmin (1.49 to 2.70), indicating a higher, medium, and lower agreement among analysers for Tmax, Tavg and Tmin, respectively. Considering the eyes, the total range for the LOAM (°C) was lower in all regions from the left eye (0.42 to 1.59) compared to the right eye (0.79 to 2.70), indicating a higher agreement among analysers from the left eye. Considering the eye regions, the total range for the LOAM (°C) was generally higher in R3 (0.84 to 3.70) than in R1 (0.61 to 1.79) and R2 (0.42 to 2.03), indicating the lowest agreement among analysers in R3 for Tmin (3.70). The present study shows that in sheep, the lacrimal caruncle confers the best agreement among analysers for all estimated temperatures, and that Tmax, across all eye regions, should be regarded as the most reliable estimation.

Deep learning-based reconstruction: a reliability assessment in preoperative magnetic resonance imaging for primary rectal cancer.

Deep learning has developed rapidly, and deep learning reconstruction (DLR) methods in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are gaining attention for their potential to improve efficacy in clinical work. The preoperative MRI assessment of rectal cancer is crucial for patient management, but the imaging quality is currently limited by a number of factors. DLR could be applied to the preoperative MRI assessment of primary rectal cancer, but research about its specific reliability is limited. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the reliability of DLR in the preoperative MRI examination of primary rectal cancer. This cross-sectional study was conducted at Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from March 2022 to October 2022. Patients with primary rectal cancer underwent routine MRI scans on a 3.0T magnetic resonance scanner (SIGNA Architect, GE Healthcare, USA) with 32-channels flexible coil with conventional reconstruction (ConR) and DLR. The DLR method had three noise reduction levels: DLR-H: 75% noise reduction reconstruction; DLR-M: 50% noise reduction reconstruction; and DLR-L: 25% noise reduction reconstruction. Three components were evaluated: objective image quality; subjective image quality; and diagnostic performance. The objective image quality assessment included the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). The subjective image quality assessment involved evaluating five subjective image quality parameters based on a 4-point Likert scale. The diagnostic performance assessment included tumour (T) staging, node (N) staging, as well as the circumferential resection margin and extramural vascular invasion evaluation. The images were evaluated in a blinded manner by two radiologists with different levels of experience. The paired sample Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Kappa test, interclass correlation coefficient, Chi-square test, Friedman test, and weighted kappa coefficients were used for the statistical analysis. In total, 61 patients (mean age: 65±12 years; 38 men) were enrolled in the study. The DLR method improved the SNR and CNR values of the images relative to the ConR method, while the DLR-H produced the greatest improvement (P<0.040). The subjective image quality of the DLR-H images was superior to that of the ConR images (P<0.001), but there was no significant difference between the DLR-H and DLR-M images (P≥0.075). The evaluators showed good agreement in subjective scoring, and in the DLR image scoring, the evaluators have the best consistency in the DLR-H images scoring (kappa =0.921, P<0.001). The diagnostic efficacy of the DLR images was comparable to that of the ConR images in terms of T staging [Reader 1 (R1): P=0.603; Reader 2 (R2): P=0.206] and N staging (R1: P=0.990; R2: P=0.884). The DLR method improved the quality of the images, and had comparable diagnostic efficacy without additional scanning time to that of the ConR method, and thus could be a feasible option for replacing the ConR method in the preoperative MRI examination of primary rectal cancer.

A STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF SELF-EFFICACY AND RESILIENCE AMONG TEACHERS IN SOUTH GUJARAT

Purpose: This study examined the relationship between Self-efficacy and resilience among teachers. Method: A reliability test was applied on 16 items scale of self-efficacy as well as on 14 items on resilience. We received 0.817 Cronbach alpha for the self-efficacy scale and 0.855 Cronbach alpha for the resilience scale. A structured Questionnaire was used to take responses from front teachers of the south Gujarat Region. A descriptive study was used to know the level of self-efficacy and resilience among front-line workers. Correlation, Friedman, and Kruskal Wallis test was applied to explore the possible relationship of respective factors. Result: We expected that higher Self-efficacy would be positively correlated with resilience. As expected, the self-efficacy of teachers was related to resilience. Conclusion: This study reveals that self-efficacy and resilience have a good association. We are quite enthusiastic about the other possible association between self-efficacy and resilience since it may be used to develop an effective training program for our teachers to help them become more resilient.

Feasibility of Using Rebound Exercise in Community-Dwelling Adults With Neurological Disorders.

Rebound exercise (RE) increases mobility in hospitalized adults with neurological disorders (AwND), but its feasibility in community settings remains largely unexplored. This study evaluates the practicality of implementing RE in the community, particularly for AwND. The feasibility study involved 53 community-dwelling AwND engaging in RE sessions for 30 min, once- or twice-weekly, over 12 weeks. Feasibility was assessed through recruitment rates, adherence, attrition, and participant feedback. The study measured blood pressure (BP), walking speed (WS), and physical activity level (PAL) at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Repeated measures ANOVA and the Friedman tests were used to test for significant differences across the time points. The study demonstrated high recruitment (70.59%) and retention (98.1%) rates, with most participants (76.9%) preferring once-weekly sessions due to time constraints. There were no reported injuries or adverse events. Most participants were older adults (50%), females (67.3%), and retired (55.8%). Significantly lower resting BP (p < 0.001), higher WS (p < 0.001), and PAL (p = 0.000) were observed after 12 weeks of RE. In conclusion, RE is a feasible, safe, and acceptable intervention for supervised community-dwelling AwND and could be a valuable tool for promoting PAL in this population.