Mean Score Of Group Research Articles

Comparison of the results of early and elective endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in patients with mild cholangitis

Aims: The optimal duration of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with mild cholangitis and when it should be performed is unclear. This study aimed to compare the results of patients with mild cholangitis who underwent early and elective ERCP. Methods: This study was designed as a retrospective study to compare the results of elective (time from admission to ERCP>72 h) and early (time from admission to ERCP≤72 h) ERCP in patients with mild cholangitis according to the Tocyo 18 (TC18) guideline. The study included patients with naive papillae and mild cholangitis who underwent ERCP between February 2019 and 2023 at a single tertiary center’s gastroenterology clinic. Results: A total of 432 mild cholangitis patients were included in our study. The mean age and ASA score of the elective ERCP group was slightly higher than the other group (respectively, p=0.039 and p=0.025). No significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of technical and clinical success, mortality, ERCP-related adverse events, organ failure and intensive care unit admission. Length of hospital stay (LHS) was significantly (p

Effectiveness of safety precaution intervention regarding use of fire crackers on knowledge and fire accidents among school children

Diwali is one such joyous festival which is loved and celebrated by everyone over the country as the festival of lights. It is celebrated by lighting oil lamps and firecrackers like a bomb, flowerpots, chakri, rockets, etc. Firecracker injuries are common in India, of which the majority takes place during diwali. A quasi experimental study was done to assess the effectiveness of safety precaution intervention regarding use of fire crackers on knowledge and fire accidents among school children at Government Middle school, Tiruvannamalai.110 subjects in experimental & 110 subjects in control group were selected by using convenience sampling technique. Post test only design was used. Knowledge and fire accidents were assessed by using questionnaire and observational checklist respectively. The study findings revealed that in control group, the mean posttest score for knowledge was 9.2 whereas in experimental group, the mean score was 18.1 and the calculated t value is 8.5 shows statistically significant at P<0.001 level.The mean score for fire accidents in control group is 4.19 whereas in experimental group mean score was 2.8 and the calculated unpaired t value t=5.5 shows statistically significant at P<0.001 level. The study concluded that safety precaution intervention is necessary to create awareness and control the fire crackers injuries among school children and they are also the message carrier.

A study to assess the effectiveness of reiki therapy on pain and anxiety among critically ill women admitted in selected hospital, Tiruvannamalai

Introduction: Reiki therapy is a hands-on healing technique that transmits universal energy from the Reiki practitioner to the person receiving the treatment. The aim of the study was a quasi-experimental study was carried out in government medical college and hospital at Tiruvannamalai to evaluate the effectiveness of reiki therapy on pain and anxiety among critically ill women’s. 60 subjects were selected by using non-probability convenience sampling technique and the sample was equally divided into experimental & control group (30 in each group). Results: In experimental group, pain pretest mean score was 7.13 with SD± 2.01 and post-test mean score was 3.43 with SD± 1.90. The calculated paired‘t’test is t=13.17. In control group, pre-test mean score was 7.23 with SD±1.81and post-test mean score was 7.40 with SD± 1.86 the calculated paired ‘t’ test is t=1.30. In anxiety, experimental group pre-test mean score was 19.90 with SD± 6.87 and post-test mean score was 11.83with SD±6.27and the calculated paired ‘ t’ test is t=13 where as in control group, pre-test mean score was 20.20with SD± 5.38 and post-test mean score was 20.83 with SD± 5.45 the calculated paired ‘t’ test is t=0. In experimental group, pain pre-test mean score was 7.13 with SD± 2.01 and control group mean score was 7.23 with SD± 1.81. The calculated Unpaired “t” value is t=0.13. The post-test mean score was 3.43 with SD± 1.90 and the post mean score was 7.40 with SD± 1.86. The calculated unpaired “t” value was t=8.14. Where as in anxiety experimental group pre-test mean score was 19.90 with SD± of 6.82 and the control group mean score was 20.20with SD±5.38. The calculated Unpaired “t” value is t=0.02. In experimental group post-test mean score was 11.83 with the SD± 6.27 and in control group mean score was 20.83 with SD± 5.45. Conclusion: The findings revealed that, the effectiveness of reiki therapy was statistically tested and found to be statistically significant at p<0.001 level then the control group. Therefore reiki therapy is beneficial to reduce the pain and anxiety of critically ill women’s.

Comparing the efficacy of single-skill and multiple-skill simulation scenarios in advancing clinical nursing competency

AimThis study aims to compare the effectiveness of single-skill and multiple skills patient care simulation scenarios in enhancing nursing competency and to evaluate nurses' perceptions of these different simulation scenarios. MethodsA mixed-method design was used. In the quantitative part, 130 newly hired nurses with less than one year of experience participated in this study. For the qualitative part, a subset of 26 of these nurses was selected for in-depth interviews until data saturation was achieved. The study was conducted in the simulation-based learning (SBL) lab in a specialized Jordan cancer center. Data collection took place between June 2022 and March 2023. ResultsA significant difference was found in the IV skill between single and multiple skills scenarios; the mean score for the single-skill group was 44.42 (SD = 3.85), the mean score for the multiple-skill group was 45.63 (SD = 2.26) (P = 0.014). Moreover, a significant difference was found between the pre-and post-test scores for single-skill and multiple-skill groups. The mean score for the medication skill scenario pre-intervention single group was (M = 23.90, SD = 5.33); however, the score was increased post-intervention (M = 45.38, SD = 3.33), (P = <.001). Furthermore, the mean score was raised in the multiple skills medication scenario from (M = 22.92, SD = 5.44) to (M = 45.72, SD = 2.75), (<.001). ConclusionParticipants in both groups reported similar findings regarding physical exhaustion, scenario management, and overall satisfaction with the simulation experience. Loss of concentration and memory was reported more with multiple competencies simulation scenarios; this might indicate that this scenario has more cognitive load than the Single Competency Scenario.

The effect of environmental health education on microplastic pollution awareness.

The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of environmental health education given at the ninth-grade level on the microplastic pollution awareness level of students. This pretest-posttest experimental study with a randomized control group was conducted between 2022 and 2023 in three high schools in a province in eastern Turkey. The sample of the study consisted of 90 ninth-grade students (experimental group: 45, control group: 45), and the sample magnitude was determined by power analysis. Tools such as the "Personal Information Form" and "Microplastic Pollution Awareness Scale (MPAS)" were used to collect data. Training was given to the experimental group as a nursing intervention in a total of four sessions at 15-day intervals. No intervention was applied to the individuals in the control group. While no significant difference was observed in the MPAS total score in the control group according to the pretest and posttest mean scores, a significant difference was observed in the MPAS total score in the experimental group (p<0.05). When the posttest mean scores of the experimental and control groups were examined, it was observed that the posttest mean scores of the experimental group were higher than the posttest mean scores of the control group and there was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). It was observed that the microplastic pollution awareness level of the experimental group students who received environmental health training increased significantly. The issue of environmental health should be integrated into the education curriculum in schools and students' awareness levels should be increased.

Evaluation of Post-Operative Pain Subsequent to Endodontic Treatment Utilizing Hand and Pedoflex Rotary files in Primary Mandibular Molars: A Clinical Investigation

Aim: To comparatively evaluate postoperative pain levels following root canal instrumentation with hand files versus Pedoflex rotary files in primary mandibular molars. Material and Methods: This randomized clinical trial involved 60 children aged 6-10 years with primary mandibular molars requiring pulpectomy. They were divided into two groups: Group I received hand K file instrumentation, and Group II was treated with Pedoflex rotary files. Pain levels were recorded using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively. Results: The Pedoflex rotary file group experienced significantly lower pain scores at all time intervals compared to the hand K file group (p&lt;0.05). The mean pain score in Group A gradually decreased from 6 to 72 hours, while Group B showed a more rapid decline in the first 24 hours followed by a plateau. Conclusion: The use of Pedoflex rotary files for root canal instrumentation in primary mandibular molars significantly reduces postoperative pain when compared to conventional hand files. These findings suggest that rotary files may provide a more comfortable postoperative experience for pediatric patients undergoing pulpectomy

Improvements from a small-group multidisciplinary pain self-management intervention for women living with pelvic pain maintained at 12 months.

A small-group multidisciplinary pain self-management program for women living with pelvic pain, with or without endometriosis, was developed to address identified unmet treatment needs. Following completion, over 80% of participants demonstrated clinically significant improvement across a number of domains. There was no clinically significant deterioration on any measure and benefits continued at three months follow-up. This study examines patient-reported outcomes at 12 months following program completion to ascertain maintenance of these improvements. Self-report measures assessed quality of life across the Initiative on Methods, Measurement, and Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials domains prior to, at completion and 12 months following participation. At 12 months follow-up, improvement was seen in mean group scores for all baseline measures for 57% of participants who returned valid 12-month follow-up data, with clinically significant improvement seen for within-subject scores for 50% of these participants for pain severity and also for pain-related activity interference. Improvements were also reported in key predictors of long-term outcomes, pain self-efficacy and catastrophic worry, with 92% reporting improvement in each of these two constructs. There were 83% of respondents who reported feeling both improvement in overall sense of wellbeing and improvement in their physical ability compared to before the program. Results suggest that a six-week multidisciplinary small-group intervention increases participants' abilities to self-manage pain and improves quality of life with lasting clinically significant improvements.

Effectiveness of selected small group teaching methods for undergraduate medical students on basic concepts of epidemiology: A quasi-experimental study.

Teaching epidemiology to young medical students using traditional teaching techniques is fraught with myriad challenges. Incorporating innovative small group teaching (SGT) approaches that promote active learning, practical application, and critical thinking can help in overcoming these challenges. To identify the most effective SGT method from selected three approaches [tutorial technique (TT), problem-based learning (PBL), and fishbowl technique (FBT)] to teach the basic concepts of epidemiology to the third-year undergraduate medical students of a private medical college in Puducherry, Southern India. A quasi-experimental study was conducted among third-year undergraduate medical students for 6 months. The sample size was calculated to be 60 using the nMaster 2.0 sample size software. Three groups were formed with 20 students each. A pre-test, which included fifty multiple-choice questions covering topic one, was conducted for students in all three groups. An SGT session on topic one (dynamics of disease transmission) was held on the same day by different facilitators for three groups A, B, and C using the TT, PBL, and FBT, respectively. After 6 weeks of the SGT session for topic one, a post-test using the same questions was organized for all three groups to identify the effectiveness of each SGT method. The above sequence of events was followed for topic two (study designs) and topic three (investigation of disease outbreak) among all groups in the subsequent months. A written informed consent was sought from all students. The collected data was entered in MS Excel 2010 and analyzed using SPSS 21. The pre- and post-tests for all topics in all three groups were compared using a paired t-test, and an ANOVA test was used to find any difference between the groups. The mean post-test score in each of the three groups for all topics had improved when compared with the mean pre-test score, which was significantly different between the three groups. Further, the mean score of group B (PBL group) was found to be higher than group C (FBT) but not significantly higher compared to group A (TT). The mean score of the feedback where the participants were asked to rate the overall session was found to be high in group B (PBL) followed by group A (TT). PBL and TT were found to be an equally effective way of small group methods for teaching-learning epidemiology in medical school.

Effectiveness of aromatherapy with lavender compared to progressive muscle relaxation on anxiety and vital signs in patients under spinal anesthesia: A randomized clinical trial

ABSTRACT Objective: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of aromatherapy with lavender essential oil compared to progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) on anxiety and vital signs of patients under spinal anesthesia. Materials and Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 120 spinal anesthesia candidates who were randomly assigned into three groups of 40 including control, PMR (Jacobsen group), and aromatherapy. The state-trait anxiety inventory was completed on surgery day and 15 min after the end of the intervention by the samples of all three groups, and at the same time as completing the questionnaire, vital signs were also measured and recorded. Results: The mean score of anxiety after intervention was lower than that before the intervention in the aromatherapy group (P &lt; 0.001). The mean score of anxiety in the aromatherapy group was significantly lower than that in the Jacobsen group (P &lt; 0.001). Moreover, data analysis showed a significant decrease in the mean arterial blood pressure scores of the PMR (P = 008) and aromatherapy (P &lt; 0.001) groups and a statistically significant increase in the mean heart rate scores in the control group (P = 0.002). Conclusion: The use of aromatherapy with lavender is more effective than PMR therapy in reducing the anxiety level of patients undergoing spinal anesthesia. Due to the high level of anxiety and its serious effects on the patient’s hemodynamics, aromatherapy with lavender can be used as an easy and cheap method to reduce anxiety in operation rooms.

Teacher-Students Collaboration: Using Guided-Writing Instruction to Assist Learners with Writing Difficulties and Low Motivation to Write

Despite the complex nature of writing, many students are hesitant to tackle difficult subjects. To help those facing writing difficulties and increase their motivation, this study examines the effect of teacher-student collaboration through guided-writing instruction. A two-group quasi-experimental design was used with a pre-treatment-post-tests format. The participants in this study were 50 11th-grade students (aged 17–24; 28 male and 22 female) from Data Sana Memorial School in Wolaita Sodo City, South Ethiopia. Writing skill tests and questionnaires about writing motivation were used to collect data, which was then analyzed using independent smples t-test analysis to determine the effectiveness of guided-writing on students’ writing improvement and motivation. Although the pre-test results did not show a significant difference between the mean scores of the control and experimental groups, the post-test results of the writing skill tests showed a statistically significant difference between the means of the experimental and control groups. Additionally, the results of the writing motivation questionnaires revealed that the mean score of the experimental group increased significantly in the post-test compared to the pre-test. These findings demonstrate the usefulness of guided-writing instruction in assisting students with writing difficulties and motivation. In conclusion, the findings have implications for teaching writing through guided-writing instruction and it is recommended to help students struggling with writing and a lack of motivation. Moreover, further research into writing instruction through guided-writing in various ecological aspects and grade levels is required.

Comparative Analgesic Efficacy of Intramuscular Dexamethasone, Ketorolac, Tramadol, and Butorphanol with Regard to Postoperative Pain After Mandibular Third Molar Surgery

ABSTRACT Surgical removal of the third molar often resulted in postoperative pain which affected the quality of life of the patients. Pharmacological management of pain includes NSAIDS or steroids. The present study compared four drugs, viz. Group 1 (4 mg dexamethasone injection); Group 2 (30 mg ketorolac); Group 3 (50 mg tramadol injection); and Group 4 (1 mg butorphanol injection) in the management of postoperative pain after third molar surgery. We observed that in comparison with the first and third postoperative pain between groups, it revealed the lowest mean pain score in the butorphanol group, followed by dexamethasone and tramadol group and the highest mean score in the ketorol group (P value &lt;0.0001). We conclude that butorphanol with low dosage can be effectively used for reducing postoperative discomfort after surgery.

What Influences Patients Readiness for Discharge: The Case of Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Cross-Sectional Study

Aims and Objectives. To identify and explore assess factors that influence patients’ readiness for hospital discharge (RHD) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Background. Evidence has suggested that most clinical staff use clinical laboratory indicators to determine discharge times, while paying little attention to patients’ feelings and needs. Additional research findings have suggested a relationship between patients’ self-reported readiness for hospital discharge and postdischarge complication rates, readmission rates, mortality, as well as quality of life. RHD is strongly associated with patient health outcomes. Identifying relevant influencing factors can provide guidance for early individualized interventions by healthcare professionals. Design. A cross-sectional study. Methods. During 2022, a total of 320 post-TKA patients were selected for this study. The patients were divided into the low-RHD group (&lt;7 points) and the high-RHD group (≥7 points) according to the mean score of the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS). Established scales were used to collect patients’ information and to adopt univariate and binary logistic regression analysis to screen for independent factors. Results. In this study, the RHDS score of patients after TKA is 91.90 ± 7.05, of which 12.8% are in the low-RHD group (mean score &lt;7). The binary logistic regression results reveal that age, educational level, postactivity pain, self-efficacy, and family care have to be considered risk factors generating low-RHD in TKA patients. Conclusions. The present study suggests that over 1/8 TKA patients are not ready at the time of discharge. Physicians and nurses can improve patients’ RHD by reducing postactivity pain and improving self-efficacy during their rehabilitation period. Relevance to Clinical Practice. The results of this study can help physicians and nurses early identify high-risk patients with low RHD and provide them with individualized interventions. In addition to this, it is important that nurses use RHDS to assess the readiness of TKA patients before they are discharged from the hospital.

Effects of a Problem-Based Learning Education Program for Occupational Health Nursing Using Smart Learning on Occupational Health Knowledge and Nursing Professionalism.

This study aimed to develop a problem-based learning program for occupational health nursing using smart learning, and to report the program's effects on occupational health knowledge and nursing professionalism. A quasi-experimental study was performed using a non-equivalent control group pre-test-post-test design. An occupational health nursing problem-based learning program using smart learning was developed, and students produced videos containing problem-solving strategies in groups. The experimental and control groups consisted of 34 and 29 participants, respectively. To collect data, an online survey was conducted before and immediately after the intervention. The experimental and control group's mean scores for occupational health knowledge before the intervention were 5.74 and 7.41, respectively. Additionally, the mean scores for nursing professionalism were 3.45 and 3.66. After the intervention, both the knowledge on occupational health and nursing professionalism score improved to 8.26 and 3.64 in the experimental group. This study reported significant improvements after conducting the occupational health nursing education program. These results demonstrate the need to develop a nursing education program for problem-based learning utilizing smart learning. Moreover, filming videos in cooperation with students can improve the effectiveness of education by improving knowledge.

A Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Acupressure on Dysmenorrhea among Nursing Students at Shri Vinoba Bhave College of Nursing, Silvassa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Menstruation is the normal process that occurs in all healthy adult. Menstrual pain or dysmenorrhea is the pain in the lower abdomen before or during menstruation. India has one of the fastest growing youth populations in the world, with an estimated 190 million adolescents. Girls below 19 years of age comprising 21% of India’s total population. In India 67.2% adolescent girls suffer from dysmenorrhea and 60% of them have disrupted daily routines.The incidence of menstrual pain to women in the world is relatively high on the average of more than 50% in every country.Acupressure is an ancient healing art that uses fingers to press key points on the surface of the skin to stimulate body’s natural self-curative abilities. Acupressure release tension, increases circulation, reduces pain, and develops vibrant health, with a view to this; the study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of acupressure on dysmenorrhea among nursing student at Shri Vinoba Bhave College of Nursing, Silvassa. AIM Aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of acupressure on reduction of pain during menstruation among nursing students at Shri Vinoba Bhave College of Nursing, Silvassa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli. METHODOLOGY Quasi experimental, time series non-equivalent control group design with Non probability purposive sampling technique was used to select 60 nursing students, 30 experimental and 30 control group. Dysmenorrhea is assessed by WaLIDD scale. Tool was used for data collection were Numerical pain intensity scale, socio-demographic variable, baseline clinical data. Pretest was done before intervention in experimental group and control group. Acupressure therapy was given to experimental group and pain was assessed after 30 min, 60 min, and 120 min in both groups. RESULT Result shown that the mean score (8.10±0.84, 6.88±0.68, 6.49±0.69, 5.82±0.65) of experimental group is apparently lower than the mean score (8±0.83, 4.78±0.52, 3.83±0.47, 3.06±0.49) of control group except for the mean pretest score. The level of pain score status between the different time intervals pre and post observations in experimental group shows that the obtained F Value 207.2968(df=9) and the p value was 0.0001. the p value is &lt;0.05 level of significance so it shows that statistical significance was very high in the experimental group respectively, compare than control group, hence research hypothesis (H1) is accepted and inferred that acupressure therapy is very effective in reducing the pain during menstruation and providing comfort. CONCLUSION Study proved that SP6 acupressure can be used as an effective intervention to decrease menstrual pain. Acupressure is a very effective means of decreasing dysmenorrhea. It can be assumed that applying acupressure with the same intensity for a shorter time is effective in reducing menstrual pain. KEY WORDS Acupressure, dysmenorrhea, complimentary and alternative therapy.

Deep learning based next word prediction aided assistive gaming technology for people with limited vocabulary

AimVocabulary is the base for communication and vocabulary deficits reduce effective social communication. This study aims to develop and analyze English language-based assistive gaming technology to support individuals with vocabulary deficits. Materials and methodsThe developed intervention is based on deep learning technology for next word prediction, and it is equipped with web and mobile application interaction support. Various deep learning models, including long short-term memory, bidirectional long short-term memory, and bidirectional encoder representations from transformers, were learned and deployed using an open-source dataset corpus. The proposed intervention was analyzed using a specified task of a 5-minute lecture on a simple technical topic. The completed activities were also evaluated by professionals using vocabulary-related expert characteristics. ResultsThe results of the conducted 5-minutetask on social domain without intervention and later with intervention improved. The results were assessed by counting vocabulary words as well as by vocabulary specialists. The levels of centraltendencies and deviations changed as the task improved with the proposed intervention. Mean, median, and standard deviation scores of the experimental group improved significantly (189.1, 194.0, and 67.61) in comparison to the control group (125.4, 127.0, and 43.55). Furthermore, language specialists observed significant differences in the mean and median without intervention (12.84 and 13.0) compared to the intervention group (24.23 and 24.0, respectively). ConclusionsThe outcome of the experiments appears to be in favor of the suggested intervention. As a result, the suggested deep learning based next word prediction aided assistive gaming technology could support persons in overcoming their limited vocabulary disadvantages. In the future, the integration of the proposed technology into existing communication enhancement technology could achieve better results.

The effect of diaphragmatic breathing on nausea, vomiting and functional status among breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

PurposeTo examine the effect of diaphragmatic breathing (DB) on nausea, vomiting, and functional status among breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in Indonesia. MethodsA quasi experimental study with non-equivalent pretest and posttest control group was conducted. A total of forty-eight breast cancer patients (24 DB and 24 control participants) undergoing chemotherapy participated in this study selected conveniently. DB intervention was performed to the intervention group after chemotherapy cycle twice a day for six days, meanwhile the control group received usual care. A set of questionnaires was used to collect data consisting of Patient Information Form, Rhodes Index Nausea, Vomiting and Retching (RINVR) and The Functional Living Index-Cancer (FLI-C). Data were analyzed and interpreted using Generalized Linear Model, Wilcoxon Test, Paired T Test and Mann-Whitney U test. ResultsThere were significant changes in RINVR mean scores for the intervention group that started on the third day after chemotherapy (p = 0.000); meanwhile, the significant changes in RINVR mean scores for the control group began on the fifth day (p = 0.000). The total score of FLI-C was significantly different between the intervention and control groups (p = 0.000). ConclusionDB could decrease nausea and vomiting, and increase functional status of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. It can be promoted as a useful low-cost self-management approach and an additional and complementary therapy to manage chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting.

The Effect of Online and Face-To-Face Teaching Method on Course Outcomes and Attitudes in Secondary School 1st Grade Visual Arts Course

Purpose: In this study, the effects of effective combination of online technologies and face-to-face teaching practices on students' attitudes and course outcomes in secondary school visual arts courses were investigated. Design/Methodology/Approach: This research is an experimental study based on the Pre-Test - Post-Test Trial and Control Group (Split-Plot-t Design) 2x2 factorial (two groups and two measurements) and repeated measures design. In the study, "experimental procedures" were applied to the experimental group with sessions lasting two hours a week for 6 weeks. Findings: This research is an experimental study based on the Pre-Test - Post-Test Trial and Control Group (Split-Plot-t Design) 2x2 factorial (two groups and two measurements) and repeated measures design. In the study, "experimental procedures" were applied to the experimental group with sessions lasting two hours a week for 6 weeks. The research groups were divided into two separate groups. The experimental group was applied on Tuesday and the control group was applied on Wednesday. Highlights: The mean scores of the subjects who participated in the 6-week online learning and face-to-face teaching sessions in the post-test of visual arts acquisitions were higher than the mean scores of the pre-test. The Wilcoxon Z test was used to determine whether the difference between the mean scores of the experimental group in the pre-test and post-test of visual arts acquisitions was significant or not, and it was found that the difference was significant at p

The Synergistic Effect of Ozonated Oil and Desensitising Toothpaste on Dentinal Tubule Occlusion: An In Vitro Study.

Introduction Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is the most common problem encountered by clinicians. It can bemanaged either by blocking neural activities or by occluding tubules. Ozonated oil facilitates the simple passage ofdesensitizing agents into dentinal tubules. Aim This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ozonated oil on dentinal tubule occlusion before and after the application of desensitizing toothpaste. Materials and methods The study was carried out in Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences, KIIT (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, India.The sample size of the study was 80. The first group contained specimens for control. The second group comprised specimens treated with ozonated oil. The third group comprised specimens being treated with a desensitizing agent. The fourth group contained specimens treated with both the desensitizing agent and ozonated oil. The specimens then received an acid challenge. The specimens were observedunder a scanning electron microscope (SEM) before any therapy, after the application of the therapeutic agents and after the 37.5% ortho-phosphoric acid challenge. Results Inferential statistics to compare between the groups was calculated using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistics. Post-hoc Tukey'shonestly significant difference (HSD) was performed to compare the groups. The mean scoresof the partial tubular occlusion of Group 1, Group 2, Group 3and Group 4 before the acid challenge were0.035, 0.691, 0.564and 0.368, respectively. The maximum score was obtained in the case of Group 2, which was statistically significant. The mean scores for partialtubule occlusionafter the acid challengeforGroup 1, Group 2, Group 3and Group 4 were0.055, 0.531, 0.733and 0.142, respectively. There was evidence of maximumpartialtubule occlusion after the acid treatment in the case of Group 3. The mean scores of Group 1, Group 2, Group 3and Group 4 before the acid challenge were 0.019, 0.309, 0.442 and 0.609, respectively. The maximum score was obtained in the case of Group 4, implying a greater number of total tubular occlusions before the acid challenge.The mean scores of the total tubular occlusions after the acid challenge for Group 1, Group 2, Group 3and Group 4 were0.047, 0.465, 0.272 and 0.890, respectively. There was evidence of maximum tubule occlusion in the case of Group 4, which was statistically significant. Conclusion Overall, the application of a desensitizing toothpaste with ozonated oil holds promise as a potentially more effective treatment approach for DH. Further research and clinical studies may be needed to fully validate its efficacy and safety in dental practice.

The Impact of Using Fishbowl Strategy to Enhance Creative Imagination in Writing Skill for Iraqi EFL College Students

This study aims at investigating the impact of using fishbowl strategy to enhance creative imagination in writing skill for Iraqi EFL college students. To achieve the aim of the present study , the following hypothesis has been put : There is no statistically significant differences at (á≤0.05) between the mean scores of the experimental group who is taught creative imagination in writing according to Fishbowl strategy and that of the control group who is taught according to the traditional way in the post test of writing. Thus , an experiment design was adopted . The sample of the study was Purposive sample consisted of 90 students from 2nd year class\ English department \college of basic education\ University of Diyala (45 students as an experimental group which are taught writing by the use of the Fishbowl strategy and 45 students as a control group which are taught writing according to the traditional way during the academic year 2021 -2022). Meanwhile, the subjects of both groups are matched according to their age, level of parents’ education , and their scores in the writing skill at the pre-test. Writing test ( pre&amp; post ) have been designed and the validity of the tests have been obtained by exposing them to jury members in the fields of EFL and linguistics. The reliability of the tests has been secured by using Alfa Cronbach formula found to be (0.86) which indicates high reliability. Statistical analysis of data achieved through using the t-test indicates that there are statistically significant differences between the mean scores of the two groups in favour of the experimental group in the post test .&#x0D; The researcher concludes that using Fishbowl strategy enhances students’ creative imagination in writing , and provides them opportunities to actively develop writing skills. That enable them to locate, gather, analyze, critique and apply information in a wide range of contexts as they develop understanding and the researcher suggests to use it to make another study for other stages and other subjects .

A Proposed Unit Based on the STEM Approach: Developing 21st-Century Skills Among Middle-School Students

This research aims to determine the effectiveness of a proposed instructional unit based on the integration of science and mathematics, following the STEM approach, to teach critical thinking and problem-solving as 21st-century skills. To achieve this goal, an experimental approach based on a quasi-experimental single-group design with a pre-test and post-test was used. The research sample consisted of 40 third-grade students in a middle school. A problem-solving skills test was developed, and the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Skills Appraisal was used, the results showed statistically significant differences between the mean scores of the participant group in the pre-test and post-test measurements for both critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The research concluded that the proposed unit helped students develop 21st-century skills.&#x0D; &#x0D; Received: 11 November 2023 / Accepted: 17 February 2024 / Published: 5 March 2024