High Level Of Statistical Significance Research Articles

Acupuncture or cupping plus standard care versus standard care in moderate to severe COVID-19 patients: An assessor-blinded, randomized, controlled trial

BackgroundNon-pharmacological strategies that have been proposed by complementary medical systems, can be effective in management of COVID-19. MethodsThis study was designed as a three-arm, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial. A total of 139 hospitalized COVID-19 patients were randomly assigned into three groups: (1) acupuncture (ACUG), (2) cupping (CUPG), and (3) control (CTRG). All participants received conventional treatment. The primary study endpoint included changes in respiratory signs including oxygen saturation (SpO2) and respiratory rate (RR). The secondary endpoints were COVID-19-related hospitalization duration and serious adverse events such as intensive care unit (ICU) admission, intubation or death, all up to day 30. Also, improvements in cough, dyspnea, chest tightness, oxygen demand, anorexia, headache, weakness, sore throat, and myalgia were evaluated. ResultsForty-two patients in ACUG, 44 patients in CUPG, and 42 patients in CTRG completed the trial. After 3 days, SpO2 and RR improved significantly in CUPG and ACUG compared with CTRG (effect size: 8.49 (6.4 to 10.57) and 8.51 (6.67 to 10.34), respectively: p<0.001). Compared with CTRG, patients in CUPG and ACUG recovered faster (mean difference: 6.58 (4.8 to 8.35) and 9.16 (7.16 to 11.15), respectively) and except for two patients in ACUG who were admitted to ICU, none of patients in ACUG or CUPG needed ICU or intubation (p<0.001 in comparison to CTRG). Amelioration of clinical COVID-19 related symptoms reached a high level of statistical significance in CUPG and ACUG in comparison with CTRG (p<0.01). ConclusionCupping and acupuncture are promising safe and effective therapies in management of COVID-19. Trial registration: This study was registered at Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials: IRCT20201127049504N1 (https://en.irct.ir/trial/52621).

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENTS, OPENNESS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH: EVIDENCE FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

The importance of free international movement of capital and openness to trade on the world market is very well known and elaborated in the relevant literature. Despite the fact that the most developed countries in the world are the carriers of international capital movements, especially through foreign direct investments, the inflow of foreign capital through foreign direct investments (FDI) is one of the key goals that developing countries set through their development strategies. In this way, developing countries strive to make their economies attractive for the presence of foreign capital in order to increase the level of production and raise the level of employment. What distinguishes developing countries is the high participation of foreign trade. Unlike large economies, which are said in the literature to be self-sufficient, small economies with insufficiently developed economies are nevertheless able to compete on the global market. The subject of research in this paper was to investigate the impact of FDI inflows on the economic growth of developing countries. The research covered 82 developing countries in the period from 1980 to 2020. In the paper, Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) methods were used to examine whether FDI viewed through the share of inflows in GDP and openness viewed through the share of total exchange in GDP increase GDP per capita in developing countries. The obtained results with a high level of statistical significance testify in support of the conclusion that FDI and openness to foreign trade increase GDP per capita in developing countries.

Knowledge management implementation in small and micro KIBS: A categorization

AbstractThe main goal of the paper is to provide a statistical categorization of small and micro knowledge‐intensive business service (KIBS) companies, based on their knowledge management (KM) attitude. Since knowledge is the main production factor and output of these companies, it is essential to achieve a better understanding of how they manage this resource. A questionnaire‐based survey was conducted on a sample of Polish small and micro KIBS operating in various service sectors. A cluster analysis of the data was performed, to categorize the sample according to the KM attitude of the companies. Three main groups of companies were identified, varying in terms of their levels of “knowledge needs”, “intensity of use” of KM practices and “perceived barriers to KM implementation”. This classification is shown to characterize attitudes towards KM to a higher level of statistical significance than do structural characteristics. The survey was based on a single country sample. On the one hand, this provides consistency to the analysis. On the other hand, further insights can be obtained by a multi‐national study. In addition, cluster analysis is exploratory in nature. The results provide useful insights for policy makers (to formulate policies for facilitating KM implementation in small KIBS) and managers (to reflect on the KM attitudes of their company). The statistical categorization of small and micro KIBS in terms of their KM attitude has been very rarely undertaken. Even the most recent investigations of KM issues used samples from large companies.

Malaria transmission in Africa: Its relationship with yellow fever and measles.

Malaria has been strongly linked to the transmission and pathophysiology of some viral diseases. Malaria and vaccine-preventable diseases often co-exist in endemic countries but the implication of their co-existence on their transmission dynamics and control is poorly understood. The study aims to evaluate the relationships between the incidence of malaria and cases of measles and yellow fever in Africa. The malaria incidence, death due to malaria, measles and yellow fever data were sourced from the WHO database. Poisson and zero-inflated time-trend regression were used to model the relationships between malaria and the two vaccine-preventable diseases. P-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. A significant negative relationship existed between malaria incidence and measles cases (P<0.05), however, malaria showed a positive relationship with yellow fever (P<0.05). The relationships between death due to malaria and measles/yellow fever cases followed similar trends but with a higher level of statistical significance (P<0.001). Malaria varied negatively with measles cases but positively with yellow fever. The relationships observed in this study could be important for the management of malaria and the studied vaccine-preventable diseases. Increase vaccination coverage and/or malaria treatment could modulate the direction of these relationships.

Optimization of the treatment of the patient with acute coronary syndrome on the background the type 2-diabetes with concomitant hyperventilation

The article presents data from an original study on the implementation and empirical verification of the effectiveness of the developed therapeutic complex aimed at improving the intensive treatment of the nosological association «acute coronary syndrome (as the underlying disease) + type 2 diabetes mellitus (as a background pathology) + hyperventilation syndrome (as aconcomitant state)». The author’s therapeutic complex is based on a controlled change in auxiliary respiratory oxygenation «downward», provided that basic pharmacotherapy must be supplemented with a balanced combination of antihypoxic drugs and antiaggregant of new generation. Acomparative study of two groups of thematic patients was carried out — using the developed complex and using the traditional approach. The complex key parameters of the outcomes of the underlying disease in patients were studied using clinical assessment of functional classes of angina pectoris and veloergometric assessment of exercise tolerance. When using the developed therapeutic complex in comparison with the «traditional approach», a fundamental improvement in the outcomes of angina pectoris was established, which was confirmed by both the ratio of functional classes and the results of bicycle ergometry. The obtained data of intergroup differences have a high level of statistical significance. This proved the significant actual effectiveness of the developed therapeutic complex. The data presented in the article are distinguished by novelty and practical applicability, which makes it possible to recommend them for further implementation in the practice of the clinic of internal diseases.

Cancer of the oral mucosa (cancer of the tongue, floor of mouth, lower jaw, cheek)/lip: modern therapeutic technologies

Purpose. Evaluation of the effectiveness of three treatment options for cancer oral mucosa (cancer of the tongue and floor of mouth, cheek, lower jaw)/lip (OC/lip). Materials and methods. Treated 100 patients with OC/lip: combined treatment with surgery at the first stage and postoperative conformal external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) of 50 Gy — 40 patients; combined conformal EBRT and brachytherapy (BT HDR) — 40 patients; EBRT and photodynamic therapy (PDT) with intensive laser hyperthermia — 20 patients. The age of the patients ranged from 26 to 90 years; among them were 55 men and 45 women. Results. Five-year overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) in patients with tumors of various localization was 88% and 73.3% respectively with a good quality of life. Five-year OS was for combined method of treatment — 82,8%; combined EBRT and brachytherapy — 94,4% and EBRT in combination with PDT and laser hyperthermia — 83,3% (р=0,561). With tumors of stage I–II, the five-year OS was 94.4% and III–IV stage — decreased to 73.1% with a high level of statistical significance of the χ²=6.042, p=0.014. Conclusions. OC and lip cancer is most effectively cured in the I–II stage of the disease with the initial implementation of the surgical stage preceding EBRT. EBRT with photodynamic therapy and laser hyperthermia is effective for contraindications for patients to brachytherapy. The determination of PM (predictive markers) is a promising direction in optimizing the antitumor treatment of malignant neoplasms of OC/lip.

Immediate autonomic changes during right nostril breathing and left nostril breathing in regular yoga practitioners.

The ancient Indian science of Yoga makes use of voluntary regulation of breathing to make respiration rhythmic and calm the mind. This practice is called pranayama. Nadisuddhi pranayama means "purification of subtle energy paths," inhalation and exhalation are through alternative nostrils for successive respiratory cycles. Surya Anuloma-Viloma pranayama means "heat generating breathing particle" when the respiratory cycle of inhalation and exhalation is completed through the right nostril exclusively. When completed through the left nostril alone, the practice is called "Chandra Anuloma-Viloma pranayama," which means a heat-dissipating or cooling liberating practice. We compared the effect of right nostril breathing (RNA) and left nostril breathing (LNB) pranayama on heart rate variability. The study was conducted at the Department of Physiology at an institute of national importance, after obtaining necessary ethical approvals from the Institutional Ethics Committee. Twenty healthy kriya yogi volunteers (mean age: 44 years), who are regular practitioners for the last 10-20 years, were inducted into the study. RNB pranayama starts with closing the right nostril with the thumb of the left hand followed by exhalation through the right nostril and inhaling slowly through the same nostril. This forms one round of RNB pranayama. In contrast, inhalation through the left nostril and exhalation through the right nostril exclusively is called chandrabhedana pranayama (chandrabhedana means moon-piercing breath in Sanskrit) with a similar variation called Chandra Anuloma-Viloma pranayama in which inhalation, as well as exhalation, is performed through the left nostril exclusively. The recording of electrocardiogram (ECG) for heart rate variability (HRV) analysis was taken by heart rate variability (Dinamika HRV-Advanced Heart Rate Variability Test System, Moscow, Russia). The resting and during readings of heart rate variability parameters were compared and post hoc analysis was done using Bonferroni and Holm multiple comparisons for repeated measures. Time domain parameters: Standard deviation of normal to normal RR intervals (SDNN) and root mean square of successive NN interval differences (RMSSD) were increased at a high level of statistical significance during both pranayama maneuvres. Frequency domain parameters: LF, LF/HF ratio increased significantly. Parasympathetic activity is represented by LF when the respiration rate is lower than 7 breaths per min or during taking a deep breath. Thus, when the subject is in a state of relaxation with slow and even breathing in both RNB-right nostril and Chandra-LNB, the LF values can be very high, indicating an increase in parasympathetic activity rather than an increase in sympathetic regulation. Our study is an acute study, where changes in HRV were seen after 5 min of RNB and LNB. However, statistically, there is not much difference in the immediate effects of the two pranayamas on heart rate variability in regular yoga practitioners.

Ukrainian Translation and Linguistic Validation of the Gender Bias Quiz Questionnaire

This work aims to confirm the Ukrainian variant of the Gender Bias Quiz at a linguistic level. Thе questionnaire consists of 20 questions, which allows the psychologist to determine the individual's gender bias. Respondents (university students, 20-26 years old) completed the Ukrainian translated version of the Gender Bias Quiz questionnaire, and then two weeks later, students completed the original one. Statistical analysis of the data included the use of the Wilcoxon test and the Spearman correlation test. The Wilcoxon test results showed no significant differences between the original (English) and the translated questionnaire. Instead, the Spearman test showed a positive correlation at a high level of statistical significance between respondents' scores in the first and second tests. The obtained data proved the successful linguistic validation of this questionnaire.

Sex and age biological variation of the mandible in a Portuguese population- a forensic and medico-legal approaches with three-dimensional analysis

The medico-legal identification is based on a set of discriminatory characteristics between individuals in their biological, social, cultural, religious, legal and economic framework.The purpose of this study was to characterize the biological variation, regarding gender and age, in a Portuguese population. A three-dimensional (3D) analysis of 215 mandibles (7–20 years old) from the database of the Laboratory of Forensic Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (CE-112/2019) was performed.A total of 13 cephalometric points defined 10 linear variables and 7 angular variables, on 3D reconstructions from ConeBeam Computed Tomography (CBCT) images. Intra and inter-observer errors were analyzed by Technical Measurement Error test. A descriptive statistics was performed. To verify the influence of gender and age on the variables and to determine its predictive value, ANOVA and Logistic Regression Analysis were performed.Gender and age influence most of the linear variables, however, the same is not true for angular variables. In the analysis of all variables, the model has a reasonable level of sensitivity (67.8%) according to gender. For the age prediction, with all variables, the model presented a reasonable level of sensitivity, classifying 79.4% of the individuals.The results supported, with a high level of statistical significance, an adequate recognition of individuals highlighting the identification and criminal imputability of Portuguese individuals.

Fine Arts as a Means of Developing Creative Activity in Younger Adolescents

The role of fine arts in the process of developing pupils’ creative activity remains insufficiently studied. This is especially true for the specifics of developing a values-based attitude towards any kind of creative activity in the representatives of such a complex age group as younger adolescents. The paper aims to develop and experimentally verify the methodology for developing creative activity in younger adolescents using fine arts in the educational process of secondary schools based on theoretical justification of the problem of the individual’s creative activity. This methodology was aimed at implementing a holistic set of creativity exercises, partial searching and artistic creativity tasks and a variable model for organizing the actions in the form of “the projection of desire”. The control and experimental groups involved the same number of younger adolescents, namely, 143 respondents, whose indicators of development levels of creative activity did not differ significantly. Different methods were used to identify the level of creative activity: questionnaires, interviews, conversations, pedagogical observations, partial searching, multi-level artistic creativity tasks and creativity exercises. The level of creative activity in younger adolescents in the experimental group has increased: a prospective level - by 9.1% (from 7% to 16.1%), a differentiated level - by 5.6% (from 51.7% to 57.3%). A situational level has decreased by 14.7% (from 41.3% to 26.6%). All the obtained data differ from the tabular ones for the selected high level of statistical significance (0.01&lt;p&lt;0.05), which indicates the effectiveness of the developed methodology for developing creative activity in younger adolescents using fine arts in the educational process of secondary schools.

Search for SINE repeats in the rice genome using correlation-based position weight matrices

BackgroundTransposable elements (TEs) constitute a significant part of eukaryotic genomes. Short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs) are non-autonomous TEs, which are widely represented in mammalian genomes and also found in plants. After insertion in a new position in the genome, TEs quickly accumulate mutations, which complicate their identification and annotation by modern bioinformatics methods. In this study, we searched for highly divergent SINE copies in the genome of rice (Oryza sativa subsp. japonica) using the Highly Divergent Repeat Search Method (HDRSM).ResultsThe HDRSM considers correlations of neighboring symbols to construct position weight matrix (PWM) for a SINE family, which is then used to perform a search for new copies. In order to evaluate the accuracy of the method and compare it with the RepeatMasker program, we generated a set of SINE copies containing nucleotide substitutions and indels and inserted them into an artificial chromosome for analysis. The HDRSM showed better results both in terms of the number of identified inserted repeats and the accuracy of determining their boundaries. A search for the copies of 39 SINE families in the rice genome produced 14,030 hits; among them, 5704 were not detected by RepeatMasker.ConclusionsThe HDRSM could find divergent SINE copies, correctly determine their boundaries, and offer a high level of statistical significance. We also found that RepeatMasker is able to find relatively short copies of the SINE families with a higher level of similarity, while HDRSM is able to find more diverged copies. To obtain a comprehensive profile of SINE distribution in the genome, combined application of the HDRSM and RepeatMasker is recommended.

Исследование самореализации сотрудников органов внутренних дел Российской Федерации

The article presents the research data of the professional self-realization in the internal affairs officers of the Russian Federation. Also the study provided the data of a survey carried out among some internal affairs officers from the subdivisions of Moscow Head Office of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. The respondents specified the motives and the work context that led them to resignation from service. The study shows how the notion of self-realization is defined in the international and in Russian Psychology. The work also contains the findings of average values of structural components of personal self-realization and the factor analysis of the data obtained. 190 officers (non-commissioned and commissioned officers with 2-15 years of service) from the structural subdivisions of the Moscow Head Office of the Ministry have been examined. Several conclusions can be drawn from the results of the examination. Firstly, the examined officers of this group mostly have not only a good idea of their ambitions, but they also have the ability to fulfill them. The officers are efficient and at the same time optimistic, they can redistribute their resources. They are distinguished by the yearning for their personal growth, professional excellence and social recognition. Secondly, the respondents' motivational sphere has certain contradictory elements. On the one hand, they have their own personal motives ensuring their career advancement (financial independence, prestige and power). On the other hand, they accept the socially upheld motives (to make a significant contribution to their collective accomplishment, to improve relationships among their colleagues etc.). At the same time, the socially upheld motives are considerably more prevalent (at a fairly high level of statistical significance p≤0.0002).

Application of machine learning for predicting the outcome of treatment of patients with schizophrenia according to the indicators of «Thrombodynamics» test

To identify relationships between thrombodynamic values and the severity of the condition in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) before and after treatment. The study included 92 patients in an acute state of schizophrenia or schizotypal disorder, aged 16 to 57 years (median age [Q1; Q3] - 25 years). All patients received complex psychopharmacotherapy adequate to their psychopathological state. The PANSS was used to assess the severity of symptoms in patients. The coagulation parameters were determined by the thrombodynamics test, in which the growth of fibrin clots in platelet free plasma are observed from special activator. The patient population was divided into two groups with weak and strong response to treatment. Data analysis included machine learning (ML) techniques: logistic regression, random forests, decision trees, support vector machines with radial basis functions, statistically weighted syndromes, permutation method. An analysis using permutation method revealed statistically significant different thrombodynamics values between groups of patients with weak and strong responses. There are significant differences between thrombodynamics values: T1D, T2D, T2Tlag and DTlag, and values characterizing the severity of positive symptoms before and after treatment (T1PposTot, T2PposTot), severity of psychopathological symptoms before treatment (T1Ppsy1, T1Ppsy6, T1Ppsy13). All ML techniques showed the relationship between thrombodynamics values and response to treatment. The best statistical significance was for statistically weighted syndromes method. The combination of the results of different ML techniques at a high level of statistical significance identifies the thrombodynamic predictors of weak effect of treatment of SSD.

The effect of Emotional Freedom Techniques on nurses' stress, anxiety, and burnout levels during the COVID-19 pandemic: A randomized controlled trial

Background and ObjectiveInfectious disease outbreaks pose psychological challenges to the general population, and especially to healthcare workers. Nurses who work with COVID-19 patients are particularly vulnerable to emotions such as fear and anxiety, due to fatigue, discomfort, and helplessness related to their high intensity work. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of a brief online form of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) in the prevention of stress, anxiety, and burnout in nurses involved in the treatment of COVID patients. MethodsThe study is a randomized controlled trial. It complies with the guidelines prescribed by the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) checklist. It was conducted in a COVID-19 department at a university hospital in Turkey. We recruited nurses who care for patients infected with COVID-19 and randomly allocated them into an intervention group (n = 35) and a no-treatment control group (n = 37). The intervention group received one guided online group EFT session. ResultsReductions in stress (p < .001), anxiety (p < .001), and burnout (p < .001) reached high levels of statistical significance for the intervention group. The control group showed no statistically significant changes on these measures (p > .05). ConclusionsA single online group EFT session reduced stress, anxiety, and burnout levels in nurses treating COVID-19.

Do clusters create shared value? A social network analysis of the motor valley case

Purpose This paper aims to contribute to the debate about creating shared value (CSV) and clusters, by shedding light on how clusters might generate shared value, i.e. cause social and business benefits, hence focusing on the following research question “do clusters create shared value?” Design/methodology/approach The study relied on social network analysis methods and techniques. Data have been collected from both primary and secondary sources, in the empirical context of the Motor Valley cluster in Emilia-Romagna. The authors computed three independent and four dependent variables to operationalize the concept of cluster development and shared value creation. A multiple regression quadratic assignment procedure and, more specifically, the most accurate model of that procedure, that is the double semi-partialling method, has been carried out to answer the research question. Finally, empirical evidence has been complemented with other cluster-level data recently collected by the Italian Cluster Mapping project. Findings The findings confirm how the development of the Motor Valley cluster in Emilia-Romagna contributed to the creation of economic and social growth opportunities for all the actors. The study shows that clusters do create shared value and the chosen cluster development variables do explain much of the business and social impact variables at a very high statistical significance level. Originality/value The paper contributes to the under-explored research on clusters and CSV with a very first attempt in providing quantitative evidence of the phenomenon.

Hardiness training for HIV-infected women

Aim objective is to study the relationship between the viability of HIV-infected women and their psychological state, lifelong orientations, and coping strategies for developing psychological intervention.Materials and methods. The study participants were patients of the St. Petersburg Center for the Prevention and Control of AIDS. The questionnaire includes the socio-demographic characteristics of women. «Resilience Test» S. Muddy, test «Meaningful Life Orientations» (SJO) D. A. Leont’ev, Stress Management Strategies (SACS) Questionnaire C. Hobfall, the SSD-12 scale evaluates the psychological stress associated with somatic symptoms. The Impact of Event Scale is designed to measure specific human responses to stressors, where a common scale measures the degree to which a response to HIV infection is a traumatic event.Results. The average age of women who participated in the training is 38.9 years. 48,1% (13/27) have higher education. 37% (10/27) have No children. 48,1% (13/27) of women are single (do not have a permanent sexual partner). 33,3% (9/27) of the participants were diagnosed with HIV infection less than a year ago. The training included a complex of three classes. Participants gathered once a week from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The group was open. Those who completed a set of three classes were asked to fill out a feedback form. The indicators of the «Resilience» test at a high level of statistical significance are positively associated with the indicators of the LSS «General Intelligence», «Goals in Life», «Life Process», «Life Efficiency», «Locus of Control-I», «Locus of Control-Life». The severity of the perception of the diagnosis of HIV infection as a traumatic event has a two-way connection with psychological tension (at the cognitive, affective and behavioral levels), a negative connection with the meaning of life orientations and the need to find the «source» of the meaning of life at the moment. The traumatic effect of HIV infection is associated with aggressive behavior, difficulties in the meaningfulness of what is happening, with a loss of vigilance and self-confidence.

Stathmin! An immunohistochemical analysis of the novel marker in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Oral Leukoplakia.

Background:Stathmin is an intracellular phosphoprotein that controls the microtubule dynamics by further regulating proper attachment and alignment of chromosomes in a dividing cell. Thus, any mutation or aberrantly expressed protein that reduces the fidelity of spindle assembly will enhance chromosomal instability contributing to aneuploidy. Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma is an extensively studied malignancy that occurs due to accumulated genetic changes due to carcinogens. The current study is done to evaluate the stathmin role and its expression in OSCC and Oral epithelial dysplasia (OED). Objective:The aim of the present study is to evaluate the role of stathmin in OSCC and Oral dysplasia and also to correlate the expression of Stathmin with respect to the different histopathological grades of OED and OSCC. Materials and Methods:30 neutral buffered formalin fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues of Oral Leukoplakia/OED and 30 FFPE tissues of OSCC were subjected to immunohistochemistry with stathmin antibody. Five fields of each case with 300 cells were examined and a mean percentage of positive–stained slides were determined. The percentages were recorded accordingly with their respective histological grades. The results were analysed statistically. Results:The results of the present study demonstrated higher mean values of stathmin in tissues with OSCC (2.50) compared to leukoplakia (2.11) and normal tissues (0.00) with a high level of statistical significance (0.0001). There is also an increase in the percentage levels of stathmin with increase in the histological grade of differentiation in OSCC as well as leukoplakia. Conclusion:The present study found a statistical correlation between increased grades of the disease with expression levels of stathmin. This confirms that stathmin expression can contribute to disease progression and that stathmin might have a potential role as an early diagnostic biomarker and can be a therapeutic target for OSCC.

Seasonal abundance and larval habitats characterization of mosquito species in Lagos State, Nigeria

The knowledge of the ecology and abundance of mosquito is important in determining the potential risk of exposure to mosquito-borne diseases and the appropriate control measure to effectively reduce the mosquito population. A survey was carried out in four Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Lagos State, Nigeria for one year to determine the abundance, diversity, and larval habitat characteristics of mosquito. Larvae were collected using WHO standard methods, the physiochemical characteristics of the habitats were recorded, the larvae were reared to adults and identified using morphological identification keys and molecular assays. Adult mosquitoes were also collected outdoor using a trap with octanol attractant. Five species belonging to 3 genera were collected and identified as Anopheles gambiae complex, Anopheles funestus complex, Culex quinquefasciatus, Aedes aegypti, and Aedes albopictus. Cx quinquefasciatus (37.7%) is the most abundant followed by Ae aegypti (31.3%) and An. gambiae s.l. (26.9%) while Ae. albopictus (1.9%) is the least abundant. The larval abundance within the different species showed a high level of statistical significance (P<0.001). Simpson's index was found to range from 0.6751 to 0.6926 for all the sampled locations while the Shannon index ranges from 1.187 to 1.242 and Evenness ranges from 0.6566 to 0.7134. The average physiochemical parameter of the water bodies harboring the mosquito larvae includes pH ranging from 7.2 ± 0.1 to 7.7 ± 0.2, Conductivity ranging from 0.35±0.2 to 0.83±0.46, temperature ranging from 28.7 ± 0.65 to 31.3 ± 0.71, and TDS ranging from 330±158.4 to 571.5 ± 320. An increase in the global temperature as a result of climate change could have an effect on temperature and other physiochemical parameters of mosquito larval habitats, thereby altering the duration of their metamorphosis, subsequently an upsurge in adult mosquito abundance leading potential outbreak of mosquito-borne diseases.

The influence of human resource management practices on job satisfaction

Organizations that want to improve their performance should focus on the satisfaction of their employees, because employees who are satisfied with their work are the largest asset in the organization, while unsatisfied employees are its biggest problems and obligations. Much attention should be paid to the problem of measuring employee satisfaction in an organization, since this circumstance clearly describes the current situation of the organization. Understanding how satisfied employees are with the job contains useful information to predict their future behavior and make the right managerial decisions. Human resource management can overcome many challenges by offering various methods that increase employee satisfaction. These methods will help the organization work better. It is imperative that organizations maximize the impact of supportive human resource management practices. The article presents the results of a study aimed at studying human resource management practices affecting employee satisfaction. The study was conducted by an online survey among employees of educational institutions of the city of Almaty. The results revealed practices that significantly affect employee satisfaction, in particular: training and development; awareness raising; democratic approach and fair distribution of power, the provision of authority; providing employment security; stimulation of self-realization and career advancement; initiative management. The socio-demographic factors affecting employee satisfaction were also identified. Indicators such as gender and income showed a high level of statistical significance.

Climatic variation in the high mountains of central Mexico: Temperature and precipitation indices at Nevado de Toluca volcano

The Nevado de Toluca weather station (4283 masl, 19 oN) has recorded meteorological data for over half a century, and this combination of elevation and duration provides a rare opportunity to study climate trends in a tropical high-mountain environment. The climatic variability during the period 1965-2015 at the Nevado de Toluca volcano was analyzed. Nine standard climate indices for temperature and seven for precipitation were calculated from daily data from its weather station. The results, with a high level of statistical significance, show an increase in the number of days with night frost and cold periods; likewise, results indicate an increase in the diurnal thermal oscillation. Total accumulated precipitation shows an increasing tendency over time, although the periods with precipitation are increasingly isolated. This suggests that seasonal snow on the summit of the volcano will be increasingly isolated but, at the same time, the snowpack will persist longer. This work is expected to serve as a reference for other high-mountain tropical environmental studies, where air temperature and precipitation are crucial issues.