Independent Sample T-test Research Articles

In vivo comparison of resin infiltration outcomes under different light conditions: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Success of resin infiltration for the masking of MIH-lesions remains difficult to predict, prompting suggestions to adjust the treatment protocol. This exploratory in vivo study aims to evaluate whether monitoring the resin infiltration process using transmitted light, compared to ambient light, enables a better estimation of when the infiltration process is completed, and to assess how the treatment success, i.e. masking effect and infiltration proportion, is influenced accordingly. 15 patients with 19 MIH-lesions, diagnosed according to EAPD diagnostic criteria, were enrolled. MIH-lesions were randomly assigned to two treatment groups. In one group resin infiltration progression was monitored under transmitted light, whereas in the second group ambient light was used, representing the standard procedure. Pictures were taken before infiltration and when progression became evident until infiltration was judged to be completed. Infiltration proportion and color difference between the opacity and surrounding sound enamel were calculated and analyzed using the independent-sample t-test with a level of significance of p < 0.05. Compared to the ambient light group, the transmitted light group showed a significantly higher infiltration time (17.7 ± 8.2 min vs. 9.3 ± 1.6 min); a significantly higher mean infiltration proportion (97.6 ± 2.8% vs. 83.9 ± 9.7%) and a significantly better masking effect (i.e. lower mean color difference (∆E) between effected and sound enamel: 4.5 ± 2.4 vs. 7.5 ± 3.3). Transillumination-guided resin infiltration required prolonged infiltration time but led to an increased infiltration proportion and improved masking effects. Transillumination guided resin infiltration enables a more accurate judgement as to when the infiltration process has been completed, which leads, through extension of the infiltration time, to a significantly higher mean infiltration proportion and provides favorable esthetic outcomes.

Abstract TMP69: Prevalence and Risk Factors of Seizures in Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy: a multi-year health system-wide case-control study

Introduction: Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (CAA) is caused by the progressive deposition of β-amyloid in the walls of small to medium-sized cerebral vessels. Although seizures represent a debilitating manifestation of CAA, little is known about their prevalence or associated factors. We aim to fill this gap by determining the prevalence of seizures in CAA and identify factors associated with an increased risk of seizures. Methods: We identified consecutive patients with CAA, evaluated within the Mayo Clinic health system between January 2010 and December 2023 using the ICD-10 code. Data on demographics and comorbidities were compared between those with and without seizures using the chi-square test for categorical variables and independent samples t-test for continuous variables. Odds ratios (OR) were estimated after adjusting for age, sex, and race in multivariable logistic regression. Results: We included 1,914 patients with CAA with a mean age of 75.4 ± 8.6 years, of whom 52.3% were female and 87.5% were white. Seizures were observed in 347 patients (18.1%). Individuals with seizures were significantly younger (mean age 67.7 ± 9.1 vs. 77.2 ± 7.5 years, p &lt; 0.001). Multivariable modeling identified alcohol abuse (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.03-3.56, p=0.04), diabetes mellitus (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.13-4.06, p=0.02), hypertension (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.33 - 2.41, p= &lt;0.001), liver disease (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.14-2.69, p=0.01), and ischemic stroke (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.01-1.74, p=0.04) as independently associated with an increased risk of seizures. Conclusion: We found that seizures affect nearly one in five patients with CAA. Also, comorbidities such as alcohol abuse, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, liver disease, and ischemic stroke were found to be significantly associated with an increased risk of seizures. Longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm these risk factors, some of which may be modifiable.

Readiness for self-directed learning among undergraduate medical students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during COVID-19, Pakistan.

The field of medical sciences has continuously been changing and evolving rapidly pertaining to the newly introduced practices and guidelines according to the principles of evidence-based medicine. Therefore, it is of utmost importance for the healthcare practitioners to keep themselves updated and regulated through self-directed learning. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the readiness of self-directed learning among undergraduate medical students. A total of 824 students participated both from public and private medical colleges of KPK. A self-reported validated SRSSDL scale was used to obtain data. The perception of public and private medical colleges students was compared and analyzedusing SPSS version 24. Differences in SDL mean scores of student groups were analyzed through independent sample t-test for groups having two categories (e.g. gender, medical college setting etc.). Mean scores of all the five academic years were compared using one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The levels of SDL readiness (e.g. good, average, poor) were cross tabulated with gender, medical college setting and academic years categories by using Chi-squaretest. the p - value was set at 0.05. The self-rated scale for SDL readiness among undergraduate medical students showed a mean score of 226.91 ± 30.074 (Minimum score = 81, Maximum score = 300) with a range of 219. On the whole, among 824 students, 61.3% of students reported good readiness for self-directed learning, 38.2% average readiness.Students enrolled in private medical colleges were more likely to report good readiness for SDL (58.4%) compared to those enrolled in public sector medical colleges (41.6%). The findings of this vast survey suggest that overall undergraduate medical students are ready for self-directed learning in their prevailing circumstances at undergraduate medical education. It also finds that students enrolled in private medical colleges are more likely to be ready for self-directed learning than those studying in public medical colleges.However, further research with qualitative analysis and longitudnal designs is recomended to explore factors promoting or preventing self directed learning.

Gender Differences in Grammar Performance: An Analysis of EFL Achievement Test Results from Saudi Diploma Students

The aim of this study was to examine the gender differences among EFL diploma students in grammar based on an English achievement test. This study was motivated by the observed challenges Saudi students face with mastering grammar, a crucial element of English proficiency that forms the basis of all four aspects of language: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Despite the same curriculum and evaluation systems in Saudi Arabia’s segregated educational context, little is known about possible gender-based disparities in grammar performance. Addressing this gap is important for promoting equitable teaching practices, refining evaluation procedures and optimizing learning outcomes. The study utilized a discrete-point multiple-choice grammar test, as part of an English achievement test, designed to assess students’ understanding of grammatical rules taught in their pre-intermediate English course. A total of 237 EFL diploma students (111 males and 126 females) completed the test, and the data were analyzed using an independent sample t-test to investigate differences in grammar performance between genders. The findings indicated no statistically significant differences between males and females, implying that their shared background, textbooks, and assessment standards may lead to comparable performance.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF MEASUREMENT ERRORS AND PRAGMATIC ERRORS ON ESSAY WRITING SKILLS AMONG JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ IN KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

The study investigated comparative analysis of measurement errors and pragmatic errors on essay writing skills among sunior Secondary School Students’ in Kogi State, Nigeria. Two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. Population comprises of all 8,351 students offering English Language from 17 public junior secondary school in Kogi State, Nigeria and 384 students offering English Language were used as sample size. Observation Protocol English Language Essay Writing Skills Questionnaire/Checklist (OPELEWTQC)’’was used as an instrument, it was validated and pilot tested which yielded the of 0.74 validity index and of 0.75 reliability index. Mean and standard deviation was used to answer research questions while t-test of independent samples was used for testing the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significant. Findings of this study reveal a significant difference in the impact of measurement errors and pragmatic errors on essay writing skills among junior secondary school students in Kogi State. It was established that pragmatic errors exert a more substantial influence on the students' essay writing skills compared to measurement errors. This highlights the critical role of pragmatic competence in improving students' overall writing performance and effective communication in essays. The study recommends incorporating pragmatic skill development into junior secondary school English language curricula, such as real-life language use activities and context-based writing exercises, as well as establishing teacher training programs to identify and correct pragmatic faults in students' writing.

ANALYSIS OF PRAGMATIC ERRORS ON ESSAY WRITING PERFORMANCE OF SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ IN NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

The study investigated Analysis of Pragmatic Errors on Essay Writing Performance of Senior Secondary School Students’ in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Three research questions and three null hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. Population comprises of all 12,333 students offering English Language from 17 public senior secondary school in Nasarawa State, Nigeria and 384 students offering English Language were used as sample size. English Language Essay Performance Writing Test (ELEPWT) was used as an instrument, it was validated and pilot tested which yielded the of 0.71 validity index and of 0.72 reliability index. Descriptive statistics was to answer research questions while t-test of independent samples was used for testing the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significant. The findings reveals significant differences in the types and rank order of pragmatic errors committed by SSII students in essay writing tests in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. However, no significant difference was found between male and female students, suggesting that gender does not influence the occurrence of these errors. This suggests that the nature and frequency of these errors are not influenced by gender. It recommended that, English language teachers should prioritize teaching pragmatic competence, including appropriate language use, context understanding, and writing application. Schools should provide workshops and specialized training to enhance teaching effectiveness. Contextual writing exercises and peer-review sessions can help students understand and apply pragmatic norms accurately. This approach encourages active learning and critical writing skills.

PENGARUH MODEL PEMBELAJARAN CONTEXTUAL TEACHING LEARNING (CTL) DENGAN STRATEGI INKUIRI TERHADAP HASIL BELAJAR SISTEM GERAK MANUSIA

This study aimst determine the effect of the CTL learning model with inquiry strategies on student learning outcomes at SMPN 4 Kutacane. This research uses experimental methods. The population in this study was class VIII students, totaling 85 students. The sample consisted of 44 students consisting of two classes, namely class VIII-2 with 22 students as the experimental class and class VIII/3 as the control class. Data codellection was carried out through pretest and posttest. Data on improving learning outcomes is in the form of normalized gain (N-Gain). The difference in the average N_Gain of the experimental class and the control class was analyzed using an independent sample t-test. The average value of the experimental class is higher than the control class. The results of the t test show that the t value = 2.68 and the t table value = 2.02 (t count &gt; t table) at a significance level of 0.05 which shows that Ho is rejected and Ha is accepted. That there is an influence of the CTL learning model with inquiry strategies on student learning outcomes in human movement systems material.

Predictability of Job Satisfaction and Self-esteem on Organisational Commitment among Non-academic Staff

Organisational commitment remains the backbone of growth and development in for-profit and nonprofit organisations. However, studies investigating organisational commitment in educational sectors have produced different results. Therefore, this study examined the predictability of job satisfaction and self-esteem on organisational commitment among non-academic staff in a Nigerian federal university. A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted, a purposive sampling technique was used to select one federal University, and a convenience sampling technique was used to select participants to administer the questionnaires. Data were collected from 292 participants using validated scales and analysed using independent samples t-test and multiple regression analysis. At the same time, the hypotheses tested were accepted at a p &lt; .05 level of significance. The result revealed that job satisfaction and self-esteem jointly predicted organisational commitment among study participants [R2 = .05, F (2,291) =7.37, p &lt; .05]. Moreover, the results showed that job satisfaction independently predicted organisational commitment among study participants (β =.22, p &lt;.05). However, self-esteem did not independently predict organisational commitment among study participants (β =.08, p &gt;.05]. The study concluded that job satisfaction more than self-esteem tends to predict organisational commitment among study participants strongly. It is recommended that human resources planning units in higher institutions should put in place robust programmes that would enhance organisational commitment among their employees.

GAMIFIED ENGLISH INSTRUCTION MEDIATED BY KAHOOT! AT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL: EVIDENCE FOR VOCABULARY GAINS

Learning vocabulary in a second or foreign language is necessary for effective communication. Because the process of memorizing vocabulary is boring and stressful for some high school students, they have poor vocabulary knowledge. This study is focused on investigating whether or not there is an effect of using Kahoot! on senior high school students' vocabulary achievement. This research was conducted in two classes, one of which was used as an experimental class, and the other was a control class. The duration of the treatment is two weeks, and the third week is to do a post-test. This research was carried out in one of the high schools in Jember City. To measure participants' achievement in vocabulary learning after the experiment, a vocabulary achievement test was developed by the researchers. To check the validity of the hypothesis, an independent sample t-test was run to determine the significant difference between the mean post-test score and the SPSS. The results of the study indicate that Kahoot is effective in improving the vocabulary learning of the experimental group.

The effect of plaster applied to the umbilical area (Shenque-CV8 point) on nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

Hormonal and physical changes, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy, can cause nausea and vomiting. This study aims to investigate the effect of plaster applied to the umbilical area (Shenque-CV8 point) on nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. It is a randomized-controlled study (Clinical trial number: NCT05788796). A total of 60 pregnant women, 30 in the CV8 group and 30 in the control group constituted the sampling of the study. Pregnant women in the CV8 group were regularly asked to fix a hazelnut-sized cotton ball to the umbilicus with plaster before going to bed at night for five days. Pregnant women in the control group were not asked to make any changes in their lives. The nausea-vomiting levels of pregnant women before and five days after the treatment were compared using the Rhodes Nausea Index and PUQE nausea scoring. The data was analyzed by the independent sample t-test, chi-square test, and paired sample t-test. The statistical significance value was accepted as P < 0.05. There was no statistically significant difference between the experiment and control groups in terms of sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics. The degree of nausea decreased in the experiment group compared to the pre-intervention period (p < 0.001), while no statistically significant change was found in the control group. In addition, while there was no difference between the two groups in terms of nausea scores before the application, there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups after the application, the nausea score of the experimental group was lower compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The results show that the application of plaster to the Shenque-CV8 point reduces nausea and vomiting in pregnant women and has no side effects. This application is practical, non-invasive, and easy to apply.

The effect of different bioceramic root canal sealer removal protocols on the bond strength of composite to coronal dentin in diabetic and non-diabetic patients: an ex vivo study

BackgroundDiabetes mellitus can alter the physical and mechanical properties of dentin, compromising bonding. Furthermore, residual sealer on dentin may inhibit the bond strength. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of different cleaning protocols on the adhesive bond strength of composite to coronal dentin contaminated with a tricalcium silicate (TCS)based root canal sealer in diabetic and non-diabetic patients.MethodsDiabetic (n = 50) and non-diabetic (n = 50) teeth were randomly divided into two groups. Coronal dentin surface specimens were obtained. The samples were contaminated with a TCS based sealer and then divided into five subgroups, four different cleaning procedures (dry cotton, wet cotton, ultrasonic-15, ultrasonic-30) and a control group (n = 10). The samples were restored with composite. A standard shear bond strength (SBS) test was performed. All failures were categorized as adhesive, cohesive or mixed. Data were analyzed using Independent Samples t-test and One-Way Analysis of Variance at a significance level of p < 0.05.ResultsSBS values ​​were lower in diabetic dentin group than in non-diabetic dentin group. Dry cotton showed the lowest SBS value in both main groups. Ultrasonic-15 and ultrasonic-30 groups showed equal SBS values ​​in the non-diabetic group (p = 0.001), while the highest SBS was seen in the ultrasonic-30 subgroup in the diabetic dentin group. The highest adhesive failure was observed in the diabetic dentin group, and the dominant failure type was mixed for both groups.ConclusionThe use of dry cotton was an insufficient method for removing bioceramic root canal sealer residues from coronal dentin in both the diabetic and non-diabetic patients. 15 s of ultrasonic activation was effective for removing bioceramic root canal sealer remnants from the non-diabetic coronal dentin. However, for the coronal dentin in the diabetic group, 30-sec ultrasonic activation was the most effective method for removing bioceramic root canal sealer remnants.

EFFECT OF GUIDED DISCOVERY STRATEGY ON SCIENCE PROCESS SKILLS ACQUISITION AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY STUDENTS IN KATSINA STATE, NIGERIA

This study investigated the Effect of Guided Discovery Strategy on Science Process Skills Acquisition and Academic Performance Among Senior Secondary School Biology Students in Katsina State, Nigeria. The study has two research objectives, answered two research questions and tested two null hypotheses. The research design for the study was quasi-experimental and control group design involving pretest and posttest. The population of the study comprised of 12,328 (6,754 male and 5,574 female) SS II Biology students from 23 public senior secondary schools in Katsina Zonal Education Quality Assurance. The sample of 95 students which selected from the total population of 12,328 were drown from 23 core educational schools in Katsina Zonal Education Quality Assurance public seco-educational schools were selected using purposive sampling technique. A sample of (95) senior secondary school students consisting of 115 males and 67 females biology students were randomly selected and used for the study. The validated instruments Biology Performance test (BPT) was used by the researcher for data collection with the reliability coefficient of 0.789 respectively. The research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation while the null hypotheses is tested at 0.05 level of significance using independent sample t-test. The findings of the study reveal that, there is significant difference in the mean science process skills acquisition and the mean score of academic performance of biology students exposed to guided discovery strategy and those exposed to conventional lecture method in favor of the students taught biology using guided discovery strategy. The study was therefore concluded that, Guided Discovery Strategy have significant effect on the students science process skills acquisition and academic performance in biology. It was recommended among others that, teachers of biology should expose students to Guided Discovery Strategy so as to improve their cognitive and psychomotor skills.

Effectiveness of digital game-based GISCC program on cyberbullying prevention among Chinese adolescents.

The increasing use of social networking sites has increased the efficiency of social interactions but inevitably contributed to the risk of cyberbullying. Despite evidence of the effectiveness of offline intervention programs for cyberbullying, few have examined online interventions, especially in the Chinese context. This study aims to develop and validate an innovative Game-based Intervention for School- and Cyberbullying for Children (GISCC), which combines training on psychosocial and behavioral components with interactive role-play games. A randomized trial method was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the GISCC intervention, comprising 105 Chinese adolescents who were randomly assigned to the experimental (n=55) and control (n=50) groups. Independent sample t-test, paired-samples t-test, ANCOVA, and MANCOVA were used to test the differences in the trained components before and after the intervention. The results showed that the GISCC intervention significantly reduced cyberbullying behaviors (F=37.50, p<0.001), violence intentions (F=4.95, p<0.05), and mental health problems (F=60.28, p<0.001); and increased self-efficacy (F=18.26, p<0.001), and conflict resolution skills (F=36.46, p<0.001). Our study provided empirical evidence in the Chinese context for digital health intervention approaches for cyberbullying prevention. We also identified the essential components (empathy, self-efficacy, violence prevention, conflict resolution with families) for future research on developing effective digital intervention tools to reduce cyberbullying.

Analysis of mental burden of students based on NASA-TLX at DAYAH DMA

One of the organizations in Aceh that deals with religious instruction and learning is Dayah DMA. Students who pursue higher education and are enrolled in religious education institutions are known as mahasantri, and they are thought to possess greater physical and psychological development than students in regular schools. No doubt learning in two distinct locations has different job demands, which could put more strain on Mahasantri's mind. This study aims to determine the causes of high mental load on mahasantri and investigate potential disparities in mental burden according to gender, status, and class levels. Purposive sampling is used in this study to handle primary data from 56 mahasantri respondents who completed questionnaires as part of a quantitative approach. According to the research that was done, 50% of mahasantri, or 28, report having a significant level of mental strain. Physical demand has the highest impact on mahasantri's mental burden, accounting for 18.35% of the total. Subsequently, an independent sample t-test conducted with SPSS version 26 was employed to statistically evaluate the average mental burden score to ascertain whether mental burden varied according to gender, status, and class level categories. The burden for gender and status categories did not differ, according to the results. But in terms of mental load, there was a notable variation for the class level category

Conquering future worries: How positive thinking training helps students overcome anxiety

Anxiety is a common occurrence among individuals facing transitions in life phases, including students who have certain hopes, goals, and standards of living related to their future. As they near the end of their studies, in addition to their final assignments, envisioning the future also becomes a source of anxiety for students. Anxiety is influenced by cognitive performance, especially the perception of things not yet experienced. Anxiety about the future is influenced by negative perceptions of things not yet experienced. One effective therapy in reducing this anxiety is positive thinking therapy. This study aims to prove the effect of positive thinking therapy on 17 male and female students aged between 20 – 24 years old. The participants were selected by purposive sampling method and obtained 17 participants. The 17 participants were randomly divided into two groups, as control and experimental groups. The experiments conducted with repeated measure control group design. The result of repeated measure from the experimental group showed F = 28.2, p &lt; 0.01 and control group showed F = 46,1 and p &lt; 0.01. Meanwhile, the results of independent sample t-test analysis showed a score of F = 2.25 with P &lt; 0.05. The result showed that positive thinking therapy is capable to decrease the symptoms of future anxiety.

The Effect of Toolbox Trainings on Nursing Sensitive Quality Indicators: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Toolbox training or toolbox talks is short-term training to improve occupational health and safety practices in various sectors. These on-the-job trainings provide employees with opportunities to ask questions and share experiences, facilitating the enhancement of workplace safety practices. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of toolbox trainings provided to nurses on nursing-sensitive quality indicators (pain management, pressure ulcer, patient falls, peripheral venous catheter complications, and adverse event reporting) in the workplace. Randomized controlled, pre-test, post-test, and control group design. Before the toolbox training, pretest measurement instruments were used for the nurses in both the experimental and control groups, and the nursing-sensitive quality indicators were monitored by two independent observers. Toolbox training was provided to nurses in the intervention group on their shift in the respective units. Both groups were followed up at the 8th and 12th weeks after the training. Descriptive tests, independent sample t-tests for intergroup comparisons, and repeated and mixed ANOVA for intragroup comparisons were utilized in data analysis. Significant differences were found between pre-test and post-test scores of the nurses in the group who received toolbox training in terms of falls, pressure ulcers, pain management, peripheral venous catheter, and adverse event reporting (p < 0.01). It was observed that the application scores significantly differed among all nurses who received toolbox training according to the findings of both observers, generally increasing in the second follow-up compared to the first, but decreasing in the third follow-up (p < 0.05). Evaluated according to unit quality indicators, it was determined that the number of patient falls (mean 4.04, 2.32, and 1.95 respectively), pressure ulcer occurrences (mean 4.48, 2.69, and 2.45 respectively), and the number of patients experiencing peripheral venous catheter complications decreased (mean 26.79, 16.46, and 15.42 respectively) in the units where nurses who received toolbox training worked. The average number of correctly managed pain patients (mean 37.82, 71.61, 69.07 respectively) and the number of reported adverse events (mean 2.79, 6.60, 6.42 respectively) were observed to increase in the second follow-up but decrease in the third follow-up. As a result, it was determined that on-the-job trainings increased nurses' knowledge level regarding nursing-sensitive quality indicators, improved their practices, and enhanced unit quality indicators. According to the findings of this study, on-the-job trainings provided to nurses were found to be an effective method, and it is recommended to use them in addition to traditional training methods in nurses' in-service education. There is a growing demand for shorter and different training methods in nurses' education. In addition to classical in-service training methods, this training method, which was applied for the first time in the field of nursing, contributed to the improvement of quality indicators sensitive to nursing. Our findings emphasize that it will be useful to use this training method in future studies on improving and developing nursing-sensitive quality indicators. The study has been registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05853588).

The relationship between intraoperative EndoFLIP™ distensibility index and manometry lower esophageal sphincter basal mean pressure in patients undergoing anti-reflux surgery.

Decisions made for anti-reflux surgery can be guided by both EndoFLIP™ measurement of lower esophageal sphincter (LES) distensibility index (DI) and esophageal manometric measurement of lower esophageal function, but the exact nature of their relationship to one another is unknown despite serving similar purposes. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between pre-operative LES basal mean pressure with esophageal manometry and intraoperative gastroesophageal DI using EndoFLIP™ following crural dissection to aid in informing surgeons' decision-making during anti-reflux surgery. A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease who underwent preoperative esophageal manometry evaluation and anti-reflux surgery with EndoFLIP™ intraoperatively between December 2020 and January 2024. Data collected included LES basal mean pressure from manometry and the logarithm of intraoperative EndoFLIP™ DI. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and independent sample t-tests. A total of 147 patients were included in the study. Mean LES basal pressure was 20.3, and median DI after crural dissection was 4.6. There was a significant but weak to non-existent inverse correlation between LES basal mean pressure following crural dissection and logDI (r = -0.243, p = 0.005). Mean LES pressures were compared with findings of significant differences at DI 5, 5.5, 6, 6,5, 7, 7.5, and 8 (p < 0.05 for all), thus, none of the analyzed DI cut-points could definitively be used to inform operative decision-making. There is a significant but weak or non-existent inverse relationship between LES basal mean pressure measured on manometry and DI following crural dissection during anti-reflux surgery, but no specific DI can determine best fundoplication type of surgery based on LES pressures. Surgeons should take advantage of the distinct information gleaned from both manometry and EndoFLIP™, when possible, when planning and performing anti-reflux surgery.

Investigating the Impact of High-Performance Work Systems on Innovation Behavior with Structural Equation Modeling

This study investigates the relationship between high-performance work systems (HPWS) and innovation behavior (IB) using structural equation modeling. The research was carried out on a sample of 205 managers and employees at diverse hospitals located in Istanbul. The normal distribution conformity of quantitative variables was assessed by examining the skewness values against the threshold points of the kurtosis and skewness values. The independent sample t-test was also used to compare two normally distributed groups, while the one-way Anova test was used to compare three or more groups. Findings reveal a positive and significant effect of HPWS on IB. Moreover, demographic factors such as gender, age, education, tenure, and status are examined for their impact on HPWS and innovation behavior, which yields varying and significant outcomes. The study contributes to theoretical understanding by identifying the mechanisms by which HPWS foster innovation and providing useful insights for organizational practitioners seeking to leverage human capital to achieve sustainable competitive advantage.

Comparing Physical Attribute Distinctions in Male Kho-Kho Positions

Background. Kho-Kho, a traditional Indian sport, has separate roles for runners and chasers, each requiring unique physical attributes. Research on the specific physical and anthropometric characteristics of players in this position is limited, highlighting the need for this study to optimize performance at the national level. Objectives. The study aimed to investigate the differences in physical and anthropometric parameters between national level male Kho-Kho players categorized as Runners and Chasers. Materials and methods. A total of 200 male Kho-Kho players, aged 17 to 21 years, were selected for the study. The participants were divided into two groups: 100 Runners (average age 19.21 ± 1.15 years) and 100 Chasers (average age 19.29 ± 1.19 years). The physical attributes measured included body weight, height, BMI, arm length, sitting height, chest girth, thigh girth, calf girth, and skinfold thickness at the biceps, triceps, subscapular, and suprailiac regions. The body fat percentage was calculated using the skinfold measurement technique. Data collection tools included a weighing scale for body weight, a flexible metal tape for circumferences and arm length, and a stadiometer for height and sitting height. The mean and standard deviation were computed for each parameter, and an independent samples t-test was used to compare the two groups. Results. The findings revealed significant differences in weight, BMI, chest, thigh, and calf circumferences, with Chasers having higher values. In contrast, Runners exhibited greater arm length and sitting height. Additionally, there was no considerable difference in height between Runners and Chasers. Conclusions. The study concluded that Chasers tend to have higher body weight, BMI, and larger circumferences in the chest, thigh, and calf regions, which may be advantageous for their role. Conversely, Runners benefit from longer arm lengths and greater sitting height, which may aid in evading Chasers. These findings suggest that role-specific physical attributes should be considered in training and player selection to enhance performance in Kho-Kho.

Feasibility Study for the Development of Combination Dosage Form Containing Aspirin and Omeprazole for Treating Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Events

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are two of the major reasons of morbidity and mortality worldwide, hence require proper treatment and secondary prevention. Aspirin is a first line treatment option for the patients suffering from aforementioned issues and is usually co-administered with omeprazole to lessen the gastrointestinal side effects. A survey was done among patients, doctors, pharmaceuticals and retailers to explore the feasibility of developing a combination bilayer dosage form of aspirin and omeprazole so that the complications of co-administration can be minimized. Data were collected through direct interview and online questionnaire and statistical significance was determined using independent sample t-test. The study showed that drug utilization pattern of 85% of patients contain aspirin and omeprazole in the same prescription. Statistical data supported that both doctors and patients prefer the dose to be 75 mg for aspirin and 20 mg for omeprazole. More than 60% of each stakeholder showed their preference for the combination dosage form. Almost 50% of the doctors and patients preferred it for ease of consumption while retailers and manufactures considered the sales aspect. Moreover, ease of remembering, lesser number of pills consumption and lower price of the combination than the individual formulations came out to be the reasons for expecting availability of the combination among 68.82% of patients. As the demand of the combination and the market prediction of the pharmaceuticals matched, so introduction of fixed dose aspirin-omeprazole bilayer combination in Bangladesh can be beneficial overall. Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Journal 28(1): 105-113, 2025 (January)