Large Correlation Research Articles

Maximal strength, sprint and jump performance in elite kumite karatekas

BackgroundBoth maximal muscle strength and muscle power are independently important for karatekas. However, the relationship between strength and power in elite male kumite karatekas is under researched. This study aimed to determine the relationship between back-leg-chest (BLC) isometric muscle strength with sprint and jump variables in elite male karatekas.MethodsMale elite/international level (tier 4) kumite karatekas (n = 14; age, 20.79 ± 1.67 year; height, 1.77 ± 0.06 m; weight, 72.21 ± 5.20 kg) were recruited. BLC strength, sprint and jump values were measured with a dynamometer, a photocell, and an application, respectively. Pearson correlation (trivial r < 0.1; small r < 0.3; moderate r < 0.5; large r < 0.7; very large r < 0.9; nearly perfect/perfect r ≥ 0.9) and linear regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship and shared variance between BLC strength, sprint, and jump performance.ResultsThere were large to very large correlations between BLC strength and sprint time (r = − 0.930, p < 0.01), velocity (r = 0.918; p < 0.01), acceleration (r = 0.913; p < 0.01) and running momentum (r = 0.721; p < 0.01). Additionally, BLC strength correlated with jump height (moderate, r = 0.550, p < 0.05), peak anaerobic power (moderate, r = 0.672, p < 0.01) and power to body mass ratio (moderate, r = 0.545, p < 0.05). BLC strength and sprint variables showed an r2 = 0.52–0.86 (p < 0.01), while BLC strength and jump variables showed an r2 = 0.29–0.45 (p < 0.05).ConclusionsBLC strength is related to jump and sprint performance in male elite karate athletes. This relationship underscores the importance of including strength training that targets BLC muscle strength in training programs for coaches and athletes.

Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Soil Particulate and Mineral-associated Organic Carbon in Cropland Soil across Sichuan Basin

Exploring the composition of regional soil organic carbon （SOC） components and identifying their influencing factors are of utmost importance to deeply understand the potential mechanisms of SOC change in cropland soil. Based on data from 871 soil sampling points, this study explored the characteristics of soil particulate and mineral-associated organic carbon （POC and MAOC） in the surface soil of cropland and the relationships with climate, terrain, soil texture, agricultural land-use type, and fertilization across the Sichuan basin using analysis of variance, correlation analysis, and a random forest model. The results showed that the average content of POC and MAOC in the surface soil of cropland was 5.01 g·kg-1 and 9.79 g·kg-1, respectively, accounting for 32.5% and 67.5% of the total SOC； the proportion of POC increased with SOC. The two SOC fractions showed a similar spatial distribution pattern, with the content being higher in peripheral areas and lower in the middle of the basin, which were determined together by structural and random factors. The results of the random forest model showed that the relative importance of agricultural land-use type was much more important than other factors. NPP, mean annual temperature, and soil texture showed the largest correlations with the two SOC fractions in dryland； mean annual temperature and slope had larger correlations with POC and mean annual temperature and soil texture in the dryland-paddy rotation land； and soil texture was the most relevant factor to POC and MAOC in the paddy field. The above results suggested that MAOC was the main component of SOC, and agricultural land-use type was the dominant control and regulated the effects of other factors on the two SOC fractions.

Reversal of charge transfer doping on the negative electronic compressibility surface of MoS2

Abstract The strong electron-electron interaction in transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) gives rise to phenomena such as strong exciton and trion binding and excitonic condensation, as well as large negative exchange and correlation contributions to the electron energies, resulting in negative electronic compressibility. Here we use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to demonstrate a striking effect of negative electronic compressibility in semiconducting TMD MoS2 on the charge transfer to and from a partial overlayer of monolayer semimetallic WTe2. By systematically monitoring the binding energy shifts in the valence bands of both WTe2 and MoS2 during surface transfer doping with donor (K) and acceptor (F4-TCNQ) species, we observe distinct behaviors: (1) for donor doping, increased MoS2 valence band binding energy is accompanied by a counterintuitive reduction in the binding energy of WTe2 valence bands and core levels; (2) for acceptor doping, the expected decrease in MoS2 binding energies contrasts with an unexpected increase in those of WTe2. The observations imply a reversal of the expected charge transfer; donor (acceptor) deposition decreases (increases) the carrier density in the WTe2 adlayer. The charge transfer reversal is a direct consequence of the negative electronic compressibility of the MoS2 surface layer, for which addition (subtraction) of charge leads to attraction (repulsion) of further charge from neighbouring layers. These findings highlight the importance of many-body interactions for the electrons in transition metal dichalcogenides and underscore the potential for exploring strongly correlated quantum states in two-dimensional semiconductors.

Exogenous Glucose Oxidation During Exercise Is Positively Related to Body Size.

There is little evidence that body size alters exogenous glucose oxidation rates during exercise. This study assessed whether larger people oxidize more exogenous glucose during exercise than smaller people. Fifteen cyclists were allocated into two groups based on body mass (SMALL, <70kg body mass, n = 9, two females) or (LARGE, >70kg body mass, n = 6) matched for lactate threshold (SMALL: 2.3 ± 0.4W/kg, LARGE: 2.3 ± 0.3W/kg). SMALL completed 120min of cycling at 95% of lactate threshold1. LARGE completed two trials in a random order, one at 95% of lactate threshold1 (thereby exercising at the same relative intensity [RELATIVE]) and one at an absolute intensity matched to SMALL (ABSOLUTE). In all trials, cyclists ingested 90 g/hr of 13C-enriched glucose. Total exogenous glucose oxidation was (mean ± SD) 33 ± 8 g/hr in SMALL versus 45 ± 13 g/hr in LARGE-RELATIVE (mean difference: 13 g/hr, 95% confidence interval [2, 24] g/hr, p = .03). Large positive correlations were observed for measures of exogenous carbohydrate oxidation versus body size (body mass, height, and body surface area; e.g.,body surface area vs. peak exogenous glucose oxidation, r = .85, 95% confidence interval [.51, .95], p < .01). When larger athletes reduced the intensity from RELATIVE to ABSOLUTE, total exogenous glucose oxidation was 39 ± 7 g/hr (p = .43 vs. LARGE-RELATIVE). In conclusion, the capacity for exogenous glucose oxidation is, on average, higher in larger athletes than smaller athletes during exercise. The extent to which this is due to higher absolute exercise intensity requires further research, but body size may be a consideration in tailoring sports nutrition guidelines for carbohydrate intake during exercise.

Constructions of optimal Z-periodic complementary sequence sets with large zero correlation zone

Constructions of optimal Z-periodic complementary sequence sets with large zero correlation zone

Associations of biomotor and physiological measures with anthropometric characteristics in field hockey players: a survey on pre-competitive period

Background and Study Aim: Field hockey is a dynamic sport that involves a combination of speed, agility, and endurance, with players having to satisfy particular physical and physiological demands in order to perform at their best. The primary goal of this study was to investigate the association between field hockey player's anthropometric characteristics and biomotor and physiological measures. Material and Methods: For the purpose of determining the biomotor measures, muscular strength (MS), speed, and change of direction (COD) were used. The VO2 max, anaerobic power (AP), muscular endurance (ME), and vital capacity (VC) were used to determine the physiological measures. In the game of field hockey, twenty forwards, sixteen half-backs and ten defenders fulfilled all the outcome measures. The intensity and directionality of the association between biomotor and physiological tests and anthropometrics characteristics were determined by using Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficients (r), and positional differences were tested using analysis of variance. Results: Body mass significantly affected performance metrics. Body mass was moderately negatively correlated with speed (p&lt;0.05) and COD (p&lt;0.05). MS (p&lt;0.01), VC (p&lt;0.01), AP (p&lt;0.01) and VO2 max (p&lt;0.05) were positively linked with body mass. Performance was also affected by height. Height is inversely correlated with speed (p&lt;0.01) and COD (p&lt;0.01). MS (p&lt;0.01) and AP (p&lt;0.05) had a moderate positive correlation with height. Body mass index (BMI) had a moderate positive correlation with speed (p&lt;0.05), VC (p&lt;0.01), and VO2 max, (p&lt;0.05) but not with MS, COD, and ME. MS had a moderate negative correlation with COD (p&lt;0.05) and a positive correlation with ME (p&lt;0.05). Speed had a significant very large positive correlation with COD (p&lt;0.05, r=.729), ME had a positive correlation with VO2 max, (p&lt;0.05) and VC had a positive correlation with AP (p&lt;0.05). There were no significant position differences in all the selected measures. Conclusion: The study concludes that body mass, height, and BMI greatly affect hockey players' strength, speed, and endurance. This study recommends that hockey coaches and trainers consider body mass, height, and BMI while training players. Performance may be increased by targeting anthropometric aspects, including strength, speed, and endurance.

Genetic subtypes of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults.

B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) is a rare malignancy in adults with outcomes remaining poor, especially compared to children. Over the past two decades, extensive whole-genome studies have identified numerous genetic alterations driving leukemia, leading to the recognition of more than 20 distinct subtypes which are closely associated with treatment response and prognosis. In pediatric B-ALL, large correlation studies have made genetic classification a central component of risk-adapted treatment strategies. Notably, genetic subtypes are unevenly distributed according to age, and the spectrum of genetic alterations and their prognostic relevance in adult B-ALL have been less extensively studied, with treatment primarily based on the presence or absence of BCR::ABL1 fusion. This review provides an overview of genetic subtypes in adult B-ALL, including recent biological and clinical insights in well-established subtypes as well as data on newly recognized subtypes. Their relevance for risk classification, disease monitoring and therapeutic management, including in the context of B-cell-directed therapies, is discussed. This review advocates for continuing efforts to further improve our understanding of the biology of adult B-ALL to establish the foundation of future precision medicine in B-ALL.

Pes Planus Level and Foot Pain Affect Selected Performance Parameters: A Study on Team Sport Athletes

Aims to investigate the relationship between pes planus (PP) with foot pain (FP) and performance in team sport athletes. Correlational research was adopted to reveal the relationship between PP with FP and performance. There were 84 athletes were involved in this research. Measurement of PP with footprint test (FT), FP with knee pain intensity-visual analogue scale (KPI-VAS) and performance with items 30m sprint (30ms), modified agility t-test (MATT), counter movement jump (CMJ), standing stock balance test (SSBT). We observed that FT-PP variable has a moderate negative correlation with FP-KPI-VAS (p = 0.003), which shows that PP significantly causes foot pain. In CMJ (p = 0.035) and SSBT (p = 0.004) there is a moderate negative correlation, which shows that the PP level reduced the level of power and balance. Meanwhile, there is a moderate positive correlation with 30mS (p &lt; .001), and MATT (p &lt; .001), which shows that the level of PP will reduce the level of running speed and agility. At the same time, FP-KPI-VAS had a small negative correlation with 30mS (p = 0.017), MATT (p = 0.017) and CMJ (p = 0.048). Finally, FP-KPI-VAS was found to have a large positive correlation with SSBT (p &lt; .001). Thus, we confirm that PP is significantly correlated with FP and performance related to 30ms, MATT, CMJ, SSBT in team sports athletes.

Morphing torso mannequin for pressure measurement and scoliotic brace efficacy evaluation

Fashion plays a critical role in self-expression and confidence-building, but adolescents with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) have limited fashion choices when they wear a spinal brace that is bulky and rigid underneath their clothing. Spinal braces also have a significant impact on their self-and body-images, social life, and overall quality of life. This study proposes a morphing torso mannequin that accurately measures the interface pressure between the brace and skin, and evaluates the effectiveness of scoliosis braces, thus eliminating the need for ongoing X-rays and ensuring patient safety. The constructed mannequin replicates the AIS torso by using a validated finite element model and 3D-printing and molding techniques. A comparison of the in-brace effects on the morphing mannequin shows significant improvements in spinal alignment and reductions in Cobb’s angles (5.2° and 2.2°), which is consistent with clinical X-ray images. The large correlation coefficient (0.95) between the mannequin and clinical results confirms its ability to simulate the corrective effects of spinal bracing accurately. The proposed morphing mannequin provides valuable information for applying appropriate pressure to halt the progression of spinal curvature while maximizing the wear comfort for AIS patients. Additionally, the mannequin allows for the assessment of clothing fit, thus simulating the effects of wearing a brace and enabling fashion designers to create garments that accommodate the unique physical profile of AIS patients.

A Quality Prediction Method for Optimizing the Teaching Mode of History Courses Based on Multi-Category Data Fusion Analysis

In the process of predicting the optimization quality of teaching mode, a single convolutional neural network method is affected by multiple sources of data such as students’ behavioral data and teachers’ evaluations, which is prone to causing modal collapse and affecting the prediction quality. For this reason, we propose a method for predicting the optimization quality of history course teaching mode based on the fusion analysis of multi-class data. After collecting the data of optimizing the quality of teaching mode of historical courses, noise reduction is carried out by the noise reduction self-coder network on the data collection, and the combination of historical data and current data is realized by the dynamic slicing method of multi-feature matrix, after fusing the multi-category data, the data are inputted into the convolutional neural network, and an optimized multi-objective genetic algorithm optimizes the convolutional neural network, stabilizes the convolutional neural network model, and avoids the modal collapse caused by multi-source attributes and categories of the data. The optimized convolutional neural network is used to extract the deep features of the optimized quality of history course teaching mode, and the obtained features are input into the multiple linear regression model as independent variables to obtain the predicted scores of the optimized quality of history course teaching mode. Through experimental verification, the method can realize in-depth cleaning and denoising of the data of each feature of history curriculum teaching mode, and there is a large correlation between the features related to the optimization quality of the five history curriculum teaching modes collected by the method and the final score of the optimization quality of the history curriculum teaching modes, the method predicts that the optimization quality of the history curriculum teaching modes scores and the scores of the expert evaluation are basically consistent.

Communication Barriers between Teachers-Students during Teaching Learning Process at Secondary School Level

The purpose of this study was to find out the Communication Barriers between Teachers-Students during Teaching Learning Process at Secondary Level. The study aimed to explore teachers' perspectives on the causes of communication barriers and the factors contributing to them, as well as the potential solutions to overcome these barriers. Two objectives and two research questions were made for this study. These barriers are related to, language proficiency, lack of confidence, shyness, cultural diversity, lack of motivation and nervousness. The survey research method (quantitative research design) was used for this study. A convenience sampling technique was used to select the data of 200 public secondary school teachers from two tehsils (Sahiwal and Sillanwali) of Sargodha district. A questionnaire composed of 24 close-ended statements was developed on a five-point Likert scale. The reliability of the instrument was found 0.911 by using Cronbach's alpha. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics Independent t-test, and Pearson r correlation. The results indicate a significant negative large correlation among variables. R-value -.527. So, it is concluded that these communication barriers exist and have a great effect on the learning process. So, it is highly recommended that teachers should create a welcoming atmosphere where students feel comfortable communicating openly with them. Effectively addressing communication barriers between teachers and students requires implementing thoughtful strategies. Teachers can ensure their messages are easily understood by using clear and straightforward language.

Modeling the 3-point correlation function of projected scalar fields on the sphere

One of the main obstacles for the signal extraction of the three point correlation function using photometric surveys, such as the Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), will be the prohibitive computation time required for dealing with a vast quantity of sources. Brute force algorithms, which naively scales as 𝒪(N 3) with the number of objects, can be further improved with tree methods but not enough to deal with large scale correlations of Rubin's data. However, a harmonic basis decomposition of these higher order statistics reduces the time dramatically, to scale as a two-point correlation function with the number of objects, so that the signal can be extracted in a reasonable amount of time. In this work, we aim to develop the framework to use these expansions within the Limber approximation for scalar (or spin-0) fields, such as galaxy counts, weak lensing convergence or aperture masses. We develop an estimator to extract the signal from catalogs and different phenomenological and theoretical models for its description. The latter includes halo model and standard perturbation theory, to which we add a simple effective field theory prescription based on the short range of non-locality of cosmic fields, significantly improving the agreement with simulated data. In parallel to the modeling of the signal, we develop a code that can efficiently calculate three points correlations of more than 200 million data points (a full sky simulation with Nside=4096) in ∼40 minutes, or even less than 10 minutes using an approximation in the searching algorithm, on a single high-performance computing node, enabling a feasible analysis for the upcoming LSST data.

Assessment of the Relationship Between Physical Performance and Percentage Change-of-Direction Deficit in Highly Trained Female Football Players.

Different studies indicate that female players in team sports such as soccer tend to have a lower change-of-direction (COD)deficit (CODD) than their male counterparts and that players who performed better in linear and curved sprints tended to have a worse CODD, suggesting that maximum speed does not equate to a faster COD. This study assessed how performance variables related to speed and jumping influence the variability of %CODD among adult highly trained female soccer players. Fifty-two highly trained female soccer players (age 23.1 [3.25]y; height 163.6 [5.49]cm; weight 59.7 [5.71]kg) participated in this study and performed 180COD, 40-m sprint, countermovement jump, and standing broad jump tests. Significant correlations were found between 180CODL, %CODDR, %CODDL, and between-limbs standing broad jump asymmetry (r = .28-.74). A very large correlation existed between %CODDR and %CODDL (r = .91). Regression analyses indicated a strong inverse relationship between the 10-m sprint time and %CODDR and %CODDL. No predictive models were found for 180COD in either limb. Differences in performance variables suchas 180CODR, 180CODL, and asymmetry %CODD were significant between the high- and low-%CODD groups, with moderate to large effect sizes. The present study suggests that specific physical-performance variables, particularly acceleration and unilateral horizontal jumping, are vital to improving COD in highly trained female soccer players, highlighting the need for specific training interventions.

The Reliability of the PEP-3 in the Arab Context: Algerian-Tunisian

The objective of this study is to validate the applicability of the PEP-3 in the Arab context (Algerian-Tunisian) within a sample of 116 children with TSA, ranging in age from 2 to 12 years. Between February and August 2024, data were collected from various geographical regions (north, central, and south) in Algeria and Tunisia. The research employed an analytical approach using Cronbach's alpha coefficient along with a descriptive analytical method. The present study examined the effectiveness of the Psychoeducational Profile - Third Edition (PEP-3) in the Algerian-Tunisian environment. The PEP-3 was applied to a sample of 116 children with autism spectrum disorder in Algeria and Tunisia. The construct validity of the PEP-3 was supported by the high internal consistency of each subtest, in addition to the medium to large correlation coefficients between the subtests. The results of the Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the test ranged from 0.93 to 0.94 for the procedural axes. The correlation matrix ranged from 0.71 to 0.95. The findings indicate that the scale in the Algerian-Tunisian context demonstrates an overall stability rate of 0.95. These results provide strong evidence of the construct validity of the PEP-3 and its effectiveness in the Algerian-Tunisian environment.

Feasibility of utilizing pectoral muscle thickness as a predictor for one repetition maximum bench press in trained men

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to develop prediction equations for the one repetition maximum (1RM) Bench Press (BP) in resistance-trained men based on muscle thickness and simple anthropometric parameters. 83 men (age: 26.2 ± 4.9y, height: 175.9 ± 6.3 cm, body mass: 82.9 ± 11.2 kg) participated in the present investigation and were assessed for anthropometric measurements and for muscle thickness of pectoral major (MTP). Then, the participants performed the 1RM BP test. A very large correlation was detected between MTP and 1RM BP (r = 0.83–0.88). A prediction equation based on MTP and body mass (EQ1) was developed: 1RM BP = –15.2460565 + (32.0751388 * MTP) + (0.6364405 * Body Weight) with R2 = 0.79. Another prediction equation was developed using MTP only (EQ2): 1RM BP = 20.36167 + (39.36532 * MTP) with R2 = 0.69. Bland-Altman analysis and paired sample t test provided insufficient evidence to support differences between the predicted and the measured 1RM BP in both the equations (p > 0.05). This study showed that both MTP based (EQ2) and MTP and body mass based (EQ1) methods can be used to predict 1RM BP and may represent important tools for the evaluation of maximal strength. These findings support the potential use of non-performance-based parameters to predict maximal dynamic strength in trained individuals.

The relationship between climate change and mental health: a systematic review of the association between eco-anxiety, psychological distress, and symptoms of major affective disorders

Background and objectivesThe adverse impacts of climate change on mental health is a burgeoning area, although findings are inconsistent. The emerging concept of eco-anxiety represents distress in relation to climate change and may be related to mental health. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between eco-anxiety with validated mental health outcomes, specifically psychological distress and symptoms of major affective disorders.DesignSystematic review.MethodsEBSCO, ProQuest, and Web of Science databases were searched to February 2024 for studies of adult samples quantifying eco-anxiety (exposure, i.e. fear, worry or anxiety in relation to climate change) and symptoms of psychological distress and major affective disorders (outcomes), as assessed by validated measures.ResultsFull text review of 83 studies was performed, and k = 35 studies were included in the review (N = 45 667, 61% female, Mage 31.2 years). Consistently, eco-anxiety showed small to large positive correlations with mental health outcomes of psychological distress, depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and stress symptoms. However, results regarding post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and pathological worry were mixed. Stronger associations were observed where eco-anxiety was operationalised as ‘anxiety’ rather than ‘worry’.ConclusionsFindings underscore that eco-anxiety is related to psychological burden. Greater consideration of eco-anxiety in assessment and treatment is needed in clinical practice and further policy development is warranted at the intersection of climate and health to address the mental health challenges posed by climate change.

Antecedents and consequences of South African female athletes' trust in the coach.

The purpose of this study was to investigate female South African school athletes' trust in their coaches in relation to their perceptions of the coaches' justice, benevolence, integrity, competence, commitment to coach, willingness to cooperate, and performance. A quantitative cross-sectional research design was used in this study. The results showed that there was a large correlation between trust in the coach and the following factors: perceived justice (r = .504, p < .01), perceived integrity (r = .511, p < .01), and perceived competence (r = .534, p < .01). Furthermore, multiple regression analysis results revealed that perceived justice was the only significant predictor of trust in the coach as it had a higher beta value (β = .17, p < .05) than the other variables. This study shows that coaches should demonstrate fairness in their decision-making by providing players with incentives, opportunities to play, friendly relationships, and places of preference.

The Exposure Guide: A Practical Measure of Exposure Quality

Quality monitoring is essential for the use of evidence-based interventions (EBIs) in both practice and research settings, yet few quality measures have been developed or validated for any treatment. This study examined the initial psychometric properties of a brief, practical measure of quality for exposure therapy (Exposure Guide; EG) in a sample of youth from three randomized clinical trials for pediatric OCD (N = 103 patients and 368 sessions). The EG was initially developed based on the behavioral principles underlying exposure, delivery factors linked to clinical outcomes in prior literature, and with input from both exposure therapy researchers and partners in community mental health settings. Results indicated good to excellent inter-rater reliability (item ICCs = .64 to 1.00). When compared against a validated, time-intensive coding system, each EG item exhibited large correlations with parallel coding system variables; these were significantly larger than correlations with other variables. Variance components analysis demonstrated EG subscale variability at the level of therapists, patients, and time. The EG demonstrates strong initial reliability and construct validity in a clinical trial context; future studies will be needed to establish psychometric properties in practice settings and to elucidate therapist, patient, and treatment course factors that may influence quality.

Cross Cultural Validation of Oral Health Index Profile for Temporomandibular Disorders in Spanish Speaking Population.

Structured patient-centred assessment is critical for improving care. OHIP-TMDs are a validated English-language outcome measure for temporomandibular disorders (TMD) which evaluates the biopsychosocial impact of TMD. Due to language and cultural changes, the original instrument's phrasing of its items may change when translated to Spanish. This study cross-culturally adapted and validated OHIP-TMDs for Spanish-speaking individuals with TMD. OHIP-TMDs was forward-backward translated into Spanish (OHIP-TMDs-Sp) and cross-culturally adapted to a Hispanic population with TMD (Diagnostic Criteria for TMD n = 154) according to international norms. All patients completed the OHIP-TMDs-Sp, the Graded Chronic Pain Scale (GCPS), and Jaw Functional Limitation Scale (JFLS-20). A subsample (n = 30) recompleted the OHIP-TMDs-Sp after a 3-week washout to measure test-retest reliability using an intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC 2.1). OHIP-TMDs-Sp, JFLS-20, and GCPS were analysed for convergent validity and internal consistency. The sample with articular and muscular TMD diagnoses was 85.7% female with a mean age of 29.5. (SD 9.01). OHIP-TMDs-Sp had high internal reliability (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.95) and good test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.82; 95% CI = 0.57-0.93). In terms of convergent validity, the OHIP-TMDs-Sp demonstrated moderate to large positive correlations with the total JLFS-20 score (ρ = 0.72; p < 0.01), Mastication (ρ = 0.68; p < 0.01), Communication (ρ = 0.68; p < 0.001), as well to GCPS disability score (ρ = 0.59; p < 0.01), and characteristic pain intensity (ρ = 0.69; p < 0.01). The total score of OHIP-TMDs-Sp is reliable for assessing quality-of-life in Spanish-speaking TMD patients.

Enhancing University Students' Soft Skills: A Quantitative Study on Problem-Solving and Social Competence

This study investigates the development and interrelation of problem-solving skills and social competence among university students using the quantitative methodological approach. It addresses massive gaps in our knowledge regarding soft skill manifestation and evolution in higher education. Data was collected from 300 university students using validated survey instruments about problem-solving ability, social competence, academic performance, and other related variables through systematic sampling. There were a few significant positive correlations between problem-solving confidence, social competence, and academic performance. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that problem-solving confidence and problem-solving skills are the principal predictors of academic outcome accounting for 25% of soft skill variance. Furthermore, the investigation indicates large substantive correlations between stress-coping mechanisms and social competence. This predicts that emotional resilience is influential in academic environments. This research analyzes the socioeconomic aspect of skill acquisition. Therefore, it underlines the need for specific education interventions. This contribution of the research to the theoretical discourse on the development of soft skills in higher education is further augmented by providing evidence-based recommendations for curriculum upgrading and institution policy reforms. The results of the study hold enormous implications for pedagogy practices and the development of education policy within higher education institutions.