Mean Research Articles

Assessment of the Quality of YouTube Educational Videos on Laparoscopic Right Adrenalectomy and Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy Surgeries.

Introduction: Despite the considerable studies conducted on the quality of YouTube surgical videos as an educational resource in other surgical fields, there have been no such studies in the field of laparoscopic urology so far. Considering the great sensitivity in these procedures and the necessity of identifying the mistakes in these videos, we aimed to evaluate the quality of YouTube educational videos on laparoscopic right adrenalectomy and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy surgeries. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 131 YouTube educational videos on laparoscopic right adrenalectomy and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy surgeries were reviewed. Two researchers familiar with laparoscopic urological surgery reviewed the videos based on the LAP-VEGaS checklist. A third professor reviewed the videos on which there were disagreements. Results: In the majority of the videos, the title was chosen accordingly and the surgeon was introduced appropriately. Furthermore, in most of the videos, patient anonymity was respected. The mean score of the videos was equal to 74.3 ± 5.4, the maximum score being 17 and the minimum 1. The average score of the partial nephrectomy videos was obtained as 98.3 ± 5.74, whereas the average score for adrenalectomy videos was 47.3 ± 4.5. The overall average score of the studied videos was 74.3 ± 5.40. Conclusion: The results of our study suggest that most of YouTube videos on laparoscopic right adrenalectomy and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy surgeries are used for educational purpose. These YouTube videos are suboptimal in educational aspect and students should be advised to use them with caution.

Lesson plan analysis protocol in assessing mathematics and science lessons

Lesson planning is important in an educational setting. This study assessed how Rwandan tutors and teachers prepare lesson plans (LPs) before implementing them in a classroom. We employed a current and standard lesson plan analysis protocol (LPAP) developed by researchers from Rwanda to code data. We collected a representative sample of 119 mathematics and science subject lesson plans from teacher training college tutors and secondary school teachers for analysis to serve its usability. The study results revealed that only 11% of collected LPs were teachable as they were rated in both a good (70-79% scores) and very good (80-89% scores) range of LPAP interpretation. It was also found that the special education needs, lesson approaches, and lesson evaluation components got low mean scores (below 50%). These components were not given appropriate attention in developed LPs. Therefore, this study suggests that tutors and teachers build a quality lesson plan based on the standard LPAP.

The acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary effectiveness of group cognitive behavioral therapy for Chinese children with posttraumatic stress disorder: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

The psychological need for traumatized children is huge in China. However, evidence-based treatments designed for Chinese children are scarce. This study aimed to test the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral program (Power up Children's Psychological Immunity; PCPI) in Chinese children. A total of 87 children with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in grades 3 to 5 were randomly allocated (1:1) to the PCPI group or the treatment as usual (TAU) group. The feasibility was assessed by participant adherence, satisfaction, and acceptability. The severity of PTSD, depression and anxiety were assessed at pre- and posttreatment and the 3-month follow-up. A high level of satisfaction (81.82%) and retention rate of each session (more than 93.33%) were found. Qualitative feedback reported a high level of acceptance. At posttreatment, the PCPI group had lower mean scores than the TAU group for PTSD (adjusted mean difference [AMD], -6.18; 95% CI, -12.21 to -.14; p = .048), and anxiety (AMD, -2.05; 95% CI, -3.81 to -.28; p = .026). However, little change was found from posttreatment to 3-month follow-up. The findings indicated that the school-based group PCPI intervention was feasible and acceptable. Further evaluation is needed to examine its effectiveness in a larger sample size. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Health-related quality of life and related factors in patients with colorectal cancer in Iran: a systematic review.

This systematic review aims to examine the health-related quality of life (QOL) in Iranian patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and its related factors. A thorough, systematic search was conducted in different international electronic databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Persian electronic databases such as Iranmedex, and Scientific Information Database using keywords such as "Colorectal neoplasm", "Colorectal tumors", "Colorectal cancer", "Quality of life", and "Life quality" from the earliest to 17 October 2022. The quality of the studies included in this systematic review was evaluated using the appraisal tool for cross-sectional studies (AXIS tool). There were 820 CRC patients in the five cross-sectional studies that made up this systematic review. The mean score of QOL in patients with CRC was 61.99 (SD=15.87) out of 100 based on EORTC-QLQ-C30, which indicates a moderate to good level of QOL. Factors such as age, gender, living conditions, level of education, occupation, monthly income, health insurance, physical activity, performance status, and comorbidities had a significant relationship with QOL in patients with CRC. In sum, the findings of the five studies that were a part of this systematic review revealed that Iranian patients with CRC had a moderate to good QOL. Therefore, managers and health policymakers can create psychological counseling programs with an emphasis on the factors affecting the QOL of patients in light of how crucial it is to raise patients' understanding of the long-term impacts of CRC and how they affect their QOL.

Diversifying Quranic revision methods using gamification-based teaching material for tahfiz education

This study discusses the development procedure of the global tahfiz game (GTG) as a teaching aid for the Quranic revision subject for tahfiz students based on the gamification concept. Comprehensive design and development research (DDR) was used as the research method. The analysis includes conceptual and material development, expert evaluation, testing, and the final product. The development of concepts and materials used in this gamification was based on the theoretical framework of mechanics, dynamics, and aesthetics (MDA), with the application of tahfiz education elements. To examine the ability of GTG prototype to tackle the users’ needs, we have conducted the usability analysis. The expert teacher's mean score for the trial run on this gamification was high at 4.85. The trial run score for student participants was also high (4.45). The result demonstrated that most of the constructs are perceived at a high level by respondents. Thus, this indicated the high usability of GTG to be used as a teaching aid for a Quranic revision subject. The gamification of Quranic tahfiz based on board games has been finalized through recommendations and improvements based on the evaluation. The study findings are expected to be useful for educational institutions or researchers in developing teaching materials using the MDA framework for gamification, particularly in the field of Islamic education.

Radiation risk during thoracic CT scan for diagnostic and radiotherapy planning procedures in Hassan II, Hospital, Agadir Morocco

Objective: This study aims to establish diagnostic reference levels and radiation-induced risk for the diagnostic CT-scans and the radiotherapy planning CT-scans of the thorax in the regional hospital of Agadir, Morocco. Materials and methods: Data from two groups of patients undergoing thoracic CT-scans with either diagnostic CT-scans (G1, n = 120) or radiotherapy planning CT-scans (G2, n = 120) are collected. All acquisitions were helical. DRLs is calculated for each type of thoracic CT-scan by estimating the 75% percentile of the CTDIvol and the DLP. The total cancer risk RC was calculated according to the ICRP publication 103. The data are statistically analyzed by SPSS Statistics V21.0. The student’s t-test was used to establish the relationship between gender, clinical indication, and effective dose. The Spearman test was used to establish the relationship between age, BMI, and effective dose. Results: DRLs in terms of CTDIvol and DLP for radiotherapy planning of thorax were 19.37 mGy and 851.9 mGy cm, respectively. In diagnostic CT-scans, DRLs in terms of CTDIvol for pulmonary embolism, infectious lung disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) were 11.13 mGy, 10.26 mGy, and 7.37 mGy respectively, and DRLs in terms of DLP were 417.73 mGy cm, 451.9 mGy cm and 317.78 mGy cm respectively. The cancer risk for radiotherapy planning CT-scans is ranged between 209 and 1564 with a mean value of 715 per 1 million of CT-scan. For diagnostic CT-scans, the cancer risk is ranged between 199 and 626 with a mean value of 357 per 1 million for pulmonary embolism, between 238 and 668 with a mean value of 369 per 1 million for infectious lung disease, and between 130 and 393 with a mean value of 244 per 1 million for COPD. Conclusion: Optimizing the doses received by patients in medical imaging, particularly CT, has become an obligation. Reviewing practices and procedures and promoting a radiation protection culture can help to better manage the radiation doses received by the patient.

EnDL-HemoLyt: Ensemble Deep Learning-based Tool for Identifying Therapeutic Peptides with Low Hemolytic Activity.

Low hemolytic therapeutic peptides have gained an edge over small molecule-based medicines. However, finding low hemolytic peptides in laboratory is time-consuming, costly and necessitates the use of mammalian red blood cells. Therefore, wet-lab researchers often perform in-silico prediction to select low hemolytic peptides before proceeding with in-vitro testing. The in-silico tools available for this purpose have following limitations: (i) They do not provide predictions for peptides having N/C terminal modifications. (ii) Data is food for AI; however, datasets used to create existing tools do not contain peptide data generated over past eight years. (iii) Performance of available tools is also low. Therefore, a novel framework has been proposed in current work. Proposed framework utilizes recent dataset and uses ensemble learning technique to combine the decisions produced by bidirectional long short-term memory, bidirectional temporal convolutional network, and 1-dimensional convolutional neural network deep learning algorithms. Deep learning algorithms are capable of extracting features themselves from data. However, instead of relying solely on deep learning-based features (DLF), handcrafted features (HCF) were also provided so that deep learning algorithms can learn features that are missing from HCF, and a better feature vector can be constructed by concatenating HCF and DLF. Additionally, ablation studies were carried out to understand the roles of an ensemble algorithm, HCF, and DLF in the proposed framework. Ablation studies found that the ensemble algorithm, HCF and DLF are crucial components of proposed framework, and there is a decrease in performance on eliminating any of them. Mean value of performance metrics, namely Acc, Sn, Pr, Fs, Sp, Ba, and Mcc obtained by proposed framework for test data is ≈ 87, 85, 86, 86, 88, 87, and 73, respectively. To aid scientific community, model developed from proposed framework has been deployed as a web server at https://endl-hemolyt.anvil.app/.

Methods for fungiform papillae assessment: A collaborative study among European research units

Fungiform papillae (FP) are the anatomical structures dedicated to gustatory and somatosensory signal triggering. Whether the density of FP (FPD = FP/cm2) is associated with oral responsiveness is controversial, and the disparity in previous findings may be partially due to the diversity in methods used to quantify FP. The present study aims at mapping methods used to estimate FPD and at tentatively assessing the impact of the main procedure variables in FPD estimation. An on-line survey was specifically developed and launched among the European Sensory Science Society members to collect information on methods and procedure variables and to share datasets on FP counting. Seven European research centres responded to the survey. Manual counting was the most popular methodology, and a merged dataset of 1006 observations was obtained. The type of device used for tongue picture acquisition (low-resolution - LR vs high-resolution - HR) was the main procedure variable. FPD mean values were lower when assessed by LR (35.8) than with HR devices (41.5). Distribution of FPD for LR and HR datasets were similar thus comparisons among studies in which different resolution devices have been used are reliable. Picture modifications and data validation did not significantly affect FPD estimation obtained from HR devices, while both these variables significantly affected FPD values collected with LR devices. Both HR and LR procedures were able to capture the differences in FPD due to age and gender. Overall, measures from HR devices appear the best option to depict the inter-individual variability in FPD. Automated procedures appear underutilised.

The influence of eyelid pressure and eye contour factors on rigid corneal contact lens fitting

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the impact of eyelid pressure (ELP) and eye contour factors on rigid corneal contact lens fitting. MethodsThis prospective cross-sectional study involved 20 participants (one eye per person). Rigid corneal contact lenses with three different base curves were selected for each participant. The base curves were calculated according to the average keratometry value. The original value and its variations (+0.1 mm and − 0.1 mm) were considered. Eye contour factors, lens decentration under natural eye position (LD I) and full eyelid exposure (LD II), and lens vertical movement were taken by a Canon camera mounted on a digital slit lamp biomicroscope. Upper and lower ELPs were measured by a novel blepharo-tensiometer. ResultsThe mean values of LD I, LD II, and lens vertical movement significantly increased as the base curve increased (P＜0.001, ＜0.001, and = 0.005). Upper ELP was positively correlated with lens vertical movement of the three base curves (P = 0.047, 0.001, and 0.004). Furthermore, upper ELP (odds ratio [OR]: 1.039; 95 % confidence [CI]: 1.009–1.069; P = 0.009) and flat keratometry values (OR: 0.873; 95 % CI: 0.786–0.969; P = 0.011) independently influenced lens vertical movement. ConclusionsELP and base curve independently influenced rigid corneal contact lens fitting. Thus, ELP should be considered during rigid corneal contact lens fitting in clinical practice.

Constraints on the densities and temperature of the Seyfert 2 narrow line region

Context. Different studies have reported the so-called temperature problem of the narrow line region (NLR) of active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Its origin is still an open issue. To properly address its cause, a trustworthy temperature indicator is required. Aims. To determine the temperature of an emission line plasma, the [O III] (λ4363Å/λ5007Å) line ratio is typically used. However, in the case of the NLR of AGNs, this ratio is not reliable when the electron density extends much above 105 cm−3 as collisional deexcitation strongly affects this ratio independently of the temperature. To verify the density regime, we need a density diagnostic that applies to high excitation plasma. Methods. We propose that the weak [Ar IV] λλ4711,40Å doublet is the appropriate tool for evaluating the density of the high excitation plasma. We subsequently made use of the recent S7 survey sample to extract reliable measurements of the weak [Ar IV] doublet in 16 high excitation Seyfert 2s. As a result we could derive the plasma density of the NLR of our Seyfert 2 sample and compared the temperature inferred from the observed [O III] (λ4363Å/λ5007Å) ratios. Results. It was found that 13 Seyfert 2s cluster near similar values as the [O III] (λ4363Å/λ5007Å) ratio, at a mean value of 0.0146 ± 0.0020. Three objects labeled outliers stand out at markedly higher [O III] values (> 0.03). Conclusions. If for each object one assumes a single density, the values inferred from the [Ar IV] doublet for the 13 clustering objects all lie below 60 000 cm−3, indicating that the [O III] (λ4363Å/λ5007Å) ratios in these objects is a valid tracer of plasma temperature. Even when assuming a continuous power-law distribution of the density, the inferred cut-off density required to reproduce the observed [Ar IV] doublet is in all cases < 105.1 cm−3. The average NLR temperature inferred for the 13 Seyfert 2s is 13 000 ± 703 K, which photoionization models have difficulty reproducing. Subsequently we considered different mechanisms to account for the observed [O III] ratios. For the three outliers, a double-bump density distribution is likely required, with the densest component having a density > 106 cm−3.

The effect of combining humic and fulvic acids poultice on wound healing in male rats

Abstract Background: Finding new compounds to accelerate wound healing is critical today. Humic substances or fulvic acid each have anti-inflammatory properties. Aims and Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of poultice 0.5% containing humic and fulvic acids on wound healing in male rats. Materials and Methods: An animal model was arranged by making a full-thickness skin wound was created in each rat. Animals were randomly divided into control, sham, and treatment groups. To investigate the effect of humic and fulvic acids combining poultice, the wound area and histological analyses of the number of inflammatory cells, fibroblasts, and angiogenesis were evaluated for 21 days. Results: The animals in the treated group showed higher wound healing percentage, angiogenesis, and fibroblast distribution compared with the control (P < 0.001). Moreover, the topical administration of humic and fulvic acids 0.5% poultice decreased the mean number of inflammatory cells significantly than the other groups (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The topical administration of a poultice containing humic and fulvic acid accelerated wound healing by increasing angiogenesis and fibroblast and reducing inflammatory cell distribution in a rat model.

High accuracy of positioning custom triflange acetabular components in tumour and total hip arthroplasty revision surgery.

Custom triflange acetabular components (CTACs) play an important role in reconstructive orthopaedic surgery, particularly in revision total hip arthroplasty (rTHA) and pelvic tumour resection procedures. Accurate CTAC positioning is essential to successful surgical outcomes. While prior studies have explored CTAC positioning in rTHA, research focusing on tumour cases and implant flange positioning precision remains limited. Additionally, the impact of intraoperative navigation on positioning accuracy warrants further investigation. This study assesses CTAC positioning accuracy in tumour resection and rTHA cases, focusing on the differences between preoperative planning and postoperative implant positions. A multicentre observational cohort study in Australia between February 2017 and March 2021 included consecutive patients undergoing acetabular reconstruction with CTACs in rTHA (Paprosky 3A/3B defects) or tumour resection (including Enneking P2 peri-acetabular area). Of 103 eligible patients (104 hips), 34 patients (35 hips) were analyzed. CTAC positioning was generally accurate, with minor deviations in cup inclination (mean 2.7°; SD 2.84°), anteversion (mean 3.6°; SD 5.04°), and rotation (mean 2.1°; SD 2.47°). Deviation of the hip centre of rotation (COR) showed a mean vector length of 5.9 mm (SD 7.24). Flange positions showed small deviations, with the ischial flange exhibiting the largest deviation (mean vector length of 7.0 mm; SD 8.65). Overall, 83% of the implants were accurately positioned, with 17% exceeding malpositioning thresholds. CTACs used in tumour resections exhibited higher positioning accuracy than rTHA cases, with significant differences in inclination (1.5° for tumour vs 3.4° for rTHA) and rotation (1.3° for tumour vs 2.4° for rTHA). The use of intraoperative navigation appeared to enhance positioning accuracy, but this did not reach statistical significance. This study demonstrates favourable CTAC positioning accuracy, with potential for improved accuracy through intraoperative navigation. Further research is needed to understand the implications of positioning accuracy on implant performance and long-term survival.

Assessing Performance of Tests for Equality of High-Dimensional Mean Vectors with Unequal Block Diagonal Covariances

Assessing Performance of Tests for Equality of High-Dimensional Mean Vectors with Unequal Block Diagonal Covariances

Sex-specific scaling of leaf phosphorus vs. nitrogen under unequal reproductive requirements in Eurya japonica, a dioecious plant.

Previous work searching for sexual dimorphism has largely relied on the comparison of trait mean vectors between sexes in dioecious plants. Whether trait scaling (i.e., the ratio of proportional changes in covarying traits) differs between sexes, along with its functional significance, remains unclear. We measured 10 vegetative traits pertaining to carbon, water, and nutrient economics across 337 individuals (157 males and 180 females) of the diocious species Eurya japonica during the fruiting season in eastern China. Piecewise structural equation modeling was employed to reveal the scaling relationships of multiple interacting traits, and multivariate analysis of (co)variance was conducted to test for intersexual differences. There was no sexual dimorphism in terms of trait mean vectors across the 10 vegetative traits in E. japonica. Moreover, most relationships for covarying trait pairs (17 out of 19) exhibited common scaling slopes between sexes. However, the scaling slopes for leaf phosphorus (P) vs. nitrogen (N) differed between sexes, with 5.6- and 3.0-fold increases of P coinciding with a 10-fold increase of N in male and female plants, respectively. The lower ratio of proportional changes in P vs. N for females likely reflects stronger P limitation for their vegetative growth, as they require greater P investments in fruiting. Therefore, P vs. N scaling can be a key avenue allowing for sex-specific strategic optimization under unequal reproductive requirements. This study uncovers a hidden aspect of secondary sex character in dioecious plants, and highlights the use of trait scaling to understand sex-defined economic strategies.

Comparison of Lymphocyte/Monocyte ratio (LMR) with Child-Pugh Score and MELD Score in the Determination of Hepatic Dysfunction Severity and Outcome in Cirrhotic Patient

Background: Lymphocyte/monocyte ratio (LMR) is a simple and effective marker that has the potential to predict the severity of hepatic dysfunction in a cirrhotic patient, like the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score and the Child- Pugh (CP) score. However, the usefulness of this newer tool has not yet been tested. Objectives: Comparison of Lymphocyte/Monocyte ratio with Child-Pugh Score and MELD Score in the determination of hepatic dysfunction severity in patients with cirrhosis was the objective of the study. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on cases of cirrhotic patients in the Department of Gastroenterology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, dated from September 2018 to August 2019. A total of 40 compensated cases and 82 decompensated cases were included in the process of obtaining informed written consent. Information about clinical profile, laboratory parameters (complete blood count including ESR, serum total bilirubin, serum albumin, ALT, AST, serum creatinine, prothrombin time, INR, etc.) were collected. LMR, MELD score, and CP score were calculated both in compensated and decompensated cirrhotic patients to assess the relationship with the severity of hepatic dysfunction. The correlation between LMR and the CP/MELD score was established by the Pearson correlation test. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and cut-off values of LMR were obtained, and areas under the ROC (AUROC) curve were calculated to identify the best LMR and/or the MELD score or CPS for predicting hepatic decompensation. The Bland-Altman plot and the Heliey- MacNeil test were used for comparison of measurement techniques. The data were analyzed with the help of SPSS version 20. Observation and Results: The mean age of the decompensated group was higher than that of the compensated group (p<0.05). The mean values for LMR and MELD and CP scores were 7.93±3.08, 5.25±0.43 & 7.10 ±1.19, respectively. Average LMR was significantly higher in compensated cirrhosis patients while CP and MELD Score was lower in that group (p<0.001). MELD and CP were positively correlated with each other (p<0.001). LMR was negatively correlated to both MELD and CP scores (p<0.001). Of all patients, only 4 died (3.3%) and rest 118 (96.7%) survived. The cut off value of LMR, CP and MELD were LMR ≤ 2.18 (sensitivity: 75%, specificity: 87.3%), CPS ≥13.5 (sensitivity: 75%, specificity: 98.3%) & MELD ≥30.5 (sensitivity: 75%, specificity: 94.9%) respectively. Pairwise comparison showed that the difference between the AUCs of MELD and LMR was not statistically significant (0.953 vs 0.887; p=0.081). Patients in the low LMR group showed decreased survival than those in the high LMR group (p=0.000). The no survived group had lower LMR and higher MELD and CP scores than those of the survived group (p<0.001). Conclusion: In comparison with Child-Pugh Score and MELD Score in the determination of hepatic dysfunction severity in cirrhotic patients, Lymphocyte/ Monocyte ratio is a useful tool.

Examination of the Relationship Between Physical Activity, Perceived Stress and Sleep Quality of Nursıng Students: A Cross-Sectional and Correlational Study

Nursing students often experience challenges related to sleep quality, which can have implications for their overall well-being and academic performance. The aim of this study is to examine the relationships between physical activity, perceived stress, and sleep quality among senior nursing students. This study employed a cross-sectional and correlational design. The study was conducted between September and Ocober 2021, involving senior nursing students who were undergoing practical training in a state hospital. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using the "Introductory Information Form," "International Physical Activity Questionnaire (Short)/IPAQ" "Perceived Stress Scale/PSS" and "Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index/PSQI". Out of 42 students, 40 students participated in the study. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, minimum and maximum scores, mean scores, standard deviation, and Pearson correlation test. The mean score for physical activity assessed using the IPAQ was 1051.38±890.17 MET (metabolic equivalent), the average score on the PSS was 27.88±8.72, and the average score on the PSQI was 14.10±2.38. The correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between sleep quality and physical activity levels (p≤0.05). Furthermore, a positive and moderate relationship was observed between sleep quality and perceived stress levels (p≤0.05). The findings indicate that nursing students have moderate levels of physical activity and perceived stress, and their sleep quality is considerably low.

Enhancing educational excellence: An analysis of teacher capacity building and its impact on instructional delivery in public secondary Schools in Kenya

This study investigates the relationship between teacher capacity building, instructional delivery, and effectiveness in public secondary schools. Utilizing the descriptive survey methodology, data were collected from 400 teachers in Embu and Tharaka-Nithi Counties, Kenya. A survey questionnaire was used for data collection, whereby the efficacy of instructional delivery was assessed through a Likert-scale survey consisting of 17 items. Demographic information highlighted the diverse composition of the teaching workforce, with varying age groups, educational qualifications, and work experience. The study explored teachers' participation in professional development programs, revealing substantial engagement in subject-specific training among other capacity building programs. Findings indicated high agreement among teachers on statements related to syllabus completion, assignment design aligned with objectives, and regular collaboration with colleagues. Some areas for potential improvement were identified, including the incorporation of student questions to guide lessons, ensuring adequate instructional materials, and integrating higher-order thinking strategies. Capacity building was found to have a significant influence on the effectiveness of teachers in instructional delivery, whereby teachers who had attended more courses obtained higher means scores in instructional delivery than those who had attended fewer or no courses. The study contributes to the understanding of teacher capacity development's impact on instructional practices and effectiveness. The findings underscore the importance of ongoing professional development tailored to teachers' needs, emphasizing collaborative strategies and resource provision. Policymakers, educational administrators, and teachers can leverage these insights to inform targeted interventions that enhance the overall quality of instruction in Kenyan public secondary schools.

Effectiveness of natural clay therapy on level of pain among women with knee osteoarthritis admitted in selected hospital at Tiruvannamalai

A quasi experimental study was carried out in government medical college and hospital at Tiruvannamalai to evaluate the natural clay therapy on pain among women with knee osteoarthritis (OA). A total 60 samples were selected by using non-probability convenience sampling technique and the sample was equally divided into Experimental Group (30) and Control Group (30). The natural clay was applied 30 minutes per day for seven days to the experimental group and control group received routine care. Data was collected before and after intervention by structured questionnaire containing demographic variables, and intensity of pain was assessed by using visual analog scale. The study results revealed that the pre test mean score of pain in experimental group was 13.53 with S.D 1.19 and control group was 13.17 with S.D 1.15. The calculated unpaired ‘t’ test value t= 1.19 was found to be statistically not significant. The post-test mean score of pain in experimental group was 9.12 with S.D 1.18 and control group was 13.93 with S.D 1.14 The calculated unpaired ‘t’ test value t= 16.05 was statistically significant at p<0.001 level. The study concluded that the natural clay therapy was effective in reduction of pain among women with osteoarthritis in experimental group then the control group. As a natural element it does not show any side effects which is also available and affordable at near reach and improves quality of life of women with knee osteoarthritis.

Sex differences in thermophysiological responses of elderly to low-intensity exercise during uncompensable heat strain

PurposeThe rising frequency of extreme heat events poses an escalating threat of heat-related illnesses and fatalities, placing an additional strain on global healthcare systems. Whether the risk of heat-related issues is sex specific, particularly among the elderly, remains uncertain.Methods16 men and 15 women of similar age (69 ± 5 years) were exposed to an air temperature of 39.1 ± 0.3 °C and a relative humidity (RH) of 25.1 ± 1.9%, during 20 min of seated rest and at least 40 min of low-intensity (10 W) cycling exercise. RH was gradually increased by 2% every 5 min starting at minute 30. We measured sweat rate, heart rate, thermal sensation, and the rise in gastrointestinal temperature (Tgi) and skin temperature (Tsk).ResultsTgi consistently increased from minute 30 to 60, with no significant difference between females and males (0.012 ± 0.004 °C/min vs. 0.011 ± 0.005 °C/min; p = 0.64). Similarly, Tsk increase did not differ between females and males (0.044 ± 0.007 °C/min vs. 0.038 ± 0.011 °C/min; p = 0.07). Females exhibited lower sweat rates than males (0.29 ± 0.06 vs. 0.45 ± 0.14 mg/m2/min; p < 0.001) in particular at relative humidities exceeding 30%. No sex differences in heart rate and thermal sensation were observed.ConclusionElderly females exhibit significantly lower sweat rates than their male counterparts during low-intensity exercise at ambient temperatures of 39 °C when humidity exceeds 30%. However, both elderly males and females demonstrate a comparable rise in core temperature, skin temperature, and mean body temperature, indicating similar health-related risks associated with heat exposure.

BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS, PERSONNEL COMPETENCY, AND MARKETING STRATEGIES INFLUENCING THE SUCCESS OF TOURISM BUSINESS OPERATIONS IN THAILAND

In this study, an attempt has been made to examine factors affecting the success of various types of tourism business in Thailand. A total of 100 copies of the questionnaires were given to operators and managers engaged in tourist businesses in Thailand. These respondents were chosen by Proportionate Random Sampling-a method that ensures an unbiased cross-section from every section of society. The statistical methods used in data analysis include percentage calculation ; determining a mean value for all readings ; assessing standard deviation; analysing frequencies and multiple regression analysis. Entrepreneurs in Thailand's tourism industry have indicated that for the success of their operations marketing strategy, personnel competency, and business partnerships are the most important factors. When the study carried out the hypothesis tests it showed that price, place, and product (the 4Ps of marketing mix) location, and physical surroundings on one hand skills of human resource management to bring employees together while business partnership are positively correlated with success in operating a tourism business statistically.