Nonparametric Statistical Methods Research Articles

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children with some neurological and mental disorders accompanied by mental and speech development delay: a prospective study

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children with some neurological and mental disorders accompanied by mental and speech development delay: a prospective study

PENGARUH FAKTOR-FAKTOR KEPUTUSAN PEMBELIAN KONSUMEN DI TIKTOK SHOP (STUDI KASUS: DITUTUPNYA TIKTOK SHOP)

This study aims to determine the relationship between income, discount, and influencer on purchasing decisions of 20 consumers at TikTok Shop who live in Malang and want to know the strength of the relationship. The issue raised is that TikTok Shop was dismissed by the government, where TikTok Shop is one of the important innovations and technological advances for Indonesia. The main theory used in this research is consumption theory. This research is a quantitative research with primary data using a Guttman scale, and tested with non-parametric statistical methods of Chi-Square and Kendall's Tau-B. The findings of this study are that income has a very strong correlation, discount has a very strong correlation, and influencers have a strong correlation to purchasing decisions. These results answer 3 problem formulations, which show that TikTok Shop is very important to consumers in Malang. This result also shows that the ban of TikTok Shop is a loss for Indonesia because it can increase economic exchange and economic growth.

АНАЛИЗ ВЗАИМОСВЯЗИ НИКОТИНОВОЙ ЗАВИСИМОСТИ И ПАССИВНОГО КУРЕНИЯ СО СТЕПЕНЬЮ ТЯЖЕСТИ ХРОНИЧЕСКОЙ ОБСТРУКТИВНОЙ БОЛЕЗНИ ЛЕГКИХ У КУРЯЩИХ ЖЕНЩИН РЕПРОДУКТИВНОГО ВОЗРАСТА

Introduction. We studied the nicotine addiction stage and secondhand smoke interrelationships with the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease severity in smokers of reproductive age. Aim of the study was to research in the nicotine addiction and secondhand smoke impact upon the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease severity in smoking women of reproductive age. Materials and Methods. Using the questionnaire methodology developed, the nicotine addiction stage was analyzed in reproductive women with and without secondhand smoke (based on questionnaire survey outcomes). There were 107 smoking female patients of reproductive age divided into two groups: Those with secondhand smoke and those without it. Observational group consisted of 42 non-smoking women without any chronic diseases. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was diagnosed based on the clinical recommendations of the Russian Respiratory Society (2021). The data obtained during the study were analyzed followed by the comparison of the outcomes between the groups of smoking patients with secondhand and non-secondhand smoking, against the observational group. The outcomes led us to determine whether there is a statistically significant relationship between secondhand smoke and nicotine addiction stage in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The reliability of the outcomes was assessed using the methods of parametric and nonparametric statistics. Before using all statistical research methods, we checked whether the sampling complied with the Gaussian (normal) distribution law. Variables that did not obey the normal distribution law or those with the uncertain distribution law were analyzed using a nonparametric statistical method, i. e., Pearson criterion. Results and Discussion. Average age of the smoking patients is 26.5 years. Average index of smokers was 6.59 pack-years. The smokers’ index exceeded the middle of the indicator contributing to the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease development (10 pack – years), which is typical for a young age and their smoking experience. It was found that the nicotine addiction stage correlates with the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease severity with a statistically significant reliability. Conclusions. Secondhand smoke in addition to active smoking, reduces the temporal characteristics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease severity.

ВЕРОЯТНОСТЬ ФОРМИРОВАНИЯ НИКОТИНОВОЙ ЗАВИСИМОСТИ У КУРЯЩИХ ПАЦИЕНТОК С ХРОНИЧЕСКОЙ ОБСТРУКТИВНОЙ БОЛЕЗНЬЮ ЛЕГКИХ С УЧЕТОМ СТАЖА КУРЕНИЯ И КОЛИЧЕСТВА ВЫКУРИВАЕМЫХ СИГАРЕТ

Introduction. This paper presents the results of assessing the likelihood of developing nicotine addiction, depending on smoking history and on the number of cigarettes smoked per day by women of fertile age. The aim is to establish the prognostic probability of nicotine addiction development in smokers, depending on smoking history and on the number of cigarettes smoked. Materiаls and Methods. The prospective study included 107 smoking female patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and nicotine addiction of different stages (hereinafter referred to as nicotine addiction). The patients were divided into 2 groups, depending on their secondhand smoke: 53 smoking patients with and 54 smoking patients without secondhand smoke. The observational group consisted of 42 non-smoking women without any chronic diseases. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was diagnosed based on the clinical recommendations of the Russian Respiratory Society (2021). Reliability of the outcomes was assessed using the methods of parametric and nonparametric statistics. Prior to the application of all statistical research methods, we checked whether our sam- pling complied with the Gaussian (normal) distribution law. The distribution law was described using the Kolmogorov- Smirnov and Lilliefors normality criteria, and a single-sample Shapiro-Wilco normality test. Nonlinear links of binary features with quantitative or qualitative features were evaluated using logistic regression. Logistic regression analysis made it possible to create a statistical model for predicting the probability of an event based on available data. Results and Discussion. With an average smoking activity of 14 cigarettes per day, the onset of nicotine addiction in the first group (a combination of active and secondhand smoke) began with the smoking experience of 12 years, reaching the maximum probability with the experience of 15 years. In the second group, nicotine addiction appeared and reached its maximum (100 %) four years later than in the first group. With an increase in the number of cigarettes up to 16 per day, an identical pattern was observed within the course of earlier nicotine addiction. Conclusions. Secondhand smoke, in addition to active smoking, increases the nicotine load with the development of more pronounced prerequisites for the pathogenetic processes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease development.

Tissue-specific enhancer-gene maps from multimodal single-cell data identify causal disease alleles.

Translating genome-wide association study (GWAS) loci into causal variants and genes requires accurate cell-type-specific enhancer-gene maps from disease-relevant tissues. Building enhancer-gene maps is essential but challenging with current experimental methods in primary human tissues. Here we developed a nonparametric statistical method, SCENT (single-cell enhancer target gene mapping), that models association between enhancer chromatin accessibility and gene expression in single-cell or nucleus multimodal RNA sequencing and ATAC sequencing data. We applied SCENT to 9 multimodal datasets including >120,000 single cells or nuclei and created 23 cell-type-specific enhancer-gene maps. These maps were highly enriched for causal variants in expression quantitative loci and GWAS for 1,143 diseases and traits. We identified likely causal genes for both common and rare diseases and linked somatic mutation hotspots to target genes. We demonstrate that application of SCENT to multimodal data from disease-relevant human tissue enables the scalable construction of accurate cell-type-specific enhancer-gene maps, essential for defining noncoding variant function.

Nonparametric procedure for comparing the performance of divisions of a network organization

To solve the problem of comparative efficiency analysis of branch operations for a small volume of randomly observed data, a non-parametric approach is relevant, since it does not require a probabilistic model of observations. Comparing the results of the non-parametric approach with the results obtained within the traditionally used Gaussian model is also relevant. Additionally, obtaining a consistent comparison of a group (of no less than three) branches is important. Currently, the non-parametric approach and the corresponding comparison with the known results of solving the problem considered in this work obtained within the framework of the normal model are absent. In addition, insufficient attention is paid to the search for methods of obtaining consistent solutions. This work to some extent fills these gaps. This work uses non-parametric statistical methods and theory of simultaneous hypothesis testing to address these problems. This paper proposes a procedure for comparative analysis of the efficiency of several units within a network organization with a small volume of observations based on the Mann–Whitney tests. We carry out a comparison of the results obtained from the proposed non-parametric procedure with results based on extensions of Student’s t-tests. We propose a method for reducing the number of compatibility problems based on the search for an appropriate significance level. We provide an example of a fully consistent comparison of the efficiency of branch operations.

СРАВНИТЕЛЬНАЯ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКА АНТРОПОМЕТРИЧЕСКИХ И БИОИМПЕДАНСОМЕТРИЧЕСКИХ ПОКАЗАТЕЛЕЙ РОССИЙСКИХ И ИНОСТРАННЫХ СТУДЕНТОВ СЕВЕРО-ВОСТОЧНОГО ФЕДЕРАЛЬНОГО УНИВЕРСИТЕТА

To study the adaptation processes of foreign students, the most accessible and informative is to determine their morphofunctional status. The purpose of the study was to conduct a comparative characterization of anthropometric and bioimpedance indicators of yakut and arab students. Materials and methods: 166 young men of yakut nationality and 43 arab boys, natives of Egypt, whose average age was 19,9±0,25 years, were examined. All the examined were 1st year students of the Medical Institute of the North-Eastern Federal University. Anthropometric and bioimpedance measurements were carried out, and an index assessment of physical development was given. The methods of parametric and nonparametric statistics are used. Results and conclusion: Significantly high indices of body weight, chest circumference, buttock girth and antero-posterior chest diameter were established in arab boys. Yakuts have significantly higher shoulder diameter values. Arab boys are more likely to register persons with increased body density according to the Yarho-Kaupe index, high physical development according to the Rohrer index, persons with increased body weight and obesity according to the body mass index. The indices of active and reactive tissue resistance were significantly higher in yakut boys. Significantly high values of total hydration, musculoskeletal mass and lean mass were recorded in arab boys. Among the yakut boys, a significantly large proportion of persons with a high value and the absence of persons with a low value of the phase angle were identified. The obtained results of bioimpedance analysis indicate the best condition of the body's cells, the level of overall performance and metabolic intensity in yakut boys.

Working from home during and beyond the coronavirus pandemic: Employee reflections from the Czech Republic

Research background: Working from home (WFH) has become the norm for many people around the world due to the coronavirus pandemic. It has accelerated the implementation of WFH and has raised questions about its further use. Purpose of the article: The article analyzes the experience of employees in the Czech Republic with WFH during the coronavirus pandemic to identify perceived benefits, difficulties, skills, and conditions related to WFH, assess the employee desire to work from home depending on their industry, age, and gender, and propose actions for further use of WFH beyond the coronavirus pandemic. The statistical verification of the dependence of the desire of employees to work from home beyond the coronavirus pandemic on their industry, age, and gender is integral to the analysis. Methods: The analysis is founded on data from the authors' online questionnaire survey conducted from December 2021 to September 2022. Responses from 480 employees who experienced WFH during the coronavirus pandemic in the Czech Republic are analyzed. Statistical non-parametric methods for the analysis of nominal data are used to verify defined hypotheses. Findings & value added: A research gap concerning the further use of WFH in the Czech Republic and elsewhere by considering the employee experience is met. The findings have revealed the desire of more than half of surveyed employees to continue working from home part-time to achieve reasonable work-personal-family well-being. The desire turned out to be dependent on the employees' industry. Within further use, WFH should be taken as a specific work pattern for suitable professions and individuals with adequate organizational and technical support. Three matters concerning performance agreement, work environment, and self-management are proposed to enhance work-personal-family well-being and thus job satisfaction and productivity of homeworkers. The findings and proposals can help any theorist and practitioner interested in WFH.

Анализ факторов, определяющих величину экологического воздействия сельскохозяйственного производства на земельные ресурсы

Abstract. The purpose is to assess the impact of factors determining the magnitude of the environmental impact of agricultural production on land resources. Methodology and methods. In the course of the study, nonparametric statistical methods were used to identify dependencies in the data set. When constructing predictive models, ROC-analysis was used to find the values of the cut-off point. Results. The study made it possible to localize three groups of regions of the Russian Federation that differ quite significantly in terms of the environmental impact of agricultural production on land resources and are characterized by a high level of dispersion within the groups. The analysis of the interrelations between the parameters characterizing the level of environmental impact made it possible to identify factors that have a decisive influence on the indicators of reproduction of land fertility. In regions with a high negative environmental impact, only the yield value is crucial, the growth of which leads to an increase in the uncompensated removal of soil fertility elements, and, accordingly, to the progression of land degradation. In regions with an average level of negative environmental impact, its magnitude also depends on the amount of organic fertilizers applied, which forms a less high level of uncompensated removal of soil fertility elements and, accordingly, environmental damage in the regions included in this group. In the group with a positive environmental impact, it is the level of application of organic fertilizers that has a decisive influence on the reproduction of land fertility. The regression analysis showed that when approximating the values of the positive environmental impact on land resources, the amount of organic fertilizers can be the most reasonable variable. ROC-analysis regarding the application of organic fertilizers for grain crops as a potential predictive parameter of positive environmental impact showed that its threshold value at the cut-off point is 2.56 tons per 1 ha. The scientific novelty lies in the formation of the evidence base of the dependence of land fertility on the parameters of agroecological impact necessary to understand the mechanisms of building a system of rational land use in agriculture.

Comparison of Crown Volume Increment in Street Trees among Six Cities in Western Countries and China

The tree crown volume (CV), as a major indicator in the evaluation of ecological environment quality, can assess the health and carbon sequestration of urban trees. In this study, a new low-cost method, the plane calculation of angle disparity (PCAD), was employed to obtain the CV in China using satellite images from Google Earth. Meanwhile, primary data on street trees from four Western cities were acquired from online datasets. Nonparametric statistical methods showed no significant difference in CV per street tree between Beijing and Shanghai in China, ranging from 10 to 150 m3, almost one-seventh of that in the four cities (Paris and London in Europe and Los Angeles and Seattle in America). The CV of Platanus acerifolia in Paris and London exhibited values five times higher than those in Beijing and Shanghai. The annual crown volume increment (CVI) was less than 5 m3 in Beijing and Shanghai, significantly lower than in Seattle (66.55 m3). The purpose of the research was to verify the operability of the PCAD and compare the CVI in different cities all over the world, providing new ideas for urban tree management and carbon sequestration evaluation and a basis for government decision making in areas with a low CVI.

Painful differences between different pain scale assessments: The outcome of assessed pain is a matter of the choices of scale and statistics.

Perceived pain is a multi-factorial subjective variable, commonly measured by numeric rating scales, verbal descriptive scales (VDS), or by a position on an analogue line (VAS). A major question is whether an individual's VAS and VDS pain assessments, on the same occasion, could be comparable. The aim was to compare continuous and discretized VAS pain data with verbal descriptive pain datasets from the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the European Quality of Life Scale (EQ-5D) in paired pain datasets. The measurement level of data from any type of scale assessments is ordinal, having rank-invariant properties only. Non-parametric statistical methods were used. Two ways of discretizing the VAS-line to VAS-intervals to fit the number of the comparing VDS-categories were used: the commonly used (equidistant VAS,VDS)-pairs and the (unbiased VAS,VDS)-pairs of pain data. The comparability of the (VAS,VDS)-pairs of data of perceived pain was studied by the bivariate ranking approach. Hence, each pair will be regarded as ordered, disordered, or tied with respect to the other pairs of data. The percentage agreement, PA, the measures of disorder, D, and of order consistency, MA, were calculated. Total interchangeability requires PA = 1 and MA = 1. The wide range of overlapping of (VAS,VDS)-pairs indicated that the continuous VAS data were not comparable to any of the VDS pain datasets. The percentage of agreement, PA; in the (equidistant VAS,ODI) and (equidistant VAS, EQ-5D) pairs were 38 and 49%, and the order consistency, MA, was 0.70 and 0.80, respectively. Corresponding results for the (unbiased VAS,VDS)-pairs of pain data were PA: 54 and 100%, and MA: 0.77 and 1.0. Our results confirmed that perceived pain is the individual's subjective experience, and possible scale-interchangeability is only study-specific. The pain experience is not possible to be measured univocally, but is possible for the individual to rate on a scale.

Greenery in times of crisis: Accessibility, residents' travel preferences and the impact of travel time

Urban green spaces (UGSs) played a pivotal role in easing the effects of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. It is, therefore, relevant to identify factors influencing why people choose specific UGSs. This paper aims to investigate the preferences of residents of Kraków (Poland) regarding the selection of UGSs in times of crisis. Distance or travel time from home are among the key factors affecting the choice of UGSs. The paper verifies whether such other factor considerations as age, type of housing, and physical activity influence travel preferences to UGSs. We analyse residents' preferences regarding travelling to UGSs by integrating survey research with statistical and geostatistical methods, which is the innovative value of the research. The Computer Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) survey yielded 1353 returned questionnaires, which provided input data when combined with geostatistical analyses of network distance (routing). With nonparametric statistical methods, we could identify preferences of Kraków residents regarding travelling to UGSs during times of crisis. The primary results show that travel time was not always a factor when selecting UGSs. In times of crisis, the respondents were willing to cover larger distances to UGSs, namely up to 51 minutes on foot and 16 minutes by bicycle. We also demonstrated that there is a relationship between age and UGS travel time and a link between type of housing and UGS travel time. The results are inconclusive regarding the importance of distance to UGSs for people who are physically active. Note that accessibility recommendations for travel time often presented in the literature did not apply to Kraków in times of crisis.

KARAYOLU ÜSTYAPI DEĞERLENDİRMESİNDE KULLANILAN TİTREŞİMLERİN ÖLÇÜMÜNDE VÜCUT AĞIRLIĞI VE TAŞIT HIZI ETKİSİNİN İNCELENMESİ

The study delved into investigating the impact of body weight on the determination of vibration parameters, as outlined in the ISO 2631 standard, which elucidates the evaluation concept of Whole Body Vibration. First of all, the ride speed component, which significantly affects the amplitude of the vibration experienced in the vehicle, was determined. In this context, vibration data were recorded at three different points in the vehicle at 20, 30, 40, and 50 km/h ride speeds on a road section whose roughness can be considered homogeneous. Measurements were repeated with drivers weighing 58, 80, and 113 kg to determine the effect of driver weight on vibration parameters. The vibration parameters produced due to the analyses were evaluated with both parametric and non-parametric statistical methods. In the urban road network with bituminous hot mixture pavement, it has been determined that the most appropriate ride speed for passenger car-type vehicles to evaluate the service level of the pavement is 40 km/h. In the last stage, the differences between the averages of the measurements made with three different weight drivers at the determined ride speed were evaluated statistically. Through analysis of three distinct data recording points within the vehicle, it has been established that the driver's weight exerts no discernible influence on any of the vibration parameters.

STATE REGULATION OF INVESTMENTS IN INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY TO STRENGTHEN FINANCIAL SECURITY IN THE CONTEXT OF INDUSTRY 4.0

The main purpose of the article is the theoretical and methodological substantiation of the modern approach to the formation of a model of state regulation of investment support for innovative industrial development in the context of helping to increase the level of financial security. The object of the study is the innovative development of the industrial sector of the Ukrainian economy. At the same time, the scientific task will be to present a methodological approach to assessing the current state of trends in investment support for innovative industrial development in all regions of Ukraine as a tool for state regulation. The research methodology involves the use of modern methods of analysis and synthesis of available information on the research topic. A nonparametric statistical method was used to analyze the trends and dynamics of industrial development in Ukraine. The integral assessment method was used to form a methodological approach to assessing the level of investment support for innovative development as an effective instrument of state regulation. As a result of the study, a model of state regulation of investment support for innovative industrial development is presented. An assessment was made of the level of investment support for innovative industrial development concerning the proposed model. Based on the results obtained, measures to ensure financial security in the conditions of Industry 4.0 are proposed. The key financial obstacles to investment support for innovative industrial development are presented, ordered by the priority of the state's response to them. The study has limitations in that it does not take into account all aspects of state regulation. In this case, only the specifics of the industrial sector of the economy were taken into account.

Вікові особливості перебігу ротавірусної інфекції в дітей та внесок осмотичного компонента в патогенез діарейного синдрому залежно від віку

Purpose - to identify the age-specific features of the course of rotavirus infection (RVI) in children and to clarify the role of the osmolar component in the pathogenesis of diarrheal syndrome in young children. Materials and methods. 100 young children with RVI were examined. Children were divided into 3 age subgroups: 1-6 months, 6-12 months and 13-24 months. A comparative analysis of the manifestation and features of the clinical course of the disease was carried out in the subgroups. A comparative assessment of the level of undigested sugars in feces and concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in the dynamics of the disease were carried out. The total level of carbohydrates in feces was determined on the 2nd, 5th, 7th and 10th day of RVI using the Benedict test. Concentrations of SCFA (acetate, propionate, butyrate) were determined on 2nd, 5th and 10th days by liquid chromatography. As physiological indicators of the total amount of carbohydrates in the feces and fecal concentrations of SCFA, the indicators of 30 relatively healthy children were taken. The "STATISTICA for Windows 13" program was used for statistical processing of the obtained data. Since the quantitative values that were analyzed had a distribution that differed from normal, non-parametric statistical methods were applied. Results. Children 1-6 months of age with RVI less often had fever and vomiting (p˂0.05), had longer diarrhea (p˂0.05), which was more often accompanied by flatulence, intestinal colic (p˂0.05), than children 13-24 months of age. Children of this subgroup had the highest levels of carbohydrates in feces in the acute period of RVI (р˂0.05 on the 2nd and 5th day relative to children 6-12 months and 13-24 months of age) and in the period of convalescence (р˂0.05 on 10th day for children 13-24 months of age). In all subgroups of children, reduced concentrations of SCFA were noted in the acute period of RVI (p>0.05 relative to the reference values from the 3rd to the 5th day). The most pronounced decrease in the total concentrations of SCFA (p<0.01 relative to the reference values) during the entire period of RVI were observed in children 1-6 months of aged. Conclusions. RVI is characterized by longer diarrhea which is more often accompanied by flatulence and intestinal colic in children 1-6 months of age, while children 13-24 months of age more often have fever and vomiting. The most pronounced disturbances of carbohydrate metabolism in the intestines and changes in the functional activity of the intestinal microflora during RVI occur in children 1-6 months of age. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the participating institution. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies. No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.

Assessing consumer knowledge, attitudes, and adoption of circular economy practices in Colombia

Consumers play a pivotal role in the successful implementation of the circular economy (CE) model. In Colombia, despite measures designed to support CE, there is a paucity of empirical evidence regarding consumer engagement. This study aimed to assess consumer knowledge, attitudes, and adoption of CE in Colombia. A survey was conducted in three cities known for their strong interest in CE and their significant contributions to national development: Medellin, Pereira, and Barranquilla. The data gathered from 1184 responses were analyzed using descriptive and non-parametric statistical methods. The results revealed that only 26 % of consumer responses denote adequate knowledge of CE, highlighting a substantial lack of awareness regarding the CE concept and both government and private sector initiatives. Consumer attitudes towards CE were notably positive, with 77 % of responses expressing a favorable stance. Concerning the adoption of circular strategies in their daily lives, 53 % of consumer responses involved CE adoption, while 23 % exhibited resistance. Medellin and Pereira's consumers exhibited similar and encouraging circular behavior, while those in Barranquilla faced more barriers. Furthermore, this study reports that the city of residence, educational level, and socioeconomic stratum influence how consumers perceive, value, and adopt CE. These findings emphasize the urgent need to enhance consumer engagement and performance to support Colombia's CE plans. The implications outlined herein will benefit the identification and prioritization of synergistic actions to transform the role of the consumer and turn it into a catalyst for CE.

Reference intervals for cardiometabolic risk factors in China: a national multicenter cross-sectional study on an adult population sample.

The reference intervals (RIs) of adult blood lipid parameters currently used in China are not derived from the results of research in local populations and have not been adjusted for age and sex. In this study, we aimed to determine accurate RIs for blood lipid parameters and blood glucose (GluG) for Chinese adults using a national multicenter study. A total of 11,333 adults between 18 and 90 years of age were recruited in seven representative regions in China between June 2020 and December 2020. Hospitals participating in the study were regrouped into two geographical regions, southern China (Changsha, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Nanning) and northern China (Beijing, Shenyang, and Ningxia), according to their geographical and administrative location. All samples were freshly collected and measured collectively in one laboratory on the Mindray full Automatic biochemical analyzer chemistry BS2000 analytical systems. Outliers were removed using the Tukey test. Three-level nested analysis of variance and scatter plot were used to explore the variations in sex, age, and region. Percentile curves of each indicator were plotted using the least mean square (LMS) method. The lower limit (2.5th percentile) and the upper limit (97.5th percentile) of the RI were determined by using nonparametric statistical methods. We also calculated the 90% confidence interval (CI) for the lower and upper limits. A total of 8,283 participants were enrolled in the final analysis, with 3,593 (43.4%) men and 4,690 (56.6%) women. Regionality was observed in three analytes [small dense low density lipoprotein cholesterol (sd-LDLC), GluG, and apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1)]. In northern China, the sd-LDLC and GluG levels in Shenyang were significantly higher than those in Ningxia and Beijing (P<0.05). In southern China, the sd-LDLC and GluG levels in Nanning were significantly higher than those in the three other cities (P<0.05), whereas the sd-LDLC and GluG levels in Chengdu were significantly lower than those in the three other cities (P<0.05). The level of ApoA1 in Chengdu was significantly higher than that in the three other cities. The homocysteine (HCY) level in male participants was clearly higher than that in female participants [ratio of standard deviation (SDR)sex =0.56], whereas the levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) (SDRsex =0.40) and ApoA1 (SDRsex =0.27) in males were lower. The GluG and HCY level increased gradually with age. In females aged 45-55 years, there was an interesting change in scatter charts, where triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) increased rapidly. We also found that for the age group of >55 years, the levels of TG and TC in females gradually surpassed those in males. The findings of this study may help establish age- and sex-specific reference values for the blood lipids of Chinese adults and serve as a valuable guide for the screening, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and monitoring of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Seasonal Variability of Rainfall and Thunderstorm Patterns in Kenya

This paper presents an analysis of spatial and temporal variation of rainfall and thunderstorm occurrence over Kenya from January 1987 to December 2017. The meteorological data used were obtained from the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) for the same period. This included the monthly thunderstorm occurrences and rainfall amounts of 26 synoptic stations across the country. The characteristics of monthly, seasonal and annual frequency results were presented on spatial maps while Time series graphs were used to display the pattern for annual cycle, seasonal variations and the inter-annual variability of rainfall amounts and thunderstorm occurrences. A well-known non-parametric statistical method Mann Kendall (MK) trend test was used to determine and compare the statistical significance of the trends. Thunderstorm frequencies over the Eastern, Central and Coast regions of the country showed a bimodal pattern with high frequencies coinciding with March-April-May (MAM) and October-November-December (OND) rainy seasons. Very few thunderstorm days were detected over June-July-August (JJA) season. The areas to the western part of the country, near Lake Victoria, had the highest thunderstorm frequencies in the country over the three seasons: MAM, JJAS and OND. The annual frequency showed a quasi-unimodal pattern. These places near Lake Victoria showed significantly increasing thunderstorm trends during the MAM and OND seasons irrespective of the rainfall trends. This shows the effects of Lake Victoria over these areas, and it acts as a continuous source of moisture for thunderstorm formation. However, most stations across the country showed a reducing trend of thunderstorm frequency during MAM and JJA seasons. The importance of these findings is that they could support various policy makers, and users of climate information, especially in the agriculture and aviation industries.

The Stability of Sugar Yield in Promising Sugarcane Genotypes (Saccharum officinarum L.)

Stability analysis is one of the most important steps that a breeder should use to release a new variety for a region. To identify and introduce the best sugarcane genotypes, an experiment with 26 promising Sugarcane genotypes along with four commercial varieties was planned and implemented during 2017–2019. This study aimed to determine a promising stable sugarcane genotype for the sugarcane-growing areas of Khuzestan Province in Iran. The effects of genotype × environment interactions on the sugar yield of 26 promising sugarcane genotypes and four standard varieties as controls were investigated for the new plant (P), first ratoon (R1), and second ratoon (R2) at three locations (Amir Kabir, Imam Khomeini, and Mianab) for three cropping seasons. For the final analysis every year, quantitative and qualitative characteristics were measured by sampling 10 stalks of each genotype in each replication and each experiment. A combined analysis was conducted with regard to the fixed effects of the genotype and environment and the random effect of the year. The sugar yield stability of the genotypes was evaluated based on nonparametric, ecovalence, Shukla, simultaneous selection, and AMMI statistical methods. According to the results, g2,g4,g5,g7,g11,g12,g14,g16,g19,g20,g21,g23,g24,g26,g27,g28,g29, and g30 are the most stable genotypes based on statistical analyses. As these genotypes have general stability and can be cultivated in three crops, they are introduced for commercial cultivation. According to an AMMI biplot, genotype g6 was considered to have special adaptation to the first location (Imam Khomeini), genotypes g8 and g15 were specifically adapted to the second location (Amir Kabir), and genotypes g10,g17, and g22 showed special adaptation to the third location (Mianab). Therefore, these genotypes are introduced for commercial cultivation in the mentioned locations.

Pengaruh Gender pada Pengembangan Diri Mahasiswa dalam Konteks Perguruan Tinggi Menggunakan Statistika Nonparametrik

Self-development is an important aspect that is the goal of a student to express abilities, interests, and talents through activities and activities inside and outside an educational institution. The study aims to determine the relationship between differences in answers based on gender with factors influencing student self-development with a nonparametric statistical method approach. Followed by a nonparametric statistical method, namely the Chi-Square test, with α = 5%. The results showed that there was no difference between male and female students in the influence factors of lecturer teaching methods, friendship environments, organizations/committees, and courses on student self-development