Significant Moderate Correlation Research Articles

Effects of anther-stigma position on cross-pollination efficiency in a hermaphroditic plant.

Evolution of cross-pollination efficiency depends on the genetic variation of flower traits, the pollen vector, and flower trait matching between pollen donors and recipients. Trait matching has been almost unexplored among nonheterostylous species, and we examined whether the match of anther length in pollen donors and stigma length in pollen recipients influences the efficiency of cross-pollination. To explore potential constraints for evolutionary response, we also quantified genetic variation and covariation among sepal length, petal length and width, stamen length, style length, and herkogamy. We created 58 experimental arrays of Turnera velutina that varied in the extent of mismatch in the position of anthers and stigmas between single-flowered plants. Genetic variation and correlations among flower traits were estimated under greenhouse conditions. Style length, but not herkogamy, influenced the efficiency of cross-pollination. Plants with stamen length that matched the style length of other plants were more efficient pollen donors, whereas those with the style protruding above the stamens of other plants were more efficient pollen recipients. Significant broad-sense heritability (0.22 > hB 2 < 0.42) and moderate genetic correlations (0.33 > r < 0.85) among floral traits were detected. Our results demonstrated that anther-stigma mismatch between flowers contributed to variation in the efficiency of cross-pollination. The genetic correlations between stamen length and other floral traits suggests that any change in cross-pollination efficiency would be driven by changes in style rather than in stamen length.

Assessment of fasting plasma glucose, insulin, insulin resistance and glycated haemoglobin as markers of glycemic control in apparently healthy older adults in Nnewi

: Biochemical changes in glycemic indices have been linked to aging, and many individuals have asymptomatic hyperglycemia as they get older. This leads to metabolic dysregulation, which heightens vulnerability to a number of age-related chronic conditions, such as diabetes mellitus. : This cross-sectional study assessed the levels of fasting plasma glucose, insulin, insulin resistance and glycated haemoglobin as markers of glycemic control in apparently healthy older adults in Nnewi. A total of 144 participants were involved in this study: 72 older persons and 72 control subjects. The older adults were aged 45 to 75; while the control group was composed of individuals aged 18 to 30. Six milliliters (6 ml) of fasting venous blood samples were collected from each participant for the determination of insulin (INS), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), and plasma glucose (FPG) levels. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to evaluate INS, resin ion-exchange was used to estimate HbA1c, and glucose oxidase peroxidase was used to determine FPG. The Homeostasis Model Assessment Index (HOMA-IR) was used to calculate insulin resistance. : The mean FPG, HbA1c, INS and HOMA-IR were significantly higher in the older adults compared to control subjects respectively (p&amp;#60;0.05). Also, the mean FPG, HbA1c, INS and HOMA-IR were significantly higher in the older adult males and females compared to the control male and female subjects respectively (p&amp;#60;0.05). There was significant moderate positive correlation between the level of FBS Vs HbA1c (r=0.484, P-value = 0.000) and strong positive correlation between the level of Insulin Vs HOMA-IR (r=0.980, P-value = 0.000) in the control group. Also, strong significant positive correlations were observed between FPG and HbA1c (r=0.704, P-value = 0.000), FPG and HOMA-IR (r=0.778, P-value = 0.000), Insulin and HOMA-IR (r=0.778, P-value = 0.000) with a moderate significant positive correlation found between HbA1c Vs HOMA-IR (r=0.557, P-value = 0.000) in the older adults. This study showed that glycemic indices tend to become altered with advancing in age.

ChatGPT as an item calibration tool: Psychometric insights in a high-stakes examination

Introduction:ChatGPT has attracted a lot of interest worldwide for its versatility in a range of natural language tasks, including in the education and evaluation industry. It can automate time- and labor-intensive tasks with clear economic and efficiency gains. Methods: This study evaluated the potential of ChatGPT to automate psychometric analysis of test questions from the 2020 Portuguese National Residency Selection Exam (PNA). ChatGPT was queried 100 times with the 150 MCQ from the exam. Using ChatGPT's responses, difficulty indices were calculated for each question based on the proportion of correct answers. The predicted difficulty levels were compared to the actual difficulty levels of the 2020 exam MCQ’s using methods from classical test theory. Results:ChatGPT's predicted item difficulty indices positively correlated with the actual item difficulties (r (148) = −0.372, p < .001), suggesting a general consistency between the real and the predicted values. There was also a moderate significant negative correlation between the difficulty index predicted by ChatGPT and the number of challenges (r (148) = −0.302, p < .001), highlighting ChatGPT′s potential for identifying less problematic questions. Conclusion: These findings unveiled ChatGPT’s potential as a tool for assessment development, proving its capability to predict the psychometric characteristics of high-stakes test items in automated item calibration without pre-testing in real-life scenarios.

Evaluation of immunophenotypic alterations of peripheral blood lymphocytes and their sub-sets in uncomplicated P. Falciparum infection

BackgroundMalaria is a life-threatening parasitic disease typically transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. There is ample evidence showing the potential of malaria infection to affect the counts of lymphocyte subpopulations in the peripheral blood, but the extent of alteration might not be consistent in all geographical locations, due to several local factors. Although Ghana is among the malaria-endemic countries, there is currently no available data on the level of alterations that occur in the counts of lymphocyte subpopulations during P. falciparum malaria infection among adults.AimThe study was to determine the immunophenotypic alterations in the level of peripheral blood lymphocytes and their subsets in adults with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria infection and apparently healthy participants.MethodsThe study was a cross-sectional comparative study conducted in two municipalities of the Volta region of Ghana. Blood samples were collected from study participants and taken through serology (P. falciparum/Pan Rapid Diagnostic Kits), microscopy (Thick and thin blood films) and Haematological (Flow cytometric and Full blood count) analysis.ResultsA total of 414 participants, comprising 214 patients with malaria and 200 apparently healthy individuals (controls) were recruited into this study. Parasite density of the malaria patients ranged from 75/µL to 84,364/µL, with a mean of 3,520/µL. It was also observed that the total lymphocytes slightly decreased in the P. falciparum-infected individuals (Mean ± SD: 2.08 ± 4.93 × 109/L) compared to the control group (Mean ± SD: 2.47 ± 0.80 × 109/L). Again, there was a significant moderate positive correlation between parasite density and haematocrit levels (r = 0.321, p < 0.001). Apart from CD45 + T-cells, more people in the control group had normal values for the lymphocyte subsets measured compared to the malaria patients.ConclusionsFrom the results obtained, there was high parasite density among the malaria patients suggestive of high intensity of infection in the case group. The malaria patients again showed considerable haematological alterations in lymphocyte sub-sets and the parasite density appeared to be strongly associated with CD4 + T-cell reduction. Also, the parasite density significantly associated with decreasing haematocrit levels. This indicates that lymphocyte subset enumeration can be used to effectively support malaria diagnosis.

The Quality of Online Medical Information Regardind Hypertension

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the completeness, accuracy and credibility of the medical information found online about hypertension and to compare the quality of the Romanian and English websites. This observational, cross-sectional study included 25 Romanian and 25 English websites. Pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria were used for sample selection. Credibility was assessed using 12 criteria based on the eEurope 2002 expert recommendations. Completeness and accuracy of information were evaluated using a quality standard based on information from literature and guidelines. The credibility, completeness and accuracy scores were rated on a scale from 0 to 10. Student t test and Mann-Whitney U were used to compare the two languages subsamples. Spearman and Pearson’s tests were applied to test the correlations. The threshold for statistical significance was set at 0.05. The average credibility score was 4.7 for the Romanian websites and 5.6 for English websites (p=0.0686). The average completeness score was 3.7 for the Romanian websites and 5.3 for English websites (p=0.0007). The average accuracy score was 3.88 for the Romanian websites and 3.62 for English websites (p=0.5215). Significant moderate intensity correlation was found between the Google rank and the accuracy of the Romanian websites (r=-0.5438, p=0.0050). The overall quality scores of the Romanian and English websites presenting information about hypertension were modest. This study found a correlation between the Google rank and the accuracy score of the Romanian websites but since this was the only significant correlation, the findings are not sufficient to infer general recommendations. The study suggests that knowing both Romanian and English doesn't offer a significant advantage in accessing high-quality online information about hypertension. The Google rank cannot be used as a quality indicator since there is no consistent correlation between it and the quality scores.

The Quality of Online Medical Information Regardind Hypertension

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the completeness, accuracy and credibility of the medical information found online about hypertension and to compare the quality of the Romanian and English websites. This observational, cross-sectional study included 25 Romanian and 25 English websites. Pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria were used for sample selection. Credibility was assessed using 12 criteria based on the eEurope 2002 expert recommendations. Completeness and accuracy of information were evaluated using a quality standard based on information from literature and guidelines. The credibility, completeness and accuracy scores were rated on a scale from 0 to 10. Student t test and Mann-Whitney U were used to compare the two languages subsamples. Spearman and Pearson’s tests were applied to test the correlations. The threshold for statistical significance was set at 0.05. The average credibility score was 4.7 for the Romanian websites and 5.6 for English websites (p=0.0686). The average completeness score was 3.7 for the Romanian websites and 5.3 for English websites (p=0.0007). The average accuracy score was 3.88 for the Romanian websites and 3.62 for English websites (p=0.5215). Significant moderate intensity correlation was found between the Google rank and the accuracy of the Romanian websites (r=-0.5438, p=0.0050). The overall quality scores of the Romanian and English websites presenting information about hypertension were modest. This study found a correlation between the Google rank and the accuracy score of the Romanian websites but since this was the only significant correlation, the findings are not sufficient to infer general recommendations. The study suggests that knowing both Romanian and English doesn't offer a significant advantage in accessing high-quality online information about hypertension. The Google rank cannot be used as a quality indicator since there is no consistent correlation between it and the quality scores.

Quantitative and calculated estimated blood loss in cesarean deliveries for twin and singleton pregnancies: a retrospective analysis.

This study retrospectively assessed blood loss during cesarean deliveries for twin and singleton pregnancies using two distinct methods, quantitative estimation measured during cesarean sections and hematocrit-based calculated estimation. We included scheduled cesarean deliveries for twin or singleton pregnancies at ≥ 34weeks of gestation. Quantitative blood loss was recorded based on the blood volume in the graduated collector bottle and by weighing the blood-soaked textiles during cesarean sections. The blood loss was calculated using the change in hematocrit levels before and after the cesarean delivery. We evaluated 403 cases including 44 twins and 359 singletons. Quantitative blood loss during cesarean section was significantly higher in twin pregnancies than that in singleton pregnancies (1117 [440] vs 698 [378]mL; p < 0.001). However, no significant differences were observed in the calculated blood loss between the two groups on the day after delivery (487mL [692mL] vs 507mL [522mL]; p = 0.861). On post-delivery days 4-5, twin pregnancies were associated with a significantly higher calculated blood loss than singleton pregnancies (725 [868]mL vs 444 [565]mL, p = 0.041). Although a significant moderate correlation between quantitative and calculated blood loss was observed in singleton pregnancies (r = 0.473, p < 0.001), no significant correlation was observed between twin pregnancies (r = 0.053, p = 0.735). Quantitative blood loss measurements during cesarean section may be clinically insufficient in twin pregnancies. Incorporating blood tests and continuous assessments are warranted for enhanced blood loss evaluation, especially in twin pregnancies, owing to the risk of persistent bleeding.

Genomic insights into the shared and distinct genetic architecture of cognitive function and schizophrenia

Cognitive impairment is a major determinant of functional outcomes in schizophrenia, however, understanding of the biological mechanisms underpinning cognitive dysfunction in the disorder remains incomplete. Here, we apply Genomic Structural Equation Modelling to identify latent cognitive factors capturing genetic liabilities to 12 cognitive traits measured in the UK Biobank. We identified three broad factors that underly the genetic correlations between the cognitive tests. We explore the overlap between latent cognitive factors, schizophrenia, and schizophrenia symptom dimensions using a complementary set of statistical approaches, applied to data from the latest schizophrenia genome-wide association study (Ncase = 53,386, Ncontrol = 77,258) and the Thematically Organised Psychosis study (Ncase = 306, Ncontrol = 1060). Global genetic correlations showed a significant moderate negative genetic correlation between each cognitive factor and schizophrenia. Local genetic correlations implicated unique genomic regions underlying the overlap between schizophrenia and each cognitive factor. We found substantial polygenic overlap between each cognitive factor and schizophrenia and biological annotation of the shared loci implicated gene-sets related to neurodevelopment and neuronal function. Lastly, we show that the common genetic determinants of the latent cognitive factors are not predictive of schizophrenia symptoms in the Norwegian Thematically Organized Psychosis cohort. Overall, these findings inform our understanding of cognitive function in schizophrenia by demonstrating important differences in the shared genetic architecture of schizophrenia and cognitive abilities.

An investigation of sleep problems, gastrointestinal symptoms, comorbid psychopathology and challenging behavior in children and adolescents with Down Syndrome

BackgroundDown syndrome (DS) is one of the most common chromosomal abnormalities, and children with DS have increased risks of receiving diagnoses of specific comorbidities. AimsThis study aimed to assess the frequencies and relationships between sleep problems, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, comorbid psychopathology, and challenging behavior. Methods and proceduresThe Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire, Gastrointestinal Symptom Inventory, Autism Spectrum Disorder-Comorbid for Children, and Behavior Problems Inventory-Short Form were completed by 123 parents of children and adolescents with DS. Outcomes and resultsThe frequency of GI symptoms was 74.8 %, with high frequencies also found for: sleep problems (100 %), challenging behavior (100 %), and moderate to severe levels of comorbid psychopathology (tantrum=80 %; repetitive behavior=63 %; avoidant behavior=82 %; worry/depressed=61 %; conduct behavior=100 %; over-eating=100 %; under-eating=100 %). A significant moderate correlation was found between total GI symptoms and self-injurious behavior frequency. Children who presented with abdominal pain engaged in self-injurious behavior more frequently than those with no abdominal pain. Conclusions and implicationsFindings indicated a high frequency of sleep problems, comorbid psychopathology, GI symptoms, and challenging behavior and demonstrated a relationship between GI symptoms and self-injurious behavior in children and adolescents with DS. This research illustrated the importance of investigating comorbid conditions in individuals with DS. What this paper adds?Down Syndrome (DS) is a genetic condition characterized by trisomy 21 and is a leading cause of intellectual disability worldwide. The prevalence of DS is commonly associated with advanced maternal age and is associated with multiple comorbid conditions. The current study aimed to investigate the frequency of and relationship between sleep problems, gastrointestinal symptoms, comorbid psychopathology, and challenging behavior in children and adolescents with DS. High-frequency levels were found for sleep problems (100 %), challenging behavior (100 %), gastrointestinal symptoms (74.8 %), and moderate to severe levels of the different comorbid psychopathologies (tantrum=80 %; repetitive behavior=63 %; avoidant behavior=82 %; worry/depressed=61 %; conduct behavior=100 %; over-eating=100 %; under-eating=100 %). Results indicated a significant difference in self-injurious behavior frequency between individuals who presented with abdominal pain and those who did not. This study is the first to investigate the relationship of multiple comorbid conditions in a sample of children with DS. This paper adds to the literature by demonstrating the frequency of a number of comorbid conditions in children and adolescents with DS. The paper also adds novel findings to the literature by investigating the relationships between comorbid conditions in this population. The findings of this paper highlighted the frequency and comorbidities that exist between gastrointestinal symptoms, sleep problems, comorbid psychopathology, and challenging behavior. Analyses indicated that those who presented with abdominal pain, engaged in self-injurious behavior more frequently.Sleep problems, gastrointestinal symptoms, comorbid psychopathology, and challenging behavior in children and adolescents with Down Syndrome.

Impact of Pharmacist-Led Intervention on Adherence to Inhalers, Inhalation Technique, and Disease Control Among Asthma/COPD Patients in a Resource Limited Center: An Interventional Study.

Asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are chronic respiratory conditions characterized by airflow obstruction and respiratory symptoms. Adherence to prescribed inhaler therapy and correct inhalation technique are essential for effective disease management and optimal disease control. However, non-adherence and incorrect inhalation technique are common challenges faced by patients with asthma and COPD, leading to suboptimal treatment outcomes and increased healthcare burden. To study the impact of a pharmacist-led intervention on inhaler adherence, inhalation technique, and disease control among patients with asthma and COPD. A pre-post interventional design assessed the effects of pharmacist-led intervention on inhaler adherence, inhalation techniques, and disease control in asthma and COPD patients at Dhulikhel Hospital in Nepal. Inclusion criteria: adult patient clinically diagnosed with asthma or COPD patients of all genders. The intervention comprised counseling patients with aids like videos, and informational leaflets. Impact was measured using checklist method for inhalation technique, the Test of Adherence to Inhaler (TAI) questionnaire for adherence to inhaler, and "Asthma Control Test (ACT)" or "COPD Assessment Test (CAT)" for disease control. The pharmacist-led intervention significantly increased adherence to inhalers, evidenced by a notable rise in the proportion of patients with good adherence (P<0.001). Sporadic, deliberate, and unwitting noncompliance pattern also improved significantly after the intervention (P<0.001, P<0.001 and P=0.001). Inhalation technique exhibited substantial improvement after intervention (P<0.001). The analysis indicated significant moderate negative correlations between "TIA" and "CAT" [ρ=-0.31; P=0.01], and between "inhalation technique score" and "CAT score" [ρ=-0.31; P=0.01] suggesting that as adherence to inhaler usage and inhalation technique improve, CAT scores tend to decrease, indicating reduced disease impact on the patient. This study shows the potential efficacy of pharmacist-led intervention in enhancing adherence to inhaler, inhalation technique, and disease control in respiratory conditions such as asthma and COPD.

Validation and application of the Dermatology Life Quality Index score, a modification of the DLQI score, in psoriasis patients

BackgroundAll the scoring methods for the DLQI miss the moderate impact of the disease on patients, which may underestimate the impact of psoriasis on patients’ quality of life. To improve the accuracy of the assessment of the Dermatology Life Quality Index score (DLQI) for patients with psoriasis, this study proposed and validated a new scoring method, the DLQI-NS, which includes the moderate impact option in the self-assessment of each item in psoriasis patients.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in which patients with psoriasis were enrolled. A total of 425 participants completed the DLQI, DLQI-NS and Skindex-16 questionnaires. Reliability, validity, ceiling and floor effects were evaluated of both DLQI and DLQI-NS questionnaires.ResultsAbout 14.4-32.5% of the patients reported a moderate impact on quality of life. The DLQI-NS allowed 17 more patients (4.0%) to achieve severe disease. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the DLQI-NS was 0.90, and that of the DLQI was 0.89. The KMO test results for the DLQI-NS and DLQI were 0.927 and 0.916, respectively. One factor was identified for each questionnaire. The items of the DLQI-NS showed an item-total correlation from 0.52 to 0.82, and the DLQI questionnaire’s item-total correlation ranged from 0.47 to 0.83. The DLQI-NS, DLQI total score and Skindex-16 had Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients of 0.89 and 0.84, respectively. Both the DLQI-NS and DLQI showed significant moderate correlations with the BSA (0.51 vs. 0.50) and PASI (0.47 vs. 0.46). No ceiling effects were observed for any of the items of both questionnaires.ConclusionThe validity and reliability of the DLQI-NS and DLQI were good, but the DLQI-NS was superior to the DLQI. The DLQI-NS is an effective self-assessment tool for assessing quality of life in psoriasis patients.

Quarterly fluctuations in external and internal loads among professional basketball players.

This study aims to explore the variations in external and internal loads on a quarter-by-quarter basis among professional Chinese basketball players. It emphasizes the crucial impact of these variations on optimizing athletic performance and match strategies. An observational longitudinal study design was employed, involving sixteen male players from the National Basketball League during the 2024 season in China. Data collection was facilitated through the use of Catapult S7 devices for measuring external loads and session ratings of perceived exertion (sRPE) for assessing internal loads. Linear mixed-effects models were utilized for the statistical analysis to identify differences in workload intensities across game quarters based on player positions. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to examine the relationship between external and internal load throughout the game. The analysis uncovered significant positional differences in workload intensities across game quarters. Guards were found to have a higher PlayerLoad™ (PL) per minute in the first quarter, while centers demonstrated an increase in high-intensity accelerations and jumps in the fourth quarter. Furthermore, a significant moderate correlation between sRPE and PL was observed across all game quarters, indicating a link between physical exertion and athletes' perceptions of effort. The study offers new insights into the dynamic physical demands faced by basketball players and the importance of using both objective and subjective measures for a comprehensive assessment of athlete performance and wellbeing. The findings underscore the interconnectedness of physical exertion and athlete perception, providing a foundation for future research and practical applications in the field of basketball science.

Using inertial measurement units to estimate ground reaction force and knee angular velocity during decelerations

Despite undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, athletes continue to present altered ground reaction force (GRF) and knee angular velocities (AV) for 6-24 months as they return to highly demanding tasks such as rapid decelerations (Schmitt et al., 2015, Med Sci Sports Ex, 47, 1426). In-field identification of GRF and knee AV during such deceleration tasks is challenging due to the laboratory restrictions of force platforms and 3D motion capture. Therefore, the use of inertial measurement units (IMU) has been suggested as an appropriate alternative to estimate such variables in the field (Pratt &amp; Sigward, 2018. Sensors, 3460). The study aimed to establish whether IMU-derived measures can be used to estimate GRF and knee AV that are indicative of ACL injury risk during decelerations. Following ethical approval from the Cardiff Metropolitan Ethics Committee, ten male team-sport athletes performed five maximal decelerations at three approach speeds (100, 85, and 70% relative to maximal attainable speed), for a total of fifteen trials per athlete. GRF and kinematics were measured using four Kistler force platforms and Theia3D markerless motion capture. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between IMeasureU Blue Trident IMUs mounted at the thigh or shank and vertical GRF, horizontal GRF, and knee AV during the first step of deceleration. A measure was considered field-viable if a very large significant correlation (r ≥ 0.7; P ≤ 0.05) was observed. At approach speeds of 85 and 70%, shank AV had a very large significant correlation (r = 0.79, 0.76; P = 0.001, 0.01, respectively) to vertical GRF, a moderate to large significant correlation to horizontal GRF (r = 0.46, 0.51; P = 0.04, 0.02, respectively), and a moderate significant correlation to knee AV (r =0.46, 0.40; P = 0.004, 0.02, respectively). At 100% approach speeds, shank AV had no significant correlation to GRF (r &lt;0.3; P&gt;0.05) and a moderate correlation to knee AV (r = 0.40; P = 0.02). This study was the first to find a strong association between shank AV and vertical GRF for whole-body decelerations at 85 and 70% approach speeds. This supports the use of IMUs in sport-specific settings (e.g., football pitches) to better quantify vertical GRF deficits during decelerations. This can further enhance in-field monitoring of GRF deficits and better assess athletes' readiness to return to sport following ACL reconstruction. However, alternative methods are required to accurately estimate horizontal GRFs and knee AV in the field.

Using a golf specific functional movement screen to predict golf performance in collegiate golfers.

This study aims to examine the relationship between functional movements and golf performance using the Golf Specific Functional Movement Screen (GSFMS). This cross-sectional study included a total of 56 collegiate golfers (aged 20.89 ± 0.99 years, height of 174.55 ± 7.76 cm, and weight 68.48 ± 9.30 kg) who met the criteria, and were recruited from Hainan Normal University in June 2022. The participants' golf motor skills (1-yard putt, 10-yard putt, 25-yard chip, 130/100-yard set shot, driver, and 9-hole stroke play) were tested and the GSFMS (e.g., pelvic tilt, pelvic rotation, and torso rotation) was used. There were significant weak or moderate correlations between the variables. Furthermore, a multiple linear regression analysis found that pelvic rotation and lower-body rotation abilities can significantly predict golf skill levels, which collectively explain 31.2% of the variance in golf skill levels among collegiate golfers (Adjusted R2 = 0.312, F = 2.663, p < 0.05). Standardised β values indicate that pelvic rotation (β = 0.398) has a more substantial impact on golf skill levels than lower-body rotation (β = 0.315). This study found the weak to moderate correlations between the GSFMS and golf performance, and pelvic rotation and lower-body rotation abilities, thus predicting golf skills. Our findings provide novel insights into the relationship between functional abilities and comprehensive skill performance within the context of the Gray Cook's Movement Pyramid model, and provide theoretical support and practical reference for collegiate golf motor-skill learning and sports injury prevention.

#1024 Lung ultrasound in 28 versus 8 places and volume status in chronic hemodialysis patients

Abstract Background and Aims Overhydration is considered a significant risk factor for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in end-stage kidney disease patients. Measurement of total and extracellular water with bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), inferior vena cava diameter (IVCd) measurement, and circulating pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (proBNP) levels have previously been tested as possible indicators of volume status in hemodialysis (HD) patients, with BIA showing the most potential. Recently, it has been shown that lung ultrasound (LUS)-guided volume depletion is an effective strategy for relieving lung congestion in chronic HD patients. The aim of our study was to determine whether performing LUS on only 8 places was comparable to the regular 28 places. Method LUS was performed on 29 randomly selected patients before their regular HD procedure in 28 regular places and correlated with 8 places (4 on each side). In addition, BIA with a body composition monitor (BCM) was performed, IVCd was measured using ultrasound and serum NT-proBNP value was determined. Statistical analysis was performed using a commercially available SPSS® for Windows® (version 29.0; Chicago, IL, USA). Spearman's non-parametric test was used to determine a correlation between variables. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results We included 29 chronic HD patients, 15 male (51.7 %), with a mean age of 66.3 ± 12.5 years and a median dialysis vintage of 53.0 (95% CI (40.9, 100.6)) months. Most patients (96.6 %) had a functional arteriovenous fistula, whereas only one patient (3.4 %) was dialysed using a Hickman catheter. A very strong, directly proportional correlation was found between performing LUS in 28 and 8 places (ρ=0.909; p&amp;lt;0.001). A significant moderate correlation was also found between both LUS in 28 and 8 places and systolic blood pressure (ρ=0.503; p=0.005 and ρ=0.467; p=0.011, respectively) (Table 1). Neither of the LUS methods statistically correlated with other tested volume markers – overhydration, intracellular and extracellular volume measured with BIA, IVCd in inspiration and expiration and IVC index, or serum NT-proBNP levels. Conclusion In our study, we found a very strong, positive, and significant correlation between performing LUS in 28 regular places and 8 places. Both also moderately correlated with systolic blood pressure. However, we did not find a statistically significant correlation between LUS and other tested volume markers.

Evaluation of metacognition, difficulties in emotion regulation and addiction severity levels of individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder

ABSTRACT Aim This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between metacognition, difficulties in emotion regulation, and level of addiction severity in individuals with substance use disorder. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out with 121 participants at the Alcohol and Drug Addicts Treatment and Research Center between February and June 2023. The data were collected using the Metacognition Questionnaire-30 (MTQ-30), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-Brief Form (DERS-16), and Addiction Profile Index (API). Results All the participants were male and polysubstance users; the age of the onset of substance use was 16.43 ± 5.95; they had been receiving treatment for addiction for an average of 1.79 ± 2.16 years. There was a strong positive significant correlation between the mean total MTQ-30 score and the mean total DERS-16 and API scores (r = .704, p < .001; r = .776, p < .001) and a moderate positive significant correlation between the mean total DERS-16 score and the mean total API score (r = .628, p < .001). It was determined that metacognition had an effect at a rate of 60.3% and difficulty in emotion regulation had an effect at a rate of 39.5% on the addiction severity of individuals. Conclusion Addiction severity was found to increase as the levels of metacognitive impairment and difficulty in emotion regulation increased.

The Targeted Motor Control Screening Tool is Valid for Four-Year-Old Children.

The objective was to determine the validity of the Targeted Motor Control (TMC) screening tool with the Neurosensory Motor Developmental Assessment (NSMDA) in 4-year-old children. In this single cohort observational study, children (3years 9months to 4years 5months) completed the TMC and the NSMDA in a randomized order 5 to 14days apart. Seventy-six children (mean age = 4years 2months; SD = 2.5months; n = 35 male) completed both assessments. Forty-two children performed within the normal range on the NSMDA. There were significant and positive moderate correlations between item totals overall and for each area on the NSMDA and the TMC (r = 0.40 to 0.61) and between the NSMDA functional grade for each area and the corresponding TMC areas (r = 0.47 to 0.67). However, the correlation between the NSMDA sensorimotor functional grade and the TMC sensory score was significant but low and positive (r = 0.35). The optimal cut-off score for detecting children at risk of atypical development on the TMC was a score of <9 (n = 42) (sensitivity = 82.4%; specificity = 66.7%) with a positive likelihood ratio of 2.47 (95% CI = 1.57 to 3.89) and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.26 (95% CI = 0.12 to 0.56). The TMC is a valid screening tool to identify 4-year-old children at risk of motor delay. Early identification of developmental concerns using a validated screening tool is recommended. The TMC is a valid performance-based screening tool that can be used to identify children at risk of atypical motor development who would benefit from further developmental assessment so that, if indicated, timely intervention can be implemented.

Psychometric properties of the spatial skills self-efficacy scale: A validity and reliability study

The aim of this study was to develop a valid and reliable spatial skills self-efficacy scale for middle school students. To this end, the study sampled 5th-, 6th-, 7th-, and 8-grade students in the spring term of the 2021–2022 academic year. The data were collected from 1369 students for the pilot study and the validity and reliability analysis to investigate the psychometric properties of the scale. Twenty-five subject matter experts were asked for opinions and Lawshe's content validity ratio (1975) was used to measure the content validity of the scale. The results of the exploratory factor analysis conducted for the construct validity yielded a four-factor structure consisting of seventeen items, which accounted for 41.37 % of the total variance. The factor loadings of the scale items ranged from 0.41 to 0.75. When the fit indices of the model were examined as a result of Confirmatory Factor Analysis, it was determined that the firstorder multifactor structure were within the excellent or acceptable value ranges. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was found to be 0.77 for the total scale. The results of the independent samples t-test for the upper and lower 27 % groups showed a significant difference between the groups for all scale items. The correlation coefficients of the subscales with one another and with the total scale showed significant positive moderate and high correlations. The test–retest reliability coefficients also showed significant positive moderate and high correlations. These results indicate that the Spatial Skills Self-Efficacy Scale is a measurement tool that produces valid and reliable measurements and can be used to determine the spatial skills self-efficacy of middle school students.

Evaluation of the Relationship Between the Maxillary Sinus and Nasopalatine Canal of Maxillary Impacted Canines by Cone Beam Computed Tomography

Introduction. One of the critical parameters evaluated while planning orthodontic treatment for impacted canines in clinical practice is the relationship between impacted canines and adjacent anatomical structures. The nasopalatine canal (NPC) and maxillary sinus are anatomical formations that may be in close proximity to impacted canines. This study aimed to determine the relationship between palatally impacted canines, the maxillary sinus, and the NPC. Methods. A total of 105 impacted canines from 93 patients were evaluated using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. The relationship between the impacted canine teeth, maxillary sinus, and NPC was assessed inside, outside, and at the border of the maxillary sinus floor and NPC walls. The millimetric distance between the impacted canine teeth and the borders of the maxillary sinus, the NPC, and the cortical bone of the palate was measured. Additionally, NPC morphology was assessed on the axial and sagittal CBCT images. Results. Of all the impacted teeth, 47.6% (3.8% inside, 43.8% at the border) were associated with the sinus, while 42.8% (15.2% inside, 27.6% at the border) were associated with the NPC. A significant moderate negative correlation (-0.32) was observed between age and the distance between impacted left canine teeth and the cortical bone of the palate. Additionally, when a Y-shaped NPC was present, the impacted canines were predominantly situated outside the canal. Conclusions. In this study, nearly half of the canines were located inside or at the border of the maxillary sinus and the NPC. Therefore, clinicians should carefully evaluate the relationship of impacted teeth with the maxillary sinus and the NPC during both orthodontic treatment and the extraction of impacted teeth.

Variability of Silver Fir Needle (Abies alba Mill.) Anatomical Features in the Southeast Europe Natural Populations.

The survival of marginal/peripheral silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) populations in the broader region of Southeast Europe is endangered due to climate change and population decline. This study aimed to determine the level and pattern of variability for the anatomical traits of needles and the possibility of linking the pattern of phenotypic variability with environmental factors. In most of the analyzed needle traits, the statistically significant variability between populations was determined. According to the results of the multivariate principal component analysis, it is evident that the populations are distinct from each other, in three groups. The climatic factors Hargreaves reference evaporation, mean annual temperature, and growing degree-days, were statistically significantly correlated. The altitude and heating degree-days are statistically significantly correlated with the following three environmental factors: Hargreaves reference evaporation, mean annual temperature and growing degree-days, but negatively with others. The paper's findings indicate significant moderate and high correlations between the anatomical traits of the needles' central bundle diameter with the resin duct diameter, the distance between the vascular bundle and the resin duct and the epidermis thickness with cuticle, the resin duct diameter with the distance between the vascular bundle and the resin duct and the epidermis thickness with cuticle, as well as the distance between the vascular bundle and the resin duct with the hypodermis height and the epidermis thickness with cuticle. The results of agglomerative hierarchical clustering analysis, performed for anatomical and climatic traits, confirmed the existence of three groups of tested populations according to the altitude gradient. Research results provide knowledge on the diversity and structure of Abies alba populations of Southeast Europe, important for further research and guidelines for the species' conservation and genetic variability preservation in the southern marginal distribution area and keeping in line with climate change projections.