Multivariate Analysis Of Variance Research Articles

Relações entre variáveis do maracujá amarelo e roxo

ABSTRACT Brazil is the world’s largest producer of passion fruit, with the species Passiflora edulis Sims (yellow and purple passion fruit) being the most popular commercially. Due to the great economic importance of this culture, seeking high productivity, phytotechnical quality, and maintenance of existing germplasms, among others, it is necessary to carry out studies of the most diverse types of this culture. In this crop, the use of multivariate techniques has increasingly driven studies on genetic differences between passion fruit species. Therefore, this research aimed to identify the variables that deserve greater emphasis in experiments with two commercial species of Passiflora: Passiflora edulis Sims f. edulis (purple passion fruit) and Passiflora edulis Sims (yellow passion fruit), verifying if the species differ from each other. For this purpose, principal component analysis, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), and Hotelling’s T2 test were performed. The principal component analysis proved to be effective, allowing the removal of five variables for yellow passion fruit and six variables for purple passion fruit and yellow passion fruit present contrasting differences between them, being the explanatory variables for the purple passion fruit the external and internal color and for the yellow passion fruit length, diameter, and citric acid.

The Effect of Artificial Intelligence on Patient-Physician Trust: Cross-Sectional Vignette Study.

Clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) based on routine care data, using artificial intelligence (AI), are increasingly being developed. Previous studies focused largely on the technical aspects of using AI, but the acceptability of these technologies by patients remains unclear. We aimed to investigate whether patient-physician trust is affected when medical decision-making is supported by a CDSS. We conducted a vignette study among the patient panel (N=860) of the University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands. Patients were randomly assigned into 4 groups-either the intervention or control groups of the high-risk or low-risk cases. In both the high-risk and low-risk case groups, a physician made a treatment decision with (intervention groups) or without (control groups) the support of a CDSS. Using a questionnaire with a 7-point Likert scale, with 1 indicating "strongly disagree" and 7 indicating "strongly agree," we collected data on patient-physician trust in 3 dimensions: competence, integrity, and benevolence. We assessed differences in patient-physician trust between the control and intervention groups per case using Mann-Whitney U tests and potential effect modification by the participant's sex, age, education level, general trust in health care, and general trust in technology using multivariate analyses of (co)variance. In total, 398 patients participated. In the high-risk case, median perceived competence and integrity were lower in the intervention group compared to the control group but not statistically significant (5.8 vs 5.6; P=.16 and 6.3 vs 6.0; P=.06, respectively). However, the effect of a CDSS application on the perceived competence of the physician depended on the participant's sex (P=.03). Although no between-group differences were found in men, in women, the perception of the physician's competence and integrity was significantly lower in the intervention compared to the control group (P=.009 and P=.01, respectively). In the low-risk case, no differences in trust between the groups were found. However, increased trust in technology positively influenced the perceived benevolence and integrity in the low-risk case (P=.009 and P=.04, respectively). We found that, in general, patient-physician trust was high. However, our findings indicate a potentially negative effect of AI applications on the patient-physician relationship, especially among women and in high-risk situations. Trust in technology, in general, might increase the likelihood of embracing the use of CDSSs by treating professionals.

Clinical Implication of Maumgyeol Basic Biotypes–Electroencephalography- and Photoplethysmogram-Based Bwave State Inventory

Objective The development of individual subtypes based on biomarkers offers a cost-effective and timely avenue to comprehending individual differences pertaining to mental health, independent from individuals’ subjective insights. Incorporating 2-channel electroencephalography (EEG) and photoplethysmogram (PPG), we sought to establish a subtype classification system with clinical relevance.Methods One hundred healthy participants and 99 patients with psychiatric disorders were recruited. Classification thresholds were determined using the EEG and PPG data from 2,278 individuals without mental disorders, serving to classify subtypes in our sample of 199 participants. Multivariate analysis of variance was applied to examine psychological distinctions among these subtypes. K-means clustering was employed to verify the classification system.Results The distribution of subtypes differed between healthy participants and those with psychiatric disorders. Cognitive abilities were contingent upon brain subtypes, while mind subtypes exhibited significant differences in symptom severity, overall health, and cognitive stress. K-means clustering revealed that the results of our theory-based classification and data-driven classification are comparable. The synergistic assessment of both brain and mind subtypes was also explored.Conclusion Our subtype classification system offers a concise means to access individuals’ mental health. The utilization of EEG and PPG signals for subtype classification offers potential for the future of digital mental healthcare.

The Effects of Language Background and Parental Education on Measures of Cognitive Ability: An Analysis of the WPPSI-IV Cognitive Profiles of Monolingual, Simultaneous Bilingual, and Sequential Bilingual German Children Aged 4 to 7 Years

Background: The present study investigated the possible effects of language background (monolinguals, simultaneous bilinguals, and sequential bilinguals) and parental education (no/low, medium, high, and highest parental education) on measures of cognitive ability provided by the Wechsler Primary and Preschool Scale—Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV). Methods: Statistical analyses were based on a sample of 290 children (130 females, 160 males). Three multivariate variance analyses were conducted to identify possible effects. In cases of statistically significant main effects, post hoc analyses were additionally performed to identify group differences. Results: The results indicated that simultaneous bilinguals performed more similarly to monolinguals than sequential bilinguals. On average, sequential bilinguals achieved significantly lower scores on the Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI), the Vocabulary Acquisition Index (VAI), and the associated subtests than monolinguals and simultaneous bilinguals. Significantly lower average scores on VAI and the associated subtests were found for simultaneous bilinguals compared to monolinguals. Children with parents having no, a lower, or a medium educational level achieved significantly lower scores on VCI, VAI, and the FSIQ than children with parents having a high or highest educational level on average. Conclusions: The present findings suggest that the WPPSI-IV represents a suitable and reliable test battery for the assessment of cognitive skills in children with different language backgrounds and parental educational levels.

The Influence of Skin Pigmentation on Cochlear Functioning: A Study on Individuals with Normal Hearing Sensitivity

Background and Aim: Melanocytes are cells in the skin, hair, and eyes that generate pigment called melanin, which is primarily responsible for the pigmentation of these structures. These melanocytes, known as the Cochlear Melanocyte, are also present in the human ears (especially in the cochlea) and play a significant role in fostering endocochlear potential and preventing the odds of hearing loss. The current study investigated the relationship of skin pigment with cochlear function through distortion product otoacoustic emission in Indian skin type. Methods: A total of 120 participants aged between 17 to 25 were included using a purposive sampling technique. The subjects were further grouped based on a questionnaire on Fitzpatrick Skin Phototype (FSP) developed by Thomas Fitzpatrick (1975) and categorized as type III- type VI suitable for Indian skin types. Along with routine audiometric evaluations, the cochlear functioning was assessed using distortion product otoacoustic emissions. The standard group research design was used, and as data was normally distributed, multivariate analysis of variance was used to compare across groups. Results: The results of multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) showed no significant differences across the four groups for both amplitude and the slope of distortion product otoacoustic emissions. Conclusion: The present study using otoacoustic emissions revealed that the skin pigmentation did not affect cochlear functioning in the Indian population (type III through type VI) as seen in type I and II. Keywords: Melanocytes; hearing loss; cochlear function; skin pigmentation

Parking the bus or high pressing? Defensive tactical insights from the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup

This study aimed to analyze which defensive performance indicators differentiate winning and losing teams and to verify which of these variables better predict winning probabilities during the Men’s 2022 FIFA World Cup. Data from all 64 matches played during the competition were gathered from public sources. The variables comprised event-based and positional-based data. Data between winning and losing teams were compared using multivariate analysis of variance, and multiple linear regression was used to detect winning predictors. Results indicated that winning teams performed more forced turnovers ( p = 0.017) and spent less time in out-of-possession recovery ( p = 0.005) and transition ( p = 0.017). The regression analysis indicated that the forced turnovers (standardized beta = 0.446), the possession action per defensive action (standardized beta = 0.582), and the time spent in out-of-possession recovery actions (standardized beta = −0.279) significantly predict the goal difference achieved by the teams ( r = 0.499. Adjusted r2 = 0.225). However, the model’s power prediction was low, indicating that multiple defensive strategies can lead to winning outcomes. In conclusion, adopting an aggressive defensive style, aiming at forcing turnovers and seeking to regain the ball high on the pitch, was the most successful defensive strategy observed in the competition.

Demographic, pain, and quality of life factors in unilateral and bilateral total knee arthroplasty

BackgroundThe Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute (ABJHI) has a comprehensive registry capturing clinical, demographic, and patient-reported outcome measures on all knee arthroplasties performed in the province of Alberta, Canada. This large database provides an opportunity to study the outcomes of total knee arthroplasties (TKA) in patients who underwent unilateral or bilateral procedures. MethodsPain and quality of life outcomes of 29,157 TKAs performed in 23,033 patients for knee osteoarthritis performed in Alberta, Canada from January 2013 to February 2020 were examined. This study: (1) investigates whether having both knees replaced results in better pain and quality of life outcomes than replacing only one knee (using multivariate analysis of variance) and (2) identifies if pain and quality of life outcomes impact the likelihood of needing surgery in the contralateral knee after a first TKA (using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models). Patient-reported outcomes were measured using questionnaires: the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) to assess knee pain, and the EuroQol-5D-5L (EQ-5D) to assess quality of life. ResultsPatients who had surgery on both knees had approximately 5% better WOMAC (pain) and EQ-5D (quality of life) questionnaire scores 12 months post-surgery than those who had surgery on only one knee. Additionally, for every 1-point higher pre-operative WOMAC pain score (i.e., less pain) there was a 1% decreased likelihood of undergoing a contralateral TKA compared to a 46% decreased likelihood per 1-point improvement in quality of life. Dementia, back pain, and hospital readmission were associated with a 68%, 17%, and 44% decreased likelihood of contralateral TKA respectively. By contrast, patients with obesity were 36% more likely to undergo bilateral TKA (p < 0.05). ConclusionsPreoperative knee pain and quality of life play a statistically significant role in determining which patients undergo bilateral TKA. Additionally, bilateral TKA resulted in better patient-reported outcomes compared to unilateral TKA. Though clinical significance cannot be drawn from the low response rates for the patient-reported outcomes, these findings provide a basis for future research on patient-reported outcomes within the Canadian healthcare system.

Characterization of the transcriptional effects of the plastic additive dibutyl phthalate alone and in combination with microplastic on the green-lipped mussel Perna canaliculus.

The presence and persistence of microplastics (MPs) in diverse aquatic environments are of global concern. Microplastics can impact marine organisms via direct physical interaction and the release of potentially harmful chemical additives incorporated into the plastic. These chemicals are physically bound to the plastic matrix and can leach out. The hazards associated with chemical additives to exposed organisms is not well characterized. We investigated the hazards of plastic additives leaching from plastic. We used the common plasticizer dibutyl phthalate (DBP) as a chemical additive proxy and the New Zealand green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) as a model. We used early-adult P. canaliculus exposed to combinations of virgin and DBP-spiked polyvinyl chloride (PVC), MPs, and DBP alone for 7 days. Whole transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) was conducted to assess whether leaching of DBP from MPs poses a hazard. The differences between groups were evaluated using pairwise permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA), and all treatments were significantly different from controls. In addition, a significant difference was seen between DBP and PVC MP treatment. Transcriptome analysis revealed that mussels exposed to DBP alone had the most differentially expressed genes (914), followed by PVC MP + DBP (448), and PVC MP (250). Gene ontology functional analysis revealed that the most enriched pathway types were in cellular metabolism, immune response, and endocrine disruption. Microplastic treatments enriched numerous pathways related to cellular metabolism and immune response. The combined exposure of PVC MP + DBP appears to cause combined effects, suggesting that DBP is bioavailable to the exposed mussels in the PVC MP + DBP treatment. Our results support the hypothesis that chemical additives are potentially an important driver of MP toxicity. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-11. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Psychosocial Training Program for Lifeguards: A Pilot Study.

Research has highlighted the need for training lifeguards in psychosocial skills. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the effectiveness of a short 10-h training program encompassing dimensions associated with emotional management, focus of attention, interpersonal relationships, and lifeguard behavior, and its effects on their psychosocial skills. A total of 64 lifeguards with experience ranging from 1 to 25 years (M = 5.93, SD = 6.07), randomly divided into experimental and control groups, participated in this study. The d2 Test of Attention, the Social Intelligence Test of O'Sullivan and Guilford, and the MSCEIT Emotional Intelligence Test were used to assess psychosocial skills. A multivariate analysis of variance for repeated measures (2 × 3 (Group × Time) MANOVA) was performed to analyze the effects of the training program on psychosocial skills. The results revealed that the experimental group showed statistically significant improvements in focus of attention and emotional intelligence compared to the control group. However, it is worth noting that no statistically significant group interactions were observed for measures of social intelligence. Taken together, these results seem to highlight the importance of including psychosocial content in the general training of lifeguards.

Measuring and Comparing Service Delivery Time in Government and Outsourced Health Posts Affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Background: The duration of healthcare services has a significant impact on the quality of care and patient's satisfaction. Having information on service delivery time in both government and outsourced Health Posts (HPs) can contribute to evidence-based policymaking and better resource management. Therefore, this study aims to estimate and compare service delivery time in government and outsourced HPs. Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in six affiliated HPs under Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2019–2020. Data were collected through a census using a stopwatch and a time recording form during one working week. The average duration of each service (in minutes) was obtained. The results were reported using descriptive statistics and were analyzed using SPSS24 software and multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: The total mean of duration of services provided in government HPs (777.6 minutes) was greater than that in outsourced HPs (788.5 minutes). Among the 10 services provided, the average duration of services for adolescents (20.4±4.5 minutes), young adults (20.5±5.6 minutes), middle-aged adults (26.1±10.4 minutes), and elderly individuals (24.3±13.6 minutes) in government HPs was significantly longer than in outsourced HPs (p<0.05). Additionally, the average duration of health education services (23.1±10.5 minutes) and health ambassador training (36.1±13.7 minutes) in private HPs was significantly longer than in government HPs (p<0.05). Conclusion: In outsourced HPs, it is important to focus on creating a balance between the number of visits and the staff available for services which target adolescents, young adults, middle-aged adults, and elderly individuals. In government HPs, emphasis should be placed on increasing the time allocated for educational and promotional health services. By considering the importance of service delivery time and the observed differences in findings of this study, it is crucial to prioritize the duration of service delivery as an important performance measure when comparing government and outsourced HPs.

Effect of Cognitive Context-Based Modeling Instructional Strategies in Biology Concept Teaching: An Educational Action Study

This study uses educational action research to investigate the practical impact of cognitive context-based modeling instructional strategies in the teaching of biological concepts in high schools. The study recruited 57 high school seniors who were instructed in biology concepts in a traditional lecture-based classroom, using convenient sampling. Throughout the study, teachers used self-designed questionnaires and student classroom engagement observation scales to evaluate how often students previewed new concepts and their classroom engagement. The questionnaire results compared how often students previewed new biological concepts before and after implementing the modeling teaching strategy, revealing a significant increase from 20 to 38 students who consciously and frequently previewed new concepts. In addition, we performed a multivariate analysis of variance on the measured data obtained from the classroom participation observation scale under the two teaching strategies, which revealed significant differences in teachers effective coaching strategy, students response status and response quality. The key conclusion from this action study is that the use of cognitive context-based modeling teaching strategies in high school biology significantly enhances the frequency with which students preview new concepts and their classroom engagement. This research provides an empirical basis and valuable references to improve teaching approaches.

Pharmacokinetics and Bioequivalence of Fixed-Dose Combination of Simvastatin and Ezetimibe Tablets: A Randomized, Crossover, Open-Label Study in Healthy Volunteers.

The current study aimed to evaluate the bioequivalence of a new generic combination of simvastatin and ezetimibe with the reference formulation. An open-label, randomized, 3-period, 3-sequence, crossover study, including 60 healthy volunteers, was implemented. Participants received the test and reference formulation, each containing 20mg of simvastatin and 10mg of ezetimibe as a single-dose tablet, separated by a minimum of 2-week washout periods. Blood samples were collected for 20 time points from predose to 72 hours after the dose. The total ezetimibe assay was carried out using a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, while unconjugated ezetimibe, simvastatin, and simvastatin β-hydroxy acid determination was done via a validated ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Each assay was preceded by a liquid-liquid extraction step. The pharmacokinetic parameters were derived using noncompartmental analysis and then compared between the reference and test formulations via a multivariate analysis of variance. No statistical difference was found in under the concentration-time curve from time 0 to the last quantifiable concentration and maximum concentration of unconjugated ezetimibe, total ezetimibe, and simvastatin between the reference and test formulations. The 90% confidence intervals of unconjugated ezetimibe, total ezetimibe, and simvastatin natural log-transformed under the concentration-time curve from time 0 to the last quantifiable concentration, and maximum concentration were in the range of 80%-125% as per the bioequivalence acceptance criteria. Therefore, the test formulation was bioequivalent to the reference formulation.

Cognition and Functional Capacity: An Initial Comparison of Veteran and Non-Veteran Older Adults.

The U.S. Military Veterans aged 65 and older comprise an estimated 43% of the 22 million living Veterans in the United States. Veterans have high rates of physical, psychiatric, and social challenges, but it is not known whether Veteran status confers additional risk for cognitive or functional impairments in later life. Thus, this investigation specifically compared older Veterans with their non-Veteran peers in cognitive functioning and performance-based functional capacity. Participants (N = 110; 29 Veterans and 81 non-Veterans) were part of a larger longitudinal study on biopsychosocial functioning in independently living older adult residents of a Continuing Care Senior Housing Community. The University of California San Diego Institutional Review Board approved the study and all participants provided written informed consent. Participants provided demographic and mental health information and were administered a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Functional capacity was assessed using the UCSD Performance-Based Skills Assessment-Brief (UPSA-B), which uses financial and communication role-plays to assess everyday functioning skills. Neuropsychological scores were appropriately normed prior to analysis. Multivariate Analyses of Variances with post hoc t-tests and an Analysis of Covariance were used to examine neuropsychological and functional capacity differences, respectively, between Veterans and non-Veterans. Veterans did not differ from non-Veterans in educational attainment (16.4 years versus 15.5 years, P = 0.110), but they were significantly older (mean age 86.9 years ± 5.7, versus 81.74 years ± 6.53; P < 0.001) and were more likely to be male (X2 [1, N = 110] = 62.39, P < 0.001). Thus, though neuropsychological norms already accounted for demographic differences in our participants, age and sex were controlled in the Analysis of Covariance predicting UPSA-B score from Veteran status. Results suggested that, compared to non-Veterans, Veterans had significantly worse performance in the list learning portion of a test of verbal memory (Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised, Total Recall; t = 2.56, P = 0.012, d = 0.56). Veterans and non-Veterans did not significantly differ in performance on the delayed recall portion of the verbal learning test and did not differ on a cognitive screening test (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) or on measures of premorbid intellectual functioning (Wide Range Achievement Test-4 Reading), language (Boston Naming Test, Verbal Fluency), visual memory (Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised), attention/working memory (WAIS-IV Digit Span), processing speed (WAIS-IV Digit Symbol Coding), executive function (Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System Trails and Color-Word Test), or functional capacity (UPSA-B). Because our examination of multiple outcomes might have inflated Type I error, we performed a post hoc adjustment of P values using Benjamini-Hochberg procedures and the group difference in verbal learning remained significant. Despite largely similar function in most domains, Veterans performed significantly more poorly in verbal list learning than their non-Veteran peers. Additional attention should be given to the understanding, assessment, and possible treatment of learning and memory differences in older Veterans, as this may be an area in which Veteran status confers additional risk or vulnerability to decline. This is the first study to compare objective neuropsychological and functional performance between older (age 65+) US Veterans and non-Veterans.

ØCD: protocol for the development and evaluation of a cognitive-behavioral prevention program for obsessive-compulsive disorder

BackgroundObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) imposes significant burdens on individuals, families, and healthcare systems and the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have exacerbated OCD symptoms. Currently, there are no validated prevention programs for OCD, highlighting a critical gap in mental health services. This study aims to develop and validate the first ØCD prevention program, for at-risk adults, utilizing cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure response prevention (ERP) techniques.MethodsA single-blind, randomized controlled trial comparing the ØCD prevention program to a waitlist control group will be conducted. Participants, at-risk adults (18–65 years) with subclinical OCD symptoms (OCI-R score ≥ 12), will be recruited for the study. The ØCD prevention program compresise of six online group sessions incorporating CBT and ERP techniques over three modules. The primary outcomes are OCD symptom severity (measured by the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory- revised form; OCI-R), depression symptoms (measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire; PHQ-9), and anxiety symptoms (measured by the Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7-item; GAD-7). Secondary outcomes include OCD-related beliefs, experiential avoidance, resilience, quality of life, uncertainty intolerance, automatic thoughts, and distress. Outcome measures will be collected at baseline, at completion of the intervention, and one year later (follow-up). At follow-up, we will also analyze the OCD diagnostic incidence, using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5. We will employ a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) to explore whether significant differences exist between groups across dependent variables. To compare the OCD incidence levels from the pre-test to the follow-up we will use the chi-squared test.DiscusionThe present study may contribute novel data on the efficacy of OCD prevention approaches, leading to the development of an evidence-based OCD prevention program that could alleviate individual and societal burdens associated with OCD.Trial registrationThis trial was approved by the University Ethical Review Authority (937/ 28.11.2023) at Babeș-Bolyai University and is registered on clinicaltrials.gov (ID: NCT06262464).

Core competencies in palliative care among oncology nurses: An observational study

BACKGROUND: Palliative care requires a collaborative approach from a multidisciplinary team, incorporating nurses with ethical, clinical, communicative-relational, psychosocial, and teamwork skills. However, many professionals feel unprepared to face end-of-life challenges, highlighting a lack of skills, especially regarding psychosocial and spiritual aspects. AIM: The purpose of this study is to explore nurses' self-perception of competencies in palliative care. METHODS: A single-center descriptive observational study was conducted among palliative and non-palliative care nurses at the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori in Milan (INT), using the short Italian version of the Professional Competence Scale (PCSQ). The Kruskal-Wallis test was used along with multivariate ANOVA for statistical analysis. RESULTS: 122 nurses participated (response rate: 52%), predominantly women (78%), aged 25-34 (50%), with a degree (46%) and over 10 years of experience (41%). The majority had no experience (71%) in palliative care, while 16% were currently working in this field. Statistical analysis revealed no significant correlations between educational level and responses. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed that experience in palliative care significantly influenced self-assessment scores, such as in activating non-pharmacological management strategies (p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Nurses perceive high competence in ethical and clinical decision-making in palliative care, influenced more by experience than by training. Addressing patients' subjective needs and using non-pharmacological interventions remain a challenge for nurses not working in palliative care settings.

The relationship between attitude toward physical activity and weight gain in children and young adolescence.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between attitudes toward physical activity and weight gain among children and young adolescents with an additional focus on the impact of gender on these attitudes. Employing a descriptive survey method, data were systematically gathered via purposive sampling from 11 specific cities in Türkiye, ensuring representation from all seven regions. A total of 3,138 students, aged between 9 and 14 years, participated in this study, with a distribution of 46% girls and 54% boys. To assess the attitudes of children and young adolescents toward physical activity, the Youth Physical Activity Attitude Scale was utilized. Height and body weight measurements were taken to determine the body mass index of participants. SPSS 26.0 software facilitated the statistical analyses, including Pearson correlation analysis to explore relationships between variables. Multivariate Analysis of Variance was employed to evaluate the impact of age, BMI, and gender on attitudes toward physical activity. Participants classified as normal weight exhibited a more positive attitude towards physical activity compared to their obese and overweight counterparts. Moreover, a significant gender difference emerged, with boys demonstrating significantly higher positive attitudes toward physical activity than girls. However, no significant difference was observed in negative attitudes based on gender. The study also revealed that an escalation in negative attitudes towards physical activity correlated with students being categorized as underweight, overweight, or obese, as opposed to having a normal weight status. Additionally, a statistically significant divergence in both positive and negative attitudes towards physical activity was found based on age. Specifically, the results indicated that students aged 9 and 14 exhibited lower levels of positive attitude when contrasted with their counterparts of different age groups. Conversely, in the domain of negative attitudes, students at the age of 9 scored higher than their peers in other age categories. Attitudes towards physical activity can serve as a convenient indicator and guide for assessing the effectiveness of various practices or interventions aimed at promoting physical activity, with recognition of the significant gender difference in positive attitudes among children and young adolescents.

Mothers’ evaluations of fathers’ contributions to raising children with autism spectrum disorder in the United Arab Emirates

BackgroundAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurological condition which results in social skill deficits, communication difficulties, and restrictive and repetitive behaviour. The difficulties associated with parenting children with ASD have been studied extensively, mainly from the perspectives of mothers. The extent of involvement of fathers in the raising of children with ASD has received limited scholarly attention, especially in non-Western contexts such as the United Arab Emirates.ObjectivesThis study asked mothers to evaluate the involvement of fathers in the development of children with ASD.MethodsIn all, 240 mothers completed the Fathers’ Involvement in Development and Rehabilitation Scale, designed based on a review of literature on the construct of involvement, namely attitude, participation in training, and support domains. The data were subjected to computation of mean scores, multivariate analysis of variance, hierarchical regression, and moderation analyses.ResultsThe results suggested that fathers held positive attitudes and provided substantial support to their children with ASD. However, mothers were ambivalent regarding the participation of fathers in training to support the development of their children. Differences were also observed between participants according to marital status, location, child gender, and ASD severity.ConclusionRecommendations for targeted training for fathers and other study implications are discussed.

Acceleration model considering multi‐stress coupling effect and reliability modeling method based on nonlinear Wiener process

AbstractEstablishing an accurate accelerated degradation model is paramount for ensuring precise reliability evaluation results. Unfortunately, current accelerated degradation tests often lack test groups for investigating multi‐stress coupled phenomena. Consequently, existing multi‐stress accelerated models fail to adequately consider the impact of stress coupling when data with stress coupling information is absent. This limitation leads to the development of inaccurate models, ultimately affecting the precision of reliability assessment. To address this challenge, this paper introduces a new modeling method for multi‐stress accelerated degradation models that takes into account stress coupling effects. The proposed modeling method aims to improve the accuracy of reliability assessment under multi‐stress conditions. In the proposed model, the main effect function of stress is determined based on existing single‐stress accelerated models. The coupling effect is first examined through the Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA), and then the functional form of the coupling effect function is determined from the given candidate functions through correlation analysis. Next, the coupling effect is incorporated into a Wiener process to establish a multi‐stress accelerated degradation model, and the two‐step estimation method combining Least Squares Method (LSM) and Differential Evolution Algorithm (DEA) is proposed. The accuracy and effectiveness of the coupling effect test method, model establishment, and parameter estimation method were validated using two Monte Carlo simulation experimental data sets. Finally, the superiority of the proposed model is demonstrated through examples, providing feasible ideas and technical support for the research on multi‐stress accelerated degradation modeling considering stress coupling.

The Effectiveness of Spirituality-Centered Cognitive Therapy on Body Image, Sexual Function, Illness Perception and Intrusive Thoughts in Iranian Women after Mastectomy

Spirituality-centered cognitive therapy refers to the way in which people search for and express the meaning and purpose of their lives, as well as experience connection with themselves, others, nature, and spirituality. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of spirituality-centered cognitive therapy on body image, sexual function, disease perception, and disturbing thoughts in women after mastectomy. This was semi-experimental research, which was conducted via a pre-test–post-test method and had a control group. The samples included 85 women with breast cancer who had undergone mastectomy, and, based on the inclusion criteria, 78 individuals were randomly selected and were then divided into two groups (39 individuals in the intervention group and 39 individuals in the control group). The intervention group received eight 120 min sessions of spirituality-centered cognitive therapy, and the control group did not receive any training. Data were collected using questionnaires on illness perception, body image, sexual function, and rumination and were then analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance with repeated measurements using SPSS-24. Before the training, there was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in the scores obtained by the scales. After the intervention, the mean scores in all scales except sexual function were significantly different from the control group. Therefore, spirituality-centered cognitive therapy may be useful for improving negative psychological symptoms among women in Iran with breast cancer after mastectomy surgery.

Cultivar authentication of olive oil from Ionian islands using volatile compounds and chemometric analyses

AbstractTwo hundred and twenty-three olive samples of different olive cultivars (Koroneiki, Asprolia, Lianolia, Ntopia, Thiaki, Mavrolia, and Others) grown in the Ionian islands (Kefalonia, Kerkyra, Leukada, and Zakynthos) were subjected to headspace solid phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis. The aim of the study was to characterize the aroma pattern of these olive oil cultivars, and track whether specific volatile compounds could be used for olive oil cultivar authentication using chemometrics. Multivariate analysis of variance implemented on the semi-quantitative data of volatile compounds (alcohols, aldehydes, benzene derivatives, esters, hydrocarbons, ketones, and terpenoids), showed that olive cultivar had a significant impact on the volatile composition of olive oil samples. Factor analysis and linear discriminant analysis indicated those specific volatile compounds that could be related to olive oil cultivar and established statistical models for the olive oil cultivar authentication from Ionian islands, thus indicating a characteristic aroma fingerprint of these olive oils.