Non-parametric Comparison Tests Research Articles

Analysis of trends in the structure of higher education market of European countries

The structure of the higher education market in 2012–2021 in 38 European countries was analyzed using concentration levels and Herfindahl-Hirschman indices based on the number of higher education institutions and their share in the QS World University Rankings, and the number of students. This market in 2021 has a low concentration: the 3 countries with the largest number of higher education institutions (Germany, Ukraine, France) covered about 36% of the market in total; the 3 countries with the largest number of universities in the QS (United Kingdom, Germany, Italy) – 5%; the 3 countries with the largest number of students (Germany, France, United Kingdom) – 37%; and the 3 countries with the largest number of foreign students (United Kingdom, Germany, France) – 5%. Using parametric and non-parametric comparison tests, it was found that although the number of higher education institutions and students does not generally depend on the population’s income level, the number of universities ranked in the QS and foreign students does. The correlation analysis revealed that GDP and GNI, population, and separately the employment and unemployment rates (for ranked universities and foreign students) are important factors that determine the uneven structure of the higher education market. The identified factors formed the basis for clustering countries using Ward’s hierarchical method, which revealed the clear existence of 3 clusters: the smallest of them accumulates the 4 largest European economies with the most ranked universities; the largest (24 countries) is quite diverse, which indicates relatively equal opportunities in the market and its unification. Acknowledgment Tetiana Vasylieva and Artem Artyukhov thank project 0122U000772, and Nadiia Artyukhova thanks project 0124U000545 for carrying out their part of this research.

EFEITO DA SOBREPOSIÇÃO TERRITORIAL COM O ARCO DO DESMATAMENTO SOBRE O DESMATAMENTO EM UNIDADES DE CONSERVAÇÃO NA AMAZÔNIA

The arc of deforestation in the Amazon biome overlaps with regions of expansion of the agricultural and livestock frontier and presents high rates of deforestation and grabbing of public lands. The present work aimed to evaluate whether deforestation occurring within the Federal Conservation Units (UCFs) located in the Amazon biome was influenced by the overlap with the Deforestation Arc. The data used were the PRODES deforestation alerts issued in the Amazon biome between 2008 and 2023. Three types of non-parametric statistical tests for group comparison were carried out: a.) Wilcoxon; b.) Median; and c.) Savage Exponential. The results of the three tests were highly significant (P<0.0001) and demonstrated that the Arc of Deforestation influenced the Size of Deforestation (area, hectares) that occurred within the UCFs studied.

Weight gain and social support networks in Canadian federal correctional facilities

PurposeThis study aims to examine whether inmate’s social support network is related to changes in anthropometric data among individuals in Canadian correctional facilities.Design/methodology/approachMethods: A total of 754 participants in federal correctional facilities who had been incarcerated for at least six months responded to the questionnaire by interview regarding their social support network. Chi-square tests and non-parametric tests for median comparison were used to measure changes in anthropometric data [weight and body mass index (BMI)] between the date of admission into custody and the date of the interview. Subsequently, a multivariate regression analysis for BMI change was conducted to adjust for covariates such as sex, age and ethnicity.FindingsResults: Participants who received more than two visits per month had significantly lower weight gain (2.6 kg) than those who received less than one visit per month (7.1 kg, p = 0.02). Similar results were observed for the average change in BMI (p = 0.01). The influence of an external social support network on BMI change remained significant after adjusting for covariates. Conclusions: An individual's external social support network (outside the prison environment) may protect against weight gain in correctional facilities. Given how social support will vary based on the prison context by country and jurisdiction, individual and organizational strategies should be considered to maintain a healthy social support network and increase the number of visits (at every stage of incarceration) to counteract this weight gain and its adverse health consequences.Originality/valueThe social support network outside the prison environment may protect against weight gain in correctional facilities. Strategies should be considered to maintain a healthy social support network and increase the number of visits to counteract this weight gain and its adverse health consequences.

Evaluation of Lifelong Learning Tendencies of Health Personnel Providing Prehospital Emergency Health Services

Aim: The acquisition of lifelong learning habits by healthcare professionals for the enhancement of their knowledge and skills post-graduation holds paramount significance for the beneficiaries of healthcare services. The aim of this study was to evaluate the lifelong learning approaches of emergency ambulance employees. Material and Methods: Within the scope of the research, data was collected online from 390 healthcare professionals working in emergency ambulances using the lifelong learning tendencies scale in in Turkey. When evaluating the data, group characteristics were summarized by descriptive analyses and In the comparisons of numerical variables, normal distribution condition was sought and nonparametric comparison tests were used. Results: Within the scope of the research, the mean lifelong learning approach scores of the health personnel working in the emergency ambulance were found to be 113.89±16.03 (min. 61, max. 145) and the obtained score shows that their lifelong learning tendencies are at a low level. The findings indicate that there is no statistically significant difference among groups based on gender, title, age, and years of work experience in terms of the total scores on the Lifelong Learning Tendencies Scale (p>0.05 for each). However, significant differences were observed among certain groups in terms of the subscales of the scale. It was determined that participants aged 30 and above exhibited decreased levels of motivation and perseverance. Additionally, it was found that as years of work experience increased, deficiencies in learning levels and curiosity deficiencies decreased. Conclusion: Emergency ambulance workers need to be prepared and willing to improve their theoretical and practical skills as new evidence emerges in their field, where scientific knowledge is increasing. According the research findings should focus on promoting self-directed and team-based learning, improving access to up-to-date information, and providing easily accessible educational resources.

Nurses' perceptions about the patient safety climate in Primary Health Care.

to evaluate the patient safety climate in Primary Health Care from the perspective of nurses working in the services. a quantitative and cross-sectional study conducted with 148 nurses from a municipality in the state of São Paulo. The Brazilian version of the Primary Care Safety Questionnaire Survey and personal, professional, and organizational performance variables (intention to stay at work, job satisfaction, care quality, and frequency of incidents) were used. Parametric and non-parametric comparison tests and Spearman's correlation coefficient were performed, considering a 5% significance level. the safety climate was positive, varying from 4.52 to 5.33 and differing across districts for workload (p=0.0214) and leadership (p=0.0129). The safety climate professional variables and dimensions differed in relation to the frequency of incidents. Teamwork and safety and learning system were strongly correlated with job satisfaction and moderately with perceived care quality. teamwork and safety and learning system stood out for their positive correlations with job satisfaction and care quality. A positive safety climate favors the involvement of Primary Care nurses to develop improvement plans aligned with the National Patient Safety Program. (1) The safety climate is perceived differently across health districts. (2) There is a correlation between the climate dimensions and professional satisfaction. (3) Workload and leadership exert an influence on the safety climate perception. (4) There is a relationship between the safety climate and reporting of care-related incidents. (5) The safety climate is perceived differently among nurses regarding their role.

Improvements in mental health associated with increased electronic communication and deterioration in physical health in adults aged 50+ during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Previous studies have documented changes in physical health, mental health and social parameters during COVID-19. At the same time, there are no comprehensive analyses of these parameters designed as longitudinal studies on large-scale older populations before and during the pandemic. This longitudinal study aims to provide a quantitative analysis of the COVID-19 impact on the physical, mental, and social parameters in adults aged 50 and older before, in the early stages, and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data for this study were collected from three waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), a supranational longitudinal database: pre-COVID (October 2019-March 2020), early-COVID (June-September 2020), and during-COVID (June-August 2021). The sample included 31,526 individuals, compared across the three-time points through nonparametric group comparison tests. Physical health was subjectively rated as poorer in the during-COVID wave compared to the pre-COVID wave. Additionally, the number of illnesses or health conditions reported in the during-COVID wave was significantly higher than in the pre-COVID wave, with the biggest increases registered for cardiovascular diseases. The results also show that employment and overall social contact decreased while loneliness increased over time. Unexpectedly, mental health issues, such as sadness or depression and trouble sleeping, decreased significantly in the COVID waves compared to the pre-COVID wave. The analysis of two additional pre-COVID waves (2015, 2017) revealed that poorer pre-COVID mental health reflected in high values of sadness or depression and trouble sleeping was not an isolated peak but represented a typical baseline. The positive influence on the individuals' mental health during COVID-19 was found to be electronic communication, which showed higher values than face-to-face communication and lowered the odds of sadness or depression. Future policies should thus consider the positive impact of electronic contacts on mental health to promote overall health in adults aged 50 and older.

Improving CT scanner efficiency for trauma team activations in the emergency department

A Trauma Team Activation (TTA) is initiated when a patient has sustained a life or limb-threatening injury thereby necessitating resources of a large care team. Previously, a CT scanner was cleared at the time of the prehospital TTA call. Wide variability in the time it took to stabilize patients often led to extended CT scanner idle time. A new policy was developed whereby the team leader would prompt the ED clerk to provide a '5-min heads-up' (5-min HU) notification to the CT scanner personnel as a patient was stabilized. At this point, the CT scanner was cleared. The purpose of this quality improvement project is to evaluate if the new policy saves CT scanner idle time. Research interns prospectively followed incoming TTAs in the ED of a large, urban, Level I Trauma Center in November 2022. The interns collected the following time points: TTA notification page, 5-min HU notification, and arrival to CT. Data was analyzed using a non-parametric comparison test (Mann-Whitney U). A convenience sample of 46 TTAs was included. Trauma was blunt (85%; n=39)) and penetrating (15%; n=7). The median initial TTA announcement to CT arrival time was 24.0min (IQR: 9.0min). Previously, the scanner would have been held for this entire period. The median time from 5-min HU notification to CT arrival was 5.0min (IQR: 4.0min). The new policy saved a median of 19min of CT scanner idle time per patient compared to the old policy (p<0.0001). The total CT scanner time saved was 818min (13.6h). These data support the implementation of a 5-min HU policy in the ED for patients arriving as TTAs. This maximizes the availability of CT scanners for other patients in the ED while TTA patients are being stabilized.

Does society show differential attention to researchers based on gender and field?

Does society show differential attention to researchers based on gender and field?

The Impact of Covid-19 Global Crisis on the Firm&amp;rsquo;s Performance: Evidence from Listed Material Sector Companies in Sri Lanka

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of Covid-19 on the profitability of the material sector firms in Sri Lanka using ROA and ROE as the profitability measures. The commendable performance of the material sector equity index during Covid-19 period motivates this study to investigate whether the profitability of the sector backs the observed performance in the equity index. For this purpose, this study performs both parametric and non-parametric comparison tests on quarterly data gathered using annual reports from 2018Q1 to 2021Q1. Further, this study employs panel regression models to identify whether the differential effect of Covid-19 on profitability is immune to other controlling effects. Additionally, this study investigates the reasons behind the profitability patterns by analyzing annual reports' content. The results of this study confirm that during the first quarter of the year 2021, the ROA and ROE are greater than the per Covid period ROA and ROE. The major external reason for the higher profitability is the relaxed government policies implemented during the Covid-19 period. Accordingly, the findings of this study imply that supportive government policies enhance the performance of firms during crisis periods.

Sweet Potato New Varieties Screening Based on Morphology, Pulp Color, Proximal Composition, and Total Dietary Fiber Content via Factor Analysis and Principal Component Analysis.

A sample set of 18 sweet potatoes [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam] segmented into six registered cultivars and 12 new varieties were evaluated. The 142 tuberous roots were obtained from a sweet potato germplasm bank (BAG-sweet potato; -27.417713768824555 and -49.64874168439556), specifically from plants belonging to a sweet potato breeding program. All samples were characterized according to their morphology, instrumental pulp color, proximate composition, and total dietary fiber. The analytical results were submitted to parametric and non-parametric statistical tests for sample variance data comparison. Moreover, the screening of the cultivars and new varieties was performed by exploratory statistical analysis, factor analysis (FA), and principal component analysis (PCA). From the sixteen independent variables that characterized the samples, the exploratory FA identified thirteen that had a communality greater than 0.7, with 92.08% of assertiveness. The PCA generated 4 principal components able to account for 84.01% of the explanatory variance. So, among the six registered cultivars, SCS372 Marina and SCS370 Luiza showed the capability to be employed as cultivars for production. Among the 12 sweet potato new varieties, samples 17025-13, 17125-10, and 17117 met the requirements for patent and registration. These results will be useful to farmers who wish to use these sweet potatoes in the development of their crops.

The importance of mentors and how to handle more than one mentor.

Working with multiple mentors is a critical way for students to expand their network, gain opportunities, and better prepare for future scholastic or professional ventures. However, students from underrepresented groups (UR) are less likely to be mentored or have access to mentors, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. We developed and implemented a workshop, to provide the necessary foundation for students to be better prepared for establishing future mentorships throughout graduate and professional school. Faculty well-versed in the area of effective mentorship from multiple universities developed and delivered a 1.5-hour workshop to address the roles of a mentor, especially when it comes to UR students, and how students may effectively work with multiple mentors. This workshop was delivered to a group of students from, the Historically Black College and University (HBCU), Winston-Salem State University, and a pre/post-10-point Likert scale-based survey was administered where 1 represented strongly disagree and 10 was strongly agree. The questions used in this seminar were newly designed by the authors as program evaluations. We analyzed the raw data with nonparametric tests for comparison within paired samples. Wilcoxon matched-pairs and signed-rank tests showed statistically significant growth in student self-ratings related to the workshop learning objectives. The 'How to Handle More than One Mentor to Achieve Excellence' workshop was well-received as a component of pregraduate and preprofessional training. Incorporating workshops like this may increase student preparedness around developing and cultivating healthy mentorship relationships throughout STEM training.

Pregabalin for Recurrent Seizures in Critical Illness: A Promising Adjunctive Therapy, Especially for cyclic Seizures.

Pregabalin (PGB) is an effective adjunctive treatment for focal epilepsy and acts by binding to the alpha2-delta subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels to reduce excitatory neurotransmitter release. Limited data exist on its use in the neurocritical care setting, including cyclic seizures-a pattern of recurrent seizures occurring at nearly regular intervals. Although the mechanism underpinning cyclic seizures remains elusive, spreading excitation linked to spreading depolarizations may play a role in seizure recurrence and periodicity. PGB has been shown to increase spreading depolarization threshold; hence,we hypothesized that the magnitude of antiseizure effect from PGB is more pronounced in patients with cyclic versus noncyclic seizures in a critically ill cohort with recurrent seizures. We conducted a retrospective case series of adults admitted to two academic neurointensive care units between January 2017 and March 2019 who received PGB for treatment of seizures. Data collected included demographics, etiology of brain injury, antiseizure medications, and outcome. Continuous electroencephalogram recordings 48hours before and after PGB administration were reviewed by electroencephalographers blinded to the administration of antiseizure medications to obtain granular data on electrographic seizure burden. Cyclic seizures were determined quantitatively (i.e., < 50% variation of interseizure intervals for at least 50% of consecutive seizures). Coprimary outcomes were decrease in hourly seizure burden in minutes and decrease in seizure frequency in the 48hours after PGB initiation. We used nonparametric tests for comparison of seizure frequency and burden and segmented linear regression to assess PGB effect. We included 16 patients; the median age was 69years, 11 (68.7%) were women, three (18.8%) had undergone a neurosurgical procedure, and five (31%) had underlying epilepsy. All seizures had focal onset; ten patients (62.5%) had cyclic seizures. The median hourly seizure burden over the 48hours prior to PGB initiation was 1.87min/hour (interquartile range 1.49-8.53), and the median seizure frequency was 1.96 seizures/hour (interquartile range 1.06-3.41). In the 48hours following PGB (median daily dose 300mg, range 75-300mg), the median number of seizures per hour was reduced by 0.80 seizures/hour (95% confidence interval 0.19-1.40), whereas the median hourly seizure burden decreased by 1.71min/hour (95% confidence interval 0.38-3.04). When we compared patients with cyclic versus noncyclic seizures, there was a relative decrease in hourly seizure frequency (- 86.7% versus - 2%, p = 0.04) and hourly seizure burden (- 89% versus - 7.8%, p = 0.03) at 48hours. PGB was associated with a relative reduction in seizure burden in neurocritically ill patients with recurrent seizures, especially those with cyclic seizures, and may be considered in the therapeutic arsenal for refractory seizures. Whether this effect is mediated via modulation of spreading depolarization requires further study.

Modified Martius graft - a renaissance of surgical procedure.

The rectovaginal fistula (RVF) is relatively uncommon and by clinical manifestations grave illness. The surgery treatment of RVF is extremely demanding and represents the subject of frustration for many surgeons. Miscellaneous etiology of RVF and various heights of fistula in a rectovaginal septum are crucial for the choice of surgical procedure. Despite targeted treatment, more than one-half of rectovaginal fistulas recurs. We evaluated the frequency of recurrences after surgical treatment by modified Martius graft and its influence on continence and quality of life. The necessity of concomitant colostomy when performing modified Martius graft was the secondary aim. We collected and analyzed 8 years of data from our patient database. There were admitted 21 female patients with diagnosis RVF to the Surgery department of Faculty Hospital Trnava. Unfortunately, only 5 patients, concerning the etiology of disease and clinical state, were indicated for surgery by modified Martius graft. All RVFs were low and a defect in the rectovaginal septum wouldn't exceed 1.5 cm in diameter. Due to the small sample and non-confirmation of normality in all variables, nonparametric comparison tests were chosen for paired samples differences. We used the Wilcoxon sign-rank test and counted the effect sizes expressed the success of the treatment. Each female patient with low RVF included in this study has healed. The mean value of a complete healing of RVF in our cohort was 12 weeks. We had discovered one recurrence after surgery, that was successfully repaired by contralateral modified Martius graft. The significant decrease of Wexner fecal incontinence score in the observed group (p<0.05, r=0.639) and slightly elevated Cleveland Clinic Constipation Scoring System (p<0.05, r=-0.577) were confirmed. The protective colostomy was performed just once. Only two sections of the SF-36 Health Survey - the physical functioning and the bodily pain, were without significant changes. The rest of the watching sections of SF-36 have changed significantly. Treatment of low rectovaginal fistulas (LRVF) by modified Martius graft is followed by a low percentage of recurrences. It should be the first-line therapy in the algorithm of surgical treatment of LRVF, without the necessity of protective colostomy (Tab. 2, Fig. 3, Ref. 27).

T2 Relaxation Time Changes in the Distal Femoral Condylar Cartilage of Children and Young Adults with Discoid Meniscus.

ObjectiveTo investigate compositional changes in the distal femoral condylar cartilage (FCC) of children and young adults with and without discoid meniscus by T2 relaxation time mapping.DesignWe retrospectively reviewed knee magnetic resonance images including sagittal T2 maps of distal FCC performed in patients with or without discoid meniscus. Combined meniscal pathology such as degeneration or tears was also reviewed. Regions of interest were selected, and T2 relaxation time profiles were generated according to medial and lateral and FCC and according to weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing FCC. Nonparametric comparison tests using median values were performed.ResultsSeventy-nine knees from 73 patients (2-20 years) including 45 knees with lateral discoid meniscus (discoid group) were studied. T2 values of FCC showed negative correlation with age in both the discoid and nondiscoid groups (P < 0.01), except for medial weight-bearing FCC. In the discoid group, T2 relaxation times of lateral weight-bearing FCC (median, 46.5 ms) were lower than those of lateral non-weight-bearing (median, 53.2 ms; P < 0.001) and medial weight-bearing (median, 50.5 ms; P = 0.012) FCC. Lateral weight-bearing FCC also showed lower T2 values than other areas in patients with meniscal pathology in the discoid group. However, T2 relaxation times did not differ between the discoid and nondiscoid groups in patients without meniscal pathology.ConclusionsChildren and young adults with discoid meniscus have lower T2 relaxation times in lateral weight-bearing FCC compared with non-weight-bearing or medial FCC, suggesting compositional changes have occurred in these patients.

Pain in hospitalized pediatric patients in a third-level healthcare institution

To characterize the pain and its clinical-therapeutic approach in hospitalized patients in the general ward of a tertiary pediatric healthcare institution. An observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive study conducted between August and October 2019. 187 patients were included. Study variables were sex, reason for hospita lization, treating specialty, chronic, current, and in the last 24 hours pain, intensity, maximum cause of pain, and analgesic prescription. The FLACC (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability) scale was used in children aged between two months and three years, the revised Faces Pain Scale in children between four and eight years of age, and the self-reported Visual Analogue Scale was used in children from nine years of age onwards. After data analysis with descriptive statistics, differences between groups were calculated with the Chi-square test for qualitative variables, and non-parametric tests for comparison of groups with ordinal variables. 10.7% of the patients had chronic pain, without differences according to sex (p = 0.713). The prevalence of pain at the time of the evaluation was 38.5%, without differences according to sex (p = 0.419). Patients admitted for surgery and trau ma had a higher prevalence of pain (p = 0.034) and 53.5% of the children had an analgesic prescrip tion. the prevalence of pain in the hospitalized pediatric patients is high. Additionally, high use of non-opioid analgesia and a low prescription of opioid analgesics in the pediatric sphere is reported for the usual management of moderate and severe intensity pain.

Suicide mortality analysis in adolescents aged 10-24 years in Hubei, 2019

Objective To analyze the suicide mortality in adolescents aged 10–24 years in Hubei province in 2019 and provide evidence for the development of targeted prevention and control measures. Methods Suicide death data in adolescents aged 10–24 years in Hubei in 2019 were collected from the death cause surveillance system of Hubei. Software SAS was used for data cleaning and statistical analysis. Gender and area specific comparisons, nonparametric test for mean age comparison and χ2 test for suicide mortality rates were performed. Standardized mortality rate (SMR) for China and World were calculated respectively by using the 2010 national census data and the new standard world population data from WHO. ArcGis10.6 was applied for spatial autocorrelation analysis and spatial distribution presentation. Results Injury was the first leading cause of death in adolescents n Hubei in 2019, accounting for 52% of all deaths. For injury deaths, suicide ranked second in 10–14, 15–19 years old adolescents and first in 20–24 years old adolescents, all accounting for over 10% of injury deaths for each age group. In Hubei, the suicide mortality rate, China SMR and World SMR were 3.33/100 000, 3.40/100 000, 3.26/100 000, respectively in adolescents; 3.38/100 000, 3.40/100 000, 3.31/100 000 in urban adolescents and3.28, 3.38, 3.21/100 000 in rural adolescents. No gender differences were found except in adolescents aged 20–24 years, in whom males had higher suicide mortality rate than females (χ2=16.190, P 0.05). The main suicide methods were jumping from a high place, other substance poisoning, drowning, hang oneself and pesticide poisoning. Adolescent suicide deaths occurred randomly in counties/cities in Hubei without spatial autocorrelations. Conclusion No obvious gender and area specific differences in suicide mortality were found in adolescents in Hubei, and no spatial autocorrelations were found. Comprehensive prevention and control measures should be taken to reduce suicide mortality in adolescents in Hubei.

Quality of Health Services and the Factors Affecting it: A Cross-Sectional Study in Pilot Hospitals for Electronic Referral System

Quality of Health Services and the Factors Affecting it: A Cross-Sectional Study in Pilot Hospitals for Electronic Referral System

Examination of Rehabilitation Intensity According to Severity of Acute Stroke: A Retrospective Study

To investigate the intensity and effectiveness of rehabilitation in acute stroke patients according to the severity of functional impairments in them. This retrospective cohort study included 294 patients with acute hemispheric stroke admitted to three acute-care hospitals who subsequently underwent an inpatient rehabilitation program. Stroke severity was classified according to neurological deficits and trunk dysfunction. The following data were obtained from medical records: age, sex, stroke type, lesion side, hospitalization duration, initial functional status determined using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, rehabilitation start date, first day out of bed after admission, total treatment duration, total number of treatment sessions, rehabilitation implementation rate between start of rehabilitation and discharge, trunk control test and Barthel Index score on the first day out of bed after admission and discharge, and post-discharge outcomes. Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed with clusters categorized using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and trunk control test scores. Variables were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test, and Dunn's nonparametric comparison test was performed for post-hoc analysis to determine differences between clusters. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and trunk control test showed a significant correlation (r=-0.816, p<0.01) using which cluster analysis identified three clusters. Rehabilitation showed a ceiling effect in patients with mild stroke and a floor effect in patients with severe stroke. These results may guide the determination of rehabilitation intensity with reference to the severity of neurological deficits and trunk dysfunction.

Bi-Attempted Based Optimization Algorithm For Numerical Optimization Problems

Numerical optimization is one of the well-known problems in computer science. Day by day, new methods are developed by many researchers. Recently, optimization became an essential task for many disciplines, such as engineering, medicine, management and others. In many cases, optimization problems may require fast and efficient algorithms for real-time implementations. In this paper, a simple, fast and feasible algorithm is presented for the optimization of both uni-modal and multi-modal benchmark functions. A population based Bi-Attempted Based Optimization Algorithm (ABaOA) is a stochastic search method which searches a solution space with two fixed step-size displacement parameters and two mutation operators. The proposed algorithm is derived from Base Optimization Algorithm (BaOA) which uses basic arithmetic operations. The performance of ABaOA is tested on twenty well-known benchmark functions and the results are statistically compared with the seven well-known stochastic optimization algorithms. Three different statistical analyses were done on the results obtained from the ABaOA. Two non-parametric statistical comparisons with the mean values are performed by using Sign and Wilcoxon tests. The non-parametric statistical multiple comparisons of the proposed algorithm is performed by using the Friedman test. The non-parametric Friedman test of differences among repeated measures of these algorithms was conducted and referred a Chi-square value of 67.337, which was significant (p<0.05). Wilcoxon non-parametric pairwise comparison test was applied to analyze the difference of ABaOA statistically among the other algorithms. The test indicates that the introduced algorithm is statistically significant than other algorithms with a level of significance p < 0.05. The experimental results also show that the ABaOA is clearly superior to the compared stochastic optimization algorithms.

Is Dysphagia Under Diagnosed or is Normal Swallowing More Variable than We Think? Reported Swallowing Problems in People Aged 18\u201365\xa0Years

PurposeDysphagia prevalence in younger community dwelling adults and across nations is sparse. We investigated the prevalence of swallowing problems in an unselected cohort of people aged 18–65 years.MethodsThe EAT-10 Assessment Tool was converted into an anonymized online survey. Invitations were e-mailed to author contacts and onwards dispersal encouraged. Analysis was performed using non-parametric test for group comparison (Mann–Whitney U) and Spearman’s rho correlation.ResultsFrom March 2014 to October 2017: 2054 responses (32 reported ages outside of 18–65 or undeclared) from Africa, Asia, Australasia/Oceania, Europe, and North and South America. Responses: 1,648 female, 364 male, (10 reported as both), median age 34, (range 18–65, mean 37.12, SD 12.40) years. Total EAT-10 scores: median 0 (range 0–36, mean 1.57, SD 3.49). EAT-10 score ≥ 3 (337) median 5 (range 3–36, mean 7.02 SD 5.91). Median age 36 (range 19–65, mean 37.81, SD 13.21) years. Declared sex was not statistically significantly associated with non-pathological vs. pathological EAT-10 score (p = 0.665). Female scores (median 0.00, mean 1.56, SD 3.338) were significantly higher than for males (median 0.00, mean 1.62, SD 4.161): U (Nfemale = 1648, Nmale = 364) = 275,420.000, z = − 2.677, p = 0.007. Age and EAT-10 score were not associated: females rs = − 0.043, p = 0.079, N = 1648, males rs = − 0.003, p = 0.952, N = 364. Considerable impact on people: “I take ages to eat a main course … This is embarrassing and I often leave food even though I am still hungry.” (no diagnosis, EAT-10 = 17).ConclusionConcerns regarding swallowing exist in people undiagnosed with dysphagia, who may feel uncomfortable seeking professional help. Dysphagia may be under reported resulting in a hidden population. Subtle changes are currently seen as subtle markers of COVID-19. Further work is required to ensure that what is an essentially normal swallow does not become medicalized.