Non-parametric Statistical Tests Research Articles

Determining the effect of environmental factors, work postures and mental workload on musculoskeletal disorders in rescue workers and accidents of one of the water and sewage companies in Iran.

Musculoskeletal disorders are one of the most important problems faced by ergonomists today. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of weather conditions, working conditions and mental workload on musculoskeletal disorders of rescuers and water and sewage company accidents in hot and cold seasons. The present study was a longitudinal study that was performed on all employees of rescue and disaster teams of Shiraz Water and Sewerage Company in Iran (184 people) by census. Demographic and Nordic questionnaires, NASA Load Index (NASA-TLX), work environment assessment with temperature screening checklist and workplace ergonomic risk factor (WERA) assessment method were performed by the researcher. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 23 software and parametric and non-parametric statistical tests. The results showed that the highest and lowest prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders related to knee and back in winter and thigh in summer with prevalence of 57.1, 55.4 and 6% . The comparison of exposure to heat stress factors in summer and winter seasons showed that the temperature factors and work clothes of the workers in both seasons are in worse conditions than other factors (P < 0968). The results of the mental workload of people in two seasons showed that the highest and lowest mental workload is related to physical changes in the winter season and frustration in the summer season, and this relationship was significant (P < 0.001). Using multiple logistic regression model, the potential risk factors for musculoskeletal injuries including age, height, BMI, level of education and work experience in both hot and cold seasons were compared. The results showed that in summer, work experience (OR = 1.16 (1.06-1.28.)) and height (OR = 1.03(0.98-1.08) had a direct effect on the prevalence of pain and discomfort arranged in the back areas. One year of increase in work experience significantly increases the chance of a disorder in the back by 16% and a one centimeter increase in height increases the chance of a disorder in the lumbar region by 3%, although this relationship is significant. It is recommended that suitable solutions such as using appropriate and up-to-date mechanical tools, reducing activity time, increasing rest time, increasing the number of personnel in order to reduce mental workload, using work clothes suitable for the season and type of work, and ergonomics training for workers are on the agenda of company officials. Water and sewage should be placed.

Discrepancy in efficiency scores due to sampling error in data envelopment analysis methodology: evidence from the banking sector

Background Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodology is considered the most suitable approach for relative performance efficiency calculation for banks as it is believed to be superior to traditional ratio-based analysis and other conventional performance evaluations. This study provides statistical evidence on the sampling error that can creep into performance evaluation studies using the DEA methodology. Inferences are drawn based on samples, and various preventive measures must be taken to eliminate or avoid sampling errors and misleading results. This study demonstrates the possibility of sampling error in DEA with the secondary data available in financial statements and reports from a sample set of banks. Methods The samples included 15 public sectors and five leading private sector banks in India based on their market share, and the data for calculating efficiencies were retrieved from the published audited reports. The sample data was collected from 2014 to 2017 because the banking sector in India witnessed a series of mergers of public sector banks post-2017, and the data after that would be skewed and not comparable due to the demonetization policy implementation and merger process-related consolidation implemented by the Government of India. The efficiency measures thus computed are further analyzed using non-parametric statistical tests. Results We found statistically significant discrepancies in the efficiency score calculations using DEA approach when specific outlier values. Evidence is provided on statistically significant differences in the efficiencies due to the inclusion and exclusion of particular samples in the DEA. Conclusion The study offers a novel contribution along with statistical evidence on the possible sampling error that can creep into the performance evaluation of organizations while applying the DEA methodology.

Effectiveness of Tendo-Muscular Massage for Pain Reduction and ROM Improvement Post-Injury Knee Joint

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of tendo-muscular massage. The method used in the research is descriptive quantitative. The sample in this study amounted to 30 people who had mild to moderate knee injuries during sports and other physical activities. The order of data collection, namely starting with the pretest measurement, then given a one-time tendo-muscullar massage treatment which is carried out for 8 minutes and ends with a posttest measurement. The research data that has been obtained is then analysed with descriptive quantitative. Interval and ratio scale data that met the normality test were analysed using the paired sample t-test parametric statistical test, while data that did not meet the normality test using the wilcoxon non-parametric statistical tests. The results of measurements with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) experienced an average pain reduction of 2.5 and a significance of 0.000 &lt;0.05, while the range of motion measured with a goniometer experienced an average increase of 6 degrees, T count of 6,819 and Significance 0.000 in flexion movements and an average increase of 0.88 degrees, T count of 7,848 and Significance 0.000 in extension movements, as well as an increase in joint motion function of 28.83%. So it can be concluded that Tendo-muscular massage has a significant effect on reducing pain and increasing the range of motion (ROM) of the knee joint. Keyword. Effectiveness, Tendo-Muscular Massage, Pain Reduction, ROM Improvement, Knee

Understanding the relevance of immunological markers in severe multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children through machine learning

Objectives: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a late manifestation of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which presents with symptoms ranging from milder mucocutaneous and gastrointestinal symptoms to severe cardiovascular and neurological manifestations. We studied the clinical, biochemical, hematological, and immunological characteristics of MIS-C patients to understand this disease entity and to identify markers of severe disease. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four MIS-C patients, four acute COVID-19 infections, and ten healthy controls (HC) from a tertiary care pediatric hospital in Mumbai were enrolled in the study. Clinical, biochemical, hematological, and immunological parameters comprising major lymphocyte, neutrophil, and monocyte subpopulations and key activator and inhibitory markers were studied. Statistical Analysis: All parameters were compared between the healthy, COVID and MIS-C groups at Day 0, 7 and 14 using non-parametric statistical tests. Machine learning tools were used for multivariate data analysis to identify the immunological parameters that could help predict severe disease. Results: NKp46pos NK cell (%), CD11 positive eosinophil (%), D-dimer, and Tim3pos Tc (%) were identified as the most important markers that could help predict severe disease, with NKp46pos NK cells as the top contributor. A disease severity metric utilizing these markers can be used to identify patients who are likely to have a severe course of disease. Conclusions: NK cells directly contribute to disease severity in MIS-C. As the JAK-STAT pathway is known to be important for NK cell development, maturation, and function, ruxolitinib, which is a JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor, might be beneficial in the management of this condition.

Enhancing Children's English Vocabulary Through Religious Singing Activities in the Era 4.0

The problem in this study is that children often have difficulty in understanding vocabulary, especially vocabulary in English while in Era 4.0 English is a language that is commonly used both in learning at school and in activities at home, so an appropriate technique is needed to improve children's English vocabulary skills with religious singing activities. The research method used is pre-experimental using one group pretest-posttest design. The subjects in this study were 25 students of PAUD Aisyiyah 1 where the research sampling technique used Nonprobability sampling. Each student in this study will be given a pretest to measure vocabulary skills. Furthermore, each student is given treatment by providing a religious singing method using English. After getting the treatment, each student will be tested again on their English vocabulary ability. The data obtained is then tested using Wilcoxon Non-Parametric Statistical testing to test the significance of providing religious singing activities to improve children's English vocabulary skills. Based on the calculation of the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test, the Sig value of post-test and pre-test data in the experimental class shows a significant result of 0.000 because 0.000 α (0.05) so it can be concluded that there is a significant effect of religious singing activities on increasing early childhood English vocabulary. This study concludes that religious singing activities are one of the learning techniques that can be applied to improve children's English vocabulary because children enjoy the process of religious singing activities which in addition to being useful for increasing children's English vocabulary can also improve moral abilities, self-confidence and, get closer to learning resources and children learn happily so that it makes it easier to understand lessons.

Perception of the Importance of Professional Communication among Civil Engineering Students

This paper aims to find out the attitudes and perceptions of civil engineering students about the importance of professional communication and their current and future competencies. In addition, this work aims to investigate their interest in courses on communication skills. For this research, a quantitative research method was used - an online survey. The research sample consists of 109 students of all years of undergraduate and graduate studies in Civil Engineering at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture, and Geodesy in Split. The work is based on three hypotheses that were tested with non-parametric statistical tests after the research was carried out. The results of the research rejected the first hypothesis that students of higher years of civil engineering studies consider professional communication skills more important for work in industry compared to students of lower years of studies. Furthermore, this research determined that there is a statistically significant correlation between the ratings of the importance of professional communication among civil engineering students and the ratings of their communication skills and that there is a statistically significant correlation between civil engineering students who show a preference for communication skills and interest in attending courses in the field of communication.

Radiation exposure of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation and factors contributing to it

Abstract Background/ Introduction Aortic stenosis (AS) is a calcific disease which affects the aortic valve leaflets and is commonly prevalent in people who are 65 years and older. The global burden of AS is expected to keep on increasing due to the longer life expectancy as well as the morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is utilised for the management of AS. Currently, TAVI is recommended as a first-line treatment for patients who are 75 years and older and those who are at an intermediate to high surgical risk, with the aim of becoming the first treatment option for patients who are 65 years and older. However, one of the concerns of TAVI is the need of ionising radiation during valve placement. The study of exposure to ionising radiation in the TAVI population is becoming progressively more important to consider due to the broader population being considered and the long-term effects related to radiation. Purpose Locally there was no data available covering this topic, thus the aim of the study was to quantify the radiation dose that patients receive during TAVI procedures and to determine any procedural and patient factors that contribute to this radiation dose. Methods Retrospective data analysis was performed for procedures effected between January 2019 and December 2022. All the patients that underwent a transfemoral (TF) TAVI and fit within the inclusion criteria were included in the study. The data was collected from medical databases and underwent a process of data cleaning before information relating to patient and procedural characteristics was extracted. Data about percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) that were performed during the same time period by the same operators was collected for comparison purposes. Results In total the data of 241 TAVI patients was analysed. Dose Area Product (DAP) was the main radiation metric utilised to quantify the radiation dose. Non-parametric statistical tests were performed due to right-skewedness. The median (IQR) DAP for these procedures was 9000 cGym2 (5975-13150) and the median (IQR) fluoroscopy time was 18.25 minutes (15, 23.5). The years 2019 and 2020 had the lowest median DAP. The DAP obtained in this study is lower than the European DRLs of 13000 cGym2. The median (IQR) DAP (5320cGym2 (2385-9860)), and fluoroscopy time (13.75 mins (8.25-21.62)) for PCIs were lower than for TAVI and this difference is statistically significant (P = &amp;lt;0.001). DAP was not significantly related only to age category and the operator’s combination. Generalised linear models (GLM) showed that prosthetic valve size, body surface area (BSA) and aortic valve gradient are statistically significant predictors of DAP. Conclusion This study shows that the local TAVI patients receive a radiation dose which is within acceptable European limits and that valve size and patient’s BSA are the variables that impacted the radiation dose.

Assessment of Cognitive Flexibility in Jordanian Diabetic Patients by Wisconsin Card Sorting and Trail Making Tests: Implications with Demographic, Anthropometric and Therapeutic Variables.

Cognitive flexibility is a mental ability that aids in smoothly alternating between them tasks in the brain. Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a, common disorder that has been associated with impairments in cognitive functions. This research is a retrospective case-control study aimed at establishing a clear relationship between cognitive flexibility and diabetes among Jordanians, considering demographic, anthropometric, and therapeutic variables. TheWisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST)-64 item and the Trail Making Test (TMT) assessed cognitive flexibility in 268 people with diabetes and healthy control. Demographic, therapeutic data were collected. We also measured waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and body mass index (BMI). As the variables were non-normally distributed, non-parametric statistical tests were used to examine differences (Kruskal-Wallis) and correlation (Spearman) between variables. The patient group did worse on the WCST In contrast to the control group, patients exhibited more significant delays for both Part A and Part B of the TMT (p<0.05). Males had higher WCST conceptual level responses than females. In addition, participants with professional jobs showed less delay in TMT Part A (p<0.05). Age was positively correlated with WCST's total errors and TMT's Parts A and B (p<0.05). BMI was negatively correlated with the WCST's conceptual level of responses and positively correlated with TMT's Part B (p<0.05). In addition, urea and albumin levels were positively correlated with TMT's Part A (p<0.05). Furthermore, creatinine was positively correlated with WCST's total errors and TMT's Part A (p<0.05). Some measures of cognitive flexibility are associated with DM status in the studied sample of Jordanians and other variables (educational levels, occupation, lifestyle, average duration of illness, and age).

An exploratory analysis of the association between coronavirus anxiety and teacher burnout

This study was an exploration of COVID-19 anxiety and its relationship with teacher burnout. The study was a cross-sectional survey research design with a convenience sample drawn from a population of K-12 public school teachers. A non-parametric statistical test, Kruskal-Wallis, showed a statistically significant difference in teacher burnout across the three grade levels: χ2 (2, N = 61) = 6.20, p = .045. Teacher burnout was lowest amongst elementary school teachers (M = 47.00) when compared to middle school (M = 74.00) and high school teachers (M = 71.00). Implications include a need for increased administrative support and decreased stress levels for teachers.

Foot health and physical fitness: investigating the interplay among flat feet, body balance, and performance in junior high school students

Background and Study Aim. Foot health and physical fitness in children are closely interconnected, playing a vital role in ensuring their overall well-being and performance. This study aims to determine the relationship between flat feet, body balance, and physical performance of junior high school students. Material and Methods. A total of 109 junior high school students from five schools in Surabaya, Indonesia, with ages ranging from 12 to 14 years, participated in this research. Data collection was through the wet footprint test, stork standing balance test, Bass test, Y-agility Test, and Illinois Change of Direction Test. The correlation of flat feet with static and dynamic balance and physical performance in the school environment was analyzed using the non-parametric Spearman Rank statistical test. Results. The results showed significant relationships between foot grade and static balance, dynamic balance, agility, and change of direction. These relationships were indicated by correlation coefficients that showed statistical significance at p &lt; 0.05. Additionally, static and dynamic balance exhibited a negative correlation, while agility and change of direction showed a positive correlation. This suggests that higher foot grades corresponded to longer durations in static and dynamic balance tests and shorter completion times in agility and change of direction tasks. Conclusions. The findings of this study highlight the importance of investigating the relationship between flat feet, body balance, and physical performance among junior high school students. Understanding these correlations is crucial for optimizing the overall well-being and performance of adolescents.

Exploring the content of epilepsy fellowship program websites: an analysis of information available to applicants

BackgroundProgram websites are essential resources in the process of residency and fellowship application. We evaluated the information furnished on these resources by Epilepsy fellowship programs. The extent of information provided was compared across geographic zones, academic affiliation, and national ranking.MethodsA list of Epilepsy fellowship programs was derived from the Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database (FREIDA). Links to program websites were obtained directly from FREIDA or using Google’s search engine. Online data was categorized to reflect program information, education, recruitment, compensation, epilepsy center-specific information, and social media presence. Data points under each category were collected to develop a standardized scoring system. The frequency of criterion present was compared across geographic zones, academic affiliation, and national ranking using parametric and non-parametric statistical tests. Significance was determined at a p-value ≤ 0.05 for all cases. The study utilized IBM SPSS version 28 and Python 3.11.3.ResultsWe analyzed 80 Epilepsy fellowship programs. The most reported feature was the program director’s name and email (100.0%). The least reported features included board pass rates (1.3%), preparatory boot camp (8.8%), and post-fellowship placements (11.3%). Programs were found to be well-represented on X (88.8%), Facebook (81.3%), and Instagram (71.3%). Most (85.0%) of the programs were searchable through Google. The scores for program information, education, recruitment, compensation, epilepsy center-specific information, and social media visibility did not significantly vary based on location, academic affiliation, or rank status.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that despite an online presence, there is much room for improvement in the content available to the applicant. To improve the Match process and attract a roster of well-informed fellows, Epilepsy fellowship programs should furnish program websites with up-to-date information relevant to program information, education, recruitment, compensation, and epilepsy center-specific information.

Suitability Analysis of Selected Methods for Modelling Infrasound and Low-Frequency Noise from Wind Turbines

Wind turbines emit infrasound and low-frequency noise (ILFN), which can be annoying for people living near wind farms. To assess the acoustic impact of wind turbines on the environment, it is essential to model ILFN propagation during the forecasting stage. This study assesses the effectiveness of three commonly used sound propagation models (ISO 9613-2, CNOSSOS-EU for favourable propagation conditions, Nord2000) in predicting ILFN generated by wind turbines. The performance of these models in modelling ILFN is generally not validated or guaranteed. The analysis covers octave frequency bands ranging from 4 Hz to 250 Hz, and comparisons are made against measurements conducted at a wind farm in Poland. Non-parametric statistical tests were used with a significance level of α=0.05 to determine significant differences between measured and predicted results. The results show that the Nord2000 method provides accurate calculations, while the ISO 9613-2 method can be used for simplified assessments of ILFN generated by wind turbines during the investment preparation phase.

The quality of life in orthognathic surgery: surgery first versus traditional orthognathic surgery evaluation.

This study aims to evaluate the differences in terms of Quality of life and the degree of satisfaction with the result obtained between the two groups of patients treated with the orthodontic first approach and surgery first approach, through administered questionnaires inserted in the post-operative phase. A total of 40 patients who previously underwent orthognathic surgery were included in this study, 20 treated with the orthodontic first approach and 20 treated with the Surgery First Approach. The impact of orthognathic surgery on patients' quality of life was recorded through the administration of the OHIP-14 test, FACE-Q test scale and FACE-Q test. Comparison between the two groups was done using a nonparametric inferential statistical test, the Mann-Whitney U-test. The results showed no significant differences in terms of quality of life between the two groups. Patients treated with orthodontic first approach presented greater psychological distress and perceived their faces as unattractive. A worsening of the aesthetics of the face determined by the orthodontic approach before surgery, may not be decisive in the quality of life of patients, which will certainly be better after surgery. SFA and OFA determine in both cases a marked improvement in the patient's quality of life.

Comparing clinical measures of near point of convergence and accommodation from the lateral canthus and browline in a paediatric and adolescent population.

Clinicians measure the near point of convergence (NPC) and the amplitude of accommodation (AA) from the spectacle plane, the bridge of the nose or the lateral canthus when assessing visual function. These values are compared to standard clinical criteria to diagnose vergence and accommodation deficits, despite varying reference points. This prospective study explored measuring relative to the spectacle plane and from the lateral canthus for NPC and monocular AA, and the resulting clinical implications of diagnosing visual deficits. Participants were seen by a single clinician for an eye examination. NPC was measured from the forehead and the lateral canthus of the right eye. Monocular AA was measured from the brow and the lateral canthus. Differences between measurements were analysed using non-parametric statistical tests including Wilcoxon Signed Rank, as well as linear regression and a linear mixed effects model to adjust for inter-eye correlation and repeated measures. Chi-square tests were used to assess differences in rates of abnormal findings. Data were collected from 70 participants (53% female, median age 13 [11-15] years). On average, measuring NPC from the lateral canthus yielded a value 1.8 cm higher than measuring from the forehead. Measuring AA from the lateral canthus resulted in an average difference of 1.5 cm compared to measuring from the brow. A total of 39% and 76% of subjects failed NPC compared to clinical norms when measured from the forehead or the lateral canthus, respectively, while 7% and 40% failed AA when measured from the brow or the lateral canthus, respectively. With the variable anatomy of the eye, it is imperative to account for the measurement point when assessing visual function. Measuring from the lateral canthus greatly increased the failure rates for NPC and AA compared with measuring from the forehead and brow, respectively.

Performance of three commercially available large language models and one locally fine-tuned model at preparing formal letters to appeal medical insurance denials of radiotherapy services.

e13630 Background: As many as 60% of prior authorization requests are denied, yet coverage approval occurs for more than 60% of appeals for some therapies. Appeal processes encumber providers and increase burnout, but large language models (LLMs) may aid providers by drafting appeal letters. We evaluated LLM performance at this task for radiotherapy denials. Methods: Three commercially accessible LLMs were evaluated: generative pre-trained transformer 3.5 (GPT3.5), GPT4, and GPT4+web with internet search capacity (OpenAI, Inc., San Francisco, CA). A fourth LLM, GPT3.5-FT, was developed by fine-tuning GPT3.5 in a HIPAA-complaint local environment. The fine-tuning training data comprised 53 insurance denial appeal letters prepared by radiation oncologists and paired prompts describing the clinical history and appeal intent. Training data were enriched in appeal letters for proton radiotherapy, stereotactic body radiotherapy, and image-guided radiotherapy for myriad clinical scenarios. Twenty prompts, each requesting a letter for a simulated patient history, were programmatically presented to the LLMs. Three radiation oncologists, who were blinded to the LLM source, scored letter outputs across four domains: language syntax and semantics, clinical detail inclusion, clinical reasoning validity, and overall readiness for insurer submission. Additionally, one radiation oncologist scored the authenticity and relevance of literature sources cited in output letters, which were requested by several test prompts. Interobserver agreement between radiation oncologist scores was determined by Cohen’s kappa coefficient. Scores were compared between LLMs with non-parametric statistical tests. Results: Agreement between radiation oncologists’ scores was moderate-to-excellent across all domains (median κ = 0.68, minimum κ = 0.41). GPT3.5, GPT4, and GPT4+web drafted letters that, by mode average, were semantically and syntactically clear, included all provided clinical history without confabulation, clinically reasoned with few necessary revisions, and overall were submissible to an insurer with minor revisions. GPT4 and GPT4+web clinically reasoned better than GPT3.5 (p values &lt; 0.001). In contrast, GPT3.5-FT performance was inferior to other LLMs across all domains (p values &lt; 0.001). LLMs were poor at identifying, citing, and summarizing relevant literature unless provided in the prompt. Conclusions: LLMs can draft insurance appeal letters for radiotherapy services that require few revisions yet are poor at referencing relevant literature. Contrary to our hypothesis, fine-tuning with data from our department compromised LLM performance.

Prospective assessment of targeted symptom management on supportive care in cancer: An observational cohort study.

e24073 Background: In advanced cancer, patients may experience treatment-related symptoms or disease burden, necessitating multiple supportive care pharmacotherapies. However, managing these symptoms can lead to complex polypharmacy, potentially resulting in inefficacies or toxicities due to pharmacogenetic interactions. Our study focuses on targeting the most impactful symptom to streamline pharmacotherapy, potentially reducing the need for extensive polypharmacotherapy. By prioritizing management of this "target symptom”, our study seeks to optimize improve overall symptom relief and reduce the need for extensive polypharmacotherapy. Methods: Upon initial palliative care evaluation, the PERSONS score (Pain, Eating/cachexia, Rehabilitation/fatigue, Sleeping disorder, O2/dyspnea, Nausea/emesis, Suffering; each item rated 0-10, total score 0-70) was used to screen for cancer-related symptoms and identify a treatment-specific target symptom for each enrolled patient. Accordingly, a personalized palliative care intervention was implemented based on the identified target. Efficacy of this strategy was then assessed by monitoring changes in the PERSONS score after approximately 10 days of treatment. Non-parametric statistical tests were employed to evaluate differences in symptom distributions between baseline and post-treatment scores: the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for comparisons between two groups and the Kruskal-Wallis test for comparisons across more than two groups. All analyses were conducted using R v4.1. Results: Among 72 prospectively enrolled patients, most had intermediate KPS scores (30-40, 47%; 50-60, 33%) and were not on active treatment (73%); PaP score was A, B and C in 27%, 61% and 11% of patients, respectively. The median PERSONS score at baseline was 26 (range 9 to 51). Pain was identified as the target symptom in 33 (47%) of patients, followed by dyspnea (14%), fatigue (11%), suffering (11%), nausea/emesis (7%) and cachexia (7%). When identified as a target symptom, suffering had numerically higher scores (range, 7-10; Kruskal-Wallis p = .14). PERSONS scores across non-target symptoms were numerically higher in patients with fatigue, pain and nausea/emesis identified as target symptoms. After a median of 9.5 days (range 6 to 138) of targeted treatment, PERSONS scores across non-target symptoms were significantly lower (p = 7.9e-05; median difference = -6, range = -24 to +10), as was intensity of target symptoms (p = 7.2e-14). Conclusions: Focusing on a targeted symptom through a short treatment course not only reduced that specific symptom but also demonstrated clinically significant improvements in non-target symptoms. This comprehensive approach, emphasizing the interconnectedness of symptoms, has the potential to optimize patient care and enhance clinical outcomes in the context of advanced cancer management.

Healthcare Worker's Satisfaction Assessment for a Healthcare Adverse Event Reporting Framework and the Management Approach for Such Reporting in the Emergency Department of Rural Government Hospitals.

The healthcare adverse event (HAE) reporting framework is more than just a tool. It is a crucial pillar in our pursuit of patient safety, quality improvement, trust maintenance, regulatory compliance, and ethical standards in healthcare delivery. To assess healthcare workers' satisfaction with the HAE reporting framework and the management approach towards such reporting in the emergency department of rural government hospitals by conducting a satisfaction survey. This prospective observational research was conducted in the Department of Emergency Medicine of the Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Saifai, and adjoining district hospitals from November 2023 to January 2024. The study involved 320 healthcare professionals working in the emergency department. The quantitative survey research used a questionnaire and a quality Likert scale response.The data were analyzed on an ordinal measurement scale using nonparametric statistical methods. The sample data were analyzed using frequency tables, percentage pie charts, and comparison bar graphs. In nonparametric statistical tests, the one-sample Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to infer the population's central tendency, and the Kruskal-Wallis testwas used to make inferences about the population categories. The satisfaction of healthcare professionals with the HAE reporting framework and the management approach was diverse. When surveyed about the HAE reporting framework in the emergency department, out of the 320 healthcare professionals,50% (161) expressed dissatisfaction,47% (149) were satisfied, and 3% (10) did not comment. Paramedics were most dissatisfied (61% of 133). When asked about the management approach while dealing with such reporting, 50% (159) were satisfied, 46% (147) were unsatisfied, and 4% (14) did not comment. On comparingprofessions, 43% (29) of 33 doctorsand 62% (83) of 133 paramedics were unsatisfied, giving a poor response. Additionally, 61% (72) of the 119 nursing staff were satisfied. The non-parametric inferential tests yielded a p-value of less than 0.001 for both questions, indicating a notable difference in the population's response to the HAE reporting framework and management approach. On pairwise comparison, there was a significant difference in perception (p<0.001) between the occupation groups, except for doctors and paramedics (p = 0.638) in the HAE reporting framework. By encouraging reporting, standardizing processes, analyzing incidents thoroughly, and using data-driven insights to inform improvement efforts, healthcare organizations can enhance patient safety, improve quality of care, and prevent future adverse events. The management approach to HAE reporting involves fostering a culture of safety and transparency, implementing standardized reporting systems, providing education and training to healthcare staff, establishing feedback mechanisms, conducting robust analysis of reported events, promoting continuous improvement, and ensuring transparency and accountability.

Spatio-temporal trends in long-term seasonal groundwater level of South-western Punjab using non-parametric statistical tests.

To manage groundwater resources and develop an action plan, it is crucial to understand the long-term behavior of groundwater level (GWL) fluctuations. In this study, Geographic Information System (GIS) and non-parametric statistical tests were applied for detecting long-term (1973 to 2020) spatio-temporal variations and trends in GWL from 137 observation wells evenly distributed across the south-western part of Punjab. This region has experienced significant changes in GWL over the decades. The non-parametric statistical tests included Mann-Kendall (MK), Sens's SlopeEstimator (SSE), and Innovative Trend Analysis (ITA). The study observed significant trends in GWL fluctuations before and after monsoon. The MK and SSE tests showed a statistically increasing trend in observation wells with about 65.7% and 67.2% increase before and after monsoon, respectively. The innovative trend analysis (ITA) also revealed a statistically increasing trend in observation wells with an increase of about 63.5% and 65.7% pre and post-monsoon season, respectively. The results indicate lowering of GWL in the northern districts of southwestern Punjab, while the southern districts experience rising GWLs. This discrepancy can be attributed to diverse agricultural activities and reduced over-exploitation of groundwater in the southern district due to soil salinity and the presence of brackish groundwater. These findings provide valuable insights into the dynamics of GWL in the studied region, highlighting notable trends associated with seasonal variations.

Accounting graduates’ perceptions on sustainability

PurposeThis study aims to test whether the perceptions of graduates of accounting-related degrees on the implications of companies’ commitment to sustainable development strategies can be influenced by certain factors associated with their previous training and characteristics.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on measuring and analyzing the assessment carried out by a sample of students graduating in degrees that include accounting subjects for five consecutive years, from 2016–2017 to 2020–2021, both inclusive. Nonparametric statistical tests are used to determine the type of association between the factors that characterize the graduates and their degree of agreement with the training they received and its relationship with their role in implementing corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability strategies in the company.FindingsThe study’s significant findings reveal that the respondents’ perception of the training they received and their opinion of certain benefits provided by sustainable development and CSR strategies in organizations are positively related. This insight is crucial, as it suggests that the training graduates receive plays a pivotal role in shaping their understanding and support for sustainability. The respondents’ opinions do not vary depending on their personal and/or work characteristics, except in the type of contract, as significant differences are observed between the self-employed and temporary or nonworking workers and between those with a permanent contract and those who are linked to the company with a temporary contract.Originality/valueIn a field where most studies focus on employee–employer relationships and human resource management policies, this research stands out. It delves deeper, not just into employees’ perception of sustainability but also into the causes of this perception. It explores what factors may be influencing employees’ opinions on sustainability, and importantly, it extends this analysis to graduates who will be in charge of these issues. This work covers a significant gap in the research, incorporating the study of variables such as personal characteristics and work-related aspects of employees and the training received in accounting matters.

Assessing Residential Building Energy Efficiency Using Evolutionary Dendritic Neural Regression

Assessing building energy consumption is of paramount significance in sustainability and energy efficiency (EE) studies. The development of an accurate EE prediction model is pivotal for optimizing energy resources and facilitating effective building planning. Traditional physical modeling approaches are encumbered by high complexity and protracted modeling cycles. In this paper, we introduce a novel evolutionary dendritic neural regression (EDNR) model tailored to forecasting residential building EE. Acknowledging the vast landscape and complexity of the EDNR weight space, coupled with the inherent susceptibility of traditional optimization algorithms to local optima, we propose a complex network-guided strategy-based differential evolution algorithm for training the EDNR model. This strategy adeptly strikes a balance between exploration and exploitation during the search process, significantly enhancing the predictive and generalization capacities of EDNR. To our knowledge, this study represents the inaugural application of dendritic neural regression in real-world prediction scenarios. Extensive experimental findings demonstrate the efficacy of EDNR in accurately predicting building EE with commendable performance. Furthermore, the results of two nonparametric statistical tests affirm the validity and stability of EDNR. Consequently, our proposed methodology exhibits high potential and competitiveness in machine learning applications within the energy domain.