Percentage Of Dropouts Research Articles

A Case Study on the Data Mining-Based Prediction of Students’ Performance for Effective and Sustainable E-Learning

The study explores the application of data analytics and machine learning to forecast academic outcomes, with the aim of ensuring effective and sustainable e-learning. Technological study programs in universities often experience high dropout rates, which makes it essential to analyze and predict potential risks to reduce dropout percentages. Student performance prediction (SPP) offers potential benefits, including personalized learning and early interventions. However, challenges such as (1) data quality and availability and (2) incomplete and inconsistent data complicate this process. Moreover, to support the fourth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), we focus on the quality of education. A case study approach is used using data mining techniques, particularly classification, regression, and clustering, to predict student performance. The case presented aims to predict risks and ensure academic success and quality. The cross-industry standard process for data mining (CRISP-DM) methodology is used to structure and guide the prediction process. The study shows that using data from student learning processes within an academic success prediction model and data mining can identify at-risk students.

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and Dropout in Diabetic Patients with Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.

This study aims to compare meibomian gland (MG) dropout and MG dysfunction (MGD) between patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) with moderate-severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and patients with no diabetes (NDM). This prospective, transversal, age, and gender-matched case-control study included 98 DM and 106 NDM eyes. Dry eye disease (DED) and MGD evaluations were performed, including meibography (Keratograph 5M®). The objective MG dropout percentage was obtained by analyzing meibography images with ImageJ software (v. 1.52o, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA) and was subsequently graded with Arita's meiboscore. The DM duration was 18 ± 9 years. The mean meiboscore (3.8 ± 0.8 vs. 3.4 ± 1.0, p = 0.001), meiboscore severity (p = 0.016), and MG dropout (45.1 ± 0.1% vs. 39.0 ± 0.4%, p < 0.001) were greater in DM than in NDM. All patients showed MG dropout (meiboscore > 1). Lower eyelids showed greater MG dropout in both groups. A correlation with age (r = 0.178, p = 0.014) and no correlations with DM duration or gender (p > 0.005) were observed. Patients with diabetes showed greater corneal staining (1.7 ± 1.3 vs. 0.9 ± 1.1; p < 0.001), reduced corneal sensitivity (5.4 ± 1.1 vs. 5.9 ± 0.4; p < 0.001), lower MG expressibility (3. 9 ± 1.6 vs. 4.4 ± 2.1; p = 0.017), and worse meibum quality (1.9 ± 0.8 vs. 1.7 ± 0.5; p = 0.019). Tear breakup time, osmolarity, MMP-9, Schirmer, and the Ocular Surface Disease Index showed no significant differences. In conclusion, patients with DM with NPDR have greater MG dropout and meiboscore, as well as more severe MGD and DED parameters than persons with NDM.

An Effective Teaching Pedagogy Involving an Online Learning Platform under a Multi-Campus Teaching Model

AbstractNowadays, many universities around the globe have offered distance learning to their students in addition to the traditional face-to-face learning mode. Furthermore, a number of universities have multiple campuses, thereby requiring these universities to adopt a multi-campus learning model. This setting creates numerous teaching and learning challenges. This paper aims to: (a) explore what major teaching and learning challenges are faced by Central Queensland University (CQU) due to its multiple campuses and a diverse student cohort involving both on-campus and off-campus students, and (b) discuss our teaching pedagogy (including the use of an online learning platform) for an information systems analysis and design (ISAD) unit at CQU with a view to alleviating these teaching/learning challenges. We analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively the effectiveness of our teaching pedagogy in addressing the teaching/learning challenges. We performed a two-sample t-test involving a total of 216 ISAD students and found that, by adopting our teaching pedagogy, there was no significant difference in academic performance between urban (mostly on-campus) and regional (mostly off-campus) students. Also, our teaching pedagogy reduced the dropout percentages of both urban and regional students, particularly the regional students.

Pemberdayaan Himpunan Mahasiswa Program Studi (HMPS) Dalam Upaya Mengurangi Jumlah Anak Putus Sekolah Di Pulau-Pulau Kecil Perbatasan

This program aims to reduce the percentage of school dropouts in border islands. Through this program, researchers created an educational environment by involving students of the Study Program Student Association (HMPS). This program was held every Saturday in Wakarleli, Maluku Barat Daya, during October 2023 - November 2023 involving around 20 children in various age categories and around 5-10 students at each meeting. The method used in this activity is descriptive method. The activities supporting the program are educational games which are implemented at the beginning and at the end of the meeting, the introduction of letters and numbers, and counting activities. The results of evaluations and interviews show that this program can increase children's confidence levels, train their communication skills, patience, tolerance, and helping attitudes between children. In addition to the great benefits for the children, this program also provides huge benefits for the students and lecturers involved. For students, this program is considered to increase their creativity in making learning media. Where this skill is a much needed skill, especially for students of the Mathematics Education and PGSD Study Programs. In addition, for students of the Law Study Program, this activity can also foster sensitivity in society and improve their communication skills which are also needed in their future profession. In general, in this program students are trained to work together, socialize and build their confidence to be in public.

EDUCATIONAL INCLUSION OF PUPILS FROM DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES

In this paper we aim to conduct a study on the implementation of educational projects and institutional partnership programs in Călărași County in order to reduce and prevent school dropout. Research objectives were the analysis of the effectiveness of educational projects and institutional partnership programs for the reduction and prevention of school dropout, at the level of Călărași county and reducing the percentage of school dropouts in educational units, from disadvantaged areas of Călăraşi County, involved in the institutional partnership projects and programs.

Solar Energetic Particle and the Heliospheric Current Sheet

The effect of the heliospheric current sheet (HCS) on the propagation of solar energetic particles (SEPs) remains poorly known. In this study we address this question by surveying energetic (∼2.0–9.6 MeV nucleon–1) helium data acquired by the energetic particle acceleration, composition, and transport (EPACT) sensor on board the Wind spacecraft. A superposed epoch analysis of 319 HCS crossings made by Wind reveals a sharp drop in the SEP fluxes at the HCS for the low-energy channels and little change across the HCS for the high-energy channels. To help understand the statistical result, we studied a total of 15 SEP flux dropout (a decrease of ∼50% or more) events that coincided with the crossing of the HCS. One of the common features of these SEP events is that they were initiated in the western hemisphere but far away from the longitude of HCS crossings, suggesting that the source of SEPs was well connected initially but was cut off later after Wind moved to the opposite hemisphere (e.g., HCS crossing). Further analysis of the events suggests that the percentage of flux dropouts decreases with increasing energy. It is suggested that a strong scattering of MeV helium may have occurred as the particle gyroradius is comparable to the thickness of the current sheet. This study clearly provides solid evidence for the HCS as a barrier to suppressing SEP flux of MeV energies from the onset hemisphere to the other.

Red filter meibography by smartphones in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction: a validity and reliability study

ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to determine the validity and reliability of the red filter meibography by smartphone compared with infrared in assessing meibomian gland drop-out.Methods and analysisAn analytical...

TIME SERIES FORECASTING MODEL FOR SOLVING COLD START PROBLEM VIA TEMPORAL FUSION TRANSFORMER

Time series forecasting is an important tool in many businesses. It can range from efficiently allocating resources for web traffic, predicting patient needs for staffing requirements, to forecasting a company's product sales. A particular use case, known as "cold start" forecasting, involves making predictions for time series that have little or no historical data, like a new product just entering the retail market. The key assumption of cold start forecasting is that products with similar characteristics should have similar time series trajectories. In such scenarios, traditional forecasting models that heavily rely on past observations may face challenges, necessitating the development of innovative approaches that can effectively make predictions in the absence of a substantial historical dataset. In this paper, Temporal fusion transformer neural network architecture was applied for solving cold start time series forecasting task. Modeling of the method was based on the use of a dataset contained in an open repository. After the preprocessing procedures, the dataset has about 370 time series, each of which has different length of series and has one categorical feature. Categorical feature have only 4 types of different values. For model training was performed to search for optimal hyperparameters across such parameters as: number of attention heads, learning rate, dropout percentage and hidden size.Model performed pretty well on this task. For model comparison were chosen metrics: MAE, RMSE, SMAPE. As can be seen from comparison with such popular models as DeepAR and LSTM, the proposed approach demonstrated the smallest forecasting error. Only one downside is that it can have more problems with anomalies in time series than DeepAR. But at the same time still provide interpretability of results.

Ocular surface and meibomian gland evaluation in euthyroid Graves’ ophthalmopathy

PurposeEuthyroid Graves’ ophthalmology (EGO) refers to the subgroup of thyroid eye disease patients with distinct clinical presentations. This study evaluated the ocular surface and meibomian gland changes in EGO patients.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted at The Chinese University of Hong Kong including 34 EGO patients and 34 age-and sex- matched healthy controls. Outcome measures include anterior segment examination, keratographic and meibographic imaging.ResultsBetween 34 EGO patients and 34 age and sex-matched healthy controls, EGO was associated with a higher ocular surface disease index (P < 0.01), higher severity of meibomian gland dropout (upper: P < 0.001, lower: P < 0.00001) and higher percentage of partial blinking (P = 0.0036). The worse affected eyes of the EGO patients were associated with corneal staining (P = 0.0019), eyelid telangiectasia (P = 0.0009), eyelid thickening (P = 0.0013), eyelid irregularity (P = 0.0054), meibomian gland plugging (P < 0.00001), expressibility (P < 0.00001), and meibum quality (P < 0.00001). When the two eyes of the same EGO patient were compared, the degree of meibomian gland dropout was higher among the worse affected eyes (upper: P < 0.00001, and lower: P < 0.00001). Tear meniscus height, lipid layer thickness, and noninvasive break-up time were comparable between the two eyes of EGO patients and also between EGO patients and healthy controls. TMH was positively correlated with the degree of exophthalmos (r = 0.383, P < 0.05).ConclusionEGO patients have more ocular surface complications and meibomian gland dropouts than healthy controls. Almost 60% of them had dry eye symptoms, but aqueous deficiency was not apparent. Further studies are warranted to clarify the mechanism of dry eye in EGO.(249 words).

Improving cognitive function with intermittent dose escalation of curcumin extract in chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment patients: a randomized controlled trial

Chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI) is an impairment of memory, learning power, concentration, reasoning, executive function, attention, and visuospatial during and after chemotherapy exposures. No proven safe and effective therapeutic regimen are available to improve cognitive function in CICI patients. To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of curcumin extract to improve cognitive function in CICI patients. This study was a double-blind randomized controlled trial clinical trial in patients with cervical carcinoma who underwent a carboplatin-paclitaxel chemotherapy regimen from March to October 2021 at single center hospital. Subjects divided into two groups that received curcumin and placebo caplets by dose escalation method from 240 to 400 mg intermittently (14 days on and 7 days off) between chemotherapy cycles. Cognitive function was evaluated pre- and post-therapy using the AFI questionnaire, Stroop test, and MoCA-Ina. A total of 78 subjects were equally divided into the treatment and control groups. The percentage of drop-out, mortality, and adverse drug response were relatively comparable between each treatment arm. The group of subjects receiving curcumin extract experienced clinically and statistically significant improvements in cognitive function based on the Stroop test (∆ median 8.57 vs. 2.46; Z − 4.503 vs. − 1.762; p < 0.0001 vs. 0.078) and MoCA- Ina (∆ mean 1.53 vs. 0.72; Z − 2.99 vs. − 2.05; p < 0.003 vs. 0.04) versus placebo in between-group and between-subject analyses, respectively. Administration of curcumin extract with intermittent dose escalation regimen proved to be safe and able to improve cognitive function of CICI patients clinically and statistically significant.

Risk factors for increasing leprosy treatment dropout cases reported in specific areas in Tangerang District

Link of Video Abstract: https://youtu.be/WPu8KQqNFNM Introduction: In 2020, Indonesia announced the elimination of leprosy in the whole country, including the Banten Province, with new cases detected 568 cases (4.8 per 100,000 population), higher than the national average of 4.12 per 100,000 population. Although information on the percentage of dropouts in Indonesia is not known, it still occurs in the field, If the case is cleared out unchecked, it will become a source of transmission of wellbeing problems in the community. This study aims to determine the influence of socio-demographic factors, leprosy patients, and health services on leprosy dropout rates and detect new cases in the Panongan Community Health Center working area. Methods: Secondary data on leprosy patients at the Panongan Community Health Center during 2019-2022 and primary data from cross-sectional surveys through home visits, interviews, face-to-face, and screening. Screening for leprosy symptoms in close contact with the patient's family using a questionnaire that includes independent variables of socio-demographic, patient, and health center with the dependent variable of treatment dropout. Purposive sampling technique in 5 villages with leprosy cases. The total sample size was 79 people. Data were processed and analyzed using STATA 14.0. Results: The logistic regression test was found to be significant (p-value &lt; 0.05) including age, (p=0.003), occupation (p=0.002), stigma (p=0.001), family of leprosy patients (p=0.003), close contact (p=0,000), healthy eating habits (p=0.002), perception of taking medicine (p=0.000) and a woman, 60 years old, was found to be infected with leprosy within the family of a drug withdrawal patient who was in near contact for 1 year, although multivariate testing was not statistically significant (p-value: &gt; 0.05). Conclusion: Increasing compliance through health education and motivation of patients and families, also monitoring medication taking by health service staff, groups of former patients, and cadres.

Treating Homeless People With Psychiatric Disorders: Evidence From the Italian "Diogene" Project.

The aim of the "Diogene Project" is to recruit, evaluate, and treat homeless people affected by psychiatric disorders. Three multidisciplinary street units patrolled the streets in Milan, Italy, two/three evenings per week to recruit participants. A sociodemographic questionnaire, the HoNOS, and the GAF were administered at recruitment (T0), 1 year (T1), and 2 years (T2) after the first evaluation. Personalized treatment (none, social support, psychiatric treatment + social support) was tailored to each patient's needs. One hundred twelve homeless people participated. Forty-six users dropped out after the first assessment. The highest percentage of dropouts was registered among those who did not receive any kind of treatment (67.4%). Time spent on the street was not significantly correlated to adherence and outcome. Interestingly, the greatest improvement in psychopathological symptoms was recorded among patients under both treatments. This study confirms the validity of our model in approaching such vulnerable patients through specific interventions.

Vulvovaginal atrophy in the CRETA study: the healthcare professionals’ perception

Objectives The objective is to assess the perception of gynecologists regarding patients’ adherence to vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) treatments, to evaluate the gynecologists’ opinions on what their patients think about treatment adherence, and to compare the gynecologists’ opinions with the patients’ own perceptions within the CRETA study. Methods Spanish gynecologists who participated in the CRETA study were asked to fill out an online 41-item questionnaire to evaluate their views on VVA management. Results From 29 centers across Spain, 44 gynecologists completed the survey. Their mean age was 47.2 years old, two-thirds of them were women, and the average professional experience was over 20 years. According to the gynecologists, the therapy most frequently used by VVA-diagnosed women was vaginal moisturizers (45.5%), followed by local estrogen therapy (36.4%) and ospemifene (18.2%). Nevertheless, ospemifene was viewed as the therapeutic option with the most efficacy, easiest route of administration, shorter time to symptom improvement, lower percentage of dropouts, and higher treatment adherence. Conclusions Spanish gynecologists are in general agreement with their patients regarding VVA treatment preferences and the main issues for adherence and effectiveness. However, there is an opportunity for doctor–patient communication improvement. Among the three therapeutic options evaluated, ospemifene is regarded as offering some competitive advantages.

Factors Affecting Female Student Dropout Rates in Hargeisa, Somaliland High Schools

Every society's economic development has been based on education. Female student abandonment, on the other hand, constitute a considerable drain and loss on a country's education budget, especially as high school possibilities are predicted to grow. This study investigated various variables that influence the dropout rate of girls from high school in Hargeisa, Somaliland. The study was directed by the following precise goals such as to examine the effects of domestic labor, to assess the influence of parents’ attitudes and to determine the influence community’s perception on girl child education in Hargeisa. The study was carried out using a descriptive research approach. The demographic being targeted included Principles, female students, educators, and parents. Purposive sampling was used to choose respondents from the designated high schools. The sample size was 68 respondents. Questionnaires were chosen as collecting data instruments. Descriptive methods of statistical analysis such as percent and frequencies were used to analyze quantitative data. The data was presented using tables and charts. According to The study results, domestic labor, parent’s attitudes, and community perceptions are resulting in a higher percentage of female high school dropouts. According to findings, 50% the respondents identified working as house helps as a reason for girls dropping out of school. Additionally, 79% of the respondents believed that parents have a responsibility in their daughter's education and dropout, while 63% of the respondents stated that their communities do not prioritize or encourage girls' education. The study suggested that it is essential for girls to have access to basic education as it is their fundamental right as stated in the Somaliland constitution. Additionally, the study recommended conducting further research in secondary schools to identify other challenges that girls face and find effective strategies to help them stay in school and continue their education.

Faster-acting insulin aspart reduces glycaemic variability in sensor-augmented pump treated type 1 diabetes patients

AimTo evaluate the effect of faster aspart over glycaemic variability in type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients treated with sensor-augmented pump (SAP) in a real-world scenario. MethodsObservational study with SAP-treated adult T1D patients treated with faster aspart for three months. The primary endpoint was the mean amplitude of glucose excursions (MAGE). ResultsFifty patients were treated with faster aspart. Eleven patients (23%) withdrew during the follow-up mainly due to worsening of diabetes control (9 patients). Mean age was 41.2 yrs. (range 21–59) and T1D duration 22.4±10.0 yrs. Mean SAP treatment duration was 3.6±3.1 yrs. We detected a reduction of -7.0 (95% CI −1.1, −12.9; p=0.021) in MAGE at the end of the study. Other glycemic variability indices were also improved: standard deviation of mean interstitial glucose (−3mg/dl; 95% CI, −1, −5; p=0.01), CONGA4 (−2.2; 95% CI −0.3, −4.2; p=0.029), CONGA6 (−2.6; 95% CI −0.6, −4.6; p=0.011), GRADE (−0.5; 95% CI −0.1, −0.9; p=0.022), HBGI (−0.7; 95% CI −0.2, −1.3; p=0.013), J-index (−2.9; 95% CI −0.7, −5.0; p=0.011) and MODD (−5.7; 95% CI −1.7, −9.7; p=0.006). A slight reduction in mean glucose management indicator was also detected (−0.14%; 95% CI, −0.02, −0.27; −1.4mmol/mol; 95% CI −0.1, −3.3; p=0.03). ConclusionsIn SAP-treated T1D patients, faster aspart insulin was associated with reduced glycaemic variability, but also a high percentage of dropouts due to worsened glycaemic control. NCT04233203.

Social Attitudes, Environmental Factors, and Laws-Institutions Impacts on School Dropouts: Case Studies in Sumba Island

This research is based on the fact that most children in West Sumba and Central Sumba are forced to drop out of school for various very crucial reasons. The purpose of this study refers to efforts to identify various factors that influence the high dropout rate. The collected data shows that the number of primary school dropouts in West Sumba was 151 students (0.76%) from 18,772 primary school students in the regency. The highest number was in the Lamboya and Tanarighu districts, making up 2.02% and 1.06%, respectively. The percentage is even lower for secondary school dropouts, which is 0.006% of the total of 13,368 junior high school students in West Sumba. The percentage of school dropouts at the primary schools in the Central Sumba Regency is 0.72%. From the collected data, the highest dropout rates are in the districts of Mamboro (1.28%). The percentage of secondary school dropouts in Central Sumba is 2.14%. The highest numbers were in the districts of Umbu Ratu Nggay Barat (3.61%), Katikutana Selatan (2.42%), Katikutana (2.04%), Mamboro (1.70%), and Umbu Ratu Nggay (1.21%). From the information above, the highest dropout rates for primary and secondary schools are in Umbu Ratu Nggay Barat and Katikutana Selatan districts. The main factors causing the high dropout rate in these two districts are Social Attitudes, Environmental Factors, and Laws and Institutions

An Analysis of Dropout Rate of Students after Flood at Secondary Level District Rajanpur Multan

This research is carried out to substantiate the effect of flood on dropout rate of students in flood affected area. In the present study responses were obtained from 51 teachers from the district Rajanpur. Data is collect through self-administered questionnaire from public schools of flood affected areas based on non-probability convenience sampling method. Data is the analyzed using MS excel and (SPSS) Statistical Package Social Sciences. The descriptive statistics tools were used to analyze including percentage and mean scores. It appears that majority of female students are dropout from schools due to flood. The flood negatively impact on school classrooms and Sanitation caused dropout of students. Due to flood the children were victims of waterborne diseases like diarrhea are caused children dropout rate in secondary level. The gender affected equally with flood but the female dropout percentage is greater than male which shows that female students have high rate as compare to male students.

Evaluation of meibomian gland dysfunction in type 2 diabetes with dry eye disease: a non-randomized controlled trial

BackgroundThe purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the morphology and physiological function of the meibomian glands between type 2 diabetics with dry eye disease (DED) and control subjects. Doing so will help to better reveal the pathologic mechanisms of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and DED in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodsNinety subjects were divided into the following four groups: DM-DED group: T2DM patients with DED (n = 30); DM control group: DM patients without DED (n = 18); DED group: DED patients without DM (n = 26); and normal control group: normal subjects (n = 16). All participants administered the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire, tear meniscus height (TMH), noninvasive Keratograph tear film break-up time (NIKBUT), Schirmer I test (SIT), corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), eyelid margin abnormality examinations, meibum quality and meibomian gland (MG) dropout evaluations. ResultsThe percentage of MG dropout in the upper and lower lids was significantly higher in the DM-DED group than the DED group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference in other MG parameters between these two groups. Oppositely, Significant difference was observed in all of MG parameters except MG dropout in the lower lids comparing DM group with normal controls (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). While the SIT values decreased in the DM-DED group compared to the DED group (P < 0.05), no significant differences were found in the values of other tear parameters. ConclusionsThe higher prevalence and increased severity of MGD was found in patients with both T2DM and DED compared to those only with DED. Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1800019939, date of registration December 9, 2018, prospectively registered.

Hair analysis as a new tool to monitor adherence to long-term therapy to statins.

Statins are cholesterol-lowering medications which are widely prescribed as first-line treatment for hyperlipidemia, against high blood cholesterol aimed at reducing the risk of atherosclerotic diseases. Notwithstanding their undoubted efficacy, the needed long-term treatment with these drugs is characterized by a high percentage of dropout. Consequently, an effective tool to verify the patients' compliance to statin therapy is needed. In this context, the analysis for drugs and drug metabolites in the hair may represent an almost ideal tool because, according to a sound body of forensic toxicological literature, concentrations in the hair matrix reflect the chronic intake of drugs and pharmaceuticals. In this light, in the present study, a novel, specific and sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method has been developed to determine six statins and their metabolites (namely atorvastatin, (p)α-OH-atorvastatin-lactone, (o)α-OH-atorvastatin-lactone, rosuvastatin, N-desmethyl rosuvastatin and pravastatin) in human hair. After optimization, the method was successfully validated in terms of selectivity, linearity, sensitivity, precision, accuracy, stability and matrix effect. Moreover, the practical applicability of this method for verifying adherence to statin therapy was assessed by testing samples of hair collected from subjects under long-term therapy with statins.

Proactive psychological and psychiatric support of patients with chronic non-communicable diseases in a randomised trial: a Ukrainian experience

BackgroundPresently, approaches for the early treatment of pathological anxiety in patients with chronic non-communicable diseases are lacking, thus delaying the initiation of symptom management at the early onset of the...