Significance Level Research Articles

The role of enterprise risk management on company value is moderated by company size in coal mining entities listed on the Indonesia stock exchange

This study seeks to explore and emphasize the impact of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) on firm value, using Tobin's Q, Price to Book Value (PBV), and Price to Earnings Ratio (PER) as measurement indicators. Additionally, it will analyze how factors such as firm size, Current Ratio (CR), Debt to Assets Ratio (DAR), Total Assets Turnover (TATO), and Return on Assets (ROA) affect these relationships. The research will focus on coal mining companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) from 2018 to 2021. The study used multiple linear regression with the ordinary least squares method to analyze the data. Hypothesis testing was performed using the t-test to evaluate the significance of the regression coefficients, with a significance level set at 5 percent. The results show that Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), Debt to Assets Ratio (DAR), and Return on Assets (ROA) significantly positively influence business value. Conversely, Current Ratio (CR), Total Assets Turnover (TATO), and firm size (SIZE) have a significant negative effect on company value. Furthermore, the study found that firm size affects the relationship between Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) and Tobin's Q. Additionally, the results suggest that as ERM, CR, DAR, TATO, ROA, and firm size increase, the company value also rises.

Evaluation of GHG Emissions on Climate of the Braced States in the Niger Delta

This study evaluates greenhouse gas emissions on the climate in the BRACED States of the Niger Delta. The emission of greenhouse gases leads to deforestation, reduced vegetation, and a decline in biodiversity. To achieve the study, an ex post facto research design was used. The study utilised field measurements and historical data to assess these factors. Data were collected and monitored from twelve distinct locations between September 2022 and February 2023. The findings indicate that Akwa Ibom had the lowest concentrations of greenhouse gas and climate variables. The concentrations of greenhouse gases and climate variables were found to be lowest in Akwa Ibom and Rivers States. Similarly, Rivers, Cross Rivers, and Edo States exhibited comparatively lower quantities of carbon dioxide emissions and low rainfall. The study's findings observed a strong correlation between climate (temperature and rainfall) and greenhouse gas emissions in the BRACED states. Statistical analysis at the P<0.05 level of significance indicates that greenhouse gas emissions account for around 32.5% of the observed variations. This analysis offers a method for determining the climate impact of GHG emissions. It is recommended that law on gas flaring activities should be brought to actions.

Effect of the scanner type on the marginal gap and internal fit of two monolithic CAD/CAM esthetic crown materials: An in vitro study.

The durability of indirect restorations is significantly influenced by marginal adaptation and internal fit. The use of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) with digital impressions has reduced dental prosthesis fabrication errors, improving the long-term survivability of the restorations. The present study assessed the impact of intraoral and extraoral scanning methods on the marginal adaptation and internal fit of 2 different types of monolithic crowns manufactured using CAD/CAM. A total of 40 three-dimensional (3D) resin-printed dies were randomly assigned to 2 groups based on the type of crown material (n = 20 per group). Each group was divided into 2 subgroups (n = 10 per group) according to the die-scanning technique: subgroup A, scanned using the intraoral scanner (IOS) Primescan; and subgroup B, scanned using the extraoral scanner (EOS) inEos X5. The digitized photos were converted into a 3D virtual crown design using CAD software. The internal discrepancy values, and the marginal gap between the 3D resin-printed die and the crown were assessed using a ×50 digital microscope. The data was checked for normality with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the tested groups. The collected data was analyzed at a significance level set at p < 0.05. The different scanning techniques used had a statistically significant effect on the vertical marginal gap and the internal fit [μm] (p < 0.05). As far as the crown materials are concerned, BRILLIANT Crios showed a significantly higher marginal gap as compared to Tetric CAD when scanned with inEos X5 (p = 0.004), whereas the differences were insignificant with regard to the internal fit (p > 0.05).The crown parameters tested with both scanning systems were within the clinically acceptable ranges. Scanning methods and crown materials had an impact on the internal fit and vertical marginal gap of monolithic crowns.

Efficacy of topical tranexamic acid soaked absorbable gelfoam in relieving post-extraction pain in warfarin patients: a randomized, triple-blinded, split-mouth, active-controlled clinical trial

BackgroundWarfarin patients who need dental extraction face the problem of bleeding and no sufficient hemostasis results in dry socket and postoperative pain. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of the topical application of tranexamic acid-soaked absorbable Gelfoam (TXA-Gel) and saline-soaked absorbable Gelfoam (saline-Gel) in relieving postoperative pain following bilateral simple extraction of permanent mandibular molars in warfarin patients.MethodsThis was a randomized, triple-blinded, split-mouth, active-controlled clinical trial. It was performed at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University, between November 2021 and October 2023. 60 bilateral permanent mandibular molars, which were indicated for simple extraction in 30 warfarin patients randomly assigned into two groups according to the topical hemostatic agents after extraction used: Group 1: control group, saline-Gel (n = 30). Group 2: TXA-Gel (n = 30). A simple randomization method was performed by flipping a coin. The primary outcome measure was the visual analogue scale (VAS). The intensity of pain was evaluated at the baseline (t0), and on the 1st (t1), 2nd (t2), 3rd (t3), 4th (t4), 5th (t5), 6th (t6), and 7th (t7) days following extraction. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test and the Mann-Whitney U test were performed. The level of significance was set at 0.05 (p < 0.05).ResultsThe mean vas scores was 4.17 ± 1.76 at t1 and decreased to 0.73 ± 0.78 at t7 in the TXA-Gel group. However, in the Gelfoam group, the mean vas scores was 4.83 ± 2.18 at t1 and decreased to 1.80 ± 1.00 at t7. The results of the Mann-Whitney U test showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups at t1 (p = 0.236) and t2 (p = 0.155). However, there was a statistically significance difference at the rest time points (p < 0.05).ConclusionsTXA-Gel played a prominent role in alleviating post-extraction pain in warfarin patients.Trial registrationThe trail was retrospectively registered at the ISRCTN registry (ISRCTN71901901).

Sex differences in intra-set kinematics and electromyography during different maximum repetition sets in the barbell back squat?

Barbell squats are commonly utilized in resistance training for rehabilitation, daily living enhancement, and improving sports performance. The current study investigated the kinematic and electromyographic (EMG) parameters in the squat between sexes across different repetition ranges (1-, 3-, 6-, and 10-RM) among recreationally strength-trained subjects. A total of 26 subjects (13 men: age 25 ± 3.5 years, height 178.2 ± 5.8 cm, weight 82.3 ± 9.1 kg; 13 women: age 24 ± 4.1 years, height 165.4 ± 6.3 cm, weight 68.2 ± 8.7 kg) participated in the study. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. The findings revealed no sex-specific differences in average barbell velocity across repetition ranges. However, the 1-RM showed a significantly lower average velocity compared to the final repetition of other repetition ranges (p<0.001), with the last repetition at 10-RM revealing a significantly higher velocity (p<0.001). Women had greater maximal angular hip extension velocity in the final repetitions of the 6- and 10-RM (p≤0.035, ηp2≤0.20), while both sexes displayed lower maximal angular knee extension velocity in the final repetition of the 10-RM (p = 0.028, ηp2 = 0.15). Moreover, men had lower EMG amplitude in the rectus femoris (3- and 10-RM), soleus, and lateral vastus (10-RM) compared to women (p≥0.011, ηp2≥0.26). It was concluded that 10-RM differed greatly in kinematics and EMG, suggesting different fatigue mechanisms compared to other repetition ranges with heavier loads. Furthermore, sex differences in EMG and angular hip extension velocity might imply sex-specific fatiguing mechanisms during high-repetition squats. These considerations could be important when prescribing training programs.

Solving the puzzle of quality of life in cancer: integrating causal inference and machine learning for data-driven insights

BackgroundUnderstanding the determinants of global quality of life in cancer patients is crucial for improving their overall well-being. While correlations between various factors and quality of life have been established, the causal relationships remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to identify the causal factors influencing global quality of life in cancer patients and compare them with known correlative factors.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire data, alongside demographic and disease-related features, collected from new cancer patients during their initial visit to an oncology outpatient clinic. Correlations with global quality of life were identified using univariate and multivariate regression analyses. Causal inference analysis was performed using two approaches. First, we employed the Dowhy Python library for causal analysis, incorporating prior information and manual characterization of an acyclic graph. Second, we utilized the Linear Non-Gaussian Acyclic Model (LiNGAM) machine learning algorithm from the Lingam Python library, which automatically generated an acyclic graph without prior information. The significance level was set at p < 0.05.ResultsMultivariate analysis of 469 new admissions revealed that disease stage, role functioning, emotional functioning, social functioning, fatigue, pain and diarrhea were linked with global quality of life. The most influential direct causal factors were emotional functioning, social functioning, and physical functioning, while the most influential indirect factors were physical functioning, emotional functioning, and fatigue. Additionally, the most prominent total causal factors were identified as type of cancer (diagnosis), cancer stage, and sex, with total causal effect ratios of -9.47, -4.67, and − 1.48, respectively. The LiNGAM algorithm identified type of cancer (diagnosis), nausea and vomiting and social functioning as significant, with total causal effect ratios of -9.47, -0.42, and 0.42, respectively.ConclusionsThis study identified that causal factors for global quality of life in new cancer patients are distinct from correlative factors. Understanding these causal relationships could provide valuable insights into the complex dynamics of quality of life in cancer patients and guide targeted interventions to improve their well-being.

Relationship between persistence with topical antiglaucomatous prescription and patient socioeconomic status at a tertiary university hospital in Jerez de la Frontera (Spain).

To study the relationship between socioeconomic status and persistence with topical antiglaucomatous medication. A retrospective epidemiological observational cohort study was conducted with a sample of 1563 patients. The main dependent variable was persistence (medication possession ratio), the independent variable was socioeconomic status (deprivation index). Additional independent variables were used for multivariate analysis: individual health card index, sex, age, pharmacological group, number of eye drops, preservatives, diagnosis and concurrent medications. Bivariate statistical analysis was obtained using non-parametric tests. Logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. We obtained data showing greater persistence in the groups with a higher socioeconomic level (deprivation index 1 and 2), with medication possession ratio values of 79.97 and 75.30, respectively) as opposed to the groups at lower socioeconomic levels (deprivation index 4 and 5, with medication possession ratio values of 73.75 and 69.85, respectively. Logistic regression corroborated this difference, reaching a significant value (no persistence in deprivation index group 5 versus 1) with OR = 1.62; 95%CI: 1.13-2.31. Additionally, lower persistence was detected in males, under 60 years of age, undergoing treatment with alpha-agonists, and in patients with ocular hypertension. Low socioeconomic status of the patient was significantly associated with decreased persistence with topical antiglaucomatous therapy.

Care preparedness of family caregivers of maintenance hemodialysis patients: a cross-sectional study

With the increasing number of maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients, growing attention has been paid to the quality of care. Strengthening care preparedness of family caregivers is essential to improving the nursing quality. The purpose of this study is to explore the care preparedness level of family caregivers of MHD patients and its influencing factors, so as to provide guidance for the development of targeted care interventions. A total of 237 family caregivers of MHD patients were recruited from the hemodialysis room of two tertiary hospitals in Wuhan using the Convenience sampling method. They were surveyed by the general data questionnaire, Care Preparedness Scale and Positive Aspects of Caregiving. Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS software, version 21.0. The statistical tests conducted in this study were two-tailed, and a significance level of P < 0.05 was deemed as statistically significant. The care preparedness and positive aspects of caregiving scores of family caregivers of MHD patients were 19.05 ± 5.64 and 31.28 ± 7.28 points, respectively. The care preparedness level of family caregivers was significantly positively correlated with positive aspects of caregiving (P < 0.01). The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that the total nursing time and whether family caregivers had chronic diseases and positive aspects of caregiving were the main factors influencing their care preparedness (all P < 0.05). These three factors accounted for 49.6% of the variance. The care preparedness of family caregivers of MHD patients remains to be continuously improved. Medical staff should emphasize the important role of total nursing time, whether the caregiver has a chronic disease, and positive aspects of caregiving in improving care preparedness in this population. To achieve this end, medical staff can provide targeted support and guidance for caregivers according to the influencing factors, such as implementing group psychological education, strengthening the training, offering social support, remote intervention (including family caregivers’ education through the media), and so on. Meanwhile, caregivers should be evaluated dynamically, and information and emotional support should be provided for them.

Factors influencing limb movements in post-stroke patients

BackgroundStroke is the leading cause of long-term disability impacting patients’ daily lives. Adequate and ongoing rehabilitation is a necessity. Due to disability problems, rehabilitation in the health care system is limited. Traditional medicine has been promoted in Thailand for stroke rehabilitation, with physical therapy as the primary treatment plan. However, despite more options, many patients still receive inadequate rehabilitation. The development of an appropriate rehabilitation model is still necessary. This study aims to study factors influencing limb movements in post-stroke patients.MethodsThis cross-sectional study comprised 120 ischemic stroke patients obtained by multi-stage sampling in Muang district, Phitsanulok province. The data were collected using questionnaires with Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.89. The ability to move the muscles of the limbs of the patients was assessed using the motor power assessment form, and binary logistic regression statistics analyzed the factors influencing limb movements.ResultData analysis shows that 76% of the stroke patients were female, 39.3% aged 61–70 years had a mean of 62 years and a standard deviation (S.D.) of 8.9, 4.6% of stroke patients had a duration of illness of 6–12 months, and 94.2% had a caregiver. 53.1% received rehabilitation once a week, and 92.5% received Thai massage. Thai traditional medicine utilization methods consist of Thai massage, herbal compresses, herbal steam, and taking herbal medicines. There are two factors influencing the ability to move the limb muscles of stroke patients as follows: (1) the massage with the Thai traditional medicine rehabilitation method (Adj OR = 28.917, p-value = 0.006) and (2) the number of rehabilitation sessions per week (Adj OR = 2.465, p-value < 0.001). These two variables explain the variance of regaining limb movement among post-stroke patients of 42.5% at a significance level of 0.05. In this analysis, the predictive accuracy was 70%.ConclusionRehabilitation using Thai massage, together with the number of rehabilitation sessions per week, influenced the ability of limb movement in post-stroke patients. In other words, increasing the number of rehabilitation times per week and using Thai massage in rehabilitation will help stroke patients move their limbs better.

Exploring the link between physicians’ caffeine use disorders with sleep quality and professional burnout: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe objective of this research was to examine how caffeine use disorder among physicians across different specialties relates to both sleep quality and professional burnout.MethodsThis research represents a single-center, prospective, cross-sectional study involving 240 physicians meeting inclusion criteria and working within a training and research hospital. Participants were enrolled in the study after obtaining informed consent. A web-based survey methodology was employed, administering a participant information form crafted following an exhaustive literature review, alongside assessments utilizing the Caffeine Use Disorder Questionnaire, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. A significance level of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsIn our study, participants had a median age of 30.0 years, and 60% reported poor sleep quality. A positive and statistically significant relationship (rho=0.148, p = 0.022) was found between the Caffeine Use Disorder Questionnaire and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores. In the generalized linear model analysis, setting the Caffeine Use Disorder Questionnaire score as the dependent variable, statistically significant contributions were observed for gender (women), daily total caffeine intake, and Maslach-depersonalization score variables (p = 0.012, p < 0.001, 0.035, respectively).ConclusionsHigher levels of caffeine use disorder have been observed among women, smokers, and individuals with increased caffeine intake. Notably, an increase in professional depersonalization is associated with a rise in caffeine use disorder. Studying physicians’ professional depersonalization could aid in addressing caffeine use disorders. Additionally, exploring the caffeine consumption patterns of healthcare professionals displaying depersonalization towards patients’ needs is also worthwhile.

Serum ferritin level and associated factors among uncontrolled adult type II diabetic follow-up patients: comparative based cross-sectional study

BackgroundUncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus (UT2DM) and its associated consequences nowadays have been a global health crisis, especially for adults. Iron has the property to oxidize and reduce reversibly, which is necessary for metabolic processes and excess accumulation of iron indicated by serum ferritin levels could have a significant impact on the pathophysiology of T2DM via generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, no conclusive evidence existed about the association of serum ferritin with the state of glycemic control status. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate serum ferritin levels and associated factors in uncontrolled T2DM patients and compare them with those of controlled T2DM and non-diabetic control groups.MethodsA hospital-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among conveniently selected 156 study participants, who were categorized into three equal groups of uncontrolled T2DM, controlled T2DM, and non-diabetic control groups from October 2 to December 29, 2023 at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and diabetes-related information. The laboratory tests were done using an automated chemistry analyzer and IBM-SPSS statistical software (version-27) was utilized for data entry and analysis with a significance level of p < 0.05.ResultThe mean serum ferritin level was noticeably higher in uncontrolled T2DM patients as compared to controlled T2DM and control groups (p < 0.001). It was significantly correlated with HbA1c [r = 0.457, p < 0.001], fasting blood sugar (FBs) [r = 0.386, p < 0.001], serum iron [r = 0.430, p < 0.001], and systolic blood pressure (SBP) [r = 0.195, p = 0.047] in T2DM patients. A multivariate logistic regression model revealed that a rise in HbA1c (AOR = 3.67, 95% CI(1.50–8.98), serum iron (AOR = 1.02, 95% CI(1.01–1.04), male gender (AOR = 0.16, 95% CI(0.05–0.57) and being on oral hypoglycemic agent (OHA) monotherapy (AOR = 0.26, 95% CI(0.07–0.95) were key associated factors for the elevated serum ferritin among T2DM patients.ConclusionThe present study demonstrated that T2DM patients had elevated serum ferritin levels which might be related to the existence of long-term hyperglycaemia and that serum ferritin had a significant positive association with HbA1c and FBs, implying that it could be used as an additional biomarker to predict uncontrolled T2DM patients.

Performance trend of the family physician referral system before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a study in northern Iran

BackgroundConsidering the challenges of the referral system in the family physician program and the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the performance of the relevant ministry’s programs, it is necessary to assess the performance of the referral system. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the performance of the family physician referral system before and during COVID-19 in Golestan province.MethodsThe present repeated cross-sectional study was conducted on secondary data Recorded of 786,603 cases referred and cared by family physicians (including information on physicians’ and midwives’ visits, percentage of prescriptions and other information) in Golestan province from 2017 to 2022 in a census and retrospective manner. Data were collected using the reference ratio checklist and analyzed with SPSS 23 software at a significance level of less than 0.05.ResultsReferral to 10 types of medical specialties and 10 indicators of family physicians referral before and during COVID-19 were investigated. The highest and lowest percentages of referrals by family physicians were belonged to the surgical (17.6%) and infectious (2%) specialists before COVID-19, and internal medicine (15.07%) and urology (3%) specialists during COVID-19, respectively. Referral due to physician’s diagnosis increased by 19.3% compared to before Covid-19, target group increased by 0.86%, care decreased by 2.69% and reverse referral decreased by 36.1%. The amount of population covered by rural insurance, the amount of visits to midwives, the percentage of electronic appointments in the post-Covid-19 years have changed significantly compared to before.it (P-Value < 0.05).ConclusionThe present study showed that the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on family physician referral indicators, such as the process of referral to specialists, drug prescriptions, insurance coverage, one-time service population, and patient care, which can be used to eliminate the weaknesses and Strengthening the strengths of the programs being implemented in the face of possible pandemics is very useful and effective and can be used in the country. Finally, the results obtained from this research provide evidence to discuss the importance of the family physicians care and referral system in the face of special conditions for quality control in health policies.

Impacts of Social Media Advertising on Purchase Intention and Customer Loyalty in E-Commerce Systems

The emergence of new technologies has had a noteworthy impact on communication systems, leading to the importance of conducting research in this area due to the significant influence of social media. Marketing operators must implement the necessary infrastructure to identify and fulfill customers' expectations, considering the advantages and the increasing number of users in social networks. This paper presents a comprehensive framework for evaluating the purchase intention of electronic commerce systems, taking into account the impact of social media advertising and customer loyalty. The paper aims to enhance purchase intention in e-commerce through social media advertising and examine influential factors that improve online shopping performance, including social media advertising's effectiveness on customer purchase behavior and brand loyalty. The paper develops a theoretical framework of nine hypotheses to evaluate purchase intention in e-commerce systems, with a focus on the effect of social media advertising on brand loyalty and purchase intention. To validate the proposed model and test the research hypotheses, we make use of information obtained from an international company located in China. The results demonstrate the positive effect of pleasurable motivation on purchase intention, with a significance level of 3.776 and a path coefficient of 0.279. Moreover, an investigation of the positive effect of customer loyalty on the recommended advertisement confirms the hypotheses, with a significance of 32.815 and a path coefficient of 0.788.

Impact of Dietary Counseling on Nutritional requirements and Mitigating Noncompliance behavior in Hemodialysis Patients: A Pilot Study

Abstract Introduction Hemodialysis is the most sought-after treatment modality in patients with end-stage renal disease. The success of hemodialysis depends on the patient's adherence to diet and fluid restrictions to a great extent. Nutritional health is a critical consideration, especially for hemodialysis patients. Nutritional education and counseling for renal disease patients significantly preserve renal function and overall well-being. Methods Quantitative research approach with a quasi-experimental crossover design to determine the effectiveness of dietary counseling on the nutritional requirement and noncompliance behavior of patients undergoing hemodialysis conducted at Mangala Kidney Hospital, Mangalore, Karnataka, India. Results The mean age among the participants was 46.07 + 9.67 years. Nearly half of the subjects, 11 (39.29%), had undergone dialysis for 1 to 5 years. Twenty-six (96.3%) had noncompliance behavior toward diet and fluid. Based on biochemical parameters, 20 (74.07%) were classified as low-risk noncompliance and 7 (25.92%) high-risk noncompliance behavior. A paired t-test showed that there is a significant difference in knowledge of nutritional requirements, t (26) = 6.30, p ≤ 0.001 at 5% level of significance, and noncompliance among the participants before and after the dietary counseling program as t (26) = –5.41, p ≤ 0.001 at 5% level of significance. Conclusion Implementing nurse-led counseling for hemodialysis patients can improve biochemical parameters and enhance understanding of dietary and fluid restrictions, positively impacting laboratory indicators.

The Myanmar Version of the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire: A Cross-Cultural Adaptation, Reliability and Validity Study in the Low Back Pain Population

Objective: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the Myanmar version of the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (M-ODQ), and examine its reliability and validity in the low back pain (LBP) population. Material and Methods: The M-ODQ was cross-culturally adapted in accordance with the ISPOR guidelines for translation. Prefinal testing was done on 20 individuals with LBP, with minor changes. The test-retest reliability, internal consistency, concurrent and construct validity, plus ceiling and floor effects of the M-ODQ were conducted on 101 individuals with LBP, via calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient ICC(2,1), Cronbach’s alpha, and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient by correlating with the Myanmar version of the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (M-RMDQ), visual analogue scale (VAS), back performance scale (BPS), and the Stark quality of life (QoL) questionnaire. The level of significance was set at p-value&lt;0.05 for all statistical analyses.Results: The test-retest reliability and internal consistency of the M-ODQ showed an ICC(2,1) of 0.91 and a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.703, thus indicating that the M-ODQ had an acceptable level of reliability. A moderate correlation between the M-ODQ and M-RMDQ (rho=0.56); and fair correlation with the VAS (rho=0.253), BPS (rho=0.336), and the physical component of the Stark QoL questionnaire (rho= -0.274) were found. Weak or no correlation was demonstrated with the mental component of the Stark QoL questionnaire (rho= -0.204). No ceiling or floor effects of the M-ODQ occurred in this study. Conclusion: The M-ODQ is a reliable and valid outcome measure for assessing disability among LBP patients in the Myanmar population.

Optimization of Gene Selection for Cancer Classification in High-Dimensional Data Using an Improved African Vultures Algorithm

This study presents a novel method, termed RBAVO-DE (Relief Binary African Vultures Optimization based on Differential Evolution), aimed at addressing the Gene Selection (GS) challenge in high-dimensional RNA-Seq data, specifically the rnaseqv2 lluminaHiSeq rnaseqv2 un edu Level 3 RSEM genes normalized dataset, which contains over 20,000 genes. RNA Sequencing (RNA-Seq) is a transformative approach that enables the comprehensive quantification and characterization of gene expressions, surpassing the capabilities of micro-array technologies by offering a more detailed view of RNA-Seq gene expression data. Quantitative gene expression analysis can be pivotal in identifying genes that differentiate normal from malignant tissues. However, managing these high-dimensional dense matrix data presents significant challenges. The RBAVO-DE algorithm is designed to meticulously select the most informative genes from a dataset comprising more than 20,000 genes and assess their relevance across twenty-two cancer datasets. To determine the effectiveness of the selected genes, this study employs the Support Vector Machine (SVM) and k-Nearest Neighbor (k-NN) classifiers. Compared to binary versions of widely recognized meta-heuristic algorithms, RBAVO-DE demonstrates superior performance. According to Wilcoxon’s rank-sum test, with a 5% significance level, RBAVO-DE achieves up to 100% classification accuracy and reduces the feature size by up to 98% in most of the twenty-two cancer datasets examined. This advancement underscores the potential of RBAVO-DE to enhance the precision of gene selection for cancer research, thereby facilitating more accurate and efficient identification of key genetic markers.

Influence of titanium and titanium-zirconium alloy as implant materials on implant stability of maxillary implant retained overdenture: a randomized clinical trial

BackgroundLong-term success of implant restoration depends on many factors one of them is the sufficient implant stability which is lowered in compromised bone density sites such as the maxilla as it is categorized as type III & IV bone, so searching for a new innovation and updates in implant material and features is very mandatory. So, the aim of this study was to compare between two implant materials (roxolid and traditional titanium) on the primary and secondary stability of implant retained maxillary overdenture.MethodsEighteen completely edentulous patients were selected. All patients received maxillary implant-retained overdentures and lower complete dentures; patients were divided equally into two groups according to the type of implant materials. Group A received a total number of 36 implants made of roxolid material and Group B received a total number of 36 implants made of traditional titanium alloys. Implant stability was assessed using ostell device, the primary implant stability was measured at the day of implant installation however, secondary implant stability was measured after six weeks of implant placement. Paired t-test was used to compare between primary and secondary stability in the same group and an independent t-test was used to compare between the two groups with a significant level < 0.05.ResultsIndependent t-test revealed a significant difference between the two groups with p -value = 0.0141 regarding primary stability and p-value < 0.001 regarding secondary stability, as roxolid implant group was statistically higher stability than titanium group in both. Paired t- test showed a statistically significant difference in roxolid implant group with p-value = 0.0122 however, there was non-statistically significant difference in titanium group with p-value = 0.636. Mann Whitney test showed a significant difference between the two groups regarding amount of change in stability with p value = 0.191. roxolid implant group showed a higher amount of change in stability than the titanium implant group.ConclusionWithin the limitation of this study, it could be concluded that: Roxolid implants showed promising results regarding primary and secondary stability compared to conventional Titanium implants and can be a better alternative in implant retained maxillary overdentures.Trial registrationRetrospectively NCT06334770 at 26–3-2024.

Pengaruh Model Pembelajaran Flipped Classroom Terhadap Hasil Belajar IPAS pada Kelas V di SDN 18 Balimbing

Based on observations of the learning process carried out at SDN 18 Balimbing, the learning process in science subjects is still teacher centred. In this case the teacher still explains the learning material from beginning to end, where students are not involved in the process of discussing the material. When the teacher is explaining the material, there is no student involvement in discussing the material, not all students pay attention and lack concentration in listening to the teacher's explanation and there are also students who carry out other activities that are not related to the current learning. This type of research is quantitative research using a Quasy Experiment approach. The population in this study was class V students at SDN 18 Balimbing. The samples for this research were class V.A as the experimental class and V.B as the control class, each consisting of 16 students. The data collection technique uses a test in the form of 40 objective questions, then the resulting data obtained is analyzed using the t-test. The results of this research show that the average score for the experimental class is 80.62, while the average score for the control class is 67.81. Based on the t-test calculation, the tcount ˃ ttable value is 3.364 ˃ 2.042, meaning there is a significant difference in learning outcome values ​​at the significance level ɑ 0.05. Thus, it can be concluded that the use of the Flipped Classroom learning model influences learning outcomes in class V science and science subjects at SDN 18 Balimbing

Pengaruh Efikasi Diri Akademik terhadap Hasil Belajar Geografi Fase F SMA Negeri 1 Linggo Sari Baganti Kabupaten Pesisir Selatan

The purpose of this study was to analyze whether there is a positive and significant influence of academic self-efficacy on the learning outcomes of geography phase F of SMA Negeri 1 Linggo Sari Baganti, Pesisir Selatan Regency. The type of research used is quantitative research with a correlational approach. The location of the study was at SMA Negeri 1 Linggo Sari Baganti, Pesisir Selatan Regency. The research period was April 22 to May 22. The population in this study were students of phase F who taught geography subjects at SMA Negeri 1 Linggo Sari Baganti, Pesisir Selatan Regency. The number of samples was 97 people using the total sampling technique. Data collection techniques used in this study were observation, surveys, and documentation records. The data analysis procedure technique in this study used validity tests, reliability tests, descriptive statistical analysis, normality tests, linearity tests and hypothesis tests. The results of this study concluded that 1) There is a significant relationship between academic self-efficacy and student learning outcomses at phase F of SMA Negeri 1 Linggo Sari Baganti, Pesisir Selatan Regency as indicated by a significant correlation level value of 0.000 which is smaller than 0.05. This means that the academic self-efficacy variable has an effect on the learning outcome variable. 2) The academic self-efficacy of students in phase F of SMA Negeri 1 Linggo Sari Baganti Pesisir Selatan as a whole is in the low classification, which can be seen from the pie chart and the academic self- efficacy percentage table. 3) The learning outcomes of students in phase F of SMA Negeri 1 Linggo Sari Baganti as a whole are in the context of the less group, based on the calculation of the pie chart and the Learning Outcome Criteria (KKTP) table set by the school.

Laterality Handedness When Completing a Tool-Use Task in Asian Small-Clawed Otters (Aonyx cinerea)

Laterality is defined as the occurrence of each cerebral hemisphere having asymmetric control over the different sides of the body, leading to preferences to use one side of the body over the other for various behaviors. Many types of laterality exist, but handedness is the form that is most predominantly assessed. Handedness in animals is of special interest to laterality researchers, as humans were once thought to be the only species that exhibited lateralized hand preferences. The aim of the current study was to determine if Asian small-clawed otters (Aonyx cinerea) exhibit significant paw preferences in behaviors associated with completing a specific tool-use task. Video data of the otters completing the task was analyzed for specific paw interactions with the tool-use apparatus, and the percentage of correct completion of the task was documented for each otter. Overall, no significant population level paw preference was present. However, individual differences in paw preference and differing trends in handedness on each focal behavior was present. The results showed that paw preference (or lack thereof) did affect the tool-use task completion for some otters, and for others, the preference did not seem to have an effect. The main implications of this study are that paw preferences in Asian small-clawed otters are present on an individual level when solving a novel tool-use task.