Significance Level Research Articles

Impact of COVID-19 on essential healthcare services in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Implications for future pandemics.

Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic has presented an unprecedented challenge to health systems, with countries needing to balance the demands of responding directly to the pandemic, while simultaneously continuing provision of essential health services. This study aimed to explore the impact of COVID-19 on essential healthcare services in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A facility-based retrospective study was undertaken in 30 health centers in Addis Ababa which were selected using simple random sampling. Secondary data were extracted for 22 indicators on maternal and child health, communicable and non-communicable diseases, and outpatient services for the period spanning between July 2019 and October 2020. These indicators were selected based on the WHO operational guidance on maintaining essential health services during an outbreak guide, essential packages of health services in Ethiopia and expert consultation. The difference in the trends of services before and during COVID-19 was compared using linear-by-linear tests and the difference of magnitude across the indicators was compared using Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) interrupted time series analysis at a 5% significance level. Overall, more than 1.7 million people visited the studied facilities for outpatient services, and 18,325 mothers attended skilled delivery in the study period. The present study found that the mean number of patients treated for TB declined by 35 patients (β: -34.62; 95%CI: -50.29, -18.95) compared to the pre-COVID-19 era while the number of new patients enrolled for ART decreased by 71 patients (β: -70.62; 95%CI: -107.19, -34.05). Regarding maternal health services, the number of women who received post-natal care decreased by about 215 mothers (β: -214.87; 95%CI: -331.57, -98.17). Similarly, the mean number of clients served at inpatient services declined by 34 (β: -33.72; 95%CI: -68.55, 1.05). On the other hand, the mean number of patients screened for diabetes and hypertension during the pandemic increased by more than 1014 (β: 1014.5; 95%CI: 103.07, 1925.92) and 610 patients (β: 611.21; 95%CI: 302.42, 919.99), respectively. However, changes with regard to antenatal care, skilled birth delivery, and children immunization services did not show a statistically significant change after COVID-19 was reported in Ethiopia. Despite the notable efforts to sustain essential health services amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, our study revealed that there were disruptions in these services. This reinforces the need to adapt strategies to ensure sustainable provision of essential health services when pandemics of COVID19 magnitude cause disruptions of the health services.

Perceptions of Social Studies Teachers and Supervisors about Teaching Space Education in the Sultanate of Oman

This study aimed to reveal the perceptions of social studies teachers and supervisors about teaching space education in the Sultanate of Oman, and the extent of their interest and satisfaction with the current reality of space education. The questionnaire, which consisted of (28) statements distributed over five axes, was applied to a stratified random sample of (150) teachers and supervisors. The results showed the support of social studies teachers and supervisors for teaching space education in the Sultanate of Oman, and there were no statistically significant differences at the significance level (0.05) according to the variable of years of experience. The researchers recommended the development of social studies curricula; To keep abreast of developments in the field of space education, and to hold training courses for teachers and supervisors of social studies in the field of space education; To develop their knowledge and skills with its developments, and accordingly the researchers suggest some future studies. Keywords: Perceptions, teachers, supervisors, space education, social studies

Gender Differences In Undergraduates’ Perceived School Support, Self-Esteem, Academic Fatigue, And Engagement In Nigerian Government-owned Universities

Various research results show that there are differences in perceived social support, self-esteem, academic fatigue, and academic engagement based on gender. Yet, at this current research location, pre-research data shows the contrary. This study examines undergraduates’ perceived school support, self-esteem, academic fatigue, and engagement in two public Nigerian universities. The cross-sectional quantitative research type of the non-experimental design was utilized for the study through the theory lenses of Self-concordance and Demands-resources. The population of the study was undergraduate students undertaking degree courses at two public universities in Southwest Nigeria (the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, and the Ekiti State University), and these were selected using both the purposive and simple random sampling techniques. An instrument tagged "School Support and Undergraduates' Self-esteem, Academic Engagement, and Fatigue Questionnaire" was used for data collection with Cronbach alpha of 0.78, 0.81, 0.88, 0.89 for the four sections of the scales, respectively. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequency counts and percentages), and t-test at a 5% significance level. The study's findings have shown that undergraduates’ gender influences their perceived school support and academic fatigue, with gender differences in favour of males. Still, there was no significant gender difference in undergraduates’ self-esteem and academic engagement. The study recommends that efforts be concentrated on ensuring continued gender equity, equality, and gender-balanced dynamics within the school context. Implications of the study and future research suggestions are proffered.

Knowledge, attitudes, practices of cancer palliative care and their associated factors among nursing officers in Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama

Introduction: Nursing officers, having a good knowledge, favourable attitudes, and correct practices in cancer palliative care uplift patient’s quality of life. Objectives: To describe the level of knowledge, attitudes, practices of cancer palliative care and associated factors among the nursing officers in Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 252 participants with more than one year of work experience at Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama. Stratified sampling technique was adopted to select the nursing officers from different wards. Data were collected using a validated self-administered questionnaire. Sum of points of each participant and the percentage was calculated. Depending on the mean score they were categorized into groups accordingly. Data were analysed initially by a descriptive analysis and then by Chi square test using SPSS software version 26. P<0.05 was the significance level. Results: Response rate was 70. %. The mean age of the study participants was 32.9 (SD=6.55) years. The majority (59.5%) had good knowledge, 53.2% had favourable attitudes and 54% engaged in correct practices. Mean knowledge score was 26.4 (SD=3.44). Nurses above 30 years of age, married and having more than 10 years’ experience had significant association with knowledge (p<0.05). Most of the participants who had good knowledge had correct practices (p<0.001). Most of the participants those who had favourable attitude had correct practices (p<0.001). Association of level of knowledge and attitude was not found to be statistically significant (p=0.109). Conclusion: The majority of the nurses had a good knowledge, favourable attitudes and were engaged in correct practices in palliative care. There is a significant association between the year of experience and the nurses’ knowledge on palliative care. Having a good knowledge and favourable attitude on palliative care were positive factors for correct practices.Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, Practices, Cancer palliative care, Nurses

Correlation between Self-Efficacy and Psychosocial Well-Being among Students in Public Universities in the Upper Eastern Region of Kenya

The impact that psychological chal- lenges have on University students, their families, and society at large, are of worldwide significance. Govern- ment and non-governmental organizations have launched efforts to improve psychosocial well-being in response to this. Since attending college can be stressful, there is rising concern about the psychological chal- lenges that university students face. Examining the cor- relation between university students' self-efficacy and psychosocial well-being is likely to provide an overview on their capacity to handle difficult situations and pre- serve good mental health. Self-determination theory and cognitive behavior theory were incorporated into the study. Correlational study design and descriptive survey were applied. Using purposive and stratified random sampling, a study sample of 395 was selected from 34,009 respondents, which included university students, student counselors, and deans of students from Tharaka University, Meru University of Science and Technology, and Chuka University. A psychologi- cal test instrument for students and an interview sched- ule for student counselors and deans of students were used to gather data. The instruments were piloted in a university outside the research prior to administration. With 382 respondents providing data, the study's re- sponse rate was 96.7%. Data were discussed and sub- jected to both qualitative and quantitative analysis. While quantitative data was examined both descrip- tively and inferentially using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 27.0 computer software, quali- tative data was evaluated thematically. Frequency and percentages were employed as descriptive statistics, and Pearson's correlation was used to test hypotheses at the 95% significant level. The results of the study showed a strong and favorable correlation between psy- chological wellness and self-efficacy. Therefore, it is ad- vised that university administration implement meth- ods targeted at boosting students' self-efficacy to im- prove their wellbeing in coordination with other stake- holders. Encourage peer mentoring programs run by students so they can benefit from one other's experi- ences and develop useful problem-solving skills.

Impact of Occupational Cement Dust Exposure on Hematological Health Parameters: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction Contact with the dust of cement consisting of toxic components brings about inflammatory damage (often irreversible) to the body of a human being. The circulatory system exhibits sensitivity to inflammatory changes in the body, and one of the earliest changes may be observed in the blood parameters like mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). MCHC and MCH are possibly easily accessible and affordable parameters that can detect harmful changes in the body before any irreversible damage occurs. Objectives This research aimed to seek the changes in MCHC and MCH upon occupational contact with the toxic dust of cement. Methods The execution of this research was done in the Department of Physiology, Dhaka Medical College, Bangladesh, and a cement plant in Munshiganj, Bangladesh. This research was carried out between September 2017 and August 2018. Individuals (20 to 50 years old, 92 male adults) participated and were grouped into the group with occupational cement dust impact (46 subjects) and the group without occupational dust of cement impact (46 subjects). Data was collected in a pre-designed questionnaire. An independent sample t-test was conducted to analyze statistical and demographic data like body mass index and blood pressure. A multivariate regression model was applied to note the impact of cement dust on the group working in this dusty environment. Again, a multivariate regression model was employed to observe whether the duration of exposure to this dust affected MCHC and MCH. The significance level was demarcated at p < 0.05 Stata-15 (StataCorp LLC, College Station, TX, US) for statistical analysis, and GraphPad Prism v8.3.2 (Insight Venture Management, LLC, New York, NY, US) was employed to present the data graphically when required. Results There was a reduction in MCHC by 0.58 g/dL and MCH levels by 0.68 pg in the cement dust-exposed subjects when compared to controls, but not significant (95% CI: -0.93, 2.10;p = 0.448 and 95% CI: -0.37, 1.73;p= 0.203, respectively). However, MCHC was reduced significantly by 0.51 g/dL (p = 0.011) with the duration of exposure to the dust. Conclusion The study showed that MCHC was significantly reduced with the duration of exposure to cement dust in cement plant workers. Such alterations may hamper heme synthesis, hemolysis, and inflammatory changes in the body.

Knowledge, and treatment of molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH) among dentists in Jordan: a cross-sectional questionnaire based study.

The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, and treatment of MIH among dentists in Jordan. An online questionnaire using Google Forms was sent to the dentists who were registered with the Jordan Dental Association and worked in Jordan through social media groups. The questionnaire consisted of three sections, sociodemographic characteristics, the knowledge of dentists about the aetiology, diagnosis, and prevalence of MIH, and treatment options and barriers for treating MIH. Descriptive statistics with chi-squared test was used, and level of statistical significance was set to 5%. A total of 388 dentists had responded to the questionnaire (response rate 24.25%), (80.7%) reported that they have come across MIH cases during their practice. Yellow/brown demarcations were reported as the most common presentation of MIH (45.6%). All paediatric dentists were confident in diagnosing MIH, this was statistically higher than that reported by general dentists (56.8%) and dentists of other specialities (60.2%), P = 0.000. Pre-formed metal crowns were the treatment of choice for (57.2%) of participant, followed by composite restorations (52.3%). Child behaviour (56.2%), and late acknowledgment of the defect by the parents (46.1%) were the most encountered barriers for treatment. Molar incisor hypomineralisation is a common condition that is encountered frequently by general dental practitioners as well as dental specialists, nevertheless most dentists were not aware about the prevalence of MIH in Jordan and indicated their need to improve their approach regarding MIH diagnosis and treatment.

Evaluation of Some Immunological and DNA Damage Parameters among Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can cause permanent joint damage and disability through inflammation in the joints. Other organs, such as blood vessels, lungs, heart, eyes and skin may also get affected. This study aimed to evaluate the changes of some oxidative stress markers including oxidative DNA damage and the clinical outcomes that are associated with Iraqi rheumatoid arthritis patients. Commercial enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were applied to evaluate malondialdehyde (MDA), DNA damage marker 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHDG), and glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPX3) levels in serum of 60 patients having RA with ages ranging between 20-70 years and 30 age-matched healthy controls. The results showed a significant increase in MDA levels in RA patients compared with the control group. Also, the levels of GPX3 decreased in RA patients with highly significant differences as compared with healthy control. Highly significant serum levels of oxidative DNA damage in RA patients were observed compared to the control group. Body Mass Index (BMI) results indicted significant differences between RA patients and healthy control. It can, therefore, be concluded that there is a potential role if malondialdehyde, oxidative DNA damage and GPX3 are used as biomarkers for progression of in patients with RA.

Nonlinear Tide‐River‐Surge Interactions and Their Impacts on Compound Flooding During Typhoon Hato in the Pearl River Delta

AbstractIn coastal areas, multiple hydrodynamic processes co‐occur, including the astronomical tide, river discharge, and storm surge. Their propagation and interaction within coastal tidal river result in strong nonlinear behavior in inland areas. This study employed a hydrodynamic model and continuous wavelet transform analysis to investigate the complex tide‐river‐surge interactions and their impacts on compound flooding in the West River of the Pearl River Delta during an extreme typhoon event. Validated model outputs provided insights into the spatial and temporal variations of river discharge, water levels, and currents. Wavelet analysis revealed river discharge modulates tidal properties, causing nonstationary tides and asymmetries, with high flows suppressing tidal ranges but facilitating energy transfers to overtides. During Typhoon Hato, storm surges dominated high‐frequency water level fluctuations that rapidly propagated upstream. Crucially, strong high‐frequency tide‐river‐surge coupling induced significant water level amplifications, with interaction intensities increasing landward. In upstream areas where riverine and coastal drivers converged, flood risks exceeded typical estimates due to this vigorous multi‐driver compounding. Findings highlighted how existing flood mitigation approaches over simplistically superposing individual sources may severely underestimate flood levels by neglecting such nonlinear interactions. A comprehensive accounting of the cumulative, multiplicative effects of tides, discharge, storm surge, and sea level rise is imperative. This quantitative unraveling of key physical drivers offers transferable insights applicable to compound flood risk evaluations and policy guidance for enhancing resilience in other estuary and delta regions. Future work should focus on holistically modeling multivariate extremes and their interactions.

Utilization of cervical cancer screening services among women aged 18 to 59 years in Laikipia East Sub-County, Kenya

INTRODUCTION Cervical cancer, a preventable disease, continues to be the leading cause of death resulting from cancers in Kenya. Despite free cervical cancer screening services in all government hospitals in Laikipia County, the screening uptake remains low at 19% compared to the WHO target of 70%. Hence, understanding the barriers and facilitators is important in informing targeted interventions. MATERIALS AND METHODS A mixed-method cross-sectional study was done in Laikipia East Sub-County, Kenya, between July and August 2022. The participants were women aged between 18 to 59 years. Data was collected on demographic factors and cervical cancer screening utilization. Also, qualitative data was collected using 5 FGDs and 6 KIIs to get more insights. Chi-square tests and odds ratios were calculated using STATA version 15 to assess associations and determine the level of significance. RESULTS Out of the 272 participants, 32.4% (n=88) had ever screened for cervical cancer. The logistic regression analysis indicates that as women age, their likelihood of undergoing screening increases, particularly for those aged 50-59, who show a tenfold higher likelihood of screening [ OR 10.40 (3.20-33.82), p-value &lt;0.001]. Conversely, unemployment is associated with a reduced likelihood of screening [OR 0.42 (0.18-0.99), p-value 0.047] while individuals earning 50-200 USD per month exhibit an increased likelihood [OR 2.25 (1.30-3.87) p-value 0.004]. However, religion, marital status, and education level factors do not show a significant association with the utilization of cervical cancer screening as indicated by p-values of 0.735, 0.069, and 0.765, respectively. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Laikipia county government offers free cervical cancer screening in all government-run facilities but many, especially those aged 25-49, lack awareness. It is vital to boost awareness through community education on cervical cancer causes and prevention, emphasizing screening as preventive. Affordable treatment is also crucial for community reassurance post-diagnosis.

Cross-Sectionnal Patterns in Moroccan Sock Returns: A Fama-French Perspective

Drawing on the Fama and French models, we examine the role of market factor (beta), fundamental characteristics (size, book-to-market, profitability and investment) and the momentum in explaining cross-sectional stock returns in the Moroccan market. The sample consists of non-financial stocks over the period from July 2008 to June 2020. In this research and for the first time, we contribute to the current body of asset pricing literature by embracing three different empirical methodologies. First, we use an adaptation of cross-sectional methodologies from Fama and MacBeth (1973) and Fama and French (1992). Second, we opt for portfolios as dependent variables to reduce potential estimation errors associated with individual stocks. Third, we specifically adjust for the errors-in-variables issue using the methodology proposed by Brennan et al. (1998). Our results indicate that beta coefficients are statistically insignificant in both first and second methodologies. Furthermore, none of the characteristic’s variables meet the criteria for a good explanatory variable, as they fail to consistently exhibit a significant level of significance in all cases. Generally, the momentum factor emerges as the most promising variable. We conclude that the tested models are incomplete in explaining variations in Moroccan stock returns. Even after adjusting for model risk, some effects persist.

Why We Committed Murder: Views from Convicted Prisoners in Niger State, Nigeria

The killing of a human being by his or her fellow beats rational imagination. It becomes extremely difficult to comprehend the rationale that makes individuals become deliberately responsible for the death of their kind. Murder is a baffling issue that poses a significant threat to humanity and highlights the challenges to civilization and societal development. Its ongoing presence questions the overall health of any society. This paper examines the reasons murderers in prisons provide for their actions, using strain and social disorganization theories as a framework. Semi-structured questionnaires were given to 615 convicted violent offenders in four Niger State prisons, selected through a multi-stage sampling technique. Additionally, sixteen prison warders were interviewed for further insights. The findings indicate that low income (P= .934) was not statistically significant at (P= 0.05) level of significance for the explanation of murder unless redolent with peer pressure (p= 0.02). Special loan packages and partnerships for and between members of the community are suggested to be instituted and encouraged to reduce the pangs of hard economic situations and lack of social capital, which are also potent factors for the explanation of murder.

Correlation Between the Anticorrosive Performance of Protective Coatings Under Neutral Salt Spray Testing and Outdoor Atmospheric and Immersion Exposure

Anticorrosive organic coatings are usually tested with accelerated weathering methods to assess their anticorrosive performance. The results of lab testing often do not correlate well with results from field testing, which resembles the conditions of actual use more closely. We tested the correlation of the neutral salt spray test (NSS, ISO 9227) and tests for mechanical properties and a 5-year field exposure in four different locations in the atmospheric zone, splash zone and immersion zone using 19 organic coatings for hydraulic steelwork. No correlation was found between the anticorrosive performance under outdoor exposure and the mechanical properties of a coating. The NSS test showed a positive correlation with the results in the field in 6 of 12 cases. For the fresh water testing location in Trier, the correlation proved to be very good. The biggest difference between lab and field testing was observed for zinc-primer-free coatings, which passed in the lab testing and failed in the outdoor testing. This study shows that the NSS test correlates with outdoor exposure only in some cases on a statistically significant level, but the results of NSS testing can be useful in approval testing for protective coating systems using predefined pass/fail criteria.

The Effect of Financial Literacy on Financial Behavior of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Ulugawo District, Nias Regency

Low financial literacy has significant implications, including restricted access to financial institutions and mismanagement of money and wealth. A common consequence of low financial literacy is the limited access to financial services, often restricted to banks. This issue is particularly prevalent among Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), where poor financial literacy hinders both business growth and economic development. Many individuals lack the financial knowledge necessary to manage investments, pay bills on time, and maintain a budget, all of which are essential for sound financial management. In the case of MSME actors in Ulugawo sub-district, observations reveal that many do not have a clear understanding of financial management, nor do they maintain proper financial records. This lack of financial knowledge often leads to difficulties in organizing expenditures and managing finances. As a result, many MSMEs struggle to present their financial standing clearly, making them ineligible for capital credit access. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of financial literacy on the financial behavior of MSME actors in Ulugawo, Nias. The research employed a quantitative descriptive approach, with data collected through questionnaires. The data analysis revealed that financial literacy accounts for 70% of the variation in financial behavior among MSMEs in Ulugawo, indicating that the remaining 30% is influenced by other factors not covered in this study. The t-test results for the financial literacy variable (X) showed a t-value of 2.191, with a significance level of 5%. The calculated r-value was greater than the critical r-value (r-calculated &gt; r-estimated, 1.6759), confirming the significant influence of financial literacy on financial behavior.

Optimization Study of the Structural Parameters of an Artificial Percolation Intake Riverbed Based on a Numerical Orthogonal Test

Research on water abstraction techniques in sandy rivers is crucial for addressing water scarcity issues in northern China. This study introduces an artificial percolation water intake riverbed structural model designed to prevent sand intake and facilitate the extraction of clear water from sandy rivers, the main function of which is to artificially construct a helical flow field to realize the separation of water and sand and, at the same time, percolate the water. In this paper, we use a numerical orthogonal test method to study the influence of structural parameters and their combinations on water extraction by percolation, and the preferred combination of structural parameters. The main conclusions of this paper are as follows: Under the condition of certain structural parameters of the artificial riverbed, the single-width flow rate has an important effect on the mean circumferential flow rate of the vortex tube and the vortex tube seepage volume. The effect of different structural parameters on the mean circumferential flow rate of the vortex tube and the vortex tube seepage varies in magnitude. The longitudinal slope of artificial riverbed i had the greatest and most significant effect on the mean circumferential flow rate of the vortex tube, and each structural parameter had some effect on the vortex tube seepage Q but not to a significant level. When the sand content of the water flow is 15 kg/m3 and the maximum sand grain size of the suspended mass is 2 mm, the optimal structural parameter combinations of the artificial riverbed under different working conditions are as follows: Combination 20 is the optimal structural parameter combination for q = 0.3 m2/s; Combination 24 is the optimal structural parameter combination for q = 0.6 m2/s; and Combination 24 is the optimal structural parameter combination for q = 0.9 m2/s. The present study is of great significance for understanding the influence of each structural parameter and its combination on the effect of the water intake and sand discharge of an artificial percolation intake riverbed, and for optimizing the combination of the structural parameters of an artificial percolation intake riverbed.

Effect of Moderate Intensity Interval Training on the Expression of Genes Related to Necroptosis of Heart Tissue in Male Heart Attack Model Rats

Introduction: Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury is a set of cellular and molecular patho-mechanisms that lead to the death of living cardiomyocytes and compromised cardiac function. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of moderate intensity interval training on the expression of RIPK-1, RIPK-3 and MLKL genes in the heart of male heart attack model rats. Methods: In this experimental study, thirty 16-week-old male Wistar rats weighing 220 to 280 gr were randomly divided into three groups: control (healthy), myocardial infarction (MI), and moderate intensity interval training. Myocardial infarction was performed by direct intervention with occlusion in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) for 30 minutes. Interval training protocol was performed three days a week, for 8 weeks, with moderate intensity of 60 minutes of interval running on a treadmill, each interval including 4 minutes of running with an intensity of 65-70% of VO2max and 2 minutes of active recovery with an intensity of 50-60% of VO2max. qRT-PCR method was used to check the gene expression of research variables. Data were compared using SPSS software version 16, one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test at a significance level of p&lt;0.05. Results: The expression of cardiac RIPK-1, RIPK-3 and MLKL genes were higher in the MI group compared to the control group; however, moderate intensity interval training decreased the expression of RIPK-1, RIPK-3 and MLKL genes compared to the MI group (p=0.001 and p=0.006, respectively). Conclusion: The results of the research showed that myocardial infarction is associated with the activation of the necroptosis cell death pathway, likewise, interval training with moderate intensity has an effect on reducing the expression of necroptosis genes (RIPK1, RIPK3, and MLKL). However, due to the lack of evidences and limitations of research, it still needs more investigations.

Modeling the distribution of jet fuel price returns based on fat-tail stable Paretian distribution.

Jet fuel plays a crucial role as an essential energy source in aerospace and aviation operations. The recent increase in fuel prices has presented airlines with the new challenge of managing jet fuel costs to ensure consistent cash flow and minimize operational uncertainties. The conventional risk prediction models used by airlines often assume that risks are normally distributed according to the classical Central Limit Theorem, which can lead to under-hedging. This paper proposes an innovative approach using the stable Paretian model to analyze the price return of jet fuel in large samples. It comprehensively compares the fitting effect of the stable Paretian distribution with that of the normal distribution based on specific criteria and non-parametric significance tests. Furthermore, it investigates the accuracy of risk measures such as Value at Risk (VaR) and Conditional Value at Risk (CVaR) predicted by both models. In addition to comparing differences in VaR between predicted values and actual values, this paper provides a more comprehensive comparison of risk measures under rolling window forecast situation. Results suggest that despite indistinguishable results in VaR backtest, the stable Paretian distribution has a overall better fitting effect as well as a less biased predicted CVaR based on the AIC of -14099.46, BIC of -14110.98, p = 0.58 in Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and p = 0.46(0.92) in the 0.01(0.05) significance level of Expected Shortfall Regression Test. This might be explained by its ability to capture asset return dynamics while maintaining shape stability with few parameters. This research can provide valuable insights for guiding airlines' risk management decisions. its ability to capture asset return dynamics while maintaining shape stability with few parameters. This research can provide valuable insights for guiding airlines' risk management decisions.

Financial Performance of Banking in Indonesia: A Comparison Before and During the Covid-19 Pandemic

This research aims to examine the financial performance of the banking sector in Indonesia both before and during the pandemic. In the course of this investigation, financial performance was evaluated using several factors namely Loan to deposit ratio (LDR), non-performing loan (NPL), return on assets (ROA), as well as operating expenses and operating income (BOPO). Furthermore, the data used comprised information on the banking financial conditions before (2018-2019) and during the pandemic-affected periods (2020-2021). Purposive sampling was used for sample selection and the analytical methodology adopted comprised the Wilcoxon signed rank test and paired samples t-test analysis. It is also crucial to establish that the present research utilized statistical computations conducted via the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) application, with a significance level of 5%. The obtained results showed that no significant difference was identified between LDR and BOPO both before and during the pandemic. However, a substantial difference was identified between NPL and ROA over the two examined periods.

The effects of hybrid physical activity program on various motor skills in primary school children

Background and Study Aim. Physical activity in children is fundamental to the development of motor skills. Despite its importance, physical activity programs do not fully address the needs of this age group. This study examined the effects of a hybrid physical activity program on specific motor skills in primary school children. Material and Methods. A quantitative single-group pretest-posttest model was used in this study. The research group included 34 voluntary students, with 19 boys and 15 girls, all in the 3rd and 4th grades of primary school. Participants followed a hybrid physical activity program developed by the researcher. The program lasted for 8 weeks, with sessions conducted 3 days a week face-to-face and 4 days a week at home. Home sessions involved parental support through the Moodle system, using educational videos or visual games. Each session lasted one hour and was supervised by an expert trainer. Motor competence data were collected using the second version of the "Test of Gross Motor Development-2" (TGMD-2), known for its reliability and validity. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 26.0 statistical package, with a significance level set at p&lt;0.05. Results. The study's findings showed significant differences in some sub-skills and total raw scores of the locomotor and object control tests between boys and girls (p &lt; 0.05). Significant differences were also found between the 8- and 9-year-old groups in sub-skills and total raw scores (p &lt; 0.05). Additionally, a significant difference was observed in certain sub-skills and total raw score assessments between the 3rd and 4th grades (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusions. The hybrid physical activity program proved to be an effective approach for enhancing motor skills in primary school children. The findings highlight the importance of tailored physical activity programs that consider individual characteristics such as age, gender, and grade level. Implementing such programs in both school and home settings can promote more comprehensive motor development in children.

Distribution of Salts in Milk and Cheese: Critical Methodological Aspects

The salt fractions of milk consist of cations (e.g., Ca, Mg, and Na) and anions (e.g., phosphate, citrate, and chloride). These salts are present as free ions or in complexes with other ions or proteins, primarily the caseins. Furthermore, significant levels of Ca and phosphate are also found in insoluble form, inside the casein micelles. The distribution of salts between this micellar phase and the soluble phase is important for the stability and properties of milk and dairy products. Various processes, such as (ultra-)centrifugation, (ultra-)filtration, dialysis, and selective precipitation have been used to separate the micellar and soluble phases in milk and dairy products to allow for studying the salts’ distribution between these phases. These different methods can lead to different levels of soluble salts because the salts in the supernatant from centrifugation, the permeate from ultrafiltration, and the diffusate from dialysis can differ notably. Hence, understanding which components are fractionated with these techniques and how this affects the levels of the soluble salts determined is critical for milk and dairy products. Applying the aforementioned methods to cheese products is further challenging because these methods are primarily developed for fractionating the soluble and micellar phases of milk. Instead, methods that analyze salts in water-soluble extracts, or soluble phases expressed from cheese by pressing or centrifugation are typically used. This review focuses on the significance of salt distribution and variations in salt fractions obtained using different methodologies for both milk and cheese.