Spearman's Coefficient Research Articles

Cognitive outcome after stereo-electroencephalography-guided radiofrequency thermocoagulation in temporal lobe epilepsy.

Stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG)-guided radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFTC) is being used incrementally in the invasive diagnosis of epilepsy. There is currently a lack of information regarding the potential cognitive consequences of the extended use of this technique. This work describes, for the first time, the cognitive outcomes after RFTC in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), evaluated longitudinally and using a control group. Forty-eight adult patients with drug-resistant unilateral TLE (30 RFTC-treated patients and 18 controls) were evaluated using a comprehensive neuropsychological protocol at baseline. In the RFTC group, two follow-up assessments were performed at 3 months and 1 year. The control group was reevaluated after 1 year. Two analyses were performed: 1) group-level analyses, in which linear mixed models were applied according to TLE lateralization (intragroup and intergroup [RFTC vs control] comparisons), and 2) individual-level analyses, in which the Reliable Change Index (RCI) algorithm was developed and a 90% CI (cutoff ± 1.64) was used to describe neuropsychological outcomes at 1 year post-RFTC. A memory subanalysis was performed in hippocampal RFTC patients (25/30). A Spearman coefficient study was conducted to determine the correlation between cognitive change and thermocoagulated contacts. Left- and right-sided TLE patients treated with RFTC showed cognitive preservation at baseline. At a group level, the short-term evaluation, including verbal and visual memory, language, and executive functions, showed preservation in these domains and no significant differences compared with baseline. In the long-term follow-up assessment (1 year after RFTC), no significant intragroup changes were found, nor were significant changes found in comparison with the control group. The RCI algorithm showed that significant individual cognitive losses and gains were infrequent. Three patients presented with naming deficits, only 1 (3.3%) of whom showed a clinically significant deficit. Significant gains were more prevalent in executive function tests with a speed component (4/20 left-sided RFTC patients). Twenty-five of the 30 (83%) patients were treated with hippocampal RFTC. No patients experienced significant loss in verbal delayed memory in the left-sided RFTC sample or in visual delayed memory in the right-sided RFTC sample. The correlations between cognitive change and RFTC contacts were mostly nonsignificant. In the group-level comparisons, discernible cognitive impairment following RFTC was not evidenced. The majority of patients did not exhibit significant individual declines during the 1-year follow-up period. Notably, the procedural intervention yielded no substantial repercussions on memory functioning following hippocampal RFTC. These findings underscore the evidence supporting the cognitive preservation associated with SEEG-guided RFTC.

Fun or Necessity? Sex Tourism And Informality in Women of A District of San Martín

Object: determine the relationship between sexual tourism and informality in women between 18 and 30 years old in a district of San Martín. It allowed us to know the economic situation and obtain a record of data on women's informality in order to reduce the gaps that exist with poverty, improve opportunities through scholarships and municipal programs and little by little make society recognize this activity as any other, without discriminating against whoever exercises it. Theoretical framework: focuses on two topics that may be worrying because they talk about sexual tourism and the informality of the work carried out by women, preferably, with the purpose, topics that are apparently critical; However, they are realities that occur in many places, one of them being in the San Martín region, where these people put their health at risk due to contagion and diseases to which they are exposed. Method: basic research, non-experimental - correlational. The population and sample consisted of 50 women who are dedicated to providing sexual services. The technique was the survey and the instrument was the questionnaire. Results and conclusions: the level of sexual tourism dimensions: work condition, high at 60%; type of work, medium at 62% and personal fulfillment, high at 80%. The level of informality dimensions: taxes, medium at 70%; social protection, medium at 86% and labor regulations, medium at 54%. It was concluded that there is a very low, but non-significant positive relationship between sexual tourism and informality in women between 18 and 30 years old in a district of San Martín, with a Spearman's Rho coefficient of 0.037 and p-value of 0.79; also only 1.4% variability. Implications of the research: proposed to resolve the issue of informality, the dangers that the lifestyle they have and the control of sexually transmitted diseases entail; also provide solutions that try to eradicate the violence that in some cases sex workers experience, labor exploitation, human trafficking and, if possible, try to locate these people in a strategic place where they can carry out this work, with the purpose to control this activity.

Temperature profile during endourological laser activation: introducing the thermal safety distance concept.

To examine temporal-spatial distribution of heat generated upon laser activation in a bench model of renal calyx. To establish reference values for a safety distance between the laser fiber and healthy tissue during laser lithotripsy. We developed an in-vitro experimental setup employing a glass pipette and laser activation under various intra-operative parameters, such as power and presence of irrigation. A thermal camera was used to monitor both temporal and spatial temperature changes during uninterrupted 60-second laser activation. We computed the thermal dose according to Sapareto and Dewey's formula at different distances from the laser fiber tip, in order to determine a safety distance. A positive correlation was observed between average power and the highest recorded temperature (Spearman's coefficient 0.94, p < 0.001). Irrigation was found to reduce the highest recorded temperature, with a maximum average reduction of 9.4°C at 40W (p = 0.002). A positive correlation existed between average power and safety distance values (Spearman's coefficient 0.86, p = 0.001). A thermal dose indicative of tissue damage was observed at 20W without irrigation (safety distance 0.93±0.11mm). While at 40W, irrigation led to slight reduction in mean safety distance (4.47±0.85 vs. 5.22±0.09mm, p = 0.08). Laser settings with an average power greater than 10W deliver a thermal dose indicative of tissue damage, which increases with higher average power values. According to safety distance values from this study, a maximum of 10W should be used in the ureter, and a maximum of 20W should be used in kidney in presence of irrigation.

Test-retest reliability, practice effects and estimates of change: A study on the Mindmore digital cognitive assessment tool.

The present study aimed to establish test-retest reliability and investigate practice effects of the Mindmore cognitive assessment tool, a digital adaptation of traditional pencil and paper tests designed for self-administration. Additionally, normative change scores for the most frequently used tests were derived. A total of 149 healthy Swedish adults (aged 20-79) completed the test battery twice, 1 month apart. The battery assessed attention and processing speed, memory, language, visuospatial functions, and executive functions. Test-retest reliability, measured by ICC and Spearman coefficients, and practice effects were estimated for 22 main-scores and 33 sub-scores. Regression models were used to assess change in performance while controlling for demographics, computer equipment, testing location (online or in-laboratory) and baseline performance for 12 main-scores and nine sub-scores. Test-retest reliability was good for 11 main-scores (≥0.70), satisfactory for five (0.60-0.69), and minimal for six (<0.60) albeit three having satisfactory sub-scores. Practice effects were observed for tests with a major speed component, but not for reaction time, sustained attention, verbal memory and naming (alternate forms), nor visuospatial functions. Trackpad negatively influenced change for one test. Demographics and testing location did not significantly affect the change scores. Our study provides support for test-retest reliability and practice effects of the Mindmore cognitive assessment tool which were comparable to those of traditional tests. These findings, together with the normative change scores, can aid researchers and clinicians in interpreting test results and distinguishing between normal variations in performance and changes indicative of clinical impairment.

Using natural language processing to facilitate the harmonisation of mental health questionnaires: a validation study using real-world data

BackgroundPooling data from different sources will advance mental health research by providing larger sample sizes and allowing cross-study comparisons; however, the heterogeneity in how variables are measured across studies poses a challenge to this process.MethodsThis study explored the potential of using natural language processing (NLP) to harmonise different mental health questionnaires by matching individual questions based on their semantic content. Using the Sentence-BERT model, we calculated the semantic similarity (cosine index) between 741 pairs of questions from five questionnaires. Drawing on data from a representative UK sample of adults (N = 2,058), we calculated a Spearman rank correlation for each of the same pairs of items, and then estimated the correlation between the cosine values and Spearman coefficients. We also used network analysis to explore the model’s ability to uncover structures within the data and metadata.ResultsWe found a moderate overall correlation (r = .48, p < .001) between the two indices. In a holdout sample, the cosine scores predicted the real-world correlations with a small degree of error (MAE = 0.05, MedAE = 0.04, RMSE = 0.064) suggesting the utility of NLP in identifying similar items for cross-study data pooling. Our NLP model could detect more complex patterns in our data, however it required manual rules to decide which edges to include in the network.ConclusionsThis research shows that it is possible to quantify the semantic similarity between pairs of questionnaire items from their meta-data, and these similarity indices correlate with how participants would answer the same two items. This highlights the potential of NLP to facilitate cross-study data pooling in mental health research. Nevertheless, researchers are cautioned to verify the psychometric equivalence of matched items.

Correlation Between KL Gradings of OA Knee, Kinesiophobia and Pain Among School Teachers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Osteoarthritis also known as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease, is a group of mechanical abnormalities involving degradation of joints, including articular cartilage and subchondral bone. OA is the most common form of arthritis. There are two form of OA, Primary and Secondary OA. Kinesiophobia is a condition in which a patient has an excessive, irritational, and debilitating fear of physical movement and activity resulting from a feeling of vulnerability to painful injury or re injury. The influence of biological (exa-gray changes) as well as severity of pain, Kinesiophobia in individual physical functioning. There are less evidences showing the association of kinesiophobia and pain among school teachers with OA knee. So, this study was designed to find out the association of kinesiophobia and pain among school teachers with OA knee. Methodology: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted. 100 school teachers with unilateral or bilateral OA knee were selected who matched the selection criteria. Both male and female were included. For gradings of OA knee KL grade was taken, for kinesiophobia TAMPA scale was taken, for pain NPRS was taken as an outcome measures. Result: Spearman co-efficient between KL grade and TAMPA scale is 0.835, which indicates there is moderate to high positive correlation between KL grade and TAMPA scale. Spearman co-efficient between NPRS and TAMPA scale is 0.923, which indicates there is high positive (strong positive) correlation between NPRS and TAMPA scale. Spearman co-efficient between NPRS and KL grade is 0.784 which indicates there is moderate positive correlation between NPRS and KL grade. Conclusion: This study concludes that there is positive correlation between gradings of OA knee and kinesiophobia among teachers with OA knee. There is moderate positive correlation between gradings of OA and pain among teachers with OA knee. There is very high positive (Strong positive) correlation between kinesiophobia and pain among teachers with OA knee. Keywords: KL Gradings of OA Knee, OA knee, kinesiophobia, osteoarthritis

Simple Hip Value: a simple score to evaluate Hip function

BackgroundSeveral self-administered questionnaires are available for assessing hip function in clinical practice (HOOS-12, Oxford-12). These questionnaires can be used to assess and monitor patients with hip pathology. However, they are sometimes difficult to deploy in clinical practice. Recent studies on the shoulder and knee have shown that a single-question assessment provides a relevant evaluation of joint function, and correlates with more complex scores. However, this has not yet been evaluated for the hip. We set out to develop a single-question test that would enable patients to assess their hip function between 0 and 100. Therefore, we did a prospective study aiming to assess: (1) the relevance of the SHV (Simple Hip Value) test by comparing it with the Oxford-12 and HOOS-12 scores, (2) the discriminatory capacity and reproducibility of this test. HypothesisThe hypothesis of this study was that the assessment of hip function by a single-question patient-completed questionnaire (PROM) would be reliable and useful in clinical practice. Patients and methodsWe conducted a prospective study including 74 patients operated on for total hip arthroplasty from February 2020 to April 2021 in a high-volume center and 20 healthy subjects. The SHV questionnaire, as well as HOOS-12 and OXFORD-12 were submitted on average 18 months after surgery, with values scaled to 100 points. A second test containing the 3 questionnaires was resubmitted to 20 patients randomly chosen from hip arthroplasty group to evaluate the reproducibility of the test. To evaluate the discrimination capacity of our test, 20 controls were selected to respond to the three questionnaires. ResultsTest results were median SHV, Oxford-12 and HOOS-12 scores of 90/100 (Interquartile Range [IQR]: 80–95), 88.5 (IQR: 77.1–95.8) and 79.1 (IQR: 65.1–93.2), respectively. The SHV was strongly correlated with the Oxford-12 (Spearman coefficient: 0.63 [IQR: 0.45−0.76]) and the HOOS-12 (Spearman coefficient: 0.66 [IQR: 0.46−0.79]). The SHV differed significantly from the control group (90.0 vs 100.0 in the control group [p < 0.001]) and had excellent reproducibility (Interclass Correlation Coefficient [ICC]: ICC: 0.82 [CI95%, 0.59−0.93]). DiscussionThe SHV test seems to be a reliable, reproducible and discriminating tool for assessing hip function after total hip arthroplasty, thus offering a simplified and practical approach for practitioners. Further testing in different populations would be useful to validate this test. Level of evidenceIII; prospective comparative diagnostic study.

The Influence of Celebrity Endorsement on Customer Loyalty: A Case of Econet Wireless Company

This research investigates the influence of celebrity endorsement on customer loyalty, using the case of Econet Company. Most literature sources are available on developed countries, with a few on developing countries. A pragmatic philosophical approach involving the use of the exploratory, descriptive and explanatory research design was adopted to fully understand the research questions. Quantitative results were complemented by qualitative data obtained from interviews. In conducting the survey, a sample of 130 respondents was selected using the Krejice and Morgan (1970) sample estimation tables. The targeted respondents included the Econet Company customers. A Likert scale structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Spearman coefficient and multiple regression analysis were used to analyse data with the aid of the Social Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The Cronbach Alpha test was performed, and all the values were greater than 0.7, which was therefore accepted (Nunnally and Bernstein, 1994). It was revealed that independent variables (celebrity reliability, celebrity expertise) and the mediating variables (customer satisfaction and customer trustworthiness) have a positive influence on customer loyalty according to the Spearman Correlation test, which yielded a minimum correlation coefficient of 0.58 and a maximum of 0.78 leading to the rejection of the proposed null hypothesis. The study recommended that Econet Company select celebrity endorsers based on the celebrity’s reliability, attractiveness, and expertise, as this contributes significantly to customer satisfaction and trustworthiness, which will result in customer loyalty. Furthermore, Econet Company must perform a well-thought screening and choose wisely the celebrity endorsers who align correctly with the image and values of the company’s brands or products. It must also avoid using celebrities with any kind of negative publicity. The study contributed not only to the literature on celebrity endorsements but also to filling the gap in the literature, providing immense usage for these techniques. Finally, the conclusion suggests that further research be carried out on a larger sample size and done on another

The Diagnostic Value of Conventional MRI Combined With Diffusion-Weighted Imaging in Microprolactinomas.

Turbo spin-echo (TSE) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequences may reduce susceptibility artifacts and image distortion in sellar region, allowing better visualization of small pituitary lesions, and may be used to assist in the diagnosis of pituitary microadenomas. To explore the application value of conventional MRI combined with DWI sequences in the diagnosis of microprolactinomas. Prospective. Thirty-four patients in microprolactinomas with high signal on T2WI (HT2-PRL) group (34 females, 34 ± 7 years), 26 patients in microprolactinomas with equal or low signal on T2WI (ELT2-PRL) group (21 females, 34 ± 7 years), 35 patients with hyperprolactinemia (33 females, 32 ± 8 years), and 30 normal controls (25 females, 31 ± 7 years). TSE sequence at 3 T. Pituitary morphological parameters (such as length and volume), dynamic contrast-enhanced parameters (such as time to peak) and the apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) were measured in each group. ANOVA and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare parameters among groups. Spearman's coefficient was used to evaluate the correlation between variables. ROC analysis was used to assess the performance of the parameters. A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The pituitary volume of patients in HT2-PRL, ELT2-PRL, and hyperprolactinemia group were 831.00 (747.60, 887.60), 923.63 ± 219.34, and 737.20 (606.40, 836.80) mm3. The pituitary maximum height in these three groups were 7.03 (6.43, 8.63), 8.03 ± 1.41, and 6.63 ± 1.28 mm, respectively. The lesion ADC value was significantly correlated with T2 relative signal intensity (the ratio of signal intensity of microprolactinoma or anterior pituitary to left temporal cortex) (r = 0.821). Compared with patients with hyperprolactinemia, the diagnostic efficacy of T2 relative signal intensity was higher in HT2-PRL group, with an AUC of 0.954, whereas the ADC value was the highest in ELT2-PRL group, with an AUC of 0.924. DWI sequences can be used to assist in the diagnosis of pituitary microadenomas. 1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

Performance and Environmental Assessment of Biochar-Based Membranes Synthesized from Traditional and Eco-Friendly Solvents.

Water contamination resulting from coal spills is one of the largest environmental problems affecting communities in the Appalachia Region of the United States. This coal slurry contains potentially toxic substances, such as hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and coal cleaning chemicals, and its leakage into water bodies (lakes, rivers, and aquifers) can lead to adverse health effects not only for freshwater bodies and plant life but also for humans. This study focused on two major experiments. The first experiment involved the use of biochar to create a biochar-polysulfone (BC-PSf) flat-sheet multifunctional membrane to remove organic contaminants, and the other major experiment compared eco-friendly (gamma-valerolactone-GVL; Rhodiasolv® PolarClean-PC) and petroleum-derived solvents (i.e., N-methyl-pyrrolidone-NMP) in the fabrication of the biochar-polysulfone membranes. The resulting membranes were tested for their efficiency in removing both positively and negatively charged organic contaminants from the collected water at varying pH values. A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) with accompanying uncertainty and sensitivity analyses was carried out to understand the global environmental impacts of incorporating biochar, NMP, GVL, and PC in the synthesis of PSf/NMP, BC-PSf/NMP, PSf/GVL, BC-PSf/GVL, PSf/PC, and BC-PSf/PC membranes at a set surface area of 1000 m2. The results showed that the addition of biochar to the membrane matrix increased the surface area of the membranes and improved both their adsorptive and mechanical properties. The membranes with biochar incorporated in their matrix showed a higher potential for contaminant removal than those without biochar. The environmental impacts normalized to the BC-PSf/GVL membrane showed that the addition of biochar increased global warming impacts, eutrophication, and respiratory impacts by over 100% in all the membrane configurations with biochar. The environmental impacts were highly sensitive to biochar addition (Spearman's coefficient > 0.8). The BC/PSf membrane with Rhodiasolv® PolarClean had the lowest associated global environmental impacts among all the membranes with biochar. Ultimately, this study highlighted potential tradeoffs between functional performance and global environmental impacts regarding choices for membrane fabrication.

Suitability of XRF for Routine Analysis of Multi-Elemental Composition: A Multi-Standard Verification.

This study investigated the suitability of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis for routine multi-elemental composition analysis, checking its analytical capabilities by measuring a wide array of certified reference materials of soil and plant origin. A portable XRF analyzer was used to evaluate 32 soil and 12 plant standard materials, using both the Soil and Geochem mode, with sequential beams, allowing the detection of a wide range of elements. Recovery rates were calculated by comparing XRF measurements with certified values, and their correlations were verified through the Spearman coefficient. The results demonstrated the reliability of XRF measurements for soil samples, with a large number of elements showing a good or very good recovery and strong correlations with certified values. For plant samples, XRF largely overestimated the certified values, but the strong statistically significant correlations for almost all tested elements allowed us to correct this systematic bias, using the reported median value for dividing the value obtained via XRF. The Geochem mode emerged as more reliable for a larger number of elements. It was concluded that XRF may be a suitable alternative to ICP-MS in routine multi-elemental composition analysis.

Relative validity of an intelligent ordering system to estimate dietary intake among university students from a medical school in Shanghai, China

BackgroundDietary assessment methods have limitations in capturing real-time eating behaviour accurately. Equipped with automated dietary-data-collection capabilities, the “intelligent ordering system” (IOS) has potential applicability in obtaining long-term consecutive, relatively detailed on-campus dietary records among university students with little resource consumption. We investigated (1) the relative validity of IOS-derived nutrient/food intakes compared to those from the 7-day food diary (7DFD); (2) whether including a supplemental food frequency questionnaire (SFFQ) improves IOS accuracy; and (3) sex differences in IOS dietary intake estimation.MethodsMedical students (n = 221; age = 22.2 ± 2.4 years; 38.5% male and 61.5% female) completed the 7DFD and SFFQ. During the consecutive 7-day survey period, students weighed and photographed each meal before and after consumption. Then, students reviewed their 3-month diet and completed the SFFQ, which includes eight underprovided school-canteen food items (e.g., dairy, fruits, nuts). Meanwhile, 9385 IOS dietary data entries were collected. We used Spearman coefficients and linear regression models to estimate the associations among the different dietary intake assessment methods. Individual- and group-level agreement was assessed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, cross-classification, and Bland‒Altman analysis.ResultsIOS mean daily energy, protein, fat, and carbohydrate intake estimations were significantly lower (-15-20%) than those of the 7DFD. The correlation coefficients varied from 0.52 (for added sugar) to 0.88 (for soybeans and nuts), with fruits (0.37) and dairy products (0.29) showing weaker correlations. Sixty-two (milk and dairy products) to 97% (soybeans and nuts) of participants were classified into the same or adjacent dietary intake distribution quartile using both methods. The energy and macronutrient intake differences between the IOS + SFFQ and 7DFD groups decreased substantially. The separate fruit intake measurements from each assessment method did not significantly differ from each other (p > 0.05). IOS and IOS + SFFQ regression models generally yielded higher R2 values for males than for females.ConclusionDespite estimation differences, the IOS can be reliable for medical student dietary habit assessment. The SFFQ is useful for measuring consumption of foods that are typically unavailable in school cafeterias, improving the overall dietary evaluation accuracy. The IOS assessment was more accurate for males than for females.

Emotional awareness in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

It has been recently acknowledged that deficits in experiencing and processing one's own emotions, also termed alexithymia, may possibly feature the frontotemporal-spectrum disorders. This study aims to determine whether alexithymia could be included within the frontotemporal syndromes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Alexithymic traits were estimated in a cohort of 68 non-demented ALS patients with the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Patients were assessed for the identification of motor-phenotypes and frontotemporal syndromes based on current classification criteria. Spearman's coefficients explored the correlates of TAS-20 measures with motor-functional profiles, global cognitive, social-cognitive (emotion recognition and empathy) and behavioral status. Abnormal TAS-20 scores were found in 13% of patients, and their distribution did not vary within motor and frontotemporal phenotypes. Significant associations were detected between TAS-20 and executive (p ≤ .011), memory (p = .006), state-anxiety (p ≤ .013) and depression measures (p ≤ .010). By contrast, TAS-20 scores were unrelated to social-cognitive performances, dysexecutive and apathetic profiles. Disease duration was the only motor-functional feature being related to the TAS-20 (p ≤ .008). Alexithymia of potential clinical relevance occur in a minority of ALS patients, and its neuropsychological correlates mostly resemble those featuring the general population. Hence, it is unlikely that alexithymia is a specific feature of frontotemporal-spectrum characterizing ALS, rather it could be an expression of psychogenic factors as a reaction to the disease.

Longitudinal change in ultrasound-derived rectus femoris cross-sectional area in COPD.

Skeletal muscle dysfunction is common in COPD. Ultrasound-derived rectus femoris cross-sectional area (RFCSA) is a radiation free, non-invasive measure of muscle bulk that relates to quadriceps strength in people with COPD. However, there are limited longitudinal data for RFCSA, and it is not known whether longitudinal change in RFCSA reflects change in quadricep strength, exercise capacity, lower limb function or muscle mass. We aimed to quantify longitudinal change in ultrasound-derived RFCSA and assess its relationship with change in quadriceps maximal voluntary contraction (QMVC), incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT), five-repetition sit-to-stand (5STS) and fat-free mass (FFM) over 12 months in people with COPD. We measured ultrasound-derived RFCSA, QMVC, ISWT, 5STS and FFM (measured by bioelectric impedance analysis) at baseline and 12 months in 169 people with stable COPD. Change was correlated using Pearson's or Spearman's coefficients. Baseline characteristics: mean±sd age 70.4±9.4 years; FEV1 53.3±18.9% predicted. Over the course of 12 months mean RFCSA change was -33.7 mm2 (99% CI -62.6- -4.9 mm2; p=0.003) representing a mean±sd percentage change of -1.8±33.5%. There was a weak correlation between change in RFCSA and FFM (r=0.205, p=0.009), but not with change in QMVC, ISWT or 5STS. There is a statistically significant decrease in ultrasound-derived RFCSA over 12 months in people with stable COPD, but this decrease does not correlate with change in quadriceps strength, exercise capacity, FFM or lower limb function.

Applicability of the MASEI index in enthesis and its association with other indices/serological markers of activity in patients with spondyloarthritis

IntroductionThe enthesis is one of the target organs in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA), since inflammation of it, known as enthesitis, can be observed, which in many patients with spondyloarthritis could go unnoticed. ObjectiveTo find the relationship between the MASEI index (MAdrid Sonographic Enthesitis Index) in entheses and other indices/serological activity markers (such as BASDAI, DAPSA or ASDAS and ESR, CRP) in spondyloarthritis patients. Materials and methodsObservational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study. Data were collected from patients with SpA who underwent musculoskeletal ultrasound using the MASEI index and who were treated in our clinics from May 2021 to September 2021. As appropriate, the variables evaluated were described using frequency and central tendency/dispersion measures. First, we tested the normality of all the variables using a Shapiro–Wilk test. Then we studied the correlation of parametric and non-parametric numerical variables, using Pearson's and Spearman's coefficients. We used the T-Student, Mann–Whitney U, and chi-square tests for the categorical variables. ResultsWe analyzed 24 patients with SpA (with a mean age of 50.50±10.63 years), 8 women and 16 men. The variables have the following average levels: ASDAS 2.35 (±1.09); BASDAI (for those with axial involvement) 4.54 (±2.93); DAPSA (for psoriatic arthritis) 10.98 (±6.85), and total MASEI 19.88 (±14.77). We found a correlation between the total MASEI and the following variables: ASDAS (Pearson coefficient=.696), BASDAI (Spearman coefficient=.823), and DAPSA (Pearson coefficient=.823). ConclusionPatients with spondyloarthritis with more significant disease activity measured by ASDAS, BASDAI/DAPSA, and the serological markers of inflammation CRP and ESR present a higher total MASEI than patients who are controlled.

Public policy and labor inclusion: employment strategies for people with disabilities in Ecuador

Introduction: This study aims to analyze and relate public policy and labor inclusion variables to identify improvement actions for compliance in favor of people with disabilities working in the GAD cantonal of La Libertad. Methods: The research used a quantitative approach, collecting data through surveys and interviews. Surveys were administered via Google Forms to 194 workers from the GAD cantonal of La Libertad, Ecuador and an interview was conducted with the Social Worker. Also, a bibliographic review of documents and scientific articles was conducted, focusing on the employment rights of people with disabilities in Latin America and Ecuador. Results: The SPSS statistical program was used for data analysis, revealing that the GAD cantonal of La Libertad complies with Ecuadorian legal requirements to hire 4% of people with disabilities in public and private companies with 25 or more workers, and with physical accessibility regulations. The methodology and analysis were validated using Cronbach's Alpha, KMO and Bartlett, Communalities, and Spearman's Rho coefficients. Conclusion: Implementing, promoting, and ensuring inclusive local policies, with constant monitoring and encouraging the participation of people with disabilities in decision-making for their full integration, is recommended.

Evaluación de la sensibilidad y especificidad de la sigmoidoscopia en comparación con la colonoscopia en la detección de actividad inflamatoria intestinal en el seguimiento de pacientes con colitis ulcerosa

IntroductionUlcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disease characterized by periods of inflammatory activity and remission, which vary from the rectum to the proximal colon. Currently, mucosal healing is a long-term goal in the management of inflammatory bowel disease, with colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy being the recommended tools for evaluation. ObjectiveTo assess the effectiveness of both examinations in determining the presence of inflammatory activity in the follow-up of patients with UC. MethodsRetrospective observational study analyzing colonoscopies performed as part of the follow-up of UC patients between January 2021 and July 2023 by gastroenterologists from the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program at the Clínica Universidad de los Andes. The study compared endoscopic and histological activity observed in the rectosigmoid region with that found in the rest of the colon. Sensitivity and specificity were determined using concordance and correlations tests. ResultsA very good concordance and correlation were observed regarding endoscopic findings, with a Kappa index of 0.97 and a Spearman coefficient of 0.97. The Positive Predictive Value (PPV) of sigmoidoscopy for endoscopic activity was 1, and the Negative Predictive Value (NPV) was 0.96. In relation to histological activity, the concordance had a Kappa index of 0.93 and a Spearman coefficient of 0.93, with a PPV of sigmoidoscopy for histological activity being 1 and an NPV of 0.91. ConclusionThis cohort suggests that sigmoidoscopy is a cost-effective option for evaluating mucosal healing in UC patients in symptomatic and biomarker remission. However, complete colonoscopy should be considered in cases of discrepancies with the clinical picture or in colorectal cancer surveillance.

How well do antimicrobial mouth rinses prevent dysbiosis in an in vitro periodontitis biofilm model?

Periodontal diseases are associated with dysbiosis in the oral microbial communities. Managing oral biofilms is therefore key for preventing these diseases. Management protocols often include over-the-counter antimicrobial mouth rinses, which lack data on their effects on the oral microbiome's ecology, bacterial composition, metabolic activity, and dysbiosis resilience. This study examined the efficacy of antimicrobial mouth rinses to halt dysbiosis in in vitro oral biofilms under periodontitis-simulating conditions. Multispecies oral biofilms were grown on hydroxyapatite discs (HADs) and rinsed daily with one of six mouth rinses. Positive and negative controls were included. After three rinses, biofilms were analyzed with viability quantitative polymerase chain reaction and visualized using scanning electron microscopy. Supernatants of rinsed biofilms were used for metabolic activity analysis. In addition, human oral keratinocytes were exposed to rinsed biofilms to assess their inflammatory response. All outputs were analyzed for correlation using Spearman coefficient. Product-related changes were observed in the rinsed biofilms. Three of the six tested mouth rinses could significantly prevent dysbiosis with ≥30% reduction in pathobiont abundance relative to the control. These biofilms had lower metabolic activity, and the exposed human oral keratinocyte produced less interleukin-8. Interleukin-8 production correlated to both pathobiont quantity and the metabolic activity of the biofilms. Some mouth rinses could support biofilm resilience and stop dysbiosis evolution in the biofilm model, with a clear product-related effect. Such mouth rinses can be considered for patients under maintenance/supportive periodontal therapy to prevent/delay disease recurrence. Others are more useful for different periodontal therapy stages.

Prospects and problems in implementing 4AR innovations in relation to 4IR perspectives

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and the concept of the Fourth Agricultural Revolution (4AR) are interconnected, as they both refer to the application of advanced technologies. The Fourth Industrial Revolution has the power to revolutionize agriculture, enabling farmers to embrace innovation, increase productivity, and foster sustainable practices. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of knowledge and attitude of respondents; to determine the familiarity of the respondents with 4AR technologies, to measure the severity of problems perceived by the respondents concerning 4AR, to find out the suitability of solutions for adopting 4AR innovations and to explore the relationship between each of the selected characteristics of the respondents with the focused issues. Primary data were collected from purposively selected 70 respondents during the period of 1 May, 2023 to 9 May, 2023 at Khulna district through face-to-face discussions and online interviews by using a pre-tested interview schedule. Descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, percentage and Spearman Coefficient of Correlation were measured for data interpretation by using SPSS. Almost 72.9% of the respondents had low knowledge of 4AR technologies and a proportion of 95.7% of the respondents had a favorable attitude toward 4AR. Maximum respondents are highly familiar with the technology of “Using an automated machine for seedling transplantation” and “Using agricultural drones in applying fertilizers and pesticides in crop fields”. The main problem based on the problem severity index was “High initial investment to purchase 4AR technologies”. The best possible solutions according to the solution index were making the 4AR technologies available at low prices in the local market” followed by financial support from the Government and other agencies. Knowledge and attitude towards 4AR technologies had a significant positive relationship with the familiarity of 4AR technologies. Training experience had a highly significant relationship with the determination of associated problems in 4AR implementation. Knowledge of 4AR and training experience had a highly significant positive relationship with the measurement of the suitability of probable solutions. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 14(1): 77-86, June 2024

Glass Classification Accuracy Based on Spearman Coefficient and K-Means ++ Algorithm

Glass Classification Accuracy Based on Spearman Coefficient and K-Means ++ Algorithm