Statistical Treatment Research Articles

Additional Costs of Public Works Contracts in Portugal—Descriptive Statistical Analysis in Light of the Quality of Information

The aim of this work is to analyse the quality and transparency of data on the additional costs of public works. The problem identified is the lack of detailed and accessible information that allows for an adequate analysis of the performance and final state of public works, especially in relation to prices and deadlines. This is a case study carried out in Portugal, in which information from public works contracts with a closing date in 2022 was analysed. The data were extracted from the public access portal, responsible for making available and publishing information on the execution of public works contracts. The information was subjected to a statistical treatment process seeking to identify answers to transparency issues. The originality of this study lies in the quantitative and statistical approach applied to the evaluation of the transparency of the data made available on the portal, contributing to the debate on improving public management. The results indicate the need to expand the content available on the portal since the information provided does not allow for an analysis of the final state and performance of the works carried out, especially those relating to price and deadline, which in turn limits the construction of forecasting models and performance indicators. Corrective measures are proposed that include information that allows for answering questions about transparency and that allows for the construction and analysis of statistics and indicators, contributing to identifying the need for improvements in legislation, and the adoption of mechanisms that can improve, correct and or reinforce actions with an impact on the management of public resources.

Phase-space methods for neutrino oscillations: Extension to multibeams

The phase-space approach (PSA), which was originally introduced in Lacroix [] to describe neutrino flavor oscillations for interacting neutrinos emitted from stellar objects is extended to describe arbitrary numbers of neutrino beams. The PSA is based on mapping the quantum fluctuations into a statistical treatment by sampling initial conditions followed by independent mean-field evolution. A new method is proposed to perform this sampling that allows treating an arbitrary number of neutrinos in each neutrino beams. We validate the technique successfully and confirm its predictive power on several examples where a reference exact calculation is possible. We show that it can describe many-body effects, such as entanglement and dissipation induced by the interaction between neutrinos. Due to the complexity of the problem, exact solutions can only be calculated for rather limited cases, with a limited number of beams and/or neutrinos in each beam. The PSA approach considerably reduces the numerical cost and provides an efficient technique to accurately simulate arbitrary numbers of beams. Examples of PSA results are given here, including up to 200 beams with time-independent or time-dependent Hamiltonians. We anticipate that this approach will be useful to bridge exact microscopic techniques with more traditional transport theories used in neutrino oscillations. It will also provide important reference calculations for future quantum computer applications where other techniques are not applicable to classical computers. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Knowledge and Implementation of Nutrition Care Process (NCP) in Hospitals in a Philippine Province

Introduction: The Nutrition Care Process (NCP) was established and ought to be implemented by nutrition and dietetics practitioners all over the world in an effort to create a framework for critical thinking and decision-making for dieticians and nutrition professionals. Despite the advantages it offers, the implementation of NCP among dietitians is yet to occur specifically in some Asian countries. Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between the level of knowledge in NCP and the level of its implementation by the chief dieticians working in government and private hospitals in Laguna Philippines. It also aimed to identify the common barriers to NCP implementation. Theoretical Framework: The goal of NCP is to standardize a process describing the workflow of NCP, which includes four distinct and interrelated steps namely: nutrition assessment and reassessment, nutrition diagnosis, nutrition intervention, and nutrition monitoring and evaluation. Method: This descriptive-correlational study surveyed 30 chief dietitians in a Philippine province and used a validated and pilot-tested four-point Likert scale instrument which was converted into online questionnaire to facilitate distribution and retrieval. Ethics approval was granted in the conduct of the study. Statistical treatments used included weighted mean, Pearson r moment correlation and ranking. Results and Discussion: Results revealed that though the respondents are highly knowledgeable in NCP, there was a less implementation of NCP in Laguna hospitals, indicating a gap between theory and practice of NCP. This was supported by the test of relationship which showed that knowledge on NCP did not correlate with its implementation. Barriers to implementation include lack of manpower in the dietary department, problems in the coordination among physicians, nurses, dieticians, and pharmacists, the lack of adequate training in NCP, and the lack of awareness on the implementing guidelines of NCP as provided by the Department of Health (DOH) of the Philippine government. Research Implications: While the sample size of the study was small and the findings cannot be generalized to a wider population of dietitians, results of the study can invite researchers and policy makers to explore, in a more cross-sectional setting, how challenges in implementing NCP can affect the quality of providing nutritional care to various populations. Originality/Value: The results of this investigation could invite researchers and policy makers in nutrition to explore, in a more cross-sectional context, how challenges in implementing NCP can affect the quality of providing nutritional care to various populations and identify other variables which may affect the successful implementation of nutrition care process and the best practises exhibited by hospitals in its realisation.

Knowledge about consumption of milk: Study involving consumers from two European Countries – France and Portugal

Abstract Milk assumes a pivotal role in human nutrition from early stages of life, although when going into adulthood the consumption habits can vary according to different perceptions from the consumer or even due to the presence of some intolerances. In this context, this research focuses on the consumption knowledge about the composition and nutritional value of milk and its effect on human health. The objective was to investigate how informed are the French and Portuguese participants and detect similarities or differences according to the country. For this purpose, a questionnaire survey was set up to recruit participants from two countries: France and Portugal. The total number of participants was 543, of which 333 were French and 210 were Portuguese. For treatment of data basic statistics and tests were used to compare the results between the two countries, using the software SPSS. The results showed significant differences between the two countries in what concerns the participant’s knowledge about milk composition and nutritive value and also the effects of milk on human health. From the 13 items used to assess knowledge about composition and nutritive value of milk, significant differences were found between countries for six of them. Regarding the ten items used to evaluate the effects of milk on human health, significant differences were found for seven of them. As so, the knowledge about the effects on human health are more differentiated between the participants from France and Portugal, than the knowledge about the milk composition. Factor analysis showed six groups of questions, with good internal reliability (values of alpha varying from 0.707 to 0.825). It is concluded that participants from different countries, exposed to different environments (societal, political, or educational) can have different perceptions about milk and its effects on health.

Emerging contaminants as indicators of short-term environmental changes in an eutrophicated coastal lagoon

This research aimed to assess the potential of emerging contaminants as environmental quality indicators for short-term monitoring programs, in contrast with traditional contaminants. Thirteen sediment samples from from Piratininga, a coastal lagoon subjected to anthropogenic impact, were analyzed for the following compounds: napropamide, diclofenac, naproxen, triclosan, ibuprofen, 17β-estradiol, bisphenol A, nadolol, ethofibrate and carbamazepine. The developed method, which included solid phase extraction, derivatization, and analysis by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, demonstrated robustness and suitability with quantification limits between 0.32 and 1.49 ng g−1. The concentrations of etofibrate, nadolol, napropamide and diclofenac were below the quantification limits for all the analyzed samples. The highest concentration was reported for bisphenol A (4.76 ± 0.44 ng g−1), followed by 17β-estradiol (2.88 ± 0.65 ng g−1), ibuprofen (2.70 ± 1.67 ng g−1) and triclosan (1.5 ± 0.43 ng g−1). The detected concentrations, spatial distribution, and local climatic conditions with distinct dry and wet seasons indicate the feasibility of biannual environmental quality monitoring. By evaluating the concentrations and statistical treatment, the use of contaminants of emerging concern as short-term indicators proved promising, leading to an optimized monitoring program from nine to three compounds (bisphenol A, ibuprofen and triclosan) and a sampling grid reduced from 13 to 4 points.

Perceived Occupational Stress among Male and Female Teachers Working in +2 Private Schools in Darbhanga District, India

The present study was aimed at studying the perceived occupational stress among male and female teachers working in +2 private schools with special reference to Darbhanga district, India. It is undoubtedly fact that in recent years our private educator’s organizations and other groups have sought to improve the public image of the teaching occupation so as to attract more people in to the occupation. Hence, the present piece of research work is of immense value on the problem mentioned above. For the present investigation, total sample consisted of one hundred sixty (N=160) comprising male (n=80) and female (n=80) teachers working in +2 Private Schools were randomly selected from different private schools of Darbhanga district. Data were collected through questionnaire schedules on the sample. Having obtained the data on the items of the schedules, individual scores were summed up and tabulated according to procedure of the scales for giving statistical treatment. Results indicated the fact that there is a significant difference between male and female teachers working in +2 private Schools of Darbhanga district in their degree of perceived reactions on occupational stress as t-value has been found statistically significant at .05 but all the teachers reported more or less moderate level of occupational stress. On the other hand, no significant difference has been found between the groups of males and females in terms of their degree of the dimensions of occupational stress, viz. unreasonable groups and political pressures, under participation, intrinsic impoverishment, low status, and unprofitability. although few dimensions of occupational stress out of twelve dimensions viz., role overload, role ambiguity, responsibility for persons, poor peer relations and strenuous working conditions have been found as the predictors between male and female teachers as these dimensions has been found statistically significant at .01 and ,05 level of confidence although both ...

The effect of skill exercises based on the cooperative learning method on acquiring some basic futsal skills for female students

The research aims to prepare skill exercises using the cooperative learning method. In learning some basic skills with the feet football for female students and learning about the effect of the cooperative learning method in learning some basic skills in Futsal football. The researchers used the experimental method with the design of the experimental and control groups, including pre-test and post-test. This was suitable for the nature of the research, which targeted first-year female students (25 students). A sample of (20) students was selected and distributed equally into an experimental group and a control group, with (10) students in each group. The researchers identified the basic skills in futsal, which are (passing, receiving, and shooting), based on the curriculum for the first year in college. They then conducted pre-tests on the sample individuals in both the experimental and control groups before starting the implementation of the educational program to determine the level of basic skills tests in futsal. The researchers prepared exercises according to the cooperative learning method, relying on sources and references, with the help of experts in the field, to include (16) educational units, applying two educational units weekly with a duration of (90) minutes for each unit. Then, they conducted equivalence between the research groups (control and experimental), and after completing the educational program, they conducted post-tests for both the experimental and control groups. The results were extracted, and appropriate statistical treatments were used to reach the results. Subsequently, the results were presented, analyzed, and discussed. The researchers concluded that the first-year female students in the College of Physical Education and Sports Science at the University of Babylon showed that the cooperative learning method significantly addressed individual differences.

Diagnosis of marine internal combustion engines by means of rapidly variable temperature and composition of exhaust gas as an alternative or support for currently used diagnostic methods

The article points out relevance of parametric diagnostics of ship engines and analyzes the state of research in this field. A method is proposed for diagnosing engine systems on the basis of rapidly variable exhaust temperature while measuring its composition. A method for determining diagnoser tools from the signal within one engine cycle and mathematical and statistical treatment of test results is presented. The products of numerical moddeling in the Diesel-RK software and the products of laboratory research on a Farymann Diesel test engine were analyzed. Affect of the most popular defects on the analyzed parameters was defined. Criteria for matching a diagnoser tool in accordance with the type of damage in a ship engine was presented. A methodology was proposed for adapting the presented method to metering on a ship engine in operation.

Readiness of government employees on workplace digital transformation and its correlation to employees’ productivity using Herzberg two-factor theory

This research study evaluates the preparedness of government employees to implement digital transformation and its impact on employee productivity by incorporating Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory. The Philippine government has launched several automation and digitalization initiatives to enhance public administration and increase accessibility to government services. However, digital transformation has posed challenges to employee productivity and motivation, leading to inefficiency and a lack of incentive to perform tasks due to employees' unawareness of various aspects of digitalization. The study employs a quantitative correlation research design, utilizing statistical treatments such as Weighted Mean and Pearson R to analyze and interpret the data. According to the findings, while government employees are ready and willing to embrace digital change, there is potential to increase the effectiveness of digital technologies in reducing workplace stress and improving overall well-being. The study also found a significant relationship between the readiness of government employees for workplace digital transformation and their productivity, as explained by Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory.

DETERMINANTS INFLUENCING MADEIRA ISLAND'S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT POLICIES AS AN ECO-TOURISM DESTINATION: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

Objective: Based on the standards of Global Sustainable Tourism Council and the participants' experiences at destination, the current study aims to reflect and survey among visitors to Madeira Island about the primary challenges to be taken into consideration for the development of sustainable policies for the tourist destination. Method: 1136 valid questionnaires were collected and statistical treatment was carried out. In order to create value, replicate it in the economy, and improve the well-being of both residents and visitors to the Destination, all parties involved in the Sustainable Destination certification process. Results and Discussion: The findings hold significance for an enhanced comprehension of the phenomena intrinsic to the Madeira Eco-Tourist Destination. Research Implications: The practical implications of the research were to recommend ways in which political decision-makers and companies in the tourism sector can improve their performance in the process of certifying the Madeira Islands destination as an Eco-Tourism destination with sustainability concerns. The research is relevant to the enrichment of literature at the level of Portuguese-speaking academia, in the panorama of global and island studies, particularly in the development of socioeconomic policies for sustainable tourism. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on the border between the management of tourism destination certification projects based on sustainability and tourism innovation/promotion and can contribute something new for both professionals and policy makers in the formulation environment. of sustainable development policies for destinations.

An Analytical Study of Administrative Communication Means Related to Organizational Performance Quality among Secondary School Principals in Al-Karkh, Baghdad

Community understanding requires the exchange of understanding and understanding on the subject of reaching the goal, and this requires both parties of communication who achieve a common understanding, especially in administrative work, which is an essential function in creating a common understanding among workers in programming the work to be implemented. Therefore, the study aimed to study the reality of administrative communications related to the quality of institutional performance. Administrators of some faculties and departments of physical education and sports sciences have chosen, and in order to do this, the descriptive approach was chosen using a survey method as a way to solve the problem and the use of a random sample of secondary school principals in Baghdad Al-Karkh, numbering (532) principals, in addition to the use of several methods and tests that contributed to the implementation of the research procedures, including the use of scale. The quality of institutional performance and means of communication. After conducting statistical treatments and analyzing and discussing the results, several conclusions were reached, including that there is a deficiency in institutional performance, especially in the field of available relationships and human capital. As for the recommendations, the most important of them was to conduct a review in the use of communications related to the technological aspect of implementing community service.

Validation of chromatographic methods, TLC and HPLC, to quantify known radiochemical impurities and the radiochemical purity the radiopharmaceutical [177Lu]Lu-PSMA I&T

The Energy and Nuclear Research Institute (IPEN) is studying the production of the radiopharmaceutical [177Lu]Lu-PSMA I&T, in accordance with the good manufacturing practices recommended by the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), to be used in the therapy of prostate cancer. This work aims to validate chromatographic methods, Thin-Layer Chromatographic (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), to determine the radiochemical purity (RCP) of the product. The entire validation process of this work was based on ANVISA's RDC 166, 2017 and the Guide 10, version 1, 2017, guided the statistical treatments adopted. With the selectivity study we can observe that the presence of impurities or excess excipients in the sample does not interfere with the quantification of the product. The proposed methods were linear with linear correlation coefficients (r) above 0.99. The precision and repeatability presented relative standard deviation values lower than specified (RSD <5 %). The small controlled variations in the method suggested for the robustness test also did not affect the radiochemical purity of the product. In view of the results and in accordance with the criteria established by the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), the two chromatographic methods were validated in accordance with RDC 166, 2017, proving to be selective, precise, linear and robust. The validation of TLC and HPLC methods enables their application in the batch release routine of the new radiopharmaceutical at Radiopharmacy Center of IPEN.

Assessment Beliefs, Practices and Competence Vis-À-Vis Demographic Characteristics of Senior High School Social Studies Teachers in Ghana

This study examined the impact of demographic factors on the assessment beliefs, practices and competence of Social Studies teachers in selected Senior High / Technical Schools in the Volta and Oti Regions of Ghana. The study was guided by the Human Capital Theory (HCT). It utilized a quantitative research approach and a cross-sectional research design. Employing a two-stage simple random sampling method, 196 Social Studies teachers were randomly selected from 80 Senior High Schools (SHS) and Senior High Technical Schools (SHTS) in the Regions. Data was collected through a questionnaire, covering the participants’ demographic information and assessment beliefs, practices and competence. Statistical data treatment was done through frequency distributions. It was displayed using a contingency table and Cramer's V analysis. Findings indicated no significant correlation between the teachers’ gender, educational background, teaching experience, assessment beliefs, practices and competence. The study concludes that the demographic did not influence the teachers’ assessment beliefs. Based on the conclusions, it is recommended that professional development should focus on individualized training that targets specific needs of teachers in assessment literacy rather than generalizing based on demographic factors. This could help foster more robust and consistent assessment beliefs across the teaching population. In addition, teacher education programs should prioritize skills-based training on contemporary assessment methodologies and address competency gaps regardless of demographic factors.

Assessment of the Possibility of Using the Trace Element Status of a Herbal Drug as an Additional Quality Criterion: Chamomile Flowers as a Case Study

INTRODUCTION. Herbal drugs can often be difficult to identify and distinguish from morphologically similar species, especially when fractionated. For the analysis of complex mixtures of herbal origin, it is reasonable to use additional identification methods, including hierarchical clustering of herbal drugs by their trace element content.AIM. This study aimed to assess the possibility of using hierarchical clustering by trace element content for complex biological matrices (plant mixtures), with officinal chamomile species as a case study.MATERIALS AND METHODS. Multiple morphologically similar species grow together with officinal chamomile species that are widely used in medical practice. The study examined the flowers and peduncles of Matricaria recutita L., Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Sch.Bip., Leucanthemum vulgare Lam., Tripleurospermum inodorum (L.) Sch.Bip., and Matricaria suaveolens Buchenau, as well as artificial mixtures of chamomile with adulterant species (as samples non-compliant with pharmacopoeial specifi ca tions). The content of trace elements was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The statistical treatment of the results used Statistica 10 software with a built-in data analysis algorithm for multivariate experiments.RESULTS. Having determined the content of 56 trace elements, the authors plotted a hierarchical cluster tree using cluster analysis methods. M. recutita and M. suaveolens were shown to be the closest to each other in terms of their trace element status, which correlated with their taxonomy. Artificial plant mixtures formed intermediate clusters that were observed between different chamomile species. Moreover, according to the criterion of dissimilarity, the trace element cluster of M. recutita significantly differed from the trace element clusters of all the adulterant species and mixtures containing more than 10% of the adulterant species.CONCLUSIONS. This study demonstrated the possibility of using hierarchical clustering based on the content of trace elements in a biological object to analyse complex systems, including plant mixtures, and identify differences that may have discriminative value for the quality control of herbal drugs.

B-133 Uric acid: A description of the values found in adult patients treated during 2022 in a High Complexity Hospital

Abstract Background An association between uric acid and kidney disease, glucose intolerance, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease has been recognized. It is the obligation of the Clinical Laboratory to have valid reference intervals (RI) for this marker. Each particular population has genetics and a diet that represents it, which cannot be extrapolated in many cases. The difficulty and high cost of using direct methods for its establishment drive us to use the existing data in our electronic archive retrospectively. Objective: to describe the range of uric acid values in adult outpatients treated at the Posadas Hospital during the year 2022. Evaluate the influence of gender and age range on the observed values. Methods A retrospective observational approach was carried out from the System database Laboratory Informatics (SIL), Roche Infinity, from the year 2022. The data corresponding to all adult outpatient patients treated in the service were processed. Analytical System: Roche Cobas 6000, Uricase-Oxidase method. Exclusion criteria: oncology patients, kidney patients, diabetics, hyperglycemic patients, obstetric patients, hormonal patients, treated in wards and referred patients. Outliers excluded by Tukey method. The statistical treatment was carried out with the SPSS 17.0 program. Results We worked with 91922 data groups. Hence 12331 of uric acid. After meeting the exclusion criteria: 3899, of which 2289 (3.96 ± 1.05 mg/dl) correspond to women &amp;lt; 50 years , 747 (4.36 ± 1.15 mg/dl at ≥ 50 years and 863 (5.59 ± 1.33 mg/dl) men, all with normal distributions. Applying ANOVA and Student's test it was possible to verify in addition to the described significant difference between sexes, a difference between the 2 age groups of women (p&amp;lt;0.01) which is not equal to that of men in women ≥ 50 years of age. Conclusions A more extensive study is necessary to define own reference ranges that enable the early alarm guidelines, especially in the group of women &amp;lt; 50 years of age. This will allow an adequate evaluation of risk and evolution of patients. The application of Indirect Methods will make it possible to exclude values corresponding to underlying pathologies not registered in the SIL.

B-114 Reference interval (RI) estimation for TSH in adults using an indirect method with unsupervised machine learning tool and R programming language

Abstract Background Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) plays a fundamental role in regulating thyroid hormones T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine). Understanding TSH test results is essential for effective management of thyroid disorders and depends, among other factors, on establishing specific reference intervals (RI) for the population being served. We aimed to estimate the reference intervals for TSH in the adult population served by a large diagnostic network in Brazil. Methods We employed data mining followed by estimation using an indirect method through the LabRI™ algorithm with parametric, non-parametric, and robust statistical treatments for outlier exclusion, a series of algorithms programmed in R Language. Included were TSH values from outpatients, aged 20 to 60 years, both sexes, from two analytical platforms. Used as a comparative RI recommended by the American Thyroid Association (ATA, 2014). Data were extracted from the Data Lake, from January to December 2022, from two laboratories in Brazil. Exclusion criteria: samples from hospital sources and referral laboratories; pregnant; some laboratory tests correlated with de TSH test; samples from patients using thyroid hormone and medications that may interfere with hormonal function and TSH laboratory analysis. Results After exclusion criteria, the sample totaled 26,909 adults of both sexes. After excluding 2.24% outliers, the estimated RI was 0.67-4.26 mIU/L, with the comparative RI chosen for this study being the one recommended by ATA of 0.40-4.00 mIU/L. The RI obtained in our study was similar to the Canadian RI harmonization study for TSH (0.60-4.48 mIU/L). Conclusions We estimated the RI, harmonized between Roche and Siemens platforms, to be 0.67-4.26 mIU/L. The RI obtained by the LabRI™ tool is equivalent to the Adeli study (2023) and is under discussion by the company's endocrinology committee for whether to use the estimated RI from our internal study or the one recommended by ATA (2014) in reports.

B-120 Reference Interval (RI) Estimation for Pediatric Magnesium using an Indirect Method with Unsupervised Machine Learning Tool and Programming Language

Abstract Background Magnesium is an important intracellular component present in all enzymatic reactions involving Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) utilization, with the majority stored in bones. In the blood, it exists as a free fraction and another bound to proteins. Regulation occurs through renal processes, and for this reason, hypermagnesemia is associated with renal insufficiency, compromising the central nervous system. On the other hand, hypomagnesemia cases are related to pancreatitis, intestinal malabsorption, childhood malnutrition, among other factors. Following complaints from pediatric doctors that our reference intervals (RI), as suggested by the manufacturer, would yield falsely elevated results in healthy patients, we estimated a new RI in the population served Methods We employed data mining followed by estimation using an indirect method through the LabRI™ algorithm with parametric, non-parametric, and robust statistical treatments for outlier exclusion, implemented in the R language. Latent abnormal values of outpatient pediatric patients were considered. We defined three pediatric partitions for both sexes, aged 0 to 6 years, 7 to 12 years, and above 12 years, using the comparative RI described by the Roche manufacturer. Data were extracted from our Data Lake between January and December 2022 in the Federal District of Brazil, from a laboratory part of a large network. Exclusion criteria included: Potassium &amp;gt; 5.5 and &amp;lt; 3.0 mmol/L; Phosphorus &amp;gt; 8.0 and &amp;lt; 1.5 mg/dL; Total Calcium &amp;gt; 12 mg/dL and &amp;lt; 7 mg/dL; Ionized Calcium &amp;gt; 1.5 mmol/L and &amp;lt; 0.8 mmol/L; Creatinine &amp;gt; 2.0 mg/dL; C-reactive protein (CRP) &amp;gt; 10 mg/dL; Ferritin &amp;gt; 700 ng/mL; A1C &amp;gt; 7.0%; LDL Cholesterol &amp;gt; 200 mg/dL; Magnesium repeated within &amp;lt; 12 months, and samples of hospital origin. Results The evaluated population after exclusion criteria totaled 6,865 children, distributed as follows: 26.0% aged 0 to 6 years, 30.3% aged 7 to 12 years, and 43.7% above 12 years. Outliers were excluded in 1.5%, 0.9%, and 1.0%, respectively. In all partitions, there was a significant discrepancy compared to the reference intervals recommended by Roche. In our estimation, there was an expansion of the upper limit of the reference interval in all partitions, supporting the clinical opinion. The new reference intervals became: 0-6 yrs: from 1.7-2.3 to 2.0-2.7; 7-12 yrs: from 1.7-2.1 to 2.0-2.6; and &amp;gt;12 yrs: from 1.7-2.2 to 1.9-2.6. The standard deviation varied between 0.19 and 0.20, and the median between 2.20 and 2.32 Conclusions The manufacturer states in the package insert that they did not assess the RI for the pediatric population and that each laboratory should verify the RI in the population served. We approve the adoption of the estimated RI for the pediatric population calculated by the LabRI™ tool in the partitions of 0-6 years, 7-12 years, and &amp;gt;12 years, stating in the report “Reference interval established by an indirect method in 6865 children tested in the laboratory, partitioned by age group.”

A statistical physics-based methodology for evaluating the efficiency of an adsorption refrigeration cycle using C3H2F4/Maxsorb III

Recently, the statistical physics modeling found a great success in the description of various aspects of adsorption phenomena such as olfaction, depollution, and photovoltaic processes. Therefore, we attempted here to apply this treatment in the domain of refrigeration by an adsorption/ desorption process cycle, using the grand canonical formalism of the statistical physics as a working tool. So, for this study, four advanced equations based on statistical physics treatment are used to clarify the adsorption process at molecular level and define its physico-chemical parameters for refrigeration applications. Our results showed that the double layer model with two energies provides useful details concerning this phenomenon by determining the number of captured HFO-1234ze (E) (C3H2F4) molecules per site nAM, the density of receptor site Drs, the adsorption quantity at saturation N a sat and two energetic parameters Phs1 and Phs2. The steric results revealed that the adsorbed C3H2F4 molecules tended towards a parallel position when the temperature increased. Evaluations of the adsorption energies and enthalpy values indicated that the anchoring process is exothermic and of a physisorption nature. In order to improve the thermodynamic efficiency, the coefficient of performance was calculated by analyzing changes in thermodynamic functions, giving a value of 0.58 for the C3H2F4 / Maxsorb III. Also, the COP value can be enhanced by using the same adsorbate with high compressibility to minimize the machine size but changing the present adsorbent by activated carbon derived from biomass such as: Waste Palm Trunk (WPT-AC) and Mangrove wood (M−AC).

Psychological resilience and its relationship to positive confrontation among educational counselors

The aim of the research is to identify psychological resilience and positive coping among educational counselors, the significance of the differences in psychological resilience and positive coping among educational counselors according to the gender variable (male/female), and the relationship between psychological resilience and positive coping among educational counselors. To achieve the research objectives, two tools were built, the first to measure psychological resilience, and the second to measure positive confrontation. Both tools were applied to the research sample of (200) Mentor and mentor. After statistical treatments based on the statistical package (SPSS) to analyze the research data, the results indicated the following: *- Educational counselors have a good level of psychological resilience and enjoy positive confrontation. *- There are no statistically significant differences according to the variable (gender) in psychological resilience and positive confrontation. *- There is a positive correlation between psychological resilience and positive confrontation. In the context of these results, the researcher came up with a number of recommendations and proposals.

Optimizing Administrative Professionalism: A Strategic Approach to Elevate Clientele Satisfaction in Service-Oriented Environments

Professionalism is crucial in shaping client experience in organizations, yet many organizations lack strategies to enhance staff conduct, leading to inconsistent service, communication gaps, and inadequate training. Essential qualities such as competence, courtesy, honesty, integrity, and specialized knowledge significantly impact client interactions, complaint resolution, and organizational image. This study, conducted at the City College of Calamba, Philippines, surveyed 1,126 students to assess their perceptions of professionalism among administrative personnel providing student services and evaluate customer satisfaction. Using a descriptive correlational approach with stratified random sampling and simple statistical treatment such as mean and Goodman and Kruskal's Gamma Correlation, the study established a correlation between staff professionalism and satisfaction, proposing a development program based on its findings. The survey found high levels of professionalism and customer satisfaction, recognized staff strengths in professional communication and accountability, and indicated areas for growth in problem-solving. The significant relationships between job performance, service delivery, ethics, and satisfaction highlight professionalism’s impact on consumer perspectives. The novelty of this study lies in its focus on the correlation between professionalism and satisfaction within an educational setting, offering insights for targeted development programs. Limitations include a small sample size, which may affect generalizability, reliance on self-reported data, cross-sectional design, and a focus on one institution, which may overlook broader contextual nuances.