Statistical Hypothesis Research Articles

Crossmodal correspondence of elevation/pitch and size/pitch is driven by real-world features.

Crossmodal correspondences are consistent associations between sensory features from different modalities, with some theories suggesting they may either reflect environmental correlations or stem from innate neural structures. This study investigates this question by examining whether retinotopic or representational features of stimuli induce crossmodal congruency effects. Participants completed an auditory pitch discrimination task paired with visual stimuli varying in their sensory (retinotopic) or representational (scene integrated) nature, for both the elevation/pitch and size/pitch correspondences. Results show that only representational visual stimuli produced crossmodal congruency effects on pitch discrimination. These results support an environmental statistics hypothesis, suggesting crossmodal correspondences rely on real-world features rather than on sensory representations.

Prediction of physical activity and nutritional behaviors based on social cognitive theory in middle-aged population at risk of coronary artery disease in Bandar Abbas

AbstractCoronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common cardiovascular disease and the main cause of mortality in developing countries. Since physical activity and nutritional behaviors are modifiable risk factors in people at risk of CAD, the present study aims to explore the effect of an intervention based on the social cognitive theory (SCT) on physical activity and nutritional behaviors in middle-aged population at risk of CAD in the city of Bandar Abbas. The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 519 middle-aged subjects who visited the healthcare centers in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, in 2023. The sampling was simple randomization. The data were collected using the general physical activity questionnaire, nutritional behavior questionnaire and a questionnaire based on the social cognitive theory (SCT). Descriptive statistics were used to describe the demographic features of the sample. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to test the relationship between the variables of study. Multiple linear regression was used to test the effect of the SCT constructs on physical activity and nutrition behaviors. All statistical analyses and hypothesis testing were done in SPSS 21, at a significance level of 0.05. A total number of 519 subjects participated in this study, whose average age was 44.23 ± 7.14 years. The results of Pearson correlation test showed a statistically significant positive correlation between nutritional behaviors and the constructs of self-efficacy, collective efficacy, outcome expectations, observational learning, normative beliefs, barriers and opportunities, reinforcement and punishment, and behavioral intention. There was also a significant positive correlation between physical activity and self-efficacy, normative beliefs, social support and behavioral intention. Social support, self-efficacy, normative beliefs, observational learning, behavioral skills and knowledge were found to be the predictors of physical activity. Reinforcement and punishment, normative beliefs, collective efficacy, social support and barriers and opportunities were the predictors of nutritional behaviors in the middle-aged population. As the results of the study showed, it is suggested to increase physical activity in the middle-aged population at risk of CAD using appropriate strategies to strengthen social support through family and friends, improve self-efficacy, identify positive and negative normative beliefs. Plans should be made to improve observational learning, increase behavioral skills, and increase knowledge to improve nutritional behaviors, use appropriate strategies to provide timely and appropriate rewards and punishments, identify and strengthen positive normative beliefs, improve collective efficacy, and increase social support. To this aim, families and other individuals around the middle-aged population can help remove barriers and create opportunities.

The Impact of Ownership Authority on Cash Conversion Cycle in Public Hospitals: A Comparative Analysis of Provincial and County Hospitals

(1) Background: The aim of the paper is to identify and assess if there are differences concerning the cash conversion cycle (CCC) according to different types of ownership authority of hospitals. The main research hypothesis developed for the purpose of this study assumes that the ownership authority is of great importance for the short-term financial management analyzed through the prism of the cash conversion cycle in hospitals. (2) Methods: A statistical hypothesis testing method is employed in the empirical part of the study, analyzing differences both in the values of the cash conversion cycle itself as well as in the values of its components, i.e., inventory conversion period, receivables conversion period, and payables conversion period. The research sample consists of public hospitals subordinated to different types of ownership authorities, i.e., provinces and counties. (3) Results: It turns out that there are indeed statistically significant differences between the provincial and county hospitals as far as the cash conversion cycle and its components are analyzed, which supports the research hypothesis. (4) Conclusions: The county hospitals are characterized by a better financial situation as compared to their provincial counterparts concerning CCC management.

Generation Z Satisfaction with Smart Homestays: ASCI and Web Crawler Insights from China

In the digital context, smart homestays have developed rapidly in the post-epidemic era and have become a new form of accommodation. Homestays are favored by many young people in China, such as those belonging to Generation Z. According to data concerning China’s national tourism and related reports, the demand for homestays has increased dramatically in recent years. Thus, we need to consider how to improve the smart homestay user experience. Based on the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) model, this study explores the factors that affect the user experience of smart homestays. An online survey of 370 respondents of Generation Z in China was conducted, followed by descriptive statistical analysis and hypothesis model validation using SPSS 26.0. The data show that among the five service variables (reservation, check-in, living, check-out, and information sharing), perceived value has a positive and positive impact on service variables in all aspects. Finally, machine learning is used for emotion text analysis, and the results show that users are biased towards smart homestays in the sentiment analysis of the comments. Although smart homestays have a certain amount of attention, there is still a lot of room for progress in technology and services. The purpose of this study is to improve and perfect the rules for making smart homestay service standards based on understanding the satisfaction of Generation Z when using smart homestays while also providing a theoretical basis and practical manuals for the industry to promote the development of the industry and improve user experience. Based on the research results of the above literature, it is imperative to carry out research on Generation Z, the main force of future consumption, especially in the field of artificial intelligence.

Experimental investigation and numerical analysis of material removal efficiency using abrasive microaggregates in grinding processes of Ti6Al4V

Reducing plastic interactions between abrasive grains and the material being processed improves grinding efficiency and lowers energy consumption. Widening the cutting zone with abrasive grains enhances chip formation and reduces lateral material displacement. This can be achieved by using abrasive microaggregates.The paper presents an experimental analysis of grinding with modified wheels containing abrasive microaggregates. It examines how these microaggregates impact the grinding wheel's surface microgeometry and material removal efficiency. The study measured changes in the number, surface area, volume, and spacing of active contact areas on the grinding wheel active surface. A comparative analysis using the Shos indicator showed that abrasive microaggregates promote the formation of active areas with wide cutting edges perpendicular to the cutting direction.Finite element method simulations confirmed that abrasive microaggregates enhance material removal by widening the micro-cutting zone and increasing lateral resistance, which reduces the formation of flashes along the cutting path. The study also assessed how these surface features impact the roughness of the ground surface. A comparative analysis of roughness parameters showed a statistically significant reduction in surface, volume, hybrid, and functional parameters when using grinding wheels with abrasive microaggregates. This analysis was conducted using bootstrap statistical hypothesis tests.

МОДЕЛЮВАННЯ ТА ОПТИМІЗАЦІЯ РЕЖИМУ ТЕРМООБРОБКИ ТРУБЧАСТИХ ЕЛЕМЕНТІВ ФЕРМЕННИХ КОНСТРУКЦІЙ ЛІТАЛЬНИХ АПАРАТІВ З ВУГЛЕПЛАСТИКУ

The article analyzes the current state of development of dimensionally stable tubular elements (TE) and technological problems arising during their production. It is shown that along with empirical methods of studying the influence of various technological schemes on the dimensional stability of tubular elements, it is useful to use the optimal temperature-time mode for heat treatment and, based on it, select the optimal technological scheme. Modeling and determination of the optimal mode of heat treatment of tubular elements were performed. The study of the TE heat treatment mode was carried out in two stages, first by methods of mathematical modeling and optimization, and then by empirical enumeration of various technological schemes. At the first stage, the material properties, which are parameters of the mathematical model, were studied, and the optimal curing modes were calculated. At the second stage, the calculated optimal curing modes were supplemented with various technological methods that cannot be mathematically modeled, and a study was carried out on the influence of the resulting combined heat treatment mode on the geometric characteristics and dimensional stability of carbon fiber TE. The mathematical model of the process of heat treatment and curing of TE in a heat chamber, when heated by a heating air flow, is a system of differential equations: thermal conductivity and curing kinetics. A mathematical model of the process of heat treatment of tubular elements manufactured by the winding method is proposed, the ways of optimizing the curing mode of carbon fiber TE are shown. A numerical calculation of temperature-conversion fields during curing and calculation of optimal curing modes of tubular elements are performed taking into account various process schemes. The values of heat capacity C and thermal conductivity l are calculated depending on the temperature T, the degree of curing b and the filling coefficient g, Безфітингова ферма з вуглепластику Безфітингова ферма з вуглепластику Безфітингова ферма з вуглепластику the power of heat release W and the thermal effect of the curing reaction Q of carbon fiber. Optimum curing modes for a plate made of composite polymer material are obtained, calculated from the data obtained as a result of studying material samples. Temperature-time curing modes are obtained, which are optimized for different thicknesses of the studied material. The statistical hypothesis about the significance of the influence of the process flow chart and reinforcement pattern on the wall thickness of a tubular element and its compressive strength was proved by the dispersion analysis method. The influence of process flow charts and heat treatment modes on the geometric and mechanical characteristics of carbon fiber tubular elements of aircraft truss structures was studied. The statistical hypothesis about the significance of the influence of the process flow chart and reinforcement pattern on the deviation of the wall thickness of tubular elements and their strength characteristics was tested. The significance of the influence of process flow charts with different heat treatment modes on the average wall thickness of a carbon fiber tubular element was statistically proven.

Examining the Relationship between Helplessness in Change and the Expectation of Approval from others with the Gender of Tehran students

Irrational beliefs are any thought, emotion or behavior that leads to self-destruction and self-destruction and its important consequences are impaired survival, happiness and joy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between helplessness in change and expectation of approval from others with gender in students of Tehran Azad University. The present study was an applied correlation study. The study population was students of Tehran Azad University.95 of whom were randomly selected. The research method was to collect field information with a questionnaire. The research instrument included the Jones irrational beliefs questionnaire and data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS software. With0.95confidence the statistical hypothesis of zero equality of the mean of irrational beliefs and its subscales, i.e. helplessness in changing and expecting from others, is confirmed by the two groups of men and women so we can say that there is no significant difference between the means of the groups. Based on the results of the study, it can be said that each of the subscales of irrational beliefs have the same effect on both men and women and there is no significant difference between them.

12275 Effect Of Osilodrostat On Cardiovascular And Metabolic Manifestations Of Hypercortisolism In Patients With Non-Pituitary Cushing’s Syndrome: Findings From A Retrospective Observational Study (LINC 7)

Abstract Disclosure: N. Scheyer: Other; Self; Recordati Rare Diseases. J. Bertherat: Consulting Fee; Self; Novartis, HRA Pharma, Recordati Rare Diseases. B. Decoudier: Consulting Fee; Self; Recordati Rare Diseases. H. Lasolle: Speaker; Self; Recordati Rare Diseases. H. Lefebvre: Speaker; Self; Recordati Rare Diseases. D. Drui: None. C. Vaillant: None. J. Morera: None. F. Castinetti: Consulting Fee; Self; HRA Pharma Rare Diseases, Recordati Rare Diseases. Grant Recipient; Self; HRA Pharma Rare Diseases, Recordati Rare Diseases. J. Cristante: Grant Recipient; Self; HRA Pharma, Pfizer, Inc.. N. Chevalier: None. S. Fodil-Cherif: None. A. Antonellini: Employee; Self; Recordati Rare Diseases. W. Agbotounou: Employee; Self; Recordati Rare Diseases. A. Mueller: Employee; Self; Recordati Rare Diseases. A. Tabarin: Consulting Fee; Self; H Lundbeck A/S, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, HRA Pharma, Recordati Rare Diseases. Introduction: Endogenous Cushing’s syndrome (CS) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality because of hypercortisolism. Osilodrostat, a potent oral 11β-hydroxylase inhibitor, is approved for patients (pts) with endogenous CS (EMA) and Cushing’s disease (CD; for whom pituitary surgery is not an option or has not been curative; FDA). The long-term safety and efficacy of osilodrostat has been demonstrated in Phase II (LINC 2, NCT01331239) and Phase III (LINC 3, NCT02180217; LINC 4, NCT02697734) studies of CD pts. Here, we investigated the effect of osilodrostat on clinical manifestations of hypercortisolism in a real-world, retrospective, observational study conducted in a heterogeneous patient population with non-pituitary CS (LINC 7; NCT05633953). Methods: Adult pts with non-pituitary CS who initiated osilodrostat prior to EU approval under the French Autorisation Temporaire d’Utilisation scheme and/or, once approved, in routine clinical practice were followed up retrospectively for up to 36 months. The primary endpoint was proportion of pts with mean urinary free cortisol (mUFC) ≤upper limit of normal (ULN) at week (W) 12, based on the modified intention-to-treat (mITT) population (pts with any cortisol measurement at W12 or not collected because of safety reasons). Secondary endpoints included cardiovascular and metabolic parameters, recorded every 4 or 12W, depending on clinical practice. No formal statistical hypothesis testing was performed; all analyses are descriptive. Results: 103 pts were enrolled (mean [SD] age: 59.3 years [15.5]; female 61.2% [n=63]; adrenal adenoma [16.5%, n=17/103; mITT: 9.6%, n=5/52], adrenocortical carcinoma [18.4%, n=19/103; mITT: 11.5%, n=6/52], macronodular adrenal hyperplasia [13.6%, n=14/103; mITT: 17.3%, n=9/52], ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion [51.5%, n=53/103; mITT: 61.5%, n=32/52]). Median (min-max) osilodrostat exposure and dose at baseline was 164.0 days (1-1178) and 5.0 mg/day (1-60), respectively. Median (min-max) osilodrostat dose at W12 and W36 was 6.0 mg/day (0-60) and 10.0 mg/day (0-120), respectively. 23/52 pts (44.2%; 95% CI 30.5-58.7) had mUFC ≤ULN at W12. Mean (95% CI) changes in cardiovascular and metabolic-related parameters from baseline to W12 and W36, respectively, were: systolic blood pressure (−5.7 [−17.9, −6.6] mmHg, n=29 and −6.3 [−19.0, −6.5] mmHg, n=11); diastolic blood pressure (−4.7 [−10.6, −1.1] mmHg, n=29 and −8.2 [−20.7, −4.3] mmHg, n=11); weight (−2.3 [−4.2, −0.4] kg, n=27 and −3.6 [−9.6, −2.5] kg, n=12); body mass index (−0.8 [−1.5, −0.2] kg/m2, n=27 and −1.2 [−3.2, −0.8] kg/m2, n=12). No new safety signals were identified. Conclusions: Findings from this real-world setting show that osilodrostat provides cortisol control alongside improvements in clinical manifestations of hypercortisolism in non-pituitary CS pts, alleviating the disease burden. Presentation: 6/1/2024

6907 Continued Improvements in Hypertension and Diabetes During Long-Term Osilodrostat Therapy in Patients with Cushing’s Disease: A Pooled Analysis from the Phase III LINC 3 and LINC 4 Studies

Abstract Disclosure: M. Fleseriu: Advisory Board Member; Self; Recordati Rare Diseases. Consulting Fee; Self; Recordati Rare Diseases, Sparrow, Xeris Pharmaceuticals (Strongbridge). Grant Recipient; Self; Recordati Rare Diseases, Sparrow, Xeris Pharmaceuticals (Strongbridge). R. Pivonello: Consulting Fee; Self; Corcept Therapeutics, Recordati AG, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, H Lundbeck A/S. Grant Recipient; Self; Recordati AG, Corcept Therapeutics, Xeris Pharmaceuticals (Strongbridge), Neurocrine Biosciences. J. Newell-Price: Consulting Fee; Self; Crinetics, Diurnal, HRA Pharmaceuticals, Recordati Rare Diseases. Grant Recipient; Self; Crinetics, Diurnal, HRA Pharmaceuticals, Recordati Rare Diseases. M. Gadelha: Advisory Board Member; Self; Novo Nordisk, Recordati, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals. Speaker; Self; Recordati, Ipsen, Pfizer, Inc., Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk. R.J. Auchus: Consulting Fee; Self; Xeris Pharmaceuticals (Strongbridge), Spruce Biosciences, Neurocrine Biosciences, Corcept Therapeutics, Diurnal, Sparrow Pharmaceuticals, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Recordati Rare Diseases, Adrenas Therapeutics, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Quest Diagnostics, H Lundbeck A/S, Novo Nordisk, Besins Pharmaceuticals. Grant Recipient; Self; Xeris Pharmaceuticals (Strongbridge), Spruce Biosciences, Neurocrine Biosciences, Corcept Therapeutics, Diurnal, Sparrow Pharmaceuticals, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Recordati Rare Diseases. R. Feelders: Consulting Fee; Self; Recordati. A. Lacroix: Consulting Fee; Self; Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Recordati, Pfizer, Inc.. Grant Recipient; Self; Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Recordati, Pfizer, Inc. A. Shimatsu: Advisory Board Member; Self; Recordati. Consulting Fee; Self; Recordati. Speaker; Self; Recordati. P. Witek: Speaker; Self; Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Ipsen, Recordati, Novo Nordisk, Xeris Pharmaceuticals (Strongbridge), Lilly USA, LLC. Other; Self; Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Ipsen, Recordati, Novo Nordisk, Xeris Pharmaceuticals (Strongbridge), Lilly USA, LLC. M. Bex: Consulting Fee; Self; Recordati. A. Piacentini: Employee; Self; Recordati. A.M. Pedroncelli: Employee; Self; Recordati, Camurus. B.M. Biller: Advisory Board Member; Self; Recordati Rare Diseases. Consulting Fee; Self; H Lundbeck A/S, Recordati Rare Diseases, Sparrow, Xeris Pharmaceuticals (Strongbridge). Introduction: Alleviating the burden of comorbidities such as hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM), through control of hypercortisolism, is an important treatment goal in the management of Cushing’s syndrome. Osilodrostat, a potent oral 11β-hydroxylase inhibitor, provided rapid, sustained cortisol normalization in Cushing’s disease (CD) patients (pts) in two Phase III studies (LINC 3, NCT02180217; LINC 4, NCT02697734), with improvements in clinical manifestations of hypercortisolism. Here, we report on the long-term changes in blood pressure (BP) and markers of glucose homeostasis in a large, pooled pt population from both trials at weeks (W) 48 and 72. Methods: LINC 3 comprised a 48W core phase, including an 8W randomized withdrawal phase for eligible pts. LINC 4 included an upfront 12W, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled period and 36W of open-label osilodrostat. Both studies had an optional extension. Baseline (BL) HTN was defined as prior diagnosis, taking antihypertensive medication, and/or systolic/diastolic BP (SBP/DBP) >130/>90 mmHg. BL DM was defined as prior diagnosis, taking antidiabetic medication, HbA1c ≥6.5%, and/or fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥126 mg/dL. Data from LINC 3 and LINC 4 were pooled in a secondary exploratory analysis for all pts with data at BL and the given visit, excluding periods where pts were randomized to placebo. No formal statistical hypothesis testing was performed; all analyses are descriptive. Results: In pts with BL HTN (n=174/210; 82.9%), mean (95% CI) change in SBP/DBP was -13.9 (-18.5, -9.4)/-9.1 (-12.4, -5.8) mmHg at W48 and -14.7 (-20.1, -9.4)/-9.4 (-13.0, -5.7) mmHg at W72 for those not receiving antihypertensive medication during the study, and -8.4 (-11.9, -4.9)/-5.3 (-7.5, -3.1) mmHg at W48 and -10.1 (-14.3, -5.8)/-5.7 (-8.1, -3.2) mmHg at W72 for those who received antihypertensives. Of pts with BL SBP >130 mmHg (n=110), 50.0% had SBP ≤130 mmHg at W48 and 49.1% at W72. Of pts with BL DBP >90 mmHg (n=65), 64.6% had DBP ≤90 mmHg at W48 and 58.5% at W72. The proportion of pts taking antihypertensive medication declined from 54.3% at BL to 47.3% at W72. Mean (95% CI) change in potassium levels was -0.1 (-0.1, 0.0) mmol/L at W48 and 0.0 (-0.1, 0.1) mmol/L at W72 in pts with BL HTN, and -0.1 (-0.3, 0.1) mmol/L at both W48 and W72 in pts without BL HTN. 40.0% (n=84/210) of pts had BL DM. Of pts with BL FPG ≥100 mg/dL (n=60), 43.3% and 33.3% had FPG <100 mg/dL at W48 and W72, respectively. The proportion of pts taking antidiabetic medication declined from 21.9% at BL to 17.1% at W72. Conclusions: Many pts with CD and HTN or DM showed improvements during osilodrostat therapy, which were maintained or further improved with long-term therapy. Cortisol normalization is associated with improvements in hypercortisolism-associated comorbidities in pts with CD. Presentation: 6/2/2024

Effect of an educational intervention based on health belief model on preventive behaviors against malaria in over 18-year-old Afghan immigrants living in Parsian

BackgroundMalaria disease is one of the most dangerous protozoan parasitic infections with a high mortality rate in developing countries. Malaria is a public health issue, especially in Hormozgan province, and is highly affected by foreign immigrants (Pakistani and Afghani); thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of an intervention based on the health belief model (HBM) on the promotion of malaria prevention behaviors in Afghani immigrants over the age of 18. The participants resided in Persian city in Hormozgan province.MethodsThe present quasi-experimental study was conducted on 200 Afghans immigrants over 18 years of age who visited four comprehensive health service centers in Parsian city, south of Iran in June until December 2023. Sampling was by cluster method. In this way, the health centers were considered as clusters, and then 4 centers were randomly selected from among them (two centers of the control group and two centers of the intervention group) and participants were selected by a systematic random method by list of records in the National Integrated Health Record System (called SIB) (100participants control group, 100 participants intervention group). The data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire based on the HBM before and after the educational intervention An educational program was designed and implemented to promote preventive behaviors against malaria in five sessions using different strategies and based on the HBM for the intervention group. The data were analyzed using independent-samples T-test, paired-samples T-test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, analysis of covariance and linear regression. All statistical analyses and hypothesis testing were done in IBM SPSS version 25, at a significance level of 0.05.ResultsIn the intervention group, there was a significant difference in the mean scores of knowledge (6.48, 95% CI: 5.9,7.05), perceived susceptibility (10.57, 95% CI: 10.03, 11.1), perceived severity (16.61, 95% CI: 15.83, 16.83), perceived self-efficacy (18.26, 95% CI: 17.55, 18.96), perceived benefits (15.43, 95% CI: 14.68, 16.17), perceived barriers (-22.49, 95% CI: -23.63, -21.30), cues to action (15.06, 95% CI: 14.36, 15.75), and preventive behaviors (20.05, 95% CI: 19.44, 20.65), before and after the educational intervention. P-value < 0.001. The regression analysis showed that the constructs of perceived susceptibility (T = 4.72, P < 0.001), cues to action (T = 5.30, P < 0.001)and perceived self-efficacy (T = 4.93, P < 0.001) led to the greatest change in malaria prevention behaviors(R-Square = 0.549).ConclusionThe present findings showed that the HBM -based intervention was effective in preventive behaviors against malaria in Afghans. It is recommended to design suitable educational interventions in order to increase the perceived susceptibility, cues to action and self-efficacy in order to improve preventive behaviors against malaria in Afghans.

Refining Software Defect Prediction through Attentive Neural Models for Code Understanding

Identifying defects through manual software testing is a resource-intensive task in software development. To alleviate this, software defect prediction identifies code segments likely to contain faults using data-driven methods. Traditional techniques rely on static code metrics, which often fail to reflect the deeper syntactic and semantic features of the code. This paper introduces a novel framework that utilizes transformer-based networks with attention mechanisms to predict software defects. The framework encodes input vectors to develop meaningful representations of software modules. A bidirectional transformer encoder is employed to model programming languages, followed by fine-tuning with labeled data to detect defects. The performance of the framework is assessed through experiments across various software projects and compared against baseline techniques. Additionally, statistical hypothesis testing and an ablation study are performed to assess the impact of different parameter choices. The empirical findings indicate that the proposed approach can increase classification accuracy by an average of 15.93% and improve the F1 score by up to 44.26% compared to traditional methods.

Large sensory analysis of vegetables from conventional, organic and no-till practices

There is a growing interest in agriculture to address soil deterioration issues and achieve a sus-tainable agrosystem. Many producers introduce no-till techniques and show significant yields with better ecosystem functioning, as well as improved carbon and water cycles. However, sensory analysis to compare vegetables from these practices are scarce. In this paper, we conduct triangle and hedonic tests over 15 panels of consumers for a total of 915 consumers. Based on statistical hypothesis testing and maximum likelihood estimation, significant statistical differences (p < 0.05 and less) are produced for both triangle tests and hedonic ranking in some specific cases. These results show a trend for sensory preferences of no-till practices.

Improved PHY-layer authentication utilizing multi-modal features for mmWave MIMO UAV-enabled systems

This paper exploits multi-modal Physical (PHY)-layer features in terms of artificial fingerprint, In-phase/Quadrature (IQ) imbalance and Angle of Arrival (AoA) to propose a novel PHY-layer authentication framework for a Millimeter Wave (mmWave) Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-enabled communication system. First, we resort to the AoA-based spatial fingerprint to effectively address the challenge of channel fingerprint instability induced by high-speed UAV mobility. To further enhance the low discriminability of hardware fingerprints caused by refined manufacturing techniques, artificial Gaussian noise is injected into the transmission signals to assist the receiver in better distinguishing between legitimate and illegitimate UAVs. Then, we jointly combine with inherent IQ imbalance and AoA features to design a hybrid authentication scheme and thus construct a multi-dimensional fingerprint space for a comprehensive characterization of UAV identities. To theoretically evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed authentication framework, the analytical closed-form expressions of performance metrics like false alarm and detection probabilities are also exactly derived based on the statistical signal processing technology and composite hypothesis testing. Finally, we provide large simulation results to validate the correctness and feasibility of the proposed theoretical models, and also discuss the relation between system security and communication service quality under different artificial fingerprint level.

Comprehensive guidelines for appropriate statistical analysis methods in research.

The selection of statistical analysis methods in research is a critical and nuanced task that requires a scientific and rational approach. Aligning the chosen method with the specifics of the research design and hypothesis is paramount, as it can significantly impact the reliability and quality of the research outcomes. This study explores a comprehensive guideline for systematically choosing appropriate statistical analysis methods, with a particular focus on the statistical hypothesis testing stage and categorization of variables. By providing a detailed examination of these aspects, this study aims to provide researchers with a solid foundation for informed methodological decision making. Moving beyond theoretical considerations, this study delves into the practical realm by examining the null and alternative hypotheses tailored to specific statistical methods of analysis. The dynamic relationship between these hypotheses and statistical methods is thoroughly explored, and a carefully crafted flowchart for selecting the statistical analysis method is proposed. Based on the flowchart, we examined whether exemplary research papers appropriately used statistical methods that align with the variables chosen and hypotheses built for the research. This iterative process ensures the adaptability and relevance of this flowchart across diverse research contexts, contributing to both theoretical insights and tangible tools for methodological decision-making. This study emphasizes the importance of a scientific and rational approach for the selection of statistical analysis methods. By providing comprehensive guidelines, insights into the null and alternative hypotheses, and a practical flowchart, this study aims to empower researchers and enhance the overall quality and reliability of scientific studies.

Influence of the spread of the Beijing genotype of M. tuberculosis and its subtype B0/W148 on the incidence of tuberculosis in the population of the European and Asian Russia

Background. For historical reasons, the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) varies significantly across geographic areas of the Russian Federation. This situation may be associated with the spread of the dominant Beijing genotype of M. tuberculosis (MBT) and of its aggressive B0/W148 subtype in the human population. Establishing a relationship between these genetic variants of MBT and the incidence of tuberculosis will serve as evidence of their epidemiological significance and a reason for decisionmaking in the TB epidemiological surveillance system.The aim of the study. To assess the relationship between the spread of the Beijing M. tuberculosis genotype and its B0/W148 subtype with the incidence of tuberculosis in the cumulative population of the European and Asian parts of the Russian Federation.Materials and methods. An epidemiological study was conducted, including an analysis of the distribution data of the Beijing genotype of MBT and its B0/W148 subtype (meta-analysis) in Russia and a study of TB incidence rates in the same regions. To assess the relationship, we used the Pearson’s chi-square test (χ2); the significance level when testing statistical hypotheses (p) was taken as 0.05.Results. In the European regions of the Russian Federation, a statistically significant relationship was found between the TB incidence and the prevalence of MBT Beijing genotype (χ2 = 17.2; p = 0.009) and the absence of such a relationship with the B0/W148 subline (χ2 = 9.9; p = 0.127). In the Asian part of the Russian Federation, a highly statistically significant association was found between the incidence of TB and both the incidence of MBT Beijing genotype (χ2 = 25.4; p = 0.0001) and the incidence of its B0/W148 subtype (χ2 = 29.6; p &lt; 0.0001).Conclusion. A statistically significant relationship was established between the incidence of TB in the general population and the incidence of MBT Beijing genotype, regardless of the value of the average long-term TB incidence rate. In areas with high TB prevalence, a stable association was determined between the incidence rate not only with MBT of the entire Beijing family, but also with its aggressive subtype B0/W148.

Metabolomic Changes Associated with AGXT2 Genotype Variants and Stone Formation in a Colony of Cats.

The objective of this study was to assess serum chemistries and metabolomic parameters in cats with genetic variants of the alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase 2 (AGXT2) gene to determine abnormalities associated with urolith formation and better understand effective approaches for the treatment of cats with uroliths. AGXT2 genotypes of 445 cats in the colony at Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. (Topeka, KS, USA) were assessed in a genome-wide association study. Additionally, the serum chemistries and metabolic profiles of each cat were determined, along with their lifetime history of stone incidence. Factor analysis was used as a data-reduction method for metabolites in order to perform statistical hypothesis testing and to select significant metabolites from the more than 600 serum metabolites identified. Of the 82 cats forming stones in the colony (18.4%), the majority were calcium oxalate. Results showed that approximately one third of the cats with the AA variant of the AGXT2 gene have stones, that chronic kidney disease (CKD) is more common in cats with stones, and that having stones results in a shorter lifespan. A discriminant variable selection process was performed to determine the complete blood count, serum biochemistries, and serum metabolomic factors that best discriminated among the three genotypes (AA, AG, GG) and between cats forming stones and non-stone formers. Several of the highly ranked discriminating factors included metabolites related to decreased aminotransferase activity in cats with the AA variant of the AGXT2 gene. Another factor that ranked highly for discriminating between stone formers and non-stone formers contained lipid metabolites, consisting of multiple sphingomyelin species and cholesterol. These findings support the results of feeding studies in cats, whereby CKD cats fed food supplemented with betaine and prebiotics have experienced an increase in total body mass, reduced uremic toxins, and altered sphingomyelin concentrations.

PENGARUH PEMANFAATAN TEKNOLOGI INFORMASI, PENGETAHUAN PAJAK DAN KESADARAN WAJIB PAJAK TERHADAP KEPATUHAN WAJIB PAJAK ORANG PRIBADI (STUDI KASUS PADA KPP PRATAMA SERPONG)

This research aims to determine the influence of the use of information technology, tax knowledge and taxpayer awareness on individual taxpayer compliance. This type of research is quantitative research. The method used in collecting primary data is by distributing questionnaires to taxpayers. The population of this research is Taxpayers registered at KPP Pratama Serpong. The sampling technique was carried out using the incidental sampling method and obtained 100 respondent data as a result of distributing the questionnaire. The analytical method used in this research is descriptive statistical test analysis, validity test, reliability test, normality test, multicollinearity test, heteroscedasticity test, and hypothesis testing using SPSS 23 software. The results of the research using the t or partial statistical test show that the use of Information Technology, Tax Knowledge and Taxpayer Awareness influence Individual Taxpayer Compliance

Beyond Neyman–Pearson: E-values enable hypothesis testing with a data-driven alpha

A standard practice in statistical hypothesis testing is to mention the P-value alongside the accept/reject decision. We show the advantages of mentioning an e-value instead. With P-values, it is not clear how to use an extreme observation (e.g. [Formula: see text]) for getting better frequentist decisions. With e-values it is straightforward, since they provide Type-I risk control in a generalized Neyman-Pearson setting with the decision task (a general loss function) determined post hoc, after observation of the data-thereby providing a handle on "roving [Formula: see text]'s." When Type-II risks are taken into consideration, the only admissible decision rules in the post hoc setting turn out to be e-value-based. Similarly, if the loss incurred when specifying a faulty confidence interval is not fixed in advance, standard confidence intervals and distributions may fail, whereas e-confidence sets and e-posteriors still provide valid risk guarantees. Sufficiently powerful e-values have by now been developed for a range of classical testing problems. We discuss the main challenges for wider development and deployment.

Effect of Economic Risk Sources on the Quality of the Business Environment in the SME Segment: A Case Study from the Slovak Republic

The aim of the article is to define and quantify the impact of specific economic risk sources on the quality of the business environment (QBE). The subject of the analysis was the evaluation of the impact of selected economic risk sources, including the macroeconomic environment, monetary policy and interest rates, and corporate financing on the QBE. Data was collected between 2018 and 2022 using an online survey method. A total of 480 SMEs from the Slovak Republic’s business environment completed the questionnaire. Advanced statistical techniques, including descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and linear regression analysis, were employed to evaluate the statistical hypotheses. The empirical results yielded several significant findings. All examined sources of the macroeconomic environment, such as the level of basic macroeconomic indicators, the state of the macroeconomic environment in the context of starting a business, and innovation activities of SMEs, determine the QBE. Other key factors that positively influence the quality of the business environment include: stabilization of the business environment by the central bank's monetary policy; the level of bank interest rates on the innovation activities of companies and availability of bank loans. The findings are significant not only for the SME segment itself and their owners and top managers but also for national-level institutions along with non-profit organizations assisting in improving the entire SME segment in the business environment.

Extension of the characterization of non-Gaussianity in gravitational wave detectors with a statistical hypothesis test

Abstract In gravitational wave (GW) astronomy, non-Gaussian noise, such as scattered light noise disturbs stable interferometer operation, limiting the interferometer’s sensitivity, and reducing the reliability of the analyses. In scattered light noise, the non-Gaussian noise dominates the sensitivity in a low frequency range of less than a few hundred Hz, which is sensitive to GWs from compact binary coalescence. This non-Gaussian noise prevents reliable parameter estimation, since several analysis methods are optimized only for Gaussian noise. Therefore, identifying data contaminated by non-Gaussian noise is important. In this work, we extended the conventional method to evaluate non-Gaussian noise, the Rayleigh statistic, by using a statistical hypothesis test to determine a threshold for non-Gaussian noise. First, we estimated the distribution of the Rayleigh statistic against Gaussian noise, called the background distribution, and validated that our extension serves as the hypothetical test. The threshold on the Rayleigh statistic is estimated at 0.73 and 1.28 when the significance level is 0.05, and the sample size is 39. Moreover, we investigated the detection efficiency by assuming two non-Gaussian noise models. For example, for the model with strong scattered light noise, the true positive rate (TPR) was always above 0.7 when the significance level was 0.05. For the demonstration, we applied our extension with the estimated thresholds to the real data. We confirmed our extension provides the binarized outputs of the statistical tests and contributes to finding the non-Gaussian noise in the real data. The results showed that our extension can contribute to an initial detection of non-Gaussian noise and lead to further investigation of the origin of the non-Gaussian noise.