Stratified Random Sampling Strategy Research Articles

Anxiety and depression during post covid-19 lockdown period among medical students, and it's relation with stress and smartphone addiction in India.

Medical profession, a competitive and ever-updating field which requires great commitment, imposes a stressful environment for students. Our study aimed to find the prevalence and factors associated with psychological illness. A cross-sectional analytical study was done among medical students in Puducherry. A stratified random sampling strategy was incorporated to achieve a calculated sample size of 384. The presence of anxiety and depression, perceived stress and addiction to the phone were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, and Smartphone Addiction Scale- short version. Prevalence of anxiety and depression was summarized as a proportion with a 95 % confidence interval (CI). The prevalence ratio (PR) for the factors associated was estimated using log-binomial regression. With the response from 383 students, the prevalence of anxiety and depression was 39.4 % (95 %CI: 34.5-44.3 %) and 26.6 % (22.2-31.1 %). Perceived stress was moderate in 68.2 % and high in 14 % of students. Higher age (aPR=1.49), female gender (aPR=1.22), tobacco or alcohol use (aPR=1.24), smartphone addiction (aPR=2.09) and high stress (aPR=1.93) were the predictors of anxiety among medical students in our study. Use of tobacco or alcohol (aPR=2.07), smartphone addiction (aPR=1.96) and high stress (aPR=1.72) were the predictors of depression. Anxiety was more prevalent than depression among the medical students. Use of tobacco or alcohol, smartphone addiction and stress increase the risk of psychological morbidity. Medical training should have a module on coping mechanisms to overcome psychological illness and have better mental well-being.

Exploring the Mediating Role of Organizational Commitment in the Relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility and Employee Performance: Evidence from Henan's Universities

Aims: This study aims to examine the mediating role of organizational commitment in the relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and employee performance within Henan's universities, highlighting the strategic importance of CSR in enhancing organizational effectiveness and employee outcomes. Study Design: This study utilized a cross-sectional survey methodology to explore the relationships among Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Organizational Commitment (OC), and Employee Performance (EP) within Henan's higher education sector. A stratified random sampling approach was employed to select faculty and administrative staff from universities engaged in CSR initiatives. The analysis, conducted through Structural Equation Modeling and mediation analysis, aimed to understand both direct and indirect effects of CSR on employee performance, with a particular focus on the mediating role of organizational commitment. Place and Duration of Study: Zhengzhou University, Henan University, Henan Normal University, Henan Agricultural University and Henan Polytechnic University, in December 2023. Methodology: The study adopted a quantitative research design using a cross-sectional survey method to explore CSR's impact on organizational commitment and employee performance in Henan's universities. A stratified random sampling strategy was utilized to select faculty and administrative staff from universities engaged in CSR, aiming for a sample size of 328 to ensure statistical significance. Validated scales measured CSR, organizational commitment, and employee performance, with data analysis conducted through Structural Equation Modeling and bootstrapping for mediation effects. Results: In this study, the impact of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on Employee Performance (EP) and Organizational Commitment (OC) within Henan's universities was examined. Findings indicate that CSR positively influences EP both directly and via OC, serving as a mediator. Significant relationships were confirmed: CSR to EP (β=0.433), CSR to OC (β=0.825), and OC to EP (β=0.442), all highly statistically significant (p<0.001). Mediation analysis showed CSR impacts EP through OC, accounting for about 45.73% of the effect. This underscores CSR's dual role in enhancing performance directly and by fostering organizational commitment. Conclusion: This study not only underscores the pivotal role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in enhancing employee performance within Henan's universities but also sheds light on the crucial mediating role of Organizational Commitment (OC). The dual pathway through which CSR influences employee performance underlines the significance of integrating CSR into the core strategic management practices of educational institutions. It signals to university administrators and policy-makers that CSR initiatives are not just external obligations but essential strategies for cultivating a committed and high-performing workforce. This realization opens up avenues for universities to re-evaluate and strengthen their CSR strategies, ensuring they are aligned with both organizational goals and employee values. Moreover, it encourages educational institutions to view CSR as a lever for organizational improvement and a bridge to deeper engagement with employees, ultimately contributing to the advancement of educational quality and societal contributions.

Comprehensive Insights Into E-Learning in Contemporary Education: Analyzing Trends, Challenges, and Best Practices

This study explores E-Learning in Modern Education at Afghanistan Universities, aiming to analyze trends, address challenges, and identify best practices. Employing a mixed-methods approach, it incorporates surveys and content analysis for both quantitative and qualitative data. A stratified random sampling strategy ensures representation from diverse faculties, resulting in 180 participants. Key findings emphasize widespread adoption of Learning Management Systems, multimedia content, mobile learning, and gamification for enhanced student engagement. Challenges include content management and resistance to change, highlighting complexities in E-Learning implementations. The study aligns with established theoretical frameworks like the Technology Acceptance Model and cognitive load theory, contributing to the theoretical understanding of E-Learning dynamics. Implications extend to educators, policymakers, and instructional designers, guiding strategic decision-making and interventions. Limitations, including potential response bias and context-specific considerations, underscore the need for cautious interpretation, paving the way for future research. In conclusion, this research provides a comprehensive examination of E-Learning trends and challenges, offering actionable insights for the ongoing discourse in digital education.

Monitoring and Organizational Performance in Private Higher Academic Institutions in Greater Bushenyi Districts in Western Uganda

The rational study assessed the effect of Monitoring on Organizational Performance in Private Higher Academic Institutions in Greater Bushenyi Districts in Western Uganda. The survey study engaged a correlational and descriptive research design with a quantitative standpoint. A sample of 380 contributors were carefully selected from 1053 persons using a table developed by Morgan & Kreijcie (1970). Data was gathered by means of questionnaires to constitute an opinion survey. The researcher gathered evidence from the field using simple random sampling and stratified random sampling strategies. Data was evaluated using Descriptive statistics such as Means, Standard Deviation and Inferential Statistics such as Pearson linear correlation coefficient (PLCC) for quantitative data. The study results came up with a noteworthy relationship between monitoring and organizational Performance in Greater Bushenyi Districts in Western Uganda. The research venture concluded that Monitoring helps to identify implementation challenges that may be hindering the achievement of the intended outcomes. This information can be used to develop strategies to address these challenges and improve program or project implementation. From the research findings, the researchers recommended that private higher academic institutional managers should augment on the budget of Monitoring because it enhances accountability by ensuring that program or project implementation is transparent and that progress towards achieving goals and objectives can regularly be reported and reviewed. Academic private institutional managers should keep organizing periodically seminars and workshops to sensitize institutional stakeholders on the importance of monitoring in educational organizations. This can help provide relevant information for making informed decisions for development.

Prevalence of malnutrition and its associated factors among 18,503 Chinese children aged 3-14 years.

Child malnutrition places a major burden on global public health. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of child malnutrition and identify its potential factors among children aged 3-14 years from Beijing and Tangshan. We cross-sectionally recruited 18,503 children aged 3-14 years from September 2020 to January 2022, according to a stratified cluster random sampling strategy. Child malnutrition was defined according to the World Health Organization criteria. Data were analyzed by STATA software and R language. The prevalence of malnutrition among 18,503 children was 10.93%. After multivariable adjustment, seven factors significantly associated with child malnutrition were parental education (adjusted odds ratio, 95% confidence interval, p: 1.52, 1.40 to 1.67, <0.001), family income (1.23, 1.16 to 1.30, <0.001), fast food intake frequency (1.14, 1.06 to 1.21, <0.001), night meals intake frequency (1.09, 1.04 to 1.15, <0.001), eating speed (1.01, 1.01 to 1.02, <0.001), maternal obesity (0.97, 0.95 to 0.99, <0.001), and paternal obesity (0.97, 0.96 to 0.98, <0.001). The seven significant factors had better prediction performance (area under the receiver operating characteristic, 0.956) for child malnutrition. Approximately 10% of Chinese children aged 3-14 years were in malnutrition status, and seven factors were found to be significant predictors for child malnutrition.

Health-related quality of life and its changes of the Tibetan population in China: based on the 2013 and 2018 National Health Services Surveys

ObjectiveHealth-related quality of life (HRQoL) was an important health outcome measure for evaluating an individual’s overall health status. However, there was limited in the literature on HRQoL and its long-term...

Smoking cessation policy and treatments derived from the protective motivation of smokers: a study on graphic health warning labels.

Smoking is a leading public health risk. Many countries are reducing the demand for tobacco through graphic health warning labels (GHWLs). This study aims to explore smokers' perceptions of GHWLs and analyze the effect of GHWLs on their behavioral intentions to quit smoking. A theoretical model is designed by synthesizing protection motivation theory, an extension of the extended parallel process model, and the theory of planned behavior. We collected a cross-sectional sample of 547 anonymous smokers through a stratified random sampling strategy. GHWLs published in 2011 by the US Food and Drug Administration were used in the survey to assess smokers' responses to them, and then the hypotheses are validated through structural equation models. The results suggest that perceived severity, perceived vulnerability, response efficacy, and health anxiety have a significant impact on smokers' protection motivation. Furthermore, smokers' protection motivation directly impacts the behavioral intention to quit smoking and indirectly influences intention to quit through attitudes. These findings have practical implications for the implementation and improvement of GHWLs policies. Meanwhile, this study enriches the literature on public health protection measures (i.e., GHWLs) and smokers' behavioral intention to quit smoking.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Niger State: Pilot Cross-Sectional Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 is causing ongoing human and socioeconomic losses. To know how far the virus has spread in Niger State, Nigeria, a pilot study was carried out to determine the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence, patterns, dynamics, and risk factors in the state. A cross-sectional study design and clustered, stratified random sampling strategy were used to select 185 test participants across the state. SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM rapid test kits (colloidal gold immunochromatography lateral flow system) were used to determine the presence or absence of antibodies to the virus in the blood of sampled participants across Niger State from June 26 to 30, 2020. The test kits were validated using the blood samples of some of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control-confirmed positive and negative COVID-19 cases in the state. SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM test results were entered into the Epi Info questionnaire administered simultaneously with each test. Epi Info was then used to calculate the arithmetic mean and percentage, odds ratio, χ2 statistic, and regression at a 95% CI of the data generated. The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Niger State was found to be 25.4% (47/185) and 2.2% (4/185) for the positive IgG and IgM results, respectively. Seroprevalence among age groups, genders, and occupations varied widely. The COVID-19 asymptomatic rate in the state was found to be 46.8% (22/47). The risk analyses showed that the chances of infection are almost the same for both urban and rural dwellers in the state. However, health care workers, those who experienced flulike symptoms, and those who had contact with a person who traveled out of Nigeria in the last 6 months (February to June 2020) were at double the risk of being infected with the virus. More than half (101/185, 54.6%) of the participants in this study did not practice social distancing at any time since the pandemic started. Participants' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding COVID-19 are also discussed. The observed Niger State SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and infection patterns meansuggest that the virus has widely spread, far more SARS-CoV-2 infections have occurred than the reported cases, and there is a high asymptomatic COVID-19 rate across the state.

Factors that led to Schools having different pass rates at Grade Seven Public Examinations level in Makoni District, Zimbabwe

The study sought to investigate factors that led to different trends in pass rates in Grade Seven National Examinations in Primary Schools in Makoni District during the period 2015 to 2019. The investigation employed mixed methods research design. The target population of the study comprised all school heads and Grade Seven teachers in Primary Schools in the District. The study was conducted in twenty primary schools randomly-selected from 182 primary schools in the district. A stratified random sampling strategy was used to select participants for the study. Twenty Grade Seven teachers and twenty School Heads were randomly-selected from their respective strata to participate in the study, bringing the total sample size to forty respondents. A structured questionnaire, and Focus Group Discussions were used for data-collection. The study findings revealed that the general Grade Seven Public Examination pass rates in Primary Schools in the District ranged from: low; high, and mixed. The factors that led to schools having different pass rates for the period 2015 to 2019 included the following factors: (1) Availability of text books and reading resources/library facilities; (2) Teacher's level of commitment to duty; (3) Regular and frequent administering of revision tests to learners; and (4) Teachers' length of experience. The study recommends that: (1) Government increases the non-remuneration component of the National Budget for school development, teaching and learning resources; and (2) School Development Committees establish a textbook levy to be paid by each learner, and approved by the Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education.

Pre-Start-Up Planning and Enhancement of Small and Medium Enterprises’ Operational Performance in The UAE

This rational research study assessed the association between Pre-start-up planning and Enhancement of Small and Medium Enterprises’ Operational Performance in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The inquiry study engaged a descriptive and correlational research strategy with quantitative prototype. A sample of 104 participants were carefully chosen using a table prepared by Morgan &amp; Kreijcie (1970). Simple random sampling and stratified random sampling strategies were used to garner data for the research study. Details were assembled using questionnaires and evaluated utilizing frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviation and Pearson linear correlation coefficient (PLCC) were used for categorizing quantitative statistics. The study discoveries established a significant connection between Pre-start-up planning and Enhancement of Small and Medium Enterprises’ Operational Performance in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The study concluded that Pre-start-up planning helps business people to strategically coordinate activities for businesses and avoid any regrets in terms of efficiency and effectiveness in SME’s. From the study consequences, the researchers recommended that the government of UAE should encourage its people to form groups so that government can provide financial assistance to such groups in order to foster their business performance. The government of UAE should also increase on the budget allocation to SME’s through the ministry of Economy so that SME’s can improve on their business, a scenario which may boost the economy of the country.

Police Stigma toward People with Opioid Use Disorder: A Study of Illinois Officers

Background Fatal opioid overdoses continue to break historical records. Stigma toward people with opioid use disorder (OUD) can negatively impact treatment access, retention, and recovery. Attitudes and beliefs of police officers can profoundly shape key discretionary decisions. Therefore, we examined police officer views indicating stigma toward those with OUD. Objectives We administered an online survey to select Illinois police departments using a stratified random sampling strategy with a final sample of 248 officers from 27 police departments. We asked officers questions measuring stigmatizing attitudes toward people with OUD including distrust, blame, shame, and fear. We found officers held somewhat stigmatizing views with a mean score of 4.0 on a scale of 1 (least stigmatic) to 6 (most stigmatic). Results Regression results showed certain officer characteristics were associated with more stigmatizing attitudes of blaming and distrust of those with OUD, including gender, education, race, years in policing, and department size. Conclusions/Importance Since most officers in the sample held at least some stigmatizing views toward people with OUD, this may impede the feasibility and acceptability of criminal justice interventions meant to improve behavioral health, such as police deflection programs that link people who use drugs to treatment in lieu of arrest. Departments should offer officer training and education on substance use disorders, treatment for addiction, and the potential for a person’s recovery. Training should allow officers to hear directly from, or learn about, personal experiences of people who use drugs and have been in recovery, as this type of interaction has been shown to reduce stigma.

Effectiveness of learning management system, teachers’ techno-pedagogical skills, and students’ learning engagement in Senior High School at the University Of Perpetual Help System-Jonelta Campuses

Information Communication Technology (ICT) changed the world orientation in general and education particularly in the teaching and learning process. A learning management system, or LMS, a software application that allows students to access course resources such as a syllabus, gradebook, discussion boards, and due dates (Center for Innovation in Teaching &amp; Learning, 2021) has been widely utilized in the educational system. Several educational institutions have been using certain LMS in planning, implementing, and evaluating learning processes (Brush, 2020), hence, researches were conducted to determine its effect to the teaching-learning process. However, there were many studies conducted about the effectivity of LMS, teachers’ techno-pedagogical skills, and students’ engagement which were mostly in international settings, but no study yet had been conducted particularly in the province of Laguna and among the senior high school students of UPHS-JONELTA Campuses. Thus, the researcher was inspired to measure the effectiveness of LMS, the teachers’ techno-pedagogical skills and students’ learning engagement and the relationship among variables. This is to further come up with programs that would help improve the utilization of LMS and the pedagogical competence of the teachers to ensure the maximum learning engagement of the learnersThis study utilized the descriptive-correlational research design which provides the most effective tool for determining the condition of relationship that exist (Bermudo et al., 2018). The respondents of the study consisted of 350 out of 3972 grade 12 students of University of Perpetual Help System JONELTA enrolled during the Academic Year 2022-2023. The sample size was computed using the Raosoft Size Calculator with the confidence level of 95 percent and a margin of error of 5 percent. The respondents were selected by utilizing stratified random sampling strategy. Proportional allocation was employed to calculate the number of the respondents selected from each campus. A total of 44 respondents came from Pangasinan Campus, 16 respondents from Pueblo de Panay Campus, 27 respondents from Isabela Campus, 54 respondents from GMA campus, 42 respondents from Manila campus and 167 respondents from Binan Campus for a total of 350 respondents in all.The research utilized modified standardized tests for the purpose of collecting the needed primary data. The first part covered the level of effectiveness of LMS in terms of system content, instruction, interaction, and technology quality. The second part covered the level of teachers’ pedagogical skills in terms of using technology in teaching; using technology in providing learning experiences; and using technology in preparation. Lastly, the third part of the questionnaire covered the level of students’ learning engagement in LMS. . Furthermore, a pilot test was also conducted and for the reliability of questionnaire using Cronbach Alpha, the results are as follow: for effectiveness of LMS: 0.963; for pedagogical skills: 0.934; and for students’ engagement: 0.950. After some modifications made, it was shown to the adviser for final approval.Based on the findings of the study, the study conclusions were drawn: The level of effectiveness of LMS in terms of system content, instruction, interaction, and technology quality is high. The level of the senior high school teachers’ techno-pedagogical skills alongside with using technology in teaching; using technology in providing learning experiences; and using technology in preparation is very high. The level of the senior high school students’ engagement in LMS is very high. Moreover, it was found out that the higher the level of effectiveness of LMS , the higher the teachers’ level of techno-pedagogical skills. Also, the higher the level of effectiveness of LMS, the higher the level of students’ engagement in LMS. Furthermore, the higher the level of teachers’ pedagogical skills, the higher the level of engagement of the students in LMS. Therefore, the better the skills of the teachers in utilizing technology in teaching, the more the students are engaged in LMS. Lastly, the independent variables; instruction and interaction under the effectiveness of LMS and the overall techno-pedagogical skills of the teachers are the drivers of the level of students’ engagement in LMS in the senior high school.

Fromforest floor to tree top: Partitioning of biomass and carbon stock in multiple strata of forest vegetation in Western Himalaya.

The foremost role of forest vegetation in storing biomass and carbon (C) stock constitutes one of the main nature-based solutions to mitigate climate change. In this study, we aimed to quantify biomass and C stock partitioning in multiple vegetation strata (tree, shrub, herb, and ground floor layers) of major forest types in Jammu and Kashmir,Western Himalaya, India. We used a stratified random cluster sampling strategy to collect field data in 96 forest stands of 12 forest types (altitudinal range: 350 to 3450m) in the study region. We evaluated the degree to which the carbon stock of the entire ecosystem was dependent on the multiple vegetation strata using the Pearson method. Across all the forest types, the average total ecosystem-level biomass was estimated to be 181.95 Mgha-1 (range: 60.64-528.98). Forest strata-wise, the maximum biomass of 172.92 Mgha-1 (range: 50.64-514.97) was found in the tree vegetation, followed by 5.58 Mgha-1 (range: 2.59-8.93) in understory vegetation (shrubs and herbaceous), and 3.44 Mgha-1 (range: 0.97 and 9.14) in the forest floor. The total ecosystem-level biomass showed a peak at mid-elevation coniferous forest types, whereas the lowest was observed in low-elevation broad leaved forest types. At the ecosystem-level, on average, the understory contributed 3% and the forest floor 2% to the total C stock across the forest types. The shrub layer contributed up to 80% of total understory C, with the herbaceous layer accounting for the remaining 20%. The ordination analysis clearly shows that anthropogenic and environmental variables significantly (p ≤ 0.002) influence the forest types' C stock in the region. Our findings have significant implications for conserving natural forest ecosystems and restoring degraded forest landscapes in this Himalayan region, which in turn can lead to better carbon sequestration and climate mitigation outcomes.

Measuring forest health at stand level: A multi-indicator evaluation for use in adaptive management and policy

Assessments of forest ecosystem health for use in adaptive management need an integrative multi-indicator examination at the stand scale. To assess forest health, we exained multiple forest indicators including diversity, age structure, regeneration, and edaphic factors of the dominant and associated tree species in their natural forest habitats. A stratified random cluster sampling strategy was used to gather vegetation samples from the five main forest types in the Zabarwan Mountain Range—Acacia forest (ACFT), Broad leaved forest (BLFT), Oak forest (OKFT), Pinus wallichiana forest (PWFT), and Scrub forest (SRFT). The Pearson method and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) were used to investigate the relationship between tree species and edaphic factors. A total of 22 tree species were found, of which 13 were exotic and 9 were native. The proportion of exotic species was highest in OKFT (85%), followed by BLFT (75%), and the least (50%) SRFT. The BLFT forest type had the highest Shannon diversity while the lowest was the SRFT. ACFT and BLFT forest types have significantly higher Shannon diversity indexes than other forest types. Based on the density-girth class distribution, ACFT & SRFT forest types showed an Inverse-J distribution pattern, indicating a stable population structure. The dominant tree species, such as Populus alba in BLFT, demonstrated comparatively no regeneration, whereas Parrotiopsis jacquemontiana in SRFT, Pinus wallichiana in PWFT, Quercus robur in OKFT, and Robinia pseudoacacia demonstrated adequate regeneration performance. Overall exotic tree species such as Robinia pseudoacacia, Prunus cerasifera, Celtis australis, and Ailanthus altissima showed high/sufficient regeneration performance. The average seedling/tree value for all forest types in the area was 2.14, with the highest value at BLFT (3.61) and the lowest value at SRFT (0.71). In the CCA it showed that SRFT forests were greatly influenced by salinity and organic carbon, whereas ACFT and OKFT forests had comparable habitat preferences and were mutually influenced by electrical conductance and phosphorus availability. Prunus cerasifera was the only species positively associated with available calcium. By combining the data of numerous field-based indicators into a single integrated study, our research will give decision-makers an update on a forest's current and anticipated health.

Effect of Workplace Bullying on Job Satisfaction and Job Performance at School Level

This study sought to determine the workplace bullying, job satisfaction, job performance and their effects on teachers. This quantitative study aims to highlight the issue of bullying which badly affects teachers. The sample was comprised of all schools in Lahore. A stratified random sampling strategy was used. Four hundred teachers were selected from all schools in Lahore. The questionnaire consisted of 115 items. It was designed at a Likert. Data was analyzed through SPSS. The findings show a strong relationship between workplace bullying and job satisfaction and job performance. The findings highlight that demographic variables vary among teachers. The finding of this study that workplace bullying is increasing speedily, that suggests that organizational bullying might make teachers feel uncomfortable in their jobs, causing stress. These findings may be utilized to design successful solutions for not just preventing and managing bullying; but also for making schools safer for teachers.

Prevalence of affective disorders in Chinese school-attending children and adolescents aged 6–16 based on a national survey by MINI-Kid

BackgroundMajor depressive disorder (MDD), dysthymia disorder (DD) and bipolar disorder (BD) are the most prevalent affective disorders. A nationwide epidemiological investigation of MDD, DD and BP in school-attending children and adolescents was carried out, taking the effect of age, gender and comorbidity into consideration. MethodsA two-stage nationwide epidemiological study of point prevalence was conducted. Using a multistage cluster stratified random sampling strategy. The sample distribution was described, and the point prevalence of affective disorders was estimated. Chi-squared tests were used to compare disease prevalence based on sex and age. Comorbid ratios for MDD, DD and BP were calculated. ResultsThe total number of cases in Stage 1 was 72,107 (aged 6–16 years). The point prevalence of MDD, DD and BP were 2.004 % (95 % CI: 1.902 to 2.106), 0.352 % (95 % CI: 0.309 to 0.395) and 0.856 % (95 % CI: 0.788 to 0.923), respectively. The total prevalence of affective disorder was 3.212 % (95 % CI: 3.079 to 3.338). The total prevalence of affective disorders between sexes (female: 3.834 % versus male: 2.587 %, χ2 = 90.155, p < 0.001) was consistent with the gender difference in MDD, DD and MD. The total prevalence of affective disorders in adolescents was higher than that in children (adolescents: 5.024 % versus children: 1.863 %, χ2 = 566.841, p < 0.001). ConclusionsOur study is the first nationwide survey on the prevalence of affective disorders among school-attending children and adolescents aged 6–16 in China. Our results also highlighted the importance of addressing comorbidities in future studies of affective disorders.

The use and application of the 7 new quality control tools in the manufacturing sector: a global study

PurposeThe main objective of this study is to investigate the 7 new quality control or the 7 new management tools and their use in manufacturing organisations. This research investigates the understanding, knowledge of the tools and the level of application of the tools within the manufacturing sector. In addition, this paper aims to identify the benefits, challenges and critical success factors (CSFs) for the application of the 7 new quality control (QC) tools.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey instrument was developed, and data collection was performed utilising a stratified random sampling strategy. The primary strata/clusters were formed by quality professionals working in all aspects of manufacturing organisations and functions. A total of 86 participants from different countries responded to the survey.FindingsThe main finding of this study is that 10% of participants within the manufacturing sector perceived that the 7 new QC tools could solve above 80% of organisational problems. Another relevant finding presented in this paper is that tree diagrams were the most utilised of the 7 new QC tools within the manufacturing sector. The least utilised tools are arrow diagrams. The common benefits of using 7 new QC tools in the manufacturing sector are helping people define, measure and analyse the problem areas or even prioritises them and providing some form of structure to the problem-solving efforts. This paper also revealed that the 7 new QC tools were most used in the manufacturing area but least utilised in the new products and research and development (R&D) functions. This work also presents a list of CSFs and challenges required to properly apply the 7 new QC tools in the manufacturing sector.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was just carried out in manufacturing organisations. It would be interesting to try and expand to services sectors and compare use within the services sector.Originality/valueAuthors understand that this is the very first empirical study analysing the use and understanding of the 7 new QC or management tools within the manufacturing sector. The results of this study represent an important first step towards a complete understanding of the applicability of these tools in continuous improvement programs on a global scale and the context in which they can be utilized.

Human Resource Management Practices and Job Performance in UAE: The Mediation Role of Employee Motivation

This study assessed the mediating role of employee motivation on the relationship between Human Resource Management (HRM) practices and job performance in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) banking sector. To achieve this aim, data was garnered using questionnaires and quantitative analytical methods were applied to test the hypotheses. The researcher used statistical tools such as descriptive statistics, bootstrapping technique, path analysis and Standardized regression coefficient to analyze data for the research study. A sample of 450 employees out of 13,960 people were utilized in the survey from three banks in UAE (HSBC Bank, Abu Dhabi commercial bank, and Emirates Islamic Bank). A survey descriptive research design, stratified and simple random sampling strategies were as well used to gather information for the rational study. The results revealed that employee motivation partially mediates the effect of HRM practices towards job performance of the staff in these banks. Hence, it is recommended that the HR manager should not only focus on HRM practices but also on certain factors that motivate the staff of the bank, such as bonuses, monetary and non-monetary incentives, increase salaries according to performance, attempting to understand and operationalize the intrinsic motivation parameters of employees so that they can be efficient and effective at work places.. In addition, implementing modern training programs become vital in the banking industry to ensure that banks’ employees use their skills in favor of better banking services for the clients and to allow development to blossom.

Exponential ratio estimator of the median: An alternative to the regression estimator of the median under stratified sampling

This article develops statistical inference about the population median under the stratified sampling method. An exponential class of ratio estimators of the median was suggested using the combination of scalars and known supplementary information on the population median. Mean square error and bias expressions were derived theoretically and also the AOE (asymptotic optimum estimator) conditions were obtained with its mean square error and bias expressions. From both the empirical evidence and analytical approach evaluations of the AOE with other obtainable members of the suggested class of estimators show that the AOE performs better than its competitors in the literature and is also the alternative to the regression estimator of the median under a stratified random sampling scheme.

Nutritive value and herbage mass of Pueraria phaseoloides (tropical kudzu) in un-utilized open grasslands in north-eastern and central Trinidad and Tobago

Pueraria phaseoloides is an important forage for ruminants in the tropics. However, its nutritive value and availability in areas easily accessed by ruminants and ruminant farmers in Trinidad and Tobago is unknown. This study, therefore, evaluated the effects of harvest date and location on the nutritive value, herbage mass and crude protein yield of P. phaseoloides in un-utilized open grasslands in three locations with high livestock density in Trinidad. Pueraria phaseoloides herbage (whole fraction and leaf) trailing on the upper canopy of open un-utilized grasslands were harvested in the late wet season of 2019 (October - November), early dry (January - February) and early wet (July - August) seasons of 2020 following a stratified random sampling scheme. The crude protein (CP) concentrations of P. phaseoloides leaves (235 g/kg DM) and whole fraction (217 g/kg DM) were highest in Wallerfield during the early wet season. Neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and lignin were lowest in the early dry season (P < 0.01). Crude protein yield (376–478 kg CP ha−1) and herbage mass (1,742–2,654 kg DM ha−1) were highest during the late wet and early dry season, respectively. In vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) of P. phaseoloides leaf (548–598 g/kg) and whole fraction (549 –580 g/kg) were highest in the late wet season. It was, therefore concluded that open un-utilized grasslands in Trinidad and Tobago produced significant amount of P. phaseoloides herbage year-round to support ruminant livestock production. However, the nutritive value, herbage mass and CP yield of P. phaseoloides herbage were highest during the late wet and early dry seasons.