Significant Strong Positive Correlation Research Articles

IMPACT OF PERIODONTAL HEALTH STATUS ON THE ORAL HEALTH RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN SULAIMANI CITY BY USING ORAL HEALTH IMPACT PROFILE

Aim: The objective of this study is to create a valid and reliable Kurdish version of Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) and to find the impact of periodontal health status on oral health related to quality of life (OHRQoL). Method: OHIP-14 was translated and checked for validity and reliability during the pilot study which involved 39 participants. After validation of the newly created Kurdish version of OHIP-14, 323 individuals participated in this questionnaire-based cross-sectional study which involved documentation of their demographics and periodontal clinical parameters for all participants by the researcher using William’s periodontal probe. The newly fabricated Kurdish version of OHIP-14 was filled by the participants themselves. Results: Among participants, the total mean of OHIP-14 and the mean values of all subscale scores significantly increase with increasing the severity of periodontal diseases (P≤ 0.05) except for psychological discomfort, and physical disability. It was found that there was a statistically significant strong positive correlation between periodontal parameters (PI, BI, PPD, and CAL) and quality of life (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Based on the study's findings, it can be inferred that periodontal diseases pose negative impacts on the quality of life (QOL), with a more pronounced effect observed in participants suffering from severe periodontal diseases.

The Role of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) in Urosepsis-Associated Delirium.

Introduction Urosepsis is a systemic, dysregulated, inflammatory reaction to a urinary tract infection and can have severeeffects on all systems, which can often leadto multi-organ failure and death. Sepsis-associated delirium is a common complication in critically ill patients, contributing to adverse outcomes and prolonged hospital stays. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has emerged as a potential biomarker for sepsis severity and prognosis. Material and methods Our study investigates the utility of NLR in the diagnostic strategies for urosepsis-associated delirium in a cohort of 76 patients with sepsis and septic shock admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).We performed a single-centre retrospective observational study in the Craiova Clinical Emergency Hospital between June and October 2023. Results Patients with urological conditions that were diagnosed with urosepsis included 76 patients. These patients were clustered as follows: a group with delirium (37 patients, 48.7%) and another group without delirium (39 patients, 51.3%). Complete blood count parameters were obtained upon admission, and delirium was assessed using standardized diagnostic criteria. We identified a strong significant positive correlation between elevated NLR values on ICU admission and the development of delirium during hospitalization in urosepsis patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed similar diagnostic performance for NLR score. Conclusions The findings suggest that NLR may serve as a valuable biomarker for early detection, risk stratification, and guiding therapeutic interventions in urosepsis-associated delirium, thus improving outcomes in critically ill patients.

Correlation of anthropometric measurements with body mass index and estimation of the proportion of metabolic syndrome among overweight and obese children: a hospital-based cross-sectional study

BackgroundEarly identification of overweight and obesity with the help of simple anthropometric tests can prevent from development of metabolic complications in these children. Body mass index (BMI) is the most...

Evaluation of metacognition, difficulties in emotion regulation and addiction severity levels of individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder

ABSTRACT Aim This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between metacognition, difficulties in emotion regulation, and level of addiction severity in individuals with substance use disorder. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out with 121 participants at the Alcohol and Drug Addicts Treatment and Research Center between February and June 2023. The data were collected using the Metacognition Questionnaire-30 (MTQ-30), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-Brief Form (DERS-16), and Addiction Profile Index (API). Results All the participants were male and polysubstance users; the age of the onset of substance use was 16.43 ± 5.95; they had been receiving treatment for addiction for an average of 1.79 ± 2.16 years. There was a strong positive significant correlation between the mean total MTQ-30 score and the mean total DERS-16 and API scores (r = .704, p < .001; r = .776, p < .001) and a moderate positive significant correlation between the mean total DERS-16 score and the mean total API score (r = .628, p < .001). It was determined that metacognition had an effect at a rate of 60.3% and difficulty in emotion regulation had an effect at a rate of 39.5% on the addiction severity of individuals. Conclusion Addiction severity was found to increase as the levels of metacognitive impairment and difficulty in emotion regulation increased.

Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) Teachers’ Technology Proficiency and Instructional Module Writing Ability in the New Normal

This study aimed to determine the association between the technology proficiency and instructional module writing ability of TLE teachers as well as determining which of the indicators of the TLE teachers’ technology proficiency significantly influence their instructional module writing ability during the new normal learning modality at Molopolo National High School, Davao del Sur. This study used the non-experimental quantitative research design utilizing the descriptive-correlational method. The questionnaire was validated, and a convenience sampling procedure was done. The 100 Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) teachers from the Grades 7, 8, and 9 are the study's respondents. Findings of this study resulted that the TLE teachers manifest a strong technology proficiency in the new normal as well as the TLE teachers manifest a strong instructional module writing ability in the new normal. Correlational findings showed that there is a strong significant positive correlation between the technology proficiency and instructional module writing ability of TLE teachers in the new normal learning environment. Furthermore, the regression analysis resulted that all of the indicators of TLE teacher’ technology proficiency significantly influenced their instructional module writing ability during the new normal learning modality.

Relationship Between Interactional Styles and Marital Satisfaction Among Christian Married Couples in two Selected Churches in Nairobi County, Kenya

There exists a high rate of marital dissatisfaction due to marital conflicts, even among church couples. This study sought to examine the relationship between interactional styles and marital satisfaction in Christian married couples in two selected churches in Nairobi County. The study adopted a quantitative research method and used a descriptive study research design. The findings indicated a statistically significant strong positive correlation between marital satisfaction and interactional styles. The study concluded that communication was critical to the quality of a marriage. This implies that the greater the qualities of communication in a marriage, the greater the quality of marital satisfaction. The research recommended that the church should create greater awareness of the importance and significance of constructive conflict resolution as a vehicle for enhancing marital satisfaction among Christian couples.

Physicians' Perspectives with the E-prescribing System in Five Teaching Hospitals.

Despite the evidence suggesting the potential of electronic prescribing (e-prescribing), this system also faces challenges that can lead to inefficiency and even failure. This study aimed to evaluate physicians' perspectives on the efficiency, effectiveness, opportunities, and challenges associated with the e-prescribing system. In 2023, a descriptive analytics cross-sectional study was carried out. Due to the finite population size, all the physicians from five studied hospitals who agreed to participate in the study were included through the census method (n = 195). Data collection was conducted using a validated questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive (mean, standard deviation, and frequency) and analytical (Pearson's correlation coefficient, two-sample t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and linear multiple regression model) statistics. The mean scores of efficiency and effectiveness were 47.47 ± 14.46 and 36.09 ± 10.67 out of 95 and 65, respectively. Removing the illegibility of the prescriptions (n = 22) was the most frequent opportunity and internet connectivity problem (n = 37) was the most frequent challenge associated with the e-prescribing system. There was a strong positive significant correlation between efficiency and effectiveness (r = 0.850, p < 0.01). Moreover, age was found to have a significant negative correlation with efficiency (B = -7.261, p = 0.004) and effectiveness (B = - 5.784, p = 0.002). Physicians believe that e-prescribing enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of their work. There are many opportunity and challenges to the use of e-prescription. Assessing the needs of physicians, actively participating and training them in the stages of design and implementation, and conducting regular evaluations of the e-prescribing system are crucial to overcome the challenges. Our finding offers insightful information about how doctors see the e-prescribing system at teaching hospitals and provide a basis for managers and policy makers at the local and national levels to support the implementation of this system and plan for improvement of its shortcomings.

A public health view and comparison between online and on-campus learning to evaluate sleep and mental health among undergraduate students.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed people's lives. The majority had to adapt to working online including students. The shift to online learning caused serious sleep and mental health issues among students. This study aimed to examine the variations between the prevalence of sleep and mental health problems among undergraduate students during the periods of online learning and on-campus learning. An online survey was distributed to medical students in Saudi Arabia. A total of 110 participated in the study (age = 21 ± 1.4 years). The on-campus anxiety (8.2 ± 6.3) was significantly higher than online anxiety (5.5 ± 5.1). On-campus daytime sleepiness (8.5 ± 4) was significantly higher when compared to online daytime sleepiness (6.7 ± 4.6). Although not significant, the on-campus stress (7.7 ± 5.7) and insomnia (12 ± 7.3) were higher than online stress (6.9 ± 5.5) and insomnia (11.5 ± 6). The online depression (6.6 ± 5.7) was higher than the mean on-campus depression (5.8 ± 5.4). A significant strong positive correlation was found between on-campus anxiety and on-campus stress. A significant moderate positive correlation was detected between on-campus anxiety and on-campus daytime sleepiness. A weak but significant correlation was found between on-campus anxiety and on-campus insomnia. On-campus anxiety was significantly predicted by the following model, which included on-campus stress, insomnia, and daytime sleepiness (P < .001). Medical students reported lower anxiety, daytime sleepiness, stress, and insomnia during their online learning compared to on-campus learning. Only depression was higher during online learning compared to on-campus learning.

Work environment as perceived by nursing interns and its relation to their professional identity

Background The work environment is very important during the internship year, it influences nursing interns’ behaviors, contributes to their performance and socialization in the nursing profession, additionally, it affects the nursing interns’ professional identity. Aim Assess the work environment as perceived by nursing interns and its relation to their professional identity. Study design A descriptive correlational research design was utilized. Sample A convenience sample of 350 nursing interns. Setting: This study was carried out at Cairo University hospitals at different ICUs where nursing interns are assigned. Tools Three tools were used for the study data collection as follows: (1) Nursing interns’ personal data tool, (2) Nursing interns’ work environment questionnaire, and (3) Nursing interns’ professional identity questionnaire. Results The main findings indicated that the nursing interns had a highly perceived work environment (81.47%) and a highly perceived professional identity (86.46%). Furthermore, the findings revealed a statistically significant strong positive correlation between work environment and professional identity (r: 0.67, P: 0.00). Conclusion The nursing interns were highly perceived work environment and professional identity. Additionally, there was a strong positive correlation between work environment and professional identity as perceived by nursing interns. Recommendations Follow-up with academic advisors for nursing students from their entrance to the nursing faculty until their graduation, especially for students who entered the nursing faculty without their desire, and provide orientation programs for undergraduate nursing students and nursing interns about different nursing profession opportunities after graduation.

School Climate and Pupils’ Progress

The school climate shapes the day-to-day learning experiences of the pupils, which influences their motivation, engagement, and academic achievement. This study sought to determine the parents’ perception of school climate, the level of pupils’ progress, and the significant relationship between the school climate and pupils’ progress among the six (6) schools of Talisayan District, Division of Misamis Oriental, during the Second Quarter of the School Year 2023-2024. There was a total of one hundred twelve (112) Grade 2 parents’ respondents through stratified random sampling method. This study utilized an adapted and modified survey questionnaire developed by Karen Parker Thompson, coordinator of family involvement and community resources for the Alexandria City Public Schools. It employed the mean, standard deviation, and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (r) to ascertain the significant relationship between parents’ perception of school climate and pupils’ progress. The study found that the respondents have a Very High perception of the school climate, specifically the caring learning environment. Almost half of the respondents have an Outstanding rating. A significant strong positive correlation exists between the school climate and pupils’ progress, thus rejecting the null hypothesis and that the school climate fosters a caring learning environment. It is therefore recommended to create a school environment that is conducive, safe, and supportive to pupils’ learning and academic growth. Meanwhile, it is believed that parents agree with enhancing the effectiveness of problemsolving strategies in school.

Effect of maxillary distraction osteogenesis and LeFort-1 advancement orthognathic surgery on soft-tissue thickness and anterior soft-tissue to hard-tissue movement ratios among patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate

Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare the soft-tissue thickness and anterior soft-tissue to hard-tissue movement ratios in patients with unilateral cleft lip and/or palate (UCLP) following maxillary distraction osteogenesis using rigid external distractor device and maxillary advancement at LeFort I level using lateral cephalograms. Material and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on 20 patients with UCLP who underwent either LeFort I maxillary advancement or maxillary distraction osteogenesis. Non-syndromic patients with complete UCLP anomalies and skeletal class III patterns due to maxillary hypoplasia were included in the study. The patients with a pre-surgical negative overjet of ≥5 mm were treated by maxillary distraction osteogenesis, while a negative overjet of &lt;5 mm was managed with maxillary advancement orthognathic surgery. The growth completion in all the patients was assessed using the cervical vertebrae maturation index (CS 6) on a lateral cephalogram. The lateral cephalograms taken before surgery at (T0) and after a minimum interval of six months (T1) of surgery were assessed for changes in soft-tissue thickness and hard-tissue to soft-tissue movement ratios among the two groups. Paired t-test was used to compare the mean values obtained within the same group at two different time intervals. Unpaired t-test was used to compare mean values between the Groups 1 and 2. Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) test was used to assess the associations between the mean changes in hard- and soft-tissue variables. Results: Group 1 showed significantly greater maxillary advancement compared to Group 2 with a mean difference of 5.80 mm at Point A and 7.65 mm at the upper incisal edge. Soft-tissue thickness decreased significantly after advancement in Group 1 at subnasale (P &lt; 0.05), labrale superius, stomion, and labrale inferius (P &lt; 0.01) and at subnasale (P &lt; 0.05), stomion and labrale inferius (P &lt; 0.01) in Group 2. There was a significantly strong correlation between the hard- and soft-tissue movement in sagittal plane in both Group 1 and Group 2. In Groups 1 and 2, a statistical highly significant strong positive correlation was found between vertical change in dU1 to soft-tissue dLs and dStms. In Group 2, a statistical highly significant strong positive correlation was found between vertical change in dA to soft-tissue dC and dStms. Conclusion: The soft-tissue thickness reduced in patients with UCLP after maxillary advancement in both groups. The soft tissue followed the hard tissue in both groups. There was a greater downward movement of the maxillary base and soft-tissue lengthening in Group 1 compared to Group 2.

How does chronic pain impact the lives of dogs: an investigation of factors that are associated with pain using the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid.

Chronic pain can profoundly affect the wellbeing of dogs and our understanding is limited regarding the multidimensional impact it has on dog quality of life. This study aimed to assess the factors that are significant and predictive of behavior problems in dogs using the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG) to further understand what factors influence their welfare. Seventy six AWAG assessments were undertaken across 46 dogs that clinicians diagnosed as having musculoskeletal conditions that caused chronic pain. Wilcoxon-rank sum tests were used to assess the difference in scores between dogs with behavior disorders and a cohort of healthy dogs (n = 143). All physical factors besides body condition, and all psychological, environmental, and procedural factors were significantly different between healthy dogs and dogs with chronic pain, evidencing how chronic pain impacts all domains of a dog's life. Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient (RS) revealed several significant strong positive correlations such as the association between the severity of clinical symptoms with poorer mobility and the frequency at which the dog experienced fearful stimuli. Logistic regression showed that fears and anxieties frequency, the dog's reaction to stressors, engagement with enrichment, and social interactions were significant predictors of chronic pain in dogs. This highlights that typical signs of musculoskeletal disorders such as gait changes, stiffness, lameness might manifest after behavioral changes such as increased fearfulness, prolonged recovery from a stressful event, a reduced interested in social interactions, toys or play. Owners only seeking veterinary attention when the presence of physical signs of disease are evident may result in a delayed veterinary attention resulting in reduced welfare. Regular veterinary assessments combined with use of the AWAG can proactively identify these behavioral indicators and result in prompt treatment and improved quality of life.

Electrical cardiometry assessment of cardiac output compared to echocardiography in septic shock patients

Background Cardiac output (CO) measurement is essential for guiding therapeutic decisions in critically ill patients. Electrical cardiometry (EC), which is based on thoracic electrical bioimpedance, can measure CO in a continuous and noninvasive way. The benefits of EC are continuous monitoring, low time consumption, portability, and user independence. Transthoracic echocardiography has been a noninvasive method to assess CO despite being noncontiguous and operator dependent. Aim This study aimed to compare EC and echocardiography (Echo) in measuring CO in septic shock patients and assess the reliability and accuracy of EC for noninvasive CO monitoring. Patients and methods Fifty adult patients were admitted to the Critical Care Medicine Department, diagnosed with septic shock according to the surviving sepsis campaign, and fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria from January 2023 to October 2023, and they were subjected to EC, Echo, and ECG recording. Results There was a strong positive significant correlation between CO measurements by echo and EC (r=0.988, P&lt;0.001), and there was a strong positive significant correlation between stroke volume (SV) measurements by echo and EC (r=0.999, P&lt;0.001). Also, there was a strong positive significant correlation between SV and CO measured by both techniques (r=0.782, P&lt;0.001) (r=0.790, P&lt;0.001, respectively). Conclusion Compared to Echo, EC can be used as a continuous, noninvasive method for monitoring CO and SV, as it provides accurate and reliable measurements.

Trypanosocidal activity of methanolic extract of lemon grass (&lt;i&gt;Cymbopogon citratus&lt;/i&gt;)

This study determined the in vitro trypanocidal activity of lemon grass(Cymbopogon citratus) methanolic extract against Trypanosoma brucei brucei and its bio infectivity in an in vivo study using male albino rat as the experimental animal. Five treatment levels were applied (0.002mg/ml, 0.02mg/ml, 0.2mg/ml, 2.0mg/ml and 0.0mg/ml). Trypanosome was inactive at all treatment levels of lemongrass. PCV was statistically the same at all exposure times whereas the control mice had significantly lower PCV than all treated mice apart from the control, all other treatments gave similar PCV results, but the highest grand mean value (51.87%) was obtained at 0.02mg/ml while week 4 recorded the highest value (51.53%). All treatment levels had equal effects on the mice’s rectal temperature, but exposure time had significant effects on the temperature parameter where the grand mean temperature readings significantly varied from 35.55oC in week 2 to 37.47oC in week 5. The weight of mice varied significantly with both treatment (F=16.01, p&lt;0.05) and time (F=5.10, p&lt;0.05) factors. The highest mean weight recorded was 38.37±2.46g at 2.0mg/ml treatment in week 5 thus, the weight of mice increased as lemon grass treatment concentration and exposure time increased. Treatment concentrations significantly affected mice PCV and weight where the control level had the lowest values for these physical parameters. Also, exposure time significantly affected both the temperature and weight of mice. A general fluctuation but decline in feed intake was observed in mice at different treatment levels of methanolic extracts of lemon grass from weeks 1-7. A strong positive significant correlation exists between PCV and feed intake (r= -0.930, p&lt;0.05) as well as between rectal temperature and weight of mice (r= -0.948, p&lt;0.05). PCV and weight had a strong positive correlation though insignificant (r= 0.728, p&gt;0.05). Therefore, lemon grass extract showed trypanocidal efficacy in the control of trypanosomiasis in Africa.

Estimating Surgical Duration for Surgeries: Towards an Efficient Schedule of Operating Theatre

Poor operation theatre (OT) scheduling is a common cause of case cancellation on the day of surgery. We analysed the accuracy of anaesthetists and surgeons in estimating the surgical time to complete an operation and investigated whether the estimated times was correlated with the actual surgical time. It was a prospective observational study with 369 elective cases from various surgical subspecialties which were performed within three months in a tertiary university hospital. Anaesthetists and surgeons were required to estimate the surgical time of the elective cases before the day of surgery. Their estimations were compared with the recorded actual surgical time. The primary outcome was the median time difference from the estimated surgical time. Anaesthetists accurately estimated surgical times of 82 cases (22%) and surgeons 59 cases (16%). Overall, anaesthetists overestimated the surgical time by 11 minutes of actual surgical times [interquartile range (IQR) -15 to 40 minutes]. Surgeons underestimated their surgical time by 15 minutes [IQR -60 to 20 minutes]. The median estimated surgical time difference between anaesthetists and surgeons was significantly different (p&lt;0.0001). Among the surgical subspecialties, the longest overestimation by anaesthetists was up to 48 minutes in colorectal surgeries. The most underestimated median time difference by surgeons was 65 minutes, seen in upper gastrointestinal surgeries. A significant strong positive correlation existed between overall anaesthetists' estimated and actual surgical times (rs = 0.735, p&lt;0.0001). At the same time, there was a weak correlation between surgeons’ overall estimation time upon booking and actual surgical times (rs = 0.492, p&lt;0.0001). In conclusion, both the anaesthetists and surgeons were significantly inaccurate in estimating the duration of surgical procedures. Although the anaesthetists tended to overestimate it while surgeons underestimated it, their estimations correlated strongly with the actual surgical times, whereas surgeons’ estimations were weakly correlated.

Psychological Experiences of Parents of Pediatric Cancer Patients during and after COVID-19 Pandemic.

Family members dealing with the devastating impact of a cancer diagnosis are now facing even greater vulnerability due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside the already overwhelming trauma, they must also bear the distressing burden of the infection risks. The purpose of this study was to examine and explore the effects in parents of pediatric cancer patients two years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to compare these data with the previous data. We conducted a single-center prospective observational study, enrolling 75 parents of 42 pediatric oncology patients. Four questionnaires (IES-R; PSS; STAI-Y and PedsQL) were given to the parents 2 years after the first evaluation. The bivariate matrix of correlation found a strong significant positive correlation between IES-R and PSS scores (r = 0.526, p < 0.001) as in T1. Stress symptoms (t = 0.00, p < 0.001) and levels of anxiety (trait) (t = 0.32, p < 0.001) remained unchanged; anxiety state levels appeared to have increased (t = 0.425, p < 0.001); there was a significant decrease in the PedsQL tot (t = 5.25, p < 0.001). The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the levels of stress and anxiety of parents and the quality of life of patients, also correlating with the traumatic impact of the diagnosis.

Carnauba wax-based edible coatings retain quality enhancement of orange (Citrus sinensis cv. Moro) fruits during storage

Fruit coatings serve a dual purpose in preserving the quality of fruits. Not only do they act as a barrier against water evaporation and fungal infiltration, but they also enhance the fruit’s visual appeal in the market. Yet, their influence on the fruit’s quality components, which play a crucial role in determining its nutritional value, taste, and overall flavor, has remained relatively unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of carnauba wax coating on the quality of Moro oranges during storage. The selected fruits were meticulously chosen for uniformity in size. The experiment involved applying carnauba wax, a commonly used type among local producers, at four different concentrations: 0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%. These treatments were applied during various storage periods, including immediately after fruits were harvested and after 40 and 80 days. Following the application of these treatments, the oranges were stored in a controlled environment (morgue) at a temperature of 4 ± 1 °C. Subsequently, several physicochemical parameters of both the fruit flesh and skin were examined. The results unveiled a decline in the overall ascorbic acid content of the fruits. In terms of phenol content, a general decreasing trend was observed after harvesting. At each sampling interval during storage, the phenol content in uncoated fruits consistently exceeded that of their waxed counterparts. Significant reduction in fruit weight was observed throughout the storage period. Both vitamin C and total acidity levels in the fruit exhibited decreases during the storage period. As time passed, fruit firmness gradually declined, while fruit decay increased during the 40- and 80-day storage periods for untreated Moro oranges. The anthocyanin content showed an increasing trend. The study also unveiled a decline in the antioxidant capacity of citrus fruits during storage. Strong significant positive correlations were observed between total phenol content and key parameters, such as antioxidant activity (0.941**), MDA (0.364*), vitamin C content, and total carbohydrate content (0.475**). Skin radiance showed a perfect correlation with chroma and hue (1.000**). Principal component analysis revealed that the first principal component accounted for 34.27% of the total variance, out of a total of five principal components that explained 77.14% of the variance. Through cluster analysis, the variables were categorized into three distinct groups; one associated with weight loss and another with ion leakage. Considering these findings, carnauba wax-based coating emerges as a promising solution for preserving Moro oranges. It effectively mitigates fruit weight loss and helps maintain fruit firmness during storage, making it a valuable tool for fruit preservation.

Employer Branding to Improve Employee Loyalty after a Business Merger in PT Pelindo Terminal Petikemas

In today’s world, solid employer branding is important for any company or organization. Ambler &amp; Barrow (1996) defined employer branding as the process of building and promoting a company’s reputation as an employer. Ilyas et al. (2020) stated that employer branding has a strong positive relationship with employee loyalty and the extent to which employees are committed to their organization and its goals. When a business goes through a merger, employee loyalty becomes an important factor in ensuring the company’s productivity, which is something that PT Pelindo Terminal Petikemas and some other Indonesian State-Owned Enterprises have gone through in recent years. The primary research objective of this study is to identify the specific aspects of employer branding that can be prioritized by PT Pelindo Terminal Petikemas to enhance employee loyalty. The methodology used is primarily quantitative research with correlational analysis as the statistical model, however, additional qualitative data was also collected and analyzed. The primary data were acquired through an online questionnaire given to the employees of PT Pelindo Terminal Petikemas. This study concludes that employer branding and employee loyalty have a strong positive significant correlation. Furthermore, it was also found that the employer branding dimensions with the strongest correlation with employee loyalty are organizational culture, ethics and corporate social responsibility, and diversity. PT Pelindo Terminal Petikemas can focus on improving the organizational culture, ethics and corporate social responsibility, and diversity aspects of employer branding to improve employee loyalty. The research also provides actionable solutions for PT Pelindo Terminal Petikemas to further strengthen its employer branding and improve employee loyalty.

Sinhala version of the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire: Cross-cultural adaptation and validation.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are highly prevalent among people who work in sedentary jobs. The Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ) is a valid tool to assess WMSDs, but is not available in the local language of Sri Lanka (Sinhala). To cross-culturally adapt the original CMDQ from English to Sinhala and evaluate its psychometric properties. The linguistic and cultural adaptation of the CMDQ to the Sinhala (Si-CMDQ) language followed international guidelines. The adapted pre-version was tested for comprehensibility among 32 subjects from different educational and occupational backgrounds. The Content Validity Index (CVI) was computed with ratings from five experts. The questionnaire was validated further by 111 security guards employed at the university. The tool was validated with reference to the Numeric Rating Scale. Test-retest reliability was assessed at two time points one week apart and internal consistency was tested. The Si-CMDQ showed adequate cross-cultural, content and construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. The Kappa coefficient showed excellent agreement between NRS and Si-CMDQ frequency scale. Spearman's correlation coefficients showed a moderate to a strong significant positive correlation between NRS and the severity scale of Si-CMDQ. The Kappa values for test-retest reliability were moderate to excellent for the three scales of CMDQ. The internal consistency was high. The Si-CMDQ fulfilled the psychometric requirement for questionnaires. This tool will be beneficial to assess WMSDs among sedentary workers in different occupations in Sri Lanka.

A Multidimensional Evaluation of the Factors in the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG) That Are Associated with, and Predictive of, Behaviour Disorders in Dogs.

Behavioural disorders in dogs are common and have severe welfare consequences for dogs. This study aimed to assess the factors that are significant and predictive of behaviour problems in dogs using the animal welfare assessment grid (AWAG) to further understand what factors influence their welfare. 177 AWAG assessments were undertaken across 129 dogs that clinicians deemed to have a behavioural disorder. Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used to assess the difference in scores between dogs with behaviour disorders and a cohort of healthy dogs (n = 117). This analysis showed that all physical factors besides body condition, all procedural factors besides procedure pain, and all psychological, and environmental factors were significantly different between healthy dogs and dogs with behaviour disorders. Spearman rank correlation coefficient (RS) revealed several significant strong positive correlations including the procedural impact on the dog's daily routine with aggression towards unfamiliar people and procedure pain, as well as other correlations between the dog's behaviour during assessment with the frequency at which they encounter fears and anxieties, clinical assessment and procedure pain, and reaction to stressors and social interactions. These findings highlight the interdependent nature of the various influences of welfare. Logistic regression analysis identified that aggression towards the caregiver, fears and anxieties frequency, and choice, control, and predictability were all significant predictors of behaviour disorders. The findings have important implications for veterinary, behaviour, and animal welfare professionals as any changes across these factors may indicate poor welfare linked to emotional disorders in dogs.