Test Scores Research Articles

Desigualdade educacional nos exames de larga escala e a jornadas escolares extendidas: uma análise da rede pública de ensino médio de Pernambuco (Brasil)

Abstract This paper analyzes the relationship between full-time journeys and schooling inequality in Pernambuco, Brazil. Using standardized test scores on the school level, we tested the inverted u-curve hypothesis proposed initially by Simon Kuznets in 1955 and adapted with a focus on schooling expansion and inequality by Rati Ram in 1990. We build a panel data analysis to perform the test, with data aggregated by region and scores on standardized tests as the output variable. Initially, the hypotheses described an inverted U-curve correlating schooling effectiveness and inequality. However, we have found that the relationship follows a regular U shape. It is also inferable that the equity of the result is more connected to the effects of the diversity of school typology, the location of schools, and the way the region is developed.

Assessing the Effectiveness of Speed, Agility, and Quickness (SAQ) Training on Performance among Senior and Junior Female Kho-Kho Players in Mumbai Region

Abstract: This study examines the impact of an eight-week Speed, Agility, and Quickness (SAQ) training program on senior and junior female Kho-Kho players in Mumbai. Sixty players were evenly divided into experimental and control groups. Results show significant improvements in SAQ-trained players’ performance, including enhanced speed, agility, and quickness observed through reduced completion times in Kho-Kho drills. ANOVA analysis indicates statistically significant differences in performance between experimental and control groups across various parameters. SAQ-trained groups consistently outperformed controls in sprint times, agility test scores, and reaction times. For instance, seniors in the experimental group improved from a pre-training mean sprint time of 12.5 sec to 10.8 sec post-training, while juniors improved from 13.2 sec to 11.2 sec. In contrast, control group means remained relatively unchanged. Similarly, experimental groups exhibited substantial enhancement in agility test scores and reaction times compared to controls. Seniors’ agility scores increased from a pre-training mean of 18 points to 24 points post-training, and juniors’ scores improved from 16 points to 22 points. Reaction times for both senior and junior experimental groups decreased notably post-training, whereas control groups showed minimal change. These findings emphasize the significance of integrating SAQ training into the routine of female Kho-Kho players, regardless of their age or skill level. Such training interventions hold promise for augmenting players’ physical capabilities and overall performance, thereby bolstering their competitiveness in Kho-Kho tournaments.

The Integration of Educational Technology in Teaching Filipino in Taganito National High School, Claver, Surigao Del Norte, Division of Surigao Del Norte: A Program

The study determined the effectiveness of integrating educational technology in teaching the Filipino Subject for Grade 9 students in Taganito National High School. The study employed a quasi-experimental research design utilizing two homogenized group comprising 30 students per group. Data gathered were analyzed using the mean and standard deviation, T-test for dependent samples, and analysis of co-variance (ANCOVA). Results revealed that the average post test scores of Grade 9 students in Filipino subject is mostly Very High both in the Control (M=9.12; SD=.38) and in the Experimental (M=9.41; SD=.31). Learning performance of Grade 9 students in the Experimental Group is significantly higher (p=.002) compared to that of the Control Group. Therefore, the use of educational technology in teaching the Filipino subject is highly effective. Students’ learning achievement in Filipino subject is significantly enhanced with the effective use of educational technology in instruction. Thus, it is recommended that the Grade 9 teachers handling the Filipino subjects are enjoined to effectively use educational technology in teaching the subject. Moreover, the learning modules used in this study may be adopted by other Filipino teachers as teaching interventions in teaching the Grade 9 students.

Apolipoprotein ɛ4 is associated with increased risk of fall- and fracture-related hospitalisation: the Perth Longitudinal Study of Ageing Women.

Apolipoprotein ɛ4 (APOE ɛ4) may be a genetic risk factor for reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and muscle function, which could have implications for fall and fracture risk. We examined the association between APOE ɛ4 status and long-term fall- and fracture-related hospitalisation risk in older women. 1276 community-dwelling women from the Perth Longitudinal Study of Ageing Women (mean age ± SD = 75.2 ± 2.7 years) were included. At baseline, women underwent APOE genotyping and detailed phenotyping for covariates including prevalent falls and fractures, as well as health and lifestyle factors. The association between APOE ɛ4 with fall-, any fracture-, and hip fracture-related hospitalisations, obtained over 14.5 years from linked health records, were examined using multivariable-adjusted Cox-proportional hazard models. Over 14.5 years, 507 (39.7%) women experienced a fall-related hospitalisation, 360 (28.2%) women experienced a fracture-related hospitalisation, including 143 (11.2%) attributed to a hip fracture. In multivariable-adjusted models, compared to non-carriers, APOE ɛ4 carriers (n=297, 23.3%) had greater risk for a fall- (HR 1.48 95%CI 1.22-1.81), fracture- (HR 1.28, 95%CI 1.01-1.63) or hip fracture-related hospitalisation (HR 1.83 95%CI 1.29-2.61). The estimates remained similar when specific fall and fracture risk factors (fear of falling, plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D, grip strength, timed-up-and-go, hip BMD, vitamin K status, prevalent diabetes, HbA1c, cholesterol, abbreviated mental test score) were added to the multivariable model. In conclusion, APOE ɛ4 is a potential risk factor for fall- and fracture-related hospitalisation in community-dwelling older women. Screening for APOE ɛ4 could provide clinicians an opportunity to direct higher risk individuals to appropriate intervention strategies.

Online photography intervention reduces internet addiction during COVID-19: A randomised controlled trial.

The COVID-19 pandemic has escalated concerns regarding internet addiction. This study investigated the impact of an online photograph intervention on internet addiction and identified its effectiveness mechanisms. Individuals diagnosed with internet addiction (internet addiction test score > 36, Mage = 22.85, 78.6% women) were randomly allocated to either the intervention (n = 64) or control (n = 81) groups. For 10 days, the intervention group was tasked with photographing "things that make you feel a sense of control in life" and writing 100-word descriptions explaining the reason for the sense of control elicited by the image. Meanwhile, the control group participated only in the assessments. Assessments were conducted before the intervention, immediately afterward and 7 days later. A significant interaction between group and time was observed, with the intervention group showing a notable reduction in internet addiction and an increase in sense of control. The sense of control at post-test significantly mediated the intervention's effect on reducing internet addiction at follow-up, but only among individuals with high perceived social support. The findings indicate that online photography interventions can effectively diminish internet addiction, with a sense of control acting as a potent mechanism for intervention, particularly in individuals with substantial perceived social support.

Journey over Destination: Dynamic Sensor Placement Enhances Generalization

Abstract Reconstructing complex, high-dimensional global fields from limited data points is a challenge across various scientific and industrial domains. This is particularly important for recovering spatio-temporal fields using sensor data from, for example, laboratory-based scientific experiments, weather forecasting, or drone surveys. Given the prohibitive costs of specialized sensors and the inaccessibility of
certain regions of the domain, achieving full field coverage is typically not feasible. Therefore, the development of machine learning algorithms trained to reconstruct fields given a limited dataset is of critical importance. In this study, we introduce a general
approach that employs moving sensors to enhance data exploitation during the training of an attention based neural network, thereby improving field reconstruction. The training of sensor locations is accomplished using an end-to-end workflow, ensuring
differentiability in the interpolation of field values associated to the sensors, and is simple to implement using differentiable programming. Additionally, we have incorporated a correction mechanism to prevent sensors from entering invalid regions within the domain. We evaluated our method using two distinct datasets; the results show that our approach enhances learning, as evidenced by improved test scores.

Hyperpure chlorine dioxide versus chlorhexidine in intra-oral halitosis (ODOR trial) – protocol of a double-blinded, double-arm, parallel non-inferiority pilot randomized controlled trial

IntroductionIntra-oral halitosis (IOH) is the most common type of bad breath; its consequences impair quality of life. However, evidence-based treatment protocols and guidelines are lacking. Our aim is to investigate the effectiveness of chlorine dioxide as an applicable complementary treatment modality in IOH after tongue cleaning.Methods and analysisThe ODOR trial will be a single-center, double-blinded, parallel-group, double-armed pilot randomized controlled trial with a non-inferiority design. The efficacy of hyperpure chlorine dioxide will be compared to chlorhexidine mouthwash. We plan to investigate the short-term effects of the intervention over a 3-h period. The primary endpoint will be changes in organoleptic test scores. At the end of the pilot investigation of the first 30 patients each, sample size calculation will be performed. If feasible, the investigators will continue the study by enrolling more patients.Trial registrationThe trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06219226).

Differences in the organization of the primary motor cortex in people with and without low back pain and associations with motor control and sensory tests.

Differences in organization of the primary motor cortex and altered trunk motor control (sensing, processing and motor output) have been reported in people with low back pain (LBP). Little is known to what extent these differences are related. We investigated differences in 1) organization of the primary motor cortex and 2) motor and sensory tests between people with and without LBP, and 3) investigated associations between the organization of the primary motor cortex and motor and sensory tests. We conducted a case-control study in people with (N=25) and without (N=25) LBP. The organization of the primary motor cortex (Center of Gravity (CoG) and Area of the cortical representation of trunk muscles) was assessed using neuronavigated transcranial magnetic stimulation, based on individual MRIs. Sensory tests (quantitative sensory testing, graphaesthesia, two-point discrimination threshold) and a motor test (spiral-tracking test) were assessed. Participants with LBP had a more lateral and lower location of the CoG and a higher temporal summation of pain. For all participants combined, better vibration test scores were associated with a more anterior, lateral, and lower CoG and a better two-point discrimination threshold was associated with a lower CoG. A small subset of variables showed significance. Although this aligns with the concept of altered organization of the primary motor cortex in LBP, there is no strong evidence of the association between altered organization of the primary motor cortex and motor and sensory test performance in LBP. Focusing on subgroup analyses regarding pain duration can be a topic for future research.

Cross-cultural comparison of the performance on the Five-Point test between highly educated comparable samples of Argentina and South Africa

Objective The study aimed to carry out a cross-cultural analysis by comparing Five-Point test scores for two different countries. The Five-Point test measures design fluency, an executive function, and is an inexpensive test that makes it more accessible to assessment settings, including under-resourced settings. Methods Adults in Argentina (n = 90) and South Africa (n = 90) with tertiary levels of education were tested on the Five-Point Test. ANOVA was applied to compare the scores of the two groups on the total number of unique designs produced (Total Unique Designs). Results The study found no significant differences in the Total Unique Designs scores between the two groups (p = .13; η = 0.01). Correlations between demographic variables and the Total Unique Designs scores varied slightly across both samples. Conclusions Despite large cultural differences between both samples (language, race, religion, income) scores on this test did not differ significantly. These findings provide initial evidence of scalar equivalence on the test across these samples. Norms for the Five-Point Test Total Unique Designs scores might be used interchangeably between these two highly educated groups from different countries.

Effect of Yogic Practices on Concentration of Senior Secondary School Students

Aim of this study is to find the effect of yogic practices on concentration of senior secondary school students. There were 100 participants (50 from control group and 50 from experimental group) in this study. Yogic practices for 6 months (daily for 1 hour) were done by experimental group students and control group students did no yogic practices. Digit letter Substitution Test (DLST) tool was used for measuring the concentration of students. Mean and standard deviation was calculated for determining the nature of data. T-test was used to find the significant difference between the pre-test and post - test scores. Results show that there is a significant and important difference in concentration of experimental and control group of senior secondary school students

Cognitive skills and economic growth in the twenty-first century: Evidence from PISA and cognitive ability studies

In recent years, some educational researchers have questioned the theory of a robust relationship between test scores in international large-scale assessments such as PISA and lagged economic growth. However, both the proponents and opponents of such a human capital approach have mainly focused on earlier growth patterns during the twentieth century. Hence, the current article analysed the relationship between PISA 2000 and economic growth in 2010–2019 for 31 countries, and composite cognitive skills for 80 countries and their relationships with economic growth in 2010–2019. The results indicate that PISA scores or other cognitive skill measures could to some extent predict economic growth between 2010 and 2019, even when controlling for a significant number of variables. In a consecutive analysis, the relations were substantially associated with Middle Eastern countries because many countries from this region experienced political instability and decreasing oil revenues throughout this period. Hence, it is possible that regional and contextual relationships affect these patterns.

Validity and norms for young adults for the Aggie Figures Learning Test.

The purpose of the present study was to demonstrate the convergent validity of the AFLT and to provide norms for an adult population ranging from 18 to 58. 140 healthy volunteers participated in the study. They ranged in age from 18 to 58 years, with 12 to 25 years of education. Subjects were assessed with a comprehensive neuropsychological battery which included the ALFT (A version) and the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF). Positive correlations were found between the scores of both tests for recent memory (r = 0.606, p < 0.01), delayed free recall (r = 0.534, p < 0.01) and recognition memory (r = 0.202, p < 0.05). These results demonstrate the convergent validity of the AFLT. The AFLT is a visual memory assessment tool with adequate psychometric properties, which allows a comprehensive evaluation of visual memory processes.

Association between preoperative anxiety states and postoperative complications in patients with esophageal cancer and COPD: a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundEsophageal cancer brings emotional changes, especially anxiety to patients. Co-existing anxiety makes the surgery difficult and may cause complications. This study aims to evaluate effects of anxiety in postoperative complications of esophageal cancer patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).MethodsPatients with esophageal cancer and co-existing COPD underwent tumor excision. Anxiety was measured using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) before surgery. Clavien-Dindo criteria were used to grade surgical complications. A multiple regression model was used to analyze the relationship between anxiety and postoperative complications. The chi-square test was used to compare the differences in various types of complications between the anxiety group and the non-anxiety group. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of mild and severe complications.ResultsThis study included a total of 270 eligible patients, of which 20.7% had anxiety symptoms and 56.6% experienced postoperative complications. After evaluation by univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression models, the risk of developing complications in anxious patients was 4.1 times than non-anxious patients. Anxious patients were more likely to develop pneumonia, pyloric obstruction, and arrhythmia. The presence of anxiety, surgical method, higher body mass index (BMI), and lower preoperative oxygen pressure may increase the incidence of minor complications. The use of surgical methods, higher COPD assessment test (CAT) scores, and higher BMI may increase the incidence of major complications, while anxiety does not affect the occurrence of major complications (P = 0.054).ConclusionPreoperative anxiety is associated with postoperative complications in esophageal cancer patients with co-existing COPD. Anxiety may increase the incidence of postoperative complications, especially minor complications in patient with COPD and esophageal cancer.

Complete Denture Preclinical Training Program and Digital Tools: A Pilot Study.

To determine whether digital training improves conceptual skills acquisition for custom tray fabrication and tooth arrangement in the preclinical curriculum for complete denture fabrication. A crossover design study compared third-year student grades after conventional (manual) and digital training. Half the students were trained with conventional techniques prior to digital, while the other half were trained with digital techniques prior to conventional. The first part of the study (DP1) focused on custom tray fabrication and involved 154 students. The second part (DP2) focused on tooth arrangement with 204 students. The effect of preliminary digital training on conceptual skills was assessed by comparing the results of the students using a Student's t-test. Results were also analyzed by ranking on the students' Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) score. Finally, students' satisfaction with the training was investigated. Students who completed the initial digital session achieved better custom tray fabrication and tooth arrangement in the subsequent manual sessions. For manual laboratory work, the most dexterous students (PAT1 group) demonstrated the best performance. However, PAT2 students had the best performance during the digital sessions during DP1, and PAT1 and PAT2 students had the best performance during the digital sessions during DP2. Additionally, 40% of DP1 and 12% of DP2 students expressed satisfaction with digital sessions. With complementary manual and digital teaching, digital tools may be useful for enhanced student learning. Digital training has contributed to improve results in manual sessions but did not affect student satisfaction and remained a limited tool to detect learning difficulties.

Transcription Decisions of Conjoined Independent Clauses Are Equitable Across Dialects but Impact Measurement Outcomes.

Transcription of conjoined independent clauses within language samples varies across professionals. Some transcribe these clauses as two separate utterances, whereas others conjoin them within a single utterance. As an inquiry into equitable practice, we examined rates of conjoined independent clauses produced by children and the impact of separating these clauses within utterances on measures of mean length of utterance (MLU) by a child's English dialect, clinical status, and age. The data were archival and included 246 language samples from children classified by their dialect (African American English or Southern White English) and clinical status (developmental language disorder [DLD] or typically developing [TD]), with those in the TD group further classified by their age (4 years [TD4] or 6 years [TD6]). Rates of conjoined independent clauses and the impact of these clauses on MLU varied by clinical status (DLD < TD) and age (TD4 < TD6), but not by dialect. Correlations between the rate of conjoined clauses, MLU, and language test scores were also similar across the two dialects. Transcription decisions regarding conjoined independent clauses within language samples lead to equitable measurement outcomes across dialects of English. Nevertheless, transcribing conjoined independent clauses as two separate utterances reduces one's ability to detect syntactic differences between children with and without DLD and document syntactic growth as children age. https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.25822675.

Assessment of smell disturbances 6months after COVID-19 in Polish population.

Considering the frequency and severity of olfactory disorders associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, attention to the olfactory loss has expanded. The aim of our study was to assess of smell disturbances 6months after COVID-19. The study population consisted of 2 groups: 196 Post-COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized because of COVID-19, control sample-130 patients without reported smell disorders from general population-Bialystok PLUS study. People from both groups were asked to participate in the Sniffin Sticks Test (half year after the disease). Sniffin Sticks Test consisted of 12 standardized smell samples. The participant's test score was counted based on correct scent recognition. Middle/older age was related with lower likelihood of olfaction recovery. The biggest differences in recognition of particular fragrances were observed for: orange and lemon, lemon and coffee (p.adj < 0.001). Patients had the greatest problem in assessing smell of lemon. The comparison of scores between Delta, Omicron, Wild Type, Wild Type Alpha waves showed statistically significant difference between Delta and Wild Type waves (p = 0.006). Duration of the disease (r = 0.218), age (r = -0.253), IL-6 (r = -0.281) showed significant negative correlations with the score. Statistically significant variables in the case of smell disorders were Omicron wave (CI = 0.045-0.902; P = 0.046) and Wild Type wave (CI = 0.135-0.716; P = 0.007) compared to Delta wave reference. Moreover, patients with PLT count below 150 000/μl had greater olfactory disorders than those with PLT count over 150 000/μl. There are: smell differences between post-COVID-19 patients and healthy population; statistically significant difference between Delta and Wild Type waves in Post-COVID-19 group in score of the Sniffin Sticks Test. Smell disturbances depend on the age, cognitive impairments, clinical characteristics of the COVID-19 disease and sex of the patient.

The impact of water quality on children's education: evidence from 39 districts in the Ganges Basin of India

Abstract We investigate the effect of water quality on the educational outcomes of children aged 8–11 in 39 districts in five states in the Ganges Basin of India. Using data from the Centre for Pollution Control Board of India and the Indian Human Development Survey (IHDS) 2011–12, we study the effect of water quality in the Ganges Basin on the performance in three test scores. Our evidence suggests that faecal coliform levels in water sources above safety thresholds negatively affect reading and writing test scores. The effects of Nitrate-N and Nitrite-N in the water appear to be weaker compared to those of faecal coliform. The results establish that water pollution caused by excessive presence of faecal coliform is an important environmental factor in determining educational outcomes of children. High levels of faecal coliform in the water could be lowering cognitive abilities of the pollution-affected children through the channel of waterborne diseases.

Online Reading Comprehension Assessment of Primary School Students: Analysis of Testing Behavior Indicators

Online Reading Comprehension Assessment of Primary School Students: Analysis of Testing Behavior Indicators

Depression Conditions of the Elderly Living in Nursing Homes and the Factors Affecting Them

Aim: The aim of our article is to determine the depression status of elderly people living in nursing homes and the affecting factors. Material and Method: The study included 75 elderly individuals who lived in assisted living facilities. Data was collected through a Personal Information Form, the Geriatric Depression Scale, the Mini Mental Assessment Test, and retrospective blood results. The data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 software and non-parametric tests were used due to the non-normal distribution of the data. The Mann-Whitney U test and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used to compare independent variables. Additionally, multiple regression analysis was employed. Results: The study found that 38.7% of elderly participants had abnormal mini-mental assessments, and 21.3% had significant depression. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in the total mean scores of the Mini Mental State Test (MMST) based on gender (p=0.023), marital status (p=0.001), educational attainment (p=0.001), and level of schooling. Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference (p=0.002) between the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) total mean score and the presence of sleep issues. The total mean scores of MMST indicated a statistically significant difference between the status of urine incontinence (p=0.001) and exercise (p=0.006), as well as their combination. Conclusion: Approximately one third of the participants were depressed and had poor cognitive status. Depression was associated with being female, low educational status and sleep problems, whereas mental status was associated with gender, marital status, and educational status. It is recommended to conduct longitudinal studies with larger samples in future studies.

Evaluation of guidelines line-care approach to the treatment of chronic inducible urticaria.

Chronic Inducible Urticaria (CIndU) management often follows Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU) guidelines, but a step-by-step evaluation of their effectiveness in CIndU is lacking. To assess the clinical impact of adapting CSU international guidelines for CIndU management. We conducted a prospective cohort study involving patients diagnosed with CIndU based on challenge tests and a Urticaria Control Test (UCT) score of <11 points. Following the guidelines, a stepwise approach was used: avoidance measures, antihistamines, omalizumab, and cyclosporine. Treatment steps were added based on individual response, with control defined as UCT >12 points. Pharmacological steps were evaluated for at least one month, with the next step initiated in case of a UCT score <11 points. We enrolled 194 patients with CIndU. One hundred and thirty-four patients had CIndU with concomitant CSU and 60 had CIndU only. Following the step-by-step approach outlined in the guidelines, a total of 159 (81.9%) patients reaches a UCT >12 points; With avoidance measures 23 (11.8%) patients; antihistamines 84 (43.2%); omalizumab 35 (18%); and with cyclosporine 17 (8.7%). This study supports the use of a stepwise approach based on CSU guidelines for CIndU management. However, a significant proportion of patients, particularly those with CIndU only, did not achieve adequate control. This highlights the heterogeneity within CIndU and the need for further research to develop new therapies for CIndU patients who remain uncontrolled.