Total Sample Research Articles

Working memory performance is related to childhood trauma but not psychotic-like experiences in a nonpsychiatric sample.

This project seeks to clarify the impact of childhood trauma and psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) on working memory (WM) and explore gender differences in these relationships. The effect of childhood trauma on WM performance has yet to be explored in individuals with PLEs, despite consistent associations between trauma, psychosis spectrum symptoms, and WM performance. In 466 undergraduates, positive PLEs (Prodromal Questionnaire) and trauma (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire) were examined to determine contributions to WM performance on a spatial n-back task. We conducted hierarchical linear regressions on the total sample and stratified by gender to examine the effects of childhood trauma, positive PLEs, and their interaction on WM performance. Supplemental analyses explored attenuated negative and disorganized symptoms. Controlling for age, there were no significant main effects of positive PLEs, childhood trauma, their interaction, or three-way interaction including gender in predicting WM. After stratifying by gender, childhood trauma was significantly associated with poorer WM in females only. Post hoc analyses revealed that in the full sample, physical neglect predicted WM performance and was a trend for females, while sexual abuse trended toward predicting WM in males. Supplemental analyses of attenuated negative and disorganized symptoms revealed childhood trauma significantly predicted WM in the full sample and females only for negative symptoms. Females who have experienced childhood trauma may be at greater risk for WM problems, irrespective of co-occurring PLEs, suggesting that cognitive difficulties may be partially attributable to history of trauma. These findings have potential implications for intervention strategies in trauma-exposed individuals. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Comparison of the Diagnostic Performance of Antigen B Purified from Sheep Hydatid Cyst Fluid (HCF) with Commercial ELISA Kit.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by the metacestode of Echinococcus granulosus. CE is a health problem in Middle Eastern countries, such as Iran. The purpose of this study was to purify subunit 8 KDa antigen B from crude sheep hydatid cyst fluid (HCF) and compare its sensitivity and specificity with a commercial human ELISA kit (PT-Hydatid-96). 28 sera samples were collected from hydatid cyst patients who had surgery for a hydatid cyst and had their disease confirmed by pathology after the surgery. Furthermore, 35 samples of healthy individuals with no history of hydatid cysts were collected, as were nine serum samples from parasite-infected non-CE patients. HCF was obtained from sheep fertile cysts at a Sari slaughterhouse and used as an antigen. In an indirect ELISA test, the B antigen was employed, and the results were compared to those from a commercial ELISA kit. The results of this study were analyzed using the Kappa test. The commercial ELISA kit showed 17 cases (23.6%) positive, 44 cases (61.1%) negative, and 11 cases (15.3%) borderline. B antigen showed that 18 (25%), 43 (59.7 %), and 11 (15.3%) were positive, negative, and borderline, respectively. One sample (1.4% of 72 total samples) of 35 serum samples from healthy individuals was positive using B antigen-based ELISA. In addition, all nine serum samples from parasite-infected non-CE patients were negative for both tests. The sensitivity and specificity of the commercial ELISA kit have been evaluated at 60.7% and 100%, respectively. For B antigenbased ELISA, these values are 64.3 and 97.7%, respectively. Antigen B produced from hydatid cyst fluid is a promising option for serological identification of hydatid cysts in both infected and healthy individuals. In an indirect ELISA test, hydatid fluid antigen could be used as a precise source of detection.

Exploring false negatives in self-reported trauma exposure status.

Trauma exposure is often assessed using checklists such as the Life Events Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5; Weathers et al., 2013b). When participants endorse multiple events, respondents are asked to identify a single, worst event (i.e., index event). Recent work indicates that the "worst event" method leads to a concerning number of false negatives. The purpose of the current study was to replicate previous findings of false negatives and extend them by examining characteristics associated with false negatives, such as trauma type, means of exposure, recency of trauma, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity. Adults (n = 476) provided data on trauma history assessed using a revised version of the LEC-5 that asked participants to provide follow-up information for each traumatic event endorsed. Participants also provided demographic data and completed the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5. Results: Two hundred thirty-four participants (49.16%) reported a worst event that met the DSM-5 definition of Criterion A trauma ("primary Criterion A" group). However, of the 242 participants who did not, 138 participants (57.02%, or 28.99% of the total sample) reported a secondary event that did meet Criterion A ("secondary Criterion A" group). The secondary Criterion A group most commonly reported serious life-threatening illnesses/injuries and "other" stressful life experiences as their index trauma that did not fulfill Criterion A. Participants in the primary and secondary Criterion A groups reported similar levels of PTSD symptoms. No differences were observed in means of exposure and recency of index trauma between the Criterion A groups. Findings raise questions regarding the efficiency and accuracy of the worst event method to determine trauma exposure status via self-report. Researchers should consider alternative methods for assessing trauma exposure rather than relying on the worst event scoring method. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Timing of induction of labor in suspected macrosomia: retrospective cohort study, systematic review and meta-analysis.

Large-for-gestational age (LGA) is associated with several adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Although many studies have found that early induction of labor (IOL) in case of a LGA fetus reduces the incidence of shoulder dystocia, no current guidelines recommend this particular clinical strategy, owing to concerns about increased rates of Cesarean delivery (CD) and neonatal complications. The purpose of this study was to assess whether the timing of IOL in LGA fetuses affected maternal and neonatal outcomes in a single center, and to combine these results with evidence reported in the literature. This study comprised two parts. The first part was a retrospective cohort study that included consecutive patients with a singleton pregnancy and an estimated fetal weight ≥ 90th percentile on ultrasound between 35 + 0 and 39 + 0 weeks' gestation, who were eligible for normal vaginal delivery. The second part of the study was a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis, including the results of our cohort study as well as those of previous studies that compared IOL with expectant management in patients with a LGA fetus. The perinatal outcomes of the study were CD, operative vaginal delivery, shoulder dystocia, brachial plexus palsy, anal sphincter injury, postpartum hemorrhage, Apgar score, umbilical artery pH, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, use of continuous positive airway pressure, intracranial hemorrhage, need for phototherapy and bone fracture. Of the 547 patients included in this retrospective cohort study, 329 (60.1%) underwent IOL and 218 (39.9%) experienced spontaneous labor. Following covariate balancing, the odds of CD were significantly higher in the IOL group compared with the spontaneous-labor group. This difference only became apparent beyond 40 weeks' gestation (hazard ratio, 1.90; P = 0.030). The difference between the IOL and spontaneous-labor groups for the rate of shoulder dystocia was not statistically significant (hazard ratio, 1.57; P = 0.200). Seventeen studies, in addition to our own results, were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis, giving a total population of 111 300 participants. Although there was no significant difference in the rate of CD between IOL and expectant management after pooling the results of included studies, the risk for shoulder dystocia was significantly lower in the IOL group (odds ratio (OR), 0.64 (95% CI, 0.42-0.98); I2 = 19% from 12 studies) when considering only IOL performed before 40 + 0 weeks. When the studies in which IOL was carried out exclusively before 40 + 0 weeks were removed from the analysis, the risk for CD in the remaining studies was significantly higher in the IOL group (OR, 1.46 (95% CI, 1.02-2.09); I2 = 56%). There were no statistically significant differences between the IOL and expectant-management groups for the remaining perinatal outcomes. Nulliparity, history of CD and low Bishop score, but not method of induction, were independent risk factors for intrapartum CD in patients that underwent IOL for LGA. The timing of IOL in patients with suspected macrosomia significantly impacts on perinatal adverse outcomes. IOL has no impact on rates of shoulder dystocia but increases the odds of CD when considered irrespective of gestational age; in contrast, IOL may decrease the risk of shoulder dystocia without increasing the risk of other adverse maternal outcomes, in particular CD, when performed before 40 + 0 weeks (GRADE: low/very low). © 2024 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Reliable Change Indices for the Serial Administration of the Concussion Clinical Profiles Screening Tool.

The Concussion Clinical Profiles Screening Tool (CP Screen) self-report concussion symptom inventory is often administered at weekly intervals. However, 1-week reliable change indices (RCIs) for clinical cutoffs and the test-retest reliability of the CP Screen are unknown. To document RCI cutoff scores and 1-week test-retest reliability for each profile and modifier of the CP Screen for men and women. Case series. A large US university. One hundred seventy-three healthy college students. Participants completed 2 administrations of the CP Screen 7 days apart. The CP Screen items yielded 5 clinical profiles and 2 modifiers. Spearman ρ coefficients (rs), intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), single measures, and unbiased estimates of reliability (UERs) were used to assess test-retest reliability. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests assessed differences across time. Reliable change index values and cutoff scores are provided at 90%/95% CIs. All analyses were performed for the total sample and separately for men and women. Reliable change index cutoffs for clinically significant change (increase/decrease) at a 90% CI for men were as follows: ocular, vestibular >2/>4; anxiety/mood, cognitive/fatigue, and migraine >3/>3; sleep >4/>6; and neck >2/>2. Reliable change index cutoffs for clinically significant change (increase/decrease) at a 90% CI for women were as follows: anxiety/mood ≥2/≥4; cognitive/fatigue, migraine, ocular, vestibular, and sleep ≥3/≥3; and neck ≥1/≥1. Correlations for the CP Screen ranged from 0.51 (migraine) to 0.79 (anxiety/mood) for the total sample, from 0.48 (migraine) to 0.84 (vestibular) for men, and from 0.51 (migraine) to 0.77 (ocular) for women. Test-retest indices for each profile and modifier were moderate to good for the total sample (ICC, 0.64-0.82; UER, 0.79-0.90), men (ICC, 0.60-0.87; UER, 0.76-0.94), and women (ICC, 0.64-0.80; UER, 0.78-0.89). The CP Screen is reliable and stable across a 1-week interval, and established RCIs for men and women can help identify meaningful change throughout recovery.

Eugenol, menthol and other flavour chemicals in kreteks and ‘white’ cigarettes purchased in Indonesia

BackgroundFlavoured tobacco products are not restricted in Indonesia, a country with about 68 million adults who smoke. Most use clove-mixed tobacco cigarettes (‘kreteks’); non-clove (‘white’) cigarettes are also available. Although...

Utilizing self-report diaries to explore task time distribution of school nurses in UAE.

This study aims to evaluate the roles and tasks of school nurses in the UAE, quantify the time spent on each, and identify areas for improvement in school health services. This aligns with the UAE government's initiative to enhance primary healthcare, focusing on illness prevention and health promotion for children and adolescents. The research adopts an observational study design, utilizing self-observation through diary recordings by school nurses to collect data on their daily tasks and time allocation. A sample of total of 2024 school nurse activities were recorded and analyzed over 126days and 1084h of observation by eight school nurses using self-report diaries. This method allowed for the collection of detailed information on how nursing time is allocated between core and noncore tasks. In this study a total of 2024 tasks were observed over 1084h. The findings reveal that core nursing tasks accounted for 78% of activities but only 53% of the total 1084h observed, while non-nursing tasks, making up 22% of activities, disproportionately consumed 47% of the hours. This discrepancy highlights the inefficiency of time allocation, with non-nursing tasks such as administrative duties taking significantly longer than core patient care tasks. The study highlights a significant opportunity to enhance school health services in the UAE by optimizing the allocation of nursing time towards more illness prevention and health promotion interventions. By addressing the identified challenges, including the gaps in nurse competencies and the lack of structured practice frameworks, school health services can be improved.

Early maladaptive schemas as a risk factor for fibromyalgia: A case-control study.

There is evidence supporting the relationship between early stress and childhood trauma and the development of fibromyalgia (FM). Early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) are considered a consequence of early stress. Previous research has shown their role in maintaining stress responses and their relevance in other populations with pain. The main aim of this study has been to analyze the presence of EMSs in patients with FM compared to healthy adult women. In addition, the relationship between the strength of EMSs and pain intensity was tested. The total sample consisted of 167 women: 83 patients with FM and 84 healthy controls. Chi-square analyses showed that the percentage of participants with clinically significant scores is higher for patients with FM in 11 of the 18 EMSs evaluated. Moreover, discriminant analyses revealed that these EMS are useful to discriminate between FM and healthy controls, classifying 74.2% of original cases. In relation to the second aim, the mean pain intensity correlated with the strength of several EMSs: approval seeking, unrelenting standards, insufficient self-control, and mistrust/abuse. The current study highlights that a high rate of patients with FM have clinically significant EMSs compared to healthy matched controls, as has been found in other populations with pain. Besides, this study provides initial evidence that EMSs are positively associated with the pain experienced by patients with FM, suggesting the existence of a possible association between early stress and pain. Therefore, taking EMSs into account could be of great relevance to clinicians. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Treponema Pallidum rapid syphilis compared diagnostic algorithm syphilis in men who have sex with men (MSM).

Syphilis infection can be asymptomatic and difficult to diagnose based on clinical symptoms. Early detection and treatment are critical for preventing and controlling syphilis as well as long-term serious complications. A serological examination based on the diagnostic algorithm was used to confirm the diagnosis of syphilis. Syphilis is frequent in high-risk groups, such as men who have sex with men (MSM). Treponema pallidum (TP) rapid can be used for early syphilis detection. The diagnostic value of TP rapid with diagnostic algorithm (RPR-TPHA) utilizing whole blood in MSM should be studied. To determine the diagnostic value of TP rapid syphilis test compared to a diagnostic algorithm (RPR-TPHA) among MSM. A diagnostic test with a cross-sectional design at Dr Mohammad Hoesin Palembang General Hospital from November 2022 to January 2023. The sampling method was consecutive sampling with a total sample of 83 MSM based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. All samples were tested for RPR, TPHA, and TP rapid. The diagnostic value of TP rapid was evaluated with RPR-TPHA as a diagnostic algorithm for syphilis. The sensitivity and specificity value of the TP rapid compare diagnostic algorithm as gold standard were 95.8% and 96.6% respectively. Other metrics: positive predictive value (PPV) 92%, negative predictive value (NPV) 98%, positive likelihood ratio (PLR) 28.27, negative likelihood ratio (NLR) 0.04, accuracy 96% and AUC 0.962. The TP rapid test has a high diagnostic value and can be used to establish an early diagnosis of syphilis in MSM.

Supportive psychotherapeutic intervention and video directing observed therapy to increase family adherence

To determine the effect of supportive psychotherapy and video-directing observed therapy interventions on family compliance in assisting patients with mental disorders in the working area of the Kabila Health Center, Bone Bolango District, Gorontalo City. Research design quasi-experimental design with a one group pre- and post-test design, where the variables to be measured are family adherence in providing treatment assistance, which are included in the dependent variable. The independent variables in this study were supportive psychotherapy and video-directed observation therapy. The sampling technique used was a total sampling technique with a sample size of 39 respondents. Data analysis was performed using univariate analysis, namely descriptive analysis (frequency, percentage, median, minimum value, and maximum value) and bivariate analysis (Wilcoxon test), with a significance level of <0.05, which was performed using SPSS version 25 software. Supportive psychotherapy and video-directing observed therapy increased family compliance accompanying the treatment of patients with mental disorders (p-value of x1=0.020, x2=0.000, p<0.05). Supportive psychotherapy interventions and video-directed observed therapy have been proven to increase family compliance in treatment assistance, which can improve the quality of life of patients with mental disorders.

Activity Card Sort’s existence and execute in various languages and versions: A scoping review

Background: Activity Card Sort (ACS) measures patient activity participation, especially in older adults. It was developed to evaluate instrumental, social, and leisure activities of low and high demand in various populations. Transferring an ACS tool between diverse settings is challenging due to significant socio-economic, linguistic, and environmental impacts. Hence, to tailor ACS tools to a specific society’s socio-cultural context, comprehension of the accessible validated ACS tools and their psychometric attributes is essential. Objective: This scoping review was conducted to explore the availability of the ACS tool and to summarize the psychometric properties, such as the reliability and validity, of different languages and versions of ACS available worldwide. Materials and methods: A search was performed in PubMed, PsycNET, Cochrane, and Embase. Two independent reviewers conducted the screening process and extracted the data. The total sample included 370 articles, of which 26 studies met the inclusion criteria, providing information on psychometric properties. English and non-English versions (Arabic, Dutch, and Spanish) in different populations were included. Results: Among the 26 studies in this review, most ACS studies used the English version (62.5%). All the reported studies revealed “good” internal consistency, in which the Cronbach’s alpha (α) ranges between 0.61 and 0.91. Test-retest reliability was measured using ICC values ranging from 0.78 to 0.98 for numeric data and Kappa statistics for binary data. Two studies used Kappa statistics to test the reliability, which ranged from 0.48 to 0.85 for all domains, indicating moderate to good reliability. Measures of content validation, face validity, concurrent, convergent, and discriminative validity were also reported. Conclusion: Good psychometric properties were reported. No study is available on the Indian population using the ACS tool. Hence, developing and validating an ACS tool for the Tamil Nadu population is needed.

Association of asthma risk factors and the prevalence of the disease in a population of Brazil.

Background. Asthma, a chronic lower airway disease, affects all age groups worldwide. Its prevalence varies globally, with Brazil estimating over 10% affected. Risk factors include obesity, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and environmental exposures. Understanding these factors is crucial for effective prevention strategies. The aim of our study was to evaluate the association between the previously described asthma risk factors and the prevalence of asthma in a population of Brazilian adults. Methods. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted using data collected from 7,891 patients. All patients in the database > 18 years of age were included. The following variables were collected from the health plan database: age, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol consumption, sedentary lifestyle, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and asthma diagnosis. The frequency of the collected variables was compared between patients with or without an asthma diagnosis, and logistic regression was performed. Results. Of our total sample (7,891 patients), 150 (1.9%) had asthma. The mean age of patients with asthma was 39.4 years. 1.4% of normal weight patients had the diagnosis of asthma, while 2.4% of overweight and 2.2% of obese patients had the diagnosis. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that a sedentary lifestyle and overweight and obesity were independently associated with asthma prevalence Odds Ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval]: (1.61 [1.16-2.22] and 1.25 [1.03-1.52] respectively). Conclusions. Our data provide evidence that some clinical characteristics, such as sedentarism, overweight, and obesity, may be related to the prevalence of asthma in an adult population in southeastern Brazil. Such factors could be modified and better understood through multidisciplinary research and health programs that evaluate the risk factors for asthma in large populations.

Self-Supervised Simple Siamese Framework for Fault Diagnosis of Rotating Machinery With Unlabeled Samples.

Fault diagnosis is vital to ensuring the security of rotating machinery operations. While fault data obtained from mechanical equipment for this issue are often insufficient and of no labels. In this case, supervised algorithms cannot come into play. Hence, this article proposes a self-supervised simple Siamese framework (SSF) for bearing fault diagnosis based on the contrastive learning algorithm SimSiam which uses a simplified Siamese network to find the distinguishable features of different fault categories. SSF consists of a weight-sharing encoder applied on two inputs, a nonlinear predictor and a linear classifier. SSF learns invariant characteristics of fault samples via maximizing the similarity between two views of each inputted sample. Several data augmentation (DA) methods for vibration signals, which provide different sample views for the model, are also studied, for it is crucial for contrastive learning. After fine-tuning the learned encoder and a linear layer classifier with a small subset of labeled data (1%-5% of the total samples), the network achieves satisfactory performance for bearing fault diagnosis. A series of experiments based on the data from three different scenarios are used to verify the proposed methods, getting 100%, 99.38%, and 98.87% accuracy separately.

A contemporary look at the relationship between general cognitive ability and job performance.

The relationship between general cognitive ability (GCA) and overall job performance has been a long-accepted fact in industrial and organizational psychology. However, the most prominent data on this relationship date back more than 50 years. This meta-analysis examines the relationship between GCA and overall job performance using studies from the current century. Results across 153 samples and a total sample size of 40,740 show a mean observed validity of .16, with a residual SD of .09. Correcting for unreliability in the criterion and correcting predictive studies for range restriction produces a mean corrected validity of .22 and a residual SD of .11. While this is a much smaller estimate than the .51 value offered by Schmidt and Hunter (1998), that value has been critiqued by Sackett et al. (2022), who offered a mean corrected validity of .31 based on integrating findings from prior meta-analyses of 20th century data. We obtain a lower value (.22) for 21st century data. We conclude that GCA is related to job performance, but our estimate of the magnitude of the relationship is lower than prior estimates. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Disaster education as an effort to improve students' flood mitigation preparedness

Reducing disaster risk is an important thing that needs to be done at all levels of society, including students. This study aims to determine students' level of preparedness for flood disasters and the efforts made by schools in dealing with flood disasters. This study used a descriptive quantitative method conducted at SMA Negeri 1 Jeneponto. The population in this study was 95 students, with a total sample of 49 students determined using the Slovin formula with a ten percent margin of error. The data collection techniques used questionnaires, interviews, and documentation. The research results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results of the study showed that knowledge of attitudes, emergency response plans, disaster warning systems, and students' disaster preparedness when a flood disaster occurs are included in the "very prepared" category. This research has implications for school practice in terms of developing a school curriculum that includes material on natural disasters and risk reduction, as well as training teachers and educators to teach and communicate about natural disasters to provide appropriate information to students.

The search for DA double white dwarf binary candidates from SDSS DR14

Aims. Double white dwarf (DWD) binaries are one of the channels through which type Ia supernovae explosions occur. With the release of more and more sky survey data, the search for additional DWDs has become a possibility. We utilized the spectroscopic data from SDSS DR14 to search for DWD binaries based on variations in radial velocities (RVs). Methods. We obtained a sample of 4089 DA white dwarfs (WDs) with two or more spectra from SDSS DR14, and their RVs were derived using the cross-correlation function. Using the chi-squared (χ2) distribution of RVs as a base, we calculated the corresponding logarithmic probabilities (log p) for different degrees of freedom. Results. We selected the targets with log p < −3.0 and obtained 65 highly credible DWD candidates, of which 56 were newly discovered. We compared the distributions of the Teff, log g, and mass of the DWD candidates and found that the mass distribution of DWDs has two peaks. The primary peak, located at 0.45 M⊙, is lower than the peak of the total WD sample, while the secondary peak, located at 0.60 M⊙, is similar to the peak of the total sample. Finally, we crossmatched our sample with Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) photometry data and identified two targets with clear periodic variability. Based on the shape of their light curve, we think both could be white dwarf main-sequence binary stars

Estimation of Cronbach reliability based on sample size, gender, and the grades

<span lang="EN-US">The study tries to see the effect of different sample sizes on the reliability of creativity tests using Cronbach’s alpha. In addition, the background of the sample (gender and grade) is also detected. The study has a practical significance for designing a sample for estimating reliability using Cronbach alpha. The secondary data are used for analysis. The sample of creativity test is determined purposively, that is, has been administered to 1,960 students. The α-coefficient calculation uses the SPSS program. The result proves in the total sample, the creativity test is reliable (α=0.852). In small sample sizes, the α-coefficients values vary greatly in the different test groups. In the larger sample size, the α-coefficients are closer to constant in the different test groups. For a polytomous scale test with a length of 20 items, the α-coefficients obtained close to constant on the sample size of more than 80 testees. This result indicates for the optimum result the sample size is at least four times larger than the number of test items in reliability analysis, especially Cronbach alpha. Based on the gender aspect, descriptively the α-coefficient in the male group (0.846) was almost equal to the female group (0.851). By grouping the testees based on the grades, there are slight differences in α-coefficients in class IV (0.850), class V (0.841), and class VI (0.809). Regarding the results of this study, in the reliability estimation of test development, it is suggested to consider the adequacy and the characteristic of samples.</span>

Analysis of the Indonesian Version of the Statistical Anxiety Scale (SAS) Instrument with a Psychometric Approach

This study aims to validate the psychometric approach (using the RASCH Model and Confirmatory Factor Analysis) on the Indonesian version of the Statistical Anxiety Scale (SAS) instrument. Sampling in this study used cluster random sampling with a total sample of 1651 which was divided into 3 regions of Indonesia (Western Indonesia, Central Indonesia and Eastern Indonesia) with details of 457 males (27.46%) and 1194 females (72.54%). The number of samples from the West Indonesia region was 922 people (55.71%), the Central Indonesia region was 605 people (36.76%), and the Eastern Indonesia region was 124 people (7.53%). The results of the factor analysis (CFA) show that the dimensions/elements of the SAS instrument meet the criteria which are then continued using the Rating Scale Model (RSM) approach. From the results of the tests performed, it shows that all items on the Statistical Anxiety Scale (SAS) instrument meet the specified criteria. Thus, the SAS instrument adopted in the Indonesian context can be used to measure students' statistical anxiety. The results of the research conducted became the initial capital to increase students' statistical anxiety considering that statistics courses are needed in completing studies, especially quantitative research.

The Effect of Innovation on the Performance of SMEs in Zimbabwe: A Case Study of Manufacturing Companies in Harare

Technological Innovation has become an indispensable tool for organizations to gain competitive advantage, increase performance, venture into new markets and survive in such a competitive atmosphere. A plethora of research has found that technological innovation is a critical factor that improves organizational performance. The study focused on investigating the effects of technological innovation on the performance of SMEs in the manufacturing industry. The study objectives were to establish the factors that influence technological innovativeness among manufacturing SMEs in Zimbabwe, determine the effect of product innovation on the performance of manufacturing SMEs, to ascertain the effect of process innovation on the performance of manufacturing SMEs in Zimbabwe and to establish the challenges faced by SMEs in the manufacturing sector adopting technological innovation in Zimbabwe. A quantitative research approach was adopted. The researcher used simple random sampling in this study and every member in the sample size has an equal opportunity to be selected. A total sample size of 66 respondents was selected randomly. A structured questionnaire was distributed to respondents and the response rate was approximately 76%. Data was processed on excel which was later uploaded on the SPSS and SmartPLS version 3.2.1 softwares. Cronbach Alpha of 0.886 was obtained and this indicated the strong reliability and validity of the study results. Composite and Average variance extracted was also used to assessed the validity of the study. It was discovered that experienced human capital, leadership, access to funding, competition, and organisation mission and culture are important in influencing innovation in SMEs. In addition, the study revealed that product and process innovation had an impact on manufacturing SMEs’ organizational performance that was statistically significant. It emerged that product and process innovation improves a number of financial performance indicators for a business, including sales growth, market expansion, rising customer happiness, and rising profit margins. Therefore, in line with the findings, the study recommends that the government must develop and implement a wide range of innovation policies that encourage best practices and support company growth and should support the creation and ongoing operation of innovative businesses through partnerships. Future studies should expand the study’s scope and sample size and other factors related to product and process innovations. In addition, future research has to take into account the creation of national and regional government policies that encourage innovation among SMEs.

An Approach to the Performance of Passport Services through Workload and Work Environment: Study at the Wonosobo Immigration Office

This study aims to identify the effect of workload and work environment on the performance of passport issuance services at the Wonosobo Immigration Office. Workload is defined as a series of tasks that must be carried out by a work unit within an organization or by an individual who serves in a position within a certain period of time. Meanwhile, the work environment is defined as a place where a worker completes his duties in accordance with the goals to be achieved. There is a mismatch in the number of human resources in passport services compared to the high level of passport applications. The research method used in this research is quantitative method. Data collection was carried out through observation and distribution of questionnaires. Sampling using total sampling techniques, and data analysis was carried out using a Likert scale. The data analysis technique applied in this study is using multiple linear regression data analysis techniques. The results of data collection show the significance of workload of 0.32 and work environment of 0.21 greater than 0.05, which means that there is an influence of workload and work environment on employee performance in passport services. This study recommends increasing the number of human resources and improving the work environment to improve the performance of passport issuance services.