Wilcoxon Matched Pairs Test Research Articles

The Influence of Community Empowerment Training for Inland Water Transport Ship Loaders on Students’ Knowledge and Skills

The causes of shipping accidents, as identified by the KNKT investigation, included technical, weather, and human factors. As a result, community empowerment training was conducted in 2023 for loaders of inland waterway transport vessels Class I. This training aimed to enhance participants’ knowledge, insight, and skills regarding loading arrangements and stability testing of inland waterway vessels. The study employed a quantitative descriptive method using primary data from evaluations, including pretests and posttests administered to 30 training participants. The analysis technique utilized was the paired t-test. Results obtained through the Wilcoxon Matched Pair test indicated a significant difference between pretest and posttest scores, leading to the conclusion that participants’ knowledge improved after completing the training. The findings revealed that, out of 30 training participants, only 2 experienced a decrease in scores. Conversely, 28 participants showed positive results (positive rankings), indicating an increase in scores. The average pretest score was 73.67, which increased to an average posttest score of 92.50 following the training. These results were further supported by the significant difference shown in the paired t-test analysis. In conclusion, there was a significant improvement in participants’ knowledge after the training. It is recommended that the program be expanded to include more participants to ensure that the broader community, particularly ship operators, benefits from increased knowledge of shipping safety and proper ship loading practices.

Pengembangan Modul Stop Bullying untuk Meminimalisir Perilaku Bullying

The purpose of this research is to produce a media in the form of a module so that students become more effective in learning about what bullying is. The module is created to assist guidance and counseling teachers in providing guidance and counseling services and to attract students' interest in learning about what bullying is so that they do not become perpetrators of bullying. This research uses the R&D (Research and Development) approach with the ADDIE development model, which consists of the steps: analyze (analysis phase), design (design phase), develop (development phase), implement (implementation phase), and evaluate. (tahap evaluasi). The data collection technique used in this study was conducted through the distribution of questionnaires to 170 students in the X grade at SMK Negeri 1 Malingping, resulting in 0% bullying in the high category, 5% bullying in the moderate category, and 95% bullying in the low category. Then, from the results of the questionnaire distribution, the findings were compiled into a product in the form of a module and the product's validity was tested by several experts, namely content experts, media experts, language experts, and practitioner experts. The product trial was conducted through a service with reference to the pretest and post-test results carried out on 8 students in the moderate bullying category. The 8 samples received scores from the test results using the Wilcoxon matched pairs test, and it was found that all 8 samples were in the negative ranks, meaning these 8 students experienced a decrease in pretest to post-test scores. This indicates that the 8 samples experienced a reduction in bullying behavior with an average score of 4.50 and a sum of ranks of 36.00. Additionally, the results from the statistical table of the Wilcoxon matched pairs test showed an Asymp. Sig. (2-tailed) value of 0.012. Referring to the hypothesis decision-making process, the value of 0.012 is lower than 0.05, indicating that the hypothesis is accepted, meaning the stop bullying module can be considered effective for implementation to students.

Efficacy of diclofenac transdermal patch versus injection as post-cesarean analgesia: A clinical, comparative, single-blind randomized control trial

Objectives: Post-operative pain is a common problem following cesarean delivery. The efficacy of topical application of diclofenac in alleviating pain has not been well established. We aim to evaluate the analgesic effect of transdermal diclofenac patch and compare it with the injectable form. Material and Methods: This is a prospective, randomized, single-blind, and placebo-controlled study. The study protocols and ethical considerations were adhered fully. Parturient women (n = 90) undergoing cesarean section were randomized into two equal groups: the transdermal diclofenac patch (Group A) and the injectable diclofenac (Group B). The surgery was performed under spinal anesthesia. The participant’s demographic data, clinical data, pain relief data collected, compiled, and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 20. The post-operative pain was scored using Visual Analog Scale. Pain relief scores were compared between the groups using Mann–Whitney U-test and Wilcoxon matched-pair test. Results: The participants match in demographic and clinical characters. The pain relief scores at 12 h was – 3.10 ± 0.74 and 3.04 ± 0.21 respectively while at 24 hours was – 2.48 ± 0.51 and 2.09 ± 0.29 respectively in Group A and Group B. The difference between Group A and Group B was statistically significant (P = 0.0022). The pain relief scores in both groups match was statistically significant at 6–24 h and 6–48 h (P = 0.0001, 0.0001). Conclusion: Diclofenac transdermal patch gives equal pain relief as that of routine injectable formulation.

Impact of deep inspiration breath hold, surface-guided radiotherapy, and daily CBCT on the organs at risk in breast cancer radiotherapy

The goal of the study was to assess the impact of deep inspiration breath hold technique (DIBH), surface-guided radiotherapy (SGRT), and daily kilovoltage cone-beam computed tomography (kV-CBCT) on the dose to organs at risk (OAR) in left-sided breast cancer radiotherapy. Twenty-six consecutive left-sided breast cancer patients treated using Volumetric Intensity Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), DIBH, SGRT, and a hypofractionated regimen were retrospectively evaluated in this study. Dose parameters were extracted from dose-volume histograms (DVH). The Wilcoxon Matched Pairs test was used to test dose parameters obtained in free breathing (FB) and DIBH for statistical significance. Multivariable analysis of variance (ANOVA) and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis were used to identify parameters and cut-off points associated with the reduction of the mean heart dose (MHD) by DIBH. Based on published models, the risk of cardiac and lung toxicity (pneumonitis) using SGRT or daily kV-CBCT was estimated and compared. DIBH substantially reduced the MHD (median, 43.6%; range, 4.2% to 75.1%; P < 0.00001). The risk of cardiac toxicity using SGRT increased by 1%, compared to 3.6% to 20.5% using daily kV-CBCT. No significant difference in the risk of radiation-induced pneumonitis using SGRT versus daily kV-CBCT was detected. The ANOVA revealed the relative increase of the left lung volume by DIBH as the only significant impact factor for the MHD. The ROC analysis of this parameter showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.89 (95%CI, 0.71 to 0.98; P < 0.0001). DIBH can substantially reduce the MHD in left-sided breast cancer patients treated with modern radiotherapy techniques and hypofractionation. Patient setup using SGRT compared to daily kV-CBCT may be the preferred option for many patients. In our patient cohort, the relative reduction of the left lung volume by DIBH can be used as a predictor to select patients who benefit from DIBH.

Efficacy of Otago versus Bosu ball exercise protocol on core stabilization, static and dynamic balance in non-specific chronic low back pain: a randomized parallel arm clinical trial

Abstract Chronic non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) is a pain and stiffness in the lower back region for which specific cause of the pain is unknown. Otago exercises and Bosu ball exercises aim to improve balance and reduce pain and disability. There is a lack of literature where these approaches are not compared and hence the need arises to evaluate their efficacy in the management of NSLBP. A randomized parallel arm clinical trial was conducted in physiotherapy outpatient department at tertiary care center located in Belagavi city, India. 36 individuals with NSLBP, where 18 individuals were randomly allocated into two groups, i.e. Group A (Otago exercise) and Group B (both sides utilized (Bosu) ball exercise). Both the groups received conventional therapy (hot moist pack and interferential current therapy) 3 times/ week for 4 weeks. Outcome measures like plank holding test, star excursion balance test (SEBT), single-leg stance test (SLST), visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were assessed at baseline and on day 12 post-treatment. A within-group analysis using the Wilcoxon matched-pairs test and the dependent t-test showed statistically significant improvements in all outcome measures (). Between group analysis has shown both interventions to be equally effective in ODI () in individuals with NSLBP. In conclusion both Otago and Bosu ball exercises were effective, Bosu ball exercise demonstrated greater efficacy in enhancing core stability, static and dynamic balance, as well as reducing disability and pain in individuals with chronic NSLBP. Clinical trial registry of India: registration number CTRI/2023/11/059489

Peningkatan Kapasitas Petani Melalui Pelatihan Pemupukan Tanaman Padi di Provinsi Sumatera Utara

To increase farmers knowledge and skills in managing rice fertilization, the government and related institutions have implemented various fertilizer training programs. This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of rice fertilizer training in increasing the capacity of farmers in North Sumatra Province. This research was carried out at UPT. Agricultural Training and Mechanization for the Food Security, Food Crops, and Horticulture Service of North Sumatra Province on February 20–23, 2024. This research was carried out on 30 training participants from 12 districts in North Sumatra. The data collected consists of primary data consisting of respondent characteristics and pre-test and post-test results. The data were analyzed with the Minitab applications of tware using non-parametric statistical analysis, namely the Wilcoxon Match Pairs Test with a significance level of 0.05. The increase in knowledge of farmers who took part in rice fertilization training was 32.2%. In general, attitudes and responses are classified as high, namely the benefits of the material provided are 100%, the ease of the material to be appliedis 100%, the excessprofits obtained in applying the material are 100%, the suitability of the material with farming needsis 100%, liking orinterest in the material provided was 100%, the desire to apply the material provided was 83.3%, and the plan to implement the material provided was 80%. Keywords: training, pretest, posttest, fertilizing rice plants

How has scientific performance of distinguished young scholars in China changed compared to their early careers?

PurposeThis paper aims to conduct a comparative analysis of the scientific performance of distinguished young scholars in China during the pre-award and early stages of their research careers, aiming to provide insights into their growth pattern.Design/methodology/approachSpearman correlation was used to analyse the correlation between various academic ages and awarding age of the distinguished young scholars. The Wilcoxon matched pairs test was used to analyse variations in their scientific performance across different research stages.FindingsThe findings showed that: a) early successful research experiences significantly impact their emergence as outstanding scientists. While a low correlation exists between publication ages and awards, perseverance proves crucial for later-stage academic achievements; b) productivity increases before awards, with notable variations between first-author and non-first-authored publications; c) collaboration intensifies before awards, particularly in non-first author roles. However, discipline-specific variations highlight the importance of smaller teams and first-author roles, especially in the early career stage; d) the correlation between collaboration and productivity depends on research roles, emphasizing the evolving nature of collaboration dynamics as scholars progress in their careers.Originality/valueThis study could offer a reference for formulating well-founded talent training programs and reward mechanisms.

Same-Day Repeatability and 28-Day Reproducibility of Xenon MRI Ventilation in Children With Cystic Fibrosis in a Multi-Site Trial.

MRI with xenon-129 gas (Xe MRI) can assess airflow obstruction and heterogeneity in lung diseases. Specifically, Xe MRI may represent a sensitive modality for future therapeutic trials of cystic fibrosis (CF) therapies. The reproducibility of Xe MRI has not yet been assessed in the context of a multi-site study. To determine the same-day repeatability and 28-day reproducibility of Xe MRI in children with CF. Four-center prospective, longitudinal. Thirty-eight children (18 females, 47%), median interquartile range (IQR) age 12 (9-14) years old, with mild CF (forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) ≥85% predicted). 3-T, two-dimensional (2D) gradient-echo (GRE) sequence. Xe MRI, FEV1, and nitrogen multiple-breath wash-out for lung-clearance index (LCI2.5) were performed. To assess same-day reproducibility, Xe MRI was performed twice within the first visit, and procedures were repeated at 28 days. Xe hypoventilation was quantified using ventilation-defect percentage (VDP) and reader-defect volume (RDV). For VDP, hypoventilated voxels from segmented images were identified using a threshold of <60% mean whole-lung signal and expressed as a percentage of the lung volume. For RDV, hypoventilation was identified by two trained readers and expressed as a percentage. Inter-site comparisons were conducted using Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric tests with Dunn's multiple-comparisons tests. Differences for individuals were assessed using Wilcoxon matched-pairs tests. Bland-Altman tests were used to evaluate same-day repeatability, 28-day reproducibility, and inter-reader agreement. A P-value ≤0.05 was considered significant. Median FEV1 %-predicted was 96.8% (86%-106%), and median LCI2.5 was 6.6 (6.3-7.4). Xe MRI had high same-day reproducibility (mean VDP difference 0.12%, 95% limits of agreement [-3.2, 3.4]; mean RDV difference 0.42% [-2.5, 3.3]). At 28 days, 26/31 participants (84%) fell within the same-day 95% limits of agreement. Xe MRI may offer excellent same-day and short-term reproducibility. 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

Application of Range of Motion Exercises to Increase Muscle Strength in Non-Hemorrhagic Stroke Patients

Stroke is a disruption of blood flow in the brain, patients who suffer from weakness in the limbs can cause a decrease in muscle strength, so they cannot move their body. Solutions to prevent and reduce disability, complications and death after having a stroke. Rehabilitation in stroke patients one of them is by doing Range of Motion exercises. Objective: This study was to analyze the application of ROM exercise to increase muscle strength in ischemic stroke patients. Design: This study used quasi-experimental with Pre-Test and Post-Test approaches with a sample of 15 people using Purposive Sampling techniques. Data analysis using the Wilcoxon Match Pairs test. The data collected consisted of respondents' characteristics in the form of age, gender, history of stroke and muscle strength. The instrument used is an observation sheet and muscle strength measurement, MMT (Manual Muscle Testing). Results: Showed that there was an increase in muscle strength after (post-test) intervening with an average value of 4,13, while muscle strength up to condition 5 (normal) after implementing as many as 7 people (40,67%).

Evaluation of peroxide release during nonvital bleaching using three different coronal barriers: An in vitro study.

Peroxide from bleaching agents can cause external cervical resorption. An intracoronal barrier is used to prevent leakage of bleaching agents into the periradicular space. This study aims to determine and compare the amount of peroxide released, during non vital bleaching at the end of 1st and 3rd day using Glass ionomer cement (GIC), Mineral Trioxide aggregate (ProRoot MTA) and Biodentine as intracoronal barriers. Forty-five single-rooted teeth were selected for the study and root canal therapy was performed. Three millimeters of the coronal gutta-percha were removed and according to the coronal barrier placed, samples were divided into Group A: GIC, Group B: ProRoot MTA, and Group C: Biodentine. Nonvital bleaching was done using sodium perborate and 30% H2O2. Peroxide released at the end of the 1st and 3rd day was analyzed using potassium iodide and ultraviolet spectrophotometer. This was done using the Wilcoxon matched pair test and the Kruskal-Wallis test. No significant difference in intergroup comparison at the end of 1st and 3rd day, respectively (P > 0.05), a significant difference was found in the MTA group at follow-up dates (P < 0.05). All the three tested materials (GIC, MTA, and Biodentine) may be preferred as intracoronal barrier for nonvital bleaching.

Evaluation of Two Different Approaches to Health Education (Tailored Leaflet vs Video) on Referral Compliance for Prosthetic Replacement of Missing Teeth Among the Patients at a University Dental Care Center.

To assess whether a health education video increased prosthodontic treatment demand for replacing missing teeth compared to a traditional health education (IEC) leaflet among patients visiting a university dental care center in Saudi Arabia. A nonrandomized educational intervention was conducted among patients with missing teeth. A total of 350 participants were divided equally into two health-education intervention groups: leaflet group and video group. Two major variants were ascertained: demand for prosthodontic dental care and awareness (knowledge) about the importance of replacing missing teeth. These two variants were studied for the difference in the scores between base line and at the end of the program (after 3 months). Bivariate analysis was done with chi-square test, McNemar chi-square test, and Wilcoxon matched-pairs tests, and finally binary logistic regression analysis was done. The final analysis included 324 participants. There was improvement in both knowledge and demand for prosthodontic care in both the groups after health education, but a statistically significant improvement in demand for dental care was observed in the video group compared to the leaflet group (42.9% vs 63.2%). Logistic regression analysis identified that missing teeth in the anterior region and being in the video group were two significant factors associated with increased demand for care. The health education video method was found to be a more effective method compared to leaflets in improving knowledge and demand for replacing missing teeth.

77 Impact of CBM588 on gut microbiome composition and dysbiosis in patients receiving frontline immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) combinations for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC)

Abstract Background Two recent randomized phase I clinical trials have provided compelling evidence that CBM588, a Clostridium butyricum-based live biotherapeutic, holds potential to enhance clinical outcomes in patients with mRCC receiving frontline ICI combinations (Dizman et al Nature Medicine 2022; Ebrahimi et al ASCO 2023). We examined the impact of CBM588 on gut microbiome composition in a combined cohort of these two studies to further investigate its impact on gut microbiome Methods We analyzed stool samples from two phase I randomized clinical trials that enrolled patients with mRCC treated with (1) nivolumab/ipilimumab (nivo/ipi) +/- CBM588 and (2) cabozantinib/nivolumab (cabo/nivo) +/- CBM588. We compared gut microbiome diversity and composition at baseline and week 12 between patients in the standard of care (SOC) arms (nivo/ipi or cabo/nivo) and those who received CBM588 in combination with a SOC regimen (SOC/CBM). Taxonomic profiling was performed using MetaPhlan v4, and changes in the abundances of clinically relevant microbial species from baseline to week 12 were assessed using the Wilcoxon matched pairs test. The ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes, a measure of gut dysbiosis, was computed across time points in the two cohorts. Results Among 58 patients included in the analysis, 38 received SOC/CBM588 as first-line treatment. The median age was 60 years (range: 36-90) and the majority of patients were male (71%), had clear cell mRCC (88%), and intermediate/poor risk disease (79%). In both the SOC and SOC/CBM cohorts, there were no statistically significant differences in alpha and beta diversity between baseline and week 12. Among clinically relevant species compared between baseline and week 12, Alistipes senegalensis was found to decrease in both the SOC and SOC/CBM cohorts (log fold change [LFC] -0.82 [P=0.004] and LFC -0.36 [P=0.007], respectively), while Eubacterium siraeum decreased only in the SOC cohort (LFC -1.75 [P=0.005]). The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio increased from 89.0% to 96.4% in the SOC cohort, whereas a notable decrease was observed in this ratio from 100.0% to 75.7%. in the SOC/CBM cohort. Conclusions CBM588 leads to a marked correction of gut dysbiosis and prevents the depletion of species previously associated with ICI response (i.e., Eubacterium siraeum). These findings provide a plausible mechanism for the enhanced clinical outcome with CBM588 now seen across two small, randomized trials. A phase III study is planned within the cooperative groups to evaluate the clinical activity and gut microbiome modulation capacity of CBM588 in combination with ICIs in mRCC.

72 Impact of microbiome modulation on serum cytokine profile in a randomized, phase I trial of cabozantinib/nivolumab (cabo/nivo) with or without CBM588 in pts with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC)

Abstract Background We have previously demonstrated that the orally administered, live bacterial product CBM588 can augment clinical outcomes with cabo/nivo in pts with mRCC (Ebrahimi et al ASCO 2023). As it is postulated this effect may be mediated through changes in systemic immunity, we sought to characterize changes in serum cytokine profile induced by CBM588. Methods Pts with previously untreated mRCC with clear cell, papillary or sarcomatoid histology were enrolled. Key eligibility criteria included Karnofsky performance status ≥ 70% and measurable disease. Pts were randomized to receive cabo/nivo on a standard schedule alone or the same regimen with CBM588 at 80 mg bid. Pts had blood collection performed at baseline and at weeks 9, 13, 17 and 25. Samples underwent processing within 4-6 hrs of collection, and a total of 30 cytokines and growth factors were assessed using the Luminex Flexmap 3D system (Biotechne). Changes in circulating cytokine levels between baseline and week 13 (± 7 days) were examined across the treatment arms to investigate the impact of CBM588 on the immune system. The Wilcoxon matched-pairs test was used to compare the levels of cytokines at the two timepoints. Results A total of 30 pts were enrolled; the majority were male (67%) and had intermediate- or poor-risk disease (60%). Most pts had clear cell histology (87%); 5 pts (17%) had sarcomatoid features. As previously reported, pts receiving cabo/nivo/CBM588 had a significantly higher response rate as compared to pts receiving cabo/nivo alone (74% vs 20%; P=0.01). Across baseline and week 13, a total of 53 samples were available for assessment. In pts receiving cabo/nivo/CBM588, there was a significant change in the level of IL-12, IL-13, eotaxin, interferon-γ, and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF); this was not observed in the cabo/nivo alone arm. Additional flow cytometric analyses characterizing relevant CD4- and CD8-positive subsets will be presented. Conclusions Taken together with our previous study evaluating nivolumab/ipilimumab with CBM588 (Dizman et al Nat Med 2022), these results suggest that the augmented clinical outcome seen with the addition of CBM588 to cabo/nivo may be related to systemic immunomodulation. Combined analyses of the cohorts across studies are planned.

Comparison of Scheimpflug Imaging (Pentacam HR) and Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography (CASIA2) in Eyes With Macular Corneal Dystrophy.

Assessment of tomographic characteristics and interdevice comparability between Scheimpflug imaging (Pentacam HR, Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany) and swept-source optical coherence tomography (CASIA2, Tomey Corp., Nagoya, Japan) in eyes with macular corneal dystrophy (MCD). Eyes with MCD were examined by Pentacam HR and CASIA2. Interdevice comparison was performed using a Wilcoxon matched pairs test and Bland-Altman plots with 95% limit of agreement. A Spearman rank correlation coefficient was used for correlating indices of both devices. This retrospective study included 31 eyes of 18 patients (mean age: 32.1 ± 10.7 years). Eyes with MCD demonstrated a moderate astigmatism with a Cylinder anterior of 2.56 ± 1.50 D (Pentacam HR) and 2.52 ± 1.57 D (CASIA2) without a difference between both devices. CASIA2 (0.34 ± 0.14 D) measured lower values of Cylinder posterior compared with Pentacam HR (0.96 ± 0.66 D) (P < 0.0001). Comparison of pachymetry (Pentacam HR vs. CASIA2) showed higher values of the central corneal thickness (619 ± 227 μm vs. 445 ± 67 μm, P = 0.0001) and the thinnest corneal thickness (499 ± 165 μm vs. 430 ± 60 μm, P = 0.0167) for Pentacam HR. Corneal densitometry measurement revealed that increasing gray scale units caused a greater interdevice difference for pachymetry values, as Pentacam HR measured higher than CASIA2 for more opaque corneas. Eyes with MCD tend to have thinner corneas and a higher amount of corneal astigmatism than healthy eyes. In advanced MCD, Scheimpflug technology may mistakenly overestimate corneal thickness. The pachymetry measurement of the optical coherence tomography should be used when planning corneal surgery such as excimer laser-assisted phototherapeutic keratectomy to determine the ablation depth.

Influence of prosthodontic rehabilitation and dietary advice on glycaemic control, nutritional status and oral health-related quality of life of older adults with type 2 diabetes.

This prospective clinical study aimed to determine the influence of oral prosthodontic rehabilitation with partial removable dentures and simplified dietary advice on glycaemic control, nutritional status and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of older adults with type 2 diabetes. Individuals with tooth loss who did not wear complete or partial dentures are more likely to be at nutritional risk, suggesting that using dental prostheses would benefit the re-establishment of an adequate nutritional status and potentially improve quality of life. Nutritional therapy is essential for diabetes prevention, treatment and management, favouring glycaemic control. The literature provides little evidence on the contribution of partial removable dentures to improving diabetes control, nutritional profile and satisfaction in older adults, especially those with type 2 diabetes. Older individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, aged 60 years or older and needing oral rehabilitation with partial removable dentures were eligible for this prospective study. The primary outcome measure was glycaemic control, measured by glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. The Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire and the Mini Nutritional Assessment short-form (MNA-SF) represented secondary outcome measures. These measures were assessed at baseline and 12 months of follow-up after prosthesis delivery, combined with simple dietary advice in pamphlet form. The data were analysed using the Wilcoxon matched-pairs test. Forty-four patients who met the inclusion criteria and required treatment with removable partial dentures were selected for this study, which was carried out for a year. During this period, seven participants declined to participate because they moved to another city. Hence, a final sample of 37 participants (16 men and 21 women, average age of 65.8 years, ranging from 60 to 83 years) were included in the study. No laboratory parameter (HbA1c levels) changed significantly during the investigation. The number of older adults at risk of malnutrition was significantly lower at 12 months than at baseline. Furthermore, nutritional status significantly improved 12 months after prosthodontic treatment combined with dietary advice, and the effect sizes were large. OHRQoL significantly improved after prosthodontic therapy combined with dietary advice. Prosthodontic treatment with partial dentures associated with simple dietary advice did not influence glycaemic control but improved the nutritional status and OHRQoL of older adults with type 2 diabetes.

Repeatability of Automatic Measurements by an Anterior Segment Swept-Source OCT Biometer in Patients With Keratoconus.

To evaluate the repeatability of automatic measurements of a new anterior segment optical coherence tomographer (ANTERION; Heidelberg Engineering) and their agreement with an anterior segment optical coherence tomography device combined with Placido disc corneal topography (MS-39; CSO) in patients affected by keratoconus. Fifty-four consecutive patients were included. Three measurements were performed with the ANTERION and one with the MS-39. Repeatability was assessed by means of within-subject standard deviation, coefficient of variation (CoV), and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Agreement was investigated with the 95% limits of agreement. The paired t-test and Wilcoxon matched-pairs test were performed to compare the measurements of the different devices. Repeatability of ANTERION measurements was high, with an ICC greater than 0.98 for all parameters. Many parameters revealed a CoV of less than 1% and a CoV within 5% was obtained for astigmatism measurements. The ANTERION measured a significantly higher corneal power and the MS-39 more negative posterior keratometric values. These differences were mirrored by a moderate agreement for mean simulated keratometry and poor agreement for total corneal power and posterior keratometry. The ANTERION revealed high repeatability of automatic measurements and good agreement with the MS-39 for many parameters in patients affected by keratoconus, but for most parameters the two instruments cannot be considered interchangeable. [J Refract Surg. 2024;40(7):e445-e452.].

The Effectiveness of Video-Based Counseling in Changing Food Handlers' Behavior in School Canteens

The school canteen provides vital nutrients to children, affecting their health and development. Professional food handlers must maintain hygiene. Protecting food from pathogens is crucial. This study examines whether video-based counseling changes food handler behavior at SMP Negeri 11 Banjarmasin cafeteria. This quasi-experimental study has a pretest and posttest for one group. The investigation took 7 days. The study sampled 10 food workers using full sampling. This study compared the mean behavior of the two groups using the Wilcoxon Matched Pairs Test. An effective research study has a post-intervention average score greater than the pre-intervention score and a p-value less than 0.005. Video-based counseling improved knowledge levels, as shown by the considerable increase in pretest and posttest scores. A 0.025 p-value, below the 0.05 significance threshold, supported this improvement. Food handlers who received video-based counseling did not affect their attitude scores between pretest and posttest. A 1,000 p-value, above the 0.05 threshold, confirmed the lack of change. A p-value of 1,000, greater than 0.05, showed no significant difference in behavior between pretest and posttest findings following video counseling to food handlers. Video counseling improved food handler expertise in SMP Negeri 11 Banjarmasin's canteen, according to the Wilcoxon test. Their views and behavior did not alter. This study can inform future research on food handlers' personal hygiene.

Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women: Partitioning Misclassifications by Proxy Data Collection Methods using Weighed Food Records as the Reference in Ethiopia

BackgroundNonquantitative list-based or open 24-h recalls (24-HRs) have been shown to overestimate the prevalence of Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W), as compared with direct quantitative observations. However, the main sources of error are unknown. ObjectivesTo assess the measurement agreement of proxy data collection methods for MDD-W, as compared with weighed food records (WFRs). MethodsApplying a noninferiority design, data were collected from 431 nonpregnant females in Ethiopia. MDD-W estimates from both proxy data collection methods were compared with the WFR prevalence by McNemar’s chi-square tests, Cohen’s Kappa, and receiver operator characteristic analyses. Ten-point food group diversity scores (FGDS) were compared by Bland–Altman plots, Wilcoxon matched-pairs tests, and weighted Kappa. Food group misclassifications were partitioned into errors related to respondent biases or the questionnaire development. ResultsList-based and open 24-HRs overreported MDD-W by 8 and 4 percentage points, respectively, as compared with WFR (objective MDD-W prevalence: 8%). Furthermore, list-based 24-HRs overestimated FGDS by 0.4 points (limits of agreement [LOA]: −1.1, 2.0), whereas open 24-HRs led to a 0.3 point (LOA: −1.2, 1.7) overestimate. Food groups most likely to be misreported using proxy data collection methods were “pulses,” “nuts and seeds,” “dairy products,” and “other fruits.” Underreporting of consumption occurred among <4% of females for all food groups. Furthermore, respondent biases were the predominant cause of food group overreporting, except for the “pulses” and “other vegetables” food groups, where food items incorrectly included on the food list were the main source of errors. ConclusionsFood group consumption misclassifications by proxy data collection methods were mainly attributable to females overreporting consumption because of respondent biases or the criterion for foods to be counted, rather than the suboptimal development of the food list in Ethiopia. To obtain precise and accurate MDD-W estimates at the (sub)national level, rigorous context-specific food list development, questionnaire pilot testing, and enumerator training are recommended to mitigate identified biases.

Leaf and tuber resistance to &lt;I&gt;Phytophthora infestans&lt;/I&gt; and relationship between these traits in wild potato species

Background. Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary is a well-known serious pathogen that affects a wide range of currently grown potato cultivars. Control of the disease, including the breeding process, is complicated by the fact that leaf resistance to P. infestans is often unrelated to tuber resistance, resulting in the need to identify individual plants with leaf and/or tuber resistance to be used in breeding programs. In view of this, research efforts to identify such sources are quite relevant. The objective was to assess the occurrence of plants with resistance in both organs among different wild species and analyze the relationship between leaf and tuber resistance within them.Material and methods. Assessment of leaf and tuber resistance in 97 accessions belonging to 36 species was carried out under artificial inoculation. Using the data obtained on each individual plant, the connection between leaf and tuber resistance was analyzed by means of the Wilcoxon matched-pairs test and Spearman’s rank-order correlations.Results. The species with more frequent occurrence of plants combining leaf and tuber resistance and the species with the predominance of leaf or tuber resistance were identified. The statistical analysis did not show complete (100%) correlations between leaf and tuber resistance in any of studied species. In some cases, a significant positive or negative correlation between these characters was found. The assessment results for the studied species/accessions can facilitate the search for leaf and/or tuber resistance sources capable of improving potato cultivars susceptible to late blight.

End-user verification results of two serum separator tubes for clinical chemistry analytes according to CLSI GP34-A and CLSI GP41-A6

Tube manufacturers use different composition of gels and blood clot activator formulations in serum tube production. Our aim was to investigate the within-tube (repeatability) and between-tube variation, concordance between comparison results of BD and VacuSEL tubes. Blood samples were collected from control subjects (n = 20) and patients (n = 30) in accordance with the CLSI GP41-A6 and CLSI GP34-A guidelines. Twenty-three clinical chemistry parameters were analysed via Roche Cobas C702 Chemistry Analyzer on T0 (0 hour) and T24 (24 hour). Mean differences % were compared with Wilcoxon matched pair test. Clinical significance was evaluated based on desirable bias according to total allowable error (TEa). VacuSEL tubes demonstrated acceptable performance for the results of 20 parameters with regards to desirable bias % limits. Lactate dehydrogenase (LD) [mean difference % (%95 confidence intervals (CI) values of BD and VacuSEL tubes at T0 [6.41% (4.80–8.01%)]; sodium (Na) and total protein (TP) at T24 [-0.27% (-0.46 to −0.07%) and −1.39% (-1.87 to −0.91), respectively] were over the desirable bias limits (LD: 4.3%, Na: 0.23% and TP: 1.36%, respectively) but not exceeding total biological variation CV % [Na: 0.5 (0.0–1.0) % and TP: 2.6 (2.3–2.7) %). %95 confidence intervals (CI) of T0 LD values overlap with within-subject biological variation % (CI) limits (LD: 5.2 (4.9–5.4) %). The differences between two tubes were not medically significant and necessarily conclusive. VacuSEL serum tubes presented comparable performance with BD serum tubes.