Wilcoxon Sign Rank Research Articles

Assessing blood flow in uterine fibroids using intravoxel incoherent motion imaging compared with dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI

To assess the utility of IVIM parameters in evaluating uterine fibroid blood flow compared to dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) derived blood flow. Sixteen premenopausal women with uterine fibroids were enrolled in this prospective study. Pelvic MRI scans were obtained for each subject, both with and without continuous intravenous infusion of oxytocin, known to decrease significantly uterine fibroid blood flow, to assess the changes in blood flow of uterine fibroids. IVIM and DCE analyses were conducted using separate dedicated software. The bi-exponential IVIM model was used to estimate perfusion fraction (f), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*), and diffusion coefficient (D). DCE blood flow values were derived via T1 perfusion deconvolution arithmetic, utilizing a first pass of an AIF curve. The correlation between the parameters were analyzed by Spearman’s rank correlation analysis due to small sample size. Means of the parameters were compared with a nonparametric Wilcoxon sign rank method for each pair. Statistically significant positive correlations were found between perfusion fraction values and DCE blood flow values with oxytocin (Spearson’s ρ = 0.78, p = 0.0004), and between fD* values and DCE blood flow values with oxytocin (Spearson’s ρ = 0.64, p = 0.0071). Significant differences in blood flow were detected across most IVIM parameters: f, D*, and fD* (p < 0.001, p = 0.0027, and p = 0.0002, respectively) when comparing the values without oxytocin and with oxytocin. IVIM imaging shows promise for assessing blood flow in uterine fibroids.

Outcomes of Concentrated Bone Marrow Aspirate with Extracellular Matrix in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients with Capitellar Osteochondritis Dissecans.

Humeral capitellar osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions can be challenging to treat. Past studies have demonstrated grafting with extracellular matrix with bone marrow aspirate concentrate (ECM-BMAC) to be a viable technique for treatment of talar dome OCD, though little literature exists regarding application of this technique to the capitellum. This study aimed to report patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and return to sport (RTS) of pediatric patients at ≥1-year postoperatively who underwent ECM-BMAC grafting for capitellar OCD lesions. A consecutive, single surgeon series of patients aged <18 years with unstable, contained humeral capitellum OCD who underwent ECM-BMAC grafting and had ≥1-year of clinical follow-up were included. Elbow range of motion (ROM), RTS time, postoperative sport level, and complications were recorded at follow-up visits. PROs, including Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) Pedi-FABS, QuickDASH, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Mobility, PROMIS Pain Interference, and PROMIS Upper Extremity, were obtained at baseline and ≥1-year postoperatively. Both PROs and ROM were compared pre- and postoperatively using Wilcoxon Signed-Rank tests based on normality testing with Shapiro-Wilk tests. Twenty patients were included (mean age 12.8 ± 1.4 years) with an average 22.2 ± 13.0 months follow-up. Fifteen (75%) patients were female. The most common primary sports were gymnastics, baseball/softball, and racquet sports. Flexion improved significantly at ≥1-year postoperative, while extension remained close to full pre- and postoperatively. PROs improved from pre- to postoperative for all assessed instruments except for the HSS Pedi-FABS. Eighteen patients returned to their primary sport at the same competitive level or higher at a mean 5.8 ± 1.2 months. The two patients who did not return to their primary sport changed sports due to preferences unrelated to their elbow. There were no complications (e.g. infection, stiffness, revision surgery). This study demonstrated that ECM-BMAC grafting is a viable treatment strategy for pediatric patients with unstable, contained capitellar OCD lesions. We observed favorable PROs with a ∼90% RTS rate ≥1-year postoperatively, supporting the results of this technique that has demonstrated success in other anatomic regions and adult populations. These findings suggest ECM-BMAC grafting to be a viable treatment option for contained capitellar OCD lesions. Although these early results are promising, longer-term research studies are paramount in determining the outcomes of patients with capitellum OCD lesions treated with ECM-BMAC grafting.

Integrating Retinal Segmentation Metrics with Machine Learning for Predictions from Mouse SD-OCT Scans

Purpose This study aimed to initially test whether machine learning approaches could categorically predict two simple biological features, mouse age and mouse species, using the retinal segmentation metrics. Methods The retinal layer thickness data obtained from C57BL/6 and DBA/2J mice were processed for machine learning after segmenting mouse retinal SD-OCT scans. Twenty-two models were trained to predict the mouse groups. The best neural network model was optimized for better outcomes. Prediction accuracy, the area under the curve, sensitivity, specificity, precision, and F-1 score values were obtained. Results The Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test provided significantly higher validation accuracy for neural networks than decision trees, discriminant analysis, support vector machines, and k-nearest neighbor classifiers (p = 0.005 for all). For C57BL/6-DBA/2J classification, a mean validation accuracy of 88.11 ± 3.92% (95% CI: 86.99-89.22) was achieved for the neural network when the optimized neural network had 92.31% final test accuracy with an area under the curve value of 0.9762, 94.44% sensitivity, 90.48% specificity, 89.47% precision, and 0.92 F-1 score. The optimized neural network model for age group differentiation had a final test accuracy of 82.05% with a 0.9064 area under the curve value, 77.27% sensitivity, 88.24% specificity, 89.47% precision, and 0.83 F-1 score. Conclusions These findings validate that machine learning, using segmentation metrics instead of images, can effectively analyze retinal OCT scans in mice for categorical predictions in experimental models. Expanding this approach with additional features, including histopathological and functional correlations, is expected to improve the prediction power further, promising valuable applications to predict more complex outcomes in experimental and clinical studies.

Effect of Global Postural Re-education on Pain, Disability, And Posture in Desk Job Workers with Nonspecific Neck Pain: Randomized Control Trial

Objective: To study the effect of Global postural re-education (GPR) on pain, disability, and posture in patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain.Material and Methods: A single-blinded randomized control trial was conducted. A total of 45 individuals, with nonspecific neck pain aged between 20-40 years, with Craniovertebral Angle (CVA) of less than 49 degrees, were randomly assigned to either the GPR or control group, according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The intervention was twice a week, spanning four weeks. Outcome measures included: the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) for pain intensity, the Neck Disability Index (NDI) for disability assessment and the CVA for posture evaluation.Results: To establish the difference between the groups, the Mann-Whitney U test was performed, and within-group analysis was performed by the Wilcoxon sign rank test. NPRS showed significant improvement (p-value=0.02). NDI did not show significant improvement (p-value=0.83); CVA showed significant improvement (p-value=0.0009).Conclusion: This study concludes that GPR was more effective in reducing pain, increasing function, and improving posture than the control group and can be used in regular practice with proper setup.

The Estimation Value of 99mTc-MAA in Comparison with 90Y-PET/MR-based Dosimetry in Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) for Liver Malignancies.

This study intended to compare the radiation dose estimates to target and nontarget liver compartments from 99mTc-MAA SPECT/CT and 90Y-PET/MR scans in liver tumors treated by 90Y-glass microspheres. Dose estimation was performed for twenty-three eligible patients (13M, 10F) after 99mTc-MAA simulation using SPECT/CT imaging, and over 90Y-PET/MR images after 90Y-microsphere therapy. Simplicit90Y™ software was used for voxel-based dosimetry over the liver parenchyma. Dose estimates were obtained for whole healthy liver (HL), healthy injected liver (HIL), and tumor volumes. Pearson correlation, Bland-Altman plot, and Wilcoxon signed-ranks test were used for statistical analysis. The mean tumor dose was 270±111 Gy, the whole liver parenchyma dose was 26 ±12 Gy, and the healthy injected liver dose was 55±18 Gy from 99mTc-MAA simulation. 90YPET/ MR dosimetry yielded a mean tumor dose of 271±125 Gy, a HIL mean dose of 54±18 Gy, and a liver parenchyma dose of 25±12 Gy. An excellent agreement was demonstrated between tumor doses (R2=0.90) and liver doses (R2=0.87), while the agreement was less for HIL doses (R2=0.80). Wilcoxon signed-ranks test yielded no significant difference between the dose estimates for all liver compartments. It was deduced that 99mTc-MAA SPECT/CT simulation provides valuable dose prediction in 90Y-glass microsphere therapy. Despite the difference in volume measurements and dose estimates with 90Y-PET/MR, the predictive value of the 99mTc-MAA simulation was not affected.

Development and Evaluation of a Mindfulness-Based Mobile Intervention for Perinatal Mental Health: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Perinatal mental health problems, such as anxiety, stress, and depression, warrant particularly close monitoring and intervention, but they are often unaddressed in both obstetric and psychiatric clinics, with limited accessibility and treatment resources. Mobile health interventions may provide an effective and more accessible solution for addressing perinatal mental health. Development and evaluation of a mobile mental health intervention specifically for pregnant women are warranted. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 4-week, self-administered mobile mindfulness intervention in reducing anxiety, depression, and stress, and improving emotional well-being, maternal-fetal attachment, and mindfulness skills in a general population of pregnant women. Pregnant women were recruited and randomized to an intervention or a wait-list control group. The intervention group participated in a self-administered 4-week smartphone-based mindfulness program. Anxiety, depression, and stress were assessed as primary outcomes at baseline and postintervention. Secondary outcomes were mental health well-being, maternal-fetal attachment, and skills of mindfulness. The usability of the mobile intervention was also evaluated. A total of 133 pregnant women were randomly assigned to the intervention (n=66) or the control group (n=67). The overall dropout rate was 30% (39/133). Anxiety scores of the intervention group significantly decreased from baseline to postintervention (P=.03, Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test), whereas no significant changes were observed in the control group. Depression and stress scores showed no significant changes. Emotional well-being significantly improved in the intervention group (P=.01). Improvements were observed in maternal-fetal attachment, particularly in attributing characteristics to the fetus (P=.003) and in differentiating the self from the fetus (P=.006). Mindfulness awareness also showed significant improvement (P=.008). Significant between-group effects were identified for mindfulness awareness (P=.006) and attributing characteristics to the fetus (P=.002). After applying the false discovery rate corrections, within-group improvements in emotional well-being, maternal-fetal attachment, and mindfulness awareness remained significant, while between-group differences for emotional well-being and differentiation were not significant. A mobile mindfulness program effectively reduced anxiety and improved emotional well-being, maternal-fetal attachment, and mindfulness awareness in the general population of pregnant women. Mobile interventions may offer a cost-effective and feasible method for promoting perinatal mental health. Clinical Research Information Service KCT0007166; https://tinyurl.com/458vfc4r.

Analysis of macular retinal thickness in polyarteritis nodosa using spectral domain optical coherence tomography

PurposeTo identify the macular retinal layer thickness changes in polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) patients without pathological findings appearing in color fundus photography (CFP), and to investigate the correlations with disease durations.MethodsA total of 24 PAN patients who had been for 3 years or more and underwent SD-OCT were recruited from the UK Biobank, with exclusions for diabetes, eye disease, or abnormal CFP findings. Only the right eyes were included, with each PAN patient paired one-to-one with a control matched for age, sex, and ethnicity. Paired t-tests or Wilcoxon Signed-Rank tests were used to assess the differences in thickness of different retinal layers between groups, followed by linear regression analysis to evaluate the correlations with disease durations.ResultsPAN patients had significantly thinner retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) by 12.27% (mean ± standard deviation = 27.39 ± 8.94 μm for PAN patients and 31.22 ± 5.57 μm for controls, p = 0.048) and thinner outer plexiform and outer nuclear layers (OPL-ONL complex) by 10.67% (44.93 ± 6.59 μm for PAN patients and 50.31 ± 7.60 μm for controls, p = 0.032). Visual acuity and the whole macular thickness showed no statistical difference. The RNFL was thinned by 1.22 μm per year of disease progression (95% confidence interval: 0.12, 2.32, p = 0.042).ConclusionsPAN patients without visual impairments or abnormal CFP findings may exhibit significant thinning in RNFL and OPL-ONL complex. SD-OCT may serve as a useful tool for early screening of ophthalmic changes in PAN.

CLINICAL EVALUATION OF MUTRASAMGRAHANIYA KARMA (ANTIDIURETIC) OF AMRASTHI MAJJA CHURNA (KERNEL POWDER OF MANGIFERA INDICA LINN.) IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PRABHUT-MUTRATA (POLYURIA) AS PER SAMANYA-VISHESHA SIDDHANTA.

Background: Acharya Charaka classified medicinal plants based on their pharmaco-therapeutic properties, providing a valuable reference for Ayurvedic practitioners. In the Shadvirechanashatashritiya chapter, he de-scribed the Mutrasangrahaniya (anti-diuretic) Mahakashaya. According to Ayurvedic texts, Prabhuta Mutrata (polyuria) is characterised by increased frequency and volume of urination. This condition is commonly ob-served in disorders such as Prameha (diabetes and metabolic disorders), Arsha (haemorrhoids), Jwara (fever), and several other pathological states. Polyuria often causes significant social discomfort and embarrassment for affected individuals. In this context, Amra (Mangifera indica Linn.), a plant included in the Mutrasangrahaniya Mahakashaya, was selected for a clinical trial to evaluate its efficacy in managing Prabhuta Mutrata. Methods: The study included 40 randomly selected subjects based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Amrasthi Majja Churna (3 g) was administered orally twice daily before meals for 30 days. The primary symptom, urinary frequency during day and night, was assessed using a gradation scale. The non-parametric data obtained from the study were analysed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test. Conclusion: This study provided evidence to revalidate the concept of Mutrasangrahaniya Karma (anti-diuretic action) of Amrasthi Majja Churna in the management of Prabhuta Mutrata (polyuria), in alignment with the Samanya-Vishesha Siddhanta (the principle of similarity and dissimilarity) described in Ayurveda.

Fracture resistance and marginal fit of three different overlay designs using advanced zirconia-reinforced lithium disilicate CAD/CAM material

BackgroundConservative dentistry introduced modern restoration designs, contributing to the greater use of partial-coverage ceramic restorations. New strong bondable ceramic materials made fabricating partial coverage ceramic restorations easier to restore the badly destructed teeth.Aim of the studyThis study investigated the impact of three distinct overlay preparation designs on the marginal fit (both before and after thermal aging) and the fracture resistance of overlay restorations fabricated using advanced zirconia-reinforced lithium disilicate (ALD) CAD/CAM glass-ceramic blocks.Materials and methodsUsing a standardized preparation protocol, three typodont molars were prepared to receive three different indirect overlay ceramic restoration designs. The typodont teeth were duplicated to get 27 resin dies that were randomly allocated into three groups (n = 9) based on the preparation design; group (O): a traditional overlay preparation with anatomical occlusal reduction, group (OS): anatomical occlusal reduction with circumferential shoulder finish line, and group (OG): anatomical occlusal reduction with a central groove preparation at the mid-occlusal surface. After standardized restorations fabricated following the manufacturer’s guidelines, the restorations were cemented to their corresponding dies and exposed to thermal aging corresponding to 6-month clinical service. Marginal gap was measured before and after thermal aging procedure using an optical microscope. To measure fracture resistance, specimens were loaded till failure using the universal testing machine. The Kruskal Wallis test was utilized to assess data among the groups, followed by Dunn’s post hoc test with Bonferroni correction. Differences in the marginal fit before and after thermal aging were evaluated using Wilcoxon Sign Rank test.ResultsA statistically significant difference in marginal fit was observed between the studied groups, with a p-value of 0.032 where group OS has the lowest micro gap compared to group OG and group O. The fracture resistance group (O) recorded the highest fracture resistance with a statistically significant difference between the studied groups at p value = 0.043.ConclusionsAdjusting the tooth preparation significantly influenced both the fracture resistance load and the marginal fit observed for advanced zirconia-reinforced lithium disilicate glass-ceramic (ALD) overlays.

The Influence of Consumption of Mackerel Nugget on Changes in Anthropometric Status of Stunting Toddler in Rembang Health Center

One of the nutritional problems experienced by Indonesian people is stunting. Stunting is a severe nutritional problem where the impact of stunting can occur in the short term or long term. The consequences of stunting can increase morbidity and mortality during infancy, and lower psychological cognitive function during school years. One real community-based effort that can be made to accelerate overcoming the problem of stunting is by implementing nutritional interventions through a food diversification program from mackerel in the form of nuggets. This research aims to analyze the effect of consuming mackerel nuggets on changes in the anthropometric status of stunted toddlers at the Rembang Community Health Center. This research uses a pre-experimental design with a one-group pre-post-test design. The samples in this study were some stunted toddlers in the work area of the Rembang Health Center, Pasuruan Regency from October 2023 to December 2023 who met the research criteria, consisting of 30 respondents. The sampling technique used is probability sampling with simple random sampling. The data analysis test was carried out using the Wilcoxon sign rank test From the results of the research data analysis, it can be concluded that there is an influence of consumption of mackerel nuggets on changes in the anthropometric status of stunted toddlers with an Asymp Sig (2-tailed) value of 0.000 &lt; significance α (0.05) The use of mackerel fish processed in the form of nuggets can be used as an alternative in providing complementary food to stunted toddlers. Food diversification is the key to success in increasing the appetite of stunted toddlers, whereby by increasing the appetite experienced by toddlers, the problem of stunting will be easier to solve. Keywords: Nugget, Mackerel Fish, Toddlers, Stunting, Anthropometrics

Formation of professional and value orientations of students in the process of Internet socialization in the international professional community

Introduction. The process of forming professional and value orientations of students is influenced by the following factors: the influence of the international professional community, features of Internet socialization (virtual environment, new forms of interaction), and the student’s personal qualities. These factors also influence the modern labor market, which is becoming increasingly global and digital, requiring specialists to possess not only professional skills, but also intercultural communication skills, working in international teams, using digital tools and adapting to rapidly changing technologies. The relevance of the study is due to the need to transform the system of practice-oriented education, prepare students for a successful career in a changing world of professions, develop in them the necessary skills, abilities and competencies for successful professional socialization and competitiveness in the labor market. The purpose of the study is to design and test for effectiveness a model for the formation of professional value orientations of student youth in the conditions of Internet socialization in the process of passing various types of practices. Materials and methods. The material of the study was the data of a survey of 62 students of the Tambov State University named after G.R. Derzhavin and Moscow State University of Technology and Management named after K.G. Razumovsky (First Cossack University). The Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon sign rank test were used to statistically test the significance of the results. Results. It was revealed that in the experimental group, students demonstrated a significant increase in the level of formation of professional and value orientations in the conditions of Internet socialization (U = 343,5; p &lt; 0,05). Discussion and Conclusion. The study showed that professional-oriented Internet platforms are advisable to use in various aspects of the educational process, including passing educational, production, prediploma practices.

Bridging the gap: how entrepreneurship education shapes agribusiness graduates’ prospects

Abstract The ability of agribusiness graduates to start new businesses is crucial in ensuring food security, reducing hunger, and addressing poverty in rural areas. This study aimed to evaluate entrepreneurship education’s direct impact on student’s motivation and potential for starting businesses in agribusiness. This research employed a mixed-method approach, utilizing JASP software to measure the significance of changes in students’ motivation while also using Atlas.ti to analyze students’ suggestions concerning the educational process. The study involved undergraduate agribusiness students to explore their involvement in post-graduation businesses, especially in businesses related to handling and processing perishable agricultural products. Findings indicated that entrepreneurship education significantly influences graduates’ prospects, showing a positive shift in their entrepreneurship motivation. Supported by the Paired Samples T-Test and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test (p-value &lt; 0.001), this research rejected the null hypothesis (H0). Agribusiness lecturers played a vital role in enhancing entrepreneurship motivation by shaping positive attitudes, creating a supportive environment, boosting confidence, and integrating practical training. Higher education institutions should provide facilities like business incubators, collaboration with business entities, and curriculums that support entrepreneurial practices to enhance the likelihood of graduates succeeding in establishing new agribusinesses, along with government policy support to create a conducive learning atmosphere.

Assessing the Impact of Pioglitazone on Fibrosis Progression amongst People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2D): A Retrospective, Multi-centric Real-World Study in Indian Population

Background: NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease) or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) encompasses a spectrum of liver disorders and is the primary cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. The present study seeks to evaluate the effect of Pioglitazone on fibrosis progression, assessed by Fibrosis 4 (FIB-4) in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Materials and Methods: In the present two-center retrospective study, adults with T2D who had at least 2 visits and 2 FIB4 values measured at least 90 days apart (from April 2021 to May 2024) were enrolled. Data was analyzed for descriptive statistics and compared for significance between groups. Statistical differences between the groups were determined by applying the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test and paired t-test. Results: 54 individuals with a mean age of 57.5 years (±12.7) were included for analysis. HbA1c [from 8.93% to 7.58% (p&lt;0.01)] significantly improved while the BMI remained unchanged. Mean FIB-4 scores also significantly dropped from 1.99 at baseline to 1.54 at follow-up (p&lt;0.01). FIB-4 scores declined from baseline in both the indeterminate and high-risk groups. Conclusion: HbA1c and FIB-4 scores were reduced with pioglitazone. It has a protective role against fibrosis progression in people with T2D.

ANALISIS PERBANDINGAN KINERJA KEUANGAN PT. BANK BTPN SYARIAH TBK. SEBELUM DAN SESUDAH IPO (INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERINGI) DI BURSA EFEK INDONESIA

This study aims to determine whether there are significant differences in the financial perfomance of Bank BTPN Syariah before and after going public using the RGEC method, as well as to determine these differences in performance. The data used in this study is secondary data obtained from the published quartely financial reports of Bank BTPN Syariah for the period 2014-2021. While the method used is the comparative method (difference/comparison test), namely the parametric test (paired simples t test) for normally distributed data an the non-parametric test (Wilcoxon sign rank test) for abnormally distributed data. The results in this study indicate that the variabels of non-performing financing (NPF), financing to deposit ratio (FDR), return of assets (ROA), operating cost to income (BOPO), capital adequacy ratio (CAR) have significant differences, because they have sig value. &lt;0,05. While other variabels such as rerturn of equity (ROE) and good corporate governance (GCG) do not have a siginificant difference. The results of this comparison are seen based on descriptive statistics on the ratio of NPF, FDR, and BOPO before the IPO is better than after the IPO. Then the ROA and CAR after the IPO are better than before the IPO. Meanwhile, ROE did not experience a steady change at a good value.

The Impact of Personalized Book Reading Activities Using AI-generated Stories on Vocabulary Acquisition in Preschool Children

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of book reading interventions, employing both traditional and AI-generated stories, on typically developing preschool children’s vocabulary acquisition. Methods: A total of fifteen children aged 3 to 6 participated in this study. All participants were divided into two groups: one reading traditional stories and the other AI-generated ones. Over three weeks, participants engaged in eight structured book reading sessions, including pre-reading, main reading, and post-reading vocabulary activities. Pre- and post-intervention evaluation assessments measured receptive and expressive vocabulary skills for 16 target words. A Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test was conducted to compare the vocabulary accuracy within each group, and a Mann-Whitney &lt;i&gt;U&lt;/i&gt;-Test was conducted to compare the vocabulary accuracy differences between the two groups. Results: Statistical analyses revealed significant improvements in both groups’ receptive and expressive vocabulary accuracy post-intervention, with no significant differences between the traditional and AI-generated story groups. Conclusion: AI-generated stories were found to effectively enhance preschool children’s vocabulary skills comparably to traditional methods. This suggests the feasibility of utilizing AI to create personalized stories for effective vocabulary interventions in language therapy settings. Overall, the study highlights the potential of AI-driven approaches in overcoming traditional method limitations, offering innovative avenues for enhancing children’s vocabulary development.

Community-based education using tempeh nugget modules to increase plant-based protein consumption in preventing stunting

Stunting remains a serious public health issue in Indonesia, including in Karangmuncang Village, Cigandamekar District, Kuningan Regency. One potential solution to this nutritional problem is increasing the consumption of plant-based foods, such as tempeh. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational module based on tempeh nuggets in increasing plant-based protein consumption among housewives with children under five in Karangmuncang. The research used a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test, involving 60 randomly selected respondents. The research instrument consisted of a questionnaire with five main sections: demographic data (age, education, employment, number of children, family income), knowledge about plant-based foods (definition, sources, benefits, and their role in preventing stunting), attitudes toward plant-based consumption (confidence, willingness to try tempeh, and perception of food variety), plant-based consumption behavior (frequency, processing method, and frequency of cooking tempeh), and acceptance of tempeh nuggets (interest, taste assessment, routine consumption plan, and perception of benefits). After four weeks of educational intervention, data were analyzed using the paired T-test for knowledge, the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test for attitudes and acceptance, and the Chi-Square test for tempeh consumption behavior. The results showed a significant increase in knowledge, attitudes, consumption behavior, and acceptance of tempeh nuggets (p &lt; 0.05). These findings suggest that the educational module effectively increases awareness and adoption of plant-based protein foods in the community. Future research should involve larger sample sizes, extended intervention periods, and explore other factors influencing behavior change.

Eye yoga exercises to reduce eye fatigue syndrome during online learning

Background: Eye fatigue syndrome increases as students use computers and smartphones during online learning. Interventions to reduce the eye fatigue syndrome and avoid the severity of its symptoms need to be performed with appropriate and easy-to-practice techniques.Objective: This study aims to determine effects of eye yoga exercises on eye fatigue syndrome in students during online learning. Methods: This study applied one group pretest-post-test design involving 30 students from Universitas ‘Aisyiyah Bandung, West Java Province, Indonesia. Its samples were collected by using a proportional stratified random sampling. The eye yoga exercises were practiced four times for one week and had to begin 30 minutes after the end of online learning. The eye fatigue syndrome was measured using the Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire (CVS-Q). The difference in the intervention effect was calculated by using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test. Results: This study revealed that the yoga eye exercises significantly affected the eye fatigue syndrome (Z= -4.636; p-value &lt; 0.05). The average eye fatigue score decreased; the eye fatigue score before the intervention was 14.40 ± 9.17, and it decreased to 9.17 ± 4.88 after the eye yoga exercise intervention was given.Conclusion: Eye yoga exercises can reduce the level of eye fatigue syndrome in students who are learning by using electronic devices. The exercises can be performed independently to reduce this syndrome when working with a computer or smartphone. This intervention can be a standard for preventing the syndrome in educational institutions by incorporating eye yoga exercises after learning activities, particularly in online learning.

Defining Normal Enthesis Stiffness Range in A Healthy Adult Population.

This study explores the correlation between volunteer demographics with enthesis stiffness and intra and inter -observer agreements using shear wave elastography (SWE). 98 healthy volunteers were recruited. SWE was performed on quadriceps, suprapatellar, infrapatellar, and Achilles entheses. The stiffness measurements were measured in shear wave velocity (SWV). Mann Whitney test revealed insignificant difference in SWV among gender. Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test showed significant difference in SWV between left and right Achilles entheses. Spearman Correlation test revealed moderate negative correlation between SWV and age group in quadriceps (ρ, - 0.45, p < 0.01), and weak negative correlation in suprapatellar (ρ, -0.31, p < 0.01), and left Achilles (ρ, -0.29, p < 0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis showed subjects' demographic significantly predicted quadriceps, suprapatellar and left Achilles entheses stiffness with only age statistically significantly to the prediction (p < 0.05). Kruskal Wallis showed significant differences in SWV for quadriceps (p = 0.01), suprapatellar (p = 0.03), and left Achilles (p = 0.01) among different age groups. Good interobserver [0.79-0.86 (95% CI, 0.32-0.94)] and inter-observer agreement [0.78-0.89 (95% CI , 0.62-0.95)] was found in all the entheses. SWE emerges as a reproducible method for entheses stiffness quantification, with the study highlighting age as a significant factor impacting SWV in quadriceps, suprapatellar and left Achilles entheses. Among the studied entheses, SWV for Achilles enthesis is the highest in all age groups. The study significantly contributes to the understanding of enthesis stiffness by exploring the influence of gender, BMI, and age.

Mobile Learning Effect through Tablet-Assisted Language Learning on Student Success in EFL Writing

The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of mobile learning on writing achievement using tablet PCs. It used a pretest-posttest control group design to assess the effect at a private university in Türkiye. The study involved 55 students and two instructors who volunteered to participate. A 16-week tablet-assisted language learning (TALL) material was used for the treatment group while the control group was instructed in a regular way of using a coursebook pack and a notebook. A validated writing achievement test was used to collect data. To reveal a potential difference between the pretest and posttest results of the groups, a non-parametric equivalent to the t-test for dependent samples, Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks test was employed. To reveal a potential difference between posttest results of the groups, a non-parametric equivalent to the t-test for independent samples, Mann-Whitney U test was employed. In addition, some descriptive statistics were calculated to support the results. The findings revealed that TALL made a significant change in students’ achievement scores in EFL writing; however, the treatment group scores were not statistically and significantly higher than the control group scores based on comparison of both groups’ posttest scores. The findings show that TALL can impact educational practices by replacing traditional classroom practice if need be.

An attention mechanism-based lightweight UNet for musculoskeletal ultrasound image segmentation.

Accurate musculoseletal ultrasound (MSKUS) image segmentation is crucial for diagnosis and treatment planning. Compared with traditional segmentation methods, deploying deep learning segmentation methods that balance segmentation efficiency, accuracy, and model size on edge devices has greateradvantages. This paper aims to design a MSKUS image segmentation method that has fewer parameters, lower computation complexity and higher segmentationaccuracy. In this study, an attention mechanism-based lightweight UNet (AML-UNet) is designed to segment target muscle regions in MSKUS images. To suppress the transmission of redundant feature, Channel Reconstruction and Spatial Attention Module is designed in the encoding path. In addition, considering the inherent characteristic of MSKUS image, Multiscale Aggregation Module is developed to replace the skip connection architecture of U-Net. Deep supervision is also introduced to the decoding path to refine predicted masks gradually. Our method is evaluated on two MSKUS 2D-image segmentation datasets, including 3917 MSKUS and 1534 images respectively. In the experiments, a five-fold cross-validation method is adopted in ablation experiments and comparison experiments. In addition, Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test and Bonferroni correction are employed to validate the significance level. 0.01 was used as the statistical significance level in ourpaper. AML-UNet yielded a mIoU of 84.17% and 90.14% on two datasets, representing a 3.38% ( ) and 3.48% ( ) over the Unext model. The number of parameters and FLOPs are only 0.21M and 0.96G, which are 1/34 and 1/29 of those in comparison withUNet. Our proposed model achieved superior results with fewer parameters while maintaining segmentation efficiency and accuracy compared to othermethods.