Quantification of mantle attachment scars on the Margaritifera margaritifera (Margaritiferidae, Bivalvia) shell

A characteristic feature shared by all Margaritiferidae mussels consists in the presence of scars on the internal surface of their shells. These scars mark places of mantle attachment by specific epithelial cells. According to some authors, such parameters of mantle attachment scars as the density and degree of their manifestation can be used for the purposes of species identification. To this end, quality indicators (numerous or few, pronounced or poorly visible scars) are typically used; however, the use of quantitative criteria is preferable. This work was aimed at developing quantitative indicators of mantle attachment scars in the Margaritifera margaritifera freshwater pearl mussels for the populations of the Syuskyuyanyoki and Livoyoki rivers (Karelia). It is shown that the density and size of mantle attachment scars are approximately the same for all the investigated shell samples. These parameters display the absence of dependence on the age and size of molluscs. The regression coefficients for the linear dependence of the density or size of mantle attachment scars on the age or length of the shell show no significant difference from 0. For all the investigated molluscs, the density and size of mantle attachment scars are established to vary within the range of 0.37–1.16 scars/cm2 (0.71 ± 0.03 scars/cm2 on average) and 215–690 µm (417 ± 2 µm on average), respectively. According to a two-factor analysis of variance, the distribution of mantle attachment scars appears to be irregular across the shell surface. At the same time, a significant (p < 0.001) increase in their density is observed in the posterior and ventral directions, as well as diagonally in the posterior ventral direction. Issues associated with the application of the investigated parameters for the purposes of mollusc species identification are discussed.

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Quantification of mantle attachment scars on the Margaritifera margaritifera (Margaritiferidae, Bivalvia) shell

Arctic Environmental Research ◽

10.3897/issn2541-8416.2019.19.1.81 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 81-86

Author(s):

A. A. Zotin ◽

E. P. Ieshko

Keyword(s):

Factor Analysis ◽

Characteristic Feature ◽

Species Identification ◽

Internal Surface ◽

Regression Coefficients ◽

Margaritifera Margaritifera ◽

Shell Surface ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Mollusc Species ◽

Quantitative Indicators

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Measuring Impact of Stress in Sandwich Generation Caring for Demented Parents

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000114 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 171-179 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Laurence M. Solberg ◽

Lauren B. Solberg ◽

Emily N. Peterson

Keyword(s):

Factor Analysis ◽

Exploratory Factor Analysis ◽

Social Worker ◽

Resource Availability ◽

Well Being ◽

Sandwich Generation ◽

Item Questionnaire ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Adult Caregivers ◽

The Impact

Stress in caregivers may affect the healthcare recipients receive. We examined the impact of stress experienced by 45 adult caregivers of their elderly demented parents. The participants completed a 32-item questionnaire about the impact of experienced stress. The questionnaire also asked about interventions that might help to reduce the impact of stress. After exploratory factor analysis, we reduced the 32-item questionnaire to 13 items. Results indicated that caregivers experienced stress, anxiety, and sadness. Also, emotional, but not financial or professional, well-being was significantly impacted. There was no significant difference between the impact of caregiver stress on members from the sandwich generation and those from the nonsandwich generation. Meeting with a social worker for resource availability was identified most frequently as a potentially helpful intervention for coping with the impact of stress.

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Relevance Predictability in Information Retrieval Systems

Methods of Information in Medicine ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1636254 ◽

1967 ◽

Vol 06 (02) ◽

pp. 45-51 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

A. Kent ◽

J. Belzer ◽

M. Kuhfeerst ◽

E. D. Dym ◽

D. L. Shirey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Information Retrieval ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Treatment Groups ◽

Retrieval Systems ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Information Retrieval Systems ◽

High Predictability ◽

Intermediate Response ◽

Quantitative Indicators ◽

Level Of Processing

An experiment is described which attempts to derive quantitative indicators regarding the potential relevance predictability of the intermediate stimuli used to represent documents in information retrieval systems. In effect, since the decision to peruse an entire document is often predicated upon the examination of one »level of processing« of the document (e.g., the citation and/or abstract), it became interesting to analyze the properties of what constitutes »relevance«. However, prior to such an analysis, an even more elementary step had to be made, namely, to determine what portions of a document should be examined.An evaluation of the ability of intermediate response products (IRPs), functioning as cues to the information content of full documents, to predict the relevance determination that would be subsequently made on these documents by motivated users of information retrieval systems, was made under controlled experimental conditions. The hypothesis that there might be other intermediate response products (selected extracts from the document, i.e., first paragraph, last paragraph, and the combination of first and last paragraph), that would be as representative of the full document as the traditional IRPs (citation and abstract) was tested systematically. The results showed that:1. there is no significant difference among the several IRP treatment groups on the number of cue evaluations of relevancy which match the subsequent user relevancy decision on the document;2. first and last paragraph combinations have consistently predicted relevancy to a higher degree than the other IRPs;3. abstracts were undistinguished as predictors; and4. the apparent high predictability rating for citations was not substantive.Some of these results are quite different than would be expected from previous work with unmotivated subjects.

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Measurement of empathy among health professionals during Syrian crisis using the Syrian empathy scale

BMC Medical Education ◽

10.1186/s12909-021-02835-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mayssoon Dashash ◽

Mounzer Boubou

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Factor Analysis ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Syrian Crisis ◽

Empathy Score ◽

Bartlett’S Test ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Pain And Suffering ◽

Empathy Scale

Abstract Background Health professionals should have certain degree of empathy to eliminate the pain and suffering of their patients. There is a need to design a scale, which can assess empathy among health professionals and is relevant to community and culture. Therefore, this study was undertaken to measure the empathy among Syrian health professionals and students of health professions using a newly designed Syrian Empathy Scale that is relevant to community during Syrian crisis. Methods A cross-sectional observational study was undertaken. A total of 214 participants (118 males and 96 females) responded to the Syrian Empathy Scale SES from Medical (n = 62), Dental (n = 152). They were 59 undergraduates, 116 postgraduates and 39 general practitioners. The SES was designed as a tool that includes 20 items in a 7-point Likert-type scale with overall score ranges from 20 to 140. Group comparisons of the empathy scores were conducted using t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). A factor analysis was performed. Bartlett’s test of the sphericity and the KMO measure of sampling adequacy were also determined. Cronbach’s alpha was calculated. Results A significant difference was found between males and females in the SES mean score. The ANOVA analysis showed that the SES empathy scores of dentists were higher than the SES empathy scores in medical doctors with no significant difference. The SES empathy score of undergraduates was significantly higher than postgraduates and practitioners. Findings of KMO indicated sampling adequacy (KMO = 0.824 > 0.7) and the value of Bartlett’s test of the sphericity (1255.65, df = 190, P-value< 0.001) proved that the factor analysis is meaningful and acceptable. The results of varimax rotation proved that five main factors were retained. Conclusion Findings of this study support the reliability of the newly designed Syrian Empathy Scale for measuring empathy in the field of health care. The SES can be suggested for assessing empathy in different health educational programs. However, future works are still essential to support the validity of the scale as well as to ascertain the role of empathy in improving health care.

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Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Patient Dignity Inventory

Palliative & Supportive Care ◽

10.1017/s1478951521000948 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Yasemin Eskigülek ◽

Sultan Kav

Keyword(s):

Palliative Care ◽

Factor Analysis ◽

Intraclass Correlation ◽

Validity And Reliability ◽

Turkish Version ◽

Retest Reliability ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Test Retest Reliability ◽

Fit Index ◽

Turkish Society

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the Patient Dignity Inventory (PDI) in the Turkish society, which was developed to evaluate dignity-related distress in palliative care patients. Methods One hundred and twenty-seven adults with advanced cancer hospitalized in several clinics of two university hospitals were included in the study. The patients whose Palliative Performance Scale score was at least 40% were recruited to study. The data were collected with a patient demographic form, the Turkish version of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-TR), and the Turkish version of the PDI (PDI-TR). The PDI-TR was finalized and back-translated after translating into Turkish and obtaining 10 expert opinions. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency, concurrent validity, and test–retest reliability analysis were performed. Results The Cronbach's α coefficient of PDI-TR was 0.94. Factor analysis resulted in a five-factor solution, and all items were loaded on factors. Factors were labeled as symptom distress, existential distress, self-confidence, dependency, and supportive care needs and accounted for 68.70% of the overall variance. The model's normed fit index, comparative fit index, and X2/SD were found between acceptable range (0.90, 0.93, and 2.64, respectively). A positive and strong correlation was found between subdimension scores of HADS-TR and the total score of PDI-TR (r = 0.70 for anxiety subdimension; r = 0.73 for depression subdimension). The test–retest reliability was conducted with 32 patients within the sample two weeks after the first application, and no significant difference was found between the two application scores as the result of paired-sample t-test (p > 0.05). An intraclass correlation coefficient of test–retest reliability was r = 0.855. Significance of results PDI-TR was found to be a valid and reliable tool in palliative care patients in Turkish society.

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STUDENT’S CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH AWARENESS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC PROCESS: THE CASE OF SİVAS, TURKEY

European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science ◽

10.46827/ejpe.v7i3.3972 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Erkan Konca ◽

Egemen Ermiş ◽

Necati Alp Erilli ◽

Aydan Ermiş

Keyword(s):

Factor Analysis ◽

Scale Score ◽

Cardiovascular Health ◽

Age Groups ◽

Attitude Scale ◽

Demographic Characteristics ◽

City Centre ◽

Health Awareness ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Total Scale Score

Cardiovascular diseases, one of the important health problems of our day, seriously threaten human health. For this reason, it is very important to raise awareness about cardiovascular health from childhood and to develop behaviors accordingly. The aim of this study is to find out cardiovascular health awareness in students between the ages of 7 and 16 during the pandemic. 216 students continuing their education in the city centre of Sivas, Turkey participated in the study. A survey form on socio-demographic characteristics of the students and Children’s Cardiovascular Health Promotion Attitude Scale (CCHPAS) were used in the study. Demographic characteristics were collected online with a 9-question form. KMO value (0.741) was found to be moderate. Bartlett Sphericity test (p=0.00) was found to be significant. The fact that these two values are significant shows that the survey is suitable for factor analysis. 4 factors were determined as a result of factor analysis. These 4 factors explain 60% of the variance. No statistically significant difference was found in both total scale and 4 factors in terms of gender (p>0.05). While no statistically significant difference was found for the first factor in terms of the state of having social media account (p>0.05), significant difference was found for the other factors and total scale score (p<0.05). It was also examined whether there were differences between factors and total scale score in terms of age groups, and while no statistically significant difference was found in terms of Factor 1, Factor 2 and Factor 4 (p>0.05), difference was found in terms of Factor 3 and total scale scores (p<0.05). As a result of the study, it was found that the participants had good level of awareness about cardiovascular health. Article visualizations:<img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0896/a.php" alt="Hit counter" />

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The Importance of Service Attributes between Low-cost and Full-service Carrier Customers: A case of Airline Type Hybridisation

African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure ◽

10.46222/ajhtl.19770720.190 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (10(6)) ◽

pp. 1741-1757

Author(s):

Nkululeko Funyane

Keyword(s):

Factor Analysis ◽

Maximum Likelihood ◽

Exploratory Factor Analysis ◽

Low Cost ◽

Latent Factors ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Difference

This study sought to assess if the importance attached by customers to the airline service attributes differed across low-cost and full-service airline models. A Mann-Whitney U Test was used to assess the difference between the two models. However, before subjecting the data to differential tests, an exploratory factor analysis (maximum likelihood) was performed on the fifty-five items of service attributes, reducing them into forty-two items retained into ten latent factors (airline service attributes). The results of the revealed a significant difference in the importance attached to staff competence, courtesy and responsiveness only. Such findings suggest that the positioning of airlines into binary (FSC - LCC) models could be a waste of effort and resources since airlines seem to be converging.

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The connection of committing and experiencing cyber-bullying peer violence with depression, anxiety and stress in high school students

10.31124/advance.15155820 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Marija Draganic

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

Factor Analysis ◽

High School Students ◽

Cyber Bullying ◽

Online Identity ◽

School Students ◽

Peer Violence ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Identity Concealment ◽

Explained Variance

This research has aimed to determine whether cyber-bullying peer violence is associated with depression, anxiety and stress in high school students. The research results are based on the data obtained from a sample of 202 Montenegrin high school students. It has been established that committing and experiencing e-violence is associated with depression. Committing and experiencing verbal online violence, as well as involvement in online counterfeiting/criminal acts, is associated with depression, while involvement in online identity concealment and lies has no connection with depression. When it comes to anxiety, the results of this research show that involvement in verbal e-violence and in online counterfeiting/criminal acts leads to anxiety, while committing and experiencing online identity concealmentis not related to anxiety. When it comes to committing and experiencing verbal online violence and stress, although there is a statistically significant difference, it is not applicable for all values. Consequently, we cannot draw a strong enough conclusion about it. Victims of online counterfeiting and criminal acts, according to the results of our research, have a higher level of stress than those not involved in this type of cyber-bullying peer violence.Cyber victim and bullying scale has been used to collect data on committing and experiencing e-violence among peers (Cetin, Yaman and Peker, 2011).Permission to use this scale was requested and obtained. The scale examines experiencing and committing online violence. It consists of two parts, each part containing 22 particles. In the first part (Experiencing cyber-bullying subscale), participants have assessed whether the described behavior happened to them,on a scale from 1 (never) to 5 (always). In the second part (Committing cyber-bullying subscale), and with identical particles, respondents have assessed whether they themselves behaved in this way. In our research, we have performed a factor analysis of the Cyber victim and bulling scale . When it comes to the Committing cyber-bullying subscale, the percentage of explained variance amounts to 55.141%, whereas factor analysis also points to 3 factors, namely: a) verbal online violence; b) online identity concealment and lies; and c) online counterfeiting and criminal acts. When it comes to the Experiencing cyber-bullying subscale, the percentage of explained variance amounts to 65,211%, whereas factor analysis also points to 3 factors, namely: a) verbal online violence; b) online identity concealment and lies; and c) online counterfeiting and criminal acts. We have used a scale for assessing the depression, anxiety and stress levels (DASS21) to determine whether experiencing e-violence leads to depression, anxiety and stress,and to what extent. We have chosen this scale because the results of a research checking its psychometric qualities have indicated that the DASS-21 scale’s psychometric qualities recommend it for use in researching unpleasant emotional states in adolescents. DASS-21 is a 21-item self-report measure giving three subclasses of seven items each: depression , anxiety and stress. Participants have been asked to indicate which statement applied to them over the past week on the Likert 4-point scale. DASS-21 has high reliability, consistent factor structure and high convergent valiadity. We did not have to ask permission for this scale and it can be used freely.

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A study of consumers’ pre-purchase evaluation of apparel products in Ethiopia

Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management ◽

10.1108/jfmm-08-2020-0162 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Berihun Bizuneh ◽

Shalemu Sharew Hailemariam ◽

Selam Tsegaye

Keyword(s):

Factor Analysis ◽

Developing Country ◽

Social Factors ◽

Design Methodology ◽

Online Survey ◽

Educational Background ◽

Demographic Variables ◽

Content Type ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Garment Fit

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore pre-purchase apparel evaluation cues and examine the effect of demographic variables empirically in the context of a developing country. The initiation for the study was driven by the absence of such prior research and supplemented by the big market opportunity for clothing products in the country under investigation.Design/methodology/approachA self-administered online survey was used for data collection. Demographic questions, 23 apparel measurement items composed of 17 product-based and 6 sustainability-based items, and an open-ended question were included in the questionnaire. Factor analysis was used for dimension reduction and one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) for hypotheses testing.FindingsGarment fit, design features, colour, fabric type and seasonality are the five important characteristics most Ethiopian consumers consider while buying apparel products. Factor analysis resulted in five important factors used for pre-purchase apparel evaluation amongst which the design and extrinsic cue is found to be the most important. Environmental factors in the apparel industry got higher emphasis than social factors. While age and educational background made differences in apparel evaluation, gender did not show a significant difference.Originality/valueThe paper provides a founding insight in exploring apparel evaluation cues by considering product- and sustainability-based cues in a developing country context. It also examines the effect of three demographic variables which are rarely studied in such combination.

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Defining statistical measurement levels of Intuitive Eating with the Rasch Rating Scale Model

Proceedings of The Nutrition Society ◽

10.1017/s002966512000470x ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽

Author(s):

Hanis Gani ◽

Peter Ho ◽

Caroline Orfila

Keyword(s):

Factor Analysis ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Test Theory ◽

Composite Score ◽

Scale Model ◽

Intuitive Eating ◽

Rasch Rating Scale Model ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Relationship ◽

Rating Scale Model

AbstractIntuitive eating is an intrinsic ability to moderate the amount and type of food, promoting a healthy diet and self-regulation of one's own weight. Different instruments (IES-H, IES-T, IES-2) have been developed to assess intuitive eating between different population groups from different countries. The construct validity and invariance of the 23-item Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2) has been widely validated by Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Exploratory Factor Analysis. However, these Classical Test Theory (CTT) methods have not always confirmed the same 4-factor structure.Rasch analysis, a Modern Test Theory method (MTT), has been used as an alternative approach to examine the psychometric properties of various health and medical instrument (HADS, KIDSCREEN-52, LANSS, MHRM). One significant difference between CTT and MT is the method of calculating a composite score. A CTT total sore is based on the summation of raw categorical scores, whereas these raw categorical scores are converted to interval-scaled measures into a Rasch composite score.Data was collected from 625 respondents was fitted to the Rasch Rating Scale Model. The data fitted the model adequately, as less than 5% and 1% of absolute standardised residuals were found to be ≥ 2 and ≥ 3, respectively. A Principle Component Analysis of Rasch residuals (PCAR) was used to determine the unidimensionality of the IES-2 and its subscales, after checking and adjusting for lack of item fit and proper rating scale functioning. PCAR indicated that all 23 items could not function as a single total unidimensional Rasch measure. However, the same item structure for the 4 subscales, originally proposed by Tylka and Kroon Van Diest, was confirmed by PCAR. The relationship between the respondents and the IES-2 items in each subscale could be explained using a Wright map, allowing both to be represented on the same logit scale.Statistical different levels of intuitive eating were determined for each subscale from a table representing the relationship between the lowest and highest possible raw scores and their Rasch measures. Wright maps showed the position of respondents between cut-off lines indicating different statistical levels along each unidimensional subscale of intuitive eating. The majority of respondents were classified into 2 out of 4 levels in the subscale Unconditional Permission to Eat, 3 out of 5 levels in Eating for Physical Rather Than Emotional Reasons, 3 out of 5 levels in Reliance on Internal Hunger and Satiety Cues and 2 out of 4 levels in Body-Food Choice Congruence.

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