Syntaxonomical and ecological diversity of the class Polygono-Poetea annuae in Bulgaria

Class Polygono-Poetea annuae Rivas-Mart. 1975 includes therophyte-rich vegetation on trampled habitats. The study presents the first analysis of the syntaxonomy of this class and its ecology in Bulgaria. One hundred seventy-five relevés from this class were collected and stored in the Balkan Vegetation Database during 2017–2020. Numerical classification (hierarchical divisive) and ordination were performed by JUICE and CANOCO software packages. Diagnostic species were determined by calculating the Phi-coefficient. Four associations, Sclerochloo durae-Polygonetum arenastri, Polygonetum arenastri, Lolio-Polygonetum arenastri and Poëtum annuae, were recognized. Their floristic composition has been shaped mainly by climatic and soil conditions. Sclerochloo durae-Polygonetum arenastri association has been found at lower altitudes, occurring in fully lighted habitats with high radiation, whereas Poëtum annuae has been found at higher altitudes in wetter and cooler areas. On the other hand, stands of Polygonetum arenastri have been found on nutrient-rich soils, whereas communities of Lolio-Polygonetum arenastri were distributed in warmer and nutrient-poor areas. The Polygono-Poetea annuae class is still poorly studied in Bulgaria and much more information from all regions of the country needs to be collected and analyzed.

Sustainability of Business through Project Risk Identification with Use of Expert Estimates

Projects are a tool that enables enterprises to implement innovation and development activities and achieve the goals in the set time, costs and required quality but they also bring risks that need to be adequately identified, analyzed and assessed. Important tools that can be used in project management in the process of risk identification are expert estimates. However, little attention is paid to determining the accuracy of expert estimates. To verify the accuracy of expert estimates, an analysis of all completed projects for a certain period of enterprise that implemented them was performed. The purpose of the study was to determine the accuracy of expert estimates in the enterprise implementing projects. This was ascertained by analyzing all available completed projects and by Barnard’s test at the significance level of α = 0.05. The Phi coefficient of association was used to determine its extent. In the paper, we pointed out how inappropriate expert estimates affect the completion of the project within the specified period.

Regularized Feature Selection in Categorical PLS for Multicollinear Data

Article presents the algorithm which models the categorical multicollinear data by providing the balance in model accuracy on test data and number of selected features in the model. In all scientific fields, multicollinear data is being generated, where obviously some variables are noise and some are influential reference to response variable. Features and response appeared to be categorical in mathematical and statistical modeling of public health data. These datasets usually appeared to collinear, where partial least squares (PLS) is the potential method, which is not feature selection at its default level and deals with quantitative features. Recently, categorical PLS (Cat-PLS) is introduced. We have implemented the regularized feature selection in Cat-PLS where filter-based feature selection and categorical mean through Cramer’s V, Phi coefficient, Tschuprow’s T coefficient, Contingency Coefficient, and Yule’s Q and Yule’s Y are used. Monte carlo simulation with 100 runs indicates Cramer V ∗ VIP is the better choice in terms of better model performance, number of feature selection, and interpretations for modeling the stillbirths, which is taken as the case study. The framework can be used in related areas to explore and model the related data structures.

HUBUNGAN TINGKAT KELULUSAN UJIAN KOMPETENSI DAN MOTIVASI TERHADAP KINERJA BIDAN

Saat ini motivasi dan kinerja bidan masih dianggap kurang, disamping itu terjadi masa tunggu kerja yang lebih lama dari para lulusan Diploma III Kebidanan dikarenakan jumlah lulusan banyak yang belum lulus ujian kompetensi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis hubungan tingkat kelulusan ujian kompetensi dan motivasi terhadap kinerja bidan lulusan Akademi Kebidanan Konawe. Populasi dalam penelitian ini sebanyak 115 orang. Besar sampel sebanyak 89 responden yang diambil dengan cara simple random sampling. Data dikumpulkan dengan kuisioner, kemudian di analisis menggunakan uji chi square dan koefisien phi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa ada hubungan yang lemah antara tingkat kelulusan uji kompetensi bidan dengan motivasi dimana diperoleh X2 hitung > X2 tabel (5,994 > 3,841), dan (Φ) sebesar 0,289. Ada hubungan yang lemah antara tingkat kelulusan uji kompetensi bidan dengan kinerja bidan dimana diperoleh nilai X2 hitung > X2 tabel (6,303 > 3,841), dan (Φ) sebesar 0,283, sedangkan hubungan antara motivasi dengan kinerja bidan memiliki hubungan yang sangat kuat. diperoleh nilai X2 hitung > X2 tabel (55,101 > 3,841), dan (Φ) sebesar 0,881. Oleh karena itu, perlu terus di upayakan peningkatan motivasi bidan dalam bekerja yang salah satu caranya adalah dengan pemberian penghargaan bagi bidan prestasi.Currently, the motivation and performance of midwives are still considered lacking. There is a longer employment waiting period than the Diploma III obstetrics graduates because the number of graduates has not passed the competency exam. This research aims to analyse the relationship of competency exam graduation rate and motivation to the performance of The Graduate midwife of the Konawe Academy. The population in this study was 115 people. A large sample of 89 respondents was taken using simple random sampling. Data is collected with a questionnaire, then in analysis using Chi-square test and phi coefficient. The results showed that there was a weak relationship between the graduation rate of the competency test midwife with the motivation where the X2 calculated > X2 table (5.994 > 3.841), and (Φ) amounted to 0.289. There is a weak relationship between the graduation rate of the midwife competence test with the performance of midwives where the value of X2 count > X2 table (6.303 > 3.841), and (Φ) amounting to 0.283. In contrast, the relationship between the motivation with the performance of midwives has very Strong. The retrieved X2 count value of > X2 table (55.101 > 3.841), and (Φ) amounting to 0.881. Therefore, it is necessary to continue to increase the motivation of midwives in working that one way is to give appreciation to midwives’ achievement.

Different Modular Organization Between Early Onset and Late Onset Depression: A Study Base on Granger Causality Analysis

Background: Modular organization reflects the activity patterns of our brain. Different disease states may lead to different activity patterns and clinical features. Early onset depression (EOD) and late onset depression (LOD) share the same clinical symptoms, but have different treatment strategies and prognosis. Thus, explored the modular organization of EOD and LOD might help us understand their pathogenesis.Method: The study included 82 patients with late life depression (EOD 40, LOD 42) and 90 healthy controls. We evaluated the memory, executive function and processing speed and performed resting-stage functional MRI for all participants. We constructed a functional network based on Granger causality analysis and carried out modularity, normalized mutual information (NMI), Phi coefficient, within module degree z-score, and participation coefficient analyses for all the participants.Result: The Granger function network analysis suggested that the functional modularity was different among the three groups (Pauc = 0.0300), and NMI analysis confirmed that the partition of EOD was different from that of LOD (Pauc = 0.0190). Rh.10d.ROI (polar frontal cortex) and Rh.IPS1.ROI (dorsal stream visual cortex) were shown to be the potential specific nodes in the modular assignment according to the Phi coefficient (P = 0.0002, Pfdr = 0.0744 & P = 0.0004, Pfdr = 0.0744).Conclusion: This study reveal that the functional modularity and partition were different between EOD and LOD in Granger function network. These findings support the hypothesis that different pathological changes might exist in EOD and LOD.

Oral and oropharyngeal high-risk HPV prevalence, HIV status, and risk behaviours in a cohort of South African men who have sex with men

<abstract> <p>Data lag is evident when observing studies focussing on human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence in the head and neck of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Southern Africa. Sexual behaviours other than anal intercourse, and associated factors are similarly underreported. HPV vaccination has not yet commenced for this population group. One hundred and ninety-nine MSM were enrolled in this study. Participants completed a questionnaire followed by a clinical oral examination, and a rinse-and-gargle specimen in Thinprep^® vials containing Preservcyt^® solution was collected. Detection and genotyping for high-risk HPV were done by an automated system (Abbott^® m2000sp). Six percent of MSM in this cohort had high-risk HPV present in the mouth/oropharynx. This cohort averages 29 years of age, more than half were unemployed (53.3%), and 66.8% were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive. The most common sexual practice was anal sex (69.4%) followed by oral sex (28.6%), and by rimming (9.6%). A significant association between oral insertive sex and oral/oropharyngeal HPV status was demonstrated (p = 0.0038; phi coefficient = 0.20). An incidental but significant association between rimming and HIV status was found (p = 0.0046; phi coefficient = 0.19), and HIV seropositive participants had higher oral/oropharyngeal HPV presence. The HPV prevalence of 6% reported in this study is in alignment with global reports. The prevalence of oral/oropharyngeal HPV in this MSM cohort was influenced by sexual practices. MSM participants who practiced rimming appear to be at higher risk of HIV acquisition. Given the transmission routes of HPV in this vulnerable population, vaccination must be urgently studied as an intervention for prevention.</p> </abstract>

Classification of tall-forb vegetation in the Pamir-Alai and western Tian Shan Mountains (Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, Middle Asia)

Aims: To complete the syntaxonomic scheme for tall-forb vegetation of the montane and alpine belts in the Pamir-Alai and western Tian Shan Mountains in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan with some remarks on its environmental predictors. Study area: Middle Asia: Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Methods: A total of 244 relevés were sampled in 2013–2019 using the seven-degree cover-abundance scale of the Braun-Blanquet approach. These were classified with a modified TWINSPAN algorithm with pseudospecies cut-levels 0%, 5% and 25%, and total inertia as a measure of cluster heterogeneity. Diagnostic species were identified using the phi coefficient as a fidelity measure. NMDS was used to explore the relationships between the distinguished groups. Results: Our classification revealed 19 clusters of tall-forb vegetation in Middle Asia. Among others we found forb communities typical for Tian Shan, western Pamir-Alai, forb-scree vegetation of Pamir-Alai, dry tall-forbs and typical forbs of the alpine belt. A total of eight new tall-forb associations and five communities were distinguished. The forb vegetation of Middle Asia has been assigned to the class Prangetea ulopterae Klein. The main factors differentiating the species composition of the researched vegetation are elevation, mean annual temperature, sum of annual precipitation and inclination of the slope. Conclusions: The paper presents the first insight into the comprehensive classification of the alpine forb vegetation in Middle Asia and fosters progress in explaining the relationship of boreo-temperate and Mediterranean-like (Irano-Turanian) vegetation in western Asian and central Asian subregions of the Irano-Turanian phytogeographical region. Taxonomic references: The nomenclature of the vascular plants follows generally Cherepanov (1995) and for Bromus spp. The Plant List (2020) Version 1.1. http://www.theplantlist.org/. Syntaxonomic references: The names of syntaxa are used in accordance with Ermakov (2012), Gadghiev et al. (2002) and Nowak et al. (2018). Abbreviation: NMDS = Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling.

How Coordinated Visual Attention on a Target Area of Interest is Impacted by a Change in Workload Over Time

Data-rich environments rely on operators to collaborate, especially in light of workload changes. This work explores the relationship between the operators’ shared visual attention patterns on a target area of interest (AOI), i.e. the AOI causing a workload change, and how it affects collaborative performance. Eye tracking data was collected from ten pairs of participants who completed two scenarios, the first being low workload and the second being high workload, in an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) command and control testbed. Then, best and worst performing pairs were compared in terms of two shared visual attention metrics: (1) percent gaze overlap and (2) the phi coefficient for the target AOI. The results showed that coordinated visits to and from the target AOI were associated with better performance during high workload. These results suggest including quantitative measures of visual attention can be indicators of the adaptation process in real- time.

Comparative Analysis of Private Labels—Private Labels from the Point of View of a Millennial Customer in Slovakia, Czech Republic and Hungary

The present paper is focused on the issues of private labels, their establishment, perception and preference by selected groups of respondents, namely consumers under the age of 25 and also inhabitants of selected V4 countries (Slovakia, Hungary and Czech Republic). An anonymous questionnaire survey was chosen as the main research method. A total of 3038 respondents aged under 25 participated—1064 respondents were from Slovakia, 973 from Hungary and 1001 from Czech Republic. This research method was subsequently supplemented with selected statistical methods evaluated in the XL Stat statistical program, SAS Enterprise Guide 7.1 and SAS 9.4, where hypotheses were examined by Pearson’s Chi-Square Test, Mantel–Haenszel Chi-square test, Cramer’s V contingency coefficient, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, Friedman’s test, Kruskal–Wallis test, Correspondence analysis and Phi Coefficient. The results of the survey can be perceived more than positively as most of the respondents declared that they knew the concept of private labels; more than 80% of respondents buy them either regularly or sporadically; just over 32% of respondents explicitly prefer them in their purchases and in terms of the perception of the quality, almost 75% of respondents think the quality of private label products is comparable to that of traditional brands.

FACTORS RELATING TO THE PERFORMANCE OF HEALTH WORKERS IN ABELI CITY HEALTH CENTER, KENDARI CITY

Background: Public health center is the spearhead for improving the welfare of the community in the health sector. The health worker's skill needs to be optimized and can be seen from the results of their work, in the form of mastery of science and technology, as well as skills in implementing and providing health services. This is evident from the last three months' report on community visits, namely, in December 2016 the number of visits was 138 people, in January 2017 fell to 108 visits and in February 2017 dropped dramatically 93 visits. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of discipline, motivation, and training with the performance of health workers in the Abeli ??Community Health center. Methods: This type of research is quantitative with a cross-sectional study design. The population in this study was 42 people with a total sampling technique with a total sample of 42 people. The analytical method uses the Chi-Square statistical test and the Phi coefficient (?). Results: Based on the results of the study, there is a strong relationship between discipline and the performance of health workers with a value of X2 Calculation = 17,835 and a phi-efficiency test (?) = 0.651. There is a strong relationship between motivation and the performance of health workers with a value of X2 Calculation = 16,481 and the tested coefficient phi (?) = 0.626. There is a moderate correlation between training and health worker performance with X2 Calculation value = 10.299 and the phi coefficient test (?) = 0.495. Conclusion: For the health, institutions are suggested to increase the health worker's knowledge by increasing towards more discipline, high motivation, and more training in order. Eventually, the quality of human resources and health organizational performance will increase.