Optimal Spindle Detection Parameters for Predicting Cognitive Performance

Study Objectives Alterations in sleep spindles have been linked to cognitive impairment. This finding has contributed to a growing interest in identifying sleep-based biomarkers of cognition and neurodegeneration, including sleep spindles. However, flexibility surrounding spindle definitions and algorithm parameter settings present a methodological challenge. The aim of this study was to characterize how spindle detection parameter settings influence the association between spindle features and cognition and to identify parameters with the strongest association with cognition. Methods Adult patients (n=167, 49 ± 18 years) completed the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery after undergoing overnight diagnostic polysomnography recordings for suspected sleep disorders. We explored 1000 combinations across seven parameters in Luna, an open-source spindle detector, and used four features of detected spindles (amplitude, density, duration, and peak frequency) to fit linear multiple regression models to predict cognitive scores. Results Spindle features (amplitude, density, duration, and mean frequency) were associated with the ability to predict raw fluid cognition scores (r=0.503) and age-adjusted fluid cognition scores (r=0.315) with the best spindle parameters. Fast spindle features generally showed better performance relative to slow spindle features. Spindle features weakly predicted total cognition and poorly predicted crystallized cognition regardless of parameter settings. Conclusion Our exploration of spindle detection parameters identified optimal parameters for studies of fluid cognition and revealed the role of parameter interactions for both slow and fast spindles. Our findings support sleep spindles as a sleep-based biomarker of fluid cognition.

The Effects of Prepaid Metering Systems on Customer Satisfaction in Niger State, Nigeria

Energy consumers in Nigeria have long complained about Distribution Companies' unfair billing practices, exorbitant monthly electricity bills resulting from meter estimation rather than accurate meter reading and calculation based on uninterrupted electricity use. The objectives of the study were to establish the relationship between the prepaid metering system and customer satisfaction; and to evaluate the level of satisfaction with respect to the usage of the prepaid metering system in Niger State, Nigeria. In carrying out the study, the structured questionnaire was administered to 393 randomly chosen respondents drawn from prepaid meter users, out of which 344 responded generating a response rate of 87.5%. The data derived were subjected to spearman correlation and multiple regression models. The major findings from the study showed a significant, moderate and positive relationship between the prepaid metering system and customer satisfaction. Additionally, three significant predictors, Affordability, Availability and Flexibility with p < .01 are statistically significant. Further findings from descriptive statistics revealed that users had the highest level of satisfaction with the privacy they had as a result of no meter readers and no accumulated. The study concluded that there exist a positive and beneficial link between the prepaid metering system and customer satisfaction. The study therefore recommends the provision of a smart metering system, good customer care units and a marketing campaign for better knowledge of the prepaid metering system.

PENGARUH KUALITAS PELAYANAN APOTIK YANG TERDIRI DARI TANGIBLES, RELIABILITY, RESPONSIVENESS, ASSURANCE, EMPATHY TERHADAP KEPUASAN PASIEN PADA RSUD PANGERAN JAYA SUMITRA KOTABARU - KALIMANTAN SELATAN

ABSTRACT: Quality greatly affects patient satisfaction, where the patient will feel satisfied if the patient's perception of the quality of service is as expected by the patient. And will feel dissatisfied if the quality of service is not as expected. With the results of minimal service quality, of course, patient satisfaction is also not optimal. Therefore, this study aims to determine the effect of physical evidence (tangible), reliability (reliability), responsiveness (responsiveness), attention (empathy), and assurance (assurance) on patient satisfaction. The population in this study were all patients at the Jaya Sumitra Hospital, Kotabaru, South Kalimantan, totaling 94 people. The researcher used the Slovin sampling technique. Analysis of the data in this study using a multiple regression models. The results of this study indicate that physical evidence (tangible), reliability (reliability), responsiveness (responsiveness), attention (empathy), and assurance (assurance) to patient satisfaction. Keywords: Physical Evidence (Tangible), Reliability (Reliability), Responsiveness (Responsiveness), Attention (Empathy), Assurance (Assurance) and Patient Satisfaction ABSTRAK : Kualitas sangat mempengaruhi kepuasan pasien, yang mana pasien akan merasa puas jika persepsi pasien terhadap kualitas pelayanan sesuai yang diharapkan pasien. Dan akan merasa tidak puas jika kualitas pelayanannya tidak sesuai yang diharapkan. Dengan hasil kualitas pelayanan yang minim tentunya kepuasan pasien juga tidak maksimal. Oleh karena itu, penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh Bukti fisik (tangible), keandalan (reliability), daya tanggap (responsiveness), perhatian (empathy), dan jaminan (assurance) terhadap kepuasan pasien. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah seluruh pasien di RSUD Jaya Sumitra Kotabaru Kalimantan Selatan yang berjumlah 94 orang. Peneliti menggunakan teknik pengambilan sampel Slovin. Anailisis data dalam penelitian ini menggunakan model regresi berganda. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa Bukti fisik (tangible), keandalan (reliability), daya tanggap (responsiveness), perhatian (empathy), dan jaminan (assurance)berpengaruh terhadap kepuasan pasien. Kata kunci: Bukti Fisik (Tangible), Keandalan (Reliability), Daya Tanggap (Responsiveness), Perhatian (Empathy), Jaminan (Assurance) Dan Kepuasan Pasien

Relationship between Board Structure and Volatility of Stock Returns of Selected Companies Listed on BSE

Good corporate governance enhances the quality of listed companies. It forms a scientific constraint and necessary incentive mechanism that motivates managers to take risks, leading to increased company value. The study considered cement, iron, and steel companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) to assess the relationship between board structure and volatility of stock returns. The study's main objective was to analyze the relationship between board structure and volatility of stock returns. The relationship between board structure and volatility of stock returns was tested using SPSS through descriptive statistics, f-test, and multiple regression models. It was found that board structure possessed a positive relationship with the volatility of stock returns during the study period.

Pengaruh Iklim Organisasi Dan Pengembangan Karir Terhadap Semangat Kerja Karyawan Pada PT. Mahakam Energi Berkah

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of organizational climate variables and career development on employee work spirit simultaneously and partially. In addition, to determine the most dominant variable affecting employee work spirit at PT. Mahakam Energy Blessing in Tenggarong Seberang. The responden in this study were all production employees at PT. The Mahakam of Blessing Energy numbered 93 people. The analytical tool used is qualitative analysis with multiple regression models. Based on the simultaneous test table, it can be concluded that the variable organizational climate and career development simultaneously affect employee morale. Organizational climate and career development variables have a partial effect on employee morale. From the two partial correlation test results, it can be seen that the value of the organizational climate variable is the largest compared to the career development variable, so that the organizational climate variable is the most dominant variable affecting work morale. Keywords: Organizational Climate, Career Development, Work Spirit

COVID-19 Infection in Patients with Glomerular Disease: Follow-up Results from the IRoc-GN International Registry

Background: The acute and long-term effects of SARS-CoV2 infection in individuals with glomerular diseases (GN) are still unclear. To address this relevant issue, we created the International Registry of COVID-19 infection in glomerulonephritis (IRoc-GN). Methods: We collected serial information on kidney-related and kidney-unrelated outcomes from 125 GN patients (63 hospitalized and 62 outpatients) and 83 non-GN hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and a median follow-up period of 6.4 (IQR: 2.3 to 9.6) months after diagnosis. We used logistic regression for the analyses of clinical outcomes and linear mixed models for the longitudinal analyses of eGFR. All multiple-regression models were adjusted for age, gender, ethnicity, and RAASi use. Results: After adjustment for pre-COVID-19 eGFR and other confounders, mortality and AKI did not differ between GN patients and controls (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] for AKI: 1.28 [95% CI: 0.46 to 3.60]; P=0.64). The main predictor of AKI was pre-COVID-19 eGFR (aOR per 1SD unit decrease in eGFR: 3.04 [95% CI: 1.76 to 5.28]; P<0.001). GN patients developing AKI were less likely to recover pre-COVID-19 eGFR compared to controls (adjusted 6-month post-COVID-19 eGFR = 0.41 [95%CI: 0.25 to 0.56] times pre-COVID-19 eGFR). Shorter duration of GN diagnosis, higher pre-COVID-19 proteinuria, and diagnosis of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis or minimal change disease (FSGS/MCD) were associated with a lower post-COVID-19 eGFR. Conclusions: Pre-COVID-19 eGFR is the main risk factor for AKI regardless from GN diagnosis. However, GN patients are at higher risk of impaired eGFR recovery after COVID-19-associated AKI. These patients (especially those with high baseline proteinuria or FSGS/MCD diagnosis) should be closely monitored not only during the acute phases of COVID-19, but also after its resolution.

Loneliness Before and During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Associations with Chronic Illnesses and Relationship Quality

While self-reported loneliness generally declines after age 65, the likelihood of experiencing chronic illnesses increases. During the Covid-19 pandemic, social isolation measures have changed the social context of many people. We address three research questions: 1) What is the predictive strength of chronic illnesses, relationship quality, and their interaction on loneliness? 2) Has Covid-19 altered experienced loneliness relative to pre-pandemic? 3) Was loneliness during Covid-19 associated with the number of prior chronic illnesses in 2016? To answer these questions, we have analyzed data from participants in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) included in the early 2020 release who also completed the 2016 wave (N = 1106). On average, in 2016, these participants were age 74.64 (SD = 6.66) and reported 2.57 (SD = 1.39) chronic illnesses. In 2016, unadjusted multiple regression models revealed that chronic illnesses (β = .38) and relationship quality (β = -.41) were associated with loneliness (R2 = .28). When covariates were added, these values were attenuated but remained statistically significant. In 2020 during the pandemic, 8% of these participants reported they often felt lonely and 26% reported feeling lonelier since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. People who had more chronic illnesses in 2016 reported feeling lonelier in 2020 as did people whose relationships were poorer quality (p &lt; .05). Further analyses with final data from HRS are needed to confirm these trends. These findings highlight the importance of having longitudinal information to identify individuals at high risk and most likely to benefit from interventions.