Antibiotic Consumption Patterns in European Countries Might Be Associated with the Prevalence of Diabetes Type-1-2 (T1D, T2D)

Several publications have raised the issue that the development of diabetes is preceded by alteration of the microbiome (dysbiosis) and hence, the role of environmental factors, triggering dysbiosis, should be considered. Antibiotics are powerful agents inducing dysbiosis and the authors wanted to explore the possible relationship between the consumption of different major classes of antibiotics and the prevalence of diabetes (type-1, /T1D/, type-2 /T2D/) in thirty European countries. According to our hypothesis, if such association exists, the dominant use of certain major antibiotic classes might be reflected in the prevalence of T1D and T2D in different countries. Comparisons were performed between the prevalence of diabetes (T1D and T2D) estimated for 2019 and featured in the Diabetes Atlas with the average yearly consumption of major antibiotic classes of the previous 10 years (2010-19) extracted from the ECDC yearly reports on antibiotic consumption in Europe. Pearson correlation and variance analysis were used to estimate the possible relationship. Strong, positive (enhancer) associations were found between the prevalence of T1D and the consumption of tetracycline (J01A /p: 0.001/) and the narrow spectrum penicillin (J01CE /p: 0,006/, CF /p: 0.018/). Strong negative (inhibitor) association was observed with broad-spectrum, beta-lactamase resistant penicillin (J01CR /p: 0.003/), macrolide (J01F /p: 0.008/) and quinolone (J01M /p: 0.001/). T2D showed significant positive associations with cephalosporin (J01D /p: 0.048/) and quinolone (J01M /p: 0.025/), and a non-significant negative association was detected with broad-spectrum, beta-lactamase-sensitive penicillin (J01CA /p: 0.67/). Countries with the highest prevalence of diabetes (first 10 positions) showed concordance with the higher consumption of “enhancer” and the lower consumption of “inhibitor” antibiotics (first 10 positions) as indicated by variance analysis. Countries with high prevalence of T1D showed high consumption of tetracycline (p: 0.015), and narrow spectrum, beta-lactamase sensitive penicillin (p: 0.008), and low consumption of “inhibitor” antibiotics (broad-spectrum, beta-lactamase resistant, combination penicillin (p: 0.005), cephalosporin (p: 0.036), and quinolone (p: 0.003). Countries with a high prevalence of T2D consumed more cephalosporin (p: 0.084), quinolone (p: 0.54), and less broad-spectrum, beta-lactamase sensitive penicillin (p: 0.012) than other countries. Conclusion/Interpretation: The development of diabetes-related dysbiosis might be attached to higher consumption of specific classes of antibiotics, showing positive (enhancer) associations with the prevalence of diabetes, and the low consumption of other classes of antibiotics shoving negative (inhibitory) associations. Those groups of antibiotics are different in T1D and T2D

On the Use of the Wilcoxon Criterion in the Practice of Pedagogical Research

The article discusses the use of nonparametric measures of influence in pedagogical research. The Wilcoxon criterion for comparing indicators obtained as a result of measurements in a connected sample is highlighted. The necessary conditions for the application of the criterion, as well as the advantages of its use are indicated. The possibility of using the Wilcoxon criterion is illustrated by the example of determining the effectiveness of the proposed teaching methodology using the Uchi.ru online platform in educational activities. Most modern studies in the field of pedagogy and psychology, along with qualitative descriptions of the results of the research, actively use quantitative analysis. Last analysis includes processing of the data using methods of mathematical statistics. In order to show the effectiveness of the developed methodology for the learning process, it should be considered as a factor influencing changes in the studied trait. Further study of these changes allows the researcher to determine the statistical reliability (significance) of the influence of the factor under consideration. The subsequent analysis of the reliability of the influence of a particular factor, the comparison of the measure of influence of various factors is carried out using parametric (variance analysis) and nonparametric measures of influence (the sign criterion, the Wilcoxon criterion). This article discusses the use of nonparametric measures of influence in pedagogical research. The Wilcoxon criterion is selected for comparing the indicators obtained as a result of measurement in a connected sample and allowing to diagnose not only the direction of changes, but also their severity. The necessary conditions for the application of the criterion, as well as the advantages of its use, are indicated. The possibility of using the Wilcoxon criterion is illustrated by the example of determining the effectiveness of the proposed teaching methodology using the Uchi.ru online platform in educational activities. Conclusions are made about its inefficiency for mastering the material in mathematics for younger schoolchildren.

Relationships among Perceived Control, Safety Attitude, and Safety Performance: A Case Study on Wastewater Treatment Plant Workers

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are an indispensable part of the infrastructure of modern cities. However, because of the existence of many confined working spaces in them, they also pose significant risks of occupational hazards for workers. Therefore, this study was conducted on WWTP workers in Kaohsiung, Taiwan to explore the connections among the perceived control, safety attitude, and safety performance of WWTP workers. In total, 123 valid questionnaires were returned for descriptive statistical analysis, variance analysis, correlation analysis, and hierarchical regression analysis. According to the analysis results, the WWTP workers in this study indicated a mid to high level of perceived control, and they generally believed they were also responsible for industrial safety management. The variance analysis results showed that workers of a different gender, age, service unit, and seniority had significantly different safety attitudes. The hierarchical regression analysis results indicated that the perceived control of the WWTP workers had a significant influence on their safety performance through their safety attitude, which served as a mediator between perceived control and safety performance. It is hoped that these findings can provide references for WWTP managers and workers in their daily communication, operation, and safety management system introduction to ensure better safety.

Additive manufacturing of fused deposition modeling for carbon fiber-PLA (CF-PLA) composites: The effects of tensile and flexural properties of process parameters

In this paper the effect of process parameters on the tensile and flexural properties has been analyzed. We have used commercially available FDM 3D printer and material (Carbon fiber -PLA). When various processing parameters, especially when no linear processing parameters are defined, the complete factor design of experiments (DOE) is hard to research. Furthermore, a large number of samples are needed to completely exploit the exact processing parameters. The key effects of four processing parameters for the FDM process, i.e. layer height, infill density, printing speed and infill pattern, are examined in this document in the DOE of Taguchi. The mechanical characteristics of the fabricated FDM components express the power of the processing parameters. We have used the Taguchi L9 range of 9 runs with three specimens each to present the work, so 54 different processes were used to make a total of 54 specimens. In comparison to the 3D CAD model, the measurements of the manufactured specimens were tested according to standard ASTM D638 and ASTM D790. Variance analysis (ANOVA) is generated using Design Expert tools in order to assess the importance of variables and their tensile and flexural strength interactions. After doing Variance analysis (ANOVA) we got the exact parameters in which the mechanical properties are higher.

Specific gravity, Extractive Content, and Natural Durability of Balsa (Ochroma pyramidale) Wood at 3 and 4 years old

The aim was to investigate the specific gravity, extractive content, and natural durability of balsa (Ochroma pyramidale) wood. A total of six trees of balsa at 3 and 4 years old were harvested and cut into the sample of specific gravity, extractive content, and natural durability test. Natural durability was tested according to SNI 01-7207-2006 against dry wood termites (Cryptotermes cynocephalus Light.). Specific gravity, extractive content, mass losses, and termite mortality were measured. Variance analysis was used to find the differences. The results showed that age influenced significantly on specific gravity and mass losses, while axial direction/position influenced significantly on extractive content and mass losses. Variance analysis also showed that radial direction influenced significantly on specific gravity and extractive content. The specific gravity of three years balsa wood is 0.14, which is lower than that of four years old three, which is 0,19. Extractive content in the bottom part (3.95%) is higher than that of in the middle (2.87%) and top (2.74%). Mortality in the bottom part (33.83%) is higher than that of in the middle (10.5%) and top part (5,8%) of the stem. In general, balsa wood is classified into durability class II-III.

Evaluation of Complete Fertilizer in the Aspect of the Antioxidant Enzyme System of Maize Hybrids

Studies on physiological and biochemical processes in crops are highly relevant for breeders to produce hybrids with high yield. Two different maturity groups of maize hybrids were tested in this study. The research site was located at the Látókép Experimental Station of the University of Debrecen and the experiment lasted for 2 years. The examined nitrogen ranges were separated into two parts. Firstly, the effects of nitrogen fertilizer ranging from 120–300 kg ha−1 were examined, supplemented with a constant, high-level P2O5 and K2O. Secondly, the optimal ratio of N:P:K was measured. In order to monitor the health status of maize hybrids, stress indicators including the activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), the rate of lipid peroxidation (LP), and grain yield were measured. The samples were taken in five phenological stages. Variance analysis based on nitrogen fertilizer showed variation in sampling times and fertilizers on APX, LP, and SOD. Variance analysis based on NPK indicated variation in sampling times, years, and fertilizer levels on APX, LP, and SOD. Correlation analysis showed that yield correlated negatively with SOD during the use of NPK fertilizer, as the use of nitrogen fertilizer cannot make corrections to yield with SOD but phosphorus and potassium can correlate with yield, and SOD. Principal component analysis showed that NPK5 and N5 had maximum stability and effect on yield. The activity of APX had the highest value during silking, and LP was in the V14 leaf stage. The correlation and principal component analysis showed that silking and the V14 leaf stage are the most important stages for yield, thus, higher attention must be paid to these stages in the LP and the activation of APX to achieve maximum yield.