The Antiplaque Efficacy and Effectiveness of Activated Charcoal Toothpaste of Elaeis guineensis in Smokers

Plaque on the teeth of smokers comes from cigarette smoke tar that settles on the surface of the teeth and roots of the teeth, causing the tooth surface to become rough and easier to stick with food debris and germs that will react making it easier for plaque to form. This study was aims to determine the safety and effectiveness of removing plaque in palm shell activated charcoal toothpaste with a concentration of 12% calcium carbonate combination of 25%. The content of calcium carbonate as an abrasive against the dental plaque of active smokers. The method used was measurement the plaque index score according to Turesky before and after using toothpaste on 20 panelists of active smokers. The decrease in plaque index in the use of toothpaste by using Wilcoxon's non-parametric statistical test, namely P = 0.000 (Sig <0.05). The results showed that toothpaste in the first week was able to reduce dental plaque by 59% compared to positive control by 45% and without activated charcoal by 34%. Toothpaste and positive control in the second week were able to remove dental plaque by 100%, while toothpaste without activated charcoal and calcium carbonate was only able to remove dental plaque by 68%. It can be concluded that palm shell activated charcoal toothpaste with a concentration of 12% combined with 25% calcium carbonate is safe and effective in removing plaque on the teeth of smokers.Keywords: dental plaque, efficacy, palm shells

Students’ Mathematics Achievements: A Comparison between Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic represented a shift from face-to-face to online and distance learning. Teaching methods and assessing strategies changed, as well as grading standards. The focus of this paper is to address the differences between pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic mathematics grades and, in particular, to investigate the possible differences between mid-term and end-term grades in Italy. To this end, 231 Italian middle and high school students’ grades were analysed. Using the Wilcoxon rank test (a non-parametric statistical test) the results showed a statistically significant difference in pre- and post-COVID-19 quarantine grades. End-of-year grades were higher than those before the COVID-19 confinement. Furthermore, the results indicated that more than half of the students in the sample achieved a higher grade at the end of the school year. Gender differences in mathematics grades were examined, since the literature about gender gap in mathematics achievement is not coherent about whether boys outperform girls or vice versa. Statistically significant differences at the end of the first semester were reported, in favour of female students although gender differences were not detected at the end of the school year. The findings suggest that greater caution should be paid in interpreting students’ grades pre- and post-COVID-19 confinement, since it cannot be excluded that such students’ achievements are inflated. Excessively high students’ grades that do not represent their actual knowledge and competencies could give educators and legislators misleading and even false information about the quality of distance learning and students’ knowledge.

PENGARUH PSIKOEDUKASI TERHADAP PENGETAHUAN INKLUSIVITAS PADA ANAK-ANAK DI YAYASAN PANTI ASUHAN Z

The research explored the effect of psychoeducation towards knowledge of inclusivity for children at Yayasan Panti Asuhan Z (Z orphanage). Yayasan Panti Asuhan Z (Z orphanage) has been chosen because there is a phenomenon where the typical children shows stigmatization towards the atypical children. There are various form of stigmatization, including physical, attitude, communication, social interaction, et cetera. This research involved 33 children at the Yayasan Panti Asuhan Z having an age range from 11-21 years old. The design used in this research is within-group experimental design. The result of this study indicates that there is an increase after being given psychoeducation. Researchers used the Mann-Whitney non parametric statistical test. The result has shown there is a significant difference between pre-test and post-test results (p < 0.05, N=28).Penelitian ini melihat pengaruh psikoedukasi terhadap pengetahuan inklusivitas pada anak-anak di Yayasan Panti Asuhan Z. Yayasan Panti Asuhan Z dipilih karena adanya fenomena stigmatisasi yang tidak disadari antara anak-anak tipikal terhadap anak-anak atipikal yang tinggal di panti tersebut. Bentuk stigmatisasi yang terjadi beragam, seperti fisik, sikap, cara berkomunikasi, cara berteman, dan sebagainya. Penelitian ini melibatkan 33 anak-anak di Yayasan Panti Asuhan Z yang berusia mulai dari 11 hingga 21 tahun. Desain yang digunakan pada penelitian ini adalah within-group experimental design. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa terdapat peningkatan pengetahuan inklusivitas yang ditandai dengan meningkatnya hasil pre-test setelah diberikan psikoedukasi. Peneliti menggunakan uji statistik non-parametrik Mann Whitney. Berdasarkan hasil uji beda tersebut, diketahui bahwa hasil pre-test dan post-test memiliki perbedaan yang signifikan (p < 0.05, N=28).

Comparative Study Management Of Training (MOT) Between Blended Learning And Fully Online Learning Methods

The COVID 19 pandemic also has an impact on the education and training aspects of the State Civil Apparatus. MOT training in Puslatbang PKASN LAN, which was originally carried out by blended learning in 2019, has been changed to fully online learning in 2020, as an effort to reduce the spread of the COVID 19 virus. The purpose of this study is to find out whether there are differences on the learning outcomes between MOT participants in 2019, which attended by 30 people, and MOT participants in 2020, which attended by 25 people. Data processing and analysis techniques in this study using quantitative methods. The statistical test used is the non-parametric statistical test using the Mann Whitney U test. The sampling technique used was total sampling, where all members of the population were used as samples. The results revealed that there was no difference in the learning outcomes of MOT participants between those using the blended learning method and those using the fully online learning method. Based on this information, fully online learning is very possible to be applied. Nevertheless, the Training Institution must pay attention to the availability of facilities and infrastructure that support the learning process electronically. Also, the limited interaction between lecturers and participants when doing online learning should be balanced with the ability of lecturers to convey material with technology-based learning techniques. In this case, the roles of all parties will determine the optimal achievement of the fully online learning process.

Penggunaan Gadget pada Anak: Hubungan Pengawasan dan Interaksi Orang Tua terhadap Perkembangan Bicara dan Bahasa Anak

Lack of supervision on gadgets can affect children's speech and language development, especially without interaction with parents. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between parental supervision and interaction with gadgets in children aged 4-5 years with the risk of speech and language development delays. The method used in this research is observational analytic. In analyzing the data, this study uses non-parametric statistical test Chi Square. The results of this study found that most respondents with speech and language development results are at risk of being late, rarely get supervision from their parents when using gadgets, namely, 23 respondents (79.31%), and most of the respondents' parents also said they did not interact when their children were using gadgets. gadgets as many as 23 respondents (79.31%). So that we get the results that there is a relationship between supervision (p value 0.001 < 0.05) and interaction (p value 0.000 < 0.05) of parents and children when using gadgets with children's speech and language development. Supervision and parental interaction on the use of gadgets in children are very important, considering the age of 4-5 years is included in the golden age where this period is a very sensitive developmental period because it will affect the future development of children. The findings in this study are expected to provide implications for parents to be able to increase supervision and interact with the use of gadgets in children.

An Efficient Non-Parametric Statistical Test for Assessing Some Treatment Methods of Clinical Data

The recent rapid spread of deadly epidemics have precipitated an urgent need to speed up the development of different treatments, as well as methods of evaluating their efficacy. The first step towards this is the collection of data relating to the cure rate in groups of patients who have had different treatments applied to them. As most of the available data in these cases is random, it is now the role of statisticians to provide efficient statistical tests to assess the treatment methods through the data. This research aims to provide a new statistical test with high efficiency to reach the right decision with accurate results as quickly as possible using parallel computing algorithms through Wolfram Mathematica software.

A Study on the Effect of Chitrakadi Lepa with Punarnavadi Kashaya in Vipadika

Vipādika is a common disorder of skin which affects the people irrespective of age and sex. Due to its severity and chronicity it hampers the daily activities of an individual. The main symptom for Vipādika is Daranam (crack) which presents along with Kandu (itching), Vedana (pain). Objective: A clinical study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Chitrakadi lepa with Punarnavadi kashaya in Vipadika. Materials and method: The study design is interventional study-pre and post-test with a sample size of 15 patients with signs and symptoms of Vipādika belonging to age group 20-60 years, attending the OPD of Agadatantra department, Govt. Ayurveda College, Thiruvananthapuram were selected. Patients on corticosteroids, pregnant and lactating woman are excluded. Before intervention, 25gm of Avipathy choornam was given for Anulomana. The study group was given Punaṙnavādi kaṣaya (48ml) internally twice daily half an hour before food and Chitṙakādi lepa mixed with Gritha and Tila taila was applied externally twice daily for 30 days. After completion of treatment, a follow up period of 15 days was advised. Symptomatic assessment was done before the treatment, 15th day, after the treatment (31st day) and after follow up period 45th day. The outcome variables like no. of crack, pain, itching, and nature of crack were assessed. Results and Discussion: Result was analysed statistically using non parametric statistical test - Freidmans test with Dunnets multiple comparison test (post-hoc). The result obtained was highly significant in relieving the cardinal symptoms of Vipādika especially pain.

Developing Ability To Use Scientific Method Through Guided Inquiry Learning Model

Background: The learning process of biology does not only promote discovery but also a process of discovery by being able to increase scientific attitudes. In addition, the selection of a learning model is very influential on success in learning. Inquiry learning emphasizes critical thinking and analysis to find the answer to a question in question. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the effect of the Guided Inquiry learning method on the ability to use scientific methods. Methods: Quasi-experimental with the sampling technique using simple random sampling. A multiple-choice test totalling 18 questions was used as an instrument. The research data were analyzed using the Mann U-Withney non-parametric statistical test. Results: The test results obtained that the calculated Z value of 6.8 is greater than the Z table value (0.05) of 1.96. Conclusions: there is an effect of using the Guided Inquiry learning model on the ability to use scientific methods of class X students at SMA Negeri 2 Karawang.

Tingkah laku agresif rusa Timor (Cervus timorensis) jantan di penangkaran pada fase diurnal dan nokturnal

<p class="MDPI17abstract"><strong>Objective: </strong>The aims of this research was known comparison the appearance of aggressive behavior of male Timor deers reared in maintaining females and territories at captivity, between the time of day time (diurnal) and night phase (nocturnal) seen from the duration, frequency, sequence and interval aggresive behavior.</p><p class="MDPI17abstract"><strong>Methods: </strong>This observational research used the observation focal animal sampling method, by directly observing the aggressive behavior of 4 male Timor deers in a good condition, have hard antlers and maintained at location with the same management and conditions. The duration of observations was 24 hours and carried out for 7 days. The parameters observed included the duration, frequency and interval of aggressive behavior male Timor deers. The data analysis used was the non-parametric statistical test Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test.<strong></strong></p><p class="MDPI17abstract"><strong>Results: </strong>The results showed that there were significant differences in the four aggressive behavior of Timor deers at day time and nocturnal phase (P &lt;0.20) and the observations showed that the duration and frequency of aggressive behavior Timor deers such as wallowing, walking with head up, shouting, rubbing antlers, threatening, running away and climbing more frequently and for longer periods was shown during the day time (diurnal).<strong></strong></p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Difference time between day time (diurnal) and night phases (nocturnal) causes the duration and frequency aggressive behavior of Timor deers, was longer and more frequent during the day time.