104 research outputs found
Serious Leisure Inventory and Measurement (Short Form): Validity and Reliability Analysis
The aim of this study is to provide the validity and reliability analysis of the ‘’Serious Leisure Inventory and Measurement (Short Form)’’ SLIM and introduce it to the literature. The data obtained from 285 university students and the KMO-Barlett test was performed and the sample size was tested (.89; 2506.309, p<0,001). A three subdimensions of structure was obtained by exploratory factor analysis. According to the exploratory factor analysis, the cut-off value was determined as .40, a total of 18 items were converted into a 12-item form by subtracting the load-bearing substances from the measuring instrument, and factor loads of three sub-dimensions were obtained between .55 and .83. In addition to the factor analysis results, 65% of the total variance was obtained, internal consistency coefficients were taken, respectively .83, .84 and .75 were found for each sub-dimension. The total internal reliability coefficient was found to be .88. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to test the validity and accuracy of the structure obtained after the exploratory factor analysis with 350 students. It is observed that the CFA performed after the test retest constitutes evidence for the structure validity (RMSEA .069, SRMR 0.60, NFI 0.94, CFI 0.96, GFI 0.94, x2/df 2.42). As a result, a valid and reliable measurement tool for serious leisure has been introduced
Comparison of Sertraline and Citalopram for Treatment of Premature Ejaculation
Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} Introduction: We evaluated the efficacy of citalopram and sertraline in the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE). Materials and Methods: Of 101 married men with PE, 80 were eligible and consented to participate in this randomized controlled trial. Erectile dysfunction and administration of drugs for the treatment of PE were the exclusion criteria. The patients were evaluated using index of premature ejaculation (IPE) questionnaire and were randomly assigned into groups 1 (sertraline) and 2 (citalopram). They received one of these drugs for 8 weeks and then were re-evaluated by the IPE. Pretreatment and posttreatment results were compared within and between the study groups. Results: A total of 80 patients entered and completed the study. The mean age of the patients was 38.4 ± 7.7 in group 1 and 37.5 ± 6.9 in group 2 (P = .60). The mean pretreatment IPE scores were 21.4 ± 1.8 and 20.9 ± 1.3 in the patients of groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = .23). After 8 weeks, significant improvement was seen in both groups in terms of the IPE questionnaire results (39.8 ± 1.4; P P P = .50). No serious adverse effects were detected in any of the patients and both drugs were tolerated well. Conclusion: Citalopram and sertraline are safe and effective in patients with PE. Additionally, we failed to find any difference between the effects of these two drugs in the treatment of this condition.</p
Exploring obesity, physical activity, and digital game addiction levels among adolescents: A study on machine learning-based prediction of digital game addiction
Primary study aim was defining prevalence of obesity, physical activity levels, digital game addiction level in adolescents, to investigate gender differences, relationships between outcomes. Second aim was predicting game addiction based on anthropometric measurements, physical activity levels. Cross-sectional study design was implemented. Participants aged 9-14 living in Kirikkale were part of the study. The sample of the study consists of 405 adolescents, 231 girls (57%) and 174 boys (43%). Self-reported data were collected by questionnaire method from a random sample of 405 adolescent participants. To determine the physical activity levels of children, the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C). Digital Game addiction was evaluated with the digital game addiction (DGA) scale. Additionally, body mass index (BMI) status was calculated by measuring the height and body mass of the participants. Data analysis were performed using Python 3.9 software and SPSS 28.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, United States) package program. According to our findings, it was determined that digital game addiction has a negative relationship with physical activity level. It was determined that physical activity level had a negative relationship with BMI. In addition, increased physical activity level was found to reduce obesity and DGA. Game addiction levels of girl participants were significantly higher than boy participants, and game addiction was higher in those with obesity. With the prediction model obtained, it was determined that age, being girls, BMI and total physical activity (TPA) scores were predictors of game addiction. The results revealed that the increase in age and BMI increased the risk of DGA, and we found that women had a 2.59 times greater risk of DGA compared to men. More importantly, the findings of this study showed that physical activity was an important factor reducing DGA 1.51-fold. Our prediction model Logit (P) = 1/(1 + exp(-(-3.384 + Age*0.124 + Gender-boys*(-0.953) + BMI*0.145 + TPA*(-0.410)))). Regular physical activity should be encouraged, digital gaming hours can be limited to maintain ideal weight. Furthermore, adolescents should be encouraged to engage in physical activity to reduce digital game addiction level. As a contribution to the field, the findings of this study presented important results that may help in the prevention of adolescent game addiction
An experimental study for simulation based assessment of information system design performance
This paper presents an experimental study for evaluating the decision support value of queueing network (QN) based simulation models for information system design performance. For illustration, queueing network simulation models have been extracted corressponding to three annotated design alternatives of a selected case study. The design alternatives are produced using logical requirements of the selected system. The performance of each alternative is then predicted using quantifiable parameters considering the dynamics of the system such as service time, waiting time and number of entities waiting in the system. In particular, results have shown that the first alternative performs better than the other two in terms of the selected parameters. In general, the case study revealed that QN-based simulation models are capable to distinguish the performance of design alternatives in terms of selected parameters and under given assumptions. This also means that the use of simulation may lead to better designed information systems
Approaching zero discharge concept in refineries by solar–assisted photo-Fenton and photo-catalysis processes
[EN]To undertake a better water management in Oil&Gas sector, it is essential to decrease the wastewater generation by increasing the current reused water rates. Focused on this motivation, this study presents the performances of solar-assisted photo-Fenton and heterogeneous photo-catalysis on refinery wastewater treatment for reuse purposes with the aim of zero discharge. While initial tests were made on synthetic refinery wastewater, real case studies were performed with two types of refinery effluent in order to test the feasibility of using AOPs either as a secondary or tertiary treatment. Even though heterogeneous photo-catalysis and a combined process showed promising results for the treatment of the refinery effluents, photo-Fenton treatment revealed a superior effectiveness for application in both secondary and tertiary treatment, considering the improvements on TOC removal, toxicity and biodegradability. Photo-Fenton as secondary treatment resulted as efficient as the biological treatment, reaching final TOC values ca. 20 mg/L and 88% of COD removal presenting values lower than those achieved after the biological treatment. Moreover, a marked increase in the BOD5/COD ratio from 0.38 to 0.83 was obtained. Furthermore, as a tertiary treatment, photo-Fenton process either with H2O2/COD = 10 and H2O2/Fe2+ = 50 or H2O2/COD = 4 and H2O2/Fe2+ = 10 provided a final TOC value <4 mg/L. This result reveals the possibility to reuse the effluent in the refinery plant, thus increasing the sustainability
Early term effect of ureterorenoscopy (URS) on the Kidney: research measuring NGAL, KIM-1, FABP and CYS C levels in urine
ABSTRACT Aim: URS is a very commonly used procedure for treatment of ureter stones. Increased hydrostatic pressure in the collecting system linked to fluids used during the procedure may cause harmful effects on the kidney. The aim of this study is to determine whether the URS procedure has a negative effect on the kidney by investigating NGAL, KIM-1, FABP and Cys C levels in urine. Material and Methods: This study included 30 patients undergoing ureterorenoscopy (URS) for ureter stones. Urine samples were collected 5 times; before the URS procedure (control) and at 1, 3, 5 and 12 hours following the procedure. NGAL, KIM-1, FBAP and Cys C levels were measured in urine and compared with the control values. Results: The NGAL levels in urine before the procedure and at 1, 3, 5 and 12 hours after the procedure were 34.59±35.34; 62.72±142.32; 47.15±104.48; 45.23±163.16 and 44.99±60.79ng/mL, respectively (p=0.001). Similarly, the urinary KIM-1, FABP and Cys C levels were found to increase compared to control values; however this increase did not reach statistical significance (p >0.05). Conclusions: After the URS procedure, there were important changes in NGAL, FABP, KIM-1 and Cys C levels. These changes reached statistical significance for NGAL, but did not reach significance for the other parameters. In conclusion, the URS procedure significantly affects the kidney; however, this effect disappears over time
Positive outcomes of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor on histopathologic and biochemical changes induced by ureteral obstruction
OBJECTIVES: We examined the effects of tadalafil, one of the phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, in a rat model of with partial and complete unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)
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