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Urban road networks are lifelines for cities in fulfilling the transportation needs of their inhabitants. The Patna Urban Agglomeration Area (PUAA) lacks properly planned roads; many of them have varying widths, with encroachments that reduce effective road width. A serviceability analysis is required through a traffic survey in order to create a traffic flow profile. This profile aids in performing time-based path, elevation, and serviceability analyses. In this study, traffic data were collected using cameras at vital road junctions and signals. A manual traffic survey was conducted at locations where active traffic was observed during peak hours. The road network of the study area was created using Google Maps, digitizing roads as lines and utilities as points. The traffic survey data, the road network, and the utilities were analyzed in the Network Analyst tool of the ArcGIS software. The analyses revealed suitable routing at underpass and overpass, as well as feasible paths during peak hours and locations with poor utility access. The analysis focused on the low-income group of people who depend on public transport and utilities and are the driving force of a developing economy. Suitable solutions are suggested to improve the existing road network., Las redes de carreteras urbanas son líneas vitales en las ciudades para satisfacer las necesidades de transporte de sus habitantes. El Área de Aglomeración Urbana de Patna (PUAA) carece de carreteras debidamente planificadas; muchas tienen anchos variables con invasiones que reducen el ancho efectivo del camino. Se requiere un análisis de capacidad de servicio a través de una encuesta de tráfico para crear un perfil de flujo de tráfico. Este perfil ayuda a realizar análisis de ruta, elevación y capacidad de servicio en función del tiempo. En este estudio, los datos de tráfico se recolectaron usando una cámara en cruces de carreteras y señales vitales. Se llevó a cabo un estudio de tráfico manual en lugares donde solo se observó tráfico activo en horas pico. La red de carreteras del área de estudio se creó usando Google Maps, digitalizando las carreteras como líneas y los servicios públicos como puntos. Los datos de la encuesta de tráfico, la red de carreteras y los servicios públicos se analizaron con la herramienta Network Analyst del software ArcGIS. Los resultados revelaron rutas adecuadas en el paso subterráneo y elevado, así como rutas factibles durante horas pico y las ubicaciones con acceso deficiente a los servicios públicos. El análisis se centra en el grupo de personas de bajos ingresos que dependen del transporte y los servicios públicos y son la fuerza que impulsa una economía en desarrollo. Se sugieren soluciones adecuadas para mejorar la red vial existente.

Foraging on crops by wild ungulates may create human–wildlife conflicts through reducing crop production. Ungulates interact with and within complex socio-ecological systems, making the reduction of crop damage a challenging task. Aside from ungulate densities, crop damage is influenced by different drivers affecting ungulate foraging behaviour: food availability and food quality in the landscape (i.e. the foodscape) as well as fear from hunting and scaring actions (i.e. the landscape of fear) may together affect the degree of damage via both direct and indirect effects. A better understanding of the individual effects of these potential drivers behind crop damage is needed, as is an appreciation of whether the effects are dependent on ungulate density. We investigated this by applying path analysis to test indirect and direct links between ungulate density, foodscape, landscape of fear and human management goals on crop damage of oats and grass, respectively. Our results suggest that crop type is the major driver behind crop damage, with more damage to oats than to leys, implying that human decisions (i.e. changing crop type) influence the level of crop damage. We found that management goals and actions influenced the foodscape and the landscape of fear, by affecting the amount of forage produced in the agricultural landscape and the amount of scaring actions. Additionally, we found that supplementary feeding influenced the local ungulate densities in the area. Our results highlight the importance of including human actions on multiple levels when assessing drivers behind damage by ungulates in managed landscapes. We suggest that more studies using path analysis on multiple scales are needed in order to tackle complex issues, such as crop damage and other human–wildlife conflicts.

Foraging on crops by wild ungulates may create human-wildlife conflicts through reducing crop production. Ungulates interact with and within complex socio-ecological systems, making the reduction of crop damage a challenging task. Aside from ungulate densities, crop damage is influenced by different drivers affecting ungulate foraging behavior: food availability and food quality in the landscape (i.e. the foodscape) as well as fear from hunting and scaring actions (i.e. the landscape of fear) may together affect the degree of damage via both direct and indirect effects. A better understanding of the individual effects of these potential drivers behind crop damage is needed, as is an appreciation of whether the effects are dependent on ungulate density. We investigated this by applying path analysis to test indirect and direct links between ungulate density, foodscape, landscape of fear and, human management goals on crop damage of oats and grass, respectively. Our results suggest that crop type is the major driver behind crop damage, with more damage to oats than to leys, implying that human decisions (i.e changing crop type) influence the level of crop damage. We found that management goals and actions influenced the foodscape and the landscape of fear, by affecting the amount of forage produced in the agricultural landscape and the amount of scaring actions. Additionally, we found that supplementary feeding influenced the local ungulate densities in the area. Our results highlight the importance of including human actions on multiple levels when assessing drivers behind damage by ungulates in managed landscapes. We suggest that more studies using path analysis on multiple scales are needed in order to tackle complex issues such as crop damage and other human-wildlife conflicts., Foraging on crops by wild ungulates may create human-wildlife conflicts through reducing crop production. Ungulates interact with and within complex socio-ecological systems, making the reduction of crop damage a challenging task. Aside from ungulate densities, crop damage is influenced by different drivers affecting ungulate foraging behavior: food availability and food quality in the landscape (i.e. the foodscape) as well as fear from hunting and scaring actions (i.e. the landscape of fear) may together affect the degree of damage via both direct and indirect effects. A better understanding of the individual effects of these potential drivers behind crop damage is needed, as is an appreciation of whether the effects are dependent on ungulate density. We investigated this by applying path analysis to test indirect and direct links between ungulate density, foodscape, landscape of fear and, human management goals on crop damage of oats and grass, respectively. Our results suggest that crop type is the major driver behind crop damage, with more damage to oats than to leys, implying that human decisions (i.e changing crop type) influence the level of crop damage. We found that management goals and actions influenced the foodscape and the landscape of fear, by affecting the amount of forage produced in the agricultural landscape and the amount of scaring actions. Additionally, we found that supplementary feeding influenced the local ungulate densities in the area. Our results highlight the importance of including human actions on multiple levels when assessing drivers behind damage by ungulates in managed landscapes. We suggest that more studies using path analysis on multiple scales are needed in order to tackle complex issues such as crop damage and other human-wildlife conflicts.

U radu je urađeno istraživanje varijabilnosti i korelacija između prinosa i komponenti prinosa kod sorti ozime pšenice (Aleksandra, Aurelia, Planeta, Cipovka i Zemunska Rosa). Analizom varijanse su ustanovljene visoko značajne razlike za prinos i komponente prinosa između sorti, godina i njihove interakcije. Korelacije i Path analiza ukazuju da masa zrna po biljci ima statistički značajan i pozitivan direktni efekat (0,363*) na prinos zrna. Indirektno, ova osobina najveći doprinos povećanju prinosa zrna ostvarila je preko mase 1000 zrna (0,120) i mase zrna po klasu (0,102). Masa zrna po klasu i masa 1000 zrna imaju pozitivan direktni efekat na prinos zrna, ali bez statističke značajnosti. Pozitivna korelacija mase zrna po klasu i mase 1000 zrna sa prinosom zrna rezultat je indirektnog efekta koji ove osobine ostvaruju preko mase zrna po biljci., In this paper, the variability and correlation between yield and yield components in winter wheat varieties (Aleksandra, Aurelia, Planeta, Cipovka and Zemunska Rosa) were investigated. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences for yield and yield components between cultivars, years and their interactions. Correlations and Path analysis indicate that grain mass per plant has a statistically significant and positive direct effect (0.363*) on grain yield. Indirectly, this trait made the biggest contribution to the increase in grain yield through the mass of 1000 grains (0.120) and the mass of grains per ear (0.102). Grain weight per ear and weight of 1000 grains have a positive direct effect on grain yield, but without statistical significance. The positive correlation of grain mass per ear and mass of 1000 grains with grain yield is the result of the indirect effect that these traits achieve through grain mass per plant.

Urban road networks are lifelines for cities in fulfilling the transportation needs of their inhabitants. The Patna Urban Agglomeration Area (PUAA) lacks properly planned roads; many of them have varying widths, with encroachments that reduce effective road width. A serviceability analysis is required through a traffic survey in order to create a traffic flow profile. This profile aids in performing time-based path, elevation, and serviceability analyses. In this study, traffic data were collected using cameras at vital road junctions and signals. A manual traffic survey was conducted at locations where active traffic was observed during peak hours. The road network of the study area was created using Google Maps, digitizing roads as lines and utilities as points. The traffic survey data, the road network, and the utilities were analyzed in the Network Analyst tool of the ArcGIS software. The analyses revealed suitable routing at underpass and overpass, as well as feasible paths during peak hours and locations with poor utility access. The analysis focused on the low-income group of people who depend on public transport and utilities and are the driving force of a developing economy. Suitable solutions are suggested to improve the existing road network., Las redes de carreteras urbanas son líneas vitales en las ciudades para satisfacer las necesidades de transporte de sus habitantes. El Área de Aglomeración Urbana de Patna (PUAA) carece de carreteras debidamente planificadas; muchas tienen anchos variables con invasiones que reducen el ancho efectivo del camino. Se requiere un análisis de capacidad de servicio a través de una encuesta de tráfico para crear un perfil de flujo de tráfico. Este perfil ayuda a realizar análisis de ruta, elevación y capacidad de servicio en función del tiempo. En este estudio, los datos de tráfico se recolectaron usando una cámara en cruces de carreteras y señales vitales. Se llevó a cabo un estudio de tráfico manual en lugares donde solo se observó tráfico activo en horas pico. La red de carreteras del área de estudio se creó usando Google Maps, digitalizando las carreteras como líneas y los servicios públicos como puntos. Los datos de la encuesta de tráfico, la red de carreteras y los servicios públicos se analizaron con la herramienta Network Analyst del software ArcGIS. Los resultados revelaron rutas adecuadas en el paso subterráneo y elevado, así como rutas factibles durante horas pico y las ubicaciones con acceso deficiente a los servicios públicos. El análisis se centra en el grupo de personas de bajos ingresos que dependen del transporte y los servicios públicos y son la fuerza que impulsa una economía en desarrollo. Se sugieren soluciones adecuadas para mejorar la red vial existente.

The intensity of trait association and genetic variability of yield attributing variables in 217 rice genotypes was investigated during kharif 2018. The existence of genetic variability among the genotypes was demonstrated by analysis of variance, which recorded significant differences for all the seven studied parameters. The estimation of variability indicated that The full grain number per panicle (37.2 % and 34.1 %) & single plant yield (24.7 % and 20.55 %) had the highest intensity of phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficients of variation ( GCV), and High heritability along with high genetic advance as a per cent of mean (GAM) was found in Plant height (98.9 % and 20.8 %), panicle number per plant (95.4 % and 36 %), panicle length(96.8 % and 35.9 %), full grain number per panicle(99.5 % and 61.6 %), thousand seed weight (98.1 % and 40.25 %) and single plant yield (69.2 % and 35.2 %) , depicting additive gene action in inheritance of these parameters. A simple selection procedure can help to enhance these characteristics even further. Correlation and regression coefficient findings indicated that plant height (0.193**) and the full grain number per panicle (0.177**) had a significant impact on single plant yield. The full grain number per panicle (0.265**), followed by thousand seed weight (0.194**) and plant height (0.110**), had the maximum direct positive effect on single plant yield, as per path coefficient analysis. As a result, accessions with a higher full grain number per panicle, thousand seed weight and plant height would be suitable for yield enhancement programme.

Twenty bacterial wilt resistant lines including recently developed lines at CSKHPKV, Palampur (08) were studied to ascertain the extent of genetic variability, the type and magnitude of correlation between component characters & marketable yield, as well as the direct and indirect impacts of every character on marketable yield. For all variables except plant survival, analysis of variance exhibited significant differences across genotypes. Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) values for lycopene content (80.581%, 80.148%), titrable acidity (73.666%, 71.219%), marketable yield / plant (53.953%, 52.598%), marketable fruits / plant (34.994%, 34.050%), gross yield / plant (34.094%, 30.553%), average weight of fruit (30.558%, 29.13%), locules / fruit (28.549%, 25.050%), and ascorbic acid (23.641%, 20.919%) respectively, were found high across different parameters of variability. Marketable yield / plant (95.043%, 45.633%), marketable fruits /plant (94.68%, 68.252%), titrable acidity (93.467%, 48.838%), average weight of fruit (90.877%, 57.206%), gross yield / plant (80.305%, 56.402%), ascorbic acid (78.295%, 38.130%), and locules / fruit (76.985%, 45.276%) were found with high heritability and high genetic advance. Marketable yield / plant was significantly and positively associated with average weight of fruit (0.734, 0.795), gross yield / plant (0.774, 0.853), marketable fruits / plant (0.734, 0.742), pericarp thickness (0.693, 0.806), ascorbic acid (0.381, 0.469), titrable acidity (0.347, 0.364) and locules/ fruit (0.284, 0.345) at both phenotypic as well as genotypic levels, respectively. Path coefficient analysis showed that marketable fruits / plant (0.589, 0.608), gross yield / plant (0.278, 0.617) and average weight of fruit (0.382, 0.182) are the three main parameters that had the greatest positive direct impact on marketable yield / plant at the phenotypic and genotypic levels, respectively

The present investigation on correlation and path analysis studies helps to study the relationship among the yield and yield contributing traits along with the quality parameters. The observations were taken in the F1 population of 35 hybrids along with lines (7 lines) and testers (5 testers) for the traits viz. plant height (cm), number of sympodial branches per plant, the number of bolls per plant, boll weight (g), lint index (g), single cotton yield per plant (g), ginning outturn (%), upper half mean length (cm), elongation percent (%) and micronaire value (µg per inch). The results revealed that seed cotton yield per plant had strong and positive association with the traits namely number of sympodial branches per plant (0.646), number of bolls (0.633) and boll weight (0.652). Path analysis study revealed that number of sympodial branches per plant (1.5396), boll weight (0.6285), lint index (1.3526) and upper half mean length (0.3392) had high direct positive effects on single plant yield and indirect very high positive effects through the traits viz., number of sympodial branches per plant via., number of bolls per plant (1.5125) and boll weight (1.0121). Hence selection based on these traits that are positively associated and direct positive effect with the yield would produce the best outcome in the genotypes in further breeding programmes.

The study was taken up to estimate 32 advance breeding lines of rice for grain yield and the related traits in three different planting techniques, viz. direct seeded condition (E-I), transplanting with spacing of 15 x 15 cm (E-II) and 25 x 15 cm (E-III). The experimentation was carried out to explore the parameters of hereditary & variability for yield along-with yield components, to study the extent of association and direct and indirect special effects of different yield components on grain yield in rice. The analysis of variance from the experimental results documented significant changes amongst various genotypes for all studied traits with respect to the three planting spacing. High GCV, high magnitude of broad sense heritability coupled with genetic advance as percentage of mean was detected for grain yield/plant and harvest index. These above-mentioned traits displayed considerable contribution of different additive gene action for their phenotypic appearance. The characters harvest index (%), biological yield/plant, flag leaf angle and no. of productive tillers/plant showed positive correlation & direct effect on grain yield per plant on pooled analysis. It indicated that these traits might be included in formulating criteria of selection for enhancement of the grain yield per plant in rice.

Eleven coastal geographical populations of wild Cyclina sinensis in China were collected in February 2020, and the effects of four morphological traits (shell length; shell height; shell width; external ligament length) on one weight trait (living body weight) were studied by correlation analysis, path analysis, determination coefficient analysis, and regression analyses. The statistical results showed that the coefficient of body weight variation was generally greater than morphological traits(P＜0.05). The correlation analysis results showed that the coefficient of correlation between morphological traits (except for external ligament length) and body weight are significantly positive (P＜0.05) in all populations. Based on the results of path analysis and determination coefficient analysis, shell length has the greatest direct effect on body weight in the Yancheng population; shell height has the greatest direct effect on body weight in Dandong, Fuzhou and Tangshan populations; shell width has the greatest direct effect on body weight in Zhanjiang, Wenzhou, Dongtai, Ningbo, Tianjin, Dongying, and Wanning populations. Multiple regression equations were obtained with body weight as the dependent variable, shell length, height, and width and external ligament length as independent variables. The results of systematic clustering showed that there are no apparent geographical differentiation characteristics among eleven geographical populations in morphology. This study provided a scientific basis for selective and genetic breeding and can guide the development and utilization of wild C. sinensis seed resources.

We provide a generic method of testing path models that include dependent errors, nonlinear functional relationships and using nonnormal, hierarchically structured data. First, we provide a decomposition of the causal model into smaller, independent sets. These sets can be modeled independently of each other with methods that respect the type of data in these sets. Second, we introduce copulas to model the dependent errors between non-normally distributed variables. Our method yields identical results as classical covariance-based path modelling when meeting its assumptions of linearity and normality, outperforms classical SEM given nonlinear functional relationships, and can easily accommodate any parametric probability function and nonlinear functional relationships.

The purpose of this study has been to determine the selection criteria for plant breeders using correlation and path analyses of the safflower plant. The experiment was carried out at the University of Ondokuz Mayıs, Faculty of Agriculture, Fields Crops Department during the season 2017-2019 under winter and summer growing seasons. A randomized complete block with three replications was adopted. The results of our study showed a strong positive significative correlation of seed yield per plant with head weight (0.916), head number (0.908), seed number (0.886), root dry weight (0.841), branch number (0.833), stem dry weight (0.783), plant height (0.704), thousand seed weight (0.485). Days to maturity (0.927), days to rosette (0.670), head number (0.402), stem dry weight (0.359), and head weight (0.343) had the most important positive direct effect on seed yield indicating that these characters will be effective in safflower breeding.

The purpose of this study has been to determine the selection criteria for plant breeders using correlation and path analyses of the safflower plant. The experiment was carried out at the University of Ondokuz Mayıs, Faculty of Agriculture, Fields Crops Department during the season 2017-2019 under winter and summer growing seasons. A randomized complete block with three replications was adopted. The results of our study showed a strong positive significative correlation of seed yield per plant with head weight (0.916), head number (0.908), seed number (0.886), root dry weight (0.841), branch number (0.833), stem dry weight (0.783), plant height (0.704), thousand seed weight (0.485). Days to maturity (0.927), days to rosette (0.670), head number (0.402), stem dry weight (0.359), and head weight (0.343) had the most important positive direct effect on seed yield indicating that these characters will be effective in safflower breeding.

The purpose of this study has been to determine the selection criteria for plant breeders using correlation and path analyses of the safflower plant. The experiment was carried out at the University of Ondokuz Mayıs, Faculty of Agriculture, Fields Crops Department during the season 2017-2019 under winter and summer growing seasons. A randomized complete block with three replications was adopted. The results of our study showed a strong positive significative correlation of seed yield per plant with head weight (0.916), head number (0.908), seed number (0.886), root dry weight (0.841), branch number (0.833), stem dry weight (0.783), plant height (0.704), thousand seed weight (0.485). Days to maturity (0.927), days to rosette (0.670), head number (0.402), stem dry weight (0.359), and head weight (0.343) had the most important positive direct effect on seed yield indicating that these characters will be effective in safflower breeding.

Living in social groups may exacerbate interindividual competition for territory, food, and mates, leading to stress and possible health consequences. Unfavorable social contexts have been shown to elevate glucocorticoid levels (often used as biomarkers of individual stress), but the downstream consequences of socially stressful environments are rarely explored. Our study experimentally tests the mechanistic links between social aggression, oxidative stress, and somatic maintenance in captive zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Over 64 d, we measured the effects of aggression (received or emitted) on the individual oxidative status, body condition, and changes in relative telomere length (rTL) of birds living in high- and low-social-density conditions. Using path analyses, we found that birds living at high social density increased their aggressive behavior. Birds receiving the highest number of aggressions exhibited the strongest activation of antioxidant defenses and highest plasmatic levels of reactive oxygen metabolites. In turn, this prevented birds from maintaining or restoring telomere length between the beginning and the end of the experiment. Received aggression also had a direct negative effect on changes in rTL, unrelated to oxidative stress. In contrast, emitted aggression had no significant effect on individual oxidative stress or changes in rTL. Body condition did not appear to affect the physiological response to aggression or oxidative stress. At low density, we found trends that were similar to those at high density but nonsignificant. Our study sheds light on the causal chain linking the social environment and aggressive behavior to individual oxidative stress and telomere length. The long-term consequences of socially induced stress on fitness remain to be characterized.

Living in social groups may exacerbate interindividual competition for territory, food, and mates, leading to stress and possible health consequences. Unfavorable social contexts have been shown to elevate glucocorticoid levels (often used as biomarkers of individual stress), but the downstream consequences of socially stressful environments are rarely explored. Our study experimentally tests the mechanistic links between social aggression, oxidative stress, and somatic maintenance in captive zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Over 64 d, we measured the effects of aggression (received or emitted) on the individual oxidative status, body condition, and changes in relative telomere length (rTL) of birds living in high- and low-social-density conditions. Using path analyses, we found that birds living at high social density increased their aggressive behavior. Birds receiving the highest number of aggressions exhibited the strongest activation of antioxidant defenses and highest plasmatic levels of reactive oxygen metabolites. In turn, this prevented birds from maintaining or restoring telomere length between the beginning and the end of the experiment. Received aggression also had a direct negative effect on changes in rTL, unrelated to oxidative stress. In contrast, emitted aggression had no significant effect on individual oxidative stress or changes in rTL. Body condition did not appear to affect the physiological response to aggression or oxidative stress. At low density, we found trends that were similar to those at high density but nonsignificant. Our study sheds light on the causal chain linking the social environment and aggressive behavior to individual oxidative stress and telomere length. The long-term consequences of socially induced stress on fitness remain to be characterized.

Reducing browsing damages from cervids (Cervidae) on economically valuable tree species is a challenging task in many countries. Apart from cervid abundance, landscape characteristics, such as forest composition, land use, forage availability and climatic conditions, may affect the degree of browsing through both direct and indirect effects. A better understanding of basic mechanisms in this complex system is needed to design efficient and convincing management strategies. Focusing on Sweden as a case, which has been widely studied using regression analyses only, we applied path analysis to test the validity of a model on the indirect and direct links between landscape characteristics, cervid populations, and browsing damages on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). Our results validated the tested model in which moose (Alces alces) density and pine availability directly influence browsing damages. Increasing amounts of pine forests, preferred deciduous trees, and young forest had positive direct effects on moose densities and thereby indirectly contributed to increased browsing damages. The density of smaller deer species showed no direct effect on browsing damages on pine. Path analysis corroborated our attempt to disentangle direct and indirect potential causal drivers of browsing damages and shows that the choice of statistical method may alter the understanding of mechanistic driving forces.

Purpose of the research: Social exclusion threatens quality of life in older age. However, there is a lack of research on social exclusion from life-course and gender perspectives. We investigated early-and midlife risk factors for old-age social exclusion among women and men. Materials and methods: Two individually linked studies of Swedish nationally representative samples provided longitudinal data over a 30-year period on 1,819 people at baseline. Indicators of economic exclusion, leisure/ social exclusion, and civic exclusion were assessed at early late life (M=70 years) and late life (M=81). Educational attainment, non-employment, psychological health problems and mobility problems were measured as risk factors at midlife (M=54) and late midlife (M=61). Path analysis derived a model of old-age social exclusion. Results: Exclusion on a domain in early late life led to exclusion on the same domain in late life, except for the economic domain. Leisure/social exclusion in early late life also led to civic exclusion in late life. Midlife risk factors influenced late-life exclusion almost exclusively through early late-life exclusion. While model fit could not be significantly improved by allowing coefficients to vary freely by gender, there was a stronger effect of non -employment on exclusion in women and a stronger effect of psychological health problems on exclusion in men. Conclusions: This study confirms that old-age exclusion is persistent and dynamic, and influenced by risk factors experienced earlier in life. A holistic approach with integrated efforts across different policy areas is needed to efficiently reduce old-age social exclusion.

Background and Objectives: Despite the importance of life satisfaction for health and well-being, there is a paucity of cross-national comparative studies in life satisfaction related to the family environment. The present research examined the pathways of life satisfaction association with perceived family support and other family environment variables among adolescents aged from 11 to 15 years in 45 countries. Materials and Methods: Samples from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey in 2017/2018 were analysed (n = 188,619). Path analysis was applied to evaluate the associations among the study variables. Results: A positive association between the life satisfaction score and high family support was identified in all 45 countries (standardized regression weight ranged from 0.067 to 0.420, p < 0.05). In majority of countries, living with both parents and higher levels of family affluence had a positive effect on adolescent life satisfaction both directly and indirectly through family support. In the described path model, the proportion of life satisfaction score variance that was accounted for by family support, family structure, family affluence, gender and age was up to 25.3%. The path models made it possible to group the participating countries into two clusters. In the first cluster (10 countries) the Eastern and Southern European countries dominated, while the second cluster (35 countries) united the countries of Western and Central Europe. Conclusions: There is evidence that countries with high level of adolescent life satisfaction differ in the high rate of intact family structure and the strong relation between family support and perceived life satisfaction.

Purpose of the research: Social exclusion threatens quality of life in older age. However, there is a lack of research on social exclusion from life-course and gender perspectives. We investigated early-and midlife risk factors for old-age social exclusion among women and men. Materials and methods: Two individually linked studies of Swedish nationally representative samples provided longitudinal data over a 30-year period on 1,819 people at baseline. Indicators of economic exclusion, leisure/ social exclusion, and civic exclusion were assessed at early late life (M=70 years) and late life (M=81). Educational attainment, non-employment, psychological health problems and mobility problems were measured as risk factors at midlife (M=54) and late midlife (M=61). Path analysis derived a model of old-age social exclusion. Results: Exclusion on a domain in early late life led to exclusion on the same domain in late life, except for the economic domain. Leisure/social exclusion in early late life also led to civic exclusion in late life. Midlife risk factors influenced late-life exclusion almost exclusively through early late-life exclusion. While model fit could not be significantly improved by allowing coefficients to vary freely by gender, there was a stronger effect of non -employment on exclusion in women and a stronger effect of psychological health problems on exclusion in men. Conclusions: This study confirms that old-age exclusion is persistent and dynamic, and influenced by risk factors experienced earlier in life. A holistic approach with integrated efforts across different policy areas is needed to efficiently reduce old-age social exclusion.

PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH: Social exclusion threatens quality of life in older age. However, there is a lack of research on social exclusion from life-course and gender perspectives. We investigated early- and midlife risk factors for old-age social exclusion among women and men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two individually linked studies of Swedish nationally representative samples provided longitudinal data over a 30-year period on 1,819 people at baseline. Indicators of economic exclusion, leisure/social exclusion, and civic exclusion were assessed at early late life (M=70 years) and late life (M=81). Educational attainment, non-employment, psychological health problems and mobility problems were measured as risk factors at midlife (M=54) and late midlife (M=61). Path analysis derived a model of old-age social exclusion. RESULTS: Exclusion on a domain in early late life led to exclusion on the same domain in late life, except for the economic domain. Leisure/social exclusion in early late life also led to civic exclusion in late life. Midlife risk factors influenced late-life exclusion almost exclusively through early late-life exclusion. While model fit could not be significantly improved by allowing coefficients to vary freely by gender, there was a stronger effect of non-employment on exclusion in women and a stronger effect of psychological health problems on exclusion in men. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that old-age exclusion is persistent and dynamic, and influenced by risk factors experienced earlier in life. A holistic approach with integrated efforts across different policy areas is needed to efficiently reduce old-age social exclusion.

Submicroscopic nanoparticles (NPs) in air have received much attention due to their possible effects on health and wellbeing. Adverse health impacts of air pollution may not only be associated with level of exposure, but also mediated by the perception of the pollution and by beliefs of the exposure being hazardous. The aim of this study was to test a model that describes interrelations between NP pollution, perceived air quality, health risk perception, stress, and sick building syndrome. In the NanoOffice study, the level of NPs was measured and a survey on health risk perception was conducted among 260 employees in twelve office buildings in northern Sweden. Path analyses were performed to test the validity of the model. The data refute the model proposing that the NP exposure level significantly influences stress, chronic diseases, or SBS symptoms. Instead, the perceived exposure influences the perceived risk of NP, and the effect of perceived exposure on SBS and chronic disease is mediated by stress. There was little concern about nanoparticles, despite relatively high levels in some facilities. Perceived pollution and health risk perception may explain a large part of the environmentally induced symptoms and diseases, particularly in relatively low levels of pollution. The research results raise important questions on the physiologically or psychologically mediated health effects of air pollution., BuildERS

Submicroscopic nanoparticles (NPs) in air have received much attention due to their possible effects on health and wellbeing. Adverse health impacts of air pollution may not only be associated with level of exposure, but also mediated by the perception of the pollution and by beliefs of the exposure being hazardous. The aim of this study was to test a model that describes interrelations between NP pollution, perceived air quality, health risk perception, stress, and sick building syndrome. In the NanoOffice study, the level of NPs was measured and a survey on health risk perception was conducted among 260 employees in twelve office buildings in northern Sweden. Path analyses were performed to test the validity of the model. The data refute the model proposing that the NP exposure level significantly influences stress, chronic diseases, or SBS symptoms. Instead, the perceived exposure influences the perceived risk of NP, and the effect of perceived exposure on SBS and chronic disease is mediated by stress. There was little concern about nanoparticles, despite relatively high levels in some facilities. Perceived pollution and health risk perception may explain a large part of the environmentally induced symptoms and diseases, particularly in relatively low levels of pollution. The research results raise important questions on the physiologically or psychologically mediated health effects of air pollution., BuildERS

PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH: Social exclusion threatens quality of life in older age. However, there is a lack of research on social exclusion from life-course and gender perspectives. We investigated early- and midlife risk factors for old-age social exclusion among women and men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two individually linked studies of Swedish nationally representative samples provided longitudinal data over a 30-year period on 1,819 people at baseline. Indicators of economic exclusion, leisure/social exclusion, and civic exclusion were assessed at early late life (M=70 years) and late life (M=81). Educational attainment, non-employment, psychological health problems and mobility problems were measured as risk factors at midlife (M=54) and late midlife (M=61). Path analysis derived a model of old-age social exclusion. RESULTS: Exclusion on a domain in early late life led to exclusion on the same domain in late life, except for the economic domain. Leisure/social exclusion in early late life also led to civic exclusion in late life. Midlife risk factors influenced late-life exclusion almost exclusively through early late-life exclusion. While model fit could not be significantly improved by allowing coefficients to vary freely by gender, there was a stronger effect of non-employment on exclusion in women and a stronger effect of psychological health problems on exclusion in men. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that old-age exclusion is persistent and dynamic, and influenced by risk factors experienced earlier in life. A holistic approach with integrated efforts across different policy areas is needed to efficiently reduce old-age social exclusion.

Submicroscopic nanoparticles (NPs) in air have received much attention due to their possible effects on health and wellbeing. Adverse health impacts of air pollution may not only be associated with level of exposure, but also mediated by the perception of the pollution and by beliefs of the exposure being hazardous. The aim of this study was to test a model that describes interrelations between NP pollution, perceived air quality, health risk perception, stress, and sick building syndrome. In the NanoOffice study, the level of NPs was measured and a survey on health risk perception was conducted among 260 employees in twelve office buildings in northern Sweden. Path analyses were performed to test the validity of the model. The data refute the model proposing that the NP exposure level significantly influences stress, chronic diseases, or SBS symptoms. Instead, the perceived exposure influences the perceived risk of NP, and the effect of perceived exposure on SBS and chronic disease is mediated by stress. There was little concern about nanoparticles, despite relatively high levels in some facilities. Perceived pollution and health risk perception may explain a large part of the environmentally induced symptoms and diseases, particularly in relatively low levels of pollution. The research results raise important questions on the physiologically or psychologically mediated health effects of air pollution., BuildERS

We use path analysis to investigate how corporate tax avoidance is priced in bond yields and bank loan spreads. We find that approximately one half of the total effect of tax avoidance on bond yields is explained through the negative effect of tax avoidance on future pre-tax cash flow levels and volatility and, to a lesser extent, lower information quality. The effects of these mediating variables are much less pronounced for bank loan spreads. The results of additional cross-sectional analyses indicate that, relative to bond investors, banks are able to reduce information asymmetry problems more effectively, given their access to firms’ private information and greater ability to monitor borrowers.

The connection between personality traits, entrepreneurship curriculum and entrepreneurial intention has received inadequate research consideration among students in Africa to inform policies and curriculum development. An explanatory cross-sectional survey of 324 Ghanaian university students was assessed in a path analysis to model entrepreneurial intention as a function of personality characteristics, mediated by entrepreneurship curriculum and moderated by teaching methods, while controlling for age, gender and program of study. There were direct significant effects of entrepreneurial attitude, need for achievement and locus of control on entrepreneurial intention. The conditional effect of teaching method on entrepreneurial attitude was also significant. We found evidence of mediated-moderation for entrepreneurial attitude and intention, with no evidence found for locus of control and need for achievement. We have provided empirical evidence to support the ongoing discussion on the effect of personality traits on entrepreneurial intention to guide the development of policy and curriculum on entrepreneurship education. Implications of our study for extant literature on personality traits-entrepreneurship intention nexus, aspiring student entrepreneurs, university managers, entrepreneurship educators and policy decision makers are accentuated.

PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH: Social exclusion threatens quality of life in older age. However, there is a lack of research on social exclusion from life-course and gender perspectives. We investigated early- and midlife risk factors for old-age social exclusion among women and men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two individually linked studies of Swedish nationally representative samples provided longitudinal data over a 30-year period on 1,819 people at baseline. Indicators of economic exclusion, leisure/social exclusion, and civic exclusion were assessed at early late life (M=70 years) and late life (M=81). Educational attainment, non-employment, psychological health problems and mobility problems were measured as risk factors at midlife (M=54) and late midlife (M=61). Path analysis derived a model of old-age social exclusion. RESULTS: Exclusion on a domain in early late life led to exclusion on the same domain in late life, except for the economic domain. Leisure/social exclusion in early late life also led to civic exclusion in late life. Midlife risk factors influenced late-life exclusion almost exclusively through early late-life exclusion. While model fit could not be significantly improved by allowing coefficients to vary freely by gender, there was a stronger effect of non-employment on exclusion in women and a stronger effect of psychological health problems on exclusion in men. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that old-age exclusion is persistent and dynamic, and influenced by risk factors experienced earlier in life. A holistic approach with integrated efforts across different policy areas is needed to efficiently reduce old-age social exclusion.

Eating disorders are vulnerability factors that increase the likelihood of intimate partner violence. However, the mechanisms underlying this relationship are unclear. Although eating disorders have been associated with increased perception and fear of loneliness, they have also been associated with increased social withdrawal resulting from decreased enjoyment of social situations and poorer social functioning. The purpose of the present study was to examine the mediating role of fear of loneliness in the relationship between the behavioural characteristics of eating disorders and intimate partner violence, as well as to explore the moderating role of social withdrawal in the relationship between fear of loneliness and intimate partner violence. The sample comprised 683 participants (78% female and 22% male) with a mean age of 21.14 years (SD = 2.72). The psychometric scales used were Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI 2), Emotional Dependency Questionnaire (EDQ), Coping Strategies Inventory (CSI) and the Violence Received, Exercised and Perceived in Youth and Adolescent Dating Relationships Scale (VREPS). The hypothesised model was tested by path analysis using maximum likelihood. The path analysis of the hypothesised model showed that inefficacy, fear of maturity, and impulsivity were the behavioural characteristics of eating disorders predominantly related to fear of loneliness. Fear of loneliness had no direct significant effect on any of the received violence variables. However, interaction effects indicated that there was a moderately significant effect of fear of loneliness on physical, psychological, and social violence received as a function of levels of social withdrawal. These findings show the need to take into account and work on fear of loneliness and social withdrawal among individuals with an eating disorder to decrease the likelihood of establishing violent intimate partner relationships. Improving interpersonal functioning and social support is key t

Contextualization: Coffee is cultivated in 64 % of Nariño municipalities, where climate variability is suitable for the plant to carry out its metabolic activities. Knowledge Gap: The lack of knowledge and the lack of studies related to the response of performance components, in different environments, difficult to interpret which variables influence in the performance of the Castillo variety coffee. Purpose: The goal was to establish cause-effect relations between variables related to morphological, physiological, and climatic components, with the yield of coffee, Castillo variety, under three altitude ranges (High-2015 meters above sea level, Medium-1700 meters above sea level and Low-1536 meters above sea level). Methodology: The work was carried out in the municipality of Sandoná, Nariño department. The evaluated variables included: Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Ambient Temperature, Precipitation, Relative Humidity, Plant Height, Number of Leaves, Basal Stem Diameter, number of primary branches, length of primary branches, number of internodes per branch, Leaf length, and foliar area index. These were evaluated through the Path Analysis. Results and conclusions: The performance components in Castillo variety coffee, varied according to altitude. Zones M and B achieved the highest yields. For altitude M (1700 meters above sea level), the direct effect on the yield (Y) were caused by the primary branches (PB). Within the indirect effects, the most important were those caused by relative Humidity (RH) through temperature (T). Altitude B (1536 meters above sea level) has direct effects on the branch length (BL), foliar area (FA), and Photosynthetically Active Radiation (RFA); and the indirect effects were T through the RFA, number of internodes (NI) through plant height (PH), basal diameter (BD) through leaf numbers (LN), RP through Leaf Length (LL), AF and HR. The area with the lowest yield was altitude A (2015 meters above sea level), showing as direct ef, Contextualización: El café se cultiva en el 64 % de los municipios de Nariño, donde la variabilidad climática es adecuada para que la planta pueda realizar sus actividades metabólicas. Vacío de conocimiento: El desconocimiento y la falta de estudios relacionados con la respuesta de los componentes de rendimiento, en diferentes ambientes, dificulta interpretar las variables que influyen en el rendimiento del café variedad Castillo. Propósito: El objetivo fue establecer la relación causa-efecto entre variables relacionadas con los componentes morfológicos, fisiológicos y climáticos del rendimiento del café, variedad Castillo, considerando tres condiciones altitudinales (Alta-A = 2015 msnm, Media-M = 1700 msnm y Baja-B= 1536 msnm). Metodología: El trabajo se realizó en el municipio de Sandoná, departamento de Nariño. Las variables registradas incluyeron: radiación fotosintéticamente activa, temperatura ambiente, precipitación, humedad relativa, altura de planta, número de hojas, diámetro basal del tallo, número de ramas primarias, longitud de ramas primarias, número de entrenudos por rama, largo de la hoja, área foliar e índice de área foliar. Estas se evaluaron a través del Análisis de Sendero. Resultados y conclusiones: Los componentes de rendimiento en el cultivo de café de la variedad Castillo variaron con la altitud. Las zonas M y B obtuvieron los rendimientos más altos. Para la altitud M (1700 msnm), los efectos directos sobre el rendimiento (RTO) los tuvo la variable ramas primarias (RP). Dentro de los efectos indirectos, los más importantes fueron los causados por humedad relativa (RH) a través de la temperatura (T). La altitud B (1536 msnm) presentó efectos directos en el largo de rama (LR), área foliar (AF) y Radiación Fotosintéticamente Activa (RFA); y los efectos indirectos estuvieron en la T a través de la RFA, el número de entrenudos (NE) a través de la altura de planta (AP), el diámetro basal (DB) a través del número de hojas (NH), el RP a través de la

This article was supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Open Access Publication Fund of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin., Successful innovations are deemed to be necessary requisites for enterprise success. On the other hand, works council participation (“co-determination” in Germany) and employee participation are judged differently as either fostering employee and enterprise benefits or only the former or even none. Both forms of participation have found diverging theoretical and empirical argumentations regarding innovations. Here, we argue and show empirically that both forms of participation deliver positive contributions to innovation success, economically and employee-related, substantiated with qualitative reports from 36 process innovation cases and quantitative data from 44 cases. Qualitative case analyses reveal different profiles of works council participation depending on the innovation type. Independent of the innovation types, more successful innovations are marked by more intensive participation. Quantitative examinations of a causal model with path analysis specify how this is achieved: works council and employee participation further the growth of appropriate knowledge and the former also raises the coordination capability; both are essential preconditions for innovation success. A direct impact of works councils on innovation success complements the indirect effects. The slightly modified path analysis explains 53% of the innovation success variance., Peer Reviewed

Abusive leadership is particularly prevalent in nursing and it can have multiple adverse effects on performance at work. However, little research has examined whether and under what conditions abusive leadership may be detrimental to nurses’ extra-role performance. This cross-sectional study explores whether abusive leadership intensifies the effects of emotional job resources on autonomous motivation, a psychological mechanism that could be responsible for extra-role performance. Data were collected from dyads of registered French-Canadian nurses and their immediate supervisors (n = 99 dyads). The models were tested with path analysis using Mplus. Our results show that extra-role performance is positively associated with nurses’ job emotional resources and autonomous motivation, but negatively associated with abusive leadership. Nurses’ cynicism is also negatively associated with autonomous motivation. Importantly, the indirect relation between emotional resources and extra-role performance through autonomous motivation is moderated by abusive leadership, providing support for a moderated mediation effect. These results add to those supporting a similar moderated mediation mechanism to explain employee attitudes and demonstrate the relevance of self-determination theory in a work context. These findings reinforce the need to focus on the quality of leadership practices as well as interventions aimed at promoting the performance of nurses at work.

Brown spot disease in rice is caused by Cochliobolus miyabeanus (Anamorph: Bipolaris oryzae (Breda de Haan) Shoemaker, 1959 (Synonyms: Helminthosporium oryzae). It causes significant losses by affecting both economic yield and grain quality. Though, it is a minor disease in most of the parts of the world but the historical famines like Krishna Godaveri Delta famine and Bengal famines and huge crop losses in a number of incidences as in Guyana and Nigeria renders it as a potential threat to rice crop and adverted the requirement of efficient, sustainable and economical strategies to cope with the pathogen. In this context, availability of resistant sources against the pathogen is a noteworthy alternative for disease management. Realising the importance of resistant sources, the present research investigation was undertaken to study association between resistance to brown spot disease and yield attributing traits in rice via correlation studies and path analysis to identify high yielding resistant lines for brown spot disease in rice. In this study disease resistance expressed in terms of AUDPC showed negative correlation with yield and yield attributing traits and direct negative effect on yield. Thus, AUDPC can be utilised as a selection parameter for developing improved cultivars with higher grain yield and lower susceptibility towards the brown spot pathogen.

Brown spot disease in rice is caused by Cochliobolus miyabeanus (Anamorph: Bipolaris oryzae (Breda de Haan) Shoemaker, 1959 (Synonyms: Helminthosporium oryzae). It causes significant losses by affecting both economic yield and grain quality. Though, it is a minor disease in most of the parts of the world but the historical famines like Krishna Godaveri Delta famine and Bengal famines and huge crop losses in a number of incidences as in Guyana and Nigeria renders it as a potential threat to rice crop and adverted the requirement of efficient, sustainable and economical strategies to cope with the pathogen. In this context, availability of resistant sources against the pathogen is a noteworthy alternative for disease management. Realising the importance of resistant sources, the present research investigation was undertaken to study association between resistance to brown spot disease and yield attributing traits in rice via correlation studies and path analysis to identify high yielding resistant lines for brown spot disease in rice. In this study disease resistance expressed in terms of AUDPC showed negative correlation with yield and yield attributing traits and direct negative effect on yield. Thus, AUDPC can be utilised as a selection parameter for developing improved cultivars with higher grain yield and lower susceptibility towards the brown spot pathogen.

Increasing seed yield and oil content is one of the most important goals in sunflower breeding programs. Eight sunflower restorer lines RHA-UK, RHA-ST-59, RHA-SES-IMI, RHA-SNRF, RHA-E-ANN-65, RHA-RU-3, RHA-CDN, RHA-N-M-1 were analyzed to estimate correlation values for nine agronomic traits. Relationships between seed yield and eight traits (oil and protein content, seed germination, 1000-seed weight, head diameter, number of branches and leaves and plant height) in sunflower were studied. Path analysis was used to partition the correlation values into direct and indirect effects on seed yield. Path analysis indicated highest significant direct effect of head diameter on yield (0.439**; as confirmed by the high correlation coeffi cient 0.623**). e number of branches (high correlation coeffi cient 0.552**) had a positive direct effect but not highly significant on yield (0.260*). In the study of indirect effects, thirteen significant effects were determined.

PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH: Social exclusion threatens quality of life in older age. However, there is a lack of research on social exclusion from life-course and gender perspectives. We investigated early- and midlife risk factors for old-age social exclusion among women and men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two individually linked studies of Swedish nationally representative samples provided longitudinal data over a 30-year period on 1,819 people at baseline. Indicators of economic exclusion, leisure/social exclusion, and civic exclusion were assessed at early late life (M=70 years) and late life (M=81). Educational attainment, non-employment, psychological health problems and mobility problems were measured as risk factors at midlife (M=54) and late midlife (M=61). Path analysis derived a model of old-age social exclusion. RESULTS: Exclusion on a domain in early late life led to exclusion on the same domain in late life, except for the economic domain. Leisure/social exclusion in early late life also led to civic exclusion in late life. Midlife risk factors influenced late-life exclusion almost exclusively through early late-life exclusion. While model fit could not be significantly improved by allowing coefficients to vary freely by gender, there was a stronger effect of non-employment on exclusion in women and a stronger effect of psychological health problems on exclusion in men. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that old-age exclusion is persistent and dynamic, and influenced by risk factors experienced earlier in life. A holistic approach with integrated efforts across different policy areas is needed to efficiently reduce old-age social exclusion.

Eating disorders are vulnerability factors that increase the likelihood of intimate partner violence. However, the mechanisms underlying this relationship are unclear. Although eating disorders have been associated with increased perception and fear of loneliness, they have also been associated with increased social withdrawal resulting from decreased enjoyment of social situations and poorer social functioning. The purpose of the present study was to examine the mediating role of fear of loneliness in the relationship between the behavioural characteristics of eating disorders and intimate partner violence, as well as to explore the moderating role of social withdrawal in the relationship between fear of loneliness and intimate partner violence. The sample comprised 683 participants (78% female and 22% male) with a mean age of 21.14 years (SD = 2.72). The psychometric scales used were Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI 2), Emotional Dependency Questionnaire (EDQ), Coping Strategies Inventory (CSI) and the Violence Received, Exercised and Perceived in Youth and Adolescent Dating Relationships Scale (VREPS). The hypothesised model was tested by path analysis using maximum likelihood. The path analysis of the hypothesised model showed that inefficacy, fear of maturity, and impulsivity were the behavioural characteristics of eating disorders predominantly related to fear of loneliness. Fear of loneliness had no direct significant effect on any of the received violence variables. However, interaction effects indicated that there was a moderately significant effect of fear of loneliness on physical, psychological, and social violence received as a function of levels of social withdrawal. These findings show the need to take into account and work on fear of loneliness and social withdrawal among individuals with an eating disorder to decrease the likelihood of establishing violent intimate partner relationships. Improving interpersonal functioning and social support is key t

Contextualization: Coffee is cultivated in 64 % of Nariño municipalities, where climate variability is suitable for the plant to carry out its metabolic activities. Knowledge Gap: The lack of knowledge and the lack of studies related to the response of performance components, in different environments, difficult to interpret which variables influence in the performance of the Castillo variety coffee. Purpose: The goal was to establish cause-effect relations between variables related to morphological, physiological, and climatic components, with the yield of coffee, Castillo variety, under three altitude ranges (High-2015 meters above sea level, Medium-1700 meters above sea level and Low-1536 meters above sea level). Methodology: The work was carried out in the municipality of Sandoná, Nariño department. The evaluated variables included: Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Ambient Temperature, Precipitation, Relative Humidity, Plant Height, Number of Leaves, Basal Stem Diameter, number of primary branches, length of primary branches, number of internodes per branch, Leaf length, and foliar area index. These were evaluated through the Path Analysis. Results and conclusions: The performance components in Castillo variety coffee, varied according to altitude. Zones M and B achieved the highest yields. For altitude M (1700 meters above sea level), the direct effect on the yield (Y) were caused by the primary branches (PB). Within the indirect effects, the most important were those caused by relative Humidity (RH) through temperature (T). Altitude B (1536 meters above sea level) has direct effects on the branch length (BL), foliar area (FA), and Photosynthetically Active Radiation (RFA); and the indirect effects were T through the RFA, number of internodes (NI) through plant height (PH), basal diameter (BD) through leaf numbers (LN), RP through Leaf Length (LL), AF and HR. The area with the lowest yield was altitude A (2015 meters above sea level), showing as direct ef, Contextualización: El café se cultiva en el 64 % de los municipios de Nariño, donde la variabilidad climática es adecuada para que la planta pueda realizar sus actividades metabólicas. Vacío de conocimiento: El desconocimiento y la falta de estudios relacionados con la respuesta de los componentes de rendimiento, en diferentes ambientes, dificulta interpretar las variables que influyen en el rendimiento del café variedad Castillo. Propósito: El objetivo fue establecer la relación causa-efecto entre variables relacionadas con los componentes morfológicos, fisiológicos y climáticos del rendimiento del café, variedad Castillo, considerando tres condiciones altitudinales (Alta-A = 2015 msnm, Media-M = 1700 msnm y Baja-B= 1536 msnm). Metodología: El trabajo se realizó en el municipio de Sandoná, departamento de Nariño. Las variables registradas incluyeron: radiación fotosintéticamente activa, temperatura ambiente, precipitación, humedad relativa, altura de planta, número de hojas, diámetro basal del tallo, número de ramas primarias, longitud de ramas primarias, número de entrenudos por rama, largo de la hoja, área foliar e índice de área foliar. Estas se evaluaron a través del Análisis de Sendero. Resultados y conclusiones: Los componentes de rendimiento en el cultivo de café de la variedad Castillo variaron con la altitud. Las zonas M y B obtuvieron los rendimientos más altos. Para la altitud M (1700 msnm), los efectos directos sobre el rendimiento (RTO) los tuvo la variable ramas primarias (RP). Dentro de los efectos indirectos, los más importantes fueron los causados por humedad relativa (RH) a través de la temperatura (T). La altitud B (1536 msnm) presentó efectos directos en el largo de rama (LR), área foliar (AF) y Radiación Fotosintéticamente Activa (RFA); y los efectos indirectos estuvieron en la T a través de la RFA, el número de entrenudos (NE) a través de la altura de planta (AP), el diámetro basal (DB) a través del número de hojas (NH), el RP a través de la

Contextualization: Coffee is cultivated in 64 % of Nariño municipalities, where climate variability is suitable for the plant to carry out its metabolic activities. Knowledge Gap: The lack of knowledge and the lack of studies related to the response of performance components, in different environments, difficult to interpret which variables influence in the performance of the Castillo variety coffee. Purpose: The goal was to establish cause-effect relations between variables related to morphological, physiological, and climatic components, with the yield of coffee, Castillo variety, under three altitude ranges (High-2015 meters above sea level, Medium-1700 meters above sea level and Low-1536 meters above sea level). Methodology: The work was carried out in the municipality of Sandoná, Nariño department. The evaluated variables included: Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Ambient Temperature, Precipitation, Relative Humidity, Plant Height, Number of Leaves, Basal Stem Diameter, number of primary branches, length of primary branches, number of internodes per branch, Leaf length, and foliar area index. These were evaluated through the Path Analysis. Results and conclusions: The performance components in Castillo variety coffee, varied according to altitude. Zones M and B achieved the highest yields. For altitude M (1700 meters above sea level), the direct effect on the yield (Y) were caused by the primary branches (PB). Within the indirect effects, the most important were those caused by relative Humidity (RH) through temperature (T). Altitude B (1536 meters above sea level) has direct effects on the branch length (BL), foliar area (FA), and Photosynthetically Active Radiation (RFA); and the indirect effects were T through the RFA, number of internodes (NI) through plant height (PH), basal diameter (BD) through leaf numbers (LN), RP through Leaf Length (LL), AF and HR. The area with the lowest yield was altitude A (2015 meters above sea level), showing as direct ef, Contextualización: El café se cultiva en el 64 % de los municipios de Nariño, donde la variabilidad climática es adecuada para que la planta pueda realizar sus actividades metabólicas. Vacío de conocimiento: El desconocimiento y la falta de estudios relacionados con la respuesta de los componentes de rendimiento, en diferentes ambientes, dificulta interpretar las variables que influyen en el rendimiento del café variedad Castillo. Propósito: El objetivo fue establecer la relación causa-efecto entre variables relacionadas con los componentes morfológicos, fisiológicos y climáticos del rendimiento del café, variedad Castillo, considerando tres condiciones altitudinales (Alta-A = 2015 msnm, Media-M = 1700 msnm y Baja-B= 1536 msnm). Metodología: El trabajo se realizó en el municipio de Sandoná, departamento de Nariño. Las variables registradas incluyeron: radiación fotosintéticamente activa, temperatura ambiente, precipitación, humedad relativa, altura de planta, número de hojas, diámetro basal del tallo, número de ramas primarias, longitud de ramas primarias, número de entrenudos por rama, largo de la hoja, área foliar e índice de área foliar. Estas se evaluaron a través del Análisis de Sendero. Resultados y conclusiones: Los componentes de rendimiento en el cultivo de café de la variedad Castillo variaron con la altitud. Las zonas M y B obtuvieron los rendimientos más altos. Para la altitud M (1700 msnm), los efectos directos sobre el rendimiento (RTO) los tuvo la variable ramas primarias (RP). Dentro de los efectos indirectos, los más importantes fueron los causados por humedad relativa (RH) a través de la temperatura (T). La altitud B (1536 msnm) presentó efectos directos en el largo de rama (LR), área foliar (AF) y Radiación Fotosintéticamente Activa (RFA); y los efectos indirectos estuvieron en la T a través de la RFA, el número de entrenudos (NE) a través de la altura de planta (AP), el diámetro basal (DB) a través del número de hojas (NH), el RP a través de la

Submicroscopic nanoparticles (NPs) in air have received much attention due to their possible effects on health and wellbeing. Adverse health impacts of air pollution may not only be associated with level of exposure, but also mediated by the perception of the pollution and by beliefs of the exposure being hazardous. The aim of this study was to test a model that describes interrelations between NP pollution, perceived air quality, health risk perception, stress, and sick building syndrome. In the NanoOffice study, the level of NPs was measured and a survey on health risk perception was conducted among 260 employees in twelve office buildings in northern Sweden. Path analyses were performed to test the validity of the model. The data refute the model proposing that the NP exposure level significantly influences stress, chronic diseases, or SBS symptoms. Instead, the perceived exposure influences the perceived risk of NP, and the effect of perceived exposure on SBS and chronic disease is mediated by stress. There was little concern about nanoparticles, despite relatively high levels in some facilities. Perceived pollution and health risk perception may explain a large part of the environmentally induced symptoms and diseases, particularly in relatively low levels of pollution. The research results raise important questions on the physiologically or psychologically mediated health effects of air pollution., BuildERS

Abusive leadership is particularly prevalent in nursing and it can have multiple adverse effects on performance at work. However, little research has examined whether and under what conditions abusive leadership may be detrimental to nurses’ extra-role performance. This cross-sectional study explores whether abusive leadership intensifies the effects of emotional job resources on autonomous motivation, a psychological mechanism that could be responsible for extra-role performance. Data were collected from dyads of registered French-Canadian nurses and their immediate supervisors (n = 99 dyads). The models were tested with path analysis using Mplus. Our results show that extra-role performance is positively associated with nurses’ job emotional resources and autonomous motivation, but negatively associated with abusive leadership. Nurses’ cynicism is also negatively associated with autonomous motivation. Importantly, the indirect relation between emotional resources and extra-role performance through autonomous motivation is moderated by abusive leadership, providing support for a moderated mediation effect. These results add to those supporting a similar moderated mediation mechanism to explain employee attitudes and demonstrate the relevance of self-determination theory in a work context. These findings reinforce the need to focus on the quality of leadership practices as well as interventions aimed at promoting the performance of nurses at work.

Successful innovations are deemed to be necessary requisites for enterprise success. On the other hand, works council participation (“co-determination” in Germany) and employee participation are judged differently as either fostering employee and enterprise benefits or only the former or even none. Both forms of participation have found diverging theoretical and empirical argumentations regarding innovations. Here, we argue and show empirically that both forms of participation deliver positive contributions to innovation success, economically and employee-related, substantiated with qualitative reports from 36 process innovation cases and quantitative data from 44 cases. Qualitative case analyses reveal different profiles of works council participation depending on the innovation type. Independent of the innovation types, more successful innovations are marked by more intensive participation. Quantitative examinations of a causal model with path analysis specify how this is achieved: works council and employee participation further the growth of appropriate knowledge and the former also raises the coordination capability; both are essential preconditions for innovation success. A direct impact of works councils on innovation success complements the indirect effects. The slightly modified path analysis explains 53% of the innovation success variance., Peer Reviewed

Submicroscopic nanoparticles (NPs) in air have received much attention due to their possible effects on health and wellbeing. Adverse health impacts of air pollution may not only be associated with level of exposure, but also mediated by the perception of the pollution and by beliefs of the exposure being hazardous. The aim of this study was to test a model that describes interrelations between NP pollution, perceived air quality, health risk perception, stress, and sick building syndrome. In the NanoOffice study, the level of NPs was measured and a survey on health risk perception was conducted among 260 employees in twelve office buildings in northern Sweden. Path analyses were performed to test the validity of the model. The data refute the model proposing that the NP exposure level significantly influences stress, chronic diseases, or SBS symptoms. Instead, the perceived exposure influences the perceived risk of NP, and the effect of perceived exposure on SBS and chronic disease is mediated by stress. There was little concern about nanoparticles, despite relatively high levels in some facilities. Perceived pollution and health risk perception may explain a large part of the environmentally induced symptoms and diseases, particularly in relatively low levels of pollution. The research results raise important questions on the physiologically or psychologically mediated health effects of air pollution., BuildERS

This study determined the level of self-efficacy, communicative competence, leadership empowering behavior of administrators and teacher effectiveness of teachers in San Isidro North Davao Oriental Division. A descriptive correlational design was used in this study. A total of 75 teachers participated in this study. The respondents were selected through total enumeration since there were only a few teachers in the district. The survey questionnaire was utilized to gather data from the respondents. Mean was utilized to determine the level of self-efficacy, leadership empowering behavior, communicative competence and teacher effectiveness of teachers. Pearson product-moment correlation was used to investigate the relationship between variables. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the influence of self-efficacy, communicative competence and leadership empowering behavior on teacher effectiveness. Furthermore, the best fit model of teacher effectiveness was also investigated. Results revealed that levels of self-efficacy, leadership empowering behavior, communicative competence and teacher effectiveness are high. Moreover, self-efficacy, leadership empowering behavior and communicative competence were found to have a significant positive relationship with teacher effectiveness. Furthermore, both communicative competence and leadership empowering behavior significantly influence teacher effectiveness. Hence, the best fit model illustrates that 28 percent of the variance of teacher effectiveness is explained by the combined influence of communicative competence and leadership behavior.

Purpose: The motivated strategies for learning questionnaire (MSLQ) are extensively used by researchers and educators to measure self-regulated learning skills. The survey originally published in English has also been translated into multiple languages. However, a gap in the literature is found for its reliability and validity studies in the Pakistani context, specifically in the higher education sector. Therefore, this study was designed to establish the local norms and appraise the scale factors in specific samples and cultures. Methodology: Path analysis was used to examine the latent factor structures to determine whether MSLQ is appropriately reliable and valid to be used on our normative sample. All 15 subscales of the MSLQ were administered to a sample of 272 (n: 272) students enrolled in the undergraduate program of a private university located in Karachi, Pakistan. Findings: Results from the administration of MSLQ on a sample from the local population suggest that the scale is reliable and valid. Subscales (the exogenous variables) were loaded onto their respective factors with high regression weights. Statistically significant correlations were found among eleven subscales and the academic performances of students. The gender difference was found in eight subscales with significant Cohen’s D. However, the model fit indices on SEM show a relative fit and poor fit on some of the indices. Conclusion: This study concludes that students’ learning strategies and motivation have an impact on academic outcomes and considerable gender difference prevails in terms of motivation and learning strategies in Pakistani students.

Contextualization: Coffee is cultivated in 64 % of Nariño municipalities, where climate variability is suitable for the plant to carry out its metabolic activities. Knowledge Gap: The lack of knowledge and the lack of studies related to the response of performance components, in different environments, difficult to interpret which variables influence in the performance of the Castillo variety coffee. Purpose: The goal was to establish cause-effect relations between variables related to morphological, physiological, and climatic components, with the yield of coffee, Castillo variety, under three altitude ranges (High-2015 meters above sea level, Medium-1700 meters above sea level and Low-1536 meters above sea level). Methodology: The work was carried out in the municipality of Sandoná, Nariño department. The evaluated variables included: Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Ambient Temperature, Precipitation, Relative Humidity, Plant Height, Number of Leaves, Basal Stem Diameter, number of primary branches, length of primary branches, number of internodes per branch, Leaf length, and foliar area index. These were evaluated through the Path Analysis. Results and conclusions: The performance components in Castillo variety coffee, varied according to altitude. Zones M and B achieved the highest yields. For altitude M (1700 meters above sea level), the direct effect on the yield (Y) were caused by the primary branches (PB). Within the indirect effects, the most important were those caused by relative Humidity (RH) through temperature (T). Altitude B (1536 meters above sea level) has direct effects on the branch length (BL), foliar area (FA), and Photosynthetically Active Radiation (RFA); and the indirect effects were T through the RFA, number of internodes (NI) through plant height (PH), basal diameter (BD) through leaf numbers (LN), RP through Leaf Length (LL), AF and HR. The area with the lowest yield was altitude A (2015 meters above sea level), showing as direct ef, Contextualización: El café se cultiva en el 64 % de los municipios de Nariño, donde la variabilidad climática es adecuada para que la planta pueda realizar sus actividades metabólicas. Vacío de conocimiento: El desconocimiento y la falta de estudios relacionados con la respuesta de los componentes de rendimiento, en diferentes ambientes, dificulta interpretar las variables que influyen en el rendimiento del café variedad Castillo. Propósito: El objetivo fue establecer la relación causa-efecto entre variables relacionadas con los componentes morfológicos, fisiológicos y climáticos del rendimiento del café, variedad Castillo, considerando tres condiciones altitudinales (Alta-A = 2015 msnm, Media-M = 1700 msnm y Baja-B= 1536 msnm). Metodología: El trabajo se realizó en el municipio de Sandoná, departamento de Nariño. Las variables registradas incluyeron: radiación fotosintéticamente activa, temperatura ambiente, precipitación, humedad relativa, altura de planta, número de hojas, diámetro basal del tallo, número de ramas primarias, longitud de ramas primarias, número de entrenudos por rama, largo de la hoja, área foliar e índice de área foliar. Estas se evaluaron a través del Análisis de Sendero. Resultados y conclusiones: Los componentes de rendimiento en el cultivo de café de la variedad Castillo variaron con la altitud. Las zonas M y B obtuvieron los rendimientos más altos. Para la altitud M (1700 msnm), los efectos directos sobre el rendimiento (RTO) los tuvo la variable ramas primarias (RP). Dentro de los efectos indirectos, los más importantes fueron los causados por humedad relativa (RH) a través de la temperatura (T). La altitud B (1536 msnm) presentó efectos directos en el largo de rama (LR), área foliar (AF) y Radiación Fotosintéticamente Activa (RFA); y los efectos indirectos estuvieron en la T a través de la RFA, el número de entrenudos (NE) a través de la altura de planta (AP), el diámetro basal (DB) a través del número de hojas (NH), el RP a través de la

Cognitive complaints, defined as perceived cognitive dysfunction in daily living, are associated with depressive symptoms. The associations of cognitive complaints and depressive symptoms with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and perceived overall health in Japanese adults remains unknown. To investigate these relationships, we evaluated a convenience sample of 525 Japanese adult volunteers (Mage: 41.3 +/- 11.7; 238 male and 287 female). We used the Cognitive Complaints in Bipolar Disorder Rating Assessment (evaluating cognitive complaints), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (evaluating depressive symptoms), EuroQol-5 Dimension-5 Level (EQ-5D-5L; evaluating HRQoL), and EuroQol-Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS; evaluating perceived overall health). Our path analyses suggested that both cognitive complaints and depressive symptoms had significant total effects on HRQoL and perceived overall health. Furthermore, cognitive complaints were not significantly associated directly with HRQoL and perceived overall health, whereas cognitive complaints were significantly associated with HRQoL and perceived overall health indirectly via depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms were significantly associated directly with HRQoL and perceived overall health. This study suggests that depressive symptoms may mediate the associations of cognitive complaints with HRQoL and perceived overall health. Thus, to address the HRQoL and perceived overall health associated with cognitive complaints, evaluation and intervention for depressive symptoms may be useful in public health.

Cognitive complaints, defined as perceived cognitive dysfunction in daily living, are associated with depressive symptoms. The associations of cognitive complaints and depressive symptoms with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and perceived overall health in Japanese adults remains unknown. To investigate these relationships, we evaluated a convenience sample of 525 Japanese adult volunteers (Mage: 41.3 +/- 11.7; 238 male and 287 female). We used the Cognitive Complaints in Bipolar Disorder Rating Assessment (evaluating cognitive complaints), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (evaluating depressive symptoms), EuroQol-5 Dimension-5 Level (EQ-5D-5L; evaluating HRQoL), and EuroQol-Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS; evaluating perceived overall health). Our path analyses suggested that both cognitive complaints and depressive symptoms had significant total effects on HRQoL and perceived overall health. Furthermore, cognitive complaints were not significantly associated directly with HRQoL and perceived overall health, whereas cognitive complaints were significantly associated with HRQoL and perceived overall health indirectly via depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms were significantly associated directly with HRQoL and perceived overall health. This study suggests that depressive symptoms may mediate the associations of cognitive complaints with HRQoL and perceived overall health. Thus, to address the HRQoL and perceived overall health associated with cognitive complaints, evaluation and intervention for depressive symptoms may be useful in public health.

Plant development consists of a tight web of interconnected traits that are jointly affected by genetics and the environment. These traits not only are affected by internal and environmental cues but can influence and be influenced by other traits as well. In this dissertation, I describe two projects where I develop frameworks for examining potential mechanisms underlying phenotypic variation and show how perturbations of one trait may cause other traits to vary. In the first project, I use the shade avoidance response as a model system for understanding the genetic architecture of late development plasticity. I leverage multiple data sets - bolting time, rosette biomass, inflorescence growth, etc. - in conjunction with path models to better describe cascading effects of QTL to explain colocalizations of QTL for different traits. I show how combinations of direct and indirect QTL effects can lead to variation in plasticity. In the second project, I take advantage of dense time series data to develop a model for measuring relative growth rates from growth curves called SplineRGR. SplineRGR is a parsimonious and flexible framework that demonstrates how perturbations in a latent trait - relative growth rate - can result in a wide range of patterns in overall growth dynamics. Overall, this dissertation illustrates that using complex models to leverage increasingly intricate data sets can provide insight into the genetic architecture of developmental traits and a more unified view of the genotype-phenotype map.

BackgroundHealth literacy (HL) is the "ability to find, understand, evaluate and put information to use to improve decision making and, ultimately, improve health and quality of life." Parents with limited HL are less likely to follow recommended parental oral health behaviors.PurposeWe tested a theoretical framework designed to clarify mechanisms through which HL may influence parental oral health behavior. The framework proposed that HL: (a) has a direct effect on parental oral health knowledge, beliefs (i.e. self-efficacy; perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers), and behavior; (b) influences beliefs indirectly through knowledge; and (c) influences behavior indirectly through knowledge and beliefs.MethodsWe analyzed cross-sectional data from a randomized controlled trial designed to reduce dental decay in American Indian children (N = 521). Parents completed survey questions assessing sociodemographic characteristics, HL, and parental oral health knowledge, beliefs, and behavior. Path analysis was used to test the framework.ResultsHL exerted significant direct effects on knowledge and beliefs but not behavior. HL had significant indirect effects on all beliefs through knowledge. Significant indirect effects of HL on behavior occurred through self-efficacy (estimate: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.42, 1.83, p = .005), perceived barriers (estimate: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.29, 1.43, p = .010), knowledge to self-efficacy (estimate: 0.57, 95% CI: .31, 0.98, p = .001), and knowledge to perceived barriers (estimate: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.47, p = .012).ConclusionsHL exerted an indirect effect on parental oral health behavior, with knowledge, self-efficacy, and perceived barriers being the primary constructs linking HL to behavior.