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To investigate whether the association between hearing difficulties and self-reported memory problems is mediated by physical health and psychosocial wellbeing. A cross-sectional study. Path analyses were used to test potential theoretical models (psychosocial-cascade, common cause) of the association between hearing difficulties and memory problems, adjusting for age. A sample of 479 adults (18–87 years) completed self-reported outcome measures. Half the participants reported clinically significant hearing difficulties and 30% self-reported memory problems. In the direct model, reporting hearing difficulties was associated with a greater likelihood of reporting memory problems (β = 0.17, p = 0.007, 95% Confidence Intervals [CI] = 0.00, 0.01). Hearing difficulties were also associated with poorer physical health, but this did not mediate the association with memory. Psychosocial factors, however, fully mediated the relationship between hearing difficulties and memory problems (β = 0.03, p = 0.019, 95% CI = 0.00, 0.01). Adults with hearing difficulties may be more likely to self-report memory problems, irrespective of age. This study supports the psychosocial-cascade model, as the association between self-reported hearing and memory problems was explained entirely by psychosocial factors. Future studies should investigate these associations using behavioural measures, as well as explore whether interventions can reduce the risk of developing memory problems in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bionomics of an insect and metabolic flux of the host plant are important tools to decipher the status of plant resistance against insect species. This study illuminates vital information on aphid‐induced levels of phytochemicals in the siliquae of Brassica juncea cultivars and their effect on host selection and population growth parameters of Lipaphis erysimi. The current study unveiled that the siliquae preference, intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), gross reproductive rate (GRR) and net reproductive rate (R0) were significantly lower on Pusa Mustard 27, DRMR 150‐35, RLC 3, NRCHB 101, Pusa Mustard 26 and Pusa Mustard 25. However, the mean generation time (T) and doubling time (DT) of L. erysimi were significantly longer (p < 0.001) in these genotypes. These cultivars were also found with elevated levels of aphid‐induced phytochemicals and their associated enzymes, except in a few cases. Total antioxidants, ferric ion reducing antioxidant power, chlorophyll A, total chlorophyll, ascorbate oxidase (AO), catalase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and myrosinase were found to contribute 49.18–85.30% variation for siliquae preference and bionomics of L. erysimi on the test B. juncea cultivars. The study revealed that phenols, antioxidants, chlorophyll A, chlorophyll B, total carotenoids, AO, ascorbate peroxidase, PAL, tyrosine ammonia lyase and myrosinase had significant and negative direct consequences on the siliquae preference and bionomics, thus can be exploited as biochemical markers to identify sources of resistance against L. erysimi. Furthermore, DRMR 150‐35, NRCHB 101, RLC 3, Pusa mustard 26, RH 749 and Pusa Mustard 27 were found with greater aphid‐induced defence phytochemicals and detrimental effects on the host selection and bionomics of L. erysimi, thus can be deployed in Brassica improvement program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on short-term travel behavior and long-term travel preferences among residents of Alabama, using survey data. The study employs a two-step path analysis modeling framework to connect the changes in travel behavior during the pandemic with the expected long-term travel preferences. In the first step, the study develops a model to identify correlates of the travel behavior changes during the pandemic (i.e., reduced trip frequency to grocery/pharmacy, retail/recreation, and work/commuting). In the second step, the study develops a model to establish the association between during-pandemic travel behavior changes and post-pandemic travel preferences. To reduce estimation bias when relying on one single model, the study employs multiple machine learning classifiers such as Random Forest, Adaptive Boosting, Support Vector Machine, K-Nearest Neighbors, and Artificial Neural Network. Average marginal effects are estimated to quantify the correlates of travel impacts due to the pandemic. The results reveal that fear of COVID-19 is significantly associated with reduced travel during the pandemic regardless of the trip type, and people from high-income households will likely travel less after the pandemic. The path analysis connects the correlates of short-term travel impacts of COVID-19 and long-term travel preferences, and identifies variables such as fear of COVID-19 that are significantly linked to reduced travel during the pandemic and also associated with long-term travel preferences. People who reduced their travel during the pandemic are likely to continue traveling less in the future. The study provides valuable insights into the impacts of COVID-19 on travel behavior in Alabama, which can inform the development of local transportation policies. • A statewide travel behavior survey was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic in Alabama. • The study built models to uncover the impacts of COVID-19 on short-term travel behaviors and long-term travel preferences. • Machine learning integrated into path analysis to explore travel behaviors during COVID-19 effects on long-term preferences. • Estimated marginal effects quantify the impact of the pandemic on short- and long-term travel behavior and preferences. • People in Alabama who reduced their travel during the pandemic are likely to continue traveling less in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insect herbivores can directly affect plant reproduction by feeding on reproductive tissues, or indirectly by feeding on vegetative tissues for which plants are unable to compensate. Additionally, early arriving herbivores may have cascading effects on plant reproduction by altering the later arriving community. However, the dynamic interplay between plant development and the assembly of herbivore communities remains underexplored. Hence, it is unclear whether non‐outbreak levels of ambient herbivory early in the development of plants can impact plant fitness and to what extent these effects are mediated through changes in plant development and subsequent herbivory. By excluding the herbivore community in an exclosure experiment and by manipulating early‐season herbivory in a common garden field experiment replicated across four Brassicaceae species and 2 years, we tested whether early‐season herbivory by caterpillars (Pieris rapae) or aphids (Myzus persicae) affected development, reproduction, and the herbivore communities associated with individual plants. In addition, we tested a causal hypothesis to assess the relative importance and temporal interplay between variation in herbivore communities and variation in plant development in determining plant reproduction. Early‐season herbivory affected plant reproduction in the exclosure experiment, with effects being highly dependent on the plant species, the herbivore species and the year. However, we found no such effects in the field experiment. The exploratory path analysis indicated that variation in plant reproduction is best predicted by variation in plant development, explaining 80% of the total effect on seed production. This suggests early‐season herbivory had limited effects on later plant development, and plants were able to attenuate the impact of early‐season herbivory. However, no clear compensatory mechanism could be identified. While early‐season herbivory has the potential to affect plant reproduction through changes in plant development or the subsequent development of the associated community, these effects were small and varied across closely related species. This suggests that plant species may be exposed to different levels of natural selection by early‐season herbivores through plant‐ or community‐mediated effects on reproduction. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a sample of 286 mothers and fathers from ethnically and socioeconomically diverse backgrounds, we tested the associations between the frequency and quality of parents' shared book reading (SBR) with infants aged 9 months, and language skills of infants aged 18 months, and whether infants' attention during SBR at 9 months mediated these associations. Frequency of SBR was parent‐report and quality of SBR (i.e., number of reading strategies) and infants' attention were coded from recorded SBR interactions at home. The majority of mothers and fathers reported reading to their 9‐month‐olds at least weekly, and mothers reported reading, on average, significantly more often than fathers. There was large variability in parents' SBR quality ranging from 0 to 15 strategies per minute, with labelling being the most common. Path analysis showed that mothers' SBR frequency at 9 months was significantly associated with infants' receptive and expressive language skills at 18 months, whereas, SBR quality by either parent was not significant. Infants' attention did not mediate these associations. These findings suggest that early SBR is beneficial for language development and programmes targeting early language development should encourage both mothers and fathers to read often to their infants during the first year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study is to examine the relations between higher education students' lateral thinking dispositions and inquiry skills. Survey design and Structural Equation Modelling were used in the study. The sampling of the study consisted of 975 prospective teachers attending three faculties of education in three different state universities in Turkey. Inquiry Skills Scale and Lateral Thinking Disposition Scale were used to collect data. The collected data were analysed using R Studio programme. It was observed in the study that students' inquiry skills and lateral thinking dispositions were high. It was revealed in the study that inquiry skills predicted lateral thinking dispositions. Inquiry skills account for 31% of lateral thinking disposition. Thus, it can be concluded that lateral thinking dispositions of higher education students' depend on their inquiry skills at a percentage of 31%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this experiment was to explore the correlation between meat traits such as backfat thickness, eye muscle area and eye muscle depth and body weight, and to provide a reference for the production and breeding of Pishan Red Sheep. 506 six-month-old Pishan red sheep were selected for the experiment. The meat traits and body weight were measured by portable B-ultrasound. The influencing factors were analyzed by SAS 9.2 and the correlation analysis was carried out by SPSS 25.0 software. The results showed that lambing type, sex, and group had significant or extremely significant effects on backfat thickness, eye muscle depth, and eye muscle area, respectively (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The eye muscle depth of single lamb was extremely higher than that of three lambs (P<0.01), the eye muscle depth of double lamb was extremely higher than that of three lambs (P<0.01), the eye muscle surface of single lamb was extremely higher than that of multiple lambs (P<0.01), the eye muscle depth of double lamb was significantly higher than that of three lambs (P<0.05) and significantly higher than that of four lambs (P<0.05). Sex had an extreme effect on three meat traits index (P<0.01), among which male lambs were higher than female lambs in backfat thickness, eye muscle depth, and eye muscle area. Eye muscle area has the highest correlation with body weight, followed by eye muscle depth and backfat thickness. Eye muscle area has the greatest direct effect on Pishan red sheep, followed by eye muscle depth and eye muscle area. The study indicates that the backfat thickness, eye muscle depth, and eye muscle area of six-month-old lambs were affected by birth type, sex and feeding, and management methods of lambs, and their effects on these traits should be considered in feeding and breeding of six-month-old lambs to improve the accuracy of breeding and genetic evaluation of these traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate irrigation and nitrogen application are essential for promoting the growth and yield of cherry tomatoes. In investigating the effects of irrigation and nitrogen on the growth, photosynthesis, and yield of cherry tomatoes, nine treatments including three levels of both irrigation and nitrogen were conducted over two growing seasons. Transverse stem diameter and horizontal stem diameter had the best performance at the irrigation level of 75% evaporation (Ep), although their responses to nitrogen were different for the two years. Plant height increased with the increase of irrigation and nitrogen. Plant dry matter (PDM) was significantly affected by irrigation and nitrogen interaction. The lowest PDM was found in the highest proportion of root dry matter, which occurred under low nitrogen level. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and transpiration rate enhanced with the increase of irrigation. Medium nitrogen showed promotion effect on all photosynthetic parameters in both growing seasons. Six of all fourteen indicators showed significant correlations with yield. Especially, single plant fruit number and PDM in 2018 Fall had significant positive direct effects on yield with the path coefficients of 0.648 and 1.159, while the significant direct path coefficients were 0.362 and 0.294 in Fruit dry matter and Pn for 2019 Spring, respectively. Based on the comprehensive evaluation of growth and yield by TOPSIS, the irrigation level of 75% Ep combined with medium nitrogen application produced higher yields by promoting the growth and photosynthesis of cherry tomatoes. It provides a strategy for water and nitrogen management of cherry tomatoes in Northwest China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Objective: Farmers experience a specific set of unique dangers, which increases their risk of mortality compared with any other occupation. This study hypothesised that Northern Ireland's (NIs) agriculturally saturated Wards have a higher risk of mortality compared against non‐agriculturally based Wards. Design: The Population Census and Farm Census information were downloaded from the Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Service (NINIS) online depository to compile three mortality‐based data sets (2001, 2011, pooled data sets). Assessing the impact of socio‐demographics and farming activity on Ward‐level mortality patterns using farm and population decennial censuses. This study analysed all 582 Ward areas of NI, which enclosed the entire populace of the country in 2001 and 2011. Findings: Path analysis was utilised to examine direct and indirect paths linked with mortality within two census years (2001; 2011), alongside testing pathways for invariance between census years (pooled data set). Ward‐level results provided evidence for exogenous variables to mortality operating through three/four endogenous variables via: (i) direct effects (age), (ii) summed indirect effects (age; males; living alone; farming profit; and deprivation) and (iii) total effects (age; males; living alone; and deprivation). Multi‐group results cross‐validated these cause‐and‐effect relationships relating to mortality. Discussion and Conclusion: This study demonstrated that farming intensity scores, farming profits and socio‐demographics' influence on mortality risk in a Ward were dependent on the specific social‐environmental characteristics within that area. In line with earlier area level research, results support the aggregated interpretation that higher levels of farming activity within a Ward increase the risk of mortality within those Wards of NI. This was an essential study to enable future tailoring of new strategies and upgrading of current policies to bring about significant mortality risk change at local level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction among problematic smartphone use, frustration intolerance, duration of smartphone use, and gender in high school students. A total of 524 students (49.24% males) between the ages of 14−18 years attending high schools in Turkey participated in the study. The Frustration Discomfort Scale and the Smartphone Addiction Scale−Short Form were used for data collection. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was conducted to examine the mediator role of duration of smartphone use and the moderator role of gender in the relationship between frustration intolerance aspects (discomfort intolerance, entitlement, emotional intolerance, and achievement) and problematic smartphone use. Entitlement, emotional intolerance, discomfort intolerance, and duration of smartphone use positively predicted problematic smartphone use, but the duration of smartphone use didn’t have a mediating role in the relationship between frustration intolerance and problematic smartphone use. These findings highlight that entitlement, emotional intolerance, discomfort intolerance may directly predict problematic smartphone use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing lowland tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a better strategy to resist global warming. Tomato expansion also requires an efficient and organized selection process, including breeding the advanced segregating populations. Using selection indices in combination with biometrical analysis, such as principal component analysis, path analysis, and the Smith-Hazel index, can further improve the effectiveness of the selection concept. Therefore, the presented research aimed to evaluate the lowland F5 tomato lines through various selection indices and select the potential genotypes for further preliminary yield tests. The latest study proceeded in an augmented design, divided into four blocks, with a randomized complete block design as an environmental scheme. For comparison, the five standard tomato cultivars, consisting of Chung, Gustavi, Mawar, Tymoty, and Karina, underwent repeated planting in each block to compare with 45 F5 lines. All the tomato genotypes' analysis used correlation, path, and principal component analyses, and the Smith-Hazel index. Based on the results, the selection indices with a multivariate approach and genetic analysis proved effective in selecting tomato lines in the F5 populations. The PCA, Smith-Hazel, and path analyses were the best approaches for creating selection indices formed by three characteristics, namely, yield, the number of fruits per bunch, and the number of branches. The selection indices recognized and recommended the 23 tomato F5 strains for further studies in the preliminary yield testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concerned study aimed to determine the correlation and direct and indirect effects to estimate the interaction between production parameters and the zinc content of plant tissues of early maturing rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars. The study comprised the application of zinc at various crop phases, namely, without zinc (Zn0), zinc at the vegetative phase (Zn1), the vegetative and generative phases (Zn2), and the generative phase (Zn3) to three early maturing rice cultivars, Inpari 19, Inpari Cakrabuana, and Inpari Sidenuk. Data analysis used correlation and path analyses. The results revealed that rice grain yield positively correlated with most production parameters. The zinc analysis also showed a positive correlation between zinc content and rice plant tissues. The path analysis indicated that the clumping grain weight had a significant (P ≤ 0.01) positive direct effect (0.75). Meanwhile, panicle density had a significant (P ≤ 0.05) positive direct effect (0.51) on rice grain production per hectare. Path analysis of zinc content in tissues signified that zinc content in leaves had a very significant (P ≤ 0.01) positive direct effect (0.71), In contrast, zinc content in stems had an indirect positive influence (0.33) on zinc content in grain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rice is the staple food for billions of people globally and contains numerous essential nutrients. Among the nutrients, zinc and iron are vital for several growth metabolisms in plants and humans. Therefore, deficiency of these nutrients causes hidden hunger. However, understandingthe genetic variability of rice germplasm is required for improvement of grain yield, yield contributing and nutritional traits. The present study aimed to examine the variability, heritability, character association and path analysis in zinc and iron-rich rice landraces. Methods: The present investigation was carried out with 37 genotypes of rice in a randomized block design with two replications during Kharif-2021 at Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Maruteru. Result: The studies on variability, heritability and genetic advance as percent mean results revealed moderate GCV and PCV coupled with high heritability and genetic advance as percent mean recorded for days to 50 per cent flowering, plant height, zinc content, iron content and grain yield plant-1 indicating scope for simultaneous improvement of these traits along with grain yield plant-1. Character associations and path analysis revealed positive and significant association coupled with a high positive direct effect for grains panicle-1, zinc content and productive tillers plant-1, indicating the effectiveness of direct phenotypic selection for these traits in the improvement of grain yield plant-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In a context where synchronous online teaching has become a new trend of instruction for online education due to the COVID‐19 pandemic, it is valuable and insightful to examine what factors contribute to teachers' satisfaction with synchronous online teaching. Objective: Informed by the technology acceptance model (TAM), this study investigated English‐as‐a‐foreign‐language (EFL) university teachers' synchronous online teaching satisfaction in China from social (i.e., subjective norms), institutional (i.e., facilitating conditions), and individual (i.e., self‐efficacy, attitudes toward use, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use) levels during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods: A total of 250 in‐service EFL university teachers participated in this study. An online questionnaire was adaptively developed to measure teachers' perceptions of and satisfaction with synchronous online teaching. The structural equation modelling (i.e., path analyses) was performed to find out a model that can best represent EFL university teachers' synchronous online teaching satisfaction. Results and Conclusion: The results showed that facilitating conditions, self‐efficacy, attitudes toward use, and perceived usefulness are direct contributors to EFL university teachers' satisfaction with synchronous online teaching. Whereas, perceived ease of use, self‐efficacy, and subjective norms are indirect contributors through the mediation of attitudes toward use. Moreover, different from previous TAM research, facilitating conditions have been found to be the most significant direct factor positively contributing to satisfaction. The findings of this study are expected to shed light on how to enhance teachers' synchronous online teaching satisfaction. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: The technology acceptance model (TAM) has been frequently adopted to examine teachers' acceptance of technology in various contexts over the last two decades.The TAM model identifies three key factors that contribute to people's intention of technology use: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of, and attitudes toward technology use.Although the TAM model has been extensively examined in various technology‐supported teaching contexts, there has been a lack of focus on livestream technology‐supported synchronous online teaching. What the paper adds: EFL university teachers' synchronous online teaching satisfaction during the COVID‐19 in China.Teachers' satisfaction with synchronous online teaching is a joint interplay of individual (i.e., self‐efficacy, attitudes toward use, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use), institutional (i.e., facilitating conditions), and social (i.e., subjective norms) factors.Facilitating conditions, self‐efficacy, attitudes toward use, and perceived usefulness are direct contributors, while perceived ease of use, self‐efficacy, and subjective norms are indirect contributors to teachers' synchronous online teaching satisfaction through the mediation of attitudes toward use.Different from previous TAM research, facilitating conditions have been found to be the most significant direct factor positively contributing to satisfaction. Implications for practice and/or policy: This study offers a diagnostic measure for schools and universities to understand the status quo of their teachers' perceptions of and satisfaction with synchronous online teaching.Universities are advised to provide teachers with readily accessible support and training to enhance their self‐efficacy for synchronous online teaching so that their satisfaction with synchronous online teaching can be strengthened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased frequency and severity of chilling damage events pose potential risks to crop performance and productivity due to climate change. Accurate and real‐time access to chilling damage is important for crop growth and yield stability based on field's actual environment. To precisely identify regional chilling events and evaluate the impacts on crops, this study presents a model to estimate field air temperature in view of field crop situations. Land surface temperature, enhanced vegetation index, solar‐induced chlorophyll fluorescence and solar declination were involved in the model. With field simultaneous continuous monitoring and multisource fused remote sensing data, the model was calibrated and validated in Jiefangzha Irrigation Area (JIA) and Changchun City (CC) in North China, accompanied by the determination coefficient ≥0.756, root mean square error ≤0.782°C, relative error ≤0.041 and consistency index ≥0.902. Meanwhile, sensitivities of the model factors were determined through path analysis, where the factors performed according to the order solar‐induced chlorophyll fluorescence >solar declination >land surface temperature > enhanced vegetation index. Using the validated model, chilling damage to maize was further detected in JIA and CC from 2010 to 2020. Results showed that the severity of chilling damage was greater in CC than in JIA, along with the sterile‐type occurring three events in JIA and seven in CC, while the delayed‐type only twice in JIA in 2012 and 2016, but five times in CC in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2019, respectively, being consistent with local statistics. In response to chilling damage, enhanced vegetation index and solar‐induced chlorophyll fluorescence demonstrated the negative chilling effects on greenness and light use efficiency for fluorescence. Serious yield losses were caused, with yield‐reducing by 5.00% (Dehui, 2013), 19.00% (Jiutai, 2014), 21.65% (Suburban district, 2016), 8.83% (Shuangyang, 2017) and 2.19% (Jiutai, 2019) in CC. The linear relationship between yield and growing degree days was a bit weakened by chilling damage, with the determination coefficient varying from 0.614 to 0.531. The increasing rate of yield with growing degree days decreased from 20.365 kg/(°C·d) in non‐chilling damage years to 9.670 kg/(°C·d) in chilling damage years. These findings indicate that the presented model is especially adaptive for agricultural field environments, enabling rapid precision detection of chilling damage on crops at regional scales. It will provide references for gauging the impact of chilling damage on crops, finding efficient solutions to the stress and ensuring sustainable development of agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is strong trait dependence in species‐level responses to environmental change and their cascading effects on ecosystem functioning. However, there is little understanding of whether intraspecific trait variation (ITV) can also be an important mechanism mediating environmental effects on ecosystem functioning. This is surprising, given that global change processes such as habitat fragmentation and the creation of forest edges drive strong trait shifts within species. On 20 islands in the Thousand Island Lake, China, we quantified intraspecific leaf trait shifts of a widely distributed shrub species, Vaccinium carlesii, in response to habitat fragmentation. Using a reciprocal transplant decomposition experiment between forest edge and interior on 11 islands with varying areas, we disentangled the relative effects of intraspecific leaf trait variation versus altered environmental conditions on leaf decomposition rates in forest fragments. We found strong intraspecific variation in leaf traits in response to edge effects, with a shift toward recalcitrant leaves with low specific leaf area and high leaf dry matter content from forest interior to the edge. Using structural equation modeling, we showed that such intraspecific leaf trait response to habitat fragmentation had translated into significant plant afterlife effects on leaf decomposition, leading to decreased leaf decomposition rates from the forest interior to the edge. Importantly, the effects of intraspecific leaf trait variation were additive to and stronger than the effects from local environmental changes due to edge effects and habitat loss. Our experiment provides the first quantitative study showing that intraspecific leaf trait response to edge effects is an important driver of the decrease in leaf decomposition rate in fragmented forests. By extending the trait‐based response–effect framework toward the individual level, intraspecific variation in leaf economics traits can provide the missing functional link between environmental change and ecological processes. These findings suggest an important area for future research on incorporating ITV to understand and predict changes in ecosystem functioning in the context of global change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated writing (i.e., writing from sources) being a complex process, requires various linguistic and cognitive skills interacting with each other in a dynamic way. While recent studies have increasingly documented that writing processes are driven by a suite of cognitive abilities named executive function (EF), their roles in a literacy activity as complex as integrated writing remain underexplored. To address this core issue, the present study aimed to examine the direct and indirect effects of EF skills on students' performance of a Chinese listening-reading-writing task. A total of 135 Chinese undergraduates were involved, completing a battery of tests, including a computerized Chinese integrated writing task measuring their writing performance and five EF tasks measuring inhibition, cognitive flexibility, working memory (auditory-verbal and visual-spatial), and planning skills respectively. Students' integration activities were also recorded using a writing webpage. The path model indicated that inhibition, visual-spatial working memory, and planning skills could significantly and directly predict students' writing performance and the visual-spatial working memory could indirectly predict writing performance via the mediation of source-text switches while listening. This study offers new preliminary insights into the association between EF and integrated writing among Chinese undergraduates; pedagogical implications for the teaching of integrated writing are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data from a survey of refugees from Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, and Iraq in Vienna, Austria, most of whom arrived in 2015, we employ path analysis to study the effects of various integration resources on life satisfaction. In addition, we consider sociodemographic effects. We find that refugees who scored higher on host-country-specific language proficiency, social contacts, and a feeling of relatedness have significantly higher levels of life satisfaction. Origin-country-specific integration resources are not significantly related. Our findings imply that opportunities in the host country are crucial for a satisfying integration process of refugees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The freemium model, a business model that provides basic functions for free and makes a profit by providing advanced functions at a premium, has been widely adopted in various industries. To acquire enough customers and generate revenues from the freemium model, the proper allocation of free and premium functions is essential, but little research has been done in this direction. This study proposes a two-stage approach that combines the Kano model and the technology acceptance model (TAM) as a conceptual design method of freemium services. First, Kano analysis is performed to divide the functions of services into three types, must-be, one-dimensional, and attractive functions. The must-be functions are regarded as free functions, and low and high-level one-dimensional functions are classified as free and premium functions, respectively. Then, we perform path analysis based on TAM to identify additional premium functions that affect willingness to pay. We allocate free and premium functions of personal cloud service using the proposed approach and compare the results with the current functions of Dropbox, One Drive, and Google Drive. The proposed two-stage approach is expected to be practically used for designing service concepts based on the freemium business model in various industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While social determinants of health have been perennially linked to child survival in resource-limited countries, the precise and tested pathways to effect are not clearly understood. The objective of this study was therefore to identify the critical pathways as posited a priori in a model through which social factors (at maternal, household, and community levels) determine neonatal, infant, and under-five mortalities in Nigeria. Using a novel analytic approach (hierarchical path modelling for predicting accelerated failure time) to estimate (in)direct and total effects of social determinants of child survival, we analysed 30,960 live births (weighted data for representativeness), obtained from the 2016/2017 Nigeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey. There were three outcome variables: time until occurrence of neonatal, infant, and under-five mortalities. The independent variables were layered factors related to child, maternal, household and community. Geographical region, rurality of residence, infrastructural development, maternal education, contraceptive use, marital status, and maternal age at birth were found to operate more indirectly on neonatal, infant, and under-five survival. Child survival is due to direct effects of child's sex (female), gestational type (singleton), birth spacing (children whose mothers delivered at least two years apart), and maternal age at delivery (20–34 years). According to the path coefficients, the indirect effects of geographical regions are the most influential determinants of child survival, accounting for 30% (neonatal), 37.1% (infant) and 39.9% (under-five) of the total effects. This study offers comprehensive set of factors, and linked pathways, at the maternal, household, and community levels that are associated with child survival in Nigeria. To accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal targets for child survival and reduce geographical inequities, stakeholders should implement more impactful policies that promote maternal education, contraceptive use and improve living conditions of women (especially in rural areas of northern Nigeria). Future research should focus on identifying the most effective interventions for addressing these social determinants of child survival in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating genetic diversity simplifies the identification of superior genotypes, facilitating the development of high-yielding, resilient to climatic conditions and promoting effective crop improvement. The present study aimed to examine the divergence, correlation and path analysis across 55 okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) germplasms for 17 traits during the summer season (March-July) of 2022. The experiment utilized randomized complete block design with three replications conducted in Phagwara, Punjab. Analysis of variance suggested a sufficient amount of genetic variation was found among all genotypes. Using Mahalanobis D2 analysis, the samples were classified into seven clusters, the largest being cluster I, composing 34 germplasm. Only one germplasm was found in Clusters II, IV, V, VI, and VII. The inter-cluster distance was highest between clusters II and VII, whereas the intra-cluster distance was greatest in Cluster III. The number of fruits per plant had the highest percent contribution to the divergence, accounting for 49.63%. At both phenotypic and genotypic levels, there was a strong positive correlation (+) observed between fruit yield and various characteristics, including plant height, fruit length, number of fruits per plant, number of marketable fruits per plant, average fruit weight, and the number of pickings. Genotypic path analysis revealed that characteristics such as the first flowering node, days to first flowering, days to 50% flowering, plant height, inter-nodal length, number of nodes per plant, number of fruits per plant, marketable fruits per plant, and average fruit weight exhibited a positive and direct effect on fruit yield. When selecting this trait to improve yield in okra through breeding, it is essential to focus on specific characteristics that directly contribute to higher production. This research will help resilient okra varieties understand yieldinfluencing factors in Punjab environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the causes and consequences of foraging behaviour has been a longstanding research interest in the study of animal behaviour. Long-lived seabirds adapt their foraging behaviour in response to seasonal changes in marine environments, particularly to food availability, and the trade-off between current and future reproduction. This postulates the links and direction of causality between environments, foraging behaviour and chick growth; however, these relationships remain unclear, especially on a decadal scale. Here, we focused on streaked shearwaters, Calonectris leucomelas , breeding in the Sea of Japan, as they are an ideal species for examining seabird behavioural and reproductive responses to marine environmental changes. Individuals of this species have two alternative choices for foraging trips, selecting either the northern part of the Sea of Japan or the northwest Pacific Ocean, which have different oceanographic features. From 2011 to 2021, we recorded foraging trips of chick-rearing streaked shearwaters tagged with GPS loggers, and weighed chicks to obtain yearly chick growth rates. Path analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between the sea surface temperature, foraging behaviour of chick-rearing adults and chick growth rate. The results revealed that a larger variability in the surface temperature of the Pacific Ocean and higher demand from chicks attracted the adults towards the Pacific Ocean, suggesting that the foraging area and marine predator distribution are determined by the interplay of food availability and offspring condition. These findings illustrate the importance of using long-term foraging behaviour data sets to better understand the relationships between environmental conditions, foraging behaviour and chick growth. • Streaked shearwater foraging and chick growth were analysed for 11 years. • Shearwaters were attracted to areas with high-variability sea surface temperatures. • Shearwaters flew to high-productivity areas when the chick growth rate was low. • Long-term biologging elucidated the environment–behaviour relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demonstrating the genetic and environmental bases of adaptive phenotypes is a central goal of biology. Bird colors have a storied tradition at the forefront of conceptual advances in evolutionary biology. With recent increases in our ability to generate and analyze large phenotypic, environmental, and genetic data sets, we are in an excellent position to connect the environment-phenotype and phenotype-genotype links for bird color traits, illuminating potentially more general patterns and processes. I review selected advances in that arena, seeking to identify the most successful research approaches (with their strengths and pitfalls), so that they can be applied to the environment-phenotype-genotype nexus of other traits and taxa. At a macroevolutionary level, mechanistic models are well suited to compare evolutionary hypotheses of trait-environment correlations, and have revealed differences in tempo and mode of color evolution across clades, sexes, and body regions. At a microevolutionary scale, systems with ongoing gene flow along environmental gradients are conducive to addressing the genetics and ecology of phenotypic evolution. I weigh the strengths and weaknesses of two approaches to detecting genomic loci underpinning phenotypic variation in such systems: divergence scans and genome-wide association studies. I also discuss experimental approaches targeted at both the environment-phenotype and the phenotype-genotype links. I conclude by highlighting the importance of synthetic approaches that include environment, phenotype, and genotype within the same framework, and I suggest ideas for developments in that direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the relationship between body image, eating disorders, psychological characteristics, and mood and anxiety symptoms in Chilean youth, with nutritional status, particularly overweight and obesity. With a sample of 1001 participants from five regions of Chile, aged 15 to 23 years. The Eating Disorder Inventory 3 (EDI-3), the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire Appearance Scales (MBSRQ_AS), and the Symptom Inventory Derogatis Revised (SCL90-R) and a sociodemographic questionnaire were used to analyze these variables. A model including nine exogenous (independent) variables and ten endogenous variables, based on a literature review, was evaluated by path analysis. The results show a significant association between factors such as sex, family history of overweight, self-classification by weight, and body dissatisfaction with body mass index (BMI). Eating behaviors such as overeating, and lack of appetite were also found to be influenced by interpersonal sensitivity, overweight preoccupation, and drive for thinness. The study underscores the importance of promoting a positive body image and addressing overweight/obesity from a combined health psychology and public health perspective, highlighting the need for interventions that consider nutritional status, and in particular overweight and obesity, as a phenomenon with multifactorial causes and maintainers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the utility of genotypes in the breeding program in mid-hill environments of the north-western Himalayas of India, apple cultivars were studied during 2019 and 2020 to discover inter-relationships of variables as well as to study genetic variation across yield attribution traits. For fruit set, fruit drop and fruit volume, high heritability and moderate genetic gain was observed. Substantial correlation between fruit yield per plant and pruning weight, tree volume, tree spread and TSS was observed. However, the increments in tree height and trunk girth were strongly and adversely linked with fruit yield per plant. Thus the traits tree spread, tree volume and flowering length may be used as selection indicators for increased production with high-quality apple cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A set of thirty genotypes of little millet were studied using thirteen morphological traits to assess genetic variability, character association and their effects on grain yield during Kharif 2022 at Centurion University, Paralakhemundi, Odisha in a randomized block design with three replications. Analysis of variation revealed significant (p≤0.01) variation in the studied genotypes for all the traits recorded. The characters viz., number of productive tillers, test weight and grain yield had high genotypic (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) whereas characters viz., number of productive tillers, number of braches per panicle, culm length, culm diameter, test weight and grain yield had high genetic advance coupled with high heritability. Most of the traits except days to 50% flowering, days to maturity and flag leaf length showed strong significant (p≤0.01) positive associations with grain yield at genotypic and phenotypic levels. The traits such as plant height, number of productive tillers, culm length, test weight, flag leaf length and breadth recorded positive direct effect on grain yield that indicates direct improvement of these traits could be beneficial for the improvement of little millet cultivars with higher grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-eight diverse mustard (Brassica juncea L.) genotypes were assessed for genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, trait association and genetic diversity based on 14 yield and its attributing traits during the Rabi 2023 at the Post Graduate Research Farm, School of Agriculture, LPU, Punjab. The study revelled significant differences among the mustard genotypes both in their genotypic and phenotypic level. Significant differences were observed in traits such as number of siliquae per plant, number of siliquae on the main stem, and seed yield per plant. Moreover, it is noteworthy to emphasize that a pronounced degree of heritability was founded for all traits except for days to maturity. Significant genetic advancements expressed as a percentage mean was observed for all attributes examined, except for days 50% flowering and maturity. Seed yield per individual plant manifested a substantial and positive genotypic correlation with the number of secondary branches per plant, 1000-seed weight, biological yield per individual plant, and the harvest index. Path analysis further elucidated that biological yield per individual plant and the harvest index exerted the most substantial positive direct effects on seed yield per plant. Based on these findings, the study suggests that choosing mustard genotypes based on these particular traits could lead to a more effective strategy for increasing overall yield. Additionally, genotypes grouped into distinct clusters with higher average values for seed yield and other essential characteristics present an attractive opportunity for inclusion in hybridization efforts aimed at producing superior offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research was conducted to examine different parameters of variability, correlations, and path coefficients associated with yield and yield-related traits in aerobic rice. The analysis of variance indicated noteworthy variations among the genotypes for all the traits investigated. Among them, flag leaf area and alkali spreading value showed high PCV and GCV. Except for days to fifty per cent flowering, days to maturity, and amylose content, the remaining traits demonstrated substantial heritability combined with high genetic advance as percentage of mean. The correlation analysis revealed significant positive association between grain yield per plant and several traits, namely effective tillers per plant, test weight, chlorophyll content, and length breadth ratio. Traits such as test weight, effective tillers per plant, and flag leaf area showed a positive direct effect on grain yield per plant. Therefore, it is crucial to give priority to traits that exhibit significant positive correlations and substantial direct effects during selection process. This approach will yield rewarding results in the development of high-yielding cultivars suitable for aerobic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study involved assessment of genetic variability and trait association of seed yield and its component traits in 20 EMS-derived stable mutant lines of black aromatic rice. The traits grain yield / plant, harvest index, effective tillers and biological yield/ plant recorded maximum GCV and PCV. Heritability estimates ranged from 67 percent for total number of tillers/ plant to 99 percent for days to 50 percent flowering. The trait grain yield per plant revealed high heritability (>80%) coupled with high advance in genetics (>50%). The traits fertile spikelets per panicle, effective tillers/ plant, biological yield, panicle length, and plant height were significantly and positively correlated with grain yield. The path analysis revealed maximum positive direct effects of fertile spikelets per panicle, harvest index, biological yield, grain length and effective tillers on grain yield indicating the selection of these traits for efficient crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was carried out to determine the genetic variability parameters and character associations in thirty-two chilli genotypes. Based on mean performance, 11 genotypes were observed to be superior for marketable green fruit yield than the standard check varieties 'Him Palam Mirch-2' and DPCH-40-2. High to moderate estimates of PCV and GCV with high heritability coupled with high genetic advance were observed for marketable green fruits/plant, marketable green fruit yield/plant, total green fruits/plant and average green fruit weight. Marketable green fruit yield/ plant had positive and significant association with average green fruit weight, marketable green fruits/plant, total green fruits/plant, percent marketable green fruits/plant, ascorbic acid and capsaicin content. In view of direct and indirect contribution of component traits, selection on the basis of total fruits/plant and average green fruit weight would be a paying preposition for evolving high yielding genotypes for marketable green fruit yield. The present findings could be useful in selecting superior genotypes to achieve genetic gain and yield advantage in chilli breeding programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation comprising 36 diverse cauliflower genotypes along with three checks were raised during winter season of 2021-22 to study genetic variability, association between different characters, and direct and indirect effects of component traits to formulate selection criteria for utilization in crop improvement programme. The analysis of variance indicated exitance of sufficient genetic variability for all morphological and yield traits taken for the study. High PCV and GCV were reported for marketable curd weight, net curd weight and stalk length. Similarly, high heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for gross plant weight, marketable curd weight and curd solidity which indicates that these traits can be easily improved through simple selection. Correlation and path coefficient analysis revealed that gross plant weight, net curd weight, curd size index, curd solidity, plant frame and stalk length could be considered as the best selection parameters for evolving high yielding cauliflower genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An Elite Spring Wheat Yield Trial (EWYT) was conducted with 50 diverse genotypes of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and analyzed by multivariate analysis during 2018-19 rabi season. Correlation analysis revealed positive association of plant height, grains per spike, spike length, test weight and biomass with grain yield. Path analysis revealed the highest direct effect on grain yield/metre by biomass/metre (1.508) which was also positively associated with grain yield/metre (0.833). PCA analysis showed 11 principal components out of which five principal components (PC1 to PC5) exhibited eigen value greater than one. The correlation between AUDPC and physiological characters indicated that chlorophyll loss was associated with high spot blotch disease incidence at later stages of crop growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chickpea is a second most important pulse crop grown in 56 countries and India rank first in production which shares 61.4% of the total world chickpea production however, productivity is very low as compared to other countries. Therefore, varietal development with inherent tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress is the prime objective to improve component productivity traits to get better yield in rainfed agro-climatic conditions. Methods: Ninety germplasm accessions of chickpea along with four check viz., JG 14, JG 16, JAKI 9218 and Radhey were evaluated in augmented block design at experimental research farm of Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, Banda, Uttar Pradesh, India. Phenotypic data were subjected to study the genetic parameters and association analysis of yield and its component traits using SPAR 2.0 Package and Windostat Version 9.2. Result: The significant variation was observed for all the traits except number of secondary branches, number of pod per plant, number of seeds per pod among the genotypes. The maximum GCV and PCV was observed for height of first pod (35.28 and 39.29), followed by seed yield per plant (29.77 and 40.32) and number of primary branches (25.63 and 31.44). The high magnitude of heritability with genetic advance was estimated for seed index (96.61%), while the high genetic advance as per cent of mean was recorded for first pod height (65.27%). The positive and significant association of seed yield with number of pods per plant, seed index, number of seeds per pod, number of secondary branches, number of primary branches and height of first pod indicating the importance of these traits in selection criteria. Path analysis identified that number of seeds per pod, number of pods per plants, seed index and number of secondary branches per plant as highly desirable component for direct effect on seed yield per plant. The genotypes ICVT-181106 had highest selection indices for seed yield followed by ICVT-181107, PUSA-1053, JG-218, GNG-1999, ICVT-181102 and HC-5. Therefore, high GCV and PCV, significant positive direct and indirect correlation and high estimate of selection indices for grain yield can be directly and indirectly used for chickpea breeding program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) approach to examine the factors that influence how wholesalers in Tanah Abang Market perceive their interest in using BSI Mobile. These factors include perceived usefulness, ease of use, and attitude towards use. This research was conducted by sending questionnaires to wholesalers in Pasar Tanah Abang, Jakarta. A simple random sampling method was used to determine the sample size in this study. The questionnaire was sent to 109 food vendors in Tanah Abang Market who qualified as samples and analyzed with SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences). The results showed that: (1) perceived usefulness has a significant influence on interest in using BSI Mobile, with a significance level of 0.038; (2) perception has a significant influence on interest in using BSI Mobile, with a significance level of 0.000; (3) perceived ease of use has a significant influence on interest in using BSI Mobile, with a significance level of 0.000; and (4) attitude towards use has a significant influence on interest in using BSI Mobile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kumamoto oysters (Crassostrea sikamea) are important marine aquaculture shellfish because of their taste and round shell shape. Due to its small size, selective breeding is required to improve its market size, but there are no reports on traits suitable for direction selection and reproductive productivity of Kumamoto oysters of different ages. In this study, path analysis and one-way ANOVA were used to explore the influential indices of oyster body weight and fecundity. The results showed that shell height was the main factor affecting the body weight of Kumamoto oysters at one-year-old and two-year-old, followed by shell length. Body weight was the main factor influencing fecundity, and shell height showed a significant correlation with fecundity. Therefore, shell height should be considered the first parameter for selection when selecting Kumamoto oysters for body weight as the direct selection target. When one-year-old and two-year-old Kumamoto oysters were selected as parents from Xiangshan Bay, hatching parameters and growth parameters of F1 generation larvae were measured. The fecundity and egg diameters were 1.72 × 106 and 46.60 ± 3.62 µm, respectively, which were significantly greater than one-aged oysters (5.86 × 105, 40.26 ± 3.52 µm). The hatching parameters (fertilized egg size, fertilization rate, and hatching rate) and larval growth performance (D-stage veliger and veliger) were similar and did not differ significantly (P > 0.05), and after metamorphosis, there was also no significant difference in shell height size at 40 days of age (P > 0.05). Therefore, there was no significant effect of age on reproduction, larval development, and the early growth of Kumamoto oysters. These results could provide a basis for parental sources and proper traits for Kumamoto oyster selection, which is beneficial to developing and utilizing this excellent germplasm resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radicalization to terrorism is a multifaceted process with no single theory or approach to explain it. Although research has focused on understanding the process, there is still a dearth of studies that examine an empirically driven pathway to terrorism behavior. This study examines a cross‐sectional sample of incarcerated men convicted of terrorism in Iraq (N = 160). A questionnaire‐guided interview included adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), conduct disorder (CD), antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), religious and political ideology, views about causes of terrorism, and the severity of terrorist acts. Path analysis was employed to examine the relationships between these factors and to identify the model with the best fit. After adjusting for age, employment, and location, results indicated that ACEs positively impacted CD, ASPD, religious guidance, and terrorism attitudes. ASPD positively affected political commitment and terrorism attitudes, but inversely affected current religious commitment. Political commitment inversely influenced terrorism attitudes. Religious commitment positively influenced the prioritization of religion in life, which subsequently impacted terrorism attitudes and behavior severity. Additionally, attitudes toward terrorism directly affected the severity of terrorism behavior. All paths in the final model were statistically significant at p < 0.05. Although these findings may be limited in generalizability due to the unique sample, results support the complex and interdependent nature of childhood and adult experiences on the development of both terrorism attitudes and the severity of terrorism behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A seminal study on loneliness and depression suggested that loneliness influences depression more than the reverse. However, the study's analytic method has since been criticized for failing to account for the trait-like nature of variables. This study aimed to examine the longitudinal relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms while accounting for the trait-like nature of both variables. Data (n = 16,478) came from the Health and Retirement Study (2006–2016). Measures included the Hughes Loneliness Scale and a modified Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (loneliness item omitted). Analyses consisted of random intercepts cross-lagged panel models (three time-points evenly spaced across eight years). There was evidence that loneliness and depressive symptoms are trait-like and these trait-like components are strongly associated. There was not evidence of cross-lagged effects between loneliness and depressive symptoms. A tendency toward loneliness corresponded with a tendency toward depressive symptoms. However, deviations in one's typical level of loneliness did not predict deviations in one's typical level of depressive symptoms or vice-versa. These findings do not support past assertions that loneliness shapes subsequent depression more than the reverse. By middle to late adulthood, loneliness and depressive symptoms are trait-like phenomena that are strongly associated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the role of compassion and dispositional mindfulness in the psychological health of family carers of older adults and tested for potential mediating effects of emotion regulation difficulties and adaptive coping strategies. A sample of 141 family carers of adults aged 65 years or older with chronic conditions completed a cross-sectional survey between July – December 2019. The survey included self-report scales that measured: self-compassion, compassion for others, compassion from others, dispositional mindfulness, depression, anxiety, stress, emotion- and problem-focused coping strategies, and difficulties in emotion regulation. Path analyses found that increased self-compassion and increased dispositional mindfulness was associated with lower psychological distress, and that this was mediated by reduced difficulties in emotion regulation. The model had excellent fit, explaining 64.8% of the variance in psychological distress, and 52.2% of the variance in emotion regulation difficulties. Self-compassion and dispositional mindfulness may help buffer the psychological distress of family carers of older adults, and adaptive emotion regulation is an important mechanism of change in these relationships. Interventions that aim to cultivate self-compassion and mindfulness could be clinically useful in reducing psychological distress within populations of family carers of older adults by promoting adaptive emotion regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal antenatal depression (AD) is a nonpsychotic depressive episode during pregnancy that can harm both the pregnant woman and the fetus. This study aimed to investigate the intrinsic interrelationships between AD and its influencing factors by constructing a path model. This survey-based cross-sectional study included 1071 pregnant women who underwent pregnancy examinations in three hospitals in Nantong City, China, between February and June 2023. General information and information regarding maternal AD, pregnancy stress, prenatal anxiety, social support, marital satisfaction, sleep quality, and resilience were collected. Multiple linear regression analysis using SPSS 25.0 was employed to determine the factors influencing pregnancy depression, and Amos25.0 was used to construct a structural equation model. AD incidence was 19.4% (208/1071). The independent risk factors affecting AD in pregnant women have been integrated into the established path analysis model. The model demonstrated a good fit (χ2/DF = 1.238, comparative fit index = 0.999, goodness-of-fit index = 0.998, normed fit index = 0.996, adjusted goodness-of-fit index = 0.990, incremental fit index = 0.999, and root mean square error of approximation = 0.015). While prenatal anxiety (0.230) and hyperthyroidism (0.048) only had direct effects on AD, mental resilience was the biggest factor affecting AD, followed by pregnancy stress, marital satisfaction, prenatal anxiety, sleep quality, social support, and hyperthyroidism. Improved mental resilience, social support, sleep quality, and marital satisfaction; reduced pregnancy stress and prenatal anxiety; and effective hyperthyroidism treatment might reduce AD. This study underscored the significance of delivering actionable strategies and tangible assistance to pregnant women to reduce AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problems: This study was conducted to examine the association between posttraumatic stress disorder and mental health status of adolescents exposed to the worst disaster of the century. Methods: This study was descriptive, cross‐sectional, and correlational. This research was conducted between March 31 and July 1, 2023. The study was conducted with earthquake survivors who migrated from Kahramanmaraş, the epicenter of the earthquake, and Adıyaman and Hatay, the other two cities where it was most effective, to Şanlıurfa. The study was conducted with a total of 947 adolescents. "Personal Information Form," "Child Posttraumatic Stress Reaction Index," and "Symptom Distress Check List‐ (SCL‐90)" were used to collect data. Linear regression method was used in the analysis of the research. Path analysis was performed using PATH analysis. Findings: The mean age of the adolescents participating in the study was 16.69 ± 1.41 years. It was found that the Global Severity Index (GSI) of the adolescents was at the pathological level with a mean of 2.36 ± 0.68. Posttraumatic stress reactions of the adolescents who experienced the earthquake was found to explain 97.2% of their mental symptoms (anxiety, depression, somatization, anger‐hostility, obsession‐compulsion, interpersonal sensitivity, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation, psychotic symptoms, other problems, and GSI) (p < 0.001). It was found that the age of the adolescents, total number of losses in the earthquake, the time they stayed under the rubble, the time they waited for siblings to be pulled from under the rubble and the state of having loss due to the earthquake explained 74.4% of the posttraumatic stress reactions (p < 0.001). Conclusions: As a conclusion, it was found that the adolescents who experienced the earthquake experienced severe posttraumatic stress symptoms. It was also found that adolescents who experienced high levels of trauma symptoms showed pathological mental symptoms. After the earthquake, adolescents should be evaluated periodically in terms of posttraumatic stress symptoms. In the evaluations to be made, it is important to determine how adolescents are affected especially mentally. In this context, interventions should be implemented for the identified mental symptoms (anxiety, depression, somatization, etc.). Highlights: The first strength of the study was that the adolescents who experienced the earthquake had severe trauma symptoms.The second strength of the study was that the general mental symptom level mean scores of the adolescents who experienced the earthquake were at the pathological level.The third strength of the study is that the posttraumatic stress reactions of the adolescents who experienced the earthquake were related to the psychological symptoms (anxiety, depression, somatization, anger‐hostility, obsessive–compulsive symptoms, interpersonal sensitivity, phobic anxiety, paranoid thoughts, psychotic symptoms, other problems, and general mental symptom levels) revealed that it explained 97.2%.It was seen that the most important predictor of the psychological symptoms of the adolescents who experienced the earthquake was the trauma symptoms.The fourth strongest aspect of the study is the age of the adolescents who experienced the earthquake, the total number of losses they experienced in the earthquake, the number of losses they experienced in the nuclear family, the hours they were buried under the rubble, the time they waited for their father to come out under the rubble, the time they waited for their mother to come out under the rubble, It was determined that the duration of waiting time, injury status and loss due to earthquake explained 74.4% of posttraumatic stress response states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to examine the factor structure of passion, resilience, and life satisfaction scales, as well as the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between different types of passion and life satisfaction among older Moroccan distance runners To assess reliability, a sample of 354 older adults (female =56.20 %; mean age = 64.33 years, SD = 12.02 years) participated in the study For the resilience validation study, our sample consisted of 283 older adults (female = 61.13 %; mean age = 62.48 years, SD = 14.31 years) They completed the adapted Passion Scale, Brief Resilience Scale, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. The results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses indicated acceptable reliability scores for the Passion Scale, Brief Resilience Scale, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. The path analysis results showed that resilience played a mediating role between harmonious passion and life satisfaction, which strengthened the relationship These findings emphasise the importance of passion, resilience, and life satisfaction in promoting the health and well-being of elderly runners and can serve as a valuable resource for health support interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing path analysis, we examined the interconnectedness among six meteorological variables. Among these, three pertain to energy conditions—air temperature, net solar radiation, and reference evapotranspiration (ET0)—while the others are associated with hydrological conditions: precipitation, relative humidity, and water deficiency. These variables were assessed across five distinct temporal delay levels to understand their influences on the normalized difference vegetation Index (NDVI) and enhanced vegetation index (EVI) within grassland areas situated in the state of Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil. The images underwent processing using analytical algorithms and a geographic information system (GIS). The direct and indirect impacts of these variables on the NDVI and EVI exhibited remarkable similarity across varying temporal delays and geographic regions. Meteorological variables explained over 50% of the observed variation in both indices, occasionally even reaching levels of 70%. Temperature and relative humidity primarily exerted direct effects on the indices. Conversely, precipitation exhibited indirect effects on the indices, often in conjunction with other hydrological variables. ET0 demonstrated a direct effect on the vegetation indices, particularly after a delay of 32 days. Solar radiation and water deficiency displayed direct effects up to the 32-day mark, implying that vegetation responds more promptly to these variables. The proposed methodology enabled a consistent and stable assessment of the direct and indirect effects of meteorological variables on vegetation indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lentil is one of the most significant pulse crops, frequently referred to as "poor man's meat" because of its high protein content and inexpensive price. The present study was assessed for eleven morphological and yield variables to determine genetic variability, correlation and path co-efficients. Methods: The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design using 56 different homogeneous progenies of a spontaneous mutant of lentil variety DPL 62 and four control varieties in triple replica during rabi 2017-18. Result: Significant amount of variability was observed for all the traits. High phenotypic coefficients of variance and genotypic coefficients of variance coupled with high heritability and genetic advance were observed for peduncle length, number of pods per plant, seed width, seed yield per plant suggesting that these traits are genetically controlled by additive gene action. Seed yield per plant exhibited significant positive association with number of branches/plant and number of pods/plant while number of pods/plant revealed highest positive direct effect on seed yield per plant followed by 100-seed weight, number of branches per plant, days to maturity and leaflet breadth. Therefore, selection for these characters will directly lead to improvement in the yielding ability of lentil genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A lack of confidence in perinatal bereavement care (PBC) and the psychological trauma experienced by nurses and midwives during bereavement care leads to their strong need for sufficient organisational support. The current study intended to test a hypothesised model of the specific impact paths among organisational support, confidence in PBC, secondary traumatic stress, and emotional exhaustion among nurses and midwives. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted in sixteen maternity hospitals in Zhejiang Province, China, from August to October 2021. The sample (n = 779) consisted of obstetric nurses and midwives. A path analysis was used to test the relationships among study variables and assess model fit. Results: Organisational support directly and positively predicted confidence in PBC and demonstrated a direct, negative, and significant association with secondary traumatic stress and emotional exhaustion. Confidence in PBC had a positive direct effect on secondary traumatic stress and a positive indirect effect on emotional exhaustion via secondary traumatic stress. Secondary traumatic stress exhibited a significant, direct effect on emotional exhaustion. Conclusions: This study shows that nurses' and midwives' confidence in PBC and mental health were leadingly influenced by organisational support in perinatal bereavement practice. It is worth noting that higher confidence in PBC may lead to more serious psychological trauma symptoms in nurses and midwives. Secondary traumatic stress plays an essential role in contributing to emotional exhaustion. The findings suggest that support from organisations and self-care interventions were required to improve confidence in PBC and reduce negative psychological outcomes among those providing PBC. The development of objective measures for assessing competence in PBC and organizational support are essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored whether a sense of control over social life mediated the associations between using remote contact (phone calls, letters/emails, social media) and loneliness for socially isolated older adults. We used path analysis with the 2014 and 2016 Health and Retirement Study datasets (N = 3767). Results showed that more frequent phone calls and letters/emails were associated with lower levels of loneliness through sense of control. However, sense of control did not mediate the association between social media and loneliness. Findings suggest that promoting sense of control over social life by remote contact, particularly phone calls and letters/emails, may be effective in alleviating loneliness for isolated older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there have been some studies on the success factors for IT software projects, there is still a lack of coherent research on the success factors for IT service projects. Therefore, this study aimed to identify and understand the factors and their relationships that contribute to the success of IT service projects. For this purpose, multivariate regressions and structural equation models (SEMs) were developed and analyzed. The regression models included six project management success criteria used as dependent variables (quality of the delivered product, scope realization and requirements, timeliness of delivery, delivery within budget, customer satisfaction, and provider satisfaction) and four independent variables (agile techniques and change management, organization and people, stakeholders and risk analysis, work environment), which had been identified through exploratory factor analysis. The results showed that not all success factors were relevant to all success criteria, and there were differences in their importance. An additional series of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses along with appropriate statistical measures were employed to evaluate the quality of these four factors. The SEM approach was based on five latent constructs with a total of twenty components. The study suggests that investing in improving people's knowledge and skills, using agile methodologies, creating a supportive work environment, and involving stakeholders in regular risk analysis are important for project management success. The results also suggest that the success factors for IT service projects depend on both traditional and agile approaches. The study extensively compared its findings with similar research and discussed common issues and differences in both the model structures and methodologies applied. The investigation utilized mathematical methods and techniques that are not commonly applied in the field of project management success modeling. The comprehensive methodology that was applied may be helpful to other researchers who are interested in this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on eddy covariance (EC) measurements during 2016–20, the effects of sky conditions on the net ecosystem productivity (NEP) over a subtropical "floating blanket" wetland were investigated. Sky conditions were divided into overcast, cloudy, and sunny conditions. On the half-hourly timescale, the daytime NEP responded more rapidly to the changes in the total photosynthetic active radiation (PARt) under overcast and cloudy skies than that under sunny skies. The increase in the apparent quantum yield under overcast and cloudy conditions was the greatest in spring and the least in summer. Additionally, lower atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and moderate air temperature were more conducive to enhancing the apparent quantum yield under cloudy skies. On the daily timescale, NEP and the gross primary production (GPP) were higher under cloudy or sunny conditions than those under overcast conditions across seasons. The daily NEP and GPP during the wet season peaked under cloudy skies. The daily ecosystem light use efficiency (LUE) and water use efficiency (WUE) during the wet season also changed with sky conditions and reached their maximum under overcast and cloudy skies, respectively. The diffuse photosynthetic active radiation (PARd) and air temperature were primarily responsible for the variation of daily NEP from half-hourly to monthly timescales, and the direct photosynthetic active radiation (PARb) had a secondary effect on NEP. Under sunny conditions, PARb and air temperature were the dominant factors controlling daily NEP. While daily NEP was mainly controlled by PARd under cloudy and overcast conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A lack of confidence in perinatal bereavement care (PBC) and the psychological trauma experienced by nurses and midwives during bereavement care leads to their strong need for sufficient organisational support. The current study intended to test a hypothesised model of the specific impact paths among organisational support, confidence in PBC, secondary traumatic stress, and emotional exhaustion among nurses and midwives. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted in sixteen maternity hospitals in Zhejiang Province, China, from August to October 2021. The sample (n = 779) consisted of obstetric nurses and midwives. A path analysis was used to test the relationships among study variables and assess model fit. Results: Organisational support directly and positively predicted confidence in PBC and demonstrated a direct, negative, and significant association with secondary traumatic stress and emotional exhaustion. Confidence in PBC had a positive direct effect on secondary traumatic stress and a positive indirect effect on emotional exhaustion via secondary traumatic stress. Secondary traumatic stress exhibited a significant, direct effect on emotional exhaustion. Conclusions: This study shows that nurses' and midwives' confidence in PBC and mental health were leadingly influenced by organisational support in perinatal bereavement practice. It is worth noting that higher confidence in PBC may lead to more serious psychological trauma symptoms in nurses and midwives. Secondary traumatic stress plays an essential role in contributing to emotional exhaustion. The findings suggest that support from organisations and self-care interventions were required to improve confidence in PBC and reduce negative psychological outcomes among those providing PBC. The development of objective measures for assessing competence in PBC and organizational support are essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study aimed to assess the impact of a polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis and other factors on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in women of reproductive age. Online questionnaires were completed and study groups compared. Potential causal relationships were evaluated using path analysis. Analyses revealed that a PCOS diagnosis alongside BMI had the largest effect on HRQoL. Higher levels of physical activity (PA) were not associated with greater HRQoL, and PA was not directly affected by any other outcome. However, reduced self-esteem was identified as a key factor in the promotion of physical and mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The correlation estimation and its partition into cause and effect is seen as a valuable tool in obtaining gains from selection in plant breeding. This allows the anticipation of choosing the best genotypes. Thus, the objective of this study was to consider indirect selection for simultaneous improvement of root and aboveground traits in segregating common bean populations. The experiment was carried out in the 2021/22 season, considering six common bean genotypes, two parents and four segregating generations (F2, F3, F4 and F5), under a lattice design. Root system traits were measured by two phenotyping methods, called Shovelomics and WinRHIZO. The aerial part traits evaluated were chlorophyll content, plant height, stem diameter, first pod height insertion and yield components (number of pods, number of grains and weight of grains per plant). Correlation analysis and cause and effect analysis (path analysis) were performed. Significant correlation estimates (t) were found between root and aerial traits, with emphasis on chlorophyll B content with left horizontal length (t = -0.22) and chlorophyll A content with total root length (t = 0.24). The unfolding of these estimates by path analysis indicated that the chlorophyll A content has a correlation and a high direct effect on the total length of roots and that the total chlorophyll content indirectly influences the left and right horizontal root lengths. This fact makes it possible to obtain gains with the selection of improved common bean plants for root system based on the direct and indirect evaluation of chlorophyll contents, easily measured in the aerial part of the plants. This allows the optimization of time and resources in breeding programs, aiming at obtaining agronomically superior plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]