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Social media has changed how sport organizations and individuals in the sport industry communicate and conduct business. The increase in the number, complexity, and capabilities of platforms provides ample opportunities and data for researchers to employ quantitative research methods. In this article, we provide an overview of the state of scholarship by conducting a scoping review of sport social media research published between 2010 and 2022 with a focus on articles based on quantitative data. We then critically discuss four areas that present opportunities for improvement—scope, theory, data collection, and data analysis. Based on these four areas, we introduce the social media research framework to guide future social media research in sport. Within the social media research framework, we outline three focal areas of research—people, spaces, and technologies—and suggest examining these areas simultaneously, rather than in isolation, as well as their intersections in the sport industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Educational measurement is a social science that requires both qualitative and quantitative competencies. Qualitative competencies in educational measurement include developing and applying theories of learning, designing instruments, and identifying the social, cultural, historical, and political contexts of measurement. Quantitative competencies include statistical inference, computational fluency, and psychometric modeling. I review 12 commentaries authored by past presidents of the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME) published in a special issue prompting them to reflect on the past, present, and future of educational measurement. I explain how a perspective on both qualitative and quantitative competencies yields common themes across the commentaries. These include the appeal and challenge of personalization, the necessity of contextualization, and the value of communication and collaboration. I conclude that elevation of both qualitative and quantitative competencies underlying educational measurement provides a clearer sense of how NCME can advance its mission, “to advance theory and applications of educational measurement to benefit society.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates whether the use of instruments providing quantifiable force feedback in manual skill learning can assist students with learning difficulties. Under the same theoretical teaching model, one group (intervention group, n = 10) received education with quantitative force feedback for manual skills, while the other group received traditional teaching methods (control group, n = 18). After conducting Levene's test to assess homogeneity of variances, t‐tests were performed to compare point grades, and Mann–Whitney tests were used to compare rating grades between the groups. There is a significant difference in the point grades of the intervention group compared to the control group (p < 0.05), and also a significant difference in the rating evaluation grades (p < 0.05). Under the guidance of teachers, the application of feedback instruments providing a ‘time‐force profile’ allows for the quantification of manual skill force, reinforcing students' practice of ‘force control’, leading to an enhancement in the manual skill proficiency of students with learning difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between 2014 and 2018, at least 974 youth were fatally shot by the police. Racial disparities in fatal police shootings (FPS) have been well-established in existing research, but less attention has been paid to patterns in fatal police encounters with youth. This study uses a multisource and externally validated research design to track cases of FPS for individuals aged between 10 and 24. Cases were geocoded to the county-level and linked to multiple variables capturing social, demographic, and policing contexts. The results point to substantial racial disparities in FPS. Black youth are killed at nearly double the rate of white youth. Counties with heightened risks to the physical safety of law enforcement have more FPS. Shootings are also more frequent for Black youth in racially segregated communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emergent technologies present platforms for educational researchers to conduct randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and collect rich data to study students' performance, behavior, learning processes, and outcomes in authentic learning environments. As educational research increasingly uses methods and data collection from such platforms, it is necessary to consider the most appropriate ways to analyze this data to draw causal inferences from RCTs. Here, we examine whether and how analysis results are impacted by accounting for multilevel variance in samples from RCTs with student-level randomization within one platform. We propose and demonstrate a method that leverages auxiliary non-experimental "remnant" data collected within a learning platform to inform analysis decisions. Specifically, we compare five commonly-applied analysis methods to estimate treatment effects while accounting for, or ignoring, class-level factors and observed measures of confidence and accuracy to identify best practices under real-world conditions. We find that methods that account for groups as either fixed effects or random effects consistently outperform those that ignore group-level factors, even though randomization was applied at the student level. However, we found no meaningful differences between the use of fixed or random effects as a means to account for groups. We conclude that analyses of online experiments should account for the naturally-nested structure of students within classes, despite the notion that student-level randomization may alleviate group-level differences. Further, we demonstrate how to use remnant data to identify appropriate methods for analyzing experiments. These findings provide practical guidelines for researchers conducting RCTs in similar educational technologies to make more informed decisions when approaching analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses the Scopus and Web of Science databases to review quantitative methods to forecast electricity consumption from 2015 to 2024. Using the PRISMA approach, 175 relevant publications were identified from an initial set of 821 documents and subsequently subjected to bibliometric analysis. This analysis examined publication trends, citation metrics, and collaboration patterns across various countries and institutions. Over the period analyzed, the number of articles has steadily increased, with a more rapid rise observed after 2020. Although China dominates this research field, strong bibliographic coupling worldwide indicates significant international collaboration. The study suggests that no single method consistently outperforms others across all contexts and that forecasting methods should be adapted to regional contexts, considering specific economic, social, and environmental factors. Furthermore, we emphasize that review papers should compare methods and results regarding both time horizon and temporal resolution, as these aspects are crucial for the accuracy and applicability of the forecasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Advance care planning (ACP), which comprises a living will, durable power of attorney for healthcare (DPAHC), and end-of-life discussions, is an inherently relational process. However, it is unclear how marital status affects men's and women's ACP over the life course. Drawing on social control and gender-as-relational frameworks, we examine marital status differences in ACP and how these patterns differ by gender and age. Methods Data are from the 2020 Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a representative sample of U.S. older adults (N  = 7,074). We estimate logistic regression models to evaluate whether marital status differences in ACP are moderated by age and gender, and multinomial logistic regressions to examine age and gender differences in DPAHC designations among married parents. Analyses are adjusted for sociodemographic and health covariates. Results Multivariable analyses revealed significant moderation effects for discussions only. Among married/cohabiting persons, women are more likely than men to have end-of-life discussions, with gender differences diminishing slightly at oldest ages. Among divorced persons in their 60s and 70s, women are much more likely than men to have had discussions, although this gap converges among the oldest-old. Conversely, young-old widowed men and women are equally likely to have discussions, although women are increasingly likely to do so with advancing age. Men are more likely than women to name their spouse as DPAHC, yet this gap diminishes with age. Discussion Healthcare providers can better guide end-of-life consultations if they understand how men's and women's family relationships change with advancing age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The best empirical research in political science clearly defines substantive parameters of interest, presents a set of assumptions that guarantees their identification, and uses an appropriate estimator. We argue for the importance of explicitly integrating rigorous theory into this process and focus on the advantages of doing so. By integrating a theoretical structure into one's empirical strategy, researchers can quantify the effects of competing mechanisms, consider the ex-ante effects of new policies, extrapolate findings to new environments, estimate model-specific theoretical parameters, evaluate the fit of a theoretical model, and test competing models that aim to explain the same phenomena. As a guide to such a methodology, we provide an overview of structural estimation, including formal definitions, implementation suggestions, examples, and comparisons to other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examined financial stress, career-related optimism, and psychological distress from the age of 19 (2013; n = 5,787), until the age of 25 (2019; n = 2,933) using the Longitudinal Surveys of Australia Youth (2009 cohort). Longitudinal mediation using latent growth curve modeling observed trajectories of change across young adulthood, whereby financial stress and career-related optimism decreased, while psychological distress increased across time. The inclusion of regression parameters in the analyses indicated that participants with shallower reductions in financial stress reported steeper increases in distress, and this effect was mediated by shifting career-related optimism. With ongoing financial pressures around the world disproportionately impacting young people, our work further illustrates how these stressors can shape the life course via shifts in vocational optimism and subsequent mental health. Moving forward, policies and timely clinical interventions should be implemented to assist young adults in navigating this pivotal developmental period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Research-based knowledge on homecare nursing is scarce and further information is warranted about citizens' perceptions of receiving home care under existing conditions. The purpose of this study was to investigate citizen experiences with health-care professionals in the time allotted for home care. Design/methodology/approach: A questionnaire survey was distributed to 348 citizens receiving home care. The questionnaire consisted of questions whether the citizens experienced that enough time was available during the homecare visit and how the conversation and care relationship with the health-care professionals were experienced. The differences in responses were analysed using Fisher's Exact Tests. Findings: Overall, 94% of the citizens reported that sufficient time had been available and that care relationship and conversation with the health-care professionals had been positive during the homecare visit. However, the findings indicated that citizens aged more than +76 years and citizens with a high educational level were more prone to report that the nurses did not spend enough time during the home visit. Originality/value: The findings offer useful insights for the professionals in delivering appropriate home care. Listening to citizens' wishes and needs for home care could lead to better individualised care. Especially the youngest and oldest of the citizens seem to have specific experiences that call for further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whilst studies of child welfare inequalities have identified the impact of socio-economic deprivation on child protection rates, little is known about how this relates to intervention with adults who have care and support needs. This article examines the impact of area-level deprivation on adult safeguarding (AS) rates in Northern Ireland (NI). Routinely gathered statistics for community AS referrals (2015–2017) were linked to area-level deprivation across NI using service users' postcode. The relationship between deprivation and the screening, investigation and safeguarding planning stages of intervention was examined. Our analysis identified a clear social gradient in relation to AS referrals; the higher the level of deprivation, the higher the rates of AS screening and protection plans. Findings for investigations showed more variability. Further research is needed to explore the factors associated with areas of high deprivation that shape AS social work responses. To our knowledge, this is the first time AS rates have been explored in relation to deprivation. The study findings, that structural factors play a significant role in AS interventions, will help to determine how and where social work interventions are best focused, helping to shape policy and AS theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some in our discipline have recently voiced the opinion that political science is a data science. What follows from this argument is that we as instructors are training the next generation of data scientists, especially professionals and researchers who will work with big data. This paper explores the implications for political science education, arguing that we are uniquely suited to make students critical consumers of big data—a goal we can achieve by creating dialogue with work in critical data studies. I offer three suggestions about how to integrate lessons from critical data studies in the classroom. These include ideas about diversifying the research methods curriculum, using data work for service learning, and modeling best practices in our own engagement with students. Though the discussion in this piece is theoretical, the takeaways include a call to action to create more meaningful dialogue with critical data studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction accidents pose significant risks to workers and the public, affecting industry productivity and reputation. While several reviews have discussed risk assessment methods, recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics, and real-time decision support systems have created a need for an updated synthesis of the quantitative methodologies applied in construction safety. This study systematically reviews the literature from the past decade, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A thorough search identified studies utilizing statistical analysis, mathematical modeling, simulation, and artificial intelligence (AI). These methods were categorized and analyzed based on their effectiveness and limitations. Statistical approaches, such as correlation analysis, examined relationships between variables, while mathematical models, like factor analysis, quantified risk factors. Simulation methods, such as Monte Carlo simulations, explored risk dynamics and AI techniques, including machine learning, enhanced predictive modeling, and decision making in construction safety. This review highlighted the strengths of handling large datasets and improving accuracy, but also noted challenges like data quality and methodological limitations. Future research directions are suggested to address these gaps. This study contributes to construction safety management by offering an overview of best practices and opportunities for advancing quantitative risk assessment methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of GeSec: Revista de Gestao e Secretariado is the property of Sindicato das Secretarias e Secretarios do Estado de Sao Paulo (SINSESP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

AbstractSocial changes in industrialized societies have prolonged adolescence, postponing entry into adult roles. We use U.S. age-arrest data to investigate whether this delay has contributed to higher crime rates among emerging adults, altering population age-arrest curves. We compare parameters for multiple offenses from 1980 to 2019 to answer: (1) Have there been recent shifts toward older, less adolescent-spiked curves; (2) If so, do emerging adults today exhibit higher offending levels than historical counterparts; or (3) Do proximate age-groups drive these distributional alterations? We find peak age remains in the late teens, but today’s age-curves for minor offenses are more symmetrical compared to preceding adolescent-spiked iterations. Given contemporary emerging adults’ relatively low offending levels, more symmetrical age curves are the product of precipitous declines in teen arrest rates coupled with higher mid-life adult rates. Tracking future age-arrest trends is important, but data collection challenges related to the UCR-NIBRS transition may hinder those efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aims Background Design and Methods Results Conclusions Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care Patient or Public Contribution To explore (a) the associations between individual social responsibility and the public intention to use violence against nurses; and (b) the relationship between individual social responsibility, personal variables and the public's intention to employ violence against nurses.Workplace violence against nurses is a significant widespread occupational health issue. To date, no reference has been found to the association between personality traits such as individual social responsibility and the public's intention to use violence against nurses.A cross‐sectional survey design with a convenience sample of 667 Israeli participants from among the public. A structured self‐report questionnaire was distributed, including socioeconomic variables, individual social responsibility and responses to four vignettes describing incidents of violence directed at nurses. Multiple linear regressions were calculated for intention to employ violence, with demographic variables and individual social responsibility as independent variables. The STROBE checklist for cross‐sectional studies was used for reporting.Negative correlations were found between individual social responsibility and the intention to employ violence against nurses. Gender, having witnessed physical violence and individual social responsibility explained 19% of the variance in the intention to employ violence against nurses. Demographic variables and having witnessed verbal or physical violence were found to moderate the association between individual social responsibility and the intention to employ violence against nurses.Witnessing a violent incident in a healthcare setting is a risk factor for the intention to employ violence against nurses. Our findings point to the role of individual social responsibility as one of the strategies to help reduce violent events.Educating and promoting values of social responsibility among the public can reduce incidents of violence in healthcare settings, thus contributing to the safety and quality of care provided.The public contributed via study participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractMotivating girls to enroll in computer science (CS) courses is critically important. Stereotypes that girls are less interested than boys in CS may deter girls. Three preregistered experimental studies (N = 1,053) examined causal links between gender-interest stereotypes and middle school students’ CS motivation. Experiment 1 showed that stereotypes reduced girls’ motivation to enroll, mediated by a lower sense of belonging. Experiment 2 showed that underrepresentation is a cue to stereotypes. Experiment 3 demonstrated that providing information about other girls’ interest countered stereotypes and promoted motivation. Directly addressing stereotypes may be instrumental in promoting equity for all in CS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The past decade has seen growth in the use of quantitative methods for queer educational research. The purpose of the present study was to review research published in education journals from 2011 to 2022 that used quantitative methods and took up the language of queerness. We ultimately identified 55 such articles and analyzed them for their theoretical engagements, the inclusion of LGBTQ+ identities/people, the place of race and racism in the studies, and the analytic approaches authors took. We found that few engaged theory and there was little meaningful engagement of queer theoretical perspectives, though some authors had intentionally engaged queer theory. We also found that queer was usually a euphemism for gay, lesbian, and (more rarely) bisexual. Most focused on white participants, and when race was considered, it was almost always in comparison to white participants. We also found some examples of race-conscious work. Finally, most authors used t-tests, ANOVAs, and regression analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data literacy for students in nonquantitative fields is important as statistics become the grammar of research and how the world's decisions are made. Statistics courses are typically offered by mathematics or statistics departments or by social and natural sciences such as economics, political science, psychology, and biology. Here we discuss how to construct a statistics course for students in nonquantitative fields, with a goal of integrating statistical material with students' substantive interests, using student-focused teaching methods and technology to increase student involvement. We demonstrate this kind of hybrid course with the example of an introductory applied statistics class, taught at both the University of Toronto's Anne Tanenbaum Center for Jewish Studies and the United States Naval Academy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual and gender minoritized (SGM) adolescents negotiate their outness in various social contexts as they navigate a heteronormative system. For many SGM adolescents, outness is associated with peer victimization, while for others, it is associated with increased feelings of connectedness. To support SGM adolescents in their outness journey, researchers and practitioners often use various tools to measure outness. Specifically, the outness inventory (OI) is the oldest and most widely used outness measure to date. However, while the OI appears to be a vigorous inventory to measure outness among SGM adults, it has never been validated with an SGM adolescent population. This study tests the psychometric defensibility of the OI among an SGM adolescent population. Results provide evidence that a two-structure model of outness to family and world, represents the social contexts in which SGM adolescents negotiate outness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Kidney Allocation System (KAS) was implemented by United Network for Organ Sharing in 2014 to reduce allocation disparities. Research Questions: Outcomes of highly sensitized patients (calculated panel reactive antibody (cPRA) ≥ 97%) before and after KAS were compared to low-risk recipients (cPRA <10%) in the post-KAS era were examined. The impact on racial disparities was determined. Design: This was a retrospective study of national registry data. Two cohorts of adult candidates waitlisted for deceased donor transplantation during 3-year periods before and after KAS were identified. Results: Highly sensitized patients (N = 1238 and 4687) received a deceased donor kidney transplant between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2013 and between January 1, 2015 and December, 31, 2017. Racial disparity for highly sensitized patients improved, yet remained significant (P < 0.001), with Black patients comprising 40% and 41% of the highly sensitized candidates and 28% and 34% of the recipients pre- and post-KAS. While posttransplant death-censored graft failure for highly sensitized recipients was similar overall, post-KAS was associated with improved graft survival in the first year after transplant (HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.40-0.78). When compared to contemporaneous lowrisk recipients, both death-censored and all-cause graft failure were similar for highly sensitized recipients and was associated with increased risk for death-censored graft failure beyond the first year (HR 1.39, 95% CI 1.11-1.73). Conclusion: The allocation system led to an increase in transplantation in highly sensitized candidates without compromising outcomes. Although KAS has led to more balanced transplant rates between highly sensitized Black and White patients, racial inequalities persist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Film Quarterly / Kwartalnik Filmowy is the property of Kwartalnik Filmowy and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Film Quarterly / Kwartalnik Filmowy is the property of Kwartalnik Filmowy and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background. G.M. Andreeva set an issue in social psychology that still remains relevant today. It concerns the correlation of two series of patterns in the process of socio-psychological research. These patterns are social development and the development of the human psyche. In this regard, new tasks of intrascientific reflection arise, one of which is the analysis of the methodological problem of integrating qualitative and quantitative methods in socio-psychological research. The idea of integrating two classes of methods is reflected in the systemic approach of B.F. Lomov and remains relevant in the context of the trend towards mixed methods research in social sciences. The need to integrate qualitative and quantitative methods is due to the specifics of social psychology, which is located at the junction of sociology and psychology. Objective. The aim of the article is to identify the features of the integration of qualitative and quantitative approaches in social psychology through the prism of methodological levels. Methods. Theoretical analysis of Russian and foreign works and their systematization based on the levels of methodology. Results. At the level of general methodology, from the standpoint of post-non-classical rationality, the components of scientistic (quantitative) and qualitative methodological approaches are considered. The choice of pragmatism as the philosophical basis of “mixed methods” is justified. At the level of particular methodology, the principles of complementarity and expediency of integration specific to “mixed methods” are disclosed. The set of specific methodological research techniques is presented through options for combining qualitative and quantitative data in interpretation and report. Conclusions. The highlighted specificity of the integration of qualitative and quantitative methods at different levels of methodology outlines the direction for its further elaboration and refinement. It also allows to shift the focus from an intuitive combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to the reflective and conscious application of such a research strategy.

Data literacy for students in nonquantitative fields is important as statistics become the grammar of research and how the world’s decisions are made. Statistics courses are typically offered by mathematics or statistics departments or by social and natural sciences such as economics, political science, psychology, and biology. Here we discuss how to construct a statistics course for students in nonquantitative fields, with a goal of integrating statistical material with students’ substantive interests, using student-focused teaching methods and technology to increase student involvement. We demonstrate this kind of hybrid course with the example of an introductory applied statistics class, taught at both the University of Toronto’s Anne Tanenbaum Center for Jewish Studies and the United States Naval Academy.

The formal recognition of the right to full protection of children and adolescents by the Constitution and the Child and Adolescent Statute (ECA) does not imply the practical implementation of this right, nor that its legal effectiveness is racially equitable. The study aims to give quantitative expression to racial disparities in the empirical enjoyment of the right to full protection. The research time frame comprises the years between 2019 and 2021 and data are referred to Brazil. Variables related to aspects of full protection are considered, such as the number of homicides, police fatalities, deaths from preventable causes, low birth weight, low per capita household income, and enrollment in daycare centers and primary education, based on aggregate data made available by IBGE, UNICEF, Fundação Abrinq, the Brazilian Public Security Forum, and the Ministry of Health. The main finding is that the race/color of the child and adolescent mattered for the enjoyment of the right to full protection in the analyzed section. Racially biased police lethality concerning black children and adolescents was the aspect with the highest deterioration in the period studied. The highest decrease in racial bias observed was in the incidence of children and adolescents up to 14 years of age with per capita household income of up to ¼ of the minimum wage, which, however, remains with a strong bias. Among the variables considered, there was only no relevant racial bias in live births with low birth weight. The findings challenge the arguments that there would be a deracialized childhood/adolescence in Brazil and point to the need to explicitly consider race when designing public policies aimed at childhood and adolescence.

Although the considerable body of research on control variables offers best practice recommendations, there are still shortcomings in their application in published research papers. Consequently, a significant proportion of quantitative studies lack rigor in how they apply control variables. Additionally, existing literature on control variables is primarily technical, with noticeable lack of accessible guidance that could benefit both seasoned and novice researchers. In fact, there is a need for more elaboration in non-technical terms to enhance our understanding of effective control variable usage. Therefore, the objectives of this editorial are twofold. First, we elaborate on five key issues related to control variables, including a clear, easy-to-understand explanation of what a control variable is, its advantages and complications, and the issues associated with under- or over-controlling variables. Second, we provide guidelines that are easy to follow for any researcher, whether experienced or novice. In doing so, we clarify several ambiguities and offer straightforward explanations of issues related to control variables. We hope that these guidelines will assist researchers—whether lecturers or students—by providing clear directions on the appropriate use of control variables.

This paper presents the main trends and the most important challenges related to the use of classical and modern statistical methods in economic research. The first part describes the key changes in quantitative economic and social research, including those related to technological progress. The main features of this evolution are the development of research infrastructure and changes in relations between researchers. The second discusses the need to find a compromise between easily accessible statistical data sets, advanced statistical software to analyse them, and the formal requirements of statistical inference. The third part details the essence and principles of statistical learning and presents a panorama of statistical learning methods. This results in the formulation of a paradigm of statistical learning for conducting modern statistical research.

This research offers valuable perspectives on the nexus between urbanization and the smart environment within the Najran city, Saudi Arabian context. Najran City, with its diverse districts and evolving urban landscape, is at the forefront of adopting advanced technologies and participatory governance models to create a resilient, environmentally conscious, and sustainable urban environment, likewise positioning itself as a model of smart urban development but is also fostering an innovation-driven community equipped to address the difficulties and exploit the prospects given by the 21st century. The study systematically analyzes the multifaceted factors of smart city variables in Saudi Arabia and their direct impact on urban sustainability through extensive quantitative investigations. This study reveals the positive correlations between smart city attributes, on the attainment of urban sustainability. In order words, the smart city’s attributes such as IoT (Internet of Things) devices, smart infrastructure, and data-driven solutions are linked to the creation of a resilient urban environment in the face of urbanization and sustainability challenges. On the other hand, the study noted that the integration of smart technologies might lead to unintended consequences in urban planning. For example, an overemphasis on technology may overshadow human-centric approaches, which might potentially affect the community well-being and social cohesion. Study’s insights provide policymakers, urban planners, and players with an in-depth knowledge of the pathways to harness smart city attributes for sustainable Najran urban development. The implications of this research extend beyond the borders of Saudi Arabia, serving as a valuable reference for regions worldwide grappling with similar urbanization and sustainability challenges in the 21st century. By harnessing the potential of smart cities, Saudi Arabia and other nations can pave the way for greener, more resilient urban futures.

The concept of a ‘feminine managerial behavior’, which implies that women in managerial positions behave differently to men in similar positions by exhibiting a more supportive management style, is both widespread and controversial. To gain new insight into the debate, this study looks at the role national gender ideology plays in structuring the relationship between sex and perceived managerial support. Based on a representative sample of 22,391 employees from 26 European countries, our findings reveal that, on average, perceived managerial support is higher when supervisors are women. However, if we control for the moderating role of national gender ideology, this difference disappears. Therefore, this article contributes to the nature/nurture debate by showing that gender differences in perceived managerial support stem primarily from persistent gender stereotypes.

The study aimed to determine the sociodemographic and psychological profiles of drivers with a history of motor vehicle crashes (MVCs), following the contextual-mediated model of crash involvement, and trying to define similarities and differences with drivers without MVCs. Although road trauma prevention has become a central public health issue, the study of psychological determinants of MVCs does not have consistent results due to methodological and theoretical weaknesses. Three-hundred and forty-five active drivers (20% females) completed an extensive office-based fitness-to-drive evaluation including measures of cognition, personality, self-reported driving-related behaviors, attitudes, as well as computerized measures of driving performance. The Classification and Regression Tree method (CART) was used to identify discriminant predictors. The classification identified several relevant predictors; the personality trait of Discostraint (as a distal context variable; cut-point: 50 T points) and motor speed (as a proximal context variable; cut-point: 64 percentile ranks). The global classification model increased approximately 3 times the probability of identifying people with a history of MVC involvement, starting from an estimated prevalence of being involved in an MVC in a period of five years in the population of active drivers. Consistent with the 'contextual-mediated model of traffic accident involvement', the results of the present study suggest that road trauma analysis should focus on both distal and proximal driver-related factors by paying attention to their association in determining MVCs. These results represent a valuable source of knowledge for researchers and practitioners for preventing road trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Separate school placements persist for students with extensive support needs (ESN) despite longstanding federal mandates for all students with disabilities to be educated in the least restrictive environment. This study extends research on separate school placement for students with ESN to explore the potential impact of locale and charter school policy by determining (1) the percentage of separate schools in states across locales, (2) whether there is a relationship between the percentages of separate schools in each locale and separate school placement rates, and (3) how the number and location of separate special education charter schools change by state over time. Results showed varying proportions of separate schools among each locale in states with different placement rates, a significant moderate difference between the percentage of separate schools in suburban locales and overall separate school placement rate, and few separate special education charter schools. Implications for research and practice are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars acknowledge the existence of intra-party divisions and the potentially negative electoral effects of disunity. Some assume that intra-party divides are between professional politicians and grassroots members, others highlight the importance of ideological blocs. Yet, precisely mapping factional structures, especially ideological factions, is difficult because of the "black box of intraparty politics." Based on theories of party change and spatial competition, we argue for the existence of two distinct ideological factional dimensions that may differ from hierarchical factions. We test our expectations by triangulating evidence from three unique datasets from Sweden: a survey of party members, a media content analysis, and interviews with politicians. Our mixed-methods approach allows identifying the number, structure, content, sizes, and ideological positions of factions. The results show substantial variation in all aspects and that hierarchical and ideological factions rarely coincide. These findings have important theoretical, conceptual, and methodological implications for comparative politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Examining loneliness and social isolation during population-wide historical events may shed light on important theoretical questions about age differences, including whether these differences hold across different regions and the time course of the unfolding event. We used a systematic, preregistered approach of coordinated data analysis (CDA) of 4 studies (total N  = 1,307; total observations = 18,492) that varied in design (intensive repeated-measures and cross-sectional), region, timing, and timescale during the first year of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Methods We harmonized our data sets to a common period within 2020–2021 and created a common set of variables. We used a combination of ordinary least squares regression and multilevel modeling to address the extent to which there was within- and between-person variation in the associations between social isolation and loneliness, and whether these associations varied as a function of age. Results Within- and between-person effects of social interactions were negatively associated with loneliness in 1 study; in follow-up sensitivity analyses, these patterns held across early and later pandemic periods. Across all data sets, there was no evidence of age differences in the within-person or between-person associations of social interactions and loneliness. Discussion Applying the CDA methodological framework allowed us to detect common and divergent patterns of social interactions and loneliness across samples, ages, regions, periods, and study designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Inorganic Analytical Chemistry / Zhongguo Wuji Fenxi Huaxue is the property of Beijing Research Institute of Mining & Metallurgy Technology Group and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Political representation can be described as a process brought about via an electoral and a perceptual path. Drawing on original survey data on the perceptual accuracy of elected representatives in Belgium, Canada and Switzerland, this study explores whether and how the two paths are connected. It shows, first, that representatives who more accurately perceive voters' opinion are more likely to be re‐elected, suggesting that perceptual accuracy impacts the electoral path to representation. Second, representatives who are electorally safe hold less accurate perceptions of voters' policy preferences, meaning that the electoral path impacts the perceptual path. In all, the study provides evidence for the role of politicians' perceptual accuracy in their electoral career: voters sanction those representatives who are not sufficiently acquainted with their preferences, and representatives who fear to be voted out of office put more effort in getting acquainted with what voters want. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Design Methods Results Conclusion Implications for the Profession and Patient Care Impact Reporting Method Patient or Public Contribution To test the influences of patient, safety event and nurse characteristics on nurse judgements of credibility, importance and intent to report patients' safety concerns.Factorial survey experiment.A total of 240 nurses were recruited and completed an online survey including demographic information and responses to eight factorial vignettes consisting of unique combinations of eight patient and event factors. Hierarchical multivariate analysis was used to test influences of vignette factors and nurse characteristics on nurse judgements.The intraclass coefficients for nurse judgements suggest that the variation among nurses exceeded the influence of contextual vignette factors. Several significant sources of nurse variation were identified, including race/ethnicity, suggesting a complex relationship between nurses' characteristics and their potential biases, and the influence of personal and patient factors on nurses' judgements, including the decision to report safety concerns.Nurses are key players in the system to manage patient safety concerns. Variation among nurses and how they respond to scenarios of patient safety concerns highlight the need for nurse‐level intervention.Complex factors influence nurses' judgement, interpretation and reporting of patients' safety concerns.Understanding nurse judgement regarding patient‐expressed safety concerns is critical for designing processes and systems that promote reporting. Multiple event and patient characteristics (type of event and apparent harm, and patient gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and communication approach) as well as participant characteristics (race/ethnicity, gender, years of experience and primary hospital area) impacted participants' judgements of credibility, degree of concern and intent to report. These findings will help guide patient safety nurse education and training.STROBE guidelines.Members of the public, including patient advocates, were involved in content validation of the vignette scenarios, norming photographs used in the factorial survey and testing the survey functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this paper are to present the methodology, derived mathematical expressions for determining the individual factor influences and the adaptation for the conditions of dynamic deterministic factor analysis and the results of the application of the developed new method for deterministic factor analysis, called the averaged chain substitution method. After formulating the concept of the considered approach, all mathematical expressions used to create models containing up to four factor variables are presented and summarized. The scientific novelty of the study is in the obtained new equations for determining the individual factor influences by the method of averaged chain substitution and the method of analogy for five-factor additive or difference-multiplicative and for five-factor additive or difference-multifactor models with an additive or different part in the numerator of the factor model. The presented mathematical expressions accurately and unambiguously quantify the impact of individual factor influences for all types of factor models and thus significantly expand the applicability of the averaged chain substitution method in the theory and practice of financial-economic analysis. The proposed formalization and algorithmization of the evaluation process makes the method easy to apply by all economic and financial analysts for the purposes of deterministic factor analysis. The methodology was applied to perform a dynamic deterministic factor analysis of the total liquidity of Monbat AD and ELHIM-ISKRA AD for the period 2017–2021, based on the consolidated annual financial statements of the companies, available on the website of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During adolescence, socialization of gender role attitudes (GRA) shifts from parents to peers, friends, and classmates; thus, it takes place primarily in the school context. Accordingly, previous studies identified school-related factors associated to adolescents' GRA. However, little is known about the relative importance of these factors as well as about the factors' differences between females' and males' GRA. This study investigates the relevance of several school factors on adolescents' GRA and gender differences. Using data from the German National Educational Panel Study (N = 10,866), the results show that attending a higher educational school type, higher classmates' socio-economic background, lower proportion of female classmates, and more egalitarian classmates' GRA are related to more individual egalitarian GRA. Furthermore, the relation between classmates' GRA and individual GRA is more pronounced for males than females. The study further discusses starting points for possible interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study takes a social cognitive approach in examining the relationship between elements of the adolescent self-system (self-efficacy, self-esteem, ethnic-racial identity, and hope) in addition to state-mandated graduation tests, with students' later participation in higher education. The quantitative investigation of 733 tenth-grade White (462) and Ethnically Minoritized (271) students and a sub-sample of 29 qualitatively studied adolescents in a semi-rural town in Ohio used a concurrent mixed-methods longitudinal approach. A logistic regression analysis found only adolescent math scores positively predicted later enrollment in higher education; but self-efficacy negatively predicted later college enrollment. Triangulation of additional analyses, including t -tests, and in-depth interviews, suggest how perceptions of the self-system may differ among White and Ethnically Minoritized populations. These differences may be influenced by the degree to which youth pay attention to academic success as a contributing factor to their own self-analysis of their self-system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Economia e Sociologia Rural is the property of Sociedade Brasileira de Economia e Sociologia Rural and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The undergraduate economics curricula for most of the 793 U.S. colleges and universities that conferred an economics bachelor's degree in 2019 are described in this article. Besides updating the prevalence of the economics major core requirements and their differences by institution type, the authors record new information on requirement variations across economics degree types, as classified by the National Center for Education Statistics, including STEM-designated degree types. They also investigate the prevalence of calculus-based intermediate courses and find that 63 percent of economics degrees require calculus for intermediate microeconomics and macroeconomics. In addition, 67 percent of degrees require single-variable calculus, 10 percent require multi-variable calculus, and 54 percent require basic econometrics (up from 41% in 2010). These requirements also vary highly by degree type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perceptions of law enforcement shape a willingness to report crime and are particularly important for sex crimes and among groups oppressed or neglected by the legal system. We examine three types of perceptions of justice—the fairness of outcomes (distributive), procedures (procedural), and victim treatment (interpersonal). We expect each measure of justice perceptions to increase the likelihood of reporting, or recommending a friend report, a hypothetical sexual assault to police. Our survey of 18- to 24-year-old women (N = 1,414) oversampled women of color and stratified the sample by educational attainment. In a series of path analyses, we find full support for our hypotheses about reporting one's own sexual assault and partial support for encouraging a friend to report based on perceptions of three forms of justice. In addition, we examined indirect effects of sexual identity and race on reporting intentions and discuss how those patterns are partially driven by negative perceptions of justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human gut microbiota refers to a diverse community of microorganisms that symbiotically exist in the human intestinal system. Altered microbial communities have been linked to many human pathologies. However, there is a lack of rapid and efficient methods to assess gut microbiota signatures in practice. To address this, we established an appraisal system containing 45 quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays targeting gut core microbes with high prevalence and/or abundance in the population. Through comparative genomic analysis, we selected novel species-specific genetic markers and primers for 31 of the 45 core microbes with no previously reported specific primers or whose primers needed improvement in specificity. We comprehensively evaluated the performance of the qPCR assays and demonstrated that they showed good sensitivity, selectivity, and quantitative linearity for each target. The limit of detection ranged from 0.1 to 1.0 pg/µL for the genomic DNA of these targets. We also demonstrated the high consistency (Pearson's r = 0.8688, P < 0.0001) between the qPCR method and metagenomics next-generation sequencing (mNGS) method in analyzing the abundance of selected bacteria in 22 human fecal samples. Moreover, we quantified the dynamic changes (over 8 weeks) of these core microbes in 14 individuals using qPCR, and considerable stability was demonstrated in most participants, albeit with significant individual differences. Overall, this study enables the simple and rapid quantification of 45 core microbes in the human gut, providing a promising tool to understand the role of gut core microbiota in human health and disease. Key points: • A panel of original qPCR assays was developed to quantify human gut core microbes. • The qPCR assays were evaluated and compared with mNGS using real fecal samples. • This method was used to dynamically profile the gut core microbiota in individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research using quantitative methods is becoming increasingly important in modern science. However, organizing research with this approach is not easy. This article aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the basic strategies needed to organize quantitative methods research, as well as how to overcome various challenges that may arise throughout the research process. Using literature review methods, this article identifies several key strategies in designing quantitative research, including selecting appropriate measurement instruments and effective data collection techniques. In addition, this article also discusses some common challenges that researchers often face, such as problems in data analysis and the need to ensure the reliability and validity of research results. By understanding the right strategy and having a strong understanding of how to overcome challenges that may arise, it is hoped that researchers can conduct quantitative research more effectively and produce more meaningful findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest in mindfulness in the field of romantic relationships is growing. Drawing from a Self‐Determination Theory (SDT) perspective—which proposes that the basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness are foundational for well‐being—we attempted to map out the complex associations between mindfulness, self‐compassion, other‐compassion, basic need fulfillment in relationships, and increased relationship and sexual satisfaction. A sample of 640 midlife (40–59‐year‐old) married Canadians was recruited from a national panel. To test the associations at a systems‐level, we utilized psychological network analysis based on the premise that the relational and sexual effects of mindfulness are understood as part of a dynamic and multivariate network of associations with other variables. Need fulfillment in relationships (particularly relatedness needs) occupied a central position in the model, connecting mindfulness and self‐compassion with relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction. The findings underscored the major importance of SDT in relationships, and the overall structure of the network was consistent with growing theories of mindfulness in relationships. Future research employing longitudinal network models will aid in elucidating this system's operation over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Relationship obsessive-compulsive disorder (ROCD), a clinical variant of OCD, is associated with personality traits and guilt sensitivity. Previous studies have not investigated whether the guilt associated with ROCD stems from deontological or altruistic morality. The main aim of the present study was to explore the differentiated impact of deontological and altruistic guilt on ROCD symptoms in romantic relationships. The study also aimed to test the mediating role of guilt in the relationships between personality traits and ROCD symptoms. Method: Through linear regressions and path analysis, we examined the results of an online survey administered to 659 emerging adults, assessing the Big-5 personality traits, ROCD symptoms, and the moral orientation of guilt feelings (deontological/altruistic). Results: Results revealed the negative influence of agreeableness and emotionality on ROCD symptoms. Moral dirtiness, as a facet of deontological moral orientation, was found to mediate the effects of personality predictors on relationship-centred but not on partner-focused ROCD symptoms, providing support for differential diagnosis. Conclusions: These findings provide a clearer understanding of the cognitive determinants that sustain ROCD symptoms and offer evidence on associated personality traits. These results may represent a valuable source of knowledge for researchers as well as clinical therapists dealing with ROCD symptoms, couple disorders, and sexual dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Open Science' advocates for open access to scientific research, as well as sharing data, analysis plans and code in order to enable replication of results. However, these requirements typically fail to account for methodological differences between quantitative and qualitative research, and serious ethical problems are raised by the suggestion that full qualitative datasets can or should be published alongside qualitative research papers. Aside from important ethical concerns, the idea of sharing qualitative data in order to enable replication is conceptually at odds with the underpinnings on most qualitative methodologies, which highlight the importance of the unique interpretative function of the researcher. The question of whether secondary analysis of qualitative data is acceptable is key, and in this commentary we argue that there are good conceptual, ethical and economic reasons to consider how funders, researchers and publishers can make better use of existing data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Home health care has a significant role in the care of Medicare beneficiaries. Certificate of Need (CON) laws for home health agencies limit their number in affected states. This study's objective was to evaluate the association of CON laws with the availability and service utilization of urban and rural home health agencies in CON states and non-CON states using the generalized estimating equations (GEE) method. The results from this study indicated that CON states have fewer home health agencies for their Medicare population than non-CON states, regardless of urbanicity or rurality. Home health agencies in CON states also have less service utilization in terms of care episodes and visits per patient. This study provides an understanding of the effects of CON laws on Medicare beneficiaries' home health access and experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]