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In carnivorous plants, the fitness impacts of phenotypic variation in traits involved in prey attraction and capture have been well documented. However, floral traits could also contribute to the fitness of carnivorous plants. Pinguicula moranensis is a carnivorous plant that presents colorful zygomorphic flowers, which suggests some degree of specialization in its interactions with pollinators. We first tested pollen limitation experimentally by comparing the fruit set in plants that were manually cross‐pollinated with those that were pollinated naturally. Then, using a path analysis approach, we explored the effects of plant size and floral traits (corolla shape, corolla size, spur length, nectar guide size, and stalk length) on fitness (seed number per fruit). We performed two independent path analyses—one with the naturally pollinated plants and the other with the hand pollinated plants—to consider the impacts of these variables with and without the pressure of pollinator attraction. We expected stronger selection on floral traits in naturally pollinated plants. We found evidence of pollen limitation in the fruit set of the naturally pollinated group, suggesting that pollinator availability could impose selective pressures. The path analyses showed a marked direct positive effect of rosette size on plant fitness in both groups. The direct effects of all floral traits had similar magnitudes between the naturally pollinated and hand pollinated plants, except for corolla shape that showed higher coefficients in the first group. Thus, although we evidenced pollen limitation, our prediction about the role of pollinators as selective agents of floral traits in P. moranensis was barely supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study explored the associations between orthorexia nervosa, social media addiction, emotion regulation difficulties, perfectionism and BMI with four facets of mindful eating, using path analysis to assess these relationships. A sample of 551 students (127 males, 424 females, mean age = 22.6 years) completed an online self‐report questionnaire evaluating these constructs. Analyses revealed that mindful eating contributed to emotion dysregulation and orthorexia nervosa and was related to social media addiction. Significant indirect paths were identified from mindful eating, social media addiction and adaptive perfectionism through emotion dysregulation to maladaptive perfectionism. While no direct paths were observed between mindful eating and perfectionism, a direct path was found between adaptive perfectionism and orthorexia nervosa. These findings suggest a more nuanced understanding of eating behaviours is required. Individuals susceptible to eating disorders should approach mindful eating with caution and seek support from healthcare providers to ensure it is used in a way that supports overall wellbeing. Future research should aim to replicate and further clarify these associations to reveal the long‐term effects of mindful eating. [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]

Marine ecosystems are experiencing growing pressure from multiple threats caused by human activities, with far‐reaching consequences for marine food webs. Determining the effects of multiple stressors is complex, in part, as they can affect different aspects of biological organisation (behaviour, individual traits and demographic rates). Determining the combined effects of stressors, through different biological pathways, is key to predict the consequences for the viability of populations threatened by global change. Due to their position in the food chain, top predators such as seabirds are considered more sensitive to environmental changes. Climate change is affecting the prey resources available for seabirds, through bottom‐up effects, while organic pollutants can bioaccumulate in food chains with the greatest impacts on top predators. However, knowledge of their combined effects on population dynamics is scarce. Using a path analysis, we quantify the effects of climate change and pollution on the survival of adult great black‐backed gulls, both directly and through effects of individuals' body mass. Warmer ocean temperatures in gulls' winter foraging areas in the North Sea were correlated with higher survival, potentially explained by shifts in prey availability associated with global climate change. We also found support for indirect negative effects of organochlorines, highly toxic pollutants to seabirds, on survival, which acted, in part, through a negative effect on body mass. The results from this path analysis highlight how, even for such long‐lived species where variance in survival tends to be limited, two stressors still have had a marked influence on adult survival and illustrate the potential of path models to improve predictions of population variability under multiple stressors. [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]

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]

Nitrogen (N) input affects litter decay and ecosystem functioning. However, the mechanism of litter decay under temporal N‐inputs has rarely been observed. Here we show that three‐year experimental N‐inputs significantly stimulated the rate of litter decay to some extent and then inhibited it with increasing N‐inputs. The N‐inputs affected the litter's mass loss by directly influencing the temporal stability of aboveground biomass (BS) and diversity while indirectly changing soil pH, C: N ratio, and synergistic interactions of soil, vegetation, and microbial traits. The BS has emerged as a significant regulatory factor for the litter decay of tropical grassland. The outcome of the present study will be helpful in predicting the global feedback of litter decay on the N inputs and the amount of N required for the sustainable functioning of the degraded tropical or similar grasslands. [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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common and complex phenomenon with negative outcomes for children, women and their families. This study set out to identify both direct and indirect predictors of PPD symptoms among indigenous Bedouin mothers in Israel. The study included 305 women, 18 to 45 years of age, who were interviewed while pregnant and again, 2 to 4 months postpartum. Interviews were conducted in Arabic and included the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, administered at both points of measurement. Using path analyses, we identified four significant, direct predictors of PPD symptoms. The strongest was depressive symptoms when pregnant, followed by low relative income, low hemoglobin, and number of prior miscarriages. The latter was significantly associated with consanguinity, meaning that women married to a first cousin experienced more miscarriages which, in turn, increased PPD risk. Low relative income was the only variable that had both a direct and indirect effect upon PPD symptoms (via symptoms of depression when pregnant and hemoglobin). Education and polygamy also emerged as indirect predictors of PPD via depressive symptoms reported during pregnancy. Results suggest a high rate of PPD in this perinatal sample of indigenous women. Our findings underscore the need for tailored interventions to reduce PPD, especially for low‐income Bedouin women, faced with many barriers and insufficient access to healthcare services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based upon mixed linear model and incomplete diallel cross between different strains of Macrobrachium nipponense, the additive‐genetic correlations of growth and morphometrics with meat yield traits in M. nipponense were estimated using the minimum norm quadratic unbiased estimation procedure. Path analysis method was utilized to investigate the overall additive‐genetic determinations of growth and morphometric traits on the meat yield traits. Results indicated that growth and morphometrics were genetically positively correlated with abdominal meat weight (p < 0.01), but were not genetically correlated with abdominal meat percentage (p > 0.05) in both sexes. Growth and morphometrics were genetically positively correlated (p < 0.01). Abdominal meat weight was genetically positively correlated with abdominal meat percentage (p < 0.01). In terms of the overall additive‐genetic determination, body weight had the greatest impact on abdominal meat weight in both sexes. In contrast, abdominal meat weight, abdominal length, and body weight were most influential on abdominal meat percentage in both sexes. The genetic relationships of growth and morphometrics to meat yield traits were elucidated in M. nipponense for the first time, contributing to formulation of sound improvement plan for the meat yield traits in this commercially important prawn species. [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]

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]

The development of artificial intelligence (AI) as a field has impacted almost all aspects of human life. More recently it has found a role in addressing developmental challenges, specifically the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, there are not enough systematic studies on analysis of the role of AI research towards the SDGs. Therefore, this article attempts to bridge this gap by identifying the major bibliometric trends and concept‐evolution trajectories in the area of AI applications for sustainable‐development goals. The research publication data for the last 20 years in the areas of artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, and so forth, is obtained and computationally analysed using a framework comprising bibliometrics, path analysis and content analysis. The findings show an incremental trend in overall publications on the application of AI for SDGs across the different regions of the world. SDGs 3 (good health & well‐being) and 7 (affordable and clean energy) are found as the areas with the most applications of AI. In SDG3, the literature reflects application of AI techniques such as deep learning for precision and personalised medicine while in SDG7, a number of studies have employed AI techniques for the integration of systems for efficient generation of solar power and improving the energy efficiency of a building. Furthermore, SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 13 (climate action), SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions) are the other SDGs where AI approaches and techniques are applied. The analytical results present a detailed insight of application of AI for achieving the SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to test predictability of environmental moral reasoning patterns of preservice science teachers (PSTs) by their epistemological beliefs and values. Four environmental moral dilemma scenarios that reflect different environmental moral dilemma situations taking place in four outdoor recreation contexts (i.e., hiking, picnicking, fishing, camping) were used to trigger and examine environmental moral reasoning of PSTs. Centers of moral concerns (i.e., ecocentric, anthropocentric, egocentric) and underlying reasons of environmental moral considerations (e.g., aesthetical concerns, justice issues) were used to investigate PSTs' environmental moral reasoning patterns. Data were collected from 1524 PSTs enrolled in six universities located in Central Anatolia region of Türkiye. A path model was proposed to test relationships of PSTs' epistemological beliefs and values to their environmental moral reasoning for each environmental moral dilemma scenario. Results indicated good‐fit between study data and the path model tested for each environmental moral reasoning scenario. Variances in environmental moral reasoning scores that were explained by the path models had small to medium effect size values of 0.06 to 0.26. Statistical significance and direction of the tested relationships showed changes depending on the moral dilemma scenario context and focus of environmental moral reasoning. Nevertheless, path analyses consistently revealed positively significant relationships between environmental moral reasoning categories and epistemological beliefs in omniscient authority and self‐transcendence and tradition values. Implications for science education policy and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1.Experimental studies across biomes demonstrate that herbivores can have significant effects on ecosystem functioning. Herbivore effects, however, can be highly variable with studies demonstrating positive, neutral or negative relationships between herbivore presence and different components of ecosystems. Mixed effects are especially likely in the soil, where herbivore effects are largely indirect mediated through effects on plants.2.We conducted a long‐term experiment to disentangle the effects of non‐native moose in boreal forests on plant communities, nutrient cycling, soil composition and soil organism communities.3.To explore the effect of moose on soils, we conduct separate analyses on the soil organic and mineral horizons. Our data come from 11 paired exclosure‐control plots in eastern and central Newfoundland, Canada that provide insight into 22–25 years of moose herbivory. We fit piecewise structural equations models (SEM) to data for the organic and mineral soil horizons to test different pathways linking moose to above‐ground and below‐ground functioning.4.The SEMs revealed that moose exclusion had direct positive impacts on adult tree count and an indirect negative impact on shrub percent cover mediated by adult tree count. We detected no significant impact of moose on soil microbial C:N ratio or net nitrogen mineralization in the organic or mineral soil horizon. Soil temperature and moisture, however, was more than twice as variable in the presence (i.e. control) than absence (i.e. exclosure) of moose. Overall, we observed clear impacts of moose on above‐ground forest components with limited indirect effects below‐ground. Even after 22–25 years of exclusion, we did not find any evidence of moose impacts on soil microbial C:N ratio and net nitrogen mineralization.5.Our long‐term study and mechanistic path analysis demonstrates that soils can be resilient to ungulate herbivore effects despite evidence of strong effects above‐ground. Long‐term studies and analyses such as this one are relatively rare yet critical for reconciling some of the context‐dependency observed across studies of ungulates effects on ecosystem functions. Such studies may be particularly valuable in ecosystems with short growing seasons such as the boreal forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although financial market participants are increasingly interested in the financial value of unstructured qualitative information regarding the prospects of a firm, empirical evidence remains sparse on the properties of qualitative content in consumer product reviews and their capital market implications. Using a broad sample of consumer reviews posted on Amazon.com, I examine whether the linguistic tone of aggregate consumer product reviews conveys information that is associated with firms' sales, earnings, stock returns and risk. I find that aggregate review tone successfully predicts a firm's forthcoming quarterly sales. Moderating analyses show that this predictability is stronger for firms operating in a highly competitive environment. I further find that review tone predicts a firm's quarterly earnings surprises, abnormal stock returns and risk. A path analysis shows that the effect of review tone on stock prices is partially channeled through its effect on firms' earnings. I finally find that negative review tone is more informative and useful than positive tone in predicting a firm's fundamentals. Importantly, these results hold after controlling for other review characteristics, including review rating, review volumeand review dispersion. Overall, my findings highlight the importance of considering the tone of consumer reviews when evaluating a firm's prospects and value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: We aimed to test a model in which hope and spiritual well‐being acted as protective factors against anxiety and depressive symptoms in childhood cancer patients (CCPs). We hypothesized that hope and spiritual well‐being were mutually reinforcing factors that would both reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms. Methods: Using path analysis, the hypothetical model was tested on a cross‐sectional sample of 412 Chinese CCPs aged 8–17 years. Self‐reported measures were used to obtain data on participants' social and clinical characteristics, spiritual well‐being, hope, anxiety and depressive symptoms. Results: The hypothetical model was supported. Results suggested that sex, treatment type and diagnosis predicted spiritual well‐being; diagnosis and time since diagnosis predicted hope. Spiritual well‐being and hope were mutually predictive and mutually reinforcing, and were both negatively associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms. This model predicted 40% of the variance in spiritual well‐being, 37% in hope, 39% in depressive symptoms, and 28% in anxiety. Conclusion: Spiritual well‐being and hope were mutually reinforcing and served as protective factors against anxiety and depressive symptoms. These support the value for integrating spiritual and hope elements in developing interventions for CCPs to improve their spiritual and psychological well‐being along the disease trajectory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the career construction model of adaptation, this study examined the relationships of career adaptability with measures of adaptivity, and adaptation results. Specifically, we investigated the link among perceived social support, career adaptability, and innovative behavior in the Turkish context. Data were collected from 171 employees. Results indicated that perceived social support positively affected career adaptability, as expected. Contrary to expected, there was no significant relationship between innovative behavior and career adaptability and social support. In addition, career adaptability did not act as a mediator in the association of social support and innovative behavior. Implications and directions for future research were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Understanding the response of vegetation growth to climate change can provide key information for predicting future ecosystem dynamics. Over the past 6 years, the semiarid regions of the Loess Plateau in China have experienced a transition from wet to dry years, but little is known about the response of grass growth to this change. Thus, this study aimed to analyze and evaluate the effect of climate change on grass growth. Using observed climate data and leaf area index (LAI) data obtained with hemispherical photography from 2016 to 2021, we investigated changes in trends of five climatic factors, including precipitation (P), temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), wind speed (WS), and solar radiation (Rs), and their impact on the growth of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and Stipa bungeana plantations in the semiarid area of the Loess Plateau. The results showed a tendency to become colder in spring and drier in summer and autumn. In response, LAI tended to decrease in alfalfa and S. bungeana plots with interannual variation rates of 0.21 year−1 and 0.12 year−1, respectively. Additionally, linear regression methods showed that P had the greatest effect on LAI of two grasslands during the growing season (R2 > 0.84, p < 0.01), followed by RH and T (0.30 < R2 < 0.50, p < 0.01), a negative effect of WS (R2 = 0.36, p < 0.01), and no significant effect of Rs on LAI were found. Conversely, the path analysis indicated that Rs and P were the largest decision coefficients affecting the monthly LAI of alfalfa and S. bungeana, respectively, due to the different time‐to‐peak LAI and root growth depth of these two grass species. This study can provide theoretical support for ecological restoration and system management of semiarid grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In older adolescence, stress has been found to be prevalent. It has been seen that higher physical activity (PA) relates to lower stress levels, which, in turn, relates to fewer anxiety and depressive symptoms (internalizing symptoms). However, how these associations function is not fully understood. PA is strongly associated with greater self‐esteem in adolescents. As greater self‐esteem is thought to aid better coping with stress and has been seen as beneficial for mental health in adolescents, PA may be associated with lower stress and better mental health through self‐esteem and more adaptive stress appraisals. Therefore, the aim of the study was to examine the relationships between PA, self‐esteem, stress, and mental health. Methods: A cross‐sectional design was employed, and path analysis was implemented. PA, self‐esteem, stress appraisals, distress tolerance, perceived stress, anxiety, and depression were assessed using online questionnaires from 244 adolescent participants from the United Kingdom (aged 15–19, M = 16.75 [SD = 0.82], 145 female). Results: Path analysis revealed that PA was associated with lower perceived stress through increased self‐esteem, adaptive appraisals, and higher distress tolerance (total standardized indirect effect; p =.007 (−0.25 to −0.11). Moreover, lower perceived stress was associated with lower anxiety (standardized direct effect; p <.001 [2.65–4.0] and depressive symptoms (standardized direct effect; p <.001 [0.33–0.63]). Conclusions: Findings suggest that higher PA could be effective in improving mental health among older adolescents, due to its association with perceived stress through higher self‐esteem and more adaptive appraisals of stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine the associated factors of professional identity among intensive care unit (ICU) nurses during the COVID‐19 pandemic in China. Design: Multicentre cross‐sectional study. Methods: This study invited 348 ICU nurses in five hospitals in China from May to July 2020. Online self‐report questionnaires were adopted to collect their demographic and occupational characteristics, perceived professional benefits and professional identity. Based on univariate and multiple linear regression analysis, a path analysis was performed to determine the associated factors' effects on professional identity. Results: The mean score of professional identity was 102.38 ± 16.46. Perceived professional benefits, doctor recognition level and family support level were associated with ICU nurses' professional identity. The path analysis revealed that perceived professional benefits and doctor recognition level had direct effects on professional identity. In addition, doctor recognition level and family support level had indirect effects on professional identity through the mediation of perceived professional benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood trauma has a significant impact on the development of adolescents, which may lead to interpersonal and psychological problems. Determining the incidence and consequences of childhood trauma in psychiatric clinical practice is of great significance. Methods: A survey was conducted among adolescents with mood disorders. Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Adolescent Non‐Suicidal‐Self‐Injury Behavior Function Assessment Scale (ANBFAS) and a series of psychological scales were filled face to face. Path analysis was used to examine the causation structure of childhood trauma‐related symptoms. Results: A total of 117 participants (74.5%) had experienced at least one type of trauma. Interpersonal and psychological features of adolescent patients with childhood trauma were detailed in this study. The path analysis model showed that the relationships between childhood trauma and NSSI were mediated by depressive symptoms and thinking disorders, respectively, whereas depressive symptoms individually mediated the correlation between childhood trauma and sleep disturbances in adolescent patients with psychiatric disorders (χ2/df = 1.23). Conclusion: For adolescent patients with childhood trauma, psychological counseling for interpersonal relationships should start with families and peers. It is important to treat their depressive symptoms and thinking disorders and alleviate NSSI behavior and sleep disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen plays a key role in plant reproductive biology. Despite the long history of research on pollen and pollination, recent advances in pollen‐tracking methods and statistical approaches to linking plant phenotype, pollination performance, and reproductive fitness yield a steady flow of exciting new insights. In this introduction to the Special Issue "Pollen as the Link Between Phenotype and Fitness," we start by describing a general conceptual model linking functional classes of floral phenotypic traits to pollination‐related performance metrics and reproductive fitness. We use this model as a framework for synthesizing the relevant literature, highlighting the studies included in the Special Issue, and identifying gaps in our understanding and opportunities for further development of the field. The papers that follow in this Special Issue provide new insights into the relationships between pollen production, presentation, flower morphology, and pollination performance (e.g., pollen deposition onto stigmas), the role of pollinators in pollen transfer, and the consequences of heterospecific pollen deposition. Several of the studies demonstrate exciting experimental and analytical approaches that should pave the way for continued work addressing the intriguing role of pollen in linking plant phenotypes to reproductive fitness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: The role of pollinators in evolutionary floral divergence has spurred substantial effort into measuring pollinator‐mediated phenotypic selection and its variation in space and time. For such estimates, the fitness consequences of pollination processes must be separated from other factors affecting fitness. Methods: We built a fitness function linking phenotypic traits of food‐deceptive orchids to female reproductive success by including pollinator visitation and pollen deposition as intermediate performance components and used the fitness function to estimate the strength of pollinator‐mediated selection through female reproductive success. We also quantified male performance as pollinarium removal and assessed similarity in trait effects on male and female performance. Results: The proportion of plants visited at least once by an effective pollinator was moderate to high, ranging from 53.7% to 85.1%. Tall, many‐flowered plants were often more likely to be visited and pollinated. Given effective pollination, pollen deposition onto stigmas tended to be more likely for taller plants. Pollen deposition further depended on traits affecting the physical fit of pollinators to flowers (flower size, spur length), though the exact relationships varied in time and space. Using the fitness function to assess pollinator‐mediated selection through female reproductive success acting on multiple traits, we found that selection varied detectably among taxa after accounting for sampling uncertainty. Across taxa, selection on most traits was stronger on average and more variable when pollination was less reliable. Conclusions: These results support pollination‐related trait–performance–fitness relationships and thus pollinator‐mediated selection on traits functionally involved in the pollination process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevation plays a crucial role in modulating the spatiotemporal distributions of climatic variables in mountainous regions, which affects water and energy balances, among which reference evapotranspiration (ET0) is a key hydrological indicator. However, the response of ET0 to climate change with elevation continues to be poorly understood, especially in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) which has elevation variations of more than 4,000 m. The spatiotemporal variations of ET0 with elevation were investigated using long‐term (1960–2017) meteorological observations from 82 stations on the TP. The results suggest that the average annual ET0 showed an insignificant increasing trend. A significant negative correlation between ET0 and elevation was found (p <.01). The positive trends of ET0 decreased with elevation, whereas the negative trends of ET0 increased significantly with elevation (p <.05). The magnitude of trends of ET0 becomes smaller at higher‐elevation stations. Sensitivity analysis indicated that ET0 was most sensitive to shortwave radiation (Rs). Moreover, the sensitivities of temperature (T) and wind speed (U) significantly decreased with elevation, whereas those of Rs and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) increased slightly with elevation. The contribution and path analyse indicated that increasing VPD was the dominant contributor to the increase in ET0. The effect of elevation on ET0 variation mainly depended on the tradeoff between the contributions of U and VPD. U was the largest contributing factor for the change in ET0 below 2,500 m, whereas VPD was the primary contributor to the increase in ET0 above 2,500 m. This study provides insights into the response of ET0 to climate change with elevation on the TP, which is of great significance to hydrometeorological processes in high‐altitude regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimated population trends can identify declining species to focus biological conservation, but monitoring may fail to illuminate causes of population change and strategies for reversing declines. Monitoring programs can relate trends with environmental attributes to test causal hypotheses, but typical analytical approaches do not explicitly support causal inference, diluting available data for informing conservation. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) extended Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions with a quasi‐experimental sampling design over a 10‐year period (2010–2019) to evaluate the impacts of oil and gas development on sagebrush birds within the Atlantic Rim Natural Gas Field Development Project in southern Wyoming. We analyzed resulting data using a multiscale community occupancy model to estimate trends in species occupancy and richness relevant to management triggers. Additionally, we employed path analysis to evaluate mechanisms underlying observed trends to inform potential management responses. Fine‐scale occupancy for sage thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus) declined within the high‐development stratum at a rate sufficient to meet an a priori management trigger established by the BLM. Two additional sagebrush‐associated species, Brewer's (Spizella breweri) and sagebrush sparrow (Artemisiospiza nevadensis), exhibited negative development relationships with trend, as did overall species richness, and richness of grassland, sagebrush, and generalist guilds. We identified well pad density and invasive plants associated with energy development as causal factors contributing to these negative development impacts. We demonstrate an analytical approach for both estimating occupancy trends and identifying underlying causes to inform conservation action. Reducing the development footprint, including well pad density and associated invasive plants, could help reduce or limit impacts on birds within this landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Better health outcomes can be achieved in the pursuit of strong human resources and high‐quality healthcare services. Turkey is a specific case with a scarcity of healthcare workers under its healthcare reform movements. This study seeks to understand the interrelationship among human resources, quality of care services, and health outcomes in Turkey. Data for testing the model were gathered from the Turkish Statistical Institute for the 81 provinces of Turkey. Path analysis was used to model the associations among human resources, quality of care services, and health outcomes. To test the goodness of the model, multiple criteria of model fit indices were utilized. The fit of the redefined path analytic model data was good (normed fit index was 0.96, comparative fit index was 0.96, and goodness of fit index was 0.93). The study findings highlight the strong interrelationship among human resources, quality of care services, and health outcomes. These results clarify a strong interlinkage among the number of nurses/midwives, the number of hospital admissions, and mortality rates. Optimal staffing policies by considering the quality of care services will provide benefits for policymakers in achieving high‐quality health outcomes and better preparation for health crises, and will ensure a stronger healthcare system. Key Points: This study emphasizes the importance of effective healthcare human resource planning in achieving a high quality of health outcomes.Study findings clarify a strong interlinkage among the number of nurses/midwives, the number of hospital admissions, and mortality rates. Study results emphasize the importance of efficient usage of scarce health human resources and improving health outcomes in developing economies. A strong interrelationship exists between an increase in the number of nurses/midwives and patient mortality under the intervening role of an increase in hospital admissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined the differential contributions of adolescent‐reported maternal and paternal attachment anxiety and avoidance on friendship security and intimacy. Participants were 776 Canadian adolescents between the ages of 13 and 19 years (M = 15.18, SD = 1.58) who provided ratings of their perceived attachment avoidance and anxiety towards their mothers and fathers and responded to measures of friendship security and intimacy. Findings showed that maternal and paternal attachment avoidance and not anxiety negatively predicted friendship security. Moreover, maternal attachment avoidance was negatively associated with friendship intimacy. Multigroup analyses showed that security was negatively predicted by maternal anxious attachment for junior high school boys and girls. Additionally, paternal avoidant attachment was negatively associated with friendship intimacy for junior high school boys and girls. These findings highlight the unique effects associated with maternal and paternal attachment on specific friendship features and underscore the importance of the role of fathers in adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Childhood disturbances in social, emotional, language, motor and cognitive functioning, and schizotypy have each been implicated as precursors of schizophrenia‐spectrum disorders. We investigated whether relationships between early childhood developmental vulnerabilities and childhood schizotypy are mediated by educational underachievement in middle childhood. Methods: Participants were members of a large Australian (n = 19,216) population cohort followed longitudinally. Path analyses were used to model relationships between developmental vulnerabilities at age ~5 years, educational underachievement from ages ~8 to 10 years and three distinct profiles of schizotypy at age ~11 years (true, introverted and affective schizotypy). Results: Early childhood developmental vulnerabilities on five broad domains (related to physical, emotional, social, cognitive and communication development) were associated with schizotypy profiles in middle childhood. Educational underachievement in middle childhood was associated with all schizotypy profiles, but most strongly with the true schizotypy profile (OR = 3.92, 95% CI = 3.12, 4.91). The relationships between schizotypy profiles and early childhood developmental vulnerabilities in 'language and cognitive skills (school‐based)' and 'communication skills and general knowledge' domains were fully mediated by educational underachievement in middle childhood, and the relationships with early childhood 'physical health and well‐being' and 'emotional maturity' domains were partially mediated. Conclusion: Developmental continuity from early childhood developmental vulnerabilities to schizotypy in middle childhood is mediated by educational underachievement in middle childhood. While some domains of early developmental functioning showed differential relationships with distinct schizotypy profiles, these findings support a developmental pathway to schizotypy in which cognitive vulnerability operates from early childhood through to middle childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil is the world's largest producer of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Drought stress harms the morphological and agronomic traits of beans. This study evaluates the reaction to water deficit in five genotypes of black beans. The experiment was conducted in the IDR‐IAPAR‐EMATER in Londrina‐PR, Brazil. A split‐plot design was used, with three replications. The genotypes were included in the subplots and the treatments with or without water deficit in the plots. Water deficit was induced on the pre‐flowering stage and maintained for 20 days in the plots submitted to drought stress. For the growth analysis, plants were collected at 35, 54 and 70 days after emergence. At the stage of physiological ripeness, several morphological and yield traits were evaluated. The genotypes IPR Uirapuru and BRS Esplendor can be considered tolerant and used as a tolerant source to water deficit in common bean germplasm banks. The line LP 08‐90 has morphological and agronomic adaptations efficient to overcome water deficit's effects, presenting a higher grain yield in both crop conditions, which indicates the success of black beans breeding to deal with water deficit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban areas provide breeding habitats for many species. However, animals raised in urban environments face challenges such as altered food availability and quality, pollution and pathogen assemblages. These challenges can affect physiological processes such as immune function and antioxidant defences which are important for fitness.Here, we explore how levels of urbanisation influence innate immune function, immune response to a mimicked bacterial infection and antioxidant capacity of nestling Black Sparrowhawks Accipiter melanoleucus in South Africa. We also explore the effect of timing of breeding and rainfall on physiology since both can influence the environmental condition under which nestlings are raised. Finally, because urbanisation can influence immune function indirectly, we use path analyses to explore direct and indirect associations between urbanisation, immune function and oxidative stress.We obtained measures of innate immunity (haptoglobin, lysis, agglutination, bactericidal capacity), indices of antioxidant capacity (total non‐enzymatic antioxidant capacity (tAOX) and total glutathione from nestlings from 2015 to 2019. In addition, in 2018 and 2019, we mimicked a bacterial infection by injecting nestlings with lipopolysaccharide and quantified their immune response.Increased urban cover was associated with an increase in lysis and a decrease in tAOX, but not with any of the other physiological parameters. Furthermore, except for agglutination, no physiological parameters were associated with the timing of breeding. Lysis and bactericidal capacity, however, varied consistently with the annual rainfall pattern. Immune response to a mimicked a bacterial infection decreased with urban cover but not with the timing of breeding nor rainfall. Our path analyses suggested indirect associations between urban cover and some immune indices via tAOX but not via the timing of breeding.Our results show that early‐life development in an urban environment is associated with variation in immune and antioxidant functions. The direct association between urbanisation and antioxidant capacity and their impact on immune function is likely an important factor mediating the impact of urbanisation on urban‐dwelling animals. Future studies should explore how these results are linked to fitness and whether the responses are adaptive for urban‐dwelling species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The underutilization of mental health services by Chinese individuals in the United States is concerning. In this study, we examined Chinese individuals' help‐seeking intentions utilizing the theory of planned behavior. Two hundred fifty‐one participants were recruited for this study. The results revealed that help‐seeking attitudes (β = 0.28, p < 0.001), perceived behavioral control (β = 0.21, p < 0.001), and subjective norms (β = 0.13, p < 0.001) were found to be significant predictors of help‐seeking intentions. The implications of the results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to test the impact between corporate social responsibility and firm performance using green supply chain management as mediation. The type of this study is quantitative research, using purposive method sampling with 211 PROPER corporates listed in the 2015–2019 period. The study data were obtained from the Indonesia Stock exchange market. The study resulted in an indication of the positive effect of corporate social responsibility implementation on green supply chain management, the firm performance benefits positively from green supply chain management, corporate social responsibility has a positive effect on firm performance and green supply chain management can be a mediating variable between corporate social responsibility and firm performance. Corporates in Indonesia are faced with pressure from stakeholders regarding their environmental impact. This could push the application of corporate social responsibility and green supply chain management in Indonesian corporates to increase their firm performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floods cause severe damage to people as well as to properties. The same flood can cause different levels of damage to different households, but investigations into floods tend to be conducted on regional and national scales, thereby missing these local variations. It is therefore necessary to understand individual experiences of flood damage to implement effective flood management strategies on a local scale. The main objectives of this study were to develop a model that represents the relationship between socioeconomic conditions and flood damage at a local scale, and to understand the socioeconomic factors most closely tied to flood damage. The analysis is novel in that it considers not only the impact of flood characteristics, but also the impact of social, economic, and geographic factors on flood damage. This analysis derives from a quantitative modeling approach based on community responses, with the responses obtained through questionnaire surveys that consider four consecutive floods of differing severity. Path analysis was used to develop a model to represent the relationships between these factors. A randomly selected sample of 150 data points was used for model development, and nine random samples of 150 data points were used to validate the model. Results suggest that poor households, located in vulnerable, low‐lying areas near rivers, suffer the most from being exposed to frequent, severe floods. Further, the results show that the socioeconomic factors with the most significant bearing on flood damage are per capita income and geographic location of the household. The results can be represented as a cycle, showing that social, economic, geographic, and flood characteristics are interrelated in ways that influence flood damage. This empirical analysis highlights a need for local‐scale flood damage assessments, as offered in this article but seldom seen in other relevant literature. Our assessment was achieved by analyzing the impact of socioeconomic and geographic conditions and considering the relationship between flood characteristics and flood damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seeds, growth rates and duration of growth influence plant development. However, we lack a mechanistic understanding of how they lead to larger and higher‐yielding plants, as these traits have not yet been explicitly studied in combination and across ontogeny. Seed size and growth dynamics have evolved differently during domestication and improvement. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether the relationships between these traits and their contribution to plant size and yield have also changed over the course of crop evolution.Here we grew wild, landrace and improved accessions of 18 annual herbaceous crops in a glasshouse. For each plant, we measured seed mass, growth rate and duration of vegetative growth. We also measured plant size at three ontogenetic stages: seedling, juvenile and mature, and reproductive output. Using path analyses, we tested causal relationships between the traits and quantified their relative importance in determining mature plant size and yield.Seed mass and duration of vegetative growth were more important than growth rates in explaining variations in mature plant size and yield among species. Domesticated plants were larger, had heavier seeds and higher yields, but did not grow faster or for longer time‐spans than their wild progenitors. Trait relationships did not differ between the wild, landrace and improved accessions.Our results suggest that annual herbs reach larger sizes primarily through a combination of heavier seeds and longer vegetative growth periods. Moreover, domestication has increased plant size only through the heavy‐seed causal pathway, via cascading effects during ontogeny. However, the high yields of modern crops hardly be explained by the traits considered here, suggesting the importance of other drivers, such as roots and their microbiome.Synthesis. We provide a better mechanistic understanding of the size axis of global plant trait variation and emphasise the role of growth duration in explaining the diversity of mature plant sizes. Seeds and growth dynamics are highly functionally coordinated with plant size, and this coordination has changed little during crop evolution. Our results highlight that multi‐trait relationships throughout plant ontogeny play a key role in governing how domestication has influenced plant size and crop yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationships between macrophytes and the physical and biological characteristics of the environments that aquatic organisms inhabit are complex. Previous studies have shown that the macrophytes, Ranunculus (subgenus Batrachium), which are dominant in lowland chalk streams and widespread across Europe, can enhance juvenile Atlantic salmon abundance and growth to a greater degree than other physical and biological habitat characteristics. However, mechanistic understanding of how this effect might arise requires consideration of the direct and indirect relationships among habitat characteristics that are likely to be influenced by the presence of macrophyte cover.We applied structural equation modelling to data collected during a 2‐year in‐river manipulative experiment in the River Frome (southern England, U.K.) designed to quantify the magnitude and the relative importance of direct and indirect influences of Ranunculus cover and other physical and biological variables, including water velocity, water depth, prey biomass and body size, and abundance of con‐ and hetero‐specifics, on abundance and somatic growth of 0+ salmon.Results indicated a strongly positive direct influence of Ranunculus cover on salmon abundance, as well as positive influences of Ranunculus on velocity heterogeneity and water depth that are indirectly related to decreased salmon abundance. Interestingly, there was no indication of a direct influence of Ranunculus cover on salmon growth, although Ranunculus was indirectly related to increased salmon growth through its positive influence on prey biomass, an effect mediated by velocity heterogeneity and proportion of fast velocities.These findings provide novel mechanistic insights into the key role of Ranunculus in their native lowland rivers to enhance abundance and improve conditions for multiple food web components. Strategies to maintain or enhance naturally occurring Ranunculus in these rivers are therefore likely to return wide ranging ecosystem benefits, including for species of high conservation value, such as salmon. These mechanistic impacts on habitat heterogeneity and ecosystem productivity could generalise to native macrophytes in other river systems, particularly where habitat is dominated by vegetation in the absence of large substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compound drought and heatwave (CDHW) events have received considerable attention in recent years due to their devastating effects on human society and ecosystem. In this study, we systematically investigated the changes of CDHW events in multi‐spatiotemporal scales for historical period (1951–2014) and four future scenarios (2020–2100) (SSP1‐2.6, SSP2‐4.5, SSP3‐7.0, and SSP5‐8.5) over global land by using Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) models. The responses of the CDHW events to the changes of maximum air temperature and the climatic water balance variable are also examined. The results show that the multi‐model ensembles project a significant increasing trend in CDHW characteristics over almost all global lands under SSP2‐4.5, SSP3‐7.0, and SSP5‐8.5, especially across northern North‐America, Caribbean, Mediterranean and Russian‐Arctic, there is a stronger increasing trend. A significantly increasing CDHW risk will occur across most global land for the medium to long term future without aggressive adaptation and mitigation strategies. The results of path analysis suggest that temperature is the dominant factor influencing CDHW events. Additionally, higher sensitivity of CDHW events to global warming will occur in the future. Particularly, each 1°C global warming increases the duration of the CDHW events by 3 days in the historical period, but by about 10 days in the future period. Overall, this study improves our understanding in the projection of CDHW events and the impacts of climate drivers to the CDHW events under various future scenarios, which could provide supports about the risk assessment, adaptation and mitigation strategies under climate change. Plain Language Summary: Compound drought and heatwave (CDHW) events (co‐occurring hot and dry extremes) always cause severe damages to human society and natural system, often beyond separate impacts from heatwaves and droughts. Understanding the changes of CDHW events under global warming can help to manage the risks of associated disasters and advance climate change adaptation. Therefore, we systematically investigated the future changes of CDHW events (characterized by duration, severity, and magnitude) and the relationship between CDHW characteristics and the relevant climate factors in multi‐spatiotemporal scales using the state‐of‐the‐art climate simulations. Here we show that future will witness a strong increase in CDHW events. A significantly increasing CDHW risk will occur across most global land for the medium to long term future without aggressive adaptation and mitigation strategies. We further find global temperature rise is the main reason for the future increase in CDHW events. In addition, compared with the historical period, higher sensitivity of CDHW events to global warming over most global land will occur in the future. These tell us that measures to limit the temperature increase are urgently needed to survive and thrive. Key Points: There is a significantly increasing trend for compound drought and heatwave characteristics over almost global land in the futureThe increasing temperature dominates the increase of compound drought and heatwave eventsFuture will witness higher sensitivity of compound drought and heatwave events to global warming over almost all global land [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of the temporal variation in reproductive success and its key driving factors is crucial in predicting animal population persistence. Few studies have examined the effects of a range of explanatory factors operating simultaneously on the same population over a long period. Based on 41 years of monitoring (1979–2019), we tested prevailing hypotheses about drivers of annual variation in breeding success in two sympatric species of boreal forest grouse—the capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) and the black grouse (T. tetrix)—in a 45 km2 boreal forest landscape. From counts in early August, we measured breeding success (chicks/hen) along with potential determining factors. We formulated five main hypotheses on causes of variation (hen condition, chick weather, chick food, predation, demographic characteristics) and derived 13 associated explanatory variables for analysis. We first tested the five hypotheses separately and then used model selection (AICc) to rank the best predictive models irrespective of hypotheses. Lastly, we used path analysis to illuminate potential causal relationships. Barring demographic characteristics, all hypotheses were supported, most strongly for chick food and predation. Among predictor variables, chick food (insect larvae and bilberry fruit crops), vole and fox abundances, the winter‐NAO index, and temperature after hatching, had the strongest effect sizes in both species. Precipitation after hatching had no detectable effect. Model selection indicated bottom‐up factors to be more important than predation, but confounding complicated interpretation. Path analysis suggested that the high explanatory power of bilberry fruiting was due not only to its direct positive effect on chick food quality but also to an indirect positive effect on vole abundance, which buffers predation. The two components of breeding success—proportion of hens with broods and number of chicks per brood—were uncorrelated, the former having the strongest effect. The two components had different ecological correlates that often varied asynchronously, resulting in overall breeding success fluctuating around low to moderate levels. Our study highlights the complexity of key explanatory drivers and the importance of considering multiple hypotheses of breeding success. Although chick food appeared to equal or surpass predation in explaining the annual variation in breeding success, predation may still be the overall limiting factor. Comparative and experimental studies of confounded variables (bilberry fruiting, voles, and larvae) are needed to disentangle causes of variation in breeding success of boreal forest grouse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mediation analysis is indispensable for investigating how a treatment causally affects an outcome via intervening variables. Existing discussions on the validity of causal inference drawn from mediation analysis have prioritized single mediator settings. In this article, we focus on improving causal inference when investigating multiple mediators. We pay particular attention to the prevalent practice of exploring mediated effects along various paths linking several mediators. Such approaches are fraught with stringent—yet often overlooked—causal assumptions that predicate valid inference of indirect or mediated effects. To mitigate the risk of incorrect inference, we introduce a conceptually and substantively novel approach from the causal inference literature: interventional indirect effects. Interventional indirect effects focus on the contributions of each distinct mediator to the treatment effect on the outcome. An appealing feature of this approach is that valid causal inference of mediation analysis with multiple mediators can be attained without assuming a (correct) causal structure among the mediators. Using a social psychology experiment as a running example, we illustrate how researchers can readily estimate and interpret the proposed interventional effects in practice. We hope this article will encourage explaining and substantiating the causal assumptions underpinning mediation analysis with multiple mediators to fortify causal inference in psychology research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This cross‐sectional survey study examined the underlying psychosocial constructs of Black (n = 163) and White (n = 246) university students' willingness to endorse racially motivated collective action. Consistent with the defensive motivation system model, we expected the police shooting of an unarmed Black American to activate concerns about personal safety, thereby eliciting negative affect, lack of forgiveness of the perpetrator, and motivation to engage in collective action. This path model was expected for both Black and White participants, with stronger associations among Black participants. In the full model, Black participants identified more with the victim and indicated greater personal threat, which led to (1) more negative affect and greater endorsement of collective action and (2) greater avoidance of the shooter and greater endorsement of collective action. In the Black participants model, collective action was explained by identifying with the victim and feeling personally threatened. In the White participants model, collective action was explained by three pathways stemming from identifying with the victim and personal threat, including negative affect, seeking avoidance, and seeking revenge. The results indicate different mechanisms to explain Black and White individuals' motivation to endorse collective action to prevent police‐involved shootings of unarmed Black Americans. Highlights: Differences between Black and White individuals' motivation of collective action for racial justice.For Black individuals, action was explained by identifying with the victim and feeling threatened.For White individuals, action was explained by negative affect and lack of forgiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the drivers of 40–150 keV hourly electron flux at geostationary orbit (GOES 13) using autoregressive moving average transfer functions (ARMAX) multiple regression models which remove the confounding effect of diurnal cyclicity and allow assessment of each parameter independently. By taking logs of the variables, we create nonlinear models. While many factors show high correlation with flux in single variable analysis (substorms, ULF waves, solar wind velocity (V), pressure (P), number density (N) and electric field (Ey), IMF Bz, Kp, and SymH), ARMAX models show substorms are the dominant influence at 40–75 keV and over 20–12 MLT, with little difference seen between disturbed and quiet periods. The Ey influence is positive post‐midnight, negative post‐noon. Pressure shows a negative influence, strongest at 150 keV. ULF waves are a more modest influence than suggested by single variable correlation. Kp and SymH show little effect when other variables are included. Using path analysis, we calculate the summed direct and indirect influences through the driving of intermediate parameters. Pressure shows a summed direct and indirect influence nearly half that of the direct substorm effect. N, V, and Bz, as indirect drivers, are equally influential. While simple correlation or neural networks can be used for flux prediction, neither can effectively identify drivers. Instead, consideration of physical influences, removing cycles that artificially inflate correlations, and controlling the effects of other parameters gives a clearer picture of which are most influential in this system. Plain Language Summary: Satellites may experience damaging surface charging due to high energy electrons present in the radiation belts. In this study, we explore the various factors that may influence these electron populations. We use an autoregressive moving average transfer function (ARMAX) statistical model that removes the confounding effect of diurnal cyclicity and allows assessment of each variable independently of others. Substorms, which inject electrons into the magnetosphere, are found to be the strongest influence, with most of their effect seen near local midnight. The electric field and pressure of the solar wind also show moderate effects. Not all variables that show high single variable correlations retain this influence in multivariate analyses. Kp and SymH, two indices of geomagnetic activity are highly correlated with electron levels in the magnetosphere, but show little influence in models controlling for the effects of solar wind parameters. Identifying direct, physical drivers, removing cycles that artificially inflate correlations, and controlling the effects of other parameters using multiple regression (specifically, ARMAX) gives a clearer picture of which parameters are most influential in this system. Key Points: Substorms, as measured by AE, are the strongest direct influence on 40–150 keV electron fluxOf the possible indirect drivers N, V, Bz show fairly equal influence on fluxAn autoregressive moving average transfer functions model removes diurnal cyclicity and allows a more accurate assessment of the correlations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the role of fundamental movement skills (FMS) and perceived competence in the relationship between physical fitness and technical soccer skills in children. Seventy boys aged 7-12 years of age (Mean ± SD = 9 ± 2 years) who were regularly engaged in grassroots soccer participated in the present study. The Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (Ulrich, 2001. Test of gross motor development (2nd ed.). Austin, TX: PRO-ED) was used to assess FMS and the Perceived Physical Ability Scale for Children (Colella, Morano, Bortoli, & Robazza, 2008. A physical self-efficacy scale for children. Social Behavior and Personality: an International Journal, 36, 841–848) was used to assess perceived competence. Technical skill was determined from three tests reflecting dribbling, passing and shooting. Z-scores of each measure were summed, creating a composite measure of technical skill. Three measures of physical fitness were employed; 15m sprint time, standing long jump, and seated medicine ball (1kg) throw. Z-scores for each measure were summed creating a composite measure of physical fitness. The relationship between technical skill and FMS, fitness, perceived competence and age was examined via path analysis. Results indicated two significant mediated pathways: from physical fitness to technical skills via FMS, and from physical fitness to technical skills via perceived competence. Once these mediators had been accounted for, there was no direct link from physical fitness to technical skills. Coaches should therefore seek to avoid one-sided delivery of practice by not solely focusing on football type drills, and focusing on a range of activities which enhance a broad foundation of FMS and promote strategies to positively influence a child's perception of their own competence. Highlights Fundamental movement skills (FMS) are considered the foundation for physical activity and sport performance yet they tend to be overlooked, in favour of physical fitness, in the development of soccer talent. We examined mediating effects of FMS and perceived competence in the relationship between physical fitness and technical soccer skills in 70, 7-12 year old grassroots soccer players. We suggests there is no direct effect of physical fitness on technical skills in soccer but both FMS and perceived competence act as mediators of the physical fitness-technical skill relationship in children aged 7-12 years old. Coaches should therefore look to develop a broad base of FMS and a higher perception of competence to improve children's technical soccer skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of multitrophic interactions on metacommunity structure, despite extensive theory and modeling/manipulative studies, has remained largely unexplored within naturally occurring metacommunities. We investigated the impacts of mutualistic partners and predators on a butterfly metacommunity, as well as the impacts that local and landscape characteristics have across three trophic levels: flowering plants, butterflies, and butterfly predators. Using data for butterfly diversity/richness, flowering plant diversity/richness, and butterfly predation (on clay butterfly models) across 15 grassland sites, we posed 3 questions. (1) How do mutualist metacommunity structure, predation pressure, and local and regional habitat characteristics affect butterfly metacommunity structure? (2) How do local and regional habitat characteristics affect flowering plant metacommunity structure? (3) How do local and regional habitat characteristics affect predation pressure? Floral diversity and richness had a positive effect on butterfly diversity and richness (Question 1). Site size positively affected floral diversity and richness (Question 2), and through this relationship site size had an indirect positive effect on butterfly diversity and richness (Question 1). In contrast to previous work, no other variables impacted butterfly diversity/richness. This result was particularly surprising for predation pressure: Our results suggest that within our study system, butterfly community diversity and richness are not strongly impacted by predation. Predator attacks occurred more in larger and more isolated sites (Question 3), suggesting that predators respond more strongly to landscape characteristics than abundance or diversity of butterfly prey species. This decoupling of predation pressure and butterfly communities suggests that conserving and restoring healthy predator populations may not negatively impact butterfly communities. If diverse plant communities are maintained, even small and isolated habitat patches can be valuable for butterfly conservation, which may influence reserve design and habitat restoration strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individual mobility and human patterns analyses is receiving increasing attention in numerous interdisciplinary studies and publications using the concept of time‐geography but is largely unknown to the subdiscipline of sports geography. Meanwhile the visualization and evaluation of large data of individual patterns are still a major challenge. While a qualitative, microscale view on spatial‐temporal topics is more common in today's pattern research using mostly 24h time intervals, this work examines a quantitative approach focusing on an extended period of life. This paper presents a combination of time‐geographic approaches with 3D‐geoinformation systems and demonstrates their value for analysing individual mobility by implementing a path‐homogeneity factor (HPA). Using the example of professional athletes, it is shown which groups display greater similarities in their career paths. While a high homogeneity suggests that groups make similar decisions through socially influenced processes, low values allow the assumption that external processes provide stronger, independent individual structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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