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BackgroundWe aimed to assess the feasibility of using multiple technologies to recruit and conduct cognitive interviews among young people across the United States to test items measuring sexual and reproductive empowerment. We sought to understand whether these methods could achieve a diverse sample of participants. With more researchers turning to approaches that maintain social distancing in the context of COVID-19, it has become more pressing to refine these remote research methods.MethodsWe used several online sites to recruit for and conduct cognitive testing of survey items. To recruit potential participants we advertised the study on the free online bulletin board, Craigslist, and the free online social network, Reddit. Interested participants completed an online Qualtrics screening form. To maximize diversity, we purposefully selected individuals to invite for participation. We used the video meeting platform, Zoom, to conduct the cognitive interviews. The interviewer opened a document with the items to be tested, shared the screen with the participant, and gave them control of the mouse and keyboard. After the participant self-administered the survey, the interviewer asked about interpretation and comprehension. After completion of the interviews we sent participants a follow-up survey about their impressions of the research methods and technologies used. We describe the processes, the advantages and disadvantages, and offer recommendations for researchers.ResultsWe recruited and interviewed 30 young people from a range of regions, gender identities, sexual orientations, ages, education, and experiences with sexual activity. These methods allowed us to recruit a purposefully selected diverse sample in terms of race/ethnicity and region. It also may have offered potential participants a feeling of safety and anonymity leading to greater participation from gay, lesbian, and transgender people who would not have agreed to participate in-person. Conducting the interviews using video chat may also have facilitated the inclusion of individuals who would not volunteer for in-person meetings. Disadvantages of video interviewing included participant challenges to finding a private space for the interview and problems with electronic devices.ConclusionsOnline technologies can be used to achieve a diverse sample of research participants, contributing to research findings that better respond to young people's unique identities and situations.

This article explores the physical and biochemical characteristics of dragon fruit grown in various locations in Nepal. The study found that factors such as cultivation practices and climate influenced the fruit's weight and other physical traits. Additionally, the fruit's biochemical properties, including moisture content, pH, and sugar levels, varied among the different locations. The article suggests that dragon fruit has potential for commercial success in both domestic and international markets. [Extracted from the article]

Fourteen diverse genotypes of wheat including three standard check variety were evaluated under heat stress condition during rabi season 2016-17 at Agriculture Farm, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University. Genotypes were studied for genetic variability, path analysis and diversity with the aim to identify the superior genotype with significantly satisfactory yield under very late sown condition. The data were recorded for traits viz., days to heading, days to maturity, plant height, 1000 grain weight, grain yield plot-1 and biological yield plot-1. Analysis of variance showed significant differences for all the six traits. The grain yield plot-1 ranged from 2375-3600 g. The phenotypic coefficient of variation and genotypic coefficient of variation was observed highest for grain yield plot-1. Highest broad sense heritability was observed for 1000 grain weight while genetic advance was estimated to be highest for grain yield plot-1. Diversity analysis indicates that total 14 genotypes were grouped into 5 clusters. The highest inter-cluster distance was found between cluster IV and V followed by II and V. This exhibited that genotypes included in these clusters possess wide genetic diversity. Diversity study shows that the selection of genotypes for crosses from cluster V (WR544(C)) with cluster IV(PBW778), cluster II (HD3272) and cluster I (HI11621, WH1232, PBW757, DBW251, DBW250, HD3271 and WH1233) could give maximum heterosis and prove to be good recombinants. Hence, genotypes from such diverse groups can be selected for making the crosses and selection of desirable genotype for heat tolerance and better yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is a prominent spice and vegetable crop farmed commercially worldwide. Variability is viewed as a key signal for any red onion enhancement effort. The current study was, therefore, carried out to learn about genetic variability and diversity among selected genotypes of 20 red onions at the C Block Farm, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, India, during the winter (rabi) season of 2021–2022, in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The characters, viz., average weight of bulbs (kg), neck thickness (cm), total soluble solids (°Brix), total sugar (%), and reducing sugar (%) demonstrated high heritability (97.38–99.97%) coupled with high genetic gain. Such traits were the least influenced by environmental effects, and additive gene action played a pivotal role in the manifestation of such characters. Traits with high heritability values (51.37–67.94%) demonstrate that the observed variability was under genetic control and provide an enormous range of possibilities for accomplishing selection depending on their phenotypic performances. For traits with moderate heritability, viz., bolting (%) and doubling (%), selection would be less effective but can still be given great importance. Based on correlation analysis, the character’s neck thickness, equatorial diameter, and polar diameter unveiled highly positive genetic correlation with the average weight of bulbs (0.120, 0.112; 0.194, 0.210 and 0.120, 0.112 for phenotypic and genotypic correlation coefficient values, respectively), which indicates that the average weight of a bulb would be increased by an increase in such components. According to path coefficient analysis, the equatorial diameter exhibited the most positive direct effect on the average weight of bulbs (0.968), followed by polar diameter (0.687) and neck thickness (0.159). A wide range of variations for qualitative traits, including foliage colour, leaf width, foliage behaviour, the degree of leaf waxiness, the shape of the bulb, and bulb skin colour were observed. Based on Mahalanobish D2 analysis, the genotypes were divided into four clusters. The highest number of genotypes was found in cluster I (eleven), followed by cluster IV (six genotypes) and cluster II (two genotypes). Cluster III had a single genotype and was monogenic. The study confirmed that a wide genetic variation prevailed in the onion genotypes taken under study, which could thereby be utilized in breeding programmes.

Twelve amaranth accessions were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replications in the research field of the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Lamjung, Sundarbazar, Lamjung, Nepal from March to July 2021 to assess the phenotypic diversity. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed that only two principal components were significant with their eigenvalues >1 and combinedly accounted for 88.3% of the total variance. PC1, which explained 71.9% of the variance, was highly and positively contributed by days to 50% inflorescence, plant height, leaf length, leaf width, petiole length, 1000 seed weight, and grain yield. PC1 was negatively affected by the number of primary branches per plant and the number of leaves per plant. PC2, which explained 16.4% of the variance, distinguished plants with high number of leaves and a higher inflorescence length. The accessions were grouped into 4 clusters. Cluster 2 had the greatest intracluster distance (D2 = 13.19), while Cluster 3 and 4 had the greatest intercluster distance (D2 = 21.73), followed by Cluster 2 and 3 (D2 = 17.37). Cluster 1 had the highest number of leaves per plant and the lowest yield. Cluster 2 had the maximum grain yield and plant height. Cluster 3 had the lowest inflorescence length, and cluster 4 had the highest leaf length and 1000 seed weight.