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The excessive use of agrochemicals in the field to increase production and counteract the negative effects caused by biotic and abiotic factors has led to a deterioration in soil fertility, plus an increment in negative impacts on the environment and human health. Therefore, the application of beneficial microorganisms as bioinoculants is an eco-friendly alternative to agrochemicals. Plant growth-promoting bacteria and fungi have been effective in promoting plant growth and production, as well as reducing the action of pathogens in multiple crops. However, successful application of such beneficial microorganisms in the agricultural field has faced several difficulties, such as survival, colonization efficiency and short periods of shelf storage. Therefore, it is essential to explore novel ways to encapsulate, formulate and apply bioinoculants. To obtain the expected quality in bioencapsulated products, it is essential to determine the type of polymer, capsule size, encapsulation technique and use the correct chemical and physical cofactors involved in the production process. Thus, this review highlights the various formulation types and application techniques, as well as discussing the multiple advantages of using microbial encapsulates to have better results in agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Grit is a construct that can predict performance in different domains. This research aims to provide evidence about the validity of the Grit-S Scale through a factorial structure confirmatory analysis and a convergence study with the Scale to Measure Personal Agency and Empowerment. Method: Firstly, university students from virtual learning programs (n = 313) answered the Grit-S Scale, and a confirmatory analysis was performed. Afterwards, the Scale to measure personal agency and empowerment was used to evaluate the convergence validity of the Grit-S Scale. Results: Findings confirm that the Grit-S scale has a bifactorial structure. On the other hand, the ESAGE Scale was adapted using an Exploratory Factorial Analysis, with four factors that explain 44.6% of the variance. Correlations between Grit-S subdimensions and the ESAGE Scale are positive and statistically significant. Conclusions: The Grit-S scale accurately measures Grit. Besides, it is possible to confirm the relationship between Grit and personality traits considering its convergence with the agency dimension in the Scale to measure personal agency and the low relationship with the social empowerment dimension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Educational lore casts grit as a panacea for solving long-standing achievement disparities. Fifteen years of empirical research has not supported this claim, yet many schools still uphold grit. Why? This article examines when (and if) K-12 educators should emphasize grit in classrooms. We first define the construct and offer evidence-based critiques of grit's conceptual claims. Next, we discuss grit's influence on school achievement, which has, at best, a negligible impact on school achievement. However, at worst, grit reifies social inequalities by boosting the performance of already-privileged individuals and harming minoritized groups and those in under-resourced learning contexts. Finally, we argue that grit does not compensate for adverse circumstances—including poverty, racial/ethnic discrimination, dis/abilities, and intersections—but instead reinforces privilege. Building on these insights, we close with several recommendations for policymakers, schools, and teachers to reduce the inequitable opportunity gaps that undermine achievement and support students with research-based interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the grit narrative—the idea that individual success is as much a product of passion and perseverance as it is a result of intelligence and talent—has captured the public's imagination, much of the empirical literature has focused almost exclusively on traditional-age college students attending more selective residential universities. The current investigation leveraged two distinct samples of students to explore the association between grit and a wide range of educational outcomes for location-bound and online adult college students. Regression results indicated that the perseverance subscale of grit tended to be a better predictor of persistence and graduation intentions, and social and academic integration, particularly for location-bound adult students, while the passion subscale was a better predictor of actual persistence. The results also suggest that the predictive utility of grit is weaker for online adult college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimony sulfide thin films were deposited on glass substrates at room temperature by pulsed laser deposition using pellets of Sb2S3 as the target. The structural characterization showed that the as-grown films have a high amorphous contribution, and the annealed samples have the Sb2S3 orthorhombic phase. The values for the calculated crystal sizes of 27, 25, and 26 nm for the annealing temperatures of 250, 275, and 300 °C, respectively, for the case of transmission for the as-grown sample amount to 30%, while for the annealed samples, the value is less than 10%. In the reflection measurements, the as-grown sample and the one annealed at 250 °C present lower values at 10%, while for the samples annealed at 275 and 300 °C, the reflection values are between 25% and 35%. On the other hand, the bandgap through the Tauc's parabolic band method was calculated, with its value for the as-grown sample being 1.92 eV, while for the samples annealed at 250, 275, and 300 °C, the bandgap values are 1.31, 1.66, and 1.29 eV, respectively. The atomic percentage determined by Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy was 36% Sb and 64% S for the as-grown sample, while for the annealed samples, the percentage of sulfur increases, and the percentage of antimony decreases until a final value of 30.5% Sb and 69.5% S for the sample annealed at 300 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus is a large-sized scavenger exploiting carcasses of livestock and wild ungulates and thus having a paramount importance in the natural ecosystems. In this study, we report on an adult Griffon Vulture detected with lead levels in the bones over the threshold. After two years of tracking, the bird died. The corpse's clinical examination and radiography detected the presence of two embedded lead pellets from a healed gunshot wound in its right wing. Quantitative laboratory analysis of lead in bone and liver samples evidencing subclinical/chronic lead intoxication of the Griffon Vulture could potentially be a result of the long-term exposure to the lead originating from the pellets in its wing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the case of a decomposed male cadaver found in an apartment who was transported to our institute for identification purposes. Computed tomography (CT) was performed to assess the possibility of a radiologic identification of the decedent (RadID) by dental implants or orthopedic implants. Surprisingly, the CT examination revealed seven spherical foreign bodies (diameter: 0.4 to 0.5 cm / 0.16 to 0.20 in) and one flat foreign body (diameter: 0.7 cm / 0.28 in; thickness 0.2 cm / 0.08 in) inside the cadaver. The foreign bodies were located extracranially in the soft tissue of the head (n = 1), the neck (n = 2), the abdomen (n = 2), the right upper arm (n = 1) and both thighs (n = 2) and were determined to be shot pellets according to their shape and high radiopacity. Immediately, the decedent was externally reexamined for entrance wounds according to the location of the shot pellets on CT. A thorough external examination revealed scarred entrance wounds on the head and neck. For the identification of the decedent, radiologic data from the renter of the apartment were requested from the municipal hospital. The radiology department provided a clinical CT scan of the abdomen of the suspected person, a 70-year-old man. An antemortem abdomen CT also demonstrated two shot pellets at the same location in the body. The decedent was radiologically identified by comparing the position of the retained shot pellets on antemortem and postmortem computed tomography. This case report presents a rare case of numerous retained shot pellets and the extraordinary RadID based on these retained shot pellets, which were only revealed because a postmortem CT scan was performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Denmark implemented a total ban on the use of lead shot for hunting and clay target shooting in 1996. Compliance was not studied systematically until recently. However, sporadic police checks and individual studies indicated that compliance was far from complete in the early years after regulation. To assess current levels of compliance with Danish regulations, we purchased 730 carcasses of pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) and mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and a further 690 mallard gizzards were obtained from > 14 shooting events distributed across > 10 local authority districts throughout East and West Denmark in the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 hunting seasons. All carcasses and gizzards were subject to radiography and those that contained shot were examined, pellets removed by dissection and identified to shot type. In all, 3589 pellets (intact or fragmented) were found in 1420 carcasses/gizzards, of which 799 pellets (some fragmented) were identified. Among the sample of pheasants with embedded shot (N = 447), 1.8% (in 2016) and 2.2% (in 2017) were lead shot. Among 148 mallards in 2017 with embedded shot, 3.1% had lead shot. None of the 2017 mallard gizzards had embedded lead shot. We conclude that Danish pheasant and mallard shooters mostly comply with the lead shot regulations. Steel was the most used non-lead alternative. The majority of ingested shot was non-lead, indicating that lead shot is not generally available to pheasant and mallard and suggesting compliance with regulations in recent years/decades. The study showed that the possibility to predict the metal composition of shot pellets from X-ray images alone was highly inaccurate, confirming the necessity of necropsy to determine shot type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of grit supplementation to the diets containing maize and barley as cereal grains on performance and slaughter characteristics in broilers. In the experiment, a total of 160 Ross 308 male broiler chicks were allocated to 2 experimental groups with 4 replicate pens containing 20 birds per each for 5 weeks of experimental period. Granite grit was added at the level of 0 and 0.8% to the basal diets containing barley and maize as cereal grains for control and treatment groups, respectively. Granite grit supplementation had no significant effect on final body weight and body weight gain. Feed intake during the experiment was significantly reduced by grit supplementation (P<0.05). However, no significant differences were observed with the feed conversion ratio. Granite grit supplementation to the diets of broilers increased the relative weight of gizzard (P=0.001) and decreased the relative weight of abdominal fat (P<0.05). Dietary treatments did not affect blood serum total cholesterol and triglyceride. In conclusion, granite grit supplementation might be used in broiler nutrition due to having increment in the relative weight of gizzard and reduction in relative weight of abdominal fat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood biochemistry, body mass, and gross pathology of male eiders (Somateria mollissima) wintering in the Inner Danish Waters of the western Baltic Sea (the Great Belt Strait) were assessed in this study. In November 2015, 14 specimens were obtained from the area defined for examination. Of the subject animals captured, 1 had dilated intestines and 2 had granulomas with encapsulated shotgun pellets considered to be chronic in nature. All 14 males were determined to have enteritis along with acanthocephalan and trematode endoparasites. Compared with reference values for captive eiders, plasma values of alanine aminotransferase (93%), total bilirubin (45%), gamma-glutamyl transferase (41%), and alkaline phosphatase (92%) showed significant increases in all 14 male birds. Altogether, the plasma biochemistry and gross pathology findings suggest that up to as many as 20% of the eider males in the Inner Danish Waters of the western Baltic Sea may suffer from liver and bile duct lesions and enteritis. The overall effect on the bird's survival from the results of this investigation is unknown. Therefore, the authors emphasize that more research is required on wintering eiders in the western Baltic to obtain a better understanding of their overall health status during winter, as well as their responses to wound-related lesions associated with gunshot pellets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: It is important to understand factors that moderate the likelihood of developing suicidal thoughts following traumatic exposure and posttraumatic stress symptoms. Method: In this cross‐sectional study, a moderated atemporal mediation analysis was conducted in a sample of 709 college students (71% female, Mage = 19.90 years, 67% Caucasian) to test the associations between trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and suicidal ideation, with grit entered as a moderator of all paths in the equation. Results: PTSD symptoms mediated the association between trauma and suicidal ideation. Grit moderated the direct pathway from PTSD symptoms to suicidal ideation. Conclusions: Grit and other constructs of resiliency may inform strength‐focused interventions to remediate the impact of trauma and posttraumatic stress symptoms and potentially reduce suicidal thoughts and risk for suicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emergency medical service (EMS) personnel are regularly exposed to traumatic incidents and experience higher rates of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than the general population. Grit is a construct proposed to be associated with achievement, but it has demonstrated preliminary evidence of an associationwith resilience. The current study examined the relationship between grit and resilience among EMS workers. Methods: A link to an online survey was sent to East Baton Rouge Parish Emergency Medical Services personnel via an email distribution list. Demographic variables and the following self-report measures were assessed: the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Grit Scale, the Brief COPE scale, and the Professional Exposure to Traumatic Experiences scale (modified from the Life Events Checklist). Results: PCL-5 scores were significantly and negatively correlated with the Grit Scale score (r=-0.57, P<0.01). Hierarchical regression revealed that grit and coping mechanisms were predictive of self-reported PTSD symptoms (adjusted R2=68.7%, F(15,67)=9.81, P<0.001). Examination of the coefficients revealed that lower total Grit Scale scores and higher scores on the following Brief COPE scales were significant predictors of PCL-5 scores: denial, substance abuse, disengagement, and self-blame. Conclusion: This study examined the relationship between grit and resilience, measured by self-reported PTSD symptoms. Our results demonstrate a significant relationship between grit and resilience. Grit is related to, but distinct from, other constructs that predict resilience, such as coping mechanisms. Large prospective studies could have significant implications for hiring practices and building grit in existing personnel to bolster resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grit composed of dirt, sand, and small stones adheres to baby leafy salad vegetables during the growing period and can sometimes be difficult to remove with sanitiser only or tap water. For the first time, the effect of a surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), alone (0.025, 0.05, and 0.1% SDS) and in combination (0.05% SDS) with peroxyacetic acid (40 mg·L−1, PAA), on grit removal, quality, shelf-life, and taste of baby spinach was investigated. Increasing SDS from 0.025 to 0.1% resulted in a 21–50% increase in grit removal from spinach and coral lettuce. Overall, SDS treatments had no effect on microbial growth, colour, and electrolyte leakage during shelf-life. An increase in bruising, sliming, and yellowing scores was also observed regardless of the treatment, reaching an unacceptable score (<3) by d12 for all samples; however, yellowing scores were still within the acceptable range (>3) on d14. There were no differences in sensorial attributes, namely, flavour, aroma, and texture, between baby spinach samples treated with PAA alone or in combination with SDS. These results demonstrate that SDS treatment can be used to increase grit removal from baby leafy salad vegetables without compromising quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concepts of grit and positive leadership are central to extraordinary performance. However, to date there has been little empirical analysis of the relationship between a leader's level of grit and their capacity to implement positive leadership strategies and practices. This correlational study explores these linkages, taking grit subfactors into consideration as well as three dimensions of positive leadership. Convenience sampling was used to survey 100 leaders across a range of industries. Respondents completed the Grit Scale and 18 questions from the Positive Leadership Practices Self-Assessment. Results indicated that grit positively correlated with positive leadership, and perseverance exhibited a stronger relationship than passion. Further, grit accounted for variance in positive leadership. These findings provide a solid evidence base for giving leaders access to development opportunities that can accelerate the growth of grit and positive leadership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Grit, resilience and a growth mindset are personal traits conducive to optimal learning and clinical readiness. These are important traits to consider with regards to whether a student thrives or struggles in challenging situations. Research with medical, nursing and pharmacy students demonstrates correlations of these traits with positive well‐being and academic success. No research has investigated the traits of resilience, grit and mindset type together in health professional students to explore whether they are related, and none have focused on physiotherapy students. Methods: Cross‐sectional study of final‐year physiotherapy students (n = 134) aiming to describe the levels of these personal traits and to determine whether they are related to each other or demographic factors. Results: A proportion of physiotherapy students have low levels of resilience (25%), low academic resilience (19%) and low levels of grittiness (13%). Grit and resilience were positively related (p < 0.001). A smaller fraction of students had a fixed mindset in relation to intelligence (7%) and talent (10%). Having a mental health condition or disability and the number of hours spent in paid employment were related to personal traits. Discussion: This is the first study to document empirical evidence of physiotherapy students' levels of grit, resilience and mindset type with a significant proportion of students having low levels of these attributes. Results have implications for clinical educators and universities seeking to improve student well‐being in order to facilitate effective learning. Institutions need to consider best‐practice approaches to managing and supporting these students to foster well‐being for effective learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Examined the relation between grit and motivation for academic goals. • Commonality analysis was used to examine overlap between self-regulatory traits. • Self-regulatory traits explain 9.9% of variance in autonomous motivation. • 50% of this variance was explained by the overlapping components of these traits. The purpose of the present research was to examine the predicative ability of both the unique and combined components of grit, trait self-control, and conscientiousness in the context of academic goal pursuit. Participants (n 1 = 163, n 2 = 551) were asked to complete assessments of each self-regulatory trait and reported their motivation for an academic goal. Together, grit, trait self-control, and conscientiousness explained 9.9% of the variance in academic goal motivation across both samples. Using commonality analysis, we found that the overlapping components of grit, trait self-control, and conscientiousness accounted for 49.6% of the explained variance (4.9% of the total variance), with the individual components each accounting for less than 20% (2% of the total variance). Implications for research on self-regulatory traits are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the streets of Ranchi, women driving pink autos with women passengers can be seen zipping across, showcasing a sense of freedom and contentment for both the drivers and the passengers. These female drivers are part of a new breed of women with immense zeal and determination who have been able to overcome the challenges posed by family and society. To be able to defeat such hurdles requires courage for not giving up, it requires grit. Grit is a personality trait within individuals who demonstrate passion and perseverance towards a long-term goal. Grit, therefore, fuels strength with self-regulation and involves directed effort, persistence and often delayed gratification. The case is an attempt to exemplify as to how changes in society can be brought about by individuals if they have the will and determination to succeed in their endeavour. The case is based on primary data, sourced through semi-structured interviews with the self-employed women taking up the occupation of auto-driving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show that grit, a skill that has been shown to be highly predictive of achievement, is malleable in childhood and can be fostered in the classroom environment. We evaluate a randomized educational intervention implemented in two independent elementary school samples. Outcomes are measured via a novel incentivized real-effort task and performance in standardized tests. We find that treated students are more likely to exert effort to accumulate task-specific ability and hence more likely to succeed. In a follow up 2.5 years after the intervention, we estimate an effect of about 0.2 standard deviations on a standardized math test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our first two experiments on adapting a high-structure course model to an essentially open-enrollment university produced negative or null results. Our third experiment, however, proved more successful: performance improved for all students, and a large achievement gap that impacted underrepresented minority students under traditional lecturing closed. Although the successful design included preclass preparation videos, intensive active learning in class, and weekly practice exams, student self-report data indicated that total study time decreased. Faculty who have the grit to experiment and persevere in making evidence-driven changes to their teaching can reduce the inequalities induced by economic and educational disadvantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to examine the effect of grit on foreign language performance (FLP) among middle school students. A mediated moderation model was constructed to assess the mediating role of foreign language enjoyment (FLE) and the moderating role of classroom environment (CE) in the relationship between grit and FLP. Methods: The study adopted the Grit Scale-Short Version, the Chinese Version of the FLE Scale, and the English CE Inventory to investigate 832 middle school students, and recorded the students' FLP in their final exam after 1 month. Correlation and regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationships between grit, FLE, CE, and FLP. Results: The results indicated that grit positively affected FLP. In addition, FLE mediated the relationship between grit and FLP, and CE moderated the relationship between grit and FLE, and between grit and FLP. Conclusion: Grit not only directly promotes the FLP of middle school students but also indirectly improves FLP by promoting FLE. In addition, the impact of grit on FLE and FLP increases in a positive CE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study sought to examine the prevalence and correlates of grit in a sample of Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) in Baltimore, Maryland. Methods: A trained research assistant administered the Short‐Grit and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES‐D) scales and surveyed participants of a community‐based behavioral health intervention for demographic, health, and sexual behaviors. Results: Of 239 participants, two‐thirds scored in the high grit category. A greater proportion of men with high grit demonstrated higher educational attainment, were employed in the prior 6 months, reported very good/excellent health, were human immunodeficiency virus‐positive, scored < 16 on the CES‐D, and had more friends who were gay. After controlling for other variables, high grit was associated with higher odds of having more friends who are gay and lower odds of alcohol use, unemployment, and a high CES‐D score. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that grit could be an important mechanism upon which to focus health and behavioral interventions for BMSM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scratch tests are useful techniques to gain insight into the material removal mechanism of abrasive machining processes. In most of the scratch tests, uncut chip thickness value is either constant or varies from zero to maximum. However, in abrasive machining processes, uncut chip thickness value ranges from either zero to maximum or vice versa. Moreover, regular scratch tests are conducted at very low speeds, in which either the indenter or the workpiece is stationary. Because of these limitations, the knowledge obtained from the existing scratch test results is not valid for most of the abrasive processes. Hence, in this paper, the influence of chip thickness variation, speed ratio, and depth of cut on the pile-up behaviour of AISI 1015 steel and 2017A-T4 aluminium alloy surfaces were investigated. The workpiece having the comparable thermal diffusivity value with the grit has shown a significant difference in its pile-up behaviour. Through a better understanding of chip thickness influence on pile-up ratio, a mathematical model was developed for kinematic simulations. Using the developed model, kinematic simulations were done to visualise the scratch surface topography and material pile-up by considering the grit trajectory path and chip thickness variation. Finally, simulated surfaces were compared with the experimental results to show the proposed method applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Grit refers to determination to achieve long term goals of life despite of unfavorable and unavoidable circumstances. It is implicated as the energetic working to challenges, along with preserving efforts and interests over the time, in-spite of facing barriers, hardships, and failures in the way of progress. The construct of grit comprises of two dimensions: consistency of interests and perseverance of effort. The grit scale by Duckworth, Peterson, Matthews, and Kelly (2007) is originally developed to measure grit among Ivy League undergraduates. In present study researcher made an attempt to explore whether this two-factor model of grit to Indian sample. Method: The alternative model of grit was tested by employing confirmatory factory analysis (CFA) in AMOS 19.0. For this purpose, maximum likelihood techniques were used. 530 senior secondary school students from Himachal Pradesh, Northern India, completed the 12- item survey of grit. Results: The confirmatory factor analysis of the grit revealed that the 12 item, two factor model of grit determines a good fit model on the Indian sample. The results revealed that the grit scale possesses a good psychometric property on Indian sample which is evident from calculated internal consistency and composite reliability. The results also revealed that the grit scale have a good construct validity, as calculated AVE of all the factor was 0.50. Conclusion: From the analysis it is evident that the grit scale possesses adequate psychometric properties in Indian sample. The instrument of grit can be considered as a unitary construct in the developing country like India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychological factors such as grit and self-efficacy have been heralded as powerful predictors of performance. Their joint contribution to the prediction of early adolescents' school success has not been fully investigated, however. The purpose of this study was to examine U.S. elementary and middle school students' (N = 2,430) grit (assessed as perseverance of effort) and self-efficacy, and their predictive relationship with achievement and teacher-rated motivation and competence in reading and math across one school year. Scalar invariance was found for grit and self-efficacy measures across school level, gender, and SES. Older students and students from lower SES reported significantly lower grit and self-efficacy. Girls reported higher grit and reading self-efficacy. Grit was correlated positively with self-efficacy (.37 ≤ r ≤ .66), modestly with teacher ratings in reading and math (.14 ≤ r ≤ .25), and weakly or uncorrelated with achievement (.03 ≤ r ≤ .13). Self-efficacy was positively related to all outcomes (.21 ≤ r ≤ .36). SEM indicated that subject-specific self-efficacy was positively related, and grit weakly or unrelated, to reading and math achievement, controlling for grade level, gender, SES, and prior achievement. An examination of competing mediation models revealed that self-efficacy partially or fully mediated the relationship between grit and school outcomes. Conversely, little evidence supported grit as a mediator of self-efficacy's relationship to outcomes. Time-lagged models across one school year confirmed these conclusions. Findings imply that, to improve student performance, teachers should target students' self-efficacy rather than grit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been proven that micro-geometry of abrasive grits can influence the maximum cutting depth, thereby strongly affecting the material removal mechanism in grinding of brittle materials. The influence of grit micro-geometry on subsurface integrity, however, is not yet fully understood. In this paper, we aim to understand how grit micro-geometry affects subsurface damage and the material removal volume. An analytical model that takes into account grit micro-geometry and the intrinsic material removal mechanism is developed for predictions of material removal volume and subsurface damage. Results show that increasing the apex angle or grit tip radius tend to deteriorate subsurface integrity by extending the depth of subsurface damage. Moreover, it is found that the grit tip radius strongly affects the ductile-to-brittle transition in one grit pass along the contact trajectory. If ductile-to-brittle transition occurs in a grit pass with the brittle mode dominated, the predictive model indicates that the material removal volume decreases with an increasing apex angle or edge radius of abrasives. On the other hand, non-monotonic dependence of material removal volume on grit micro-geometry turns up for ductile-material removal in grinding of brittle materials. The predictive model is validated qualitatively and quantitatively, demonstrating good agreement with earlier reports. The proposed predictive model enables making proper choice of highly engineered abrasives in grinding of brittle materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steamed corn grits, or nasi jagung, is an indigenous, corn-based product, which is usually used to substitute rice, particularly in the central part of Java and Madura regions, Indonesia. However, there is limited information regarding the preparation of partially cooked corn grits (PCCG). The objective of the present work was therefore to compare the preparation of PCCG in terms of characteristics and time of preparation using optimised initial moisture content in the traditional process with optimised corn particle size, initial moisture content and processing temperature of the improved process. Water absorption index (WAI), water solubility index (WSI), yellowness index (YI), and resistant starch (RS) of dried PCCG, as well as textural properties of rehydrated PCCG, were compared between optimised PCCG prepared using traditional and improved processes to obtain the best PCCG. Results showed that the optimum initial moisture content to prepare PCCG by the traditional process was approximately 40%. The optimum conditions to prepare PCCG by the improved process were 300 μm corn particle size, 52.33% initial moisture content and 123.67°C processing temperature. PCCG prepared using the improved process had higher values of YI (99.51) and RS (3.65 g/100 g) but lower WAI value (3.74) than YI (95.78), RS (1.96 g/100 g) and WAI (3.96) of PCCG prepared using the traditional process. The textural properties of rehydrated PCCG, except for adhesiveness and cohesiveness, prepared using the improved process were not different from those of PCCG prepared using the traditional process. The improved process also had a shorter preparation time of PCCG, which was 4-6 h as compared to normally 3-4 d in the traditional process. Therefore, a more rapid process with more consistent qualities for preparing PCCG will be of benefit to the target population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to determine the mediation effects of hope and grit in the relationship between human rights damage and self-esteem. A sample of students was recruited from two universities in Korea. For data analysis, SPSS PC+ and SPSS PROCESS macro were used. Frequency, reliability, correlation and mediating effect analysis were performed. Bootstrap technique was done to verify the mediating effect. Results showed as follows. First, grit, self-esteem and hope were negatively correlated with human rights damage, but grit, self-esteem and hope were positively correlated with each other. Second, hope and grit mediated in the relationship between human rights damage and self-esteem. For further research, it was discussed how university students who experienced human rights abuses could use grit and hope to maintain their lowered self-esteem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construct grit originates from positive psychology and describes an individual’s tendency to persistently pursue long-term goals despite challenges or obstacles. Previous research has shown that domain-general grit is a predictor of educational and vocational success. The present research aimed to establish and validate a German version of the Short Grit Scale by Duckworth and Quinn (2009), named the BISS-8 (Beharrlichkeit and Beständiges Interesse) Scale, and to test for the domain specificity of grit in an educational context. We conducted three studies to investigate the BISS-8 Scale: in Study 1 (N = 525 university students) confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) replicated a two-dimensional higher-order structure for the scale. Study 2 (N = 173 university students) investigated the correlations of grit with external criteria such as grade point average (GPA), generalized self-efficacy, general academic self-concept, and personality traits. Finally, in Study 3 (N = 271 high school students), we found differential correlations with school achievement for domain-specific grit. Moreover, the validity of the BISS-8 Scale was also supported for adolescents by replicating the measurement model. All in all, our results indicate the validity of the BISS-8 Scale and show the importance to account for grit in different domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed the effect of grit blasting pressures on resin cement to zirconia (ZrO2) adhesion using enclosed mold shear bond test (EM-SBS). ZrO2 blanks were pre-treated with Rocatec™ Soft as follows: group 1: control, group 2: specimens treated at 80 kPa, group 3: at 180 kPa, group 4: at 280 kPa, and group 5: at 380 kPa. Monobond® N and Multilink® Speed were used as the silane and resin cement, respectively. Next, the blanks were assigned into three sub-groups (n=8, N=108) according to storage conditions. A non-linear relation was observed between EM-SBS and contact angle versus grit blasting pressure (r=-0.542, p=0.01). According to ANOVA (p<0.05), the EM-SBS values with both 180 kPa (17.4±6.7 MPa) and 280 kPa (19.4±4.8 MPa) were statistically higher after 12,000 thermo-cycles. Relatively equal thermo-cycled bond strength might also be achieved with intermediate (180 kPa) grit blasting pressure instead of the recommended 280 kPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes association between purpose and grit among students in three universities of the U.S. It is noted that grit is an aspect of character which can be defined as perseverance and passion for longterm goals and can be linked with outcomes like academic achievement in college students and educational attainment among adults.

This study investigates how grit, perseverance in the face of challenges and focus on achieving goals, relates to identity development and how identity development mediates the relationship between grit and well-being. Emerging adult college students (N = 232) indicated their grit, identity status, and well-being by completing an online questionnaire. Grit-perseverance of effort was associated with all identity statuses. Grit-consistency of interest was associated most identity statuses. Commitment and ruminative exploration mediated the relationship between grit and happiness and self-esteem, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Grit is a personality trait that affords individuals the ability to push through challenging circumstances, suggesting tolerance of negative affect. In contrast, individuals with disordered eating are motivated to avoid negative affect. We speculated whether grit would buffer against disordered eating attitudes and behaviors, and conducted two studies to address this query. Method: Study 1 (N = 137) had participants from eating disorder treatment centers (n = 52) and adults from the community (n = 85). Disordered eating was assessed using the Eating Disorder Inventory. In Study 2, we tested whether emotion regulation strategy (i.e., cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression) as an individual differences variable influenced the relation between grit and disordered eating within a community sample (N = 212). Disordered eating was assessed via the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire. In both studies, Grit-Consistency and Grit-Perseverance were measured using the Short Grit Scale. Results: Study 1 revealed that Grit–Consistency, not Grit–Perseverance, was associated with lower bulimia and body dissatisfaction scores. Further, moderation analysis indicated that this relation was consistent for both the clinical and community samples. Findings from Study 2 demonstrated that Grit–Consistency was inversely correlated with shape and weight concerns. Moderation regression analysis showed that elevated levels of expressive suppression attenuated the relation between Grit-Consistency and disordered eating. Discussion: Our work provides evidence that Grit-Consistency buffers against disordered eating. But elevated use of expressive suppression, a maladaptive emotion regulation strategy, eliminates the benefits of grit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Previous research investigating the relations between grit and academic achievement has mostly relied on cross-sectional design, and less is known about the direction of these effects. Based on social cognitive theory, this longitudinal study investigated the reciprocal relations between overall grit, as well as the two aspects of grit, perseverance of effort (PE) and consistency of interest (CI), and academic achievement among 193 Chinese primary school students. Results indicated reciprocal effects between overall grit and academic achievement, but PE and CI showed differential roles. Specifically, PE at Time 1 accounted for 2.3% variance in academic achievement at Time 2 after controlling students' age, family SES, self-control and previous academic achievement. Reverse relation was found that previous achievement level contributed to later PE development. However, CI failed to predict academic achievement and vice versa. These findings reveal a mutually reinforcing pattern between PE and academic achievement and elucidate the sociocognitive attributes of grit. Highlights • Grit and academic achievement were examined in a longitudinal study. • The subjects were elementary school students in grades four, five and six. • The results showed reciprocal relations between grit and academic achievement. • Only perseverance but not consistency facet of grit had significant effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract After a decade of research, grit has been linked to many adaptive outcomes for adolescents and the development of school-based interventions for promoting adolescents' grit has been recommended. However, a reconceptualization of grit and its measurement may be vital for future grit research and application. The currently predominant grit assessments may be inappropriate for youth populations, yielding evidence of low psychometric properties and variable criterion-related validity. In a sample of adolescents (N = 757) in sixth to eighth grade, the current study investigated the psychometric properties of the Academic Grit Scale, a novel measure of domain-specific grit. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed a single-factor structure of the Academic Grit Scale, and evidence of high internal consistency reliability and construct validity was observed. Results indicated positive associations between academic grit and academic achievement, life satisfaction, and school satisfaction. Furthermore, academic grit demonstrated incremental validity above and beyond that of general grit in association with these outcomes. Implications of the findings are discussed, including the potential to inform applied practices in schools and future empirical investigations. Highlights • The current study investigates the novel and domain-specific Academic Grit Scale. • The Academic Grit Scale demonstrated evidence of reliability and validity. • Academic grit predicted adolescents' academic grit, school satisfaction, and life satisfaction. • Academic grit demonstrated evidence of incremental validity beyond general grit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation is to examine the way in which morality, positive affect and negative affect plays a necessary and integral role in intuitive moral responses, reflective judgments and as factor of grit and zest. For this 240 participants of first and final year undergraduate and post graduate students both male and female were recruited from age range between 18- 25 years. Standardized tools were used for data collection for the respective variables. The qualitative and quantitative methods were used to collect and analyze the collected data. However, thoughts distortions, judgment and more reflective thought processes likewise play a crucial role, and in fact are inseparable from affective processes. Hence, the variable proved to be having a serviceable impact on grit and zest of the students in various aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Highlights • Little is known about how school cultures help or hinder grit. • Perceiving the school culture to be mastery-structured predicted increases in grit and, in turn, rank-order increases in report card grades. • The effect of performance-structured aspects of school culture on grit and grades were less clear. Abstract Grit, the inclination to pursue long-term goals with passion and perseverance, predicts academic achievement and professional success, but how to encourage grit in students remains an open question. The goal of the current study was to understand how perceptions of school culture influence the development of grit in middle school students. We conducted a year-long, prospective, longitudinal study (N = 1277) examining grit, perceived goal structures (mastery vs. performance), and academic achievement. In cross-sectional analyses, we found that students who perceived their schools as more mastery goal-oriented were grittier and earned higher report card grades. In contrast, students who perceived their schools as more performance goal-oriented were less gritty and earned lower report card grades. In longitudinal analyses, changes in perceived mastery school goal structure predicted changes in grit over the school year, which in turn predicted changes in grades. Changes in perceived performance school goal structure, in contrast, did not reliably predict changes in grit. These findings suggest that school environments that emphasize the value of learning for learning's sake may encourage children to sustain interest in and effort toward long-term goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to undertake the transcultural adaptation and validation of the Short Grit Scale (Grit-S) to measure university students’ levels of perseverance and passion for achieving long-term goals. To accomplish this, the Grit-S scale was linguistically and culturally adapted from English to Spanish via the Translation, Review, Adjudication, Pre-testing and Documentation method. After that, the adapted scale was administered to a convenience sample of 1,129 university students comprised of 29.6% males and 70.4% females with a mean age of 21, and finally, its psychometric properties were analysed and compared to the original version. The results reveal acceptable values for the internal consistency of the total scale (α = .71) and outstanding fit indexes for the proposed two-factor structural model (i.e., Consistency of Interest and Perseverance of Effort) (RMSEA = .041, CFI = .96), and the parameters of transcultural adaptation were similar to those in its original version. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research looked at the importance of the concept of grit in University students based on a mixed-method approach. Study 1 comprised 440 University students. All were given the Grit Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, the short Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, the Office of National Statistics Well-being items and the Self-Control Scale. Levels of grit were significantly higher in female students, older students and postgraduates. Grit correlated highest with self-control. Study 2 looked at 340 University students. In addition to measuring self-control, mental well-being and grit, measures of resilience and mindsets were also added. A construct validity test of the Grit Scale showed that high grit scorers had significantly higher levels of self-control and mental well-being, were more resilient and were more likely to have a more growth oriented mindset. Grit varies with age and is most closely associated with the concept of self-control. The third study was a qualitative investigation with 10 successful graduates. Semi-structured interviews were coded using thematic analysis. Three broad themes emerged. The first, Passion and Perseverance, included themes of having short and long terms goals, resilience, dedication, and endurance. The second, Self-Control, included time management, self-awareness, prioritizing tasks and knowing strengths and weaknesses. The third theme identified was Positive Mindsets. This included having a positive attitude toward learning, the importance of feedback and constructive criticism and that success is not materialistic. The qualitative research has helped “unpack” concepts from the grit research and may enable University tutors to guide students better. Though these studies were only conducted in one English University, they have been stepping stones in our quest to discover what are the most important factors in determining student academic success? The development and piloting of our new Uni-Stride Scale, is the next step in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]