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As higher education has made the transition from elite to mass enrolments, the student body has become more diverse and online and blended learning have become more common. This study aimed to examine the impacts on attrition of admitting a more diverse student body with the shift towards online and blended learning. A hypothesised path model of attrition was tested with structural equation modelling. The model contained four presage variables related to the changed demographic of the student body and alternative modes of study; attendance mode, admission basis, remoteness and socio-economics status. There were two intervening variables; age and year of study. The two outcome variables were dropout and GPA value. The model was tested against a large sample of data from a student record system of a regional Australian university. The model showed a good fit to the data predicting that the expansion of higher education, along with the increasing use of online and blended learning, will impact on attrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let g be a hyperbolic Kac-Moody algebra of rank 2, and set λ = Λ 1 − Λ 2 , where Λ 1 , Λ 2 are the fundamental weights. Denote by V (λ) the extremal weight module of extremal weight λ with v λ the extremal weight vector, and by B (λ) the crystal basis of V (λ) with u λ the element corresponding to v λ. We prove that (i) B (λ) is connected, (ii) the subset B (λ) μ of elements of weight μ in B (λ) is a finite set for every integral weight μ, and B (λ) λ = { u λ } , (iii) every extremal element in B (λ) is contained in the Weyl group orbit of u λ , (iv) V (λ) is irreducible. Finally, we prove that the crystal basis B (λ) is isomorphic, as a crystal, to the crystal B (λ) of Lakshmibai-Seshadri paths of shape λ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficacy beliefs have been suggested to protect children from many risky health behaviors. However, the relationships between parent-child dyads' coping and efficacy beliefs are not clear. Therefore, this study examined the relationships between parent-child dyads' coping patterns and their association with collective family efficacy, adolescent filial efficacy, parenting efficacy, family satisfaction, depressive symptoms, and parents' perceived adolescent health risks. Guided by the Bandura's efficacy framework, we surveyed 158 parent-adolescent dyads from the midwestern U.S. on coping, collective family efficacy, adolescent filial efficacy, family satisfaction, parenting efficacy, depressive symptoms, and parent perceived adolescent health risks. Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, multiple regression, and path modeling were performed. Parent-adolescent dyads spiritual coping was positively correlated, but other coping subscales were not. The path models revealed that adolescents collective family and filial efficacy were positively related to their overall coping. Adolescent family satisfaction both directly and indirectly protected adolescents from depressive symptoms. Parents' parenting efficacy and family satisfaction were directly and indirectly associated with lower parents' perceived adolescent health risks. It seems that parents' constructive coping mechanisms were more collective-focused, while adolescents' coping strategies were more individual-focused (venting and humor). Promoting parent-adolescent dyads' efficacy beliefs could enhance their coping strategies and minimize depressive symptoms and adolescent health risks. adolescents' collective coping mechanisms (self-reliance and family problem solving) can be promoted within the family context. In fact, when helping adolescents develop family problem solving skills, it is important to consider parents' ability/efficacy and their emotional status. • Although parent-adolescent dyads' spiritual coping was positively correlated, other coping subscales were not • The path models revealed that adolescents' collective family and filial efficacy were positively related to their overall coping. • Adolescent family satisfaction direct and indirectly protects adolescents from depressive symptoms. • Parents' parenting efficacy and family satisfaction are directly and indirectly associated with lower perceived adolescent health risks. • Compared to parents, adolescents' overall coping strategies were highly influenced by their perceived efficacy beliefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the relationship among some environmental factors and research attitude of post-graduate students in Nigeria using a path model approach. The researchers were poised at filling the gap in the type of multivariate statistical tools that have hitherto been used in comparing these variables by authors in the research area. One research question was formulated to guide the study. Survey research design was adopted for the study. The study area, which was south-south Nigeria, is one of the geo-political zones in the country with six federal universities. The population of the study was made up of 1,299 post graduate students of education faculties in the six universities. A sample of 520 students (40% of the population) was selected for the study through stratified random sampling method. The study instrument was a questionnaire titled Environmental and Attitude variables Questionnaire (EAVQ) prepared by the researchers. Result of the study showed that 14 out of 15 pathways in the hypothesized model for the relationship between environmental variables and research attitudewere significant and meaningful, withfive direct and nine indirect pathways. Based on the finding, the study recommends an improvement in those environmental factors to bring about corresponding improvement in research attitude. The study suggests that a study of the relationship between other environmental variables not included in this study on graduate students‟ research attitude in federal universities in south-south Nigeria should be carried out by future researchers. Such research can be extended to cover more geo-political zones in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatigue is a common and disabling symptom in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS). Its pathogenesis, however, is still not fully understood. Potential psychological roots, in particular, have received little attention to date. The present study examined the association of childhood adversities, specific trait characteristics, and MS disease characteristics with fatigue symptoms utilizing path analysis. Five hundred and seventy-one PwMS participated in an online survey. Standardized psychometric tools were applied. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) served to assess childhood adversities. Trait variables were alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale; TAS-26) and early maladaptive schemas (Young Schema Questionnaire; YSQ). Current pathology comprised depression (Beck’s Depression Inventory FastScreen; BDI-FS) and anxiety symptoms (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; STAI-state), as well as physical disability (Patient determined Disease Steps; PDDS). The Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions (FSMC) was the primary outcome variable measuring fatigue. PwMS displayed high levels of fatigue and depression (mean FSMC score: 72; mean BDI-II score: 18). The final path model revealed that CTQ emotional neglect and emotional abuse remained as the only significant childhood adversity variables associated with fatigue. There were differential associations for the trait variables and current pathology: TAS-26, the YSQ domain impaired autonomy and performance, as well as all current pathology measures had direct effects on fatigue symptoms, accounting for 28.2% of the FSMC variance. Bayesian estimation also revealed indirect effects from the two CTQ subscales on FSMC. The final model fitted the data well, also after a cross-validation check and after replacing the FSMC with the Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire (CFQ). This study suggests an association psychological factors on fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis. Childhood adversities, as well as specific trait characteristics, seem to be associated with current pathology and fatigue symptoms. The article discusses potential implications and limitations.

The motivation of this study is to analyze the impact of corporate culture, management commitment, and Human resources management on operational performance and the mediating effect on those relationships from JIT implementation. A questionnaire-based survey was used to investigate the research questions. Data from a sample of 410 manufacturing plants were analyzed using a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) procedure. Study findings unveil direct effect running from corporate culture, management commitment, HRM, and JIT to operational performance. Considering the indirect effect i.e. the mediating role of JIT, findings suggesting that there is partial mediation available in the estimation. On the other hand, the direct effects of corporate culture, management commitment, and HRM on JIT is positive and statistically significant. It is advocated that the effective implementation of JIT in manufacturing units can contribute to increasing operational performance side by side the presence of other key organizational attributes.

This study examines the willingness to consume a cultured meat burger in Germany. Based on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), we assessed attitudes, perceived behavioural control, and subjective norms via an online questionnaire. Attitudes were operationalized in this research as general attitudes towards cultured meat and specific attitudes towards a cultured meat burger. Furthermore, the TPB was extended with nutritional-psychological variables including food (technology) neophobia, food disgust, sensation seeking, and green consumption values. In total, 58.4% of the participants reported being willing to consume a cultured meat burger. Using a path model, the extended TPB accounted for 77.8% of the variance in willingness to consume a cultured meat burger. All components of the TPB were significant predictors except general attitudes. The influence of general attitudes was completely mediated by specific attitudes. All nutritional-psychological variables influenced general attitudes. Food technology neophobia was the strongest negative, and green consumption values were the strongest positive predictor of general attitudes. Marketing strategies should therefore target the attitudes of consumers by encouraging the natural perception of cultured meat, using a less technological product name, enabling transparency about the production, and creating a dialogue about both the fears and the environmental benefits of the new technology.

Water table affects litter decomposition in wetlands, but its effects on the degradation of cellulose and lignin are poorly understood. We performed a decomposition experiment in Poyang Lake Wetland, to determine how water table affected the degradation of cellulose and lignin. After 60 days of decomposition at a site with a relatively highly water table, 46.19% of initial cellulose and 41.95% of initial lignin remained. Decay rates of both cellulose and lignin increased as the depth of the water table increased. Principle component analysis showed that the decay rates of cellulose and lignin increased with increasing soil pH, but decreased with increasing contents of clay and fungi: bacteria ratio. The path model accounted for 66% and 79% of the variation in cellulose and lignin decay rates, respectively, and considered the effects of interactions between the water table and related factors. The cellulose decay rate was affected by the water table with a direct coefficient of 0.47, and an indirect coefficient of 0.65, but the lignin decay rate was indirectly affected by water table (coefficient, 1.25) and directly affected by soil property (coefficient, 0.67). Thus, the water table affected the decomposition of cellulose and lignin via different mechanisms.

Body size, trophic position (TP), and trophic niche width are important elements of food webs; however, there is still debate regarding their interrelationships. Most studies have tested these correlations using datasets restricted to carnivores and bivariate models that disregard potential indirect effects of other factors, their interactions, and phylogeny. We analyzed relationships among TP, consumer size, maximum food item size, food item size variation (a proxy for trophic niche width), and two other traits (gut length and mouth width) using confirmatory path analysis of an extensive dataset for freshwater fishes that encompass both carnivorous and non-carnivorous species. Consumer size was associated with maximum food size, food size variation, mouth width, and gut length, all of which mediated indirect relationships between body size and TP. Mouth gape was associated with maximum food size, and consumers that fed on larger food items had higher TP. Consumers with relatively long guts generally fed on small and homogeneous food items near the base of the food web. Models were consistent whether or not accounting for phylogeny, but varied according to trophic guilds. However, the body size of both carnivorous and non-carnivorous was not directly associated with TP. Therefore, the incorporation of functional traits and their intermediate pathways is critical for understanding size-based trophic relationships of animals that encompass diverse feeding strategies. Our results caution approaches that rely on body size as a surrogate for TP, especially in systems where plants and detritus are consumed directly by a significant number of animals, such as in most freshwater ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to explore nonclinical predictors of cesarean sections (CS) and how they interact with each other, specifically in Turkey. Data was gathered from official statistical records for the year 2017 from the 81 different provinces throughout Turkey. A path analytic model was constructed to examine the interrelationships between socioeconomic factors, utilization of health services, patient satisfaction, and number of CS procedures. The overall performance of the final path model was quite good (GFI = 0.98, AGFI = 0.93, and CFI = 0.96). The study results emphasize the substantial impact of an increase in the number of hospital admissions on the increase in the rate of CS procedures (PC = 0.70). Additionally, the increase in the number of hospital admissions mediates the interrelationship between geographic region, high education, and CS. The findings demonstrate the significant interrelationships among the several major nonclinical predictors of CS in Turkey.Impact StatementWhat is already known on this subject? There has been a considerable increase in the rate of CS in Turkey and the current study examined the nonclinical predictors of CS, and how they interact with each other, specifically in Turkey. The insights developed by this study are due to its scope and topicality. Although of course clinical factors associated with CS are reflected in the literature, this study focused on nonclinical predictors of CS.What the results of this study add? This study empirically clarifies the causal interrelationships among nonclinical predictors of CS, using data from Turkey where CS rates are very high, causing great concern by health professionals and decision-makers. The results of this study provide a stronger understanding of how nonclinical factors relate to CS in Turkey. Significant factors include the connective role of geographic region, the increasingly high level of education being received by women, and the total number of hospital admissions.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Study results empirically prove interconnection among geographic region, education, health services utilisation and the number of CS. Health decision makers need to consider the important indirect effects of region, education and number of hospital admissions on the demand for CS procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social identity theory proposes that people define themselves in terms of the social groups they belong to or aspire to belong to. Tobacco smoking and alcohol use in men have been hypothesized to be symbolic of adult male status. The current study examines whether adolescent personality characteristics linked to masculinity and nonconformity are associated with tobacco smoking and alcohol misuse in men. Methods: The analysis is based on the results of a cross-sectional study conducted in 2018 on a stratified, random sample of 703 adult male residents of Warsaw, Poland, with elementary- and secondary-school education. All survey data were collected through a paper-and-pencil questionnaire. A path model is employed to examine the direct and indirect effects of adolescent characteristics on tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption. Results: According to the path model, retrospective perceptions of self-reported character strength, rebellion against unjustified prohibitions and rules, ease in making decisions, willingness to differ from others, and interest in the opposite gender in adolescence had a significant direct effect on tobacco smoking in adolescence and a significant indirect effect on tobacco smoking in adulthood. The variables representing character strength, rebellion against unjustified prohibitions and rules, ease in making decisions, and interest in the opposite gender in adolescence also showed a significant direct effect on alcohol use in adolescence. Conclusion: Masculinity and nonconformity were related to addictive behaviors in men, which might have health policy implications. In this paper, associating traditional masculinity with health orientation in society is proposed as a possible preventive intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatigue is a common and disabling symptom in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS). Its pathogenesis, however, is still not fully understood. Potential psychological roots, in particular, have received little attention to date. The present study examined the association of childhood adversities, specific trait characteristics, and MS disease characteristics with fatigue symptoms utilizing path analysis. Five hundred and seventy-one PwMS participated in an online survey. Standardized psychometric tools were applied. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) served to assess childhood adversities. Trait variables were alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale; TAS-26) and early maladaptive schemas (Young Schema Questionnaire; YSQ). Current pathology comprised depression (Beck's Depression Inventory FastScreen; BDI-FS) and anxiety symptoms (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; STAI-state), as well as physical disability (Patient determined Disease Steps; PDDS). The Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions (FSMC) was the primary outcome variable measuring fatigue. PwMS displayed high levels of fatigue and depression (mean FSMC score: 72; mean BDI-II score: 18). The final path model revealed that CTQ emotional neglect and emotional abuse remained as the only significant childhood adversity variables associated with fatigue. There were differential associations for the trait variables and current pathology: TAS-26, the YSQ domain impaired autonomy and performance, as well as all current pathology measures had direct effects on fatigue symptoms, accounting for 28.2% of the FSMC variance. Bayesian estimation also revealed indirect effects from the two CTQ subscales on FSMC. The final model fitted the data well, also after a cross-validation check and after replacing the FSMC with the Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire (CFQ). This study suggests an association psychological factors on fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis. Childhood adversities, as well as specific trait characteristics, seem to be associated with current pathology and fatigue symptoms. The article discusses potential implications and limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individual differences in social-emotional functioning emerge early and have long-term implications for developmental adaptation and competency. Research is needed that specifies multiple early risk factors and outcomes simultaneously to demonstrate specificity. Using multigroup longitudinal path analysis in a sample of typically developing children (N = 541), we examined child temperament dimensions (surgency, negative affectivity, and regulation/effortful control) and maternal anxiety in infancy and age 2 as predictors of child externalizing, internalizing, dysregulation, and competence behaviors at age 3. Four primary patterns emerged. First, there was stability in temperament dimensions and maternal anxiety from infancy to age 3. Second, negative affectivity was implicated in internalizing problems and surgency in externalizing problems. Third, effortful control at age 2 was a potent mediator of maternal anxiety in infancy on age 3 outcomes. Fourth, there was suggestive evidence for transactional effects between maternal anxiety and child effortful control. Most pathways operated similarly for boys and girls, with some differences, particularly for surgency. These findings expand our understanding of the roles of specific temperamental domains and postnatal maternal anxiety in a range of social-emotional outcomes in the preschool period, and have implications for efforts to enhance the development of young children's social-emotional functioning and reduce risk for later psychopathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study examines the relationship between social inclusion and the marital status of individuals. The family is interpreted as an integration-based institution affecting satisfaction. Through the interpretation of the integration function of the family, we examine whether the individuals' life satisfaction is determined by their current marital status and what factors influence and explain the satisfaction with life in a post-socialist country a quarter of a century after the change of regime. Indeed, life satisfaction is one of the strongest social inclusion factors, so in our analysis, we seek to find out whether the different forms of coexistence (marriage, partnership, widowhood, divorced marital status) influence the level of satisfaction of individuals and what gender and other demographic and environmental features determine this the most. The study employs the database from the 'Integration and disintegration processes in Hungarian society' research. The sample contains 2687 people. The sample is nationally representative of gender, age, educational background, type of settlement, and region. The survey was made in 2015 with the support of OTKA (Hungarian Scientific Research Fund Programs). Through our path model analyses, we have proved that in society in Hungary the current marital status of individuals does not affect their satisfaction with life; rather, it is the quality of the cooperative spaces people live in, that is, primarily, the quality of their family relationships and their immediate living environment, and as a weaker but measurable impact, their subjectively perceived personal social prestige that does. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Evidence is needed for designing interventions to address health literacy–related issues among adults with prediabetes to reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This study assessed health literacy and behaviors among US adults with prediabetes and the mediating role of health literacy on health behaviors. Methods: We used data from the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) (N = 54 344 adults). The BRFSS health literacy module included 3 questions on levels of difficulty in obtaining information, understanding health care providers, and comprehending written information. We defined low health literacy as a response of "somewhat difficult" or "very difficult" to at least 1 of these 3 questions. Respondents self-reported their prediabetes status. We included 3 health behavior indicators available in the BRFSS survey—current smoking, physical inactivity, and inadequate sleep, all measured as binary outcomes (yes/no). We used a path analysis to examine pathways among prediabetes, health literacy, and health behaviors. Results: About 1 in 5 (19.0%) adults with prediabetes had low health literacy. The rates of physical inactivity (31.0% vs 24.6%, P <.001) and inadequate sleep (38.8% vs 33.5%, P <.001) among adults with prediabetes were significantly higher than among adults without prediabetes. The path analysis showed a significant direct effect of prediabetes and health literacy on health behaviors. The indirect effect of prediabetes through health literacy on health behaviors was also significant. Conclusion: BRFSS data from 2016 showed that rates of low health literacy and unhealthy behaviors were higher among adults with prediabetes than among adults without prediabetes. Interventions are needed to assist adults with prediabetes in comprehending, communicating about, and managing health issues to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In this study, we focus on path modelling to identify the risk factors of diabetes mellitus types 2. Risk factors considered were age, fasting glucose level, hypertension, BMI, systolic blood pressure, HDL cholesterol and family history of CHD (coronary heart disease). Design: Retrospective study design. Materials and Methods: Path analysis is the application of structural equation modelling without latent variable. This study was conducted using AMOS software to investigate the risk factor of diabetes mellitus types 2 based on specific indirect effect, and direct effects variables in the model. Results: From the results show the risk factors deemed to have a direct statistically significant effect on diabetes mellitus type 2 are HDL Cholesterol (-0.053, p = 0.015), Fasting glucose level (0.705, p = 0.001), Hypertension (0.058, p = 0.008) and BMI (0.059, p = 0.008). There are specific indirect effects on diabetes mellitus type 2 patients such as Family history of CHD (0.103, p = < 0.001), Systolic blood pressure (0.049, p = < 0.001), BMI (0.152, p = < 0.001) and hypertension (0.076, p = < 0.001). Conclusion: The findings of this study emphasize the need for attempts to prevent and early diagnose the disease focusing on the top modifiable factors that may increase the risk of diabetes mellitus type 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endometriosis have a negative influence on women's sexual life. The aim of the current study was to test a conceptual model considering the interrelated role of anxiety, depression, sleep quality, physical activity, BMI, stage of endometriosis, the intensity of dyspareunia and pelvic pain on sexual function (SF) in infertile women with endometriosis. Also test the mediating role of sleep quality, anxiety, and depression.Method: In the present cross-sectional study, 220 infertile women with a laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis were recruited. Data were collected using a socio-demographic checklist, Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Visual Analog Scale (VAS).Results: We found that anxiety, depression, sleep quality, BMI, level of education, stage of endometriosis, and dyspareunia have a direct effect on women's SF. In our study, sleep quality, anxiety, pelvic pain, and depression were the four major mediators that the higher scores lead to a decrease in the SF of endometriosis patients. The intensity of pelvic pain with an effect on sleep quality (SQ) and dyspareunia change women's SF. The lower level of physical activity, and higher BMI with indirect effect thorough anxiety, and SQ can worsen SF. Also, a higher level of anxiety leads to poor SQ and depression. Anxiety with both direct and indirect effect impress women's SF.Conclusion: It seems that the main risk factors for sexual dysfunction in women with endometriosis are higher rates of anxiety, depression, poor sleep quality, pelvic pain, and dyspareunia. In the care of women with endometriosis, not only laparoscopy and medical treatment should be performed but also psychotherapeutic and psychosexual help should be offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Impact of childhood travel and residential location experiences on weekly number of public transport trips. • Path model shows dominance of current pro-car travel attitude. • Childhood experience is influential indirectly through perceptions and attitudes. • Perceptions, attitudes, SED and path dependency affect public transport demand. • Targeting policy at changing attitudes might be more effective than targeting change per se. Mobility policies and planning need evidence to target individuals effectively in moving to more sustainable transport behaviour outcomes where car use is reduced, and multimodal public transport use is enhanced. Building on more recent travel behaviour research which has a socio-psychological approach and the mobility biography literature, this paper focusses on an individual's public transport travel behaviour, as impacted by travel and residential location experiences in their childhood. The empirical analysis uses a bespoke retrospective survey with respondents from the Greater Metropolitan area of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia where understanding better the motivations underpinning travel behaviour are particularly acute, given the car dependent nature of Australian cities. A path model illustrates how residential neighbourhood perceptions and travel attitudes impact on travel behaviour and how these are influenced by background, including childhood residential and travel experiences. The results show the dominance of current travel attitudes on current travel behaviour but childhood experience is also significant and appearing to work by impacting current residential neighbourhood perceptions and travel attitudes, suggesting travel behaviour not only affected by personal attitudes and socio-demographic characteristics, but also influenced by context (spatial, social, cultural, etc.). When travel behaviour is seen as a social construct influenced by long standing and entrenched experiences influencing current perceptions and attitudes, policy that identifies which mobility practices are likely to be flexible and open to change is more likely to be successful in changing behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Community engagement strategies are often integrated in public health interventions designed to promote condom use among men who have sex with men (MSM), a key population for HIV prevention. However, the ways in which condom use peer norms and self-efficacy play a role in the association between community engagement and condom use is unclear. This study examines the potential mediating roles of peer norms and self-efficacy in this association. Methods A nationwide cross-sectional online survey was conducted among Chinese MSM in 2015. Recruitment criteria included being born biologically male, being older than 16 years, having had anal sex with a man at least once during their lifetime, and having had condomless anal or vaginal sex in the past three months. Mplus 6.11 was used to conduct confirmatory factor analysis and path modeling analysis to examine the structural relationships between HIV/sexual health community engagement (e.g., joining social media and community events related to HIV and sexual health services), condom use peer norms, condom use self-efficacy, and frequency of condom use. Results The study found that HIV/sexual health community engagement, condom use peer norms, condom use self-efficacy, and frequency of condom use were mutually correlated. A good data model was achieved with fit index: CFI = 0.988, TLI = 0.987, RMSEA = 0.032, 90% CI (0.028, 0.036). HIV/sexual health community engagement was associated with frequency of condom use, which was directly mediated by condom use peer norms and indirectly through self-efficacy. Conclusion The study suggests that condom use peer norms and self-efficacy may be mediators in the pathway between community engagement and condom use, and suggests the importance of peer-based interventions to improve condom use.

This paper takes up ongoing discussions on the inequality of educational opportunities and formulates a conceptual model to link separate lines of research. Our particular focus is on combining motivational and structural approaches into a mediation model that explains differences in academic achievement. In the literature, four main mechanisms of social reproduction are discussed. Two main pathways refer to (1) parents' expectations regarding their children's academic success and (2) replicating cultural capital through intra‐familial cultural practices. (3) Parents' perception of children's abilities depends on social position and is influential for expectations of success. (4) For all three pathways, we expect effects on students' motivational characteristics, which in turn influence academic achievement. We test our conceptual model by structural equation modelling using longitudinal data from primary school students in Germany. Empirical evidence is in line with the assumptions in the model. Cultural reproduction and expectations of success can be seen as the key components of the model. However, both chains of reproduction are related to each other by parents' perception of child's ability, and their effects are mediated by child's motivational characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how teachers' implicit beliefs promote and inhibit students' creativity has important implications for fostering creativity in the classroom. This study investigated whether the effect of teachers' fixed creative mindset on their self‐efficacy for teaching creativity was mediated by their perceptions of students' potential and the degree to which this indirect effect varied by level of growth creative mindset. A sample of educators (N = 119) completed an online survey containing questions regarding creative mindsets, perceptions of students' potential, self‐efficacy for teaching creativity, and a set of relevant covariates. A moderated mediation analysis indicated that the more teachers believed creativity to be innate, the less teachers tended to perceive every student to possess creative potential. Consequently, teachers' confidence in their ability to teach for creativity was diminished. Results from the corresponding tests of simple indirect effects indicated that this negative indirect effect of a fixed creative mindset was lessened by teachers' growth creative mindset. Taken together, the findings suggest the likely significant role of teachers' fixed and growth creative mindsets for fostering creativity in classroom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research investigating the developmental interrelations among symptoms of anxiety, depression, and conduct problems in early childhood is lacking. The present study aims to fill this significant knowledge gap. A large Swedish prospective longitudinal data set (SOFIA study) was utilized, in which approximately 2.000 children have been assessed by parents and school staff at four time points, beginning at ages 3–5 and the fourth assessment conducted at ages 8–10. Results showed that symptoms of anxiety and depression were positively related to conduct problems, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally, and among both boys and girls. However, when all other variables were controlled for in the path analysis, a different picture emerged. Cross-sectional unidirectional positive effects from conduct problems to depressive symptoms were identified at each time point, with the effect from conduct problems to depressive symptoms during middle childhood being only significant among girls. Furthermore, conduct problems predicted anxiety symptoms during middle childhood among both boys and girls. Neither depressive nor anxiety symptoms predicted conduct problems. These findings suggest that conduct problems are associated with increased risk for depressive and anxiety symptoms, and may contribute to the development of psychopathological symptoms during childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The removal process of activated sludge in sewage treatment plants is very nonlinear, and removal performance has a complex causal relationship depending on environmental factors, influent load, and operating factors. In this study, how causal relationships are expressed in collected data was identified by structural equation modeling. First, path modeling was attempted as a preliminary step in structural equation model (SEM) construction and, as a result, the nutrient-removal mechanism could not be sufficiently represented as a direct causal relationship between measured variables. However, as a result of the deduced SEMs for effluent total nitrogen (T-N) and total phosphorus (T–P) concentrations, accompanied by exploratory factor analysis to extract latent variables, a causal network was formed that describes the direct or indirect effect of the latent factors and measured variables. Hereby, this study suggests that it is possible to construct an SEM explaining the nutrient-removal mechanism of the activated-sludge process with latent variables. Moreover, nonlinear features embedded in the mechanism could be represented by SEM, which is a model based on linearity, by including causal relations and variables that were not derived by path analysis. This attempt to model the direct and indirect causalities of the process could enhance the understanding of the process, and help decision making such as changing the driving conditions that would be required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the mediating roles of risky health lifestyle and depressive symptoms in relation to childhood/adolescence adversity and young adult cardiometabolic risk with data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n = 9421). Four classes of youth emerged from a latent class analysis with varying early adversity patterns: (a) both low disadvantaged SES and stressful experience (54.8%), (b) high disadvantaged SES and low stressful experience (31.0%), (c) low disadvantaged SES and high stressful experience (10.9%), and (d) both high disadvantaged SES and stressful experience (3.3%). Early adversity had multiple direct and indirect effects on CM risk for those experiencing SES-related adversities. Instead, early adversity generated mediational processes between adversity and CM risks through risky health lifestyle and depressive symptoms for those experiencing stressful experience. Implications for intervention when dealing with youths who have experienced multiple forms of early adversity are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of computer vision and industrial technology, the requirements of the intelligent welding robots are increasing in the real industrial production. The traditional teaching-playback mode and the off-line programming mode cannot meet the automation demand and self-adaptive ability of welding robots. In order to improve the efficiency of welding robots, this paper proposes a novel 3-D path extraction method of weld seams based on a stereo-structured light sensor. Faced with the low efficiency of the line-structured light and the poor robustness of passive vision, the seam extraction based on a point cloud processing algorithm is proposed which could well adapt to the weld seams with different types and different groove sizes. Meanwhile, the position information and pose information of weld seam are established to serve 3-D path teaching of a welding robot. The experimental results show that the maximum path extraction error of V-type butt joint is less than 0.7 mm. The proposed scheme could well serve for the 3-D path teaching task before welding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to analyze relationships among general health, coping style, and perceived stress in healthy primigravida pregnant women. A cross-sectional study was conducted at public health clinics in Hamadan city, Iran between July and December 2015. In total, 380 pregnant women were selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using the Revised Prenatal Coping Inventory and General Health Questionnaire. Perceived stress was assessed through an interview comprised of open-ended questions. The final PATH model fit well; general health (β = 0.02) as well as anxiety and sleep disorders (β = 0.03) were slightly directly associated with perceived stress, and only planning-preparation was related to perceived stress through general health (β = 0.09). The findings enhance the knowledge gained from previous perinatal stress research. General health status was directly related to stress, and coping style was indirectly related to stress. Coping styles may mediate the relationship between general health status and perceived stress, suggesting that midwives should attempt to improve the general health of women to reduce stress and its consequences during pregnancy by teaching patients appropriate coping styles. Further studies on the effect of coping style interventions on stress are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water table affects litter decomposition in wetlands, but its effects on the degradation of cellulose and lignin are poorly understood. We performed a decomposition experiment in Poyang Lake Wetland, to determine how water table affected the degradation of cellulose and lignin. After 60 days of decomposition at a site with a relatively highly water table, 46.19% of initial cellulose and 41.95% of initial lignin remained. Decay rates of both cellulose and lignin increased as the depth of the water table increased. Principle component analysis showed that the decay rates of cellulose and lignin increased with increasing soil pH, but decreased with increasing contents of clay and fungi: bacteria ratio. The path model accounted for 66% and 79% of the variation in cellulose and lignin decay rates, respectively, and considered the effects of interactions between the water table and related factors. The cellulose decay rate was affected by the water table with a direct coefficient of 0.47, and an indirect coefficient of 0.65, but the lignin decay rate was indirectly affected by water table (coefficient, 1.25) and directly affected by soil property (coefficient, 0.67). Thus, the water table affected the decomposition of cellulose and lignin via different mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The actual effectiveness of the still-to-come vaccination against the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 might be challenged by vaccine hesitancy, a rather common and known phenomenon whose psychological predictors are, nevertheless, still largely debated. Our study aims at understanding how adult citizens’ health engagement, perceived COVID-19 susceptibility and severity, and general vaccine-related attitudes affect the willingness to vaccinate against COVID-19. To that end, on a sample of Italian citizens, we implemented a path model to test the impact of health engagement on the willingness to vaccinate against SARS-CoV-2, and whether this relationship is direct or mediated by the general attitude towards vaccines and the risk perception. Moreover, we tested the configural and weak invariance of the model across gender and three age groups. Results show that health engagement is positively related to the intention to vaccinate and that this relationship is partially mediated by the general attitude towards vaccines. The model appears invariant across genders and partially invariant across age groups, showing some differences in the role of perceived susceptibility. These findings vouch for the implementation of educational campaigns aimed at sustaining future vaccination programs that also include health engagement promotion.