Search

The recent COVID-19 pandemic created an unpredictable environment regarding the safety operations of sport and recreation organizations. This study was designed to examine how safety climate and organizational innovativeness could promote preferred organizational behavior outcomes in college campus sport and recreation centers. A total of 227 sport and recreation employees were recruited through the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association. With the collected data, we employed structural equation modeling to assess the research hypotheses. The results indicated that safety climate and innovativeness positively influenced job engagement, therefore leading to enhanced safety compliance and employee innovativeness, which ultimately resulted in higher levels of organizational performance. Peer safety compliance was also found to be a moderator in the relationship between job engagement and safety compliance. In this study, the authors offer new insights into sport organizational performance by emphasizing safety and innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: This study investigated individual sociocognitive factors from the theory of planned behavior and their relationship to exercise for postconcussion recovery. Design and Methods: Four hundred and fifty-nine Australian adults, two-thirds of whom had no concussion history (66%), completed an online survey of their beliefs and attitudes toward exercise for postconcussion recovery. Secondary questions evaluated program design features that could affect engagement (eg, session frequency). Results: Structured equation modeling found that subjective norms were the strongest significant predictor of intention to participate in exercise for postconcussion recovery. Perceived behavioral control was also a significant predictor of intention to participate but to a lesser extent. Attitude did not predict participation intention. The design features identified as key were personalization and being supervised during the program. Conclusions: This study found that people's intention to participate in a program of exercise postconcussion recovery is shaped by individual psychological factors and identified program design features that could be adjusted for increased engagement. Program success could be maximized through strategies such as supporting individuals to have a stronger sense of control over their participation through the choice of session timing or frequency and harnessing the influence of significant others via supportive messaging from key professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burnout, characterized by exhaustion, reduced accomplishment, and devaluation, can have substantial negative implications for athletes. Notably, researchers continue to examine burnout from multiple perspectives, commonly focusing on stress-, motivation-, or commitment-related factors, with limited efforts to consider these perspectives together. In contrast, this study aimed to assess the utility of these multiple perspectives and the key predictors of burnout in the same athlete sample. Data on burnout, stress, motivation, motivational climate, and sport commitment were gathered from 370 Gaelic games athletes. Separate structural equation models incorporating stress, motivation, and commitment factors as predictors of burnout dimensions were assessed. All models showed adequate fit. However, differences in effect size suggest that stress is more strongly associated with exhaustion, while commitment and motivation showed a stronger relationship with reduced accomplishment and devaluation. Evidence of significant predictors across perspectives also supports an integrated approach and may inform integration efforts and targeted intervention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given how COVID-19 had caused significant increases in collegiate athletes' psychological distress, we examined the extent to which such distress may have been ameliorated by the athletes' psychosocial resources (e.g., resilience). We used structural equation modeling to examine the direct and indirect relationships of resilience, self-compassion, and social support to women collegiate athletes' (N = 3,924; 81.2% White) psychological distress; athletes completed measures of these constructs from mid-April to mid-May 2020. Analyses revealed significant direct effects: More supported (β = −0.12 to −0.19), self-compassionate (β = −0.48 to −0.53), and resilient (β = −0.21 to −0.35) athletes experienced less psychological distress (R2 =.61–.65). Further, self-compassion and social support were related indirectly (and inversely) to psychological distress through higher levels of resilience. These psychosocial resources appear to have played a positive role in how athletes coped with the pandemic, being associated with less psychological distress. These findings have application beyond the pandemic, providing direction for how sport psychology professionals may assist athletes in maintaining their well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the current study was to develop a valid and reliable measure of team representation, which refers to the extent to which the residents of a community perceive a local sports team to be representative of the community. Through our literature review, focus groups, and surveys, we identified four key dimensions that serve as formative indicators of team representation (i.e., normative, descriptive, symbolic, and substantive representation) and developed scale items measuring those dimensions. The results of exploratory factor analysis and partial least squares structural equation modeling confirmed the validity of our scale items and reflective–formative measurement model. As the first study to develop and validate scale items measuring specific dimensions of team representation, the current research provides significant contributions to the literature. Our scale items also enable sports teams to assess their representative status in their local communities and develop effective strategies to improve their representation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subjective vitality is an important, yet understudied, indicator of eudaimonic well-being. People experience subjective vitality when they engage in need-satisfying activities. We investigate two sport consumption activities (stadium attendance and sport television viewing), team identification, and subjective vitality to understand how sport consumption mediates the impact of team identification on subjective vitality. Throughout a season, data were collected from local residents (n = 618) living within the franchise area of a Japanese professional baseball team. Structural equation modeling and bootstrapping mediation analysis showed that team identification exerted both a direct and an indirect effect via attendance frequency on subjective vitality. The proposed model and the findings offer new theoretical insights into the roles of subjective vitality, team identification, and stadium attendance in spectator sport. Consequently, sport teams can leverage these insights to intensify consumer experiences when people attend games, positively contributing to their well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Mental health is an important component of holistic care in athletic settings. Burnout is one of many factors associated with poor mental health, and clinicians should assess for these symptoms. The Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ) has been proposed as a measure of burnout in athletes; however, design concerns are prevalent within the scale, and psychometric analyses have resulted in inconsistent measurement properties, limiting the usefulness of the scale for accurate assessment of burnout in athletes. The objective of our study was to assess the factor structure of the Alternate Modified ABQ-15v2 using confirmatory factor analysis. If model fit was inadequate, a secondary purpose was to identify a psychometrically sound alternate ABQ model. Design: Observational study. Methods: Intercollegiate athletes and dancers pursuing a degree in dance (n = 614) were recruited from programs across the United States. Individuals had varied health statuses (eg, healthy, injured), scholarship support, and participated in a variety of intercollegiate sports. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on the modified 15-item ABQ (Alternate Modified ABQ-15v2). Exploratory factor analysis and covariance modeling of a proposed alternate 9-item scale (ABQ-9) was conducted and multigroup invariance analysis was assessed across athlete category, class standing, and student-athlete scholarship status to assess consistency of item interpretation across subgroups. Results: The Modified ABQ did not meet recommended model fit criteria. The ABQ-9 met all recommended model fit indices but was not invariant across athlete category. Conclusions: The ABQ-9 may be a viable and efficient option for assessing burnout in the collegiate athletics setting. However, further research is needed to validate the ABQ-9 in a cross-validation study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Job burnout is a prevalent and emerging challenge in the primary medical system, causing mass turnover, especially of primary medical staff. Little attention has been paid to the different dimensions of job burnout (emotional exhaustion, personality disintegration, and reduced sense of achievement), which may hinder efforts to tackle high turnover intention among primary medical staff. From the perspective of conservation of resources theory, social support and psychological capital are basic resources with potential to diminish job burnout and thus lower turnover intention. However, there is insufficient research evidence on the relationships between social support, psychological capital, and the three dimensions of job burnout within the primary medical system. Objectives: Focusing on primary medical staff, this study conducts a path analysis to examine the correlations between two types of resources (social support and psychological capital) and the three dimensions of job burnout, and to test the impact of the latter on turnover intention. Based on the results, effective management strategies to improve the work stability of primary medical staff are proposed. Methods: Multi-stage cluster random sampling was used to select participants in Anhui Province, China. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire containing measures of the main variables and demographic questions. In total, 1132 valid questionnaires were returned by primary medical staff. Structural equation modeling was used for path analysis of the data. Results: Social support was negatively associated with emotional exhaustion (β = − 0.088, P = 0.020), personality disintegration (β = − 0.235, P < 0.001), and reduced sense of achievement (β = − 0.075, P = 0.040). Moreover, psychological capital was negatively associated with emotional exhaustion (β = − 0.079, P = 0.030), personality disintegration (β = − 0.156, P < 0.001), and reduced sense of achievement (β = − 0.432, P < 0.001). All three dimensions of job burnout positively affected turnover intention (emotional exhaustion: β = 0.246, P < 0.001; personality disintegration: β = 0.076, P = 0.040; reduced sense of achievement: β = 0.119, P = 0.001). Conclusions: The results highlight the importance of social support and psychological capital for diminishing the three dimensions of job burnout for primary medical staff and, in turn, lowering their turnover intention. Accordingly, to alleviate job burnout and improve staff retention, material and psychological supports from leaders, colleagues, family, relatives, and friends are essential, as are measures to improve the psychological energy of primary medical staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The escalating prevalence of diabetes, with its multifaceted complications, poses a pressing challenge for healthcare systems globally. In response, the advent of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems, offering technological solutions for daily diabetes management, presents significant opportunities. However, the widespread adoption faces several barriers, linked both to the technological configuration of the devices and to the psychological dimension of patients. Therefore, this study aims to apply and test a theoretical model that investigates the antecedents of the intention to use Continuous Glucose Monitoring systems. Methods: The research model was built to unveil the impacts of psychological factors, functional components and rational constructs derived from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) on CGM systems sustained adoption. To ensure the comparability of results, we have collected data from people who had used Dexcom ONE Dexcom (San Diego, CA) for the first time for at least one month. Employing Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) techniques, the hypothesized relationships among constructs were assessed. Results: The analyses confirmed the positive correlation of rational factors to the Intention to Use. Subjective Norm, intended as the physicians' influence, is positively correlated with the Perceived Usefulness. Trend Arrows, albeit being negatively correlated with Perceived Usefulness, have a positive correlation on Perceived Ease Of Use, reinforcing its mediating effect towards Perceived Usefulness. Among psychological factors, Trust in the CGM technology positively correlates with Intention to Use. Health Literacy is negatively correlated to the Intention to Use. Conclusions: These findings contribute to theoretical and managerial understanding, providing recommendations to enhance the adoption of CGM systems like Dexcom ONE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Religious attributes affecting Christians’ environmentalism have received considerable attention since the publication of Lynn White's thesis in 1967, which accused Christianity as the root cause of the ecological crisis. This study aims to assess the relationship between Christianity and environmentalism in Hong Kong, an Asian city where Christianity has been introduced for just more than two centuries. In general, Hong Kong Christians had a stronger willingness to sacrifice for the environment as compared to non‐Christians. Both stewardship worldview and Christian justice and love were identified as the main drivers for environmentalism in Christians, which can be further improved via church environmental education. Our findings provide a particular example to broaden the diversity of the Christianity‐environmentalism nexus and highlight the functional role of stewardship worldview in the Hong Kong context. However, we also call for stronger environmental education in Hong Kong's church to bridge the willingness‐behavior gap among local Christians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: For young adults and adolescents, excessive internet use has become a serious public health concern due to its negative impact on their health. It has been associated with detrimental effects on both physical and mental health. Negative academic outcomes were observed in the students, including missing classes, lower grades, and academic dismissal. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to identify factors associated with PIU among undergraduate students at the University of Gondar. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Gondar among 1514 undergraduate students from June 1–20, 2022. The study participants were selected using a stratified simple random selection procedure. Using structural equation modeling, the degree of relationship was ascertained. A p-value of less than 0.05 and an adjusted regression coefficient with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to interpret the data. Results: In our study, being from non-health departments [β = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.037, 0.181], current alcohol use [β = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.061, 0.187], depressive symptoms [β = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.175, 0.291], insomnia symptoms [β = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.060, 0.196], and ADHD symptoms [β = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.049, 0.166] had a significant positive effect on PIU, while having a history of head injury had a significant negative effect [β = -0.12, 95% CI: -0.226, -0.021] on PIU. Conclusion and recommendation: Factors such as current alcohol use, non-health department type, depressive symptoms, insomnia, and ADHD symptoms were positively associated with PIU. However, a history of head injuries was negatively associated with PIU. Therefore, strategies aimed at the early identification of PIU may lead to an improvement in the psychosocial health of university students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the process of digital transformation in organisations and has considerably increased the exposure to and dependence of employees on Information and Communication Technologies, which may lead them to experience a negative psychological state known as technostress. This work analyses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the growing technological exposure of employees to emotional exhaustion and work-family conflict. It also analyses the role that social support and mindfulness play as mechanisms that inhibit technostress in a context of health emergency. For this purpose, the authors develop and test a structural equation model on a sample of 1037 employees of the banking industry in Spain. The results show that the techno-stressors increase emotional exhaustion and the work-family conflict. We also observe that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a positive impact on the perception of techno-stressors and on emotional exhaustion. In addition, the results show that social support and mindfulness play a crucial role in diminishing technostress, as they reduce the perceived COVID-19 impact, techno-stressors and emotional exhaustion. Consequently, this work presents very relevant implications for organisations, identifying strategies that allow to reduce technostress and work-family conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth of technology, such as smart devices, screens, and social media, has made parenting more complicated than it already is. The risks and harmful effects of digital media on children have forced parents to engage in several types of digital media mediation strategies. Applying the protection motivation theory and theory of planned behaviour in understanding the parental mediation strategy, this study explores parents' perception of their own responsibilities and the development of appropriate policies and legislation to curve the risk of digital media in their children's lives. An online survey of 331 parents was conducted. The data was analyzed using structured equation modeling. Findings reveal that the fundamental variables of protection motivation theory and the theory of planned behaviour are mostly held to explain the psychological and external-environmental factors that impact parents' digital media mediation strategy. This study also deduces that parents who apply restrictive and active mediation strategies prefer both governmental regulation and parent responsibility. In contrast, the parents who apply distant mediation prefer just government regulation. Policymakers can use the findings of this study to advance policies that help parents in managing their children's digital media use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On-demand work applications (ODWAs), a type of digital platforms (DPs), are technology-enabled intermediaries for gig workers. In this paper, we study these platforms and their impact on women belonging to the low socio-economic section in a developing economy. These women act as primary unpaid workers while being expected to make an economic contribution. Hence, they suffer from time scarcity where they need to find mechanisms to generate economic success from the limited time they have, in a largely informal economy. We employed the theoretical lens of affordances to delineate the affordances that are provided by the various features of ODWAs and their impact on life satisfaction of women. We conducted a mixed method study using interviews of 20 female gig workers, supplemented by a survey of 927 workers on one of the largest ODWAs in India. Our analysis points to the sense of identity and individuality that these platforms provide as well as lowering the market boundaries for greater inclusion. Our research is significant from both, the information systems and inclusion research perspectives, as it contributes to the theoretical understanding of the impact of DPs on breaking societal structures and providing avenues to marginalised sections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of the shift in policy to promote active travel, the UK's Manual for Streets (MfS) guidance proposed new approaches for priority intersections design in residential areas, promoting lower geometric visibilities for drivers on minor road arms to reduce collision severity, and the low-speed (i.e., 20 mph) limit zone policy. However, the relationship between speed, visibility, and collisions has not been explored comprehensively for these low-speed limit residential areas. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of shorter visibilities on vehicle-bicycle collisions at priority intersections in Portsmouth, UK. Using piecewise Structural Equations Modeling and Artificial Neural Network models, 120 locations in the city were analysed to understand the complex interplay between vehicles' speed, speed limits, visibilities, geometries, traffic flows, and collisions. The research question was whether shorter visibilities supported policy intentions by reducing bicycle collisions in low-speed limit areas, as MfS suggested. The results show that greater visibility 9 m back to left and right positively correlates with higher road traffic collisions. In comparison, greater left-hand visibility at 2.4 m back from minor arms has a counter-effect that improves safety. This supports the notion that shorter visibility in residential areas aid cyclist safety. This study contributes significantly to the literature by shedding light on the impact of shorter visibility on road safety. The findings have important implications for transportation policy and practice, highlighting the importance of the MfS approach for improving cyclist safety in the design of priority intersections. • The pSEM model reveals complex relationship between intersection geometries, and collisions in low-speed limit areas. • The shorter visibility distance in built-up areas correlates with fewer bicycle collisions. • The longer visibilities at 9 m back to the left and right are associated with higher bicycle collisions. • Better left-hand visibility at 2.4 m improves cyclists safety. • The policy implication of 20 mph (30 km/h) speed limits improves the safety of cyclists at intersections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No study has systematically investigated the public's perceptions of cyber risks and their relationship with the acceptance of fully Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs). To address this knowledge gap, we developed a conceptual model and investigated the impact of the cyber-emulated risks (cyberattack, safety risk, connectivity risk, privacy risk, and performance risk) that may influence the adoption of CAVs. We tested the proposed model using structural equation modelling with a nationally representative sample of 2062 adults from the US, UK, New Zealand, and Australia. The results indicate that perceived cyberattacks had a significant but marginally neutral effect on usage intent, illustrating the acceptance of technical risk with CAVs. This finding challenges the commonly held belief that cyberattacks negatively influence the adoption of products and technology in other product development fields, such as information technology. CAV cyberattacks elevate concerns about safety, connectivity, privacy, and performance risks. Interestingly, connectivity risk had no significant impact on CAV's behaviour intention, but mediation analysis showed it indirectly affects CAV's acceptance through privacy and performance risks. Regarding socio-demographic and technological attributes, participants of older age, middle income, low-middle education, high cybersecurity knowledge and AV understanding exhibit high anxiety about CAV cyberattacks. The results hold significant policy implications, suggesting the need for tailored strategies in enhancing the cybersecurity of CAVs to ensure their successful adoption and deployment. The findings of this study aim to enhance the quality of transport policy and bridge the gap between theory and practice in addressing cyber risks in the transport sector. • Developed a conceptual model with five theoretical constructs to assess the perceived cyber risks in AV adoption. • A nationally representative sample of 2062 adults from the US, UK, NZ, and AU was analysed to test the model. • Cyberattacks had a significant but marginally neutral effect on usage intent. • Older and middle-income participants exhibit high anxiety about CAV cyberattacks. • Participants with high cyber or AV knowledge were more worried about CAV cyberattacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to analyze whether the driving behaviour changes with different types of cars (Hatchback, Sedan and Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV)), particularly on expressways. To achieve the study's objective, an exclusive DBQ was designed. Self-reported frequency of instances related to violations, mistakes and lapses were gathered which can collectively be used to study driver's behaviour in different circumstances. A total of 546 samples were collected through an online survey from drivers across India who possessed a valid driving license. Results of exploratory factor analysis confirmed two factor solution (errors and violations) and the same was verified by confirmatory factor analysis. With the help of structural equation modelling, individual risky driving score of each driver was calculated. Based on the calculated scores, drivers were clustered into different risk levels using K-Means clustering technique. Further, ANOVA test revealed that SUV drivers performed riskier behaviour more compared to other types of cars. To compare the relationships among different risk levels with drivers' demographics and driving characteristics, two ordered logit models were developed for SUV and Standard car drivers. The results indicated that drivers' age, crash history, and speeding behaviour were statistically significant predictors of risky driving behaviour. Comparison of risk levels between SUV and Standard cars with respect to different predictor variables presented various interesting findings. These findings would be helpful in understanding the differences among risky driving behaviour performed by drivers of different types of cars and to identify the potential road safety countermeasures. • An exclusive DBQ was designed to gauge driving behaviour. • Risky scores were measured using SEM and then clustered using K-means clustering. • ANOVA test revealed that SUV drivers performed more risky behaviour than cars. • Two ordered logit models were developed for SUV and standard cars. • Age, crash history and speeding were good indicators of risky driving behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) are commonly assessed using self-rating instruments like the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) (current symptoms) and the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short-Form (CIDI-SF) (worst-episode symptoms). We performed a systematic comparison between them for their genetic architecture and utility in investigating MDD heterogeneity. Using data from the UK Biobank (n = 41,948–109,417), we assessed the single nucleotide polymorphism heritability and genetic correlation (r g) of both sets of MDD symptoms. We further compared their r g with non-MDD traits and used Mendelian randomization to assess whether either set of symptoms has more genetic sharing with non-MDD traits. We also assessed how specific each set of symptoms is to MDD using the metric polygenic risk score pleiotropy. Finally, we used genomic structural equation modeling to identify factors that explain the genetic covariance between each set of symptoms. Corresponding symptoms reported through the PHQ-9 and CIDI-SF have low to moderate genetic correlations (r g = 0.43–0.87), and this cannot be fully attributed to different severity thresholds or the use of a skip structure in the CIDI-SF. Both Mendelian randomization and polygenic risk score pleiotropy analyses showed that PHQ-9 symptoms are more associated with traits that reflect general dysphoria, whereas the skip structure in the CIDI-SF allows for the identification of heterogeneity among likely MDD cases. Finally, the 2 sets of symptoms showed different factor structures in genomic structural equation modeling, reflective of their genetic differences. MDD symptoms assessed using the PHQ-9 and CIDI-SF are not interchangeable; the former better indexes general dysphoria, while the latter is more informative about within-MDD heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition to separation is an important time for the reconfiguration of family relationships and maintaining father involvement. Pre-separation family relationships may affect father involvement over this transition. This study examines associations among family relationship attributes prior to separation (father engagement, coparenting support, mothers’ perceptions of paternal competence, marital status) and post-separation father involvement (contact, in-kind support, shared responsibility). Data were from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a large national survey with an oversampling of nonmarital births (Reichman et al., 2001). Included were mothers who lived with the father all or most of the time around a focal child’s third birthday (Y3) and were separated from the father around the child’s fifth birthday (Y5) (N = 371). Structural equation modeling results showed that family relationship attributes at Y3 were associated with post-separation father involvement at Y5. Mothers’ perceptions of paternal competence were positively associated with contact. Coparenting support and unmarried parent status were associated with greater father responsibility, and father engagement was positively associated with in-kind support provision. Results held, even when controlling for structural factors concurrent with post-separation father involvement. Results suggest that different aspects of pre-separation relationships may differentially affect domains of father involvement after separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The intensive care unit (ICU) is a department with a high risk of MDR bacteria, and ICU nurses and physicians play critical roles in bacterial multidrug resistance (MDR) prevention. Objectives: To explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) towards bacterial MDR among ICU nurses and physicians. Methods: A self-designed questionnaire was administered to collect data. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to assess the associations among study variables. Results: A total of 369 questionnaires were collected; 43 questionnaires were excluded due to self-contradictory on the trap question or the obviously repeated pattern. Finally, 326 (88.35%) valid questionnaires were included in the analysis. The knowledge, attitudes, and practice were 13.57 ± 1.69 (90.47%, possible range: 0–15), 38.75 ± 2.23 (96.88%, possible range: 8–40), and 47.40 ± 3.59 (94.80%, possible range: 10–50). The SEM showed that knowledge had a direct effect on attitude with a direct effect value of 0.61 (P < 0.001) and a direct negative effect on practice with a direct effect value of -0.30 (P = 0.009). The direct effect of attitude on practice was 0.89 (P < 0.001); the indirect effect of knowledge through attitude on practice was 0.52 (P < 0.001). Job satisfaction had a direct effect on attitude and practice, with an effect value of 0.52 (P = 0.030) and 0.75 (P = 0.040). Being a physician (OR = 0.354, 95%CI: 0.159–0.790, P = 0.011), 5–9.9 years of practice (OR = 4.534, 95%CI: 1.878–8.721, P < 0.001), and ≥ 10 years of practice (OR = 3.369, 95%CI: 1.301–8.721, P = 0.012) were independently associated with good knowledge. The attitude scores (OR = 1.499, 95%CI: 1.227–1.830, P < 0.001), male gender (OR = 0.390, 95%CI: 0.175–0.870, P = 0.022), and 5–9.9 years of experience (OR = 0.373, 95%CI: 0.177–0.787, P = 0.010) were independently associated with proactive practice. Conclusion: Nurses and physicians in the ICU showed good knowledge, positive attitudes, and proactive practice toward bacterial MDR. Nurses and physicians' knowledge had a direct effect on their attitude, while attitude might directly influence the practice and also play a mediating role between knowledge and practice. Job satisfaction might directly support the positive attitude and practice toward bacterial MDR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although it is widely acknowledged that access to civil justice (ATJ) is a key social determinant of health (SDOH), the existing literature lacks empirical evidence supporting ATJ as a SDOH for specific dimensions of health. Methods: A legal epidemiological, cross-sectional, postal survey was conducted on n = 908 randomly sampled participants in Hong Kong in March 2023. Data collected were perceptions of the civil justice system, health, and sociodemographics. Perceived ATJ was assessed using a modified version of the Inaccessibility of Justice scale (IOJ) and Perceived Inequality of Justice scale (PIJ), i.e. the "modified IOJ-PIJ", consisting of 12 of the original 13 items from both scales divided into two subdomains: "procedural fairness", and "outcome neutrality". For health data, quality of life was assessed using the Hong Kong version of the Abbreviated World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF(HK)), psychological distress (including symptoms of anxiety and depression) was assessed using the four-Item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4), and having comorbidities was assessed using Sangha's Self-Administered Comorbidity Questionnaire (SCQ). Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to investigate the relationships between perceived ATJ and the measured health outcomes. Results: SEM demonstrated that both subdomains for ATJ had significantly negative associations (B < 0; p < 0.05) with all quality-of-life subdomains, except for between outcome neutrality with social relationships; both subdomains for ATJ had significantly positive association (B > 0; p < 0.05) with both anxiety and depression; and, after adjusting for age, only "procedural fairness" had significantly positive association (B > 0; p < 0.05) with having comorbidities. Conclusion: This study provided empirical evidence that ATJ is a SDOH for specific dimensions of health. The results of this study encourage laws, policies, and initiatives aimed at improving ATJ, as well as collaborative efforts from the legal and health sectors through health-justice partnerships, and from the broader community, to safeguard and promote public health by strengthening ATJ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Traditional intensity-based physical activity measures and variable-centered statistics may not fully capture the complex associations between sitting time, physical activity, and obesity indices. This study investigates the associations between device-measured sitting, standing and different modes of physical activity (i.e., slow walking, brisk-walking, cycling and high-intensity activity) and measured body mass index (BMI) in children using person-based latent profile analyses and Partial Least Squared-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Methods: A total of 344 children (11.5 ± 0.81 years, boys n = 139) wore a triaxial accelerometer (Fibion®) on their thigh for eight days, and their weight and height were measured at school. Latent profile analysis formed profiles including BMI, total sitting time, and physical activities, and their associations were further studied with PLS-SEM. Results: The latent profile analysis indicates that high levels of physical activity always coincide with low sitting time. Both normal weight and overweight/obesity can coexist with low physical activity and prolonged sitting. The PLS-SEM results highlight a cascade-like sequence in the relationship between various types of physical activity, sitting time, and BMI. This sequence begins with light-intensity activities, such as standing, progresses to higher-intensity activities, and ultimately through reduced sitting time (sample mean= -0.01; effect size = 0.0001; p = 0.02), mediates a decline in BMI (sample mean= -0.06; effect size = 0.0036; p = 0.01). The most positive effects on sitting time and BMI occur when this pattern is adhered to consistently, suggesting that omitting steps could negatively impact the associations. Conclusion: These findings suggest that persuading children to increase physical activity incrementally, starting from low-intensity activities such as standing and slow walking to activity types with higher intensities, possibly influence BMI by mediating reduced sitting time. This approach is particularly inclusive for overweight and obese children, taking into account the potential challenges they may encounter when performing activity types with high intensity. These cross-sectional associations need to be verified with longitudinal and experimental designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the mediating role of intergroup orientation in the relationship between ethnic and national identification. Our participants were 1320 Yi minority youths from a secondary school located in the Yi ethnic autonomous prefecture of southwest China. The participants completed three self-report questionnaires measuring ethnic and national identification, and intergroup orientation, respectively. Structural equation modeling was employed to determine the relationships between ethnic and national identification and intergroup orientation, and to explore the mechanism underlying the association between ethnic and national identification. The results showed that Yi minority youths with a stronger sense of ethnic identity had a stronger sense of national identity. The results further indicated that stronger ethnic identity led to a more positive intergroup orientation, which in turn predicted a stronger national identity. Our findings may facilitate the cultivation of positive attitudes between national subgroups in multiethnic countries and help ethnic minority youth develop a stronger awareness of national identity while retaining their ethnic identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the predictors of indigenous language learning from an empirical and theoretical perspective. A quantitative approach was employed to explore the issue using an extended version of Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior that incorporates linguistic insecurity in measuring students' language learning intentions. A total of 180 first-year undergraduate students in the Department of Arts Education and the Department of Ghanaian Languages and Linguistics participated in the study. Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), measurement and structural models were evaluated. The results indicated that students' attitudes (behavioral beliefs), subjective norms, language learning efficacy, and students' sense of linguistic insecurity significantly predicted their intentions to study indigenous languages. The exogenous variables accounted for 47.8% of the variance in students' intentions to study indigenous languages in higher education. The strongest predictor of intention was subjective norms (β = 0.399; p<0.01), followed by students' sense of linguistic insecurity (β = -0.254; p<0.01), perceived language learning efficacy (β = 0.169; p = 0.013), and language attitude (β = 0.144; p = 0.045). These results underscore the need for concerned stakeholders to foster positive attitudes and address linguistic insecurity to enhance learners' development of positive behavioral intentions toward indigenous language learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the role of corporate governance structures as mediators between external supervision, credit appraisal measurement, capital adequacy, and the performance of commercial banks in Nepal. This research sheds light on the significance of effective corporate governance practices within Nepali commercial banks and how certain governance mechanisms may impact bank performance. A quantitative research design was employed, using data from commercial banks in Nepal for this study. Surveys were utilized to collect quantitative data. Structural equation modeling was used as a primary tool to assess the data. The findings add to existing literature about corporate governance and its effects on bank performance in emerging economies such as Nepal. The study's findings offer valuable insights into the significance of corporate governance structures, external supervision, credit appraisal measurement systems, and capital adequacy for commercial banks' performance in Nepal. The research methodology adds value to the existing literature using quantitative data collection methods. Its results may have practical ramifications for banks, regulators, and policymakers, suggesting effective governance practices as essential measures for increasing stability and performance at commercial banks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Methods Results Conclusion This study aimed to explore the relationship between urogenital symptom frequency and severity, perception of vaginal treatment burden, and female sexual desire, arousal, and satisfaction.A cross‐sectional study was conducted with a sample of 326 patients from three tertiary care hospitals in the United Arab Emirates. The frequency and severity of urogenital symptoms, emotional and physical functioning, and treatment burden were assessed using the validated genitourinary syndrome of menopause symptoms and vaginal treatments acceptability questionnaire (GSM‐SVATQ). To examine the mediating roles of emotional and physical functioning, as well as the perceived treatment burden on sexual functioning, a partial least squares‐structural equation model was developed using the SmartPLS 4 Software.The measurement model was successfully established. All constructs had a reliability of > 0.70 and discriminant validity of < 0.90. Emotional, physical and sexual functioning showed an adjusted R2 values of 0.377, 0.282 and 0.169, respectively.The multistep multiple mediator model revealed a full mediation effect of both emotional and physical functioning between symptom, treatment burden and sexual functioning. The model showed high predictive performance with all manifest variables showing lower mean absolute errors compared to the naiive benchmark model.This study enhances our understanding of the relationships between urogenital symptoms, perceived treatment burden, emotional functioning, and sexual well‐being. The findings emphasize the importance of addressing emotional well‐being in managing urogenital symptoms and in addressing emotional factors associated with the use of vaginal treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes how, as part of the administrative reform of Bangladesh, most of the urban local governments have set up some public service center like Pourasava Digital Center (PDC), where ICT (Information and Communication Technology) has been commonly applied to make e-services more convenient, efficient and transparent. The current study measures the Service Quality Satisfaction and Continuous Use Intention to use Pourasava Digital Center (PDC) in Bangladesh by adopting citizen participation as a moderator. Theoretically, this study has used the DeLone & McLean Information Systems (D&M IS) Success Model and Zhang's two-dimensional satisfaction model. However, most of the existing studies in Bangladesh are qualitative, and the relationship between service quality and citizen satisfaction has not been tested. A survey was conducted based on a structured questionnaire method and data collected from 332 respondents from 05 PDC and applying structural equation modelling in AMOS software while analyzing the data. The empirical results showed that the data fit the model. The finding of this study is that information quality affects specific satisfaction but not accumulative satisfaction, and specific satisfaction might not lead to accumulative satisfaction. One of the worthy findings of this study is that citizen satisfaction is highly dependent on system quality and service quality rather than information quality. The continuous use intention of the citizen is not based on specific satisfaction but significantly depends on accumulative satisfaction. To ensure the improvement of PDC's service quality, all dimensions related to the quality of service should be modified, and the administrative system and citizens should be encouraged to participate in all aspects of services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing research rarely examines the subjective and objective built environment of river valley-type cities in relation to travel mode choice, particularly overlooking the heterogeneity among travelers in these cities. In this paper, based on questionnaire survey data and built environment data, terrain spatial perception (TSP) is introduced to expand the theory of planned behavior (TPB), and a Structural Equation Model (SEM) is established. Factor analysis and path analysis are conducted using SPSS and AMOS to estimate latent variables. An integrated model of SEM and random parameter Logit model (RPLM), which can not only analyze the psychological perception factors of commuters in river valley-type cities but also consider the heterogeneity of psychological perception, was constructed to analyze the impact of personal attributes, objective built environment factors, and psychological latent variables on the commuting mode choice behavior of public transport users in river valley-type cities. The results indicate that the five observation indicators corresponding to the proposed terrain spatial perception latent variables can better explain the terrain spatial perception of commuters in river valley-type cities. Different from plain cities, the subjective and objective built environment of river valley-type cities notably influence the travel behavior of commuters. Moreover, the parameters of terrain spatial perception follow a normal distribution, indicating that the sensitivity of different commuters to the terrain spatial perception of river valley-type cities is heterogeneous. The results of our study can provide a reference for alleviating traffic issues in valley cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving full and stable employment is not only one of the goals of macro-control by governments but also a key issue that labor migrants must address. To understand the impact of relocation adaptation on the employment stability of Chinese-style labor migrants, members of the group visited the labor migrant settlement sites in Yinchuan City and used questionnaires to investigate the adaptation and employment status of farmers after relocation. The article attempts to analyze the impact of relocation adaptability, embodied by social adaptability, economic adaptability, and cultural adaptability, on the employment stability of Chinese-style labor migrants using structural equation modeling with the highly representative field research data from the labor migrant community in Yinchuan City as an example. The results of the study show that the social, economic, and cultural adaptability dimensions of relocation adaptability all have a significant positive effect on employment stability. Therefore, to promote the stable employment of Chinese-style labor migrants, it is necessary to enhance economic adaptability to stabilize employment and increase income, enhance social adaptability to proactively adapt and actively participate, and strengthen cultural adaptability to proactively seek change and actively adapt to better improve the employment situation of labor migrants in an orderly manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the dynamics of tax evasion and revenue leakage in the Somali customs framework, providing insights into the systemic opportunity structures, tax governance deficiencies, and personal incentive structures that facilitate these practices. By applying agency theory and rent-seeking theory, this research seeks to deepen the understanding of the complex relationship between individual motivations and systemic vulnerabilities in exacerbating corruption and tax evasion in a post-conflict governance context. By employing structural equation modeling (SEM) within the ADANCO-SEM analysis framework, this study analyzes primary survey data. This approach allows for a comprehensive examination of the relationships between systemic, governance, and personal factors contributing to corruption and tax evasion. The findings reveal a significant positive relationship between systemic opportunity structures, tax governance deficiencies, and personal incentive structures and the prevalence of tax evasion and corruption. Specifically, systemic opportunity structures were found to significantly influence both tax governance deficiencies and personal incentive structures, highlighting the intertwined nature of these factors in facilitating corrupt practices and tax evasion in Somali customs. This study underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms targeting systemic vulnerabilities, enhancing tax governance frameworks, and aligning personal incentives with the public interest. Practical applications include the adoption of advanced technological solutions for improved monitoring and transparency, as well as the development of targeted training programs for customs officials to foster ethical standards and compliance. This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing a unique empirical examination of corruption and tax evasion in the context of Somali customs, a largely underexplored area in the literature. By integrating agency theory and rent-seeking theory, this study offers novel insights into the mechanisms of corruption and tax evasion, highlighting the importance of addressing both systemic and individual factors in combating these issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractArtificial intelligence generates vibrant characters, encompassing teachers, peer students, and advisors within diverse educational media. However, the impact of the perceived embodiment of such characters in language learning videos on students’ technology acceptance and adoption is unclear. Integrating structural equation modeling into thematic analysis, this study analyzes 1042 valid responses from higher education students to bridge this research gap. Our study reveals that four subdimensions of embodiment (human-likeness, credibility, learning facilitation, and engagement) significantly and positively predict higher-education students’ perceived ease of use and usefulness of artificial intelligence-generated virtual teachers in language learning videos. Notably, an exception arises, as human-likeness does not significantly predict students’ perceived ease of use in our research context. Students’ perceived systemic interactivity and impact on the learning process emerge as pivotal mediators. The qualitative thematic analysis identifies students’ concerns about classroom administration, developmental support, technical issues, deprived interpersonal collaboration, and liberal attainment cultivation with the virtual teacher presence. This study can illuminate artificial intelligence technology designs and applications in education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In this study, the actor–partner interdependence mediation model (APIMeM) was applied to breast cancer patients and their caregivers to assess the factors that affect the fear of cancer recurrence. In particular, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the mediating effect of social support on financial toxicity and the fear of cancer recurrence, providing an effective basis for developing plans to reduce the level of fear of cancer recurrence. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design, and 405 dyads of breast cancer patients and their caregivers were enrolled. Financial toxicity, social support, and fear of cancer recurrence were assessed by computing comprehensive scores for financial toxicity based on patient-reported outcome measures, the Social Support Rating Scale, and the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory Short Form, respectively. The data were analysed using SPSS 24.0 and AMOS 23.0. Results: The results showed that the fear of cancer recurrence of breast cancer patients and their caregivers was significantly related to dyadic financial toxicity and social support. In addition, the financial toxicity of breast cancer patients and their caregivers had significant actor effects and partner effects on the fear of cancer recurrence through dyadic social support. Conclusions: The financial toxicity of breast cancer patients and their caregivers could produce actor and partner effects on the fear of cancer recurrence through the mediation of social support, which provided empirical support for improving reducing the level of fear of cancer recurrence among patients and caregivers at the dyadic level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic liver disease (CLD) is one of the leading disease burdens in Pakistan. Until now, there has only been limited focus in the country on providing health services through tertiary services in urban cities, whereas there is almost no research in Pakistan on the mental health and quality of life of CLD patients. This study aimed to understand which predictors influence the mental health and quality of life of CLD patients in order to advise better policy protection. Methods: Data was collected from CLD patients at the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Centre, Lahore, Pakistan. A total of 850 respondents were part of the final sample. The age of respondents ranged from 18 to 79 years and included the following diagnosis: (i) Chronic Viral Hepatitis (n = 271), (ii) Cirrhosis (n = 259), (iii) Hepatocellular Carcinoma (n = 193), and (iv) Non-viral Liver Disease (n = 127). Results: Mean results reveal that females as well as illiterate patients need more support for mental health and communication with their physician; whereas men need more support to develop coping strategies. Structural equation modelling results reveal that the severity of symptoms (β = 0.24, p < 0.001), coping strategies (β=-0.51, p < 0.001), and doctor communication (β=-0.35, p < 0.001) predict mental health. Quality of life is associated with the severity of symptoms (β=-0.36, p < 0.001), coping strategies (β = 0.26, p < 0.05), and doctor communication (β = 0.09, p < 0.05). Conclusions: A 'bio-psycho-social-spiritual' model is recommended for Pakistan's CLD patients which includes the integration of social officers to provide support in four key areas to secure mental health and quality of life of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Second-hand luxury goods feature both characteristics of luxury products like perceived value including social, emotional, and quality value, and second-hand goods like price-performance ratio. Enlarging the second-hand luxury market is of significance to protect the environment and save rare and valuable natural resources, and thus investigating the determinants of purchase intention is meaningful. From the perspective of the psychology of consumers, the influence of factors related to consumers (recycling awareness, subjective norms, attitudes, perceived behavioral control) and products (perceived value, price-performance ratio) on the intention to buy second-hand luxury goods is explored in this study through an online survey with Chinese consumers as a sample. The results are analyzed using the structural equation model (SEM) and show that consumers' attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and recycling awareness will promote the intention of purchasing second-hand luxury goods, and the perceived value and price-performance ratio of second-hand luxury goods also have a positive impact on the purchase intention. However, there is no significant relationship between subjective norms and purchase intention. In addition, this study also explores the interrelationship between constructs and draws corresponding conclusions, providing references for the subsequent development of the second-hand luxury market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjectivesMethodResultsConclusionWe investigated the association of social participation with mental well-being among older people and whether purpose in life mediates the potential association.Cross-sectional (n = 1014) and longitudinal (n = 660, four-year follow-up) data comprised of three age cohorts (75, 80, and 85 years) of community-dwelling people. Life satisfaction was measured with the Satisfaction with Life Scale, depressive symptoms with the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and purpose in life with the Scales of Psychological Well-Being purpose in life subscale. Social participation was assessed with questions concerning the frequency of meeting close friends and acquaintances, and volunteering. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.Higher social participation was associated with higher life satisfaction and fewer depressive symptoms both cross-sectionally and after a four-year follow-up. Higher purpose in life mediated the associations of more social participation with higher life satisfaction and fewer depressive symptoms cross-sectionally. In the longitudinal data, the mediation effect was not observed.Older people with frequent social participation who had a sense of purpose in their lives will likely have higher mental well-being than those with less social participation. Enabling and supporting them to conduct purposeful actions in social contexts may help maintain their mental well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to explore the effects of parental migration on the well-being of children and how to adjust social cognitive well-being through the interrelations among family relations and social cognitive well-being indicators using structural equation modelling. Two modified social cognitive well-being models were tested in 1682 Chinese migrant workers' children to examine the pathways among social cognitive well-being and family relation characteristics. The modified models are based on the social cognitive well-being model and the characteristics of Chinese migrant workers' children. The results show that caregiver-child communication frequency, caregiver-child regulation, caregiver-child conflicts, caregiver-child trust and communication, and coactivity positively impact children's social cognitive well-being. In contrast, caregiver-child alienation negatively influences children's social cognitive factors through caregiver-child trust and communication. Additionally, this research revealed that family-related characteristics (caregiver-child regulation, caregiver-child coactivities, caregiver-child communication frequency, caregiver-child alienation, caregiver-child conflicts, and caregiver-child trust and communication) are interconnected with social cognitive well-being indicators (academic satisfaction, outcome expectations, goal progress, lifelong satisfaction, environmental support, positive affect, negative affect, and self-efficacy). This suggests that family migration and relationships with caregiver(s) can significantly affect the well-being of migrant workers' children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe visual appeal of self-service interfaces is known to influence consumers’ subsequent evaluations of the system’s other features and enjoyment; however, the impact of visual appeal on subsequent judgments of system and information quality and hedonic motivation, and consequently on shaping behavioral intentions to use a particular self-service, has not been specifically studied. Therefore, this study examines the impact of visual appeal on the acceptance of self-service technologies using meta-analytic structural equation modeling with 63 independent samples (26,144 cumulative respondents) drawn from 58 empirical studies. As a result, visual appeal demonstrates strong correlations with system quality, information quality, and hedonic motivation and appears to indirectly influence perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and behavioral intention to use new SST. The findings shed light on the primacy effect of visual appeal on consumers’ acceptance of SSTs and the substantive effect of visual appeal in shaping perceptions of system and information quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Studying Gender Role Stress (GRS) is important to understanding how gender norms and related fears impact individuals' well-being, relationships, and societal dynamics, including gender equality. This study investigated the validity, reliability, and utility of the Masculine Gender Role Stress (MGRS) questionnaire among young adults in Turkiye to obtain a standardized instrument suitable for future research. Method: Participants were recruited from students at three colleges in Istanbul through a convenient online sampling method. All participants completed the MGRS, Experiences of Shame, and Childhood Trauma Questionnaires. Due to gender-specific formulations in several items of the MGRS scale, participants identifying as female were excluded. The final sample comprised 110 male-identified participants and 26 individuals who identified as gender-queer or chose not to declare their gender. Results: Confirmatory factor analyses statistically rejected the MGRS questionnaire's original five-factor structure as shown by Comparative Fit Index. However, an exploratory factor analysis of the current data yielded the most interpretable fivefactor solution, representing fears of subordination, sexual inadequacy, performance failure, emotional expressiveness, and vulnerability. The MGRS questionnaire exhibited significant correlations between shame and childhood trauma scores. The revised version demonstrated excellent internal structure and test-retest consistency. Conclusion: This preliminary study suggests that the Turkish version of the MGRS questionnaire is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing gender role stress in young adults. This tool is expected to be useful in clinical and community research studies on the correlates of gender role stress in Turkiye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid advancement of digitalization has significantly impacted various aspects of accounting professions, particularly in taxation. Tax digitization offers numerous advantages, including streamlining tax processes, reducing administrative burdens, increasing efficiency, and enhancing data security. While tax practitioners in advanced economies have embraced digitalization, their Malaysian counterparts are still in the early stages of transitioning to a modern digital system. This situation has prompted researchers to predict factors that could accelerate the adoption of tax digitalization among Malaysian tax practitioners. Emulating the Unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), this study investigates the adoption of tax digitalization with performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions. The researchers distributed 200 questionnaires to Malaysian tax practitioners. However, only 142 proceeded for further analysis. Results from multiple regression using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) 3 indicate that all variables: effort and performance expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions exhibit a significant relationship with tax digitalization adoption. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, tax authorities, and professional bodies in developing strategies and initiatives to promote the adoption of tax digitalization among practitioners. Embracing digitalization is crucial for transforming the profession and fostering efficiency, sustainability, and resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In polar regions, global warming has accelerated the melting of glacial and buried ice, resulting in meltwater run-off and the mobilization of surface nutrients. Yet, the short-term effects of altered nutrient regimes on the diversity and function of soil microbiota in polyextreme environments such as Antarctica, remains poorly understood. We studied these effects by constructing soil microcosms simulating augmented carbon, nitrogen, and moisture. Addition of nitrogen significantly decreased the diversity of Antarctic soil microbial assemblages, compared with other treatments. Other treatments led to a shift in the relative abundances of these microbial assemblages although the distributional patterns were random. Only nitrogen treatment appeared to lead to distinct community structural patterns, with increases in abundance of Proteobacteria (Gammaproteobateria) and a decrease in Verrucomicrobiota (Chlamydiae and Verrucomicrobiae).The effects of extracellular enzyme activities and soil parameters on changes in microbial taxa were also significant following nitrogen addition. Structural equation modeling revealed that nutrient source and extracellular enzyme activities were positive predictors of microbial diversity. Our study highlights the effect of nitrogen addition on Antarctic soil microorganisms, supporting evidence of microbial resilience to nutrient increases. In contrast with studies suggesting that these communities may be resistant to change, Antarctic soil microbiota responded rapidly to augmented nutrient regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Central nervous system (CNS) medication use is common among older adults, yet the impact of hospitalizations on use remains unclear. This study details CNS medication use, discontinuations, and user profiles during hospitalization periods. Methods: Retrospective cohort study using electronic health records on patients ≥65 years, from three hospitals (2018–2020), and prescribed a CNS medication around hospitalization (90 days prior to 90 days after). Latent class transitions analysis (LCTA) examined profiles of CNS medication class users across four time points (90 days prior, admission, discharge, 90 days after hospitalization). Results: Among 4666 patients (mean age 74.3 ± 9.3 years; 63% female; 70% White; mean length of stay 4.6 ± 5.6 days (median 3.0 [2.0, 6.0]), the most commonly prescribed CNS medications were antidepressants (56%) and opioids (49%). Overall, 74% (n = 3446) of patients were persistent users of a CNS medication across all four time points; 7% (n = 388) had discontinuations during hospitalization, but of these, 64% (216/388) had new starts or restarts within 90 days after hospitalization. LCTA identified three profile groups: (1) low CNS medication users, 54%–60% of patients; (2) mental health medication users, 30%–36%; and (3) acute/chronic pain medication users, 9%–10%. Probability of staying in same group across the four time points was high (0.88–1.00). Transitioning to the low CNS medication use group was highest from admission to discharge (probability of 9% for pain medication users, 5% for mental health medication users). Female gender increased (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3–4.3), while chronic kidney disease lowered (OR 0.5, 0.2–0.9) the odds of transitioning to the low CNS medication use profile between admission and discharge. Conclusions: CNS medication use stays consistent around hospitalization, with discontinuation more likely between admission and discharge, especially among pain medication users. Further research on patient outcomes is needed to understand the benefits and harms of hospital deprescribing, particularly for medications requiring gradual tapering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]