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The worry and anticipation of physical, psychological and personal losses centered on the aging process generate anxiety. This study analyzes the factorial structure, internal consistency and factorial invariance according to gender of the Lasher and Faulkender Anxiety about Aging Scale. The sample consisted of 706 Mexican adults. The factor structure of the questionnaire was analyzed with confirmatory factor analysis. The analyses show a four-factor structure (fear of the elderly, psychological concerns, physical appearance and fear of loss) is viable and adequate for both the total sample (GFI .979; RMSEA .037; CFI .987) as for women (GFI .970; RMSEA .045; CFI .980) and men (GFI .919 and RMSEA .080; CFI .947). The four-factor structure, based on statistical and substantive criteria, has shown adequate reliability and validity fit indicators and can be considered a short and computerized version of the original version by Lasher and Faulkender. On the other hand, the factor structure, the factor loadings and the intercepts are considered invariant in the two populations studied (men and women); however, there are differences between the populations on the means of the physical appearance and fear of loss factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper traces the evolution of the Cuban state-owned enterprise (CEE) from the late 1980s to the present. It analyses the transformations in its management systems, the prevailing relationship between the centralisation and decentralisation of the economy and entrepreneurial autonomy. It also suggests directions for a programme of transformation of the state-owned enterprise, the main economic agent in the Cuban model of economic and social development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Na-free LDHs based on Cu, Mn and Al were successfully synthesized. • A CuMnAl HDL with Cu/Mn = 0.5 and pH = 8 gave a mixed oxide with high surface area. • A CuMnAl HDL with Cu/Mn = 0.5 and pH = 8 gave the highest Cu° dispersion. • A CuMnAl methanol synthesis catalyst was more active and selective than CuZnAl. Layered-double hydroxides (LDHs) based on copper, manganese, and aluminum were successfully prepared from sodium-free reactants, with x (Al3+/[Al3++Cu2++Mn2+]) values between 0.24 and 0.35, and y (Cu2+/Mn2+) values between 2.2 and 10.3. Catalysts obtained by calcination of the LDHs were characterized by EXAFS, XANES, XPS, ICP, XRD, TPR, N 2 O decomposition and BET, and were evaluated in the liquid-phase methanol synthesis reaction from synthesis gas. Characterization revealed that, in a commercial CuZnAl catalyst, the environment of copper is very similar to that prevailing in CuO. In the CuMnAl catalyst that presented the largest methanol synthesis activity, copper is more electron-deficient than in CuO and there is structural disorder beyond the first coordination sphere. TPR characterization suggests that manganese is in the 4+ oxidation state in the oxide precursor of this catalyst. The catalyst with the highest manganese content, y = 2.2, and prepared at higher pH, presented the highest methanol productivity and selectivity of all materials tested, including a commercial conventional CuZnAl catalyst, under our testing conditions. This was credited to the larger surface area of its oxide precursor, which resulted in smaller Cu crystallites and larger copper surface area than in the case of the remaining ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of the present study was to construct a predictive model of the personal self-concept from physical activity and body image in female Mexican young adults through structural equation modeling. A total of 515 female aged 18-25 years old completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Personal Self-concept Questionnaire and modified Multidimensional Body Self Relations Questionnaire. The results of structural equation modeling showed that regular physical activity, through the subjective importance of fitness and importance of physical appearance, has an indirect positive effect on personal self-concept in the dimension of emotional self-concept and this in turn has a direct positive effect on autonomy (and indirect through self-fulfillment). The proposed model obtains a satisfactory fit, accounting for 63% of the variance in personal self-concept in the dimension of autonomy (variable criteria). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes, in a sample of Mexican students, the factor structure of the Physical Self-Concept Questionnaire of Goñi, Ruiz de Azúa, and Rodríguez (2006), which assesses physical ability, physical fitness, attractiveness, strength, general physical self-concept, and global self-concept. A representative sample of 1,466 Mexican university physical education students was selected (754 men, 712 women; M age = 20.6 yr., SD = 2.0). Confirmatory factor analysis showed a two-factor structure (motor competency and physical attractiveness). The two-factor structure, regarding statistical and substantive criteria, had good fit indices. Results of the factor analyses carried out with the sub-samples indicated a strong stability and evidence for the factor structure obtained. The findings support the use of this questionnaire to measure physical self-concept in Mexican university students. Future studies should replicate these findings in other populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study analyses the psychometric properties, in university men and women, proposed for Blanco et al. (2017) to the Spanish version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Inventory. The overall sample consisted of 1220 subjects: 640 women and 580 men, with a mean age of 20.40 years (SD= 1.92) and 20.54 years (SD= 2.04) respectively. Psychometric analysis showed that a tri-factorial structure (cognitive symptoms, sleep disorders and somatic symptoms) was viable and adequate for both populations (men and woman) according to the established psychometric requirements. The results showed that factor structure, factor loadings and intercepts of the instrument could be considered invariant across groups; however, there are differences between groups for the means of factors cognitive anxiety and somatic symptoms [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data from a recent survey suggest that the major reasons Nebraska farmers plant cover crops are to improve soil organic matter, reduce erosion, improve soil water holding capacity, produce forage, and increase soil microbial biomass. Many of these benefits appear to be positively correlated with production of above-ground biomass. Thus, selecting species that will produce the greatest biomass should be beneficial for both soil conservation and forage production. Furthermore, the limited data available suggest that grazing of cover crops does not have large negative crop production, soil, or environmental impact. In the Midwestern United States, the production window following wheat harvest, male row destruction in seed corn, and to a lesser extent following corn silage harvest is long enough to produce 2,500 to 4,500 kg DM per hectare of high-nutritive value, fall forage. In the past 4 yr, we have conducted eight trials using predominantly oats and brassicas planted in mid- to late-August. Forage nutritive value of oats and brassicas is extremely high in early November (70% to 80% IVDMD; 14% to 23% CP) and remains high through December with only a 4% to 7% unit decrease in IVDMD and no change in CP concentration. Thus, it appears that delayed grazing could be an option to maximize potential forage yield. Fall-weaned calves (200 to 290 kg BW) grazing oats with or without brassicas in November and December (48 to 64 d) at stocking rates of 2.5 to 4.0 calves per hectare have ADG between 0.60 and 1.10 kg. The cost of gain has ranged from $0.53 to $2.08/kg when accounting for seed costs plus establishment ($60 to 117/ha), N plus application ($0 to 58/ha), fencing ($11/ha) and yardage ($0.10 calf-1 d-1). Although soybeans and corn harvested for grain do not provide a large enough growing window to accomplish fall grazing, similar dual purpose cover crop practices are often accomplished by planting winter-hardy small grain cereal grasses, such as cereal rye or winter triticale in the fall and grazing in the spring. However, traditional planting dates for corn and soybean result in a 30 to 45 d grazing period prior to corn and a 45 to 60 d period prior to soybean planting. Planting cover crops to provide late fall or early spring grazing has potential. However, incorporating forage production from cover crops into current cropping systems greatly increases the need for timeliness of management since the window of opportunity for forage production is quite narrow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tactical skills in sport are the basis for current models of invasion team sports instruction, and relate to other psychological variables that exert a mediating influence on people's normal physical activity. This study aimed to validate the Spanish adaptation of the Tactical Skills Inventory for Sports by Elferink-Gemser, Visscher, Richart, and Lemmink (2004) and verify its factorial invariance. The sample included 540 participants 12.89 ± 1.73 years of age (10 to 17 years old; 333 males and 207 females). The adaptation and translation of the original questionnaire followed the methodological steps established by the International Test Commission. Then two measurement models with the original questionnaire's four-factor structure were compared. Confirmatory analyses were conducted using the software AMOS 21 and maximum likelihood estimation. Results indicated a four-factor structure (positioning and deciding, knowing about ball actions, knowing about others, acting in changing situations) was viable and showed goodness of fit to the data, with adequate indices of reliability (α between .72 and .86) and validity (GFI = .955; RMSEA = .044; CFI = .974), and strong evidence of stability in the factor structure. Moreover, factorial invariance was observed between participants who do and do not practice team sports, with practitioners scoring higher than non-practitioners on all factors (p < .001; effect sizes between .97 and 1.08). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to adapt and validate the Spanish version of the Sport Motivation Scale-II (S-SMS-II) in adolescent athletes. The sample included 766 Spanish adolescents (263 females and 503 males; average age = 13.71 ± 1.30 years old). The methodological steps established by the International Test Commission were followed. Four measurement models were compared employing the maximum likelihood estimation (with six, five, three, and two factors). Then, factorial invariance analyses were conducted and the effect sizes were calculated. Finally, the reliability was calculated using Cronbach's alpha, omega, and average variance extracted coefficients. The five-factor S-SMS-II showed the best indices of fit (Cronbach's alpha .64 to .74; goodness of fit index .971, root mean square error of approximation .044, comparative fit index .966). Factorial invariance was also verified across gender and between sport-federated athletes and non-federated athletes. The proposed S-SMS-II is discussed according to previous validated versions (English, Portuguese, and Chinese). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of a physical education-based stretching development and maintenance program on hamstring extensibility in schoolchildren. A sample of 150 schoolchildren aged 7-10 years old from a primary school participated in the present study (140 participants were finally included). The six classes balanced by grade were cluster randomly assigned to the experimental group 1 (n = 51), experimental group 2 (n = 51) or control group (n = 49) (i.e., a cluster randomized controlled trial design was used). During the physical education classes, the students from the experimental groups 1 and 2 performed a four-minute stretching program twice a week for nine weeks (first semester). Then, after a five-week period of detraining coinciding with the Christmas holidays, the students from the experimental groups 1 and 2 completed another stretching program twice a week for eleven weeks (second semester). The students from the experimental group 1 continued performing the stretching program for four minutes while those from the experimental group 2 completed a flexibility maintenance program for only one minute. The results of the two-way analysis of variance showed that the physical education-based stretching development program significantly improved the students' hamstring extensibility (p < 0.001), as well as that these gains obtained remained after the stretching maintenance program (p < 0.001). Additionally, statistically significant differences between the two experimental groups were not found (p > 0.05). After a short-term stretching development program, a physical education-based stretching maintenance program of only one-minute sessions twice a week is effective in maintaining hamstring extensibility among schoolchildren. This knowledge could help and guide teachers to design programs that allow a feasible and effective development and maintenance of students' flexibility in the physical education setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study analyses the psychometric properties of the Body Image Anxiety Scale (BIAS) on students of Social Sciences. The total sample comprised 589 participants; 376 women and 213 men, all of them freshman at Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua in the area of social sciences, with a mean age of 18.24 years (DS = 0.73). Psychometric analysis showed that a two-factorial structure was viable and adequate. The factor structure of the questionnaire was analyzed with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The structure of the two factors, attending to substantive and statistic criteria, showed adequate indicators of adjustment of reliability and validity. In addition, factor analysis conducted with subsamples indicated the presence of strong evidence of factor structure stability. Future research should replicate these findings in larger samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]