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This study investigates the student‐ and school‐level predictors of reading performance across five top‐performing countries in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2021. Utilising a multilevel analysis, the research examines the influence of cognitive development, socio‐cultural contexts and educational environments on reading achievement. The results reveal significant variances both between and within schools, highlighting the critical role of educational policies and practices in shaping student outcomes. Finland, known for its equity‐focused education system, demonstrates low between‐school variance, while Russia shows high between‐school variance owing to socio‐economic disparities. Key student‐level predictors include gender, digital self‐efficacy and a sense of school belonging, varying in significance across countries. At the school level, factors such as the number of computers, principal experience and academic emphasis significantly influence reading scores. The full model, incorporating both student‐ and school‐level predictors, explains a substantial portion of the variance in reading scores, especially in Hong Kong and Russia. These findings underscore the importance of a comprehensive approach to educational research, considering both individual and institutional factors. Policy implications suggest targeted interventions for countries with high between‐school variances and support for inclusive learning environments where within‐school variances are significant. Future research should explore the impact of non‐cognitive factors and emerging educational practices on reading performance to develop more effective educational strategies globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a progressive damage model (PDM) based on the 3D Hashin failure criterion within the ABAQUS/ExplicitTM 2021 framework via a VUMAT subroutine, enhancing the characterization of the mechanical performance and damage evolution in the elastic and softening stages of composite materials via the accurate calculation of damage variables and accommodation of non-monotonic loading conditions. In the subsequent multi-level verification, it is found that the model accurately simulates the primary failure modes at the element level and diminishes the influence of element size, ensuring a reliable behavior representation under non-monotonic loading. At the laminate level, it also accurately forecasts the elastic behavior and damage evolution in open-hole lamina and laminates, demonstrating the final crack band at ultimate failure. This paper also emphasizes the importance of correct characteristic length selection and how to minimize mesh size impact by selecting appropriate values. Compared to ABAQUS's built-in 2D model, the 3D VUMAT subroutine shows superior accuracy and effectiveness, proving its value in characterizing the mechanical behavior and damage mechanisms of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) materials. The enhanced 3D PDM accurately characterizes the softening processes in composite materials under simple or complex stress states during monotonic or non-monotonic loading, effectively minimizes the mesh dependency, and reasonably captures failure crack bands, making it suitable for future simulations and resolutions of numerical issues in composite material models under complex, three-dimensional stress states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to explore the entrepreneurial processes of opportunity development in the context of multi-layered liabilities affecting women of foreign origin and living in Western countries. Europe represents a key destination for growing migration flows and a particularly interesting context for studying the different facets of this highly relevant phenomenon. This research adopts an interpretive philosophy, and analyses the narratives of the experiences, together with a longitudinal study of their ventures, of six female entrepreneurs of different foreign origins (Syria, Morocco, Lebanon, Italy, Argentina and Cuba) in three European countries (the UK, Italy, and Spain). The findings unveil how five different liabilities may, in an intertwined manner, affect these female entrepreneurs and their ventures: namely the liabilities of gender, foreignness, origin, newness, and smallness. The findings also illustrate how female entrepreneurs of foreign origin develop entrepreneurial opportunities to cope with these multi-layered liabilities to gain legitimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We contribute to research on social inequalities in educational attainment by examining the role of institutional contexts for students' study abroad (SA) intent and participation. To do so, we extend the individual-level rational choice model predicting SA intent and participation depending on students' socioeconomic status (SES) into a multi-level model emphasizing the importance of context effects. We test our model based on unique micro-level student data, which we supplement with context data. Examining 18,510 students nested in 69 universities, we provide the first in-depth multi-level analyses of SA intent and participation of students from Japan. In line with findings from many Western countries, our results show that higher-SES students are more likely to (intend to) study abroad. Regarding the role of institutional contexts, we find that programs designed to improve SA opportunity structures hardly affect students' SA intent but significantly positively affect SA participation above and beyond other university-level and student-level characteristics. Importantly, both lower- and higher-SES students benefit from favorable SA opportunity structures. These findings suggest that Japan's recent push toward internationalization of higher education has created relevant SA opportunities for students from different social backgrounds. Still, higher-SES students are currently overrepresented among those studying abroad because they are more likely to select into universities offering favorable SA opportunity structures. Our analysis calls for more research combining individual-level with contextual-level theories and data to better understand the conditions shaping SES-specific SA intent and participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intersectionality is a proven theoretical framework, offering a lens to explore how multiple identities and interlocking systems of power influence equity for historically underserved groups. This paper, with its unique focus on Black/African American women as a unilateral demographic, applies the multi-level intersectionality model to elucidate how race and gender converge to impact the educational and leadership experiences of Black/African Diasporan women. By illustrating the model's utility in research, policy, and practice, it not only sheds light on how systems of privilege shape opportunities and (in)equities for underrepresented groups, particularly within the context of higher education and leadership, but also provides actionable insights that empower policymakers and practitioners to make a difference. Framed within the context of higher education in the United States, this research underscores the need for more attention to race-gender diversity in higher education, as education and leadership are, in many ways, a manifestation of attainment and self-actualization. These insights can guide the development of effective policies and practices that promote equity and diversity in higher education, offering tangible solutions to the persistent challenges faced by Black/African American women in these spheres. Plain Language Summary: Intersectionality and Its Application in Higher Education Literature Intersectionality is an established theoretical framework that examines how various identities and power structures impact equity for marginalized groups, focusing specifically on Black/African American women. This paper applies a multi-level intersectionality model to show how race and gender intersect to influence the educational and leadership experiences of these women, providing valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners in higher education. It emphasizes the importance of addressing race-gender diversity in education and leadership to create more equitable opportunities and outcomes, offering practical solutions for the challenges faced by Black/African American women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a global health concern, causing over 35 million deaths, with 97% occurring in developing nations, particularly impacting Sub-Saharan Africa. While HIV testing is crucial for early treatment and prevention, existing research often focuses on specific groups, neglecting general adult testing rates. This study aims to identify predictors of HIV testing uptake among adults in Sub-Saharan Africa. Method Data were obtained from the official Demographic and Health Survey program database, which used a multistage cluster sampling technique to collect the survey data. In this study, a weighted sample of 283,936 adults was included from thirteen Sub-Saharan African countries. Multilevel multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to identify predictors of HIV testing uptake. Akaike’s information criteria guided model selection. Adjusted odds ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals determined significant predictor variables. Result Among adults in Sub-Saharan African countries, the prevalence of HIV testing uptake was 65.01% [95% CI (64.84%, 65.17%)]. Influential factors included male sex [AOR: 0.51, 95% CI (0.49,0.53)], varying odds ratios across age groups (20–24 [AOR: 3.3, 95% CI (3.21, 3.46) ], 25–29 [AOR: 4.4, 95% CI (4.23, 4.65)], 30–34 [AOR: 4.6, 95%CI (4.40, 4.87)], 35–39 [AOR: 4.0, 95%CI (3.82, 4.24)], 40–44 [AOR: 3.7, 95%CI (3.50, 3.91)], 45–49 [AOR: 2.7, 95%CI (2.55, 2.87)], 50+ [AOR: 2.7, 95%CI (2.50, 2.92)]), marital status (married [AOR: 3.3, 95%CI (3.16, 3.46)], cohabiting [AOR: 3.1, 95% CI (2.91, 3.28)], widowed/separated/divorced [AOR: 3.4, 95%CI (3.22, 3.63)]), female household headship (AOR: 1.28, 95%CI (1.24, 1.33)), education levels (primary [AOR: 3.9, 95%CI (3.72, 4.07)], secondary [AOR: 5.4, 95%CI (5.16, 5.74)], higher [AOR: 8.0, 95%CI (7.27, 8.71)]), media exposure (AOR: 1.4, 95%CI (1.32, 1.43)), wealth index (middle [AOR: 1.20, 95%CI (1.17, 1.27)], richer [AOR: 1.50, 95%CI (1.45, 1.62)]), Having discriminatory attitudes towards PLWHIV [AOR: 0.4; 95% CI (0.33, 0.37)], had multiple sexual partners [AOR: 1.2; 95% CI (1.11, 1.28)], had comprehensive knowledge about HIV [AOR: 1.6; 95% CI (1.55, 1.67)], rural residence (AOR: 1.4, 95%CI (1.28, 1.45)), and lower community illiteracy (AOR: 1.4, 95%CI (1.31, 1.50)) significantly influenced HIV testing uptake in the region. Conclusion This study highlights the need for tailored interventions to address disparities in HIV testing uptake among adults in Sub-Saharan Africa and progress towards the achievement of 95-95-95 targets by 2030. Thus, tailored interventions addressing key factors are crucial for enhancing testing accessibility and emphasizing awareness campaigns, easy service access, and targeted education efforts to improve early diagnosis, treatment, and HIV prevention in the region.

Abstract Maternal health is a global public health concern. The paucity of antenatal care (ANC) during pregnancy is directly associated with maternal mortality. This study assessed the individual and community-level determinants of quality ANC in six South-Asian countries. Data were obtained from a Demographic health survey of six South-Asian countries. This study included a sample of 180,567 (weighted) women aged 15–49 who had given birth in the preceding three years prior to the survey. The quality of ANC was determined by assessing whether a woman had received blood pressure monitoring, urine and blood sample screening, and iron supplements at any ANC visits. Frequency, percentage distribution, and inferential analysis (multilevel mixed-effects model) were conducted. The proportion of quality antenatal care utilization in South Asia was 66.9%. The multilevel analysis showed that women aged 35–49 years (AOR = 1.16; 95% CI = 1.09–1.24), higher education (AOR = 2.84; 95% CI = 2.69–2.99), middle wealth status (AOR = 1.55; 95% CI = 1.49–1.62), richest wealth status (AOR = 3.21; 95% CI = 3.04–3.39), unwanted pregnancy (AOR = 0.92; 95% CI = 0.89–0.95) and 2–4 birth order (AOR = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.83–0.89) were among the individual-level factors that were significantly associated with quality ANC utilization. In addition, rural residence (AOR = 0.77; 95% CI = 0.74–0.8), and big problem – distance to health facility (AOR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.53–0.76) were the among community level factors there were also significantly associated with use of quality ANC. Meanwhile, women who lived in India (AOR: 22.57; 95% CI: 20.32–25.08) and Maldives (AOR: 33.33; 95% CI: 31.06–35.76) had higher odds of quality ANC than those lived in Afghanistan. Educational status, wealth status, pregnancy wantedness, sex of household head, birth order, place of residence, and distance to health facility were associated with quality ANC. Improving educational status, improving wealth status, reducing the distance to health facilities, and providing rural area-friendly interventions are important to increase the quality of ANC in South Asia.

Abstract Introduction Child undernutrition is a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. Children who eat animal-based foods have higher intakes of various nutrients that are important for optimal linear growth. However, the prevalence of animal-source food consumption was low across many countries. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of good consumption of animal-source foods and its determinants among children aged 6 to 23 months in sub-Saharan African countries. Methods A cross-sectional pooled dataset using recent demographic and health surveys from 19 sub-Saharan African countries was employed. A total weighted sample of 65,742 children aged 6 to 23 months was included in the study. Data extracted from the recent DHS data sets were cleaned, recorded, and analyzed using STATA/SE version 14.0 statistical software. Descriptive analysis was carried out to present both individual and community-level variables using frequencies and percentages. A multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with the outcome variable. Finally, variables with a p-value less than 0.05 and an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval were declared statistically significant. Results In this study, 43.1% (95% CI: 42.7–43.5%) of children aged 6 to 23 months consumed animal-source foods. Factors like maternal education [AOR = 1.36; 95% CI (1.28, 1.44)], maternal occupation [AOR = 1.24; 95% CI (1.18, 1.31)], exposure to media [AOR = 1.30; 95% CI (1.24, 1.36)], wealth index [AOR = 1.16; 95% CI (1.10, 1.23)] & [AOR = 1.28; 95% CI (1.21, 1.36)], owned a mobile telephone [AOR = 1.23; 95% CI (1.17, 1.29)], ANC visits [AOR = 1.20; 95% CI (1.15, 1.25)], place of delivery [AOR = 1.09; 95% CI (1.04, 1.14)], PNC checkup [AOR = 1.34; 95% CI (1.28, 1.39)], the current age of the child [AOR = 1.99; 95% CI (1.85, 2.14)], [AOR = 3.34; 95% CI (3.14, 3.56)], & [AOR = 4.3; 95% CI (4.10, 4.66)], birth interval [AOR = 0.92; 95% CI (0.87, 0.97)], residence [AOR = 1.43; 95% CI (1.35, 1.50)], community illiteracy [AOR = 0.91; 95% CI (0.86, 0.96)], and community poverty [AOR = 1.07; 95% CI (1.01, 1.14)] were significantly associated with consumption of animal-source foods. Conclusion Less than half of children aged 6 to 23 months consumed any type of animal-source foods in sub-Saharan African countries. Higher educational level, non-agricultural work, exposure to media, high economic status, having a mobile telephone, attending 4 + ANC visits, health facility delivery, PNC checkups, older children, a birth interval of 24 months, urban residency, community literacy, and low community poverty were determinates of good consumption of animal source foods. Women empowerment, dissemination of nutrition-related information through mass media, promotion of health facility delivery, and improving utilization of maternal health services are recommended to improve infant and child feeding practices.

What drives individuals to join and remain loyal to armed groups amidst the chaos of the Syrian war? This article investigates this question by focusing on the Sham Front, offering a multi-level analysis that integrates external influences, group dynamics, and personal experiences. Based on extensive fieldwork in northern Syria and southern Turkey, including narratives from fighters, commanders, and local leaders, this study reveals how perceived emotional hardships and political uncertainties create distinct revolutionary subjectivities. By considering the macro-level influence of external actors, the meso-level group dynamics, and the micro-level motivations of individual fighters, this article provides a comprehensive understanding of the factors shaping fighters' behaviour. Incorporating theories of uncertainty-identity and the politics of emotions, the article challenges simplistic narratives, revealing how shared emotional bonds and collective memories sustain loyalty and combat engagement. Unlike many existing studies, this research prioritises the firsthand accounts of fighters, offering a deeper exploration of their motivations. This study bridges significant gaps in existing literature, showcasing how deep-seated emotional and social factors drive the resilience and persistence of fighters in the ongoing conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal health is a global public health concern. The paucity of antenatal care (ANC) during pregnancy is directly associated with maternal mortality. This study assessed the individual and community-level determinants of quality ANC in six South-Asian countries. Data were obtained from a Demographic health survey of six South-Asian countries. This study included a sample of 180,567 (weighted) women aged 15–49 who had given birth in the preceding three years prior to the survey. The quality of ANC was determined by assessing whether a woman had received blood pressure monitoring, urine and blood sample screening, and iron supplements at any ANC visits. Frequency, percentage distribution, and inferential analysis (multilevel mixed-effects model) were conducted. The proportion of quality antenatal care utilization in South Asia was 66.9%. The multilevel analysis showed that women aged 35–49 years (AOR = 1.16; 95% CI = 1.09–1.24), higher education (AOR = 2.84; 95% CI = 2.69–2.99), middle wealth status (AOR = 1.55; 95% CI = 1.49–1.62), richest wealth status (AOR = 3.21; 95% CI = 3.04–3.39), unwanted pregnancy (AOR = 0.92; 95% CI = 0.89–0.95) and 2–4 birth order (AOR = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.83–0.89) were among the individual-level factors that were significantly associated with quality ANC utilization. In addition, rural residence (AOR = 0.77; 95% CI = 0.74–0.8), and big problem – distance to health facility (AOR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.53–0.76) were the among community level factors there were also significantly associated with use of quality ANC. Meanwhile, women who lived in India (AOR: 22.57; 95% CI: 20.32–25.08) and Maldives (AOR: 33.33; 95% CI: 31.06–35.76) had higher odds of quality ANC than those lived in Afghanistan. Educational status, wealth status, pregnancy wantedness, sex of household head, birth order, place of residence, and distance to health facility were associated with quality ANC. Improving educational status, improving wealth status, reducing the distance to health facilities, and providing rural area-friendly interventions are important to increase the quality of ANC in South Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We argue that the importance of family relationships for individual well-being varies across societies as a function of a society’s degree of cultural heterogeneity. To examine the role of family relationships, we analyzed the responses from 13,009 participants in 50 societies on their life satisfaction across societies varying in their levels of historical and contemporary cultural heterogeneity. Such heterogeneity creates differences in the frequency of interacting with unfamiliar groups, which leads families to become more central to their members’ satisfaction with life. Multi-level analyses showed that historical and contemporary cultural heterogeneity moderated the pattern such that greater historical or contemporary cultural heterogeneity of society promoted a stronger positive relation between family relationship satisfaction and individual life satisfaction. Our results also revealed that the moderating role of historical cultural heterogeneity was more reliable than that of contemporary cultural heterogeneity. These findings demonstrate the importance of societal demography in shaping people’s psychological processes in different historical periods, suggesting a universal, trans-historical cultural process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Child undernutrition is a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. Children who eat animal-based foods have higher intakes of various nutrients that are important for optimal linear growth. However, the prevalence of animal-source food consumption was low across many countries. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of good consumption of animal-source foods and its determinants among children aged 6 to 23 months in sub-Saharan African countries. Methods: A cross-sectional pooled dataset using recent demographic and health surveys from 19 sub-Saharan African countries was employed. A total weighted sample of 65,742 children aged 6 to 23 months was included in the study. Data extracted from the recent DHS data sets were cleaned, recorded, and analyzed using STATA/SE version 14.0 statistical software. Descriptive analysis was carried out to present both individual and community-level variables using frequencies and percentages. A multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with the outcome variable. Finally, variables with a p-value less than 0.05 and an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval were declared statistically significant. Results: In this study, 43.1% (95% CI: 42.7–43.5%) of children aged 6 to 23 months consumed animal-source foods. Factors like maternal education [AOR = 1.36; 95% CI (1.28, 1.44)], maternal occupation [AOR = 1.24; 95% CI (1.18, 1.31)], exposure to media [AOR = 1.30; 95% CI (1.24, 1.36)], wealth index [AOR = 1.16; 95% CI (1.10, 1.23)] & [AOR = 1.28; 95% CI (1.21, 1.36)], owned a mobile telephone [AOR = 1.23; 95% CI (1.17, 1.29)], ANC visits [AOR = 1.20; 95% CI (1.15, 1.25)], place of delivery [AOR = 1.09; 95% CI (1.04, 1.14)], PNC checkup [AOR = 1.34; 95% CI (1.28, 1.39)], the current age of the child [AOR = 1.99; 95% CI (1.85, 2.14)], [AOR = 3.34; 95% CI (3.14, 3.56)], & [AOR = 4.3; 95% CI (4.10, 4.66)], birth interval [AOR = 0.92; 95% CI (0.87, 0.97)], residence [AOR = 1.43; 95% CI (1.35, 1.50)], community illiteracy [AOR = 0.91; 95% CI (0.86, 0.96)], and community poverty [AOR = 1.07; 95% CI (1.01, 1.14)] were significantly associated with consumption of animal-source foods. Conclusion: Less than half of children aged 6 to 23 months consumed any type of animal-source foods in sub-Saharan African countries. Higher educational level, non-agricultural work, exposure to media, high economic status, having a mobile telephone, attending 4 + ANC visits, health facility delivery, PNC checkups, older children, a birth interval of 24 months, urban residency, community literacy, and low community poverty were determinates of good consumption of animal source foods. Women empowerment, dissemination of nutrition-related information through mass media, promotion of health facility delivery, and improving utilization of maternal health services are recommended to improve infant and child feeding practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Civil aviation significantly contributes to "hard-to-abate" emissions, responsible for 2% of global CO2 emissions. This paper examines the most effective policies to promote Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) in Italy, using a multi-level policy analysis and a stakeholder-based case study approach. The policies reviewed comprise the international, European, and national level. The paper analyses at the international level, ICAO CORSIA and, at the European level, the Renewable Energy Directive (RED), ReFuel EU, and the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) for aviation. Italy has not yet implemented specific policies targeting SAF transition, which is challenging due to commercialization issues and policy inconsistencies. These include the price gap between SAF and conventional fuels, different definitions adopted, and environmental objectives pursued with respect to sustainable fuels by ICAO and the EU. Other challenges include double-counting risks and fuel tankering practices. This article contributes to Italy's SAF policymaking by developing a stakeholder-based quantitative survey, whose results suggest that three measures are key: tax subsidies for technology and infrastructure users, tax credits for upgrading production infrastructure, and tax breaks for SAF-using companies, fuel handlers, and distributors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycans associated with biopharmaceutical drugs play crucial roles in drug safety and efficacy, and therefore, their reliable detection and quantification is essential. Our study introduces a multi-level quantification approach for glycosylation analysis in monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), focusing on minor abundant glycovariants. Mass spectrometric data is evaluated mainly employing open-source software tools. Released N-glycan and glycopeptide data form the basis for integrating information across different structural levels up to intact glycoproteins. Comprehensive comparison showed that indeed, variations across structural levels were observed especially for minor abundant species. Utilizing modification finder (MoFi), a tool for annotating mass spectra of intact proteins, we quantify isobaric glycosylation variants at the intact protein level. Our workflow's utility is demonstrated on NISTmAb, rituximab and adalimumab, profiling their minor abundant variants for the first time across diverse structural levels. This study enhances understanding and accessibility in glycosylation analysis, spotlighting minor abundant glycovariants in therapeutic antibodies.

BackgroundNutrient deficiencies in Africa persist due to limited access to animal-source foods, causing a higher undernutrition prevalence, with 30.7% stunted children under five, which is higher than the global average of 22.0%. In African regions, there needs to be more information on access, consumption, and factors influencing children’s animal-source food consumption. Therefore, we comprehensively analyse data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) to determine factors associated with children’s (aged 6–23 months) consumption of animal-source foods (ASFs) in East African countries, which is crucial for policy and program development.MethodsWe utilized cross-sectional pooled DHS data from nine East African countries reported from 2015 to 2021. The sample size consisted of 18,686 weighted children aged 6–23 months who were included. The DHS data were collected from women (15–49 years old) from households in each enumeration area of each country. We calculated the pooled proportion of consumption of foods of animal origin using multi-level logistic regression analysis to determine factors of ASFs, and the strength of the association was measured by an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% CI and a p-value

Abstract Background Avoidance of bottle feeding is recommended as it interferes with optimal suckling behavior, is difficult to keep clean, and is an important route for the transmission of pathogens. However, there is a current shift towards breastfeeding for a short period and the introduction of bottle feeding in both the developed and developing worlds. Bottle-feeding practice and its individual- and community-level determinants are not addressed in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, this study aimed to fill this gap and assess the pooled prevalence and associated factors of bottle feeding among mothers of children less than 23 months of age. Methods Data from the recent demographic and health surveys of 20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa conducted between 2015 and 2022 were used. A total weighted sample of 86,619 mother-child pairs was included in the current study. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with the outcome variable. Intra-class correlation coefficient, likelihood ratio test, median odds ratio, and deviance (-2LLR) values were used for model comparison and fitness. Finally, variables with a p-value

Background The acquisition and development of prosodic aspects of vocal intonation are of special interest within the larger context of language acquisition. Method The present study explored the developmental trajectories of infant prosodic abilities from 4 to 16 months of life with an intensive time points assessment. Several aspects were considered: an acoustic analysis of infant vocal productions with specific software, the analyses of all the prosodic variables associated with the fundamental frequency (F0 mean, F0 range, and F0 final contours), the individual variability and the complexity of the vocal productions of the infants. Results The multi-level analysis evidenced specific prosodic developmental trajectories that differ for the different kind of vocal productions since the first months of life. Conclusions The findings suggest that in the second half of the first year of life infants show an intonational repertoire that may help manage interactions with their caregiver and that individual variability has to be taken in consideration when assessing infants’ prosody.

Background: Avoidance of bottle feeding is recommended as it interferes with optimal suckling behavior, is difficult to keep clean, and is an important route for the transmission of pathogens. However, there is a current shift towards breastfeeding for a short period and the introduction of bottle feeding in both the developed and developing worlds. Bottle-feeding practice and its individual- and community-level determinants are not addressed in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, this study aimed to fill this gap and assess the pooled prevalence and associated factors of bottle feeding among mothers of children less than 23 months of age. Methods: Data from the recent demographic and health surveys of 20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa conducted between 2015 and 2022 were used. A total weighted sample of 86,619 mother-child pairs was included in the current study. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with the outcome variable. Intra-class correlation coefficient, likelihood ratio test, median odds ratio, and deviance (-2LLR) values were used for model comparison and fitness. Finally, variables with a p-value < 0.05 and an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval were declared statistically significant. Results: The overall pooled prevalence of bottle feeding among mothers of children aged 0 to 23 months in sub-Saharan Africa was 13.74% (95% CI: 13.51%, 13.97%). Factors like maternal age [AOR = 1.09; 95% CI (1.04, 1.14)], educational status [AOR = 2.83; 95% CI (2.58, 3.10)], marital status [AOR = 1.16; 95% CI (1.09, 1.24)], maternal occupation [AOR = 0.76; 95% CI (0.73, 0.79)], media exposure [AOR = 0.80; 95% CI (0.76, 0.85)], wealth index [AOR = 1.21; 95% CI (1.15, 1.29)], sex of the household head [AOR = 1.17; 95% CI (1.12, 1.24)], family size [AOR = 1.06; 95% CI (1.01, 1.12)], number of under-five children [AOR = 1.11; 95% CI (1.04, 1.19)], place of delivery [AOR = 1.06; 95% CI (1.00, 1.12)], mode of delivery [AOR = 1.41; 95% CI (1.31, 1.52)], counseling on breastfeeding [AOR = 0.88; 95% CI (0.84, 0.92)], age of the child [AOR = 1.65; 95% CI (1.57, 1.75)], and residence [AOR = 1.64; 95% CI (1.56, 1.72)] were significantly associated with bottle-feeding practices. Conclusion: Nearly one out of seven children aged 0 to 23 months received bottle feeding in sub-Saharan African countries. Older mothers, higher mothers' educational status, unmarried women, richest families, non-working mothers, exposed to media, female-headed households, large family size, having one under-five children, home delivery, cesarean delivery, children aged 6–11 months, and urban residence were significantly associated with an increased risk of bottle feeding. Breastfeeding promotion programs are advised to target mothers who are older, educated, working, rich, gave birth at home, have a large family size, are delivered by cesarean section, have children aged 6–11 months, and reside in urban areas to achieve a significant decrease in bottle feeding rates in sub-Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the protective and risk factors of smartphone addiction at the individual and group levels using multi-level modelling, with a particular focus on extracurricular activities and academic helplessness. Data from the Korea Children and Youth Panel Survey (KCYPS) were used in the analyses. These data included 2,590 middle-school students (1,405 males and 1,185 females, 8th-grade students) nested in 17 cities. The findings revealed that individual-level variables, including lack of control belief and lack of active performance, were significant predictors of smartphone addiction. Furthermore, extracurricular activities contributed to decreased levels of smartphone addiction at both group and regional levels. The effects of individual-level variables on smartphone addiction differed depending on the rational-level variables. Based on these findings, educational implications and suggestions for future studies are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundVitamin A supplementation every 4–6 months is an economical, rapid, and effective strategy to enhance vitamin A status and minimize child morbidity and mortality due to vitamin A deficiency in the long run. Therefore, this study was aimed at investigating the level as well as the factors influencing VAS status among children aged 6–59 months in Tanzania.MethodsThis analysis relied on data from the 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS). The study used a weighted sample of 9,382 children aged 6–59 months. Given the effect of clustering and the binary character of the outcome variable, we employed a multilevel binary logistic regression model. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to determine statistical significance, considering the model with the lowest deviation that best fits the data.ResultsIn this study, vitamin A supplementation among children aged 6–59 months was found to be 53.18% [95% CI: 52.17, 54.19]. Mother’s/caregiver’s working status; Working [AOR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.34, 1.89], ANC follow-up [AOR = 1.71, 95%CI: 1.34, 2.2], and health facility delivery [AOR = 1.55, 95%CI: 1.25, 1.91] were individual-level factors associated with vitamin A supplementation. Whereas administrative zones of Western [AOR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.16, 3.52], Southern highlands [AOR = 3.83, 95% CI: 2.02, 7.24], Southern administrative zone [AOR = 2.69, 95% CI: 1.37, 5.3], and South West highlands [AOR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.33, 0.95] were community-level factors associated with vitamin A supplementation.ConclusionThe proportion of VAS among children in Tanzania is low compared to UNICEF’s target of 80. Mother’s/caregiver’s working status, antenatal care, place of delivery, community-level media exposure, and administrative zones were significantly associated factors with vitamin A supplementation. Therefore, interventions should be designed to improve the uptake of VAS. Provision and promotion of ANC and institutional delivery and strengthening of routine supplementation are recommended to increase coverage of childhood vitamin A supplementation. Moreover, special focus should be given to regions in the south-western highlands.

Abstract Background Voluntary assisted partner notification (VAPN) in HIV contact tracing is a globally recommended strategy to identify persons who have been exposed to HIV and link them to HIV testing and follow-up. However, there is little understanding about how VAPN is experienced by stakeholders in sub-Saharan African (SSA) contexts. We conducted a multi-level and multi-national qualitative analysis evaluating stakeholder perspectives surrounding VAPN implementation to inform the development of future VAPN policies. Method We conducted in-depth interviews (IDIs) with VAPN stakeholders at global (n = 5), national (n = 6), and community level (n = 4) across a total of seven SSA countries. Eligible participants were ≥ 18 years old and had experience developing, implementing, or overseeing VAPN policies in SSA. We sought to understand stakeholder’s perspectives on policy development, implementation, and perceived outcomes (barriers and facilitators). Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed thematically using a combination of inductive and deductive approaches. Results Between December 2019 and October 2020 we conducted 15 IDIs. While participants agreed that VAPN resulted in a high yield of people newly diagnosed with HIV; they noted numerous barriers surrounding VAPN implementation across global, national, and community levels, the majority of which were identified at community level. Barriers at global and national level included high target setting, contradictory laws, and limited independent research disenfranchising the experiences of implementing partners. The barriers identified at community level included client-level challenges (e.g., access to healthcare facilities and fear of adverse events); healthcare worker challenges (e.g., high workloads); limited data infrastructure; and cultural/gender norms that hindered women from engaging in HIV testing and VAPN services. In response to these barriers, participants shared implementation facilitators to sustain ethical implementation of VAPN services (e.g., contact tracing methods) and increase its yield (e.g., HIV self-testing integrated with VAPN services). Conclusion Overall, stakeholders perceived VAPN implementation to encounter barriers across all implementation levels (global to community). Future VAPN policies should be designed around the barriers and facilitators identified by SSA stakeholders to maximize the implementation of (ethical) HIV VAPN services and increase its impact in sub-Saharan African settings.

We, humans, perceive the scene utilizing pre-learned language categories. Our vocabulary system inherently possesses a hierarchy, aiding humans in understanding scenes at multiple levels. For example, when a person passes by chairs and desks from a distance rather than interacting with them up close, the objects are perceived from a broader perspective and recognized as furniture at a higher category level. In this work, we propose a multi-level semantic segmentation data generation method based on a scene-specific word tree to mimic human multi-level scene recognition. Multi-level semantic segmentation data encompasses diverse levels of grouped segmented areas with different degrees of detail, from the finest level of conventional semantic segmentation to coarser levels. Our scene-specific word trees leverage linguistic hierarchies to group scene components by considering relationships between words present in the scene. Furthermore, in the proposed data generation method, each word tree is constructed within a single image, allowing us to group the objects into user-selected levels, taking into account the relative relationship between objects in that scene. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our data generation method by building a multi-level scene segmentation network and training the model with the generated dataset, which reflects the scene-specific word tree.

Making the analysis of urban and spatial development more acceptable by all levels of analysis and governance requires a multi-level – or in other words vertical – approach to indicators measuring development paths. The 2030 Agenda of the United Nations with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals offers a promising chance to establish, maintain, and further develop a monitoring system that is supported by all levels involved, as well as all stakeholder groups and individuals across all levels. First experiences gathered in a nation (Germany) and bilateral and supranational context (Germany, Europe, and India) deliver recommendations for research and practice, and might thus show a possible way to attain successfully this goal.

Numerous contextual factors contribute to risky sexual decision-making among men who have sex with men (MSM), with experimental laboratory-based studies suggesting that alcohol consumption, sexual arousal, and partner familiarity have the potential to impact condom negotiations during sexual encounters. The purpose of the current study was to extend this line of inquiry outside of the laboratory and into the everyday lives of MSM. We collected six weeks of daily data on alcohol consumption and sexual behaviors from 257 moderate- and heavy-drinking MSM to examine the within- and between-subjects effects of alcohol consumption, average daily sexual arousal, and partner familiarity on condom negotiation processes during sexual encounters. We hypothesized that alcohol consumption, higher levels of average daily sexual arousal, and greater partner familiarity would all contribute to a reduced likelihood of condom negotiation prior to sexual activity, and that they would also affect the difficulty of negotiations. Contrary to hypotheses, none of these three predictors had significant within-subjects effects on condom negotiation outcomes. However, partner familiarity and average daily sexual arousal did exert significant between-subjects effects on the incidence of negotiation and negotiation difficulty. These findings have important implications for risk-reduction strategies in this population. They also highlight the challenges of reconciling results from experimental laboratory research and experience sampling conducted outside of the laboratory on sexual risk behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mindful organizing is a team-level capability that allows teams in high-risk environments to anticipate when something can potentially go wrong and adapt their operations just in time to protect the organizational system from negative consequences. This study aimed to extend our understanding of how mindful organizing affects employees' propensity to engage in a broad range of safety citizenship behaviours through the mediation of participative safety self-efficacy. Participative safety self-efficacy is a psychological state that enables individuals to have confidence in their capability to engage in constructive behaviours that go beyond the formal requirements of their job description. A multilevel mediation model was tested using data collected from a large sample of chemical workers (N = 443) operating in fifty work teams. The findings showed that mindful organizing on a team level fosters both individual safety citizenship (helping; voice; initiative) and prescribed safety compliance through enhancing individual participative self-efficacy. This mediation relationship is significantly stronger for safety citizenship than for safety compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Women’s high-risk fertility behavior (HRFB), which is characterized by narrow birth intervals, high birth order, and younger maternal age at birth, have been scientifically reported to have detrimental effects on the mother and child’s health. To date, there has been limited research into the underlying factors contributing to high-risk fertility behavior in Kenya. Thus, the aim of this study is to identify the factors associated with high-risk fertility behavior among women of reproductive age in Kenya. Method The 2022 Kenyan Demography and Health Survey data was used for the current study. This study included 15,483 women of reproductive age. To account for the clustering effects of DHS data and the binary nature of the outcome variable, a multilevel binary logistic regression model was applied. An adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was reported to declare the statistical significance. In addition, the model that had the lowest deviance was the one that best fit the data. Results The overall prevalence of HRFB among Kenyan women were 70.86% (95%CI = 69.96, 71.40). Women with primary, secondary, and higher educational levels, Protestant and Muslim religion followers, women whose husbands/partners had secondary and higher educational levels, a high household wealth index, ever had a terminated pregnancy, and rural residence, all of these factors were found to be strongly associated with high-risk fertility behavior. Conclusion As per the findings of our study, in Kenya a significant proportion of women has experienced HRFB. This is a matter of concern as it poses a significant challenge to the healthcare system. The high prevalence of HRFB indicates that there is an urgent need to take appropriate measures in order to mitigate its impact. The situation calls for a comprehensive and coordinated approach involving all stakeholders to address this issue effectively. It would benefit policymakers to create programs that consider factors like education, wealth, and residence that make women more susceptible to HRFB. Targeting women living in high HRFB-prevalence areas could help address the root causes of the issue. This approach can alleviate negative impacts and ensure effective and sustainable solutions.

Civil aviation significantly contributes to “hard-to-abate” emissions, responsible for 2% of global CO2 emissions. This paper examines the most effective policies to promote Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) in Italy, using a multi-level policy analysis and a stakeholder-based case study approach. The policies reviewed comprise the international, European, and national level. The paper analyses at the international level, ICAO CORSIA and, at the European level, the Renewable Energy Directive (RED), ReFuel EU, and the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) for aviation. Italy has not yet implemented specific policies targeting SAF transition, which is challenging due to commercialization issues and policy inconsistencies. These include the price gap between SAF and conventional fuels, different definitions adopted, and environmental objectives pursued with respect to sustainable fuels by ICAO and the EU. Other challenges include double-counting risks and fuel tankering practices. This article contributes to Italy’s SAF policymaking by developing a stakeholder-based quantitative survey, whose results suggest that three measures are key: tax subsidies for technology and infrastructure users, tax credits for upgrading production infrastructure, and tax breaks for SAF-using companies, fuel handlers, and distributors.

Abstract Background Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of thyroid disease, and in its severe form can result in cretinism; the impairment of the brain development of a child. Pregnant and breastfeeding women’s daily iodine requirement is elevated due to physiological changes in iodine metabolism, requiring up to double the iodine intake of other women. Although Nigeria was the first African country to be declared iodine sufficient in 2007, recent evidence has shown that only about seven in ten households consume salt with adequate iodine content (≥ 15 ppm), with variation across states. The study aimed to assess the Individual- and household-, community- and state-level factors associated with inadequate iodised salt consumption among pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers in Nigeria. Methods This study utilised the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey to assess factors associated with inadequate iodised salt consumption among 4911 pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers in Nigeria. The descriptive analysis was presented using frequencies and percentages. The prevalence of adequate and inadequate iodised salt consumption with their 95% confidence interval were computed. Several multi-level mixed effect log-binomial logistic regressions were used to explore the factors associated with inadequate iodised salt consumption. The Loglikelihood, Akaike Information Criterion and Bayesian Information Criterion were used to assess the goodness of fit of the models. All analyses were adjusted for the complex survey design and analysed using Stata 15.0 at p

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been one of the most serious global threats to public health recently. The present study examined whether area deprivation is associated with concerns related to COVID-19 using large nationwide data across South Korea. Methods: We used nationwide 2020 Korea Community Health Survey and official government database. Of the 225,680 included participants, 123,324 (54.6%) were women, and the mean age was 54.9 [17.8] years old. We classified the Area deprivation index (ADI) into Quartile 1 (Least deprived); Quartile 2; Quartile 3; and Quartile 4 (Most deprived). Our primary outcome was the concerns related to COVID-19 (0–16 scores). Multilevel regression analysis was conducted. Results: The mean score of concerns related to COVID-19 was 11.3 [3.2] in the total population. 13.5% of the variability in the scores of concerns related to COVID-19 was accounted for by district areas. Area with Q4 of ADI were associated with an increased score of concerns related to COVID-19 (Q1: reference; Q2: β = 0.218, SE = 0.119, FDR adj.p-value = 0.085; Q3: β = 0.235, SE = 0.133, FDR adj.p-value = 0.094; Q4: β = 0.252, SE = 0.109, FDR adj.p-value = 0.029). 19–49 groups in area with Q4 of ADI were associated with an increase in scores of concerns related to COVID-19 than other age groups in area with Q4 of ADI. Area with Q4 of ADI were associated with a score of concern of being criticized if getting infected compared to area with Q1 of ADI. Conclusion: We found that the highest quartile ADI was associated with greater concerns related to COVID-19. By identifying vulnerable population to concerns related to COVID-19, health systems may consider preventive intervention to mitigate mental health issues.

This study explores the adoption of ecological sanitation (ecosan) toilets in Arba Minch City, Ethiopia, using an integrated approach combining the diffusion of innovation (DOI) model and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). The research aims to understand the complex associations between DOI variables (relative advantage, complexity, compatibility, trialability, and observability) and TPB constructs (attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control) in predicting residents’ behavioral attitudes and intentions. Applying Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and bootstrapping techniques, the study investigates direct and indirect effects, offering a comprehensive analysis of the adoption process. The objectives include examining the influence of TPB and DOI constructs on residents’ intentions, unraveling direct and indirect effects on these intentions, and investigating variations among users of different toilet types in the city. The result of the study shows that attitude and perceived behavioral control are central to shaping intentions, aligning with TPB principles. Contextual factors like compatibility, relative advantage, and trayability reveal nuanced insights, deviating from conventional patterns. The study identifies attitude as a key moderator between DOI constructs and behavioral intention, enriching our understanding of the adoption process. In conclusion, the integrated DOI and TPB model provides nuanced perspectives on factors influencing behavioral attitudes and intentions toward ecosan toilet adoption. The crucial roles of perceived behavioral control and attitude underscore the importance of tailored interventions. The study’s insights are relevant for policymakers, practitioners, and development organizations working on sustainable sanitation practices in urban areas, contributing to broader sustainable development objectives.

IntroductionIn Japan, a country at the forefront of population ageing, significant geographic variation has been observed in inpatient medical expenditures for older adults aged 75 and above (IMEP75), both at the small- and large-area levels. However, our understanding of how different levels of administrative (geographic) units contribute to the overall geographic disparities remains incomplete. Thus, this study aimed to assess the degree to which geographic variation in IMEP75 can be attributed to municipality-, secondary medical area (SMA)-, and prefecture-level characteristics, and identify key factors associated with IMEP75.MethodsUsing nationwide aggregate health insurance claims data of municipalities for the period of April 2018 to March 2019, we conducted a multilevel linear regression analysis with three levels: municipalities, SMA, and prefectures. The contribution of municipality-, SMA-, and prefecture-level correlates to the overall geographic variation in IMEP75 was evaluated using the proportional change in variance across six constructed models. The effects of individual factors on IMEP75 in the multilevel models were assessed by estimating beta coefficients with their 95% confidence intervals.ResultsWe analysed data of 1,888 municipalities, 344 SMAs, and 47 prefectures. The availability of healthcare resources at the SMA-level and broader regions to which prefectures belonged together explained 57.3% of the overall geographic variance in IMEP75, whereas the effects of factors influencing healthcare demands at the municipality-level were relatively minor, contributing an additional explanatory power of 2.5%. Factors related to long-term and end-of-life care needs and provision such as the proportion of older adults certified as needing long-term care, long-term care benefit expenditure per recipient, and the availability of hospital beds for psychiatric and chronic care and end-of-life care support at home were associated with IMEP75.ConclusionTo ameliorate the geographic variation in IMEP75 in Japan, the reallocation of healthcare resources across SMAs should be considered, and drivers of broader regional disparities need to be further explored. Moreover, healthcare systems for older adults must integrate an infrastructure of efficient long-term care and end-of-life care delivery outside hospitals to alleviate the burden on inpatient care.

Accelerating the construction of a high-quality faculty that can adapt to the development of schools is one of the important issues facing universities today. In this paper, we build a comprehensive evaluation system for university teachers based on SOAP technology and hierarchical analysis, adding new security feature elements to the extended namespace of SOAP messages to achieve the system’s ability to handle access control, data confidentiality, and integrity. The system uses hierarchical analysis to hierarchize complex problems, decomposing them into different constituent factors according to the problem and the goals to be achieved and aggregating and combining the factors at different levels according to their interconnectedness and affiliation to form a multi-level analysis structure model. Using this system to analyze the teaching evaluation of college teachers and the six factors of teaching, we get a combined 91.35 and 84.35 for teacher 1 and teacher 2, respectively. From the comparison results, we can see that the teaching effect of Teacher 1 is generally higher than the other five factors, and the teaching attitude of Teacher 1 is lower than the other five factors, which shows that the teaching of Teacher 1 can achieve a good teaching effect. Therefore, the comprehensive evaluation system of college teachers established in this paper based on SOAP technology and hierarchical analysis method has good practicality.

Background: Women's high-risk fertility behavior (HRFB), which is characterized by narrow birth intervals, high birth order, and younger maternal age at birth, have been scientifically reported to have detrimental effects on the mother and child's health. To date, there has been limited research into the underlying factors contributing to high-risk fertility behavior in Kenya. Thus, the aim of this study is to identify the factors associated with high-risk fertility behavior among women of reproductive age in Kenya. Method: The 2022 Kenyan Demography and Health Survey data was used for the current study. This study included 15,483 women of reproductive age. To account for the clustering effects of DHS data and the binary nature of the outcome variable, a multilevel binary logistic regression model was applied. An adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was reported to declare the statistical significance. In addition, the model that had the lowest deviance was the one that best fit the data. Results: The overall prevalence of HRFB among Kenyan women were 70.86% (95%CI = 69.96, 71.40). Women with primary, secondary, and higher educational levels, Protestant and Muslim religion followers, women whose husbands/partners had secondary and higher educational levels, a high household wealth index, ever had a terminated pregnancy, and rural residence, all of these factors were found to be strongly associated with high-risk fertility behavior. Conclusion: As per the findings of our study, in Kenya a significant proportion of women has experienced HRFB. This is a matter of concern as it poses a significant challenge to the healthcare system. The high prevalence of HRFB indicates that there is an urgent need to take appropriate measures in order to mitigate its impact. The situation calls for a comprehensive and coordinated approach involving all stakeholders to address this issue effectively. It would benefit policymakers to create programs that consider factors like education, wealth, and residence that make women more susceptible to HRFB. Targeting women living in high HRFB-prevalence areas could help address the root causes of the issue. This approach can alleviate negative impacts and ensure effective and sustainable solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the academic literature, private supplementary tutoring is widely called shadow education because much of its content mimics that of schooling. The author of this paper wrote the first global study of the phenomenon, which was published in 1999 and set the agenda for much subsequent research. The present paper considers research emphases over the decades, noting strengths and gaps. Much initial and ongoing research has focused on economic and social implications of shadow education. Global, regional and national mapping has particularly highlighted cultural contexts and implications for social inequalities. However, inadequate attention has focused on pedagogical and psychological issues. Fitting the theme of the special issue of the journal in which the paper is included, the commentary gives particular attention to teaching, learning and development. It presents multiple levels of analysis to stress the value of, and relationships between, macro, meso and micro perspectives. The paper also highlights the value of quantitative, qualitative and mixed approaches for more complete understanding of dynamics in particular settings and suggests some specific themes for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learning does not occur through one-way lecturing. Rather, it occurs through reciprocal interactions. This means that a student's response to a teacher's guidance is critical in their learning. Moreover, it has been known that student learning can be influenced by school mean SES (socioeconomic status) insofar as it impacts the shared learning environment. In the present study, we examine (1) the relationship between math teacher support and student motivation on student mathematics achievement; and (2) whether student motivation interacts with teacher support in learning mathematics and how those interactions affect student mathematics achievement across various school mean SES (low, medium, high). The Programme for International Student Assessment 2012 survey data for 5,033 South Korean students was used in this research. In this study, the results show that (1) the effects of math teacher support and student motivation differ by school mean SES; and (2) there is no interaction between student motivation and math teacher support. Therefore, the findings of this study indicate that school SES impacts the shared learning environment and has a strong influence on student response to math teacher support and the relationship between student motivation and math achievement. Based on these results, implications for teacher education to improve teacher support are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression and along-going sick leave negatively influence employees and organizations. Organizations, however, may also contribute to employees' depression and sick leave by imposing a high workload. We therefore examined whether resource-providing supervisors may buffer the impact of employees' workload on depression and subsequent sick leave. We analyzed longitudinal data from Germany of 276 employees in female-dominated industries and their 90 supervisors. The results of the multilevel analyses revealed that employees' workload indirectly affected sick leave via an increase in depression, replicating existing evidence. If supervisors provided sufficient resources, this indirect effect vanished. Thus, organizations may counteract their contribution to employees' depression and sick leave by assuring that supervisors provide sufficient resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

background The present study aimed to investigate whether insomnia is associated with suicidal ideation (SI) among Japanese workers by conducting a multi-level analysis with sense of coherence (SOC) as a random effect. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 19,481 workers in Tsukuba, Japan. Data from 7,175 participants aged 20-65 years were included in the analysis. The Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) was used as the independent variable, and SI over the past year was used as the dependent variable. SOC was measured using the five-point SOC-13 scale, and socioeconomic and health factors were investigated as covariates. Participants were divided into three groups (low, medium, and high) based on their SOC scores. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS In the high-SOC group, only one person had SI. In a multilevel logistic analysis that excluded the high SOC group, insomnia was found to be associated with SI (OR = 2.26, 95% CI [1.75, 2.93]). Furthermore, the AIS sub-items "Final awakening earlier than desired" (OR = 1.26, 95% CI [1.05, 1.50]) and "Sense of well-being during the day" (OR = 1.63, 95% CI [1.34, 1.99]) were associated with SI. 8.95% or 11% of the variation in the presence or absence of SI was found to be explained by differences between SOC groups. CONCLUSIONS The study highlights that insomnia is associated with SI, and that high SOC may reduce SI even under insomnia. Future longitudinal studies are needed to confirm whether high SOC reduces SI due to insomnia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While most literature examines the determinants of international student mobility on a single scale, either global, regional, or national, differences between various patterns are under-investigated. To address this gap, this article explores the determinants of international student mobility at three distinct levels: global, Asian-outward, and intra-Asian. Secondary data from international databases are collected to test the effects of economic, linguistic, educational, technological, and geographical factors at each level. Findings reveal significant variation between intra-Asian student mobility and the other two levels. More specifically, while pull factors of the destination countries are salient to global and Asian outward mobility, intra-Asian mobility is predominantly influenced by push factors of the source countries. We then interpret how differences in macro socio-economic conditions shape uneven mobility dynamics replicated at the global and regional levels. Suggestions for future research on Asian higher education and international student mobility are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic business environment requires continuous innovative adaptations by the organisation to sustain itself and grow. Thus, corporate entrepreneurship acquires particular importance. This study uses the Multi-Level Perspective to compare the transitions and links that lead to the development of entrepreneurial activity in the organisation. For this purpose, a survey was carried out among the managers of 233 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Madrid. The study uses the crisp set Qualitative Comparative Analysis, making it possible to explore the interdependence between conditions. For the analysis we have considered the niche (individual), the regime (organisation) and the landscape (the environment) levels. Especially, in the landscape level: resident population, population growth rate, and the number of existing productive units. At the regime level, creative strategies and proactivity in the organisation are considered, and at the niche level, the variables considered are training received linked to agile methodologies, leadership and innovation. Results show that the landscape conditions are not necessary for entrepreneurial development in the organisation, and intra-entrepreneurial activity can occur independently; the regime conditions analysed are not sufficient and need to be linked to the niche variables. Our results also suggest that the organisation must strategically manage these variables for corporate entrepreneurial growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Women’s education is the base for faster economic growth, longer life expectancy, lower population growth, improved quality of life, and a high rate of investment return in developing countries. Historically, girls were denied opportunities for schooling in most of the regions and societies of Ethiopia. So this study targeted a multilevel analysis of women’s education in Ethiopia using the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey data. Methods Secondary data on women’s data sets were obtained from the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey. A population-based cross-sectional study design was used for the survey. The sampling technique used for the survey was the two-stage sampling technique, which is stratified in the first stage and equal probability systematic selection technique in the second stage. The multi-level ordinal logistic regression model was fitted to identify the determinants of women’s education in Ethiopia. Results Among the random sample of 17137 women, the majority, 65.6 percent were rural residents. Somali regional state (75.3 percent) and the capital city Addis Ababa (8.6 percent) had the highest and lowest percentages of women illiteracy respectively than the remaining administrative units of Ethiopia. The minimum values for the fit statistics and the indicative value of the intra-class correlation (68.3%) of the multilevel model showed its appropriateness to the data. Among the predictors in the final multilevel ordinal logistic regression analysis, women’s age at first marriage, residence, and family’s wealth index were significant predictors of women’s education in Ethiopia. Moreover, the estimates from the random effect result revealed that there is more variation in women’s education between the enumeration areas than within the enumeration areas. Conclusion A multi-level ordinal logistic regression analysis has determined higher-level differences in women's education that could not be addressed by a single-level approach. So, the application of standard models by ignoring this variation ought to embrace spurious results, then for such hierarchical data, multilevel modeling is recommended.

ObjectivesDespite high levels of physical violence against children (VAC) globally (40–50%), the literature on the determinants of VAC remains inconclusive. Most of the literature on this topic is based on cross-sectional data, and the multi-level nature of the drivers of VAC is widely ignored. This leads to model specification problems and an inability to draw causal inferences. Moreover, despite the higher prevalence of VAC in low-and middle-income countries, studies from high income countries dominate the field. We examined the determinants of physical domestic VAC to address these gaps in the literature.MethodsData were collected between 2001 and 2020 from 762 mother–child dyads recruited in the Maternal and Infant Nutrition Interventions in Matlab (MINIMat) study in Bangladesh. We conducted multi-level logistic regression analyses to identify the determinants of physical domestic VAC.ResultsPrevalence of physical domestic violence against girls (69%) and boys (62%) was extremely high. Community-level prevalence of physical domestic VAC increased the likelihood of physical domestic VAC at the individual level across gender (girls - OR-5.66; 95% CI- 3.11-10.32; boys - OR-7.67; CI- 3.95-14.91). While physical domestic violence against mothers was not associated with physical domestic violence against girls, it reduced the likelihood of such violence against boys by 47%. Having 3 or more siblings predicted physical domestic violence against girls (OR-1.97; 95% CI- 1.01-3.81 for 3 siblings; OR-4.58; 95% CI- 2.12-9.90 for 4 or more siblings), but not against boys. While girls in Hindu families were more likely to experience this violence, the boys were not. Mother’s education, employment non-governmental organization (NGO) participation and, household wealth did not predict this violence against any gender.ConclusionWe contend that physical domestic violence against mothers reflects an emphasized patriarchal culture in a family where a boy is less likely to experience physical domestic violence. Social norms and social learning theories explain the greater likelihood of a child experiencing physical domestic violence in a village with a higher level of such violence. We conclude that social norms around physical domestic VAC and patriarchal culture need to be changed to effectively address this violence.

Since the outbreak of COVID‐19, copious studies have explored whether and how COVID‐19 has changed individuals' well‐being. However, research has revealed mixed and inconsistent findings on this topic, with some suggesting that the pandemic hampered well‐being, and others showing non‐significant or even opposite patterns. Yet, little is known about what psychological factors could explain such discrepancies. The present study aims to fill this gap by proposing meaning in life (MIL) as a key moderator of the changes in well‐being following the pandemic. Two studies reported here (total N = 19,828), which took within‐person longitudinal approaches comparing subjective well‐being (SWB; hedonic well‐being) and psychological well‐being (PWB; eudaimonic well‐being) before and during COVID‐19 (Study 1: 2018, 2019 vs. 2020, 2021; Study 2: 2019 vs. 2021), provided empirical evidence supporting our theoretical claims. Specifically, we found significant moderative effects of MIL in both studies, such that individuals who held a higher MIL amidst COVID‐19 experienced an increase in SWB as well as PWB. In stark contrast, the two indicators of well‐being declined over time among those who possessed a lower MIL during the pandemic. Overall, our results suggest that MIL serves as one of the significant moderators of the changes in well‐being following COVID‐19, which may address the previous conflicting findings in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This commentary examines the increasing politicization of tourism and attempts to theorize the phenomenon through a multilevel analysis. Tourism scholars have examined the link between politics and tourism through the prism of sustainability, terrorism, geopolitics, and tourism development. However, these studies have focused on different tourism activities or encounters without theorizing the relationship between politics and tourism consumption. This commentary argues that the increasing influence of nationalism in global politics, which also affects tourism consumption, requires a new conceptualization. The theoretical premise of political consumption is used to guide the multilevel (macro, meso, and micro) analysis of two recent tourist boycotts: 1) the THAAD incident between South Korea and China and 2) the APA boycott by Chinese tourists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary medical staff (PMS) are the guardians of population health. However, their loss further worsens the shortage and uneven distribution of human health resources, which should be addressed immediately. This study aimed to investigate the current status of turnover intention of rural PMS in Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) in China and its influencing factors atthe individual and institutional levels to provide reliable baseline data for intervention strategies to protect valuable rural PMS. Methods: Participants were recruited from rural public health institutions of the XPCC using a cross-sectional multistage sampling process. Data on participants' turnover intention and individual- and institution-level indicators were obtained through standardized electronic questionnaires and statistical reports of regional health administrative departments. The key factors influencing PMS turnover intention were identified us ingunivariateandmulti-level logistic regression analysis. Findings: Overall, 20.5% (447/2182) of participants reported turnover intention. Univariate analysis showed that the occurrence of turnover intention was significantly influenced by marriage, education, age, year of working, monthly income, human resource management practices (HRMP), job satisfaction, per capita served population (PCSP) and number of beds (p < 0.05). Multi-level logistic regression analysis showed that bachelor's degree or above and intermediate professional title were closely related to the occurrence of turnover intention (p < 0.05), age 41-50 years old and above, high human resource management practice, and high job satisfaction effectively reduced the odds (p < 0.05). The odds of turnover intention increased by 37% (p < 0.10) for PMS in institutions with PCSP more than 250 people. In contrast, the odds of turnover intention decreased to 68% (p < 0.05) for PMS in institutions with more than 50 beds. Conclusion: Government-run primary medical institutions face the risk of PMS turnover intention. From a personal perspective, the high-risk population for the turnover intention was mainly the PMS with bachelor's degrees or above and intermediate professional titles. The low-risk population was the PMS with aged over 40 years, a higher evaluation of human resource management practice, and job satisfaction. From the perspective of primary medical institutions, larger institutions can reduce the turnover intention of individuals, whereas the size of the service population has the opposite effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]