Structural Approach Research Articles

Motivations of generations: The importance of leadership and communication styles at the workplace

Generational differences shape technological preferences and fundamentally influence workplace motivation and interactions. Our research aims to examine in detail how different generations assess the importance of workplace communication and leadership styles and how these diverse preferences impact workplace motivation and commitment. In our analysis, we studied the behavioral patterns of four generations—Baby Boomers, Generations X, Y, and Z—through anonymous online questionnaires supplemented by in-depth interviews conducted with a leader and a Generation Z employee. To verify our hypotheses, we employed statistical methods, including the Chi-Square test, Spearman’s rank correlation, and cross-tabulation analysis. Our results clearly demonstrated that different generations evaluate the importance of applied leadership and communication styles differently. While Generations Y and Z highly value flexible, supportive leadership styles, older generations, such as the Baby Boomers prefer more traditional, structured approaches. The study confirmed that aligning leadership and communication styles is crucial, as it significantly impacts the workplace atmosphere and employee performance. Our research findings hold both theoretical and practical significance. This research highlights how understanding generational preferences in leadership and communication styles can enhance workplace cohesion and efficiency. The results provide specific guidance for leaders and HR professionals to create a supportive and adaptable environment that effectively meets the needs of diverse generations.

Nurses' work environment and health promotion in relation to psychological distress symptoms, and sleep disturbance: A structural equation modeling approach.

The healthcare work environment has numerous stressors that can contribute to distress and poor health outcomes among nurses. The impact of distress can be detrimental, resulting in nurses leaving the profession. Thus, it is critical to explore factors in the work environment that contribute to the distress symptoms and behaviors that promote nurses' health. This study aimed to examine the constructs associated with the conceptual model of distress, such as the work environment, specifically workload and the practice environment (quality of care, salary, staffing, time, and satisfaction) and associations with psychological distress, sleep disturbance, and health promotion behaviors in nurses, using structural equation modeling. This study was a cross-sectional survey design collected as part of the Nurse Worklife and Wellness Study (NWWS) using balanced stratified sampling methods. A confirmatory factor analysis tested the factorial structure of the latent constructs using weighted least squares estimation with missing data (WLSMV) for the sample (n = 1170). A structural equation modeling approach examined the direct and indirect associations between workload, practice environment, health promotion behaviors, psychological distress symptoms, sleep disturbance, and health. Based on the confirmatory factor analysis, the measurement model reported adequate model fit (CFI = 0.96; TLI = 0.95; SRMR = 0.048 and RMSEA = 0.039). The structural model showed that the workload was related to significantly increased psychological distress (β = 1.47, p < 0.001), sleep disturbance (β = 1.22, p < 0.01), and decreased overall health (β = -1.36, p < 0.01). Similarly, a positive practice environment was associated with significantly higher psychological distress (β = 1.61, p < 0.001), sleep disturbance (β = 1.31, p < 0.01), and lower overall health (β = -1.51, p < 0.01). Workload and the practice environment were associated with significantly increased health promotion behaviors such as interpersonal relations, spiritual growth, stress management, physical activity, and nutrition. A statistically significant indirect relationship was found between workload and psychological distress, mediated by health promotion behaviors. Psychological and physical health promotion had restorative effects in relation to decreasing the impact of distress and sleep disturbance while increasing overall health. Our results highlight the need to improve the work environment by decreasing the nurses' workload and using health promotion behaviors to mitigate nurses' psychological distress. Future studies should focus on exploring distress in the context of non-pandemic work conditions and finding ways to promote coping behaviors in nurses. In addition, healthcare organizations should develop policies and strategies to incentivize nurses' participation in health promotion behaviors to promote their well-being and ultimately stabilize the nursing workforce.

Международные инновационно-инвестиционные проекты в сфере образования как объект менеджмента и маркетинга

The aim of this article is to examine the specifics of project and marketing management necessary for the effective implementation of new forms of international innovative investment projects (IIIPs) under modern conditions. Current trends and key issues of this process are revealed at the present time. The methodological foundations of managing international innovative investment projects (IIIPs) have been explored and refined, highlighting their characteristics, features, and stages of the project life cycle. Conditions for the effectiveness of such projects are summarized and formulated. Recommendations for improving the management mechanisms of IIIPs have been developed based on the integration of project and marketing approaches. A classification of project costs and a methodology for their assessment have been proposed, illustrated through a joint Russian-Chinese project in the field of higher education. The necessity of algorithmizing the management of IIIPs based on a structural approach is substantiated.

Determinants of South Korean adolescents' offline and online violence: a structural equation modeling approach

Adolescent violence has been one of the most serious social concerns for the last few decades. With the rapid development and spread of the Internet and digital technologies, online violence has become another major type of adolescent violence. This study investigates the antecedents of South Korean adolescents’ offline and online violence by employing both the theoretical and empirical foundations of traditional violence literature. The research model was proposed and constructed based on general strain theory and social ecological theory with considerations of 2481 middle school first-grade student samples from the 2018 Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey (KCYPS). Structural equation modeling (SEM) results presented the direct effects of emotions and indirect effects of social relationships on adolescents’ delinquency, bullying, and online violence. Overall, the findings of the current study are consistent with those of previous studies and theoretical assumptions. Except for the effect of social withdrawal on delinquency, the emotions had significant effects on violence perpetration. Furthermore, relationships with parents, friends, and teachers showed protective effects against negative emotions. Finally, online violence was significantly affected by all types of social relationships. The findings of this study can provide a better understanding of both online and offline violence in adolescents. In addition, since the results were derived from a nationally representative sample, this study can provide practitioners in South Korea with guidance on how to set proper interventions for adolescents’ social and emotional aspects of violence perpetration.

Narratives of health-promoting experiences by older husbands and wives providing care to their home-dwelling spouses receiving home-care services in Norway

BackgroundIn today’s healthcare systems, older family caregivers who care for their spouses at home are indispensable providers of healthcare. However, many of these caregivers are at risk of becoming ill themselves. To prevent this and to guide the development of targeted healthcare services, home-care personnel need knowledge on how to promote the health of older family caregivers. The purpose of this study was to understand the health-promoting experiences of older family caregivers who care for their home-dwelling spouses receiving home-care services.MethodsThe experiences of older family caregivers were explored using a narrative design that involved narrative interviews and a narrative thematic and structural analytical approach. The sample consisted of four husbands and six wives aged 79–91 years. In the analysis, two storylines of narratives were constructed: one by husbands and one by wives.FindingsIn the husbands’ narrative, continuation of everyday life and social support in everyday life were highlighted as being health-promoting. In the wives’ narrative, the importance of having time for oneself and being seen, heard and included by the home-care personnel were emphasized as promoting their health. The husbands’ narrative contained stories of the past and the present, while the wives’ narrative mainly comprised stories of the present.ConclusionThis study has provided insights into the narratives of older husbands and wives acting as family caregivers regarding what promotes their health caring for their spouses at home. Their stories show variations in care style, coping style and experiences of the caregiver burden. These findings suggest that home-care services should consider providing customized health-promoting services to older family caregivers who are providing care to their home-dwelling spouses receiving home-care services. Given the sample size of only ten participants, further qualitative and quantitative research is needed.

A Comprehensive Multi-Objective Optimization Study on the Thermodynamic Performance of a Supercritical CO2 Brayton Cycle Incorporating Multi-Stage Main Compressor Intermediate Cooling

This study proposes a supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle incorporating multi-stage main compressor intermediate cooling (MMCIC sCO2 Brayton cycle), and conducts an in-depth investigation and discussion on the enhancement of its thermodynamic performance. With the aim of achieving the maximum power cycle thermal efficiency and the maximum specific net work, this study examines the variation of the Pareto frontier with respect to the number of intermediate cooling stages and critical operational parameters. The results indicate that the MMCIC sCO2 Brayton cycle offers significant advantages in improving power cycle thermal efficiency, reducing energy consumption, and mitigating the adverse effects associated with main compressor inlet temperature increasing. Under the investigated operational conditions, the optimal cycle performance is achieved with four intermediate cooling stages, yielding a maximum power cycle thermal efficiency of 67.85% and a maximum specific net work of 0.177 MW·kg−1. Cycles with two or three intermediate cooling stages also deliver competitive cycle performance, and can be regarded as alternative options. Additionally, increasing the turbine inlet temperature proves more effective for enhancing power cycle thermal efficiency, whereas increasing the turbine inlet pressure can substantially improve the specific net work. This study provides a feasible structural layout approach and research framework to improve the thermodynamic performance of the sCO2 Brayton cycle, offering a robust theoretical foundation and technical guidance for its implementation in power engineering.

Examining the impact of student characteristics on E-learning satisfaction: A structural equation modeling approach

E-learning has become an integral part of higher education, significantly influencing the teaching and learning landscape. This study investigates the impact of student characteristics such as gender, grade, and major on E-learning satisfaction. Utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and collecting data through 527 valid questionnaires from Nanjing Normal University students, this research reveals the nuanced relationships between these variables and E-learning satisfaction. The findings indicate that gender, grade, and major significantly and positively impact student satisfaction with E-learning, highlighting the need for tailored E-learning resources to meet diverse student needs. The study underscores the importance of continuous improvement in E-learning resources and platforms to enhance student satisfaction. This research contributes to the understanding of effective E-learning strategies in higher education institutions.

Synergies Between Land Use/Land Cover Mapping and Urban Morphology: A Review of Advances and Methodologies

This study aims to bridge the fields of urban morphology and land use/land cover (LULC) mapping through a systematic analysis of their integration in recent research. The research employs systematic literature review (SLR) methodology combining quantitative and qualitative methods through four methodological steps: data search, data selection, data analysis, and data clustering. The analysis performed three distinct clustering patterns: (1) methods and tools, (2) data types, and (3) urban morphology aspects. The results reveal five distinct methodological approaches—Data-Driven Typological Decoding Approach, Quantitative Structural Metrics Approach, Predictive Spatiotemporal Transition Approach, Temporal Change Detection and Performance Approach, and Spatial Configuration and Density Analysis Approach—each contributing unique insights to urban form analysis. The findings demonstrate the multidimensional nature of urban form analysis, incorporating both social and temporal dimensions, while highlighting the essential role of change detection in understanding urban pattern evolution. This systematic review establishes a comprehensive framework for understanding the relationship between urban morphology and LULC mapping, providing valuable insights for future research integration.

Green banking awareness and its association with green attitude, green trust, and green loyalty

ABSTRACT The lack of consumer awareness regarding Green Banking Practices (GBP) poses a challenge for banks aiming to benefit from them and for sustainable development. This paper developed a scale for exploring the Green Banking Awareness (GBA) among Brazilian highly educated consumers and its association with Green Attitude (GA), Green Trust (GT), and Green Loyalty (GL). 414 participants answered an online survey. Descriptive analyses, principal component analysis, and structural equation modelling approaches were used to verify the item's structure and the relationship between variables. Although the respondents agree that they are environmentally conscious, most did not recognize the GBP in their banks. We observed that GA did not significantly correlate with GL and GT, but GBA significantly correlated with GT and GL. Also, GA was associated with education. Our results might help the bank industry, the finance regulators, and governments to better understand GBA and act to increase it.

Assessing law enforcement officer skills in Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) research: developing and implementing standardized scenarios

This paper outlines the development of standardized scenarios used to assess the efficacy of Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training in a randomized, controlled trial. The objective was to create scenarios that accurately simulate mental health crisis situations for law enforcement officers, ensuring that each scenario tests specific CIT skills relevant to real-world encounters. Our process involved building an interdisciplinary team and drawing from the knowledge and experience of professionals in law enforcement, mental health, and performance arts to design a set of scenarios that are both realistic and challenging. The scenarios were developed to represent mental health crises that officers frequently encounter, such as mania, psychosis with agitation, and depression with suicidality. Each scenario requires officers to demonstrate CIT-specific skills such as verbal de-escalation, empathy, and critical decision-making. Our structured approach to developing these scenarios provides a replicable model for future studies that aim to assess the real-world effectiveness of mental health training for law enforcement as well as other professional groups.

Comparative analysis of meso-level strategies: region, industry, corporation

Objective: to identify the features of strategies of various entities at mesoeconomical level: territorial systems (regions), industries and large corporations (ecosystems) based on a comparative analysis of their structure, key elements and attributes. Methods: a structural approach to strategic documents at the macro-, meso- and microlevels, comparative analysis and synthesis, review of theoretical research and practice of strategy formation and implementation. Results: the article defines the features of strategy formation at the regional, industry and corporate levels. The author states that the key difference between regional and sectoral strategies is a long planning horizon, while corporate strategies are more often subject to adjustment. The article shows that the strategies of mesoeconomical level entities have a number ofsystemic problems related to their formation and implementation. It was found that due to the variability and turbulence of environmental conditions, the entities at meso-level are forced to constantly adjust their strategies, while corporate strategies, unlike regional and sectoral ones, are not limited by the top-level strategy. The author reveals the shortcomings of interaction and coordination (institutional vacuum) of strategies of macro-, meso- and micro-level entities in terms of coherence and coordination of actions in long-term planning. Scientific novelty: it consists in applying a structural approach to the analysis of strategies of meso-level entities, comparing them and identifying common features and differences in approaches to their formation and implementation. Practical significance: it consists in the developing applied methods for the formation and implementation of strategies and improving the effectiveness of strategic planning at the mesoeconomical level.

Value engineering implementation in construction projects in Morocco: Awareness, benefits and challenges

Value engineering is a systematic and structured approach that aims to optimize the value of a project by analyzing its components and functions. This article intends to explore the current level of awareness of value engineering, the benefits that can be derived, and the major challenges of successful implementation in construction projects in Morocco. The study was conducted based on a quantitative approach using a structured survey among construction professionals in Morocco. Interviews were carried out with academics, representatives of project owners, technical design offices, and work execution companies, and responses to the questionnaire were collected from various stakeholders in the field of construction in Morocco. The results show that value engineering is still in its infancy in the Moroccan construction sector since 65 percent of respondents are not familiar with the concept of value engineering and only 8% of respondents have implemented value engineering with its recognized standards. The findings have also confirmed the benefits of implementing value engineering in construction projects in Morocco, especially significant potential savings, both initial and Life-Cycle Costs, the reduction of completion times, and early uncovering of potential design deficiencies or alternative approaches. The major challenges emphasized in this study are the understanding and support of top management, the resistance of designers, and the adaptation of the contracts of the stakeholders. This is the first scientific article addressing the value engineering process and its adoption in the construction sector in Morocco. Thus, it could be considered as a first step towards comprehension and vulgarization of value engineering concepts and techniques among construction professionals in Morocco. This study presents for the first time the level of awareness of value engineering in the construction sector in Morocco, demystifies the process as a whole, emphasizes the potential benefits derived from it, and clarifies the major challenges to a successful implementation.

Retraction notice: Investigating sustainable development for the COVID-19 vaccine supply chain: a structural equation modelling approach

Retraction notice: Investigating sustainable development for the COVID-19 vaccine supply chain: a structural equation modelling approach

Architecture of the Sap S-layer of Bacillus anthracis revealed by integrative structural biology

Bacillus anthracis is a spore-forming gram-positive bacterium responsible for anthrax, an infectious disease with a high mortality rate and a target of concern due to bioterrorism and long-term site contamination. The entire surface of vegetative cells in exponential or stationary growth phase is covered in proteinaceous arrays called S-layers, composed of Sap or EA1 protein, respectively. The Sap S-layer represents an important virulence factor and cell envelope support structure whose paracrystalline nature is essential for its function. However, the spatial organization of Sap in its lattice state remains elusive. Here, we employed cryoelectron tomography and subtomogram averaging to obtain a map of the Sap S-layer from tubular polymers that revealed a conformational switch between the postassembly protomers and the previously available X-ray structure of the condensed monomers. To build and validate an atomic model of the lattice within this map, we used a combination of molecular dynamics simulations, X-ray crystallography, cross-linking mass spectrometry, and biophysics in an integrative structural biology approach. The Sap lattice model produced recapitulates a close-to-physiological arrangement, reveals high-resolution details of lattice contacts, and sheds light on the mechanisms underlying the stability of the Sap layer.

Nuclear lipids in chromatin regulation: Biological roles, experimental approaches and existing challenges.

Lipids are crucial for various cellular functions. Besides the storage of energy equivalents, these include forming membrane bilayers and serving as signaling molecules. While significant progress has been made in the comprehension of the molecular and cellular biology of lipids, their functions in the cell nucleus remain poorly understood. The main role of the eukaryotic cell nucleus is to provide an environment for the storage and regulation of chromatin which is a complex of DNA, histones, and associated proteins. Recent studies suggest that nuclear lipids play a role in chromatin regulation and epigenetics. Here, we discuss various experimental methods in lipid-chromatin research, including biophysical, structural, and cell biology approaches, pointing out their strengths and weaknesses. We take the view that nuclear lipids have a far more widespread impact on chromatin than is currently acknowledged. This gap in comprehension is mostly due to existing experimental challenges in the study of lipid-chromatin biology. Several new, interdisciplinary approaches are discussed that could aid in elucidating the roles of nuclear lipids in chromatin regulation and gene expression.

A versatile real-time vision-led runway localisation system for enhanced autonomy

This paper proposes a solution to the challenging task of autonomously landing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). An onboard computer vision module integrates the vision system with the ground control communication and video server connection. The vision platform performs feature extraction using the Speeded Up Robust Features (SURF), followed by fast Structured Forests edge detection and then smoothing with a Kalman filter for accurate runway sidelines prediction. A thorough evaluation is performed over real-world and simulation environments with respect to accuracy and processing time, in comparison with state-of-the-art edge detection approaches. The vision system is validated over videos with clear and difficult weather conditions, including with fog, varying lighting conditions and crosswind landing. The experiments are performed using data from the X-Plane 11 flight simulator and real flight data from the Uncrewed Low-cost TRAnsport (ULTRA) self-flying cargo UAV. The vision-led system can localise the runway sidelines with a Structured Forests approach with an accuracy approximately 84.4%, outperforming the state-of-the-art approaches and delivering real-time performance. The main contribution of this work consists of the developed vision-led system for runway detection to aid autonomous landing of UAVs using electro-optical cameras. Although implemented with the ULTRA UAV, the vision-led system is applicable to any other UAV.

Analyzing the Effect of Factors on Individuals’ Subjective Well-Being with Quantile Bayesian Structural Equation Modeling Approach

This study investigates factors influencing individuals’ levels of subjective well-being by examining fundamental variables, called life domains, such as satisfaction with health, education, marriage, housing district, work life, social life, relationships, and public services. The aim is to understand how these domains affect various quantile values of subjective well-being. To achieve this, the Life Satisfaction Survey dataset for 2020, obtained from the Turkish Statistical Institute, was utilized, and Bayesian Quantile Structural Equation Modeling and Bayesian Structural Equation Modeling methods were applied. The empirical study indicates that all life domains were found to have a positive impact on subjective well-being, except for housing-district satisfaction and education satisfaction. In particular, for individuals with low subjective well-being, satisfaction with work life, relationships, and public services has a stronger effect on subjective well-being compared to those in higher quantiles. Conversely, marriage satisfaction has a stronger effect on subjective well-being among individuals in the higher quantiles. This study’s unique contribution is that examining subjective well-being according to quantile values provides detailed information on how the factors influencing individuals’ subjective well-being vary across different levels.

Exquisite selectivity of griselimycin extends to beta subunit of DNA polymerases from Gram-negative bacterial pathogens

Griselimycin, a cyclic depsidecapeptide produced by Streptomyces griseus, is a promising lead inhibitor of the sliding clamp component of bacterial DNA polymerases (β-subunit of Escherichia coli DNA pol III). It was previously shown to inhibit the Mycobacterium tuberculosis β-clamp with remarkably high affinity and selectivity – the peptide lacks any interaction with the human sliding clamp. Here, we used a structural genomics approach to address the prospect of broader-spectrum inhibition, in particular of β-clamps from Gram-negative bacterial targets. Fifteen crystal structures of β-clamp orthologs were solved, most from Gram-negative bacteria, including eight cocrystal structures with griselimycin. The ensemble of structures samples widely diverse β-clamp architectures and reveals unique protein-ligand interactions with varying degrees of complementarity. Although griselimycin clearly co-evolved with Gram-positive β-clamps, binding affinity measurements demonstrate that the high selectivity observed previously extends to the Gram-negative orthologs, with KD values ranging from 7 to 496 nM for the wild-type orthologs considered. The collective results should aid future structure-guided development of peptide antibiotics against β-clamp proteins of a wide variety of bacterial targets.

Cultural intelligence and cooperation in the construction industry: the mediating role of trust

Purpose This study aims to investigate the mediating role of trust in the relationship between cultural intelligence (CQ) and cooperation among construction professionals. Furthermore, this study assesses perceived differences in CQ, trust and cooperation between individuals with and without experience working with foreigners in the construction industry. Design/methodology/approach Data were gathered from a cross-sectional survey of 408 engineers in Myanmar’s construction industry. A confirmatory factor analysis validated structural equation modeling approach was used to address research hypotheses, and an independent samples t-test was performed to identify the perceived differences between two categories of respondents. Findings The structural equation modeling results identified CQ as a positive direct predictor of cooperation, affect-based trust and cognition-based trust. Both affect-based trust and cognition-based trust directly and positively influenced cooperation. The relationship between CQ and cooperation was partially mediated by affect-based trust and cognition-based trust. The findings of the independent samples t-test revealed that construction employees with prior experience working with foreigners tend to exhibit a higher level of CQ, trust and cooperation than their counterparts. Originality/value The present study added the mediating role of trust in CQ and cooperation linkage, an area that has received limited attention in the literature.

Factors predicting the mathematics anxiety of adolescents: a structural equation modeling approach

IntroductionMathematics anxiety (MA) is a distinct negative emotional state or trait that individuals experience when confronted with mathematical problems in everyday life and academic contexts. This study aims to identify the key predictors of MA among secondary-level students in Bangladesh.MethodsUtilizing a quantitative cross-sectional research design, data were collected from 486 students across 89 institutions. Later, the data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM).ResultsThe findings revealed that math related negative past experiences (β = 0.241, t = 4.914, p &amp;lt; 0.001) and a perceived lack of teacher support (β = 0.234, t = 5.440, p &amp;lt; 0.001) significantly contribute to students’ low self-efficacy in mathematics. This low self-efficacy is further influenced by negative attitudes and test anxiety, ultimately leading to increased MA (β = 0.694, t = 22.695, p &amp;lt; 0.001). Additionally, cognitive challenges, particularly working memory difficulties, directly affect MA (β = 0.110, t = 2.659, p = 0.008). The study also found that negative attitudes (β = 0.347, t = 9.063, p &amp;lt; 0.001) and test anxiety (β = 0.251, t = 5.913, p &amp;lt; 0.001) independently exacerbate MA. Moreover, a lack of motivation in learning mathematics is directly influenced by this elevated level of MA (β = 0.384, t = 9.939, p &amp;lt; 0.001).DiscussionTaken together, the study proposes several key recommendations and policy implications to inform the development of synchronized policies by educational authorities aimed at combatting, reducing MA among secondary-level students in Bangladesh and similar contexts.