Core Factors Research Articles

Analysing Factors Inhibiting Teacher Leadership Initiatives in Lesotho Secondary Schools Sepiriti Sepiriti

Some secondary school principals are complaining about teachers’ reluctance to participate in any activities beyond classroom teaching. To understand this phenomenon, the study attempts to explore the inhibiting factors that hinder teachers in selected secondary schools in the Maseru district from supporting and engaging in teacher leadership (TL) activities. This qualitative inquiry is underpinned by the critical theory (CT), which among others aims at revealing the core factors that contributed to teachers’ lack of enthusiasm in performing various TL related activities. Also, to suggest strategies that could pioneer a change in teachers’ attitudes towards participation in school leadership beyond teaching. The study generated data from ten (10) purposively selected secondary school teachers. Using the thematic analysis method, despite participating teachers being able to conceptualise TL, they cited that, factors including; unmanageable teaching loads, inadequate induction, and use of top-down leadership approaches inhibited TL initiatives. To mitigate the abovementioned factors, participants suggested the creation of a supportive school environment, teacher training and recognition.

Pro-Environmental Conservation Behavior Through the Lens of Norm Activation Model: A Systematic Review (2018–2023)

Environmental psychology has exhibited a notable propensity for promoting pro-environmental conduct as a feasible strategy for confronting environmental issues and fostering sustainable development. Recent research has incorporated the norm activation model (NAM) into several investigations concerning individual and organizational pro-environmental conservation behaviors. The objectives of this literature review were to: 1) examine pro-environmental behaviors previously studied using the NAM framework; and 2) analyze the extended NAM components. 3), understanding NAM construct framing; 4), finding environmental studies' NAM model theories; and 5), assessing variables' importance and linkage, including mediating variables. This review employed a systematic literature review encompassing 53 articles published from 2018 to 2023. The results indicated that 98.11 percent of studies employed NAM by integrating additional constructs to improve its ability to predict environmentally friendly behavior. About 39.62% of research included constructs from other theories to improve the main theory's predictive power. TPB was heavily integrated into the NAM model. The results of the review also indicate that NAM is a strong paradigm for explaining pro-environmental behavior when combined with relevant constructs. Its application differs between core factors like personal norms, awareness of consequences, and ascription of responsibility and literature-introduced notions like motivation, risk, benefits, beliefs, knowledge, personality, and cultural values. These additional factors may greatly affect human pro-environmental behavior, drawing attention to using NAM in environmental behavior studies in new ways.

Focus On Prebiotic and Probiotic Preventive and Therapeutic Diet Approaches to Restore Gut Homeostasis in Rodent Models of Autism

Although variable diet approaches shaped the gut bacterial abundance differently, they are considered the core factors in modulating gut microbiota throughdifferent mechanisms. Our aim in this study is to focus on the dietary candidates that could maintain a healthy gut microbiota by promoting commensal bacteria and reducingor inhibiting pathogens. In the current study, our objective is to demonstrate that a novel combined dietary approach of pre-and probiotic mixtures could be more effectivein inducing significant improvements in gut bacterial composition as a target to treat ASD. Luteolin complex veggie capsules (Swanson, USA), artichoke extract, as well asyogurt and Lactobacillus rhamnosus veggie capsules (5 billion CFU) (Swanson, USA), recently known as Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus were selected as prebiotics and probioticsrespectively and were screened for their protective and therapeutic effects on the gut microbiota. They were all administered orally over 5 weeks to propionic acid PPAtreatedrats as rodent models of Autism (groups 4-10). Their results were compared to the control animal group undertaking a standard diet (group 1) and to post and pre-PPA-treated groups (groups 2 and 3). Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were noted as the most dominant, non-fluctuating strains in response to all diet intakes, and theynegatively influenced the presence of Proteobacteria (Enterobacteriaceae), which decreased in almost all treated groups during weeks 2 and 3, and 4.Interestingly, Clostridiumsp. was observed to be high in number at week 1, mainly in the control group (1) and pre and post-PPA groups (2 and 3), but were inhibited in all treated groups over theextended treatment period. Bacteroidetes were positively increased with the high presence of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium spp. Levels throughout the experiment in almostall animal groups. Thus, both prebiotics and probiotics study designed candidates (Luteolin complex capsules, artichoke extract, yogurt, and L. rhamnosus capsules) inhibitedClostridium sp., promoted commensal bacteria, specifically Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium spp., restored the normal gut bacterial niches and therefore could be consideredas potential promising dietary approaches for maintaining healthy physical and microbial gut strategies.

The Management Strategies to Develop Physical Exercise for Secondary School Students in Industrial Zone of Shaanxi Province, The People’s Republic of China

Background and Aim: With the development of the economy and society, the urbanization process of industrial areas in Shaanxi Province is accelerating, educational resources are gradually optimized, and various educational reforms are gradually implemented. However, in this process, the physical exercise of secondary school students is gradually neglected, leading to problems such as the decline of students' physical fitness and poor physical quality. This research aims to construct management strategies to develop physical exercise for secondary school students in the industrial zone of Shaanxi province, the People’s Republic of China. Materials and Methods: The participants in this research can be divided into four groups, which are as follows: (1) 370 students were selected to participate in the questionnaire survey; (2) 7 experts were invited to in-depth interviews; (3) 19 experts were invited to conduct two round Delphi consensus; and (4) 9 experts were invited to discuss and confirm the management strategies. Descriptive statistics, including mean and standard deviation, are utilized to evaluate the questionnaire data. The consensus data was analyzed by using the median and interquartile range, with the criteria for assessment set at a median of ≥ 3.50 and an interquartile range of ≤ 1.50. Results: The management strategies to develop physical exercise for secondary school students in an industrial zone of Shaanxi province, the People’s Republic of China can be summarized into 8 main factors and 19 sub-factors. 8 main factors are as follows: (1) Start physical exercise in schools; (2) Establish a sports game; (3) Policies to support sports talent; (4) Finding sponsors; (5) Leader to activate the task; (6) Set up a team of teachers; (7) Teaching and learning network; (8) Controlling. Conclusion: The management strategies were constructed based on 8 core factors and 19 sub-factors. 9 experts already evaluated the content and application of this management strategy. The evaluation score is at the highest level, this is considered to confirm the suitability of this management strategy.

Circular usage of waste cooking oil towards green electrical discharge machining process with lower carbon emissions

A global manufacturing community is dedicatedly striving to implement the concept of NetZero in precision cutting of difficult-to-machine materials, specifically, Inconel 617 (IN617) with due consideration to environmental protocols. The fast strain hardening issue of the said alloy during conventional processing rationalizes the application of electric discharge machining (EDM). However, EDM has been criticized for its high energy consumption and limited cutting efficiency. Moreover, conventional dielectric (kerosene) employed in EDM has drastic environmental and operator health concerns. To address the abovementioned issues, waste cooking oil (WCO) has been employed in this study which enhances the reusability of resources and minimizes the cost of the dielectric. Making the process sustainable is imperative along with continuously escalating scarcity of engineering resources. Therefore, the potential of shallow and deep cryogenically treated electrodes (SCT and DCT) has been comprehensively examined against nanofilled WCO to achieve the aforementioned objective. Three different concentrations of powder (Cp) and surfactant (Cs) to uplift the machining responses are investigated through a detailed parametric experimental design. Core machining factors such as material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness (SR), and specific energy consumption (SEC) are examined through optical and electron microscopy studies and 3D surface profilometry. Hereafter, machining factors are modelled using the artificial neural network (ANN) technique. An exceptional improvement of 80%, 25.3%, and 75.16% has been achieved in MRR, SR, and SEC respectively using nanopowder-mixed WCO against SCT brass compared to the responses’ values obtained against conventionally used kerosene. Furthermore, compared to kerosene, the maximum CO2 reduction of 79.97 ± 11.2% is achieved with WCO.

Regional differences and dynamic evolution of high-quality development in service industry: A case study of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle.

The high-quality development of service industry has become an important engine for promoting sustainable economic development. This paper first constructed the evaluation index system of high-quality development of service industry, based on panel data from 2005 to 2020. Second, Kernel density, Markov chain and Dagum Gini coefficient were used to represent the regional differences and dynamic evolution of service industry, and the Koo method was used to explore the characteristics of spatial agglomeration. Finally, social network analysis was used to identify core indicators. The study found that: (1) From 2005 to 2020, the overall level of service industry first decreases and then increases, with Chengdu and Chongqing leading other cities. (2) The development of service industry in the CCEC has large spatial differences, mainly due to inter-regional differences. (3) The level of spatial agglomeration is less variable, with high agglomeration mainly in Chengdu. (4) Indicators such as the level of human capital are the core factors of its high-quality development. This study is of great theoretical and practical significance for the optimization and upgrading of service industry in the CCEC and the synergetic development of the region.

Sexual reproduction: Is the genetic pathway for female germ cell specification conserved in land plants?

Land plants share several core factors responsible for female gametophyte development, despite their differing structures and developmental programs. New work providing molecular dissection of reproductive phases in non-angiosperm plants is a powerful tool for elucidating the underlying genetic network.

Meaning-making while staying connected matters in psychological adaptation during pandemic: a longitudinal moderated mediation study.

Adversity may bring about both negative and positive changes in psychological adaptation. Although there is mounting evidence regarding the psychological distress during the pandemic, the other side of posttraumatic change, posttraumatic growth (PTG) and its predictors are relatively underexamined. Moreover, there is a paucity of longitudinal investigations that examined intra- and interpersonal predictors responsible for both sides of psychological adaptation. Therefore, this study comprehensively examined the longitudinal relationship among cognitive processing, social support, and adaptation during the pandemic using a moderated mediation model. Specifically, it was tested whether two types of event-related rumination mediated the link between perceived stress and ambilateral adaptational outcomes, and whether social support moderated the mediating pathways of ruminations on adaptation. After informed consent, a representative sample of adults was followed up for over a year, and answered a package of online questionnaires. The results showed that intrusive rumination prospectively predicted greater psychological distress and less PTG in response to stress, whereas deliberate rumination led to less psychological distress and more PTG over time. As predicted, the indirect protective effect of deliberate rumination was stronger when perceived social support was higher. This longitudinal study highlighted the core factors responsible for continued suffering and personal growth during the pandemic. These results have both practical and clinical implications for mental healthcare in the post-COVID era, when the heterogeneity of psychological adaptation increases and preparation for the next pandemic is warranted.

Factors Affecting the Adoption and Use of ChatGPT in Higher Education

The current study aims at assessing the factors which could affect students' use of ChatGPT. The study proposed a theoretical model that included five factors. Data were collected from 136 students using a questionnaire. The data were analyzed using two steps: CFA for measuring the model and SEM for analyzing the relationships and testing hypothesis. The findings revealed that both performance expectancy and facilitating conditions significantly influenced students' intentions to use ChatGPT. Contrary to expectations, both social influence and effort expectancy had insignificant effects. By elucidating the core factors influencing the utilization of ChatGPT, this study can provide valuable insights for policymakers. Furthermore, this study contributes to the existing literature and lays the foundation for future research seeking a deeper understanding of the factors influencing the use of other AI technologies in teaching and learning.

Implementing targeted social and emotional learning interventions in schools—Are more specific models needed?

AbstractSchools are increasingly encouraged to adopt evidence‐based or evidence informed interventions and implement them using insights from implementation science. The literature relating to implementation of interventions in schools has focused largely on universal interventions, particularly for social and emotional learning (SEL), which are designed for all children and young people. In contrast, targeted interventions provide additional support for those pupils who may require small group or individual support over and above that provided at the universal level. To date there has been limited consideration of factors which are important for the implementation of targeted SEL interventions. Data from an exploratory case study with two schools implementing Lego therapy are used to illustrate the implementation factors relevant to this targeted intervention. Findings indicate similarities in universal and targeted intervention core components and factors but also a number of distinct elements that are important to consider when implementing Lego therapy and potentially other targeted SEL interventions. Key considerations include the interaction with the wider school system, the pivotal role of the intervention champion, and the importance of external support for problem solving and sustainability. The resulting model may inform further development of implementation frameworks for Lego therapy and other targeted SEL interventions.

Enhanced production yields of rVSV-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine using Fibra-Cel® macrocarriers.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to high global demand for vaccines to safeguard public health. To that end, our institute has developed a recombinant viral vector vaccine utilizing a modified vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) construct, wherein the G protein of VSV is replaced with the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 (rVSV-ΔG-spike). Previous studies have demonstrated the production of a VSV-based vaccine in Vero cells adsorbed on Cytodex 1 microcarriers or in suspension. However, the titers were limited by both the carrier surface area and shear forces. Here, we describe the development of a bioprocess for rVSV-ΔG-spike production in serum-free Vero cells using porous Fibra-Cel® macrocarriers in fixed-bed BioBLU®320 5p bioreactors, leading to high-end titers. We identified core factors that significantly improved virus production, such as the kinetics of virus production, the use of macrospargers for oxygen supply, and medium replenishment. Implementing these parameters, among others, in a series of GMP production processes improved the titer yields by at least two orders of magnitude (2e9 PFU/mL) over previously reported values. The developed process was highly effective, repeatable, and robust, creating potent and genetically stable vaccine viruses and introducing new opportunities for application in other viral vaccine platforms.

Spatial pattern of China's rural digital economy based on subjective-Objective evaluation: Evidence from 2085 counties.

The rural digital economy plays an essential role in China's industrial upgrading, transformation, and urban-rural integration. To determine the state of China's rural digital economy, we constructed a county-level evaluation system using the subjective-objective evaluation method and calculated the digital economic levels of 2085 counties. Then, we analyzed the spatial distribution characteristics, spatial autocorrelation pattern, spatial disequilibrium degree, and spatial driving force of the rural digital economy at the county level using spatial analysis technology and a self-organizing feature mapping model. The results are as follows: 1) Compared with the real economy, the agglomeration effect of the digital economy was more obvious, and the economic gradient was more significant. Specifically, the dense high-value regions formed a continuous belt on the eastern coast from the Beijing-Tianjin area to the Pearl River Delta, opposite the dense low-value regions in the west. 2) There were significant differences in the rural digital economy within cities or provinces. Intraregional differences were not necessarily linked to the overall digital economy level because central and northeastern China presented a more balanced rural digital economy. 3) Digital network performance, e-commerce level, and economic vitality were identified as the core factors influencing the rural digital economy.

Smoke on the horizon: leveling up citizen and social science to motivate health protective responses during wildfires

Climate change factors and expanded population growth in the Wildland Urban Interface (transition zone between human structures and undeveloped wildland) contribute to a projected increase in wildfire frequency and smoke exposure. As an unregulated source of air pollution, reducing smoke exposure represents a difficult challenge for health risk communicators. The target audience is broad with unpredictable health impacts due to spatial and temporal variability in exposure. Beyond providing information, agencies face challenges reaching affected populations, motivating behavior change, and overcoming barriers between intentions and actions (recommended health protection). The Smoke Sense citizen science project developed a smartphone app to provide an engagement, learning, and information-sharing platform. Here we draw upon previous trends in behavioral patterns and propose a synergistic approach of citizen and behavioral science that can be applied to increase understanding of health risk and motivate new habits to reduce exposure among impacted individuals. Presentation of the approach proceeds as follows: (1) we identify several core factors that contribute to an intention-action gap, (2) identify applicable social and behavioral science principles that can bridge the gap, (3) propose explicit examples focused on theoretical principles, (4) describe small-scale user preliminary feedback and examples for monitoring and evaluating impact, and (5) provide a look to the future for collaborative citizen engagement. Current health risk communication strategies often lack consideration of behavioral factors that may enhance motivation and encourage behavior change. The proposed approach aims to leverage the strengths of citizen and social science and seeks to encourage a focused ‘digital community’ to implement new habits in the face of unpredictable and dynamic environmental threats.

Organized complexity of CSA communication strategy

PurposeBased on Lasswell’s communication model, this study investigates how four categories of factors (i.e. the source, content, medium and receiver) conjointly affect the relational, financial and social outcomes (i.e. what effect) of CSA communication.Design/methodology/approachWith a survey (N = 366), this study found configurations of core CSA communication factors leading to three different CSA communication outcomes.FindingsWhile this study found multiways to yield three different CSA outcomes, combinational logic indicated the combined effects from source, content, medium and receiver. With content and medium, individuals’ connectedness (receiver) to a CSA issue is a core factor leading to a high level of purchase intention and issue advocacy. This study also found that message strategies (i.e. informativeness, factual tone, no promotional tone) are core factors leading to a high level of trust and issue advocacy.Practical implicationsWith the theoretical guidance, this research contributes to strategic communication practice for various entities involved in advocacy communication by enabling an improved understanding of advocacy communication factors and triggering different communication outcomes.Originality/valueAs CSA communication involves multiple strategies, conventional research agenda focusing on correlational and path analysis approaches provide limited understanding of communication practice. To fill this void, this study adopts a configurational approach to understand current CSA communication practices holistically.

Decision-making and Treatment Preferences Surrounding Bacteriuria in Nonpregnant Women: A Qualitative Investigation.

Best practices suggest nontreatment for asymptomatic bacteriuria in a nonpregnant population, yet there is little literature on patient preference or understanding of asymptomatic bacteriuria treatment. We hypothesize that there might be core factors that affect antibiotic preferences and care-seeking decisions for urinary tract infection and asymptomatic bacteriuria in a postmenopausal population. We performed semi-structured interviews with postmenopausal individuals who had been previously treated for at least one patient-reported urinary tract infection. Interviews covered a discussion about their approach to seeking antibiotics for management and knowledge/preferences for asymptomatic bacteriuria management. Two authors independently coded the interviews and identified a set of symptom-related knowledge and experiences that relate to care-seeking and treatment preferences. We then graphically represented a mental model of antibiotic-seeking practices as an influence diagram, illustrating how knowledge and values affect preferences for care. We performed 30 interviews of participants with a mean age of 69.4 (SD 6.4). Among participants, there were four core factors that influence antibiotic seeking for bacteriuria. Participants noted concern for sequelae from untreated bacteria as their primary motivation, but also noted past experiences, information sources, and testing results as themes that affected their mental model surrounding bacteriuria treatment. The cognitive approach to care-seeking and treatment preference for bacteriuria is influenced by a few central factors. An improved ability to allay concerns either by provider discussions or educational materials are necessary to bridge the gap from the existence of evidence-based guidelines to patient and provider comfort with adherence to these guidelines.

Winner-takes-all or competitive coexistence? Research on the co-opetition relationships between platform owners and complementors

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the coopetition relationships between platform owners and complementors in complementary product markets. Drawing on the coopetition theory, the authors examined the evolutionary trends of the coopetition relationships between platform owners and complementors and explore the main influence factors. Design/methodology/approach The authors used Lotka–Volterra model to analyze the coopetition relationship between platform owners and complementors, including the evolutionary trends as well as the results. Considering the feasibility of sample data collection, simulation is used to verify the effects of different factors on the evolution of coopetition relationships. Findings The results show that there are four possible results of the competition in the complementary products market. That comprises “winner-take-all for platform owners,” “winner-take-all for complementors,” “stable competitive coexistence” and “unstable competitive coexistence,” where “stable competitive coexistence” is the optimal evolutionary state. Moreover, the results of competitive evolution are determined by innovation subjects’ interaction parameters. However, the natural growth rate, the initial market benefits of the two innovators and the overall benefits of the complementary product markets influence the time to reach a steady state. Originality/value The study provides new insights into the entry of platform owners into complementary markets, and the findings highlight the fact that in complementary product markets, platform owners and complementors should seek “competitive coexistence” rather than “winner-takes-all.” Moreover, the authors also enrich the coopetition theory by revealing the core factors that influence the evolution of coopetition relationships, which further enhance the analysis of the evolutionary process of coopetition relationships.

Clinical research on Tai Chi: a review of health benefits

Tai Chi, a traditional Chinese martial art and health exercise, has gained significant global attention and recognition. The clinical benefits of Tai Chi have been studied extensively in recent decades. We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE databases, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, identifying and reviewing 241 clinical trials on the benefits of Tai Chi from their inception to June 1, 2023. Most of these studies have consistently demonstrated the positive impact of Tai Chi on balance, cognitive function, mood regulation, sleep quality, pain relief, cardiorespiratory function, and overall health. In the future, the key to fostering the ongoing development of this field lies in comprehensive research on standardized study designs and reporting, the scope of Tai Chi applications, and the core factors influencing its efficacy.

How does Shanghai crude oil futures affect top global oil companies: The role of multi-uncertainties

The international influence of Shanghai crude oil futures (INE) has been increasing year by year. This study adopts the connectedness network method to construct a risk spillover network between INE and the top 20 global oil companies and measures the static characteristics and dynamic trends of return and risk spillovers. wMoreover, the core factors affecting the systemic risk are identified from the dimensions of crude oil implied volatility, geopolitical risk, US economic policy uncertainty, and climate concern. The results reveal that the overall connectedness between INE returns and global oil company stock price returns is high, with oil companies located in the Americas and at the upstream end of the chain experiencing greater spillovers in the system. Furthermore, INE is a net recipient of risk spillovers in the system, being subject to spillovers from most oil companies. In a dynamic scenario, the total system spillover index is susceptible to unexpected events, and there is asymmetry in the system risk spillover between INE and oil company returns. Meanwhile, crude oil implied volatility and geopolitical risk are the main influences on the systematic risk of INE and oil company returns.

Project logistics: influential factors of transporting project cargo in the Balkan region

Purpose of the article – Abnormal cargo will create abnormal problems and those require exceptional logistics solutions. This study delves into the complexities and challenges of transporting project cargo, explicitly focusing on items with extraordinary dimensions, weights, and shapes. Despite its small volume in global cargo flow, project cargo presents significant operational risks and contributions, particularly in the logistics sector. The research concentrates on the Balkan Peninsula, aiming to unravel the critical factors influencing project cargo transport and highlighting the challenges faced by industry experts. Research methodology – Employing the Delphi method, initially developed for military applications and now prevalent in project management, the research seeks expert consensus on critical elements affecting project cargo logistics in the Balkans. This method facilitates the gathering and analysis of expert opinions to identify and address the core factors impacting project cargo transport. Findings – The study uncovers various critical factors and challenges in project cargo logistics within the Balkan region. It provides insights into risk minimization, deviation control, and effective achievement of logistical objectives. Practical implications – The research offers valuable perspectives for reducing risks and optimizing operations in project cargo transport. It also opens avenues for further research and development in the project logistics sector in the Balkans, contributing to enhanced efficiency and effectiveness. Originality/Value – This research contributes uniquely by focusing on the lesser-explored area of project cargo transport in the Balkans. Employing the Delphi method brings forward expert insights, thus enriching the academic and practical understanding of this specialized logistics sector.

Investigating the Social Sustainability of Immersive Virtual Technologies in Higher Educational Institutions: Students’ Perceptions toward Metaverse Technology

The Metaverse technology (MVTECH) is an immersive virtual sphere where people interact with each other via avatars. The MVTECH promised to provide a number of potentials for various sectors including higher education. Despite the fact that MVTECH promotes virtual social interaction between people (e.g., university students), there is a lack of knowledge on what affects users’ perceptions regarding its social sustainability in HEIs, specifically in developing nations. Therefore, this research paper aims to determine the variables that affect the learners’ perceptions toward social sustainability (SS) of MVTECH in higher educational institutions (HEIs) in Jordan. A study model was formulated by integrating the core factors of the “unified theory of acceptance and use of technology” (UTAUT) (“performance expectancy, PE; effort expectancy, EE; social influence, SI; and facilitating conditions, FC”) with “perceived curiosity” (PC) and “extraversion” (EXT) factors. Both PC and EXT were included as context-related variables that may possibly contribute to enhancing the applicability of UTAUT to a wide range of information technologies and settings. Data were collected from 422 students enrolled in Jordanian universities based on an online survey. The analysis of the “structural equation modeling” (SEM) found that students’ perceptions toward Metaverse were significantly influenced by PE, FC, and EXT. Furthermore, the PC construct significantly affected the EE construct. However, EE and SI were revealed to have no significant impact on SS. Drawing from these results, the study makes a number of theoretical advances and clarifies a number of practical implications for those involved in the development, design, and decision-making processes that support the use of the Metaverse in HEIs.