Empirical Support Research Articles

Science Process Skills to Improve Learning Outcomes of Elementary School Students

The study aims to investigate the impact of implementing a science process skills approach on the learning outcomes of elementary school students in science subjects. The research adopts a pre-experimental design with a one-group pre-test and post-test design. Data collection is conducted through observation, tests, and documentation, with data analysis using descriptive and inferential methods. The results show that the use of the science process skills approach significantly improves students' learning outcomes in science. There is a significant change from low to high scores after the implementation of this approach, indicating its effectiveness in enhancing students' understanding of science concepts. These findings provide empirical support for the success of the science process skills approach, which can serve as a basis for the development of more effective teaching practices in the future.

Empirical analysis of lead neurotoxicity mode of action and its application in health risk assessment

The mode of action (MOA) framework is proposed to inform a biological link between chemical exposures and adverse health effects. Despite a significant increase in knowledge and awareness, the application of MOA in human health risk assessment (RA) remains limited. This study aims to discuss the adoption of MOA for health RA within a regulatory context, taking our previously proposed but not yet validated MOA for lead neurotoxicity as an example. We first conducted a quantitative weight of evidence (qWOE) assessment, which revealed that the MOA has a moderate confidence. Then, targeted bioassays were performed within an in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) model to quantitatively validate the scientific validity of key events (KEs) in terms of essentiality and concordance of empirical support (dose/temporal concordance), which increases confidence in utilizing the MOA for RA. Building upon the quantitative validation data, we further conducted benchmark dose (BMD) analysis to map dose-response relationships for the critical toxicity pathways, and the lower limit of BMD at a 5% response (BMDL5) was identified as the point of departure (POD) value for adverse health effects. Notably, perturbation of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) signaling pathway exhibited the lowest POD value, measured at 0.0062 μM. Considering bioavailability, we further calculated a provisional health-based guidance value (HBGV) for children's lead intake, determining it to be 2.56 μg/day. Finally, the health risk associated with the HBGV was assessed using the hazard quotient (HQ) approach, which indicated that the HBGV established in this study is a relative safe reference value for lead intake. In summary, our study described the procedure for utilizing MOA in health RA and set an example for MOA-based human health risk regulation.

Quantifying empirical support for theories of consciousness: a tentative methodological framework.

Understanding consciousness is central to understanding human nature. We have competing theories of consciousness. In interdisciplinary consciousness studies most believe that consciousness can be naturalized (i.e., consciousness depends in some substantial way on processes in - or states of - the brain). For roughly two decades, proponents of almost every theory have focused on collecting empirical support for their preferred theory, on the tacit assumption that empirical evidence will resolve the debates. Yet, it remains unclear how empirical evidence can do this in practice. Here I address this issue by offering (a sketch of) a methodology to quantify the divergent sets of empirical support proposed in favor of extant theories of consciousness. This in turn forms the foundation for a process of inference to the best explanation inspired by Bayesian confirmation theory. In interdisciplinary consciousness studies we are blessed with an abundance of theories, but we have reached a point where, going forward, it would be beneficial to focus on the most promising ones. Methods for assessment and comparison are necessary to identify which those are. While future refinement is likely, the methodology for assessment and comparison proposed here is a first step toward a novel way of approaching this through a quantification of empirical support for theories of consciousness.

Current Understanding of Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder and Co-occurring Conditions: What Clinicians Should Know about Pharmacological Options.

Compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD) has recently been recognized as a psychiatric disorder. Pharmacological treatments for CSBD have received little study and thus have limited empirical support. The main objective of the present work is to review existing literature on the efficacy of different drugs on the symptomatology of CSBD, including the subtype of problematic pornography use (PPU). The main pharmacological approaches to treating CSBD have included opioid antagonists (naltrexone and nalmefene), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (paroxetine, citalopram, fluoxetine, and sertraline), mood stabilizers (topiramate), tricyclic antidepressants (clomipramine), serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitors (nefazodone), and N-acetylcysteine. Since people with CSBD may experience different co-occurring disorders, these should be considered when choosing the best pharmacological treatment. Pharmacological therapy for CSBD/PPU has been suggested as an adjunct to psychological therapies, which, for the moment, have the most empirical evidence. However, to evaluate the efficacy of most of the drugs presented in this narrative review, data to date have only been available from case studies. Thus, empirical support is scant and generalizability of results is limited, highlighting the need for more research in this area.

Exploration of the molecular biological mechanisms and review of postoperative radiotherapy cases in tenosynovial giant cell tumors.

Tendon Sheath Giant Cell Tumor (TGCT) is a benign tumor that primarily grows within joints and bursae. However, it has a high postoperative recurrence rate, ranging from 15% to 45%. Although radiotherapy may reduce this recurrence rate, its applicability as a standard treatment is still controversial. Furthermore, the pathogenic mechanisms of TGCT are not clear, which limits the development of effective treatment methods. The unpredictable growth and high recurrence rate of TGCT adds to the challenges of disease management. Currently, our understanding of TGCT mainly depends on pathological slice analysis due to a lack of stable cell models. In this study, we first reviewed the medical records of two female TGCT patients who had undergone radiotherapy. Then, by combining bioinformatics and machine learning, we interpreted the pathogenesis of TGCT and its associations with other diseases from multiple perspectives. Based on a deep analysis of the case data, we provided empirical support for postoperative radiotherapy in TGCT patients. Additionally, our further analysis revealed the signaling pathways of differentially expressed genes in TGCT, as well as its potential associations with osteoarthritis and synovial sarcomas.

Availability restrictions and mandatory precommitment in land-based gambling: effects on online substitutes and total consumption in longitudinal sales data

BackgroundGambling causes important harms in societies. According to the public health approach, the most effective policies to reduce harms target full populations. Availability restrictions and mandatory precommitment are among the most effective measures. However, restrictions on the availability of some gambling products or channels may also be offset by increased consumption in other products. Substitution effects can have negative public health impacts due to differing harm potential across different gambling products. This paper uses longitudinal sales data (2019–2022) from the Finnish gambling monopoly Veikkaus. During the observation period, the availability of gambling was restricted in Finland due to subsequent waves of Covid-19-related restrictions. In addition, the gambling monopoly introduced mandatory precommitment to land-based EGMs. We focus on how these restrictive policy changes impacted the total consumption of gambling and possible substitution effects.MethodsThe Finnish gambling monopoly provided weekly theoretical loss data per gambling product category and gambling channel (online, land-based) for the period of January 2019 – July 2022 based on a statutory obligation. We analysed the effects of availability restrictions and other public health measures on the consumption of different products using descriptive time series and regression analyses. We compared the sale of land-based products to online equivalents at product category level and included main policy change periods in the models.ResultsTotal consumption of gambling declined during 2019–2022 mainly due to reduced land-based electronic gambling machine (EGM) consumption. Declines in land-based EGM sales were not offset by online alternatives or other close substitutes in the long term. However, during the first wave of Covid-19, there was an observable substitution of land-based table games by online alternatives and land-based horse betting and possibly sports betting by online horse betting. Overall, the results also show that Covid-19 functioned as a boost to an already existing trend of increasing digitalisation of gambling.ConclusionsThe study provides empirical support for the effectiveness of public health-oriented policies in reducing the total consumption of gambling. Availability restrictions and mandatory precommitment are therefore likely to also reduce the burden of harms of gambling to individuals and societies.

The virtue counterbalancing model: An illustration with patience & courage

ABSTRACT In conceptualizing virtues as fully distinct constructs and vices as the absence of virtues, positive psychology is unable to provide a coherent account that explains tensions between virtues. This article puts forward a simple, holistic model that emphasizes the counterbalancing nature of virtues and conceptualizes vices as both deficiencies and excesses of virtues. Virtues check-and-balance one another to temper instantiations of vice. To test this model, a longitudinal study (N = 299) was conducted on goals and goal pursuit, investigating the virtuous strategies of patience and courage and their relations with the vices of passivity and reactivity. Findings suggested empirical support for the virtue counterbalancing model. Additionally, there were interesting distinctions at the within level (e.g., specific goal level) and between level (e.g., characteristic person level) of analysis, which provide further insight into how these virtues and vices relate. Implications for the model and future research directions are discussed.

Do unions increase participation in further education?

AbstractThe race between education and technology is a key issue for trade unions. Unions often include skill upgrading and training in collective bargains, which might be an important tool to facilitate lifelong learning. In this article, I investigate how trade unions influence workers’ participation in further education using Norwegian‐matched employer–employee panel data on full‐time workers and a fixed‐effects framework. In contrast to most existing studies, which rely on more or less representative surveys, our data comprise the entire working population over a period of 16 years, allowing us to control for unobserved individual heterogeneity. An increase in the workplace union density is estimated to raise the individual propensity to participate in tertiary vocational education. I also find that workers in unionized establishments enjoy higher salaries during further education but at the expense of lower post‐training wage premiums. In addition, unions are found to lower employee turnover. Together, these findings give empirical support to the theoretical prediction of Acemoglu and Pischke (1999), where firms may optimally choose to sponsor investments in workers’ skills in the absence of perfect competition in the labour market.

Establishing Levels of Personality Functioning Using the Structured Interview of Personality Organization (STIPO-R): A Latent Profile Analysis

Both the new ICD-11 and the latest Alternative DSM-5 Model for Personality Disorders focus on self and interpersonal functioning as the central feature of personality pathology, also acknowledging that personality disorders are organized along a dimensional continuum of severity. This revised understanding is in line with long-standing psychodynamic conceptualisations of personality pathology, in particular Kernberg’s object relations model of personality organization. Despite existing evidence for the clinical utility of the derived Structured Interview of Personality Organization (STIPO-R), empirical support for the identification of clear cut-points between the different levels of personality functioning is missing. For this purpose, a total of 764 adult participants were recruited across two clinical (outpatient and inpatient) settings (n = 250) and two non-clinical (university students and general community) samples (n = 514). Results from the mixture modeling suggested the existence of five groups across the clinical and non-clinical samples that covered: healthy personality functioning, maladaptive personality rigidity, and mild, moderate, and severe levels of personality pathology. All five indicators of personality organization were found to be reliable predictors of personality pathology. Of the five STIPO-R indicators, Aggression and Moral Values had the most discriminative power for differentiating between the Mild, Moderate, and Severe personality disorder groups. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Do women in the boardroom influence foreign acquisitions' premium and outcomes? Evidence from China

AbstractThis paper examines whether gender diversity influences foreign merger and acquisition (M&A) premiums and outcomes in China. Consistent with agency and resource dependence theories, we find that female directors significantly reduce the acquisition premium paid for foreign targets. We show that the market responds positively in the short‐term (measured by cumulative abnormal returns) to the announcement of foreign acquisitions by firms with greater female representation in the boardroom. We further find significant evidence that acquirers' boards comprising more female directors experience value creation and better operating synergies (measured by buy‐and‐hold abnormal returns and changes in return on assets) in the long‐term following engagement in foreign M&A deals. Interestingly, after distinguishing between female independent and executive directors, we find that our previous finding on board gender diversity can be attributable to both the monitoring (independent directors) and supervisory (executive directors) roles played by female directors. We also find evidence accords with the argument of the critical mass of female directors' representation in the boardroom. Our results are robust after controlling for endogeneity issues using instrumental variables (IV), propensity score matching (PSM), Heckman, and firm fixed‐effects methods. Overall, our findings offer additional empirical support for the global concern by regulators for improving corporate governance practices by increasing female quotas in the boardroom.

Digitalization in lean manufacturing firms: a cumulative capability development perspective

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the digitalization of operational processes and activities in lean manufacturing firms and explore the associated learning implications through the lens of cumulative capability theory.Design/methodology/approachAdopting a multiple-case design, we examine four cases of digitalization initiatives within lean manufacturing firms. We collected data through semi-structured interviews and direct observations during site visits.FindingsThe study uncovers the development of learning capabilities as a result of integrating lean and digitalization. We find that digitalization in lean manufacturing firms contributes to the development of both routinized and evolutionary learning capabilities in a cumulative fashion.Originality/valueThe study adds nuance to the limited theoretical understanding of the integration of lean and digitalization by showing how it cumulatively develops the learning capabilities of lean manufacturing firms. As such, the study supports the robustness of cumulative capability theory. We further contribute to research by offering empirical support for the cumulative nature of learning.

Source reduction and innovation: Can sustainable finance assist in mitigating haze pollution?

In the context of China's pursuit of an ecological civilization, controlling haze pollution (HP) and enhancing environmental quality occupy a pivotal role. Addressing this issue, this study utilizes a dataset spanning from 2006 to 2020, encompassing 278 Chinese cities, to examine the impact and mechanisms of sustainable finance on HP management. This research innovatively constructs a Sustainable Finance Index and employs fixed effects models, mediation effect models, and spatial Durbin models for comprehensive empirical analysis. The findings indicate a significant negative relationship between sustainable finance and HP, with pronounced effects in cities experiencing severe haze, cities in the central and eastern regions of China, and non-provincial boundary cities. Mechanism analysis reveals that sustainable finance curtails urban haze formation through the optimization of energy consumption structure, enhancement of energy efficiency, and advancement of environmental technologies. This is primarily achieved through pollution source reduction and innovation effects. Additionally, the study uncovers a spatial spillover effect of sustainable finance in mitigating HP, peaking within a 500-km radius. This research not only provides new insights into the role of sustainable finance in the construction of ecological civilization but also offers empirical support for policymakers and stakeholders in formulating clean production policies, enhancing both the academic dialogue and practical policymaking in environmental management and sustainable development.

Impact of Type 2 Diabetes and Glycated Hemoglobin Levels Within the Recommended Target Range on Mortality in Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment Receiving Care at a Memory Clinic: NCGG-STORIES.

To determine the impact of type 2 diabetes and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels within the recommended target range according to the Japan Diabetes Society/Japan Geriatrics Society Joint Committee on mortality in older adults with cognitive impairment. This retrospective cohort study included 1,528 and 468 patients aged ≥65 years without and with type 2 diabetes, respectively, who were visiting a memory clinic. The 468 patients with type 2 diabetes were divided into three groups (within, above, and below the target range) based on their HbA1c levels, cognitive function, ability to perform activities of daily living, and medications associated with a high risk of hypoglycemia. The impact of diabetes and HbA1c levels on mortality was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models. Over a median follow-up period of 3.8 years, 353 patients (17.7%) died. Compared with individuals without type 2 diabetes, HbA1c levels above (hazard ratio [HR] 1.70, 95% CI 1.08-2.69) and below (HR 2.15, 95% CI 1.33-3.48) the target range were associated with a higher risk of death; however, HbA1c levels within the target range were not (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.77-1.36). HbA1c levels above and below the target range were associated with a higher risk of mortality, whereas patients with HbA1c levels within the target range did not exhibit a higher risk of mortality than individuals without type 2 diabetes. These results provide empirical support for the current target ranges among older adults with cognitive impairment.

Do 3–8 Years Old Children Benefit From Computational Thinking Development? A Meta-Analysis

The interest in Computational Thinking (CT) development among young learners increases with the number of studies located in literature. In this study, a meta-analysis was conducted to address two main objectives: (a) the effectiveness of empirical interventions on the development of CT in children aged of 3–8 years; and (b) the variables that influence the effectiveness of the interventions. Following PRISMA procedures, we identified 17 empirical studies with 34 effect sizes and 1665 participants meeting the inclusion criteria from Web of Science database. Overall, we found a statistically significant large effect size (d = .83 [95% CI: 730, .890]; p < .001) on the CT development of 3–8 years old children, which provides empirical support for having young children to engage in CT experiences. The effect size was significantly influenced by moderating variables including gender, scaffolding, and education level. Intervention length showed a marginally significant effect. Therefore, educators could refer to the significant moderators when designing tailored interventions for CT development in early childhood education while a call for more empirical studies of CT development in young children is proposed.

Examining the relationship between firm characteristics and Industry 4.0 technology adoption in Vietnam's apparel industry

ABSTRACT This study investigates the relationships between firm characteristics (region, firm size, firm age, and product category) and Industry 4.0 technology adoption in the Vietnamese apparel manufacturing industry. As the key Industry 4.0 technologies, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Interactive Robotics, Smart Sensors, Big Data, 3D Printing, physical Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), and human-robot interaction were included to examine technology adoption. The hypotheses were tested using a series of Chi-square analyses with data gathered from 210 Vietnamese apparel-manufacturing firms. The results indicate no clear pattern of associations between firm characteristics and technology adoption and provide empirical support for firms’ strategic adoption of a certain set of Industry 4.0 technologies in line with their firm characteristics. On the other hand, the findings from scatter charts indicated that AI, Interactive Robotics, and 3D Printing are three key technologies that apparel firms applied the most and at a similar level.

Microbial mediation of soil carbon loss at the potential climax of alpine grassland under warming

Soil in high latitude and altitude cold regions contains over half of soil organic carbon (SOC) globally, so the decomposition of these SOCs under climate warming could release huge amounts of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, amplifying climate warming. However, it is still unclear how the SOC storages will change when the ecosystem reaches the final and stable stage (i.e., the climax) under long-term warming. This is mainly because the turnover times of SOC in cold regions exceeds hundreds or even thousands of years, much longer than the periods of simulated warming experiments. Herein we used natural geothermal warming gradients in a Tibetan alpine grassland to determine SOC changes and underlying plant and microbial mechanisms at the potential climax. SOC concentrations were significantly decreased by 21.4%–30.6% under high-level soil warming (+4∼+6 °C), but remained unchanged under low-level soil warming (+2 °C). The losses of SOC were primarily from mineral-associated organic carbon, rather than unprotected particulate organic carbon. The shifts of microbial communities and associated decline of microbial carbon use efficiency, rather than plant-driven carbon fluxes, substantially contributed to the SOC changes. This observed SOC losses at the climax of alpine grassland by high-level warming provide strong empirical support for the positive soil carbon-climate feedback in cold regions, which could not be concluded from short-term experiments or only based on ecosystem carbon fluxes alone. The divergent responses of SOC to different degrees of warming suggest that models must account for these heterogeneous carbon dynamics for projecting future climate warming scenarios.

Exploring Visitors’ Pro-environmental Behaviors at Urban Forest Destinations

Our theoretical framework was intricately crafted to illuminate the decision-making dynamics of visitors in urban forest destinations. The primary objectives of this study were to scrutinize visitors' pro-environmental behavior (PRB), employing the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) as a foundational framework, and extending it by incorporating key factors such as connectedness to nature, biospheric value, environmental empathy, attitude, positive anticipated emotion, moral norms, subjective norms, and natural/local resource conservation intentions, within the unique context of urban forest destinations. Utilizing GSCAM, the framework’s measurement quality is affirmed as being adequate. Findings from the structural model and necessary condition analysis (NCA) robustly supported the hypothesized associations within the proposed theoretical framework. Notably, cognitive and affective appraisals, along with moral considerations, emerged as salient in shaping visitor intentions. Furthermore, empirical support was observed for the hypothesized impact of natural resource conservation intentions on determining PRB, providing nuanced insights into the factors influencing pro-environmental actions in urban forest destinations. This comprehensive approach not only enhances theoretical understanding but also offers practical applications for promoting sustainable behaviors in these unique settings.

Psychometric properties and factor structure of the suicidal narrative inventory in major depression: A multicentric evaluation

BackgroundThe Suicidal Narrative Inventory (SNI) is a 38-item self-report measure developed to assess elements of the suicidal narrative, a subacute, predominantly cognitive, presuicidal construct. Our objectives were to assess the factor structure, validity, and reliability of the SNI-38 among adults with major depressive disorder (MDD). MethodsUsing a cross-sectional design, we administered the Hindi version of the SNI along with other self-report measures to adults with MDD, recruited from 24 tertiary care hospitals across India. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to assess the factor structure of SNI-38. Reliability (internal consistency) was assessed using Cronbach's alpha (α). Convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity of the SNI-38 were tested by comparing it against other appropriate measures. ResultsWe collected usable responses from 654 Hindi-speaking participants (Mean age = 36.9 ± 11.9 years, 50.2% female). The eight-factor solution of the SNI showed good model fit indices (χ2[637] = 3345.58, p <.001, CFI =.98, and RMSEA =.08). Internal consistencies for the SNI subscale scores were good to excellent, α ranging from .73 to.92. While most subscales significantly converged with other measures, associations were comparatively weaker and inconsistent for the ‘thwarted belongingness’ and ‘goal reengagement’ subscales. ConclusionConsistent with prior data, our study confirmed an eight-factor solution and demonstrated adequate psychometric properties for the Hindi version of the SNI-38 in our sample. These findings provide empirical support for the use of SNI to assess the suicidal narrative among Indian adults with MDD.

Research on the impact of digitalization on green development: An empirical analysis from the low-carbon strategy perspective.

With the collision between the green and low-carbon economy and the accelerating digital economy, how to realize the effect of "1+1>2" has gradually become an important topic for contributing to the high-quality development of regions and enterprises. Entrepreneurship in the digital age continues to exhibit new characteristics, and its impact on green development is also more closely related. This article focuses on the context of the low-carbon strategy, incorporating the digitalization level, entrepreneurship, and green development into the same framework. It then takes 2011-2021 Chinese provincial panel data and enterprise panel data as samples to conduct research. The results indicate the following: (1) The digitalization level has a significant positive promoting effect on the green development of regions and enterprises, and blockchain technology has the strongest promoting effect on the green development of enterprises. (2) The digitalization level drives the green development of regions and enterprises through three channels: entrepreneurs' innovative spirit, entrepreneurs' entrepreneurial spirit and entrepreneurs' contract spirit. Entrepreneurship is the intermediary bridge for the digitalization level to promote green development. (3) Environmental regulations partially serve as "accelerators" of the impact of green development. The findings of this article will provide empirical support for evaluating the impact of digitalization on green development and offer useful insights for better stimulating and cultivating entrepreneurship in the new era to empower comprehensive green development.

Measuring EFL teachers’ teaching anxiety in the online teaching environment

ABSTRACT The shift towards online teaching has sparked significant discussions on how to manage teachers’ emotions while delivering instruction online effectively. Through three rounds of investigation with EFL teachers, this study developed and validated a self-report scale – EFL teachers’ online teaching anxiety. A total of 524 Chinese full-time college EFL teachers participated in this self-designed questionnaire survey comprising 25 items, complemented by face-to-face interviews with 10 participants. The findings reveal that the revised scale is reliable and valid for measuring EFL teachers’ online teaching anxiety. Moreover, the findings also suggest that EFL teachers commonly experience moderate levels of anxiety while teaching online, stemming from factors such as fear of negative evaluation, technophobia, lack of confidence in online teaching, worry about teaching outcomes, and feelings of separation from students. Notably, the study identifies significant and positive relationships among these sources, with the fear of negative evaluation emerging as the most explanatory one. It concludes with recommendations for mitigating teachers’ online anxiety, emphasizing the importance of fostering a supportive evaluation culture. This study offers valuable insights for understanding EFL teachers’ online teaching anxiety and provides empirical support for the structural model of EFL teachers’ online teaching anxiety.