Independent Constructs Research Articles

Building a nomogram plot based on the nanopore targeted sequencing for predicting urinary tract pathogens and differentiating from colonizing bacteria.

The identification of uropathogens (UPBs) and urinary tract colonizing bacteria (UCB) conduces to guide the antimicrobial therapy to reduce resistant bacterial strains and study urinary microbiota. This study established a nomogram based on the nanopore-targeted sequencing (NTS) and other infectious risk factors to distinguish UPB from UCB. Basic information, medical history, and multiple urine test results were continuously collected and analyzed by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, and multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the independent predictors and construct nomogram. Receiver operating characteristics, area under the curve, decision curve analysis, and calibration curves were used to evaluate the performance of the nomogram. In this study, the UPB detected by NTS accounted for 74.1% (401/541) of all urinary tract microorganisms. The distribution of ln(reads) between UPB and UCB groups showed significant difference (OR = 1.39; 95% CI, 1.246-1.551, p < 0.001); the reads number in NTS reports could be used for the preliminary determination of UPB (AUC=0.668) with corresponding cutoff values being 7.042. Regression analysis was performed to determine independent predictors and construct a nomogram, with variables ranked by importance as ln(reads) and the number of microbial species in the urinary tract of NTS, urine culture, age, urological neoplasms, nitrite, and glycosuria. The calibration curve showed an agreement between the predicted and observed probabilities of the nomogram. The decision curve analysis represented that the nomogram would benefit clinical interventions. The performance of nomogram with ln(reads) (AUC = 0.767; 95% CI, 0.726-0.807) was significantly better (Z = 2.304, p-value = 0.021) than that without ln(reads) (AUC = 0.727; 95% CI, 0.681-0.772). The rate of UPB identification of nomogram was significantly higher than that of ln(reads) only (χ2=7.36, p-value = 0.009). NTS is conducive to distinguish uropathogens from colonizing bacteria, and the nomogram based on NTS and multiple independent predictors has better prediction performance of uropathogens.

Psychopathy facets, perceived power, and forms of aggression.

Despite research indicating that exerting dominance and control is characteristic of psychopathy, no research has examined the role that feelings of and desire for power plays in psychopathy-related aggression. Borrowing from various literatures and novel conceptualizations, we investigated the contributions of feeling powerful and/or desiring power and distinct psychopathy facets in explaining aggression manifested in different forms (i.e., physical, verbal, indirect) across 4 samples. Results from regression analyses within each sample and a meta-analysis across the samples indicated that the impulsive facet of psychopathy was generally related to multiple forms of aggression, and the unique variance in the affective facet was primarily related to physical aggression across samples. In contrast, the unique variance of the interpersonal facet showed a primary relationship with indirect aggression (e.g., relational, passive). Desiring power made unique contributions in relation to multiple forms of aggression, whereas feeling powerful was generally unrelated and/or negatively related to aggression. In sum, the unique variance in the psychopathy facets showed fairly specialized relationships with forms of aggression, and desire for power may be an independent explanatory construct for multiple forms of aggression proneness. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Does National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone Construction Help Improve Urban Green Total Factor Productivity? A Policy Assessment from China

Taking the innovation policy pilot of the national independent innovation demonstration zone (NIIDZ) as a quasi-natural experiment, we select a set of data covering 283 cities in China from 2004 to 2016 to empirically test the impact and mechanism of NIIDZ on urban green total factor productivity (GTFP) by using a progressive difference-in-differences (DID) model. The research indicates that the NIIDZ policy pilot can effectively help promote the growth of urban GTFP; talent agglomeration and local fiscal expenditure on science and technology are important channels for the policy to promote urban GTFP. Various methods have proved the reliability of our research results. Further, affected by geographical location, resource endowment and population size, the pilot effects of the NIIDZ also demonstrate regional heterogeneity. Our study provides a useful supplement for innovation policy evaluation from both theoretical and empirical perspectives.

Is cognition integral to psychopathology? A population-based cohort study.

Lower cognitive functioning has been documented across psychiatric disorders and hypothesized to be a core deficit of mental disorders. Situating psychopathology and cognition as part of a unitary construct is therefore important to understanding the etiology of psychiatric disorders. The current study aims to test competing structural models of psychopathology and cognition in a large national cohort of adolescents. The analytic sample consisted of 1189 participants aged 16-17 years, screened by the Israeli Draft Board. Psychopathology was assessed using a modified version of the Brief Symptom Inventory, and cognition was assessed based on four standardized test scores ((1) mathematical reasoning, concentration, and concept manipulation; (2) visual-spatial problem-solving skills and nonverbal abstract reasoning; (3) verbal understanding; (4) categorization and verbal abstraction). Confirmatory factor analysis was implemented to compare competing structural models of psychopathology with and without cognition. Sensitivity analyses examined the models in different subpopulations. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a better model fit of psychopathological symptoms without cognition (RMSEA = 0.037; TLI = 0.991; CFI = 0.992) than with cognition (RMSEA = 0.04-0.042; TLI = 0.987-0.988; CFI = 0.988-0.989). Sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of these results with a single exception. Among participants with low cognitive abilities (N = 139), models that integrated psychopathological symptoms with cognition had a better fit compared to models of psychopathology without cognition. The current study suggests that cognition and psychopathology are, generally, independent constructs. However, within low cognitive abilities, cognition was integral to the structure of psychopathology. Our results point toward an increased vulnerability to psychopathology in individuals with low cognitive abilities and may provide valuable information for clinicians.

Development and Validation of the Privileged Social Class Attitudes Scale (PSCAS)

The goal of the study was to develop a scale to assess the social class attitudinal profiles of people with social class privilege. Based on social class theory and other models of privileged identities, we generated an item pool reflecting different attitudinal profiles. In Study 1, exploratory factor analysis revealed a scale with four core social class attitude subscales (Social Class Prejudice, Acknowledgement, Awareness, and Action) and three additional scales reflecting independent social class constructs (Social Class Identity Centrality, Guilt, and Fortune). In Study 2, we found that the subscales fit together in a multifactor correlational model and established construct validity. However, the Action subscale surprisingly correlated positively with the Prejudice scale. Post hoc analyses revealed this correlation existed only for those high in just world beliefs. Taken together, the Privileged Social Class Attitudes Scale provides a new tool for investigating the attitudinal profiles of people with social class privilege.

Construction of a web-based dynamic nomogram for predicting the prognosis in acute heart failure.

The early identification and appropriate management may provide clinically meaningful and substained benefits in patients with acute heart failure (AHF). This study aimed to develop an integrative nomogram with myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) for predicting the risk of all-cause mortality in AHF patients. Prospective study of 147 patients with AHF who received gated MPI (59.0 [47.5, 68.0] years; 78.2% males) were enrolled and followed for the primary endpoint of all-cause mortality. We analysed the demographic information, laboratory tests, electrocardiogram, and transthoracic echocardiogram by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression for selection of key features. A multivariate stepwise Cox analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors and construct a nomogram. The predictive values of the constructed model were compared by Kaplan-Meier curve, area under the curves (AUCs), calibration plots, continuous net reclassification improvement, integrated discrimination improvement, and decision curve analysis. The 1, 3, and 5year cumulative rates of death were 10%, 22%, and 29%, respectively. Diastolic blood pressure [hazard ratio (HR) 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.93-0.99; P=0.017], valvular heart disease (HR 3.05, 95% CI 1.36-6.83; P=0.007), cardiac resynchronization therapy (HR 0.37, 95% CI 0.17-0.82; P=0.014), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (per 100pg/mL; HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.03; P<0.001), and rest scar burden (HR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.06; P=0.008) were independent risk factors for patients with AHF. The cross-validated AUCs (95% CI) of nomogram constructed by diastolic blood pressure, valvular heart disease, cardiac resynchronization therapy, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, and rest scar burden were 0.88 (0.73-1.00), 0.83 (0.70-0.97), and 0.79 (0.62-0.95) at 1, 3, and 5years, respectively. Continuous net reclassification improvement and integrated discrimination improvement were also observed, and the decision curve analysis identified the greater net benefit of the nomogram across a wide range of threshold probabilities (0-100% at 1 and 3years; 0-61% and 62-100% at 5years) compared with dismissing the included factors or using either factor alone. A predictive nomogram for the risk of all-cause mortality in patients with AHF was developed and validated in this study. The nomogram incorporated the rest scar burden by MPI is highly predictive, and may help to better stratify clinical risk and guide treatment decisions in patients with AHF.

Effects of customer perceived value, brand experience on brand attachment, brand satisfaction, and word-of-mouth

How to increase positive word-of-mouth of customers for a brand is an interesting question not only for business managers but also for researchers. Based on the consumer value theory, authors try to consolidate the hypothesis “Customer perceived value, brand experience influence on brand attachment, customer satisfaction, and customers’ word-of-mouth in the context of smartphones market in Ho Chi Minh City”. The authors applied the PLS-SEM (Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling) technique to check the impacts of independent constructs on dependent constructs thanks to the information of 230 smartphones users. All hypotheses are confirmed by the results of the research. Such discoveries have both theoretical and practical implications. In theory, it supports the consumer value theory. In practice, enterprises should prioritize to offering more symbolic and emotional values for customers; to use influencers to share their feeling with customers. As a result, enterprises will have effective ambassadors for their brands.

A Portrait of Teaching Writing in Online Classroom

Nowadays, online classrooms are growing in popularity. Especially given the Covid-19 outbreak in Indonesia, which has forced online learning. This study aims to investigate online learning in EFL learners’ writing classrooms. This study uses a qualitative method and a descriptive qualitative research design to examine in detail how teachers teach EFL learners in online writing. Researchers collected data through the technique of nonparticipant observation, and the researcher "observes from the sidelines" the action being observed. The results of this study reveal that the observed teacher's teaching method is not consistent with the four reference strategies employed by the researchers. The four strategies include; building knowledge of field, modeling of text, joint construction of text, and independent construction of text. Because, after being observed, the teacher employs only one strategy to teach writing, specifically building knowledge of field.

Utilizing Edmudo to Teach Writing with GBA in The Blended Learning Platform

&lt;p&gt;This conceptual paper provides a future study based on a strategy of utilizing Edmodo to teach writing with a genre based approach (GBA) in the blended learning platform. Innovation in English teaching and learning process, especially in writing skills in this rapid growth technology era becomes challenge for teachers. Lack of time allocation, students’ writing skill, and the attention of writing significance become the obstacles in teaching and learning process. However, teaching writing needs appropriate approach in order to have good capability in writing skills. This paper went on to analyze suitable approach in teaching writing. This paper consists of the stages of genre-based approach namely Building Knowledge of the Field (BKOF), Modeling of the Text (MOT), Joining Construction of the Text (JCOT), and Independent Construction of the Text (ICOT) will be implemented through face to face activity and online by taking the advantage of Edmodo. The classroom activity was conducted to provide students with the basic concept of writing while the online activity was carried out in addressing the issues of limited time allotment for English writing, lack of students writing skill, and writing process significance in learning English. The conceptual paper signifies to supplement literatures for academics as reference for their research. The result of this future research may provide information about utilizing Edmodo to teach writing with a genre based approach. It will also be relevant to teachers who have difficulty in teaching writing.&lt;/p&gt;

Abstract 2444: RAB27B drives a cancer stem cell phenotype in non-small cell lung cancer cells through enhanced extracellular vesicle secretion

Abstract Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a major subtype of lung cancer, accounts for ~85% of all lung cancer diagnoses. A sub-population of cells within human NSCLC tumors called cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been found to exhibit distinct properties that contribute to factors associated with poor outcomes in NSCLC patients including metastasis, relapse, and therapeutic resistance. We previously performed RNAseq analysis on bulk cancer cells (BCCs) and CSCs from a panel of primary NSCLC tumors and cell lines to identify signaling mechanisms involved in the tumorigenic behavior of NSCLC CSCs. Our analysis revealed that expression of RAB27B, a small GTPase that plays a critical role in extracellular vesicle (EV) formation and secretion, was significantly upregulated in CSCs when compared to BCCs. Interestingly, RAB27B is overexpressed and predicts patient survival in NSCLC. The goal of this study was to assess the role of RAB27B in the tumorigenic behavior of NSCLC CSCs and determine the mechanism by which RAB27B promotes an aggressive stem-cell like phenotype in NSCLC cells an aspect of RAB27B function that has not been investigated in NSCLC. QPCR and immunoblot analysis was used to compare RAB27B mRNA and protein expression in a panel of NSCLC BCCs and CSCs. Two independent shRNA constructs were used to knockdown (KD) RAB27B in NSCLC CSCs. The effects of RAB27B KD on CSC expansion, transformed growth and invasion were analyzed by clonal expansion, soft agar colony formation and Boyden chamber assays, respectively. Xenograft and tail vein mouse models were used to assess the effects of RAB27B KD on CSC tumor growth and lung colonization. EVs were isolated from the conditioned media of BCCs, CSCs and RAB27B KD CSCs using differential ultracentrifugation, and characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis, transmission electron microscopy and immunoblotting according to MISEV guidelines. Our analysis revealed that RAB27B is significantly upregulated in NSCLC CSCs compared to BCCs. RAB27B KD cells exhibited a significant decrease in clonal expansion, transformed growth and invasion when compared to non-target shRNA control CSCs. In vivo studies demonstrated that RAB27B is important for the tumorigenicity of CSCs and promotes tumor cell proliferation, and angiogenesis. EVs were positive for EV-specific markers and negative for an intracellular vesicle marker. CSCs secrete significantly more EVs when compared to BCCs and KD of RAB27B in CSCs led to a decrease in the levels of EVs secreted. Furthermore, delivery of CSC-derived, but not BCC-derived EVs to BCCs induced spheroid growth, clonal expansion, and invasion in BCCs. Taken together, our results indicate that RAB27B is required for maintenance of a highly tumorigenic, cancer-initiating and invasive stem-like cell population in NSCLC and RAB27B is involved in propagating EV-mediated communication from NSCLC CSCs to BCCs. Citation Format: Kayleah M. Meneses, Jennifer A. Lindemann, Prita Pandya, Dania S. Al-Qasrawi, Ryan Argo, Celeste Weems, Danielle J. Beetler, Irene K. Yan, Joy Wolfram, Tushar C. Patel, Verline Justilien. RAB27B drives a cancer stem cell phenotype in non-small cell lung cancer cells through enhanced extracellular vesicle secretion [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 2444.

A functional typology of Dutch insubordinate infinitives

This paper aims to offer a typology of Dutch insubordinate infinitives, which, following Evans’s (2007) definition of insubordination, are defined as ‘the main clause use’ of infinitival constructions. The main objectives of this paper are to provide a pragmatic analysis of these constructions in Dutch and, through cross-linguistic comparison, investigate whether their attested pragmatic functions correspond to the pragmatic functions of (a) insubordinate constructions in general and (b) insubordinate infinitives in particular. This is done on the basis of a corpus study, examining a sample of independent infinitival constructions attested in the Corpus of Spoken Dutch (CGN). Ultimately, three primary functions are distinguished for Dutch insubordinate infinitives that align with different types of insubordinate constructions attested cross-linguistically: they can be employed for (i) discursive strategies, (ii) interpersonal control, and (iii) evaluation and exclamation. In addition, through processes of insubordination and idiomatization a new type of output is created in which the insubordinate infinitival constructions behave as discourse markers. In adopting a language-specific, corpus-based approach, this study provides a first systematic and comprehensive functional typology of insubordinate infinitival constructions in Dutch. At the same time, it contributes to the ongoing theoretical debate on the functional load of insubordinate constructions.

Perspectives on quality of life among disability-related organization leaders serving individuals with paralysis

Understanding how the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Quality of Life grant recipients define quality of life has value in helping to further develop and refine the literature on this topic for individuals with spinal cord injury and/or organizations working to serve and/or support individuals with spinal cord injury. The purpose of this organizational evaluation project’s evaluation activities was to engage with Quality of Life (QOL) Grant recipients, namely leaders at disability-related organizations across the United States, to better understand their definitions and operationalization of the term, “quality of life”. To do so systematically, researchers compiled a list of all QOL grant recipients from two 2016 grant cycles and divided them into three categories based on the award amount. From these categories, we randomly selected organizations to invite to provide input. Phone interviews were completed with 19 grant recipients. A thematic content analysis was completed across the resulting transcripts using MAXQDA software. The sub-themes identified by researchers included: community connection, independence, self-determination, caregiver communication, and including caregivers in programs. Our analysis demonstrates the importance of both community and caregiver relationships to organizations that focus on QOL for people with SCI. Novel findings suggest the importance of community and connection as well as a reframing of both the constructs of independence and control within QOL. Lessons for evaluators are also provided.

Time has no dimensionality or physical existence

The author had been focusing on various treatments of time in physics for decades. The author felt that there were major shortcomings in the treatment of time in relativity and even in Newtonian physics. Then the author took a very pragmatic look at how time was actually treated in GPS to achieve a high precision, real world, working, physics system. The author thought that the actual GPS approach might yield a pragmatic time construct for physics. GPS does NOT use special relativity’s construct of time—but rather an observer independent construct as detailed below. The author put “Philosophical Time” musings aside and focused solely on finding the right physics construct for time. Finding that proper time was all that physics required, it dawned on the author, quite to his surprise, that proper time also met all the needs of philosophical time. Furthermore, an even deeper physics insight was that “proper time” is simply a measure of a stable physical process’ cycles. Hence, “time” as a separate physical entity disappeared to be replaced by physical processes each with its own idiosyncratic length/duration, all of which can be related to each other. These cyclic and noncyclic processes are all driven by known physical forces and energy sources. The properties of time, except for dimensionality, are actually just properties of each individual process that unfolds within 3D space and time is an emergent, human, generalization of process lengths.

Examining the Relationship between Adaptive Behavior and Intelligence.

Adaptive behavior and intelligence are both essential components of defining and diagnosing intellectual disability. The exact relationship between these two constructs still warrants some clarification. Previous studies have examined the correlation between adaptive behavior and intelligence and have reported differing results. Overall, there seems to be agreement that a modest to moderate correlation exists between adaptive behavior and intelligence and that the strength of this relationship may increase as ability level decreases further below the population mean. Using the Diagnostic Adaptive Behavior Scale and a sample of 57 youth aged from 4 to 21 years old, we examined the correlation coefficients between the full-scale IQ scores and their scores obtained on conceptual, social, and practical adaptive skill domain scores, as well as the total adaptive behavior score. The results obtained indicated a modest to moderate correlation between adaptive behavior and intelligence. The strongest statistically significant correlation coefficient was between the full-scale IQ score and the conceptual adaptive skills domain score (r = 0.64). The correlation between the full-scale IQ score and the practical adaptive skills domain (r = 0.39) and social adaptive skills domain (r = 0.28; ns) were more modest. The correlation coefficient between the full-scale IQ score and the total adaptive behavior score also showed a moderate relationship with intelligence (r = 0.46). These findings are consistent with previous research, documenting that adaptive behavior and intelligence are two related but independent constructs. We discuss these findings and their implications.

Extending the servicescape conceptualization: accounting for perceptions of crowding and risks under the pandemic

PurposeThough many conceptual and empirical studies have been conducted on the servicescape, limited research has focused on how the COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped factors influencing the servicescape. This paper aims to propose an extension of Bitner’s original conceptualization, including pandemic-induced physical and social constraints on servicescape in the form of crowding, consumer risk perception during the crisis and their impact on consumers' and employees’ behavioral changes in retail and hospitality sectors.Design/methodology/approachThis paper critically reviewed the past and emerging servicescape and risk literature. It then examines and delineates the concepts of crowding, density and associated risk perceptions to offer an extended servicescape framework. Alongside, scales were proposed to measure the constructs and guidelines given to conduct future empirical studies.FindingsThis paper discussed the major impact on servicescape during a pandemic situation, to what extent risk is perceived during consumption and the impact of crowding and store density on employee and customer behavioral responses.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper principally contributes by explicitly including specific risk dimensions and crowding and proposes the scales to measure consumers’ understanding of pandemic-induced perceptions of risk, crowding and density within servicescapes for further empirical testing. Alongside this, the identification and concretization of different types of perceived risks under COVID-19 provide critical and useful marketing implications.Originality/valueThis study identifies relevant risk dimensions, proposes crowding as an independent construct apart from servicescape physicality and proposes relevant measures for empirical verification.

An empirically validated framework for measuring patient's acceptability of health care in Multi-Island Micro States.

Measuring health-care acceptability presents conceptual and contextual challenges, particularly in data-poor Multi-Island Micro States (MIMSs). Thus, there has been limited evidence on the acceptability of health care in MIMS and scarce use of acceptability metrics in policy design and health system evaluation. In the present study, we developed and empirically validated a theoretical framework for measuring users' acceptability of health care in a MIMS in the Caribbean. Using a minimum-data approach, we used a synoptic review of health-care literature and consultations with experts and health system stakeholders to define, scope and select constructs for the theoretical framework of health-care acceptability. Empirical validation of the modelled framework was performed using data collected from household expenditure and health-care utilization surveys in Carriacou and Petite Martinique (n = 226), island dependents of Grenada in the Caribbean. Data were used to create health utilization profiles and analyse measurement scales of the health-care acceptability framework using non-linear partial least square structural equation modelling. The modelled framework included 17 items integrating economic and psychosocial concepts, with 1 dependent construct (utilization) and 3 independent constructs (users' perception, experience and knowledge of health facility). Model analysis and validation indicated that the framework was significant, explaining 19% of the variation in health-care acceptability. Users' experience construct was influenced by perception and knowledge of health facility and was the only construct with a significant negative relationship with acceptability. Health-care acceptability declined with increased waiting and travel times and unsuitable opening hours. We conclude that acceptability comprises a complex multidimensional concept, which is highly dependent on various interacting variables and contextual characteristics of the health system. Therefore, policies and actions to improve acceptability should be context specific and focused on evaluating factors infringing health-care acceptability. Routine acceptability and/or satisfaction studies represent baseline evidence towards understanding and integrating acceptability in health-care assessment.

Temporal self and reflected appraisals in euthymic and depressed individuals

BackgroundTemporal self-appraisal (TSA) theory, reflected appraisal theory, and their clinical applications have previously been explored as independent constructs. This study investigates how TSA corresponds to temporal reflected appraisal (TRA), and how the relationship between them differs in the presence of depression. Methods273 adults (57 % female), recruited using Amazon Mechanical Turk, filled out a series of measures of mood and self-appraisal assessments (TSA and TRA versions of the Me/Not Me task). Repeated measures MANOVAs were used to assess between group differences. ResultsThe TSA trajectory of depressed individuals replicated the ‘V' shape found in previous research, whereas the TRA of depressed individuals did not decline from past to present. There was little difference between TSA and TRA “past” and “future” appraisals, though there was a significant difference in appraisal of the “present.” Individuals with depression believe that others perceive them as doing much better currently than the way they view themselves. By contrast, euthymic individuals had no significant differences between the TSA and TRA appraisals of their present selves, indicating they think their self-perception matches how others view them. LimitationsWe assessed depression using online self-reports. Cross-sectional data limits causality determination but suffices for studying mood-related self-perceptions over time. ConclusionsTemporal self-appraisal and temporal reflected appraisal have varying relationships among euthymic and depressed individuals. This more precise characterization of depressed individuals' identity can further aid clinicians in understanding the nature of identity development and treating identity disruption among depressed individuals.

Pandemic Induced E-Learning and the Impact on the Stakeholders: Mediating Role of Satisfaction and Moderating Role of Choice

This study tries to assess the impact of e-learning on the stakeholders, especially teachers and students, and the differences. COVID-19, the current pandemic, is taken as the context. A structural equation modeling approach is undertaken, and PLS-SEM (partial least squares) (multi-group) method is chosen. Perceived Usefulness and Perceived Ease of Use are the independent constructs, with Behavioral Intention to Use being the dependent construct. Satisfaction is taken as a mediator, and Choice is used as a moderator. One hundred ninety-seven teachers and two hundred seventy-nine students comprise the sample. Results show that teachers’ perceived usefulness has a significant and positive impact on their satisfaction. For both teachers and students, perceived ease of use has a significant and positive impact on behavioral intention. Satisfaction is a successful mediator for teachers but not for the students. Choice has proved to be a good moderator for the relationship between perceived ease of use and behavioral intention to use. The study is unique as a new moderator (choice) is introduced to the modified model, and in-depth analysis is conducted to assess the relationships and the differences between the two groups. Further, it is a multi-national study enhancing its universal implications. Keywords: e-learning, pandemic, SEM, PLS, teachers, students, satisfaction, choice

A LIBRARY RESEARCH: THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GENRE BASED APPROACH IN INDONESIAN VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOLS

Genre Based Approach (GBA) had been implemented for a decade in English Curriculumof Indonesia. It was expected that this approach could develop four language skills simultaneously through its four stages of teaching and learning cycles, namely Building Knowlege of Field (BKOF), Modelling of Text (MOT), Join Construction of Text (JCOT) and Independent Construction of Text (ICOT). This study aims to review the implementation of GBA in Vocatioanal High School (VHS) and its impact to the learning process. It applied a library research to analyze two thesis and six research journals on the implementation GBA in VHS that focus mostly in writing skills. The results show that teachers have applied GBA using the correct stages though there are some weaknesses within the process. Teachers and students give positive response toward the implementation of GBA that can be seen through their enthusiam during the teaching and learning process. Finally, this study also revealed that GBA can improve students learning results that is proven from the students’writing scores that increase after the implementation of GBA.

The Interaction Between Optimism and Pessimism Predicted the Perceived Risk of Infection During the Covid-19 Pandemic: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study.

In this study, we examined the relationship between optimism and pessimism associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, mental health, and perceived risk of infection. In particular, we tested the hypothesis that, when optimism and pessimism were high during the pandemic period, a worse mental health and a higher perception of risk would be reported. To this end, a convenience sample of 374 Italian adults was enrolled. Measures included perceived stress, optimism, and pessimism associated with the development of the pandemic situation, as well as the perceived risk of Covid-19 infection. The results showed that optimism and pessimism were associated with perceived stress and Covid-19 risk perception while controlling for demographic variables. Optimism and stress were negatively related, while pessimism was positively related to both stress and risk perception. Furthermore, the interaction between optimism and optimism was significant, with a higher perception of risk in the presence of both high optimism and pessimism, and a lower perception of risk with high optimism and low pessimism. These results support the hypothesis that optimism and pessimism interacted in predicting Covid-19 risk perception and show that they should be measured as partially correlated but independent constructs in future investigations.