Indirect Path Analysis Research Articles

Preparedness and Competencies of Higher Education Teachers to Teach Online: A Study in North-East India

This study explores the significance of the online teaching ability of higher education teachers, and how teachers perceived their level of competence in teaching online in north-east (NE) India. The Faculty Readiness to Teach Online (FRTO) instrument developed by Martin et al. (2019) was adapted to conduct a study from 130 teachers in higher education institutions across NE India. The ability to teach online was categorised into four categories, i.e., course design, course communication, time management, and technical competence. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was carried out to do direct and indirect path analysis of the proposed conceptual model. Multiple regression analysis was used in analysing the demographic profiles of the teachers and their perceptions of the importance of online teaching competencies. The findings indicate that the perceived readiness to teach online was not significantly influenced by course design, course communication, time management and technical competencies. Furthermore, regression analysis showed that both age and gender negatively impacted perceptions towards readiness to teach online, with older and female teachers having lower perception scores.

Analisis Pengaruh Penghargaan, Lingkungan, serta Budaya Kerja terhadap Kinerja Pegawai melalui Displin Kerja sebagai Variable Intervening

The purpose of this study is to reveal how to improve employee performance so that it is effective in improving work quality through the factors of appreciation, work environment, work culture and work discipline in BKPSDM Kab. Jember.. This research begins by developing a framework or research model between Awards, Environment, Work Culture, Work Discipline and Employee Performance. Furthermore, data was obtained from 105 respondents by distributing questionnaires through social media and consisting of open and closed questions. Respondents are employees of BKPSDM Jember. Then, the data obtained were analyzed quantitatively and structurally using Structural Equaition Modeling Method (SEM) using Partial Least Square version 07 program. In this study, it was found that awards have a significant positive effect on the work environment, work culture and discipline at BKPSDM. with direct and indirect path analysis. The conclusion of this study is that all the variables examined in this study have a positive and significant effect on improving the performance of BKPSDM Kab. Jember.
 
 Keywords: Islamic Work Ethic, Leadership Style, Motivation, Performance

Investigating the nexus between critical success factors, supportive leadership, and entrepreneurial success: evidence from the renewable energy projects.

This study focuses on entrepreneurs associated with construction-based renewable energy projects located in Pakistan. The objectives of this research to identify the critical factors that affect the success of entrepreneurs. We used three dimensions of critical success factors such as government support (GS), access to finance (AF), and personality traits (PTs). This study consists of four important direct and indirect relationships. First, we examine the direct relationship between critical success factors (CSFs) and the success of entrepreneurs. Second, we investigate the direct relationship between CSFs and supportive leadership (SL). Third, we also examine the indirect relationship of supportive leadership between CSFs and the success of entrepreneurs. Fourth, we test the direct relationship between supportive leadership and the success of entrepreneurs. In this study, we collected data from 255 entrepreneurs using convenience sampling techniques associated with construction-based renewable energy projects in Pakistan. A five-point Likert scale is used for data collection through a research questionnaire. The direct and indirect path analyses were tested using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results of this study conclude. First, in the direct relationship, all the critical success factors, i.e., personality traits, access to finance, and government support, positively and significantly impact entrepreneurs' success. Second, the results confirmed that all critical success factors positively correlate with supportive leadership. Third, the results also revealed that supportive leadership significantly and positively mediates the relationship between the three CSFs and the success of entrepreneurs. Fourth, the outcomes also demonstrate that supportive leadership positively affects the success of entrepreneurs. The outcomes of this study also suggest some theoretical and practical suggestions for academicians and entrepreneurial personnel.

Proposing and evaluating a model of depression, stress, resilience and spirituality in relation to pain in women with breast cancer: Investigating the mediating role of mindfulness

Pain experience is one of the most common symptoms of women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy. It may cause physical and psychological problems and interfere with the treatment process. This study aimed to examine the relationship between depression, stress, resilience and spirituality on the pain symptoms of breast cancer patients during chemotherapy and explore the potential mediating role of mindfulness in this association. Two hundred and forty women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy from Shiraz University Hospital, were selected and evaluated by a purposive sampling method. The research instruments were Perceived Stress Scale, Beck Depression Questionnaire-2, Mindfulness, Resilience, Spirituality and Pain Questionnaires. The obtained data was analyzed by SPSS software and MPLUS using Spearman correlation coefficient and path analysis. Based on the findings of direct path analysis, depression, stress, and spirituality showed a significant relationship with mindfulness, but resilience had no significant relationship with mindfulness (p<0.01). Furthermore, depression, stress, resilience, and mindfulness showed a significant relationship with pain, while spirituality had no significant relationship with pain (p<0.01). Finally, indirect path analysis revealed mindfulness is a significant mediator of stress and pain (p<0.05). The present study suggested a model can be useful in better understanding of the psychological components affecting pain in breast cancer patients, after and during their treatments. It also provided an effective framework to develop and investigate pain-focused and non-pharmacological interventions.

Predictors of Maternal Blouse in the Postpartum Period Based on Social Determinants of Health of the World Health Organization Model: A Path Analysis

Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the predictors of maternal blouse in the postpartum period based on social determinants of health of the World Health Organization (WHO) model. Methods This cohort study was conducted on 449 postpartum women who were referred to healthcare centers of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. The sampling method was a multi-stage random method. The tools used in this research were demographic and gynecological characteristics questionnaire, socio-economic status questionnaire, depression anxiety and stress scale-21 (DASS-21), multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS) (multidimensional scale of perceived social support [MSPSS]), domestic violence questionnaire (DVQ), unhealthy behavior questionnaire. Postpartum blouse was also measured based on the Stein’s questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 24. Results The information of 449 pregnant women participating in the study was examined. The mean age of women was 26.96±4.46 years and their husbands’ mean age was 32.17±5.6 years. The path analysis results demonstrated that among the variables related to maternal blouse (one-path test), in the indirect path analysis, socio-economic status had the most negative effect on the maternal blouse and also in the direct path analysis, DASS21 showed the most negative effect on the maternal blouse (B=-0.19) and the unfortunate event had the most positive effect (B=0.18). Violence had the most positive effect on the maternal blouse (two-path test) (B=0). Conclusion Considering the importance of the role and the high prevalence of maternal blouse in the mental health of women after childbirth, it seems necessary to pay attention to these factors for prevention and screening in terms of timely diagnosis and necessary measures.

Promoting sustainable global innovative smart governance through the 5&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; wave theory, via Fuzzy AHP for future SMEs (SME 5.0/hybrid SMEs)

&lt;abstract&gt; &lt;p&gt;With the advancement of technology and Smartening, governments have realized that the most essential feature of business models is the emphasis on knowledge and innovation, and that governance needs innovation to be sustainable. Modern organizations today are looking for new solutions to create public value through innovative, effective, human-service-based services and decision-making using the potential of modern and digital technologies to provide the tools needed for organizational development and sustainability. The present study is of a practical type and specifically based on structural equation modeling. Data collection tools are standard questionnaires whose validity was assessed using the content validity method and their reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha test. The statistical population of the research included some government organizations of Iran and the sample size was calculated using G*power software and the number of people was estimated to be 284. Findings showed that with 95% confidence, the variables of 7 Pillars Sustainability (7PS) and innovation culture have a positive and significant effect on organizational sustainability. while indirect path analysis reveals the mediating role of innovation culture in the impact of the 7PS on organizational sustainability. Also, FUZZY AHP was used to determine the weight and importance coefficient of the criteria of the 7PS Model, and the culture with the highest score was given the first priority.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/abstract&gt;

Self-care behavior prevention of COVID-19 in the general population based on Pender Health Promotion Model: A cross-sectional study.

Background and AimsCoronavirus with its sudden and widespread outbreak has obviously imposed devastating consequences in various aspects of human life. The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive value of Pender's Health Promotion Model (HPM) structures in self‐care preventive behavior against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) among the general population of Ardabil, Iran.MethodsThe present retrospective descriptive‐correlational study was conducted on citizens of Ardabil aged 18 years and over in 2021. After dividing the city of Ardabil into four parts, 50 people from each area of the city and a total of 200 people were selected through the available sampling method through social media. Data collection tools included a demographic profile, perceived self‐efficacy scale, perceived emotional questionnaire, perceived social support questionnaire, perceived benefits and barriers questionnaire, researcher‐made COVID‐19 self‐care questionnaire, and commitment to action questionnaire based on Pender's HPM structures in an online manner. Data were analyzed by Amos 22 software and using structural equation modeling.ResultsAccording to the results, direct path analysis to COVID‐19 self‐care behavior indicated that the variables of perceived self‐efficacy (β = 0.18, p < 0.01), interpersonal effects (β = 0.19, p < 0.01), positive emotion (β = 0.15, p < 0.05) and perceived benefits (β = 0.20, p < 0.01) are able to significantly predict self‐care behaviors. Moreover, the bootstrapping test results in the indirect path analysis demonstrated that the variables of perceived self‐efficacy (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.012, 0.066), perceived social support (95% CI, 0.002, 0.026), and perceived barriers (95% CI, −0.019, −0.002) and benefits (95% CI, 0.001, 0. 015) through the mediator variable of commitment to action are able to significantly predict COVID‐19 self‐care behavior.ConclusionsBased on the findings of the present study, it can be claimed that the proposed model of COVID‐19 self‐care behavior has an acceptable fitness in the general population. This model can be used in developing educational programs and intervention techniques to modify people's attitudes and behaviors.

Common and distinct neural substrates of the compassionate and uncompassionate self-responding dimensions of self-compassion.

Self-compassion is beneficial for individuals' emotional health, but debates regarding its conceptualization are increasing. The present study aimed to explore the neural basis of self-compassion and its compassionate and uncompassionate dimensions and the indirect path from neural basis to emotional health. Structural MRI and Resting-state fMRI data were used to measure the gray matter volume (GMV) and the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) in 88 healthy college students. We found that individuals with higher self-compassion had decreased GMV in the prefrontal cortex, cerebellum as well as lower ALFF in the occipital lobe. The compassionate and uncompassionate dimensions of self-compassion shared some similarities (e.g., common correlation with GMV in the medial prefrontal cortex, ALFF in the occipital lobe) but also had some differences (e.g., only uncompassionate dimensions correlated with GMV in the lateral prefrontal cortex, ALFF in medial temporal lobe/striatum). The indirect path analyses revealed that corresponding brain characteristics could have associations with emotional health through self-compassion, as well as its uncompassionate dimension, but not compassionate dimension. This exploratory whole-brain study showed some preliminary findings that compassionate and uncompassionate dimensions of self-compassion were related to distinct brain regions, which are both important to the current conceptualization of self-compassion and intervention study.

The Relationship Between Lifestyle and Attachment to God With Depression Mediated by Quality of Life Among Mothers of Children With Intellectual Disabilities

Background: Mothers often bear a heavy psychological burden in society because of their disabled children. As mothers often spend more time taking care of these children, they are exposed to different types of stress and mental disorders. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between lifestyle and attachment to God with depression with the mediating role of Quality of Life (QoL) in mothers of children with intellectual disabilities (IDs) in Tehran, Iran. Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted using path analysis. The statistical population comprised all the mothers of children with IDs in Tehran, Iran in 2020. Among the study population, a total of 213 mothers were selected as the sample via convenience sampling. The research instruments included the Beck depression inventory-II (BDI-II), the attachment to God questionnaire, the lifestyle assessment inventory (LSI), and the World Health Organization quality of life questionnaire-short form (WHOQoL-BREF). The proposed model was evaluated via structural equation modeling (SEM), and the indirect relationships were tested via bootstrapping. Results: The results showed a direct and significant relationship between attachment to God and QoL (β=0.40, P=0.001), and between lifestyle and QoL (β=0.31, P=0.001). There was a negative relationship between attachment to God and depression (β=-0.40, P=0.001), in addition to QoL and depression (β=-0.37, P=0.001). The results of the indirect path analysis showed the mediating role of QoL in the relationship between attachment to God and lifestyle with depression (P=0.001). Conclusion: The results confirmed the proposed model’s goodness of fit; therefore, this model can expand our understanding of the factors affecting depression in mothers of children with IDs to design preventive programs to mitigate their stress and depression.

Epistemological Beliefs and Writing Self-Efficacy as Predictors of Second Language Writing Anxiety: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach.

This study was carried out to investigate the roles of epistemic beliefs (EBs) and writing self-efficacy (WSE) in predicting second language writing anxiety (L2WA) among learners of English as a foreign language (EFL). To this end, three validated scales were distributed among 240 EFL students. They were asked to complete the questionnaires during their regular courses. A structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was utilized to analyze the hypothesized SEM model and the causal paths among the constructs. The direct and indirect path analyses of the hypothesized model indicated that EBs and WSE accounted for 43% of the variance in L2WA. Although both constructs (i.e., EBs and WSE) had a significant effect on L2WA, EBs turned out to be a robust predictor of increasing L2WA. Notably, it was revealed that learners’ EBs directly and significantly influenced their L2WA. Besides, the results indicated that WSE had a unique effect in reducing L2WA. More precisely, students who had a higher level of EBs seemed to have a greater L2WA, and those who had a higher level of WSE experienced less L2WA. The findings of this explanatory study suggest that L2 teachers and material developers should pay serious attention to the Students’ cognitive and affective variables as they were known to be significant factors in influencing L2WA.

An Empirical Investigation of the Continued Usage Intention of Digital Wallets: The Moderating Role of Perceived Technological Innovativeness

The paper examines the constructs that instigate the users to adopt digital wallets and continued usage behavior in a developing country perspective, Bangladesh. The researcher used a cross-sectional design to collect the primary data using a self-administered questionnaire. The population consisted of the youth, precisely 18–35, who are tech-savvy and knowledgeable about new technology. The study followed the nonprobability purposive sampling technique, and 330 responses were collected through a structured questionnaire survey. In direct path analysis, the findings revealed that perceived usefulness, ease of use, compatibility, insecurity, and behavioral intention to adopt digital wallets found significant relationships among the constructs that supported the proposed hypotheses. Moreover, indirect path analysis of perceived compatibility, perceived personal innovativeness and perceived social influence found no significant relationships that did not justify the proposed hypotheses. Users' behavioral intention partially mediates among perceived usefulness, ease of use, personal innovativeness, and perceived social influence, except perceived compatibility. The findings suggested that perceived technological innovativeness did not support the proposed hypothesis. The incorporated constructs of this study have hardly been found in the existing literature, and the researchers shed light on the unexplored research area. The study results, implications, and limitations have been discussed.

Can village fund improve community welfare in central java province

Village fund is state budget allocated to all villages in Indonesia. This fund is used to finance rural administrative government, rural development, rural empowerment and community development. One of the Village Fund Allocation’s (Alokasi Dana Desa/ADD’s) goals is to reduce poverty and inequality as well as to improve community welfare. Poverty alleviation is a global action under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This research is aimed to analyze the impact of Village Funds on community welfare by employing the intervening variable poverty levels in Central Java Province. Secondary data from 29 districts in Central Java were used in this research. This was a quantitative research which employed Path Analysis Method. The independent variable in this research was Village Fund and the dependent variable was community welfare which utilized poverty as the intervening variable. Based on the Path Analysis Method, this research found that Village Fund had no impact on community welfare in Central Java province. However, through indirect path analysis, it was found that Village Fund had an impact on community welfare in terms of poverty level. This finding showed that Village Fund had a direct impact on reducing poverty level, and the poverty level affected the community welfare in Central Java accordingly.

Relationship between tolerance of ambiguity and family cohesion with academic engagement based on mediating role of academic resilience in female students

Background: The orientation of academic resilience is towards positive processes of life and psychological empowerment of students, so, academic resilience is a significant factor affects the tolerance of ambiguity and family cohesion in students, resulting in increased academic engagement. This study designed to assess the relationship between tolerance of ambiguity and family cohesion with academic engagement based on mediating role of academic resilience in female students in Ahvaz city. Method: This was a descriptive correlation study accomplished by path analysis. The study population comprised second-grade high-school female students in Ahvaz city in 2020. Using simple random sampling 216 of which were selected as the participants. The data gathering instruments were: the Schoolwork Engagement Inventory, the Tolerance for Ambiguity Scale, the Family Cohesion Scale, and the Academic Resilience Inventory. Results: Results revealed a good fit for the modified model (CFI=1.00, IFI=1.00, RMSEA=0.001). The results indicated that there was a significant direct relationship between family cohesion and academic engagement (β=0.365, P=0.001), and between tolerance of ambiguity and academic resilience (β=0.274, P=0.001). Moreover, there was a positive relationship between family cohesion and academic resilience (β=0.369, P=0.001), and between academic resilience and academic engagement (β=0.328, P=0.001). The results of indirect path analysis indicated that academic resilience had a mediating role in the relationship between tolerance of ambiguity and family cohesion with academic engagement. Conclusion: The modified model had a good fitness, and is an important stage in recognizing the factors affecting the engagement and academic achievement of students.

The Role of Self-compassion and Hope in the Relationship Between Psychological Wellbeing, Maladaptive Schemas, Resilience, and Social Support in Women With Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Psychological disorders often threaten the mental health of individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Higher levels of psychological wellbeing and life satisfaction provide these patients with better social relationships and greater biopsychological health. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between psychological wellbeing, early maladaptive schemas, resilience and perceived social support mediated by self-compassion and hope in women with MS. Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted from August to October 2019. The study population consisted of all female patients with MS who were admitted to Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Milad Hospital, and Charity Foundation for Special Diseases in Tehran City, Iran. Using the stratification convenience sampling method, 300 patients were recruited as the study sample. The research instruments included the Self-Compassion Scale, Early Maladaptive Schema Questionnaire-Short Form, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale, Ryff’s Scale of Psychological Wellbeing, and the Adult Hope Scale. The collected data were analyzed by structural equation modeling. SPSS and AMOS were used for analyzing the collected data. Results: There was a positive and significant relationship between self-compassion, hope, resilience, perceived social support, and psychological wellbeing (P&lt;0.01). There was also a negative relationship between early maladaptive schemas and psychological wellbeing in the study participants (P&lt;0.01). The indirect path analysis data indicated that self-compassion and hope played a mediating role in the relationship between perceived social support, resilience, early maladaptive schemas, and psychological wellbeing (P&lt;0.01). Conclusion: The designed model fitted the empirical data very well. Therefore, the research components can help researchers, therapists, and psychiatric nurses to design better procedures to care for patients with MS.

Investigating the role of electric vehicle knowledge in consumer adoption: evidence from an emerging market

PurposeThe use of electric vehicles has received popularity as alternative fuel vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy cost, which are expected to perform a crucial role in the near future of emerging mobility markets. The purpose of this empirical study is to analyse the role of electric vehicle knowledge in predicting consumer adoption intention directly and indirectly in the backdrop of an emerging market.Design/methodology/approachThe study approached an extended version of “Technology acceptance model” (TAM) based on the integrated framework of “knowledge-beliefs-intention”. The model was tested via direct and indirect path analyses with the data collected from Indian respondents using an online survey.FindingsThe results indicate the robustness of the present research model, which shows that consumer adoption is significantly driven by electric vehicle knowledge, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and perceived risk. Electric vehicle knowledge has emerged as the most powerful cognitive measure, which directly affects the adoption intention along with the measures of “TAM”. Additionally, this also poses a higher indirect effect on adoption intention in the integrated model.Research limitations/implicationsThe study has focused on potential young and educated consumers, which may not be warranted to generalise the research findings, while youth or millennials are more receptive to adopt innovative and clean technology products like electric vehicle. Based on the findings, implications are offered for encouraging electric vehicles in the backdrop of emerging automobile markets.Originality/valueConcerning this cognitive phenomenon of knowledge, scant literature has been explored the role of subjective knowledge in consumer adoption for electric vehicles, particularly in the emerging markets like India. Thus, the present study analyses how consumers' knowledge about electric vehicle affects their decision to adopt this in the near future of Indian zero-emission mobility market.

The Role of Mental Health of Mothers of Children With Learning Disabilities in the Relationship Between Parental Stress, Mother-child Interaction, and Children’s Behavioral Disorders

Background: Behavioral problems are common in childhood, presenting debilitating conditions that cause numerous difficulties for the affected children and their families. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between parental stress and mother-child interaction, and children’s behavioral disorders with the mediating role of mental health in the mothers of children with learning disabilities. Methods: The research population of this descriptive-correlational study consisted of the mothers of all students with learning disabilities in Adnimeshk City, Iran, in 2020. Applying the convenience sampling method, 210 students were selected as the study sample. The research instruments included the Child Behavior Checklist, the Parental Stress Scale, the Child-Parent Relationship Scale, and the Mental Health Questionnaire. The proposed model was evaluated using path analysis in AMOS v. 24. Results: The obtained results indicated a direct and significant relationship between parental stress and children’s behavioral disorders (β=0.321, P=0.0001), as well as mother-child interaction and mothers’ mental health (β=0.255, P=0.001). There was a negative relationship between mother-child interaction and children’s behavioral disorders (β=-0.148, P=0.019), as well as parental stress and mothers’ mental health (β=-0.581, P=0.0001). Furthermore, the collected results presented a reverse and significant relationship between mothers’ mental health and children’s behavioral disorders (β=-0.360, P=0.0001). The indirect path analysis data revealed that mothers’ mental health played a mediating role in the relationship between parental stress, mother-child interaction, and children’s behavioral disorders (P=0.001). Conclusion: According to the present research results, the model proposed in this study was favorably fitted; thus, it can be considered as an important step in identifying the factors affecting behavioral disorders in students with learning disabilities.

Entrepreneurial training effectiveness, government entrepreneurial supports and venturing of TVET students into IT related entrepreneurship – An indirect-path effects analysis

Over the periods of 2015–2018 there have been declining trends for Nigeria in Global Entrepreneurship Index (GEI) signifying a major challenge to its entrepreneurship development. To understand some of the explanatory variables for this phenomenon Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) was deployed and extended to examine indirect effects of entrepreneurial training effectiveness and government entrepreneurial supports on the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students venturing intention into IT related entrepreneurship through attitude and perceived behavioral control for gaining insights to address the aforesaid challenge. Quantitative approach was employed through data collected from sampled TVET students which was analyzed using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The result supports all the hypothesized indirect-path effects. It implied that naturally built attitude and behavioral control alone cannot influence TVET students venturing intention; it needs enhancement through effective entrepreneurial training and government entrepreneurial supports. The research opens new research paradigm for studying the antecedents of the original determinants of intention through indirect path analyses. Applying these findings can reduce the reliance on public sector for employment. It could equally create jobs that could reduce societal crisis through employment into privately owned businesses.

A host–parasite model explains variation in liana infestation among co‐occurring tree species

AbstractLianas are structural parasites of trees that reduce the growth, survival and reproduction of their hosts. Given that co‐occurring tree species differ strongly in the proportion of individuals that are infested by lianas (liana prevalence), lianas could differentially impact tree species and thereby influence tree community composition. Surprisingly, little is known about what governs variation in liana prevalence.Here, we apply an approach inspired by disease ecology to investigate the dynamics of liana prevalence over 11 years on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. We followed the fate of 1,938 individual trees from 21 tree species, recording deaths and change in liana infestation status. With these data, we fit species‐specific Markov chain models to estimate four rates: colonization by lianas (analogous to disease transmission), shedding or loss of lianas (analogous to host recovery), baseline mortality of uninfested trees (baseline mortality) and additional mortality of infested trees (parasite lethality).Models explained 58% of variation in liana prevalence among tree species, and revealed that host shedding of lianas and parasite lethality were the most important contributors to interspecific variation in liana prevalence at our site. These rates were also strongly related to shade tolerance, with light‐demanding species having greater rates of shedding and lethality, and lower rates of liana prevalence. An indirect path analysis with a structural equation model revealed that both greater rates of liana shedding and liana‐induced lethality contribute to the observed lower rates of liana prevalence for light‐demanding tree species.Synthesis. Our approach revealed that the prevalence of liana infestation among tree species is driven via indirect pathways operating on the rates of shedding and lethality, which relate to the ability (or inability) of trees to shed and/or tolerate lianas. Shade‐tolerant trees have greater proportions of trees infested by lianas because they are both less able to shed lianas and more able to tolerate infestation.

Utjecaj navodnjavanja i gnojidbe du�ikom na urod i komponente uroda zrna kukuruza (Zea mays L.)

Grain yield of maize is mostly affected by amount of available water and nitrogen and correlated to yield components. In this 2-years study the influence of different irrigation water amounts (a1=rainfed; a2=60-100% field water capacity (FWC); a3=80-100% FWC), nitrogen fertilizer levels (b1=0 kg*N*ha-1; b2=100 kg*N*ha-1; b3=200 kg*N*ha-1) and hybrids (c1=OSSK515; c2=OS5997; c3=OS5775; c4=OS5885) on grain yield and yield components was tested. Furthermore the correlation analysis as well as direct and indirect path coefficients were used to analyse the connection between yield and yield components (grain number/cob, grain weight, 1000 grain weight, cob length, cob weight) across tested treatments. The influence of all tested factors was significant (P<0.05) in both years of study. Specific study results were obtained in extremely wet year 2010 when irrigation water reduced grain yield and yield components (a1=9.9; a2=8.8; a3=7.8 t*ha-1). Opposite to year 2013 when irrigation water increased grain yield as well as yield components (a1=8.9; a2=9.7; a3=10.3 t*ha-1). Nitrogen fertilizer was significant to all tested variables in both years of the study (b1=5.7; b2=9.2; b3=11.7 t*ha-1 in 2010 and b1=6.3; b2=8.9; b3=10.6 t*ha-1 in 2013). Generally, the greatest amount of nitrogen fertilizer the larger yield or yield components are achieved. The influence of hybrid was significant for all tested variables with exemption to 1000 grain weight and grain weight/cob during growing season 2013. In both years of the study hybrid c2 OS5997 achieved the highest yield as well as yield components. Correlation analysis showed strong positive correlation between yield and cob weight (r=0.77 (2010); r=0.84 (2013)) what is confirmed with direct and indirect path analysis test.

Social climate profiles in adolescent sports: Associations with enjoyment and intention to continue

This study explored whether adolescent sports participants' perceptions of the social climate fall into distinct profiles, and whether these profiles are related to enjoyment and intention to continue. A Latent Profile Analysis using 313 Australian sports participants (Mage = 13.03 years) revealed four distinct profiles: positive social climate (45.1%), diminished social climate (19.8%), positive coach relationship quality (19.8%), and positive friendship quality (15.3%). Individuals within the positive social climate and the positive coach relationship quality profiles reported relatively higher levels of enjoyment and intention to continue than individuals in the diminished social climate and the positive friendship quality profiles. Indirect path analyses found the social climate profiles were linked with intention to continue through enjoyment. Results highlight the value of investigating multiple dimensions of the social climate and suggest that the coach may be of particular importance in this age group. Findings have implications for understanding youth sports participation and preventing dropout.