Largest Root Research Articles

Enhancing Science Education Through the Student Teams Achievement Division (STAD) Learning Model: An Experimental Study on Process Skills and Learning Outcomes at Middle School

This study investigates the implementation of the Student Teams Achievement Division (STAD) Learning Model, which emphasizes teamwork and individual accountability. Traditional teaching methods often fail to actively engage students in developing analytical and practical skills. The STAD model aims to enhance students' process skills and learning outcomes in science education. The research was conducted at SMP Muhammadiyah Ambon with seventh-grade students from four classes. Two classes were randomly selected, with class VIIa as the experimental group (30 students) and another class as the control group (30 students). Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and multivariate analysis (MANOVA) with SPSS version 26.0. A quantitative experimental approach was employed, using a Pre-test, Post-test, and Non-equivalent Control Group design. Data collection focused on science process skills and learning outcomes. The results demonstrated a significant impact of the STAD model on improving learning outcomes and science process skills. There was a notable increase in average scores from pre-test to post-test in both experimental and control groups. MANOVA results (Pillai's Trace, Wilks' Lambda, Hotelling's Trace, and Roy's Largest Root) showed very high F-values, indicating significant differences between the groups in enhancing students' science process skills and learning achievements. The STAD model proved more effective than traditional methods, suggesting its integration into a collaboration-based curriculum. Effective implementation requires STAD-based teacher training, including team formation techniques, motivational strategies, and methods for assessing team performance. Adopting these recommendations can significantly boost student participation, teamwork skills, and overall learning outcomes.

Effects of Smartphone Addiction on the Physical and Mental Well-being of Indian Students

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the influence of varying levels of addiction, ranging from no addiction to extremely high addiction, on the physical and mental well-being of Indian students. Methods: The study is descriptive and based on the survey method. The six constructs and 15 physical and mental well-being items were assessed on the 5-point Likert scale. The composite scores were computed and classified into five categories. Findings: The results revealed that students aged 18-22 and 23-27 heavily rely on smartphones to explore their identity, socialize, and engage in academic and professional endeavours; male and female students and 91% of Professional/vocational training students exhibit the highest frequency of moderate addiction. Students (39%) spend 2-4 hours on smartphones daily based on individual preferences, habits, and lifestyle factors. A positive correlation was found between age and addiction group as well as between addiction group and smartphone usage, and negative correlations were found between smartphone usage and age groups. A significant correlation exists between an inability to control carvings (ICC), dependency (D), Conflict (C), Over-Usage (OU) and Withdrawal and Escape (WE), and all these have the greatest contribution to the first variate. MANOVA Analysis Pillai's Trace (<0.001); Wilks' Lambda (<0.001); Hotelling's Trace (<0.001); Roy's Largest Root (<0.001) revealed substantial disparities among groups stratified by addiction severity spanning from no addiction to extremely high addiction across a spectrum of physical and mental well-being dimensions among Indian students. The discriminant function plot effectively illustrated the discernment achieved in varying levels of smartphone addiction, notably accentuating differences among moderate (0.370), high (1.091), and extremely high (1.803) addiction categories. Novelty: This study investigated how varying levels of addiction exert influence on both physical and mental well-being and shed new light on this multifaceted relationship, particularly among students within the context of Indian academia. Keywords: Smartphone Addiction, Physical and Mental Well­being, Usage Patterns, Smartphones, Indians, Students

Seleção de Acacia mearnsii para a propagação por miniestaquia

ABSTRACT: Acacia mearnsii De Wild. (Black wattle) is a forest species with great social and economical importance for the southern region of Brazil. This species has multifunctional characteristics, being cultivated to produce tannin, cellulose and energy. This research identified black wattle genotypes with competence for adventitious rooting for mini-cutting propagation. Single-bud mini-cuttings were treated with IBA at a concentration of 2000 mg L-1. After 30 days of cultivation in a humid chamber, the mini-cuttings were evaluated for percentages of survival, rooting, number of roots, average length of the three largest roots, and the number of mini-cuttings rooted per mini-stump. The identification of the best genotypes was performed with the Selegen REML/BLUP software. Selection between and within black wattle progenies can be performed based on the number of rooted mini-cuttings, making it possible to select genotypes with high competence for adventitious rooting while maintaining genetic variability for new selection cycles to develop clones for vegetative propagation by mini-cutting.

HTML5 package media: How does it affect elementary school students’ concept understanding and self-efficacy?

Background: HTML5 Package media, equipped with features and displays, provides a clearer visual display in learning geometry compared to traditional lecture-based teaching. This approach facilitates students in observing and understanding geometry concepts, positively impacting their self-efficacy.Aim: The study aims to assess the impact of HTML5 packages on students' understanding of geometry concepts and their self-efficacy.Method: The research, a quasi-experimental study, used simple random sampling to select 63 students. Data were collected through tests and questionnaires, and the analysis was conducted using MANOVA.Result: The findings reveal a significant effect of the HTML5 Package on both concept understanding and self-efficacy. The experimental group scored higher than the conventional group, with significant values in Pilae Trace, Wilk Lambda, Hotelling Trace, and Roy's Largest Root analyses.Conclusion: The HTML5 Package media effectively enhances the understanding of geometry concepts and self-efficacy among students. While the effect size is modest, it is notably better than conventional learning methods. The study suggests broader application and research involving more students and diverse mathematical topics could yield more influential results.

Effect of alternative rooting inducers on Umbu-cajazeira

The propagation by the sexual method of some species of the genus Spondias, such as the umbu-cajazeira, is practically unfeasible, due to the fact that its pit rarely contains seeds, making it necessary to propagate vegetatively by the cutting method. To enhance the rhizogenesis process, plant hormones are used, such as auxins, which results in the development of adventitious roots. In view of the above, the objective was to evaluate the effect of an alternative source of natural plant hormone on the rooting of tree cuttings Umbu-cajazeiraThe experiment was carried out in the fruit seedling nursery. The woody cuttings were removed from Umbu-cajazeira in vegetative rest. After collecting and preparing the cuttings, they were subjected to immersion in the solutions of AIB, ERT, ESL, AC and Water (evidence). After 90 days, the percentage of sprouted and rooted cuttings, number of leaves and shoots and roots, length and diameter of the largest shoot and largest root, dry mass of the root system and dry mass of shoots were evaluated. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using the Tukey test at 5% probability. It was observed that the use of IBA provided 94% sprouting of the cuttings. The percentage of rooting of umbu-cajazeira cuttings was significant due to the use of alternative rooting inducers and indolebutyric acid, due to considerable amounts of auxins present in the extracts, inducing rhizogenesis in the cuttings. The AIB enhances the rooting and budding of umbu-cajazeira cuttings. The lentil extract is a natural plant hormone alternative for rooting umbu-cajazeira cuttings.

Behavioral activity and range patterns of the endemic Gelada monkey (Theropithecus gelada) in and around Jer Silase Monastery in North Shoa Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract The present study investigated the activity, range, and habitat utilization patterns of the Endemic Gelada Monkey (Theropithecus gelada) in and around Jer Silase Monastery in North Shoa Zone, Ethiopia. The study was conducted from January 2021 to October 2021 by considering the dry and wet seasons and stratifying the study area into natural forest, cliff/rocky, and farmland habitats. An instantaneous scan sampling method was employed to collect behavioral data. The activity patterns of three selected focal groups of Gelada monkeys were studied. GPS points of their predominant behavioral activities were recorded daily every 15 minutes from 7:00 to 18:00 for 12 days every month. A total of 5,592 individual activity records were obtained from 2312 scan samplings taken over 120 study days. Feeding comprised 54.52% of the activity time, followed by moving at 20.67% and socialization at 11.95%. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed that the time allocated to different activity types varied significantly over the year with the month (Roy’s Largest Root = 2.7, F4,22 = 13.2, p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.653). The longest mean monthly travel distance was 2817.61 ± 582.57 m, recorded at the Cliff/rocky habitat during the wet season. Gelada monkeys’ daily range length and home range size extended more in the dry season. These findings may be explained by reduced habitat quality associated with livestock grazing, agricultural expansion, and charcoal production. Therefore, appropriate conservation measures should be implemented to minimize such adverse effects and conserve the endemic Gelada Monkey.

Analisis Motivasi Berwirausaha pada Mahasiswa Universitas Medika Suherman

This research aims to analyze how much motivation students have towards entrepreneurship and find out what factors are related to and influence motivation towards entrepreneurship among students. The method used in this study is a quantitative analysis method using primary data. The primary data was obtained from data collection by distributing questionnaires with a total sample of 120 students. Data analysis techniques in this study used instrument and classic assumption test, descriptive analysis, factor analysis, and multivariate analysis. The results of the descriptive analysis show that the empirical mean value is greater than the theoretical mean value for each variable (50.60 > 39), so descriptive analysis can interpret that the entrepreneurial motivation of Suherman Medika University students tends to be good. Furthermore, the results of the factor analysis in this study obtained a Kaiser Meyer Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy (KMO MSA) value of 0.661 > 0.50 and Bartlett's Test of Sphericity value of 0.000 <0.05, which means that the variables referred to in this study did not correlate with one another in the population. In addition, based on factor analysis found that self-efficacy, attitudes and social support are factors that influence entrepreneurial motivation. Then, the results of the multivariate test show that the significance value for Pillai's trace, Wilk's lambda, Hotelling trace, and Rpy's largest root is less than 0, which means that there is a partial effect on self-efficacy, attitudes, and social support on entrepreneurial motivation. Based on multivariate testing, it shows that the value of the self-efficacy determination coefficient is 0.740, Attitude determination coefficient value of 0.811, and the value of the Social Support determination coefficient is 0.536. Based on the results of this study, it is hoped that later both institutions, student organizations and the campus environment will be able to facilitate student needs better.

The Importance of Initial Seedling Characteristics in Controlling Allocation to Growth and Reserves under Different Soil Moisture Conditions

After disturbance, forest regeneration and resiliency depend on the ability of seedlings to respond, survive, and grow under a variety of stress conditions, including drought. Despite recent efforts to improve our fundamental knowledge surrounding plant response mechanisms to stress and their application in seedling quality research, initial seedling characteristics are often ignored when exploring seedling responses to stress in field plantings or ecophysiological studies. Here, we explore how initial differences in size, biomass allocation, and non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) storage affect the subsequent partitioning of new biomass, growth potential, and drought response in seedlings of a deciduous broad-leaved (Populus tremuloides) and an evergreen coniferous species (Pinus banksiana). We exposed seedlings of both species to different growing conditions in their first growing season in order to manipulate the aforementioned seedling characteristics. In a second growing season, we exposed these different seedling types to a subsequent drought stress. While drought reduced both structural growth and NSC storage in all seedling types, the expected shift in allocation favoring roots was only observed in seedling types with initially low root:shoot or root:stem ratios. Overall, we also found that the traits associated with greater growth were quite different between pine and aspen. While larger seedlings led to greater growth in pine, it was the smallest seedling type in aspen with the largest root:stem ratio that produced the most new growth. In aspen, this smaller seedling type was the only one that did not undergo a shift in biomass relative to its initial allometry, suggesting that adjustments in biomass allocation made by other, larger seedling types must have come at the cost of lower growth. In contrast, adjustments in allocation did not appear to negatively impact pine, possibly because reduced root:shoot ratios of larger seedlings did not reduce NSC storage, as it did in aspen. Our results highlight (1) the complexity of how differences in biomass allocation and changes in seedling size may alter storage and the response of species to drought, and (2) the importance of accounting for initial seedling characteristics (both morphological and physiological) when predicting seedling growth and the impacts of environmental stressors.

Bright Morning Lighting Enhancing Parasympathetic Activity at Night: A Pilot Study on Elderly Female Patients with Dementia without a Pacemaker.

Exposure to bright morning light (BML) entrains the master circadian clock, modulates physiological circadian rhythms, and reduces sleep-wake disturbances. However, its impact on the autonomic nervous system at night remains unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of BML exposure on parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity at night in elderly women. This nonrandomized controlled pilot study included female participants aged ≥ 60 years who were diagnosed with a type of dementia or cognitive disorder, excluding individuals with pacemakers. The treatment group was exposed to 2500 lx of BML, whereas the control group was exposed to 200 lx of general lighting. We measured heart rate variability to quantify ANS activity. The treatment group displayed significant increases in high-frequency (HF) power (Roy's largest root = 1.62; p < 0.001) and nonsignificant decreases in normalized low-frequency (LF%) power. The corresponding nonsignificant decreases in the low-frequency/high-frequency (LF/HF) ratio and cognitive function were correlated with PSNS activity (Roy's largest root = 1.41; p < 0.001), which improved severe dementia. BML exposure reduced SNS activity and enhanced PSNS activity at night in female participants, which improved cognitive function. Thus, BML therapy may be a useful clinical tool for alleviating cognitive decline.

The Differences Between the Effect of Oral and Intraperitoneal Induction of Aluminum Chloride (AlCl3) on the Memory Function of White Rats (Rattus norvegicus strain wistar) Menopause Model

The decline in estrogen at menopause leads to a loss of neuroprotective function. One of the effects is Alzheimer’s disease (AD), with clinical manifestations of dementia, decreased memory function, language, thinking, and learning. The pathology of AD is widely studied but not completely understood. Various animal models have been used but have not been able to represent the pathology of AD fully. This study aimed to determine the effect of oral and intraperitoneal induction of aluminium chloride (AlCl3) on the memory function of menopausal model white rats (Rattus norvegicus strain wistar). This study used 16 female rats, divided into four groups, namely the negative control group (K1), the ovariectomy group (OVX, K2), and the OVX + AlCl.6H20 group 100 mg/kg BW orally (K3), and the OVX + AlCl3.6H20 group. 70 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally. AlCl3.6H20 induction was given for six weeks. In the last five days, the Morris water maze test was carried out. From the MANOVA test, the p-value of F values in Pillai’s trace, Wilks‘ Lambda, Hotelling’a Trace, and Roy’s Largest Root were &lt; 0.05. Based on the post hoc Bonferroni test on the fifth day of the trial, there was a significant difference between the standard and OVX groups with the AlCl3 induction group, and there was no significant difference between the oral and intraperitoneal induction groups. Conclusion: There is no significant effect of oral and intraperitoneal induction of Aluminum Chloride (AlCl3) on the memory function of white rats (Rattus norvegicus strain wistar) menopausal model.&#x0D; Keywords: menopause, Alzheimer’s disease, memory test

Effectiveness of Science Learning Model Containing Balinese Local Wisdom in Improving Character and Science Literacy of Junior High School Students

The current situation is the low character of students, so brawls and violence often occur in various layers of society. The present study is aimed at analyzing the effectiveness of the science learning model in improving the character and scientific literacy of junior high school students. The research is a quasi-experimental design in the form of a posttest-only control design. The study sample was 158 people. A questionnaire and test were used for the character and scientific literacy variable data collection. Descriptive analysis and inferential analysis were used to analyze the post-test data. The descriptive analysis involved the mean, standard deviation, and variance. Inferential statistical analysis was done with the MANOVA test. The analysis results showed that the F value for Pillae Trace, Wilk Lambda, Hotelling Trace, and Roy's Largest Root had significantly less than 0.001, which means all are significant. Therefore, the study indicates that the science learning model containing Balinese local wisdom is effective on character and scientific literacy. Thus, this learning is recommended as a solution that can be used as an innovative learning model.

Pengaruh Model Inquiri Terbimbing Dipadu dengan Metode Proyek terhadap Kemampuan Berpikir Kreatif dan Hasil Belajar Kognitif Siswa

The use of guided project and inquiry methods theoretically encourages students to think creatively to solve problems in the real environment, train students to work together in groups, and produce products that are meaningful to students. This study aims to determine (1) the difference in the effect of the project method and guided inquiry on creative thinking skills and students' cognitive learning outcomes. (2) the effect of the guided inquiry and project method on students' creative thinking abilities (3) the effect of the guided inquiry and project method on students' cognitive learning outcomes (4) the effect of the project method on students' creative thinking abilities (5) the effect of project methods on students' cognitive learning outcomes (6) the influence of the guided inquiry method on students' creative thinking skills. (7) the effect of the guided inquiry method on students' cognitive learning outcomes. on recycled class V waste materials at SD Negeri 3 dasan lekong. Academic year 2020/2021. The type of this research is Quasi Experiment Control Group Experiment Posttest Only Design. The population is all students of class V, totaling 48 students. Which consists of class VA and class VB. The sample used in this study were all fifth grade students. The sampling technique was randomized groups. Namely class VA as an experimental class using the project method, and class VB as a control class using the guided inquiry method. Based on the results of the analysis of the MANOVA test simultaneously, a significance value of 0.018 &lt; from 0.05 was obtained, so it was said that there was a difference in the effect of the project method and guided inquiry on creative thinking skills and students' cognitive learning outcomes, while partially there was a difference in the effect between the project method and the inquiry method. guided by the creative thinking ability and cognitive learning outcomes of students with p-value p-value 0.164 Pillai's Trace &gt; from a significance level of 0.018, p-value 0.836 Wilks' Lambda and a significant value of 0.018, p-value 0.196 Hotelling's Trace and a significant value of 0.018, p-value 0.196 and 0.018 Roy's Largest Root. The conclusion is that there is a difference in the effect between the project method and guided inquiry on students' creative thinking abilities and cognitive learning outcomes.

A rectangular additive convolution for polynomials

Motivated by the study of singular values of random rectangular matrices, we define and study the rectangular additive convolution of polynomials with nonnegative real roots. Our definition directly generalizes the asymmetric additive convolution introduced by Marcus, Spielman and Srivastava (2015), and our main theorem gives the corresponding generalization of the bound on the largest root from that paper. The main tool used in the analysis is a differential operator derived from the "rectangular Cauchy transform" introduced by Benaych-Georges (2009). The proof is inductive, with the base case requiring a new nonasymptotic bound on the Cauchy transform of Gegenbauer polynomials which may be of independent interest.Mathematics Subject Classifications: 26C10, 33C45

A Robust Comparison Powers of Four Multivariate Analysis of Variance Tests

This paper compared the powers of four test statistics of Multivariate Analysis of Variance and test statistics include Lawley-Hotelling ,Pillai's trace, Roy’s largest root and Wilks' lambda. The R Statistics was employed to simulate the data used to compare the four test statistics under the Multivariate Gamma and Multivariate Normal distributions. The sample sizes utilized were 10, 20, 30, 40, 100, 200, 300, 400, 600, 700, 800 and 1000); Number of variables (p = 2, 3, and 4) equal and unequal samples and variance co-variance matrix were also used. The comparison were done at two levels of significance (α = 0.01 and 0.05) using power of the test. The results obtained indicated that the Roy’s largest Root test statistic is better than all other test statistic considered when p = g = 2 because it has the least powers. The result of the analysis further showed that when p = g = 3 and p = g = 4 the Wilks' lambda proved better than all other test statistics both for small and large sample sizes. The results equally showed that when the data are multivariate normal and Gamma with g =2 and p = 2 the power of the four test statistics from best to least is Roy’s largest root, followed Lawley’s trace = Pillae’s trace and the least is Wilks’ Lambda at significant levels of 0.01 and 0.05 for equal and unequal samples. More so, when data are multivariate normal as well as gamma and p= g = 3 and p=g=4, the power of the four statistics ranked from best to least is Wilks’ Lambda , Pillae’s trace = Lawley’s trace and Roy’s largest root respectively . From the findings, it is evidently obvious that Roy’s largest root should be applied when p=g=2 while Wilks’ Lambda be used when p=g=3 and p=g=4. This study will help researchers to plan studies with controlled probabilities of detecting a meaningful effect thereby giving conclusive results with maximum efficiency.

Ácido indolbutírico no enraizamento de estacas de Fuchsia spp.

ABSTRACT: The princess earring is an ornamental plant native to the southern region of Brazil, much appreciated due to the beauty of its outstanding and colorful flowers. This study evaluated the effect of different doses of synthetic auxin indolebutyric acid (IBA) on the rooting of herbaceous cuttings of Fuchsia regia (Vell.) Munz, native species, and Fuchsia hybrida Hort. Ex Siebert &amp; Voss commercial variety ‘General Monk Red Blue’. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse following a randomized block design with a 2x5 factorial arrangement (two genotypes of Fuchsia x five IBA doses). The IBA doses consisted in the concentrations of 0, 200, 400, 600 and 800 mg.L-1. Evaluations were performed 20 days after staking. The parameters evaluated were length of the largest root, number of roots per cutting, fresh weight and dry weight of the aerial part and roots. The concentration of 800 mg.L-1 of indolebutyric acid resulted in greater rooting of the cuttings of both Fuchsia materials tested. Therefore, the use of IBA (800 mg.L-1) provided better quality rooted cuttings, with greater length and number of roots.

Eigenvalue-Based Spectrum Sensing with Small Samples Using Circulant Matrix

In cognitive radio (CR) networks, eigenvalue-based detectors (EBDs) have attracted much attention due to their good performance of detecting secondary users (SUs). In order to further improve the detection performance of EBDs with short samples, we propose two new detectors: average circulant matrix-based Roy’s largest root test (ACM-RLRT) and average circulant matrix-based generalized likelihood ratio test (ACM-GLRT). In the proposed method, the circulant matrix of samples at each time instant from SUs is calculated, and then, the covariance matrix of the circulant matrix is averaged over a short period of time. The eigenvalues of the achieved average circulant matrix (ACM) are used to build our proposed detectors. Using a circulant matrix can improve the dominant eigenvalue of covariance matrix of signals and also the detection performance of EBDs even with short samples. The probability distribution functions of the detectors undernull hypothesis are analyzed, and the asymptotic expressions for the false-alarm and thresholds of two proposed detectors are derived, respectively. The simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed detectors.

Comparison of Four MANOVA Test Statistic for Pig Production in Delta State, Nigeria

This study used the multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) test statistic to examine the impact of three categories feed used in the production of pig in Delta State. The multivariate test statistic considered are the Pillai – Bartlett trace, Wilks’ Test Statistic, Roy’s Largest Root Test Statistic, and the Lawley- Hotelling (LH) Statistic. The objectives include to: evaluate the robustness of the four Multivariate Analysis of Variance test statistics to ensure that the best is employed in multivariate analysis to guarantee most useful result in pig production; determine the relatively efficient test statistic for pig production; and determine the test statistic that is consistent across the sample sizes. Secondary source of data collection was used to obtain the data required for the analysis. The outcome of the study showed that the obtained data was multivariate normally distributed based on the result of the asymmetry-based multivariate normality test and the multivariate normality test based on the kurtosis test which makes the data suitable parametric multivariate method such as multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). The results show that the Wilks and Roy tests found a significant difference for the intercept. While the Pillai and LH tests could not find any significance. The Roy test was also found to be significant for feed one, feed two, and feed three. The Wilks and Roy tests also turned out to be significant differences for the intercept. All test measures showed significance for feed one. The Wilks and Roy tests also showed a significant difference for feed two, while all test measures found a significance for feed one. Another result showed that none of the tests found significance for the interaction between feed one and two, while the Roy test found significance for the interaction between feed one and three, feed two and three and feed one, two and three. The performance of the test for evaluating the performance of feeds for pig production with/without considering interactions was found to be in the following order of magnitude: Roy, Wilks and Pilla = LH. This result implies that the Roy method, with or without consideration of the interaction, has a better performance of the test than the other methods considered in the study.

Psychosocial predictors of adverse outcomes in rural heart failure caregivers.

Depressive symptoms, negative life changes, poor self-care, and higher caregiver burden are common in caregivers who assist individuals with heart failure (HF) in managing daily activities and disease-related symptoms. Previous research findings suggest social support, problem solving, and family function may influence these outcomes. However, the influence of these factors on outcomes in rural HF caregivers is unknown. The purpose of this study is twofold: (1) to examine whether social support, problem solving, and family function predicted depressive symptoms, caregiving-related life changes, self-care, and caregiver burden in rural HF caregivers; and (2) to compare differences in these variables between rural and urban caregivers. Rural caregivers (n=114) completed an online researcher-developed sociodemographic and clinical survey and standardized (Likert-type) self-report instruments. Participants were recruited locally from south-eastern USA (using face-to-face and telephone contacts, posted flyers, newspaper advertisements, and social media), nationally (newspaper advertisements and social media sites) and internationally (using social media). Potential participants were directed to the study website to complete the online surveys. These methods recruited participants who lived in 24 states within the USA, as well as from Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Demographic statistics and Mann-Whitney U-test, as well as bivariate correlations, multivariate linear modelling, and Roy's largest root, were used to analyse data, controlling for covariates. Rural (n=114) caregivers were primarily Caucasian (84.2%), women (58.8%), and 41.45 (&plusmn;9.013) years old. Social support had significant effects on depressive symptoms (&eta;p2=0.384, p<0.001), self-care (&eta;p2=0.108, p=0.001), and life changes (&eta;p2=0.055, p=0.016), while problem solving showed significant effects on depressive symptoms (&eta;p2= 0.078, p=0.004) and caregiver burden (&eta;p2=0.23, p<0.001). Family function had significant effects on life changes (&eta;p2=0.104, p=0.001), self-care (&eta;p2=0.088, p=0.002), and caregiver burden (&eta;p2=0.116, p<0.001). Compared to urban (n=412) participants, rural caregivers experienced significantly less social support (p=0.001), worse problem-solving skills (p=0.003) and family functioning (p=0.009), and greater depressive symptoms (p&le;0.01) and subjective burden (p=0.001). There were no significant differences in caregiver self-care (p=0.416) and perceived life changes (p=0.346) among rural and urban caregivers. Both social support and problem solving have significant effects on depressive symptoms in rural HF caregivers, while social support and family function influences self-care. Problem solving and family function also affect caregiver burden, while social support and family functioning influences caregiver life changes. Rural caregivers are often separated by long distances, and have transportation issues and limited access to healthcare providers and support services; therefore, innovative strategies are needed to explore the usefulness of these variables in improving caregiver outcomes.

Substrate and indolebutyric acid in the rooting of pomegranate cuttings collected in two seasons

The pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) presents potential for commercial exploitation as a fruit, ornamental or medicinal plant. However, for its usage in orchards, it is ideal that the seedlings come from vegetative propagation techniques. The aim of this work was to test the usage of indolebutyric acid (IBA) and substrates, at two harvesting times (before and after fruiting) in the cutting propagation of pomegranate. The work was carried out at UTFPR, Campus Dois Vizinhos. The experiments were installed in a randomized block design, in a 4 x 4 factorial scheme (IBA concentration x substrate), with four replications and ten cuttings per experimental unit. IAB was tested at concentrations 0; 1000; 2000 and 3000 mg L-1. The used substrates were Red Latosol, medium textured sand, commercial substrate MecPlant® and a mixture of Red Latosol + sand + commercial (1:1:1, v/v). The cuttings were placed in beds in a screened protected environment, with 50% shading. Irrigation was performed three times a day for 30 min., by a micro sprinkler. After 60 days, rooting (%), cuttings with callus (%), number of primary leaf and root shoots, length of the three largest roots and percentage of dead cuttings were evaluated. Cutting presented itself as a potential technique to be adopted for pomegranate, using sand, with the use of IBA at concentrations between 1600 and 1750 mg L-1. Cuttings must be collected before fruiting. However, rhizogenesis close to 50% was achieved at the time after such phenological stage.

Propagation of ‘Bruno’ kiwifruit: influence of cutting collection time and indolebutyric acid

In Brazil, the propagation of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) is achieved through seed-derived rootstocks, which results in low uniformity. An alternative to address this problem is the cuttings technique, a simple and fast method that generates individuals identical to the parent plant, maintaining the agronomic traits. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of cutting collection time and indolebutyric acid (IBA) on the rooting of ‘Bruno’ kiwifruit cuttings. The cuttings were collected in the months of May, August and December 2016 and March 2017 and treated with 0, 1000, 2000 and 4000 mg L-1 IBA, as a hydroalcoholic solution, for seven seconds. After 90 days, the percentages of rooted and dead cuttings and cuttings that produced shoots; leaf retention; average length of the three largest roots; average number of primary roots per cutting; and reserve contents before and after rooting were evaluated. The treatments with IBA influenced the rooting of cuttings collected in May, which showed 36.07% rooting at the calculated IBA concentration of 2,320 mg L-1, and in December, which exhibited 57.59% rooting at the concentration of 4000 mg L-1. In the present experimental conditions, it is recommended to root cuttings of ‘Bruno’ kiwifruit collected in December with the application of 4000 mg L-1 IBA.