Levels Of Behavior Research Articles

The factors that affect halal certification among small and medium enterprise food entrepreneurs in Ngawi

A halal lifestyle using halal-certified products is a vital necessity for Muslims. It allows Indonesia to become the world's largest producer and servicer of halal products. However, many uncertified halal products are circulating in the community, and the number of certified halal items tends to be small. Several factors influence the low quality of halal certification products. This Research aimed to identify factors influencing halal certification: education, knowledge, attitudes, behavior, and awareness. The Type of research was crossectional research. The research was conducted in the Ngawi district by comparing entrepreneurs with halal certification and entrepreneurs who still need to have halal certification, with the number of each sample of 26 entrepreneurs. The technique of sampling was purposive sampling. These research variables are factors associated with halal certification, including the level of education, knowledge, attitudes, behavior, and awareness of the entrepreneur acquired through interviews using validated questionnaires and the reliability of the questionnaire. The education, knowledge, and attitude data were analyzed using a chi-square test. The behavior and halal awareness were analyzed using the Fisher test. The statistical test results showed a p-value of < 0.001 on the variables of knowledge, education, attitude, and behavior, so it can be said that knowledge, education, behavior, and attitude positively affect halal certification. However, based on the statistical test on the halal awareness variable, the relationship test results of p-value > 0.05, so it can be said that halal awareness does not positively affect halal certification. This research concludes that education, knowledge, attitudes, and behavior influence legal certification. Awareness of halal behavior does not affect halal certification. Keywords: Attitude, Behavior, Education, Halal awareness, Halal certification knowledge

Impact of Psychological Abuse, Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, and Neglect During Childhood on Criminal Behavior among Prisoners at Forensic Mental Health Department

Introduction: Childhood maltreatment, including physical, emotional, sexual abuse, and neglect, has been consistently linked to a higher likelihood of aggressive and criminal behaviour in adulthood. This phenomenon, often referred to as the "cycle of violence," perpetuates across generations. Furthermore, victimization during childhood can lead to a broad range of mental health problems, including personality disorders, psychosis, schizophrenia, and substance abuse. These issues are particularly prevalent among individuals within the forensic mental health system. Objectives: The study aims to evaluate the impact of psychological abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect during childhood on criminal behaviour among prisoners at forensic mental health department. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to determine the impact of child abuse on criminal behaviour among prisoners in the Forensic Medicine Department. The study was during the period from December 19, 2022 to 15th of July 2024. The research has been carried out at Baghdad City's Al-Rashad Training Hospital. non-probability purposive sample procedures, this study sampling method relied on our judgment when identifying and selecting prisoners in the forensic medicine department, after their consent, who could provide the best information to achieve the objectives of the study. We choose purposive sampling because we want to focus in depth on relatively small samples (150) to get the most accurate results. a purposive sample of (110) prisoners was selected from Al-Rashad Training Hospital. Results: The findings indicate that prisoners having moderate to high level of psychological abuse during childhood among items. Prisoners having moderate to high level of physical abuse during childhood among items. The findings indicate that prisoners having moderate to high level of sexual abuse during childhood among items. The prisoners having moderate to high level of neglect during childhood among items. The prisoners have high level of criminal behaviour. There are significant relationships between (psychological, physical, sexual abuse) during childhood and criminal behaviour. Conclusions: Prisoners experience a moderate to high level of psychological abuse, physical abuse, and neglect during childhood, and the prisoners also experience a moderate to high level of sexual abuse during childhood.

Sector and employee withdrawal behavior: evidence from licensed public and private sector commercial bank staff of Sri Lanka

Employee well-being and organizational effectiveness are seriously threatened by withdrawal behavior in the ever-changing business environment. This study explores the complex link between the banking sector (public and private) and employees' withdrawal behavior. Further, which sector of banking staff has more withdrawal behavior is investigated in this study. Regression modeling and quantitative analysis are used in this study to provide persuasive insights into how the sector affects physical and psychological withdrawal behavior (WBP and WBS). Primary data is used in this study, collected through a Likert scale questionnaire from 131 banking staff. The results show a significant and positive relationship between sector and withdrawal behavior. Moreover, the results confirm that private-sector banking staff show higher levels of WBP and WBS than the public sector. Results of the study suggest that both sectors' top management ought to consider some strategic human resource management practices to retain their employees, especially private licensed banks must consider more impressive supervision and motivation strategies to reduce employee turnover because private sector banking staff have a higher level of withdrawal behavior than public sector banking staff.

Adverse effect of Abuse During Childhood on Criminal Behavior and Type of Crime among Prisoners at Forensic Mental Health Department

A quantitative approach using a descriptive-analysis design was used in the present study to find out the impact of child abuse on criminal behavior among prisoners in the forensic department. The period of the study was from 16th of October 2023 to 10th of June 2024. The study has been conducted at Al-Rashad Training Hospital which is located in of Baghdad City. Non-probability sampling techniques in which prisoners are selected because they have characteristics that we need in our sample. In other words, prisoners are selected “on purpose” as purposive sampling. Also the judgmental sampling, this sampling method relies on our judgment when identifying and selecting the prisoners that can provide the best information to achieve the study’s objectives. We choose purposive sampling because the researcher wants to focus in-depth on relatively small samples. A purposive sample of (110) prisoners was selected from Al-Rashad Training Hospital. The study sample in this research was selected from prisoners in the forensic department in the hospital. Results: Prisoners have moderate to high level of psychological abuse during childhood. They have moderate to high level of physical abuse during childhood. prisoners having moderate to high level of sexual abuse during childhood. Also they have moderate to high level of neglect during childhood. As overall prisoners have high level of abuse during childhood. prisoners having moderate to high level of criminal behavior subdomain (socialization). related to criminal behavior subdomain (Social conditions) among prisoners; the findings indicates that prisoners having moderate to high level of criminal behavior subdomain (Social conditions) among items. The findings indicates that prisoners having moderate to high level of criminal behavior subdomain (Personal and psychological circumstances) among items. Prisoners have high level of criminal behavior as overall. There is high significant relationship between Abuse during childhood and Criminal behavior at p-value= .004. There are significant relationships between (psychological, physical, sexual abuse) during childhood and criminal behavior at p-value= 0.05. There are no significant relationships between neglect during childhood and criminal behavior. There is no significant relationship between Abuse during childhood and type of crime at p-value= .05.

Pooled Analysis of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Sleep Among Children From 33 Countries

The prevalence estimates of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep (collectively known as movement behaviors) in 3- and 4-year-old children worldwide remains uncertain. To report the proportion of 3- and 4-year-old children who met the World Health Organization guidelines for physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep across 33 countries. Pooled analysis of data from 14 cross-sectional studies (July 2008 to September 2022) identified through systematic reviews and personal networks. Thirty-three countries of varying income levels across 6 geographical regions. Each study site needed to have at least 40 children aged 3.0 to 4.9 years with valid accelerometry and parent-/caregiver-reported screen time and sleep duration data. Data were analyzed from October 2022 to February 2023. Time spent in physical activity was assessed by reanalyzing accelerometry data using a harmonized data-processing protocol. Screen time and sleep duration were proxy reported by parents or caregivers. The proportion of children who met the World Health Organization guidelines for physical activity (≥180 min/d of total physical activity and ≥60 min/d of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity), screen time (≤1 h/d), and sleep duration (10-13 h/d) was estimated across countries and by World Bank income group and geographical region using meta-analysis. Of the 7017 children (mean [SD] age, 4.1 [0.5] years; 3585 [51.1%] boys and 3432 [48.9%] girls) in this pooled analysis, 14.3% (95% CI, 9.7-20.7) met the overall guidelines for physical activity, screen time, and sleep duration. There was no clear pattern according to income group: the proportion meeting the guidelines was 16.6% (95% CI, 10.4-25.3) in low- and lower-middle-income countries, 11.9% (95% CI, 5.9-22.5) in upper-middle-income countries, and 14.4% (95% CI, 9.6-21.1) in high-income countries. The region with the highest proportion meeting the guidelines was Africa (23.9%; 95% CI, 11.6-43.0), while the lowest proportion was in North and South America (7.7%; 95% CI, 3.6-15.8). Most 3- and 4-year-old children in this pooled analysis did not meet the current World Health Organization guidelines for physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep. Priority must be given to understanding factors that influence these behaviors in this age group and to implementing contextually appropriate programs and policies proven to be effective in promoting healthy levels of movement behaviors.

A randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of the eCHECKUP TO GO on drinking games participation and behavior among high school seniors

BackgroundAmong high school students, seniors report the highest levels of hazardous drinking behavior, including playing drinking games. Technology-based interventions are a promising approach for reducing hazardous drinking behavior among this age group. Objectives: This randomized controlled trial investigated the efficacy of the eCHECKUP TO GO, an online personalized feedback intervention, on reducing the frequency of playing drinking games, the number of drinks consumed while playing drinking games, and the number of drinks consumed on occasions when drinking games were played among high school seniors (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03613818). Method: Participants were recruited from two high schools. Class periods were randomized to the intervention condition or an assessment-only control condition. Participants completed online surveys at baseline, 30-day, and 6-month assessments. The subsample in this study (N = 109) consisted of high-risk drinkers (i.e., students reporting binge drinking in the past two weeks at baseline). Results: We did not find any significant differences in frequency of playing drinking games between the intervention and control conditions. For number of drinks consumed, students in the intervention condition reported a significant reduction in the number of drinks consumed while playing drinking games (p < 0.01) and total number of drinks consumed on drinking game occasions (p < 0.04) at the 30-day follow-up relative to students in the control condition. Reductions within the intervention group were sustained at the 6-month follow-up. Conclusions: Results support the efficacy of the eCHECKUP TO GO for decreasing hazardous alcohol use among high school seniors.

The Impact of Learning Behavior and Student Engagement on Learning Outcomes in Geography Subjects at Junior School Level

Geography is a science that deals with all activities and symptoms found on earth. At the junior high school level, geography is integrated into integrated social studies subjects. Geography is also an important social science to be implemented in lower secondary schools, but in its application there are also factors for its success, including learning behavior and student involvement. The objectives of this research are1) Analyzing the effect of learning behavior on student geography learning results, 2) Analyzing the effect of student engagement on geography learning results, and 3) Analyzing the effect of learning behavior and student engagement on geography learning outcomes. This research used quantitative method. The population in this study were students from grade 7 to grade 9 at SMP Negeri 2 Kemalang totaling 584 students. The sample in this study consisted of 237 students. SThe sampling was conducted using the stratified random sampling technique. Data were obtained using observation, documentation, and questiinnaires. The data analysis techniques used in this study include descriptive statistic, simple correlation tests, and multiple correlation analysis. The result shiwed that 1) students have a level of learning behavior in the high category, 2) student learning engagement in geography subjects categorized into high category, and 3) There is no significant influence of learning behavior and student engagement on geography learning success. It can be observed that the r value is smaller than the r tabke value 0.059 0.134) and the significance value is above 0,05 (0.416 0.05).

The Association between ADHD Symptoms and Antisocial Behavior: Differential Effects of Maternal and Paternal Parenting Behaviors

The present study examined the moderating role of maternal and paternal behaviors on the association between ADHD symptoms and antisocial behavior. The data are from a Swedish community-based study with 2886 adolescent participants, aged 13–15. We analyzed the adolescents’ self-reports of negative and positive parental behavior, ADHD symptoms, and antisocial behavior. Results show that ADHD symptoms significantly predicted levels of antisocial behavior in both maternal- and paternal-moderated regression models. Also, several significant interaction effects emerged. Fathers’ attempted understanding and mothers’ warmth significantly buffered the association with antisocial behavior. In turn, mothers’ negative behaviors—both coldness and rejection and angry outbursts—significantly enhanced the association with antisocial behavior, whereas only fathers’ angry outbursts emerged as a significant moderator. Thus, there is support for differential effects of maternal and paternal behavior on the association between ADHD symptoms and adolescent antisocial behavior.

Relativistic mean field analysis of triaxial deformation for nuclei near the neutron drip line

The present study focuses on the deformation of neutron-rich nuclei near the neutron drip line. The nuclei of interest include 28O, 42Si, 58Ca, 80Ni, 100Kr, 122Ru, 152Ba, 166Sm, and 176Er. The relativistic Hartree - Bogoliubov (RHB) approach with effective density-dependent point coupling is utilized to investigate the triaxial deformation, and Skyrme - Hartree - Fock + Bardeen - Cooper - Schrieffer is used to analyze the axial deformation. The study aimed to understand the interplay between nuclear forces, particle interactions, and shell structure to gain insights into the unique behavior of neutron-rich nuclei. Despite these nuclei containing magic numbers, their shapes are still affected by the nucleons' collective behavior and energy levels. As the number of neutrons increases, the shape smoothly transitions from spherical to triaxial and then to prolate. The axial deformation analysis confirmed the results of the triaxial deformation analysis using the RHB method. An imbalance in the number of protons and neutrons can affect pairing energy, where extra neutrons can reduce overall pairing energy, and protons can disrupt the nucleon pairing due to stronger Coulomb repulsion between them.

Modeling a Time Study of the United States Consumer Price Index from 2014 to 2023

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) over a ten-year period 2014 to 2023. The CPI, a critical measure of inflation, reflects the average change in prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of goods and services. This study will explore the intricate relationships between CPI and key economic variables, including unemployment levels, interest rates, and the sales index, using time series data and multiple regression analysis. The research identifies significant predictors of CPI and evaluates the extent to which these factors influence price levels in the U.S. economy. The findings reveal a strong positive correlation between CPI and interest rates, indicating that as borrowing costs increase, the CPI tends to rise correspondingly. Conversely, a negative relationship is observed between CPI and unemployment levels, suggesting that higher unemployment rates are associated with a decrease in CPI, possibly due to reduced consumer spending. The study also examines the sales index, finding a weaker yet notable relationship with CPI, which underscores the complex dynamics of consumer behavior and price levels. The analysis highlights the limitations of CPI as a comprehensive measure of the cost of living, pointing out its lack of significant correlation with real income and population growth. The study concludes that while CPI is an essential tool for measuring inflation and informing monetary policy, it may not fully capture the economic realities faced by the population. These insights suggest the need for policymakers to consider additional factors when using CPI to make informed decisions about economic policy and social welfare programs among the U.S. population.

Facilitators, barriers, and impact of e-learning on healthcare professionals in primary healthcare settings: An integrative review of literature

Background: The Primary Health Care Corporation in Qatar uses continuing professional development (CPD) to improve the knowledge and practices of healthcare professionals (HCPs). Due to COVID-19, CPD delivery has shifted from in-person to e-learning. While the need to provide CPD is evident, there is a lack of understanding of how HCPs access and use e-learning and how this learning influences the organizational outcomes in primary care settings. Aim: The aim of this review was to explore (a) the facilitators and barriers to accessing and using e-learning and (b) the impact of e-learning on HCPs’ learning, their practices, and organizational outcomes. Methodology: Primary research publications between 2013 and 2022 were obtained from the CINAHL, MEDLINE OVID, and EBSCO databases. A total of 39 articles were included in this integrative review, which was guided by Whittemore and Knafl's framework. The MMAT was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Kirkpatrick's model guided data analysis. Findings: The reaction level is influenced by the characteristics of e-learning content and delivery as well as the motivation of individuals. The learning level is influenced by the level of awareness, knowledge, skills, confidence, attitudes, and beliefs of HCPs. The behavior level is associated with intentions to change or apply in practice as well as implications for practice. The organizational impact is characterized by the quality of patient care. Conclusion: Understanding the potential facilitators and barriers to accessing and using e-learning is crucial when designing and implementing CPD to improve the quality of e-learning and therefore the quality of patient care.

The role of family health, socio-economic status, and heritability of neurodevelopmental disorders in the severity of cognitive dysfunctions in school-age children with ADHD

Introduction and objective: Little is known about the association between socioeconomic status, alcohol and tobacco use, and specific cognitive functions, like attention, working memory or executive functions in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. We aimed to determine if socioeconomic adversity and unhealthy family behaviours are predictors of cognitive functions in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Materials and methods: We tested 176 Polish children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder aged 10–13 using the PU1 Battery of Cognitive Functions, while the children’s parents completed a questionnaire on socioeconomic status and alcohol and tobacco use at home during their child’s life stages. We applied cluster analysis of family types and moderation analysis that tested the heritability of neurodevelopmental disorders in family interactions. Results: We identified three family types that raise children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: 1) families with higher socioeconomic status, lower level of unhealthy family behaviours, and average levels of children’s cognitive functioning, 2) families with low socioeconomic status, high level of unhealthy family behaviours, and average levels of children’s cognitive functioning, and 3) families with average socioeconomic status, low level of unhealthy family behaviours and low level of children’s cognitive functioning. We found no statistically significant associations between family predictors, the moderator variable, and cognitive functions in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Conclusions: The results of our study contrast with the large amount of evidence that shows a link between cognitive dysfunctions in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and socioeconomic status and alcohol and tobacco use.

Значение руководителя служебного коллектива органа внутренних дел в формировании нормативного поведения его участников: эмпирическое исследование

Introduction. Increasing the effectiveness of the activity of the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation in modern conditions focuses on psychological factors of its implementation both individually (by particular employees) and in the process of cooperative actions (by service staffs). Special consideration should be given to the role of the head as an organiser and regulator of the activities of subordinate employees, who is responsible for the quality and legality of their actions. Existing ideas on the interaction of service staff members characterise the role of the head in different ways, but empirically insufficiently verify its significance in teams with different levels of functional relations and normative behaviour. The prerequisite of the present research is the replenishment of scientific and practical knowledge of the role of the head of the service staff as a regulator of functional relations and normative behaviour of internal affairs officers. The purpose of the research is to reveal the significance of the attitude to the head of the service staff when assessing the influence of functional characteristics of relations in the service staff on the understanding normative behaviour among its members. Research methods. A set of psychodiagnostic questionnaires was used: ‘Subjective assessment of intragroup relations’ (S. V. Dukhnovsky, K. V. Zlokazov), ‘Attitude of an employee to the performed activity, his direct supervisor and his reputation’ (A. A. Sarsenova), ‘Normativity. Intelligence. Regulation’ (S. V. Dukhnovsky, V. M. Kofanov). The sample of the research consisted of 160 employees of internal affairs bodies (112 males and 48 females aged from 29 to 43 years). Regression analysis was used as a method of data processing. Results. The authors found out that the normative behaviour of service team members is determined by functional-negative characteristics of their interaction and is an independent cause of service discipline violations. This fact testifies that negative forms of interaction of service team members (aimlessness, uncontrollability, connivance) as well as relations (hostility, negativism and conflict) reduce the level of normative service behaviour. It is determined that the attitude of employees to the head of the service team mediates the influence of functional-negative characteristics, acting as a regulator of their service behaviour. The results of the research expand scientific ideas on psychology of management of formal groups (by the example of service staffs) and can be used in preparation of employees of internal affairs bodies for positions of junior and middle supervising staffs.

Exploring Emotion Control and Alexithymia in Autistic Adults: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study.

Difficulties in controlling emotions - a proxy for emotion dysregulation (ED)-and difficulties in expressing feelings in words-'absence of emotion labelling' or alexithymia-co-exist in autism and contribute to elevated levels of impulsive and suicidal behaviour. To date, studies linking the two phenomena have relied on retrospective self-reported measures, lacking support for generalizability to real-life situations. The present study investigated in vivo emotion labelling and its impact on emotion control in 29 autistic adults without intellectual disability (ASC) and 28 neurotypical (NT) individuals of similar age, sex, and educational level. Participants were trained in an Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) to label their emotions, the arousal dimension, and their emotion control via smartphone over a one-week period. Findings showed that the ASC group experienced more instances of 'having an emotion that I cannot name' and, when they were able to label their emotions, they reported higher rates of negative and conflicting (simultaneously positive and negative) emotions. In both groups, the absence of emotion labelling, and intense negative emotions were associated with impaired emotion control. However, the association between lack of emotional awareness-'I have no emotion'-and impaired emotion control was only evident in ASC individuals. Our study highlights a nuanced facet of emotional processing in the ASC population. Further research is needed to gain a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between ED and alexithymia in autism.

The Relationship Between Foreign Language Anxiety and Self-Efficacy: A Study in Chinese College Students' English Learning

In the process of foreign language learning, learners will encounter various psychological phenomena, among which anxiety and self-efficacy are two psychological variables that have received much attention. Foreign language anxiety refers to the emotional states of tension, unease, and worry that learners experience during the process of learning a foreign language. This emotional state can have a negative impact on learners' learning outcomes. Self-efficacy refers to an individual's judgment of their ability to perform a specific task, directly affecting their behavioral motivation and level of effort. This study will analyze the impact of foreign language anxiety and self-efficacy on the effectiveness of foreign language learning among Chinese college students and emphasize the use of multidimensional analysis methods, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing, to analyze and summarize previous literature. Foreign language anxiety and self-efficacy show a negative correlation and together influence the effectiveness of college students' foreign language learning. In China, the anxiety subjects of college students are ranked from high to low as follows: speaking, listening, writing, and reading. This article will also summarize and analyze ways to improve foreign language anxiety and enhance self-efficacy from the perspectives of student self-regulation and teacher assistance.

Help-seeking behaviors and determinant factors among women exposed to intimate partner violence in East Africa based on recent demographic and health survey data: a multilevel analysis.

Human rights violations and violence against women are serious public health issues that have numerous detrimental repercussions on one's physical, emotional, sexual, and reproductive health. According to studies, women's perceptions and traits of violence are highly predictive of their likelihood of seeking help against violence. Even though intimate partner violence is a huge challenge nowadays in Africa, there is a low level of help-seeking behavior. Conducting this study at the East African level on help-seeking behavior can provide a clue for policy-makers. Therefore, this study aimed to reveal the prevalence of help-seeking behavior against intimate partner violence and determinant factors among women in East Africa. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was carried out among East Africans using recent demographic and health survey data. A total of 7,387 participants aged 15 to 49 years were included in this study from East African countries. Individual- and community-level variables were considered to determine the associated factors with help-seeking behaviors against intimate partner violence with 95% CI and AOR. The prevalence of help-seeking behavior against intimate partner violence among women was 38.07% with 95% CI (36.96%, 39.18%). Husbands drink alcohol [AOR = 1.46: 95% CI (1.33, 1.61)], women who have work [AOR = 1.33: 95% CI (1.19, 1.50)], and women with higher educational status [AOR = 1.36: 95% CI (1.16, 1.59)] were factors associated with help-seeking behavior against intimate partner violence. Approximately four out of 10 women were seeking help for intimate partner violence in East Africa. Husbands drinking alcohol, women's high educational status, and women having occupations were the factors that were associated with help-seeking behaviors against intimate partner violence.

Level of Sexual Health Knowledge and Sexual Behaviors Among Sri Lankan Schooling Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Analytical Study of Selected Urban and Rural Areas in the Kandy District

Level of Sexual Health Knowledge and Sexual Behaviors Among Sri Lankan Schooling Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Analytical Study of Selected Urban and Rural Areas in the Kandy District

Comparative Study of Physical Activity, Leisure Preferences, and Sedentary Behavior among Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish University Students.

The objective of this study is to describe and compare the levels of physical activity, preferences for leisure-time physical activity, and the frequency of non-sedentary behaviors of Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish students attending higher education. A total of 1354 students (21.2 ± 2.9 years) participated in the study, with data collected through an online questionnaire for 6 months. The highest levels of sedentary behavior are found among Spanish students, followed by the Portuguese, and lastly the Italians. In relation to physical activity levels, Spanish students perform more low and moderate physical activity, while Italian students perform more vigorous activities and naturally have a lower level of sedentary behavior. However, it is worth highlighting that students from all three countries reach the minimum levels of physical activity recommended by the WHO.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Sex Ratio at Birth in Ireland.

The sex ratio at birth (SRB), calculated as male divided by total live births, is an important indicator of population health. Typically, male live births slightly outnumber female live births. Population events, including pandemics, can alter the SRB, with effects sometimes evident 9 months post-event, potentially due to changes in sexual behavior and/or stress levels. This study investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the SRB in the Republic of Ireland. Publicly available monthly live birth data for Ireland were obtained from the Central Statistics Office for the period 2015 to 2021. Time series analysis predicted the SRB for 2020 using data from 2015 to 2019, with comparisons made between observed and predicted values. In December 2020, 9 months after the March 2020 COVID-19 declaration, the observed SRB sharply fell to 49.44% (97.80 males for every 100 females), below the 95% prediction interval of 50.31% to 52.15%, significantly deviating from the expected male predominance. December 2020 also recorded the lowest average daily number of births (n = 145) in the study period. The sharp decline in the SRB in December 2020, alongside the lowest birth count, suggests reduced sexual intercourse at the population level, particularly in March 2020, aligning with recommendations from Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE). The HSE advocated precautionary measures such as limiting partnered sex in March 2020 to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. These findings highlight the pandemic's potential impact on population dynamics and stress the importance of SRB monitoring as a low-cost and readily available health indicator, especially during national crises.

Effects of progesterone administered to maternal rats during the teratogenesis-sensitive period through different routes on neurobehavior and gut microbiota in offspring

Objective: Progesterone (P4) is the optimal agent for luteal support in assisted reproductive technologies. Despite the availability of various formulations, the impacts of P4 treatment administered through different routes on offspring growth remain unevaluated. This study aimed to investigate and compare the effects of P4 administration through three different routes in pregnant rats during the teratogenesis-sensitive period on fertility outcomes and the behavior, plasma P4 and pregnenolone levels, and alterations in gut microbiota in the filial generation (F1) of offspring. Methods: Female rats that mated successfully were randomly classified into four groups: Group 1, the normal control group; Group 2, the IG group, in which utrogestan was administered via intragastric gavage; Group 3, the IM group, in which P4 was administered via intramuscular injection; and Group 4, the VAGIN group, in which P4 sustained-release vaginal gel was administered through the vagina. Except for the control group, P4 was administered in other groups through their respective routes for 13 consecutive days daily during the teratogenic-sensitive gestation period (days 6–18). The fertility outcomes of the maternal rats were observed, and open-field and three-chamber social preference tests were conducted to assess anxiety and social behavior, along with an exhaustive swimming experiment to evaluate the motor endurance of the offspring. Plasma P4 and pregnenolone levels in the offspring were measured, and fecal samples were assessed using gut microbiota sequencing and subsequent bioinformatics analysis. Results: No significant alterations in fertility outcomes were observed through three P4 administration routes—intragastric gavage, intramuscular injection, and vaginal administration—in rats. However, in behavioral experiments in offspring, a significant increase was observed in swimming time in the IG group than in the control group (P = 0.013). Furthermore, the offspring in the IG group exhibited a marked decrease in non-social behaviors compared with the control group (P = 0.030). No significant behavioral changes were observed in the F1 offspring in the open-field test. Additionally, the offspring in the IG group exhibited a significant elevation in plasma pregnenolone levels compared with the control group (P = 0.019) 30 days after birth. No notable differences in the α-diversity of gut microbiota were observed among the groups. However, significant differences in β-diversity were observed in both the IG and IM groups compared with the control group, indicating that P4 treatment via the two routes exhibited a significant impact on the gut microbiota composition of F1 offspring. Distinct differences were observed in the gut microbiota of the offspring among the three P4 treatment groups, with 22, 28, and 33 differential bacterial taxa identified in the IG, IM, and VAGIN groups, respectively, using linear discriminant effect size analysis, whereas Olivella appeared exclusively in the control group rather than in the P4 treatment groups. Conclusion: Oral administration of P4 to maternal rats during the teratogenesis-sensitive period enhanced motor endurance and plasma pregnenolone levels and altered the composition of the gut microbiota in the offspring. Our findings demonstrated different effects on offspring growth when P4 is administered orally, intramuscularly, or vaginally.