Structure Equation Modeling Research Articles

Multiple element coupling and molecular-chemical diversity of organic matter control how much energy is retained in soils in mountain ecosystems

Organic matter is the primary repository of chemical energy driving biogeochemical cycles and maintaining ecological functions in soils. Therefore, revealing factors controlling energy in soils is critical but has less been studied so far. In this study, we investigated energy stored in soils and litter biomass, 12 elements level (macroelements including C, N, P, Fe, and K, microelements including Cu, Li, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn), and molecular-chemical composition of soil organic matter (SOM) among four vegetation zones along the elevation in the Changbai Mountain. The calorific values in soils (Qs) and litters (Ql) were determined using oxygen bomb calorimetry. The complexity of SOM was reflected by molecular diversity of pyrolytic products of SOM (SHID), and relations among 12 elements were represented by defining coupling extent (MEC). Potential impacts of MEC and SHID on energy stored in soils were discussed. Results indicated that the average Qs and Ql were 565 cal/g and 3799 cal/g, respectively. The proportion of Qs to Ql (Qr) ranged from 6.28 % to 43.65 % with a mean of 14.74 %. Significant differences in Qs and Ql were observed among four vegetation zones along the elevation. Significantly positive relations were observed between elevation and Ql, between MEC and Qr or Qs, and between Qs and SHID. The VPA analysis indicated that MEC itself could explain 19 % variation of Qs, and the exploration raised to 60 % when MEC was in conjunction with elevation, pH, and SHID. The structure equation model confirmed positive effects of MEC and SHID on Qs. In conclusions, MEC was primarily associated with energy holding by mountain soils, proving that a conceptual advance was required to link element biogeochemical cycle and energy flow in ecosystems, thereby bridging the potential gap between matter and energy in ecological research.

Topography and Wildfire Jointly Mediate Postfire Ecosystem Multifunctionality in a Chinese Boreal Forest

Both topography and wildfire can exert significant influences on ecosystem processes and functions during boreal forest successions. However, their impacts on ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) remain unclear. A mega-fire burned an area of 8700 hectares in the Great Xing’an Mountains in 2000, creating a wide range of fire severity levels across various topographic positions. This provided a unique opportunity to explore the impacts of mixed-severity fire disturbance in boreal forests. We evaluated the effect pathways of wildfire and topography on aboveground multifunctionality (AEMF), soil multifunctionality (SEMF), and overall multifunctionality (OEMF). We found that high-severity burning resulted in lower AEMF, SEMF, and OEMF relative to low-severity burning. Topographic positions significantly influenced SEMF and OEMF, but not AEMF. Specifically, both lower SEMF and OEMF were observed on south-facing slopes. The structure equation model analysis showed that aspect had exerted strong indirect effects on AEMF, SEMF, and OEMF by affecting soil moisture and regenerated tree density (RTD). Fire severity had indirect negative effects on AEMF and OEMF by reducing RTD and on SEMF by reducing soil bacterial diversity and RTD. Our study elucidates the necessity of considering postfire site environments to better manage forest ecosystems and, in turn, promote the rapid recovery of boreal ecosystem functions.

Assessing the impact of digital transformation capability for international market growth: the role of leadership support

PurposeThis study aims to examine the impact of an organization’s digital transformation capability (DTC) on its dynamic capabilities and strategic depth, which, in turn, could impact the organization’s international market growth (IMG). This study also investigates the moderating role of leadership support (LES) in using the DTC.Design/methodology/approachThe study reviews various kinds of literature related to international marketing, dynamic capabilities, digital transformation, strategic marketing and LES. Following this, a dynamic capability view is adopted to develop a research model. This research model is later tested using partial least squares structure equation modeling with data from 385 respondents from different types of organizations.FindingsThe study demonstrates that an organization’s DTC significantly enhances its dynamic capabilities and strategic depth. LES is vital for effectively applying and leveraging DTCs since it influences the association between DTCs, competitive advantage and global marketing intelligence. The study also recognizes that strategic depth and dynamic capabilities contribute to IMG.Research limitations/implicationsThe study uncovers the impacts of DTCs, influencing IMG. The study also provides valuable insights regarding the role of leadership in effectively leveraging the organization’s DTCs. It suggests the organization’s management should invest in improving DTC.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the prevailing literature on DTC, leadership and IMG. The study highlights the importance of DTC and how it impacts more established capabilities and leads to IMG of the organization. Further, this study is also unique as it establishes the importance of LES in leveraging the maximum benefits of the DTC.

Sustainable human resource management and sustainable performance: mediating role of organization citizenship behavior

Purpose This study aims to investigate the influence of sustainable human resource management (SHRM) policies on sustainability performance of higher education institutions (HEIs). Furthermore, this study also examined the mediating role of organizational citizenship behavior toward sustainability (OCBS) between SHRM and HEIs’ sustainability performance. The ability motivation opportunity (AMO) and stakeholder theories are used to conceptualize the model. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 162 academic staff of 12 government and private universities in India by using snowball sampling method. The partial least square structured equation modeling technique was used to analyze the data. Findings The overall results suggest that SHRM, such as sustainability motivation, sustainability-building practices, green employee engagement initiatives and social considerations, significantly impact OCBS among academic staff and the sustainability performance of HEIs. These findings provide a better understanding of how to improve the sustainability performance of HEIs through SHRM and OCBS among academic staff. Originality/value This study significantly extends the growing literature on SHRM and sustainability performance by focusing on sustainable HR practices in the HEIs. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first studies to empirically investigate SHRM and sustainability performance in the context of education sector in India.

FACTORS INFLUENCING SOCIAL COMMERCE ADOPTION : A TOE FRAMEWORK ANALYSIS

The increasing use of social media has led to a new business trend called social commerce. This study investigates the factors that influence the adoption of social commerce in Solo Raya SMEs using the technology, organizational, and environment (TOE) model. This research is a quantitative research using primary data. Data collection techniques use questionnaires via Google Form. The population of this research is SMEs in Solo Raya that have used social commerce technology. The sampling technique in this study used purposive sampling technique with a sample size of 132 respondents. The data analysis technique in this study uses structure equation modeling partial least square (SEM - PLS) with the help of smartPLS 3.0 software. The results of this study indicate that perceived usefulness, security concerns, top management support, organizational readiness, consumer pressure, and trading partner pressure have a positive effect on the behavioral intention of social commerce adoption. These findings can help SMEs in utilizing digital technology to increase their competitiveness in today's digital era.

Antecedent and Consequence of Innovation Output: Evidence from Thailand

The study aims to examine the impact of research and development (R&D) investment (the antecedent) on competitive advantage (the consequence) for the innovation output of private firms in Thailand. The population of this study includes all private Thai firms which have registered with the Office of National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council. Path analysis and factor confirmation, including correlation matrix, are used to test the mediator effect of innovation output on the relationship between R&D investment and firm performance competitive advantage. The research data are tested and analyzed by the structure equation model. The results reveal that R&D investment was not found to directly influence competitive advantage, while R&D investment indirectly affects competitive advantage through innovation output. The findings of this study demonstrate that innovative output plays a mediating role between R&D investment and competitive advantage. In addition, dynamic capability theory can be used to explain the influences of R&D investment and innovation output on competitive advantage for private firms in Thailand.

The detrimental effect of rainforest conversion to rubber plantations on soil dissolved organic carbon and C: N stoichiometry, mediated by altered soil biogeochemistry

Rainforest conversion into rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) plantations (RP) alters global carbon cycling and contributes to climate change. However, the impact of this widespread tropical land use change on various elements of the carbon cycle is poorly understood. Here, we aimed to investigate the impact of rainforest conversion into RP on soil-dissolved organic carbon (DOC), one of the most mobile organic matter (OM) in the terrestrial ecosystem that causes the transformation and migration of C. We also explored the underlying edaphic factors regulating soil DOC changes. Our study sites were rubber monoculture, mixed-rubber plantations (H. brasiliensis, Ficus langkokensis, and Actinodaphne henryi), and a reference rainforest. We found that soil DOC concentration was 150-200% higher in RP than in rainforests, with an unchanged pattern across the seasons (dry and rainy) and plantation type. These results were concomitant with degradation in main soil properties, markedly including lower pH, electrical conductivity, SOC, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP), following the RP establishment and explicitly having a significant negative correlation with DOC. Our fitted structure equation model (SEM) highlights that RP caused accelerated DOC production and a higher DOC/DN ratio by decreasing SOC (38.5%) and nutrients (TN and TP). Further, the SEM revealed a significant negative correlation between microbial biomass C (MBC) and N (MBN) and the DOC/DN ratio, implying limited microbial degradation of DOC under RP. This is further supported by our findings of 81.1% lower MBC per unit DOC and 37.1% lower MBN per unit DN under RP compared to rainforests, indicating poor transformation of DOC to microbial biomass under RP. Collectively, our findings suggest that RP with high nutrient demands and altered soil properties lead to increased leaching of DOC due to its limited utilization by microbes. These findings underscore the importance of robust and sustainable soil management (such as optimizing plant density and legume intercropping) in RP to improve soil health and minimize DOC leaching and its potential environmental consequences.

Impact of Information System Quality on Perceived Bank Performance: Mediating Role of E-Banking Product

With the increase of information technology, the use of e-banking products recently increases tremendously in Bangladesh. So, a study is conducted to determine the direct impact of information system quality on perceived bank performance and the also indirect impact of information system quality on perceived bank performance with e-banking product mediation. Under these circumstances, the value of information system quality, perceived bank performance and e-banking product outcome are measured with five points Likert scale, with 1 being the most strongly disagreed and 5 the most strongly agreed with the statement in a close ended survey questionnaire response from 240 respondents selected by purposefully sampling method in Chattogram city, Bangladesh. In the factor analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) method is developed to classify the data into three factor and validate with Cronbach’s alpha, convergent and discriminant value from collected questionnaire response in IBM SPSS Statistics 26. Based on the above classification, structure equation model (SEM) is developed in IBM SPSS AMOS 22 to identify the mediation effect of e-banking product in the information system quality on perceived bank performance and validate with model validity. The bank authority may increase the e-banking product, which will increase the information system quality on perceived bank performance. This research knowledge may be utilized in policy making and strategy formulation to increase the perceived bank performance, which lead to more profit in future.

Interplay Between Financial Literacy, Firm’s Characteristics, Behavioural Biases and Investment Choices—A Conditional Mediation Model

Individual investing decisions are crucial in determining one’s financial well-being, as these choices directly affect their financial health. The current study uses structured equation modelling based on survey data from 288 individual investors. We contribute to the growing body of literature by employing the conditional mediation model to investigate the interaction between financial literacy, firm characteristics, behavioural biases and their impact on investment choices. The study findings substantiate the critical role of a firm’s characteristics in mediating the relationship between financial literacy and investment choices. The findings highlight the importance of financial literacy in enabling investors to make informed decisions, accentuating the mediating role of a firm’s characteristics, which adds novelty to the study.

Structure Equation Model for Costs and Benefits of Distribution Pipe Rehabilitation in Reactive Maintenance

Some water distribution pipe networks were constructed several decades ago and have been damaged. The old pipe network has experienced many leaks and should be rehabilitated. In old cities like Jakarta, with high leak rates (1.6 leaks/km/year), pipeline network managers must frequently repair leaks or perform reactive maintenance. Far too many pipes need to be rehabilitated compared to the available budget. This research will develop an optimization model for selecting rehabilitated pipes under reactive maintenance conditions, which has never been performed before. The selection of pipe segments to be rehabilitated must be optimal to obtain maximum benefits using minimum costs. The variables that influence rehabilitation costs and benefits and the relationship between these variables need to be known to optimize the selection. The influencing variables and their model structure were obtained from literature reviews and surveys of respondents with sufficient experience in water pipe network management. These influential variables have varying characteristics. Data processing and analysis uses the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) method with a formative–formative measurement model. In total, 22 variables were found to be valid and significantly influenced the cost and benefits of rehabilitation. The analysis results are a structural model of the relationship between variables that influence the costs and benefits of rehabilitation in reactive maintenance with a limited budget, which can be used to optimize rehabilitation models.

Exploring emotional dynamics: Word count effects in Facebook posts by sports shoe brands

This study examines the impact of word count in Facebook posts on user engagement and emotional responses, focusing on sports shoe brands. It addresses a research gap concerning the effects of post length on various emotional aspects and engagement metrics within social media marketing. Data were collected from January 1, 2024, to January 30, 2024, covering posts from January 2013 to December 2023 on official Facebook pages of several sports shoe brands. After cleaning an initial 723 posts, 636 were analyzed using statistical methods and Python libraries. Eight emotional aspects—fear, anger, sadness, trust, anticipation, joy, disgust, and surprise—were examined in relation to post length. Mean reaction values and emotional aspects were compared before and during the COVID-19 period. A structured equation model (SEM) in AMOS assessed these relationships. The analysis revealed that longer posts positively influenced trust (β = 0.208, ρ < 0.001), anticipation (β = 0.095, ρ < 0.05), joy (β = 0.259, ρ < 0.001), and surprise (β = 0.072, ρ < 0.05), but did not significantly affect fear (β = 0.065, ρ = 0.089), sadness (β = 0.054, ρ = 0.155), or disgust (β = 0.072, ρ = 0.116). During COVID-19, increased trust and anticipation were noted, while sadness and anger decreased. This study highlights that longer Facebook posts can enhance engagement through increased trust, anticipation, joy, and surprise, offering valuable insights for optimizing social media content strategies.

Influence of employee job crafting in Chinese manufacturing enterprises on safety innovation performance: a moderated mediation model

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of employees’ job crafting on safety innovation performance through psychological empowerment and the moderation effects of employees’ mindfulness traits and job complexity on such impact. Design/methodology/approach This study conducted structure equation modeling to analyze data collected from 1,566 employees in 96 manufacturing enterprises in northern and central China. Findings Results showed that employees’ job crafting has a positive effect on safety innovation performance, partially through psychological empowerment, and that effect was moderated by employee mindfulness traits and job complexity. Practical implications Manufacturing enterprises should seek to promote employees’ job crafting behavior in the workplace, improve employees’ psychological empowerment and pay attention to mindfulness training for enterprise managers and employees, so as to reduce the probability of unsafe behavior. Originality/value This study reveals the underlying influence mechanism of employees’ job crafting on safety innovation performance using the self-determination theory and suggests that psychological empowerment is critical in determining how employees’ job crafting influences safety innovation performance. Furthermore, both employees’ mindfulness traits and job complexity positively moderate the above mediation.

Women entrepreneurship: investigating the influence of emotional intelligence and innovativeness on entrepreneurial success

PurposeThe study is designed to investigate whether women’s entrepreneurial success is affected by their emotional intelligence. It also investigates the mediating role of innovativeness in influencing the relationship of their emotional intelligence with entrepreneurial success.Design/methodology/approachUsing a cross-sectional design, this study used a structured questionnaire to gather data from 274 women entrepreneurs spanning across various industries in north India. The data collected was analysed using the partial least squares structured equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique.FindingsThe findings demonstrate a notable and positive association between emotional intelligence and the entrepreneurial success of women. Additionally, innovativeness was found to partially mediate the relationship between emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial success. Entrepreneurial experience moderates the relationship between emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial success. Furthermore, age was not observed to moderate the connection between emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial success.Originality/valueThis study provides valuable insights for female entrepreneurs seeking to achieve success by harnessing their emotional intelligence and fostering innovativeness in their entrepreneurial pursuits. The study mainly provides evidence on the conclusive role of emotional intelligence among women entrepreneurs in their success in the relatively underresearched context of India, thereby consolidating knowledge on gendered entrepreneurship.

The Effect Of Green Marketing Mix On Purchase Intention Of Ecoprint Fashion With Environmental Awareness As A Mediating Variable In Generation Z On Social Media

This research aims to examine the influence of the Green Marketing Mix on Purchase Intention for ecoprint fashion with Environmental Awareness as a Mediating Variable in Generation Z on Instagram Social Media, with a sample size in this study of 200 Gen Z respondents on Instagram social media. Data collection in this research was done by distributing questionnaires. This analysis technique uses the Structure Equation Model (SEM-PLS) using the SmartPLS 3.0 program with outer modelmeasurements: convergent validity, discriminant validity, reliability test, and inner model measurements; Coeficient Determinant of (R2), Significance (tvalue). The results of this research show that green marketing mix has a significant effect on purchase intention, green marketing mix has a significant effect on environmental awareness, environmental awareness has a significant effect on purchase intention and there is an indirect effect between the green marketing mix variables on purchase intention through environmental awareness.

Stimulating tourists’ senses for sustainable destination development: Combining embodied cognition theory and the S-O-R model

Tourists’ environmentally responsible behavior (ERB) is crucial for the sustainable development of destinations, and the external environment can alter individuals’ cognition and behavior through sensory perception. To investigate the impact of the natural environment on tourists’ ERB, a conceptual model was developed and validated from a sensory perspective by integrating the embodied cognition theory and the stimulus-organism-response model. The results of structure equation modeling indicated that, with the exception of auditory perception, tourists’ perceptions through each sense influenced ERB to varying degrees, mediated by memorable tourism experiences (MTEs) and environmental awareness. Additionally, the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis method was employed to identify five distinct configurations associated with high ERB. Notably, MTEs and environmental awareness, driven by sensory perceptions, emerged as critical factors. While all senses played a role, none alone could singularly determine high ERB. The findings reveal the mechanism through which sensory perception influences tourists’ ERB and offer practical insights for destinations to integrate tourism resources by aligning with tourists’ sensory experiences to promote sustainable tourism.

Role of online health communities in patient compliance: a social support perspective

PurposeOnline health communities (OHC) can transform the healthcare industry, particularly in developing economies. Technology advancement and increased health literacy pave the way for these communities to become powerful tools for empowering patients. The purpose of this study was to empirically validate the linkages between social support and how it overarchingly influences patient compliance. Following social support theory, this study delineates how support from the community affects the patient–physician relationship (PERP) and consequently patient compliance regarding the treatment plan. This study also invents the role of patient trust in an OHC in moderating the relationship between PERP and engagement.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is based on social support and empowerment theories to investigate the importance of social support in improving patients’ health behaviours and health outcomes via patient empowerment, patient engagement and patient compliance. The authors surveyed users from three Facebook cancer communities in India to collect data. The authors used partial least squares structured equation modelling and necessary condition analysis (NCA) with 265 participants to support the proposed model.FindingsThe result demonstrates that PERP is a crucial factor for patient engagement in OHC, and patient engagement has a significant effect on patient compliance. The results also showed that trust was a significant moderator between PERP and engagement. The NCA analysis shows all the relationships are significant; however, emotional support is not a necessary condition for PERP.Research limitations/implicationsBy empowering cancer patients and enabling them to meet their emotional and informational needs through OHCs, the study model can aid in the development of solutions that will improve compliance with their treatment in an emerging economic context. The findings indicate the potential chain reaction of social support and PERP in online cancer health communities. This study also contributes to quantifying the social impacts of online healthcare services and how to enhance the healthcare compliance framework.Originality/valueThis study combines social support and empowerment theory with patient, physician, and technology to provide a fine-grained picture of PERP in OHC. It explains how social support in OHC promotes self-care behaviour. This linkage validation enables readers and the community at large to gain a more nuanced understanding of how social support – through PERP, engagement and trust – enables patient compliance using primary data.

Estimating Global Gross Primary Production Using an Improved MODIS Leaf Area Index Dataset

Remote sensing and process-coupled ecological models are widely used for the simulation of GPP, which plays a key role in estimating and monitoring terrestrial ecosystem productivity. However, most such models do not differentiate the C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathways and neglect the effect of nitrogen content on Vmax and Jmax, leading to considerable bias in the estimation of gross primary productivity (GPP). Here, we developed a model driven by the leaf area index, climate, and atmospheric CO2 concentration to estimate global GPP with a spatial resolution of 0.1° and a temporal interval of 1 day from 2000 to 2022. We validated our model with ground-based GPP measurements at 128 flux tower sites, which yielded an accuracy of 72.3%. We found that the global GPP ranged from 116.4 PgCyear−1 to 133.94 PgCyear−1 from 2000 to 2022, with an average of 125.93 PgCyear−1. We also found that the global GPP showed an increasing trend of 0.548 PgCyear−1 during the study period. Further analyses using the structure equation model showed that atmospheric CO2 concentration and air temperature were the main drivers of the global GPP changes, total associations of 0.853 and 0.75, respectively, while precipitation represented a minor but negative contribution to global GPP.

Exploring the role of entrepreneurial self-efficacy into performance of graduate-owned small and medium-sized enterprises in Tanzania

PurposeThe study assessed the role of entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) in the performance of graduate-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Specifically, the paper focused on how graduate owners’ confidence in identifying and commercializing new business opportunities and create new commodities according to the market demand influences both, the financial and non-financial performance of graduate-owned SMEs.Design/methodology/approachThe study employed a cross-sectional survey design, in which 228 SME graduate owners majored in entrepreneurship were involved through online structured questionnaires. The relationship between the variables was determined by using partial least squares structured equation modeling (PLS-SEM).FindingsThe results indicate that entrepreneurial self-efficacy of graduate SME owners influence the financial and non-financial performance of their SMEs. Specifically, financial performance values have a ß-value of 0.576 and a p-value of &lt;0.0001, non-financial performance values have a ß-value of 0.275 and a p-value of &lt;0.0001.Practical implicationsIn order to improve the performance of graduate-owned SMEs, universities should strive to equip graduates with self-confidence, which will enable them to utilize their entrepreneurial competences acquired through the entrepreneurship course programs. This will enable them to tackle business environmental challenges and be able to run successful businesses.Originality/valueThe results of this study extend the use of the self-efficacy theory in explaining the performance of graduate-owned SMEs in Tanzanian. Further, the study focused on ESE as a specific domain developed from entrepreneurship learning for entrepreneurial outcomes. Therefore, the study engaged graduate entrepreneurs who majored in entrepreneurship, which has not been the focus in most studies.

Gauging the impact of M-marketing capabilities on perceived sales performance of organization

The aim of this study to address the purposeful question for the managers and researchers is how organizational resources through mobile marketing (M-marketing) capabilities can improve sales performance of organizations. The study considered training, internal marketing, organizational culture and product-related knowledge as organizational resources that enhance perceived sales performance through different M-marketing capabilities like accessibility, cost saving and quick decision making. This research incorporated dynamic capability and resource-based view (RBV) theories to construct the research model. 396 responses were received from SMEs employees from ten big cities of Pakistan and structure equation modelling used to examine the research model. Findings showed that the organizational resources (training, internal marketing, organizational culture and product-related knowledge) and M-marketing capabilities (accessibility, cost saving and quick decision making) significantly impacted the PSP. M-marketing capabilities significantly partially mediate among the relationships of organizational resources and PSP.

The Role of Transformational Leadership and PsyCapin Shaping Organizational Citizenship Behavior: Exploring Job Satisfaction as a Mediator

This paper focuses on the relationship between Transformational leadership, Psychological Capital, Job satisfaction and Organizational Citizenship Behavior in the context of the banking industry. Transformational leadership (TL) is considered a strong determinant of Organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) since the behaviors it promotes support the organization’s effectiveness in ways that are not covered by the contractual responsibilities of an employee. Consequently, the effects of Transformational leadership and PsyCap(PsyCap) on employees’ Organizational citizenship behavior have not been studied extensively, incorporating the banking industry perspective into the investigation. To fill this void, the present research aims to look into the effects of Transformational leadership and PsyCap on Organizational citizenship behavior, with Job Satisfaction (JS) as the mediator. Based on the quantitative, descriptive study and cross-sectional method of data analysis, the study makes use of 242 structured questionnaires distributed among banking professionals to test the research hypotheses. The collected data was analyzed and examined by using Structured Equation Modeling through the Partial Least Square method. To analyze the collected data SPSS version 26 and Smart PLS 4 were used. The results thus highlight positive. Job satisfaction significantly mediates the Psychological capital, Job satisfaction but not significant with Transformational leadership, and Job satisfaction. These results extend the leadership and employee behavior literature in stress conditions and have practical implications for improving organization performance and employees’ well-being through leadership training and HR practices promotion. This work fills a hole in the writing and offers viable bits of knowledge for upgrading representative prosperity and hierarchical viability.