Multidimensional Scaling Research Articles

Exploring Taxonomic and Genetic Relationships in the Pinus mugo Complex Using Genome Skimming Data.

Genome skimming is a novel approach that enables obtaining large-scale genomic information based on high-copy DNA fractions from shallow whole-genome sequencing. The simplicity of this method, low analysis costs, and large amounts of generated data have made it widely used in plant research, including species identification, especially in the case of protected or endangered taxa. This task is particularly difficult in the case of closely related taxa. The Pinus mugo complex includes several dozen closely related taxa occurring in the most important mountain ranges in Europe. The taxonomic rank, origin, or distribution of many of these taxa have been debated for years. In this study, we used genome skimming and multilocus DNA barcoding approaches to obtain different sequence data sets and also to determine their genetic diversity and suitability for distinguishing closely related taxa in the Pinus mugo complex. We generated seven different data sets, which were then analyzed using three discrimination methods, i.e., tree based, distance based, and assembling species by automatic partitioning. Genetic diversity among populations and taxa was also investigated using haplotype network analysis and principal coordinate analysis. The proposed data set based on divergence hotspots is even twenty-times more variable than the other analyzed sets and improves the phylogenetic resolution of the Pinus mugo complex. In light of the obtained results, Pinus × rhaetica does not belong to the Pinus mugo complex and should not be identified with either Pinus uliginosa or Pinus rotundata. It seems to represent a fixed hybrid or introgressant between Pinus sylvestris and Pinus mugo. In turn, Pinus mugo and Pinus uncinata apparently played an important role in the origins of Pinus uliginosa and Pinus rotundata.

Pengaruh Dukungan Sosial terhadap Motivasi Belajar Mahasiswa Tingkat Ii

This study examines the relationship between work motivation and psychological well-being (PWB) in internship students in Greater Jakarta. Program policies provide opportunities for students to develop their skills and work experience. This study aims to identify how work motivation, both intrinsic and extrinsic, affects the psychological well-being of internship students. Using a predictive correlational approach, data was collected through a questionnaire that measured the dimensions of work motivation and PWB. The results of the study showed that intrinsic motivation had a significant positive impact on psychological well-being, while excessive extrinsic motivation could have a negative impact. This research emphasizes the importance of creating a supportive work environment to motivate interns, improve their performance, and prepare them for the transition from academia to the world of work. The researcher obtained 103 respondents from various students at the University of Greater Jakarta with 25.2% male and 74.8% female. The data of this study was processed using convenience sampling techniques, using Multidimensional Work Motivation Scale (MWMS) and Psychological Well-Being (PWB) questionnaires. The results of data analysis are known through the Kolmogorov Smirnov test obtained a number of 0.200 > 0.05 for both variables, it was concluded that the residual data was normally distributed.

Abstract C051: Impact of population pharmacogenomics on cisplatin-induced neurotoxicities

Abstract Background: Studies have shown that taxane-treated breast cancer patients with African (AFR) ancestry experience worse peripheral sensory neuropathy (PSN), while African American vincristine-treated leukemia patients have less PSN than Europeans (EUR). We hypothesized that ancestral disparities may exist for cisplatin-induced neurotoxicities and may relate to differences in allele frequency and resultant gene expression of SNPs associated with these toxicities. Methods: In our Platinum Study of 1680 genotyped testicular cancer survivors (TCS), multidimensional scaling scores were anchored by the 1000 Genomes population to classify geographic ancestry. PSN (EORTC-CIPN20) and other toxicities plus clinical and lifestyle variables were examined for associations between geographic ancestry and phenotypes using logistic regression and Wilcoxon rank sum test. Genotyped SNPs with Fst > 0.25 in 1000 Genomes were identified and evaluated with GTEx data to find expression or splicing quantitative trait loci in nerve/brain tissue or for cisplatin-associated candidate genes, across all tissues. LDmatrix was used to find linkage disequilibrium. If a block of SNPs had R2 > 0.75, one independent SNP was kept for association analysis. Logistic regression with age at questionnaire completion and 10 genetic principal components as covariates was used to calculate the association between genotype and toxicity. Results: In an analysis of patients who received 400-450 mg/m2 of cisplatin including EUR (n=681), Asian (ASN) axis (n=44) and AFR (n=13), the odds ratio (OR) for any neuropathy vs. none in the AFR vs. EUR was 7.8 (P=0.049) and in the AFR vs. ASN axis (including East Asian 1000 Genomes populations) was 10.0 (P=0.034). TCS with AFR ancestry had significantly more vertigo. There were 19,874 SNPs for analysis from the genome-wide approach and 118 SNPs from the candidate gene approach. While associations between genotype and toxicity did not reach Bonferroni threshold, some SNPs had p-values in the 10-5 range. For PSN, one SNP had increased frequency of a risk allele in the AFR population while the other had increased frequency of a protective allele, while for vertigo, four SNPs had increased frequency of risk alleles in the AFR population. Of interest was rs34904346, in which the TT vs. AA genotype had an OR of 1.9 (p=2x10-5) for any vs. no PSN, with the T allele having 90% frequency in AFR ancestry patients versus ∼60% in other populations. This SNP and three other independent SNPs associated with PSN incidence (p∼10-3) are eQTLs for RNF24 in nerve tissue, which interacts with membrane proteins that regulate intracellular calcium levels. Conclusions: We show preliminary evidence for the role of differing risk allele frequencies across populations in explaining disparities in cisplatin-induced PSN and vertigo, likely in combination with structural and environmental factors. Genotyping risk alleles could customize dosing, treatment, and post-treatment monitoring to benefit all cisplatin-treated patients. Citation Format: Swetha Nakshatri, Paul C. Dinh, Darren R. Feldman, Robert J. Hamilton, Chunkit Fung, David J. Vaughn, Christian Kollmannsberger, Robert Huddart, Lawrence H. Einhorn, Nancy J. Cox, Lois B. Travis, Eileen Dolan. Impact of population pharmacogenomics on cisplatin-induced neurotoxicities [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr C051.

A study on improving cancer-related fatigue and disease-related psychological variables in patients with cervical cancer based on online mindfulness-based stress reduction: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundThe persistent destructive power of cancer-related fatigue (CRF) has been regarded as the biggest influencing factor affecting the postoperative physical and mental health of patients with cervical cancer. During this process, patients might also experience different feelings of disease-related psychological. Therefore, this study aimed to adopt mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) to intervene in patients with cervical cancer, and conducted follow-up for 3 and 6 months to observe the effects of changes in CRF, uncertainty in illness, coping styles, sense of coherence (SOC), and perceived social support (PSS).MethodsA randomized controlled trial was conducted in ShengJing Hospital of China Medical University. A total of 102 patients were selected, and 78 patients completed the whole process, including 40 in the experimental group and 38 in the control group. Data were collected according to Cancer Fatigue Scale, Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and Sense of Coherence-13. The change trend and difference of the two groups of research data were compared by repeated measurement analysis of variance. Bonferroni test was used for multiple tests between groups.ResultsThe CRF, SOC, and coping styles of the MBSR group showed a decreasing trend (P < 0.001) at after MBSR, 3 months follow-up, and 6 months follow-up compared to the before MBSR. However, the uncertainty in illness of the MBSR group showed a decreasing trend (P < 0.001) at after MBSR compared to the before MBSR, and it rose in 3 months follow-up and 6 months follow-up.ConclusionMBSR can effectively alleviate the fatigue of CRF after treatment, while improving their psychological environment. Medical workers can consider implementing online MBSR for patients with cervical cancer in their daily rehabilitation nursing, which is beneficial for their recovery.Trial registrationChina Clinical Trial Registration Center ChiCTR2000040122 (https//www.chictr.org.cn/). Registered on November 21, 2020.

Association mapping analysis (AMA) for morpho-agronomic traits and leaf aromatic compounds using SSR markers in three types of Perilla crop collected from South Korea.

Perilla is a representative leafy vegetable in South Korea. As K-Food (Korean food) is in the spotlight around the world, there is also increasing interest in Western countries in Perilla crop, an annual plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family. To discover comprehensive information, including genetic and phylogenetic relationships among the 80 native Perilla accessions, using three types of data: simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker data, volatiles profile data, and morpho-agronomic data. This study conducted genotypic and phenotypic analyses on 80 Perilla accessions of three types (cultivated var. frutescens, weedy var. frutescens, weedy var. crispa) from South Korea. Five groups (G1-G5) of the 80 Perilla accessions of the three types were differentiated into two different clusters [genotype-based clustering (GTC) and phenotype-based clustering (PTC)] based on an aroma sensory phenotypic test. A total of 314 alleles were confirmed using 55 Perilla SSR primer sets, and genetic variation in the 80 Perilla accessions was evaluated. Among the three statistical analysis methods, principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and GTC using data of the 55 Perilla SSR markers revealed perfectly consistent results, whereas PTC produced a total of six clusters. The 10 Perilla SSR markers associated with and significantly correlated with both biochemical and morphological characteristics were selected. These findings are expected to provide valuable information for developing global South Korean Perilla cultivars for further studies in Perilla crop breeding programs.

An explanation for the sister repulsion phenomenon in Patterson's f-statistics.

Patterson's f-statistics are among the most heavily utilized tools for analyzing genome-wide allele frequency data for demographic inference. Beyond studying admixture, f3- and f4-statistics are also used for clustering populations to identify groups with similar histories. However, previous studies have noted an unexpected behavior of f-statistics: multiple populations from a certain region systematically show higher genetic affinity to a more distant population than to their neighbors, a pattern that is mismatched with alternative measures of genetic similarity. We call this counter-intuitive pattern "sister repulsion". We first present a novel instance of sister repulsion, where genomes from Bronze Age East Anatolian sites show higher affinity toward Bronze Age Greece rather than each other. This is observed both using f3- and f4-statistics, contrasts with archaeological/historical expectation, and also contradicts genetic affinity patterns captured using principal components analysis or multidimensional scaling on genetic distances. We then propose a simple demographic model to explain this pattern, where sister populations receive gene flow from a genetically distant source. We calculate f3- and f4-statistics using simulated genetic data with varying population genetic parameters, confirming that low-level gene flow from an external source into populations from 1 region can create sister repulsion in f-statistics. Unidirectional gene flow between the studied regions (without an external source) can likewise create repulsion. Meanwhile, similar to our empirical observations, multidimensional scaling analyses of genetic distances still cluster sister populations together. Overall, our results highlight the impact of low-level admixture events when inferring demographic history using f-statistics.

Assessing the nonlinear impact of green space exposure on psychological stress perception using machine learning and street view images.

Urban green space (GS) exposure is recognized as a nature-based strategy for addressing urban challenges. However, the stress relieving effects and mechanisms of GS exposure are yet to be fully explored. The development of machine learning and street view images offers a method for large-scale measurement and precise empirical analysis. This study focuses on the central area of Shanghai, examining the complex effects of GS exposure on psychological stress perception. By constructing a multidimensional psychological stress perception scale and integrating machine learning algorithms with extensive street view images data, we successfully developed a framework for measuring urban stress perception. Using the scores from the psychological stress perception scale provided by volunteers as labeled data, we predicted the psychological stress perception in Shanghai's central urban area through the Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm. Additionally, this study employed the interpretable machine learning model eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) algorithm to reveal the nonlinear relationship between GS exposure and residents' psychological stress. Results indicate that the GS exposure in central Shanghai is generally low, with significant spatial heterogeneity. GS exposure has a positive impact on reducing residents' psychological stress. However, this effect has a threshold; when GS exposure exceeds 0.35, its impact on stress perception gradually diminishes. We recommend combining the threshold of stress perception with GS exposure to identify urban spaces, thereby guiding precise strategies for enhancing GS. This research not only demonstrates the complex mitigating effect of GS exposure on psychological stress perception but also emphasizes the importance of considering the "dose-effect" of it in urban planning and construction. Based on open-source data, the framework and methods developed in this study have the potential to be applied in different urban environments, thus providing more comprehensive support for future urban planning.

Psychometric characteristics of the multidimensional scale of perceived social support in ostomy patients and their caregivers.

Despite the importance of social support in ostomy care, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) does not appear to be validated in the context of ostomy care. This study evaluated the psychometric characteristics of MSPSS in ostomy patients and their informal caregivers. The MSPSS was tested in a sample of 775 participants with confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency reliability was assessed with the ordinal Omega coefficient. Criterion-related validity was ascertained via hypothesis testing by correlating the scores of the MSPSS with other measures. MSPSS for patients and caregivers has a three-factor structure with a good fit. Internal consistency reliability of the factors was excellent. Concurrent validity was supported by the negative correlations between MSPSS scores with depression and stoma-related QoL, and the positive correlations with perceived mutuality. Our research indicates that the MSPSS is a sound measure of social support for ostomy patients and their caregivers.

Quantitative analysis of the morphological variation within the tiger beetle Calomera littoralis (Fabricius, 1787) (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) in Mongolia

For the past couple of centuries, much of tiger beetle taxonomic work has been focused on explaining intraspecific variation. In the Northern Hemisphere, over a thousand subspecies have been described and many have since been relegated to synonymy. Generally, the phenotypic-based subspecies circumscription has been purely descriptive. More quantitative and integrative analyses of the color and pattern variation in tiger beetles would be valuable. The geographically wide-ranging species, Calomera littoralis (Fabricius, 1987) contains 11 currently recognized subspecies, including two described from Mongolia that have been of questionable status due to the paucity of material available when they were described. Here, we assess the distribution of phenotypic variation within C. l. peipingensis (Mandl, 1934) and C. l. mongolensis (Mandl, 1981) to determine whether it best fits a pattern of two subspecies with a contact zone or a gradual cline, based on 494 specimens from 34 populations. Non-metric multidimensional scaling analyses and modeling of the fit between longitude and black dorsal phenotypes both indicate that the variation is best explained by a gradual cline of phenotype along an east-west gradient, not the presence of separate subspecies. As a result, we synonymize C. littoralis mongolensis, syn, nov. with C. littoralis peipingensis.

Шкала реагирования на неопределенность: инструмент оценки взаимодействия подростков с многомерным стрессом

&lt;p&gt;The adaptation of the Uncertainty Response Scale (URS) aimed at studying the ways in which adolescents interact with uncertainty stress situations is described. The scale contains 25 questions and includes three subscales: &amp;ldquo;Emotional uncertainty,&amp;rdquo; &amp;ldquo;Cognitive uncertainty,&amp;rdquo; and &amp;ldquo;Desire for change&amp;rdquo;. The questionnaire has good internal consistency (Cronbach&amp;rsquo;s alpha for scales 0.85-0.93; CFI=0.93; TLI=0.92; RMSEA=0.060 [0.057; 0.062]; SRMR=0.06) in a sample of adolescents from different regions of the Russian Federation (N=1718; age from 12 to 18 years; average age 14&amp;plusmn;1 years; 53.8% female). The URS validity is confirmed by the expected correlations with the scales of the &amp;ldquo;Multidimensional Students&amp;rsquo; Life Satisfaction Scale&amp;rdquo; and &amp;ldquo;Multidimensional School Engagement Scale&amp;rdquo;. The validity is also supported by the fact that the URS allows to differentiate respondents in different stressful situations: if a teenager finds himself in a maximally stressful situation, emotional reactions to uncertainty increase, while cognitive reactions to uncertainty are quite stable, and readiness for change decreases. The &amp;ldquo;Response to Uncertainty Scale&amp;rdquo; can be used to conduct large-scale longitudinal studies, studies of adolescents from different groups, including vulnerable groups, as well as individual studies to build subsequent practice of psychological assistance.&lt;/p&gt;

Age Modifies the Interactive Effect of Loneliness and Social Support on Financial Exploitation Vulnerability in Older Adults.

Social support and loneliness have been identified as important correlates of financial exploitation vulnerability (FEV) in older adults. However, the potential combined effect of these social factors on FEV remains unclear. Moreover, given that social support and loneliness may become more important as age increases, age may have a moderating effect on the loneliness-social support interaction. Participants were 342 community-living Israeli older adults aged 60 or over (M age = 73.37, SD = 7.82, 69.1% female) who responded to questionnaires assessing FEV (Financial Exploitation Vulnerability Scale), perceived social support (The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support), loneliness (UCLA Three-item Loneliness Scale), and sociodemographic characteristics. Two hierarchical linear regression models covarying for demographic variables examined study hypotheses. In a first model, a significant interaction between social support and loneliness was discovered such that high levels of perceived social support attenuated the positive loneliness-FEV association. In a second model, a significant three-way interaction between social support, loneliness, and age was discovered. Probing the interaction revealed that the attenuating effect of social support on the loneliness-FEV link increased with increasing age. Findings suggest that effects of social factors on FEV may interact with each other and with age to predict FEV, and provide insights into when social support may be most relevant in mitigating FEV.

Development and validation of the Upstream Social Interaction Risk Scale (U-SIRS-13): a scale to assess threats to social connectedness among older adults.

Social interactions are essential to social connectedness among older adults. While many scales have been developed to measure various aspects of social connectedness, most are narrow in scope, which may not be optimally encompassing, practical, or relevant for use with older adults across clinical and community settings. Efforts are needed to create more sensitive scales that can identify "upstream risk," which may facilitate timey referral and/or intervention. The purposes of this study were to: (1) develop and validate a brief scale to measure threats to social connectedness among older adults in the context of their social interactions; and (2) offer practical scoring and implementation recommendations for utilization in research and practice contexts. A sequential process was used to develop the initial instrument used in this study, which was then methodologically reduced to create a brief 13-item scale. Relevant, existing scales and measures were identified and compiled, which were then critically assessed by a combination of research and practice experts to optimize the pool of relevant items that assess threats to social connectedness while reducing potential redundancies. Then, a national sample of 4,082 older adults ages 60 years and older completed a web-based questionnaire containing the initial 36 items about social connection. Several data analysis methods were applied to assess the underlying dimensionality of the data and construct measures of different factors related to risk, including item response theory (IRT) modeling, clustering techniques, and structural equation modeling (SEM). IRT modeling reduced the initial 36 items to create the 13-item Upstream Social Interaction Risk Scale (U-SIRS-13) with strong model fit. The dimensionality assessment using different clustering algorithms supported a 2-factor solution to classify risk. The SEM predicting highest risk items fit exceptionally well (RMSEA = 0.048; CFI = 0.954). For the 13-item scale, theta scores generated from IRT were strongly correlated with the summed count of items binarily identifying risk (r = 0.896, p < 0.001), thus supporting the use of practical scoring techniques for research and practice (Cronbach's alpha = 0.80). The U-SIRS-13 is a multidimensional scale with strong face, content, and construct validity. Findings support its practical utility to identify threats to social connectedness among older adults posed by limited physical opportunities for social interactions and lacking emotional fulfillment from social interactions.

Effects of Microplastic on the Gastrointestinal Tract and Gut microbiome of Sprague Dawley Rats

ABSTRACT Nowadays there is evidence that animals are exposed to microplastics (MPs) via food, however there is not much known about their effect on tissue of gastrointestinal tract and on gut microbiome. In this study, adult male rats were fed with polyethylene MPs, mixed with standard pellet food for 24 days at different concentrations ranging from 0 to 1000 μg/day. At the end of experiment, rats were euthanized and histopathological investigation using light and electron microscopy and the gut microbiome was analyzed using MiSeq 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Microscopic analysis revealed significant impact of MPs on the intestine, including visible changes to the crypt area as well as reduction in mucus secretion. Autophagic vacuoles were observed in the livers of the rats fed with MPs at 100 µg/day. Oxidative stress was evident in rats fed with 1000 µg/day of MPs, as indicated by the presence of myeloid bodies in both intestinal and hepatic cells. The gut microbiome was also affected by MPs. Although, no distinct clusters were formed when the bacterial communities in the different treatments were ordinated by multidimensional scaling (NMDS), the diversity indices including operational taxonomic unit (OTU) richness and Chao1 exhibited an increasing trend with increasing MPs concentration. Pearson correlations revealed a linear increase in the relative sequence abundance of Clostridia (R=0.036, P=0.003) with increasing MPs concentration, but not in the case of other bacterial groups,. Lactobacillus faecis was the most abundant OTU in the entire dataset, and its relative abundance decreased significantly with increasing MPs concentration. We conclude that exposure to MPs can disrupt cellular function and disturb microbiome balance, and in the event of prolonged exposure, organisms might experience unpredictable effects.

Exploring the Influence of Perceived Social Support on Medication Adherence Among Patients With Chronic Hypertension in 2024: A Cross-Sectional Study From Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Background There is no doubt that hypertension is one of the most widespread global health problems, and it is essential to comply with prescribed medications for optimal control. A lack of studies on the effects of perceived social support (PSS) on medication adherence among hypertension patients, especially in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, made us conduct this study. Methods This was a cross-sectional study that targeted hypertension patients who were visiting primary healthcare centers under the Ministry of Health in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Morisky Green and Levine (MGL) adherence scale and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were used to assess adherence and perceived social support, respectively. Results The study included 377 hypertensive patients with a mean age of 57 years (SD = 10). The majority were male (n=226, 59.9%) and married (n=261, 69.2%). Educational levels varied, with 148 (39.3%) completing high school and 79 (21%) holding a bachelor's degree or higher. Income distribution showed 166 (44%) earning less than 5,000 SAR and 47 (12.5%) earning over 15,000 SAR. Medication adherence, assessed using the MGL scale, revealed that 121 (32.1%) had low adherence, 206 (54.6%) had moderate adherence, and 50 (13.3%) had high adherence. Perceived social support, measured using the MSPSS scale, indicated that 219 (58.1%) reported high levels of support. A significant association between medication adherence and perceived social support was found (F = 10.293, p < 0.01), with moderate adherers having higher social support scores. Socio-demographic factors influencing adherence included marital status, education level, income, and occupation, with significant associations for each (p < 0.01). Married participants and those with higher education and income levels had greater adherence. Government employees showed the highest moderate adherence while the unemployed and homemakers had lower adherence. No significant associations were found between gender or age and adherence. Conclusion Higher levels of perceived social support,in addition to the influence of socio-demographic factors, are associated with better medication adherence. Targeted interventions addressing these factors could enhance medication adherence and improve health outcomes in this population.

Beyond physical recovery: investigating athletic identity as a mediator between social support and psychological readiness for return to sport

ABSTRACT Objective Despite consensus on the positive relationships between social support, psychological readiness for returning to sport, and athletic identity, debate persists regarding the specific impact of these factors on athletes’ athletic identity and psychological readiness. This study investigated athletic identity as a mediator between social support and psychological readiness for returning to sport. Method The research involved two phases. In Phase 1, four bilingual translators translated the Athletic Identity Scale and the Injury-Psychological Readiness to Return to Sport scale into Chinese using the forward-backward translation. A pilot study assessed the scales’ face validity with 30 athletes who had experienced injuries. In Phase 2, 234 injured athletes (age: M = 19.28, SD = 1.98) completed the translated measurements from Phase I and the existing Chinese version of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Results Findings showed a positive correlation between social support and both athletic identity and psychological readiness. However, athletic identity did not mediate the relationship between social support and psychological readiness. Conclusions We recommend using various measurement tools to capture psychological readiness, particularly in the later return-to-sport stages and suggest that coaches and teammates hold welcome ceremonies to enhance psychological readiness and athletic identity through social support.

Measuring the Social Impact of Social Enterprises–Scale Development and Validation

Social impact measurement has remained a challenge for both social enterprises (SEs) and scholars in the SE field. Despite increased scholarly attention given to SE social impact and its measurement in recent years, scholars continue to call for more research to advance the approaches for measuring social impact in SEs. This study aims to provide a reliable and valid social impact scale for SEs, which can be used as an alternative or a complementary scale to existing quantitative social impact tools. Through a systematic scale development process, it develops a 31-item multidimensional social impact scale based on the triple bottom line sustainability framework and using perception-based or constituency-based feedback. Data analysis confirms the reliability and validity of the scale across two studies involving different SE samples and country contexts. The study also discusses implications for theory and practice and recommendations for future research.

Prevalence of probable post-traumatic stress disorder among survivors of the 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most prevalent conditions following a devastating earthquake or disaster. Aim: To explore the prevalence of probable PTSD and its risk factors among earthquake survivors in Türkiye. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined 1100 survivors, aged ≥ 18 years, in 11 provinces of Türkiye affected by the 2 June 2023 earthquakes. We collected the data 5 months after the earthquakes and measured PTSD using the PTSD checklist for the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders fifth edition (DSM-5), the Connor-Davidson resilience scale, and multidimensional scale of perceived social support. We analysed the data using SPSS version 28. Results: The earthquake survivors were aged 18–89 years, mean age 35.59 years, and more than half of them were female (58.8%). Prevalence of probable PTSD was 55.2%. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that prevalence of probable PTSD was predicted by female gender, current smoking, sleep disturbance, chronic disease, being trapped under the rubble, loss of a first-degree relative, post-earthquake sheltering in a tent or container or someone else’s house, high postearthquake anxiety, and low socioeconomic status. Survivors with high psychological resilience had lower probable PTSD prevalence. Conclusion: Prevalence of PTSD was high among our participants and psychological resilience seemed to be a mitigating factor for PTSD. There is therefore a need to focus on improving psychological resilience among earthquake survivors to prevent or minimise PTSD.

The problems of university messages in communication with applicants

The types of university communications and the interest of applicants in them are investigated. It is based on the analysis of the Internet survey conducted by the author in the summer of 2023 for applicants to Nizhny Novgorod universities. The interdependence between the style of message texts and their attractiveness to applicants is considered; a hierarchy, according to the target audience, of the university's message signs is proposed. The author has designed the process of receiving a message from an applicant from a university and explain the specifics of these communication processes due to the influence of increased competitiveness of universities for the attention of applicants and the intergenerational gap between university staff and future students, which provides a basis for studying the values of representatives of generation Z. Characteristics of representatives of the younger generation are given, the understanding of «clip thinking» and its influence will be revealed for the receipt and processing of information from the university in the Internet space. Depending on the types of messages that are of interest to future students, the author proposes a typologization of applicants. The multidimensional scaling method used by the author will allow us to identify 4 types of applicants who pay attention to different types of messages from the university, which leads them to different degrees of readiness for admission and the choice of their future profession.

PSIX-10 Effects of Bacillus subtilis ATCC PTA-122264 on macronutrient digestibility and fecal characteristics, metabolites, and microbiota of healthy adult dogs subjected to an abrupt diet change

Abstract Probiotic use in dogs is increasing, with spore-forming Bacillus species gaining interest due to their viability during processing, storage, and in the gastrointestinal tract. B. subtilis is known for its adaptable metabolism that may be useful in pets subjected to abrupt dietary changes. The objective of this study was to determine dietary apparent total tract macronutrient digestibility (ATTD) and fecal characteristics, metabolites, and microbiota of healthy adult dogs supplemented with B. subtilis ATCC PTA-122264. All procedures were approved by the University of Illinois IACUC prior to experimentation. Dogs [n = 12; 6 ± 1 yr; 8.71 ± 0.91 kg body weight (BW)] were used in a replicated 3x3 Latin square design (n = 12/group) and fed to maintain BW. In each 42-d experimental period, dogs were allotted to one of three treatments: Control (kibble diet only), Low [kibble diet + 1×109 colony-forming units (CFU) of B. subtilis], and High (kibble diet + 5×109 CFU of B. subtilis). After a 22-d adaptation phase, a 5-d fecal collection phase was followed by a blood collection phase. On d 28, dogs were abruptly changed to a canned diet and fed for 14 d, with fecal samples collected on d 30 (2 d post change), 34 (6 d post change), 38 (10 d post change), and 42 (14 d post change). Fecal microbiota data were evaluated using QIIME2. All other data were analyzed using the Mixed Models procedure of SAS, with P &amp;lt; 0.05 being considered significant. B. subtilis supplementation of the kibble diet did not influence food or energy intake, fecal output, ATTD, most serum metabolites, hematology, fecal characteristics, fecal bacterial alpha and beta diversity indices, and dysbiosis index, demonstrating the safety of the strain in dogs. However, fecal Streptococcus and Blautia abundances were higher in High dogs than Low or Control dogs, while E. coli abundance was less in Low dogs than High and Control dogs. The abrupt change to a canned diet led to significant alterations in fecal characteristics, dysbiosis index, and bacterial abundances, which were not influenced by B. subtilis supplementation. Bacterial alpha diversity measures were affected, with observed ASV (amplicon sequence variants) and the Fisher Index reducing, and the Shannon Index increasing by dietary change. The abrupt dietary change caused a distinct shift in microbial communities, as evidenced by principal coordinates analysis plots. The relative abundances of various fecal bacterial taxa, including Bifidobacterium, Faecalibaculum, Turicibacter, and Lactobacillus were decreased, while Collinsella, Ruminococcus gnavus group, and Escherichia-Shigella were increased with the dietary change. Our data support the notion that daily supplementation of 1 – 5×109 CFU of B. subtilis ATCC PTA-122264 in healthy dogs is safe and does not affect markers of general health and fecal characteristics, warranting further exploration.

Affective states and a firm’s performance: the mediating role of dynamic managerial capabilities

PurposeExtant research supports the importance of dynamic managerial capabilities in capturing managers’ individual roles in organisations’ adjustments to change. This paper develops a multidimensional scale for measuring dynamic managerial capabilities consisting of sensing, seizing and reconfiguration capacities that mediate between managers’ affective states and their firms’ performance.Design/methodology/approachThe scale is validated in a survey-based study among 204 managers in companies in the United States of America (USA). We applied a multiple regression model (a triple mediation) using each of DMCs’ three dimensions to test the effects of managers’ affective states on their firms’ performance.FindingsThe multidimensional construct of DMCs adds about 15 % of variance explained to a firm’s performance, as perceived by its managers. So managers’ affective states do have an impact on DMCs and, later, on their firms’ performance.Research limitations/implicationsWe show the impact of negative and positive affect on DMCs. We also show that DMCs’ three dimensions should be treated in a formative manner that advances discussion on DMCs and their role in a firm’s performance.Practical implicationsUnderstanding managers’ affective states helps incorporate “hot cognition” into firms’ strategising processes. Although both positive and negative emotions can be helpful, depending on the situation, positive affect is generally more valuable than negative affect as it relates to a firm’s performance.Originality/valueOur work proposes measuring DMCs based on Teece’s (2007) disaggregation of DMCs into sensing, seizing and reconfiguration capacities. We approach each of these dimensions separately and show that managers’ affective states influence each dimension differently.