Parsimonious Fit Research Articles

Validation of the persian version of the COVID-19 prevention, recognition and home-management self-efficacy scale.

Adopting preventive behaviors and following the guidelines for controlling the COVID-19 epidemic depend on people's self-efficacy in carrying out these behaviors and instructions. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the COVID-19 Self-Efficacy Scale (COVID-19 SES, Hernández-Padilla et al., 2020). This cross-sectional study was performed in a group of 400 people who were residents of the city of Asadabad in western Iran from December 2020 to January 2021. The participants were selected using a convenience sampling method. Face and content validity was assessed qualitatively based on feedback from the participants and experts, and the necessary changes were applied to the final version of the questionnaire. For construct validity, exploratory factor analysis (n=200) and confirmatory factor analysis (n=200) were performed. Internal consistency was expressed as Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Relative stability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and absolute stability was calculated through examination of standard error of measurement (SEM). In exploratory factor analysis, three factors of prevention, symptom recognition, and homemanagement of COVID-19 were extracted that together explained 71.35% of the total variance. The internal consistency of the whole instrument was 0.955 and its three dimensions were 0.894, 0.916 and 0.955, respectively. In addition, an ICC of 0.986 (95% CI: 0.975-0.993, p=0.001) was found. In the confirmatory factor analysis, comparative and parsimonious fit indices were excellent, and absolute fit indices were moderate. The Persian version of the COVID-19 SES has good validity and reliability and can be used to measure self-efficacy in prevention, symptoms recognition, and home-management of COVID-19.

Practical Challenges and Opportunities for Marine Plastic Litter Reduction in Manila: A Structural Equation Modeling

Land-based plastic pollution has increased to the level of an epidemic due to improper plastic waste management, attributed to plastic waste flux into the marine environment. The extant marine plastic litter (MPL) literature focuses primarily on the monitoring and assessment of the problem, but it fails to acknowledge the link between the challenges and opportunities for MPL reduction. The study aimed to examine the practical challenges and opportunities influencing the reduction of marine plastic litter in Manila in the Philippines. Data collected through an online survey from 426 barangays were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and were then validated using interviews and focused group discussions. Good internal consistency (0.917) and convergent and discriminant validity were achieved. The empirical study has established structural model fit measures of RMSEA (0.021), SRMR (0.015), CFI (0.999), and TLI (0.994), with a good parsimonious fit of the chi-square/degrees of freedom ratio of 1.190. The findings revealed that environmental governance regarding waste management policies and guidelines, COVID-19 regulations for waste management, community participation, and socio-economic activities have positively affected marine plastic litter leakage and solution measures. Environmental governance significantly and partially mediates the effects of, e.g., COVID-19-related waste and socio-economic activities on MPL leakage. However, there is no relationship between the waste management infrastructure and environmental governance. The findings shed light on how to enhance environmental governance to reduce marine plastic litter and address Manila’s practical challenges.

Work Volition Scale for Chinese Working Adults: A Cross-Cultural Validation Study

The present study aims to validate the Chinese version of the Work Volition Scales (WVS), an instrument that assesses three components of work volition: volition, financial constraint, and construct constraint. In Study 1 ( N = 498), the WVS was translated into Chinese, and an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted resulting in that three factors were consistent with the original scale. In Study 2 ( N = 442), the confirmatory factor analysis showed that the bifactor model provided the most parsimonious fit to the data. The measurement invariance test then revealed that the WVS is equivalent across gender, age, education level, and job tenure. In addition, convergent and concurrent validity supported the finding that the WVS and three subscales are linked with related variables. The results support significant incremental validity in predicting career satisfaction, meaningful work, and life well-being. The findings suggest that the WVS is a valuable instrument for researchers and career counselors who seek to explore work volition among Chinese working adults.

Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire in Patients with Epilepsy.

Background: Adult eating behavior questionnaire (AEBQ) is an age upward extension tool that measures appetite traits in individuals. This instrument was developed by Hunot in 2016. The present study aimed to determine the psychometric properties of the Persian version of AEBQ in adults with epilepsy.Methods: The current research is a cross-sectional study conducted in 2019 in Iran. 700 adults with epilepsy completed the 35-item AEBQ. Qualitative face validity, qualitative content and structure validity (exploratory factor analysis [EFA], N=400, and confirmatory factor analysis [CFA], N=300) appetitive traits were evaluated. Reliability was also measured using Cronbach’s alpha, Construct reliability (CR), and Intra-Class Correlation (ICC). The SPSS 26-AMOS24 software was employed to analyze the data with a significance level of 0.05.Results: The EFA and CFA results comprised eight factors, namely enjoyment of food, emotional over-eating, food responsiveness, hunger, satiety responsiveness, emotional under-eating, food fussiness, and eating slowly. Indices of root mean square error of approximation=0.068, parsimonious normed fit index=0.644, parsimonious comparative fit index=0.671, adjusted goodness of fit index=0.618, goodness of fit index=0.911, and Chi square degree-of-freedom ratio (normalized Chi square CMIN/DF=2.842) confirmed the fitness of the final model. Convergent and divergent validity was acceptable for all the factors. The results revealed that the internal stability>0.8 and CR>0.7 of the eight extracted AEBQ structures are confirmed. The ICC was 0.899 (95% CI: 0.878-0.917; P<0.001). The results also showed that AEBQ has acceptable convergent and divergent validity.Conclusion: The eight-factor structure of AEBQ can measure eating behavior traits and is of good validity and reliability for assessing the eating behavior of Iranian adults with epilepsy.

Factor Structure of the Memory for Intentions Test (MIsT): A Conceptual Replication in Older Adults and People with HIV Disease

ABSTRACT Objective The Memory for Intentions Test (MIsT) is a clinical measure of prospective memory that has strong evidence for convergent, discriminative, and ecological validity. This study uses a conceptual replication design to evaluate the latent structure of the MIsT in two parallel samples who commonly experience prospective memory deficits: older adults and people living with HIV disease. Participants and Methods Study participants included 303 people with HIV disease (ages 18–67) and 267 community-dwelling older adults (ages 50–91). Confirmatory factor analyses of the MIsT were conducted separately in each sample. We evaluated a one-factor model, as well as three two-factor models with the MIsT items loading onto each factor based on cue type, delay interval, or response modality. Results The one-factor model provided the best (and most parsimonious) fit to the data in both study samples. All two-factor models also demonstrated good fit statistics, although correlations between the two factors in each model were high and none of the two-factor models provided a significantly better fit than the one-factor model. Conclusions Results of this conceptual replication study provide support for a robust factor structure of the MIsT across older adults and people with HIV disease. A total score for the MIsT provides the most parsimonious solution, although available evidence and theory also support the potential use of subscales (e.g., cue type). Future studies of the MIsT would be useful to determine its psychometrics in different clinical populations and across demographic factors (e.g., race/ethnicity).

Development and Validation of Instrument Measuring Perception of Healthcare Provider on Cost Containment and Related Practices in Hospital Setting

Introduction: Healthcare system is struggling to overcome challenges in cost-containment and to maintain expenditure levels conceivable for an efficient operation. A new instrument measuring cost containment practices in healthcare are essential to provide genuine information to prevent unnecessary expenses and excessive spending. Objective of the Study: To develop and validate the instruments for measuring staff perception on Cost Containment Practices (CCP) and related factors in the hospital setting in the North Region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methodology: The study instruments consist of 11 items measuring cost containment practice (CCP), 11 items measuring healthcare quality (HQ) and 8 items measuring staff attitude (SA) were newly constructed. Otherwise, the 17 items measuring health information technology (HIT) and another 17 items for measuring organization empowerment (OE) were adapted and modified from previous studies. All items were measured using the ten-point interval scale. The instrument was developed in stages: reviewing the literature and development of the item, experts’ verification for content validity, and face validity. Later, this study employed a cross-sectional design in two phases. In the pilot study stage, 170 respondents were sampled using a stratified random sampling method. The selected respondents were given an online self-administered questionnaire for data collection. Then, the researchers conducted exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to assess the usefulness of every item for measuring their respective construct. In the actual field study, another 247 respondents were sampled from two other hospitals to provide data for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to assess the instruments’ construct validity, convergent validity, and discriminant validity as well as its composite reliability. Results: The EFA results showed the extraction method of Principal Component with Varimax Rotation was significant. The Bartletts’ Test of Sphericity and the sampling adequacy by KMO test confirmed sufficiency of samples. None of the items were removed as all the items in all five constructs showed factor loading of more than 0.6. The reliability of all constructs was achieved by Cronbach’s Alpha above 0.8; CCP=0.805, HIT=0.890, OE=0.890, HQ=0.834 and SA=0.910. Furthermore, the CFA results for each construct fulfilled the construct validity through acceptable factor loadings (more than 0.6) and fitness indexes values achieved the threshold for all constructs and respective items. The fitness indexes were namely RMSEA, the Incremental Fit category; the CFI, the Parsimonious Fit category, and the ratio of Chisq/df. The study also revealed all Average Variance Extracted (AVE) and Composite Reliability (CR) results exceeded their threshold values of 0.5 and 0.6 respectively, which fulfilled the model Convergent Validity and Composite Reliability. In addition, the Discriminant Validity assessment ensured that no redundant constructs occur in the model and no multi-collinearity problem. Conclusion: The study produces a valid and reliable instrument for better assessment and understanding of practices on healthcare cost based on staff perception. It potentially reflects and explains the reasons behind the success or failure of cost containment initiatives. The present findings indicate applicability of the proposed instrument to measure cost containment practices in hospitals.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FLEXIBLE WORKING ARRANGEMENT AND JOB SATISFACTION MEDIATED BY WORK-LIFE BALANCE IN PT. TIARA IMPRESA GUGUS ARTHA

This study aims to determine the relationship between Flexible Working Arrangement (X1) and Job Satisfaction (Y) mediated by Work-life Balance (Z) at PT Tiara Impresa Gugus Artha. This research was conducted for six months starting from December 2020 to June 2021. The research method used was a survey method. The affordable population in this study amounted to 110 employees. Based on Isaac and Michael's table, the number of samples in this study was 86 respondents. The sampling technique used is simple random sampling technique. The data analysis techniques used are: (1) analysis requirements test which consists of validity and reliability tests. The test results state that the three variables are valid with reliable values for the job satisfaction variable, namely 0.867, the flexible working arrangement variable, 0.706 and the work-life balance variable 0.840; (2) Model suitability test consisting of absolute fit indices, incremental fit indices and parsimony fit indices. The test results stated that the three variables were fit; (4) The hypothesis test in this study used SEM AMOS 21. In this study, the detection test of the intervening variable was carried out using the Sobel test. The results show that work-life balance mediates the relationship between flexible working arrangements and job satisfaction.

Impact of social engagement on the development of sarcopenia among community-dwelling older adults: A Kashiwa cohort study.

How older adults develop sarcopenia in the community setting is unclear. Focusing on social engagement, we aimed to validate our hypothesized model of sarcopenia development with various contributing factors, such as physical activity, oral function, psychological status and nutritional status. We also clarified direct and indirect effects of social engagement, physical activity, nutritional status, oral function and psychological status on new-onset sarcopenia. We analyzed 1483 participants' (72.6 ± 5.4 years) longitudinal data from the Kashiwa study. Sarcopenia was assessed in all the surveys in the Kashiwa study. Measures regarding social engagement, physical activity, oral function, psychological status and nutritional status were assessed at baseline. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the efficiency of the hypothesized model, and calculate direct and indirect effects of factors affecting new-onset sarcopenia. Over the follow-up period (median 6 years [interquartile range 4-6 years]), 12% of individuals developed new-onset sarcopenia. Our structural hypothesis model starting from social engagement to new-onset sarcopenia was suitable (root mean square error of approximation=0.031, goodness-of-fit index=0.967, adjusted goodness-of-fit index=0.954, comparative fix index=0.911, parsimonious comparative fit index=0.755; all paths were significant), showing direct effects of social engagement on psychological status, physical activity and oral function, and indirect effects on nutritional status through oral function and psychological status. The present results showed that social engagement could potentially decrease new-onset sarcopenia risks by influencing multidimensional factors, such as physical activity, oral function, and psychological and nutritional status. To prevent sarcopenia, it might be essential to promote social engagement through populational approaches. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 384-391.

Algal/bacterial uptake kinetics of dissolved organic nitrogen in municipal wastewater treatment facilities effluents

The simulation and analysis of the degradation process of organic nitrogen contaminants in wastewater treatment facility effluent is important to the estimation of its actual contribution to eutrophication, and it is crucial to the developing of watershed protection plan. In this study, algal and algal/bacterial based bioassay was conducted to study the bioavailability of dissolved organic nitrogen contaminants in wastewater treatment plants effluents, and 4 kinetic models were used to describe the mineralization process. The traditional 1-pool model that was commonly used in water quality models showed poor correlation (r2 = 0.613 ± 0.261), while the other three models performed much better (r2 > 0.950). The model coefficient and simplicity were studied using Akaike information criterion and Bayesian information criterion, and Gamma model was indicated to be the best model since it presented the most parsimonious fit to the data with the fewest terms. This study exhibited that the bioavailability and degradation rate of organic nitrogen in wastewater effluent varied greatly, and this variation should be considered in water quality models. Besides, Gamma model could be used to modify the current Total Maximum Daily Load models to provide a scientific basis for making watershed protection plans and controlling eutrophication.

Self-care model and body image in adults after a bariatric surgery.

the aim of the present article was to test a self-care model explained by the relationship between self-efficacy, body image, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression in people with bariatric surgery in the city of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. this was a correlational cross-sectional study carried out between August and December 2020. Validated instruments were administered to 102 participants to measure their self-care capacity, general self-efficacy, psychopathological symptoms, and body image perception and satisfaction. The variables of interest were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients were used to develop a model using path analysis. a significant model was obtained with adequate goodness-of-fit indicators (chi-square χ2 (8) = 11.451, p = .177; root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA)= 0.000; goodness-of-fit index (GFI)= 0.965; comparative fit index (CFI)= 0.985; parsimonious normed fit index (PNFI)= 0.509, and Akaike information criterion (AIC)= 37.451). Self-efficacy (Zβ=0.294) and body image dissatisfaction (So= -0.376) were shown to influence self-care abilities while psychopathological symptoms influenced body dissatisfaction: obsessive-compulsive disorder (Zβ=0.370) and depression (Zβ=0.320). adequate levels of self-efficacy and body satisfaction predict a high capacity for self-care.

Modelo de autocuidado e imagem corporal em adultos pós cirurgia bariátrica

Objective: the aim of the present article was to test a self-care model explained by the relationship between self-efficacy, body image, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression in people with bariatric surgery in the city of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. Method: this was a correlational cross-sectional study carried out between August and December 2020. Validated instruments were administered to 102 participants to measure their self-care capacity, general self-efficacy, psychopathological symptoms, and body image perception and satisfaction. The variables of interest were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients were used to develop a model using path analysis. Result: a significant model was obtained with adequate goodness-of-fit indicators (chi-square χ2 (8) = 11.451, p = .177; root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA)= 0.000; goodness-of-fit index (GFI)= 0.965; comparative fit index (CFI)= 0.985; parsimonious normed fit index (PNFI)= 0.509, and Akaike information criterion (AIC)= 37.451). Self-efficacy (Zβ=0.294) and body image dissatisfaction (So= -0.376) were shown to influence self-care abilities while psychopathological symptoms influenced body dissatisfaction: obsessive-compulsive disorder (Zβ=0.370) and depression (Zβ=0.320). Conclusion: adequate levels of self-efficacy and body satisfaction predict a high capacity for self-care.

Influential Factors for Sustainable Intention to Visit a National Park during COVID-19: The Extended Theory of Planned Behavior with Perception of Risk and Coping Behavior.

Despite the danger of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, visits to natural tourism destinations such as national parks are continuing, though people are using less congested trails or minimizing personal contact. Given the danger from COVID-19, the purpose of our study was to use an expanded theory of planned behavior to analyze whether tourists intend to continue to visit national parks. Another purpose for our study was to compare an extant research model based on the theory of planned behavior with the extended model we developed. Frequency analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling, and other statistical techniques, such as correlation analysis, parsimonious fit index, and squared multiple correlations were employed according to the appropriate objectives. Additionally, the number of 351 participants joined the survey. Our study found that perception of risk of COVID-19 negatively affected attitude and perceived behavioral control in both models. Moreover, the perceived behavioral control had a positive effect on coping behavior. Given the analytical results, our study presents not only theoretical implications for understanding the behavior of those who visit national parks, but also practical implications for operation and management of national parks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mediating effect of organizational learning on the relationship between lean manufacturing practices and operational performance

Manufacturing organizations apply best practices to keep operational expenses at a minimum level without compromising the quality in order to be competitive. Lean manufacturing is such practice adopted by apparel manufacturing firms in Sri Lanka and achieving the expected operational performance has become a challenge due to institutional specific factors. Further, the existing literature is inconclusive and ambiguous on operational performance that resulted from lean practices and paucity of studies explain how lean practices bring performance. Thus, this study argues that lean practices will create operational performance through organizational learning. Accordingly, this study examines the mediating effect of organizational learning on the relationship of lean manufacturing practices to operational performance. A survey is conducted to collect cross sectional data using a self-administered questionnaire. Sample consisted of 386 of managers in the apparel sector in Sri Lanka using simple random sampling technique. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results of this study claim a partial mediation of organizational learning on to the impact of lean practices on operational performance. The highest influence for operational performance is through organizational learning (β=0.513) while the direct impact is slightly less ((β=0.200). Study also has tested the criteria of goodness of fitness with absolute, parsimony and incremental fit indices. This study contributes to the existing literature by explaining how lean as a best practice result on operational performance via organizational learning. Thus, practicing managers need to utilize lean practices as a learning mechanism for growth than being taking it as a mere practice. Finally, this study adds value to the Institutional theory by giving a better explanation on when external pressures transform into a practice, how that practice convert into a performance outcome through learning for growth.&#x0D; Keywords: Lean manufacturing practices (LM), Organizational learning (OL), Operational performances (OP)

Validation of Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer scale in a Moroccan sample of breast cancer women

BackgroundThe Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale (Mini-MAC) instrument is commonly used worldwide by professionals of oncology, but the scale has not, up to date, been validated in Arabic and Moroccan context, and there is an absence of data in the Moroccan population. This study aims to validate the Mini-MAC, translated and adapted to the Arabic language and Moroccan culture, in women with breast cancer.MethodsData were analyzed in two successive phases. First, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to assess the factor structure in the pilot sample (N = 158). Then, this structure was confirmed in the validation sample (N = 203) using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).ResultsConfirmatory factor analysis confirmed Watson’s original structure underlying the Mini-MAC items: Helpless/Hopeless, Anxious Preoccupation, Fighting Spirit, Cognitive Avoidance, and Fatalism. Absolute, incremental, and parsimonious fit indices showed a highly significant level of acceptance confirming a good performance of the measurement model. The instrument showed sufficient reliability and convergent validity demonstrated by acceptable values of composite reliability (CR =0.93–0.97), and average variance extracted (AVE = 0.66–0.93), respectively. The square roots of AVE were higher than factor-factor pairs correlations, and the Heterotrait-Monotrait ratio of correlations values were lesser than 0.85, indicating acceptable discriminant validity.Conclusionsreliability; and both convergent and discriminant validity tests indicated that the Arabic version of the Mini-MAC had a good performance and may serve as a valid tool measuring psychological responses to cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Factor Analysis of Iranian Version of Nursing Students' Incivility Questionnaire.

Background:Uncivil student behavior is one of the challenging issues in the nursing schools that disrupts the learning process and teacher-student interactions. Planning to control student's incivility requires knowing the condition using valid tools. The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the incivility occurrence's questionnaire among Iranian students.Materials and Methods:This methodological study was conducted on 358 nursing students and 122 nursing faculty members. The samples were selected from the nursing students of second to fourth year from September to October 2019. McDonald's omega, Cronbach's alpha coefficients and composite reliability were calculated. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were used to investigate the construct validity of tool.Results:Content validity index was 0.94 for the whole instrument. In factor analysis, three factors of irresponsible, violent, and unsound behaviors were identified. These factors explained more than 50.52% of the variance. Model fit indices Parsimonious Normed Fit Index) = 0.74, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.05, Parsimonious Comparative Fit Index = 0.78, Goodness-of-Fit Index = 0.92, Comparative Fit Index ( CFI) = 0.92, Adjusted Goodness-of-Fit Index) = 0.89, CIMN=2.58) indicated the proportion of factors. Internal consistency was 0.77 to 0.89.Conclusions:This questionnaire is a three-dimensional tool with appropriate validity and reliability that can be used to evaluate occurrence rate of nursing student incivility in Iran.

Age and Growth of Yellowfin Tuna in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and Western Atlantic

AbstractAge, growth, and mortality were estimated for Yellowfin Tuna Thunnus albacares from the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and western Atlantic Ocean. During 2004–2017, 3,443 Yellowfin Tuna were sampled, primarily from recreational landings off the coast of Louisiana (90%). Based on reading otoliths, ages ranged from 1 to 18 years, with younger fish (&lt;4 years) representing the majority (78%) of the age‐classes. Otolith weight was allometrically related to fish age (r2 = 0.91), which suggests that it may be a useful tool in indirectly estimating age given the challenges associated with directly aging tropical tunas. Based on Akaike’s information criterion (AIC), the Richards growth model had the most parsimonious fit to the length‐at‐age data (average maximum length L∞ = 1,658 mm, growth coefficient k = 0.23 year−1, a = 1.04, b = 0.45) compared to the von Bertalanffy growth model (L∞ = 1,589 mm, k = 0.36 year−1, theoretical age at zero length t0 = −0.8 year; AIC difference = 26.21), which had a relatively poor fit. The size‐modified Richards model, which assumed a truncated error structure at the minimum size limit (686 mm curved fork length [CFL]) in fishery‐dependent collections, improved the fit in the smallest individuals and was therefore the preferred model. Males and females had similar maximum ages (18 and 17 years, respectively) but showed significant differences in growth, with males reaching a larger L∞ than females (size‐modified Richards: 1,706 versus 1,568 mm CFL, respectively). Baseline natural mortality (M) using a maximum age of 18 years was 0.346 and was then scaled across age‐classes. These growth and mortality estimates and the individual age data have been used in improving stock assessments for Yellowfin Tuna to support scientific management.

THE ANALYSIS OF FACTORS AFFECTING THE AUTHORITY OF UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS: A CASE OF IRAN, THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF

The method employed in this study was a descriptive correlation in which two validated researcher-made questionnaires were used to collect data. The population involved 1770 university professors in the academic year 2019-2020. From the population, 240 were randomly selected. The data was analyzed using SPSS 21 and Amos 21. Pearson correlation was used to decide the relationship between variables, one-way ANOVA to compare means, Cronbach alpha to determine reliability, and factor analysis was to check the research model and substantiate construct validity. As a result, professor authority was found to have a significant negative correlation with relative deprivation. In addition, the academic status, age, and marital status of professors turned out to exert significant positive effects on their authorities. Furthermore, the chi-square minimum discrepancy value (CMIN) was equal to 523.414, the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) was 0.049, the root mean square of the residuals (RMR) was equal to 0.090, the minimum discrepancy per degree of freedom (CMIN/DF) in the model was 1.562, the comparative fit index (CFI) was 0.925, and finally, the parsimonious comparative fit index (PCFI) equaled 0.820. Thus, the comparative and parsimonious indices calculated to evaluate the solidarity of the constructs demonstrated that the collected data can be considered as supporting the research validity.&#x0D; JEL Classification Codes: I21, I23, I31, I32.

An Improved Stress-Scale Specifically Designed to Measure Stress of Women with Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer.

Most breast cancer patients are middle-aged women actively involved in establishing a family, developing a career, or raising children. With the exception of the Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Stress Scale (NDBCSS), few stress scales have been designed for women with breast cancer. This study checked the dimensionality of the NDBCSS by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and the results showed a poor fit, indicating an urgent need for improvement. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using the varimax rotation method was performed to improve the model, the revised NDBCSS (NDBCSS-R), which showed a good Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin value, Bartlett’s test of sphericity, and internal consistency reliability. The NDBCSS-R showed improved indices compared with NDBCSS, including: chi-square fit statistics/degree of freedom (CMIN/DF), goodness-of-fit index (GFI), adjusted goodness of fit index (AGFI), normed fix index (NFI), relative fit index (RFI), incremental fix index (IFI), Tucker–Lewis index (TLI), comparative fix index (CFI), root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), root mean square residual (RMR), parsimonious goodness-fit-index (PGFI), and parsimonious normed fit index (PNFI). In conclusion, the improved NDBCSS-R can provide health professionals with an early understanding of the stress levels of women with breast cancer so that they can provide immediate medical intervention to prevent vicious cycles in a timely manner.

Sales and Markup Dispersion: Theory and Empirics

We characterize the relationship between the distributions of two variables linked by a structural model. We then show that, in models of heterogeneous firms in monopolistic competition, this relationship implies a new demand function that we call “CREMR” (Constant Revenue Elasticity of Marginal Revenue). This demand function is the only one that is consistent with productivity and sales distributions having the same form (whether Pareto, lognormal, or Fréchet) in the cross section, and it is necessary and sufficient for Gibrat's Law to hold over time. Among the applications we consider, we use our methodology to characterize misallocation across firms; we derive the distribution of markups implied by any assumptions on demand and productivity; and we show empirically that CREMR‐based markup distributions provide an excellent parsimonious fit to Indian firm‐level data, which in turn allows us to calculate the proportion of firms that are of suboptimal size in the market equilibrium.

Intention to Implement 5S Management Among Students in Higher Education Institutions

The aim of this research paper is to analyze intention for implementing 5S management among students in higher education institutions. The quality management method using 5S approach is function to standardized process to properly implemented creates and maintains an organized, safe, clean and efficient workplace. In this study. The 5S method was implemented to create conducive and efficient place for student activities related to academic. This study implemented quantitative method using survey development with application Technology Acceptance Model, in analyzing student intention of implementing quality management for study workspace and living space. The sampling procedure using stratified random sampling method for students that have intention and experience in implementing quality management in their daily life. The number of respondents is 120 students that studying in higher education institutions. This study developed confirmatory factor analysis for measurement model. The absolute fit index, incremental fit index and parsimonious fit index is meet the requirement level to prove measurement model is robust, reliable and represented the actual data. The structural model in this study analyzed using maximum likelihood estimator. This study indicates all of the exogenous variable have significant and positive effect to the endogenous latent construct. The Perceived Usefulness (PU) has positive and significant direct effect on the Intention (I) to implement 5S quality management. The beta value is positive 0.507 with probability value is less than 0.001. Next, the Perceived Ease of Use (PE) has positive and significant direct effect on the Intention (I) to implement 5S quality management. The beta value is positive 0.433 with probability value is less than 0. 001. Then, the Religiosity (R) has positive and significant direct effect on the Intention (I) to implement 5S quality management. The beta value is positive 0.348 with probability value is less than 0.001. The finding of this study contributes to the body of knowledge in 5S quality management and it helps policy makers in university to develop conducive environment for students.