Sampling Design Research Articles

Determination of sample size and design of final product control plan based on product types

Determination of sample size and design of final product control plan based on product types

The Effects of Brand Awareness and Price Promotion on Purchase Intention

The purpose of this study was to explore the impacts of brand awareness, price promotion, and impulsive buying traits on Taiwanese high mountain tea purchase intentions. A quota sampling design was employed to collect information. A total of 700 questionnaires were distributed to 10 tourist areas in Alishan Township, Chiayi, Taiwan (70 questionnaires in each tourist area) with an effective response rate of 98.3%. Structural equation modeling was employed to verify the relationships among the proposed models. The results showed that brand awareness and price promotion had positive influences on purchase intention. Impulsive buying traits did not moderate the relationship between brand awareness and purchase intention but moderated the relationship between price promotion and purchase intention. Based on the results and discussion, suggestions are given for tourists, business operators, and future researchers.

Insights into relationship of environmental inequalities and multimorbidity: a population-based study.

Substantial inequalities in the overall prevalence and patterns of multimorbidity have been widely reported, but the causal mechanisms are complex and not well understood. This study aimed to identify common patterns of multimorbidity in Serbia and assess their relationship with air pollutant concentrations and water quality indicators. This ecological study was conducted on a nationally representative sample of the Serbian population. Data were obtained from the European Health Interview (EHIS) Survey, a periodic study designed to assess population health using widely recognized standardized instruments. The study included 13,069 participants aged 15 and older, randomly selected through a multistage stratified sampling design. Multimorbidity was defined as having two or more self-reported diagnoses of chronic non-communicable diseases. Latent class analysis (LCA) was performed to identify clusters of multimorbidity. Concentrations of particulate matter (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O3), as well as water quality indicators, were obtained from the Serbian Environmental Protection Agency. The overall prevalence of multimorbidity was 33.4% [32.6%-34.2%]. Six latent classes of multimorbidity were identified: Healthy, Multicondition, Cardiovascular, Metabolic syndrome, Respiratory, and Musculoskeletal. Annual increases in PM10 and SO2 concentrations, as well as daily increases in O3 concentrations, significantly raised the odds of having multimorbidity (OR = 1.02, 95% CI 1.02-1.03; OR = 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.02 and OR = 1.03, 95% CI 1.02-1.03, respectively). A pattern of increased risk was observed with rising levels of water contamination. Exposure to physico-chemical, microbiological and combined contamination was associated with a 3.92%, 5.17% and 5.54% higher probability, respectively, of having multiple chronic conditions. There was strong evidence that air pollutants, as well as chemical and microbial water contamination, were significantly associated with higher odds of the most common clusters of multimorbidity identified by LCA. There is compelling evidence of an association between multimorbidity and environmental pollution, suggesting that exposure to air pollutants and water contaminants may contribute to disease accumulation and help explain geographically and socioeconomically patterned inequalities. These findings underscore the need for extensive studies that simultaneously measure both multimorbidity and pollution to explore their complex interrelationships.

Adaptation and psychometric evaluation of the breastfeeding self-efficacy scale to assess exclusive breastfeeding: a cross-sectional study in rural China.

Despite the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, the proportion of exclusively breastfed children remains low in rural China. Self-efficacy is one of the most crucial modifiable factors predicting breastfeeding behavior. However, existing instruments in China do not specifically measure self-efficacy for exclusive breastfeeding but rather measure self-efficacy for any breastfeeding. Furthermore, they have been validated only in high-income Chinese settings. We sought to adapt and validate an instrument to measure exclusive breastfeeding self-efficacy within rural Chinese contexts. We introduced relevant items to Dennis' Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF), which can assess maternal self-efficacy for exclusive breastfeeding. It was then implemented in a multistage random cluster sampling design and cross-sectional survey with home-visit interviews among women 0-6 months postpartum (n = 654) in the rural areas of four counties in Sichuan, China. We performed item-total and adjusted item-total correlations, as well as exploratory factor analysis to remove redundant items and determine the latent factor structure. We further applied confirmatory factor analysis to test the dimensionality of the scale. We then assessed the reliability of the scale and conducted tests of predictive and divergent validity. Known group comparisons were made by primiparous status and breastfeeding support level. We compared the validated Exclusive Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale with the BSES-SF in terms of reliability and validity to explore the added value of scale modification. Our modification of the BSES-SF to target exclusive breastfeeding produced 19 items. This was further reduced to 15 items based on adjusted item-total correlations and exploratory factor analysis, forming the Exclusive Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale. This scale had three dimensions: "Breast milk supply and quality," "Breastfeeding skills," and "Exclusive breastfeeding" subscales. The Exclusive Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale demonstrated strong internal consistency and overall reliability with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.91. Predictive and divergent validity and known group comparison assessments supported its validity. Robust psychometric evaluations demonstrated enhanced validity and reliability compared to the original BSES-SF. Our Exclusive Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale is valid and reliable for measuring exclusive breastfeeding self-efficacy within rural Chinese contexts and is ready for adaptation and validation for clinical and programmatic use elsewhere, particularly within LMICs.

Effects of physical activity on depression and physical fitness among Shanghai junior high school students

This study explores the relationship between light physical activity (LPA) and moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), depression and physical fitness among Shanghai junior high school students. A nationwide offline survey was conducted in Shanghai between August and December 2023 using a purposive sampling design. A total of 432 questionnaires were administered to six seventh-grade classes and eighth-grade classes from six schools in Shanghai; 416 responses were included in the final analysis. SPSS software version 29, the Correlation and Multiple Linear Regression techniques were employed to analyze the collected data. Higher levels of LPA and MVPA were correlated with lower levels of depression. However, only LPA was a significant positive predictor for depression among Shanghai junior high school students. MVPA did not show significant predictive power for depression. Only MVPA was positively correlated with 50 meters (50M), standing long jump (SLJ), 800/1000 meters (800/1000M), and total physical fitness (TPF), but not for sitting forward bend (FB) and vital capacity (VC); various measures of physical fitness were found highly correlated with each other. MVPA was also a significant positive predictor for 800/1000M, SLJ, 50M and TPF but not for VC and FB. LPA did not show significant predictive power for any physical fitness measures. The findings highlighted the importance of MVPA in enhancing physical fitness outcomes, while LPA primarily impacted depression levels. Various measures of physical fitness were highly interrelated. The results underscored the significance of promoting MVPA to improve physical fitness and reduce depressive symptoms in this population.

Exploring the factors’ effect on physical activity, academic self-efficacy, and depression among junior high school students in Shanghai

This study examines the relationship between factors (social support, self-esteem, emotional intelligence [EI], mindfulness, school PA program engagement [SPPE]), physical activity (PA), academic self-efficacy (ASE), and depression in Shanghai junior high school students. A nationwide offline survey was conducted in Shanghai between August and December 2023 using a purposive sampling design. A total of 432 questionnaires were administered to six seventh- and eighth-grade classes from six schools in Shanghai; 416 responses were included in the final analysis. SPSS software version 29, the Correlation and Multiple Linear Regression techniques were employed to analyze the collected data. Social support, self-esteem, EI, mindfulness, SPPE, PA, ASE, and depression were found to be correlated. None of the common factors significantly predict PA, as the p-values were more than 0.05. Social support, self-esteem, EI, and SPPE had a positive significant influence on ASE except for mindfulness. Social support, self-esteem, and mindfulness had a negative significant influence on depression among Shanghai junior high school students. This study highlights the interconnectedness of social support, self-esteem, EI, mindfulness, and SPPE with ASE and depression among junior high school students in Shanghai. While none of the factors predicted PA levels, social support, self-esteem, EI, and mindfulness emerged as important contributors to ASE, while social support, self-esteem, and mindfulness emerged as important contributors to depression.

The Influence of PBL Based on a Pedagogical Approach on Improving the Critical Thinking Ability of MA NW Lenek Lauk Students

This study aims to find out whether the Problem Based Learning learning model based on the reflective pedagogy approach has an effect on improving students' critical thinking skills in economic learning in class X students at MA NW Lenek Lauk. This study is a Quasi Experiment research with a control group design of randong sampling. The research sample is 23 students for the experimental class and 25 students for the control class. The data collection technique uses tests in the form of Pretest and Posttest questions and uses questionnaires or questionnaires. The hypothesis proposed in this study is that there is an influence of the Problem Based Learning (PBL) learning model based on a reflective pedagogical approach on improving the critical thinking ability of grade X students in the independent curriculum for economics subjects at MA NW Lenek Lauk. Data analysis using an independent t test with a significant value of 5 % (0.05) can be obtained with a sig.( 2-tailed) by 0.000 < 0.05. It can be concluded that Ha is accepted and Ho is rejected, so the Problem Based Learning (PBL) Learning Model Based on a Reflective Pedagogy Approach has an effect on improving the critical thinking skills of class X students in the Independent Curriculum for Economics Subjects at MA NW Lenek Lauk.

Housing insecurity and government housing support utilization among a nationally representative sample of transgender and gender non-conforming adults

ABSTRACT Transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) individuals experience greater social adversity and negative social determinants of health compared to cisgender people. This study explored housing security and service use within a probability-based, nationally representative sample. Respondents were adults (264 TGNC; 23,096 cisgender) from the U.S. Federal Reserve Survey of Household Economics and Decision-making. Chi-square and multiple logistic regression analyses compared differences between TGNC and cisgender respondents for housing security indicators and government housing support use. Multivariable analyses were weighted for complex sampling design. Despite a large proportion of TGNC respondents reporting inability to pay their bills (27.9%) and not being homeowners (62.0%), utilization rates for government housing assistance were low (10.4%). Adjusting for covariates, TGNC respondents had significantly greater odds of reporting governmental housing assistance (aOR = 2.64, 95%CI = 1.52–4.60) than cisgender respondents. There was no difference in ability to pay bills or homeownership. Findings indicate that government housing services are reaching TGNC adults relative to cisgender results, but utilization rates remain low despite indicators of high need. Factors influencing utilization and efficacy of services should be assessed in future research to support policy implementation.

Designing and Validating a Survey for National-Level Data During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sri Lanka: Cross-Sectional Mobile Phone Surveys.

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a demand for timely data, resulting in a surge of mobile phone surveys for tracking the impacts of and responses to the pandemic. Mobile phone surveys have become a preferred mode of data collection across low- and middle-income countries. This study piloted 2 population-based, cross-sectional mobile phone surveys among Sri Lankan residents in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The surveys aimed to gather data on knowledge, attitudes, and practices, vaccine acceptability, availability, and barriers to COVID-19 testing, and use of a medicine distribution service. The study used Surveda, an open-source survey tool developed by the NCD (noncommunicable disease) Mobile Phone Survey Data 4 Health Initiative, for data collection and management. The surveys were conducted through interactive voice response using automated, prerecorded messages in Sinhala, Tamil, and English. The sample design involved random sampling of mobile phone numbers, stratified by sex, proportional to the general population. Eligibility criteria varied between surveys, targeting adults aged 35 years and older with any noncommunicable disease for the first survey and all adults for the second survey. The data were adjusted to population estimates, and statistical analysis was conducted using SAS (SAS Institute) and R software (R Core Team). Descriptive statistics, Rao-Scott chi-square tests, and z tests were used to analyze the data. Response rates, cooperation rates, and productivity of the sampling approach were calculated. In the first survey, n=5001, the overall response rate was 7.5%, with a completion rate of 85.6%. In the second survey, n=1250, the overall response rate was 10.9%, with a completion rate of 61.9%. Approximately 3 out of 4 adults reported that they avoided public places (888/1175, 75.6%), more than two-thirds avoided public transportation (808/1173, 68.9%), and 9 out of 10 practiced physical distancing (1046/1167, 89.7%). Approximately 1 out of 10 Sri Lankan persons reported being tested for COVID-19, and the majority of those received a polymerase chain reaction test (112/161, 70%). Significantly more males than females reported being tested for COVID-19 (98/554, 17.8% vs 61/578, 10.6%, respectively; P<.001). Finally, the majority of adult Sri Lankan people reported that they definitely or probably would get the COVID-19 vaccination (781/1190, 65.7%). The surveys revealed that, overall, the adult Sri Lankan population adhered to COVID-19 mitigation strategies. These findings underscore the use of mobile phone surveys in swiftly and easily providing essential data to inform a country's response during the COVID-19 pandemic, obviating the need for face-to-face data collection.

A National Study on the Association of Abdominal Ultrasound with CT Utilization and Disposition in the Emergency Department

Background Ultrasound and CT imaging have distinct and overlapping roles in the assessment of undifferentiated abdominal pain in the emergency department (ED). CT imaging is the gold standard for many pathologies, ranging from bowel obstruction to aortic pathology whereas ultrasound benefits from less radiation exposure and the ability to employ at bedside. In this pilot study, we utilize nationally representative data to identify associations between ultrasound use in ED patients with a primary complaint of abdominal pain with abdominal CT imaging use and disposition. Methods We analyzed retrospective, cross-sectional data on ED patient visits obtained from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 2016-2020. This dataset utilizes a weighed multistage, probability sample of ED patient visits involving a four-stage sampling design, including data at county-level geographic regions, hospitals within these regions, emergency service areas in these hospitals, and patient visit records. The study population includes adult patient ED visits with an age of 18 and up presenting with a primary complaint of atraumatic abdominal pain. Descriptive statistics was utilized to describe the sample population. Survey-weighted multivariate logistic regression analysis with calculated odds ratios evaluated for differences between the binary dependent variable of abdominal pain visits with versus without ultrasound use with independent variables of disposition and abdominal CT imaging use while controlling for visit acuity and adjusting for demographic information. Results A total of 7563 patient visits met inclusion criteria, representing approximately 60 million patient visits from 2016-2020. In this study population, 18.5% of visits involved ultrasound, whereas 39.8% of visits involved CT imaging use. 14.6% of visits resulted in hospital admission. On weight-adjusted regression analysis, visits involving ultrasound were less likely to require CT imaging and more likely to be admitted, with ORs of 0.49 (95% CI: 0.37, 0.64) and 1.97 (95% CI: 1.44, 2.68), respectively. Visits involving ultrasound were more likely to be associated with an emergency medicine residency program and an emergent acuity level, with ORs of 1.40 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.94) and 1.53 (95% CI: 1.01, 2.31), respectively. Conclusion In this national pilot study, abdominal pain visits involving ultrasound were associated with a lower likelihood of CT imaging use and a highly likelihood admission and an emergent acuity level.

Preparation of Sampling Plan For the Gravimetric Characterization of Solid Waste From the Municipality of Itaquaquecetuba

Objective: the objective of this study is to utilize a sampling design for the collection of USW samples for gravimetric characterization, with the aim of proposing and standardizing a methodology that allows for the collection of statistically representative samples of this biomass Theoretical Framework: It was based on national and international technical standards that deal with the collection, preparation and sampling of waste. In addition, statistical sampling concepts were used, as well as the National Solid Waste Policy. Method: The methods used in this research include analysis of technical standards (national and international) for municipal solid waste combined with statistical methods of probabilistic sampling. Results and Discussion: As a result, a statistically valid sampling methodology was developed and applied to the waste from the municipality of Itaquaquecetuba, leading to the collection of MSW samples from 35 trucks, which represented the characteristics of the types of wet waste generated in the municipality. This provides essential data for the integrated management of waste in the region. Research Implications: The research proposes a statistically valid sampling plan for the collection and analysis of urban solid waste that can be adapted and used in any region of the country or internationally. Originality/Value: The work contributes to the literature by proposing a statistically valid sampling plan for the collection and sampling of waste, using as a basis the characteristics of urban solid waste generated in Brazil.

Spatiotemporal patterns and factors contributing to neonatal mortality in Ethiopia: Data from EDHS 2000 to 2019.

Although Ethiopia has substantial improvements in various health indicators such as maternal and child mortality, the burden of neonatal mortality remains high. Between 2016 and 2019, neonatal mortality increased from 29 deaths per 1,000 live births to 33 deaths per 1,000 live births. This study aimed to explore the spatial patterns and factors contributing to neonatal mortality in Ethiopia. Data from the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS) for the years 2000, 2005, 2011, 2016, and 2019 were analyzed. The EDHS sampling design uses a two-stage cluster sampling technique, considering census enumeration areas as primary sampling units and households as secondary sampling units. We used the Spatial Scan analysis in SaTScan and Getis-Ord Gi* statistic in Geographic Information System (GIS), to analyse the spatiotemporal patterns of neonatal mortality. Maternal, newborn and health service-related factors contributing to neonatal mortality were also analyzed using a multilevel logistic regression model. Adjusted Odds Rios (AOR) with corresponding 95% CI were presented as a measure of association and a P-value of 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. During the initial three consecutive surveys, there was a consistent pattern of hot spot clusters in the Amhara and Benshangul Gumuz regions, along with certain parts of the Oromia region. However, in later surveys, these clusters shifted to the eastern parts of the country, notably including the Somali region. Early initiation of breast feeding was associated with reduced chances of neonatal death (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]) = 0.27; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.23, 0.32). Neonates born at home (AOR = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.16, 1.82) and male babies had a higher likelihood of mortality during the neonatal period compared to their counterparts (AOR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.24, 1.51). The odds of neonatal mortality increased with the number of children a mother had ever given birth to (AOR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.24, 1.51). In contrast, longer birth intervals were associated with a reduced risk of neonatal mortality (AOR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.68, 0.83). The central southern, central-western, north-western, and northern parts of Ethiopia had most of the neonatal death clusters in the first three rounds of DHS while eastern Ethiopia had the highest neonatal mortality clusters in the latest two surveys. Our results underscore the importance for policymakers and health administrators to reassess intervention approaches and reallocate resources to regions identified as hot spots for neonatal mortality. Enhancing the initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour of birth would improve newborn survival rates. Special attention and care need to be given to babies born of smaller sizes.

THE EFFECT OF AI-DRIVEN INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS ON HEALTHCARE OUTCOMES AND SUPPLY CHAIN PERFORMANCE: A DATA-DRIVEN ANALYSIS

There has been much focus toward increasing integration of AI in healthcare generally, with a specific focus on inventory management systems in particular. As more hospitals in the United States public and private side face increasing costs and concerns over cost and length of operation all systems supporting inventory must be made most efficient and AI system offers the US hospitals the opportunity to maintain accurate inventory and hence improve the quality of patient care. But the literature review presents a small number of studies that focus on the effects of these systems as the means to improve healthcare results and organization. In this study, it is proposed that improving inventory management by actioning artificial intelligence in healthcare organizations will result in enhanced patient care and improved inventory accuracy, cost reduction and supply chain efficiency in the United States of America’s healthcare institutions. A cross-sectional, quantitative survey was administrated to 200 healthcare personnel and supply chain managers from different healthcare organizations based on hospitals, clinics and specialty medical centers of the USA. Sample design: Participants were purposefully chosen, who had prior exposure to the AI-induced systems or are aware about workflow of such systems. Respondents’ data was gathered via an online questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS: descriptive analysis, chi-square test, one-way ANOVA, correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis was used to establish the relationships of the study variables: AI systems, healthcare outcomes and supply chain performance. The results showed that the use of AI in inventory management systems enhances its accuracy in ordering order itself and overall patient care. Separate studies showed that where the management of a facility has deeper insight of the AI system then there will be more operations worked on to improve efficiency or cut costs. Adoption of these pathways among smaller providers including clinics and long-term care facilities was difficult, especially due to cost constraints. An analysis of the multiple regression equation showed that knowledge of AI improved the projection of potential healthcare outcome, creating greater worth and also increases the performance of supply chain. The outcomes of using AI based inventory management systems in the United States seem to have a lot of advantages that may help improve the efficacy of operations in the healthcare system. Issues such as funding and skills needed for implementation, especially in small healthcare organization, continue to slow the uptake of the technology. These existing problems may be solved if more focused investments in the development of comprehensive AI training or systematic solutions are given to enable the healthcare industry to reach the full potential of the application of artificial intelligence.

Causal Inference with Complex Surveys: A Unified Perspective on Sample Selection and Exposure Selection

Probability surveys are a major source of population representative data for policy research and program evaluation. However, the data come with the added complications of being observational and selected with unequal probabilities. Propensity score adjustments have become increasingly popular for inferring causal relationships in non-randomized studies, but when using survey data, estimates of the population level causal effect may be biased if the sampling design is not adequately adjusted for. The current practice of using propensity score estimators with complex surveys is somewhat ad-hoc. We propose a potential-outcome super-population framework to streamline the causal analysis. We also develop propensity-score-and-survey weighted estimators and corresponding variance estimators, as well as their asymptotic properties. Our framework clarifies the confusion regarding the use of survey weighted propensity score in practice. The choice actually depends on the available sampling weights. Various estimators are compared in a simulation study, which shows that the proposed estimators perform better than the competing methods in terms of bias and confidence interval coverage when treatment effects are heterogeneous. To address an important public health issue, we evaluate the impact of e-cigarette use on future tobacco use intention in teens, using a large nationally representative survey in the United States.

Exploring Unique Patterns of Self-Injury Recovery: A Latent Profile Analysis.

As nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) has become an increasing public health concern, the last few years have seen the emergence of efforts to address NSSI recovery. Although many recovery efforts adopt a medical view of self-injury and focus on cessation of the behaviour, recovery can mean many different things to different people. In this study, we provide initial empirical validation of the self-injury recovery framework, by assessing whether different recovery profiles exist. Our sample comprised 733 participants with lived experience of NSSI (M age = 24.54, sd = 6.39). Participants completed self-report measures of constructs related to NSSI recovery and NSSI characteristics. Using latent profile analysis, we identified six unique profiles reflecting differences in thoughts/urges to self-injure, self-efficacy, social support, optimism, coping, underlying adversities, perceptions of scarring, disclosure, resilience and self-compassion. Multivariate analyses of variance confirmed these profiles differed according to NSSI characteristics such as frequency of NSSI, a self-assessment of recovery, the desire to self-injure or avoid self-injury and the number of people disclosed to. A homogenous sample and cross-sectional design limit generalisability of our findings across populations and across time. Our findings reinforce that recovery can take many different forms, with different factors being relevant to different individuals. Adopting a person-centred approach that centres an individual's lived experience and emphasises what is important to them in the recovery process offers opportunities for more empathic responses to self-injury and better outcomes for individuals who self-injure.

Inventory of Shallow-Water Fouling Invertebrates of Long Island, New York

Invasive marine invertebrates are increasingly recognized as a potential disturbance to coastal ecosystems. We sought to better document the taxonomic composition of subtidal communities around Long Island to obtain a baseline that can be used to monitor current and future invasions of non-indigenous species. We placed settlement blocks at 18 sites along the coast of Long Island, New York, for three months. After recovering blocks at 12 sites, we analyzed the taxonomic composition of fouling communities on the blocks. We observed 64 invertebrate and 3 algal taxa, with large variation in taxon richness among sites. Multivariate analyses revealed that although taxon composition was significantly dissimilar between north and south shores, variation in dissimilarity did not differ significantly between shores. The high variability in taxon composition observed among sites indicates that additional research is needed to expand our knowledge of invertebrate diversity in the waters surrounding Long Island. Adding more sites and replicate blocks within sites could improve future sampling designs. This research will benefit continuing efforts to monitor, manage, and prevent the establishment of marine invasive species.

Assessment of recent lake sediment conditions in the conterminous U.S.

This study provides the largest sediment quality assessment of lakes in the conterminous United States (U.S.). A variety of lakes (n = 1005) were selected based on the randomized, probabilistic sampling design of the broader 2017 National Lakes Assessment study. Surficial sediment samples (0–5 cm) were collected at one representative site (generally the deepest point) for each lake (n = 969). The samples were analyzed for 16 metal(loid)s, 25 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 53 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, 27 legacy pesticides and metabolites, total organic carbon, and grain size. Metal(loid)s and PAHs were widely distributed due to natural and potential anthropogenic sources, with regional variations observed for lakes in the nine ecoregions encompassing the U.S. Most sites did not have detectable PCB congeners or legacy pesticides. An integrative chemical index of mean probable effect concentration quotients, composed of seven metal(loid)s and ƩPAH13, was used to assess sediment quality for the estimated population of 224,916 lakes in the conterminous U.S. Nationally, 26.5 % (CI of 20–33 %) of lakes were in good condition (corresponding to predicted low incidences of toxicity to benthic organisms), 69.3 % (CI of 63–76 %) of lakes were in fair condition, and 1.8 % (CI of 0.6–3 %) of lakes were in poor condition (corresponding to predicted high incidences of sediment toxicity). Unweighted metal(loid) and ƩPAH13 concentrations were compared to lake, watershed, and land use data. Deeper lakes were significantly more contaminated (or naturally enriched) with As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Hg, Zn, and ƩPAH13 than shallow lakes. Lakes at lower elevation were also associated with more contamination (or natural enrichment) of As, Cr, Pb, Hg, Ni, Zn, and ƩPAH13 than higher elevation lakes. Greater contamination was associated with watersheds containing larger percentages of developed land. This study demonstrates an approach which can be used by others to assess sediment quality in their jurisdictions.

Profitability of Vegetable Cultivation under Groundwater Condition in Karnataka, India

The study assessed the profitability and water use efficiency of vegetable crops, specifically cabbage and cauliflower, in comparison to cereal crops like ragi and maize in Karnataka during 2020-2021. Data were collected from 120 farmers using a multistage purposive sampling design. The results indicated that vegetable crops had significantly higher gross and net returns than cereal crops. Additionally, the water use efficiency of cabbage and cauliflower was superior, meaning they utilized water more effectively to generate economic returns. The benefit-cost ratio also favoured the vegetable crops, demonstrating that they were more profitable compared to ragi and maize. Overall, the findings highlighted that under groundwater conditions, vegetable crops performed better in terms of profitability and water efficiency, suggesting that promoting vegetable cultivation could enhance farm incomes and optimize water use in Karnataka.

Ecological processes shaping highly connected bacterial communities along strong environmental gradients.

Along the river-sea continuum, microorganisms are directionally dispersed by water flow while being exposed to strong environmental gradients. To compare the two assembly mechanisms that may strongly and differently influence metacommunity dynamics, namely homogenizing dispersal and heterogeneous selection, we characterized the total (16S rRNA gene) and putatively active (16S rRNA transcript) bacterial communities in the Pearl River-South China Sea Continuum, during the wet (summer) and dry (winter) seasons using high-throughput sequencing. Moreover, well-defined sampling was conducted by including freshwater, oligohaline, mesohaline, polyhaline, and marine habitats. We found that heterogeneous selection exceeded homogenizing dispersal in both the total and active fractions of bacterial communities in two seasons. However, homogeneous selection was prevalent (the dominant except in active bacterial communities during summer), which was primarily due to the bacterial communities' tremendous diversity (associated with high rarity) and our specific sampling design. In either summer or winter seasons, homogeneous and heterogeneous selection showed higher relative importance in total and active communities, respectively, implying that the active bacteria were more responsive to environmental gradients than were the total bacteria. In summary, our findings provide insight into the assembly of bacterial communities in natural ecosystems with high spatial connectivity and environmental heterogeneity.

Influence of Social Media on Grade 12 HUMSS Students’ Academic Behavior

This study investigates the possible influences of social media to the students' academic behavior. Awareness of the potential outcomes of using social media can help them understand the possible impacts. The goal of this study is to develop plans to enhance students' holistic development and encourage responsible social media use by addressing these consequences. This research will be conducted at a Senior High School in Digos City. The sampling design for this study is a survey questionnaire. Furthermore, the study's respondents are Grade 12 HUMSS students who use various social media platforms. To add to that, this study will use the survey instrument, specifically the questionnaire. This study will use an attitudinal measure, a quantitative way to assess a person's attitude. This study aims to collect data and information regarding students' academic behavior. The findings conclude that social media helps the students' in various ways, including the improvements they made by searching for the things they wanted to understand. However, social media also distracted the students, affecting their study habits and academic performance. In conclusion, social media affected the students' lives moderately. They are distracted by social media, but their academic behavior is untroubled at all.