Significant Positive Effect Research Articles

The Effect of Teacher Support on the Sustainable Online Academic Self-Efficacy of College Students: The Mediating Effect of Academic Procrastination

Academic self-efficacy is an important condition to ensure learning effectiveness and improve the sustainability of online learning quality. The present study intended to examine the relationship among online teacher support, academic procrastination, and academic self-efficacy by employing a questionnaire survey and structural equation modeling in the online learning environment. We report on survey data from N = 827 college students from China. The results showed the following: that online teacher support and its emotional, cognitive, and autonomy support dimensions have significant positive effects on academic self-efficacy, and it can predict the academic self-efficacy of college students through the mediating effect of academic procrastination. Therefore, in order to enhance the academic self-efficacy of online learners, it is crucial to increase online teacher support, provide guidance and motivation to online learners, reduce academic procrastination, and improve the emotional, cognitive, and autonomy support perceived by students in online courses and learning activities. The findings contribute to the exploration of the impact and mechanism of online teacher support regarding the academic self-efficacy of learners, providing theoretical and empirical support for enhancing academic self-efficacy in online learning and the development of a sustainable quality of teaching.

The role of venture capital in determining the total factor productivity of renewable energy enterprises: In the context of government subsidy reduction

Studies examining the correlation between venture capital (VC) and total factor productivity (TFP) have yielded inconsistent conclusions. In the context of government subsidy (GS) reduction, VC is gradually becoming a crucial external financing channel for renewable energy (RE) enterprises. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of research concerning the influence of VC on the TFP of RE firms, and the impact of GS on their relationship is also insufficiently considered. Therefore, employing two-way fixed-effects and threshold effects models, this research investigates the impact of VC on TFP in 114 Chinese RE enterprises from 2011 to 2021 and analyzes the role of GS in shaping this association. The conclusions are outlined as follows: (1) Overall, VC notably boosts the TFP of RE firms. (2) VC can indirectly improve TFP by fostering R&D investments and mitigating financing constraints. (3) A single threshold effect is identified in the correlation between VC and TFP based on GS. Significant positive effects of VC on TFP are observed only when GS is below 1.07%. This implies that, in the context of GS reduction, the beneficial effect of VC on the TFP of RE firms is gradually becoming evident. Based on this, we propose targeted policy suggestions.

New opportunities for correction of hormonal disorders and oxidative stress in women with genital endometriosis

Background. Genital endometriosis is one of the most urgent problems of modern gynecology. Considering oxidative stress as a pathogenetic link of endometriosis, we believe it reasonable to use a combined drug containing superoxide dismutase, resveratrol, and zinc. The purpose of the work was to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment for genital endometriosis supplemented with the use of superoxide dismutase, resveratrol, and zinc, taking into account the leading pathophysiological links of the pathology. Materials and methods. Thirty-seven women of reproductive age with genital endometriosis were under observation. Treatment in the first group was carried out in accordance with the Guideline Development Group recommendations. Thirty-nine women of the second group additionally received a drug containing superoxide dismutase, resveratrol, and zinc. The control group included 30 healthy women. The state of lipid peroxidation processes was assessed by the level of diene conjugates and malondialdehyde in the blood serum and the antioxidant defense system by the content of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. To monitor the patients’ quality of life, pain syndrome was studied using the Visual Analogue Scale. Statistical processing of the obtained data was carried out by means of the standard StatSoft Statistica for Windows 13.0 program pac­kage. Results. The assessment of the pain syndrome in the second group showed that it completely disappeared in women with the first stage of the disease. Among patients with the second stage, pain disappeared in 8 cases, 3 patients had a decrease from severe to mild pain. At the third stage, pain disappeared completely in 5 women, in 4 cases, it decreased from severe to mild, and in one woman, the pain decreased from unbearable to mild. All patients of the second group noted a decrease in pain during intercourse, and in the first stage — its absence, an increase in work capacity (r = 0.64, p < 0.01), a decrease in irritability and anxiety in the perimenstrual period (r = –0.59, p < 0.05) and overall satisfaction with the treatment result. Side effects were not noted in any of the patients. Conclusions. Improving treatment for genital endometriosis by supplementing therapy with superoxide dismutase, resveratrol, and zinc is pathogenetically justified, as it has a significant positive effect on the lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense system, compared to the traditional treatment regimen.

A Study on the Effect of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on Trade in Services in the United States

The pandemic of COVID-19 appears to boost trade in services and even the ICT service exports in the U.S. The U.S. has been recognized as the world's largest services market and became a leading exporter and importer of services over the last two decades. In this perspective, this study attempts to empirically identify the impact of ICT on trade in services and ICT service exports in the U.S. by employing the modified gravity model of trade from 1990 to 2021. The results indicate that overall ICT access and ICT use have significant positive effects on the trade in services and ICT service exports, but others brought about different results. The study also finds two important facts. First, FTS has a positive effect on the trade in services and ICT services exports, while, MCS has a completely negative effect on both the trade in services and ICT services exports. More interestingly, the dimension of ICT use of IUI and FBS have a different impact on both trade in services and ICT services exports. Another important finding is that the coefficients of IUI and FBS in relation to the trade in services have an unexpected negative sign, while both IUI and FBS have a positive influence on ICT service exports. Finally, these empirical results imply that ICT use has played a more productive role in enhancing ICT service exports than that of ICT access in the U.S. Consequently, these results might provide vital policy insights for the development of ICT and more rapid growth of services trade.

Can digital finance development drive green transformation in manufacturing? Evidence from China.

Digital finance is a product of emerging technology-enabled innovation in financial services and has a critical impact on the green transformation of the manufacturing industry. We propose a new efficiency measurement model based on the slacks-based measure (SBM) to measure the efficiency of green transformation on regional manufacturing. Chinese interprovincial data from 2010 to 2019 were obtained for the study. In addition, we estimated the effect of digital finance on green transformation of manufacturing using a benchmark panel model. Finally, considering the regional heterogeneity and spatial effects of green transformation efficiency in the manufacturing industry, we constructed a spatial Durbin model based on an economic-geographic nested spatial weight matrix to analyze the spatial influence of digital finance on green transformation in the manufacturing industry. The results show that the green transformation of the manufacturing industry has significant positive spatial spillover effects owing to the existence of competition, demonstration, and economic correlation effects among regions.

Appraising the role of energy conservation and emission reduction policy for eco-friendly productivity improvements: An entropy-balancing DID approach

In pursuit of low-carbon and high-quality economic development, the Chinese government has implemented an energy conservation and emission reduction (ECER) policy. It has piloted this policy for three groups of prefecture-level cities since 2011. So far, there is no systematic evidence to demonstrate whether such a strategy can help China achieve a “win-win” situation between energy conservation and environmental protection. To identify the causal effect of the ECER policy on eco-friendly productivity (EFP), we explore variations in the timing of this policy across cities combined with the entropy-balancing method and assemble a balanced panel dataset encompassing China's 283 cities from 2006 to 2017. Empirical findings demonstrate that EFP in the ECER pilot cities had increased by 15.3% on average compared with EFP in non-ECER pilot regions based on the difference-in-differences framework. Notably, the ECER policy generates significant positive spatial spillover effects on surrounding ECER pilot regions. Our channel analysis confirms that the positive effect of the ECER policy is also realized through energy savings, structural effects, and green technological effects. Moreover, the observed effect is significantly heterogeneous regarding geographical locations, resource endowment, whether a city has an old industrial base, and environmental regulation. Finally, several policy implications concerning China's ECER policy and EFP improvement are put forward.

The impact of digital development on non-agricultural employment of rural women: evidence from the broadband China strategy

ABSTRACT In developing countries, the employment of rural women is a crucial component of livelihood issues, with implications for sustainable social development, poverty alleviation, and the realization of gender equality. This study employs a quasi-natural experiment approach based on the Broadband China strategic pilot project. Through constructing a multi-temporal differences-in-differences empirical model, it analyzes the impact of digital development on non-agricultural employment of rural women in China, along with the underlying mechanisms. Empirical results indicate a significant positive effect of digital development on non-agricultural employment for rural women. This impact is more pronounced among younger, highly educated, married, parous, and those residing in main grain-producing regions. Mechanism analysis reveals that, on the labour supply side, digital development enhances the probability of rural women participating in non-agricultural employment by improving their labour force quality. On the labour demand side, digital development fosters the development of emerging industries and improves the employment environment, thereby providing more opportunities for rural women to engage in non-agricultural employment. Based on these findings, this study offers policy implications for advancing digital infrastructure construction and digital economic development in rural China, addressing women’s employment challenges, and narrowing gender employment gaps.

Business cycles in a cocoa and gold economy: Commodity price shocks do not always matter

This paper seeks to characterize the response of Ghana’s business cycle to cocoa and gold commodity price shocks using a time-varying parameter structural vector autoregressive (TVP-SVAR) model. We then provide some plausible explanations underlying the estimated effect of these price shocks on Ghana’s business cycle. In the yearly model, a significant positive effect of a cocoa price shock on Ghana’s business cycle is observed using data from 1960 to 2018. However, no significant effect of a gold price shock on Ghana’s business cycle was found. In the quarterly model, we found no significant effect of both cocoa and gold price shocks on Ghana’s quarterly business cycle under Ghana’s inflation-targeting monetary policy regime. The study concludes that the expected strong influence of cocoa and gold commodity price shocks on Ghana’s yearly and quarterly business cycles is not consistently supported by empirical data for all periods and time frequencies. We then suggest plausible explanations for the unexpectedly weak estimated effects of the two commodity price shocks on Ghana’s business cycle, particularly after the mid-1980s, including the role of a foreign-dominated gold sector, the influence of cocoa forward contracts, and the impact of cocoa smuggling. These findings call into question the incorporation of cocoa and gold commodity sectors into a business cycle model for Ghana’s economy for all business cycle episodes and time frequencies, contrary to conventional wisdom. Gold and cocoa windfalls/shortfalls in the short run are almost non-existent, which has important implications for Ghanaian policymakers and model builders.

Exploring the Phenomenon of Knowledge Management and Performance of MNOs in Nigeria

This study explored the phenomenon of knowledge management and performance of MNOs. The study investigated the effect of the knowledge culture of MNOs on customer satisfaction and examined the effect of knowledge creation on the competitiveness of MNOs. In this study, the survey research design was utilized. For this study, the researcher employed the technique of stratified random sampling to select the sample. A sample size of three hundred and sixty-six was chosen. Quantitative data was gathered and analyzed using statistical methods like mean, standard deviation, and regression to establish the effects and relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Findings showed that the knowledge culture of MNOs has a significant positive effect on customer satisfaction and that knowledge creation has a significant positive effect on the competitiveness of MNOs. The study concluded that managing knowledge is crucial for the performance of MNOs. The study recommended that MNOs prioritize and actively cultivate a robust knowledge culture within their organizations and that MNOs should actively foster continuous knowledge creation within their organizations.

The interrelationship of working capital: The role of financial bootstraping and government support

Abstract This study aims to investigate the effects of financial bootstrapping and government support on working capital, as well as the moderating role of entrepreneurial orientation towards the impact of working capital on financial performance. The study was conducted on 260 MSME owners in the food and beverage sector in Semarang, Surakarta, and Salatiga, in Central Java Province, Indonesia. By using a Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis, the determinant effects and consequences of working capital were determined. The findings of this study indicate that financial bootstrapping and government support are proven to have a significant positive effect on working capital. Working capital has a significant positive effect on financial performance, but entrepreneurial orientation is not confirmed to moderate the effect of working capital on financial performance.

The effects of celebrity endorser on consumer advocacy behavior through the customization and entertainment intention – A multivariate analysis

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of celebrity endorsers on consumer advocacy, customization and entertainment intentions based on the notion of the stimulus–organism–response (SOR) framework. In addition, this study aims to examine the mediating and moderating role of customization and entertainment intentions on the proposed relationships. The authors also intend to highlight the comparative effects between male and female young social media consumers on those proposed associations. Design/methodology/approach In the pursuit of comprehensive and rigorous data collection, this study adopted a quantitative methodology using a meticulously crafted questionnaire. The questionnaire survey was conducted in major cities of Malaysia using the convenience and snowball sampling techniques. A total of 576 responses were collected, even though 549 retorts were used for data analysis. In this investigation, the authors strategically used covariance-based structural equation modeling through the use of AMOS v. 24 as the primary data analysis tool. Augmenting the analytical depth, the authors also conducted a supplementary bootstrap analysis. The additional layers of examination were crucial for appraising the mediating and moderating effects inherent within the model, in which the PROCESS MACRO v.4.20 was used. Findings The results of this study revealed the significant direct positive effects of celebrity endorsers on consumer customization, entertainment and advocacy intentions. Consumer customization and entertainment intentions also found significant direct affirmative effects on consumer advocacy intention, along with the significant direct positive effects of consumer entertainment intention on consumer customization intention. The results further revealed that consumer customization and entertainment intentions cannot mediate the relationship between celebrity endorsers and advocacy intention. The entertainment intention also declined the mediating effects between celebrity endorsers and consumer customization intention. On the contrary, consumer customization intention significantly and positively, and entertainment intention also significantly but negatively, moderate the association between celebrity endorsers and consumer advocacy intention. This study also illustrates that the effects of those examined relationships differ between male and female young social media consumers. Originality/value This study investigates the impact of celebrity endorsers on consumer behavior, focusing on their customization, entertainment and advocacy intentions. It extends current SOR framework, enhances source credibility theory, fills gaps in the literature on social media brand engagement and underscores the significance of customization and entertainment intentions. The findings provide insights for managers aiming to harness consumer brand advocacy through celebrity endorsers effectively.

Effect of spermidine on reproductive, seed quality and bio-physiological characteristics of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes under salt stress

The experiment aimed to investigate the impact of foliar application of spermidine on the physiological and reproductive aspects of chickpea genotypes subjected to salt stress, with a focus on its consequences for seed quality. The study involved treating chickpea genotypes (CSG 8962, HC 3, HC 5, RSG 931) with 4 and 8 dSm−1 Cl− dominate salinity during the seedling stage, and application of 0.5 and 1.0 mM spermidine at the flowering stage. Result revealed that salinity significantly reduced chlorophyll and membrane stability index by approximately 46.97% and 23.19%, respectively. Concurrently, pollen germination and viability decreased about 14.14% and 22.24%, leading to a substantial decline in seed protein content (37.70%) at 8 dSm−1 salinity. While there was an increase in antioxidant activity (45.83%), phenol content decreased in response to salinity stress. Foliar application of spermidine (0.5 and 1.0 mM) proved to be a promising intervention, enhancing chlorophyll stability and phenol content by approximately 24.35% and 36.05%, respectively, at 8 dSm−1 salinity. This improvement is associated with a notable 20.01% increase in pollen viability, resulting in a subsequent rise in protein content by about 20.73% at 1.0 mM spermidine. Additionally, the application of spermidine mitigated Na+ ion accumulation in chickpea seeds. The findings underscore the varying performance of chickpea genotypes under salinity stress, with CSG 8962 and RSG 931 exhibiting poorer outcomes compared to other genotypes. Notably, the positive impact of spermidine was more pronounced, especially with the use of 1.0 mM spermidine, which demonstrated a more significant positive effect in salt-sensitive chickpea genotypes. These results emphasize the potential of spermidine as a strategic tool in alleviating the adverse effects of salinity on chickpea crops, offering valuable insights for the development of sustainable practices to enhance chickpea resilience and seed quality under challenging environmental conditions.

Consistency is key: influence of skull density ratio distribution on the formation of clinically effective lesions and long-term tremor suppression following treatment with MR-guided focused ultrasound.

Skull density ratio (SDR) influences the permeability of the skull to the ultrasound waves used in magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) for the treatment of tremor. SDR values vary across the skull and the mean value is known to be predictive of sonication thermal increase. The aim of this investigation was to explore the effects of the SDR distribution on clinical outcomes following treatment with MRgFUS. Data from 61 patients with essential or dystonic tremor treated with MRgFUS targeting the ventral intermediate nucleus (Vim) were retrospectively analyzed. Tremor suppression was assessed using the Clinical Rating Scale for Tremor (CRST) and hand tremor score (HTS). Vim ablation volume was measured on the T1-weighted MR image acquired both at 1 day and 12 months after treatment. The numerical distribution of SDR values measured for each element in the ultrasound transducer was quantified by calculating the mean, standard deviation, skewness, entropy, and kurtosis of the SDR histogram. The effect of the SDR metrics on change in CRST and HTS was examined using a linear mixed-effects model. Additionally, the effect of the regional distribution of SDR values was explored in an element-wise analysis between patients with above- and below-average tremor suppression. A significant positive effect was found between SDR kurtosis and improvement in CRST (β = 0.33, p = 0.004) and HTS (β = 0.38, p < 0.001). The effect was found to be significant at 1 month posttreatment (CRST: β = 0.415, p = 0.008; HTS: β = 0.369, p = 0.016), and at the most recent clinical follow-up (CRST: β = 0.395, p < 0.001; HTS: β = 0.386, p < 0.001). One hundred seventy-one significant elements were identified in the element-wise analysis. The mean percentage difference from the mean SDR in these elements was associated with improvement in CRST (β = 0.27, p < 0.008) and HTS (β = 0.27, p < 0.015). Higher SDR kurtosis was associated with increased lesion volume at 12 months (p = 0.040) and less reduction in volume relative to the day-1 lesion volume (p = 0.007). Greater SDR kurtosis was associated with larger, more stable lesions at 12 months posttreatment and increased tremor suppression at long-term follow-up. SDR kurtosis may provide a more meaningful prognostic factor than the mean SDR.

The Effect of Price on Consumer Buying Interest Asik Creative Gresik East Java

This study aims to determine the effect of price on consumer buying interest at Asik Creative in Gresik, East Java. This research was conducted quantitatively. The independent variable is price, and the dependent variable is consumer buying interest. The data collected in this study were collected through the distribution of questionnaires. Consumers who have used the services of Asik Creative are the subject of this study. The number of samples collected was 40 individual consumers who had experienced the experience of communicating with Asik Creative. The data analysis used is quantitative analysis in the first order, each indicator is tested for validity and reliability first and then tested for influence. The study resulted in a statement that price has a significant positive effect on consumer buying interest in Asik Creative. Based on the results of the analysis and discussion, it can be concluded that price has a positive and significant influence on consumer buying interest, which is indicated by a p-value that is smaller than the significant level of 5%.

Causal effect of interleukin (IL)-6 on blood pressure and hypertension: A mendelian randomization study.

To examine whether circulating interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels (CirIL6) have a causal effect on blood pressure using Mendelian randomization (MR) methods. We used data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of European ancestry to obtain genetic instruments for circulating IL-6 levels and blood pressure measurements. We applied several robust MR methods to estimate the causal effects and to test for heterogeneity and pleiotropy. We found that circulating IL-6 had a significant positive causal effect on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), but not on diastolic blood pressure (DBP) or hypertension. We found that as CirIL6 genetically increased, SBP increased using Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) method (for ukb-b-20175, β = 0.082 with SE = 0.032, P = 0.011; for ukb-a-360, β = 0.075 with SE = 0.031, P = 0.014) and weighted median (WM) method (for ukb-b-20175, β = 0.061 with SE = 0.022, P = 0.006; for ukb-a-360, β = 0.065 with SE = 0.027, P = 0.014). Moreover, CirIL6 may be associated with an increased risk of PAH using WM method (odds ratio (OR) = 15.503, 95% CI, 1.025-234.525,P = 0.048), but not with IVW method. Our study provides novel evidence that circulating IL-6 has a causal role in the development of SBP and PAH, but not DBP or hypertension. These findings suggest that IL-6 may be a potential therapeutic target for preventing or treating cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. However, more studies are needed to confirm the causal effects of IL-6 on blood pressure and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and pathways.

Enhancing Surgical Nursing Student Performance: Comparative Study of Simulation-Based Learning and Problem-Based Learning.

Surgical nursing is a high-risk, high-pressure, and complex field. Nurses need extensive knowledge, skills, and abilities. Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and Simulation-Based Learning (SBL) are effective student-centered methods. Which method is better for surgical nurse training? More research is needed to determine the best approach for undergraduate surgical nurse education. To compare the impact of PBL and SBL on undergraduate nursing students' performance and improve learning outcomes in surgical nursing education. We used a pretest/post-test design with 318 nursing undergraduates randomly assigned to two groups. Participants completed three progressive scenarios focused on surgical nursing cases. Experts blindly reviewed video recordings using the 70-item Korean Nurses' Core Competence Scale (KNCCS) to assess performance. The 13-item Satisfaction and Self-confidence in learning Scale (SSS) measured learning confidence and satisfaction. SBL participants also completed the 16-item Educational Practices in Simulation Scale (EPSS) and 20-item Simulation Design Scale (SDS). The study found significant positive effects on both groups, with noticeable improvements in post-test, retention, and follow-up test results (P < 0.001). The SBL group showed higher competency levels in nurses (P < 0.001). The Cohen's d and effect size (r) for various skills were as follows: clinical performance (0.84767 and 6.39023), critical thinking (0.31017 and 0.15325), professional attitude (0.85868 and 0.39452), and communication skills (1.55149 and 0.61294). The satisfaction and self-confidence of nurses were higher in the SBL group (4.53±0.596; 4.47±0.611) compared to the PBL group (4.32±0.689; 4.25±0.632) in all dimensions of SSS (all P < 0.05). The SBL group also scored high in simulation design and EPSS. However, improvements are needed in fidelity, objectives, information, and students' expectations. SBL and PBL improve nurses' core competence, satisfaction, and self-confidence. SBL is superior. This study promotes student-centered education, enhancing surgical nursing professionals' quality and ensuring future patient safety.

Investigating the Impact of Social Capital, Cross-Sector Collaboration, and Leadership on Social Innovation in Rural Social Enterprises

Objectives: This study aims to investigate empirical evidence regarding the relationship between social capital, cross-sector collaboration, leadership, and the development of social innovation in Indonesian villages with rural social enterprises, Badan Usaha Milik Desa (BUMDes). Methods/Analysis: The study employed a mixed approach, combining a quantitative survey, non-participative observation, and in-depth interviews. Data were collected from 280 BUMDes directors, communities, and village governments in the West Java province, Indonesia. The quantitative data were analyzed by structural equation modeling (SEM), and the hypotheses were tested against the variables investigated. The results were strengthened through in-depth interviews with five key informants. Findings: The findings reveal a significant positive effect of cross-sector collaboration and leadership on social innovation in BUMDes. However, social capital was found to have no significant effect on social innovation. Additionally, the study revealed a decline in community trust in rural Indonesia. Novelty/Improvements: This research provides empirical evidence on the influence of social capital, cross-sector collaboration, and leadership on social innovation in the context of rural social enterprises in developing countries. It makes a significant contribution to existing theory and has the potential to influence the development of rural social enterprise and social innovation, which has not been sufficiently researched to date. From an empirical perspective, this study provides evidence from West Java, Indonesia, regarding the relationship between these variables and indicators in the context of rural social enterprises in developing countries, where the sector is still at a developmental stage. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2024-05-01-09 Full Text: PDF

Cover crops affect pool specific soil organic carbon in cropland – A meta‐analysis

AbstractCover crops (CC) offer numerous benefits to agroecosystems, particularly in the realm of soil organic carbon (SOC) accrual and loss mitigation. However, uncertainties persist regarding the extent to which CCs, in co‐occurrence with environmental factors, influence SOC responses and associated C pools. We therefore performed a weighted meta‐analysis on the effects of CCs on the mineral‐associated organic carbon (MAOC), the particulate organic carbon (POC) and the microbial biomass carbon (MBC) pool compared to no CC cultivation in arable cropland. Our study summarized global research of comparable management, with a focus on climatic zones representative of Europe, such as arid, temperate and boreal climates. In this meta‐analysis, we included 71 independent studies from 61 articles published between 1990 and June 2023 in several scientific and grey literature databases. Sensitivity analysis was conducted and did not identify any significant publication bias. The results revealed that CCs had an overall statistically significant positive effect on SOC pools, increasing MAOC by 4.8% (95% CI: 0.6%–9.4%, n = 16), POC by 23.2% (95% CI: 13.9%–34.4%, n = 39) and MBC by 20.2% (95% CI: 11.7%–30.7%, n = 30) in the top soil, compared to no CC cultivation. Thereby, CCs feed into the stable as well as the more labile C pools. The effect of CCs on MAOC was dependent on soil clay content and initial SOC concentration, whereas POC was influenced by moderators such as CC peak biomass and experiment duration. For MBC, for example, clay content, crop rotation duration and tillage depth were identified as important drivers. Based on our results on the effects of CCs on SOC pools and significant moderators, we identified several research needs. A pressing need for additional experiments exploring the effects of CCs on SOC pools was found, with a particular focus on MAOC and POC. Further, we emphasize the necessity for conducting European studies spanning the north–south gradient. In conclusion, our results show that CC cultivation is a key strategy to promote C accrual in different SOC pools. Additionally, this meta‐analysis provides new insights into the state of knowledge regarding SOC pool changes influenced by CCs, offering quantitative summary results and shedding light on the sources of heterogeneity affecting these findings.

Trophic interactions in soil micro-food webs drive ecosystem multifunctionality along tree species richness.

Rapid biodiversity losses under global climate change threaten forest ecosystem functions. However, our understanding of the patterns and drivers of multiple ecosystem functions across biodiversity gradients remains equivocal. To address this important knowledge gap, we measured simultaneous responses of multiple ecosystem functions (nutrient cycling, soil carbon stocks, organic matter decomposition, plant productivity) to a tree species richness gradient of 1, 4, 8, 16, and 32 species in a young subtropical forest. We found that tree species richness had negligible effects on nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and plant productivity, but soil carbon stocks and ecosystem multifunctionality significantly increased with tree species richness. Linear mixed-effect models showed that soil organisms, particularly arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and soil nematodes, elicited the greatest relative effects on ecosystem multifunctionality. Structural equation models revealed indirect effects of tree species richness on ecosystem multifunctionality mediated by trophic interactions in soil micro-food webs. Specifically, we found a significant negative effect of gram-positive bacteria on soil nematode abundance (a top-down effect), and a significant positive effect of AMF biomass on soil nematode abundance (a bottom-up effect). Overall, our study emphasizes the significance of a multitrophic perspective in elucidating biodiversity-multifunctionality relationships and highlights the conservation of functioning soil micro-food webs to maintain multiple ecosystem functions.

The Impact of Meaningful Work on Employee Engagement: The Case of Mongolian Kindergarten Teachers

Numerous studies substantiate the correlation between meaningful work and its far-reaching impact on various aspects of employees' lives. This includes bolstering financial stability, improving physical health, nurturing relationships, and fostering a sense of community. Consequently, these positive outcomes ripple into elevated levels of job satisfaction, increased work engagement, and enhanced job retention. The primary objective of this study is to explore the relationship between meaningful work and employee engagement. The study utilized data from 149 employees across four private kindergartens in Ulaanbaatar city of Mongolia and conducted thorough analyses to evaluate the reliability and correlation of variables, employing covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM). The analysis revealed that the positive meaning has a significant and positive correlation with all three facets of employee engagement. Notably, positive meaning has moderate positive impacts on cognitive engagement (β = 0.531), emotional engagement (β = 0.549), and behavioral engagement (β = 0.546) among the participants. Additionally, the research findings revealed that meaning-making through work displayed small yet statistically significant positive effects on various aspects of employee engagement among kindergarten employees. Specifically, meaning-making through work weak and positively influenced cognitive engagement (β = 0.479), emotional engagement (β = 0.395), and behavioral engagement (β = 0.408). Furthermore, the research findings revealed that the greater good motivations had the strongest positive relationship with employee engagement among the three facets assessed. Specifically, greater good motivations showed substantially positive effects on cognitive engagement (β = 0.751), emotional engagement (β = 0.859), and behavioral engagement (β = 0.763) among the kindergarten teachers.