Tree plantations are globally significant,and therefore,growth-related challenges cannot be ignored.Canopy structure and light environment influence the growth of plantations,but the precise relationship remains uncle...Tree plantations are globally significant,and therefore,growth-related challenges cannot be ignored.Canopy structure and light environment influence the growth of plantations,but the precise relationship remains unclear.We selected seven-year-old poplar plantations of varying cultivars planted various densities and measured their growth,canopy structure,and light environment.The findings indicate that poplar plantations of different cultivars and at different planting densities showed variations in leaf area index(LAI),average leaf angle(ALA),crown length(CL),length ratio(CLR),roundness(CR)and surface area(CSA),which directly or indirectly affect growth,resulting in disparities in their growing conditions.Crown roundness directly impacted growth,while LAI,CLR and ALA influenced growth indirectly by affecting intercellular carbon dioxide concentration.LAI and CLR had a positive effect;ALA had a negative one.Crown length and surface area directly and indirectly influenced growth by affecting photo synthetically active radiation and net photo synthetic rate,with direct impacts being more pronounced.This research has clarified the regulatory role of canopy structure in plantations growth,providing valuable insights for developing more effective management strategies.展开更多
Enhancement of productivity optimization is steadily gaining the priority in mining companies especially in the underground coal mining industry which faces a daunting task to balance marginal profit generation with a...Enhancement of productivity optimization is steadily gaining the priority in mining companies especially in the underground coal mining industry which faces a daunting task to balance marginal profit generation with a comparatively high cost of production, volatile market price and rapid grade variation. This paper is aimed to analyze some of the causal factors both technical and site specific which are directly or indirectly impacting the productivity of the longwall coal mining system such as downtime of equipment system in longwall panel, overloading of conveyors and bin, preventive maintenance, gas management practices and injury severity rate. Structured Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to study the causal relationships between the above-mentioned factors and mine productivity. The equipment considered for analysis included shearer, armored face conveyor, crusher, bridge stage loader, chock supports, main gate drive, gate conveyor, hydraulic pumps and crusher. SEM was applied to relate the correlations existing among these causal variables in order to assess their direct or indirect impact on mining productivity. Based on the data extracted over a period of 10 months which included the extraction of 2 longwall panels, the study revealed a significant negative causal relationship between injury severity rate (p < 0.01) and equipment downtime (p = 0.001), with mine productivity. However, preventive maintenance delay time, gas management delay time and conveyor overloading delay time were found to have an insignificant direct influence on mine productivity but indirectly modify it through a significant mediator relationship with equipment downtime. This information would assist mine management to take proper preventive measures.展开更多
Work injuries in mines are complex and generally characterized by several factors starting from personal to technical and technical to social characteristics.In this paper,investigation was made through the applicatio...Work injuries in mines are complex and generally characterized by several factors starting from personal to technical and technical to social characteristics.In this paper,investigation was made through the application of structural equation modeling to study the nature of relationships between the influencing/associating personal factors and work injury and their sequential relationships leading towards work injury occurrences in underground coal mines.Six variables namely,rebelliousness,negative affectivity,job boredom,job dissatisfaction and work injury were considered in this study.Instruments were developed to quantify them through a questionnaire survey.Underground mine workers were randomly selected for the survey.Responses from 300 participants were used for the analysis.The structural model of LISREL was used to estimate the interrelationships amongst the variables.The case study results show that negative affectivity and job boredom induce more job dissatisfaction to the workers whereas risk taking attitude of the individual is positively influenced by job dissatisfaction as well as by rebelliousness characteristics of the individual.Finally,risk taking and job dissatisfaction are having positive significant direct relationship with work injury.The findings of this study clearly reveal that rebelliousness,negative affectivity and job boredom are the three key personal factors influencing work related injuries in mines that need to be addressed properly through effective safety programs.展开更多
Purpose:This paper aims to examine how the adoption decision of the internet banking in North Cyprus would be affected based on the following dimensions;the technology features,the personal characteristics,the social ...Purpose:This paper aims to examine how the adoption decision of the internet banking in North Cyprus would be affected based on the following dimensions;the technology features,the personal characteristics,the social environment and the expected risk.Design/methodology/approach:A self-administered survey was conducted with 291 participants responded to it.The partial least square approach of the structural equation modeling(PLS-SEM)is employed to investigate the direct effects of the proposed factors on the adoption decision.Additionally,the mediation test is used to examine indirect effects.Findings:Results showed that even though the participants appreciated the benefits of the online banking as the perceived usefulness factor exerts the greatest direct effect,they would rather use clear and easy-to-use websites,adding to that their assessments of the usefulness of these services are significantly influenced by the surrounding people’s views and prior experience.This is demonstrated by the total effects of the perceived ease of use and the subjective norm factors,which are greater than the direct effect of the perceived usefulness factor since both of these factors have significant direct and indirect effects mediated by the perceived usefulness factor.The negative impact of the perceived risk factor is weak compared to the previous factors.While the personal innovativeness factor showed the weakest effect among the proposed factors.展开更多
This paper describes a structural equation modeling （SEM） analysis of factors influencing architects＇ trust in project design teams. We undertook a survey of architects, during which we distributed 193 questionnair...This paper describes a structural equation modeling （SEM） analysis of factors influencing architects＇ trust in project design teams. We undertook a survey of architects, during which we distributed 193 questionnaires in 29 A-level architectural design institutes selected radomly from the altogether 59 ones in Shenzhen, P. R. China, and received 130 valid questionnaires. We used Amos 6.0 for SEM to identify significant personal construct based factors affecting interpersonal trust. The results show that only social interaction between architects significantly affects their interpersonal trust. The explained variance of trus~ is not very high in the model. Therefore, future research should add more factors into the current model. The practical implication is that team managers should promote the social interactions between team members such that the interpersonal trust level between team members can be improved.展开更多
Structural Equation Modeling （SEM） used widely in sociology, economics and psychology is adopted. Based on data obtained from marketing research, and using statistical analysis software SPSSll. 0 and LISRELS. 7, The...Structural Equation Modeling （SEM） used widely in sociology, economics and psychology is adopted. Based on data obtained from marketing research, and using statistical analysis software SPSSll. 0 and LISRELS. 7, Theory of Five Dimensions of service quality is proved to be suitable in sportswear retailing in China. It analyzes the relationship among five dimensions and puts them in order of importance as to service quality in sportswear retailing. Advices are given for sportswear retail companies to improve their .Service quality and enhance customer loyalty.展开更多
Bayesian networks （BN） have many advantages over other methods in ecological modeling, and have become an increasingly popular modeling tool. However, BN are flawed in regard to building models based on inadequate e...Bayesian networks （BN） have many advantages over other methods in ecological modeling, and have become an increasingly popular modeling tool. However, BN are flawed in regard to building models based on inadequate existing knowledge. To overcome this limitation, we propose a new method that links BN with structural equation modeling （SEM）. In this method, SEM is used to improve the model structure for BN. This method was used to simulate coastal phytoplankton dynamics in the Bohai Bay. We demonstrate that this hybrid approach minimizes the need for expert elicitation, generates more reasonable structures for BN models, and increases the BN model＇s accuracy and reliability. These results suggest that the inclusion of SEM for testing and verifying the theoretical structure during the initial construction stage improves the effectiveness of BN models, especially for complex eco-environment systems. The results also demonstrate that in the Bohai Bay, while phytoplankton biomass has the greatest influence on phytoplankton dynamics, the impact of nutrients on phytoplankton dynamics is larger than the influence of the physical environment in summer. Furthermore, although the Redfield ratio indicates that phosphorus should be the primary nutrient limiting factor, our results show that silicate plays the most important role in regulating phytoplankton dynamics in the Bohai Bay.展开更多
BACKGROUND Treatment efficacy for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder(ADHD)is reported to be poor,possibly due to heterogeneity of ADHD symptoms.Little is known about poor treatment efficacy owing to ADHD heterog...BACKGROUND Treatment efficacy for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder(ADHD)is reported to be poor,possibly due to heterogeneity of ADHD symptoms.Little is known about poor treatment efficacy owing to ADHD heterogeneity.AIM To use generalized structural equation modeling(GSEM)to show how the heterogeneous nature of hyperactivity/impulsivity(H/I)symptoms in ADHD,irritable oppositional defiant disorder(ODD),and the presentation of aggression in children interferes with treatment responses in ADHD.METHODS A total of 231 children and adolescents completed ADHD inattention and H/I tests.ODD scores from the Swanson,Nolan,and Pelham,version IV scale were obtained.The child behavior checklist(CBCL)and parent’s satisfaction questionnaire were completed.The relationships were analyzed by GSEM.RESULTS GSEM revealed that the chance of ADHD remission was lower in children with a combination of H/I symptoms of ADHD,ODD symptoms,and childhood aggressive behavior.ODD directly mediated ADHD symptom severity.The chance of reaching remission based on H/I symptoms of ADHD was reduced by 13.494%[=exp(2.602)]in children with comorbid ADHD and ODD[odds ratio(OR)=2.602,95%confidence interval(CI):1.832-3.373,P=0.000]after adjusting for the effects of other factors.Childhood aggression mediated ODD symptom severity.The chance of reaching remission based on ODD symptoms was lowered by 11.000%[=1-exp(-0.117)]in children with more severe baseline symptoms of aggression based on the CBCL score at study entry[OR=-0.117,95%CI:(-0.190)-(-0.044),P=0.002].CONCLUSION Mediation through ODD symptoms and aggression may influence treatment effects in ADHD after adjusting for the effects of baseline ADHD symptom severity.More attention could be directed to the early recognition of risks leading to ineffective ADHD treatment,e.g.,symptoms of ODD and the presentation of aggressive or delinquent behaviors and thought problems in children with ADHD.展开更多
Tracing the origins of business cost, to define the satisfaction assessment factors on the business cost in Shanghai was investigated in this paper. Arguing that these effects: a single low cost is not only the criter...Tracing the origins of business cost, to define the satisfaction assessment factors on the business cost in Shanghai was investigated in this paper. Arguing that these effects: a single low cost is not only the criterion determining satisfaction. Other important factors, such as enterprise internal cognitive attitude,stability of the external environment,the quality of perceptions of government services can affect satisfaction. Within structural equation modeling( SEM) approach, six sets of hypotheses are drawn up and tested with a sample of 338 enterprises using questionnaires. Additionally,the analyses of findings introduce the crucial importance of these features in the assessment of satisfaction with business cost in Shanghai. Finally, the results show that internal cognitive has a positive impact on satisfaction. Stability of the external environment has a significant relationship with the effectiveness of government services. Stability of the external environmeat and the effectiveness of government servises have a positive effect on satisfaction.展开更多
Factors affecting equipment maintenance quality usually include personnel,equipment and facilities,raw materials and spare parts, craft, environment and quality management. These six factors affecting maintenance qual...Factors affecting equipment maintenance quality usually include personnel,equipment and facilities,raw materials and spare parts, craft, environment and quality management. These six factors affecting maintenance quality are not all the same degree. In order to find out which factor can influence equipment maintenance quality greatly and achieve sophisticated management,characteristic quantities of six factors are presented. A structural equation modeling( SEM) is designed using the six factors as latent variables and their characteristic quantities as the observed variable.According to the basic data obtained from the questionnaire survey,calculate the standardized regression weight by parameter estimation of the SEM. Then the key factors affecting the quality of the equipment maintenance are determined with the help of the standardized regression weight.展开更多
With the expanding enrollments in higher education,the quality of col-lege education and the learning gains of students have attracted much attention.It is important to study the influencing factors and mechanisms of ...With the expanding enrollments in higher education,the quality of col-lege education and the learning gains of students have attracted much attention.It is important to study the influencing factors and mechanisms of individual stu-dents’acquisition of learning gains to improve the quality of talent cultivation in colleges.However,in the context of information security,the original data of learning situation surveys in various universities involve the security of educa-tional evaluation data and daily privacy of teachers and students.To protect the original data,data feature mining and correlation analyses were performed at the model level.This study selected 12,181 pieces of data from X University,which participated in the Chinese College Student Survey(CCSS)from 2018 to 2021.A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted and a structural equation modeling was conducted using AMOS 24.0.Through hypothesis testing,this study explored the mechanisms that influence learning gains from the per-spectives of student involvement,teacher involvement,and school support.The results indicated that the quality of student involvement has an important mediat-ing effect on learning gains and that a supportive campus environment has the greatest influence on learning gains.Establishing positive emotional communica-tions between teachers and students is a more direct and effective method than improving the teaching level to improve the quality of student involvement.This study discusses the implications of these results on the research and practice of connotative development in higher education.展开更多
Tuojiang River Basin is a first-class tributary of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River—which is the longest river in China.As phytoplankton are sensitive indicators of trophic changes inwater bodies,characterizing...Tuojiang River Basin is a first-class tributary of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River—which is the longest river in China.As phytoplankton are sensitive indicators of trophic changes inwater bodies,characterizing phytoplankton communities and their growth influencing factors in polluted urban rivers can provide new ideas for pollution control.Here,we used direct microscopic count and environmental DNA(eDNA)metabarcoding methods to investigate phytoplankton community structure in Tuojiang River Basin(Chengdu,Sichuan Province,China).The association between phytoplankton community structure and water environmental factors was evaluated by Mantel analysis.Additional environmental monitoring data were used to pinpoint major factors that influenced phytoplankton growth based on structural equation modeling.At the phylum level,the dominant phytoplankton taxa identified by the conventional microscopic method mainly belonged to Bacillariophyta,Chlorophyta,and Cyanophyta,in contrast with Chlorophyta,Dinophyceae,and Bacillariophyta identified by eDNA metabarcoding.Inα-diversity analysis,eDNA metabarcoding detected greater species diversity and achieved higher precision than the microscopic method.Phytoplankton growth was largely limited by phosphorus based on the nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratios>16:1 in all water samples.Redundancy analysis and structural equation modeling also confirmed that the nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio was the principal factor influencing phytoplankton growth.The results could be useful for implementing comprehensive management of the river basin environment.It is recommended to control the discharge of point-and surface-source pollutants and the concentration of dissolved oxygen in areas with excessive nutrients(e.g.,Jianyang-Ziyang).Algae monitoring techniques and removal strategies should be improved in 201 Hospital,Hongrihe Bridge and Colmar Town areas.展开更多
Meta-analytic structural equation modeling is a new research field which can help to explain the relationship between a group of variables in several studies by testing structural equation modeling.However,this method...Meta-analytic structural equation modeling is a new research field which can help to explain the relationship between a group of variables in several studies by testing structural equation modeling.However,this methodology is still not very popular in many countries and researchers due to lack of promotion.This report aim s to giv e a primer on the principle of m eta-analytic structural equation modeling and provid e a reference for subsequent researchers to conduct m eta-analytic structural equation modeling analysis.展开更多
With the continuous advancement of education informatization,Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge(TPACK),as a new theoretical framework,provides a novel method for measuring teachers’informatization teaching a...With the continuous advancement of education informatization,Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge(TPACK),as a new theoretical framework,provides a novel method for measuring teachers’informatization teaching ability.This study takes normal students of English majors from three ethnic universities as the research object,collects relevant data through questionnaires,and uses structural equation modeling to conduct data analysis and empirical research to investigate the differences in the TPACK levels of these students at different grades and the structural relationships among the elements in the TPACK structure.The technological pedagogical knowledge element of the TPACK structure was not obtained by exploratory factors analysis but through path analysis and structural equation modeling,the results show that the one-dimensional core knowledge of technological knowledge(TK),content knowledge(CK),and pedagogical knowledge(PK)have a positive effect on the two-dimensional interaction knowledge of technological content knowledge(TCK)and pedagogical content knowledge(PCK);furthermore,TCK and PCK have a positive effect on TPACK;and TK,CK,and PK indirectly affect TPACK through TCK and PCK.On this basis,suggestions are provided to ethnic colleges and universities to develop the TPACK knowledge competence of normal students of English majors.展开更多
Dentistry is a profession with a high prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders(WMSDs),with symptoms often appearing very early in one’s career[1].WMSDs are conditions affecting the muscles,bones,and nervo...Dentistry is a profession with a high prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders(WMSDs),with symptoms often appearing very early in one’s career[1].WMSDs are conditions affecting the muscles,bones,and nervous system due to occupational factors.In 2002,the International Labor Organization included musculoskeletal diseases in the International List of Occupational Diseases.China’s recently updated Classification and Catalog of Occupational Diseases has introduced two new categories of occupational illnesses,including occupational musculoskeletal disorders.WMSDs significantly impact the health and work of dentists,reducing their quality of life and causing economic losses.These disorders are multifactorial in nature,influenced by personal,psychosocial,biomechanical,and environmental factors.Dentists frequently maintain static or awkward postures during procedures,which leads to musculoskeletal strain and discomfort;additionally,long working hours contribute to psychological stress,further increasing the risk of WMSDs[2].展开更多
Understanding spatial patterns of plant species diversity and the factors(e.g.,climate and human)that drive these patterns is essential for biodiversity conservation.We used data from 1700.1-ha forest plots in the She...Understanding spatial patterns of plant species diversity and the factors(e.g.,climate and human)that drive these patterns is essential for biodiversity conservation.We used data from 1700.1-ha forest plots in the Shettihalli tropical forest landscape of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot,India,to analyse tree community composition and the drivers ofα-diversity(Shannon)andβ-diversity(LCBD).Compositional patterns were visualized using Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling(NMDS),and hybrid feature selection with structural equation modeling(SEM)was employed to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of environmental variables on diversity.NMDS identified four distinct forest types in the Shettihalli landscape:semi-evergreen,dry deciduous,moist deciduous,and plantation forests,each with distinct plant composition.Shannon diversity and ecological uniqueness was significantly higher in semi-evergreen forest than in deciduous forest plots.The SEMs explained about 79%and 39–45%of the variation inα-diversity andβ-diversity.Our analysis indicated that current diversity patterns result from multiple processes,with structure,disturbance,and edaphic parameters exerting the strongest direct and indirect effects onα-diversity.β-diversity,in contrast,was largely influenced by climate,topography,stand structure,and edaphic factors.Overall,our findings indicate that various factors(e.g.,climate,topography,and human disturbance)interact to shape tree diversity patterns in tropical forests.These findings will help develop unique conservation and management strategies for distinct forest types in tropical forest ecosystems.展开更多
Arid and semi-arid ecosystems are prone to extensive fires due to specific climatic conditions,sparse vegetation cover,and high density of fine fuels.Understanding the flammability characteristics of land covers is es...Arid and semi-arid ecosystems are prone to extensive fires due to specific climatic conditions,sparse vegetation cover,and high density of fine fuels.Understanding the flammability characteristics of land covers is essential for fire management and designing land restoration programs in arid and semi-arid ecosystems.This study provided a new approach to evaluate the flammability of shrublands and woodlands using flammability indices(FIs)including time to ignition(TI),duration of combustion(DC),and flame height(FH)of plant species and their relative frequencies in the Dalfard Basin of southeastern Iran.The results showed that there was a significant difference in FIs between land covers.Shrublands had higher flammability potential compared with woodlands.Plant moisture content had a negative relationship with TI(P<0.010)and no significant relationship with DC and FH(P>0.050).Artemisia spp.,Astragalus gossypinus Fischer,Amygdalus scoparia Spach,and Cymbopogon jwarancusa(Jones)Schult.had the highest FI.Tree species such as Rhazya stricta Decne.,and Pistacia atlantica Desf.showed greater resistance to fire.Using principal component analysis,the relationship between species and FIs was examined,and TI of wet fuel was the most important FI in relation to species.Structural equation model showed that life form(P<0.001)was the most important flammability driver.Precipitation(P<0.010)and legume species(P<0.010)were significantly related to the flammability in arid land.This study emphasizes the importance of managing high-risk species and using resistant species in vegetation restoration and shows that combining species FIs with their abundance is an effective tool for assessing fire risk and fuel management at the plant community scale.展开更多
Vegetation in terrestrial ecosystems as a carbon sink is a crucial factor in mitigating global warming and reaching carbon neutrality targets,although the drivers of net ecosystem productivity(NEP)under combined human...Vegetation in terrestrial ecosystems as a carbon sink is a crucial factor in mitigating global warming and reaching carbon neutrality targets,although the drivers of net ecosystem productivity(NEP)under combined human and environmental pressures remain poorly understood.In this study,we analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution of NEP in the Horqin Sandy Land,China from 2000 to 2020,and observed the variation in NEP across different land use types.We further identified and quantified the effects of human activities,topographical features,climatic conditions,and soil properties on NEP through the application of structural equation modeling(SEM)and boosted regression trees(BRT).The results showed that the multi-year average NEP ranged from–137.79 to 461.96 g C/m^(2) in the Horqin Sandy Land,with 88.21%of the area showing a significant increasing trend.Among different land use types,forestland exhibited the highest NEP values,followed by cropland,grassland,impervious land,and unused land.The NEP in carbon sink areas was primarily regulated by potential evapotranspiration(negatively correlated)and precipitation(positively correlated).Slope was identified as the most significant positive determinant in carbon source areas.Forestland exhibited climate–topography interactions driving NEP,whereas cropland and grassland relied on temperature;unused land and impervious land were susceptible to land use/cover change and human footprint.This study has significant implications for maintaining the carbon sink function and promoting ecological engineering programs that aim to enhance the capacity of terrestrial carbon sinks in the semi-arid agro-pastoral ecotone.展开更多
A households′production behavior directly influences the quality of the environment and determines the successful development of nature reserves.Meanwhile,the households′production behaviors are complicated by inter...A households′production behavior directly influences the quality of the environment and determines the successful development of nature reserves.Meanwhile,the households′production behaviors are complicated by interrelated factors,such as protection attitudes,resource endowment,and family wealth.This research evaluated households near the Crested Ibis National Nature Reserve in Shaanxi Province,acquiring data from 436 households around Yang County and Ningshan County in the south slope of Qinling Mountains,China.Based on the collected data,we developed a structural equation model to evaluate the coupling relationships among households′ protection attitudes,production behaviors,resource endowment,and family wealth.The results showed that:1) households with great resource endowment had more negative attitudes,probably due to their greater protection costs;2) the households with higher education levels had worse protection attitudes;3) the households with more family wealth were likely to use fewer fertilizers,pesticides,and firewood;4) the households with more resource endowment showed less production and management behaviors;5) the enhancement of households' attitudes improved production behaviors to protection the environment,but the effects were not statistically significant.Our results provide a basis for the government's protection policy making,exploring the effective management measures that are beneficial for both nature reserve management and community development.展开更多
Background:As is widely known,an increasing number of forest areas were managed to preserve and enhance the health of forest ecosystems.However,previous research on forest management has often overlooked the importanc...Background:As is widely known,an increasing number of forest areas were managed to preserve and enhance the health of forest ecosystems.However,previous research on forest management has often overlooked the importance of structure-based.Aims:Our objectives were to define the direction of structure-based forest management.Subsequently,we investigated the relationships between forest structure and the regeneration,growth,and mortality of trees under different thinning treatments.Ultimately,the drivers of forest structural change were explored.Methods:On the basis of 92 sites selected from northeastern China,with different recovery time (from 1 to 15years) and different thinning intensities (0–59.9%) since the last thinning.Principal component analysis (PCA)identified relationships among factors determining forest spatial structure.The structural equation model (SEM)was used to analyze the driving factors behind the changes in forest spatial structure after thinning.Results:Light thinning (0–20%trees removed) promoted forest regeneration,and heavy thinning (over 35% of trees removed) facilitated forest growth.However,only moderate thinning (20%–35%trees removed) created a reasonable spatial structure.While dead trees were clustered,and they were hardly affected by thinning intensity.Additionally,thinning intensity,recovery time,and altitude indirectly improve the spatial structure of the forest by influencing diameter at breast height (DBH) and canopy area.Conclusion:Creating larger DBH and canopy area through thinning will promote the formation of complex forest structures,which cultivates healthy and stable forests.展开更多
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2021YFD2201203)the financial support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32001311)。
文摘Tree plantations are globally significant,and therefore,growth-related challenges cannot be ignored.Canopy structure and light environment influence the growth of plantations,but the precise relationship remains unclear.We selected seven-year-old poplar plantations of varying cultivars planted various densities and measured their growth,canopy structure,and light environment.The findings indicate that poplar plantations of different cultivars and at different planting densities showed variations in leaf area index(LAI),average leaf angle(ALA),crown length(CL),length ratio(CLR),roundness(CR)and surface area(CSA),which directly or indirectly affect growth,resulting in disparities in their growing conditions.Crown roundness directly impacted growth,while LAI,CLR and ALA influenced growth indirectly by affecting intercellular carbon dioxide concentration.LAI and CLR had a positive effect;ALA had a negative one.Crown length and surface area directly and indirectly influenced growth by affecting photo synthetically active radiation and net photo synthetic rate,with direct impacts being more pronounced.This research has clarified the regulatory role of canopy structure in plantations growth,providing valuable insights for developing more effective management strategies.
文摘Enhancement of productivity optimization is steadily gaining the priority in mining companies especially in the underground coal mining industry which faces a daunting task to balance marginal profit generation with a comparatively high cost of production, volatile market price and rapid grade variation. This paper is aimed to analyze some of the causal factors both technical and site specific which are directly or indirectly impacting the productivity of the longwall coal mining system such as downtime of equipment system in longwall panel, overloading of conveyors and bin, preventive maintenance, gas management practices and injury severity rate. Structured Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to study the causal relationships between the above-mentioned factors and mine productivity. The equipment considered for analysis included shearer, armored face conveyor, crusher, bridge stage loader, chock supports, main gate drive, gate conveyor, hydraulic pumps and crusher. SEM was applied to relate the correlations existing among these causal variables in order to assess their direct or indirect impact on mining productivity. Based on the data extracted over a period of 10 months which included the extraction of 2 longwall panels, the study revealed a significant negative causal relationship between injury severity rate (p < 0.01) and equipment downtime (p = 0.001), with mine productivity. However, preventive maintenance delay time, gas management delay time and conveyor overloading delay time were found to have an insignificant direct influence on mine productivity but indirectly modify it through a significant mediator relationship with equipment downtime. This information would assist mine management to take proper preventive measures.
文摘Work injuries in mines are complex and generally characterized by several factors starting from personal to technical and technical to social characteristics.In this paper,investigation was made through the application of structural equation modeling to study the nature of relationships between the influencing/associating personal factors and work injury and their sequential relationships leading towards work injury occurrences in underground coal mines.Six variables namely,rebelliousness,negative affectivity,job boredom,job dissatisfaction and work injury were considered in this study.Instruments were developed to quantify them through a questionnaire survey.Underground mine workers were randomly selected for the survey.Responses from 300 participants were used for the analysis.The structural model of LISREL was used to estimate the interrelationships amongst the variables.The case study results show that negative affectivity and job boredom induce more job dissatisfaction to the workers whereas risk taking attitude of the individual is positively influenced by job dissatisfaction as well as by rebelliousness characteristics of the individual.Finally,risk taking and job dissatisfaction are having positive significant direct relationship with work injury.The findings of this study clearly reveal that rebelliousness,negative affectivity and job boredom are the three key personal factors influencing work related injuries in mines that need to be addressed properly through effective safety programs.
文摘Purpose:This paper aims to examine how the adoption decision of the internet banking in North Cyprus would be affected based on the following dimensions;the technology features,the personal characteristics,the social environment and the expected risk.Design/methodology/approach:A self-administered survey was conducted with 291 participants responded to it.The partial least square approach of the structural equation modeling(PLS-SEM)is employed to investigate the direct effects of the proposed factors on the adoption decision.Additionally,the mediation test is used to examine indirect effects.Findings:Results showed that even though the participants appreciated the benefits of the online banking as the perceived usefulness factor exerts the greatest direct effect,they would rather use clear and easy-to-use websites,adding to that their assessments of the usefulness of these services are significantly influenced by the surrounding people’s views and prior experience.This is demonstrated by the total effects of the perceived ease of use and the subjective norm factors,which are greater than the direct effect of the perceived usefulness factor since both of these factors have significant direct and indirect effects mediated by the perceived usefulness factor.The negative impact of the perceived risk factor is weak compared to the previous factors.While the personal innovativeness factor showed the weakest effect among the proposed factors.
基金Funded by the R & D Project of the Ministry of Construction of China.
文摘This paper describes a structural equation modeling （SEM） analysis of factors influencing architects＇ trust in project design teams. We undertook a survey of architects, during which we distributed 193 questionnaires in 29 A-level architectural design institutes selected radomly from the altogether 59 ones in Shenzhen, P. R. China, and received 130 valid questionnaires. We used Amos 6.0 for SEM to identify significant personal construct based factors affecting interpersonal trust. The results show that only social interaction between architects significantly affects their interpersonal trust. The explained variance of trus~ is not very high in the model. Therefore, future research should add more factors into the current model. The practical implication is that team managers should promote the social interactions between team members such that the interpersonal trust level between team members can be improved.
文摘Structural Equation Modeling （SEM） used widely in sociology, economics and psychology is adopted. Based on data obtained from marketing research, and using statistical analysis software SPSSll. 0 and LISRELS. 7, Theory of Five Dimensions of service quality is proved to be suitable in sportswear retailing in China. It analyzes the relationship among five dimensions and puts them in order of importance as to service quality in sportswear retailing. Advices are given for sportswear retail companies to improve their .Service quality and enhance customer loyalty.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin(Grant No.16JCYBJC23000)the Open Foundation of the Key Laboratory for Ecological Environment in Coastal Areas of the State Oceanic Administration(Grant No.201604)Science and Technology Foundation for Young Scholars from Tianjin Fisheries Bureau(Grant No.J2014-05)
文摘Bayesian networks （BN） have many advantages over other methods in ecological modeling, and have become an increasingly popular modeling tool. However, BN are flawed in regard to building models based on inadequate existing knowledge. To overcome this limitation, we propose a new method that links BN with structural equation modeling （SEM）. In this method, SEM is used to improve the model structure for BN. This method was used to simulate coastal phytoplankton dynamics in the Bohai Bay. We demonstrate that this hybrid approach minimizes the need for expert elicitation, generates more reasonable structures for BN models, and increases the BN model＇s accuracy and reliability. These results suggest that the inclusion of SEM for testing and verifying the theoretical structure during the initial construction stage improves the effectiveness of BN models, especially for complex eco-environment systems. The results also demonstrate that in the Bohai Bay, while phytoplankton biomass has the greatest influence on phytoplankton dynamics, the impact of nutrients on phytoplankton dynamics is larger than the influence of the physical environment in summer. Furthermore, although the Redfield ratio indicates that phosphorus should be the primary nutrient limiting factor, our results show that silicate plays the most important role in regulating phytoplankton dynamics in the Bohai Bay.
文摘BACKGROUND Treatment efficacy for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder(ADHD)is reported to be poor,possibly due to heterogeneity of ADHD symptoms.Little is known about poor treatment efficacy owing to ADHD heterogeneity.AIM To use generalized structural equation modeling(GSEM)to show how the heterogeneous nature of hyperactivity/impulsivity(H/I)symptoms in ADHD,irritable oppositional defiant disorder(ODD),and the presentation of aggression in children interferes with treatment responses in ADHD.METHODS A total of 231 children and adolescents completed ADHD inattention and H/I tests.ODD scores from the Swanson,Nolan,and Pelham,version IV scale were obtained.The child behavior checklist(CBCL)and parent’s satisfaction questionnaire were completed.The relationships were analyzed by GSEM.RESULTS GSEM revealed that the chance of ADHD remission was lower in children with a combination of H/I symptoms of ADHD,ODD symptoms,and childhood aggressive behavior.ODD directly mediated ADHD symptom severity.The chance of reaching remission based on H/I symptoms of ADHD was reduced by 13.494%[=exp(2.602)]in children with comorbid ADHD and ODD[odds ratio(OR)=2.602,95%confidence interval(CI):1.832-3.373,P=0.000]after adjusting for the effects of other factors.Childhood aggression mediated ODD symptom severity.The chance of reaching remission based on ODD symptoms was lowered by 11.000%[=1-exp(-0.117)]in children with more severe baseline symptoms of aggression based on the CBCL score at study entry[OR=-0.117,95%CI:(-0.190)-(-0.044),P=0.002].CONCLUSION Mediation through ODD symptoms and aggression may influence treatment effects in ADHD after adjusting for the effects of baseline ADHD symptom severity.More attention could be directed to the early recognition of risks leading to ineffective ADHD treatment,e.g.,symptoms of ODD and the presentation of aggressive or delinquent behaviors and thought problems in children with ADHD.
基金National Social Science Foundation of China(No.10BJL044)Doctoral Innovation Project of Donghua University:the Central Universities Science Fundamental Research in China(No.CUSF-DH-D-2015064)
文摘Tracing the origins of business cost, to define the satisfaction assessment factors on the business cost in Shanghai was investigated in this paper. Arguing that these effects: a single low cost is not only the criterion determining satisfaction. Other important factors, such as enterprise internal cognitive attitude,stability of the external environment,the quality of perceptions of government services can affect satisfaction. Within structural equation modeling( SEM) approach, six sets of hypotheses are drawn up and tested with a sample of 338 enterprises using questionnaires. Additionally,the analyses of findings introduce the crucial importance of these features in the assessment of satisfaction with business cost in Shanghai. Finally, the results show that internal cognitive has a positive impact on satisfaction. Stability of the external environment has a significant relationship with the effectiveness of government services. Stability of the external environmeat and the effectiveness of government servises have a positive effect on satisfaction.
文摘Factors affecting equipment maintenance quality usually include personnel,equipment and facilities,raw materials and spare parts, craft, environment and quality management. These six factors affecting maintenance quality are not all the same degree. In order to find out which factor can influence equipment maintenance quality greatly and achieve sophisticated management,characteristic quantities of six factors are presented. A structural equation modeling( SEM) is designed using the six factors as latent variables and their characteristic quantities as the observed variable.According to the basic data obtained from the questionnaire survey,calculate the standardized regression weight by parameter estimation of the SEM. Then the key factors affecting the quality of the equipment maintenance are determined with the help of the standardized regression weight.
基金This work was supported by the Education Department of Henan,China.The fund was obtained from the general project of the 14th Plan of Education Science of Henan Province in 2021(No.2021YB0037).
文摘With the expanding enrollments in higher education,the quality of col-lege education and the learning gains of students have attracted much attention.It is important to study the influencing factors and mechanisms of individual stu-dents’acquisition of learning gains to improve the quality of talent cultivation in colleges.However,in the context of information security,the original data of learning situation surveys in various universities involve the security of educa-tional evaluation data and daily privacy of teachers and students.To protect the original data,data feature mining and correlation analyses were performed at the model level.This study selected 12,181 pieces of data from X University,which participated in the Chinese College Student Survey(CCSS)from 2018 to 2021.A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted and a structural equation modeling was conducted using AMOS 24.0.Through hypothesis testing,this study explored the mechanisms that influence learning gains from the per-spectives of student involvement,teacher involvement,and school support.The results indicated that the quality of student involvement has an important mediat-ing effect on learning gains and that a supportive campus environment has the greatest influence on learning gains.Establishing positive emotional communica-tions between teachers and students is a more direct and effective method than improving the teaching level to improve the quality of student involvement.This study discusses the implications of these results on the research and practice of connotative development in higher education.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.72091511)the Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of Hebei Province (No.E2022402064).
文摘Tuojiang River Basin is a first-class tributary of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River—which is the longest river in China.As phytoplankton are sensitive indicators of trophic changes inwater bodies,characterizing phytoplankton communities and their growth influencing factors in polluted urban rivers can provide new ideas for pollution control.Here,we used direct microscopic count and environmental DNA(eDNA)metabarcoding methods to investigate phytoplankton community structure in Tuojiang River Basin(Chengdu,Sichuan Province,China).The association between phytoplankton community structure and water environmental factors was evaluated by Mantel analysis.Additional environmental monitoring data were used to pinpoint major factors that influenced phytoplankton growth based on structural equation modeling.At the phylum level,the dominant phytoplankton taxa identified by the conventional microscopic method mainly belonged to Bacillariophyta,Chlorophyta,and Cyanophyta,in contrast with Chlorophyta,Dinophyceae,and Bacillariophyta identified by eDNA metabarcoding.Inα-diversity analysis,eDNA metabarcoding detected greater species diversity and achieved higher precision than the microscopic method.Phytoplankton growth was largely limited by phosphorus based on the nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratios>16:1 in all water samples.Redundancy analysis and structural equation modeling also confirmed that the nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio was the principal factor influencing phytoplankton growth.The results could be useful for implementing comprehensive management of the river basin environment.It is recommended to control the discharge of point-and surface-source pollutants and the concentration of dissolved oxygen in areas with excessive nutrients(e.g.,Jianyang-Ziyang).Algae monitoring techniques and removal strategies should be improved in 201 Hospital,Hongrihe Bridge and Colmar Town areas.
文摘Meta-analytic structural equation modeling is a new research field which can help to explain the relationship between a group of variables in several studies by testing structural equation modeling.However,this methodology is still not very popular in many countries and researchers due to lack of promotion.This report aim s to giv e a primer on the principle of m eta-analytic structural equation modeling and provid e a reference for subsequent researchers to conduct m eta-analytic structural equation modeling analysis.
文摘With the continuous advancement of education informatization,Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge(TPACK),as a new theoretical framework,provides a novel method for measuring teachers’informatization teaching ability.This study takes normal students of English majors from three ethnic universities as the research object,collects relevant data through questionnaires,and uses structural equation modeling to conduct data analysis and empirical research to investigate the differences in the TPACK levels of these students at different grades and the structural relationships among the elements in the TPACK structure.The technological pedagogical knowledge element of the TPACK structure was not obtained by exploratory factors analysis but through path analysis and structural equation modeling,the results show that the one-dimensional core knowledge of technological knowledge(TK),content knowledge(CK),and pedagogical knowledge(PK)have a positive effect on the two-dimensional interaction knowledge of technological content knowledge(TCK)and pedagogical content knowledge(PCK);furthermore,TCK and PCK have a positive effect on TPACK;and TK,CK,and PK indirectly affect TPACK through TCK and PCK.On this basis,suggestions are provided to ethnic colleges and universities to develop the TPACK knowledge competence of normal students of English majors.
基金supported by the 2021 Shandong Province Higher Education Institutions“Youth Innovation Talent Introduction and Cultivation Plan”(Public Health Safety Risk Assessment and Response Innovation Team)National Traditional Chinese Medicine Comprehensive Reform Demonstration Zone Science and Technology Co construction Project(No.GZYKJSSD-2024-106)Research Project of Shandong Educational Supervision Society(No.SDJYDDXH2023-2159).
文摘Dentistry is a profession with a high prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders(WMSDs),with symptoms often appearing very early in one’s career[1].WMSDs are conditions affecting the muscles,bones,and nervous system due to occupational factors.In 2002,the International Labor Organization included musculoskeletal diseases in the International List of Occupational Diseases.China’s recently updated Classification and Catalog of Occupational Diseases has introduced two new categories of occupational illnesses,including occupational musculoskeletal disorders.WMSDs significantly impact the health and work of dentists,reducing their quality of life and causing economic losses.These disorders are multifactorial in nature,influenced by personal,psychosocial,biomechanical,and environmental factors.Dentists frequently maintain static or awkward postures during procedures,which leads to musculoskeletal strain and discomfort;additionally,long working hours contribute to psychological stress,further increasing the risk of WMSDs[2].
基金supported by the Department of Biotechnology,Ministry of Science and Technology,Govt.India,under grant No.BT/Coord.II/10/02/2016/22.03.2018the Indian Council of Social Science Research,New Delhi,India,for providing a short-term doctoral fellowship(RFD/Short-Term/2022-23/ENV/ST/66).
文摘Understanding spatial patterns of plant species diversity and the factors(e.g.,climate and human)that drive these patterns is essential for biodiversity conservation.We used data from 1700.1-ha forest plots in the Shettihalli tropical forest landscape of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot,India,to analyse tree community composition and the drivers ofα-diversity(Shannon)andβ-diversity(LCBD).Compositional patterns were visualized using Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling(NMDS),and hybrid feature selection with structural equation modeling(SEM)was employed to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of environmental variables on diversity.NMDS identified four distinct forest types in the Shettihalli landscape:semi-evergreen,dry deciduous,moist deciduous,and plantation forests,each with distinct plant composition.Shannon diversity and ecological uniqueness was significantly higher in semi-evergreen forest than in deciduous forest plots.The SEMs explained about 79%and 39–45%of the variation inα-diversity andβ-diversity.Our analysis indicated that current diversity patterns result from multiple processes,with structure,disturbance,and edaphic parameters exerting the strongest direct and indirect effects onα-diversity.β-diversity,in contrast,was largely influenced by climate,topography,stand structure,and edaphic factors.Overall,our findings indicate that various factors(e.g.,climate,topography,and human disturbance)interact to shape tree diversity patterns in tropical forests.These findings will help develop unique conservation and management strategies for distinct forest types in tropical forest ecosystems.
文摘Arid and semi-arid ecosystems are prone to extensive fires due to specific climatic conditions,sparse vegetation cover,and high density of fine fuels.Understanding the flammability characteristics of land covers is essential for fire management and designing land restoration programs in arid and semi-arid ecosystems.This study provided a new approach to evaluate the flammability of shrublands and woodlands using flammability indices(FIs)including time to ignition(TI),duration of combustion(DC),and flame height(FH)of plant species and their relative frequencies in the Dalfard Basin of southeastern Iran.The results showed that there was a significant difference in FIs between land covers.Shrublands had higher flammability potential compared with woodlands.Plant moisture content had a negative relationship with TI(P<0.010)and no significant relationship with DC and FH(P>0.050).Artemisia spp.,Astragalus gossypinus Fischer,Amygdalus scoparia Spach,and Cymbopogon jwarancusa(Jones)Schult.had the highest FI.Tree species such as Rhazya stricta Decne.,and Pistacia atlantica Desf.showed greater resistance to fire.Using principal component analysis,the relationship between species and FIs was examined,and TI of wet fuel was the most important FI in relation to species.Structural equation model showed that life form(P<0.001)was the most important flammability driver.Precipitation(P<0.010)and legume species(P<0.010)were significantly related to the flammability in arid land.This study emphasizes the importance of managing high-risk species and using resistant species in vegetation restoration and shows that combining species FIs with their abundance is an effective tool for assessing fire risk and fuel management at the plant community scale.
基金funded by the National Major Science and Technology Program for Water Pollution Control and Treatment(2017ZX07101-002)the Discipline Construction Program of ZHANG Huayong,Distinguished Professor of School of Life Sciences,Shandong University(61200082363001).
文摘Vegetation in terrestrial ecosystems as a carbon sink is a crucial factor in mitigating global warming and reaching carbon neutrality targets,although the drivers of net ecosystem productivity(NEP)under combined human and environmental pressures remain poorly understood.In this study,we analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution of NEP in the Horqin Sandy Land,China from 2000 to 2020,and observed the variation in NEP across different land use types.We further identified and quantified the effects of human activities,topographical features,climatic conditions,and soil properties on NEP through the application of structural equation modeling(SEM)and boosted regression trees(BRT).The results showed that the multi-year average NEP ranged from–137.79 to 461.96 g C/m^(2) in the Horqin Sandy Land,with 88.21%of the area showing a significant increasing trend.Among different land use types,forestland exhibited the highest NEP values,followed by cropland,grassland,impervious land,and unused land.The NEP in carbon sink areas was primarily regulated by potential evapotranspiration(negatively correlated)and precipitation(positively correlated).Slope was identified as the most significant positive determinant in carbon source areas.Forestland exhibited climate–topography interactions driving NEP,whereas cropland and grassland relied on temperature;unused land and impervious land were susceptible to land use/cover change and human footprint.This study has significant implications for maintaining the carbon sink function and promoting ecological engineering programs that aim to enhance the capacity of terrestrial carbon sinks in the semi-arid agro-pastoral ecotone.
基金Under the auspices of Forestry Industry Research Special Funds for Public Welfare Projects(No.201004008)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.71003007)Research Program of Food and Agriculture Organization(No.CHN/2011/077/LOA)
文摘A households′production behavior directly influences the quality of the environment and determines the successful development of nature reserves.Meanwhile,the households′production behaviors are complicated by interrelated factors,such as protection attitudes,resource endowment,and family wealth.This research evaluated households near the Crested Ibis National Nature Reserve in Shaanxi Province,acquiring data from 436 households around Yang County and Ningshan County in the south slope of Qinling Mountains,China.Based on the collected data,we developed a structural equation model to evaluate the coupling relationships among households′ protection attitudes,production behaviors,resource endowment,and family wealth.The results showed that:1) households with great resource endowment had more negative attitudes,probably due to their greater protection costs;2) the households with higher education levels had worse protection attitudes;3) the households with more family wealth were likely to use fewer fertilizers,pesticides,and firewood;4) the households with more resource endowment showed less production and management behaviors;5) the enhancement of households' attitudes improved production behaviors to protection the environment,but the effects were not statistically significant.Our results provide a basis for the government's protection policy making,exploring the effective management measures that are beneficial for both nature reserve management and community development.
基金financially supported by the Innovation Foundation for Doctoral Program of Forestry Engineering of Northeast Forestry University,grant number:LYGC202117the China Scholarship Council(CSC),grant number:202306600046+1 种基金the Research and Development Plan of Applied Technology in Heilongjiang Province of China,grant number:GA19C006Research and Demonstration on Functional Improvement Technology of Forest Ecological Security Barrier in Heilongjiang Province,grant number:GA21C030。
文摘Background:As is widely known,an increasing number of forest areas were managed to preserve and enhance the health of forest ecosystems.However,previous research on forest management has often overlooked the importance of structure-based.Aims:Our objectives were to define the direction of structure-based forest management.Subsequently,we investigated the relationships between forest structure and the regeneration,growth,and mortality of trees under different thinning treatments.Ultimately,the drivers of forest structural change were explored.Methods:On the basis of 92 sites selected from northeastern China,with different recovery time (from 1 to 15years) and different thinning intensities (0–59.9%) since the last thinning.Principal component analysis (PCA)identified relationships among factors determining forest spatial structure.The structural equation model (SEM)was used to analyze the driving factors behind the changes in forest spatial structure after thinning.Results:Light thinning (0–20%trees removed) promoted forest regeneration,and heavy thinning (over 35% of trees removed) facilitated forest growth.However,only moderate thinning (20%–35%trees removed) created a reasonable spatial structure.While dead trees were clustered,and they were hardly affected by thinning intensity.Additionally,thinning intensity,recovery time,and altitude indirectly improve the spatial structure of the forest by influencing diameter at breast height (DBH) and canopy area.Conclusion:Creating larger DBH and canopy area through thinning will promote the formation of complex forest structures,which cultivates healthy and stable forests.
