Is there sufficient genetic variation to breed Elsenburg Merino sheep with shorter tails?

Context. Breech strike compromises wool production and welfare of Merinos. Long tails contribute to the formation of dags, increasing the risk of sheep attracting gravid blowfly females. Tail-docking is popular globally, as it reduces the incidence of dags. Breeding for a reduced tail length is a more socially accepted measure to replace tail-docking as a management strategy, since stronger legislation for animal welfare is expected. Aim. The study used historic data on tail length (TL), birth weight (BW) and bodyweight at docking (DW) to estimate genetic and environmental parameters for these traits in a well known South African resource flock. Methods. Merino lambs born from 2016 to 2021 (except for 2020 due to Covid-19) of the Elsenburg Merino flock were recorded for TL, BW and DW. The flock was separated by divergent selection for and against a number of lambs weaned per ewe mated in a High (H) and a Low (L) line. Fixed effects included birth year, sex, selection line, dam age and birth type. ASReml was used to analyse the fixed effects so as to obtain an operational model, before adding the random direct genetic (h(2)), maternal genetic (m(2)) and maternal permanent environmental (c(2)) effects. Results. H-line lambs were heavier at birth and tail-docking, with longer tails than those of L-line contemporaries (all P < 0.01). The line difference in TL seemed to be size-dependent, as it was eliminated by adding DW as a covariate to the analysis. The same trend was observed for sex, dam age and birth type. TL was thus affected (P < 0.01) only by birth year in the latter analysis. Regressions of TL on age at tail-docking and DW were highly significant (P < 0.01). Single-trait estimates of h(2) were 0.26 for BW, 0.06 for DW, and 0.30 for TL. TL remained heritable at 0.38 in the analysis including DW as a covariate. Including m(2) improved the random- effects model for TL (0.08) and DW (0.20). TL and DW were genetically correlated (rG = 0.47 and rM = 0.70). Conclusions. TL was moderately heritable, with small m(2) and non-significant c(2) effects. It will be possible to directly select for TL. However, selection for shorter tails will reduce size if breeding values are not adjusted for DW as a covariate. Implications. Further studies on the genetic basis of TL as well as its genetic correlations with other traits of economic importance are warranted.

Opportunity recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic: a case study of Ghanaian women entrepreneurs in the beauty industry

PurposeThis paper aims to develop insight into the impact the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis had on female entrepreneurs in Ghana's beauty industry and their ability to recognize opportunities. The authors also ascertained characteristics of the women that seemed to have influenced opportunity recognition.Design/methodology/approachUsing the case study approach, the authors collected data via in-depth interviews and open-ended questionnaires from sixteen women entrepreneurs in the beauty industry. The data were analyzed using a thematic analysis.FindingsThe data show that women entrepreneurs encountered challenges during the pandemic;however, some of the women were able to identify opportunities. Creativity and social media inclination were perceived to have influenced opportunity recognition. It was also observed from the demographic data that women who identified opportunities and women who could not differ in the level of education, age and firm age.Practical implicationsWomen entrepreneurs are encouraged to capitalize on social media and virtual platforms to enhance their marketing, services and operations. COVID-19 aid for businesses must be distributed equitably to all entrepreneurs in need.Originality/valueThe findings from this study provide novel insights into opportunity recognition during a crisis, focusing on a specific industry in a developing country.

Over-ordering and food waste: The use of food delivery apps during a pandemic

There is a paucity of research on the role of food delivery apps (FDAs) in food waste generation. This gap needs to be addressed since FDAs represent a fast-growing segment of the hospitality sector, which is already considered to be a key food waste generator globally. Even more critically, FDAs have become a prominent source of ordering food during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the growing usage of FDAs warrants an improved understanding of the complexities of consumer behavior toward them, particularly during a health crisis. The present study addresses this need by examining the antecedents of FDA users' food ordering behavior during the pandemic that can lead to food waste. The study theorizes that hygiene consciousness impacts the enablers and barriers to FDA usage, which, in turn, shape the attitude toward FDAs and the tendency to order more food than required, i.e., shopping routine. The conceptual model, based on behavioral reasoning theory, was tested using data collected from 440 users of FDAs during the pandemic. The results support a positive association of trust and price advantage with attitude, but only of trust with shopping routine. Perceived severity and moral norms did not moderate any associations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

The influence of consumer traits on impulsive buying: A study on Tokopedia users during the Covid-19 Pandemic

The e-commerce industry significantly expanded during a negative economic recession. This is because, during the COVID-19 epidemic, many countries enacted social limitations that caused various economic activities to diminish in many sectors and resulted in layoffs in various businesses because there was no production activity. Through consumer attributes such as impulsive buying tendencies, shopping enjoyment preferences, moods, and personal situations, this study aims to understand the factors contributing to impulsive buying. The SEM statistical method and PLS software were used to test the research model empirically. Sampling with a purpose was chosen. Two hundred legitimate respondents were used as samples to test the assumptions. First, the study found that impulsive buying patterns, moods, and situations all positively influence impulsive purchases. Second, other elements, such spending patterns, are not significant. This demonstrates that customers can enjoy looking up information about the desired goods, but it hasn't yet led customers to make impulsive purchases at online shops.

Attitude and Practices of self-medication among the students of Sialkot Medical College, Sialkot

Background: During covid-19 period not only general public was victim of anxiety besides all medical professional also face anxiety and change their Information seeking behaviour according their personality. Curiosity is in human nature with the easy access to internet the new horizon to information has been opened. People searching trends have shown that they are interested in health risk to health treatment for their health related problems. Aim(s): In this study examined the influences of anxiety (ISA) and Personality traits (PT) on health information seeking behaviour (HISB) among the Doctor, paraprofessional and final year medical students who are frontline worker during pandemic situation. Methodology: The study adopted survey method with non-probability convenience sampling to collect statistical. Questionnaires werefiled from 313 participants by utilizing convenient sampling and analyzing the data through SPSS. Result(s): The result showed that significant relation between personality traits, information seeking anxiety and health information seeking behaviour. In medical library user PT has significant impact on HISB (p<.05), (AVG_PT=.002) and ISA has impact on HISB but it is not significant in medical professional (beta -.070) value shows ISA has negative impact on HISB. Practical implication: This study will be beneficial for information professionals, health care workers, policy makers and administrators to access of information resources in hybrid format. Conclusion(s): Medical professional's plays an important role in our society. They work hard and served the nation during pandemic situation. Anxiety is natural phenomena to every person. So medical professional also feel anxietybut the medical profession demands its professionals to stay cool, calm and free of anxiety by having analytical and cognitive skills, in order to fulfill the needs of their profession. This research helps to understand that ISA has no significant impact on HISB while PT has significant impact on HISB.Copyright © 2023 Lahore Medical And Dental College. All rights reserved.

Impact of loneliness and cognitive emotion regulation in psychological well-being of students during the pandemic

The current study, seeks to determine how loneliness and the different cognitive emotion regulation strategies contribute to psychological well-being of young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also examines whether cognitive emotion regulation explains well-being beyond loneliness. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Personality traits and conflict management styles via job performance in higher education

PurposeThis study aims to examine the direct and indirect relationships between Personality Traits (PTs) and Conflict Management Styles (CMSs) through Job Performance (JP) in Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachThis is a quantitative study that employed a survey questionnaire to collect cross-sectional data from academic leaders of Pakistan's Higher Education Institutes (HEIs). The researchers derived this study's findings from 320 useable responses.FindingsThe authors used a Structural Equation Model (SEM) which shows a positive and significant effect of agreeableness on Integrating Styles (IS), Avoiding Styles (AS), Obliging Styles (OS), Compromising Styles (CS) and Dominating Styles (DS). Extraversion has a positive and significant effect on IS, OS, DS and CS. Emotional Stability (ES) is the positive and significant predictor of IS, AS, OS and CS. The conscientiousness trait has a positive and significant effect in predicting IS, OS, DS, CS and AS. Likewise, openness has a positive and significant effect on IS, OS, DS and CS. On the other hand, extraversion and openness have a negative and insignificant effect on AS. Finally, amongst HEIs' academic leaders ES is the negative and insignificant predictor of DS.Practical implicationsThis study's findings offer additional insights into understanding the direct and indirect connections between PTs and CMSs through JP. These support the development of effective policies and organizational arrangements to resolve and manage conflict and employee behaviours. Finally, through another contribution of empirical evidence, these findings further enrich the worth of the literature.Originality/valueThis study's findings provide both, directly and indirectly, the original contributions of Pakistan's HEIs' academic leaders PTs and CMSs.

Increasing the effectiveness of online learning platforms: Some factors that influence employee work engagement

PurposeThis paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.Design/methodology/approachThis briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.FindingsEffectiveness of online learning requires employees to engage with the digital platforms used. Companies can increase work engagement (WE) among learners by developing a platform that is regarded as easy to use and offers online content that employees believe will enhance their future job performance. Task-based learning that includes game elements and other challenging activities also help create an online environment conducive to interaction, knowledge sharing and quality feedback. Personality traits can also influence learner WE, while careful use of financial incentives has scope to do likewise.Originality/valueThe briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Psychological Distress and Negative Emotions in Post-COVID Infection: A Comparative Study of the COVID and NO-COVID Young Patients.

According to the literature, mental health assumed urgent relevance, and several scholars are debating on the enduring of the neurological and psychiatric symptoms in post COVID patients. Our study aimed to investigate the emotional dimensions in young population to the COVID exposition: primary endpoint was to detect the psychological distress up to 3 months in post-COVID-19. A comparative study was conducted among young adults in Italy. We also assessed dysphoria, depression, anxiety, stress symptoms, pessimism, and positive personality traits. The participants were 140 Italian young aged 18-30 years (mean = 22.1, SD ± 2.65; 65.0% female). The sample was distinguished in two groups: COVID and NO-COVID groups. The results revealed that young who have been exposed to COVID-19 infection evidenced emotional vulnerability by higher psychological distress (depression, anxiety, stress), dysphoria signs (irritability, discontent, interpersonal resentment, and feelings of renunciation/surrender) then No COVID-19 infection young. Furthermore, COVID patients showed higher negative emotions about the expected life, uncertain for future, and loss of motivation (characterized no desires) than NO-COVID infection. In conclusion, the vulnerability of young exposed to COVID infection even in mild severity should be considered as emerging unmet need of mental health recovering: urgent health policy actions to boost the psychological, biological and social strategic pillar for young generation.

Communication Modalities, Personality Traits, and Change in Perceived Control Over Social Life Following Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Older Americans.

We examined associations between change in social contact communication modalities and change in perceived control over social life (PCOSL) following onset of the COVID-19 pandemic among older Americans and evaluated the extent to which associations were moderated by personality. Data were from the 2016 and 2020 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. Multivariate ordinary least squares regression analyses were computed adjusting for baseline PCOSL, sociodemographic, health, and psychosocial factors. Multiple moderation analyses revealed that extraversion moderated the association between change in social media communication and change in PCOSL before to during COVID-19. As levels of engagement in social media communication increased, those with high extraversion experienced increases in PCOSL, whereas those with low extraversion experienced decreases in PCOSL. Findings suggest that social interventions targeting perceived control and communication modality may be useful for older adults during global health events and that personality characteristics can help to inform intervention choices.

Big Five personality traits and coping strategies of Italian university students during the COVID-19 pandemic first wave.

Introduction: Little is known about the role personality traits may have played for university students in diminishing and compensating for the negative impact of COVID-19 in its early phases, promoting adaptive coping. University students represent a population which was consistently obliged to follow social distance rules due to the early shift of many organizations from face-to-face to online learning. Therefore, it is worth exploring whether the Big Five traits acted as risk or protective factors after the outbreak of a disaster such as the COVID-19 pandemic for Italian university students. Methods: We involved a sample of 2,995 university students who completed an online survey in March 2020. We measured the Big Five personality traits through the Big Five Inventory-2-XS and their coping strategies through the Robust-Pandemic Coping Scale. The latter assessed four COVID-19-related coping dimensions, namely Despair (e.g., including helplessness and feeling lack of control), Aversion (e.g., referring to oppositive strategies), Proactivity (e.g., comprising problem solving and information seeking), and Adjustment (e.g., concerning reappraisal and assertiveness). Results: Preliminarily, two Linear Mixed Models indicated that university students had higher scores in Conscientiousness, followed by Open-Mindedness, and then Agreeableness. These three traits were, in turn, higher than Extraversion and Negative Emotionality, which did not differ among them. Concerning coping, university students reacted more frequently utilizing adaptive strategies (with Proactivity used more frequently than Adjustment) rather than maladaptive strategies (with Despair higher than Aversion). A Path Analysis examining the relations between the Big Five traits and the four coping dimensions showed that Negative Emotionality can be considered as a risk factor, and that Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Open-Mindedness can be conceptualized as protective factors. More interestingly, we found that Extraversion entailed both a risk and a protective role for Italian university students after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussion: Notwithstanding limitations, these findings can be the basis for developing disaster preparation and prevention actions, aiming at promoting students' positive coping towards current and future disasters.

Exploring Large Digital Bodies for the Study of Human Behavior.

Internet access has become a fundamental component of contemporary society, with major impacts in many areas that offer opportunities for new research insights. The search and deposition of information in digital media form large sets of data known as digital corpora, which can be used to generate structured data, representing repositories of knowledge and evidence of human culture. This information offers opportunities for scientific investigations that contribute to the understanding of human behavior on a large scale, reaching human populations/individuals that would normally be difficult to access. These tools can help access social and cultural varieties worldwide. In this article, we briefly review the potential of these corpora in the study of human behavior. Therefore, we propose Culturomics of Human Behavior as an approach to understand, explain, and predict human behavior using digital corpora.

The role of maladaptive personality traits on psychological stress the mediating effects of COVID-19-related worries and emotional dysregulation.

There is increasing evidence that dysfunctional personality traits, related to psychological maladjustment and psychopathology, can play an important role in a person's ability to cope with major stressful events. Relatively little is known about the specific effect of the emotional component on the relationship between maladaptive personality traits and psychological stress. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the maladaptive personality traits of psychoticism, detachment, and negative affect, and psychological stress, considering the effects of COVID-19-related worries and emotional dysregulation. An online survey was administered to 1172 adult participants. A series of path analysis models showed that maladaptive personality traits (psychoticism, detachment, and negative affect) are related to psychological stress. COVID-19-related worries and emotional dysregulation partially explained this association. The results suggest that in the early months of 2022, during the reduction of government restrictions, although the world population was no longer in nationwide lockdown, the COVID-19-related emotional component could still explain, at least in part, the association between maladaptive personality traits and psychological stress.

The mediating role of perceived stress in the relationship between neuroticism and death anxiety among women in Isfahan during the coronavirus pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the structural modeling of the mediating role of perceived stress in the relationship between neuroticism and death anxiety among 25-50-year-old women during coronavirus infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present correlational study was conducted with the presence of 130 people (women) using the available sampling method in Isfahan. The Perceived Stress Scale, BFI Five Factor Scale and Death Anxiety Scale were used to measure the research variables. Data analysis was performed using structural equation modeling, and also SPSS version 23 and Smart PLS3 statistical. RESULT: Findings show that the indirect coefficient of neuroticism on death anxiety mediated by perceived stress in the model was significant (P < 0.05) although the mediation rate was partial. Also, in modeling structural equations, the direct effect of perceived stress on death anxiety (0.195), neuroticism on perceived stress (0.305), neuroticism on death anxiety (0.407) were achieved significantly (05/0p). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that with increase of neuroticism, death anxiety increases in women and with the entry of perceived stress in this regard and increasing this variable in women, the effect of neuroticism on death anxiety increases. Paying attention to this mechanism can be useful in formulating effective preventive and therapeutic interventions for women to reduce the effects of neuroticism and death anxiety.

Investigating Autistic Traits, Social Phobia, Fear of COVID-19, and Internet Use Disorder variables in the context of Videoconference Fatigue

In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many individuals turned to synchronous online video communication technologies as a substitute for real-world face-to-face interactions. Evidence indicates that some users of such technologies show symptoms of exhaustion and fatigue during and after videoconferences – this phenomenon is referred to as Videoconference Fatigue (VC fatigue). Research characterizing the possible vulnerability factors for VC fatigue is still scarce and considered to be in its early stage. Contributing to closing this gap in the existing literature is the motivation for the present study. Survey data was collected from 311 German-speaking participants to explore the relationships of VC fatigue with several psychological factors including autistic traits, social phobia, Fear of COVID-19, tendencies towards Internet Use Disorders (IUD tendencies), and Fear of Missing Out (FoMO, trait and state variables). Results showed that VC fatigue was significantly positively correlated with all of these psychological factors, and mediation analyses provided further evidence for the positive association between autistic traits and VC fatigue. Specifically, the relationship between autistic traits and VC fatigue was mediated by Fear of COVID-19 and IUD tendencies rather than social phobia, with the latter being a preregistered hypothesis. This study adds to the literature by revealing several possible vulnerability factors associated with VC fatigue. In essence, the present work sheds light on the complex association between autistic traits and VC fatigue. We discuss the implications of our study as well as its limitations and potential avenues for future research.

Optimization of investment performance based on personality traits: Acces la Success

To achieve their investment objectives, each investor has a strategy in place. A high amount of personality traits element influenced (perceived) investment performance. The purpose of this research was to test how the Big Five personality qualities affected (perceived) investment performance. The hypotheses were tested using PLS-SEM. Individual stock investors in Indonesia were studied, and the results revealed that openness and neuroticism personality had a negative impact on (perceived) investment performance. Consciousness, extraversion, and agreeableness, on the other hand, all had a positive effect on (perceived) investment performance. This research shows the importance of personality traits when allocating assets to meet investment objectives and improves behavioral finance theory.

How personality affects reaction. A mental health behavioral insight review during the Pandemic.

The fear caused by the Covid-19 pandemic is changing our psychology and behavior. This ongoing negative event, imposing restrictions such as home isolation and social distancing, can result in heightened anxiety, depression and a sense of loneliness, with immediate effects on mental health. This study investigates adolescents' reaction to the pandemic, by analyzing the behavioral mental health trends of depression, anxiety and sense of loneliness, in relation to personality traits. After controlling for demographics and family background, our results reveal strong relationships between several personality traits and psychological health indicators, during the pandemic in Greece. A total of 419 secondary school students (aged 12-18) were administered the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC), the Child Depression Inventory (CDI), the Big Five Inventory for measuring personality (BFI) and the Children's Loneliness Questionnaire (CLS) during two time periods within pandemic. Overall, it appears that depression increased significantly in line with the escalation of the pandemic, while anxiety decreased, with the strongest predictors being the personality variables of extraversion, neuroticism and openness. Surprisingly, the study also revealed that the level of extraversion has a positive effect on changes in anxiety, while a negative one on changes in depression. On the other hand, neuroticism and openness seem to negatively correlate with anxiety changes and positively with depression changes. These findings highlight the importance of considering these variables in addressing individuals' mental health behavior during the Covid-19 pandemic and elucidate the literature by offering a deeper understanding of the strong relationship between personality, depression and anxiety.

Antivax attitude in the general population along the autism-schizophrenia continuum and the impact of socio-demographic factors.

Introduction: One of the most important inventions in human history is vaccines. However, to date a consistent amount of people exhibit a hesitant approach toward them and mixed results have emerged in the attempt to characterize which factors may play a role in predicting such negative attitude. Here, we aimed at investigating how the individual scoring along the autism-schizophrenic continuum component and socio-cultural factors contribute toward vaccination attitudes in the general population. Methods: To test whether individual position along the autism-schizophrenic continuum could predict vaccine attitude, we used principal component analysis (PCA) to extract the component showing diametric loading between the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) and Autistic Quotient (AQ) subscales. Then, we performed a series of multiple linear regression analyses to understand the relation between the ASD-SSD continuum component and Vax scores. We also included socio-demographic factors (i.e., gender, education level, and age) as predictors. Results: Multiple regression analysis revealed that the closer the individual lied on the positive schizotypal pole, the higher was their negative attitude toward vaccines. A diametric, more favorable disposition was found for individuals closer to the autistic end of the continuum. Furthermore, we reported that among the socio-cultural factors, only age can be considered a significant predictor of vaccination attitudes, with younger participants showing a more positive attitudes toward vaccination, while the level of education is an important protective factor in mitigating the negative impact that the proximity to the SSD pole and age play against vaccination disposition. Discussion: These findings are relevant to improve targeted public health interventions, highlighting the crucial role of demographic, psychological, and social correlates in predicting anti-vax beliefs, which have the devasting potential to increase the spread of infectious disease.

The mediating role of psychological flexibility in the association of autistic-like traits with burnout and depression in medical students during clinical clerkships in Japan: a university-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Burnout and depression among medical students is linked to serious problems that require appropriate solutions. Subthreshold autism traits or autistic-like traits (ALTs) may be possible factors associated with burnout and depression. The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for burnout and depression has been widely reported. The treatment aims to improve psychological flexibility, a concept indicating engagement in personal value-based behaviors without avoiding uncomfortable private experiences. This study examined whether ALTs were associated with burnout or depression among medical students during clinical clerkships in Japan, and then investigated what psychological flexibility processes might mediate these associations. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 284 medical students at Nagoya City University School of Medical Sciences who had been in clinical clerkships for 10 months or longer. Linear multiple regressions were performed with each burnout factor or depression as the outcome variable using validated tools measuring burnout (Maslach Burnout Inventory), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), ALT (Autism-Spectrum Quotient Japanese version-21), and psychological flexibility processes (Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire-7 and Valuing Questionnaire). Additionally, a mediation analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling. RESULTS: A linear multiple regression analysis that controlled for age and gender found that ALTs were significantly associated with lower personal accomplishment, a factor of burnout, and depression. Lower personal accomplishment was also associated with males and lower progress toward values of the psychological flexibility process. Depression was also associated with males and higher cognitive fusion, lower progress towards values, and higher obstruction to values of the psychological flexibility process. Surprisingly, emotional exhaustion and depersonalization were not significantly associated with ALTs. The mediation analysis revealed that the relationship between ALTs and personal accomplishment was partially mediated by a process of progress toward values, while the relationship between ALTs and depression was partially mediated by both processes of progress toward values and cognitive fusion. CONCLUSIONS: ALTs were significantly associated with lower personal accomplishment of burnout and depression among medical students in clinical clerkships. Consideration should be given to the psychological flexibility processes that focus on interventions targeting psychological flexibility for medical students with ALTs to reduce burnout and depression.