Utilization of online systems to promote youth participation in research:A methodological study

BACKGROUND Online surveys can align with youth’s increased use of the internet and can be a mechanism for expanding youth participation in research.This is particularly important during the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic,when inperson interactions are limited.However,the advantages and drawbacks of online systems used for research need to be carefully considered before utilizing such methodologies.AIM To describe and discuss the strengths and limitations of an online system developed to recruit adolescent girls for a sexual health research study and conduct a three-month follow up survey.METHODS This methodology paper examines the use of an online system to recruit and follow participants three months after their medical visit to evaluate a mobile sexual and reproductive health application,Health-E You/Salud iTuTM,for adolescent girls attending school-based health centers(SBHCs)across the United States.SBHC staff gave adolescent girls a web link to an online eligibility and consent survey.Participants were then asked to complete two online surveys(baseline and 3-month follow-up).Surveys,reminders,and incentives to complete them were distributed through short message service(SMS)text messages.Upon completing each survey,participants were also sent an email with a link to an electronic gift card as a thank-you for their participation.Barriers to implementing this system were discussed with clinicians and staff at each participating SBHC.RESULTS This online recruitment and retention system enabled participant recruitment at 26 different SBHCs in seven states across the United States.Between September 2021 and June 2022,415 adolescent girls were screened using the Qualtrics online survey platform,and 182 were eligible to participate.Of those eligible,78.0%(n=142)completed the baseline survey.Participants were racially,geographically,and linguistically diverse.Most of the participants(89.4%)were non-White,and 40.8%spoke Spanish.A total of 62.0%(n=88)completed the 3-month follow-up survey.Limitations of this system included reliance on internet access(via Wi-Fi or cell service),which was not universally available or reliable.In addition,an individual unrelated to the study obtained the survey link,filled out multiple surveys,and received multiple gift cards before the research team discovered and stopped this activity.As a result,additional security protocols were instituted.CONCLUSION Online systems for health research can increase the reach and diversity of study participants,reduce costs for research personnel time and travel,allow for continued study operation when in-person visits are limited(such as during the COVID-19 pandemic),and connect youth with research using technology.However,there are challenges and limitations to online systems,which include limited internet access,intermittent internet connection,data security concerns,and the potential for fraudulent users.These challenges should be considered prior to using online systems for research.

Twenty years of population dynamics in European beech-oak forest at their rear range margin anticipate changes in its structure and composition

There is an increasing interest in restoring degraded forests,which occupy half of the forest areas.Among the forms of restoration,passive restoration,which involves the elimination of degrading factors and the free evolution of natural dynamics by applying minimal or no management,is gaining attention.Natural dynamics is difficult to predict due to the influence of multiple interacting factors such as climatic and edaphic conditions,composition and abundance of species,and the successional character of these species.Here,we study the natural dynamics of a mixed forest located in central Spain,which maintained an open forest structure,due to intensive use,until grazing and cutting were banned in the 1960s.The most frequent woody species in this forest are Fagus sylvatica,Quercus petraea,Quercus pyrenaica,Ilex aquifolium,Sorbus aucuparia,Sorbus aria and Prunus avium,with contrasting shade and drought tolerance.These species are common in temperate European deciduous forest and are found here near their southern distribution limit,except for Q.pyrenaica.In order to analyze forest dynamics and composition,three inventories were carried out in 1994,2005 and 2015.Our results show that,despite the Mediterranean influence,the natural dynamics of this forest has been mainly determined by different levels of shade tolerance.After the abandonment of grazing and cutting,Q.pyrenaica expanded rapidly due to its lower shade tolerance,whereas after canopy closure and forest densification,shade-tolerant species gained ground,particularly F.sylvatica,despite its lower drought and late-frost tolerance.If the current dynamics continue,F.sylvatica will overtake the rest of the species,which will be relegated to sites with shallow soils and steep slopes.Simultaneously,all the multi-centennial beech trees,which are undergoing a rapid mortality and decline process,will disappear.

Understory seedlings of Quercus mongolica survive by phenological escape

Understanding understory seedling regeneration mechanisms is important for the sustainable development of temperate primary forests in the context of increasingly intense climate warming events.The poor regeneration of dominant tree species,however,is one of the biggest challenges it faces at the moment.Especially,the regeneration of the shade-intolerant Quercus mongolica seedling is difficult in primary forests,which contrasts with the extreme abundance of understory seedlings in secondary forests.The mechanism behind the interesting phenomenon is still unknown.This study used in-situ monitoring and nursery-controlled experiment to investigate the survival rate,growth performance,as well as nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) concentrations and pools of various organ tissues of seedlings for two consecutive years,further analyze the understory light availability and simulate the foliage carbon (C) gain in the secondary and primary forest.Results suggested that seedlings in the secondary forest had greater biomass allocation aboveground,height and specific leaf area (SLA) in summer,which allowed the seedling to survive longer in the canopy closure period.High light availability and positive C gain in early spring and late autumn are key factors affecting the growth and survival of understory seedlings in the secondary forest,whereas seedlings in the primary forest had annual negative carbon gain.Through the growing season,the total NSC concentrations of seedlings gradually decreased,whereas those of seedlings in the secondary forest increased significantly in autumn,and were mainly stored in roots for winter consumption and the following year's summer shade period,which was verified by the nursery-controlled experiment that simulated autumn enhanced light availability improved seedling survival rate and NSC pools.In conclusion,our results revealed the survival trade-off strategies of Quercus mongolica seedlings and highlighted the necessity of high light availability during the spring and autumn phenological periods for shade-intolerant tree seedling recruitment.

Seedling dynamics differ between canopy species and understory species in a tropical seasonal rainforest,SW China

We used 11 years of census data from 450 seedling quadrats established in a 20-ha forest dynamics plot to study seedling dynamics in tree species of a tropical seasonal rainforest in Xishuangbanna,southwestern China.We found that overall seedling recruitment rate and relative growth rate were higher in the rainy season than in the dry season.Both the recruitment rate of seedlings from canopy tree species(two species)and the relative growth rate of seedlings from understory species(nine species)were higher in the rainy season than in the dry season.However,in the rainy season,the recruitment rate of seedlings was higher for canopy tree species than for understory tree species.In addition,relative growth rate of seedlings was higher in the canopy species than in understory seedlings in the dry season.We also observed that,in both rainy and dry seasons,mortality rate of seedlings was higher for canopy species than for understory species.Overall,canopy tree species appear to have evolved a flexible strategy to adapt to the seasonal changes of a monsoon climate.In contrast,understory tree species seem to have adopted a conservative strategy.Specifically,these species mainly release seedlings in the rainy season and maintain relatively stable populations with a lower mortality rate and recruitment rate in both dry and rainy seasons.Our study suggests that canopy and understory seedling populations growing in forest understory may respond to future climate change scenarios with distinct regeneration strategies.

How topography and neighbor shape the fate of trees in subtropical forest restoration:Environmental filtering and resource competition drive natural regeneration

The structure of plant communities at local scales depends on both the spatial heterogeneity of abiotic environmental factors and the biotic interactions within the community.However,although environmental filtering due to microtopographic heterogeneity and resource competition among plants caused by spatial variation in tree density and size are considered to be very important in explaining the mechanisms of community assembly,their effects on the processes of individual mortality and recruitment in natural forest regeneration,as well as their relative contributions,are still poorly understood.To address this,we established a 12-ha permanent plot in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest area and measured microtopographic variables such as elevation,slope,aspect,and terrain position index(TPI)using a total station.We monitored the individual mortality and recruitment in forest natural regeneration through repeated surveys at 5-year intervals.We fitted spatial covariance models to jointly use multiple factors from three groups of variables(microtopographic effect,neighborhood density effects,neighborhood size effects)as explanatory variables to analyze their roles in driving the mortality and recruitment of all individual and 12 dominant species in forest natural regeneration at the neighborhood scale.Our results show that:(1)In the crucial early stages of secondary forest restoration,natural regeneration is influenced by a synergy of environmental filtering,due to microtopographic heterogeneity,and resource competition among plants.(2)For distinct species responses,evergreen dominant species'mortality is largely explained by neighborhood effects,while deciduous species are more affected by topographic factors.Furthermore,the adverse effects of larger conspecific trees on younger trees indicate a pattern of competitive pressure leading to mortality among regenerating trees,such pattern emphasis the influence of parent trees on natural regeneration.(3)As trees grow,their interaction with these stressors evolves,suggesting a shift in their resource acquisition strategies and response to neighborhood effects and environmental factors.Despite these changes,the relative importance of topographic factors in determining survival and recruitment success remains constant.This research highlights the importance of considering both environmental and neighborhood effects in forest management,particularly in early secondary forest restoration.

Factors influencing willingness to participate in ophthalmic clinical trials and strategies for effective recruitment

AIM:To explore the factors influencing individuals’willingness to participate in ophthalmic clinical trials.METHODS:A questionnaire survey was conducted from January to April 2021 among patients and their family members at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center,Sun Yat-sen University,in Guangzhou,China.The survey gathered data on respondents’willingness,demographic and socioeconomic profiles,as well as their reasons and concerns regarding engagement in clinical trials.RESULTS:Of the 1078 residents surveyed(mean age 31.2±13.1y;65.8%females)in Guangzhou,749(69.5%)expressed a willingness to participate in future ophthalmic clinical trials.Specific characteristics associated with greater willingness included a younger age,lower annual income,higher education,prior participation experience,previous ophthalmic treatment,and a better understanding of clinical trials.With the exception of age,these characteristics were significantly linked to a higher willingness.The primary barrier to participation,expressed by 64.8%of those willing and 54.4%of those unwilling,was“Uncertain efficacy”.In terms of motivations,the willing group ranked“Better therapeutic benefits”(35.0%),“Professional monitoring”(34.3%),and“Trust in healthcare professionals”(33.1%)as their top three reasons,whereas the unwilling participants indicated“Full comprehension of the protocol”(46.2%)as the key facilitator.CONCLUSION:This study reveals a substantial willingness to participate in ophthalmic clinical trials and demonstrates the predictive role of demographic and socioeconomic factors.Variations in motivators and concerns between willing and unwilling participants highlight the significance of tailored recruitment strategies.Importantly,the need for and trust in healthcare professionals stand out as powerful motivations,underscoring the importance of enhancing physician-patient relationships,adopting patient-centered communication approaches,and addressing individualized needs to improve accrual rates.

How cushion communities are maintained in alpine ecosystems： A review and case study on alpine cushion plant reproduction

Cushion species occur in nearly all alpine environments worldwide. In past decades, the adaptive and ecosystem-engineering roles of such highly specialized life forms have been well studied. However, the adaptive strategies responsible for cushion species reproductive success and maintenance in severe alpine habitats remain largely unclear. In this study, we reviewed the current understanding of reproductive strategies and population persistence in alpine cushion species. We then present a preliminary case study on the sexual reproduction of Arenaria polytrichoides(Caryophyllaceae), a typical cushion species inhabiting high elevations of the Himalaya Hengduan Mountains, which is a hotspot for diversification of cushion species. Finally, we highlight the limitations of our current understanding of alpine cushion species reproduction and propose future directions for study.

Spatial structure and species composition of soil seed banks in moving sand dune systems of northeast China

Soil seed banks can provide a mechanistic for understanding the recruitment dynamics and can inform conservation management of ecosystems. To investigate the contribution of soil seed banks to vegetation restoration in moving sand dune systems, we compared seed structure and species similarity between soil seed banks and standing vegetation among moving sand dunes, ecotones and dune slacks in northeast China. Average seed density in dune slacks was greater than in ecotones or moving sand dunes. Seed density in the soil layer of 0-10 cm was greater than at 10-20 cm both in the moving sand dunes and the eco- tones, but seed densities were similar at depths of 10-20 and 20-30 cm in moving sand dunes. Moreover, the spatial autocorrelation of seed density on moving sand dunes was weak but was strong on the ecotones and dune slacks. The species in the soil seed bank of moving sand dune systems were nearly all annuals, and the low similarity was mainly due to the lack of perennial species that were common in standing vegetation. Consequently, vegetation restoration cannot mainly rely on the soil seed banks in the movingsand dunes and more attention should be paid to protection of the dune slacks because they are the main source of seed disperse and seedling recruitment in moving sand dune systems.

Recruitment Age of Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) (Decapoda: Penaeidae) in the Cabeza De Toro-La Joya Buenavista Lagoon System, Oaxaca-Chiapas, Mexico

At present, the fishery of Litopenaeus vannamei continues overexploited in the Gulf of Tehuantepec (GT), Mexico. From the available literature it was demonstrated that marine closure systems implemented in GT have not worked adequately since 1993, because these are completely protecting marine recruitment seasons, and reproductive seasons were only partially considered to protect. Due to these problems, new marine closure systems were proposed in the literature, but they were not accepted by fishermen from GT because they did not include marine and lagoon recruitment information. For this reason, in this study both recruitment types were analyzed with estimations on the recruitment age (RA), and its relationship with total length and weight. To the Cabeza de Toro la Joya Buenavista lagoon system (CTJB-LS), it was concluded that young recruits migration toward outside CTJB-LS elapsed between 3 and 5-m-olds, with the highest recruit flow in 4-m-olds. Thus, this last age was called the RA of L. vannamei (at 106 mm). Maximum marine recruitment ranked from June to July, and maximum reproductive seasons were in October. In both recruitment seasons it was observed that biomass production was different. In marine season RA recorded 8.4 g more than lagoon season at the same size. Results were used in order to discus about atarraya nets uses, and to propose the implementation of a lagoon closure during July inside lagoon systems located in GT. With this proposal artisanal fishermen will be allowed to use atarraya nets with mesh opening of 25.4 mm during June, and they will obtain a good biomass production level as economic support.Additionally, with new marine closure systems shrimp reproductive seasons will be protected (from July to November).

Strategies for recruiting a sample of adults with type 2 diabetes from primary care clinics in rural Appalachia: Incorporating cultural competence

Background:Recruiting research participants from primary care in rural Appalachia is a major challenge and can be influenced by cultural characteristics,making it critically important to incorporate strategies of cultural competence in the overall design of clinical research.Objectives:The purpose of this paper is to describe culturally competent strategies used for recruitment and data collection with a sample of adults with type 2 diabetes from primary care settings in Appalachia.Design:The Purnell model of cultural competence and relevant literature served as a framework for study design.Four overarching approaches informed the organization of recruitment strategies and development of the data collection plan.Procedures:The approaches included selection of research sites,establishing collaborations,sustaining collaborative relationships,and enhancing understanding of benefits of participation.Four recruitment sites were selected based on potential to enhance diversification of participants;multiple steps were included in each of the three remaining approaches to build relationships and gain participation.A study log was maintained to provide evaluation data.Results:Recruitment took 14 months and a sample of 102 subjects provided consent with 101 participants providing complete data.Demographics were representative of the region except that African American participation was higher(6.9%)compared to current north central Appalachia(3%).Over 72%of participants indicated they would be interested in participating in future studies.Conclusions:These findings emphasize the importance of employing strategies for cultural competence in study design.Use of concepts from the Purnell model led to enhanced representativeness and potential for subsequent generalizability.

Manpower Systems Operating under Heavy and Light Tailed Inter-Exit Time Distributions

This paper considers a Manpower system where “exits” of employed personnel produce some wastage or loss. This system monitors these wastages over the sequence of exit epochs {t0 = 0 and tk;k = 1, 2,…} that form a recurrent process and admit recruitment when the cumulative loss of man hours crosses a threshold level Y, which is also called the breakdown level. It is assumed that the inter-exit times Tk = tk-1 - tk, k = 1, 2,… are independent and identically distributed random variables with a common cumulative distribution function (CDF) B(t) = P(Tk t) which has a tail 1 – B(t) behaving like t-v with 1 v as t → ∞. The amounts {Xk} of wastages incurred during these inter-exit times {Tk} are independent and identically distributed random variables with CDF P(Xk X) = G(x) and Y is distributed, independently of {Xk} and {tk}, as an exponentiated exponential law with CDF H(y) = P(Y y) = (1 - e-λy)n. The mean waiting time to break down of the system has been obtained assuming B(t) to be heavy tailed and as well as light tailed. For the exponential case of G(x), a comparative study has also been made between heavy tailed mean waiting time to break down and light tailed mean waiting time to break down values. The recruitment policy operating under the heavy tailed case is shown to be more economical in all types of manpower systems.

Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Targeted National Recruitment of Community-Dwelling Caregivers Managing Dementia-Related Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms: A Recruitment Approach for a Randomized Clinical Trial

Over 16 million caregivers of people living with dementia require support in a range of issues, including self-care, disease education, and guidance for how to manage behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Non-pharmacological interventions are needed to address these areas, and online applications have been shown to be safe and effective. To ensure the efficacy of such interventions, racially, ethnically, geographically, and socioeconomically diverse participants must be recruited to increase the generalizability of study outcomes. This protocol paper describes a recruitment plan using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to reach a representative sample of caregivers across the United States for a national Phase III clinical study. Using publicly available census data from the American Community Survey (ACS), combined with location data for local aging resources such as Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), recruitment will be derived from data analysis conducted in ESRI ArcGIS v10.7.1. Datasets including age, gender, income, and education will be assessed nationally at the county and census tract spatial scale in a nine-step process to develop recruitment priority areas containing high concentrations of eligible participants living in the community. Overall, the current protocol will demonstrate the value of GIS in tailoring targeted outreach strategies to recruit community-dwelling populations through local resource institutions. This novel approach may have far-reaching implications in future recruitment initiatives and help to secure racially/ethnically diverse samples.

Campus Recruiting Service Quality:Understanding College Recruiters’Experience During Campus Visits

The purpose of this study is to assess the attributes college recruiters’value when determining their campus recruiting activities.The concept of servicescape,SERVQUAL,and SERVPERF were used as a theoretical framework.Importance-performance analysis was utilised to evaluate nine attributes:employer development professional,career fair,tabling,classroom visit,information session,faculty meeting,student group meeting,on campus interviewing,and sponsorship.Data collection occurred at a university in the south eastern United States which hosts career fairs with more than 180 companies.Corporate recruiters were asked to complete a survey with questions regarding the attributed importance and performance of their recruiting experience with the university.This study fills a gap in the research regarding corporate recruiter’s evaluative criteria and decision-making of campus visits,as well as provides practical implications for university career services.

The Recruiting Problems in Chinese Enterprises

The thesis states the problems and tendency of current recruiting and the situation, in which there is no rule and no circumference. It will help us to act successfully during the process of hiring and the development of the enterprise.

Human Resource Management and Quality Assurance System to achieve Competitive Advantage

This study aims at the role of human resources management and quality assurance system to achieving the competitive advantage for the organization.Human resource management are the most important component among the organization’s components,because,even an organization owns all other resources(materials,financial,technological)without the appropriate,skilled and experienced human resources,failure will be the expected result.Addressing By the Mobilis Telecom company,the study and through exploring the recruitment resources and methods that used by the company,in hiring the best employees,and the role of these methods in achieving the competitive advantage in Telecommunications sector.The findings of the study were that the company success in the recruitment process was relying on the employment agencies,firstly and on the universities,secondly.Also the company aimed on maintaining quality assurance system through recruiting method that based on Telecommunications experience and advancement in studying.In order to achieve the competitive advantage,the Company focused on innovation and creating new products and services for its clients.The statistical analysis proved that there is a strong relationship between recruitment resources used by the Company and achieving the competitive advantage,Also a relationship between the quality assurance system of the employees and the ability to gain the competitive advantage.

The Application of AHP Model in Recruiting Middle Managers for Enterprises ——Taking Recruiting Project Managers for Example

With the advertisement of the era of knowledge economy, human has become the core element in the enterprise competitiveness. It＇s one of the problems for human resource managers to select the most suitable person among many candidates. Nowadays, most enterprises resort to the simple evaluation in hiring which is unfair for evaluating the abilities of applicants. AHP model is a method which combining qualitative and quantitative. This paper applies the AHP model to hiring the middle managers and takes the recruiting of project managers for example to analyze its effectiveness. Hope to provide scientific decision basis for recruiting, middle managers.

The Application of AHP Model in Recruiting Middle Managers for Enterprises --Taking Recruiting Project Managers for Example

With the advertisement of the era of knowledge economy, human has become the core element in the enterprise competitiveness. It＇s one of the problems for human resource managers to select the most suitable person among many candidates. Nowadays, most enterprises resort to the simple evaluation in hiring which is unfair for evaluating the abilities of applicants. AHP model is a method which combining qualitative and quantitative. This paper applies the AHP model to hiring the middle managers and takes the recruiting of project managers for example to analyze its effectiveness. Hope to provide scientific decision basis for recruiting middle managers.

Recruiting Chinese Staff

With trade of over $100 billion in 2009, the importance of China and Africa bilateral exchanges are growing daily. This blooming relationship increases the need of understanding the ways of doing business.This

Early life history traits of chub mackerel Scomber japonicus in the Oyashio water revealed by otolith microstructure

Information on survival and growth during the early life stage is essential to understand the mechanism of interannual variations in fish recruitment.Chub mackerel Scomber japonicus is a commercially important pelagic fish widely distributed in the northwestern Pacific.Its catch showed large fluctuations with changes in distribution and migration under climate change and strong fishing.We determined the hatch dates and growth rates of young-of-the-year of chub mackerel through otolith microstructure using samples collected in the Oyashio water in autumn 2018.Results show that the ages of young chub mackerel ranged between 120 and 180 d,and the estimated hatch date lasted from midJanuary to late May with a peak from mid-March to mid-April.Average otolith daily increment width during the early life stages(from hatching to 25 d)showed an increasing trend.Chub mackerel grows slowly in the first 10 d,and then grows faster during the 10thto 25thd.Three groups with dissimilar growth histories and migration routes were identified using unsupervised random forest clustering analysis,but all eventually converge on the same nursery ground.The faster growth of young-of-the-year chub mackerel leads to better recruitment due to the hypothesis of growth-dependent mortality.Most chub mackerels hatched in March and April,the spawning period is longer and earlier,which could lead to strong year classes.These findings on population composition and life history traits of young-of-the-year of chub mackerel provide valuable information on its recruitment processes during the period of stock recovery.