Procedure to Analyze the Formation of Segregations Using the PLS-SEM Approach

2017 ◽  
Vol 746 ◽  
pp. 75-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Kawalla ◽  
Madlen Ullmann ◽  
Michael Höck

Decreasing optimization potential concerning the weight reduction in aircraft and automotive components boost the demand for lightweight materials and new technologies. An opportunity to achieve considerable weight-savings is the application of magnesium strips produced by the novel Twin-roll casting and hot rolling technology. During the production the quality of magnesium strips can be reduced by segregations, which also influence the distribution of the mechanical properties. Exploring the formation of segregations is one research objective of this paper using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

2011 ◽  
Vol 690 ◽  
pp. 21-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudolf Kawalla ◽  
Madlen Ullmann ◽  
Christian Schmidt ◽  
Joanna Dembińska ◽  
Hans Peter Vogt

The combination of Twin-Roll-Casting (TRC) and subsequent rolling constitutes the most promising process chain for producing magnesium strips economically. Fast solidification (10 times faster than continuous casting) combined with partial deformation lead to a fine primary microstructure as well as less shrinking holes, pores, segregations and brittle precipitations which all together has a very positive effect on forming behavior of the initial material and quality of the final product. The paper elaborates on metallurgical processes in consideration of microstructure and texture results and on the obtained mechanical properties of TRC magnesium strips and finished strips. In addition, the influence of twin-roll-cast and rolling conditions on the mechanical properties will be discussed. The investigation has also been expanded to possible heat treatments and their influence. Concluding remarks will be made on results of rolling trail which were carried out on an industrial scale rolling mill, revealing that the production of hot rolled thin sheets of magnesium alloy AZ31 is possible with a very promising combination of strength and ductility.


2012 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raffaele Cioffi† ◽  
Anna Coluccia ◽  
Fabio Ferretti ◽  
Francesca Lorini ◽  
Aristide Saggino ◽  
...  

The present paper reexamines the psychometric properties of the Quality Perception Questionnaire (QPQ), an Italian survey instrument measuring patients’ perceptions of the quality of a recent hospital admission experience, in a sample of 4400 patients (Mage = 56.42 years; SD = 19.71 years, 48.8% females). The 14-item survey measures four factors: satisfaction with medical doctors, nursing staff, auxiliary staff, and hospital structures. First, we tested two models using a confirmatory factor analysis (structural equation modeling): a four orthogonal factor and a four oblique factor model. The SEM fit indices and the χ² difference suggested the acceptance of the second model. We then did a simulation using a bootstrap with 1000 replications. Results confirmed the four oblique factor solution. Third, we tested whether there were significant differences with respect to age or sex. The multivariate general linear model showed no significant differences in the factors with respect to sex or age.


Author(s):  
Laura Esteban ◽  
Patricia Navas ◽  
Miguel Ángel Verdugo ◽  
Víctor B. Arias

People with intellectual disability (ID) and extensive support needs experience poorer quality of life than their peers whose disability is not as severe. Many of them live in residential settings that limit community participation and prevent them from exercising control over their lives. This work analyzes the extent to which professional practices are aimed at promoting the right to community living for people with ID and extensive support needs, as well as the rights that are particularly linked to it, such as the right to habilitation and rehabilitation and the right to privacy. A specific questionnaire was designed and administered to 729 adults with intellectual disability (M = 37.05; DT = 12.79) living in different settings (family home, residential facilities and group homes). Measurement and structural models were estimated using exploratory structural equation modeling. Results obtained reveal that people with extensive support needs receive less support in terms of guaranteeing their right to independent living and privacy, especially when they live in disability-related services. This study highlights the need to implement and monitor, using valid and reliable indicators, mesosystem strategies that guarantee the right to live and participate in the community, especially for individuals with ID and extensive support needs.


2021 ◽  
pp. 109980042110096
Author(s):  
Ruey-Hsia Wang ◽  
Chia-Chin Lin ◽  
Shi-Yu Chen ◽  
Hui-Chun Hsu ◽  
Chiu-Ling Huang

Purposes: Women with diabetes (WD) are more severely impacted by the consequence of suboptimal diabetes control. This study aims to examine the impact of demographic and disease characteristics, baseline self-stigma, role strain, diabetes distress on Hemoglobin A1C (A1C) levels, quality of life (D-QoL) and 6-month A1C levels in younger WD. Methods: This study was a 6-month prospective study. In total, 193 WD aged 20–64 years were selected by convenience sampling from three outpatient clinics in Taiwan. Demographic and disease characteristics, self-stigma, role strain, diabetes distress, A1C levels, and D-QoL were collected at baseline. A1C levels were further collected 6 months later. Structural equation modeling was conducted to test the hypothesized model. Results: The final model supported that higher baseline D-QoL directly associated with lower concurrent A1C levels and indirectly associated with lower 6-month A1C levels through baseline A1C levels. Higher baseline self-stigma, role strain, and diabetes distress directly associated with lower baseline D-QoL, and indirectly associated with higher 6-month A1C levels through D-QoL. Conclusion: Improving self-stigma, role strain, and diabetes distress should be considered as promising strategies to improve D-QoL in young WD. D-QoL plays a mediation role between baseline self-stigma, role strain, diabetes distress and subsequent glycemic control in younger WD. Enhancing baseline D-QoL is fundamental to improve subsequent glycemic control.


Mathematics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 532
Author(s):  
María de los Ángeles Pérez-Sánchez ◽  
Zhuowei Tian ◽  
Almudena Barrientos-Báez ◽  
José Gómez-Galán ◽  
Hanliang Li

Remarkable changes have taken in social operation mode and consumers’ behavior mode because of the foot ban during the pandemic spread of COVID-19. Digital technologies such as Blockchain have shown potential in gaining competitive advantages for enterprises in such situations. This study aims to provide an insight into how to gain consumer loyalty through the use of modern and efficient Blockchain technology. In contrast to the current literature, this study combined the technology acceptance model of planned behavior theory, social exchange theory to explain the loyalty of an online travel agency (OTA) consumer. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from citizens in Hangzhou, a city full of technological innovation atmosphere. Using structural equation modeling with SmartPLS©, responses from 1403 citizens were analyzed. Social norm was discovered to have a positive and significant association with the consumers’ attitude toward technology and thus enhancing the perceived usability and hedonism of OTA application, which can increase consumer loyalty. The findings suggested OTAs may gain consumers’ loyalty through adopting Blockchain technology, and local governments have played a key role in creating such an environment. New technologies have become essential professional and social tools for society. The technological environment and Blockchain within the tourism sector are fundamental elements of China’s economic engine.


Author(s):  
Angel M. Dzhambov ◽  
Peter Lercher ◽  
Drozdstoy Stoyanov ◽  
Nadezhda Petrova ◽  
Stoyan Novakov ◽  
...  

Background: Online education became mandatory for many students during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and blurred the distinction between settings where processes of stress and restoration used to take place. The lockdown also likely changed perceptions of the indoor acoustic environment (i.e., soundscape) and raised its importance. In the present study, we seek to understand how indoor soundscape related to university students’ self-rated health in Bulgaria around the time that the country was under a state of emergency declaration caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Between 17 May and 10 June 2020, we conducted a cross-sectional online survey among 323 students (median age 21 years; 31% male) from two universities in the city of Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Self-rated health (SRH) was measured with a single-item. Participants were asked how frequently they heard different types of sounds while at home and how pleasant they considered each of those sounds to be. Restorative quality of the home (the “being away” dimension of the Perceived Restorativeness Scale) was measured with a single-item. A priori confounders and effect modifiers included sociodemographics, house-related characteristics, general sensitivity to environmental influences, and mental health. Our analysis strategy involved sequential exploratory factor analysis (EFA), multivariate linear and ordinal regressions, effect modification tests, and structural equation modeling (SEM). Results: EFA supported grouping perceived sounds into three distinct factors—mechanical, human, and nature sounds. Regression analyses revealed that greater exposure to mechanical sounds was consistently associated with worse SRH, whereas no significant associations were found for human and nature sounds. In SEM, exposure to mechanical sounds related to lower restorative quality of the home, and then to poorer SRH, whereas nature sounds correlated with higher restorative quality, and in turn with better SRH. Conclusions: These findings suggest a role of positive indoor soundscape and restorative quality for promoting self-rated health in times of social distancing.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 4165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dissakoon Chonsalasin ◽  
Sajjakaj Jomnonkwao ◽  
Vatanavongs Ratanavaraha

The airline industry in Thailand has grown enormously over the past decade. Competition among airline companies to reach market share and profit has been intense, requiring strong strategic abilities. To increase the service quality of such companies, identifying factors related to the context of airlines is important for policymakers. Thus, this study aims to present empirical data on structural factors related to the loyalty of domestic airline passengers. Structural equation modeling was used to confirm the proposed model. The questionnaire was used to survey and collect data from 1600 airline passengers. The results indicate that satisfaction, trust, perceived quality, relationship, and image of airlines positively influenced loyalty with a statistical significance of α = 0.05. Moreover, the study found that expectation and perceived quality indirectly influenced loyalty. The findings provide a reference for airline operators to clearly understand the factors that motivate passenger loyalty, which can be used to develop the sustainability of marketing strategies and support competitiveness.


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