Transitions in Social Network Types over Time among Older Adults

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> Network typology studies have identified heterogeneous types of older adults’ social networks. However, little is known about stability and change in social network types over time. We investigate transitions in social network types among older adults, aged 60 years and older, and factors associated with such transitions. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We used data on 1,305 older adults, participating in 2 waves of a national, longitudinal survey, conducted in 2016–2017 and 2019, in Singapore. Latent transition analysis identified the distinct types of social networks and their transition patterns between the waves. Multinomial logistic regression examined the association of baseline and change in physical, functional, and mental health and baseline sociodemographic characteristics with network transitions into more diverse or less diverse types. <b><i>Results:</i></b> We found 5 social network types at both waves, representing the most to the least diverse types – diverse, unmarried and diverse, extended family, immediate family, and restricted. Between waves, about 57% of respondents retained their social network type, whereas 24% transitioned into more diverse types and 19% into less diverse types. Those who were older and less educated and those with worsening functional and mental health were more likely to transition into less diverse types versus remaining in the same type. <b><i>Discussion:</i></b> The findings capture the dynamics in social network composition among older adults in the contemporary aging society. We highlight sociodemographic and health disparities contributing to later life social network diversity.

Impact of a School-Based Multicomponent Positive Psychology Intervention on Adolescents’ Time Attitudes: A Latent Transition Analysis

Time attitudes, which refer to positive and negative feelings towards the past, present, and future, are a salient phenomenon in the developmental stage of adolescence and have been related to better well-being. Positive feelings towards time can be promoted in the school setting through empirically validated positive psychology interventions. However, the extent to which these interventions impact the time attitudes of adolescents remains unknown. The current study investigated the influence of a multicomponent positive psychology intervention on adolescents’ transitions between time attitude profiles and how these transitions are related to their emotional, social, and psychological well-being. Participants consisted of 220 (M = 14.98; 47.3% female) adolescents from two Spanish high schools who participated in the six-week Get to Know Me+ program. Adolescents’ time attitudes and well-being were measured via the Adolescents and Adult Time Inventory–Time Attitudes and the Mental Health Continuum–Short Form, respectively, at pre- and postintervention. Participants were clustered in different profiles through a latent profile analysis, and the transitions were analyzed using a latent transition analysis. Five profiles were identified (negative, present/future negative, past negative, optimistic, and positive), and results indicated that adolescents who participated in the intervention were more likely to transition to positive profiles (optimistic and positive) and generally reported higher well-being, especially those in the negative, present/future negative, and optimistic profiles. Preliminary evidence showed that school-based multicomponent positive psychology interventions can have a positive impact on adolescents’ feelings towards time and well-being.

Sistem Pengatur Tegangan Otomatis : Analisa Peralihan Dengan Pengendali Tunggal Dan Kaskade

This journal describes the design and analysis of the response of a single controller and cascade direct current type of Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) system. The direct current AVR system is represented form of a transfer function. For single and cascade controllers, it is designed using a parallel architecture using MATLAB software with predetermined design criteria. The types of controllers used consist of Proportional Differential (PD), Proportional Integral (PI), Proportional Integral Differential (PID), Proportional Differential with First Order Filters in the Differential Section (PDF) and Proportional Integral Differentials with First Order Filters in the Differential Section(PIDF). For the transition analysis, the observed parameters consist of rise time, peak time, steady state time, maximum pass value and peak value. The results of the analysis show that the controllers that meet the design criteria are Proportional Differential (PD) controllers and Proportional Differential controllers with First Order Filters in Differential Sections (PDF) for single controllers and cascade controllers. For a single controller, the value of the Proportional constant (Kp) is 0.6280 and the value of the Differential constant (KD) is 0.1710 for the Proportional Differential (PD) controller. Proportional constant value (Kp) is 0.6130, Differential constant value (KD) is 0.1710 and filter constant value (Tf) is 0.0009 for Proportional Differential controller with First Order Filter in Differential Section (PDF). Cascade controllers and Proportional Differential (PD) controllers, the Proportional constant (Kp) is 1.7300 and the Differential constant (KD) is 0.0242 for the inner circle (C2). Outer ring controller (C1), the proportional constant (Kp) is 179,000 and the Differential constant (KD) is 2.4600. Cascade controllers and Proportional Differential controller types with First Order Filters in the Differential Section (PDF), the Proportional constant (Kp) value is 1.5900, the Differential constant (KD) value is 0.0246, the filter constant value (Tf) is 0.0018 for the inner circumference (C2 ). For the outer ring controller (C1), the Proportional constant (Kp) value is 134,0000, the Differential constant (KD) value is 2.2900 and the filter constant value (Tf) is 0.00008.

Temperate Grassland Afforestation Dynamics in the Aguapey Valuable Grassland Area between 1999 and 2020: Identifying the Need for Protection

Temperate grasslands are considered the most endangered terrestrial ecosystem worldwide; the existent areas play a key role in biodiversity conservation. The Aguapey Valuable Grassland Area (VGA), one of the most well-preserved temperate grassland areas within Argentina, is currently threatened by the anthropogenic expansion of exotic tree plantations. Little is known about the impacts of afforestation over temperate grassland landscape structures; therefore, the aim of this study is to characterize Aguapey VGA landscape structural changes between 1999 and 2020 based on remotely sensed data. This involves the generation of land cover maps for four annual periods based on unsupervised classification of Landsat 5 TM and 8 OLI images, the estimation of landscape metrics, and the transition analysis between land cover types and annual periods. The area covered by temperate grassland is shown to have decreased by almost 22% over the 20 year-period studied, due to the expansion of tree plantation cover. The afforestation process took place mainly between 1999 and 2007 in the northern region of the Aguapey VGA, which led first to grassland perforation and subsequently to grassland attrition; however, Aguapey’s cultural tradition of cattle ranching could have partially inhibited the expansion of exotic trees over the final years of the study. The evidence of grassland loss and fragmentation within the Aguapey VGA should be considered as an early warning to promote the development of sustainable land use policies, mainly focused towards the Aguapey VGA’s southern region where temperate grassland remains the predominant land cover type.

Dual-Factor Mental Health from Childhood to Early Adolescence and Associated Factors: A Latent Transition Analysis

The dual-factor model of mental health indicates the importance of simultaneously assessing symptoms and subjective wellbeing, but there is limited understanding of how dual-factor mental health changes during the transition from childhood to early adolescence and factors associated with change. The current study investigated dual-factor mental health over a 2-year period from when children were 8–9 years old to 10–11 years old (N = 2402; 48% female), using latent transition analysis. Further analyses determined whether sex and peer support were associated with initial mental health status or specific transitions during this period. Following class enumeration procedures, a 5-class model was selected at both timepoints. Classes were: (1) complete mental health, (2) vulnerable, (3) emotional symptoms but content, (4) conduct problems but content, and (5) troubled. Half of the sample changed mental health status during the study period. Sex and peer support were associated with specific mental health statuses and subsequent transitions. The findings have implications for mental health screening practice and identifying those in need of targeted interventions.