Path analysis of the relationship between optimism, humor, affectivity, and marital satisfaction among infertile couples

Marital satisfaction is an important factor for establishing a family relationship, feeling satisfied, and living happily together. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between optimism, humor, positive and negative affect, and marital satisfaction among infertile couples. The sample comprised 80 infertile Iranian couples (n = 160) who visited infertility clinics. Participants completed a series of Persian versions of psychometric scales related to optimism (Attributional Style Questionnaire), humor (Humor Styles Questionnaire), marital satisfaction (Enrich Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire), positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule). The obtained result of Smart PLS statistical analysis confirmed the significant positive correlation between optimism and humor with marital satisfaction and high PA and low NA. Moreover, the findings also provided an adequate fit of the model. The findings demonstrated that infertile couples high in optimism and humor have higher levels of marital satisfaction and high PA and low PA. Based on the study’s findings, interventions for facilitating optimism and humor among infertile couples are discussed

Disease and frost damage of woody plants caused by Pseudomonas syringae: Seeing the forest for the trees

Pseudomonas syringae is a phytopathogenic bacterium that causes diseases of monocots, herbaceous dicots, and woody dicots, worldwide. On woody plants, reports of disease due to P. syringae have markedly increased in the last years and the diseases have been recognized as a major threat to the primary products of agroforestry practices. Detection in Italy of a new highly aggressive population of P. syringae in 2008 on kiwifruit, which caused severe epidemics in the following years throughout the kiwifruit-growing areas of Asia, Europe, Oceania, and South America, rendered the entire kiwifruit industry vulnerable to the disease. Similarly, occurrence of an aggressive population of P. syringae on horse chestnut in 2002 in the Netherlands has rapidly established itself as a major threat to horse chestnut throughout Northwest Europe. To better understand the origin of such disease epidemics, a thorough knowledge of the pathogen is needed in sensu lato. Here, we report the most important features of the pathogen and its hosts in an attempt to clarify some key aspects. In particular, the diseases and the economic losses they cause, disease epidemiology, pathogen diversity, and the possible means of disease control have been discussed throughout the manuscript. In addition to the ability to cause the disease, the damage caused to woody plants through the ice nucleation activity of this bacterium is discusse