The Morningness-Eveningness-Stability-Scale-improved (MESSi) assesses three components of circadian functioning: Morning Affect (time to fully awaken), Eveningness (orientation/preference for evening activity), and Distinctness (amplitude of diurnal variations in functioning). Following the original German version, translations of the MESSi (including Spanish, Turkish, and Chinese) have been validated, but validity evidence for the English-language version has been lacking. The current study tested the factor structure, internal consistency, and predicted correlations of the English-language MESSi. A sample of 600 adults from an online recruitment platform (aged 18–78, mean = 41.31, SD = 13.149) completed an online survey including the MESSi, reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ), Sleep Inertia Questionnaire (SIQ), and measures of personality and depressive symptoms. Exploratory factor analysis exactly reproduced the three-component structure of Morning Affect (MA), Eveningness, and Distinctness, with all items loading strongly on their respective component. Confirmatory factor analysis of this structure showed acceptable fit. The three subscales showed good internal consistency and replicated previously reported correlations with depressive symptoms, sleep inertia, sleep quality, and personality. Further factor analysis combining the items of the MESSi, rMEQ, and SIQ replicated a previously found seven-factor structure: Cognitive, Emotional, and Physiological sleep inertia (SI), Responses to SI (including one MA item); Duration of SI (one SIQ item, 3/5 MA items); Morningness-Eveningness (MESSi Eveningness items, plus 3/5 rMEQ items); Distinctness (5/5 MESSi items). In conclusion, the English-language MESSi shows sound psychometric properties, but Morning Affect may be more suitably characterised as a measure of sleep inertia duration, rather than morningness preference.
The star effect on attendance demand has been well documented in the literature. However, prior research has primarily relied on reported match attendance to assess the impact of superstars. Our study advances the literature by analyzing Lionel Messi’s impact on demand using secondary market ticket prices. Focusing on his 2023 transfer to Inter Miami, we quantify his impact on Major League Soccer, showing how elite talent shapes demand in emerging professional sport leagues. Our findings suggest that Messi’s arrival increased Inter Miami home game ticket prices by 1,113%–1,237% and Inter Miami away game ticket prices by 410%–477% in 2023. Additionally, we identify a spillover effect of Messi on ticket prices for matches not involving Inter Miami, though the impact varies by team, with many experiencing either insignificant or negative changes in home game prices after Messi’s arrival. These results offer valuable implications for team and league business operations.
Morningness-Eveningness Stability Scale improved (MESSi) is an assessment tool that evaluates distinctness of daily changes as well as the person's propensity for morningness and eveningness. The aim of this study is to evaluate psychometric properties of the Turkish version of MESSi and associations of chronotypes and diurnal variations with personality, affect, sleep quality as well as validity of the scale in Turkish adolescents. The sample of this study consisted of 445 students between ages of 10-19. Participants filled in MESSi, Morningness/Eveningness Scale for Children, Composite Scale of Morningness, Personality Traits Scale (BIG-5), Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Reliability analysis of the scale showed quite reliable internal consistency values. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test construct validity of three-factor model of MESSi. An acceptable model fit was demonstrated in CFA. There was a moderate and significant relationship between MA and DI subscale scores of MESSi. A moderate but negative correlation was found between MA and EV subscale scores of MESSi. MA and DI subscale scores of MESSi were found to be weakly correlated with conscientiousness, emotional stability, openness to experience and subscale scores of BIG-5, respectively. There was a positive correlation of positive affect subscale scores of PANAS with MA and DI subscale scores of MESSi. MA subscale scores of MESSi were found to be negatively correlated with scores of subjective sleep quality, latency, duration, disturbances, habitual sleep efficiency, daytime dysfunction, and global scores of PSQI. This study shows that Turkish version of MESSi is valid and reliable for use in adolescents. Three-factor MESSi provides an advantage over other chronotype scales in adolescence since it includes DI subscale as well as MA and EV subscales. Psychometric results were supported by other chronotype scales and clinical features such as sleep, affect, and personality.
Chronopsychological research typically applied the morningness-eveningness dimension, resulting in a distinction between morning, intermediate, and evening chronotypes. However, in recent years, new measures have been developed that transcend the traditional "morning larks" vs. "night owls" dichotomy and better capture the complexity of individual differences in circadian rhythmicity. One such measure that addresses the multidimensional character of the circadian rhythm is the Morningness-Eveningness-Stability Scale improved (MESSi) which comprises three dimensions: morning affect, eveningness, and distinctness. However, delineating specific chronotypes using the cut-off points, as was commonly done for other established scales, is not possible in the case of MESSi due to its multidimensionality. In the present paper, we provide a first attempt to introduce a cluster-based approach to deal with MESSi scores. For this purpose, we determined the number of clusters to be extracted using data from our previous study conducted in Poland (N = 1106). Next, we attempted to replicate this cluster solution in another Polish sample (N = 768) and a German sample (N = 637). Finally, we also intended to illustrate how individuals assigned to the established clusters differ in terms of sleep parameters and other differential variables such as positive and negative affect, personality traits, depressive and anxiety symptoms, self-regulation, and self-efficacy. After segmenting MESSi scores by cluster analysis in the three samples we found support for a four-cluster solution, including four circadian profiles which we propose to label "intermediate-finches", "hardy larks", "night owls", and "vulnerable larks". This is the first attempt to introduce a cluster-based, multi-dimensional approach to dealing with MESSi scores.
Continuous demands for improved performance within constrained resource budgets are driving a move from homogeneous to heterogeneous processing platforms for the implementation of today’s Real-Time (RT) embedded systems. The applications executing on such systems are typically represented as a Precedence Task Graph (PTG), where a node represents a task or algorithm for one functionality and edges represent the complex interactions between multiple functionalities. Due to RT constraints, the task graph needs to be executed within a specified deadline. Although some existing studies have looked into solving this challenge, comprehensive studies that combine the theoretical features of RT task-graph mapping and scheduling with practical runtime architectural characteristics have mostly been ignored to date. Hence, in this article, we consider the challenge of scheduling an RT application modeled as a single PTG, with the objective of minimizing the overall execution time under Hardware (HW) resource and deadline constraints for heterogeneous Central Processing Unit (CPU) + Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) architectures. First, we introduce an optimal solution using Integer Linear Programming (ILP). However, this ILP-based optimal solution suffers from computational complexity and does not scale well even for moderately large problem sizes. Hence, we additionally propose heuristic algorithms for task mapping and scheduling. The efficiency of the proposed scheme, named MESSI, has been evaluated through experiments using PTG on a practical CPU+FPGA system regarding current technology restrictions. Our experiments demonstrate that performance gains of 55.6% and area usage reductions of 46.3% are possible compared to full Software (SW) and HW execution, respectively.
The main objective of the following chapter is to provide a comprehensive analysis of Lionel Messi's identity as a global icon and brand of FC Barcelona. Our study also explores the subtleties of the globalisation of football, the emergence and development of players as global brands, the effects of Messi's transfer to PSG and the rise of FC Barcelona's women's team. The methodology was based on a qualitative case study (Stake, 2005), gathering data from various sources, including newspapers, bibliographic materials and Messi's official website. After an in-depth analysis, the results show that the Argentine player was a fundamental and irreplaceable asset to FC Barcelona in the sports, economy and identity areas.
Morningness-eveningness refers to individual differences in the sleep-wake cycle. Research indicates that morningness-eveningness is associated with the Big Five (neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, conscientiousness) and the Big Two (alpha-stability, beta-plasticity) personality factors. However, the latter has not yet been tested within the multidimensional approach to morningness-eveningness. In the present study, we have adapted the Morningness-Eveningness-Stability-Scale improved (MESSi) to Polish (https://osf.io/s4zuh/) to explore the associations between its subscales (morning affect, eveningness, distinctness) and the Big Two personality traits in a sample of 1106 participants (559 women and 547 men) aged 18 to 55 (M = 36.26, SD = 9.90). In bivariate correlations, morning affect was positively related to alpha-stability and beta-plasticity, distinctness was correlated negatively with alpha-stability and beta-plasticity, while eveningness was positively correlated only with beta-plasticity. Furthermore, the confirmatory factor analysis supported the original three-factor structure of the Polish version of MESSi, while the associations with affect and the symptoms of depression and anxiety attested to its validity. Overall, the present study provides the first evidence for the associations between MESSi subscales and the Big Two personality traits, as well as shows a good fit of the three-factor structure of MESSi in the Polish population.
Purpose Spin‐echo functional MRI (SE‐fMRI) has the potential to improve spatial specificity when compared with gradient‐echo fMRI. However, high spatiotemporal resolution SE‐fMRI with large slice‐coverage is challenging as SE‐fMRI requires a long echo time to generate blood oxygenation level‐dependent (BOLD) contrast, leading to long repetition times. The aim of this work is to develop an acquisition method that enhances the slice‐coverage of SE‐fMRI at high spatiotemporal resolution. Theory and Methods An acquisition scheme was developed entitled multisection excitation by simultaneous spin‐echo interleaving (MESSI) with complex‐encoded generalized slice dithered enhanced resolution (cgSlider). MESSI uses the dead‐time during the long echo time by interleaving the excitation and readout of 2 slices to enable 2× slice‐acceleration, while cgSlider uses the stable temporal background phase in SE‐fMRI to encode/decode 2 adjacent slices simultaneously with a “phase‐constrained” reconstruction method. The proposed cgSlider‐MESSI was also combined with simultaneous multislice (SMS) to achieve further slice‐acceleration. This combined approach was used to achieve 1.5‐mm isotropic whole‐brain SE‐fMRI with a temporal resolution of 1.5 s and was evaluated using sensory stimulation and breath‐hold tasks at 3T. Results Compared with conventional SE‐SMS, cgSlider‐MESSI‐SMS provides 4‐fold increase in slice‐coverage for the same repetition time, with comparable temporal signal‐to‐noise ratio. Corresponding fMRI activation from cgSlider‐MESSI‐SMS for both fMRI tasks were consistent with those from conventional SE‐SMS. Overall, cgSlider‐MESSI‐SMS achieved a 32× encoding‐acceleration by combining R inplane × MB × cgSlider × MESSI = 4 × 2 × 2 × 2. Conclusion High‐quality, high‐resolution whole‐brain SE‐fMRI was acquired at a short repetition time using cgSlider‐MESSI‐SMS. This method should be beneficial for high spatiotemporal resolution SE‐fMRI studies requiring whole‐brain coverage.
This study aimed to validate the Morningness-Eveningness-Stability-Scale improved (MESSi) in Mexico, analyzing the factor structure and sleep habits, combined with the proposal of cutoff values for the scales, and to assess the relationship with substance use. We applied the questionnaires through an online survey to a total sample of 510 Mexicans, aged 18-77 years (M = 27.79, SD = 10.24). The MESSi showed an acceptable fit and the Cronbach's alpha coefficients were good to satisfactory in the Mexican sample in every subscale: Morning Affect (MA, α = 0.90), Eveningness (EV, α = 0.88), Distinctness (DI, α = 0.80). In order to obtain a better interpretation of the MESSi subscales, we decided to propose cutoff points corresponding to the 25th-75th percentile. The categories were depicted as strong trait presence, intermediate trait presence and weak trait presence. When applying the cutoff points for the MESSi sub-scales, with Morning Affect (MA), strong-types went to bed and woke up earlier and had more sleep than weak-types during weekdays and weekends and reported less social jetlag. For Eveningness (EV), strong-types went to bed and woke up later than weak-types on weekdays and weekends. Also, strong-types had a shorter time in bed during weekdays but not on weekends and reported more social jetlag. Lastly, with Distinctness (DI), the results reported that those with a strong-type showed greater amplitude on weekdays and weekends. Furthermore, the MESSi scale found that evening people consumed more alcohol and tobacco. Our study supported the validity and reliability of the MESSi in a Mexican population and the relationship between eveningness and substance consumption. Furthermore, the proposed cutoff scores for the MESSi sub-scales add a novel approach for the measurement and interpretation of the scale.
Individual differences in time of day preference have important correlates. Morningness is associated with greater well-being, while eveningness is associated with more maladaptive behaviors, psychological distress, and disorder. The availability of valid, reliable, questionnaire scales is central to this ongoing research. The recently developed Morningness-Eveningness-Stability-Scale improved (MESSi) utilizes items from previously established scales to assess the dimensions of Morning Affect (MA), Eveningness (EV), and amplitude of diurnal variation/distinctness (DI). The current study developed a Chinese version of the MESSi scale. A sample of 767 Chinese university students completed the translated MESSi, the reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ), and scales assessing sleep quality, positive and negative affect, the big five personality dimensions, and life satisfaction. An independent sample of 80 undergraduates completed the MESSi twice over a 14-19 day period. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis both supported the original three-factor structure of the MESSi, with the subscales of MA, EV, and DI. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were acceptable/good, and expected correlations with other measures were found, including: MA correlated positively with the rMEQ, conscientiousness, positive affect, and life satisfaction; EV correlated negatively with rMEQ and conscientiousness; DI correlated positively with poor sleep quality, negative affect, and neuroticism. Overall, the results support the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the MESSi.
The use of quantum-based NMR methods to complement and guide the connectivity and stereochemical assignment of natural and unnatural products has grown enormously. One of the unsolved problems is related to the improper calculation of the conformational landscape of flexible molecules that have functional groups capable of generating a complex network of intramolecular H-bonding (IHB) interactions. Here the authors present MESSI (Multi-Ensemble Strategy for Structural Identification), a method inspired by the wisdom of the crowd theory that breaks with the traditional mono-ensemble approach. By including independent mappings of selected artificially manipulated ensembles, MESSI greatly improves the sense of the assignment by neutralizing potential energy biases.
Measuring soccer shooting skill is a challenging analytics problem due to the scarcity and highly contextual nature of scoring events. The introduction of more advanced data surrounding soccer shots has given rise to model-based metrics which better cope with these challenges. Specifically, metrics such as expected goals added, goals above expectation, and post-shot expected goals all use advanced data to offer an improvement over the classical conversion rate. However, all metrics developed to date assign a value of zero to off-target shots, which account for almost two-thirds of all shots, since these shots have no probability of scoring. We posit that there is non-negligible shooting skill signal contained in the trajectories of off-target shots and propose two shooting skill metrics that incorporate the signal contained in off-target shots. Specifically, we develop a player-specific generative model for shot trajectories based on a mixture of truncated bivariate Gaussian distributions. We use this generative model to compute metrics that allow us to attach non-zero value to off-target shots. We demonstrate that our proposed metrics are more stable than current state-of-the-art metrics and have increased predictive power.
We introduce a general framework for biological systems, called MESSI systems, that describe Modifications of type Enzyme-Substrate or Swap with Intermediates, and we prove general results based on the network structure. Many posttranslational modification networks are MESSI systems. Examples are the motifs in [E. Feliu and C. Wiuf, J. R. Soc. Interface, 9 (2012), pp. 1224-1232], sequential distributive and processive multisite phosphorylation networks, most of the examples in [D. Angeli, P. De Leenher, and E. Sontag, Math. Biosci., 210 (2007), pp. 598-618], phosphorylation cascades, two component systems as in [V. B. Kothamachu et al., J. R. Soc. Interface, 12 (2015), 20150234], the bacterial EnvZ/OmpR network in [G. Shinar and M. Feinberg, Science, 327 (2010), pp. 1389-1391], and all linear networks. We show that, under mass-action kinetics, MESSI systems are conservative. We simplify the study of steady states of these systems by explicit elimination of intermediate complexes, and we give conditions to ensure an explicit rational parametrization of the variety of steady states (inspired by [E. Feliu and C. Wiuf, J. R. Soc. Interface, 10 (2013), 20130484, J. Math. Biol., 66 (2013), pp. 281-310; M. Thomson and J. Gunawardena, J. Theoret. Biol., 261 (2009), pp. 626-636]). We define an important subclass of MESSI systems with toric steady states [M. Pérez Millán et al., Bull. Math. Biol., 74 (2012), pp. 1027-1065], and we give for MESSI systems with toric steady states an easy algorithm to determine the capacity for multistationarity. In this case, the algorithm provides rate constants for which multistationarity takes place, based on the theory of oriented matroids.
Differences in daytime preferences are mainly manifested in the variability of sleep and wakefulness. Circadian preference shows a great influence on health and daily routine. Further, circadian preference and chronotype changes throughout the life span. A wide-ranging determination of circadian preference is therefore important. This study presents a validation of the MESSi in adolescents. The MESSi determines the individual circadian phase and amplitude based on three sub-scales: Morningness (MA), Eveningness (EV) and Stability/Distinctness (DI). Based on three studies, the convergent validity of the MESSi was analyzed (N = 215). In study 1 the Pediatric daytime sleepiness scale (PDSS) was applied, in study 2 the Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM) and in study 3 the Children’s ChronoType Questionnaire (CCTQ). The MESSi showed a good convergent validity with all sum-scores of the three measurements. A Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) proved the three-structure model of the MESSi. The fit indices were good (TLI = 0.966, and CFI o = 0.972). The RMSEA was also good with 0.045 and PCLOSE was not significant (p = 0.651). The results support the assumption that the MESSi is a valid instrument with a three-factor structure to measure circadian phase and amplitude in adolescents.
Morningness-eveningness is an individual difference that is related with various traits such as behavioral problems, personality, and health. The aim of the current study is to adopt the Morningness-Eveningness Stability Scale improved (MESSi) which is a novel assessment tool that consists of subscales of morning affect (MA), eveningness (EV), and distinctness (DI) into Turkish. Concurrent validity of the MESSi along with Big five inventory (BIG-5), Subjective alertness level, Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) were analyzed. The scale was administered to 1,076 high school and university students aged 14-47 years (M = 19.49, SD = 3.53). The explanatory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed the three-factor structure of MESSi. According to the concurrent validity result of the MESSi with BIG-5, conscientiousness was found to correlate positively with MA and negatively with EV. Also, extraversion showed a negative correlation with DI and positive correlation with MA. Furthermore, the subjective alertness rating results showed that MA was positively related to alertness in the morning hours and negatively in the evening hours. Also, sleep quality-related results showed that EV and DI are positively related to total PSQI scores and negatively related to MA. In addition, concerning positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA), MA was positively related with PA and negatively with NA, while DI was negatively related with PA and positively with NA. In overall, MESSi is a valid and reliable instrument and can be used in Turkish students.
The aim of the present study was to adapt the Morningness-Eveningness-Stability Scale improved (MESSi) to the Spanish adolescent population, testing its factor structure and construct validity. The participants were 725 adolescents (52.9% girls; M = 14.8, SD = 1.99) who completed the MESSi, the Morningness Eveningness Scale of Children (MESC), questions about sleep habits adapted from the School Sleep Habits Survey, and self-reported academic performance. The psychometric results support a three-factor model with the factors of morning affect, eveningness, and distinctness, which show good internal consistency. The pattern of correlations between MESSi and the other measures was in the expected direction. The MESC correlated positively with morning affect and negatively with eveningness, whereas distinctness was uncorrelated. Boys reported higher morningness, whereas girls reported higher distinctness. Eveningness was negatively related to academic performance. Overall, the results support the validity and reliability of the Spanish adolescent version of the MESSi.
The aim of this study was to provide validity for the Spanish version of the Morningness-Eveningness-Stability Scale - improved (MESSi), a novel evolved assessment of circadian typology which considers the subjective phase and amplitude by morning affect (MA), eveningness (EV) and distinctness (DI; subjective amplitude) sub-scales. Convergence validity of the MESSi with the reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ) and relationships with the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and sensitivity to reward and punishment (SR and SP) were analyzed. Two different Spanish samples, young undergraduate students (n = 891, 18-30 years) and adult workers (n = 577, 31-65 years) participated in this study. Exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) of MESSi displayed acceptable fit of a three-factors measurement model. Percentiles of the MA, EV and DI sub-scales were obtained for students and adults. The MESSi showed good convergence validity with the rMEQ scores, with a higher correlation coefficient between MA, EV and lower with DI sub-scales. In both, young students and adult workers, MA was negatively related with the GHQ-12 and SP, but the percentage of explained variance (6% and 3%) was lower than the positive correlations between DI, the GHQ-12 and SP (20% and 13%). Morning types presented higher MA and lower EV scores than the other two typologies in both students and adult workers, whereas only differences in DI were found among students (lowest in evening type). Candidates to psychological symptoms and mental disorders ("true cases"), with the clinical cut-off criteria of the GHQ-12, showed lower MA and higher DI in students, whereas only DI was higher for "true cases" among adults. These results supported that subjective amplitude is a factor related to, but also differentiated of, morningness-eveningness (preferred time for a certain activity). The measure of amplitude might be more important than circadian phase in health consequences.
Assessing morningness-eveningness preferences (chronotype), an individual characteristic that is mirrored in daily mental and physiological fluctuations is crucial given their overarching influence in a variety of domains. The current work aimed to investigate the best factor structure of an instrument recently presented to asses this variable: the Morningness-Eveningness-Stability-Scale improved (MESSi). For the first time, the originally-proposed three-factor structure was pitched against a uni- and a two-factor solution. We also aimed to establish that the best-fitting model would be invariant in relation to sex and age, two variables that influence chronotype. A Confirmatory Factor Analyses on the data obtained from a sample of 2096 German adults (age: 18-76; M = 25.5, SD = 7.64) revealed that the originally-proposed three-factor structure of the MESSi—Morning Affect, Eveningness, and Distinctness—was the only one to achieve acceptable fit indicators. Furthermore, each scale obtained good internal consistency. In order to assess age invariance, following the literature on development and chronotype, our sample was divided into three age groups: 18-21 years, 22-31 years, and 32 years or older. Full measurement invariance of the three-factor model was found for sex and age. Regarding differences between sexes, females did not differ significantly from males in Morning Affect, but scored significantly lower on Eveningness and higher on Distinctness; this last result has been consistent across validation studies of the MESSi. With respect to age differences, our oldest group scored lower on Eveningness and Distinctness than the other two age-groups; the intermediate group (age: 22-31) scored lower on Morning Affect than both the younger and older-age groups. Additionally, both Eveningness and Distinctness were negatively correlated with age. This latter relation has been consistently reported in other validation studies. Our results reinforce the idea that the MESSi assesses three different components of chronotype in a reliable manner and that this instrument can be used to explore sex and age differences.
Circadian preference can be measured by a set of questionnaires. While accepting the biological correlates as a good convergent criterion, researchers criticized currently used questionnaires because of their design, weighted number of items, unbalanced scoring or uneven Likert scales. This led to the development of a composite questionnaire, the Morningness-Eveningness-Stability-Scales improved (MESSi). The MESSi contains three constructs: morning affect (MA), eveningness (EV) and stability/distinctness (DI). The aim of this study was a preliminary assessment of a Slovenian translation of the MESSi. Students of five different study programs from the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Education, participated in the study (N = 275). The scales fit to a three-factor solution, based on exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Cronbach’s α were 0.82 (MA), 0.85 (EV), and 0.69 (DI). After allowing covariances (loading onto the same factor) the model fit was good (RMSEA = 0.055). Nearly all sleep-wake variables were correlated with MA and EV in the expected direction. As a conclusion, we can propose to use the MESSi also in Slovenia.