Stabilizing species selection in the Archaeogastropoda

Paleobiology ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 316-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norman L. Gilinsky

Factor analysis of morphometric data from fossil and recent Archaeogastropoda reveals that there has been a progressive reduction in the variety of archaeogastropod shell shapes through time. High and low spired genera have slowly disappeared while equidimensional forms, which have always been the most common, have become even more abundant. The taxonomic manifestation of this trend has long been appreciated and involves: 1) the extinction of most of the Pleurotomariacea, the Euomphalacea, Trochonematacea, and several other superfamilies, which collectively comprise most of the variation in shape among early archaeogastropods, and 2) the proliferation of the primarily equidimensional Trochacea and Neritacea. I suggest that this macroevolutionary trend may be explained by the general process I refer to as “stabilizing species selection.” More specifically, I suggest that the mechanism of stabilizing species selection in the case presented here may have been differential rates of origination.I believe that the innovative concept of species selection has been burdened by the adherence of its advocates to the idea that differential extinction is its primary mechanism. This preference for differential extinction is rooted in our emphasis upon differential mortality in microevolution and is not based upon data of macroevolutionary change. I argue that differential origination may be as important as differential extinction in directing macroevolutionary change and that demographical and autecological properties of species may be its agents. Recognition of the importance of differential origination will have an important impact upon our concept of the relationship between adaptation and the evolutionary process.

Author(s):  
Gangaram Biswakarma

This study focuses on measuring tourist satisfaction towards home stay. This paper emphasized to identify the variables that are related to tourist satisfaction during tourist homestay. It is also focused on analyzing the relationship and impact of these latent construct of factors to overall tourist satisfaction towards home stay. In an attempt to visualize the purpose, tourists satisfaction in a homestay in Nepal has taken into as a case, with an aim to identify the underlying dimensions of tourist satisfaction during tourist homestay. Twenty six (26) manifest variables of homestay has been formulated to understand the dimensions. Likewise, for a conforming the latent construct (1) statement as dependent variable of overall satisfaction was developed for the purpose of the primary data collection. The manifest variables are basically focused on aspects of home stay attributes namely cultural attraction, hospitality, amenities and safety & security at the home stay destination. Post Exploratory Factor Analysis indicates factor loading for twenty two (22) items manifest variables as significant, loaded with five (5) factors of home stay attributes named as Amenities & Safety, Reception, Local Cuisine & Accommodation, Local Life style & Costumes, and Cultural Performance. This study contributes to the development of survey instrument for exploring tourist satisfaction for Home stay for future researchers.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 2972
Author(s):  
Zhili Zuo ◽  
Jinhua Cheng ◽  
Haixiang Guo ◽  
Yonglin Li

Based on resource carrying capacity, this study used the revised theory of relative resource carrying capacity (RRCC) and introduced an innovative concept of relative fossil energy carrying capacity (RFECC), which evaluates the degree of fossil energy sustainability based on the relationship between economy, population, and environment. This study took China and the United States as the study objects, took the whole country as the reference area, and calculated the RFECC of population, economic, and environmental resources from 2000 to 2018. Therefore, based on the comparative analysis, the following conclusions were drawn: (i) there is a big difference in the RFECC between China and the United States, which is manifested in the inverted U-shaped trend in China and the U-shaped trend in the United States; (ii) the relative fossil energy carrying states in China and the United States are different, mainly reflected in the economy and environment; (iii) the gap in RFECC between China and the United States has gradually widened; in general, China’s economic RFECC is better than that of the United States, while environmental RFECC and population RFECC in the United States is better than that of China; and (iv) coal and oil should be used as a breakthrough point for the sustainable fossil energy and sustainable development for China and the United States, respectively.


Author(s):  
Ragan Wilson ◽  
Christopher B. Mayhorn

With virtual reality’s emerging popularity and the subsequent push for more sports media experiences, there is a need to evaluate virtual reality’s use into more video watching experiences. This research explores differences in experiences between Monitor (2D) video and HMD (360-Degree) video footage by measuring user perceptions of presence, suspense, and enjoyment. Furthermore, this study examines the relationship between presence, game attractiveness, suspense, and enjoyment as explored by Kim, Cheong, and Kim (2016). Differences were assessed via a MANOVA examining specifically presence, suspense, and enjoyment while the relationships were explored via a confirmatory factor analysis. Results suggest that there was a difference between Monitor (2D) video and HMD (360-Degree) in regard to spatial presence, engagement, suspense, and enjoyment, but the previous model from Kim et al. (2016) was not a good fit to this study’s data.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 3555
Author(s):  
Chien-Hsiung Chen ◽  
Zhongzhen Lin

In the present era, technology is developing rapidly. Smartphones play a significant part in people’s lives. However, the research on smartphones mainly focuses on the area of technological realization. The purposes of this study were to examine the relationship between the various rear cameras in smartphones and consumer perceptions, and to understand consumers’ purchasing intentions and preferences. Through the methods of multidimensional scaling (MDS), factor analysis and triangular fuzzy numbers, the visual images of the smartphone rear cameras were analyzed and discussed. The results indicate that the visual images taken by different shapes of rear camera are quite distinct in the categories of innovative and fashionable, and simple and pure, but less distinct in the categories of harmonious and ordered, premium and technical, and superior and valuable. Through a comprehensive comparison, four groups whose images were similar were created. The outcome effectively reflects the potential consumer demands for smartphone rear camera patterns, providing insights for design practices in the smartphone industry.


Elenchos ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Ugaglia

Abstract Aristotle’s way of conceiving the relationship between mathematics and other branches of scientific knowledge is completely different from the way a contemporary scientist conceives it. This is one of the causes of the fact that we look at the mathematical passages we find in Aristotle’s works with the wrong expectation. We expect to find more or less stringent proofs, while for the most part Aristotle employs mere analogies. Indeed, this is the primary function of mathematics when employed in a philosophical context: not a demonstrative tool, but a purely analogical model. In the case of the geometrical examples discussed in this paper, the diagrams are not conceived as part of a formalized proof, but as a work in progress. Aristotle is not interested in the final diagram but in the construction viewed in its process of development; namely in the figure a geometer draws, and gradually modifies, when he tries to solve a problem. The way in which the geometer makes use of the elements of his diagram, and the relation between these elements and his inner state of knowledge is the real feature which interests Aristotle. His goal is to use analogy in order to give the reader an idea of the states of mind involved in a more general process of knowing.


2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 806-817
Author(s):  
Patrick Amfo Anim ◽  
Frederick Okyere Asiedu ◽  
Matilda Adams ◽  
George Acheampong ◽  
Ernestina Boakye

Purpose This paper aims to explore the relationships between political marketing via social media and young voters’ political participation in Ghana. Additionally, this study examines the mediating role political efficacy plays in enhancing the relationship. Design/methodology/approach With a positivist mindset, and adopting the survey strategy, data gathered from the questionnaire administered from the sampled 320 young voters (18-29 years) in Greater Accra were quantitatively analyzed. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to assess and confirm the proposed scales validity and the relationships of the research model. Findings The study revealed that a political party or candidate’s ability to achieve political participation from Ghanaian young voters’ is dependent on how effective they build customer relationship or gaining visibility through social media. In addition, the study showed that political efficacy mediates the relationship between customer relationship building or gaining visibility through social media and political participation among Ghana young voters. Thus, young voters in Ghana must see themselves to have a say in the affairs of political parties through the political messages they gather from social media platforms to enhance their political participation activities. Practical implications The results of this paper will enable political marketers and politicians not only in Ghana but across the globe, to better understand how social media as a communication tool could be used to positively influence users’ political participation. Originality/value Considering the uniqueness of this study in a Ghanaian context, this paper is the first of its kind to use the social capital theory in examining the mediating role political efficacy plays in enhancing the relationship between political marketing on social media and young voters’ political participation.


Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4926 (3) ◽  
pp. 401-416
Author(s):  
MOHAMMAD HUSSAIN FALAHZADAH ◽  
EBRAHIM SHOKOOHI ◽  
GHOLAM HOSSEIN MORAVEJ ◽  
PHATU WILLIAM MASHELA ◽  
ABDUL KHALID MADADI ◽  
...  

Several soil samples from different habitats in Badakhshan province of Afghanistan were collected to isolate and characterize bacteria feeding nematodes. The Galleria mellonella-baiting method was used for the isolation of the Afghan insect-associated nematodes. The nematodes were studied using morphological and morphometric data. The Oscheius specimen was characterized by a longer body (630–820 µm) and shorter pharynx (125–145 µm), whereas other morphological characters were not unusual. The Diploscapter specimen had an annulated cuticle, with lip region width 1.5 times shorter than the stoma, and had separated pharyngeal corpus from the isthmus and vulva located in the middle of the body. The molecular data were derived using three loci; 18S, 28S (D2/D3 segment), and ITS rRNA region, which were utilized to measure the genetic distance. The phylogenetic analysis was conducted to reconstruct the relationship tree. Both morphological and molecular approaches confirmed the identity of nematode isolates as Oscheius tipulae and Diploscapter coronatus. This is the first report of insect-associated nematodes from the soil of Afghanistan. Both species were capable of infecting and killing G. mellonella larvae in less than 96 h. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 91
Author(s):  
Sri Raharso

This study aims to identify the relationship between knowledge sharing, innovation capabilities, and absorptive capacity. The study was conducted on 209 employees of a minimarket, in Bandung, West Java. Sampling was done incidentally. Factor analysis produces five factors for which construct validity is acceptable. Empirically, the multiple regression results support the research hypothesis. Knowledge sharing positively and significantly affects innovation capability and absorptive capacity. Furthermore, absorptive capacity partially mediates the relationship between knowledge sharing and innovation capabilities. 


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph W. I. Lam ◽  
W. M. Cheung ◽  
Doreen W. H. Au ◽  
Hector W. H. Tsang ◽  
Wendy W. Y. So ◽  
...  

The student questionnaire (PIRLS-SQ 2011) of the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) was designed to gather information from pupils on reading literacy development as to aspects of pupils’ self-lives, home, and school lives across countries/districts. In order to serve the purposes of research and international comparison, the questionnaire was translated into various languages. Using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the current study investigates the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the student questionnaire (PIRLS-SQCV 2011) and identifies its underlying factor structure among Chinese fourth-grade pupils in Hong Kong. A 10-factor structure model was identified and much resemblance could be drawn to the original PIRLS structure. While the similarity allows international comparisons of studies in different places following the PIRLS strategy, the findings of this study add to extant literature on the relationship between student factors and reading achievement.


2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 205-213
Author(s):  
Canan Saricam ◽  
Nazan Erdumlu

Abstract In this study, fast fashion concept is investigated in order to understand the motivations of the consumers that make them adopt these products because of their willingness for the innovativeness. The relationship between the motivational factors which were named as “Social or status image” and “Uniqueness” as expressions of individuality, “Conformity” and the willingness for “Innovativeness” is analyzed using a conceptual model. Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were used to analyze and validate the model. The data used for the study was obtained from 244 people living in Turkey. The findings showed that the motivational factors “Social or status image” and “Uniqueness” as expressions of individuality are influential on the consumers’ willingness for “Innovativeness”.


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