Is Resource Change a Useful Predictor of Carrion Insect Succession on Pigs and Humans?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blake M Dawson ◽  
James F Wallman ◽  
Maldwyn J Evans ◽  
Philip S Barton
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Rapid Change ◽  
Insect Species ◽  
Significant Positive Effect ◽  
Insect Community ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Positive Effect

Abstract Carrion is a dynamic and nutrient-rich resource that attracts numerous insect species that undergo succession due to the rapid change in the carrion resource. Despite this process being well-understood, few studies have examined resource change as a driver of carrion insect succession, and instead have focused on the effects of time per se, or on coarse, qualitative measures such as decay stage. Here we report on three field succession experiments using pig carcasses and human cadavers encompassing two winters and one summer. We quantified the effects of resource change (measured as total body score, TBS), carrion type, initial carrion mass, ambient temperature, and season on insect species richness and community composition. We found that all variables had an effect on different taxonomic or trophic components of the insect community composition, with the exception of initial carrion mass which had no effect. We found significant positive effects of TBS on beetle species richness and composition, while fly species richness was not significantly affected by TBS, but was by ambient temperature. TBS had a significant positive effect on all trophic groups, while ambient temperature also had a significant positive effect on the necrophages and predator/parasitoids. Our study indicates that resource change, as indicated by TBS, is an important driver of carrion insect species turnover and succession on carrion, and that TBS can provide information about insect ecological patterns on carrion that other temporal measures of change cannot.

scholarly journals The Structural Relationship among Perceived Service Quality, Perceived Value, and Customer Satisfaction-Focused on Starbucks Reserve Coffee Shops in Shanghai, China

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 8633
Author(s):  
Yuhan Ge ◽  
Qing Yuan ◽  
Yaxi Wang ◽  
Keunsoo Park
Keyword(s):  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Behavioral Intention ◽  
Perceived Value ◽  
Significant Positive Effect ◽  
Coffee Shop ◽  
Perceived Service Quality ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Coffee Shops ◽  
Positive Effect

In today’s increasingly competitive coffee industry, the point of running a good coffee shop is no longer to run a coffee and beverage shop simply, but to focus on the quality of service and the value that customers feel as a result. Previous studies have mainly discussed the customer satisfaction and behavioral intention of restaurants, while few studies have explored the influencing factors of customer satisfaction and behavioral intention of chain coffee shops. Given that the perceived service quality theory and DINESERV model can effectively predict customer satisfaction and behavioral intention, this study took 385 consumers in the first Starbucks Reserve flagship store in China as survey objects. SmartPLS 3.0 software was used to explore the relationship among respondents’ perceived service quality, customer perceived value, satisfaction, and behavioral intention. The results show that service quality has a partially significant positive effect on perceived value. Perceived service quality and customers’ perceived value both have significant positive effects on satisfaction. Customers’ satisfaction has a significant positive effect on their behavioral intention. These results indicate that enterprises should strengthen the emotional bond between consumers and enterprises and improve the reliability, assurance, and empathy of perceived service quality to create a better emotional resonance between consumers and the Starbucks brand to improve customer satisfaction. At the same time, it should also promote the symbolic perceived value of Chinese consumers to Starbucks to realize the sustainable development of coffee-shop operation and consumer repurchase. This study expands the research on the service quality, perceived value, and behavioral intention of coffee chain enterprises in the context of non-habitual coffee-drinking countries. Moreover, it provides case support for the operation and research of regional cultural consumption habits of international catering chain enterprises.

Implementing Gamified Teaching

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 0-0
Keyword(s):  
Significant Positive Effect ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Perceived Relevance ◽  
Positive Effect

In this study, a gamification process was implemented in an undergraduate course of Economics that consisted 397 students. The primary purpose of the research was to empirically validate the effects of gamification in terms of the variables of engagement, motivation, entertainment, perceived relevance of the course, knowledge increase and participation. To ascertain these, a questionnaire was administered to the participants. The results indicated that gamification provided significant positive effect on all variables listed above except motivation. Additional objectives of the article were to link the effects to Marczewski’s player types, namely, Philanthropists, Socialisers, Free spirits, Achievers, Players, and Disruptors, and to measure whether there are differences between the types in terms of the variables indicated above. Gamification resulted in positive effects on all player types except the player type of Disruptors.

scholarly journals Environmental conditions alter successional trajectories on an ephemeral resource: a field experiment with beetles in dead wood

Oecologia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 194 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 205-219
Author(s):  
Ole Petter Laksforsmo Vindstad ◽  
Tone Birkemoe ◽  
Rolf Anker Ims ◽  
Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Developmental Rate ◽  
Fungal Community Composition ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance ◽  
Ephemeral Resources

Abstract Successional processes can be observed for many organisms and resources, but most studies of succession have focused on plants. A general framework has been proposed, advocating that successional patterns in species turnover are predominantly driven by competition, dispersal or abiotic limitation, and that the patterning of species accumulation over time gives clues to which process is most influential in a given system. We applied this framework to succession in communities of wood-living beetles, utilizing ephemeral resources in the form of 60 experimentally created dead aspen high stumps. High stumps were created at sun-exposed sites (high ambient temperature; favourable abiotic conditions) and shaded sites (low ambient temperature; abiotically limiting conditions). The sites were intermixed, ensuring similar dispersal opportunities. Beetle species richness and abundance were monitored with flight interception traps over four consecutive years. Consistent with predictions from the tested framework, several beetle functional groups accumulated species more slowly at the unfavourable shaded sites than at the favourable exposed sites. Species richness at the exposed sites increased rapidly to a plateau, consistent with a limiting effect of competition on community development. Similar results were obtained for beetle abundance and community structure. Part of the variance in beetle community structure was jointly explained by habitat and fungal community composition, suggesting that differences in the composition and developmental rate of fungal communities in the two habitats contributed to the observed patterns. Targeted experimental studies are now required to decisively establish what processes underlie the contrasting successional trajectories in the two environments.

scholarly journals Influences of Reference Group on Users’ Purchase Intentions in Network Communities: From the Perspective of Trial Purchase and Upgrade Purchase

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (24) ◽  
pp. 10619
Author(s):  
Shuiping Ding ◽  
Jie Lin ◽  
Zhenyu Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Product Information ◽  
Reference Group ◽  
Purchase Intentions ◽  
Online Marketing ◽  
Significant Positive Effect ◽  
Normative Influence ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Network Communities ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Positive Effect

Reference group is an important factor influencing users’ purchase in the network communities. The reference group’s influences involve informative influence and normative influence, and users’ purchases are divided into the trial purchase and upgrade purchase. In different purchases, users have different product information, consumer experience, and purchase attitudes, making different responses to the reference group. Thus, a research model of reference groups’ influences on users’ purchase intentions from the perspective of trial purchase and upgrade purchase is constructed. The model and hypotheses are tested by analyzing 349 valid questionnaires. The results indicate that both informative and normative influences have significant positive effects on users’ trial purchase intentions. Informative influence has a significant positive effect on users’ upgrade intentions, while the normative influence on users’ upgrade purchase intentions is not significant. Both informative influence and normative influence have significant positive effects on trust in the product. Trust in the product has a significant positive effect on trial purchase intentions, but its effect on upgrade purchase intentions is not significant. Purchase involvement positively regulates the relationship between informative influence and trial purchase intentions and negatively regulates the relationship between informative influence and upgrade purchase intentions. The results further enrich the theoretical system of users’ purchase behaviors in a virtual environment. The research can also have important implications for network communities wishing to improve online marketing.

scholarly journals The importance of spirituality dimensions in the development of entrepreneurship

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 55
Author(s):  
Hani Sirine ◽  
Elisabeth Penti Kurniawati
Keyword(s):  
Entrepreneurial Intention ◽  
Human Being ◽  
Multiple Linear Regressions ◽  
Significant Positive Effect ◽  
Entrepreneurial Success ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Analysis Technique ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Linear Regressions ◽  
Entrepreneurial Networking

Human being as spiritual being needs to be nurtured spiritually so that they can be optimal in their work and their calling. Actualization of this calling can be made through entrepreneurship. The purpose of this study is to determine the importance of spiritual dimensions (vision, faith/hope, love altruistic, meaning/calling, membership) in the development of entrepreneurship (entrepreneurship intention, entrepreneurial networking, entrepreneurial capability, and entrepreneurial success). The analysis technique of this study uses multiple linear regressions with a sample of 67 graduates of Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana (UKSW) who have had and run their own business. The results show that the spirituality dimensions (vision, faith/hope, altruistic love, meaning/calling, membership) significantly influence entrepreneurial intention, entrepreneurial networking, entrepreneurial capability, and entrepreneurial success. When it is tested partially, the significant positive effect on entrepreneurial intention is vision and faith/hope. Faith/hope also has significant positive effects on entrepreneurial networking. Vision, faith/hope, and meaning/calling has significant positive effects on entrepreneurial capabilities. Lastly, faith/hope, and meaning/calling has significant positive effects on entrepreneurial success.

scholarly journals The Impacts of Tax Examinations, Tax Sanctions and Tax Hostage (Gijzeling) on Taxpayers’ Formal Compliance

Riset ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-152
Author(s):  
Dewi Puspitasari
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Linear Regression ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression ◽  
Sampling Method ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Significant Positive Effect ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Positive Effect

The purpose of this study is to determine whether there are impacts of tax audits (X1), tax sanctions (X2), and tax holdings (X3), on formal compliance of taxpayers (Y). The population in this study is the taxpayers registered with KPP Cibitung who live in RW 030 Tambun South. The samples consist of 100 taxpayers using an explanatory sampling method. This type of research is quantitative. The data analysis uses multiple linear regression analysis with SPSS version 25.0 program. Based on data analysis, the results of this study indicate that partially tax audits (X1), tax sanctions (X2), and tax hostage (gijzeling) (X3) have a significant positive effect on taxpayers’ formal compliance (Y). Meanwhile simultaneously tax audits (X1), tax sanctions (X2) and tax hostage (gijzeling) (X3) have significant positive effects on taxpayers’ formal compliance of (Y), with an Adjusted R Square value of 0.444 or 44.4%.

scholarly journals Influence Mechanism of The Affordances of Chronic Disease Management Apps on Continuance Intention: Mediating Role of Health Empowerment (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongmei Liu ◽  
Peiyang Lin ◽  
Fei Jiang
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Disease Management ◽  
Chronic Disease Management ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Significant Positive Effect ◽  
Continuance Intention ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Health Empowerment ◽  
Positive Effect

BACKGROUND Mobile health apps are becoming increasingly popular, and they provide opportunities for effective health management. The existing chronic disease management (CDM) apps cannot meet users’ practical and urgent needs, and user adhesion is poor. Few, however, have investigated the factors that influence the continuance intention (CI) of CDM app users. OBJECTIVE Starting from the affordances of CDM apps, this study aimed to analyze how such apps can influence CI through the role of health empowerment (HE). METHODS Adopting a stimulus-organism-response framework, an antecedent model was established for CI from the perspective of perceived affordances, uses and gratifications theory, and HE. Perceived affordances were used as the “stimulus,” users’ gratifications and HE were used as the “organism,” and CI was used as the “response.” Data were collected online through a well-known questionnaire survey platform in China. 323 valid questionnaires were obtained. The theoretical model was tested using structural equation modeling. RESULTS Perceived connection affordances (PCA) were found to have significant positive effects on social interactivity gratification (SIG) (t=6.201, P<.001) and informativeness gratification (IG) (t=5.068, P<.001). Perceived utilitarian affordances (PUA) had significant positive effects on IG (t=7.029, P<.001), technology gratification (TG) (t=8.404, P<.001), and functions gratification (FG) (t=9.812, P<.001). Perceived hedonic affordances (PHA) had significant positive effects on FG (t=5.305, P<.001) and enjoyment gratification (EG) (t=13.768, P<.001). Five gratifications (t=2.767, P<.01; t=4.632, P<.001; t=7.608, P<.001; t=2.496, P<.05; t=5.088, P<.001) had significant positive effect on HE. SIG, IG, and FG had significant positive effects on CI. TG and EG had no significant effect on CI. HE had a significant positive effect on CI. HE and gratifications play mediating roles in the influence of affordances on CI. CONCLUSIONS HE and gratifications of users' needs are effective ways to promote CI. The gratifications of users' needs can realize HE and then inspire CI. Affordances are key antecedents that affects gratifications of users' needs, HE and CI.

scholarly journals Correlation between some landscape metrics and insect species richness in coffee agroforests in Pangalengan Subdistrict, Bandung District, West Java, Indonesia

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
SUSANTI WITHANINGSIH ◽  
Parikesit ◽  
MUHAMMAD BURHANUDDIN RABBANY
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Landscape Metrics ◽  
Landscape Heterogeneity ◽  
Insect Species ◽  
Insect Community ◽  
West Java ◽  
Strong Negative Correlation ◽  
Landscape Characteristics ◽  
Insect Species Richness

Abstract. Withaningsih S, Parikesit, Rabbany MB. 2019. Correlation between some landscape metrics and insect species richness in coffee agroforests in Pangalengan Subdistrict, Bandung District, West Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 20: 3075-3085. The insect community provides valuable ecosystem services and can help maintain ecosystem integrity in human-altered landscapes such as coffee agroforests. The aim of this study was to assess the landscape characteristics of coffee agroforests in the Pangalengan Subdistrict and analyze how those characteristics influence the insect communities. Landscape metric approaches were examined to quantify landscape characteristics and the results analyzed using correspondence analysis to determine variation among samples, and simple linear regression testing was used to determine the influence of those landscape characteristics on the insect community. Seventeen sample locations varied in characteristics based on the proportion of the land cover classes, and landscape characteristics determined the number of insect species. The number of insect species showed strong negative correlation with landscape heterogeneity (R2=0.456) and number of patches (R2=0.514) and a weak positive response to the proportion of natural forest remaining (R2=0.150). Number of insect species showed a strong negative correlation to landscape heterogeneity, number of patches, and number of natural forest remaining simultaneously (R2=0.514).

scholarly journals Linking changes of forage production and digestibility with grassland community assembly under nitrogen enrichment

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Tao Lü ◽  
Zhuo-Yi Liu ◽  
Seeta Sistla ◽  
Guo-Jiao Yang ◽  
Yan-Yu Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Assembly ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Price Equation ◽  
N Addition ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Species Identity ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
N Enrichment ◽  
Qualitative Changes

Abstract Background Forage production is the fundamental ecosystem service of grasslands. Although forage consumption occurs at community level, most studies focused on species-level changes of forage quality. The quantitative and qualitative changes of forage production are driven by species-specific trait, intra-specific plasticity, and species turnover. We examined the changes in forage production and digestibility after 5-year factorial treatments of nitrogen (N) addition and mowing in a temperate steppe and linked such changes to community assembly under the Price equation framework. Results Nitrogen addition significantly reduced species richness, increased forage production, but did not change forage digestibility (indicated by the total Ca+Mg concentrations). Mowing did not affect forage production and digestibility. The positive effects of N addition on forage production were driven by the enhancement of abundance of the remaining species following N enrichment, rather than by species loss or species gain. The species identity effects could offset the effects of species richness loss or gain on forage production and digestibility. Conclusions Our results highlight the importance of a community perspective in addressing the quantitative and qualitative changes of forage production under global change pressure of N enrichment. Species identity is important in determining the contribution of different processes of community assembly to ecosystem services.

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