Morphometric Differentiation and Diet of Engystomops pustulosus (Amphibia: Leptodactylidae) in Three Populations from Colombia

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 156-164
Author(s):  
Pedro Atencia ◽  
Liliana Solano ◽  
Jonathan Liria
Keyword(s):  
Geometric Morphometrics ◽  
Least Squares ◽  
Partial Least Squares ◽  
Phenotypic Variation ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
The Body ◽  
Centroid Size ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Shape And Size ◽  
Engystomops Pustulosus

This paper evaluated the intraspecific variation and diet of Engystomops pustulosus in three localities (Colosó, Santa Inés, and El Roble) of the department of Sucre, Colombia. Thirty specimens were collected by locality and the diet composition was determined. We characterized the phenotypic variation by means of skull geometric morphometrics and ten body measures. Finally, the relationship between morphogeometric variables (shape and size) and diet were evaluated. We found significant differences between skull conformation and localities, and between localities and the centroid size. Termites were the most important type of prey, followed by ants and mites. The diet composition did not correlate with the body measures; however, an analysis of Partial Least-Squares showed a correlation between the composition of the diet and skull conformation.

scholarly journals The effect of soft skills, ethics, and value on the willingness of employers to continue recruiting UMT graduates

2021 ◽  
pp. 1689-1698
Author(s):  
Abdul Hafaz Ngah ◽  
Nurul Izni Kamalrulzaman ◽  
Fauzayani Ibrahim ◽  
Noor Azuan Abu Osman ◽  
Nur Asma Ariffin
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Partial Least Squares ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Structural Equation Modelling ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Soft Skills ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Equation Modelling ◽  
The Relationship

This study aims to investigate the effect of soft skills and ethics and value on the employers’ willingness to continue recruiting Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) graduates, together with the moderating effect of knowledge on the relationship between soft skills and the employers’ willingness to continue recruiting UMT graduates. The study’s respondents comprised of 208 employers in Malaysia who responded through an online survey using Google Forms. The survey data was then analyzed using the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), indicating that soft skills positively affected the employers’ willingness to continue recruiting UMT graduates. Nevertheless, ethics and value were found to be insignificant factors on the employers’ willingness to continue recruiting UMT graduates. It was also revealed that knowledge had the moderating effect on the relationship between soft skills and the employers’ willingness to continue recruiting UMT graduates. Therefore, universities were recommended to invest in soft skills and knowledge education to ensure that graduates met the employers’ professional recruitment standards in areas of expertise.

The Outsourcing Dilemma on Decision to Outsource Among Small and Medium Enterprises in Malaysia

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 348-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasliza Abdul Halim ◽  
Noor Hazlina Ahmad ◽  
Theresa C. F. Ho ◽  
T. Ramayah
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Partial Least Squares ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Strategic Orientation ◽  
Environmental Dynamism ◽  
Unexpected Findings ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
The Relationship

Making a decision on outsourcing has posed many difficulties among many organizations, particularly the small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The outsourcing dilemma surrounds the issue on the factors that influence the outsourcing decisions. Therefore, this study attempts to examine what factors may influence the decision of the SME owners to outsource their business processes. A data sample of 100 SMEs was analyzed to examine the relationship between the factors (business owners’ characteristics, environmental dynamism and strategic orientation) and the decision to outsource more of their business processes which is measured through degree of outsourcing of the respondents. The analysis was then conducted via partial least squares. The results showed several interesting findings: (i) business owners’ characteristics encouraged SME founders/owners to outsource more of their business processes, (ii) environmental dynamism has a negative significant impact on the degree of outsourcing and (iii) the relationship between strategic orientation and outsourcing was not supported. Rational explanations of the unexpected findings were then discussed in this study.

scholarly journals Reasons for choosing mechanisms to protect knowledge and innovations

2014 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Olander ◽  
Mika Vanhala ◽  
Pia Hurmelinna-Laukkanen
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Partial Least Squares ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Knowledge Flows ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
Protection Mechanisms ◽  
Informal Relations ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – Prior research has confirmed the usefulness of both formal and informal protection mechanisms for governing knowledge flows. However, there is lack of research on the motivation and needs driving firms in their choice of mechanisms for each situation. The aim of this paper is to examine the reasons for choosing formal or informal mechanisms. Design/methodology/approach – The hypotheses were tested on a sample of 209 companies engaged in R&D. A Partial Least Squares was used for the analyses. Findings – This study identifies statistically significant relationships between the protection need and the firm's strategy. The results indicate that there is variance in the use of mechanisms when there is a specific motivation for seeking protection, and when the firm faces difficulties related to protection issues. Research limitations/implications – The data were gathered in a single country. The results may be different if practices in a culture based more on informal relations, with less efficient patent system, were investigated. Practical implications – The study provides managers with useful information on the informal protection of knowledge and innovations when resources are limited. In particular, it helps them to identify situations in which informal mechanisms are potentially more useful. Originality/value – This study adds to the literature by studying quantitatively the relationship between the recognised need for protection and the choice of formal and/or informal protection as a strategy. It combines both formal and informal mechanisms. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is one of the few studies examining HRM-related protection mechanisms.

Detection of the Contents of the Ingredient of Food by Using the NIR Spectroscopy and the Backward Interval Partial Least-Squares

2013 ◽  
Vol 726-731 ◽  
pp. 4337-4341
Author(s):  
Yong Fu Liu ◽  
Xi Chen ◽  
Bin Zheng ◽  
Ze Yu Xu ◽  
Guo Tian He
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Partial Least Squares ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Nir Spectroscopy ◽  
Set Partitioning ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Orthogonal Signal Correction ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Sample Set

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), with the characteristics of high speed, non-destructiveness, high precision and reliable detection data etc., is a pollution-free, rapid, quantitative and qualitative analysis method. A new approach for the discrimination of the ingredients of corn (moisture, oil, protein, starch) by means of NIR spectroscopy (1100-2498 nm) was developed in this work. The relationship between the reflectance spectra and the ingredients of corn was established. The data were spilt into training and testing subsets by sample set partitioning based on join x-y distance (SPXY),the spectral data was compressed by orthogonal signal correction (OSC), wavelength was selected by backward interval partial least-squares (biPLS),the 60 samples to build PLS mode, the model was used to predict the varieties of 20 unknown samples. The standard error of prediction (SEP) was 0.173; the relative error of prediction (PRE) was 0.55%; the correlation coefficient (R) was 0.98. The way to detect the ingredient of food is simply, reliable.

scholarly journals The 4.0 Industry Technologies and Their Impact in the Continuous Improvement and the Organizational Results: An Empirical Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 9965
Author(s):  
Víctor Hugo Arredondo-Méndez ◽  
Lorena Para-González ◽  
Carlos Mascaraque-Ramírez ◽  
Manuel Domínguez
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Partial Least Squares ◽  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Industry 4.0 ◽  
Direct Relationship ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Logistics Management ◽  
Business Results ◽  
Organizational Results ◽  
The Relationship

This study analyses the relationships between the technologies of Industry 4.0, continuous improvement, and the business results. To carry out this study, 109 questionnaires to companies of different sectors were collected, but an indispensable condition to take into account was the fact that these companies develop themselves their logistics management. The analysis of the results obtained through the Partial Least Squares (PLS) methodology argues that there is a positive relationship between 4.0 Industry and continuous improvement processes, as well as between continuous improvement processes and organizational results, although it cannot be concluded that a direct relationship between 4.0 Industry and organizational results exists, which means that there are other variables, such as continuous improvement, mediating between them. With this work, there is already an accredited reference of the relationship, which has been verified to exist, between the Industry 4.0, the continuous improvement, and the business results.

scholarly journals Human-Oriented Leadership and Organizational Commitment in US Subsidiary Company Based in Sarawak

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 233
Author(s):  
Azman Ismail ◽  
Yusniati Ishak ◽  
Munirah Hanim Yusuf
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Commitment ◽  
Least Squares ◽  
Partial Least Squares ◽  
Model Analysis ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Participative Leadership ◽  
Supportive Leadership ◽  
The Relationship

This article was conducted to examine the relationship between human-oriented leadership (HOL) and organizational commitment. A survey method was employed to obtain data from the employees of one US subsidiary companybased in Sarawak. Results of the Partial Least Squares (SmartPLS) model analysis confirmed that participative leadership, supportive leadership, and empowerment act as important antecedents of organizational commitment.These findings reveal that the capability of managers practicing HOL styles (supportive, participative, and empowerment) has enhanced employees’ commitment to the organization.

scholarly journals Analysing the effects of strategic assets on company success : an evidence in manufacturing company

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2.10) ◽  
pp. 102
Author(s):  
Sarminah Samad ◽  
Hazaz Abdullah Alsolami
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Partial Least Squares ◽  
Significant Role ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Strategic Assets ◽  
The Relationship

Manufacturing industry plays a significant role in the development of a nation. Thus, analyzing the factors influencing its success is profoundly needed. Scholars have identified strategic assets as a key factors that influence the success of manufacturing companies. This study examined the relationship between strategic assets on company success. 400 manufacturing companies in Malaysia have participated in the survey.  A total of 299 usable questionnaires were analyzed using Smart Partial Least Squares (PLS). The results revealed that manufacturing companies should consider increasing their strategic assets to achieve superior success. This suggests that strategic assets are crucial towards improving company success. The results found that intangible assets have emerged as the most significant predictor that affect company success. The implications of this study and recommendations for future research are also discussed.  

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