scholarly journals Prospective Study on the Excretion of Mucous Stools and its Association with Age, Gender, and Feces Output in Captive Giant Pandas

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 264
Author(s):  
Zixiang Li ◽  
Xuefeng Liu ◽  
Juan Zhao ◽  
Yanhui Liu ◽  
Haihong Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prospective Study ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Ailuropoda Melanoleuca ◽  
Giant Pandas ◽  
High Fiber ◽  
Fecal Output ◽  
Seasonal Factors ◽  
The Mean

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) has evolved a large number of mucous glands in the intestinal lining to adapt to the digestion of high-fiber foods. However, in captive pandas, excessive mucus might form a mass and then be eliminated, which is often accompanied by discomfort and decreased activity. This event is called ‘mucous excretion’. The causes of mucus excretions in captive pandas, however, remain unknown. The aims of this study were to document the occurrence of mucus excretion and to investigate its possible associations with pandas’ age, gender, and feces output. Eighteen giant pandas were studied at the Beijing Zoo from April 2003 to June 2017, and a total of 900 occurrences of mucous excretion and 32,856 daily defecation outputs in weight were recorded. The likelihood of mucous excretion occurrence decreased by 11.34% for each 1 kg of fecal output (Z = −4.12, p < 0.0001), while it increased by 5.89% per year of age (Z = 4.02, p < 0.0001). However, individual differences in gender had no significant effect on the mucous occurrence (Z = −0.75, p = 0.4508). A monthly change in mucus occurrence was also found. The mean frequency of mucus occurrence was significantly higher in October. In August, time (month) change showed the biggest negative influence on feces output but the biggest positive influence on mucus excretion (seasonal factors were −2.261 and 0.0126, respectively). Our results documented the occurrence of mucous excretions and confirmed their possible associations with the pandas’ age and fecal output based on a 15-year prospective study. This study not only adds to our knowledge of panda physiology but also suggests the need for further studies examining the causes of the excretion of mucous stools in captive pandas. Reducing the incidence of mucous excretion would promote ex situ conservation and enhance panda welfare.

scholarly journals SEROSURVEY OF EX SITU GIANT PANDAS (AILUROPODA MELANOLEUCA) AND RED PANDAS (AILURUS FULGENS) IN CHINA WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR SPECIES CONSERVATION

2007 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 559-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Kati Loeffler ◽  
JoGayle Howard ◽  
Richard J. Montali ◽  
Lee-Ann Hayek ◽  
Edward Dubovi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Conservation ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Ailuropoda Melanoleuca ◽  
Giant Pandas ◽  
Ailurus Fulgens

scholarly journals Effects of Different Nursing Methods on the Behavioral Response of Adult Captive Giant Pandas (Ailuropoda Melanoleuca)

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 626
Author(s):  
Ming-Yue Zhang ◽  
Xiao-Hui Zhang ◽  
James Ayala ◽  
Rong Hou
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Behavioral Response ◽  
Ex Situ Conservation ◽  
Breeding Program ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Ailuropoda Melanoleuca ◽  
Giant Pandas ◽  
Conservation Breeding

Although the ex situ conservation breeding program has basically created self-sustaining populations and genetic diversity in captive giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) [...]

Enterprise risk management in international construction firms: drivers and hindrances

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 347-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xianbo Zhao ◽  
Bon-Gang Hwang ◽  
Sui Pheng Low
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
High Response Rate ◽  
Enterprise Risk Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Construction Firms ◽  
International Construction ◽  
Enterprise Risk ◽  
The Mean

Purpose – The specific purposes of this paper are: to identify the critical drivers for and hindrances to enterprise risk management (ERM) implementation; and to compare the influence of these factors on ERM implementation between large and small-medium (SM) Chinese construction firms (CCFs) in Singapore. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire survey was conducted and responses were received from 35 experienced managers in CCFs operating in Singapore. Findings – A total of 13 drivers and 22 hindrances were found critical to ERM implementation in Singapore-based CCFs. “Improved decision making” were the top influential driver, while “insufficient resources (e.g. time, money, people, etc.)” were the most significant hindrances. Additionally, despite significant differences in the mean scores of seven drivers and four hindrances, the large and SM CCFs agreed on the rankings of drivers and hindrances, respectively. Research limitations/implications – As the survey was performed with the Singapore-based CCFs, there may be geographical limitation on the identification of the critical drivers for and hindrances to ERM implementation. The sample size was still small, despite a relatively high response rate. Practical implications – The findings of this study allow the management to strengthen the positive influence from the drivers and overcome the challenges posed by the significant hindrances. Originality/value – Despite studies on ERM in various industries, few studies have attempted to disclose the factors driving and hindering ERM implementation in construction firms. Thus, this study expands the existing literature relating to ERM. An understanding of the drivers for ERM implementation enables the management to obtain sufficient support for the ERM program and strengthen the positive influence from the drivers. The identification of the hindrances allows the management to be clear about the challenges faced by the ERM program and take measures to diminish their negative influence and overcome them. Additionally, other construction firms can use the drivers and hindrances identified in this study to prepare their customized list of drivers and hindrances.

scholarly journals Vocal discrimination of potential mates by female giant pandas ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca )

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 597-599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin D. Charlton ◽  
Yan Huang ◽  
Ronald R. Swaisgood
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Amplitude Modulation ◽  
Functional Role ◽  
Giant Panda ◽  
Sexual Communication ◽  
Ailuropoda Melanoleuca ◽  
Giant Pandas ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Vocal Discrimination

In the current study, we used male giant panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca ) bleats in a habituation–discrimination paradigm to determine whether females discriminate between the vocalizations of different males. We found that females habituated to the bleats of a specific male showed a significant dishabituation when they were presented with bleats from a novel male. Further playbacks, in which we standardized the mean fundamental frequency (pitch) and amplitude modulation of male bleats, indicated that amplitude modulation is the key feature that females attend to when discriminating between male callers. Our results show that female giant pandas can discriminate between the vocalizations of potential mates and provide a platform for further studies investigating the functional role of caller identity in giant panda sexual communication.

Prospects, determinants and challenges of implementing food banking: evidence from Ashanti Region of Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Oppong Mensah ◽  
Jeffery Kofi Asare ◽  
Ernest Christlieb Amrago ◽  
Samuel Afotey Anang ◽  
Tekuni Nakuja
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Food Banks ◽  
Probit Regression ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Food And Agriculture ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Government

PurposeThis paper seeks to examine the prospects and constraints of implementing food banking in the in Kumasi Metropolis in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachMultistage sampling technique was used to select 385 respondents for the study. Descriptive statistics were used to present prospects of food banking. The probit regression model was used to analyse factors influencing food banking implementation whereas Kendall's coefficient of concordance was used to analyse constraints in implementing food banking.FindingsAddressing food poverty, helping to provide food aid to respondents in times of pandemics (such as Covid 19) and also helping in reducing food wastage were the most notable prospects of food banking. Age, household size, food bank awareness and food poverty had a significant positive influence on food banking implementation, whereas residential status and employment status had a significant negative influence on food banking implementation. The most pressing constraint in implementing food banking is funding and support with the mean rank of 3.03 whiles the least pressing constraint is improper documentation of potential beneficiaries with the mean rank of 6.72.Social implicationsThis study provides empirical contributions and practical implications for implementing food banks in Ghana. Thus, the government of Ghana through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) can enact policies that can help prevent food losses and wastage. In this vain, food which could have been wasted would be redirected to food banks. This can serve as a tool for social intervention, poverty alleviation and prevention of hunger among the vulnerable in Ghana.Originality/valueDespite several studies on food banking in affluent countries, food banking research in developing countries such as Ghana remains scanty. Thus, this paper makes significant contributions to the literature on prospects and constraints in implementing food banking and the factors influencing food banking implementation.

Does Diversity in The Boardroom Add Value to a Firm?

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Panel Data ◽  
Firm Size ◽  
Significant Influence ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Board Composition ◽  
Board Diversity

This study examines whether board diversity affects firm performance. We investigate this study using panel data of a sample of S&P 500 firms during a 12 year period. After controlling for industry, firm size, and other board composition variables, we find that all three board diversity variables of interest – gender, ethnicity, and age have a significant influence on firm performance. While ethnicity and age have a positive influence on firm performance, it was found that gender has a negative influence. Implications for future research are discussed.

scholarly journals Concerns or Desires Post-Pandemic: An Extended MGB Model for Understanding South Korean Residents’ Perceptions and Intentions to Travel to China

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2542
Author(s):  
Guanghui Qiao ◽  
Xiao-li Zhao ◽  
Luqi Xin ◽  
Seokchool Kim
Keyword(s):  
Mass Media ◽  
Latent Variables ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Extended Model ◽  
South Korean ◽  
Structural Relationships ◽  
China Post

In this study, we examined South Korean residents’ travel-related behavioural intention for mainland China post-COVID-19 using an extended model of goal-directed behaviour. To do so, we integrated South Korean residents’ perceptions of country image (PCI), mass media, and concerns about travel into the framework of the original model of goal-directed behaviour (MGB). Structural equation modelling was used to identify the structural relationships among the latent variables. The results show that mass media had a positive influence on South Korean residents’ perception of China’s image, a negative influence on residents’ concerns, and a positive influence on residents’ behavioural intentions for travel overseas. Meanwhile, PCI had a positive influence on residents’ attitude towards travel overseas. The theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed.

scholarly journals Filling the void of family leadership: institutional support to business model changes in the Italian Industry 4.0 experience

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Cucculelli ◽  
Ivano Dileo ◽  
Marco Pini
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Industry 4.0 ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Institutional Support ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
External Support ◽  
Family Management ◽  
Family Leadership

AbstractWe examine whether the probability of innovating a company’s business model towards the Industry 4.0 paradigm is affected by external institutional support and family leadership. Industry 4.0 is the information-intensive transformation of global manufacturing enabled by Internet technologies aimed at reinventing products and services from design and engineering to manufacturing. Using a sample of 3000 firms from a corporate survey on the manufacturing industry in Italy, our results showed that family leadership has a significant positive influence on the adoption of Industry 4.0 business models, but only in terms of family ownership. By contrast, family management has a negative influence on the probability of adopting a new business model. However, this negative influence is almost totally offset by the presence of the Triple Helix, i.e. the external support by public institutions and universities, which counterbalances the lower propensity of family managers to adopt Industry 4.0 business models. This supporting role only occurs when institutions and universities act together.

scholarly journals A prospective study on effectiveness of drotaverine in acceleration of labor

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 137-141
Author(s):  
Padma Raj Dhungana ◽  
Rajesh Adhikari ◽  
Prem Raj Pageni ◽  
Apsara Koirala ◽  
Anand Nepal
Keyword(s):  
Prospective Study ◽  
Drug Administration ◽  
Active Phase ◽  
Delivery Mode ◽  
Normal Delivery ◽  
Group I ◽  
Vacuum Delivery ◽  
Drotaverine Hydrochloride ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Group Ii

Background: Labor is a naturally occurring physiological process associated with uterine contractions, effacement, dilatation of cervix and descent of presenting part. Drotaverine hydrochloride is a non-anticholinergic isoquinoline derivative which acts by elevating intracellular cyclic Adenosine Mono Phosphate (cAMP) and cyclic Guanosine Mono Phosphate (cGMP) promoting smooth muscle relaxation. Materials and Method: This was a hospital based prospective study on effectiveness of Drotaverine Hydrochloride on enhancing dilatation of cervix and acceleration of active phase of labor. The sample size was 100. Fifty cases of women in active phase of labor received injection drotaverine hydrochloride 40 mg (group i) and fifty cases of women did not receive any drug (group ii) among those at term with singleton pregnancy and vertex presentation. Variables like maternal age, interval between administration of drug and delivery, mode of delivery, apgar score at 5 minutes, NCU (Neonatal Care Unit) admission and neonatal outcomes were recorded. Data analysis was done with the help of SPSS program. Results: The mean interval between drug administration to delivery in primipara and multipara in group i was 3.05 hours and 2.31 hours while in group ii was 4.5 hours and 3.75 hours respectively. The mean interval between drug administration and delivery was shorter in both groups of multipara. In group i, 96% had normal delivery and 4 % had vacuum delivery and in group ii 90% and 10% had normal delivery and vacuum delivery respectively. None of the participants had caeserian section. There were no perinatal mortalities. Conclusion: The administration of drug Drotaverine Hydrochloride is effective in shortening duration of labor with favorable feto-maternal outcome.  

The analysis of the results of a rotation experiment on the use of straw and fertilizers

1953 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. D. Patterson
Keyword(s):  
Present Experiment ◽  
Treatment Effects ◽  
Standard Errors ◽  
Methods Of Analysis ◽  
Seasonal Factors ◽  
Long Term Experiments ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Linear Regressions

An experiment, designed to test different ways of using straw with fertilizers, and involving a three course rotation of crops, was carried out at Rothamsted between 1933 and 1951. The methods of analysis developed for this experiment are described in the present paper and demonstrated using yields of potatoes.Treatment effects of interest are given by the mean yields over all years and the linear regressions of yield on time. These estimates are straightforward but the evaluation of their errors is complicated by the existence of correlations due to the recurrence of treatments on the same plots. Further complications are introduced when, as frequently happens in long-term experiments, treatment effects show real variation from year to year. A method is given for estimating standard errors which include a contribution from this variation.The various relationships between yields and the uncontrolled seasonal factors can also be examined; in the present experiment there is some indication that the effects of treatments on yields of potatoes are influenced by the dates of planting.In other circumstances the analysis requires modifications, some of which are briefly considered.

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