scholarly journals Adult body size measurement redundancies in Osmia lignaria and Megachile rotundata (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e12344
Author(s):  
Lindsie M. McCabe ◽  
Natalie K. Boyle ◽  
Morgan B. Scalici ◽  
Theresa L. Pitts-Singer
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Head Capsule ◽  
Solitary Bees ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Megachile Rotundata ◽  
Osmia Lignaria ◽  
Exponential Models

Metrics to assess relative adult bee body size have included both mass and morphometrics, but these metrics may not equally or reliably estimate body size for all bee species and in all situations, due to bee age, diet, and/or environment. Understanding the relationships between different metrics and possible redundancies in the information they afford is important but not always known. Body size measurements provide valuable data for interpreting research outcomes for managed solitary bees, including Osmia lignaria Say and Megachile rotundata F. (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Applied studies of these important and readily available U.S. crop pollinators focus on refining commercial management practices, and basic empirical studies in various scientific disciplines (from genomics to ecology) employ them as model systems to study solitary bees. To examine common metrics of body size, we measured head capsule width (HCW), intertegular distance (ITD), and fresh and dry weights of newly emerged adults of both species. Using linear and exponential models, we determined relationships between these body size metrics. For M. rotundata, linear models best described relationships between ITD and all other metrics, and between HCW and fresh and dry weights. For O. lignaria, linear models best fit relationships between all metrics except for fresh weight with both ITD and HCW, which were fitted better with exponential models. For both species, model fits were strongest when males and females were pooled. Depending on the study question, knowing that only one metric may reliably measure body size can simplify evaluations of O. lignaria and M. rotundata responses to artificial or environmental variables.

Cuticular lipids of female solitary bees, Osmia lignaria Say and Megachile rotundata (F.) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

2009 ◽  
Vol 153 (2) ◽  
pp. 200-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
James S. Buckner ◽  
Theresa L. Pitts-Singer ◽  
Christelle Guédot ◽  
Marcia M. Hagen ◽  
Charlotte L. Fatland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solitary Bees ◽  
Cuticular Lipids ◽  
Megachile Rotundata ◽  
Osmia Lignaria

scholarly journals Evaluating the Application of CSR in the High-Tech Industry during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Mathematics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (15) ◽  
pp. 1715
Author(s):  
Shih-Chia Chang ◽  
Ming-Tsang Lu ◽  
Mei-Jen Chen ◽  
Li-Hua Huang
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Multiple Criteria Decision Making ◽  
Sustainable Growth ◽  
High Tech ◽  
High Tech Industry ◽  
Continuous Growth ◽  
Csr Strategies ◽  
Corporate Social

Since its conception, corporate social responsibility (CSR) has seen continuous growth and become a highly discussed issue. In this paper, we propose an evaluation of how the COVID-19 pandemic could impact CSR applications. The pandemic has provided an opportunity for commerce to move on to being more authentic, to offer genuine CSR applications and to contribute toward dealing with pressing environmental and social issues. Hence, this purpose of the research is to obtain a better understanding of whether the integration of environment, social, corporate governance and economic (ESGE) aspects into CSR strategies can support sustainable development toward more sustainable growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. To meet this challenge, we offer a mixture multiple-criteria decision making (MCDM) model. Very few empirical studies have discussed CSR in the high-tech industry and proposed strategies and planning for ESGE efficiency. Using interviews with experts and a literature review, we identify the elements related to actual practices of the high-tech industry’s appraisal and the integrated MCDM techniques to suggest efficient enhancement models. The best worst method (BWM) and modified VIKOR are implemented to estimate the strategic weights and the gaps of the aspiration value. The results are valuable for classifying the priorities of CSR and are therefore helpful for those who are associated with high-tech industry management, practices and implementation.

The evolution of stakeholder management practices in Australian mega construction projects

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 690-706 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Jing Yang ◽  
Sajani Jayasuriya ◽  
Chathuri Gunarathna ◽  
Mehrdad Arashpour ◽  
Xiaolong Xue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stakeholder Engagement ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Stakeholder Management ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Stakeholder Analysis ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Project Teams ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Project Objectives

Purpose The complicated nature of megaprojects requires appropriate analysis of multiple stakeholders to achieve project objectives and to accommodate stakeholder interests. During the last two decades, many stakeholder theories and empirical studies have sprouted. Although previous studies have contributed to the development of stakeholder theory, it seems that these theoretical advances have not been fully adopted and acknowledged in practices, especially in megaprojects. The purpose of this paper is to explore the evolution of stakeholder analysis and engagement practices adopted in the Australian megaprojects over the last two decades. Design/methodology/approach Four mega construction projects are described and analysed in this study. Secondary data were first assembled in order to get general knowledge of each case. Interviews were conducted with the project directors. Project documents were collected from the project teams and reviewed. Wherever the project information was unclear, e-mails were sent to the directors and the team members to confirm the details. Findings Project teams have started to apply snowball rolling and stakeholder attribute assessment methods to analyse stakeholders. However, there is still a way to adopt the “network” analysis perspective because the project teams are reluctant to use complicated tools which need specialists’ assistance. The stakeholder engagement practices have evolved to an extent where the project teams monitor the dynamics of stakeholders’ requirements. Projects teams have identified the importance of continuity to manage stakeholders in these massive projects. However, a structured method selection mechanism for stakeholder engagement has not been developed. Originality/value This study will help academics to understand the adoption progress and status of stakeholder management methods.

scholarly journals Australian mycophagous species of the genus Deplorothrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4208 (3) ◽  
pp. 201
Author(s):  
LAURENCE A. MOUND ◽  
DESLEY J. TREE
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Head Capsule ◽  
Identification Key ◽  
Structural Polymorphism ◽  
First Time

The genus Deplorothrips Mound & Walker is recorded from Australia for the first time. The genus is found widely across the continent, and descriptions and an illustrated identification key are provided to 14 new species. These have been found living on dead twigs and branches, particularly of Eucalyptus trees. Typical members of this genus have short maxillary stylets that are scarcely retracted into the head capsule, but some of the species have more deeply retracted stylets. Structural polymorphism is recorded in several species, associated both with sex and with body size. Remarkable variation is recorded for some species in the number of sense cones on the antennal segments. 

Teacher Working Conditions, Teacher Commitment, and Charter Schools

2017 ◽  
Vol 119 (6) ◽  
pp. 1-38
Author(s):  
Yongmei Ni
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Charter Schools ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Contextual Factors ◽  
School Teacher ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Teacher Commitment ◽  
Professional Commitment ◽  
Teacher Working Conditions

Background The charter school movement relies on teachers as critical components. Teacher commitment is an important aspect of teachers’ lives, because it is an internal force for teachers to grow as professionals. It is also considered one of the crucial factors in influencing various educational outcomes, including teacher effectiveness, teacher retention, and student learning. However, no empirical studies have examined teacher commitment in charter schools. Purpose To address this knowledge gap, this study compares organizational and professional commitment of teachers in charter schools and traditional public schools (TPSs) and explores how these differences are associated with teachers’ characteristics, school contextual factors, and working conditions in the two types of schools. Research Design This study utilizes quantitative analyses of national data from the 2007– 2008 School and Staffing Survey. Hierarchical linear models were developed to examine whether teacher commitment differs between charter schools and TPSs; how teacher characteristics, school contextual factors, and teachers’ perceptions of working conditions contribute to the difference; and finally, whether these variables differentially influence teacher commitment in charter schools and TPSs. Conclusions On average, teachers in charter schools experienced lower levels of organizational commitment than teachers in TPSs, but similar levels of professional commitment. Teacher working conditions explained a large amount of the variance in between-school teacher commitment, suggesting that improving principal leadership, increasing opportunities for professional development, and alleviating teachers’ workload would be effective ways to promote teacher commitment in charter schools.

scholarly journals Diet Breadth Affects Bacterial Identity but Not Diversity in the Pollen Provisions of Closely Related Polylectic and Oligolectic Bees

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 645
Author(s):  
Jason A. Rothman ◽  
Diana L. Cox-Foster ◽  
Corey Andrikopoulos ◽  
Quinn S. McFrederick
Keyword(s):  
Host Species ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Microbial Community Composition ◽  
Diet Breadth ◽  
Solitary Bees ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Osmia Lignaria ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Functional Consequences ◽  
Oligolectic Bees

Mounting evidence suggests that microbes found in the pollen provisions of wild and solitary bees are important drivers of larval development. As these microbes are also known to be transmitted via the environment, most likely from flowers, the diet breadth of a bee may affect the diversity and identity of the microbes that occur in its pollen provisions. Here, we tested the hypothesis that, due to the importance of floral transmission of microbes, diet breadth affects pollen provision microbial community composition. We collected pollen provisions at four sites from the polylectic bee Osmia lignaria and the oligolectic bee Osmia ribifloris. We used high-throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene to characterize the bacteria found in these provisions. We found minimal overlap in the specific bacterial variants in pollen provisions across the host species, even when the bees were constrained to foraging from the same flowers in cages at one site. Similarly, there was minimal overlap in the specific bacterial variants across sites, even within the same host species. Together, these findings highlight the importance of environmental transmission and host specific sorting influenced by diet breadth for microbes found in pollen provisions. Future studies addressing the functional consequences of this filtering, along with tests for differences between more species of oligoletic and polylectic bees will provide rich insights into the microbial ecology of solitary bees.

scholarly journals Migratory lineages rapidly evolve larger body sizes than non-migratory relatives in ray-finned fishes

2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1918) ◽  
pp. 20192615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. Burns ◽  
Devin D. Bloom
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Life History Theory ◽  
Environmental Heterogeneity ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Adaptive Landscape ◽  
Migratory Species ◽  
Size Evolution ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Body Size Evolution ◽  
First Time

Migratory animals respond to environmental heterogeneity by predictably moving long distances in their lifetime. Migration has evolved repeatedly in animals, and many adaptations are found across the tree of life that increase migration efficiency. Life-history theory predicts that migratory species should evolve a larger body size than non-migratory species, and some empirical studies have shown this pattern. A recent study analysed the evolution of body size between diadromous and non-diadromous shads, herrings, anchovies and allies, finding that species evolved larger body sizes when adapting to a diadromous lifestyle. It remains unknown whether different fish clades adapt to migration similarly. We used an adaptive landscape framework to explore body size evolution for over 4500 migratory and non-migratory species of ray-finned fishes. By fitting models of macroevolution, we show that migratory species are evolving towards a body size that is larger than non-migratory species. Furthermore, we find that migratory lineages evolve towards their optimal body size more rapidly than non-migratory lineages, indicating body size is a key adaption for migratory fishes. Our results show, for the first time, that the largest vertebrate radiation on the planet exhibited strong evolutionary determinism when adapting to a migratory lifestyle.

The impact of project sustainability management (PSM) on project success

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amin Khalifeh ◽  
Peter Farrell ◽  
Malek Al-edenat
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Project Success ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New School ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to answer the research question: “does the incorporation of sustainability as a new school of thought in project management support project success?” The authors carried out a systematic literature review (SLR) on relevant empirical studies before 2018 to answer this question. Design/methodology/approach The authors carried out an SLR by selecting, extracting, analysing and critically appraising relevant literature that met pre-specified criteria by using transparent, well-organised and replicable steps. The main sources are publications in peer-reviewed journals regardless of their impact factor because the topic of incorporating sustainability in project management practices is restrained by a lack of research. Findings Based on the analysis, it seems that incorporating sustainability into project management may support project success. However, more evidence is required to support this finding as there are too few relevant empirical studies in the literature. Research limitations/implications Therefore, considering sustainability as a new school of thought in project management is premature, and there are recommendations for further research at the end of this study. There are several limitations to the studies chosen, which may have significantly affected results, and thus may affect outcomes in this study. Originality/value Project success needs to be the main endeavour when incorporating sustainability into project management, and it should be a key criterion when considering sustainability as a new school of thought in managing projects. The most challenging elements of project success that need to be addressed are cost and time. This study contributes to a better understanding of the impact of PSM on project success. It facilitates decision making in considering sustainability as a new school of thought in project management. Furthermore, it defines a need for more research work in this potential paradigm shift in managing projects.

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