Passenger Repurchase Behaviours in the Green Cruise Line Context: Exploring the Role of Quality, Image, and Physical Environment

Little is known about cruise passengers’ post-purchase behaviours and what makes them repurchase eco-friendly cruise trips. This research is an empirical attempt to explore the role of cruise line quality, image, physical environment excellence, satisfaction, and awareness of consequences in determining passenger repurchase intentions in the green cruise line sector. A quantitative method that comprised a structural equation model and an invariance test was used. Our findings revealed that quality, image, and physical environment excellence acted as significant drivers of satisfaction and intention, and cruise line quality had the greatest influence on intention. In addition, satisfaction, which was the most proximal determinant of intention, had a mediating effect. The physical environment excellence and intention relationship was moderated by awareness of consequences. The proposed conceptual framework in general had a sufficient level of prediction power for passenger repurchase intention. Findings of this study can be efficiently used for passenger retention among green cruise line practitioners.

Fruit and vegetable availability: a micro environmental mediating variable?

ObjectivesTo examine the association between fruit and vegetable (F&V) availability and consumption, the possible influences on this association, research gaps, and implications for developing strategies to increase F&V consumption.DesignSystematic review of studies that have examined associations between F&V availability and consumption.ResultsQualitative studies conducted among children and adults indicated that greater availability was associated with greater consumption. This finding was supported by cross-sectional studies among children. Availability was associated with dietary psychosocial variables such as preferences, and it appears that availability may moderate the relationship between these psychosocial variables and consumption. Intervention studies attempting to increase availability have resulted in increased consumption, and availability has predicted change in consumption over an 18-month period.DiscussionAvailability appears to be a key proximal determinant of consumption, especially of F&V, and thereby provides a target for change. However, the mechanisms that relate these variables are unclear and there is a need to clarify the direction of causality. We suggest that the possible causal mechanisms may include: (1) availability simply facilitates increased consumption; (2) the visual cues of available food may stimulate consumption; and (3) available food exposure may increase preference, which leads to increased consumption. Each of these possibilities requires close examination, as do policy-level interventions.ConclusionF&V availability is associated with increased consumption. Research that elucidates the mechanisms between availability and intake, and tests policy-level interventions, is needed to advance increased availability as a public health procedure.

Opposing RA and FGF signals control proximodistal vertebrate limb development through regulation of Meis genes

Vertebrate limbs develop in a temporal proximodistal sequence, with proximal regions specified and generated earlier than distal ones. Whereas considerable information is available on the mechanisms promoting limb growth, those involved in determining the proximodistal identity of limb parts remain largely unknown. We show here that retinoic acid (RA) is an upstream activator of the proximal determinant genes Meis1 and Meis2. RA promotes proximalization of limb cells and endogenous RA signaling is required to maintain the proximal Meis domain in the limb. RA synthesis and signaling range, which initially span the entire lateral plate mesoderm, become restricted to proximal limb domains by the apical ectodermal ridge (AER) activity following limb initiation. We identify fibroblast growth factor (FGF) as the main molecule responsible for this AER activity and propose a model integrating the role of FGF in limb cell proliferation, with a specific function in promoting distalization through inhibition of RA production and signaling.

Seasonal variation in the testicular cycle of the loggerhead musk turtle, Sternotherus minor minor, from central Florida

Seasonal macroscopic and microscopic changes in the testicular cycle of Sternotherus minor from the southern limit of its range are described, and comparisons are made with the female reproductive cycle from the same population and other populations of Sternotherus from various latitudes. Male S. minor in central Florida reach sexual maturity at three years of age and at least 60 m carapace length. Spermatogenesis in S. minor begins in spring when spermatogonia increase and become abundant. Maximum testicular size is attained during August and September and then decreases until March when testicular mass is minimal. As in other chelonians, the male and female cycles do not peak at the same time. The timing of the testicular cycle of this population is similar to populations of Sternotherus odoratus from different latitudes (Virginia, Alabama) and from other populations of S. minor from Florida, yet differs from a population of S. odoratus from the same latitude. Because this population of S. minor inhabits water of seasonally variable temperature (whereas most S. minor are found in constant temperature situations), photoperiod, and not water temperature, may be the most important proximal determinant of the testicular cycle.