SPSS Statistical Package for the Social Scientist
... The total N, P and K uptake for different treatments were calculated by taking into account the dry matter yield and N, P and K content in the fruit and haulm of tomato plant. SPSS statistical software was used to expound the effect of varied treatments imposition on fruit yield and N, P and K uptake (Nie et al., 1975). ...
Soil test crop response (STCR) correlation studies under Integrated Plant Nutrition System were conducted in the western agro-climatic zone of Tamil Nadu during 2020-2021 to devise the fertilizer prescription equations for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under drip fertigation on an alfisol. The equations were derived by following Ramamoorthy’s Inductive cum targeted yield model. The nutrient requirement of N, P2O5 and K2O for producing one quintal of tomato fruit was found to be 0.22, 0.11, 0.27 kg respectively. The per cent contribution of nutrients were 37.93, 46.73 and 29.53 of N, P2O5 and K2O from soil (Cs) and 47.84, 31.12 and 74.13 of N, P2O5 and K2O from fertilizers (Cf) respectively. Two organic sources were applied viz., FYM (Farm Yard Manure) and Biocompost and the per cent contribution of nutrients from FYM were 38.36, 13.22 and 52.17 of N, P2O5 and K2O and from biocompost were 43.34, 10.90 and 57.00 of N, P2O5 and K2O respectively. Fertilizer adjustment equations were formulated for STCR-NPK alone, STCR-IPNS (FYM) and STCR-IPNS (Biocompost) by applying the basic parameters such as NR, Cs, Cf, Cfym, Cbiocompost. A ready reckoner of fertilizer doses for a set of soil test values at yield targets 80 and 90 t ha-1 was computed. The findings also showed that the adoption of STCR-IPNS could save more fertilizers.
... At this point, the hostage screen disengages, and participants can access their working screen(s). The decision for an hourly prompt time was based on national guidelines for office employees (48). ...
There is evidence that movement-based microbreaks can improve the cardiovascular health of desk-based employees, but their effect on mood states is yet to be investigated. As daily work tasks can potentially result in the loss of physical and psychological resources, the objective of this study was to measure the effect of movement microbreaks during formal work time on mood states. In a randomized-controlled pilot study with repeated measures (baseline, post-test, washout) of self-reported job stress and mood states (fatigue and vigor), police officers (N = 43) were exposed to movement microbreaks during work hours. A multivariate significant difference between groups was noted after the intervention period. Further analysis revealed that the experimental group reported a latent reduction in job-related stress after the 3-months washout period. Although the study was conducted with a small sample, our preliminary findings suggest that interrupting sedentary work with movement microbreaks may have beneficial effects on employee mental health. The implications of movement microbreaks for mitigating work-related stress of first responders, including police, is discussed, along with directives for future research.
... TCSA and cropping data for all graft combinations were evaluated by analysis of variance. The data were analyzed using the SPSS program (Norusis, 1986). Means were separated by Fisher's (protected) LSD at P ≤ 0.05 when the F test was significant. ...
Field performance of several peach × almond hybrid [ Prunus amygdalo-persica (West) Redh.] rootstocks grafted with different peach cultivars [ Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] were tested for 11 to 12 years in three experiments. `Loadel' scions were grafted on Adafuel, Adarcias, Albatarrech, Calanda, and GF 677 hybrids. `Catherina' and `Flavortop' scions were grafted on Adafuel, Adarcias, and GF 677 hybrids. Adafuel was the most invigorating rootstock for `Loadel', after the 12 years of scion growth, but Adarcias also promoted higher scion productivity than other peach × almond hybrid rootstocks. Although there were no differences in `Catherina' productivity when grafted on different rootstocks, this cultivar and `Flavortop' grafted on Adarcias showed the least vigor. `Flavortop' on Adafuel had more vigor than on the other rootstocks. According to our results, Adafuel (a vigorous rootstock) seems to be suitable for peach production in low nutrient and calcareous soils unfavorable for peach seedling rootstocks. Adarcias seems promising as a peach rootstock for avoiding excessive scion growth, and it may be useful where tree size needs to be controlled.
... Como cada indivíduo e cada família tem uma forma singular de ser e de enfrentar essa situação, não existe um modelo ideal de funcionamento familiar, de percepção da doença e de expectativa em relação à sua evolução que possa servir a todos. 7 A expectativa em relação à doença diz respeito ao quanto ela pode ou não encurtar o tempo de vida do indivíduo. A expectativa da família quanto à evolução e à resolutividade da doença é variável, dependendo de vários fatores, como religião, forma de perceber a doença e condições socioeconômicas. ...
Trata-se de um estudo piloto que envolve 15 crianças internadas no Hospital da Criança: Obras Sociais de Irmã Dulce, Salvador, Bahia, realizado com o objetivo de investigar a percepção da família perante o paciente pediátrico, portador de enfermidade crônica. Para tanto, o responsável pelo paciente respondeu a um questionário que abordou questões referentes a perfil sociodemográfico, grau de conhecimento da família em relação à doença, percepção quanto a alterações comportamentais ocorridas na criança e na família, além da impressão quanto ao prognóstico e serviços médicos prestados à população pesquisada. Os resultados desta pesquisa evidenciaram que toda a população avaliada apresentou algum tipo de alteração comportamental, sendo mais freqüentes os sintomas: tristeza, ansiedade, isolamento e sonolência. Os pais referiram como manifestações mais comuns, após o surgimento da doença: maior união familiar, sentimento de medo, ansiedade e preocupação com seqüelas físicas. No que diz respeito ao padrão de assistência hospitalar, revelaram-se satisfeitos com a qualidade e eficiência do serviço médico prestado. Entretanto, consideram insuficiente o suporte psicológico à criança e à família no enfrentamento da doença crônica. A próxima fase deste estudo deverá possibilitar uma análise mais consistente e abrangente acerca do tema proposto.
... To test for the hypothesized curvilinear relationships for promotion and recognition opportunity rates, we conducted a polynomial trend test as described by Nie et al. (1975). The associations between the remaining independent variables and each dependent variable were tested with partial correlation analysis. ...
The authors investigate the relationship between personal and organizational characteristics and the attractiveness of various rewards to industrial salespeople. Data were gathered from 241 industrial salespeople and the sales managers of 17 participating industrial firms. Of the 84 relationships examined, 18 statistically significant relationships are found between such predictor variables as age, job tenure, income level, specific self-esteem, compensation plan base, promotion opportunity rate, and recognition rate and criterion variables which are the valences for various rewards. Organizational variables are found to be more promising than personal characteristics in terms of their relationship to the attactiveness of various rewards.
... Lethal dose (LD) was determined through Probit analysis (Finney, 1971) in SPSS Statistics Ver. 22.0 (Nie et al, 1970). Statistical significance difference (P<0.05) ...
Beauveria, Metarhizium and Isaria are among the genera of well studied entomopathogenic fungi (EPFs) and has been widely formulated as mycoinsecticides. We quantified the virulence of six different isolates, two of each Beauveria,Metarhizium and Isaria spp. against 4th to 5th instar yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor larvae and described the early infection process and aspects of the host enzymatic immune response. We found that, Qin-21 (B. bassiana) and YYC-091 (M. robertsii) were among the most virulent isolates of all in order with LD50 of 9.12×104 and 3.4×105 conidia/ g and Mean Survival Time (MST) of 3.44 ± 0.04 and 4.33 ±0.07 days at 2×108 conidia/g for respective treatments, whereas BSH-03 (B. asiatica) was the least virulent of all with LD50 of 4.1×107 conidia/g. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that Qin-21 and YYC-091 have comparatively faster germination rate within 12 h followed by vigorous extension of germ tube for later one within 24h. Furthermore, peroxidase (POD) and carboxylesterase (CarE) enzyme activity were inhibited throughout the infection period (POD, P<0.01) by the most virulent isolate Qin-21. Elevated catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), alkaline phosphatase (AKP) for all the treatments implies the host’s response for the oxidative stress because of infection. This research provides new insights into the pathogenicity and correlation of potential host physiological response to different fungal isolates with varying degree of virulence.
... We used Statistical Package for the Social Sciences [spss; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA; (56)] version 20 for Windows as well as OpenOffice.org version 5.0 to do the statistical analysis and to draw line charts. ...
Schizophrenic patients have serious impairments in social cognition, which often persists after significant reduction in clinical symptoms. Community-based psychosocial treatments aim to recover social functioning for mentally ill individuals. Our aim was to examine prospective changes in social cognition and functional outcomes in two groups of schizophrenic patients involved in two forms of community-based psychosocial treatments namely case management (CM) and community-based club (CC) compared to a matched, treatment as usual (TAU) group of patients. We hypothesized that CC and CM groups would exhibit better functional and social cognitive outcomes after a 6-month long psychosocial treatment period. Seventy-five patients participated either in CC, CM or TAU. Both CC and CM took part in community-based psychosocial treatment programs including trainings, such as communication and assertiveness trainings. In addition, CC provided group therapeutic treatments and a continuously available day care where patients had the possibility to participate in various social interactions. All participants were in remission, and on maintenance antipsychotic treatment. Participants were assessed on all study variables at two time points: baseline and after 6 months with a battery of questionnaires that examined affective face perception, affective prosody perception, pragmatic language comprehension and ToM. Our results showed that functional outcomes improved significantly in the CC as well as in the CM groups, in contrast to the TAU group. While analyzing summary scores of social cognition, it was found that only the CC group increased its performance in social cognition. In addition, a significant between-group difference in social cognitive function was found after 6 months between the three groups, with the CC group performing best. When investigating associations between changes in social cognition and changes in functional outcomes during a 6-month long treatment period, we found significant correlations between the two variables both in the CC and in the CM groups. Based on our results, we suggest that a rich interpersonal network and social support have highly beneficial effects on social cognition and we would like to emphasize the necessity of offering community-based psychosocial treatments beside antipsychotic medications as early as possible as a crucial part of the complex therapy of schizophrenia.
... All data analyses were performed using SPSS for Windows version 19.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA; Norusis, 2008), alpha was set at .05, and all analyses were twotailed. Data that were more than 3 standard deviations from the mean for the baseline or stressor were considered outliers and were excluded from that particular dependent variable analysis (skin conductance, n = 1). ...
Identifying strategies that aid in recovery from stress may benefit cardiovascular health. Ninety-nine undergraduate meditation novices were randomly assigned to meditate, listen to an audio book, or sit quietly after a standardized stressor. During recovery, meditators’ heart rate variability and skin conductance levels returned to baseline, whereas only heart rate variability returned to baseline for the audio book and control groups. Positive and negative affect were no different than baseline following meditation, whereas, both audio book and control groups had lower positive affect and higher negative affect following the intervention. Findings suggest that the sympathetic nervous system is uniquely affected by meditation, and novices may benefit emotionally from meditating after a stressor. Further research is needed to determine meditation’s utility in recovering from stress.
... Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was performed using "lavaan" package (Rosseel, 2012;Rosseel et al., 2015) for R software [R-core project (Team RC., 2014 in order to test the factorial structural model of the SMI-ED based on prior empirical and theoretical grounds. All the other statistical analysis were carried out with SPSS software (version 20.0, SPSS Inc., Bologna, Italy) (Nie et al., 1970). ...
Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties and factorial structure of the Schema Mode Inventory for Eating Disorders (SMI-ED) in a disordered eating population.
Method: 573 participants with disordered eating patterns as measured by the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) completed the 190-item adapted version of the Schema Mode Inventory (SMI). The new SMI-ED was developed by clinicians/researchers specializing in the treatment of eating disorders, through combining items from the original SMI with a set of additional questions specifically representative of the eating disorder population. Psychometric testing included Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and internal consistency (Cronbach's α). Multivariate Analyses of Covariance (MANCOVA) was also run to test statistical differences between the EDE-Q subscales on the SMI-ED modes, while controlling for possible confounding variables.
Results: Factorial analysis confirmed an acceptable 16-related-factors solution for the SMI-ED, thus providing preliminary evidence for the adequate validity of the new measure based on internal structure. Concurrent validity was also established through moderate to high correlations on the modes most relevant to eating disorders with EDE-Q subscales. This study represents the first step in creating a psychometrically sound instrument for measuring schema modes in eating disorders, and provides greater insight into the relevant schema modes within this population.
Conclusion: This research represents an important preliminary step toward understanding and labeling the schema mode model for this clinical group. Findings from the psychometric evaluation of SMI-ED suggest that this is a useful tool which may further assist in the measurement and conceptualization of schema modes in this population.
... Sheer size is not a necessary criterion to define big data (Monroe, Pan, Roberts, Sen, & Sinclair, 2015), and the fact that a method is executed on a computer does not make it a 'computational method' -communication scholars have used computers to help in their studies for over half a century (e.g. Nie, Bent, & Hull, 1970;Stone, Dunphy, Smith, Ogilvie, & Associates, 1966). Adapting the criteria given by Shah et al. (2015), we can give an ideal-typical definition by stating that computational communication science studies generally involve (1) large and complex data sets; (2) consisting of digital traces and other 'naturally occurring' data; (3) requiring algorithmic solutions to analyze; and (4) allowing the study of human communication by applying and testing communication theory. ...
The recent increase in digitally available data, tools, and processing power is fostering the use of computational methods to the study of communication. This special issue discusses the validity of using big data in communication science and showcases a number of new methods and applications in the fields of text and network analysis. Computational methods have the potential to greatly enhance the scientific study of communication because they allow us to move towards collaborative large-N studies of actual behavior in its social context. This requires us to develop new skills and infrastructure and meet the challenges of open, valid, reliable, and ethical “big data” research. By bringing together a number of leading scholars in one issue, we contribute to the increasing development and adaptation of computational methods in communication science.
... The SPSS software [34] was used to perform the behavioural statistical analyses, while the neurophysiological analyses (statistics and visualisations) were performed using Matlab and the EEGLab Plug'In [13]. ...
While the Sense of Agency (SoA) has so far been predominantly characterised in VR as a component of the Sense of Embodiment, other communities (e.g., in psychology or neurosciences) have investigated the SoA from a different perspective proposing complementary theories. Yet, despite the acknowledged potential benefits of catching up with these theories a gap remains. This paper first aims to contribute to fill this gap by introducing a theory according to which the SoA can be divided into two components, the feeling and the judgment of agency, and relies on three principles, namely the principles of priority, exclusivity and consistency. We argue that this theory could provide insights on the factors influencing the SoA in VR systems. Second, we propose novel approaches to manipulate the SoA in controlled VR experiments (based on these three principles) as well as to measure the SoA, and more specifically its two components based on neurophysiological markers, using ElectroEncephaloGraphy (EEG). We claim that these approaches would enable us to deepen our understanding of the SoA in VR contexts. Finally, we validate these approaches in an experiment. Our results ( N=24 ) suggest that our approach was successful in manipulating the SoA as the modulation of each of the three principles induced significant decreases of the SoA (measured using questionnaires). In addition, we recorded participants' EEG signals during the VR experiment, and neurophysiological markers of the SoA, potentially reflecting the feeling and judgment of agency specifically, were revealed. Our results also suggest that users' profile, more precisely their Locus of Control (LoC), influences their level of immersion and SoA.
... To measure the level of reliability of the items in the questionnaire, a Cronbach's alpha test was conducted. The test yielded a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.894, a value which provides a good internal consistency in terms of reliability because alpha is positive and greater than 0.70 (Nie et al., 1975;Field, 2009). A principal component analysis (PCA) was also conducted. ...
Purpose
Many research findings depicted corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a strategic tool for influencing customer behavior, especially customer trust. Nevertheless, rare is research that considered a business ecosystem infested by a low level of cultural trust, political and economic problems, perceived corruption and low level of CSR awareness and engagement as obstacles that may prevent companies from influencing their customers’ behavior. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate whether CSR activities positively influence consumer/user trust toward companies operating within a low-cultural-trust context and also the consistency of empirical finds on CSR regardless of the cultural context.
Design/methodology/approach
The model of this study consisted of four variables: perceptions of CSR, customer trust, service quality and customer satisfaction. The target sample constituted respondents belonging to six different occupational categories namely health-care services, media services, law and public security, agriculture and earth sciences, training and education services and administrative sciences. This study used a quantitative approach based on a paper–pencil questionnaire to collect the data.
Findings
The results of this study indicated that perceptions of CSR correlated positively with service quality, customer satisfaction and customer trust. The results also indicated that perceptions of CSR, service quality and customer satisfaction are good predictors of customer trust.
Originality/value
This study is significant because it was conducted in a developing country (Haiti) that has long been struggling with political instability, systemic corruption, serious environmental damages and continuous economic crises and inequality along with a low level of CSR engagement and awareness.
... The generated results were classified and ranked for each subject based on the queries. A hierarchical cluster analysis was performed is SPSS 16.0 [39] using Ward's method. [40] This 16-year report can help researchers plan further studies on PCs and also provides a brief overview of the chemical structure of these compounds. ...
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” was expressed by Hippocrates more than 2000 years ago and the health benefits of natural food products have been considered for different goals since the ancient times. As natural phytochemicals, phenolic compounds (PCs) are a major class of semi-water-soluble compounds (from fruit and vegetable sources) with one or more benzene rings that are generally found in nature as glycosides. According to a review of literature, food scientists have studied the many health benefits of these compounds against pernicious human diseases. Today, choosing a healthy diet has become an essential part of healthy living and fitness. Many studies have shown that people who follow specific diet (especially polyphenol-rich diets) are at a low risk for a range of chronic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, etc. The present research is a comprehensive review of studies on PCs with a focus on human diseases (HDs) that seeks to find out why some PCs have received such considerable attention all over the world. Data were collected from the Scopus database and a hierarchical cluster analysis was used with Ward’s method to analyze the data. The results showed that three countries most involved in research on PCs are USA, China and India, and also found that quercetin, catechin and kaempferol are three most studied PCs. Cardiovascular diseases, cancer, obesity, diabetes and infectious diseases are major treatment targets for PCs. The review of literature showed that these compounds share a common molecular mode of action against HDs. The Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, Food Chemistry, PLOS ONE and Planta Medica are also the most popular journals for covering original research on PCs. However, this study seeks to facilitate future studies on PCs through its findings.
... Regression analyses were performed using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences: Nie et al. 1975;Hull and Nie 1981) and discriminant analyses using SYSTAT 8.1 (SPSS Inc.). ...
We conducted a morphometric analysis of 279 Crocodylus johnstoni, using specimens from the McKinlay River (n≤265) and Arnhem Land (n≤14), to meet the management need for predicting body size of C. johnstoni from isolated body parts. The results also allow reconstruction of C. johnstoni dimensions for comparison with other crocodilian species. We detected sexual dimorphism in some body measurements from the McKinlay River, and geographic variation in the morphology of McKinlay River and Arnhem Land populations, but differences were slight. There is pronounced allometric growth in C. johnstoni in the immediate post-hatching phase, largely due to elongation of the snout after exiting the confines of the egg. We compared the size, shape and relative growth of C. johnstoni with that of other crocodilian species for which equivalent data are available, but particularly the other Australian crocodile, Crocodylus porosus. C. porosus has a proportionately longer tail and a shorter but wider snout than C. johnstoni, and we discuss possible ecological correlates of these and other differences.
This paper presents research findings from a victimization survey of 1442 Texas residents. Specific attention is given to the fear of crime indicators in the survey with comparisons made to other findings on this subject.
This paper is concerned with the distribution of the two types of demonstrative adjectives in Modern Dutch: (i) deze 'this/these' and its variant dit, and (ii) die 'that/those' and its variant dat. It illustrates how the statistical technique of discriminant analysis may be used to predict the occurrence of deze (dit) versus die (dat) in a text and discusses how the details of the prediction provide insight into the difference in meaning between the two sets of forms.
Monitoring students in Learning Management Systems (LMS) throughout the teaching–learning process has been shown to be a very effective technique for detecting students at risk. Likewise, the teaching style in the LMS conditions, the type of student behaviours on the platform and the learning outcomes. The main objective of this study was to test the effectiveness of three teaching modalities (all using Online Project-based Learning -OPBL- and Flipped Classroom experiences and differing in the use of virtual laboratories and Intelligent Personal Assistant -IPA-) on Moodle behaviour and student performance taking into account the covariate "collaborative group". Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used. With regard to the quantitative analysis, differences were found in student behaviour in Moodle and in learning outcomes, with respect to teaching modalities that included virtual laboratories. Similarly, the qualitative study also analysed the behaviour patterns found in each collaborative group in the three teaching modalities studied. The results indicate that the collaborative group homogenises the learning outcomes, but not the behaviour pattern of each member. Future research will address the analysis of collaborative behaviour in LMSs according to different variables (motivation and metacognitive strategies in students, number of members, interactions between students and teacher in the LMS, etc.).
The fast-paced development orientation of disrupted digital technologies has transformed the operational functionalities of businesses to a great extent; however, considering the flip side of the coin, it has posited challenges of survival and maintenance of competitive advantage to the organisations as well (Heppelmann, Porter 2014, Hausberg et al. 2019). The prevalence of digital disruption is attributed to the new market entrants who preferred to opt for highly advanced digital solutions, which fostered product or service innovation, functional creativity and efficient utilisation of resources (Verhoef, Bijmolt 2019). Roger (2019) also identified the transition of the majority of businesses to digitally supported tools and interventions confirming the replacement of conventional business concepts and practices. Internationally, many globally recognised businesses like Uber, AirBnB and Facebook have revamped their business models through immersing artificially intelligent applications and embedded intelligence into their operations (Palos-Sanchez et al. 2017). In adherence with the market's modern trends (Stewart et al. 2017), which has undoubtedly facilitated improved interaction, connectivity, and decision-making abilities.
During the last decade, policymakers and organisational strategists have been extensively inclined to enhance their organisations' capacity to adapt to the innovative disrupted technologies to keep pace with the current wave of technological emergence. This adoption is deemed necessary for the organisation's incremental progress, especially concerning humans' replacement with robots and artificially intelligent machines and software (Rotolo et al. 2015, Reis et al. 2018). From a literary perspective, several studies are highlighting the trials of disruptive technologies. For instance, Christensen et al. (2018) identified that effective implementation of disruptive technologies requires the organisation to understand its context and ensure a reliable development and comprehension of interconnections among the stakeholders, systems, related processes, and all the associated services. Gartner, I. (2020) argued that adapting to disruptive technologies is the key to survival for businesses unleashing new opportunities for them in the course of the next five to ten years. Shaw, Sui (2020) backed Gartner, I.'s (2020) proclamation and further categorised disrupted technologies into two classes that included human-centric technologies and smart space. The researchers further identified human-centric technologies as a critical construct for lifestyle disruptions. They argued that human-centric approaches help organisations increase employees' capacity to take over different roles and hence be enabled to find solutions to organisational problems. On the contrary, smart space was conceptualised as a physical environment that facilitated coordination, connection and openness while urging the development of an intelligent eco-system urging seamless interaction which is immersive and automated.
Digitisation of disrupted technologies seems critical for organisations, hampering businesses' need to grasp an in-depth understanding of these technologies' application and utility and get an idea about the key influencers and determinants. Although Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Intelligent Things (Gartner, I. 2019a, Gartner, I. 2019b) are penetrating the enterprise providing contributions/ solutions to various challenges organisations are likely to face. Gartner also points out that “A dozen other emerging technology trends are destined to improve trend sensing over the next five years” (Gartner, I. 2019a, Gartner, I. 2019b). However, it is ascertained that more technologies like 4D Printing, 5G, Autonomous vehicles, Cloud in the Edge, Continuous adaptive risk and trust (CARTA), Conversational platforms, Dark data and Digital Twins will disrupt the industries and organisations. According to Gartner (2019), “Gartner Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies” and related technologies are more likely to provide “superhuman capabilities” (Gartner, I. 2020), highlighting the importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
It is ascertained that the persistent progression of innovation and creativity based technological interventions encompasses a potential to disrupt the status quo, reorganise the organisational values and identify their value pools, respectively. Kotarba (2018) argued that blockchain, artificial intelligence and the internet of things could trigger changes in social patterns while influencing consumer behaviours which justifies the due importance and vitality of digital disruption. However, literature has evidenced no consensus of practitioners and scholars over designing a benchmarked framework of digital transformation for the businesses, which can streamline the digital transformation of businesses in adherence to their envisioned objectives. However, it is to be noted that
most scholars and theorists are familiar with the criticality and complexity attributed to digital transformation (Afandi 2017, Orji 2019, Mihardjo et al. 2019). Thus, both commercial and government-based entities must understand the scope of these technologies to prepare themselves to cater to the modern era's needs and develop such skills and capacities, which are deemed vital digital transformation constructs. Justifying the need and significance of this research, the present research aims to understand the mechanism of disruptive technologies' impact on organisations and industries. Furthermore, the study's scope also includes elaborating the components deemed necessary for designing an effective digital transformation strategy.
The interchange between different database management systems and statistical packages may be hampered by different formats for data structure. The programs FIXFREE and GENHDR convert database files into different formats: ASCII fixed format to comma-delimited free ASCII format and vice versa. The programs may be used either as stand alone programs or as procedures within a database management system. The programs also contain a procedure to import comma-delimited free ASCII formatted files into database management systems, e.g., DBase III, DBase IV, or the different versions of FOXPRO. The programs are written in TURBO PASCAL (Version 6.0).
Background:
Traditionally, feedback on written work is unidirectional, with academics feeding back to students. This project aimed to establish bi-directional feedback between the student and academics through a process of self-assessment.
Objectives:
To improve the process of student-centered feedback by including a self-assessment component to an assessment task.
Design:
A two-phased, mixed methods explanatory sequential approach was used.
Settings:
Students were enrolled across two campuses at a large university in Victoria, Australia.
Participants:
The Phase One sample consisted of all students enrolled in Year One and Year Three of the Bachelor of Nursing. There were 484 students enrolled in Year One, and 419 students enrolled in Year Three. Some students elected not to complete the self-assessment rubric, and those students were removed from the sample. This left 430 Year One, and 324 Year Three assessments in the sample. Convenience sampling was used in Phase Two to collect qualitative data via semi-structured focus groups from students in years One and Three.
Methods:
Quantitative data of student-assessed and academic-assessed marks were entered by a research assistant and then analysed using SPSS. Qualitative data were collected from a semi-structured interview and focus group with Year One and Year Three students. Qualitative data were then thematically analysed.
Results and conclusions:
Year One students were closer at estimating their own grade (M = 3.60; SD = 11.94) than Year Three students (M = 6.47; SD = 12.81). Students often underestimated their grade to see if the marker would match it or provide them with a higher grade. Year One students have trouble finding and utilising evidence while Year Three students cite this as a strength. When students engaged with the process, their self-review of work enabled them to improve the work prior to submission, and academic feedback was more meaningful. However, many students lacked trust in the process, and instead opted to 'game the system', hoping to hide flaws in their work, or draw extra marks from an academic by marking their own work down.
Abstract
Kernel spatial movement analysis was used to access elephant distribution. Elephant core home range was primarily (48.54%) found in community land comparatively to hunting blocks (35.00%) and national parks (16.45%). The analysis of habitat distribution diversity and availability by means of Landsat ETM+ NDVI imageries, Shannon Winner Index and General Linear Model-GLM long-established that NDVI performance differed significantly (p = 0.000) between the habitats, expressing the larger effect size variability between them (Partial Eta= 0.952; p=0.000). Further, NDVI increases with altitude (r=0.945, p= 0.001) and decreases with plant richness (r= -0.416; p= 0.727). This had implications to elephant habitat use. Spatial correlation between elephant distribution and habitat types denoted that Elephant foremost (53.54%) utilized the semi-arid plateau of combretum spp and Colophospermum mopane; reasonably (34.92%) used the degraded lowlands of Urema and Zambezi floodplains and relatively avoided (11.54%) the moist evergreen afro-montane of Brachystegia spiciformis. Repeated ANOVA has shown that elephant habitat use differed significantly (p = 0.003) between habitats. Semi-arid plateau was 118.51 times more utilized than the moist evergreen afro-montane. Spatial Model for Landscape Elephant Conservation-SMLEC identified that habitat use by elephant was detrimental to water availability (40.2%; p=0.000), human activities (36.80%; p=0.000) and vegetation diversity (35.00%; p=0.000). Aridity index mostly (8.3%; p=0.000) determined the factors influencing elephant habitat use at different landscape units, confirming the hypothesis that elephant survivor at the ecosystem was any strategy of adaptation to the impacts of climate variability.
Elephant Habitat Prediction Model-EHPM based on kriging analysis of ranking scores of elephant critical factors and NDVI, prioritized elephant conservation sites, which were almost found outside protected areas with more prominence in Chivuli (22.23%), Nhamassonge (17.66%), Nhacafula (5.19%) and Chiramba (3.46%) communities. Unfortunately, the habitats are water limited during 8 months. Thus, kriging and NDVI geostatistics induced to the prioritization of future elephant conservation habitats. Kriging was mostly applicable to macro scale prediction while NDVI denoted smaller site details. However it’s highly recommended the use of geostatistics for elephant conservation priority setting particularly in developing countries where the rate of habit loss is more likely hasty than preservation strategies.
The study investigates the firm-specific factors and macroeconomic factors that influence on the profitability of the Hershey Company in United States in the five years time frame from 2013 to 2017. The financial data is computed by using the multiple regression analysis for the year of 2013 to 2017. From the findings, it shows that debt to income out of three firm-specific factors and exchange rate out of four macroeconomic factors are significant influence on the profitability by comparing with the other variables. The study recommended that Hershey Company need to more focus on managing these two factors in terms to minimize or control the debts or increase the income while to hedge the exchange rate to reduce the losses due to the fluctuation of exchange rate.
The limitations of prediction methods used to analyze categorical data are discussed. A new approach, prediction logic, is introduced that overcomes these limitations and provides a more precise test of complex theories.
This investigation examined the relationship of the scores on the Career Maturity Inventory (CMI) with those of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) for disadvantaged youngsters. The results demonstrated that specific subscales of the WAIS related significantly to scores on the various subtests of the CMI, but professionals using the CMI should use caution in interpreting the results when working with disadvantaged youngsters since there is such a strong relationship to intelligence, as measured by the WAIS.
A hyperventilation clinic was established specifically to deal with patients referred from the accident and emergency department with the hyperventilation syndrome. This was run by a staff nurse, who counselled the patients and taught abdominal breathing techniques and relaxation. In 30 patients so managed, 63% said their symptoms were much better or had completely gone and in only 6% was there no improvement; 43% had previously had more than one attendance at the A&E department, but following treatment only 2 patients represented during 5 months of follow up. The use of a nurse counsellor seems to be a simple and effective approach to managing these patients and considerably reduces both casualty and outpatient physician time.
Diploid (2n = 36) Tripsacum australe Cutler and Anderson var. hirsutum de Wet and Timothy, T. cundinamarce de Wet and Timothy, T. dactyloides (L.) L. var. dactyloides and var. meridonale de Wet and Timothy, and T. laxum Nash were crossed with Zea mays L. (2n = 20) as the pollen parent. True hybrids combine the cytologically nonreduced genome of Tripsacum (36 chromosomes) with the haploid (10 chromosomes) or more rarely diploid (20 chromosome) genome of Zea. Maternal offspring with 2n = 36 Tripsacum chromosomes commonly result from parthenogenetic development of cytologically nonreduced eggs. Some individuals with 2n = 36 Tripsacum chromosomes, however, resemble true hybrids in phenotype. These counterfeit hybrids incorporated Zea genetic material into their Tripsacum genomes without true fertilization having taken place. Offspring of counterfeit hybrids that were grown to maturity resembled their mothers in phenotype, and must have originated parthenogenetically. It is proposed that counterfeit hybrids are also produced in nature, and that this process contributes to origins of variation in gametophytic apomicts, and perhaps also in sexually reproducing species.
Agropyron smithii and Bouteloua gracilis plants from intensively grazed prairie dog colonies and from a grazing exclosure in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota, were used to compare responses of conspecific populations with different histories of exposure to grazing and to competition for light. In separate experiments for each species, plants grown in monocultures and two‐population replacement‐series mixtures were used to examine effects of defoliation, frequency‐dependent competition, and population on biomass and morphology.
Colony and exclosure plants frequently responded differently. Defoliation more often adversely affected exclosure plants than colony plants, while interpopulation competition more often adversely affected colony plants. Defoliation frequently negated the competitive advantage of exclosure plants. Intrapopulation competition appeared to be greater among exclosure than colony plants. Our results indicate that conclusions based on studies of plants in long‐term exclosures may not apply to plant populations having long histories of intensive grazing. While there were differences between species, in both, these experiments provide evidence of population differentiation, resulting in morphologically dissimilar populations which responded differently to defoliation and to inter‐ and intrapopulation competition.
Analysis of n-alkane constitutents of the leaf cuticle have been utilized to elucidate phylogenetic relationships within Epilobium section Zauschneria. Specimens representing 136 populations were greenhouse-grown under the same conditions. Crosses were made between representatives of all taxa within the section. The resulting F1 generations were also grown under the same conditions. Cuticle samples were removed in chloroform, purified with column chromatography and analyzed using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Resultant data were computer analyed using discriminant function analysis. Based on percent composition of 12 n-alkanes, each population and taxon can be characterized by a distinctive wax profile. Results suggest that the tetraploids E. canum subsp. canum and E. canum subsp. latifolium have been derived from the anastomosis of two distinct diploid genomes, E. canum subsp. canum “angustifolium” and E. septentrionale. Biochemical evidence from extant populations of E. canum are in agreement with geographic positions and ranges of the diploid species involved. Greenhouse hybridizations between the respective diploids, E. canum subsp. canum “canum” and E. septentrionale, result in F1 progeny possessing phenotypes similar to naturally occurring tetraploid E. canum populations. Wax compositions of the natural tetraploid populations are intermediate between diploids and vary depending on geographical proximity to diploid species. Past taxonomic treatments of the genus have placed the tetraploid Zauschneria arizonica within the species Z. californica (now E. canum). Analysis of wax compositions now suggets that Z. arizonica had an independent origin which involved, at least in part, the diploid species E. canum subsp. garrettii from Utah.
Several workers have suggested that species with restricted ranges and few individuals are more likely to be self-compatible and to exhibit low levels of inbreeding depression than are geographically widespread congeners. To investigate these predicted patterns, controlled pollinations were performed in the field on populations of two restricted and two widespread species of Astragalus. All four species are xerophytic perennials which have similar floral size and morphology. Both restricted A. linifolius and restricted A. osterhouti are self-compatible, and A. linifolius is moderately autogamous. Widespread A. lonchocarpus is self-compatible, but widespread A. pectinatus is essentially self-incompatible. Neither the restricted nor the widespread species exhibited evidence of fecundity components of inbreeding depression (as measured by percent seed set and percent embryo abortion). Seedlings of A. linifolius and A. lonchocarpus that had been produced by self- and cross-fertilization were grown in a growth chamber to investigate progeny viability components of inbreeding depression. In contrast to the predicted patterns, inbreeding depression was detected in progeny of restricted A. linifolius, but not in progeny of widespread A. lonchocarpus. These patterns emphasize the importance of studying inbreeding depression in additional restricted and widespread species at several stages of the life cycle.
A selection experiment was undertaken to test if metal tolerance expressed in pollen was determined by the pollen genotype, and if selection for metal tolerance could be effective during pollen development in the anther. Heterozygous metal tolerant plants of Silene dioica and Mimulus guttatus were cloned and grown either in the absence or presence of toxic concentrations of zinc or copper. These metals entered the flowers in potentially toxic amounts. The percent viable pollen decreased when compared to control plants, and the remaining pollen had a different pattern of germination in the presence of metals. In addition, the proportion of tolerant progeny from test crosses to metal sensitive plants increased significantly if pollen came from treated clones. Thus, selection appeared to be effective during pollen development, and metal tolerance in pollen significantly influenced by the pollen genome.
Male and hermaphrodite flowers from the andromonoecious perennial Solanum carolinense were compared. Hermaphrodite flowers were 11–16% heavier than males, and this difference was consistent for two clones studied. Hermaphrodite flowers contained a greater amount of nitrogen than did male flowers, but males had higher percent nitrogen. Male and hermaphrodite flowers had equal investment in male structures: stamen mass, number of pollen grains, mass of pollen grains ejected by vibration, and pollen size were all similar for the two flower types. In contrast, male flowers had reduced masses of disfunctional female structures: ovaries of males were ⅓ as massive, and styles 1/7; as massive, as those of hermaphrodites. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that male flowers (which occur where fruit set is unlikely) increase male fitness through pollen donation, while saving resources that would otherwise be invested in hermaphrodite flowers that abscise.
Managers at Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Shenandoah National Park were asked to predict the motivations specific groups of visitors to their parks had expressed in recent structured surveys. Cape Hatteras managers' predictions were frequently in error, while Shenandoah managers' predictions were generally accurate. These findings are joined with previous research to provide a tentative hypothesis concerning managers' understanding of client viewpoints. -Authors
O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a dinâmica de variabilidade climática espacial e temporal da pluviosidade nos nove estados do Nordeste Brasileiro, utilizando as técnicas multivariadas de Análise de Componentes Principais (ACP) e Análise de Agrupamento (AA). Foram utilizadas médias mensais da precipitação pluvial e de mais 11 índices climáticos pluviais definidos pela OMM (Organização Meteorológica Mundial) obtidas a partir de dados diários de 258 estações meteorológicas e/ou postos pluviométricos, fornecidos pela antiga rede de postos da SUDENE/DCA, referentes a um período de 47 anos (1960-2006). Com base nesses dados, foram aplicadas as técnicas de ACP e AA à média pluvial e aos 11 índices pluviais. Na ACP, nove índices climáticos e a média pluvial foram representados por três componentes principais e estas explicaram mais de 90% da variância original dos dados. Na AA, nove índices apresentaram quatro grupos homogêneos de atuação.
Palavras - chave: Componentes principais, agrupamento, índices pluviais.
Rain Study in Northeast Brazil Using Multivariate Analysis
ABSTRACT
The aim of this work was to study the dynamics of spatial and temporal climatic variability in rainfall in the nine states of Northeast Brazil, using the multivariate techniques of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis (CA). We used monthly averages of rainfall and 11 climate indices over rain defined by WMO (World Meteorological Organization) obtained from daily data from 258 meteorological stations and/or climatic stations, supplied by the former service station network SUDENE/DCA, referring a period of 47 years (1960-2006). Based on these data, we applied the techniques the average PCA and CA rain and 11 rain indices. In ACP, nine climate indices and average rainfall were represented by three principal components and these accounted for more than 90% of the variance of the original data. In AA, nine indices showed four homogeneous groups of activity.
Keywords: Principal components; cluster; rain indices.
The monoazo substituted five membered heterocycles, along with their seleno like moieties are still of interest in organic chemistry due to their medicinal and valuable applications. In continuation of our interest in the study of heterocyclic azo compounds containing sulphur and / or nitrogen heteroatoms, the synthesis of 5-aryl mono azo-thiazol-2-ylcarbamoyl-thiophene along with their seleno like derivatives of pyridine, pyridazine and quinolone, were accomplished. All the synthesized compounds were
Reverse transcriptase (RT) is an important enzyme for retrovirus replication in susceptible target cells. RT of HIV-1 is one of the key targets for anti-HIV drugs. In contrast, HIV-2 RT reveals a basic resistance to non-nucleoside RT inhibitors (NNRTIs). In the present study, a comparison of different aspects of RT proteins in HIV-1 and HIV-2 such as pseudo amino acid composition (PseAAC), conventional amino acid composition (AAC), physicochemical properties, secondary structures and structural motifs has been performed. Statistical analysis and support vector machine (SVM) algorithm have been used for final comparison of two RT protein groups. The results demonstrate that AAC of four amino acids (Ala, Leu, Gln and Ser), molecular weight and percentage of alpha helix of RT proteins are significantly different between these two types. Classification based on the concept of PseAAC also showed 100% accuracy and highlighted that pseudo pI and pseudo pKa values are significant differences between two RT groups. In conclusion, the results indicate that the computational techniques can provide useful information for comparing HIV-1 and HIV-2 RTs. Our results may also explain the dissimilarity between the susceptibility of HIV-1 and HIV-2 to different drugs.
The study presents the population structure of the caste groups, tribal groups and communities of Jammu and Kashmir. The study sample was collected from four districts of Jammu and Kashmir state; and comprised of Buddhist and Muslim (Bodhs, Baltis, Brokpas, Arghuns) from Ladakh region; Kashmiri (Pandits and Muslims) for Srinagar region; Dogra (Brahmans, Rajputs and Scheduled Castes) and Muslim (Gujjars) from Jammu region. The sex ratio, age composition of these population groups give a picture of the structure/demographic pattern prevalent in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Abstract:
In higher education, the improving learning strategies are a widely studied topic also considered a matter of concern to the teaching community. For that reason, the teaching team belonging to the Information Security subject applies the SEEQ questionnaire during the 2012-13 academic year. The SEEQ questionnaire has an extensive use trajectory in order to analyse the effectiveness of teaching. In the present contribution, we analyse both the results obtained from the SEEQ questionnaire and the effects from the inclusion of Digital Storytelling within the development of the ECTS activity during last year with respect to the previous year, in which it had not been applied.
The attitudes of 107 doctors towards patient access to medical records and communication with patients were investigated using a 21-item questionnaire. The average doctor expressed conservative attitudes, and showed little awareness of research findings demonstrating the benefits of communication with patients. No significant differences were found between the attitudes of surgeons and physicians. Attending medical officers differed significantly from interns and residents in their responses to four items. Attending medical officers had more conservative attitudes towards patient access to records, but were more in favour of verbal communication with patients. Responses on nine items were compared with those made by American doctors in a survey by Steiner (1978). Australian medical practitioners were significantly more conservative in their responses towards access and regarded their patients as less knowledgeable and interested in being informed.
Multivariate phenotypic differentiation in eight morphometric traits was examined in bottleneck lines of the housefly initiated with one, four, or 16 pairs of flies from a natural outbred population. Differentiation was assessed using a Mahalanobis' distance metric in units of additive genetic variance and covariance estimated from the ancestral population (i.e., generalized genetic distance). This distance metric was partitioned into contributions of size and shape to total distance. Bottleneck lines of all sizes diverged significantly from the ancestral line, but the direction of these shifts differed among the lines of different initial founding size. Those populations founded with single pairs diverged from the ancestral line mostly in shape; the 16-pair lines differentiated almost entirely in size, and the four-pair lines were intermediate in the relative contribution of shape to differentiation from the control. Bottlenecks serve to alter the genetic relationships among traits within the derived populations and in doing so could promote speciation by permitting differentiation of the populations along evolutionary trajectories less accessible to the base population.
The efficacy of bottlenecks to stimulate divergence in courtship behavior and consequent premating isolation was tested by serial founder-flush episodes of three sizes (one, four, or 16 pairs) on a population of houseflies established in the laboratory from a single field population. After the fifth founder-flush episode, intraline and interline crosses were performed to detect divergence in mating propensities and patterns of assortative mating. Videotapings of intraline courtships for the bottleneck lines and the control were evaluated for changes in courtship repertoire. All bottleneck lines showed significant divergence from the control in male and/or female mating propensity and in courtship behavior. Divergence from the control was bidirectional for both male and female mating propensities as well as for courtship element utilization. Out of 15 tests for assortative mating between bottleneck lines and between bottleneck lines and the control, only two cases of positive assortative mating and one case of negative assortative mating were detected. Because some bottleneck lines showed increased courtship element utilization and because decreased courtship utilization in some bottleneck lines was related to higher male mating success, the mechanisms behind the Kaneshiro model (which is based upon ancestral females discriminating against bottleneck males that had "lost" courtship elements) were not supported in general. A partitioning effect of the bottlenecks upon the intrinsic variation in the ancestral population for courtship pattern appeared to explain a large component of the directions of divergence from the control. Still, the pattern of divergence of some bottleneck lines apparently was not constrained by the intercorrelation structure of courtship behaviors detected in the control. Because previous studies showed that the bottleneck lines had rebounded from inbreeding depression to fitness levels of the control, this study documents nondebilitating differentiation in the courtship repertoire that can account for divergent mating propensities and premating isolation.
The extent of genome-wide restructuring predicted in bottleneck models of speciation is addressed in assays of non-reproductive behavior in lines of the housefly. After five serial founder-flush cycles of one of three sizes (1, 4, or 16 pairs), each bottleneck line showed significant differentiation from the outbred control in ambulatory levels and grooming sequences in videotaped records of precopulatory activity. Only one line (4-pair) showed overall lethargy which was associated to inbreeding depression in egg-to-adult viability, thus exemplifying a case of probable extinction due to bottlenecks. The two most hyperactive lines (1- and 16-pair) showed very similar directions of differentiation from the control in locomotor activity and grooming behavior, as well as in mating behavior evaluated from a separate study. This high congruence suggested that directional selection toward the phenotypic optima of the ancestor operated on the bottleneck populations and that a 10-fold difference in theoretical inbreeding coefficients did not affect the magnitude of response. The remaining two bottleneck lines showed some independence from these general trajectories, their divergence along minor axes of ancestral intercorrelation structure possibly being more important to the formation of new species. Significant perturbations of the thresholds for execution of grooming and locomotor movements suggested increased evolutionary potential for ritualization (i.e., sexual selection for adoption of non-reproductive behavior into courtship repertoire) due to bottlenecks.
We document phenotypic and genetic variation within and among populations of the seed heteromorphic species Heterosperma pinnatum Cav. (Compositae) in the production of seed morphs and in a variety of life-history and morphological characteristics that might be correlated with seed and head traits. Each trait is found to have significant genetic variance in most or, usually, all populations. Significant among-population genetic variation exists for all traits except number of achenes per head and seedling shape, although some traits have much less genetic variation among than within populations. Number and percentage of intermediate achenes per head, total number of achenes per head, and lengths of central and peripheral achenes had little among-population genetic variation compared to within-population variation. Most traits had slightly less genetic variation among than within populations; however, some traits (percentage of central achenes, length of awns, date that the first flowering head opened, date that the first fruiting head opened, and death date) had more among-population genetic variation. The proportions of achene morphs produced had high broad-sense heritabilities and high among-population genetic variance, except in the case of intermediate achenes. All phenological variables had high among-population genetic variation. Within-population heritabilities were high for dates of first flowering head and fruiting head but low for death date and reproductive interval.
Fruit-set values for 447 species of plants were examined for variations due to compatibility, breeding system, life form, latitude, type of fruit, and type of pollination. The results indicate significant differences between self-compatible and self-incompatible species in terms of 1) average fruit-set and 2) the effect of the independent variables. Breeding system, life form, and latitude were found to be the only significant independent variables for self-incompatible species, while fruit type and latitude were found to be significant for self-compatible plants. Although latitude was a significant variable for self-compatible and self-incompatible species, it was correlated with other variables and may actually have no direct effect on fruit-flower ratios in plants. Hypotheses explaining the effect of the significant independent variables on fruit-flower ratios were then examined and, when possible, predictions were tested. The results indicate that the selective-abortion and bet-hedging hypotheses may be important factors contributing to the low fruit-set in self-incompatible plants, while the male-function hypothesis may explain the lower fruit-flower ratios in hermaphrodites.
The effects of competition on the evolution of interspecific interference mechanisms were studied by comparing the aggressive behavior of two terrestrial salamander species from two localities that differ in the intensity of interspecific competition. Plethodon jordani and P. glutinosus are closely related, ecologically similar species that are sympatric at intermediate elevations in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Previous removal and transplant experiments showed that interspecific competition is more intense in the northeastern Great Smoky Mountains, where the species are narrowly sympatric, than in the nearby Balsam Mountains, where sympatry is broader. In laboratory encounters, P. glutinosus from the Great Smoky Mountains were more aggressive to heterospecific and conspecific intruders than were P. glutinosus from the Balsam Mountains. For P. jordani, however, the variation in interspecific and intraspecific aggressive behavior among individuals within populations was as great as the variation between populations. Alpha-selection (i.e., improved competitive ability by the acquisition of interspecific interference mechanisms) has occurred in populations of P. glutinosus under conditions of intense interspecific competition. The evolution of aggressive behavior appears to have been influenced by the intensity of intraspecific competition as well.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any references for this publication.