523 research outputs found

    Antecedents to Intention to Engage in the Online Negative Word-of-Mouth Communication

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    Complaints delivered directly to a firm will not be a problem if they can be handled properly, while the ones that are not disclosed directly to the firm but to a third party or even warnings to others not to use particular products or services, will be negative word-of-mouth communication. It can damage the image of the firm and be very detrimental. The purpose of this study was to analyze the antecedents of intention to engage in negative online word-of-mouth communication that includes dissatisfaction, service importance, success of complaint, complaint benefit, self confidence, altruism, retaliatory intention, and complaint cost. Medical services were selected considering the impact caused by the negligence of the service provider possibly giving rise to negative word-of-mouth communication. The online environment has been considered because of the developments in technology which provide opportunities for consumers to communicate with ach other. In addition, the dissemination of information through online media can spread incredibly widely and rapidly. The samples in this study comprised consumers of medical services who had disappointing experiences in using those services either directly or indirectly. A total of 123 questionnaires were analyzed with multiple regression analysis to test the research hypothesis. The results showed that the factors influencing the intentions behind negative online word-of-mouth communication were success of complaint, altruism, retaliatory intention, and complaint cost.                     

    Identification of Reproductive Activity of Donggala Cattle at Post Puberty and Post Partum Periods

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    The aim of the study is to investigate condition and reproductive activity of Donggala cattles during post-puberty and post-partom periods. The study was carried out for 12 months at Donggala, Palu and Sigi Districts where major populations of Donggala cattles were kept by farmers. A total of 200 heads of Donggala cattles belonged to the local farmers were sampled. The animals were categorized as heifers when they were 10 – 18 months old and cows at 18 – 24 months old. Data colected inthis study were from structured interview and direct observation. Variables measured were body condition score, live body weight, age of puberty, age of first estrus and first mating, days open, service per conception rate, non return rate and conception rate either during post puberty or post partum. Data found in this study were describe descriptively. The results of the study indicated that the age of puberty was late as live body weight body condition score of Donggala were low. First mating of Donngala heifers was much dependant upon live body weight. Heavier cattles tended to mat earlier than the lighter cattles. Heavier catlles had better service per conception rate, non return rate and conception rate either at post puberty or post partum periods. In conclusion, the cows with high body weight had earlier first estrus, first mating and better service per conception rate, non return rate and conception rate than those cows with low live body weight. Keywords: Donggala cattle, reproductive efficiency, post puberty, post partum DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/9-6-05 Publication date:March 31st 201

    Studi tentang sertifikasi hasil tangkapan ikan di Pelabuhan Perikanan Samudera Bitung (Study on Fish Catch Certification in Samudera Bitung Fishing Port)

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    European Union is nowadays the largest market in the world for fisheries products; it is also the strickest country in controlling the food security. It has also established requirements for marine fisheries products (fresh or processed products) exported directly or indirectly to European Union must be free of IUU Fshing. The fish catch certification follows the legal aspects and national reguaations in line with international regulations. Fish catch certification consists of Initial Sheet, Derivative Sheet, and Simplified Derivative Sheet. The objectives of the study are to know the issuance procedure of fish catch certificate in the form of preliminary document, the issuance procedure of fich catch certificate iin the form of derivative document as export supporting document, and the issuance procedure of fish catch certificate in simple form of derivative document. This study was carried out in September - November 2016 in Samudera Bitung Fisheries Port. The initial sheet is used for >20 GT-fishing vessels and proposed by the ship owner or its representative, the derivative sheet was used for the fish processing unit, and the simplified derivative sheet was export and fishing document for 20 GT, dokumen Lembar Turunan untuk unit pengolahan ikan, dan dokumen Lembar Turunan yang diserhanakan sebagai dokumen ekspor dan penangkapan ikan bagi kapal penangkap berukuran  < 20 GT. Dokumen yang disebut terakhir adalah sertifikat hasil tangkapan ikan di bawah kesepakatan antara DG MARE dan pemerintah Indonesia.Kata-kata Kunci: IUU fshing, sertifikasi, lembar awal, lembar turunan, lembar turunan yang disederhanaka

    Demographic factors and teachers’ effectiveness among secondary school teachers in calabar education zone cross river state, nigeria

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    The article aims to discuss teaching effectiveness in relation to teacher demographic factors like teachers’ age and teachers’ gender among Secondary School teachers in Calabar Education Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria. To achieve this aim, two hypotheses were stated and tested. These variables have important role to evaluate teachers’ effectiveness as scholarly proven through literatures. The descriptive survey design was adopted for use. The sample consist of one hundred and sixty-four (164) teachers and three hundred and twenty-eight (328) student from the Calabar Education Zone. Teachers’ Demographic Factors Questionnaire (TDFQ) and Teaching Effectiveness Questionnaire (TEQ) were developed by the researcher and validated by experts in Sociology of Education and Test/Measurement. The descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance, a post-hoc scheffe &amp; independent t-test were used. The result revealed that teachers’ age and gender significantly influence teaching effectiveness. Based on the findings, it is recommended among others that Government should see teachers age as an asset thereby put in more resources to train them so that they will be of benefit to the students and the society at large

    In vitro gas production as a surrogate measure of the fermentability of cellulosic biomass to ethanol

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    Current methods for measuring ethanol yields from lignocellulosic biomass are relatively slow and are not well geared for analyzing large numbers of samples generated by feedstock management and breeding research. The objective of this study was to determine if an in vitro ruminal fermentation assay used in forage quality research was predictive of results obtained using a conventional biomass-to-ethanol conversion assay. In the conventional assay, herbaceous biomass samples were converted to ethanol by Saccharomyces cerevisiae cultures in the presence of cellulase enzymes. Cultures were grown in sealed serum bottles and gas production monitored by measuring increasing head space pressure. Gas accumulation as calculated from the pressure measurements was highly correlated (r2\u3e0.9) with ethanol production measured by gas chromatography at 24 h or 7 days. The same feedstocks were also analyzed by in vitro ruminal digestion, as also measured by gas accumulation. Good correlations (r2∼0.63–0.82) were observed between ethanol production during simultaneous saccharification and fermentation and gas accumulation in parallel in vitro ruminal fermentations. Because the in vitro ruminal fermentation assay can be performed without sterilization of the medium and does not require aseptic conditions, this assay may be useful for biomass feedstock agronomic and breeding research

    Switchgrass Biomass Composition Altered by Six Generations of Divergent Breeding for Digestibility

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    Biomass composition of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) can affect its utilization by ruminants and its conversion to liquid fuels in a biorefinery. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of six generations of divergent breeding for forage in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) on switchgrass biomass composition, forage quality traits, and ethanol yield. Initially there was one cycle of selection for both low (C-1) and high IVDMD (C1 = cv. Trailblazer), followed by four additional breeding cycles for high IVDMD. In cycles 4 and 5, winter survival was included as a selection criterion because of decreased winter survival of the C3 population. The experimental populations that were produced by these breeding generations and nine half-sib families from cycle 5 were evaluated for two post-establishment years at the research station in eastern Nebraska, where all the breeding work was conducted. The six breeding generations resulted in significant differences among the populations for all the 28 cell wall and non-cell-wall composition variables measured, forage quality, and ethanol yield traits measured except for total biomass C, cell wall concentration, soluble glucose, and etherified ferulates. These traits included all cell wall and nonstructural carbohydrates. Breeding for the heritable complex trait IVDMD affected a large number of plant biomass characteristics and also adversely affected plant biomass yield and winter survival

    Temporal and Spatial Variation in Switchgrass Biomass Composition and Theoretical Ethanol Yield

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    Information on temporal and spatial variation in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) biomass composition as it affects ethanol yield (L Mg–1) at a biorefinery and ethanol production (L ha–1) at the field-scale has previously not been available. Switchgrass biomass samples were collected from a regional, on-farm trial and biomass composition was determined using newly developed near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) prediction equations and theoretical ethanol yield (100% conversion efficiency) was calculated. Total hexose (cell wall polysaccharides and soluble sugars) concentration ranged from 342 to 398 g kg–1 while pentose (arabinose and xylose) concentration ranged from 216 to 245 g kg–1 across fields. Theoretical ethanol yield varied significantly by year and field, with 5 yr means ranging from 381 to 430 L Mg–1. Total theoretical ethanol production ranged from 1749 to 3691 L ha–1 across fields. Variability (coefficient of variation) within established switchgrass fields ranged from 1 to 4% for theoretical ethanol yield (L Mg–1) and 14 to 38% for theoretical ethanol production (L ha–1). Most fields showed a lack of spatial consistency across harvest years for theoretical ethanol yield or total theoretical ethanol production. Switchgrass biomass composition from farmer fields can be expected to have significant annual and field-to-field variation in a production region, and this variation will significantly affect ethanol or other liquid fuel yields per ton or hectare. Cellulosic biorefineries will need to consider this potential variation in biofuel yields when developing their business plans
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