Beyond Factors: IGSCA-SEM’s Application in The Context of Cannabis Tourism

Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is a statistical technique that is used to model the relationships among hypothetical constructs investigated by researchers. SEM can be broadly classified into two main approaches: factor-based (or covariance-based) SEM and component-based (or variance-based) SEM. Factor-based SEM is particularly well-suited for analyzing constructs that resemble factors, while component-based SEM is designed for composites or components. Historically, in the field of tourism research, there has been a tendency to treat factor models as a statistical proxy for all types of hypothetical constructs. However, when the hypothetical construct is incorrectly modeled as a factor instead of a composite, which is its appropriate representation, it can result in bias in parameter estimates. The information presented in this study highlights that this practice has persisted even in top-tier tourism journals, including articles published in the ABAC journal. Contemporary practices that align with the current research landscape in tourism are synthesized. These practices acknowledge that hypothetical constructs can either be factors or components. To illustrate this, a hypothetical example related to cannabis tourism is used, modelling it using mixed constructs based on IGSCA-SEM. Researchers are consequently encouraged to employ SEM, particularly when aiming to publish in the ABAC journal, to enhance their methodological rigor by adopting the recommended practices outlined

Effects of ensiled Aspergillus oryzae and Saccharomyces cerevisiae cassava pulp as replacement for concentrate on ruminal fermentation in rumen-fistulated cows

Four experiments were conducted. I) The concentration of reducing sugar was determined following incubation with Aspergillus oryzae and an 8x11 factorial arrangement with 8 formulas of cassava components and 0 to 10 d of incubation. The reducing sugar increased from day 3 and the highest was found for 100% cassava pulp. II) Crude protein (CP) and urea content were determined after incubating with A. oryzae and Saccharomyces cerreviseae and a 4x6 factorial arrangement with 4 formulas of cassava components and 6 urea levels. The highest CP was observed in 37.5% cassava pulp, 25% cassava chip, and 37.5% cassava peel. III) The design was a 3x4 factorial arrangement with 3 formulas of cassava components and 4 urea levels. CP was unaffected by cassava components but increased with increasing urea levels. IV) The design was a 3x3 Latin squares with 3 fistulated cows and 3 periods. Treatments were 4 kg/cow/d concentrate, 3.2 kg/cow/d concentrate plus 0.8 kg/cow/d ensiled cassava pulp (ECP) and 2.4 kg/cow/d concentrate plus 1.6 kg/cow/d ECP. ECP increased pH, molar proportions of acetic and butyric acids but reduced molar proportion of propionic acid

Performance, Carcass Quality and Fatty Acid Profile of Crossbred Wagyu Beef Steers Receiving Palm and/or Linseed Oil

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of palm and/or linseed oil (LSO) supplementation on carcass quality, sensory evaluation and fatty acid profile of beef from crossbred Wagyu beef steers. Twenty four fattening Wagyu crossbred beef steers (50% Wagyu), averaging 640±18 kg live weight (LW) and approximately 30 mo old, were stratified and randomly assigned in completely randomized design into 3 treatment groups. All steers were fed approximately 7 kg/d of 14% crude protein concentrate with ad libitum rice straw and had free access to clean water and were individually housed in a free-stall unit. The treatments were i) control concentrate plus 200 g/d of palm oil; ii) control concentrate plus 100 g/d of palm oil and 100 g/d of LSO, iii) control concentrate plus 200 g/d of LSO. This present study demonstrated that supplementation of LSO rich in C18:3n-3 did not influence feed intakes, LW changes, carcass and muscle characteristics, sensory and physical properties. LSO increased C18:3n-3, C22:6n-3, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), however, it decreased C18:1t-11, C18:2n-6, cis-9, trans-11, and trans-10,cis-12 conjugated linoleic acids, n-6 PUFA and n-6:n-3 ratio in Longissimus dorsi and Semimembranosus muscles

Effects of Linseed Oil or Whole Linseed Supplementation on Performance and Milk Fatty Acid Composition of Lactating Dairy Cows

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of linseed oil or whole linseed supplementation on performance and milk fatty acid composition of lactating dairy cows. Thirty six Holstein Friesian crossbred lactating dairy cows were blocked by milking days first and then stratified random balanced for milk yields and body weight into three groups of 12 cows each. The treatments consisted of basal ration (53:47; forage:concentrate ratio, on a dry matter [DM] basis, respectively) supplemented with 300 g/d of palm oil as a positive control diet (PO), or supplemented with 300 g/d of linseed oil (LSO), or supplemented with 688 g/d of top-dressed whole linseed (WLS). All cows were received ad libitum grass silage and individually fed according to the treatments. The experiment lasted for 10 weeks including the first 2 weeks as the adjustment period, followed by 8 weeks of measurement period. The results showed that LSO and WLS supplementation had no effects on total dry matter intake, milk yield, milk composition, and live weight change; however, the animals fed WLS had higher crude protein (CP) intake than those fed PO and LSO (p<0.05). To compare with the control diet, dairy cow’s diets supplemented with LSO and WLS significantly increased milk concentrations of cis-9, trans-11-conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) (p<0.05) and n-3 fatty acids (FA) (p<0.01), particularly, cis-9,12,15-C18:3, C20:5n-3 and C22:6n-3. Supplementing LSO and WLS induced a reduction of medium chain FA, especially, C12:0-C16:0 FA (p<0.05) while increasing the concentration of milk unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) (p<0.05). Milk FA proportions of n-3 FA remarkably increased whereas the ratio of n-6 to n-3 decreased in the cows supplemented with WLS as compared with those fed the control diet and LSO (p<0.01). In conclusion, supplementing dairy cows’ diet based on grass silage with WLS had no effect on milk yield and milk composition; however, trans-9- C18:1, cis-9, trans-11-CLA, n-3 FA and UFA were increased while saturated FA were decreased by WLS supplementation. Therefore, it is recommended that the addition 300 g/d of oil from whole linseed should be used to lactating dairy cows’ diets

Notes on South-East Asian Diospyros L. (Ebenaceae, Ericales): commonly misidentified species in mainland South-East Asia

Diospyros L. is a large genus of flowering plants predominantly distributed in the tropics. It comprises over 700 species globally and around 300 are believed to occur in South-East Asia. Many species are economically important and exploited for the production of ebony wood and persimmons, yet taxonomic information on the genus is incomplete and inconsistent due to its morphological and nomenclatural complexity. Revisions of Diospyros in continental and insular South-East Asia were conducted independently by different authors, occasionally with different names used for the same species, or different species being given the same name in different countries. During our ongoing study of the genus Diospyros in Indochina (Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam), we identified several such instances. Here, we clarify the most commonly misidentified species, including 1) D.  apiculata Hiern, D. strigosa Hemsl. and D. tamiriensis Lecomte; 2) D. bejaudii Lecomte and D. retrofracta Bakh.; 3) D. dictyoneura Hiern and D. hasseltii Zoll.; 4) D. borneensis Hiern and D. fecunda H.R.Fletcher. Lectotypifications are also made for D. brachiata King & Gamble var. lanceolata H.R.Fletcher, D. fecunda, D. similis Craib and D. strigosa

Adverse effects of cypermethrin on golden apple snails (Pomacea canaliculata) and their eggs, and application of Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) as biomarker

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of cypermethrin on hatching rate of golden apple snail eggs, mortality rate of the golden apple snails, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) expression applied as a bio-indicator. The results showed that cypermethrin concentration did not affect hatching rate or development of the eggs and larvae in comparison with the control. The mortality rate depended on the exposure concentration. Median lethal concentration (LC50) (95% confidence) at 96 h was approximately 8.99 (8.93-9.06). The concentration of cypermethrin had an effect on AChE expression in both the snails and their eggs. The molecular weight of AChE found was 71 kDa, as studied by SDS-PAGE and Western blot techniques. The ELISA technique revealed that AChE contents in both the snails and their eggs were significantly different from the control (p <0.05). Based on our results, AChE could be applied to assess cypermethrin exposure in the snails and their eggs, in order to plan contamination management of such pesticides in the snails and reduce the risks to consumers

Cinnamic Acid and Its Derivatives Inhibit Fructose-Mediated Protein Glycation

Cinnamic acid and its derivatives have shown a variety of pharmacologic properties. However, little is known about the antiglycation properties of cinnamic acid and its derivatives. The present study sought to characterize the protein glycation inhibitory activity of cinnamic acid and its derivatives in a bovine serum albumin (BSA)/fructose system. The results demonstrated that cinnamic acid and its derivatives significantly inhibited the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) by approximately 11.96–63.36% at a concentration of 1 mM. The strongest inhibitory activity against the formation of AGEs was shown by cinnamic acid. Furthermore, cinnamic acid and its derivatives reduced the level of fructosamine, the formation of Nɛ-(carboxymethyl) lysine (CML), and the level of amyloid cross β-structure. Cinnamic acid and its derivatives also prevented oxidative protein damages, including effects on protein carbonyl formation and thiol oxidation of BSA. Our findings may lead to the possibility of using cinnamic acid and its derivatives for preventing AGE-mediated diabetic complications

อิทธิพลของคุณภาพการให้บริการที่มีต่อความพึงพอใจและความจงรักภักดีของลูกค้าธุรกิจร้านกาแฟ ในจังหวัดนครราชสีมา

การวิจัยครั้งนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อศึกษา 1) ศึกษาอิทธิพลของคุณภาพอาหารและเครื่องดื่ม คุณภาพการบริการของพนักงาน คุณภาพสิ่งแวดล้อมทางกายภาพ คุณภาพด้านราคา ส่งผลต่อความพึงพอใจของลูกค้าต่อร้านกาแฟ และ 2) ศึกษาความพึงพอใจของลูกค้าต่อร้านกาแฟที่ส่งผลต่อความจงรักภักดีของลูกค้าที่มีต่อร้านกาแฟ โดยใช้แบบสอบถามเป็นเครื่องมือในการเก็บรวบรวมข้อมูล จากผู้ที่มีประสบการณ์ในการเข้าใช้บริการร้านกาแฟในเขตเทศบาลเมืองจังหวัดนครราชสีมา จำนวน 300 คน และวิเคราะห์ข้อมูลโดยใช้การวิเคราะห์การถดถอยเชิงเส้นพหุคูณ (Multiple Linear Regression) เพื่อทดสอบสมมติฐาน จากผลการวิจัยพบว่า ปัจจัยคุณภาพการบริการทั้ง 4 ด้าน มีอิทธิพลทางบวกต่อความพึงพอใจของลูกค้าต่อร้านกาแฟ อีกทั้งความพึงพอใจของลูกค้าที่มาใช้บริการร้านกาแฟยังส่งผลเชิงบวกต่อความจงรักภักดีของลูกค้าที่มีต่อร้านกาแฟในเขตเทศบาลเมืองจังหวัดนครราชสีม

Unlocking the role of proactive motivational processes in driving customer engagement with special events in Thailand

Theoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 165-199.Chapter One. Introduction -- Chapter Two. Literature review -- Chapter Three. Theory and hypotheses development -- Chapter Four. Research design --Chapter Five. Data analysis and results -- Chapter Six. Discussion and conclusion --Appendix -- References.Enhancing customer engagement creates both opportunities and challenges for scholars and practitioners, especially in the service sector. One critical service sector of global importance is tourism. Specifically, tourism plays a critical role in many economies, and, because of its large contribution to GDP growth, is receiving growing attention from academics and practitioners (World Travel & Tourism Council, 2018). Specifically, Thailand, as a preferred destination, is expected to continue its fast growth and become the third biggest market for visitors by 2027 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2017).Customer engagement, when viewed from an organisational perspective, is an organisation’s strategies that encourage customers to connect to their service and brand, and stimulate long-term relationships. The potential outcomes of customer engagement include the attraction of new customers, reduced marketing budget activities, and a competitive advantage. The benefit of customer engagement from a customer perspective is the interaction through unique experiences with services and brands that serve to address their goals, and contribute to their subjective well-being.This study develops a theoretical framework underpinned by proactive motivation theory and regulatory mode theory, proposing specific triggers for driving and fostering customer engagement with special event tourism. To uncover the underlying reasons for customer engagement with special events, proactive motivation theory is adopted to gain a deeper understanding of customers’ reasons to attend and actively engage with a special event. Further, the role of regulatory mode orientation is adopted to gain a deeper appreciation of “can do” motivation as a key to fostering the relationship between customer’s proactive motivation and engagement with a special event. In addition, this theoretical framework articulates the moderating role of self-image congruence and perceived event crowding in the relationship between customer engagement with a special event and perceived special event quality.To test the proposed effects, this study uses a quantitative research approach with data drawn from three distinct special events in Thailand – the Sukhothai Loy Krathong and Candle Festival, the Khon Kaen International Marathon, and the Chiang Mai International Flower Festival. The findings advance knowledge in service marketing and tourism by offering theoretical explanations for the influence of drivers and consequences of customer engagement with a special event. In a practical context, this study also provides implications for tourism organisations to generate a better understanding of customers’ perception of special event experiences.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (xi, 199 pages) colour illustration