Molecular Diagnostics of Three \u3ci\u3eDiabrotica\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Pest Species

A 257 bp region of the mitochondrial ND4 gene was analyzed for genetic variation in three species of corn rootworm, southern corn rootworm (Diabrotica undecim punctata howardi Barber, SCR), northern corn rootworm (D. barberi Smith and Lawrence, NCR), and western corn rootworm (D. virgifera virgifera LeConte, WCR). Nucleotide sequencing revealed 26 polymorphic sites. Genetic distances averaged 8% for all pair-wise comparisons among the three species. Restriction maps were constructed from sequence data and compared to potential species specific restriction sites. Polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) revealed three restriction enzymes (Alu I, Apo I and Sau 3A) which produced diagnostic patterns for both adults and larvae. Only NCR showed intraspecific polymorphism

Corporate and Individual Influences on Managers\u27 Social Orientation

This paper reports research on the influence of corporate and individual characteristics on managers\u27 social orientation in Germany. The results indicate that mid-level managers expressed a significantly lower social orientation than low-level managers, and that job activity did not impact social orientation. Female respondents expressed a higher social orientation than male respondents. No impact of the political system origin (former East Germany versus former West Germany) on social orientation was shown. Overall, corporate position had a significantly higher impact on social orientation than did the characteristics of the individuals surveyed

ONLINE PRODUCT SEARCH AND PURCHASE BEHAVIOR OF GENERATION Y

The purpose of this paper is to determine whether gender differences exist in online product search and purchase behaviors. A survey of 116 undergraduate college students with questions regarding the types of products researched and purchased over the Internet, the type of information they looked for when researching the products, reasons for not purchasing products online, and reasons for returning products purchased over the Internet. While both male and female college students use the Internet to research and purchase products, the findings indicate that they differ significantly in the types of products they research and purchase online, the kinds of information they sought when researching products over the Internet, and their reasons for not purchasing a product online. Generation Y is an important consumer group that will heavily influence the future success of online retailers. The majority of college students are members of Generation Y and heavy users of the internet in general. Internet usage for this group has been examined for academic and educational purposes, but information regarding online shopping behaviors has been limited. In addition, gender differences have been observed as an influence on online shopping behavior, but there is a lack of clarity regarding gender differences in online shopping behaviors among Generation Y college students who have many opportunities to access the internet and spend a lot of time online

Market Orientation across Firm Performance Levels; Manager, Salesperson, and Customer Viewpoints

Market orientation and its impact on firm performance has been a topic of research interest for many years, yet research is still needed to extend this stream of literature in two important areas. Previous research has largely examined a company management perspective of market orientation, excluding the perspective of front line personnel, and that of customers. In addition, performance has been primarily assessed using subjective perceptions as opposed to objective measures. This study is intended to extend the literature beyond these traditional perspectives by examining market orientation from three different viewpoints including managers, salespeople, and customers as it relates to firm performance. Using these differing viewpoints, the research presented in this paper examines the difference in the level of market orientation across quartiles of actual branch performance, as well as the difference in level of perceived performance compared to actual performance. The research is based on data obtained from 111 business units of a Fortune 500 company. The results indicate that managers and salespeople had no perceived differences in the level of cultural market orientation across objective performance quartiles. Managers and salespeople had no perceived differences in any of the three measures of operational market orientation, and no perceived differences in their assessment of branch performance across actual performance quartiles. In contrast however, customers had a significant difference in their perception of cultural market orientation, but did not have a significant difference in their perception of the measures of operational market orientation. These results indicate that customers have a differing, and perhaps more accurate perception of market orientation than do company personnel

Molecular Diagnostics of Three \u3ci\u3eDiabrotica\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Pest Species

A 257 bp region of the mitochondrial ND4 gene was analyzed for genetic variation in three species of corn rootworm, southern corn rootworm (Diabrotica undecim punctata howardi Barber, SCR), northern corn rootworm (D. barberi Smith and Lawrence, NCR), and western corn rootworm (D. virgifera virgifera LeConte, WCR). Nucleotide sequencing revealed 26 polymorphic sites. Genetic distances averaged 8% for all pair-wise comparisons among the three species. Restriction maps were constructed from sequence data and compared to potential species specific restriction sites. Polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) revealed three restriction enzymes (Alu I, Apo I and Sau 3A) which produced diagnostic patterns for both adults and larvae. Only NCR showed intraspecific polymorphism

Bank Consolidation and its Effect on Service Quality

The perceived quality of customer service plays a significant role in high involvement products and services. Previous research in the area of bank service quality suggests that as a bank is acquired the quality of service at the new larger bank does not equal what customers received at their old smaller bank. In addition, a newly consolidated bank may eliminate tailored services and create customer dissatisfaction due to higher fees, lower levels of service, and credit availability. Although prior research has focused on specific aspects of bank services, a contribution to the literature can be made by examining this topic in the context of broader dimensions of customer service. Therefore the objective of this research is to determine 1) if overall customer service differs between small bank and large bank organizations and 2) if service quality dimensions of tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy differ between small and large bank organizations

Distribution of Soybean Cyst Nematode in Nebraska

A survey of 552 soybean fields in 20 counties in Nebraska in 1986-88 revealed 35 fields infested with the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines. Identification was confirmed with a greenhouse bioassay, using \u27Lee 74\u27 soybean, and by the application of a DNA hybridization probe derived from SCN mitochondrial DNA. Most of the SCN-infested fields were located on the Missouri River floodplain and in the southeastern corner of the state