Consumer Adoption of Net-Enabled Infomediaries: Theoretical Explanations and an Empirical Test

The emergence of infomediaries ?which allow online consumers to search for, and provide comparisons among, many online retailers ?is a prominent trend in e-commerce. However, little research has been done on consumer reactions to this new e-commerce tool. To explain why and how online shoppers adopt a new infomediary website, this study proposes a conceptual model with insights obtained from literatures on the technology acceptance model (TAM), the economics of intermediation, and transaction cost analysis (TCA). Infomediaries provide powerful search capabilities to online shoppers to provide them with a list of potential retailers (efficiency benefits), and then provide information to aid in selecting from this list of retailers (effectiveness benefits). Accordingly, the proposed model posits that infomediaries offer two major types of utilitarian benefits to online customers: namely, perceived efficiency and perceived effectiveness. In addition, the model predicts that one\u27s willingness to adopt an infomediary is a function of his/her evaluation of the two types of utilitarian benefits of using the infomediary, which are in turn determined by the subjective interpretation of his/her e-commerce transaction environment. The model was tested using data collected from an online questionnaire administered to 367 online shoppers. Online shoppers?intention to use the infomediary was found to be a function of the two types of utilitarian benefits and perceived ease of use. In addition, our findings suggest that online shoppers who are low on asset specificity (e.g., consumers who have not made a high transaction-specific investment toward a specific online retailer) and who also are high on uncertainty (e.g., consumers who believe that online retailers in general are opportunistic) tend to appreciate the benefits of using an infomediary more than other online shoppers

Survey of Subterranean Termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) Utilization of Temperate Forests

Both native and invasive subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), including the Formosan subterranean termite, are well known pests of urban areas, but little is known about their distribution or impact in forest ecosystems of the southeastern United States. Recently harvested timber stumps were mechanically inspected for the presence of subterranean termites in multiple locations across southern Mississippi and eastern Louisiana. A systematic line plot cruise with 100 x 200m spacing and1/20thha plots was implemented, and all stumps with a diameter greater than 7.6cm were inspected. In total, 7,413 stumps were inspected for the presence of subterranean termites, and 406 of those contained native subterranean termite (Reticulitermes spp) infestations. Light traps were also placed at 8 sites to detect the presence of subterranean termite alates. While no invasive Formosan subterranean termites were found during mechanical inspection of tree stumps, alates were captured in light traps at three sites. The proportion of stumps infested with subterranean termites was negatively correlated with the number of stumps in each plot. Although 6.27% of pine stumps and 1.86% of hardwood stumps were infested, no correlation was found between subterranean termite presence and type of stump (pine or hardwood). Infestations of stumps by subterranean termites ranged from 0.94% to 14.97% depending on site

Long-term residue removal under tillage decreases amoA-nitrifiers and stimulates nirS-denitrifier groups in the soil

No-till in continuous corn (Zea mays L.) production helps to keep an important volume of residues on the soil surface, creating management challenges that could be alleviated by residue removal for bioenergy or animal use. Crop residues, however, are essential to stimulate microbial nutrient cycling in agroecosystems. Thus, both residue removal and tillage options need to be fully evaluated for their impacts on ecosystem services related to soil health, including microbial N cycling. We explored the main steps of the microbial N cycle in relation to soil properties by using targeted gene abundance as a proxy following over a decade of residue removal in continuous corn systems either under no-till or chisel tillage. We used real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for the quantification of phylogenetic groups and functional gene screening of the soil microbial communities, including genes encoding critical enzymes of the microbial N cycle: nifH (N2 fixation), amoA (nitrification – ammonia oxidation), nirK and nirS (denitrification – nitrite reduction), and nosZ (denitrification – nitrous oxide reduction). Our results showed that long-term residue removal and tillage decreased soil organic matter (SOM), water aggregate stability (WAS), and the relative abundance (RA) of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) carrying nitrifying amoA genes. Denitrifiers carrying nirS genes decreased under no-till as crop residue was removed. In addition, our results evidenced strong correlations among soil properties and phylogenetic groups of bacteria, archaea, and fungi. Overall, this study demonstrated limited but definite impacts of residue management and tillage on the soil environment, which could be exacerbated under less resilient conditions.Fil: Kim, N.. University of Illinois; Estados UnidosFil: Riggins, C. W.. University of Illinois; Estados UnidosFil: Rodríguez Zas, S.. University of Illinois; Estados UnidosFil: Zabaloy, Maria Celina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida; ArgentinaFil: Villamil, Maria Bonita. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. University of Illinois; Estados Unido

Surface Free Energy of Blue-Stained Southern Pine Sapwood from Bark Beetle-Attacked Trees

Blue-stained wood cut from bark beetle-attacked southern pine has a lower economic value than unstained wood. Wood composite products containing blue-stained wood may offer an opportunity to recover some lost timber value. This study investigated the surface-free energy of blue-stained wood. Southern pine sapwood samples with and without blue stain from both green and kiln-dried sources were obtained. Dynamic contact angle analyses were performed using three probe liquids: ethylene glycol, formamide, and deionized water. Surface-free energy was determined by applying the geometric mean model using two-liquid pairs with deionized water. The polar forces were higher across all wood types and in water-ethylene glycol vs water-formamide. Surface-free energy of air-dried blue-stained sapwood was lower than all other wood types. However, kiln-dried blue-stained sapwood had a higher surface-free energy than all other wood types. These results were indicative of a tree's wound response to bark beetle attack, the volatilization of naturally occurring hydrocarbons in southern pine sapwood, and the resulting increase in wood permeability caused by blue-stained fungal colonization across the sapwood. However, improvements in wetting observed for kiln-dried blue-stained sapwood may lead to cost and quality issues in wood composite manufacturing associated with overdrying and overpenetration of an adhesive

Acidification in corn monocultures favor fungi, ammonia oxidizing bacteria, and nirK-denitrifier groups

Agricultural practices of no-till and crop rotations are critical to counteract the detrimental effects of monocultures and tillage operations on ecosystem services related to soil health such as microbial N cycling. The present study explored the main steps of the microbial N cycle, using targeted gene abundance as a proxy, and concerning soil properties, following 19 and 20 years of crop monocultures and rotations of corn (Zea mays L.), and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], either under no-till or chisel tillage. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was implemented to estimate phylogenetic groups and functional genes related to the microbial N cycle: nifH (N2 fixation), amoA (nitrification) and nirK, nirS, and nosZ (denitrification). Our results indicate that long-term crop rotation and tillage decisions affect soil health as it relates to soil properties and microbial parameters. No-till management increased soil organic matter (SOM), decreased soil pH, and increased copy numbers of AOB (ammonia oxidizing bacteria). Crop rotations with more corn increased SOM, reduced soil pH, reduced AOA (ammonia oxidizing archaea) copy numbers, and increased AOB and fungal ITS copy numbers. NirK denitrifier groups were also enhanced under continuous corn. Altogether, the more corn years included in a crop rotation multiplies the amount of N needed to sustain yield levels, thereby intensifying the N cycle in these systems, potentially leading to acidification, enhanced bacterial nitrification, and creating an environment primed for N losses and increased N2O emissions.Fil: Behnke, G. D.. University of Illinois; Estados UnidosFil: Zabaloy, Maria Celina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida; ArgentinaFil: Riggins, C. W.. University of Illinois; Estados UnidosFil: Rodríguez-Zas, S.. University of Illinois; Estados UnidosFil: Huang, L.. University of Illinois; Estados UnidosFil: Villamil, Maria Bonita. University of Illinois; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Consumption caught in the cash nexus.

During the last thirty years, ‘consumption’ has become a major topic in the study of contemporary culture within anthropology, psychology and sociology. For many authors it has become central to understanding the nature of material culture in the modern world but this paper argues that the concept is, in British writing at least, too concerned with its economic origins in the selling and buying of consumer goods or commodities. It is argued that to understand material culture as determined through the monetary exchange for things - the cash nexus - leads to an inadequate sociological understanding of the social relations with objects. The work of Jean Baudrillard is used both to critique the concept of consumption as it leads to a focus on advertising, choice, money and shopping and to point to a more sociologically adequate approach to material culture that explores objects in a system of models and series, ‘atmosphere’, functionality, biography, interaction and mediation

Investigating knowledge management factors affecting Chinese ICT firms performance: An integrated KM framework

This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in the Journal of Information Systems Management, 28(1), 19 - 29, 2011, copyright Taylor & Francis, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/10580530.2011.536107.This article sets out to investigate the critical factors of Knowledge Management (KM) which are considered to have an impact on the performance of Chinese information and communication technology (ICT) firms. This study confirms that the cultural environment of an enterprise is central to its success in the context of China. It shows that a collaborated, trusted, and learning environment within ICT firms will have a positive impact on their KM performance

Mutations of the BRAF gene in human cancer

Cancers arise owing to the accumulation of mutations in critical genes that alter normal programmes of cell proliferation, differentiation and death. As the first stage of a systematic genome-wide screen for these genes, we have prioritized for analysis signalling pathways in which at least one gene is mutated in human cancer. The RAS RAF MEK ERK MAP kinase pathway mediates cellular responses to growth signals. RAS is mutated to an oncogenic form in about 15% of human cancer. The three RAF genes code for cytoplasmic serine/threonine kinases that are regulated by binding RAS. Here we report BRAF somatic missense mutations in 66% of malignant melanomas and at lower frequency in a wide range of human cancers. All mutations are within the kinase domain, with a single substitution (V599E) accounting for 80%. Mutated BRAF proteins have elevated kinase activity and are transforming in NIH3T3 cells. Furthermore, RAS function is not required for the growth of cancer cell lines with the V599E mutation. As BRAF is a serine/threonine kinase that is commonly activated by somatic point mutation in human cancer, it may provide new therapeutic opportunities in malignant melanoma

Structural Barriers to HIV Prevention and Services: Perspectives of African American Women in Low-Income Communities

Background African American women are at a disproportionate HIV risk compared with other U.S. women. Studies show that complex structural and social determinants, rather than individual behaviors, place African American women at greater risk of HIV infection; however, little is known about women's views of what puts them at risk.AimsThis study sought to comprehend the perceptions of African American women living in low-income housing regarding the factors that influence both their personal sexual health behaviors and use of HIV prevention services. Methods We conducted seven focus groups with 48 African American women from 10 public housing communities in a small city in the southeastern United States. We analyzed the focus group transcripts using thematic data analysis to identify salient themes and points of interest related to the study aim. Results Women identified factors related to the health care system (trustworthiness of the health care system), the external environment (racism, classism, patriarchal structures, and violence/crime), as well as predisposing (health beliefs, stigma, and gender norms), enabling (agency to negotiate gendered power), and need (perceived HIV risk and perceptions of partner characteristics) features of individuals in the population. Conclusion African American women living in public housing are especially vulnerable to HIV infection due to intersectional discrimination based on racism, classism, gender power dynamics, and community conditions. Our findings confirm the need to develop HIV intervention programming addressing intersectional identities of those making up the communities they plan to address, and being informed by those living in the communities they plan to act on