Using best-worst scaling method to examine consumers’ value preferences: A multidimensional perspective

© 2016 The Author(s). This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license. Unlike most prior studies, this study reconceptualizes the perceived value construct from the multidimensional perspective by incorporating the aesthetic and altruistic values from Holbrook’s value typology with the Theory of Consumption Value. Moreover, this study is a pioneer in measuring the construct of multidimensional perceived value with the Best-Worst Scaling method instead of rating scales to fill methodological deficiency in the literature. This study collected data through web-based survey using online consumer panels. Hierarchical cluster analysis used as the major data analysis technique. Results indicate consumers can be segmented on the basis of their preferences. Therefore, the use of the cluster analysis of the value dimensions would permit practitioners to develop more effective market segmentation strategies in order to attain sustainable competitive advantage in the growing hospitality and tourism industry

Determinants of Selecting Country-Of-Origin (COO) as an Ingredient of Sourcing Strategy: Evidence from an Emerging Economy

Bangladesh, an emerging economy with substantial dependence on import, necessitated her businesses to formulate international sourcing strategy. The study focuses on Bangladeshi retailers’ and wholesalers’ contemplations to choose country-of-origin (COO) as a part of their sourcing strategy. Retailers and wholesalers, dealing with ceramic tiles and sanitary wares and also undertake international sourcing activities, are the respondents of this study. Multiple regression analysis generated adjusted R2 of 0.95, and identifies five significant factors responsible for deciding source country origin. Minimum possible price offer, quick adjustment with importers’ specifications, consumers’ positive impression about the country, source country’s ability to provide variety, and keeping promise of delivery time and quantity are the variables in the regression model. The significant variables have also been checked for the problem of multicollinearity. Hence, the findings of this study add value to the existing body of COO literature.

Depth rather than microrelief controls microbial biomass and kinetics of C-, N-, P- and S-cycle enzymes in peatland

© 2018 Elsevier B.V. The formation of microrelief forms in peatlands - elevated and dry hummocks, depressed wet hollows and intermediate lawns - is controlled by the interaction of water table, nutrient availability and dominant plant communities. This affects the composition and activity of various functional groups of microorganisms. With depth, the change in peat quality from less to more highly processed organic material additionally regulates microbial activity. We hypothesized that microbial biomass and enzyme activities are driven by aeration and by peat quality and therefore (i) they increase from hollows (water saturated/anaerobic) through lawns (intermediate) to hummocks (aerobic) in the top peat and ii) they decrease with depth due to increasing distance from fresh plant-derived inputs and lower oxygen availability. These hypotheses were tested for enzymes catalysing the decomposition of C-, N-, P- and S-containing organic compounds in peat of the three microform types at three depths (15, 50 and 200 cm). Microbial biomass and peat chemical characteristics were compared with enzyme kinetic parameters, i.e. maximal potential activity (Vmax) and the Michaelis constant (Km). Microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and Vmax of β-glucosidase and N-acetyl glucosaminidase increased by 30–70% from hummocks and lawns to hollows in the top 15 cm, contradicting the hypothesis. Similarly, Km and the catalytic efficiency of enzymes (Ka = Vmax/Km) were best related to MBC distribution and not to the aeration gradient. With depth, Vmax of β-glucosidase, xylosidase and leucine aminopeptidase followed the hypothesized pattern in hollows. In contrast, MBC was 1.3–4 times higher at 50 cm, followed by successively lower contents at 15 and 200 cm in all microforms. The same depth pattern characterized the Vmax distribution of 6 out of 8 enzymes. Phosphatase activity decreased from drier hummock to wetter hollows and the higher activity throughout the peat profile suggested a high microbial demand for P. Enzyme activities and catalytic efficiency in peat were closely linked to the distribution of microbial biomass with depth, which in turn was best explained by P content. From the ecological perspective, these results clearly show that peat decomposition will be accelerated when microbial activity is stimulated e.g. by increased P availability

Biometry, sexual maturity, natural mortality and fecundity of endangered halfbeak Dermogenys pusilla (Zenarchopteridae) from the Ganges River in northwestern Bangladesh

1548-1555The present study express the biometry, including length-weight relationships (LWRs) using 12 equations, length-length relationships (LLRs) using 15 equations, condition factors (allometric, KA; Fultonʹs, KF; relative, KR; and relative weight, WR), form factor (a3.0), first sexual maturity (Lm), natural mortality (MW) and fecundity (FT) of Dermogenys pusilla from the Ganges River, northwestern Bangladesh. A sum of 75 individuals was hardly collected using cast net and gill net during July 2013 to June 2014. In our study total length ranged from 6.6–16.1 cm for male and 7.5-15.6 cm for female and fin formula was- dorsal, D. 12 (4/8); pectoral, P1. 11 (2/9); pelvic, P2. 6 (1/5); anal, A. 13-14 (2-3/11-12) and caudal C. 18-20 (4/14-16). All LWRs were highly significant (P r2, BW vs. FL was the best fitted model among 12 equations for both sexes. The analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed significant differences between males and females for LWRs (P P r2 values ≥ 0.940. According to highest value of r2, LLR by TL vs. FL was the best suited model among 15 equations for both genders. Based on Pearson correlation values, KF was highly correlated with BW and TL; thus KF can be used for the wellbeing of this species in the Ganges River. The a3.0 was 0.0025 for male and 0.0024 for female. The Lm was 9.70 cm TL for male and 9.40 cm TL for female. Also, the MW was 1.13, 1.41 year-1 for males and females respectively, and the fecundity was ranged from 620-1544 (mean ± SD = 1125 ± 248). Therefore, the findings of this study would be very effective for sustainable conservation of this endangered species in the Ganges River and surrounding ecosystem

Morphometric and meristic traits of three ambassid fish species (Chanda nama, Parambassis lala and Parambassis ranga)

398-405This research describes the first complete and inclusive information on morphometric and meristic characteristics of three Ambassid species (Chanda nama, Parambassis lala and Parambassis ranga) from the Mathabhanga River collected during August 2017 to July 2018. In our study, range of the total length was 2.0–7.2 cm for C. nama; 1.7-3.9 cm for P. lala and 1.9-6.4 cm for P. ranga. All length-weight relationships were highly significant (p r2 values ≥ 0.900 (except W vs. PrDL relationship in P. lala, where, r2 = 0.861). Also, all length-length relationships were highly correlated with r2 values being ≥ 0.900. Based on r2 value, W vs. FL and TL vs. FL was best fitted model for all the three species among the 11 equations. The calculated fin formula is: dorsal, D. 21–22 (VIII/13–14); pectoral, P1. 8–10 (2/6–8); pelvic, P2. 6 (I/5); anal, A. 17-18 (III/14–15); and caudal, C. 20–22 (4/16–18) for C. nama; D. 20–21 (VIII/12–13); P1. 8–9 (1-2/7); P2. 6 (I/5); A. 16-18 (III/13–15); C. 18–20 (4-6/14) for P. lala and D. 20–21 (VIII/12–13); P1. 9–10 (2/7–8); P2. 6 (I/5); A. 18-20 (III/15–17); C. 22–24 (4-6/18) for P. ranga. These outcomes will be a functional tool for identification of Ambassid fishes up to species level in any water-bodies of Bangladesh as well as in the adjacent countries

Cognitive Skills and DNA Methylation Are Correlating in Healthy and Novice College Students Practicing Preksha Dhyāna Meditation

The impact of different meditation protocols on human health is explored at the cognitive and cellular levels. Preksha Dhyana meditation has been observed to seemingly affect the cognitive performance, transcriptome, and methylome of healthy and novice participant practitioners. In this study, we performed correlation analyses to investigate the presence of any relationships in the changes in cognitive performance and DNA methylation in a group of college students practicing Preksha Dhyāna (N = 34). Nine factors of cognitive performance were assessed at baseline and 8 weeks postintervention timepoints in the participants. Statistically significant improvements were observed in six of the nine assessments, which were predominantly relating to memory and affect. Using Illumina 850 K microarray technology, 470 differentially methylated sites (DMS) were identified between the two timepoints (baseline and 8 weeks), using a threshold of p-value \u3c 0.05 and methylation levels beyond −3% to 3% at every site. Correlation analysis between the changes in performance on each of the nine assessments and every DMS unveiled statistically significant positive and negative relationships at several of these sites. The identified DMS were in proximity of essential genes involved in signaling and other important metabolic processes. Interestingly, we identified a set of sites that can be considered as biomarkers for Preksha meditation improvements at the genome level

Effects of Combining Meditation Techniques on Short-Term Memory, Attention, and Affect in Healthy College Students.

Meditation refers to a family of self-regulation practices that focuses on training attention and awareness to foster psycho-emotional well-being and to develop specific capacities such as calmness, clarity, and concentration. We report a prospective convenience-controlled study in which we analyzed the effect of two components of Preksha Dhyāna – buzzing bee sound meditation (Mahapran dhvani) and color meditation (leśyā dhyāna) on healthy college students. Mahapran and leśya dhyāna are two Preksha Dhyāna practices that are based on sound and green color, respectively. The study population represents a suitable target as college students experience different stress factors during the school year. This study measures the individual and combined effects of two techniques (one focusing on sound and one focusing on color), on short-term memory, attention, and affect, in novice meditators. We used a battery of cognitive, performance, and compared results with baseline and control values. We found improved cognition, especially attention, short-term memory, and affect in terms of positivity and reduced negativity. Overall, the two techniques produced variable benefits and subjects showed improved scores over baseline for short-term memory, cognitive function, and overall wellbeing. Further studies are required to understand underlying mechanisms for the observed differences between the two techniques and to elucidate mechanisms underlying the more pronounced and global benefits observed with the combined techniques. These results underscore a need to examine individual components of meditation practices in order to individualize treatment approaches for attention disorders in young adults

Water management and livelihood choices in southwestern Bangladesh

Coastal Bangladesh faces an increasing number of challenges including cyclones, tidal surges, floods, drought, saline water intrusion, waterlogging and land subsidence, which pose substantial threats to the livelihoods of the coastal inhabitants. In addition to these threats, profound social and land-use changes are complicating the livelihoods of resource users in the region, including the introduction of aquaculture and increasing competition for ground and surface water sources. The government of Bangladesh has targeted this region for investment with irrigation expansion. This paper uses a sustainable livelihood lens to understand the role of investments in water management and irrigation in driving and shaping livelihood changes and transitions over the past ten years and offers recommendations for investments. We find that while water infrastructure development has greatly enhanced the role of agriculture in coastal livelihoods over the last 10 years, further development of irrigation infrastructure should only be prioritized after issues of water governance and inequity across agricultural and aquacultural livelihoods are addressed

Association of respiratory symptoms and lung function with occupation in the multinational Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study

Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has been associated with exposures in the workplace. We aimed to assess the association of respiratory symptoms and lung function with occupation in the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease study. Methods We analysed cross-sectional data from 28 823 adults (≥40 years) in 34 countries. We considered 11 occupations and grouped them by likelihood of exposure to organic dusts, inorganic dusts and fumes. The association of chronic cough, chronic phlegm, wheeze, dyspnoea, forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/FVC with occupation was assessed, per study site, using multivariable regression. These estimates were then meta-analysed. Sensitivity analyses explored differences between sexes and gross national income. Results Overall, working in settings with potentially high exposure to dusts or fumes was associated with respiratory symptoms but not lung function differences. The most common occupation was farming. Compared to people not working in any of the 11 considered occupations, those who were farmers for ≥20 years were more likely to have chronic cough (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.19–1.94), wheeze (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.16–1.63) and dyspnoea (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.53–2.20), but not lower FVC (β=0.02 L, 95% CI −0.02–0.06 L) or lower FEV1/FVC (β=0.04%, 95% CI −0.49–0.58%). Some findings differed by sex and gross national income. Conclusion At a population level, the occupational exposures considered in this study do not appear to be major determinants of differences in lung function, although they are associated with more respiratory symptoms. Because not all work settings were included in this study, respiratory surveillance should still be encouraged among high-risk dusty and fume job workers, especially in low- and middle-income countries.publishedVersio