Sample Group Research Articles

Examining the Persisting and Desisting Online Posting Behaviors of Violent and Non-Violent Right-Wing Extremists

ABSTRACT There is an ongoing need for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to identify and examine the online posting behaviors of violent extremists prior to their engagement in violence offline, but little is empirically known about their online presence generally or differences in their posting behaviors compared to their non-violent counterparts particularly. Even less is empirically known about their persisting and desisting posting patterns. This study drew from a unique sample of violent and non-violent right-wing extremists to examine online changes in posting patterns during the beginning, middle, and end of their observed posting activity. Here, we identified persister and desister posters to create four sample groups: non-violent persisters, non-violent desisters, violent persisters, and violent desisters. We then calculated the average number of posts for each sample group as well as quantified the existence of extremist ideologies and violent extremist mobilization efforts across each observed posting period. Overall, we identified several noteworthy posting patterns that may assist law enforcement and intelligence agencies in identifying credible threats online. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of the analysis, its limitations, and avenues for future research.

Posture and Its Influence on Anatomical Structures: A Comprehensive Review

Objective: Posture refers to the alignment and positioning of body segments such as the head, trunk, and limbs in relation to the line of gravity during various activities. In essence, posture represents the body's alignment. In daily life, posture is often overlooked, despite its significant impact on our psychosocial well-being, physical health, activities, and even success. Upon examining the postural structure, it becomes evident that posture is directly related to various anatomical structures, whether we are sitting, standing, or engaged in other activities. Prolonged poor posture can negatively affect numerous anatomical structures, particularly muscles. This often neglected aspect is of considerable importance throughout our lives, and it plays a key role in our overall well-being. Evidence Acquisition: This study was conducted through a review of relevant literature. The findings were derived by compiling studies published between 2014 and 2024 using the keywords "posture and anatomy," "posture and musculoskeletal system" from PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. After screening, nine studies were identified as relevant to the topic and included in the analysis. The study was conducted through a review of research focusing on the relationship between posture and anatomical structures. Studies involving animals, research on posture in individuals with specific disorders, and studies that were repetitive were excluded from the analysis. Results: The studies reviewed examined different sample groups and addressed the relationship between posture and various anatomical structures. In the majority of these studies, it was found that posture has a direct relationship with numerous anatomical structures. Conclusion: The studies reviewed indicate that posture significantly affects anatomical structures, and this relationship is important from multiple perspectives in daily life. Therefore, this review aims to explore the relationship between posture and anatomical structures, clearly articulate this relationship, and emphasize its importance by conducting a comprehensive review of the relevant literature.

Guidelines Management to Promotion of Wushu in Schools Within Jinzhong City

Research Objective: Wushu in schools promotes physical fitness, self-discipline, and focus while also preserving cultural heritage and instilling a sense of tradition. It promotes teamwork, builds confidence, and instills lifelong values such as perseverance and respect. Thus, this research aimed to study construct guideline management to promote wushu in schools within Jinzhong City Shanxi Province China. Research Method: This research is qualitative. The population of 1250 persons as a sample from Taro Yamane table opened confidence at 95% sample group was 286 students were student in the wushu club from 10 high schools in Jinzhong City, the step of collection data a questionnaire survey from students, 7 Expert interviews, 10 experts for Focus group and5 experts for Connoisseurship discuss and confirm guideline. The statistics analysis of data used content analysis and mean(x̄) and standard division (S.D.) Results: The results showed that the guideline management for promoting wushu in school was planning, organization, leading, and controlling. The planning has 9 items The organization has 9 items The leading 9 items and the controlling has 7 items. Conclusion: This study developed comprehensive guidelines for promoting Wushu in secondary schools in Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, China, using strategic planning, organizing, leading, and controlling methods. Key findings highlight the importance of structured planning, effective team organization, leadership in athlete development, and systematic evaluation processes. The study emphasizes that successful Wushu promotion requires aligning curriculum adjustments with national goals, continuous teacher and coach development, and the integration of modern technologies for training and evaluation.

Structural equations modeling for the entry into becoming a sport sponsorship of the halal product in Thailand

This research study aims 1) to create a structural equation model for sports sponsorship of halal products in Thailand and 2) to examine the direct and indirect influence of variables that are components of the structural equation model for halal products, specifically in the context of becoming a sports sponsorship for halal products in Thailand. The study focused on a sample group of Thai Muslims interested in watching and following the news and participating in Thai sporting events. The researcher chose a sample size of 400 participants from this population, excluding backup data gathering and data analysis, to ensure the questionnaire’s quality and dependability. The results of the data analysis from the structural equation model created show that it is consistent with empirical data. The results of the statistical hypothesis test reveal that the level of religious adherence and the level of awareness of entering into sponsorship have both direct and indirect influences on consumer attitudes and purchase intentions with statistical significance at 0.01. It can also be identified that if a sponsor increases awareness among Muslim viewers through branding or product presentations in events that feature halal symbols or indicate compliance with religious standards, it will lead to a more positive attitude and higher purchase intentions. This insight can be applied to marketing promotion in administrative regions or countries where the majority of the population is Muslim.

Development of Learning Activities Using Layered Teaching Methods and Taekwondo Abilities of First-year Students at Luzhou Vocational and Technical College

Background and Aims: Taekwondo is a martial art that originated on the Korean Peninsula and has since spread across the country as a movement that emphasizes moral development and physical fitness. The "Healthy China 2030 Planning Outline" intends to support youth sports, guaranteeing young people's daily physical activity and competency in a variety of sports. Thus, this paper aims (1) To develop learning activities and the layered teaching method for the Taekwondo course. (2) To compare Taekwondo abilities using a layered teaching method between the pre-test and the post-test. And (3) To study the students’ satisfaction with the layered teaching method for the Taekwondo course. The sample group is 45 first-year students at Luzhou Vocational and Technical College. Methodology: The population is 3 classrooms of students, totaling 180 students with similar knowledge and abilities, and the first-year students at Luzhou Vocational and Technical College in the first semester of the academic year 2023. The sample group is 45 first-year students at Luzhou Vocational and Technical College, in the first semester of the academic year 2023, obtained from the cluster sampling technique. Results: The results of the study were as follows;1) The development of layered teaching methods for the Taekwondo course has an average suitability value for all plans equal to 4.23, which is at a high level. (2) Students who studied using the layered teaching method for the Taekwondo course had higher Taekwondo abilities post-test than pre-test at a statistical significance of.05, and (3) Students who learned using the layered teaching method for the Taekwondo course had overall satisfaction at a very high level. Conclusion: The Taekwondo course's layered teaching approach proved to be very effective, greatly enhancing students' post-test performance and resulting in extremely high levels of overall student satisfaction. This technique successfully raises student engagement in Taekwondo as well as skill acquisition.

Human Resource Management Affecting Organizational Engagement: A Case Study of The Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Administrative Organization

Background and Aim: Nowadays, the world has changed. Management within public and private organizations There is a need for adaptation, especially in ​​human resource management. Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Administrative Organization It is an agency whose duty is to provide public services. Human resource management has been given importance in line with goals and missions by giving importance to building morale. And develop personnel potential. There is a salary adjustment. Organize employee training to enhance personnel knowledge. If a person is attached to the organization, it will lead to loyalty. And intend to work efficiently. Research on “Human resource management that affects organizational commitment: A case study of Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Administrative Organization” has the following objectives; 1) Study the level of human resource management. And the level of commitment to the organization of Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Administrative Organization personnel, 2) Study the relationship between human resource management and organizational commitment of Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Administrative Organization personnel. Materials and Methods: It is quantitative research. The population used in this research is personnel working in the Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Administrative Organization. The sample group used in this research is personnel working in the Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Administrative Organization, which is 200 people, by convenience sampling. The instrument used to collect data was a questionnaire. Statistics used in data analysis include frequency, percentage, and arithmetic mean. Standard deviation and correlation coefficient Results: The results of the study found that 1) Human resource management level and the level of organizational engagement, it was found that the overall human resource management of the Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Administrative Organization was at the highest level. When considering each aspect, it was found that every aspect has the highest human resource management level. The aspect with the highest human resource management score was personnel, followed by Relationships with businesses and organizations and welfare. 2) The relationship between human resource management and overall organizational engagement is at the highest level. When considering each aspect, it was found that every aspect had the highest level of commitment to the organization. The aspects with the highest commitment to the organization are Satisfaction in the workplace and effective communication, Followed by Fair compensation, Effective leadership style, and job security. Overall, human resource management of the Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Administrative Organization is significantly related to the organizational commitment of Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Administrative Organization personnel at the 0.01 level, with a high level of relationship Conclusion: Overall, the Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Administrative Organization has the highest human resource management level. Arrange the scores for each aspect from highest to lowest: 1) personal aspect, 2) relationship with businesses and organizations, and 3) welfare aspect. Organizational engagement of Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Administrative Organization personnel as a whole It has a relationship with human resource management in both general and in each of the three areas The relationship is at a high level and is going in the same direction.

Innovative factors affecting performance of local government organizations in Thailand

This dissertation aimed (1) to study factors that have causal influences that affect the performance of municipalities. (2) to study the causal relationship model of innovative organizations, innovative capabilities, service innovation and performance management that influences the performance of municipalities. (3) to develop a linear structural equation model of the influence of service innovation, innovation organization, innovative capabilities and performance management that affects the performance of local government organizations in the category of municipalities in Thailand. The sample group were 320 executives of local government organizations in the category of municipalities in Thailand. Sampling was done in 2 steps: stratified and systematic sampling. This study is a quantitative study, and the research tool was a structured questionnaire and data were analyzed by percentage, mean, standard deviation, skewness, kurtosis, and confirmatory component analysis and structural equation model analysis. The findings of this study demonstrate significant direct effects of innovative capabilities, service innovation and performance management on performance of local government organizations in Thailand. Moreover, it was observed that innovative organizations and innovative capabilities also exerted indirect effects on performance of local government organizations through their influence on performance management, serving as mediator variables. Through the development of a structural equation model, it was determined that innovative capabilities had the greatest overall influence on the performance of local government organizations in the category of municipalities in Thailand, followed by performance management, service innovation and innovation organization, respectively. This research study made executives of local government organizations in category of municipalities in Thailand can be used as a guideline in determining strategies for managing their organization to be able to keep up with changes in the digital world and to ensure that the performance of the local government organization achieves the specified goals in terms of both efficiency and effectiveness.

The Contribution of Applicable Smart and Sustainable Technologies in Recreation to City Happiness

We are aware that the efficient use of time is important for individuals. However, the fact that urban dwellers trying to live in cities have limited free time to spare for themselves creates difficulties in terms of the development of social well-being. The presence of technology, which has recently developed in the world, in our individual lives is indisputable. However, the long transportation times of individuals living in the city during the day is an important factor that causes the lack of free time periods. Matching the presence of technology with smart equipment that urban dwellers can enjoy and use in a sustainable way at appropriate points in cities will contribute to the happiness of society. This formation will actually provide us with the opportunity to transform technological renewal in cities into happy cities. For this reason, both the concrete existence of the concepts of smart city and happy city in 4 major cities of the world (Istanbul, Indiana, Amsterdam, Shanghai) and their reflections on the city dwellers are examined. Through interviews with the relevant people who serve the concepts of smart designs, technologies, recreational equipment and happy cities in the cities and concrete data, comparative sources of information on recreational technologies, sustainable and happy cities are provided. These sources consist of people who provide services on recreational technologies and services in the mentioned cities. The purpose of the sample group is to obtain information about city recreational technology studies from people who serve recreational city technologies, as well as to examine their views on city technologies and city happiness. In our study; the reflected and measurable (United Nations World Happiness Reports) dimensions of the concept of happy city are tried to be put forward in a scientific sense by comparing the examples created in cities and their reflections. In my 3rd TİK report on the thesis, the purpose of the study, the research model, the tools used to obtain data in the research, purposive sampling, research reliability, analysis, thematic coding information, ethical evaluation and the sample group information of this study applied online to 4 countries in 3 different continents, the table of research cities information and the findings (maxqda maps) graphics were added. In addition, general information about the concepts of leisure, recreation, smart city and happy city, which constitute the main theme of the research, is included.

Detection of rotavirus in raw and ready-to-eat food samples

Rotavirus infection is a common cause of acute gastroenteritis. Since transmission generally occurs person-to-person via the fekal-oral route, the importance of foodborne transmission can be underestimated. Food can be contaminated with rotavirus at any stage of the food processing, from farm to fork. In this study, 105 food samples of animal origin were collected from seafood (mussels, fish, etc.), red meat (sausage, meatballs, etc.), and poultry meat (ham, wings, etc.). The samples were tested for rotavirus by RT-PCR. Virus isolation, sequencing and phylogenetic analyses were performed for positive samples. Rotavirus was detected in two mussel sample groups by RT-PCR. DNA sequence analysis was carried out for both the VP4 and VP7 gene regions of the rotavirus in one sample and determined that it was a group A human rotavirus G1P[8]. Rotavirus isolation did not occur after the inoculation of the samples onto MA-104 cell culture. This study demonstrated the presence of rotavirus in raw mussel samples in the market.

The Effectiveness of Concentration of Chitosan Extracted from Tiger Shrimp Shells as a Natural Preservative of Kenyar Fish

A study to find the effectiveness of chitosan concentration as a natural preservative on Kenyan fish (Sarda orientalis) has been conducted. The chitosan powder used is extracted from tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon) shells, and it is used in the form of a solution with a concentration of 1%, 1.5%, 2%, and 2.5%. Fresh kenyar fish of 500 g were soaked in those chitosan solutions and named A1, A2, A3, and A4, respectively. Two sample groups were prepared as a comparison; they weren’t treated with any chitosan solution; they were A02, 500 g of kenyar fish soaked in 2% acetic acid, and A01, 500 g of kenyar fish without any treatment. The soaking times were varied as 20, 40, and 60 minutes. Storage is carried out at room temperature. The activity of chitosan as a fish preservative was analyzed using various methods, including pH, organoleptic, and antimicrobial tests. The measurements of pH and organoleptic test were made at 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours. The antimicrobial tests were carried out after 24 hours of storage. The study concluded that the effective concentration of chitosan as a preservative agent of fresh kenyar fish is 2.5% (A4) with 40 minutes of soaking time, with the quality parameters are pH 5, an organoleptic score of 9, and the total number of microbes is 1.2 x 105 CFU/g.

The Influence of Causal Factors in Women's Decision-Making to Undergo Cosmetic Surgery in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand

Women and beauty go together. Plastic surgery is one method that women use to enhance their appearance. Improve yourself to be more beautiful. Affects reliability and career opportunities, research objectives To study the causal factors that influence women's decision to undergo cosmetic surgery. Sample group of Thai women aged between 20 and 60 years.ai Province who Province, ergone cosmetic surgery at least 1 time, a toonce 360 people were systematically randomly selected. The instrument was a 5-level estimation questionnaire, 1 copy, with a reliability value of the questionnaire equal to .964. Resto.964esults It was found that 1) trust in entrepreneurs Service quality The marketing mix and decisions for cosmetic surgery are at a high average level and 2) level,t in enttrustneurs Service quality and the marketing mix has a directhavefluence on the decision to have cosmetic surgery among women in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. Therefore, beauty business entrepreneurs must build trust. Providing quality service reasservice andproducts and prices To make more Thai women decide to have cosmetic surgery.

The Effectiveness of Herbal Inhaler Products, Suan Sunandha Palace Recipe

This research purpose for Study the effectiveness of the herbal inhalant product, Wang Suan Sunandha recipe. This is quasi-experimental research with a single group pretest-posttest design. The experimental group is Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University students aged 18-25 years. Be healthy and have no chronic diseases. Consented to be research volunteers, totaling 50 people (25 males, 25 females). The research instrument is 1 questionnaire, divided into 4 parts, consisting of questionnaires and personal information of the sample group. Vital signs recording form Emotion and Feeling Assessment and Satisfaction Questionnaire An experiment was conducted where a sample of 50 people had their vital signs measured. and record the emotions before and after inhaling the herbal inhaler aroma Suan Sunandha Palace recipe, about 10 minutes. and after the end of the sample group, they self-assessed their satisfaction. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, finding frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. and the use of paired t-test statistics. The results of the research found that after inhaling the scent of herbal inhalers, Suan Sunandha Palace Recipe It was found that vital signs (blood pressure and heart rate). The emotions and feelings of the sample group were different from before inhaling the herbal inhalant scent. Suan Sunandha Palace Recipe Statistically significant at the.05 level. But the breathing rate before and after inhaling the herbal inhaler odor Suan Sunandha Palace Recipe was no different, and the average satisfaction score of the sample was at the highest level.

Effect of Teachers Attitudes towards Teaching on Students’ Performance in Mathematics Subject in Public Day Secondary Schools in Rwanda: A Case of Huye District

The study investigated how teachers' attitudes toward teaching influenced students' academic progress in mathematics in a public secondary school in Huye District. Specifically, the research identifies the teachers' attitudes toward teaching that could influence the achievement of pupils in Mathematics-related subjects in public day secondary schools in Huye district. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior, this study used a combined method approach to collect both quantitative and qualitative data to examine how teachers' attitudes influence their teaching practices in Mathematics. Purposive and random sampling were applied to select sectors, schools, and participants, allowing for systematic data collection and analysis on teachers' attitudes and their influence on students’ performance. The target population for this study was 200, including 3 sector educational officers, 5 head teachers, 25 mathematics teachers and 167 Mathematics students; and the Yamane method was used to calculate a sample size of 134 respondents including 2 sector educational officers, 3 Head teachers, 15 teachers and 114 students. Primary data sources included surveys, while secondary data came from observation and interview methods. This study used purposive, stratified and simple random sampling procedures to create a sample group of respondents. The research collected and analyzed data using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Content analysis helped with qualitative data analysis, while quantitative data was presented in SPSS Version 21.0 utilizing statistical methods such as descriptive (frequency, percentage, imply and deviation from the mean) and inferential statistics (correlational and regression analysis). For the study objective, the results show that 76.3% strongly agreed that teachers' communication skills, 69.3% strongly agreed that effective goal-setting, 64.9% strongly agreed that lesson preparation, 61.4% strongly agreed that lesson preparation, 78.1% strongly accepted that professional commitment, and 68.0% highly agreed that adaptability and flexibility reflect my teachers' attitudes toward teaching. 64.9% strongly agreed that early arrival in class during the teaching lesson reflects the teachers' attitudes toward teaching. The study found a strong positive correlation between exams, test results, and factors like interpersonal skills, goal-setting, lesson preparation, and professional commitment, which all contributed to improved student performance. The researcher concluded that early attendance and communication skills of teachers were also linked to positive educational outcomes, with tests enhancing performance across subjects. With a p-value below 0.05, the study showed that active class participation boosts effectiveness. Recommendations included improving teacher attitudes towards math, enhancing confidence, making Math enjoyable, investing in teacher training, providing resources and encouraging community involvement in Math careers. Regular follow-ups and ongoing professional development for teachers were also advised.

Effect of Aphantasia on Academic Achievement and Learning Styles in Higher Education

This investigation targets to clarify Learning Styles (LSs) of aphantasic and non-aphantasic higher education students/graduates in accordance with Vermunt Learning Style Model and to LSs of the participants according to their demographic characteristics such as gender and age. Model of study is relational screening and research was carried out online with 260 volunteer participants. "Vermunt Learning Styles Inventory" was utilized to determine LSs of two separate groups with and without aphanatic. Although there are many studies on the LSs in literature, there are very limited study on the Vermunt Learning Style. Differences were found in the learning orientation and academic success of aphantasic people compared to non-aphantasic people. It was concluded that academic achievements of aphantasic participants were higher than the academic achievements of the non-aphantasic participants. When literature is examined, there is no research to examine level of imagination in terms of the LSs and academic success. Therefore, it is thought that the studies to be carried out by expanding scope with different sample groups will contribute to the aphantasic individuals, students and educators with this research. More studies can be done on this subject and experiments can be made for its use in the field of guidance.

Analysis and Recommendations on Empowering Non-Art Background College Students to Generate Visual and Textual Content Using AIGC Tools

This study selects students from Shenzhen Polytechnic University with non-art backgrounds as the sample group. By integrating questionnaire surveys with specific case studies, it explores how AIGC tools empower these students to generate both visual and textual content and design related works. However, their usage primarily concentrates on basic functions such as generating texts and images. It is therefore recommended that systematic courses be developed to guide non-art background students in using AIGC tools more effectively and comprehensively, enabling them to perform more complex tasks.

Mitigation of Oxidized Oil Effects on Production Performances and Meat Quality of Broilers by Dietary Supplementation of Allicin

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary oxidized oil and allicin (two different dietary sources) as natural antioxidants on the growth performance and meat quality of broilers. A total of 200 one-day-old Ross 308 broilers were randomly divided into four dietary groups (50 birds/group). The experimental groups (OO—oxidized oil; OOA—oxidized oil and allicin; OOG—oxidized oil and garlic leaves) differed from the control one by the presence of oxidized oil in their dietary structure (peroxide value 9.07 (OO, OOA and OOG groups) vs. 1.70 (C group) meq active oxygen/kg). The diets given to the experimental groups differed from each other by the presence of allicin (100 mg/kg inclusion rate as extract (OOA) and 0.5% as garlic leaf powder (OOG)). At the end of the experiment, six animals/group were slaughtered, meat samples (breast and thigh) were collected, and nutritional value was established. The results showed that the allicin included in the experimental diet did not influence the proximate composition of breast meat (crude protein, fat, ash, and dry matter). The fatty acid profile was determined for each group of samples; a significant decrease in omega 3 FAs was noticed between the C group and the E groups (3.27% vs. 1.46%, 1.60%, and 1.56%) in breast meat samples, and a corresponding increase was noticed in saturated fatty acid (SFA) concentrations. Health indices with implications for atheroma and thrombus formation and cholesterol level were negatively affected by the presence of oxidized oil in the experimental diets, but the allicin extract supplement appeared to mitigate its influence. A positive influence of the dietary supplement was noticed on antioxidant capacity and polyphenol concentrations determined in breast and thigh samples under allicin supplement influence. The results of the current study revealed that the use of low oxidized oil in broilers diets did not affect productive performance. The nutritional quality of meat (breast and thigh) was negatively influenced by the presence of oxidized oil, but allicin supplements (extract or garlic leaves) improved lipid quality indices and antioxidant potential.

Comparative analysis of four hop cultivars grown in Brazil and the USA by GC-MS-based metabolomics

Why was the work done: Although the third largest beer producer in the world, Brazil currently imports the majority of its hops. A recent development is the cultivation of hops (Humulus lupulus L.) in Brazil. In addition to genetic factors, the chemical composition of hops can exhibit variations due to conditions of cultivation. Accordingly, it is of value to characterise and differentiate hop cultivars grown in Brazil with the same cultivars grown in a long established location such as the United States of America. How was the work done: Centennial, Chinook, Columbus, and Nugget cultivars grown in Brazil or in the USA were compared by metabolomic analyses of the chemical profiles using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Principal component analysis showed sample grouping according to where the hops were grown. Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis allowed the characterisation of the main metabolites that discriminated hop samples from the two countries. A total of 31 metabolites were putatively identified, including monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, oxygenated mono- and sesquiterpenes, esters, alcohols, and ketones. What are the main findings: There were clear metabolic differences between the same hop varieties grown in Brazil or the USA. The metabolites with the greatest discriminating power for Brazilian hops were trans-α-bergamotene, 2-decanone, and ι-gurjunene, while American hops presented β-copaene, humuladienone, and isopentyl isobutyrate. Notably, trans-α-bergamotene was present in Brazilian hops but absent from American hops. Why is the work important: This study sheds light on the differences in the chemical composition of hops cultivated in Brazil compared those cultivated in the USA. This knowledge may stimulate new producers and contribute to the development of hop cultivation in Brazil.

Surface instability driven by wetting-drying cycles hinders the colonization by biocrusts in Tabernas Desert

AbstractCatchment asymmetry in the Tabernas Desert suggests a relatively greater instability in the sunnier hillslope in a very early stage of catchment development due to abiotic factors, which would hinder the biocrust colonization. In the absence of erosion, such a difference in stability between opposite hillslopes could be due to differences in wetting-drying cycles. To verify this, as biocrust types assumed as successional stages are associated with different microhabitats, the surface movements of three types of physical crusts (Structural, Depositional and Island) and four biocrust types, representative of different stages of succession (Incipient, Cyanobacteria, Squamarina and Lepraria), were analyzed based on the distances calculated between markers placed on a grid on the soil surface. Two sample groups were analyzed: in situ samples, with four plots per crust type, and ex situ, with four unaltered samples per crust type extracted from the field site to control the effect of slope angle, orientation, trampling by animals, etc. Physical crusts showed greater surface instability compared to biocrusts, and this instability was influenced by the amount and frequency of precipitation. Biocrusts were more stable and elastic to surface movements, often recovering their initial position, and this stability increased throughout succession. Furthermore, the results showed that reducing instability (when sediment deposition ceases) favors colonization. Our results support the hypothesis that, in absence of erosive events, larger surface instability due to wetting-drying cycles hinders biocrust colonization on the relatively sunnier hillslopes with physical crusts; however, it is unknown where (or when) biocrust can develop.

Optimizing Group Size using Percentile Based Group Acceptance Sampling Plans with Application

The present paper focuses on optimizing the sample size and the acceptance number which are commonly known as design parameters for the group acceptance sampling plan (GASP). Design parameters are analyzed under the assumption that the characteristic of interest for the product follows Another Generalized Transmuted-Exponential (AGTransmuted-Exponential) distribution. Using different values of the quality levels (median lifetime), the values of the Operating Characteristic function is determined. The proposed plan satisfies two types of risks based on producer's point of view and consumer’s point of view at varied stipulated quality levels. Optimization of the sample size, group size and acceptance numbers is obtained through Monte Carlo simulation, for which relevant R codes were developed. Specific R codes are appended for future usage by academia and practitioners from various fields of life. The simulated results of the study are exhibited in the form of tables and explained with relevant examples. Results of the proposed GASP are compared with plan parameters obtained using MLE estimates of AGTransmuted-Exponential distribution and also by design parameters obtained using mean as quality level. Results of the study exhibited that Median as a quality parameter resulted in the decrease of group size and acceptance number simultaneously at all quality levels. Easy to follow the methodology of the current paper will open new vistas for applying the proposed GASP to a family of transmuted probability distributions. For illustration purposes, a real data set for fatigue fracture stress is analyzed using MLE estimates of AGTransmuted-Exponential distribution to demonstrate the implementation of the proposed sampling plan.

The Influence of New Media on Consumer Perception in China

This study aims to analyze the impact of new media on consumer perceptions. The sample group comprised 400 respondents from internet platforms in Shandong, China. At the statistical significance level of 0.05, descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation were employed to analyze data, as were inferential statistics such as Independent Samples t.test, One-way ANOVA, LSD, and Multiple Linear Regression. The study's results found that demographic factors such as gender, age, and occupation, in addition to "educational background, impact consumer perceptions. The emergence of new media, represented by Internet opinion leaders, Self-media, and Brand experience, influenced consumer perceptions.