Highest Positive Influence Research Articles

Entrepreneurial Intent is not Black or White: An Intersectional Perspective

Considerable research has explored various drivers of entrepreneurial intent (EI), including the effects of race or gender separately (e.g., Edelman, Brush, Manolova, & Greene, 2010). Our study builds on this previous work by considering the intersection between race and gender, a unique and needed broadening of perspective as race and gender do not exist in isolation from each other. Applying both role congruity and social identity theory, this study considers an individual’s EI through an intersectional lens. Using a sample of 562 student respondents from five universities across the U.S., an experiment examines entrepreneurial intent to participate in entrepreneurship programs after exposure to one of five website conditions intentionally varied in terms of racial and gendered language and imagery. Our findings reveal that intersectionality matters as students responded to the conditions significantly differently dependent upon the race-gender intersection. Overall, the highest positive influence in entrepreneurial intent across all students, regardless of race or gender, resulted from exposure to the racial-minority-female-centric website condition.

Factorial Design Analysis of the Metallic Yield of Silicomanganese Alloy from Rich Manganese Slag

Although the influence of many parameters on the metallic yield of reduction process of Silicomanganese alloy was intensively studied but the magnitude effect of each parameter and their mutual interactions on the metallic yield is still not clear. In the current work, a 23 factorial design was used to investigate the magnitude effect of Mn/Si ratio, charge basicity and coke ratio on the metallic yield of production silicomanganese alloy from manganese rich slag. Regression model was used to deduce a mathematical formulation to predict the effect of Mn/Si ratio (2 -3), charge basicity (1.3 – 2.5) and coke ratio (0.95 – 1.35).The results showed that charge basicity has the highest positive effect while the Mn/Si ratio has highest negative influence on the metallic yield. The interaction combination between Mn/Si ratio with coke ratio has high negative influence while the coke ratio and interaction combination between basicity and coke ratio showed relatively high positive influence on metallic yield. The interaction combination between Mn/Si ratio with basicity and /or coke ratio showed small positive effect on metallic yield. The results of the driven models were found to be in good agreement with the experimental data of reduction process of manganese rich slag. Matlab program was used in calculation and build up the regression model.

Epidemiological Philosophy of Pandemics

Objectives: Current estimates of the total number of cases of COVID-19 are largely based on previously determined case fatality rates (CFRs). In this study, we aim to find an association between the Covid-19 number of cases / million inhabitants (M) and mortality rate (MR), and the association of Covid MR -19 and CFR. The background theory in this study is based on two factors: (1) There is no evidence that the CFR is fixed throughout time or place during an epidemic and (2) there is evidence that an increased viral load (density of infection) leads to more fatalities.Study Design: We chose 31 countries with testing coverage levels of > 400,0000 tests /M and populations greater than 1 million inhabitants.Methods: We used ANOVA regression analyses to test the associations.Results: There was a very highly significant correlation between MR and the total number of cases/ million population inhabitants(M) (P-value 0.0000). The CRF changed with a change in the MR. A very high positive influence of the COVID-19 MR on the CFR (P-value = 0.0002).Conclusions: Increased number of cases per million inhabitants is associated with increased MR. Increased MR is associated with increased CFR .This finding might explain variable mortality rates that happened during this pandemic and possibly previous pandemics. This evidence will give us an idea of the behavior of epidemics in general.

Meta-Analisis: Pengaruh Media Virtual Laboratory dalam Pembelajaran Fisika Terhadap Kompetensi Siswa

In the 21st century the world entered the era of globalization as a result of the development of Science and Technology (Science and Technology). This is marked by competition in various fields of life. For this reason, it is demanded that everyone can master the science and technology and be able to adapt to their environment.. Learning physics in the 21st century is different from before. The 21st century, known as the technology age, requires teachers to have teaching skills, including utilizing technology in learning). Physics is one part of natural science that underlies the development of science and technology. Physics is the study of natural phenomena related to matter and energy. This study aims to analyze the effect of virtual laboratory media on student competencies in terms of education levels and physics learning materials. The research method is a meta-analysis with a sample of 17 articles in national journals and 3 articles in international journals. The instrument used in this study was the code sheet and the effect size calculation. Based on the results of the study it can be concluded that: 1) Virtual laboratory media provides a high positive influence on student competence (0.84), 2) the influence of virtual laboratory media on student competencies based on education levels is more effectively used at high school education levels and 3) the influence of media virtual laboratory on the competence of students based on physics learning material very high influence (1.17) on alternating current material.

Effects of information on social trust in farmers regarding animal welfare

Little consumer knowledge about agriculture and livestock production as well as mounting concerns about the consequences of modern animal husbandry are pivotal aspects of the growing gap between famers and society. Literature shows that trust can play an important role in situations characterized by limited knowledge. In this paper a salient value similarity approach to social trust is adopted where social trust is placed on people that are perceived to hold similar goals. Determinants of social trust in farmers are examined and the influence of messages about livestock production is analyzed. The study is based on data from an online survey among 1,600 German participants containing an information treatment. Results confirm literature in that positive information increases, while negative information decreases social trust. We show that salient value similarity between consumers and farmers has a high positive influence on social trust in farmers, and moderates the effects of the perceived sender of the message.

Field Evaluation of Some Varieties/Accessions of Maize for Their Performances in a Derived Savannah Belt of Nigeria

Vegetation growth is functionally dependent on climate. Though increased yields have been attained through plant breeding, yet it is well established that genetic factors alone cannot cause a plant character to develop to its maximum potential without a favorable environment. Plants can be made to adapt to conditions which deviate from their natural habitat through breeding and acclimatization. Three local, Oba super-2 hybrid and seventeen maize accessions/varieties newly developed by the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) Samaru Zaria, in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), for the northern guinea savanna belt, were evaluated for their relative yield performances in the derived savanna belt of Nigeria. The assessments were carried out at the Department of Crop Science teaching and research farm, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Parameters assessed include field germination percentage, days to first tassel appearance, days to fifty percent tassel appearance, days to fifty percent silking, percentage, double cob per stand, percentage triple cob per stand, plant height, days to maturity, percentage harvest index, cob weight, grain weight per ear e.tc. Correlation and path analysis were used to ascertain the degree of association of traits with yield. Biomass weight was observed to have the highest direct positive influence on yield. Therefore, varieties with high biomass weight (Sammaz-14, 17 and 18) consistently produced high yield. This results could be useful to breeders as they work to produce maize varieties that will perform better in the derived savanna zone of the country. That will make for increased availability and choice of planting materials for farmers and ultimately, increased productivity and sustainability of maize production in the derived Savanna Zones of Nigeria. Further screening of these accessions should also be encouraged in the zone until adaptation is established.

Genetic variability, heritability and character association among yield and yield attributing traits in oats (Avena sativa L)

Thirty eight of diverse genotypes oat (Avena sativa L.) were evaluated to examine the genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, correlation, path coefficient analysis and genetic divergence during rabi 2015-16. Observations were recorded for days to 50% flowering, plant height, number of leaves per plant, flag leaf area, number of tillers per plant, stem girth, number of green pods per spike, length of spike, leaf stem ratio, dry fodder yield and green fodder yield per plant. Analysis of variance revealed substantial amount of variability among the genotypes for all the characters under study, indicated wide spectrum of variability among the genotypes. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance were revealed number of leaves per plant, stem girth, number of green pods per spike, leaf stem ratio, dry fodder yield per plant and green fodder yield per plant, indicating the preponderance of additive gene effects for these traits and hence may prove useful for effective selection. Green fodder yield showed significant and strong positive correlation with plant height, flag leaf area, stem girth and dry fodder yield per plant at both genotypic and phenotypic level. Therefore, these characters are useful to the breeders in selecting suitable plant type. Path coefficient analysis exhibited high positive and direct influence of number of leaves per plant, dry fodder yield per plant, stem girth and flag leaf area towards green fodder yield. By improving number of leaves per plant, flag leaf area, stem girth and dry fodder yield per plant, the green fodder yield in oats might be improved. Those traits were influenced green fodder yield via other traits, should also be given importance while improving the green fodder yield in oats. The inter cluster distances were higher than intra cluster distances suggesting presence of high genetic diversity between lines of any two cluster than the lines present within the cluster. Cluster II is characterized by line having maximum number of prominent traits studied and contributed more towards divergence, so the direct selection for these would be helpful. The study provided the opportunity to identify genotypes to be used in future breeding programme.

4445 Using Exit Interviews as One Component of the KL2 Program Impact Analysis Method

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The Penn State KL2 Career Development Program provides a comprehensive structured training and mentorship to junior faculty scientists (KL2 scholars). The goal of this study is to describe the perceptions of scholars after completion of the training and determine self-perceived impact of the program using exit interviews as a unique method. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Ten KL2 scholars (5 from each cohort of 2014 and 2017) participated in the evaluation. We used a descriptive qualitative design supplemented with quantitative data, to conduct an individual in-depth exit interview with each scholar to understand their perceptions on the impact of the KL2 program. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview guide developed by the program directors including scholars and a Likert scale survey. Thematic analysis of the data involved: reading and re-reading transcripts, identifying and categorizing keywords and phrases and developing overall themes that explained the processes within categories. In establishing rigor, two authors carefully coded, categorized and identified patterns and emerged themes which were also reviewed and confirmed by the other authors. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Two sets of themes emerged. The main themes that described positive aspects of the KL2 program by scholars included: Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Mentoring, and Protected Time for Independent Research. Scholars also identified some contrary themes that included: Limited Access to Expenditures, Changes in Individual Mentorship Needs and Areas for Improvement. On a Likert scale (1- not at all, 10-extremely likely), scholars reported high positive influence of the KL2 program on their scope of research (8.7±0.52) and future career (8.5±0.70). They also found mentorship experience with primary mentor (9.6±0.22) and team (8.5±0.54) as well as peer collaboration (8.5±0.67) opportunities highly beneficial to their career and professional development. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: The qualitative study strengthens the reliability of data and scholar recommendations collected via other evaluation measures. Findings broaden understanding of the processes through which program outcomes are achieved effectively and where modifications are needed. An updated program for cohort 3 was guided by cohort 1 and 2 interview responses.

Modeling Road Accident Severity with Comparisons of Logistic Regression, Decision Tree and Random Forest

To reduce the damage caused by road accidents, researchers have applied different techniques to explore correlated factors and develop efficient prediction models. The main purpose of this study is to use one statistical and two nonparametric data mining techniques, namely, logistic regression (LR), classification and regression tree (CART), and random forest (RF), to compare their prediction capability, identify the significant variables (identified by LR) and important variables (identified by CART or RF) that are strongly correlated with road accident severity, and distinguish the variables that have significant positive influence on prediction performance. In this study, three prediction performance evaluation measures, accuracy, sensitivity and specificity, are used to find the best integrated method which consists of the most effective prediction model and the input variables that have higher positive influence on accuracy, sensitivity and specificity.

Tourists\u2019 use of Airbnb app for visiting a historical city

Airbnb is a home-sharing mobile platform that enables tourists and local hosts to connect. Airbnb mobile app allows hosts to list down the space available for rent and allow tourists to look for accommodations that are often more localized. Historical cities are often engaging tourists using traditional hotel reservation methods such as phone reservations or booking by travel agents, however, given digital disruption more local businesses are adopting technology in their business. This motivated the current study to assess the rate of peer-to-peer technology pervasiveness in historical city tourism, particularly for hotel booking using Airbnb app. This research investigates the factors that predict tourists’ behavioural intention to use Airbnb app when they travel to the historical city of Malacca in Malaysia by adopting the Extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) model and by critically evaluating the exhaustiveness of the theory to measure tourists’ use of a mobile app. Partial Least Square analysis was used to test the research model, construct path model and to validate research hypotheses. The results from a sample of 200 tourists who visited and stayed in Malacca show that price value and social influence have high significant positive influence on their behavioural intention to use Airbnb app when booking accommodation in the historical city. In contrast, hedonic motivation and habit were found not significant, potentially due to the short-term and occasion-specific usage of Airbnb app not forming enjoyment in the process of usage, which raises concerns on applicability and relevance of UTAUT2 theory to measure user adoption of a mobile app for tourism. A peculiar finding in the study is the significant negative influence of facilitating condition to behavioural intention, for which we explain a plausible cause in the paper.

Performance Feedback and Monitoring Notebook (PF&MN): Influence on Performance, Students’ Views and Achievement in Physics

This study determined the influence of Performance Feedback and Monitoring Notebook (PF&MN) on the seven areas of performance, the views of two classes of Bachelor of Graphics Technology major in Architecture Technology (BGT-AT) composed of 59 students is in this feedback mechanism on assessments (formative and summative), and their achievement in Physics. The PF&MN is an assessment portfolio, containing necessary information of the students, a summary of the students’ accomplishments, answer sheets for written assessments, and feedbacks for each assessment. The notebook was used for the assessments and served as the record of the scores obtained in each test. Surveys before taking the post achievement test obtained the views of the students on the use of the notebook, and its influence on performances. Results showed that the notebook has a high positive influence in the area of “assessment of learning” and moderate positive influence on the other six areas of performance considered in this study. The notebook monitored performance, profoundly reflected the performance, and encouraged students to perform better in Physics. There was a significant change in the achievement of the students in this study, which may be due to the influence of the notebook on performance in Physics; thus, using the PF&MN continuously in Physics and other subjects is highly recommended.

Influence of sociodemographic factors on eating motivations – modelling through artificial neural networks (ANN)

This study aimed at investigating the influence of some sociodemographic factors on the eating motivations. A longitudinal study was carried conducted with 11960 participants from 16 countries. Data analysis included t-test for independent samples or ANOVA, and neural network models were also created, to relate the input and output variables. Results showed that factors like age, marital status, country, living environment, level of education or professional area significantly influenced all of the studied types of eating motivations. Neural networks modelling indicated variability in the food choices, but identifying some trends, for example the strongest positive factor determining health motivations was age, while for emotional motivations was living environment, and for economic and availability motivations was gender. On the other hand, country revealed a high positive influence for the social and cultural as well as for environmental and political and also for marketing and commercial motivations.

Influence of Organizational Culture on Teachers' Organizational Commitment and Job Satisfaction: The Case of Catholic Higher Education Institutions in the Philippines

This article examines the influence of organizational culture on the organizational commitment and job satisfaction of teachers in the context of Catholic higher education institutions in the Philippines. Results show that clan is the most dominant culture type of Catholic HEIs in the Philippines. In addition, teachers are highly committed to their organization and satisfied to their job. Furthermore, among the four culture types, clan has a high positive influence on the organizational commitment of teachers and has a slightly positive influence on their job satisfaction. Implications and directions for future research are also discussed.

Factors Influencing the Choice of Product Promotion Strategies on Facebook: An Empirical Evidence of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Tanzania

The study focuses on examining factors which influence the selection of promotion strategies on Facebook among small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) in Tanzania. The paper asses the influence of promotion objective, content and Facebook user on the selection of promotion strategies on Facebook. Also, it examines the influence of promotion strategies on Facebook. Since many past studies focus on consumer perspective, this study based on SMEs perspective which makes it the only one in Tanzania context as per researcher’s knowledge. The primary data of the study were collected through self-monitored questionnaire from 259 respondents among 24 SMEs in urban Tanzania mainland. The secondary data were obtained from literature such as journals, books and websites. Interview and observation were used to enrich data collection. The study data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22 and SmartPLS 3.0. The structure equation modeling (SEM) used to find the relationships between the study constructs. The study results show that content, Facebook users, and promotion objectives have high positive significant influence on promotion strategies while content shows high significant positive influence on Facebook users. Moreover, promotion strategies found to have high positive significant influence on the selection of Facebook as a social network to carry out product promotion campaign. All study hypotheses supported. The study recommends proper selection of promotion strategies by considering the determinants factors discussed in the study for successful product promotion on Facebook. Also future research direction was recommended. Keywords: Content, promotion objectives, promotion strategies, Facebook users, Facebook DOI : 10.7176/EJBM/11-30-03 Publication date :October 31 st 2019

A Spatial Econometric Analysis of Health in Romania Augmented with Computer Vision

Abstract The purpose of this study is to analyze the health status in Romania at regional NUTS3 level together with its influential socio-economic factors. Apart from statistical and classical econometrics which are being used in most studies, a spatial analysis has been conducted in order to determine possible similarities and dissimilarities among regions, accounting for the fact that events taking place in a specific area are interrelated with the events in the neighboring regions. The negative distribution of the dependent variable, life expectancy, involves the use of Quantile Spatial Autoregressive Model which also allows to observe the socio-economic and environmental factor influences in different parts of health status proxy distribution. The analysis has led to the conclusion that greater the gaps between rich and poor, or greater the difference between less versus better educated, the greater the differences in health status and life expectancy are. Hence a need for policies designed to reduce territorial health disparities has been identified across Romania’s counties. Moreover, Computer Vision and Deep Learning techniques have been used in order to showcase data collection for urban green spaces variables given that more than half of the globe population is living in urban areas and urban greenery has a high positive influence on health. Using Deep Learning on this particular matter together with the Quantile Spatial Autoregressive Model is an innovative approach that has the main aim of improving the classical econometric modelling.

Chinese university patenting, patent commercialization and economic growth: A provincial-level analysis

Though many of previous studies argue the connection or the relationship between economic growth and patents, however, the extant findings are still limited. This paper aims to investigate the mutual impact between Chinese university patenting (CUP) and Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) by selecting the indicators of correlation coefficient. The provincial-level distribution both for Chinese university granted invention patents (CUGIPs) and commercialized patents of CU-GIPs, as well as patent value for each prolific province, are analyzed and compared. Results show that GRDP has very high positive influence on CUP; on the contrary, this influence is not so high though it is positive. The features of highly centralized and very uneven distribution of CUGIPs and commercialized patents of CUGIPs are also disclosed. As far as patent value concerned, the mean values of Beijing and several southern provinces tend to be much higher than those of northern provinces. The analyses carried out in this paper allow several potential applications and extensions in the field of university patenting, patent commercialization and economic growth.

Structural performance of hybrid stainless steel plate girders under shear

This paper investigates the shear behaviour of Hybrid stainless steels (HSS) plate girders using the commercial FE software, Abaqus. Two types of stainless steel grades were adopted viz., Lean duplex stainless steel (LDSS) for web and Duplex stainless steel (DSS) for flanges. The FE results are presented in the form of shear capacity (Vu) and failure modes. Based on the study, it has been observed that web thickness (tw) has higher positive influence on the shear capacity as compared to flange thickness (tf). On the other hand, relative improvement in ductility could be seen when flange thickness is increased, in contrast to increase in web thickness (tw). In general, three failure modes were observed in HSS plate girders viz., shear dominant failure mode, bending dominant failure mode and combined shear and bending dominant failure mode. Based on the present results, modified Eurocode and Direct strength method (DSM) design formulations have been proposed.

An Empirical Study of Factors Influencing hotel customers' online booking Intention

Given the increasing amount of people who book hotels online, it is important for those in the industry to know which factors influence hotel customers’ online booking intention. Consequently, the aim of this study is to investigate the factors that influence the customer’s intention to book a hotel online, these factors are: ease of use, social influence, perceived risk, and positive eWOM. A self- administered questionnaire was used to gather data and measure respondents’ perceptions, and a total of 214 students at University Utara Malaysia completed the survey. This study used a multiple regression analysis to test the hypotheses. The results showed that social influence has a high positive significant influence on customer's intention to book a hotel online, followed by ease of use and positive eWOM. It was also found that perceived risk has a negative significant influence on the intention to book a hotel online. Based on the results, implications are presented for practitioners.

Positive and negative experiences related to doctoral study conditions

ABSTRACT During their doctoral studies, students undergo an emotionally and intellectually intensive process involving a wide range of positive and negative experiences. This article analyses PhD students’ perceptions of the most positive and negative experiences related to doctoral study conditions. Previous researchers have primarily focused on analysing experiences that negatively affect doctoral work and have related these experiences to institutional, social and individual variables. However, little is known regarding positive experiences and how both positive and negative experiences are interpreted and related to variables connected with doctoral study, such as discipline, funding, enrolment type, and the stage of the doctoral process. In total, 1173 doctoral students from 56 Spanish universities completed an open-ended online survey. The findings indicate that opportunities for PhD students to communicate their scientific advances, receive expert feedback and interact with other researchers have a high positive influence on their doctoral journey. However, funding difficulties, particularly for students in the social sciences, and relationships with the research community, principally with the supervisor, were perceived as the main negative challenges. Experiences related to research design, data collection and analysis were perceived either negatively – primarily for mid-level students – or positively. These results should be considered in future doctoral programme policies to determine when, how and why to provide specific support during the doctoral process.

Mergers and executive compensation changes: Evidence from African markets

This study examines the impact of mergers and acquisition deals on various executive pay schemes and factors that drive these pay rise in Africa from 2002 to 2016. We find that executives of African acquiring firms are rewarded significantly for carrying out successful M&A deals in the year of merger. Besides, pay rise is strongly impacted by the size of the deal across all various forms of executive pay. We also find that pay increases are high for executives who acquire private targets but no evidence was found to support the impact of domestic acquisitions. South African executives are rewarded more based on the market perception of the deal quality. Increase in compensation is not affected by industry classification, diversification and international operation, cross-listing and mode of payment, although there is evidence of the influence of equity mode of payment for the South African market. Further, we distinctively examine the impact of corporate governance factors on pay rise and observe that firms with larger outside board of directors’ representation negatively determine executive total pay and there is no evidence that CEO’s age and gender influence executive pay. However, the experience of the CEO has a very high positive influence on the level of compensation for only South African firms.