Partial Least Squares Path Modeling Research Articles

Long-term moderate fertilization increases the complexity of soil microbial community and promotes regulation of phosphorus cycling genes to improve the availability of phosphorus in acid soil

Microbial community and functional genes associated with phosphorus (P) cycling are intrinsic to soil P transformation. Yet, how the P fertilization rates affect the interactions of the microbial community and functional genes of P profiles is urgently needed to improve fertilizer P utilization efficiency. To address this, we conducted a long-term field experiment on purple acid soil in southwestern China using five mineral P fertilization rates. We analyzed the amplicon and metagenomic sequencing data to investigate the impact of P application rates on the bacterial and fungal communities as well as P cycling genes. Our results indicate that the community structure of both microbes and functional genes was significantly affected by P fertilization. Compared to other P levels, P application at 33 kg P ha−1 significantly increased the average degree and cohesion in the bacteria-fungi network, while the interactions between P cycling genes and microbes were also complex. Meanwhile, P application up to 16 kg P ha−1 increased the abundance of dominant functional genes (gcd and phoD), which were negatively correlated with Po and Pi. Nocardioides, Candidatus Solibacter, and Gaiella were the dominant taxon that induced the P cycling. The partial least squares path model (PLS-PM) revealed that SOM and pH were the main factors influencing AP by affecting the diversity and cohesion of the bacteria-fungi community, as well as gene abundance of P cycling genes under long-term gradient P fertilization. Overall, these results highlight the potential of moderate P fertilization to promote the stability of the microbiology and P transformation in acid soil.

Cultivation increased soil potential denitrification rates by modifying denitrifier communities in desert‐oasis ecotone

AbstractOases soils in northwestern China are used widely for agricultural production, but low soil moisture and fertility necessitate high volumes of irrigation and fertilization, with significant losses of water via evaporation and nitrogen via denitrification. The dynamics of denitrifying communities and their responses to potential denitrification rate (PDR) in continuously irrigated oases remain unclear. In this study, we examined the dynamics of nirK and nirS denitrifying communities in three distinct areas, an old oasis field (OOF, 54 years of cultivation), a young oasis field (YOF, 20 years) and an adjacent uncultivated sandy land (USL, 0 years), and used the partial least squares path model (PLS‐PM) to predict how and to what extent soil properties and denitrifying communities may be responsible for changes in PDR. Our findings indicate that cultivation, compared with the USL treatment, improved soil structure and fertility and increased the abundance and diversity of denitrifying microbes, resulting in a further elevation of soil PDR in YOF and OOF. Additionally, our analysis highlights the potential dominance of the nirK gene in denitrification. PLS‐PM revealed that soil chemical properties and microbial biomass indirectly affected soil PDR by regulating the abundance and diversity of nirK and nirS genes. Conversely, soil physical properties had a direct negative impact on PDR. Alterations in PDR were, in part, attributed to changes in abundance, richness and beta‐diversity, but not correlated with changes in alpha‐diversity. Notably, the standardized total effect demonstrated that the denitrifier community exhibited greater responsiveness to changes in PDR than did soil properties. Overall, our findings suggest that denitrifying communities may play a more important role than soil properties in PDR, and an increased understanding of denitrifying communities allows PDR prediction during conversion of oasis to cultivated land.

The Effect Of Economic Value Added (Eva), Market Value Added (MVA), Refined Economic Value Added (REVA) On Stock Prices And Stock Returns In Manufacturing Companies Listed In Indonesia Stock Exchange

The development of stock returns of manufacturing companies shows fluctuating movements from year to year. Return movements like this indicate that the condition of the manufacturing company is unstable so that it has an impact on the resulting stock returns. This uncertainty will certainly create its own concerns for investors who will invest in shares in manufacturing companies. With this, it is important for investors to analyze the company's condition first so that the investment made can provide returns. One aspect of the company that can be assessed by investors is the company's performance through financial statements. Helfert (2012: 98) grouped company performance measurements into three groups, namely (1) Earning Measures, (2) Cash Flow Measures, (3) Value Measures. Performance measurement based on value measures is economic value added (EVA), market value added (MVA), and refined economic value (REVA) This performance measurement holds the view that increasing value means also increasing long-term shareholder investment returns. Steward (2013: 115) states that value measures are considered to have capabilities that exceed Another performance measurement, because it takes into account all factors related to the creation (value) of the company that have an impact on the increasing prosperity of shareholders. The purpose of this study is to test EVA, MVA, and REVA against stock prices and stock returns. In this study using a research sample of 104 manufacturing companies taken through random sampling in the period 2014-2016. Data analysis and hypothesis testing in this study used the Partial Least Square Path Modeling (PLS-SEM) method. The results of this study show that EVA, MVA, and REVA have a significant positive relationship with stock price and stock return . By looking at the results of this study, it shows that performance appraisal using the EVA, MVA, and REVA methods has a strong influence on stock prices and stock returns . This shows that value-based valuation is important because every investment cannot escape the consequences of the incurring cost of capital as compensation for the funds used to finance the investment. The return on an investment will only mean that if the amount of return exceeds the cost of capital incurred to realize the investment, measurement certainly requires an accurate valuation method.

Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine intention in a University population: a serial mediation approach

Abstract Background While many studies have used the Health Belief Model (HBM) to understand vaccination intention, few have explored the relationships between the HBM constructs. The aim of this study is to develop a serial mediation model dealing with latent variables to assess direct and indirect effects of the six HBM constructs (perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, self-efficacy and cue to action) on COVID-19 vaccine intention. Methods From April to June 2021, a questionnaire on vaccine intention against COVID-19 was administered to staff and students at the University of Liège (Belgium). To evaluate direct and indirect effects of the HBM constructs on vaccine intention (score 0-100), serial mediation models for each latent variable permutation were assessed with Partial Least Squares Path Modeling (PLS-PM). Bayesian information criterion (BIC) was used to compare models. Internal consistency reliability and discriminant validity were evaluated. Sociodemographic variables, health literacy, psychological profile, body mass index, chronic disease and previous COVID-19 infection were included in the models as covariates. Results The sample consisted of 1256 participants. After running all permutation chains, the final causal chain, with the lowest BIC value, was barriers (-0.09 (-0.15 - -0.03))* - severity (-0.13 (-0.20 - -0.07))* - low self-efficacy (0.20 (0.15 - 0.25))* - low susceptibility (-0.55 (-0.60 - -0.51))* - vaccine intention (outcome). This highlighted a significant indirect and direct effect (-0.20 (-0.25 - -0.15))* between barriers and vaccine intention. Constructs benefits and cue to action were removed due to no significant path and weak reliability. Non-significant confounding factors were also removed. *estimate Conclusions The results showed that perceived barriers are a key determinant of COVID-19 vaccine resistance. Public health actors should communicate messages to remove barriers that reduce vaccine intention primarily. Key messages • Serial mediations allow a better understanding of how a vaccination intention works. • Public health communications should primarily focus on messages to remove barriers to get vaccinated.

Enhanced humus synthesis from Chinese medicine residues composting by lignocellulose-degrading bacteria stimulation: Upregulation of key enzyme activity and neglected indirect effects on humus formation

Chinese medicine residues (CMHRs) resource is attracting widespread attention, as it is expected to be produced into Humus-rich fertilizer for soil application. This study aimed to promote effective humus (HS) production through lignocellulose-degrading bacteria (LDB) addition and explore the biological regulation mechanism of LDB affecting lignocellulose-to-humus conversion. The results showed higher HS production was achieved, with 109.73 and 111.44 g·kg−1, and HA/FA was raised by 12.70–16.02 % in compost products by LDB addition stimulation. Significant upregulation of β-glucanase and xylanase activities catalyzed higher decomposition of lignocellulose toward more HS potential precursors supply. Furthermore, exogenous LDB intervention induced microbial community restructure and microbial network establishment via enriching synergism functional bacteria, i.e., Thermobifida, Paenibacillus, Nonomuraea, etc. Mantel test results showed that it was variation of cellulose, hemicellulose and HS that affected microbial community succession (p < 0.01, r > 0.6), which represented the positive action of LDB addition stimulation on HS synthesis upregulation. Further exploration suggested LDB had an indirect effect on HS formation by enhanced lignin and hemicellulose conversion based on the Random Forest model and Partial least-squares path modeling results. This research provides new insights into the trigger effects of LDB introduction on upregulating HS synthesis and is expected to propose new perspectives for HS efficient production in CMHRs composting.

Modified glucose addition with microalgae can create a healthy and stable rearing microenvironment for Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

Carbon source addition is an effective microbial management strategy for healthy shrimp growth, but bottleneck problems have emerged in production applications. Beneficial microalgae with functions of capturing carbon dioxide, generating oxygen, absorbing phosphate and recruiting specific bacteria could theoretically modify carbon source addition. However, the implementation effectiveness and underlying microecological mechanism of the combined addition of carbon sources and microalgae remain unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of modified glucose addition with the microalga Nannochloropsis oculata on water quality, shrimp health and rearing water bacterial community. Although purification of the water environment was not achieved, the combined addition of glucose and microalgae significantly improved the shrimp survival rate and immune responses and altered the rearing water bacterial community structure. Network topology analysis indicated that the combined addition limited positive interactions and increased the modularity of the network, which enhanced the bacterial community stability. Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) analysis showed that the bacterial community structure indirectly affected the survival rate of shrimp through bacterial network topological features. Furthermore, comparison of the biomarkers identified by shrimp survival rate-discriminatory importance and the bacterial taxa in the co-occurrence network module related to shrimp survival rate revealed that Rhodobacteraceae taxa recruited by the combined addition of glucose and microalgae might play important roles in maintaining healthy status of shrimp. These results provide a basis for developing novel microbial management strategies for sustainable aquaculture.

Drip irrigation shapes the soil bacterial communities and enhances jujube yield by regulating the soil moisture content and nutrient levels

In the agricultural zones of the arid Xinjiang region of China, reducing irrigation is mandatory. However, irrigation affects the composition and diversity of the soil bacterial community which is vital to crop yield. To the best of our knowledge, very little research has been conducted on the relationships among the soil bacterial community, irrigation method, and yield as well as their underlying in jujube agroecosystems. Here, we investigated the soil physicochemistry and bacterial communities in jujube fields subjected to drip irrigation (DI) and traditional flood irrigation (FI), and their associations with yield at the flowering and fruit set (FFS) and end-of-growth (EG) stages. Under DI, the jujube yield was 8712.00 ± 24.54 kg/hm2, which was 7.64% higher than that obtained under FI (8094.33 ± 43.67 kg/hm2). DI increased the relative soil bacteria community diversity by decreasing the moisture content and increasing the nutrient levels in the soil. DI also transformed the soil bacterial community so that Bacteroidota predominated at the FFS stage and the probiotics Chloroflexi and Firmicutes predominated at the EG stage. A co-occurrence network analysis showed that DI created stable complex Soil bacteria communities in jujube fields, Though Dependentiae and Deferriberota had low relative abundance, they were nonetheless key nodes in the soil bacterial community network. A neutral community model (NCM) revealed that stochastic processes drove the soil bacterial community assembly whereas DI promoted deterministic processes by regulating the soil moisture content and nutrient levels. Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) disclosed that DI affected the soil bacterial community structure by decreasing the moisture content (−0.342 **) and increasing the nutrient levels (0.557 **) in the soil. The PLS-PM also demonstrated that the observed change in the soil bacterial community structure was the main reason for the increase in jujube yield (1.098 **). The present work provides insights into the mechanisms underlying the correlations between the soil bacterial community and crop yield in response to changes in the irrigation method.

Cropping rotation improved the bacterial diversity and N-cycling genes in tobacco fields through a 19-year long-term experiment

Soil microorganisms play crucial roles in various processes within the soil ecosystem, such as nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and maintenance of soil structure. However, their responses to fertilization and different cropping systems in tobacco soils remain poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a 19-year-long field experiment on rice-tobacco rotation cropping (R) and continuous tobacco cropping (C), with three fertilization treatments: no fertilizer (NF), chemical NPK fertilizer (NPK), and composted pig manure (OM). The composition, co-occurrence patterns, N-cycling genes (nifH, AOA-amoA, AOB-amoA, nirS, nirK, and nosZ) of the bacterial communities as well as the soil properties were analyzed in the soils after tobacco was harvested. The pH and available potassium (AK) in the rotation cropping soil were significantly lower than those in continuous cropping soil, while the α-diversity index, and the abundance of nifH, nirS, nirK, and nosZ genes were opposite. The phyla Chloroflexi, Desulfobacterota, MBNT15, and Nitrospinota, as well as number of low-abundance genera, were significantly enriched in rice-tobacco rotation cropping. Partial least squares path model (PLSPM) indicated that cropping systems had a greater influence on the variations in bacterial communities compared to fertilization practices. These findings enhance our understanding of the significance of land management and fertilization in shaping the soil bacteria of tobacco. The rice-tobacco rotation cropping system demonstrated greater benefits to soil microorganisms and N-cycling genes compared to continuous cropping system.

Dynamic fluctuations in plant leaf interception of airborne microplastics

Plant leaves have been demonstrated to be a crucial sink of airborne microplastics (MPs). However, because of the particular shape of MPs and their relatively weak forces with leaves, the traditional accumulation model used for the adsorption of particulate matter and persistent organic pollutants may not be appropriate for describing the interception of MPs by leaves. Here, we performed a 7-day exploration of the interception of MPs by leaves in downtown Nanning. The abundances and characteristics of leaf-intercepted MPs showed dramatic diurnal fluctuations and interspecies differences (conifers > arbors > shrubs). The fluctuation (Coefficient of Variation (CV) = 0.459; abundances 0.003 ± 0.002 to 0.047 ± 0.005 n·cm−2) was even more drastic than that measured across species (CV = 0.353; 0.06 ± 0.01 to 0.40 ± 0.04 n·cm−2). Further analysis using partial least-squares path modeling demonstrated that stomatal variation and divergence largely dominated diurnal fluctuations and interspecies differences in microplastic interception by leaves, respectively. Our results highlight that the leaf-intercepted MPs is characterized by dynamic fluctuations rather than static equilibrium and reveal the important regulatory roles played by leaf micromorphological structures in intercepting MPs, thus enhancing our understanding of the interactions between terrestrial plants and airborne pollution.

Aeration intensity drives dissolved organic matter transformation and humification during composting by regulating the organics metabolic functions of microbiome

Oxygen levels are critical for composting success and improving humification. Whereas aeration intensity driving the structural heterogeneity and formation mechanism of humus in the dissolved organic matter (DOM) transformation process during kitchen waste with hydrothermal pretreatment composting remains unclear. In this study, the potential mechanisms of aeration intensity on humification were explored by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy combined with functional microbial prediction analysis. The results showed that moderate aeration intensity (AR0.05, 0.05 L min−1 kg−1 DM) achieved a highly matured fertilizer with a humification index of 0.83 and a humic acid / fulvic acid (HA/FA) of 1.99. Partial least-squares path model demonstrated that environmental factors and humus-like substances were the two most critical factors to improve humification levels. According to the heterogeneous-2DCOS analysis, the biopolymers in DOM were preferentially decomposed into low molecular weight HA precursors through a series of biochemical reaction processes, and then formed the carbon skeleton of HA through condensation reactions, and finally polymerized into complex macromolecular HA. Bugbase analysis showed that AR0.05 treatment reduced 58.52 % of potentially pathogenic bacteria in the thermophilic phase. Moreover, functional bacterial communities in composting systems with AR0.05 were more favorable to drive the organic matter decomposition and HA formation. The mantel test revealed temperature and pH were key drivers in the composition of phenotypic and functional bacterial communities. This study provided unique insights into a deeper understanding of the aeration intensity on the humification pathways of kitchen waste composting.

Unraveling the rate-limiting step in microorganisms' mediation of denitrification and phosphorus absorption/transport processes in a highly regulated river-lake system.

River-lake ecosystems are indispensable hubs for water transfers and flow regulation engineering, which have frequent and complex artificial hydrological regulation processes, and the water quality is often unstable. Microorganisms usually affect these systems by driving the nutrient cycling process. Thus, understanding the key biochemical rate-limiting steps under highly regulated conditions was critical for the water quality stability of river-lake ecosystems. This study investigated how the key microorganisms and genes involving nitrogen and phosphorus cycling contributed to the stability of water by combining 16S rRNA and metagenomic sequencing using the Dongping river-lake system as the case study. The results showed that nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were significantly lower in lake zones than in river inflow and outflow zones (p < 0.05). Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Microbacterium were the key microorganisms associated with nitrate and phosphate removal. These microorganisms contributed to key genes that promote denitrification (nirB/narG/narH/nasA) and phosphorus absorption and transport (pstA/pstB/pstC/pstS). Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) revealed that environmental factors (especially flow velocity and COD concentration) have a significant negative effect on the key microbial abundance (p < 0.001). Our study provides theoretical support for the effective management and protection of water transfer and the regulation function of the river-lake system.

Business model innovation: harnessing big data analytics and digital transformation in hostile environments

PurposeThe literature mainly concentrates on the relationships between externally oriented digital transformation (ExtDT), big data analytics capability (BDAC) and business model innovation (BMI) from an intra-organizational perspective. However, it is acknowledged that the external environment shapes the firm's strategy and affects innovation outcomes. Embracing an external environment perspective, the authors aim to fill this gap. The authors develop and test a moderated mediation model linking ExtDT to BMI. Drawing on the dynamic capabilities view, the authors' model posits that the effect of ExtDT on BMI is mediated by BDAC, while environmental hostility (EH) moderates these relationships.Design/methodology/approachThe authors adopt a quantitative approach based on bootstrapped partial least square-path modeling (PLS-PM) to analyze a sample of 200 Italian data-driven SMEs.FindingsThe results highlight that ExtDT and BDAC positively affect BMI. The findings also indicate that ExtDT is an antecedent of BMI that is less disruptive than BDAC. The authors also obtain that ExtDT solely does not lead to BDAC. Interestingly, the effect of BDAC on BMI increases when EH moderates the relationship.Originality/valueAnalyzing the relationships between ExtDT, BDAC and BMI from an external environment perspective is an underexplored area of research. The authors contribute to this topic by evaluating how EH interacts with ExtDT and BDAC toward BMI.

Transformation of Biofilm to Carbon Sinks after Prolonged Droughts Linked with Algal Biodiversity Change.

Global climate change significantly increased the duration of droughts in intermittent rivers, impacting benthic microbial-mediated biogeochemical processes. However, the impact of prolonged droughts on the carbon contribution of intermittent rivers remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the potential effects of varying drought gradients (ranging from 20 to 130 days) on benthic biofilms community structure (algae, bacteria, and fungi) and their carbon metabolism functions (ecosystem metabolism and carbon dioxide (CO2) emission fluxes) using mesocosm experiments. Our findings indicate that longer drought durations lead to reduced alpha diversity and community heterogeneity, tighter interdomain networks, and an increased role of stochastic processes in community assembly, with a discernible threshold at around 60 days. Concurrently, the biofilm transforms into a carbon sink following a drought period of 60 days, as evidenced by the transformation of CO2 emission fluxes from 633.25 ± 194.69 to -349.61 ± 277.79 mg m-2 h-1. Additionally, the partial least-squares path model revealed that the resilience of algal communities and network stability may drive biofilm's transformation into a carbon sink, primarily through the heightened resilience of autotrophic metabolism. This study underscores the significance of the carbon contribution from intermittent rivers, as the shift in carbon metabolism functions with increasing droughts could lead to skewed estimations of current riverine carbon fluxes.

Direct and Indirect Effects of Land Use on Dissolved Organic Matter in a Typical Karst River

Land use can directly affect the abundance of riverine dissolved organic matter (DOM) by transporting terrestrial organic matter to rivers and can also indirectly enhance local production of DOM by increasing riverine nutrient loading. This study investigated the characteristics and spatial distribution of DOM components in the Furong River during the rainy season (July) using ultraviolet-visible light absorption spectroscopy (UV-VIS) and three-dimensional excitation emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy-parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC) techniques. Furthermore, correlation analysis and the partial least squares path model (PLS-PM) were used to identify and quantify the direct and indirect impacts of land use on DOM at multiple scales. The results revealed that:① the direct effects of land use on DOM were generally stronger than the indirect effects. ② The responses of different DOM components to riverine nutrient status and land use varied, with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) components being more susceptible to riverine nutrient status and fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) being more sensitive to land use. ③ The direct impact intensity of land use on DOC and CDOM fluctuated slightly with the spatial scale, but the total impact intensity had no visible spatial scale difference, and the direct impact intensity on the FDOM component decreased with the increase in spatial scale. ④ Dryland, urban and other construction land, patch density (PD), edge density (ED), and Shannon's diversity index (SHDI) were typical land use metrics that exacerbated DOM abundance, whereas paddy field, shrubland, largest patch index (LPI), and aggregation index (AI) were typical land use metrics that effectively mitigated DOM abundance. Total nitrogen (TN), nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N), and dissolved total phosphorus (DTP) were water quality parameters that were significantly affected by land use and were closely related to DOM components, that is, nitrogen and phosphorus played an important "intermediary" role in "land use-riverine DOM." FDOM could be used as indicators to measure the strength of terrestrial organic matter directly input to rivers by land use.

Different fates of extracellular and intracellular antibiotic resistance genes in flocs, granular and biofilm nitrification systems under the stress of acetaminophen

The spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), including intracellular ARGs (i-ARGs) and extracellular ARGs (e-ARGs), has become a global problem that cannot be ignored. This study clarified the fates of e-ARGs and i-ARGs in floc sludge reactor (FS), granular sludge reactor (GS) and biofilm reactor (BF) under the stress of acetaminophen (APAP). The results showed that the risk of ARGs transmission, especially for e-ARGs, in FS and BF could increase with the increasing times of APAP treatment, except for that in GS. The fates of i-ARGs in three different systems were similar, which were mainly clustered as the efflux pumps mechanism. The secretion and disintegration of extracellular polymeric substances mainly affected the fates of e-ARGs. In the three systems, the complexity of network relationships between ARGs and microbial communities was FS, GS and BF. Partial least-squares path model analysis indicated that bacterial community directly contributed to the variations of e-ARGs and i-ARGs under APAP treatment in the three systems, playing a leading role. And i-ARGs and protein secondary structure showed direct effects on e-ARGs. This study indicated that e-ARGs in complex systems were more susceptible to be influenced, which should be paid more attention to prevent further propagation of ARGs.

Application of organic manure as a potential strategy to alleviate the limitation of microbial resources in soybean rhizospheric and bulk soils

The development and vigor of soil microorganisms in terrestrial ecosystems are frequently constrained by the limited availability of essential elements such as carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P). In this study, we investigated the impact of long-term application of varying levels of organic manure, low (7.5 Mg ha−1 yr−1), moderate (15.0 Mg ha−1 yr−1), and high (22.5 Mg ha−1 yr−1), on the stoichiometry of enzymes and the structures of the microbial communities in soybean rhizospheric and bulk soils. The main goal of this research was to examine how soil microbial resource limitations in the rhizosphere respond to different long-term fertilization strategies. The soil enzymatic activities were quantified, and the structure of the microbial community was assessed by analyzing phospholipid fatty acid profiles. When compared to the bulk soil, the rhizospheric soil had significant increases in microbial biomass carbon (MBC), nitrogen (MBN), and phosphorus (MBP), with MBC increasing by 54.19 to 72.86%, MBN by 47.30 to 48.17%, and MBP by 17.37 to 208.47%. Compared with the unfertilized control (CK), the total microbial biomasses of the rhizospheric (increased by 22.80 to 90.82%) and bulk soils (increased by 10.57 to 60.54%) both exhibited increases with the application of organic manure, and the rhizospheric biomass was higher than that of bulk soil. Compared with bulk soil, the activities of C-, N- and P-acquiring enzymes of rhizospheric soil increased by 22.49, 14.88, and 29.45% under high levels of organic manure, respectively. Analyses of vector length, vector angle, and scatter plots revealed that both rhizospheric and bulk soils exhibited limitations in terms of both carbon (C) and phosphorus (P) availability. The results of partial least-squares path modelling indicated that the rhizospheric soil exhibited a more pronounced response to the rate of manure application than the bulk soil. The varying reactions of rhizospheric and bulk soils to the extended application of organic manure underscore the crucial function of the rhizosphere in mitigating limitations related to microbial resources, particularly in the context of different organic manure application rates.

Operationalizing Customer-perceived Value as an Emergent Variable: Empirical Evidence from Mobile Food Ordering and Delivery Applications

Customer-perceived value (CPV) has been a focal point in marketing literature, typically modelled as a reflective construct centred on the balance of benefits over costs, which in turn influences consumer satisfaction and subsequent behaviour. However, recognizing the multifaceted nature of CPV and its dependency on specific contexts, this study introduces a novel methodological approach by treating CPV as an emergent artifact. In doing so, we provide an alternative means to conceptualize and operationalize CPV, accommodating its diverse determinants across different sectors. Using data from an online survey of users of mobile food and delivery applications (MFODAs), we demonstrate the application and utility of this methodological shift, employing partial least squares path modelling (PLS-PM) to validate our approach. This study underscores the potential for marketing scholars to adapt and tailor the CPV construct based on the nuances of individual industries, offering both academic and practical insights into its formulation and implications.

Rainwater extracting characteristics and its potential impact on DBPs generation: A case study

Frequent extreme precipitation events due to global warming can lead to large amounts of pollutants entering source water bodies via surface runoff and wet deposition, thus posing a threat to water supply security. In order to better understand the source characteristics and leaching mechanisms of rainwater dissolved organic matter (DOM), as well as its disinfection by-products formation potential (DBPsFP) during disinfection processes, rainwater samples were collected and extracting experiments were conducted. Three components were identified in rainwater through Parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis, which were microbial humic-like component C1 (63.1 %), protein (tryptophan-like) component C2 (28.9 %), marine or terrestrial humic-like component C3 (8.1 %). The average molecular weight of rainwater fractions was ordered: hydrophobic neutral (HON) < hydrophobic bases (HOB) < hydrophobic acidic (HOA) < hydrophilic (HIS). The HOA and HON fractions of rainwater were the dominant precursors of trihalomethanes (THMs), while the rainwater HON fraction and hydrophilic fraction were the main precursor of haloacetic acids (HAAs) and trihloroacetonitrile (TCAN), respectively. Subsoil extracts had a higher concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) than topsoil extracts. Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) demonstrated that the extraction temperature was the dominant factor affecting the abundance of DOM in the topsoil extracts (R2 = 0.28), while the extraction time accounted more for the abundance of fluorescence substance and physicochemical indices in the subsoil extracts (R2 = 0.23 and 0.32, respectively). These results provide key information for controlling the impacts of global warming, in particular the risk of water sources being heavily contaminated by request rainfalls.

Purchase Intention Halal Food in Online Shop Among Gen Z Muslims: The Role of Halal Awareness, Sales Promotion Display, Social Media Marketing, and Endorser’s Persuasiveness

This study aims to determine the effect of halal awareness, sales promotion display, social media marketing, and endorser’s persuasiveness on purchase intention in online shop among Gen Z Muslims. A quantitative approach was used to collect data by applying the instruments adopted from previous studies. The research data is elicited from 150 Gen Z Muslim consumers of halal food in Central Java, Indonesia. The statistic technique is using Partial Least Squares Path Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results of the study using the PLS-SEM model show that the variables of halal awareness, display of sales promotions, and social media marketing influence the variable of purchase intention in online shop. Meanwhile, endorser’s persuasiveness has no effect on purchase intention in online shop. As a result of this study, marketers can pay attention to the halal concept in the manufacture of food products, present attractive views and content on social media and choose endorsers who have high credibility and popularity to encourage customer purchase intention.

The spatial patterns and driving mechanisms of blue carbon ‘loss’ and ‘gain’ in a typical mangrove ecosystem: A case study of Beihai, Guangxi Province of China

The role of mangroves in carbon sequestration is critical in mitigating climate change. For better identifying the carbon conservation hotspots of mangroves influenced by environmental factors, the spatial distribution and driving mechanisms of mangrove vegetation and soil carbon sequestration, as well as the future carbon dynamics of mangroves, required clarification. Firstly, we assessed the spatial pattern of vegetation biomass and soil depth-varied soil total organic carbon (TOC) in Xiaoguansha, Guangxi Province of China, and its relationships with duration of inundation (DTI) were explored. Additionally, the carbon storage capacity of adjacent mangrove tidal flats as potential carbon reservoirs was quantified. Thirdly, freshwater, and nutrient inputs, biotic factors of mangrove, and soil composition were selected as impact factors, and their mechanisms in carbon sequestration were elucidated by using Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM). Finally, medium values of environmental factors on mangrove carbon sequestration were revealed, based on which future loss and gain patterns of carbon sequestration under the combined effects were fully discussed. The results showed that: (1) The Above-ground biomass (AGB) and TOC densities were 32.89 Mg C/ha and 185.10 Mg C/ha in the study area, and both were enriched in the Interior areas. The carbon sequestration in the tidal flats was equivalented to >1/5 of total carbon sequestration of mangroves. (2) DTI was the most critical factor affecting the carbon sequestration pattern and was found to be positive correlated with AGB and TOC via changing soil contents (SC), whereas it exhibits a negative correlation with AGB and TOC through influencing canopy density (CD). CD and TP were identified as significant predictors. (3) Median analysis indicated that future carbon ‘gain’ area will move nearshore, whereas the carbon-rich intertidal area may undergo carbon loss. This study provided new insights and scientific understanding for management of mangrove blue carbon function.