Drawing on UTAUT2, this study examines the number of causal recipes that foster mHealth adoption, using a mixed approach combining Partial Least Squares (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative ...comparative analysis. Two general research propositions are assessed using data collected through a survey administered to 120 mHealth users. The findings point that PLS-SEM and fsQCA are complementary analytical approaches providing comparable results. PLS-SEM indicates that performance expectancy, hedonic motivation, and habit have the ability to predict mHealth adoption, while fsQCA reveals six configurations including the factors identified by PLS-SEM. The findings suggest that several conditions that were not significant in PLS-SEM are in fact sufficient conditions when combined with other conditions. For practitioners concerned with fostering mHealth adoption, the findings stress the importance of adopting an integrated approach centered on performance expectancy, facilitating conditions, and habit, targeting well-educated young women. The existence of multiple solutions also points to the presence of equifinality.
This article highlights elements of Peirce's philosophy used by four well-known psychoanalytic authors, Ricardo Steiner, André Green, Bjorn Salomonsson and Dominique Scarfone, showing how ...contributions from Peirce's ideas could clarify psychoanalytic matters. The subject of Steiner's paper is how Peirce's semiotic could help to fulfill a conceptual gap mainly in Kleinian tradition in relation to phenomena that occur between what are called "symbolic equations" (representations lived as facts, by psychotic patients) and symbolization. Green's writings question Lacan's conception that the unconscious is structured like a language, suggesting that Peirce's signs, particularly the icons and indices, would be more appropriate to think about the unconscious than the linguistics used by Lacan. One of the Salomonsson's papers gives a good example of how Peirce's philosophic notions can be enlightening in the clinical area, as they are used to answer the criticism that words could not be understood by a baby in a "mother-infant" treatment; the other uses Peirce's conceptions to give interesting suggestions about Bion's beta-elements. The last paper, from Scarfone, broadly address the constitution of significations in psychoanalysis, but we will limit ourselves to consider how Peirce's concepts are used in the model proposed by Scarfone.
Functional morphology investigates the relationships between morphological characters and external factors, such as environmental, physical and ecological features. Here, we evaluate the functional ...relationships between body shape and trophic ecology of a tropical demersal marine fish community using geometric morphometrics techniques and modelling, hypothesizing that shape variables could partially explain fish trophic level. Fish were collected over the continental shelf of northeast Brazil (4–9°S). Analysed fish were distributed into 14 orders, 34 families and 72 species. Each individual was photographed in lateral view, and 18 landmarks were distributed along the body. A principal component analysis (PCA) applied on morphometric indices revealed that fish body elongation and fin base shape were the main axes of variation explaining the morphology. Low trophic levels (herbivore and omnivore) are characterized by deep bodies and longer dorsal and anal fin bases, while predators present elongated bodies and narrow fin bases. Fin position (dorsal and anal fins) on the fish body is another important factor contributing to (i) body stability at high velocity (top predators) or (ii) manoeuvrability (low trophic levels). Using multiple linear regression, we verified that 46% of trophic level variability could be explained by morphometric variables, with trophic level increasing with body elongation and size. Interestingly, intermediate trophic categories (e.g., low predators) presented morphological divergence for a given trophic level. Our results, which can likely be expanded to other tropical and nontropical systems, show that morphometric approaches can provide important insights into fish functional characteristics, especially in trophic ecology.
This study analyses the impact of Need-for-Touch (NFT) on online purchase propensity by evaluating the influence of the consumer's country of origin. Although NFT has been a major topic of research ...over the past years, the link between NFT and purchase propensity has rarely been empirically proven. For assessing the relationship an online questionnaire was made available in Portugal and China. A total of 295 complete responses were obtained and the data studied through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, namely multivariate analysis of variance and structural equation modeling using AMOS. The results indicate that the consumer's country of origin seems to affect the relevance of the sense of touch for apparel. Consumers with high levels of NFT are more likely to engage in additional brand touchpoints and consequently having stronger brand experiences. The impact of perceived information credibility and brand experience on the perceived product quality influences the propensity to search and to purchase online. Consumer NFT was shown having no direct influence on online purchase propensity but instead is mediated by other variables such as brand experience and the online research propensity. This study is innovative by comparing the NFT between two very different cultures and by providing insights on the relationships between cultural differences and NFT, which could be of great interest for Portuguese companies planning on investing in the Chinese market and vice versa.
•Chinese consumers have a higher level of Need-for-Touch than Portuguese.•Portuguese consumers have substantial differences in instrumental and autotelic NFT levels.•Consumers with high levels of NFT are more likely to engage in additional brand touch-points.•Perceived information credibility and quality influences the intention to purchase.•Perceived product quality is influenced by brand experience and perceived information credibility.
The profitability of livestock activities can be diminished significantly by the effects of parasites. Economic losses caused by cattle parasites in Brazil were estimated on an annual basis, ...considering the total number of animals at risk and the potential detrimental effects of parasitism on cattle productivity. Estimates in U.S. dollars (USD) were based on reported yield losses among untreated animals and reflected some of the effects of parasitic diseases. Relevant parasites that affect cattle productivity in Brazil, and their economic impact in USD billions include: gastrointestinal nematodes - $7.11; cattle tick (Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus) - $3.24; horn fly (Haematobia irritans) - $2.56; cattle grub (Dermatobia hominis) - $0.38; New World screwworm fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax) - $0.34; and stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans) - $0.34. The combined annual economic loss due to internal and external parasites of cattle in Brazil considered here was estimated to be at least USD 13.96 billion. These findings are discussed in the context of methodologies and research that are required in order to improve the accuracy of these economic impact assessments. This information needs to be taken into consideration when developing sustainable policies for mitigating the impact of parasitism on the profitability of Brazilian cattle producers.
The Bothynus entellus (LePeletier Serville) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Pentodontini) species group is reviewed with redescriptions, diagnoses, illustrations, and separate identification ...keys to males and females. Distribution maps for all species in this species group are presented for the first time. Furthermore, two new species, Bothynus araya Duarte Grossi new species and Bothynus condacki Duarte Grossi new species, are described.
This study aims to assess the influence of cultural events, structural elements and place brand on destinations’ overall image, based on an evaluation of cognitive and affective components of ...destination image. The conceptual model used in the research evaluates the impact of a set of tangible and intangible elements associated with two cultural events (one religious and one theatrical) on the cognitive and affective components of destinations’ image and, ultimately, on the destinations’ overall image. The events were the 2013 Easter celebrations in Cáceres and the Festival of Classical Theatre in Mérida, which is held annually in Spanish. A total of 611 tourists attending these events were personally questioned at the site of the events during the celebrations. The results show that cultural events serve as promoters of tourism and help to develop destination image, as well as suggesting that cognitive image contributes more to the formation of overall image than affective image. The findings also reveal that structural elements and place brand positively influence both destinations’ cognitive and affective images. The event brand does not seem to influence any dimension of destination image. Since this study addresses only a part of the tourism activities held at two destinations, further research needs to be conducted in different destinations and events to confirm these findings.
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•Cultural events act as promoters of tourism and help to develop destination image.•Destination image is formed by tourists through logical and emotional interpretations.•Cognitive image contributes more to the formation of overall image than affective image.•Structural elements and place brand positively influence a destination's cognitive and affective images.•Event brand does not influence any dimension of destination image.
Grounded in the Theory of Reasoned Action, the Theory of Planned Behaviour, the Technology Acceptance Model and on the Innovation Diffusions Theory, this study proposes and empirically tests an ...integrated model to explore which factors affect intentions to purchase travel online. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling was conducted to assess the hypotheses. The empirical results, obtained in a sample of 1732 Internet users, indicate that intentions to purchase travel online are mostly determined by attitude, compatibility and perceived risk. The theoretical contributions of this study and the practical implications are discussed and future research directions are detailed.
•An integrative model is proposed to examine determinants of intentions to purchase travel online.•The model integrates constructs of well-established theories of consumer behaviour (TPB, TAM and IDT).•PLS-SEM was used for assessing the measurement model and the structural model.•Findings reveal which variables significantly affect intentions to purchase travel online.•Attitude and compatibility are the most relevant determinants of intentions to purchase travel online.
To the Editor, Acute myocardial injury in young adults may be a challenging finding. Although coronary artery disease associated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors is possible, other ...etiologies like the use of recreational drugs, myocarditis, coronary embolism, spontaneous coronary artery dissection or coronary vasospasm should be considered as well.1 Intracoronary imaging modalities provide diagnostic information added to invasive coronary angiography on coronary lesion features, and are useful to guide percutaneous coronary interventions.2 This is the case of a 29-year-old male patient with a history of smoking. His family history included coronary artery disease, but not at a young age. The patient presented to the emergency room with signs of acute chest pain radiating down his left arm the morning following a night of heavy alcohol and cannabis consumption. The 12-lead electrocardiogram revealed sinus rhythm, heart rate of 60 beats per minute, and slight and diffuse ST-segment elevation (figure 1A). Blood biochemistry analysis revealed elevated troponin I levels (37.6 ng/mL; normal values < 0.045 ng/mL). The transthoracic echocardiogram revealed the presence of preserved left ventricular systolic function with normal heart wall motion kinetics, and no evidence of structural heart disease. Figure 1. A: first 12-lead electrocardiogram. B: invasive coronary angiography of left main coronary artery...
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