A simulation approach to evaluating insecticides for brown planthopper control

The overall efficiency of insecticides with various egg, nymph and adult efficacy for brown planthopper control were analyzed using a simulation approach. Insecticides which have high nymphal efficacy are most effective. Nymphal efficacy contributes up to 71% of the potential efficiency while ovicidal efficacy contributes the remaining 29%. Adult efficacy alone appears to have negligible effects. Long residual efficacy provides better control, however, the increase in efficiency is not directly proportional to the residual period of the insecticide. A residual period of 10 to 15 days would suffice for BPH control.     

Adoption of WAP-enabled mobile phones among Internet users

This paper examines the attitudinal, social and perceived behavior control factors that are associated with the adoption of WAP-enabled mobile phones among Internet users. An online questionnaire is used to gather data. The results show that attitudinal and social factors rather than perceived behavioral control factors play a significant role in influencing intentions to adopt a WAP-enabled mobile phone. In particular, perceptions of relative advantage, risk, and image are found to influence adoption intentions. In addition, reference groups too play an important role in shaping adoption intentions. Implications of results and directions for future research are examined.     

企业社会责任行为对消费者品牌评价的影响

现代企业在追求利润的同时也开始承担企业社会责任(CSR),企业履行不同的CSR方式对消费者品牌评价会带来不同的影响、企业如何结合自身特点、选择适合自己的CSR行为方式实现社会与企业的共赢等问题是现有文献的研究断层。本文通过实验研究,检验了产品相关责任行为、慈善行为、公益实践这三种CSR行为方式对消费者品牌评价的影响。研究发现,CSR行为中产品相关责任行为和慈善行为对消费者品牌评价的提升作用显著,其中产品相关责任行为的影响作用最显著。进一步研究表明,在企业慈善行为中,产品与CSR行为的匹配性对消费者的品牌评价具有调节作用。本文的理论创新点在于,测量了产品相关责任、慈善行为、公益实践三种方式对消费者品牌评价的影响差异,进一步分析了CSR行为与产品的匹配性在善因营销和捐赠行为这两种慈善行为方式中表现出的不同调节作用。研究结论对企业进行CSR决策提供了策略性建议。     

Ethical leadership and employee knowledge sharing: Exploring dual-mediation paths

Drawing on social learning and self-determination theories, this study investigates the mediating effects of controlled motivation for knowledge sharing and moral identity in the relationship between ethical leadership and employee knowledge sharing. We conducted a field study with 337 full-time employees to test our hypotheses. Results supported the mediating effects of both controlled motivation and moral identity in accounting for the relationship between ethical leadership and employee knowledge sharing. Our study is among the first to examine whether and why ethical leadership predicts employee knowledge sharing. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.     

Sociality and transnational social space in the making of medical tourism: local actors and Indonesian patients in Malaysia

ABSTRACT

We investigate international medical travel between Indonesia and Malaysia through the conceptual lens of sociality, transnational social space and therapeutic mobilities. Drawing upon narratives of local persons, medical traveller-patients, accompanying family members, hospital staff and medical travel facilitators, we illustrate how multifaceted linkages and processes generate and sustain the flow of patients across the border. In these narratives, we see multiple mobilities articulate and cross-cut in the building of transnational connections. This paper stretches the concept of transnational social space to apply to medical travel and contributes to the literature framing of international medical travel as a complex and multifaceted arena.     

Searching preference of the parasitoid,Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard) for different stages of the host,Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) in the laboratory

Summary The functional response parameters of the parasitoid,Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard) to the third instar, the fourth instar and the pupae ofCallosobruchus maculatus (F.) were estimated from the Random Parasitoid Equation. By modifying this equation for a two host situation and using the parameters estimated above, a no switch model could be obtained. This model was then used to test for switching. In the preference experiments where two stages of the host were presented to the female parasitoid, a definite preference for the fourth instar followed by the pupa and the third instar, respectively was shown. There was, however, no evidence of switching. There was also no evidence that the data fitted the no switch models which suggests that when the parasitoid is searching in an environment with two or more hosts, its searching behaviour is more complex.     

Prey preference of the wolf spider,Pardosa pseudoannulata (Boesenberg et Strand)

Summary Functional responses of the wolf spider,Pardosa pseudoannulata (Boesenberg et Strand) attacking the rice brown planthopper,Nilaparvata lugens (St?l.), and the mirid predatorCyrtorhinus lividipennis Reuter were both those of Holling Type II. The attack rate was higher and handling time lower forC. lividipennis. However, when caged with the two prey, the wolf spider showed a significant preference forN. lugens at a lower prey proportion. Proportions of prey attacked were significantly different from the expected ratios of prey available as well as from the predicted preferences derived from the functional response parameters. As proportions ofN. lugens attacked changed from greater to less than expected as the proportions ofN. lugens available increased, a “reverse switch” behaviour seems to be evident.     

Predation ofCyrtorhinus lividipennis Reuter on eggs of the green leafhopper and brown planthopper in rice

Summary The functional response ofCyrtorhinus lividipennis feeding on brown planthopper (BPH) and green leafhopper (GLH) eggs was found to be Holling’s Type II. The Random Predator Equation fitted the data satisfactorily. Using Manly’s preference index, α, both the male and femaleC. lividipennis were found to prefer BPH eggs. There was, however, no evidence of switching and the ratio of the respective searching efficiencies could account for the preference.