A new species of planthopper in the genus Melanoliarus (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Fulgoroidea: Cixiidae) from coconut palms (Cocos nucifera) in Trinidad.

During a survey in Trinidad and Grenada for putative vectors of palm lethal decline phytoplasmas, three species of planthopper in the genus Melanoliarus (Hemiptera, Cixiidae) were collected. Melanoliarus maidis was collected from coconut palms in Grenada, M. kindli was collected from grasses in a coconut plot in Trinidad and a new species of Melanoliarus was collected from coconut palms in Trinidad. Herein the novel taxon is described with supplementary molecular data for the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, 18S rRNA gene, and histone 3 (H3) gene to support placement in the genus Melanoliarus in the strict sense.

Human capital-based four-factor asset pricing model: An empirical study from Pakistan.

This study aims to extend the Fama-French three-factor model by including human capital as a fourth factor. For this purpose, we have collected data from 164 non-financial firms from July 2010 to June 2020. To evaluate the validity and applicability of our augmented human capital-based four-factor model, we apply the two-pass time series regression proposed by Fama-Macbeth (1973). We find that small firms outperform big firms, value stocks firms outperform growth stocks firms, and low-labor-income firms outperform high-labor-income firms. The augmented human capital-based four-factor model is valid and applicable in the context of the Pakistan equity market. The empirical results motivate academia and all investors to consider human capital in investment decisions.

What matters when examining the performance of salespersons? Analyzing the boundary conditions of personal dispositional factor.

Purpose: This study intended to examine the effect of developmental and evaluative purposes of performance appraisal (PA) on job meaningfulness (JM). Furthermore, the study also aimed to assess the moderating effect of personal dispositional factors, that is, internal and external loci of control between developmental and evaluative PA and JM. Design/Methodology/Approach: A total of 295 questionnaires were received from salespersons working in national and multinational pharmaceutical companies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Data were gathered using a time lag study design using a convenience sampling technique. Data collected via questionnaires were analyzed using PLS-SEM to assess measurement and structural models for testing hypotheses. Findings: Results revealed that developmental PA significantly influenced JM, while evaluative PA failed to influence JM. Furthermore, there was a moderating effect of the external locus of control (ELOC) on the relationship between developmental PA and JM, while the rest of moderating hypotheses failed to influence the relationship of developmental and evaluative PA with JM. Practical implications: The results can be used as a building block in order to bring positive work outcomes in the form of meaningful work. Organizations should use their PA as a development tool, instead of instrumental or evaluative PA, for making the work more meaningful to the employees. Originality/Value: The extant literature is limited in terms of assessing the dimensions of PA (developmental and evaluative) in predicting workplace outcomes. Also, examinations of multidimensions of the locus of control are limited in the existing literature between HR practices and work outcomes. The current study has filled these gaps in the contemporary literature.

Assessment of respiratory muscles endurance in diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE: Respiratory muscle endurance is of interest in pulmonary, critical care and many other areas of medicine. The maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) test is an objective dynamic method for measuring the working capacity of respiratory muscles. Therefore, we designed the present study to determine the effect imposed by diabetes mellitus on respiratory muscle endurance in Saudi diabetic patients. METHODS: We conducted this study in the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital and Diabetic Centre, King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during the year 2002-2004. In this study, we recruited 39 male diabetic patients and equal number of control subjects and all participants were non-smokers with age range of 23-71 years. The subjects were matched for age, height and weight. We determined the respiratory muscles endurance by a direct MVV test during inspiratory and expiratory phases of respiration by using a MP-100 student Bio Pac system and compared the results using a paired t-test. RESULTS: In inspiratory and expiratory phases of respiration, diabetic patients showed a significant reduction in the mean values of direct MVV test (p<0.001) relative to their matched controls. CONCLUSION: We conclude that in diabetic patients the respiratory muscles endurance is impaired by a decreased in MVV values. This decline in MVV further showed that the diabetic patients have a reduced inhaled and exhaled volumes during consecutive breaths.