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General Belief (general + belief)
Selected AbstractsA longitudinal look at rural consumer adoption of online shoppingPSYCHOLOGY & MARKETING, Issue 4 2007Sharron J. Lennon Innovation diffusion theory guided research on the process of online apparel shopping adoption (i.e., changes in online shopping adoption) among rural consumers. Rural consumers in 11 states completed surveys in 2000 ( n = 2,198) and in 2003 (n = 879). Variables measured in 2000 were used to predict online apparel purchasing in 2003; structural equation modeling was used for data analysis and yielded satisfactory fit. Results revealed strong support for innovation diffusion theory: Previous practice and characteristics of the decision-making unit ( education, income, innovativeness) affected belief structures. Although beliefs about online shopping measured in 2000 did not affect online apparel shopping adoption in 2000, they did affect online apparel shopping adoption in 2003, demonstrating the dynamic nature of innovation diffusion. Characteristics of the decision-making unit (education, income) indirectly affected online apparel shopping via their influence on previous practice, which was the strongest predictor of online apparel purchasing in 2000 and 2003. General beliefs about the Internet and beliefs about the compatibility of online shopping with respondents' lifestyles predicted online apparel shopping in 2003, whereas beliefs about the benefits and advantages of online shopping did not. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Moving up, moving down: Political careers across territorial levelsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF POLITICAL RESEARCH, Issue 2 2003Klaus Stolz In the sparse literature on political careers in federal systems, regional positions are often seen as mere stepping stones on the way to federal office. But are they really? The recent professionalization of state politics in federal systems and the regionalization of former unitary states point to the strengthening of the regional level as a career arena in its own right. Could this lead to the emergence of a regional political class with a set of career interests distinct from those of national politicians? This article takes a first, comparative look at current patterns of career movements between regional and national parliaments in a wide range of federal and newly regionalized systems. The study shows that, contrary to general belief, the number of deputies actually moving from the regional to federal level is generally relatively low. While some cases show fairly integrated career structures, others exhibit a pattern of career development in which state or regional office functions as the main focus of political careers. The territorial structure of the political class is dependent upon a whole range of social, cultural and institutional factors. At the same time, it is also an important factor in the mechanics and institutional development of each federal system in question. [source] Up-temperature flow of surface-derived fluids in the mid-crust: the role of pre-orogenic burial of hydrated fault rocksJOURNAL OF METAMORPHIC GEOLOGY, Issue 5 2006C. CLARK Abstract The Walter-Outalpa shear zone in the southern Curnamona Province of NE South Australia is an example of a shear zone that has undergone intensely focused fluid flow and alteration at mid-crustal depths. Results from this study have demonstrated that the intense deformation and ductile shear zone reactivation, at amphibolite facies conditions of 534 ± 20 °C and 500 ± 82 MPa, that overprint the Proterozoic Willyama Supergroup occurred during the Delamerian Orogeny (c. 500 Ma) (EPMA monazite ages of 501 ± 16 and 491 ± 19 Ma). This is in contrast to the general belief that the majority of basement deformation and alteration in the southern Curnamona Province occurred during the waning stages of the Olarian Orogeny (c. 1610,1580 Ma). These shear zones contain hydrous mineral assemblages that cut wall rocks that have experienced amphibolite facies metamorphism during the Olarian Orogeny. The shear zone rock volumes have much lower ,18O values (as low as 1,) than their unsheared counterparts (7,9,), and calculated fluid ,18O values (5,8,) consistent with a surface-derived fluid source. Hydrous minerals show a decrease in ,D(H2O) from ,14 to ,22,, for minerals outside the shear zones, to ,28 to ,40,, for minerals within the shear zones consistent with a contribution from a meteoric source. It is unclear how near-surface fluids initially under hydrostatic pressure penetrate into the middle crust where fluid pressures approach lithostatic, and where fluid flow is expected to be dominantly upward because of pressure gradients. We propose a mechanism whereby faulting during basin formation associated with the Adelaidean Rift Complex (c. 700 Ma) created broad hydrous zones containing mineral assemblages in equilibrium with surface waters. These panels of fault rock were subsequently buried to depths where the onset of metamorphism begins to dehydrate the fault rock volumes evolving a low ,18O fluid that is channelled through shear zones related to Delamerian Orogenic activity. [source] Early-type stars observed in the ESO UVES Paranal Observatory Project , I. Interstellar Na i UV, Ti ii and Ca ii K observations,MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 4 2006I. Hunter ABSTRACT We present an analysis of interstellar Na i (,air= 3302.37 and 3302.98 Å), Ti ii(,air= 3383.76 Å) and Ca ii K (,air= 3933.66 Å) absorption features for 74 sightlines towards O- and B-type stars in the Galactic disc. The data were obtained from the Ultraviolet and Visual Echelle Spectrograph Paranal Observatory Project, at a spectral resolution of 3.75 km s,1 and with mean signal-to-noise ratios per pixel of 260, 300 and 430 for the Na i, Ti ii and Ca ii observations, respectively. Interstellar features were detected in all but one of the Ti ii sightlines and all of the Ca ii sightlines. The dependence of the column density of these three species with distance, height relative to the Galactic plane, H i column density, reddening and depletion relative to the solar abundance has been investigated. We also examine the accuracy of using the Na i column density as an indicator of that for H i. In general, we find similar strong correlations for both Ti and Ca, and weaker correlations for Na. Our results confirm the general belief that Ti and Ca occur in the same regions of the interstellar medium (ISM) and also that the Ti ii/Ca ii ratio is constant over all parameters. We hence conclude that the absorption properties of Ti and Ca are essentially constant under the general ISM conditions of the Galactic disc. [source] The effect of fast reporting by amnio-PCR on anxiety levels in women with positive biochemical screening for Down syndrome , a randomized controlled trialPRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, Issue 3 2002Wing Cheong Leung Abstract Objective To study the effect of fast reporting by polymerase chain reaction on amniotic fluid cells (amnio-PCR) on anxiety levels in women with positive biochemical screening for Down syndrome. Method Between May 2000 and April 2001, 60 screen-positive women were randomized before amniocentesis into either having (group A) or not having (group B) fast-reporting by amnio-PCR. Anxiety levels were measured by the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory just prior to amniocentesis, three days (when PCR results were known to group A) and three weeks (when standard karyotype results were known to both groups) afterwards. Results Two women were excluded because in one woman amnio-PCR showed trisomy 21 and the other miscarried shortly after amniocentesis. The state-anxiety scores increased over the three-week period after being informed of the positive-screen result in both groups. The trait- and state-anxiety scores at all points did not differ between the two groups. Conclusions In contrast to the general belief, fast reporting by amnio-PCR did not alleviate anxiety in women who are screen-positive for Down syndrome. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Origin of the Infrarenal Part of the Caudal Vena cava in the PigANATOMIA, HISTOLOGIA, EMBRYOLOGIA, Issue 5 2008P. Cornillie Summary The vascular topography in the lumbar region of pig embryos and young fetuses was three-dimensionally reconstructed to study some controversial aspects of the origin and development of the infrarenal part of the caudal vena cava. Contrary to general belief, it was found that the supracardinal veins, which form the azygos veins in the thorax, do not take part in the construction of the caudal vena cava in the lumbar region. These veins do appear in the abdomen, but they are only involved in the formation of the lumbar and ascending lumbar veins. The infrarenal part of the caudal vena cava arises from the lumbar part of the right caudal cardinal vein. Whilst this venous pattern is established, the lumbar part of the left caudal cardinal vein disappears and its former location is occupied by large lymphatic connections between the cysterna chyli and the retroperitoneal mesenteric lymphatic sac. On the basis of these findings, a number of hypotheses on the development of anatomical variations of the caudal vena cava should be reconsidered. [source] Infant feeding practices of Pakistani mothers in England and PakistanJOURNAL OF HUMAN NUTRITION & DIETETICS, Issue 6 2002T. Sarwar Abstract Objectives To investigate infant feeding practices followed by Pakistani mothers in Pakistan and in England. To establish if practices conform to current guidelines and to investigate reasons for adherence and nonadherence. Methods Ninety mothers of weaning age children were interviewed; 45 were in England and 45 in Pakistan. A questionnaire available in English and Urdu sought to find out about the methods of milk feeding and weaning used and the advice received, together with general beliefs about weaning. Results Characteristics of the infants in terms of current age, gender distribution, birth order of baby and age of weaning showed no significant differences between the two groups. Thus, differences between the two groups could be attributed to cultural differences rather than any of these factors. Chi-square analysis showed that the initial method of feeding chosen was significantly different (P < 0.001, d.f. = 2) with 73% of mothers in Pakistan breast-feeding compared with 24% in England. Similar proportions of mothers in both groups commenced weaning between 3 and 4 months. Common weaning foods included rice, cereals and eggs with progression to fruit and vegetables and family food in Pakistan, and fruit, vegetables, meat and convenience foods (especially sweet options) in England. Both groups of mothers wanted more information about infant feeding practices. Conclusion Mothers in Pakistan demonstrated more confidence in weaning practices than in England because of experiences with other siblings and advice from relatives. More advice from health professionals was requested and is needed by all mothers in order to improve weaning practices of the infants. [source] Personality Factors in Older Women's Perceived Susceptibility to Diseases of AgingJOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue 2 2004Mary A. Gerend A latent factor of general perceived susceptibility to disease was shown to underlie disease-specific perceptions of susceptibility. Affect-related personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion, optimism, worry, and self-deceptive enhancement) and internal and chance health locus of control predicted general perceived susceptibility. Perceived disease characteristics (e.g., perceived controllability, severity) and the use of cognitive heuristics (i.e., perceived similarity to those who contract each disease) also displayed marked consistency across the three distinct diseases. Finally, our results suggested that general beliefs about the characteristics of health threats and the use of cognitive heuristics may mediate the link between personality traits and perceived risk. [source] Fairness, Justice, and Legitimacy: Experiences of People's Judges in South RussiaLAW & POLICY, Issue 2 2003Stefan Machura Which criteria do Russians use to evaluate the fairness of their judges, and how does perceived fairness of actual trials influence general beliefs about Russian courts? Lay assessors at courts in South Russia were asked about their experience serving on mixed courts. The justice of the verdicts rendered and the fairness of judges partly explain the respondents' view of national courts. According to the results, the respondents are also using similar criteria for fairness as Americans or Germans. The social and psychological group effects in a Russian court of lay assessors exhibit a striking similarity to other Western tribunals. [source] TEMPORAL EXTERNALISM, DEFERENCE, AND OUR ORDINARY LINGUISTIC PRACTICEPACIFIC PHILOSOPHICAL QUARTERLY, Issue 3 2005HENRY JACKMAN While the view has been criticized for failing to accord with our "ordinary linguistic practices", such criticisms (1) conflate our ordinary ascriptional practices with our more general beliefs about meaning, and (2) fail to distinguish epistemically from pragmatically motivated linguistic changes. Temporal externalism relates only to the former sort of changes, and the future usage relevant to what we mean reflects reason-driven practices that are rational for us to defer to. [source] | |||||||||||||