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Purpose -This study proposes integrating the perceived risk and social influence literatures on online group buying (OGB) intentions with the basic TAM variables (perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use). Design/methodology/approach -Based on an empirical survey of 304 online adopters of OGB in Taiwan, the paper uses structural equation modeling to confirm the research model. Findings -The results reveal that perceived critical mass had the largest total effect on intention to use group buying websites. The findings also indicate that perceived usefulness and a sense of virtual community (SOVC) have significant effect on OGB intention. In addition, both perceived ease of use and website quality influence perceived usefulness. As expected, perceived risk has negative effect on OGB intention. Research limitations/implications -This study only considered buying intention with regard to foodstuffs, and it is unclear whether these analytical results can be generalized to other items. Further research could apply this model to examine group coupons (such as discount vouchers for restaurants). Practical implications -To sustain a successful group buying website, attention must be paid to enhancing user's SOVC, enlarging the critical mass, and lowering the perceived risk. Practitioners can apply the findings of this study to focus on the determinants of success for their online shopping websites. Originality/value -Theoretically, while drawing upon TRA studies, this paper provides a model that is capable of lending an understanding of the determinants of OGB intention. From a managerial perspective, the findings indicate that webmasters can improve or manage website members' buying intentions by increasing the sense of virtual community and critical mass.

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A new species of Kudoa lutjanus n. sp. (Myxosporea) is described from the brain and internal organs of cultured red snapper Lutjanus erythropterus from Taiwan. The fish, 260 to 390 g in weight, exhibited anorexia and poor appetite and swam in the surface water during outbreaks. Cumulative mortality was about 1% during a period of 3 wk. The red snapper exhibited numerous creamy-white pseudocysts, 0.003 to 0.65 cm (n = 100) in diameter, in the eye, swim bladder, muscle and other internal organs, but especially in the brain. The number of pseudocysts per infected fish was not correlated with fish size or condition. Mature spores were quadrate in apical view and suboval in side view, measuring 8.2 ± 0.59 µm in width and 7.3 ± 0.53 µm in length. The 4 valves were equal in size, each with 1 polar capsule. Polar capsules were pyriform in shape, measuring 3.62 ± 0.49 µm in length and 2.2 ± 0.49 µm in width. Mild inflammatory responses or liquefaction of host tissue were associated with K. lutjanus n. sp. infection. The junction of shell valves appeared as overlapping, straight lines. The polar filament formed 2 to 3 coils. A general PCR (polymerase chain reaction) primer for Kudoa amplified the small subunit (SSU) rDNA sequences, and the amplified gene was sequenced. It was evident from the phylogenetic tree that the 3 strains tested, AOD93020M, AOD93028M and AOD93028B, were identical and belonged to the Kudoa SS rRNA subgroup. The evolutionary tree showed that these strains form a unique clade, at a distance from other Kudoa species and myxosporeans. The spore's morphological and ultrastructural characteristics, as well as the SS rDNA properties of the isolates, were also essentially identical and served to distinguish them from representative Kudoa. It is, therefore, proposed that the strains isolated from the diseased red snapper be assigned to a new species. KEY WORDS: Myxosporea · Kudoa lutjanus n. sp. · Brain · Red snapper · Lutjanus erythropterus Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisherDis Aquat Org 67: [115][116][117][118][119][120][121][122][123][124] 2005 a polar capsule (Hervio et al. 1997, Moran et al. 1999a, Pampoulie et al. 1999, Swearer & Robertson 1999, Whipps et al. 2004. Most Kudoa species appear in the skeletal musculature and have been connected with post mortem myoliquefaction in commercially valuable marine fishes (Moran et al. 1999a). Kudoa thyrsites Gilchrist, 1924 has been recorded from 27 fish species dispersed worldwide (Whitaker et al. 1994). For example, this parasite has both a worldwide distribution and a wide host range (Kabata & Whitaker 1989, Kent et al. 1994, Moran & Kent 1999, Moran et al. 1999b. K. thyrsites does not normally cause mortality, although 1 case of high mortality in farmed Atlantic salmon Salmon salar L. has been observed (Harrell & Scott 1985). The few remaining Kudoa species have been identified from tissues including the gills, brain, gallbladder, pericardial cavity and ovary (Lom & Dyková 1992, Swearer & Robertson 1...

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