Modeling toothpaste brand choice: An empirical comparison of artificial neural networks and multinomial probit model

Copyright @ 2010 Atlantis PressThe purpose of this study is to compare the performances of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and Multinomial Probit (MNP) approaches in modeling the choice decision within fast moving consumer goods sector. To do this, based on 2597 toothpaste purchases of a panel sample of 404 households, choice models are built and their performances are compared on the 861 purchases of a test sample of 135 households. Results show that ANN's predictions are better while MNP is useful in providing marketing insight

Codimension One Branes

We study codimension one branes, i.e. p-branes in (p+2)-dimensions, in the superembedding approach for the cases where the worldvolume superspace is embedded in a minimal target superspace with half supersymmetry breaking. This singles out the cases p=1,2,3,5,9. For p=3,5,9 the superembedding geometry naturally involves a fundamental super 2-form potential on the worldvolume whose generalised field strength obeys a constraint deducible from considering an open supermembrane ending on the p-brane. This constraint, together with the embedding constraint, puts the system on-shell for p=5 but overconstrains the 9-brane in D=11 such that the Goldstone superfield is frozen. For p=3 these two constraints give rise to an off-shell linear multiplet on the worldvolume. An alternative formulation of this case is given in which the linear multiplet is dualised to an off-shell scalar multiplet. Actions are constructed for both cases and are shown to give equivalent equations of motion. After gauge fixing a local Sp(1) symmetry associated with shifts in the Sp(1)_R Goldstone modes, we find that the auxiliary fields in the scalar multiplet parametrise a two-sphere. For completeness we also discuss briefly the cases p=1,2 where the equations of motion (for off-shell multiplets) are obtained from an action principle.Comment: 38 pages, latex, cover page correcte

Emitter Location Finding using Particle Swarm Optimization

Using several spatially separated receivers, nowadays positioning techniques, which are implemented to determine the location of the transmitter, are often required for several important disciplines such as military, security, medical, and commercial applications. In this study, localization is carried out by particle swarm optimization using time difference of arrival. In order to increase the positioning accuracy, time difference of arrival averaging based two new methods are proposed. Results are compared with classical algorithms and Cramer-Rao lower bound which is the theoretical limit of the estimation error

Evolving temporal fuzzy association rules from quantitative data with a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm

A novel method for mining association rules that are both quantitative and temporal using a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm is presented. This method successfully identifies numerous temporal association rules that occur more frequently in areas of a dataset with specific quantitative values represented with fuzzy sets. The novelty of this research lies in exploring the composition of quantitative and temporal fuzzy association rules and the approach of using a hybridisation of a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm with fuzzy sets. Results show the ability of a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm (NSGA-II) to evolve multiple target itemsets that have been augmented into synthetic datasets

Thermal QCD Sum Rules Study of Vector Charmonium and Bottomonium States

We calculate the masses and leptonic decay constants of the heavy vector quarkonia, $J/\psi$ and $\Upsilon$ mesons at finite temperature. In particular, considering the thermal spectral density as well as additional operators coming up at finite temperature, the thermal QCD sum rules are acquired. Our numerical calculations demonstrate that the masses and decay constants are insensitive to the variation of temperature up to $T\cong 100 ~MeV$, however after this point, they start to fall altering the temperature. At deconfinement temperature, the decay constants attain roughly to 45% of their vacuum values, while the masses are diminished about 12%, and 2.5% for $J/\psi$ and $\Upsilon$ states, respectively. The obtained results at zero temperature are in good consistency with the existing experimental data as well as predictions of the other nonperturbative models. Considerable decreasing in the values of the decay constants can be considered as a sign of the quark gluon plasma phase transition.Comment: 14 Pages, 8 Figures and 2 Table

Pengaruh Pupuk Kalium dan Fosfat terhadap Ketersediaan dan Serapan Fosfat Tanaman Kacang Tanah (Arachis Hypogaea L.) pada Tanah Brunizem

The aim of this research was to investigate the availability and uptake of phosphate with the application of potassium and phosphate fertilizers in brunizem soil. The experiment was arranged in a factorial completely Randomized Design which tested various levels of KCl (no calium, 0.2 g/5 kg soil and 0.4 g/5 kg soil) and SP-36 (no fosfat, 0.35 g/5 kg soil and 0.70 g/5 kg soil) fertilizers. The result showed a significant effect of potassium fertilizer treatments on soil pH. The best rate of potassium fertilizer was 0.4 g KCl per pot or 160 kg KCl ha-1. Phosphate fertilizer treatment gave a significant effect on soil pH, available phosphate and phosphate uptake. The best rate of phosphate fertilization was 0.70 g SP-36 per pot or 240 kg SP-36 ha-1

All the World Wide Web's a Stage: Improving students' information skills with dramatic video tutorials

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Purpose – The purpose of this article is to describe a collaborative project organised by Bilkent University Library, Turkey, to produce a series of instructional videos that are both informative and entertaining and also serve to market the library. Design/methodology/approach – The paper will outline the theoretical basis for the use of videos for library instruction, especially with reference to the habits and preferences of so-called Generation Y students and to the potential value of video for facilitating memory and learning. Findings – The use of humorous and interesting content, in a dramatised style, were found to improve Generation Y students’ learning and enjoyment of instructional videos. Practical implications – The development of the project demonstrates the practical and marketing benefits of collaboration by academic librarians with students and faculty. However, it proved more difficult to evaluate the efficiency of the final product in terms of influencing the attitude of students toward the library and library resources and thereby changing their behaviour when studying. Originality/value – The authors recommend that such library videos should definitely form part of an academic library’s information literacy programme, but should not constitute the sole element

A place of small canoes: An archaeological investigation of Cayucos, California

Located on the Central Coast, within the northern portion of Estero Bay, Cayucos remains an under-investigated area, and with over 8,000 years of human occupation there, it has the potential to inform about local and regional precontact history. Though relatively few archaeological investigations have occurred in Cayucos, by synthesizing studies in the area, a baseline of information emerges to build upon. This thesis reviews every recorded archaeological site with a precontact component, in the vicinity of Cayucos. These records, along with other relevant studies and theoretical framework, provide clues about the past associated with local settlement, technology, and the environment. Sources of information have been culled from site records and studies, authored by a variety of experts and non-experts including avocationalists, rock art scholars, residents, local CRM archaeologists, and others. One source of information comes from the orphaned Cayucos Bench Collection. Produced in the 1960s by the San Luis Obispo County Amateur Archaeologists, the collection is associated with 11 archaeological sites along the Estero Bluffs and includes site and artifact records, photographs, and a report. The collection is important because it represents the only artifact collection associated with the bluffs, a major portion of the research area. An aspect of this research includes comparative analysis of Cayucos with the Morro Bay Estuary, just south of Cayucos, in order to establish the relationship between these areas and identify regional patterns. The findings of this research begin to fill in the research gap remaining in the northern portion of Estero Bay