Influence of store attributes on shopping intentions in factory outlet malls

This paper examines the effect of eight types of consumer decision-making styles and shopping behaviour on future shopping intentions at factory outlet malls. Results indicate that six out of eight decision-making styles are positively related of future shopping intentions. Conclusions drawn from the current study's findings and their implications for consumer decision-making and shopping behaviour are discussed

Worker Morale in Russia: An Exploratory Study

Despite unanimous agreement in the existing literature that morale influences employee performance, no well-defined measure of morale exists. Our study develops a robust measure of morale and focuses on the factors that influence morale among Russian workers. Survey data were collected from Russian employees at two different points in time, 1995 and 2002, in five Russian cities. Among the workers participating in our study, expectation of receiving a desired reward contributes to high morale, with expected monetary rewards having a larger influence than expected non-monetary rewards, but praise for a job well done and a feeling of accomplishment also contribute positively to employee morale. There is a significant correlation between positive attitudes toward work and morale, and a positive correlation between performance assessment and morale. Demographic characteristics (age and gender) have no discernable influence on morale when controls are included for work experience.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/57196/1/wp816 .pd

New parametrization method for dissipative particle dynamics

We introduce an improved method of parameterizing the Groot-Warren version of Dissipative Particle Dynamics (DPD) by exploiting a correspondence between DPD and Scatchard-Hildebrand regular solution theory. The new parameterization scheme widens the realm of applicability of DPD by first removing the restriction of equal repulsive interactions between like beads, and second, by relating all conservative interactions between beads directly to cohesive energy densities. We establish the correspondence by deriving an expression for the Helmoltz free energy of mixing obtaining a heat of mixing which is exactly the same form as that for a regular mixture (quadratic in the volume fraction) and an entropy of mixing which reduces to the ideal entropy of mixing for equal molar volumes. We equate the conservative interaction parameters in the DPD force law to the cohesive energy densities of the pure fluids providing an alternative method of calculating the self-interaction parameters as well as a route to the cross-interaction parameter. We validate the new parameterization by modelling the binary system: SnI4/SiCl4, which displays liquid-liquid coexistence below an upper critical solution temperature around 140°C. A series of DPD simulations were conducted at a set of temperatures ranging from 0°C to above the experimental upper critical solution temperature using conservative parameters based on extrapolated experimental data. These simulations can be regarded as being equivalent to a quench from a high temperature to a lower one at constant volume. Our simulations recover the expected phase behaviour ranging from solid-liquid coexistence to liquid-liquid co-existence and eventually leading to a homogeneous single phase system. The results yield a binodal curve in close agreement with one predicted using regular solution theory, but, significantly, in closer agreement with actual solubility measurements

Worker Morale in Russia: An Exploratory Study

Despite unanimous agreement in the existing literature that morale influences employee performance, no well-defined measure of morale exists. Our study develops a robust measure of morale and focuses on the factors that influence morale among Russian workers. Survey data were collected from Russian employees at two different points in time, 1995 and 2002, in five Russian cities. Among the workers participating in our study, expectation of receiving a desired reward contributes to high morale, with expected monetary rewards having a larger influence than expected non-monetary rewards, but praise for a job well done and a feeling of accomplishment also contribute positively to employee morale. There is a significant correlation between positive attitudes toward work and morale, and a positive correlation between performance assessment and morale. Demographic characteristics (age and gender) have no discernable influence on morale when controls are included for work experience.Morale, Russia, Expected rewards, Motivation, Performance

THE VALUE OF USDA OUTLOOK INFORMATION: AN INVESTIGATION USING EVENT STUDY ANALYSIS

The economic value of public situation and outlook information has long been a subject of debate. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the economic value of USDA WASDE reports in corn and soybean markets. The investigation is based on event study analysis, with the "events" consisting of the release of all monthly USDA WASDE reports for corn and soybeans from 1985 through 1998. The WASDE reports during the sample period are divided into two groups: one that represents "pure" outlook information and one that represents a "mix" of situation and outlook information. The statistical tests can be placed into two categories: mean price reaction and volatility reaction. Overall, the results suggest that USDA outlook information has a significant impact in corn and soybean markets. The most notable impact is found in options markets, where implied volatility consistently declines after the release of WASDE reports. For the group of monthly reports containing only outlook information, implied volatility for both corn and soybeans was lower on the report day than on the previous day about 60 percent of the time. The difference in mean implied volatility on the day of the report and on the previous day for both corn and soybeans was significantly different from zero. The average magnitude of the drop was between about two- and three-tenths of a percentage point (of annualized implied volatility), which would appear to be an economically non-trivial decrease. Hence, it can be concluded that USDA outlook information reduces the uncertainty of market participants' expected distribution of future prices. This reduction in market uncertainty is unambiguously welfare-enhancing.Crop Production/Industries, Marketing,

Geometric creation of quantum vorticity

We consider superfluidity and quantum vorticity in rotating spacetimes. The system is described by a complex scalar satisfying a nonlinear Klein-Gordon equation. Rotation terms are identified and found to lead to the transfer of angular momentum of the spacetime to the scalar field. The scalar field responds by rotating, physically behaving as a superfluid, through the creation of quantized vortices. We demonstrate the vortex nucleation through numerical simulation.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figure, updated to closely resemble published versio

Narrative support for young game designers’ writing

Creating narrative-based computer games is a complex and challenging task. Narrative Threads is a suite of software tools designed to aid young people (aged 11-15) in creating their own narrative-based games as a writing development activity. A participatory design process highlighted the areas where additional support was required, and informed the iterative design of Narrative Threads. The tools are implemented as a plugin to a commercial game creation toolset, and constitute character and object design tools, a branching narrative diagramming tool and an augmented story map view. In this paper, we provide an overview of the design of the tools and describe an evaluation carried out with 14 children over a four-day workshop. The study examined tool usage patterns, and compared games created with Narrative Threads to those created using the standard toolset. The results suggest a number of ways in which dynamic external representations of story elements can support writing activities in narrative-based game creation. Young designers using Narrative Threads wrote more character dialogue, made stronger links between the conversations they wrote and wider game events, and designed more complex characters, compared to those using the standard toolset. In addition to showing how Narrative Threads can support young games designers, the results have broader implications for anyone looking to support storytelling and writing through game creation activities and tools

A paradox concerning rate of information

A natural definition of the rate of transmission of information is given, arising out of the usual theory. We call it the “Riemannian” rate of transmission. It is shown that the definition leads to a paradox if taken in conjunction with the notion of (time-unlimited) band-limited white noise. A mathematical model can hardly contain both these notions at the same time. The Riemannian rate of transmission does however lead to sensible results if used in conjunction with periodic band-limited white noise. In particular it leads to the Hartley-Wiener-Tuller-Sullivan-Shannon formula without the necessity of introducing Shannon's notion of “dimension rate.” The discussion refers to matrix signal-to-noise ratios and to the entropy of singular multivariate normal distributions

THE ROLE OF MARKET ADVISORY SERVICES IN CROP MARKETING AND RISK MANAGEMENT: A PRELIMINARY REPORT OF SURVEY RESULTS

The purpose of this report is to provide a preliminary summary of the results of a survey designed to help answer the questions about subscriber use of market advisory services. Importantly, this research is a cooperative partnership between the University of Illinois and the Data Transmission Network. The survey participants are commercial producers of major grain, oilseed and fiber crops, representing important agricultural areas of the US. The survey has three broad objectives, including 1) how US producers perceive the riskiness of various aspects of farming; 2) how US producers manage farm business risk, and 3) how US producers select and use market advisory services.Marketing, Risk and Uncertainty,