NiO Exchange Bias Layers Grown by Direct Ion Beam Sputtering of a Nickel Oxide Target

A new process for fabricating NiO exchange bias layers has been developed. The process involves the direct ion beam sputtering (IBS) of a NiO target. The process is simpler than other deposition techniques for producing NiO buffer layers, and facilitates the deposition of an entire spin-valve layered structure using IBS without breaking vacuum. The layer thickness and temperature dependence of the exchange field for NiO/NiFe films produced using IBS are presented and are similar to those reported for similar films deposited using reactive magnetron sputtering. The magnetic properties of highly textured exchange couples deposited on single crystal substrates are compared to those of simultaneously deposited polycrystalline films, and both show comparable exchange fields. These results are compared to current theories describing the exchange coupling at the NiO/NiFe interface.Comment: 9 pages, Latex 2.09, 3 postscript figures. You can also this manuscript at http://www.wsrcc.com/alison/fixed-nio/manuscript.html To be published in _IEEE Trans. Magn._, Nov. 199

Antecedents to Sales Associates Turnover in Apparel Retailing: Development of a Conceptual Model

Retail managers are concerned with turnover as the cost associated with replacing lost employees is high. To replace a lost employee, you must recruit applicants, conduct interviews that pull current employees out of their regular work, and once a person is hired, invest in training and orientation. There is also the cost of lowered productivity during the time period when the untrained individual is learning the new job. Estimates of the price to replace a worker vary but a common estimate is upwards of twice an employee’s salary (“How to reduce”, 2013). Turnover can also damage morale among remaining employees. Bottom line is a high turnover rate eats into company profits

Wavelength- and material-dependent absorption in GaAs and AlGaAs microcavities

The quality factors of modes in nearly identical GaAs and Al_{0.18}Ga_{0.82}As microdisks are tracked over three wavelength ranges centered at 980 nm, 1460 nm, and 1600 nm, with quality factors measured as high as 6.62x10^5 in the 1600-nm band. After accounting for surface scattering, the remaining loss is due to sub-bandgap absorption in the bulk and on the surfaces. We observe the absorption is, on average, 80 percent greater in AlGaAs than in GaAs and in both materials is 540 percent higher at 980 nm than at 1600nm.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, 1 table, minor changes to disucssion of Qrad and Urbach tai

Who Are Fashion Brand Fans? An Investigation of Antecedents and Outcomes of Brand Commitment

Strong emotional bonds between consumers and brands lead consumers to be involved, committed, and dedicated to brands (Fournier, 1998). These involved and committed consumers exhibit an intense level of loyalty behavior that remains regardless of the brand’s performance and/or situational influences (Oliver, 1999). Thus, manufacturers and retailers that provide consumers with self-reflective branded products (e.g., apparel, accessories) that enable consumers to develop affective bonds may garner more emotional loyalty than retailers and manufacturers that provide branded commodities (e.g., gasoline, bleach)

Postpartum Celebrity Images: Influence on Self- Thoughts and Appearance Management Behaviours of Postpartum Women

Within previous decades, opinions about pregnancy and post-partum behaviour featured in various news articles and within popular literature emphasized issues related to pregnancy and liquor; campaigns against teen pregnancy; pregnancy and weight gain; and pregnancy and dieting behaviour. Attention has shifted from these issues to appearance-related topics including rapid weight loss, exercise regiments and food restriction. For example, photographs of celebrities have provided visual evidence that women can gain weight during pregnancy, give birth and within weeks revert to a thin, pre-pregnant body size. A qualitative method was used to explore to what extent, if any, images of post-partum celebrity bodies influenced self-thoughts of non-celebrity post-partum mothers and their appearance management. A total of 35 women completed in-depth interviews. Viewing post-partum celebrity images stirred up emotions of jealousy, anxiety and frustration, often followed by statements of envy or justification. Most participants reported engaging in upward social comparison with images. However, most participants did not behave differently relative to their appearance management (i.e., dieting, exercise or dressing)

Rites of Passage: Debutante Balls in Filipino-American Culture

The debutante ball is a traditional Western ritual often designed to celebrate young women’s transition from childhood to adulthood. The word debut (i.e., to enter into society) comes from French language but came into use by the English during the reign of King George the 3rd (1760- 1820). From 1837 on, the young women were referred to as debutantes later shortened to debs (Haynes, 2005)

An Application of Web 3.0: Positive WOM for Mobile Location-Based Apparel Shopping Services Usage

Web 3.0 is defined as the next paradigm shift of the Internet taking the best of web 2.0, including rich Internet applications and social media, and bringing them to mobile Internet devices and digital signage. Web 3.0 trends include a shift to outernet, location-based experiences, and the use of voice recognition in search applications (Buscemi & Marks, 2010). Mobile location-based services (LBS) offer shoppers reward opportunities when they physically visit stores or scan certain items

Keeping Customers Shopping in the Store: Interrelationships among Store Attributes, Shopping Enjoyment, Place Attachment, and Store Loyalty

With consumers shifting to Internet and mobile shopping, the demand for brick and mortar store shopping has decreased and in response, several major U.S. retail chains have downsized the number of their physical retail operations (Farfan, 2013). Yet, retailers have not completely said good bye to stores. Indeed there may be several key store attributes that retailers’ can focus on and continue to develop if they are interested in keeping customers shopping and buying in brick and mortar stores

The Relationship between Quality Improvement and Health Information Technology Use in Local Health Departments

This research examined if there is a relationship between engagement in quality improvement (QI) and health information technology (HIT) for local health departments (LHDs) controlling for workforce, finance, population, and governance structure. This was a cross-sectional study that analyzed data obtained from the Core questions and Module 1 in the NACCHO 2010 Profile of LHDs. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and logistic regression analyses were conducted. Findings suggest that LHD engagement in QI has a relationship with utilization of HIT including electronic health records, practice management systems, and electronic syndromic surveillance systems. This study provides baseline information about the HIT use of LHDs. LHDs and their system partners (hospitals, federally qualified health centers, and primary care providers) that utilize HIT as part of their QI decision making may have an easier time of using data to support evidence-based decision making and implementing the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 in order to achieve population health for all

Latino Retail Entrepreneurship in Minnesota: Implications for Extension Educators

Minnesota has become a “new destination” state for Latino migrants in the United States. What has made Latinos in Minnesota successful? In a narrower sense, what has provided them with a route out of poverty and an alternative to unemployment or discrimination in the labor market? Our purpose was to (a) compile characteristics associated with the Latino community and successful Latino-owned retail businesses in Minnesota, (b) identify unique problems encountered by Latino retail entrepreneurs, and (c) develop recommendations to overcome obstacles encountered. To meet our objectives, we employed two methods: a Delphi study with Latino community leaders and a case study with Latino retail entrepreneurs. Implications for Extension educators are discussed