The laminar-turbulent transition in a fibre laser

Studying the transition from a linearly stable coherent laminar state to a highly disordered state of turbulence is conceptually and technically challenging, and of great interest because all pipe and channel flows are of that type. In optics, understanding how a system loses coherence, as spatial size or the strength of excitation increases, is a fundamental problem of practical importance. Here, we report our studies of a fibre laser that operates in both laminar and turbulent regimes. We show that the laminar phase is analogous to a one-dimensional coherent condensate and the onset of turbulence is due to the loss of spatial coherence. Our investigations suggest that the laminar-turbulent transition in the laser is due to condensate destruction by clustering dark and grey solitons. This finding could prove valuable for the design of coherent optical devices as well as systems operating far from thermodynamic equilibrium

Decision-Framing Helps Make The Sale

The objective of this article is to demonstrate the relevance for marketing practitioners of the recent research findings concerning the decisionframing process. An overview of recent empirical research findings is presented along with a brief description of the theoretical rationale on which this research is based. Actual and hypothetical examples of the importance of this work on decisionframing are offered for consumer marketers and consumer research practitioners. Decision-making processes employed by consumers to choose among available alternatives have received a large amount of research attention from marketers over the past two decades. However, relatively little research effort has focused on how consumers initially “frame” the choice problem. The decision-frame is defined as the way in which the choice problem, the alternatives, and the perceived consequences associated with the selection of an alternative are perceived by the decision maker. For example, when business students are told that a proposed new business venture has an 80 percent chance of success, the majority of the students give the goahead; when the new business venture decision is framed so that it has a 20 percent chance of failure, the majority turn it down.7 Thus, such research indicates that the framing of the alternatives has a substantial impact on the choice among the available alternatives, even when the objective information about the options is invariant.3,8,16. © 1989, MCB UP Lt

Negative Emotions in Marketing Research: Affect or Artifact?

How similar are positive and negative affect? Are happiness and unhappiness opposite ends of the same continuum? Empirical marketing research generally reports separate positive and negative self-report consumer emotions. Recent research in social psychology calls this distinction into question and reasserts the bipolarity of human emotions. Despite the recent interest in consumer emotions among marketing researchers, the marketing literature has not addressed the issue directly. Two studies (n = 334 and n = 335) are reported that investigate this issue. The results suggest that positive and negative consumer emotions may sometimes, but not always, be distinct, and more importantly, suggest further studies. Additionally evidence is presented that suggests that the respondent task may moderate correlations between positive and negative consumer emotions. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc

A Modified Scale for the Measurement of Communication-Evoked Mental Imagery

This article details the stages in developing a multiitem communication-evoked imagery processing scale. It builds on the foundation provided by Ellen and Bone (1991) by proposing three dimensions of imagery processing: vividness, quantity, and elaboration. Scale development procedures advocated by Churchill (1979) and techniques described by Gerbing and Anderson (1988) are applied. Qualitative and quantitative methods are employed. Face validity of the theoretical structure and items is assessed by consulting experts and employing judging procedures, respectively. Evaluation of the items is done across two separate samples in which reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and nomological validity are exhibited. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc

Effects of Print Ad Pictures and Copy Containing Instructions to Imagine on Mental Imagery That Mediates Attitudes

Results of an experimental study in a print advertising context suggest that two imagery-eliciting strategies, use of pictures and use of copy containing instructions to imagine, stimulate mental imagery processing, which in turn influences attitudinal judgments. Specifically, an ad containing a concrete picture of a product in use was more effective in stimulating vivid visual imagery processing and favorably influencing attitude toward the advertisement and brand than either an ad containing a considerably less concrete picture or one without a picture. Copy containing instructions to imagine also stimulated vivid and elaborate visual imagery processing and enhanced attitudes. Tests for mediation indicate that mental imagery processing explains all or some of the direct effects of the two imagery-eliciting strategies\u27 influence on attitudes

The Operation of Visual-Imagery as a Mediator of Advertising Effects

Advertising strategists should be interested in visual imagery because it may represent a useful way to shape consumers\u27 impressions. A framework is tested which casts visual imagery as a mediating factor and individual differences, such as style of processing, as potential moderators of certain advertising strategies which elicit attitude and intentions differences in consumers. Results indicate that the vividness of visual imagery does operate as a latent cognitive construct when concrete wording is used in advertising copy. Instructions to imagine, however, are not found to induce visual imagery. It is concluded that visual imagery vividness has the potential to trace consumers\u27 mental reactions to certain advertising strategies and to explain attitudinal and intentions consequences. Finally, suggestions for future research are discussed

A Framework Providing Direction for Research on Communications Effects of Mental Imagery-Evoking Advertising Strategies

The authors review mental imagery research related to advertising strategy and observe that both within- and across-strategy research is lacking. A framework positing predictor, criterion, mediator and moderator variables is proposed as an appropriate frame of reference. The mediating role of mental imagery between advertising strategy alternatives and communications effects is highlighted, and while some scale development has taken place, a rigorous scale development process, along with the recommended framework, could lead to much better understanding of the consumer information processing dynamics involved with imagery-evoking advertising strategies

Teaching Portfolios: Uses and Development

There is a trend in higher education to take teaching more seriously. Concurrent with this trend is a shift in undergraduate education from an instructional paradigm where the emphasis is on delivering instruction and transferring knowledge to a learning paradigm where the emphasis is on designing, developing, and creating a powerful learning environment. With these trends comes the dilemma of how to evaluate and improve teaching effectiveness. This has contributed to the growing popularity of the teaching portfolio. This article explores the concept and usefulness of a teaching portfolio for marketing educators. By defining a teaching portfolio, describing its uses, and providing guidelines for developing a teaching portfolio, the authors hope to encourage the implementation of teaching portfolios by marketing educators. © 2002, Sage Publications. All rights reserved