Nucleation in dilute 3He-4He liquid mixtures at low temperatures

We present a study of phase separation from supersaturated 3He-4He liquid mixtures at low temperatures addressing both the degree of critical supersaturation Dx and the thermal-to-quantum crossover temperature T* for the nucleation process. Two different nucleation seeds are investigated, namely 3He droplets and 4He vortex lines with cores filled with 3He. We have found that the experimental T* is reproduced when we consider that nucleation proceeds from 3He droplets, whereas Dx is reproduced when we consider 4He vortex lines filled with 3He. However, neither nucleation configuration is able to simultaneously reproduce the current experimental information on Dx and T*.Comment: To appear in J. of Low Temp. Physic

Employees as customers - an internal marketing study of the Avis Motor Vehicle Rental Group in South Africa.

The purpose of the paper is to investigate the mutually beneficial nature of establishing long term relationships with employees as internal customers of the business. The target population for this study was 225 Avis motor vehicle rental branch managers in South Africa. A total of 155 managers of Avis branches participated through structured, personal interviews in the completion of questionnaires. Data analysis was done by calculating averages and standard deviations, Explorative Factor Analysis, Cronbach Alpha-values and practical significance by means of effect sizes. The findings of the study stipulate that a more coherent attempt must be made to improve the level of internal communication between the managers of Avis motor vehicle rental branches and their employees. This creates an environment within the Avis motor vehicle rental group that promotes mutual respect, trust and concern between management and employees

The customer market practices of the travel agency industry in the Gauteng Province of South Africa

Relationship marketing stresses the importance of continuous interaction between the seller and the buyer in order to cultivate a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship. High interest rates, increasing prices of basic goods and services and a weakening rand has reduced consumer spending on domestic and international travel. Therefore, there is continued pressure on South African travel suppliers to review their current relationship marketing practices to secure customer retention in a competitive and volatile travel market. The purpose of the article is to indicate the current status of the customer market practices of the travel agency industry in Gauteng, and to provide recommendations to the management of travel agencies in the province regarding the improved application of the principles of relationship marketing. The target population for this study was 280 travel agencies of which 170 managers and/or owners participated through personal interviews in the completion of questionnaires. The findings of the study indicate that the owners and managers of travel agencies must create an environment which is more accessible for the critical interaction with customers. The loyalty of customers can be increased when customers are provided with the opportunity to share their experiences and comments with the travel agency in an interactive manner

A management perspective on the current status of referral marketing in the property selling industry

Increasing role specialization and the partial disintegration of the traditional family structure, social groups, as well as community entities have led buyers (consumers and businesses alike) to search for expert advice on products and services that has been provided informally through local social networks, as family members and peers. Marketing practitioners and theorists also routinely cite the power of the personal referral on customer behaviour. However, relatively few businesses have tried to harness the power of word-of-mouth (WOM). The purpose of the article is to indicate what the current status is of the relationships which estate agencies in the Gauteng Province, South Africa have with their referral market, and to provide recommendations to the management of estate agencies in the province regarding the improved application of the principles of relationship marketing to this market. The target population for this study was 1025 estate agencies, of which 250 managers and/or owners participated through personal interviews in the completion of questionnaires. Data analysis was done by calculating averages and standard deviations, Cronbach -values, p-values, the paired sample T-test, as well as standard marginal homogeneity test statistics. To strengthen their position in a highly competitive industry, estate agencies need to identify positive word-of-mouth referrers who can form part of their marketing strategy. Information pertaining to the products and services of the estate agency can be provided to these individuals to develop their value-added advantage to the marketing strategy of the business. Finally, estate agencies in Gauteng also need to provide customers with products (that is, property) and service delivery of a high quality. As a result, the estate agency can secure that the communication of their customers to the general public will ensure that the latter will purchase the products and services of the estate agency

Mercury deposition in southern New Hampshire, 2006–2009

The atmospheric deposition of mercury (Hg) occurs via several mechanisms including wet, dry, and occult processes. In an effort to understand the atmospheric cycling and seasonal depositional characteristics of Hg, event-based wet deposition samples and reactive gaseous Hg (RGM) measurements were collected for approximately 3 years at Thompson Farm (TF), a near-coastal rural site in Durham, NH, part of the University of New Hampshire AIRMAP Observing Network. Total aqueous mercury exhibited seasonal patterns in Hg wet deposition at TF. The lowest Hg wet deposition was measured in the winter with an average total seasonal deposition of 1.56 μg m−2compared to the summer average of 4.71 μg m−2. Inter-annual differences in total wet deposition are generally linked with precipitation volume, with the greatest deposition occurring in the wettest year. Relationships between surface level RGM and Hg wet deposition were also investigated based on continuous RGM measurements at TF from November 2006 to September 2009. No correlations were observed between RGM mixing ratios and Hg wet deposition, however the ineffective scavenging of RGM during winter precipitation events was evidenced by the less frequent depletion of RGM below the detection level. Seasonal dry deposition of reactive gaseous Hg (RGM) was estimated using an order-of-magnitude approach. RGM mixing ratios and dry deposition estimates were greatest during the winter and spring. The seasonal ratios of Hg wet deposition to RGM dry deposition vary by up to a factor of 80