Spread spectrum communication link using surface wave devices

A fast lock-up, 8-MHz bandwidth 8,000 bit per second data rate spread spectrum communication link breadboard is described that is implemented using surface wave devices as the primary signal generators and signal processing elements. It uses surface wave tapped delay lines in the transmitter to generate the signals and in the receiver to detect them. The breadboard provides a measured processing gain for Gaussian noise of 31.5 dB which is within one dB of the theoretical optimum. This development demonstrates that spread spectrum receivers implemented with surface wave devices have sensitivities and complexities comparable to those of serial correlation receivers, but synchronization search times which are two to three orders of magnitude smaller

Fratelli Tutti: Pope Francis and the Catholic Response to Human Rights

On October 4, 2020, Pope Francis issued a letter to the world entitled Fratelli Tutti, On Fraternity and Social Friendship. The document served as a culmination of the Church’s response to the global pandemic, as well as the more considerable perils of throwaway culture. This presentation will explore the specific response of the Catholic Church as it attempts to counter destructive boundaries and structure of its institution. Pope Francis continues a tradition in pastoral response to the “signs of the times.” However, can the Church respond effectively in this current world? Or do the needed changes surpass the capability of Church doctrine? I will primarily use Fratelli Tutti and its highlighted aspects of Catholic Social Teaching to demonstrate the trajectory of the Catholic Church’s response to the current crisis, as well as human rights. What does it mean for a hierarchical leader, the Pope, to lead the institutional Church to welcome synods (a Church assembly for decisions) that voice those not heard from before now? Pope Francis advocates for a Church as a field hospital, meaning he expects Christians to heal those around them rather than condemn them. Ideally, this will lead to a Church that welcomes rather than excludes, that works to protect human rights rather than discriminate. Hopefully, this will lead to a Church that reaches beyond the margins and boundaries. Pope Francis has shown us that it is time to stand in solidarity with the rest of the world

Understanding Consumers\u27 Acceptance of Online Purchasing

This paper examines previous Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)-related studies in order to provide an expanded model that explains consumers’ acceptance of online purchasing. Our model provides extensions to the original TAM by including constructs such as social influence and voluntariness; it also examines the impact of external variables including trust, privacy, risk, and e-loyalty. We surveyed consumers in the United States and Australia. Our findings suggest that our expanded model serves as a very good predictor of consumers’ online purchasing behaviors. The linear regression model shows a respectable amount of variance for Behavioral Intention (R2 = .627). Suggestions are provided for the practitioner and ideas are presented for future research

Analysis of the Factors that Influence Online Purchasing

This paper reviews recent studies related to the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) in order to derive an extended model that examines online purchasing by consumers. Our model expands the original TAM by including additional constructs including privacy, trust, perceived risk, e-satisfaction, and e-loyalty. We surveyed over 1,850 consumers in the United States and Australia using an instrument that yielded respectable reliability and validity. The findings suggest that our expanded model serves as a very good predictor of consumers\u27 online purchasing behaviors. The linear regression model shows a substantial amount of variance explained for Behavioral Intention (R2 = .637). We also discover interesting but unexpected results that provide the need for future research. This paper adds to our understanding of the factors influencing online purchasing. Future researchers can refine our model and instrument to further explain consumers’ acceptance of Internet-based applications

Measuring the Acceptance of Internet Technology by Consumers

This research reviews studies using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to create a modified model and instrument to study the acceptance of Internet technology by consumers. We developed a modified TAM for the acceptance of Internet-based technologies by consumers. We retained the original constructs from the TAM and included additional constructs from previous literature including gender, experience, complexity, and voluntariness. We developed a survey instrument using existing scales from prior TAM instruments and modified them where appropriate. The instrument yielded respectable reliability and construct validity. The findings suggest that the modified TAM is a good predictor of consumer behavior in using the Internet. We found that attitude toward using the Internet acts as a strong predictor of behavioral intention to use, and actual usage of Internet technologies. Future researchers can use the resultant instrument to test how consumers adopt and accept Internet-based applications