Showing papers by "Mississippi State University published in 2005"
TL;DR: In this paper, the current state of the steam reforming process of ethanol, examines different catalysts, and makes a comparative analysis, and concludes that Co/ZnO, ZnO+Al2O3, Co/CeO2, Ni/La 2O3−Ni/La2O2−Al2E3, and Ni/E3−E2E2−E3 performed the best in terms of steam reforming of ethanol.
Abstract: Hydrogen is considered to be the most viable energy carrier for the future. Producing hydrogen from ethanol steam reforming would not only be environmentally friendly but also would open new opportunities for utilization of renewable resources, which are globally available. This paper reviews the current state of the steam reforming process of ethanol, examines different catalysts, and, finally, makes a comparative analysis. Different catalysts have been used for the steam reforming of ethanol. Depending on the type of catalysts, reaction conditions, and the catalyst preparation method, ethanol conversion and hydrogen production vary greatly. It was observed that Co/ZnO, ZnO, Rh/Al2O3, Rh/CeO2, and Ni/La2O3−Al2O3 performed the best, in regard to the steam reforming of ethanol. Currently, hydrogen production from ethanol steam reforming is still in the research and development stage.
1,255 citations
TL;DR: This paper found that first-generation students tended to be less engaged and gained less from college than their counterparts with college-educated parents did, due to having lower educational aspirations and living off campus.
Abstract: Students who are the first in their family to attend college are less likely to graduate compared to students with one or both parents who have baccalaureate degrees. However, surprisingly little is known about the college experiences of first-generation students. This study examined the self-reported college experiences of 1,127 first-year students at a variety of four-year colleges and universities. First-generation students tended to be less engaged and gained less from college than their counterparts with college-educated parents did. These differences were primarily due to first-generation students having lower educational aspirations and living off campus.
730 citations
TL;DR: Nitrogen deficiency significantly reduced LA, leaf Chl content and Pn, resulting in lower biomass production, and decreased leaf Pn due to N deficiency was mainly associated with lower stomatal conductance rather than carboxylation capacity of leaf chemistry.
485 citations
TL;DR: An assessment of the proposed methodology indicates that its adoption in MIS research would greatly improve the rigor of construct development projects and its performance when compared to a number of prominent standards for assessing construct development research.
Abstract: This paper presents a comprehensive methodology for developing constructs in MIS research. It is applicable to both individual and organizational levels of analysis, depending on the nature of the concept under study. The methodology is presented as a research guide progressing through three stages: (1) domain definition, (2) instrument construction, and (3) evaluation of measurement properties. The methodology addresses six key measurement properties (content validity, factorial validity, reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity, nomological validity), which are discussed in detail. An assessment of the proposed methodology indicates that its adoption in MIS research would greatly improve the rigor of construct development projects. This is evidenced by the wide range of quality publications that have used its techniques and its performance when compared to a number of prominent standards for assessing construct development research.
443 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used a multiquadric response surface (MRSM) and a radial basis function (RBF) for multiobjective optimization of a vehicle body in frontal collision.
415 citations
TL;DR: The authors argue that the social system of the family creates a synechotomy between family and business, and that the combination of families and business creates a need for trade-offs in family demands.
Abstract: While some researchers propose that the combination of family and business creates a need for trade–offs in family and business demands, we argue that the social system of the family creates a syne...
396 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a qualitative study was conducted to determine the sources of delightful and terrible shopping experiences for retail shoppers, and critical incident analysis of 113 depth interviews with shoppers revealed several factors associated with delightful or terrible shopping experience and the resulting consequences from these experiences.
387 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the degree of spatial variability of soil has been investigated and the extent of surface spatial analysis and interpretation of the variability of soils has been studied, including the distribution of subsurface and stone in site-specific farming.
Abstract: ited on sandy or on loamy sediments. Therefore, it is important to study not only the extent of surface spatial Analysis and interpretation of spatial variability of soils is a keyvariability, but also the distribution of subsurface and stone in site-specific farming. Soil survey maps may have up to 0.41ha inclusions of dissimilar soils within a mapping unit. The objectives deep soil horizons. of this study were to determine the degree of spatial variability of soil Among the various soil physical properties, Ks and physical properties and variance structure, and to model the sampling related measures are reported to have the highest statisinterval of alluvial floodplain soils. Soil profiles (n 209) from 18 tical variability (Biggar and Nielsen, 1976). Bouma parallel transects were sampled with a mean separation distance of (1973) stressed the need for more studies on field vari79.4 m. Each profile was classified into surface, subsurface, and deep ability of Ks and soil water retention curves. Stockton horizons. Structural analysis of soil bulk density (b), sand, clay, satu- and Warrick (1971) indicated that variability in K s is rated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), volumetric water content (v )a t both a function of soil depth and position in the landseven pressure potentials (a )( 1, 10, 33, 67, 100, 500, and scape, as well as experimental errors in measuring Ks. 1500 kPa) were modeled for the three horizons. Variance of soil Cameron (1978) sampled clay loam soils at six depths physical properties varied from as low as 0.01% (b) to as high as
352 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined whether consumers' evaluations of an ad's credibility can enhance, and perceptions of manipulative intent can disrupt, the emotional response intended by the advertiser.
344 citations
TL;DR: Distinctive family firms are unique organizational forms as a result of the interactions between family members, the family, and the business as mentioned in this paper, and distinctive families have been used as a notion to encompass these interactions and the consequent systemic synergies that could lead to competitive advantages.
Abstract: Family firms are unique organizational forms as a result of the interactions between family members, the family, and the business. Distinctive familiness has been used as a notion to encompass these interactions and the consequent systemic synergies that could lead to competitive advantages. This introduction discusses the notion and reviews the papers and commentaries in this special issue within the context of their contributions to our understanding of the possible sources and consequences of distinctive familiness.
327 citations
TL;DR: This paper explored whether it is possible to create a typology of institutions based on students' experiences, and the types were somewhat independent of institutional mission (i.e., Carnegie classification).
Abstract: The Carnegie classification system has served as a framework for research on colleges and universities for more than 30 years. Today, the system’s developers are exploring criteria that more effectively differentiate among institutions. One approach being considered is classifying institutions based on students’ educational experiences. This study explored whether it is possible to create a typology of institutions based on students’ experiences. Results indicated that such a typology could be created, and the types were somewhat independent of institutional mission (i.e., Carnegie classification)
TL;DR: This paper found that risk preferences elicited through context-less lottery choices are significantly related to consumers' stated preferences for genetically modified (GM) food, which has important implications for explaining consumer behavior.
Abstract: Consumers' risk preferences are often overlooked in studies of consumer demand for risky food. We find that risk preferences elicited through context-less lottery choices are significantly related to consumers' stated preferences for genetically modified (GM) food. These results suggest risk preferences elicited in the laboratory are not artificial in the sense that they appear to be related to the same risk preferences that govern other individual decisions such as food choice. Consistent with theoretical expectations, risk perceptions and risk preferences were found to be significant determinants of acceptance of GM food, which has important implications for explaining consumer behavior.
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of the congruity between the product foci of the advertiser and the Web site, as well as banner color and banner color-text color contrast on measures of attention (i.e., recall and recognition) and attitudes toward the ad and the web site were investigated.
Abstract: Gaining consumers' attention and generating favorable attitudes are two key advertising objectives. Using two experiments in an on-line environment, we consider the effects of the congruity between the product foci of the advertiser and the Web site, as well as banner color and banner color-text color contrast on measures of attention (i.e., recall and recognition) and attitudes toward the ad and the Web site. Experiment 1 results indicate that incongruity has a more favorable effect on recall and recognition, whereas congruity has more favorable effects on attitudes. Experiment 2 results suggest that when ads generate sufficient attention to gain recall or recognition, moderate congruity offers the most favorable attitudes toward the ad. Managerial implications for the use of these ad execution cues are discussed and future research avenues are proposed.
TL;DR: It is concluded that higher pollen germination percentages and longer pollen tubes under optimum conditions and with optimum temperatures above 32 degrees C for pollen Germination would indicate tolerance to high temperature.
TL;DR: Surgical technique can influence limb function after surgery and Labrador Retrievers treated via LSS, ICS, or TPLO for repair for of RCCL and medial meniscal injury managed with partial or complete meniscectomy infrequently achieve normal function.
Abstract: Objective—To determine the outcome and effect of surgical technique on limb function after surgery for rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament (RCCL) and injury to the medial meniscus in Labrador Retrievers. Study Design—Prospective clinical study. Animals—131 Labrador Retrievers with unilateral RCCL and injury to the medial meniscus and 17 clinically normal Labrador Retrievers. Procedure—Affected dogs had partial or complete medial meniscectomy and lateral suture stabilization (LSS), intracapsular stabilization (ICS), or tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). Limb function was measured before surgery and 2 and 6 months after surgery. Treated dogs were evaluated to determine the probability that they could be differentiated from clinically normal dogs and tested to determine the likelihood that they achieved improvement. Results—No difference was found between LSS or TPLO groups, but dogs treated with ICS had significantly lower ground reaction forces at 2 and 6 months. Compared with clinically normal...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examine the development and influence that customer-to-customer interactions (CCI) have in a high personal contact setting, using responses from patrons of different hair salons, the role that salon atmospherics had on the formation of CCI was assessed.
Abstract: Purpose – To empirically examine the development and influence that customer‐to‐customer interactions (CCI) have in a high personal contact setting.Design/methodology/approach – Using responses from patrons of different hair salons, the role that salon atmospherics had on the formation of CCI was assessed. Then, the relative influence of CCI on satisfaction with the firm, loyalty to the firm and firm word‐of‐mouth, in a model of service outcomes, was examined.Findings – Results indicate that atmospherics do influence CCI, which in turn is a strong predictor of loyalty to the firm and positive word‐of‐mouth.Research limitations/implications – Care should be taken when generalizing these findings to other service settings. It should be noted that all female respondents were generally more educated and had higher incomes than the general population.Practical implications – This study suggests that positive perceptions of atmospherics will lead to positive CCI effects. If managers determine that they would li...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors further developed a theory of guided preparation and new venture performance and tested its fundamental relationships on a sample of 159 new ventures that received outsider assistance 5-9 years earlier and had been in business for 3-8 years.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examine new challenges and barriers for online instructors, highlight major themes prevalent in the literature related to quality control or assurance in online education, and provide practical strategies for instructors to design and deliver effective online instruction.
Abstract: With a growing number of courses offered online and degrees offered through the Internet, there is a considerable interest in online education, particularly as it relates to the quality of online instruction. The major concerns are centering on the following questions: What will be the new role for instructors in online education? How will students' learning outcomes be assured and improved in online learning environment? How will effective communication and interaction be established with students in the absence of face-to-face instruction? How will instructors motivate students to learn in the online learning environment? This paper will examine new challenges and barriers for online instructors, highlight major themes prevalent in the literature related to “quality control or assurance” in online education, and provide practical strategies for instructors to design and deliver effective online instruction. Recommendations will be made on how to prepare instructors for quality online instruction.
TL;DR: The differences in sensitivity identified among genotypes imply the options for selecting genotypes with tolerance to environmental stresses projected to occur in the future climates.
Abstract: Plant reproduction is highly vulnerable to global climate change components such as carbon dioxide concentration ([CO(2)]), temperature (T), and ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of season-long exposure to treatments of [CO(2)] at 360 (control) and 720 micromol mol(-1) (+CO(2)), temperature at 30/22 degrees C (control) and 38/30 degrees C (+T) and UV-B radiation 0 (control) and 10 kJ m(-2) d(-1) (+UV-B) on flower and pollen morphology, pollen production, germination, and tube lengths of six soybean genotypes (D 88-5320, D 90-9216, Stalwart III, PI 471938, DG 5630RR, and DP 4933RR) in sunlit, controlled environment chambers. The control treatment had 360 micromol mol(-1) [CO(2)] at 30/22 degrees C and 0 kJ UV-B. Plants grown either at +UV-B or +T, alone or in combination, produced smaller flowers with shorter standard petal and staminal column lengths. Flowers so produced had less pollen with poor pollen germination and shorter tube lengths. Pollen produced by the flowers of these plants appeared shrivelled without apertures and with disturbed exine ornamentation even at +CO(2) conditions. The damaging effects of +T and +UV-B were not ameliorated by +CO(2) conditions. Based on the total stress response index (TSRI), pooled individual component responses over all the treatments, the genotypes were classified as tolerant (DG 5630RR, D 88-5320: TSRI >-790), intermediate (D 90-9216, PI 471938: TSRI -1026), and sensitive (Stalwart III, DP 4933RR: TSRI <-1026). The differences in sensitivity identified among genotypes imply the options for selecting genotypes with tolerance to environmental stresses projected to occur in the future climates.
TL;DR: In this article, the sequences of four complete genes were analyzed in order to determine the relatedness of koi herpesvirus (KHV) to three fish viruses in the family Herpesviridae.
Abstract: The sequences of four complete genes were analysed in order to determine the relatedness of koi herpesvirus (KHV) to three fish viruses in the family Herpesviridae: carp pox herpesvirus (Cyprinid herpesvirus 1, CyHV-1), haematopoietic necrosis herpesvirus of goldfish (Cyprinid herpesvirus 2, CyHV-2) and channel catfish virus (Ictalurid herpesvirus 1, IcHV-1). The genes were predicted to encode a helicase, an intercapsomeric triplex protein, the DNA polymerase and the major capsid protein. The results showed that KHV is related closely to CyHV-1 and CyHV-2, and that the three cyprinid viruses are related, albeit more distantly, to IcHV-1. Twelve KHV isolates from four diverse geographical areas yielded identical sequences for a region of the DNA polymerase gene. These findings, with previously published morphological and biological data, indicate that KHV should join the group of related lower-vertebrate viruses in the family Herpesviridae under the formal designation Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3).
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe the theoretical and methodological reasons for the inconsistent findings on the value of strategic consensus and suggest the need for definitions of consensus that align the locus and content of agreement with the study context and theoretical premises.
Proceedings Article•
30 Jul 2005TL;DR: A bounded policy iteration algorithm for infinite-horizon decentralized POMDPs is presented, which uses a fixed amount of memory, and each iteration is guaranteed to produce a controller with value at least as high as the previous one for all possible initial state distributions.
Abstract: We present a bounded policy iteration algorithm for infinite-horizon decentralized POMDPs. Policies are represented as joint stochastic finite-state controllers, which consist of a local controller for each agent. We also let a joint controller include a correlation device that allows the agents to correlate their behavior without exchanging information during execution, and show that this leads to improved performance. The algorithm uses a fixed amount of memory, and each iteration is guaranteed to produce a controller with value at least as high as the previous one for all possible initial state distributions. For the case of a single agent, the algorithm reduces to Poupart and Boutilier's bounded policy iteration for POMDPs.
TL;DR: The results indicate that increasing the density beyond 30 kg/m2 elicited some negative effects on live performance of heavy broilers, partially explained by less feed consumption.
TL;DR: In this paper, a simple method of estimating the heterogeneity variance in a random-effects model for meta-analysis is proposed, which is simple and easy to calculate and has improved bias compared with the most common estimator used in random effects meta analysis.
Abstract: Summary. A simple method of estimating the heterogeneity variance in a random-effects model for meta-analysis is proposed. The estimator that is presented is simple and easy to calculate and has improved bias compared with the most common estimator used in random-effects meta-analysis, particularly when the heterogeneity variance is moderate to large. In addition, it always yields a non-negative estimate of the heterogeneity variance, unlike some existing estimators. We find that random-effects inference about the overall effect based on this heterogeneity variance estimator is more reliable than inference using the common estimator, in terms of coverage probability for an interval estimate.
TL;DR: This study compares trust-related perceptions of an emerging IT between the United States of America and the Republic of South Africa and suggests that when cultural diversity is large, trust becomes of lesser importance.
Abstract: To trust means to have expectations about others’ (the trustees’) socially acceptable behavior. One of the central effects of this trust in the context of IT adoption is to increase the perceived usefulness (PU) of Information Technology (IT) associated with the trustee’s agency. One way of increasing this trust is through greater sociocultural similarity. Taking previous research into the realm of electronic voting, this chapter posits that because trust is culture-dependent, it should decrease considerably as cultural diversity and differentiation increases. To investigate the role of trust in IT adoption in different cultures where dissimilar concepts of socially acceptable behavior exist, this study compares trust-related perceptions of an emerging IT (i.e., electronic voting) between the United States of America (USA) and the Republic of South Africa (RSA). More specifically, the question was addressed by comparing the unique circumstances of the cultural changes in the RSA with the more socially integrated mainstream USA culture. In both cultures, a perceived sociocultural similarity between the individual and the agency in charge of the electronic voting IT contributed to both the establishment of trust and to an increase in the perceived usefulness of the IT, supporting and extending the extrapolations of past propositions to this new realm. However, only in the USA did trust contribute to the PU of the IT. The results suggest that when cultural diversity is large, trust becomes of lesser importance, perhaps because it can no longer reduce social uncertainty. Implications for researchers and governmental voting agencies are discussed, and future research directions are proposed.
TL;DR: Encouraging results are provided that show the potential of RL for application to agent-based production scheduling in manufacturing systems as well as three example cases in which the best dispatching rules have been previously defined.
TL;DR: A fiber optic relative humidity (RH) sensor based on the evanescent wave absorption spectroscopy using a single U-bend plastic-clad silica fiber with high dynamic range and high sensitivity was reported in this article.
Abstract: We report a fiber optic relative humidity (RH) sensor based on the evanescent wave absorption spectroscopy using a single U-bend plastic-clad silica fiber with high dynamic range and high sensitivity. The sensor is fabricated using a CoCl 2 doped thin polymer film coated on the bare fiber core. A comprehensive study of the sensor was made in terms of performance optimization. Sensor response was investigated in terms of the chemically synthesized cladding thickness over the centrally de-cladded U-bent probe. The effect of fiber core diameter on the sensitivity was also studied and the fiber with smaller core diameter was observed to be more sensitive unlike the previously reported results. In addition, we observed that the sensor was having a very fast response to the relative humidity, and was fully reversible, repeatable with a large dynamic range.
TL;DR: Physiological and morphological changes of Zn-treated plants included a significant decrease in relative water content, dry weight and plant height, while Cd at higher concentrations resulted in structural changes only in stems and roots, and higher Zn (ZnT3 and ZnT4), Cd (CdT4) and Cd
TL;DR: A rule-based framework for the development of scalable parallel high performance simulations for a broad class of scientific applications (with particular emphasis on continuum mechanics) and demonstrates predictable performance behavior and efficient utilization of large scale distributed memory architectures on problems of significant complexity involving multiple disciplines.
Abstract: We present a rule-based framework for the development of scalable parallel high performance simulations for a broad class of scientific applications (with particular emphasis on continuum mechanics). We take a pragmatic approach to our programming abstractions by implementing structures that are used frequently and have common high performance implementations on distributed memory architectures. The resulting framework borrows heavily from rule-based systems for relational database models, however limiting the scope to those parts that have obvious high performance implementation. Using our approach, we demonstrate predictable performance behavior and efficient utilization of large scale distributed memory architectures on problems of significant complexity involving multiple disciplines.
TL;DR: The primary purposes of this study were to determine the effect of dual sensory loss (i.e. combined hearing and vision loss) on depressive symptoms, and to determine whether persons withDual sensory loss were more likely than those with a single sensory loss to experience depressive symptoms.
Abstract: Objectives
The primary purposes of this study were to determine the effect of dual sensory loss (i.e. combined hearing and vision loss) on depressive symptoms, to determine whether dual sensory loss has an effect on depressive symptoms when controlling for common covariates of depression, and to determine whether persons with dual sensory loss were more likely than those with a single sensory loss to experience depressive symptoms.
Design
Secondary analyses of 2001 National Health Interview Survey data.
Participants
Nine thousand eight hundred and thirty-two people aged 55 and older residing in the community in the US.
Measurements
Self-report answers to questions about hearing and vision status, depressive symptoms, health, education level, poverty, social activities, social support, and functional disability (ADL and IADL status).
Results
Dual sensory loss had a significant effect on depressive symptoms (OR: 3.2, 95% CI: 2.8–4.0), which was lowered but still significant after controlling for covariates of depression (OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.7–2.9). Those with dual sensory loss were not significantly more likely than those with vision loss, but were significantly more likely than those with hearing loss, to experience symptoms of depression.
Conclusion
Experiencing depressive symptoms is a problem that needs to be addressed with elderly persons with dual sensory loss. Not only is this population more likely to experience these symptoms, because of their sensory losses treatment for them may be problematical. Professionals working with the elderly should be aware of the increased risks of depressive symptoms in those with single or dual sensory loss, and should screen for them. If present, rehabilitation for sensory losses may help decrease them. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.