Digital Commons Network^™

Modelling Non-Euclideanmovement And Landscape Connectivity In Highly Structured Ecological Networks, Chris Sutherland, Angela Fuller, J. Royle

Environmental Conservation Faculty Publication Series

1. Movement is influenced by landscape structure, configuration and geometry, but measuring distance as perceived by animals poses technical and logistical challenges. Instead, movement is typically measured using Euclidean distance, irrespective of location or landscape structure, or is based on arbitrary cost surfaces. Arecently proposed extension of spatial capture-recapture (SCR)models resolves this issue using spatial encounterhistories of individuals to calculate least-cost paths (ecological distance: Ecology, 94, 2013, 287) thereby relaxingthe Euclidean assumption. We evaluate the consequences of not accounting for movement heterogeneity whenestimating abundance in highly structured landscapes, and demonstrate the value of this approach for estimatingbiologically realistic space-use patterns …

Review Of The Etruscan World, Ed. By Jean Macintosh Turfa, Theresa Huntsman

Rasenna: Journal of the Center for Etruscan Studies

No abstract provided.

Does Footfall Pattern In Forefoot Runners Change Over A Prolonged Run?, Carl W. Jewell

Masters Theses

There has been much debate on the benefits of a forefoot versus rearfoot strike pattern in distance running in terms of performance and injury prevalence. Shock attenuation occurs more prominently in soft tissues at impact in forefoot runners compared to the passive skeletal loading in rearfoot runners. Recent studies indicate that a forefoot strike pattern may not be maintainable over long distance efforts. Therefore, this study tested the hypothesis that habitual forefoot runners could not maintain their strike pattern throughout a prolonged, intensive run.

Fourteen forefoot runners ran to voluntary exhaustion on an instrumented force treadmill (average run duration: 15.4±2.2 …

Parents' Gender Ideology And Gendered Behavior As Predictors Of Children's Gender-Role Attitudes: A Longitudinal Exploration, Hillary Paul Halpern

Masters Theses

This longitudinal study examined the association between parents’ early and concurrent gender ideology and gendered behaviors and their children’s gender-role attitudes at age six. Specifically, parents' global beliefs about women's and men's "rightful" roles in society, as well as their work preferences for mothers, were considered in relation to the gender-role attitudes held by their first-graders. In addition, parents’ gendered behaviors, including their division of household and childcare tasks, division of paid work hours, and job traditionality were examined as predictors of children’s gender-role attitudes. Based on previous research, it was hypothesized parents’ early and concurrent behavior and ideology would …

A Note From The Editors, Robin Anderson, Tanner Mirrlees

Democratic Communiqué

No abstract provided.

Finite Symmetries Of S^4, Weimin Chen Chen, Slawomir Kwasik, Reinhard Shultz

Weimin Chen

This paper discusses topological and locally linear actions of finite groups on S4. Local linearity of the orientation preserving actions on S4 forces the group to be a subgroup of SO(5). On the other hand, orientation reversing topological actions of “exotic” groups G (i.e. G 6⊂ O(5)) on S4 are constructed, and local linearity and stable smoothability of the actions are studied.

The Influence Of Customer Perceptions On Financial Performance In Hospitality Organizations: An Empirical Study, Girish K. Nair

Journal of Hospitality Financial Management

The purpose of this study is to develop and empirically test a model that examines the relationship between customer perceptions and financial performance in hospitality organizations. A survey has been undertaken in hospitality organizations with a sample size of 387 based on simple random sampling. Meta-analysis of literature was the basis for developing the metric that included the variables constituting the hypothetical research model. The tool used for data analysis was structural equation modeling with partial least square technique. Results indicate that both the product- and nonproduct-related attributes have positive and significant influence on symbolic benefits and experiential benefits, which …

Burgers, Donuts, Finance, Politics, And Yo, Agnes L. Defranco

Journal of Hospitality Financial Management

Is tax inversion the next new financial strategy for hotels and restaurants in the U.S.? With Burger King and Tim Hortons’ announcement, the stock prices of both companies have seen an increase. This article addresses the concept of tax inversion and highlights its effects on the corporations involved, the shareholders, the industry, the regular consumers, and the government.

Abstracts Of Presentations At The 2013 Annual Ahfme Research Symposium

Journal of Hospitality Financial Management

No abstract provided.

2014- A Year In Review For Hotel Firms, Atul Sheel

Journal of Hospitality Financial Management

No abstract provided.

Factors Influencing Fixed Assets Investments In The U.S. Hospitality Industries, Joohno Moon, Amit Sharma

Journal of Hospitality Financial Management

Although investments in fixed assets are important aspects of financial management, there are few studies focusing on this aspect of corporate finance in the hospitality literature. This study investigates factors that affect investment in fixed assets in both the lodging and restaurant industries. Investment in fixed assets for lodging firms was found to be negatively influenced by financial leverage; however, liquidity ratio had a positive relationship to investments. Particularly in the restaurant industry, financial leverage and firm size showed a negative relationship to investment in fixed assets, whereas profitability and liquidity ratios had a significant positive relationship with restaurant investment …

Factors That Impact Unsystematic Risk In The U.S. Restaurant Industry, Michael Dalbor, Nan Hua, William Andrew

Journal of Hospitality Financial Management

The purpose of this research is to explore the relationship between restaurant management factors and the unsystematic risk portion of restaurant stock returns. The riskiness of the restaurant business has been brought to the forefront of popular culture through a number of reality television shows. Although the riskiness of the business overall has been exaggerated, these shows highlight the importance of the ability of the ownermanager. We examine three critical areas of restaurant management, including financial management, operations management, and firm size, and find that all are significantly related to a firm’s unsystematic risk.

Settling For Less: The Institutionalization Of The Hotel Feasibility Study, Demaian Hodari, David Samson

Journal of Hospitality Financial Management

Hotel feasibility studies play an important role in the hotel development process as hotel developers, lenders, and operators all require an analysis of a hotel’s projected operating performance and the ensuing financial returns. Such studies are rarely effective, however, at predicting future performance. Although scholars and practitioners have repeatedly recommended numerous improvements to correct their methodological weaknesses and improve their accuracy, few changes have been incorporated. This study’s purpose was to identify the underlying reasons why the methodological improvements identified in previous studies have not been undertaken. The research employed a qualitative methodology based on interviews with leading hotel owners, …

Link Between Executive Stock Ownership And Corporate Financial Performance, Francis A. Kwansa, Yun Song, Aparna Sharma, Yawen Gong

Journal of Hospitality Financial Management

This study examined the relationship between executive stock ownership and the financial performance of firms in the hospitality industry. The study sample included 30 public hospitality companies listed on NASDAQ, all of which had 14 years of complete financial data. The study used the Pearson correlation and linear regression analysis to test the relationship in the hotel segment, the restaurant segment, and the combined hospitality segment. The results show there is no statistically significant positive relationship between executive stock ownership and firm profit in the hotel segment, whereas in the restaurant segment, there is a negative linear relationship. Furthermore, the …

Ropelength Criticality, Jason Cantarella, Joseph H.G. Fu, Robert B. Kusner, John M. Sullivan

Robert Kusner

The ropelength problem asks for the minimum-length configuration of a knotted diameter-one tube embedded in Euclidean three-space. The core curve of such a tube is called a tight knot, and its length is a knot invariant measuring complexity. In terms of the core curve, the thickness constraint has two parts: an upper bound on curvature and a self-contact condition.

We give a set of necessary and sufficient conditions for criticality with respect to this constraint, based on a version of the Kuhn–Tucker theorem that we established in previous work. The key technical difficulty is to compute the derivative of thickness …

Leadership Profile: Conrad Hilton, Morgan Bailey, Juan Mendez, Jianwu Zhai

Perspectives in Asian Leisure and Tourism

Conrad HIlton was a pioneer in the lodging industry, building an international hotel company that spanned continents. Today, his firm has hotels across Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Africa. His leadership style was visionary for both the times and the lodging industry, and he has left a lasting mark on the world through his leadership, vision, and personal philanthropy. This is one of five profiles of leaders in the hospitality and tourism industries.

Leadership Styles And Asian Tourism, Atcharee Alongkornpradap, Morgan Bailey, Brianna Coyle, Juan Mendez, Charlene Niu, Jianwu Zhai, Chris Roberts Ph.D.

Perspectives in Asian Leisure and Tourism

Leadership in Hospitality and Tourism is multifaceted and reflects the many dimensions of the fields. Behind the innovations and advancements are the individuals that emerged as leaders who generated them. Leadership in Asian Tourism is explored; five industry leaders are introduced and then showcased in separate articles that follow.

Leadership Profile: Robert Iger, Brianna Coyle

Perspectives in Asian Leisure and Tourism

Robert Iger emerged as a dynamic leader of the Walt Disney Company who led it not only through difficult economic times, but into an era of international expansion and success. The latest new parks in Hong Kong and Shanghai (to be opened soon) have solidified Disney's commitment to business in China. This is one of five profiles of leaders in the hospitality and tourism industries.

Leadership Profile: Steve Wynn, Juan Mendez, Brianna Coyle, Atcharee Alongkornpradap

Perspectives in Asian Leisure and Tourism

Steve Wynn is a visionary who has reshaped the gaming industry in both Macau and the USA. His focus upon producing revenue from all departments in the casino resort was a strong departure from the past practice of using supporting departments to generate casino revenue. His leadership style has inspired many to rethink the casino resort business, both in terms of facilities and in customer service experience. This is one of five profiles of leaders in the hospitality and tourism industries.

Leadership Profile: Belinda Yeung, Atcharee Alongkornpradap, Charlene Niu

Perspectives in Asian Leisure and Tourism

Belinda Yeung is a leader in the hospitality industry. She has risen to the highest levels of organizational leadership, guiding firms in China, Hong Kong, and the USA. This is one of five profiles of leaders in the hospitality and tourism industries.

Leadership Profile: Danny Meyer, Morgan Bailey, Brianna Coyle, Juan Mendez

Perspectives in Asian Leisure and Tourism

Danny Meyer is showcased as a restaurateur extraordinaire. His unique leadership style engages staff and customers to create a dining experience that is both pleasurable and memorable. This is one of five profiles of leaders in the hospitality and tourism industries.

China’S Outbound Tourism - Emerging Trends And Features In The Second Decade Of The 21st Century, Fan Xu, Suosheng Wang

Perspectives in Asian Leisure and Tourism

As we are entering the second decade of the twenty-first century, the market demand for China’s outbound tourism continues to grow rapidly and China’s outbound tourism has been experiencing major changes in travel patterns. Through face-to-face interviews with China’s leading outbound tour operators across the country, this study examined the current status of China’s outbound tourism, emerging features of outbound tour products, market demand of China’s outbound tourists and the current trends of popular travel styles. Findings of this article are informative to both the tourism and leisure researchers and the industry professionals in better understanding the opportunities and challenges …

The Emergence Of Transformational Leaders Among Asian Women In Hospitality, Thomas A. Maier

Perspectives in Asian Leisure and Tourism

As women increasingly occupy key leadership roles in government, industry and society, their styles and approaches towards leading others continues to attract attention in the literature. The focus of this attention is best served in celebrating the transformational nature of women in leadership by illuminating their approach to leadership in a transformational manner. Of particular importance in this regard is the rapid growth and expansion of the Asian hospitality and tourism industry. Increasingly, women will be holding leadership positions of influence, bringing with them a range of leadership styles and approaches worth careful examination in the context of eastern cultural …

Vimos Ultra-Deep Survey (Vuds): Witnessing The Assembly Of A Massive Cluster At Z~3.3, B.C. Lemaux, O. Cucciati, L.A.M. Tasca, O. Le Fevre, G. Zamorani, P. Cassata, B. Garilli, V. Le Brun, D. Maccagni, L. Pentericci, R. Thomas, E. Vanzella, E. Zucca, R. Amorin, S. Bardelli, P. Capak, L.P. Cassara, M. Castellano, A. Cimatti, J.G. Cuby, S. De La Torre, A. Durkalec, A. Fontana, Mauro Giavalisco, A. Grazian, N.P. Hathi, O. Ilbert, C. Moreau, S. Paltani, B. Ribeiro, M. Salvato, D. Schaerer, M Scodeggio, V. Sommariva, M. Talia, Y. Taniguchi, L. Tresse, D. Vergani, P.W. Wang, S. Charlot, T. Contini, S. Fotopoulou, R.R. Gal, D.D. Kocevski, C. Lopez-Sanjuan, L.M. Lubin, Y. Mellier, T. Sadibekova, N. Scoville

Mauro Giavalisco

Using new spectroscopic observations obtained as part of the VIMOS Ultra-Deep Survey (VUDS), we performed a systematic search for overdense environments in the early universe (z> 2) and report here on the discovery of Cl J0227-0421, a massive protocluster at z = 3.29. This protocluster is characterized by both the large overdensity of spectroscopically confirmed members, δgal = 10.5 ± 2.8, and a significant overdensity in photometric redshift members. The halo mass of this protocluster is estimated by a variety of methods to be ~3 × 1014ℳ⊙ at z ~ 3.3, which, evolved to z = 0 results in a …

A Mean-Field Analogue Of The Hong-Ou-Mandel Experiment With Bright Solitons, Zhi-Yuan Sun, Panos Kevrekidis, Peter Kruger

Panos Kevrekidis

In the present work, we theoretically propose and numerically illustrate a mean-field analog of the Hong-Ou-Mandel experiment with bright solitons. More specifically, we scatter two solitons off of each other (in our setup, the bright solitons play the role of a classical analog to the quantum photons of the original experiment), while the role of the beam splitter is played by a repulsive Gaussian barrier. In our classical scenario, distinguishability of the particles yields, as expected, a 0.5 split mass on either side. Nevertheless, for very slight deviations from the completely symmetric scenario, a near-perfect transmission can be constructed instead, …

A Comparative Analysis Of Numerical Approaches To The Mechanics Of Elastic Sheets, Michael Taylor, Benny Davidovitch, Zhanlong Qiu, Katia Bertoldi

Benny Davidovitch

No abstract provided.

Hands Across The University: Partnering To Advance Scholarly Communication, Marilyn S. Billings

Marilyn S. Billings

The University of Massachusetts – Amherst, the flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts system, has long been a leader in exploring new models of scholarly communication with a particular emphasis on partnering with faculty. The library has been key in the Open Education Initiative at the university, working closely with the Office of the Provost. This presentation will describe the services developed by the library, particularly through its institutional repository – ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst – and how these services have facilitated new partnerships and relationships with faculty and other stakeholders across the university. It will provide practical advice on the …

A Sheet On Deformable Sphere: "Wrinklogami" Patterns Suppress Curvature-Induced Delamination, Evan Hohlfeld, Benny Davidovitch

Benny Davidovitch

No abstract provided.

Chemical Potential In The First Law For Holographic Entanglement Entropy, David Kastor, Sourya Ray, Jennie Traschen

David Kastor

Entanglement entropy in conformal field theories is known to satisfy a first law. For spherical entangling surfaces, this has been shown to follow via the AdS/CFT correspondence and the holographic prescription for entanglement entropy from the bulk first law for Killing horizons. The bulk first law can be extended to include variations in the cosmological constant Λ, which we established in earlier work. Here we show that this implies an extension of the boundary first law to include varying the number of degrees of freedom of the boundary CFT. The thermodynamic potential conjugate to Λ in the bulk is called …

Literatura En Las Coordenadas Del Cambio: Premio Casa De Las Americas Literatura Para Niños Y Jovenes (1975-2012), Gloria-Maria Cuesta-Gonzalez

Masters Theses

The cultural dimension of the Cuban Revolution (1959) has an unquestionable reference: Casa de las Américas, international symbol of Cuba in the field of the arts. Of its multiple artistic expression, we have put our focus in the literary prizes with which this institution recognizes children’s literary creation, and our working hypothesis is that Casa de las Américas has played an essential role in the development and consolidation, in the Latin American context, of a genre that even today in day is considered minor. The goal of our study is therefore to investigate and analyze the reasons offered for that …