Business Commons^™

Data Mining With Multivariate Kernel Regression Using Information Complexity And The Genetic Algorithm, Dennis Jack Beal

Doctoral Dissertations

Kernel density estimation is a data smoothing technique that depends heavily on the bandwidth selection. The current literature has focused on optimal selectors for the univariate case that are primarily data driven. Plug-in and cross validation selectors have recently been extended to the general multivariate case.

This dissertation will introduce and develop new and novel techniques for data mining with multivariate kernel density regression using information complexity and the genetic algorithm as a heuristic optimizer to choose the optimal bandwidth and the best predictors in kernel regression models. Simulated and real data will be used to cross validate the optimal …

Pb1787-Liability And Agritourism - Implications Of Tennessee's 2009 Legislation, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Marketing, Finances and Value-Added Agriculture

Agritourism is a growing industry in Tennessee, as farmers seek new enterprises to generate revenue and consumers seek educational and recreational opportunities or farm-fresh products. A combination of agriculture and tourism, agritourism creates opportunities as well as challenges.

Liability is a signifi cant concern for farmers who operate agritourism enterprises. A landowner who opens his or her land to the public faces the risk that he or she could be considered liable if someone is injured while on the property.

Over the last few years, several states have enacted legislation to limit the liability of agritourism operators with regard to …

The Impact Of Entrepreneurs’ Personal Wealth Allocations In Determining Their Firms’ Capital Structures, Tianning Li

Doctoral Dissertations

We study the effect of entrepreneurs’ wealth allocations on their firm level capital structure by using a sample of small privately owned firms from the 2003 Surveys of Small Business Finance. We find that financial leverage decreases as entrepreneurs allocate more wealth on their firm investments. We also find that wealth allocation only affects capital structure in limited liability firms. Lastly, we show that the effect of wealth allocation on capital structure does not disappear after adjusting for collateral and personal guarantees.

Sp720-Value-Added Agriculture, Direct Marketing And Agritourism In Tennessee - A Summary Of 2007 Census Of, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Marketing, Finances and Value-Added Agriculture

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) conducts a census of agriculture every five years. The most recent census was conducted in 2007 and results were released in February 2009. Over time, the census has included more and more questions related to marketing and alternative enterprises and now provides information related to various components of value-added agriculture.

The Center for Profitable Agriculture, the department within UT Extension that assists farmers in analyzing and developing value-added enterprises, generally defines value-added farm enterprises as those activities involving processing, packaging and marketing farm commodities and farm resources. Value-added agriculture allows the farmer to …

An Analysis Of Two Markets With Asymmetric Information, Stephen James Cotten

Doctoral Dissertations

In this dissertation, I examine the effect of statutory regimes on two common decisions made by market agents that are characterized by information asymmetries. For each decision, specifically, the decision to engage in accounting fraud by firm managers and the choice of contract to offer legal representation, a theoretical model is used to offer predictions which are then tested using laboratory experiments.

Chapter I examines the effects of Sarbanes-Oxley provisions pertaining to whistle-blower protections and reporting requirements on a managerial team’s incentive to commit accounting fraud. Analysis predicts that whistle-blowing does not occur in equilibrium, but that the whistle-blower protections …

Patients As Consumers: The Influence Of Dtca And "Becoming Little Doctors.", Karen Michele Hood

Doctoral Dissertations

Direct to consumer advertising of prescription drugs (DTCA) accounts for approximately $5 billion in advertising spending in the US. Critics of this controversial practice cite confusing and misleading information negative effects on the physician-patient relationship as reasons to restrict or even ban DTCA, while proponents claim it empowers patients and facilitates discussions between physicians and patients that may improve overall health.

An ethnography of consumers in the most prominent target market for DTCA initially seeks to understand the meaning of DTCA among middle age adults in the US with chronic conditions. Participants in the study are skeptical about this category …

The Impact Of Sarbanes-Oxley On Bank Ceo And Director Compensation, Victoria Javine

Doctoral Dissertations

This study examines the impact of Sarbanes-Oxley on CEO compensation and director compensation for banks. The presence of pre-SOX regulation in the banking industry, particularly, FIRREA and FDICIA, suggests that SOX may affect banks differently than other industries. Specifically, this study examines the changes in the trends for CEO compensation and for director compensation for banks over time. The results indicate that compensation for directors and CEOs has changed for all firms over time, but the sign and the significance of the change varies with respect to the type of compensation. Additionally, the differences in director/CEO compensation for banks and …

Luxe-Bargain Shopping: Consumer Orientations, Perceived Values, Satisfaction, And Future Intentions, Chae Mi Lim

Doctoral Dissertations

This study was designed to examine the phenomenon of “massclusivity” of luxury (i.e., increased accessibility and affordability of luxury) in the current luxury market. To do so, this study introduced the concept of “Luxe-Bargain Shopping,” which referred to purchasing a luxury brand at a bargain, and developed an empirical framework that portrayed both luxury consumption and the bargain process. The specific research objectives of this study were to: (1) investigate whether luxury-related consumer orientations (i.e., prestige sensitivity and fashion leadership) influence perceived product values (i.e., social, emotional, and quality values); (2) investigate whether bargain-related consumer orientations (i.e., price mavenism and …

Toward A Theory Of Consumer Interaction With Mobile Technology Devices, Charles Scott Rader

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the phenomenon of consumer interaction with mobile technology devices (MTDs). MTDs include electronic “gadgets” such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and smartphones that are carried and used frequently by consumers. The emphasis in this dissertation was on developing an explanatory framework to account for everyday experiences of MTD consumption. In light of limited consumer research on the pervasive phenomenon, an inductive, theory-building approach was taken, employing the constant comparative methodology of grounded theory (Glaser and Strauss 1967; Glaser 1978). Data was gathered primarily through in-depth interviews with 20 participants who had extensive …

Consumer Participation In Using Online Product Recommendation Agents: Effects Of Trust, Perceivedcontrol, And Perceived Risk In Providing Personal Information, Xiaojing Sheng

Doctoral Dissertations

Online product recommendation agents are gaining greater strategic importance as an innovative technology to deliver value-added services to consumers. Yet the active role of consumers as the participants in using this technology is not well understood. This dissertation builds on the technology-based self-service (TBSS) literature, consumer participation literature, the service-dominant logic, and the trust literature on recommendation agents to develop a research framework that explains the role of consumer participation in using online product recommendation agents.

The objective of this dissertation is three-fold: (1) to examine the effects of consumer participation and privacy/security disclosures in using online product recommendation agents, …

Effects Of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program On Nutrient Intakes, Xiaowen Liu

Masters Theses

The socioeconomic determinants of participant in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and effects of the program on nutrient intakes are investigated. The dependent variable is transformed by logarithm which facilitates estimation of the model. Marginal effects of explanatory variables are calculated which make interpretation of the effects of explanatory variables easier. The result suggests SNAP plays a significant role in nutrient intakes. The effects of participation in SNAP are negative on vitamin C and positive on all other nutrients (protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron), for males, females, and both genders combined. Income, household size, presence of …

W223 Important Information - Household Records, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Financial Management

Taking time to organize your important papers and records may be the best investment you ever made. Completing the document will:

• Help you organize and document your household and personal records.

• Serve as a ready resource for you when you need to access important documents or information.

• Provide important information to a friend or family member who might need to take care of your affairs in an emergency.

Ias 16 And The Revaluation Approach: Reporting Property, Plant And Equipment At Fair Value., Sarah E. Monday

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Flourish Boutique, Casey Marie O'Rourke

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Publisher's Welcome, Colby B. Jubenville

Journal of Applied Sport Management

No abstract provided.

Editor's Overview, Benjamin D. Goss

Journal of Applied Sport Management

No abstract provided.

A Nation Of Wimps By Hara Estroff Marano (Book Excerpt), Dan Delulis

Journal of Applied Sport Management

No abstract provided.

Guest Editorial: The Significance Of A New Peer-Reviewed And Scholarly Journal For The Sport Management Profession, William F. Stier

Journal of Applied Sport Management

No abstract provided.

Taking The Ballgame Out To The World: An Analysis Of The World Baseball Classic As A Global Branding Promotional Strategy For Major League Baseball, Benjamin D. Goss

Journal of Applied Sport Management

This paper analyzes the 2006 World Baseball Classic as a promotional strategy by Major League Baseball to further its global branding pursuits. The WBC is qualified as a global sport event that is a marketing function of MLB in its efforts to emerge as an international brand; elements of the WBC are examined in the context of a global brand strategy. WBC promotional execution elements are studied in light of dimensions upon which consumers evaluate global brands. Four customer segments targeted through the WBC are characterized before the paper examines future WBC marketing approaches in the context of cultural production.