This dissertation focuses on the digital presentation of athletification, a process through which non-athletes incorporate an athletic identity into their self-concept. Although many studies have explored consumer behavior driven by team identification and how athletes manage impressions on social media, extant literature has devoted little attention to the symbolic meaning of virtual athletic identity and its impact on consumption from a non-athlete’s perspective. Using a multimethod approach, this dissertation is divided into three standalone essays and examines the following in the context of influencer marketing: 1) the use and role of digital athletic identity in building a digital self-brand; 2) the motivation and consequences of constructing a digital identity; and 3) the impact of a digital athletic identity on consumers. This dissertation contributes to the literature by constructing a theoretical foundation for athletification as a self-branding tool on social media and uncovering its influence on consumers’ attitudes and behaviors. These studies offer insights for social media influencers and marketers attempting to leverage their impacts on consumers. Findings also provide actionable strategies that could improve the promotional messages presented online. / Tourism and Sport

The purpose of this study was to determine intermediaries’ perceptions of barriers and incentives to innovative, energy efficient housing in Iowa. Data was collected by two surveys. The questionnaire for the first survey collected data from 102 communities in Iowa. Respondents were asked to determine the number of building permits issued for all new single family dwellings between 1975 and 1985 as well as the number of permits issued that were for passive solar, active solar, or earth sheltered housing. A rate of adoption was calculated for each community. The second questionnaire surveyed housing intermediaries drawn from the 102 communities included in the first survey. The sample consisted of 481 builders, building inspectors, realtors, lenders, and solar suppliers. Intermediary groups differed in their perceptions of barriers and incentives to innovative, energy-efficient housing. Significant differences were found among the intermediaries for whether state mandated solar standards would reduce the risk of inspection of solar energy houses and whether risky resale potential acts as a barrier to building solar energy housing. The major barriers were the "first costs" associated with building active solar and earth sheltered housing and the lack of skills among subcontractors to build active solar and earth sheltered housing. There was no significant relationship between rate of adoption among communities and their location in the state. There was, however, a significant relationship between category of building official and rate of adoption among communities. Communities with a high rate of adoption did not cluster in any one quadrant of the state. Additional differences among intermediaries occurred between lenders who had financed innovative energy efficient housing and lenders who had not. Lenders who had not financed solar or earth sheltered housing perceived the barriers to be greater than those who had. There were fewer differences in perceptions among solar/earth sheltered builders and nonsolar/earth sheltered builders. In conclusion, variability in perceptions among intermediaries on the barriers and incentives to innovative, energy efficient housing impact on the rate of adoption in communities in Iowa. / Ph. D.

Purpose: the objective of this research is to get a better understanding of luxury consumption in today’s society and the connection to sustainability. Consumers are no longer asking but demanding more sustainable practices from the fashion industry, especially the fast-fashion companies, calling any minor error or threat of “Greenwashing” (Joshi and Rahman 2019). Although, when it comes to luxury brands the level of exigence seems to be different. The aim is to understand the influence of sustainability when consumers are acquiring new pieces, in particular luxury ones. The purpose is to answer in which ways these two concepts are affected by each other and consequently if they will affect the luxury consumers. Method: An inductive approach was used by the researchers. 15 semi structured interviews were conducted to people from 10 different countries with ages between 22 to 60. The duration of these interviews was between 20 to 45 minutes and a questionnaire was designed in order to have a structure but also new questions were made as follow up or elaboration on what interviewees mentioned, where particular themes are defined and the questions are formulated during the interviews to extract the desirable answers in accordance with the themes (Bryman et al. 2021). Findings: Six themes were detected after the analysis of the results. First, the contemporary luxury consumer situation, followed by the feelings that occur after consuming luxury fashion products where there are mixed emotions of pleasure and shame. In the same sector, the current brand perception, arised the conversation about the lack of brand love. From this angle, the mixed consumption patterns that revealed the emerging phenomenon of consuming both luxury and fast-fashion came to support the absence of brand love. Lastly, in the context of sustainability, the view of sustainability among luxury consumers and the transition to more sustainable practices in purchasing fashion products were the other two themes that were discovered. Managerial Implications: the matter of the absence of brand love seems of great significance for executives and managers in luxury brands. Another aspect is the fact that managers could further capitalise on the quality that is provided by their brands since all participants expressed their preference in luxury products attributable to their endurance, managers could make their pivotal point, in the marketing efforts, the exceptional quality. Another contribution to get a better insight to the people involved in the industry, from designers to managers is to obtain a deeper understanding on how much sustainability efforts could affect or benefit their business.

In previous studies, the analysis of ball mill operating parameters and their effects on breakage phenomena has been limited to homogeneous materials. Though these studies have proven to be an asset in predictions of product size distributions and mill scale-up, they have not addressed the primary role of grinding, i.e. liberation. The present investigation analyzes the effect of ball mill operating parameters on the breakage rates of both liberated and composite material. The operating parameters studied include mill rotational speed, ball size, mill charge, and wet versus dry grinding. Breakage rates have been determined experimentally utilizing a SEM-IPS image analyzer. The mineral sample used was acquired from ASARCO's Young Mine which is located in Jefferson City Tennessee. It was a binary ore consisting of sphalerite and dolomite. Batch grinding experiments were conducted to provide breakage rates for the various composition classes. Breakage rates were then normalized with respect to energy to see if the changes in breakage rates associated with mill operating parameters were due to changes in breakage kinetics, or simply a function of energy input. The energy normalized data indicates that the free dolomite breakage rates tend to normalize with respect to energy in the case of varying interstitial fillings. Furthermore, changes in mill rotational speed tend to provide energy normalizable breakage rates for both free dolomite and sphalerite. In all other cases, analysis of the breakage rates and energy-specific breakage rates indicate that a change in breakage kinetics may be occurring. In general, particles containing a high proportion of sphalerite are more apt to break under impact conditions. On the other hand, particles containing a large proportion of dolomite were found to prefer attrition breakage conditions. / Master of Science / incomplete_metadata

There are currently very few models that estimate diesel and hybrid bus fuel consumption levels. Those that are available either require significant dynamometer data gathering to calibrate the model parameters and also produce a bang-bang control system (optimum control entails maximum throttle and braking input). This thesis extends the Virginia Tech Comprehensive Power-Based Fuel Consumption Model (VT-CPFM) to model diesel buses and develops an application for it. A procedure is developed to calibrate the bus parameters using publicly available data from the Altoona Bus Research and Testing Center. In addition, calibration is also made using in-field bus fuel consumption data. The research presented in this thesis calibrates model parameters for a total of 10 standard diesel buses and 3 hybrid buses from Altoona and 10 buses from Blacksburg Transit. In the case of the Altoona data, the VT-CPFM estimated fuel consumption levels on the Orange County bus cycle dynamometer test produce an average error of 4.7%. The estimation error is less than 6% for all but two buses with a maximum error of 10.66% for one hybrid bus. The VT-CPFM is also validated using on-road fuel consumption measurements that are derived by creating drive cycles from acceleration information producing an average estimation error of 22%. These higher errors are attributed to the errors associated with constructing the in-field drive cycles given that they are not available. In the case of the Blacksburg Transit buses, the calibrated parameters produce a low sum of mean squared error, less than 0.002, and a coefficient of determination greater than 0.93. Finally an application of the VT-CPFM is presented in the form of a dynamic bus scheduling algorithm. / Master of Science

Denna studie syftar till att utforska hur konsumtionsmönster och varumärkespreferenser påverkar individuell och kollektiv identitet hos unga kvinnor, med fokus på de sociologiska dynamikerna kring hållbar konsumtion. Uppsatsen undersöker hur individernas val formar sin självbild och hur samhällets normer för det ‘’perfekta livet’’ kolliderar med en hållbar livsstil. Genom att identifiera faktorer som påverkar varumärkespreferenser och konsumtionsmönster samt analysera kollisionen mellan samhällets ideal och hållbar konsumtion, strävar studien efter att förstå de komplexa sambanden mellan individens konsumtionsval, identitet och samhällets förväntningar. Utmaningen är att balansera konsumtionens roll som identitetsskapande med behovet av hållbarhet, i en tid där överflöd och materiell framgång ofta idealiseras. Det empiriska materialet baseras på åtta kvalitativa intervjuer med unga kvinnor i åldern 18–30 år. Det teoretiska ramverket utgörs av konsumtionssamhället samt symbolisk interaktionism av Mead och Goffman. Uppsatsens huvudsakliga insikter omfattar hur unga kvinnors konsumtionsval inte bara uttrycker deras personliga preferenser, utan också formar deras identitet. Genom att prioritera kvalitet, hållbarhet och medvetna val använder de konsumtion som ett verktyg för självpresentation. Konsumtion blir därmed en dynamisk balansakt mellan att följa trender och att göra hållbara val, där individerna förhandlar mellan samhällets normer och förväntningar. / This study aims to explore how consumption patterns and brand preferences affect individual and collective identity among young women, with a focus on the sociological dynamics surrounding sustainable consumption. The paper investigates how individuals' choices shape their self-image and how societal norms regarding the "perfect life" collide with a sustainable lifestyle. By identifying factors influencing brand preferences, consumption patterns and analyzing the collision between societal ideals and sustainable consumption, the study seeks to understand the complex relationships between individuals' consumption choices, identity, and societal expectations. The challenge lies in balancing consumption's role in identity formation with the need for sustainability, in an era where abundance and material success are often idealized.The empirical data is based on eight qualitative interviews with young women aged 18-30 years. The sociological theoretical framework consists of Mead's and Goffman's theory of symbolic interactionism and Bauman´s consumer society. The main insights of the paper include how young women's consumption choices not only express their personal preferences but also shape their identity. By prioritizing quality, sustainability, and conscious choices, they use consumption as a tool for self-presentation. Consumption thus becomes a dynamic balancing act between following trends and making sustainable choices, where individuals negotiate between societal norms and expectations.

Sport and sport events contribute a big percentage to the growth of sport tourism in South Africa. South Africa also hosts some of the most significant endurance events such as the Cape Argus, Cape Epic, Midmar Mile, Two Oceans Marathon and the Comrades Marathon. These endurance events have the potential to enhance endurance sport in South Africa and can also be used as a tool for tourism. It is important however, to determine the endurance sport consumption behaviour for participants and spectators who attend these events, since their behaviour and habits will influence their choices pertaining to travelling for sport events and even tourism. Sport tourism literature currently does not provide information and insight on this matter. Due to the lack of literature pertaining to endurance sport consumption behaviour, a description had to be provided to aid with the study. Endurance sport consumption behaviour (ESCB) in this study is therefore described as behaviour revealed by sport consumers who adapt their lifestyles after realising their desire to be self-complete, by testing and developing their bodies through sport activities. Sport consumption becomes the essence when participating in competitive, nature-related and fitness activities for both professional and amateur sport consumers. For spectatorship, these behaviours will differ, since the intentions of fans and supporters as well as the reasons for spectating differ, but sport events give them the opportunity to engage in sport on a different level, whether for the event or for the participant. These behavioural intentions can be influenced by the sport consumers’ attitude and subjective norms. ESCB is influenced by three main factors and includes: the demographic and behavioural profile; the motives and travel behaviour and the commitment towards the sport/event. The goal of the study was therefore to do a critical assessment of sport consumption at endurance sport events. In order to achieve this aim, secondary data of five endurance events (Cape Argus, Cape Epic, Midmar Mile, Two Oceans Marathon and the Comrades Marathon) were pooled. A total of 6453 questionnaires were distributed between the respective events for both participants and spectators attending these sport events and were included in the statistical analysis. From a first point of view, these sport consumers might seem homogenous, but when analysing the results, it became evident that sport participants and spectators (with regards to participation and support of endurance events) were not homogenous pertaining to their sport consumption behaviour at the respective endurance sport events. There are four main aspects that drive ESCB for endurance participants, namely the type of participant who pursues the sport; the age of the participant; the type of sport and the motives to participate. Four travel motives for these endurance sport participants were commitment, intrinsic achievement, escape and socialisation and the challenge these events provide. Endurance participants furthermore see sport events as an opportunity to travel. The spectators’ ESCB were driven by their socio-demographic and behavioural profile and the motives for supporting the respective endurance events. Endurance sport spectators were motivated by the social interaction and the sport novelty of the sport events. Their memorable experiences were influenced by the event’s personnel and provision, amenities, comfort and visibility, infrastructure and marketing. The study made literature contributions pertaining to the description of ESCB, which were lacking from sport tourism literature. Based on the results, recommendations were made, not only based on ESCB, but also on how these types of events can be used to enhance sport tourism in South Africa as well as the participation and support for these types of sport. Spectators’ views on endurance sport events were also lacking. The study indicated that these consumers were personally involved with the participants’ journey to success, compared to supporters who attended for the event in specific. In this study, sport consumer profiles are compared on a large scale, which have not yet been done in current sport literature, providing a holistic overview of endurance sport consumers. Sport consumer profiles are influenced by the sport context and the marketing of these events, but most importantly the ESCB. Practical contributions include the specialisation for endurance sport events, the growth for sport and tourism and insights to consumer behaviour for sport event organisers and marketers. This study is important, especially for sport marketers and organisations, in order to ensure the long term sustainability and competitiveness for the sport industry as well as for expanding sport tourism and tourism in South Africa. / PhD (Tourism Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Sport and sport events contribute a big percentage to the growth of sport tourism in South Africa. South Africa also hosts some of the most significant endurance events such as the Cape Argus, Cape Epic, Midmar Mile, Two Oceans Marathon and the Comrades Marathon. These endurance events have the potential to enhance endurance sport in South Africa and can also be used as a tool for tourism. It is important however, to determine the endurance sport consumption behaviour for participants and spectators who attend these events, since their behaviour and habits will influence their choices pertaining to travelling for sport events and even tourism. Sport tourism literature currently does not provide information and insight on this matter. Due to the lack of literature pertaining to endurance sport consumption behaviour, a description had to be provided to aid with the study. Endurance sport consumption behaviour (ESCB) in this study is therefore described as behaviour revealed by sport consumers who adapt their lifestyles after realising their desire to be self-complete, by testing and developing their bodies through sport activities. Sport consumption becomes the essence when participating in competitive, nature-related and fitness activities for both professional and amateur sport consumers. For spectatorship, these behaviours will differ, since the intentions of fans and supporters as well as the reasons for spectating differ, but sport events give them the opportunity to engage in sport on a different level, whether for the event or for the participant. These behavioural intentions can be influenced by the sport consumers’ attitude and subjective norms. ESCB is influenced by three main factors and includes: the demographic and behavioural profile; the motives and travel behaviour and the commitment towards the sport/event. The goal of the study was therefore to do a critical assessment of sport consumption at endurance sport events. In order to achieve this aim, secondary data of five endurance events (Cape Argus, Cape Epic, Midmar Mile, Two Oceans Marathon and the Comrades Marathon) were pooled. A total of 6453 questionnaires were distributed between the respective events for both participants and spectators attending these sport events and were included in the statistical analysis. From a first point of view, these sport consumers might seem homogenous, but when analysing the results, it became evident that sport participants and spectators (with regards to participation and support of endurance events) were not homogenous pertaining to their sport consumption behaviour at the respective endurance sport events. There are four main aspects that drive ESCB for endurance participants, namely the type of participant who pursues the sport; the age of the participant; the type of sport and the motives to participate. Four travel motives for these endurance sport participants were commitment, intrinsic achievement, escape and socialisation and the challenge these events provide. Endurance participants furthermore see sport events as an opportunity to travel. The spectators’ ESCB were driven by their socio-demographic and behavioural profile and the motives for supporting the respective endurance events. Endurance sport spectators were motivated by the social interaction and the sport novelty of the sport events. Their memorable experiences were influenced by the event’s personnel and provision, amenities, comfort and visibility, infrastructure and marketing. The study made literature contributions pertaining to the description of ESCB, which were lacking from sport tourism literature. Based on the results, recommendations were made, not only based on ESCB, but also on how these types of events can be used to enhance sport tourism in South Africa as well as the participation and support for these types of sport. Spectators’ views on endurance sport events were also lacking. The study indicated that these consumers were personally involved with the participants’ journey to success, compared to supporters who attended for the event in specific. In this study, sport consumer profiles are compared on a large scale, which have not yet been done in current sport literature, providing a holistic overview of endurance sport consumers. Sport consumer profiles are influenced by the sport context and the marketing of these events, but most importantly the ESCB. Practical contributions include the specialisation for endurance sport events, the growth for sport and tourism and insights to consumer behaviour for sport event organisers and marketers. This study is important, especially for sport marketers and organisations, in order to ensure the long term sustainability and competitiveness for the sport industry as well as for expanding sport tourism and tourism in South Africa. / PhD (Tourism Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

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Nagrinėjant darnaus vystymosi problemas, iki šiol buvo akcentuojamas gamybos poveikis aplinkai ir žmogui. Ir tik pastaruoju metu atkreiptas dėmesys, kad nuo vartojimo būdo ir jo pasirinkimo priklauso aplinkos būklė. Šiame darbe atlikome Lietuvos gyventojų pajamų ir vartojimo apimties bei struktūros pokyčių analizę 1996 – 2006 metais, įvertinome šių pokyčių galimą poveikį aplinkai bei galimybes pasiekti ES šalių senbuvių lygį. Darbui buvo naudojami Statistikos departamento prie Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausybės ir Europos Statistikos agentūros EUROSTAT duomenys. Apibendrinus tyrimų rezultatus nustatyta, kad Lietuvos bendrasis vidaus produktas pradėjo itin sparčiai augti nuo 2001 metų ir pastaraisiais metais auga beveik po 10 %., o gyventojų pajamos ir išlaidos pradėjo sparčiau augti tik nuo 2004 metų ir pastarųjų metų prieaugis siekia beveik 20 %. Per visą analizuojamą laikotarpį BVP padidėjo 2,7 karto, o disponuojamos pajamos ir vartojimo išlaidos - apie 2 kartus. Namų ūkių vidutinių vartojimo išlaidų santykis 1996 - 2006 metais tarp turtingiausių ir skurdžiausių namų ūkių beveik nekito ir skirtumas sudarė 8,7 - 8,9 karto ir yra žymiai didesnis nei ES šalyse senbuvėse (5-6 kartai). Lietuvos namų ūkių vartojimo išlaidų makro struktūroje vienam namų ūkio nariui per mėnesį nuo 1996 iki 2006 metų 4 kartus padidėjo išlaidos turizmui (25,40 Lt). Mažiausiai išaugo maistui ir gėrimams 1,1 karto (27,80 Lt). Tuo tarpu išlaidos transportui padidėjo 3,7 karto (49,10 Lt), būstui ir jo... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Ussualy analising sustainable development and environment problems the major focus is put on human and environmental impact of production. Recently more attention is paid to sustainable consumption and the environmental impact of consumption patterns. In this work changes of inhabitant’s income and expenditure dynamics and structure during 1996-2006 years in Lithuania is analyse. Possible impact of these changes to environment and Lithuanian possibility to reach the level of EU old members was estimated. For this analysis we used Lithuanian statistical department and European statistical agencies EUROSTAT data. Analysis shows that Lithuanian GDP was growing very fast from 2001 years and recently GDP was growth reached 10 % annually. Inhabitant incomes and expenditures have started growing just from 2004 years and incremented by 20 %. During the period under analysis GDP increase 2,7 times, but incomes and consumption expenditures – about 2 times. In 1996-2006 years household expenditures difference between rich and poor household inhabitant was stable and fluctuated about 8,7-8,9 times. While this indicator was 5-6 times in EU old members. Lithuanian household consumption expenditure per inhabitant per month for tourism increase 4 times (25,40 Lt) between 1996 and 2006 years. The minimum expenditures were for food and drink - 1,1 times (27,80 Lt), the expenditure for transport increase 3,7 times (49,10 Lt) and expenditure for accommodation 2 times (36,70 Lt). By the most... [to full text]