Master of Engineering (Research) / In many multi-objective missions there are situations when actions based on maximum information gain may not be the `best' given the overall mission objectives. In addition to properties such as entropy, information also has value, which is situationally dependent. This thesis examines the concept of information value in a multi-objective mission from an information theory perspective. A derivation of information value is presented that considers both the context of information, via a fused world belief state, and a system mission. The derived information value is used as part of the objective function for control of autonomous platforms within a framework developed for human robot cooperative control. A simulated security operation in a structured environment is implemented to test both the framework, and information value based control. The simulation involves a system of heterogeneous, sensor equipped Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), tasked with gathering information regarding ground vehicles. The UAVs support an e ort to protect a number of important buildings in the area of operation. Thus, the purpose of the information is to aid the security operation by ensuring that security forces can deploy e ciently to counter any threat. A number of di erent local controllers using information based control are implemented and compared to a task based control scheme. The relative performance of each is examined with respect to a number of performance metrics with conclusions drawn regarding the performance and exibility of information value based control.

Firms frequently use brand extension strategies to enter new product categories. Another type of entry strategy is co-branding by effectively exploiting the equity of both constituent brands. Co-branding may effectively drive consumer preferences if consumers believe the combination of two brands offers a better solution than either one separately. However, there is also the risk that consumers may get confused with the combination, or have perceptions of strengths regarding one of the brands diluted, leading to the failure of this strategy. While much has been written on brand-category extension, despite its prevalence, the use of co-brands to enter a new category has attracted relatively little attention. In this study, the author models the effects on consumer perceptions and preferences of combining two brand names for a new product. The proposed model provides a mechanism to represent how consumers’ prior attribute beliefs about constituent brands, the extendibility of the brands into the extension category, the compatibility between the constituent brands, and the uncertainty associated with them can jointly determine their preferences for the co-branded product. The contribution that this model enables is a means to study co-branding and new category entry simultaneously, by assessing the drivers of consumer preference for a co-brand in a new product category. An empirical study is designed to test the model, using real brands and hypothetical extensions and co-brands. Theoretical contributions and managerial implications of this study are discussed.

<p>In the beginning of the twenty-first century it became clear what consequences companies’pursuit of economical growth had created on our environment and our social lives. Now theworld is standing in front of a challenge and that is to find a sustainable way to produce,consume and live in order to help our environment and social lives. An example of anorganization that is working towards a sustainable way of living is Fair trade LabelingOrganizations International. They set up international fair trade standards in order to supportthe sustainable development of small producers in poor countries, such as ensuring that theproducers receive prices that cover their costs.Research results indicate that the fair trade label could lower the value of the brand that it isattached to, as well as decrease the original brand’s customer loyalty. While there is also thebelief that fair trade is a positive thing for a brand. Therefore our aim with this dissertation isto look at how the consumer behavior changes when the product is co branded with the fairtrade label. We will therefore look at how co branding with the fair trade label affect differentaspects of consumer behavior. The different aspects that we have used are need recognition,information search, evaluation of alternatives, post purchase behavior and perceived brandpersonality.The study is performed on Dutch consumers by doing a quantitative research. The studyshowed that there are four variables that affect consumer behavior when co branding with fairtrade these are price sensitivity, reason for buying, expected quality and perceived brandpersonality.This study contributes to the lack of research concerning the connection between co brandingwith fair trade and consumer behavior. The conclusions drawn from this study could be usedas guidelines for company managers that are thinking of adding a fair trade label to theproduct, but it could also be used as guidelines for managers that already use fair trade.</p>

<p>Purpose – During the past decades, implementing reforms becomes a popular topic for most manufacturers. With the aim to cope with the environment changes, there are urgent needs for these manufacturing companies to carry on reforms on the existing businesses. At the same time, value creation under a new service dominant logic for manufacturers are cited by many scholars. The aim of this paper is to analyze the new dominant logic, with the comparison of traditional goods dominant logic, recognize the advanced value creation model. To go a step further, this paper also discusses about the way of implementing reforms and new business logic for manufacturers.</p><p>Methodology – This paper mainly takes the methodology of literature review. The literatures reviewed here include academic papers, books, and website information. The main field of literatures include: service definition and service characteristics; goods-dominant logic versus service dominant logic; and value creation (co-creation). On the other hand, some small case studies can also be found in this paper.</p><p>Findings – After the comparing between goods dominant logic and service dominant logic, this paper suggests the service-dominant logic as a preferred business logic. Because it provides a more interactive way of consumption, presents a value-in-use view rather than value-in-exchange, and requires manufacturers playing a role of assisting customers in value creating process. For those manufacturers wish to implement the service dominant logic, this paper suggests them to take innovations on their business, which including the innovations on products/services, business processes, and business models.</p><p>Research limitations/implications – As a relative new field of study, the research is mostly taken by literature review. However, the research on the implementing of new business logic and reforms requires more voice from the real industry.  </p><p>Practical implications – Manufacturers may position themselves to new roles by involving in the customers’ value creating process. Taking innovations from a integrated view may help manufacturers to achieve the higher value under service dominant logic.</p><p>Originality/value – This paper concluded the ongoing service dominant logic development, after which, offers a discussion on the implementing of which for the manufacturing companies.</p>

<p>Den senaste tiden har en mängd samarbeten, eller så kallade co-brandings, mellan olika företags varumärken vuxit fram. Avsikten är att förstärka sitt eller sina varumärken med hjälp av ett annat varumärke som är förknippat med någonting unikt. Hur bedömer man resultatet av denna co-branding? Har det egna varumärket förstärkts eller har det försvagats? För att klargöra detta resultat måste varumärkets Brand Equity mätas. Med brand equity menas det kapital som varumärket representerar. I denna kvantitativa studie består respondenterna av ett kvoturval om 50 studenter. Vi har skapat ett mätinstrument för denna fallstudie utifrån Aakers modell för brand equity och dess fyra dimensioner; brand awareness, perceived quality, differentiation samt brand loyalty. Genom att undersöka hur Acers brand equity påverkas av co-branding med Ferrari genomför vi ett första preliminärt test av vårt mätinstrument.</p><p>Resultatet av vår undersökning visar på ett tydligt samband mellan Acers brand equity och cobranding. Vårt resultat visar tydligt att alla fyra dimensioner inom Acers brand equity har påverkats i positiv riktning i och med co-branding med Ferrari. Avslutningsvis ger vi även förslag till intressanta framtida studier inom detta område.</p>

Gray leaf spot, induced by <I>Pyricularia grisea</I>, is a disease of increasing importance in tall fescue in the southeastern United States. Previous research has shown that several herbicides may predispose turfgrasses to some diseases and that certain essential nutrients may have antagonistic effects on fungal plant pathogens. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the effects of herbicide and nutrient treatments on gray leaf spot development in tall fescue. Inoculation techniques were also evaluated for establishing gray leaf spot on tall fescue in controlled environments. Field studies revealed that 2,4-D applications resulted in significantly higher quality turf and lower gray leaf spot incidence than the untreated control. Turf treated with 2,4-D amine + mecoprop + dicamba also exhibited significantly less foliar blight symptoms than the untreated control. In vitro experiments revealed the growth-inhibiting effects of 2,4-D on <I>P. grisea</I> implicated in the field, as mycelial growth was completely inhibited at concentrations of 500 and 1000 mg L^-1. Colony growth was not affected at 2,4-D concentrations up to 100 mg L^-1. Phosphorous acid treatments resulted in a reduction in turf quality compared to an untreated control, as did manganese and zinc treatments. Foliar blight caused by P. grisea was substantially increased in H₃PO₃-treated plots in 2003, where a 40% difference in blighted turf was observed between plots that received H₃PO₃ treatments every 14 days and the untreated control. Area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) analysis also revealed the significant detrimental effects of the phosphorous acid treatments. No significant differences in disease incidence or leaf spot size among nutrient treatments were observed in greenhouse treatments. Isolate selection was a significant factor for disease development and leaf spot size following spray inoculation under optimal environmental conditions. In general, disease incidence increased as inoculum density increased. Placing plants in covered containers or plastic bags immediately following inoculation for a 24-h period also appeared to promote disease development. Seeding rate did not have a significant effect on gray leaf spot development. We conclude that herbicide applications do not predispose tall fescue to gray leaf spot development and that applications of nutrients alone do not suppress development of gray leaf spot in tall fescue. Adjusting cultural practices as additional control measures for gray leaf spot does not appear to be a successful approach to managing this increasingly important disease.

<I>Rhizoctonia</I> species are important pathogens of all turfgrasses, yet little is known about the structure of populations of these pathogens or the effect of disease control programs on population dynamics. Isolates of <I>Rhizoctonia</I> were obtained from a single creeping bentgrass putting green in 2002 and 2003 and from multiple tall fescue landscapes in 2003. Creeping bentgrass isolates were obtained by placing 5 mm soil cores on alkaline water agar, incubated at ~24 C for 1 to 2 days and the actively growing hyphae were transferred to potato dextrose agar (PDA). Tall fescue isolates were obtained from foliar lesions using the same procedures. Isolates were characterized using morphological characteristics, anastomosis reactions, nuclear staining, and ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences. From creeping bentgrass, 21 distinct clones of <I>R. solani</I> AG 2-2 IIIB were present in the sample population in 2002. Seven of these clones were also recovered on multiple sampling dates. Fifteen of the 21 clones from 2002 were recovered in 2003. All seven clones that were isolated in multiple sampling dates in 2002 were also recovered in 2003. There were 29 and 21 isolates of <I>R. zeae</I> collected from the sample population in 2002 and 2003, respectively. All 21 clones exhibited similar EC₅₀ values to mancozeb, chlorothanlonil and azoxystrobin. Of 224 isolates collected from tall fescue during 2003, 88 were <I>R. solani</I> AG 1, 105 were binucleate <I>Rhizoctonia</I> CAG 1, 14 were <I>R. zeae</I>, two were <I>R. cerealis</I>, and 15 were not identified to species or AG. One hundred and seventy four of the isolates were assayed for sensitivity to the fungicides flutalonil, iprodione, tebuconazole, and trifloxystrobin. Mean EC₅₀ values varied across fungicides and species, but generally were below 3.3 mg L^-1. The diversity of <I>Rhizoctonia</I> populations associated with tall fescue, and the range in fungicide sensitivities among species indicates that response to management programs may vary with location and environment. The effects of phosphorous acid on fungal growth, disease incidence and turfgrass quality was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Mean EC₅₀ values of azoxystrobin (+SHAM) for <I>R. solani</I> 2-2 IIIB, and AG 1, <I>P. aphanidermatum</I>, and <I>R. zeae</I> were 1.27, 0.04, 0.012, and 0.145 mg L^-1, respectively. Applications of phosphorous acid to creeping bentgrass and tall fescue did not significantly reduce brown patch incidence or increase turfgrass quality in field or greenhouse experiments. The benefit of phosphorous acid as a fungicide or plant nutrient is questionable.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Indiana University, 2000. / Adviser: Emilio Moran. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Ohio State University, 1984. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 54-58). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center.

Chars were obtained from individual fuels and blends with different blend ratios of coal, coke and biomass in Drop Tube Furnace at different temperatures. Based on TGA experimental data, it was shown that the effect of the blending ratio of biomass to other fuels on the reactivity of the co-pyrolyzed chars is more pronounced on the chars prepared at lower temperature, due to the presence of synergetic effects originating from the interaction of the two fuels. SEM images showed differences in shapes and particle size of char particles from biomass and coal/coke. These also show the agglomeration of coal and coke chars with biomass char particles at high temperatures. The agglomeration may be the reason for the non-additive behavior of the blends. BET analysis showed increase in the surface area with an increasing temperature for biomass and coal, but the trend for coke was inversely related to the temperature. / Chemical Engineering