A two-period duopoly model is developed to examine the competitive effects of targeted advertising with customer recognition (TACR). In the model, two competing firms sell goods to end consumers in the first period,...A two-period duopoly model is developed to examine the competitive effects of targeted advertising with customer recognition (TACR). In the model, two competing firms sell goods to end consumers in the first period, during which customer recognition is obtained. In the second period, advertising can be targeted toward different consumer types. Advertising is assumed to be persuasive in the way that consumer valuation is increased. Equilibrium decisions and profits in each period are derived, showing that the firm who loses the current competition will win in the future. As a result, forward-looking firms price less aggressively so that their long-term profits can be enhanced with the help of TACR. Particularly, TACR improves profits through three important effects: valuation increasing, customer poaching, and anti-competition. Finally, this paper investigates the welfare issues, showing that firms enhance profits at the expense of consumer surplus. It is, therefore, suggested that public sectors take a step to protect consumers with the rapid development of targeting technology.展开更多
The differences between two sequences of nonnegative independent and identically distributed random variables with sub-exponential tails and the random index are studied. The random index is a strictly stationary rene...The differences between two sequences of nonnegative independent and identically distributed random variables with sub-exponential tails and the random index are studied. The random index is a strictly stationary renewal counting process generated by some negatively associated random variables. Using a revised large deviation result of partial sums, the elementary renewal theorem and the central limit theorem of negatively associated random variables, a precise large deviation result is derived for the random sums. The result is applied to the customer-arrival-based insurance risk model. Some uniform asymptotics for the ruin probabilities of an insurance company are obtained as the number of customers or the time tends to infinity.展开更多
This paper, based on Deming's quality management (QM) theory embodied in ISO 9001, uses structural equation modelling (SEM) in a construction management research. Based on 100 usable responses collected from a na...This paper, based on Deming's quality management (QM) theory embodied in ISO 9001, uses structural equation modelling (SEM) in a construction management research. Based on 100 usable responses collected from a nationwide survey carried out from 14th February to 30th May 2008 on all key players in the Malaysian construction value chain, this paper aims to: (a) validate the dimensions of registration efforts to obtain and maintain ISO 9001 certifications; (b) validate the eight QM principles in ISO 9001 for quality management system (QMS) practices; (c) determine the components of organisational improvements experienced as a result of ISO 9001 certifications in terms of company competitiveness, customer satisfaction, and business performance; and (d) investigate the causal relationships among registration efforts, QMS practices, company competitiveness, customer satisfaction, business performance of ISO 9001-certified companies. The knowledge gained from the application of SEM is an important contribution to the body of theoretical literature in QM.展开更多
Conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs),with electron-delocalized backbones and charged ionic side chains,are unique sensory materials for the construction of optical biosensors.In this feature article,CPE-based visual det...Conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs),with electron-delocalized backbones and charged ionic side chains,are unique sensory materials for the construction of optical biosensors.In this feature article,CPE-based visual detection of heparin is summarized.Three CPE-based heparin probes,including ratiometric,light-up and colormetric probes,are discussed in terms of molecular design,detection selectivity and quantification capability.The work summarized here provides fundamental guidelines for CPE-based label-free visual sensing.展开更多
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.71071033)the Research and Innovation Project for College Graduates of Jiangsu Province(No.CXZZ-0186)
文摘A two-period duopoly model is developed to examine the competitive effects of targeted advertising with customer recognition (TACR). In the model, two competing firms sell goods to end consumers in the first period, during which customer recognition is obtained. In the second period, advertising can be targeted toward different consumer types. Advertising is assumed to be persuasive in the way that consumer valuation is increased. Equilibrium decisions and profits in each period are derived, showing that the firm who loses the current competition will win in the future. As a result, forward-looking firms price less aggressively so that their long-term profits can be enhanced with the help of TACR. Particularly, TACR improves profits through three important effects: valuation increasing, customer poaching, and anti-competition. Finally, this paper investigates the welfare issues, showing that firms enhance profits at the expense of consumer surplus. It is, therefore, suggested that public sectors take a step to protect consumers with the rapid development of targeting technology.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.10671139,11001052)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(No. BK2008284 )+2 种基金China Postdoctoral Science Foundation ( No.20100471365)the Natural Science Foundation of Higher Education Institutions of Jiangsu Province (No. 09KJD110003)Postdoctoral Research Program of Jiangsu Province (No.0901029C)
文摘The differences between two sequences of nonnegative independent and identically distributed random variables with sub-exponential tails and the random index are studied. The random index is a strictly stationary renewal counting process generated by some negatively associated random variables. Using a revised large deviation result of partial sums, the elementary renewal theorem and the central limit theorem of negatively associated random variables, a precise large deviation result is derived for the random sums. The result is applied to the customer-arrival-based insurance risk model. Some uniform asymptotics for the ruin probabilities of an insurance company are obtained as the number of customers or the time tends to infinity.
文摘This paper, based on Deming's quality management (QM) theory embodied in ISO 9001, uses structural equation modelling (SEM) in a construction management research. Based on 100 usable responses collected from a nationwide survey carried out from 14th February to 30th May 2008 on all key players in the Malaysian construction value chain, this paper aims to: (a) validate the dimensions of registration efforts to obtain and maintain ISO 9001 certifications; (b) validate the eight QM principles in ISO 9001 for quality management system (QMS) practices; (c) determine the components of organisational improvements experienced as a result of ISO 9001 certifications in terms of company competitiveness, customer satisfaction, and business performance; and (d) investigate the causal relationships among registration efforts, QMS practices, company competitiveness, customer satisfaction, business performance of ISO 9001-certified companies. The knowledge gained from the application of SEM is an important contribution to the body of theoretical literature in QM.
基金the National University of Singapore (R279-000-301-646)Singapore Ministry of Education (R-279-000-255-112)Ministry of Defence (R-279-000-301-232) for financial support
文摘Conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs),with electron-delocalized backbones and charged ionic side chains,are unique sensory materials for the construction of optical biosensors.In this feature article,CPE-based visual detection of heparin is summarized.Three CPE-based heparin probes,including ratiometric,light-up and colormetric probes,are discussed in terms of molecular design,detection selectivity and quantification capability.The work summarized here provides fundamental guidelines for CPE-based label-free visual sensing.