17504 research outputs found
Sort by
Immobilization of Metalloproteins in Swellable Organically Modified Silica for the Uptake of Cobalt (II) in Solution
No full textWhat is the Relationship Between Customer Loyalty and the Product Lifecycle?
No full textThis study investigates the relationship between customer loyalty and the product lifecycle, analyzing whether strong brand loyalty incentivizes firms to accelerate innovation. Using neoclassical economic models—such as budget constraints, indifference curves, and elasticity—the research examines how consumer preferences shape firms’ strategic innovation decisions. To test this hypothesis empirically, regression analysis was conducted on major aerospace and defense firms from 2012 to 2023, using market share as a proxy for customer loyalty and R&D expenditure as a measure of innovation investment. While initial OLS regressions suggested a positive correlation between market share and R&D investment, the introduction of firm and year fixed effects rendered the relationship statistically insignificant. These findings indicate that in the aerospace and defense industry, factors such as long-term government contracts and regulatory constraints play a more dominant role in shaping R&D investment decisions than market share as a proxy for customer loyalty. The study concludes that limited within-firm variation in R&D spending within this industry makes it difficult to establish a direct causal link between market share and innovation investment. Moreover, the results highlight the limitations of using market share as a sole indicator of customer loyalty, particularly in industries not primarily driven by direct consumer choice
Strategies And Tactics Division III Coaches Use To Manage Their Teams
No full textThe purpose of this study is to analyze how coaching styles and social support relate to on and off-the-field performance for DIII athletes. This was done through a survey that was sent out electronically to all coaches at the College of Wooster and some coaches at Wilmington College provided by the college’s online roster. Thirty-one coaches participated in my survey. Questions about social support and coaching styles were asked. Many significant findings were found, such as Informational support being higher for men’s sports than women’s sports. Another finding is that both the Head and the Assistant coaches share the same coaching styles
How Does Stakeholder Engagement Affect the Decision-Making Process for the Upcoming 2026 World Cup in Seattle?
No full textThis research delves into the decision-making process of the upcoming 2026 World Cup, stakeholders, and their effects on decision-making. Furthermore, I compared and contrasted the interests and decisions of both large stakeholder and small stakeholders, what the goals are of both small and large stakeholders, what disparities are seen about how each respective party wants the World Cup to be implemented, and who has more decision-making power. I gathered data through interviews with small stakeholders to get a firsthand account of the opinions of said smaller stakeholders, I will also do web analysis on both the official FIFA websites and Seattle’s 2035 comprehensive plan. Finally, I want to get at who is really pulling the strings when it comes to mega-event planning and do the “little guys” have a voice or sway in this whole process
Race, Sibling Relationships, and Psychological Outcomes: A Cross-Cultural Perspective of South Asian and White Siblings
No full textThis study investigated sibling rivalry across South Asian and White College of Wooster students (N = 96, with n = 35 South Asian and n = 61 White participants) and explored its influence on psychological outcomes, namely resilience, motivation, self-esteem, and depression. Additionally, exploratory analyses aimed to uncover the moderating effect of sibling affection in the relationship between sibling rivalry and the above psychological outcomes. Participants completed surveys to assess sibling rivalry, affection, and the psychological outcomes. Interviews were conducted with participants who volunteered to expand on survey responses and explore whether competition remains within the sibling relationship or becomes a part of one’s personality. Results indicated that South Asian participants reported higher levels of sibling rivalry than White participants. Sibling rivalry was significantly associated with motivation, self-esteem, and depression but not significantly associated with resilience. Finally, the interaction between sibling rivalry and affection significantly predicted resilience but not motivation, self-esteem, or depression. Overall, these findings shed light on how cultural dynamics influence sibling rivalry. The interviews revealed that parental comparisons, perceived parental treatment, and cultural expectations were more commonly reported among South Asians, while strong sibling support was widely reported in both groups. Recognizing both the positive and negative psychological outcomes is crucial in developing effective interventions that minimize harmful sibling rivalry and enhance overall psychological well-being
Gilded Gates: The Role of Scarcity and Exclusivity in Luxury Market
No full textLuxury brands strategically employ scarcity and exclusivity cues to influence consumer behavior, often contradicting conventional economic theories of supply and demand. This study investigates how these cues interact to shape revenue generation and brand value in the luxury market. Drawing from economic theories such as the Veblen effect, signaling theory and utility maximization, this research explores the mechanisms through which scarcity enhances urgency and exclusivity reinforces long-term brand prestige. Using empirical analysis, the study examines the impact of limited product availability, VIP membership programs, and price barriers on consumer spending and brand perception. Results indicate that while scarcity cues drive immediate demand by increasing perceived value and competitive urgency, exclusivity cues sustain desirability by fostering aspirational consumer identities. The findings highlight that successful luxury brand strategies depend on balancing these two forces—leveraging scarcity to create short-term engagement while maintaining exclusivity to uphold long-term brand equity. These insights offer valuable implications for luxury marketers aiming to optimize pricing, product release strategies, and brand positioning in an increasingly competitive market
Host Species Range Expansion as a Risk Factor of Polyvalent Phage Applications in Emerging Phage Therapeutic Techniques
No full textMaterial Girl in a Material World: Exploring the Material Agency of Human Skeletal Remains and Paleoclimate Proxy Records from Pella, Jordan
No full textThis Independent Study presents the first published report of human remains from the College of Wooster’s Pella Collection. The remains were excavated from the archaeological site of Pella, Jordan, by the College of Wooster in 1967. They were subsequently brough to the United States, where they have remained in storage ever since. This project performs an osteological analysis of the remains, as well as a paleoenvironmental analysis of ancient Jordan to investigate the relationship between paleoclimate proxy records and archaeologically-derived narratives of the ancient Near East. The results of the two analyses are examined through the theoretical lens of material agency, in order to best contextualize their long and complicated histories. This study creates biological profiles for the thirteen identified individuals, and explores the different meanings attributed to the human remains across time and in different sociopolitical contexts. Similarly, the materiality of climate reconstruction is explored in order to accurately evaluate the applicability of paleoclimatic records. This project will hopefully serve as a starting point for future bioarcheological and paleoenvironmental research on the Pella Collection
AI-Driven Dermatological Diagnostics through Advanced Imaging and Deep Learning Independent Study Thesis
No full textThe accurate diagnosis of skin conditions remains a significant challenge in dermatology, often constrained by variability in traditional diagnostic methods and limited access to specialist care. This study presents a novel AI-driven diagnostic system that integrates multiple dermatological datasets and employs a hybrid machine learning approach. Unlike prior works that rely on a single dataset, this research combines the SCIN dataset for metadata with medical-grade images from HAM10000 and ISIC to enhance diagnostic precision. Separate convolutional neural network (CNN) models were trained for image-based classification, while a metadata-driven machine learning model was developed for symptom-based predictions. These models were then fused into a unified ensemble, leveraging the strengths of both structured patient data and visual diagnostic cues. The resulting web-based application enables users to upload images and input metadata for real-time diagnostic feedback, bridging gaps in dermatological care, particularly for underserved populations. This study further explores critical challenges such as dataset bias, model interpretability, and ethical considerations in AI-driven diagnostics. By integrating multi-source data with an innovative ensemble approach, this research highlights the potential of AI to revolutionize dermatology, enhancing both diagnostic accuracy and accessibility in healthcare
HomeOrbit: A Personalized and Adaptive IoT-Based Home Automation System
No full textIntelligent home automation systems have gained prominence with advancements in IoT technologies, yet many lack adaptability to individual user preferences. This thesis presents HomeOrbit, a modular smart home prototype designed to address this gap through personalized automation. The system integrates an ESP32 microcontroller with environmental sensors (DHT11 for temperature/humidity, a photoresistor for ambient light) and actuators (LEDs) to enable context-aware responses. A multi-layered software architecture employs MQTT for efficient data communication and a web-based GUI for real-time monitoring and manual control. While the current implementation utilizes rule-based logic (e.g., activating Coffee Mode under specific temperature/humidity thresholds), the framework explores future integration of machine learning for adaptive behavior. Key contributions include a scalable hardware design, seamless sensor-actuator coordination, and a user-centric interface. The prototype demonstrates the feasibility of personalized automation, and lays groundwork for expanding IoT interoperability and offers recommendations and ideas on further scalibility and extensibility