Search

The Internet of Things has received enormous attention. Despite the lucrative potential, this study tries to look beyond the hype to understand how IoT impacts firm performance. Based on the information processing theory, we intend to explore how IoT influences the financial performance of firms. Firms, which realise the urgent need to adopt IoT might encounter a diverse set of challenges, like whether adoption will be profitable, the level of commitment they should devote, and whether to adopt as a first or second-mover. We want to comprehend such adoption challenges on the Indian manufacturing firm's financial performance. This study uses panel data from BSE 500 listed manufacturing firms and conducts multivariate analysis to understand the relationship between the IoT implementation proxies: IoT adoption, first-mover advantage, and firm performance in the light of IoT commitment and experts. The result indicates that IoT implementation has an insignificant effect on manufacturing firm performance. Meanwhile, the consideration of IoT commitment and experts jointly can enable a manufacturing firm to reap significantly positive financial outcomes. In other words, the IoT commitment and expertise positively moderate the relationship. The finding is useful to the decision-makers to address the firm-level adjustment before the mere introduction of IoT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective in the study of reliability and survival theory is to have precision in the extracted information. The measure of dispersion in the information content has been newly introduced in the information theory, known as varentropy. Studying the variability in the uncertainty measure is found productive for stochastic systems conditional on survival. In this paper, we provide a novel stochastic order based on the notion of residual varentropy and study its properties. Further on the basis of the residual varentropy, novel classes of life distributions are identified and investigated in detail. Moreover, some applications of the proposed order are produced at the end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe search for one-step alternatives to the generalized method of moment (GMM) has identified broad classes of potential estimators such as generalized empirical likelihoods (GEL), empirical cressie-read (ECR), exponentially tilted empirical likelihood (ETEL), and minimum discrepancy (MD) estimators. While empirical likelihood (EL) dominates other ECR estimators in terms of higher-order asymptotics, it lacks robustness to model misspecification. ETEL was shown to combine higher-order efficiency and robustness to misspecification but demands strong moment generating function existence conditions. We show, both theoretically and via simulations, how to achieve the same goal under weaker moment existence conditions within the class of MD estimators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of quantifying the distance between distributions arises in various fields, including cryptography, information theory, communication networks, machine learning, and data mining. In this article, the analogy with the cumulative Jensen–Shannon divergence, defined in Nguyen and Vreeken (2015), we propose a new divergence measure based on the cumulative distribution function and call it the cumulative α-Jensen–Shannon divergence, denoted by CJS (α) . Properties of CJS (α) are studied in detail, and also two upper bounds for CJS (α) are obtained. The simplified results under the proportional reversed hazard rate model are given. Various illustrative examples are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Situation awareness (SA) is a key indicator of operator task performance and behavioral safety in Human-Machine Interaction (HMI), and task difficulty is an important influencing factors in establishing and maintaining SA, especially in safety-critical scenarios such as flying and nuclear. However, the complexity and diversity of multitasking make it difficult to quantify task difficulty, which to a certain extent limits the research on cognitive research. To solve this problem, we proposed an approach to quantifying task difficulty in multitasking and analyzed the effect of task difficulty on different levels of SA through experiments in this paper. First, a task difficulty measure for a single meta-task was developed based on Shannon's information theory, including both discrete and continuous meta-tasks. Next, a three-dimensional attribute model of meta-tasks was proposed to measure the difficulty value added by concurrent tasks based on multiple resource theory. Finally, an experiment was conducted to measure SA at different levels based on SAGAT, and SA under different levels of task difficulty was analyzed. The results showed a strong negative correlation between SA and task difficulty. Specifically, compared to SA at the comprehension and prediction levels, SA at the perceptual level was more easily influenced by task difficulty. This study can provide some reference for the quantify of task difficulty in human factors experiments, the optimization of tasks in HMI, and the selection of operator attention allocation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPatent information platforms have become crucial for innovators to stay informed about technological advancements. These platforms, distinguished by their function-oriented nature, differ significantly from traditional systems, highlighting the need for research on user behavior impact. This study proposes a research model to investigate how information, system, and interface quality influence continuous use intention, with perceived pleasure and needs satisfaction as mediators. A survey with 468 users was conducted, followed by regression and structural equation modeling for path and mediation analyses. The findings indicate that information and system quality have positive but distinct impacts on perceived pleasure and needs satisfaction, while interface quality affects only perceived pleasure. Needs satisfaction mediates the impact of information and system quality on continuous use intention, whereas perceived pleasure does not. This study introduces a function-oriented scenario into information systems research and identifies the unique impact paths of information and system quality. For these function-oriented platforms, the influence of interface quality on needs satisfaction or perceived pleasure on continuous use intention is insignificant, establishing a new context relevant to pragmatism and push–pull–mooring theories. Practical insights are provided for managers to improve system efficiency and enhance user loyalty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive scientists and neuroscientists typically understand the brain as a complex communication/information-processing system. A limitation of this framework is that it requires cognitive systems to have prior knowledge about their environment to successfully perform some of their basic functions, such as perceiving. It is unclear how the source of such knowledge can be explained from within this framework. Drawing on Dennett (1981), we refer to this as the loans of intelligence problem. Recent advances in machine learning have resulted in the development of a family of algorithms, including the class known as autoencoders, that seem to provide a way for the information-processing framework to avoid this problem: cognitive systems do not require loans of intelligence, but instead acquire the knowledge necessary for perception through a process of unsupervised learning. This paper argues that although autoencoders do avoid the loans of intelligence problem, how they do so should not be understood from within the information-processing framework. Instead, their success should be interpreted as a proof of concept of how neural networks can attune to Gibsonian information. We thus propose that autoencoders belong to a class of algorithms for modeling the brain that have recently been dubbed direct fit algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe asymptotic equipartiton property (AEP) plays a crucial role in information theory, providing a theoretical foundation for understanding and analyzing aspects such as coding, compression, and the reliability of communication systems. In this article, we mainly study the generalized AEP of higher-order non homogeneous Markov information sources by establishing several strong deviation theorems. To achieve this, we first introduce the concepts of generalized sample divergence rate of mth-order non homogeneous Markov information sources. Meanwhile, we give a class of generalized strong deviation theorems for moving average of the functions of m+1 variables for mth-order non homogeneous Markov information sources, and also establish strong deviation theorems and strong limit theorems of the frequencies of occurrence of ordered tuples of states for this Markov information sources. Finally, the generalized AEP for mth-order non homogeneous Markov information sources are establized. Our results also generalize some known results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether individuals engage with or avoid health information and which sources are used is crucial for informed decision-making about mammography. Therefore, we aim to develop a typology of mammography-related information behaviors and explore their determinants, which were derived from the Theory of Motivated Information Management (TMIM). Based on a two-wave online survey of a sample of German women aged 40 to 69 years (N = 1,138), a cluster analysis resulted in five person-centric types of information behavior that cover respondents’ variety of engagement with mammography-related information: The seekers, the scanners, the avoiders, the involved, and the inactive. The types indicated that most individuals possess a high preference for one strategy of information behavior. Looking at the determinants of belonging to a particular type of information behavior, it becomes apparent that the factors of the TMIM have only limited explanatory power. The most relevant factors in distinguishing the types of information behaviors are benefit perceptions, worry, interest, avoidance efficacy, seeking, and avoidance-related outcome expectancies. Scanners and seekers had higher benefit perceptions. Seekers were further motivated by greater worries, while involved ones felt more interested and held stronger expectancies. Avoiders were more anxious and had a higher avoidance efficacy. The study suggests that inactive individuals and avoiders are highly prevalent and relevant target groups for health interventions that support informed decision-making. To facilitate informed decision-making, women should be encouraged to weigh benefits and harms of their options and to address negative emotions, such as anxiety, that may exist or arise during decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anurans have several characteristics in their acoustic communication that distinguish them. These characteristics are influenced by body-related, environmental and social variables. However, the complexity of anuran repertoire and the effect of such variables on it are still understudied. Dendropsophus minutus is a Neotropical treefrog that has a wide repertoire composed of three notes, grouped in at least 71 unique combinations. To quantify complexity, we used the entropy measurement, since it measures the randomness of a sequence. Therefore, we could test if repertoire complexity in D. minutus is related with body condition, social context, and environmental variables. We recorded vocalisations of 80 males in three sites and found 44 unique note combinations not described before, increasing the species' repertoire to 115 combinations. We observed that the species has near maximum entropy for note frequency, but a low entropy for note sequencies, showing a clear a bias for some note combinations. We found a positive relationship between repertoire complexity and air temperature. Thus, based on our results, the complexity of this species' repertoire is an additional trait influenced by climate, and should be considered in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses how modern theories of information converge with the Biblical concept of Logos. We begin with a condensed review of the various concepts of information. We then present some informational interpretations of Biblical Logos and compare them with modern theories of information, specifically the general theory of information (GTI). In closing, we point out some aspects of this study that warrant further analysis. Our informational interpretations of Biblical Logos are based on a paper by Henrik Gregersen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the connection among the brain and facial muscles, we decoded the correlation of facial muscles and brain activities. We applied information theory (Shannon entropy) to EEG and EMG signals recorded from 12 subjects (7 M, 5 F) during rest and stimulation using three odors (pineapple, banana, vanilla). The results indicated that a larger variation in the molecular complexity of odors causes a larger variation in the information of EMG and EEG signals. Therefore, facial muscles' activity is strongly coupled (r = −0.8399) to the brain's activity. Our analysis method could be further employed to examine the relationship between the brain and other organs by comparing other physiological signals with the brain signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blind boxes have swiftly emerged as a prominent marketing strategy in tourism. Based on information gap theory, this research aims to explore how to optimize marketing effectiveness through varying levels of information gap. Findings show that a moderate-level information gap triggers stronger impulsive purchase intention than a high-level information gap, with curiosity and anxiety perception mediating the effect. Moreover, consumers with a low-risk propensity are particularly sensitive to the impact of the information gap level. These findings contribute theoretically and provide practical guidance for optimizing the marketing of plane ticket blind boxes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing urbanization is driving rapid growth in residential multi-owned properties (RMOPs) worldwide. Concerns about the quality of these buildings are also growing in many countries. Yet research into the quality of RMOPs (particularly apartments) remains scant and under-theorized. Addressing this knowledge gap, this paper reports the results of research which employed information asymmetry theory to provide new insights into the prevalence and risks of building defects in the Australian RMOP construction market. Using data about defects in 635 RMOPs built in Sydney between 2008 and 2017 and semi-structured interviews with sixty-six experienced practitioners, the results highlight the severity of the defects crisis. The research identified two types of information asymmetries which exacerbate the risk of buying into a defective building for RMOP customers: data fragmentation and data robustness. From a policy and practical perspective, this highlights the challenges faced by consumers in undertaking 'due diligence' and the need for reforms that address these information asymmetries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking Stephen Hartman's vignette about his visit to a maternity ward as an example of the operation of digital media/technologies central to what I am referring to as an information infrastructure, I follow him in questioning the priority that psychoanalytic theory gives the (m)other-infant relationship and the resulting influence the relationship has had in shaping the techniques of psychoanalytic practice. I turn to information theory to address the changes brought about by the digital media/technologies of the current information infrastructure urging us to recognize that the (m)other infant-relationship is not sufficient as a starting point for understanding the social; it is not robust enough to bring the noise of the social into our sessions and our treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on social information processing theory, this study examined the mediating role of perceived leader expectations (PLE) for creativity and perceived leader support (PLS) for creativity on the relationship between digital leadership (DL) and employees' radical creativity (RC). A total of 231 employees in China's information technology industry contributed data through a two-wave survey over one week. Results from structural equation modelling and bootstrapping analysis indicate that digital leadership was directly associated with higher radical or innovative creativity. Perceived leader expectations for creativity and perceived leader support for creativity enhanced digital leadership effects on radical creativity. Perceived leader expectations for creativity–perceived leader support for creativity played a chain mediating role in the relationship between digital leadership and radical creativity, strengthening radical creativity. These findings are consistent with social information processing theory and expand the evidence of the impact of digital leadership on employees' radical creativity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online video platforms are actively introducing automatic tagging systems to enhance the searchability and accessibility of videos, and these systems also contribute to the prototypicality of the videos. Nonetheless, the influence of adhering to prototypicality in user-generated videos (UGVs) on user engagement has remained an area with limited exploration. Leveraging an extensive dataset from UGV platforms that includes 15,986 videos by 6,824 creators across 17 distinct categories, this study applies information foraging theory to show that video prototypicality significantly enhances emotional engagement but has an inverse effect on cognitive engagement. The dynamics of these effects are shaped by the competitive landscape of the video market. Specifically, horizontal market competition amplifies these effects, while vertical market competition attenuates them. Moreover, our exploration of heterogeneity effects reveals that the influence of adhering to video prototypicality on emotional engagement wanes within extensive creator networks. Furthermore, the impacts of adhering to video prototypicality on emotional and cognitive engagement demonstrate distinct patterns, contingent on the existence of a creator market monopoly. The results of this study can assist UGV platforms in refining the design of their automated video tagging systems, contributing to a more dynamic and vibrant UGV platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entropy measures are fundamental tool in information theory and various areas of sciences. We establish various lower bounds to the cumulative residual entropy and cumulative entropy based on Gini's mean difference. Applying new results on upper bounds in Balakrishnan, Buono, and Longobardi (2022), we obtain sharper upper bounds for the cumulative residual entropy and cumulative entropy. New generalized cumulative residual entropy and cumulative entropy are also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating human capital theory, social information processing theory, and literature on humble leadership behaviours, this study takes an initial step to investigate the effects of CEO human capital on CEO humble leadership behaviours. We developed a model that explains how experience human capital (career variety) and education human capital (education level and elite education) independently and jointly influence CEO humble leadership behaviours. We examined the proposed model using multi-source data. The data of the independent variables were hand-collected from multiple sources, including the CSMAR database, corporate websites, and press releases. The data of the dependent variable were collected with an online survey from 175 listed companies. We found that career variety positively influenced CEO humble leadership behaviours, while elite education was negatively associated with CEO humble leadership behaviours. Moreover, career variety and education level had a positive interaction effect on CEO humble leadership behaviours, while career variety and elite education had a negative interaction effect on CEO humble leadership behaviours. Our findings highlight that different types of human capital may exert different impacts. Moreover, apart from the direct impact of one specific type of human capital, various types of human capital can interact to influence CEO humble leadership behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims, as a first attempt, to establish a framework for multi-objective optimization diagnostic model calibration and uncertainty analysis based on information theory, including mutual information (MI) and variation of information (VI). Moreover, a global sensitivity analysis was performed using the information coefficient of correlation to determine the incremental contribution of each model parameter. The applicability of the proposed framework was tested in an arid region of Oman with complex hydrogeological conditions and hardrock-alluvial aquifer systems. The findings highlight the capability of the information theory approach to simultaneously calibrate the model and assess uncertainty, while providing valuable diagnostics for identifying areas of the model that require further refinement. Furthermore, the results indicate that the proposed framework successfully reproduced 96% of the observed data, demonstrating its ability to reduce parameter uncertainty and ensure an accurate match between the simulated and observed data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Water Resources Journal / Revue Canadienne des Ressources Hydriques is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study investigates how positive emotion in tourism social media posts influences tourists' user engagement and its underlying mechanisms. Utilizing real-world data from Ctrip travel platform, our research adopts a multi-method approach encompassing archival analysis, survey, and experimental methods to provide robust evidence supporting the role of positive emotion in the tourism posts. Findings suggest a diminishing effect of positive emotion on user engagement. Drawing upon emotions as social information theory, we identify two contrasting mediating pathways: users' positive affect and perceived persuasive motive. Importantly, mediators exert differential effects at varying levels of emotional expression, collectively contributing to an inverted U-shaped relationship between emotional expression and user engagement. The conclusions offer strategic insights into the emotional expression tactics employed by self-media users when posting, while also serving as a reference for businesses aiming to enhance higher engagement levels among potential tourists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research indicates that effective learner-centred feedback requires learner agency, impact and sensemaking. While scholars are focusing on supporting agency and impact, limited research has addressed sensemaking. This is problematic, because if learners fail to understand feedback, impact is likely to be reduced. In response, this study examines (non) alignment between teacher intent and student sensemaking of authentic feedback comments. The sample included four teachers and eighteen students from two Australian universities. Data were collected via stimulated recall interviews and a feedback coding task. The results suggest that sensemaking of strength-based comments, critiques and actionable information was aided when the comments were clear and specific. On the other hand, sensemaking was limited when comments were designed to mitigate against negative affect, overloaded with multiple intentions, or overly brief. This study informs theory around learner-centred feedback design which, in turn, improves the likelihood that teacher comments will be interpreted accurately by learners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the impact of news modality (print news vs. 360° journalism) on psychological mechanisms of information seeking intention, as well as individual differences that moderate the observed outcomes. The results of a two condition between-subjects experiment (N = 100) conducted on a community sample showed that news modality affected information seeking intentions, enjoyment of news story, and the feelings of spatial presence, but did not affect actual information seeking behavior and information recall. Exposure to 360° journalism led to the increase in spatial presence, which led to a linear increase in enjoyment, ultimately resulting in greater intentions to seek further information. Participants with a higher need for cognitive closure enjoyed consuming news more when the story was presented as 360° journalism than those with a lower need for cognitive closure. Results contribute to expanding the theories of information seeking and the role of affective responses and spatial presence on news consumption in journalism and communication scholarship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In information theory, the well-known log-sum inequality is a fundamental tool which indicates the non-negativity for the relative entropy. In this article, we establish a set of inequalities which are similar to the log-sum inequality involving two functions defined on scalars. The parametric extended log-sum inequalities are shown. We extend these inequalities for the commutative matrices. In addition, utilizing the Löwner partial order relation and the Hansen–Pedersen theory for non-commutative positive semi-definite matrices we demonstrate a number of matrix-inequalities analogous to the log-sum inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In information theory, the entropy ergodic theorem is a fundamental one well-known to all. In this article, we will study the generalized entropy ergodic theorem for Markov chains indexed by a spherically symmetric tree. First, we give the definition of Markov chains indexed by a spherically symmetric tree. Meanwhile, the generalized strong law of large numbers for Markov chains indexed by a spherically symmetric tree is proved. Finally, we obtain the generalized entropy ergodic theorem for Markov chains indexed by a spherically symmetric tree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important goal when analyzing multivariate time series is the identification of heterogeneity, both within and across individuals over time. This heterogeneity can represent different ways in which psychological processes manifest, either between people or within a person across time. In many instances, those differences can have systematic patterns that can be related to future outcomes. In close relationships, for example, the daily exchange of affect between two individuals in a couple can contain a particular structure that is different across people and can result in varying levels of relationship satisfaction. In this paper we use Louvain, a clustering method, as a tool to characterize heterogeneity in multivariate time series data. Using affect measures from dyadic interactions, we first determine that Louvain is adept at detecting homogeneous patterns that are distinct from one another. Additionally, these homogeneous points are linked, at some level, by time. Thus, we find that clustering via Louvain is useful to find time periods of stable, reoccurring patterns. However, using measures founded on information theory reveals that there is some level of information loss that is inevitable when clustering on levels of variable expression. Finally, we evaluate the predictive validity of the clustering method by examining the relation between the identified clusters of affect and measures outside the time series (i.e., relationship satisfaction and breakup taken one and two years later). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The asymptotic equipartition property (AEP) plays an important role in establishing lossless source coding theorems and asymptotic coding theorems through the concepts of typical sets and typical sequences in information theory. In this paper, we study the generalized asymptotic equipartition property in the form of moving average for N bifurcating Markov chains indexed by an N-branch Cayley tree, which is a special case of Markov Urandom fields. Firstly, we construct a class of random variables containing a parameter with means of 1, and establish a strong limit theorem for the moving average of multivariate functions of such chains using the Borel–Cantelli lemma. Secondly, we present the strong law of large numbers for the frequencies of occurrence of states of the moving average, as well as the generalized asymptotic equipartition property for N bifurcating Markov chains indexed by an N-branch Cayley tree. As corollaries, we also generalize some known results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attribution theorists assume that character information informs judgments of blame. But there is disagreement over why. One camp holds that character information is a fundamental determinant of blame. Another camp holds that character information merely provides evidence about the mental states and processes that determine responsibility. We argue for a two-channel view, where character simultaneously has fundamental and evidential effects on blame. In two large factorial studies (n = 495), participants rate whether someone is blameworthy when he makes a mistake (burns a cake or misses a bus stop). Although mental state inferences predict blame judgments, character information does not. Using mediation analyses, we find that character information influences responsibility via two channels (Studies 3–4; n = 447), which are sensitive to different kinds of information (Study 5; n = 149). On the one hand, forgetfulness increases judgments of responsibility, because mental lapses manifest an objectionable character flaw. On the other hand, forgetfulness decreases judgments of state control, which in turn decreases responsibility judgments. These two channels cancel out, which is why we find no aggregate effect of forgetfulness on responsibility. Our results challenge several fundamental assumptions about the role of character information in moral judgment, including that good character typically mitigates blame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we introduce a new approach to the mean estimators in ranked set sampling. The amount of information carried by the auxiliary variable is measured with the Shannon entropy method on populations and samples and to use this information in the estimator, the basic ratio and the generalized exponential ratio estimators are modified as sub-ratio estimators to use only the information on the sample. Without using the required population parameter for ratio estimators, we propose new sub-ratio type estimators using only the auxiliary variable for ranking in the implementation of the ranked set sampling method. The mean squared errors and bias formulas of the proposed estimators are obtained and it is shown that the proposed estimators are more efficient than the classic mean estimator and ratio estimator of RSS under the certain theoretical conditions. Simulation and real data studies also show that the proposed estimators always give better results than the mean estimators of ranked set sampling and it is observed that the relative efficiencies of the proposed estimators increase depending on the magnitude of the entropy, the correlation between the auxiliary and the study variables, and the set sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Service Industries Journal is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The diffusion of an innovation is often discussed as the outcome of social processes. An alternative IT viewpoint is Adaptive Structuration Theory where IT as "appropriated" by an organization as enabling and encoding the "spirit" of that organization – why and how and where it does what it does. Examining such a case with the diffusion of an existing Health Information Exchange (HIE) in a new set of hospitals, supports the inclusion of that AST aspect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the fundamental inequalities which is used in many inequities is Jensen inequality. In fact, it is a base of some inequality such as the arithmetic mean, harmonic mean inequality also in inequality with respect to entropies and information theory. The purpose of this research paper is to give a new interesting refinement of Jensen inequality for two particular finite sequences by using uniformly convex function. Also, we give some applications of this in information theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise in firm-level cash asset ratios has become a prominent trend in countries around the world which may further influence the capital allocation efficiency. This study analysed the inefficient effect of cash holdings on the capital allocation by combining the internal capital market theory with principal–agent theory and asymmetric information theory. The theoretical hypotheses were tested using linear panel regression models based on financial data from Chinese listed enterprises. We found that corporations holding more cash assets had lower capital allocation efficiency than those with fewer cash assets, which is consistent with agency theory and asymmetric information theory. Internal capital markets exacerbated this adverse effect. Additional testing was conducted to examine the heterogeneity of this effect between different types of ownership and strategy; the findings showed that an increase in cash holdings had a greater marginal impact on overinvestment among privately owned enterprises and underinvestment among state-owned enterprises. Internal capital market operation alleviated the problem of overinvestment but exacerbated the problem of underinvestment in privately owned enterprises, whereas it increased overinvestment in state-owned enterprises. The results suggested that different types of enterprises should deal with the inefficient effect of cash assets based on the causes of inefficient investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose here a general statistic for the goodness-of-fit test of statistical models. The proposed statistic is constructed based on an estimate of Kullback–Leibler information. The properties of the proposed test are stated and then the established results are used to introduce goodness-of-fit tests for the normal and exponential distributions. A simulation study is carried out for examining the power of the proposed test and to compare it with those of some existing procedures. Our study shows that the proposed test is superior to the competitors in most of the considered cases and can confidently apply in practice. Finally, some illustrative examples are presented and analysed, and concluding comments are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We apply the minimum description length (MDL) methodology from information theory in order to select mathematical models for musical rhythm. We consider six models proposed by David Temperley and mathematically formalize them, which allows for an MDL analysis. As a consequence, we find that two of the models are not suitable to apply this methodology, as their codification strategy does not represent all possible rhythm sequences. A slight modification of Temperley's hierarchical model provides an improvement in codification performance, robust across all the four corpora considered in the experiments: three classical corpora commonly used in music studies and one of tango songs recently released. Our study confirms the usefulness of the MDL approach to solve the classical trade-off between model complexity and its ability to fit the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beginning with a fantasy interview with Donald Winnicott and William Shakespeare – one in which Winnicott espouses the essential nature of play in psychoanalysis – he then joins Shakespeare in finding a promising set of ideas for psychoanalytic play. These ideas arise out of Shakespeare’s theatrical, play-full world of drama and narrative. Both these sets of ideas then build upon an epistemology based on an information theory of change in psychoanalytic therapy – one which asserts that change is a constant in every living system, and therefore the field of every session of therapy. Thus, in every developing psychotherapy, there becomes an emerging, often unknown “architecture” involving what is ceaselessly changing. This quality of change preserves some basis of order in any treatment (e.g. 1st Order Change). In effect, it is responsible for “keeping the system the ‘same.’” 1st Order Change involves the often unwitting “premises” upon which aspects of both the treatment narrative and drama are organized. It contrasts to a different kind of change (2nd Order Change) which radically changes some of the organizing assumptions (“premises”) of the therapy. 2nd Order Change typically emerges in an unwitting, unpredictable manner, catching both analytic participants by surprise. In other articles over the past two decades, the author has described this in terms of theory about improvisation. Optimizing the creative genius of such moments of play, requires that therapists immerse themselves in the field, in a non-presumptive “bottom-up” phenomenological experiential manner in contrast to the historical “top-down” “prejudices” that the history of theory and practice – within psychoanalysis and from without – often dictate, in terms of what becomes searched for and interpreted. Two case illustrations examine what can emerge when unwitting, unpredictable, preconscious moments of improvising emerge, with unpredictable aspects in entities such as character, narrative, script and so forth. This broad coalescence of ideas leads to the creation of moments of the “heretofore unimaginable” rather than what seems more like the expectable and predictable 1st Order Change world orders most treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supply chain practices in mature production are widely investigated but little is known about their roles in new product ramp-up. To address this gap, this study specifically investigates the impact of two just-in-time (JIT) supply chain practices (i.e. JIT delivery by suppliers and JIT link with customers) on new product cost and speed-to-market performance. Moreover, the moderating effects of information technology (IT) integration are examined according to organisational information processing theory. After regression analysis with a survey data of 193 firms, the study finds that JIT delivery by suppliers improves cost performance while JIT link with customers increases speed-to-market performance. Moreover, the positive performance effects of JIT delivery by suppliers on cost performance is enhanced by both internal and external IT integration while that of JIT link with customers on speed-to-market performance can only be enhanced by internal IT integration. The theoretical and managerial implications of this study are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a definition of reliability based on Lindley information, which is the mutual information between an observed measure and latent attribute. This definition reduces to the traditional definition of reliability in the case of normal variables, but can be applied to any joint distribution of observed and latent variables. Importantly, unlike traditional definitions of reliability, this formulation of reliability applies to vector- or matrix-valued estimates and summaries of responses, and therefore generalizes reliability to sets of scores and estimates in addition to individual scores and estimates. This formulation also leads to new bounds for reliability, as well as newly reported relationships between reliability and the traditional Fisher information function familiar in item response theory literature. This form of reliability can be estimated using formulae, or methods used in Bayesian inference such as Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) depending on the case. Examples based on well-studied datasets are provided, as well as applications to drift-diffusion modeling and randomly-varying intraindividual covariance structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author specifies the pivotal role of accounting information quality in moderating the influence of dividends on the investment decisions of listed firms in Vietnam from 2009 to 2020. In this study, the significant dependence of investment on dividends is proved by the Two-Step System Generalized Method of Moments. The key findings show that dividends and investment decisions have a statistically significant negative relationship. The relationship is clarified based on agency theory, asymmetric information theory, and signaling theory, which are used in low-information-transparency markets such as the Vietnamese market. Primarily, the role of a moderating factor could mitigate the negative relationship above. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the antecedents and consequences of supply chain risk management capabilities. Informed by the information processing theory, we conceptualize supply chain disruption orientation as an organic control and supply chain visibility as a mechanistic control. Both control mechanisms build the information processing capacities, which need to fit with the information processing requirements imposed by disruption impact during the adverse supply chain disruptions in the wake of the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic. When the fit is realized, supply chain risk management capabilities will be improved. This study also examines the role of supply chain risk management capabilities in bolstering supply chain resilience to the catastrophic occurrence. Our findings indicate the fit between information processing capacities and requirements enhances supply chain risk management capabilities, which, in turn, result in enhanced supply chain resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supply chain resilience and data analytics capability have generated increased interest in academia and among practitioners. However, existing studies often treat these two streams of literature independently. Our study model reconciles two different streams of literature: data analytics capability as a means to improve information-processing capacity and supply chain resilience as a means to reduce a ripple effect in supply chain or quickly recover after disruptions in the supply chain. We have grounded our theoretical model in the organisational information processing theory (OIPT). Four research hypotheses are tested using responses from 213 Indian manufacturing organisations collected via a pre-tested survey-based instrument. We further test our model using variance-based structural equation modelling, popularly known as PLS-SEM. All of the hypotheses were supported. The findings of our study offer a unique contribution to information systems (IS) and operations management (OM) literature. The findings further provide numerous directions to the supply chain managers. Finally, we note our study limitations and provide further research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been tremendous interest in blockchain technology (BT) (also known as distributed ledger technology) around the globe and across sectors. Following significant success in the financial sector, other sectors, such as humanitarian sector, have started deploying BT at various levels. Although the use of BT in the humanitarian sector is in its infancy, donors and government agencies are increasingly calling for building BT-enabled swift-trust (ST) and more collaborative relationships among various humanitarian actors in order to improve the transparency and traceability of disaster relief materials, information exchanges and flow of funds in disaster relief supply chains. Our study, which is informed by organisational information processing theory and relational view, proposes a theoretical model to understand how BT can influence operational supply chain transparency (OSTC) and ST among actors engaged in disaster relief operations. Our model also shows how BT-enabled ST can further improve collaboration (CO) among actors engaged in disaster relief operations and enhance supply chain resilience (SCR). We formulated and tested six research hypotheses, using data gathered from international non-governmental organisations with the help of the Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) database. We received 256 usable responses using a pre-tested survey-based instrument designed for key informants. Our results confirm that our six hypotheses were supported. Our study offers significant and valid contributions to the literature on ST, CO and SCR and BT/distributed ledger technology. We have also noted the limitations of our study and have offered future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new industrial revolution called Industry 4.0 imposes new challenges to the research community. One of the main issues in Industry 4.0 is the management of the huge amount of information exchanged among its different integrated systems. The present work demonstrates how the traditional manufacturing system is transformed to the Industry 4.0 manufacturing system and proposes a modelling and quantification approach, which includes metrics from the Information Theory estimating the complexity and the capacity of the Industry 4.0, from the perspective of the communication among the systems. The application impact of the proposed Industry 4.0 system and the comparison of these metrics before and after shifting to Industry 4.0 is also analysed and validated in a case study from the Robotics Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the significance of the concept of noise for cognition and computation. The concept of noise was massively transformed in the twentieth century with the advent of information theory, cybernetics, and computer science, all of which provide formal accounts of information and noise centrally concerned with contingency. We show how the concept has changed from these classical formulations, through developments in mathematics (topology and topos theory), computing (interactive computing and univalent foundations), and cognitive science (predictive processing and cognitive morphodynamics). Ultimately it argues for the central importance of noise not only within a topological conception of cognition and computation, but also in the transcendental-empirical torsion of image schemata and the social interactive elaboration of freedom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We determine the amount of information contained in a time series of price returns at a given time scale, by using a widespread tool of the information theory, namely the Shannon entropy, applied to a symbolic representation of this time series. By deriving the exact and the asymptotic distribution of this market information indicator in the case where the efficient market hypothesis holds, we develop a statistical test of market efficiency. We apply it to a real dataset of stock indices, single stocks, and cryptocurrencies, for which we are able to determine at each date whether the efficient market hypothesis is to be rejected, with respect to a given confidence level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integration with client firms is the most important external relationship for third-party logistics (3PL) firms. Based on information processing theory, a conceptual model was developed to explore the mechanism of how customer integration contributes to 3PL firms' performance via differentiation and low-cost advantages, and the moderating effects of information technologies were examined in relation to the trend of digital transformation. Survey data were collected from 235 3PL firms in China and analysed using structural equation modelling. The results show that customer integration is positively related to the performance of 3PL firms, which is mediated by differentiation and low-cost advantages. In addition, information acquisition technologies and information processing technologies significantly moderate the effect of customer integration on differentiation advantages. These findings help to address the challenges faced by 3PL firms in the context of digital transformation and add to the literature on customer integration and logistics information technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how diversity-focused HR practices influence individual performance is critical to enhancing organizational competitiveness. In the current article, we examine the effects of diversity-focused HR practices on individual performance in terms of social information processing theory and social exchange theory. In particular, we draw upon constructs of diversity-focused HR practices, inclusion climate, employee relational attachment, and individual performance to hypothesize serial mediation mechanisms linking diversity-focused HR practices to individual performance. We collected time-lagged, multi-level, and multi-source data from 475 employees and their immediate supervisors working in the hotel industry of Italy. Our results demonstrated that diversity-focused HR practices were positively related to inclusion climate, which in turn improved relational attachment among employees. Moreover, diversity-focused HR practices were positively related to individual performance via sequential mediation of inclusion climate and relational attachment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crowdfunding has become an alternative source of financing for entrepreneurial new ventures and social projects. While identifying and "tapping the right crowd" of backers has been shown to be crucial for the success of crowdfunding campaigns, we still lack a basic understanding of why individuals become backers in the first place and why so many others do not. Building on information processing theory, we advance crowdfunding awareness as an important precedent to actual engagement as a backer. We hypothesize and—using a sample of 1,042 individuals in Flanders (Belgium)—show that individuals' crowdfunding awareness depends on whether they are male or female, as well as on the (perceived) socioeconomic environment they are in. Furthermore, our findings suggest that women tend to derive their crowdfunding awareness to a larger extent from these environmental characteristics than men. These results have important implications for theory and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research article (RA) abstracts succinctly and skilfully epitomize the core information of the full text and have thus attracted the attention of a number of scholars. While previous studies mainly focused on the rhetorical structures, meta-discursive features and lexico-grammatical features, few have made explorations from the perspective of information theory. To bridge this gap, the present study conducted an entropy-based analysis to explore the distribution pattern of information content across moves and the variations across disciplines. 318 RA abstracts across the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities (106 abstracts per discipline) were selected and three indices, i.e. the 1-/ 2-/ 3-gram entropies, were used to examine whether different indices yielded different features. The results show that in an RA abstract, the information content is unevenly distributed across moves; different entropy indices may reflect different linguistic properties; and both similarities and variations exist in information content across disciplines. These phenomena can be attributed to the functions of moves, the linguistic meanings of indices and disciplinary features. This study has implications for RA abstract writing instruction and practice, as well as for broadening the applications of quantitative linguistic methods into less touched fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]