Word-embedding-based query expansion: Incorporating Deep Averaging Networks in Arabic document retrieval

One of the main issues associated with search engines is the query–document vocabulary mismatch problem, a long-standing problem in Information Retrieval (IR). This problem occurs when a user query does not match the content of stored documents, and it affects most search tasks. Automatic query expansion (AQE) is one of the most common approaches used to address this problem. Various AQE techniques have been proposed; these mainly involve finding synonyms or related words for the query terms. Word embedding (WE) is one of the methods that are currently receiving significant attention. Most of the existing AQE techniques focus on expanding the individual query terms rather the entire query during the expansion process, and this can lead to query drift if poor expansion terms are selected. In this article, we introduce Deep Averaging Networks (DANs), an architecture that feeds the average of the WE vectors produced by the Word2Vec toolkit for the terms in a query through several linear neural network layers. This average vector is assumed to represent the meaning of the query as a whole and can be used to find expansion terms that are relevant to the complete query. We explore the potential of DANs for AQE in Arabic document retrieval. We experiment with using DANs for AQE in the classic probabilistic BM25 model as well as for two recent expansion strategies: Embedding-Based Query Expansion approach (EQE1) and Prospect-Guided Query Expansion Strategy (V2Q). Although DANs did not improve all outcomes when used in the BM25 model, it outperformed all baselines when incorporated into the EQE1 and V2Q expansion strategies.

Vertical Brand Extension Strategy of L'Oreal Group

To compete in the current cosmetics market, strategic changes are needed according to the target market. Therefore, in this study, L'Oreal Group, the No. 1 global sales company, was selected as the subject of the study to study vertical brand expansion strategies used within the cosmetics industry. The purpose of the study is to analyze the vertical brand expansion strategy of L'Oreal Group and examine its effectiveness. The method of research is qualitative research that considers degree papers, journals, related books, and accounting materials from 1995 to 2020 by the L'Oreal Group. The results of the study are as follows. First, after examining L'Oreal Group's vertical brand expansion strategy, it was found that it used strategies such as ‘Mergers and Acquisitions of Various Brands’, ‘Brand Management by Business Department’, and ‘Localization’. Second, looking at the vertical brand expansion effect of L'Oreal Group, it was found that it gained the effect of ‘Increasing Sales’, ‘Strengthening Brands’, and ‘Ease Market Access’. Therefore, it can be concluded that the effect of a differentiated vertical brand expansion strategy played a role in L'Oreal Group's growth into the world's No. 1 cosmetics company. This suggests that utilization based on success stories is important, not indiscriminate application of vertical brand expansion strategies. We hope that further research will be conducted on the vertical brand expansion and online business trends of cosmetics companies in the future.

Vertical Brand Extension Strategy of L'Oreal Group

To compete in the current cosmetics market, strategic changes are needed according to the target market. Therefore, in this study, L'Oreal Group, the No. 1 global sales company, was selected as the subject of the study to study vertical brand expansion strategies used within the cosmetics industry. The purpose of the study is to analyze the vertical brand expansion strategy of L'Oreal Group and examine its effectiveness. The method of research is qualitative research that considers degree papers, journals, related books, and accounting materials from 1995 to 2020 by the L'Oreal Group. The results of the study are as follows. First, after examining L'Oreal Group's vertical brand expansion strategy, it was found that it used strategies such as ‘Mergers and Acquisitions of Various Brands’, ‘Brand Management by Business Department’, and ‘Localization’. Second, looking at the vertical brand expansion effect of L'Oreal Group, it was found that it gained the effect of ‘Increasing Sales’, ‘Strengthening Brands’, and ‘Ease Market Access’. Therefore, it can be concluded that the effect of a differentiated vertical brand expansion strategy played a role in L'Oreal Group's growth into the world's No. 1 cosmetics company. This suggests that utilization based on success stories is important, not indiscriminate application of vertical brand expansion strategies. We hope that further research will be conducted on the vertical brand expansion and online business trends of cosmetics companies in the future.

Windmills and Landfills: Framing Controversial Environmental Policies as a Risk to Human Health and Conflict Expansion Strategies

Conflicts about environmental policies are often focused on the risk to human health posed by a facility or technology. Genetically modified food, oil pipelines, and pesticides are examples of policy issues that have generated tremendous debate related to human health and safety. A key focus of scholarship on such contested policy debates places an emphasis on how these policies are framed, how framing alters the policy process and in turn alters policy outcomes. This research project asks how and why the framing of a policy as a threat to human health influences the policy process and policy outcomes? To answer this question, two case studies of environmental conflicts related to controversial facilities are examined and compared: a waste landfill conflict and a large wind energy conflict. This dissertation seeks to integrate an understanding of the role of risk into theories of public policy by building on the approach to analyzing policy conflicts developed by Sarah Pralle. By using a mix of qualitative, quantitative and process tracing methods in these two cases, this research seeks to understand the role of risk frames in conflict expansion strategies and how such frames are used to include new actors and institutions and thereby alter policy outcomes. The key finding in this study reveals the relationship between the framing of a policy as a threat to human health, the institutional venues in which that policy is contested, and the incentives for strategic venue-shopping these produce. When policy actors are able to successfully frame a facility as a threat to human health, they are able to shift the conflict over that facility to an institutional venue that does not privilege expert understandings of risk. This venue shift opens the opportunity to defeat the facility in a venue more open to non-expert understandings of risk. This finding is not only theoretically important but should serve as warning that institutional venues such as environmental assessment processes that restrict the consideration of risk to expert based assessments will only incentivize opponents to seek out new venues in which to pursue their goals.

Windmills and Landfills: Framing Controversial Environmental Policies as a Risk to Human Health and Conflict Expansion Strategies

Conflicts about environmental policies are often focused on the risk to human health posed by a facility or technology. Genetically modified food, oil pipelines, and pesticides are examples of policy issues that have generated tremendous debate related to human health and safety. A key focus of scholarship on such contested policy debates places an emphasis on how these policies are framed, how framing alters the policy process and in turn alters policy outcomes. This research project asks how and why the framing of a policy as a threat to human health influences the policy process and policy outcomes? To answer this question, two case studies of environmental conflicts related to controversial facilities are examined and compared: a waste landfill conflict and a large wind energy conflict. This dissertation seeks to integrate an understanding of the role of risk into theories of public policy by building on the approach to analyzing policy conflicts developed by Sarah Pralle. By using a mix of qualitative, quantitative and process tracing methods in these two cases, this research seeks to understand the role of risk frames in conflict expansion strategies and how such frames are used to include new actors and institutions and thereby alter policy outcomes. The key finding in this study reveals the relationship between the framing of a policy as a threat to human health, the institutional venues in which that policy is contested, and the incentives for strategic venue-shopping these produce. When policy actors are able to successfully frame a facility as a threat to human health, they are able to shift the conflict over that facility to an institutional venue that does not privilege expert understandings of risk. This venue shift opens the opportunity to defeat the facility in a venue more open to non-expert understandings of risk. This finding is not only theoretically important but should serve as warning that institutional venues such as environmental assessment processes that restrict the consideration of risk to expert based assessments will only incentivize opponents to seek out new venues in which to pursue their goals.

Sounds without borders: Exploring the cross-national expansion of commercial European Radio Groups

This article aims to study how private European radio is becoming commercially international through the expansion of radio brands beyond their national market. It is the first ever analysis of the expansion strategies of radio groups across Europe, including their footprint in each market in which they operate, from the political economy of cultural industries. The article maps the main radio groups in Europe, analyses cross-national champions in depth and establishes three main types. This study shows that, thanks to the possibilities of a deregulated market, strengthening the role of the brand and the format, and the agreements with other groups, broadcasting radio has overcome the obstacles that, historically, hindered its cross-border expansion.

Marketing Expansion Strategies for Local Crops-Based Couscous in Tahoua State, Niger Republic

This study investigates the own-price and cross-price elasticities for locally grown crops-based couscous and compares confidence intervals computation for willingness-to-pay and market shares under Krinsky Robb and Delta bootstrapping methods. Syntheses of previous literature and a focus group with consumers had helped to identify nine brands of couscous included in this research. The fractional factorial design was used to collect data from three hundred consumers, while the multinomial logit was used to analyze data. Results indicate that rice, cowpea and millet-based couscous were the most preferred by consumers and their market share accounts of more than fifty percent. The Results from simulation showed that confidence intervals under Krinsky and Robb stabilize as a sample size increases and thereby adjusting for skewness. However, confidence intervals under Delta computation are constant regardless of sample size, thereby failing to adjust for skewness. Finally, results also indicate that skewness was also accommodated in confidence intervals for market share because its values progressively adjust as sample size increases. These findings may be useful to boost cropbased couscous demand in the study area and beyond and thereby improving farmers’ revenue and offering diet diversification opportunity. Keywords: Marketing expansion, Strategies, Local crops, Couscous, Willingness-to-pay

Devolution and Politics as Predictors of Expansion Strategies in Public Training Institutions: A Case Study of Kenya Medical Training College

This study investigates the influence of devolution and politics on the expansion strategies in public training institutions with reference to the Kenya Medical Training College. The specific objectives of the study are to: establish the influence of devolution of health services on the success of expansion strategies in the public training institutions and; determine the influence of politics on the success of expansion strategies in the public training institutions. This study is based on the contingency theory. It adopts the descriptive survey design. The study focuses on 2393 KMTC officers from the 73 KMTC campuses in Kenya, 42 ministries of health officials in the 42 counties that have KMTC campuses, and 42 local leaders from those counties that have KMTC campuses. The total targeted study participants were thus 2477. From these, 10% (248 persons) were sampled. The study used purposive and stratified random sampling techniques to obtain the study sample. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires and interviews. Data from questionnaires were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, and means) were used to describe the central tendencies of the data. In addition, inferential statistics (Pearson Correlation and Multiple Regression Analysis) were also used. Data from key informants were analysed using content analysis techniques. The findings show that the two study variables influenced the uptake of expansion strategies at KMTC campuses. In this regard, Pearson correlation shows that there was statistical significant relationship between devolution of health services (r=0.322, p<0.001) and; politics (r=0.478, p<0.001) and success of expansion strategies. These findings show that politics was the strongest factor influencing the success of expansion strategies followed by devolution of health services. As such, avoiding the negative influences of the devolution of health services and politics can enhance the success of expansion strategies at KMTC. In this regard, efforts aimed at reducing political patronage as well as interferences of devolved governments in the running of KMTC campuses would enhance the performance of new campuses.