Novel energy-aware approach to resource allocation in cloud computing

In this paper, we address the issue of resource allocation in a Cloud Computing environment. Since the need for cloud resources has led to the rapid growth of data centers and the waste of idle resources, high-power consumption has emerged. Therefore, we develop an approach that reduces energy consumption. Decision-making for adequate tasks and virtual machines (VMs) with their consolidation minimizes this latter. The aim of the proposed approach is energy efficiency. It consists of two processes; the first one allows the mapping of user tasks to VMs. Whereas, the second process consists of mapping virtual machines to the best location (physical machines). This paper focuses on this latter to develop a model by using a deep neural network and the ELECTRE methods supported by the K-nearest neighbor classifier. The experiments show that our model can produce promising results compared to other works of literature. This model also presents good scalability to improve the learning, allowing, thus, to achieve our objectives.

The Influence of Individual Characteristics on Cultural Consumption from the Perspective of Complex Social Network

In the era of the digital economy, social network as an important social capital has an important influence on individual consumption decision-making. This article uses the latest data from the China Household Finance Survey (CHFS) in 2017 to analyze the impact of personal characteristics on cultural consumption behavior under the influence of social networks from a theoretical and empirical perspective. Studies have shown that (1) social networks have a significant impact on cultural consumption; compared to gift money and social interaction, communication costs have a greater impact on cultural consumption; (2) communication costs have a greater impact on education consumption, entertainment consumption, and tourism consumption; (3) under the influence of social networks, individual characteristics have a significant impact on cultural consumption; (4) the higher the level of education, the easier it is for cultural consumption. There are intergenerational differences in cultural consumption expenditures of different age groups. It is easier for people to consume entertainment than the elderly.

Effects of Air Pollution on Consumer Decision-Making Behavior: A Review

Purpose/Significance: In recent years, consumer behavior studies have shown that weather and air quality have a significant impact on consumers' purchasing behavior. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the different ways and causes of consumers' responses to weather conditions. However, the existing relevant research results are scattered in different disciplines and lack of summary and sorting of the research topic. By systematically reviewing the impact of air pollution on consumer decision-making, we can fully understand the change of consumer behavior caused by air pollution factors at the macro level and help enterprise managers to develop targeted marketing management strategies to avoid or reduce the impact of air quality on consumer decision-making behavior. Design/Method: This paper systematically reviews the impact of air pollution on consumers' decision-making behavior based on key keywords retrieved from major academic literature databases and search engine websites. In detail, with the framework of the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) model in the field of environmental psychology and based on the process perspective, the paper divides the impacts of air pollution on consumer's decision-making behavior into the change of body and mind before consumer decision-making process, change of the decision behavior in the process of consumption decision-making and consumption experience and evaluation behavior after the process of consumption decision making. Conclusion/Findings: By establishing and analyzing the thematic structure of studies on the impact of air pollution, the results show that air pollution has a wide range of impacts on consumers, ranging from health risks to mood changes and from changes in daily habits to changes in consumption behaviors of individuals and groups.

Customer personal values of hygiene product consumption: a means-end analytic approach

Purpose Deodorant, as a hygienic product, becomes a daily necessity product and has significant benefits to its users. Yet, the real motivation for consuming deodorant is not fully understood, and therefore, this study aims to join the extant literature in this context by investigating the effect of personal values. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative study using the laddering approach (means-end analytic) was used and 50 college students participated in this study. Findings The hierarchical value maps show that achievement, power, security and benevolent personal values are responsible for millennials deodorant consumption behavior. Fragrance, price and antiperspirant are the most important attributes that appeal to such consumption. Practical implications The findings also suggested that three different situational factors generated these different personal values. It includes a pre-career environment, puberty and maintaining self-stability. The strongest attributes that appeal to millennials are fragrance, price, antiperspirant, brand, long-lasting quality and packaging. Originality/value This study offers the means-end approach to the framework of millennials deodorant consumption behavior and which can be implemented to investigate millennials consumption decision-making processes.

Wine consumption preferences among generations X and Y: an analysis of variability

PurposeThis paper compares the socio-demographic features, wine consumption preferences and habits of individuals of Generations X and Y. The influence of age, as a life cycle effect, on individuals' consumption preferences from the same generation is analysed. In addition, the generational effect and period effect on consumption by each generation are studied to ascertain changes in preferences due to specific values of their birth cohort or period.Design/methodology/approachMixed ordered logit models are estimated to identify which traits influence the probability of consuming a certain quantity of wine for each generation. The variability of the effects of different variables on the consumption decision is analysed in depth, as a reflection of the unobserved heterogeneity present in individuals' decisions. For this purpose, data from two exhaustive surveys carried out in Tenerife (Canary Islands) over a time interval of 13 years are used.FindingsIndividuals' age and period are relevant factors in the consumption decision. There are some similarities in the behaviour of both generations, although the variability of the effects of some individual traits is greater for Generation X.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to a better understanding of the profile of wine consumers from different generations through a joint analysis of age effects, period and cohort, which have rarely been addressed jointly in the literature. In addition, it provides an exhaustive analysis of the heterogeneity in consumption preferences that highlights the variability of the effects found.

Religiosity, Income and Consumption Decision: Analysing Gender Differences (A case study of District Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)

Income is considered as an important determinant of personal consumption. The choices of an individual are not only influenced by the external factors (income, prices, etc.) but the internal factors such as personal preferences, social influence, and religious beliefs as well. The consumption decisions of the individual may therefore vary depending on their religiosity. Male and female are expected to perform different roles and responsibilities in the society, hence their role as a consumer may also differ while taking decisions regarding consumption of goods and service. The current study aims to examine the impact of religiosity and gender on the consumption decisions of the individual. A total of 679 faculty members (male and female) participated in the study from three major government universities located in district Peshawar. The results of logistic regression revealed that females are more influenced by religiosity in their consumption decisions regarding shariah-compliant financial products such as buying Islamic insurance policy takaful and opening profit and loss account as compared to their male counterparts. The results also confirmed that the income of the consumer has also an influence on their consumption decisions but the strength of religiosity is more than the income in affecting consumption decisions of female than male, where the role of income is more significant in determining consumption decision very consistent with the conventional consumption theory.

The Study of Consumption Decision Key Factors in Chinese Wedding Banquet

Marriage is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most people and all new couples want the details to be perfect for a good memory. However, in the Chinese world, it is not up to the new couple to decide all details of a wedding banquet on their own, the opinions of their parents must be considered. Therefore, under the circumstances of many decision makers with different expectations, wedding consumption decisions become onerous and complex. In this study, we used the focus group method to obtain the factors for the selection of the wedding restaurant and confirmed the key facets and criteria of the factors of wedding restaurant selection and the consumption value model through the Delphi method and then looked for the important correlation among the factors and their causal relationship through DANP analysis. The research shows that the most critical facets are “emotional value” and “social value” and that the most critical criteria are “word-of-mouth” and “restaurant evaluation.” Restaurant operators are suggested to consider the needs of customers, strengthen the quality of project package content, pay attention to online comments and voice volume, strengthen staff training and understand consumer demands.