When a new technology is launched, its diffusion becomes an issue of importance. There are various stakeholders that influence diffusion. The question that remains to be determined is their identification and roles. In this paper we outline how the strategies pursued by the government acting as the key stakeholder affected the diffusion of the technology. We base our analysis on a theoretical f...

Employing the Japan-U.S. international survey, this study analyzed the cause of rising perception of the widening income gap in Japan. Between these two countries, their distinct value judgments on the substance of gap influence their recognition. Japanese have negative perception of the income gap caused by talent, academic background or luck; it seems relatively weak in the U.S. A large porti...

A hybrid model, combining influence diagrams and a multicriteria method, is presented in order to assist with the decision making process about which questions would be more attractive to the definition of the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, considering the stages of Clinical Dementia Rating. The modeling and evaluation processes were carried out through a battery of standardized assessments ...

A hybrid model, combining influence diagrams and a multicriteria method, is presented in order to assist with the decision making about which questions would be more attractive to the definition of the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, considering the stages of CDR (Clinical Dementia Rating). Due to the increase in life expectancy there is higher incidence of dementias. Alzheimer’s disease is t...

Objective: Compulsive Internet Use (CIU) has been linked to lower wellbeing, especially among adolescents. Yet, questions regarding the directionality of this association remain unanswered: CIU may influence wellbeing and vice versa. Theoretically, both directions are plausible, yet so far no studies have examined the directionality of these effects among adults. This article aims to shed light...

Four studies demonstrate the potential influence of name similarity on perceptions of similarity to oneself in general, liking, and compliance. Some participants received a scenario in which the protagonist’s name was similar to their own. These participants indicated that the character was more similar to themselves, reported greater liking for the person, and expressed more willingness to com...

OBJECTIVE In the context of the global obesity epidemic, national nutrition policies have come under scrutiny. The present paper examines whose interests - industry or public health - are served by these policies and why. DESIGN Using an exemplary case study of submissions to an inquiry into obesity, the research compared the positions of industry and public health groups with that taken by g...

The hearing instruments (hearing aids) industry is typically described as a technologically vigorous area. And yet, in the past 25 years, the structure of the hearing instrument industry has remained surprisingly stable. The article investigates the connection between industry structure and the nature of technology and applies the results on the industry. It is shown that market structure in bo...