Independent dominating sets in triangle-free graphs

The independent domination number of a graph is the smallest cardinality of an independent set that dominates the graph. In this paper we consider the independent domination number of triangle-free graphs. We improve several of the known bounds as a function of the order and minimum degree, thereby answering conjectures of Haviland.     

Race, racial resentment, attentiveness to the news media, and public opinion toward the Jena Six

Objective. We outline the role of race, racial resentment, and attentiveness to news in structuring public opinion toward the prosecution of the Jena Six, the name given to six African-American high school students who beat a white student, five of whom were subsequently charged with attempted second-degree murder.Method. We rely on a telephone survey of 428 registered voters collected in the aftermath of the protests in Jena, Louisiana.Results. Public reactions were heavily filtered by race and associated with measures of racial resentment. African Americans followed news about the protests more closely, believed race was the most important consideration in the decision to prosecute, and believed the decision to prosecute was the wrong decision. Racially conservative white respondents were less likely to believe race was the most important consideration in the decision to prosecute and were more likely to believe that the decision to prosecute was the right decision. Consistent with theories of agenda setting and framing, attentiveness to the news influenced perceptions regarding the importance of race in the decision to prosecute but not whether the decision was the right decision.Conclusions. At least within the context of the Deep South, race and racial attitudes continue to be an important predictor of public reactions to racially charged events. Attentiveness to the news influenced the lens through which events were interpreted, but not perceptions of whether the outcome was the right decision.     

Maximum and Minimum Prediction Variance for Spherical and Cuboidal Split Plot Designs

The impact of restricted randomization on the information matrix has created challenges for the computation of design optimality criteria. This article focuses on the computation of the maximum and minimum prediction variance for Central Composite (CCD) and Box–Behnken (BBD) split plot designs (SPD). The approach is to analytically determine the exact maximum and minimum prediction variance for both spherical and cuboidal second-order SPD. A particular feature of these analytical functions is that they are functions of the design parameters. Finally, the application of these analytical functions is demonstrated for a CCD SPD.     

THE INFLUENCE OF OPEN AND CLOSED BELIEF SYSTEMS ON COOPERATION IN THE PRISONER'S DILEMMA*

The Rokeach Dogmatism Scale was employed to identify subjects possessing either open or closed belief systems. Forty-eight subjects were randomly selected and assigned to eight open-open, eight open-closed, and eight closed-closed pairs. The dyads then played a modified version of the Prisoner's Dilemma where they were also permitted to communicate using a predetermined list of messages. It was found that the eight open-open pairs cooperated significantly more than the other pairs in the experiment. However, results also suggest that individuals possessing open belief systems may not be able to achieve significantly greater cooperation with individuals possessing a closed belief system than two individuals both possessing closed belief systems.     

Rationing Capacity Between Two Product Classes*

In this paper, we study the capacity allocation problem faced by make-to-order manufacturing firms encountering expected total demand in excess of available capacity. Specifically, we focus on firms' manufacturing short-life-cycle or seasonal products such as high fashion apparel. Using a decision-theory-based approach, we develop a capacity allocation policy that allows such firms to discriminate between two classes of products (one yielding a higher profit contribution per unit of capacity allocated to it than the other), resulting in selective rejection of orders for the class with the lower unit contribution. The effectiveness of capacity rationing is investigated under a wide array of conditions characterized by variations in factors such as the ratio of unit profit contributions of the two product classes, the ratio of total available capacity to expected total demand, the ratio of expected demands between the two classes, and the variability in demand for each product class. The results indicate that capacity rationing is very effective in increasing the total profit, and could therefore serve as a valuable decision tool for managers in such firms.