EFFECT OF A MASS MERCHANDISER ON TRADITIONAL FOOD RETAILERS

Non-traditional retailers such as warehouse club stores, discount drug stores, and discount mass merchandisers are new competitors for traditional food retailers. It is expected that non-traditional retailers will account for roughly 14 percent of total grocery sales by the turn of the century. The impact of a particular discount mass merchandiser (Wal-Mart) on the sales of a conventional retail grocery outlet (David's Supermarket, Inc.) located in the rural areas surrounding the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex is analyzed. In this case study, Wal-Mart alone is responsible for about a 21 percent reduction in sales.Agribusiness,

Fuel containment, lightning protection and damage tolerance in large composite primary aircraft structures

The damage-tolerance characteristics of high strain-to-failure graphite fibers and toughened resins were evaluated. Test results show that conventional fuel tank sealing techniques are applicable to composite structures. Techniques were developed to prevent fuel leaks due to low-energy impact damage. For wing panels subjected to swept stroke lightning strikes, a surface protection of graphite/aluminum wire fabric and a fastener treatment proved effective in eliminating internal sparking and reducing structural damage. The technology features developed were incorporated and demonstrated in a test panel designed to meet the strength, stiffness, and damage tolerance requirements of a large commercial transport aircraft. The panel test results exceeded design requirements for all test conditions. Wing surfaces constructed with composites offer large weight savings if design allowable strains for compression can be increased from current levels

Homogeneous, heterogeneous or shrinkage estimators? Some empirical evidence from French regional gasoline consumption

This paper contrasts the performance of heterogeneous and shrinkage estimators versus the more traditional homogeneous panel data estimators. The analysis utilizes a panel data set from 21 French regions over the period 1973-1998 and a dynamic demand specification to study the gasoline demand in France. Out-of-sample forecast performance as well as the plausibility of the various estimators are contrasted.Panel data; French gasoline demand; Error components; Heterogeneous estimators; Shrinkage estimators

Estimation of Standardized Effort in the Heterogeneous Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Fleet

In this paper we estimate nominal and standardized shrimping effort in the Gulf of Mexico for the years 1965 through 1993. We accomplish this by first developing a standardization method (model) and then an expansion method (model). The expansion model estimates nominal days fished for noninterview landings data. The standardization model converts nominal days fished to standard days fished. We then characterize the historical trends of the penaeid shrimp fishery byvessel configuration, relative fishing power, and nominal and standardized effort. Wherever possible, we provide comparison with previous estimates by the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA

ESTIMATED COSTS AND RETURNS FOR CATFISH FARMS WITH RECIRCULATING PONDS ALONG THE UPPER TEXAS COAST

Cost, returns, and economies of scale for small, medium and large catfish farms with recirculating ponds are presented for the upper Texas coast. Internal rates of return are 0.150, 0.183 and 0.219, respectively. Total investment is higher than farms with static ponds but investment per unit production capacity is 7 percent to 16 percent lower. Average total cost per pound is between $0.565 and$0.541, (11 percent –20 percent lower than farms using current technology). These results have implications for regional comparative advantage of catfish production as well as incentive for adoption of new technology in conventional ponds.Aquaculture, Catfish, Economics, Off-flavor, Livestock Production/Industries,

The effect of surgical approach on the histology of the femoral head following resurfacing of the hip : analysis of retrieval specimens

Objectives: We aimed to determine the effect of surgical approach on the histology of the femoral head following resurfacing of the hip. Methods: We performed a histological assessment of the bone under the femoral component taken from retrieval specimens of patients having revision surgery following resurfacing of the hip. We compared the number of empty lacunae in specimens from patients who had originally had a posterior surgical approach with the number in patients having alternative surgical approaches. Results: We found a statistically significant increase in the percentage of empty lacunae in retrieval specimens from patients who had the posterior approach compared with other surgical approaches (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This indicates that the vascular compromise that occurs during the posterior surgical approach does have long-term effects on the bone of the femoral head, even if it does not cause overt avascular necrosis

A Comparative Study of Aerocapture Missions with a Mars Destination

Conventional interplanetary spacecraft use propulsive systems to decelerate into orbit. Aerocapture is an alternative approach for orbit capture, in which the spacecraft makes a single pass through a target destination's atmosphere. Although this technique has never been performed, studies show there are substantial benefits of using aerocapture for reduction of propellant mass, spacecraft size, and mission cost. The In-Space Propulsion (ISP) Program, part of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, has invested in aerocapture technology development since 2002. Aerocapture investments within ISP are largely driven by mission systems analysis studies, The purpose of this NASA-funded report is to identify and document the fundamental parameters of aerocapture within previous human and robotic Mars mission studies which will assist the community in identifying technology research gaps in human and robotic missions, and provide insight for future technology investments. Upon examination of the final data set, some key attributes within the aerocapture disciplines are identified

The impact of the physical environment on depressive symptoms of older residents living in care homes : a mixed methods study

Background and Objectives: Forty percent of residents living in care homes in the United Kingdom have significant depressive symptoms. Care homes can appear to be depressing places, but whether the physical environment of homes directly affects depression in care home residents is unknown. This study explores the relationship between the physical environment and depressive symptoms of older people living in care homes. Research Design and Methods: In a prospective cohort study the physical environment of 50 care homes were measured using the Sheffield Care Environment Assessment Matrix (SCEAM) and depressive symptoms of 510 residents measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). The study was supplemented with semi-structured interviews with residents living in the care homes. Quantitative data were analyzed using multi-level modeling, and qualitative data analyzed using a thematic framework approach. Results: The overall physical environment of care homes (overall SCEAM score) did not predict depressive symptoms. Controlling for dependency, social engagement, and home type, having access to outdoor space was the only environmental variable to significantly predict depressive symptoms. Residents interviewed reported that access to outdoor space was restricted in many ways: locked doors, uneven foot paths, steep steps, and needing permission or assistance to go outside. Discussion and Implications: We provide new evidence to suggest that access to outdoor space predicts depressive symptoms in older people living in care home. Interventions aimed at increasing access to outdoor spaces could positively affect depressive symptoms in older people

Comparison of Pond Production of Phase-III Sunshine Bass Fed 32-, 36-, and 40%-Crude-Protein Diets with Fixed Energy : Protein Ratios

We stocked phase-III sunshine bass (white bass Morone chrysops ♀ × striped bass M. saxatilis ♂) at a rate of 6,188 fingerlings/ha into twelve 0.04-ha earthen ponds supplied with continuous aeration. Three dietary treatments were randomly assigned to quadruplicate ponds. Sunshine bass were fed to apparent satiation once daily after average initial weight (mean ± SE = 214 ± 5 g) and total length (245 ± 1.6 mm) were determined. Diets were formulated to conserve the estimated digestible energy:crude protein (CP) ratio (9.3 kcal/g protein) and represented the following CP and energy values fed to fish: 32% CP (3,000 kcal/kg), 36% CP (3,360 kcal/kg), and 40% CP (3,760 kcal/kg). Harvest data suggest that nutrient density is a variable that can be manipulated to optimize production and reduce production costs. Production rates (mean ± SE) were 2,851 ± 600 kg/ha for the 32%-CP diet, 2,895 ± 341 kg/ha for the 36%-CP diet, and 2,953 ± 142 kg/ha for the 40%-CP diet; production rates were not significantly different among dietary treatments. Survival was excellent and did not appear to be related to dietary treatment. Dressed (gilled and gutted) fish averaged 80% of whole-fish weight, and the dressed percentage did not vary as a function of nutrient density. Feed conversion ratios of 3.0 ± 0.4, 2.8 ± 0.2, and 2.6 ± 0.1 were obtained for the fish fed 32-, 36-, and 40%-CP diets, respectively. Protein conversion ratios (mean = 1.0) were not significantly influenced by dietary treatment. Feed cost increased with increasing dietary CP level; costs were US$0.447 per kilogram for the 32$0.493 per kilogram for the 36%-CP diet, and $0.541 per kilogram for the 40$1.34, $1.38, and$1.41 per kilogram of gain for the 32-, 36-, and 40%-CP diets, respectively. A savings of $0.16 per kilogram produced, or approximately$450 per hectare, was realized as a result of feeding either of the two lower-CP, lower-energy diets. Accordingly, we suggest that phase-III sunshine bass can be more economically produced by feeding diets as low as 32% CP with a minimum energy:protein ratio of 9.3 kcal/g CP