ANALYSIS OF THE DELAWARE MARKET FOR ORGANICALLY GROWN PRODUCE

Agribusiness,

AN ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER PERCEPTIONS OF FRESH FISH AND SEAFOOD IN THE DELMARVA REGION

Consumer/Household Economics,

In and around: identifying predictors of theft within and near to major mass underground transit systems

This article identifies factors that encourage or reduce pick-pocketing at underground rail stations through a case study analysis of the London Underground. Negative binomial Poisson regression models found predictor variables of pick-pocketing selected from the internal characteristics of stations and features of their nearby surroundings. Factors that increased risk were those associated with greater congestion inside stations including lifts, waiting rooms and fewer platforms; and increased levels of accessibility near stations, more paths and roads. Features that reduced risk were those likely to encourage detection and guardianship; stations with more personal validators, staffing levels and shop rentals; and the presence of more domestic buildings nearby. Station type was also influential; those that were ‘attractors’ of crime and those frequently used by tourists were at greater risk. The findings suggest a transmission of theft risk between the internal settings of underground stations and their nearby surroundings

NEW FOOD PRODUCTS: INNOVATION, IMPROVEMENT, OR IMITATION?

Researchers have little understanding of what lies beneath the increased numbers and declining "innovativeness" of new food products. This paper investigates product innovation by focusing on both market- and firm-level relationships. Structural data is compared with innovation trends to determine possible associations. A mail questionnaire of 27 food manufacturing firms investigates the issues of strategy, practices and performance. The food manufacturing industries reflect the conventional wisdom that larger firms in concentrated markets invest more in product innovation efforts, but do not contribute proportionately more to innovative output. The declining "innovativeness" of food products results from emphasis on developing product improvements and imitations

NEW FOOD PRODUCTS: INNOVATION, IMPROVEMENT, OR IMITATION?

Researchers have little understanding of what lies beneath the increased numbers and declining "innovativeness" of new food products. This paper investigates product innovation by focusing on both market- and firm-level relationships. Structural data is compared with innovation trends to determine possible associations. A mail questionnaire of 27 food manufacturing firms investigates the issues of strategy, practices and performance. The food manufacturing industries reflect the conventional wisdom that larger firms in concentrated markets invest more in product innovation efforts, but do not contribute proportionately more to innovative output. The declining "innovativeness" of food products results from emphasis on developing product improvements and imitations.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Endoscopic Ethanol Ablation as Definitive Therapy for Suspected Insulinoma

Abstract Introduction: Hypoglycemia is defined as plasma glucose &amp;lt;70mg/dL, with autonomic and/or neuroglycopenic symptoms often occurring at levels less than 55mg/dL. Diagnostic workup of hypoglycemia unrelated to use of hypoglycemic agents is crucial as it is linked to increased mortality. After ruling out common culprits such as drugs (insulin, sulfonylureas), ethanol and malnutrition, further testing should be pursued for patients who meet the Whipple’s Triad: symptoms of hypoglycemia, documented low plasma glucose and relief of symptoms upon raising plasma glucose. We present the case of an 85-year old male with a suspected insulinoma who underwent endoscopic alcohol ablation as definitive therapy. Case: An 85-year-old male with a history of metastatic prostate cancer was found to have recurrent episodes of asymptomatic hypoglycemia with fasting plasma glucose levels as low as 50-60s during an unrelated inpatient admission. He had no history of diabetes mellitus or insulin use. On further investigation, he was noted to have recurrent falls, though these symptoms could not be temporally linked to documented hypoglycemia as the patient was not monitoring blood sugars at home. Further workup revealed fasting plasma glucose of 58mg/dL and negative sulfonylurea screen. Plasma C-peptide and fasting plasma insulin levels during an episode of hypoglycemia were elevated at 6.42ng/mL and 38uIU/mL respectively. IGF-II and insulin autoantibody testing was negative. Abdominal imaging revealed a 1.3cm hypervascular pancreatic head lesion consistent with a neuroendocrine tumor, concerning for an insulinoma in view of his lab findings. Surgical removal of this lesion was not within the patient’s goals of care. Attempts at medical management included escalating doses of prednisone and subcutaneous octreotide; however, he continued to have hypoglycemic episodes despite therapy. His cardiac history precluded the use of other medical therapies. After careful evaluation, he underwent ultrasound-guided ethanol ablation of his neuroendocrine tumor as potential definitive therapy, with successful resolution of hypoglycemic episodes noted during his post-procedural hospital stay. Discussion: Traditionally, insulinomas are primarily managed surgically. Poor surgical candidates can benefit from medical management including diazoxide, somatostatin analogs and verapamil among others. Ultrasound-guided ethanol ablation is a newer modality aimed achieving cure in selected patients, thus avoiding need for surgery. Our case highlights the challenges in management of insulinomas, especially in complicated patients like ours who are not surgical candidates and who may be resistant to medical therapy. Though there are not many studies on the long-term efficacy and outcomes with ethanol ablation of insulinomas, it appears to be a promising option and certainly deserves further study.</jats:p