Understanding the Key Determinants of Retail Success

Retailers are finding it increasingly difficult to survive and thrive in today’s cut-throat competitive environment. Singh et al. (2006, p. 457) summarize this phenomenon by stating the following: “Rapid growth of alternative retail formats, in the form of mass discounters, wholesale clubs, and supercenters, has transformed not only the competitive structure of the industry, but also the way in which consumers shop.” Despite this increased competitive intensity, few studies have identified the keys to retail success. My dissertation fills this gap by (1) explaining how retail advantage is built and (2) documenting the effects of competitive overlap between retail players. My first essay uses an inductive-based approach to identify the sources of retail advantage. I review pertinent literature, interview qualified retail managers, and use archival records to identify twelve capabilities vital to retail success. I find that durable retail advantage is driven by deploying systems of interdependent capabilities and appreciating capabilities’ differential importance. I synthesize this research into a framework to provide managers with additional insights as they develop company resources. My second essay is an empirical piece which studies the differential effectiveness of emulation and differentiation as competitive strategies. Strategic direction is seen as a continuum, a relationship I capture by introducing the notion of “strategic service orientation (SSO).” I examine how a firm’s SSO impacts its sales after new competitors arrive and the effects of pertinent SSO moderators. Results show that emulation-based services best protect incumbents from both new Wal-Marts and new upscale stores. However, as the number of competitors near the new entrant increases, differentiation-based services become more important. Importantly, the incumbent’s format impacts its ability to compete and how it should compete. Taken together, my dissertation provides unique and valuable insights into retail competition. It is hoped that my research not only has unparalleled pragmatic implications, but theoretical ones as well. These implications will come clearer in the following sections

Molecular and behavioral mechanisms mediating paclitaxel-induced changes in affect-like behavior in mice

The antineoplastic paclitaxel is associated with negative affective outcomes, such as depression, anxiety, and decreased quality of life during treatment and convalescence. With the Baby Boomer population approaching peak cancer age, it is dire that the mechanisms behind paclitaxel-induced changes in mood are uncovered. Cancer-free male and female C57BL/6J mice were treated with one set of four injections of vehicle or paclitaxel (32mg/kg cumulative), or two sets of four injections of vehicle or paclitaxel (64mg/kg cumulative), and periodically assessed for depression-like behaviors. Paclitaxel caused significant, time-dependent deficits in sucrose preference and operant responding for palatable food. Because there is growing evidence to support the role of kappa opioid receptors (KORs) in stress-mediated depression and reward dysfunction, we investigated KOR signaling as a putative mechanism of paclitaxel-induced depression-like behaviors. The selective KOR antagonist norbinaltorphimine (norBNI) reversed paclitaxel-induced attenuation of sucrose preference. At the molecular level, paclitaxel time-dependently induced an increase in the expression of Prodynorphin mRNA, the precursor for endogenous KOR agonists, in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Using the [35S]GTPγS assay, we discovered that a history of paclitaxel time-dependently attenuated activation of dopamine D2 receptors (D2R) and KORs in the NAc but not caudate putamen. These data suggest that paclitaxel-induced changes in affect-like behavior may be due to time- and region-dependent dysregulation of KOR and D2R signaling. These observations help to establish the roles of KOR and D2R systems in paclitaxel-induced disruption of behavioral reward, thus revealing potential neurochemical targets for therapeutic intervention in cancer survivors with treatment-resistant depression.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/gradposters/1038/thumbnail.jp

SOLAR DRYER WITH BIOMASS BACKUP HEATER FOR DRYING FRUITS: DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS

Most solar dryers rely on only solar energy as the heat source. This condition limits its use in off -sunny periods such as cloudy, rainy seasons and after sunset. The objectives of this study were to: develop a solar dryer with biomass backup heater for drying fruits; analyze its performance; and carry out comparative analysis of the dryer with and without biomass backup heater. An indirect solar dryer was designed, constructed and analysed using 4mm slices of pineapples and mangoes. Temperature, humidity and ambient air temperature were measured using Tinytag data loggers, EasyLog – USB 2 and HI 91610C Thermo-hygrometer. A 300g weight of charcoal, costing GHC 0.5 (US$0.16)was fed into the backup heater every 1-2 hours with a running cost of US$ 1-2.88/day. The results showed that the moisture content (MC) of the pineapples reduced from 87% to 16%(wb) and that of mangoes reduced from 85% to 15.5% (wb). On average, solardrying with backup took 14-18 sunshine hours to attain the desired MC, while that without backup took 20-27 sunshine hours. With biomass backup heater the drying rates were: pineapples (32.5g/h) and mangoes (19.3g/h), while without backup the drying rates were: pineapples (23.7g/h) and mangoes (15.5g/h). Better performance was obtained when the dryer was with a biomass backup heater.Keywords: Moisture; dryer; temperature; solar; biomas

Justice in solar energy development.

To achieve national energy and climate targets across the world, there is a key focus on solar energy development. It is clear from literature that many countries have enormous, under-utilised potentials for solar energy, which can significantly change their energy mix and contribute to the low-carbon ambitions they signed up to under the 2015 Paris Agreement. Our research highlights that there are benefits to solar energy development from a law and economic perspective that are still underexplored. These benefits centre on justice and on how solar energy increases justice within the energy system. From a legal perspective, we review 72 countries and their introduction of energy law with respect to solar energy development. Our analysis illustrates that in some developing countries (new) legislation was not associated with a significant increase in the share of solar energy in the energy mix. We then highlight how to achieve solar energy development through law that can provide certainty for investment. Furthermore, we stress the importance of flexibility that allows the full potential of solar energy to be realised within the energy system. The corresponding form of flexibility justice, combining law and economics, can contribute to increased economic welfare based on market reforms that centre on new market design and market access, while ensuring that it keeps pace with ongoing developments in technology, cost, and ownership

Impact of internalized stigma on HIV prevention behaviors among HIV-infected individuals seeking HIV care in Kenya

In general, an initial diagnosis of HIV is likely to be correlated with the onset of HIV stigma. HIV-positive individuals are likely to internalize stigma, may suffer from psychosocial issues, or engage in maladaptive behaviors to cope with the diagnosis. Internalized stigma stems from fear of stigmatization also known as felt stigma. The current study examined the impact of HIV felt stigma on overall health and success of HIV prevention behaviors among 370 participants living with HIV and receiving care at an urban HIV clinic in Kenya. An 18-item instrument was cross culturally adapted to measure felt stigma. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses examined the data. Findings indicate that 25.9% (n=96) of participants who reported experiencing high levels of felt stigma related to other people's attitudes toward their condition, ostracizing, and a disruption of their personal life, were likely to not adhere to prescribed HIV medication and not disclose their HIV serostatus to one other person. Those who also experienced felt stigma related to a disruption of their personal lives while mediated by depression were likely to report poor overall health. Findings support having HIV clinics and interventions develop relevant HIV prevention strategies that focus on the emerging dimensions of felt stigma which can significantly impact disclosure of serostatus, medication adherence, and overall health

Genetic diversity among early provitamin A quality protein maize inbred lines and the performance of derived hybrids under contrasting nitrogen environments

Open Access JournalInformation on population structure and genetic diversity of germplasm in a breeding programme is useful because it enhances judicious utilisation of genetic resources to achieve breeding objectives. Seventy early maturing provitamin A (PVA) quality protein maize (QPM) inbreds developed by the IITA- maize improvement programme were genotyped using 8171 DArTseq markers. Furthermore, 96 hybrids derived from 24 selected inbreds plus four checks were evaluated under low-N and optimal environments in Nigeria during 2016 and 2017. Genotypic and phenotypic data of inbreds and hybrids respectively, were analysed to (i) assess the level of genetic dissimilarities and population structure of the inbreds, and (ii) investigate the grain yield performance of derived hybrids under low-N, optimal and across environments

Genetic gains from selection for drought tolerance during three breeding periods in extra-early maturing maize hybrids under drought and rainfed environments

Open Access Journal; Published online: 23 Apr 2021Genetic gain studies in a breeding program are very important for measuring the efficiency of the program over a specific period. It also provides breeders with an understanding of the outcomes of the huge investments committed to the breeding programs. This study sought to (i) estimate the gains in grain yield under drought and rainfed conditions and (ii) identify high-yielding and stable hybrids developed in the last two decades under drought and rainfed conditions. Sixty extra-early maturing hybrids developed by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, during three breeding periods: (2008–2010, 2011–2013, and 2014–2016) were assessed under managed drought and rainfed conditions across 14 environments in Nigeria to estimate the genetic gains in grain yield using linear regression analysis. Considerably high genetic gains (4.1%) per year for grain yield was obtained for the extra-early maturing hybrids under drought environments. Six of the top ten hybrids identified were from period 3, an indication of the high genetic gains from selection in period 3. Additionally, two of the top six period 3 hybrids (TZEEI 29 × TZEEI 13) × TZEEI 64 and TZdEEI 64 × TZEEI 54 were found to be the best yielding and most stable across the 14 test environments and were highly recommended for extensive evaluations to warrant their commercialization in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)

Assessment of early-maturing maize hybrids and testing sites using GGE biplot analysis

Article Purchased; Published: 7 Sept. 2017Identification of outstanding maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids for target environments is complicated by genotype × environment interactions. Thirty-two early-maturity maize hybrids were evaluated at eight locations in Nigeria and six locations in Ghana for 2 yr to (i) identify high-yielding, stable hybrids across locations and/or hybrids specifically adapted to different locations, and (ii) identify ideal test sites for selection of superior hybrids in the two countries. Genotype, country, year, location (country), and their interactive effects were significant (P < 0·01) for grain yield, days to anthesis and silking, anthesis-silking interval, plant and ear aspects, and ears per plant. Mean grain yield of the hybrids ranged from 3177 kg ha−1 for EWH-5 to 4596 kg ha−1 for EWH-29. The genotype main effects plus genotype × environment interaction (GGE) biplot analysis revealed that EWH-29, EWH-8, and EWH-30 did not differ significantly in grain yield and were the most stable hybrids in both countries, whereas EWH-26 and EWH-32 were the most stable hybrids only in Ghana. The GGE biplot analysis identified Samaru, Kafin Soli, and Minjibir in Nigeria and Nyankpala, Damongo, and Fumesua in Ghana as the most discriminating locations. Minjibir (Nigeria) and Nyankpala (Ghana), being most discriminating and representative locations, were considered the ideal testing sites for the respective countries. The type of cultivars evaluated determined the most suitable locations for multilocation testing within Ghana and Nigeria. Whereas hybrids EWH-29, EWH-8, and EWH-30 should be suitable for production in Nigeria, EWH-26 and EWH-32 should be promoted for production in Ghana

Oncology clinical trials and insurance coverage: An update in a tenuous insurance landscape

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151873/1/cncr32360_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151873/2/cncr32360.pd