Apparel Import Intermediaries' Secrets to Success: Redefining Success in a Hyper-dynamic Environment

This is the post-print version of the article found in the Journal of Fashion and Marketing Management - http://www.emeraldinsight.com/products/journals/journals.htm?id=jfmm. DOI 10.1108/13612020810857943Purpose: The purpose of this study was to obtain an immediate and deeper understanding of apparel import intermediaries' (AII) secrets to success in the hyper-dynamic US apparel market environment. Design/methodology/approach: Personal in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 US apparel industry experts who provided an insider's lived experience of the industry. Within a holistic hermeneutic analysis, emergent themes were classified into two broad theme categories: the meaning of success and secrets to success. Findings: The study's informants defined success as a long-term presence, a platform from which they could impact the industry through creative expression. AIIs' secrets to success emerged as (1) immersion knowledge management; (2) simultaneous dual relationship management; and (3) flexibility saturation. Research limitations/implications: Although qualitative research methods are designed for a deeper understanding of the topic of interest, the study findings of an immediate and lived experience within the apparel industry should be viewed within a narrower context than survey research. Practical implications: These findings offer timely best practices for apparel firms' success and furnish insights into some of the rarely accessible elements of firm management. The study's results may also offer guidelines for firms in other industries moving toward the apparel industry model of hyper-dynamism. Originality/value: The study offered a definition and description of a new type of industry environment—hyper-dynamism. The study also revealed for the first time the reality of AIIs, especially how these firms defined success and took action to achieve it. Finally, the findings suggested a possible extension of resource-advantage theory

Apparel Import Intermediaries: The Impact of a Hyper-Dynamic Environment on U.S. Apparel Firms

This is the post-print version of the article found in Clothing & Textiles Research Journal.This study's objectives were to clarify the standing of apparel import intermediaries (AIIs) and to obtain an immediate and deeper understanding of them in their real-life settings from the perspective of industry experts with years of immersion in apparel industry phenomena. Based on interpretive analysis of qualitative in-depth interviews with 13 corporate executives of AII firms located in New York City, the authors critically evaluated AIIs' views of their environment, development, and functions. Findings indicated ambivalent reactions to the hyper-dynamic environment that has resulted from the global reordering of the apparel industry and described two development paths of AIIs, transformation or birth. Results also showed that this hyper-dynamic environment has shaped firms' functional responses, leading AIIs to implement design, marketing, sourcing, and service activities in unique ways. The study explicates the critical role that classification systems and terminology play in firm identity, the tracking of economic data, and policy development within the U.S. apparel industry

Framing a Descriptive Profile of a Transformed Apparel Industry: Apparel Import Intermediaries in the United States

This is the post-print version of the article found in the Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management (http://www.emeraldinsight.com/products/journals/journals.htm?id=jfmm). DOI 10.1108/13612020910957699Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to confirm empirically the existence of a US apparel import intermediary (AII) identity crisis, and to provide a detailed descriptive profile of AIIs, differentiating them from apparel firms not primarily engaged in importing activities. Design/methodology/approach: A survey study was conducted using a national sample of US AIIs. Based on these firms' executives' responses, a firm identity issue was analyzed and a detailed profile of these firms' business characteristics was developed, using frequency comparisons. Findings: The study confirmed that US AIIs are currently experiencing an identity crisis, as nearly half of the study respondents misclassified themselves as apparel manufacturers or other business types, suggesting a significant distortion in US Economic Census data. The study also provided a descriptive profile of US AIIs, including geographic location and other business operation characteristics. Research limitations/implications: Three fourths of the survey respondents were located in the state of New York. Whether most US AIIs truly reside in New York cannot be known with certainty. Generalization of the study findings to a greater population should be cautious. Practical implications: Confirmation of an AII identity crisis suggests both aggregate and individual firm-level impacts on import activities. The study offers a new term, "intermediary", to replace the US Census Bureau term "wholesaler" to accurately reflect the industry's transformation. Originality/value: The study provides the first empirical support for a US AII identity crisis. The detailed profile of US AIIs offers industry data not available prior to this study

Dampak Pandemi Covid-19 Terhadap pendapatan Rumah Tangga Nelayan (Rtn) Di Pesisir Teluk Ambon

Pandemic Covid-19 yang melanda dunia mengakibatkan terkendalanya kegiatan ekonomi termasuk usaha dibidang perikanan tangkap. Kebijakan pemerintah terkait PSBB (Pembatasan Sosial Berskala Besar) dan protokol kesehatan yang mengharuskan menjaga jarak akibatpandemi Covid-19 mengakibatkan banyak usaha penangkapan ikan yang mengalami kerugian berupa turunnya ekspor komoditas perikanan dan terputusnya rantai pemasaran (Mardhia, 2020), serta terbatasnya operasi penangkapan ikan dan mobilitas distribusi hasiltangkapan ikan oleh nelayan. Hal yang sama juga terasa oleh rumah tangganelayan yang mendiami pesisir Teluk Ambon, baik dari segi persepsi terhadap pemberlakuan pembatasan operasi penangkapan ikan maupun dari segi pendapatan rumah tangga nelayan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji dampak Pandemi Covid-19 terhadap pendapatan Rumah Tangga Nelayan dan persepsi nelayan di pesisir Teluk Ambon. Penelitian ini dilakukan selama 4bulan yakni pada bulan Februari- Mei 2021. Penelitian ini berlokasi di Pesisir Teluk Ambon, tepatnya di 3 (tiga) Desa pesisir yakniDesaRumah Tiga, DesaHativeBesar,dan Desa Laha. Metode pengumpulan data yangdigunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode observasi dan wawancara (Agung, 2012). Untuk mengetahui dampak pandemi Covid19 terhadap pendapatan rumahtangga nelayan dan persepsi nelayan dianalisis menggunakan metode deskriptif (Hidayat, 2012; Sugiyono, 2018). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa faktor- factor yang penyebab perubahan pendapatan rumah tangga nelayan pada saat pandemi Covid-19 di Kecamatan Teluk Ambon adalah adanya pengurangan frekuensi melaut, penurunan harga hasil tangkapan dan berubahnya distribusi hasil tangkapan dimana hasil perbandingan pendapatan rumah tangga nelayan sebelum dan pada saat pandemic covid-19 menunjukkan bahwa pendapatan rumah tangga nelayan mengalami penurunan pada saat pandemi covid-19 dibandingkan dengan pada saat sebelum pandemi covid19, masing-masing pada nelayan mini purse seine sebesar32%, pada nelayan pancing tonda sebesar 37%, pada delayan pancing ulur sebesar 23%, dan nelayan jaring insang sebesar 21%

Follow-up investigations of tau protein and S-100B levels in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

Background: S-100B and tau protein have a high differential diagnostic potential for the diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). So far there has been only limited information available about the dynamics of these parameters in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). However, there is a special interest in finding biochemical markers to monitor disease progression for differential diagnosis and treatment. Patients and Methods: We analyzed CSF of 45 patients with CJD and of 45 patients with other neurological diseases for tau protein and S-100B in a follow-up setting. All diagnoses of CJD were later neuropathologically verified. A ratio between tau protein differences and the time between lumbar puncture was calculated. The same was done for S-100B. Results: Tau protein levels of 34 cases were above the cut-off level for CJD (>1,300 pg/ml) in the first CSF sample. In 7 of 11 patients with lower tau levels in the first CSF sample, tau levels rose. The above-mentioned ratio was significantly higher in the CJD group than in the group with other neurological diseases. Similar results were obtained for S-100B. Conclusion: We conclude that follow-up investigations and calculation of ratios is a useful tool in the differential diagnosis of CJD. Variations in this pattern were observed in single cases. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

Heterologous expression of a recombinant lactobacillal -galactosidase in Lactobacillus plantarum: effect of different parameters on the sakacin P-based expression system

Background: Two overlapping genes lacL and lacM (lacLM) encoding for heterodimeric -galactosidase from Lactobacillus reuteri were previously cloned and over-expressed in the food-grade host strain Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1, using the inducible lactobacillal pSIP expression system. In this study, we analyzed different factors that affect the production of recombinant L. reuteri -galactosidase. Results: Various factors related to the cultivation, i.e. culture pH, growth temperature, glucose concentration, as well as the induction conditions, including cell concentration at induction point and inducer concentration, were tested. Under optimal fermentation conditions, the maximum -galactosidase levels obtained were 130 U/mg protein and 3540 U/ml of fermentation broth corresponding to the formation of approximately 200 mg of recombinant protein per litre of fermentation medium. As calculated from the specific activity of the purified enzyme (190 U/mg), -galactosidase yield amounted to roughly 70% of the total soluble intracellular protein of the host organism. It was observed that pH and substrate (glucose) concentration are the most prominent factors affecting the production of recombinant -galactosidase. Conclusions: The over-expression of recombinant L. reuteri -galactosidase in a food-grade host strain was optimized, which is of interest for applications of this enzyme in the food industry. The results provide more detailed insight into these lactobacillal expression systems and confirm the potential of the pSIP system for efficient, tightly controlled expression of enzymes and proteins in lactobacilli.(VLID)90704

Genome-wide analysis reveals rapid and dynamic changes in miRNA and siRNA sequence and expression during ovule and fiber development in allotetraploid cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Rapid and dynamic changes in the expression of small RNAs are seen during ovule and fiber development in allotetraploid cotton

Use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and risk of relapse in pediatric patients treated for acute myeloid leukemia according to NOPHO-AML 2004 and DB AML-01

Background Supportive-care use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains controversial due to a theoretical increased risk of relapse and limited impact on neutropenic complications. We describe the use of G-CSF in patients treated according to NOPHO-AML 2004 and DB AML-01 and investigated associations with relapse. Procedure Patients diagnosed with de novo AML completing the first week of therapy and not treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the first complete remission were included (n = 367). Information on G-CSF treatment after each course (yes/no) was registered prospectively in the study database and detailed information was gathered retrospectively from each center. Descriptive statistics were used to describe G-CSF use and Cox regression to assess the association between G-CSF and risk of relapse. Results G-CSF as supportive care was given to 128 (35%) patients after 268 (39%) courses, with a large variation between centers (0-93%). The use decreased with time-the country-adjusted odds ratio was 0.8/diagnostic year (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.7-0.9). The median daily dose was 5 mu g/kg (range 3-12 mu g/kg) and the median cumulative dose was 75 mu g/kg (range 7-1460 mu g/kg). Filgrastim was used in 82% of G-CSF administrations and infection was the indication in 44% of G-CSF administrations. G-CSF was associated with increased risk of relapse-the adjusted hazard ratio was 1.5 (95% CI 1.1-2.2). Conclusions G-CSF as supportive care was used in a third of patients, and use decreased with time. Our results indicate that the use of G-CSF may be associated with an increased risk of relapse.Peer reviewe