Retail Innovation - The never-ending road to success? A critical analysis of pitfalls and opportunities

This paper outlines the current and continuous changes occurring in the retail and social environment that necessitate the constant evolution of retail formats. Over recent years experiential retail formats have appeared in recognition of the increasing need to ‘entertain’ shoppers and satisfy their ‘leisure’ needs. A number of ‘best practice’ examples of such retail innovation have been presented. While such experiential innovations appear to be the ‘holy grail’ of modern retailing, they often require considerable investments of both capital and management time. This paper has used an autoethnographic approach to reflect upon the constraints and costs involved in the design, construction and operation of such a retail enterprise to provide a unique and holistic assessment of the benefits and challenges experiential innovation holds in developing new retail formats and initiatives. The findings from this research highlight a number of previously unreported pitfalls that are likely to be encountered, financially, operationally and symbolically. It is recommended that retailers continue to explore experiential innovations, but that they proceed with caution

"South Park" - infusing reality with grotesque satire

Die Animationsserie "South Park" wurde von Trey Parker und Matt Stone entwickelt und wird seit 1997 im Kabelfernsehen ausgestrahlt. Auch wenn die Serie inzwischen eine globale Verbreitung und Fangemeinde hat, ist der Bezugsrahmen der US-amerikanische Kontext, in den sie sich mit ihren politisch unkorrekten Aussagen und Aktionen einpasst. Der Aufsatz verortet "South Park" in der US-amerikanischen Medienlandschaft und stellt den Produktionskontext, den formalen Aufbau sowie die narrative Struktur der Serie vor. Als konkretes Beispiel werden die Folgen "Cartoon Wars" Teil 1 + 2 (ausgestrahlt im April 2006) näher untersucht. Sie dienen als Fallbeispiel von Debatten um Redefreiheit und Zensur, die zuerst innerhalb der Serie verhandelt wurden, letztendlich aber auch zu weltweiten Nachrichtenmeldungen führten, nachdem die "South Park" Macher Morddrohungen erhielten, weil sie Mohammed in der Serie in einem Bärenkostüm erscheinen ließen. Abschließend wird das Konzept der Groteske im Sinne der 'Unversöhnlichkeit des Denkens' auf die Produktionslogik von "South Park" übertragen.The animated series "South Park" was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone and has been broadcast on cable television since 1997. Meanwhile, the series has a global distribution and fan base. The article situates "South Park" in the U.S. media landscape and presents the production context, as well as the formal and narrative structure of the series, before focusing on a concrete example and its reception. The impact of the series "Cartoon Wars" Part 1 and Part 2, broadcast in April 2006, is examined in detail and serves as a case study for debates about free speech and censorship, which were first negotiated in the series, but ultimately also led to worldwide news reports, after the "South Park" creators received death threats, because Mohammed appeared in a bear costume in one of the series. Finally, the concept of the grotesque understood as a 'irreconcilability of thinking' is transferred to the production logic of "South Park"

Die Herausforderung der Lebenswissenschaften: "Naturalisierung" von Erziehung, Bildung und sozialer Ungleichheit?

Die so genannten "Lebenswissenschaften", vor allem die Genetik und die Kognitions- und Neurowissenschaften, aber auch die Soziobiologie, werden gegenwärtig zu neuen wissenschaftlichen Leitdisziplinen und stellen nach Meinung der Autoren eine ernsthafte Herausforderung für den Erklärungsanspruch der Gesellschaftswissenschaften dar. Weder Bildung und Erziehung noch die damit eng zusammenhängenden Mechanismen der Reproduktion sozialer Ungleichheiten in Arbeitsmärkten und Lebensläufen bleiben von dieser Entwicklung unberührt. Diese Bereiche werden derzeit von einem Trend erfasst, der sich mit dem Begriff der "Naturalisierung" bzw. "Re-Naturalisierung" kennzeichnen lässt. Die Soziologie hat auf das Erstarken naturalisierender Argumentationsweisen im Sozialen und auf die Herausforderung der Lebenswissenschaften bisher kaum geantwortet. In neueren Arbeiten zu dieser Thematik zeichnet sich jedoch eine vorsichtige Annäherung zwischen Soziologie und Lebenswissenschaften ab, wie die einzelnen Beiträge des Doppelplenums "Die Herausforderung der Lebenswissenschaften: "Naturalisierung" von Erziehung, Bildung und sozialer Ungleichheit?" auf dem Soziologiekongress in Kassel zeigen. Die Autoren geben eine Einleitung in die Thematik und stellen die Vorträge des Doppelplenums kurz vor. (ICI2

XR-Supported Communication in Green Urban Projects. Participating in Urban Change through Virtual and Augmented Reality

Public participation in urban planning and design processes is becoming increasingly important in European cities to improve transparency, enhance decision-making, and encourage community engegamenent. However, broad and inclusive participation faces a number of significant challenges. Typical participation processes rely on face-to-face interaction and are only able to reach small and non-representative groups of people. To this day, direct means of communication are important because of the high complexity of urban planning and design tasks and the multi-faceted demands on urban spaces, which can hardly be represented in online questionnairs and one-way information campaigns. Additionally, urgent measures to reduce heat in cities and to counteract other negative effects of the climate crisis need to be explained to gain the support of local communities. These challenges are often compounded by low budgets for participation processes and a lack of commitment to a thorough communication strategy. Over the past few decades, new information and communication technologies have radically changed the way we communicate. The advent of smartphones and the institutionalization of the internet have made it possible to interact with many people simultaneously in real time and at a low cost. Today, powerful mobile devices and the emergence of virtual and augmented reality applications promise new ways to communicate spatial change and to interact with the urban environment. The exploitation of these new technologies to support climate-friendly urban design projects with broad public participation was the declared goal of the Green Living Augmented+virtual ReAlity (GLARA) research and development project. At the heart of the project was the development of the GLARA app, a mobile application that visualizes the spatial and microclimatic effects of urban design projects. Choosing between the virtual and augmented reality modes, users could explore the altered urban space from home or directly in the respective public space. In the latter case, the live image of the mobile phone camera (image of reality) was overlaid with 3D elements like trees, benches and more. This type of vizualisation provided a unique spatial experience of the proposed design project. At the same time, the results of a micro-climate simulation, which shows the effects on surface temperature, perceived temperature, and wind was visualized and made tangible via the app. Last but not least, the application allowed users to provide feedback on the design from anywhere at any time, decoupling participation from the need to be physically present at a specific place and time and allowing a wider range of people to contribute their opinions to the planning process. The GLARA app was combined with a selected set of face-to-face participation tools to form a holisitc participatory planning service for open spaces with green infrastructure. The full GLARA service was tested in a case study in Vienna’s 7th district, Neubau. The local district administration had plans to redesign a narrow residential street in the course of laying new water pipes. The GLARA team accompanied the planning process over a period of one and a half years with a balanced mix of analogue and digital participation tools including the GLARA app. The introduction of a second participation loop based on the preliminary landscape design for the street was a novelty for the administration but was well received by the participating residents. The design was visualized via the app and offered an immersive experience of future spatial change. However, a number of technical and practical challenges remain for future development of the app, including better ways for device localisation, operability on less powerful mobile devices, reducing the effort required to create the 3D visualisations, and further reducing barriers for less tech-savvy populations

Educational level, prevalence of hysterectomy, and age at amenorrhoea: a cross-sectional analysis of 9536 women from six population-based cohort studies in Germany

BACKGROUND: Hysterectomy prevalence has been shown to vary by education level. Hysterectomy influences age at amenorrhoea. The aim of this study was to examine these associations in Germany within population-based data sets. METHODS: Baseline assessments in six population-based cohorts took place from 1997 through 2006 and included 9,548 women aged 20–84 years. All studies assessed hysterectomy history, school and professional degrees. Degrees were categorized into three levels each. Adjusted prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated. RESULTS: Prevalences were higher in West Germany than East Germany, increased by age, and leveled off starting at 55–64 years. The age- and study-adjusted prevalence ratio (lowest versus highest school level) was 2.61 (95% CI: 1.28-5.30), 1.48 (95% CI: 1.21-1.81), and 1.01 (95% CI: 0.80-1.28) for women aged 20–45, 45–64, and 65 and more years respectively. The estimated adjusted prevalence ratios per one unit decrement of the educational qualification score (range 1 = lowest, 8 = highest) were 1.29 (95% CI: 1.02-1.64), 1.08 (95% CI: 1.04-1.12), and 0.98 (95% CI: 0.93-1.03) for women aged 20–44, 45–64, and 65–84 years respectively. Age at amenorrhoea was on average 6.2 years lower (43.5 years versus 49.7 years) among women with a history of hysterectomy than those without. CONCLUSIONS: Lower educational level was associated with a higher hysterectomy prevalence among women aged 20–64 years. Several mediators associated with educational level and hysterectomy including women’s disease risk, women’s treatment preference, and women’s access to uterus-preserving treatment may explain this association. At population level, hysterectomy decreases the age of amenorrhoea on average by 6.2 years

Expression of H3K4me3 and H3K9ac in breast cancer

PURPOSE Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in females. Histone modifications have been shown to have an influence on the gene expression. This study focusses on the histone modifications H3K9ac and H3K4me3 in breast cancer and their impact on survival METHODS: H3K4me3 and H3K9ac expression was immunohistochemically examined in 235 tissue samples. RESULTS Positive estrogen receptor status was correlated with a higher IRS of the nuclear (p = 0.033), and of the cytoplasmic H3K4me3 staining (p = 0.009). H3K9ac intensity was associated to the Her2 status (p = 0.045) and to poor prognosis in cells with positive Ki67 status (p = 0.013). A high intensity of nuclear H3K4me3 staining was found to be correlated with a lower 10-year-survival (p = 0.026) and with lower breast cancer-specific survival (p = 0.004). High percentage score (> 190) of H3K9ac expression was correlated to worse breast cancer-specific survival (p = 0.005). Shorter progression-free survival was found in patients with nuclear (p = 0.013) and cytoplasmic H3K4me3expression (p = 0.024) and H3K9ac expression (p = 0.023). CONCLUSION This analysis provides new evidence of histone modifications in breast cancer. High H3K4me3 and H3K9ac expression was correlated with survival rates. Further investigation of histone modifications in breast cancer could lead to a more profound understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cancer development and could result in new therapeutic strategies

Tuning static drop friction

The friction force opposing the onset of motion of a drop on a solid surface is typically considered to be a material property for a fixed drop volume on a given surface. However, here we show that even for a fixed drop volume, the static friction force can be tuned by over 30% by preshaping the drop. The static friction usually exceeds the kinetic friction that the drop experiences when moving in a steady state. Both forces converge when the drop is prestretched in the direction of motion or when the drop shows low contact angle hysteresis. In contrast to static friction, kinetic friction is independent of preshaping the drop, that is, the drop history. Kinetic friction forces reflect the material properties

Cannabis Use in Adults Who Screen Positive for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: CANreduce 2.0 Randomized Controlled Trial Subgroup Analysis

Background: Prevalence rates for lifetime cannabis use and cannabis use disorder are much higher in people with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder than in those without. CANreduce 2.0 is an intervention that is generally effective at reducing cannabis use in cannabis misusers. This self-guided web-based intervention (6-week duration) consists of modules grounded in motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy. Objective: We aimed to evaluate whether the CANreduce 2.0 intervention affects cannabis use patterns and symptom severity in adults who screen positive for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder more than in those who do not. Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of data from a previous study with the inclusion criterion of cannabis use at least once weekly over the last 30 days. Adults with and without attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (based on the Adult Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder Self-Report screener) who were enrolled to the active intervention arms of CANreduce 2.0 were compared regarding the number of days cannabis was used in the preceding 30 days, the cannabis use disorder identification test score (CUDIT) and the severity of dependence scale score (SDS) at baseline and the 3-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes were Generalized Anxiety Disorder score, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale score, retention, intervention adherence, and safety. Results: Both adults with (n=94) and without (n=273) positive attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder screening reported significantly reduced frequency (reduction in consumption days: with: mean 11.53, SD 9.28, P<.001; without: mean 8.53, SD 9.4, P<.001) and severity of cannabis use (SDS: with: mean 3.57, SD 3.65, P<.001; without: mean 2.47, SD 3.39, P<.001; CUDIT: with: mean 6.38, SD 5.96, P<.001; without: mean 5.33, SD 6.05, P<.001), as well as anxiety (with: mean 4.31, SD 4.71, P<.001; without: mean 1.84, SD 4.22, P<.001) and depression (with: mean 10.25, SD 10.54; without: mean 4.39, SD 10.22, P<.001). Those who screened positive for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder also reported significantly decreased attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder scores (mean 4.65, SD 4.44, P<.001). There were no significant differences in change in use (P=.08), dependence (P=.95), use disorder (P=.85), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder status (P=.84), depression (P=.84), or anxiety (P=.26) between baseline and final follow-up, dependent on positive attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder screening. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptom severity at baseline was not associated with reduced cannabis use frequency or severity but was linked to greater reductions in depression (Spearman ρ=.33) and anxiety (Spearman ρ=.28). Individuals with positive attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder screening were significantly less likely to fill out the consumption diary (P=.02), but the association between continuous attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptom severity and retention (Spearman ρ=-0.10, P=.13) was nonsignificant. There also was no significant intergroup difference in the number of completed modules (with: mean 2.10, SD 2.33; without: mean 2.36, SD 2.36, P=.34), and there was no association with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptom severity (Spearman ρ=-0.09; P=.43). The same was true for the rate of adverse effects (P=.33). Conclusions: Cannabis users screening positive for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder may benefit from CANreduce 2.0 to decrease the frequency and severity of cannabis dependence and attenuate symptoms of depression and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder-related symptoms. This web-based program's advantages include its accessibility for remote users and a personalized counselling option that may contribute to increased adherence and motivation to change among program users. Trial registration: International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) 11086185; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN11086185. Keywords: ADHD; CANreduce; anxiety; attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder; cannabis; cannabis use disorder; depression; digital health; mental health; online health; online tool; web-based self-help tool

Cannabis Use in Adults Who Screen Positive for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: CANreduce 2.0 Randomized Controlled Trial Subgroup Analysis.

BACKGROUND Prevalence rates for lifetime cannabis use and cannabis use disorder are much higher in people with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder than in those without. CANreduce 2.0 is an intervention that is generally effective at reducing cannabis use in cannabis misusers. This self-guided web-based intervention (6-week duration) consists of modules grounded in motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy. OBJECTIVE We aimed to evaluate whether the CANreduce 2.0 intervention affects cannabis use patterns and symptom severity in adults who screen positive for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder more than in those who do not. METHODS We performed a secondary analysis of data from a previous study with the inclusion criterion of cannabis use at least once weekly over the last 30 days. Adults with and without attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (based on the Adult Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder Self-Report screener) who were enrolled to the active intervention arms of CANreduce 2.0 were compared regarding the number of days cannabis was used in the preceding 30 days, the cannabis use disorder identification test score (CUDIT) and the severity of dependence scale score (SDS) at baseline and the 3-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes were Generalized Anxiety Disorder score, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale score, retention, intervention adherence, and safety. RESULTS Both adults with (n=94) and without (n=273) positive attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder screening reported significantly reduced frequency (reduction in consumption days: with: mean 11.53, SD 9.28, P<.001; without: mean 8.53, SD 9.4, P<.001) and severity of cannabis use (SDS: with: mean 3.57, SD 3.65, P<.001; without: mean 2.47, SD 3.39, P<.001; CUDIT: with: mean 6.38, SD 5.96, P<.001; without: mean 5.33, SD 6.05, P<.001), as well as anxiety (with: mean 4.31, SD 4.71, P<.001; without: mean 1.84, SD 4.22, P<.001) and depression (with: mean 10.25, SD 10.54; without: mean 4.39, SD 10.22, P<.001). Those who screened positive for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder also reported significantly decreased attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder scores (mean 4.65, SD 4.44, P<.001). There were no significant differences in change in use (P=.08), dependence (P=.95), use disorder (P=.85), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder status (P=.84), depression (P=.84), or anxiety (P=.26) between baseline and final follow-up, dependent on positive attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder screening. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptom severity at baseline was not associated with reduced cannabis use frequency or severity but was linked to greater reductions in depression (Spearman ρ=.33) and anxiety (Spearman ρ=.28). Individuals with positive attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder screening were significantly less likely to fill out the consumption diary (P=.02), but the association between continuous attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptom severity and retention (Spearman ρ=-0.10, P=.13) was nonsignificant. There also was no significant intergroup difference in the number of completed modules (with: mean 2.10, SD 2.33; without: mean 2.36, SD 2.36, P=.34), and there was no association with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptom severity (Spearman ρ=-0.09; P=.43). The same was true for the rate of adverse effects (P=.33). CONCLUSIONS Cannabis users screening positive for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder may benefit from CANreduce 2.0 to decrease the frequency and severity of cannabis dependence and attenuate symptoms of depression and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder-related symptoms. This web-based program's advantages include its accessibility for remote users and a personalized counselling option that may contribute to increased adherence and motivation to change among program users. TRIAL REGISTRATION International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) 11086185; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN11086185