Evaluating Retail Distribution Strategies During Covid-19 Pandemic in South Africa Using Best Worst Method Multicriteria Decision Technique

This paper evaluates the distribution strategies adopted by South African retailers during the Covid-19 pandemic and how such strategies have been adjusted for a more resilient post-Covid-19 world. Using the Best Worst method multicriteria decision technique and exploiting data collected from decision makers from the retail industry to rank the distribution strategies according to their level of importance, we show that omnichannel distribution strategy ranked highest, followed by direct shipment distribution capability in contributing to the success of retail distribution during the Covid-19 pandemic. On the other hand, inventory pooling, transhipment, centralised or decentralised strategy, and cross-docking ranked lower while retail distribution strategy was lowest ranked. Finally, particular emphasis must be placed on the critical factors identified in the evaluation in terms of their challenging dimension and impact as they pave way for a more capable retail resilience distribution capability

Activated mammalian target of rapamycin is a potential therapeutic target in gastric cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) plays a key role in cellular growth and homeostasis. The purpose of our present study is to investigate the expression of activated mTOR (p-mTOR) in gastric cancer patients, their prognostic significance and the inhibition effect of RAD001 on tumor growth and to determine whether targeted inhibition of mTOR could be a potential therapeutic strategy for gastric cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The expression of p-mTOR was detected in specimens of 181 gastric cancers who underwent radical resection (R0) by immunohistochemistry. The correlation of p-mTOR expression to clinicopathologic features and survival of gastric cancer was studied. We also determined the inhibition effect of RAD001 on tumor growth using BGC823 and AGS human gastric cancer cell lines.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Immunostaining for p-mTOR was positive in 93 of 181 (51.4%) gastric cancers, closely correlated with lymph node status and pTNM stage. Patients with p-mTOR positive showed significantly shorter disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates than those with p-mTOR-negative tumors in univariable analyses, and there was a trend toward a correlation between p-mTOR expression and survival in multivariable analyses. RAD001 markedly inhibited dose-dependently proliferation of human gastric carcinoma cells by down-regulating expression of p70s6k, p-p70s6k, C-myc, CyclinD1 and Bcl-2, up-regulating expression of P53.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In gastric cancer, p-mTOR is a potential therapeutic target and RAD001 was a promising treatment agent with inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by down-regulating expression of C-myc, CyclinD1 and Bcl-2, up-regulating expression of P53.</p

P4‐160: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Longitudinal Impact On Cognition In Persons With Normal Cognition, Mci, And Dementia

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/152929/1/alzjjalz2014051677.pd