Optimal inventory decisions when offering layaway

This paper presents an inventory management policy for a retailer offering a layaway programme. Layaway is a service provided by retailers that allows budget constrained consumers who have sufficiently high valuations to pay for a product in several instalments rather than at once and obtain the product that has been reserved for them at the end of the payment period. If a consumer defaults on payments, then the reserved item is released back into store inventory. In this paper, we first determine the retailer's optimal order decisions when layaway is offered. We find that the order quantity under a layaway programme decreases with the likelihood of consumers not finishing their layaway plans and that it is not always profitable for a retailer to offer a layaway programme. We then identify the market conditions under which the retailer would benefit from a layaway programme. Lastly, we consider an extension to capture the influence of the timing of consumer defaults

Trabzon, in Northeastern Turkey

The HarAYit granitoid in northeastern Turkey, comprises four separate granite units that are apparently unfoliated. The HarAYit granitoid was investigated here by using microstructural, petrofabric and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) data. The structural data of the granitoid were found to be highly compatible with the zonation recognized from AMS measurements. The orientation of magnetic fabrics within the granite units indicates that tectonic deformation might have occurred coevally with the magmatic emplacement of the intrusion. When we evaluated the manners on the scale of the pluton that the disruption took place in the form of uplifting, probably related to a rapid migration of the volcanic front and the documented change from deep sea sedimentation predominant until late Cretaceous to shallower environments during the Paleocene. The possible tectonic control of fault systems on the ascent and emplacement of the granitic magma in the study area, however, cannot be completely ruled out because the HarAYit granitoid is situated at or very near the NAF systems in northern Anatolia. In any case, the intrusion is clearly discordant to the regional deformational features formed during the collisional events between the Eurasia and Anatolia plates in northern Turkey

Optimal Dynamic Allocation of Rental and Sales Inventory for Fashion Apparel Products

There is a growing trend towards renting rather than permanent ownership of various product categories such as designer clothes and accessories. In this paper, we study an emerging retail business model that simultaneously serves rental and sales markets. Specifically, we consider a retailer that primarily focuses on renting while also selectively meeting incidental sales demand. Once a unit is sold, the firm forgoes potentially recurring rental revenues from that unit during the remaining periods. Therefore, it is critical for a retailer to dynamically decide how much of its inventory to allocate for sales and rentals at each period. We first develop a consumer choice model that determines the fraction of the market that chooses renting over purchasing. We characterize the optimal inventory allocation policy and explore how market characteristics and prices impact inventory allocation. We discuss the value of dynamic allocation and observe that the profit improvement can be substantial. In addition, we propose a simple and efficient heuristic policy. Finally, we extend our analysis to study the optimal allocation policies for (i) a retailer that is primarily a seller that selectively meets rental demand, and (ii) a retailer that does not enforce any prioritization between rental and sales demand

SUBMAXILLARY HYPOGLOSSAL NEURILEMOMA

Neurilemmomas of the hypoglossal nerve are uncommon neoplasms. A unique case of submaxillary hypoglossal neurilemmoma is presented with radiological and surgical results. Methods of diagnosis and differential diagnosis are discussed

MANAGEMENT OF PARAPHARYNGEAL SPACE CYSTS

Parapharyngeal space cysts, besides salivary gland origin may be derived from the first and dorsal portions of the second pharyngeal pouches. They are mucosal or epethelial lined structures with no external or visceral opening and always present on the lateral aspects of the nasopharyngeal wall

Investigation of topical ciprofloxacin ototoxicity in guinea pigs

Antibiotic eardrops mostly contain potentially ototoxic aminoglycosides. Ciprofloxacin is an alternative, and there is limited experience in its topical use. To investigate the topical ototoxicity of ciprofloxacin, 11 guinea pigs have been operated on. Transbullae silicone drug delivery tubes were placed to both ears of the animals. After the operation the guinea pigs were divided into two groups. The first group of animals received 0.2 mi of 4% gentamicin in one ear and 0.2 mi of 0.9% sodium chloride solution in the other. The second group received 0.2 mi of 0.2% ciprofloxacin in the test ear and 0.2 mi of 0.9% sodium chloride solution in the control ear. All drugs acre given once a day on 7 consecutive days. Auditory brainstem response thresholds were recorded using click, 4 and 8 kHz logon stimuli before and after the operation, and after topical drug application. Results were statistically compared using Wilcoxon matched pairs signed-ranks test. Comparison of the thresholds before and after the operation, physiological saline application, as well as ciprofloxacin application yielded no statistically significant differences, whereas application of gentamicin resulted in total hearing loss. The results indicate that topical use of 0.2% ciprofloxacin is not ototoxic in guinea pigs

Sialometaplasia arising in the ectopic salivary gland ductal inclusions of multiple intraparotid lymph nodes

Sialometaplasia, squamous metaplasia of salivary gland lobules, is a benign condition occasionally presenting with lesions clinically simulating malignancy. "Necrotising sialometaplasia'', recognised by lobular infarction, necrosis, and simultaneous squamous metaplasia of ducts and acini is a well known condition. There are only a few reports of the "proliferative type of sialometaplasia'', which is recognised by a more mature morphology of larger and more irregular metaplastic nests, lacking necrosis. This report describes a unique case of "proliferative sialometaplasia of multiple intraparotid lymph nodes'' occurring in a 55 year old woman, presenting with multiple parotid lumps. This interesting case points to the importance of intraparotid lymph nodes as sites for multiple lesions of the parotid region