Channel strategy adaptation

Using transaction cost theory, considerable research in marketing has focused on the conditions under which firms would use direct or vertically integrated versus indirect or arms length channels of distribution. Data from the field, however, indicate that channel configurations are more varied and complex, with multiple channels and composite channels being just as common as direct and indirect channels. In an attempt to explain this variety, this paper revisits the influence on channel structure of another contending variable, namely environmental complexity. We explore the role and influence of its two components, namely volatility (stability) and heterogeneity (homogeneity). Our study of 139 firms in the healthcare industry reveals that firms facing highly volatile and customer concentrated environments tend to use direct channels, and firms facing highly stable and heterogeneous environments tend to use distribution channels. Intermediate forms such as composite channels and multiple channels were favored by firms facing combinations of the environment where the intensity of one component was high and the other low. In general, firms seem to first choose a business strategy to address their external environment, and then choose a channel strategy to support that business strategy. Firms did not always adapt by making structural changes. Under certain conditions, they simply reallocated channel functions within the same structure, thus virtually deriving all the benefits of a new structure without having to create one.marketing; channels of distribution;

Channel strategy: Formulation and adaptation

Inspired by open systems theories like the structural contingency theory (Lawrence and Lorsch 1967), population ecology theory (Hannan and Freeman 1977), and resource dependence theory (Pfeffer and Salancik 1978), several marketing scholars have investigated how channels adapt and organize themselves to cope with their environments. Curiously, however, the implication of such adaptive behaviour (i.e., the better adapted firms are more profitable) has not been investigated in the marketing literature. This paper aims to probe that question. Moreover, unlike previous marketing studies, we articulate the manufacturer's rather than the distributor's point-of-view, because channel strategy decisions are usually in the manufacturer's domain. We scrutinize firms' adaptive responses from a channel structure and channel task perspective. Results show that the better adapted firms deliver superior performance, and that the adaptive responses often occur subtly at the specific channel task level even when the channel structure itself may appear seemingly unaltered.structural contingency theory; population ecology theory; resource dependence theory;

Robust ab initio solution of the cryo-EM reconstruction problem at low resolution with small data sets

Single particle cryo-electron microscopy has become a critical tool in structural biology over the last decade, able to achieve atomic scale resolution in three dimensional models from hundreds of thousands of (noisy) two-dimensional projection views of particles frozen at unknown orientations. This is accomplished by using a suite of software tools to (i) identify particles in large micrographs, (ii) obtain low-resolution reconstructions, (iii) refine those low-resolution structures, and (iv) finally match the obtained electron scattering density to the constituent atoms that make up the macromolecule or macromolecular complex of interest. Here, we focus on the second stage of the reconstruction pipeline: obtaining a low resolution model from picked particle images. Our goal is to create an algorithm that is capable of ab initio reconstruction from small data sets (on the order of a few thousand selected particles). More precisely, we seek an algorithm that is robust, automatic, able to assess particle quality, and fast enough that it can potentially be used to assist in the assessment of the data being generated while the microscopy experiment is still underway.Comment: 39 pages, 12 figure

Strategic Channel Design

When choosing distribution channels, companies need to rely on design principles that are aligned with their overall competitive strategy. Accelerating technological change, heightened marketplace demands, more aggressive global competition, and shifts in the workforce and population demographics are affecting distribution channels, forcing companies to reconsider fundamental assumptions about how they reach their markets. The magnitude of change demands a strategic perspective that views channel decisions as choices from a continually changing array of alternatives for achieving market coverage and competitive advantage — subject, of course, to the constraints of cost, investment, and flexibility. Tactical responses, based on maintaining power balances, managing conflicts, and minimizing transaction costs to pursue greater efficiency, will not suffice

Collaborative Multimedia Systems: Synthesis of Media Objects

When a group I_1,... ,I_n of individuals wishes to collaboratively construct a complex multimedia document, the first requirement is that they be able to manipulate media-objects created by one another. For instance, if individual I_j wishes to access some media objects present at participant I_k's site, he must be able to; (1) retrieve this object from across the network, (2) ensure that the object is in a form that is compatible with the viewing/editing resources he has available at his node, and (3) ensure that the object has the desired quality (such as image size and resolution). Furthermore, he must be able to achieve these goals at the lowest possible cost. In this paper, we develop a theory of media objects, and present optimal algorithms for collaborative object sharing/synthesis of the sort envisaged above. We then extend the algorithms to incorporate quality constraints (such as image size) as well as distribution across multiple nodes. The theoretical model is validated by an experimental implementation that supports the theoretical results. (Also cross-referenced as UMIACS-TR-96-8

A typical reconstruction limit of compressed sensing based on Lp-norm minimization

We consider the problem of reconstructing an $N$-dimensional continuous vector \bx from $P$ constraints which are generated by its linear transformation under the assumption that the number of non-zero elements of \bx is typically limited to $\rho N$ ($0\le \rho \le 1$). Problems of this type can be solved by minimizing a cost function with respect to the $L_p$-norm ||\bx||_p=\lim_{\epsilon \to +0}\sum_{i=1}^N |x_i|^{p+\epsilon}, subject to the constraints under an appropriate condition. For several $p$, we assess a typical case limit $\alpha_c(\rho)$, which represents a critical relation between $\alpha=P/N$ and $\rho$ for successfully reconstructing the original vector by minimization for typical situations in the limit $N,P \to \infty$ with keeping $\alpha$ finite, utilizing the replica method. For $p=1$, $\alpha_c(\rho)$ is considerably smaller than its worst case counterpart, which has been rigorously derived by existing literature of information theory.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figure

Length-Weight Relationship and Condition Factor of Siganus Lineatus around Kareko waters, Lembeh Strait

AbstractThis study aims to determine the relationship between length and weight and condition factors of Siganus lineatus around Kareko waters, Lembeh Strait. Sampling was carried out in March 2021 from fishermen's catch using net fishing gear. There were 31 individuals collected with a length range of 169.95-345.69 mm and a weight range of 94-939 grams. The relationship between length and weight of male (b= 0.3018), female (b= 0.3631) and total (b= 0.3287) showed a negative allometric growth pattern. Mean condition factors of the male, female and total were 0.106, 0.075, and 0.091, indicating that rabbitfish are in poor condition.Keywords: rabbitfish; allometric; fishermen.AbstrakPenelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui hubungan panjang berat dan faktor kondisi Siganus lineatus di perairan sekitar Kelurahan Kareko, Selat Lembeh. Pengambilan sampel sepanjang bulan Maret 2021 dari  hasil tangkapan nelayan yang menggunakan alat tangkap jaring. Jumlah ikan yang terkumpul sebanyak 31 individu dengan kisaran panjang 169,95-345,69 mm dan berat 94-939 gram. Hubungan panjang berat ikan beronang jantan (b= 0,3018), betina (b= 0,3631) dan total (b= 0,3287) menunjukkan pola pertumbuhan alometrik negatif. Faktor kondisi rata-rata ikan beronang jantan, betina dan total yaitu 0,106, 0,075 dan 0,091, hal ini menunjukkan ikan beronang dalam kondisi kurang baik karena memiliki nilai kurang dari satu.Kata kunci : ikan beronang; alometrik; nelayan

The Duchet conjecture

In this paper, we investigate a conjecture of Duchet that r(G)≤η(G)+1, where r(G) is the Radon number and η(G) is the Hadwiger number of a graph G. In this paper, we give a class of counter examples for which rg(G)=η(G)+2, where rg(G) is the Radon number for the g-convexity structure. On the positive side, we prove the conjecture for some special classes of graphs like cycles and chordal graphs

Length-Weight Relationship and Gonad Maturity of Marble sleeper Oxyeleotris marmorata (Bleeker, 1852) in Tondano Lake North Sulawesi

The purpose of this study was to determine the length-weight relationship and gonad maturity of Betutu fish (Oxyeleotris marmorata) in Lake Tondano. Fish samples were caught using gill nets and lift nets in Lake Tondano. Total catches of 240 individuals. The legth-weight relation of male fish is W = 0.0094 L3.14 positive allometric growth pattern. Female female fish obtained W = 0.0104 L3.11 positive allometric growth patterns. The condition factor for male fish is 1.46 male and 1.47 female respectively. All levels of gonad maturity (I, II, III, IV and V) were found in each sample both in August and September. The size of the first mature male male fish is 219 ± 3 mm (range in size 216-222 mm) and female fish 171 ± 3 (range in size 169-174 mm).Keywords: Length-Weight, gonad maturity, Tondano Lake ABSTRAKTujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui hubungan panjang-berat dan kematangan gonad ikan Betutu (Oxyeleotris marmorata) yang ada di danau Tondano. Sampel ikan  ditangkap menggunakan jaring insang dan jaring angkat di danau Tondano. Total hasil tangkapan  240 individu. Hubungan panjang-berat ikan betutu jantan yaitu W = 0,0094L3,1394 pola pertumbuhan allometrik positif. Ikan betutu betina didapatkan W = 0,0104L3,1137 pola pertumbuhan allometrik positif. Faktor kondisi ikan betutu jantan masing-masing sebesar  1,46 ikan jantan dan  1,47 ikan betina. Seluruh tingkat  kematangan gonad (I, II, III, IV dan V) ditemukan pada setiap sampel baik pada bulan agustus maupun bulan September.  Ukuran pertama kali matang ikan betutu jantan yaitu   219 ±3 mm (kisaran ukuran 216-222 mm) dan ikan betina  171±3  (kisaran ukuran 169-174 mm)Kata Kunci: Panjang-berat, kematangan gonad, Danau Tondan