Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2006. / Advisors: Gershon Tenenbaum, Gary Peterson, Florida State University, College of Education, Dept. of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Sept. 20, 2006). Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 179 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

"September 1999" / Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.A.) University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file viewed on (June 26, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.

This document provides background material in support of the 2005 intercollegiate Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (aka iGEM). Herein, you can read quick summaries of earlier competitions and courses, obtain a general view of the work from both a technical and educational perspective, and read about our current understanding of how to engineering biology (e.g., PoPS, abstraction, and so on). / MIT iCampus

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A prototype agroforestry system, which combined the low-input features and environmental benefits of the traditional Indonesian multi-species 'jungle rubber' system with high yielding rubber clones developed in monoculture plantations, was tested under on-farm conditions. Secondary forest was allowed to regenerate between weeded rows of clonal rubber. Clonal rubber establishment was studied, and the interactions between it, secondary forest species and farmer management were investigated using a combination of researcher- and farmermanaged weeding trials. In one trial, alteration of below-ground resources (using root barriers and trenches to create three soil volumes) did not affect above or below-ground growth of clonal rubber, although weeding significantly increased stem diameter and volume. It was concluded that secondary forest regrowth interfered with resource capture at the level of individual roots; interference was not due to depletion of total available resources. Shoot:root ratios and ratios of horizontally- to vertically-oriented proximal roots were not affected by weeding. Growth of clonal rubber in N-fertilised plots, in the presence of weeds, was significantly greater than in corresponding unfertilised plots, indicating that N-addition may overcome some negative effects of competition in the system. However, a bioassay of nutrient limitation showed no significant differences in root biomass or root-length density, for either rubber or weed rootingrowth into soil cores enriched with various nutrients. The second researcher-managed trial, on steep slopes, showed that the survival rate of clonal rubber was 33% higher than that of the 'seedling' rubber variety traditionally used, and that mean stem height and diameter of clonal rubber trees were significantly greater than those of seedling rubber, 21 months after planting. Damage to trees by banded leaf monkeys (Presbytis melalophos nobilis) and feral pigs (Sus barbatus) was severe, unexpected, and greater for seedling than for clonal rubber. For undamaged trees, weeding frequency within the rubber-tree row had no significant effect, indicating that the major influence on rubber tree growth was interference from secondary forest regrowth between rows, operating both aboveand below-ground. In a farmer-managed, trial, vertebrate pest damage was the major influence on clonal rubber establishment, explaining almost 70% of the variation in rubber growth. The amount of labour invested in weeding was positively correlated with rubber growth. However, fanners generally decided to completely cut back the secondary forest regrowth between rows of rubber trees, including potentially valuable trees, rather than weeding within the rows and selectively pruning inter-row trees. Farmers considered that the inter-row vegetation may harbour vertebrate pests and compete with the clonal rubber, and they had access to fruits, firewood and non-timber forest products on other land. Thus, contrary to expectations, when offered clonal germplasm, these 'progressive' farmers opted to use plantation methods to protect what they considered a valuable asset suited to monoculture, rather than maintain the traditional multispecies strategy they use with local germplasm. Thus, although clonal rubber can technically be established in a 'jungle rubber'-like system (albeit with lower growth rates than achieved in plantations), not all farmers may be prepared to adopt this type of system.

abstract: The traditional action-response perspective has largely ignored the role of language in competitive dynamics. In this study, I treat language (i.e., word response) as an alternative way to react to rivals when a firm is attacked, in addition to no reaction and action-based reaction. Word response is a specific and public announcement of a focal firm’s potential move in reaction to a competitor’s word or action attack. To explore the underlying mechanism behind word responses, I aim to answer two major questions. The first question is under what situations are responders motivated to use words as competitive responses? For this question I emphasize characteristics of the action, the market, and the actor, using measures such as action type, market dependence of the responder, multimarket contact of the responder in the market, and the competitive aggressiveness of the actor. The second question is what kinds of responders are more likely to use words as competitive responses? For this question, I focus on responder characteristics, such as firm reputation, CEO tenure, and CEO duality. According to Porter’s competitive signaling theory, I argue that responders can use words in reaction to an attack in order to test the waters, deter rivalry, and demonstrate toughness because word responses require few resources, can be accomplished quickly, are reversible, while at the same time still carrying some commitment. Besides incorporating language into the action-response perspective, my dissertation also further integrates the upper-echelons perspective with competitive dynamics research, providing a more realistic and complete understanding of competitive engagement. I test my theory in the consumer electronics (CE) industry with 20 major global CE manufacturers between 2007 and 2014. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Business Administration 2016

The aim of this research is to measure the difference in efficiency between a coopetition strategy and a competition strategy pursued in a managed care organisation in order to guide South African managed care organisations (MCO’s) in their endeavours to ensure sustainable provision of affordable, quality, accessible healthcare. Medical doctors are not convinced of the efficiency of managed care strategies and are suspicious of managed care initiatives. Competitive managed care strategy is perceived by medical doctors as high handed and as the cause of adversarial relationships between doctors and MCO’s. Competitive strategy is contrasted to a coopetitive managed care strategy departing from the premise that doctors would improve their efficiency if they are incentivised to do so in a transparent, objective manner. The research compared the efficiency means (ìPI) of two groups of doctors engaging the MCO with either competitive or coopetitive strategies. Insufficient statistical evidence was found to confirm that the coopetitive strategy was significantly more efficient than the competitive strategy. Even though the research cannot confirm that the coopetitive strategy is significantly more efficient (á 0.1) there is enough evidence to indicate that the coopetitive strategy is more efficient than the competitive strategy, given a slightly higher alpha value (á) of 0.2. The research also illustrates that the efficiency of coopetitive strategy depends on effective implementation and not on the choice of strategy only. Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

The debate of regulation and government involvement in markets has been alive for decades. With the recent economic crisis, the debate has been elevated and most developed economies have had to rely on government involvement for their survival. The most contentious point for many was whether regulation positively or negatively impacts the markets. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of regulation on the energy sector in South Africa and whether regulation attracts new entries into the energy sector, thus creating an environment for competition. The research methodology used was based on exploratory research which comprised of face-to-face in-depth interviews with key informers from each of the stakeholder groups. In-depth interviews provided useful and detailed information from each key informer. The results from thirteen in-depth, face-to-face interviews with the key informers were analysed and presented. It was found that the majority of the key informers believed that regulation impacts competition and profits. Having the entire sector regulated has more of a negative impact. There is a lack of new entries into the energy sector with minimum competition created. There is an urgent need for a constructive pricing structure in the energy sector. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Objectives: Technological innovation in medicine is a significant driver of healthcare spending growth in the United States. Factors driving adoption and utilization of new technology is poorly understood, however market forces may play a significant role. Vascular surgery has experienced a surge in development of new devices and serves as an ideal case study. Specifically, the share of total abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repairs performed by endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) increased rapidly from 32% in 2001 to 65% in 2006 with considerable variation between states. This paper hypothesizes that that hospitals in competitive markets were early EVAR adopters and had improved AAA repair outcomes. Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) and linked Hospital Market Structure (HMS) data was queried for patients who underwent repair for non-ruptured AAA in 2003. In HMS the Herfindahl Hirschman Index (HHI, range 0-1) is a validated and widely accepted economic measure of competition. Hospital markets were defined using a variable geographic radius that encompassed 90% of discharged patients. Bivariable and multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were performed for the dependent variable of EVAR use. A propensity score-adjusted multivariate logistic regression model was used to control for treatment bias in the assessment of competition on AAA-repair outcomes. Results: A weighted total of 21,600 patients was included in the analyses. Patients at more competitive hospitals (lower HHI) were at increased odds of undergoing EVAR vs. open repair (Odds Ratio 1.127 per 0.1 decrease in HHI, P<0.0127) after adjusting for patient demographics, co-morbidities and hospital level factors (bed size, teaching status, AAA repair volume and ownership). Competition was not associated with differences in in-hospital mortality or vascular, neurologic or other minor post-operative complications. Conclusion: Greater hospital competition is significantly associated with increased EVAR adoption at a time when diffusion of this technology passed its tipping point. Hospital competition does not influence post-AAA repair outcomes. These results suggest that adoption of novel technology is not solely driven by clinical indications, but may also be influenced by market forces.