Since the internet became a new marketplace for buyers and sellers, the modernization of e-commerce brings into question whether online retailing can effectively replace traditional brick-and-mortar stores. Recent trends have highlighted the struggling business of physical retailers, yet many continue to operate while also having introduced an online sales channel along with pages on social media to increase engagement with customers. This study challenges the popular assumption that e-commerce is cannibalizing in-store sales opportunities, where online sales grow increasingly at the expense of the conventional method of shopping in brick-and-mortar stores. In examining financial and internet-related data of 50 major U.S. retailers from 2008 through 2013, I run panel data regressions to identify factors that contribute to the growth of in-store sales revenue and the proportion of online sales. My results indicate that retailers operating a clicks-and-bricks model do not suffer from channel cannibalization but may be forming a synergy across channels, as there are significant increases in measures regarding both physical and online retail operations.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Conservation / Master / Master of Science in Conservation

In most design codes, infill walls are considered as non-structural elements and thus are typically neglected in the design process. The observations made after major earthquakes (Duzce 1999, L’Aquila 2009, Christchurch 2011) have shown that even though infill walls are considered to be non-structural elements, they interact with the structural system during seismic actions. In the case of heavy infill walls (i.e. clay brick infill walls), the whole behaviour of the structure may be affected by this interaction (i.e. local or global structural failures such as soft storey mechanism). In the case of light infill walls (i.e. non-structural drywalls), this may cause significant economical losses. To consider the interaction of the structural system with the ‘non-structural ’infill walls at design stage may not be a practical approach due to the complexity of the infill wall behaviour. Therefore, the purpose of the reported research is to develop innovative technological solutions and design recommendations for low damage non-structural wall systems for seismic actions by making use of alternative approaches. Light (steel/timber framed drywalls) and heavy (unreinforced clay brick) non-structural infill wall systems were studied by following an experimental/numerical research programme. Quasi-static reverse cyclic tests were carried out by utilizing a specially designed full scale reinforced concrete frame, which can be used as a re-usable bare frame. In this frame, two RC beams and two RC columns were connected by two un-bonded post tensioning bars, emulating a jointed ductile frame system (PRESSS technology). Due to the rocking behaviour at the beam-column joint interfaces, this frame was typically a low damage structural solution, with the post-tensioning guaranteeing a linear elastic behaviour. Therefore, this frame could be repeatedly used in all of the tests carried out by changing only the infill walls within this frame. Due to the linear elastic behaviour of this structural bare frame, it was possible to extract the exact behaviour of the infill walls from the global results. In other words, the only parameter that affected the global results was given by the infill walls. For the test specimens, the existing practice of construction (as built) for both light and heavy non-structural walls was implemented. In the light of the observations taken during these tests, modified low damage construction practices were proposed and tested. In total, seven tests were carried out: 1) Bare frame , in order to confirm its linear elastic behaviour. 2) As built steel framed drywall specimen FIF1-STFD (Light) 3) As built timber framed drywall specimen FIF2-TBFD (Light) 4) As built unreinforced clay brick infill wall specimen FIF3-UCBI (Heavy) 5) Low damage steel framed drywall specimen MIF1-STFD (Light) 6) Low damage timber framed drywall specimen MIF2-TBFD (Light) 7) Low damage unreinforced clay brick infill wall specimen MIF5-UCBI (Heavy) The tests of the as built practices showed that both drywalls and unreinforced clay brick infill walls have a low serviceability inter-storey drift limit (0.2-0.3%). Based on the observations, simple modifications and details were proposed for the low damage specimens. The details proved to be working effectively in lowering the damage and increasing the serviceability drift limits. For drywalls, the proposed low damage solutions do not introduce additional cost, material or labour and they are easily applicable in real buildings. For unreinforced clay brick infill walls, a light steel sub-frame system was suggested that divides the infill panel zone into smaller individual panels, which requires additional labour and some cost. However, both systems can be engineered for seismic actions and their behaviour can be controlled by implementing the proposed details. The performance of the developed details were also confirmed by the numerical case study analyses carried out using Ruaumoko 2D on a reinforced concrete building model designed according to the NZ codes/standards. The results have confirmed that the implementation of the proposed low damage solutions is expected to significantly reduce the non-structural infill wall damage throughout a building.

Att det har blivit en ökad digitalisering i handeln de senaste 10 åren är ingen hemlighet. Internet har skapat möjligheter som tidigare inte funnits och att handla elektroniskt har blivit en stor företeelse på marknaden. Elektronisk handel, med andra ord e-handel, har ökat kraftigt de senaste åren och förutspås även att bli ännu större i framtiden. Digitaliseringen har gjort att människor har fått nya beteenden och att konkurrensen på detaljhandelsmarknaden har förändrats. Med både förändrat beteende och en annorlunda konkurrens påstås det att detaljhandeln är inne i ett skifte nu, ett skifte som förändrar branschen och med stor sannolikhet påverkar de fysiska butikerna på marknaden. E-handel har gjort det möjligt för minskade sökkostnader och priser, lägre distributionskostnader och att avstånd blir möjliga att sudda ut. Samtidigt har kunder efterfrågat smidiga och enkla affärer vilket har gjort att e-handel har vunnit allt fler kunder.  Syftet med denna uppsats är att se om det blir någon inverkan på de fysiska butikerna inom detaljhandeln när det gäller försäljning, antal sysselsatta och antal arbetsställen när användningen av e-handel ökar i Sverige. Studien baseras på en kvantitativ metod där tidigare studier samt regressionsanalyser utgör grunden. Regressionsanalysen genomförs på data inhämtad från myndigheter samt organisationer och de tre beroende variablerna är omsättning per person i fysiska butiker, antalet sysselsatta i fysiska butiker samt antalet arbetsställen inom detaljhandeln. Resultaten som skattas tyder på att det finns en trend som visar att när e-handelsanvändning ökar så minskar försäljning per person i de fysiska butikerna, det går dock inte att säga att e-handelsanvändningen är det som påverkar försäljningen. Resultatet tyder även på att det inte med säkerhet går att säga att antalet sysselsatta eller arbetsställen kommer påverkas av en ökad e-handelsanvändning i Sverige. / That a digitization has taken place in the retail industry in the last 10 years isn’t a secret. The internet has created new opportunities and electronic commerce has been a large-sized phenomenon on the retail market. Electronic commerce, in other words the e-commerce, has increased sharply in recent years and is predicted to grow even bigger in the future. Digitization has created new behaviors among consumers and new competitive situations on the retail market. With both new behaviors and new competitive situation, the retail industry is changing and with great probability also the brick-and-mortar stores will be affected by it. E-commerce has made it possible to reduce search costs and prices, to have lower distribution costs and make it possible to overcome distance. At the same time, the consumers demand smooth and simple business, which has made e-commerce use even stronger among the customers.  The purpose of this thesis is to see if the brick-and-mortar stores sales, employment or number of workplaces are affected by an increase in the use of e-commerce in Sweden. The study is based on a quantitative method with previous studies and regression analysis as the foundation of the study. The regression analysis is performed with data from retail organizations and the dependent variables in the regression is revenue per capita in brick-and-mortar stores, employment and number of workplaces. The results of the study indicate a trend in the retail market where the revenue per capita decrease in brick-and-mortar stores while the e-commerce use increase, however it cannot be claimed that e-commerce affects the sale in brick-and-mortar stores. The results also indicate that it is not possible to conclude that e-commerce use will affect the number employed or number of workplaces in Sweden.

Submitted by (edna.saturno@ufrpe.br) on 2017-02-13T12:24:05Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Fabricio de Lima Freitas.pdf: 673377 bytes, checksum: bf650e9f82d0efd2d2c29fcf14dae9d7 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-13T12:24:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fabricio de Lima Freitas.pdf: 673377 bytes, checksum: bf650e9f82d0efd2d2c29fcf14dae9d7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-04-13 / Considering the potentiality of Brycon amazonicus culture and scarcity of information on the management of the species in the semiarid region of the Brazilian northeastern, this study aimed to investigate the growth and reproductive performance in tanks, which was developed in two phases. In the Phase 1, the matrinxãs growth performance in six 50m² tanks of, with two treatments and three replicates: D1 - 1 specimen/m² and D2 - 2 specimens/m². Sampling was done monthly, using 10% of individuals of each replicates, to follow the growth and weight gain of fish and feed settings. At the end of phase 1, samples of gonads were collected and sent for histological analysis. In Phase 2, 16 matrinxãs from treatments A and B were placed in a tank with 75m². Part of the gonads was subjected to gross and microscopic examination in order to determine the gonadal development. Stocking density influenced the growth of B. amazonicus. Weight gain varied with the season, as a result of changes in water temperature. Males reach first maturity in the first year of life, whereas females reached only in the second year. / Considerando a potencialidade do cultivo de Brycon amazonicus e escassez de informação sobre o manejo da espécie no semi-árido do Nordeste brasileiro, este trabalho teve por objetivo investigar o desempenho de crescimento e reprodutivo em tanques, que foi desenvolvido em duas fases. Na Fase 1 foi avaliada o desempenho do crescimento das matrinxãs em seis tanques de alvenaria de 50m², através de dois tratamentos, envolvendo a densidade, com três repetições: D1 - 1 indivíduo/m2, e D2 – 2 indivíduos/m2. Biometrias foram realizadas mensalmente, utilizando 10% dos indivíduos de cada repetição, para acompanhar o crescimento e ganho de peso dos peixes e ajustes da alimentação. Ao término da Fase 1, amostras de gônadas foram coletadas e encaminhadas à análises histológicas. Na Fase 2, 16 matrinxãs dos tratamentos D1 e D2 foram acondicionadas em um tanque com 75m². Parte das gônadas foi submetida à análise macro e microscópica, a fim de determinar o desenvolvimento gonadal. A densidade de estocagem influenciou o crescimento de B. amazonicus. O ganho de peso variou de acordo com a época do ano, em conseqüência da variação de temperatura da água. Os machos atingiram a primeira maturação no primeiro ano de vida, enquanto que a fêmea só atingiu no segundo ano.

ABSTRACT ANALYSIS OF STABILIZED ADOBE IN RURAL EAST AFRICA Grace Ying Yu Chen This project seeks to assist people in rural East Africa by proposing sustainable building methods which implement affordable and durable adobe bricks for construction. Adobe, one of the oldest sustainable building materials in the world, is strong when dry but lacks structural integrity when exposed to moisture. Chemical additives such as cement and lime are added into the adobe mix to protect the brick against moisture decomposition. Once the chemicals are added and the mix is formed into a brick, a stabilized adobe brick is formed. Cement, a stabilizer, is locally available in East Africa, but is generally unaffordable for families in rural areas. Lime is also locally available and costs about half the price of cement. This project investigates reducing the amount of cement to produce an economical and stabilized brick. The tested brick mixes, measured by volume, were • 10% cement • 5% cement • 5% cement+5% lime • 7% lime with sand • 7% lime with clay only • 10% lime with sand After testing these bricks by water jet, submersion, modulus of rupture, and compression, the 5% cement+5% lime mix and the 7% lime with clay mix proved to be viable options for economical and durable bricks. The second half of this project contains summaries of research related to stabilized adobe and other soil building methods. A literature search shows that lime mixed with soil containing small particles rich in calcium carbonate and quartz produces proper cementation in the mix called carbonation.

Between the years 2013 and 2016, e-commerce sales grew as a percent of total retail sales in the United States from 5.8% to 8.5%, an increase of $129 billion. Some brick-and-mortar (B & M) retailers struggle with maintaining the historic levels of revenue in their stores. A multiple case study design with retail store managers was used to understand what factors engage customers to shop at B & M store locations. The consumer-dominant value creation logic was the conceptual framework. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with 5 retail store managers in Texas who demonstrated successful strategies for engaging customers in their B & M stores, and notes from observations. Data from semistructured interviews were analyzed with a traditional method to identify themes. The found themes included fun at work, customer connection, relationship, pride, and genuine care. The implications of this study for positive social change include the potential to enhance the economic vitality and development in the surrounding community by creating additional jobs and generating additional income for members of the community that could be spent in local economies.

The aim of this thesis is to develop conservation principles for the brick and tile industry in Eskisehir, one of the symbolic industrial cities in Turkey where brick and tile has been the significant production from the Early Republic Period. The conservation of these structures, complexes and mechanical elements is a controversial issue owing to their physical, economical, social and administrative values. The principles how to conserve and why is searched through discussions on conservation approaches, development plans and values. Focusing on this aim, this study is structured in six parts as the research on industrialization and industrial heritage, review and discussion of value types, survey on brick and tile industry, the value assessment process for the factories with the proposed value types and the implementation of conservation principles. In conclusion, the development of principles is an essential process in conservation of cultural heritage. This thesis proposes conservation principles over physical, social and administrative structure for industrial heritage for brick and tile factories in the Eskisehir Industrial Area.

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