The growing number of sales channels through which customers can make purchases has made it imperative for managers to understand how customers decide which channels to use. However, this presents a significant challenge because there is reason to believe the channel decision process evolves over the lifetime of the customer. The authors document the existence and nature of this phenomenon by analyzing the evolution of a customer's channel choice decision process from a trial stage to a posttrial stage. First, they analyze data for a book retailer and replicate their analysis using data from a durables and apparel retailer. Their results suggest that (1) customers' decision processes do evolve, (2) a minority but sizeable segment changes decision processes within the observation period, and (3) customers who change do so from a decision process in which they are highly responsive to marketing to one in which they are less responsive. The authors illustrate and discuss the implications for both managers and researchers.

The Interrelationships between Brand and Channel ChoiceWe propose a framework for the joint study of the consumer's decision of where to buy and what to buy. The framework is rooted in utility theory where the utility is for a particular channel/brand combination. The framework contains firm actions, the consumer search process, the choice process, and consumer learning. We develop research questions within each of these areas. We then discuss methodological issues pertaining to the use of experimentation and econometrics. Our framework suggests that brand and channel choices are closely intertwined, and therefore studying them jointly will reveal a deeper understanding of consumer decisionmaking in the modern marketing environment.Keywords: brand choice, channel choice, learning, utility theory 3 The Interrelationships between Brand and Channel ChoiceThroughout the post-industrial era, consumers have been faced with the decision of choosing brands. Levi's or Wrangler? Apple or Samsung? The last decade has seen a proliferation of channels through which firms interact with customers. Levi's, Wrangler, as well as Apple and Samsung can be purchased online, in bricks-and-mortar stores, or through catalogs. Platform retailing arrangements that give brands direct access to consumers are also becoming increasingly popular, both offline, such as "stores within a store" (Jerath and Zhang 2010), and online, such as Amazon Marketplace. Thus, today's consumer must choose both a brand and a channel. The question is how brand and channel choices are interrelated. We advocate that this question presents an opportunity to learn in more depth how consumers make decisions in the modern marketing environment.There has been much research on brand choice, dating at least to Kuehn and Rohloff (1967), continuing through Guadagni and Little (1983). See Russell (2014) for a history of the development of this field. Recently there has been a growing literature on channel choice (Thomas and Sullivan 2005;Valentini et al. 2011). However, to our knowledge there is little research that integrates brand and channel choice.One might argue that channel and brand choice could just be studied separately. Yet, researchers have found that consumers make different choices depending on which channel they use (Danaher et al. 2003), that marketing induces consumers to switch channels (Ansari et al. 2008) and that brand and channel perceptions together determine purchase intentions (Dodds et al. 1991). This suggests that the two processes are intertwined. Certainly managers are concerned with how to manage their brands across channels. Therefore, while the field is not well-4 developed, we believe there is significant academic and managerial motivation for studying the interrelationships between brand and channel choice. In particular, our objectives are to: § develop a framework for studying the interrelationships between channel and brand choice, § utilize the framework to generate research topics, and § discuss methodological challenges i...

Objective To assess the effect of levator ani muscle (LAM) coactivation at term on outcome of labor in nulliparous women. Methods This was a prospective study of 284 low‐risk nulliparous women with a singleton pregnancy at term recruited before the onset of labor. The anteroposterior diameter of the levator hiatus was measured in each woman on transperineal ultrasound at rest, on maximum pelvic floor muscle contraction and on maximum Valsalva maneuver before and after visual feedback. LAM coactivation was defined as a reduction in the anteroposterior diameter of the levator hiatus on maximum Valsalva maneuver in comparison with that at rest. The association of pelvic hiatal diameter values and LAM coactivation with mode of delivery and duration of labor was assessed. Results No significant difference was found between women who underwent Cesarean delivery and those who had a vaginal delivery with regard to the anteroposterior diameter of the levator hiatus at rest, on pelvic floor muscle contraction and on Valsalva maneuver. Longer second stage of labor was associated with shorter anteroposterior diameter of the levator hiatus on all assessments, but in particular at rest and on Valsalva both before and after visual feedback. LAM coactivation was found in 89 (31.3%) and 75 (26.4%) women before and after visual feedback, respectively. Post visual feedback, women with LAM coactivation had a significantly longer second stage of labor than did those without LAM coactivation (83 ± 63 vs 63 ± 42 min; P = 0.006). On Cox regression analysis, LAM coactivation post visual feedback was an independent predictor of longer second stage of labor (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.499 (95% CI, 1.076–2.087); P = 0.017). Conclusion LAM coactivation in nulliparous women at term is associated with a longer second stage of labor. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

OmniView-VCI is a reliable method for pelvic hiatal area measurement. Further studies are needed to assess its reliability under contraction and the Valsalva maneuver and to evaluate its usefulness and reproducibility for diagnosis of levator ani lesions.