465 research outputs found

    FISHERIES MANAGEMENT AND MARKET-ORIENTED VALUE ADDING (MOVA)

    Get PDF
    This paper focuses on fisheries management systems as a motivation factor for market-oriented value adding (MOVA). Analytically, the paper relies on the marketing and industrial economics literature. It shows how established fisheries management systems reduce motivation for market-oriented value adding (MOVA) and thereby waste resource rent. An improved management model is introduced which motivates MOVA, cost-efficiency, sustainability, and fair social allocation. This model combines a Seasonal Quota Auction (SQA) and administrative allocation of licenses and quotas to communities or fisher groups. This model offers the following advantages in comparison with a pure Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) model: (i) increases resource rent without privatizing the fish resources to a few private holders; (ii) leases seasonal quotas instead of selling permanent quotas as with ITQ; (iii) improves rent generation by motivating the most market-oriented and efficient fishers by leasing quotas on credit; and (iv) offers the choice of collecting resource rent through fisher's cooperatives, regions, ITQ owners, government, or redistribution of rent as a bonus to all fishers.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

    Price Links between Auction and Direct Sales of Fresh and Frozen Fish in North Norway (1997–2003)

    Get PDF
    In North Norway the dominant method of exchange for fresh and frozen fish at the ex-vessel level is by direct (contract) sale, whereby price is negotiated between fish processors and the fishermen. More recently, an auction for frozen fish has been introduced. In this paper we investigate the relationship of prices between these methods of exchange and, in particular, whether the prices develop in a stable pattern between auction and direct sale by means of a cointegration analysis. Monthly prices of size-graded cod and haddock landed in the period 1997–2003 are analysed. For most months, frozen fish sold through auctions realised the highest price, followed by direct sales of fresh and frozen, respectively. Fish sold by auction exhibits a larger monthly variation in price than fish sold directly. Prices for cod were cointegrated to a larger degree than for haddock, and the cointegration was strongest for frozen cod. The analysis also demonstrates that the auction prices for frozen cod and haddock drive the direct sale prices of similar fish, both frozen and fresh, even though the quantity sold via direct sales is greater than that of auctions. Law of one price (LOP) and weak exogeneity were present for cod and haddock.Market linkages, cointegration, auction sale, direct sale, fresh fish, frozen fish, cod, haddock, North Norway, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, Q22, C32, D44,

    VIDEOCARE: Decentralised psychiatric emergency care through videoconferencing

    Get PDF
    BACKGROUND: Today the availability of specialists is limited for psychiatric patients in rural areas, especially during psychiatric emergencies. To overcome this challenge, the University Hospital of North Norway has implemented a new decentralised on-call system in psychiatric emergencies, by which psychiatrists are accessible by videoconference 24/7. In September 2011, the new on-call system was established in clinical practice for patients and health staff at three regional psychiatric centres in Northern Norway. Although a wide variety of therapies have been successfully delivered by videoconference, there is limited research on the use of videoconferenced consultations with patients in psychiatric emergencies. The aim of this study is to explore the use of videoconference in psychiatric emergencies based on the implementation of this first Norwegian tele-psychiatric service in emergency care. METHODS/DESIGN: The research project is an exploratory case study of a new videoconference service in operation. By applying in-depth interviews with patients, specialists and local health-care staff, we will identify factors that facilitate and hinder use of videoconferencing in psychiatric emergencies, and explore how videoconferenced consultations matter for patients, professional practice and cooperation between levels in psychiatric care. By using an on-going project as the site of research, the case is especially well-suited for generating reliable and valid empirical data. DISCUSSION: Results from the study will be of importance for understanding of how videoconferencing may support proper treatment and high-quality health care services in rural areas for patients in psychiatric emergencies

    Interferometric radar observations of filamented structures due to plasma instabilities and their relation to dynamic auroral rays

    Get PDF
    International audienceSeveral explanations have been proposed for Naturally Enhanced ion-acoustic Echoes observed at mid- and high-latitude Incoherent Scatter observatories. A decisive measure for distinguishing between these explanations is whether or not simultaneously observed up- and down-shifted enhancement occur simultaneously, or if they are the result of temporal and/or spatial averaging. The EISCAT Svalbard Radar has two antennas in the same radar system, which can be used as an interferometer when pointed parallel. In observations from 17 January 2002, between 06:46:10 and 06:46:30 UT, we used this possibility, in combination with direct sampling of the received signals, to yield measurements of "naturally enhanced ion-acoustic echoes" with sufficiently high resolution to resolve such averaging, if any. For the first time, radar interferometry has been employed to estimate the sizes of coherent structures. The observations were coordinated with an image intensified video camera with a narrow field of view. Together, this forms the initial study on the causal relationships between enhanced echoes and fine structure in the auroral activity on sub-kilometer, sub-second scales. The results confirm that the enhanced echoes originate from very localised regions (~300m perpendicular to the magnetic field at 500km altitude) with varying range distribution, and with high time variability (?200ms). The corresponding increase in scattering cross section, up to 50dB above incoherent scattering, eliminates theoretical explanations based on marginal stability. The simultaneously observed up- and down-shifted enhanced shoulders, when caused by sufficiently narrow structures to be detected by the interferometer technique, originate predominantly from the same volume. These results have significant impact on theories attempting to explain the enhancements, in particular it is found that the ion-electron two-stream mechanism favoured by many authors is an unlikely candidate to explain the observations. The video data has helped establish a clear correlation between the enhanced echoes and auroral activity, on sub-second time scales, showing a threshold connection between the auroral intensity and the triggering of the radar enhancements. It appears that the up- and down-shifted enhanced echoes correlate with fine auroral structures in different ways. Key words. Ionosphere (auroral ionosphere; plasma waves and instabilities) ? Radio science (interferometry

    Four cases on market orientation of value chains in agribusiness and fisheries

    Get PDF
    This working paper presents results from the project ‘Supra-company level determinants of degree of market orientation of value chains in agriculture and fisheries’, which is carried out in cooperation between MAPP – Centre for Research on Customer Relations in the Food Sector, Aarhus School of Business, Denmark, the Norwegian College of Fisheries Science, University of Tromsø, Norway, and the Department of Marketing, University of Stirling, Scotland. It has benefited from grants from the Danish Social Science Research Council and from the Norwegian Research Council. The present working paper is the ‘long’ version of the empirical work in the first major phase of the project, where we study four examples of food value chains to get insight into their degree of market orientation and possible determinants. The insights gained here have been used in subsequent empirical work that is currently underwayMarket orientation;

    Revolution or Reform? : the Labour Party and economic policy, 1979-1983

    Get PDF
    Denne oppgaven utforsker argumentene som ble fremmet i debatten rundt økonomisk politikk i det britiske Labour Party på 1970- og 80-tallet, og hvordan partiet ikke var i stand til å produsere en konsensus rundt en felles platform. This thesis investigates the arguments presented in the economic debate in the Labour Party in the 1970s and 1980s, and how the party failed to produce an agreement on what policies the party should pursue

    Cell-Mediated Immune Predictors of Vaccine Effect on Viral Load and CD4 Count in a Phase 2 Therapeutic HIV-1 Vaccine Clinical Trial.

    Get PDF
    In a placebo-controlled trial of the peptide-based therapeutic HIV-1 p24 <sup>Gag</sup> vaccine candidate Vacc-4x, participants on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) received six immunizations over 18weeks, followed by analytical treatment interruption (ATI) between weeks 28 and 52. Cell-mediated immune responses were investigated as predictors of Vacc-4x effect (VE) on viral load (VL) and CD4 count during ATI. All analyses of week 28 responses and fold-changes relative to baseline considered per-protocol participants (Vacc-4x:placebo=72:32) resuming cART after week 40. Linear regression models with interaction tests were used. VE was estimated as the Vacc-4x-placebo difference in log <sub>10</sub> -transformed VL (VE <sup>VL</sup> ) or CD4 count (VE <sup>CD4</sup> ). A lower fold-change of CD4+ T-cell proliferation was associated with VE <sup>CD4</sup> at week 48 (p=0.036, multiplicity adjusted q=0.036) and week 52 (p=0.040, q=0.080). A higher fold-change of IFN-γ in proliferation supernatants was associated with VE <sup>VL</sup> at week 44 (p=0.047, q=0.07). A higher fold-change of TNF-α was associated with VE <sup>VL</sup> at week 44 (p=0.045, q=0.070), week 48 (p=0.028, q=0.070), and week 52 (p=0.037, q=0.074). A higher fold-change of IL-6 was associated with VE <sup>VL</sup> at week 48 (p=0.017, q=0.036). TNF-α levels (>median) were associated with VE <sup>CD4</sup> at week 48 (p=0.009, q=0.009). These exploratory analyses highlight the potential value of investigating biomarkers in T-cell proliferation supernatants for VE in clinical studies

    The Number Field Sieve

    Get PDF
    We present two algorithms for splitting a general composite number, the quadratic sieve algorithm (QS) and the general number field sieve algorithm (NFS). The former is the method of choice for integers between 50 and 110 digits, and the latter beyond. They share a common strategy, but the NFS is far more sophisticated. We therefore present the QS as a preparation for the NFS. We also give two algorithms for the discrete logarithm problem in prime fields, the index-calculus method (ICM) and the number field sieve for the discrete logarithm problem (NFS-dlog). They have crossover point at 66-digit primes. The only limitation made was restricting to the prime field case. The NFS-dlog uses ideas from both the NFS and the ICM. We also study the algebraic background and estimate the running times of both the NFS and the NFS-dlog

    Performance Investigation of Membranes Suitable for Osmotic Membrane Pressure Actuators

    Get PDF
    Polybenzimidazole (PBI) membrane performance having hydrocarbons mixed with the feed water was investigated. Forward osmosis (FO) and pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) experiments were performed with different ratios of hydrocarbons. The membranes performed well under these conditions. The results did not conclusively indicate that there is a relationship between the hydrocarbon ratio and the water or salt permeability. It appeared that the contact between the water and the membrane surface is an important factor contributing to water permeation. The results indicated that exposure to hydrocarbons possibly increases the membrane s salt retention. It was also found that hydrocarbons possibly cause swelling of the membrane. This was done by measuring thickness before and after exposure under different circumstances. In experiments conducted in PRO mode pressure was generated on the draw side when hydrocarbons were mixed together with water in the feed. PRO experiments using pure water in the feed were performed at different pressure differences. The results showed no linear relationship between water flux and pressure difference. FO experiments using pure water in the feed were carried out to test the effect of temperature on the trans-membrane water and salt flux. It was found that both water and salt flux increase with temperature. The PBI membrane s thermal stability was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis. It was heated to temperatures just short of 600 °C with very little loss of mass. The membrane morphology was characterized by SEM, and its hydrophilic properties demonstrated by attempted contact angle measurements

    An Evening Sector Ps 6 - Omega Band Event

    Get PDF
    Article draft. Author list indicative and roughly corresponds to amount of contribution to the article to date.Abstract. Ps 6 magnetic disturbances and associated optical forms known as omega bands are usually associated with the morning sector. Some evidence for similar phenomenology in the evening sector has been presented by Solovyev et al. (1999). We confirm and extend those results with high time resolution magnetic and imaging observations from Athabasca University Geophysical Observatory for an event that took place on July 27, 2003, along with conjugate hemisphere imaging from the Polar spacecraft. The observed signatures indicate sunward drift (westward in the evening sector). Magnetic perturbations feature negative Y and transitional Z indicating westward passage of poleward equivalent currents overhead. As has been suggested by Connors et al. (2003) to be often the case for morning sector Ps 6/omega bands, initiation of the evening sector event coincided with substorm onset. From optical and magnetic data we obtain consistent results for the drift rate of the forms, which changed during the event. An inner magnetospheric source is suggested, with triggering of the onset by an increase in solar wind speed
    corecore