30 research outputs found
The coevolution of renewable resources and institutions - implications for policy design
No full text This PhD thesis studies how natural renewable resources and institutions governing those resources mutually influence each other. Theoretical models are developed in which members of a small community have joint access to a common pool resource. We analyze under which circumstances social norms of cooperation evolve that effectively regulate resource exploitation, but also when those social norms break down, identifying obstacles for community governance. Furthermore, in the light of biological and social complexity this thesis analyzes how governmental policy should be designed if self-governance is not sufficient to protect the resource stock. The insights obtained are applied to the case of Arcto-Norwegian cod. An optimal management plan is developed that can be adapted to several policy objectives concerning the utilization of the fleet. In addition, management advice is given for the case that harvesting may trigger an evolutionary response of the fish stock. </p
Water, food and markets : household-level impact of irrigation water policies and institutions in northern China
No full text Water is increasingly becoming a limiting factor for sustainable economic growth and development, particularly in developing countries. Besides technical innovations, water institution reforms may contribute to improving water allocation decisions. Appropriately designed water institutions can motivate water users to conserve and use water efficiently for irrigation and other uses. In northern China, growing demands on agricultural water due to relatively low water availability and increasing grain production are putting more and more pressure on improving water resource management. The Ministry of Water Resources of the P.R. China has initiated a number of pilot projects to gain experience with the development of water-saving irrigation systems. These pilot projects focus on the construction of engineering systems as well as institutional innovations in water resource management. Analysing the household-level effects of the implemented measures is hence of great importance for further policy development. The project ‘Building a Water-saving Society in Zhangye City’, initiated early 2002 in Zhangye City in northwest China, is the first pilot project of this kind in China. It provides a unique opportunity to examine the economic effects of changes in water policies and institutions. Minle County, the research area for this study, is located within Zhangye City. A large potato processing company was established in Minle County in 2008. After the factory started its activities, the local government intervened in the allocation of irrigation water within the region by assigning more water to a specific variety of potatoes (i.e. Atlantic potatoes) that the factory needs for processing. This further makes Minle County an interesting case for analysing the link between output market development and institutional change in irrigation water management. The general objective of this study is to empirically investigate the household-level impacts of policies and institutional changes in irrigation water use. From this general objective, the following four specific objectives are defined and analysed in separate chapters. 1) To examine the impact of the institutional setup of Water Users Associations (WUAs) on productivity of irrigation water use by the WUA member households, based on a user-based resource governance framework. 2) To analyse the effects of a policy affecting the availability of water for different crops on farmers’ acreage allocation among crops. 3) To evaluate the internal valuation (i.e. marginal value) of irrigation water, before and after the introduction of the water policy as explained above. 4) To investigate the effects of output market development on irrigation water trading. The information used for the empirical analyses mainly comes from two surveys that were carried out in Minle County in May 2008 and May 2010. These surveys cover information for the years 2007 and 2009, that is before and after the potato processing factory became operational. A stratified sampling approach was used for selecting the households and WUAs to be interviewed in the surveys. Additional interviews were held by the author in August 2010 with the Water Management Bureaus (WMBs) that are responsible for water allocation within the seven irrigation areas in Minle County. Chapter 2 investigates the underlying causes of differences in WUA performance by analysing the impact of WUA characteristics on the productivity of irrigation water use. Total crop production value and household income obtained from crop production, both expressed per m3 of water, are used as dependent variables in the empirical analysis. The explanatory variables in the analysis are derived from an established user-based resource governance framework, that specifies the conditions under which user groups are expected to sustainably govern common-pool resources. These conditions are grouped into resource characteristics, group characteristics, relationships between resources and user groups, and the external environment (markets, technology). Applying a random intercept model, the estimation results show that group characteristics, particularly group size and number of water users groups, and the existing pressure on available water resources are important WUA characteristics explaining water productivity. Chapter 3 analyses the impact of the local government intervention in irrigation water allocation on farmers’ crop planting decisions. A system of unconditional crop acreage demand functions depending on prices of variable inputs, levels of quasi-fixed inputs and prices of outputs is estimated. Two hypotheses are tested: Firstly, the government intervention results in an increase in land allocated to Atlantic potatoes and a decrease in land allocated to other crops; Secondly, among the alternative crops (i.e. other crops than Atlantic potatoes), the water policy is expected to cause a relatively small response for grain crops, because grains are mainly used for domestic consumption. The empirical results do not support the first hypothesis. The increased water allocation to Atlantic potatoes does not significantly affect the land allocated to this crop, because its planting decisions are mainly taken by village leaders instead of households. Instead, the intervention results in a shift from planting potatoes towards grains with relatively low water requirements.The second hypothesis is partly supported by the empirical results. The estimated impact of the government intervention is found to be stronger for local potato varieties than for grains, but the impact on the area planted with cash crops does not differ significantly from zero. Output prices seem to play a more important role in cash crop planting decisions than the water allocation intervention. Chapter 4 examines the economic valuation (i.e. marginal value) of irrigation water, before and after the local government intervention in water allocation. To accomplish this, a system of translog production functions is estimated. Two hypotheses are tested: Firstly, the valuation of irrigation water is expected to be equal across different crops before the start of the new water policy. And secondly, valuation of irrigation water is expected to be lower for Atlantic potatoes as compared to the alternative crops after the water policy change. The empirical results do not support the first hypothesis. The valuation of irrigation water used on grain crops is very low, and is even below the actual water prices charged to farm households. This is probably due to self-consumption of grain by households, and to government subsidies for grain farmers that are based on the planted area with grains. The second hypothesis is supported by the empirical results, except for grains. The valuation of irrigation water used on Atlantic potatoes is lower than the value of water used on other (non-grain) crops. Moreover, the returns for irrigation water used on other crops are higher in the year after the water allocation intervention than in the year before the intervention. Chapter 5 aims to provide insights into the impact of output market development on the trading of water use rights by farm households. Theresults of the two farm household surveys indicate that water markets have emerged at a small scale in response to the development of the potato market in Minle County. Observed water trade in the second survey, that was held after the establishment of the potato processing factory, consists mainly of the exchange of water without payment between relatives or neighbours, and seems to be meant to improve the timing of water applications to crops with different seasonal water requirements. Those who have started trading water rights tend to have more land with water use rights than other potato farmers. High transaction costs and information asymmetry between the government and water users, however, severely constrain the trading of water use rights in the region. Chapter 6 summarizes and integrates the main findings, discusses the policy implications and the limitations of the research, and presents some suggestions for further research.</p
Brief fixation does not hamper the reliability of Ki67 analysis in breast cancer core-needle biopsies: A double-centre study
No full textAims: Immunohistochemical assessment of Ki67 expression in core-needle biopsies (CNBs) is increasingly playing a role in therapeutic decision-making for breast cancer patients. Within the framework of same-day diagnosis of breast lesions, fixation times are markedly decreased. We therefore attempted to validate Ki67 analysis in briefly fixed breast cancer CNBs. Methods and results: CNBs of 136 consecutive patients with invasive breast cancer diagnosed through the same-day diagnosis programme of both the University Medical Centre Utrecht (UMCU) and the Radboud University Medical Centre (RUMC) were included. CNBs were fixed in formaldehyde for approximately 45 min at the UMCU and for between 60 and 90 min at the RUMC. Immunohistochemistry for Ki67 expression was compared between the briefly fixed CNBs and conventionally fixed resection specimens of the same tumour. The overall agreement between CNBs and resections was 122 of 142 (85.9%) (κ = 0.71; 95% CI 0.60-0.83). Positive and negative predictive values were 79.7% (95% CI 67-88%) and 91.0% (95% CI 82-96%), respectively. Conclusions: Overall agreement for Ki67 expression was good between briefly fixed CNBs and conventionally fixed resection specimens, and within the range of studies comparing conventionally fixed CNBs and resections
The effects of firm relocation on firm performance - A literature review
No full textApproximately 6% of all firms in the Netherlands decide to relocate every year. Furthermore, the number of firms that has relocated increased dramatically over time. Relatively much is known about the (re)location decision itself. However, much less research focuses on the effects of relocation on the performance of firms. This is remarkable since the importance of the geographical and organizational position of a firm for firm performance, and especially innovation, has become more and more profound over time. The notion that no firm may function as an island on itself is accepted by and large and the importance of a firm’s geographical and organizational position is sometimes even described as exaggerated in the literature. It therefore seems logical to study the effects of changes in a firm’s position as a result of a relocation. Given the above this paper asks the question: What is known in the literature about the effects of firm relocation on the performance of firms? In order to answer this question, first an overview of the possible effects of firm relocation is given. Subsequently, a review of the available literature dealing with the effects of firm relocation is presented in order to make an inventory of the effects that have and have not been studied. It is argued that the scarce relocation literature that is available has an extremely narrow focus and largely neglects the importance of the geographical and organizational position of a firm and thereby might ignore important factors influencing the effects of firm relocation on firm performance.
Interplay between network configurations and network governance mechanisms in supply networks a systematic literature review
No full textPurpose: This work systematically reviews the extant academic management literature on supply networks. It specifically examines how network configurations and network governance mechanisms influence each other in supply networks.
Design: 125 analytical and empirical studies were identified using an evidence-based approach to review the literature mainly published between 1985 and 2012.
Synthesis: Drawing on a multi-disciplinary theoretical foundation, this work develops an integrative framework to identify three distinct yet interdependent themes that characterize the study of supply networks: a) Network Configurations (structures and relationships); b) Network Governance Mechanisms (formal and informal); and c) The Interplay between Network Configurations and Network Governance Mechanisms.
Findings: Network configurations and network governance mechanisms mutually influence each other and cannot be considered in isolation. Formal and informal governance mechanisms provide better control when used as complements rather than as substitutes. The choice of governance mechanism depends on the nature of exchange; role of management; desired level of control; level of flexibility in formal contracts; and complementary role of formal and informal governance mechanism.
Research implications: This nascent field has thematic and methodological research opportunities for academics. Comparative network analysis using longitudinal case studies offers a rich area for further study.
Practical Implications: The complexity surrounding the conflicting roles of managers at the organisation and network levels poses a significant challenge during the development and implementation stage of strategic network policies.
Originality/value: This review reveals that formal and informal governance mechanisms provide better control when used as complements rather than as substitutes
Brief fixation enables same-day breast cancer diagnosis with reliable assessment of hormone receptors, E-cadherin and HER2/Neu
No full textAimsPreoperative core needle biopsy (CNB) is commonly used to confirm the diagnosis of breast cancer. For treatment purposes and for determining histological type, especially in case of neoadjuvant therapy, oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status and E-cadherin assessments are crucial. Considering the increasing demand for same-day diagnosis of breast lesions, an accelerated method of CNB processing was developed, in which the tissue fixation time is radically reduced.MethodsTo determine whether short fixation time frustrates assessment of ER, PR and E-cadherin immunohistochemistry (IHC) and HER2 fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH), 69 consecutive patients with 70 invasive breast carcinomas were included through the same-day diagnostics programme of breast lesions of the Radboud university medical center and the hospital Pantein. IHC for ER, PR and E-cadherin and HER2 FISH were compared between CNBs fixed for approximately 60–90 min and traditionally fixed resection specimens.ResultsOverall agreement between CNBs and resection specimens was 98.6% for ER (p<0.001; κ=0.93), 90.0% for PR (p<0.001; κ=0.75), 100% for E-cadherin (p<0001; κ=1.00) and 98.6% (p<0.001; κ=0.94) for HER2 FISH. Positive and negative predictive values were respectively 98.4% and 100% for ER, 95.9% and 76.2% for PR, 100% and 100% for E-cadherin and 90% and 100% for HER2 FISH.ConclusionsHormone receptors and E-cadherin IHC and HER2 FISH are highly comparable between briefly fixed CNBs and the corresponding traditionally fixed resection specimens, and can therefore reliably be used in the daily clinical practice of same-day diagnostics of breast cancer.</jats:sec
Assessing farm sustainability with value oriented methods
No full textAgricultural policy makers aim to combine strong economic performance with a sustainable use of natural resources. An important step is to move from trying to define sustainability towards developing concrete tools for measuring and promoting achievements in sustainability. Hence, sustainability assessment is inevitably based on strong simplifications both of the theoretical paradigm and of the characteristics of systems of concern. The most known approaches to assess sustainability performance are burden orientated: they assess the costs or potential harm of resource use. These burden-oriented approaches focus on the level of environmental impacts caused by an economic activity compared to another set of environmental impacts, while value-oriented impact assessment analyses how much value has been created with this set of environmental impacts as compared with the use of these resources by other companies. In this paper, an outline of the possibilities and limitations of value-oriented methods to assess farm sustainability will be discussed.sustainability assessment, agriculture, value oriented, Farm Management,
Author Correction:Promoting new crop cultivars in low-income countries requires a transdisciplinary approach
No full textCorrection to: Nature Plantshttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-024-01831-8, published online 18 October 2024. In the version of this article initially published, the department listed for the second affiliation was incorrect. The affiliation has now been amended to read “Department of Information Technologies, Faculty of Economics and Management, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic” in the HTML and PDF versions of the article.</p
Assessment of HER2 status in breast cancer biopsies is not affected by accelerated tissue processing
No full textContains fulltext :
192630.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access
Advertising budgeting practices of Belgian industrial marketers.
No full textThe author reports on the results of a survey of a random sample of 102 belgian industrial companies, which measured which budget setting processes companies use, how they set budgets and the resulting budget composition. The objective of the study was first to compare the results with international practice, and second to try to explain their budgeting practices as a function of company, product and market characteristics measured in the same survey. The major conclusions are mixed : on the negative side, we found a lot of heterogeneity in process usage, budget setting rules and media shares, but not much variance that could be explained with the available independent variables. On the positive side, we discovered that belgian companies are 'well behaved' according to expectations based on Marketing Theory. Their use of specific communication objectives is for example based on sound principles. One of the major conclusions is that product type is the major determinant of the communication behavior of companies, together with company size, while market factors play a minor role. These results clearly underline the need for effect measurement studies that would help companies set the size of their communication budgets and allocate these budgets over specific media.
