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Inefficient
Terms modified by Inefficient Selected AbstractsEfficiency and fairness of system-optimal routing with user constraints,NETWORKS: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 4 2006Andreas S. Schulz Abstract We study the route-guidance system proposed by Jahn, Möhring, Schulz, and Stier-Moses Operations Research 53 (2005), 600,616 from a theoretical perspective. As system-optimal guidance is known to be problematic, this approach computes a traffic pattern that minimizes the total travel time subject to user constraints. These constraints are designed to ensure that routes suggested to users are not much longer than shortest paths for the prevailing network conditions. To calibrate the system, a certain measure,called normal length,must be selected. We show that when this length is defined as the travel time at equilibrium, the resulting traffic assignment is provably efficient and close to fair. To measure efficiency, we compare the output to the best solution without guidance and to user equilibria. To measure unfairness, we compare travel times of different users, and show that they do not differ too much. Inefficient or unfair traffic assignments cause users to travel too long or discourage people from accepting the system; either consequence would jeopardize the potential impact of a route-guidance system. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, Vol. 48(4), 223,234 2006 [source] International Conflict and the Tenure of Leaders: Is War Still Ex Post Inefficient?AMERICAN JOURNAL OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, Issue 3 2004Giacomo Chiozza Recent work in comparative politics and international relations has shown a marked shift toward leaders as the theoretical unit of analysis. In most of the new theoretical models a core assumption is that leaders act to stay in power. There exists, however, remarkably little systematic empirical knowledge about the factors that affect the tenure of leaders. To provide a baseline of empirical results we explore how a broad range of domestic and international factors affects the tenure of leaders. We focus in particular on the effect of conflict and its outcome. We find that political institutions fundamentally mediate the costs and benefits of international conflict and that war is not necessarilyex postinefficient for leaders. This suggests that the assumption that war isex postinefficient for unitary rational actors can not be simply extended to leaders. Therefore, a focus on leaders may yield important new rationalist explanations for war. [source] An AHP/DEA methodology for ranking decision making unitsINTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS IN OPERATIONAL RESEARCH, Issue 2 2000Z. Sinuany-Stern Abstract This paper presents a two-stage model for fully ranking organizational units where each unit has multiple inputs and outputs. In the first stage, the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is run for each pair of units separately. In the second stage, the pairwise evaluation matrix generated in the first stage is utilized to rank scale the units via the Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP). The consistency of this AHP/DEA evaluation can be tested statistically. Its goodness of fit with the DEA classification (to efficient/inefficient) can also be tested using non-parametric tests. Both DEA and AHP are commonly used in practice. Both have limitations. The hybrid model AHP/DEA takes the best of both models, by avoiding the pitfalls of each. The nonaxiomatic utility theory limitations of AHP are irrelevant here: since we are working with given inputs and outputs of units, no subjective assessment of a decision maker evaluation is involved. AHP/DEA ranking does not replace the DEA classification model, rather it furthers the analysis by providing full ranking in the DEA context for all units, efficient and inefficient. [source] STRANDS: Interactive Simulation of Thin Solids using Cosserat ModelsCOMPUTER GRAPHICS FORUM, Issue 3 2002Dinesh K. Pai Strandsare thin elastic solids that are visually well approximated as smooth curves, and yet possess essential physical behaviors characteristic of solid objects such as twisting. Common examples in computer graphics include: sutures, catheters, and tendons in surgical simulation; hairs, ropes, and vegetation in animation. Physical models based on spring meshes or 3D finite elements for such thin solids are either inaccurate or inefficient for interactive simulation. In this paper we show that models based on the Cosserat theory of elastic rods are very well suited for interactive simulation of these objects. The physical model reduces to a system of spatial ordinary differential equations that can be solved efficiently for typical boundary conditions. The model handles the important geometric non-linearity due to large changes in shape. We introduce Cosserat-type physical models, describe efficient numerical methods for interactive simulation of these models, and implementation results. [source] A Nationwide Assessment of the Biodiversity Value of Uganda's Important Bird Areas NetworkCONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2006HERBERT TUSHABE AIAs; complementariedad; congruencia trans-taxón; selección de sitios de conservación Abstract:,BirdLife International's Important Bird Areas (IBA) program is the most developed global system for identifying sites of conservation priority. There have been few assessments, however, of the conservation value of IBAs for nonavian taxa. We combined past data with extensive new survey results for Uganda's IBAs in the most comprehensive assessment to date of the wider biodiversity value of a tropical country's IBA network. The combined data set included more than 35,000 site × species records for birds, butterflies, and woody plants at 86 Ugandan sites (23,400 km2), including 29 of the country's 30 IBAs, with data on additional taxa for many sites. Uganda's IBAs contained at least 70% of the country's butterfly and woody plant species, 86% of its dragonflies and 97% of its birds. They also included 21 of Uganda's 22 major vegetation types. For butterflies, dragonflies, and some families of plants assessed, species of high conservation concern were well represented (less so for the latter). The IBAs successfully represented wider biodiversity largely because many have distinctive avifaunas and, as shown by high cross-taxon congruence in complementarity, such sites tended to be distinctive for other groups too. Cross-taxon congruence in overall species richness was weaker and mainly associated with differences in site size. When compared with alternative sets of sites selected using complementarity-based, area-based, or random site-selection algorithms, the IBA network was efficient in terms of the number of sites required to represent species but inefficient in terms of total area. This was mainly because IBA selection considers factors other than area, however, which probably improves both the cost-effectiveness of the network and the persistence of represented species. Resumen:,El programa de Áreas de Importancia para las Aves (AIAs) de Birdlife International es el sistema global más desarrollado para la identificación de sitios de prioridad para la conservación. Sin embargo, ha habido pocas evaluaciones del valor de conservación de las AIAs para taxa no aviares. En la evaluación más integral, hasta la fecha, del valor de la biodiversidad en general de la red de AIAs de un país tropical, combinamos datos antiguos con los resultados de muestreos extensivos recientes de las AIAs de Uganda. El conjunto de datos combinados incluyó más de 35000 registros de sitios x especies de aves, mariposas y plantas leñosas en 86 sitios en Uganda (23400 km2), incluyendo 29 de las 30 AIAs del país, con datos sobre taxa adicionales en muchos sitios. Las AIAs de Uganda contenían por lo menos un 70% de las especies de mariposas y plantas leñosas del país, 86% de sus libélulas y 97% de sus aves. También incluyeron 21 de los 22 principales tipos de vegetación. En las mariposas, libélulas y algunas de las familias de plantas evaluadas, la representación de especies de alto interés para la conservación fue buena (menor en las plantas). Las Áreas de Importancia para las Aves representaron exitosamente a la biodiversidad en general principalmente porque muchas tienen avifaunas distintivas y, como muestra la alta congruencia trans-taxón en complementariedad, tales sitios tendieron a ser distintivos para otros grupos también. La congruencia trans-taxón en la riqueza de especies total fue más débil y se asoció principalmente con diferencias en el tamaño del sitio. Cuando se compara con conjuntos alternativos de sitios seleccionados mediante algoritmos basados en complementariedad, área o selección aleatoria de sitios, la red de AIAs fue eficiente en términos del número de sitios requeridos para representar especies, pero ineficiente en términos del área total. Sin embargo, esto se debió principalmente a que la selección de AIA considera factores distintos al área que probablemente mejoran tanto la efectividad de la red como la persistencia de las especies representadas. [source] A Bigger Piece of a Very Small Pie: Intrahousehold Resource Allocation and Poverty Reduction in AfricaDEVELOPMENT AND CHANGE, Issue 1 2007Bridget O'Laughlin ABSTRACT Feminist research has convincingly shown that an increase in household income does not necessarily lead to improvement in the well-being of all members of the household. More questionable is the policy conclusion often drawn from this research for rural Africa: redressing gender imbalance in control of productive resources will significantly reduce poverty. This contribution argues that the evidence and analysis presented by two studies repeatedly cited to show that gender inequality is inefficient are problematic. It is mythical to suggest that tinkering with women's market position by exchanging unequal collective rights to productive resources for individual ones will decisively reduce rural poverty in Africa. That will depend on the restructuring of long-term and deeply unequal processes of integration in the market, not on a firmer insertion of women within existing patterns of individualization and commodification of productive resources. [source] Efficacy of mediastinal lymphadenectomy in transhiatal esophagectomy with and without diaphragm opening: a cadaveric studyDISEASES OF THE ESOPHAGUS, Issue 2 2002F. A. M. Herbella SUMMARY., Transhiatal esophagectomy (THE) is believed to induce a lower morbidity and mortality compared with transthoracic esophagectomy, but to be inefficient in performing mediastinal lymphadenectomy. Some surgeons are convinced that lymphadenectomy of the lower mediastinum in THE and transthoracic esophagectomy are equivalent. To test this, the authors performed THE in 20 cadavers (10 with and 10 without diaphragm opening). The number of lymph nodes resected with the esophagus and dissected through the hiatus was counted. After THE, the thorax was opened and the number of residual lymph nodes was evaluated. Complications were also assessed. The results show that lymphadenectomy in THE is incomplete in the lower mediastinum and not possible in the upper mediastinum; comparing THE with and without diaphragm opening, the first permits resection of a superior number of lymph nodes with the esophagus and dissection of a higher number of nodes through the hiatus. It is concluded that THE does not provide an effective mediastinal lymphadenectomy. [source] Vector within-host feeding preference mediates transmission of a heterogeneously distributed pathogenECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 3 2010MATTHEW P. DAUGHERTY 1. Ecological theory predicts that vector preference for certain host species or discrimination between infected versus uninfected hosts impacts disease incidence. However, little information exists on the extent to which vector within-host feeding preference mediates transmission. This may be particularly important for plant pathogens, such as sharpshooter transmission of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, which are distributed irregularly throughout hosts. 2. We documented the within-host distribution of two vector species that differ in transmission efficiency, the leafhoppers Draeculacephala minerva and Graphocephala atropunctata, and which are free to move throughout entirely caged alfalfa plants. The more efficient vector D. minerva fed preferentially at the base of the plant near the soil surface, whereas the less efficient G. atropunctata preferred overwhelming the top of the plant. 3. Next we documented X. fastidiosa heterogeneity in mechanically inoculated plants. Infection rates were up to 50% higher and mean bacterial population densities were 100-fold higher near the plant base than at the top or in the taproot. 4. Finally, we estimated transmission efficiency of the two leafhoppers when they were confined at either the base or top of inoculated alfalfa plants. Both vectors were inefficient when confined at the top of infected plants and were 20,60% more efficient when confined at the plant base. 5. These results show that vector transmission efficiency is determined by the interaction between leafhopper within-plant feeding behaviour and pathogen within-plant distribution. Fine-scale vector and pathogen overlap is likely to be a requirement generally for efficient transmission of vector-borne pathogens. [source] Zero tolerance ecology: improving ecological inference by modelling the source of zero observationsECOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 11 2005Tara G. Martin Abstract A common feature of ecological data sets is their tendency to contain many zero values. Statistical inference based on such data are likely to be inefficient or wrong unless careful thought is given to how these zeros arose and how best to model them. In this paper, we propose a framework for understanding how zero-inflated data sets originate and deciding how best to model them. We define and classify the different kinds of zeros that occur in ecological data and describe how they arise: either from ,true zero' or ,false zero' observations. After reviewing recent developments in modelling zero-inflated data sets, we use practical examples to demonstrate how failing to account for the source of zero inflation can reduce our ability to detect relationships in ecological data and at worst lead to incorrect inference. The adoption of methods that explicitly model the sources of zero observations will sharpen insights and improve the robustness of ecological analyses. [source] Signaling and Election Motivations in a Voting Model with Common Values and Responsive CandidatesECONOMETRICA, Issue 4 2003Ronny Razin In this paper we focus on strategic voting behavior when both an election and a signaling motivation affect voters' behavior. We analyze a model of elections with two candidates competing on a one-dimensional policy space. Voters are privately and imperfectly informed about a common shock affecting the electorate's preferences. Candidates are assumed to choose policy in response to information gleaned from election results and according to exogenous factors that may lead to polarization in candidates' policy choices. We analyze a subset of symmetric equilibria in which strategies are symmetric to candidates' names and private signals (CSS equilibria). We show that signaling and election motivations pull voters to vote in different directions. We provide conditions that show the relation between the amount of information aggregated in the election and the motivation that influences voting behavior the most. Finally, we show that when candidates are responsive and polarized, all CSS equilibria are inefficient in the limit. [source] Efficiency of Large Private Value AuctionsECONOMETRICA, Issue 1 2001Jeroen M. Swinkels We consider discriminatory and uniform price auctions for multiple identical units of a good. Players have private values, possibly asymmetrically distributed and for multiple units. Our setting allows for aggregate uncertainty about demand and supply. In this setting, equlibria generally will be inefficient. Despite this, we show that such auctions become arbitrarily close to efficient if they are "large," and use this to derive an asymptotic characterization of revenue and bidding behavior. [source] THE USE OF CONTRACT BY GOVERNMENT AND ITS AGENTSECONOMIC AFFAIRS, Issue 1 2009Martin Ricketts Given that the provision of a service is being controlled by the state, the decision whether to contract out that service provision to the private sector is essentially a business decision. A number of economic advantages and disadvantages need to be offset against each other. Governments are poorly placed to make such decisions and it is no surprise that PPPs are often inefficient and steered by political objectives. [source] TAX AND THE DIVISION OF LABOURECONOMIC AFFAIRS, Issue 1 2003Terry Arthur All taxes drive a wedge between the prices consumers pay and prices producers receive, thus promoting inefficient ,do-it-yourself'(DIY) work - not just at home but also in the workplace. [source] The Choice Among Interbank Settlement Systems: The European ExperienceECONOMIC NOTES, Issue 1 2003Angelo Baglioni This paper addresses the choice of banks between alternative channels for interbank payments. The conventional view assumes a tradeoff between the safety of real-time gross settlement (RTGS) and the liquidity savings of multilateral netting. Moreover, correspondent banking is believed to be inefficient, both in terms of liquidity and of administrative costs. In the last decade, however, the impulse of the Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems, technological changes and the management of RTGS systems by central banks have reduced the difference between the various systems. This is especially true for risk, whereas liquidity cost crucially depends on the refinancing policy adopted by the central bank and the co-ordination among the participants. On the basis of the recent evolution of payment systems in Europe, we verify the importance of liquidity, as well as other variables like transaction costs, for the choice of banks among different settlement systems. Cost factors imply that the nature of payments flows (value, commercial versus financial) and some structural features of the banking systems (dimension of the intermediaries, concentration of the banking sector) become important. The analysis is carried out both through a theoretical model and a cross-country comparison based on three data sources: ECB (European Central Bank, EBA (Euro Banking Association) and SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication). [source] The effects of competition and equal treatment laws on gender wage differentialsECONOMIC POLICY, Issue 50 2007Doris Weichselbaumer SUMMARY International gender wage gaps Discrimination, if it is inefficient, can be eliminated by competition. In most countries, it is also forbidden by law. This paper evaluates the influence of economic and legal factors on the portion of male-female wage differentials that is not explained by other worker characteristics and may be due to discrimination. We use a new international data set of suitable gender wage gap measures, constructed from the results of existing studies. Meta-analysis of the data shows that increased competition and adoption of international conventions concerning equal treatment laws both reduce gender wage gaps, while legislation that prevents women from performing strenuous or dangerous jobs tends to increase it. , Doris Weichselbaumer and Rudolf Winter-Ebmer [source] Hexavalent uranium supports growth of Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans and Geobacter spp. with lower than predicted biomass yieldsENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 11 2007Robert A. Sanford Summary The stimulation of bacteria capable of reducing soluble U(VI) to sparingly soluble U(IV) is a promising approach for containing U(VI) plumes. Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans is capable of mediating this activity; however, its ability to couple U(VI) reduction to growth has not been established. Monitoring the increase in 16S rRNA gene copy numbers using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) in cultures provided with U(VI) as an electron acceptor demonstrated growth, and 7.7,8.6 × 106 cells were produced per ,mole of U(VI) reduced. This biomass yield was lower than predicted based on the theoretical free energy changes associated with U(VI)-to-U(IV) reduction. Lower than predicted growth yields with U(VI) as electron acceptor were also determined in cultures of Geobacter lovleyi and Geobacter sulfurreducens suggesting that U(VI) reduction is inefficient or imposes an additional cost to growing cells. These findings have implications for U(VI) bioremediation because Anaeromyxobacter spp. and Geobacter spp. contribute to radionuclide immobilization in contaminated subsurface environments. [source] EU Enlargement to Turkey?EUROCHOICES, Issue 1 2005Rural Areas: EU Erweiterung um die Türkei?, The Challenges Anead for Agriculture Summary EU Enlargement to Turkey? The Challenges Ahead for Agriculture and Rural Areas In December 2004 the European Council agreed that accession negotiations with Turkey could begin in October 2005. Although the Copenhagen political criteria have been decisive so far, the criteria relating to the functioning of markets and ability to implement EU legislation will weigh heavily in the negotiations. Despite recent policy reforms, Turkey's agriculture still enjoys levels of protection similar or higher than those of the EU, but its gross value added per worker is relatively very low. One third of Turkey's employment is in agriculture, where most farms are small. The animal health situation is far below the standard achieved in the EU. Food supply chains are fragmented and inefficient. To survive and compete within the single market of the EU, the agricultural and food sectors must undergo deep structural change, which will have far-reaching economic and social repercussions. Projections according to current policy trends show that Turkey could take over one-third of the total cohesion budget allocation. However, the scalingdown or delaying of budget transfers would be short-sighted. If the EU accepts Turkey as a member, it would be in the interest of the EU as a whole that Turkey's economy - and especially its backward rural economy - should embark on a sustainable growth path as soon as possible. Elargir l'UE à la Turquie ? Les défis en perspective pour l'agriculture et les zones rurales. En decembre 2004, le Conseil de l'Union europ6enne a decide douvrir des negociations d'adhesion avec la Turquie en octobre 2005. A la difference de ce qui s'est passe jusqu'ici, le fonctionnement des marches et la capacite a mettre en vigueur l'acquis communautaire seront les crittres principaux, a la place des crittres politiques de Copenhague. Malgrk des reformes politiques recentes, l'agriculture turque profite toujours d'un taw de protection extkrieure analogue a celui de I'UE ou plus Clevi Cependant, sa valeur ajoutee brute par actifest relativement trks basse. Le tiers des emplois en Turquie se trouve dans le secteur agricole, oi,la plupart des exploitations sont de peute taille. La situation sanitaire du cheptel se situe bien au-dessous du niveau de I'UE. Les filieres agro-alimentaires sont fragmentees et peu efficaces. Pour être en mesure de faire face a la concurrence du Marche unique europken, les secteurs agricoles et alimentaires en Turquie devront subir une restructuration profonde, laquelle aura des consequences economiques et sociales de grande envergure. Des projections basees sur les tendances politiques actuelles montrent que la Turquie pourrait bkneficier de plus du tiers des fonds de cohesion de I'UE. Ceci dit, une decision de diminuer ou de dfikrer les transferts budgetaires serait faire preuve d'un manque de prevoyance. Si I'UE accepte la Turquie comme membre, il serait dans I'intkr8t de l'ensemble de 1'Union que I'Cconomie turque - et surtout son economie rurale arrierke - s'engage aussitbt que possible sur un sentier de croissance rapide et durable. EU Erweiterung um die Tükei? Herausforderungen für die Landwirtschaft und ländliche Räume Im Dezember 2004 hat der Europasche Rat beschlossen, dass im Oktober 2005 die Beitnttsverhandlungen mit der Turkei beginnen konnen Auch wenn die Kopenhagener politischen Kriterien bisher entscheidend waren, werden die Kriterien hinsichtlich der Funktionsfhhigkeit der Markte und die Fahigkeit, die EU Gesetzgebung lmplementieren zu konnen, besonderes Gewicht haben. Trotz der letzten Politikreformen 1st die Agrarprotektion in der Turkei gleich hoch oder hoher als in der EU, aber die turkische Bruttowertschopfung le Arbeitskraft ist relativ sehr klein Ein Dnttel der turklschen Arbeitskrafte sind in der Landmrtschaft beschaftigt und die meisten Betriebe sind klein Die Gesundheit der Tiere 1st weit unter den Niveau der EU Die Nahrungsmittel-Zuheferungskette 1st klem struktunert und ineffizient Der Agrar- und Ernahrungssektor kann im Gemeinsamen Markt nur dann uberleben und wettbewerbsfahig sein, wenn em intensiver Strukturwandel mit weit reichenden okonomischen und sozialen Wirkungen einsetzt. Projektionen der gegenwartigen Politikentwicklungen zeigen, dass die Turkei uber ein Dnttel der Mittel des Kohasionsfonds erhalten wurde. Doch wurde die Kurzung oder Veaogerung der Finanzhilfen kurzsichtig sen Wenn dre EU die Turkei als Mitglied akzeptiert, 1st es im Interesse der EU insgesamt, dass die Turkei und insbesondere ihre ruckstandige Agramirtschaft so schnell wie moglich auf einen stabden Wachstumspfad kommt. [source] An Evaluation of the Cod Fishing Policies of Denmark Iceland and NorwayEUROCHOICES, Issue 3 2004R. Arnason Summary An Evaluation of the Cod Fishing Policies of Denmark, Iceland and Norway Many ocean fisheries are subject to a fundamental economic problem generally referred to as the common property problem. This problem manifests itself as excessive fishing fleets and fishing effort, depressed fish stocks and little or no profitability of the fishing activity, irrespective of the richness of the underlying marine resources. European fisheries represent some of the most dramatic examples of the common property problem. This article employs simple empirical models and recently developed mathematical techniques to examine the economic efficiency of three European fisheries, namely the Danish, Icelandic and Norwegian cod fisheries, The optimal harvesting policies for each of these fisheries are calculated. Comparing these optimal policies with actual harvests provides a measure of the relative efficiency in these three cod fisheries. The comparison confirms the widely held impression that the cod harvesting policies of ail three countries have been hugely inefficient in the past. Moreover, it appears that the inefficiency has been increasing over time. Only during the last few years of our data are there indications that this negative trend may have been halted. Somewhat more surprisingly, in spite of radically different fisheries management systems, we find relatively little difference in the level of stock over-exploitation between these three countries. Politiques compareées de pêhe à la morue au Danemark, en Islande et en Norvège Beaucoup de pêcheries océaniques sont confrontées au problème nique fondamental de la "propriété collective". Celui-ci se manifeste par des flottes de taille excessive, au service d' efforts de péche exagérés, qui aboutissent à détruire les stocks de poisson et la rentabilité des pécheries, en dépit de la richesse des ressources marines sousjacentes. Les pêcheries européennes constituent actuellement l'un des exemples les plus dramatiques des problèmes associés a la propriété collective. On présente ici un modèle empirique assez simple mais associéà de nouvelles techniques mathématiques récemment développé es pour mesurer l' efficacitééconomique de trois types de politiques de pêche à la morue, au Danemark, en Norvège et en Islande. On commence par calculer le volume optimal des prises pour chacun de ces pays. La comparaison entre le niveau optimal et le niveau réel des prises permet de mesurer le degré d' efficacité des politiques suivies. Elle permet de confirmer l'opinion largement répandue selon laquelle les politiques passées ont été extrêmement peu efficaces. En outre, il apparaît que l'inefficacité est croissante avec le temps. C'est seulement dans les toutes dernières années des séries de données que l' on observe un infléchissement de cette tendance négative. Enfin, et c'est le plus surprenant, on trouve peu de differences entre les trois pays en ce qui conceme le degré de surexploitation du stock, et cela, bien que les principes de gestion des pêcheries y soient entiArement différents. Eine Bewertung der Kabeljaufischereipolitik in Dänemark, Island und Norwegen ahlreiche Hochseefischereien tehen einem grundlegenden ftliehen Problem gegenüber, das allgemein als Problem des kollektiven Eigentums bezeichnet wird. Dieses Problem zeigt sich in übermäßig großen Fangflotten und beträchtlichem Fischereiaufwand, geschrumpften Fischbeständen und geringer oder fehlender Rentabilität der Fischerei; dabei ist die Höhe der Fischressourcen unbedeutend für das Problem. Die europäischen Fischereien stellen einige der drastischsten Beispiele für das Problem des kollektiven Eigentums dar. In diesem Beitrag werden einfache empirische Modelle und kürzlich entwickelte mathematische Verfahren angewendet, um die wirtschaftliche Effizienz von drei europäischen Fischereien zu untersuchem der dänischen, der isländischen und der norwegischen Kabeljaufischerei. Für jede dieser Fischereien wird die optimale Nutzungsstrategie berechnet. Aus dem Vergleich dieser optimalen Nutzungsstrategie mit den tatsächlichen Erträgen ergibt sich ein Maß fur die relative Effizienz, die bei diesen drei Kabeljaufischereien vorliegt. Der Vergleich bestätigt den weit verbreiteten Eindruck, dass die Strategien zum Kabeljaufang in alien drei Ländern in der Vergangenheit enorm ineffizient waren. Darüber hinaus wird deutlich, dass die Ineffizienz im Laufe der Zeit zugenommen hat. Lediglich die Daten der letzten jahre enthalten Hinweise darauf, dass dieser negative Trend zum Stillstand gekommen sein könnte. Obwohl sich die Fischwirtschaft in jedem dieser drei Länder sehr stark unterscheidet, lassen sich erstaunlich wenige Unterschiede im Maß der Übernutzung des Fischbestandes finden. [source] Hungarian Agriculture at the Dawn of EU AccessionEUROCHOICES, Issue 1 2004Imre Nemeth Summary Hungarian AgricuIture at the Dawn of EU Accession Hungary and Hungarian agriculture nurse high hopes for EU-accession. Agriculture and rural development were of pivotal importance during the accession negotiations, in the accession referendum and the preparations for accession. The success in integrating our agriculture into the CAP and the single market will substantially influence public opinion in the post-accession years. We expect our membership to stabilise market conditions and to improve development possibilities in rural areas where there is great demand for better employment and living conditions. These benefits will emerge from our integration into the single market, our involvement in decision-making and from the backing of EU resources. But the challenges of EU membership also evoke fears amongst Hungarian farmers. The transformation of agriculture is incomplete, agricultural incomes and investments are stagnant, rural infrastructure is somewhat weak and marketing systems are rather inefficient. Hungarian farmers have difficulty accepting the relatively low levels of direct aids whereas they face full health and food safety restrictions from day one of accession. The CAP Reform of June 2003 confuses and slows down our preparatory work. Hungarian agriculture, however, is determined to respond to the challenges of accession. Our common Europe will prove stronger with Hungarian agriculture, and Hungarian agriculture has to become stronger through our EU membership. L'agriculture hongroise au temps zéro de I'accession OLa Hongrie et l'agriculture hongroise mettent de grands espoirs dans L'accession à l'Union Européenne. L'agriculture et le développement rural ont été au centre des négotiations sur l'accession, du référendum associé et des mesures préparatoires correspondantes. l'opinion publique sera grandement influenceée, dans les années qui suivront l'accession, par le succés de l'intégration de notre agriculture dans la politique agricole commune et le marché unique. De notre appartenance à l'UE, nous attendons la stabilisation des marchés et l'amélioration des perspectives de développement dans les zones rurales oú le besoin de meilleures conditions de vie et d'emploi se fait sentir avec acuité. Ces avantages devraient provenir de notre intégration dans le marché unique, de notre participation aux décisions collectives et d'un soutien à la mesure des ressources de l'Union Européenne. Cependant, les défis de l'intégration européenne ne vont pas aussi sans susciter des craintes chez les agriculteurs hongrois. La transformation de l'agriculture est incompléte, les revenus et les investissements stagnent, les infrastructures rurales sont insuffisantes et l'organisation des marchés inefficace. Les agriculteurs hongrois acceptent difficilement de ne bénéficier que d'aides directes relativement faibles, alors que, dés le premier jour de l'accession, ils seront soumis à tous les réglements communautaires en matiére de santé et de sécurité alimentaires. La réforme de la PAC en juin 2003 complique encore et ralentit les travaux préparatoires à l'accession. Néanmoins, l'agriculture hongroise est résolue à relever le défi. L'Europe commune sera plus forte avec l'agriculture hongroise et cette derniére sera renforcée par son appartenance à l' Europe Ungarische Landwirtschaft kurz vor dem EU-Beitritt Ungarn und die ungarische Landwirtschaft setzen große Hoffnungen in den EU-Beitritt. Die Landwirtschaft und die Entwicklung des ländlichen Raums waren in den Beitrittsverhandlungen, beim Volksentscheid zum Beitritt und bei den Vorbereitungen des Beitritts von entscheidender Bedeutung. Das Gelingen bei der Integration unserer Landwirtschaft in die GAP und den Binnenmarkt wird die öffendiche Meinung in den Jahren nach dem Beitritt entscheidend beeinflussen. Wir erhoffen uns von unserer Mitgliedschaft stabilere Marktbedingungen und bessere Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten im ländlichen Raum, wo Verbesserungen im Hinblick auf Beschäftigungssituation und Lebensbedingungen dringend erforderlich sind. Dies wird durch unsere Integration in den Binnenmarkt, unseren Beitrag zur Entscheidungsfindung und mit Hilfe von EU-Ressourcen erfolgen. Die Herausforderungen der EU-Mitgliedschaft rufen jedoch bei den ungarischen Landwirten auch Ängste hervor. Die Transformation der Landwirtschaft ist noch nicht abgeschlossen, die ländwirtschaftlichen Einkommen und die Investitionen stagnieren, die landliche Infrastruktur ist recht schwach entwickelt und die Vermarktung ist relativ ineffizient. Die ungarischen Landwirte können nur schwer akzeptieren, dass ab dem ersten Tag ihres Beitritts zwar alle Gesundheits- und Nahrungs-mittelsicherheitsbestimmunge n eingehalten werden müssen, aber nur geringe direkte Beihilfen gewährt werden. Die Reform der GAP vom Juni 2003 irritiert und verzögert unsere Vorbereitungen. Die ungarische Landwirtschaft ist jedoch entschlossen, sich den Herausforderungen des Beitritts zu stellen. Unser gemeinsames Europa wird mit der ungarischen Landwirtschaft noch stärker, und die ungarische Landwirtschaft muss durch unsere EU-Mitgliedschaft gestärkt werden. [source] Cross-priming with an epicutaneously introduced soluble protein antigen generates Tc1 cellsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 11 2006Li-Fang Wang Abstract Epicutaneous sensitization with a protein antigen was demonstrated to induce a predominant type 2 CD4 T cell response with high IgE production in mice. On the other hand, its CD8 T cell responses have not been addressed probably partly because of the generally accepted concept that cross-priming of soluble protein is an inefficient process. Here, we used an established patch-applied murine model to demonstrate that cross-priming with an epicutaneously introduced soluble protein antigen, though inefficient, generated mainly Tc1 cells, but not Tc2 cells. In the presence of an irritant or hapten, the efficiency of this cross-priming process could be enhanced and more Tc1 cells were generated. CpG oligonucleotides also promote the generation of Tc1 cells. In contrast, lipopolysaccharide and poly (inosinic-cytidylic) acid [poly (I:C)] have no effect. Together, these results provide supportive evidence of the epicutaneous sensitization of human cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen-positive CD8 T cells found in the peripheral blood or tissues of patients. The surprising observation of the type 1 character of the generated CD8 T cells will also help us to better understand the complicated pathogenesis of atopic and cutaneous inflammatory diseases. [source] Appointing and Censuring the European Commission: The Adaptation of Parliamentary Institutions to the Community ContextEUROPEAN LAW JOURNAL, Issue 3 2001Paul Magnette The parliamentary model at the heart of European civic cultures has deeply influenced ,Constitutional reforms' in the European Community. But the EC is not a Parliamentary state and the transplant of national institutions in its own political context gives rise to hybrid practices. This paper examines this process of hybridation, and shows that new practices of appointment and censure are emerging in the Community, mixing classic parliamentary institutions with the crucial features of the EC itself. Focusing on recent tensions between the Council, the Commission, and the European Parliament, it shows that they are governed by national divisions, technocratic and legal reasoning rather than by classic majoritarian attitudes. It concludes that, while this new model of accountability might prove efficient in terms of inter-institutional controls, it remains symbolically inefficient, because it does not help citizens understand and accept the Community institutional model. [source] Efficiency of the German electricity wholesale marketEUROPEAN TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTRICAL POWER, Issue 4 2009Christian Growitsch Abstract One of the major challenges of liberalising European electricity markets is to create competitive and efficient power trading markets. In this paper, we assess the overall efficiency of the German electricity wholesale market using cointegration analysis and error correction modelling. Applying these techniques allows us to evaluate the wholesale market efficiency in terms of price adjustments and the rapidity towards the adjustment in the price discovery and adjustment process. We show that the wholesale market seems to be inefficient and not well functioning. The inability of European Energy Exchange spot market in providing an efficient price reference to the power market suggest that the power exchange still lacks liquidity. Second, our results indicate that bilateral contracts keep the wholesale electricity prices intact with the EEX prices and also stabilise the volatility in the German wholesale market. Also, the econometric results suggest that the existence of the OTC market along with power exchange is creating a competitive effect in the wholesale market in Germany. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Gene Transfer Strategies for the PhysiologistEXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 6 2000Liang-Fong Wong Foreign genes can be introduced into whole animals using methods of germline transgenesis and somatic gene delivery. While germline transgenesis can generate useful animal models for genetic studies, it can be costly, time-consuming and requires the use of a large number of animals. An alternative means of gene transfer is to deliver genes to somatic cells using non-viral and viral technologies. Non-viral methods such as naked DNA injection, electroporation and liposome/cation lipid-mediated gene transfer are relatively inefficient. In contrast, viruses are effective vehicles that carry foreign genes into a cell rapidly and efficiently. Here we illustrate the usefulness of adenoviral vectors to express a potent and specific inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) to study the role of cyclic 3,,5,-cyclic AMP (cAMP) in the osmotic regulation of the vasopressin gene in a transgenic rat model. The ability to modify endogenous systems within specific cells in a whole animal model allows gene effects to be studied with physiological relevance. The combination of molecular biology and integrative physiology is a powerful application that can aid in the elucidation of how gene function can translate into complex systems in an organism [source] Cloning and characterization of Sapp2p, the second aspartic proteinase isoenzyme from Candida parapsilosisFEMS YEAST RESEARCH, Issue 7 2006Michaela Merkerová Abstract The human fungal pathogen Candida parapsilosis possesses at least three genes encoding secreted aspartic proteinases. Whereas the Sapp1p isoenzyme has already been biochemically characterized, the SAPP2 and SAPP3 gene products have not. The Sapp2p precursor, pro-Sapp2p, was therefore expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. Autoactivation of pro-Sapp2p in acidic conditions was inefficient and resulted in a protein extended by eight amino acids at the N-terminus (Sapp2p+8). The correct promature junction KR/SSPSS was cleaved by trypsin or by a membrane-bound Kex2-like proteinase from Candida parapsilosis. The mature Sapp2p obtained by the assisted activation was proteolytically active. Its activity was more than twofold higher than that of the self-processed protein species Sapp2p+8, as measured by the hemoglobin cleavage test. The substrate specificity of Sapp2p differs from that of Sapp1p. Peptides containing aromatic residues in the P1 and P1, positions are cleaved poorly by Sapp2p. A fluorogenic substrate was synthesized to facilitate further studies. [source] REACH-driven developments in analysis and physicochemistry,FLAVOUR AND FRAGRANCE JOURNAL, Issue 3 2010A. Chaintreau Abstract The enforcement of the REACH regulation in the fragrance domain has created new challenges for the analytical and physical chemist. Many chemicals used as perfumery ingredients are hydrophobic, because low-polar compounds exhibit a higher substantivity (i.e. persistence after application) than do polar compounds. As a result, the usual protocols are often unsuitable and new methods must be developed. Biodegradation studies sometimes call for the quantification of traces of such hydrophobic analytes in complex media (e.g. waste water, aqueous surfactant solutions). Existing sample preparation techniques are either inefficient or time consuming. A new approach is proposed, based on single-use absorbants, which allows accurate quantification down to the 100 ppb range. This extremely simple technique allows good throughput analyses. Determining the environmental profile of a compound requires the determination of some physical constants. Among these, solubility in water can be obtained from theoretical models or experimentally, but the resulting values may greatly differ as a function of the model or the protocol. Several experimental approaches are critically discussed and compared with a reference technique. The air-to-water partition coefficients are determined by using an improved version of the previously developed static-and-trapped headspace technique. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Study of Energy Transfer and Triplet Exciton Diffusion in Hole-Transporting Host MaterialsADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 19 2009Chao Wu Abstract A device structure is used in which the hole-transporting layer (HTL) of an OLED is doped with either fluorescent or phosphorescent emitters, that is, anode/HTL-host/hole blocker/electron-transporting layer/cathode. The HTL hosts have higher HOMO energy allowing holes to be transported without being trapped by dopant molecules, avoiding direct recombination on the dopant. The unconventional mismatch of HOMO energies between host and dopant allow for the study of energy transfer in these host/guest systems and triplet exciton diffusion in the HTL-host layers of OLED devices, without the complication of charge trapping at dopants. The host materials examined here are tetraaryl- p- phenylenediamines. Data shows that Förster energy transfer between these hosts and emissive dopant in devices is inefficient. Triplet exciton diffusion in these host materials is closely related to molecular structure and the degree of intermolecular interaction. Host materials that contain naphthyl groups demonstrate longer triplet exciton diffusion lengths than those with phenyl substituents, consistent with DFT calculations and photophysical measurements. [source] European health policy challengesHEALTH ECONOMICS, Issue S1 2005Alan Maynard Abstract Few countries are immune to the international health care ,virus' of reform, with many countries regularly re-cycling changes that shift costs and benefits in ways that are arbitrary, inefficient and offer short term political palliation. Much of this activity has little evidence base and reveals lack of clarity in defining public policy goals, establishing trade-offs and aligning incentive structures with these objectives. Well established failures in health care delivery systems such as variations in medical practice and continuing absence of systematic outcome measurement, have persisted for decades as nations grapple inefficiently with recurring problems of expenditure inflation and waiting times. The lack of emphasis on evidence to inform the efficient management of chronic disease and the reduction of health inequalities is a product of perverse incentives and managerial inertia that maintains the incomes of powerful interest groups. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Stochastic league tables: an application to diabetes interventions in the NetherlandsHEALTH ECONOMICS, Issue 5 2005Raymond C. W. Hutubessy Abstract The aim of this paper is to discuss the use of stochastic league tables approach in cost-effectiveness analysis of diabetes interventions. It addresses the common grounds and differences with other methods of presenting uncertainty to decision-makers. This comparison uses the cost-effectiveness results of medical guidelines for Dutch diabetes type 2 patients in primary and secondary care. Stochastic league tables define the optimum expansion pathway as compared to baseline, starting with the least costly and most cost-effective intervention mix. Multi-intervention cost-effectiveness acceptability curves are used as a way to represent uncertainty information on the cost-effectiveness of single interventions as compared to a single alternative. The stochastic league table for diabetes interventions shows that in case of low budgets treatment of secondary care patients is the most likely optimum choice. Current care options of diabetes complications are shown to be inefficient compared to guidelines treatment. With more resources available one may implement all guidelines and improve efficiency. The stochastic league table approach and multi-intervention cost-effectiveness acceptability curves in uncertainty analysis lead to similar results. In addition, the stochastic league table approach provides policy makers with information on affordability by budget level. It fulfils more adequately the information requirements to choose between interventions, using the efficiency criterion. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Ownership,efficiency relationship and the measurement selection biasACCOUNTING & FINANCE, Issue 5 2006Richard Bozec G32; H11; L33 Abstract This study analyses the bias in the selection of performance measures for ownership comparisons, which depends on the specific objectives of the firms being compared. Our sample includes 13 Canadian state-owned enterprises (SOEs), commercialized and/or privatized between 1976 and 2001. To replace profitability measures and reduce biases, we propose the use of technical efficiency, which provides for SOEs' specificities. Overall, the results clearly support the view that privatization has no impact on a firm's technical efficiency, the only positive impact being related to a change in the objectives of the firm while using profitability measures. The results of this study raise the question of the validity of comparisons between SOEs and private firms when using profitability indicators. The potential bias in favour of the private firms contributes to a misleading image of the public sector being presented as inferior and inefficient. The use of more sophisticated measures, such as data envelopment analysis, suggests conflicting conclusions. This study also casts doubt on the legitimacy of the privatization program initiated around the world and more specifically in Canada in which the main justification for such a reform has been to increase the performance of SOEs. [source] A National Study of Efficiency for Dialysis Centers: An Examination of Market Competition and Facility Characteristics for Production of Multiple Dialysis OutputsHEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, Issue 3 2002Hacer Ozgen Objective. To examine market competition and facility characteristics that can be related to technical efficiency in the production of multiple dialysis outputs from the perspective of the industrial organization model. Study Setting. Freestanding dialysis facilities that operated in 1997 submitted cost report forms to the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), and offered all three outputs,outpatient dialysis, dialysis training, and home program dialysis. Data Sources. The Independent Renal Facility Cost Report Data file (IRFCRD) from HCFA was utilized to obtain information on output and input variables and market and facility features for 791 multiple-output facilities. Information regarding population characteristics was obtained from the Area Resources File. Study Design. Cross-sectional data for the year 1997 were utilized to obtain facility-specific technical efficiency scores estimated through Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). A binary variable of efficiency status was then regressed against its market and facility characteristics and control factors in a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Principal Findings. The majority of the facilities in the sample are functioning technically inefficiently. Neither the intensity of market competition nor a policy of dialyzer reuse has a significant effect on the facilities' efficiency. Technical efficiency is significantly associated, however, with type of ownership, with the interaction between the market concentration of for-profits and ownership type, and with affiliations with chains of different sizes. Nonprofit and government-owned facilities are more likely than their for-profit counterparts to become inefficient producers of renal dialysis outputs. On the other hand, that relationship between ownership form and efficiency is reversed as the market concentration of for-profits in a given market increases. Facilities that are members of large chains are more likely to be technically inefficient. Conclusions. Facilities do not appear to benefit from joint production of a variety of dialysis outputs, which may explain the ongoing tendency toward single-output production. Ownership form does make a positive difference in production efficiency, but only in local markets where competition exists between nonprofit and for-profit facilities. The increasing inefficiency associated with membership in large chains suggests that the growing consolidation in the dialysis industry may not, in fact, be the strategy for attaining more technical efficiency in the production of multiple dialysis outputs. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||