Habitat selection

Habitat selection is the behavioural process determining the distribution of individuals among habitats varying in quality, thus affecting individual fitness and population growth. Models of population dynamics often assume that individuals have perfect knowledge about habitat qualities and settle accordingly in the best habitats available. Many studies of dispersal have focused on the movements of individuals away from a site, but knowledge on settlement decisions is still scarce. I investigated settlement and departure decisions in a long-distant migrant, the northern wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe), breeding in a heterogeneous agricultural landscape. First, I investigated the settlement of wheatears choosing a new territory at the time of territory establishment in spring. I show that territory selection is non-ideal as wheatears did not prefer territories with characteristics most closely predicting individual fitness. Second, I studied the territory selection of experienced breeders which may use many potential cues as they have been breeding in the same area before. The results show that information gathering of experienced breeders is constrained, and that they cannot always settle at a preferred site probably because of the earlier establishment by other individuals. Third, I show that such a priority constraint in territory site selection may be a proximate cause for female-biased dispersal in wheatears and possibly in many other bird species. Fourth, as a first step to link habitat selection behaviour and population dynamics, I investigated habitat-specific population growth. Overall, I show that constraints acting on individual habitat selection result in a greater proportion of individuals breeding in poorer habitats than would be expected from ideal selection, which has consequences for population persistence

Service innovation in manufacturing firms : evidence from Spain.

The ways in which manufacturing firms come to offer services to customers – servitisation or servicisation – are attracting considerable attention. This paper examines an innovation survey of Spanish firms in order to investigate one aspect of this phenomenon: the introduction of new or improved services by manufacturers. Specifically, the paper analyses the determinants of service innovations in manufacturers and determines whether they differ from those of product or process innovations in these same firms. The study finds that almost 20 percent of the firms in the sample have introduced such services in the recent past and that important differences exist between service and product (goods) innovations, with service innovations being particularly related to human resource development and closer links to customers. This suggests that service innovation by manufacturers has much in common with the innovation patterns detected in service sector firms. Intriguing differences across manufacturing sectors are also noted, with the lowest- and highest-tech sectors reporting more service innovations than the medium-tech sectorsInnovation; Manufacturing; Service; Servitisation;

Geoscience and a Lunar Base: A Comprehensive Plan for Lunar Exploration

This document represents the proceedings of the Workshop on Geoscience from a Lunar Base. It describes a comprehensive plan for the geologic exploration of the Moon. The document begins by explaining the scientific importance of studying the Moon and outlines the many unsolved problems in lunar science. Subsequent chapters detail different, complementary approaches to geologic studies: global surveys, including orbiting spacecraft such as Lunar Observer and installation of a global geophysical network; reconnaissance sample return mission, by either automated rovers or landers, or by piloted forays; detailed field studies, which involve astronauts and teleoperated robotic field geologists. The document then develops a flexible scenario for exploration and sketches the technological developments needed to carry out the exploration scenario

The Interplay of Personal Selling and Direct Marketing: An Exploratory Study in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Beyond dispute, personal selling represents the dominant and most effective promotional element in industrial settings, but its costs are quite substantial. Against this background, sales managers are forced to reexamine alternative approaches for servicing and informing customers in order to justify the productivity of their industrial selling mix. In this context, the complementary use of direct marketing to field selling becomes a primary concern as it allows for confidentiality and personalization of the message in contrast to mass communication while it provides information at a lower cost than does personal selling. However, no study has empirically investigated the interplay of personal selling and various direct marketing instruments with regard to several contextual factors determining the preferred use of direct marketing over personal selling so far. Thus, focusing on business-to-business transactions, this study’s objective is to deepen the understanding of the direct marketing and personal selling interplay. Due to limited empirical insights to this area, an exploratory research design is adapted. Results indicate that the advantageousness of direct marketing in comparison to personal selling is determined by customer-related, internal and external contextual conditions. Further, a well-designed interplay helps to improve selling productivity, brand awareness and customer satisfaction – and thus business unit performance. --

An adaptive stigmergy-based system for evaluating technological indicator dynamics in the context of smart specialization

Regional innovation is more and more considered an important enabler of welfare. It is no coincidence that the European Commission has started looking at regional peculiarities and dynamics, in order to focus Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialization towards effective investment policies. In this context, this work aims to support policy makers in the analysis of innovation-relevant trends. We exploit a European database of the regional patent application to determine the dynamics of a set of technological innovation indicators. For this purpose, we design and develop a software system for assessing unfolding trends in such indicators. In contrast with conventional knowledge-based design, our approach is biologically-inspired and based on self-organization of information. This means that a functional structure, called track, appears and stays spontaneous at runtime when local dynamism in data occurs. A further prototyping of tracks allows a better distinction of the critical phenomena during unfolding events, with a better assessment of the progressing levels. The proposed mechanism works if structural parameters are correctly tuned for the given historical context. Determining such correct parameters is not a simple task since different indicators may have different dynamics. For this purpose, we adopt an adaptation mechanism based on differential evolution. The study includes the problem statement and its characterization in the literature, as well as the proposed solving approach, experimental setting and results.Comment: mail: [email protected]

Effective Tax Rates in Transition

The paper addresses the question of effective tax rates for Russian economic sectors in transition. It presents a detailed account of fiscal environment for 1995 and compares statutory obligations with reported tax liabilities. The paper finds that taxation did not contribute to recession, as some observors believed at the time. It extends research by questioning the role that inflation played distorting revenue structure. When the costs of intermediate inputs are adjusted for inflation, many sectors have negative residual revenue, which is indicative of recession. Yet, modeling tax changes to correct the situation does not produce positive results, for the tax share in the cost structure of many sectors is small and cannot compensate for inflationhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/39762/3/wp378.pd

Elusive Empowerment: Emerald Mining in Ndola Rural under Kenneth Kaunda’s One-Party State

One of the hallmarks of Kenneth Kaunda’s tenure in office was the nationalisation of Zambia’s large-scale copper mines. Yet after the Matero Reforms of 1969, which purported to empower Zambians through the public ownership and management of the country’s largest export industry, President Kaunda and his colleagues curiously decided to partner with a foreign investor (Hagura Mining) in the 1980s to develop the emerald mining sector in Ndola Rural (now Lufwanyama), while Zambian artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM) were sidelined. Drawing upon archival documents, newspaper coverage, and a select number of interviews, this paper seeks to examine this apparent shift in mining governance under Kenneth Kaunda. Instead of facilitating financial access or establishing an equipment hire scheme for ASM, the Reserved Minerals Corporation – a subsidiary of Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) –sought to restrict access to emerald deposits and preferred partnering with a foreign investor. These decisions were largely attributable to the “prevailing wisdom” at the time regarding mineral extraction (i.e. a preference for large-scale mining that can be more easily taxed and regulated) and the foreign exchange crunch of the 1980s. By prioritising large-scale production, Zambian policymakers undermined their own stated developmental goals that aimed at diversification and empowerment - both of which ASM would have facilitated - and entrenched an economic model that was dependent on foreign investment. Unfortunately, this model’s failure continues to have reverberations for emerald mining in Lufwanyama today

Important Market Characteristics in International Establishments

This study aims to identify important market characteristics that affect international market establishments in the IT consulting industry. A qualitative case study has been conducted at an IT consulting firm, where Osterwalder's Business Model Canvas has been used as a tool to identify and compare market characteristics to existing theory regarding internationalisation in the Knowledge-Intensive Business Service sector. The results showed that many of the derived market characteristics from the case company were rather consistent with theory. These were mainly attributable to the theoretical factors client interaction and knowledge acquisition as well as economic, cultural and political factors.This study aims to identify important market characteristics that affect international market establishments in the IT consulting industry. A qualitative case study has been conducted at an IT consulting firm, where Osterwalder's Business Model Canvas has been used as a tool to identify and compare market characteristics to existing theory regarding internationalisation in the Knowledge-Intensive Business Service sector. The results showed that many of the derived market characteristics from the case company were rather consistent with theory. These were mainly attributable to the theoretical factors client interaction and knowledge acquisition as well as economic, cultural and political factors

Important Market Characteristics in International Establishments

This study aims to identify important market characteristics that affect international market establishments in the IT consulting industry. A qualitative case study has been conducted at an IT consulting firm, where Osterwalder's Business Model Canvas has been used as a tool to identify and compare market characteristics to existing theory regarding internationalisation in the Knowledge-Intensive Business Service sector. The results showed that many of the derived market characteristics from the case company were rather consistent with theory. These were mainly attributable to the theoretical factors client interaction and knowledge acquisition as well as economic, cultural and political factors.This study aims to identify important market characteristics that affect international market establishments in the IT consulting industry. A qualitative case study has been conducted at an IT consulting firm, where Osterwalder's Business Model Canvas has been used as a tool to identify and compare market characteristics to existing theory regarding internationalisation in the Knowledge-Intensive Business Service sector. The results showed that many of the derived market characteristics from the case company were rather consistent with theory. These were mainly attributable to the theoretical factors client interaction and knowledge acquisition as well as economic, cultural and political factors