The character of demand in mature organic food markets: Great Britain and Denmark compared

We investigate the organic food market in two selected European countries, Great Britain and Denmark, identifying main differences and similarities. We focus particularly on consumer preferences and priorities, labelling schemes, supply and sales channels, as a basis for assessing market stability and prospects for future growth. We employ a unique set of household panel data that includes information on stated values and concerns, as well as registered purchasing behaviour. Most organic food on both markets is produced and processed by large-scale industrialised units and distributed through concentrated mainstream sales channels, consumer confidence being sustained at present by organic labelling schemes that appear to function well. However, a parallel market, based on various types of direct sales to heavy users, prevails. We find that organic food purchase decisions are primarily motivated by ‘private good’ attributes such as freshness, taste and health benefits, attributes that may be perceived as being compatible with modern production and sales structure. More traditional ‘public good’ organic attributes, such as environmental and animal welfare attributes, small scale production and local supply, are less compatible with current market structure, but are also accorded less priority by the majority of consumers in practice. Mature markets for organic foods nevertheless may constitute a source of consumer dissatisfaction, particularly in the group of organic heavy users

Perceptions, values and behaviour: The case of organic foods

This analysis of the Danish organic food market investigates the relationships between household purchasing behaviour and stated values, motives and concerns. Attention is also given to the importance of sales chan-nels and the functions of labelling. We identify the specific attributes that induce consumers to purchase or-ganic foods, distinguishing ‘private’ from ‘public’ valued attributes. Using household level information on stated values and concerns and data regarding real market purchases for approximately 2000 households dur-ing the period 1997-2001, the declared values and actual market behaviour of the same households are com-pared. We find that household propensity to purchase organic foods increases significantly with the declared importance accorded to ‘private good’ attributes, leading to the conclusion that these values determine the actual level of market participation. The weight that households assign to public good attributes does not contribute significantly to the explanation of household organic budget share. However, since almost all con-sumers who purchase organic foods do in fact acknowledge ‘public good’ attributes, these values may also constitute a prerequisite for purchasing organic products

Økologiske forbrugere i Danmark – hvem er de?

I DETTE KAPITEL tegnes et billede af danskernes holdninger til økologi og deres indkøbs- og forbrugsadfærd i forhold dertil. Dette gøres ved at beskrive forskellige grupper, såkaldte segmenter, af danske husholdninger. Det viser sig, at økologisk forbrug i Danmark ikke længere udelukkende bæres af en lille, eksklusiv gruppe af overbeviste forbrugere, som formentlig stod for størstedelen af forbruget i 1990’erne. I kapitlet beskrives to yderligere segmenter, der er positivt indstillede til økologiske fødevarer. De forbrugere, som falder ind under det ene segment, kan kaldes mad-engagerede, mens det andet segment består af forbrugere, vi kalder discountorienterede. Disse to segmenter har en relativt stor interesse for økologi, dog ikke med samme dedikation som de overbeviste. De adskiller sig fra hinanden i forhold til involvering i mad og indkøbsvaner. Tilsammen udgør de tre positivt orienterede segmenter ca. halvdelen af de danske husholdninger, og de står for en meget stor andel (cirka 87 procent) af det økologiske forbrug. Der kan identificeres tre yderligere segmenter, der består af forbrugere, som ikke ser nogen særlig grund til at købe økologiske produkter og derfor fravælger dem på grund af den højere pris. På baggrund af den nuancerede viden om segmenterne, der præsenteres i kapitlet, fremsættes det sandsynlige fremtidsscenarie, at efterspørgslen efter økologiske varer vil gå i to retninger. Den ene retning repræsenteres af folk, som vil efterspørge varer, der, ud over at være økologiske, skal være etisk forsvarligt produceret. Den anden retning repræsenteres af forbrugere, som fortsat kun vil købe økologiske varer, hvis de er relativt billige og nemt tilgængelige. Idet begge efterspørgselstyper udgør betragtelige dele af den samlede økologiske afsætning, synes det fortsat at være den rigtige strategi med et dobbelt fokus – både på produktionen og på salgs-og distributionsleddene, hvis man vil fremme forbruget af økologiske fødevarer

\u3cem\u3eIn Vitro\u3c/em\u3e Determination of Potency of Small Molecule Inhibitors of Arp2/3 Complex

Actin is a key protein building block of actin microfilaments, which are constructed and deconstructed in response to cellular signaling pathways to regulate cellular processes such as motility, division, and endocytosis. Arp2/3 Complex is a 7-subunit protein complex that is in involved in cellular construction of branched actin networks, functioning by attaching to the side of a pre-existing actin filament and nucleating a daughter branch. Overexpression of Arp2/3 complex has been linked to the ability of certain metastatic cancers to proliferate. This work describes the synthesis and in vitro biochemical testing of several molecules predicted by computational docking to be inhibitors of Arp2/3 Complex, and therefore of potential interest in clinical applications. A bulk actin polymerization assay is used as the key method to determine the potency of inhibitor candidates. Structure-activity relationships derived from these results are also discussed

Nano-scale optical and electrical probes of materials and processes.

This report describes the investigations and milestones of the Nano-Scale Optical and Electrical Probes of Materials and Processes Junior/Senior LDRD. The goal of this LDRD was to improve our understanding of radiative and non-radiative mechanisms at the nanometer scale with the aim of increasing LED and solar cell efficiencies. These non-radiative mechanisms were investigated using a unique combination of optical and scanning-probe microscopy methods for surface, materials, and device evaluation. For this research we utilized our new near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) system to aid in understanding of defect-related emission issues for GaN-based materials. We observed micrometer-scale variations in photoluminescence (PL) intensity for GaN films grown on Cantilever Epitaxy pattern substrates, with lower PL intensity observed in regions with higher dislocation densities. By adding electrical probes to the NSOM system, the photocurrent and surface morphology could be measured concurrently. Using this capability we observed reduced emission in InGaN MQW LEDs near hillock-shaped material defects. In spatially- and spectrally-resolved PL studies, the emission intensity and measured wavelength varied across the wafer, suggesting the possibility of indium segregation within the InGaN quantum wells. Blue-shifting of the InGaN MQW wavelength due to thinning of quantum wells was also observed on top of large-scale ({micro}m) defect structures in GaN. As a direct result of this program, we have expanded the awareness of our new NSOM/multifunctional SPM capability at Sandia and formed several collaborations within Sandia and with NINE Universities. Possible future investigations with these new collaborators might include GaN-based compound semiconductors for green LEDs, nanoscale materials science, and nanostructures, novel application of polymers for OLEDs, and phase imprint lithography for large area 3D nanostructures

A Gap Analysis of Iowa, 2003 Final Report

The Iowa Gap Analysis Project (IA GAP) began in 1997 to identify areas in the state where vertebrate species richness lacked adequate protection under existing land ownership and management regimes. To accomplish this goal, the IA GAP team prepared an assortment of datasets that led to three main pieces of information: Iowa vegetation types; Iowa vertebrate/habitat relationship models for 288 species; Iowa land stewardship (ownership and management). When the project began, there were few stat ewide datasets available that provided the type of data needed for this project. Conse quently, much effort was devoted to building the previously mentioned key da ta layers at a sufficiently fine scale and resolution for subsequent analysis. At the completion of the project, these data became freely available, with the intent that they will be used by those responsible for managing the state’s valuable natural resources, and by the public, so that every one can be better informed. With this in mind, we emphasize that these data are dynamic, and in some places, already out-of date. Nonetheless, the data and analyses that constitute IA GAP represent an important first step toward understanding the st atus of vertebrates and land cover in Iowa and planning for the conser vation of their biodiversit

“It’s my dream to work with Olympic athletes”: Neophyte sport psychologists’ expectations and initial experiences regarding service delivery

We examined trainee practitioners' initial experiences of applied sport psychology practice. Semi-structured interviews (4) were conducted over 6 months with 7 full-time MSc students before, during, and after the applied sport psychology module, when they were working with clients. Participants also kept reflective diaries over an 8-week period whilst working with clients. Findings included: (a) motivations and expectations of an ASP practice career, (b) perceptions of service delivery, (c) emotional demands, and (d) pivotal experiences. Findings extend previous literature on the initial stages of practitioner development, providing micro-level detail on aspects of the intense development process during this pivotal perio

Fugitive Futures and Knowledge Brokering: Adding Value, Habits, and Trust in Early Childhood Education and Educational Research

This article is a collective act of writing preoccupied with the future of education. Our perspectives are different but what we have in common is a wish to explore and contribute to educational innovation. Through knowledge brokering, we try to create openings toward expanded meaning fields nourishing valuable diversities of onto-epistemic cultures ultimately preparing students for fugitive futures. Our project is complex and pluriverse like any brokering process for Other and innovation might be. Both method and means however are simple: Through using the concept of oxymoroning as a rhetorical and epigrammatic device for revealing paradox and through this taking part in polysemantic ambiguity, new concepts, knowledges, and habits are possibilized. Through a montage of thoughts, theories, and stories, hopefully thinking for innovation is given a constant continuation.publishedVersio