Applying Behavioural Economics to International Development Policy

behavioural economics, policy

Salivary gland structure and function in experimental diabetes mellitus

While salivary secretion is not initiated by circulating hormones, there are significant endocrine influences on the development, structure and function of salivary glands. Experimental animal models of diabetes mellitus have been used to study all aspects of diabetic pathophysiology. There is now a considerable body of evidence demonstrating that the effects of diabetes on rodent salivary glands are related as much to the indirect consequences of insulin insufficiency on the circulating levels of other hormones, and autonomic nerve function, as to the direct actions of insulin. In addition to their exocrine functions, salivary glands also play an endocrine role. Rodent submandibular glands, in particular, are a rich source of biologically active polypeptides, which are synthesized in the granular ducts. Although many of these polypeptides are released into both the blood and the saliva, their physiological functions have yet to be fully explored. Nevertheless, the disruption of submandibular gland endocrine function has been postulated to contribute to the pathology observed in diabetic animals.Biomedical Reviews 1998; 9: 107-119

Preservation and Progress in Cranford

The threat of change and the loss it can incur creates the need to preserve a detailed version of the past. Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford can be interpreted as a piece looking backwards as a means of looking forward; acknowledging and commemorating the existence of a rich and detailed past allows for the closing of its chapters, and thus eventual movement into a new future. In this paper I will be investigating Cranford as a piece that addresses the consequences of widescale cultural change. Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford offers insight to the author's pervading ideology regarding different kinds of change and the role that literature takes in its wake. I have divided my work into three main sections; the first centers on the rejection of radical change in Cranford on the level of plot, the second focuses on Gaskell's skepticism of traditional progress in Cranford and Wives and Daughters, and lastly, the third section addresses how Gaskell uses literature as a kind of historical transmission that helps to cope with change. I intend to prove that Cranford is a representative element of the past, and as such, Cranford does not change, but it is a response to change that cements a memory of old-fashioned English countrylife in the minds of readers as an act of historical preservation. Gaskell's creation of this static tableau of the past can be seen as a direct response to encroaching social change. In the creation of such a tableau, Gaskell actively offers a new opportunity of transmitting the essence of the past through literature

An Agent Based Simulation Model of the Potential Impact of Second Generation Bioenergy Commodities on the Grain – Livestock Economy of South-Eastern Saskatchewan

Second-generation biofuel technology is in its early stages of development in Canada and their impact on the Canadian Prairies is currently unclear. The development of policy incentives for second-generation biofuels must be examined carefully to give the correct signals to encourage farmers to shift land-use into the socially optimal land-use. Traditionally the policy process involves Prairie farmers and the landscape commonly modeled as being homogenous. Agricultural policy tends to be formed on the one size fits all notion through the use of aggregated data and the homogenous stereotype of Prairie farmers. The complex nature of the various soil productivity levels amongst the landscape and farmer characteristics and attitudes create impractical representations at the farm-level using traditional modelling (typically econometric or general equilibrium analysis). In this thesis an agent based simulation modelling (ABSM) methodology was used to examine the competitiveness of second-generation biofuel crops with existing crops and beef cows at the farm level and their impact on the farm structure building on the work of Stolniuk (2008) and Freeman (2005). ABSM are well suited to problems involving large numbers of interacting actors located on a heterogeneous landscape. In assessing alternative policies, ABSM considers actions between individual farmers in land markets and allows an individual agent (farmer) to make decisions representative to their farm and not from aggregated regional data, avoiding the aggregation bias found in many regional models. In addition, three sequential (strategic, tactical and recourse) optimization stages are used in order to better reflect the uncertainty and recourse decisions available to Prairie farmers to determine short-run and long-run production decisions using linear and integer programming techniques. In the first decision stage, a Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) model is used to determine long-run strategic decisions associated with herd size, perennial crops, and machinery used in annual cropping systems along with short-run decisions that optimize annual crop rotations to maximize profits. The second-stage decision is a tactical decision process in the sense that it supports the strategic investment decisions of the farm enterprise by maximizing short-run profits that utilizes linear programming (LP). The third-stage, also a LP model, is a maximization problem, as these are short-run recourse decisions using stochastic yields and stochastic prices to balance feed rations for beef cow enterprises that minimize feeding costs. Each farmer agent’s optimal decision is influenced by their own expected prices and yields, variable costs, operating capital/cash flow, and the constraints endowed by the farm agent’s land allocation. The farmer agent profiles are developed using actual census of agriculture and whole farm survey data, with each farmer agent developed differently from the next. The landscape is modelled using the actual soil productivity ratings from Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency (SAMA) for each 640 acre farmland plot. Due to the importance of transitional and marginal lands, the landscape employed as the case study area is Census Agricultural Region (CAR) 1A of the Assiniboine River Basin of Saskatchewan. Following Stolniuk (2008), a bootstrapping procedure on historical price and yield data is used to generate 50 different price and yield time paths. The 50 different time paths are used in the model, simulating 30 years into the future to identify the structural change implications from the introduction of energy crops at the farm-level. Three scenarios are simulated including a base case scenario (no energy crops), along with two energy price scenarios ($2/GJ and$4/GJ) based on the identical 50 price and yield time paths. Perhaps not surprisingly, the simulation results indicate that energy crops have the potential to change the structure of agriculture in this region. Energy crops emerge in the model in both of the energy price scenarios, while total farm sector equity and total sector net income is improved over the base scenario. Farmers with significant quantities of marginal land would experience the greatest change in their farm structures by adopting energy crops if they chose to go down this path. Marginal land-use has a large effect on the energy crop scenarios, primarily on hay and forage acres. Beef cow farmer agents improve their situation the most over the base scenario due to the introduction of energy crops

Proliferated LEO Constellation Modeling & Simulation with Information Assurance

Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (pLEO) constellations allow for network, on-orbit processing, and battlefield management resiliency through disaggregation of the traditionally small number of high-value space assets. pLEO constellations present unique challenges. Developing a complex mesh network able to dynamically recover from active counterspace, cyber-security, and environmental threats, while providing uninterrupted data-center-like processing, requires advanced modeling capability throughout its buildout. Management of resource utilization, task migration, data fusion, software and firmware updates, and distribution of intelligence across the constellation requires complex integration and autonomy. Mission execution requires secure communication between the pLEO constellation and all consumers. The path to developing solutions to these challenges has been three-fold. 1. Creation of a constellation level modeling & simulation (M&S) testbed. 2. Connecting digital to physical through hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) and software-in-the-loop (SWIL) integration. 3. Ingraining security within enabling technologies

Making hospital shops healthier:evaluating the implementation of a mandatory standard for limiting food products and promotions in hospital retail outlets

Background The range of products stocked and their promotions in food retail outlets in healthcare settings can affect food choices by staff, patients and visitors. The innovative Scottish Healthcare Retail Standard (HRS) is a national mandatory scheme requiring all hospital food retail outlets to change the balance of food products stocked and their promotion to comply with nutritional criteria and promotional restrictions. The aim is to facilitate healthier food choices in healthcare settings. This study examined the implementation of HRS and the impact on foods stocked and promoted. Methods The study aimed to examine implementation process and changes to the retail environment in relation to food promotions and choice. A sample of hospital retail outlets (n=17) including shops and trolley services were surveyed using a mixed methods design comprising: (a) structured observational audits of stock, layout and promotions (with a specific focus on chocolate and fruit product lines, and) (b) face-to-face, semi-structured interviews with the shop manager or nominated members of staff (n=32). Data were collected at Wave 1 (2016), at the beginning and during the early stages of HRS implementation; and Wave 2, 12 months later, after the HRS implementation deadline. Results All outlets, both commercial and not-for-profit, in the sample successfully implemented HRS. Implementation was reported to be more challenging by independent shop managers compared to chain store staff. Retail managers identified areas where more implementation guidance and support could have been provided. The number of chocolate product lines and promotions reduced substantially between Waves 1 and 2, but with no substantial increase in fruit product lines and promotions. Despite initial negative expectations of HRS’s impact, managers identified some opportunities in the scheme and positive changes in the supply chain. Conclusions Positive changes in food retail outlets occurred after hospital shops were required to implement HRS. By creating a consistent approach across hospital shops in Scotland, HRS changed the food retail environment for hospital staff, visitors and patients. HRS provides a regulatory template and implementation learning points for influencing retail environments in other jurisdictions and settings