THE USE OF GENETICS PRINCIPLES IN RESEARCH EVALUATION: AN EXAMPLE WITH SOYBEANS

This paper explores the potential use of quantitative genetics principles in evaluating economic returns to plant breeding research. Basic factors affecting genetic progress are described along with possibilities for quantifying them in relation to research expenditures. An example with soybeans illustrates how this information can be incorporated into ex ante research evaluation.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

MEASURING THE RETURNS TO AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION RESEARCH EXPENDITURES FOR CORN, WHEAT AND SOYBEANS

Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

To determine if there is a change in the lateral phoria taken through the 7A lens power in one instance and the contact lens power in the other instance at both 20\u27 and 16

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a significant difference in the magnitude of the lateral phoria whether taken through the 7A lens power or the contact lens power at both 20\u27 and 16

Silvaco ATLAS model of ESA's Gaia satellite e2v CCD91-72 pixels

The Gaia satellite is a high-precision astrometry, photometry and spectroscopic ESA cornerstone mission, currently scheduled for launch in 2012. Its primary science drivers are the composition, formation and evolution of the Galaxy. Gaia will achieve its unprecedented accuracy requirements with detailed calibration and correction for CCD radiation damage and CCD geometric distortion. In this paper, the third of the series, we present our 3D Silvaco ATLAS model of the Gaia e2v CCD91-72 pixel. We publish e2v's design model predictions for the capacities of one of Gaia's pixel features, the supplementary buried channel (SBC), for the first time. Kohley et al. (2009) measured the SBC capacities of a Gaia CCD to be an order of magnitude smaller than e2v's design. We have found the SBC doping widths that yield these measured SBC capacities. The widths are systematically 2 ?m offset to the nominal widths. These offsets appear to be uncalibrated systematic offsets in e2v photolithography, which could either be due to systematic stitch alignment offsets or lateral ABD shield doping diffusion. The range of SBC capacities were used to derive the worst-case random stitch error between two pixel features within a stitch block to be ±0.25 ?m, which cannot explain the systematic offsets. It is beyond the scope of our pixel model to provide the manufacturing reason for the range of SBC capacities, so it does not allow us to predict how representative the tested CCD is. This open question has implications for Gaia's radiation damage and geometric calibration models

How environmental protection agencies can promote eco-innovation: The prospect of voluntary reciprocal legitimacy

Abstract This paper examines the \{UK\} and Irish Environmental Protection Agencies (EPAs) ability to move beyond regulatory compliance to support and promote sustainable environmental innovation, in short “eco-innovation”. To do so would require them to overcome the perception that they face, often being perceived as ‘policemen’ by the regulated business community. We propose a new empirically-derived theoretical construct called Voluntary Reciprocal Legitimacy (VRL), defined as the development of mutual trust between the regulator and business resulting in arrangements which generate eco-innovation benefits for the regulator, the regulated business communities and society at large. \{VRL\} adds a new category to Suchman's (1995) theory of moral legitimacy as well as highlights how \{EPAs\} can build trust between themselves and regulated business, allowing a shift of the ‘beyond compliance’ legislative boundary. Such an approach supports eco-innovation whilst simultaneously protecting the natural environment

Openness Disposition: readiness characteristics that influence participant benefits from scenario planning as strategic conversation

In this paper we examine the impact of participant readiness to engage with, perform and benefit from scenario planning processes. Central to our examination is the concept of ‘openness disposition’, which in the context of scenario planning refers to the tendency to seek either to hold open ambiguity, complexity and uncertainty, or look for closure, simplification and surety when engaging in strategic conversations. Readiness indicates the capacity of individuals and collectives to work with competing narratives, dilemmas, tensions and differences of opinion, as may occur in scenario work. A focus on readiness through openness disposition enables critical evaluation of the utility of scenario planning to different individuals and groups based on their capacity to engage with equivocality during structured, exploratory strategic conversations. Based on findings emerging from a longitudinal field study with ProRail N.V. Holland, we empirically identify three characteristics of participant readiness, which are theorised to extend understanding of how individuals and groups might engage in, cope and benefit from, scenario planning processes

Economic Geology Models 4. Tantalum and Niobium: Deposits, Resources, Exploration Methods and Market – A Primer for Geoscientists

The world’s main tantalum (Ta) resources are in pegmatites (e.g. Wodgina, Australia), rare element-enriched granites (e.g. Abu Dabbab, Egypt), peralkaline complexes (e.g. Nechalacho, Canada), weathered crusts overlying the previously mentioned deposit types, and in placers. Niobium (Nb) resources with the highest economic potential are in weathered crusts that overlie carbonatite complexes (e.g. Catalão I and II, Brazil). Brazil accounts for 90% of the global Nb mine production with another 9% coming from the Niobec Mine, Canada (a hard-rock underground mine). However, at least 17 undeveloped carbonatite complexes outside of Brazil have NI-43-101 compliant Nb resource estimates (e.g. Aley carbonatite, Canada). Concentrates from most carbonatites are used to produce ferroniobium (Fe–Nb alloy), and Ta is not recovered. The Ta and Nb contents of some carbonatites (e.g. Upper Fir deposit and Crevier dyke, Canada) are of the same order of magnitude as that of pegmatite ores; however, concentrates from carbonatites have a higher Nb/Ta ratio. Historically, 10–12% Ta2O5 in Nb concentrates has not been recovered in ‘western’ smelters because of the hydrofluoric acid cost. Western countries perceive Ta and Nb supplies to be at risk. Tantalum market downturns resulted in several mines in Australia and Canada closing, at least temporarily, and a resultant shortfall has been filled by what is now recognized as ‘conflict-free columbite-tantalite’ from Central Africa. The lack of ore will not be a key factor in future Ta and Nb supply disruption. For example, more than 280 Nb- and 160 Ta-bearing occurrences are known in Canada alone, and more resources will likely to be discovered as geophysical and geochemical exploration methods are optimized.RÉSUMÉLes principales sources mondiales en tantale (Ta) sont les pegmatites (par ex. Wodgina, Australie), les granites enrichis en éléments rares (par ex. Abu Dabbab, Égypte), les complexes hyperalcalins (par ex. Nechalacho, Canada), les croûtes altérées recouvrant les types de gisements déjà mentionnés, et les placers. Les sources en niobium (Nb) ayant le meilleur potentiel économique se trouvent dans les croûtes altérées qui recouvrent les complexes de carbonatite (par ex. Catalão I et II, Brésil). Le Brésil est la source de 90% de la production minière mondiale de Nb, et 9% provient de la mine Niobec, au Canada (une mine souterraine). Cela dit, il existe au moins 17 complexes de carbonatite non développés à l'extérieur du Brésil dont les estimations de ressources en Nb sont conformes à la norme NI-43-101 (par ex. Aley carbonatite, Canada). Les concentrés de la plupart des carbonatites sont utilisés pour produire du ferroniobium (alliage Fe-Nb), et le Ta n'est pas récupéré. Les teneurs en Ta et Nb de certaines carbonatites (par ex. le gisement de Upper Fir et le dyke Crevier, Canada) sont du même ordre de grandeur que celles des minerais depegmatite; cependant, les concentrés de carbonatites ont une proportion Nb/Ta plus élevée. Historiquement, 10 à 12% du Ta2O5 des concentrés de Nb n'ont pas été récupérés dans les fonderies de l'Ouest en raison du coût de l’acide fluorhydrique. Les pays occidentaux estiment que les approvisionnements en Ta et Nb sont à risque. Le fléchissement du marché du tantale a entraîné la fermeture, au moins temporaire, de plusieurs mines en Australie et au Canada, et la pénurie qui en résulte a été comblée par ce qui est maintenant reconnu comme étant du minerai de colombite-tantalite «sans conflit» d'Afrique centrale. Le manque de minerai ne sera pas un facteur clé des perturbations à venir de l'approvisionnement en Ta et Nb. Par exemple, plus de 280 occurrences minérales contenant du Nb et 160 occurrences minérales contenant du Ta sont connues au Canada seulement, et davantage de ressources seront probablement découvertes à mesure que les méthodes d'exploration géophysique et géochimique seront optimisées