A comprehensive transition matrix model for projecting production and resource consumption in reindeer herds

A deterministic herd model was developed for projecting the dynamic changes in reindeer herd size and structure under defined harvest policies. The model distinguishes between females, males and castrates up to an optional number of age-classes. Calves are further classified based on the age and status (present/absent) of their mother. The yearly cycle is divided up into a maximum of 11 time steps, including five grazing seasons. The model is described in general terms using the Leslie matrix approach in order to suit different computer implementations. The conventional Leslie matrix solution was extended so that nonlinear features and stochastic variation in performance parameters could be considered. Computational procedures for making detailed economic evaluations of harvest output and herd feed requirements or consumption are given. This general purpose model can be tailored to specific study conditions. An advantage of this is that the sensitivity to necessary approximations can be tested with the general purpose model. The model is intended for use in both research and extension work

Growth and relationship of live weight to body measurements in semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.)

Estimation of live weight from measurements of body dimensions is useful in many management activities with domestic animals. In present study live weight was measured from 2932 female and 1037 male semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.) during different seasons in 1969-85. The age of reindeer varied between 1 day and 14 yrs. Back length (along back from second spinous process to base of tail) and chest girth (just behind front legs) were taken also from 1490 female and 510 male reindeer. The growth of reindeer from birth to adulthood was cumulative consisting of a rapid weight accretion during summers followed by a weight loss or stasis during winters. The mathematical analyses of the growth based on exponential solutions gave average values for growth of female and male reindeer. Body weight of females increased until the age of 4.5 yrs and that of males until the age of 5.5 yrs. During winter and spring body weight of hinds decreased 10 to 15 kg and that of stags 30 to 50 kg in different age groups. Significant linear regressions were found between live weight and back length (r = 0.809 and 0.892), live weight and chest girth (r = 0.860 and 0.872) and live weight and combined body measure (back length + chest girth) (r = 0.877 and 0.941) and live weight and body volume (r = 0.905 and 0.954, respectively) in female and male reindeer. Exponential regressions gave, however, the best estimations of live weight with combined body measure

Phase metrology with multi-cycle two-colour pulses

Strong-field phenomena driven by an intense infrared (IR) laser depend on during what part of the field cycle they are initiated. By changing the sub-cycle character of the laser electric field it is possible to control such phenomena. For long pulses, sub-cycle shaping of the field can be done by adding a relatively weak, second harmonic of the driving field to the pulse. Through constructive and destructive interference, the combination of strong and weak fields can be used to change the probability of a strong-field process being initiated at any given part of the cycle. In order to control sub-cycle phenomena with optimal accuracy, it is necessary to know the phase difference of the strong and the weak fields precisely. If the weaker field is an even harmonic of the driving field, electrons ionized by the field will be asymmetrically distributed between the positive and negative directions of the combined fields. Information about the asymmetry can yield information about the phase difference. A technique to measure asymmetry for few-cycle pulses, called Stereo-ATI (Above Threshold Ionization), has been developed by [Paulus G G, et al 2003 Phys. Rev. Lett. 91]. This paper outlines an extension of this method to measure the phase difference between a strong IR and its second harmonic

En genväg till ett vägvinnande förändringsarbete för idrottsföreningar i ekonomisk kris

Syfte: Syftet med uppsatsen är att utveckla en anpassad rekommendation med förändringsåtgärder för idrottsföreningar vars ekonomiska situation är ohållbar. Med ledning ur redan befintliga dokumenterade teorier kommer rekommendationen att utformas som en samling insatser som kan göras för att åstadkomma förändring i organisationen och balansera föreningens ekonomi. Genom rekommendationen vill vi erbjuda idrottsföreningar en genväg till att hitta ett vägvinnande sätt att hantera en förändringsprocess. Metod: En deduktiv studie med en kvalitativ forskningsdesign. Studien är baserad på primärdata från intervjuer och sekundärdata från idrottsföreningarnas årsredovisningar, hemsidor och diverse nyhetsartiklar skrivna om dem. Teoretiska perspektiv: Studien tar utgångspunkt i teorier om turnarounds, som innehåller olika förändringsmetoder och åtgärder för att lyckas åstadkomma en förändringsprocess i ett företag. Empiri: Empirin har utförts i tre steg. Först gjordes en noggrann genomgång av sekundär data. Med utgångspunkt i denna utformades sedan en intervjumall för att kunna utföra intervjuer. Slutligen, med stöd av intervjumallen, utfördes ett antal djupgående intervjuer med ledande personer, främst Vd och styrelseordförande, från de olika idrottsföreningarna. Resultat/slutsats: Slutsatserna som presenteras i slutet av uppsatsen är följande punkter som är rekommendationer till idrottsföreningar i ekonomiskt ohållbara situationer: ● Öka kompetensnivån bland personalen. ● Förändra organisationens förväntningar på kostnadsstrukturen. ● Professionalisera säljarbetet. ● Utveckla idrottsevenemanget till något mer än bara idrott. ● Anpassa erbjudandet till sponsorer

Health-care cost reduction resulting from primary-care allergy testing in children in Italy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Allergy places a considerable cost burden on society. Specific immunoglobulin E (spIgE) testing may improve the management of allergy patients. There is therefore a reason to quantify the economic consequences of the use of spIgE testing in the diagnosis of allergic conditions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The expected costs of spIgE testing versus no-testing were calculated using a clinical decision model based on a prospective clinical trial performed in primary care.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The expected costs per patient over 2 years decreased from 802 euros in the "no-test strategy" to 560 euros in the spIgE "test strategy". Cost savings persisted even after assumptions about the prevalence of allergy and the prices of medications were changed. The "test strategy" increased the percentage of patients correctly diagnosed from 54 to 87%.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>spIgE testing of children with respiratory and/or skin problems in primary care in Italy reduces overall costs to society. These cost savings mostly result from a reduction in the use of medications, particularly corticosteroids. The study indicates that spIgE testing of all children with respiratory and/or skin symptoms would be a cost-effective strategy.</p

Sensitization to secretoglobin and lipocalins in a group of young children with risk of developing respiratory allergy

Background: Multiple sensitizations in early age have been reported to be a risk for development of asthma. This study evaluates the emergence and evolution of IgE to aeroallergens among a cohort of children with physician-diagnosed atopic dermatitis and/or showing food allergy symptoms and to examine the relation to asthma development. Methods: Three-hundred and four children (median age 13.4 months at entry) with food allergy symptoms and/or atopic dermatitis without asthma at inclusion were analysed for IgE antibodies against food-, indoor- and outdoor-allergens and pet allergen components and correlated to the individuals’ outcome on asthma inception. Results: At 2 years of follow-up, physician-diagnosed asthma was 19.7% (n = 49) and asthma diagnosed any time was 24% (n = 67). History of persistent cough and asthma of father, combination of milk- and wheat-allergy symptoms and dual sensitization to house dust mite and Japanese cedar were independent risk factors for asthma. Sensitization to dog was the most prevalent inhalant allergen at entry. Asthma children had a higher proportion of sensitization to dog, cat and horse allergens at entry compared with non-asthma children. Being sensitized to both food, house dust mite and pet allergens was strongly associated with asthma (p = 0.0006). Component resolved diagnosis for dog and cat allergens showed that IgE antibodies to Can f 1 and Fel d 1 was common even at very young age. Conclusions: Early sensitization to inhalant allergens increases the risk of developing asthma as well as having milk and wheat allergy symptoms. Sensitization to dog, was common at an early age despite dog ownership. Sensitization to secretoglobin and lipocalins and less to serum albumins explained the pet sensitization

System Identification and Tuning of Wireless Power Transfer Systems with Multiple Magnetically Coupled Resonators

We present a procedure for system identification and tuning of a wireless power transfer (WPT) system with four magnetically coupled resonators, where each resonator consists of a coil and a capacitor bank. The system-identification procedure involves three main steps: 1) individual measurement of the capacitor banks in the system; 2) measurement of the frequency-dependent two-port impedance matrix of the magnetically coupled resonators; and 3) determining the inductance of all coils and their corresponding coupling coefficients using a Bayesian approach. The Bayesian approach involves solving an optimization problem where we minimize the mismatch between the measured and simulated impedance matrix together with a penalization term that incorporates information from a direct measurement procedure of the inductance and losses of the coils. This identification procedure yields an accurate system model which we use to tune the four capacitance values to recover high system-performance and account for, e.g., manufacturing tolerances and coil displacement. For a prototype WPT system, we achieve 3.3 kW power transfer with 91 % system efficiency over an air-gap distance of approximately 20 cm