Reframing Agribusiness: Moving from Farm to Market Centric

Agribusiness is moving from farm to market centric, where effective activities anticipate and respond to customers, markets, and the systems in which they function. This evolution requires a broader conceptualization and more accurate definition, to convey a more dynamic, systemic, and integrative discipline, which increasingly is committed to value creation and the sustainable orchestration of food, fiber, and renewable resources. We discuss the forces driving this shift to the market, offer a new and more representative definition of agribusiness, provide models to illustrate some of the most compelling trends, and articulate key elements and implications of those models.agribusiness definition, conceptual models, market centric, market systems, Agribusiness, Marketing, Production Economics,

The surgical management of vault prolapse : a reappraisal with and assessment of the sacrospinous colpopexy and sacrospinous cervicopexy

The study was undertaken to assess the results of the sacrospinous colpopexy procedure for the treatment of vault prolapse following hysterectomy. It was also to assess the results of the procedure in the treatment of marked uterovaginal prolapse and to compare its role in a group undergoing hysterectomy with a group in whom the uterus was conserved. A prospective study was undertaken between December 1991 and December 1992. Forty women with vm1lt prolapse following hysterectomy were included in one group. All these patients underwent posterior vaginal repair, enterocele sac obliteration and sacrospinous colpopexy. In 25 patients an anterior vaginal repair with sub urethral buttressing sutures was also perfom1ed. A long-needle bladder neck suspension operation was included for three women with coexistent stress incontinence. The mean follow-up period was six months. The success rate was 92%. Of the three failures one underwent a successful repeat sacrospinous colpopexy and repair. The main long-term complication was cystocele formation. A further 24 women with marked uterovaginal prolapse were also included. All women underwent anterior and posterior vaginal repairs, enterocele sac obliteration and sacrospinous ligament fixation. In 13 patients a vaginal hysterectomy was performed and in 11 the uterus was conserved. In the hysterectomy group the follow-up was four months. Although there have been no failures, one woman had developed a small asymptomatic cystocele. Follow-up in the group with uterine preservation was three and a half months. A gain, no failures were seen but three women had developed small asymptomatic cystoceles. There were no differences between the groups apart from a significantly shorter operating time in the patients who did not undergo hysterectomy. The sacrospinous colpopexy is effective in the treatment of vault prolapse. It avoids major abdominal surgery: and allows the surgeon to correct coexistent cystocele and rectocele. The procedure is a useful adjuvent to vaginal repair for marked degrees of uterovaginal prolapse, resulting in a well-supported vagina in the correct anatomical position

Exploring the use of qualitative social psychology in political science : discursive themes of an 18-24 cohort shaping their propensity to vote

This thesis explores the use of qualitative social psychology in political science. The reason for conducting the research was the realisation that research within political science was dominated by quantitative realist methodologies and that existing qualitative research methods were ill-equipped to accommodate a linguistic interpretation of events. This thesis does not necessarily aim to supplant existing methodologies rather it asks how qualitative social psychology could compliment and facilitate existing methodological approaches. Qualitative social psychology is increasingly underpinned by social constructionism (Willig, 2001); that meaning is based on perspectives and that through their use of language individuals constantly make and remake the social (Burr, 2003; 2015). This methodology is relativistic. It suggests that meaning is specific and relative to social, cultural and historical moments (Parker, 1998) and draws on interpretivism suggesting that unlike in the hard sciences truth and evidence of social issues such as poverty is dependent on the interpretation by people (Schwandt, 2003). The thesis will use a constructionist thematised method to exemplify this approach. This method shares common ground with a range of methods used in qualitative social psychology that builds on initial thematised coding and consequently may lead to a broader understanding of the possibilities of using this approach in political science. To explore the possibilities of using qualitative psychology the thesis considered changes in attitudes to voting of the 18-24 cohort in the UK. The turnout of this cohort at general elections has declined since the 1992 general election and this has been problematic to explain using existing political science methodologies. A group of forty participants that might have typically taken part in a study investigating this topic were recruited. These were group interviewed and their talk was transcribed and then analysed to identify discursive codes and themes

The design of hybrid stepping motors aided by three dimensional finite element analysis

Though the hybrid stepping motor has a long and proven history, in terms of toughness, accuracy of position and the ability to operate in open loop, motor performance improvements can still be made in terms of the physical structure of the motor's components. It is impossible to build a complete solution of the hybrid stepping motor using simple analytical functions or equivalent circuit representations. This is due to the difficulties introduced by the motor's highly non-linear three dimensional magnetic structure, of which the doubly salient tooth structure, axial magnet, and back iron all complicate the situation. However, with the recent advances in three dimensional finite element software a comprehensive study of the motor has been achieved in this thesis. This has allowed improvements to simpler two dimensional based mathematical models, which allow faster computation of the motor's electromagnetic performance. To aid modelling, novel equations which accurately model today's high permeability steels have been developed. These are shown to be more accurate than the established Jiles-Atherton method. Inductance calculations of the steel's flux paths have been comprehensively improved by the use of elliptical functions. The thesis concludes with the design of two quite individual new machines. The first dramatically improves a motor's power output, smoothness, noise levels, and resonance by modifying the tooth structure. The second uses soft magnetic composite materials to provide an isotropic path for cross lamination flux which flows in a stator's back iron. Both new designs are shown to offer a significant improvements to the high speed torque capability of the hybrid stepping motor

A Macromarketing View of Sustainable Development in Vietnam

The authors apply methods and perspectives from several disciplines to explore the effects of Vietnam\u27s economic development on various ecosystems, to offer a macromarketing view of sustainable development in Vietnam. An adapted version of the Sustainable Society Index was used to assess Vietnam\u27s sustainability, how Vietnam\u27s measures compare to other countries, with implications for future sustainable-development. Among several findings, Vietnam earns favorable sustainability ratings in absolute terms for water resources, healthy living, energy use, greenhouse gases, genuine savings, and employment. Ominously, Vietnam and some of its nearby neighbors post poor scores for energy savings and education. Going forward, energy savings, a well-educated population, and a coordinated marketing system will be required to ensure favorable sustainability measures. Drawing on macromarketing explorations of complex and interdependent systems, key factors are considered to redress unsustainable resource exploitation and degradation. Particular attention is given to the complexities and dilemmas inherent to waterways, such as the Mekong River Basin and Delta. The authors argue for multi-win goals, systemic understanding, stakeholder inclusion, and resolutions via cooperation and constructive engagement—including projects, products, services, and institutional leadership for best practices designed and administered to enhance sustainability and citizen/societal well-being

Zooming In: Analyzing Annual Meeting Format Changes Amidst a Global Pandemic

Beginning in March of 2020, public companies in the United States were forced to take unprecedented measures to observe corporate formalities while following the government-mandated health and safety measures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Those measures made in-person activities and meetings either incredibly challenging or, in certain jurisdictions, illegal. Because “proxy season,” the time when public companies typically hold their annual meetings of stockholders, followed shortly after the mass implementation of COVID-19 lockdowns and quarantines, public companies that had historically held these meetings in-person were left scrambling to find an alternative means to meet. Nearly overnight, the pandemic caused an explosive transition from in-person annual meetings to virtual annual meetings. This article examines that trend, both qualitatively and quantitatively. More specifically, this article presents the results of primary research that quantifies the prevalence of virtual annual meetings before, during and (depending on one’s view of the current state of affairs) after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results are offered using a series of different metrics to provide a comprehensive picture regarding the sudden transition and theorizes a new normal in one of the most important investor-relations tools available to public companies