Alternativa distributionskanaler för mjölkprodukter

Mjölkproduktion är viktigt för svenskt jordbruk. Sektorn står för sammanlagt en femtedel av jordbrukets produktionsvärde. Trenden bland mjölkproducenterna går mot att de med små besättningar avvecklar sin verksamhet medan de stora växer. Orsaken till det konstant minskande antalet producenter är rationaliseringen inom jordbruket, men även den svaga lönsamheten som i dagsläget råder i branschen. Distributionen och förädlingen inom den svenska mjölkindustrin domineras av ett fåtal stora mejerikooperativ som har marknadsmakt. Genom att använda sig av alternativa distributionskanaler, som i denna uppsats definieras som de kanaler som inte är direkt via de stora konventionella mejerikooperativen så som Arla, Milko och Skånemejerier, kan mjölkproducenten få större inflytande i distributionskedjan. Denna typ av distribution kan även skapa mervärden för producenten vilket gör att motiven att behålla verksamheten ökar. Problemet för mjölkproducenter som vill distribuera sina produkter via alternativa kanaler är att det är svårt för nya aktörer att träda in på mjölkmarknaden på grund av marknadsdominansen. Syftet med denna uppsats är att studera vilka fördelar och problem mjölkproducenter upplever med att använda alternativa distributionskanaler. Syftet är även att analysera vilka strategier mjölkproducenterna kan utnyttja för att vara konkurrenskraftiga på marknaden när de använder sig av alternativa distributionskanaler. För att utreda uppsatsens syfte har en empirisk studie i form av en kvalitativ intervjustudie med mjölkproducenter som använder alternativa distributionskanaler gjorts. Intervjustudien har kompletterats med en litteraturstudie inom området. Resultatet är att de fördelar mjölkproducenterna upplever med de alternativa distributions-kanalerna är att de får ökat inflytande och kontroll i distributionskanalen. En annan betydande fördel är att de kan skapa ett eget varumärke baserat på mervärden och därigenom förmedla en stolthet över sin produktion. Problem för mjölkproducenter som använder sig av alternativa distributionskanaler är att mejeriindustrin är reglerad av hårda krav och dessutom är kapitalintensiv. Ett annat problem är att distributionen blir ineffektiv då mjölkproducenten i många fall är småskalig och inte kan utnyttja stordriftsfördelar. Mjölkproducenterna upplever även svårigheter i att komma in i butikssortimentet. Ett framtida problem på marknaden för mjölkprodukter som distribueras genom alternativa kanaler är att konkurrensen ökar. För att en mjölkproducent ska kunna använda alternativa distributionskanaler och samtidigt vara konkurrenskraftig på marknaden krävs att producenten har en strategi som bygger på ett koncept med ett varumärke som förmedlar produktens mervärden. Dessa mervärden måste producenten sedan förmedla till konsumenten på ett trovärdigt sätt för att kunna bygga upp ett konkurrenskraftigt varumärke. Distributionen bör ske med få mellanhänder så att producenten har kontroll och inflytande över kedjan. För att underlätta och effektivisera distributionen bör producenten samarbeta med andra aktörer som strävar mot gemensamma intressen. Distributionen av mjölkprodukter bör ske genom en intensiv strategi men profileras med en exklusiv image eller så bör mjölken vidareförädlas så att produkten blir mer unik. På vilket sätt en mjölkproducent bör utnyttja distributionsstrategierna beror på verksamhetens omfattning och struktur

The role of relationships in lending to farmers

There have been significant changes in the agricultural sector during the past 20 years (Jordbruksverket, 2008). The development of today is towards deregulation and adaption to global market conditions. As farmers try to adapt to the changed and more competitive market conditions investments are often necessary (LRF Konsult et al, 2012). Loans to agriculture and forestry businesses have increased to record levels and debt has doubled over the past years. The financial turbulence of the past years has contributed to an increase of the meaningfulness and willingness of the banks to be able to understand and handle risks associated with agriculture and forestry (Breiding, 2010). Handelsbanken has during the last five years made a major expansion in the segment of farm and forestry clients. When assessing finance to farm businesses, it can be a costly and complicated process for the loan officer to find the right objective information; therefore the personal contact and relationship between the loan officer and the credit applicant is a very important factor in the credit evaluation process (Akhavein et al, 2004). Yet little is known about how the relationship is established and which factors affect the relationship (Hedelin & Sjöberg, 1992; Bruns 2003). The farm- and forestry division of Handelsbanken is interested in investigating how the relationship between the bank and its clients is established and what factors are influencing the relationship. The purpose of this study is to investigate how loan officers establish an understanding of applicants' personal character in the loan application process, and how that understanding together with the personal relationship that is formed between the loan officer and the credit applicant affects the credit evaluation. The approach of this project is explorative. According to Kvale (1997) the aim of an explorative study is to search for new dimensions of the unit of analysis. The reason for choosing an explorative approach of the study is that there has not been much research about the lending relationship between loan officers and farmers (Lindstrand, 2003). This study consists of a theoretical framework where data was collected in order to obtain a general understanding about relationships and the problems and solutions associated with lending relationships. In order to obtain a deeper understanding of the characteristics of the relationship in the credit evaluation process, literature that describes the problem associated with lending relationships is studied. A case study including interviews with 16 loan officers working at Handelsbanken were conducted in March and April 2012, in order to collect data for studying the relationship between loan officers and farmers. The conclusion that can be drawn from this study is that the loan officers establish an understanding of applicants' personal character in the loan application process by being interested in the credit applicant and his business. This creates legitimacy for the loan officer and he receives the credit applicants’ approval, which creates trust in the relationship. A relationship built on trust leads to improved communication between the loan officer and the credit applicant. The good communication can increase the flow of information, which leads to the establishment of a mutual understanding. This understanding between the parties decreases the problems of information asymmetry in the credit evaluation process, which makes the process more efficient and viable in a long-term perspective.Under de senaste 20 åren har det skett stora förändringar inom den agrara sektorn i Sverige (Jordbruksverket, 2008). Förändringarna har inneburit avregleringar av jordbrukspolitiken, vilket resulterat i lantbruksföretagare måste anpassa sig till alltmer marknadsmässiga krav och regelverk. Många lantbruksföretagare måste göra stora investeringar för att uppfylla de nya kraven och vara konkurrenskraftiga på marknaden (LRF Konsult et al, 2012). Investeringar innebär för många lantbrukare belåning av externt kapital, vilket också märks hos banker och kreditinstitut där utlåningsnivåerna till kunder inom den agrara sektorn fördubblats under de senaste åren. Den finansiella turbulens som råder på världsmarknaden sedan en tid gör att det är än viktigare att bankerna är insatta i och förstår förutsättningarna och riskerna med att bedriva skog- och lantbruk (Breiding, 2010). Handelsbanken är en av de svenska bankerna som under de senaste åren gjort en stor satsning inom detta segment genom att bygga upp en egen division för skog och lantbruk. Det kan vara en kostsam och komplicerad process för bankerna att hitta trovärdig och objektiv information om lantbruksföretag (Akhavein et al, 2004). Den personliga relationen mellan kreditgivaren och kredittagaren kan därför vara av stor betydelse för att kunna göra en rättvis kreditbedömning. Det finns inte så mycket forskning gjord om vilken betydelse den personliga relationen har vid kreditbedömningar och vilka faktorer som påverkar relationen (Hedelin & Sjöberg, 1992; Bruns 2003). Handelsbanken skog- och lantbruk är intresserade av att få en djupare förståelse för hur relationen mellan kreditgivare och kredittagare etableras samt hur relationen påverkar kreditgivningsprocessen. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur kreditgivare skapar sig en förståelse för kredittagarens personliga egenskaper, samt hur denna förståelse påverkar kreditbedömningsprocessen. Denna studie har ett explorativt angreppssätt. Enligt Kvale (1997) är syftet med en explorativ studie att söka efter nya dimensioner av studieobjektet. Ett explorativt angreppssätt passar denna studie eftersom ämnet ”betydelsen av relationen mellan kreditgivare och lantbruksföretagare” är relativt outforskat (Lindstrand, 2003). Denna studie består av ett teoretiskt ramverk för att ge en förståelse om affärsrelationer. Litteraturstudien består av en genomgång av vetenskapliga artiklar och böcker för att ge en djupare inblick i bankrelationer och relationens betydelse i kreditgivningsprocessen. För att applicera frågeställningen på lantbrukssektorn gjordes under mars och april 2012 en telefonintervjustudie med 16 skog- och lantbruksansvariga kredithandläggare inom Handelsbanken. Slutsatsen av denna studie är att kreditgivaren skapar sig en förståelse för kredittagarens personliga egenskaper genom sitt intresse för kredittagaren och dennes verksamhet. Kreditgivarens intresse och förståelse skapar ett gillande hos kredittagaren, vilket resulterar i ökad legitimitet för kreditgivaren och skapar ett förtroende i relationen. En relation baserad på förtroende leder till förbättrad kommunikation mellan parterna. Förbättrad kommunikation mellan de båda parterna kan öka flödet av information i kreditbedömningsprocessen. Ökat flöde av information och en ömsesidig förståelse minskar problemen med asymmetrisk information. Detta resulterar i en effektivare kreditbedömningsprocess och ger bättre förutsättningar för att relationen ska vara hållbar i ett längre perspektiv

Does patient self-management education of primary care professionals improve patient outcomes : a systematic review

Background: Patient self-management support is recognised as a key component of chronic care. Education and training for health professionals has been shown in the literature to be associated with better uptake, implementation and effectiveness of self-management programs, however, there is no clear evidence regarding whether this training results in improved health outcomes for patients with chronic conditions. Methods: A systematic review was undertaken using the PRISMA guidelines using the Cochrane Library, PubMEd, ERIC, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web searches, Hand searches and Bibliographies. Articles published from inception to September 1st, 2013 were included. Systematic reviews, Meta-analysis, Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), Controlled clinical trials, Interrupted time series and Controlled before and after studies, which reported on primary care health professionals' continuing education or evidence-based medicine/education on patient self-management for any chronic condition, were included. A minimum of two reviewers participated independently at each stage of review. Results: From 7533 abstracts found, only two papers provided evidence on the effectiveness of self-management education for primary healthcare professionals in terms of measured outcomes in patients. These two articles show improvement in patient outcomes for chronic back pain and diabetes based on RCTs. The educational interventions with health professionals spanned a range of techniques and modalities but both RCTs included a motivational interviewing component. Conclusions: Before and up to 2 years after the incorporation of patient empowerment for self-management into the WONCA Europe definition of general practice, there was a scarcity of high quality evidence showing improved outcomes for patients as a result of educating health professionals in patient self-management of chronic conditions.Peer reviewe

The gorgonian coral Eunicella labiata hosts a distinct prokaryotic consortium amenable to cultivation

Microbial communities inhabiting gorgonian corals are believed to benefit their hosts through nutrient provision and chemical defence; yet much remains to be learned about their phylogenetic uniqueness and cultivability. Here, we determined the prokaryotic community structure and distinctiveness in the gorgonian Eunicella labiata by Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA genes from gorgonian and seawater metagenomic DNA. Furthermore, we used a 'plate-wash' methodology to compare the phylogenetic diversity of the 'total' gorgonian bacteriome and its 'cultivatable' fraction. With 1016 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), prokaryotic richness was higher in seawater than in E. labiata where 603 OTUs were detected, 68 of which were host-specific. Oceanospirillales and Rhodobacterales predominated in the E. labiata communities. One Oceanospirillales OTU, classified as Endozoicomonas, was particularly dominant, and closest relatives comprised exclusively uncultured clones from other gorgonians. We cultivated a remarkable 62% of the bacterial symbionts inhabiting E. labiata: Ruegeria, Sphingorhabdus, Labrenzia, other unclassified Rhodobacteraceae, Vibrio and Shewanella ranked among the 10 most abundant genera in both the cultivation-independent and dependent samples. In conclusion, the E. labiata microbiome is diverse, distinct from seawater and enriched in (gorgonian)-specific bacterial phylotypes. In contrast to current understanding, many dominant E. labiata symbionts can, indeed, be cultivated.Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology [EXPL/MAR-EST/1664/2013, SFRH/BPD/34282/2006]German Volkswagen (VW) foundation [Az. 81 040-2]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Physical Activity through Sustainable Transport Approaches (PASTA): A study protocol for a multicentre project

Introduction: Only one-third of the European population meets the minimum recommended levels of physical activity (PA). Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases. Walking and cycling for transport (active mobility, AM) are well suited to provide regular PA. The European research project Physical Activity through Sustainable Transport Approaches (PASTA) pursues the following aims: (1) to investigate correlates and interrelations of AM, PA, air pollution and crash risk; (2) to evaluate the effectiveness of selected interventions to promote AM; (3) to improve health impact assessment (HIA) of AM; (4) to foster the exchange between the disciplines of public health and transport planning, and between research and practice. Methods and analysis: PASTA pursues a mixed-method and multilevel approach that is consistently applied in seven case study cities. Determinants of AM and the evaluation of measures to increase AM are investigated through a large scale longitudinal survey, with overall 14 000 respondents participating in Antwerp, Barcelona, London, Örebro, Rome, Vienna and Zurich. Contextual factors are systematically gathered in each city. PASTA generates empirical findings to improve HIA for AM, for example, with estimates of crash risks, factors on AM-PA substitution and carbon emissions savings from mode shifts. Findings from PASTA will inform WHO's online Health Economic Assessment Tool on the health benefits from cycling and/or walking. The study's wide scope, the combination of qualitative and quantitative methods and health and transport methods, the innovative survey design, the general and city-specific analyses, and the transdisciplinary composition of the consortium and the wider network of partners promise highly relevant insights for research and practice. Ethics and dissemination: Ethics approval has been obtained by the local ethics committees in the countries where the work is being conducted, and sent to the European Commission before the start of the survey. The PASTA website (http://www.pastaproject.eu) is at the core of all communication and dissemination activities. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution IGO License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/igo/), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction for non-commercial purposes in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. In any reproduction of this article there should not be any suggestion that WHO or this article endorse any specific organisation or products. The use of the WHO logo is not permitted. This notice should be preserved along with the article's original URL

Physical Activity through Sustainable Transport Approaches (PASTA): a study protocol for a multicentre project

Introduction: Only one-third of the European population meets the minimum recommended levels of physical activity (PA). Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases. Walking and cycling for transport (active mobility, AM) are well suited to provide regular PA. The European research project Physical Activity through Sustainable Transport Approaches (PASTA) pursues the following aims: (1) to investigate correlates and interrelations of AM, PA, air pollution and crash risk; (2) to evaluate the effectiveness of selected interventions to promote AM; (3) to improve health impact assessment (HIA) of AM; (4) to foster the exchange between the disciplines of public health and transport planning, and between research and practice. Methods and analysis: PASTA pursues a mixed-method and multilevel approach that is consistently applied in seven case study cities. Determinants of AM and the evaluation of measures to increase AM are investigated through a large scale longitudinal survey, with overall 14 000 respondents participating in Antwerp, Barcelona, London, Örebro, Rome, Vienna and Zurich. Contextual factors are systematically gathered in each city. PASTA generates empirical findings to improve HIA for AM, for example, with estimates of crash risks, factors on AM-PA substitution and carbon emissions savings from mode shifts. Findings from PASTA will inform WHO's online Health Economic Assessment Tool on the health benefits from cycling and/or walking. The study's wide scope, the combination of qualitative and quantitative methods and health and transport methods, the innovative survey design, the general and city-specific analyses, and the transdisciplinary composition of the consortium and the wider network of partners promise highly relevant insights for research and practice. Ethics and dissemination: Ethics approval has been obtained by the local ethics committees in the countries where the work is being conducted, and sent to the European Commission before the start of the survey. The PASTA website (http://www.pastaproject.eu) is at the core of all communication and dissemination activities. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution IGO License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/igo/), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction for non-commercial purposes in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. In any reproduction of this article there should not be any suggestion that WHO or this article endorse any specific organisation or products. The use of the WHO logo is not permitted. This notice should be preserved along with the article's original URL. Document type: Articl

Murine Polyomavirus Virus-Like Particles Carrying Full-Length Human PSA Protect BALB/c Mice from Outgrowth of a PSA Expressing Tumor

Virus-like particles (VLPs) consist of capsid proteins from viruses and have been shown to be usable as carriers of protein and peptide antigens for immune therapy. In this study, we have produced and assayed murine polyomavirus (MPyV) VLPs carrying the entire human Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) (PSA-MPyVLPs) for their potential use for immune therapy in a mouse model system. BALB/c mice immunized with PSA-MPyVLPs were only marginally protected against outgrowth of a PSA-expressing tumor. To improve protection, PSA-MPyVLPs were co-injected with adjuvant CpG, either alone or loaded onto murine dendritic cells (DCs). Immunization with PSA-MPyVLPs loaded onto DCs in the presence of CpG was shown to efficiently protect mice from tumor outgrowth. In addition, cellular and humoral immune responses after immunization were examined. PSA-specific CD4+ and CD8+ cells were demonstrated, but no PSA-specific IgG antibodies. Vaccination with DCs loaded with PSA-MPyVLPs induced an eight-fold lower titre of anti-VLP antibodies than vaccination with PSA-MPyVLPs alone. In conclusion, immunization of BALB/c mice with PSA-MPyVLPs, loaded onto DCs and co-injected with CpG, induces an efficient PSA-specific tumor protective immune response, including both CD4+ and CD8+ cells with a low induction of anti-VLP antibodies

CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells Can Act Separately in Tumour Rejection after Immunization with Murine Pneumotropic Virus Chimeric Her2/neu Virus-Like Particles

BACKGROUND: Immunization with murine pneumotropic virus virus-like particles carrying Her2/neu (Her2MPtVLPs) prevents tumour outgrowth in mice when given prophylactically, and therapeutically if combined with the adjuvant CpG. We investigated which components of the immune system are involved in tumour rejection, and whether long-term immunological memory can be obtained. METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS: During the effector phase in BALB/c mice, only depletion of CD4+ and CD8+ in combination, with or without NK cells, completely abrogated tumour protection. Depletion of single CD4+, CD8+ or NK cell populations only had minor effects. During the immunization/induction phase, combined depletion of CD4+ and CD8+ cells abolished protection, while depletion of each individual subset had no or negligible effect. When tumour rejection was studied in knock-out mice with a C57Bl/6 background, protection was lost in CD4-/-CD8-/- and CD4-/-, but not in CD8-/- mice. In contrast, when normal C57Bl/6 mice were depleted of different cell types, protection was lost irrespective of whether only CD4+, only CD8+, or CD4+ and CD8+ cells in combination were eradicated. No anti-Her2/neu antibodies were detected but a Her2/neu-specific IFNgamma response was seen. Studies of long-term memory showed that BALB/c mice could be protected against tumour development when immunized together with CpG as long as ten weeks before challenge. CONCLUSION: Her2MPtVLP immunization is efficient in stimulating several compartments of the immune system, and induces an efficient immune response including long-term memory. In addition, when depleting mice of isolated cellular compartments, tumour protection is not as efficiently abolished as when depleting several immune compartments together

Hair Cortisol in Twins : Heritability and Genetic Overlap with Psychological Variables and Stress-System Genes

A. Palotie on työryhmän jäsen.Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) is a promising measure of long-term hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity. Previous research has suggested an association between HCC and psychological variables, and initial studies of inter-individual variance in HCC have implicated genetic factors. However, whether HCC and psychological variables share genetic risk factors remains unclear. The aims of the present twin study were to: (i) assess the heritability of HCC; (ii) estimate the phenotypic and genetic correlation between HPA axis activity and the psychological variables perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and neuroticism; using formal genetic twin models and molecular genetic methods, i.e. polygenic risk scores (PRS). HCC was measured in 671 adolescents and young adults. These included 115 monozygotic and 183 dizygotic twin-pairs. For 432 subjects PRS scores for plasma cortisol, major depression, and neuroticism were calculated using data from large genome wide association studies. The twin model revealed a heritability for HCC of 72%. No significant phenotypic or genetic correlation was found between HCC and the three psychological variables of interest. PRS did not explain variance in HCC. The present data suggest that HCC is highly heritable. However, the data do not support a strong biological link between HCC and any of the investigated psychological variables.Peer reviewe

Post-intervention Status in Patients With Refractory Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab During REGAIN and Its Open-Label Extension

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether eculizumab helps patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) achieve the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) post-intervention status of minimal manifestations (MM), we assessed patients' status throughout REGAIN (Safety and Efficacy of Eculizumab in AChR+ Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis) and its open-label extension. METHODS: Patients who completed the REGAIN randomized controlled trial and continued into the open-label extension were included in this tertiary endpoint analysis. Patients were assessed for the MGFA post-intervention status of improved, unchanged, worse, MM, and pharmacologic remission at defined time points during REGAIN and through week 130 of the open-label study. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients completed REGAIN and continued into the open-label study (eculizumab/eculizumab: 56; placebo/eculizumab: 61). At week 26 of REGAIN, more eculizumab-treated patients than placebo-treated patients achieved a status of improved (60.7% vs 41.7%) or MM (25.0% vs 13.3%; common OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-4.5). After 130 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 88.0% of patients achieved improved status and 57.3% of patients achieved MM status. The safety profile of eculizumab was consistent with its known profile and no new safety signals were detected. CONCLUSION: Eculizumab led to rapid and sustained achievement of MM in patients with AChR+ refractory gMG. These findings support the use of eculizumab in this previously difficult-to-treat patient population. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: REGAIN, NCT01997229; REGAIN open-label extension, NCT02301624. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class II evidence that, after 26 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 25.0% of adults with AChR+ refractory gMG achieved MM, compared with 13.3% who received placebo