Flexible quota constraints in positive mathematical programming models

To explain over- and underuse of available quota, Buysse et al. (2007) have integrated the shadow cost of the quota constraint in a quota flexibility function in a positive mathematical programming model. This method and central hypothesis, formulated and tested for the case of Belgian sugar beet farms, is in current paper extended and confirmed for the cases of Flemish dairy quota and manure emission rights. Despite the different organisation, objectives and implementations of the diverse quota systems, the results are similar. A higher utilisation of quota is significantly driven by the quota rent, but farm characteristics are also important and the effect declines with increasing quota rent. Regardless the quota, the dairy quota flexibility behaviour of the sample of Flemish farms results in an output price elasticity of 0.6%. The quota flexibility functions can be used for policy analysis, model sophistication and farm advisory instrument.Quota, flexibility, Positive Mathematical Programming, farm model, Common Agricultural Policy, Agricultural and Food Policy, Demand and Price Analysis, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

Fertilization: trade-offs between manure abatement and plant productivity

In 2005, 30% of the Flemish farms faced a manure excess, while at aggregated level still 9.7% of the emission rights were unused. This means that, despite the various possibilities, Flemish farmers do not succeed in an effective exchange of manure between farms. In current paper is shown how inorganic fertilizer use influences the use and exchange of organic nitrogen. Because of the mutual interdependency between organic and inorganic nitrogen emission rights (or quota), inorganic nitrogen use limits the emission rights for organic nitrogen. Utilisation of these emission rights are analysed as a trade-offs choice between plant productivity (use of inorganic nitrogen) and manure disposal, as the major abatement alternative of manure production. Farmers still prefer inorganic fertilizers because of their effect on plant productivity and income. However, by changing the quota rent of organic nitrogen, the fertilization behaviour can be influenced. A higher quota rent of organic nitrogen would increase the use of manure. This trade-off behaviour seriously influences effectiveness of policies. When the objective is to lower the total nitrogen use, a mere reduction of organic quota can partially be counteracted by a higher inorganic nitrogen use. When the objective is to better spread the manure, increasing the quota rent for deficit farms will increase their acceptance of manure.manure abatement, nutrient emission rights, Tobit model, Crop Production/Industries,

The effects of early developmental stress and exercise intervention on neurodegeneration in a rat model of Parkinson's disease

Includes bibliographical references (p. 224-253).Early developmental stress has been shown to produce numerous deleterious effects, e.g. the later development of affective disorders, and this has been related to chronic enhanced hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity. Animal studies have shown that maternally separated rats exhibit increased anxiety- and depression-like behaviour in adulthood, although other evidence shows hyperactivity and impulsivity in such cases. Given that stress has these behavioural effects, it is of interest to determine whether early developmental stress might enhance the toxicity of a later unrelated neural insult. The 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) model of Parkinson's disease involves the selective unilateral lesion of nigrostriatal dopamine neurons. In this group of studies it was hypothesized that maternal separation might enhance the toxic effects of 6-OHDA

Risso's dolphins alter daily resting pattern in response to whale watching at the Azores

Peer reviewedPreprin

Derogation on the EU Nitrates Directive: does it make a difference?

The paper discusses an ex ante evaluation of the derogation on the Nitrates Directive for Flanders, Belgium, which is a case of intensive but highly productive livestock areas. The aim is to develop an accurate simulation model to detect small differences in manure surpluses caused by changes of manure production and/or utilization. The system of models consists of various modules to fine tune the calculations of manure production, fertilizing behaviour and manure allocation and disposal on and off farm. The results show that derogation may cause the existing manure surpluses to expire, if only nitrogen limits are considered and no transactions costs are taken into account. When also phosphate fertilization limits are considered, the increase in manuring possibilities is much lower than expected. Ongoing research focuses on the marginal shifts in manure surplus at farm level and possible effects of transactions costs.Nitrates Directive, derogation, modelling, Environmental Economics and Policy, Livestock Production/Industries,

A FARM LEVEL ANALYSIS OF THE RELATION BETWEEN CAP REFORMS AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATIONS: HOW AND IN WHICH EXTENT FLEMISH DAIRY FARMERS CAN FILL UP EXTRA MILK QUOTA?

The agricultural policies shift gradually from EU-level organised market interventions to local organised environmental policies. This paper explores the growth possibilities of the Flemish dairy sector with the outlook of a quota abolishment as a case study of this policy shift. The dairy quota policy seems very restrictive for the highly profitable Flemish dairy sector, but the environmental restrictions from the manure regulation can limit the growth of the dairy sector as well. The paper uses a spatial multi-agent simulation model applied to a sample of 40.000 farms to estimate price development of emission rights and their possible impact on the growth of the dairy production. The results show that a higher milk production leads to higher prices for emission rights. However, the increased cost of manure emission rights is not expected to impede dairy farm growth because the current milk quota rent estimates go far beyond the cost of manure emission rights.milk quota, manure emission rights, mathematical programming, Flanders, Agricultural and Food Policy, Industrial Organization, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, C02, C61, L11, Q18,

Effects of a flat rate introduction: shifts in farm activity and impact on farmers' income

Current thoughts on CAP changes, e.g. the "Health Check", emphasize the necessity to move away from payments based on historical receipts towards a "flatter rate" system. The aim of current research is to simulate the impact of a flat rate system (equal payments per hectare of cultivated land) compared to the current historical system (payments based on individual historic entitlements). Impact on production and income of arable, dairy and cattle farms of two different flat rate scenario's, is assessed with a farm-based sector model for Flanders. The model maximizes income at farm level, calibrated to observed farming behavior in 2001-2003. Farm data can be selected by farm type, size and region, simulations could be run for specific sub sectors, size classes or regions. In the two simulated flat rate scenario's subsectors will gain subsidies at the expense of other subsectors. However, farms can compensate a substantial part of their income loss by changing activity choice.Positive Mathematical Programming, farm model, Common Agricultural Policy, Payment Entitlements., Agricultural and Food Policy, Agricultural Finance, Farm Management, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

A Presynaptic Kainate Receptor Is Involved in Regulating the Dynamic Properties of Thalamocortical Synapses during Development

AbstractPrevious studies have shown that pharmacological activation of presynaptic kainate receptors at glutamatergic synapses facilitates or depresses transmission in a dose-dependent manner. However, the only synaptically activated kainate autoreceptor described to date is facilitatory. Here, we describe a kainate autoreceptor that depresses synaptic transmission. This autoreceptor is present at developing thalamocortical synapses in the barrel cortex, specifically regulates transmission at frequencies corresponding to those observed in vivo during whisker activation, and is developmentally down regulated during the first postnatal week. This receptor may, therefore, limit the transfer of high-frequency activity to the developing cortex, the loss of which mechanism may be important for the maturation of sensory processing

Co-located Heroin Assisted Treatment within primary care: A preliminary analysis of the implications for healthcare access, cost, and treatment delivery in the UK.

The UK is experiencing its highest rate of drug related deaths in 25 years. Poor and inconsistent access to healthcare negatively impacts health outcomes for people who use drugs. Innovation in models of care which promote access and availability of physical treatment is fundamental. Heroin Assisted Treatment (HAT) is a treatment modality targeted at the most marginalised people who use drugs, at high risk of mortality and morbidity. The first service-provider initiated HAT service in the UK ran between October 2019 and November 2022 in Middlesbrough, England. The service was co-located within a specialist primary care facility offering acute healthcare treatment alongside injectable diamorphine. Analysis of anonymised health records for healthcare costs (not including drug treatment) took place using descriptive statistics prior and during engagement with HAT, at both three (n=15) and six (n=12) months. Primary outcome measures were incidents of wound care, skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), overdose (OD) events, unplanned overnight stays in hospital, treatment engagement (general and within hospital care settings) and ambulance incidents. Secondary outcome measures were costs associated with these events. A shift in healthcare access for participants during HAT engagement was observed. HAT service attendance appeared to support health promoting preventative care, and reduce reactive reliance on emergency healthcare systems. At three and six months, engagement for preventative wound care and treatment for SSTIs increased at the practice. Unplanned emergency healthcare interactions for ODs, overnight hospital stays, serious SSTIs, and ambulance incidents reduced, and there was an increase in treatment engagement (i.e. a reduction in appointments which were not engaged with). There was a decrease in treatment engagement in hospital settings. Changes in healthcare utilisation during HAT translated to a reduction in healthcare costs of 58% within six months compared to the same timeframe from the period directly prior to commencing HAT. This exploratory study highlights the potential for innovative harm reduction interventions such as HAT, co-located with primary care services, to improve healthcare access and engagement for a high-risk population. Increased uptake of primary healthcare services translated to reductions in emergency healthcare use and associated costs. Although costs of HAT provision are substantial, the notable cost-savings in health care should be an important consideration in service implementation planning. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.