European Organic Production Statistics 1993 - 1996

Detailed official statistics on organic farming in Europe are scarce. This volume is the most authoritative source for statistical data on organic farming with respect to land area, number of farms, livestock and crop production for all EU member countries plus Norway, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. Time series are provided from 1993 - 1996. This book is essential reading for policy makers, the private sector, researchers and students in the field of economics and politics of organic farming

The Policy and Regulatory Environment for Organic Farming in Europe

Organic Farming is one of the key issues in reshaping European agricultural policy. This book clarifies the policy and regulatory environment within which organic farming currently operates in all EU-15 member states and in three non-EU countries (Norway, Switzerland and the Czech Republic). European and national regulations and their implementation are reviewed. Focus is led on agri-environmental and mainstream agricultural support measures, marketing and regional development programmes, certification systems and organic farming support in the form of advice, training and research. The book aims at policy makers, the private sector, researchers and students in the field of economics and politics of organic farming

GA tuning of pitch controller for small scale MAVs

The paper presents the application of intelligent tuning methods for the control of a prototype MAV in order to address problems associated with bandwidth limited actuators and gust alleviation. Specifically, as a proof of concept, the investigation is focused on the pitch control of a MAV. The work is supported by experimental results from wind tunnel testing that shows the merits of the use of Genetic Algorithm (GA) tuning techniques compared to classical, empirical tuning methodologies. To provide a measure of relative merit, the controller responses are evaluated using the ITAE performance index. In this way, the proposed method is shown to induce far superior dynamic performance compared to traditional approaches

A three-phase to single-phase matrix converter for high-frequency induction heating

The paper describes a new three-phase to single-phase matrix converter featuring unity input power factor, very low input total harmonic distortion, and soft-switching over the full power range, for high frequency induction heating applications. A variable output pulse density modulation scheme has been proposed for stable operation of the converter, with the notable feature of requiring no on-line calculations for the synthesis of three-phase input current system. Practical issues in realising the converter, viz. line frequency synchronisation and output current circulation, are described. Good agreement between simulation and experimental results confirm the benefits of the proposed converter

Recruiting hard-to-reach populations to physical activity studies : evidence and experiences

Most researchers who are conducting research with a public health focus face difficulties in recruiting the segments of the population that they really want to reach. This symposium presented evidence and experiences on recruiting participants to physical activity research, including both epidemiological and intervention based studies. Results from a systematic review of recruitment strategies suggested that we know little about how best to recruit and highlighted the need for researchers to report this in more detail, including metrics of reach into the target population such as number, proportion, and representativeness of participants. Specific strategies used to optimise responses to a population-based mail survey were presented such as study promotion, survey design, multiple mailings, and personal engagement. Finally, using place based recruiting via schools or places of worship to target ethnic minority youth were discussed. Overall the symposium presenters suggested that we need to learn more about how best to recruit participants, in particular those typically under-represented, and that researchers need to apportion a similar amount of planning effort to their recruitment strategies as they do the their research design. Finally we made a plea for researchers to report their recruitment processes in detail

Conductivity of Paired Composite Fermions

We develop a phenomenological description of the nu=5/2 quantum Hall state in which the Halperin-Lee-Read theory of the half-filled Landau level is combined with a p-wave pairing interaction between composite fermions (CFs). The electromagnetic response functions for the resulting mean-field superconducting state of the CFs are calculated and used in an RPA calculation of the q and omega dependent longitudinal conductivity of the physical electrons, a quantity which can be measured experimentally

Prompt energization of relativistic and highly relativistic electrons during a substorm interval: Van Allen Probes observations

Abstract On 17 March 2013, a large magnetic storm significantly depleted the multi-MeV radiation belt. We present multi-instrument observations from the Van Allen Probes spacecraft Radiation Belt Storm Probe A and Radiation Belt Storm Probe B at ~6 Re in the midnight sector magnetosphere and from ground-based ionospheric sensors during a substorm dipolarization followed by rapid reenergization of multi-MeV electrons. A 50% increase in magnetic field magnitude occurred simultaneously with dramatic increases in 100 keV electron fluxes and a 100 times increase in VLF wave intensity. The 100 keV electrons and intense VLF waves provide a seed population and energy source for subsequent radiation belt enhancements. Highly relativistic (\u3e2 MeV) electron fluxes increased immediately at L* ~ 4.5 and 4.5 MeV flux increased \u3e90 times at L* = 4 over 5 h. Although plasmasphere expansion brings the enhanced radiation belt multi-MeV fluxes inside the plasmasphere several hours postsubstorm, we localize their prompt reenergization during the event to regions outside the plasmasphere. Key Points Substorm dynamics are important for highly relativistic electron energization Cold plasma preconditioning is significant for rapid relativistic energization Relativistic / highly relativistic electron energization can occur in \u3c 5 hrs

The Policy and Regulatory Environment for Organic Farming in Europe: Country Reports

This Volume (2) documents in detail the policies and regulations to organic farming for all 15 EU member states and for three non-EU countries (Norway, Switzerland and the Czech Republic). European and national regulations and their implementation are reviewed covering agri-environmental and mainstream agricultural support measures, marketing and regional development programmes, certification system and oranic farming support in the form of advice, training and research. Volume (1) provides a comparative analysis of the policy and regulatory environment within which organic farming currently operates in these countries. The book aims at policy makers, the private sector, researchers and students in the field of economics and politics of organic farming