NEW AGGREGATE AND SOURCE SPECIFIC PORK IMPORT DEMAND ELASTICITY FOR JAPAN: IMPLICATIONS TO U.S. EXPORTS

A two-stage model estimates aggregate and source-specific import demand elasticities for pork in Japan. The low income elasticity of imported pork and low income elasticity of U.S. pork reflect consumer survey results of low quality rating for imported pork compared to domestic pork, and rating for U.S. pork not higher than Canadian pork. To maintain and increase market share, the U.S. needs strategies to reverse consumer attitude by positioning U.S. pork as high quality, safe, and low cost.Demand and Price Analysis, International Relations/Trade, Livestock Production/Industries,

Achieving gender equality through paid and unpaid Work: An exploration of mothers’ perspectives on work

The prevailing understanding of work as paid work is reflected in political efforts to achieve gender equality, which include emphasising that women, like men, should increasingly pursue paid work. This exploratory research aims to question whether this idea to align female with male life patterns is conducive to gender equality and to promote new insights based on mothers’ experiences. Our analysis is based on guided interviews with eight Swiss mothers in part-time employment who have at least one child aged three or older, and a working partner in the same household. The interviews show that these mothers do not share the expectation that all mothers should take on the main responsibility for domestic and care work, nor the expectation that all women should be doing full-time paid work. They would like to see greater acceptance and appreciation of different forms of work. This research concludes that gender justice can be understood as a freedom of choice that includes both the right to be doing paid work and the right to have time for domestic and care work—for men and women. Gender equality efforts do not have to be restricted to one form of work, but can leave room for different types of work and the appreciation of them.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Ocular response to silicone-hydrogel contact lenses

The thesis investigates the ocular response to silicone-hydrogel (SiH) contact lens wear, a relatively new contact lens material that has a higher modulus of rigidity and different surface coating than used in conventional hydrogel materials. The properties of SiH materials differ significantly from conventional hydrogels and, using subjective and objective means of assessment, the thesis examines how these properties affect reflection and biometry, ocular physiology, tear film characteristics, symptomatology, adverse events and complications. A range of standard and newly designed investigative techniques were employed, and latter involving novel imaging techniques, for the objective assessment of physiological changes which occur with contact lens wear. The study is the first to combine these techniques with biochemical analyses of the tear film composition. Forty-seven subjects were fitted with SiH lenses and randomly allocated to one of the two materials currently on the market (Lotrafilcon A or Balafilcon A) on an either daily or continuous wear basis. An additional control group of 14 age-matched non-contact lens wearers were monitored over the same period. Measurements were taken before and 1, 3, 6, 12 and 18 months after initial fitting. The findings reported in this thesis will enable contact lens practitioners and manufacturers to understand further the optical, physiological and biochemical nature of the ocular response to SiH contact lenses and hence facilitate the development of this important generation of contact lens material

Community Conditions Favorable for Substance Use

The probability of whether an individual engages in substance use is associated with several risk and protective factors. Effective prevention requires understanding these factors. The social-ecological model considers the complex interactions between individual, relationship, community, and societal factors. This can help us understand substance use in a public health context and design strategies to address the problem across multiple levels

Recovering from Substance Use Disorders: A Case for Peer Recovery Coaches

Peer recovery coaches (PRCs) are resources that are being increasingly utilized in the treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs). The role of a PRC is to act as mentor, guide, and role model to those with an SUD by providing a range of support services. The overall body of evidence suggests that PRCs can be effective; however, barriers to the widespread utilization of the peer-recovery approach still exist

Community Conditions Favorable for Substance Abuse

The probability of whether an individual engages in substance use is associated with several risk and protective factors. Effective prevention requires understanding these factors. The social-ecological model considers the complex interactions between individual, relationship, community, and societal factors. This can help us understand substance use in a public health context and design strategies to address the problem across multiple levels

Influência da raça na qualidade de couros caprinos

O estudo foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar a influência da raça na qualidade de couros caprinos. Foram utilizados cinco caprinos de cada uma das raças: Anglo Nubiana, Alpina e Saanen, com seis meses de idade. Os animais foram abatidos e as peles foram curtidas ao cromo e recurtidas com recurtente acrílico. Dos couros foram retiradas três amostras na posição paralela e três na perpendicular à linha dorsal para a avaliação da qualidade intrínseca de resistência à tração, ao rasgamento e ao lastômetro. As médias dos resultados foram comparadas pelo teste de Tukey ao nível de 5% de probabilidade. A raça não influenciou a resistência à distensão da superfície dos couros dos animais estudados no teste de lastômetro. As médias da resistência dos couros à tração foram maiores na posição longitudinal (P&#61500;0,05) para as três raças. Na posição longitudinal os couros dos caprinos Anglo Nubianos foram mais resistentes à tração (P<0,05), comparado com os couros das outras duas raças, que não apresentaram diferença entre si. A resistência dos couros ao rasgamento não sofreu influência da posição, porém na posição transversal os couros dos caprinos Anglo Nubianos foram mais resistentes (P<0,05), comparado com os couros das outras duas raças, que não apresentaram diferença entre si. A raça e a posição de retirada das amostras de couro influenciam a qualidade de couros caprinos

New Aggregate and Source-Specific Pork Import Demand Elasticity for Japan: Implications to U.S. Exports

The authors estimate aggregate and source-specific import demand elasticities for pork in Japan using a two-stage model that has two important advantages over other models: it allows substitution between domestic and imported products, and it avoids econometric problems in generating source-specific parameters. Pork imports into Japan are constrained by high protection and the strong preference Japanese consumers have for domestic pork. U.S. pork is inexpensive in Japan, but because food safety and quality drive pork demand in Japan, U.S. pork\u27s comparatively low price may not be providing a market advantage. However, U.S. pork exports to Japan have performed well over the past three years, suggesting that the U.S. may have benefited from disease challenges in Taiwan and the E.U. or that the U.S. is learning to meet Japanese consumer demands more effectively

Do anchor infrastructures matter for regional Smart Specialisation Strategy? The case of Alentejo

Do anchor infrastructures matter for regional Smart Specialisation Strategy (RIS3)? This paper investigates the potential of anchor infrastructures to leverage RIS3. An exploratory case study approach is employed. The data are derived from a huge infrastructure project in the Portuguese region of the Alentejo. The study reveals the effectiveness of investment in anchor infrastructure and its contribution to leveraging RIS3. The findings provide insights into the contribution of large public investments in RIS3, identifying key impacts along several important dimensions, shedding a light on one important dimension in Smart Specialisation studies hitherto ignored

Efeito da conservação e do curtimento na qualidade de couros ovinos.

Editado por Ana Rita de Araújo Nogueira, Simone Cristina Méo Niciur