Seals at sea: modelling seal distribution in the German bight based on aerial survey data

The Wadden Sea is an important habitat for harbour seals and grey seals. They regularly haul-out on sandbanks and islands along the coast. Comparably little is known about the time seals spend at sea and how they use the remainder of the North Sea. Yet, human activity in offshore waters is increasing and information on seal distribution in the North Sea is crucial for conservation and management. Aerial line transect surveys were conducted in the German bight from 2002 to 2007 to investigate the distribution and abundance of marine mammals. Distance sampling methodology was combined with density surface modelling for a spatially explicit analysis of seal distribution in the German North Sea. Depth and distance to coast were found to be relevant predictor variables for seal density. Density surface modelling allowed for a depiction of seal distribution in the study area as well as an abundance estimate. This is the first study to use aerial survey data to develop a density surface model (DSM) for a spatially explicit distribution estimate of seals at se

Why Firms Form Research Joint Ventures: Theory and Evidence

The literature on research joint ventures (RJVs) has emphasized internalizing spillovers and cost-sharing as motives for RJV formation. In this paper we develop two additional explanations: product market complementarities and firm heterogeneity. We analyze a model of RJVs with asymmetric firms and differentiated products. We then test these various explanations for RJV formation using data now available through the U.S. National Cooperative Research Act. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG - (Warum Unternehmen Forschungs-Joint Ventures gründen: Theorie und Empirie) Die Literatur über Forschungs-Joint Ventures (FJVs) hat die Internalisierung von Spillovers und die Kostenaufteilung als Motive für das Entstehen von FJVs hervorgehoben. In dieser Studie werden zwei weitere Erklärungen mitaufgenommen: die Produktmarktkomplementarität und die Unternehmensheterogenität. Diese Motive werden mit Hilfe von Daten, die aufgrund des U:S:-amerikanischen "National Cooperative Research Act" verfügbar sind, getestet.Research & Development; Joint Venture; Product Market Competition

Bioaccumulation of PCB & DDE methyl sulfones in marine mammals and their interactions with receptor proteins

PCB and DDE-Methyl sulphone metabolites are the product of enzymatic and bile acid entero hepatic metabolism in the final phase (III) of PCB and DDE detoxification in mammals following hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450-dependent metabolism (phase I) and conjugation (phase II). There is good evidence that PCB and DDE methyl sulphone (MSF) metabolites interfere with steroid binding to a receptor protein in uterine epithelium (uteroglobin - UG2 and bronchial epithelium (clara cell secretory protein - CCSP). UG and CCSP are homologous 16,000 Da proteins with different tissue-specific functions. UG binds progesterone in the pre-implantation uterus to signal localised endometrial thickening and capillary formation, vital for successful attachment of the fertilised embryo. PCB-MSFs can displace progesterone in the mammalian uterus due to their higher affinity for UG, resulting in implantation failure or early fetal death. CCSP however, functions to sequester phospholipase A2 (PLA2) released in response to stress (pathogenic infection / injury) to suppress inflammatory responses triggered by PLA2 in bronchial epithelium. CCSP is also known as retinol-binding protein (RBP) transporting retinol (vit A) to target epithelia for a functional immune response*. Studies with Harbour Seals demonstrated displacement of retinol from RBP by hydroxy-PCB metabolites resulting in immunosuppression. PCB-MSFs have been shown to accumulate in clara cells and uterine epithelium in laboratory radioactive tracer studies and CCSP-knock out studies with mice. PCB and DDE -MSFs burdens have been found in marine mammals, suggesting they may be subject to reproductive and immuno-toxic effects of these metabolites. This study determines PCB and DDE-MSFs burdens in tissues (including lung & uterus) of Harbour Seal (Phoca vitulina) and Striped Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) morbillivirus victims and characterises the marine mammalian UG/CCSP protein

ENHANCING THE FINANCIAL AND MARKETING PERFORMANCE OF FIRMS IN THE SMOKED AND PROCESSED MEAT INDUSTRY

Small smoked and processed meat manufacturers constitute a unique cottage industry in Texas. This paper assesses ways for such firms to improve their financial performance through better marketing strategies. The results indicate that, on average, small firms tend to be the most profitable. This is true whether size is measured in terms of dollars, pounds, or number of employees. The more profitable firms tend to be those that are located in rural areas or in shopping centers; those that make the majority of their sales at their own stores; those that do less of their own distribution; and those that emphasize fresh meat sales and de-emphasize jerky sales.Agribusiness,

The Capacity Building programmes of GITEWS – visions, goals, lessons learned, and re-iterated needs and demands

It was envisioned that the framework of the German-Indonesian Tsunami Early Warning System (GITEWS) should achieve an integral architecture and overarching technical design of an end-to-end tsunami early warning system (TEWS). In order to achieve this ambitious goal on a national and local level, a tailored set of capacity building measures has been started and implemented. The programme was meant and designed to meet requirements and urgent needs considering awareness raising campaigns, technical trainings and higher level education programs. These components have been integrated as complementary modules in order to ensure facilitating the early warning system to be operated, maintained and improved, and that institutions and people in coastal areas will respond adequately and timely in case of future tsunamis. Remarkable progress has been accomplished as well as programs and campaigns are being implemented in regard to a sustainable capacity development conducted by national institutions in Indonesia. Yet, local administrative and preparedness efforts on the Indonesian coastlines are still underdeveloped. This stems from the fact of missing links towards sustainable coastal zone management schemes on a broad local level. Yet, the demand and urgent need for an adequate and integrated disaster risk reduction and management addressing also other hazards in the region of interest is (still) substantial. Given the tragic loss of life and severe damages resulting from the December 2004 tsunami and recent series of severe earthquakes, the need for urgent mitigating action in the imperilled coastal regions of Sumatra and Java remains extremely high. The conceptual Capacity Building framework, its anticipated goals in the beginning of the project and, lately, the finally achieved objectives are promising. A significant contribution for mainstreaming scientific approaches and transfer methodological disaster risk reduction attempts towards other regions exposed to coastal hazards is still pending. Local authorities and researchers in tentative affected regions are now trained and enabled to disseminate and apply their knowledge and planning experience to other coastal regions in the area to help facilitating and multiplying effective disaster management plans and strategies. Yet, the Capacity Building framework within GITEWS also elucidated gaps in the early warning chain so that updated and to some extent re-iterated needs and demands in Capacity Building programs in any future research or development cooperation project are presented and discussed

ASSESSING THE ECONOMICS OF FOOD SAFETY ACTIVITIES: STUDIES OF BEEF SLAUGHTER AND MEAT PROCESSING

Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

A taxonomic revision of Boerhavia (Nyctaginaceae) in southern Africa

AbstractThe genus Boerhavia in southern Africa is revised. Eight species and one infraspecific taxon are recognized for the Flora of Southern Africa region, with Boerhavia orbicularifolia Struwig described as new. Four of the species are indigenous, with three endemic to semi-arid parts of Namibia and north-western South Africa. The eight species can be distinguished from one another by the shape and indumentum of the anthocarp. The majority of taxa have no edaphic preferences but Boerhavia repens subsp. repens is associated with high Mg levels. This is a first attempt at a comprehensive taxonomic revision for the genus in southern Africa, and includes a key to the species, complete nomenclature, and a description of all the infrageneric taxa. Taxon accounts are supplemented with geographical distribution records, notes on the ecology, soil preferences and known traditional uses