TRADE IMPACTS OF VOLUNTARY QUALITY STANDARDS FOR LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS

This paper was presented at the INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS SYMPOSIUM in Auckland, New Zealand, January 18-19, 2001. The Symposium was sponsored by: the International Agricultural Trade Research Consortium, the Venture Trust, Massey University, New Zealand, and the Centre for Applied Economics and Policy Studies, Massey University. Dietary changes, especially in developing countries, are driving a massive increase in demand for livestock products. The objective of this symposium was to examine the consequences of this phenomenon, which some have even called a "revolution." How are dietary patterns changing, and can increased demands for livestock products be satisfied from domestic resources? If so, at what cost? What will be the flow-on impacts, for example, in terms of increased demands for feedgrains and the pressures for change within marketing systems? A supply-side response has been the continued development of large-scale, urban-based industrial livestock production systems that in many cases give rise to environmental concerns. If additional imports seem required, where will they originate and what about food security in the importing regions? How might market access conditions be re-negotiated to make increased imports achievable? Other important issues discussed involved food safety, animal health and welfare and the adoption of biotechnology, and their interactions with the negotiation of reforms to domestic and trade policies. Individual papers from this conference are available on AgEcon Search. If you would like to see the complete agenda and set of papers from this conference, please visit the IATRC Symposium web page at: http://www1.umn.edu/iatrc.intro.htmInternational Relations/Trade,

Fabrication of nanoparticle and protein nanostructures using nanoimprint lithography

Nanoimprint lithography (NIL) was used as a tool to pattern self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on silicon substrates because of its ability to pattern in the micrometer and nanometer ranges. The resulting polymer template behaved as a physical barrier preventing the formation of a SAM in the covered areas of the substrate. After polymer removal, patterned SAM were obtained. The versatility of\ud the method was shown in various nanofabrication schemes. Substrates were functionalized with a second type of silane adsorbate. Two types of substrates were thus made (i) topographical templates with a chemical functionalization and (ii) chemically patterned, topographically flat, substrates. Nano-objects such as molecules, nanoparticles and proteins were directed onto these two types of\ud substrates. Two types of interactions were used to direct the assembly of these nanoobjects namely electrostatic and supramolecular interactions. The advantage of supramolecular interactions is that the binding strength between the host and guest is known, the interaction is reversible and the attachment of the nano-object is made through a specific site, allowing control over the position of the nano-objects

Numerical method for the 2D simulation of the respiration

International audienceIn this article we are interested in the simulation of the air flow in the bronchial tree. The model we use has already been described by Baffico, Grandmont and Maury and is based on a three part description of the respiratory tract. This model leads, after time discretization, to a Stokes system with non standard dissipative boundary conditions that cannot be easily and directly implemented in most FEM software, in particular in FreeFEM++. The objective is here to provide a new numerical method that could be implemented in any softwares. After describing the method, we illustrate it by two-dimensional simulations

Determinants of transnational social capital: An opportunity-investment-ability perspective

This study suggests that it is critical for executives to develop transnational social capital (TSC), or professional relationships and ties that span national borders. We first provide a conceptual framework and careful operationalization of TSC that differentiates between bonding and bridging forms of social capital. We then examine the effect of three key determinants—opportunity, investment, and ability—on the TSC of executives. Using detailed survey data on 227 executives, our analysis suggests that international experience, investment in communicating with cross-border ties, and cosmopolitan ability have direct effects on overall TSC. We further demonstrate that international experience and cosmopolitan ability affect both bridging and bonding, but that investment in cross-border communication only affects bridging social capital. The study proposes that social capital is becoming more and more transnational as connections, interactions, and transactions increasingly span national borders, which has implications for international business and human resource management (HRM). Given our findings, it would make sense for global organizations to pay more attention to these, if they would like their members to develop this resource. We point out benefits to organizations and individuals

Images d’abattage : champ et hors champ de l’abattoir

« Il paraît singulier et souvent un peu inquiétant de s’intéresser aux abattoirs, tant ils suscitent d’images sanglantes et d’impressions sensibles répugnantes » écrit N. Vialles en guise d’introduction à sa recherche novatrice sur Le Sang et la chair (1987). S’intéresser aux images produites sur l’abattoir et l’abattage ne va pas non plus de soi. C’est sur ce constat que s’est bâti un travail sur un peu plus d’une année dont notre groupe composé de chercheurs en sciences sociales, réalisateu..

Images d'abattoir : la réalité crue ? Quelques pistes de réflexion sur le discours de l'image ayant trait à la mise à mort des animaux

Dans les sociétés industrielles et urbanisées, la mise à mort des animaux est reléguée dans un monde éloigné des villes et de la réalité sociale . La délégation progressive de la gestion de cette activité à des appareils spécialisés peut être vue en lien avec « le rapport à la mort, au sexe, à l'aléa, à tout ce que l'homme affronte difficilement sans médiation, et qui, d'après Marc Guillaume , ne serait plus assuré symboliquement à l'intérieur de la société ». Parler des abattoirs, « ..

188: Prevalence of early repolarization in congenital long QT syndrome A combination of early and delayed repolarization

Introductionearly repolarization (ER) in Brugada or short QT syndrome is common and has been associated to a less favourable outcome. Even if apparently paradoxical, ER can also be seen in long QT (LQT) but prevalence and correlations to other variables are unknown.Methods12 lead ECG of 37 LQT pts (19 men, 39±21 yo) and 80 matched controls were reviewed. LQT pts were selected by a positive genetic testing (n=27) or by showing abnormal T wave and long QT interval (n=10) either spontaneously or during epinephrin infusion. ER was defined by >1mm J point elevation in the inferior or lateral leads with notch or slurring pattern. Presence of ER was correlated to the clinical and ECG characteristics and results genetic analysis.ResultsQT was 409±53 msec in pts and 372±24 in controls (p<0.0001) (QTc 476±52 vs 392±26 msec, p<0.0001). Two LQT pts presented with resuscitated sudden death and 4 with syncope at the time of diagnosis.14/37 LQT pts (38%) had ER compared to 17/80 (21%) controls (p=0.05).ER was more frequent in men (12/19, 63%) compared to women (2/18, 11%) (p=0.001) but was not correlated to age. Pts with ER had slower heart rate (63±10 vs 75±18 bpm, p=0.02).ER was not correlated to symptoms or cardiac events (no ER in the 2 pts with SD and in 2/4 pts with syncope).QT were longer in pts with ER (450±68 vs 397±54 msec in V2, p=0.01) but there was no correlations between ER and corrected QT intervals.ER was more often seen in pts with or without mutations although non significantly (8/27 vs 6/10, p=0.09), but there was a trend toward more frequent ER in case of HeRG mutations (6/12) than KCNQ1 or KCNJ2 mutations (2/11 and 0/4) (p=0.09).ConclusionER is very common in LQT pts and is related to the gender and to the heart rate but not to the corrected QT duration. ER does not seem to be correlated to cardiac events in this series but may be linked to some gene mutations. Further studies are needed for demonstrating additional mutations/ variants or the existence of an early transient voltage gradient due to altered kinetics in muted potassium channels with loss of function

Measures of Right Atrial Organization as a Mean to Select Candidates for Sinus Rhythm Restoration by Catheter Ablation

Stepwise catheter ablation (step-CA) can terminate long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (LS-pAF) within the left atrium (LA) or may require additional right atrial (RA) ablation. Intracardiac organization indices such as AF cycle length (AFCL) have been used to track the efficiency of step-CA, but predictive parameters of procedural success are lacking. In this study, we hypothesized that the oscillations of time intervals between consecutive AF wavefronts reflect the underlying AF dynamic. We report a new method for quantifying the temporal variability of atrial activation wavefronts (VAW). Our results suggest that the mean and variance of the oscillations around the mean AFCL computed before any ablation can identify patients whose LS-pAF will terminate within the left atrium. These findings are indicative of a higher baseline organization in AF terminated within the left atrium

POV: Obama's ban on juvenile solitary confinement

Point of view article in BU Toda