Within Lake Clustering of High Resolution Satellite Retrievals: A Functional Data and Clustering Approach

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Metafrontier Functions for the Study of Inter-regional Productivity Differences

The paper uses the concept of metafrontier functions to study regional differences in production technologies. The paper has three components. The first deals with the analytical framework necessary for the definition of metafrontier functions. The second component studies the properties of the metafrontier estimated using nonparametric data envelopment analysis (DEA). The third component focuses on the estimation of metafrontiers within the parametric framework of stochastic frontier analysis (SFA). The empirical application of the models uses cross-country agricultural sector data. The DEA and SFA metafrontiers are presented and discussed.

A study of the cooperative-training programs in retail selling in the high schools of the Middle Atlantic states and Washington, D.C.

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

An investigation of the relationships between interdisciplinary communications and patient care.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston Universit

An Investigation of Production Risk, Risk Preferences and Technical Efficiency: Evidence From Rainfed Lowland Rice Farms in the Philippines

Risk plays a vital role in farmers' decisions on input allocations and, therefore, output supply. This paper provides empirical evidence on the estimation of production risk, risk preferences and technical inefficiency. An eight-year panel data set is used for 46 rice farmers from a representative rainfed lowland environment in Central Luzon, Philippines. The heteroskedastic and stochastic frontier frameworks are reconciled and extended to accommodate the risk preferences of farmers in an analysis of production risk. Results show that technical inefficiency is overstated in risky production environments where farmers are risk-averse.production risk, risk preferences, technical efficiency, Productivity Analysis, Risk and Uncertainty,

IMPOSING REGULARITY CONDITIONS ON A SYSTEM OF COST AND FACTOR SHARE EQUATIONS

Systems of equations comprising cost functions and first-order derivative equations are often used to estimate characteristics of production technologies. Unfortunately, many estimated systems violate the regularity conditions implied by economic theory. Sampling theory methods can be used to impose these conditions globally, but these methods destroy the flexibility properties of most functional forms. We demonstrate how Bayesian methods can be used to maintain flexibility by imposing regularity conditions locally. The Bayesian approach is used to estimate a system of cost and share equations for the merino-woolgrowing sector. The effect of local imposition of monotonicity and concavity on the signs and magnitudes of elasticities is examined.Cost functions, Markov Chain Monte Carlo, inequality constraints, Demand and Price Analysis,

Imposing regularity conditions on a system of cost and factor share equations

Systems of equations comprising cost functions and first‐order derivative equations are often used to estimate characteristics of production technologies. Unfortunately, many estimated systems violate the regularity conditions implied by economic theory. Sampling theory methods can be used to impose these conditions globally, but these methods destroy the flexibility properties of most functional forms. We demonstrate how Bayesian methods can be used to maintain flexibility by imposing regularity conditions locally. The Bayesian approach is used to estimate a system of cost and share equations for the merino wool‐growing sector. The effect of local imposition of monotonicity and concavity on the signs and magnitudes of elasticities is examined.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Fluorescence-based analyser as a rapid tool for determining soluble protein content in dairy ingredients and infant milk formula

peer-reviewedAbstract: Milk protein, in particular native whey protein, is of interest to dairy manufacturers as a measure of functional and nutritional quality. However, quantification of soluble whey protein (SP) is time consuming; giving rise to the need to develop rapid, accurate, and portable at-line process analytical technology. In this study, the performance of a fluorescence-based analyser(F) (Amaltheys II, Spectralys Innovations, France) was evaluated for quantification of SPF and whey protein nitrogen index (WPNI)F in skim milk, whey protein concentrate and infant formula powders. Rehydration of powders prior to analysis was a key factor for ensuring repeatability and reproducibility. A comparison of the analyser with reference methods for SPF and WPNIF resulted in coefficient of determination (R2) > 0.993 for both SPKjeldahl method and WPNIGEA. The results show the fluorescence-based analyser to be rapid, compact, and accurate device, suited for providing reliable support to dairy ingredient and infant formula manufacturers. Industrial relevance: The fluorescence based analysis investigated in this article is suitable for application in the dairy industry where it can be used as a rapid, at-line PAT tool for both liquid and powder samples. The technology has the potential to replace well-established methods for measurement of soluble protein. The main benefit to industry is the ability to respond more rapidly to variations in soluble protein without compromising on the accuracy associated with more time consuming methods

A “trigger”, a cause or obscured? How trauma and adversity are constructed in psychiatric stress-vulnerability accounts of “psychosis”

How do mental health professionals link adverse life experiences with the kinds of beliefs and experiences which attract a diagnosis of psychosis and what implications does this have for women with these diagnoses? Drawing on a broadly critical realist framework, we present data from two studies relevant to these questions. First, we analyse the discursive practices engaged in during a staff-only discussion of a female in-patient with a psychosis diagnosis who had been raped some years previously. Staff oriented to the irrationality and factuality of her ostensibly delusional statements about rape and pregnancy in the present and formulated adverse experience as a ‘stress factor’ triggering a manic episode, thereby precluding alternative contextualising interpretations. In a second, interview-based, study, psychiatrists drew on a range of discursive resources which differentiated psychosis from other forms of distress, constructed trauma as a stressor which could trigger psychosis because of a genetic predisposition, and constructed medication as the primary intervention whilst a focus on trauma was de-emphasised. We discuss the implications of these findings for the kinds of explanations and forms of help offered and suggest ways in which distress might be contextualised as well as possible future directions for feminist research and practic

Implementing energy efficiency in manufacturing – overcoming risk

Part of: Seliger, Günther (Ed.): Innovative solutions : proceedings / 11th Global Conference on Sustainable Manufacturing, Berlin, Germany, 23rd - 25th September, 2013. - Berlin: Universitätsverlag der TU Berlin, 2013. - ISBN 978-3-7983-2609-5 (online). - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:83-opus4-40276. - pp. 290-295.The increased complexity of manufacturing has resulted in process chains and equipment which demand more energy and resource categories. Energy management standards are being adopted by industries in order to focus on improving this capability; however there is recognition that a more detailed approach is required. This paper proposes a novel application of risk methods to energy efficiency projects by investigating the application of two structured problem solving techniques to energy efficiency improvements within complex manufacturing chains. The techniques evaluated were the 6-sigma and analytical hierarchy (AHP) processes. Industrial investigations and results to date indicate the benefit of utilizing such approaches. The approaches enable a structured method to engage the worker in assessing risk and highlight the value of minimizing risk to core Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) metrics in order to ensure energy optimization opportunities can be implemented