Elementary moves on triangulations

It is proved that a triangulation of a polyhedron can always be transformed into any other triangulation of the polyhedron by using only elementary moves. One consequence is that an additive function (valuation) defined only on simplices may always be extended to an additive function on all polyhedra.Comment: 10 pages; some corrections, extended proofs of Lemma 4 and Corollary

Strategies and challenges of internationalisation in BRIC-countries: Empirical results from the German agribusiness

The objective of this paper is to identify the strategies and instruments that agribusiness companies currently use to cope with the globalisation of agricultural markets. This aim is achieved by means of presenting the empirical results of an online and telephone survey that was undertaken between April and August 2010 with the participation of 113 German agribusiness firms. The majority of respondents expect that the importance of the markets in the BRIC countries will increase remarkably in the future. For developing international business activities, comparatively simple strategies such as direct and indirect exports via domestic and international traders are most widely used. This may be the result of challenges the agribusiness companies are facing in the context of handling international markets, especially in BRIC countries. --agribusiness,internationalisation,firm strategy,BRIC

Legitimating Business Activities Using Corporate Social Responsibility: Is there a Need for CSR in Agribusiness?

result, enterprises in the agribusiness sector are increasingly exposed to the public eye (Jansen/ Vellema: 2004). The perception of consumers and other stakeholders - which are according to Freeman “any group or individual who can affect, or is affected by, the achievement of the organization’s objectives” - is of growing criticism and risk-consciousness and manifests itself in changed attitudes towards food production (Jäckel/Spiller: 2006; Haddock: 2005). The use of GMO in agriculture, e.g., is regarded to be morally reprehensible (Becker: 1999). The BSE-crisis and other food scares led to growing consumer uncertainty and resulted in decreased meat consumption and in the increasing percentage of outspoken vegetarians and low-meat consumers (von Alvensleben: 1997; Staack: 2005). Moreover, the influence capacity of stakeholders is growing (Gerlach: 2006). As a result these factors have reduced the legitimacy of traditional (e.g., animal production) as well as new production technologies (e.g. bioenergy) in the agribusiness. In the long term the success of enterprises in the agribusiness can be affected by legitimacy losses. Against this background, legitimacy is regarded as a resource that guarantees the long-term survival of an enterprise (Palazzo/Scherer: 2006). Primarily the market based view in general management literature and the macro-institutional approach in neo sociological-institutionalism are employed to understand business operations embedded in societal structures. In this context legitimacy means the conformation of an organization with social norms, values and expectations (Oliver: 1996).Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Industrial Organization,

Corporate Social Responsibility in Agribusiness: Empirical Findings from Germany

The social responsibility of businesses has developed into a highly debated issue in recent years. Especially in agribusiness, recent scandals as well as information asymmetries concerning food production have led to high external pressure on firms from the wider public. Being confronted with a variety of stakeholder goals and relationships, it could be particularly advantageous for enterprises in agribusiness to pursue a corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy. Based on a literature review, we introduce a conceptual framework that provides insights into the determinants of CSR and its effects, in particular, on the legitimacy and reputation, and finally, the performance of enterprises in agribusiness. This contingency-theoretic approach allows a more thorough analysis of CSR strategies and has guided an empirical study. In 2008, 170 German agribusiness companies responded to an online survey, using a standardized questionnaire. The empirical findings provide in-depth insights into the perception of external pressure in various fields linked to food production (for instance, use of genetically modified organisms), the understanding of social responsibility by the agribusiness companies surveyed and the way CSR is integrated into the firms’ strategic management. We also present three clusters of companies that differ with regard to their dominant motives for pursuing CSR strategies.corporate social responsibility, CSR, agribusiness, survey, sustainability, food scandals, Agricultural and Food Policy,

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THE AGRIBUSINESS: A RESEARCH FRAMEWORK

In this paper we analyze the relevance of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy for enterprises in the agribusiness. Based on an overview about existing approaches to cope with conflicts in the agribusiness, we define CSR and introduce a conceptual framework that provides insights into the determinants of CSR and its effects. These are in particular, the legitimacy and reputation, and finally, the performance of enterprises in the agribusiness. Being mutually confronted with multiple stakeholder goals and relationships, it could be notably promising for enterprises in the agribusiness to pursue a CSR strategy.Corporate social responsibility, reputation management, stakeholder theory, legitimacy, CSR, Agribusiness,

Direct Step & Shoot: a New Module for Prostate Cancer IMRT

Aims & Objectives The aim of this treatment planning study is to compare the techniques of 3D conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) and IMRT to determine the feasible advantages for prostate cancer patientsof using a new direct step & shoot (DSS) IMRT module. For the optimisation of the IMRT, Nucletron offers as a part of the optimising process their IM-optimisation software or their new module DSS. The earlier IM-optimisation software searches first for the ideal fluence for each beam, and this is then followed by the segmentation. The new DSS module integrates the segmentation into the optimisation process. Materials & Methods Between March 2006 and November 2006, four patients with a mean age of 71 years were enrolled for primary EBRT for localised prostate cancer. Three of these patients received antiandrogen therapy either before or during radiotherapy. All four patients had 3D CT treatment planning with a slice thickness of 5 mm and with immobilisation in a vacuum mattress (BlueBAG BodyFIX, Medical Intelligence). As an initial step, it was planned (using Oncentra MasterPlan) to deliver 60 Gy to the planning target volume (PTV), calculated using data for a Siemens Primus linear accelerator (15 MV photons, with multileaf collimator leaf width of 1cm at the isocentre). The preselected gantry angles were 25, 90, 120, 240, 270 and 335 degrees. The rectal volume and urinary bladder were delineated as organs at risk (OARs). Additional structures were also contoured in order to help (we term them ‘Help Contours’) avoid hot spots in normal tissues surrounding the PTV to a distance of 1cm. The dose-volume objectives were defined by two schemes. After optimisation the plans were re-normalised to the average of PTV, giving 30 fractions with a fractional dose of 2 Gy. The 3DCRT plan used identical gantry angles with the beams weighted by experience. Results Both IMRT optimisation schemes reduced the doses received by the OARs when compared to the 3DCRT plan. Using the Nucletron IM-optimisation software the first weighting scheme of the objectives resulted in satisfactory dose-volume histograms (DVHs) for the OARs, and an obviously 'softened' DVH for the PTV (when compared to the 3DCRT plan). The DSS optimisation produced a steeper DVH for the PTV, but worse results for the OARs when compared to the IM-optimisation. Scheme 2 improved the DVHs for the OARs using the DSS process, to about the same level as the IM-optimisation with scheme 1, the PTV DVH staying nearly unchanged. The IM-optimisation produced the worst DVH for the PTV of the five different plans we considered. In Figure 1 the DVHs are shown of a characteristic 3DCRT plan, the IM plan (Scheme 1) and the DSS plan (Scheme 2). Table 1 presents the mean values, averaged over the four patients, for the PTV and for the two OARs. Conclusions In every case the DSS optimisation resulted in a steeper DVH for the PTV than found using the IM process. The DVHs for the OARs are worse with scheme 1 but improve to about the same level with scheme 2. The patients benefit from IMRT by reduced doses to the OARs, keeping a very steep DVH for the PTV with the DSS optimisation. The user should note that weighting schemes based on the experience with IM-optimisation are not retained for the new DSS optimiation without control

Wie viel ist eine Billion? : An den Grenzen der Vorstellungskraft zum quantitativen Zahlenverständnis

Eine Billion ist mathematisch leicht darstellbar. Es ist eine Eins mit 12 Nullen: 1 000 000 000 000, mathematisch kurz und prägnant als 10^12 geschrieben. Aber darstellbar heißt nicht unbedingt vorstellbar. Versuchen wir, diese Anzahlen zu veranschaulichen, entstehen teilweise surreale, aber einprägsame Bilder

Media Analysis on Volatile Markets’ Dynamics and Adaptive Behavior for the Agri-Food System

The volatility of agricultural markets has increased remarkably in recent years. In spite of this, the way in which supply chain actors perceive market volatility has only rarely been analyzed. This paper seeks to close this research gap by presenting empirical findings about how the volatility of agricultural markets is perceived, how increasing market volatilities are being explained, and what adaptations to the volatile external environments are being suggested. Based on a large-scale media analysis, we have identified perceptions, which vary greatly over time, especially with regard to the perception of the threats and opportunities volatility creates for farms and firms and the most frequently identified reasons for volatile pricesagriculture, media analysis, public discourse, shared assumptions, volatility, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, Production Economics, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, Risk and Uncertainty,