Long-term reproductive patterns and sighting bias in Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli)

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 1091-1099 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Ward Testa
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Age At First Reproduction ◽  
Reproductive Patterns ◽  
Weddell Seals ◽  
Signy Island ◽  
First Reproduction ◽  
Reproductive Rates ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact

The reproductive performance of tagged Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli) was monitored at McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, from 1970 to 1984. An age-specific reproductive schedule revealed the major onset of pupping at age 6 years, and a mean age of first birth of 7.1 years. The average asymptotic pupping rate of 0.61 is reached by age 10. The cost of pupping in a given year is reflected in a 0.05 drop in the probability of pupping the following year. This cost is not evident in females over 7 years old, suggesting that postweaning condition affects newly mature females more than those that are fully mature. Annual adult reproductive rates ranged from 0.46 to 0.79, with a possible periodicity of 5 to 6 years. Simulations were conducted to determine the impact on reproductive estimates of sighting biases associated with seals having had at least one pup (Parous) or having pupped that season (With-Pup). Age at first reproduction as deduced from an age-specific pupping schedule is strongly affected by both forms of sighting bias, but bias in sighting Parous females was the more important. Estimates of adult reproduction were affected minimally. Comparisons of reproductive estimates with those of Weddell seals at Signy Island are discussed with regard to the effects of sighting biases.

Perinatal Care at the Threshold of Viability

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 96 (5) ◽  
pp. 974-976
Author(s):  
◽  
◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Perinatal Care ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Extremely Low Birth Weight ◽  
Low Birth Weight Infants ◽  
Term Outcome ◽  
Long Term Outcome ◽  
Obstetric Management ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact

The survival rate for infants at the threshold of viability has been improving. However, there are insufficient data regarding the cost(s) of initial and ongoing care of these infants and the long-term outcome of survivors. Furthermore, there has been little study of the impact of obstetric management on the survival rates of extremely low birth weight infants and on long-term morbidities. Continued research on these issues is imperative, and physicians need to remain informed of changing statistics.

scholarly journals Does Social Franchising Private Health Facilities Shift Consumers Budget Line? An Econometric Analysis of the Average Treatment Effect within Private Health Facilities in Embu County, Kenya

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Stephen Nyag ◽  
Susan Okeri ◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Average Treatment Effect ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Social Franchising ◽  
Cost Variance ◽  
Matching Criteria ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Radius Matching

The Kenyan private health sector is one of the most developed in Sub-Saharan Africa and is highly critical in healthcare delivery. It is estimated 47 percent of the first quintile of income earners utilize the private facility for healthcare needs and 33 percent of women seek family planning (FP) services in this sector. However, the cost of healthcare services has been a great impediment to service utilization. To improve service quality and increase access, social franchising, interventions on the demand side such as the use of insurance and vouchers, and supply of subsidized medical products on the supply side are intended to reduce the cost of services. This study sought to investigate the impact of interventions of social franchisors on the cost of healthcare in private facilities in Kenya. The study used primary data collected from 215 individuals living within catchment areas with private health facilities using researcher-administered questionnaire. The main franchisors included in this study were Sustainable Health Foundation (CFW) and Population Services Kenya (Tunza). Results revealed that women whose primary motivation to visit private facilities included FP services, need of a lower cost of treatments, and quality services had higher odds of choosing franchised health facilities. Propensity score matching (PSM) using three matching criteria—nearest neighbor, kernel matching, and radius matching of 0.01—indicated that individuals seeking children’s health services and 3-month FP methods paid similar amounts in either franchised or nonfranchised health facilities. However, there was a huge cost variance for long-term FP methods where women paid significantly less, implying that social franchisors’ main impact is on long-term FP methods. The cost variance was due to vouchers utilized by some respondents hence, incurring zero cost in franchised facilities. Therefore, the study recommends the expansion of social franchising membership and the use of the voucher system for financially incapable consumers.

scholarly journals The Impact of Green Credit on the Green Innovation Level of Heavy-Polluting Enterprises—Evidence from China

2022 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 650
Author(s):  
Zhifeng Zhang ◽  
Hongyan Duan ◽  
Shuangshuang Shan ◽  
Qingzhi Liu ◽  
Wenhui Geng
Keyword(s):  
Natural Experiment ◽  
Double Difference ◽  
Credit Policy ◽  
Green Innovation ◽  
Innovation Activities ◽  
Corporate Credit ◽  
Credit Financing ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact

This article uses the “Green Credit Guidelines” promulgated in 2012 as an example to construct a quasi-natural experiment and uses the double difference method to test the impact of the implementation of the “Green Credit Guidelines” on the green innovation activities of heavy-polluting enterprises. The study found that, in comparison to non-heavy polluting enterprises, the implementation of green credit policies inhibited the green innovation of all heavy-polluting enterprises. In the analysis of heterogeneity, this restraint effect did not differ significantly due to the nature of property rights and the company’s size. The mechanism test showed that green credit policy limits the efficiency of business investment and increases the cost of financing business debt. Eliminating corporate credit financing, particularly long-term borrowing, negatively impacts the green innovation behavior of listed companies.

Infrastructure, Accessibility and Growth in Tuscany: A Macroeconomic Impact Evaluation

2010 ◽  
pp. 75-100
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Francesco Gori ◽  
Patrizia Lattarulo ◽  
Renato Panicciŕ
Keyword(s):  
Economic Impact ◽  
Regional Growth ◽  
Agglomeration Economies ◽  
Regional Mobility ◽  
Macroeconomic Impact ◽  
Productivity Differentials ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Cost Of Transportation

The purpose of the paper is to assess the impact of the Regional Mobility and Logistic Plan (RMLP) of Tuscany on regional growth and spatial disparities between the Tuscan provinces. In order to evaluate its economic impact, we first quantify the impact in terms of changes in travel time and variations in the cost of transportation per unit of delivered output. We then make use of the Remi-Irpet model. The latter explains the agglomeration economies and productivity differentials. We find that, despite the fact that the RMLP does not solve the structural problem of mobility within Tuscany, it does make it possible to get rid of some potential constraints for long-term regional growth, even if the economic impact across the provinces is disequalizing.

Ewe culling and retention strategies to increase reproductive rates in Merino sheep

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 1545 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Hatcher ◽  
S. Dominik ◽  
J. S. Richards ◽  
J. Young ◽  
J. Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Reproductive Rate ◽  
Retention Strategies ◽  
Marginal Benefit ◽  
Selection Strategies ◽  
Single Strategy ◽  
Scan Data ◽  
Reproductive Rates ◽  
Breeding Efficiency ◽  
The Impact

The present empirical study of data from three Merino resource flocks of varying genetic backgrounds run in different environments investigated the impact of various selection strategies aimed at culling poor performers (‘passengers’) or retaining good doers (‘performers’) longer, or both, on the flock reproductive performance. Four strategies were investigated and applied either individually or in combination, to quantify their impact on the litter size, rearing type and breeding efficiency (number of lambs weaned per ewe per year) of the whole flock. The main benefit from implementing any of the strategies was a decrease in the proportion of dry ewes in each flock (1–7%). There was little difference between the single strategies of culling twice-dry ewes or culling ewes that twice lambed and lost their lambs. When retaining a cohort of older ewes, it was more efficient to select these on the basis of their lifetime reproductive performance. There was only a marginal benefit gained by combining strategies and, in some cases, a single strategy was still better in terms of breeding efficiency. Commercial producers can improve the reproductive rate of these flocks by culling twice-dry ewes on the basis of their pregnancy scan data.

Can Information on Cost Improve Clinicians' Behavior?: Lessons from Health Care Trials and Management

1997 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 553-561 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter F. Lowet ◽  
John M. Eisenberg
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Price Competition ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Cost Information ◽  
Improved Outcomes ◽  
Practice Variations ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact

AbstractFacing intense price competition and societal pressures, health care provider organizations have focused increasingly on the cost-effectiveness of medical services. In instances when there is insufficient evidence that a more expensive treatment course generates improved outcomes, the lower cost option is often encouraged. Yet, with resource utilization still determined principally by individual physicians, large practice variations often persist. This paper reviews the literature and explores the impact of sharing cost information on physicians' practice patterns utilizing management theory concepts. More research should be conducted to determine long-term benefits of educational interventions, physicians' fundamental views on the relationship between cost and quality and its effect on their responsiveness to cost information, and the role of leadership in changing clinical behavior.

Impact of liveweight, fat and muscle sire breeding values on ewe reproduction is minimal but variable across Australian grazing systems

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (9) ◽  
pp. 1952 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. F. Walkom ◽  
D. J. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Breeding Value ◽  
Production Cycle ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
Breeding Values ◽  
Reproduction Traits ◽  
Reproductive Rates ◽  
Supplementary Feed ◽  
The Impact

Australian sheep producers have the potential to improve reproductive rates through optimising ewe body condition across the production cycle. Managing ewe body condition can become costly when supplementary feeding is required due to poor pasture growth or rainfall and by using appropriate genetics, producers can theoretically reduce the flock’s dependency on supplementary feed and improve reproductive rates. Reproductive records from the Information Nucleus Flock and Sheep Genetics Merino and maternal breed datasets were analysed to examine the influence of sire breeding values for liveweight (post-weaning, yearling and adult assessments), fat and eye muscle depths (post-weaning and yearling assessments) and number of lambs weaned on reproductive performance (fertility, litter size and number of lambs born) across a variety of production environments. To determine the impact of environmental conditions on the relationship between weight, ultrasound body composition, and reproduction traits the daughters’ adjusted reproductive performances were regressed on the sire’s breeding value across flocks, within flocks and within flock × year. Irrespective of age at assessment, sire breeding values for liveweight, fat and eye muscle depths had very little association with the reproductive performance of their daughters, on average. The regressions of reproduction on weight, and fat and eye muscle depth traits varied across flocks from unfavourable to favourable estimates. The very small overall impact of weight, and fat and eye muscle depth traits, on average suggests that using sire breeding values for number of lambs weaned, which had a large impact on reproduction, will provide the most viable method to genetically improve reproductive performance within the production system in question.

scholarly journals The Goldilocks effect: female geladas in mid-sized groups have higher fitness

2021 ◽  
Vol 288 (1952) ◽  
pp. 20210820
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Tinsley Johnson ◽  
Jacob A. Feder ◽  
Thore J. Bergman ◽  
Amy Lu ◽  
Noah Snyder-Mackler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Group Size ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Individual Fitness ◽  
Cost Benefit Ratio ◽  
Reproductive Rates ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Relationship

The cost–benefit ratio of group living is thought to vary with group size: individuals in ‘optimally sized’ groups should have higher fitness than individuals in groups that are either too large or too small. However, the relationship between group size and individual fitness has been difficult to establish for long-lived species where the number of groups studied is typically quite low. Here, we present evidence for optimal group size that maximizes female fitness in a population of geladas ( Theropithecus gelada ). Drawing on 14 years of demographic data, we found that females in small groups experienced the highest death rates, while females in mid-sized groups exhibited the highest reproductive performance. This group size effect on female reproductive performance was largely explained by variation in infant mortality (and, in particular, by infanticide from immigrant males) but not by variation in reproductive rates. Taken together, females in mid-sized groups are projected to attain optimal fitness due to conspecific infanticide and, potentially, predation. Our findings provide insight into how and why group size shapes fitness in long-lived species.

scholarly journals Economic-Engineering Modelling of the Buildings Sector to Study the Transition towards Deep Decarbonisation in the EU

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (14) ◽  
pp. 2745 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fotiou ◽  
Vita ◽  
Capros
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Electric Heating ◽  
Heat Pumps ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Mathematical Framework ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Eu

The paper presents a newly developed economic-engineering model of the buildings sector and its implementation for all the European Union (EU) Member States (MS), designed to study in detail ambitious energy efficiency strategies and policies, in the context of deep decarbonisation in the long term. The model has been used to support the impact assessment study that accompanied the European Commission’s communication “A Clear Planet for All”, in November 2018. The model covers all EU countries with a fine resolution of building types, and represents agent decision-making in a complex and dynamic economic-engineering mathematical framework. Emphasis is given to behaviours driving the energy renovation of buildings and the ensuing choice of equipment for heating and cooling. The model represents several market and non-market policies that can influence energy decisions in buildings and promote deep energy renovation. Moreover, the paper presents key applications for supporting policies targeting ambitious reduction of energy consumption and carbon emissions in buildings across Europe. The results illustrate that the achievement of ambitious energy-efficiency targets in the long-term heavily depends on pursuing a fast and extensive renovation of existing buildings, at annual rates between 1.21% and 1.77% for the residential sector and between 0.92% to 1.35% for the services sector. In both cases, the renovation rates are far higher past trends. Strong policies aimed at removing non-market barriers are deemed necessary. Electrification constitutes a reasonable choice for deeply renovated buildings and, as a result, almost 50% of households chooses electric heating over gas heating in the long term. However, heat pumps need to exploit further their learning potential to be economical and implementable for the various climatic conditions in Europe. The results also show that the cost impacts are modest even if renovation and decarbonisation in buildings develop ambitiously in the EU. The reduced energy bills due to energy savings can almost offset the increasing capital expenditures. Fundraising difficulties and the cost of capital are, however, of concern.

scholarly journals Green Co-Creation Strategies among Supply Chain Partners: A Value Co-Creation Perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 4305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Genzhu Li ◽  
Xianliang Shi ◽  
Yefei Yang ◽  
Peter K. C. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Value Functions ◽  
Green Innovation ◽  
A Value ◽  
Manufacturing Supply Chain ◽  
Green Investment ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Resource Shortage

In response to the global fight against environmental deterioration and resource shortage, many governments call on firms to implement green innovation strategies. However, for most small and medium-sized firms, the high cost of green innovation makes it difficult to achieve green goals, causing the need for a growing number of firms to cooperate with their supply chain partners on green innovations. Thus, this study explores, from a value co-creation perspective, how supply chain partners share the investment in, and benefits of, green innovation, assuring their long-term cooperation. Based on a three-level manufacturing supply chain, this paper proposes three different types of green co-creation strategies (i.e., the manufacturer and its supplier, the manufacturer and its competitor, the manufacturer and its retailer). We set the mechanism of co-creation to share the cost of green investment and consider the impact of co-creation on the sales of supply chain partners. Then, by constructing the value functions of three co-creation strategies and proving the concavity of these functions, the findings indicate that different co-creation strategies can indeed improve the firm’s profit in a certain range and achieve a different maximum value in a certain green investment sharing point. This study enriches the literature on green co-creation in supply chains by combing green investment sharing strategies among supply chain partners with value co-creation. In addition, this study provides manufacturers with guidelines on how to share green costs and choose a green co-creation strategy in different operational environments.

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