"Rapid and dramatic changes in vegetation" of a small pond on Holy Island (Northumbria): Chaotic dynamics?

This note describes changes to the relative extent of four structurally dominant submerged macrophytes in a pond on Holy Island National Nature Reserve, Northumbria, between 1991 and 1998. The estimated extent of the four submerged macrophytes and bare substratum between 1991 and 1998 showed dramatic changes with no obvious pattern or periodicity, as well as no identifiable natural or anthropogenic causes. Chaotic variation may be an important character of submerged pond plant populations, so that surveys taken in a single year may give an unreliable picture of plant populations.

Comparison of marketing policies applied by the same company in different countries and analysis of the reasons for the differences

The focus of this project is going to be, as the title indicates, on the comparison of marketing policies applied by the same company in different countries and analysis of the reasons for the differences. In order to do that, I have selected the company Nestlé to analyze the marketing decisions it makes across national boundaries to market the brand of Kit Kat and keep it as a leader snack worldwide. After having analyzed the brand in all continents, I can say the execution of the strategy used by Nestlé with Kit Kat really matches the planning of the strategy which is to think globally and act locally. Nestlé uses global brand identity but, from the internal point of view, it uses local ingredients and gives autonomy to its local branches based in different countries to make pricing and distributions decisions and therefore satisfy different consumers’ needs and preferences in local environments where changes happen very rapidly. The “glocal” approach to marketing is an effective way for Nestlé Kit Kat to stay focused on the consumer in worldwide markets.

On the occurrence of Pithophora oedogonia (Mont.) Wittr. var. polyspora Rendle et West fil (Cladophoraceae) in the pond of the Wroclaw Botanical Garden [Translation from: Fragmenta Floristica et Geobotanica 22 255-260, 1976]

Species of Pithophora occasionally appear in Europe and are associated mostly with the tropical, higher water plants, cultivated in numerous botanical gardens. In June 1973 pale green, branched threads were discovered in the pond of the Wroclaw Botanical Garden, amongst filaments of Spirogyra crassa (Kutz.) Czurda emend. and Cladophora glomerata (L.) Kutz. floating on the water surface. They were maintained for several weeks in crude cultures and produced numerous, dark akinetes tightly packed with reserve material. This collected material was found to be a member of the family Pithophora, Wittr. Further examinations identified the material as Pithophora oedogonia. The findings point out that it is probable, that species of Pithophora Wittr. can become acclimatized in Europe, primarily in ponds of botanical gardens, where consequently they are able to tangle easily with higher tropical plants.

Structural capital, innovation capability, and company performance in technology-based colombian firms

[EN] In today s economy, innovation is considered to be one of the main driving forces behind business competitiveness, if not the most relevant one. Traditionally, the study of innovation has been addressed from different perspectives. Recently, literature on knowledge management and intellectual capital has provided new insights. Considering this, the aim of this paper is to analyze the impact of different organizational conditions i.e. structural capital on innovation capability and innovation performance, from an intellectual capital (IC) perspective. As regards innovation capability, two dimensions are considered: new idea generation and innovation project management. The population subject to study is made up of technology-based Colombian firms. In order to gather information about the relevant variables involved in the research, a questionnaire was designed and addressed to the CEOs of the companies making up the target population. The sample analyzed is made up of 69 companies and is large enough to carry out a statistical study based on structural equation modelling (partial least squares approach) using PLS-Graph software (Chin and Frye, 2003). The results obtained show that structural capital explains to a great extent both the effectiveness of the new idea generation process and of innovation project management. However, the influence of each specific organizational component making up structural capital (organizational design, organizational culture, hiring and professional development policies, innovation strategy, technological capital, and external structure) varies. Moreover, successful innovation project management is the only innovation capability dimension that exerts a significant impact on company performance.

Company financial performance: Does board size matter? Case of the EUROSTOXX50 index

[EN] This study analyzes the relationship between board size and economic-financial performance in a sample of European firms that constitute the EUROSTOXX50 Index. Based on previous literature, resource dependency and agency theories, and considering regulation developed by the OECD and European Union on the normative of corporate governance for each country in the sample, the authors propose the hypotheses of both positive linear and quadratic relationships between the researched parameters. Using ROA as a benchmark of financial performance and the number of members of the board as measurement of the board size, two OLS estimations are performed. To confirm the robustness of the results the empirical study is tested with two other similar financial ratios, ROE and Tobin s Q. Due to the absence of significant results, an additional factor, firm size, is employed in order to check if it affects firm performance. Delving further into the nature of this relationship, it is revealed that there exists a strong and negative relation between firm size and financial performance. Consequently, it can be asseverated that the generic recommendation one size fits all cannot be applied in this case; which conforms to the Recommendations of the European Union that dissuade using generic models for all countries.

Remote Sensing and Field Assessment of Tsunami Effects on Coastal Pond Aquaculture in Northern Sumatra

An attempt was made to conduct spatial assessment of the pattern and extent of damage to coastal aquaculture ponds along the east coast of Aceh province in Sumatra, Indonesia, resulting from the tsunami event of 26 December 2004. High-resolution satellite imagery, i.e., SPOT-5 multispectral scenes covering the 700 km stretch of the coast, acquired before and after the tsunami, were digitally enhanced and visually interpreted to delineate pockets of aquaculture ponds that were discerned to be damaged and relatively intact. Field checks were conducted at 87 sites in the four eastern coastal districts. The results indicate that SPOT-5 multispectral imagery was minimally sufficient to detect areas of damaged and relatively intact aquaculture ponds, but the 10-m spatial resolution poses limitations to evaluating the extent of pond damage. Nevertheless, the 60 km swath of the imagery makes it reasonably affordable for large-area assessment to identify pockets of severe damage for targeting more detailed assessments. The image maps produced from a mosaic of the SPOT-5 scenes can also serve as base maps for spatial planning in the challenging task of reconstruction and rehabilitation of the disrupted livelihoods of the coastal communities.

A business plan development: the case of a paint company in Douala Camroon by Bomboy & Friends

This paper presents a business plan to create a new company Bomboy & Friends regarding the Exclusive Distribution of a fully Eco Friendly Water-Soluble Anti- Corrosive Prime named Life Guard Active Rust Primer Paint abbreviated as “L.G.A.R.P Paint” in Douala Cameroon and the C.E.M.A.C Region. The lack of quality paint in Cameroon has given the opportunity for a company like Bomboy & Friends to nurture its existence and be part of a fast growing economy, providing a high quality paint competition, very economical, easy to prepare, environmentally friendly, compatible with other brands and accessible to medium and small size companies.

A note on monoculture of Penaeus monodon in a hardwater seasonal pond

A study was undertaken to assess the growth performance of brackishwater tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon under monoculture in a hardwater seasonal pond in Tamil Nadu, India. A production of 209 kg/ha/110 days was attained at a low stocking density of 1.5/m2.

Zooplankton population periodicity in a tropical pond

Results of a study on periodicity of zooplankton in small tropical pond are presented. This study was conducted in order to facilitate the design of a pond-based zooplankton production system.

Pig dung as pond manure: effect on water quality, pond productivity and growth of carps in polyculture system

Pig dung was used as manure at 18 and 36 t/ha/year in carp polyculture (without supplementary feeding) for 270 days. It was observed that pig dung at both the levels did not degrade the physico-chemical properties (pH, dissolved oxygen and alkalinity) of water. The nutrient (phosphates and nitrates) level of water was higher in manured ponds than control ponds (no manuring, only supplementary feeding). Further, plankton levels (phyto- and zooplankton) were also significantly higher in manured ponds. The growth of Catla catla and Labeo rohita was significantly more in manured ponds than in control ponds. Growth of Cirrhinus cirrhosus and Cyprinus carpio was significantly more in ponds manured with pig dung at 18 t/ha/year than in control ponds and the growth of Ctenopharyngodon idellus was significantly more in control than in manured ponds.

Remote sensing and field assessment of tsunami effects on coastal pond aquaculture in northern Sumatra

An attempt was made to conduct spatial assessment of the pattern and extent of damage to coastal aquaculture ponds along the east coast of Aceh province in Sumatra, Indonesia, resulting from the tsunami event of 26 December 2004. High-resolution satellite imagery, i.e., SPOT-5 multispectral scenes covering the 700 km stretch of the coast, acquired before and after the tsunami, were digitally enhanced and visually interpreted to delineate pockets of aquaculture ponds that were discerned to be damaged and relatively intact. Field checks were conducted at 87 sites in the four eastern coastal districts. The results indicate that SPOT-5 multispectral imagery was minimally sufficient to detect areas of damaged and relatively intact aquaculture ponds, but the 10-m spatial resolution poses limitations to evaluating the extent of pond damage. Nevertheless, the 60 km swath of the imagery makes it reasonably affordable for large-area assessment to identify pockets of severe damage for targeting more detailed assessments. The image maps produced from a mosaic of the SPOT-5 scenes can also serve as base maps for spatial planning in the challenging task of reconstruction and rehabilitation of the disrupted livelihoods of the coastal communities.

A global experiment on tilapia aquaculture: impacts of the Pond Dynamics/Aquaculture CRSP in Rwanda, Honduras, Philippines and Thailand

The Pond Dynamics/Aquaculture Collaborative Research Support Program (PDA/CRSP) is a global research network to generate basic science that may be used to advance aquaculture development. One of a family of research programs funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the CRSP focuses on improving the efficiency of aquaculture systems. The PDA/CRSP began work in 1982 in Thailand, and subsequently in the Philippines, Honduras, the US and, until recently, Rwanda. At all the sites, the goal is the same: to identify constraints to aquaculture production, and to design responses that are environmentally and culturally appropriate. The research network's global experiment has focused on tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), although some sites have devoted attention to marine shrimp and other locally significant species. Impact of the network's investigations with tilapia is examined in this article.

Production planning aids for a modular pond system

This paper presents a series of short mathematical expressions that may be used to determine the necessary variables in production planning in a modular pond system for fish culture.