Environmental determinants of foraging strategies in Cory"s shearwaters Calonectris diomedea

Despite the advent of devices to track seabird movements, the extent to which productive areas and oceanic winds influence foraging strategies is still not fully understood. We investigated the main environmental determinants of foraging strategies in Cory"s shearwaters Calonectris diomedea by combining satellite-tracking information from 14 birds breeding on the Canary Islands with concurrent data on chlorophyll a (chl a) concentrations and oceanic winds. Additionally, we took blood samples at the end of each foraging trip and analysed carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stable isotopes to examine the use of trophic resources. All birds showed commuting trips, concentrating foraging activity exclusively on the African continental shelf. Foraging locations showed a strong association with chl a concentrations, suggesting birds select foraging areas according to prey availability. In contrast with other breeding colonies where Cory"s shearwaters use a dual-foraging method, birds showed a unimodal strategy and did not show differences in C and N isotope signatures in plasma, confirming that close proximity to highly productive areas strongly influences foraging strategies. In addition, birds tracked during 2 consecutive trips foraged in the same area, suggesting that high resource availability promotes fidelity to feeding grounds also at coarse scales. Persistent northeast trade winds blew during the study period, and commuting trips followed a consistent clockwise movement with a southwest heading while the birds foraged along the continental shelf, suggesting that birds used tail winds to reduce their flying costs. Our results corroborate that oceanographic conditions in the vicinity of the breeding colony have a strong effect on foraging strategies of pelagic seabirds.

Creative Industries: a Preliminary Insight to their Location Determinants

This paper is about location decisions of Creative Industries and the role played by existent spatial distribution and agglomeration economies of these kinds of activities in order to analyse their location determinants. Our main statistical source is the REIC (Catalan Manufacturing Establishments Register), which has plant-level microdata on location of new plants. Using Count Data Models, our main results show that location determinants are quite similar between both industries and also both non-creative and creative firms are positively influenced by the specialisation level in Creative Industries of municipalities. Moreover, our results provide evidence that the unobserved ‘creative milieu’ has a limited impact on attracting firms. Keywords: creative industries, creative milieu, count data models, industrial location, agglomeration economies

The determinants of capital intensity in Japan and the U.S

We estimate the determinants of capital intensity in Japan and the US, characterized by striking different paths. We augment an otherwise standard Constant Elasticity of Substitution (CES) model with demand-side considerations, which we find especially relevant in the US. In this augmented setting, the elasticity of substitution between capital and labor is placed around 0.85 in Japan, and 0.30 in the US. We also find evidence of biased technical change, which is capital-saving in Japan but labor-saving in the US. These differences help us explain the diverse experience in the capital deepening process of these economies, and lead us to conclude that demand-side drivers may also be relevant to account for different growth experiences. A close look at the nature of technological change is also needed before designing one-size-fits-all industrial, economic growth, and/or labor market policies.

Determinants of credit default swap spread, the effect of the financial crisis in the us markets

The purpose of this study is to define what determinants affect the Credit spread. There are two theoretical frameworks to study this: structural models and reduced form models. Structural models indicate that the main determinants are company leverage, volatility and risk-free interest rate, and other market and firm-specific variables. The purpose is to determine which of these theoretical determinants can explain the CDS spread and also how these theoretical determinants are affected by the financial crisis in 2007. The data is collected from 30 companies in the US Markets, mainly S&P Large Cap. The sample time-frame is 31.1.2004 – 31.12.2009. Empirical studies indicate that structural models can explain the CDS spreads well. Also, there were significant differences between bear and bull markets. The main determinants explaining CDS spreads were leverage and volatility. The other determinants were significant, depending on the sample period. However, these other variables did not explain the spread consistently.

Early nutritional determinants in cardio-metabolic programming – A prospective randomized controlled dietary intervention study

Western societies have been faced with the fact that overweight, impaired glucose regulation and elevated blood pressure are already prevalent in pediatric populations. This will inevitably mean an increase in later manifestations of cardio-metabolic diseases. The dilemma has been suggested to stem from fetal life and it is surmised that the early nutritional environment plays an important role in the process called programming. The aim of the present study was to characterize early nutritional determinants associating with cardio-metabolic risk factors in fetuses, infants and children. Further, the study was designated to establish whether dietary counseling initiated in early pregnancy can modify this cascade. Healthy mother-child pairs (n=256) participating in a dietary intervention study were followed from early pregnancy to childhood. The intervention included detailed dietary counseling by a nutritionist targeting saturated fat intake in excess of recommendations and fiber consumption below recommendations. Cardio-metabolic programming was studied by characterizing the offspring’s cardio-metabolic risk factors such as over-activation of the autonomic nervous system, elevated blood pressure and adverse metabolic status (e.g. serum high split proinsulin concentration). Fetal cardiac sympathovagal activation was measured during labor. Postnatally, children’s blood pressure was measured at six-month and four-year follow-up visits. Further, infants’ metabolic status was assessed by means of growth and serum biomarkers (32-33 split proinsulin, leptin and adiponectin) at the age of six months. This study proved that fetal cardiac sympathovagal activity was positively associated with maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index indicating adverse cardio-metabolic programming in the offspring. Further, a reduced risk of high split proinsulin in infancy and lower blood pressure in childhood were found in those offspring whose mothers’ weight gain and amount and type of fats in the diet during pregnancy were as recommended. Of note, maternal dietary counseling from early pregnancy onwards could ameliorate the offspring’s metabolic status by reducing the risk of high split proinsulin concentration, although it had no effect on the other cardio-metabolic markers in the offspring. At postnatal period breastfeeding proved to entail benefits in cardio-metabolic programming. Finally, the recommended dietary protein and total fat content in the child’s diet were important nutritional determinants reducing blood pressure at the age of four years. The intrauterine and immediate postnatal period comprise a window of opportunity for interventions aiming to reduce the risk of cardio-metabolic disorders and brings the prospect of achieving health benefits over one generation.

Determinants of cash holdings in Finnish industrial sector: measuring the impact of financial crisis 2007- 2010

This thesis studies cash and short term investments to net assets ratio of Finnish industrial companies during financial crisis, and how different firm specific and macro economical variables affect cash and short term investments. The data consists of quarter level interim reports. Regression analysis was used to find out the effects of different variables. Regression models were formed based on previous studies on cash holdings. It was found that firms studied held more cash during financial crisis than before it. Cash and short-term investments acted as substitute of net working capital. Leverage had a positive and significant relationship to cash and short term investment ratio. It was also found out that firms have a target cash and short term investments ratio.

The dawn of paraconsistency: Russia's logical thought in the turn of XX century

The paper deals with the factors which enabled N. A. Vasiliev to put forward in 1910 - 12 the idea of logics free of the laws of contradiction and excluded middle, the idea of metalogic and to construct his imaginary logic as novel non-classical system. It is shown that background of Vasiliev's ideas lies deeply in Russia's culture and particular approach to logical discourse. Several Russian scholars expressed ideas similar to Vasiliev's though not in such explicit form. This period might be called the prehistory of paraconsistency. Real history of paraconsistency starts with N.C.A. da Costa's works.

Glycolipid and ceramide transfer proteins : important determinants for their function

Lipider är viktiga biomolekyler, eftersom de bygger upp alla cellulära membran. Glykolipider, dvs. lipider som innehåller socker, är dessutom betydelsefulla som signaleringsmolekyler vid olika processer. Det är essentiellt att regleringen av syntesen, nedbrytningen samt transporten av lipider i cellen är noggrant koordinerade, och faktorer som kan påverka lipidmetabolismen är därför viktiga att undersöka. Denna avhandling har undersökt två olika lipidbindande proteiner, glykolipidtransportprotein (GLTP) och ceramidtransportprotein (CERT). GLTPs biologiska funktion är ännu oklar, dock vet man att GLTP har förmåga att binda olika glykolipider samt överföra dessa lipider mellan olika lipidmembraner. CERT har däremot visats kunna transportera ceramid från det endoplastiska retiklet (ER) till Golgi-apparaten, för produktion av sfingomyelin. I detta avhandlingsarbete undersöktes lokaliseringen av GLTP i celler med olika metoder, bl.a. konfokalmikroskopi, samt olika centrifugeringsmetoder. Genom att överuttrycka GLTP i celler och därefter analysera halten nysyntetiserade glykolipider, kunde även sambandet mellan GLTP-uttrycket och dessa lipider undersökas. I avhandlingen identifierades ytterligare en specifik aminosyrasekvens hos GLTP. Denna sekvens visades kunna binda till VAP-A, ett integralt ER protein, med en tidigare fastställd viktig funktion vid regleringen av lipidtransporten. I avhandlingen analyserades även hur ceramidtransporten mellan två olika membraner, medierad av CERT, påverkas av egenskaper i ceramidens omgivning. För att undersöka detta användes artificiella modellmembraner samt fluorimetriska metoder. Sammansättningen och packningen hos lipidmembranerna visades ha en stor betydelse för den CERT-katalyserade ceramidtransporten. Sammanfattningsvis antyder resultaten från avhandlingen att det existerar flera faktorer som kan påverka aktiviteten av GLTP och CERT, vilka i sin tur har förmåga att reglera lipidmetabolismen.

Determinants of credit risk in secured loans – Evidence from the auto loan industry

The purpose of this study is to examine attributes which have explanation power to the probability of default or serious overdue in secured auto loans. Another goal is to find out differences between defaulted loans and loans which have had payment difficulties but survived without defaulting. 19 independent variables used in this study reflect information available at the time of credit decision. These variables were tested with logistic regression and backward elimination procedure. The data includes 8931 auto loans from a Finnish finance company. 1118 of the contracts were taken by company customers and 7813 by private customers. 130 of the loans defaulted and 584 had serious payment problems but did not default. The maturities of those loans were from one month to 60 months and they have ended during year 2011. The LTV (loan-to-value) variable was ranked as the most significant explainer because of its strong positive relationship with probability of payment difficulties. Another important explainer in this study was the credit rating variable which got a negative relationship with payment problems. Also maturity and car age performed well having both a positive relationship with the probability of payment problems. When compared default and serious overdue situations, the most significant differences were found in the roles of LTV, Maturity and Gender variables.

The effects of the service process on satisfaction, trust and value as creators of customer loyalty in a daily deals concept

This study aims at applying the customer behaviour studies of satisfaction, trust, perceived value and loyalty to a daily deals concept. The goal is to find out whether the relationships are the same in this specific context when compared to previous e-commerce studies. The study examines how the daily deals service process affects customer satisfaction, trust and value, and how these in turn impact customer loyalty and each other. The data was collected via e-mail survey from case company customers, and research was conducted on a quantitative basis by using multivariate methods as tools. The results suggest that daily deals service process and service quality do have a direct and positive effect on customer satisfac-tion, trust and value. Additionally, positive correlations between the latter variables and customer loyalty were found. The results imply that the daily deals concept does not differ from other e-services when considering the studied factors. The results also emphasize the importance of recognizing what determinants have the greatest impact on customer loyalty in this specific context.

Performance Determinants of Renewable Energy Companies

The purpose of this thesis is to identify the Performance Determinants (PD) of Renewable Energy (RE) companies. It analyzes the background of the RE industry while reflecting simultaneous developments in the fossil based industries. I divided the determinants into two groups: market level and firm level and established hypotheses based on the existing literature. Data from public companies was gathered to construct a Panel Data structure. This is then tested by using a Linear Regression with Fixed Effects model. The model specification was efficient at reflecting the analyzed phenomena. My results showed that both market level and firm level determinants are significant in the RE Industry but the firm level determinants had higher explanatory power (R2). The determinants' relationships were found to follow those from the manufacturing industry more than the utilities' industry. Out of the market level determinants Consumer Price Index (CPI), Interest Rates and Oil prices were significant. Out of the firm level determinants Debt to Assets, Net Investments, Cash flows from operations, Sales and Earnings Before Interests and Taxes (EBIT) were significant. I concluded that this information is valuable for key industry players as they can achieve their objectives faster by elaborating better strategies using these results.

Puolueiden keskustelutilaisuuksista mediatapahtumiksi. Television vaaliohjelmat ja niihin liittynyt sanomalehtijulkisuus 1960-luvulta 1980-luvulle

Tässä tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan television vaaliohjelmia ja niihin liittynyttä sanomalehtijulkisuutta 1960-luvun alusta 1980-luvun lopulle. Tarkastelun kohteena ovat sekä eduskunta- että presidentinvaalien vaaliohjelmat. Tutkimusaineisto koostuu Yleisradion hallinto- ja ohjelmaneuvostojen pöytäkirjoista, vaaliohjelmien televisiotallenteista sekä vaaliohjelmia käsittelevistä sanomalehtikirjoituksista. Lehtiaineisto on kerätty Helsingin Sanomista, Ilta-Sanomista, Iltalehdestä, Aamulehdestä, Kansan Uutisista, Suomenmaasta sekä Suomen Sosialidemokraatista. Sanomalehtiaineistoa on täydennetty Yleisradion leikearkistoon kerätyillä lehtileikkeillä. Tutkimuksessa on analysoitu toisaalta television vaaliohjelmien kehitystä ja toisaalta vaaliohjelmiin liittynyttä sanomalehtikirjoittelua. Television vaaliohjelmien kehityksen osalta tutkimuksessa on kuvattu, millä tavoin vaaliohjelmia on eri aikoina tehty ja millaisia poliittisia kiistoja niiden tekemiseen on liittynyt. Sanomalehtiaineiston analyysissa on tarkasteltu sitä, mihin seikkoihin vaaliohjelmia käsittelevissä kirjoituksissa on kiinnitetty huomiota, millä tavoin lehdet ovat suhtautuneet ohjelmien toteutukseen ja millainen rooli ohjelmilla on nähty olleen vaalikampanjoinnissa. Väitöskirjan näkökulma on historiallinen, mikä merkitsee ajallisten kontekstien keskeisyyttä analyysissa. Tutkimuksessa on kiinnitetty huomiota sekä poliittisessa kulttuurissa että mediamaisemassa tapahtuneisiin muutoksiin. Vaaliohjelmat olivat 1960-luvulla tarkkaan säänneltyjä puolueiden välisiä keskustelutilaisuuksia, joissa toimittajilla ei ollut näkyvää roolia. Ohjelmien toteutuksesta vastasivat puoluemandaateilla toimineet Yleisradion ohjelma- ja hallintoneuvoston jäsenet, joten ohjelmien toteutuksen yksityiskohdista vastasivat puolueet. Puolueet riitelivät usein vaaliohjelmien toteutuksesta, mikä osoittaa, että puolueille television vaaliohjelmat olivat tärkeitä poliittisia foorumeita jo 1960-luvulta lähtien. Vaaliohjelmat jakautuivat kahteen erilaiseen ohjelmaformaattiin; vaalitentteihin ja suureen vaalikeskusteluun. Vaalitenteissä kunkin puolueen edustajat olivat vuorollaan ”altavastaajina”, joille muiden puolueiden edustajat esittivät kysymyksiä. Suuri vaalikeskustelu oli perinteisempi paneelikeskustelu, jossa poliitikot selvittivät vuorotellen kantojaan ajankohtaisiin poliittisin kysymyksiin. 1970-luvun puolivälissä vaalitenttien toteutuksessa tapahtui suuria muutoksia, kun toimittajat syrjäyttivät poliitikot vaalitenttien kyselijöinä. Suuri vaalikeskustelu säilyi ennallaan. Sanomalehtien suhtautuminen vaaliohjelmiin oli 1960- ja 1970-luvuilla huomattavasti pidättyvämpää kuin poliitikkojen. Sanomalehdistön näkökulmasta television vaaliohjelmien tärkeimpänä tehtävänä oli puolueiden poliittisten linjausten esittely. Vaaliohjelmia käsittelevissä teksteissä esiteltiin pääasiassa poliitikkojen ohjelmissa pitämiä puheenvuoroja. Puoluelehdissä puheenvuorojen sisältöä arvioitiin aatteellisista lähtökohdista, sitoutumattomissa sanomalehdissä neutraalimmin. Vaaliohjelmien toteutukseen liittynyt kritiikki kohdistui toisaalta poliitikkojen puoluepropagandaan, toisaalta poliitikkojen liialliseen varovaisuuteen. Sanomalehtien suhtautuminen vaaliohjelmiin säilyi ennallaan myös 1970-luvulla, jolloin vaaliohjelmia alettiin tehdä toimittajavetoisesti. Ainoa muutos liittyi vaaliohjelmakritiikkiin, joka kohdistui nyt poliitikkojen ohella myös toimittajiin, joiden katsottiin olleen ohjelmissa liian hyökkääviä. Suurin muutos vaaliohjelmiin liittyneessä kirjoittelussa tapahtui 1980-luvulla. Vaaliohjelmia käsitteleviä kirjoituksia julkaistiin sanomalehdistössä monikertainen määrä 1970-lukuun verrattuna. Samalla myös vaaliohjelmia käsittelevien kirjoitusten näkökulmat alkoivat muuttua, kun ohjelmin visuaalinen ulottuvuus alkoi olla yhä näkyvämmin esillä sanomalehtiin laadituissa analyyseissa. Lehdet alkoivat teettää säännöllisesti erilaisia tutkimuksia poliitikkojen pärjäämisestä ohjelmissa ja kirjoittaa vaalikeskusteluiden voittajista ja häviäjistä. Lisäksi lehtijutuissa arvioitiin poliitikkojen esiintymistä ja vaaliohjelmista välittyviä vaikutelmia. Vuoden 1982 presidentinvaaleissa uusista näkökulmista kirjoittivat erityisesti iltapäivälehdet, mutta vuosikymmenen jälkipuoliskolla samankaltaisia lähestymistapoja omaksuivat myös Helsingin Sanomat ja Aamulehti. Niiden vaaliohjelmia käsittelevissä uutisissa kiinnitettiin yhä useammin huomiota poliitikkojen esiintymiseen, pukeutumiseen ja tunnetiloihin. Puoluelehtien suhtautuminen vaaliohjelmiin säilyi kuitenkin ennallaan, ja myös vaaliohjelmakritiikki säilyi suurelta osin muuttumattomana. 1980-luvun aikana television vaaliohjelmat muuttuivat lehdistön käsittelyssä puolueiden tavoitteita esittelevistä keskustelutilaisuuksista poliitikkojen ja puolue johtajien henkilökohtaisia ominaisuuksia mittaaviksi esiintymiskokeiksi ja suuriksi mediatapahtumiksi, joiden katsottiin toisinaan jopa ratkaisseen vaalin tuloksen. Nostaessaan television vaaliohjelmat kampanjajournalisminsa ytimeen, sanomalehdet vahvistivat television poliittista roolia.

Determinants of Polylepis (Rosaceae) Forest Distribution and Treeline Formation in the High Andes

High elevation treelines are formed under common temperature conditions worldwide, but the functional mechanisms that ultimately constrain tree growth are poorly known. In addition to environmental constraints, the distribution of high elevation forests is largely affected by human influence. Andean Polylepis (Rosaceae) forests are an example of such a case, forests commonly growing in isolated stands disconnected from the lower elevation montane forests. There has been ample discussion as to the role of environmental versus anthropogenic causes of this fragmented distribution of Polylepis forests, but the importance of different factors is still unclear. In this thesis, I studied functional, environmental and anthropogenic aspects determining Polylepis forest distribution. Specifically, I assessed the degree of genetic determinism in the functional traits that enable Polylepis species to grow in cold and dry conditions. I also studied the role of environment and human influence constraining Polylepis forest distribution. I found evidence of genetically determined climatic adaptations in the functional traits of Polylepis. High elevation species had reduced leaf size and increased root tip abundance compared to low elevation species. Thus these traits have potentially played an important role in species evolution and adaptation to high elevation habitats, especially to low temperatures. I also found reduced photosynthesis rate among high elevation tree species compared to low elevation species, supporting carbon source limitation at treelines. At low elevations, Polylepis forest distribution appeared to be largely defined by human influence. This suggests that the absence of Polylepis forests in large areas in the Andes is the result of several environmental and anthropogenic constraints, the role of environment becoming stronger towards high elevations. I also show that Polylepis trees grow at remarkably low air and soil temperatures near treelines, and present new evidence of the role of air temperatures in constraining tree growth at high elevations. I further show that easily measurable indices of accessibility are related to the degree of degradation of Polylepis forest, and can therefore be used in the rapid identification of potentially degraded Polylepis forests. This is of great importance for the conservation and restoration planning of Polylepis forests in the Andes. In a global context, the results of this thesis add to our scientific knowledge concerning high elevation adaptations in trees, and increase our understanding of the factors constraining tree growth and forest distribution at high-­elevation treelines worldwide.

Cytokines as determinants of disease and disease interactions

The immune response to pathogens results in both host resistance and immunopathology. Cytokines and in particular those lymphokines produced by Th1 and Th2 cells play a key role in determining the balance between these two immunologic outcomes. Recent data suggest that interleukin-10, a product of both Th2 cells and macrophages, protects the host against excessive immunopathology. The cytokine environment generated by different pathogens may also influence the course and outcome of infections with unrelated organisms. This relationship may be particularly important in the case of HIV-1 where prior Th1 or Th2 biases established by helminth or intracellular infections may influence either initial viral susceptibility or drive progression to AIDS through immune activation