Optimal Market-Integration Decisions by Policymakers: Modeling and Analysis of Agriculture Market Data

Policymakers often seek to integrate markets as a way to maximize social welfare. In this article, the authors consider the spectrum of all possible integration policies, from full isolation to complete integration, and characterize the socially optimal market integration, under general demands. They identify market conditions under which social surplus is indeed maximized at partial market integration. For the linear price-responsive demand model that is used extensively in the operations management literature, these conditions are identified as thresholds on (i) the relative size of the markets being integrated, and (ii) the relative price sensitivity of consumers in these markets. The authors then apply the model to the commercial seed market in the European Union (EU). Their analysis shows that socially optimal market integration for these countries provides a further improvement in the social surplus for the EU by 2.80%, relative to complete integration. Results show that policymakers should exercise caution in determining the extent to which markets are integrated.

Chattel Slaveries in Classical Greece

Greek chattel or commercial slavery developed from general growth and sophistication of economic activity in emerging city-state culture. At Athens and elsewhere, non-commercial forms of slavery evanesced. As the supply of Greek slaves lessened for economic and ideological reasons, Greeks began to acquire slaves almost exclusively from non-Greek peoples. Slaves were considered private property but, as Aristotle argued, they were also considered ‘animate tools’, a category marking distinction from other animal property. Athenian slaves could enjoy a measure of behavioural latitude, some protection from arbitrary violence, and in some ways participated in the wider polis. However, exploitation was normal (sometimes with abuse) and constituted the essence of the slave system. Slave labour was prominent in the classical Greek economy, as slaves were numerous. Finally, although manumission was possible and perhaps frequent, complete integration into wider society was limited at Athens.

A Note on the Integration of Scalar Fourth-Order Ordinary Differential Equations with Four-Dimensional Symmetry Algebras

The complete integration of scalar fourth-order ODEs with four-dimensional symmetry algebras is performed by utilizing Lie’s method which was invoked to integrate scalar second-order ODEs admitting two-dimensional symmetry algebras. We obtain a complete integration of all scalar fourth-order ODEs that possess four Lie point symmetries.

Smart Textiles and Sensorized Garments for Physiological Monitoring: A Review of Available Solutions and Techniques

Several wearable devices for physiological and activity monitoring are found on the market, but most of them only allow spot measurements. However, the continuous detection of physiological parameters without any constriction in time or space would be useful in several fields such as healthcare, fitness, and work. This can be achieved with the application of textile technologies for sensorized garments, where the sensors are completely embedded in the fabric. The complete integration of sensors in the fabric leads to several manufacturing techniques that allow dealing with both the technological challenges entailed by the physiological parameters under investigation, and the basic requirements of a garment such as perspiration, washability, and comfort. This review is intended to provide a detailed description of the textile technologies in terms of materials and manufacturing processes employed in the production of sensorized fabrics. The focus is pointed at the technical challenges and the advanced solutions introduced with respect to conventional sensors for recording different physiological parameters, and some interesting textile implementations for the acquisition of biopotentials, respiratory parameters, temperature and sweat are proposed. In the last section, an overview of the main garments on the market is depicted, also exploring some relevant projects under development.

Inclusion et accessibilité : 50 ans de changements

Ce chapitre retrace les principaux changements intervenus au Royaume-Uni ayant conduit à l’inclusion de « tous » les enfants dans le système éducatif administré par le ministère de l’Éducation, même si cela ne signifie pas pour autant que tous les enfants soient inclus dans les écoles traditionnelles. Il identifie ensuite les domaines clés des systèmes éducatifs ayant besoin d’être réformés pour parvenir à une complète intégration.

Complete integration convergence for arrays of rowwise extended negatively dependent random variables under the sub-linear expectations

<abstract><p>Limit theorems of sub-linear expectations are challenging field that has attracted widespread attention in recent years. In this paper, we establish some results on complete integration convergence for weighted sums of arrays of rowwise extended negatively dependent random variables under sub-linear expectations. Our results generalize the complete moment convergence of the probability space to the sub-linear expectation space.</p></abstract>

Conclusions: Incomplete Integration

This study set out to provide insight into the integration of the Netherlands and Northwest Germany into the Napoleonic Empire, through the implementation of Napoleonic governance, distinguishing several phases. This concluding chapter puts the research findings into a larger context. After exploring the collapse and legacy of Napoleonic rule, the successive stages of conquest, incorporation, and integration are reflected upon. Both areas experienced similar tensions between the Napoleonic desire for uniformity and diverse traditions. Either a ‘harsh’ approach or a ‘mild’ approach was chosen, depending on the actors involved and the interaction between core and periphery. Interests and actions were not aligned, and in more extreme cases, there was downright animosity between Napoleonic officials. Therefore, in neither the Netherlands nor Northwest Germany complete integration was achieved. However, there was no definite blueprint for integration, as different groups had conflicting ideas on the desirable level of, and path to, integration. Ultimately, integration was incomplete, but the degree of incompleteness depends on the divergent norms set by the various parties.

Understanding the complexity of population health interventions: assessing intervention system theory (ISyT)

BackgroundA better understanding of what is happening inside the ”black box” of population health interventions is needed because of their inherent complexity. The theory-driven intervention/evaluation paradigm is one approach used for this purpose. However, barriers related to semantic or practical issues stand in the way of its complete integration into evaluation designs.Methods and discussionIn this study, we aimed to clarify how various theories, models, and frameworks could contribute to conceiving a grounded theory, called interventional system theory (ISyT), suitable for understanding the black box of population health interventions and acknowledging their complexity. We suggest that this interventional system theory (ISyT) could guide evaluation processes, whatever evaluation design is applied.ConclusionWe believe that such clarification could contribute to encouraging the use of theories in complex intervention evaluations, and to identifying ways to consider the transferability and the scalability of interventions.