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Under what conditions are some small‐scale agricultural producers able to overcome challenges associated with shifting to organic production, whereas most are not? The answers are vital for the global effort to encourage more sustainable, pro‐poor forms of agriculture—more organic farming, more sustainable production; more smallholders engaged in green production, more income and better livelihoods. Yet, answering this question is challenging in part because previous analyses of global production networks, such as those associated with organic agriculture, focus more on broad governance patterns than the specific factors and actors that help smallholders shift to organic production and link to far‐flung markets. To fill in these gaps, we conducted fieldwork in Isan, Thailand, a major rice‐producing area in which many groups of smallholders have attempted to shift into organic production. Doing so allows us to identify the critical challenges associated with upgrading into organic production and analyse how specific actors enabled some groups to overcome these challenges. Our findings provide a generalizable theoretical approach to understanding how to link small‐scale farmers to global value chains in ways that can potentially enhance smallholders' livelihoods, spark rural development and encourage more sustainable practices in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compares and contrasts the multiple characterizations of mean reversion in financial time series as regards the restrictions they imply. This is accomplished by translating them into statements about an alternative measure, the "Average Crossing Time" or ACT. We argue that the ACT measure, per se, provides not only a useful benchmark for the degree of mean reversion/aversion, but also an intuitive, and easily quantified sense of one time series being "more strongly mean‐reverting/averting" than another. We conclude our discussion by deriving the ACT measure for a wide class of stochastic processes and detailing its statistical characteristics. Our analysis is principally undertaken within a class of well‐understood production based asset pricing models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cycads were a dominant plant functional type during the Mesozoic Era when atmospheric carbon dioxide [CO2] greatly exceeded current conditions. Cycads, now rare and endangered, are slow‐growing perennial gymnosperms that develop carbon‐rich structural biomass, such as sclerophyllous leaves, dense stems and massive reproductive cones. Is cycad carbon partitioning to specific organs a constraint of their high [CO2] evolutionary history (CO2 legacy hypothesis, CLH)? To explore changes in cycad growth, carbon partitioning and assimilation responses that could be expected during the CO2 depletion of the Cenozoic Era, individuals of the cycad species Encephalartos villosus plants were grown at four CO2 levels: 400, 550, 750 and 1000 μmol mol−1. The CLH predicts that cycad biomass and growth rates would increase in elevated [CO2] due to increased net assimilation rates, and that carbon‐dense structures would provide sufficient carbohydrate sinks to prevent photosynthetic down‐regulation even under super‐ambient [CO2] of 1000 μmol mol−1. Both hypotheses were confirmed, though the latter less strongly. Plant relative growth rates increased 23% and biomass accumulation increased 65% in 1000 μmol mol−1relative to 400 μmol mol−1 treatment groups. Mean net assimilation rates increased 130% at 1000 μmol mol−1 relative to 400 μmol mol−1 CO2, though there was some down‐regulation of maximum rate of carboxylation (Vcmax). Assimilation rates, relative growth rates, biomass and mean leaf sugar content were linearly related to [CO2] over the entire experimental range. Photosynthesis appears to be regulated by stomata at low CO2 levels and by non‐stomatal (i.e. biochemical limitations) at greater concentrations. In general, our results suggest that growth and physiological performance of cycads have been severely compromised by declining [CO2] during the Cenozoic Era, possibly contributing to the current rare and endangered status of this functional type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Of the myriad approaches to reducing poverty, which have proved effective on a national scale? This article analyses 15 systematically selected national cases of demonstrated rapid poverty reduction, seeking insights into effective approaches to reducing poverty. From these 15 economies, in which the bottom quintile experienced an annual increase in income of at least 6% over at least a decade, emerge four poverty-reduction pathways: (1) industrialisation, (2) rural development, (3) social welfare and (4) petroleum-generated employment. In addition to helping us understand what policy approaches have actually helped reduce poverty, this article has implications for the understanding of economic growth, the impact of pro-growth policies, the relationship between state and market, and the roles of non-government organisations ( NGOs) and civil society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The following nomenclatural changes are provided for Australian Delphacini: Queenslandicesa fennahi sp. nov. (=Thymalops anderida sensu Fennah); Yangdelphax jihyuetanica gen. et sp. nov. (=Hadeodelphax pluto sensu Yang), with Yangdelphax afurculus (Guo & Liang) comb. nov.; Gelastodelphax Kirkaldy stat. rev., with type species, G. histrionica, redescribed; Nycheuma anderida (Kirkaldy) comb. nov. (=Dicranotropis cognata Muir syn. nov.); Delphax albotristriata Kirkaldy (=Delphax thyestes Kirkaldy syn. n.). Sardia Melichar (=Hadeodelphax Kirkaldy syn. rev.) and Sardia rostrata Melichar (=Hadeodelphax pluto Kirkaldy syn. rev.) and Hadeodelphax pluto pluto Kirkaldy (=Hadeodelphax pluto pallidior Kirkaldy syn. rev.); Delphax disonymos Kirkaldy (=Delphax hyas Kirkaldy syn. nov.); Delphax anemonias Kirkaldy (=Delphax pylaon Kirkaldy syn. nov.). All species currently assigned to the genus Matutinus Distant, a junior homonym of Matutinus Macleay, are transferred to the new genus Distantinus. Lectotypes are designated for Gelastodelphax histrionicus Kirkaldy, Hadeodelphax pluto Kirkaldy, Hadeodelphax pluto pallidior Kirkaldy, Delphax anemonias Kirkaldy, D. matanitu Kirkaldy, D. pylaon Kirkaldy, D. thyestes Kirkaldy, D. albotristriata Kirkaldy, D. hyas Kirkaldy and Dicranotropis anderida Kirkaldy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examination of Delphacini holdings in Australian insect collections and comparison with material from overseas collections has revealed several species not previously recorded from Australia, Timor Leste and/or Papua New Guinea. Newly recorded species from Australia are Anchodelphax olenus Fennah, Cemus sauteri ( Muir), Falcotoya aurinia Fennah, Hagamiodes fuscicaudata ( Muir), Horcoma colorata lacteipennis ( Muir), Latistria placitus (van Duzee), Nemetor sabinus Fennah, Nilaparvata bakeri ( Muir), Nilaparvata myersi ( Muir), Numata corporaali ( Muir), Nycheuma coctum ( Yang), Perkinsiella bakeri ( Muir), Rhombotoya pseudonigripennis ( Muir), Tagosodes pusanus ( Distant), Toya bridwelli ( Muir). Newly recorded species from Timor Leste are Falcotoya aurinia, Horcoma colorata lacteipennis, Latistria placitus, Nycheuma coctum and Tagosodes pusanus. Newly recorded species from Papua New Guinea are Hagamiodes fuscicaudata and Laodelphax striatellus ( Fallén). An updated checklist of Australian Delphacini is provided. [Correction added on 19 December 2013, after first online publication: ' Laodelphax striatellus' has been removed from the list of newly recorded species.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Bees are the most important pollinators of flowering plants and essential ecological keystone species contributing to the integrity of most terrestrial ecosystems. Here, we examine the potential impact of climate change on bees' geographic range in a global biodiversity hotspot. Location South Africa with a focus on the Cape Floristic Region (CFR) diversity hotspot. Methods Geographic ranges of 12 South African bee species representing dominant distribution types were studied, and the climate change impacts upon bees were examined with A2 and B2 climate scenarios of HadCM3 model, using MaxEnt for species distribution modelling. Results The predicted levels of climate change-induced impacts on species ranges varied from little shifts and range expansion of 5-50% for two species to substantial range contractions between 32% and 99% in another six species. Four species show considerable range shifts. Bees of the winter rainfall area in the west of South Africa generally have smaller range sizes than in the summer rainfall area and generally show eastward range contractions toward the dry interior. Bee species prevalent in summer rainfall regions show a tendency for a south-easterly shift in geographic range. Main conclusions The bee fauna of the CFR is identified as the most vulnerable to climate change due to the high level of endemism, the small range sizes and the island-like isolation of the Mediterranean-type climate region at the SW tip of Africa. For monitoring climate change impact on bees, we suggest to establish observatories in the coastal plains of the west coast that are predicted to be worst affected and areas where persistence of populations is most likely. Likely impacts of climate change on life history traits of bees (phenology, sociality, bee-host plant synchronization) are discussed but require further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reform of agriculture in China is cited by scholars advocating economic growth through market reform. Such scholars argue that this aspect of reform has been characterized by the liberalization of markets for agricultural commodities, which spurred production, increased rural incomes, and reduced poverty. This view exaggerates the roles played by open markets and economic growth in that reform. This article argues that the role of the state in redistributing public assets, establishing institutions that supported markets, and designing and implementing poverty reduction policies also reduced poverty in China. I conclude that scholars, not just in China's case but also more generally, should examine the economic and political effects of various possible relationships between state and market. I offer this as one way forward in deepening our understanding of the role of politics and policy in promoting development and reducing poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The State of Queensland includes islands within Torres Strait. However, Quarantine legislation separates these islands from mainland Australia, and divides them into two Quarantine zones. Details of the Torres Strait and far north Queensland distribution and damage levels of Eumetopina flavipes Muir (sugarcane leafhopper) and Chilo terrenellus Pagenstecher (sugarcane stem borer) are published here for the first time. The delphacid is a known vector of the sugarcane disease, Ramu stunt, which occurs in northern Papua New Guinea (PNG) and possibly other locations. Eumetopina flavipes has been known to occur on islands within Torres Strait and the communities near the tip of Cape York Peninsula since 1983. The disease is not known to be present in this population of the bugs. The sugarcane stem borer, C. terrenellus, has been detected on a number of occasions in sugarcane on two of the three Torres Strait islands closest to PNG (Saibai and Dauan). Its ‘appearance’ at these two sites is intermittent and damage levels are never as high as in the nearby communities in the Western Province of PNG. The majority of sugarcane plantings on Torres Strait islands are yellow and purple varieties of chewing cane ( Saccharum officinarum) which is the host for all records reported here. Recent detection of Chilo crypsimetalla (Turner) on several islands in Torres Strait is reported, although this is not thought to be a pest of sugarcane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using spatial predictions of future threats to biodiversity, we assessed for the first time the relative potential impacts of future land use and climate change on the threat status of plant species. We thus estimated how many taxa could be affected by future threats that are usually not included in current IUCN Red List assessments. Here, we computed the Red List status including future threats of 227 Proteaceae taxa endemic to the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa, and compared this with their Red List status excluding future threats. We developed eight different land use and climate change scenarios for the year 2020, providing a range of best- to worst-case scenarios. Four scenarios include only the effects of future land use change, while the other four also include the impacts of projected anthropogenic climate change (HadCM2 IS92a GGa), using niche-based models. Up to a third of the 227 Proteaceae taxa are uplisted (become more threatened) by up to three threat categories if future threats as predicted for 2020 are included, and the proportion of threatened Proteaceae taxa rises on average by 9% (range 2–16%), depending on the scenario. With increasing severity of the scenarios, the proportion of Critically Endangered taxa increases from about 1% to 7% and almost 2% of the 227 Proteaceae taxa become Extinct because of climate change. Overall, climate change has the most severe effects on the Proteaceae, but land use change also severely affects some taxa. Most of the threatened taxa occur in low-lying coastal areas, but the proportion of threatened taxa changes considerably in inland mountain areas if future threats are included. Our approach gives important insights into how, where and when future threats could affect species persistence and can in a sense be seen as a test of the value of planned interventions for conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complementary field and laboratory tests confirmed and quantified the pollination abilities of Tranes sp. weevils and Cycadothrips chadwicki thrips, specialist insects of their respective cycad hosts, Macrozamia machinii and M. lucida. No agamospermous seeds were produced when both wind and insects were excluded from female cones; and the exclusion of wind-vectored pollen alone did not eliminate seed set, because insects were able to reach the cone. Based on enclosure pollination tests, each weevil pollinates an average 26.2 ovules per cone and each thrips 2.4 ovules per cone. These pollinators visited similar numbers of ovules per cone in fluorescent dye tests that traced insect movement through cones. Fluorescent dye granules deposited by Cycadothrips were concentrated around the micropyle of each visited ovule, the site of pollen droplet release, where pollen must be deposited to achieve pollination. In contrast, Tranes weevils left dye scattered on different areas of each visited ovule, indicating that chance plays a greater role in this system. Each weevil and 25 thrips delivered 6.2 and 5.2 pollen grains, respectively, on average, to each visited ovule per cone, based on examination of dissected pollen canals. In sum, the pollination potential of 25 Cycadothrips approximates that of one Tranes weevil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the effects of habitat fragmentation on the pollinator diversity and reproductive success of seven perennial plant species in renosterveld shrublands in South Africa. We sampled pollinators in small (0.5–2 ha), medium (3–10 ha), and large (>30 ha) habitat fragments during the peak flowering period in spring and summer. We also compared fruit set and seed set in the seven plant species on different-sized fragments. Hand-pollinated controls were used to determine pollination deficits in three species. Seed-germination studies were done on two species to determine the effect of reduced seed set on reproductive output. Overall, the species richness of bees, flies, and butterflies did not vary significantly among different-sized fragments. However, the abundance of particular species of bees and monkey beetles (Scarabaeidae: Hopliini) was significantly affected by fragment size, together with other factors such as vegetation cover and the ratio of grass to shrubs. Fragment size and distance to large remnants of vegetation had a significant influence on seed or fruit set in four of the seven plant species examined. One species failed to set any seed in small- and medium-sized fragments. Comparisons of fruit and seed set among hand-pollinated and naturally pollinated plants confirmed that seed set was pollinator-limited in the orchid Pterygodium catholicum . Our results suggest that perennial plant species respond in different ways to fragmentation, and that populations on small fragments do not always experience pollination deficits. Existing classifications of pollination systems, in relation to their vulnerability to fragmentation, do not adequately explain our results. We argue that there needs to be a greater focus on the habitat requirements of pollinators to predict the effects of habitat fragmentation on pollination systems and plant reproductive success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which examined the difference between wind and insect pollination in the cycad Encephalartos villosus Lemaire (Zamiaceae). Material and methods used in experiments; Comparison between insect and wind pollination; What the study revealed.

The article discusses philosophical and economic aspects of moral behavior and organizational ethics. Organizational behavior is influenced by moral codes, which are sources of commitment, power, and control and can be used to exploit or protect people. Moral behavior results from conscious choice and is not the result of social norms. Codes of action that do not satisfy evidence and reason--in terms of moral and legal justice in defining the best or right action--are based on questionable social values instead of the golden rule. An example of a moral issue in industry is asbestos.

Focuses on the generalized value maximization condition for growth paths with finite total consumption possibilities. Reviews of the model of Cass and Majumdar for derivation of value maximization characterization of efficient growth paths; Association of existence of non-trivial Malinvaud price sequence with derived consumption set; Contrast between generalized value maximization and approach of Cass and majumdar.

This paper studies the pricing of common stocks in the context of a monetary, rational expectations equilibrium. Special attention is given to the relationship between inflation and asset returns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the structure of intertemporal preferences for consistent planning. Notions of the separability to encompass the specialized sequential structures; Implications of the study for general equilibrium analysis; Characterization of the preference orderings.

This paper is concerned with characterizing the probability distributions that describe the (stochastic) stationary state of a neoclassical model of optimal growth. In particular, using both theoretical analysis and numerical simulation, we search for systematic relationships between savings (and investment) rates and variability of the economy's aggregates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first Australian records of mango shield scale ( Milviscutulus mangiferae) from north Queensland and additional records from parts of Papua New Guinea are presented. The majority of specimens were collected from mango leaves ( Mangifera indica). A summary of its known distribution, other hosts, identification and damage levels is also presented. Also, the detection of rice mealybug ( Brevennia rehi) in far north Queensland is reported for the first time. This pest is known to occur in the Northern Territory. The north Queensland detections are from native grasses. The records presented here, for both species, are regarded as new detections, rather than new incursions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]