Resource Stock Research Articles

Human Resource Investment and Early-Stage Career Choice: Evaluating Work–Life Income Paths in 21st-Century Canada

Of necessity, people make many investment decisions regarding their human resource stock early in their life cycle, long before outcomes predicated upon those choices are realized. Different choices involve very different initial effort and financing outlays and issues arise as to how these alternative paths can be compared and evaluated. Here, techniques for the cardinal comparison of human resource contingent work–life-cycle income value profiles under alternative income valuation function assumptions are outlined and instruments for examining potential ambiguities in comparison developed. All are applied in an analysis of the impact of different levels of investment of human resources in 21st-century Canada. The results, with one notable exception (the choice for boys between a trade or a bachelor-level degree), indicate unambiguous life-cycle benefits to higher levels of human resource stock investment for both girls and boys. Within gender, best–worst relative magnitudes are increasing over time for both genders but more so for girls. Boys are enjoying a universal but diminishing premium over time, reflective of male–female income convergence.

MATHEMATICAL MODELING OF FISH RESOURCES ASSESSMENT

In the field of fisheries, one of the key tasks is to determine the total and commercial stocks of fish resources in a water body, as well as to establish the maximum allowable catch of fish to maintain the sustainability of the ecosystem. Mathematical models play an important role in this process, providing effective resource management and predicting fish population dynamics, which ensures the sustainable development of fisheries and the protection of aquatic ecosystems from depletion. The aim of this study is to develop a new mathematical model for assessing changes in fish resource stocks using the cohort method. The work proposes an alternative approach to calculating changes in fish resource stocks based on statistical theory. The model developed in this work represents a new approach to calculating fish resources for practical application, which can be useful for fisheries enterprises and government bodies involved in fish resource management. The advantage of this work lies in the development of a mathematical model based solely on known statistical data and data obtained from fisheries laboratories in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Modern statistical methods were applied to solve the mathematical model, which allow for the identification of unknown factors affecting the dynamics of fish populations, thereby increasing the accuracy of forecasts and the efficiency of resource management.

Energy Return On (energy) Invested (EROI) and its importance in assessing the performance of energy systems

Meeting the energy needs of our societies, in the context of the fight against global warming and the prospect of depleting stocks of fossil fuels and mineral resources, requires the implementation of low-carbon alternative solutions. The cost per MWh is undoubtedly a useful criterion, but physical criteria are essential for assessing technological solutions and possible energy scenarios. The main of these criteria based on physical quantities is the “Energy Return on Invested” (EROI), which measures the efficiency of a system in providing society with useful energy for sectors other than the energy sector itself. Other aspects must also be considered, such as the availability of resources, the surface areas mobilised, mineral requirements, industrial risks and environmental and health impacts.

On competition for spatially distributed resources in networks

This study examines the dynamics of the exploitation of a natural resource distributed among and flowing between several nodes connected via a weighted, directed network. The network represents the locations and interactions of the resource nodes. A regulator decides to designate some of the nodes as natural reserves where no exploitation is allowed. The remaining nodes are assigned (one‐to‐one) to players, who exploit the resource at the node. It is demonstrated how the equilibrium exploitation and resource stocks depend on the productivity of the resource sites, the structure of the connections between the sites, and the number and preferences of the agents. The best locations to host nature reserves are identified per the model's parameters and correspond to the most central (in the sense of eigenvector centrality) nodes of a suitably redefined network that considers the nodes' productivity.

POPULATION PARAMETERS OF BLUE SWIMMING CRAB PORTUNUS PELAGICUS IN THE TIWORO STRAIT, SOUTHEAST SULAWESI

The blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus) has a wide distribution in the fishing ground waters for fishermen's activity in the Tiworo Strait. The coastal area of Tiworo Strait has quite a lot of crab potential. Therefore, it is used as one of the pilot locations for sustainable crab management projects of the Indonesian Blue Swimming Crab Association (APRI). Growth, total mortality, natural death, fishing mortality, and the exploitation rate were the population parameters of crabs that need to be known so that management can be carried out in a sustainable manner of fisheries. A study on the population parameters of crabs has been conducted in the Tiworo Strait, based on carapace width frequencies data collected from Juli to December 2021 and analyzed using FISAT (FAO-Iclarm Stock Assessment Tool) II. The total sample is 7,809 samples, where the number of male blue swimming crabs is 3,295 samples and 4,514 females. The average size of the blue swimming crab carapace width caught was 107.57 mm for males and 110.65 mm for females. The results of the study showed that the growth rate (K) was 1.01/year, the total mortality rate (Z) was 0.67/year, the natural death rate (M) was 1.25/year, and the fishing mortality rate was 0.58/year. The exploitation rate (E) of blue swimming crab was 0.86, which showed symptoms of over–exploitation, so the management of crabs in these waters must be carried out more carefully to sustain the availability of crab resource stocks. 
 Keywords: blue swimming crab, width, weight, Tiworo Strait

Determinants of Circular Economy: An Empirical Approach in the Context of the United States of America

The USA is the world’s largest economy in terms of the consumption of resources. The excessive and irresponsible consumption of resources in the developed countries has jeopardized the stock of global resources. This quantitative study highlighting the importance of the circular economy (CE), has assessed the factors that would support the circular transition in the USA. Time series analysis based on the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model was employed to analyze the impact of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, Research and Development expenses, and Renewable Energy consumption on circular economy in the US with annual data from 1971 to 2017. While the study indicated the existence of a long-run relationship between the GDP per capita and renewable energy consumption, no relationship was observed between research and development expenses and the circular economy. The study strongly emphasizes the need for policy interventions to enhance the level of awareness regarding circular economy, increase consumption of renewable energies and steering investments in research and development activities to support CE activities in the USA.

Supply‐side inducements and resource redeployment in multiunit firms

AbstractResearch SummaryWe examine to what extent and when multiunit firms internally redeploy managers between units. While theory has emphasized how changes in demand conditions affect redeployment, we argue that optimal internal resource allocation involves consideration of both demand and each unit's resource supply. We formalize this argument, showing how redeployment arises from “supply‐side inducements”—return advantages in new over existing resource uses resulting from changes in resource supply. Empirical tests using manager deaths as an exogenous, supply‐side shock to firms' resource stocks support our arguments, showing that firms frequently redeploy resources away from better‐endowed and toward negatively affected units. Incorporating supply‐side inducements into redeployment theory implies additional value‐creation opportunities from redeployment and carries novel predictions for the direction of intra‐firm resource flows.Managerial SummaryFirms continuously decide how to allocate valuable resources—such as their most productive workers, unique inputs, or machinery—among different units. We argue that to optimally allocate such resources, managers must respond to changes in both the demand environment and in the resource stock of different units. When some units successfully accumulate resources while others suffer adverse shocks, opportunity exists to improve efficiency by internally redeploying resources. Counterintuitively, optimal redeployment frequently involves shifting resources away from successful, well‐endowed units. New business units, being resource‐poor, are often the most important recipients of resources. Empirical analyses studying how firms allocate managers in a large sample of Brazilian firms offer support for these arguments.

Shaping contexts through entrepreneurship: a micro-historical analysis of Hongbang entrepreneurs in China (1896-1949)

Purpose The purpose of this study is to address a significant gap in the understanding of entrepreneurship at the microfoundation level. It focuses on how individual entrepreneurs, specifically Hongbang entrepreneurs in China from 1896 to 1949, shape and transform their contexts. The aim is to provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that facilitate entrepreneurial success. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts a microhistorical approach, investigating the case of Hongbang entrepreneurs in China during 1896-1949. It involves an in-depth examination of historical records to explore the strategic interactions between these entrepreneurs and core stakeholders such as consumers, financial intermediaries, government regulators, and human resources. The research methodology emphasizes a process-oriented view, examining the evolution of personalized networks into extensive connections. Findings The research reveals that Hongbang entrepreneurs successfully reshaped their unfavorable embedded contexts by strategically collaborating with key stakeholders. They influenced consumer tastes, allied with financial intermediaries, negotiated with governments on regulation policies, and developed human resource stocks. The transformation was facilitated by the evolution of their networks from personalized to extensive connections. These findings highlight the localized strategies such as cronyism in resource acquisition within China’s private property development industry. Originality/value This study contributes to the field by offering insights into entrepreneurial contextualization and networking. It sheds light on the complex interplay between entrepreneurs and their contexts, providing a nuanced understanding of localized strategies in the Chinese context. The findings add value to the discourse on entrepreneurship by elucidating the strategic and processual acts through which entrepreneurs engage with stakeholders and reshape their environments.

Blue Swimming Crab’s Conservation Area Determination in The North of Java Sea Using Reproductive Indicator

Despite being operated on a small scale, Blue Swimming Crab (BSC), Portunus pelagicus fishery substantially contributes to Indonesia's fisheries as the country's third-largest export commodity after tuna and shrimp. The high of BSC’s demand led to pressure on its stock. Hence a conservation area is needed to be set up, in this study, was proposed using reproduction indicators. with the case study of BSC Stock in Keboromo Waters, Pati Regency, North Central Java. The samples were collected from 38 sampling points at a distance of 2-12 miles from the coastline during November-December 2022 using collapsible crab traps. A reproduction observation on female crabs was carried out on their carapace width and gonad maturity stage. The data then were analyzed for the percentage of egg-berried females (EBF), size at first maturity (Lm) and first captured (Lc), and their spawning potential Ratio (SPR). This study found that the mature crabs (GMS2) in November and December were higher than in other stages while the proportion of ovigerous females (EBF) in December was higher than in November. At several sampling points, the size at first captures (Lc) was higher than that at first maturity (Lm) indicating a decrease in resource stocks due to a delay in the recruitment process. SPR of 19% showed that reproductive potential should be maintained before recruitment is limited, therefore based on the existence of EBF in particular sampling points it is recommended three conservation areas as a temporary no-take zone in BSC fishing ground in Keboromo Watres, Pati Regency.

Assessment of amateur fishing and its impact on the state of stocks of aquatic biological resources on the Ob river and its tributaries (Chulym, Tom) within the boundaries of the Tomsk region

Amateur fishing is one of the types of activities for the extraction (catch) of aquatic biological resources, which affects their stocks. As part of the state task, VNIRO conducts annual monitoring of amateur fishing and analyzes its impact on the state of aquatic life stocks. The paper presents the seasonal results of observations for the period from September 2022 to August 2023, including: the number of days suitable for amateur fishing, the number of amateur fishermen, the species composition of catches and an estimate of the volume of their catch. An assessment of the impact of amateur fishing on the stocks of aquatic biological resources is presented. The largest quantitative catch falls on pike (18.2%), perch (17.9%), roach (11.3%), ide (11.1%), and also, mainly on the Tom — Yelets river (16.1%), and in the mass unit of measurement — on pike, accounting for 50.7% of the total catch weight in year. The largest number of amateur fishermen and the volume of fish caught by them falls on the summer and autumn periods. In the autumn period, pike is caught better than at other times of the year, and more experienced amateur anglers come to such fishing. The seasons of the year are also significantly different in terms of the average number of amateur fishermen per day and the duration of fishing, there are the least number of winter fishing enthusiasts, which is due to weather conditions and meager catches. In spring, the average number of amateur fishermen per day increases by 2.5 times, and in summer it is already 6.5 times more than in winter. The average duration of fishing also increases from the winter period (2 hours) to the summer (6 hours). In general, the impact of amateur fishing on aquatic biological resources is assessed as weak, but there is pressure on certain species that are in the greatest consumer demand.

Pirates and Parrots. On the Pragmatics of Reading

Abstract At times we are told that our habitual way of thinking has become obsolete given the new challenge we are facing. Some of the conceptual resources at our disposal are no longer capable of addressing the challenge at hand. Therefore, they lose their appeal and are rejected. But only in contrast to these intellectual resources does the challenge appear as a challenge. So it seems that we are confronted with a paradox: we need the intellectual resources for their uselessness. For a proper understanding of this paradox and to unravel it, I will distinguish between de dicto and de re readings of philosophical texts. This distinction is borrowed from the neo-pragmatist Robert Brandom. A de dicto reading of a text is concerned with what its author says. A de re reading of a text is concerned with what its author talks about. Unpacking this distinction allows us to evaluate the method of engaging with our stock of conceptual resources as part of scholarly argument.

Circular economy in the Amazon: technology, design, and community

The Amazon, characterized by its rich biodiversity and relevance in global climate regulation, faces ongoing challenges linked to deforestation, unsustainable natural resource exploitation, and socioeconomic inequalities. This work explores Circular Economy (CE) as an effective means to promote sustainable development in the region, through an in-depth analysis of how sustainable technologies, innovative design, and community engagement can be integrated to facilitate this transition. Through a systematic review and meta-analysis, this study identifies and discusses the barriers and facilitators influencing the transition to a CE in the Amazon, as well as proposes effective engagement strategies for the adoption of sustainable technologies and innovative design practices in the region. The analysis revealed that the effective engagement of local communities, the incorporation of sustainable design practices, and the adoption of sustainable technologies are central to optimizing resource stocks and flows, thus promoting sustainability in the region. Moreover, challenges such as inadequate waste management, challenging socioeconomic conditions, and a lack of awareness about the benefits of CE were highlighted, as well as opportunities including the promotion of bioeconomy, regional and global cooperation, and design innovation. This work provides valuable insights for academics, policymakers, and the general community, offering a framework for promoting CE in the Amazon while highlighting the need for future multidisciplinary research and collaborations for effective implementation and scaling of CE in the region.

Spatial heterogeneity of biological traits and effects on fisheries management based on the assumption of a single stock. The case of the common hake (Merluccius gayi) in Chile

Understanding the spatial structure of fishing resource stocks is a fundamental aspect for the management and development of sustainable and productive fisheries. However, this aspect is usually simplified under the assumption of a stock unit, which assumes biologically similar and spatially homogeneous individuals, regardless of the real ranges and characteristics of their distribution. The persistence of geographic patterns in the biological traits of species suggests the spatial structuring of a population, a highly relevant aspect in stock assessment, calculation of Biological Reference Points (BRP), and management of fishing resources. In this work, the spatial heterogeneity of the biological traits of common hake (Merluccius gayi) from off-central Chile is modeled. Considering four reference zones, biological data collected over 26 years of monitoring fisheries and acoustic surveys is analyzed. The findings allow to biologically differentiate these areas whose main characteristics are the increase from north to south in the condition factor, gonad weight, and size at maturity. The Spawning Potential Ratio (SPR), fishing mortality, and BRP are calculated. Exploratorily, if these areas were considered closed subpopulations, results show that overexploitation is not a characteristic of all hake fishing areas, and that not considering the heterogeneity of biological traits causes the overestimation of the population condition in the main fishing areas. The aim of this research was to understand the spatial structuring of common hake based on the heterogeneity of biological attributes and its impact for fisheries management purposes.

Research on the Development and Construction of Rural Cultural Tourism Resources Based on the “Point axis” Theory

ABSTRACT Since the implementation of the rural revitalization strategy, rural tourism has gradually become an important industry to promote rural economic development and increase farmers’ income. At the same time, the development and utilization of cultural and tourism resources have also received attention. There are rich cultural tourism resources in Xima Village, Jixi County, Anhui Province, but the level of development and utilization is not high. Guided by the “point axis” Development theory, this paper comprehensively considered the cultural and tourism resources stock, landscape spatial layout, and regional economic and social development of Xima Village, explored and determined the important tourism nodes and development axis in the village, proposed the “Four enhancements” action model, and constructed the tourism landscape spatial structure of “one core, two axes, and three areas”, in order to optimize the development path of rural cultural and tourism resources activation, inheritance, and utilization, Bringing development opportunities to rural tourism.

Taking stock of individual power resources in European Union law: The blurry lines between adaptable and malleable social rights

The highly fragmented, layered and complex regulatory policy framework of the European Union hides a wealth of resources for social Europe. This article aims at exploring the social opportunities offered in this intricate legal framework on the basis of the resource-based understanding identified in the first contribution of this Special Issue by Corti, Ferrera and Keune. Accordingly, it pinpoints and discusses several guaranteed subjective powers to obtain certain social benefits or services in each of the pre-identified tripod of power resources: normative, instrumental and enforcement power resources. The analysis contradicts, to some extent, the negligible role attributed to EU law in terms of social rights. Overall, it finds that there exist abundant power resources at the EU level. Whereas these certainly add to the plethora of resources available to reach a certain standard of living, this abundancy is paired with a heightened complexity. Consequently, it is not always clear how the power resources interact among each other. Moreover, there is a disproportionate use of the tripod. Binding normative resources are used rather marginally in comparison to instrumental and enforcement resources, which is not necessarily a consequence of the lack of competence at the EU level.

Sustainable resource management policy of national economic development

The article considers the mechanism of possible full supply of strategic resources for the purpose of implementing the concept of sustainable development. Two main approaches to the accumulation of resources are indicated: i) the first approach, aimed at maintaining a strategic stock of energy resources, which involves the concentration of resources to ensure the stability and security of energy supplies; ii) the second approach consists in the accumulation of financial assets through the receipt of income and allows the formation of a financial reserve. In the case of the first approach, the country like the United States strategically accumulated crude oil reserves, exemplified by the establishment of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) in the 1970s. The percentage ratio of US crude oil exports relative to their daily oil consumption in the United States from 1980 to 2023 was calculated and detailed in the research, with trends such as a decline of 1% in 2005 and a subsequent increase of 156% in 2023 being revealed, and the impact of technological and geopolitical factors on these changes was determined.

SINGLE-TYPE PROBLEM OF IMPULSE PURSUIT OF AN OBJECT WITH CHANGING DYNAMICS

We consider a linear differential game with an impulse control of the first player. The capabilities of the first player are determined by the stock of resources that he can use to form his control. The control of the second player is subject to a geometric constraint. The vectograms of the players are described by the same ball with different time-dependent radii. It is believed that the second player at a time moment unknown in advance to the first player can change his dynamics once. The terminal set is a ball with a fixed radius. The goal of the first player is to lead the phase vector to the terminal set at a given time. The goal of the second player is the opposite. Necessary and sufficient conditions for a meeting the terminal set at the given time are found. The corresponding controls of the players, guaranteeing the achievement of their goals are constructed.

Comprehensive condition assessment of the black-backed sea shad (<i>Alosa kessleri</i>, Grimm, 1887) in the Lower Volga

The purpose of the research is to assess the condition of the black-backed sea shad (Alosa kessleri, Grimm, 1887) in the Lower Volga according to parasitological, microbiological, toxicological, and biochemical parameters, and to determine the correlation between the above during the spawning. Materials and methods. The research object was the black-backed sea shad caught with a river shore seine. Sampling for comprehensive studies was performed from 15 black-backed sea shads during the spawning migration in 2017. The fish were studied by the method of partial parasitological dissection (the protozoa class was not studied). The fish were collected and dissected, and cameral treatment was performed per Bykhovskaya-Pavlovskaya method. Microbiological studies were conducted by common methods. Species identification of identified helminths and microorganisms was performed according to standard identification guides. Toxicological studies included the determination of lead, cadmium, mercury, and petroleum hydrocarbons in the muscle tissue of the studied shad specimens by atomic absorption. In fish muscles, we studied the number of total lipids by the Zollner method, and water-soluble protein by the spectrometric Warburg-Christian method. The Fulton's condition factor was used for fatness determination. The obtained results were processed statistically. Results and discussion. The results of the comprehensive studies of commercial species of the black-backed sea shad (Alosa kessleri, Grimm, 1887) showed that the parasite fauna of fish was distinguished by a poor species composition as contracted with a qualitative microbiota biodiversity. Infection of the black-backed sea shad proceeded at the asymptomatic carrier level, which indicated a balanced relationship between parasites and the host. The levels of accumulated toxicants in shads were close to the characteristic values for fish in the Volga-Caspian basin. On average, the stock of energy resources in the studied fish had a positive trend in relation to the previous research period. The study results of the black-backed sea shad during the spawning showed the correlation of parasitological, microbiological, toxicological, and biochemical parameters that comprehensively affect the general physiological state of the studied fish.

Status pengelolaan perikanan tongkol yang berbasis di PPP Pasongsongan Sumenep, Jawa Timur : suatu pendekatan ekosistem

Introduction: The increase in the purse seine fishing fleet and the decline in tuna production will have an impact on the decline in CPUE (Catch Per Unit Effort) per year. The CPUE trend that continues to decline every year is feared to have a negative impact on fish resource stocks and even the tendency of overfishing. Therefore, to overcome the existing problems, an integrated approach to fisheries management is needed through the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM). This study aims to assess the status and formulate management actions for tuna fisheries based in the Pasongsongan Coastal Fishing Port (PPP), Sumenep Regency. Methods: The types and sources of data used in this research are primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected through survey and observation methods. Interviews were conducted with 40 randomly selected purse seine fishermen respondents, as well as 1 employee of the Sumenep District Fisheries Office. Secondary data were collected through existing data such as tuna catch, number of trips, number of purse seine fleets, fish prices. Analysis was conducted through an indicator approach using the Multi Criteria Analysis (MCA) approach. Results: The results of the analysis show that the institutional domain shows a very good status, while for the domains of fish resources, fishing techniques, and social with good status, then the economic domain has a moderate status. Conclusion: Based on these indicators, the management status of tuna resources based in the Pasongsongan Coastal Fishing Port is generally in good condition.

Intensification options in cereal-legume production systems generate trade-offs between sustainability pillars for farm households in northern Morocco

CONTEXTFarmers in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region face several interrelated challenges including natural resource depletion, low crop productivity, and food and nutrition insecurity. To address some of these challenges, governments are considering different incentives to increase crop production. However, incentives often entail trade-offs and may have diverging effects on economic, social, and environmental sustainability. OBJECTIVESThis study assessed the ex-ante effects of incentives targeted towards increasing crop production on the production and consumption decisions of farm households on the Saïss plain of northern Morocco. METHODSThe assessment was conducted with a dynamic, intertemporal farm household model that simulates farm production and food consumption decisions. The model was calibrated using survey data from 85 farm households for 2014. Four scenarios were codesigned with local stakeholders and then simulated over a continuous 15-year period to capture rainfall variability: (1) increased availability of annual groundwater for irrigated cropping from 31 m3 ha−1 to 215 m3 ha−1, (2) a 15% increase in grain prices for cereals and legumes, (3) introduced drought tolerant crop varieties, and (4) a fourth scenario that combines all factors in the above three scenarios. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONOur results showed that regardless of the scenario, the area of cereals and legumes cultivated only slightly changed compared to the Baseline scenario. However, according to the scenarios tested, the total production of cereals increased by 10% to 21% and of legumes increased by 2% to 9%. This production increase is the direct consequence of increased crop yields due to an intensification of crop production methods. The incentives increased the consumption of cereals and legumes by up to 43%. This increase was mainly due to a shift from grain to vegetable production that increases cash income, resulting in more food purchases from the market while consumption from own production dropped by up to 53%. The average increase in crop income was 14% in scenarios 1–3 and 28% in scenario 4. However, increased income had ramifications for nature resource stocks, with irrigation water use from groundwater increasing by 593% in the Water scenario and 320% in the combined scenario, relative to the Baseline scenario. In the Water scenario, incomes increased by 15% and nitrogen leached increased by 36%, highlighting the trade-off between economic and environmental sustainability. SIGNIFICANCEThese results show the challenges in obtaining acceptable compromises between the three sustainability pillars as the scenarios increased income but also led to increased groundwater extraction and nitrate leaching.