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Sericulture is an important agro industry in Indian economy. Reeling sector is a vital component of sericulture linking the agriculture based activity of cocoon production with the industrial activity of fabric production. Reeling converts the cocoons into raw silk yam. Karnataka contributes about 63% of the silk production of the country and therefore the present study is focused on the silk reeling industry of Karnataka. Silk reeling sector, though provides a vital transformation, appear to be the weakest link owing to its innumerable problems and the limited value addition that takes place. Problems are associated with raw material availability, working capital constraints, marketing and quality related aspects. Reeling sector is input dependent activity and its operations are influenced heavily by three factors viz., cocoon quality, cocoon price and cocoon supply. However, there has not been adequate thrust on quality due to the absence of quality based price fixation. Absence of quality based pricing has been a major deterrent factor in the pursuit for quality improvement. The seasonality associated with cocoon quality, cocoon supply and price as also the raw silk price almost always determine the fate of reeling activity. Being aware of the limited research done in respect of Indian silk industry, an elaborate literature review in the area of economics and management aspects of the silk industry in general and silk reeling operations in particular, was made. Studies on the economics of reeling operations done in the past indicate negative net revenue for the reeling units. However, if the reeling industry has survived over the years, it cannot be in spite of the loss. The industry has to breakeven over a period of time to consolidate the gains, however meagre. So, it is worthwhile to study the economics of silk reeling industry over a sufficient period of time, that is enough to include a cycle of seasonality, be it with respect to cocoon quality, cocoon availability, cocoon price, raw silk demand or raw silk price. In addition, if the element of uncertainties at varying points of time is included to study their effect on reeling economics, it makes the study more meaningful. It may be noted that, the variations in cocoon price over a period of time are dictated by the seasonality with respect to cocoon supply and demand. With regard to the variations in cocoon price at a given point of time (within a season), price differential between the cocoon lots appears to be largely due to its quality. A study of the inter relationship between cocoon quality, its quantity and price as also raw silk price is important. It is therefore felt that, the relationship between the cost of cocoons, cocoon quality and its productivity, when built into the determination of reeling economics, the analysis will be more realistic. A study of a typical reeling unit, to unearth the intricacies of operations and decision-making in the light of the volatile situation in the industry forms a pre requisite for a clear understanding of its functioning. Since reeling activity is highly input dependent, ignoring the aspects of the input market dynamics would not yield a holistic perspective of the operations. If one has to study and understand the market dynamics, the attributes of the commodity transacted should be clearly known. The commodity in question here is cocoon. The quality of cocoons does not have a unique expression, either to consider as a variable for studying the relationships in the market or as an input into the production process or as a yardstick for commercial transactions. The thesis thus deals with three major aspects of silk reeling industry in Karnataka, relating to the quality of raw material, dynamics of market transactions and analysis of the day to day operations of a typical silk reeling unit. There are around five quality parameters used for testing the quality of cocoons and each of them has a certain dimension of importance in defining the quality of cocoons. The procedures followed in Japan and China are not readily adaptable for Indian conditions. Therefore, an attempt has been made to develop a unique measure of cocoon quality under Indian conditions both from the point of view of appropriateness of representation as also the ease of determination commercially. In view of the importance of shell ratio 9c (SR%) and defective cocoon % (DC%) in representing the quality of cocoons, these two quality parameters are used for fixing the cocoon quality index. The statistical technique chosen for developing the Cocoon Quality Index (CQI) is discriminant analysis. Data on SR% and DC9c in respect of a sample of around 40,000 lots of multibi cocoons spanning a period of two years were collected for the analysis. The objective was to group the cocoons into low, medium and high quality in addition to arriving at a discriminant function to represent the quality index from SR% and DC% as independent variables. The analysis has contributed in establishing an index for assessing and grading the quality of, both mutibi and bivoltine cocoons in the Indian context. The study has also brought to focus the fact that, SR% and DC% adequately represent the quality of cocoons. As an extension of the objective, the commercial application of CQI as a means of price fixation mechanism in the cocoon markets has been illustrated. An analysis of the quality of cocoon lots presently being transacted in Karnataka has been made. The study of the market dynamics focused first on estimation of the relationship between cocoon price and its quality and supply (quantity) and then establishment of the causal relationship between cocoon price and silk price. Day wise aggregate data were used in. these two instances. In addition, the relationship between lot size, quality and price of cocoons being transacted in the cocoon markets has been established using the lot wise micro level data. The interrelationships of the various time series data have been studied through ARIMA analysis. The asymmetry in response of raw silk price to changes in cocoon price has been studied. The study enabled the identification of the determinants of cocoon price and raw silk price which are the major factors contributing to the revenue of a silk reeling unit. The capability of the buyers to assess the quality of cocoons subjectively even in the absence of an analytical system, speaks about the experience and expertise of the reelers. The supply quantity of cocoons largely influences the cocoon price. The dependence of raw silk price on cocoon price indicates the predominance of the supply side of the industry. The symmetry in the response of raw silk price to changes in cocoon price has also been established. The problems typical of a reeling unit merit the application of simulation technique in order to gain insights into the operations of a reeling unit. Discrete Event System Simulation has been used with fixed time increment approach and terminating criteria. The operations of a typical silk reeling unit have been simulated for a period of one whole year. A typical model based on the heuristic thinking of reelers to reflect the practices ingrained in the reeling units has been developed. The strategies they adopt to counter the vagaries of their operations have also been considered. Silk reeling being an input controlled industry, the heuristics of cocoon buying decision has been incorporated as the core of the model. The heuristics are derived from discussions with several prominent reelers and observation of their operations. The model tries to incorporate the volatile situation of the cocoon market and the raw silk sale price as also the constraints of working capital and the decision the reeler tends to take under these conditions. Standard procedures of simulation viz., variance reduction techniques, verification and validation of simulation model etc. have been followed. Simulation experiments have been made considering the factors of strategies, working capital borrowed money and installed capacity, in order to study its influence on the performance of a reeling unit. The simulation experimental data have been initially subjected to rnultivariate analysis and later to univariate ANOVA for each of the two response variables viz., cumulative net revenue and cumulative capacity utilisation. The unique relationship between revenue and capacity utilisation indicated a trade-off between the two. The reeling unit has to aim at maximising utilisation without major setbacks in revenue. It has been found that the capacity utilisation of a reeling unit is influenced more significantly by the factors or parameters of the model viz., strategy, working capital, and borrowed money and plant capacity, while the variables of the model viz., cocoon price, CQI and raw silk price influence cumulative net revenue. The importance of cocoon quality for better economics of production has been clearly established which should serve as a guiding factor for cocoon buying decision. An interesting result is that when there is adequate working capital, a bigger batch size for raw silk sales earns higher net revenue. The seasonality in net revenue is overwhelming in all the cases. The reeling unit has positive net revenue in the first six months with a few ups and downs and the gain it had consolidated slowly reduces before stabilising at a relatively lower level. The important contributions are the development of a quality index for grading of cocoons, establishment of the interrelationships among cocoon price, its quality and supply quantity as also the relationship between cocoon price and raw silk price. The much needed insight into the operations of a reeling unit has been provided by the simulation analysis. For the first time it has been established that, reeling units do make profits from the primary product. The model incorporated good management decision making for the purchase of cocoons and handling of working capital and other operations.

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Ce travail de thèse a cherché à déterminer si la contamination résiduelle à long terme des sols agricoles par les pesticides induit le développement de mécanismes d’adaptation aux pesticides chez les vers de terre. Il a aussi visé à identifier les coûts potentiels de l’adaptation de l’échelle de l’individu à celle de la population, et les conséquences pour l’écosystème sol. Une contamination résiduelle du sol par les pesticides est mesurée et comparée dans trois champs cultivés en agriculture conventionnelle (classés en fonction de l’historique cultural comme « haut », « moyen » et « bas » niveaux d’intrants), un champ cultivé en agriculture biologique et une prairie permanente biologique, tous dans ce type de management agricole depuis plus de 20 ans. En utilisant une méthode d’extraction des pesticides en milieu aqueux (représentant la fraction « biodisponible » des pesticides), 6, 8 et 4 résidus de pesticides sont détectés dans les champs à « haut », « moyen », et « bas » niveaux d’applications, respectivement, et un seul pesticide dans le sol du champ biologique (un résidu d’atrazine potentiellement vieux de plus de 20 ans). Les deux espèces endogées Allolobophora chlorotica et Aporrectodea caliginosa , communnes dans les sols des 5 champs,- mis à part A. chlorotica qui est absente du champ cultivé en agriculture biologique-, ont servi de modèles biologiques d’étude. Les stratégies d’adaptation aux pesticides sont étudiées en comparant les réponses de ces populations de vers de terre sur le terrain et après des expositions aux pesticides en laboratoire. Les réponses mesurées s’étendent de l’échelle moléculaire (enzymes de biotransformation et du stress oxidatif), biochimique (ressources énergétiques), métabolique (taux de respiration, métabolomique) à l’échelle de l’individu (biomasse, longueur) et de la population (traits de vie des cocons et des juvéniles), et aux possibles conséquences pour l’écosystème sol en termes de bioturbation (creusement et ingestion de sol) et de dissipation des pesticides comme service ecosystémique. Une capacité de détoxification augmentée et un plus grand potentiel anti-oxidant sont observés le long du gradient de contamination du sol et en laboratoire après exposition des vers de terre des champs conventionnel (population « pré-exposée ») et biologique (« naïve) à des pesticides. Des demandes énergétiques et des réarrangements métaboliques différents sont observés dans les deux populations, et sont plus prononcés chez la population pré-exposée. Une adaptation physiologique est démontrée chez les animaux pré-exposés, qui est associée à une ’augmentation de la bioturbation, et en cascade à une dissipation du pesticide dans le sol. Les conséquences au niveau de la population sont étudiées en termes de traits d’histoire de vie des deux populations pré-exposées et naïves. Le management en conventionnel incluant l’utilisation de pesticides semble diminuer le poids des adultes au champ, et implique potentiellement la réallocation des ressources énergétiques, des mécanismes reproductifs vers les processus métaboliques. Ceci aboutit à une diminution de la fécondité et du pourcentage d’éclosion et pourrait être un facteur participant à la diminution des populations de vers de terre dans les champs cultivés avec utilisation de produits phytosanitaires. / This work investigated if long-term residual contamination of agricultural soils leads to adaptation of earthworm populations to pesticides. It also aimed at identifying the costs of adaptation from the individual to the population level, and the consequences for the ecosystem. Residual contamination by pesticides was assessed and compared in three fields under conventional management (classified after evaluation of pesticide applications as ''high-'', ''medium-'', and ''low-''pesticide input), one field under organic agriculture requirements and one organic permanent pasture, all in this type of management for more than 20 years. Using a water extraction method, as indicative of the amount of bioavailable pesticides 6, 8 and 4 residues of pesticides were recovered in the ''high-'', ''medium-'', and ''low-input'' fields, respectively, and almost no pesticides were detected in the soil of the organic field except for low levels of residual (possibly 20 years old) atrazine. The endogeic species Aporrectodea caliginosa and Allolobophora chlorotica were found in common to the five fields, -except A. chlorotica which was absent from the organic field-, and were used as biological models. Adaptation strategies were investigated by comparing the populations of these earthworms between the different fields according to several endpoints in field and laboratory assessments. The endpoints measured ranged from the molecular (biotransformation and anti-oxidant enzymes), biochemical (main energy resources), and metabolic (respiration rate, metabolomics) levels, to individual (weight, length) and population-related parameters (cocoon and juvenile life traits), and to the possible consequences for the ecosystem in terms of bioturbation (earthworm burrowing behaviour) and pesticide disappearance as an crucial ecosystem service. Enhanced detoxification and anti-oxidant potential was demonstrated along the gradient of contamination in the fields, and in particular comparing the response to an experimental pesticide exposure between the pre-exposed, thus possibly adapted earthworms from the ''high-input'' field-, and the naïve population from the organic field. Distinct energetic demands and metabolic rearrangements were observed between the populations, more pronounced in the pre-exposed earthworms. Physiological adaptation was demonstrated in pre-exposed animals, and this was associated with an increase in burrowing behaviour and pesticide disappearance in the soil. Population-level consequences were assessed in life traits of the two populations. The conventional farming including the use of pesticides decreased the weight of adult worms in the field and resulted in reallocation of energy resources, possibly from reproductive to metabolic function. This led to lower fecundity and hatching success and could partly explain lower earthworm densities in pesticide-impacted soils. / I dette arbejde blev der forsket i om langsigtet residualforurening af landbrugsjord fører til pesticidadaptation hos regnorme. Forskningen sigtede også efter at identificere adaptations-omkostningerne fra individ- til populationsniveau, og konsekvenserne for økosystemet. Pesticiders residualforurening blev vurderet og sammenlignet i; tre konventionelt styrede marker (klassificeret efter evaluering af pesticid-anvendelser som ”højt-”, ”medium-”, og ”lav-input”), en mark styret ud fra økologiske betingelser, og et økologisk permanent græsningsareal, alle havde været styret på denne måde i mere end 20 år. Ved hjælp af en vand-ekstraktionsmetode blev 6,8 og 4 pesticidresiduums udvundet i henholdsvis ”høj-”, ”medium-”, og ”lav-input” markerne, og næsten ingen pesticider blev detekteret i jorden fra den økologiske mark bortset fra lave niveauer af resterende (højst sandsynligt 20 år gammelt) atrazin. Regnorms-populationerne Aporrectodea caliginosa og Allolobophora chlorotica blev fundet i alle fem marker, bortset fra A. chlorotica som ikke var til stede i den økologiske mark. Adaptationsstrategier blev undersøgt ved at sammenligne populationerne af disse regnorme de forskellige marker imellem ifølge flere parametre i felt- og laboratoriebedømmelserne. De målte parametre rangerede fra molekylære- (biotransformation og antioxiderende enzymer), biokemiske- (primære energiressourcer), og metaboliske- (respirationsrate, metabolomics) niveauer, til individuelle- (vægt, længde) og populations-relaterede parametre (puppe og juvenile livskarakterer), og til de mulige konsekvenser for økosystemet med hensyn til bioturbation (regnormes grave-adfærd) og nedgang i koncentrationen af ekstraherbare pesticider. Forbedret afgiftnings- og antioxiderende potentiale blev demonstreret langs gradienten af pesticid forurening i felten. Forbedret afgiftning i den pre-eksponerede population var særdeles tydeliggjort ved eksponeringen til pesticider i laboratoriet sammenliget med den økologiske population. Der blev observeret distinkte energibehov og metabolisk omgruppering populationerne imellem, dette var mere udtalt hos de pre-eksponerede regnorme. Der blev detekteret fysiologiske adaptationer hos de pre-eksponerede dyr, og dette hang sammen med en kompensatorisk øgning i grave-adfærd og nedgang i koncentrationen af ekstraherbare pesticider i jorden. Konsekvenser, på populationsniveau, blev bedømt ud fra de to populationers livskarakterer. Brug af pesticider resulterede i vægtnedgang hos de voksne orme i felten og omfordeling af energiressourcer, formodentlig fra reproduktiv til metabolisk funktion. Dette førte til lavere frugtbarhed og udklæknings-succes og kunne til dels forklare de lavere regnorme-densiteter i den pesticid-påvirkede jord.

Syftet med studien är att presentera ett designkoncept för publika diskussioner på nätet med målet att uppnå djupare diskussioner och minska mängden information overload. Arbetet använder metoden Concept Driven Interaction Design (CDID) som går ut på att skapa ett designkoncept utifrån flera olika teorier som appliceras genom interaktionsdesign. Ett designkoncept innehåller tre delar: ett namn, ett syfte och huvudprinciper. CDID innehåller sju steg som arbetet är utformat efter: 1.      Concept Generation – Summeras i en tabell som jämför diskussioner i forum (med flera antagande) och diskussioner med hjälp av metoden Philosophy for Children (P4C), samt annan teori. 2.      Concept Exploration – Åtta olika designaspekter identifieras utifrån jämförelsetabellen. 3.      Internal Concept Critique – Designaspekterna jämförs med två snarlika diskussionsformat. 4.      Design of Artifacts – Designkoncept version 1 skapas. 5.      External Design Critique – Intervjuer utförs för att undersöka intervjupersonerna generella erfarenheter av online diskussioner, testar antagandena från jämförelsetabellen och ge direkt feedback på första versionen av designkonceptet. 6.      Concept Revisited – Ändringar görs baserat på intervjumaterial och direkt feedback. 7.      Concept Contextualization – Designkonceptet kopplas tillbaka till litteraturen. Studien resulterar i ett designkoncept kallat CoFramer och stödjer dessa huvudprinciper som ställs i kontrast till material som identifierats genom intervjuerna: Tabell 1: CoFramers huvudprinciper och faktorer från intervjuer om diskussioner på forum. CoFramers huvudprinciper | Från intervjuer om diskussioner på forum Strukturerad början och slut | Diskussion utan tydligt slut Begränsat antal deltagare | Stor mängd deltagare Minimum antal deltagare | Många inaktiva åskådare Explicita deltagare | Lite information om deltagare Gemensamma förutsättningar | Otydlighet kring deltagares förutsättningar Begränsad informationstäthet per inlägg | Långa inlägg och/eller snabba inlägg Den röda tråden och parallella trådar | Oftast parallella trådar Aktiv samtalsledare | Outredda missförstånd Studien indikerar på att CoFramer bör resultera i mer strukturerade diskussioner och som utsätter användaren för en lägre mängd information overload och mindre grounding cost jämfört med vad som vanligtvis uppstår i publika diskussioner online. / The focus of this essay is to develop a design concept for online public discussions with deep discussions and low information overload. The method used is Concept Driven Interaction Design (CDID) which involves constructing a design concept by applying a variety of theories in tangible interaction design. A design concept has three basic parts: a name, high-level goals and outlines generic principles. CDID includes seven steps which is used in this work: 1.      Concept Generation – Formatted into a table that compare forum discussion (with several hypothesis) compared to discussions with the method Philosophy for Children (P4C) and other theories. 2.      Concept Exploration – Eight distinct design aspects are identified from the comparison table. 3.      Internal Concept Critique – The design aspects are compared to three similar discussion formats. 4.      Design of Artifacts – Design concept version 1 is created. 5.      External Design Critique – Interviews are conducted to explore their general experience of online discussions, investigate the hypothesis from the comparison table and to seek direct feedback on the first draft of the design concept. 6.      Concept Revisited – Changes are made to the design concept based on the interview material and the direct feedback. 7.      Concept Contextualization – The design concept is related to the original literature. The result of the study is a design concept named CoFramer. CoFramer’s generic principles are summarized and contrasted against factors identified from the interview material in this table: Tabell 2: CoFramer’s generic principles and interviews about online discussions. CoFramer’s generic principles | From interview material on forum discussion Organized start and ending | Discussions without clear ending Limited number of participants | Large number of participants Minimum number of participants | Large number of inactive spectators Explicit participants | Low information about participants Common conditions | Vagueness in participants conditions Limited information density per post | Long posts and/or fast posts The red thread and parallel threads | Often parallel threads Active facilitator | Unresolved misunderstandings The study indicates that CoFramer would create more structured discussions with a lower amount of information overload and less grounding cost compared what normally arise in public online discussions.