235130 research outputs found
Sort by
Do natural disasters affect monetary policy? A quasi-experiment of earthquakes
No full textThis study explores whether the economic consequences of earthquakes affect the policy interest rate set by the central bank. The direction of this effect is not immediately clear beforehand since earthquakes create a classic monetary policy dilemma: how to accommodate the real shock in the short-run with the objective of anchoring inflation when these two competing objectives demand opposite policy actions. One can therefore argue that the question of whether, and if so, in which direction natural disasters influence monetary policy is ultimately an empirical one. For this purpose, I estimate a dynamic panel model including about 400 major earthquakes from about 85 countries that occurred between 1960 and 2015. The key findings of this study clearly point out that on average the short-run policy interest rate falls in the first year after the earthquake. This result implies that monetary authorities prioritize short-run economic recovery above price stability. However, this interest rate effect is not the same across countries. It turns out that central banks that have a specific policy target, such as a fixed exchange rate, are more likely to raise the interest rate in the period following a disaster to fight the inflationary pressure. In turn, monetary authorities that have much freedom in their policy decisions are more inclined to lower the interest rate to stimulate economic recovery.</p
Foaming and surface rheological behaviors of gliadin particles : Effect of solvent and concentration of gliadin stock solution
No full textThe anti-solvent method was a green and facile approach to prepare water-insoluble proteins-based colloidal particles. The structure and functional properties of the resulting particles strongly depend on the preparation parameters of the anti-solvent process. Herein, two main parameters, solvent and concentration of protein stock solution, were chosen to investigate their effects on the structural, foaming, and surface rheological properties of gliadin particles. When the solvent was 70% ethanol solution (v/v), gliadin particles exhibited a uniform spherical structure. They could fast adsorb to the air/water interface and form a viscoelastic surface layer to prevent foam drainage, coalescence, and disproportionation, thus leading to impressive foamability (~250%) and high foam stability (~60 h) even the concentration of particles was very low (1.5 mg/mL). Besides, when the solvent was acetic acid, gliadin particles possessed spherical and wire-like hybrid structures. They had slower adsorption rate and weaker interaction at the interface when compared to the ethanol-based particles, resulting in poorer foam capacity and lower foam stability. The particles prepared by different solvents had evidently different nonlinear surface rheological responses. Besides, the concentration of gliadin stock solutions did not affect the foaming and surface behaviors of particles. The particle shape played a crucial role in affecting the foaming properties and surface behaviors of gliadin particles. Results imply that 70% ethanol aqueous solution is a good solvent for gliadin, which can endow strong foaming and surface rheological behaviors to gliadin particles.</p
Green Challenges: plant en bodemweerbaarheidtegen ondergrondse ziekten
Get PDFCrops in soil-based and soilless greenhouse cultivation systems are susceptible to various soilborne diseases, such as foot and root rot and wilting, caused by pathogens as Fusarium and Pythium. The Grºeen Challenges project aims to reduce the use of chemical plant protection products and to develop new measures and strategies for disease and pest control through a system approach. This project investigated which measures can be taken to promote soil disease suppression and induced plant resistance against soilborne pathogens (Fusarium and Pythium) in different horticultural crops: vegetable crops (tomato and cucumber) and ornamental crop (lisianthus)
Preview Brief 2: Wildland Fire Management under COVID-19, Survey Results
Get PDFWildland fire management is impacted by COVID-19 as a result of strict hygiene and social distancing requirements. Here, we give a preview of the of our online survey (link) that aimed to clarify implications of COVID-19 restrictions on wildland fire management, map current thinking, and collate any plans, protocols or procedures to generate generic guidance for wildland fire professionals. The survey was completed by 443 individuals from over 38 countries, working at a large variety of organizations in terms of organization type, level of jurisdiction, primary function, and the size of the fire management and fire suppression work force. This preview includes the most important preliminary results. In short, the data indicates that people are worried about the effect of COVID-19 on wildland fire management and also expect this to impede management. Despite this, there is high confidence that operations can be continued during the pandemic. COVID-19 hygiene and distancing requirements are being widely adopted, which is being reflected by a reduced number of staff per vehicle. There is an expected reduction in support services being available. Notable to mention is furthermore the expected reduction in sharing and receiving of resources (from and to other countries, regions) in times of need. Finally, training and risk reduction activities are also impacted, suggesting a longer-term impact of the pandemic on fire management. Two main concerns highlighted by survey respondents are the lack of preventive COVID-19 testing amongst wildland fire fighters, and the increased risk of vehicle accidents if staff is spread across more vehicles. We are now analyzing the wealth of responses including over 30.000 words of comments shared, and plan to publish the full analysis mid Jun
New organizational forms in emerging economies : bridging the gap between agribusiness management and international development
No full textPurpose: This editorial article introduces and analyzes a variety of new organizational forms that rapidly emerged in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe in the latest two decades. Among the others, these include: business model partnerships, business platforms, incubators and hubs, public–private partnerships, agribusiness companies' foundations and spin-offs, short supply chains, community-supported agriculture and other community self-organizing experiences. Building upon the recent literature and the five selected papers in this special issue, the authors discuss what is novel in these organizations and why, when and how they emerge and evolve over time. Design/methodology/approach: The authors identify three elements that, when considered together, explain and predict the emergence and evolution of these new organizational forms: institutions, strategies and learning processes. Findings: The authors demonstrate that societal actors seeking to (re)design these new organizational forms need to consider these three elements to combine the pursuit of their interests of their own constituencies with the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Originality/value: Taking stock from the literature, the authors invite future research on new organizational forms to take explicitly the pursuit of the SDGs into consideration; to build upon a process ontology; and to deeply reflect on our positionality of scientists studying and sometimes engaging in these organizations.</p
Can unhealthy food purchases at checkout counters be discouraged by introducing healthier snacks? A real-life experiment in supermarkets in deprived urban areas in the Netherlands
Get PDFBackground: The checkout area in supermarkets is an unavoidable point of purchase where impulsive food purchases are likely to be made. However, the product assortment at the checkout counters is predominantly unhealthy. The aim of this real life experiment was to investigate if unhealthy food purchases at checkout counters in supermarkets in deprived urban areas in the Netherlands can be discouraged by the introduction of the Healthy Checkout Counter (HCC). In addition, we examined customers' perceptions towards the HCC. Methods: The HCC was an initiative of a leading supermarket chain in the Netherlands that consisted of displays with a selection of healthier snacks that were placed at the checkouts. We used a real life quasi-experimental design with 15 intervention and 9 control supermarkets. We also performed a cross-sectional customer evaluation in 3 intervention supermarkets using oral surveys to investigate customers' perceptions towards the HCC (n=134). The purchases of unhealthy and healthier snacks at checkouts were measured with sales data. Results: During the intervention period, customers purchased on average 1.7 (SD: 0.08) unhealthy snacks per 100 customers in the intervention supermarket and 1.4 (SD: 0.10) in the control supermarket. Linear regression analyses revealed no statistically significant difference in the change during the control and intervention period of sales of unhealthy snacks between the control and intervention supermarkets (B = - 0.008, 95% CI = - 0.15 to 0.14). The average number of healthier snacks purchased was 0.2 (SD: 0.3) items per 100 customers in the intervention supermarkets during the intervention period. Of the intervention customers, 41% noticed the HCC and 80% of them were satisfied or very satisfied with the intervention. Conclusions: This real life experiment in supermarkets showed that the placement of healthier snacks at checkouts did not lead to the substitution of unhealthy snack purchases with healthier alternatives. Although supermarket customers positively evaluated the HCC, future studies are needed to investigate other strategies to encourage healthier food purchases in supermarkets.</p
Review of solar dryers for agricultural products in Asia and Africa : An innovation landscape approach
Get PDFSolar drying is one of the most efficient and cost-effective, renewable, and sustainable technologies to conserve agricultural products in Asian and sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. This review paper presents the different types of solar dryers that are widely used in Africa and Asia. In addition, the pre-eminent effects of their use on product quality, as well as their economic, environmental, and social impacts, are highlighted. Since financial, external, and structural factors play a key role in the adoption and scaling of solar dryers, this paper also discusses the impact of these factors on the effectiveness of solar drying technologies in selected Asian and SSA countries.</p
Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle Transcriptome Response to Heat Stress in Kenyan Chicken Ecotypes Adapted to Low and High Altitudes Reveal Differences in Thermal Tolerance and Stress Response
Get PDFIn the original article, there was a mistake in Supplementary Table 1 and Supplementary Table 2. The expression values given for PDK4 in Supplementary Table 1, ALL_M, CLL_M, AHL_M, CHL_M contrasts were -3.90808, 2.10011, -4.12057, and -4.12057 the correct values are -4.1009, 2.07292, -4.63904, and 3.05659 same value should appear at the “Max_expression_level” column in HL_node_table in Supplementary Table 2. Similarly the expression values of MT4 given in Supplementary Table 1 for ALL_H, CLL_H, AHL_H, and CHL_H are -1.20147, 1.485881, -1.19557, and 1.0025, the correct values are -3.1675, -1.82983, -1.35669, and -1.84142. To reflect this change, columns “Max_expression_level,” “Max_Tissue,” and “Up/Down” on Supplementary Table 2, “LL_node_table” tab is corrected. The authors apologize for this error and state that this does not change the scientific conclusions of the article in any way. The original article has been updated.</p
Combine nicely, consume wisely : The role of single food properties in oral processing behavior, intake and sensory perception of composite foods
Get PDFPotato Yield and Yield Components as Affected by Positive Selection During Several Generations of Seed Multiplication in Southwestern Uganda
Get PDFPotato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important crop in Uganda but production is low. There is not a well-functioning official seed system and farmers use potato tubers from a previous harvest as seed. This study investigated how effectively the seed technology positive selection enhanced yield and underlying crop characteristics across multiple seasons, compared to the farmers’ selection method. Positive selection is selecting healthy plants during crop growth for harvesting seed potato tubers to be planted in the next season. Farmers’ selection involves selection of seed tubers from the bulk of the ware potato harvest. Positive selection was compared to farmers’ seed selection for up to three seasons in three field trials in different locations in southwestern Uganda using seed lots from different origins. Across all experiments, seasons and seed lots, yields were higher under positive selection than under farmers’ selection. The average yield increase resulting from positive selection was 12%, but yield increases were variable, ranging from − 5.7% to + 36.9%, and in the individual experiments often not significant. These yield increases were due to higher yields per plant, and mostly higher weights per tuber, whereas the numbers of tubers per plant were not significantly different. Experimentation and yield assessment were hampered by a varying number of plants that could not be harvested because plants had to be rogued from the experimental plots because of bacterial wilt (more frequent under farmers’ selection than under positive selection), plants disappeared from the experimental field and sometimes plants did not emerge. Nevertheless, adoption of positive selection should be encouraged due to a higher production and less virus infection of seed tubers in positive selected plants, resulting in a lower degeneration rate of potato seed tubers.</p