199,813 research outputs found
A hydro-economic model for managing groundwater resources in semi-arid regions
No full textAccess to fresh water resources is a limiting factor in the socio-economical development of countries located in semi-arid regions. Water scarcity in these regions, particularly the North Africa and Middle East (MENA) region, is expected to intensify not only due to projected decline in effective precipitation due to climate change and variability, but also due to excessive growth in demand driven by explosive growth in population and improvement in living standards. The meager surface water resources in these regions have already been exploited and significantly polluted leading many governments to deplete their fossil and poorly recharged aquifers mostly to support inefficient and unsustainable agricultural policies and heavy subsidy of municipal water demand. The paper presents an interactive decision support model developed based on economic principles and simple aquifer representation using the STELLA system dynamics development environment. The model is designed to help water policy makers and managers and other stakeholders formulate and assess alternative water allocation policies among the municipal, industrial and agriculture sectors. Model users will be able to set and interactively manipulate key parameters that influence economic values and sustainability of alternative water policies. These parameters are associated with energy prices, discount rates, planning horizon, demographic factors, willingness-to-pay, hydro-meteorological conditions, aquifer characteristics, and industrial water productivities cropping patterns and agricultural water productivities. Long-term projections of economic value, withdrawals, and remaining water stocks in addition to water demand are presented in tabular and graphical forms. The paper presents a case application of the model for managing the Amman-Zarqa aquifer in Jordan. The aquifer is considered a crucial water resource in water poor Jordan. © 2009 WIT Press.ABDULLA F, 2008, WATER RESOURCES MANA; Assaf H, 2008, ENVIRON MODELL SOFTW, V23, P1327, DOI 10.1016-j.envsoft.2008.03.006; Chebaane M, 2004, HYDROGEOL J, V12, P14, DOI 10.1007-s10040-003-0313-1; GISSER M, 1983, J POLIT ECON, V91, P1001, DOI 10.1086-261197; Griffin R.C., 2006, WATER RESOURCE EC; *ISEE SYST, STELLA SYST THINK ED; Schiffler M., 1998, EC GROUNDWATER MANAG; Winz I, 2007, P 25 INT C SYST DYN1
FDI Contribution to Capital Flows and Investment in Capacity
No full textThe paper surveys a theory of FDI, which captures a unique feature: hands-on management standards, that enable investors to react in real time to a changing economic environment. Equipped with superior managerial skills, foreign direct investors are able to outbid portfolio investors for the top productivity firms in a particular industry in which they have specialized in the source country. Consequently, FDI investors would make investment, both larger, and of higher quality (namely, with large rates of returns), than the domestic investors. The theory can explain both two-way FDI flows among developed countries, and one-way FDI flows from developed to developing countries. Gains to the host country from FDI stem from the informational value of FDI. The predictions of the theory are consistent with evidence from panel data: larger FDI coefficients in the domestic investment and output growth regressions relative to the portfolio equity flow and international loan coefficients, reflect a more significant role for FDI in the domestic investment process than other types of capital inflows.
Geostatistical assessment of groundwater nitrate contamination with reflection on DRASTIC vulnerability assessment: The case of the upper litani basin, Lebanon
No full textGroundwater constitutes the largest single source of fresh water in many parts of the world and provides a risk buffer to sustain critical water demands during cyclic and prolonged dry periods, especially in semi-arid and arid regions. However, unprecedented socio-economical growths are threatening the viability of these precious resources through fast depletion of already critically low stocks accompanied by persistent degradation of water quality due to salinization, and contamination by pesticides and fertilizers, urban sewage and industrial waste. These circumstances are particularly true of the Upper Litani Basin (ULB), which houses over 500,000 of Lebanon's 4 million population and provides the bulk of the country's agricultural output. Uncontrolled urban, agricultural and industrial growths following a prolonged civil strife and foreign occupation have resulted in the deterioration of the quality of the basin's surface water and potentially its groundwater resources. An assessment study of groundwater quality conditions in the ULB was conducted in support of efforts to manage water quality in the basin. Geostatistical analysis of groundwater nitrate levels was conducted using data collected through an extensive basin-wide water quality survey sponsored by the USAID and covered two periods representing the summer and winter periods. The results of analysis include maps of nitrate contamination and probability of exceedance of drinking-water nitrate regulatory limit. The results indicate a significant, widespread and persistent nitrates contamination of groundwater in the ULB. Nitrate levels in groundwater exceed standard limits for drinking water in many parts of the basin. These findings were examined with respect to those of a DRASTIC groundwater vulnerability assessment conducted by the USAID BAMAS project. Comparative analysis of the two assessments shed the light on several issues related to the application and interpretation of DRASTIC scores and the groundwater nitrate contamination process. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008.ASSAF H, 2006, P IEMSS 3 BIENN M SU; *BAMAS, 2005, FIN REP; *BAMAS, 2005, TECHN SURV REP SUMM; *BAMAS, 2005, RAP REV REP; *BAMAS, 2005, GROUNDW FLOW MOD VUL; Basistha A, 2008, WATER RESOUR MANAG, V22, P1325, DOI 10.1007-s11269-007-9228-2; BELLER H, 2005, CALIFORNIA GAMA PROG; Canter LW, 1997, NITRATES GROUNDWATER; COOPER RM, 1988, J ENVIRON ENG-ASCE, V114, P270; Edmunds WM, 1997, J ENVIRON QUAL, V26, P1231; *FAO, 1997, REP DER LAND US MAP; Fritch TG, 2000, ENVIRON MANAGE, V25, P337, DOI 10.1007-s002679910026; Hamza MH, 2006, J ENVIRON MANAGE, V84, P12; Hossain F, 2007, WATER RESOUR MANAG, V21, P1245, DOI 10.1007-s11269-006-9079-2; Hussain I, 2001, 26 IWMI; Journel A. G., 1978, MINING GEOSTATISTICS; Kass A, 2005, J HYDROL, V300, P314, DOI 10.1016-j.jhydrol.2004.06.013; Li FM, 2001, AGR WATER MANAGE, V49, P173, DOI 10.1016-S0378-3774(01)00087-7; Mardikis MG, 2005, WATER RESOUR MANAG, V19, P251, DOI 10.1007-s11269-005-3179-2; ROSSI RE, 1992, ECOL MONOGR, V62, P277, DOI 10.2307-2937096; Tang C, 2004, HYDROL PROCESS, V18, P2303, DOI 10.1002-hyp.5531; VANGRINSVEN HJM, 2006, ENV HLTH, V5, P1; Vazquez JCG, 2005, WATER RESOUR MANAG, V19, P1, DOI 10.1007-s11269-005-0129-y; Ward MH, 2005, ENVIRON HEALTH PERSP, V113, P1607, DOI 10.1289-ehp.8043; Zizhen L., 1998, ECOL MODEL, V107, P279, DOI 10.1016-S0304-3800(98)00004-021191
Review of "Quand les rois meurent. Les journaux de Jacques Antoine et de Jean et Fran��ois Antoine et autres documents sur la maladie et la mort de Louis XIII et de Louis XIV" by Francis Assaf.
No full textFrancis Assaf. Quand les rois meurent. Les journaux de Jacques Antoine et de Jean et Fran��ois Antoine et autres documents sur la maladie et la mort de Louis XIII et de Louis XIV. T��bingen: Narr Francke Attempto Verlag, 2018. 322 pp. ���68.00. Review by Denis D. Gr��l��, University of Memphis
Variation in the escrotal circumference of spanish assaf rams
No full text5 páginas, 2 tablas.-- Trabajo presentado al: XLV Congreso Nacional y XXI Internacional de la Sociedad Española de Ovinotecnia y Caprinotecnia (SEOC). Zamora (España). 27 y 28 de octubre. 2022.[ES] El objetivo de este trabajo ha sido estudiar la variación en la circunferencia escrotal de
machos de raza Assaf española en función de su edad y condición corporal, en condiciones
prácticas de explotación. Se tomaron un total de 809 medidas de la circunferencia escrotal, en
un total de 519 carneros, todos de raza assaf, a lo largo del año 2019. Los valores medios para
el conjunto de datos de este trabajo para los parámetros de circunferencia escrotal, condición
corporal y variación en la circunferencia escrotal entre medidas del mismo animal fueron:
32,8±0,21cm, 3,6±0,02 y 10,1±0,94 mm/mes, respectivamente. Los valores de circunferencia
escrotal presentaron un aumento significativo con la edad de los sementales hasta los 27
meses de edad. Los valores de circunferencia escrotal aumentaron, de manera
estadísticamente significativa, al hacerlo la condición corporal. Las medidas con un valor de
circunferencia escrotal menor a 25 cm fueron el 11,5% y el 62% de las medidas presentaron
un valor de circunferencia escrotal superior a los 33 cm.
Ha sido posible establecer una ecuación de regresión múltiple para predecir el valor de la
circunferencia escrotal a partir de la edad y la condición corporal de los sementales de raza
Assaf.[EN] The aim of this paper has been to study the variation in scrotal circumference of males of the
Spanish Assaf breed based on their age and body condition in commercial farms. A total of
809 scrotal circumference measurements were taken, in a total of 519 rams, all of Assaf
breed, throughout 2019. The mean values for the scrotal circumference parameters, body
condition score and scrotal circumference variation between measurements of the same
animal were: 32.8 ± 0.21cm, 3.6 ± 0.02 and 10.1 ± 0.94mm/month, respectively. Scrotal
circumference values showed a significant increase with the age of the rams up to 27 months
of age. Scrotal circumference values increased with body condition. Measurements with a
scrotal circumference value less than 25 cm were 11.5%, and 62% of the measures had a
scrotal circumference value greater than 33 cm. It has been possible to establish a multiple
regression equation to predict the value of the scrotal circumference from the age and body
condition score of the Assaf rams.Este trabajo ha sido realizado como parte del proyecto del Grupo Operativo: "Mejora de
aspectos reproductivos en explotaciones ovinas de Castilla y León. Efecto de la alimentación,
estado nutritivo y bienestar animal sobre la respuesta reproductiva en ganado ovino lechero". (Ref
001959/002).Peer reviewe
Genetic dissection of "Caulobacter crescentus" surface colonization
No full textDuring its biphasic life cycle Caulobacter crescentus switches from a planktonic to surface attached life style. This transition requires the continuous remodeling of the cell poles through the temporally and spatially coordinated assembly and disassembly of polar organelles like the flagellum, pili, and an adhesive holdfast. A genetic screen for mutants affected in surface binding and colonization led to the identification of various genes required for motility, pili, and holdfast biogenesis, suggesting a specific role for all three organelles in C. crescentus surface colonization. Several novel holdfast genes were identified, which are potentially involved in the synthesis and regulation of the polysaccharidic component of the holdfast. Quantitative surface binding studies during the C. crescentus cell cycle revealed that optimal attachment coincides with the presence of flagellum, pili, and holdfast at the same pole. This indicated that accurate temporal control of polar appendices is critical for surface colonization of C. crescentus and represents the first example for developmentally controlled bacterial surface adhesion. We have used genetic and biochemical analyzes to demonstrate that di-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) is a central regulatory compound involved in the timing of C. crescentus pole development. Mutants lacking the diguanylatecyclase PleD show a dramatic delay of holdfast formation during swarmer cell differentiation. In contrast, cells lacking the GGDEF-EAL composite protein CC0091 show premature holdfast formation, while overexpression of CC0091 also leads to a delayed appearance of holdfast. The observation that CC0091 is a c-di-GMP specific phosphodiesterase indicated that the antagonistic activities of PleD and CC0091 could be responsible for the correct timing of holdfast formation and flagellum ejection. Finally, our genetic screen identified a candidate for the c-di-GMP effector protein, which mediates holdfast synthesis in response to fluctuating levels of c-di-GMP. The glycosyltransferase CC0095 is strictly required for holdfast formation and its overexpression leads to premature holdfast synthesis. This and the observation that CC0095 is able to bind c-di-GMP lead to the hypothesis that holdfast synthesis is
regulated via allosteric control of the CC0095 glycosyltransferase. These data provide the first
example of a developmental process being regulated by the bacterial second messenger, c-di-GMP
Consanguinity trends and correlates in the Palestinian Territories
No full textSecondary analysis of the trends and correlates of consanguinity in the Palestinian Territories was conducted using data from two separate surveys in 1995 and 2004. The analysis was conducted on ever-married women aged 15-54 who were asked about their relation to their husband in both surveys. A total of 16,197 women in 1995 and 4971 women in 2004 were successfully interviewed. Consanguinity was found to be widely practised in the Palestinian Territories with rates of total consanguinity reaching 45percent of all marriages in 2004. Analysis was conducted with the data from the two surveys combined and this indicated that consanguinity was significantly decreasing with time after controlling for other variables. Age of the women, their age at marriage, region and locality type they lived in and their standard of living were all found to be significant predictors of consanguinity. The education level of the women was not found to be significant. After controlling for the survey year, women's labour force status was also found to be a non-significant predictor of consanguinity. Although consanguinity was found to be significantly decreasing slowly with time after controlling for other variables, the future trends of consanguinity are not known due to the unstable political situation in the territories, which could have a direct effect on marriage patterns. © Cambridge University Press 2008.Abu-Rabia S, 2005, DYSLEXIA, V11, P1, DOI 10.1002-dys.271; ADULRAZZAQ Y, 1997, CLIN GENET, V51, P167; Ajluni S, 2003, J PALESTINE STUD, V32, P64, DOI 10.1525-jps.2003.32.3.64; AlGazali LI, 1997, J BIOSOC SCI, V29, P491, DOI 10.1017-S0021932097004914; Banerjee Sushanta K., 2002, ASIA PACIFIC POPULAT, V17, P17; Barth F, 1954, SOUTHWEST J ANTHROP, V10, P164; Bener A, 2006, J BIOSOC SCI, V38, P239; Bener A, 2006, PAEDIATR PERINAT EP, V20, P372, DOI 10.1111-j.1365-3016.2006.00750.x; BITTLES A, 1990, 90186 U MICH; BITTLES A, 2006, GLOBAL PREVALENCE CO; BITTLES AH, 1991, SCIENCE, V252, P789, DOI 10.1126-science.2028254; BITTLES AH, 1994, POPUL DEV REV, V20, P561, DOI 10.2307-2137601; Courbage Y, 1995, Popul, V7, P210; Dominique Tabutin, 2005, POPULATION E, V60, P505, DOI 10.2307-4148186; Filmer D, 2001, DEMOGRAPHY, V38, P115, DOI 10.2307-3088292; Filmer D, 1999, POPUL DEV REV, V25, P85, DOI 10.1111-j.1728-4457.1999.00085.x; GIVENS BP, 1994, J MARRIAGE FAM, V56, P820, DOI 10.2307-353595; GRANGVIST H, 1931, MARRIAGE CONDITIONS; HAMAMY HA, 1989, HUM HERED, V39, P271, DOI 10.1159-000153871; HEIBERG M, 1994, PALESTINIAN SOC GRAZ; Hussain R, 1998, ANN HUM GENET, V62, P147, DOI 10.1046-j.1469-1809.1998.6220147.x; Hussain R, 2004, J HEALTH POPUL NUTR, V22, P1; Hussain R, 1998, PAEDIATR PERINAT EP, V12, P370; Jurdi R, 2003, J BIOSOC SCI, V35, P1, DOI 10.1017-S0021932003000014; Khawaja Marwan, 2006, Genus, V62, P21; Khawaja M, 2000, POP STUD-J DEMOG, V54, P331, DOI 10.1080-713779091; KHLAT M, 1988, AM J HUM GENET, V43, P188; Khlat Myriam, 1986, SOC BIOL, V33, P138; KHOURY S, 1992, AM J MED GENET, V43, P768; *MDM, 2005, ULT BARR IMP WALL PA; Mokhtar MM, 2001, EUR J EPIDEMIOL, V17, P559, DOI 10.1023-A:1014567800950; Mumtaz G, 2007, AM J EPIDEMIOL, V165, P742, DOI 10.1093-aje-kwk108; *NAD, 2005, DESTR 2 STAT SOL; NATH A, 2004, INDIAN J COMMUNITY M, V14; *OCHA, 2006, ACC PROT OCHA HUM UP; *PAPCHILD, 1992, MAUR MAT CHILD HLTH; *PAPCHILD, 1995, SUD MAT CHILD HLTH S; *PAPFAM, 2004, LEB FAM HLTH SURV PR; *PCBS, 1997, SUMM FIN RES POP HOU; *PCBS, 2006, DEM SOC STAT PAL PEO; *PCBS, 2006, PAL FIG 2005; *PCBS, 2004, DEM HLTH SURV; *PCBS, 1996, DEM SURV FIN RES; *PCBS, 2006, OCC INT CHILD DAY 20; Pedersen J, 2000, J BIOSOC SCI, V32, P527, DOI 10.1017-S0021932000005277; *PMG, 2005, TREND AN ISR CONT WA; *PMG, 2005, TREND AN ED OCC; Rashad H., 2005, MARRIAGE ARAB WORLD; Raz AE, 2004, J FAM PLAN REPROD H, V30, P49, DOI 10.1783-147118904322701992; Shah GH, 1998, POPUL RES POLICY REV, V17, P275, DOI 10.1023-A:1005922704585; Statacorp, 2003, STAT STAT SOFTW REL; Stoltenberg C, 1999, AM J PUBLIC HEALTH, V89, P517, DOI 10.2105-AJPH.89.4.517; Tfaily R., 2005, 25 INT POP C INT UN; TUNCBILEK E, 1994, ANN HUM GENET, V58, P321, DOI 10.1111-j.1469-1809.1994.tb00729.x; Verma I C, 1992, Indian Pediatr, V29, P685; WAHAB A, 2005, J SOCIAL SCI, V10, P153; World Bank, 2004, 4 YEARS INT CLOS PAL; Yassin KM, 2000, PUBLIC HEALTH, V114, P269, DOI 10.1016-S0033-3506(00)00343-717191
ASSAf consensus study on the ethical, legal and social implications of genetics and genomics in South Africa
No full textCITATION: Pepper, M. S., et al. 2018. ASSAf consensus study on the ethical, legal and social implications of genetics and genomics in South Africa. South African Journal of Science, 114(11/12), Art. #a0302, doi:10.17159/sajs.2018/a0302.The original publication is available at http://sajs.co.zaNo abstract available.https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/5822Publisher's versio
Do Debit Flows Crowd out Equity Flows or the other way Round?
No full textIn the presence of asymmetric information, the stage at which financing decisions are made about investment projects in a small open economy is crucial for the composition of international capital inflows as well as for the efficiency of channeling savings into investment. This paper compares the implications of two extreme cases regarding the information possessed by the firms at their financing stage for whether inflows of foreign debt may crowd out foreign equity or the other way round. The scope for corrective tax policies is examined. We also provide a welfare comparison between the two mechanisms of capital flows.debt and equity flows; asymmetric information; bankruptcy costs; market failures; corrective taxation
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