105,724 research outputs found
Improving the Quality of Women’s Gold in Mali, West Africa: The Case of Shea
No full textThe collection, primary processing, and subsequent sale of shea-based products make an important contribution to rural women’s cash income in many of Mali’s shea producing areas. Internationally, shea has recently become popular in high-valued cosmetics thanks to its therapeutic properties— a deviation away from its historic use as a cheap cocoa-butter substitute. For these reasons, international development actors have targeted the Malian shea value chain as part of their private-sector-development and rural-poverty-alleviation programs and strategies. Information asymmetry in the production and marketing of shea has led to a “Market for Lemons” scenario much like that described by Akerlof (1970), thereby compromising the subsector’s potential to serve as a powerful source of rural income growth and poverty alleviation. A combination of tools is used to describe the Malian shea value chain, including the “Structure, Conduct, Performance” framework borrowed from the industrial organization literature and the “Subsector Studies” approach popular in current export-led international development strategies. Analogies from subsectors historically plagued by adverse selection and moral hazard are used to identify potential leverage points and intervention strategies for stakeholders to help improve shea quality and returns to primary producers. The analysis suggests the Malian government has the potential to play an important role in this process as a coordinating body and channel captain, with donors and private enterprises playing complementary roles.Information asymmetry, karité, Mali, rural development, shea, women’s income, Agribusiness, Institutional and Behavioral Economics, International Development, Marketing, Q13, Q23, L15, L24, 013, O17,
Tree Tenure in Agroforestry Parklands: Implications for the Management, Utilisation and Ecology of Shea and Locust Bean Trees in Northern Ghana
No full textThe management and utilisation of resources in agroforestry systems are influenced by both land and tree tenure systems, especially where land and tree tenure are distinct, and rights to one do not necessarily lead to rights over the other. Most academic research has examined the impact of land tenure on management and productivity in these landscapes. This thesis investigates the impact of tree tenure alongside other socioeconomic factors through the research question: 'how do local institutional arrangements affect the management, utilisation and ecology of indigenous economic trees in agroforestry parklands?' Shea and locust bean trees, two of the most economically, culturally and ecologically important indigenous agroforestry species in Northern Ghana, are chosen for the case study. This multidisciplinary study utilises several methodologies of data collection and analysis to assess individual and household behaviour in the management of shea and locust bean trees, and the impact on the ecology of these species. The analysis of incentives (and constraints) stemming from differing tenure arrangements reveals differing attitudes among the households to the preservation and planting of these trees on their farmlands. Women, who are primary gatherers of non-timber products from these trees and hence the main beneficiaries, have differing access to these trees, depending both upon the status of their household within the community and the tenure rules in place. Econometric modelling of shea and locust bean tree densities reveals the socioeconomic and institutional determinants of these tree densities on the farmland, highlighting the importance of economic and institutional incentives and constraints in shaping the management practices, and subsequently the ecology of these indigenous economic species. The findings demonstrate that the vagaries of the resource-use dynamics should be taken into consideration by any policy targeted towards promoting sustainable management and utilisation of these valuable parkland species
Cyber Security for Nuclear Power Plants
No full textCyber Security for Nuclear Power Plants by Thomas Shea and Sandro Gaycken and Maurizio Martellini is a meticulous analysis of the current situation regarding the security of Nuclear Power Plants. It describes the current stage, outlining the motivations of potential cyberattacks and how they could be carried out.
It proceeds in presenting an all-comprehensive security circle that provides opportunities for engagement and collaboration to deal with cyberissues at various levels.
Since this paper was presented at the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit of 2012, it ends with useful recommended action for the Summit to take, in order to ensure that the peaceful use of nuclear energy is not vulnerable to cyberattacks
State Support for Peace Processes: A Multi-Country Review
No full textLaunched by Ms Frances Adamson, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 7 June 2017, State Support for Peace Processes: A Multi-Country Review was produced as part of the Australian International Conflict Resolution Project at the University of Melbourne and commissioned by the Development Policy Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The report explores how Canada, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States of America have approached supporting peace processes. It aims to identify concrete steps for Australia to consider in enhancing its approach to supporting peace and stability, including improving its capacity to support peace processes through whole of government approaches.
The report was prepared by researchers at the University of Melbourne led by Prof John Langmore, Dr Tania Miletic, Dr Aran Martin and Mr Nathan Shea, and includes chapters from experts around the world who have advised on the work of their countries
PHYSICOCHEMICAL EVALUATION AND TABLET FORMULATION PROPERTIES OF SHEA TREE GUM
No full text  Objective: This study focused on evaluating the physicochemical and tablet formulation properties of shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) gum, using paracetamol as a model drug.Methods: Crude shea gum was purified and the physicochemical properties, namely: Moisture content, insoluble matter, solubility, swelling capacity, viscosity, hydration capacity, flow properties, and metallic ion content evaluated. The binding properties of shea gum (5-20% w/v) were investigated, using acacia gum as a standard binder. The physical properties, in vitro dissolution and dissolution efficiency (DE) of the tablets, were determined. The dissolution data were statistically evaluated using the T-test and the similarity factor (f2).Results: The physicochemical properties of the gum evaluated were found to be satisfactory and within official specifications. Atomic absorption spectrophotometric analysis of the gums showed that the crude gum had higher metallic ion content than the purified gum. The gum purification process caused a substantial reduction (17-74%) in the mineral ion content of shea gum. Granules prepared with shea gum exhibited good flow properties evidenced by their optimal Hausner ratio, angle of repose and Carr\u27s index values. The granule flow properties, as well as the physical properties of shea gum tablets, were similar to that prepared with acacia gum. The DE of both shea gum and acacia gum tablets decreased with increase in binder concentration. Comparative studies on the tablets using DE, T-test and similarity factor (f2), showed that the binding effect of shea gum was comparable to that of acacia gum (p>0.05; f2 ≥50) at the same concentration.Conclusion: Shea tree gum has potential as a binder in pharmaceutical tablet formulations.Keywords: Vitellaria paradoxa, Viscosity, Wet granulation, Tablet binder, Dissolution efficiency, Similarity factorÂ
Letter, [Author unclear] to Paulina T. Merritt
No full textHandwritten letter to Paulina Merritt from an unknown author, October 1, 1876.
Income Generation from Shea Butter Production by Women in North Central States of Nigeria.
No full textAbstract
The study assessed women involvement in shea butter production in the shea growing areas of the north central states of Nigeria by specifically examining their socio-economic characteristics, ascertaining their income generation and their level of control over the resources used. Data were collected from 193 respondents from Niger and Nasarawa States of Nigeria using questionnaire and interview schedule method and analyzed using descriptive (frequency distribution and percentages) and inferential statistics (t-test). Results revealed that most respondents had between 1 -5 years’ experience in shea butter production, were married, illiterate, young (30 - 39 years), with family size of 5 – 7 persons and did not belong to any farm association. They had significant control over resources such as mortar/pestles and bags/threads used in shea butter production since most of these were purchased by them. Their major finance source was personal savings (69.1%). Respondents principally carried out direct marketing or sales (99.5%). The average output (shea butter) was 3,691kg per annum. Average income of all respondents was about N795,772 but about N43,031.0 individually. T-test results revealed that respondents’ average output in Nassarawa State (2582.47kg) was significantly (t = 2.00; p<0.050) lower than that in Niger (4811.75kg) State. Niger State respondents earned significantly (t = 8.18; p<0.050) higher income (N47,861.86) than Nassarawa State respondents (N38,958.33). The study recommends among others that the women groups should be should be linked to microfinance institutions to increase their access to finance, trained on shea butter production process in order to improve their competence
Income generation from shea butter production by women in North Central States of Nigeria
No full textThe study assessed women involvement in shea butter production in the shea growing areas of the north central states of Nigeria by specifically examining their socio-economic characteristics, ascertaining their income generation and their level of control over the resources used. Data were collected from 193 respondents from Niger and Nasarawa States of Nigeria using questionnaire and interview schedule method and analyzed using percentages and t-test statistics. Results revealed that most respondents had between 1-5 years’ experience in shea butter production, were married, illiterate, young (30-39 years), with family size of 5-7 persons and did not belong to any farm association. They had significant control over resources such as mortar, pestles, and bags, and threads used in shea butter production since most of these were purchased by them. Their major finance source was personal savings (69.1%). Respondents principally carried out direct marketing or sales (99.5%). The average output (shea butter) was 3,691kg per annum. Average income of all respondents was about ₦795,772 but about ₦43,031.0 individually. T-test results revealed that respondents’ average output in Nassarawa State (2582.47kg) was significantly (t=2.00; p≤0.05) lower than that in Niger (4811.75kg) State. Niger State respondents earned significantly (t=3.56; p≤0.05) higher income (₦47,861.86) than Nassarawa State respondents (₦38,958.33). The study recommended that the women groups should be should be linked to microfinance institutions to increase their access to finance, trained on shea butter production process in order to improve their competence
Income Generation from Shea Butter Production by Women in North Central States of Nigeria.
No full textAbstract
The study assessed women involvement in shea butter production in the shea growing areas of the north central states of Nigeria by specifically examining their socio-economic characteristics, ascertaining their income generation and their level of control over the resources used. Data were collected from 193 respondents from Niger and Nasarawa States of Nigeria using questionnaire and interview schedule method and analyzed using descriptive (frequency distribution and percentages) and inferential statistics (t-test). Results revealed that most respondents had between 1 -5 years’ experience in shea butter production, were married, illiterate, young (30 - 39 years), with family size of 5 – 7 persons and did not belong to any farm association. They had significant control over resources such as mortar/pestles and bags/threads used in shea butter production since most of these were purchased by them. Their major finance source was personal savings (69.1%). Respondents principally carried out direct marketing or sales (99.5%). The average output (shea butter) was 3,691kg per annum. Average income of all respondents was about N795,772 but about N43,031.0 individually. T-test results revealed that respondents’ average output in Nassarawa State (2582.47kg) was significantly (t = 2.00; p<0.050) lower than that in Niger (4811.75kg) State. Niger State respondents earned significantly (t = 8.18; p<0.050) higher income (N47,861.86) than Nassarawa State respondents (N38,958.33). The study recommends among others that the women groups should be should be linked to microfinance institutions to increase their access to finance, trained on shea butter production process in order to improve their competence
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