Private sector participation in the water and sanitation sector: alternative options and measurement issues

This paper studies various aspects of the increasing role of private investment in the water services and sanitation (WSS) sector in developing countries. We start by surveying the different types of private sector participation (PSP) in the WSS sector, and the share of public and private responsibilities under each scheme. We then proceed by empirically testing the impact of PSP in the provision of water and sanitation on the average individuals’ welfare with regard to water and sanitation. This paper shows that the private sector has the potential to generate a number of social and environmental benefits for a number of reasons, including its potential to increase efficiency within the sector and increase much-needed levels of investment. Poorer households gain access to affordable services from which they have long been excluded. Furthermore, adverse public health effects of inadequate service provision may be mitigated, and wastewater collection and treatment levels may be increased. The paper also illustrates actual case studies involving PSP in developing countries to present some of the actual improvements that the private sector has already generated, particularly the increased access to water and sanitation, and the rise in water use as suggested by our empirical part.Water demand, public-private partnership, conservation

Private sector participation in the water and sanitation sector: alternative options and measurement issues

This paper studies various aspects of the increasing role of private investment in the water services and sanitation (WSS) sector in developing countries. We start by surveying the different types of private sector participation (PSP) in the WSS sector, and the share of public and private responsibilities under each scheme. We then proceed by empirically testing the impact of PSP in the provision of water and sanitation on the average individuals’ welfare with regard to water and sanitation. This paper shows that the private sector has the potential to generate a number of social and environmental benefits for a number of reasons, including its potential to increase efficiency within the sector and increase much-needed levels of investment. Poorer households gain access to affordable services from which they have long been excluded. Furthermore, adverse public health effects of inadequate service provision may be mitigated, and wastewater collection and treatment levels may be increased. The paper also illustrates actual case studies involving PSP in developing countries to present some of the actual improvements that the private sector has already generated, particularly the increased access to water and sanitation, and the rise in water use as suggested by our empirical part

The effects of HIV/AIDS infections and mortality on saving and investment

There are competing views of how HIV/AIDS affects saving, and to a lesser extent, investment. One argument is that saving is reduced because of the disease; the other is that saving is actually increased. We find that saving is negatively impacted by the disease in poorer countries but increased in relatively wealthy countries. These results, however, do not translate through to investment. In fact, the absolute value of the impact the disease has on investment is considerably reduced for countries in all income brackets. We hypothesize that because of the significant transfer of resources from firms headquartered in relatively wealthy nations to subsidiaries and communities in poorer countries much of the negative impact that saving would necessarily have on investment is negated

The effects of HIV/AIDS infections and mortality on saving and investment

There are competing views of how HIV/AIDS affects saving, and to a lesser extent, investment. One argument is that saving is reduced because of the disease; the other is that saving is actually increased. We find that saving is negatively impacted by the disease in poorer countries but increased in relatively wealthy countries. These results, however, do not translate through to investment. In fact, the absolute value of the impact the disease has on investment is considerably reduced for countries in all income brackets. We hypothesize that because of the significant transfer of resources from firms headquartered in relatively wealthy nations to subsidiaries and communities in poorer countries much of the negative impact that saving would necessarily have on investment is negated

The effects of HIV/AIDS infections and mortality on saving and investment

There are competing views of how HIV/AIDS affects saving, and to a lesser extent, investment. One argument is that saving is reduced because of the disease; the other is that saving is actually increased. We find that saving is negatively impacted by the disease in poorer countries but increased in relatively wealthy countries. These results, however, do not translate through to investment. In fact, the absolute value of the impact the disease has on investment is considerably reduced for countries in all income brackets. We hypothesize that because of the significant transfer of resources from firms headquartered in relatively wealthy nations to subsidiaries and communities in poorer countries much of the negative impact that saving would necessarily have on investment is negated

Modafinil-excipient compatibility study using differential scanning calorimetry

Drug excipient compatibility studies are considered important in successful formulation of drug products. Suggested methods for this purpose are thermal techniques under isothermal or nonisothermal conditions. In this study, modafinil, a wakefulness-promoting drug, was investigated under nonisothermal conditions using differential scanning calorimetry. Four different heating rates, 5, 10, 15, and 20°C/min, were performed for modafinil pure material and its physical mixtures with magnesium stearate (MgSt) or Gelucire 48/16. Activation energy (Ea) was calculated from the straight line of plotting a function of heating rate versus temperature and found that modafinil-Gelucire physical mixture increased Ea. This indicates drug-excipient interaction, supported by evidence from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. No significant interaction was detected with MgSt

The effects of HIV/AIDS infections and mortality on saving and investment

There are competing views of how HIV/AIDS affects saving, and to a lesser extent, investment. One argument is that saving is reduced because of the disease; the other is that saving is actually increased. We find that saving is negatively impacted by the disease in poorer countries but increased in relatively wealthy countries. These results, however, do not translate through to investment. In fact, the absolute value of the impact the disease has on investment is considerably reduced for countries in all income brackets. We hypothesize that because of the significant transfer of resources from firms headquartered in relatively wealthy nations to subsidiaries and communities in poorer countries much of the negative impact that saving would necessarily have on investment is negated.HIV, AIDS, Saving, Investment, Africa, Developing Countries

Understanding the Performance of a Novel Direct Compression Excipient Comprising Roller Compacted Chitin

Chitin has been investigated in the context of finding new excipients suitable for direct compression, when subjected to roller compaction. Ball milling was concurrently carried out to compare effects from different energy or stress-inducing techniques. Samples of chitin powders (raw, processed, dried and humidified) were compared for variations in morphology, X-ray diffraction patterns, densities, FT-IR, flowability, compressibility and compactibility. Results confirmed the suitability of roller compaction to convert the fluffy powder of raw chitin to a bulky material with improved flow. X-ray powder diffraction studies showed that, in contrast to the high decrease in crystallinity upon ball milling, roller compaction manifested a slight deformation in the crystal lattice. Moreover, the new excipient showed high resistance to compression, due to the high compactibility of the granules formed. This was correlated to the significant extent of plastic deformation compared to the raw and ball milled forms of chitin. On the other hand, drying and humidification of raw and processed materials presented no added value to the compressibility and compactibility of the directly compressed excipient. Finally, compacted chitin showed direct compression similarity with microcrystalline cellulose when formulated with metronidazole (200 mg) without affecting the immediate drug release action of the drug

Influence of Chitin Source and Polymorphism on Powder Compression and Compaction: Application in Drug Delivery

The objective of the research reported herein is to compare the compaction properties of three different chitin extracts from the organisms most used in the seafood industry; namely crabs, shrimps and squids. The foregoing is examined in relation to their polymorphic forms as well as compression and compaction behavior. Chitin extracted from crabs and shrimps exhibits the α-polymorphic form whilst chitin extracted from squid pins displays a β-polymorphic form. These polymorphs were characterized using FTIR, X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Pore diameter and volume differ between the two polymorphic powder forms. The β form is smaller in pore diameter and volume. Scanning electron microscopy of the two polymorphic forms shows clear variation in the arrangement of chitin layers such that the α form appears more condensed due to the anti-parallel arrangement of the polymer chains. True, bulk and tapped densities of these polymorphs and their mixtures indicated poor flowability. Nevertheless, compression and compaction properties obtained by applying Heckle and Kawakita analyses indicated that both polymorphs are able to be compacted with differences in the extent of compaction. Chitin compacts, regardless of their origin, showed a very high crushing strength with very fast dissolution which makes them suitable for use as fast mouth dissolving tablets. Moreover, when different chitin powders are granulated with two model drugs, i.e., metronidazole and spiramycin they yielded high crushing strength and their dissolution profiles were in accordance with compendial requirements. It is concluded that the source of chitin extraction is as important as the polymorphic form when compression and compaction of chitin powders is carried out