Globalization, Literacy Levels, and Economic Development

This paper estimated models for GDP growth rates, poverty levels, and inequality measures for the period 1990?2000 using data on 54 developing countries at five-yearly intervals. Issues of globalization were investigated by analysing the differential effects of the countries? exports and imports and by postulating trans-logarithmic models that allow for non-linear effects of literacy levels and measures of openness. The main findings were that literacy rates affected growth rates in a quadratic manner and countries with higher literacy were more likely to benefit from globalization. Second, the model for growth rates showed non-linear and differential effects of the export/GDP and import/GDP ratios. Third, the models indicated that population health indicators such as life expectancy were important predictors of GDP growth rates. Fourth, models for poverty measures showed that poverty was not directly affected by globalization indicators. Finally, the model for Gini coefficients indicated significant effects of ?medium? and ?high? skilled labour work force, with higher proportions of high-skilled labour implying greater inequality.globalization, economic development, education, endogeneity, inequality, poverty, non-linearities, trade

Globalization, literacy levels and economic development

This paper estimated models for GDP growth rates, poverty levels, and inequality measures for the period 1990–2000 using data on 54 developing countries at five-yearly intervals. Issues of globalization were investigated by analysing the differential effects of the countries’ exports and imports and by postulating trans-logarithmic models that allow for non-linear effects of literacy levels and measures of openness. The main findings were that literacy rates affected growth rates in a quadratic manner and countries with higher literacy were more likely to benefit from globalization. Second, the model for growth rates showed non-linear and differential effects of the export/GDP and import/GDP ratios. Third, the models indicated that population health indicators such as life expectancy were important predictors of GDP growth rates. Fourth, models for poverty measures showed that poverty was not directly affected by globalization indicators. Finally, the model for Gini coefficients indicated significant effects of ‘medium’ and ‘high’ skilled labour work force, with higher proportions of high-skilled labour implying greater inequality. – globalization ; economic development ; education ; endogeneity ; inequality ; poverty ; non-linearities ; trad

Drop-in replacement biofuels : meeting the challenge

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 2011.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 103-123).This thesis presents a discussion on the challenges that must be met to fulfill the U.S. Navy's strategic imperatives for its energy vision. It provides an introduction to drop-in replacement biofuels, the options amongst the technologies and feedstock available to produce them, their current economic performance and the evolution of their commercialization. In pursuing the latter a detailed examination of the funding path towards commercialization was undertaken. The study found that the U.S. Navy's requirements for drop-in replacement biofuels for aviation are best met by hydroprocessed renewable jet fuel (HRJ). Since feedstock from sources that do not interfere with food markets are preferred, algal oil was identified as extremely promising. The study also found that hydroprocessed fuels are also not yet independently commercially viable. The study identified a critical funding gap between the time startup capital is depleted and prior to reaching the ability to raise capital in the commercial and public markets. Finally a literature survey is performed to address proposals for avoiding this "dcommercialization valley of death", analysis of the proposals and recommendations made for drop-in replacement biofuels.by Alok Bhargava.S.M

Climate variability, rice production and groundwater depletion in India

Partial funding for Open Access provided by the UMD Libraries' Open Access Publishing Fund.This paper modeled the proximate determinants of rice outputs and groundwater depths in 27 Indian states during 1980–2010. Dynamic random effects models were estimated by maximum likelihood at state and well levels. The main findings from models for rice outputs were that temperatures and rainfall levels were significant predictors, and the relationships were quadratic with respect to rainfall. Moreover, nonlinearities with respect to population changes indicated greater rice production with population increases. Second, groundwater depths were positively associated with temperatures and negatively with rainfall levels and there were nonlinear effects of population changes. Third, dynamic models for in situ groundwater depths in 11 795 wells in mainly unconfined aquifers, accounting for latitudes, longitudes and altitudes, showed steady depletion. Overall, the results indicated that population pressures on food production and environment need to be tackled via long-term healthcare, agricultural, and groundwater recharge policies in India

On Fractional Kinetic Equations Involving Srivastava Polynomial

Kinetic equations hold a very important place in physics and further their fractional generalization enhances the scope of their applicability and significance in describing the continuity of motion in materials. After the development of generalized form of fractional kinetic equations, many researchers proffered several new forms of these equations and found their solutions by different techniques. In this work, we have proposed some novel generalised fractional kinetic equations involving the Srivastava polynomial and, by applying the Laplace transform approach, their solutions are calculated. Further, to study the behaviour of these, numerical and graphical interpretation of the solutions are also provided.Comment: 10 page

Relações entre características fenotípicas e de qualidade em acessos de linhaça nativos e exóticos

The objective of this work was to evaluate the relationship among phenotypic and quality traits in a set of indigenous and exotic accessions of linseed (Linum usitatissimum). The experimental material consisted of 151 accessions of linseed belonging to landraces and cultivars collected from diverse agroecological zones. Five randomly chosen plants of each accession in each replicate were tagged, and data were recorded for the 12 following agronomic traits: days to flowering, days to maturity, plant weight, plant height, tillers per plant, secondary branches per plant, capsules per plant, seeds per capsule, 1,000 seed weight, harvest index, seed yield per plant, and oil content. Capsules per plant, harvest index, and plant weight played a direct and indirect major role on seed yield. High heritability, coupled with high genetic advance for plant weight, secondary branches per plant, capsules per plant, and seed yield per plant, suggests that selection based on these traits can be effective. Regarding per se performance, the following accessions can be exploited for commercial cultivation: Shweta (5.41 g), Gaurav (5.07 g), and EX-3-3 (4.77 g) for seed yield; and Shubhra (45.09%), Mukta (44.94%), Laxmi-27 (45.06%), and Shweta (44.25%) for oil content. The chemical profiling of fatty acids obtained in the present study can provide a platform for the selection of accessions for the genetic improvement of linseed.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a relação entre as características fenotípicas e de qualidade de um conjunto de acessos nativos e exóticos de linhaça (Linum usitatissimum). O material avaliado consistiu de 151 acessos de linhaça nativos ou de cultivares obtidas de diferentes zonas agroecológicas. Cinco plantas de cada acesso, selecionadas aletoriamente, foram identificadas, e foram registrados dados para as 12 seguintes características agronômicas: número de dias para o início do florescimento, número de dias para a maturação, peso da planta, altura da planta, número de perfilhos por planta, número de ramos secundários por planta, número de cápsulas por planta, número de sementes por cápsula, peso de mil grãos, índice de colheita, produção de sementes por planta e conteúdo de óleo. O número de cápsulas por planta, o índice de colheita e o peso da planta desempenharam papel importante tanto direta quanto indiretamente na produção de sementes. Altos valores de herdabilidade, associados a alto avanço genético para peso da planta, número de ramos secundários por planta, número de cápsulas por planta e produção de sementes por planta, sugerem que a seleção com base nestas características pode ser eficaz. Em relação ao desempenho per se, os seguintes acessos podem ser explorados em cultivo comercial: Shweta (5,41 g), Gaurav (5,07 g) e EX-3-3 (4,77 g) para produção de sementes; e Shubhra (45,09%), Mukta (44,94%), Laxmi-27 (45,06%) e Shweta (44,25%) para teor de óleo. O perfil químico dos ácidos graxos obtido no presente trabalho pode fornecer uma plataforma para a seleção de acessos para o melhoramento genético de sementes de linhaça

A longitudinal analysis of the risk factors for diabetes and coronary heart disease in the Framingham Offspring Study

BACKGROUND: The recent trends in sedentary life-styles and weight gain are likely to contribute to chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. The temporal sequence and pathways underlying these conditions can be modeled using the knowledge from the biomedical and social sciences. METHODS: The Framingham Offspring Study in the U.S. collected information on 5124 subjects at baseline, and 8, 12, 16, and 20 years after the baseline. Dynamic random effects models were estimated for the subjects' weight, LDL and HDL cholesterol, and blood pressure using 4 time observations. Logistic and probit models were estimated for the probability of diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD) events. RESULTS: The subjects' age, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and cigarettes smoked were important predictors of the risk factors. Moreover, weight and height were found to differentially affect the probabilities of diabetes and CHD events; body weight was positively associated with the risk of diabetes while taller individuals had lower risk of CHD events. CONCLUSION: The results showed the importance of joint modeling of body weight, LDL and HDL cholesterol, and blood pressure that are risk factors for diabetes and CHD events. Lower body weight and LDL concentrations and higher HDL levels achieved via physical exercise are likely to reduce diabetes and CHD events

Statistical methodologies to pool across multiple intervention studies

Combining and analyzing data from heterogeneous randomized controlled trials of complex multiple-component intervention studies, or discussing them in a systematic review, is not straightforward. The present article describes certain issues to be considered when combining data across studies, based on discussions in an NIH-sponsored workshop on pooling issues across studies in consortia (see Belle et al. in Psychol Aging, 18(3):396-405, 2003). Several statistical methodologies are described and their advantages and limitations are explored. Whether weighting the different studies data differently, or via employing random effects, one must recognize that different pooling methodologies may yield different results. Pooling can be used for comprehensive exploratory analyses of data from RCTs and should not be viewed as replacing the standard analysis plan for each study. Pooling may help to identify intervention components that may be more effective especially for subsets of participants with certain behavioral characteristics. Pooling, when supported by statistical tests, can allow exploratory investigation of potential hypotheses and for the design of future interventions

Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BACKGROUND: Disorders affecting the nervous system are diverse and include neurodevelopmental disorders, late-life neurodegeneration, and newly emergent conditions, such as cognitive impairment following COVID-19. Previous publications from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study estimated the burden of 15 neurological conditions in 2015 and 2016, but these analyses did not include neurodevelopmental disorders, as defined by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11, or a subset of cases of congenital, neonatal, and infectious conditions that cause neurological damage. Here, we estimate nervous system health loss caused by 37 unique conditions and their associated risk factors globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2021. METHODS: We estimated mortality, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs), by age and sex in 204 countries and territories, from 1990 to 2021. We included morbidity and deaths due to neurological conditions, for which health loss is directly due to damage to the CNS or peripheral nervous system. We also isolated neurological health loss from conditions for which nervous system morbidity is a consequence, but not the primary feature, including a subset of congenital conditions (ie, chromosomal anomalies and congenital birth defects), neonatal conditions (ie, jaundice, preterm birth, and sepsis), infectious diseases (ie, COVID-19, cystic echinococcosis, malaria, syphilis, and Zika virus disease), and diabetic neuropathy. By conducting a sequela-level analysis of the health outcomes for these conditions, only cases where nervous system damage occurred were included, and YLDs were recalculated to isolate the non-fatal burden directly attributable to nervous system health loss. A comorbidity correction was used to calculate total prevalence of all conditions that affect the nervous system combined. FINDINGS: Globally, the 37 conditions affecting the nervous system were collectively ranked as the leading group cause of DALYs in 2021 (443 million, 95% UI 378–521), affecting 3·40 billion (3·20–3·62) individuals (43·1%, 40·5–45·9 of the global population); global DALY counts attributed to these conditions increased by 18·2% (8·7–26·7) between 1990 and 2021. Age-standardised rates of deaths per 100 000 people attributed to these conditions decreased from 1990 to 2021 by 33·6% (27·6–38·8), and age-standardised rates of DALYs attributed to these conditions decreased by 27·0% (21·5–32·4). Age-standardised prevalence was almost stable, with a change of 1·5% (0·7–2·4). The ten conditions with the highest age-standardised DALYs in 2021 were stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy, meningitis, epilepsy, neurological complications due to preterm birth, autism spectrum disorder, and nervous system cancer. INTERPRETATION: As the leading cause of overall disease burden in the world, with increasing global DALY counts, effective prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies for disorders affecting the nervous system are needed