Risk in agriculture as impediment to rural lending: the case of North-Western Kazakhstan

On the basis of portfolio selection theory, this paper finds that whole-farm risk must be regarded as a major reason for the low level of credit flow to agriculture in North-western Kazakhstan. A quadratic programming model was used in order (a) to demonstrate the comparatively high overall risk exposition of a typical farm, (b) to show that an inflow of working capital could contribute to risk reduction, and (c) to illustrate short-term risk management strategies. Although there may be a role for the government in reducing risk exposition of agriculture in its current form, natural and economic constraints suggest to pave the way for structural reforms that reduce the importance of agriculture in the rural economy. -- G E R M A N V E R S I O N: Auf Grundlage der Portfolio selection-Theorie kommt dieser Beitrag zu dem Ergebnis, dass das einzelbetriebliche Risiko in der Landwirtschaft Nordwest-Kasachstans als ein Hauptgrund für geringen Kreditzufluss angesehen werden muss. Ein quadratisches Programmierungsmodell wurde verwendet, um (a) die vergleichbar hohe Riskoexposition eines typischen Betriebes zu verdeutlichen, (b) zu zeigen, daß ein Zufluss von Umlaufkapital zur Risikoreduktion beitragen kann und (c) kurzfristige Risikomanagement-Strategien zu illustrieren. Obwohl es bestimmte Politikoptionen zur Verminderung des Risikos in der Landwirtschaft in ihrer gegenwärtigen Form gibt, legen natürliche und ökonomische Rahmenbedingungen tiefgreifendere Strukturreformen nahe. Diese sollten dazu beitragen, mittelfristig die Bedeutung der Landwirtschaft im ländlichen Raum zu verringern.Agricultural credit,Kazakhstan,Portfolio selection theory,Risk programming,Agrarkredit,Kasachstan,Portfolio selection-Theorie,Risiko-Programmierung

The relationshipS between selected biographical data of nursing personnel and the ages of the patients whom they have sociometrically selected.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University Includes 12 tables, 2 figures

Chlorinated biphenyls and p,p'-DDE in Mediterranean surface waters

Individual chlorobiphenyls (CBs) and p,p'-DDE were determined in solution and suspension in surface transects of the open Mediterranean Sea in 1987. Large volumes of sea water (1400—1700 dm3) were analyzed. Concentrations of CBs were low in solution (<5 pg/dm3) and in suspension (<60 pg/dm3). Values for their sum (XCB) were 1.7-43.9 and 190-615 pg/dm3, respectively. Compositions of the CB mixtures in solution as well as those in suspension were very similar in the various transects, but considerable differences were present between solution and suspension in each transect. It was attempted to interpret these differences in terms of molecular characteristics (octanol-water distribution coefficients, Kaw). The resulting plots of log Kovl vs. the apparent distribution coefficient (log K&) gave evidence for the uptake of CBs by suspended particles, followed by sedimentation out of the surface layer. Concentrations in solution were much lower (1-2 orders of magnitude) than those reported before. This may result from improvements in the sampling and analytical techniques. No clear evidence for significant local sources of these compounds was detected in the surface waters, as the levels in solution were very similar to the very low concentrations in the adjacent open Atlantic

Chlorinated Biphenyls and p,p\u27-DDE in Mediterranean Surface Waters

Individual chlorobiphenyls (CBs) and p,p\u27-DDE were determined in solution and suspension in surface transects of the open Mediterranean Sea in 1987. Large volumes of sea water (1400—1700 dm3) were analyzed. Concentrations of CBs were low in solution (<5 pg/dm3) and in suspension (<60 pg/dm3). Values for their sum (XCB) were 1.7-43.9 and 190-615 pg/dm3, respectively. Compositions of the CB mixtures in solution as well as those in suspension were very similar in the various transects, but considerable differences were present between solution and suspension in each transect. It was attempted to interpret these differences in terms of molecular characteristics (octanol-water distribution coefficients, Kaw). The resulting plots of log Kovl vs. the apparent distribution coefficient (log K&) gave evidence for the uptake of CBs by suspended particles, followed by sedimentation out of the surface layer. Concentrations in solution were much lower (1-2 orders of magnitude) than those reported before. This may result from improvements in the sampling and analytical techniques. No clear evidence for significant local sources of these compounds was detected in the surface waters, as the levels in solution were very similar to the very low concentrations in the adjacent open Atlantic

Radiation Hardened 10BASE-T Ethernet Physical Layer (PHY)

Embodiments may provide a radiation hardened 10BASE-T Ethernet interface circuit suitable for space flight and in compliance with the IEEE 802.3 standard for Ethernet. The various embodiments may provide a 10BASE-T Ethernet interface circuit, comprising a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a transmitter circuit connected to the FPGA, a receiver circuit connected to the FPGA, and a transformer connected to the transmitter circuit and the receiver circuit. In the various embodiments, the FPGA, transmitter circuit, receiver circuit, and transformer may be radiation hardened

Investigation of spectral radiation heat transfer and NO{sub x} emission in a glass furnace

A comprehensive radiation heat transfer model and a reduced NOx kinetics model were coupled with a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code and then used to investigate the radiation heat transfer, pollutant formation and flow characteristics in a glass furnace. The radiation model solves the spectral radiative transport equation in the combustion space of emitting and absorbing media, i.e., CO{sub 2}, H{sub 2}O, and soot and emission/reflection from the furnace crown. The advanced numerical scheme for calculating the radiation heat transfer is extremely effective in conserving energy between radiation emission and absorption. A parametric study was conducted to investigate the impact of operating conditions on the furnace performance with emphasis on the investigation into the formation of NOx

Toxokinetik und -dynamik ausgewahlter individueller chlorierter Biphenyle

SchluBbericht zum Forschungsvorhaben 03F0551

Effectiveness of Internal vs. External SEU Scrubbing Mitigation Strategies in a Xilinx FPGA: Design, Test, and Analysis

We compare two scrubbing mitigation schemes for Xilinx FPGA devices. The design of the scrubbers is briefly discussed along with an examination of mitigation limitations. Proton and Heavy Ion data are then presented and analyzed

Aesthetic responses to urban greenway trail corridors: Implications for sustainable development in tourism and recreation settings

Urban greenway trails are emerging as potential tourist attractions in cities and are well recognized for their recreation opportunities in general. The study presented an opportunity to expand the scope of aesthetic response research into the realm of urban greenway trails. The concept of likability (Nasar, 1998) was used as a guiding concept in the study. In order to gather data for the study, a web-based virtual tour was developed and implemented. Treatments were assigned to 6 groups that viewed two urban greenway trail corridors. Each trail had three treatments including the existing trail condition, a manipulated trail condition, and a reverse in direction of the existing trail condition. Analyses were conducted to 1) identify dimensions of aesthetic responses, 2) examine relationships between cognitive evaluation, affective response, trail characteristics, and likability, and 3) evaluate specific greenway trail characteristics and their relationships to the trail experience. Results indicated five aesthetic dimensions of the greenway trail corridors. The cognitive dimensions were maintenance, distinctiveness, and naturalness and the affective dimensions were pleasantness and arousal. Pleasantness and distinctiveness were the strongest predictors of likability in urban greenway trails. In terms of greenway trail characteristics, six of eight specific characteristics had predictive value in relation to how inviting the virtual trail was to the viewer. Finally, several greenway trail characteristics had significant influences on human perception and the likability of trail environments. This study proposed a new way of conceptualizing likability and a model of relationships leading to likability. One of the major implications of this study is to identify a way to improve physical conditions of greenway corridors in urban areas based on aesthetic responses. The study also implied that greenways can encompass natural or man-made features and can be managed and developed as a tourist attraction while providing local opportunities in cities. Aesthetic quality influences perceived quality of life and sense of well-being. Findings of the study can help enhance the aesthetic quality of the greenway trails that can contribute to sustainable development in various tourism and recreation settings