A Re-examination of Causes of Deforestation and Environmental Kuznets Curve: Evidences from Latin America, Africa and Asia

Previous cross-country regression analyses on the causes of deforestation seem to have misspecified the regression models, in which the causes at different levels are mixed, leading to flawed cause-effect relationship between the rate of deforestation and its explanatory variables. The paper focuses explicitly on underlying/policy-oriented causes of deforestation and then examines their relationship with rate of deforestation across 43 countries of Latin America, Africa and Asia. An environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) relationship between rate of deforestation and income is also tested. Results across all regions and based on panel data technique show that forest and allied (non-forest) sector policies and population density increase deforestation, while forest products export promotion policies, export prices and technological progress decrease deforestation. The effects of per capita income, economic growth and agricultural production are found to be varying in different region. An inverted U-shaped EKC empirically fits for Latin America and Africa while a U-shaped EKC does the same for Asia.Africa; Asia; environmental Kuznets Curve; cross-country analysis; Latin America; underling/policy-oriented causes of deforestation; deforesta tion

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A Re-examination of Causes of Deforestation and Environmental Kuznets Curve: Evidences from Latin America, Africa and Asia

Previous cross-country regression analyses on the causes of deforestation seem to have misspecified the regression models, in which the causes at different levels are mixed, leading to flawed cause-effect relationship between the rate of deforestation and its explanatory variables. The paper focuses explicitly on underlying/policy-oriented causes of deforestation and then examines their relationship with rate of deforestation across 43 countries of Latin America, Africa and Asia. An environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) relationship between rate of deforestation and income is also tested. Results across all regions and based on panel data technique show that forest and allied (non-forest) sector policies and population density increase deforestation, while forest products export promotion policies, export prices and technological progress decrease deforestation. The effects of per capita income, economic growth and agricultural production are found to be varying in different region. An inverted U-shaped EKC empirically fits for Latin America and Africa while a U-shaped EKC does the same for Asia

Extracting fuzzy rules under uncertainty and measuring definability using rough sets

Although computers have come a long way since their invention, they are basically able to handle only crisp values at the hardware level. Unfortunately, the world we live in consists of problems which fail to fall into this category, i.e., uncertainty is all too common. A problem is looked at which involves uncertainty. To be specific, attributes are dealt with which are fuzzy sets. Under this condition, knowledge is acquired by looking at examples. In each example, a condition as well as a decision is made available. Based on the examples given, two sets of rules are extracted, certain and possible. Furthermore, measures are constructed of how much these rules are believed in, and finally, the decisions are defined as a function of the terms used in the conditions

Construction and management of ethnicities in Southeast Asia : cultures, policies and development

Regional social sciences Summer university, "Tam Đáo Summer school week", Việt Nam, July 2011 ; [organized by École française d'Extrême-Orient ; Agence française de développement ; Institut de recherche pour le développement, et al.] ; [scientific editor, Stéphane Lagrée]GOODInternational audienceWelcome to the workshop on ethnic groups in Southeast Asia. We will start with introductions from the participants; this workshop is structured so as to promote the methodological and pedagogic dimension, and exchanges and discussions will be a priority all week. Presentation of the trainers and participants (see biographies of trainers and list of participants at the end of the chapter) How will these four and a half days of group work unfold? We will devote this first day to the ways in which ethnic groups are designated and named, and our approach will initially be theoretical and methodological: we will explain the constructivist and naturalist approaches. We will ask what an ethnic group is and how and why we make ethnic classifications. In the afternoon, we will turn towards case studies in Việt Nam and in Laos. Tuesday will be devoted to the relationship between the law and ethnic groups. We will start with the legal situation so as to be able to observe the relationship with what is visible in the field. Sociologists and anthropologists use the law very rarely as an instrument of knowledge; we will try to establish a relationship between law and anthropology. We will conclude this second day with case studies. Questions from applied anthropology and development anthropology will be studied on Wednesday morning, then we will together organize three working groups, one group per trainer with a specific theme. Friday morning will be devoted to presentations from each group; from these we will derive a synthesis for the public reporting session on Saturday

Entwicklung einer molekularbiologischen Methode zum Nachweis des Krebspesterregers Aphanomyces astaci SCHIKORA in nordamerikanischen Flusskrebsen (Pacifastacus leniusculus; Orconectes limosus; Procambarus clarkii)

Das Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war den Krebspesterreger Aphanomyces astaci, in den drei nordamerikanischen Flusskrebsarten Signalkrebs (Pacifastacus leniusculus), Kamberkrebs (Orconectes limosus) und Roter Amerikanischer Sumpfkrebs (Procambarus clarkii) nachzuweisen. Diese Flusskrebsarten sind zwar gegen die Krebspest resistent, können aber als latent infizierte Tiere Ausscheider des Erregers sein und somit die für die Krebspest empfänglichen Edelkrebse (Astacus astacus) infizieren. Bei dieser in Europa heimischen Art geht die Erkrankung mit 100 % iger Mortalität einher. Daher ist die Bestimmung des Träger-Status der nordamerikanischen Krebse von großer Bedeutung um eine weitere Verbreitung dieser hochinfektiösen Erkrankung in europäischen Gewässern zu verhindern. Im Vergleich zu den Edelkrebsen konnten bereits bei der makroskopischen und post sectionem bei der mikroskopischen Betrachtung der nordamerikanischen Flusskrebse Unterschiede festgestellt werden. Die letztgenannten weisen im Bereich der weichen Abdominalkutikula sowie an den dünnen Gelenkhäuten der Schreitbeine häufig Melanisierungen auf. Bei der lichtmikroskopischen Untersuchung kann eine Wachstumshemmung der Pilzhyphen durch Melanineinlagerungen beobachtet werden. Unmittelbar nach der Invasion des Pilzes wird das Immunsystem aktiviert und verhindert normalerweise einen Krankheitsausbruch. Lediglich bei Einfluss von Stressoren kommt es zur Immunsuppression nordamerikanischer Krebse und daraufhin nach dem Auftreten der für die Krebspest typischen Symptome häufig zum Tod. Um mittels PCR Aphanomyces astaci in den nordamerikanischen Krebsen nachzuweisen musste zunächst die Pilz-DNA extrahiert werden. Dazu wurde das DNeasy® Tissue-Kit (Qiagen) verwendet. Es wurden unterschiedliche Flusskrebsgewebe zur DNA-Extraktion eingesetzt um die am besten geeignete Stelle zu finden. Die bereits bei Edelkrebsen verwendete weiche Abdominalkutikula erwies sich auch bei den nordamerikanischen Krebsen als äußerst zweckmäßig. Des weiteren konnte bei DNA-Extraktionen aus den Beinansätzen, dem dorsalen Abdomen und dem Telson der Erreger in der nachfolgenden PCR nachgewiesen werden. Da die nordamerikanischen Flusskrebse aufgrund ihres angepassten Immunsystems häufig nur sehr geringe Mengen an Pilz-DNA aufweisen, stellt der Nachweis hier ein Problem dar. Bei nur 50 mg eingesetzter Kutikula, laut Insekten-Protokoll des Tissue Kits, ist unsicher ob gerade in diesem kleinen Gewebestück Pilz-DNA vorhanden ist. Daher wurden auch Zusammenfassung ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 132 Extraktionsversuche vorgenommen bei denen ein kompletter Krebspanzer eines Kamberkrebses (3000 mg) zur DNA-Isolierung eingesetzt wurde. Die benötigte Lysis-Puffermenge wurde dementsprechend erhöht und die Inkubationszeit wurde verlängert. Das Ergebnis der PCR war bei diesem Krebs positiv. Trotzdem wurde beim Großteil der Kamberkrebse nur die weiche Kutikula in die DNA-Extraktion eingesetzt. Hierfür wurden Kutikula-Segmente ausgewählt, die bereits im Lichtmikroskop Melanisierungen oder sogar Pilzhyphen aufwiesen. Bei zahlreichen Krebsen war das Ergebnis der nachfolgenden PCR ebenfalls positiv. Zusammenfassend wird somit deutlich, dass der molekularbiologische Nachweis des Krebspesterreger Aphanomyces astaci auch bei nordamerikanischen Flusskrebsen möglich ist. Sowohl die DNA-Extraktion als auch die PCR, mit teilweise neu entwickelten Primern, können zur Feststellung des „Carrier-Status“ eines nordamerikanischen Krebses dienen

Secretory carcinoma of breast in a 17-year-old male

BACKGROUND: Secretory carcinoma of the male breast (juvenile carcinoma) is a rare neoplasm. Only a few cases have been reported in the literature. CASE REPORT: We report here a case in a 17-year old male presenting with recurrent breast swelling. CONCLUSIONS: Though considered an indolent neoplasm, secretory carcinoma does metastasise to lymph nodes and recur after local excision. Surgery in form of mastectomy with axillary clearance is the treatment of choice

Expérience de dialogue entre l’anthropologie et une situation de développement au Vietnam

Cet article présente l’expérience et les changements de postures de deux anthropologues qui ont exploré l’idée que, pour être efficaces, les projets de développement devraient être construits à partir d’enquêtes qualitatives rigoureuses, sans préjuger ni des manques locaux, ni du secteur, ni des modalités d’intervention. Afin de vérifier l’intérêt et l’efficacité de cette démarche, les auteurs l’ont concrètement mise en œuvre dans une commune Tay du nord du Vietnam. Pendant trois ans, une étude anthropologique d’approche classique a ainsi été menée dans cette localité. Elle a permis de dresser un diagnostic de la situation locale et d’évaluer les possibilités d’initier une action de développement. Elle a en particulier révélé qu’il n’était pas pertinent de lancer un projet supplémentaire dans cette commune. La seule action possible était celle de médiateur ou d’intermédiaire entre l’Etat − à l’origine des actions de développement − et les populations locales, afin de favoriser une meilleure adéquation de l’intervention avec les réalités du terrain. A la demande des autorités locales, les auteurs se sont alors engagés dans le montage d’un projet de développement touristique en train de voir le jour dans la commune. Ainsi, d’une position d’observateurs des projets ils sont passés à celle de médiateurs entre les paysans, les autorités locales et les agences de tourisme.This paper describes the experience and change of position of two anthropologists who explored the idea that, in order to be more efficient, development projects should be based on long and rigorous qualitative surveys, without pre-judging either local deficiencies, the sector of activity or the methods of intervention. In order to verify, and possibly demonstrate, the value and effectiveness of this approach, the authors have put it into practice in a Tay ethnic commune in northern Vietnam. For a period of three years a classical anthropological study was carried out in these villages. This survey allowed the authors to establish a diagnosis of the local situation and to evaluate the possibilities for initiating a development action. The study specifically revealed that it wasn’t relevant to start a new project in this commune. The most suitable action was to act as mediator or intermediary between the State – which is responsible for development action – and the local population in order to foster a better match of the intervention with the reality on the ground. At the local authorities’ request, the authors became involved in the setting up of a tourism development project already in its infancy in the commune. Thus, from being observers of development projects, they became the mediator between farmers, local authorities and tourist agencies

A study on palmyrah (Borasus fJabellifer) utilization pattern and socioeconomic status of dependent livelihood in Mannar district of Sri Lanka

Tha palrnyrah palm (Borassusflcbelhjer L) is a multipurpose tree of great util ity, occurs extens. velyin Northern and Eastern part of Sri Lz!'b. This tree engages human labour in the industries around itirrespecti ve of t;ewkr or age. Th is survey was carried )1". to study utilization pattern of palrnyrah treeand assess the socioeconomic parameters of ra-i.iomly selected 60 families registered in five cooperativesocieties of Mannar c1i,tJict.Th:5 study revealed 1hat 93 % ormales and 7 % otfemales entirely engaged ill this industry with th-.average of 1.2 persors from each farr.ily. The average monthly family income of study populationwas RS 11320 ± 3! 8 ['J;Jees, C'JIY>~5l r-Ier hizher i'1CJp..c.. 6r('L'P. When cornpa '116the family incomewith the average 1'('I)\ehold nU1Jl~er cf 5.8 ± I.l ~Ic,'(·1 Inadequacy to meetpresent expend lure.Further more, study showed that these famines did not show much interest on children education andmost cf youngsters leave school before sitting General Certificate of Education Ordinary Levelexamination. 58 % of families were living in small c r medium size cottage made up of timber andpalrnyrah leaves as roofing material.Tapping of mat ere tree was main source ofi!1C01'1e. One male tapped 14 ± 2.7 trees per day with theaverage of 8 ± 1.2 liter of toddy per tree. They did not produce sweet toddy (unfermented s-ip)because orlow demand. They normally market toddy (fermented sap) to their customers for drinking,co-operative society under palrnyrah development board and for vinegar production. The price oftoddy also varied from RS 6 to 20,00 rupees depending on quality. Apart from that, most of thetappers had to travel about 3 krn out of co-operative boundary for tapping and selling their product.During off season ":~d free time, they do timber carving, animal raring and palrnyrah tuber production.Women did not actively engage ill this industry except few workers in coir factory. Based on this study, it is concluded that this industry provides vast opportunity for further exploiting labour force inrespect to production of beverage, sugar, alcohol, fibre, fuel wood, timber and row materials forhandicrafts. As well as this study clearly stated that implementing innovative technologies with productdiversification and opening new market channels are the necessary pre requisite of this industry infuture.