Land Sector Reforms in Ghana, Kenya and Vietnam: A Comparative Analysis of Their Effectiveness

The notion that the formal titling and individualization of land rights in developing countries lead to higher investments in land and agricultural productivity holds sway in academic and development circles. In this paper, this notion is analyzed based on a comparative study of land reform programs and their implications for access to land, credit, and agricultural investments in Ghana, Kenya, and Vietnam. It focuses on how different access routes to land influence access to credit, and the transaction costs of land reform programs for agricultural investments. The paper concludes that in developing countries, the transaction costs of land reforms for investments can significantly increase if the influence of power is not addressed in order to reduce unequal access to land. The practical implementation of land reform is influenced by many factors, including the control on political power. Thus, measures must accompany implementation to check the use of power to derail land reform objectives. Moreover, the paper supports the argument that land reforms should be implemented in their local contexts so as to have positive effects on agriculture.DF

Геофизические исследования скважин для выявления коллекторов и определения их фильтрационно-емкостных свойств на Вынгаяхинском газо-нефтяном месторождении (Тюменская область)

Объектом исследования является месторождение Вынгаяхинское. Цель работы – проектирование комплекса геофизических методов исследования скважин с целью изучения пластов- коллекторов Вынгаяхинского месторождения (ЯНАО). В процессе исследования проводились сбор и анализ геофизических материалов для обоснования оптимального комплекса. В результате исследования предложен комплекс ГИС для выявления и исследования нефтенасыщенных коллекторов. Область применения: предназначаемый комплекс ГИС может применяться на любых месторождениях нефти с терригенно-поровым типом коллекторов. Экономическая значимость работы определяется необходимостью исследований для подсчетов запасов.The object of this study is to deposit Vyngayakhinskoye. The purpose of the work - design of geophysical methods for wells to examine plastov- collectors Vyngayakhinskoye deposit (Yamalo-Nenets District). The study carried out collection and analysis of geophysical data to support the optimum combination. The study proposed a set of GIS for the detection and investigation of oil-saturated reservoir. Scope: intended complex GIS can be used on any oil fields with terrigenous pore type reservoirs. The economic significance of the work is determined by the necessity of research for calculation of reserves

Model-Free Machine Learning in Biomedicine: Feasibility Study in Type 1 Diabetes

Although reinforcement learning (RL) is suitable for highly uncertain systems, the applicability of this class of algorithms to medical treatment may be limited by the patient variability which dictates individualised tuning for their usually multiple algorithmic parameters. This study explores the feasibility of RL in the framework of artificial pancreas development for type 1 diabetes (T1D). In this approach, an Actor-Critic (AC) learning algorithm is designed and developed for the optimisation of insulin infusion for personalised glucose regulation. AC optimises the daily basal insulin rate and insulin:carbohydrate ratio for each patient, on the basis of his/her measured glucose profile. Automatic, personalised tuning of AC is based on the estimation of information transfer (IT) from insulin to glucose signals. Insulin-to-glucose IT is linked to patient-specific characteristics related to total daily insulin needs and insulin sensitivity (SI). The AC algorithm is evaluated using an FDA-accepted T1D simulator on a large patient database under a complex meal protocol, meal uncertainty and diurnal SI variation. The results showed that 95.66% of time was spent in normoglycaemia in the presence of meal uncertainty and 93.02% when meal uncertainty and SI variation were simultaneously considered. The time spent in hypoglycaemia was 0.27% in both cases. The novel tuning method reduced the risk of severe hypoglycaemia, especially in patients with low SI

A dual mode adaptive basal-bolus advisor based on reinforcement learning

Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) are commonly used by type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients to measure glucose concentrations. The proposed adaptive basal-bolus algorithm (ABBA) supports inputs from either SMBG or CGM devices to provide personalised suggestions for the daily basal rate and prandial insulin doses on the basis of the patients' glucose level on the previous day. The ABBA is based on reinforcement learning (RL), a type of artificial intelligence, and was validated in silico with an FDA-accepted population of 100 adults under different realistic scenarios lasting three simulated months. The scenarios involve three main meals and one bedtime snack per day, along with different variabilities and uncertainties for insulin sensitivity, mealtime, carbohydrate amount, and glucose measurement time. The results indicate that the proposed approach achieves comparable performance with CGM or SMBG as input signals, without influencing the total daily insulin dose. The results are a promising indication that AI algorithmic approaches can provide personalised adaptive insulin optimisation and achieve glucose control - independently of the type of glucose monitoring technology.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, accepted by Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics in December 201

Combining Glucose Monitoring and Insulin Infusion in an Integrated Device: A Narrative Review of Challenges and Proposed Solutions.

The introduction of automated insulin delivery (AID) systems has enabled increasing numbers of individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) to improve their glycemic control largely. However, use of AID systems is limited due to their complexity and costs associated. The user must wear both a continuously monitoring glucose system and an insulin infusion pump. The glucose sensor and the insulin catheter must be inserted at two different body sites using different insertion devices. In addition, the user must pair and manage the different systems. These communicate with the AID software implemented on the pump or on a third device such as a dedicated display device or smart phone application. These components might be developed and commercialized by different manufacturers, which in turn can cause difficulties for patients seeking technical support. A possible solution to these challenges would be to integrate the glucose sensor and insulin catheter into a single device. This would allow the glucose sensor and insulin catheter to be inserted simultaneously, eliminating the need for pairing, and simplifying system management. In recent years, different technologies have been developed and evaluated in clinical investigations that combine the glucose sensor and the insulin catheter in one platform. The consistent finding of all these studies is that integration has no adverse effect on insulin infusion and glucose measurements provided that certain conditions are met. In this review, we discuss the perceived challenges of such an approach and discuss possible solutions that have been proposed

НОВЫЕ РЕШЕНИЯ ПОВЫШЕНИЯ ЭКСПЛУАТАЦИОННОЙ УСТОЙЧИВОСТИ ГОРНЫХ ВЫРАБОТОК

Розглянуто два концептуальних підходи про початковий напружено- деформований стан навколо виробок різного призначення. Обґрунтовано наукові передумови зі створення кріплень нового технічного рівня. Представлено блок-схему реалізованих і перспективних заходів щодо створення нових конструкцій металорамних кріплень, які забезпечують ресурсозберігаючу експлуатаційну стійкість гірничих виробок для складних гірничо-геологічних умов. Рассмотрены два концептуальных подхода о начальном напряженно- деформированном состоянии в окрестности выработок различного назначения. Обоснованы научные предпосылки по созданию крепей нового технического уровня. Представлена блок-схема реализуемых и перспективных мероприятий по созданию новых конструкций металлорамных крепей обеспечивающих ресурсосберегающую эксплуатационную устойчивость горных вы- работок для сложных горно-геологических условий. Two conceptual approaches about initial stress-strain state in the vicinity of mine workings of various purpose are considered. Scientific preconditions focused on new technical level mine supports creation are substantiated. Block diagram of the realized and perspective measures focused on new constructions of metal- frame supports creation that provide resource-saving exploitation stability of mine workings for complex mining-geological conditions is presented

Research of the Additional Losses Occurring in Optical Fiber at its Multiple Bends in the Range Waves 1310nm, 1550nm and 1625nm Long

Article is devoted to research of the additional losses occurring in the optical fiber at its multiple bends in the range waves of 1310 nanometers, 1550 nanometers and 1625 nanometers long. Article is directed on creation of the external factors methods which allow to estimate and eliminate negative influence. The automated way of calculation of losses at a bend is developed. Results of scientific researches are used by engineers of "Kazaktelekom" AS for practical definition of losses service conditions. For modeling the Wolfram|Alpha environment - the knowledge base and a set of computing algorithms was chosen. The greatest losses are noted on wavelength 1310nm and 1625nm. All dependences are nonlinear. Losses with each following excess are multiplicative

Управление организационными изменениями с применением Lean-технологий

В работе рассматриваются теоретические аспекты управления организационными изменениями с применением Lean-технологий и анализируется производственный процесс в компании ГК "Лама". В результате исследования разработана и апробирована модель управления организационными изменениями с применением Lean-технологий в компании ГК "Лама".The paper examines the theoretical aspects of organizational change management using Lean-technologies and analyzes the production process in the Lama Group of Companies. As a result of the research, a model of organizational change management with the use of Lean technologies in the Lama Group of Companies has been developed and tested

The effect of a single 2h bout of aerobic exercise on ectopic lipids in skeletal muscle, liver and the myocardium

Aims/hypothesis: Ectopic lipids are fuel stores in non-adipose tissues (skeletal muscle [intramyocellular lipids; IMCL], liver [intrahepatocellular lipids; IHCL] and heart [intracardiomyocellular lipids; ICCL]). IMCL can be depleted by physical activity. Preliminary data suggest that aerobic exercise increases IHCL. Data on exercise-induced changes on ICCL is scarce. Increased IMCL and IHCL have been related to insulin resistance in skeletal muscles and liver, whereas this has not been documented in the heart. The aim of this study was to assess the acute effect of aerobic exercise on the flexibility of IMCL, IHCL and ICCL in insulin-sensitive participants in relation to fat availability, insulin sensitivity and exercise capacity. Methods: Healthy physically active men were included. V ⋅ O 2 max $$\overset{\cdot }{V}{\mathrm{O}}_{2 \max }$$ was assessed by spiroergometry and insulin sensitivity was calculated using the HOMA index. Visceral and subcutaneous fat were separately quantified by MRI. Following a standardised dietary fat load over 3days, IMCL, IHCL and ICCL were measured using MR spectroscopy before and after a 2h exercise session at 50-60% of V ⋅ O 2 max $$\overset{\cdot }{V}{\mathrm{O}}_{2 \max }$$ . Metabolites were measured during exercise. Results: Ten men (age 28.9 ± 6.4years, mean ± SD; V ⋅ O 2 max $$\overset{\cdot }{V}{\mathrm{O}}_{2 \max }$$ 56.3 ± 6.4mlkg−1min−1; BMI 22.75 ± 1.4kg/m2) were recruited. A 2h exercise session resulted in a significant decrease in IMCL (−17 ± 22%, p = 0.008) and ICCL (−17 ± 14%, p = 0.002) and increase in IHCL (42 ± 29%, p = 0.004). No significant correlations were found between the relative changes in ectopic lipids, fat availability, insulin sensitivity, exercise capacity or changes of metabolites during exercise. Conclusions/interpretation: In this group, physical exercise decreased ICCL and IMCL but increased IHCL. Fat availability, insulin sensitivity, exercise capacity and metabolites during exercise are not the only factors affecting ectopic lipids during exercise