Environmental and economic modelling of organic, stockless, horticultural crop rotations

Selected results from the ongoing “EU-Rotate_N” research project are presented. This EU 5th-framework project is developing a model-based decision support system to optimise nitrogen use in horticultural crop rotations across Europe. This paper introduces the economic and the fertility-building crops sub-models, and shows data from model validation and first model runs on an organic farm in central England. Preliminary results show that the model has the potential to be a powerful support tool for farmers and advisors, making decisions on rotational plan-ning. The economic, agronomic and environmental consequences of different rotational designs can be projected and assessed in detail

National-scale modelling of N leaching in organic and conventional horticultural crop rotations - policy implications

A method is presented to model N leaching in crop rotations on a national scale. Representative crop rotations for different regions and soil types are used in the cross-disciplinary, plant, soil, environment & economics model EU-Rotate_N. By comparing contrasting farming systems (organic and conventional) in the UK, their strengths and weaknesses in delivering environmental and economic sustainability can be assessed. Modelling results show that the annual leaching in different horticultural rotations and UK regions, using median weather, is within the range of 13-88 kg N/ha/year for organic and 54-130 kg N /ha/year for conventional. The weighted annual average figures are 39 kg N/ha/year for organic and 81 kg N/ha/year for conventional, respectively. It is concluded that organic horticultural rotations, with a current share of 6.1% already contribute to lower overall N losses from agriculture. However, on a UK national scale, only a large share of organic land use (e.g. >50%) has a large effect on reducing N losses. Similar reductions are also predicted by substantial cuts in conventional N inputs, giving a policy choice if pollution from agriculture steps up further on the political agenda

Forecasting the term structure of government bond yields

Despite powerful advances in yield curve modeling in the last twenty years, comparatively little attention has been paid to the key practical problem of forecasting the yield curve. In this paper we do so. We use neither the no-arbitrage approach, which focuses on accurately fitting the cross section of interest rates at any given time but neglects time-series dynamics, nor the equilibrium approach, which focuses on time-series dynamics (primarily those of the instantaneous rate) but pays comparatively little attention to fitting the entire cross section at any given time and has been shown to forecast poorly. Instead, we use variations on the Nelson-Siegel exponential components framework to model the entire yield curve, period-by-period, as a three-dimensional parameter evolving dynamically. We show that the three time-varying parameters may be interpreted as factors corresponding to level, slope and curvature, and that they may be estimated with high efficiency. We propose and estimate autoregressive models for the factors, and we show that our models are consistent with a variety of stylized facts regarding the yield curve. We use our models to produce term-structure forecasts at both short and long horizons, with encouraging results. In particular, our forecasts appear much more accurate at long horizons than various standard benchmark forecasts. JEL Code: G1, E4, C

The Convergence of Science and Culture: Developing a Framework for Diabetes Education in Tribal Communities

In an unprecedented effort to address the epidemic of diabetes in tribal communities, the Diabetes Education in Tribal Schools project brought together a group of individuals from eight tribal colleges and three federal agencies to develop a diabetes prevention curriculum for American Indian and Alaska Native school children. The curriculum incorporates Western and Native science with culturally responsive teaching techniques. Both the project and its evaluation process have reached beyond conventional bounds to acknowledge fundamental issues of tribal culture, history and health and the integration of science, culture, and community. This article will discuss the challenges and rewards of the inter-cultural dynamics of the project’s development process, the tribal community context within which the curriculum will be implemented, and the necessary convergence of science and culture, requisite for education in this population and the elimination of diabetes-related health disparities

The Role of the “Path” and the “Container” Image Schemas in Political Discourse in Kenya

The study of conceptual interaction has attracted the attention of many scholars in Cognitive Linguistics. Primarily, the analysis has focused on the role of image-schemas in the construction of metaphors. This study explores the PATH and the CONTAINER image-schemas and the role they play in conceptual formation of metaphors in political discourse in Kenya. The study presents the PATH and its subsidiary image schemas of Verticality, Process and Force-Motion and the CONTAINER image-schema and the subsidiary image-schemas of Excess and In-Out. The analysis reveals that both the PATH and the CONTAINER image-schemas structure the relationship between the source domains (journey and container) and the target domain (politics) by activating subsidiary image-schemas in metaphors of politics in Kenya. The study further reveals that image-schemas provide the axiological value (positive or negative) of metaphorical expressions in political discourse. A positive political environment is a key ingredient for green growth and knowledge economy. The study contributes to the field of metaphor in political discourse by examining the politicians’ conceptualization of politics as a journey, which consists of four structural elements (a source, a destination, contiguous locations which connect the source and the destination and a direction) and as a container, which consists of an interior, an exterior and a boundary. The study used the Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) as a tool to establish conceptual metaphors used during the 2005 Draft Constitution referendum campaigns in Kenya and the Image-Schema Theory to account for the presence of image-schemas in political discourse in Kenya. Lakoff and Johnson’s (1980) Conceptual Metaphor Theory is the locus classicus of the image schema theory

Amateurs and Professionals: The Writing of Wendell Berry and Its Implications for Volunteerism

Wendell Berry, the American poet, novelist, essayist, and cultural critic, has been exploring and affirming in his work for more than a half-century the necessity of responsible community membership. His writing offers a lens through which to examine the role of volunteerism and philanthropy and what is and should be the role of politics, the Church, and artists in this endeavor. Berry contends that the idea of responsible community membership has been replaced with the idea of professionalism, and professionalism’s aspiration of finding big answers to problems. In place of big answers, he argues for particular, grounded, and local ones. This paper highlights three strands that run through all of Berry’s writing and which offer points for reflection on volunteerism and philanthropy. First, I discuss Berry’s grounding in the “dance of community.” Second, I present Berry’s case against abstraction and the way it results in professionalism, specialization, and “the merchants of big answers,/whose hands are metalled with power.” Third, I highlight Berry’s insistence on the centrality of the Imagination in how we see the world and act upon it, especially when we are considering such things as volunteerism. I conclude with Berry’s contention that we must act personally and locally if we are to seriously address problems and effect change in the world

Research - Teaching Integration in Agroecology and Organic Farming

Integration of research and teaching enhances the success of students in both areas, and contributes to preparation of graduates who are capable of handling the complexity of location-specific challenges in farming and food systems. A European Network of Organic Agriculture Teachers (ENOAT) convened a workshop in Italy in 2007 to explore the current state of integration and potentials for further developing this learning strategy in universities. We concluded that integration brings motivation to students and greater relevance to their learning environment, both key issues in providing success in the learning landscape

A Comparison of Cloud Execution Mechanisms: Fog, Edge and Clone Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is a technology that was developed a decade ago to provide uninterrupted, scalable services to  users  and  organizations. Cloud  computing  also  became  an attractive feature for mobile users due to the limited features of mobile devices. The combination of cloud technologies with mobile technologies gave a new area of computing called mobile cloud computing. This  combined technology is  used to augment the resources existing in smart devices. In recent times Fog computing, Edge computing and Clone Cloud computing techniques have become the latest trends after mobile cloud computing, which have all been developed to address the limitations in cloud computing. This paper reviews these recent technologies in detail. This paper also addresses the differences in these technologies and how each of them are effective to organizations and developers.Cloud computing is a technology that was developed a decade ago to provide uninterrupted, scalable services to users and organizations. Cloud computing  also became an attractive feature for mobile users due to the limited features of mobile devices. The combination of cloud technologies with mobile technologies gave a new area of computing called mobile cloud computing. This  combined technology is  used to augment the resources existing in smart devices. In recent times Fog computing, Edge computing and Clone Cloud computing techniques have become the latest trends after mobile cloud computing, which have all been developed to address the limitations in cloud computing. This paper reviews these recent technologies in detail. This paper also addresses the differences in these technologies and how each of them are effective to organizations and developers.Cloud computing is a technology that was developed a decade ago to provide uninterrupted, scalable services to  users  and  organizations. Cloud  computing  also  became  an attractive feature for mobile users due to the limited features of mobile devices. The combination of cloud technologies with mobile technologies gave a new area of computing called mobile cloud computing. This  combined technology is  used to augment the resources existing in smart devices. In recent times Fog computing, Edge computing and Clone Cloud computing techniques have become the latest trends after mobile cloud computing, which have all been developed to address the limitations in cloud computing. This paper reviews these recent technologies in detail. This paper also addresses the differences in these technologies and how each of them are effective to organizations and developers

SOCIAL JUSTICE: THE DIALECTICS OF DAILY LIVING

I argue that for social justice to be real. ii has lo be understood in its essence as a relational requirement 1rhereby every individual human being must be equitab(v and permanenl(V contemplated in everything that a society or community values so that people can become totally human. Its complex and ubiquitous nature is discussed. while I present some experiences lo emphasize that formal education can contribute to some understanding and operationalization of social justice principles. I posit further that though social justice is collective. only individuals can make it a possibility. Finally. there is a reminder about the need to transfer priorities (,-om social justice discourse to actively living social justice in an unquestionable manner

Analysis of Credit Risk on Microfinance Loans Using Survival Analysis Techniques: A Case Study

A study was conducted on 577 people who took loans from microfinance institutions in Bungoma, Kakamega and Vihiga County. The study was conducted in 72 months starting January 2012 and ending December 2017. Survival analysis technique was used to model and analyse the probability of default on loan borrowers. In this study, we were able to find out that age had no significant effect on default rate. Male clients were at a higher risk of defaulting than female. For occupation, farmers had the highest probability of default and nurses had the least probability of default. Loan amount had a small significant effect on default rate. However, it was observed that loans of between 100000 and 300000 had the least default rate and therefore it was safer for microfinance institutions to give out small loans. For counties, Bungoma had the highest default rate and Kakamega had the least