Risk Management in Smallholder Cattle Farming: A Hypothetical Insurance Approach in Western Kenya

Smallholder cattle farming is an important livelihood strategy in most developing countries like Kenya. However, tropical diseases in Africa often wipe out these valuable assets. This paper focuses on mitigation of cattle disease risks through a hypothetical insurance scheme. The study is based on data from a survey conducted on a purposive sample of 300 smallholder cattle farmers in Kakamega and Siaya districts of Western Kenya. Descriptive measures and a regression model were used in the analysis. Results of the study showed that most farmers (91.3%) were willing to participate in the cattle insurance scheme. Also, the farmers observed that the scheme would enable them to increase their herd sizes and change their breed composition. The farmer's mean Willingness To Pay (WTP) for the scheme would be determined by their gender, income, cultural norms, cattle breed and economic value/price of the animal kept. This paper recommends establishment of a formal cattle insurance scheme; and economic empowerment of both male and female farmers to encourage adoption of the scheme, as well as educating the farmers on how to integrate the scheme within their cultural norms to ensure it's sustainability.Cattle, smallholder livelihoods, disease risks, insurance, Livestock Production/Industries, Risk and Uncertainty,

Sistema per l'acquisizione e la trasmissione dei dati della stazione mareografica MENFOR

Il presente documento descrive i componenti e le funzionalità del sistema realizzato per l’acquisizione e la trasmissione dei dati della stazione mareografica MENFOR sviluppata nell’ambito del progetto “Sviluppo di una stazione portuale per la previsione dei flussi di marea meteorologica, finalizzata a costituire un servizio per la sicurezza della navigazione e per la protezione dei natanti nel Golfo della Spezia” supportato dal programma PRAI-FESR della Regione Liguria. Il sistema qui descritto è stato realizzato con il contributo di tutti gli Enti coinvolti

Celastrus paniculatus and memantine prevent alcohol dependence and improve decision making in alcohol dependent C57BL6 mice

Background: Alcohol use disorder poses a huge burden with only a handful of approved drugs. AUD is associated with impaired decision-making that leads to compulsive drinking despite negative consequences. A drug that decreases alcohol consumption as well as improves decision-making may thus prove more useful. This study was planned to evaluate the effect of two drugs, Celastrus paniculatus and memantine on alcohol preference and decision impairment in alcohol-dependent mice. Methods: In part 1, the effect of both the study drugs on alcohol consumption was studied using intermittent access model in 70 male C57BL6 mice. In part 2, effect of drugs on decision making was studied using the rodent version of Iowa gambling task. Mice were divided in seven study groups: Group 1-3: Celastrus paniculatus (140, 280, and 560 mg/kg), Group 4: memantine (25 mg/kg), Group 5: vehicle control 1 (Milk), Group 6: vehicle control 2 (normal saline) and Group 7: naltrexone(1mg/kg). Results: Percentage alcohol preference was lower in test groups i.e., Celastrus paniculatus at medium (40.90±15.18%) and high doses (31.79±7.46%) vs. milk (82.74±8.53%; p<0.05); and in memantine group (36.28±10.99%) vs. normal saline (83.27±5.51%; p<0.05). The results were not significantly different to Naltrexone (19.70±6.90%). Percentage preference to disadvantageous arms was also lower in Celastrus paniculatus, at medium (50.52±1.92%) and high doses (48.11±2.43%) compared to milk (54.47±2.73%; p<0.05) and memantine (47.45±1.67%) compared to normal saline (54.00±2.73%; p<0.05), indicating better decision-making ability in the test groups. The findings were comparable to Naltrexone group (45.43±2.52%). Conclusions: These results indicate that Celastrus paniculatus and memantine reduce alcohol consumption and improve decision making in alcohol-dependent mice

Survey Evidence on Conditional Norm Enforcement

We discuss survey evidence on individuals' willingness to sanction norm violations - such as evading taxes, drunk driving, fare dodging, or skiving o work - by expressing disapproval or social exclusion. Our data suggest that people condition their sanctioning behavior on their belief about the frequency of norm violations. The more commonly a norm violation is believed to occur, the lower the individuals' inclination to punish it. Based on an instrumental variable approach, we demonstrate that this pattern reflects a causal relationship