Assessment of Specific Yield and Storage Capacity of Groundwater using Borehole Log

The study aimed at evaluating the specific yield and storage capacity of groundwater in Chapai Nawabganj District of Bangladesh using borehole log data. The boring log samples from different layers were collected from each Upazila (administrative area) of the District. The specific yield of each Upazila was determined by the Cooper-Jacob method using Math lab software and storage of groundwater was then ascertained by a mathematical formula. The specific yield of the five Upazilas was determined and the values were found around 10 (%) which indicates good permeability of the areas, except Bholahat Upazila. The results illustrate that Nachole Upazila has a large storage volume, i.e., 49,305 Hec-m, but the other Upazilas have a storage capacity between 8000 to 18000 Hec-m. The storage capacity of the five Upazilas followed the order: Nachole>Nawabganj>Shibganj>Gomastapur> Bholahat. The highest number of DTWs at Nachole Upazila extracted 8848 Hec-m indicating excessive extraction concerning sustainable water management. A well-planned water resource management would have to be taken to achieve sustainable use of groundwater for irrigation aiming to achieve food security as well as an ecologically friendly environment. Keywords: Borehole, groundwater, storage, specific yield, storage capacity DOI: 10.7176/JEES/10-8-02 Publication date:August 31st 202

Impacts of supermarkets on farm household nutrition in Kenya

Many developing countries are experiencing a food system transformation with a rapid growth of supermarkets. Research has shown that smallholder farmers can benefit from supplying supermarkets in terms of higher productivity and income. Here, we analyze impacts on farm household nutrition. Building on data from vegetable farmers in Kenya, we show that participation in supermarket channels has sizeable positive effects: calorie, vitamin A, iron, and zinc consumption are all increased by 15% or more. We also analyze impact pathways, using simultaneous equation models. Supermarket-supplying households have higher incomes, a higher share of land under vegetables, and a higher likelihood of male control of revenues. Furthermore, income and the share of land under vegetables have positive impacts, while male control of revenues has negative impacts on dietary quality. The total nutrition effects of supermarket participation could be even more positive if women were able to keep their control over farm revenues in the process of commercialization. The methods developed and used may also be useful for other impact studies to better understand agriculture-nutrition linkages

Advanced procedure for fabrication of substructure in dentistry

The paper presents some aspects of the novel integrated system, procedure for fabrication of metal substructure of metal-ceramic crowns. The results been shown that the CAD/CAE/RP technology integration presented in this paper can be fully applied to casting metal substructures. The substructure fabricated in this way, confirm the reduction of the total manufacturing time, with an increase in the percentage of high quality castings that use integrated system

Following up on smallholder farmers and supermarkets

In many developing countries, supermarkets are expanding rapidly. This also affects farmers’ marketing options. Previous studies have analyzed welfare effects for smallholders with crosssection data. Here, we use panel data and a differencing approach to study supply chain dynamics and better account for unobserved heterogeneity in impact assessment. The analysis focuses on vegetable producers in Kenya. Participation in supermarket channels is associated with large income gains, which have further increased over time. However, many farmers are not able to enter supermarket channels, or they have dropped out due to various constraints. Specific support is needed to avoid widening income disparities

Multiple stochastic pathways in forced peptide-lipid membrane detachment

We have used high resolution AFM based dynamic force spectroscopy to investigate peptide-lipid membrane interactions by measuring the detachment (last-rupture) force distribution, P(F), and the corresponding force dependent rupture rate, k(F), for two different peptides and lipid bilayers. The measured quantities, which differed considerably for different peptides, lipid-membranes, AFM tips (prepared under identical conditions), and retraction speeds of the AFM cantilever, could not be described in terms of the standard theory, according to which detachment occurs along a single pathway, corresponding to a diffusive escape process across a free energy barrier. In particular, the prominent retraction speed dependence of k(F) was a clear indication that peptide-lipid membrane dissociation occurs stochastically along several detachment pathways. Thereby, we have formulated a general theoretical approach for describing P(F) and k(F), by assuming that peptide detachment from lipid membranes occurs, with certain probability, along a few dominant diffusive pathways. This new method was validated through a consistent interpretation of the experimental data. Furthermore, we have found that for moderate retraction speeds at intermediate force values, k(F) exhibits catch-bond behavior (i.e. decreasing detachment rate with increasing force). According to the proposed model this behavior is due to the stochastic mixing of individual detachment pathways which do not convert or cross during rupture. To our knowledge, such catch-bond mechanism has not been proposed and demonstrated before for a peptide-lipid interaction

Nutrition effects of the supermarket revolution on urban consumers and smallholder farmers in Kenya

Food systems in developing countries are transforming, involving a rapid expansion of supermarkets. This supermarket revolution may affect dietary patterns and nutrition, but empirical evidence is scarce. The few existing studies have analyzed implications for food consumers and producers separately. We discuss a more integrated framework that helps to gain a broader understanding. Reviewing recent evidence from Kenya, we show that buying food in supermarkets instead of traditional outlets contributes to overnutrition among adults, while reducing undernutrition among children. For farm households, supplying supermarkets causes improvements in dietary quality. The results underline that supermarkets influence nutrition in multiple ways and directions

GM crops and gender issues

Correspondence in the December issue by Jonathan Gressel not only states that gender issues in rural settings have not been adequately addressed with respect to weed control biotech but also asserts that such technology can increase the quality of life of rural women in developing countries. Improved weed control is a labor-saving technology that can result in less employment in a labor surplus rural economy. Often in rural areas, wage income is the main source of income and an important determinant of the quality of life, particularly where employment opportunities are generally limited. Apart from soil preparation, planting and weeding, harvesting is also 'femanual' work that can generate more employment if yields are higher. Biotech can enhance the quality of life of women but only if the technology is associated with overall generation of rural employment

Does the group leader matter? The impact of monitoring activities and social ties of group leaders on the repayment performance of groupbased lending Eritrea

This paper analyzes whether the effects of monitoring and social ties of the group leader and other group members on repayment performance of groups differ, using data from an extensive questionnaire held in Eritrea among participants of 102 groups. We hypothesize that the monitoring activities and social ties of the group leader have a stronger positive impact on the repayment performance of groups. The results show that social ties of the group leader do have a positive effect on repayment performance of groups, whereas this is not true for social ties of other group members. We do not find evidence for the hypothesis that monitoring activities of the group leader have a stronger positive impact on group repayment performance. All variables measuring monitoring activities, either of the group leader or the other group members, are found to be statistically insignificant.