The Evolution of Giving: An Exploration of Time Banking as a Community Development Instrument

Time banking is a way for communities to capture value with minimal monetary cost through the recognition of individuals’ talents and the coordination of services according to their needs. Active engagement in time banking partnerships can enable members of a community to grow their personal networks, make lasting friendships, gain the knowledge and skills they need, pay for products/services with their time, grow in selfconfidence, and support those at risk of “falling through the cracks.” It can build trust and goodwill in schools, offices, neighborhoods and cities. Over time, time banking can generate profound social change and economic gains by developing human capital outside of work hours and reducing the financial burden of individuals and businesses. When a system of incentives is introduced and recognized by a third party capable of tracking the service transactions, the full potential of reciprocity can be realized in big networks through the generation of social capital and individual empowerment. Time banks typically require modest amounts of initial capital and maintenance costs. We recommend the use of time banks as a public policy tool because they are cost-efficient, offer a range of diverse applications, and have produced positive results in many real-world experiments. Our analysis of these experiments has yielded many insights regarding best practices and requisite conditions, which we have outlined in the final chapter

Human-wildlife conflict, benefit sharing and the survival of lions in pastoralist community-based conservancies

No abstract available

Weather variability and food consumption

This study examines the impact of weather variations on food consumption in rural Uganda. The paper relies on two-period panel data (2005/06-2009/10) combined with data on rainfall, number of rainy days and maximum and minimum temperatures. We find that higher temperatures have an adverse effect on food consumption. In contrast, food consumption is not substantially affected by rainfall variations. While evidence from qualitative interviews and trends in agricultural production suggest that households are adopting mitigation measures, the conclusion from the evidence assembled in this paper is that higher temperatures are associated with a decline in crop yields and food consumption

Development of a new HPLC method for in vitro and in vivo studies of haloperidol in solid lipid nanoparticles

A simple and sensitive HPLC method was developed and validated for the quantification of haloperidol in solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs). The developed method was used for detection of shelf life of haloperidol in SLNs. Calibration curve of haloperidol was also constructed in rat plasma using loratidine as internal standard. In vivo studies were performed on rats and concentration of haloperidol in brain and blood was measured for the determination of various pharmacokinetic and hence brain targeting parameters. Chromatogram separation was achieved using C18 column as stationary phase. The mobile phase consisted of 100 mM/L potassium dihydrogen phosphate-acetonitrile-TEA (10:90:0.1, v/v/v) and the pH was adjusted with o-phosphoric acid to 3.5. Flow rate of mobile phase was 2 mL/minute and eluents were monitored at 230 nm using UV/VIS detector. The method was validated for linearity, precision, accuracy, reproducibility, limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ). Linearity for haloperidol was in the range of 1-16 µg/mL. The value of LOD and LOQ was found to be 0.045 and 0.135 μg/mL respectively. The shelf life of SLNs formulation was found to be 2.31 years at 4 oC. Various parameters like drug targeting index (DTI), drug targeting efficiency (DTE) and nose-to-brain direct transport (DTP) were determined for HP-SLNs & HP-Sol administered intranasally to evaluate the extent of nose-to-brain delivery. The value of DTI, DTE and DTP for HP-SLNs was found to be 23.62, 2362.43 % and 95.77% while for HP-Sol, values were 11.28, 1128.61 % and 91.14 % respectively

Design of the STORY+ App: Including Cultural Sensitivity for Patient Engagement and Adherence

Medication adherence is a major problem in oncology, specifically regarding hormonal therapies for breast cancer (BrCa) in African American (AA) women. Design considerations for specific cultural and clinical mobile health (mHealth) features may enhance efficacy of these applications for medication adherence. We used an iterative action-design methodology to develop a mHealth application prototype with 20 AA BrCA survivors and 10 healthcare providers. This paper presents principles of cultural sensitivity we found useful in the design and evaluation of a medication adherence and intervention application for this context that may have an important impact on acceptance and use and lead to positive clinical outcomes. We found culturability, usability, engagement, and personalization to be key guiding concepts. Culturally sensitive design of mHealth apps may enhance estrogen positive hormonal therapy intervention outcomes by increasing technology mediated patient engagement and patient motivation for hormonal therapy adherence

Cost Analysis for Renewable Energy at Residential Houses in CA

Solar energy has been demonstrated to be the most productive and compelling among sustainable power hotspots for home and business use. California has made a concerted effort to boost the integration of renewables into the grid. In 2020, a solar mandate went into effect, and in 2022, the California Energy Commission released the draft language for the 2022 building standards. The use of photovoltaic (PV) systems supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – particularly SDG 13 in direct impact – through preserving the environment, reducing the levels of greenhouse gasses (GHGs), and accordingly reducing global warming. Therefore, the PV solar system is considered a resilient energy economy, however, there is still debate around its profitability for customers. This study aims to analyze the economic impact on homeowners in CA when they use solar panels compared to traditional power bills. To conclude with recommendations, the team has performed cost analysis to determine the profitability of solar power from the homeowner\u27s perspective. The results of calculations – including incremental analysis, cost benefit or break-even analysis – solar system as source of electricity for homeowners proves to be a valuable investment on a mid to long term basis

Linear mathematical models for yield estimation of baby corn (Zea mays L.)

Linear mathematical models have been developed for predicting baby corn yield in terms of cob volume for two cycles of maize (Zea mays L.). Cob volume is directly proportional to morphological parameters such as length, weight, and girth; hence, linear mathematical models have been developed. Primary data for a random selection of 60 cobs for each cycle were collected, and lab work was carried out to measure the corn ears and cob growth parameters. An irregular distribution was observed among all six growth parameters examined in the study. Descriptive statistical measures were employed to facilitate the description of growth parameters. The final volume of the baby corn cob was used for crop yield estimation. The water displacement method was employed to measure the actual volume of cobs, which was then compared with the volumes estimated using the developed mathematical models. For both cycles, similar trends were observed in both estimated and actual volumes of cobs, providing numerical confirmation for the validity of the developed mathematical models. The theoretical validity of these models was also established using statistical measures such as R2, adjusted R2, F-test, P-value, and correlation coefficient. Any deviations between estimated and actual volumes would indicate changes in the dependent variables of the model, attributed to the effects of climate change, as other internal and external factors are held constant. These models offer a critical predictive tool for stakeholders, enabling improved yield predictions and optimized resource allocation. As a result, they facilitate strategic planning for increased profitability