INCOME DISPARITIES, ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND DEVELOPMENT AS A THRESHOLD

Galor and Moav (2004) argue that in the early stages of development, physical capital accumulation is the primary source of economic growth. Thus, inequality enhances growth by channeling resources towards individuals whose marginal propensity to save is higher. In later stages of development, physical capital is replaced by human capital as the engine of growth. Accordingly, equality alleviates the adverse effects of credit constraints on human capital accumulation and prompts the growth process. This paper attempts to test empirically the finding that the impact of income inequality on economic growth depends on the development stage. A threshold estimation technique, developed by Hansen (1999), is utilized for a panel of 70 countries for the period between 1970 and 1999. The estimation suggests that there is a statistically significant threshold income per capita, below which the coefficient on the relationship between inequality and growth is significantly negative and above which the estimate is positive, but not statistically significant.Income Inequality, Economic Growth

Effect of Breast Cyst Fluid on Oestrone Sulphatase Activity in Breast Cancer Celllines

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Although breast cancers are generally oestrogen receptor positive initially, a substantial proportion become oestrogen receptor negative. Oestrogen receptor positive breast cancers are associated with a better prognosis than oestrogen receptor negative breast cancers as they are more responsive to hormonal therapy. Breast cyst fluid (BCF) is known to be a rich source of steroid hormones and growth factors. These substances may have significant effects on mammary epithelial cell growth and oestrogen metabolism in the breast and may, thus, play important roles in the pathophysiology and development of breast cancer. Oestrone sulphate acts as a large reservoir of active oestrogens in the breast and is converted to oestrone by the enzyme oestrone sulphatase. The aims of the present study were to assess the effects of BCF on cell growth of, and oestrone sulphatase activity in the MCF-7 oestroge

A review of decentralization and local development initiatives in Egypt between the years of 1994 and 2011

The purpose of this research is to review what main decentralization initiatives have implemented in the area of decentralization and local development in Egypt, what has been achieved, and what is needed to be implemented in order to move forward in the decentralization process. Decentralization could be a solution to the local administration efficiency, which can be applied also at the central level. This research is a qualitative research done through structured interviewing and filled questionnaires from senior officials at the central government and by informant people that are experts in the area of decentralization improving local administration and development. The findings were concluded from historic data, previous research in the area, also from the responses of interviews with experts in the field as well as the assessments from donor organizations, donors evaluation sheets and general observation. The good governance model has been utilized for the review of key decentralization and local development initiatives in Egypt. Finally, alternative solutions to the asked question and policy recommendations are provided in order to move forward in the process of decentralization, aiming for a better future in Egypt

Effect of Soil pH, Liming Materials and Phosphorus on Growth and Nutrient Uptake of Sugarcane

Sugarcane (Variety H59-3775) yield and nutrient composition was studied in relation to soil pH, liming with caco3 and CaSi03, and P fertilization. The pH levels investigated were 4.7, 5.0, 5.2, 5.6, 5.8, 6.0 and 6.7 obtained with either Caco3 or CaSi03. Two P levels, 0.006 and 0.025 ppm Pin solution, were also included in the study as the main plots. Liming Wahiawa soil (Tropeptic Eutrustox) significantly increased sugarcane yield. Maximum yield was obtained at pH 5.8 in the caco3 system and at pH 6.0 in the CaSi03 system. In general, an optimum soil pH for sugarcane was about 5.8. Liming resulted in a significant increase in Ca, Mg, and N concentrations in various plant tissues. Besides supplying Ca and some Mg, the liming materials substantially improved the retention of these elements within reach of plant roots. This was due to the marked increase in CEC obtained with increasing soil pH. This can be of practical importance since the well aggregated condition of Wahiawa soil can result in rapid leaching of the basic cations under acid conditions. In the unlimed treatment, and at the low liming rates (pH 5.2 and 5.6) large amounts of K moved down the soil profile to the 45 cm depth. Potassium extracted from the surface was 30% greater from the high lime treatments (pH 6.7) than from the control (pH 4.7). Increasing soil pH significantly reduced soil Al and Mn in the surface. Mn was also reduced markedly in the soil profile down to the 30 cm depth in the high liming treatments. Phosphate sorption studies suggested that the first rates of liming decreased P sorption by reducing Al activity which otherwise could immobilize P by precipitation as Al-phosphate or adsorption on the surface of hydrous Al oxide. The silicate applications at the high rates decreased P sorption markedly by anion exchange. An attempt was made to study the direct effect of H ion concentration on sugarcane growth in a nutrient solution culture using a split-root technique. In the pH range investigated (3.0, 4.0, 5.5, 6.5, and 8.5) supplied with 45 ppm Ca in solution, the maximum yield of cane was obtained at solution pH 5.5 and 6.5. Yield declined slightly at pH 8.5 and significantly at pH < 4.0. Absorption of nutrients was severely curtailed at pH 3.0 and 4.0, probably due to the high H ion concentration. Symptoms of Fe deficiency occurred at pH 8.5, and it appeared that the Fe absorbed was precipitated in the stalks. In general, growth and nutrient absorption of sugarcane was best in the pH range 5.5 - 6.5

Waging War on the Citizen: State Sovereignty, Citizen Death and the War on Terror

One of the defining features of the contemporary era is the occurrence of non-localized warfare, in which the enemy can be considered fluid and always changing. The above quote reminds us that history has provided multiple examples of how wars are apt to change and shift the foundations of states; but there is something unique to be said about the qualities of modern war and the change it has prompted. A military technological revolution has culminated in the unprecedented use of drones as primary agents of war (specifically in the “War on Terror”), which has in turn shifted the traditional relations of conflict

Adjustment programmes and agricultural incentives in Sudan: a comparative study

Corr. versio

Enhancing System Reliability Utilizing Private Electric Vehicle Parking Lots Accounting for the Uncertainties of Renewables

Integration of renewable energy sources into electric grids comes with significant challenges. The produced energy from renewable sources such as wind and solar is intermittent, non-dispatchable and uncertain. The uncertainty in the forecasted renewable energy will consequently impact the accuracy of the forecasted generation. That, in turn, will increase the difficulties for the grid operators to meet the demand-supply balance in the grids. Moreover, the shift to electric vehicles (EV) also adds complications to grid operators planning since their demand profiles are unlike anything that is currently connected to the grid. With the advent of the smart grid, many new interesting and practical technologies will become a reality. Unfortunately, most of these elements will not be physically realized in systems for the immediate future. This thesis will maintain an overarching constraint of only using aspects of the smart grid that can be implemented, given today’s infrastructure, within the next three to five years. For that reason, all loads connected to the system are considered to be uncontrollable except EVs when they are connected to a “commercial parking lot”. The goal of this body of work is to investigate the benefits of the utility providing incentives, in terms of reducing the price of electricity for charging EVs through a commercial parking lot, for the sole goal of enhancing reliability through optimized scheduling of charging time periods. Moreover, since the penetration of renewable energy is only predicted to increase over time, their impact will also be investigated. Since both EVs and renewables add uncertainty and randomness whenever connected, these elements need to be accurately and adequately modelled. There will be five electrical components that will need stochastic models built. The first two, base electric load and dispatchable/distributed generators, will be modelled based on the IEEE - Reliability Test System (IEEE-RTS), with the later using a Monte-Carlo (MC) simulation. The next two, solar and wind energy, will be extrapolated from historical weather patterns through a Markov-Chain Monte-Carlo (MCMC) simulation. Finally, the EV will be virtually generated from historical commercial parking lot data also using a MCMC. Three scheduling algorithms were implemented in this work. The first is a base case, in which the EVs charged in a first-come first-serve basis, this situation that would arise if no information at all is shared with the parking lot owner. The results of the simulation had the value of Expected Energy Not Served (EENS) came out to be 38.05 MWh/year (the lower the better). With the second algorithm, a basic Demand Side Management (DSM) algorithm was implemented, with the result being that the EENS decreased by 8.35 %. The information shared was the demand shape of all consumers for a given day. Lastly, an algorithm that will be called Grid and Demand Side Management (GDSM) by this thesis proved to be even more successful, having the EENS reach a value of 29.85 MWh/year, a decrease of 21.55 %. The GDSM scheduling algorithm needs the grid to share not only the consumer behavior but also the expected generator behavior. Based on these results, recommendations are made to the electric utility in terms of the benefits it may reap if it expands and develops a communication infrastructure that includes information of generator availability

El uso de arabismos en la traducción literaria del árabe al español: estudio de tres casos de narrativa contemporánea

This paper is a descriptive study that aims, through presenting some cases of the use of Arabisms or Arabic loanwords in the literary translation from Arabic to Spanish, to determine the function that these fulfill in the translated text. In other words, it aspires to demonstrate if they are the only equivalents of the original word in Arabic or there are other more widely used alternatives, and despite this they have been preferred in the translation to give it an exotic Arabic aspect, especially when it comes to unusual or obsolete Arabic loanwords or these which meanings have changed, and they only keep phonic similarity with the original Arabic words.El presente trabajo es un estudio descriptivo que pretende, mediante la exposición de algunos casos del uso de arabismos en la traducción literaria del árabe al español, determinar la función que estos cumplen en el texto traducido. Es decir, si son los únicos equivalentes de la palabra original o hay otras alternativas más usadas, y a pesar de esto se los ha preferido para dar un matiz árabe exótico a la traducción, sobre todo cuando se trata de arabismos desusados o cuyos significados han cambiado y solo guardan semejanza fónica con la palabra árabe original