8,164 research outputs found
The role of social interaction in farmers' climate adaptation choice
Adaptation to climate change might not always occur, with potentially\ud
catastrophic results. Success depends on coordinated actions at both\ud
governmental and individual levels (public and private adaptation). Even for a âwetâ country like the Netherlands, climate change projections show that the frequency and severity of droughts are likely to increase. Freshwater is an important factor for agricultural production. A deficit causes damage to crop production and consequently to a loss of income. Adaptation is the key to decrease farmersâ vulnerability at the micro level and the sectorâs vulnerability at the macro level. Individual adaptation decision-making is determined by the behavior of economic agents and social interaction among them. This can be best studied with agentbased modelling. Given the uncertainty about future weather conditions and the costs and effectiveness of adaptation strategies, a farmer in the model uses a cognitive process (or heuristic) to make adaptation decisions. In this process, he can rely on his experiences and on information from interactions within his social network. Interaction leads to the spread of information and knowledge that causes learning. Learning changes the conditions for individual adaptation decisionmaking. All these interactions cause emergent phenomena: the diffusion of adaptation strategies and a change of drought vulnerability of the agricultural sector. In this paper, we present a conceptual model and the first implementation of an agent-based model. The aim is to study the role of interaction in a farmerâs social network on adaptation decisions and on the diffusion of adaptation strategies\ud
and vulnerability of the agricultural sector. Micro-level survey data will be used to parameterize agentsâ behavioral and interaction rules at a later stage. This knowledge is necessary for the successful design of public adaptation strategies, since governmental adaptation actions need to be fine-tuned to private adaptation behavior
OH-selected AGB and post-AGB stellar objects II.Blue versus red evolution off the AGB
Using objects found in a systematic survey of the galactic Plane in the
1612-MHz OH line, we discuss in detail two ``sequences'' of post-AGB evolution,
a red and a blue. We argue that the red and the blue groups separate by initial
mass at 4Msun, based on evolutionary-sequence turn-off colours, spectral energy
distributions, outflow velocities and scaleheight. The higher-mass (blue)
objects may have earlier AGB termination. The lower-mass (red) objects undergo
very sudden reddening for IRAS colour R21\sim1.2; these sources must all
undergo a very similar process at AGB termination. The transition colour
corresponds to average initial masses of 1.7Msun. A combined IRAS-MSX colour
proves a very sensitive tool to distinguish lower-mass, early post-AGB objects
from sources still on the AGB and also to distinguish more evolved post-AGB
objects from star-forming regions. The high-mass blue objects are the likely
precursors of bipolar planetary nebulae, whereas the low-mass red objects will
evolve into elliptical planetary nebulae.Comment: 12 pages, LaTex, 7 figures (1 colour), AJ (accepted
Blocking a wave: Frequency band gaps in ice shelves with periodic crevasses
We assess how the propagation of high-frequency elastic-flexural waves
through an ice shelf is modified by the presence of spatially periodic
crevasses. Analysis of the normal modes supported by the ice shelf with and
without crevasses reveals that a periodic crevasse distribution qualitatively
changes the mechanical response. The normal modes of an ice shelf free of
crevasses are evenly distributed as a function of frequency. In contrast, the
normal modes of a crevasse-ridden ice shelf are distributed unevenly. There are
"band gaps", frequency ranges over which no eigenmodes exist. A model ice shelf
that is 50 km in lateral extent and 300 m thick with crevasses spaced 500 m
apart has a band gap from 0.2 to 0.38 Hz. This is a frequency range relevant
for ocean wave/ice-shelf interactions. When the outermost edge of the crevassed
ice shelf is oscillated at a frequency within the band gap, the ice shelf
responds very differently from a crevasse-free ice shelf. The flexural motion
of the crevassed ice shelf is confined to a small region near the outermost
edge of the ice shelf and effectively "blocked" from reaching the interior.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, accepted to Annals of Glaciolog
OH-selected AGB and post-AGB objects I.Infrared and maser properties
Using 766 compact objects from a survey of the galactic Plane in the 1612-MHz
OH line, new light is cast on the infrared properties of evolved stars on the
TP-AGB and beyond. The usual mid-infrared selection criteria, based on IRAS
colours, largely fail to distinguish early post-AGB stages. A two-colour
diagram from narrower-band MSX flux densities, with bimodal distributions,
provides a better tool to do the latter. Four mutually consistent selection
criteria for OH-masing red PPNe are given, as well as two for early post-AGB
masers and one for all post--AGB masers, including the earliest ones. All these
criteria miss a group of blue, high-outflow post-AGB sources with 60-mum
excess; these will be discussed in detail in Paper II. The majority of post-AGB
sources show regular double-peaked spectra in the OH 1612-MHz line, with fairly
low outflow velocities, although the fractions of single peaks and irregular
spectra may vary with age and mass. The OH flux density shows a fairly regular
relation with the stellar flux and the envelope optical depth, with the maser
efficiency increasing with IRAS colour R21. The OH flux density is linearly
correlated with the 60-mum flux density.Comment: 16 pages, LaTex, 22 figures, AJ (accepted
The peacebuilding potential of technical and vocational education and training programmes in post-conflict Sierra Leone
In peacebuilding contexts unemployed youth are frequently perceived as a high risk for the stability of a country while employed youth are seen as carrying an enormous potential for economic growth. This paper applies a social justice framework (4Rs) in analysing a Business Development (BD) programme that was implemented as part of Sierra Leoneâs Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) strategy to promote entrepreneurship development and reduce unemployment among youth. Despite the BD programmeâs initial strengths, to recognize youth's heterogeneity with the aim to address some of the root causes of the war, we show how the programme struggled to counter social inequality, unemployment and neopatrimonialism. Sudden decreases in donor funding led to severe modifications of redistribution processes, thereby hampering youth's representation. This raises questions about the design of TVET strategies and BD programmes in post-conflict settings in general. Our paper further showcases how the resurfacing of the root causes of a conflict in the scope of small-scheme development programmes, can have far-reaching effects on young peopleâs various relationships of trust, if not reconciliation process as a whole
Generating job mobility patterns:using simulation techniques for the explanation of employees' organizational careers
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