Private Sector Participation in the Water and Wastewater Services Industry

Countries introduce private sector participation into the water and wastewater utilities sector for a number of reasons. The introduction of a profit motive may increase efficiency as compared to public management of the water system, and private firms have been noted for customer service improvements. Financial considerations, including revenues from the sale of assets and reductions in the direct cost of providing water services, may also motivate governments to introduce private sector participation in this industry. However, because water is a basic human necessity, the introduction of private participation in this industry sector may raise social, economic, and national security concerns. Private participation in the global water and wastewater industry can take a number of forms including privatization, greenfield projects, concessions, leases, operation and management contracts, and outsourcing and most countries employ a mix of methods. A handful of European firms dominate trade and investment in the global water and wastewater utilities market.water, wastewater, environmental services, private sector participation, Public Economics,

Activity-dependent trafficking of lysosomes in dendrites and dendritic spines.

In neurons, lysosomes, which degrade membrane and cytoplasmic components, are thought to primarily reside in somatic and axonal compartments, but there is little understanding of their distribution and function in dendrites. Here, we used conventional and two-photon imaging and electron microscopy to show that lysosomes traffic bidirectionally in dendrites and are present in dendritic spines. We find that lysosome inhibition alters their mobility and also decreases dendritic spine number. Furthermore, perturbing microtubule and actin cytoskeletal dynamics has an inverse relationship on the distribution and motility of lysosomes in dendrites. We also find trafficking of lysosomes is correlated with synaptic α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid-type glutamate receptors. Strikingly, lysosomes traffic to dendritic spines in an activity-dependent manner and can be recruited to individual spines in response to local activation. These data indicate the position of lysosomes is regulated by synaptic activity and thus plays an instructive role in the turnover of synaptic membrane proteins

Competitive Conditions for Foreign Direct Investment in India

Net foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into India reached $15.7 billion in India’s 2006-­07 fiscal year, more than triple the$4.7 billion recorded during 2005-­06, with the largest share of FDI flows from Mauritius, followed by the United States and the United Kingdom. This study examines FDI in India, in the context of the Indian economic and regulatory environment. We present FDI trends in India, by country and by industry, using official government data from India, the United States, and international organizations. To supplement the official data, the study also discusses specific investment activities of multinational companies in India, representing a wide range of countries and industries. To illustrate the driving forces behind these trends, the study also discusses the investment climate in India, Indian government incentives to foreign investors, particularly Special Economic Zones, the Indian regulatory environment as it affects investment, and the effect of India’s global, regional, and bilateral trade agreements on investment from the United States and other countries. Finally, the study presents two case studies. The first examines global FDI in India’s automobile industry. The second analyzes the effects of India’s 2005 Patent Law on FDI in the pharmaceutical industry.pub3931.pdf: 7464 downloads, before Oct. 1, 2020

Private Sector Participation in the Water and Wastewater Services Industry

Countries introduce private sector participation into the water and wastewater utilities sector for a number of reasons. The introduction of a profit motive may increase efficiency as compared to public management of the water system, and private firms have been noted for customer service improvements. Financial considerations, including revenues from the sale of assets and reductions in the direct cost of providing water services, may also motivate governments to introduce private sector participation in this industry. However, because water is a basic human necessity, the introduction of private participation in this industry sector may raise social, economic, and national security concerns. Private participation in the global water and wastewater industry can take a number of forms- including privatization, greenfield projects, concessions, leases, operation and management contracts, and outsourcing- and most countries employ a mix of methods. A handful of European firms dominate trade and investment in the global water and wastewater utilities market

Activity-dependent trafficking of lysosomes in dendrites and dendritic spines.

In neurons, lysosomes, which degrade membrane and cytoplasmic components, are thought to primarily reside in somatic and axonal compartments, but there is little understanding of their distribution and function in dendrites. Here, we used conventional and two-photon imaging and electron microscopy to show that lysosomes traffic bidirectionally in dendrites and are present in dendritic spines. We find that lysosome inhibition alters their mobility and also decreases dendritic spine number. Furthermore, perturbing microtubule and actin cytoskeletal dynamics has an inverse relationship on the distribution and motility of lysosomes in dendrites. We also find trafficking of lysosomes is correlated with synaptic α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid-type glutamate receptors. Strikingly, lysosomes traffic to dendritic spines in an activity-dependent manner and can be recruited to individual spines in response to local activation. These data indicate the position of lysosomes is regulated by synaptic activity and thus plays an instructive role in the turnover of synaptic membrane proteins