Numerical simulation of hydro-and morfodynamic effects of side channels design parameters

Four side channel design parameters are analysed by two-dimensionally modelling the extremes with the numerical software package Delft3D. In order to advise how to minimise the maintenance activity dredging in rivers due to the construction of side channels. These four parameters are bifurcation angle, originate place in the groyne compartment, width/depth ratio and inflow barrier. The amount dredging volume seems most sensitive to the bifurcation angle and the side channel width. Whereas the bifurcation angle also affects the length ratio of the side and main channel, the latter one can also be the dominant parameter. Further research is recommended

Intellectual Property Rights, Globalization and Growth

I present a model that combines the key features of a Schumpeterian growth model without scale effects and a North - South model of trade.All open economies converge to parallel growth paths because of costly technological transfer.I study the e¤ects of intellectual property rights (IPR) regimes and trade policies on the growth rate, as well as on a given country's economic performance.The requirement that trade be balanced neutralizes all potential effects of the tariff policy on the world's growth rate, and on the performance of a single country.By contrast, an improvement of a given country's IPR regime is growth neutral but improves a country's position in the world's productivity rank.These findings are shown te be consistent with observedempirical relationships.Intellectual Property Rights;Economic growth;International Trade

A critical assessment of recent trends in Dutch industrial relations

Not availablelabour economics ;

Cross sectional efficient estimation of stochastic volatility short rate models

We consider the problem of estimation of term structure of interest rates. Filtering theory approach is very natural here with the underlying setup being non-linear and non-Gaussian. Earlier works make use of Extended Kalman Filter (EKF). However, the EKF in this situation leads to inconsistent estimation of parameters, though without high bias. One way to avoid this is to use methods like Efficient Method of Moments or Indirect Inference Method. These methods, however, are numerically very demanding. We use Kitagawa type scheme for nonlinear filtering problem, which solves the inconsistency problem without being numerically so demanding. \u

Computer-aided veterinary learning at the University of Cambridge

An approach to computer-assisted learning in veterinary education at the University of Cambridge, involving the development of four types of learning module, is outlined. A tutorial on regional perineural anaesthesia in the horse, based on the familiar tape-slide format but with significant improvements, is described. A question and answer self-assessment package and a computer-based 'digital lecture' are also discussed, together with a case simulation involving the investigation of a polydipsic dog. All the tutorials were developed using standard software packages and image digitising processes. The philosophy behind the development of these computer-assisted learning packages is discussed

Emerging Smallholder Rubber Farming Systems in India and Thailand: A Comparative Economic Analysis

This paper provides a comparative perspective on the performance of smallholder rubber farm livelihood systems based on case studies of two regions in India and Thailand. The analysis of the emerging farming systems in the two countries’ rubber farms reveals that the rubber monocrop system is viable, provided prices remain remunerative and primary markets efficient. Findings further indicate the dominant contribution ofrubber production to the gross household income of the rubber growers in the integrated farming systems. Nevertheless, from a sustainable livelihoods perspective, the socioeconomic significance of the rubber integrated farming systems assumes greater prominence, given the fact that small producers are highly vulnerable to market uncertainties. It has been found that rubber integrated livelihood systems provide the smallholders with ample capability for resilience during crises and ensure a sustained flow of income. The two case studies demonstrate the need to promote and scale up rubber integrated farm livelihood systems in the smallholder-dominated rubber producing countries in the Asian region. The paper also recommends enhancing the capabilities of the smallholders by strengthening their access to the five forms of capital that sustain their livelihood.

European welfare states in competition

The Maastricht Treaty (1992) has meant an important step forwards in the process of European integration. Not only goods and financial markets, but als labour markets are freed from national barriers. Will this lead to significant increases in migration flows? The differences in wage and unemployment levels between different member states are significant; and the same is rue for differences in what is called socal wage. However, the character of labour services is quite different from that of goods and capital services. It is physically bound to human beings, which means that the cultural factor can be a serious barrier for moving. In order to prevent regional inequality and/or significant migration flows, member states are enforced to make their labour market institutions as competitive as possible. This paper deals with this phenomenon of institutional competition. Results from the field of public scoice and spatial economics are presented. Liberally oriented institutions appear to drive out more conservative or socialist institutions. If the EU srives for a complete poitical integration between all members, where any form of discremination between EU-citizens is forbidden, coordination between the different welfare regimes is necessary. As long as this coordination is not achieved, the country of birth mus continue to play a role in the European welfare regimeinternational economics and trade ;

An inexact Newton method for systems arising from the finite element method

In this paper, we introduce an efficient and robust technique for approximating the Jacobian matrix for a nonlinear system of algebraic equations which arises from the finite element discretization of a system of nonlinear partial differential equations. It is demonstrated that when an iterative solver, such as preconditioned GMRES, is used to solve the linear systems of equations that result from the application of Newton's method, this approach is generally more efficient than using matrix-free techniques: the price paid being the extra memory requirement for storing the sparse Jacobian. The advantages of this approach over attempting to calculate the Jacobian exactly or of using other approximations are also discussed. A numerical example is included which is based upon the solution of a 2-d compressible viscous flow problem

Ships Observing Marine Climate: a catalogue of the VOS participating in the VSOP-NA

Our present knowledge of the marine climate, as represented by data sets such as COADS (Woodruff et al., 1987), is based on meteorological observations from the Voluntary Observing Ships (VOS). Because the VOS are merchant ships, rather than specially designed meteorological platforms, errors and biases exist in the data. However there is little information readily available to the climatologist either on the nature of the VOS fleet or on the observing practises which are used. This report, describing the forty-six ships that participated in the Voluntary Observing Ships' Special Observing Project - North Atlantic (VSOP-NA), therefore serves two purposes:(i) it provides a reference document to aid analysis of the VSOP-NA data set,(ii) it gives a detailed description of a subset of the VOS, which will be of value in the interpretation of marine climate data sets.This report is in two parts, Part 1 is an overall summary of the ship characteristics, Part 2 is a ship by ship description. The next section will briefly describe the VSOP-NA project, followed by a summary of the characteristics of the VSOP-NA ships (Section 3). Since these ships were specially selected (Section 2.2), the degree to which they are representative of the whole VOS fleet will be carefully considered. The meteorological instrumentation used by the VOS varies depending on which meteorological agency recruited the ships. That used on the chosen VSOP-NA ships is typical of VOS recruited by the countries bordering the North Atlantic, and will be described in Section 4. Section 5 is a summary of Part 1 of the report.Part 2 presents the VSOP-NA ship catalogue. This includes, for each ship, diagrams of the layout (indicating in particular the exposure of the sensors), a summary of the geographical positions at which observations were obtained, and details of the instrumentation used.<br/