Old Wine In A New Bottle? Proposed Sugar Industry Restructuring and Land Conflict in Fiji

The proposed restructure of Fiji's sugar industry has the potential to change fundamentally the incentives facing stakeholders and their interaction. How well the stated objective of 'unity in purpose' is achieved will depend on whether the causes of th

Modeling quasi-static magnetohydrodynamic turbulence with variable energy flux

In quasi-static MHD, experiments and numerical simulations reveal that the energy spectrum is steeper than Kolmogorov's $k^{-5/3}$ spectrum. To explain this observation, we construct turbulence models based on variable energy flux, which is caused by the Joule dissipation. In the first model, which is applicable to small interaction parameters, the energy spectrum is a power law, but with a spectral exponent steeper than -5/3. In the other limit of large interaction parameters, the second model predicts an exponential energy spectrum and flux. The model predictions are in good agreement with the numerical results.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figure

Theory and practice of regulation in small economies: the Fijian experience

Small island countries are attempting to deregulate their economies in order to provide flexibility to firms operating in an ever changing and challenging global market. During this process, regulators and policymakers have found themselves under immense pressure from the private sector over the nature and degree of regulation of commercial activities. Some argue that an economy left to the market will reduce the burden on the State, improve efficiency and growth, and thus contribute to the country's developmental objectives. There are others, however, who argue otherwise. They believe that competition law and policy can play important roles in the advancement of developing countries. We argue that competition policy and law are essential. What might vary between countries, however, is the mix between ex ante and ex post regulation. While regulatory frameworks are being developed in small countries, the State or the regulatory institution might have difficulty in undertaking ex post regulation for several reasons. This article demonstrates how unfair trading practices and anti-competitive behaviour were curbed in Fiji's telecommunications sector

ALTA OR NLTA: WHAT'S IN THE NAME? LAND TENURE DILEMMA AND THE FIJI SUGAR INDUSTRY

Since 1997, the agricultural leases on Native land, issued under the 1976 Agricultural and Landlord Tenants Act (ALTA), began to expire. The sugar industry is the main commodity export earner for Fiji, directly contributing about 22% of the national GDP and supporting over 25% of the country's active labor force. Fiji exports 80% of its sugar production, earning on average of $250-300 million in foreign exchange annually. Several options have been suggested, including: non-renewal of leases, with the land reverting to Fijian owners; renewal of ALTA but with land rents pegged to the gross value of production instead of the unimproved capital value; sharecropping and contract wage arrangements; and abolishment of lease arrangement under ALTA with leases to be issued under an institutional arrangement guided by the Native Lands Trust Act (NLTA). The land tenure system adopted will have a significant impact not only on the efficiency of the sugar cane sector but also on Fiji's ability to meet its international obligations of sugar exports. This paper explores the land tenure dilemma facing Fiji today. It assesses the economic implications of the various forms of land lease system proposed. This analysis is carried out in terms of efficiency, equity, and risk sharing in the current preferential market access environment and under possible future world market conditions. Suggestions are made on institutional arrangements that could enhance efficiency in resource use and encourage sharing of production risks that arise due to variability in factor prices and climatic conditions as well as sugar prices.Land tenure -- Government policy -- Fiji, Landlord and tenant -- Law and legislation -- Fiji, Land tenure -- Economic aspects -- Fiji, Agricultural laws and legislation -- Fiji, Leases -- Fiji, Sugar trade -- Fiji, Sugarcane industry -- Economic aspects -- Fiji, Fiji. Agricultural and Landlord Tenants Act (1976), Crop Production/Industries, Land Economics/Use,

Development of high intensity low emission combustor for achieving flameless combustion of liquid fuels

AbstractThis paper presents the experimental and numerical results for a two stage combustor capable of achieving flameless combustion with liquid fuels for different thermal heat inputs of 20, 30, 40 and 60kW and heat release density of 5–15MW/m3. Combustion characteristics and pollutant emissions are studied for three different fuels, kerosene, diesel and gasoline. The influence of droplet diameter on pollutant emissions at all conditions is studied. The fuel and oxidizer are supplied at ambient conditions. The concept of high swirl flows has been adopted to achieve high internal recirculation rates, residence time and increased dilution of the fresh reactants in the primary combustion zone, resulting in flameless combustion mode. Air is injected through four tangential injection ports located near the bottom of the combustor and liquid fuel is injected through a centrally mounted pressure swirl injector. Computational analysis of the flow features shows that decrease in the exit port diameter of the primary chamber increases the recirculation rate of combustion products and helps in achieving the flameless combustion mode. Based on preliminary computational studies, a 30mm primary chamber exit port diameter is chosen for experimental studies. Detailed experimental investigations show that flameless combustion mode was achieved with evenly distributed combustion reaction zone and uniform temperature distribution in the combustor. Pollutant emissions of CO, NOx, CxHy are measured and compared for all operating conditions of different fuels and different thermal inputs. The acoustic emission levels are reduced by 6–8dB as combustion mode shifts from conventional mode to flameless combustion mode

Synthesis, characterization, antibacterial, antifungal and anthelmintic activities of a new 5-​nitroisatin Schiff base and its metal complexes

The copper (II)​, cobalt (II)​, nickel (II) and zinc (II) complexes of 5 - nitroisatin Schiff base (L) (L = Schiff base derived from 5-​nitroisatin and 2-​methyl-​4-​nitroaniline) were synthesized and characterized. The authenticity of the ligand and its metal complexes has been established by micro anal., IR, NMR, LC​/MS, UV-​VIS and elec. conductance measurements. The ligand acts as a bidentate agent in which the carbonyl oxygen and the azomethine nitrogen of 5-​nitroisatin are involved in co-​ordination. Square planar geometry was proposed for the Cu (II) and Ni (II) complexes and tetrahedral geometry was proposed for the Co (II) and Zn (II) complexes. The ligand and its metal complexes have been screened for antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, etc. and for antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavous, etc. The Schiff base and its complexes were also screened for anthelmintic activity on earthworms. Both samples displayed significant activitie

Treatment of osteonecrosis of femoral head in young patients by surface replacement of femoral head

Background: Osteonecrosis of hip is a pathological condition that affects usually young adults. Articular surface replacement (ASR) is considered to be a viable option in young patients. The study was done with the aim to analyse and to recommend the management of osteonecrosis of femoral head in young patients by surface replacement of femoral head as ideal procedure.Methods: The present study was conducted in 30 patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head who attended to OPD at Santhiram Medical College and General Hospital, Nandyal, A.P during the period of April 2016 to September 2017. Articular surface replacement of the femoral head was the surgical procedure done in all the patients. The success of the treatment was analysed by Harris hip scoring.Results: Maximum number of patients (60%) was below 40 years of age. Male dominance (77%) was seen in the study. According to Ficat and Arlet classification 12 cases (40%) were under the category of stage II-B and 18 cases (60%) were of stage III. Postoperatively about 90% of patients had postoperative Harris hip score of >80 points. Surgery was succeeded in 10 hips of stage II-B and 15 hips in stage III. According to Harris hip scoring excellent results were obtained in 15 (50%), good in 12 (40%), fair in 2 (6.67%) and poor result 1 (3.3%) patient.Conclusion: The study concludes that the surface replacement is an anatomical hip arthroplasty with preservations of more than 70% of bone stock of femoral head and the ability of the patients to sit cross-legged and squat, which is the desire of the Indian population

Small states and the pillars of economic resilience

The performance of an economy is determined by economic, political, legal and institutional frameworks and processes which are in turn affected by governance practice. The economic performance of the Pacific Island Countries over the past decade has been sluggish when compared to other developing countries, and this has been associated with bad governance in the region. This chapter examines the specific issues in Pacific Island Countries that may have an impact on the nature of governance practice and argues that institutional reforms are likely to be resisted strongly by those benefiting from the existing arrangements. The chapter contends that the status quo can only be changed by the involvement of the local stakeholders and by education. However, the international donor community also has a role to play in this regard, by ensuring that aid does not support bad governance.peer-reviewe