Effects Of Local Conditions Research Articles

From Sea to Shrimp Processing Factories in Bangladesh

Shrimp aquaculture in Bangladesh linking the European Union, the USA, and Japan exhibits several characteristics of a buyer-driven global commodity chain (GCC). The study shows that, along with the effects of local conditions, buyers’ pressures transmitted through the GCC affect gender and employment relations in the lower segments of the chain. It has been found that the feminisation of the workforce in aquaculture is accompanied by the marginality of females, who receive lower wages and social prestige than their male counterparts, and who are mostly concentrated at the beginning and end of the local supply chain, with very limited access to other important nodes of the GCC. In addition to being flexible (part-time, temporary, casual), much of the employment in Bangladesh shrimp aquaculture is also informal, without an employment contract or its associated rights. As there is an apparent gap between labour standards in private regulatory regimes and actual labour practices in the production and processing segments of the chain, the pressing question concerns how the structure of the commodity chain can allow companies to maintain the flexibility and low labour costs required for international competitiveness while ensuring more equitable and empowering labour market outcomes for workers.

A modeling approach of the influence of local hydrodynamic conditions on larval dispersal at hydrothermal vents

Deep-sea hydrothermal vent animal communities along oceanic ridges are both patchy and transient. Larval dispersal is a key factor in understanding how these communities function and are maintained over generations. To date, numerical approaches simulating larval dispersal considered the effect of oceanic currents on larval transportation over hundreds of kilometers but very seldom looked at the effect of local conditions within meters around chimneys. However, small scale significant variations in the hydrodynamics may influence larval fate in its early stages after release, and hence have a knock-on effect on both dispersal and colonization processes. Here we present a new numerical approach to the study of larval dispersal, considering small scales within the range of the biological communities, called “bio-hydrodynamical” scale, and ranging from a few centimeters to a few meters around hydrothermal sources. We use a physical model for the vent based on jet theory and compute the turbulent velocity field around the smoker. Larvae are considered as passive particles whose trajectories are affected by hydrodynamics, topography of the vent chimney and larval biological properties. Our model predicts that bottom currents often dominate all other factors either by entraining all larvae away from the vent or enforcing strong colonization rates. When bottom currents are very slow ( < 1 mm s - 1 ), general larvae motion is upwards due to entrainment by the main smoker jet. In this context, smokers with vertical slopes favor retention of larvae because larval initial trajectory is nearly parallel to the smoker wall, which increases the chances to settle. This retention phenomenon is intensified with increasing velocity of the main smoker jet because entrainment in the high velocity plume is preceded by a phase when larvae are attracted towards the smoker wall, which occurs earlier with higher velocity of the main jet. Finally, the buoyancy rate of the larvae, measured to be in the range of 0.01 mm s - 1 , is generally irrelevant unless hydrodynamic conditions are balanced, i.e. if the buoyancy rate is comparable to both the bottom current speed and the local water velocity due to entrainment by close smokers. Overall, our model evidences the strong effect of the release point of larvae on their future entrainment within local fluxes. Larvae released from smoker walls might have an entirely different fate than those released further away in the water column. The latter are not, or less, affected by near-chimney hydrodynamics.

Observations of Antarctic precipitable water vapor and its response to the solar activity based on GPS sensing

Predicting global climate change is a great challenge and must be based on a thorough understanding of how the climate system components behave. Precipitable water vapor (PWV) is one of the key components in determining and predicting the global climate system. It is well known that the local surface temperature and pressure have a direct influence on the production of PWV. However, the influence of solar activity on atmospheric dynamics and their physical mechanisms is still an open debate, where past studies are focused at mid-latitude regions. A new method of determining and quantifying the solar influence on PWV based on GPS observations to correlate the GPS PWV and total electron content (TEC) variations is proposed. Observed data from Scott Base (SBA) and McMurdo (MCM) stations from 2003 to 2005 have been used to study the response of PWV to solar activity. In the analysis, the effects of local conditions (wind speed and relative humidity) on the distribution of PWV are investigated. Results show significant correlation between PWV and solar activity for four geomagnetic storms, with correlation coefficients of 0.74, 0.77, 0.64 and 0.69, which are all significant at the 95% confidence level. There was no significant correlation between TEC and PWV changes during the absence of storms. On a monthly analysis, a strong relationship exists between PWV and TEC during storm-affected days, with correlation coefficients of 0.83 and 0.89 (99% confidence level) for SBA and MCM respectively. These indicate a statistically significant seasonal signal in the Antarctic region, which is very active (higher) during the summer and inactive (lower) for the winter periods.

Daytime ventilation conditions in Buenos Aires city, Argentina

From routinely available observational data, the daytime ventilation conditions in Buenos Aires city have been studied. The climatological behaviour was analysed. The study included the effects of local conditions, such as the coastal location, the urban features and the influence of air humidity on the characteristic parameters of the dispersive capability of the atmosphere. The frequencies of occurrence of daytime ventilation factors and related stability conditions were obtained. There is a relatively high probability for reduced daytime ventilation in winter. The most frequent daytime stability conditions in all ventilation factor ranges and seasons are the near-neutral and the slightly unstable atmospheric conditions. The frequencies of occurrence of reduced ventilation conditions are higher if humidity is not included, except during winter, when differences are nearly absent. Humidity inclusion produces an increase of the mean ventilation factors, especially in the warm season. Statistical tests have been applied to analyse the departures for significance. In some situations, the influence of humidity is large enough to obtain a statistically significant response

Sun protective clothing: 5 years of experience in Australia.

The Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 4399 "Sun protective clothing--evaluation and classification" was published in 1996. AS/NZS 4399 has been well accepted and most companies wishing to claim UVR protection for their products have complied with the labeling requirements. This standard is not mandatory, unlike two other Australian standards dealing with solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) protection, namely the Sunscreen Standard (AS2604) and the Sunglass Standard (AS1067). With these standards there is the ability to impose substantial penalties for non-compliance. In Australia the standard-setting process is achieved by consensus and the development of AS/NZS 4399 was a long and involved process which took a number of years. The standard is not perfect; it was appreciated that issues such as garment lifetime and stretch and wet testing needed to be covered and it was planned to address these in a revised standard. In the 5 years since publication considerable work, in both Australia and overseas, has been carried out. Other national standards have been developed and published. This paper presents some of the rationale which the committee worked through prior to 1996. Also covered are many of the experiences and difficulties in the 5 years since the introduction of AS/NZS 4399, in particular the effect of local conditions and legal requirements on the operation of the standard.

Biotic and abiotic influences on activity patterns of insular pit-vipers ( Gloydius shedaoensis, Viperidae) from north-eastern China

In order to use counts of active animals to estimate population parameters (abundance, sex ratio, age structure), we need to understand the factors that bias such counts. For many taxa, the main problems involve behavioural differences among age/sex classes, and the effects of local conditions on activity levels. A unique opportunity to quantify such effects on snakes occurs on Shedao, a small island in the Bohai Sea off north-eastern China. The island contains an extraordinary density of endemic pit-vipers ( Gloydius shedaoensis), that feed primarily on migrating passerine birds. Over an 8-year period we walked the same 540-m path on 936 mornings during bird-migration periods, counted all pit-vipers within a 3-m-wide transect, and recorded the animals’ sex and age class (adult vs juvenile). Total numbers of snakes averaged 40.6 per survey (0.31 per m): thus, the data set contains 37,980 records of sightings of snakes. The total numbers and the composition (sex ratio, age structure) of snakes seen in a morning differed among segments of the path, differed between seasons (spring versus autumn), differed with time within each season, and were influenced by weather conditions (temperature, wind speed, relative humidity). For example, more snakes were seen on days that were hot, with little wind. The proportion of juvenile snakes in the sample decreased on hot, dry, windy days. Sex ratios shifted with time and air temperature. Interactions between these factors were also significant. Overall, census conditions (date, weather) had more influence on total numbers of snakes seen than on age structure or sex ratio in the samples. However, visual censuses strongly under-represented the proportion of adult (vs juvenile) snakes, and the numbers of male compared to female snakes. These analyses provide a strong cautionary message for researchers who use census data to infer underlying demographic traits. At the same time, they show that census data can be informative about abundance and demography as long as one understands the nature and magnitude of biases introduced by conditions prevailing during data aquisition.

Effects of local conditions on program outcomes: analysis of contradictory findings from two programs for homeless mentally ill.

A demonstration program for the homeless mentally ill that succeeded at one site and failed at another serves as the basis for analysis of the effects of local conditions on program implementation and outcomes. Chen's program implementation framework is utilized. Implications are drawn for funders, service providers, and evaluators.

The Effects of Local Conditions on Economic Growth, 1977-1990

To promote economic growth and improve their tax base, local governments compete to attract "high-tech" industries. The authors analyze the outcome of this competition, documenting the geographical dispersion of high-tech activities over the last 15 years and assessing the degree to which their location is attributable to the effects of local factors, including public policies. They show that high-tech jobs and establishments have changed location across localities and that many local conditions influence the location of high-tech activities. However, these conditions reflect the wealth of the community and not local governmental spending and tax policies, which have only marginal effects on the location of high-tech activities.

The Emergence of Policy Entrepreneurs in Local Communities

This study applies the concept of entrepreneurship to the realm of local public policy. Two categories of policy entrepreneurs are identified: the pro-growth type and the anti-growth type. The main analytical focus centers on the effects of local conditions on the emergence of each type of entrepreneurs. Results of probit analyses indicate that local demographic and fiscal conditions can not successfully explain the appearance of entrepreneurs. Local political conditions, however, may exert significant effects on the probability of finding an entrepreneur. That is, an antigrowth entrepreneur seems to emerge from a political context in which collective action problems are minimized and in which the profits of entrepreneurship are secured easily. For a more appropriate theory of policy entrepreneurs, we need to incorporate the relatively unexplored fields of political conditions into the model-building process.

Effect of Local Conditions on Heterogeneous Reactions in the Bacteriorhodopsin Membrane: An Electrochemical View

Bacteriorhodopsin, the light‐harvesting protein in the purple membrane of Halobacterium halobium, has been extensively studied in the past decade as a model for light energy transduction. Flash photolysis studies have established several transient reaction intermediates. A number of laboratories have attempted to correlate pulsed light‐induced electrical relaxation in the bacteriorhodopsin membrane with the corresponding spectral relaxation. Although the electrical data were shown to roughly correlate with the spectral data as long as both were measured in the same laboratory, data from different laboratories rarely agree. This paper analyzes the problem from an electrochemical point of view: the proton translocation across the membrane is treated as two coupled interfacial proton transfer reactions in a three‐phase system (one membrane phase and two aqueous phases). In view of the existence of two exposed surfaces of bacteriorhodopsin, the concept of “local reaction conditions” is proposed to emphasize the unique situation of the two coupled heterogeneous reactions that are subject to different reaction conditions at the two membrane surfaces. Variations of these local conditions may cause only localized conformational changes rather than global changes involving the entire pigment molecule. The present analysis cautions against the indiscriminate use of spectral data alone as a means of identifying photointermediates and emphasizes that meaningful comparisons of electrical data with spectral data can only be done when both are measured under identical local conditions.

Die Gletscher um &amp;quot;1850&amp;quot; und &amp;quot;HEUTE&amp;quot; im Bünderland und in den angrenzenden Gebieten : Untersuchungen zur Höhenlage, Veränderungen und räumlichen Struktur von Schneegrenzen

Abstract. An inventory of data for the extent of ice in 1850 is presented and compared to the extent of alpine glaciers in 1973 as recorded by the Swiss glacier inventory. Special attention is given to the position and spatial Variation of snowline altitudes based on data for the general ice retreat between 1850 and 1973. The ränge of snowline altitudes (as given by the 2 :1 -equilibrium line calculation) reflects the topography and the related change from wet perialpine to dry continental inneralpine areas. In addition, the effects of local condition are superimposed on this trend. The overall climatically induced rise in snowline altitudes between 1850 and 1973 is 77 +/-51 m. The considerable ränge of 340 m as compared to the actual Situation in 1973 demonstrates the influence of local topography, geometry and dip of the glacier surface on the snowline altitude. The mean altitude of the firnline in 1973 quantifies the melting during the last year of Observation 1972/73. The glaciers in the regions of Bernina, Bergell and Kesch are more strongly affected than in other areas during this budget period. On the average, the firnline altitude rose 120 m above de 2 :1 - equilibrium line corresponding to the surface geometry of that year. The data presented and the climatological information will be analysed and deciphered in more details.

The effect of local conditions on radio direction-finding installations

This paper is an account of some of the experiments carried out during the past year by the Sub-Committee of the Radio Research Board on Wireless Direction Finding.The majority of the work was done either at the Radio Research Station, Slough, or the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington.The paper summarizes the work of previous investigators on the same lines, and indicates why further reasearch was necessary. It then describes experiments which provide quantitative data as regards the effect of metal work, coils, aerials, overhead wires and trees on a direction-finding set in their vicinity, and gives definite figures which show the extent in certain cases of errors produced by mountains and buildings.

Discussion on “The effect of local conditions on radio direction-finding installations” before the Wireless Section, 8 November, 1922

Discussion on “The effect of local conditions on radio direction-finding installations” before the Wireless Section, 8 November, 1922

Effects of Local Conditions on Radio Direction-Finding

THE methods used for finding the direction in which Hertzian waves are incident at a radio station have now attained a high accuracy, the maximum error being well under one degree. It does not follow, however, that the methods give the direction of the sending station to the same accuracy. The waves sent out may have suffered reflections from all kinds of conductors before they reach the receiving station. Hence, especially at night-time, the apparent direction generally differs very appreciably from the true direction. A preliminary report on this subject, communicated by the Radio Research Board, was read on November 8 to the Radio section of the Institution of Electrical Engineers by Messrs. Smith-Rose and Barfield. They classify the causes of distortion under two heads: First, those which are vaguely classed as night effects and occur between sunset and sunrise. They are sometimes as large as 20°, and little is known as to their cause. Hence in practice radio-direction finding is restricted to day-time. The second causes of error are those due to conducting substances in the immediate neighbourhood of the search coil. In one experiment a metal tube 50 ft. long, semicircular in cross-section, and of radius 3 ft. 6 in. was used. When the coil was at a distance of 15 ft. from either end errors became appreciable, and when placed 15 ft. inside the tube the error was as great as 29°.