scholarly journals Substitution of the most important and declining wild food species in southeast Burkina Faso

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 11-20
Author(s):  
Anna Leßmeister ◽  
Katharina Schumann ◽  
Anne Mette Lykke ◽  
Katja Heubach ◽  
Adjima Thiombiano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Wild Plant ◽  
Wild Food ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Perceived Change ◽  
Food Species ◽  
Socio Economic Variables ◽  
The Impact

Wild plant species are important nutritious supplements to otherwise nutrient poor diets of rural populations in West Africa. Consequently, a decline of wild food species has a direct negative impact on the nutritional status of local households. In this study, we firstly investigated the preferred wild food species in south-east Burkina Faso, their perceived change in abundance as well as their contribution to wild food income. Secondly, we studied how these species might be substituted in times of species shortfall. Thirdly, we investigated the impact of socio-economic variables on the substitution choice. We conducted 155 household interviews in two villages and found 21 wild food species. With a contribution of almost 70% to wild food income, Vitellaria paradoxa and Parkia biglobosa were economically most important. All species were considered declining to some degree. The wide range of cited substitutes for the ten most important wild food species indicates a great knowledge on alternative plant species in the area. For the majority, the substitution choice did not depend on socio-economic characteristics. Cited as surrogate for several important wild food species, the native tree Balanites aegyptiaca was the most important substitute species. Many valued wild food species were substituted with other highly valued wild food species and therefore the decline of one species can lead to a shortfall of another substitute. Thus, even though our results suggest that people are able to counteract the decrease or absence of wild food species, growing decline of one species would concurrently increase the pressure on other native food species.

scholarly journals On the Effectiveness of Sampling for Evolutionary Optimization in Noisy Environments

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Qian ◽  
Yang Yu ◽  
Ke Tang ◽  
Yaochu Jin ◽  
Xin Yao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
Fitness Function ◽  
Evolutionary Optimization ◽  
Function Evaluation ◽  
Noisy Optimization ◽  
Running Time ◽  
Analysis And Design ◽  
True Value ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

In real-world optimization tasks, the objective (i.e., fitness) function evaluation is often disturbed by noise due to a wide range of uncertainties. Evolutionary algorithms are often employed in noisy optimization, where reducing the negative effect of noise is a crucial issue. Sampling is a popular strategy for dealing with noise: to estimate the fitness of a solution, it evaluates the fitness multiple ([Formula: see text]) times independently and then uses the sample average to approximate the true fitness. Obviously, sampling can make the fitness estimation closer to the true value, but also increases the estimation cost. Previous studies mainly focused on empirical analysis and design of efficient sampling strategies, while the impact of sampling is unclear from a theoretical viewpoint. In this article, we show that sampling can speed up noisy evolutionary optimization exponentially via rigorous running time analysis. For the (1[Formula: see text]1)-EA solving the OneMax and the LeadingOnes problems under prior (e.g., one-bit) or posterior (e.g., additive Gaussian) noise, we prove that, under a high noise level, the running time can be reduced from exponential to polynomial by sampling. The analysis also shows that a gap of one on the value of [Formula: see text] for sampling can lead to an exponential difference on the expected running time, cautioning for a careful selection of [Formula: see text]. We further prove by using two illustrative examples that sampling can be more effective for noise handling than parent populations and threshold selection, two strategies that have shown to be robust to noise. Finally, we also show that sampling can be ineffective when noise does not bring a negative impact.

scholarly journals Impact of food availability on child mortality: a cross country comparative analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (No. 6) ◽  
pp. 283-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agboola Mary Oluwatoyin
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Child Mortality ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Panel Data Analysis ◽  
Social Indicators ◽  
Policy Option ◽  
Dynamic Panel Data ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

The study examined the impact of food security on child mortality (infant mortality and under-five mortality), using a dynamic panel data analysis for 114 countries for the period 1995–2009 by considering a wide range of controlled variables such as income, social indicators and policy variables. The result suggests that food security has a negative impact on child mortality for all countries and even more impact on child mortality within the food insecure African countries. Therefore, based on the findings of the study; it is recommended that an increase in food security is indeed a positive policy option, particularly within the food insecure African countries, since it ensures a decrease in child mortality within these countries.  

An assessment of the potential for pollination facilitation of a rare plant by common plants: Symphyotrichum sericeum (Asteraceae) as a case study

Botany ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Bizecki Robson
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Stem Density ◽  
Rare Plant ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Insect Visitation ◽  
Aggregative Response ◽  
Generalist Insect ◽  
The Impact

Pollination facilitation can occur when plant species share pollinators. Whether facilitation occurs depends on the flowering period overlap (synchrony), number of shared insect visitors (similarity), quantity and quality of insect visits, and the subsequent impact on seed production. Western Silvery Aster (Symphyotrichum sericeum (Vent.) G.L. Nesom) is a rare, self-incompatible plant visited by a wide range of generalist insect species. There are 22 common plant species that may facilitate insect visitation to the rare plant by supporting shared pollinators. Plant species with low synchrony and high similarity with S. sericeum are potential facilitators. In contrast, plant species with high synchrony and similarity likely act as competitors as the aggregative response to increasing plant density was saturating, suggesting that synchronously flowering species do not increase insect visitations. Hymenoptera responded more strongly than Diptera to increases in flowering stem density. These data suggest that facilitation of insect visitation between plant species via a numerical response that extends the flower season is possible but not likely via an aggregative response. Restoration of S. sericeum may therefore be more successful if potentially facilitating plants are grown with it; further testing of the impact of potential facilitators on seed production in S. sericeum is required.

scholarly journals The Assessment of the Impact of Sanctions on Russia for Oil & Gas Industry and Defence Industry Complex of Russia

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 46-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. V. Kazantsev
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Financial Economic ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
Oil And Gas Production ◽  
Foreign Earnings ◽  
Defence Industry ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

The article presents the results of the author’s research of the impact of a wide range of restrictions and prohibitions applied to theRussian Federation, used by a number of countries for their geopolitical purposes and as a means of competition. The object of study was the impact of anti-Russian sanctions on the development of Oil & Gas industry and defence industry complex ofRussiain 2014–2016. The purpose of the analysis was to assess the impact of sanctions on the volume of oil and gas production, the dynamics of foreign earnings from the export of oil and gas, and of foreign earnings from the sale abroad of military and civilian products of the Russian defence industry complex (DIC). As the research method, the author used the economic analysis of the time series of statistical data presented in open statistics and literature. The author showed that some countries use the anti-Russian sanctions as a means of political, financial, economic, scientific, and technological struggle with the leadership ofRussiaand Russian economic entities. It is noteworthy that their introduction in 2014 coincided with the readiness of theUSto export gas and oil, which required a niche in the international energy market. The imposed sanctions have affected the volume of oil production inRussia, which was one of the factors of reduction of foreign earnings from the country’s oil and gas exports. However, the Russian defence industry complex has relatively well experienced the negative impact of sanctions and other non-market instruments of competition

scholarly journals ECONOMIC SECURITY MANAGEMENT OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AS OBJECTS OF THE STATE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

MEST Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 216-223
Author(s):  
Nataliia Zachosova ◽  
Zinaida Zyvko ◽  
Oleksii Koval
Keyword(s):  
Financial Institutions ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Financial Institution ◽  
Security Management ◽  
Economic Security ◽  
Security System ◽  
Management Decisions ◽  
External Threats ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

The need to form a system of economic security for the effective operation of financial institutions is determined. Peculiarities of ensuring economic security of different types of financial institutions are found out, characteristic features of functional systems of economic security of financial intermediaries are revealed. It is offered to understand the management of economic security of financial institutions as a direction of management activities aimed at achieving a high level of protection of the institution's resources from the negative impact of internal and external threats by implementing a wide range of management decisions to use available opportunities and resources while providing financial services. The basics of the mechanism of economic security management of financial institutions are formed. It is assumed that the organization of the economic security system of a financial institution is carried out in several stages, such as the formation of the economic security system, ensuring the economic security system, identification, assessment, ranking of threats, and development of countermeasures; assessing the level of readiness of institutions to implement a mechanism for managing economic security; assessment of the level of economic security, development of management decisions. It is determined that the purpose of economic security management is to achieve the maximum possible level of realization of the institution's interests and meet the interests and needs of clients with optimal resource costs to minimize the impact of threats that accompany the activities of institutions.

scholarly journals Synphytoindication evaluation of habitats of plant species listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine and habitat risk assessment under the impact of climate change

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (6) ◽  
pp. 434-453
Author(s):  
V.V. Budzhak ◽  
◽  
Ya.P. Didukh ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Complete Information ◽  
Ecological Assessment ◽  
Red Data Book ◽  
Average Annual Temperature ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Ecological Values ◽  
Data Book ◽  
The Impact

Ecological assessment of plant habitats in the territory of the upper basin of the Prut River was carried out using synphytoindication analysis of 2386 vegetation plots. This provided an opportunity to supplement the assessment of habitat conditions for 84 species of vascular plants listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine. The conducted phytoindication assessment allowed to update and clarify information on the ranges of ecological amplitude for 55 species from the Red Data Book of Ukraine as well as to calculate indicators values for Crepis jacquinii for the first time. Based on the results of phytoindication assessment made for 49 species, the maximum ecological values (for 37 species) and minimum ecological values (for 38 species) were specified. Complete information on 12 environmental factors was obtained for habitats of 55 species, or 9% of species of vascular plants in the Red Data Book of Ukraine. A degree of possible threat to plant habitats is calculated, i.e. their reduction and loss due to increase in average annual temperature by 1, 2 and 3 °C. With the increase in temperature by 3 °C, the risk of habitat loss can reach 30% and only 3.5% of habitats remain out of danger, which indicates the catastrophic state of the studied habitats. At the same time, rising temperature can significantly affect the edaphic properties of the soil, in particular, the acidity regime; such indirect climate effects can be more significant for ecosystems than the direct ones. The obtained data indicate the risk of loss of species habitats, and subsequent result depends on further realization of species potential. Three options of the realization are possible: reduction and extinction, migration to other areas or landscape elements, and enhancing adaptive capacity of species. Results of ecological assessment of plant species and forecasting possible changes in their habitats based on synphytoindication methodology demonstrated the effectiveness and wide range of use of this methodology.

scholarly journals Soil Degradation Assessment in Europe, A Review of Status, Interaction and Remediation

Proceedings ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Jannes Stolte ◽  
Gudrun Schwilch
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Soil Degradation ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Natural Capital ◽  
Soil Functions ◽  
Soil Biodiversity ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Almost All ◽  
The Impact

As soil formation is an extremely slow process, soil can be considered a non-renewable resource. Soils should thus be adequately protected and conserved to ensure that soil functions are not lost or diminished. Soil functions are, however, threatened by a wide range of processes. Europe’s soil resources may continue to degrade due to changes in climate, land use and other human activities. The challenge is to prevent degradation and its adverse effects on soil functions and ecosystem services, and even improve the ability of soil to perform its functions. The soil degradation processes are complex and all parts of Europe are affected by one or more soil threats to some degree. There is a lack of knowledge on, a large uncertainty in, and lack of quantitative information on understanding the interrelationships between soil threats, soil threat and soil functions, and soil and ecosystem services. A major challenge in clarifying these relationships is how to integrate information and to analyse the key interactions. To bridge this gap, we have made an approach based on a review and expert knowledge to understand and describe those interrelations. This has been described in qualitative terms, and showed that the soil functions ‘biomass production’ is affected by almost all threats, whereas the threat ‘biodiversity decline’ has a major negative impact on all functions. It also showed that both soil biodiversity and soil erosion are more or less affected by almost all other soil threats. In the RECARE project, various prevention and remediation measures were trialed. Changes in manageable soil and other natural capital properties were measured and quantified, and a methodology to assess changes in ecosystem services was developed. Overall, the results showed positive on the impacts of the measures on ecosystem services. Although methodological challenges remain, the assessment served as an input to a stakeholder valuation of ecosystem services at local and sub-national levels. Although these activities are steps towards a soil remediation strategy, there is a need for further research on the mentioned issues in order to achieve an improved overview of existing information on soil degradation at the European scale, their interactions, and effects on ecosystem services. In addition, the lack of legally binding targets limits the impact that existing policies have on reducing soil threats and protecting soil function, although various EU policy instruments have shown positive impacts even in absence of binding targets for Member States.

“Physically defective children” and their care in the first third of the 20th century: the regional aspect

2019 ◽  
pp. 140-148
Author(s):  
Pavel Shcherbinin
Keyword(s):  
Social Security ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Children With Disabilities ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Legal Aspects ◽  
Soviet Period ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Special Children ◽  
The Impact

We systematically study the practice of social protection of children with hearing and vision disabilities, as well as other categories of “physically defective” children and adolescents in the Tambov Governorate in the first third of the 20th century. On the basis of a wide range of primary materials, first of all, periodicals, archival sources, memories, statistical data, various little-known aspects of the claimed scientific problem were studied. We summarize the domestic and foreign experience of studying the social security system of “special” children in provincial Russia. The variants of social care for children with disabilities, including in the context of charitable activities, have been clarified. The legal aspects of the regulation of physical and social defectiveness during the Soviet period are specially considered. The main stages of the charitable and public initiative to support children with disabilities are identified. Attention is drawn to the impact of the First World War of 1914–1918, revolutionary upheavals, Civil War, regional specificity and the specific historical manifestations of the care of these “special” children at the level of a particular region – Tambov Governorate. The influence of regional trends on education and training, as well as the subsequent socialization of children with hearing and vision disabilities is clarified. It is proved that the new economic policy has had a powerful negative impact on the entire system of social security of orphans, children’s homes, in fact eliminating all the positive developments and experience that has developed in the Tambov Governorate.

scholarly journals Spatial variation in structural damage to a keystone plant species in the sub-Antarctic: interactions betweenAzorella selagoand invasive house mice

2008 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 189-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ethel E. Phiri ◽  
Melodie A. McGeoch ◽  
Steven L. Chown
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Structural Damage ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Landscape Scale ◽  
Marion Island ◽  
Nurse Plants ◽  
Cushion Plant ◽  
Significant Negative Impact ◽  
Ecosystem Level ◽  
The Impact

AbstractOn Southern Ocean islands the effects of the house mouse on plants are not well understood. In particular, its influence at the landscape scale has largely been overlooked. To address this issue, we systematically mapped the distribution of a keystone, cushion plant species,Azorella selago, and mouse damage to it across Marion Island. Mouse damage was observed in a third of the sampled sites from sea level to 548 m a.s.l. Damage to individual cushions ranged from single burrows to the disintegration of entire cushions. Mouse damage was high in sites with lowA. selagodensity, suggesting that in areas of low cushion density the impact of mice may be substantial. Moreover, it is not simply direct impacts on theA. selagopopulation that are ecologically significant.Azorella selagocushions serve as nurse plants for many epiphyte species, so increasing the altitudinal range of a variety of them, and also house high densities of invertebrates especially in fellfield landscapes. In consequence, this study demonstrates that mice are having a significant, negative impact at the landscape scale on Marion Island, so adding to the growing list of species and ecosystem-level effects attributable to this invasive rodent.

Comparative Exploration of Psychological Health and Subjective Well-being among Fertile and Infertile Females

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-92
Author(s):  
Ruqia Safdar Bajwa ◽  
Hamida Bibi
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Past History ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Infertile Women ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

Psychological health directly affects life satisfaction especially to those women who face social and family pressure about their infertility. A wide range of research studies comparing fertile and infertile women documented that there is negative impact of infertility on subjective well-being and global life satisfaction (Abbey et al., 1991, 1992; Callan, 1987; Callan& Hennessey, 1988). The present study was aimed to investigate the impact of psychological health on life satisfaction among fertile and infertile females. Through the convenience sampling technique, a sample of 310 (N=310) fertile and infertile women was selected whose age ranged between 25 to 50 years. Demographic variables included age, employment status, level of education, duration of marital life, type of marriage and family system for both fertile and infertile females. To be included in sample, Women must have been diagnosed with infertility (primary or secondary), they must not have adopted any child, and marriage duration must be at least 2 years and must not have past history of psychiatric illness. General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) was used for current psychological health and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) was used to measure life satisfaction. Data was analyzed by using SPSS version 21. Descriptive statistics, Regression analysis, ANOVA and t-test were used to analyze the data. Results have shown that psychological health has impact on life satisfaction in both fertile and infertile groups of women. Furthermore, results show that level of life satisfaction and psychological health is more prevalent in educated and employed women as compared to uneducated and unemployed women. To conclude, this study will be helpful in resolving psychological problems of the infertile females. Education can increase awareness about infertility and infertile females can meet the challenges of the society and can stand with better health and emotions.

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