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Valuable Asset (valuable + asset)
Selected AbstractsOrality in environmental planningENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND GOVERNANCE, Issue 3 2002Cees van Woerkum An often-neglected aspect of interactive policy making is the symbolic interaction between professionals and citizens, specifically the way they speak, the kind of orality that is involved. The orality of officials is text bound and texts on the environmental attain a firm position in the discourse of these officials, quite different from the orality of citizens. The characteristics of orality and literacy, from a communicative viewpoint, vary considerably. In literacy details and figures matter; in orality it is the intention of the speaker and the gist of the story that counts most. By bringing in a large amount of literacy in oral presentations, officials spoil the functions of orality, its effects on learning, its creative potential, the way how, via stories, many people can get involved or how trust is developed. Officials can conquer the orality of the people, they can cope with it in a strategic way or they can deal with it as a valuable asset in policy making. For this officials have to rethink the way they speak. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. and ERP Environment [source] Understanding the binding properties of an unusual metal-binding protein , a study of bacterial frataxinFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 16 2007Chiara Pastore Deficiency of the small mitochondrial protein frataxin causes Friedreich's ataxia, a severe neurodegenerative pathology. Frataxin, which has been highly conserved throughout evolution, is thought to be involved in, among other processes, Fe,S cluster formation. Independent evidence shows that it binds iron directly, although with very distinct features and low affinity. Here, we have carried out an extensive study of the binding properties of CyaY, the bacterial ortholog of frataxin, to different divalent and trivalent cations, using NMR and X-ray crystallography. We demonstrate that the protein has low cation specificity and contains multiple binding sites able to chelate divalent and trivalent metals with low affinity. Binding does not involve cavities or pockets, but exposed glutamates and aspartates, which are residues that are unusual for iron chelation when not assisted by histidines and/or cysteines. We have related how such an ability to bind cations on a relatively large area through an electrostatic mechanism could be a valuable asset for protein function. [source] EVALUATION OF NUMERICAL ALGORITHMS FOR THE INSTRUMENTAL MEASUREMENT OF BOWL-LIFE AND CHANGES IN TEXTURE OVER TIME FOR READY-TO-EAT BREAKFAST CEREALSJOURNAL OF TEXTURE STUDIES, Issue 6 2002C. M. GREGSON ABSTRACT Cornflakes were immersed in milk, rapidly drained and compressed in a TA. XT2i texture analyser (Stable Micro Systems, UK) fitted with an Ottawa Cell. The data were analyzed numerically yielding nine instrumental crispness parameters. Bowl-life was determined using an untrained sensory panel. Three models (Weibull, exponential and modified exponential) successfully modeled the change in mechanical properties as a function of immersion time. An instrumental method of measuring bowl-life is described that measures peak force at a range of immersion times and models the data with the Weibull equation. This method may be a valuable asset to the breakfast cereals industry. [source] Watershed characteristics, land use and fabric: The application of remote sensing and geographical information systemsLAKES & RESERVOIRS: RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2005Mohamad Khawlie Abstract Integrated watershed assessment, especially relying on remote sensing (RS), is a newly established procedure in developing countries. It is proving to be a major component in river-basin environmental management. The recurrence of environmental problems in the Akkar El Kabir River watershed, as well as the lack of proper data on sources and sinks of pollutants, and the extent of human interference, led to the current study. Advanced geoinformation tools, such as RS and geographical information systems (GIS), prove to be a valuable asset in securing data on the fabric of the Akkar watershed in relation to its natural setting and anthropic interference. This is particularly true in the current study as the river constitutes the boundary between Lebanon and Syria. Remote sensing captures the watershed characteristics and land use on both sides without constraints. The natural fabric includes geology, drainage, hydrogeology, forest and soil. The anthropic fabric includes settlements, utilities, roads, agriculture and land use. If it were not for geoinformation techniques, the task of securing such data would be difficult. Also, these techniques show the impact of malpractices from excessive human interference that result in degradation of land and water quality. Changes in the watershed, such as environmental deterioration, are observed as water pollution, soil erosion, forest decline and socioeconomic imbalance. Obviously, this is the outcome of malpractices in a multisectorial system. A major challenge for RS and GIS is to quantify, model and predict, if possible, the extent of these changes. Remote sensing inherently captures the impact of interaction between nature and human beings. Detection of change is a major indicator that RS can contribute to the evaluation of the state of the environment. The application of it on this watershed reveals that significant changes have occurred over the last 10,15 years, most of which are anthropic. [source] Muslim-Christian Relations in Medieval Southern ItalyTHE MUSLIM WORLD, Issue 2 2007Julie Anne Taylor In response to uprisings in Sicily, the emperor Frederick II transferred an estimated 20,000 Muslims to the city of Lucera in Apulia. Outside the Iberian Peninsula, Lucera came to have the largest Muslim population of any city in western Europe. Although the formation of the colony led to competition for resources between its inhabitants and the local Christian population, the members of the two religious communities often traded and collaborated. Social mobility was possible for the Lucerine Muslims, particularly through military service. Like Christians and Jews living in the dar al-Islam, the Muslims of Lucera had a protected status, and they paid a tax called the jizya. They remained free to practice their religion. The heavy taxes paid by the Muslim colony at Lucera during its almost eighty-year existence made it a valuable asset to the Hohenstaufen and Angevin crowns. Nevertheless, the settlement was dismantled in 1300 on the order of the Angevin king, Charles II, who gave a religious justification. The colony's history provides insight into the complex relations between Muslims and Christians in medieval Mediterranean Europe. [source] Reproduction in Wild Populations of the Threatened Tree Macadamia tetraphylla: Interpopulation Pollen Enriches Fecundity in a Declining SpeciesBIOTROPICA, Issue 3 2009Philip C. Pisanu ABSTRACT Macadamia tetraphylla is a subtropical rain forest tree from fragmented lowlands in eastern Australia. Owing to habitat loss and fragmentation, this commercially important species is vulnerable to extinction. Breeding system and fecundity were investigated in nine populations incorporating three habitat types (moderately disturbed, highly disturbed, and intact) to determine if seed set, seed weight, and genetic diversity are compromised by disturbance. Breeding success was also tested using pollen donors from distant (30,100 km), local (2,3 km), neighbor (10,20 m), and near-neighbor (< 10 m) sources. Macadamia tetraphylla is weakly self-compatible but incapable of automatic self-pollination. Across populations, seed to flower ratios were always < 0.1 percent in open-pollinated trees and trees from moderately disturbed habitats had the highest fruit production. Outcross pollen produced more seed per raceme than open-pollinated or self-pollination treatments. Seed set and seed weights were positively influenced by pollen source with local pollen and distant pollen effecting more or heavier seeds. Germination rates and genetic diversity did not vary significantly in seedlings from different pollen sources. Results suggest a pollen source from at least a 2 km distance is an optimal outbreeding distance; however, many wild populations do not have conspecifics at optimal distances owing to habitat fragmentation. Highly disturbed populations are producing seed but the longevity of these sites is threatened by weed invasions. We conclude that small populations in degraded habitats that are at risk of being overlooked should not be ignored but should be a focus for restoration efforts as they are a valuable asset for the conservation of M. tetraphylla. [source] Characteristics of river floods and flooding: a global overview, 1985,2003,,IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE, Issue S1 2006Klaas-Jan Douben inondation; victims; dommages; stratégies de protection contre les inundations Abstract Since ancient times people have settled in flood-prone areas due to favourable geographic conditions which facilitate economic growth, such as accessibility (transportation) and food production (fertile land). This fact forces societies all over the world to protect valuable assets against flooding. Nevertheless flooding is still the most damaging of all natural disasters. One-third of the annual natural disasters and economic losses and more than half of all victims are flood related. Flood mitigation policies and measures have been implemented, enabling societies to increase their resilience to flood hazards. With increasing population densities, often associated with improved living standards and consequently higher values of property and infrastructure, flood defence receives more importance and the consequences of flooding become less acceptable. Trends in flood frequencies and flooding damage seem to be increasing, primarily due to a growing vulnerability arising from societal changes such as interference by occupation, developments, investments and land-use changes in flood-prone areas. The Asian continent was particularly affected by floods and flooding between 1985 and 2003. It recorded nearly half of all flooding events; together with Europe and North America it was confronted with the majority of flooding damage and it incurred nearly three-quarters of all casualties. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Depuis toujours les populations se sont installées dans les zones à risque d'inondation du fait de conditions géographiques favorables à la croissance économique, telles que l'accessibilité (transport) et la production de nourriture (terre fertile). Ceci oblige les sociétés partout dans le monde à protéger les biens contre les inondations. Mais celles-ci sont toujours les plus préjudiciables de tous les désastres naturels. Chaque année, un tiers des désastres naturels et des dommages économiques ainsi que plus de la moitié des victimes sont liés aux inondations. Des politiques et des actions de protection contre les inondations ont été mises en oeuvre, permettant aux sociétés d'augmenter leur résistivité aux risques d'inondation. Avec l'augmentation des densités de population, souvent liée à la progression des niveaux de vie et donc à la valeur plus élevée des habitations et des infrastructures, la protection contre les inondations devient plus importante et leurs conséquences moins acceptables. La fréquence des inondations et de leurs dommages semble en augmentation, principalement en raison d'une vulnérabilité croissante résultant de changements sociaux tels que les interférences des activités, aménagements, investissements et occupation de l'espace dans les zones à risque. Le continent asiatique a été particulièrement affecté entre 1985 et 2003. Il a enregistré presque la moitié de tous les événements d'inondation, a dû faire face à la majorité des dommages avec l'Europe et l'Amérique du Nord et a compté presque trois quarts de toutes les victimes. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Knowledge auditing and mapping: a pragmatic approachKNOWLEDGE AND PROCESS MANAGEMENT: THE JOURNAL OF CORPORATE TRANSFORMATION, Issue 1 2004Simon Burnett Increasingly the knowledge and skills of employees are seen as valuable assets that may be utilised in order to gain competitive advantage at an organisational level. This paper seeks to describe the process, methods and resulting outcomes of a knowledge audit and map carried out within a tax department in a multinational oil exploration and production company. Although the department had employed systems for managing information, there was a desire to build on this to develop and apply systems and processes to manage and exploit knowledge embedded in staff. By using questionnaires and interviews, the audit and map process aimed to provide a critical first step in introducing knowledge management into the department, and establishing a plan of action. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | |||||||||||||