Income Diversification of Farm Households: Relevance and Determinants in Germany

During recent years, the number of farms able to generate satisfactory income from agricultural production has continuously decreased in advanced economies. The main reasons are the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy of 1992 and the increasing capitalization of the primary sector. The relevance of income diversification and interest in various development paths of rural households have, therefore, been renewed in political-economic debates in those countries. The aim of this study is to identify factors that determine income diversification in Germany. An econometric model has been estimated based on a comprehensive survey’s data. The results show that the main economic incentive for farm diversification is the expected income increase or resource allocation, whereas risk minimization is less relevant. Access to resources (labor, capital) is an important requirement for tapping alternative economic activities. Other significant variables include the education of the farmer as well as his experience in managing the farm. These findings are relevant for designing effective agricultural policy measures to explicitly meet the heterogeneous needs of the rural households.Income diversification, farm household, survey, Germany, Consumer/Household Economics,

Numerical modeling of periodic pumping tests in wells penetrating a heterogeneous aquifer

This study investigated how to utilize multiple frequency components of pressure data from periodic pulse tests to estimate the intra-well permeability and compressibility distribution and also the presence of heterogeneities in a real field case. Periodic well testing is a technique in which injection or production pulses of a fluid are applied to a well in a periodic fashion. One of its main advantages is that ongoing operations do not have to be interrupted during the test as the superposed harmonic components can be identified using Fourier analysis. Further, modeling calculations are much faster than calculations in the time domain as no time-stepping is required and only the frequencies observed in the test need to be evaluated. We applied an earlier developed numerical code in the frequency domain to evaluate periodic-test results in a shallow aquifer and obtained a good match between data and calculations. The interpreted formation heterogeneity is in line with the local geology. Joints of various orientations constitute the main hydraulic conduits of the tested subsurface but they do not directly connect the wells. Thus communication between the wells has to be established through low-permeability features. The interwell periodic testing has corroborated the geological understanding of the aquifer and helped understanding the fluid flow pattern

Decreased oxygen permeability of EVOH through molecular interactions

Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) of 48 mol% ethylene content was modified with N,N'-bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl)-isophthalamide (Nylostab SEED) to decrease the oxygen permeability of the polymer. The additive was added in a wide concentration range from 0 to 10 wt%. The structure and properties of the polymer were characterized with various methods including differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, mechanical testing, optical measurements and oxygen permeation. Interactions were estimated by molecular modeling and infrared spectroscopy. The results showed that oxygen permeation decreased considerably when the additive was added at less than 2.0 wt% concentration. The decrease resulted from the interaction of the hydroxyl groups of the polymer and the amide groups of the additive. The dissolution of the additive in the polymer led to decreased crystallinity, but also to decreased mobility of amorphous molecules. Stiffness and strength, but also deformability increased as a result. Above 2 wt% the additive forms a separate phase leading to the deterioration of properties. The success of the approach represents a novel way to control oxygen permeation in EVOH and in other polymers with similar functional groups capable of strong interactions

Towards energy resolution at the statistical limit from a negative ion time projection chamber

We make a proof-of-principle demonstration that improved energy resolution can be obtained in a negative-ion time projection chamber, by individually counting each electron produced by ionizing radiation.Comment: Submitted to Nucl. Instr. Meth.

Konzept zur Reduktion der Regenfleckenkrankheit - Ermittlung von Parametern zur Biologie der Erreger unter westeuropäischen Klimabedingungen als Grundlage für die Weiterentwicklung eines Prognosemodells

Ziel des dreijährigen Projekts war es, Schlüsselparameter der bisher unter europäischen Bedingungen nur wenig erforschten Regenfleckenkrankheit (RFK) zu erarbeiten. In den Regionen Altes Land und Bodensee dominierte in allen drei Versuchsjahren (2007 – 2009) ein und derselbe RFK-Erreger, Peltaster sp.. Weitere RFK-Erreger sowie der Erreger der Fliegenschmutzkrankheit (FSK), Schizothyrium pomi, kamen nur sporadisch vor und sind wahrscheinlich für die Bekämpfung der Symptome derzeit ohne Bedeutung. In beiden Regionen ist die RFK fast ausschließlich auf ökologisch bewirtschaftete Anlagen beschränkt. Eine Besiedlung von Obstanlagen durch RFK-Erreger findet zunächst von außen statt, kann dann aber in den darauf folgenden Jahren durch endogenes Inokulum getragen werden. Fruchtmumien spielen eine Rolle als endogene Infektionsquellen. Umfangreiche Versuche zur Präzisierung der Infektionsbedingungen haben ergeben, dass eine Besiedlung der jungen Früchte bereits zum sehr frühen Zeitpunkt (T-Stadium, BBCH 74) und danach während des gesamten weiteren Saisonverlaufs erfolgen kann. Die Stärke der Symptomausprägung zur Ernte ist in erster Linie davon abhängig, wie lange die Früchte den natürlichen Infektionsbedingungen ausgesetzt waren. Je später in der Saison Infektionen stattfinden, desto weniger Zeit haben die RFK-Pilze für die Besiedlung und Ausbreitung auf der Frucht, so dass späte Infektionen i.d.R. nicht mehr zu starken Befallsgraden führen. Zur Ausprägung von RFK-Symptomen ist Blattfeuchte, auch in Form von Taubildung, ausreichend, jedoch wird die Symptomausbildung mit zunehmenden Niederschlagsmengen deutlich beschleunigt. Sind erste RFK-Symptome in einer Anlage sichtbar, verkürzt sich die zur Inkubation notwendige kumulative Blattnässedauer von etwa 250 auf unter 150 Stunden. Die RFK-Erreger scheinen eine mehrwöchige Trockenphase unbeschadet überdauern zu können. Apfelsorten zeigen deutliche Unterschiede in der Ausprägung der RFK-Symptome. Die Ursachen hierfür müssen in weiteren Untersuchungen geklärt werden

Is resistance to ischaemia of motor axons in diabetic subjects due to membrane depolarization?

The reasons for the resistance to ischaemia of peripheral nerves in diabetics are not well understood. We have now explored whether axonal depolarization underlies this phenomenon, as has previously been proposed. Resistance to ischaemia was determined by the new method of “threshold tracking”. This method revealed an increase in excitability of the peroneal nerve at the popliteal fossa during ischaemia, and a decrease in excitability in the post-ischaemic period. The extent of these alterations in 28 type 1 diabetics without peripheral neuropathy showed a strong correlation with the mean blood glucose concentrations during the last 24 h before examination. To test whether the ischaemic resistance was related to membrane potential, we also measured axonal superexcitability in 11 selected diabetics, since it has been shown that post-spike changes in excitability depend on membrane potential. Changes in excitability of the peroneal nerve were measured in the period between 10 and 30 msec following a conditioning supramaximal compound action potential. Under resting conditions, no differences in the post-spike superexcitability were found between controls and diabetics, despite striking differences in their responses to a 10-min pressure cuff. These observations indicate that membrane depolarization is not involved in the resistance to ischaemia of motor axons in diabetic subjects

Are Eastern European agricultural markets working? Beware of state-prescribed market interventions!

Substantial danger exists that politically prescribed market interventions, designed to counter a supposed failure of the markets, will leave markets functioning worse rather than better. This is particularly true of Eastern European transition countries, where institutional regulations function only to a limited extent. Based on the findings of a variety of empirical studies that examine how Eastern European grain, dairy and meat markets are functioning, this policy brief strongly advocates restraint in the introduction of measures to regulate agricultural markets. Such regulations have high macroeconomic costs and may work counter to their objectives, which are designed to have popular appeal

Quantum repeaters and quantum key distribution: analysis of secret key rates

We analyze various prominent quantum repeater protocols in the context of long-distance quantum key distribution. These protocols are the original quantum repeater proposal by Briegel, D\"ur, Cirac and Zoller, the so-called hybrid quantum repeater using optical coherent states dispersively interacting with atomic spin qubits, and the Duan-Lukin-Cirac-Zoller-type repeater using atomic ensembles together with linear optics and, in its most recent extension, heralded qubit amplifiers. For our analysis, we investigate the most important experimental parameters of every repeater component and find their minimally required values for obtaining a nonzero secret key. Additionally, we examine in detail the impact of device imperfections on the final secret key rate and on the optimal number of rounds of distillation when the entangled states are purified right after their initial distribution.Comment: Published versio