Controlling informalization: Punitive versus strategic measures

Most developing countries are characterized by large informal sectors, which are plagued by low productivity and other serious problems. This paper suggests a three-ford remedy for formalizing the large informal sector: formalization of property rights, alleviation of corruption and deregulation. In the case of India, which is studies in the paper, it is seen that the first two channels are more promising than the third one. The paer also rejects the notion of idcontinuation of informal business activity by force.

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in Huntington's disease.

The accumulation of mutant protein is a common feature of neurodegenerative disease. In Huntington's disease, a polyglutamine expansion in the huntingtin protein triggers neuronal toxicity. Accompanying neuronal death, mutant huntingtin aggregates in large macromolecular structures called inclusion bodies. The function of the machinery for intracellular protein degradation is linked to huntingtin toxicity and components of this machinery colocalize with inclusion bodies. An increasing body of evidence implicates the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in the failure of cells to degrade mutant huntingtin. A number of potential mechanisms that link compromised ubiquitin-proteasome pathway function and neurodegeneration have been proposed and may offer opportunities for therapeutic intervention

Reviving the informal sector from the throes of demonetisation

While recent measures announced by the government indicate some awareness of the hardships inflicted on the informal sector by the note ban, more needs to be done. In this article, Kaushik Bhattacharya, Siddhartha Mitra, Sarmistha Pal and Bibhas Saha summarise the emerging evidence on the significant adverse impact of demonetisation on the informal sector, and suggest policy measures to ensure a steady recovery

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) distributions within urban estuarine sediments

Sediments and pore waters from two urban estuaries ranging in sediment mixing energy were studied to evaluate the potential release of contaminants from particles during sediment diagenesis. Two sites in Elizabeth River, VA and two tributaries in the Hudson River Watershed were sampled for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Sediment age, total sediment organic carbon (TOC), carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratios, and particle surface area (SA) were also sampled at these sites. In the Elizabeth River, both sites sampled (Site 1 and Site 2) have been non-depositional for the past 70 y or are comprised of old dredge spoil. PAH K&\sp\prime\sb{lcub}\rm OC{rcub}&s were significantly higher at Site 2 than Site 1 indicating a different type of particle-PAH association at each site independent of the amount of TOC. Decreasing down-core K&\sp\prime\sb{lcub}\rm OC{rcub}&s at Site 1 coincided with down-core change in TOC accessible for PAH binding. at Site 2 in the Elizabeth River, high and uniform K&\sp\prime\sb{lcub}\rm OC{rcub}&s may have resulted from particles with PAHs entrapped by an organic coating. Deposition rates in the East River and Newark Bay were calculated to be &\sim&27 cm/y and &\sim&2 cm/y, respectively. Sediment PAH concentrations were significantly higher in the East River than Newark Bay, coincident with the higher amounts of TOC and SA in East River sediments. Low molecular weight PAHs were not detectable in East River sediments and PAHs were not detectable in East River pore waters. The East River seems to be a site of intense physical mixing where pore water PAHs possibly bound to DOC may be continuously mobilized out of the seabed. In contrast, PAHs in Newark Bay sediments are able to attain equilibrium due to lower intensity of physical mixing. Aspects of sediment geochemistry such as the occlusion of TOC for PAH binding, particle porosity, and amount of pore water DOC may affect PAH distributions in areas where the physical energy of mixing is infrequent or low. PAH distributions in areas that are subject to high energy physical disturbances, may be controlled by the physical energy affecting the system rather than compositional aspects of particulate or pore water dissolved organic matter

Utility Maximisation as a Pathway for Maximisation of Happiness

It is hypothesized that pursuit of human happiness is carried out through adaptive change in utility functions by drawing lessons from, in an ex-post manner, the effect of short run utility maximizing choices on utility possibilities. A reference frame for future research is designed to check the truth of this hypothesis which would draw on the methodology already in use for conducting happiness surveys

Macondo-1 well oil-derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in mesozooplankton from the northern Gulf of Mexico

Copyright 2012 by the American Geophysical UnionMesozooplankton (>200 μm) collected in August and September of 2010 from the northern Gulf of Mexico show evidence of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Multivariate statistical analysis revealed that distributions of PAHs extracted from mesozooplankton were related to the oil released from the ruptured British Petroleum Macondo-1 (M-1) well associated with the R/VDeepwater Horizon blowout. Mesozooplankton contained 0.03–97.9 ng g−1 of total PAHs and ratios of fluoranthene to fluoranthene + pyrene less than 0.44, indicating a liquid fossil fuel source. The distribution of PAHs isolated from mesozooplankton extracted in this study shows that the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill may have contributed to contamination in the northern Gulf of Mexico ecosystem

Corruption, pollution and the kuznets environment curve

This paper examines the implications of corruption and rent-seeking behavior by the government for the relationship between pollution and growth. Cases of both cooperative and non-cooperative interaction between the government and the private firm are studied. It is shown that corruption is not likely to preclude the existence of an inverted-U-shaped-Kuznets environmental curve under both these cases. However, for any level of per capita income the pollution levels corresponding to corrupt behavior are always above the socially optimal level. Further, the turning point of the Kuznets curve takes place at income and pollution levels above those corresponding to the social optimum