Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2005. / Supervisor: Gideon Sjoberg. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed September 5, 2006). Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 250-268).

Thesis (M.A.)--West Virginia University, 2007. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains iii, 77 p. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 74-77).

Soil pollution is one of the problems that obstruct sustainable development in the affected regions, posing a threat to the local environment, ecosystems and human wellbeing. Phytoremediation is one of the techniques used to clean polluted soils. It relies on the ability of some plants to absorb or stabilize certain substances from soil, including organic and inorganic pollutants. Amaranth was chosen as a potential candidate for the proposed phytoremediation project in Chinandega region, Nicaragua, an area that was heavily used for cotton production in the last century, and is now characterised as having high levels of soil pollution, Cd being one of the most common one. The aspects such as opportunities and limitations for the designing of such a project, as well as its contribution to the sustainable development of the region were examined in this thesis. To further support the investigation, the laboratory experiment was performed to study the uptake rate of Cd by amaranth in a greenhouse conditions. The results of the study show that the main opportunities for the design of this project would be the possibility of combining the cleaning of soil with co-benefits such as producing food and energy, as well as additional removal of organic pollutants. The main limitations would be the lack of initial data about the pollution, and possible economic losses due to inability of using amaranth for food. The implementation of this project in real life would mean a support of sustainable development of the Chinandega region on many levels, including social, environmental and economic benefits. The results of the laboratory pot experiment are yet to be included in the study, as the experiment still continues. / <p>2017-10-30</p>

Soil pollution is one of the problems that obstruct sustainable development in the affected regions, posing a threat to the local environment, ecosystems and human wellbeing. Phytoremediation is one of the techniques used to clean polluted soils. It relies on the ability of some plants to absorb or stabilize certain substances from soil, including organic and inorganic pollutants. Amaranth was chosen as a potential candidate for the proposed phytoremediation project in Chinandega region, Nicaragua, an area that was heavily used for cotton production in the last century, and is now characterised as having high levels of soil pollution, Cd being one of the most common one. The aspects such as opportunities and limitations for the designing of such a project, as well as its contribution to the sustainable development of the region were examined in this thesis. To further support the investigation, the laboratory experiment was performed to study the uptake rate of Cd by amaranth in a greenhouse conditions. The results of the study show that the main opportunities for the design of this project would be the possibility of combining the cleaning of soil with co-benefits such as producing food and energy, as well as additional removal of organic pollutants. The main limitations would be the lack of initial data about the pollution, and possible economic losses due to inability of using amaranth for food. The implementation of this project in real life would mean a support of sustainable development of the Chinandega region on many levels, including social, environmental and economic benefits. The results of the laboratory pot experiment are yet to be included in the study, as the experiment still continues. / <p>20171030</p>

No description available.

Magíster en Gestión y Dirección de Empresas / Estudios realizados para El Diabetes Atlas de la FID, calcula que en Nicaragua hay más de 1,300 niños menores de 14 años que padecen de diabetes tipo 1 y 416,800 personas entre 20 y 79 años con diabetes. Analizando la situación actual de esta enfermedad en Nicaragua, se decide crear un plan de negocio, el cual se dedicará a producir y comercializar un endulzante 100% natural extraído de una planta llamada Stevia. Esta planta posee numerosas propiedades que no altera los niveles de glucosa en la sangre, lo que permite que las personas que padezcan de diabetes puedan consumirla sin afectar su salud . El presente tema de tesis, pretende estudiar el mercado actual de endulzantes que operan en Nicaragua, con el fin crear productos de bajos costos para aumentar la calidad de vida de los diabéticos, junto a esto ayudar a proveer productos innovadores a la industria de los endulzantes, manteniendo alta calidad, generar empleo y ayudar al desarrollo del mercado local para los productos naturales. El proceso de producción consiste básicamente en la trituración y molienda de materia prima (Planta Stevia) de la cual se obtendrá, el producto final. Entre la tecnología utilizada que necesitará el modelo de negocio, será en su mayoría equipos, herramientas y maquinarias con sistemas automatizados, así como obreros altamente capacitados que ayudarán a reducir los costos en las distintas fases de producción. El producto será comercializado a través de intermediarios, con el fin de fortalecer los canales de distribución. De esta manera se podrá llegar a distintos canales de comercialización como cadenas de supermercados, tiendas especializadas de productos naturales, tiendas de conveniencia y directamente al consumidor final. Para esto, se contará con medios de transportes especializados, con el fin transportar el producto hacia los distintos puntos de ventas establecidos. A largo plazo, se pretende ser totalmente reconocidos en el país. Por lo tanto se producirá grandes volúmenes de endulzante, alcanzando un nivel de producción de 240,000 cajas mensuales de 100 sobres de 2 gramos. Dicha organización contará con tres obreros y siete operarios; los cuales serán supervisados por el Gerente de Producción, para garantizar la calidad e inocuidad del producto. Por otra parte la empresa contara con cargos de Gerente General, Gerente Administrativo y de Recursos Humanos, un contador y un axilar contable; tres vendedores, dos vigilantes y dos afanadoras. Al terminar el plan de negocio, se concluye que es rentable la construcción de una planta procesadora de endulzante a base de Stevia. Siguiendo el modelo de flujos de caja, y con una tasa de descuento del 16.92% y un valor presente neto de $20,164.56 adicionales al patrimonio después de 5 años (tiempo de pay-back), se concluye que es una inversión muy atractiva.

OFFSHORE is a collection of lyric essays that examines the intersections between human cultures and the natural world. The essays inspect issues of identity and belonging in different geographic, cultural, and political landscapes. Part one of the book centers on the cultural and natural landscapes of Hawaii and Japan. Part two explores interpersonal relationships in Montana. And part three focuses on social justice issues in Nicaragua and Florida. Each of the essays in this collection balances intellectual exploration with personal narrative and poetic description, allowing the essays to be simultaneously concept-driven while maintaining lyric force.

An evaluation of BioSand Filters, a method of Household Water Treatment, was conducted in Posoltega, Nicaragua, with objectives of determining the long-term filtration efficiency and the rate of sustained use. Field methods included microbial and turbidity water quality testing and interviews with filter users regarding the operation, maintenance and perceptions towards the filters. Of the 234 BioSand Filters installed in 1999 and 2004, only 24 were found to still be in operation. The average filtration efficiency was found to be 98% for total coliforms, 96% for E. coli and 88% for turbidity. Statistically significant effects on filtration efficiency were detected for the source contamination, the inverse of the flow rate, and the standing depth of water over the sand. A follow-up laboratory QA/QC procedure was undertaken to validate the field methods, which consisted of membrane filtration (MF) with m coliBlue24 growth media, and SolarCult dipslides. It was found that MF with m coliBlue24 produced useful reproducible results, and is an appropriate method for conducting field water quality testing. The dipslides were found to be an appropriate tool for testing source water quality and assessing the applicability of BioSand Filters, and may be an appropriate tool for local health representatives to promote safe water practices within the community. However, the dipslides should not be used as a presence / absence test for drinking water due to the high limit of detection. The low rate of sustained use (10%) is mostly a result of the structural failure of the concrete walls of the filter, in particular for those filters from 2004. Anecdotal evidence suggests insufficient quality control during the construction. The filtered water and the stored post-filtered water did not meet the WHO guidelines for safe drinking water on account of the presence of E. coli. Also identified were improper maintenance practices and unsafe storage of post-filtered water. These problems could have been addressed through the development of a holistic water system approach, such as the World Health Organization Water Safety Plan. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Civil Engineering, Department of / Graduate

A reoccurring argument in previous research is that autocracies implement policy changes for women’s rights in order to gain international legitimacy. The idea is that by showing the international community that they are on-board with the global movement to empower women; focus is diverted they from their shortcomings in other democratic aspects. What is left out of the discussion though, is how such legitimization take shape. With help of qualitative content analysis, this thesis aims to investigate whether Nicaragua, an increasingly autocratic state which has implemented policy changes to improve women’s rights and gender equality, has gained international legitimacy in the reports of two different watch dog organizations, Amnesty International and Freedom House, and simultaneously received less criticism for their flaws as a state. The results of the analysis are not straightforward but provides two key findings that suggests that the theory cannot be completely dismissed. The first one is that, by comparing the reports by Freedom House, less criticism is detected simultaneously as the two policy changes are referred to more often in year 2012 compared to year 2011 which supports the theory. The second finding is that the amendments of Comprehensive Violence against Women Law in 2013 is referred to rather differently between Amnesty International and Freedom House, which brings more complexity to this issue. Thus, future research on the subject with similar methodology should analyze data from more than two organizations in order to understand if any view is more common than the other.