The Scaling Mindset – Shifting from Problems to Solutions. Insights from the Review of CCAFS Scaling Activities, 2019

In the frame of the review of CCAFS scaling activities in 2019, 21 project leaders and –implementers were interviewed about their scaling processes, touching a series of aspects that had been identified as crucial and/or critical by earlier research. Results were analysed with a systemic approach, to draw organisational learnings. The findings were validated with CCAFS core team during their Scaling Workshop in Madrid, May 2019, in which the Core Team also prioritized its programmatic areas of response. This working paper captures the main insights and learnings from both the interviews on project level, followed by the results’ analysis. It then summarized the Core Team workshop’s main discussion points and shortly outlines the programmatic areas of response that CCAFS identified. The learnings and insights on the realities of scaling agricultural innovations presented in this working paper can provide a rich basis for further synthesis and/or deeper research on the different aspects of innovation development and scaling

After-school sport for children: Implications of a task-involving motivational climate

It could be argued that youth sport is one of the most pervasive and popular activities engaging girls and boys in their “free time ” in contemporary American society. Youth sports are those involving young people between the ages of 6 to 18 years that are adult organized and/or supervised. After-school youth sports encompass extracurricular (interscholastic) athletic activities, agency-sponsored community sports (e.g., Little League), club sports, and recreational sport programs organized by recreation departments. Less than 20 years ago, it was estimated that 25 million out of approximately 47 million youngsters participated in some type of organized/supervised youth sport in the United States. Today, participation estimates suggest that 47 million boys and girls (from what census data indicate to be a population of close to 52 million) have joined, at one point or another, an after-school sport program (Ewing & Seefeldt, 2002). Although more boys still engage in after-school sport than girls, the greater involvement of females in sport over the past two decades has certainly contributed to the observed increase in overall participation percentages. With respect to other issues of diversity, the world of after-school sport is multi-racial/ethnic with young people from various cultural backgrounds represented among participants. Females o

A survey study of steering wheel vibration and sound in automobiles at idle

Copyright @ 2009 Engineering Integrity SocietyThis work is supported by Shell Global Solutions UK for their sponsorship of this research as part of the activities of the EFII3 project

Accelerating innovation development and scaling processes for agricultural transformation

At the 5th Global Science Conference on Climate-Smart Agriculture in Bali, CCAFS, IFAD and USDA-FAS organized the Side event “Accelerating innovation development and scaling climate-smart agriculture to drive a transformation in food systems”. High-level representatives of > 20 governments, research, donor, financial and policy institutions, civil society and private sectors discussed their previously shared insights and agreed to act as an “Insight Group” for further related CCAFS research and action. This Info Note summarizes the groups’ first findings, along with a short proposal for next steps

Advertisements’ Perpetuation of Rape Culture: A look at how images containing objectification and victimization impact consumers

The research I have conducted explores connections between images shown in advertisements and the perpetuation of rape culture and gendered stereotypes in society. It was guided by the Cultivation Theory which looks at how media, such as advertisements, can shape our reality. After an extensive literature review, data was gathered via an experimental design utilizing surveys. Within these surveys, respondents were randomly shown an advertisement I created containing the variables to be tested (i.e. images with objectification and victimization). After viewing the ad, they answered questions regarding their attitude toward the brand/product depicted, purchase intentions, a rape myth acceptance scale (Burt, 1980), and a sex role stereotyping scale (Burt, 1980). Both of these scales are widely accepted and were previously tested. Data was then analyzed to uncover any statistically significant interactions between the variables in order to gain a better understanding of how the images viewed in advertisements impact consumers’ beliefs and perceptions. Analysis revealed that while there is a model effect, meaning advertisers should use models in their ads, there isn’t any statistically significant positive difference for using images containing objectification or victimization. Using images with these variables can actually have a negative impact on the viewer’s attitude toward the ad and the brand. Additionally, analysis showed that viewing images with these variables increased the viewer’s acceptance of rape myths

Solar Air Conditioning with Metal Organic Frameworks

Air conditioning is responsible for 5% of energy consumption in the United States as is increasingly in demand across the world as the global middle class continues to grow in size. During hotter months, electricity used to power cooling systems becomes taxing on electric grids, constituting approximately 40% of peak power demand. Traditional air conditioning (AC) systems are also associated with harmful environmental impacts. Both refrigerants used for cooling and fossil fuels used in power contribute to global warming by acting as green-house gases (GHG). Due to the negative effects associated with emissions, the ultimate goal of this research is to drastically reduce non-renewable energy consumption associated with AC units. Generations of technologies have been developed to address this ongoing issue. An emerging solution involves the integration of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) sorbents into a solar air conditioning system. Because of MOF properties, this integration allows for a thermally driven cycle without requiring a non-renewable energy input. This thesis is comprised of six chapters geared towards assisting in the determination of the most efficient and effective means of incorporation of MOFs into AC systems. Primarily by conducting an extensive literature review, the third chapter discusses Metal Organic Frameworks in depth for determining the most suitable candidates for this research project. Specific needs for the system are examined with different MOFs that meet the criteria considered. In chapter four, feasibility of integrating MOFs into a membrane through sorption measurements is tested for candidate MOF CAU-10. Chapter five is centered around modeling a MOF-assisted indirect evaporative cooler using EES: Engineering Equation Solver. Modeling outputs give a preliminary understanding of the cooling process and its effect on temperature. Together, these chapters move toward showing the feasibility of operation and its applicability to the field of renewable AC. The study of MOF attributes in Chapter 3 focused on Relative Humidity (RH) at which the MOFs demonstrated a steep water uptake, water adsorption capacity, temperatures for MOF regeneration, long term stability, and cost to synthesize and fabricate. These investigations showed Co2Cl2(BTDD), MIL-101, MIL-100(M), MOF-841, and CAU-10 to be the most promising applicants. Through sorption measurements of MOF material CAU-10 its isotherm demonstrated a capacity at the adsorption step below 0.30 gH2O/gMOF but a maximum capacity over 0.5 gH2O/gMOF. The EES model results showed 80-90% of recycled air provides a supply temperature necessary for indoor cooling below 21 oC. Chapter six summarizes all results and gives recommendations focused on thermodynamic optimization.No embargoAcademic Major: Mechanical Engineerin

An international overview of assessment issues in technology education : disentangling the influences, confusion and complexities

Set in the context of wider research, this review of international literature describes some of the issues that contribute towards the prevailing confusion regarding the 'what', 'when' and 'why' of assessment. It explores the complexities embedded within assessment of, for and as learning and the difficulties arising in Technology Education. It discusses what comprises the goals and purposes, and precise nature of 'content' and how this impacts on what is considered as important to measure in terms of attainment, performance and achievement in Technology Education. The paper examines the influence of external assessment, the influence of the teacher and the influence of the various approaches and instruments of assessment on pedagogy, achievement and learner performance and motivation. The dimensions and discriminators of performance and progression in Technology Education are complex. The key issues need to be disentangled to provide some clarity and inform practice. Greater creativity is needed to help devise multi-dimension, multi-expression assessment strategies which celebrate the complexity and influence pedagogy appropriate for learning in the 21st century

Highly selective hydrogenation of furfural over supported Pt nanoparticles under mild conditions

The selective liquid phase hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol over Pt nanoparticles supported on SiO₂, ZnO, γ-Al2O₃, CeO₂ is reported under extremely mild conditions. Ambient hydrogen pressure, and temperatures as low as 50 °C are shown sufficient to drive furfural hydrogenation with high conversion and >99% selectivity to furfuryl alcohol. Strong support and solvent dependencies are observed, with methanol and n-butanol proving excellent solvents for promoting high furfuryl alcohol yields over uniformly dispersed 4 nm Pt nanoparticles over MgO, CeO₂ and γ-Al₂O₃. In contrast, non-polar solvents conferred poor furfural conversion, while ethanol favored acetal by-product formation. Furfural selective hydrogenation can be tuned through controlling the oxide support, reaction solvent and temperature

Job Demands, Job Resources, and Well-being in Police Officers - a Resource-Oriented Approach

This study examined the association between job characteristics, namely job demands and job resources, and mental health outcomes in terms of emotional exhaustion and well-being among police officers. Eight hundred forty-three German police officers participated in a cross-sectional online survey. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the validity of the dual process model of the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) framework in the context of police work. Job demands (verbal assaults by citizens, workload, and administrative stressors) predicted emotional exhaustion whereas job resources (team support, shared values, and perceived fairness) predicted well-being. Moreover, job resources were directly and negatively associated with emotional exhaustion. The findings confirm the capacity of job resources to simultaneously promote well-being and reduce emotional exhaustion. Work place interventions should thus not merely decrease job demands. To improve and protect police officers’ well-being, it is advisable to promote job resources. A supportive and fair organizational climate based on shared values is required to foster mental health in the context of police work