Community farmer field school animal health facilitators: hybridizing private animal health care and capacity building in remote pastoralist areas

This study is conducted to evaluate the inherent capacity of the Livestock Farmer Field Schools (LFFS) approach to contribute to the development goals of VSF-Belgium in Turkana, Kenya; to evaluate current strengths and weaknesses of the community-based primary animal health care system in Turkana; to evaluate the appropriateness, and the likely success, of combining the role of Community Animal Health Worker (CAHW) and LFFS facilitator; and to assess the initial performance of Community Farmer Field School Animal Health Facilitators in 10 pilot LFFS sites and evaluate opportunities for scaling-up of the LFFS model. The report is divided into nine sections. Section 1 provides an overview of traditional pastoralism in Turkana. Section 2 examines the acute livelihood challenges faced by pastoralists. Section 3 summarizes the history of key livelihood interventions in Turkana. Section 4 is divided into two subsections: (a) evaluates the role of International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) in catalysing the re-establishment of a primary animal health care system in Turkana and in promoting Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) as the cornerstone of this system, and (b) provides an overview of the Farmer Field Schools (FFS) approach. Section 5 explores the possibility of combining the CAHWs and FFS approach in the form of Community Farmer Field School Animal Health facilitators. Section 6 provides an initial assessment of the CAHWs/LFFS Facilitator approach in Turkana. Section 7 provides a conclusion to the report, and Sections 8 and 9 suggest recommendations on the way forward and future research needs, respectively. The report also includes recommendations and future research needs

Resource aware wind farm and D-STATCOM optimal sizing and placement in a distribution power system

Doubly fed induction generators (DFIG) based wind farms are capable of providing reactive power compensation. Compensation capability enhancement using reactors such as distributed static synchronous compensator (D-STATCOM) while connecting distribution generation (DG) systems to grid is imperative. This paper presents an optimal placement and sizing of offshore wind farms in a coastal distribution system that is emulated on an IEEE 33 bus system. A multi-objective formulation for optimal placement and sizing of the offshore wind farms with both the location and size constraints is developed. Teaching learning algorithm is used to optimize the multi-objective function constraining on the capacity and location of the offshore wind farms. The proposed formulation is a multi-objective problem for placement of the wind generator in the power system with dynamic wind supply to the power system. The random wind speed is generated as the input and the wind farm output generated to perform the optimal sizing and placement in the distributed system. MATLAB based simulation developed is found to be efficient and robust

An Overview of Approaches and Challenges for Retrieving Marine Inherent Optical Properties from Ocean Color Remote Sensing

Ocean color measured from satellites provides daily global, synoptic views of spectral water-leaving reflectances that can be used to generate estimates of marine inherent optical properties (IOPs). These reflectances, namely the ratio of spectral upwelled radiances to spectral downwelled irradiances, describe the light exiting a water mass that defines its color. IOPs are the spectral absorption and scattering characteristics of ocean water and its dissolved and particulate constituents. Because of their dependence on the concentration and composition of marine constituents, IOPs can be used to describe the contents of the upper ocean mixed layer. This information is critical to further our scientific understanding of biogeochemical oceanic processes, such as organic carbon production and export, phytoplankton dynamics, and responses to climatic disturbances. Given their importance, the international ocean color community has invested significant effort in improving the quality of satellite-derived IOP products, both regionally and globally. Recognizing the current influx of data products into the community and the need to improve current algorithms in anticipation of new satellite instruments (e.g., the global, hyperspectral spectroradiometer of the NASA Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission), we present a synopsis of the current state of the art in the retrieval of these core optical properties. Contemporary approaches for obtaining IOPs from satellite ocean color are reviewed and, for clarity, separated based their inversion methodology or the type of IOPs sought. Summaries of known uncertainties associated with each approach are provided, as well as common performance metrics used to evaluate them. We discuss current knowledge gaps and make recommendations for future investment for upcoming missions whose instrument characteristics diverge sufficiently from heritage and existing sensors to warrant reassessing current approaches

An Overview of Approaches and Challenges for Retrieving Marine Inherent Optical Properties from Ocean Color Remote Sensing

Ocean color measured from satellites provides daily global, synoptic views of spectral water-leaving reflectancesthat can be used to generate estimates of marine inherent optical properties (IOPs). These reflectances, namelythe ratio of spectral upwelled radiances to spectral downwelled irradiances, describe the light exiting a watermass that defines its color. IOPs are the spectral absorption and scattering characteristics of ocean water and itsdissolved and particulate constituents. Because of their dependence on the concentration and composition ofmarine constituents, IOPs can be used to describe the contents of the upper ocean mixed layer. This informationis critical to further our scientific understanding of biogeochemical oceanic processes, such as organic carbonproduction and export, phytoplankton dynamics, and responses to climatic disturbances. Given their im-portance, the international ocean color community has invested significant effort in improving the quality of satellite-derived IOP products, both regionally and globally. Recognizing the current influx of data products intothe community and the need to improve current algorithms in anticipation of new satellite instruments (e.g., theglobal, hyperspectral spectroradiometer of the NASA Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mis-sion), we present a synopsis of the current state of the art in the retrieval of these core optical properties.Contemporary approaches for obtaining IOPs from satellite ocean color are reviewed and, for clarity, separatedbased their inversion methodology or the type of IOPs sought. Summaries of known uncertainties associated witheach approach are provided, as well as common performance metrics used to evaluate them. We discuss currentknowledge gaps and make recommendations for future investment for upcoming missions whose instrumentcharacteristics diverge sufficiently from heritage and existing sensors to warrant reassessing current approaches

Exploring power and participation through informal livestock knowledge networks

Participatory epidemiology programmes aim to collect data by engaging local communities in knowledge sharing around livestock health. Critics of participatory approaches often cite the extractive nature of data collection and unequal power relations between researcher and researched as at odds with the original vision of participatory programming. This paper starts from the position that rural livestock owners are situated within multiple overlapping webs of relationships through which they exchange disease information and access resources. Participatory programmes are suggested as weaving new threads into these wider networks in a process that may be accepted or rejected by indigenous actors. Qualitative interviews were used to gather empirical data on the exchange of information around livestock health knowledge through indigenous relationships and a Participatory Disease Surveillance (PDS) programme within a Gabra pastoralist community in Northern Kenya. Subsequent analysis identified four pathway typologies; this paper provides a qualitative comparative analysis of each to explore the nature of participation within the study population. The paper concludes that social science approaches have a key role to play in understanding how relationships within and between indigenous and development actors can influence participation in development projects

Effect of vertical active vibration isolation on tracking performance and on ride qualities

An investigation to determine the effect on pilot performance and comfort of an active vibration isolation system for a commercial transport pilot seat is reported. The test setup consisted of: a hydraulic shaker which produced random vertical vibration inputs; the active vibration isolation system; the pilot seat; the pilot control wheel and column; the side-arm controller; and a two-axis compensatory tracking task. The effects of various degrees of pilot isolation on short-term (two-minute) tracking performance and comfort were determined

The Influences of Caregiver-Child Interactions and Temperament on Cortisol Concentrations of Toddlers in Full-Day Childcare

The purpose of this study was to explore the influences of caregiver-child interaction and temperament on cortisol concentrations of toddlers in full-day childcare. Sensitive and responsive caregiving is critical to the quality of children\u27s early experiences. Caregivers who are attuned to unique needs of young children can support and guide child growth and development. In the context of relationships the child grows, develops, and learns to biologically respond to events in his or her world that he or she may perceive as threatening, with the production of cortisol. Studies show that regulation of cortisol release later in life may be shaped by social experiences during early development. This exploratory study investigated the influences of caregiver-child interaction and temperament as measured by the Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire (ECBQ) on cortisol concentrations in toddlers in full-day childcare. Seventy-three (31female, 42 male) toddlers, in 11 full-day childcare classrooms in communities in southern Appalachia participated. Classrooms were evaluated using the toddler Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) and an adapted version of the Engagement Check II. Morning and afternoon cortisol concentration was measured in enzymeimmunoassays of saliva. Findings indicated that as years of teacher experience increased, cortisol concentrations decreased. Likewise, as the percentage of time toddlers were engaged in developmentally appropriate activities increased, cortisol concentration decreased. Mean cortisol concentrations decreased from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Findings of individual cortisol concentrations were mixed. Temperament data showed a relationship between management of arousal or impulse control (surgency) and cortisol concentration. No statistically significant correlation was found between cortisol concentration and the dimensions of the toddler CLASS. Regression analysis of the 3 dimensions of temperament (negative affect, effortful control, surgency) showed surgency to be related to cortisol concentration. The study adds to the body of research on very young children in full-day childcare and elevated cortisol concentrations by including children in communities in southern Appalachia as well as measuring teacher-child interaction in childcare using the newly released toddler CLASS. Future research is needed to delineate the developmental outcomes and long-term impact of excess stress in this population