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The private sector in fisheries: The case of Ghana
The research for this report consisted of two elements: a study of existing literature and data sets on Ghana fisheries, and a field trip to investigate the fishery first hand. The field work was divided roughly equally between key informants in the production, marketing and processing of artisanal and industrial fisheries. For individual fisherfolk, middle women and processors, a purposive sampling system was necessitated by the brevity of the period of research. Where possible, key informants were sought, such as chief fishmen, "Queen" fish mammies and heads of cooperative trading and processing bodies. The bias inherent in this approach is recognised by the authors. Other potential sources of error/bias are the lack of a seasonal perspective of the fishery, unrepresentative nature of the sample of interviews and the necessity to seek informants in accessible areas of Ghana. A number of key informants in Government institutions and agencies as well as donor agencies and universities were also interviewed in order to gain a wider perspective on the framework within which the fisheries sector operates. Where possible, a semi-structured interview format was used, with informants and groups of respondents encouraged to discuss the key issues broadly whilst allowing the flexibility to follow interesting insights as they appeared
The profile of an emission line from relativistic outflows around a black hole
Recent observations show strong evidence for the presence of Doppler-shifted
emission lines in the spectrum of both black hole candidates and active
galactic nuclei. These lines are likely to originate from relativistic outflows
(or jets) in the vicinity of the central black hole. Consequently, the profile
of such a line should be distorted by strong gravitational effects near the
black hole, as well as special relativistic effects. In this paper, we present
results from a detailed study on how each process affects the observed line
profile. We found that the profile is sensitive to the intrinsic properties of
the jets (Lorentz factor, velocity profile, and emissivity law), as well as to
the spin of the black hole and the viewing angle (with respect to the axis of
the jets). More specifically, in the case of approaching jets, an intrisically
narrow line (blue-shifted) is seen as simply broadened at small viewing angles,
but it shows a doubly peaked profile at large viewing angles for extreme Kerr
black holes (due to the combination of gravitational focusing and Doppler
effects); the profile is always singly peaked for Schwarzschild black holes.
For receding jets, however, the line profile becomes quite complicated owing to
complicated photon trajectories. To facilitate comparison with observations, we
searched a large parameter space to derive representative line profiles. We
show the results and discuss how to use emission lines as a potential tool for
probing the inner region of a black hole jet system.Comment: 16 pages in emulateapj style, 11 figure
First Astronomical Use of Multiplexed Transition Edge Bolometers
We present performance results based on the first astronomical use of multiplexed superconducting bolometers. The Fabry-Perot Interferometer Bolometer Research Experiment
(FIBRE) is a broadband submillimeter spectrometer that achieved first light in June 2001 at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO). FIBRE'S detectors are superconducting transition edge sensor (TES) bolometers read out by a SQUID multiplexer. The Fabry-Perot uses a low
resolution grating to order sort the incoming light. A linear bolometer array consisting of 16 elements detects this dispersed light, capturing 5 orders simultaneously from one position on the sky. With tuning of the Fabry-Perot over one free spectral range, a spectrum covering Îλ/λ= 1/7 at a resolution of Ύλ/λ â 1/1200 can be acquired. This spectral resolution is sufficient to resolve
Doppler-broadened line emission from external galaxies. FIBRE operates in the 350 ”m and 450 ”m bands. These bands cover line emission from the important star formation tracers neutral
carbon [Cl] and carbon monoxide (CO). We have verified that the multiplexed bolometers are
photon noise limited even with the low power present in moderate resolution spectrometry
From Lagrangian to Quantum Mechanics with Symmetries
We present an old and regretfully forgotten method by Jacobi which allows one
to find many Lagrangians of simple classical models and also of nonconservative
systems. We underline that the knowledge of Lie symmetries generates Jacobi
last multipliers and each of the latter yields a Lagrangian. Then it is shown
that Noether's theorem can identify among those Lagrangians the physical
Lagrangian(s) that will successfully lead to quantization. The preservation of
the Noether symmetries as Lie symmetries of the corresponding Schr\"odinger
equation is the key that takes classical mechanics into quantum mechanics.
Some examples are presented.Comment: To appear in: Proceedings of Symmetries in Science XV, Journal of
Physics: Conference Series, (2012
Setting the stage: social-environmental and motivational predictors of optimal training engagement
In this paper, we will firstly explore the central tenets of SDT. Research that has examined the social-environmental and motivation-related correlates of optimal training, performance and health-related engagement through the theoretical lens of SDT will be reviewed. Drawing from SDT-driven work undertaken in educational, sport and dance settings, we will draw conclusions and suggest future directions from a research and applied perspective
Antibodies against HDL Components in Ischaemic Stroke and Coronary Artery Disease
Quantitative and qualitative defects of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) are important in atherogenesis. In this study, we investigated whether antibodies against HDL components had additional value to conventional cardiovascular risk factors for the diagnosis of ischaemic stroke (IS) and coronary artery disease (CAD). Cross-sectional study was conducted on 53 patients with IS, 51 with CAD and 55 healthy controls, and in vitro studies to validate findings of the clinical study. We determined serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against HDL (aHDL), apolipoproteins (aApoA-I, aApoA-II and aApoC-I) and paraoxonase-1 (aPON1) as well as PON1 activity (PON1a), total antioxidant capacity and biomarkers of endothelial activation (serum nitric oxide metabolites, 3-nitrotyrosine, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1); in vitro assays tested the capacity of IgG aHDL purified from high titer patients to inhibit PON1a and to reverse protective effect of HDL on endothelial cells. IgG aHDL, aApoA-I and aPON1 were higher in IS and CAD than controls (pâ<â0.001), predicted negatively PON1a and positively VCAM-1 and ICAM-1. By adding IgG aHDL and aApoA-I to a traditional cardiovascular risk factors model for IS and by adding IgG aHDL in a similar model for CAD, we obtained better discrimination of IS and CAD from healthy controls. IgG aHDL purified from IS and CAD inhibited PON1a by 38% (pâ<â0.01) and abrogated the protective effect of HDL on VCAM-1 expression by 126% compared with non-specific human IgG (pâ<â0.001). IgG against HDL components interfere with the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of HDL and may represent novel biomarkers for vascular disease that need to be investigated in prospective studies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Low Speed Aerodynamics of the X-38 CRV
This project was performed in support of the engineering development of the NASA X-38 Crew Return Vehicle (CRV)system. Wind tunnel experiments were used to visualize various aerodynamic phenomena encountered by the CRV during the final stages of descent and landing. Scale models of the CRV were used to visualize vortex structures above and below the vehicle, and in its wake, and to quantify their trajectories. The effect of flaperon deflection on these structures was studied. The structure and dynamics of the CRV's wake during the drag parachute deployment stage were measured. Regions of high vorticity were identified using surveys conducted in several planes using a vortex meter. Periodic shedding of the vortex sheets from the sides of the CRV was observed using laser sheet videography as the CRV reached high angles of attack during the quasi-steady pitch-up prior to parafoil deployment. Using spectral analysis of hot-film anemometer data, the Strouhal number of these wake fluctuations was found to be 0.14 based on the model span. Phenomena encountered in flight test during parafoil operation were captured in scale-model tests, and a video photogrammetry technique was implemented to obtain parafoil surface shapes during flight in the tunnel. Forces on the parafoil were resolved using tension gages on individual lines. The temporal evolution of the phenomenon of leading edge collapse was captured. Laser velocimetry was used to demonstrate measurement of the porosity of the parafoil surface. From these measurements, several physical explanations have been developed for phenomena observed at various stages of the X-38 development program. Quantitative measurement capabilities have also been demonstrated for continued refinement of the aerodynamic technologies employed in the X-38 project. Detailed results from these studies are given in an AIAA Paper, two slide presentations, and other material which are given on a Web-based archival resource. This is the Digital Library of the Georgia Tech Experimental Aerodynamics Group
Consistency Conditions for Fundamentally Discrete Theories
The dynamics of physical theories is usually described by differential
equations. Difference equations then appear mainly as an approximation which
can be used for a numerical analysis. As such, they have to fulfill certain
conditions to ensure that the numerical solutions can reliably be used as
approximations to solutions of the differential equation. There are, however,
also systems where a difference equation is deemed to be fundamental, mainly in
the context of quantum gravity. Since difference equations in general are
harder to solve analytically than differential equations, it can be helpful to
introduce an approximating differential equation as a continuum approximation.
In this paper implications of this change in view point are analyzed to derive
the conditions that the difference equation should satisfy. The difference
equation in such a situation cannot be chosen freely but must be derived from a
fundamental theory. Thus, the conditions for a discrete formulation can be
translated into conditions for acceptable quantizations. In the main example,
loop quantum cosmology, we show that the conditions are restrictive and serve
as a selection criterion among possible quantization choices.Comment: 33 page
New results on group classification of nonlinear diffusion-convection equations
Using a new method and additional (conditional and partial) equivalence
transformations, we performed group classification in a class of variable
coefficient -dimensional nonlinear diffusion-convection equations of the
general form We obtain new interesting cases of
such equations with the density localized in space, which have large
invariance algebra. Exact solutions of these equations are constructed. We also
consider the problem of investigation of the possible local trasformations for
an arbitrary pair of equations from the class under consideration, i.e. of
describing all the possible partial equivalence transformations in this class.Comment: LaTeX2e, 19 page
Spin transport theory in ferromagnet/semiconductor systems with non-collinear magnetization configurations
We present a comprehensive theory of spin transport in a non-degenerate
semiconductor that is in contact with multiple ferromagnetic terminals. The
spin dynamics in the semiconductor is studied during a perturbation of a
general, non-collinear magnetization configuration and a method is shown to
identify the various configurations from current signals. The conventional
Landauer-B\"{u}ttiker description for spin transport across Schottky contacts
is generalized by the use of a non-linearized I-V relation, and it is extended
by taking into account non-coherent transport mechanisms. The theory is used to
analyze a three terminal lateral structure where a significant difference in
the spin accumulation profile is found when comparing the results of this model
with the conventional model.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figure
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