The Potential of Grassland and Associated Forages to Produce Fibre, Biomass, Energy or Other Feedstocks for Non-Food and Other Sectors: New Uses for a Global Resource

In developed countries increased areas of land will become available for non-food production. Recent reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy will further intensify this trend in Europe. There is potential for grassland and associated species to contribute to large tonnage markets of energy and bulk fibres, to the supply of fermentation products and to speciality markets, but processes and approaches to the market are not as yet developed. There is potential for the establishment of Graminaceous species - specifically for non- food use. For European conditions particular attention is being given to Miscanthus sinensis (Miscanthus), Arundo donax (Giant Reed), Phalaris arundinacea (Reed Canary Grass) and Spartina spp. (Cord grass, Marsh Grass). Whilst grass and forage species could be used for individual non-food uses (e.g. biomass for energy), value may be added by adopting a biorefinery approach in which a range of products are derived from the different components in the feedstock

The Potential of Grassland and Associated Forages to Produce Fibre, Biomass, Energy or Other Feedstocks for Non-Food and Other Sectors: New Uses for a Global Resource

Key points 1. In developed countries increased areas of land will become available for non-food production. Recent reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy will further intensify this trend in Europe. 2. There is potential for grassland and associated species to contribute to large tonnage markets of energy and bulk fibres, to the supply of fermentation products and to speciality markets, but processes and approaches to the market are not as yet developed. 3. There is potential for the establishment of Graminaceous species - specifically for nonfood use. For European conditions particular attention is being given to Miscanthus sinensis (Miscanthus), Arundo donax (Giant Reed), Phalaris arundinacea (Reed Canary Grass) and Spartina spp. (Cord grass, Marsh Grass). 4. Whilst grass and forage species could be used for individual non-food uses (e.g. biomass for energy), value may be added by adopting a biorefinery approach in which a range of products are derived from the different components in the feedstock

Estimating willingness to pay for maternal health services: The Kenya reproductive health voucher programme

As part of a broad evaluation of a reproductive health voucher programme aimed at determining its effect on health outcomes, a willingness to pay (WTP) study was conducted. The purpose of the study was to estimate WTP values for a broad range of reproductive health (RH) services namely: antenatal care (ANC), delivery, postnatal care (PNC) and family planning (FP) services. The study also sought to investigate the effect of the voucher programme on respondents’ stated WTP values for the RH services. Women utilizing RH services at both voucher and non-voucher facilities were asked about their WTP for the RH services and WTP values were elicited using a stated preferences method. The study found that women were willing to pay a positive price to access RH services. Results also point to a differential learning effect or experience of the voucher on WTP for ANC, PNC, FP and delivery services. Further analysis also highlights endowment and reference effects with the voucher cost impacting on stated WTP amounts. The findings point to the potential for designing a sliding scale payment mechanism with effective targeting of subsidies such as vouchers to the neediest segments of the population. This will allow potential service users to pay for services within their willingness and ability to pay while also freeing resources to cater for the neediest segments of the population.The reproductive health voucher programme is implemented by the Government of Kenya with major funding from the German Development Bank (KfW). The evaluation project was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and implemented by the Population Council in collaboration with the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD), the Ministry of Health and PriceWaterhouseCoopers

Logistics and Benefits of Using Mathematical Models of Hydrologic and Water Resource Systems; Selected Papers from an International Symposium, October 24-26,1978

The use of the mathematical models for the simulation, analysis, and control of water resource systems has spread rapidly in recent years. The basic structure and the mathematical formulation of these models have been widely discussed, but relatively little attention has been paid to the operational aspects and logistics of model use. To stimulate the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and experience about the use of hydrologic and water resource models, this Symposium was convened by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and cosponsored by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the IBM Scientific Center (Pisa). The Symposium concentrated on model identification and use. Logistic issues, such as computer requirements, support staff and data needed, and cost-benefit analysis of the use of models in practical work, were examined in particular detail. This book contains an introductory chapter on model structure and use, fourteen selected papers from the Symposium, and a summary of the more important points raised during the Symposium discussions

Community opinion leaders in Ghana speak out on adolescent sexuality: What are the issues?

This policy brief reports on a study that is a component of a larger study that assessed the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of adolescents in four slums in two regions of Ghana. The study’s focus on this perspective stems from the fact that there is a lack of evidence surrounding the outlook of community opinion leaders on adolescent reproductive health in this setting. Understanding what adults think about major adolescent SRH issues in their communities (including the SRH rights of adolescents, adult–adolescent communication about SRH issues, and service-seeking and sexual behavior outcomes) provides insight into how adults perceive and influence the lives of young people, and therefore, how programs could be designed to better serve the sexual health needs of adolescents. The brief summarizes key findings that identify the issues facing these community opinion leaders

Terminal-instar larval systematics and biology of west European species of Ormyridae associated with insect galls (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea)

A systematic study of the genus Ormyrus (Chalcidoidea, Ormyridae) was conducted based on the morphology and biology of the terminal-instar larvae of ten west European species that are parasitoids of gall wasps and gallflies of the families Cynipidae, Eurytomidae and Tephritidae. The first detailed descriptions are provided of the terminal-instar larvae of these ten species using SEM images to illustrate diagnostic characters with systematic values. A key is provided for the identification of ormyrid larvae associated with galls in Europe, which is based particularly on characters of the head, mouthparts and mandibles. Although only limited informative variation in body shape was found, the setation of the head provided several characters of potential taxonomic value. The larval biology of the ten ormyrid species inhabiting different galls is also summarised. Although Ormyrus larvae are usually solitary idiobiont ectoparasitoids of the host larva of various gall-inhabiting insects, evidence of secondary phytophagy was observed in some species.The Spanish Ministry of Education and Science research projects CGL2010-15786/BOS and MINECO/FEDER, UE) CGL2015-66571-P to JLNA provided financial support for this paper.Peer Reviewe

The effect of a weight gain prevention intervention on moderate-vigorous physical activity among black women: the Shape Program

Background: Rates of physical inactivity are high among Black women living in the United States with overweight or obesity, especially those living in the rural South. This study was conducted to determine if an efficacious weight gain prevention intervention increased moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Methods: The Shape Program, a weight gain prevention intervention implemented in community health centers in rural North Carolina, was designed for socioeconomically disadvantaged Black women with overweight or obesity. MVPA was measured using accelerometers, and summarized into 1- and 10-min bouts. We employed analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) to assess the relationship between changes in MVPA over 12 months, calculated as a change score, and intervention assignment (intervention versus usual care). Results: Participants completing both baseline and 12-month accelerometer assessments (n = 121) had a mean age of 36.1 (SD = 5.43) years and a mean body mass index of 30.24 kg/m2 (SD = 2.60). At baseline, 38% met the physical activity recommendation (150 min of MVPA/week) when assessed using 10-min bouts, and 76% met the recommendation when assessed using 1-min bouts. There were no significant differences in change in MVPA participation among participants randomized to the intervention from baseline to 12-months using 1-min bouts (adjusted intervention mean [95% CI]: 20.50 [−109.09 to 150.10] vs. adjusted usual care mean [95% CI]: -80.04 [−209.21 to 49.13], P = .29), or 10-min bouts (adjusted intervention mean [95% CI]: 7.39 [−83.57 to 98.35] vs. adjusted usual care mean [95% CI]: -17.26 [−107.93 to 73.40], P = .70). Conclusions: Although prior research determined that the Shape intervention promoted weight gain prevention, MVPA did not increase significantly among intervention participants from baseline to 12 months. The classification of bouts had a marked effect on the prevalence estimates of those meeting physical activity recommendations. More research is needed to understand how to promote increased MVPA in weight gain prevention interventions

Concepts and Benefits of Lunar Core Drilling

Understanding lunar material at depth is critical to nearly every aspect of NASA s Vision and Strategic Plan. As we consider sending human s back to the Moon for brief and extended periods, we will need to utilize lunar materials in construction, for resource extraction, and for radiation shielding and protection. In each case, we will be working with materials at some depth beneath the surface. Understanding the properties of that material is critical, thus the need for Lunar core drilling capability. Of course, the science benefit from returning core samples and operating down-hole autonomous experiments is a key element of Lunar missions as defined by NASA s Exploration Systems Architecture Study. Lunar missions will be targeted to answer specific questions concerning lunar science and re-sources

Inter- and Intragranular Effects in Superconducting Compacted Platinum Powders

Compacted platinum powders exhibit a sharp onset of diamagnetic screening at $T \simeq 1.9$ mK in zero magnetic field in all samples investigated. This sharp onset is interpreted in terms of the intragranular transition into the superconducting state. At lower temperatures, the magnetic ac susceptibility strongly depends on the ac field amplitude and reflects the small intergranular critical current density $j_{c}$. This critical current density shows a strong dependence on the packing fraction f of the granular samples. Surprisingly, $j_{c}$ increases significantly with decreasing f ($j_{c}(B=0, T=0) \simeq 0.07$ A/cm$^{2}$ for f = 0.67 and $j_{c}(B=0, T=0) \simeq 0.8$ A/cm$^{2}$ for f = 0.50). The temperature dependence of $j_{c}$ shows strong positive curvature over a wide temperature range for both samples. The phase diagrams of inter- and intragranular superconductivity for different samples indicate that the granular structure might play the key role for an understanding of the origin of superconductivity in the platinum compacts.Comment: 11 pages including 9 figures. To appear in Phys. Rev. B in Nov. 0