The Challenges Facing Distance Students in Undertaking Geography Field Practical Projects: The Case of the Open University of Tanzania Students

This paper discusses the challenges facing distance students in Geography field Practical projects (GFPs) at The Open University of Tanzania (OUT). A random sample size of 19 students who participated in GFP1 in 2009 and 2010 were selected from randomly sampled regional centres of Singida, Dodoma, Njombe, and Morogoro centres of OUT. The respondents were interviewed using questionnaires on their experience in GFP. They also formed a focused discussion group (FDG) for this study. Both content analysis and descriptive analysis were used. Findings showed a downward trend of students’ attendance to fieldwork as compared to the early years when GFPs was introduced. The study sample revealed that, in 2006 the four selected regional centres recorded 375 (76.5%) students attended fieldwork out of 490 (100%) students who registered for GFP. In year 2010, only 132 (53.9%) attended out of 245 students who registered for GFP. Besides, 63.2% of the respondents in the study sample said they were supervised in GFP1 under limited time of 2-3 days as supervisors had to leave fieldwork due to time constraint. The paper recommends the urgent need to improve GFP organization, especially adherence to 21 days allocated for GFP and financial support in order to achieve its established objectives and goals at large.Key words: The Open University of Tanzania, Geography field Practical projects, challenges, distance educatio

Strangeness Prospects with the CBM Experiment

The CBM experiment will study strongly interacting matter at high net-baryon densities with nuclear collisions up to 45A GeV beam energy at the future FAIR facility. With interaction rates unprecedented in heavy-ion collisions, CBM will give access also to extremely rare probes and thus to the early stage of the collisions, in search for the first-order phase transition from confined to deconfined matter and the QCD critical point. The CBM physics programme will be started with beams delivered by the SIS-100 synchrotron, providing energies from 2 to 11 GeV/nucleon for heavy nuclei, up to 14 GeV/nucleon for light nuclei, and 30 GeV for protons. The highest net baryon densities will be explored with ion beams up to 45 GeV/nucleon energy delivered by SIS-300 in a later stage of the FAIR project

Technical Design Report for the CBM : Muon Chambers (MuCh)

This document describes the technical layout and the performance of the Muon Chamber (MuCh) System of the Compressed Baryonic Matter (CBM) experiment at FAIR. The MuCh system is designed to identify muon pairs which are produced in high-energy heavy-ion collisions in the beam energy range from 4 to 40 AGeV. The measurement of lepton pairs is a central part of the CBM research program, as they are very sensitive diagnostic probes of the conditions inside the fireball. At low invariant masses, dileptons provide information on the in-medium modification of vector mesons which is a promising observable for the restoration of chiral symmetry. At intermediate invariant masses, the dilepton spectrum is dominated by thermal radiation from the fireball reflecting its temperature. At invariant masses around 3 GeV/c2, dileptons are the appropriate tool to study the anomalous charmonium suppression in the deconfined phase. In the CBM experiment both electrons and muons will be measured in order to obtain a consistent and comprehensive picture of the dilepton physics

Novel production method for large double-sided microstrip detectors of the CBM Silicon Tracking System at FAIR

The silicon sensors of the Silicon Tracking System of the Compressed Baryonic Matter experiment at FAIR, GSI are connected to the read-out electronics by low mass flexible microcables due to tight material budget restrictions. The cable length of up to 50 cm and its flexible nature make detector module assembly one of the most critical parts in STS. A novel low mass, low capacitance multilayer copper microcable has been designed and produced to facilitate detector assembly. Furthermore, a novel detector production method based on high-density gold stud bump bonding of silicon die on microcable has been developed. We present the Cu microcable design, capacitance simulations and measurements together with the individual steps performed in the STS detector assembly

Comparison of protocols for genomic DNA extraction from ‘velame pimenta’ (Croton linearifolius), a native species to the Caatinga, Brazil

The Caatinga biome occupies some 12% of the Brazilian territory, which is present in at least nine states. The species that constitute its biodiversity have the potential to be used as natural resources, among them are approximately 700 species of the genus Croton. As an example of this potential, the Croton linearifolius specie is used by local communities as a natural insecticide. Associated with the economic potential of the Caatinga species, one must stress the risk of extinction or genetic erosion due to the growing deforestation of natural areas of this biome. These factors make it relevant in genetic studies in order to guide conservation strategies. Considering the lack of molecular studies involving C. linearifolius, we compared the efficiency of six protocols for genomic DNA extraction previously described in literature. The DNA extraction buffers [based on the use of Cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), mannitol and sorbitol] were different in their efficiency to obtaining the genomic DNA of C. linearifloius. In general, protocols using CTAB buffer were more efficient. The use of liquid nitrogen in the maceration process was also evaluated and its use was considered a no necessary factor in obtaining DNA in adequate quantity and quality for PCR platform procedures.Keywords: DNA Isolation, molecular markers, native species of CaatingaAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(30), pp. 4761-476

A multilevel study of neighborhood disadvantage, individual socioeconomic position, and body mass index: Exploring cross-level interaction effects

This study examined associations between neighborhood disadvantage and body mass index (BMI), and tested whether this differed by level of individual socioeconomic position (SEP). Data were from 9953 residents living in 200 neighborhoods in Brisbane, Australia in 2007. Multilevel linear regression analyses were undertaken by gender to determine associations between neighborhood disadvantage, individual SEP (education, occupation and household income) and BMI (from self-reported height and weight); with cross-level interactions testing whether the relationship between neighborhood disadvantage and BMI differed by level of individual SEP. Both men (Quintile 4, where Quintile 5 is the most disadvantaged β = 0.66 95%CI 0.20, 1.12) and women (Quintile 5 β = 1.32 95%CI 0.76, 1.87) from more disadvantaged neighborhoods had a higher BMI. BMI was significantly higher for those with lower educational attainment (men β = 0.71 95%CI 0.36, 1.07 and women β = 1.66 95%CI 0.78, 1.54), and significantly lower for those in blue collar occupations (men β = −0.67 95%CI −1.09, −0.25 and women β = −0.71 95%CI −1.40, −0.01). Among men, those with a lower income had a significantly lower BMI, while the opposite was found among women. None of the interaction models had a significantly better fit than the random intercept models. The relationship between neighborhood disadvantage and BMI did not differ by level of education, occupation, or household income. This suggests that individual SEP is unlikely to be an effector modifier of the relationship between neighborhood disadvantage and BMI. Further research is required to assist policy-makers to make more informed decisions about where to intervene to counteract BMI-inequalities

New Brilliant Blue G Derivative as Pharmacological Tool in Retinal Surgery.

Our study was aimed at assessing the retinal binding of a new synthetic Brilliant Blue G (BBG) derivative (pure benzyl-Brilliant Blue G; PBB) ophthalmic formulation, to improve vitreoretinal surgery procedure. Protein affinity of the new molecule was evaluated in vitro (cell-free assay) and in silico. Furthermore, an ex vivo model of vitreoretinal surgery was developed by using porcine eyes to assess the pharmacological profile of PBB, compared to commercial formulations based on BBG and methyl-BBG (Me-BBG). PBB showed a higher affinity for proteins (p < 0.05), compared to BBG and Me-BBG. In vitro and in silico studies demonstrated that the high selectivity of PBB could be related to high lipophilicity and binding affinity to fibronectin, the main component of the retinal internal limiting membrane (ILM). The PBB staining capabilities were evaluated in porcine eyes in comparison with BBG and Me-BBG. Forty microliters of each formulation were slowly placed over the retinal surface and removed after 30 s. After that, ILM peeling was carried out, and the retina collected. BBG, Me-BBG, and PBB quantification in ILM and retina tissues was carried out by HPLC analysis. PBB levels in the ILM were significantly (p < 0.05) higher compared to BBG and Me-BBG formulations. On the contrary, PBB showed a much lower (p < 0.05) distribution in retina (52 ng/mg tissue) compared to BBG and Me-BBG, in particular PBB levels were significantly (p < 0.05) lower. Therefore, the new synthetic Brilliant Blue derivative (PBB) showed a great ILM selectivity in comparison to underneath retinal layers. In conclusion, these findings had high translational impact with a tangible improving in ex vivo model of retinal surgery, suggesting a future use during surgical practice

Avaliação do binômio tempo-temperatura de refeições transportadas

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a adequação das temperaturas em diferentes fases do processo de produção e do binômio tempo-temperatura de refeições transportadas. A aferição das temperaturas das preparações foi realizada nas seguintes fases: após o processamento, no momento do porcionamento nos gastronorms, antes do início, durante e ao final da distribuição das refeições. A temperatura das preparações foi classificada em adequada ou inadequada e o binômio tempo-temperatura avaliado de acordo com os critérios da Portaria CVS-6 de 10.3.99. Observou-se que a maioria das preparações frias não atingiu as temperaturas recomendadas. Em relação às preparações quentes encontrou-se maior variação na adequação naquelas a base de carnes e guarnição, entre 27 e 80% e 25 e 94%, respectivamente. Entretanto, ao avaliar o binômio tempo-temperatura as preparações estavam aptas para serem consumidas, pois o tempo de exposição era de duas horas. Palavras-chave: Unidades de Alimentação e Nutrição, refeições transportadas, qualidade, binômio tempo-temperatura. Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the adequacy of temperatures at different stages process and the binomial-time temperature of transported meals. The measurement temperatures of preparations was made in the following stages: after processing; at the moment of the serving in gastronorms; before the beginning distribution; during the distribution and to the end distribution. The temperature preparation was classified as adequate or inadequate and the binomial time-temperature evaluated according to the criteria regulation of 10.3.99 CVS-6. It was observed that most cold preparations did not reach the temperatures recommended by the regulation, among the hot found greater variation in adequacy of preparations based on meat and garnish, between 27 and 80% and 25 and 94%, respectively. However, in assessing the binomial time-temperature preparations were adequate to be consumed, because the exposure time was two hours. Key words: diet unit and nutrition, transported meals, quality, binomial time-temperature