Expanding the application of cassava value chain technologies through UPoCA project

Root and Tuber . IITA TechnologiesCassava has long been expected to play a key role in rural economic growth in Africa, but are we there yet? Although research partnerships have produced elite cassava varieties with 50% more yielding potential and demonstrated technologies to boost processing and marketing of cassava, the sub-sector is constrained by low productivity and marketing dificulties. In DR Congo, Ghana, Malawi and Sierra Leone, for example, cassava value chain actors are yet to respond to 2007 estimated $59 million trade opportunities through substitution of imported wheat lour with locally produced high quality cassava lour. Industrial pull for cassava would also aggravate hunger and poverty if yields do not increase from current national averages of 5 to 19t/ha to more than 25t/ha expected of released varieties under low input agriculture. In 2008, USAID and IITA initiated the project “Unleashing the Power of Cassava in Response to Food Price Crisis (UPOCA) as a multi-country and inter-institutional partnership enabling cassava sub-sectors to realize their full potential in rural economies. UPoCA project covers DR Congo, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania. UPoCA project draws on prior research results to increase on-farm cassava productivity and value adding processing for markets. By end 2009, small holder beneiciaries associated with 55 partner organizations and 11 agricultural related irms established 306 community cassava stem multiplication sites and root production farms totalling 10,097ha with 58 improved varieties. Through experiential learning at 24 hands-on short-term courses, 345 men and 142 women learnt improved techniques in cassava production, processing, product development, and packaging/labelling and 8 technologies were introduced to rural communities. Seven other papers in this symposium, based on these evolving UPoCA achievements, show that a longer-term cassava research for development partnership platform of this nature will enable cassava sub-sectors to contribute signiicantly to rural economic growth in Africa

Visum Et Repertum Sebagai Barang Bukti Pengganti Mayat

Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan tujuan untuk mengetahui bagaimana kedudukan visum et repertum sebagai barang bukti pengganti mayat dan bagaimana peranan visum et repertum dalam pembuktian perkara pidana. Dengan menggunakan metode penelitian yuridis normatif, maka dapat disimpulkan: 1. Visum et repertum selaku keterangan dalam bentuk yang formil menyangkut hal-hal yang dilihat dan ditemukan oleh doker pada benda-benda yang diperiksa sesungguhnya adalah pengganti barang bukti, bahwa pada keharusannya dalam hal pembuktian mestinya orang yang menjadi obyek penganiayaan, pembunuhan atau kejahatan lainnya dari suatu peristiwa pidana selanjutnya diajukan menjadi barang bukti seperti misalnya orang yang dianiaya dan mati terbunuh sudah barang tentu menjadi kesulitan dalam praktek; karenanya orang yang meninggal (mayat) harus dikebumikan sebab dapat membusuk untuk selanjutnya mengalami proses alamiah hancur menjadi debu tanah. 2. Kedudukan visum et repertum dalam hukum pembuktian dalam proses acara pidana adalah termasuk sebagai alat bukti surat sebagaimana maksud pasal 184 ayat 1 huruf c jo pasal 187 huruf c KUHAP dengan keterangan ahli sesuai maksud pasal 1 angka 28 KUHAP jo Stb 1937-350 pasal 184 ayat 1 huruf b KUHAP

Very high-energy observations of the two high-frequency peaked BL Lac objects 1ES 1218+304 and H 1426+428

We present results of very-high-energy gamma-ray observations (E > 160 GeV) of two high-frequency-peaked BL Lac (HBL) objects, 1ES 1218+304 and H 1426+428, with the Solar Tower Atmospheric Cherenkov Effect Experiment (STACEE). Both sources are very-high-energy gamma-ray emitters above 100 GeV, detected using ground-based Cherenkov telescopes. STACEE observations of 1ES 1218+304 and H 1426+428 did not produce detections; we present 99% CL flux upper limits for both sources, assuming spectral indices measured mostly at higher energies

Observations of the BL Lac Object 3C 66A with STACEE

We present the analysis and results of recent high-energy gamma-ray observations of the BL Lac object 3C 66A conducted with the Solar Tower Atmospheric Cherenkov Effect Experiment (STACEE). During the 2003-2004 observing season, STACEE extensively observed 3C 66A as part of a multiwavelength campaign on the source. A total of 33.7 hours of data was taken on the source, plus an equivalent-duration background observation. After cleaning the data set a total of 16.3 hours of live time remained, and a net on-source excess of 1134 events was seen against a background of 231742 events. At a significance of 2.2 standard deviations this excess is insufficient to claim a detection of 3C 66A, but is used to establish flux upper limits for the source.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

Very high energy observations of the BL Lac objects 3C 66A and OJ 287

Using the Solar Tower Atmospheric Cherenkov Effect Experiment (STACEE), we have observed the BL Lac objects 3C 66A and OJ 287. These are members of the class of low-frequency-peaked BL Lac objects (LBLs) and are two of the three LBLs predicted by Costamante and Ghisellini to be potential sources of very high energy (>100 GeV) gamma-ray emission. The third candidate, BL Lacertae, has recently been detected by the MAGIC collaboration. Our observations have not produced detections; we calculate a 99% CL upper limit of flux from 3C 66A of 0.15 Crab flux units and from OJ 287 our limit is 0.52 Crab. These limits assume a Crab-like energy spectrum with an effective energy threshold of 185 GeV.Comment: 24 pages, 15 figures, Accepted for publication in Astroparticle Physic