Pion mass dependence of the Kl3K_{l3} semileptonic scalar form factor within finite volume

We calculate the scalar semileptonic kaon decay in finite volume at the momentum transfer $t_{m} = (m_{K} - m_{\pi})^2$, using chiral perturbation theory. At first we obtain the hadronic matrix element to be calculated in finite volume. We then evaluate the finite size effects for two volumes with $L = 1.83 fm$ and $L= 2.73 fm$ and find that the difference between the finite volume corrections of the two volumes are larger than the difference as quoted in \cite{Boyle2007a}. It appears then that the pion masses used for the scalar form factor in ChPT are large which result in large finite volume corrections. If appropriate values for pion mass are used, we believe that the finite size effects estimated in this paper can be useful for Lattice data to extrapolate at large lattice size.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in EPJ

The 2009 World Average of αs\alpha_s

Measurements of $\alpha_s$, the coupling strength of the Strong Interaction between quarks and gluons, are summarised and an updated value of the world average of $\alpha_s (M_Z)$ is derived. Building up on previous reviews, special emphasis is laid on the most recent determinations of $\alpha_s$. These are obtained from $\tau$-decays, from global fits of electroweak precision data and from measurements of the proton structure function \F_2, which are based on perturbative QCD calculations up to $O(\alpha_s^4)$; from hadronic event shapes and jet production in \epem annihilation, based on $O(\alpha_s^3)$ QCD; from jet production in deep inelastic scattering and from $\Upsilon$ decays, based on $O(\alpha_s^2)$ QCD; and from heavy quarkonia based on unquenched QCD lattice calculations. Applying pragmatic methods to deal with possibly underestimated errors and/or unknown correlations, the world average value of $\alpha_s (M_Z)$ results in $\alpha_s (M_Z) = 0.1184 \pm 0.0007$. The measured values of $\alpha_s (Q)$, covering energy scales from Q \equiv \mtau = 1.78 GeV to 209 GeV, exactly follow the energy dependence predicted by QCD and therefore significantly test the concept af Asymptotic Freedom.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figure

The response of Panicum maximum to a simulated subcanopy environment: 2. soil x shade x water interaction

Continuing on from previous work examining the mechanisms by which increases in the biomass of Panicum maximum might occur when growing under the canopy of mature Samanea saman trees (Durr and Rangel 2000), a further pot trial was undertaken. This applied a similar methodology of using soil collected from under and away from the canopy of trees and imposing variable light levels by shade cloths. A third variable was introduced, that of water stress, through varying the period of re-watering: every day, every 5 days and every 10 days. The major effect of water stress was to reduce the biomass. However, the degree of reduction was dependent upon the soil and the shade level, as there was relative compensation in grasses grown in the subcanopy-collected soil at intermediate shade levels due to an increase in the water use efficiency. This finding suggests that one of the major benefits of nutrient enrichment by trees in these environments acts via improved water utilisation and suggests a generalised explanation of why relative increases of grass biomass under the canopy of trees might occur in subhumid environments

The response of Panicum maximum to a simulated subcanopy environment: 1. soil × shade interaction

The mechanisms by which increases in the biomass of Panicum maximum might occur when growing under the canopy of mature Samanea saman trees were investigated in a pot trial. The subcanopy environment was simulated using soil collected from under, near and away from the canopy of trees and variable light levels imposed by shade cloths. The soil from under the trees had a greatly enhanced nitrogen level, and gave a higher total dry weight (TDW) at all levels of shade than soil from outside the canopy. The increase in biomass was affected by level of shading, with a 200% increase in full sunlight as compared with an increase of 100% at the deepest shade level (12% relative light). Deep shade augmented shoot nitrogen concentration, but caused only a slight increase in digestibility. The results show that, in the seasonal range of shade levels corresponding with those found beneath the canopy of S. saman (10-30% relative light), there will be a steep gradient in response in TDW. Consequently, factors affecting canopy light transmission - such as the extent of leafing out and canopy shape - will be critical in determining yield response

Enhanced forage production under Samanea saman in a subhumid tropical grassland

The effects of isolated, mature Samanea saman trees on herbaceous production and species composition were investigated over the 1993/1994 growing season in a subhumid tropical grassland in north-east Queensland, Australia. Under the crown, the cumulative aboveground biomass over the season was almost 90% above that of the open grassland. This increase was associated with a difference in species composition. The principal grass under the crown was Panicum maximum, while in the open grassland, the dominant species was Urochloa mosambicensis. Near the crown, cumulative biomass was intermediate and this was reflected in a mixed species composition. This study confirms earlier, largely anecdotal reports of the potential beneficial effects of S. saman on forage production, but by itself was unable to explain the mechanism by which this increase occurred

A participatory ecohealth study of smallholder pig system in upland and lowland of Lao PDR

A cross-sectional study to determine baseline seroprevalence of key pig zoonoses and some of priority pig production diseases and to evaluate public health risks of pig-raising and pork consumption in one upland and one lowland province, Lao PDR. The surveys were conducted in two provinces, Louangphrabang representative of ‘upland’ and Savannaket province for ‘lowland’. The selection of villages is weighted by village human population derived from the 2005 National census and GIS data. Participatory questionnaire development and data storage was enabled by a new web based programme called SurVet. Humans were tested for exposure to Taenia/Cysticercosis, Trichinellosis, Hepatitis E virus and Japanese encephalitis virus (pigs: Trichinella, HEV, JEV, Erysipelas, CSF, FMD and PRRS). The training and field activities were done with integrated transdisciplinary approaches involving district and provincial staff, as well as students. Result: Provisional seroprevalence and relevant odds ratios show that the viral diseases Hepatitis E and Japanese Encephalitis are widespread in both provinces, but that the parasitic diseases cysticercosis and trichinellosis are more sporadic, the latter apparently associated more with educated males of certain ethnicities. There are also results pertaining to pig health diseases and associated management risks. Further potential for multivariate statistical analysis exists. Outputs: Through the identification of the spatial patterning of seroprevalence and risk factors associated with exposure to these diseases, the IEC materials such as posters and brochures on human health and animal health risk reduction have been developed and produced as well as guide future research and policy