Homogenization of Stokes Equation by Multiple Scale Expansion Method

In this paper we prove the homogenization of the Stokes equation by the method of multiple scale expansion. In particular the cell problems are clearly defined and an algorithm for obtaining the homogenized solution is well stated in the concluding part

ARE EXTENSION EDUCATION PROGRAMS EFFECTIVE? IMPACTS OF A PROGRAM TO ASSIST LIMITED RESOURCE AND SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS

Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

A method for the temperature-controlled extraction of DNA from ancient bones

We here provide a protocol for the decontamination of ancient bones and teeth that is based on a temperature-controlled, sequential release of DNA. DNA can be extracted from all fractions generated with this method and the fraction with the highest proportion of endogenous DNA identified for further analysis. The protocol proceeds through repeated incubation of the sample powder in phosphate buffer at 37, 60 and 90 °C, followed by the complete lysis of the residual sample powder. As DNA is denatured at high temperature, subsequent DNA extraction and library preparation has to be performed using methods optimized for single-stranded DNA

Natural resources conflicts and the biofuel industry: implications and proposals for Ghana

Africa has become an important target producer of the feedstock, Jatropha curcas L (JCL), for biofuel production. This presents opportunities for transforming production, markets and the well-being of farmers and rural populations in developing countries, if deals are well-structured. The history of natural resource use conflicts in Africa has important implications for understanding current resource ecology and the social and political relationships within it. Ghana has had varying resource management regimes in its history. This paper seeks to relate the history of Ghana's natural resources conflicts to the current rush for lands in Ghana forcultivation of JCL and to discuss its implications and opportunities for a sustainable JCL industry in the countly. The colonial and postcolonial land conflicts and politics and the current and potential conflicts and opportunities associated with the JCL indust1y are presented. The paper offers suggestions not only for a sustainable cultivation of Jatropha, but alsofor a biofuel policy in Ghana.Keywords: Biofuel; natural resources conflicts,- land grabbing; Jatrophacurcas; Ghana

Macrosomia - maternal and fetal risk factors

Risk factors associated with fetal macrosomia were studied in 348 pregnancies resulting in the delivery of an infant weighing 4 000 g or more in a black population. Identifiable maternal risk factors included a mother in her 3rd decade of life, multiparity, maternal weight of 70 kg or more at the end of pregnancy, prolonged or post-term pregnancy, abnormal glucose tolerance and previous history of a macrosomic infant. Male infants had a higher risk of being macrosomic. Macrosomic infants accounted for 3,4% of all singleton deliveries, with their caesarean section rate of 33,9% being almost three times that of control infants. The importance of antenatal prediction of fetal weight is emphasised and suggestions for reduction of the high perinatal mortality and morbidity rates, as well as maternal morbidity, are discussed

Investing in People: Assessing the Economic Benefits of 1890 Institutions

The report examines the historical USDA funding levels of 1890 institutions; discusses the outcomes of these investments and potential measurable indicators of these outcomes; and outlines a conceptual model for estimating returns to investment in education tailored to particularities of the 1890's.1890s, land grant universities, human capital, extension service, agricultural research, research funding, Labor and Human Capital, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

Causes of Death in Hospitalized HIV Patients in the Early Anti-Retroviral Therapy Era

Objective: To establish the cause(s) of death among persons with HIV and AIDS admitted to the Fevers Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in 2007 and to determine whether they were AIDS-relatedin the era of availability of HAARTMethod: Retrospective chart review of all deaths that occurred in the year 2007 among inpatients with HIV infection. Cause of Death (COD) was established with post mortem diagnosis, where not available ICD-10 was reviewed independently by two physicians experienced in HIV medicine and a consensus reached as to the most likely COD.Results: In the year under review, 215 (97%) of the 221 adult deaths studied were caused by AIDS and HIV-associated illnesses. Of these, 123 (55.7%) were due to an AIDS-defining illness as described in CDC Category 3 or WHO stage 4. Infections accounted for most of the deaths 158 (71.5%), many of them opportunistic 82 (51.8%). Tuberculosis was the commonest COD. Clinical diagnosis of TB was accurate in 54% of deaths, but was not validated by autopsy in 36% of deaths. There were few deaths (14.5%) in patients on HAART.Conclusion: In a developing country like Ghana where HAART was still not fully accessible, AIDS-related events remained the major causes of death in persons living with HIV. Total scale-up of the ART programme with continuous availability of antiretrovirals is therefore imperative to reduce deaths from AIDS and HIV associated illnesses. There is need for interventions for early diagnosis as well as reduction in late presentation and also better diagnostic tools for tuberculosis.Keywords Cause of death, HIV, AIDS, HAART, Ghana, Tuberculosi

Space charge in drift chambers operated with the Xe,CO2(15%) mixture

Using prototype modules of the ALICE Transition Radiation Detector we investigate space charge effects and the dependence of the pion rejection performance on the incident angle of the ionizing particle. The average pulse height distributions in the drift chambers operated with the Xe,CO2(15%) mixture provide quantitative information on the gas gain reduction due to space charge accumulating during the drift of the primary ionization. Our results demonstrate that the pion rejection performance of a TRD is better for tracks which are not at normal incidence to the anode wires. We present detailed simulations of detector signals, which reproduce the measurements and lend strong support to our interpretation of the measurements in terms of space charge effects.Comment: 18 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in Nucl.Instrum.Meth. A. Data files available at http://www-alice.gsi.de/tr

Energy loss of pions and electrons of 1 to 6 GeV/c in drift chambers operated with Xe,CO2(15%)

We present measurements of the energy loss of pions and electrons in drift chambers operated with a Xe,CO2(15%) mixture. The measurements are carried out for particle momenta from 1 to 6 GeV/c using prototype drift chambers for the ALICE TRD. Microscopic calculations are performed using input parameters calculated with GEANT3. These calculations reproduce well the measured average and most probable values for pions, but a higher Fermi plateau is required in order to reproduce our electron data. The widths of the measured distributions are smaller for data compared to the calculations. The electron/pion identification performance using the energy loss is also presented.Comment: 15 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in Nucl.Instrum.Meth.