The use of mobile phones in the extension and advisory service in Rwanda

Agriculture plays a crucial role in most developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa, as it has an essential impact on the economy, food security and poverty. Extension and advisory service (EAS) is established as an important tool to improve agricultural development. The service aims to improve the agricultural production, income and well-being to farmers. However, the EAS is criticised for its limited reach of farmers, top-down approaches and ineffectiveness. Mobile phones are seen as a useful tool to overcome the existing barriers of the EAS due to its rapid growth in developing countries. This thesis assesses the use of mobile phones in the extension and advisory service in Rwanda. It examines farmers and extension service providers experience towards the use of mobile phones as a communication tool within the service. The study also examines barriers that led to the exclusion of certain groups of farmers. This qualitative research is based on twenty semi-structured interviews with respectively fourteen farmers, three extension service providers, one communication officer and two researchers. This study also uses secondary data such as reports and policy documents from Rwanda and the InnovAfrica project to ensure triangulation. The study found that the use of mobile phones has strengthened the EAS in relation to accessibility of the service, timeliness, two-way communication, being demand-driven and costs. However, these improvements only affect farmers with access to a mobile phone and exclude groups of farmers due to poverty and traditional gender roles.M-D

The use of mobile phones in the extension and advisory service in Rwanda

Agriculture plays a crucial role in most developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa, as it has an essential impact on the economy, food security and poverty. Extension and advisory service (EAS) is established as an important tool to improve agricultural development. The service aims to improve the agricultural production, income and well-being to farmers. However, the EAS is criticised for its limited reach of farmers, top-down approaches and ineffectiveness. Mobile phones are seen as a useful tool to overcome the existing barriers of the EAS due to its rapid growth in developing countries. This thesis assesses the use of mobile phones in the extension and advisory service in Rwanda. It examines farmers and extension service providers experience towards the use of mobile phones as a communication tool within the service. The study also examines barriers that led to the exclusion of certain groups of farmers. This qualitative research is based on twenty semi-structured interviews with respectively fourteen farmers, three extension service providers, one communication officer and two researchers. This study also uses secondary data such as reports and policy documents from Rwanda and the InnovAfrica project to ensure triangulation. The study found that the use of mobile phones has strengthened the EAS in relation to accessibility of the service, timeliness, two-way communication, being demand-driven and costs. However, these improvements only affect farmers with access to a mobile phone and exclude groups of farmers due to poverty and traditional gender roles.M-D

Possible scenarios for soft and semi-hard components structure in central hadron-hadron collisions in the TeV region

Possible scenarios in hh collisions in the TeV regions are discussed in full phase space. It is shown that at such high energies one should expect strong KNO scaling violation and a ln(s) increase of the average charged multiplicity of the semi-hard component, resulting in a huge mini-jet production.Comment: 20 pages, 9 PS figures included, LaTeX2e with AMSmath, epsfi

Properties of Factorial Cumulant to Factorial Moment Ratio

It is shown that the ratio of factorial cumulant moments to factorial moments for a multiplicity distribution truncated in the tail reveals oscillations in sign similar to those observed in experimental data. It is suggested that this effect be taken into account in the analysis of data in order to obtain correct physical information on the multiplicity distributions.Comment: (LaTeX + epsfig, 8 pages including 3 PostScript figures, all encoded via uufiles), DFTT 46/9

Kan en skolegård, møteplass og gangakse sameksistere? Det flerfunksjonelle byrommet Lakkegata aktivitetspark

Det er viktig med en effektiv utnyttelse fordi byer stadig blir tettere, og det er stort press på arealer. I denne sammenhengen kan flerfunksjonelle byrom spille en sentral rolle. For å forstå hvorfor et byrom er vellykket er man nødt til å vurdere utviklingsprosessen og resultatet i sammenheng. Dette blir sjeldent gjort, og fokuset ligger ofte på å kun vurdere det ferdige prosjektet. Formålet med denne oppgaven er å utforske denne sammenhengen. For å belyse dette har jeg brukt det flerfunksjonelle byrommet Lakkegata aktivitetspark som case. Byrommet fungerer som skolegård, møteplass og gangakse, og prosjektet ble initiert av FAU ved Lakkegata skole gjennom et innbyggerforslag. Med utgangspunkt i dette er oppgavens hovedproblemstilling følgende: hvordan skape gode flerfunksjonelle byrom? Problemstillingen besvares ved å (I) vurdere hvorvidt flere funksjoner kan sameksistere i aktivitetsparken, (II) analysere hvordan aktivitetsparken svarer på kriterier for gode byrom, (III) analysere prosessene som inngikk i utviklingen av aktivitetsparken, og (IV) undersøke ringvirkningene som har kommet som en følge av aktivitetsparken. Dette gir en helhetlig tilnærming til byromsutvikling. Forskningsdesignet er en kvalitativ enkeltcasestudie av Lakkegata aktivitetspark, hvor empirien består av intervjudata fra fem aktører med relevant og ulik tilknytning til casen. Dette, sammen med litteratur om kriterier for gode byrom, prosesser i byromsutvikling og flerfunksjonalitet, brukes for å besvare problemstillingene. Oppgaven har funnet at for Lakkegata aktivitetspark kan funksjonene skolegård, møteplass og gangakse sameksistere. Utformingen og designet har vært viktig for sameksistensen, i tillegg til at funksjonene ikke nødvendigvis er i bruk samtidig. Oppgaven fant også at aktivitetsparken svarer godt på kriterier for gode byrom, og det er få spenninger mellom funksjonene og bruken. Oppgaven har også funnet at alle de fire fasene som inngikk i utviklingen av Lakkegata aktivitetspark inneholdt viktige prosesser som har påvirket resultatet og bruken. FAU som systemnavigatør, innbyggerforslaget, bystyrevedtaket, samt Undervisningsbygg, Asplan Viak og FAU sin felles visjon for prosjektet, har vært særlig viktige prosesser. Utviklingsprosessen har vært iterativ, og oppgaven har funnet at aktørene hadde ulike roller. Dynamikken og relasjonen mellom disse har hatt stor påvirkning på hvordan prosessen utspilte seg, og dermed også på resultatet som utgjør aktivitetsparken. Oppgaven fant flere ringvirkninger som har kommet som følge av realiseringen av aktivitetsparken, både internt og eksternt. Aktivitetsparken har gitt et tiltrengt løft til nærområdet. Lakkegata aktivitetspark har også blitt et forbildeprosjekt, som har ført til flere lignende initiativer og prosjekter. Oppgaven har også avdekket en problematikk knyttet til ujevn fordeling av ressurser og muligheter hos FAU, ved ulike skoler, til å påvirke.The increasing density of cities makes efficient use of space crucial. In this context, multifunctional urban spaces can play a key role. To fully understand the success of urban space, both the development process and the final outcome must be considered. However, this is rarely done, and the focus is often on assessing only the finished project. The aim of this thesis is to explore the relationship between process and outcome. To demonstrate this, the multifunctional urban space Lakkegata activity park is used as an example. The urban space function as a schoolyard, meeting place, and walkway, and was initiated by the PTA (Parent Teacher Association) at Lakkegata School through a ‘Citizen proposal’. Based on this, the main research question of the thesis is: how to create attractive multifunctional urban spaces? The question is answered by (I) evaluating the potential for multiple functions to coexist within the activity park, (II) analyzing how the park meets criteria for urban spaces, (III) analyzing the processes involved in the development of the activity park, and (IV) explore the ripple effects that have come as a result of the activity park. This provides an integrated approach to urban space development. The research design is a qualitative single case study of Lakkegata activity park, and the empirical evidence for the study is constituted by data obtained from interviews with five key actors. The research question is addressed by analyzing the empirical evidence in conjunction with literature on urban space criteria, urban space development, and multifunctionality. The study found that for Lakkegata activity park, the functions of a schoolyard, meeting place and walkway can coexist. The design of the activity park has been crucial for the coexistence, in addition to the fact that the functions may not necessarily be in use at the same time. The study also found that the activity park responds well to urban space criteria and there is minimal tension and conflict between the functions and the use. The study also found that each of the four phases of the development of Lakkegata activity park contained important processes that influenced the outcome and the use. Key processes have been PTA as a ‘system navigator’, the citizen proposal, the city council decision, and Undervisningsbygg’s, Asplan Viak’s, and PTAs shared vision for the project. The development process has been iterative, and the thesis found that the actors had different roles throughout the process. In addition, the dynamics between the actors have influenced how the process has unfolded, and thus also the result that constitutes the activity park. The thesis found several ripple effects that have arisen because of the realization of the activity park, both internally and externally. The activity park has provided a much-needed boost to the local community. Lakkegata activity park has also become an exemplary project, leading to the emergence of similar initiatives and projects. The thesis has also uncovered a challenge related to the uneven distribution of resources and opportunities that PTAs in different schools have to influence

Appropriate Methodology for Development Research

SUMMARY A research?planning?development sequence model in an agricultural sector is outlined. Applied development studies research in Eastern Africa is examined to see the extent to which applied research does not yield the information required by agricultural planners. The Special Rural Development Project in Kenya is reviewed from this point of view, and several advantages of action?research are discussed. RESUME Une Méthodologie appropriée à une recherche sur le Developpement On met en relief dans cet article un modèle séquentiel en développement pour la planification de la recherche dans un secteur agricole. La recherche appliquée concernant le développement en Afrique de l'Est est analysée afin d'évaluer à quel point elle ne rapporte pas la somme d'informations nécessaires aux planificateurs de l'agriculture. Le Projet Spécial de Développement Rural au Kenya est reconsidéré dans cette optique, et plusieurs avantages d'une recherche axée sur l'action sont discutés. RESUMEN Metodologia Apropiada para la Investigación del Desarrollo Se bosqueja un modelo de planificación da la investigación de secuencias de desarrollo para el sector agrícola. Se examina la investigación de estudios de desarrollo aplicado en Africa Oriental para ver en qué medida la investigación aplicada no produce la información que necesitan los planificadores agrícolas. Desde este punto de vista se revisa el Proyecto Especial de Desarrollo Rural de Kenya y se discuten varias ventajas de la investigación activa

Kan hotellenes direkte distribusjon øke ved innføring av bedrede lojalitetsprogrammer eller teknologiske løsninger?

I denne oppgaven har vi valgt å se nærmere på om hotellene kan øke sin direkte distribusjon ved forbedring av deres lojalitetsprogrammer og bedring av teknologien på deres nettsider. Bakgrunnen for oppgaven er i hovedsak vår felles interesse over den store endringen og teknologiske utviklingen distribusjonen har hatt det siste tiåret. Utviklingen har bidratt til etablering av tredjepartskanalene, og at disse har tatt en solid posisjon i markedet. Denne utviklingen kan bidra til at hotellene opplever flere ulemper ved tredjepartskanalenes tilstedeværelse – ulemper som redusert priskontroll, kommersialisering og tap av inntekter. For å kunne forske på dette har vi utformet to hypoteser vi mener er relevante på grunnlag av følgende problemstilling: «Hvordan kan norske hoteller øke andelen direkte distribusjon ved hjelp av lojalitetsprogrammer og egne nettsider?» For å få svar på problemstillingen har vi benyttet kvantitativ forskningsmetode, og innhentet data ved hjelp av en spørreundersøkelse. Vi foretok et ikke-sannsynlighetsutvalg og fikk inn totalt 514 svar. Basert på resultatene fra analysen og gjennom vår forskning kan vi konkludere med at en forbedring av hotellenes lojalitetsprogram og deres nettsider kan ha en påvirkning på den direkte distribusjonen. Vi har gjennom anbefalinger til videre forskning belyst hva som kan forskes på videre for å få en dypere og mer detaljert forståelse av temaet

Scenarios for multiplicity distributions in pp collisions in the TeV energy region

Possible scenarios based on available experimental data and phenomenological knowledge of the GeV energy region are extended to the TeV energy region in the framework of the weighted superposition mechanism of soft and semi-hard events. KNO scaling violations, forward-backward multiplicity correlations, Hq vs. q oscillations and shoulder structures are discussed.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures, talk given at "Focus on Multiplicity" (Bari, Italy, June 2004

Analyses of multiplicity distributions with \eta_c and Bose-Einstein correlations at LHC by means of generalized Glauber-Lachs formula

Using the negative binomial distribution (NBD) and the generalized Glauber-Lachs (GGL) formula, we analyze the data on charged multiplicity distributions with pseudo-rapidity cutoffs \eta_c at 0.9, 2.36, and 7 TeV by ALICE Collaboration and at 0.2, 0.54, and 0.9 TeV by UA5 Collaboration. We confirm that the KNO scaling holds among the multiplicity distributions with \eta_c = 0.5 at \sqrt{s} = 0.2\sim2.36 TeV and estimate the energy dependence of a parameter 1/k in NBD and parameters 1/k and \gamma (the ratio of the average value of the coherent hadrons to that of the chaotic hadrons) in the GGL formula. Using empirical formulae for the parameters 1/k and \gamma in the GGL formula, we predict the multiplicity distributions with \eta_c = 0.5 at 7 and 14 TeV. Data on the 2nd order Bose-Einstein correlations (BEC) at 0.9 TeV by ALICE Collaboration and 0.9 and 2.36 TeV by CMS Collaboration are also analyzed based on the GGL formula. Prediction for the 3rd order BEC at 0.9 and 2.36 TeV are presented. Moreover, the information entropy is discussed

Patient‐reported outcomes from a single‐centre prospective post‐marketing study on Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum injections for Peyronie’s disease

The aim of this study was to evaluate patient‐reported outcomes of Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum (CCHi) for Peyronie’s Disease. Patients treated with 2–4 cycles of CCHi between 01/2016 and 08/2018 were asked to fill out the “bother domain” of the Peyronie’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ) at scheduled appointments for injections. CCHi cycles involved two injections (0.58 mg) separated by 48–72 hr. During the study, 34 patients were treated, seven patients were excluded due to incomplete baseline values. Mean (standard deviation) PDQ bother domain baseline score was 11.1 (2.6). ANOVA demonstrated statistically significant effects of injections (p < .001) with a decrease in PDQ bother domain scores 6 weeks after the 1st cycle (9.9 [3.3], p = .013), 6 weeks after the 2nd cycle (8.2 [4.0], p = .009) and 6 weeks after the 3rd cycle (6.5 [3.6], p < .001). After 2–4 cycles of CCHi treatment, patients reported changes in penile curvature as “Worse” (0), “No Change” (2), “Little decrease” (10), Decrease (10) and “Significant decrease” (4). After completion of CCHi treatment, 82% of patients still reported that vaginal intercourse was difficult or impossible. Patients with Peyronie’s Disease undergoing CCHi treatment reported statistically significant decreases in PDQ bother domain scores. However, most patients still report difficulty with intercourse after treatment.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163382/2/and13733_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163382/1/and13733.pd