RESILIENCE OF INNOVATION PLATFORMS WITHIN ARMED CONFLICTS: THE CASE OF INTEGRATED AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT FROM NORTH KIVU PROVINCE, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

The North Kivu Province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has sporadically, and more recently, been disrupted by ethenic wars. These wars have caused displacement of people and destruction of economic resources in the Province. Many development initiatives have been arrested and others completely derailed. The Sub-Saharan Africa Challenge Program moved into the Province in 2008 and established four innovation platforms (IPs) under Integrated Agricultural Research for Development concepts, in Masisi and Rutshuru districts. The objective of this study was to identify mechanisms and strategies used by IPs to continue operating in amidst of wars and limited partner support. It is clear that the IAR4D concepts are functional even in times of conflicts, and without interventions of partners. The involvement of local authorities in the activities of IPs helped to preserve the property of the latter. The various mechanisms that were put in place to ensure continuity of IP activities included regular meetings at the antennae (sub-IP) levels, adoption of perennial crops to fight crop-raiding, moving seed stocks storage into more secure environments, solidarity among members of the IP and establishment of a communication system for securing people and property among others. It is observed that the IAR4D concept is a practical framework and a model for development of agricultural research for impact and provides a means of resilience that strengthens the cohesion of the population even in situations of conflicts.La province du Nord Kivu dans l\u2019Est de R\ue9publique D\ue9mocratique du Congo, a sporadiquement, et plus r\ue9cemment, \ue9t\ue9 perturb\ue9e par des guerres d\u2019ethnies. Ces guerres ont caus\ue9 les d\ue9placement des personnes et la destruction des ressources \ue9conomiques dans la province. PLusieurs initiatives de d\ue9veloppement ont \ue9t\ue9 arr\ueat\ue9es et d\u2019autres ont completement \ue9chou\ue9. Le programme d\u2019Enjeu de l\u2019Afrique du Sub-Saharienne a \ue9t\ue9 amen\ue9 dans la province en 2008 et mise en place pour les plate-formes d\u2019innovation sous les concepts de Recherches Agricoles Int\ue9gr\ue9es pour le D\ue9veloppement, dans les districts de Masisi et Rutshuru. L\u2019objectf de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait d\u2019identifier les m\ue9canismes et strat\ue9gies utilis\ue9s par les IPs pour continuer \ue0 op\ue9rer au beau milieu des guerres avec de supports limit\ue9s des partenaires. C\u2019est clair que les concepts de IAR4D sont fonctionnels m\ueame en p\ue9riode de conflits; et sans interventions des partenaires. Les implications des autorit\ue9s locales dans les activit\ue9s des IPs ont contribu\ue9 \ue0 pr\ue9server les propri\ue9t\ue9s de ces derni\ue8res. Les divers m\ue9canismes qui ont \ue9t\ue9 mis en place pour assurer la continuit\ue9 des activit\ue9s de l\u2019IP comprenaient des rencontres r\ue9guli\ue8res aux niveaux des antennes (sub-IP), l\u2019adoption des cultures p\ue9rennes pour lutter contre les ravages de cultures, les d\ue9placements des stocks de semences des magasins vers des lieux mieux s\ue9curis\ue9s, la solidarit\ue9 entre les membres de l\u2019IP et l\u2019\ue9tablissement d\u2019un syst\ue8me de communication pour la s\ue9curit\ue9 des personnes et des biens entre autres. Il a \ue9t\ue9 observ\ue9 que le concept de IAR4D est un cadre pratique et un mod\ue8le d\u2019impact pour la recherche agricole et de d\ue9veloppement et fournit un moyen de r\ue9silience qui renforce la coh\ue9sion de la population m\ueame en situations de conflits

Phenotypic differences between highlanders and lowlanders in Papua New Guinea

Objectives Altitude is one of the most demanding environmental pressures for human populations. Highlanders from Asia, America and Africa have been shown to exhibit different biological adaptations, but Oceanian populations remain understudied [Woolcock et al., 1972; Cotes et al., 1974; Senn et al., 2010]. We tested the hypothesis that highlanders phenotypically differ from lowlanders in Papua New Guinea, as a result of inhabiting the highest mountains in Oceania for at least 20,000 years. Materials and methods We collected data for 13 different phenotypes related to altitude for 162 Papua New Guineans living at high altitude (Mont Wilhelm, 2,300-2,700 m above sea level (a.s.l.) and low altitude (Daru, <100m a.s.l.). Multilinear regressions were performed to detect differences between highlanders and lowlanders for phenotypic measurements related to body proportions, pulmonary function, and the circulatory system. Results Six phenotypes were significantly different between Papua New Guinean highlanders and lowlanders. Highlanders show shorter height (p-value = 0.001), smaller waist circumference (p-value = 0.002), larger Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) (p-value = 0.008), larger maximal (pvalue = 3.20e -4) and minimal chest depth (p-value = 2.37e -5) and higher haemoglobin concentration (p-value = 3.36e -4). Discussion Our study reports specific phenotypes in Papua New Guinean highlanders potentially related to altitude adaptation. Similar to other human groups adapted to high altitude, the evolutionary history of Papua New Guineans appears to have also followed an adaptive biological strategy for altitude

Numerical modelling and experimental verification of blown film processing

A non-isothermal viscoelastic Kelvin model was developed to simulate the film blowing process. The predictions made by the Kelvin model for processing characteristics, such as bubble diameter, film thickness and strain rate profiles were compared to predictions from the non-isothermal Newtonian model and actual experimental film blowing data of polypropylene (PP). Reasonable agreement was found between the non-isothermal Newtonian model and experimentally observed bubble characteristics. However, by incorporating the elasticity of the polymer elasticity, using the Kelvin model, predictions were found to significantly improve. The reasonably good agreement between the theoretical predictions from the non-isothermal Kelvin model and actual experimental data may be due to the relatively small Hencky strains and strain rates used in the film blowing conditions in this work. Temperature was found to be the most critical parameter which influenced the film blowing characteristics of PP. A correct estimate of the relaxation time of the polymer is particularly important in giving a reasonably accurate fit with the experimentally observed processing behaviour of the polymer. Experimentally observed bubble stability measurements indicated that the stable operating window for PP increased up to a frost line height of 210 mm beyond which the stability decreased

Extensional rheology of polypropylene in relation to processing characteristics

Transient extensional rheological behaviour of several polypropylene (PP) homo- and co-polymer grades was studied at different temperatures. In addition, shear rheological characterisation was completed. The structure of PP grades was characterised by using gel-permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and hot-stage optical microscopy (HS-OM). It was found that the extensional viscosity of the polymers followed the three-fold transient shear viscosity curves when the tests were conducted in fully molten state, as expected for linear polymer melts. However, the strain hardening behaviour was evident when PP was stretched in the semi-molten state, i.e. below its melting temperature (Tm). Similar to results of a recent study by Rauschenberger, three temperature zones of different extensional behaviour were found: linear viscoelastic behaviour and uniform drawing in the molten state (180°C), unstable drawing just above Tm (170°C) and stable drawing with strong strain hardening below Tm (165°C). The strain hardening behaviour was quantified and related to molecular structure and morphology of PP. It was found that none of the investigated parameters alone was sufficient to predict the extensional behaviour of PP. The definition of Extensional Viscosity Index (EVI) as the ratio of extensional viscosities at the Hencky strain of 3 and 1, respectively, was found to be practical for the evaluation of the polymers&#039; processability for the important industrial processes, such as BOPP film manufacturing, where extensional deformation predominates

Polyethylene flow prediction with a differential multi-mode Pom-Pom model

We report the first steps of a collaborative project between the University of Queensland, Polyflow, Michelin, SK Chemicals, and RMIT University; on simulation, validation and application of a recently introduced constitutive model designed to describe branched polymers. Whereas much progress has been made on predicting the complex flow behaviour of many - in particular linear - polymers, it sometimes appears difficult to predict simultaneously shear thinning and extensional strain hardening behaviour using traditional constitutive models. Recently a new viscoelastic model based on molecular topology, was proposed by McLeish and Larson (1998). We explore the predictive power of a differential multi-mode version of the pom-pom model for the flow behaviour of two commercial polymer melts: a (long-chain branched) low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and a (linear) high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The model responses are compared to elongational recovery experiments published by Langouche and Debbaut (1999), and start-up of simple shear flow, stress relaxation after simple and reverse step strain experiments carried out in our laboratory

Marital adjustment of patients with substance dependence, schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder

Background: Marital adjustment is considered as a part of social well-being. Disturbed marital relationship can directly affect the disease adjustment and the way they face disease outcomes and complications. It may adversely affect physical health, mental health, the quality-of-life and even economic status of individuals. Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the marital adjustment among patients with substance dependence, schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of each 30 patients with substance dependence, bipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia, diagnosed as per international classification of diseases-10 diagnostic criteria for research with a minimum duration of illness of 1 year were evaluated using marital adjustment questionnaire. The data was analyzed using parametric and non-parametric statistics. Results: Prevalence of poor marital adjustment in patients with schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and substance dependence was 60%, 70% and 50% respectively. There was a significant difference on overall marital adjustment among substance dependence and bipolar affective disorder patients. There was no significant difference on overall marital adjustment among patients with substance dependence and schizophrenia as well as among patients with schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder. On marital adjustment domains, schizophrenia patients had significantly poor sexual adjustment than substance dependence patients while bipolar affective disorder patients had significantly poor sexual and social adjustment compared with substance dependence patients. Conclusion: Patients with substance dependence have significant better overall marital adjustment compared with bipolar affective disorder patients. Patients with substance dependence have significantly better social and sexual adjustment than patients with bipolar affective disorder as well as significantly better sexual adjustment than schizophrenia patients