The turnover of public tubewells in Uttar Pradesh: a case study of a successful cooperative societyLength: pp.231-242Length: pp.177-190

Irrigation managementPrivatizationTube wellsCooperativesCase studies

Gender and aquaculture: sharing the benefits equitably

Aquaculture is the fastest growing agricultural sector in the world; it can meet both the food security and cash needs of poor households in Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. Women’s involvement in aquaculture is more significant than often assumed. In many developing countries formal statistics often overlook the nature and extent of their vital contribution. Research on gender and aquaculture at the WorldFish Center identifies five key themes for consideration. 1) Market, trade and migration 2)Capabilities and well being 3)Identities and networks 4)Governance and rights 5)Climate change, disaster and resilience.Aquaculture, Women

Along-the-channel modeling and analysis of PEFCs at low stoichiometry: Development of a 1+2D model

Water management remains a key challenge in polymer-electrolyte fuel cells. In this work, a pseudo 3-D (1+2D) model is developed to account better for changes of water management along the channel, as well as verify the possibilities of using differential cells for data capture and translation to integral cell performance. An accurate 2-D membrane-electrode-assembly model is developed for differential cell modeling, which is combined with an along-the-channel stepping algorithm to account for down the channel changes in pressure, temperature, reactant concentration, and relative humidity. Variations in cell performance along the channel due to changes in operating conditions are characterized quantitatively and optimized, where drier feed conditions demonstratively require such an approach. Overall, the study identifies gaps between differential and integral cells including those related to flow velocity and highlights the need for better models to understand and link integral cell performance and water management

Spatial variability of aridity oyer northern India

Spatial variability of aridity over northern India (north of 20°N) is studied by examining variations in the arid area. Area with an objectively determined summer monsoon rainfall (June to September total) of less than 500 mm is identified as arid area. The summer monsoon rainfall of 212 rain-gauges from 212 districts of the region for the period 1871-1984 are used in the analysis. An interesting feature of the arid area series is that it shows decreasing trend from beginning of the present century. The summer monsoon rainfall fluctuations over five subjectively divided zones over northern India are examined to understand the association between rainfall and the arid area variations. The rainfall series for northwest India shows a significant increasing trend and that for northeast India a significant decreasing trend from the beginning of this century. Rainfall fluctuations over the remaining zones can be considered intermediate stages of a systematic spatial change in the rainfall pattern. This suggested that the recent decreasing trend in the arid area is due to a westward shift in the monsoon rainfall activities. From correlation analyses it is inferred that perhaps the recent decreasing trend in the arid area and increasing trend in the monsoon rainfall over northwest India are associated with a warming trend of the northern hemisphere

The 404 MHZ wind profiler to observe precipitation

This article delineates the tropical precipitation and classification of precipitating systems into stratiform and convective type, using the UHF wind profiler located at the Indian tropical station Pune (18°32'N, 73°51'E). Under moderate rain conditions the two signals arising due to clear air motions and precipitation are clearly distinguished in the power spectra. An algorithm with suitable methodology has been developed that separates clear air and precipitation echoes when they are clearly distinguishable as seen in the power spectrum. This was tested for various power spectra and found to work well under moderate rain conditions. The sensitivity of the threshold was tested for the precipitation observed on 25 July 2005. In addition, case studies of stratiform rain (precipitation observed over the site on 26 July 2005, 0800 h IST) and convective system (a thunderstorm observed on 16 May 2004) are presented and discussed. An attempt has been made to fit a Gaussian distribution curve to determine the actual Doppler shift and spectral width. The observed convective and stratiform precipitation is described in terms of reflectivity, maximum spectral width and Doppler velocity gradient in the vertical

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis: the spectrum of computed tomography appearances

AbstractAlthough computed tomography (CT) of the thorax has been compared to plain chest radiography and bronchography for demonstration of central bronchiectasis (CB) in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), the CT presentation of the disease is yet to be highlighted. With this in view, the CT appearances in 23 patients with ABPA were evaluated. The scans were assessed for bronchial, parenchymal and pleural abnormalities.Central bronchiectasis was identified in all patients, involving 114 (85%) of the 134 lobes and 210 (52%) of the 406 segments studied. Other bronchial abnormalities such as dilated and totally occluded bronchi (11 patients), air-fluid levels within dilated bronchi (five patients), bronchial wall thickening (10 patients) and parallel-line shadows (seven patients) were also observed.Parenchymal abnormalities, which had a predilection for upper lobes, included consolidation in 10 (43%) patients, collapse in four (17%) patients and parenchymal scarring in 19 (83%) patients. A total of six cavities were seen in three (13%) patients, and an emphysematous bullae was detected in one (4%) patient. The pleura was involved in 10 (43%) patients. Ipsilateral pleural effusion with collapse was observed in one patient, while in nine other patients, parenchymal lesions extended up to the pleura. Concomitant allergic Aspergillus sinusitis (AAS) was also detected in three (13%) of the 23 patients.Computed tomography of the thorax in patients with ABPA provides a sensitive method for the assessment of bronchial, parenchymal and pleural abnormalities, and should constitute a part of the diagnostic work of the disease