facing the challenges of climate change and food security : the role of research, extension and communication for development

In line with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) this study defines climate change as any change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity. This report is a shortened version of the final study report, produced on request of FAO. The purpose of the shortened report is twofold: (1) to serve as a planning document to sharpen the climate change focus of research, extension and communication for development institutions (including FAO’s) in developing effective and relevant support activities for their partners and (2) to communicate the climate change support activities implemented by FAO in this field to potential partners and inform them about possible strategies and specific approaches that will enhance the role of extension, research and communication institutions and services for climate change adaptation (CCA). Besides introduction into the topic (section 1) the report discusses the context of climate change adaptation and its linkages with food security (section 2) and the analytical framework which has been used for the study (section 3). Subsequently, lessons learned from the case studies (section 4) are presented. A sketch of a new-style role for agriculture innovation support service agencies, including FAO (section 5) is provided. Finally, Annex 1 provides a more detailed conceptual framework linking agriculture innovation to the work of research, extension and communication for development

Residual stresses and practical adhesion: effect of organo-metallic complex formation and crystallization

Epoxy-amine liquid pre-polymers are often applied onto metallic substrates and cured to obtain painted materials or bonded joint structures. The overall performance of such systems depends on the interphase created between the epoxy amine polymer and the metallic substrate. When epoxyamine liquid mixtures are applied onto a metallic oxide layer, concomitant amine chemisorption and oxide dissolution occur leading to organo-metallic complex formation. Depending on the amine nature, as soon as the organo-metallic complex concentration is higher than the solubility product (e.g., isophoronediamine (IPDA)), these organo-metallic complexes crystallize as sharp needles. At the same time, the uncrystallized organo-metallic complexes react with the epoxy monomer to form, after curing cycle, a new network. Moreover, the crystal size increases with the solid/liquid contact time leading to an increase of intrinsic residual stresses and Young's modulus. When aliphatic diethylenetriamine (DETA) was used, no crystallization occurred, but the interphase formation was observed. The aim of this study was to understand and to establish the role of crystallization of organo-metallic complexes formed within the interphase on the practical adhesion performance. As the crystallization of the organo-metallic complex depends on the nature of the amine, two amine hardeners were used (IPDA inducing the formation of crystals and DETA without formation of crystals). For DGEBA-IPDA systems, the ultimate load decreases while residual stresses increase when the liquid/solid contact time increases. When no crystal formation was observed (e.g., DGEBADETA system), residual stresses, coating Young's modulus and ultimate load values all remained nearly constant irrespective of the liquid/solid contact time

The Specialist in Today’s University of Wisconsin – Extension

As part of a comprehensive strategic planning effort undertaken by the University of Wisconsin-Extension, Cooperative Extension Service (UWEX-CES), a web-based survey of state specialists was undertaken in the fall of 2007. This manuscript represents the “reporting-out” of the survey results. Based on the work of the strategic planning committee this survey covers a range of issues, but focuses on the role of the specialist in today’s UW-Extension as well as the notion of scholarship. Specialists in general reported that they felt comfortable in their own roles but expressed concern that non-Extension colleagues lacked an appreciation for Extension work and notions of scholarship. While specialists general enjoy wearing numerous “hats” they expressed concern that an increasingly smaller resource pool is pulling them in too many different directions. Specialists strongly subscribe to the idea that Extension educational programming is research based and that research must stand the test of peer review. There is disagreement, however, on what constitutes peer review. Many specialists have the opinion that publishing their work in appropriate scholarly journals is the standard barer of peer review while others disagree. Many noted in written and verbal comments, however, because of the wide heterogeneity of specialists it is difficult if not dangerous to talk about the “representative” specialist. Yet, the survey results suggest that on a range of issues, the specialists are generally in agreement

Investigations on the signal cascade initiating parturition in cattle

Bu çalışma, 16-18 Şubat 2011 tarihleri arasında Hannover[Almanya]’da düzenlenen 44. Annual Conference of Physiology and Pathology of Reproduction and 36. Mutual Conference on Veterinary and Human Reproductive Medicine’da bildiri olarak sunulmuştur