The continued value of disk diffusion for assessing antimicrobial susceptibility in clinical laboratories: Report from the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute Methods Development and Standardization Working Group

Expedited pathways to antimicrobial agent approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have led to increased delays between drug approval and the availability of FDA-cleared antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) devices.</jats:p

SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF SOIL FERTILITY MANAGEMENT USING INTEGRATED HOUSEHOLD AND GIS DATA FROM SMALLHOLDER KENYAN FARMS

Although soil fertility is recognized as a primary constraint to agricultural production in developing countries, use of fertilizer in Sub-Saharan Africa is declining. Smallholder farmers still rely heavily on livestock manure for soil fertility management. To explore the determinants of soil fertility management practices, including both the use of cattle manure and inorganic fertilizer, data are used from a sample of 3,330 geo-referenced farm households across Central and Western Kenya. A bivariate probit model is applied to jointly examine the use of the two technologies. Particular attention is given to measures of location related to market access and agroclimate, which in the adoption literature have typically been addressed using crude proxies. To avoid such proxies, GIS-derived variables are integrated into the household decision model. Their use also allows the spatial prediction of uptake based on parameter estimates. The results show clearly the derived-demand nature of soil fertility services, based on markets for farm outputs. They also illustrate that supply of manure for soil fertility amendments is conditioned by demand for livestock products, especially milk. The integration of GIS-derived variables is shown to better estimate the effects of location than the usual measures employed, and offers scope to wider use in technology adoption research.spatial analysis, soil fertility, market access, technology adoption., Farm Management, Land Economics/Use, Q12, Q16,

Radio Jet-Ambient Medium Interactions on Parsec Scales in the Blazar 1055+018

As part of our study of the magnetic fields of AGN we have recently observed a large sample of blazars with the Very Long Baseline Array. Here we report the discovery of a striking two-component jet in the source 1055+018, consisting of an inner spine with a transverse magnetic field, and a fragmentary but distinct boundary layer with a longitudinal magnetic field. The polarization distribution in the spine strongly supports shocked-jet models while that in the boundary layer suggests interaction with the surrounding medium. This behavior suggests a new way to understand the differing polarization properties of strong- and weak-lined blazars.Comment: LaTex; 10 pages; 6 figures; reference fix; to appear in ApJL, 518, 1999 June 2

Farmer Perception of Technology and its Impact on Technology Uptake: The Case of Fodder Legume in Central Kenya Highlands.

Technology adoption by farmers is crucial to increasing agricultural productivity hence meeting food and nutrition challenges in Africa. Economists investigating consumer demand have accumulated considerable evidence showing that consumers generally have subjective preferences for product attributes. However, when investigating adoption of new agricultural technologies, economists have lagged behind in analysing how farmers' (the consumer of agricultural technologies) subjective perceptions of technology characteristics affect their adoption decisions. Focusing on farmer perceptions of technologies may provide a better understanding of technology adoption since they deal with the technologies and probably perceive technologies differently from researchers and extension agents. The objective of this paper is to investigate farmers' perception of technology and its impact on adoption using a case study of legume forages in central Kenya highlands. Data from a random sample of 131 farm households in four districts in central Kenya was used. Using participatory techniques, four most important fodder legume attributes to farmers in their adoption decision were identified. These were then used in conjoint analysis. An ordered probit model was estimated to assess relative importance of each attribute to the farmer. A tobit model was also estimated to show the effect of farmers' perception of calliandra and desmodium on probability and intensity of adoption. Results showed that dry season tolerance and economy on land are most important characteristics of fodder legumes to the farmers. It was also found that Calliandra and desmodium were more relevant to the farmers in the area than other fodders. Farmers' perception of the two fodders had a significant impact on their adoption. Consequently, it was recommended that before introducing a technology in an area, it is necessary that the farmers' perception of the technology be analysed Conjoint analysis, ordered probit and tobit estimates, fodder legume adoption.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Sensitive VLBI Continuum and H I Absorption Observations of NGC 7674: First Scientific Observations with the Combined Array VLBA, VLA & Arecibo

We present phase-referenced VLBI observations of the radio continuum emission from, and the H I 21 cm absorption toward, the Luminous Infrared Galaxy NGC 7674. The observations were carried out at 1380 MHz using the VLBA, the phased VLA, and theArecibo radio telescope. These observations constitute the first scientific use of the Arecibo telescope in a VLBI observation with the VLBA. The high- and low-resolution radio continuum images reveal several new continuum structures in the nuclear region of this galaxy. At ~100 mas resolution, we distinguish six continuum structures extending over 1.4 arcsec, with a total flux density of 138 mJy. Only three of these structures were known previously. All these structures seem to be related to AGN activity. At the full resolution of the array, we only detect two of the six continuum structures. Both are composed of several compact components with brightness temperatures on the order of $10^{7}$ K. While it is possible that one of these compact structures could host an AGN, they could also be shock-like features formed by the interaction of the jet with compact interstellar clouds in the nuclear region of this galaxy. Complex H I absorption is detected with our VLBI array at both high and low angular resolution. Assuming that the widest H I feature is associated with a rotating H I disk or torus feeding a central AGN, we estimate an enclosed dynamical mass of ~7 x 10^7 M_sun, comparable to the value derived from the hidden broad H$\beta$ emission in this galaxy. The narrower H I lines could represent clumpy neutral hydrogen structures in the H I torus. The detection of H I absorption toward some of the continuum components, and its absence toward others, suggest an inclined H I disk or torus in the central region of NGC 7674.Comment: 37 pages, 11 figures. ApJ accepted. To appear in the Nov. 10, 2003 issue of ApJ. Please use the PDF version if the postscript doesn't show the figure

Championing urban farmers in Kampala. Influences on local policy change in Uganda. Process and partnership for pro-poor policy change

This working paper presents an analysis of actors, events and influences affecting a policy change on urban agriculture in Kampala. It reviews the policy and institutional changes related to urban agriculture that occurred in Kampala from 1990 to 2006, and examines how and why they came about. The approach used here combined elements of three established methodologies, viz, episode studies; case study analysis; and outcome mapping. For this case study, the episode study component was central, with the case study and outcome mapping components used to cross-check and deepen the analysis. This information was assembled into three overlapping narratives: 1. A timeline of activities that played a role in changing attitudes and behaviour towards urban agriculture. 2. An analysis of the development of policies affecting urban agriculture in Kampala including the new ordinances. 3. A description of behaviour change of key actors related to the policy change These were summarised in a visual representation of the process and influences and analysed using a framework emphasising political context and the roles of evidence, linkages and external environment

Come to Daddy? Claiming Chris Cunningham for British Art Cinema

Twenty years after he came to prominence via a series of provocative, ground-breaking music videos, Chris Cunningham remains a troubling, elusive figure within British visual culture. His output – which includes short films, advertisements, art gallery commissions, installations, music production and a touring multi-screen live performance – is relatively slim, and his seemingly slow work rate (and tendency to leave projects uncompleted or unreleased) has been a frustration for fans and commentators, particularly those who hoped he would channel his interests and talents into a full-length ‘feature’ film project. There has been a diverse critical response to his musical sensitivity, his associations with UK electronica culture – and the Warp label in particular – his working relationship with Aphex Twin, his importance within the history of the pop video and his deployment of transgressive, suggestive imagery involving mutated, traumatised or robotic bodies. However, this article makes a claim for placing Cunningham within discourses of British art cinema. It proposes that the many contradictions that define and animate Cunningham's work – narrative versus abstraction, political engagement versus surrealism, sincerity versus provocation, commerce versus experimentation, art versus craft, a ‘British’ sensibility versus a transnational one – are also those that typify a particular terrain of British film culture that falls awkwardly between populism and experimentalism