CAPRi technical workshop on Watershed Management Institutions: a summary paper

The System-wide Program for Collective Action and Property Rights (CAPRi) sponsored a workshop on Watershed Management Institutions, March 13-16, 1999 in Managua, Nicaragua. The workshop focused on methodologies for undertaking research on watersheds, particularly those issues and tools that enable a more thorough understanding of the complex interactions between the biophysical factors and socioeconomic institutions of watersheds. Both social and biophysical scientists from CGIAR and other research institutions were brought together to present research and participate in focused discussions on methodologies for addressing collective action and property rights, scale, participation, and impact assessment. The forum also provided an opportunity for participants to visit and learn from a watershed project being implemented by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), and to discuss one another's ongoing watershed research project experience and explore opportunities for collaboration.International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Impact assessment,

Roles and responsibilities in agile ICT for development

This paper examines the different roles in designing interactive software in a ICT for development context. Using experiences from a participatory action research project, in which we used agile methods to design and deploy an system to support ‘agricultural information flow’ for a co-operative of small farmers in rural India, we identify points of difference between the roles in standard descriptions of agile software methods and the roles as they emerged in our project. A key finding is the critical role played by a ‘Development Project Manager’ in facilitating dialogue, orchestrating the activities of other actors and in building the capabilities and confidence of all the participants in joint action

Evaluation of quenching media using the end-quench hardenability test

The purpose of the thesis was to evaluate the quenching speed of different quenching media by studying their behaviour in relation to hardenabilities of steels, using the standard A.S.T.M. End-quench Test. At the outset an understanding of the term Hardenability , so extensively used in industrial heat-treatment, is necessary, The property of a steel, of hardening on quenching to various depths beneath the surface is referred to as the \u27Hardenability . It may simply be called the susceptibility to hardening . Hardenability should be distinguished from the Hardening capacity , which represents the magnitude of the hardness achieved. The chief factors which affect the inherent hardenability of a steel are: 1. Amount of carbon in the steel. 2. Nature and amount of alloying element. 3. Austenitic grain size. 4. Method of manufacture. Besides these, there are other external factors which should be considered in performing any hardenability test --Introduction, pages 1-2

A perspective on how to improve the quality of life of elderly people living in rural areas

Introduction: We are going to witness the demographic shift with the predictable trends of population ageing and thus need to understand healthy ageing. This study was aimed to understand factors that influence the quality of life (QOL) of the elderly. Methods: This was a qualitative study conducted in 4 selected villages including males and females of age group > 60 years of age. 20 elderly individuals and 10 elderly individuals were chosen for a free listing and pile sorting exercise respectively. Smith's index was calculated for a free listing. Multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis were conducted to do pile sorting of data. Data were analyzed using Flame v1.2 and Anthropac. Result: During free-listing, 54 salient items were identified. Financial stability, healthy living, self-sufficiency, and work engagement were the most frequent responses that came from the study subjects. 25 salient items that were repeated in the free-listing exercise were included for the pile-sorting. The piles generated ranged from 3-12. Later, 25 perceived items (factors) for improving quality of life were clustered into 5 groups (Role of harmonious family, healthy ageing, daily schedule activity, leisure time and external support). Conclusion: The elderly recognized that a harmonious family, healthy ageing, daily schedule with leisure activity, and Government support can all improve their quality of life

Ultrasonic Standoff Photoacoustic Sensor for the Detection of Explosive and Hazardous Molecules

Standoff photoacoustic spectroscopic technique has been studied for the detection of hazardous molecules adsorbed on surfaces and in vapour/aerosols form in open air. Detection and identification of components in explosive mixtures in trace amounts is very challenging by any point or standoff spectroscopic detection technique. Discusses detection and identification of such components using standoff laser photoacoustic spectroscopic technique. Laser photoacoustic spectra of various trace molecules in the mid-infrared spectral band 7 μm - 9 μm have been recorded in vapor, aerosol, liquid forms as well as samples adsorbed on surfaces such as plastic and cloth. Pulsed quantum cascade laser is modulated at a frequency of 42 kHz resonant with that of microphone. Hazardous chemicals/explosives adsorbed on plastic and cloths surfaces were detected from a standoff distance up to 1.5 m. The sensitivities were found to be 20 μg/cm2, 20 μl liquid and 1.0 ppm corresponding to solid, liquid and vapour phases respectively. The chemicals/explosives used in the study were PETN, DNT, Acetone, and DMMP. Our study suggests that the photoacoustic technique has high selectivity and sensitivity for the trace detection and be used for screening of suspicious objects for security applications as a handy product

More Evidence on the Impact of India's Conditional Cash Transfer Program, Janani Suraksha Yojana: Quasi-Experimental Evaluation of the Effects on Childhood Immunization and Other Reproductive and Child Health Outcomes

Background: In 2005, India established a conditional cash transfer program called Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), to increase institutional delivery and encourage the use of reproductive and child health-related services. Objective: To assess the effect of maternal receipt of financial assistance from JSY on childhood immunizations, post-partum care, breastfeeding practices, and care-seeking behaviors. Methods: We use data from the latest district-level household survey (2007–2008) to conduct a propensity score matching analysis with logistic regression. We conduct the analyses at the national level as well as separately across groups of states classified as high-focus and non-high-focus. We carry out several sensitivity analyses including a subgroup analysis stratified by possession of an immunization card. Results: Receipt of financial assistance from JSY led to an increase in immunization rates ranging from 3.1 (95%CI 2.2–4.0) percentage points for one dose of polio vaccine to 9.1 (95%CI 7.5–10.7) percentage points in the proportion of fully vaccinated children. Our findings also indicate JSY led to increased post-partum check-up rates and healthy early breastfeeding practices around the time of childbirth. No effect of JSY was found on exclusive breastfeeding practices and care-seeking behaviors. Effect sizes were consistently larger in states identified as being a key focus for the program. In an analysis stratified by possession of an immunization card, there was little to no effect of JSY among those with vaccination cards, while the effect size was much larger than the base case results for those missing vaccination cards, across nearly all immunization outcomes. Conclusions: Early results suggest the JSY program led to a significant increase in childhood immunization rates and some healthy reproductive health behaviors, but the structuring of financial incentives to pregnant women and health workers warrants further review. Causal interpretation of our results relies on the assumption that propensity scores balance unobservable characteristics

Prediction of Activity Factor and Signal Probability in Domino CMOS Circuits

Coordinated Science Laboratory was formerly known as Control Systems LaboratoryIntel Corp. and NSF Career Award / MIP-96-2323

A Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) evaluation of MB2 canals in endodontically treated permanent maxillary molars. A retrospective study in Indian population

Current technological advances have allowed application of different study designs and techniques for investigation of dental anatomy. Some clinical studies have provided evidence that Cone Beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanning is an important resource in assessment of root canal systems notably to identify MB2 canals in maxillary molars as CBCT scans allow in vivo dental investigation in axial, sagittal and coronal planes simultaneously. The current study was undertaken to detect and evaluate filled/unfilled MB2 canals in endodontically treated, asymptomatic maxillary molars utilizing cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). A retrospective study of 100 CBCTs of patients were underwent scanning for various treatment modalities, with asymptomatic endodontically treated permanent first and second maxillary molars were selected. History of root canal treatment varied from minimum of 1 year to a maximum of 10 years. Axial and paraxial images obtained were used to assess the presence of MB2 canal. Paraxial images were used to assess the periapical status. Of the 100 scans, 66 were of permanent maxillary first molar and 34 were of permanent maxillary second molar. The incidence of MB2 canal was 86.36% in maxillary first molars and 29.4% in maxillary second molars. 77.19 % of maxillary first molars and 90% of maxillary second molars had an unfilled MB2 canal. 72.7% of maxillary first molars and 88.8% of maxillary second molars showed significant periapical radiolucencies in unfilled MB2 canals. MB2 canals were present in majority of cases and most of the unfilled MB2 canals showed evidence of periapical radiolucencies

A case of rocky mountain spotted fever without eschar as a cause of pyrexia with multiple organ failure

Rocky mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a rickettsia disease frequently reported from North America and Europe and transmitted by tick bite. This disease is very rare in India and other parts of South East Asia. Fever with rash and thrombocytopenia are the hallmark clinical presentations of viral hemorrhagic fever but other diseases like malaria, typhoid, Leptospira and rickettsia diseases should also be considered in differential diagnosis. Knowledge of geographical distribution, evidence of exposure to the vector and a high degree of clinical suspicion of rickettsia diseases are very important for early differentiation from other diseases to prevent lethal complications and institute initial treatment. We report a rare case of rocky mountain spotted fever (RMSF) from New Delhi, which was confirmed by specific indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIF).