Structure Functions of the Nucleon in a Soliton Model

We study nucleon structure functions in the soliton picture of the bosonized Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model. We focus on their vacuum contributions and examine whether they are outweighed by their valence quark counterparts.Comment: 4 pages, contribution to the proc. of int. conf. QNP18, Tsukuba (Japan), Nov. 201

Nucleon Structure Functions from the NJL-Model Chiral Soliton

We present numerical simulations for unpolarized and polarized structure functions in a chiral soliton model. The soliton is constructed self-consistently from quark fields from which the structure functions are extracted. Central to the project is the implementation of regularizing the Dirac sea (or vacuum) contribution to structure functions from first principles. We discuss in detail how sum rules are realized at the level of the quark wave-functions in momentum space. The comparison with experimental data is convincing for the polarized structure functions but exhibits some discrepancies in the unpolarized case. The vacuum contribution to the polarized structure functions is particularly small.Comment: 23 pages, 11 figure

A Comparative Study of the Concept of Atonement in the Aboakyer Festival of the Effutu Tribe in Ghana and the Yom Kippur Festival of the Old Testament: Implications for Adventist Mission Among the Effutu

Statement of Problem History records that Christian missions have operated in Winneba since 1865 with various approaches being used to share the gospel with the Effutu. Though there have been successes, allegiance of the Effutu to their tribal gods, manifested especially during the Aboakyer festival, raises the need for a missiological bridge or intervention for an effective contextualized ministry among the Effutu of Winneba. Purpose of Study This research aims to develop a missiological model based on a comparative study of the OT Yom Kippur festival and the Effutu Aboakyer festival that will potentially facilitate more effective Adventist mission among the Effutu. Method To understand the concept of atonement, a literature review studied the concept of atonement in two parts—the biblical view (comprising the Old Testament and New Testament views), and the African Traditional Religion (ATR) perspective. Second an ethnographic research on the Effutu Aboakyer was done to understand its context, particularly, the origins, history, and the rituals of the Aboakyer festival. This involved individual and group interviews as well as participant observation. Using the comparative approach method, comparison and contrast between the Aboakyer and Yom Kippur, with its typological meaning (pointing to ultimate reality), was done to find (a) similarities between them that reveal points of contact and that will make Yom Kippur comprehensible to the Effutu; and also (b) differences that reveal inadequacies in their understanding of atonement that can be remedied by accepting the biblical model of atonement through two phases of atonement provided by Christ\u27s sacrifice. A missiological model that comprehensively and effectively addresses the Effutu situation was accordingly proposed. Conclusion Based upon the redemptive analogies (similarities) found in the analysis, and the differences that posed as challenges, the Yom Kippur, expressing the biblical model of atonement, was proposed as the appropriate modus operandi that will potentially facilitate a more effective incarnational mission among the Effutu. This model, which elucidates the two phases of atonement provided by Christ’s sacrifice, was found to have the remedy for the inadequacies (differences) of the Effutu in their understanding of atonement and also the theological insights to give the sanctuary message its eschatological emphasis needed for this time. The model will also put the Effutu history and cosmology into biblical perspective and help the Effutu direct their sacrifices and worship to God rather than the lesser gods

Preliminary studies on the effects of bulb size at planting and NPK fertilizer application on growth and yield of shallot (Allium cepa var. aggregatum L.)

ABSTRACTStudies were carried out at the University for Development Studies, Nyankpala, Ghana from July to September 2012 to determine the effects of bulb size at planting, and NPK fertilizer application on growth and yield of shallot. Small, medium and big bulbs of diameter 0.8 – 1.2 cm, 1.3 – 1.5 cm and 1.6 – 2 cm, respectively, were planted on the field. Two weeks after planting, NPK (15-15-15) fertilizer was applied at 0, 85, 170 or 255 kg ha-1. Treatment combinations were replicated three times in a randomized complete block design. Results of the study showed that planting large bulbs and applying no NPK fertilizer produced the highest leaf number, whilst the use of small bulb followed by an application of 85 or 170 kg ha-1 of NPK produced the least leaf number of leaves. The use of big bulbs at planting together with the application of 85 kg ha-1 of NPK gave the highest number of bulbs, whilst medium bulbs which received 255 kg ha-1 of NPK gave the least number of bulbs at harvest. Similarly, the application of 85 kg ha-1 of NPK to big bulbs gave the highest bulb fresh weight, whilst small bulbs which received no NPK application recorded the least bulb weight at harvest. In terms of bulb yield at harvest, the medium bulb also responded well to the application of 85 kg ha-1 of NPK fertilizer. In shallot production, especially in the study area, farmers should use big bulbs during planting and 85 kg ha-1 of NPK fertilizer should be applied for optimum bulb yield and vegetative growth. Original scientific paper. Received 03 Apr 14; revised 25 Sep 14

Generating temperature cycle profile from in-situ climatic condition for accurate prediction of thermo-mechanical degradation of c-Si photovoltaic module

The use of climate specific temperature-cycling profile is critical to precisely quantifying the degradation rate and accurately determining the service fatigue life of crystalline silicon photovoltaic (c-Si PV) module operating in various climates. A reliable in-situ outdoor weathering database is pivotal to generating the required climate specific temperature cycle profile. This research utilizes high-resolution data obtained at five minutes interval from installed c-Si PV modules to generate a temperature cycle profile that is representative of a test site in sub-Saharan Africa climate. The study collected a three-year data from 2012 to 2014 on weathering of c-Si PV module located at College of Engineering, KNUST Ghana. The data site is on latitude 6° 40″ N and longitude 1° 37″ W at an elevation of 250 m above sea level. Analysis of the data on temperature variation and thermally induced stresses demonstrates that the region has a profile with a ramp rate of 8.996 °C/h, a hot dwell time of 228 min, cold dwell time of 369 min. Maximum and minimum module temperatures of 58.9 °C and 23.7 °C, respectively; and a cycle time of 86400 s. Comparison with the IEC 61215 standards for terrestrial PV modules qualification reveals percentage changes of – 91%, 2180%, 3590%, 747% for the ramp rate, dwell (hot and cold) and cycle times, respectively. The generated in-situ temperature cycle profile predicts to qualify accurately, c-Si PV modules operating in the sub-Saharan African test site. The systematic technique employed in this study to generate the in-situ temperature cycle profile would be useful to the thermo-mechanical reliability research community. In addition, photovoltaic design and manufacturing engineers may harness the information to create climate specific robust c-Si PV module. Keywords: Temperature cycling, Ramp rates, Temperature gradient, Accelerated Thermal Cycling (ATC), Co-efficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE), Rainflow counting, In-situ data generatio

{\phi}^4 Solitary Waves in a Parabolic Potential: Existence, Stability, and Collisional Dynamics

We explore a {\phi}^4 model with an added external parabolic potential term. This term dramatically alters the spectral properties of the system. We identify single and multiple kink solutions and examine their stability features; importantly, all of the stationary structures turn out to be unstable. We complement these with a dynamical study of the evolution of a single kink in the trap, as well as of the scattering of kink and anti-kink solutions of the model. We see that some of the key characteristics of kink-antikink collisions, such as the critical velocity and the multi-bounce windows, are sensitively dependent on the trap strength parameter, as well as the initial displacement of the kink and antikink

Religion and HIV in Tanzania: Influence of Religious Beliefs on HIV stigma, Disclosure, and Treatment Attitudes.

Religion shapes everyday beliefs and activities, but few studies have examined its associations with attitudes about HIV. This exploratory study in Tanzania probed associations between religious beliefs and HIV stigma, disclosure, and attitudes toward antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. A self-administered survey was distributed to a convenience sample of parishioners (n = 438) attending Catholic, Lutheran, and Pentecostal churches in both urban and rural areas. The survey included questions about religious beliefs, opinions about HIV, and knowledge and attitudes about ARVs. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess how religion was associated with perceptions about HIV, HIV treatment, and people living with HIV/AIDS. Results indicate that shame-related HIV stigma is strongly associated with religious beliefs such as the belief that HIV is a punishment from God (p < 0.01) or that people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) have not followed the Word of God (p < 0.001). Most participants (84.2%) said that they would disclose their HIV status to their pastor or congregation if they became infected. Although the majority of respondents (80.8%) believed that prayer could cure HIV, almost all (93.7%) said that they would begin ARV treatment if they became HIV-infected. The multivariate analysis found that respondents' hypothetical willingness to begin ARV treatme was not significantly associated with the belief that prayer could cure HIV or with other religious factors. Refusal of ARV treatment was instead correlated with lack of secondary schooling and lack of knowledge about ARVs. The decision to start ARVs hinged primarily on education-level and knowledge about ARVs rather than on religious factors. Research results highlight the influence of religious beliefs on HIV-related stigma and willingness to disclose, and should help to inform HIV-education outreach for religious groups