Contribution Of Universities Towards Knowledge Of Millennium Development Goals (MDGS): A Study Of Uganda And Kenya

This paper examines the contribution of universities towards students’ awareness of issues related to Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The assessment is based on data of 1,920 students randomly selected from universities in Uganda and Kenya. Frequency distributions, the Chi-square test, and complementary log-log regression were used for analysis. About 74% (n = 1,100) of students aware of MDGs (n = 1,484) affirmed that they had acquired this information from universities where they were enrolled. In the multivariate assessment, modeled by a range of university and student characteristics, the reported contribution of universities in fostering knowledge of MDGs was more likely among students enrolled in master’s programs, those in the sciences, and among males. The findings suggest a high level of awareness of MDGs among university students but a shallow knowledge base of aspects related to the goals. Suggestions for enhancing knowledge of the goals centered on two aspects: i) incorporation of MDGs in curriculum content, particularly in the undergraduate and Arts programs, and ii) widening the dissemination platform of research findings among students

Knowledge Of Millennium Development Goals Among University Faculty In Uganda And Kenya

This article examines the level of knowledge of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) among university faculty. The assessment is based on data from 197 academic unit or faculty heads randomly selected from universities in Uganda and Kenya. Frequency distributions and logistic regression were used for analysis. Slightly more than one in three (36.1%) faculty heads were knowledgeable about issues related to MDGs—awareness of goals, correct number of goals, year of establishment of goals and deadline for achieving them. Univariate logistic analysis of knowledge of issues related to these goals on the basis of the characteristics of universities and faculty heads showed hardly any significant variations with these variables. The results point to a general, shallow knowledge base with regard to aspects related to the goals among the university faculty. Thus, to enhance the contribution of universities towards fostering knowledge of MDGs among students, such an understanding must first be established among the university faculty, particularly the teaching staff

The Pine Needle, November 1946

Libraries and archives collect materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. As a result, materials such as those presented here may reflect sexist, misogynistic, abusive, racist, or discriminatory attitudes or actions that some may find disturbing, harmful, or difficult to view.Both a humor and literary magazine, The Pine Needle was a University of Maine periodical that began publication in the fall of 1946, the first post-World War II semester that saw GIs returning to campus. Of the 32 student staff members listed in the publication\u27s November 1946 mast head, the Managing Editor Dana T. Whitman and six additional students were returning Veterans, including Clair Chamberlain, Bill Gibson, Don Caswell, Dick Haskell, Don Devoe, and Don Crossland. The Needle reflected an edginess, sophistication, and rebellion not found in previous UMaine student publications which reflected a sense of homely, shared cultural experiences among students. While past student publications relied on veiled euphemisms for drunkenness and dating on campus, The Needle crashed out of the gates with an emphasis on sex and sexualizing co-eds, as well as the use of drugs, tobacco, and alcohol by students returning from war. Cover art for this issue is by Bonnie Cratty (1925-2010) of Bangor. The chalk illustration depicts a pair of disembodied lips smoking a pipe hovering above a fuller pair of disembodied lips smoking a cigarette. Tobacco smoke trails upward, spelling out the words Pine Needle. Cratty, who also served as the Make-up Editor [in charge of the magazine\u27s layout] is described by the editorial staff as ...our chief cocaine eater..., potentially a reference to Benzedrine and other amphetamines that grew in popularity during the war years as soldiers and citizens battled the physical, psychological, and social impact of the war. Following graduation, Cratty found employment with the U.S. Displaced Persons Commission in Frankfurt, Germany. She later transferred to the office of the U.S. Land Observer for Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany, then to the U.S. Consulate, Munich, Germany and finally the U.S. Army Intelligence School, Oberammergau, Germany. Following her marriage to Major Meade Klemme of the U.S. Air Force, the couple settled in Fairfield, California

Contribution to the Physical Modelling of Single Charged Defects Causing the Random Telegraph Noise in Junctionless FinFET

In this paper, different physical models of single trap defects are considered, which are localized in the oxide layer or at the oxide–semiconductor interface of field effect transistors. The influence of these defects with different sizes and shapes on the amplitude of the random telegraph noise (RTN) in Junctionless Fin Field Effect Transistor (FinFET) is modelled and simulated. The RTN amplitude dependence on the number of single charges trapped in a single defect is modelled and simulated too. It is found out that the RTN amplitude in the Junctionless FinFET does not depend on the shape, nor on the size of the single defect area. However, the RTN amplitude in the subthreshold region does considerably depend on the number of single charges trapped in the defectThis research was funded by Ministry of Innovation Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan, grant number OT-F2-67S

The linked survival prospects of siblings : evidence for the Indian states

This paper reports an analysis of micro-data for India that shows a high correlation in infant mortality among siblings. In 13 of 15 states, we identify a causal effect of infant death on the risk of infant death of the subsequent sibling (a scarring effect), after controlling for mother-level heterogeneity. The scarring effects are large, the only other covariate with a similarly large effect being mother’s (secondary or higher) education. The two states in which evidence of scarring is weak are Punjab, the richest, and Kerala, the socially most progressive. The size of the scarring effect depends upon the sex of the previous child in three states, in a direction consistent with son-preference. Evidence of scarring implies that policies targeted at reducing infant mortality will have social multiplier effects by helping avoid the death of subsequent siblings. Comparison of other covariate effects across the states offers some interesting new insights

Video Evaluation of Self-Regulation Skills in Preschool Aged Children with Developmental Delays: Can the impact of Tumbling Together be Measured?

OBJECTIVES This study evaluated the feasibility of video recording to evaluate an innovative, multi-disciplinary exercise medicine intervention, called Tumbling TogetherTM, on the self-regulation skills required for successful group participation. METHODS A photographer, who did not interact with participants and maintained a consistent position outside of the program area, used a digital video camera to record the program activities. Response to a stop command (attempts after the signal), ability to wait for a turn (yes/no), and ability to line up (correct/incorrect position) were the indicators of self-regulation. Video recordings were analyzed to determine each child’s baseline (first two sessions) and post-program (last two sessions) abilities. Chisquare and t-tests identified differences in performance from beginning to end of the program. RESULTS Video recordings were analyzed for 27 children (3 (11%) female, 3.1 to 4.8 years of age) with complex communication/developmental challenges. Response to a stop command improved by 38% (Pre: 2.1 ± 0.9; Post: 1.3 ± 0.4; p<.001). Correct response to a line up signal improved from 26% to 89% (p<.001). The ability to wait for a turn when required increased from 7% to 80% (p<.001). CONCLUSIONS Video recordings suitable for analysis were obtained during all sessions. Children’s skills performed during the first two classes were similar. Their skills improved between the start and end of the program. Video recordings accurately reflected the improved performance subjectively reported by therapists and parents. Therefore, video recording appears to be an appropriate method of evaluating the impact of exercise medicine interventions, such as Tumbling TogetherTM, that are designed to enhance the self-regulation skills of preschool children. Research comparing Tumbling participants to children not offered the program, and examining whether the self-regulation skills improved during Tumbling participation would generalize to other settings is required

Dependence of hard x-ray yield on laser pulse parameters in the wavelength-cubed regime

Conversion efficiency and electron temperature scaling laws are experimentally studied in the wavelength-cubed (λ3)(λ3) regime, where a single-wavelength focus allows low energy pulses incident on a Mo target to produce x rays with excellent efficiency and improved spatial coherence. Focused intensity is varied from 2×10162×1016 to 2×1018 W/cm2.2×1018W/cm2. Conversion efficiency and electron temperature are best described by a power law for energy scaling while an exponential law best describes the scaling of these parameters with pulse duration. © 2004 American Institute of Physics.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/69364/2/APPLAB-84-13-2259-1.pd

High resolution hard x-ray spectroscopy of femtosecond laser-produced plasmas with a CZT detector

We present measurement of characteristic KαKα emission from Mo, Ag, and La targets irradiated by a 60 fs, 600 mJ, 10 Hz Ti:sapphire laser pulse at 1017–1019 W/cm2.1017–1019W/cm2. These x-ray emissions can potentially be used in applications from laser-based hard x-ray sources to x-ray mammography so detailed knowledge of the spectra is required to assess imaging of the figure of merit. We show here that high resolving hard x-ray spectroscopy can be achieved, with resolving powers (E/ΔE)(E/ΔE) of 60 at 18 keV, with cadmium–zinc–telluride detection system. The KαKα conversion efficiency from the laser light to the KαKα photon was optimized thanks to this diagnostic and values as high as 2×10−52×10−5 were obtained. © 2003 American Institute of Physics.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/70312/2/RSINAK-74-12-5035-1.pd

Study of hard x-ray emission from intense femtosecond TiTi:sapphire laser–solid target interactions

Interaction of intense TiTi:sapphire laser with solid targets has been studied experimentally by measuring hard x-ray and hot electron generation. Hard x-ray (8–100 keV)(8–100keV) emission spectrum and KαKα x-ray conversion efficiency (ηK)(ηK) from plasma have been studied as a function of laser intensity (1017–1019  W/cm2)(1017–1019W∕cm2), pulse duration (70–400)fs(70–400)fs, and laser pulse fluence. For intensity I>1×1017 W/cm2I>1×1017W∕cm2, the Ag ηKAgηK increases to reach a maximum value of 2×10−52×10−5 at an intensity I = 4×1018 W/cm2I=4×1018W∕cm2. Hot electron temperature (KTh)(KTh) and ηKηK scaling laws have been studied as a function of the laser parameters. A stronger dependence of KThKTh and ηKηK as a function of the laser fluence than on pulse duration or laser intensity has been observed. The contribution of another nonlinear mechanism, besides resonance absorption, to hard x-ray enhancement has been demonstrated via hot electron angular distribution and particle-in-cell simulations.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/71221/2/PHPAEN-11-9-4439-1.pd

The remarkable surface homogeneity of the Dawn mission target (1) Ceres

Dwarf-planet (1) Ceres is one of the two targets, along with (4) Vesta, that will be studied by the NASA Dawn spacecraft via imaging, visible and near-infrared spectroscopy, and gamma-ray and neutron spectroscopy. While Ceres' visible and near-infrared disk-integrated spectra have been well characterized, little has been done about quantifying spectral variations over the surface. Any spectral variation would give us insights on the geographical variation of the composition and/or the surface age. The only work so far was that of Rivkin & Volquardsen (2010, Icarus 206, 327) who reported rotationally-resolved spectroscopic (disk-integrated) observations in the 2.2-4.0 {\mu}m range; their observations showed evidence for a relatively uniform surface. Here, we report disk-resolved observations of Ceres with SINFONI (ESO VLT) in the 1.17-1.32 {\mu}m and 1.45-2.35 {\mu}m wavelength ranges. The observations were made under excellent seeing conditions (0.6"), allowing us to reach a spatial resolution of ~75 km on Ceres' surface. We do not find any spectral variation above a 3% level, suggesting a homogeneous surface at our spatial resolution. Slight variations (about 2%) of the spectral slope are detected, geographically correlated with the albedo markings reported from the analysis of the HST and Keck disk-resolved images of Ceres (Li et al., 2006, Icarus 182, 143; Carry et al., 2008, A&A 478, 235). Given the lack of constraints on the surface composition of Ceres, however, we cannot assert the causes of these variations.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in Icaru