Product Integral Representations of Wilson Lines and Wilson Loops, and Non-Abelian Stokes Theorem

We make use of product integrals to provide an unambiguous mathematical representation of Wilson line and Wilson loop operators. Then, drawing upon various properties of product integrals, we discuss such properties of these operators as approximating them with partial sums, their convergence, and their behavior under gauge transformations. We also obtain a surface product integral representation for the Wilson loop operator. The result can be interpreted as the non-abelian version of Stokes theorem.Comment: 20 pages, LaTe

Duration of exclusive breastfeeding and subsequent child feeding adequacy

Objective: Mothers of young children in Ghana believe that breastfeeding exclusively for six months impairs subsequent introduction of other foods. The current study was designed to determine whether feeding adequacy among 9-23 months old children is influenced by duration of exclusive  breastfeeding.Design: We surveyed 300 mother-infant pairs attending child-welfare-clinic at the University of Ghana Hospital, Accra. Data collected included  sociodemographic characteristics, morbidity, breastfeeding history, and maternal practices and perception on child feeding and temperament. Current child feeding was assessed using 24-hour dietary recall.  Adequately fed children were defined as 9-23 month old children meeting three basic feeding adequacy thresholds: 1) was fed complementary foods, at least three times in the last 24 hours, 2) was fed from at least three food groups, and 3) received breast milk in the last 24 hours. Multiple logistic regressions were used to identify independent predictors of child feeding adequacy.Results: About 66% of children were exclusively breastfed for six months and only 56% were adequately fed in the in the 24 hours preceding the survey. Child feeding adequacy was unrelated to duration of exclusive breastfeeding (OR=0.73; p=0.30). After controlling for child sex, age, and maternal education, the independent determinants of feeding adequacyincluded recent child morbidity (OR=0.41; p=0.03), number of caregivers who feed child (OR=1.33; p=0.03), and maternal perception that child does not like food (OR=0.25; p<0.01). Child temperament was unrelated to feeding adequacy.Conclusion: Child feeding adequacy is not affected by duration of exclusive breastfeeding. The study provides evidence to address misperceptions about exclusively breastfeeding for six months.Key words: Exclusive breastfeeding, child, dietary diversity, feeding adequacy, duratio

State of dietetics practice in Ghana

Objective: Prevalence of obesity and related diseases has increased in Ghana. Dietitians have essential skills to prevent and manage dietary diseases. However, little is known about dietetic practice in Ghana. This paper describes the history and current state of dietetics practice in Ghana.Methods: A questionnaire was administered to 13 dietitians and six dietetic interns in February 2012. The questionnaire collected data on perceptions about dietetics practice, career progression, and challenges in dietetics practice in Ghana. Key informant interviews (KII) on history of dietetics in Ghana were also held with four retired dietitians, and two dietetics  educators. Additional KII were conducted with the Chief dietitian, two officers of the Ghana Dietetic Association, and three other dietitians. Most KII were conducted faceto-face but a few were only possible via telephone.Some of the KII were audio-recorded, in addition to handwritten notes. Following transcription of audiorecorded interviews, all data were subjected to content analysis.Results: Dietetic practice in Ghana has evolved from low-skilled cadre (catering officers) offering hospitalbased meal services to the current era of available trained dietitians providing diet therapy in diverse settings. However, 80% of the 35 dietitians identified are working in Accra. In three regions of Ghana, there are no dietitians. There remain limited  opportunities for continuous learning and professional career advancement.Additionally, there are many unqualified dietitians in practice.Conclusion: A huge unmet need for dietitians exists in all regions of Ghana, except Greater Accra. Bridging this gap is essential to increase access to dietetic care throughout Ghana.Keywords: dietetics, professional practice, history, situational analysis, Ghan

Product Integral Formalism and Non-Abelian Stokes Theorem

We make use of the properties of product integrals to obtain a surface product integral representation for the Wilson loop operator. The result can be interpreted as the non-abelian version of Stokes' theorem.Comment: Latex; condensed version of hep-th/9903221, to appear in Jour. Math. Phy

Pathways Utilized for Antenatal Health Seeking Among Women in the Ga East District, Ghana

Background: Ghana’s maternal mortality ratio has been declining over the last two decades but at a rather slow pace. Poor access to effective maternity care is identified as one of the key challenges of maternity care. The current study mapped out the pathways to pregnancy care seeking among urban-dwelling adult women in a peri-urban district located in the Greater Accra region of Ghana.Methods: A total of 300 women who had a live birth in the last 12 months participated in a communitybased survey. They answered questions on care seeking behavior related to their last pregnancy. A multivariate Logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with multiple care seeking behavior.Results: Almost all women in the survey (98%) reported accessing skilled antenatal care (ANC) from a biomedical provider, although 35% begun ANC later than the first trimester. About 45% of women simultaneously utilized both ANC and alternative care providers (ACP) including traditional birth attendants, herbalists, and spiritualists. A complex pathway to antenatal care seeking behavior involving shuttling between providers was observed. Controlling for household wealth, household size, and age, seeking care from multiple providers concurrently was associated with residence in Kwabenya sub-district OR=2.13 (95% CI: 1.28, 3.55) and previous abortion OR=2.08 (95% CI: 1.11, 3.91)Conclusions: Urban-dwelling women in Ga East District seek antenatal care concurrently from multiple sources. Health system interventions must seek ways to integrate alternative care providers into the existing biomedical health care system.Keywords: multiple care seeking, pregnancy, pathway, alternative care, antenata

Desain Dan Perancangan Multi Channel Analyzer (Mca) Dengan 16 Input 4096 Kanal memori berbasis komputer pribadi dan sistem telemonitoring

The aim of this research is to set up a sufficient .system. which is used for a real-time Multi Channel Analyzer (MCA) with 16 inputs and 4096 remote channels based on a personal computer and a telernonitoring system. The completed research results in the hardware design of a multi channel analyzer (MCA) with 16 inputs and 4096 memory channels based on a personal computer. The MCA contains buffer analog series, a multiplexer, an ADC, a parallel port interface, and a power supply. Several tests were done step by step on each series, and then continued by an overall lest. The test result shows that the MCA can tramfer a I2-hit data SillMillancoffsly through the parallel port and can accommodate input voltage of Cl to 10 V The MCA has 230 la dead time, so if MaXiInfiln decay that could still be detected are 240,000 cpm. IN!, test results 012 % prove can convert pulses with constant height into the appropriate digital values. DNL test results 1,486 %. The experiment concludes that the MCA was capable to inform the channel number. A Radio FM can transfer data through radio frequency with operational frequency \u27UHF FM 937 MHz. Keywords: MCA, personal computer, radio 1.M.frequenc

Topological field theory and the quantum double of SU(2)

We study the quantum mechanics of a system of topologically interacting particles in 2+1 dimensions, which is described by coupling the particles to a Chern-Simons gauge field of an inhomogeneous group. Analysis of the phase space shows that for the particular case of ISO(3) Chern-Simons theory the underlying symmetry is that of the quantum double D(SU(2)), based on the homogeneous part of the gauge group. This in contrast to the usual q-deformed gauge group itself, which occurs in the case of a homogeneous gauge group. Subsequently, we describe the structure of the quantum double of a continuous group and the classification of its unitary irreducible representations. The comultiplication and the R-element of the quantum double allow for a natural description of the fusion properties and the nonabelian braid statistics of the particles. These typically manifest themselves in generalised Aharonov-Bohm scattering processes, for which we compute the differential cross sections. Finally, we briefly describe the structure of D(SO(2,1)), the underlying quantum double symmetry of (2+1)-dimensional quantum gravity.Comment: 48 pages, 3 figures, LaTeX2e; two remarks and a reference added, typos corrected; to appear in Nucl.Phys.