Radiative decay widths of ground and excited states of vector charmonium and bottomonium

In this work we study the radiative decay widths of vector quarkonia for the process of $J/\psi(nS)\rightarrow\eta_{c}(nS)\gamma$ and $\Upsilon(nS)\rightarrow\eta_{b}(nS)\gamma$ (for principal quantum numbers $n=1, 2, 3$) in the framework of Bethe-Salpeter equation under the covariant instantaneous ansatz using a $4\times 4$ form of BSE. The parameters of the framework were determined by a fit to the mass spectrum of ground states of pseudoscalar and vector quarkonia, such as; $\eta_{c}$, $\eta_{b}$, $J/\psi$ and $\Upsilon$. These input parameters so fixed were found to give good agreements with data on mass spectra of ground and excited states of pseudoscalar and vector quarkonia, leptonic decay constants of pseudoscalar and vector quarkonia, two photon decays and two gluon decays of pseudoscalar quarkonia in our recent paper. With these input parameters so fixed, the radiative decay widths of ground (1S) and excited (2S, 3S) states of heavy vector quarkonia ($J/\Psi$ and $\Upsilon$) are calculated and found to be in reasonable agreement with data.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figure. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1508.0613

Spectroscopy of ground and excited states of pseudoscalar and vector charmonium and bottomonium

In this work we calculate the mass spectrum, weak decay constants, two photon decay widths, and two gluon decay widths of ground (1S), and radially excited (2S,3S,...) states of pseudoscalar charmoniuum and bottomonium such as $\eta_{c}$ and $\eta_{b}$, as well as the mass spectrum and leptonic decay constants of ground state (1S), excited (2S,1D,3S,2D,4S,and 3D) states of vector charmonium and bottomonium such as $J/\psi$, and $\Upsilon$, using the formulation of Bethe-Salpeter equation under covariant Instantaneous Ansatz (CIA). Our results are in good agreement with data (where ever available) and other models. In this framework, from the beginning, we employ a $4\times 4$ representation for two-body ($q\overline{q}$) BS amplitude for calculating both the mass spectra as well as the transition amplitudes. However, the price we have to pay is to solve a coupled set of equations for both pseudoscalar and vector quarkonia, which we have explicitly shown get decoupled in the heavy-quark approximation, leading to mass spectral equation with analytical solutions for both masses, as well as eigenfunctions for all the above states, in an approximate harmonic oscillator basis. Further, in the present framework of BSE, the hadron-quark vertex function (and the full 4D BS wave function) for pseudoscalar and vector quarkonia used for calculation of various processes, accommodates all the Dirac structures from their complete set in a natural manner.Comment: 33 pages, 5 figure, 6 table

Gender, wealth, and participation in community groups in Meru Central District, Kenya:

"TA mixed-methods, multiple-stage approach was used to obtain data on how gender and wealth affected participation in community groups in Meru, Kenya, and how men and women farmers obtain and diffuse agricultural information. Research techniques included participant observation, documentary analysis, semi-structured interviews, social mapping, group timelines, and structured questionnaires. Dairy-goat farmer groups were interviewed for the study. Qualitative data provided baseline information, and helped in the formulation of research questions. Quantitative data were analyzed using contingency tables, descriptive statistics, correlations, tests of significance, and regression. Factors that affected participation in different types of groups included household composition, age, and gender. Women made up 59 percent of the dairy-goat group (DGG) members, with the DGG project encouraging women's participation. Women made up 76 percent of DGG treasurer positions; 43 percent of secretary positions, and 30 percent of chairperson positions. Gender also influenced participation in clan groups, water groups, and merry-go-round (savings and loans) groups. Wealth did not appear to have a significant effect on participation in community groups. Extension was the most important information source for both men and women farmers. However, church and indigenous knowledge (passed on from parents) seemed more important to women. Both men and women mentioned other farmers, groups, and “baraza” (public meetings used to make announcements and diffuse information) as important information sources, but they rated them at different levels of importance. Men were diffusing information to greater numbers of people than women, although men and women diffused to similar sources. This study shows that because men and women traditionally participate in different types of groups and receive agricultural information from different sources, development agencies must target different types of groups and institutions to reach men, women, or poor farmers. Mechanisms should be developed to include women, the poor, and other targeted groups in community associations that provide market and other income-earning opportunities.." Author's AbstractGender, Collective action,

Genetic Diversity and Characterization of Indigenous Rhizobium Leguminosarum Biovar Viciae Isolates of Cool-Season Food Legumes Grown in the Highlands of Ethiopia

Cool-season food legumes (CSFLs) are legumes of the temperate cool subtropical origin. In Ethiopian context these legumes encompass 5 legumes such as faba bean (Vicia faba), field pea (Pisum sativum), lentil (Lens culinaris), Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and Grasspea (Lathyrus sativus) and are cultivated on the highlands. These legumes have high economic values and provide rich protein sources for human and animal consumption. Although it was reported that, a few species taxonomically related to cultivated CSFL exist in Ethiopian. Thus, there is reason to believe that Ethiopian soils harbour diverse rhizobial isolates, which form symbiotic relationships with CSFLs. In general, there is little or no information is available on the diversity CSFL rhizobia across the country. This indicates that the extent and divergent of the local rhizobial populations belonging to the long cultivated lands are yet to discover. Thus, the importance of characterizing indigenous rhizobia cannot be overemphasized. It is important to establish which rhizobia nodulate which host(s) and how effectively and which rhizobia predominate which region in order to develop broad host range inoculants in the country. Hence, the current study was conducted with the objectives to isolate, characterise, and determine the morphological, biochemical, and genetic diversity of rhizobial syrnbionts to CSFLs grown of Ethiopia, and to determine inoculation effects of selected elite strains against introduced/exotic strains on the symbiotic growth and development of lentil (Lens culinaris). Over 150 indigenous Rhizobium species, syrnbionts to CSFLs, were collected from farmers' fields in the highlands of Ethiopia and categorized based on their rhizosphere pH and their agro-ecological zones (AEZ) origin. These isolates were characterised for their colony morphology, host specifity, cell growth rate and mean generation time, acid producing and intrinsic antibiotic resistance (IAR) characteristics. However, a more comprehensive and detail physiological (ATR, STL, IAA, C SUP), and genetic (RAPD, RE RFLP) characterization studies were made apparently for 90 representative isolates of the 150 isolates. Finally, field inoculation experiment was conducted on lentil plant using two elite and 2 exotic inoculant strains. The collection, isolation, colony morphological characterization, and field experiment studies were canied on in Ethiopia, while the physiological and genetic characterization studies were at the Universiti Putra Malaysia WPM) laboratories in Malaysia. The study recognized the different rhizosphere pH for the host and existing agroecological zones (AEZs) for the initial isolates sampling points and used as a tool to categorize the bulk rhizobial isolates. Thus, isolates constituted 3 and 4 categories for PERWsTRKbAN WTAN A W L SAW rhizosphere pH and AEZs, respectively. All isolates were Gram ne~%@&hdViY8A Ieguminosarum bv. viciae species. Results of the host range specifity study showed that of the 3 rhizobial biovars Vicia faba rhizobia were the most host discriminative rhizobia that formed less number of nodules on other host plants. Thus, Lens culinaris and Pisum sativum rhizobia showed almost similar host discriminative capacity. Isolates differentiated by morphological, acidlalkali production capacity and growth characteristics into 4, 2 and 4 categories, respectively. Approximately 40 % of the total isolates similarly exhibited a colony category of mucoid moisture, with circular shape, white opaque color, and raised structure. However, Lens culinaris rhizobia were distinguished apparently by two morphological characteristics. In general, 92% of the indigenous rhizobia isolates examined in this study were fast to very fast growing types acid producing types with overall MGT of 5.88 to 5.9 h- Eighty-three representative indigenous isolates and 4 reference strains were examined for their physiological characteristics such as Am, STL, IAA and C SUP and isolates showed variable response. Few rhizobial isolates were able to grow on acid media of pH 4.75 - 6.00. Two Vicia faba and one Pisum sativum rhizobia were the most acid tolerant isolates that grew at pH 4.75. A total of four Vicia faba and two Pisum sativum rhizobia were identified to be acid tolerant isolates. In contrary, some isolates of central and northwest highland origins were very sensitive to slightly low pH media of 6. TALI 399 grew apparently on pH 5.5 the reset ph>5.5. Some isolates of the same agro-ecology found to have uniform Am. The response of representative isolates to growth-inhibiting salt (NaC1) concentrations showed relatively law variations among isolates. Most (92%) isolates were able to grow well at salt concentration of 0.1 % and less. The rest 54 % isolates remained unchanged. Almost 78% isolates were tolerated to NaCl upto 0.2%. However, apparently, 3 isolates survived at the highest NaCl concentration of 0.3%. Isolates were homologues with the increased similarity level (>0.60) and 17 isolates had shown identical response with that of reference strains. The IAA concentration for the investigated isolates showed that indigenous isolates varied greatly in their IAA production capacity and formed 17 clusters. The IAA concentration reached up to 25.92 mg L-' with a mean of 9.9 mg L-'. In general, IAA producing capacity of isolates was remained the best indicator to distinguish and group rhizobial isolates. Isolates cluttered into 5 clusters at increased similarity level of >0.60. IAA was the best indicator among the tested physiological parameters for the divergence of isolates among each other. With respect to C SUP, most isolates preferred polyols, monosaccharide, and disaccharides as their first, second, and third choice carbon sources, respectively. Lentil rhizobia were indifferent for about 6 of the 8 C sources. Also, results from the current study showed great diversity among isolates with respect to their JAR capacity, making this test useful for distinguishing among isolates. Thirty-three isolates have shown multi-resistant characteristics and formed 18 identical antibiotic resistance profiles. However, number of similar clusters varied with an increase in similarity level of 0.60. Thirteen isolates were found significantly divergent from the bulk of isolates examined. Faba bean and field pea rhizobia had shown more or less uniform IAR capacity, whilst lentil rhizobia showed different IAR capacity for the examined antibiotics. DNA fragment analysis carried out for 95 representative isolates have shown a total of 83, 79, and 75 fragment patterns for RAPD-PCR, HaeIII and MspI RE-RFLPs, respectively. These two enzymes per se showed highly polymorphic and distinct DNA profiles indicating the divergence of Rhizobium isolates. RE digestion of Lens culinaris rhizobia with both enzymes yielded single PCR products with approximately 750 base pairs while the single band for Vicia faba and Pisum sativum yielded larger fragment of up to 1800 base pairs. Majority (76.17 %) showed significant genetic similarity, while the rest (23.83 %) isolates were divergent among each other. The RAPD-PCR and RE digestions methods formed 18, 13 and 20 clusters respectively. Hence, the DNA profile analysis showed that isolates were distinctly divergent among each other at higher similarity level of >O.60. Field inoculation experiment on lentil showed that elite inoculant strain EAUOO and imported commercial strain TALI402 in both single as well as mixed inoculant form(s) showed significant (P<0.05) increase in seed yield, yield components, nodulation and symbiotic growth of lentil. The study demonstrated that inoculant type of rhizobial strain sounds better than apparent use of different form(s) (single or mixed inoculants) of inoculants under lentil. Moreover, divergent of rhizobia within Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae nodulating CSFLs, the field performance of the 2 strains (EAUOO and TAL1402) and the presence indigenous rhizobia that have similar characteristics with strain EAUOO and TALI402 indicates the future potential for identification of new competitive and efficient Rhizobium leguminosarum strains for the country

Household energy and recycling of nutrients and carbon to the soil in integrated crop-livestock farming systems : a case study in Kumbursa village, Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Acknowledgements We are grateful to the farmers of Kumbursa village for their wholehearted cooperation in providing genuine responses to interview questions during the household survey. We are also thankful to the Development Agent of Kumbursa village, Mr Dinku Chala, for facilitating our relations with farmers of the study area and for participating in data collection. We are indebted to Addis Ababa University and AUC funded Afri-Flame project (Adaptation of small-scale biogas digesters for use in rural households in Sub-Saharan Africa) for their joint financial support. Our heartfelt gratitude also goes to the staff of Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center for their cooperation in nutrient content analysis of crop residues and dung cakes. Finally, we owe our heartfelt indebtedness to the two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments which greatly contributed to the improvement and final refinement of this paperPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Biofuels and Food Security: Micro-evidence from Ethiopia

This paper provides microeconomic evidence on food security impacts of privately organized biofuel outgrower schemes in Ethiopia. We conducted a household and community level survey and evaluated the impact of castor bean firming. We use endogenous switching regressions to analyze the impact on food security. Food security (as measured by a ?food gap?) and food caloric intake is significantly better in households producing castor beans. ?Fuel? and ?food? are complements rather than substitutes at the micro-level in castor production in Ethiopia

Blind fluorescence structured illumination microscopy: A new reconstruction strategy

In this communication, a fast reconstruction algorithm is proposed for fluorescence \textit{blind} structured illumination microscopy (SIM) under the sample positivity constraint. This new algorithm is by far simpler and faster than existing solutions, paving the way to 3D and/or real-time 2D reconstruction.Comment: submitted to IEEE ICIP 201

Pneumococcal carriage, serotype distribution and risk factors in children with community-acquired pneumonia, 5 years after introduction of the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in Ethiopia

Background: There is a scarcity of data on pneumococcal serotypes carried by children in Ethiopia. We studied pneumococcal nasopharyngeal carriage rate, serotypes, and risk factors among children with community acquired pneumonia (CAP). Methods: A prospective observational cohort study was performed in children with CAP, aged 0-15 years, in 2 pediatric emergency departments in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Nasopharyngeal swabs were cultured, and serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae were determined by sequencing the cpsB gene and by the Quellung reaction. Risk factors were analyzed by using binary logistic regression. Results: Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 362 children with CAP. Pneumococcal carriage rate was 21.5% (78 of 362). The most common serotypes were 19A (27%), 16F (8.5%), and 6A (4.9%). In addition, 8.5% of the pneumococcal isolates were nontypeable. In bivariate analysis, children with a parent that smokes were more likely to carry pneumococci (crude odds ratio, 3.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-12.3; P =.023) than those with parents that do not smoke. In multivariable analysis, living in a house with >= 2 rooms (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.48; 95% CI, 0.28-0.82; P =.007) and vaccination with = 2 doses of 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) (AOR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.15-0.92; P =.033) were protective of pneumococcal carriage. Conclusions: Five years after introduction of PCV10 in Ethiopia, the vaccine-related serotype 19A was predominant in the nasopharynx of children with CAP. Continued evaluation of the direct and indirect impact of PCV10 on pneumococcal serotype distribution in Ethiopia is warranted

Organic Rural Innovation Systems and Networks: Findings From a Study of Ethiopian Smallholders

Agriculture in Ethiopia is changing. New players, relationships, and policies are influencing the ways in which information and knowledge are used by smallholders. While this growing complexity suggests opportunities for Ethiopian smallholders, too little is known about how these opportunities can be effectively leveraged to promote pro-poor processes of rural innovation. This paper examines Ethiopia’s smallholder agricultural sector from an innovation systems perspective to understand the changing roles, responsibilities, and interactions of diverse actors in relation to smallholder livelihoods. The paper uses a combination of qualitative and quantitative research tools to paint a picture of the innovation landscape at both the system and local levels. Findings suggest that public sector extension, administration, and related service providers form a closely-knit network in rural Ethiopia with the ability to influence smallholder access to knowledge and information. Given the Government of Ethiopia’s priorities of improving rural welfare by increasing market access among smallholders, these findings suggest the need for policies and programs designed to strengthen innovative capabilities among rural service providers from the public sector, and to create more space for private and civil society actors to participate in smallholder innovation networks.Ethiopia, Agricultural development, innovation, technology, Social networks, Social learning, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Consumer/Household Economics, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, International Relations/Trade, Marketing, Productivity Analysis, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Demographic Data for Development Decisionmaking: Case Studies From Ethiopia and Uganda

Analyzes the lack of demographic and socioeconomic data, limited access to and use of existing data, and insufficient demand for their application in policy making and resource allocation. Makes recommendations for greater access, demand, and use of data