Monitoring and evaluation in Malawi

When Ian Wilson and Carlos Barahona of the Statistical Services Centre at the University of Reading were asked to review an evaluation of the effectiveness of an aid package in Malawi, they expected a simple enough task. But few things in the developing world are simple. Where aid for the poorest is concerned, is evidence collected and analysed with enough rigour to enable well-informed decisions to be made?

ICGD 2003: International Cocoa Germplasm Database Version 5.2. CD-ROM

The current version of this database on CD-ROM contains information on 14 127 cocoa (Theobroma cacao) clones and their 14 112 synonyms, the origin and history of the clones and the clone names, and accession lists for 48 of the major cocoa gene banks including quarantine stations. Also included are morphological data for leaves, fruits and seeds, disease reactions, quality and agronomic characters, and reference information on common abbreviations and acronyms, cocoa gene bank addresses and a full bibliography (with hyperlinked reference to data). New additions are 748 photographs and drawings of 428 individual clones in 11 different locations. Also included are 376 profiles for 15 simple sequence repeat primer pairs on 331 clones held in the University of Reading Intermediate Cocoa Quarantine Facility. Minimum system requirements are Windows 95 or later, a Pentium 166 with 32 MB RAM, CD-ROM drive and a minimum 20 MB hard disk space. A user guide is included in the package.

Composite nanoparticles

The method of measuring the partition coefficient of a test molecule comprises incorporating the molecule in a composition of nanoparticles having a porous surface and a first solvent, wherein a second solvent has been absorbed into the porous surface, and said first solvent is immiscible with said second solvent, and then separating the nanoparticles and the first solvent. The amount of the molecule which remains in the first solvent is determined to enable calculation of the partition coefficient. The nanoparticles may have a magnetic core to allow easy separation.

Particulate matter mass concentration (PM10) under different ventilation methods in classrooms

Recently, studies have shown that the classroom environment is very important for students' health and performance. Thus, the evaluation of indoor air quality (IAQ) in a classroom is necessary to ensure students' well-being. In this paper the emphasis is on airborne concentration of particulate matter (PM) in adult education rooms. The mass concentration of PM10 particulates was measured in two classrooms under different ventilation methods in the University of Reading, UK, during the winter period of 2008. In another study the measurement of the concentration of particles was accompanied with measurements of CO2 concentration in these classrooms but this study is the subject of another publication. The ambient PM10, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, and rainfall events were monitored as well. In general, this study showed that outdoor particle concentrations and outdoor meteorological parameters were identified as significant factors influencing indoor particle concentration levels. Ventilation methods showed significant effects on air change rate and on indoor/outdoor (I/O) concentration ratios. Higher levels of indoor particulates were seen during occupancy periods. I/O ratios were significantly higher when classrooms were occupied than when they were unoccupied, indicating the effect of both people presence and outdoor particle concentration levels. The concentrations of PM10 indoors and outdoors did not meet the requirements of WHO standards for PM10 annual average.