Tabled Labels: Consumers Eat Blind While Congress Feasts on Campaign Cash

As the Senate prepared to vote on its version of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) budget, Public Citizen released an investigation to illustrate how big agribusiness used millions of dollars in lobbying expenditures and campaign contributions, and a network of Washington insiders with close connections to the Bush administration and Congress, to thwart a consumer-friendly provision mandating country-of-origin labeling, popularly known as COOL.Mandatory country-of-origin labeling would require beef, pork, lamb, fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, fish, and peanuts to be labeled with where they were raised, grown or produced. Although the 2002 Farm Bill stipulated that the new program be implemented by September 2004, mandatory COOL has been postponed by Congress -- where lawmakers are under intense pressure from the meat and grocery industries -- for two years. In June, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to once again delay COOL's implementation for meat until 2007. Industry is strongly lobbying the Senate to either delay the funding for the USDA to work on COOL or turn it into a "voluntary" program.Public Citizen analyzed donations from 19 companies and trade associations, each of which has announced opposition to mandatory country-of-origin labeling and has registered to lobby against COOL. They have contributed a total of $12.6 million to candidates for Congress and in soft money to the Republican and Democratic parties since 2000.These companies have focused their giving on 64 members of Congress who have sponsored a bill to replace the mandatory country-of-origin requirement with a voluntary one, which is considerably weaker and does not empower consumers with the right to know where their food is from. Instead, it offers industry a way to hide critical information from the public. These 64 members, accounting for only 12 percent of Congress, have received 28 percent of contributions to candidates from the COOL foes

Detection of a 1258 Hz high-amplitude kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillation in the ultra-compact X-ray binary 1A 1246-588

We have observed the ultra-compact low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) 1A 1246-588 with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). In this manuscript we report the discovery of a kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) in 1A 1246-588. The kilohertz QPO was only detected when the source was in a soft high-flux state reminiscent of the lower banana branch in atoll sources. Only one kilohertz QPO peak is detected at a relatively high frequency of 1258+-2 Hz and at a single trial significance of more than 7 sigma. Kilohertz QPOs with a higher frequency have only been found on two occasions in 4U 0614+09. Furthermore, the frequency is higher than that found for the lower kilohertz QPO in any source, strongly suggesting that the QPO is the upper of the kilohertz QPO pair often found in LMXBs. The full-width at half maximum is 25+-4 Hz, making the coherence the highest found for an upper kilohertz QPO. From a distance estimate of ~6 kpc from a radius expansion burst we derive that 1A 1246-588 is at a persistent flux of ~0.2-0.3 per cent of the Eddington flux, hence 1A 1246-588 is one of the weakest LMXBs for which a kilohertz QPO has been detected. The root-mean-square (rms) amplitude in the 5-60 keV band is 27+-3 per cent, this is the highest for any kilohertz QPO source so far, in line with the general anti-correlation between source luminosity and rms amplitude of the kilohertz QPO peak identified before. Using the X-ray spectral information we produce a colour-colour diagram. The source behaviour in this diagram provides further evidence for the atoll nature of the source.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

A SiGe HEMT Mixer IC with Low Conversion Loss

The authors present the first SiGe HEMT mixer integrated circuit. The active mixer stage, operating up to 10GHz RF, has been designed and realized using a 0.1µ µµ µm gate length transistor technology. The design is based on a new large-signal simulation model developed for the SiGe HEMT. Good agreement between simulation and measurement is reached. The mixer exhibits 4.0dB and 4.7dB conversion loss when down-converting 3.0GHz and 6.0GHz signals, respectively, to an intermediate frequency of 500MHz using high-side injection of 5dBm local oscillator power. Conversion loss is less than 8dB for RF frequencies up to 10GHz with a mixer linearity of –8.8dBm input related 1dB compression point

Dar es Salaam Regional and District Projections.

This report presents population projections for the period 2003 to 2025 for Dar es Salaam Region. The projections were made using a Cohort Component Method (Spectrum System), whereby three components responsible for population change, namely: mortality, fertility and migration were projected separately as well as HIV/AIDS prevalence. The projected components were then applied to 2002 midyear base population in order to come up with the desired projections from 2003 to 2025. The report gives mortality, fertility, migration and HIV/AIDS assumptions, and shows Dar es Salaam’s demographic and socio-economic future trends. The results include estimated population by sex in single years and five-year age groups as well as some demographic indicators. Population growth for the period 2003 to 2025 shows a decrease in growth rates. The projections show that population growth rate will decrease from 1.99 percent in 2003 (with a population of 2,535,594) to 0.27 percent in 2025 (with a population of 3,055,456). Sex Ratio at birth is projected to increase slightly from 102 male per 100 females in 2003 to 103 male per 100 females in 2025. Mortality estimates show that Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is expected to decline for both sexes from 80 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2003 to 49 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2025. Under Five Mortality Rate (U5MR) for both sexes will also decline from 122 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2003 to 71 deaths per 1,000 live births in the year 2025. As expected, the mortality projected estimates further show that the life expectancy at birth for females is higher compared to that of males. Life expectancy at birth for Dar es Salaam will decline from 55 years in 2003 to 52 years in 2025 for both sexes. For male population, life expectancy at birth will almost remain at 53 years for the whole period. For female population, the life expectancy at birth will decline from 57 years in 2003 to 52 years in 2025. On fertility, TFR will decline from 2.7 children per woman in 2003 to about 2 children per woman in 2025.\u

PERAN BADAN KESWADAYAAN MASYARAKAT DALAM PELAKSANAAN PROGRAM NASIONAL PEMBERDAYAAN MASYARAKAT (PNPM) MANDIRI

Existence BKM represent one matter becoming priority in is powered of impecunious society \ud through PNPM Mandiri. Role of BKM expected to earn more improved and created by new \ud innovation improve level live impecunious people. It is of course, existence of this program need \ud strong law umbrella in the form of By Law and also Decision of Regent to be more directional \ud and looked after. Mechanism development of society participation through sub-district facility, \ud that is local government invite society to involve actively in socializing BKM. But that way after \ud all enableness conducted, just social difference remain to be happened, that is poorness. For the \ud reason, poorness overcoming or at least poorness meminimalisir become one of the principal \ud focus development of government. During the time strategy conducted by government of Malang \ud Town is with forming one institute entangling various side. The institute so called BKM. BKM \ud founded in country side storey; level / sub-district which target of the core important to \ud overcome poorness of local society. To increase efftiveness overcoming of poorness and creation \ud employment, govermmental launch Program National Enableness of Society (PNPM Mandiri) \ud start year 2007 re-formulated self Supporting by PNPM mechanism strive overcoming of \ud poorness entangling society element, start from planning phase, execution, till evaluation and \ud monitoring. \ud This research is conducted by using approach qualitative with descriptive method. Technique \ud data collecting through: Observation and interview and also docementation. After done by its \ud inspection of him, data analysed by presentation of data is at the same time analised and \ud withdrawal of conclusion. \ud From result of obtained data (1). Role BKM in execution of program of PNPM Mandiri in Sub-\ud District Mojolangu District of executed Malang Lowokwaru Town two program type that is \ud physical program and giving of fund turning around where in the plan have passed some \ud planning phase that is aspiration network, deliberation development of sub-district in sub-district \ud of Mojolangu through to negotiate citizen and approval of proposal raised by every RW in region \ud sub-district of Mojolangu by paying attention the condition of which really insist on to be \ud assisted by way of evaluation at vinicity environment and society. Fund budgeted by PNPM \ud Mandiri of central government give relief fund allocation stimulan equal to Rp. 250 million, And \ud report evaluated auditor have been delivered to center. But with the anggara still felt by the \ud existence of lacking in aid program and development of sub-district environment. Finally BKM \ud set mind on giving of loan by giving some conditions and do survey. BKM have strategy which \ud is best with implementasion training skill of management, managing small industry and give \ud capital loan to impecunious society to be can solve and overcome its own problem. Therefore BKM socialization priority for the quickening of activity PNPM Mandiri coordinated by Team \ud Controller of PNPM Mandiri which cover for example policy of public and development \ud program, stipulating of location, communication strategy, system development of information, \ud and also evaluation and monitoring. (2) Constraint of BKM in execution of program of PNPM \ud Mandiri in sub-district Mojolangu Distric of Malang Lowokwaru Town during the time do not \ud facilities and basic facilities it and lack of fund which in special allocation to support process \ud construction of BKM and awareness of society exist in Sub-District of Mojolangu less so \ud comprehend with existence of program of PNPM. Fluency of PNPM Mandiri very is base on \ud awareness of society, like performing a routine fee taken as supporter medium to fluency of \ud PNPM Mandiri. Execution of this program it is true have been planned, like sharing holder order. \ud Division of result, that is profit 70% entering receiver of benefit (impecunious citizen) and which \ud is 30% entering cash of BKM and this have been agreed on by society Sub-District of \ud Mojolangu

Regulating Reprogenetics: Strategic Sacralisation and Semantic Message

This paper forms part of the feminist critique of the regulatory consequences of biomedicine's systematic exclusion of the role of women's bodies in the development ofreprogenetic technologies. I suggest that strategic use of notions of the sacred to decontextualise and delimit disagreement fosters this marginalisation. Here conceptions of the sacred a sacralisation afford a means by which pragmatic consensus over regulation may be achieved, through the deployment of a bricolage of dense images associated with cultural loyalties to solidify support or to exclude contradictory elements. Hence an explicit renegoation of the symbolic order structuring salient debates is necessary to disrupt and enrich the entrenched and exclusionary dominant discourse over reprogenetic regulation of infertility treatment and embryo research in the UNited Kingdom, the cultural anthropology of biomedicine and feminist ethnographies of reprogenetics to illustrate these claims

Settlement Agreements, Legal Information and the Mistake of Law Rule in Contract

The extent of the doctrine of contractual mistake of law is evaluated in light of the Court of Appeal’s decision in Brennan v Bolt Burdon through the lens of economic efficiency, the associated incentivization of productive information acquisition and contractual risk allocation. The Brennan court’s decision limits the relief available for claims of mistake grounded in unanticipated changes in the law to mistakes involving exceptional errors. In so doing it acknowledges the risk inherent in accepting contractual settlement offers as a matter of commercial risk taking which can be offset through express contractual limitation, subject to public policy concerns. The article considers the effects of such contractual risk allocation as well as the cost of dispelling ignorance to recommend a clarification of the scope of the mistake of law. This rule is based upon the gains to be achieved from the underlying contract to the contractual parties as well advantages to society engendered by the dissemination of information about the law itself

Methadone ameliorates multiple-low-dose streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes in mice

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of pancreatic islets and destruction of β cells by the immune system. Opioids have been shown to modulate a number of immune functions, including T helper 1 (Th1) and T helper 2 (Th2) cytokines. The immunosuppressive effect of long-term administration of opioids has been demonstrated both in animal models and humans. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of methadone, a μ-opioid receptor agonist, on type 1 diabetes. Administration of multiple low doses of streptozotocin (STZ) (MLDS) (40mg/kg intraperitoneally for 5 consecutive days) to mice resulted in autoimmune diabetes. Mice were treated with methadone (10mg/kg/day subcutaneously) for 24days. Blood glucose, insulin and pancreatic cytokine levels were measured. Chronic methadone treatment significantly reduced hyperglycemia and incidence of diabetes, and restored pancreatic insulin secretion in the MLDS model. The protective effect of methadone can be overcome by pretreatment with naltrexone, an opioid receptor antagonist. Also, methadone treatment decreased the proinflammatory Th1 cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ] and increased anti-inflammatory Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10). Histopathological observations indicated that STZ-mediated destruction of β cells was attenuated by methadone treatment. It seems that methadone as an opioid agonist may have a protective effect against destruction of β cells and insulitis in the MLDS model of type 1 diabete