The role of the Economic Community of Central African States in the maintenance of peace and security in Central Africa

This academic research is focusing on the role of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) in the maintenance of peace and security in Central Africa. It assesses the effectiveness of this Regional Economic Community in dealing with issues relating to peace and security. The study firstly discusses the legal framework that supports the mandate of the Central African subregional institution in the field of peace and security, and then it addresses its peace and security architecture. Secondly, this work stresses the achievements made by ECCAS in coping with security issues; it also stresses its shortcomings and examine the reasons behind them. Most importantly, although this research highlights the shortcomings of the ECCAS in maintaining stability and peace in the Central African subregion, it strongly advocates that the role played by ECCAS should not be underestimated and therefore, it makes some recommendations which can contribute to its rationalisation and make it more effective.Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa)) -- University of Pretoria, 2011.http://www.chr.up.ac.za/nf2012Centre for Human RightsLL

EFFECT OF MICROPLASTIC ORAL INTAKE ON FATTY DEGENERATION AND NECROSIS OF HEPATOCYTES IN WISTAR RATS

Introduction: In the human body, microplastics are considered toxic agents. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) has very high chemical resistance, making it very difficult to be degraded by microorganisms. LDPE plastic would be degraded to a smaller size and could not be completely degraded by microorganisms. Plastic packaging made from LDPE is the most commonly found plastic waste. Microplastics may cause cell injury, especially cells in the liver, the primary organ for detoxification. Microplastic induces reactive oxygen species, which leads to oxidative stress. Prolonged exposure to microplastics leads cells unable to cope with the toxic effects. Furthermore, this process triggers fatty degeneration and necrosis. This study aims to explain the correlation between microplastic oral intake with fatty degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes in animal models. Methods: Forty-two Wistar rats were involved and assigned to one control and five experimental groups. The experimental groups were given microplastic exposure starting from 0.0375 mg/day to 0.6 mg daily for 90 days. Results: Fatty degeneration and necrosis were observed using a light microscope with hematoxylin-eosin staining. There was a significant correlation between microplastic oral intake and hepatocyte necrosis (p<0.05). The higher the exposure dose, the more hepatocyte necrosis. In contrast, there was no correlation between microplastic exposure and fatty degeneration. Ingestion of microplastics leads to hepatocyte necrosis. Conclusion: Oral intake of LDPE microplastics with <20 µm in size for 90 days in Wistar rats leads to hepatocellular injury. Based on histopathological images, hepatocyte necrosis was more prominent than hepatocyte fatty degeneration

EFFECT OF ORAL INTAKE OF MICROPLASTIC ON THE CHANGES IN NEPHRON STRUCTURE AMONG MALE WISTAR RATS

Introduction: Microplastic bioaccumulation in nephron tissue can cause high levels of nephron mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, endoplasmic related stress proteins and inflammation-related proteins.Material and methods: This study observed damage to the tubular and glomerular structures of experimental animals due to oral intake of microplastics. 46 Wistar rats used were divided into one control(C)  and five experimental groups (Xn). The experimental group was exposed to low-density polyethylene microplastic doses of 0.0375 mg, 0.075 mg, 0.15 mg, 0.3 mg and 0.6 mg daily for 90 days with the probe, respectively. Damage to the tubular and glomerular structures was observed through microscopic examination of the preparations stained with hematoxylin eosin.Results: The results of One-Way ANOVA test showed a significant difference between groups with tubular damage (p <0.05). Meanwhile, the results of Kruskal Wallis test showed a significant difference between groups with glomerular damage (p <0.05).Conclusion: Multiple comparation indicated that exposure to microplastic started at 0.0375 mg daily had led to damage to the tubular and glomerular. Ingestion of microplastic particles causes renal tubular and glomerular damage in Wistar rats

The African Standby Force: External Support to an 'African Solution to African Problems'?

External support is essential to the development of the African Standby Force (ASF), an African-led mechanism for crisis management and peace consolidation in Africa. This research paper examines external support to the ASF by several bilateral and multinational contributors, assessing its strengths and limits, and attempts to measure the significance of the support to the aspired outcome. The starting point of the study is an analysis of the fast-evolving ASF project, which has gone through many phases of definition and redefinition since it was conceived in the late 1990s. The ASF, it is argued, is a ‘moving target', due to the inability of African stakeholders to settle on a clear concept, setting themselves ever more ambitious goals at every stage. Partners simultaneously suffer from, and contribute to this state of affairs. Whilst coordination efforts are undertaken, partners' support too often still responds to national (for bilateral donors) or institutional interests (for multilateral ones), each partner using the leeway created by the conceptual ambiguities of the ASF to press its own priorities. Given the overwhelming role of partners in the conceptual maturation of the ASF, and the impact of their funding decisions, this is turn exacerbates the confusion about the true direction of its development. Said differently, the ASF is burdened by the lack of political, conceptual, and financial ownership on the side of the recipients, who are also its main stakeholders. The result is at best an ambiguous partnership, and at worst a waste of human resources, financial means and political capital. Attempting to differentiate between degrees of ‘ownership', the study concludes that it is only if AU member states make a conscious effort to increase their political, conceptual and especially, financial, stake in the ASF that they will credibly demonstrate that it is not an entirely foreign-mastered project, but a real ‘African solution to African problems'.The report was produced under the auspices of the RCUK Global Uncertainties Programme on Security in an Africa of Networked, Multi-Level Governance

Status of implementation of the regional integration agenda in Africa

Assembly of the African union eleventh ordinary session 30 June – 1 July 2008 Shark el-Sheikh, Egyp

A Complete Skull of an Early Cretaceous Sauropod and the Evolution of Advanced Titanosaurians

Advanced titanosaurian sauropods, such as nemegtosaurids and saltasaurids, were diverse and one of the most important groups of herbivores in the terrestrial biotas of the Late Cretaceous. However, little is known about their rise and diversification prior to the Late Cretaceous. Furthermore, the evolution of their highly-modified skull anatomy has been largely hindered by the scarcity of well-preserved cranial remains. A new sauropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of Brazil represents the earliest advanced titanosaurian known to date, demonstrating that the initial diversification of advanced titanosaurians was well under way at least 30 million years before their known radiation in the latest Cretaceous. The new taxon also preserves the most complete skull among titanosaurians, further revealing that their low and elongated diplodocid-like skull morphology appeared much earlier than previously thought

Cambridge Action to Save Heat : a case study of a weatherization program

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 1983.MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH.Bibliography: leaf [30].by Rieko Hayashi.M.C.P

Socio-Economic Impact of Energy-Related Policy on Hispanic New Mexico Attitudes, Values and Policy Perceptions

The Southwest Hispanic Research Institute at the University of New Mexico conducted a one-year study of the impact of energy-related policies on a survey sample of 584 Hispanic families in the New Mexico communities of Taos, Albuquerque and Las Cruces 0 Upon an extensive review of the research literature, the project team developed and tested sixteen hypotheses focusing on nine energy impact issues: Energy Use and Expenditures, Conservation Efforts, Market Basket Effects, Employment and Energy, Recreation and Leisure Activities, Transportation Effects, Attitudes Towards Energy Costs, Attitudes Towards Rate Structure and Evaluation of the Federal Energy Assistance Program. The data supported most the hypotheses derived from the literature but not all. Specific findings indicated that the Hispanic families in the sample have reduced their level of expenditures for energy expenses, have implemented a variety of conservation measures, have curtailed expenses for food purchases, leisure and recreational activities and for miscellaneous transportation; also, the data show significant dissatisfaction with high energy costs which are perceived to accrue benefits mostly to the energy suppliers; the respondents were in favor of a progressive rate structure that would lessen the price burden on families with low or fixed income. Not supported were hypotheses that predicted negative impacts of energy costs on employment-related activities. Lastly, the federal low-income energy assistance program in New Mexico received weak support. The study concludes with policy recommendations calling for an energy message program geared to regional and socio-cultural factors, a companion program to solarize homes and farm structures utilizing technologies suitable to the region, incentives to private sector minority entrepreneurs equipping them with solar venture capabilities that will serve local markets and create jobs, an energy safety net and an intensive greenhouse program that will protect the market basket resources of the poor, a government policy on transportation and energy that will insure access to essential formal and informal points in the health and welfare system, and lastly, a federal-state-local partnership of financial and technical assistance options at the community level to expand energy assistance and weatherization programs

Institution Building for African Regionalism

Since the 1960s, African states have embraced regional integration as a vital mechanism for political cooperation and for pooling resources to overcome problems of small and fragmented economies. In building meaningful institutions for regionalism, however, Africans have faced the challenges of reconciling the diversities of culture, geography, and politics. As a result, African regional institutions are characterized by multiple and competing mandates and weak institutionalization. This study illustrates these themes by comparing two continental institutions—the African Union and its predecessor, the Organization of African Unity, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and subregional institutions—the Economic Commission of Central African States, the Economic Community of West African States, the Common Market for East and Southern African States, the Community of the Sahel-Saharan States, and the Arab Maghreb Union. By focusing on the institutional structures, mandates, and contributions of these organizations in their geographical domains, the study probes the links between policy articulation and outcomes. The conclusion focuses on lessons that African regionalism can inform Asian integration experiences.African Regionalism; Regional Integration; Africa; African Union; United Nation’s Economic Commission for Africa