Impact of global cotton markets on rural poverty in Benin

World cotton prices have fallen by about 40 percent over the last two years, focusing attention on the effect of subsidies for cotton growers in depressing prices. This paper combines farm survey data from Benin with assumptions about the decline in farm-level prices to estimate the direct and indirect effects of cotton price reductions on rural income and poverty in Benin. The results indicate that there is a strong link between cotton prices and rural welfare in Benin. A 40 percent reduction in farm-level prices of cotton results in an increase in rural poverty of 8 percentage points in the short-run and 6-7 percentage points in the long run. Based on the estimated marginal propensity to consume tradable goods, the consumption multiplier is in the range of 3.3, meaning that one dollar of reduced spending by cotton growers results in a contraction of 3.3 dollars in overall demand. Finally, econometric analysis of the determinants of the demand for hired agricultural labor suggests that falling cotton prices will not greatly reduce labor demand since the labor intensity of cotton is similar to that of competing crops in Benin. Overall, the study highlights the link between rising subsidies for cotton growers in the U.S. and rural poverty in cotton exporting countries such as Benin.

Seals Having Textured Portions for Protection in Space Environments

A sealing construct for a space environment includes a seal-bearing object, a seal on the seal-bearing object, and a seal-engaging object. The seal includes a seal body having a sealing surface, and a textured pattern at the sealing surface, the textured pattern defining at least one shaded channel surface. The seal-engaging object is selectively engaged with the seal-bearing object through the seal. The seal-engaging object has a sealing surface, wherein, when the seal-engaging object is selectively engaged with the seal-bearing object, the sealing surface of the seal-engaging object engages the sealing surface of the seal, and the seal is compressed between the seal-bearing object and the seal-engaging object such that at least one shaded channel surface engages the sealing surface of the seal-engaging object

An Experimental Investigation of Leak Rate Performance of a Subscale Candidate Elastomer Docking Space Seal

A novel docking seal was developed for the main interface seal of NASA s Low Impact Docking System (LIDS). This interface seal was designed to maintain acceptable leak rates while being exposed to the harsh environmental conditions of outer space. In this experimental evaluation, a candidate docking seal assembly called Engineering Development Unit (EDU58) was characterized and evaluated against the Constellation Project leak rate requirement. The EDU58 candidate seal assembly was manufactured from silicone elastomer S0383-70 vacuum molded in a metal retainer ring. Four seal designs were considered with unique characteristic heights. The leak rate performance was characterized through a mass point leak rate method by monitoring gas properties within an internal control volume. The leakage performance of the seals were described herein at representative docking temperatures of -50, +23, and +50 C for all four seal designs. Leak performance was also characterized at 100, 74, and 48 percent of full closure. For all conditions considered, the candidate seal assemblies met the Constellation Project leak rate requirement

Developing an Intervention Toolbox for the Common Health Problems in the Workplace

Development of the Health ↔ Work Toolbox is described. The toolbox aims to reduce the workplace impact of common health problems (musculoskeletal, mental health, and stress complaints) by focusing on tackling work-relevant symptoms. Based on biopsychosocial principles this toolbox supplements current approaches by occupying the zone between primary prevention and healthcare. It provides a set of evidence-informed principles and processes (knowledge + tools) for tackling work-relevant common health problems. The toolbox comprises a proactive element aimed at empowering line managers to create good jobs, and a ‘just in time’ responsive element for supporting individuals struggling with a work-relevant health problem. The key intention is helping people with common health problems to maintain work participation. The extensive conceptual and practical development process, including a comprehensive evidence review, produced a functional prototype toolbox that is evidence based and flexible in its use. End-user feedback was mostly positive. Moving the prototype to a fully-fledged internet resource requires specialist design expertise. The Health ↔ Work Toolbox appears to have potential to contribute to the goal of augmenting existing primary prevention strategies and healthcare delivery by providing a more comprehensive workplace approach to constraining sickness absence

REAL MEN Curriculum

This is the curriculum for a program known as REAL MEN, an acronym for Returning Educated African American and Latino Men to Enriched Neighborhoods. A collaborative effort, the REAL MEN program was a public health intervention based at Rikers Island and at a community-based organization, Friends of Island Academy, for young men, ages 15-19, who were leaving jail and returning to their home communities. The curriculum for this program was designed to reduce drug use, HIV risk, and rearrest by helping participants examine alternative paths to manhood and consider racial/ethnic pride as a source of strength

Antibiotic and anti-inflammatory use and the risk of prostate cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Prostate inflammation or infection may increase the risk of prostate cancer. Antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used to treat prostatitis and urinary tract infections (UTIs). The objective of our study was to assess whether their use decreases the risk of prostate cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a case-control study among men with incident prostate cancer (N = 65 cases) and without prostate cancer (N = 195 controls) at the San Francisco Veteran Affairs medical center (VAMC) between June 1996 and June 2006. Cases were all patients who had prostate biopsies positive for cancer. We matched controls to cases on age group and race at a 3:1 ratio, and each matched pair was given an identical index date. Total antibiotic, aspirin, and NSAID use (number of prescriptions) was computed for each participant by drug type and was restricted to a fill date at least 1 year before the index date. Logistic regression was used for analysis. We adjusted for the matching variables (age group and race) and potential confounders (years of VAMC enrollment and number of clinic visits).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Neither total antibiotic use nor total anti-inflammatory use reduces the risk of prostate cancer (<it>P </it>> 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our analysis did not reveal a relation between use of antibiotics, aspirin, or NSAIDs and the risk of prostate cancer.</p

We’ve Been Here Before: An Open Letter to Defy, Resist, and Build

We write this open letter in a historical moment in which President Trump has at once been described as “making America great” and “making America weak.” In this letter, we take up the position that Trump’s rise to power offers visible evidence of settler colonialism, white supremacy, and the permanence of racism. Drawing upon critical race theory and postcritical ethnography, we highlight how this radical new ‘normal’ is one that requires us, as qualitative researchers, to think carefully about our work, our practices, and the ways we navigate and come to know in the world. Specifically, we discuss how we might represent in our work structural violence that defies explanation. We thus invite readers to engage in the production of narratives that disrupt and resist seducing readers into substituting participation with consumption

An Historical and Cultural Tour to England 2011 : Expansion of the Seikatsu Eigo Programme at Junshin University.

本論文では，鹿児島県薩摩川内市にある鹿児島純心女子大学ことばと文化学科と鹿児島市内にある鹿児島純心女子短期大に在籍する学生を対象に行われた二週間のイギリス研修の１回目と２回目の準備と実施の内容を比較論述した。初めに，去年の研修実施のための初期段階の準備として行われた事柄が説明され，今年の研修旅行中に起こった日ごとの内容と去年のことの比較説明をする。次に，今年度の参加学生のアンケートと日記に書かれた印象の中からいくつかの例を取り上げる。最後に引率者の気づいたことと，今後の研修旅行の改善点を提案する