Are All Resources Cursed? Coffee, Oil and Armed Confict in Colombia

The Resource Curse" posits a positive association between the value of natural commodities and civil conflict. In this paper, we suggest that the value-to-violence relationship differs across commodities, and that the factor intensity of production determines whether a rise in the price of a legally traded good will exacerbate conflict. We exploit exogenous price shocks for coffee and oil to test this hypothesis, using data on politically-motivated violence in Colombia over 1988 to 2004. We find that a drop in coffee prices during the 1990s led to a disproportionate rise in conflict in the coffee areas. Poverty dynamics follow a similar pattern, while substitution into drug crops do not, which suggests that it is the fall in income rather than the drug trade that fuelled this effect. In contrast, we find that oil prices are positively related to clashes with government forces, and that state revenue is used to strengthen military presence in oil areas. Our results suggest that the income channel is critical in determining how price shocks to labor-intensive commodities affect insurgency. However, for capital-intensive goods, the revenue effect predominates in mediating how the value of the commodity affects violence."Colombia, Civil War, Resource Curse, Difference in Differences

Significance of sweet sorghum as a multi-purpose crop for sub-Saharan Africa

There is great interest in sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) for promoting resilience in rural livelihoods in Sub- Saharan Africa (SSA). Unlike other crops, sweet sorghum is a multi-purpose crop for grain, feed, fodder, chewing, syrup and biofuel production. The objective of this paper is to analyse information on the diversity within the crop, its adaptation and plant breeding efforts in SSA. We also discuss opportunities that exist in SSA that make the crop an attractive alternative. It is clear from the review that the crop has a wide genetic base, hence significant improvements can be made on a number of preferred traits. The review further outlines four possible production models for the economic development of the sweet sorghum industry in Sub-Saharan Africa; which are (i) production for supply to urban chewing markets, (ii) syrup production, (iii) biofuel production and (iv) fodder production. Although current research focuses on production of ethanol for biofuel, other potential uses such as production for chewing, syrup and fodder cannot be overlooked for most SSA farmers. A lot has to be done on the research front before biofuel production from sweet sorghum can be profitable and technically feasible. Future plant breeding efforts can be tailor made to deliver cultivars with peculiar traits for various end-uses

Statistical correlation of structural mode shapes from test measurements and NASTRAN analytical values

The software and procedures of a system of programs used to generate a report of the statistical correlation between NASTRAN modal analysis results and physical tests results from modal surveys are described. Topics discussed include: a mathematical description of statistical correlation, a user's guide for generating a statistical correlation report, a programmer's guide describing the organization and functions of individual programs leading to a statistical correlation report, and a set of examples including complete listings of programs, and input and output data

University of Maine Connection to the vBNS

This award is made under the high performance connections portion of ANIR\u27s Connections to the Internet announcement, NSF 96-64. It provides partial support for two years for a DS-3 connection to the vBNS. Applications include projects in artificial intelligence and underwater vehicle research, wood science anf forest engineering, tribology, ceramic film characterization, insect population dynamics, digital libraries, conflict and violence, and oceanography. Collaborating institutions include the Naval Postgraduate School; Pennsylvania State University; University of New Hampshire; Brookhaven, Argonne and Oak Ridge National Labs; Naval Research Lab; University of Illinois; Naval Undersea Weapons Center; University of California - Santa Barbara; Woods Hole; Dartmouth; Bedford Institute of Oceanography; several European institutions; Oregon State University; University of Rhode Island; and Goddard Space Flight Center. For additional information: http://homeland.maine.edu

PO and ID BCG vaccination in humans induce distinct mucosal and systemic immune responses and CD4(+) T cell transcriptomal molecular signatures.

Protective efficacy of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) may be affected by the methods and routes of vaccine administration. We have studied the safety and immunogenicity of oral (PO) and/or intradermal (ID) administration of BCG in healthy human subjects. No major safety concerns were detected in the 68 healthy adults vaccinated with PO and/or ID BCG. Although both PO and ID BCG could induce systemic Th1 responses capable of IFN-γ production, ID BCG more strongly induced systemic Th1 responses. In contrast, stronger mucosal responses (TB-specific secretory IgA and bronchoalveolar lavage T cells) were induced by PO BCG vaccination. To generate preliminary data comparing the early gene signatures induced by mucosal and systemic BCG vaccination, CD4(+) memory T cells were isolated from subsets of BCG vaccinated subjects pre- (Day 0) and post-vaccination (Days 7 and 56), rested or stimulated with BCG infected dendritic cells, and then studied by Illumina BeadArray transcriptomal analysis. Notably, distinct gene expression profiles were identified both on Day 7 and Day 56 comparing the PO and ID BCG vaccinated groups by GSEA analysis. Future correlation analyses between specific gene expression patterns and distinct mucosal and systemic immune responses induced will be highly informative for TB vaccine development.Mucosal Immunology advance online publication 30 August 2017; doi:10.1038/mi.2017.67

Gemeenregtelike en statutere regte van residensiele huurders gedurende die inperking in Suid-Afrika

Die COVID-19-pandemie het regoor die wereld ekonomiese verwoesting gesaai. In baie stede staar residensiele huurders, wat hulle werke as gevolg van die ekonomiese slagting verloor het, haweloosheid in die gesig. Sodanige huurders ervaar finansi61e nood en 'n gevolglike onvermo6 om huur te betaal. Hierdie toedrag van sake het die Suid-Afrikaanse regering genoop om 'n moratorium op uitsettings te plaas deur regulasies ingevolge die Wet op Rampbestuurs 57 van 2002 (die "Grendelstaatregulasies") uit te vaardig. Sodanige regulasies beperk egter vryheid van beweging en maak dit vir sommige residensiele huurders onmoontlik om voordeel uit die okkupasie van huurpersele te trek, aangesien hulle in ander provinsies of selfs oorsee vasgekeer is of was. Die eerste deel van hierdie artikel ondersoek die gemeenregtelike regte van residensiele huurders wat weens die reisbeperkinge wat deur die Grendelstaatregulasies opgele is, nie die volle genot van gehuurde eiendomme in stede kan (of kon) geniet nie. Dit analiseer die pandemie as 'n skielike, onvoorsiene en onvermydelike natnurlike gebeurtenis wat aan die elemente van die definisie van vis major voldoen. Met did doel voor o6, bespreek hierdie bydrae die reg van residensiele huurders om ingevolge die gemenereg die verweer van vis major te gebruik om kwytskelding of vermindering van huur te eis. Die tweede deel van die artikel ondersoek die beskerming van residensiele huurders teen swak behandeling deur verhuurders en teen uitsettings tydens die grendelstaat.The National Research Foundation.http://www.lexisnexis.co.zaam2022Mercantile La

SIGNIFICANCE OF SWEET SORGHUM AS A MULTI-PURPOSE CROP FOR SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

There is great interest in sweet sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor L.) for promoting resilience in rural livelihoods in Sub- Saharan Africa (SSA). Unlike other crops, sweet sorghum is a multi-purpose crop for grain, feed, fodder, chewing, syrup and biofuel production. The objective of this paper is to analyse information on the diversity within the crop, its adaptation and plant breeding efforts in SSA. We also discuss opportunities that exist in SSA that make the crop an attractive alternative. It is clear from the review that the crop has a wide genetic base, hence significant improvements can be made on a number of preferred traits. The review further outlines four possible production models for the economic development of the sweet sorghum industry in Sub-Saharan Africa; which are (i) production for supply to urban chewing markets, (ii) syrup production, (iii) biofuel production and (iv) fodder production. Although current research focuses on production of ethanol for biofuel, other potential uses such as production for chewing, syrup and fodder cannot be overlooked for most SSA farmers. A lot has to be done on the research front before biofuel production from sweet sorghum can be profitable and technically feasible. Future plant breeding efforts can be tailor made to deliver cultivars with peculiar traits for various end-uses.Il existe un grand int\ue9r\ueat pour le sorgho doux (Sorghum bicolor L.) pour promouvoir la r\ue9silience des moyens de subsistance ruraux en Afrique subsaharienne (ASS). Contrairement \ue0 d\u2019autres cultures, le sorgho sucr\ue9 est une culture polyvalente pour la production de c\ue9r\ue9ales, d\u2019aliments pour animaux, de fourrage, de mastication, de sirop et de biocarburant. L\u2019objectif de cet article est d\u2019examiner les informations sur la diversit\ue9 au sein de la culture, son adaptation et les efforts de s\ue9lection v\ue9g\ue9tale en ASS. Il traite \ue9galement des opportunit\ue9s qui existent en ASS et qui font de cette culture une alternative attrayante. Les r\ue9sultats de l\u2019examen montrent que la culture a une large base g\ue9n\ue9tique, ce qui permet d\u2019apporter des am\ue9liorations significatives \ue0 un certain nombre de caract\ue8res pr\ue9f\ue9r\ue9s. L\u2019examen d\ue9crit en outre quatre mod\ue8les de production possibles pour le d\ue9veloppement \ue9conomique de l\u2019industrie du sorgho sucr\ue9 en Afrique subsaharienne\ua0; qui sont (i) la production pour l\u2019approvisionnement des march\ue9s urbains de mastication, (ii) la production de sirop, (iii) la production de biocarburants et (iv) la production de fourrage. Les questions cl\ue9s \ue9mergeant de la discussion sont les suivantes\ua0; la recherche actuelle se concentre sur la production d\u2019\ue9thanol pour le biocarburant, bien que ce soit une bonne priorit\ue9 pour la recherche, cela ne devrait pas \ue9clipser d\u2019autres utilisations potentielles de la culture telles que la production pour la mastication, le sirop et le fourrage qui peuvent \ueatre la seule option pour la plupart des agriculteurs d\u2019ASS. Beaucoup reste \ue0 faire sur le front de la recherche avant que la production de biocarburants \ue0 partir de sorgho sucr\ue9 puisse \ueatre rentable et techniquement r\ue9alisable, en particulier pour les petits exploitants agricoles dans la plupart des pays d\u2019ASS. Par cons\ue9quent, les futurs efforts de s\ue9lection v\ue9g\ue9tale peuvent \ueatre adapt\ue9s pour fournir des cultivars avec des traits particuliers pour diverses utilisations finales

Lunar Dust Charging by Secondary Electron Emission and its Complex Role in the Lunar Environment

The lunar surface is covered with a thick layer of micron/sub-micron size dust grains formed by billions of years of meteoritic impact. With virtually no atmosphere and exposed to the solar wind plasma and solar electromagnetic radiation, the lunar surface and the dust grains are electrostatically charged. The dominant charging processes include: photoelectric emissions (UV, X-rays), impact of solar wind electrons and ions, and secondary electron emissions (SEE) induced by energetic solar wind electrons. During the Apollo missions, the astronauts found the lunar dust to be extraordinarily high in its adhesive characteristics, sticking to the suits and the mechanical equipment. Electrostatically charged lunar dust is believed to be transported over long distances by the induced electric fields, as indicated by the observed dust streamers and the horizon glow [e.g., 1-3]. The hazardous effects of dust in the lunar environment are recognized to be one of the major issues that must be addressed in planning the forthcoming missions for robotic and human exploration of the Moon. Theoretical studies are being performed along with the development of analytical models and a variety of experimental investigations, to better understand the lunar dust phenomena. [e.g., 4-6]. The lunar dust is believed to be charged negatively on the lunar night-side by interaction With solar wind electrons. However, rigorous theoretical expressions for calculation of SEE yields and the sticking efficiencies of individual micron size dust grains are not yet available, and the information has to be obtained by experiment. On theoretical considerations, however, it is well recognized that SEE yields, similar to the photoelectric yields for small-size grains, would be totally different from the corresponding bulk values [e.g., 7-9]. Some theoretical models for charging of individual small spherical particles have been developed [e.g., 10], and some limited measurements on individual metallic dust grains at keV electron energies have been made [e.g., i 1]. In this paper, we present the first measurements of the secondary electron emission yields of individual micron/sub-micron size dust grains selected from sample returns of Apollo 11 and Apollo 17 missions