Falun Gong: An Analysis of China\u27s National Security Concerns

The Chinese government\u27s brutal crackdown on the Falun Gong spiritual movement stands in marked contrast to its recent acknowledgement of its need to improve its human rights record and repeated avowals to take the legal steps necessary to conform with international human rights treaties. China\u27s leadership has attempted to justify the crackdown, citing both historical reasons and national security concerns. Analysis of China\u27s history demonstrates that repression of anti-government groups has only hardened their resistance. Similarly, the campaign against Falun Gong has failed to stop protests staged by the group\u27s followers. In fact, Falun Gong\u27s expressions of dissent have become increasingly defiant. The Chinese government\u27s policy of repression undermines true national security. Lifting the ban will help the Chinese government achieve its stated goals of protecting both China\u27s national security and the human rights of its citizens

Developing Cereal-Based Demand for Fertilizer among Smallholders in Southern Africa: Lessons Learned and Implications for Other African Regions

Crop Production/Industries, Downloads July 2008 - July 2009: 11,

Fertilizer Consumption Trends in Sub-Saharan Africa

Crop Production/Industries, Downloads December 2008 - July 2009: 12,

Group B streptococcal infection and activation of human astrocytes.

BACKGROUND:Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus, GBS) is the leading cause of life-threatening meningitis in human newborns in industrialized countries. Meningitis results from neonatal infection that occurs when GBS leaves the bloodstream (bacteremia), crosses the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and enters the central nervous system (CNS), where the bacteria contact the meninges. Although GBS is known to invade the BBB, subsequent interaction with astrocytes that physically associate with brain endothelium has not been well studied. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:We hypothesize that human astrocytes play a unique role in GBS infection and contribute to the development of meningitis. To address this, we used a well- characterized human fetal astrocyte cell line, SVG-A, and examined GBS infection in vitro. We observed that all GBS strains of representative clinically dominant serotypes (Ia, Ib, III, and V) were able to adhere to and invade astrocytes. Cellular invasion was dependent on host actin cytoskeleton rearrangements, and was specific to GBS as Streptococcus gordonii failed to enter astrocytes. Analysis of isogenic mutant GBS strains deficient in various cell surface organelles showed that anchored LTA, serine-rich repeat protein (Srr1) and fibronectin binding (SfbA) proteins all contribute to host cell internalization. Wild-type GBS also displayed an ability to persist and survive within an intracellular compartment for at least 12 h following invasion. Moreover, GBS infection resulted in increased astrocyte transcription of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and VEGF. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:This study has further characterized the interaction of GBS with human astrocytes, and has identified the importance of specific virulence factors in these interactions. Understanding the role of astrocytes during GBS infection will provide important information regarding BBB disruption and the development of neonatal meningitis

Alternative Approaches for Promoting Fertilizer Use in Africa, with Emphasis on the Role of Subsidies

Crop Production/Industries, Downloads December 2008 - June 2009: 5,

Incentives for Fertilizer Use in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review of Empirical Evidence on Fertilizer Response and Profitability

This research addresses two questions: Why is fertilizer not yet fulfilling its potential as a major stimulus to agricultural productivity in SSA? What can be done to improve the situation? Our answers are based on an extensive review of fertilizer response, profitability, and policy literature as well as some analysis of crop budgets and aggregate national statistics on fertilizer consumption. Much of the debate about fertilizer use in SSA focuses on two issues: whether the profit incentive is adequate and, if so, whether farmers have the capacity to access and use it.food security, food policy, fertilizer use, sub-Saharan Africa, Crop Production/Industries, Downloads May 2008-July 2009: 153, Q18,

DETERMINANTS OF FERTILIZER ADOPTION BY AFRICAN FARMERS: POLICY ANALYSIS FRAMEWORK, ILLUSTRATIVE EVIDENCE, AND IMPLICATIONS

Crop Production/Industries,

Improving the Measurement and Analysis of African Agricultural Productivity: Promoting Complementarities between Micro and Macro Data

Productivity Analysis,

Promoting Farm Investment for Sustainable Intensification of African Agriculture

Farm Management, Downloads July 2008-July 2009: 9,