Climate Change, Migration, and Conflict in Northwest Africa

Examines how climate change affects the number of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa traveling through Nigeria, Niger, Algeria, and Morocco; increased security risks in the region; how these factors exacerbate one another; and intercontinental implications

Climate Change, Migration, and Conflict: Addressing Complex Crisis Scenarios in the 21st Century

Outlines how climate change, migration, and conflict intersect in Africa, Asia, and the Americas and implications for national, human, and environmental security. Recommends policy for boosting capacity in economic, social, and environmental development

Novel Modulation of Adenylyl Cyclase Type 2

Adenylyl cyclase isoforms are distinctly modulated by G protein subunits and are therefore hypothesized to be uniquely regulated by proteins that influence G protein signaling. Activator of G protein signaling 3 (AGS3) is a G protein modulator that binds Gαi subunits in the GDP-bound state, implicating AGS3 as an important regulatorof Gi-coupled receptor signaling. We studied the ability of AGS3 to modulate recombinant adenylyl cyclase(AC) type 1 and 2 signaling in HEK293 cells following both acute and persistent activation of the D 2Ldopamine receptor (D2L DR). AGS3 expression modestly enhanced the potency of acute quinpirole-induced D 2LDR modulation of AC1 or AC2 activity. AGS3 also promoted desensitization of D2L DR-mediated inhibition ofAC1, whereas desensitization of D2LDR-mediated AC2 activation was significantly attenuated. Additionally, AGS3 reduced D2L DR-mediated heterologous sensitization of AC1 and AC2. Our results suggest that AGS3 alters G protein signaling in a complex fashion that is effector-specific and dependent on the duration ofreceptor activation. The present work also addressed the role of Gβγ subunits in the development of D 2L DR-mediated sensitization of AC2. The molecular signaling components that contribute to the development ofheterologous sensitization are largely unknown, but G protein subunits are strongly implicated in this adaptive process. We utilized Gβγ subunit sequestering proteins, small molecule and peptide Gβγ signaling inhibitors, and pharmacological Gβγ effector and kinase inhibitors to study the role of Gβγ subunit signaling pathways in the development of AC2 sensitization in HEK293 cells. Our results suggest that Gβγ subunit signaling is necessary for D 2L DR-mediated sensitization of AC2. The multitude and diversity of Gβγ; signaling pathways that may underlie AC sensitization prompted us to develop a high-throughput cAMP assay platform to facilitate future unbiased approaches for the study of AC sensitization, such as siRNA library screening. As an intermediate step to the development of such assays, we addressed the lack of potent and selective small molecule modulators of AC. Identification of chemical probes for AC2 is particularly important because there are no published genetic deletion studies and few small molecule modulators. Therefore, we developed and executed an intact-cell small molecule screening approach and subsequent validation paradigm for the discovery of AC2 inhibitors. The NIH clinical collections I and II were screened for inhibitors of AC2 activity, using PMA-stimulated cAMP accumulation as a functional readout. Active compounds were subsequently confirmed and validated as direct AC2 inhibitors using orthogonal and counter screening assays. The screening effort identified SKF-83566 as a selective AC2 inhibitor with superior pharmacological properties for selectivemodulation of AC2 when compared to currently available AC inhibitors. The utility of SKF-83566 as a small molecule probe to study the function of endogenous ACs was demonstrated in C2C12 mouse skeletal muscle cells

Exercises for Student-Generated Social and Political Issues in the ESL Classroom

This paper is based on a second internship which took place at the TASIS school in England during the summer of 1983. The paper includes three lessons entitled Values Geography, Problem in the City, and The Changing City. These three exercises were used to create an environment in which students could develop a heightened awareness of social and political issues and their importance on a local and global level. These student-determined issues are also designed to increase cross-cultural awareness and improve students\u27 communicative competence

The Strategy of Communist-Directed Insurgency and the Conduct of Insurgency

First, I wish to propose a definition or a precept of what insurgency is, and then, secondly, I would say something about the essen­tial requirements of a meaningful re­sponse to it. My attention here is directed particularly toward the Com­munist-dominated or influenced insur­gency, but some of what I say would apply to other forms as well

The Peculiar Velocities of Local Type Ia Supernovae and their Impact on Cosmology

We quantify the effect of supernova Type Ia peculiar velocities on the derivation of cosmological parameters. The published distant and local Ia SNe used for the Supernova Legacy Survey first-year cosmology report form the sample for this study. While previous work has assumed that the local SNe are at rest in the CMB frame (the No Flow assumption), we test this assumption by applying peculiar velocity corrections to the local SNe using three different flow models. The models are based on the IRAS PSCz galaxy redshift survey, have varying beta = Omega_m^0.6/b, and reproduce the Local Group motion in the CMB frame. These datasets are then fit for w, Omega_m, and Omega_Lambda using flatness or LambdaCDM and a BAO prior. The chi^2 statistic is used to examine the effect of the velocity corrections on the quality of the fits. The most favored model is the beta=0.5 model, which produces a fit significantly better than the No Flow assumption, consistent with previous peculiar velocity studies. By comparing the No Flow assumption with the favored models we derive the largest potential systematic error in w caused by ignoring peculiar velocities to be Delta w = +0.04. For Omega_Lambda, the potential error is Delta Omega_Lambda = -0.04 and for Omega_m, the potential error is Delta Omega_m < +0.01. The favored flow model (beta=0.5) produces the following cosmological parameters: w = -1.08 (+0.09,-0.08), Omega_m = 0.27 (+0.02,-0.02) assuming a flat cosmology, and Omega_Lambda = 0.80 (+0.08,-0.07) and Omega_m = 0.27 (+0.02,-0.02) for a w = -1 (LambdaCDM) cosmology.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in ApJ Letter

Worst case analysis: Earth sensor assembly for the tropical rainfall measuring mission observatory

This worst case analysis verifies that the TRMMESA electronic design is capable of maintaining performance requirements when subjected to worst case circuit conditions. The TRMMESA design is a proven heritage design and capable of withstanding the most worst case and adverse of circuit conditions. Changes made to the baseline DMSP design are relatively minor and do not adversely effect the worst case analysis of the TRMMESA electrical design

Music Appreciation (Clayton State)

This Grants Collection for Music Appreciation was created under a Round Four ALG Textbook Transformation Grant. Affordable Learning Georgia Grants Collections are intended to provide faculty with the frameworks to quickly implement or revise the same materials as a Textbook Transformation Grants team, along with the aims and lessons learned from project teams during the implementation process. Documents are in .pdf format, with a separate .docx (Word) version available for download. Each collection contains the following materials: Linked Syllabus Initial Proposal Final Reporthttps://oer.galileo.usg.edu/arts-collections/1002/thumbnail.jp