Nullification functors and the homotopy type of the classifying space for proper bundles

Let G be a discrete group for which the classifying space for proper G-actions is finite-dimensional. We find a space W such that for any such G, the classifying space PBG for proper G-bundles has the homotopy type of the W-nullification of BG. We use this to deduce some results concerning PBG and in some cases where there is a good model for PBG we obtain information about the BZ/p-nullification of BG.Comment: Published by Algebraic and Geometric Topology at http://www.maths.warwick.ac.uk/agt/AGTVol5/agt-5-46.abs.htm

Science from an Ultra-Deep, High-Resolution Millimeter-Wave Survey

Opening up a new window of millimeter-wave observations that span frequency bands in the range of 30 to 500 GHz, survey half the sky, and are both an order of magnitude deeper (about 0.5 uK-arcmin) and of higher-resolution (about 10 arcseconds) than currently funded surveys would yield an enormous gain in understanding of both fundamental physics and astrophysics. In particular, such a survey would allow for major advances in measuring the distribution of dark matter and gas on small-scales, and yield needed insight on 1.) dark matter particle properties, 2.) the evolution of gas and galaxies, 3.) new light particle species, 4.) the epoch of inflation, and 5.) the census of bodies orbiting in the outer Solar System.Comment: 5 pages + references; Submitted to the Astro2020 call for science white paper

Is right the new left?

The ideas of Left and Right have long dominated politics. This Festival of Dangerous Ideas panel discusses whether these notions are still relevant in modern society. Luke Malpass (chair), Waleed Aly, Tom Switzer and David Hetherington each mount convincing arguments that many of the orthodoxies of contemporary political discourse better belong in the past, and that we need to re-think the application of terms Left and Right - and the politics that go with them.Sydney Opera House, October 2010 Source: The Festival of Dangerous Ideas is presented by: Sydney Opera House St James Ethics Centre Duration: 31m 30

Bias in the Australian media

Does the ABC, or the Murdoch or Fairfax press, or any other Australian news media outlet, for that matter, have a discernible political or philosophical bias? Is it possible for journalists to be truly objective: neutral, detached, and leaving every skerrick of his or her personal baggage behind? Bias, it seems, in the eye of the beholder. A panel of experts discuss perceptions of bias in the Australian media with Paul Barclay. Recorded at the Noosa Long Weekend Festival. Guests Tom Switzer - journalist, former Australian editor of \u27The Spectator\u27 magazine research associate, US Studies Centre Dr John Harrison - academic, University of Queensland, School of Journalism and Communication Sharri Markson - journalist, Media Editor, \u27The Australian\u27 newspaper Dr Andrew Dodd - journalist, academic, Swinburne University of Technology Credits Producer - Paul Barcla

The Role of Biofuel Policies on Grain and Oilseed Prices

<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/> Based on forecasts of global population growth, food security will remain an important economic development issue over the next several decades. In addition, real food prices have risen in recent years after decades of decline, bringing the issue of food security even further into the public spotlight. However, there is no global food shortage: the problem is one of moving food, often across borders, from surplus production areas to deficit ones at prices that low-income consumers in developing countries can afford. Trade can be an excellent buffer for domestic fluctuations in food supply. World output of a given food commodity is far less variable than output in individual countries so increased trade integration holds considerable potential to stabilize food prices, boost returns to farmers and reduce the prices faced by consumers. Trade liberalization protects national food markets against domestic shocks by allowing more food to be imported in times of shortage and exported in periods of plenty. Historically, however, most countries have chosen to take the opposite approach by restricting imports of food and discouraging exports to keep domestic markets isolated from international shocks. Food commodity markets, therefore, remain highly distorted despite the wave of liberalization that has swept world trade since the 1980s. In addition to examining the determinants of recent food price spikes, Trade Policy and Food Security explores the impact of food prices on economic welfare, and how the effect of price changes on food security and economic welfare in developing countries can be mitigated through appropriate national policies at the border. It highlights the importance of both the extension and continued application of existing WTO disciplines on trade-distorting agricultural trade policies as a key resolution to the collective action problem witnessed during the recent food price spikes, whereby unilateral border policies—especially export controls—simply exacerbated the initial price increases.<br/

Do Public Subsidies Complement Business R&D? A Meta-Analysis of the Econometric Evidence

Analysis of the effects of public financing on private investment in R & D has been the object of numerous applied studies without it having been possible to arrive at a definite conclusion. In this paper the results of a meta-regression of econometric evidence on the relationship between public funding of R & D and private R & D expenditures is presented. After the creation of a data-base including all relevant studies and their results and characteristics, a meta-analysis was carried out to examine whether the characteristics of the applied analysis influence the results and explain the differences in the empirical literature on this subject. Copyright WWZ and Helbing & Lichtenhahn Verlag AG 2004.