U.S. International Trade: Trends and Forecasts

[Excerpt] This report provides an overview of the current status, trends, and forecasts for U.S. import and export flows as well as certain balances. The purpose of this report is to provide current data and brief explanations for the various types of trade flows along with a brief discussion of trends that may require attention or point to the need for policy changes. The use of trade policy as an economic or strategic tool is beyond the scope of this report but can be found in various other CRS reports. Further detail on trade in specific commodities, with particular countries or regions, or for different time periods, can be obtained from the Department of Commerce, U.S. International Trade Commission, or by contacting the authors of this report

Extremal black brane solutions in five-dimensional gauged supergravity

We study stationary black brane solutions in the context of N = 2, U(1) gauged supergravity in five dimensions. Using the formalism of first-order flow equations, we construct examples of extremal black brane solutions that include Nernst branes, i.e. extremal black brane solutions with vanishing entropy density, as well as black branes with cylindrical horizon topology, whose entropy density can be computed from a Cardy formula of the dual CFT.Comment: 37 pages, 5 figures, v2: Added references and derivation of the first-order flow equations from a superpotential, version which appeared in JHE

Experiences with designing and managing organic rotation trials

This report was presented at the UK Organic Research 2002 Conference. Practical problems encountered in two long-term organic rotation trials at Aberdeen and Elgin are discussed. Compromises have had to be made in designing and managing the trials: how to include livestock and measure output, plot size, marking and fencing, discards and paths, replication, rotation length, randomisation of crop sequence, site uniformity, manoeuvrability of machines, soil compaction and exposure to pest damage

Quantum corrections to extremal black brane solutions

We discuss quantum corrections to extremal black brane solutions in N=2 U(1) gauged supergravity in four dimensions. We consider modifications due to a certain class of higher-derivative terms as well as perturbative corrections to the prepotential. We use the entropy function formalism to assess the impact of these corrections on singular brane solutions and we give a few examples. We then use first-order flow equations to construct solutions that interpolate between quantum corrected fixed points of the associated potentials.Comment: 30 pages, 10 figures; v2: references added, as well as a discussion about how to obtain the attractor equations by extremizing an effective potential, coincides with published versio

Effects of pH on Growth of Salvinia molesta Mitchell

Growth of giant salvinia ( Salvinia molesta Mitchell) under different pH regimes was examined at the Lewisville Aquatic Ecosystem Research Facility (LAERF) in Lewisville, Texas.(PDF has 5 pages.

Kollegiale Visitationen als Methode Reflexiver Professioneller Entwicklung: Einsatz und Evaluation in der Zahnmedizin

Zusammenfassung: Ausgehend von den Anforderungen und Bedingungen der Tätigkeit freier Professionen wird deren besonderer Bedarf an Reflexion und stetiger Weiterbildung begründet. Abgeleitet aus dem Continuing Professional Development (CPD) ist die Reflexive Professionelle Entwicklung ein geeigneter programmatischer Ansatz dafür. Aus dem noch dünnen Forschungsstand heraus wird begründet, dass die Methode wechselseitiger Visitationen dessen Anforderungen gerecht werden kann. Anhand eines Fallbeispiels aus der Zahnmedizin wird die Methode der kollegialen Visitation illustriert und evaluiert. Die Daten zeigen, welche Bedingungen zu deren Gelingen beitragen: die Einbettung in ein größeres Entwicklungsprogramm, die richtige Zusammensetzung der Partner, eine sorgfältige Vorbereitung sowie Kompetenzen des Feedback Gebens und Nehmen

Creating Common Ground

Chronicles the Embrace Open Space effort to protect land from development in Minnesota's Twin Cities. Outlines the collaboration between the foundation and nonprofit community partners to develop a multi-year public awareness communications campaign

Effect of organic crop rotations on long-term development of the weed seedbank

Changes in the weed seedbank were monitored between 1991 and 1998 in two experiments that were established to compare organic crop rotations at two sites in NE Scotland. Two rotations, replicated twice at each site, were compared and all courses of both rotations were present every year. There were relatively minor changes in weed species diversity over time, but major changes in seedbank abundance. Weed seed numbers were relatively low in rotations with a high proportion of grass/clover ley. Differences in level of seedbank across the rotation were relatively predictable at Tulloch but much less so at Woodside where factors such as the effect of the grass/clover ley seemed to play a lesser role. Other factors, such as weather and its influence on the effectiveness of weed control operations, and higher populations of ground-living arthropods, may be affecting the Woodside seedbanks