Drones and the Fourth Amendment: Redefining Expectations of Privacy

Drones have gained notoriety as a weapon against foreign terrorist targets; yet, they have also recently made headlines as an instrument for domestic surveillance. With their sophisticated capabilities and continuously decreasing costs, it is not surprising that drones have attracted numerous consumers—most notably, law enforcement. Courts will likely soon have to decipher the limits on the government’s use of drones under the Fourth Amendment. But it is unclear where, or even whether, drones would fall under the current jurisprudence. Because of their diverse and sophisticated designs and capabilities, drones might be able to maneuver through the Fourth Amendment’s doctrinal loopholes. This Note advocates analyzing drones under an adapted approach to the reasonable-expectation-of-privacy test in Katz v. United States. Courts should focus more on the test’s oft-neglected first prong—whether a person exhibited a subjective expectation of privacy—and analyze what information falls within the scope of that expectation, excluding information knowingly exposed to the plain view of the public. This analysis also considers instances when, although a subjective expectation exists, it may be impossible or implausible to reasonably exhibit that expectation, a dilemma especially relevant to an analysis of drones. Courts that adopt the recommended analysis would have a coherent and comprehensible approach to factually dynamic cases challenging the constitutionality of drone surveillance. Until then, the constitutional uncertainties of these cases will likely linger

The dark side of coffee. Price war in the German market for roasted coffee

Germany is the second largest coffee market in the world, just overshadowed by the United States. Coffee is the most popular beverage in Germany – in fact more popular than beer. In 1999 the five biggest companies in the raosted coffee market had a combined market share of 84.5%. The market is characterized by fierce competition which continues to squeeze the earnings of the German coffee roasters. The degree of competition was expected to increase even more as a result of a merger in 1997. This paper examines the pricing behavior in the German market for roasted coffee. The second question is whether the degree of competition has changed due to changes in market structure and changes in demand. Changes in market structure are the merger of Tchibo and Eduscho in 1997. Changes in demand are cyclical demand fluctuations - every year before Easter and Christmas. Empirical results are derived using data on the aggregate market for roasted coffee in Germany during 1992:1 to 2000:12 and indicate that the market is suffering on not only a severe price competition, but on price war. --Market for roasted coffee ; Germany ; conjectural variation ; market power ; simultaneous equation system ; GMM

The Dark Side of Coffee Market Power in the German Market for Roasted Coffee

Germany is the second important coffee market in the world, just overshadowed by the United States. Coffee is the most famous beverage in Germany - even more popular than beer. On the supply side dominate few roasters. Market structure influences the market outcome and explains the processors' ability to exercise market power. This paper aims at studying the pricing behavior in the German market for roasted coffee. Respectively, it discusses the impact of three different explanations. First, market power may be due to low price elasticity related to a high level of consumption. Second, pricing behavior may be influenced by the industry concentration. And finally, pricing behavior may be change over time due to exogenous shocks. In particular, the degree of competition has changed as a consequences of a merger. Further, cyclical demand changes induce pricing behavior. Empirical results are derived using data on the aggregate market for roasted coffee in Germany during 1992:1 to 2000:12.Market for roasted coffee, Germany, elasticity of conjectural variation, market power, simultaneous equation system, GMM, Industrial Organization,

Relative performance of 8.5-GHz and 32-GHz telemetry links on the basis of total data return per pass

The performance of X-band (8.5-GHz) and 32-GHz telemetry links is compared on the basis of the total data return per DSN station pass. Differences in spacecraft transmitter efficiency, transmit circuit loss, and transmitting antenna area efficiency and pointing loss are not considered in these calculations. Thus, the performance differentials calculated in this memo are those produced by a DSN 70-m station antenna gain and clear weather receiving system noise temperature and by weather. These calculations show that, assuming mechanical compensation of the DSN 70-m antenna for 32-GHz operation, a performance advantage for 32 GHz over X-band of 8.2 dB can be achieved for at least one DSN station location. Even if only Canberra and Madrid are used, a performance advantage of 7.7 dB can be obtained for at least one DSN station location. A system using a multiple beam feed (electronic compensation) should achieve similar results

Effect of interference on a binary communication channel using known signals

Sinusoidal and Gaussian interference effects on binary communication channel using known signals in white random nois

10 things to consider for scaling climate-smart agricultural index-based insurances

Agricultural index-based insurances can increase smallholder farmers’ resilience in a changing climate. CCAFS science successfully informs different insurance schemes around the globe. However, scaling up insurance products for the most vulnerable population remains a challenge, beyond the need to identify locally viable indices. In July 2018, CCAFS organized a South-South Cooperation event to facilitate exchange and learnings among its participants and partners, including government officials, private sector representatives and climate finance specialists and professionals. Their insights can give a first orientation to peer practitioners with plans to scale climate-smart agriculture (CSA) through insurance schemes. This Info Note is based on insights and discussions of CCAFS participants, partners and stakeholders working on climate-smart agricultural index-based insurances, during the first CCAFS South-South Collaboration Meeting in New York, July 2018

Designing knowledge-matching facilities for scaling climate-smart agriculture: A proposal for accelerating food systems’ transformation in a changing climate

The brief talks about designing knowledge-matching facilities for scaling climate-smart agriculture. This is a priority discussed in the International Workshop on Scaling up and out of Climate-smart Technologies and Practices for Sustainable Agriculture (an initiative initiating from 2019-MACSG20), as well as of numerous CCAFS partners in the governments, research, donor, financial and policy institutions, civil society and private sectors. CCAFS proposes to join efforts, and outlines a way forward to develop and/or shape knowledge matching facilities for accelerating food systems transformation in a changing climate. This document is intended to be a living document that informs members and interested stakeholders about intermediate results and the planned or next steps