Teaching geographies of small and large, near and far : multi-scalar identities in the Seychelles geography classroom

Seychelles is a small and relatively remote nation, with a hybrid legacy of European colonialism and Cuban-inspired socialism that is now fused with present-day convolutions of global capitalism. This Indian Ocean archipelago provides a unique site for the study of multiscalarity. Extending from the individual to the global, this paper uses a multi-scalar lens to critically examine the forces that have shaped (and continue to shape) Seychelles’ education, making particular reference to the geography curriculum. By linking local stories to national and international narratives, the intricacies of geography curriculum-making help to unpack the forces that shape education in small states. The multi-scalar politics of language, culture and power are shown to disrupt the geography classroom, challenging Seychellois teachers’ and students’ sense of place and Kreol identity. Generally, the paper provides an important example of the way small-scale education systems can be both resilient and vulnerable to the powers of the global economy.peer-reviewe

Analysis of slope-intercept plots for arrays of electron field emitters

In electron field emission experiments, a linear relationship in plots of slope vs. intercept obtained from Fowler-Nordheim analysis is commonly observed for single tips or tip arrays. By simulating samples with many tips, it is shown here that the observed linear relationship results from the distribution of input parameters, assuming a log-normal distribution for the radius of each tip. Typically, a shift from the lower-left to the upper-right of a slope-intercept plot has been correlated with a shift in work function. However, as shown in this paper, the same effect can result from a variation in the number of emitters

Liquidity Black Holes: And Why Modern Financial Regulation in Developed Countries is making Short-Term Capital Flows to Developing Countries Even More Volatile

Financial regulation, Liquidity black holes, Investor behaviour

Regulation, valuation and systemic liquidity.

It is a commonly held view that International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs), adopted by the European Union in 2005 and by other jurisdictions, compounded the recent fi nancial crisis. Application of the IAS 39 rule that governs loan-loss provisions and extends mark-to-market valuation of assets meant that when credit prices fell sharply in 2007 and assets were revalued using the new lower prices, it triggered a need for institutions to raise capital by selling assets, which pushed prices down further, causing more revaluations and more selling in a vicious circle. Mark-to-market volatility added to this unstable dynamic by keeping new buyers away. Fair value accounting rules are pro-cyclical and can contribute to the systemic disappearance of liquidity.1 The price of assets if they were to be sold immediately fell substantially below the price of the same assets if they were to be held to maturity or for some time period beyond the crisis. This liquidity premium was no longer a fraction of a percentage point, but tens of percentage points. A number of observers have concluded that mark-to-market accounting should be suspended during a crisis. On its own, I believe this initiative would further weaken incentives for responsible lending in the good times. Nor would it solve the problem in bad times. The pro-cyclical use of market prices is not the preserve of accounting standards –it also lies at the heart of modern financial regulation. Financial crashes are not random. They always follow booms. Offering forbearance from mark-to-market accounting or other rules during a crisis, yet using these rules at other times, such as during the preceding boom, would promote excessive lending and leverage in the good times. This asymmetry would contribute to more frequent and severe crashes. Second, crises are a time where a rumour becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy, as panic and fear spread. It is, arguably, not the time to generate a rise in uncertainty by changing accounting standards. There is room for a revision to the application of mark-to-market rules, but not a revision based on relying on the messenger’s every last word in good times and shooting him in the bad times. But the mechanisms that lead market participants to greet price declines with sell orders have not all to do with value accounting. Current prices, including spot and forward prices, play an important role in the market risk and credit risk management systems approved by financial regulators. Risk limits and sell orders are triggered in response to a rise in price volatility and/or a fall in price. The very philosophy of current banking regulation –risk sensitivity– is about incorporating market prices into the assessment and response to risk. It should be no surprise that if prices, both prices for current and future delivery, are pro-cyclical, then placing an increasing emphasis on price in the management and regulation of risk, will lead us to systemic collapse. This article examines the role of valuation and systemic liquidity and argues that an approach to how we apply mark-to-market accounting and market prices or risk that is driven more by an economic view can improve the systemic resilience of the fi nancial system.

Something to Say: Success Principles for Afterschool Arts Programs From Urban Youth and Other Experts

Engagement in the arts can help youth in myriad ways: as a vehicle for self expression, acquiring skills, and developing focus and teamwork. Unfortunately, with the develine of arts education in public schools, few urban, low-income young people have high-quality engaging art experiences at school. Alternatives outside of school, such as private lessons or arts camps, are typically limited to children of families with the resources and savvy to get access to them. What narrow arts experiences low-income youth have are often dull arts and crafts projects where they are instructed to follow a prototype, rather than create something from their own imagination. Consequently, many urban, low-income youth grow up without even a cursory understanding of what high-quality arts programs are like, or what benefits may accrue from participation. Even when there is awareness or interest in out-of-school time (OST) arts programs, many young people choose other activities for a variety of reasons. Further, community groups often report a steep drop-off in teen OST engagement and participation. That finding points to the importance of captivating young people's interest prior to the teen years when, as tweens, they are more willing to try new OST experiences. This report attempts to answer the following questions: How can urban, low-income tweens and teens gain equal access to high quality arts experiences? Is there a model of practices that could provide a blueprint for community based organizations to emulate, so that proven approaches could be deployed in more places, more often? Is there a way to approach the analysis of these problems that respects and honors the young people as consumers who make informed choices? and how do the insights of what tweens and teens want align with what other experts say they need

Impacts of Soybean Imports on Indian Processors, Farmers, and Consumers

India is one of the world’s largest importers of vegetable oils in part because of low domestic oilseed production, and tariff and nontariff barriers preventing oilseed imports. Simulation results indicate that India could lower its barriers to soybean imports without adversely affecting farmers, since imports are economically attractive to crushers even when subject to modest tariffs which sustain pre-liberalization farm and wholesale prices. Soybean processors in India achieve higher rates of capacity utilization and lower unit costs using imported oilseeds. Moreover, it is possible to partially redistribute to consumers the sizable gains processors experience by lowering the soybean oil tariff.India, oilseeds, processing cost, soybeans, trade liberalization, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy,

Severe cytomegalovirus gastritis during natalizumab-mediated immunosuppression

We report a 35-year-old female receiving natalizumab as monotherapy for multiple sclerosis who subsequently developed severe cytomegalovirus gastritis. As cytomegalovirus gastritis has not been previously described during natalizumab treatment, we discuss the biological plausibility of this potential association and avenues for further study

Immigration and Women\u27s Empowerment: Indo-Caribbeans in New York City

Since the signing of the U.S. Immigration Act of 1965, there has been a massive influx of West Indian immigrants in New York City. Today, the West Indian subpopulation has grown to be among the largest minority groups in New York City. With such strong ethnic presence, sociologists such as Nancy Foner, Philip Kasinitz, and Mary C. Waters have documented various aspects of the West Indian immigrant experience, such as degree of assimilation, ethnic and racial identities, and transnational relations. However, most of these studies focus on the Afro-Caribbean migrant experience and overlook the experiences of the many West Indians that are not of African descent. In actuality, the West Indies is a diverse region inhabited by peoples of various races. In fact, Indians make up a significant portion of the West Indian population, both in the Caribbean and in New York City. This paper aims to examine the Indo-Caribbean migration experience, exploring the distinct issues that affect this minority group. The study specifically targets Indo-Caribbean women, and highlights the ways immigration to New York City has affected their socio-economic statuses and social networks