Protecting ‘Single-Origin Coffee’ within the Global Coffee Market: The Role of Geographical Indications and Trademarks

Over the past decade, coffee producers have been struggling with the world market’s low and unstable coffee prices. Some coffee producing countries try to overcome this crisis by moving from pure commodity exports to higher-price exports of niche market quality products, like “single-origin coffeeâ€, protected by intellectual property tools. Such protection can take the form of trademarks or geographical indications. At present within the single-origin coffee sector, a trend to use the latter form can be observed. For example, “Café de Colombia†was registered as a Protected Geographical Indication under Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006. Another recent example is the Ethiopian Fine Coffee Trademarking and Licensing Initiative. In order to protect its coffee industry, the Ethiopian government has filed trademark applications for the country’s most valuable brands in over 30 countries, including all major coffee markets. This article suggests that both concepts offer mixed blessings. The particularities of the global coffee market might in some cases be better accommodated by a trademark scheme whilst in other cases by a geographical indication system. However, in order to ensure the individual farmer benefits from the higher price paid for single-origin coffee on the world coffee market, further steps have to be taken.Columbia, Ethiopia, geographical indications, single-origin coffee, trademarks, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, International Relations/Trade,

Lifetime of Surface Features and Stellar Rotation: A Wavelet Time-Frequency Approach

We explore subtle variations in disk-integrated measurements spanning \lsim 18 years of stellar surface magnetism by using a newly developed time-frequency gapped wavelet algorithm. We present results based on analysis of the Mount Wilson Ca II H and K emission fluxes in four, magnetically-active stars (HD 1835 [G2V], 82885 [G8IV-V], 149661 [K0V] and 190007 [K4V]) and sensitivity tests using artificial data. When the wavelet basis is appropriately modified (i.e., when the time-frequency resolution is optimized), the results are consistent with the existence of spatially localized and long-lived Ca II features (assumed here as activity regions that tend to recur in narrowly-confined latitude bands), especially in HD 1835 and 82885. This interpretation is based on the observed persistence of relatively localized Ca II wavelet power at a narrow range of rotational time scales, enduring as long as \gsim 10 years.Comment: to appear in THE ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTER

Emotion as the hidden curriculum: The case of student anxiety

The primary research focus of Dr. Schussler’s lab is the shaping of undergraduate learning environments to foster meaningful student learning. Although learning environments are organized around specific curricula, the effectiveness of the curriculum is often impacted by the instructor and/or student perception of the instructor. Much of my lab’s research has focused on this interplay between curricula and the instructor and how it affects student learning. Some lab research specifically informs teaching professional development (TPD) for biology graduate teaching assistants. We have found, for example, that student perceptions of GTAs change over the semester, are impacted by the title the GTA uses with their students, and are linked to particular teaching behaviors that can predict perception of teaching effectiveness. These lines of research led to the creation of an NSF-funded research coordination network (BioTAP) focused on improving GTA TPD. BioTAP members have co-published a national survey on the state of GTA TPD at institutions across the US and Canada and proposed a conceptual model for conducting research on GTA TPD programs, which is used as part of the BioTAP Scholars program

Language, Cultural Competence, and Workload: Experiences of Bilingual and Multilingual Social Workers

Qualitative study that explores the experiences of bilingual social workers

The Behavior Under Shearing Stress of Duralumin Strip with Round, Flanged Holes

This report presents the results of an investigation to determine the behavior of dural strip with flanged holes in the center when subjected to shear stresses. They buckle under a certain load just as a flat sheet. There is one optimum hole spacing and a corresponding buckling load in shear for each sheet width, sheet thickness, and flange form. Comparison with non-flanged sheets revealed a marked increase of buckling load in shear due to the flanging and a slightly greater displacement. Strips were clamped between two stationary end rails and one sliding center rail at which the shear is applied. The force was measured with a tension stirrup up to 20 tons and a compression dynamometer up to 10 tons. The displacement was recorded with the Zeiss dial gauge. The following were investigated: 1) effect of strip width; 2) strip thickness; 3) diameter of flanging; 4) depth of flanging; 5) and hole distance