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Pages with incomplete DOI references, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, Biological warfare, Entomology
Entomological warfare
Entomological warfare (EW) is a type of biological warfare that uses insects to attack the enemy. The concept has existed for centuries and research and development have continued into the modern era. EW has been used in battle by Japan and several other nations have developed and been accused of using an entomological warfare program.
2 Early history
3 World War II
3.3 Germany
4 Cold War
4.1 Soviet Union
5 Bioterrorism
6 Legal status
Entomological warfare (EW) is a specific type of biological warfare (BW)[1] that uses insects in a direct attack or as vectors to deliver a biological agent, such as or cholera. Essentially, EW exists in three varieties.[2] One type of EW involves infecting insects with a pathogen and then dispersing the insects over target areas.[3] The insects then act as a vector, infecting any person or animal they might bite. Another type of EW is a direct insect attack against crops; the insect may not be infected with any pathogen but instead represents a threat to agriculture.[3] The final method of entomological warfare is to use uninfected insects, such as bees, to directly attack the enemy.[2]
Early history[edit | edit source]
Entomological warfare is not a new concept; historians and writers have studied EW in connection to multiple historic events. A 14th century plague epidemic in Asia Minor that eventually became known as the Black Death is one such event that has drawn attention from historians as a possible early incident of entomological warfare.[4] That plague's spread over Europe may have been the result of a biological attack on the Crimean city of Kaffa.[4]
According to Jeffrey Lockwood, author of Six-Legged Soldiers (a book about EW), the earliest incident of entomological warfare was probably the use of bees by early humans.[5] The bees or their nests were thrown into caves to force the enemy out and into the open.[5] Lockwood theorizes that the Ark of the Covenant may have been deadly when opened because it contained deadly fleas.[5][6]
During the American Civil War the Confederacy accused the Union of purposely introducing the harlequin bug in the South.[1] These accusations were never proven, and modern research has shown it more likely that the insect arrived by other means.[1] The world did not experience large-scale entomological warfare until World War II; Japanese attacks in China were the only verified instance of BW or EW during the war.[1] During, and following, the war other nations began their own EW programs.
World War II[edit | edit source]
The Colorado potato beetle was considered as an EW weapon by nations on both sides of WWII
Canada[edit | edit source]
Among the Allied Powers, Canada led the pioneering effort in vector-borne warfare.[4] After Japan became intent on developing the plague flea as a weapon, Canada and the United States followed suit.[4] Cooperating closely with the United States, Dr. G.B. Reed, chief of Kingston's Queen's University's Defense Research Laboratory, focused his research efforts on mosquito vectors, biting flies, and plague infected fleas during World War II.[7] Much of this research was shared with or conducted in concert with the United States.[7]
Canada's entire bio-weapons program was ahead of the British and the Americans during the war.[4] The Canadians tended to work in areas their allies ignored; entomological warfare was one of these areas.[4] As the U.S. and British programs evolved, the Canadians worked closely with both nations. The Canadian BW work would continue well after the war,[8] including entomological research.[7]
France[edit | edit source]
France is known to have pursued entomological warfare programs during World War II.[9] Like Germany, the nation suggested that the Colorado potato beetle, aimed at the enemy's food sources, would be an asset during the war.[9] As early as 1939 biological warfare experts in France suggested that the beetle be used against German crops.[10]
Germany[edit | edit source]
Germany is known to have pursued entomological warfare programs during World War II.[9] The nation pursued the mass-production, and dispersion, of the Colorado potato beetle (Lepinotarsa decemlineata), aimed at the enemy's food sources.[9] The beetle was first found in Germany in 1914, as an invasive species from North America.[11] There are no records that indicate the beetle was ever employed as a weapon by Germany, or any other nation during the war.[11] Regardless, the Germans had developed plans to drop the beetles on English crops.[12]
Germany carried out testing of its Colorado potato beetle weaponization program south of Frankfurt, where they released 54,000 of the beetles.[11] In 1944, an infestation of Colorado potato beetles was reported in Germany.[11] The source of the infestation is unknown, speculation has offered three alternative theories as to the origin of the infestation. One option is Allied action, an entomological attack, another is that it was the result of the German testing, and still another more likely explanation is that it was merely a natural occurrence.[11]
Japan[edit | edit source]
Unit 731 body disposal. The infamous bio-weapons unit waged EW in China.
Japan used entomological warfare on a large scale during World War II in China.[13] Unit 731, Japan's infamous biological warfare unit led by Lt. General Shirō Ishii, used plague-infected fleas and flies covered with cholera to infect the population in China.[13] The Japanese military dispersed the insects by spraying them from low-flying airplanes and dropping bombs filled with a mixture of insects and disease.[9] Localized and deadly epidemics resulted and nearly 500,000 Chinese died of disease.[13][14] An "international symposium" of historians declared in 2002 that Japanese entomological warfare in China was responsible for the deaths of 440,000.[9]
The late Ban Shigeo, a technician at the Japanese Army's 9th Technical Research Institute, left a rare and valuable account of the activities of Noborito Research Institute which was published in Rikugun Noborito Kenkyujo no shinjitsu - The Truth About the Army Nororito Institute available only in the Japanese language. Of the Japanese Army's ten numbered institutes, only the 9th Army Technical Research Institute came under the covert operations section of the Army General Staff's Second Bureau (Intelligence). On the sensitive issue of Japanese biological warfare, Ban did not shrink from including an account of his trip to Nanking in 1941 to participate in the testing of poisons on Chinese prisoners. One of his book's contributions is to further tie Noborito to the Japanese Army's infamous Unit 731, which participated in biomedical research. When the war ended, the US Army quietly enlisted certain members of Noborito in its efforts against the communist camp in the early years of the Cold War. The author notes near the end of the book that Ban led the "chemical section" of a US clandestine unit hidden within Yokosuka naval base during the Korean War, and then worked on unspecified projects inside the United States from 1955 to 1959, before returning to Japan to enter the private sector.[15] Shirō Ishii of Unit 731, having not been charged as a war criminal, also continued his work to consult with American authorities, especially during the height of the Cold War, and died in 1959 of throat cancer.[16]
In 1989, a British study of Unit 731 strongly supported the theory of United States-Japanese BW culpability in Korea. Chinese experts doggedly insist today that BW weapons created in an American-Japanese collaboration were used in the Korean war.[17] Further evidence that Japanese continued to assist the United States Chemical, Biological warfare, as well as Radiological effects and Entomological warfare program efforts continued after the Korean war into Vietnam includes a visit to Rocky Mountain Arsenal in September 1962 by Japanese delegation I-63.[18] Among many other activities, from January 1962-October 1969, Rocky Mountain Arsenal "grew, purified and biodemilitarized" plant pathogen wheat stem rust [Puccinia graminis, var. tritici] (Agent TX) for the Air Force biological anti-crop program. TX-treated grain was grown at the Arsenal from 1962-1968 in Sections 23-26. Unprocessed TX was also transported from Beale AFB for purification, storage, and disposal.[19] Trichothecenes Mycotoxin is a toxin that can be extracted from Wheat Stem Rust and Rice Blast and can kill or incapacitate depending on the concentration used. The "red mold disease" of wheat and barley in Japan is prevalent in the region that faces the Pacific Ocean. Toxic trichothecenes, including nivalenol, deoxynivalenol, and monoace tylnivalenol (fusarenon- X) from Fusarium nivale, can be isolated from moldy grains. In the suburbs of Tokyo, an illness similar to "red mold disease" was described in an outbreak of a food borne disease, as a result of the consumption of Fusarium- infected rice.
Ingestion of moldy grains that are contaminated with trichothecenes has been associated with mycotoxicosis.[20]
United Kingdom[edit | edit source]
A British scientist, J.B.S. Haldane, suggested that Britain and Germany were both vulnerable to entomological attack via the Colorado potato beetle.[10] In 1942 the United States shipped 15,000 Colorado potato beetles to Britain for study as a weapon.[11]
Cold War[edit | edit source]
Soviet Union[edit | edit source]
The Soviet Union researched, developed and tested an entomological warfare program as a major part of an anti-crop and anti-animal BW program. The Soviets developed techniques for using insects to transmit animal pathogens, such as foot and mouth disease — which they used ticks to transmit.[21] The nation also used avian ticks to transmit Chlamydophila psittaci to chickens.[21] In addition, the Soviet Union claimed to have developed an automated mass insect breeding facility, capable of outputting millions of parasitic insects per day.[21]
United States[edit | edit source]
The U.S. dropped over 300,000 uninfected yellow fever mosquitoes on its own population.
The United States seriously researched the potential of entomological warfare during the Cold War. The United States military developed plans for an entomological warfare facility, designed to produce 100 million yellow fever-infected mosquitoes per month.[9] A U.S. Army report[13] titled "Entomological Warfare Target Analysis" listed vulnerable sites within the Soviet Union that the U.S. could attack using entomological vectors.[9] The military also tested the mosquito biting capacity by dropping uninfected mosquitoes over U.S. cities.[9]
North Korean and Chinese officials leveled accusations that during the Korean War the United States engaged in biological warfare, including EW, in North Korea. The claim is dated to the period of the war, and has been thoroughly denied by the U.S.[22] In 1998, Stephen Endicott and Edward Hagermann claimed that the accusations were true in their book, The United States and Biological Warfare: Secrets from the Early Cold War and Korea[7] The book received mixed reviews, some called it "bad history"[23] and "appalling",[22] while other praised the case the authors made.[23] Other historians have revived the claim in recent decades as well.[24] The same year Endicotts' book was published Kathryn Weathersby and Milton Leitenberg of the Cold War International History Project at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington released a cache of Soviet and Chinese documents which revealed the North Korean claim was an elaborate disinformation campaign.[24]
An SEM of a rat flea. The species was used in U.S. EW testing during the 1950s.
During the 1950s the United States conducted a series of field tests using entomological weapons. Operation Big Itch, in 1954, was designed to test munitions loaded with uninfected fleas (Xenopsylla cheopis).[10] Big Itch went awry when some of the fleas escaped into the plane and bit all three members of the air crew.[10] In May 1955 over 300,000 yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) were dropped over parts of the U.S. state of Georgia to determine if the air-dropped mosquitoes could survive to take meals from humans.[25] The mosquito tests were known as Operation Big Buzz.[14] Operation Magic Sword was a 1965 U.S. military operation designed to test the effectiveness of the sea-borne release of insect vectors for biological agents. The U.S. engaged in at least two other EW testing programs, Operation Drop Kick and Operation May Day.[25] A 1981 Army report outlined these tests as well as multiple cost-associated issues that occurred with EW.[25] The report is partially declassified — some information is blacked out, including everything concerning "Drop Kick"[25] — and included "cost per death" calculations.[3] The cost per death, according to the report, for a vector-borne biological agent achieving a 50% mortality rate in an attack on a city was $0.29 in 1976 dollars.[25] Such an attack was estimated to result in 625,000 deaths.[25]
The United States has also applied entomological warfare research and tactics in non-combat situations. In 1990 the U.S. funded a $6.5 million program designed to research, breed and drop caterpillars.[26] The caterpillars were to be dropped in Peru on coca fields as part of the American War on Drugs.[26] As recently as 2002 U.S. entomological anti-drug efforts at Fort Detrick were focused on finding an insect vector for a virus that affects the opium poppy.[3]
Bioterrorism[edit | edit source]
Main article: Bioterrorism
Clemson University's Regulatory and Public Service Program listed "diseases vectored by insects" among bioterrorism scenarios considered "most likely".[27] Because invasive species are already a problem worldwide one University of Nebraska entomologist considered it likely that the source of any sudden appearance of a new agricultural pest would be difficult, if not impossible, to determine.[28] Lockwood considers insects a more effective means of transmitting biological agents for acts of bioterrorism than the actual agents.[29] Insect vectors are easily gathered and their eggs easily transportable without detection.[29] Isolating and delivering biological agents, on the other hand, is extremely challenging and hazardous.[29]
In one of the few suspected acts of entomological bioterrorism an eco-terror group known as The Breeders claimed to have released Mediterranean fruit flies (medflies) amidst an ongoing California infestation.[30] Lockwood asserts that there is some evidence the group played a role in the event.[12] The pest attacks a variety of crops and the state of California responded with a large-scale pesticide spraying program.[30] At least one source asserted that there is no doubt that an outside hand played a role in the dense 1989 infestation.[31] The group stated in a letter to then Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley that their goals were twofold.[30] They sought to cause the medfly infestation to grow out of control which, in turn, would render the ongoing Malathion spraying program financially infeasible.[30]
Legal status[edit | edit source]
The Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention (BWC) of 1972 does not specifically mention insect vectors in its text.[32] The language of the treaty, however, does cover vectors.[32] Article I bans "Weapons, equipment or means of delivery designed to use such agents or toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict."[32][33] It would appear, due to the text of the BWC, that insect vectors as an aspect of entomological warfare are covered and outlawed by the Convention.[34] The issue is less clear when warfare with uninfected insects against crops is considered.[32]
1989 California medfly attack
Agroterrorism
↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Peterson, R.K.D. "The Role of Insects as a Biological Weapon", Department of Entomology, Montana State University, notes based on seminar, 1990, accessed December 25, 2008.
↑ 2.0 2.1 Lockwood, Jeffrey A. Six-legged Soldiers: Using Insects as Weapons of War, Oxford University Press, USA, 2008, pp. 9–26, (ISBN 0195333055).
↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "An Introduction to Biological Weapons, Their Prohibition, and the Relationship to Biosafety", The Sunshine Project, April 2002, accessed December 25, 2008.
↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Kirby, Reid. "Using the flea as weapon", (Web version via findarticles.com), Army Chemical Review, July 2005, accessed December 23, 2008.
↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Baumann, Peter. "Warfare gets the creepy-crawlies", Laramie Boomerang, October 18, 2008, accessed December 23, 2008.
↑ "UW Professor Examines Biological Setting of Egyptian Plagues", (Press release), University of Wyoming, December 12, 2005, accessed December 23, 2008.
↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Endicott, Stephen, and Hagermann, Edward. The United States and Biological Warfare: Secrets from the Early Cold War and Korea, (Google Books, relevant excerpt), Indiana University Press, 1998, pp. 75-77, (ISBN 0253334721), links accessed December 24, 2008.
↑ Wheelis, Mark, et al. Deadly Cultures: Biological Weapons Since 1945, (Google Books), Harvard University Press, 2006, pp. 84-90, (ISBN 0674016998).
↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 Lockwood, Jeffrey A. "Bug Bomb", Boston Globe, October 21, 2007, accessed December 23, 2008.
↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Croddy, Eric and Wirtz, James J. Weapons of Mass Destruction: An Encyclopedia of Worldwide Policy, Technology, and History, (Google Books), ABC-CLIO, 2005, p. 304, (ISBN 1851094903).
↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 Heather, Neil W. and Hallman, Guy J. Pest Management and Phytosanitary Trade Barriers ([Google Books]), CABI, 2008, pp. 17–18, (ISBN 1845933435).
↑ 12.0 12.1 Baker, Eric. "'Maggot bombs' and malaria", Casper Star-Tribune, via the Laramie Boomerang, February 27, 2006, accessed December 25, 2008.
↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Lockwood, Jeffrey A. "Six-legged soldiers", The Scientist, October 24, 2008, accessed December 23, 2008.
↑ 14.0 14.1 Novick, Lloyd and Marr, John S. Public Health Issues Disaster Preparedness, (Google Books), Jones & Bartlett Publishers, 2001, p. 87, (ISBN 0763725005).
↑ CIA review of "Rikugun Noborito Kenkyujo no shinjitsu [The Truth About the Army Noborito Research Institute]" By Ban Shigeo. Tokyo: Fuyo Shobo Shuppan, 2001: https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol46no4/article11.html
↑ THE ROLE OF INSECTS AS BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS notes for a seminar presented by R.K.D. Peterson in 1990 at the University of Nebraska. Retrieved July 20, 2012: http://entomology.montana.edu/historybug/insects_as_bioweapons.htm
↑ Factories of Death Japanese biological warfare 1932–45 and the American cover-up by Sheldon H.Harris: http://www.scribd.com/doc/91284707/Factories-of-Death
↑ Quarterly Report Rocky Mountain Arsenal Archive July 1-September 30, 1962: http://rockymountainarsenalarchive.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/ja_112.pdf
↑ TX Anticrop Agent & Project 112 retrieved July 19, 2012: https://rockymountainarsenalarchive.wordpress.com/2011/07/09/tx-anticrop-agent-project-112/
↑ Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare, Chapter 34 TRICHOTHECENE MYCOTOXINS p.659: http://www.bordeninstitute.army.mil/published_volumes/chemBio/Ch34.pdf
↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Ban, Jonathan. "Agricultural Biological Warfare: An Overview", The Arena, June 2000, Paper # 9, Chemical and Biological Arms Control Institute, via Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism, accessed December 25, 2008.
↑ 22.0 22.1 Regis, Ed. "Wartime Lies?", The New York Times, June 27, 1999, accessed December 24, 2008.
↑ 23.0 23.1 "Reviews of The United States and Biological Warfare: secrets of the Early Cold War and Korea", York University, compiled book review excerpts, accessed December 24, 2008.
↑ 24.0 24.1 Auster, Bruce B. "Unmasking an Old Lie", U.S. News and World Report, November 16, 1998, accessed December 24, 2008.
↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 25.5 Rose, William H. "An Evaluation of Entomological Warfare as a Potential Danger to the United States and European NATO Nations", U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, Dugway Proving Ground, March 1981, via thesmokinggun.com, accessed December 25, 2008.
↑ 26.0 26.1 Irwin, M.E. and G.E. Kampmeier. "Commercial products, from insects", (p. 6). In Resh, V.H. & Carde, R. eds. Encyclopedia of Insects, Academic Press, San Diego, via University of Illinois and Illinois Natural History Survey, accessed December 25, 2008.
↑ "Regulatory and Public Service Programs' Strategy for the Prevention Of Bioterrorism in Areas Regulated", Regulatory and Public Service Program, Clemson University, 2001, accessed December 25, 2008.
↑ Corley, Heather. "Agricultural Bioterror Threat Requires Vigilance", (Press release), Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resource, University of Nebraska, November 12, 2001, accessed December 25, 2008.
↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 Lockwood, Jeffrey A. "Insects: Tougher than anthrax", The Boston Globe, October 21, 2007, accessed December 25, 2008.
↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 Bonfante, Jordan. "Medfly Madness", Time Magazine, January 8, 1990, accessed December 25, 2008.
↑ Howard, Russell D. et al. Homeland Security and Terrorism: Readings and Interpretations, (Google Books), McGraw-Hill Professional, 2006, p. 49, (ISBN 0071452826).
↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 Sims, Nicholas Roger Alan, (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute). The Evolution of Biological Disarmament, (Google Books), Oxford University Press, 2001, pp. 45-50, (ISBN 0198295782).
↑ "Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction", The Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention Website, accessed January 5, 2009.
↑ Zanders, Jean Pascal. "Research Policies, BW Development & Disarmament", Conference: "Ethical Implications of Scientific Research on Bioweapons and Prevention of Bioterrorism", European Commission, via BioWeapons Prevention Project, February 4, 2004, accessed January 5, 2009.
Further reading[edit | edit source]
Bryden, John. Deadly Allies: Canada's Secret War, 1937-1947, (Google Books), McClelland & Stewart, 1989, (ISBN 0771017243).
Garrett, Benjamin C. "The Colorado Potato Beetle Goes to War", Chemical Weapons Convention Bulletin, Issue #33, September 1996, accessed January 3, 2009.
Hay, Alastair. "A Magic Sword or A Big Itch: An Historical Look at the United States Biological Weapon Programme", (Citation), Medicine, Conflict, and Survival, Vol. 15 July–September 1999, pp. 215–234, (ISSN 13623699).
Lockwood, Jeffrey A. "Entomological Warfare: History of the Use of Insects as Weapons of War" (Citation, Bulletin of the Entomological Society of America, Summer 1987, v. 33(2), pp. 76–82, ISSN 00138754.
Lockwood, Jeffrey A. "The Scary Caterpillar", The New York Times, April 18, 2009, accessed April 24, 2009.
doi:10.1146/annurev-ento-120710-100618
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The Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention, official site, accessed January 5, 2009.
Bugs as bombs, Oregon State University, Department of Entomology, accessed December 25, 2008.
Retrieved from "https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Entomological_warfare?oldid=5272466"
Pages with incomplete DOI references
Biological warfare


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WHL ANNOUNCES PLAYER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
top-news-stories
Calgary, AB – The Western Hockey League today announced the WHL Eastern and Western Conference finalists for the 2010-11 WHL Player of the Year. The two finalists for WHL Player of the Year were determined through voting by General Managers, coaches, broadcast and media representatives of all WHL Member Clubs.
In the WHL's Eastern Conference, which includes the East and Central Divisions, the Player of the Year Nominee is goaltender Darcy Kuemper of the Red Deer Rebels.
Kuemper enjoyed an outstanding season for the Red Deer Rebels, backstopping them to their first Central Division title since the 2003-04 season. The 20-year-old from Saskatoon, SK, appeared in 62 games for the Rebels during the 2010-11 WHL regular season, posting a 45-12-3-2 record as the Rebels finished with 104 points in the standings.
Kuemper led all WHL goaltenders in wins (45), goals-against average (1.86) and save percentage (.933) during the regular season, helping the Rebels to the WHL's best defensive record. In addition, Kuemper tied a WHL single-season record by posting 13 shutouts. During the regular season, Kuemper maintained a high level of consistency, losing back-to-back decisions on only two occasions. He was named the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week on three different occasions during the regular season – the only goalie in the CHL to win the award three times this year – and was named the Vaughn WHL Goaltender of the Month for January.
Originally selected by the Spokane Chiefs in the 3rd round, 45th overall, of the 2005 WHL Bantam Draft, Kuemper was acquired by the Rebels in 2007 and has played 178 regular-season games for Red Deer over the last three seasons. Kuemper was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the 6th round, 161st overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
In the WHL's Western Conference, which includes the B.C. and U.S. Divisions, the Player of the Year Nominee is forward Tyler Johnson of the Spokane Chiefs.
Johnson, a 20-year-old from Spokane, WA, starred his hometown Chiefs during the 2010-11 WHL regular season, scoring 53 goals and 62 assists for 115 points in 71 games to lead the Chiefs to a 48-18-4-2 record for 102 points and a second-place finish in the U.S. Division.
Johnson finished first among all WHL players with 53 goals and finished second in the WHL scoring race with 115 points. One of just two players to reach the 50-goal plateau this season, Johnson tied for fifth in the WHL with 17 power play markers, tied for second in the WHL with six shorthanded goals, and tied for 10th among WHL players with seven game-winning goals. A consistent offensive producer for the Chiefs, Johnson recorded at least one point in 57 of the 71 games he played this season. He was named the Husky WHL Player of the Month for December.
Johnson has played four seasons in the WHL, all with his hometown Chiefs, recording 128 goals and 154 assists for 282 points in 266 regular-season games. The 5'9", 175-lb center, who helped the Chiefs win the 2008 WHL Championship and MasterCard Memorial Cup, was never chosen in the NHL Entry Draft, but signed an entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning in March 2011.
The recipients of all WHL individual awards will be announced at the 2011 WHL Awards Luncheon, which will be held in Calgary, Alberta, at the Round-Up Centre on Wednesday, May 4, 2011.
2011 WHL Awards Finalists
WHL Player of the Year, Four Broncos Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference – Darcy Kuemper (Saskatoon, SK), Red Deer Rebels
Western Conference – Tyler Johnson (Spokane, WA), Spokane Chiefs
WHL Rookie of the Year, Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference – Matt Dumba (Calgary, AB), Red Deer Rebels
Western Conference – Sven Bartschi (Langenthal, SUI), Portland Winterhawks
WHL Goaltender of the Year, Del Wilson Trophy
Western Conference – James Reid (Calgary, AB), Spokane Chiefs
WHL Defenceman of the Year, Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference – Stefan Elliott (North Vancouver, BC), Saskatoon Blades
Western Conference – Tyson Barrie (Victoria, BC), Kelowna Rockets
WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player Award, Brad Hornung Trophy
WHL Scholastic Player of the Year, Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference – Adam Lowry (Calgary, AB), Swift Current Broncos
Western Conference – Colin Smith (Edmonton, AB), Kamloops Blazers
WHL Coach of the Year, Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference – Jesse Wallin, Red Deer Rebels
Western Conference – Don Nachbaur, Spokane Chiefs
WHL Executive of the Year, Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference – Lorne Molleken, Saskatoon Blades
Western Conference – Mike Johnston, Portland Winterhawks
WHL Humanitarian of the Year, Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy
Eastern Conference – Spencer Edwards (Coquitlam, BC), Moose Jaw Warriors
Western Conference – Jeff Einhorn (Red Deer, AB), Chilliwack Bruins
WHL Marketing / Communications Award
Eastern Conference – Calgary Hitmen, Mike Moore
Western Conference – Tri-City Americans, Brian Sandy
WHL Regular Season Champions, Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy
Saskatoon Blades: GP – 72 W – 56 L – 13 OTL – 1 SL – 2 Pts – 115
WHL Top Scorer – Bob Clarke Trophy
Linden Vey – (Wakaw, SK) Medicine Hat Tigers
GP – 69 G – 46 A – 70 Pts – 116 PIM – 36
Bryce Kindopp Martin Fasko-Rudas
PLAY OF THE YEAR // Final Four, Teddy vs TC Winner!
Silvertip Country silvertips street hockey challenge
TIPS TV // That's a Wrap on Street Hockey 2019
Silvertip Country street hockey
PHOTOS // Street Hockey, A Blast
Angel of the Winds Arena silvertips street hockey challenge
STREET HOCKEY // Coming Saturday
brayden low dan todoroff
PODCAST // Brayden Low, Land Down Under
carter hart Throwback Thursday
TBT // Carter Hart With Another Good Deed

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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A new Palestinian strategy or the same failed one?
Ali Abunimah The Electronic Intifada 9 September 2008
An Israeli soldier holds a pile of Palestinian IDs at a checkpoint in the occupied West Bank. (Jaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP)
Is the Palestinian national movement about to abandon the two-state solution and demand instead a single democratic or bi-national state throughout Palestine-Israel?
That is the intriguing possibility raised by a new paper published by an ad hoc group called the Palestine Strategy Study Group (PSSG). The New York Times saw the report as another sign that, "Even among the most moderate Palestinians, the credo of a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is beginning to erode" (Isabel Kershner, "Support for 2-State Plan Erodes," The New York Times, 3 September 2008).
The PSSG paper does indeed provide further evidence of the rapid crumbling of the dogma that the two-state solution is just and achievable and moreover that it has no plausible alternatives. And yet it is far less than a full embrace of the one-state solution. Rather, it would appear that among PSSG participants there are quite different and even contradictory goals. This is hardly surprising because as one participant, Sam Bahour wrote, the group included "Palestinians from all walks of life — men and women, on the political right and left, secular and religious, politicians, academics, civil society and business actors, from occupied Palestine, inside Israel, and in the Diaspora." This group could never meet in one room due to Israel's travel restrictions on Palestinians. The PSSG workshops were funded by the European Union and convened by the Oxford Research Group, a British non-governmental organization.
Some participants clearly saw the PSSG as an opportunity for a badly needed, sincere and deep reassessment of Palestinian strategy and took part in that spirit. For Bahour it represents a challenge to "a never-ending 'peace process' that has created a peace industry in Palestine, all underwritten by taxpayers from around the world." This peace process, Bahour writes, "has no intention of realizing peace with justice, but rather looks to fragment Palestinians' national aspirations into bite-sized pieces with state-like trappings — the antithesis of a state with real sovereignty, let alone self-determination" ("Coexistence with occupation not an option," The Electronic Intifada, 5 September 2008).
The paper does have several strong points that Palestinians and all those who support their cause should endorse and rally around. It calls on Palestinians to seize the initiative and to define the terms of the discourse rather than continue to allow Israel and its backers to do it for them. The PSSG calls for national unity and broad consultation among all Palestinians. It also calls on Palestinians to reject and expose the deceptive language of "peacemaking" and "state-building" that have been used to conceal and perpetuate a lived reality of expulsion, domination and occupation at Israel's hands. The paper makes the case that by demanding a state on only 22 percent of historic Palestine (East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza Strip) — which is less than half what was allotted to the Arab state in the 1947 UN partition plan — Palestinians have already made an unprecedented concession and no more can be asked of them.
In addition, the paper stresses that the appropriate discourse for Palestinians living under these conditions remains that of "self-determination," "decolonization" and "liberation." The paper asserts — correctly — that Palestinians are not as weak as they appear and can prevent Israel from achieving its preferred option of maintaining the status quo by reconfiguring or even abolishing the Palestinian Authority, adopting "smart" resistance and reorienting their goals towards a one-state solution.
In spite of its positive attributes, a close reading of the PSSG final report entitled "Regaining the Initiative - Palestinian Strategic Options to End Israeli Occupation," (available in English and Arabic at www.palestinestrategygroup.ps) also offers reasons for caution.
While the paper is strong on diagnostics, it becomes more problematic with what it prescribes and at key points Palestinian Authority heavyweights who participated might have steered it in a decidedly less principled direction.
It suggests that one of the key Palestinian "strategic tasks" is to "spell out the minimum terms acceptable for negotiating a fully independent Palestinian state on 1967 borders and to explain clearly why this is by far the best offer Israel will get." The paper argues for "a final and conclusive push to compel Israel to negotiate immediately and seriously for a swift two state outcome acceptable to Palestinians — or face the reality of a concerted Palestinian strategic orientation in an entirely different direction — and one far less favorable to Israel."
Using the one-state solution as a tactical threat is unlikely to move Israel and simply discredits such a solution in the long-run by playing into Israeli claims that a democratic state where everyone is equal would be a disaster for Israeli Jews. Indeed, the PSSG report explicitly warns against such an approach. Palestinians ought to be making the case that the one-state solution, as a democratic solution in accordance with universal rights, is the best and most moral outcome for all sides, not a victory for Palestinians and defeat for Israelis. Nor does the paper examine the relative merits of a two-state or a one-state solution from the perspective of achieving fundamental rights and justice for Palestinians.
As long as the two-state solution remains the objective of the Palestinian movement, the report defines three "strategic objectives," which I will examine in turn. Unfortunately these reproduce the vague and deceptive language that the peace process industry has long used to erode Palestinian rights and expectations. This is compounded by major, substantive discrepancies between the English and Arabic versions. (It is unclear how these came about; I heard from two PSSG participants who were familiar with the Arabic version which they considered authoritative, and both were surprised and shocked to learn of such differences.) First, let's look at the English — which has been widely circulated and reported in the media:
"The first strategic objective is to end occupation of Palestinian lands." (p.23)
Notably, this does not say which occupation and which Palestinian lands and fails to insist on a complete Israeli withdrawal from all the lands occupied in 1967.
"The second strategic objective is to establish a fully independent and sovereign Palestinian state."
"In accordance with the PLO [Palestine Liberation Organization] declaration of 1988," the report adds, the second objective means "the establishment of a fully independent Palestinian state on 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem."
The lack of the definite article "the" before "1967 borders" implies that actual borders could deviate significantly. And, the 1988 PLO declaration of independence does not talk about a capital in Jerusalem (whose boundaries Israel constantly manipulates and redefines), but says that Jerusalem is the capital of the Palestinian state.
Most glaring is the third strategic objective which is "to honor the right of return of Palestinian refugees."
The use of the word "honor" signals a less than firm commitment to actually implement the right of return as guaranteed in UN Resolution 194 among other key instruments of international law.
This is confirmed a few sentences later when the paper notes that the demand for the right of return "rings alarm bells" that it is really a "coded message" to revoke PLO recognition of Israel because any substantial return of refugees would swamp the Jewish state demographically. Yet it assures Israel that "This will not be the case if Israel negotiates seriously and with time-urgency … and has been extensively discussed in earlier Palestinian-Israel negotiations notably those that took place in 2000-2001."
What is even more shocking is that the Arabic version of this same document contains substantially different language — as if Israeli and Western audiences were supposed to read one thing, and Palestinian and Arab audiences another.
In the Arabic version's "Strategic Objectives" section (p.26), the three goals are as follows and they use firmer language in line with long-standing official Palestinian positions (my translation):
"The first strategic objective is ending the occupation of the Palestinian lands occupied in 1967 and the realization of national independence."
"The second strategic objective is the acknowledgment of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination which guarantees its right to establish a fully sovereign Palestinian state whose capital is Jerusalem."
"The third objective is solving the refugee problem according to a just solution guaranteeing the right of return and compensation."
More telling is that the paragraph which appears in the English version, assuring Israel that the right of return is merely a threatening demand that would not be pressed if Israel quickly negotiated a two-state solution is omitted from the Arabic version.
Later, in the English text, it is again asserted that various prior Palestinian-Israeli negotiations including those at Camp David "exhaustively and repeatedly clarified" key issues including "the range of options for honoring the rights of Palestinian refugees" (p.27). In the analogous sentence, the Arabic version refers to the "options for implementing [tanfith] the rights of Palestinian refugees" (p.29).
These are not mere discrepancies in translation. They are substantive differences that recall the Palestinian leadership's long-standing tactic of telling Palestinians that they will achieve their rights, while reassuring Israel and its backers that they will get all their demands which are incompatible with even minimal Palestinian rights.
If anything, such destructive ambiguity indicates that for some the PSSG was a cynical exercise to maintain the peace process industry and the PA, and to conceal that the two-state solution is even less viable than realized, rather than to move in a new strategic direction.
The PSSG document appeared just weeks after Ahmed Qureia, the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority's former Prime Minister and now chief negotiator, issued another of his periodic warnings that Palestinians may abandon the two-state solution. With no chance of an agreement with Israel before the end of the year, PA heavyweights may be trying to use the PSSG exercise to shore up their own positions by scaring Israel into giving them anything at all that could keep the two-state show on the road.
The background to this is that next January the term of US-backed Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas officially ends. His term may simply be illegally extended, just as the elected Hamas-led "national unity government" was illegally deposed and replaced with the appointed US- and Israeli-backed Salam Fayyad "government." Already the jockeying to replace Abbas among officials who have no regard for Palestinian rights and interests is taking place. With no possibility of free and fair elections, after January, Abbas or his successor will have even less legitimacy than the PA leader does now. Those at the top are also aware that within Fatah grassroots there is growing impatience to rejoin the rest of the Palestinian people as part of the struggle, rather than allowing what is left of their movement to be turned into a tool of Israel.
These maneuverings do not invalidate the need for a fundamental reassessment of Palestinian strategy. Rather they serve as a warning that failed Palestinian Authority leaders in Ramallah will do whatever it takes to reinvent themselves and cling to power, including hijacking any nascent initiative intended to help unify, mobilize and liberate the Palestinian people.
It is up to the Palestinian community collectively, in all parts of historic Palestine and in the Diaspora, to continue to push for and participate in a fundamental reassessment of strategy and objectives that answers to all whose rights and interests have for too long been bulldozed.
Co-founder of The Electronic Intifada, Ali Abunimah is author of One Country: A Bold Proposal to End the Israeli- Palestinian Impasse (Metropolitan Books, 2006).
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Pez Rigs and Trucks with moving wheels are all included for sale here! This includes the Pez Rigs set of 8, the hard to find Pez tanker rigs and Walmart and Walgreen Pez Rigs mint on cards!
This 2010 Power Truck is a European Pez Rig that is printed on the top of the trailer with the word POWER. The new 2010 European Rigs feature rolling wheels and the short stack cab with a rectangular windshield. Awesome addition to the pez collection! This Power truck comes loose and ready to display!
Pez RIGS - 8 Semi Trucks with Rolling Wheels MIP!


The USN Gen2 was the result of a special project with USN NSW. It's designed around specific medical supplies (a best of breed approach) that were identified as part of the project with the design goal of creating the smallest possible package. So it will ONLY hold (mainly because of product sizes/cubes) the following items: Quick Clot Combat Gauze LE, Z-Folded; Nasopharyngeal Airway 28fr w/lube; HALO Chest Seals,(1pr) ; Israeli Bandage 4"; H&H Compressed Gauze; Elastic Bandage 3"; Decompression Needle; & Nitrile Gloves (1pr).
This rapid deploy, rear mounted trauma system, is designed to fit on the back of your Battle Belt or Plate Carrier/Tactical Vest, preserving valuable front-vest real estate for your ammo, weapon systems, etc.
Elastic mounting system for Medical supplies (not included) with locations for marker or decompression needle.
Available in Black, Tan 499, Camo Green483 & Multicam...Other camo patterns please inquire.
Larger than the USN GEN2 version by 2" in height, it provides more breathing room for your medical supplies.
Fits on the back of your Battle Belt or Plate Carrier/Tactical Vest. Designed out of the necessity of preserving valuable vest-front real estate as well as desiring a removable, rapid deploy, rear mounted trauma system.
Elastic mounting system for Medical supplies with locations for marker and decompression needle (not included).
Available in Black, ACU, Tan 499, & Multicam...Other camo patterns please inquire.
Medical Option: Can be ordered "Loaded" in a sealed pouch with the following items: Quick Clot Combat Gauze LE, Z-Folded, Nasopharyngeal Airway 28fr w/lube, (1pr) HALO Chest Seals, Israeli Bandage 4", H&H Compressed Gauze, Elastic Bandage 3", Nitrile Gloves (1pr), EMT Shears.
Additional items that can be added: Decompression Needle.
About the same size as a double stack AR Mag Pouch. Deploy tab lifts medical supplies up and out. Wrap around cover keeps dirt out with loop fields on front for Medical ID or Blood Type Patches.
Available in Black, Tan 499, Camo Green 483, & Multicam...Other camo patterns please inquire.
Medical Option: Can be ordered "Loaded" with the following items: Quick Clot Combat Gauze LE, Z-Folded, Nasopharyngeal Airway 28fr w/lube, (1pr) HALO Chest Seals, Israeli Bandage 4", H&H Compressed Gauze, Elastic Bandage 3", Tan Nitrile Gloves (1pr), EMT Shears.
Manufactured from Crye Precision 1000 Denier Cordura Multicam Nylon with a coated back side to help with water repellency. MOLLE/PALS compatible. Easy vest attachment via Tactical Tailor Malice Clip.
Open Top Style: Features Multicam 550 cord with velcro secure tab for closure. Low side cut leaves ample room for Mic Plug Connector.
How long does it take to build your products?
All of our products are high quality, build to order products and will ship within 2 - 3 weeks of order placement.


text:
Business Wire - March 2006
Minus K® Technology, Inc. Announces New Ultra Compact High Performance Vibration Isolation Platform
New BM-10 Series offers the industry's most compact high-performance bench top platform.
INGLEWOOD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 7, 2006--Minus K Technology, a leading manufacturer of vibration isolation products, announces a new ultra compact high performance vibration isolation platform. The new BM-10 incorporates the Minus K patented Negative Stiffness(TM) technology, providing its signature half-Hertz performance in the most compact bench top platform available. This platform, only 12 inches square and 4.7 inches tall, is ideal for small SPMs and other instruments where lab and bench space are at a premium.
"Many of our customers have asked us to create an ultra compact isolation platform to improve lab efficiency," said David Platus, president and chief executive officer of Minus K Technology. "The BM-6 and BM-8, the first members of our low profile family of isolators, are designed to allow more vertical space for user equipment above the isolators. The BM-10 follows on the heels of our new BM-6 and BM-8 platforms, and continues to build on the success of our platform designs incorporating the patented Minus K Negative Stiffness technology. The BM-10 furthers our strategic goal to deliver cost-effective high performance isolation over a wide range of applications."
The new BM-10 offers 0.5-Hz vertical natural frequency and 1.5 Hz horizontal natural frequency in an easy to use and install passive platform with exceptionally low cost of ownership. It is available in 10 lb, 25 lb and 50 lb models that will support payloads of a few grams up to 55 lb (25 kg). The Minus K patented Negative Stiffness technology offers performance that exceeds costlier active and air-based solutions, and without the need for high mass or expensive facilities for power and air. Consequently, the BM-X family is easy to transport between labs or from facility to facility. The Negative Stiffness technology is extremely robust making installation, set up, and operation quick and easy, without special tools.
The BM-10 is now available starting at a list price of $2,300. It is the featured product on Minus K's website and will be displayed at the APS Exhibit in Baltimore, MD, March 13-15, NSTI Nanotech 2006 in Boston, MA, May 8-9, and CLEO in Long Beach, CA, May 23-25.
Minus K Technology, Inc. is a leading global supplier of high performance vibration isolation products, systems and services to a wide range of markets from biology and neuroscience to aerospace, semiconductors, and nanotechnology. Minus K's innovative solutions leverage its expertise in vibration isolation to enhance the capabilities and productivity of its customers' manufacturing, engineering and research applications. Minus K is the vibration isolation platform of choice for many critical applications, providing end-user and OEM solutions to commercial, academic and government customers worldwide. They are an OEM supplier to leading manufactures of SPMs, micro-hardness testers and other sensitive instruments, and they have sold to more than 200 universities and government laboratories in 35 countries. Founded in 1993, Minus K is headquartered in Inglewood, California.


Extolling the virtues of a strong partnership between the United Nations and the African Union, members of the Security Council today suggested ways in which to further enhance peace and security operations and foster progress in advancing common goals.
They spoke after Haile Menkerios, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union, presented the Secretary-General's report on strengthening that partnership (document S/2017/744) and provided an update on recent developments.
He said the eleventh annual joint consultation between the Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in early September, had recognized the complex nature of contemporary threats and their profound impacts, which neither organization could resolve without the other.
Highlighting several points arising from those deliberations, he said both Councils had reiterated the Charter principle that the Security Council bore primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. They had also recognized the critical role played by the African Union and its regional economic communities and mechanisms, and that the partnership could be deepened by more frequent interactions, such as joint field missions.
Since early preventive action remained a challenge, he continued, the United Nations and the African Union must strengthen their collaboration in engaging non‑State actors, with a view to paying greater attention to root causes of conflict and preventing relapse into violence. Financial burden-sharing should be in line with Security Council resolution 2320 (2016), he said, recalling that African countries had argued that they already carried the heavy burden of deploying to areas that the United Nations was unable reach. Financing must be framed within the context of a common political strategy, he emphasized, adding that the African Union had appealed for predictable and flexible funding to enable the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to address the current untenable situation in that country.
However, the representative of the United States emphasized that her delegation would not consider the use of United Nations assessed contributions for African Union peacekeeping operations without the necessary financial, human rights and accountability benchmarks. To do otherwise would put the legitimacy of United Nations peacekeeping at risk, she warned.
The Russian Federation's representative stressed that financing and other such specialized issues should not be considered in the Council, pointing out that the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) was a more appropriate forum in which to discuss funding concerns. He also emphasized that external formulas for settling conflicts should not be imposed on any African country, citing the consequences of the actions taken in Libya in 2011.
Egypt's representative emphasized the importance of studying all alternatives cited in the report, particularly those relating to support for Council-mandated African Union peace operations and access to the United Nations peacekeeping budget. As a member of both the United Nations Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council, Egypt was determined to help strengthen their partnership as the best way to tackle Africa's complex and multidimensional challenges, he added.
Ethiopia's representative emphasized the importance of building African peacekeeping capacity, saying the partnership with the African Union would be an important pillar for discussion at the Security Council's high-level debate on reforming peacekeeping operations, to be held on 20 September.
Senegal's representative said that lessons learned from transferring operations from the African Union to the United Nations demonstrated the complex nature of certain situations, adding that effective tools must be made available in the future.
China's delegate urged the two organizations to establish early warning systems and mechanisms for joint planning of operations, among other actions.
Also speaking today were representative of Japan, Bolivia, Sweden, Italy, Uruguay, France, Kazakhstan, United Kingdom and Ukraine.
The meeting began at 10:17 a.m. and ended at 11:52 a.m.
HAILE MENKERIOS, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union, introduced the report of the Secretary-General on strengthening the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union on issues of peace and security in Africa, including on the work of the United Nations Office to the African Union (document S/2017/744). Providing an update on recent developments, he said discussions held in Addis Ababa in early September had recognized the complex nature of contemporary threats and their profound impacts, which neither organization could resolve without the other.
Highlighting several points arising from those deliberations, he said both Councils had reiterated the Charter principle that the Security Council bore primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, as well as the critical role played by the African Union and its regional communities and mechanisms. Moreover, there had been consensus that the partnership could be deepened by more frequent interactions, such as joint field missions, among others. The Security Council's deliberations could be enriched by briefings from African Union special representatives and envoys, he said.
Since early action remained a challenge in prevention efforts, the United Nations and the African Union must strengthen their collaboration in engaging non-State actors, he continued, noting that the two Councils had emphasized the need to pay greater attention to addressing root causes and preventing relapses into conflict. Financial burden-sharing should be in line with Security Council resolution 2320 (2016), he said, recalling that African countries had argued that they already carried the heavy burden of deploying to areas that the United Nations was unable reach. Financing must be framed within the context of a common political strategy, he emphasized, adding that the African Union had appealed for predictable and flexible funding to enable the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to address the current untenable situation in that country.
FODÉ SECK (Senegal) said positive developments in the partnership could be further improved so that both organizations could rise to face current challenges in Africa. Within that cooperation framework, African operations clearly reflected a local response, and as such, effective tools must be available, he said, emphasizing the need to strengthen operations and bolster related activities. Lessons learned from transferring operations from the African Union to the United Nations demonstrated the complex nature of certain situations. Regional offices must be the focus of capacity-building and strengthening, he said, expressing hope that the Council would work with the African Union in a spirit of collective will to advance common objectives.
AMR ABELLATIF ABOULATTA (Egypt) said it was important that the Council study all alternatives cited in the report, particularly those relating to support for Council-mandated African Union peace operations and access to the United Nations peacekeeping budget. Greater importance must be given to preventing conflict, early warning and post-conflict reconstruction, as well as cooperation between the United Nations and African Union in those spheres. Expressing hope that the capacity of the United Nations Office to the African Union would be strengthened, he said that, as a member of both the Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council, Egypt was determined to help strengthen their partnership as the best way to tackle Africa's complex and multidimensional challenges.
MICHELE J. SISON (United States) said today was a rare instance when the Council met to discuss a bright side of its work. Describing the African Union as a critical partner of the United Nations, she said the question was not whether they would work together, but how they could deepen and strengthen a relationship that had come a long way over the past decade, she noted, adding that one bright spot was the African Union's efforts to establish frameworks for preventing abuses and promoting respect for human rights. However, the United States would not consider the use of United Nations assessed contributions for African Union peacekeeping operations without financial, human rights and accountability benchmarks, she said, stressing that to do otherwise would put the legitimacy of United Nations peacekeeping at risk. The United States was nevertheless confident that the important relationship between the United Nations and the African Union was headed in the right direction.
YASUHISA KAWAMURA (Japan) said regular direct interaction between the Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council was essential to enhancing cooperation. Joint missions could potentially provide both Councils with valuable insights on situations on the ground. Enhanced partnership was not only necessary for peace support operations, but also for preventing conflict, for mediation and for addressing root causes of conflict, he said, citing the trilateral cooperation among the Council, the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the Gambia as an excellent example.
SACHA SERGIO LLORENTTY SOLÍZ (Bolivia) said progress on AMISOM had made it possible for the African Union and the United Nations to establish a partnership and a security pact involving mutual commitment between the Government and international partners. Describing peacekeeping operations as a key tool for combating terrorism and addressing humanitarian crises on the continent, he said coherent decision-making was critical. Various ways to provide support, in line with resolution 2320 (2016), must be investigated to ensure predictable financing, he said, emphasizing the need to bolster regional partnerships.
VASSILY A. NEBENZIA (Russian Federation), underlining the importance of involving regional organizations, said outside formulas for settling conflicts should not be imposed on any African country, citing the actions taken in Libya in 2011 and their consequences. Specialized issues, including financing, should not be considered in the Council, he said, pointing out that the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) was a more appropriate forum in which to discuss funding concerns.
WU HAITAO (China) said the African Union and other regional organizations played an important role in promoting peace and stability. There was a need for further cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations, and both sides should bring their respective comparative advantages into full play, expanding their cooperation further to help Africa tackle fundamental issues. The United Nations should integrate the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with the African Union's Agenda 2063, he suggested. The Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council should enhance their partnership by establishing mechanisms for early warning and for planning operations, among other actions.
OLOF SKOOG (Sweden) described his delegation as a staunch supporter of enhanced strategic partnership between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in Africa. It was clear that the African Union and its subregional components were undertaking vital operations not only in the interests of the African continent, but also, in a world of increasingly interconnected challenges, in the interests of all, he said, adding that it was vital to mobilize the political will to enable the African Union–United Nations partnership to reach its full potential. He went on to underline that the women, peace and security agenda remained a vital area of partnership, noting in that regard that the recent launch of the African Women Leaders' Network represented a positive step forward.
SEBASTIANO CARDI (Italy), encouraging the United Nations Secretariat and African Union Commission to strengthen their cooperation on the root causes of conflict, said regional capacities in Africa must be enhanced, including through triangular mechanisms, as cited in the Secretary-General's report. Flexible frameworks would respond to the legitimate demand for African solutions to African problems. Italy supported the creation of a mechanism for the joint planning and mandating of African Union peace operations, he said, adding that his delegation also favoured exploring the use of United Nations assessed contributions for such operations as long as standards for troop quality, accountability, human rights compliance and conduct were met.
LUIS BERMÚDEZ (Uruguay) said demand for peacekeeping operations outweighed what the United Nations could do on its own, adding that achieving full potential required close cooperation to define and establish mandates. The financing models presented in the report were viable options worthy of consideration by Member States. He emphasized that any non-United Nations force deployed with Council authorization must be in compliance with United Nations standards for performance, conduct, discipline and accountability. In that regard, he commended the African Union's efforts to hone its human rights, conduct and discipline frameworks.
ANNE GUEGUEN (France) said the time had come for a qualitative leap in the partnership between the United Nations, the African Union and regional economic communities that would facilitate a rational sharing of tasks. Welcoming the work of the Secretary-General and the Chair of the African Union Commission on funding African peace operations, she said consideration of their proposals must continue. Strengthened partnership between the United Nations and the African Union must be based on a collaborative approach aimed at preventing crisis, she said, emphasizing that it was indispensable for that the African Union and regional economic communities create the conditions for political solutions to crises. In addition, the partnership must be extended to sustainable development, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union's Agenda 2063, she said.
KAIRAT UMAROV (Kazakhstan), noting the Secretary-General's call for a new approach, with a shift from resolving to preventing conflict, said the preventive diplomacy tools and mechanisms of the African Union and United Nations could be strengthened by working closely at every level. There was also a need to combine strengths in all phases, from early warning and conflict prevention to development. New comprehensive approaches must be better reinforced by financial outlays on peacebuilding measures, with investments also targeting human development, infrastructure, climate mitigation and disaster risk reduction, he said, noting that peace would be more durable if the process involved women and young people. A jointly developed budget should be explored for optimal results beyond the use of voluntary contributions, he emphasized.
JONATHAN GUY ALLEN (United Kingdom) said that, because both organizations had shared goals, priorities and views of African leadership, three steps should be taken to improve cooperation. More joint briefings by African Union and United Nations officials would be beneficial, as would joint analyses and assessments, as well as reporting on gender-based violence, which could result in shared strategic planning for action. Both sides must play to their comparative strengths, as could be seen in Somalia, where progress on the political process had resulted in the most democratic elections in decades, which could be a model for future missions, he said.
VOLODYMYR YELCHENKO (Ukraine) said there was no denying that the African Union had demonstrated its ability to take a lead role in preventing and resolving conflict. The United Nations should continue building and enhancing its strategic partnerships on the African continent, working in concert with the African Union and using the comparative advantages of each actor in peacekeeping, peacebuilding and conflict management. The United Nations was yet to succeed in taking timely and effective prevention measures in response to situations that could possibly transform into full-scale conflict, or in which civilians were endangered and urgently required protection, he noted. It was crucial to ensure sustainable and predictable financing of African Union operations authorized by the Council, and protecting civilians was a decisive factor for the success of such operations in that regard.
TEKEDA ALEMU (Ethiopia), Council President for September, spoke in his national capacity, describing strengthened partnership between the United Nations and the African Union as a priority for his country. It was fitting that today's meeting followed the successful conclusion of the eleventh annual joint consultation between the Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council, and after the Secretary-General and the Chair of the African Union Commission had reported on the financing of African Union peace operations authorized by the Council on a case-by-case basis. Partnership with the African Union would be an important pillar for discussion on the high-level debate on peacekeeping operations reform to be held on 20 September, he said, emphasizing the importance of building African peacekeeping capacity.


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text:
package com.michaelfotiadis.crossyscore.ui.core.common.search;

/**
 *
 */
public interface DataFilter<D> {

    void filter(final String query, final FilterFinishedCallback<D> callback);

    void setEmptyQueryBehaviour(final EmptyQueryBehaviour behaviour);

    enum EmptyQueryBehaviour {
        SHOW_ALL,
        SHOW_NONE
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
CONFPATH=$1
WORKPATH=$2

CLASSPATH="../target/scala-2.9.2/classes:../target/pack/lib/*"

java -cp "$CLASSPATH" -Xmx8g edu.lu.uni.serval.js.exp.safe.AlarmCollectorByQueue "$CLASSPATH" $CONFPATH $WORKPATH

#echo "SAFE alarm collection for repo-pack-$1" | mail -s "alarm collection completed $1" darkrsw@gmail.com


CoconutsPark - Buuka of Southern Island: Episode 25 is another point and click type room escape game by Coconuts Park. In this game, you try to find the items and solve puzzles to finish the game. Good luck and have fun!
Anyone there? Clue for 3 number code is pink sweets in jars. Order given in thing in inventory.
That gave screwdriver which gave a place to put button. Having trouble with window clue for arrows on box.
Ah - just seen arrow beneath window for correct order.
That's sweet - wish I knew what they were saying to each other!
After I got the poultice and gave it to the pig, the game ended. Didn't have to open 3-digit code box, or shapes box on the left or anything.
I guessed the code for the box with poultice, gave to pig and was done... I suspect there should be more to this game than that.
Code is just the pink sweets as on the exercise band - 2 1 4 I think. Have closed the game so check the order!
how can you find code for the box with poultice?????i only have scissors now.
These are so cute and fun to figure out. Just wish we knew what the piggies are saying to each other, especially since they are knocking each other out lol!
Buuka and Noibu went to the grocery, and found Yubu the grocer doing some exercise. She wanted to use the stretching band but it's too tight so she just moved her legs for diet. All of the sudden, she strained her waist, and asked Noibu to help her in getting the poultice.
With the poultice applied, Yubu felt much better. Buuka wanted to try out the poultice, but when she heard that it's used when one got hurt, she hold back the thought. Not for Yubu's kid, Bucchan though; he thought of an idea and ran straight toward the wall. Noibu tried to stop him, with both side hurt in the end so more poultice needed.


Crunchy sweetness… Indulge yourself with delicate layers of puff pastry and a rich, buttery taste. These heart-shaped wonders are lovingly crafted and baked with a crisp sugar sprinkling to add a little bite-sized pleasure to your day. Made with love, every Petite nibble we create with our producers is based on an authentic continental recipe with a few touches of our own. Our delightful butter hearts are no exception. Made with carefully selected ingredients to give you a true patisserie experience with every flaky bite.
WHEAT FLOUR, SUGAR (25%), BUTTER (MILK) (22%), SALT, BARLEY MALT FLOUR.
!Allergy Advice For allergens, including cereals containing gluten, see ingredients in bold. May also contain traces of nuts.


text:
Hein Hansen (Rijswijk, 1963) is een Nederlandse televisiejournalist.

Biografie

Hansen studeerde conservatorium in Den Haag en journalistiek in Utrecht en zijn journalistieke carrière begon in 1990 bij de AVRO-radio en Het Parool. Vanaf 1996 werkte hij voor het programma Van onze speciale verslaggever van SBS.

In 1999 werd hij verslaggever voor NOVA, dat in 2011 werd opgevolgd door Nieuwsuur. Met Winfried Baijens maakte hij in mei 2001 voor NOVA een interview met imam Khalil El Moumni waarin deze geruchtmakende uitspraken over homoseksualiteit deed. In 2012 werd hij genomineerd voor De Tegel voor zijn reportage over de ondergang van DSB.

Nederlands journalist

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


A couple of weeks ago we provided a June 1st update of alleged off-target dicamba issues. At that time, most of the injury was confined to specialty crops, vegetables, and ornamental, fruit, and shade trees. We asked university weed scientists and state Department of Agriculture representatives for an update of the situation in their states as of June 15th, and this information is shown in the map and in the tables below. As of June 15th, university weed scientists estimate that there are approximately 383,000 acres of soybean injured by dicamba thus far in 2018. A common theme again this season seems to be that fewer growers are actually turning these incidents in to their state Department of Agriculture for investigation. Of the 15 state Departments of Agriculture that responded to our request for information, there were only 43 cases of alleged injury currently under investigation in soybean (Table 1). However, the incidents and cases of off-target movement of dicamba to specialty crops, vegetables, ornamental species and trees seems to be more prevalent this year compared to last season as they constitute some 111 of the remaining cases under investigation (Table 1).
Figure 1 Estimates of dicamba-injured soybean acreage in the U.S. as reported by university weed scientists (as of June 15, 2018).
Table 1 Official alleged dicamba injury investigations as reported by state Departments of Agriculture (as of June 15, 2018).
I have personally witnessed this increasing problem of off-target dicamba injury to "other" crops and tree species in the calls I have received, field visits, and "windshield surveys" of Missouri that I have taken the past few weeks, especially when driving around southeast Missouri last week. In this region, I'm convinced that the adoption of the Xtend trait in cotton and soybean is as high as anywhere in the country. Many growers in this area have adopted the Xtend trait so they don't experience dicamba injury on their soybean crop for a third season in a row. Since the adoption of the Xtend trait is so high in this area, relatively speaking there seem to be fewer soybean fields with injury this year compared to last. However, just as in the past two seasons, there are still fields of non-Xtend soybean in this area showing injury from one end to the other (Figure 2). More surprising to me than that has been the extent of the trees that are showing symptoms of growth regulator herbicide injury in that part of the state where the adoption of this trait is so high (Figures 3 and 4).
Figure 2 Non-Xtend soybean fields injured from one end to the other and showing typical signs of dicamba injury. Pictures taken the week of June 11-15, 2018.
Figure 3 Catalpa trees expressing symptoms of off-target growth regulator herbicide injury.
Figure 4 Bradford pear with apparent symptoms of off-target growth regulator herbicide injury.
Several of my university colleagues who work in cotton have been encountering calls and field visits pertaining to off-target movement of 2,4-D onto cotton as well, presumably as a result of the increase in the adoption of the Enlist cotton trait. As most are aware, non-Enlist cotton is about as sensitive to low doses of 2,4-D as non-Xtend soybean are to dicamba. While very few of these incidents have been officially filed with the state Departments of Agriculture, Table 2 provides estimates from university weed scientists of the cotton acreage that has been injured by either 2,4-D or dicamba as of June 15th.
Table 2 Estimates of cotton acreage injured by 2,4-D and dicamba as reported by university weed scientists.


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Trump Officials' Half-Hearted Pushback Against New Woodward Book Is Actually Devastating for the President
September 11, 2018 in Blogs
By Cody Fenwick, AlterNet
The new books has clearly rattled the White House.
As the White House scrambles to respond to the new book, Fear, by reporter Bob Woodward detailing the inner workings of President Donald Trump's chaotic and incompetent administration, some of the president's aides and advisers have come out to challenge the veracity of the reporting.
But the apparent denials by two of the president's former aides, Gary Cohn and Rob Porter, are actually more damning of the president than they are exculpatory.
For example, Porter's statement about the book calls it "selective" and "often misleading." This apparent denial actually bolsters the credibility of all the passages regarding Porter, because he does not declare that the book is actually "false" in its claims about him. Any book is going to be "selective," and whether the book is "misleading" is certainly debatable, though someone who worked inside the White House is hardly an objective observer.
Porter, it should be noted, was forced to leave the White House as Trump's staff secretary, after credible allegations emerged that he had abused his ex-wives.
Cohn, who served as Trump's economic adviser before leaving over disagreements about trade policy, issued a similarly weak rebuttal to the book. While he said the book contained "inaccuracies," as Axios reports, he wasn't specific about what the book supposedly got wrong.
"Cohn cited no specific objections to Woodward's extensive reporting of his private views that Trump needed to be saved from his most dangerous impulses," Axios reports. "We're told the book is based on hundreds of hours of interviews, most of which were taped with the consent of the source."
Axios also notes that its own reporting lends credibility to Woodward's account. Woodward himself issued a statement saying he stands by his reporting.
Both Cohn and Porter were involved in one of the incidents recounted in the book that has garnered the most attention. Cohn and Porter reportedly worked "steal" a letter from Trump's desk that would have pulled the U.S. out of its trade deal with South Korea and prevent further copies of the order from reaching him. While Porter contests the use …read more
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Home / Cover / UN system generates 25% fewer greenhouse emissions in 2020
UN system generates 25% fewer greenhouse emissions in 2020
November 9, 2021	Comments Off on UN system generates 25% fewer greenhouse emissions in 2020 382 Views
The UN system generated approximately 25 per cent fewer greenhouse emissions than in 2020, with significant travel restrictions and large portions of personnel working from home in the year.
UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres
That's one of the key points to emerge from the Greening the Blue Report 2021, the first study to reveal the impact that COVID-19 has had on the UN system's environmental footprint.
Addressing the report, the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, remembered that the world still faced a triple emergency – a climate crisis, a nature crisis and a pollution crisis – that demands "urgent and determined action from everyone, everywhere."
"The United Nations is committed to lead by example in reducing our carbon and environmental footprint in all our operations around the globe. Together, let's achieve a sustainable, net zero and resilient world for all," Guterres said.
ALSO READ: IPCC report: World should go fossil-free by 2050, says 350
The report focuses on the overall environmental impact of over 315,000 personnel in headquarters, field offices and operations on the ground across the world. Data from 56 UN system entities is included.
In 2020, the system produced approximately 1.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, known as CO2eq, a unit based on the global warming potential of different greenhouse gases. Per capita emissions were around 5 tonnes CO2eq.
Buildings were the main factor for emissions, accounting for 55 per cent of the total, followed by air travel, at 32 per cent, and 12 per cent from other forms of travel.
Of the reported emissions, 99 per cent were offset, a way to compensate for the emissions by funding an equivalent carbon dioxide saving elsewhere.
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The report also includes, for the first time, emissions trendlines, between 2016 and 2020.
Overall, a reduction was already occurring across the UN system, prior to the changes that occurred due to the pandemic.
In terms of waste, the average generated in 2020 was 396 kg per person, including peacekeeping and special political missions, where staff are stationed full time. If they are excluded, the average waste was 184 kg per person.
These numbers represent a reduction of 61 kg per person and 43 kg per person, respectively, from 2019.
Overall, the report notes, there was still a substantial amount of work that could only be delivered in-person and required physical facilities and physical technologies.
ALSO READ: Phase out of coal is key climate priority, says Guterres
According to the publication, the pandemic "highlighted the opportunity the UN system has to revisit its working and travel modalities and come closer to the ambitious emissions reductions' targets that it has set for itself for 2030."
The annual report provides data on the environmental impact areas and management functions identified in the Strategy for Sustainability Management in the United Nations System 2020-2030, Phase I: Environmental Sustainability in the Area of Management.
By Cecilia Ologunagba
Antonio Guterres greenhouse gas emission Greening the Blue Report UN systems United Nations	2021-11-09
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Search Results for author "Chloe Nevitt"
Off the Board: 21st Century Fox/National Geographic partnership signals decline in accessible education
On Sept. 9, 21st Century Fox struck a 725 million-dollar deal with National Geographic, thus ending the 127-year-old magazine's era of non-profit existence. Under this deal, Fox will own 73 per cent of the new joint media venture—National Geographic Partners—making Fox the majority stakeholders. Only 27 per cent will remain under[Read More…]
September 15, 2015 by Chloe Nevitt
McGill 101: How to get career experience in the sciences
Deciding what to do after graduation is hard for all undergraduates. While some are blessed with the secure knowledge of what their future holds, for most, that's not the case. For Science students, the most common choices are graduate or medical school. While undergraduate studies, for the most part, provide[Read More…]
September 9, 2015 by Chloe Nevitt
Summer research briefs: Brain power
Molding memories Some people find it hard to remember what they had for lunch yesterday, while others can remember every detail of the house they grew up in. Understanding how memories are retained and recalled has always intrigued researchers, especially when seeking therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. Researchers speculate[Read More…]
McGill Senate demands increased transparency in budgetary allocations
Questions regarding student services funding At the April 22 McGill Senate meeting, Students' Society of McGill University (SSMU) President Courtney Ayukawa, Vice-President University Affairs Claire Stewart-Kanigan, Arts & Science Senator Chloe Rourke and Arts Senator Jacob Greenspon voiced concerns over the allocation of provincial government grants specified for student services[Read More…]
June 17, 2015 by Chloe Nevitt
From the BrainSTEM: Montreal Museums Day
As a student, being able to immerse myself in Montreal's rich network of museums—without having to pay anything—is an exciting proposition. On May 24, when the Board of Montreal Museum Directors hosted the 29th edition of La Journée Des Musées, Montréalais: Montreal Museums Day, I had to participate. The Biodôme,[Read More…]
Mexico's Dark Knight
The Redpath Museum offered a screening of the documentary The Bat Man of Mexico this past Sunday, inviting viewers deep into the Mexican wilderness. The documentary features Mexican ecologist Rodrigo Medellin and his passion: Bats. Medellin is personally saving tequila, one bat at a time. While the link between tequila[Read More…]
March 31, 2015 by Chloe Nevitt
From the BrainSTEM: The failing U.S. education system
When it comes to training future generations, scientific research has proven that the U.S. education system fails. In 2012, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) coordinated the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), a standard that was developed for measuring the performance of 15-year-old students in math, science,[Read More…]
From the BrainSTEM: The mammoth cometh
In February 2012, Harvard college professor and genetic engineer George Church hosted a symposium at the Harvard Medical School titled: "Bringing Back the Passenger Pigeon." The talk centred on the use of new genome-editing technology that could change the concept of reversing extinction from being a dream to a reality.[Read More…]
Programming until sunrise
In a test of will power, determination, and innovation, McHacks presented an incredible challenge to its participants—twenty-four hours' worth of non-stop creative coding fueled by energy-drinks. Traditionally, 'hackathons' are 24 to 36 hours long and invite coders to develop an application, website, or program. Those with the best, most creative,[Read More…]
February 24, 2015 by Chloe Nevitt
The brightest and boldest futures
Students from the Faculty of Science often find themselves struggling to pick a path after graduation. Sometimes, when it feels like an M.D. or Ph.D. is the only option, a science major can feel trapped. In a series of presentations, McGill's Biochemistry Undergraduate Society (BUGS) showcased the possibilities and the[Read More…]


Bureaucrats perform most of the tasks of government, profoundly influencing the daily lives of Americans. But who, or what, controls what bureaucrats do?
John Brehm and Scott Gates examine who influences whether federal, state, and local bureaucrats work, shirk, or sabotage policy. The authors combine deductive models and computer simulations of bureaucratic behavior with statistical analysis in order to assess the competing influences over how bureaucrats expend their efforts. Drawing upon surveys, observational studies, and administrative records of the performance of public employees in a variety of settings, Brehm and Gates demonstrate that the reasons bureaucrats work as hard as they do include the nature of the jobs they are recruited to perform and the influence of both their fellow employees and their clients in the public. In contrast to the conclusions of principal-agency models, the authors show that the reasons bureaucrats work so hard have little to do with the coercive capacities of supervisors.
This book is aimed at students of bureaucracy and organizations and will be of interest to researchers in political science, economics, public policy, and sociology.
John Brehm is Associate Professor of Political Science, Duke University.
Scott Gates is Associate Professor of Political Science, Michigan State University.
"This book asks, Who or what controls bureaucrats? Brehm and Gates find this issue crucial despite the multiple, redundant layers of controls heaped on career employees. . . . They find, contrary to predictions, that career employees in government work hard and are motivated by 'functional' and 'solidary' preferences (commitment to the job and its public importance, expectations by peers, and professional standards). Although these conclusions will surprise no one who has spent time inside government, they refute the antipublic biases favored by economists."
"This book is breathtaking in its use of models and techniques. . . . The approach developed by Brehm and Gates allows us to re-open empirical questions that have lain dormant for years."
"This is a stimulating book. It proposes a refreshing perspective on bureaucrats, who are portrayed as committed and hard workers. It is a useful reminder that there is no necessary connection between rational choice and the political Right."


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Several Killed in Texas School Shooting
Ash Published: May 18, 2018
Contributing Authors: Townsquare Staff
Harris County Police Department
Harris County Sheriffs officials received reports of an active shooter situation at Santa Fe High School just before 8 AM this morning. CNN is reporting that at least 10 have been killed, most of them being students and at least have 12 have been hospitalized.
The Houston Chronicle has identified the shooter as 17-year-old Dimitrious Pagourtzis, who has been taken into custody.
Law enforcement are searching the premises for additional victims and explosives. The Santa Fe Independent School District urged those in the area via Twitter not to touch "any items out of place," as explosives have been found in areas off campus adjacent to the school.
The shooter used the fire alarm to lure staff and students out of classrooms. MaKenna Evans, a 16-year-old sophomore at Santa Fe High School, told CNN "she heard the fire alarm. When the students got outside, her principal told them all to run."
Santa Fe is located approximately 35 miles south of Houston. According to the Houston Chronicle, the school has a student body population of around 1,500.
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Nitric oxide/cGMP pathway signaling actively down-regulates ?4?1-integrin affinity: an unexpected mechanism for inducing cell de-adhesion.
Integrin activation in response to inside-out signaling serves as the basis for rapid leukocyte arrest on endothelium, migration, and mobilization of immune cells. Integrin-dependent adhesion is controlled by the conformational state of the molecule, which is regulated by seven-transmembrane Guanine nucleotide binding Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs). ?4?1-integrin (CD49d/CD29, Very Late Antigen-4, VLA-4) is expressed on leukocytes, hematopoietic progenitors, stem cells, hematopoietic cancer cells, and others. VLA-4 conformation is rapidly up-regulated by inside-out signaling through G?i-coupled GPCRs and down-regulated by G?s-coupled GPCRs. However, other signaling pathways, which include nitric oxide-dependent signaling, have been implicated in the regulation of cell adhesion. The goal of the current report was to study the effect of nitric oxide/cGMP signaling pathway on VLA-4 conformational regulation.Using fluorescent ligand binding to evaluate the integrin activation state on live cells in real-time, we show that several small molecules, which specifically modulate nitric oxide/cGMP signaling pathway, as well as a cell permeable cGMP analog, can rapidly down-modulate binding of a VLA-4 specific ligand on cells pre-activated through three G?i-coupled receptors: wild type CXCR4, CXCR2 (IL-8RB), and a non-desensitizing mutant of formyl peptide receptor (FPR ?ST). Upon signaling, we detected rapid changes in the ligand dissociation rate. The dissociation rate after inside-out integrin de-activation was similar to the rate for resting cells. In a VLA-4/VCAM-1-specific myeloid cell adhesion system, inhibition of the VLA-4 affinity change by nitric oxide had a statistically significant effect on real-time cell aggregation.We conclude that nitric oxide/cGMP signaling pathway can rapidly down-modulate the affinity state of the VLA-4 binding pocket, especially under the condition of sustained G?i-coupled GPCR signaling, generated by a non-desensitizing receptor mutant. This suggests a fundamental role of this pathway in de-activation of integrin-dependent cell adhesion.


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