Webber International University

Infrastructure acts as a catalyst for human and economic development and is critical to the general functioning of a society. It defines a country’s international competitiveness and creates jobs (Chen, 2018). However, in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), it is well documented that, in terms of the most common measures of infrastructure development, the region typically lags behind most developing regions (Calderon et al., 2018). Although the region is abundantly rich in natural resources, with discoveries being continuously made, the lack of infrastructure remains one of the significant obstacles to sustaining economic development in the region. Given the constraints on traditional sources of infrastructure finance, resources-for-infrastructure (R4I) deals present one of the most promising financing techniques for bridging the infrastructure gaps in SSA (Halland et al., 2014). Its potential use, however, begs the question of whether R4I deals guarantee remunerative returns by ensuring the mutuality of benefits between host nations and foreign developers. In answering this question, we used a theoretical or doctrinal approach. Although certain aspects of R4I deals as a financing mechanism are flawed, this mechanism can be leveraged to address the huge infrastructure deficit in the region. This paper thus informs policymakers on the aspects of R4I deals that need reform.

We all hope that everyone can protect the earth and live a better life. As consumers are the last link in the carbon emission chain, hundreds of millions of consumers need to play their part in achieving the carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. Everyone can contribute by changing the way they live and consume.In the meantime, consumers may face increased costs and inconvenience brought by green consumption. However, we believe this is a worthwhile since changes and sacrifices of several generations will bring a better life for future generations.In this chapter, we emphasize the need to change our lifestyle and social governance as well as the reinforcing interaction between the two. Enterprises should take measures to effectively lower cost and improve economies of scale, quality and experience of green consumption. Governments should improve green standards, introduce subsidies and formulate policies and regulations to facilitate consumers’ shift to green consumption and lifestyle changes.Let us work together to build healthies lifestyles with clear water and green mountains, and to build and share a beautiful era of carbon neutrality.

We present novel rearing records of Agromyzidae (Diptera) from three years of collecting in North Carolina, USA. These include the first reported host for Calycomyza novascotiensis Spencer (new to the USA) and new host records for Ophiomyia beckeri (Hendel) (new to North America), Liriomyza helianthi Spencer, L. schmidti(Aldrich), and Phytomyza plantaginis Robineau-Desvoidy, all of which are reported from North Carolina for the first time. We review host and distribution data for each of these species and describe their leaf mines. We describe the following nine new species: Agromyza arundinariae, A. indistincta, Calycomyza chrysopsidis, Cerodontha (Butomomyza) enigma, Cer. (Poemyza) arundinariella, Cer. (P.) saintandrewsensis, Liriomyza carphephori, L. polygalivora, and L. triodanidis. Seven host plant genera are new for world Agromyzidae: Carphephorus Cass., Chrysogonum L., Chrysopsis (Nutt.) Elliott, Krigia Schreb., Pyrrhopappus DC. (Asteraceae), Triodanis Raf. ex Greene (Campanulaceae), and Arundinaria Michx. s.s. (Poaceae). Host plants of the new species also include Bidens L., Mikania Willd. (Asteraceae), Dichanthelium (Hitchc. Chase) Gould (Poaceae), and Polygala L. (Polygalaceae).

Larvae of the New World gracillariid moth genus Marmara are primarily stem/bark miners, with some species mining in leaves or fruits. We describe a new species, M. viburnella Eiseman & Davis, which feeds on Viburnum, initially mining the leaves but completing development as a stem miner. The type series is from Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, with observations of leaf mines indicating the species is widespread in the eastern USA. Combining previously published data, our own observations, and other sources, we present a list of known Marmara hostplants, many of which represent undescribed species.

Maintenance of adequate nutrition is important in the care of children with cancer. In clinical practice, determination of nutritional status can be accomplished with measurement of body composition by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). However, DXA is seldom available in low-income countries where most children with cancer live. This study sought to provide predictive equations for lean body mass and fat mass, measured by DXA, on the basis of simple arm anthropometry providing measures of mid-upper arm circumference and triceps skin-fold thickness in a population (N=99) of children diagnosed with cancer. Such equations were derived successfully with the inclusion of absolute body weight, the body weight Z-score, and the predicted whole-body bone mineral content on the basis of age and sex. Attempted validation in a small sample (N=7) of children who completed therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia revealed disparities reflective of the prevalence of obesity in such survivors. Further validation must be undertaken in large samples of children with a variety of malignant diseases to assess the robustness of the equations predictive of body composition.

High-quality, high-phytonutrient watermelons [ Citrullus lanatus (Thumb.), Matsum & Nakai] have strong market opportunities. To produce highly nutritious fruit in a seedless triploid market, the nature of phytonutrient accumulation as affected by ploidy must be understood. The present study performed on six field-grown watermelon diploid (2n) inbred lines, their induced autotetraploids (4n), and autotriploids (3n) determined the importance of ploidy on quality and nutritional content. Lycopene, total soluble solids (TSS), L-citrulline (hereafter referred to as citrulline), glutathione (GSH), weight, width, and length were measured in ripe fruit from one location. Our findings contradict some previous manuscripts, which did not use diploid inbred lines and their induced autoploidy relatives. Of the traits we analyzed that did not have a family-by-ploidy interaction (citrulline, GSH, weight, and width), we determined citrulline levels were not significantly affected by ploidy in five of six families nor was there a significant correlation when all family’s citrulline values were averaged. Previous studies on field-grown fruit that did not use autoploidy lines suggested triploid fruit had more citrulline than diploid fruit. GSH was higher in autotriploid than in diploid or autotetraploid (95.0 vs. 66.9 or 66.7 μg·g −1 GSH, respectively). Additionally, we found an association with higher GSH in larger fruit. Autotriploid fruit were, in general, heavier and wider than diploid and autotetraploid fruit, and autotetraploid fruit were generally smaller than diploid fruit. Of the traits we analyzed that had a family by ploidy interaction (lycopene, TSS, and length), we determined within four families, ploidy affected lycopene concentration, but whether this interaction is positive or negative was family-dependent. These data suggest the triploid state alone does not give fruit higher lycopene concentrations. The mean TSS was higher in autotetraploid than in autotriploid, which was again higher than in diploid fruit averaged across families (10.5%, 10.2%, and 9.5% TSS, respectively); there was a family × ploidy interaction so the significance of this increase is affected by the triploid’s parents. Lycopene and TSS had a slight positive correlation. Four of six families showed no statistical correlation between ploidy and length, and although mean length across family demonstrated smaller tetraploid fruit, the family-by-ploidy interaction demonstrates that this observation is family-dependent. Length and width correlate well with weight when combining data for all ploidy levels and when analyzing each ploidy separately. Length correlates more closely with width in autotriploid fruit than in diploid or autotetraploid fruit.

Short pulsed laser induced single acoustic wave generation, propagation, interaction with rigid structures, and focusing in water are experimentally and numerically studied. A large area short duration single plane acoustic wave was generated by the thermoelastic interaction of a homogenized nanosecond pulsed laser beam with a liquid-solid interface and propagated at the speed of sound in water. Laser flash schlieren photography was used to visualize the transient interaction of the plane acoustic wave with various submerged rigid structures [(a) a single block, (b) double blocks, (c) 33° tilted single block, and (d) concave cylindrical acoustic lens configurations]. Excellent agreement between the experimental results and numerical simulation is observed. Our simulation results demonstrate that the laser induced planar acoustic wave can be focused down to several tens of micron size and several bars in pressure.