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Surety Bonds and their Effect on Mechanic's Liens: Clarification from the Nevada Court of Appeals (Interpreting NRS 108.2275 and NRS 108.2413)
The Nevada Court of Appeals recently clarified the effect that a surety bond has on a validly recorded mechanic's lien. In Ascent Construction, Inc. v. Sonoma Springs Ltd. P'ship, 460 P.3d 481 (Nev. 2020), the Appellate Court found that NRS 108.2275 allows a district court to reduce the amount of a lien upon motion, even if the moving party has recorded a surety bond on the property in response to the lien. Ultimately, the Appellate Court found that a surety bond does not wipe out a mechanic's lien, rather, "some of the lienholder's rights and duties [are] transferred to another entity through the bond." The lien may still be challenged by the holder of the surety bond, and the lienholder may take legal action based on the lien.
In connection with a dispute arising from a June 2015 construction contract for work performed, Ascent recorded an amended notice of lien in the amount of $634,618.55 against a property owned by Sonoma Springs Limited Partnership. Ascent alleged that Sonoma had paid a substantial amount of the $4.5 million contract price, but it failed to tender full payment for additional work due to "additional or changed work, materials and equipment." In response to the notice of lien, Sonoma took two steps:
(1) Sonoma filed an application to have the lien expunged or, in the alternative, reduced pursuant to NRS 108.2275[1], claiming that Ascent's lien was frivolous or excessive.
(2) Sonoma obtained a surety bond under NRS 108.2415[2], which released the lien from the property and transferred it to the bond.
After a hearing was held on the Sonoma's Motion, the district court concluded that Ascent's lien was, in fact, excessive because it included additional fees for work that was already a part of the scope of their original contract with Sonoma and included charges that had been reduced by prior change orders. As a result, Ascent's lien was reduced to $231,850.86.
Ascent appealed the decision by the district court claiming that the district court lacked authority to reduce its lien under NRS 108.2275 after Sonoma recorded a surety bond.[3] Ascent contended that its lien could not be reduced after a surety bond for the full amount of the lien had been recorded. Ascent's position was that the surety bond released the lien from the property, and therefore, Sonoma could no longer utilize NRS 108.2275 to have the lien removed or reduced because the statute only applied to liens on real property. Essentially, Ascent argued that the surety bond wiped out the lien on the property, and as such, could not be expunged. Ascent also opined that the surety bond for the full amount of the lien was an acknowledgment that the amount of the lien was correct.
In response the Appellate Court pointed out that after a hearing on a motion to expunge or reduce a lien, the district court must make one of three determinations: "(1) that the notice of lien is frivolous and made without reasonable cause, (2) that the lien amount is excessive, or (3) that the notice of lien is not frivolous or excessive and made with reasonable cause.'[4] If the district court determines that the lien is frivolous and made without reasonable cause, it must make an order releasing the lien. NRS 108.2275(6)(a). If the district court finds that the lien is excessive, it has discretion to reduce the notice of lien to an appropriate amount. NRS 108.2275(6)(b). Any proceedings carried out under the statute 'do not affect any other rights and remedies otherwise available to the parties.' NRS 108.2275(7). Alternatively, '[u]nder NRS 108.2413, a lien claimant's lien rights or notice of lien may be released upon the posting of a surety bond in the manner provided in NRS 108.2415 to 108.2425, inclusive.'[5]" Ascent Constr., 2020 Nev. App. Unpub. LEXIS 236, *3, 460 P.3d 481.
Focusing on NRS 108.2275(7), the Appellate Court found that NRS 108.2415 and 108.2275 should be read harmoniously, and the recording of a surety bond could not exclude a party from simultaneously moving to have the lien expunged. The remedies available in both statutes could be exercised at the same time. The Court acknowledged that a lien must initially encumber real property in order for a property owner to move for its exoneration or reduction, but the act of obtaining a surety bond does not wipe the lien totally from existence.
Rather, the lien still exists but some of the lienholder's rights and duties have now been transferred to another entity through the bond. Moreover, because the surety bond amount is determined by the lien amount, a property owner obligated to pay the bond fees is not barred from further challenging the lien amount simply because it sought to bond the property first. To say that a subsequent surety bond precludes any inquiry into the validity of a lien would mean that the lien was not just released, but also ceases to exist, and we decline to follow that construction. NRS 108.2415 merely releases the lien from the real property and converts the lien holder's interest in the real property into an interest in the surety bond.
Ascent Constr., 2020 Nev. App. Unpub. LEXIS 236, *6, 460 P.3d 481.
Therefore, the district court would still be permitted to reduce or release a lien that is attached to a surety bond.
Takeaways for Lienholders
The decision in Ascent Constr., provides clarity for a lienholder as to how a lien should be treated after a surety bond has been recorded. If a lienholder records a valid lien on property pursuant to NRS 108 and a property owner or higher-tiered contractor records a proper surety bond, the lien attaches to that bond. However, that does not extinguish the lien from the property, it simply bars the lienholder from foreclosing on the property as part of a legal action to collect any amount the lienholder is owed. The purpose of the bond is to remove an owner's risk of losing their property in a foreclosure action. The lien itself can still be challenged by the owner pursuant to NRS 105.2275 and it can be used by the lienholder to maintain a lawsuit for payment. Importantly, if a surety bond has been recorded to cover a lien, the lienholder has no obligation to release the lien and should not release the lien from the property until after they have been paid in full.
While Ascent Constr. did not reach the Nevada Supreme Court, its reasoning is certainly persuasive and should prove useful for any owner who has recorded a surety bond but still finds it necessary to challenge the lien covered by the bond. Likewise, the lienholder who finds themselves in a dispute with a property owner who has recorded a surety bond can confidently maintain their lien recorded against the property until the lien has been satisfied.
[1] NRS 108.2275(1): "The debtor of the lien claimant or a party in interest in the property subject to the notice of lien who believes the notice of lien is frivolous and was made without reasonable cause, or that the amount of the notice of lien is excessive, may apply by motion to the district court for the county where the property or some part thereof is located for an order directing the lien claimant to appear before the court to show cause why the relief requested should not be granted."
[2] NRS 108.2415(1): "To obtain the release of a lien for which a notice of lien has been recorded against the property, the principal and a surety must execute a surety bond in an amount equal to 1.5 times the lienable amount in the notice of lien."
[3] Ascent argued 5 points on appeal: "(1) the district court lacked authority to reduce its lien under NRS 108.2275 after Sonoma filed a surety bond; (2) the district court erred by finding that the Agreement's mediation provisions barred Ascent from challenging the decision to deny additional fees; (3) the district erred by improperly interpreting the Agreement's scope of work provisions; (4) the district court's decision that Sonoma did not waive the drawings/specifications and written change order requirement was not supported by substantial evidence; and (5) the district court did not reduce Ascent's lien by the proper amount." However, only the first point will be addressed herein.
[4] Quoting J.D. Constr., Inc. v. IBEX Int'l Grp., 126 Nev. 366, 372, 240 P.3d 1033, 1038 (citing NRS 108.2275(6)(a)-(c)).
[5] Quoting Simmons Self-Storage Partners, LLC v. Rib Roof, Inc., 130 Nev. 540, 551, 331 P.3d 850, 857 (2014).
Daniel M. Hansen
dhansen@gibbsgiden.com
Daniel Hansen is an associate based in our Las Vegas office. He practices in the areas of business law, contracts, construction, real estate, shareholder litigation, personal injury and has experience with natural resources, tax, insurance and probate.
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Salvador Carmona, Juan Antonio (22)
Calcografía Nacional (16)
Ribera, Jusepe de, lo Spagnoletto (16)
Carducho, Vicente (15)
Murillo, Bartolomé Esteban (14)
Rubens, Peter Paul (14)
Legrand, Luis Carlos (13)
objects of christian iconography Delete
The Immaculate Conception
Oil on canvas. Ca. 1645
Castillo Saavedra, Antonio del
All parts of this extraordinarily meticulous work are related to each other from a formal and iconographic standpoint. The Virgin appears in the foreground, where she occupies a considerable portion o [+]
Mixed method on panel. Ca. 1460
Sánchez, Juan
This painter from Burgos represents the transition from the international Gothic style in which he was formed to the hispano-flemish style, whose models he adapts with his personal manner. The three f [+]
The Penintent Saint Jerome
Murillo, Bartolomé Esteban
Jerome meditates before a crucifix in the solitude of his retreat. The numerous objects depicted around him refer to different aspects of his life. The books, papers and writing equipment allude to hi [+]
Oil on canvas. 1755 - 1756
Supported by an angel and accompanied by a youthful angel holding the crown of thorns, the dead Christ lies on the orb of the world before God the Father and the dove of the Holy Spirit. The expressiv [+]
San Juan Bautista aparece de medio cuerpo junto al Agnus Dei y portando en su mano izquierda el hitón, ambos como atributos de este personaje. Se trata de una obra característica de este artista, tant [+]
The colours of the Virgin's tunic and cloak, her loose hair, hands crossed on her breast, her devoted gaze raised to heaven and the presence of the moon are elements of the imagery of the Immaculate C [+]
Saint Francis comforted by an Angel
Ribalta, Francisco
Toward the end of the 17th century, Saint Francis's iconography expanded as many of the classical biographic themes were replaced with more complex episodes -especially trance visions- mystical ecstas [+]
The Crucified Christ
Velázquez, Diego Rodríguez de Silva y
Stylistically, this work appears to have been made in the early 1630s -soon after the artist returned from Italy- and most authors date it from around 1632. The Apollonian perfection of the anatomy an [+]
Ecce Homo and The Virgin Dolorosa (P977) are comparable with regard to size, provenance and their partial dependence on models by Titian. Above all, they are linked by their subject matter and are mos [+]
Christ the Saviour with the Eucharist
Oil on panel. 1545 - 1550
Juanes, Juan de (Vicente Juan Masip)
Taken together, these three works clearly convey a Eucharistic meaning. They depict Christ holding up the chalice and the Host, flanked by two Old Testament figures: King Melchizedek, bearing bread an [+]
Schwarz, Christoph
Formerly attributed to Lambert Sustris, this panel is now given to the German painter Schwarz. Both these northern European artists worked in Venice in Titian's studio (Schwarz between 1570 and 1573), [+]
Massys, Quinten; Patinir, Joachim
The format and the dimensions of this picture and the high horizon line allow for rendition of a large landscape, which displays what are generally regarded as the defining characteristics of Patinir` [+]
The Coronation of the Virgin
Oil on panel. After 1521
Macip, Vicente
The Virgin is crowned in the heavens by God the Father, Christ and the Holy Spirit, depicted in the form of a dove with its wings outstretched. Around them are grouped thirty-three saints of a type ch [+]
Oil on pine panel. Ca. 1570
This direct, frontal depiction of Christ wearing the crown of thorns, his hands tied and holding a reed sceptre, was one of Juanes's most succesful compositions. The meticulous rendering is reminiscen [+]
Christ embracing Saint Bernard
This is one of Ribalta's most beautiful compositions within his late output. The figure of Christ is adapted from the model devised by Sebastiano del Piombo in his Lamentation over the Dead Christ (Sa [+]
The Eucharistic Christ
Yáñez de la Almedina, Fernando
The composition derives from a lost work by Leonardo repeated by Yáñez on two other occasions with some variants. Here he includes a chalice and a consecrated Host, a Eucharistic referen [+]
Saint Benedict destroying Idols
Oil on canvas. Before 1662
Rizi, Juan Andrés
Cuadro de la serie con escenas de la vida de san Benito que adornaban el claustro del monasterio de San Martín. Felipe de Castro (ca. 1750/1764) se limitó a señalar que "las pinturas del claustro son [+]
Herrera The Younger, Francisco de
This work has recently been added to the donation made by Plácido Arango. It has been convincingly attributed to Francisco de Herrera the Younger due to the similarities between some of its det [+]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Vol. 112, No. 12
Growth of Kratom Use in the West
Pharmacology of Kratom
Kratom Abuse, Dependence, and Addiction Potential
Drug Screening and Analyses
Special Communication | December 2012
Pharmacology of Kratom: An Emerging Botanical Agent With Stimulant, Analgesic and Opioid-Like Effects
Walter C. Prozialeck, PhD; Jateen K. Jivan, BS; Shridhar V. Andurkar, PhD
From the Department of Pharmacology at the Midwestern University/Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (Dr Prozialeck and Mr Jivan) and the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Midwestern University, Chicago College of Pharmacy (Dr Andurkar), both in Downers Grove, Illinois
Address correspondence to Walter C. Prozialeck, PhD, Department of Pharmacology, Midwestern University/Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, 555 31st St, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1235. E-mail: wprozi@midwestern.edu
Pain Management/Palliative Care / Opioids
The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, December 2012, Vol. 112, 792-799. doi:https://doi.org/10.7556/jaoa.2012.112.12.792
Prozialeck WC, Jivan JK, Andurkar SV. Pharmacology of Kratom: An Emerging Botanical Agent With Stimulant, Analgesic and Opioid-Like Effects. J Am Osteopath Assoc 2012;112(12):792–799. doi: https://doi.org/10.7556/jaoa.2012.112.12.792.
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a plant indigenous to Thailand and Southeast Asia. Kratom leaves produce complex stimulant and opioid-like analgesic effects. In Asia, kratom has been used to stave off fatigue and to manage pain, diarrhea, cough, and opioid withdrawal. Recently, kratom has become widely available in the United States and Europe by means of smoke shops and the Internet. Analyses of the medical literature and select Internet sites indicate that individuals in the United States are increasingly using kratom for the self-management of pain and opioid withdrawal. Kratom contains pharmacologically active constituents, most notably mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. Kratom is illegal in many countries. Although it is still legal in the United States, the US Drug Enforcement Administration has placed kratom on its "Drugs and Chemicals of Concern" list. Physicians should be aware of the availability, user habits, and health effects of kratom. Further research on the therapeutic uses, toxic effects, and abuse potential of kratom and its constituent compounds are needed.
Throughout history, humans have used plant-derived materials (often referred to as "herbal" or "botanical" remedies) to treat diseases, cope with the stresses of life, and achieve altered states of awareness. Even with the development of modern pharmaceuticals and medical practices, many people still use herbal remedies either as alternatives to or in conjunction with mainstream medical care. Several years ago, Barnes et al1 found that more than 30% of US patients had or were using some form of herbal-based remedy. They also noted that the agents were being used primarily for "musculoskeletal or other conditions involving chronic pain."1
Even though the efficacies of most of these herbal remedies have yet to be proven in controlled clinical trials, it is clear that such products are being used extensively. Whether they are consumed alone or in combination with prescribed medications, herbal remedies have the potential to cause toxic effects, interact with prescription drugs, and complicate the diagnosis and treatment of disease.2 At the same time, however, herbal remedies may have substantial therapeutic effects. Some evidence2 suggests that certain herbal products may, in fact, have therapeutic actions that are equivalent to those of modern pharmaceuticals. Moreover, research on the effects of herbal supplements and their active constituents may provide insight that could lead to the development of new and more effective therapeutic agents.
Given the extensive use of herbal remedies, it is important that physicians and other health care professionals have some knowledge of their attendant issues. This topic is especially relevant to osteopathic physicians because the tenets of osteopathic medicine focus on a unified approach to patient care, musculoskeletal health, and self-healing.3 Osteopathic physicians should be familiar with common herbal remedies that their patients may be using. One herbal remedy that has been receiving increased public attention in recent years is kratom.4 In the present article, we discuss current patterns of usage, basic pharmacology, legal standing, and medicinal potential of kratom.
The term kratom refers to a group of tree-like plants belonging to the Mitragyna genus of the Rubiaceae family.4-9 Other members of the Rubiaceae family include the coffee and gardenia plants. From a medical perspective, the most important species of kratom is Mitragyna speciosa, which is indigenous to Thailand and surrounding countries in Southeast Asia.7 Images of a kratom plant and a kratom leaf are shown in Figure 1.
Images of a kratom plant (A) and a kratom leaf (B). Images were obtained from the US Drug Enforcement Administration Web site.4,29
View Original | Slide (.ppt)
Kratom has been widely used in Southeast Asia for hundreds of years.5,6 In Thailand, kratom use typically involves ingestion of the plant's raw leaves or consumption of teas that are brewed or steeped from the leaves.4,6,9 Kratom leaves are used for their complex, dose-dependent pharmacologic effects.4,6,9-12 Low to moderate doses (1-5 g) of the leaves reportedly produce mild stimulant effects that enable workers to stave off fatigue.6,9-11,13 Moderate to high doses (5-15 g) are reported to have opioid-like effects.6,9-11,13 At these doses, kratom has been used for the management of pain, diarrhea, and opioid withdrawal symptoms, as well as for its properties as a euphoriant.5,6,9-11,14 Very high doses (>15 g) of kratom tend to be quite sedating and can induce stupor, mimicking opioid effects.4,5,9
Despite its long history and widespread use in Southeast Asia, kratom has only recently begun to receive attention and be used as an herbal remedy in the West. The emergence of kratom as a product or drug of interest in the United States is evident from the results of our literature search. Our search of the US National Library of Medicine's PubMed database in February 2012, using the keyword "kratom," yielded a total of 35 published articles and reviews. Of those, 30 (86%) were published in or after 2004, 4 (11%) were published between 1988 and 1997, and 1 (3%) was published in 1975. Another PubMed search, using the keywords "Mitragyna speciosa," yielded a total of 65 published articles. Of those, 49 (75%) were published within the past 10 years.
In addition to these general trends in the number of publications on kratom, we found that an increasing number of reports of adverse effects resulting from the use of kratom have been published.15-19 Recent news reports have highlighted the increasing level of kratom use, particularly among college-aged populations.20,21 Moreover, published studies indicate that vast numbers of online vendors and general information Web sites for kratom have appeared in the past few years, suggesting that there is a substantial demand for kratom products.22,23
Increased Internet Presence
In February 2012, we also conducted an Internet search using the Google search engine. A search for the keyword "kratom" found more than 2 million results. Of the first 100 Web sites listed in the search results, 78 were primarily focused on the sale of kratom, while 22 Web sites primarily focused on disseminating information about kratom through the use of discussion boards. We want to strongly emphasize that the scientific validity of the claims and anecdotes reported on these Web sites has not been substantiated. Moreover, for the purpose of the present review, we did not believe it was appropriate to cite all sources of anecdotal information. However, we did find 3 Web sites to be particularly informative: Erowid.org24; Sagewisdom.org25; and WebMD.com26. These Web sites contain a variety of information including the drug's uses and effects, discussions of individuals' personal experiences, and adverse reactions when using kratom. Some of the Web sites24,25 even describe the biology of Mitragyna speciosa, including optimal methods and conditions for growing. In addition, an analysis by León et al7 suggests cultivation exists here in the United States. It is also important to note that much of the content of these Web sites clearly indicates that kratom is being used for medicinal purposes. Although some sites24-26 portray users of kratom as recreational drug users, many posts on kratom blogs are from patients dealing with pain management issues.24-26 In some cases,24-26 individuals report finding relief of various types of pain with kratom use. In addition, recent publications have highlighted the use of kratom products for the self-management of opioid withdrawal symptoms.20,27 Although the anecdotal claims reported on the aforementioned Web sites and publications have not been substantiated, their existence indicates that kratom is being used in these contexts.
Legal Status and Availability
Although the findings of our literature and Internet searches strongly suggest a marked increase in kratom use in the United States and Europe, kratom still appears to be somewhat of an "underground phenomenon." During our searches of the literature and the internet, we found no evidence that kratom is currently marketed by any of the large nutritional supplement chain stores in the United States. However, a wide variety of kratom products—including raw leaves, capsules, tablets, and concentrated extracts—are readily available from Internet-based suppliers.20,21 In addition, these products are often sold in specialty stores commonly known as "head shops" or "smoke shops." In February 2012, our own informal in-person and telephone survey of 5 smoke shops in the metropolitan Chicago area revealed that purported kratom products were available in all of them. Figure 2 and Figure 3 show images of several kratom products (ie, chopped leaves, capsules, and pressed tablets) that were legally purchased at a smoke shop in suburban Chicago.
Images of kratom products purchased at a "smoke shop" in suburban Chicago. The images show chopped leaves (A), which are typically brewed into "kratom tea", capsules containing finely chopped leaves (B), and compressed tablets containing leaves or resin (C).
Warning label on the back of a package of kratom capsules.
From a legal standpoint, kratom is regulated as an herbal product under US law and US Food and Drug Administration and US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) policies. As of this writing, Mitragyna speciosa (kratom) is not prohibited by the Controlled Substances Act28 and is considered a legal substance in the United States. However, the DEA's December 2010 version of the Drugs and Chemicals of Concern list states that "there is no legitimate medical use for kratom in the U.S."29 Therefore, it cannot legally be advertised as a remedy for any medical condition.
Chemistry and Pharmacognosy
As the use of kratom in the West has grown during the past 15 years,4,20,23,30 there have been increased efforts to identify and characterize the active pharmacologic agents that mediate the effects of kratom in the body. Thus far, more than 20 active compounds have been isolated from kratom, and considerable evidence shows that these compounds do, in fact, have major pharmacologic effects.30,31 Various aspects of the medicinal chemistry and pharmacognosy of kratom have recently been reviewed by Adkins et al.30 Accordingly, only a few key points regarding these topics will be considered in the present article. The Table shows the chemical structures and summarizes the major pharmacologic actions of some of the kratom-derived compounds that have been studied most extensively. The most extensively-characterized of kratom's active pharmacologic agents have been the mitragynine analogs.30 These agents contain an indole ring and are, in some respects, structurally similar to yohimbine.30 These agents have been shown to produce a wide variety of pharmacologic effects, both in vivo and in vitro.30 In the following sections, we will consider the importance of these compounds as they relate to the primary pharmacologic effects of kratom, particularly analgesia and the ability to suppress symptoms of opioid withdrawal.
Structures and Pharmacologic Activities of Compounds Isolated From Kratom
Mitragynine30,33,34,39,40,44 Structurally similar to yohimbine
Activity on μ, δ, and κ receptors
Main activity on μ receptors creating opiate and analgesic effects and physical dependence
Inhibits radioligand binding at central nervous system receptors
Activates descending noradrenergic and serotonergic pathways in spinal cord
Stimulates postsynaptic α2-adrenergic receptors
Blocks stimulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine2A receptors
7-Hydroxymitragynine30,33,34,39,40,44 13- and 46-fold higher potency than morphine and mitragynine, respectively
Potency and quick-acting characteristics may be caused by introduction of −OH group on C7 position
Induces clinically significant antinociceptive responses in a dose-dependent manner
Speciociliatine30,44 C3 stereoisomer of mitragynine
Inhibits twitch contraction in naloxone-insensitive manner
May inhibit acetylcholine release from presynaptic nerve through means other than opioid receptor stimulation
Paynantheine40,44 Inhibits twitch contraction in naloxone-insensitive manner
Inhibits muscarine receptors on ileal smooth muscle
Speciogynine40,44 Inhibits twitch contraction in naloxone-insensitive manner
Inhibits muscarine receptors in ileal smooth muscle
Analgesic and Opioid-Like Effects
In Southeast Asia, kratom has long been used for the management of pain and opium withdrawal.6,9-11,14 In the West, kratom is increasingly being used by individuals for the self-management of pain or withdrawal from opioid drugs such as heroin and prescription pain relievers.20,27 It is these aspects of kratom pharmacology that have received the most scientific attention. Although to our knowledge, no well-controlled clinical studies on the effects of kratom on humans have been published, there is evidence30-38 that kratom, kratom extracts, and molecules isolated from kratom can alleviate various forms of pain in animal models. Studies have used a variety of methods including hot plate,35,37,39 tail flick,32,39 writhing,37,38 and pressure/inflammation35,38 tests in mice32,35,38,39 and rats,35,37 as well as more elaborate tests in dogs and cats.35 In addition, a variety of chemical compounds have been isolated from kratom and shown to exhibit opioid-like activity on smooth muscle systems31,33,34 and in ligand-binding studies.39,40 Most notably, many of the central nervous system and peripheral effects of these kratom-derived substances are sensitive to inhibition by opioid antagonists.31-34,39-41
Most of the opioid-like activity of kratom has been attributed to the presence of the indole alkaloids, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. Both compounds have been shown to have analgesic and antinociceptive effects in animals, although 7-hydroxymitragynime is more potent.30,32,40 These agents also produce opioid-like effects on organs such as the intestines and male internal genitalia.33,34 Moreover, when they are given to animals for 5 days or longer, both compounds produce a state of physical dependence, with withdrawal symptoms that resemble those of opioid withdrawal.31,32,41 In addition, ligand-binding studies and those using opioid antagonists indicate that these effects are largely mediated by means of actions on μ- and δ-type opioid receptors.30,31,33 Along with these various central nervous system effects, kratom also appears to have anti-inflammatory activity.38 Utar et al42 recently found that mitragynine can inhibit lipopolysaccharide-stimulated cyclooxygenase-2 expression and prostaglandin E2 production. In addition to direct mediation by means of opioid receptors, the antinociceptive effects of mitragynine appear to involve the activation of descending noradrenergic and serotonergic pathways in the spinal cord.43 Additionally, animal studies have shown that mitragynine may stimulate postsynaptic α2-adrenergic receptors and possibly even block 5-hydroxytryptamine2A receptors.33 Although kratom contains lower levels of 7-hydroxymitragynine than mitragynine, it has been suggested that 7-hydroxymitragynine is more potent and has better oral bioavailability and blood brain-barrier penetration than mitragynine,30,40 making it the predominant mediator of analgesic effects of kratom in the body.
Other compounds that have been isolated from kratom and implicated in some of its effects include speciociliatine, speciogynine, and paynatheine.30,40 These compounds have been shown to modulate intestinal smooth muscle function and behavioral response in animals.33,34,40,44 However, these effects were not inhibited by the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone, suggesting that they involve opioid-independent mechanisms.40,44 It remains to be determined how these compounds may contribute to the overall actions of kratom in vivo.
Subjective Effects
In spite of the fact that kratom has been widely touted and used as a "legal opioid,"23,31 few scientific studies have addressed the psychoactive properties of kratom.6,9,11,12 Most of the available information is based on anecdotal reports and patient experiences. The general subjective effects of kratom have been summarized in various reviews.6,9,12,30 In addition, many individuals have posted descriptions of their personal kratom experiences on Web sites such as Erowid, Sagewisdom, and WebMD.24-26 As noted previously, kratom produces an unusual combination of stimulant- and opioid-like effects. These effects are highly dependent on the dose of kratom and can vary markedly from one individual to another. Low to moderate doses (1-5 g of raw leaves) usually produce a mild stimulant effect that most individuals perceive as pleasant but not as intense as those of amphetamine-like drugs.24,25 Some individuals, however, report that these low-dose effects are mainly characterized by an unpleasant sense of anxiety and internal agitation.24-26 It is noteworthy that those who have used kratom products for pain management tend to view the stimulant effects of kratom as being more desirable than the sedative effects of traditional opioids.24-26
Opioid-like effects, such as analgesia, constipation, euphoria, and sedation are typically associated with the use of moderate-high doses of kratom (5-15 g). As with the lower-dose effects, the higher-dose effects may be either euphoric or dysphoric, depending on the individual. Of note, the euphoric effects of kratom generally tend to be less intense than those of opium and opioid drugs.6,10,11,25 Nevertheless, kratom is still sought by drug users.
Toxic Effects and Untoward Reactions
During the past 3 years, there have been an increasing number of case reports15,17,29 describing unusual adverse reactions in patients who had been using kratom or kratom-based products. The acute adverse effects of kratom experienced by many users appear to be a direct result of kratom's stimulant and opioid activities.6,9,11,30,31 Stimulant effects may manifest themselves in some individuals as anxiety, irritability, and increased aggression. Opioid-like effects include sedation, nausea, constipation, and itching. Again, these effects appear to be dose dependent and to vary markedly from one individual to another. Chronic, high-dose usage has been associated with several unusual effects. Hyperpigmentation of the cheeks, tremor, anorexia, weight loss, and psychosis have been observed in individuals with long-term addiction.9 Reports of serious toxic effects are rare and have usually involved the use of relatively high doses of kratom (>15 g).9,17,45,46 Of particular concern, there have been several recent reports of seizures occurring in individuals who have used high doses of kratom, either alone or in combination with other drugs, such as modafinil.17,22,45 Kapp et al15 recently described a case of intrahepatic cholestasis in a chronic user of kratom.
It is important to note that in each of these case reports, the patients may have had confounding health conditions, may have been using other drugs along with kratom, or both. One of the major problems in evaluating the potential uses and safety of an herbal agent such as kratom is the lack of understanding of how substances in kratom may interact with prescription medications, drugs of abuse, or even other herbal supplements. This issue is compounded by the relative lack of regulations and standardization related to the production and sale of kratom. These potential hazards were highlighted in several case reports of deaths resulting from the use of a kratom-based product known as "Krypton".16,47 This agent, which was touted as a very potent form of kratom, had been marketed in Sweden. During the past 5 years, there have been reports of 9 deaths related to the use of Krypton.16 In a case series by Kronstad et al,16 subsequent forensic studies revealed that Krypton contained high amounts of the exogenous pharmaceutical agent O-desmethyltramadol, which has opioid and neuromodulator activity. Evidently, the exogenous O-desmethyltramadol had been added to the plant material. Even though mitragynine was also detected in the products, it was not determined how the 2 substances may have interacted to cause death. Another recent report48 described a fatal reaction that appeared to be associated with the use of a combination of propylhexedrine—an α agonist and an amphetamine-like stimulant—and mitragynine. This latter case highlights the fact that extracts and tinctures containing purified mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine, and 7-acetoxymitragynine have become available for purchase by means of the Internet. These sources can easily be found by conducting an Internet search using the term "mitragynine purchase." The possibility that these highly concentrated mitragynine alkaloid extracts could be used in conjunction with other psychoactive drugs (eg, alcohol, sedatives, opioids, stimulants, cannabinoids) raises the potential for serious drug interactions.
A large number of Internet posts refer to the use of kratom as a euphoriant or "legal opioid."23-26 A major question that remains unanswered is, "How addictive is kratom?" Although many anecdotal reports suggest that it may be less addictive than classical opioids, there are also numerous reports that, in some individuals, it may be highly addictive. For example, in Southeast Asia, it has long been recognized that individuals will seek out and abuse kratom for its euphoric and mind-altering effects and that chronic users can become tolerant of, physically dependent on, and addicted to kratom.9,10 Kratom addiction is considered such a problem that many Southeast Asian countries have outlawed the use of kratom.9,10
As kratom use has expanded to Europe and the United States, there have been increasing reports of individuals becoming physically dependent on or addicted to kratom.22,30,31,45,46 Most published studies are case reports22,31,45,46 of heavy, compulsive users of kratom. In each case, the individual exhibited substantial tolerance to the effects of kratom and showed overt symptoms of withdrawal when kratom use was stopped. The symptoms of withdrawal were similar to those from traditional opioids and included irritability, dysphoria, nausea, hypertension, insomnia, yawning, rhinorrhea, myalgia, diarrhea, and arthralgias. In a recent report, McWhirter and Morris45 described the use of an opioid agonist (dihydrocodeine) and an α-adrenergic antagonist (lofexidine) to successfully manage symptoms of withdrawal in an individual who was addicted to kratom.
Kratom and kratom-derived compounds such as mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are not detected in most routine drug testing or screening procedures.49 Although various tests for kratom-derived compounds have been developed,49 they are not yet widely available for general use. Moreover, there are still some controversies regarding the designation of drug-level cutoff points for defining the tests.49 The analytical and forensic aspects of kratom toxicology have been summarized in a review by Philipp et al.49
Evidence suggests that kratom is being used extensively for both medical and nonmedical purposes. Recent studies have shown that kratom contains a variety of active compounds that produce major pharmacologic effects at opioid and other receptors. Kratom and kratom-derived drugs may potentially be used for the management of pain, opioid withdrawal symptoms, and other clinical problems. At the same time, serious questions remain regarding the potential toxic effects and the abuse and addiction potential of kratom. This issue is further confounded by the lack of quality control and standardization in the production and sale of kratom products. The possibilities of kratom products being adulterated or interacting with other drugs are also serious concerns. Until these issues are resolved, it would not be appropriate for physicians to recommend kratom for the treatment of patients. Nevertheless, physicians need to be aware that patients may use kratom or kratom-based products on their own. Further studies to clarify the efficacy, safety, and addiction potential of kratom are needed.
The authors thank Victoria Sears and Laura Phelps, MA, in the Department of Pharmacology at Midwestern University for their help in preparing the manuscript. The authors also thank Susan Hershberg at Midwestern University for her assistance in capturing the photographic images of the kratom products.
Financial Disclosures: None reported.
Barnes PM, Bloom B, Nahin RL. Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults and children: United States, 2007. Natl Health Stat Report. 2008(12):1-23.
Denneky C, Tsouraunis C. Dietary supplements and herbal medications. In: Katzung B, Masters S, Trevor A. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 12th ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill; 2011:1125-1137.
American Osteopathic Association. Tenets of osteopathic medicine. American Osteopathic Association Web site. http://www.osteopathic.org/inside-aoa/about/leadership/Pages/tenets-of-osteopathic-medicine.aspx. Accessed August 22, 2012.
US Drug Enforcement Administration. Special intelligence brief: kratom (Mitragyna speciosa). Microgram Bulletin. 2006;39(3):30-32. http://www.justice.gov/dea/pr/micrograms/2006/mg0306.pdf. Accessed November 12, 2012.
Grewal KS. Observations on the pharmacology of mitragynine. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1932;46:251-271.
Jansen KL, Prast CJ. Ethnopharmacology of kratom and the Mitragyna alkaloids. J Ethnopharmacol. 1988;23(1)115-119. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
León F, Habib E, Adkins JE, Furr EB, McCurdy CR, Cutler SJ. Phytochemical characterization of the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa grown in U.S.A. Nat Prod Commun. 2009;4(7):907-910. [PubMed]
Maruyama T, Kawamura M, Kikura-Hanajiri R, Takayama H, Goda Y. The botanical origin of kratom (Mitragyna speciosa; Rubiaceae) available as abused drugs in the Japanese markets. J Nat Med. 2009;63(3):340-344. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Suwanlert S. A study of kratom eaters in Thailand. Bull Narc. 1975;27(3):21-27. [PubMed]
Assanangkornchai S, Muekthong A, Sam-Angsri N, Pattanasattayawong U. The use of Mitragynine speciosa ("Krathom"), an addictive plant, in Thailand. Subst Use Misuse. 2007;42(14):2145-2157. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Jansen KL, Prast CJ. Psychoactive properties of mitragynine (kratom). J Psychoactive Drugs. 1988;20(4):455-457. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Shellard EJ. Ethnopharmacology of kratom and the Mitragyna alkaloids. J Ethnopharmacol. 1989;25(1):123-124. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Pichainarong N, Chaveepojnkamjorn W, Khobjit P, Veerachai V, Sujirarat D. Energy drinks consumption in male construction workers, Chonburi province. J Med Assoc Thai. 2004;87(12):1454-1458. [PubMed]
Vicknasingam B, Narayanan S, Beng GT, Mansor SM. The informal use of ketum (Mitragyna speciosa) for opioid withdrawal in the northern states of peninsular Malaysia and implications for drug substitution therapy. Int J Drug Policy. 2010;21(4):283-288. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Kapp FG, Maurer HH, Auwärter V, Winkelmann M, Hermanns-Clausen M. Intrahepatic cholestasis following abuse of powdered kratom (Mitragyna speciosa). J Med Toxicol. 2011;7(3):227-231. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Kronstrand R, Roman M, Thelander G, Eriksson A. Unintentional fatal intoxications with mitragynine and O-desmethyltramadol from the herbal blend Krypton. J Anal Toxicol. 2011;35(4):242-247. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Nelsen JL, Lapoint J, Hodgman MJ, Aldous KM. Seizure and coma following Kratom (Mitragynina speciosa Korth) exposure. J Med Toxicol. 2010;6(4):424-426. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Rosenbaum CD, Carreiro SP, Babu KM. Here today, gone tomorrow…and back again? a review of herbal marijuana alternatives (K2, Spice), synthetic cathinones (bath salts), kratom, Salvia divinorum, methoxetamine, and piperazines. J Med Toxicol. 2012;8(1):15-32. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Sheleg SV, Collins GB. A coincidence of addiction to "Kratom" and severe primary hypothyroidism. J Addict Med. 2011;5(4):300-301. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Krauth D. Substance called "Kratom" becoming a growing problem. The Palm Beach Post. July 1 , 2011. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/health/substance-called-kratom-becoming-a-growing-problem-1575630.html. Accessed February 25, 2012.
Osterhaus H. Natural herb flavors students' day. The University Daily Kansan. January 23 , 2008. http://kansan.com/archives/2008/01/23/osterhaus-natural-herb-flavors-students-day/. Accessed February 25, 2012.
Boyer EW, Babu KM, Adkins JE, McCurdy CR, Halpern JH. Self-treatment of opioid withdrawal using kratom (Mitragynia speciosa korth). Addiction. 2008;103(6):1048-1050. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Schmidt MM, Sharma A, Schifano F, Feinmann C. "Legal highs" on the net—evaluation of UK-based websites, products and product information. Forensic Sci Int. 2011;206(1-3):92-97. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Kratom dosage. The Vaults of Erowid Web site. http://www.erowid.org/plants/kratom/kratom_dose.shtml. Accessed July 20, 2011.
The kratom user's guide. Sage Wisdom Web site. http://www.sagewisdom.org/kratomguide.html. Accessed July 20, 2011.
Kratom addiction?? [online forum]. WebMD Substance Abuse Community Web site. http://forums.webmd.com/3/substance-abuse-exchange/forum/350/32#32. Accessed July 20, 2011.
Ward J, Rosenbaum C, Hernon C, McCurdy CR, Boyer EW. Herbal medicines for the management of opioid addiction: safe and effective alternatives to conventional pharmacotherapy? CNS Drugs. 2011;25(12):999-1007. http://adisonline.com/cnsdrugs/Fulltext/2011/25120/Herbal_Medicines_for_the_Management_of_Opioid.2.aspx. Accessed February 29, 2012.
Controlled Substances Act, 21 USC §801 et seq.
US Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of Diversion Control. Drugs and chemicals of concern: kratom (Mitragyna speciosa korth). Office of Diversion Control Web site. http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drugs_concern/kratom.htm. Accessed October 30, 2011.
Adkins JE, Boyer EW, McCurdy CR. Mitragyna speciosa, a psychoactive tree from Southeast Asia with opioid activity. Curr Top Med Chem. 2011;11(9):1165-1175. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Babu KM, McCurdy CR, Boyer EW. Opioid receptors and legal highs: Salvia divinorum and kratom. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2008;46(2):146-152. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Matsumoto K, Horie S, Takayama Het al. Antinociception, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms induced by 7-hydroxymitragynine, an alkaloid from the Thai medicinal herb Mitragyna speciosa. Life Sci. 2005;78(1):2-7. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Matsumoto K, Yamamoto LT, Watanabe Ket al. Inhibitory effect of mitragynine, an analgesic alkaloid from Thai herbal medicine, on neurogenic contraction of the vas deferens. Life Sci. 2005;78(2):187-194. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Matsumoto K, Hatori Y, Murayama Tet al. Involvement of μ-opioid receptors in antinociception and inhibition of gastrointestinal transit induced by 7-hydroxymitragynine, isolated from Thai herbal medicine Mitragyna speciosa. Eur J Pharmacol. 2006;549(1-3):63-70. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Macko E, Weisbach JA, Douglas B. Some observations on the pharmacology of mitragynine. Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther. 1972;198(1):145-161. [PubMed]
Maurer HH. Chemistry, pharmacology, and metabolism of emerging drugs of abuse. Ther Drug Monit. 2010;32(5):544-549. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Sabetghadam A, Ramanathan S, Mansor SM. The evaluation of antinociceptive activity of alkaloid, methanolic, and aqueous extracts of Malaysian Mitragyna speciosa Korth leaves in rats. Pharmacognosy Res. 2010;2(3):181-185. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Shaik Mossadeq WM, Sulaiman MR, Tengku Mohamad TAet al. Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of Mitragyna speciosa Korth methanolic extract. Med Princ Pract. 2009;18(5):378-384. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Takayama H, Ishikawa H, Kurihara Met al. Studies on the synthesis and opioid agonistic activities of mitragynine-related indole alkaloids: discovery of opioid agonists structurally different from other opioid ligands. J Med Chem. 2002;45(9): 1949-1956. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Takayama H. Chemistry and pharmacology of analgesic indole alkaloids from the rubiaceous plant, Mitragyna speciosa. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 2004;52(8):916-928. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Thongpradichote S, Matsumoto K, Tohda Met al. Identification of opioid receptor subtypes in antinociceptive actions of supraspinally-administered mitragynine in mice. Life Sci. 1998;62(16):1371-1378. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Utar Z, Majid MI, Adenan MI, Jamil MF, Lan TM. Mitragynine inhibits the COX-2 mRNA expression and prostaglandin E2 production induced by lipopolysaccharide in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. J Ethnopharmacol. 2011;136(1):75-82. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Matsumoto K, Mizowaki M, Suchitra Tet al. Central antinociceptive effects of mitragynine in mice: contribution of descending noradrenergic and serotonergic systems. Eur J Pharmacol. 1996;317(1):75-81. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Horie S, Koyama F, Takayama Het al. Indole alkaloids of a Thai medicinal herb, Mitragyna speciosa, that has opioid agonistic effect in guinea-pig ileum. Planta Med. 2005;71(3):231-236. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Roche KM, Hart K, Sangali B, Lefberg J, Bayer M. Kratom: a case of a legal high. Clin Tox. 2008;46(7):598. Abstract 41.
McWhirter L, Morris S. A case report of inpatient detoxification after kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) dependence. Eur Addict Res. 2010;16(4):229-231. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Arndt T, Claussen U, Güssregen Bet al. Kratom alkaloids and O-desmethyltramadol in urine of a "Krypton" herbal mixture consumer. Forensic Sci Int. 2011;208(1-3):47-52. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Holler JM, Vorce SP, McDonough-Bender PC, Magluilo JJr, Solomon CJ, Levine B. A drug toxicity death involving propylhexedrine and mitragynine. J Anal Toxicol. 2011;35(1):54-59. http://jat.oxfordjournals.org/content/35/1/54.long. Accessed October 29, 2012.
Philipp AA, Meyer MR, Wissenbach DKet al. Monitoring of kratom or Krypton intake in urine using GC-MS in clinical and forensic toxicology. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2011;400(1):127-135. [CrossRef] [PubMed]


text:
Q: WPF / Silverlight - Mapping API I am about to start on a project where I need to display maps with cross streets and possibly directions.  I know there are a lot of API for the web, but I was wondering what the best solution is for a desktop application.
I know of Bing Maps and I believe there are some Google Maps solutions out there as well.  Any help or information on good mapping API's would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

A: You should look at using the ESRI mapping controls. It's nice, relatively easy to use, lots of samples (mostly in silverlight, but thats easy to convert), and has the power of ESRI. What could be better?
if you have a bing maps developer key, you can even use the bing tiles.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Several weeks ago I had the fortune to meet with Fatuma Abdulahi, Communications Officer for Accountability for the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), the person behind the HIF project called "Piloting Accountability Systems for Humanitarian Aid in Somalia", in partnership with UNICEF through the CDRD project (Community-Driven Recovery and Development). Also called "SMS Beneficiary Feedback", the project is a quick and convenient way for Somali beneficiaries to give feedback about projects funded or services provided by the Danish Refugee Council using an SMS feedback system. The system enables beneficiaries to have a direct access to DRC and a voice in the decision-making process to allocate funds to local projects. It also helps DRC better monitor the effects of the projects on the ground (For more info see here).
I have been interested in accountability systems for Humanitarian organizations since long time and I blogger before about this very topic. This DRC project is the first project I have heard about (ever) that uses mobile technology and crisis mapping to create a completely transparent and direct communication system in between a humanitarian organization and its beneficiaries on the ground. And if this wasn't enough, this project is taking place in Somalia, not exactly the safest place on earth.
The SMS Beneficiaries Feedback project is a very simple system that basically creates something that most NGOs and humanitarian agencies should have done and learned from the private sector: it creates a calling center for DRC beneficiaries in Somalia. Since the start of the project in September 2011, beneficiary SMS feedback has been implemented in 31 towns and villages in the North and East of Somalia. Now, the project is extended to a number of districts in Mogadishu from where hundreds of SMS' are submitted every months (see here).
Since then Fatuma has been going around in Somalia basically talking to all those families and beneficiaries and explaining them the project and the possible outcomes of it.
The fact that she actually went to meet all of them in person respond to one of the first possible criticism against this project: managing expectations and deliver a clear message. The fact that beneficiaries can contact the aid organization in fact is always seen as possible disaster in terms of what they will expect once that direct channel is created.
For the past 2 years, every time I have been talking about the possibility to do something like this, the answer I got from aid organizations was that this would have let people think that once they communicate their needs, the aid organization had to respond by delivering what beneficiaries need or ask for. The nightmare of humanitarian organizations thinking about doing something like this, is the prospect of thousands of messages asking for more help, that would then become thousands of angry people that have seen their expectations deloused by overwhelmed aid agencies.
Fatuma did what is the most simple and easy way to do this: went to meet people in person and explained to them what they could expect and how – leveraging also on the fact the Somali society is based on an oral culture. She also explained to them something really simple: this is not a crowdsourcing/help line, this is a system to find out how and if beneficiaries of the DRC program are actually satisfied from the service provided to them and what can be done better.
The ways people can communicate with DRC is channeled in two ways: SMS and phone calls. So what happen next?
1. The first thing that happened is that all the messages are translated into English and channel to the right department/office inside the organization. Each message is reviewed and given an answer to. The speed of the answer depends of course on the readiness/speed of the relative office/officers inside DRC that can respond to that inquiry.
3. This all process is documented step by step on a Ushahidi platform, where all SMS are mapped and all responses/commentaries are showed.
The incredible part of this project is that the entire process is completely public and open: all messages and all answers are made public in the platform, including complains, no yet responded messages, appreciations messages and so on.
Again, this is not just "dots on a map": each mapped project had attached the financial and beneficiary report, where it is possible to monitor how much money have been spent, where and from whom the money are coming from.
The reason why I love this project is that it is really showing not only that transparency and accountability is possible in humanitarian aid, but also that it is pretty simple and can be done avoiding to raise expectations with very simple technologies.
In addition to this, the system is also supported by a Flickr page, a Twitter account and aBlog. Again all messages (complains as well as compliments or appreciation messages) are shared on the Twitetr page, while it is possible to see the sites and the projects pictures on the Flickr page and to read stories from Somalia on the Blog.
The SMS system, based on a Galaxy Tab app to receive and send messages to the Ushahidi platform, needs to be online to work. The system DRC is using, based on a Galaxy Tab app to receive and send messages to the Ushahidi platform that therefore needs to be online to work, could be improved by using a simple method like FrontlineSMS or, if the number of SMS is actually high and she envision the possibility to receive hundreds of SMS a day, to use something more robust like RapidSMS or Souktel.
What DRC could also to make this system faster and more sustainable in the long term would be to outsource or better crowdsource the translation and processing of the SMS by using, for example, students from the Universities in Somalia and giving them credits in exchange of this. DRC could also think about creating a Crowdflower account and have the entire translation process done by anonymous volunteers around the world – something that could be done only giving a closer look to the sensitivity of the information and the possibility to anonymize the sources.
This pilot project is an incredible project that should be looked at the first experiment in the field of transparency and accountability for humanitarian organizations and crisis mapping. The M&E of this project could be used to pave the path for more projects like this, and lessons learned from this project could be used by other organizations to follow the same route.
1. Do not use technology to replace the in person dialog. Use it to support it.
2. Manage expectations with dialog and timely accurate information, not with silence.
3. Make sure that a response mechanism is in place, so that people may not have what they want, but they feel they are being heard and they are having a dialogue.
4. Integrate all the system you have and you can possibly use: face to face, SMS, voice calls, social media. A combination of tools is also a combination of resources and people, and as such as a great potential.
5. Transparency in humanitarian aid is and will continue to be a fundamental factor that will not only make the difference in between successful and unsuccessful projects, but also in between sustainable and not sustainable relationships with beneficiaries on the ground.
Kudos to Fatuma, the DRC team and the Humanitarian Innovation Fund for this incredible project!


Sumitomo is a Japanese traditional brand, the car tyre manufactures for all vehicle classes. The company is also known for the development and manufacture of high-performance tyres. For many sporting driver Sumitomo tyres are the first choice.
Sumitomo tyres are mainly produced in Japan. The company was founded 1909th Thus Sumitomo is one of the oldest tyre manufacturers in the world. Initially, the company mainly deals with the production of bicycle tyres. As the demand for car tyres in the world market rises rabid, represents the traditional company to its production. Since quality Sumitomo tyres are made not only for the Japanese market. The brand is now represented in many markets. Sumitomo is known for its high-performance tyres. They are also suitable for the most demanding motorists and allow accordingly safe steering with the car, even in extreme driving situations. Another reason for the popularity of Sumitomo tyres is also the good price-performance ratio. Sumitomo tyres are among the best. This advantage can be used particularly Tyres.NET customers.
Motorists can rely on Sumitomo tyres in any situation. The Sumitomo HTR Z IIIaus category summer tyre is a high-performance car tyres with asymmetrical tread. The patented profile system ensures that the vehicle remains stable in any situation. The wide tread grooves, of which there are a total of four, allowing a very good grip on wet roads. At high speeds on winding roads of this high-performance tyre ensures safe lateral support, so that the full power of the vehicle can be exploited. For all seasons it is with the HTR A / S P01 best equipped. The all-season tyre has done very well in tests in various weather conditions. High track temperatures and snowy roads provide no obstacle for him. A good choice for drivers who want to be sure one set of tyres throughout the year on the road.
Sumitomo are among the best high-performance tyres, which are available at Tyres.NET. They provide a very high level of security throughout the year. Even the most demanding motorists will be completely satisfied with the Sumitomo tyres.


text:
Q: Flutter setState() is not updating a Flame SpriteAnimationWidget I am currently using a SpriteAnimationWidget from Flame, and I want to have different animations by clicking buttons.
To test out if this works, I am changing the animation parameter of the SpriteAnimationWidget with a button click. After 1 second, the widget has to return to its original animation.
Here is my code:
Future<void> playReaction() async {
  setState(() {
    isPlaying = true;
    state = 'reaction';
  });

  await Future.delayed(Duration(milliseconds: 1000));

  setState(() {
    isPlaying = false;
    state = 'idle';
  });
}

And inside the build, I am returning:
if(state == 'reaction') {
  spriteAnimation = reactionSprite!.createAnimation(row: 0, stepTime: 0.1, from: 0,  to: 10);
  print('reaction');
}
else if(state == 'idle'){
  spriteAnimation = sprite!.createAnimation(row: 1, stepTime: 0.2, from: 0,  to: 4);
  print('idle');
}

return Container(
  height: widget.size,
  child: Stack(
      fit: StackFit.expand,
      children: [
        Positioned.fill(
          child: SpriteAnimationWidget(
            animation: spriteAnimation!,
            anchor: Anchor.center,
          )
        ),
      ]
  ),
);

The variables sprite and reactionSprite are sprite sheets that I preload using SpriteSheet.fromColumnsAndRows().
The problem is that, although my app successfully runs playReaction() and reaches print('reaction'), the SpriteAnimationWidget is still playing the idle animation instead of the reaction animation. I know that it's being rebuilt somehow because I can see that there is a slight unnatural discontinuity in the animation when I hit the button (plus the print messages).
Why is setState() not updating the SpriteAnimationWidget with a new animation parameter?
I am relatively new to Flutter and Flame, so I would love some help or advice.
ps. I tried using the same sprite sheet for the change with a different row (instead of using a completely different sprite sheet as in the code above), but the result was the same.

A: This was actually a bug, we are fixing it here.
Meanwhile, as a workaround, you can change the key of the widget every time that you change the animation and it should update the widget.


No body has fun like Robert Gronkowski and Tuesday at the New England Patriots Super Bowl parade "Gronk" proved it again by showing up to the parade with a bottle of wine.
??While the Super Bowl Pats always go with white for their lucky Super Bowl jerseys, it appears Gronk prefers red.


text:
Patiently Waiting may refer to:

Patiently Waiting, album by Joanna Beasley 2009
Patiently Waiting, album by Social Code 2001
 "Patiently Waiting", song by singer Kathy Mattea, written by Gillian Welch, from Love Travels
 "Patiently Waiting", song by Mac Dre, Chop Da Hookman, Young Los & Mistah F.A.B. from Dre Area
 "Patiently Waiting", song by 50 Cent from Get Rich or Die Tryin'

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Sorry there's an error at the moment with SomSid.
If this error continues please contact Somerset Computing Ltd with the domain name and the error message.
If the download is unsuccessful, please try again.


The LGBTQ Resource Center fully advocates Cal State Fullerton's endeavor to create more accessible, all gender restrooms. A choice that is automatic for cisgender people requires careful thought and consideration for TGNC folx, as they may experience prejudice inside these restrooms for their perceived use of the "wrong" restroom. In a study conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality (2015) of transgender Americans, 59% of respondents reported avoiding using a public restroom, and 24% had their presence challenged. Trans people are at risk in public for injustices such as these, all for the express purpose of using a restroom for a few minutes. We at the center believe that TGNC folx deserve the privilege to use restrooms in public without having to make a choice that invalidates their identity. All-gender restrooms achieve that purpose while deconstructing the gender binary at the same time.
The all-gender restrooms located on Cal State Fullerton's campus are denoted by the symbol of a white triangle within a circle as pictured below.
Education Classroom Located on the 2nd and 5th floors.
Engineering West Wing Located on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floors.
Engineering East Wing Located on the 5th floor.
Engineering North West Wing Located on the outside perimeter of the building.
Engineering South West Wing Located on the outside perimeter of the building.
Golleher Alumni House Located within the Alumni House.
Humanities and Social Sciences Located on the 1st floor.
Clayes Performing Arts Center (CPAC) Located on the 1st and 2nd floors.
Kinesiology and Health Science Located on the 1st floor.
Department of Military Science Center There are 3 restrooms located here; the doors unlock automatically when you knock firmly 3 times.
Student Health and Counseling Center Located within the center.
Titan House Located within the Titan House.
University Police There is 1 restrooms located here.
Pollak Library South (PLS) 1st floor After entering the library through its south-side double door entrance, these restrooms are located on the right side of the library.
Titan Student Union (TSU) 1st floor After entering through the double sliding doors, this restroom will be on the left-hand side past the large TV screen.
Titan Student Union (TSU) 2nd floor This restroom is located right next to TSU 254.
Student Recreation Center There are 2 restrooms located here. They are located on the second floor, but can only be accessed from the stair case on the left immediately entering the doors of the SRC. They cannot be accessed once you sign in and walk through the gates.
This site is maintained by LGBT Queer Resource Center.


text:
typedef struct {
    // These fields form the command sent from host to the card (6 bytes)
    uint8_t cmd_index : 6;
    uint8_t transmission_bit : 1;
    uint8_t start_bit : 1;
    uint8_t arguments[4];
    uint8_t stop_bit : 1;
    uint8_t crc7 : 7;
    /// Ncr is the dead time between command and response; should be 0xff
    uint8_t ncr;
    /// Response data, should be set by host to 0xff for read operations
    uint8_t r1;
    /// Up to 16 bytes of response. Luckily, this is aligned on 4 byte boundary.
    uint32_t response[4];
    /// response timeout, in milliseconds
    int timeout_ms;
} sdspi_hw_cmd_t;

#define SDSPI_CMD_SIZE      6
#define SDSPI_NCR_MIN_SIZE  1
#define SDSPI_NCR_MAX_SIZE  8

//the size here contains 6 bytes of CMD, 1 bytes of dummy and the actual response
#define SDSPI_CMD_NORESP_SIZE   (SDSPI_CMD_SIZE+0)   //!< Size of the command without any response
#define SDSPI_CMD_R1_SIZE       (SDSPI_CMD_SIZE+SDSPI_NCR_MIN_SIZE+1)   //!< Size of the command with R1 response
#define SDSPI_CMD_R2_SIZE       (SDSPI_CMD_SIZE+SDSPI_NCR_MIN_SIZE+2)   //!< Size of the command with R1b response
#define SDSPI_CMD_R3_SIZE       (SDSPI_CMD_SIZE+SDSPI_NCR_MIN_SIZE+5)  //!< Size of the command with R3 response
#define SDSPI_CMD_R4_SIZE       (SDSPI_CMD_SIZE+SDSPI_NCR_MIN_SIZE+5)  //!< Size of the command with R4 response
#define SDSPI_CMD_R5_SIZE       (SDSPI_CMD_SIZE+SDSPI_NCR_MIN_SIZE+2)   //!< Size of the command with R5 response
#define SDSPI_CMD_R7_SIZE       (SDSPI_CMD_SIZE+SDSPI_NCR_MIN_SIZE+5)  //!< Size of the command with R7 response

#define SDSPI_CMD_FLAG_DATA     BIT(0)  //!< Command has data transfer
#define SDSPI_CMD_FLAG_WRITE    BIT(1)  //!< Data is written to the card
#define SDSPI_CMD_FLAG_RSP_R1   BIT(2)  //!< Response format R1 (1 byte)
#define SDSPI_CMD_FLAG_RSP_R2   BIT(3)  //!< Response format R2 (2 bytes)
#define SDSPI_CMD_FLAG_RSP_R3   BIT(4)  //!< Response format R3 (5 bytes)
#define SDSPI_CMD_FLAG_RSP_R4   BIT(5)  //!< Response format R4 (5 bytes)
#define SDSPI_CMD_FLAG_RSP_R5   BIT(6)  //!< Response format R5 (2 bytes)
#define SDSPI_CMD_FLAG_RSP_R7   BIT(7)  //!< Response format R7 (5 bytes)
#define SDSPI_CMD_FLAG_NORSP    BIT(8)  //!< Don't expect response (used when sending CMD0 first time).
#define SDSPI_CMD_FLAG_MULTI_BLK BIT(9) //!< For the write multiblock commands, the start token should be different

#define SDSPI_MAX_DATA_LEN      512     //!< Max size of single block transfer

void make_hw_cmd(uint32_t opcode, uint32_t arg, int timeout_ms, sdspi_hw_cmd_t *hw_cmd);

esp_err_t sdspi_host_start_command(int slot, sdspi_hw_cmd_t *cmd,
                                   void *data, uint32_t data_size, int flags);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Are your HR professionals doing the job they were hired to do? The fundamental mission of any human resources department is to find and recruit the best talent, help motivate those employees to top performance, and maintain an organizational culture of high morale and high accomplishment.
But that is difficult to do if your professional staff are spending more time performing administrative tasks than they do working in activities that bring value to your organization.
In today's digital age, it simply no longer makes sense to have highly skilled professional staff burdened with antiquated paper-bound workflow and systems. Organizations from all industries are taking a fresh look at the advantages of document automation for Human Resources.
According to a recent "Winning the Paper Wars" study conducted by AIIM, The Global Community of Information Professionals, 68% of companies feel that business-at-the-speed-of-paper will be "unacceptable in just a few years' time." And, 46% consider that the biggest single productivity improvement across the board for most of their business processes is to remove the paper.
Despite the increasing digitization of business today, the truth is that most Human Resources departments are still buried in paper. According to the AIIM report, paper flowing through common business processes like human resources is actually increasing for 25% of organizations.
Most HR professionals will tell you that their world is one that is awash in printouts and paper, e-mail messages and file attachments, faxes and scanned documents, and a variety of online systems and forms that can be a nightmare to manage.
The result is that HR professionals often spend more time, effort and money performing administrative duties than they do attracting, hiring and maximizing the human capital of the organization.
In recent years many key business functions have been successfully automated with enterprise content and document management tools. Core activities like accounts payable or claims processing are just two common examples.
Now, organizations are beginning to focus their automation efforts on the Human Resources function. The goal is not to eliminate headcount but to instead empower professional staff and knowledge workers to transform HR from a cost center to a value center.
This is done by automating the processes with modern document and content management tools, and by enabling more integrated data and case management capabilities that are simply not possible using the paper-bound workflow of the past.
The return on investment is powerful for organizations that are tapped into the opportunity. Sixty percent of organizations participating in the AIIM study reported capturing an ROI on their paper-free projects within 12 months, and an impressive 77% within 18 months.
Improved searchability and sharability of important documents is the biggest driver, as well as improved process productivity and reduced physical storage space. It's easy to see how all of these factors quickly come into play when considering the typical HR operating process and office environment.
Managing the human capital of an enterprise requires a staggering amount of documentation that starts even before an employee is hired and continues well after a person has left the company.
New hires cause a variety of forms and documents for background checks, state and federal taxes, health insurance, non-disclosure agreements, and more. During employment, any number of events generate even more paperwork for things like workplace claims, training and certifications, employee performance reviews and annual benefits reenrollment—to name just a few.
Employee retirement and turnover generate yet additional forms, documents and information that all must be secured and retained for years after termination.
Each one of these routine documents takes valuable time to process. Studies show that a simple resume takes over a minute to onboard, while other standard documents like a W2 form, I-9 or a job application can take two or three minutes to handle.
The bigger the company the bigger the burden. By automating these common HR documents, departments find that they save significant time, money and effort, and boost the productivity of HR staff and professional resources.
In the past some executives regarded HR as strictly a cost center and not value center. But as organizations come to realize that people are one of their most important (and often most expensive) resources, that value proposition is beginning to quickly change.
In today's competitive business environment it makes sense for organizations to invest in technologies and methodologies that will remove undue administrative burden and empower HR professionals to concentrate on finding the best talent and fostering the best environment for organizational success. But it takes the right tools and time in order to focus on these more strategically valuable activities.
One example of how HR departments can improve productivity with document automation is the employee onboarding process. When a new employee is hired, the process involves a number of important documents; tax forms, benefit enrollments and employment offer letters are common, as well as any number of additional documents including non-compete and non-disclosure agreements, employment eligibility forms and background checks.
It is not uncommon for a new employee file to grow to include 20 documents or more. One study performed by Provoke Research Partners found that a typical onboarding document requires an average of 1.7 minutes or more to process. The result is over 30 minutes of data entry per employee.
Nearly half of all organizations surveyed for AIIM's "Winning the Paper Wars" report indicate that keying data and searching for documents is the most pressing issue caused by paper-based processes.
Storing and retrieving HR documents is another area where savings and improvements can be captured with document automation. According to the Gartner Group, paper documents claim up to 60 percent of office worker's time and account for up to 45 percent of labor costs.
In another study by Prism International, they found that an average of seven percent of documents are misfiled, resulting in handling costs of $120 per document. HR departments that automate the onboarding process begin to see immediate labor savings while allowing the department to concentrate on more high-value activities associated with employee onboarding like recruitment, talent acquisition and training.
Employee onboarding is just one example. Magnify the productivity gains and savings to include common events and processes like annual re-enrollment in insurance plans and the compounding return on investment and process improvement from HR document automation becomes clear.
Document automation in HR is also important because of the varied and demanding retention requirements for human resources documents.
Scores of different regulations and standards dictate which records must be kept and for how long. The Civil Rights Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act are just three examples of overarching regulations in the U.S.
Further standards set by regulatory bodies like the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission are other examples of the many additional and varied HR retention requirements.
Even when no specific retention requirements exist, most HR departments choose to err on the side of caution and keep duplicate and redundant copies—often printed out on paper—to ensure that the organization could withstand regulatory and legal scrutiny if needed.
More and more organizations find that keeping up with retention requirements is difficult to do with traditional approaches to document management. Automating HR provides a right-sized gateway into larger enterprise content management repositories while providing the many improvements and efficiencies of a digital workflow that HR departments need.
If you thought that document automation for HR would be too costly and too complex, it's time to think again. Once the purview of only the largest enterprises, a new generation of document and content management systems are now available that have been designed from the ground up with Human Resources in mind.
These next-generation solutions combine the power of document and data capture with process automation and case management capabilities that really make a difference…and don't require enterprise-sized budgets and support teams.
How does it work? Document images are captured from any copier, scanner, e-mail or fax. Important data elements—names, numbers and amounts—are all automatically extracted as well. This information is uploaded seamlessly and a common interface provides access to everything associated with that employee file.
No more manual data entry, no more multiple copies, no more redundant paper files. The automated and seamless integration removes the burden of paper from the HR process and saves time and money through improved workflow.
HR departments can now leverage the same power and efficiencies of document and data capture that other core enterprise functions have been leveraging for years.
HR document automation is an important strategic imperative, but how do you know which tools and solutions are best?
Leverage the industry trend toward more affordable, less complex solutions designed specifically for HR. Look for advanced capture capabilities that use common input devices and can easily integrate into your existing workflow.
Include intuitive and comprehensive search and retrieval functions, and capabilities that allow you to automate repetitive, mundane and time-consuming tasks.
Look for solutions and partners that provide the right mix of experience, vision, and advanced capabilities that will help you capture the full value of HR automation.
Watch our 6 Minute Tour, then contact our sales team to setup your personal demonstration.


If you're not quite ready to throw on a pair of overalls and dig up your veggies yourself, the next best thing is to visit a farmers market.
With Sunday mornings growing ever brighter (no more having to get up before dawn to get a car park!), the best time to get in the habit of hitting the Brisbane markets for your greenery is now.
Luckily for those who prefer to spend their weekends munching on bacon than driving around the countryside looking for roadside stalls, farmers markets have mushroomed all over town.
Overflowing with local produce (and also a whole lot of cheese if that gets you more excited than cauliflower), they might just inspire you to finally start that spring detox.
Oh stop it, you're Milton our free range hearts. The Milton Markets roll around every Sunday, featuring the freshest farm-direct produce, including meats, seafood, eggs, honey, gourmet food stalls, arts and craft, and more. That's going straight in our basket.
You never know just what you'll come across at the Davies Park Markets, where the alternative vibe means you'll find everything from organic apples and baked goods to cricket powder and soy candles. Once you've stocked up on all the fruit and veg you can carry, stop at one of the many, many food stalls for breakfast.
Unless you've mistakenly rocked up on a Sunday and found yourself lost in a maze of trash and treasure, you'll go bananas for these markets. Always full of bargains, there's plenty of goodies to be found and it's not all just fruit and veg. Smoked meats, freshly baked breads, jams and pasta – you won't even need to hit the supermarket after this weekend jaunt.
For fresh produce with a side of food puns, you can't go past these north side markets. Wander through the stalls of in-season produce from South East Queensland and find yourself walking out with way more than you intended to purchase. Because who can resist cheese and cupcakes?
The Northey Street Markets are one in a melon, and will probably make you feel as though you've wandered into a commune. But for organic produce, free range eggs and fair trade coffee beans, there's nowhere better. Just be sure to stop by the Chai Café for breakfast after you've stocked up on all your goodies.
While the city and Powerhouse markets are deliciously gourmet, the Mitchelton markets are the ones to go to if you're after rosy radishes and plump peaches. You'll more than likely meet the growers face to face, and can even ask them the best way to cook up their produce.


text:
Суперкубок Италии по футболу 2018 — 31-й розыгрыш Суперкубка Италии, прошедший между чемпионом и обладателем кубка страны. В этом матче в третий раз сошлись «Ювентус» и «Милан», выигравшие данный трофей по 7 раз, но так как «Ювентус» в прошедшем сезоне сделал дубль, их соперниками стал финалист Кубка «Милан».

Игра состоялась 16 января 2019 года за пределами Италии, в городе Джидда (Саудовская Аравия).

Детали матча

Примечания

2018
Матчи ФК «Ювентус»
Матчи ФК «Милан»
Футбол в Италии в 2018 году
Европейские национальные футбольные суперкубки в сезоне 2018
Январь 2018 года
События 16 января
Джидда
Спорт в Саудовской Аравии в 2018 году
Футбольные соревнования в Саудовской Аравии


text:
Q: Region of convergence of the given series. I'm trying to find the region of convergence for the series $$\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\frac{(n+1)z^n}{(1+z)^n}$$ and further show that the series is in fact a polynomial within that region.
By ratio test, we have $$\begin{align}\lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}\left|\frac{(n+2)z^{n+1}}{(1+z)^{n+1}}\cdot\frac{(1+z)^{n}}{(n+1)z^{n}}\right|&=\lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}\left|\frac{(n+2)z}{(n+1)(1+z)}\right|\\&=\left|\frac{z}{1+z}\right|\lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}\left|\frac{n+2}{n+1}\right|\\&=\left|\frac{z}{1+z}\right|\\&<1\end{align}$$
So the series converges for all $z$ such that $\left|\frac{z}{1+z}\right|$. But my question is, is this sufficient for the region of convergence? I tried to make it into a form of $|z-z_0|<R$, but it wasn't working.
Also, if this is the region, how do I know that the given series is polynomial? I understand that it is polynomial if $\frac{z}{1+z}$ is real. But I'm having trouble showing that.

A: $\left|\frac{z}{1+z}\right| < 1$ holds if $z$ is closer to $0$ than to $-1$,
that is the half plane $\{ \operatorname{Re} >- \frac 12 \}$.
To compute the value of the series, consider
$$
 \sum_{n=0}^\infty (n+1) w^n
$$
for $|w| < 1$, which is the derivative of
$$
 \sum_{n=0}^\infty w^{n+1} = w \sum_{n=0}^\infty w^{n} = \frac{w}{1-w} \, ,
$$
then substitute $w = \frac{z}{1+z}$.

A: Hints: The ratio test tells you the series converges absolutely for $|z/(1+z)|<1.$ This says  $|z|<|1+z|$ or $|z-0| = |z-(-1)|.$ In other words, $z$ is closer to $0$ than it is to $-1.$ Continue thinking in this way to finish the convergence/divergence question.
For the polynomial conclusion, notice that $\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}(n+1)w^n$ is the derivative of $1/(1-w),$ which equals $1/(1-w)^2.$


text:
Michael Lipton – Development economist
Welcome to the website of Michael Lipton. He is Emeritus Professor of Economics at Sussex University, Emeritus Fellow of the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), and a Fellow of the British Academy.
He has extensive experience in African and Asian studies and has researched for decades agricultural and rural development, especially:
* the poverty impacts of land reform
* the economics of poverty reduction and inequality
* demographic impacts on growth, poverty and income distribution
* nutrition economics
* agricultural technology (especially water use and plant breeding) and poverty reduction
His books include Why People Stay Poor: Urban Bias and World Development (1977), New Seeds and Poor People (1989, with Richard Longhurst) and Land Reform in Developing Countries: Property Rights and Property Wrongs (2009). See also Land Reform in Developing Countries: contents, reviews, how to get it. He has published many journal articles (see "Papers").
He has been Professor of Development Economics at the Poverty Research Unit since 1994. Prior to this, he was a Professorial Fellow of the Institute of Development Studies at Sussex University (1967-94), Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford (1961-8, 1982-4). He also served as a Program Director of the Food Consumption and Nutrition Program at the International Food Policy Research Institute. As Senior Policy Adviser at the World Bank, he was involved in the Task Force established to study the impact of the World Bank's activities on poor people.
During his 25 years as Fellow of the Institute of Development Studies, Dr. Lipton founded and directed the Village Studies Programme (1971-6), which collated over 3000 primary surveys and produced books on "why villages differ" in nutrition, migration and labour use. He was Lead Scholar for the Rural Poverty Report of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (2001-2), working at Sussex University with the Poverty Research Unit, which he founded in 1994, and which has contributed to reports from the United Nations, World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. He has conducted fieldwork mainly in India (starting with eight months in Kavathe village, near Satara, Maharashtra), and in Bangladesh, Botswana, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka and South Africa.
He has been elected to Fellowships of All Souls College, Oxford (1961-8 and 1982-4), Massachucsetts Insttute of Technology (Rockefeller Fellow, 1962-3), the British Academy (2006), and the Stellenbosch Institute of Advanced Studies (2011). Prof. Lipton holds an MA degree from Oxford University and D. Litt. from the University of Sussex. He has received various awards and distinctions, including the Leontief Prize (2012), the Jenkyns Prize and the George Webb Medley Prize in Economics.
He is a current or recent member of the Program Advisory Committee of HarvestPlus (the CGIAR's biofortification research group), and in the UK on the Boards of the Overseas Development Institute, the Journal of Development Studies and International Development Enterprises. The author of over 150 publications, including eight books, Dr. Lipton has served as an advisor to the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the International Food Policy Research Institute, the International Labor Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the Asian Development Bank and several governments, including Bangladesh, Botswana, India, Sri Lanka, South Africa and the UK (Dept. of International Development).
Michael married Merle Lipton in 1966. Merle is Visiting Research Fellow at King's College, London, and was formerly Associate Fellow at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House. Michael and Merle have a son, Emanuel, and a grandson, Joshua. Michael's interests include chess problems. He has co-authored Chess Problems: Introduction to an Art (Faber, 2002) and The two-move Chess Problem: tradition and development (Faber, 1966) and many articles, mostly in The Problemist. He is a past President of the British Chess Problem Society (2000-2002) and a FIDE International Master of Chess Composition, and has composed over 400 problems, mostly two-movers.
Recent research and coverage
New Book: Land Reform in Developing Countries: Property Rights and Property Wrongs. Find the review of this book by Albert Berry here: The Case for Redistributional Land Reform in Developing Countries [from Development and Change 42(2): 637–648] and another book review by Andrew Dorward here [from the Journal of Agricultural Economics]
Recipient of the 2012 Leontief Prize for Advancing the Frontiers of Economic Thought
Current work: Michael is writing Malthus and Africa, on the population-agriculture interface. In 2015-16 he has been advising the South African Government on land reform.
Contact Michael Lipton at mlipton@onetel.com


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