Analytical Investigation of the Reentry Behavior of the ''flying Wind Tunnel'' Test Vehicle, with Some Effects of Threshold and Torque Level of a Roll-rate Control System

Analytical investigation of reentry behavior of flying wind tunnel test vehicle with some effects of threshold and torque level of roll-rate control syste

RELATIVE AND ABSOLUTE RISK FORMAT IN ELICITING WILLINGNESS-TO-PAY FOR BEEF IRRADIATION

The relationship between the valuation of reduced risk through irradiation and framing of risk information was determined using absolute and relative risk formats. A double-bounded CV survey was used to measure willingness-to-pay (WTP) for irradiated beef among 740 U.S. households. Results show that the WTP was sensitive to the risk formats.beef irradiation, relative risk format, absolute risk format, willingness-to-pay, double-bounded CV questions, Consumer/Household Economics,

NUTRITION CONSIDERATIONS IN FOOD SELECTION

The importance of nutrition consideration to households in food selection is instrumental in the development of information programs to promote public health and to market healthy food. Using a national telephone survey of 2880 U.S. households, this study examines the role and influence of socio-economic characteristics and lifestyle on a household meal plannerÂ’s consideration of four dietary components in food selection. Household income, children in households, geographic location, and gender, age, education, and lifestyle of meal planners affected the consideration of dietary components in food selection. The results provide a basis for developing education programs that focus on the particular dietary considerations of identified demographic subgroups.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

DETERMINANTS OF DEMAND FOR BEEF: THE IMPACT OF FAT TRIMMING

Beef products, lower fat, consumer demand, demand elasticities, Demand and Price Analysis,

Fungicide resistance among Cladobotryum spp. – causal agents of cobweb disease of the edible mushroom Agaricus bisporus

A survey of fungicide resistance among isolates of the mushroom pathogens Cladobotryum mycophilum and C. dendroides Types I and II was undertaken, with respect to the active ingredients thiabendazole, carbendazim (benzimidazoles) and prochloraz manganese following an epidemic in Britain and Ireland in 1994/95. The majority of isolates (41/57) were strongly resistant to thiabendazole (ED50 > 200 ppm) and were exclusively C. dendroides Type II. All C. mycophilum and C. dendroides Type I isolates, and four C. dendroides Type II isolates, were weakly resistant to thiabendazole (ED50 1–10 ppm). Thiabendazole-resistant C. dendroides Type II isolates were only weakly resistant to carbendazim (ED50 2–10 ppm) and isolates which were weakly resistant to thiabendazole were carbendazim-sensitive (ED50 < 1 ppm), demonstrating a lack of complete cross resistance between these two benzimidazole fungicides. The ED50 values for all isolates with respect to prochloraz manganese ranged from 0.14 to 7.8 ppm. Benzimidazole resistance was considered to have been an important factor influencing the severity of the 1994/95 cobweb epidemic but 25% of isolates collected were benzimidazole sensitive

TARGET MARKETS FOR RETAIL OUTLETS OF LANDSCAPE PLANTS

Merchandisers of landscape plants can increase the effectiveness of their marketing strategies by identifying target markets. Using a full information maximum likelihood tobit procedure on a system of three equations, target markets for different types of retail outlets in Georgia were identified. The results lend support and empirical evidence to the premise that different retail outlet types have different target markets and thus should develop different market strategies. The estimated target markets are identified and possible marketing strategies suitable for each type of retail outlet are suggested.Crop Production/Industries,

FACTORS INFLUENCING SOUTHERN DAIRY FARMERS' CHOICE OF MILK HANDLERS

Survey data of 2,538 dairy farmers located in 12 southern states were used to analyze the factors influencing farmers' choice of milk handlers. Results from a qualitative response model indicate that a combination of price and non-price factors contribute to dairy farmers' attitudes toward their milk handlers. Specifically, the decision to change milk handlers was significantly influenced by prices paid and deductions charged. However, non-price factors including field services, friendly personnel, and loyalty to a handler contributed to the longer term affiliation of dairy farmers with their milk handlers.Dairy farmers, Milk handlers, Market channels, Qualitative response, Marketing, Agribusiness,

ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER ATTITUDES TOWARD NEW FRIED FOOD PREPARED FROM COWPEA FLOUR

American consumers are exposed to thousands of new food products on supermarket shelves each year. For new products, such as akara products, it is crucial to determine consumer preferences and buying intentions. In this study, 346 randomly selected consumers were surveyed to reveal their preference for five akara products prepared from cowpea flour. Preference data were analyzed through use of a multi-ordered response model. Model results indicate that socio-demographic factors were weakly linked to explaining consumer preferences while product characteristics were much more important in preference considerations.Consumer/Household Economics,

A theoretical investigation of the effect of proliferation & adhesion on monoclonal conversion in the colonic crypt

The surface epithelium lining the intestinal tract renews itself rapidly by a coordinated programme of cell proliferation, migration and differentiation events that is initiated in the crypts of Lieberkühn. It is generally believed that colorectal cancer arises due to mutations that disrupt the normal cellular dynamics of the crypts. Using a spatially structured cell-based model of a colonic crypt, we investigate the likelihood that the progeny of a mutated cell will dominate, or be sloughed out of, a crypt. Our approach is to perform multiple simulations, varying the spatial location of the initial mutation, and the proliferative and adhesive properties of the mutant cells, to obtain statistical distributions for the probability of their domination. Our simulations lead us to make a number of predictions. The process of monoclonal conversion always occurs, and does not require that the cell which initially gave rise to the population remains in the crypt. Mutations occurring more than one to two cells from the base of the crypt are unlikely to become the dominant clone. The probability of a mutant clone persisting in the crypt is sensitive to dysregulation of adhesion. By comparing simulation results with those from a simple one-dimensional stochastic model of population dynamics at the base of the crypt, we infer that this sensitivity is due to direct competition between wild-type and mutant cells at the base of the crypt. We also predict that increases in the extent of the spatial domain in which the mutant cells proliferate can give rise to counter-intuitive, non-linear changes to the probability of their fixation, due to effects that cannot be captured in simpler models

A theoretical investigation of the effect of proliferation and\ud adhesion on monoclonal conversion in the colonic crypt

Colorectal cancers are initiated by the accumulation of mutations in the colonic epithelium. Using a spatially structured cell-based model of a colonic crypt, we investigate the likelihood that the progeny of a mutated cell will dominate, or be sloughed out of, a crypt. Our approach is to perform multiple simulations, varying the spatial location of the initial mutation, and its proliferative and adhesive properties, to obtain statistical distributions for the probability of domination. Our simulations lead us to make a number of predictions. The process of monoclonal conversion always occurs, and does not require that the cell which initially gave rise to the population remains in the crypt. Mutations occurring more than one to two cells from the base of the crypt are unlikely to become the dominant clone. The probability of a mutant clone persisting in the crypt is sensitive to dysregulation of adhesion, and comparison with a one-dimensional model suggests that this is caused by competition directly at the base of the crypt.\ud We also predict that increases in the extent of the spatial domain in which the mutant cells proliferate cause counter-intuitive non-linear changes to the probability of its fixation, due to effects that cannot be captured in simpler models