AN ESSAY ON FEDERAL-STATE RESEARCH PROGRAMS IN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS: NEEDS AND PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE IN AGRICULTURAL MARKETING

Marketing,

Classifying Networks For Network Coding

Network coding is a relatively recent development in the realm of maximizing information transfer in communications and computer networks. Traditional networks operate by simply storing and forwarding data along. Network coding, however, allows intermediate network nodes to combine data using arithmetic operations. In many instances, this can lead to more efficient use of network resources. Since there is a significant throughput input in some networks, some studies have been done on what kinds of networks will benefit from coding. A coding advantage is defined as a situation where a network coded graph has a lower cost to send given information per unit time session than the same un-coded graph. It has been proven that for two simple single-sender-single-receiver communication sessions that a graph must have one of two special graph-theoretic structures called the butterfly and grail in order to yield a coding advantage. We decided to focus our efforts on a different traffic scenario: a multicast session with a single sender and multiple receivers. Through our research we proved that a multicast-version of the butterfly network structure is needed within a single session multicast with two sinks and one source in order to gain a coding advantage. We also performed a simulation-based study in order to study the structures of multicast sessions with a larger number of receivers. The study involved the random generation of networks using several graph generation techniques. We also considered a variety of different edge-weighting constraints. Given a particular graph with set edge weights, the coding advantage problem was modeled as a linear program and run through the simulator to determine if a coding advantage was gained. Based on visual inspection of these results, it appears that variations of the multicast butterfly are ultimately the dominant structure allowing for a coding advantage. We also found that many types of random networks only very rarely resulted in a coding advantage. Only the graphs generated using the rectangular grid method showed a coding advantage, with a coding advantage percentage of 0.005% for 4 sinks in a 30 node network, with the coding advantage percentage going up as the number of sinks within the network increased

Antitrust Enforcement in the United States: Market Structure Versus Market Conduct

First, we will review the basic tenets of the two underlying “schools” of antitrust policy, the structuralist and conduct⁄performance Schools. Secondly, we will survey the records of both private and public antitrust enforcement and review the advantages and disadvantages of each. Thirdly, we will argue that an alternative to present antitrust enforcement responsibilities and practices is necessary, and suggest that establishing a Federal Industrial Reorganization Commission may be the only effective means to ensure that economic competition, diversity, and dynamism prosper and prevail in the decades ahead. Such a solution is currently before Congress in the proposed Industrial Reorganization Act (Hart Bill)

Physics Opportunities with Meson Beams

Over the past two decades, meson photo- and electro-production data of unprecedented quality and quantity have been measured at electromagnetic facilities worldwide. By contrast, the meson-beam data for the same hadronic final states are mostly outdated and largely of poor quality, or even nonexistent, and thus provide inadequate input to help interpret, analyze, and exploit the full potential of the new electromagnetic data. To reap the full benefit of the high-precision electromagnetic data, new high-statistics data from measurements with meson beams, with good angle and energy coverage for a wide range of reactions, are critically needed to advance our knowledge in baryon and meson spectroscopy and other related areas of hadron physics. To address this situation, a state of-the-art meson-beam facility needs to be constructed. The present paper summarizes unresolved issues in hadron physics and outlines the vast opportunities and advances that only become possible with such a facility.Comment: 46 pages, 10 figures, 4 table

Creation of graphite surface defects via ion bombardment: The origin of active portals and their role in encapsulation of metal nanoparticles

This thesis explores the conditions that lead to the encapsulation of metal nanoparticles at the surface of graphite. For intercalation to occur in graphite there are two criteria that need to be met: (1) defects need to be introduced into the material and (2) the sample needs to be heated during deposition of the metal. The defects are believed to be the active portals by which metal nanoparticles enter the graphite galleries. The research presented uses varying sputtering conditions such as the time, ion, and energy to introduce defects into commercially available highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) before ruthenium deposition to investigate the role defect creation has in the encapsulation of metal islands. The goal of this research is to explore defect creation using different sputtering conditions to better understand the conditions that elicit active portals and optimize the method for encapsulation of metal islands, specifically ruthenium. Ultra-high vacuum (UHV) techniques such as electron beam heating, physical vapor deposition, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), and X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are utilized to help create and characterize the defects and encapsulated ruthenium islands. The data presented suggests three key characteristics of the sputtering and deposition process: (1) when the portal density is sufficient to achieve an equilibrium of ruthenium atoms on top of the graphite surface and in the galleries an increase in portals has no impact; (2) ions used for sputtering have an ideal kinetic energy associated with creating the desired quantities of defects, a deviation in energy could increase or decrease the reflection/transmission that occurs during sputtering; (3) paired with literature previously published, the data presented suggests di-vacancies are the minimum portal size required for intercalation of metals ions

FACTITIOUS HYPOGLYCAEMIA: A CASE REPORT AND LITERATURE REVIEW

Background: Factitious hypoglycaemia is a form of factitious disorder imposed on self with high morbidity and mortality. It is therefore important to be aware of the key demographic and contextual risk factors for factitious hypoglycaemia, as well the investigations and management options available for suspected cases. Subjects and methods: In this article we describe a case report and literature review of factitious hypoglycaemia. The search was conducted using the PubMed database and identified 23 case reports of 31 patients aged 18 or over with insulin-induced factitious hypoglycaemia. Results: The average age of these patients was 33.7 (±13.5) years, the female: male ratio was 4.3:1, 38% had medical occupations or past medical training, 53% had diabetes mellitus, and 41% had a positive psychiatric history. Misdiagnoses were common and often resulted in inappropriate treatment. Very few cases discussed psychiatric management. Conclusions: Factitious hypoglycaemia is more commonly reported in middle-aged females, in a medical profession, with a past medical history of diabetes mellitus and psychiatric illness. However, it may affect a variety of patients and the absence of these features should not discourage a diagnosis. C-peptide levels and insulin assays can help identify factitious hypoglycaemia over other causes of hypoglycaemia, and management should include a greater focus on psychiatric treatment

Alterations in the glutathione metabolism could be implicated in the ischemia-induced small intestinal cell damage in horses

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Colic could be accompanied by changes in the morphology and physiology of organs and tissues, such as the intestine. This process might be, at least in part, due to the accumulation of oxidative damage induced by reactive oxygen (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), secondary to intestinal ischemia. Glutathione (GSH), being the major intracellular thiol, provides protection against oxidative injury. The aim of this study was to investigate whether ischemia-induced intestinal injury could be related with alterations in GSH metabolism.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Ischemia induced a significant increase in lipid hydroperoxides, nitric oxide and carbon monoxide, and a reduction in reduced glutathione, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content, as well as in methionine-adenosyl-transferase and methyl-transferase activities.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results suggest that ischemia induces harmful effects on equine small intestine, probably due to an increase in oxidative damage and proinflammatory molecules. This effect could be mediated, at least in part, by impairment in glutathione metabolism.</p

Small business strategic management practices and performance: A configurational approach

Small businesses contribute to society on many fronts: job creation, tax revenues, functional products and services, charitable donations, technological developments, and social contributions to communities. Given these contributions, and small firms’ limited resources, it is important to understand what strategic management practices (SMPs)–activities engaged to develop and implement strategy–positively impact small firm performance. Small business leaders may apply various combinations of SMPs to achieve performance objectives. Here, we apply Fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to explore how various combinations of six different SMPs–entrepreneurial orientation (EO), strategic planning, goal setting, total quality management (TQM), social capital, and small business owners’ analysis of financial ratios–affect performance. From a sample of U.S. printing companies, we found four different configurations of SMPs related to higher small business performance

New York City Panel on Climate Change 2019 Report Chapter 8: Indicators and Monitoring

The Indicators and Monitoring chapter of the first New York City Panel on Climate Change Report began with the paradigm: What cannot be measured cannot be managed (Rosenzweig et al., 2010). This statement is as valid today as it was then.The NPCC1 (2010) Indicators and Monitoring chapter addressed the need for assembling a suite of indicators to monitor climate change and adaptation in order to inform climate change decision making. It outlined criteria for selection of indicators (policy relevance, analytic soundness, measurability), defined categories of indicators (physical climate change; risk exposure, vulnerability, and impacts; adaptation; new research), and provided examples of specific indicators. Table 8.1 is a summary table of indicator development contribution from the NPCC1 I&M chapter (Jacob et al., 2011). The chapter explored the institutional requirements for indicator data availability, continuity, archiving, and public accessibility