AREAWIDE PLANNING FOR OPTIMUM LOCATION OF HOSPITAL FACILITIES FOR RURAL PEOPLE

Community/Rural/Urban Development,

Marine Heritage Monitoring with High Resolution Survey Tools: ScapaMAP 2001-2006

Archaeologically, marine sites can be just as significant as those on land. Until recently, however, they were not protected in the UK to the same degree, leading to degradation of sites; the difficulty of investigating such sites still makes it problematic and expensive to properly describe, schedule and monitor them. Use of conventional high-resolution survey tools in an archaeological context is changing the economic structure of such investigations however, and it is now possible to remotely but routinely monitor the state of submerged cultural artifacts. Use of such data to optimize expenditure of expensive and rare assets (e.g., divers and on-bottom dive time) is an added bonus. We present here the results of an investigation into methods for monitoring of marine heritage sites, using the remains of the Imperial German Navy (scuttled 1919) in Scapa Flow, Orkney as a case study. Using a baseline bathymetric survey in 2001 and a repeat bathymetric and volumetric survey in 2006, we illustrate the requirements for such surveys over and above normal hydrographic protocols and outline strategies for effective imaging of large wrecks. Suggested methods for manipulation of such data (including processing and visualization) are outlined, and we draw the distinction between products for scientific investigation and those for outreach and education, which have very different requirements. We then describe the use of backscatter and volumetric acoustic data in the investigation of wrecks, focusing on the extra information to be gained from them that is not evident in the traditional bathymetric DTM models or sounding point-cloud representations of data. Finally, we consider the utility of high-resolution survey as part of an integrated site management policy, with particular reference to the economics of marine heritage monitoring and preservation

Plasma balls/kinks as solitons of large NN confining gauge theories

We discuss finite regions of the deconfining phase of a confining gauge theory (plasma balls/kinks) as solitons of the large $N$, long wavelength, effective Lagrangian of the thermal gauge theory expressed in terms of suitable order parameters. We consider a class of confining gauge theories whose effective Lagrangian turns out to be a generic 1 dim. unitary matrix model. The dynamics of this matrix model can be studied by an exact mapping to a non-relativistic many fermion problem on a circle. We present an approximate solution to the equations of motion which corresponds to the motion (in Euclidean time) of the Fermi surface interpolating between the phase where the fermions are uniformly distributed on the circle (confinement phase) and the phase where the fermion distribution has a gap on the circle (deconfinement phase). We later self-consistently verify that the approximation is a good one. We discuss some properties and implications of the solution including the surface tension which turns out to be positive. As a by product of our investigation we point out the problem of obtaining time dependent solutions in the collective field theory formalism due to generic shock formation.Comment: 26+1 pages, 10 figure

INFLUENCE OF MARKET DIVERSIFICATION ON FARM INCOME VARIABILITY OF SOYBEAN PRODUCERS

Crop Production/Industries,

INTRA- AND INTER-STATE TRANSFERABILITY OF SOYBEAN VARIETY RESEARCH

An example of agricultural researching technology transfer and implications for the fiscal coordination and conduct of agricultural research programs is presented. Uniform Soybean Tests conducted in four Southern States are used to estimate the potential for transferability of soybean variety research among homogeneous sub-areas. The results indicate a high degree of transferability among the sub-areas. Coordinated management of soybean variety research could potentially provide more effective expenditure of soybean breeding research investments. Additionally, the concept or research transferability is not limited to soybeans or soybean variety research. Increased coordination of agricultural research investments by individual states may enhance existing benefits.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE IN THE 1980S: THE IMPLIED RESEARCH PRIORITIES

Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

THE EFFECT OF RESOURCE INVESTMENT PROGRAMS ON AGRICULTURAL LABOR EMPLOYMENT AND FARM NUMBERS

Agricultural Finance,

FIRST GENERATION STOCHASTIC GENE EPISILENCING (STEP1) MODEL AND APPLICATIONS TO IN VITRO CARCINOGEN EXPOSURE

A novel first-generation stochastic gene episilencing (STEP1) model is introduced for quantitatively characterizing the probability of in vitro epigenetically silencing (episilencing) specific tumor-suppressor-microRNA (miRNA) genes by carcinogen exposure. Although the focus is mainly on in-vitro exposure of human cells to ionizing radiation, the mathematical formulations presented are general and can be applied to other carcinogens. With the STEP1 model, a fraction fj of the surviving target cells can have their tumorsuppressor- miRNA gene of type j silenced while the remaining fraction, 1 – fj, of the surviving cells do not undergo gene episilencing. Suppressor gene episilencing is assumed to arise as a Poisson process characterized with and exponential distribution of episilencing doses with mean dj. In addition to providing mathematical functions for evaluating the single- target-gene episilencing probability, functions are also provided for the multi-target-gene episilencing probability for simultaneously silencing of multiple tumor-suppressor-miRNA genes. Functional relationships are first developed for moderate doses where adaptive responses are unlikely and are then modified for low doses where adaptation can occur. Results apply to a specific follow-up time t after carcinogen exposure that exceeds the maximum time for the occurrence of an induced episilencing event

The Current Program and Future of ADC in the USDA

The ADC program was transferred to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in December 1985. The ADC mission continues to be the protection of American agriculture and other resources from wildlife damage. Changes have been implemented to enhance the program, and efforts are continuing toward additional improvements