Literature Is Everything

Essay introducing his collection of books donated to the University of Puget Sound upon Pres. Ronald R. Thomas\u27s retirement from the University

MEASURING THE EFFECTS OF GENERIC PRICE AND NON-PRICE PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES: THE CASE OF WASHINGTON APPLES

This paper develops a monthly domestic demand and supply equilibrium model for Washington apples that can be used to assess the effectiveness of price and non-price promotional activities. The econometric methodology employed takes into account market differences across the U.S. and is based on data pertaining to individual retail stores located throughout the U.S. The period of analysis is from September 1990 through August 2000 on a regional basis. A unique feature of the model is its explicit allowance for multiplier effects to exist between the level of print media (newspaper ad and flyers) expenditures provided by the Washington State Apple Commission (WAC) in support of apple demand and supplementary funds provided by retailers in support of apple promotion. In particular the model allows for the fact that Commission funds oftentimes represent only a relatively small fraction of the overall print media expenditures made in support of apple sales, and that Commission funds are often effectively only "pump priming" or serve as inducements for additional promotional activities by other entrepreneurs in the marketing chain. Also, the subset of promotional activities (print media and price reductions) provided by retailers is modeled in a dynamic fashion, whereby market conditions feedback affects the level of apple promotion provided by retailers. The overall model includes a set of retail demand equations, a set of retail-F.O.B. price linkage equations, a set of ad lines - WAC Ad buys linkage equations, and an aggregate industry supply function. Additional factors such as asymmetry in retail-F.O.B. price response, the effects of information technology in retail pricing, and the effects of the large crops and the Asian and the Mexican crises on domestic supply are all simultaneously considered. Results of this analysis indicate that, in the aggregate, price promotion is a significant factor positively impacting apple sales. Furthermore, price promotion elasticities were relatively high when compared to non-price promotional activities, leading to a conclusion that greater gains with respect to returns on promotional investment may occur when retail price reductions are pursued. Despite an increased domestic supply and the effects of the Mexican and the Asian crises, among the non-price promotional activities, results indicated that both non-trade (TV and Radio) and trade-related efforts (in store demonstrations, point of sale displays, promotional give-aways, and ad buys) have contributed to increased demand for Washington apples. Sensitivity analysis of trade and non-trade expenditures indicated that trade-related activities were more effective in increasing demand at current expenditure levels relative to non-trade activities. Promotional efforts in the form of billboards, food service expenditures, and other miscellaneous activities, which the industry also carried out during the historical period of analysis, did not have a measurable impact on demand in any of the regions. It was also found that WAC ad buy expenditures resulted in a multiplier effect on the total number of ad lines. While the direct effect of these Commission expenditures on demand would be relatively small without the supplementary efforts forthcoming from retailers, the fact that retailers multiplied the Commission's expenditures into a substantially larger promotional effort resulted in a significant positive effect on apple sales when viewing the promotion program as a whole. Key words: price and non price promotion, trade and non trade activitiesprice and non price promotion, trade and non trade activities, Marketing,

Solar dynamic power for space station freedom

The Space Station Freedom Program is presently planned to consist of two phases. At the completion of Phase 1, Freedom's manned base will consist of a transverse boom with attached manned modules and 75 kW of available electric power supplied by photovoltaic (PV) power sources. In Phase 2, electric power available to the manned base will be increased to 125 kW by the addition of two solar dynamic (SD) power modules, one at each end of the transverse boom. Power for manned base growth beyond Phase 2 will be supplied by additional SD modules. Studies show that SD power for the growth eras will result in life cycle cost savings of $3 to$4 billion when compared to PV-supplied power. In the SD power modules for Space Station Freedom, an offset parabolic concentrator collects and focuses solar energy into a heat receiver. To allow full power operation over the entire orbit, the receiver includes integral thermal energy storage by means of the heat of fusion of a salt mixture. Thermal energy is removed from the receiver and converted to electrical energy by a power conversion unit (PCU) which includes a closed brayton cycle (CBC) heat engine and an alternator. The receiver/PCU/radiator combination will be completely assembled and charged with gas and cooling fluid on Earth before launch to orbit. The concentrator subassemblies will be pre-aligned and stowed in the orbiter bay before launch. On orbit, the receiver/PCU/radiator assembly will be installed as a unit. The pre-aligned concentrator panels will then be latched together and the total concentrator attached to the receiver/PCU/radiator by the astronauts. After final electric connections are made and checkout is complete, the SD power module will be ready for operation

Property Assessments and Information Asymmetry in Residential Real Estate

This paper presents a game theoretic model of property tax assessment that allows a tax appraiser to either choose a high or a low assessment. The owner either accepts or challenges this assessment. A ‘‘fixed effects’’ regression model is used to evaluate the differences in the assessed values of a sample of houses from Bexar County, Texas during 2000 and 2001. Where the owner of the house is identified as a state licensed property tax consultant, the assessed value, after adjusting for size, age, and other economic characteristics, ranged from a statistically robust 2.5% to 6.2% lower than neighboring houses.

Adrenocortical neoplasia: evolving concepts in tumorigenesis with an emphasis on adrenal cortical carcinoma variants

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare, heterogeneous malignancy with a poor prognosis. According to WHO classification 2004, ACC variants include oncocytic ACCs, myxoid ACCs and ACCs with sarcomatous areas. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of these rare subtypes of adrenocortical malignancy and emphasize their clinicopathological features with the aim of elucidating aspects of diagnostic categorization, differential diagnostics and biological behavior. The issue of current terminology, applied to biphasic tumors with pleomorphic, sarcomatous or sarcomatoid elements arising in adrenal cortex, is also discussed. We additionally present emerging evidence concerning the adrenal cortical tumorigenesis and the putative adenoma–carcinoma sequence as well

Quantum molecular dynamics simulations for the nonmetal-to-metal transition in fluid helium

We have performed quantum molecular dynamics simulations for dense helium to study the nonmetal-to-metal transition at high pressures. We present new results for the equation of state and the Hugoniot curve in the warm dense matter region. The optical conductivity is calculated via the Kubo-Greenwood formula from which the dc conductivity is derived. The nonmetal-to-metal transition is identified at about 1 g/ccm. We compare with experimental results as well as with other theoretical approaches, especially with predictions of chemical models.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Antimicrobial activity of daptomycin and selected comparators tested against bloodstream Staphylococcus aureus isolates from hemodialysis patients

Background: Patients on long-term hemodialysis are at a significantly higher risk for catheter-related bloodstream infections (BSI) than the general population. These infections are generally caused by Gram-positive organisms, especially Staphylococcus aureus. in the present study, we evaluated the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of S. aureus causing BSI in dialysis patients compared to those causing BSI in other patient populations.Methods: the potencies of daptomycin and various comparator agents were evaluated by reference broth microdilution methods for S. aureus bloodstream isolates from dialysis patients (606 strains) in 43 hospitals in North America and Europe. Susceptibility patterns for the dialysis isolate set were compared to those S. aureus causing BSI in other patient populations in the same hospitals and time period.Results: Daptomycin was highly potent against S. aureus causing bacteremia in dialysis patients (MIC(50)/MIC(90), 0.25/0.5 mu g/ml). Vancomycin (MIC(50)/MIC(90), 1/1 mu g/ml) and linezolid (MIC(50)/MIC(90), 2/2 mu g/ml) showed similar potency, and overall susceptibility rates for the three antibiotics were 99.8-100.0% susceptible. Linezolid and vancomycin were four- to eight-fold less potent than daptomycin.Conclusions: the overall susceptibility patterns of S. aureus strains from dialysis patients were very similar to those of non-dialysis patients. (c) 2008 International Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc.AB BIODISKAbbottAPIArpidaAstellasAstraZenecaAvexaBayerbioMerieuxCadenceCempraCerexaChironCornerstoneCubistDaiichiElanElancoEnantaGlaxoSmithKlineJohnson Et Johnson (Ortho McNeil)MerckNovartisOptimerOrdwayOsmoticsPacific BeachPeninsulaPfizerProtezReplidyneSchering-PloughSequoiaShionogiTheravanceTREK DiagnosticsViroPharmaWyethJMI Labs, N Liberty, IA 52317 USAUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilTufts Univ, Sch Med, Boston, MA 02111 USAUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Wrapping Transition and Wrapping-Mediated Interactions for Discrete Binding along an Elastic Filament: An Exact Solution

The wrapping equilibria of one and two adsorbing cylinders are studied along a semi-flexible filament (polymer) due to the interplay between elastic rigidity and short-range adhesive energy between the cylinder and the filament. We show that statistical mechanics of the system can be solved exactly using a path integral formalism which gives access to the full effect of thermal fluctuations, going thus beyond the usual Gaussian approximations which take into account only the contributions from the minimal energy configuration and small fluctuations about this minimal energy solution. We obtain the free energy of the wrapping-unwrapping transition of the filament around the cylinders as well as the effective interaction between two wrapped cylinders due to thermal fluctuations of the elastic filament. A change of entropy due to wrapping of the filament around the adsorbing cylinders as they move closer together is identified as an additional source of interactions between them. Such entropic wrapping effects should be distinguished from the usual entropic configuration effects in semi-flexible polymers. Our results may be applicable to the problem of adsorption of proteins as well as synthetic nano-particles on semi-flexible polymers such as DNA.Comment: 24 pages, 12 figure

Poor Adherence With Medication Refill and Medical Supplies Maintenance as Risk Factors for Inpatient Asthma Admission in Children

Background. Asthma results in significant pediatric hospitalizations in the inner city. Many asthmatic children were admitted to our hospital as a result of lack of medications or medical supplies that had been previously prescribed ( ran out, broken, or lost ). Objective. To identify the incidence of children admitted for asthma because of lack of prescribed medications/supplies and to assess risk factors for poor adherence between groups. Methods. This was a prospective chart review of 200 asthmatic children admitted to Children\u27s Hospital of Michigan, Detroit. The data included asthma severity, lack of prescribed medications/medical supplies, and outpatient management. Results. In all, 35.5% or 71/200 of asthmatic children admitted had lack of prescribed medication/supplies (9% lacked both). The most common deficiency was β2-agonist (20.5%; 41/200). Teenagers had the highest lack of medications/medical supplies (55.6%; 5/9) compared with toddlers (17.2%; 16/93) and preschoolers (17.9%; 5/28). Patients with severe persistent asthma had a higher incidence of lacking medicine (31.8%; 7/22) compared with 25% (14/56) with moderate persistent asthma and 23.4% (15/64) of mild asthmatics. We found the lack of asthma medical supplies, including nonfunctioning or lost nebulizers/spacers, in 44.4% (4/9) of teenagers, 17.2% (16/93) of toddlers, and 21.4% (6/28) of preschool-aged children. We found no significant difference in these deficiencies whether patients were managed by asthma specialists or primary care providers. Conclusions. Significant numbers of asthmatic children admitted reported lack of prescribed medications/medical supplies. The most severe asthmatics were most likely to run out of medications. Interventions targeted at these deficiencies may avoid hospitalizations