Dear Yuri: A Thank You and Tribute to Yuri Kochiyama

This article is featured in the journal Tapestries: Interwoven voices of local and global identities, volume 4

The Pricing of Water in Louisiana.

In L o u i s i a n a , t h e p r i m a r y w a t e r p r o b l e m i s o n e o f p r o p e r a l l o c a t i o n o f w a t e r among r e s i d e n t i a l , i n d u s t r i a l and a g r i c u l t u r a l u s e r s . In t h i s c o n t e x t , t h i s s t u d y e v a l u a t e s c u r r e n t p r i c e s t r u c t u r e s and p r i c i n g p o l i c i e s i n o r d e r t o e x p l o r e t h e u s e o f e c o n o m i c c r i t e r i a f o r an e f f i c i e n t a l l o c a t i o n o f t h e r e s o u r c e . D a ta c o l l e c t e d p e r t a i n e d t o t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f w a t e r s u p p l y i n g u n i t s , t h e i r p r o d u c t i o n and d i s t r i b u t i o n s y s t e m s , p r i c e s c h e d u l e s , b a s e s o f p r i c e d e t e r m i n a t i o n , and t h e f i n a n c i a l s t a t u s o f e a c h u n i t . To p u t t h i s s t u d y i n t o p e r s p e c t i v e , t h e r o l e o f p r i c e t h e o r y i n a l l o c a t i o n o f w a t e r r e s o u r c e s was e x a m in e d and a r e v i e w o f w a t e r p r i c i n g p o l i c i e s i n a r i d and humid r e g i o n s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s was a c c o m p l i s h e d . R e s i d e n t i a l w a t e r s u p p l i e s i n L o u i s i a n a a r e p r o v i d e d by r e g u l a t e d w a t e r u t i l i t i e s owned by p r i v a t e i n v e s t o r s , m u n i c i p a l g o v e r n m e n t s , o r by g r o u p s o f i n d i v i d u a l s o r g a n i z e d t o form n o n p r o f i t c o r p o r a t i o n s w h o s e i n v e s t m e n t f u n d s a r e p r o v i d e d b y t h e Fa rmers Home A d m i n i s t r a t i o n . A c o m p a r a t i v e a n a l y s i s i n d i c a t e d t h a t FHA s p o n s o r e d w a t e r u t i l i t i e s c h a r g e d $1 0 . 0 8 f o r 1 0 , 0 0 0 g a l l o n s o f w a t e r w h i l e p r i v a t e and m u n i c i p a l u t i l i t i e s c h a r g e d$ 7 . 9 0 an d $6 . 7 4 , r e s p e c t i v e l y . A v e r a g e a n n u a l o p e r a t i n g c o s t s p e r c a p i t a was$ 1 3 . 3 7 f o r m u n i c i p a l w a t e r u t i l i t i e s , $1 6 . 6 3 f o r FHA w a t e r u t i l i t i e s , and$ 1 7 . 7 4 f o r p r i v a t e w a t e r u t i l i t i e s . x i i i Of t h e 231 w a t e r u t i l i t i e s s u r v e y e d , 71 p e r c e n t had a m e t e r e d r a t e s y s t e m b a s e d on d e c l i n i n g b l o c k r a t e s , and t h e g r e a t e r d i s c o u n t s i n p r i c e w e r e g i v e n by m u n i c i p a l w a t e r u t i l i t i e s . Most w a t e r u t i l i t i e s c o n s i d e r e d t h e f i r s t b l o c k a s c o n s t i t u t i n g t h e minimum m o n t h l y c h a r g e . R e g r e s s i o n a n a l y s i s b e t w e e n p o p u l a t i o n s e r v e d and t o t a l a n n u a l o p e r a t i n g c o s t r e v e a l e d a p o s i t i v e l i n e a r r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n t h e s e two v a r i a b l e s , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e n a t u r e o f o w n e r s h i p o f w a t e r u t i l i t i e s . The l e v e l o f t h e s e c o s t s i n r e l a t i o n t o inc om e r e s u l t e d i n one o u t o f t h r e e w a t e r u t i l i t i e s i n c u r r i n g a n e t l o s s i n 1 9 7 1 . L o s s e s w e r e more f r e q u e n t among p r i v a t e w a t e r u t i l i t i e s w h e r e t h e u s e o f f l a t r a t e s was m o s t common. S p e c i a l c h a r g e s i n c l u d e d r a t e s f o r f i r e p r o t e c t i o n , o u t s i d e - l i m i t s c u s t o m e r s , t a p p i n g f e e , c u s t o m e r d e p o s i t s , m e t e r i n s t a l l a t i o n , r e c o n n e c t i o n f e e s , a i r - c o n d i t i o n i n g and l a w n - s p r i n k l i n g . T h e s e s p e c i a l c h a r g e s an d w a t e r r a t e s w e r e a l l b a s e d on t h e a v e r a g e c o s t o f t h e s e r v i c e . Wa te r u s e d i n a g r i c u l t u r e i n L o u i s i a n a i s p r i m a r i l y f o r t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f r i c e and i s e i t h e r s e l f - s u p p l i e d o r p r o v i d e d by c a n a l c o m p a n i e s . The c o s t f o r w a t e r from a c a n a l company i s g e n e r a l l y b a s e d on a p r o p o r t i o n o f t h e r i c e c r o p . A c o m p a r a t i v e a n a l y s i s b e t w e e n a s u b s u r f a c e p i p e l i n e and a s u r f a c e c a n a l t o i r r i g a t e a 1 3 6 . 5 a c r e r i c e farm was made. The p r i c e o f w a t e r by c a n a l c o m p a n i e s ra n g ed from $4 . 8 0 t o$ 1 3 . 4 5 p e r a c r e - f o o t w h i l e t h e r a n g e was $3 . 6 1 t o$ 8 . 9 0 f o r a s e l f - s u p p l i e d s y s t e m . The s u p p l y o f w a t e r f o r i n d u s t r y i s p r e d o m i n a n t l y s e l f - s u p p l i e d and o n c e t h e w a t e r s y s t e m i s e s t a b l i s h e d , c o s t s r e l a t e o n l y t o pumping and t r a n s m i s s i o n . A l o c a l c h e m i c a l p l a n t e s t i m a t e d c o s t s a t $0 . 0 8 p e r x i v 1 . 0 0 0 g a l l o n s and a m e t a l p r o d u c t s f i r m b e t w e e n$ 0 . 1 0 t o $ 0 . 1 7 p e r 1 . 0 0 0 g a l l o n s o f w a t e r . I n v i e w o f t h e d i v e r s i t y o f p r i c i n g p o l i c i e s and t h e t e n d e n c y t o a v e r a g e - c o s t p r i c i n g by w a t e r u t i l i t i e s , i t i s recommended t h a t a m a r g i n a l - c c s t p r i c i n g p o l i c y be a p p l i e d f o r more e f f i c i e n t a l l o c a t i o n o f w a t e r . A s e r v i c e c h a r g e e q u a l t o t h e s e m i - f i x e d m a r g i n a l c o s t s and a p e r u n i t c h a r g e e q u i v a l e n t t o t h e s e a s o n a l v a r i a b l e m a r g i n a l c o s t s c o n s t i t u t e s t h e b a s i c r a t e p r o p o s a l . A p r o p e r t y t a x o r an i n c r e a s e i n t h e s e r v i c e c h a r g e c o u l d be u s e d t o f i n a n c e t h e inc om e d e f i c i t i n s y s t e m s w i t h d e c r e a s i n g a v e r a g e c o s t s o f p r o d u c t i o n . For i n d u s t r y and s e l f - s u p p l i e d a g r i c u l t u r a l u s e r s , t h e a s s i g n m e n t o f w a t e r r i g h t s o r q u o t a s , o r t h e i m p o s i t i o n o f a u s e - t a x c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e d i v e r g e n c e b e t w e e n m a r g i n a l s o c i a l and p r i v a t e c o s t s was r e c o m n e n d e d

Comfort Level Refinement of Military Tracked Vehicle Crew through Optimal Control Study

Military tracked vehicle and crew are modelled together in this paper as integrated man-machine lumped parameter model, by integrating the simplified 5 degrees of freedom (DoF) tracked vehicle model, including seat and 4 DoF human bio-dynamic model, thus resulting in a 9 DoF simplified vehicle-occupant model. Then the natural frequency of major mass segment namely the chassis mass is obtained through simulation study, for a known road input. The value obtained is compared with that of an earlier research work, for validation of said man-machine model. Then focusing our study locally at crew seat location, parameters of crew seat suspension for ride comfort are optimised using the optimal digital state space controller designed for this purpose by implementing it in a 2 DoF occupant - seat suspension model and its Simulink model constructed. Simulation results illustrate the attainment of the goal by meeting the controller design requirements

Ergonomic Level Improving of Armoured Fighting Vehicle Crew

The armoured fighting vehicle (AFV)-occupant composite system is modelled as a lumped parameter system, in this paper, wherein the 4 degrees of freedom (dof) biodynamic occupant model is integrated with 10 dof in-plane AFV model including the crew seat, thus leading to the 14 dof vehicle-occupant composite model and the governing equations of motion are obtained. The composite model is subjected to idealised road input simulating the ground reaction forces. Natural frequencies and the frequency domain vibration responses of various masses of model are obtained. The natural frequency of chassis thus obtained is compared with the result established by an earlier research work, to validate the model. The study is focused on crew seat location. A 2 dof occupant-seat suspension model is formulated and validated through case study. The optimised values of seat suspension parameters for ride comfort are obtained using the said model, through two methods of Invariant points theory and genetic algorithm toolbox of Matlab 2014a software. Acceleration responses of body for the current and optimised parameter values obtained illustrate that comfort of crew is improved with optimised values through minimization in the acceleration responses

Estrogen Deficiency and Diet Differentially Regulate Goblet Cell Count and Inflammation in Gut

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fat - 1 overexpression mitigates the weight gain and intestinal inflammation in ovariectomized mice on high - fat diets

poste

The adenovirus E4orf4 protein targets PP2A to the ACF chromatin-remodeling factor and induces cell death through regulation of SNF2h-containing complexes

The adenovirus E4 open-reading-frame 4 (E4orf4) protein regulates the progression of viral infection and when expressed individually it induces non-classical apoptosis in transformed cells. Here we show that E4orf4 associates with the ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling factor ACF that consists of a sucrose non fermenting-2h (SNF2h) ATPase and an Acf1 regulatory subunit. Furthermore, E4orf4 targets protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) to this complex and to chromatin. Obstruction of SNF2h activity inhibits E4orf4-induced cell death, whereas knockdown of Acf1 results in enhanced E4orf4-induced toxicity in both mammalian and yeast cells, and Acf1 overexpression inhibits E4orf4′s ability to downregulate early adenovirus gene expression in the context of viral infection. Knockdown of the Acf1 homolog, WSTF, inhibits E4orf4-induced cell death. Based on these results we suggest that the E4orf4–PP2A complex inhibits ACF and facilitates enhanced chromatin-remodeling activities of other SNF2h-containing complexes, such as WSTF–SNF2h. The resulting switch in chromatin remodeling determines life versus death decisions and contributes to E4orf4 functions during adenovirus infection

Overground walking speed changes when subjected to body weight support conditions for nonimpaired and post stroke individuals

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Previous research has shown that body weight support (BWS) has the potential to improve gait speed for individuals post-stroke. However, body weight support also reduces the optimal walking speed at which energy use is minimized over the gait cycle indicating that BWS should reduce walking speed capability.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Nonimpaired subjects and subjects post-stroke walked at a self-selected speed over a 15 m walkway. Body weight support (BWS) was provided to subjects at 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% of the subject's weight while they walked overground using a robotic body weight support system. Gait speed, cadence, and average step length were calculated for each subject using recorded data on their time to walk 10 m and the number of steps taken.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>When subjected to greater levels of BWS, self-selected walking speed decreased for the nonimpaired subjects. However, subjects post-stroke showed an average increase of 17% in self-selected walking speed when subjected to some level of BWS compared to the 0% BWS condition. Most subjects showed this increase at the 10% BWS level. Gait speed increases corresponded to an increase in step length, but not cadence.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The BWS training environment results in decreased self-selected walking speed in nonimpaired individuals, however self-selected overground walking speed is facilitated when provided with a small percentage of body weight support for people post-stroke.</p

The Cytosolic Tail of the Golgi Apyrase Ynd1 Mediates E4orf4-Induced Toxicity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The adenovirus E4 open reading frame 4 (E4orf4) protein contributes to regulation of the progression of virus infection. When expressed individually, E4orf4 was shown to induce non-classical transformed cell-specific apoptosis in mammalian cells. At least some of the mechanisms underlying E4orf4-induced toxicity are conserved from yeast to mammals, including the requirement for an interaction of E4orf4 with protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). A genetic screen in yeast revealed that the Golgi apyrase Ynd1 associates with E4orf4 and contributes to E4orf4-induced toxicity, independently of Ynd1 apyrase activity. Ynd1 and PP2A were shown to contribute additively to E4orf4-induced toxicity in yeast, and to interact genetically and physically. A mammalian orthologue of Ynd1 was shown to bind E4orf4 in mammalian cells, confirming the evolutionary conservation of this interaction. Here, we use mutation analysis to identify the cytosolic tail of Ynd1 as the protein domain required for mediation of the E4orf4 toxic signal and for the interaction with E4orf4. We also show that E4orf4 associates with cellular membranes in yeast and is localized at their cytoplasmic face. However, E4orf4 is membrane-associated even in the absence of Ynd1, suggesting that additional membrane proteins may mediate E4orf4 localization. Based on our results and on a previous report describing a collection of Ynd1 protein partners, we propose that the Ynd1 cytoplasmic tail acts as a scaffold, interacting with a multi-protein complex, whose targeting by E4orf4 leads to cell death