Farm Tenancy Distribution and Trends in the United States

This paper includes a study of the mutual fund market investors during a selected time period. The reader is given a descriptive picture of how people in different age groups have  acted  in  conjunction  with  the  last  major  financial  crisis.  It  has  been  studied whether people in the different age categories have saved, purchased or sold during this time  period  based  on  theories  and  analytic  material  from  one  of  the  largest  fund operators in Sweden. The result enlightens people’s activity and risk appetite in relation to the fund market. The essay results in an explanation of the underlying cause of the behavior        of         the         people         in         the         different         age         categories. The paper assumes that the market is cyclical and that more crises will occur in the future. The most recent crisis developed during the years 2007-2008 and has therefore been  selected  to  represent  the  analyzed  period.  Among  other  things,  a  general hypothesis  was  applicable  to  recurring  tendency  of  nonprofessional  retail  client  in extreme market situations to buy fund shares at a high value and sell them at low value in the market. The starting point was to criticize this hypothesis, which clearly turned out   to   be   in   favor   for   one   of   the   mutual   funds   that   have   been   observed. The result shows that more people in the middle age save more than those in their young years as well as those in the retirement age. The conclusion of the study shows that when this crisis occurred there were no major withdrawals from any of the mutual funds. In fact the sales transaction was reduced in the period of time from the peak of the stock market in 2007 to the time market touched the ground in 2008.I denna uppsats undersöks fondmarknadens investerare under en vald tidsperiod. Läsaren ges en beskrivande bild av hur personer i olika ålderskategorier har agerat i samband med den senaste stora finanskrisen. Det har studerats, med stöd av teorier och analysmaterial från en av Sveriges största fondaktörer, huruvida personer i de olika ålderskategorierna har sparat under denna period. Resultatet belyser personers aktivitet och riskbenägenhet i förhållande till fondmarknaden. Uppsatsen mynnar ut i en förklaring till vad som är och kan vara bakomliggande orsaker till beteendet hos personerna i de olika ålderskategorierna. Undersökningen utgår från att marknaden är cyklisk och att fler kriser kommer uppkomma i framtiden. Den senaste krisen ägde rum under år 2007-2008 och har därför valts ut för att representera den tidsperiod som avser att analyseras. Bland annat har en generell hypotes testats gällande att icke-professionella kunder har en återkommande tendens att i extrema marknadslägen köpa vid uppgång och sälja vid nedgång i de utvalda tillväxtmarknadsfonderna. Utgångspunkten var i detta hänseende att förkasta denna hypotes, vilket tydligt visade sig stämma i en av de fonder som studerats. Resultatet visar i korthet att fler personer i medelåldern investerar mer än de i ungdomens år och pensionsåldern. Slutsatsen av undersökningen visar på att när detta krisläge uppstod skedde inga större uttag ur någon av fonderna. De facto minskar säljtransaktionerna överlag från toppnoteringen på börsen under år 2007 till bottennoteringen år 2008

Direct Current Electrical Stimulation Increases the Fusion Rate of Spinal Fusion Cages

Study Design. A randomized experimental evaluation of direct current stimulation in a validated animal model with an experimental control group, using blinded radiographic, biomechanical, histologic, and statistical measures. Objectives. To evaluate the efficacy of the adjunctive use of direct current stimulation on the fusion rate and speed of healing of titanium interbody fusion cages packed with autograft in a sheep lumbar interbody fusion model. Summary of Background Data. Titanium lumbar interbody spinal fusion cages have been reported to be 90% effective for single-level lumbar interbody fusion. However, fusion rates are reported to be between 70% and 80% in patients with multilevel fusions or with risk factors such as obesity, tobacco use, or metabolic disorders. The authors hypothesized that direct current stimulation would increase the fusion rate of titanium interbody fusion cages packed with autograft in a sheep lumbar interbody fusion model. Methods. Twenty-two sheep underwent lumbar discectomy and fusion at L4–L5 with an 11- × 20-mm Bagby and Kuslich (BAK) cage packed with autograft. Seven sheep received a BAK cage and no current. Seven sheep had a cage and a 40-μA current applied with a direct current stimulator. Eight sheep had a BAK cage and a 100-μA current applied. All sheep were killed 4 months after surgery. The efficacy of electrical stimulation in promoting interbody fusion was assessed by performing radiographic, biomechanical, and histologic analyses in a blinded fashion. Results. The histologic fusion rate increased as the direct current dose increased from 0 μA to 40 μA to 100 μA (P \u3c 0.009). Histologically, all animals in the 100-μA group had fusions in both the right and left sides of the cage. Direct current stimulation had a significant effect on increasing the stiffness of the treated motion segment in right lateral bending (P \u3c 0.120), left lateral bending (P \u3c 0.017), right axial rotation (P \u3c 0.004), left axial rotation (P \u3c 0.073), extension (P \u3c 0.078), and flexion (P \u3c 0.029) over nonstimulated levels. Conclusion. Direct current stimulation increased the histologic and biomechanical fusion rate and the speed of healing of lumbar interbody spinal fusion cages in an ovine model at 4 months

Polyetheretherketone as a Biomaterial for Spinal Applications

Threaded lumbar interbody spinal fusion devices (TIBFD) made from titanium have been reported to be 90% effective for single-level lumbar interbody fusion, although radiographic determination of fusion has been intensely debated in the literature. Using blinded radiographic, biomechanic, histologic, and statistical measures, we evaluated a radiolucent polyetheretherketone (PEEK)-threaded interbody fusion device packed with autograft or rhBMP-2 on an absorbable collagen sponge in 13 sheep at 6 months. Radiographic fusion, increased spinal level biomechanical stiffness, and histologic fusion were demonstrated for the PEEK cages filled with autograft or rhBMP-2 on a collagen sponge. No device degradation or wear debris was observed. Only mild chronic inflammation consisting of a few macrophages was observed in peri-implant tissues. Based on these results, the polymeric biomaterial PEEK may be a useful biomaterial for interbody fusion cages due to the polymer\u27s increased radiolucency and decreased stiffness

Pressure Lag in Tubing Used in Flight Research

Tests described in this report were undertaken to obtain a quantitative measure of the pressure lag in typical pressure-tubing systems used by the Ames Aeronautical Laboratory in flight research investigations. Lag measurements were made with both single-direction and oscillating pressure changes. Single-direction pressure changes were investigated to determine if the lag in orifice-pressure lines and in the research airspeed and altitude measuring systems of pursuit-type airplane undergoing flight tests was sufficient to cause an appreciable error in the record of a sudden pressure change. Oscillating pressure changes were investigated with particular reference to the accuracy of pressure peaks in pressure-distribution measurements during the time of buffeting conditions as found in stalls. (author

Bioresorbable Polylactide Interbody Implants in an Ovine Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Model: Three-Year Results

Study Design. In vivo study of anterior discectomy and fusion using a bioresorbable 70:30 poly(l-lactide-co-d,l-lactide) interbody implant in an ovine model. Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of the polylactide implant to function as an interbody fusion device, and to assess the tissue reaction to the material during the resorption process. Summary of Background Data. The use of polylactide as a cervical interbody implant has several potential advantages when compared with traditional materials. Having an elastic modulus very similar to bone minimizes the potential for stress shielding, and as the material resorbs additional loading is transferred to the developing fusion mass. Although preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated the suitability of polylactide implants for lumbar interbody fusion, detailed information on cervical anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) with polylactide devices is desirable. Methods. Single level ACDF was performed in 8 skeletally mature ewes. Bioresorbable 70:30 poly (l-lactide-co-d,l-lactide) interbody implants packed with autograft were used with single-level metallic plates. Radiographs were made every 3 months up to 1 year, and yearly thereafter. The animals were killed at 6 months (3 animals), 12 months (3 animals), and 36 months (2 animals). In addition to the serial plain radiographs, the specimens were evaluated by nondestructive biomechanical testing and undecalcified histologic analysis. Results. The bioresorbable polylactide implants were effective in achieving interbody fusion. The 6-month animals appeared fused radiographically and biomechanically, whereas histologic sections demonstrated partial fusion (in 3 of 3 animals). Radiographic fusion was confirmed histologically and biomechanically at 12 months (3 of 3 animals) and 36 months (2 of 2 animals). A mild chronic inflammatory response to the resorbing polylactide implant was observed at both 6 months and 12 months. At 36 months, the operative levels were solidly fused and the implants were completely resorbed. No adverse tissue response was observed in any animal at any time period. Conclusion. Interbody fusion was achieved using bioresorbable polylactide implants, with no evidence of implant collapse, extrusion, or adverse tissue response to the material. The use of polylactide as a cervical interbody device appears both safe and effective based on these ACDF animal model results

The use of microscopy and three-dimensional visualization to evaluate the structure of microbial biofilms cultivated in the Calgary Biofilm Device

Microbes frequently live within multicellular, solid surface-attached assemblages termed biofilms. These microbial communities have architectural features that contribute to population heterogeneity and consequently to emergent cell functions. Therefore, three-dimensional (3D) features of biofilm structure are important for understanding the physiology and ecology of these microbial systems. This paper details several protocols for scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) of biofilms grown on polystyrene pegs in the Calgary Biofilm Device (CBD). Furthermore, a procedure is described for image processing of CLSM data stacks using amira(™), a virtual reality tool, to create surface and/or volume rendered 3D visualizations of biofilm microorganisms. The combination of microscopy with microbial cultivation in the CBD – an apparatus that was designed for high-throughput susceptibility testing – allows for structure-function analysis of biofilms under multivariate growth and exposure conditions

Alkyl and Hydride Bis (Trimethylsilyl)Amido Derivatives of the Actinide Elements: Preparation and Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange

The monomeric, hydrocarbon-soluble monohydrides and monodeuterides of the actinide metals (thorium or uranium) of the type HM[N(SiMe{sub 3}){sub 2}]{sub 3} have been prepared. Their reaction chemistry, n-BuLi followed by MeBr yields MeM[N(SiMe{sub 3}){sub 2}]{sub 3} and borane in tetrahydrofuran yields BH{sub 4}M[N(SiMe{sub 3}){sub 2}]{sub 3}, suggests that the hydrogen atom is hydridic. Pyrolysis of the hydrides yields the novel, four-membered ring metallocycle, [(Me{sub 3}Si){sub 2}N]{sub 2} - MCH{sub 2}Si(Me){sub 2}NSiMe{sub 3} where M is Th or U. These metallocycles are the key intermediates in the hydrogen-deuterium exchange reaction that yields {[(CD{sub 3}){sub 3}Si]{sub 2}N}{sub 3}MD