2,797 research outputs found
Are Consumers Willing to Pay More for Biodegradable Containers Than for Plastic Ones? Evidence from Hypothetical Conjoint Analysis and Nonhypothetical Experimental Auctions
This study used and compared hypothetical conjoint analysis and nonhypothetical experimental auctions to elicit floral customersâ willingness to pay for biodegradable plant containers. The results of the study show that participants were willing to pay a price premium for biodegradable containers, but the premium is not the same for different types of containers. This article also shows the mixed ordered probit model generates more accurate results when analyzing the conjoint analysis Internet survey data than the ordered probit model.biodegradable, willingness to pay, marketing, carbon footprint, waste composition, green industry, nursery crops, floriculture crops, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy, Financial Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Marketing, Public Economics, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, D12, Q13,
Communities Activated: Stories from Behind the Scenes of Progress
In 2020, USU received the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement, recognizing USU has great work to do in our communities; as a land grant institution we have the responsibility to the communities in which we are located to honor the mission statement of âserving the public through learning, discovery, and engagement and cultivating diversity of thought and culture.â This panel will center the voices of community leaders and change-makers dedicated to advancing progress toward equity. As we learn from panelists about their community initiatives and advocacy, participants will be invited to reflect on ways they can engage in their communities to ignite change.https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/inter_inclusion/1007/thumbnail.jp
Exact Cross Sections for the Neutralino WIMP Pair-Annihilation
We derive a full set of exact, analytic expressions for the annihilation of
the lightest neutralino pairs into all two-body tree-level final states in the
framework of minimal supersymmetry. We make no simplifying assumptions about
the neutralino nor about sfermion masses and mixings other than the absence of
explicit CP--violating terms. The expressions should be particularly useful in
computing the neutralino WIMP relic abundance without the usual approximation
of partial wave expansion.Comment: LaTeX, 46 pages, no figures. Several minor typographical errors
correcte
On the Role of Dendritic Cells in Peripheral T Cell Tolerance and Modulation of Autoimmunity
Recently, it has become clear that dendritic cells (DCs) are essential for the priming of T cell responses. However, their role in the maintenance of peripheral T cell tolerance remains largely undefined. Herein, an antigen-presenting cell (APC) transfer system was devised and applied to experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), to evaluate the contribution that DCs play in peripheral T cell tolerance. The CD8αâCD4+ subset, a minor population among splenic DCs, was found to mediate both tolerance and bystander suppression against diverse T cell specificities. Aggregated (agg) Ig-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), an Ig chimera carrying the MOG 35â55 peptide, binds and cross-links FcÎłR on APC leading to efficient peptide presentation and interleukin (IL)-10 production. Furthermore, administration of agg Ig-MOG into diseased mice induces relief from clinical EAE involving multiple epitopes. Such recovery could not occur in FcÎłR-deficient mice where both uptake of Ig-MOG and IL-10 production are compromised. However, reconstitution of these mice with DC populations incorporating the CD8αâCD4+ subset restored Ig-MOGâmediated reversal of EAE. Transfer of CD8α+ or even CD8αâCD4â DCs had no effect on the disease. These findings strongly implicate DCs in peripheral tolerance and emphasize their functional potency, as a small population of DCs was able to support effective suppression of autoimmunity
Inflammasome activation during spontaneous preterm labor with intraĂą amniotic infection or sterile intraĂą amniotic inflammation
Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146295/1/aji13049.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146295/2/aji13049_am.pd
A Possible Third Body in the X-Ray System GRS 1747-312 and Models with Higher-Order Multiplicity
GRS 1747-312 is a bright Low-Mass X-ray Binary in the globular cluster Terzan
6, located at a distance of 9.5 kpc from the Earth. It exhibits regular
outbursts approximately every 4.5 months, during which periodic eclipses are
known to occur. These eclipses have only been observed in the outburst phase,
and are not clearly seen when the source is quiescent. Recent Chandra
observations of the source were performed in June 2019 and April, June, and
August of 2021. Two of these observations captured the source during its
outburst, and showed clear flux decreases at the expected time of eclipse. The
other two observations occurred when the source was quiescent. We present the
discovery of a dip that occurred during the quiescent state. The dip is of
longer duration and its time of occurrence does not fit the ephemeris of the
shorter eclipses. We study the physical characteristics of the dip and
determine that it has all the properties of an eclipse by an object with a well
defined surface. We find that there are several possibilities for the nature of
the object causing the 5.3 ks eclipse. First, GRS 1747-312 may be an X-ray
triple, with an LMXB orbited by an outer third object, which could be an
M-dwarf, brown dwarf, or planet. Second, there could be two LMXBs in close
proximity to each other, likely bound together. Whatever the true nature of the
eclipser, its presence suggests that the GRS 1747-312 system is unique.Comment: 38 pages, 30 figures, submitted to MNRA
The amniotic fluid cell-free transcriptome in spontaneous preterm labor
The amniotic fluid (AF) cell-free RNA was shown to reflect physiological and pathological processes in pregnancy, but its value in the prediction of spontaneous preterm delivery is unknown. Herein we profiled cell-free RNA in AF samples collected from women who underwent transabdominal amniocentesis after an episode of spontaneous preterm labor and subsequently delivered within 24 h (n = 10) or later (n = 28) in gestation. Expression of known placental single-cell RNA-Seq signatures was quantified in AF cell-free RNA and compared between the groups. Random forest models were applied to predict time-to-delivery after amniocentesis. There were 2385 genes differentially expressed in AF samples of women who delivered within 24 h of amniocentesis compared to gestational age-matched samples from women who delivered after 24 h of amniocentesis. Genes with cell-free RNA changes were associated with immune and inflammatory processes related to the onset of labor, and the expression of placental single-cell RNA-Seq signatures of immune cells was increased with imminent delivery. AF transcriptomic prediction models captured these effects and predicted delivery within 24 h of amniocentesis (AUROC = 0.81). These results may inform the development of biomarkers for spontaneous preterm birth
Densification of WC-Fe-Ni-Co-Cr cemented carbides processed by HIP after sintering: effect of WC powder particle size
Shrinkage, liquid formation and mass losses of WC-19 vol% FeNiCoCr alloys during sintering have been inves-
tigated in compositions either with coarse or submicron WC powders. Mass losses detected by thermogravimetry
are compatible with carbothermal reduction of the different oxides present in the powder mixtures. Hardness and
fracture toughness of materials based on submicron WC powders are within tolerances of those reported for WC-
Co materials with similar microstructures. However, fracture strength is approx. 25% lower
Hidrogenionic potential (pH) of the attractant, trap density and control threshold for Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: tephritidae) on Hamlin oranges in SĂŁo Paulo central region, Brazil
This study evaluated the effect of initial pH values of 4.5, 6.5 and 8.5 of the attractant
(protein bait) MilhocinaÂź and borax (sodium borate) in the feld, on the capture of fruit ïŹies in McPhail
traps, using 1, 2, 4 and 8 traps per hectare, in order to estimate control thresholds in a Hamlin orange grove
in the central region of the state of SĂŁo Paulo. The most abundant fruit ïŹy species was Ceratitis capitata,
comprising almost 99% of the fruit ïŹies captured, of which 80% were females. The largest captures of C.
capitata were found in traps baited with MilhocinaÂź and borax at pH 8.5. Captures per trap for the four
densities were similar, indicating that the population can be estimated with one trap per hectare in areas
with high populations. It was found positive relationships between captures of C. capitata and the number
of Hamlin oranges damaged, 2 and 3 weeks after capture. It was obtained equations that correlate captures
and damage levels which can be used to estimate control thresholds. The average loss caused in Hamlin
orange fruits by C. capitata was 2.5 tons per hectare or 7.5% of production.Esta pesquisa teve como objetivos: avaliar o efeito do pH inicial, 4.5; 6.5 e 8.5, do atrativo
proteico MilhocinaÂź e bĂłrax (tetraborato de sĂłdio) na captura de moscas-das-frutas em armadilhas McPhail;
estudar densidades de armadilhas, 1; 2; 4 e 8 por hectare, para estimar nĂveis de controle em laranja cv.
Hamlin, na região central de São Paulo. A espécie predominante, com 99% das moscas-das-frutas capturadas,
foi Ceratitis capitata, sendo 80% de fĂȘmeas. As maiores capturas de C. capitata ocorreram nas armadilhas
com MilhocinaÂź e bĂłrax em pH 8.5. As capturas, nas 4 densidades, foram semelhantes, indicando que a
população pode ser estimada com uma armadilha por hectare em åreas de altas populaçÔes. Houve relaçÔes
positivas entre capturas de C. capitata e o nĂșmero de frutos danificados, 2 e 3 semanas apĂłs a captura. Assim,
foram obtidas equaçÔes que relacionam a captura e o dano, possibilitando estimar nĂveis de controle desse
inseto. As perdas médias causadas por C. capitata em laranja cv. Hamlin chegaram a 2,5 toneladas de frutos
por hectare ou 7,5% da produção.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
RNA Sequencing Reveals Diverse Functions of Amniotic Fluid Neutrophils and Monocytes/Macrophages in Intra-Amniotic Infection
Intra-amniotic infection, the invasion of microbes into the amniotic cavity resulting in inflammation, is a clinical condition that can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes for the mother and fetus as well as severe long-term neonatal morbidities. Despite much research focused on the consequences of intra-amniotic infection, there remains little knowledge about the innate immune cells that respond to invading microbes. We performed RNA-seq of sorted amniotic fluid neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages from women with intra-amniotic infection to determine the transcriptomic differences between these innate immune cells. Further, we sought to identify specific transcriptomic pathways that were significantly altered by the maternal or fetal origin of amniotic fluid neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages, the presence of a severe fetal inflammatory response, and pregnancy outcome (i.e., preterm or term delivery). We show that significant transcriptomic differences exist between amniotic fluid neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages from women with intra-amniotic infection, indicating the distinct roles these cells play. The transcriptome of amniotic fluid immune cells varies based on their maternal or fetal origin, and the significant transcriptomic differences between fetal and maternal monocytes/macrophages imply that those of fetal origin exhibit impaired functions. Notably, transcriptomic changes in amniotic fluid monocytes/macrophages suggest that these immune cells collaborate with neutrophils in the trafficking of fetal leukocytes throughout the umbilical cord (i.e., funisitis). Finally, amniotic fluid neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages from preterm deliveries display enhanced transcriptional activity compared to those from term deliveries, highlighting the protective role of these cells during this vulnerable period. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the underlying complexity of local innate immune responses in women with intra-amniotic infection and provide new insights into the functions of neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages in the amniotic cavity. Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug. Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements
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