Can Inheritances Alleviate the Fiscal Burden of an Aging Population?

With pay as you go schemes in place, population aging will impose a heavy fiscal burden on young and future cohorts. However, these cohorts may also profit from larger inheritances as the number of heirs declines. The aim of this paper is to explore the compensating potential of private intergenerational transfers. A dynamic, computable general equilibrium model is employed allowing for a pay as you go scheme, various bequest motives, and an endogenous labor supply. The findings are twofold. First, the increase in future generations' inheritances is insufficient to make up for the demographic burden. Second, increasing the inheritance tax during the demographic transition may alleviate the fiscal burden of future generations by improving overall efficiency. Copyright 2003, International Monetary Fund

Functional analysis of conserved amino acid residues in the C-terminus of ACC Synthase [abstract]

Abstract only availableEthylene is an important plant hormone that regulates growth, development, and stress response. Synthesis of ethylene from its immediate precursor, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), is catalyzed by ACC oxidase. ACC is produced from S-adenosy1-L-methionine (SAM) in a reaction catalyzed by ACC synthase (ACS). ACS is the rate limiting enzyme of ethylene biosynthesis. Selected isoforms of ACS are substrates of MPK6 and MPK3, the two Arabidopsis stress-responsive mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Phosphorylation of ACS6 by MPK6 stabilizes the ACS protein, thus, elevating the levels of cellular ACS activity and ethylene production. Expression of ACS6DDD, a gain-of-function ACS6 mutant that mimics the phosphorylated form of ACS6, shows constitutive ethylene production and ethylene-induced phenotypes. Analysis of Arabidopsis ACS6 and its orthologs from other species in the database revealed conserved charged amino acids (AAs) in addition to the MAPK phosphorylation sites in their C-termini. We hypothesized that these conserved residues may be involved in the regulation of ACS stability. We used site-directed mutagenesis to mutate the conserved charged residues to neutral AAs: Ala, Ile, or Leu in the ACS6WT or ACS6DDD background using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method. Mutation was confirmed by DNA sequencing. Mutated ACS6 genes were transformed into Arabidopsis plants. The stability of ACS6 protein was tested in vivo to determine if the mutation enhances or diminishes its stability. Ethylene production was used as an output reading and the levels of ACS6 protein were determined by immunoblot analysis. Mutation of positively charged AAs to neutral residues makes the ACS6 protein more stable, whereas the mutation of the negatively charged AAs which are close to the phosphorylation sites destabilizes it. Interestingly, deletion of the C-terminus stabilizes the ACS6 protein, suggesting that C-terminus is required for ACS6 degradation. We observed ethylene-induced phenotypes such as short hairy roots and epinastic leaves in ethylene-overproducing seedlings.Dudley & Virgie Alexander Gif

Heterotopic pregnancy: case report of a rare clinical presentation from Wau, South Sudan

Heterotopic pregnancy, although common with assisted reproductive technologies, is very rare in natural conceptions. A high index of  suspicion can help in timely diagnosis and appropriate intervention especially in low resource settings like South Sudan. Delayed diagnosis puts the mother at risk of potentially life-threatening complications. We report the case of heterotopic pregnancy in a young female that was successfully treated. Key Words: heterotopic pregnancy, assisted reproductive technologies, South Sudan, case repor

Branding in the red meat sector - A conjoint study from Germany

During the last years, low price products (e.g., private label) gain increasing market shares in the German meat market. Compared to other countries the share of branded meat from integrated production chains is very low and most fresh meat is sold unlabelled. This study analyzes the advantages of brands from an information economic perspective and emphasizes branding as an important quality assurance and signaling tool. As brand exte nsions offer the opportunity to introduce brands to new markets at much lower costs we examine the brand transfer from the poultry to the red meat market taking Wiesenhof, the German brand leader for chicken and poultry, as an example. We use conjoint and cluster analysis to calculate willingness to pay and market shares for different consumer segments. The results demonstrate, that branded meat reaches almost two third of market share while the low priced private label always gets the lowest proportions of consumer preferences. Given the choice, customers do not always prefer the cheapest offer but trust in branded meat even more. This market potential is actually not used to advantage. The overall total market share of meat brands lies below 5%.Branding, quality signal, brand extension, meat market, Marketing,

The architectural design studio as a learning environment: a qualitative exploration of architecture design student learning experiences in design studios from first- through fourth-yea

This qualitative study addresses the design studio learning experiences of fifth-year architectural students, from their first year to their fourth year. It discusses the descriptions that architecture students give to the learning experiences, describes the perceptions that design students have of their learning experiences, and illuminates the outcomes of these learning experiences. The findings show that the students described their learning experiences as interrelational, perceived the experiences as transitional, and felt that their learning experiences aided in the production of outcomes. The findings were viewed within social constructivist and constructionist viewpoints and were contingent on Chickering and Reisser\u27s model of student development. Since studio culture is generated partially by a student culture that encompasses interaction, these learning experiences are also affected by interaction. This study explores the meaning students make of their learning experiences in the design studio, which are affected by this interaction

2-Alkoxycarbonyl Allyl Ester Conjugates of NSAIDs as Potential Anticancer Agents

University of Minnesota M.S. thesis. September 2017. Major: Chemistry. Advisor: Venkatram Mereddy. 1 computer file (PDF); ix, 105 pages.Enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has long been utilized to treat inflammation and relieve pain. Several studies have shown that NSAIDs have also cancer preventative and tumor regressive effects. Prostaglandin E2 which acts as an inflammatory mediator influences many mechanisms that plays a significant role in tumorigenesis such as cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. COX overexpression is a characteristic feature of most malignant tumors and contributes to poor outcomes in multiple malignancies. It has been reported that cancer incidence can be reduced by 25-40% in patients regularly taking low dose COX inhibitor aspirin on a daily basis, with the most compelling evidence acquired for colorectal cancer. We envisioned that NSAID conjugates derived from 2-alkoxycarbonyl allyl esters would have cytotoxicity enhancing prodrug properties with dual anti-inflammatory and intracellular alkylation. In the current work, 2-alkoxycarbonyl allyl ester conjugates of several common NSAIDs have been synthesized and tested for their cell proliferation inhibition properties in breast (MDA-MB-231, 4T1), pancreatic (MIA PaCa-2), and colorectal adenocarcinoma (WiDr) cell lines. Several of the synthesized derivatives exhibit good potency against all four cancer cell lines. The synthesized compounds have also been tested for their COX inhibition properties

Land tenure arrangements, soil conservation measures and productivity in Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana

This study analyzes the impact of land tenure arrangements on farmers’ investment decisions in soil conservation measures at plot-level, while also determining the influence of social networks and income diversification of farms using cross-sectional data from 400 farmers in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana. Tenure arrangements’ influence on the decision of farmers to invest in soil conservation measures is estimated by employing a multivariate probit model, while endogeneity of land tenure arrangements, social capital and off-farm activities are controlled for. The effect of investment on productivity is, unlike tenure arrangements by means of a productivity analysis, examined by propensity score matching which accounts for possible selectivity bias. A dynamic framework examines the relationship between diverse tenure arrangements, social networks and farmer’s investment in productivity enhancing and soil conservation measures. The empirical results show the influence of tenure arrangements, social capital and off-farm activities on farmers’ investment decisions. Farmers who rent land are less likely to invest in manure, a soil improving investment with positive long-term effects. Farmers on sharecropping contracts and under fixed-rentership are more likely to invest in fertilizer, a short-term investment option which decreases soil quality over time. The number of years the plot is under use by the cultivator is positively associated with all investment options, supporting the notion of tenure security as an important factor in investment in soil conservation measures. Investment is driven by social networks. Being part of information networks as well as networks related to other types of assistance is positively related to most investment options. Results using PSM for the impact of investment on productivity reveal that investment in ditches, fertilizer and multiple cropping significantly increases revenue per acre on plot

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