Two-Buck Chuck and Wine Quality: Hedonic Price Analysis of Cool Climate Wines

Demand and Price Analysis,

Hedonic Price Analysis of Cool Climate Wines in Selected Regions

Many economists have estimated hedonic price models for wine. The price of wine is thought to represent the various characteristics that differentiate each bottle, assuming that the majority of consumers use price as a signal of quality. The objective of this paper is to identify and examine what factors impact cool climate wine varietals by region based on various attributes. It uses two datasets, one from the Wine Spectator and the other from Beverages and More, an outlet of a liquor store chain in San Luis Obispo, California. The analysis aims to determine which variables impact the price of wine and by what magnitude. Variables include variety, region, quality ratings by price category, number of cases and gallons produced, vintage, alcohol content, cork type, and various label attributes. This study is unique as hedonic price analysis is used as an extension of a unique product category. Past literature has shown a growing interest in cool climate wine production and that cool climate regions are preferred to other regions. This study examines an emerging varietal, Riesling, in addition to other popular varieties including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. As Riesling thrives in cooler climates, it is becoming an increasingly popular variety among both producers and consumers. Unlike other studies that tend to incorporate mostly New World regions, this study is expanded to include more regions and other attributes that may be important when making wine purchasing decisions. It also considers the possibility that there is a consumer demand difference between Old World and New World cool climate regions. Specifically for both red and white varietals, New World wines have increased in volume sales, whereas Old World wines volume sales have decreased. In addition, many economists have estimated hedonic price functions using expert scores. However, this study is unique to others as it expands the use of quality ratings by including interaction terms to express both wine-quality and price-quality relationships. The study confirms the results of previous literature, concluding that the majority of all variables identified significantly influence the price of wine. Previous economic and statistic research related to wine focuses on topics that are important for warm climate wines, while issues concerning cool climate wines are understudied. Thus, there is a need for research that focuses exclusively on cool climate wines

Brucella abortus intracellular survival and intercellular trafficking

Brucella spp. are host specific facultative intracellular pathogens. Brucella abortus is responsible for causing abortions in cattle and is also able to cause disease in humans. Brucella internalization and intracellular trafficking varies depending on whether the bacterium was opsonized or non-opsonized with serum immunoglobulin. Interferon-gamma has been shown to be critical for the control of B. abortus infection in vivo and in vitro. A family of host Immunity-Related p47 guanosine triphosphate-binding proteins (GTPase) induced by IFN-gamma has been identified that are important for host defense against many intracellular pathogens such as M. tuberculosis, T. gondii , and L. monocytogenes . In these studies it was found that LRG-47 is required for Brucella survival and replication. Autophagy is a process in the cell whereby damaged proteins and organelles are broken down so their contents can be reused. In the following studies, an autophagosome-like extracellular organelle has been identified that is released by RAW264.7 murine macrophages in normal growth conditions and in conditions to induce autophagy. We have observed B. abortus using the natural intercellular trafficking pathway of the autophagosome-like extracellular organelle to infect a new host cell while evading the host immune system

A Model to Incorporate Meaningful Community Engaged Learning Opportunities into Medium

Community engaged learning (CEL) has been identified as a high impact educational practice that can have profound influence on learning and improve student engagement (Kuh, 2008). Despite the potential to provide a meaningful learning experience, CEL opportunities are not widespread at large research institutions, and most examples arise from optional co-curricular activities or small classes (Holander, 2011). Current realities of increasing class sizes and decreasing resources can make implementing CEL challenging. Creative thinking is required to modify the critical elements of successful CEL to suit broader educational needs. This paper provides a tangible model for CEL assignments that can be adapted to suit medium to large classes, with an honest discussion of the lessons learned in the process from student, faculty and community perspectives. Based on key concepts of reciprocity, shared decision-making and mutual benefit we designed a novel CEL assignment in a large 4th year course (\u3e100 students). Briefly, student teams researched one of five priority areas identified by Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) to write an evidence-based literature review. Based on these findings, students worked with WDGPH experts to translate their research into practical recommendations and tools to advance WDGPH programming. An end-of-semester showcase was used to highlight these applied projects. Students identified real world relevance and the opportunity to be creative as the main advantages of the assignment. Surprisingly, community partners identified the opportunity for leadership and mentorship as an unintended but welcomed benefit to the program. From a faculty perspective, the time required to coordinate and grade the projects during the teaching semester was manageable although the quality of student projects varied significantly. Future offerings should consider strategies to provide more tailored feedback to all students and to encourage a balance of effort between the research and applied aspects of the CEL project

The Nativity Panel of Isenheim Altarpiece and its Relationship to the Sermo Angelicus of St. Birgitta of Sweden

This thesis explores the relationship of the Sermo Angelicus of St. Birgitta of Sweden, written in the fourteenth century, with the Nativity/Concert of Angels panel of the Isenheim Altarpiece, painted by Matthias Grunewald in 1514 for a hospital and monastery run by the Antonite Order. Taking into consideration the context of the altarpiece, this thesis analyzes its iconography in relation to specific passages from the Sermo Angelicus, suggesting that the text was a possible source used by the Antonites in the Nativity/Concert of Angels panel. By doing so, parallel themes of salvation in both the text and the panel are discovered that in turn relate to the altarpiece in its entirety and present a message fashioned specifically for those patients at the hospital at Isenheim that viewed the altarpiece

Analysis of lead levels in deciduous teeth from children in Clark County, Nevada.

Background: Elevated blood lead levels (EBLL) are declining in the United States, although some population subgroups continue to exhibit significant health disparities. A childhood lead poisoning prevention program was recently started in Nevada, and many efforts have been made to support this program and increase the screening rates. Methods: To expand the potential pool of children screened for EBLLs, a pilot study was performed to evaluate lead concentrations in extracted deciduous teeth using Graphic Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GFAAS), Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis. Results: Lead concentrations as determined by GFAAS and ICP-MS were found to be within normal ranges (0.585 ppm ± 0.022) and were similar to previous studies. Hispanic patients exhibited higher lead levels (0.580 ppm ± 0.032) than Black (0.478 ppm ± 0.051) patients, and were significantly higher than White (0.275 ppm ± 0.035) patients (p \u3c 0.05). Analysis of a small number of matched saliva samples, however, found no evidence for acute lead poisoning. Although limited by a small initial sample size (n=22), this pilot study provides evidence that teeth can be effectively used to reveal lead exposure in pediatric dentistry patients

The C-terminal domain of zDHHC2 contains distinct sorting signals that regulate intracellular localisation in neurons and neuroendocrine cells

The S-acyltransferase zDHHC2 mediates dynamic S-acylation of PSD95 and AKAP79/150, which impacts synaptic targeting of AMPA receptors. zDHHC2 is responsive to synaptic activity and catalyses the increased S-acylation of PSD95 that occurs following action potential blockade or application of ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists. These treatments have been proposed to increase plasma membrane delivery of zDHHC2 via an endosomal cycling pathway, enhancing substrate accessibility. To generate an improved understanding of zDHHC2 trafficking and how this might be regulated by neuronal activity, we searched for intramolecular signals that regulate enzyme localisation. Two signals were mapped to the C-terminal tail of zDHHC2: a non-canonical dileucine motif [SxxxLL] and a downstream NP motif. Mutation of these signals enhanced plasma membrane accumulation of zDHHC2 in both neuroendocrine PC12 cells and rat hippocampal neurons, consistent with reduced endocytic retrieval. Furthermore, mutation of these signals also increased accumulation of the enzyme in neurites. Interestingly, several threonine and serine residues are adjacent to these sorting motifs and analysis of phospho-mimetic mutants highlighted a potential role for phosphorylation in regulating the efficacy of these signals. This study offers new molecular insight into the signals that determine zDHHC2 localisation and highlights a potential mechanism to regulate these trafficking signals

Vibrio cholerae accessory colonisation factor AcfC: a chemotactic protein with a role in hyperinfectivity.

Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor is an aquatic Gram-negative bacterium responsible for the current seventh pandemic of the diarrheal disease, cholera. A previous whole-genome analysis on V. cholerae O1 El Tor strains from the 2010 epidemic in Pakistan showed that all strains contained the V. cholerae pathogenicity island-1 and the accessory colonisation gene acfC (VC_0841). Here we show that acfC possess an open reading frame of 770 bp encoding a protein with a predicted size of 28 kDa, which shares high amino acid similarity with two adhesion proteins found in other enteropathogens, including Paa in serotype O45 porcine enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and PEB3 in Campylobacter jejuni. Using a defined acfC deletion mutant, we studied the specific role of AcfC in V. cholerae O1 El Tor environmental survival, colonisation and virulence in two infection model systems (Galleria mellonella and infant rabbits). Our results indicate that AcfC might be a periplasmic sulfate-binding protein that affects chemotaxis towards mucin and bacterial infectivity in the infant rabbit model of cholera. Overall, our findings suggest that AcfC contributes to the chemotactic response of WT V. cholerae and plays an important role in defining the overall distribution of the organism within the intestine

Surviving the Streets of New York. Experiences of LGBTQ Youth, YMSM, and YWSW Engaged in Survival Sex

In 2011, researchers from the Urban Institute launched a three-year study of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) youth; young men who have sex with men (YMSM); and young women who have sex with women (YWSW) engaged in survival sex in New York City. Working in partnership with the New York City–based organization Streetwise and Safe (SAS), researchers trained youth leaders to conduct in-depth interviews with a total of 283 youths who engaged in survival sex in New York City and identified themselves as LGBTQ, YMSM, or YWSW. During these interviews, youth were asked a wide range of questions about their backgrounds and experiences. The information they shared paints a vivid picture of how they survive in the face of adversity, often dealing with issues rooted in poverty, homophobia, transphobia, racism, child abuse, and criminalization