Search

Changing weather patterns may impose increased risk to the creditworthiness of financial institutions in the agriculture sector. To reduce the credit risk caused by climate change, financial institutions need to update their agricultural lending portfolios to consider climate change scenarios. In this paper we introduce a framework to compute the optimal agricultural lending portfolio under different increased temperature scenarios. In this way we quantify the impact of increased temperature, taken as a measure of climate change, on credit risk. We provide a detailed case study of how our approach applies to the problem of optimizing a portfolio of agricultural loans made to corn farmers across different corn producing regions of Ontario, Canada, under various climate change scenarios. We conclude that the lending portfolio obtained by taking into account the climate change is less risky than the lending portfolio neglecting climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apparent R factor-negative segregation was documented during infection of infant monkeys with two of three strains of ampicillin-resistant Haemophilus influenzae type b. In vitro the bacterial population of one strain (A-Sm) uniformly produced β-lactamase. All bacteria isolated from blood or cerebrospinal fluid from both animals inoculated with strain A-Sm produced the enzyme. In contrast, 98070 and 96% of bacteria from two other strains produced β-lactamase in vitro. After intranasal inoculation of infant Macacca mulatta with these two strains, bacteria isolated from blood and cerebrospinal fluid uniformly did not produce β-lactamase. Loss of the β-lactamase-producing phenotype was associated with loss of plasmid DNA. Strains containing a mixed population of bacteria may undergo spontaneous loss of plasmid DNA during experimental infection. It is suggested that in these strains the bacteria carrying plasmids are less virulent. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The use of intravascular stents as an adjunct for percutaneous transluminal revascularization is limited by two principal factors, acute thrombosis and neointimal proliferation, resulting in restenosis. To overcome these limitations, we have investigated the potential of microporous bioresorbable polymer stents formed from ( L-lactic acid) (PLLA)/poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) blends to function both to provide mechanical support and as reservoirs for local delivery of therapeutic molecules and particles to the vessel wall. Tubular PLLA/PCL stents were fabricated by the flotation–precipitation method, and helical stents were produced by a casting/winding technique. Hybrid structures in which a tubular sheath is deposited on a helical skeleton were also generated. Using a two-stage solvent swelling technique, polyethylene oxide has been incorporated into these stents to improve hydrophilicity and water uptake, and to facilitate the ability of these devices to function as drug carriers. Stents modified in this manner retain axial and radial mechanical strength sufficient to stabilize the vessel wall against elastic recoil caused by vasoconstrictive and mechanical forces. Because of the potential of direct gene transfer into the vessel wall to ameliorate thrombosis and neointimal proliferation, we have investigated the capacity of these polymer stents to function in the delivery of recombinant adenovirus vectors to the vessel wall. In vitro, virus stock was observed to readily absorb into, and elute from these devices in an infectious form, with suitable kinetics. Successful gene transfer and expression has been demonstrated following implantation of polymer stents impregnated with a recombinant adenovirus carrying a nuclear-localizing βGal reporter gene into rabbit carotid arteries. These studies suggest that surface-modified polymer stents may ultimately be useful adjunctive devices for both mechanical support and gene transfer during percutaneous transluminal revascularization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assesses the effects of intranasal cocaine, intravenous ethanol or a cocaine-ethanol combination on heart rate, systemic arterial pressure and coronary arterial dimensions in humans. Hemodynamic results; Drug and metabolite blood concentration results; Angiographic results.

The limiting oxygen index (LOI) technique provides a quantitative measure of reduced ftammability for fabrics over broad ranges of chemical treatment. Several conventional flame-retardant finishes for cellulosics gave linear LOI relationships with phosphorus content when compared at fixed nitrogen/phosphorus ratios. Tris(aziridinyl)phosphine oxide (APO) was an exception.Precise measurement of the role of N in enhancing the flame-retardant effectiveness can be made with this technique. The synergistic interaction of N and P can thus be described and measured. Two chemical systems were examined in depth, and it was possible to describe LOI as simple functions of N and P contents for each system. The synergistic effect did not predominate at a specific N/P ratio.LOI of about 0.26 is associated with a 5-in. char length in the vertical test for several fabrics, a sateen fabric being an exception. Fabric air permeability was found to be a primary factor governing chemical requirements and is probably more important than fabric weight.Other nitrogenous durable-press reactants are less effective than melamines. Complex relationships as functions of nitrogen content were noted at different phosphorus levels. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Arbuzov reaction of cotton fabric containing the haloacetamidomethyl groups Cell-OCH2NHCOCH 2X (X=I, Br, Cl) has been studied systematically to prepare new cellulose phosphonate ester derivatives. Comparison of flame-retardant properties of the phosphonate derivatives with those of fabric containing a deposited polymer of related structure showed that phosphorus is more efficient in the form of a cellulose derivative. Problems generally associated with fabrics containing flame-retardant finishes, notably stiffness, were also minimized in the case of derivative formation. Laundering durability was excellent.Further studies on the synergistic effect of nitrogen on flame retardant properties confirmed earlier results and showed that cotton sheeting fabric containing an N/P ratio of 3 at 2% P, 6 at 1.4% P, and about 12 at 0.9% P passed the vertical flame test. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Basic studies have been carried out to define the interrelation between thermoplasticity and resilience in cotton obtained through chemical modifications. Diester cross links, introduced in combination with benzoate ester groups, provided neither satisfactory resilience nor thermoplastic character. When benzoylated cotton, prepared by partial saponification from higher DS values or by the Schotten-Baumann esterification condi tions, was dry-cured with trirnethylolmelamine, the products showed high levels of wet and dry wrinkle recovery, high resistance to abrasion, and displayed thermoplastic char acter as reflected by the fact that heat-set creases could be imparted to them. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The chemical covalent bonding of trimethylolmelamine (TMM) with cotton cellu lose produced under wet and dry curing conditions has been further investigated. The extent of chemical reaction with cellulose and the location of substituents on the anhydroglucose units were determined by an analytical scheme embodying chemical modification, complete hydrolysis, and gas chromatography of the analysis products. High temperature (160°C) curing gave rise to much greater extents of reaction with cellulose than curing under wet conditions. In the case of TMM, reaction at the primary. hydroxyl (C6) predominated at DS 0.16, whereas the major reaction of a methylated TMM having DS 0.30 occurred at C2. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The hydrogenated samples were analyzed by ultraviolet specconditions produced mostly nonselective hydrogenation. The variables of catalyst, catalyst concentration, solvent, temperature, and pressure have very little effect on the selectivity. Large differences were found in the relative reactivities of the three double bonds in methyl linoleate. It appears that the initial reaction strongly favors the 12 position assuming a limited amount of shifting of double bonds during hydrogenation. The solvent has an appreciable effect on this selectivity, but the other variables have only minor effects. The hydrogenated samples were analyzed by ultraviolet spectroscopy. Efforts to identify the location of the double bonds by oxidative methods were unsatisfactory. Preliminary studies on the possible use of nuclear spin resonance as analytical method in fatty acid analysis look promising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Congenital diaphragmatic hernias in children are of serious prognostic significance. (2) Successful surgical repair may be accomplished even in young infants. (3) A case of successful repair of one type of congenital hernia, through the Foramen of Bochdalek, in a boy 12 years is reported. (4) Only 16 similar cases in children under 15 years of age could be found in the literature. I wish to acknowledge the cooperation of Dr. Damon B. Pfeiffer, Director of the Surgical Service, Abington Memorial Hospital, without whose surgical skill this successful case could not be reported and Dr. J. Donald Zulick, Director of the X-ray Department, Abington Memorial Hospital, whose careful examinations were valuable aids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is no dramatic evidence as yet that the use of solvents is increasing at a rate sufficient to justify the prominence they have been assigned. With this thought in mind, the author highlights the broad benefits, drawbacks and limitations of using nonaqueous solvents in processing, and assesses the specific functions they [night realistically be expected to play m light of other major changes which are occurring in the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructing multi-site specialty registries typically proves time-consuming. Electronic health record (EHR) data collected during clinical care affords a pragmatic approach to accelerating registry implementation. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is an increasingly common and morbid condition. Building a multi-site registry for HFpEF proved feasible using EHR data coded in standard terminologies (SNOMED CT, LOINC) and shared via Health Information Exchanges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructing multi-site specialty registries typically proves time-consuming. Electronic health record (EHR) data collected during clinical care affords a pragmatic approach to accelerating registry implementation. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is an increasingly common and morbid condition. Building a multi-site registry for HFpEF proved feasible using EHR data coded in standard terminologies (SNOMED CT, LOINC) and shared via Health Information Exchanges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The weighted kernel density estimator is an attractive option for shape‐restricted density estimation, because it is simple, familiar, and potentially applicable to many different shape constraints. Despite this, no reliable software implementation has appeared since the method's original proposal in 2002. We found that serious numerical and practical difficulties arise when attempting to implement the method. We overcame these difficulties and in the process discovered that the weighted method and our own recently proposed method—controlling the shape of a kernel density using an adjustment curve—can be unified in a single computational framework. This article describes our findings and introduces the R package scdensity, which can be used to easily obtain density estimates that are unimodal, bimodal, symmetric, and more. © 2018 The Authors. Stat Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case of Melanosis Coli occurring in a boy aged two and one-half years is recorded. No report of this condition in a patient of this age can be found in the literature. The laxative history supports the premise of Bockus, Willard and Bank that the use of anthracene laxatives can produce a pigmentation of the bowel indistinguishable from Melanosis Coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]