Regularization is a technique widely used to improve the stability of solutions to statistical problems. We propose a new regularization concept, performance-based regularization (PBR), for data-driven stochastic optimization. The goal is to improve upon Sample Average Approximation (SAA) in finite-sample performance while maintaining minimal assumptions about the data. We apply PBR to mean-CVa...

In this paper we discuss statistical properties and rates of convergence of the Stochastic Dual Dynamic Programming (SDDP) method applied to multistage linear stochastic programming problems. We assume that the underline data process is stagewise independent and consider the framework where at first a random sample from the original (true) distribution is generated and consequently the SDDP alg...

This work explores the use of the flexible recipe framework as a manner to manage the risk associated with the operation of batch chemical plants under uncertain market trends. The scheduling problem under uncertainty is mathematically formulated as a multi-objective mixed integer linear problem accounting for the maximization of the expected profit and minimization of risk. A decomposition str...

We offer eight well-characterized anti-SAA MAbs for the detection of feline, canine and equine SAA. These MAbs were selected from a pool of over forty MAbs that were raised against human SAA (SAA19, SAA21, SAA11), canine SAA (VSA34, VSA31, VSA38), or synthetic peptides derived from the region 79-104 a.a.r. of canine SAA (VSA2, VSA43). Isotypes and specificities of the antibodies are shown in Ta...

A novel serum amyloid A protein (SAA) has been identified as a normal apolipoprotein component of non-acute phase high density lipoprotein. This novel SAA has been designated "constitutive" SAA (C-SAA) to distinguish it from "acute phase" SAA (A-SAA). C-SAA was partially sequenced, and immunochemical analyses indicated that it constitutes a distinct subclass of apolipoproteins within the SAA su...

Degradation of serum amyloid A (SAA) was studied in the isolated perfused rat liver. Radioiodinated SAA was reconstituted with high density lipoproteins (HDL) and administered to rats. Plasma was taken 1 h later, and the HDL were isolated for use as tracer. HDL-bound 125I-SAA was cleared from the plasma of intact animals at a rate similar to SAA in native human HDL. Catabolism of SAA and HDL ap...

Salivary alpha amylase (sAA) has been proposed as a marker of autonomic nervous system activity. Few studies have examined sAA basal activity and reactivity in naturalistic settings, or developmental changes in sAA. In 50 adolescents, diary-reported moods and sAA levels were gathered across two typical weekdays. As in adults, basal sAA levels were low at waking and increased across the day. Mor...

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is used as a biomarker for infections and inflammation in humans and veterinary medicine. We cloned ferret cDNA encoding SAA from the liver of a ferret via reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). The sequence of the cDNA clone revealed that ferret SAA has an open reading frame of 387 bp that encodes 129 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of ferret SAA has 96.1, 89.9,...

Serum amyloid A protein (SAA) is an apolipoprotein that can replace apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1) as the major apolipoprotein of HDL. Porcine hepatic SAA mRNA is increased by dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of SAA protein in regulating gene expression related to lipid metabolism in pigs. First, we demonstrated that the 100-micromol...