Incidence of Agro-Climate Variability over Grass-Fed Cattle Markets.

The marginal contribution of each of the selected variables was quantified in terms of premiums and discounts and mapped as dynamic iso-price regions that illustrate geographic and seasonal permanent price patterns for feeder cattle, as well as changing market conditions derived from unexpected climate and weather variability. The graphic representation of how price patterns may change with climate variability allows for a better understanding of short term market disequilibrium derived from this type of variability. This may help cattle operators and producers improve farm management and making informed decisions.cattle prices, climate variability, agro-ecological conditions, seasonal effects, price formation, differentiated products, Demand and Price Analysis, Livestock Production/Industries,

Catalytic surface effects on space thermal protection system during Earth entry of flights STS-2 through STS-5

An on going orbiter experiment catalytic surface effects experiment being conducted on the Space Shuttle is discussed. The catalytic surface effects experiment was peformed on four of the five flights of Columbia. Temperature time histories and distributions along the midfuselage and wing of the orbiter were used to determine the surface catalytic efficiency of the baseline high temperature reusable surface insulation. Correlation parameters are shown that allow the comparison of all flight data with predictions from the design and surface emittance decreased as a result of contaminants during the five flights of the Space Shuttle

A CENSORED SYSTEM ESTIMATION OF HISPANIC HOUSEHOLD FOOD CONSUMPTION PATTERNS

A system of nine censored Engel curve equations was estimated for Hispanic households in the U.S.: grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, meat, legumes, fats, sugar, and beverages. Income and household size elasticities, with their respective confidence intervals, are reported and the results compared with other ethnic groups in the U.S.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Effect of gaseous and solid simulated jet plumes on a 040A space shuttle launch configuration at Mach numbers from 1.6 to 2.2

An experimental investigation was conducted in a 9- by 7-foot supersonic wind tunnel to determine the effect of plume-induced flow separation and aspiration effects due to operation of both the orbiter and the solid rocket motors on a 0.019-scale model of the launch configuration of the space shuttle vehicle. Longitudinal and lateral-directional stability data were obtained at Mach numbers of 1.6, 2.0, and 2.2 with and without the engines operating. The plumes exiting from the engines were simulated by a cold gas jet supplied by an auxiliary 200 atmosphere air supply system, and by solid body plume simulators. Comparisons of the aerodynamic effects produced by these two simulation procedures are presented. The data indicate that the parameters most significantly affected by the jet plumes are the pitching moment, the elevon control effectiveness, the axial force, and the orbiter wing loads

COMPARISONS OF HISPANIC HOUSEHOLDS' DEMAND FOR MEATS WITH OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS

The objective of this research was to analyze the demand patterns of Hispanic households for meats in comparison with other ethnic groups using data from the 1998 Consumer Expenditure Survey. A system of demand equations of the LinQuad form were estimated for ten meat products using an incomplete system of censored equations. Hispanic households showed a clear preference for beef. Price, income, and household-size elasticities were estimated for each meat product by ethnic group. The demand for ground beef was the most income-inelastic product regardless of ethnicity. Household size had a positive effect on the probability of consuming a particular meat product but a negative effect on actual item expenditures.Consumer/Household Economics, Demand and Price Analysis,

Influence of Geographical Effects in Hedonic Pricing Models for Grass-Fed Cattle in Uruguay

A series of non-spatial and spatial hedonic models of feeding and replacement cattle prices at video auctions in Uruguay (2002 to 2009) were specified with predictors measuring marketing conditions (e.g., steer price), cattle characteristics (e.g., breed) and agro-ecological factors (e.g., soil productivity, water characteristics, pasture condition, season). Results indicated that cattle prices produced under extensive production systems were influenced by all of predictor categories, confirming that found previously. Although many of the agro-ecological predictors were inherently spatial in nature, the incorporation of spatial effects into the estimation of the hedonic model itself, through either a spatially-autocorrelated error term or allowing the regression coefficients to vary spatially and at different scales, was able to provide greater insight into the cattle price process. Through the latter extension, using a multiscale geographically weighted regression, which was the most informative and most accurate model, relationships between cattle price and predictors operated at a mixture of global, regional, local and highly local spatial scales. This result is considered a key advance, where uncovering, interpreting, and utilizing such rich spatial information can help improve the geographical provenance of Uruguayan beef and is critically important for maintaining Uruguay’s status as a key exporter of beef with respect to the health and safety benefits of natural, open-sky, grass-fed production systems

Biochemical and nutritional traits of sea bass (Dicentrachus labrax) from different rearing systems.

Farmed European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), sampled from three different culture systems (intensive in sea-cages, intensive in land-based basins and extensive in lagoon and storage basins of salt-work), of the Northern, Central and Southern Italy, were analyzed with the aim to employ nutritional trait to describe and to distinguish the "origin" of the product. Lipid and fatty acid profile, strongly affected by the feeding history and environmental factors, responsible of the nu- tritional and perceived quality of fish product, are proposed as marker of origin