421 research outputs found
The Net Effect of Exchange Rates on Agricultural Inputs and Outputs
For more than thirty years, studies about the effect of the exchange rate on exports have been conducted. However, few have considered the combined effect of the exchange rate on imported inputs into the agricultural system and the exports of final agricultural products those inputs produce. A current concern is for the net effect as the total value and quantity of inputs imported has increased. This research examines the effect of exchange rate changes on imported inputs into the corn, wheat, and beef cattle production systems. Effects on cost of production budgets are calculated, examining affects on profitability. Vector Autoregression (VAR) and Bayesian Averaging of Classical Estimates (BACE) models were estimated to evaluate those effects. Daily and weekly price data were used for corn, wheat, feeder steers, ethanol, diesel, ammonia, urea, di-ammonium phosphate, and the exchange rate. A VAR model was estimated to model the relationship between the variables. After having incongruous test results in determining the lag length structure it was decided that a BACE model would be approximated. After estimating the BACE model the price responses of the commodities to the exchange rates was estimated. The price responses were used in demonstrating the effect of the exchange rate on a producer’s profitability. It was determined that, generally, a strengthening exchange rate has a negative impact on prices. It was also found that the exchange rate has a greater impact on prices now than it did 14 years ago, implying that the exchange rate now has a greater affect on profitability. A one percent increase in the value of the dollar led to a decline in profitability ranging from 0.56/cwt in feeder steers. However, agricultural producers should not be overly concerned about a lower valued dollar from the perspective of their agricultural business.Agricultural and Food Policy, Crop Production/Industries, International Relations/Trade, Livestock Production/Industries,
Imaging Extended Emission-Line Regions of Obscured AGN with the Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam Survey
Narrow-line regions excited by active galactic nuclei (AGN) are important for
studying AGN photoionization and feedback. Their strong [O III] lines can be
detected with broadband images, allowing morphological studies of these systems
with large-area imaging surveys. We develop a new technique to reconstruct the
[O III] images using the Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) Survey aided with
spectra from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The technique involves a
careful subtraction of the galactic continuum to isolate emission from the [O
III]5007 and [O III]4959 lines. Compared to traditional
targeted observations, this technique is more efficient at covering larger
samples with less dedicated observational resources. We apply this technique to
an SDSS spectroscopically selected sample of 300 obscured AGN at redshifts 0.1
- 0.7, uncovering extended emission-line region candidates with sizes up to
tens of kpc. With the largest sample of uniformly derived narrow-line region
sizes, we revisit the narrow-line region size-luminosity relation. The area and
radii of the [O III] emission-line regions are strongly correlated with the AGN
luminosity inferred from the mid-infrared (15 m rest-frame) with a
power-law slope of (statistical and systemic
errors), consistent with previous spectroscopic findings. We discuss the
implications for the physics of AGN emission-line region and future
applications of this technique, which should be useful for current and
next-generation imaging surveys to study AGN photoionization and feedback with
large statistical samples.Comment: 20 pages, 13 figures, MNRAS submitte
Experiences and expectations of women from ethnic minority background on perinatal mental health [abstract only]
Joint analysis of stressors and ecosystem services to enhance restoration effectiveness
With increasing pressure placed on natural systems by growing human populations, both scientists and resource managers need a better understanding of the relationships between cumulative stress from human activities and valued ecosystem services. Societies often seek to mitigate threats to these services through large-scale, costly restoration projects, such as the over one billion dollar Great Lakes Restoration Initiative currently underway. To help inform these efforts, we merged high-resolution spatial analyses of environmental stressors with mapping of ecosystem services for all five Great Lakes. Cumulative ecosystem stress is highest in near-shore habitats, but also extends offshore in Lakes Erie, Ontario, and Michigan. Variation in cumulative stress is driven largely by spatial concordance among multiple stressors, indicating the importance of considering all stressors when planning restoration activities. In addition, highly stressed areas reflect numerous different combinations of stressors rather than a single suite of problems, suggesting that a detailed understanding of the stressors needing alleviation could improve restoration planning. We also find that many important areas for fisheries and recreation are subject to high stress, indicating that ecosystem degradation could be threatening key services. Current restoration efforts have targeted high-stress sites almost exclusively, but generally without knowledge of the full range of stressors affecting these locations or differences among sites in service provisioning. Our results demonstrate that joint spatial analysis of stressors and ecosystem services can provide a critical foundation for maximizing social and ecological benefits from restoration investments. www.pnas.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1073/pnas.1213841110/-/DCSupplementa
Seebeck Effect in Magnetic Tunnel Junctions
Creating temperature gradients in magnetic nanostructures has resulted in a
new research direction, i.e., the combination of magneto- and thermoelectric
effects. Here, we demonstrate the observation of one important effect of this
class: the magneto-Seebeck effect. It is observed when a magnetic configuration
changes the charge based Seebeck coefficient. In particular, the Seebeck
coefficient changes during the transition from a parallel to an antiparallel
magnetic configuration in a tunnel junction. In that respect, it is the analog
to the tunneling magnetoresistance. The Seebeck coefficients in parallel and
antiparallel configuration are in the order of the voltages known from the
charge-Seebeck effect. The size and sign of the effect can be controlled by the
composition of the electrodes' atomic layers adjacent to the barrier and the
temperature. Experimentally, we realized 8.8 % magneto-Seebeck effect, which
results from a voltage change of about -8.7 {\mu}V/K from the antiparallel to
the parallel direction close to the predicted value of -12.1 {\mu}V/K.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures, 2 table
Perceptions of the Impact of Positive Action in EU and non-EU Countries
yesAbstract: Around the world, inequalities exist around boundaries of race, social class, gender, disability,
religious beliefs and sexual orientation, often resulting from past and current discriminatory
practices. Governments have taken certain measures, including enacting policies such as positive action,
to remedy such discrimination. This paper provides a comparative analysis of perceptions of the impact
of positive action in seven EU and three non-EU countries. The study adopted participatory methods
including consensus workshops, interviews and policy analysis to obtain data from designers of positive
action. Findings are discussed, conclusions drawn and wide-ranging recommendations are made at
the EC, individual countries and organisational levels
Methodological Challenges of Researching Positive Action Measures
This paper highlights some ofthe methodological challenges which have arisen in collecting
data for an international study on positive action measures. It will describe strategies employed to
encourage participation in the study from as wide a range of organisations and individuals using a
mixed method approach. The paper will also discuss the methodological and sensitive issues related
to this type of research in organisations and strategies adopted by the research team to ameliorate
any problems that have arisen whilst maintaining trustworthiness and rigour in the study
X-ray Structure of Gelatinase A Catalytic Domain Complexed with a Hydroxamate Inhibitor
Gelatinase A is a key enzyme in the family of matrix metalloproteinases (matrixins) that are involved in the degradation of the extracellular matrix. As this process is an integral part of tumour cell metastasis and angiogenesis, gelatinase is an important target for therapeutic intervention. The X-ray crystal structure of the gelatinase A catalytic domain (GaCD) complexed with batimastat (BB94), a hydroxamate inhibitor, shows an active site with a large S1\u27 specificity pocket. The structure is similar to previously solved structures of stromelysin catalytic domain (SCD) but with differences in VR1 and VR2, two surface-exposed loops on either side of the entrance to the active site. Comparison of GaCD with other members of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family highlights the conservation of key secondary structural elements and the significant differences in the specificity pockets, knowledge of which should enhance our ability to design specific inhibitors for this important anticancer target
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