97 research outputs found
A PROTOCOL OR A SET OF STANDARDS TO GUIDE AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS RESEARCH
This article examines some difficult decisions that agricultural economists must confront in doing research. Over many years, rules and standards have developed in agricultural economics that guide researchers, providing an underlying framework for research methods. This article deals with applying these seldom discussed guidelines to specific research situations confronted by agricultural economists. With this article, we hope to stimulate a dialogue among agricultural economists about the need for additional, appropriate methodological guidelines in agricultural economics research.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,
Half-life of the electron-capture decay of 97Ru: Precision measurement shows no temperature dependence
We have measured the half-life of the electron-capture (ec) decay of 97Ru in
a metallic environment, both at low temperature (19K), and also at room
temperature. We find the half-lives at both temperatures to be the same within
0.1%. This demonstrates that a recent claim that the ec decay half-life for 7Be
changes by $0.9% +/- 0.2% under similar circumstances certainly cannot be
generalized to other ec decays. Our results for the half-life of 97Ru,
2.8370(14)d at room temperature and 2.8382(14)d at 19K, are consistent with,
but much more precise than, previous room-temperature measurements. In
addition, we have also measured the half-lives of the beta-emitters 103Ru and
105Rh at both temperatures, and found them also to be unchanged.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure
Rural Residential Water Demand in Kentucky: An Econometric and Simulation Analysis
This study proposed that demand management through pricing policies can be used in conjunction with supply management to solve water supply problems in Kentucky. Economic principles were shown to apply to rural residential water use. From the economic model, a hyperbolic demand function was theorized. The mathematical form of this function used quantity of water as a function of price, income, value of residence, evaporation, and persons per residence. This function was estimated using ordinary least squares regression. A log-linear model was found to be a satisfactory representation of the demand function. Price was the only independent variable which was significant and had an elasticity of (-.92).
As an application of pricing to demand management, the estimated regression equation was used in a simulation analysis. The simulation was used to determine the reservoir capacity necessary to supply the needs of 4,000 households given three different price levels for water. Reservoir size was determined by simulating reservoir size as a function of outflow as estimated from the demand function plus an assumed low flow rate and inflow from the Thomas-Fiering Model. This technique illustrated that price does affect the quantity of water demanded which in turn effects reservoir capacity requirements
Photoactivation experiment on 197Au and its implications for the dipole strength in heavy nuclei
The 197Au(gamma,n) reaction is used as an activation standard for
photodisintegration studies on astrophysically relevant nuclei. At the
bremsstrahlung facility of the superconducting electron accelerator ELBE
(Electron Linear accelerator of high Brilliance and low Emittance) of
Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, photoactivation measurements on 197Au
have been performed with bremsstrahlung endpoint energies from 8.0 to 15.5 MeV.
The measured activation yield is compared with previous experiments as well as
with calculations using Hauser-Feshbach statistical models. It is shown that
the experimental data are best described by a two-Lorentzian parametrization
with taking the axial deformation of 197Au into account. The experimental
197Au(gamma,n) reaction yield measured at ELBE via the photoactivation method
is found to be consistent with previous experimental data using photon
scattering or neutron detection methods.Comment: 9 page
Determination of 141Pr(alpha,n)144Pm cross sections at energies of relevance for the astrophysical p-process using the gamma-gamma coincidence method
The reaction 141Pr(alpha,n)144Pm was investigated between E_alpha=11 MeV and
15 MeV with the activation method using the gamma-gamma coincidence method with
a segmented clover-type high-purity Germanium (HPGe) detector. Measurements
with four other HPGe detectors were additionally made. The comparison proves
that the gamma-gamma coincidence method is an excellent tool to investigate
cross sections down to the microbarn range. The (alpha,n) reaction at low
energy is especially suited to test alpha+nucleus optical-model potentials for
application in the astrophysical p-process. The experimentally determined cross
sections were compared to Hauser-Feshbach statistical model calculations using
different optical potentials and generally an unsatisfactory reproduction of
the data was found. A local potential was constructed to improve the
description of the data. The consequences of applying the same potential to
calculate astrophysical (gamma,alpha) rates for 145Pm and 148Gd were explored.
In summary, the data and further results underline the problems in global
predictions of alpha+nucleus optical potentials at astrophysically relevant
energies.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures, accepted in Phys. Rev.
Mucosal Targeting of a BoNT/A Subunit Vaccine Adjuvanted with a Mast Cell Activator Enhances Induction of BoNT/A Neutralizing Antibodies in Rabbits
We previously reported that the immunogenicity of Hcβtre, a botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) immunogen, was enhanced by fusion to an epithelial cell binding domain, Ad2F, when nasally delivered to mice with cholera toxin (CT). This study was performed to determine if Ad2F would enhance the nasal immunogenicity of Hcβtre in rabbits, an animal model with a nasal cavity anatomy similar to humans. Since CT is not safe for human use, we also tested the adjuvant activity of compound 48/80 (C48/80), a mast cell activating compound previously determined to safely exhibit nasal adjuvant activity in mice.New Zealand White or Dutch Belted rabbits were nasally immunized with Hcβtre or Hcβtre-Ad2F alone or combined with CT or C48/80, and serum samples were tested for the presence of Hcβtre-specific binding (ELISA) or BoNT/A neutralizing antibodies.Hcβtre-Ad2F nasally administered with CT induced serum anti-Hcβtre IgG ELISA and BoNT/A neutralizing antibody titers greater than those induced by Hcβtre + CT. C48/80 provided significant nasal adjuvant activity and induced BoNT/A-neutralizing antibodies similar to those induced by CT.Ad2F enhanced the nasal immunogenicity of Hcβtre, and the mast cell activator C48/80 was an effective adjuvant for nasal immunization in rabbits, an animal model with a nasal cavity anatomy similar to that in humans
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The “war on poverty ” started in America in the early 1960s, and the poverty rate of 22.4 percent in the year 1959 decreased to 11.1 percent in 1973. Regrettably, this war did not last long enough, as poverty rate increased to 15.1 percent in 1993. In the year 2000 the US poverty rate declined, but always stayed above 11.1 percent. Kentucky also did not achieve success in this poverty war, and it resulted in growing numbers of poor people. Analysis of poverty has always aroused the interest of economists, sociologists and policy makers. Goal of this paper is to intricate appropriate strategies and invent effective prevention efforts to eradicate the young adult poverty. Estimation of Gini coefficients for various age groups indicates that the young adult population of Kentucky is at risk. The purpose of this paper is to determine the factors of young adult poverty, employing ZIP Code data in Kentucky. Data analysis reveals that rural young adults are more vulnerable than urban young adults in Kentucky. Some significant factors such as; male and female educational level, presence of minorities and type of employment are the primary determinants of poverty for this age group. Analysis of outcomes leaves suggestions for the policy makers to exterminate young adult poverty from Kentucky
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