The State Contingent Approach to Farmers' Valuation and Adoption of New Biotech Crops: Nitrogen-Fertilizer Saving and Drought Tolerance Traits

We used a state contingent approach to give a detailed analysis of the uncertainty surrounding seed trait adoption. Our framework emphasizes the role of timing and information in farmers’ adoption decisions. The inherent embeddedness of seed traits results in timing restrictions and the inability of post-planting adjustments, this in turn results in farmers necessarily engaging in a game with nature. Two main types of traits we identify are supplementing traits and stabilizing traits – classification into each category is directly related on the mobility of the production factor the trait intends to substitute. Supplementing traits allow for acting after nature (i.e., ex post) while stabilizing traits are better modeled as acting before nature (i.e., ex ante). The type of trait results in different determinants of the farmers’ WTP function.State Contingent, Genetically Modified, Biotech, Contingent Valuation, Nitrogen Absorption Efficiency, Drought Tolerance, Uncertainty, Seed Trait, Technological Adoption, Crop Production/Industries, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Mitigating Cotton Revenue Risk Through Irrigation, Insurance, and Hedging

This study focuses on managing cotton production and marketing risks using combinations of irrigation levels, put options (as price insurance), and crop insurance. Stochastic cotton yields and prices are used to simulate a whole-farm financial statement for a 1,000 acre furrow irrigated cotton farm in the Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley under 16 combinations of risk management strategies. Analyses for risk-averse decision makers indicate that multiple irrigations are preferred. The benefits to purchasing put options increase with yields, as they are more beneficial when higher yields are expected from applying more irrigation applications. Crop insurance is strongly preferred at lower irrigation levels.cotton, crop insurance, irrigation, options, puts, risk, simulation, stochastic efficiency with respect to a function, Farm Management, Risk and Uncertainty, D81, Q12, Q15,

PDU with Integrated Cable Management Support

Cable management within a datacenter rack has become critical as rack densities continue to increase, and additional quantities of Power Distribution Units (PDU) are being installed in a rack thus resulting in less area to route and secure cables. A standard 1075mm deep rack has one PDU mounting bracket per side to mount vertical PDUs which often also gets utilized for cable management, and in some circumstances cables are even secured to the rack frame members

Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks and Encephaloceles

Encephaloceles and cereberospinal fluid (CSF) leaks of the ventral skull base resulting from trauma (surgical and non-surgical), neoplasm, congenital, and spontaneous are a complex problem typically managed by rhinologists/skull base surgeons. Conservative management is often the first step in managing these complex problems. Endoscopic repair of CSF leaks and encephaloceles has greatly evolved with the evolution of endoscopic visualization and instrumentation. Endoscopic repairs of CSF leaks are effective and offer decreased morbidity compared to open approaches with comparative success rates. Meticulous technique is key to success in repair of skull base defects. Materials used are often less important than quality of repair