A Sequential Rationality and Efficiency Test of U.S. Department of Agriculture Program Crop Price Estimates: Rice, Wheat, and Soybeans

This paper examines the USDA price estimates of rice, wheat, and soybeans and whether spot commodity prices reflect price information embodied in USDA estimates. Results indicate that the monthly USDA estimates are failed to meet a rationality condition. Rice and wheat actual prices marginally incorporate the information embodied in USDA past price estimates.Agricultural and Food Policy, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, Crop Production/Industries,

Simulation of spacecraft attitude dynamics using TREETOPS and model-specific computer Codes

The simulation of spacecraft attitude dynamics and control using the generic, multi-body code called TREETOPS and other codes written especially to simulate particular systems is discussed. Differences in the methods used to derive equations of motion--Kane's method for TREETOPS and the Lagrangian and Newton-Euler methods, respectively, for the other two codes--are considered. Simulation results from the TREETOPS code are compared with those from the other two codes for two example systems. One system is a chain of rigid bodies; the other consists of two rigid bodies attached to a flexible base body. Since the computer codes were developed independently, consistent results serve as a verification of the correctness of all the programs. Differences in the results are discussed. Results for the two-rigid-body, one-flexible-body system are useful also as information on multi-body, flexible, pointing payload dynamics

Challenges faced by older women in Botswana in accessing services that address sexual and reproductive health, and family planning needs, in Botswana

Objective: This study explored the challenges that older women from selected sites in Botswana face in accessing services that address sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and family planning (FP) needs.Design, setting and subjects: Two rural and two urban health districts were randomly selected for the study. A statistically determined sample of 454 older women was allocated to the different districts (strata), using  probability proportional to size.Outcome measures: The study estimated the percentage use of sexual and reproductive health services (including family planning services), unmet need for family planning and factors inhibiting use of these  services.Results: The study revealed that 25% of the older women used some type of FP method. Of this number, 67.9% were aged 50-59 years, 17.4% 60-69 years, 10.1% 70-79 years, and 72% had unmet needs for FP. The older women used natural FP methods mainly. The main SRH services used by them were screening for human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome, sexually transmitted infections and cervical cancer. Obstacles to accessing SRH and FP services were found to include illiteracy, lack of education, financial constraints, a perception that  healthcare planners limited SRH needs to antenatal and obstetrical services, a cultural reluctance to discuss SRH in public and domestic issues.Conclusion: The study recommends comprehensive public health education for older women on human sexuality and fertility, contraceptive use, access to services, effective training programmes for healthcare providers on how to deal with older women’s issues and better access to STI and cervical cancer screening services.Keywords: sexual and reproductive health, family planning, access to health services, availability of health services, older wome

Impact of Sugarcane Delivery Schedule on Product Value at Raw Sugar Factories

Conversion to combine harvesters has resulted in Louisiana sugarcane growers delivering a more perishable product to raw sugar factories. Dextran formation increases as the time between harvest and milling is extended. Milling of freshly cut sugarcane reduces the formation of dextran and associated economic losses. One approach available to factories to reduce dextran formation is to extend the harvested sugarcane delivery schedule to the mill. A simulation model was developed to evaluate alternative delivery schedules at raw sugar factories. Economic losses in product value associated with dextran formation were estimated and compared for various extended delivery schedules.dextran, milling, product value, raw sugar factories, scheduling, sugarcane industry, Crop Production/Industries, Marketing, Production Economics,

Advanced magneto-optical microscopy: Imaging from picoseconds to centimeters - imaging spin waves and temperature distributions (invited)

© 2016 Author(s).Recent developments in the observation of magnetic domains and domain walls by wide-field optical microscopy based on the magneto-optical Kerr, Faraday, Voigt, and Gradient effect are reviewed. Emphasis is given to the existence of higher order magneto-optical effects for advanced magnetic imaging. Fundamental concepts and advances in methodology are discussed that allow for imaging of magnetic domains on various length and time scales. Time-resolved imaging of electric field induced domain wall rotation is shown. Visualization of magnetization dynamics down to picosecond temporal resolution for the imaging of spin-waves and magneto-optical multi-effect domain imaging techniques for obtaining vectorial information are demonstrated. Beyond conventional domain imaging, the use of a magneto-optical indicator technique for local temperature sensing is shown

Final Report of the Commission on Presidential Disability and the Twenty-Fifth Amendment

This Report examines the Twenty-Fifth Amendment to identify potential difficulties in presidential succession and makes recommendations

Energy loss mechanism for suspended micro- and nanoresonators due to the Casimir force

A so far not considered energy loss mechanism in suspended micro- and nanoresonators due to noncontact acoustical energy loss is investigated theoretically. The mechanism consists on the conversion of the mechanical energy from the vibratory motion of the resonator into acoustic waves on large nearby structures, such as the substrate, due to the coupling between the resonator and those structures resulting from the Casimir force acting over the separation gaps. Analytical expressions for the resulting quality factor Q for cantilever and bridge micro- and nanoresonators in close proximity to an underlying substrate are derived and the relevance of the mechanism is investigated, demonstrating its importance when nanometric gaps are involved

Challenges in setting up quality control in diagnostic radiology facilities in Nigeria

Background: The Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) was established to regulate and control the use of radioactive and radiation emitting sources in Nigeria. Quality control (QC) on diagnostic radiology equipment form part of the fundamental requirements for the authorization of diagnostic radiology facilities in the Country.Method: Some quality control tests (output, exposure linearity and reproducibility) were measured on the x-ray machines in the facilities that took part in the study. Questionnaire was developed to evaluate the frequencies at which QC tests were conducted in the facilities and the challenges in setting up QC.Results: Results show great variation in the values of the QC parameters measured. Inadequate cooperation by facilities management, lack of QC equipment and insufficient staff form the major challenges in setting up QC in the facilities under study.The responses on the frequencies at which QC tests should be conducted did not correspond to the recommended standards; indicating that personnel were not familiar with QC implementation and may require further training on QC.Keywords: Quality control,challenges,exposure reproducibility,regulation,diagnostic radiolog

The Effect of Maja Fruit [Aegle Marmelos (L) Correa] on Inflammation Markers Involved in the Aging Process

Background: Aging is a process that every living creature will pass through and involves various factors. Increased inflammatory factors can be caused by hypoxia which forms Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and damages macromolecules and causes the acceleration of the aging process. Maja plants, empirically have long been used as medicinal plants, research on Maja leaves shows anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential.Objective: The purpose of this study was to find out and understand the potential of Maja fruit in the presence of inflammatory markers of IL-6 and TNF-α which are involved in the aging process.Methods: This research was in vivo experimental, using male experimental animals Sprague Dawley rats divided into 8 groups (n = 4), and divided into 2 groups (fed with Maja ethanol extract (400 mg/ kg/day, 14 days) and not force-fed). Each group was divided into 4 subgroups (normoxia, hypoxia (O2 8%, N2 92%) for 3, 7 and 14 days). At the end of the trial period, animal blood was examined for IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations using the ELISA method.Results: The results showed an increase in levels of IL-6 and TNF-α both in the group fed and not fed in line with the duration of hypoxia when compared with controls. However, groups that are not force-fed show a higher pattern compared to those who are force-fed.Conclusion : The ethanol extract of Maja fruit can help slow down the aging process

Cluster versus POTENT density and velocity fields:cluster biasing and Omega

The density and velocity fields as extracted from the Abell/ACO clusters are compared with the corresponding fields recovered by the POTENT method from the Mark III peculiar velocities of galaxies. In order to minimize non-linear effects and to deal with ill-sampled regions, we smooth both fields using a Gaussian window with radii ranging between 12 and 20 h(-1) Mpc. The density and velocity fields within 70 h(-1) Mpc exhibit similarities, qualitatively consistent with gravitational instability theory and a linear biasing relation between clusters and mass. The random and systematic errors are evaluated with the help of mock catalogues. Quantitative comparisons within a volume containing similar to 12 independent samples yield beta(c)=Omega(0.6)/b(c)=0.22 +/- 0.08, where b(c) is the cluster biasing parameter at 15 h(-1) Mpc. If b(c)similar to 4.5, as indicated by the cluster correlation function, our result is consistent with Omega similar to 1