U.S. livestock production and factor demand: a multiproduct dynamic dual approach

There is a need for modeling livestock production and factor use incorporating the interlinked dynamics of breeding herd adjustments in a theoretically consistent manner. Therefore, a multiple input-multiple output theoretical model is developed based on the adjustment cost hypothesis of production relationship involving sluggish adjustments of quasi-fixed inputs. Employing the results of intertemporal analogue of Hotelling\u27s lemma, a system of equations of optimal output supply, variable input demand, and quasi-fixed inputs (livestock breeding herds) investment is derived. Various issues like aggregation, expectation formation, and nonjointness in implementing this theoretical model are appraised.;A normalized quadratic value function is used to implement the proposed theoretical model. Beef, milk, pork, chicken, turkey, eggs, sheep and lambs, and wool (including mohair) are the eight outputs considered. The five variable inputs included in the empirical model are labor (numeraire), operating capital, grain feed, high protein feed, and hay. Various stocks of breeding herds like beef cows, dairy cows, sows, chicken layers, turkey breeder hens, and ewes (including Angora goats) are treated as appropriate nonallocatable quasi-fixed inputs. Stock of durable capital used in livestock production is also included in the list of quasi-fixed inputs studied. Sector-level aggregate data for the sample period 1950-1987 are used in the estimation. All parametric restrictions implied by the underlying theory of producer behavior (homogeneity, symmetry, and convexity) are maintained throughout the analysis.;The estimated model is subjected to a series of tests of hypotheses on the structure of dynamics of the livestock breeding herds. Nonjointness in production of some outputs is also tested. Results indicate the validity of the present approach in capturing the interlinkages that exist among the dynamics of these breeding herds. The nature and magnitude of such linkages are assessed by means of the coefficients of dynamic adjustments matrix. The important distinction of short run versus long run in responses for simulated external economic stimuli like changes in relative prices is accounted for in the elasticities calculation. In general, the reported elasticities compare favorably with similar estimates from other studies.;The present modeling effort does have few restrictive assumptions like static price expectation formation and a simple linear first order differential equation for approximating the dynamics of herd building. Nevertheless, it amply demonstrates that the theoretical requirements of economic modeling can be fully and meaningfully incorporated in practical applications for realistic results

Fuzzy Logic Based DSR Trust Estimation Routing Protocol for MANET Using Evolutionary Algorithms

In MANET attaining consistent routing is a main problem due to several reasons such as lack of static infrastructure, exposed transmission medium, energetic network topology and restricted battery power. These features also create the scheme of direction-finding protocols in MANETs become even more interesting. In this work, a Trust centered routing protocol is suggested, since trust plays a vital role in computing path in mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs). Estimating and computing trust encourages cooperation in mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs). Various present grade systems suddenly estimate the trust by considering any one of the parameters such as energy of node, number of hops and mobility. Estimating trust is an Energetic multi objective optimization problem (EMOPs) typically including many contradictory goals such as lifetime of node, lifetime of link and buffer occupancy proportion which change over time. To solve this multi objective problem, a hybrid Harmony Search Combined with Genetic algorithm and Cuckoo search is used along with reactive method Dynamic Source routing protocol to provide the mobile hosts to find out and sustain routes between the origin node (SN) to the target node (TN). In this work, the performance of the direction-finding practice is assessed using throughput, end to end delay, and load on the network and route detection period

An Application of the Computable General Equilibrium Model to Analyze U.S. Ariculture

The effects of exchange rate and capital stock changes are analyzed using a CGE model for the United States. The model is in the Walrasion tradition and is calibrated to 1982 data. Results indicate that a devaluation of the U.S. dollar has a positive effect on the agricultural sector and balance of trade, but has a negative effect on consumers

The Livestock Sector Submodel: A Description of Coefficient and Activity Development

The purpose of this paper is to provide an insight into the methodology used in calculating coefficients for the livestock sector of the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development\u27s (CARD) linear programming models. The livestock sector consists of four basic livestock activities—feeder cattle producing, feeder cattle finishing, dairy producing, and pork producing. These activities produce agricultural livestock commodities and nitrogen waste while requiring feed, water, energy, and capital. Four basic sources are used for the construction of the livestock sector—The Federal Enterprise Data System (FEDS), Nutrient Requirements for Beef Cattle, Dairy, and Swine published by the National Research Council, Utilizing Animal Waste as a Source of Nitrogen and Agricultural Resource Assessment System Technical Committee unpublished working papers

A three-dimensional open-framework tin(II) phosphate exhibiting reversible dehydration and ion-exchange properties

A three-dimensional open-framework tin(II) phosphate, prepared hydrothermally with 1,3-diaminopentane as the template, is shown to exhibit reversible dehydration and ion-exchange properties

Synthesis of agarose-metal/semiconductor nanoparticles having superior bacteriocidal activity and their simple conversion to metal-carbon composites

Agarose, a naturally occurring biopolymer is used for the stabilization of metal, semiconductor nanoparticles. Ag and Cu nanoparticles stabilized in agarose matrix show excellent antibacterial activity against E. coli bacteria. The well dispersed metal nanoparticles within the agarose composite films can be readily converted to carbon-metal composites of catalytic importance

Water-solubilized aminoclay–metal nanoparticle composites and their novel properties

Nanoparticles of metals such as Au, Ag, Pd and Pt embedded in exfoliated sheets of aminoclays of the type R8Si8Mg6O16(OH)4, where R=CH2CH2NH2 are entirely water soluble. These sheets of the composite come to the organic-aqueous interface on addition of alkane thiols to the aqueous layer

Antibacterial and Antioxidant Compounds from Root Extracts of Gloriosa superba Linn: A Combined Experimental and Computational Study

Throughout history, medicinal plants have globally served as remedies for various ailments, and diseases. The roots of Gloriosa superba are traditionally used to treat antitumor, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory diseases. In this study, the roots of G. superba (320 g) were successively extracted with n-hexane, chloroform, and methanol to afford 530 mg (0.17%), 2.89 g (0.90%), and 17.78 g (5.56%) yields, respectively. Silica gel column chromatographic separation of the combined chloroform and methanol extracts gave 4-methoxy caffeic acid heptyl ester (1), desmosterol (2), 3-hydroxymethyl phenol (3), 3-Hydroxy-5-methoxy-benzoic acid (4), sucrose (5) and rutinose (6). In vitro antibacterial study revealed promising zone of inhibition value by chloroform extract against Klebsiella pneumoniae (13±0.00 mm) compared to gentamicin (15.86±4.67 mm). Desmosterol (2), 3-hydroxymethyl phenol (3), and 3-Hydroxy-5-methoxy-benzoic acid (4) displayed promising zone of inhibition against K. pneumonia (12.33±0.58, 11.33±1.53 and 11.33±1.15 mm, respectively) at 1000 μg/mL compared to gentamycin (15.86±4.67 mm at 100 μg/mL). Promising inhibition zone values were also displayed by desmosterol (2) and 3-Hydroxy-5-methoxy-benzoic acid (4) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14±1.00 and 14±1.73 mm, respectively) compared to gentamycin (25±2.52 mm).Chloroform extract displayed 95.14% DPPH radical scavenging value compared to ascorbic acid (96.11%) at 200 μg/mL. Compounds 2 and 4 displayed binding affinities of -7.8 and -6.5 Kcal/mol, respectively, against PqsA protein of P. aeruginosa, compared to amoxicillin (-7.3 kcal/mol). Therefore, the in vitro antibacterial and radical scavenging activity results suggest the potential uses of the root extracts of G. superba as promising antibacterial agents and free radical scavengers

An Analysis of the CAP Reform

The Treaty of Rome, which established the European Economic Community in 1957, defined the objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). These objectives, contained in Article 39, follow: 1) Increase agricultural productivity by promoting technical progress and by ensuring rational development of agricultural production and optimum use of the production factors, particularly labor. 2) Ensure a fair standard of living for the agricultural community, in particular by increasing the individual earning of the persons engaged in agriculture. 3) Stabilize markets. 4) Assure the availability of supplies. 5) Ensure that supplies reach consumers at reasonable prices. The objectives of the CAP have been met, mostly through price policies that traditionally have been tied to production. The result of these policies is that production of many agricultural commodities has increased beyond levels necessary to meet CAP objectives and excess supplies have accumulated, been exported with subsidies, or both, at great expense to the European Community

Crystal Structure Analysis of a Putative Oxidoreductase From Klebsiella Pneumoniae

Klebsiella pneumoniae, a gram-negative enteric bacterium, is found in nosocomial infections which are acquired during hospital stays for about 10% of hospital patients in the United States. The crystal structure of a putative oxidoreductase from K. pneumoniae has been determined. The structural information of this K. pneumoniae protein was used to understand its function. Crystals of the putative oxidoreductase enzyme were obtained by the sitting drop vapor diffusion method using Polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350, Bis-Tris buffer, pH 5.5 as precipitant. These crystals were used to collect X-ray data at beam line X12C of the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). The crystal structure was determined using the SHELX program and refi ned with CNS 1.1. This protein, which is involved in the catalysis of an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction, has an alpha/beta structure. It utilizes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) or nicotine adenine dinucleotide (NAD) to perform its function. This structure could be used to determine the active and co-factor binding sites of the protein, information that could help pharmaceutical companies in drug design and in determining the protein’s relationship to disease treatment such as that for pneumonia and other related pathologies