Resilience of grain storage markets to upheaval in futures markets

There has been an increase in the volume of long-only index funds in commodity markets as well as a time period where cash and futures markets did not converge. What is the economic impact of these events on storage markets? To answer this question the supply of storage is estimated before, during and after the rapid growth and the lack of convergence. An econometric model is used to estimate the supply of storage. Descriptive statistics are used to determine storage returns on Kansas City hard red winter wheat (KC HRWW), soybeans and corn across time periods. Empirical results suggest that markets were able to adapt to the influx of index fund trading as well as the concomitant lack of convergence. There is no strong relationship between the index funds investment and storage markets. Overall, the research indicates the resilience of storage markets to structural change

Peptidoglycan structure and dynamics in gram positive bacteria

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Resilience of Grain Storage Markets to Upheaval in Futures Markets

The past two decades have had times when grain cash and futures markets did not converge during delivery. What was the economic impact of this non-convergence on storage markets? To answer this question the supply of storage is estimated for corn, soybeans, and wheat. The lack of convergence is measured using a historical basis. The econometric model shows no relationship between the supply of storage and the lack of convergence. Thus, empirical results suggest that markets were able to adapt to the lack of convergence. Overall, the research indicates the resilience of storage markets to structural change

Ultra-low content physio-chemically crosslinked gelatin hydrogel improves encapsulated 3D cell culture

Gelatin-based hydrogels are extensively used for 3D cell culture, bioprinting, and tissue engineering due to their cell-adhesive nature and tunable physio-chemical properties. Gelatin hydrogels for 3D cell culture are often developed using high-gelatin content (frequently 10–15 % w/v) to ensure fast gelation and improved stability. While highly stable, such matrices restrict the growth of encapsulated cells due to creating a dense, restrictive environment around the encapsulated cells. Hydrogels with lower polymer content are known to improve 3D cell growth, yet fabrication of ultra-low concentration gelatin hydrogels is challenging while ensuring fast gelation and stability. Here, we demonstrate that physical gelation and photo-crosslinking in gelatin results in a fast-gelling hydrogel at a remarkably low gelatin concentration of 1 % w/v (GelPhy/Photo). The GelPhy/Photo hydrogel was highly stable, allowed uniform 3D distribution of cells, and significantly improved the spreading of encapsulated 3T3 fibroblast cells. Moreover, human cholangiocarcinoma (HuCCT-1) cells encapsulated in 1 % GelPhy/Photo matrix grew and self-assembled into epithelial cysts with lumen, which could not be achieved in a traditional high-concentration gelatin hydrogel. These findings pave the way to significantly improve existing gelatin hydrogels for 3D cell culture applications

Hydrocode modelling of hypervelocity impact on brittle materials: depth of penetration and conchoidal diameter

The Johnson-Holmquist brittle material model has been implemented into the AUTODYN hydrocode and used for Lagrangian simulations of hypervelocity impact of spherical projectiles onto soda-lime glass targets. A second glass model (based on a shock equation of state and the Mohr-Coulomb strength model) has also been used. Hydrocode simulations using these two models were compared with experimental results. At 5 km s(-1), the Mohr-Coulomb model under-predicted the depth of penetration, whilst adjustment of the Johnson-Holmquist model bulking parameter was required to match the experimental data to the simulation results. Neither model reproduced the conchoidal diameter; a key measured parameter in the analysis of retrieved solar arrays, so two failure models were used to investigate the tensile failure regime. A principal tensile failure stress model, with crack softening, when used with failure stresses between 100 and 150 MPa and varying bulking parameters, reproduced the conchoidal diameter morphology. Empirically-determined, power-law damage equation predictions for the range 5-15 km s(-1) were compared with simulations using both models since no experimental data was available. The power law velocity dependence of the depth of penetration simulations was found to be significantly lower than the 0.67 predicted by the empirically-determined damage equations