An Analysis of Cointegration: Investigation of the Cost-Price Squeeze in Agriculture

The differences in prices paid and prices received by farmers are examined using cointegration analysis. A Johansen cointegration test between prices paid and prices received revealed that the series were cointegrated. After accounting for technological change, we do not reject a long-run one-for-one correspondence between prices paid and prices received.Demand and Price Analysis,

Changes in Aβ non-nociceptive primary sensory neurons in a rat model of osteoarthritis pain

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pain is a major debilitating factor in osteoarthritis (OA), yet few mechanism-based therapies are available. To address the need to understand underlying mechanisms the aim of the present study was to determine changes in sensory neurons in an animal model of OA pain.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The model displayed typical osteoarthritis pathology characterized by cartilage degeneration in the knee joint and also manifested knee pathophysiology (edema and increased vasculature permeability of the joint) and altered nociception of the affected limb (hind paw tenderness and knee articulation-evoked reduction in the tail flick latency). Neurons included in this report innervated regions throughout the entire hind limb. Aβ-fiber low threshold mechanoreceptors exhibited a slowing of the dynamics of action potential (AP) genesis, including wider AP duration and slower maximum rising rate, and muscle spindle neurons were the most affected subgroup. Only minor AP configuration changes were observed in either C- or Aδ-fiber nociceptors.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Thus, at one month after induction of the OA model Aβ-fiber low threshold mechanoreceptors but not C- or Aδ-fiber nociceptors had undergone changes in electrophysiological properties. If these changes reflect a change in functional role of these neurons in primary afferent sensory processing, then Aβ-fiber non-nociceptive primary sensory neurons may be involved in the pathogenesis of OA pain. Further, it is important to point out that the patterns of the changes we observed are consistent with observations in models of peripheral neuropathy but not models of peripheral inflammation.</p

The Impact of Rising Energy Costs on Representative Farms

Recent increases in natural gas and fossil fuel based energy sources have had a negative impact on the financial condition of agricultural producers across the nation. • In addition to higher fuel costs for trucks, equipment, and irrigation motors, the cost of nitrogen fertilizer is closely linked to energy prices and has also increased significantly. • This study quantifies the impacts of these increases on the economic viability of representative farms located throughout the United States for the years 2005 and 2006.Crop Production/Industries,

Technology flows, outsourcing and productivity:an analysis of UK trade and FDI

The literature on technology spillovers from trade and FDI is ambiguous in its findings. This may in part be because of the assumption in much of the work that trade and FDI flows are homogeneous in their determinants and thus in their effects. We develop a taxonomy of trade and FDI determinants based on R&D intensity and unit labour cost differentials, and test for the presence of spillovers from inward investment and imports on an extensive sample of UK manufacturing plants. We find that both trade and FDI have measurable spillover effects, but the sign and extent of these effects varies depending on the technological and factor cost differentials between the recipient and host economies. There is therefore an identifiable link between the determinants and effects of trade and FDI which the previous literature has not explored

A semantic Grid for molecular science

Proceedings of the 2003 UK e-Science All Hands Meeting, 31st August - 3rd September, Nottingham UKThe properties of molecules have very well defined semantics and allow the creation of a semantic GRID. Markup languages (CML - Chemical Markup Language) and dictionary-based ontologies have been designed to support a wide range of applications, including chemical supply, publication and the safety of compounds. Many properties can be computed by Quantum Mechanical (QM) programs and we have developed a "black-box" system based on XML wrappers for all components. This is installed on a Condor system on which we have computed properties for 250, 000 compounds. The results of this will be available in an OpenData/OpenSource peer-to-peer (P2P) system (WorldWide Molecular Matrix - WWMM)

“We’ve Been Forgotten”: First-hand Perspectives on Teacher Leaders and Teacher Leadership in Urban Schools

The use of teacher leadership in PK-12 education has experienced a resurgence since the late 1990\u27s as school leadership models have evolved to include the engagement of diverse stakeholders in school and district leadership processes aimed at positive change and improvement efforts. Despite the recent evolution of school leadership, there remain several barriers to understanding the nature of the work that teacher leaders engage in and the contributions that they make to improvement efforts. This grounded theory study examined teacher perceptions of teacher leadership, the types of work teacher leaders should engage in and the boundaries of that work, and barriers to teacher leadership. Using interview data from 22 teachers in a large urban school district, we found that teachers function in many domains of work and are eager for pathways to leverage their expertise. We conclude by discussing the implications from our findings to district- and school-level leaders