Impact of Mandatory Price Reporting on Fed Cattle Market Integration

Geographic fed cattle markets are important because cattle are bulky and perishable, and production and consumption areas are separated. These characteristics make cattle transportation costly and can contribute to segmented markets. This study uses USDA-AMS reported fed cattle market price data from five U.S. regional fed cattle markets to investigate the effects of mandatory price reporting on spatial market integration. Results indicate these markets have been, and remain, highly cointegrated after implementation of mandatory price reporting (MPR). Following introduction of mandatory price reporting, the five regional fed cattle markets have become more fully integrated (i.e., prices tend to move more closely one-for-one following introduction of MPR).cattle markets, cointegration, mandatory price reporting, market integration, regime shift, Livestock Production/Industries, Marketing,

EFFECT OF CAPTIVE SUPPLY ON FARM-TO-WHOLESALE BEEF MARKETING MARGIN

Debates about captive supplies have been ongoing for more than a decade. This study investigates the effects captive supplies have on the beef farm-to-wholesale marketing margin. A relative price spread (RPS) model is used to estimate beef farm-to-wholesale marketing margins. Estimates indicate that forward contracts and marketing agreements have a small positive relationship with margins that is marginally significant. Packer fed cattle may or may not be related to margins to depending upon model specification.Livestock Production/Industries, Marketing,

SPATIAL MARKET INTEGRATION IN REGIONAL CATTLE MARKETS

Geographic markets are extremely important to agriculture because agricultural products are bulky and/or perishable and production and consumption areas are separated. This study investigates how mandatory price reporting has influenced the degree of spatial market integration between U.S. regional fed cattle markets. Results indicate the market prices across the regional cattle markets are cointegrated. In addition, the amount of time it took for one market to react to the other markets change in price varied across the three time periods used in this study. This suggests mandatory price reporting has not substantially increased market integration.Industrial Organization,

Wind tunnel evaluation of YF-12 inlet response to internal airflow disturbances with and without control

The response of terminal-shock position and static pressures in the subsonic duct of a YF-12 aircraft flight-hardware inlet to perturbations in simulated engine corrected airflow were obtained with and without inlet control. Frequency response data, obtained with inlet controls inactive, indicated the general nature of the inherent inlet dynamics, assisted in the design of controls, and provided a baseline reference for responses with active controls. All the control laws were implemented by means of a digital computer that could be programmed to behave like the flight inlet's existing analog control. The experimental controls were designed using an analytical optimization technique. The capabilities of the controls were limited primarily by the actuation hardware. The experimental controls provided somewhat better attenuation of terminal shock excursions than did the YF-13 inlet control. Controls using both the forward and aft bypass systems also provided somewhat better attenuation than those using just the forward bypass. The main advantage of using both bypasses is in the greater control flexibility that is achieved

Naturally Striated Muscle: Investigating the process and consequence of ideographic striation

In U.S. America and much of the Western world, natural is a venerated symbolic placeholder for any number of assumed virtues and ideals. Present conflicts have brought forward questions about what natural (which I argue functions as an ideograph) should mean in contexts that seem to call for a formal, enforceable definition. In this study, I use the vocabulary of Deleuze and Guattari (1987) and the context of bodybuilding to work towards a theory of how ambiguous ideographs become striated. In this discussion I present instances where natural has been employed as a vehicle to cause harm, and I offer an advisement to rhetorical scholars on how we might approach striated ideographs in the future

Cougar Predation Behavior in North-Central Utah

Cougar (Puma concolor) predation has been identified as being one of several factors contributing to the decline of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) throughout the Western United States. In order to better understand how these elusive felines utilize their surroundings and prey, I examined and analyzed cougar predation behavior in North-Central Utah, using global positioning systems (GPS) data from 2002-2010. Twenty-three cougars were fitted with GPS collars and monitored for prey caching behavior. In total 775 potential cache sites were visited and 546 prey remains found. Mule deer comprised the majority of prey at cougar cache sites, but 11 other species were also found. Collectively, adult female mule deer were killed more than any other demographic class. Proportionally there was no difference in the sex or age class of deer killed by cougars in three different population segments, but seasonal differences were found in the number of kills made between cougar groups. Female cougars with kittens had a higher predation rate than males or solitary females, and seasonally more kills were made in the winter vs. summer. Cougars spent an average of 3.3 days on deer kills, and 6.2 days on elk kills. Habitat analyses suggested that cougars preferentially used Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) over other land cover types when caching prey, as well as selected unburned over burned areas for caching and foraging on prey. These results suggest that cougars utilize dense stands of vegetation cover when stalking and concealing their prey. Wildlife managers may want to consider the use of prescribed burns in areas of high cougar predation on mule deer. This habitat manipulation tool could simultaneously help mule deer populations by reducing the percent of stalking cover afforded to cougars when attempting to kill prey, along with increasing nutrient levels of newly burned foliage and allow for an increased diversity in forb and shrub species available to mule deer

The ties that blend: Social capital and family firm innovation

The research project empirically assesses the influence of an under-researched aspect of social capital on the family firm’s entrepreneurial behaviors. Specifically, blending social capital, which consists of bonding social capital and bridging social capital that develops between family firms and external family stakeholders, is considered in examining the family firm’s engagement in innovation efforts. Additionally, familial tie strength and outside business ownership of external family stakeholders are argued to moderate the proposed relationship between blending social capital and family firm innovation. The surveying methods for assessing the hypothesized relationships included conducting a two-wave study with adapted, modified, and validated scales. Also, some variables were collected using the Mississippi Secretary of State, the U.S. Copyright Office, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey databases. The theoretical model is analyzed using hierarchical regression and moderated regression using IBM SPSS 28 Process Macro (Hayes, 2021), structural equation modeling with AMOS, and scale development techniques to ensure the validity and reliability of the measurement instruments. The goal is to identify potential antecedents for enhancing the innovation capabilities of family firms

In vivo imaging approaches in animal models of rheumatoid arthritis

The interaction of activated leukocytes with the rheumatoid synovial environment is a key process in arthritis. Understanding this process will play an important role in designing effective treatments. In vivo imaging approaches combined with molecular genetics in animal models provide important tools to address these issues. The present review will focus on approaches to in vivo imaging, with particular attention to approaches that are proving useful for, or have promise for, research on animal models of rheumatoid arthritis. These approaches will probably shed light on the specific local mechanisms involved in chronic inflammation and provide real time monitoring approaches to follow cellular and molecular events related to disease development

Plasma Induced Damage to Thin Gate Oxides

Two mechanisms of plasma processing damage to thin gate oxide structures were studied. Thin 17.5 mu oxide on Si substrate structures were studied after direct exposure to a oxygen plasma environment with surface charge analysis and breakdown voltage measurements. A second antenna structure was used to study the charging effects of an oxygen plasma on 17.5 nm gate oxides through breakdown voltage measurements. A correlation was found between duration of plasma exposure and the extent of damage in terms of decreased dielectric strength and changes in oxide charge levels for both experiments