Attributes Preferred and Premiums Offered for Naturally Produced Beef Cattle

A growing number of beef cattle producers in the US are using limited information to determine whether or not it would be economical for them to grow naturally produced cattle. The objective was to discover the attributes that marketing companies prefer for the naturally produced cattle they purchase, and to elicit the price premiums being offered for cattle that possess these attributes. Results of a phone survey of companies that purchase natural cattle show that 27 out of 32 companies report their willingness to pay a premium of $5.95/cwt for cattle that have never received antibiotics, ionophores, hormones or animal by-products.Key words: attributes, beef, cattle, naturally produced, premiums, Agribusiness, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Livestock Production/Industries, Marketing,

OpenMutt - 3D Printed Robotic Quadruped

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is seeking a robotic dog as a research avenue for different biomechanical designs, control systems, and robotic designs for experimentation and study. The quadruped is based on several open-source platforms including James Bruton’s openDogV3, the MIT Mini-Cheetah, and the NYU Open Dynamic Robot Initiative. The implementation of this research will begin with a quarter model, consisting of a singular leg from the hip to the foot. The leg will be mounted on a benchtop test stand that allows for controlled movement and accessible experimentation. The leg will be separate from the full-model quadruped strictly for experimentation and any full-model revisions. The OpenMutt’s quarter model uses 3 Brushless DC Electric Motors (BLDC) attached to 3 cycloidal gearboxes as its main form of actuation. The majority of parts were manufactured using Polylactic Acid (PLA). Some leg testing has already been completed, but a synchronized movement is yet to be completed

OpenMutt - 3D Printed Robotic Quadruped

The objective of the OpenMutt project is to build a modular, open-source quadruped as a multidisciplinary research testbed for students and faculty. The design is based on proven models, including the MIT Mini-Cheetah, NYU Open Dynamic Robot, and Bruton’s openDogV3, with modifications to decrease manufacturing time and cost. OpenMutt utilizes 12 brushless motors, each attached to a cycloidal gearbox for actuation. The quarter model has three degrees of freedom, translational and rotational. A remote control will be used for general movement with impedance and PID controllers for torque and joint control. The majority of parts were additively manufactured with Fused Deposition Modeling(FDM) printers using Polylactic Acid(PLA) and Thermoplastic Polyurethane(TPU). A power supply will be used for quarter model testing, while the full model will use an onboard battery with the battery-management system (BMS). Due to the 13:1 gear ratio of the cycloidal gearbox, motors like the ones selected are adaptable to the model. The purpose behind the application of these methods is to ensure a platform that is easy to construct, iterate and learn with

Multidimensional Poverty Measurement and Analysis: Chapter 2 - The Framework

This working paper introduces the notation and basic concepts that are used throughout the OPHI Working Papers 82-91. The Paper has five sections. First we review unidimensional poverty measurement with particular attention to the well-known Foster-Greer-Thorbecke measures of income poverty as many methods presented in OPHI Working Paper 84 (Chapter 3 – Overview of Methods for Multidimensional Poverty Assessment) as well as the measure presented in OPHI Working Papers 86-90 (Chapters 5-9) are based on these measures. The second section introduces the notation and basic concepts for multidimensional poverty measurement that are used in subsequent chapters. Third we define indicators’ scales of measurement, and fourth, addressissues of comparability across people and dimensions. The fifth section systematically explains different properties that have been proposed in axiomatic approaches to multidimensional poverty measurement, which enable the analyst to understand the ethical principles embodied in a measure and to be aware of the direction of change they will exhibit under certain transformations

Anaesthesia and PET of the Brain

Although drugs have been used to administer general anaesthesia for more than a century and a half, relatively little was known until recently about the molecular and cellular effects of the anaesthetic agents and the neurobiology of anaesthesia. Positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) studies have played a valuable role in improving this knowledge. PET studies using 11C-flumazenil binding have been used to demonstrate that the molecular action of some, but not all, of the current anaesthetic agents is mediated via the GABAA receptor. Using different tracers labelled with 18F, 11C and 15O, PET studies have shown the patterns of changes in cerebral metabolism and blood flow associated with different intravenous and volatile anaesthetic agents. Within classes of volatile agents, there are minor variations in patterns. More profound differences are found between classes of agents. Interestingly, all agents cause alterations in the blood flow and metabolism of the thalamus, providing strong support for the hypothesis that the anaesthetic agents interfere with consciousness by interfering with thalamocortical communication.</p

Crystal Perfection Of HgI2 Studied By Neutron And Gamma-ray Diffraction

The crystalline perfection of wire sawn pieces of vapor grown single crystals of mercuric iodide was compared with the perfection of (00l) cleaved sections of the same crystal from which nuclear radiation detectors have been fabricated. The crystalline perfection was studied using neutron and gamma-ray diffraction rocking curves. Most of the gamma-ray data were obtained using a high intensity source of 153Sm gamma rays with a wavelength of λ = 0.12 Å. Some of the data were obtained using highly penetrating 198Au gamma rays with a shorter wavelength of λ = 0.03 Å. The neutrons had a wavelength of λ = 1.07 Å. It was found that, in terms of the mosaic spread of the crystals, the cleaved detector plates have a much lower crystalline perfection than the thicker uncleaved detector plates. At the same time, the results show that for detectors cut from the same crystal, the one with the lower spectral resolution for radiation detection will also have a lower perfection and larger width of the gamma-ray rocking curve. These results suggest consideration should be given to alternative fabrication procedures for HgI2 nuclear radiation detectors

Development of a self-report measure of capability wellbeing for adults: the ICECAP-A

Purpose The benefits of health and social care are not confined to patient health alone and therefore broader measures of wellbeing may be useful for economic evaluation.\ud This paper reports the development of a simple measure of capability wellbeing for adults (ICECAP-A).\ud Methods In-depth, informant-led, interviews to identify the attributes of capability wellbeing were conducted with 36 adults in the UK. Eighteen semi-structured, repeat interviews were carried out to develop a capability-based descriptive system for the measure. Informants were purposively selected to ensure variation in socio-economic status, age, sex, ethnicity and health. Data analysis was carried out inductively and iteratively alongside interviews, and findings were used to shape the questions in later interviews.\ud Results Five over-arching attributes of capability wellbeing were identified for the measure: ‘‘stability’’,‘‘attachment’’, ‘‘achievement’’, ‘‘autonomy’’ and ‘‘enjoyment’’. One item, with four response categories, was developed for each attribute for the ICECAP-A descriptive system.\ud Conclusions The ICECAP-A capability measure represents a departure from traditional health economics outcome measures, by treating health status as an influence over broader attributes of capability wellbeing. Further work is required to value and validate the attributes and test the sensitivity of the ICECAP-A to healthcare interventions

A human rights-consistent approach to multidimensional welfare measurement applied to sub-Saharan Africa

We discuss and compare the properties of the multidimensional poverty index and first-order dominance approach and apply both measures to 26 African countries using data near 2002 and 2012. Results across the two measures are broadly similar but not the same. For example, while the multidimensional poverty index suggests that all countries are advancing, FOD indicates that 14 countries experience broad-based progress, two countries show more moderate likelihoods of progress, and the remaining 10 countries neither improve nor deteriorate in terms of attainment of rights for the dimensions considered. We conclude that the multidimensional poverty index and first-order dominance approaches are useful complements that should be employed in tandem.PRIFPRI3; ISI; 5 Strengthening Institutions and Governance; G Cross-cutting gender themeEPT

Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Poverty Measurement, Epistemic Injustices and Social Activism

As we enter the 2020s, global poverty is still a grave and persistent problem. Alleviating and eradicating poverty within and across the world’s societies requires a thorough understanding of its nature and extent. Although economists still standardly measure absolute and relative poverty in monetary terms, a consensus is emerging that poverty is a socially relational problem involving deprivations in multiple dimensions, including health, standard of living, education and political participation. The anthology Dimensions of Poverty advances the interdisciplinary debate on multidimensional poverty, and features contributions from leading international experts and early career researchers (including from the Global South). This introductory chapter gives an overview of formative debates, central concepts and key findings. While monetary poverty measures are still dominant in public and academic debate, their explanatory power has been drawn into question. We discuss relevant criticisms before outlining the normative concepts that can inform both multidimensional poverty and monetary measures, including basic capabilities, basic needs and social primary goods. Next, we introduce several influential multidimensional poverty indices, including the Human Development Index and the Multidimensional Poverty Index. The anthology shows in detail how such measures can be improved, from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. It shows that there are different methods of poverty research that require further investigation, including participatory studies, (value) surveys, public consensus building, the constitutional approach, and financial diaries. Finally, we show that there is an ongoing problem of epistemic asymmetries in global poverty research, and discuss responsibility for addressing poverty, including the responsibilities of academics. The remainder of the chapter is dedicated to a more detailed preview of the volume’s 20 contributions, which are assembled along the following five themes: (I) poverty as a social relation; (II) epistemic injustices in poverty research; (III) the social context of poverty; (IV) measuring multidimensional poverty; and (V) country cases

The use of Low-Cost Particulate Matter Sensors and Their Future use with Unmanned Aircrafts

Atmospheric pollution is responsible for killing more than seven million people around the globe, according to the World Health Organization. Among the pollutants that contribute to air pollution, aerosols, defined as any liquid or solid particulate matter suspended or dispersed in the atmosphere, are a significant contributor to human morbidity and mortality. Current attempts to measure atmospheric PM are not only cumbersome and costly but also lack high spatiotemporal resolution. Recently, low cost sensors have been used to address these economic, practical, and technological shortcomings. This research aims at using LCSs in diverse environments and across different seasons in order to address the existing infrastructure’s spatial and temporal limitations. Commercial Low-cost sensors will be placed in three different operational modes in order to characterize the horizontal and vertical profiles of atmospheric PM. These modes vary in the dimensions that they sample: (1) stationary 1D collocated with a PM monitor based on the federal equivalent method at a suburban site, (2) mobile on a manned vehicle 2D touring the ERAU campus, and (3) mobile on unmanned vehicle 3D flying at urban, suburban, and rural sites. The different commercial LCSs will be used in this effort, relying on light scattering techniques or optical particle counters. Validation will take place by: (1) collocating LCSs with EPA monitoring stations, (2) comparing data to several other PM measurement devices, and (3) mounting a PM measurement device to a tethered balloon