The Diverse Structure and Organization of U.S. Beef Cow-Calf Farms

Beef cow-calf production in the United States is widespread, occurring in every State. Nearly 765,000 farms, about 35 percent of the 2.2 million farms in the United States, had a beef cow inventory in 2007. Most of these were small, part-time operations. About a third of farms that raise beef animals had a beef cow inventory of less than 10 cows, more than half had fewer than 20 cows, and nearly 80 percent had fewer than 50 cows. In this study, ERS uses data from USDA’s 2008 Agricultural Resource Management Survey for U.S. beef cow-calf operations to examine the structure, costs, and characteristics of beef cow-calf producers. Many small operations are “rural residence farms” that specialize in beef cow-calf production, but their income from off-farm sources exceeds that from the farm. Most beef cow-calf production occurs on large farms, but cow-calf production is not the primary enterprise on many of these farms. Findings suggest that operators of beef cow-calf farms have a diverse set of goals for the cattle enterprise.Beef cow-calf production, farm income, animal traceability, Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS), National Animal Identification System (NAIS), Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, Livestock Production/Industries,

Beef Cow-Calf Producer Participation in the National Animal Identification System

Farm Management, Livestock Production/Industries, Production Economics,

A Review of Micro-Contact Physics for Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) Metal Contact Switches

Innovations in relevant micro-contact areas are highlighted, these include, design, contact resistance modeling, contact materials, performance and reliability. For each area the basic theory and relevant innovations are explored. A brief comparison of actuation methods is provided to show why electrostatic actuation is most commonly used by radio frequency microelectromechanical systems designers. An examination of the important characteristics of the contact interface such as modeling and material choice is discussed. Micro-contact resistance models based on plastic, elastic-plastic and elastic deformations are reviewed. Much of the modeling for metal contact micro-switches centers around contact area and surface roughness. Surface roughness and its effect on contact area is stressed when considering micro-contact resistance modeling. Finite element models and various approaches for describing surface roughness are compared. Different contact materials to include gold, gold alloys, carbon nanotubes, composite gold-carbon nanotubes, ruthenium, ruthenium oxide, as well as tungsten have been shown to enhance contact performance and reliability with distinct trade offs for each. Finally, a review of physical and electrical failure modes witnessed by researchers are detailed and examined

English for Operating a Small Business

This materials development project is a course program designed for owners, operators, and managers of small businesses, who are non-native English speakers. Emphasis will be on business terms and the language used in operating a family owned or a small business. Topics covered include typical conversations with accountants, lawyers, insurance agents, bankers, suppliers, creditors, customers, and employees

Surface-Displacement Imaging Using Optical Beam Deflection

Important information on subsurface material parameters and structure is contained in the dynamics of surface motion. One of the most important techniques in quantitative nondestructive evaluation is optical sensing of surface displacement; it is noncontact, sensitive, fast, and capable of high spatial resolution. Laser interferometers in various configurations provide the ultimate in sensitivity [1]; however, due to their complexity and lack of flexibility, they may not be the first choice in applications where ultimate sensitivity is not required

APPROACH BY GREAT WHITE SHARK ELICITS FLIGHT RESPONSE IN BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75252/1/j.1748-7692.1996.tb00074.x.pd

Thin film Pb(0.9)Sn(0.1)Se photoconductive infrared detectors, metallurgical and electrical measurements

Pb(0.9)Sn(0.1)Se thin films were deposited onto cleaved (111) CaF(2) and BaF(2) substrates by either an open one-boat evaporation method or a Knudson type graphite boat method. On CaF(2), single crystal (100), (111), and polycrystalline (100)+(111) films were obtained. On BaF(2), single crystal (111) and polycrystalline (111)+(100) films were achieved. As-deposited films were not photosensitive. Photoconductivity was observed after isothermal annealing in Pb/Sn rich vapor to reduce their carrier concentrations to the mid-10(16) to mid-10(17) range. (100) films were more sensitive than either single crystal (111) or polycrystalline (100)+(111) films. At 100°K, 500°K blackbody responsivities up to 60V/W have been developed, compared with the best blackbody responsivities around 100-125 V/W reported for commercial photovoltaic detectors of Pb(1-x) Sn(1)Te operated at 77°K.http://archive.org/details/thinfilmpb09sn0100mcbrCaptain, United States Marine CorpsApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Backstage : inside the genesis and execution of "About A Band"

text"Backstage: Inside the Genesis and Execution of "About A Band'" details the shaping of the narrative in the second draft of the feature length screenplay "About A Band" and examines how the process was informed by influences both academic and cinematic.Radio-Television-Fil

Thin film Pb(0.9)Sn(0.1)Se photoconductive infrared detectors, metallurgical and electrical measurements

Pb(0.9)Sn(0.1)Se thin films were deposited onto cleaved (111) CaF(2) and BaF(2) substrates by either an open one-boat evaporation method or a Knudson type graphite boat method. On CaF(2), single crystal (100), (111), and polycrystalline (100)+(111) films were obtained. On BaF(2), single crystal (111) and polycrystalline (111)+(100) films were achieved. As-deposited films were not photosensitive. Photoconductivity was observed after isothermal annealing in Pb/Sn rich vapor to reduce their carrier concentrations to the mid-10(16) to mid-10(17) range. (100) films were more sensitive than either single crystal (111) or polycrystalline (100)+(111) films. At 100°K, 500°K blackbody responsivities up to 60V/W have been developed, compared with the best blackbody responsivities around 100-125 V/W reported for commercial photovoltaic detectors of Pb(1-x) Sn(1)Te operated at 77°K.http://archive.org/details/thinfilmpb09sn0100mcbrCaptain, United States Marine CorpsApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Does spinophilin play a role in alteration of NMDAR phosphorylation?

poster abstractNormal brain function requires proper organization of downstream signaling pathways. This organization can be modulated by protein phosphorylation. Protein phosphorylation is a balance of phosphatases, such as protein phosphatase 1 (PP1), and kinases such as protein kinase A (PKA) and cyclin dependent kinase 5 (CDK5). Proper targeting of these proteins is critical for their normal function and is perturbed in various disease states. Spinophilin is critical in targeting PP1 to various substrates making it important in regulating the phosphorylation state and thus the function of various proteins including glutamate receptors, such as AMPARs and NMDARs. NMDARs are abundant postsynaptic proteins that are critical for normal synaptic communication. It has been reported that NMDAR phosphorylation modulates channel function. Here we aim to understand if spinophilin regulates NMDAR phosphorylation and function as well as the mechanisms by which the spinophilin NMDAR interaction are altered. Specifically, we have found that the presence of spinophilin decreases the abundance of PP1 bound to NMDAR. This affect was not observed when a PP1 binding-deficient spinophilin mutant (F451A) was expressed. Furthermore, activation of endogenous PKA and/or overexpression of PKA catalytic subunit robustly increased the association between spinophilin and GluN1 and C-terminal tail of the GluN2B subunit of the NMDAR. Conversely, these associations are decreased when CDK5 is present. Our future studies will evaluate the role of spinophilin in regulating the phosphorylation state of the NMDAR. Taken together, our data demonstrate that spinophilin can associate with multiple subunits of the NMDAR in HEK293 cells and that protein kinases can biphasically modulate these associations