BUDSYS: A New Tool for Farm Enterprise Analysis

Farm Management,

Analysis of the Meat Processing Industry in the United States

Livestock Production/Industries,

COW CALF - PLUS: A Computer Decision Tool for Cattlemen to Improve Production Decisions

Livestock Production/Industries,

2003 Estimated Machinery Costs for South Carolina Farms

Farm Management,

Costs and Returns Analysis for South Carolina Shrimp Trawlers

This document provides an explanation on how shrimp trawler owners/operators can analyze the effects of changing costs and ex-vessel prices on the profitability of operating a shrimp trawler. An Excel spreadsheet is provided with sample boat costs and revenues. The spreadsheet allows the trawler owner/operator to enter costs and revenues data for their own vessel. This can be used to estimate average costs of landing a pound of shrimp by the vessel owner/operator and the profit (loss) per pound of landed shrimp. As input costs vary for key items like fuel, ice, BRDS, etc, the trawler owner can estimate the impact of these input costs on the total average cost of landing a pound of shrimp. Similarly, as the ex-vessel (landed) price for a pound of shrimp changes, the vessel owner/operator can estimate the impact of these price changes on the profitability of operating the trawler.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

2000 Estimated Machinery Costs for South Carolina Farms

Farm Management,

Development of freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) seed production and culture technology in the Mekong Delta Region of Vietnam: A review of the JIRCAS Project at Cantho University.

The Mekong Delta of Vietnam is a region rich in aquatic resources having high potential for aquaculture development. Inland aquaculture in the Mekong Delta has greatly increased since the last decade. Fish culture carried out in combination with other agricultural activities such as animal husbandry and rice cultivation, and intensive aquaculture in ponds and cages have been the dominant forms of fish production. However, the giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, has recently become a species of economic significance and the target of aquaculture activity in the Mekong Delta. M. rosenbergii is cultured throughout the region in the rice fields, ponds, orchard gardens and in pens along river banks. The major constraints in this industry are seed supply and culture techniques, becoming the major obstacles for the further development of the culture of this species. In a collaborative research project implemented between the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) and Cantho University (CTU) since 1994, studies have been carried out on various aspects relating to the establishment of M. rosenbergii seed production and culture technology. The project is now in the middle of its second phase and has generated a great deal of scientific and practical information. This paper presents an overview of the achievements of this project

Carbonic anhydrase and Na/K-ATPase activities during the molt cycle of low salinity-reared white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

Changes in hemolymph osmolality, ion concentrations, and enzymatic activities of carbonic anhydrase (CA) in the gills and epidermal tissue, and Na/K-ATPase in the gills during the molt cycle were investigated in the white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. Hemolymph osmolality was high in the intermolt and early premolt stages, but started to decrease prior to ecdysis through to postmolt stages A and B. Changes in Na? and Cl- ion concentrations paralleled those in hemolymph osmolality. CA activity levels in the anterior and posterior gills were low at intermolt stage C0 and premolt stage D0, and maximum at premolt stage D3. In the epidermal tissue, activity was relatively high at intermolt stage C0 and premolt stage D0, but fluctuated towards premolt stage D3 and postmolt stage A. On the other hand, Na/K-ATPase activity in the gills decreased between intermolt stage C0 and premolt stage D2, but increased at premolt stage D3 and postmolt stage A. The changes in patterns of CA activity during the molt cycle suggest that CA may be involved in supplying counter-ions for Na? and Cl- uptake during molting. Branchial Na/K-ATPase appears to be involved in producing local osmotic gradients in order to support water influx across the epithelium

Adenosine A2A Receptor Ligation Inhibits Osteoclast Formation

Adenosine is generated in increased concentrations at sites of injury/hypoxia and mediates a variety of physiological and pharmacological effects via G protein–coupled receptors (A1, A2A, A2B, and A3). Because all adenosine receptors are expressed on osteoclasts, we determined the role of A2A receptor in the regulation of osteoclast differentiation. Differentiation and bone resorption were studied as the macrophage colony-stimulating factor-1–receptor activator of NF-κB ligand formation of multinucleated tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)–positive cells from primary murine bone marrow–derived precursors. A2A receptor and osteoclast marker expression levels were studied by RT-PCR. Cytokine secretion was assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In vivo examination of A2A knockout (KO)/control bones was determined by TRAP staining, micro–computed tomography, and electron microscopy. The A2A receptor agonist, CGS21680, inhibited osteoclast differentiation and function (half maximal inhibitory concentration, 50 nmol/L), increased the percentage of immature osteoclast precursors, and decreased IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α secretion, an effect that was reversed by the A2A antagonist, ZM241385. Cathepsin K and osteopontin mRNA expression increased in control and ZM241385-pretreated osteoclasts, and this was blocked by CGS21680. Micro–computed tomography of A2AKO mouse femurs showed a significantly decreased bone volume/trabecular bone volume ratio, decreased trabecular number, and increased trabecular space. A2AKO femurs showed an increased TRAP-positive osteoclast. Electron microscopy in A2AKO femurs showed marked osteoclast membrane folding and increased bone resorption. Thus, adenosine, acting via the A2A receptor, inhibits macrophage colony-stimulating factor-1–receptor activator of NF-κB ligand–stimulated osteoclast differentiation and may regulate bone turnover under conditions in which adenosine levels are elevated