An Assessment of the India Soy Protein Market

This research is a first step in determining India's future need for soy-based protein products. The objective of this study is to determine India's protein demand over the next ten years. Then, using the per capita protein demand derived from this study, along with income, population, and dietary information, per capita soy protein consumption was estimated for the same time period. It was found that income growth has a large positive affect on protein consumption.Demand and Price Analysis, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

An Empirical Investigation of Live Hog Demand

An inverse live hog demand model was estimated to analyze claims that the live hog own quantity demand flexibility's magnitude has increased in recent years. A second objective of this research was to estimate the impact changes in processing capacity utilization rates have on live hog prices. Results indicate that in recent years live hog prices have become more responsive to changes in hog slaughter, slaughter weight, and cold storage stocks. Additionally, changes in processing capacity utilization rates, at times, also have a relatively large impact on live hog prices. Finally, when the large live hog price decline that occurred during the fall of 1998 is examined, model results indicate that the sharp increase in processor's capacity utilization rates, an increase in average dressed weight, and the increase in hog slaughter all had a large negative effect on live hog prices.Demand and Price Analysis, Livestock Production/Industries,

Positron excitation of neon

The differential and total cross section for the excitation of the 3s1P10 and 3p1P1 states of neon by positron impact were calculated using a distorted-wave approximation. The results agree well with experimental conclusions

AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION OF LIVE HOG DEMAND

An inverse live hog demand model was estimated to analyze claims that the live hog own quantity demand flexibility's magnitude has increased in recent years. A second objective of this research was to estimate the impact changes in processing capacity utilization rates have on live hog prices. Iowa - Southern Minnesota barrow and gilt price was modeled as a function of average daily hog slaughter, a processing capacity utilization ratio, an index of processing and marketing costs, a retail demand shift index, pork cold storage stocks, and monthly binary variables. Results indicate that in recent years live hog prices have become more responsive to changes in hog slaughter. Additionally, changes in processing capacity utilization rates, at times, also have a relatively large impact on live hog prices. Finally, when the large live hog price decline that occurred during the fall of 1998 is examined, model results indicate that the accumulation of large pork cold storage stocks, the sharp increase in processor's capacity utilization rates, an increase in average dressed weight, and the increase in average daily hog slaughter all had a large negative effect on live hog prices.Live Hog Demand, Structural Change, Capacity Utilization, Demand and Price Analysis, Livestock Production/Industries,

Cross-Hedging Fishmeal: Exploring Corn and Soybean Meal Futures Contracts

During 2006 the fishmeal price nearly doubled from $500MT to over$900MT. The objective of this research is to determine the optimal cross-hedge ratio between fishmeal and soybean meal and corn, and corresponding hedging weight between corn and soybean. Results indicate all hedging weight should be placed on the corn futures contract. This is an interesting result since prior fishmeal cross-hedging research has not analyzed the corn futures contract as a risk management mechanism.Crop Production/Industries, Risk and Uncertainty,

Cash Ethanol Cross-Hedging Opportunities

This draft is dated April 2002.Increased use of alternative fuels and low commodity prices have contributed to the recent expansion of the US ethanol industry. As with any competitive industry, there exists some level of output price risk in the form of volatility. Yet, no actively traded ethanol futures market exists to mitigate output price risk. This study reports estimated minimum variance cross-hedge ratios between Detroit spot cash ethanol and the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) unleaded gasoline futures for 1-, 4-, 8-, 12-, 16-, 20-, 24-, and 28-week hedge horizons. The research suggests that a one-to-one cross-hedge ratio is not appropriate for some horizons

An Empirical Investigation of Live Hog Demand

This draft is from spring 2002.An inverse live hog demand model was estimated to analyze claims that the live hog own quantity demand flexibility's magnitude has increased in recent years. A second objective of this research was to estimate the impact changes in processing capacity utilization rates have on live hog prices. Results indicate that in recent years live hog prices have become more responsive to changes in hog slaughter, slaughter weight, and cold storage stocks. Additionally, changes in processing capacity utilization rates, at times, also have a relatively large impact on live hog prices. Finally, when the large live hog price decline that occurred during the fall of 1998 is examined, model results indicate that the sharp increase in processor's capacity utilization rates, an increase in average dressed weight, and the increase in hog slaughter all had a large negative effect on live hog prices

Malignancy within a tail gut cyst:a case of retrorectal carcinoid tumour

Purpose. Tailgut cysts with malignant transformation are rare entities. We discuss the diagnostic strategy and treatment of a malignancy within a tailgut cyst. Methods. In this study we report on the case of a 61-year-old man with a malignant neuroendocrine tumour arising within a tailgut cyst and an overview of the literature emphasising the histopathological characteristics and differential diagnosis. Results. Our patient presented with lower back pain, rectal pain, and increased urgency of defecation. MRI scan and CT-guided biopsy on histological analysis revealed a diagnosis of carcinoid tumour of the presacral space. The patient subsequently underwent an abdominoperineal excision of the rectum. Conclusions. This case highlights the importance of tailgut cysts as a differential diagnosis of presacral masses. It is a rare congenital lesion developing from remnants of the embryonic postanal gut and is predominantly benign in nature. Approximately half of cases remain asymptomatic; therefore, diagnosis is often delayed. Magnetic resonance imaging is the investigation of choice and an awareness of the possibility of malignant potential is critical to avoiding missed diagnosis and subsequent morbidity. Complete surgical excision allows accurate diagnosis, confirmation of oncological clearance, and prevention of mortality

Environmental Factors in the Relapse and Recurrence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease:A Review of the Literature

The causes of relapse in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are largely unknown. This paper reviews the epidemiological and clinical data on how medications (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, estrogens and antibiotics), lifestyle factors (smoking, psychological stress, diet and air pollution) may precipitate clinical relapses and recurrence. Potential biological mechanisms include: increasing thrombotic tendency, imbalances in prostaglandin synthesis, alterations in the composition of gut microbiota, and mucosal damage causing increased permeability