Economic Impacts of Restricted Animal Movements in Mexico Due to Increased Mexican Regional Bovine Health Criteria

Tuberculosis restrictions on animal movement have important implications for Mexican producers and consumers as well as the U.S. beef cattle industry. The restrictions cause decreased Mexican cattle exports, increased domestic fed beef production, and decreased fed beef imports. The Mexican beef industry incurs greater costs due to increased interregional cattle and meat shipments and changes in regional beef cattle production in Mexico.Livestock Production/Industries,

Transboundary Movement of Atlantic Istiophorid Billfishes Among International and U.S. Domestic Management Areas Inferred from Mark-Recapture Studies

Billfish movements relative to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas management areas, as well as U.S. domestic data collection areas within the western North Atlantic basin, were investigated with mark-recapture data from 769 blue marlin, Makaira nigricans, 961 white marlin, Tetrapturus albidus, and 1,801 sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus. Linear displacement between release and recapture locations ranged from zero (all species) to 15,744 km (mean 575, median 119, SE 44) for blue marlin, 6,523 km (mean 719, median 216, SE 33) for white marlin, and 3,845 km (mean 294, median 98, SE 13) for sailfish. In total, 2,824 (80.0%) billfish were recaptured in the same management area of release. Days at liberty ranged from zero (all species) to 4,591 (mean 619, median 409, SE 24) for blue marlin, 5,488 (mean 692, median 448, SE 22) for white marlin, and 6,568 (mean 404, median 320, SE 11) for sailfish. The proportions (per species) of visits were highest in the Caribbean area for blue marlin and white marlin, and the Florida East Coast area for sailfish. Blue marlin and sailfish were nearly identical when comparing the percent of individuals vs. the number of areas visited. Overall, white marlin visited more areas than either blue marlin or sailfish. Seasonality was evident for all species, with overall results generally reflecting the efforts of the catch and release recreational fishing sector, particularly in the western North Atlantic. This information may be practical in reducing the uncertainties in billfish stock assessments and may offer valuable insight into management consideration of time-area closure regulations to reduce bycatch mortality of Atlantic billfishes

Family friendly? The impact on children of the family migration rules: a review of the financial requirements

This report, published by the Children's Commissioner, explores the impact on children of the financial requirements of the Immigration Rules (the ‘Rules’), in particular, the minimum income threshold of £18,600 per annum which came into force on 9th July 2012. The Rules govern the admission of spouses and partners from outside the European Economic Area

Family Friendly? The Impact on Children of the Family Migration Rules: A Review of the Financial Requirements

This is the final version of the article. Available from the office of the Children's Commissioner via the link in this record.This report was commissioned by the Children’s Commissioner for England from Middlesex University and the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI).Children's Commissioner of Englan

Organic Extracellular Matrix Components at the Bone Cell/Substratum Interface

We have recently shown that differentiating bone cells are capable of elaborating, in vitro, a calcified matrix at the interface with several non-biological substrata which is similar to cement lines found in remodelling bone tissue. From previous morphological observations, this matrix appeared free of assembled collagen fibres which indicated that osteogenic cells produce an initial mineralized matrix before overt collagen fibre production. In the work reported herein, we used six antibodies to extracellular matrix components and two conjugates of secondary antibody, fluorescein and colloidal gold, to initiate a preliminary characterization of the organic components at the bone cell substratum interface at early periods of culture. The labels were visualized by transmitted fluorescence light and immuno-gold scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Both secondary and backscattered modes were employed in the latter. The results showed that while chondroitin sulphate was ubiquitous in this culture system, osteopontin labeled discretely at the ends of cell pseudopodia, initially, following which the substratum surface was strongly labeled. The distribution of fibronectin was significantly different to that of osteopontin and indicated that this protein was primarily involved in cell/cell rather than cell/substratum adhesion. Although Type I collagen was not present in the extracellular matrix at early periods of culture, it was evident intracellularly at 3 days and extracellularly after the formation of the initial cement-like matrix. However, Type III collagen displayed the inverse sequence. In less mature cultures, it exhibited a ubiquitous distribution, while it was un-detectable at later stages of culture. Finally, osteocalcin was the only antibody employed which showed no labeling at early culture periods while at later stages, both the cellular compartment and the previously formed interfacial matrix labeled positively

KEY FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO COW/CALF COSTS, PROFITS AND PRODUCTION

In this study, cow/calf Standardized Performance Analysis (SPA) data for Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico are used to analyze how total cost, production, and profitability are affected by management choices. Total cost is the financial cost associated with raising a calf through the weaning stage; profits are measured using the rate of return on assets; production is determined by pounds weaned per exposed female. Variables such as herd size, pounds of feed fed, calving percentage, death loss, length of breeding season and investment in asset groups are used in regressions. Key factors contributing to a cow/calf operation's costs, production, and profitability are identified.Livestock Production/Industries,

A layered approach to technology transfer of AVIRIS between Earth Search Sciences, Inc. and the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory

Since initial contact between Earth Search Sciences, Inc. (ESSI) and the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) in February, 1994, at least seven proposals have been submitted in response to a variety of solicitations to commercialize and improve the AVIRIS instrument. These proposals, matching ESSI's unique position with respect to agreements with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to utilize, miniaturize, and commercialize the AVIRIS instrument and platform, are combined with the applied engineering of the INEL. Teaming ESSI, NASA/JPL, and INEL with diverse industrial partners has strengthened the respective proposals. These efforts carefully structure the overall project plans to ensure the development, demonstration, and deployment of this concept to the national and international arenas. The objectives of these efforts include: (1) developing a miniaturized commercial, real-time, cost effective version of the AVIRIS instrument; (2) identifying multiple users for AVIRIS; (3) integrating the AVIRIS technology with other technologies; (4) gaining the confidence/acceptance of other government agencies and private industry in AVIRIS; and (5) increasing the technology base of U.S. industry

SKA studies of nearby galaxies : star-formation, accretion processes and molecular gas across all environments

Copyright owned by the author(s) under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike LicenceThe SKA will be a transformational instrument in the study of our local Universe. In particular, by virtue of its high sensitivity (both to point sources and diffuse low surface brightness emission), angular resolution and the frequency ranges covered, the SKA will undertake a very wide range of astrophysical research in the field of nearby galaxies. By surveying vast numbers of nearby galaxies of all types with $\mu$Jy sensitivity and sub-arcsecond angular resolutions at radio wavelengths, the SKA will provide the cornerstone of our understanding of star-formation and accretion activity in the local Universe. In this chapter we outline the key continuum and molecular line science areas where the SKA, both during phase-1 and when it becomes the full SKA, will have a significant scientific impact.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Are health assets associated with improved outcomes for hospitalised older adults? A systematic review

Objective Health assets are protective factors that support health and wellbeing, rather than risk factors that are associated with disease. This concept was developed in the community setting. In hospitalised older adults, the dominant approach has been to identify risk factors, with little examination of health assets. The purpose of this systematic review was to determine whether, in hospitalised older people, individual health assets decrease the risk of post hospital mortality, functional decline, new need for residential care, readmission or longer length of stay. Methods MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsycINFO were searched to identify studies examining outcomes for hospitalised older adults. Included studies examined at least one potential individual health asset, which was a psychosocial characteristic or health characteristic. Study quality was assessed, and findings are narratively described. Results Nine prospective cohort and two retrospective cohort studies were identified. subjective, functional and biological health assets were identified. Health assets were associated with decreased risk of post-hospital mortality, functional decline, new need for residential care and readmission. Conclusion The complex interplay between health status and psychological and social factors is incompletely understood. Health assets are associated with improved outcomes for hospitalised older adults. The small number of studies suitable for inclusion indicates the need for further research in this area