SOME TESTS OF THE ECONOMIC THEORY OF COOPERATIVES: METHODOLOGY AND APPLICATION TO COTTON GINNING

Little progress has been made in testing the often conflicting hypotheses generated from theoretical research on cooperatives. This paper addresses the deficiency by describing and applying (to California cotton ginning cooperatives) a methodology to test key hypotheses concerning (a) cooperativesÂ’ price-output equilibrium, (b) allocative efficiency, and (c) utilization of capital inputs. The empirical results (a) are consistent with predictions from the game theory model of cooperative behavior, (b) reject the null hypothesis of absolute allocative efficiency, and (c) indicate absolute overutilization of capital inputs among the sample cooperatives.Agribusiness, Crop Production/Industries,

DOES BRANDED FOOD PRODUCT ADVERTISING HELP OR HURT FARMERS?

A two-stage model is developed to study food processing firms' brand advertising and its welfare effects on farmers in a duopsony/duoploy setting. In stage 1 firms compete to differentiate their products through brand advertising, and in stage 2 firms engage in quality competition. Farmers may benefit or lose form brand advertising under alternative market conditions.Marketing,

Vertical Market Structure, Commodity Exports and Trade Reform

In the analysis of commodity markets, comparatively little attention is paid to the fact that commodity exports are intermediates that form inputs into the food processing and retail sectors in developed countries. Exporting countries correspondingly argue that access to developed country markets are determined by market structure characteristics of the downstream food sector. Given the vertical nature of these markets, they are most appropriately characterised by successive oligopoly and/or oligopsony. We explore trade policy issues facing commodity exporters, and show that the impact of tariff reform on commodity exporters is determined by the market structure characteristics of the downstream sectors.vertical market structure, trade reform, Industrial Organization, International Relations/Trade, F12, Q17,

SWECS tower dynamics analysis methods and results

Several different tower dynamics analysis methods and computer codes were used to determine the natural frequencies and mode shapes of both guyed and freestanding wind turbine towers. These analysis methods are described and the results for two types of towers, a guyed tower and a freestanding tower, are shown. The advantages and disadvantages in the use of and the accuracy of each method are also described

ANALYZING VERTICAL MARKET STRUCTURE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR TRADE LIBERALIZATION AND MARKET ACCESS

International Relations/Trade,

Extremely uniform tunnel barriers for low-cost device manufacture

We report on the final steps needed to achieve the level of control over the properties of single tunnel barriers of AlAs needed to allow the manufacture of high-volume low-cost microwave and millimeter-waves detectors. We achieve a 1% standard deviation of the current–voltage characteristics across 2-in wafers and average currents from different wafers varying by 1%, when modeling shows that a monolayer error in the AlAs barrier layer thickness would result in a 270% change in the same electrical characteristics.This work was supported in part by the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council and in part by the Royal Society’s Mercer Innovation Award.This is the final version. It was first published by IEEE at http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?arnumber=7097674

Evaluation of A Biological Agent For Controlling Basidiomycete Attack of Douglas-fir and Southern Pine

A biological control agent (Binab®) containing Trichoderma polysporum and T. harzianum was evaluated for its ability to prevent or arrest attack of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) sapwood and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) heartwood by five Basidiomycetes commonly isolated from poles in service. Studies of Lentinus lepideus were included for comparison. In general, the biocontrol agents performed well against L. lepideus and other brown-rot fungi out of ground contact, but they did not completely eliminate most of the test fungi. The biological control agents had little effect on L. lepideus when the wood was exposed to soil. In addition, the biocontrol agents had little effect on white-rot fungi, which are an important component of the microflora in decaying poles. Results suggest that Binab® is not suitable for remedial decay control without supplemental treatments that favor growth and activity of Trichoderma

Fertilizing capacity and ultrastructure of fowl and turkey spermatozoa before and after freezing

The fertilizing capacity, motility and ultrastructure of fowl and turkey spermatozoa were examined at various stages of the freezing process. For both species, fertility and motility were depressed after equilibration with dimethylsulphoxide at 5 °C. After freezing, motility was maintained at 55% for fowl spermatozoa and 40% for turkey spermatozoa; however, fertility was 55% for the fowl and 0% for the turkey. Qualitatively, the damage to the spermatozoa of both species was nearly identical, as revealed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The plasmalemma was the primary site of damage. \u27Bent\u27 spermatozoa, coiled tails and swollen mitochondria were also present. Damage to the acrosome was only observed in spermatozoa which had been frozen to -180 ° or -196 °C. These changes were attributed to adverse osmotic conditions. Binding of cationic ferritin to the plasmalemma of spermatozoa from both species remained unaltered

Controlling Decay Fungi in Douglas-Fir Heartwood with Pelletized Sodium N-Methyldithiocarbamate

A small block test was used in assessing whether pelletized sodium n-methyldithiocarbamate (NaMDC) would decompose and produce methylisothiocyanate (MITC) and thereby eliminate Antrodia carbonica colonies from Douglas-fir heartwood. Also evaluated were the effects of wood moisture content, dosage, incubation period, pH level, and presence of copper sulfate on percentage of kill of the fungus and amount of MITC in the wood. Increasing moisture content produced the most dramatic increases in MITC production and fungal control. The effects of pH and the presence of copper ions were more variable. The results indicate that pelletized NaMDC can effectively control fungal infestations in Douglas-fir heartwood. Field studies are planned