Valuing Fed Cattle Using Slice Shear Force Measurements

Marketing fed cattle using grid pricing has become a popluar way to sell cattle. One of the most important beef characteristics, according to consumers, is beef tenderness. USDA quality grades are poor predictors of meat tenderness. However, mechanical shear force does objectively measure tenderness. This study illustrates how problematic USDA quality grades are at assessing accurate beef tenderness and proposes and evaluates a tenderness-based valuation system based on slice shear force technology. We show that cattle of all quality grades are substantially over- or under-valued when using a grid realtive to a tenderness-based valuation system.Marketing,

Topological Analysis of Chaotic Transport Through a Ballistic Atom Pump

We examine a system consisting of two reservoirs of particles connected by a channel. In the channel are two oscillating repulsive potential-energy barriers. It is known that such a system can transport particles from one reservoir to the other, even when the chemical potentials in the reservoirs are equal. We use computations and the theory of chaotic transport to study this system. Chaotic transport is described by passage around or through a heteroclinic tangle. Topological properties of the tangle are described using a generalization of homotopic lobe dynamics, which is a theory that gives some properties of intermediate-time behavior from properties of short-time behavior. We compare these predicted properties with direct computation of trajectories

An evaluation of nursing students' perceptions on the efficacy of high fidelity clinical simulation to enhance their confidence, understanding and competence in managing psychiatric emergencies

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate final year mental health nursing students’ perceptions on the efficacy of using immersive high fidelity simulation to enhance their confidence, understanding and competence in managing psychiatric emergencies

Valuing Fed Cattle Using Objective Tenderness Measures

Beef tenderness is critical in consumer satisfaction with beef steak products. Current fed cattle valuation systems do not differentiate carcasses based upon tenderness variation. However, considerable research indicates consumers are willing to pay more for tender relative to tough beef steak. This article develops a tenderness-augmentation to current fed cattle grid pricing systems. Using a large set of actual carcasses, we determine that a tenderness-augmented price grid would reorder fed cattle value by on average nearly $5.00/cwt dressed relative to current valuation methods. Substantial opportunity is present to improve beef tenderness through new price signals to producers.beef quality, meat tenderness, cattle value, cattle price, Agribusiness, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Livestock Production/Industries, Q11, Q13, M31,

An innovative approach to improving father-child relationships for fathers who are noncompliant with child support payments: a mixed methods evaluation

Mixed methods were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the Fathers Offering Children Unfailing Support (FOCUS) program. FOCUS is a diversion program which is designed to offer an alternative to incarceration for fathers who are noncompliant with child support payments. Quantitative data were collected through a pretest/posttest design (n = 55) and qualitative data were collected through telephone interviews with FOCUS instructors (n = 2) and community key stakeholders (n = 5) and focus groups with FOCUS participants (n = 76). FOCUS appears to be benefiting children by increasing their fathers’ emotional support, strengthening co-parenting relationships, and promoting their fathers’ parenting skills

Evidence On The Effectiveness Of On-Line Homework

The purpose of this research is to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of on-line homework in principles of accounting classes.  We surveyed students to determine their degree of satisfaction with on-line homework and their perceptions about its effectiveness in enhancing their learning.   We also gathered data to determine the extent of online homework completed and its effect on class performance.  The results indicate that on-line homework increases student performance and that students believe that using on-line homework is an effective method of study

Compilation of articles about the Till Bill (The Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act)

Includes text of articles from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Athens Banner-Herald, and Tuscaloosa New

20 Years of Nordic event and festival research: a review and future research agenda

The research output during the last two decades suggests that events and festivals are of major importance for society both internationally and in a Nordic context. Existing literature, primarily published in a Nordic context, is reviewed and organized according to three broad areas: The event and festival consumer, the event or festival as organization and the effects and interrelationships of events and festivals with society. We discuss the contribution which Nordic research has made to the Nordic School and to international event and festival research and suggest a future research agenda focusing on methods, context and theories.publishedVersio