HEDGING RISK FOR FEEDER CATTLE WITH A TRADITIONAL HEDGE COMPARED TO A RATIO HEDGE

This paper compares hedging risk for various weights of feeder cattle hedged with a traditional cross hedge and a ratio cross hedge. A traditional hedge calls for the purchase/sale of one pound of futures for each pound of cash feeder cattle. By contrast, a ratio hedge requires estimation of a hedge ratio to determine the number of pounds of futures needed to hedge one pound of cash feeder cattle. Hedge ratios were found to be larger than 1.0 for light-weight feeder cattle. By using the estimated hedge ratios, it was shown that hedging risk could be reduced 20-50 percent compared to that achieved by using a hedge ratio of 1.0.Livestock Production/Industries,

The Cotton Wizard: A Software Implementation of a Cotton Variety Selection Model

The Cotton Wizard is an implementation of a cotton variety selection model intended to assist decision-makers (including producers, farm managers, extension specialists, and breeders) in variety selection. The program uses objective cotton performance test data available from state agricultural experiment stations. The decision criteria for variety selection are based on expected economic return (mean net revenue) of a variety and the variability of returns (coefficient of variation). Total revenue is calculated from lint price and seed price, and lint and seed yields. Lint and seed prices are determined by their respective quality characteristics. Adjustments are made for costs that may differ among varieties, such as planting seed cost (seed and technology costs), harvest and ginning costs, and herbicide and insecticide costs in comparisons of transgenic and conventional varieties. Users are provided with information on varieties—such as mean net revenue (total revenue less costs), variability in net revenue, and agronomic characteristics—to aid in the decision process. The Cotton Wizard is available as a Web application.Crop Production/Industries, Farm Management, Production Economics,

Study of spacecraft direct readout meteorological systems

Characteristics are defined of the next generation direct readout meteorological satellite system with particular application to Tiros N. Both space and ground systems are included. The recommended space system is composed of four geosynchronous satellites and two low altitude satellites in sun-synchronous orbit. The goesynchronous satellites transmit to direct readout ground stations via a shared S-band link, relayed FOFAX satellite cloud cover pictures (visible and infrared) and weather charts (WEFAX). Basic sensor data is transmitted to regional Data Utilization Stations via the same S-band link. Basic sensor data consists of 0.5 n.m. sub-point resolution data in the 0.55 - 0.7 micron spectral region, and 4.0 n.m. resolution data in the 10.5 - 12.6 micron spectral region. The two low altitude satellites in sun-synchronous orbit provide data to direct readout ground stations via a 137 MHz link, a 400 Mhz link, and an S-band link

Advanced protective coating for superalloys

Superior oxidation protection for nickel-base alloys at temperatures up to 1367 K was obtained with cobalt-base alloy coating. Coating had 25 Cr, 14 Al, and 0.5 Y weight percent composition. Coating was applied by electron beam vapor deposition to thickness of 76 to 127 microns

SIMPLE AND MULTIPLE CROSS-HEDGING OF RICE BRAN

Feasibility of forward pricing sales of rice bran via cross-hedging was investigated. Corn, oats, wheat, and soybean meal futures were considered as simple and multiple cross-hedging media. Simulation results indicated that simple cross-hedging using corn futures would be most effective in reducing price risks.Demand and Price Analysis,

RAPID TRANSPORT OF PROTEIN IN THE OPTIC SYSTEM OF THE GOLDFISH 1

Several amino acids, particularly [ 3 H]proline and [ 3 H]asparagine specifically and efficiently labelled rapidly transported proteins in the goldfish optic nerve and tectum after intraocular injection. Studies with these amino acids showed that the rapidly transported proteins moved as a discrete band at a rate which was temperature-dependent, and was equal to 70-100 mm per day at 20°C. Transported protein in the optic tectum was 80 per cent particulate and was found in synaptosomal, mitochondrial, and myelin fractions, but not in purified nuclei or ribosomes.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66053/1/j.1471-4159.1971.tb11965.x.pd

Examining the Relationship Between Teacher Performance Ratings and District Under the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System

The soundness of the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System (OTES) depends heavily on evaluators’ uniform interpretation of the qualitative Teacher Performance rubric. This study investigates the relationship between teachers’ district of employment, and the Teacher Performance ratings they receive under OTES. For Ohio districts that implemented OTES in 2012-2013, 2013-2014, and 2014-2015, the proportion of various Teacher Performance ratings and Student Growth Measures ratings are examined and compared to statewide proportions, using descriptive data and a log-linear model. Findings speak to the importance of a continued or renewed emphasis on fostering uniform interpretation and implementation of teacher evaluation rubrics and systems