ANALYSIS OF THE RISK MANAGEMENT PROPERTIES OF GRAZING CONTRACTS VERSUS FUTURES AND OPTION CONTRACTS

A stochastic budget simulator and generalized stochastic dominance are used to compare the risk management properties of grazing contracts to futures and option contracts. The results show that the risks of backgrounding feeder cattle are reduced significantly for pasture owners in a grazing contract. However, the risks of the cattle owner in a grazing contract are not significantly reduced. The results show that generally risk adverse pasture owners prefer grazing contracts to integrated production when traditional hedging is used to manage price risks. In addition, grazing contracts compare favorably with put option contracts for some pasture owners.Backgrounding, Futures contracts, Grazing contracts, Options contracts, Risk management, Risk and Uncertainty,

"Together we teach them safe sex" HIV education program for men who have sex with men (MSM)

Gay men were the first to be blamed for AIDS. The first reported case, of what later came to be known as AIDS, was identified in 1981 in the USA among gay men. The disease was quickly termed as the “gay plague” by the media, with massive blame unjustifiably heaped on to gay men. The linking of gay men to AIDS led to the development of a homophobia among the general public and an AIDS phobia within the gay community. This initial strong stigmatisation and discrimination against gay men and / or MSM (Men Who Have Sex with Men) has been enduring. Based upon my experience of directing educational programs for MSM in Hong Kong, I now share with you an alternative approach to safe sex prevention intervention.AsiaPacifiQueer Network, Australian National Universit

A Workshop About Land-Use Decision-Making in the Context of Community/Societal Values

Community based land-use decision-making is often left to an oligarchy who are familiar with the planning process. Stakeholders are frequently under-represented, possibly because of their unwillingness to participate due to the unfamiliarity with the process. The workshop described here develops participants\u27 understanding of a land-use planning process and the complexity of socio-economic values using individual reflection and shared perspective through writing, model-making, presentations, and discussions. Using consensus-building strategies, along with a documentary film, participants engage in several hands-on group activities. Shared values in combination with new community perspectives are realized through a series of workshop activities

A framework of environmental mitigation for the convention and exhibition centers in the China greater Bay area

The numerous participants in convention and exhibition (C&E) events and the consequently huge consumption of direct and indirect resources have increased the environmental pressure on C&E centers to implement environmentally friendly practices and procedures. This paper explores the innovative methods adopted by green-certified C&E centers and synthesizes a reference framework of environmental mitigation practices for the C&E sector in the Greater Bay Area, which was recently designated as a major regional development area in China. Eleven green-certified C&E centers were selected to establish a comprehensive and indicative framework containing 59 actual environmental practices in three major categories. Suggestions made by 12 experts for modifying the fit of the constructed framework to suit the local geographical and climatic situations of C&E centers in the China Greater Bay Area were examined

Mass fluxes and isofluxes of methane (CH4) at a New Hampshire fen measured by a continuous wave quantum cascade laser spectrometer

We have developed a mid‐infrared continuous‐wave quantum cascade laser direct‐absorption spectrometer (QCLS) capable of high frequency (≥1 Hz) measurements of 12CH4 and 13CH4 isotopologues of methane (CH4) with in situ 1‐s RMS image precision of 1.5 ‰ and Allan‐minimum precision of 0.2 ‰. We deployed this QCLS in a well‐studied New Hampshire fen to compare measurements of CH4 isoflux by eddy covariance (EC) to Keeling regressions of data from automated flux chamber sampling. Mean CH4 fluxes of 6.5 ± 0.7 mg CH4 m−2 hr−1 over two days of EC sampling in July, 2009 were indistinguishable from mean autochamber CH4 fluxes (6.6 ± 0.8 mgCH4 m−2 hr−1) over the same period. Mean image composition of emitted CH4 calculated using EC isoflux methods was −71 ± 8 ‰ (95% C.I.) while Keeling regressions of 332 chamber closing events over 8 days yielded a corresponding value of −64.5 ± 0.8 ‰. Ebullitive fluxes, representing ∼10% of total CH4 fluxes at this site, were on average 1.2 ‰ enriched in 13C compared to diffusive fluxes. CH4 isoflux time series have the potential to improve process‐based understanding of methanogenesis, fully characterize source isotopic distributions, and serve as additional constraints for both regional and global CH4 modeling analysis

Povezanost između snage trupa i pokazatelja sportske uspješnosti

Development of core muscle strength and power to improve sport performance has been a controversial issue yielding mixed results. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between two core field tests emphasizing power and measures of sport performance. Participants were twenty healthy, recreationally active males (age 23.40±1.88 yrs, height 174.63±5.81 cm, mass 76.08±7.67 kg). Participants were tested on four performance variables (40-yd sprint, shuttle run [5-10-5], vertical jump, and 1RM back squat) and two core field tests (front abdominal power throw [FAPT] and side abdominal power throw [SAPT]). Results demonstrated significant moderate correlations between the FAPT and 1RM back squat (r=.652) and relative back squat (r=.509). No other significant correlations were found. Results indicate that although the FAPT and SAPT tests are easy to perform in the field, most, but not all, performance measures were unrelated to core power. In order to properly assess the core and its role in human performance, it is necessary to evaluate sport-specific muscle actions and movements.Razvijanje mišićne jakosti i snage trupa kako bi se unaprijedila sportska izvedba i uspješnost jest kontroverzan znanstveni i stručni problem istraživanje kojega daje miješane rezultate. Cilj je ovoga istraživanja bilo utvrđivanje povezanosti između dva terenska testa za procjenu snage trupa i pokazatelja sportske uspješnosti. Uzorak ispitanika činilo je 20 zdravih, rekreativno aktivnih muškaraca (dob 23,40±1,88 godina, tjelesna visina 174,63±5,81 cm, tjelesna masa 76,08±7,67 kg). Sportska uspješnost ispitanika procijenjena je četirima testovima (sprint na 40 jarda, shuttle run: 5-10-5 jarda, vertikalni skok i maksimalni stražnji čučanj), a snaga njihova trupa (core) procijenjena je dvama terenskim testovima (eksplozivno bacanje medicinke prema naprijed – FAPT, i eksplozivno bacanje medicinke strance – SAPT). Rezultati analiza su pokazali značajne umjerene korelacije između FAPT i maksimalnoga stražnjega čučnja (r=,652) i relativnoga stražnjega čučnja (r=,509). Nisu utvrđene značajne korelacije između ostalih testova. Rezultati pokazuju da, iako je terenske testove FAPT i SAPT vrlo lako provoditi, većina, ali ne i sve varijable koje procjenjuju sportsku uspješnost nisu u korelaciji sa snagom trupa procijenjenom navedenim testovima. Da bi se adekvatno procijenila snaga trupa i njena uloga u sportskoj izvedbi i uspješnosti, potrebno je vrednovati sportu svojstvene mišićne akcije i kretnje

Povezanost između snage trupa i pokazatelja sportske uspješnosti

Development of core muscle strength and power to improve sport performance has been a controversial issue yielding mixed results. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between two core field tests emphasizing power and measures of sport performance. Participants were twenty healthy, recreationally active males (age 23.40±1.88 yrs, height 174.63±5.81 cm, mass 76.08±7.67 kg). Participants were tested on four performance variables (40-yd sprint, shuttle run [5-10-5], vertical jump, and 1RM back squat) and two core field tests (front abdominal power throw [FAPT] and side abdominal power throw [SAPT]). Results demonstrated significant moderate correlations between the FAPT and 1RM back squat (r=.652) and relative back squat (r=.509). No other significant correlations were found. Results indicate that although the FAPT and SAPT tests are easy to perform in the field, most, but not all, performance measures were unrelated to core power. In order to properly assess the core and its role in human performance, it is necessary to evaluate sport-specific muscle actions and movements.Razvijanje mišićne jakosti i snage trupa kako bi se unaprijedila sportska izvedba i uspješnost jest kontroverzan znanstveni i stručni problem istraživanje kojega daje miješane rezultate. Cilj je ovoga istraživanja bilo utvrđivanje povezanosti između dva terenska testa za procjenu snage trupa i pokazatelja sportske uspješnosti. Uzorak ispitanika činilo je 20 zdravih, rekreativno aktivnih muškaraca (dob 23,40±1,88 godina, tjelesna visina 174,63±5,81 cm, tjelesna masa 76,08±7,67 kg). Sportska uspješnost ispitanika procijenjena je četirima testovima (sprint na 40 jarda, shuttle run: 5-10-5 jarda, vertikalni skok i maksimalni stražnji čučanj), a snaga njihova trupa (core) procijenjena je dvama terenskim testovima (eksplozivno bacanje medicinke prema naprijed – FAPT, i eksplozivno bacanje medicinke strance – SAPT). Rezultati analiza su pokazali značajne umjerene korelacije između FAPT i maksimalnoga stražnjega čučnja (r=,652) i relativnoga stražnjega čučnja (r=,509). Nisu utvrđene značajne korelacije između ostalih testova. Rezultati pokazuju da, iako je terenske testove FAPT i SAPT vrlo lako provoditi, većina, ali ne i sve varijable koje procjenjuju sportsku uspješnost nisu u korelaciji sa snagom trupa procijenjenom navedenim testovima. Da bi se adekvatno procijenila snaga trupa i njena uloga u sportskoj izvedbi i uspješnosti, potrebno je vrednovati sportu svojstvene mišićne akcije i kretnje

Culex tarsalis is a competent vector species for Cache Valley virus

Background: Cache Valley virus (CVV) is a mosquito-borne orthobunyavirus endemic in North America. The virus is an important agricultural pathogen leading to abortion and embryonic lethality in ruminant species, especially sheep. The importance of CVV in human public health has recently increased because of the report of severe neurotropic diseases. However, mosquito species responsible for transmission of the virus to humans remain to be determined. In this study, vector competence of three Culex species mosquitoes of public health importance, Culex pipiens, Cx. tarsalis and Cx. quinquefasciatus, was determined in order to identify potential bridge vector species responsible for the transmission of CVV from viremic vertebrate hosts to humans. Results: Variation of susceptibility to CVV was observed among selected Culex species mosquitoes tested in this study. Per os infection resulted in the establishment of infection and dissemination in Culex tarsalis, whereas Cx. pipiens and Cx. quinquefasciatus were highly refractory to CVV. Detection of viral RNA in saliva collected from infected Cx. tarsalis provided evidence supporting its role as a competent vector. Conclusions: Our study provided further understanding of the transmission cycles of CVV and identifies Cx. tarsalis as a competent vector

Pharmacotherapy for uveitis: current management and emerging therapy.

Uveitis, a group of conditions characterized by intraocular inflammation, is a major cause of sight loss in the working population. Most uveitis seen in Western countries is noninfectious and appears to be autoimmune or autoinflammatory in nature, requiring treatment with immunosuppressive and/or anti-inflammatory drugs. In this educational review, we outline the ideal characteristics of drugs for uveitis and review the data to support the use of current and emerging therapies in this context. It is crucial that we continue to develop new therapies for use in uveitis that aim to suppress disease activity, prevent accumulation of damage, and preserve visual function for patients with the minimum possible side effects