FARMERS' PERCEPTIONS OF SPATIAL YIELD VARIABILITY AS INFLUENCED BY PRECISION FARMING INFORMATION GATHERING TECHNOLOGIES

This study evaluated how farmers' perceptions of spatial yield variability are influenced by precision technologies. Farmer estimates from a mail survey were regressed on use of alternative information technologies and personal characteristics. Results indicate that farmers who adopted yield monitors with GPS for cotton perceived significantly higher spatial yield variability.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Diversity improves performance in excitable networks

As few real systems comprise indistinguishable units, diversity is a hallmark of nature. Diversity among interacting units shapes properties of collective behavior such as synchronization and information transmission. However, the benefits of diversity on information processing at the edge of a phase transition, ordinarily assumed to emerge from identical elements, remain largely unexplored. Analyzing a general model of excitable systems with heterogeneous excitability, we find that diversity can greatly enhance optimal performance (by two orders of magnitude) when distinguishing incoming inputs. Heterogeneous systems possess a subset of specialized elements whose capability greatly exceeds that of the nonspecialized elements. Nonetheless, the behavior of the whole network can outperform all subgroups. We also find that diversity can yield multiple percolation, with performance optimized at tricriticality. Our results are robust in specific and more realistic neuronal systems comprising a combination of excitatory and inhibitory units, and indicate that diversity-induced amplification can be harnessed by neuronal systems for evaluating stimulus intensities.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figure

Molecular Probing at Microwave Frequencies as a Means of Studying Atmospheric Motion and Composition

Environments of planets are of great interest in this age of space probing. The nature of the atmosphere and its ability to support life is of primary interest today. This paper concerns the use of spectroscopic probing as a means to determine the composition and behavior of planetary atmospheres and nebulae. One of the most sensitive methods of obtaining properties of gaseous mixtures is the method of probing resonance conditions of one or more molecular species within the mixture. For example, a mixture containing S02 and other gases could be studied by observing the structure and shape of a resonance profile of S02 in the presence of the unknown gases and comparing these observations with the resonance nature of isolated S02 molecules. Such a method can be employed to study the motion of molecules within the gaseous space through Doppler shift and these results used to determine atmospheric motion

Does Thin Always Sell? The Moderating Role of Thin Ideal Internalization on Advertising Effectiveness

Much of the current focus on the use of ultra-thin models in fashion magazines can be attributed to Madison Avenue which still operates under a “Thin Sells” ethos. Research to date, however, has provided equivocal evidence of the efficacy of thin models in advertising (Yu 2014). The present study’s two related objectives include: (1) determining whether model size has an impact on advertising effectiveness, and (2) if internalization of the thin ideal moderates this relationship. Study results suggest model size in fashion advertisements has no main effect on advertising effectiveness. Additionally, thin ideal internalization moderates the model size – advertising effectiveness relationship. Women who internalized the thin ideal were more receptive to thin models compared to average-size models. For low internalizers, model size has no significant impact on advertising effectiveness. These findings suggest that the current “thin sells” fixation is a gross oversimplification of how women respond to advertising. Directions for future research and study limitations are discussed

Model Size in Magazine Advertising and Body Esteem among Female College Students: The Moderating Role of BMI

Weight and body concerns have reached epidemic proportions among female college students. Such high levels of body dissatisfaction can lead to disastrous results. Since the mass media is considered an important purveyor of the thin ideal, the present study investigated the impact model size in magazine advertising has on the body esteem of female college students. Because it is unlikely that all women will respond similarly to the models depicted in such ads, the present study tested the potentially moderating role of Body Mass Index (BMI) on the model size – body esteem relationship. As hypothesized, subject BMI did moderate this relationship. Findings suggest that low/normal BMI females respond differently to skinny and plus-size models portrayed in magazine ads compared to their high BMI counterparts

Effects of Herbicide-Resistant Technology Fees on the Plant Population Decision for Cotton Production

This study evaluated effects on cotton net revenues of four herbicide-resistant technology policies used since 1996 by Monsanto. Results indicate that farmers may have an incentive to switch from narrow-row to wide-row cotton and to use a lower plant density when the technology fee is tied to the seeding rate.Farm Management,

The Variable-Rate Decision for Multiple Inputs with Multiple Management Zones

Research has evaluated the relative profitability of variable-rate versus uniform-rate application of a single input in fields with multiple management zones. This paper addresses the variable-rate decision for multiple inputs. The decision-making framework is evaluated for nitrogen and water applied to irrigated cotton in fields with three management zones.Crop Production/Industries,

OPTIMAL PLANT POPULATION FOR ULTRA-NARROW-ROW COTTON PRODUCTION AS INFLUENCED BY LINT AND TRANSGENIC SEED PRICES

Farmers are concerned about the high costs of transgenic seed and technology fees associated with the large plant population densities recommended for ultra-narrow row cotton. This study evaluated the effects of alternative plant population density decision criteria on net revenues under different lint price and transgenic seed cost scenarios. Results indicate that farmers may be able to maximize profits by seeding for a target plant population density of approximately 15.5 plants m-2.Crop Production/Industries,