Productivity in American Whaling: The New Bedford Fleet in the Nineteenth Century

From the end of the War of 1812 until the Civil War the New Bedford whaling fleet grew spectacularly; thereafter it declined, equally spectacularly. By the end of the century New Bedford's day was over. During the 88 years of this period, the technical configuration of the fleet, the hunting grounds visited, and the types of whales pursued all changed dramatically, and more than once. The literature on whaling suggests that the collapse of the industry was due, in part, to declining productivity, occasioned by the disappearance of the whales (because of over-hunting) and the deterioration of the quality of labor. The shifts in the composition of the fleet are viewed, chiefly, as the result of efforts by whalemen to overcome their problems. In this paper, productivity data (superlative indexes), by voyage, are employed in multiple regression analysis to trace the relationships between the changes in the composition of the fleet and productivity. The propositions that declining labor quality and whale stocks had important consequences for productivity are subjected to test, while the impacts of technical changes on productivity are measured.

Influence of Dietary Calcium to Phosphorus Ratio on Bone Density of Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian Older Women

The purposes of this study were: to investigate the influence of dietary calcium, dietary phosphorus, and their ratios as observed in vegetarian and non-vegetarian subjects on their bone densities and to compare bone density, the dietary intakes of calcium and of phosphorus, and the ratio of calcium to phosphorus in vegetarian and non-vegetarian subjects. After obtaining informed consent, data were collected on 43 vegetarian and 36 non-vegetarian women, 40 to 92 years old, who consumed self-selected diets. Dietary information was obtained from 7-day dietary records. Dietary supplements were also recorded. Measurements of height, weight, and bone density of the radius, ulna, and finger were made. Nutrient intakes were calculated by computer using food composition values from U.S.D.A. Handbook Nos. 456 and 8 and information obtained from Worthington and Loma Linda Foods. Bone density values of the radius and ulna were obtained using a bone mineral analyzer developed by Norland-Cameron Company. A bone densitometer developed by the Department of Nutrition, The University of Tennessee, was used to determine bone density of the finger (left phalanx 5-2). The mean age of 57.1 years in the vegetarian group (Veg) was not significantly different from that of 58.8 years in the non-vegetarian group (Non-veg) (P \u3e 0.05). There was no significant difference in weight (Veg = 137.7 lb.; Non-veg = 141.6 lb.) and in height (Veg = 63.5 in; Non-veg = 63.5 in) between groups· (P \u3e 0.05). Mean values for height and weight were not significantly different between the Veg and Non-veg groups when adjusted for the mean age of both groups (57.9 years). There was a significant decrease in height with age but not weight with age in both groups. The differences in decreased height with age between groups was not statistically significant. The mean calcium and phosphorus intakes from food (Ca = 1017 mg; P = 1325 mg) and from food plus supplements (Ca = 1106 mg; P = 1346 mg) in the Veg group surpassed the RDA. In the Non-veg group, the phosphorus intakes from food (1114 mg) and from food plus supplements (1131 mg) were greater than the RDA. The RDA for calcium was also met from food plus supplements (838 mg) but not from food alone (784 mg) in the Non-veg group. There was a tendency for a decrease in calcium and phosphorus intakes with age in both groups. When the intakes were either adjusted or unadjusted for age, the Veg group generally consumed significantly greater amounts of calcium and phosphorus from food alone and from food plus supplements than did the Non-veg group. The calcium to phosphorus ratios from food (Veg = 0.74; Non-veg = 0.70) and from food plus supplements (Veg = 0.78; Non-veg = 0.72) unadjusted and adjusted for age were not significantly different between groups. No significant relationship between the calcium to phosphorus ratio and age in both groups was obtained. There was no significant difference in the mean bone density measurements of the radius, ulna, and finger between the Veg and Non-veg groups unadjusted and adjusted for the mean age of both groups. A highly significant negative correlation between bone densities of the radius, ulna, and finger and age was obtained (P \u3c 0.0005). There was no significant difference in the slopes of the regression lines of bone density of the radius on age between Veg and Non-veg groups. In both the Veg and Non-veg groups, there was a significant positive correlation between bone density of the radius and height, and also between bone density of the radius and weight. However, when adjusted for age, these correlations were not statistically significant. There were also no significant differences in the slopes of the regression lines of bone density on height and bone density on weight between Veg and Non-veg groups unadjusted and adjusted for age. In the Veg group, the phosphorus intake from food alone was positively related to bone density of the radius. Regression coefficients on other nutrient intakes were non-significant in the Veg group. In the Non-veg group, there was a significant positive relationship between bone density and the intakes of calcium and phosphorus from food and also the intakes of calcium, phosphorus, and their ratio from food plus supplements. When adjusted for the influence of age, however, there was no significant correlation between bone density of the radius and each of the nutrient intakes of both groups. The slopes of the regression lines for bone density on the calcium intake and the calcium to phosphorus ratio from food plus supplements were significantly different between groups. There were no significant differences between any of the regression lines of bone density on nutrient intake between Veg and Non-veg groups adjusted for age

The Effect of Dietary Protein and Calorie Restriction on Growth, Kidney Function, and Survival of Male Rats

(From the Introduction): One of the primary goals of nutrition research is to determine the levels of various nutrients which are needed to promote rapid mental and physical growth, optimal physiological performance during maturity, and the retention of good health during old age (1). It is generally considered that the intake of nutrients at levels moderately above those required for maximum rates of growth and development are optimum for the well-being of an organism. However, it has been shown that life span can be increased and the age-associated decline in physiological function delayed in experimental animals fed diets containing lower levels of nutrients than those required for optimal growth and development. There is much controversy as to the relative effect of decreased caloric and protein intake on life span of experimental animals (2). It is generally accepted that the reduction of feed intake increases longevity. However, the results of studies which investigated the effect of dietary protein on life span are equivocal and the level of caloric intake was not comparable between dietary protein levels. In addition, the reduction of caloric intake in most studies was accompanied by a decrease in protein intake. Restriction of calories and/or protein has been reported to decrease the incidence of renal lesions in old rats and delay the age-associated decline in renal function (3). While a reduction in urinary protein excretion and an improvement in the transport of para-amonohippuric acid has been demonstrated in calorically restricted animals, the effect of dietary protein intake on these biochemical parameters has not yet been determined. It was the purpose of this study to investigate the effects of protein restriction with and without caloric restriction on growth and survival of rats and to determine the effects of these diets on renal function. In addition, the effect of gradually changing the level of dietary protein during growth and development without reducing caloric intake on these parameters was studied. It was hypothesized that caloric restriction would reduce rates of growth and mature body weights and produce physiologically younger animals as indicated by improved renal function and increased survival. It was further hypothesized that protein restriction with or without caloric restriction would reduce rates of growth but not mature body weights and produce physiologically younger animals

Teachers’ Experiences with Providing Multi-Tiered Student Support for Students With Borderline Intellectual Functioning: A Qualitative Case Study

The purpose of this qualitative case study is to understand the obstacles that rural public school teachers encounter while delivering Multi-Tiered Student Support interventions for students with borderline intellectual functioning. The central question guiding this study was: What are the experiences of rural South Carolina public school teachers tasked with providing Tier III interventions for students with borderline intellectual functioning? The theory guiding this study was Bandera’s self-efficacy theory in that teachers are more effective when they are confident in their ability to use appropriate strategies and materials. The setting for the qualitative study was in a small rural district within Central, South Carolina and included 12 teachers. The data collected included questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups and was analyzed by identifying keywords, phrases, specific obstacles, as well as themes that emerged from each set of data

Options and Limits in a Woman\u27s World

This is a study of women who are ascribed the role of mother, but who would also like to pursue a satisfying career. These women experience multiple demands when trying to fulfill these multiple roles. The study focused on how women integrate motherhood and employment. The methodology employed in this study was qualitative. Information was solicited through the use of informal personal interviews conducted by the researcher. A single hour interview was conducted with each participant in the research project. The sample consisted of 10 full - time working mothers who volunteered to participate in the project. The purpose of this study was of a practical nature. It is hoped that the analysis of the information may be helpful to women experiencing the dilemma of multiple roles, as well as educators, physicians, and counselors who will increasingly face these issues in the 1990s

Risk Sharing, Crew Quality, Labor Shares and Wages in the Nineteenth Century American Whaling Industry

This paper examines 36.640 labor contracts signed between whalemen and the agents who organized 1,258 whaling voyages that departed from New Bedford, Massachusetts between January I. 1840 and December 31, 1858 and between January I and December 31, 1866. The contracts contain information on the whaleman's station (occupation) and on his lay (the fraction of output of the voyage that he was entitled to receive upon completion). The paper investigates the benefits associated with this unique contract. examines the occupational and spatial distribution of lays. and compares wages in whaling with those available in the merchant marine and those earned in shore based pursuits. It also attempts to assess the efficiency of this early labor market and to explore the relationship between the labor contract, crew quality. technical change. and productivity.

Reading aloud: Shaping reading attitudes

Aliteracy (ability to read without willingness to do so)--Reading motivation

Spillover adherence effects of fixed-dose combination HIV therapy

The impact of fixed-dose combination (FDC) products on adherence to other, non-fixed regimen components has not been examined. We compared adherence to a third antiretroviral (ART) component among patients receiving a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) backbone consisting of the FDC Epzicom®, GlaxoSmithKline Inc, Research Triangle Park, NC (abacavir sulfate 600 mg + lamivudine 300 mg; FDC group) versus NRTI combinations taken as two separate pills (NRTI Combo group) using data from a national sample of 30 health plans covering approximately 38 million lives from 1997 to 2005. Adherence was measured as the medication possession ratio (MPR). Multivariate logistic regression compared treatment groups based on the likelihood of achieving ≥95% adherence, with sensitivity analyses using alternative thresholds. MPR was assessed as a continuous variable using multivariate linear regression. Covariates included age, gender, insurance payer type, year of study drug initiation, presence of mental health and substance abuse disorders, and third agent class. The study sample consisted of 650 FDC and 1947 NRTI Combo patients. Unadjusted mean adherence to the third agent was higher in the FDC group than the NRTI Combo group (0.92 vs 0.85; P < 0.0001). In regression analyses, FDC patients were 48% and 39% more likely to achieve 95% and 90% third agent adherence, respectively (P ≤ 0.03). None of the other MPR specifications achieved comparable results. Among managed care patients, use of an FDC appears to substantially improve adherence to a third regimen component and thus the likelihood of achieving the accepted standard for adherence to HIV therapy of 95%