The Impact of Labor Constraints on the Farm Performance

Stricter immigration policies that affect an estimated 12 million unauthorized immigrants, 40% of whom are hired as farm workers, can potentially leave the highly labor-dependent organic farms more economically vulnerable. The displacement of unauthorized immigrants will expectedly create labor shortages. This study analyzes the impact of hiring constraints and changes in farm labor market conditions (due to stricter immigration policies) on the technical efficiency and financial performance of organic and conventional farms. A production function approach is used to analyze survey data that has a mix of organic and conventional farms in the Southeast region. Adjustment strategies to deal with labor shortage and providing workers with nonwage incentives have been determined to be an important determinant of farm income. Among the strategies, adjustment of wage and nonwage benefits were found to be the most effective but a combination of strategies is the most preferred approach to deal with labor shortage. Furthermore, we found productivity difference between farmers with labor shortage adjustment strategies and those who do not.Agricultural Finance, Production Economics, Productivity Analysis,

Analysis of auditory functions in grades one, two, and three.

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Desirability of Social Values and Sexual Morality among Nigerian University Undergraduates: Social Studies to the Rescue

Many cherished social values among Nigerian societies appear to have been eroded due to some contemporary issues and problems of the society. Hence, youths are now faced with lots of behavioural problems among which is sexual immorality that is seriously affecting their future developmental aspirations This paper therefore examined values and sexual morality among university undergraduates and how Social Studies Educators could restore the lost social values through effective teaching with a view to transforming the sexual immorality that is taking an alarming dimension among university undergraduates in Nigeria in recent times. The research adopted a descriptive research of the survey type and respondents were selected through multi-stage sampling techniques. A simple random technique was used to select three states at stage one, stratified random sampling was used to select two federal, two state and two private universities at stage two, while random sampling through the use of balloting was used to select two universities from each stratum and two hundred and sixty five students from each of the universities at the third stage. The total sample was made up of one thousand, five hundred and eighty one (1581). A self-designed instrument titled ‘Values and Sexual Morality Questionnaire’ (VASMOQ) was used for the study and data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as Percentage Scores, Mean, Standard Deviation, Pearson Product Moment Correlation,  Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and t-test. The study found a significant relationship between peer pressure and university undergraduates’ social values, as well as undergraduates’ sexual immorality. The study concluded by suggesting among others that educators should design a programme to introduce new contents that would incorporate relevant knowledge on social values of the society as General Studies (GST) for all university undergraduates.  All hypothesis were tested at 0.05 level of significance

Effectiveness and safety of oral HIV preexposure prophylaxis for all populations.

ObjectivePreexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) offers a promising new approach to HIV prevention. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the evidence for use of oral PrEP containing tenofovir disoproxil fumarate as an additional HIV prevention strategy in populations at substantial risk for HIV based on HIV acquisition, adverse events, drug resistance, sexual behavior, and reproductive health outcomes.DesignRigorous systematic review and meta-analysis.MethodsA comprehensive search strategy reviewed three electronic databases and conference abstracts through April 2015. Pooled effect estimates were calculated using random-effects meta-analysis.ResultsEighteen studies were included, comprising data from 39 articles and six conference abstracts. Across populations and PrEP regimens, PrEP significantly reduced the risk of HIV acquisition compared with placebo. Trials with PrEP use more than 70% demonstrated the highest PrEP effectiveness (risk ratio = 0.30, 95% confidence interval: 0.21-0.45, P < 0.001) compared with placebo. Trials with low PrEP use did not show a significantly protective effect. Adverse events were similar between PrEP and placebo groups. More cases of drug-resistant HIV infection were found among PrEP users who initiated PrEP while acutely HIV-infected, but incidence of acquiring drug-resistant HIV during PrEP use was low. Studies consistently found no association between PrEP use and changes in sexual risk behavior. PrEP was not associated with increased pregnancy-related adverse events or hormonal contraception effectiveness.ConclusionPrEP is protective against HIV infection across populations, presents few significant safety risks, and there is no evidence of behavioral risk compensation. The effective and cost-effective use of PrEP will require development of best practices for fostering uptake and adherence among people at substantial HIV risk

Development and Efficacy of Instructional Software on Secondary School Students’ Interest and Achievement of Transport System in Keffi, Nigeria

This study developed and tested the efficacy of an instructional software on interest and achievement in transport system among secondary school students in Keffi, Nigeria. Two research questions guided the study and two null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted quasi experimental, non-equivalent pre-test and post-test control group design. The sample was drawn from a population of 2,432 public senior secondary two (SSII) students in Keffi Education Zone. Two intact classes were sampled using multi-stage sampling technique. The two classes were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Two researcher developed and expert validated instruments namely: Transport System Achievement Test (TSAT) and Interest Scale on Transport System  (ISTS) were used for data collection .The Split half reliability of  TSAT was 0.79 while the  Cronbach alpha  reliability of  ISTS was  0.85. The experimental group was taught using Transport System Instructional Software (TSIS ) while the control group was taught Transport System using the Conventional method. The Transport System Achievement post- test was administered to both the experimental and control groups at the end of the treatment. Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviations were used to answer the research questions while the null hypotheses were tested using ANCOVA. The results showed that students taught transport system using the instructional software achieved higher than those taught using the conventional teaching approach (F=75.195;P=.000 <α =.05). However, there was a significant difference in the mean interest scores of Biology students taught transport system using the instructional software and those taught using conventional method (F= 115,736; P=.000  <α = .05 ). The findings showed that TSIS can improve students’ achievement. It is recommended among others that Biology teachers should be encouraged to develop and use TSIS to teach these concepts as it enhances Biology achievement among students. Keywords: Development, Efficacy, Software, Instruction, Interest, Achievement, Transport system DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/13-18-04 Publication date:October 31st 202

Investigating processing window of Affinisol™ and Plasdone™ - S630 polymers during hot-melt extrusion (for 3D printing by fused deposition modelling)

There are numerous polymers that have been used commercially to produce pharmaceutical solid dispersions and solutions from hot melt extrusion. Affinisol™ (HPMC) and Plasdone™ S630 (PVP based co-povidone copolymer) have been used in the present work to determine the viable processing space with regards thermal and work input on a twin screw extruder. Processing viability has been determined by monitoring degradation, initially assessed by physical appearance and colour of the extrudates across the full operating range of a twin screw extruder. It has been found that the Affinisol™ had a relatively narrow viable operating window compared with the Plasdone™

Constitutional Law

The authors survey the recent developments in Florida constitutional law, focusing on the powers and duties of the three branches of state government. Their discussion includes an analysis of the recent constitutional amendment modifying the jurisdiction of the supreme court

Race/Ethnicity, Educational Attainment, and Pregnancy Complications in New York City Women with Pre-existing Diabetes

Background: More women are entering pregnancy with pre-existing diabetes. Disease severity, glycaemic control, and predictors of pregnancy complications may differ by race/ethnicity or educational attainment, leading to differences in adverse pregnancy outcomes. Methods: We used linked New York City hospital record and birth certificate data for 6291 singleton births among women with pre-existing diabetes between 1995 and 2003. We defined maternal race/ethnicity as non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, South Asian, and East Asian, and education level as 12 years. Our outcomes were pre-eclampsia, preterm birth (PTB) (<37 weeks gestation and categorised as spontaneous or medically indicated), as well as small-for-gestational age (SGA) and large-for-gestational age (LGA). Using multivariable binomial regression, we estimated the risk ratios for pre-eclampsia, SGA, and LGA. We used multivariable multinomial regression to estimate odds ratios (OR) for PTB. Results: Compared with non-Hispanic white women with pre-existing diabetes, non-Hispanic black and Hispanic women with pre-existing diabetes had a 1.50-fold increased risk of pre-eclampsia compared with non-Hispanic whites with pre-existing diabetes, after full adjustment. Non-Hispanic black and Hispanic women with pre-existing diabetes had adjusted ORs of 1.72 [adj. 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.38, 2.15] and 1.65 [adj.95% CI 1.32, 2.05], respectively, for medically indicated PTB. South Asian women with pre-existing diabetes had the highest risk for having an SGA infant [adj. OR: 2.29; adj. 95% CI 1.73, 3.03]. East Asian ethnicity was not associated with these pregnancy complications. Conclusions: Non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, and South Asian women with pre-existing diabetes may benefit from targeted interventions to improve pregnancy outcomes