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,

THE NEED FOR THE ANALYSIS OF TREATMENT x PERIOD INTERACTION IN ANIMAL EXPERIMENTS

Many growth experiments, in which weights are taken at different times on the same animals, involve the comparison of factorial main effects and interactions but exclude time (period) as an effect. The objective of this paper is to show that more information can be obtained by analysing the data as a repeated measures design. As an example, feedlot cattle being prepared for market are often on growth implants and provided different diets depending on the stage of growth and maturity. Growth promoting implants, either single or double, may be slow or fast acting. During the growing period, a diet with less grain and medium energy is fed but during the finisher period the grain component is increased. Responses to implant and diet may be dependent on the length of time between measurements. Any model designed to analyze the responses within time, will be limited as it will not include all treatment x time interactions, which can be very important. A repeated measures or split plot in time can detect these treatment x time interactions, but criteria such as the sphericity of the covariance matrix should be satisfied, so that the within subject effects can be correctly tested. The paper describes four statistical models appropriate for such data using SASR/STAT software

Aluminum Bioavailability from Tea Infusion

The objective was to estimate oral Al bioavailability from tea infusion in the rat, using the tracer 26Al. 26Al citrate was injected into tea leaves. An infusion was prepared from the dried leaves and given intra-gastrically to rats which received concurrent intravenous 27Al infusion. Oral Al bioavailability (F) was calculated from the area under the 26Al, compared to 27Al, serum concentration × time curves. Bioavailability from tea averaged 0.37%; not significantly different from water (F = 0.3%), or basic sodium aluminum phosphate (SALP) in cheese (F = 0.1 to 0.3%), but greater than acidic SALP in a biscuit (F = 0.1%). Time to maximum serum 26Al concentration was 1.25, 1.5, 8 and 4.8 h, respectively. These results of oral Al bioavailability × daily consumption by the human suggest tea can provide a significant amount of the Al that reaches systemic circulation. This can allow distribution to its target organs of toxicity, the central nervous, skeletal and hematopoietic systems. Further testing of the hypothesis that Al contributes to Alzheimer\u27s disease may be more warranted with studies focusing on total average daily food intake, including tea and other foods containing appreciable Al, than drinking water

Aluminum Bioavailability from the Approved Food Additive Leavening Agent Acidic Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Incorporated into a Baked Good, Is Lower than from Water

There are estimates of oral aluminum (Al) bioavailability from drinking water, but little information on Al bioavailability from foods. Foods contribute ∼95% and drinking water 1–2% of the typical human\u27s daily Al intake. The objectives were to estimate oral Al bioavailability from a representative food containing the food additive acidic sodium aluminum phosphate (acidic SALP), a leavening agent in baked goods. Rats were acclimated to a special diet that resulted in no stomach contents 14 h after its withdrawal. They were trained to rapidly consume a biscuit containing 1.5% acidic SALP. Oral Al bioavailability was then determined from a biscuit containing 1% or 2% acidic SALP, synthesized to contain 26Al. The rats received concurrent 27Al infusion. Blood was repeatedly withdrawn and serum analyzed for 26Al by accelerator mass spectrometry. Total Al was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Oral 26Al bioavailability was determined from the area under the 26Al, compared to 27Al, serum concentration × time curves. Oral Al bioavailability (F) from biscuit containing 1% or 2% acidic 26Al-SALP averaged ∼0.11% and 0.13%; significantly less than from water, which was previously shown to be ∼0.3%. The time to maximum serum 26Al concentration was 4.2 and 6 h after consumption of biscuit containing 1% or 2% 26Al-acidic SALP, respectively, compared to 1–2 h following 26Al in water. These results of oral Al bioavailability from acidic 26Al-SALP in a biscuit (F ∼ 0.1%) and results from 26Al in water (F ∼ 0.3%) × the contributions of food and drinking water to the typical human\u27s daily Al intake (∼5–10 mg from food and 0.1 mg from water, respectively) suggest food provides ∼25-fold more Al to systemic circulation, and potential Al body burden, than does drinking water

Cover crop mixture diversity, biomass productivity, weed suppression, and stability

The diversity-productivity, diversity-invasibility, and diversity-stability hypotheses propose that increasing species diversity should lead, respectively, to increased average biomass productivity, invasion resistance, and stability. We tested these three hypotheses in the context of cover crop mixtures, evaluating the effects of increasing cover crop mixture diversity on above ground biomass, weed suppression, and biomass stability. Twenty to forty cover crop treatments were replicated three or four times at eleven sites using eighteen species representing three cover crop species each from six pre-defined functional groups: cool-season grasses, cool-season legumes, cool-season brassicas, warm-season grasses, warm-season legumes, and warm-season broadleaves. Each species was seeded as a pure stand, and the most diverse treatment contained all eighteen species. Remaining treatments included treatments representing intermediate levels of cover crop species and functional richness and a no cover crop control. Cover crop seeding dates ranged from late July to late September with both cover crop and weed aboveground biomass being sampled prior to winterkill. Stability was assessed by evaluating the variability in cover crop biomass for each treatment across plots within each site. While increasing cover crop mixture diversity was associated with increased average aboveground biomass, we assert that this was the result of the average biomass of the pure stands being drawn down by low biomass species rather than due to niche complementarity or increased resource use efficiency. At no site did the highest biomass mixture produce more than the highest biomass pure stand. Furthermore, while increases in cover crop mixture diversity were correlated with increases in weed suppression and biomass stability, we argue that this was largely the result of diversity co-varying with aboveground biomass, and that differences in aboveground biomass rather than differences in diversity drove the differences observed in weed suppression and stability

The Relationships between Adolescents' Climate Anxiety, Efficacy Beliefs, Group Dynamics, and Pro-Environmental Behavioral Intentions after a Group-Based Environmental Education Intervention

The present study examined the relationship between adolescents’ efficacy beliefs (both personal and collective), climate anxiety (as measured with climate worry), group dynamics during an environmental intervention, and behavioral intentions in a setting where their agency was called upon. Data were collected in French-speaking Switzerland during and after four environmental education interventions during which adolescents developed climate-related projects or narratives in small groups. Questionnaire data (N = 150 adolescents) were matched with observations (from group dynamics) and interview data (from teachers). Self- and collective efficacy, climate anxiety, citing group work as a most interesting part of the intervention, and observed group attention were all positively related to stronger pro-environmental intentions. In addition, feeling involved in the group was also indirectly related to pro-environmental behaviors, through climate anxiety. Overall, our results suggest that being worried about climate change has the potential to translate into climate action. In addition, working in small groups has clear benefits for adolescents

Pengaruh Kebijakan Mutasi Pegawai Negeri Sipil terhadap Peningkatan Kinerja Pegawai di Dinas Pendidikan Pemuda dan Olahraga Kabupaten Kepulauan Talaud

Introduction One of the purposes of the implementation of mutations policy is to seek the rightperson in the right place "the right man on the right place". Will thus be able to improve employeeperformance. Although we have already arranged for the purpose of putting the right people in the rightplace, but it does not mean the problem has been completed. A work that is routine may lead to boredom,so that in these circumstances the possibility of his enthusiasm and excitement down. This can happendespite the fact that the placement in place the right people have been executed. For that reason inmutates we must see to it that a new task is still in line with the duties and previous work. Therefore, thisstudy aimed to determine the effect of policy transfer of civil servants to the improvement of theenvironmental performance of employees in the education department of youth and sports district Talaudislands. Methods The method used is quantitatively using simple linear regesi analysis, and correlationanalysis is simple. And the sample studied were 30 people, in the data collection techniques using SampleRandom Sampling technique, a questionnaire (questionnaire) or a list of questions, and observations.Results The results of the overall analysis shows that the policy of transfer of civil servants have a positiveinfluence on the improvement of the performance of employees in the Ministry of Youth and SportsTalaud Islands. Conclusion As the results of this research as well as theoretical idea then it can be statedthat the policy of transfer of civil servants have a positive influence on employee performanceimprovement

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

Vehicle/engine integration

VEHICLE/ENGINE Integration Issues are explored for orbit transfer vehicles (OTV's). The impact of space basing and aeroassist on VEHICLE/ENGINE integration is discussed. The AOTV structure and thermal protection subsystem weights were scaled as the vehicle length and surface was changed. It is concluded that for increased allowable payload lengths in a ground-based system, lower length-to-diameter (L/D) is as important as higher mixture ration (MR) in the range of mid L/D ATOV's. Scenario validity, geometry constraints, throttle levels, reliability, and servicing are discussed in the context of engine design and engine/vehicle integration