Analysis of selected policy alternatives in the agricultural sector of the Philippines

The primary objective of this study was to estimate and evaluate the economic effects of selected policy alternatives on prices, output, employment and income in the agricultural sector of the Philippines. The policies evaluated were: fertilizer subsidy; efficiency of irrigation systems; rice price ceilings; mechanization; and natural calamities. The study used a national production-processing-distribution programming model (MAAGAP) and had the following assumptions: a given set of national demands for agricultural commodities; a set of national supplies of resources; and a set of production technologies. Given these sets of conditions and with the further assumption that Philippine agriculture approximated a perfectly competitive market, the MAAGAP model\u27s objective function was the maximization of the sum of the producer\u27s and consumer\u27s surplus (net social benefit). The model isolated the agricultural sector and equated aggregate supply with derived aggregate demand under a linear programming static framework. This procedure would endogenously determine equilibrium prices and quantities at the sectoral level. The input-output (I/O) coefficients for crops used by this study were taken from the national cost of production survey conducted by the Bureau of Agricultural Economics (BAEcon) in 1972; the farm management surveys made by the University of the Philippines College of Agriculture (UPCA); and the Philippine Sugar Institute (PHILSUGIN). For the input-output coefficients on livestock, the primary sources were the studies made by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBF); the UPCA; and other specialized studies made by Gapuz (poultry) and Drilon (piggery). The demand estimates on the other hand came from two basic studies: the Foote\u27s econometric model based on a time series, fitted by three-stage least squares (3 SLS) and the regression analysis made by Ferrer based on a crossed section data from a consumption survey conducted by Dosayla and Darrah. Results from the study showed that removing the fertilizer subsidy to the food crop subsector would lead to a lower production of rice, lower employment, a decline in usage of tractor services, a decline in capital usage and a lower marginal productivity of land because of lower fertilizer consumption in the food crop subsector. Consumer\u27s surplus would likewise decline while producer\u27s surplus would increase as the fertilizer subsidy to the food crop subsector would be removed. A uniform fertilizer subsidy for both subsectors at high levels (100 to 72 percent subsidy) would result into a significant decrease in domestic prices compared to their 1974 base levels (which was 53 percent subsidized only for the food crop subsector); higher employment; and increase in capital usage as compared to the 1974 base. Higher uniform subsidy levels for both subsectors, however, would tend to reduce the use of four-wheel tractor services and animal labor as compared to the 1974 base. At low levels of uniform subsidy for both export and food crops, domestic production would decline and prices of commodities would tend to rise. Employment, four-wheel tractor usage and animal services would also decline. The Imposition of a 4 percent tax on the export subsector would adversely affect the levels of exports. A uniform fertilizer subsidy scheme whether a tax is imposed or not would generally result in higher net social benefits for both consumers and producers, with the proportion of shares differing between the two conditions (generally lower benefits when tax is imposed). Increasing the efficiency of the irrigation systems would result in higher production of rice, increase in employment, higher usage of capital by crops, increase in fertilizer usage (especially palay), a higher net social benefit for the agricultural sector with consumers benefiting from relatively lower prices. Results of the study also showed that a rice price ceiling of ₱843 per metric ton (?₱1.90 per kilogram at 1974 current prices) would result to lower rice production relative to the 1974 base when no price ceiling was in effect. Furthermore, to maintain the rice price ceiling at ₱1.90 per kilogram, the estimates indicate that .9371 thousand metric tons of rice must be imported, incurring an approximate import subsidy cost of ₱2.8 million. Low price ceilings would tend to depress domestic production, and producer\u27s surplus would be relatively lower while consumer\u27s surplus would be somewhat higher. Higher rice price ceilings on the other hand would eliminate rice import subsidy costs and producer\u27s surplus would be greater while consumer\u27s surplus would be less. The simultaneous increase in the availability of both hand and four-wheel tractor services (0 to 200 percent of 1972 levels) would result in increases in the production of rice and sugar but decreases in the production of corn and commercial hogs. Results in the variation of tractor services also demonstrated the substitutability of both man labor and animal labor for tractor services, while fertilizer showed a comple-mentary relationship with tractor services. Variations in the availability of hand tractor services with four-wheel tractors held constant at 1972 levels, showed the decline in palay production below 1972 base levels but would be offset more than propor-tionately by the substitution of corn grain production for palay. Increasing hand tractor services above the 1972 base levels on the other hand would lead to the higher production of palay but a probable displacement of man and animal labor in the production of rice and corn. Results also indicated that four-wheel tractor services were very vital in the production of sugar and palay but not corn. Reducing the availability of four-wheel tractor services below the 1972 levels would reduce the production of sugar and rice. Results from parametric variation of four-wheel tractors showed that fertilizer was complementary input to four-wheel tractor while animal and man labor services were competing inputs to four—wheel tractor usage. The net effects of floods and/or natural calamities would be higher agricultural prices and lower net social benefits. Finally, the study also evaluated the different policies relative to target variables such as net social benefit for the agricultural sector, value of production, usage levels of inputs, trade, government budget and prices. Results showed that there was no one policy mix that would provide a perfect economic alternative to all relevant macroeconomic variables. Well defined trade-offs were evident among the different policies. For example, producer\u27s surplus and consumer’s surplus were almost always in conflict. In the two exceptions (higher uniform fertilizer subsidy and rice price ceiling of ₱1.143 per metric ton) both may be increased at the expense of a decline in animal labor services, tractor services and export levels

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment masquerading as exudative panuveitis with intense anterior chamber inflammatory reaction.

Purpose:This is a retrospective case report illustrating the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges associated with a chronic rhegmatogenous retinal detachment masquerading as a severe panuveitis with intense anterior chamber inflammation. We have included clinical features, anterior segment and fundus photography, B-scan ultrasonography, fluorescein angiography, and intraoperative findings. Observations:A 26-year-old male presented with features of unilateral panuveitis: hypotony, anterior segment inflammation (posterior synechiae and anterior chamber cell with fibrin clumping), diffuse choroidal thickening, and retinal detachment. Laboratory investigations for infectious or rheumatologic processes were negative, and empiric systemic corticosteroid therapy was unsuccessful. This prompted suspicion for an alternate primary etiology, and pars plana vitrectomy revealed small retinal breaks as the underlying cause of the retinal detachment and inflammation. Conclusions:Rhegmatogenous retinal detachments are a known cause of intraocular inflammation. Nevertheless, it remains a challenge to recognize retinal breaks in this setting, particularly with robust anterior segment inflammation and posterior findings resembling severe exudative uveitis. Being aware of this unique presentation may prevent delays in diagnosis and have important prognostic implications

Investigative Stops in High Crime Areas

This article questions what constitutes reasonable suspicion of criminal activity particularly within high crime area. Some of the referenced cases: People v. Cantor, 36 N.Y.2d 106, 365 N.Y.S.2d 509, 324 N.E.2d 872 (1975) U.S. v. Magda, 409 F.Supp. 734,740 (S.D. N.Y. 1976) Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1 ( 1968) Sibron v. New York, 392 U.S. 40 ( 1968) U.S. v. Brignoni-Ponce, 422 U.S. 873 (1975) U.S. v. Flores, 462 F. Supp. 702 (E.D. NS. 1978) U.S. v. Oates, 560 F.2d 45, 49 (2d Cir. 1977) U.S. v. Constantine, 567 F.2d 266 ( 4th Cir. 1977) People v. Bower, 24 Cal. 3d 638, 156 Cal. Rptr. 856, 597 P.2d 115 (1979

Doppler Temperature Coefficient Calculations Using Adjoint-Weighted Tallies and Continuous-Energy Cross Sections in MCNP6

The calculation of the thermal neutron Doppler temperature reactivity feedback co- efficient, a key parameter in the design and safe operation of advanced reactors, using first order perturbation theory in continuous energy Monte Carlo codes is challenging as the continuous energy adjoint flux is not readily available. Traditional approaches of obtaining the adjoint flux attempt to invert the random walk process as well as require data corresponding to all temperatures and their respective tem- perature derivatives within the system in order to accurately calculate the Doppler temperature feedback. A new method has been developed using adjoint-weighted tallies and On-The-Fly (OTF) generated continuous energy cross sections within the Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP6) transport code. The adjoint-weighted tallies are generated during the con- tinuous energy k-eigenvalue Monte Carlo calculation. The weighting is based upon the iterated fission probability interpretation of the adjoint flux, which is the steady state population in a critical nuclear reactor caused by a neutron introduced at that point in phase space. The adjoint-weighted tallies are produced in a forward calcu- lation and do not require an inversion of the random walk. The OTF cross section database uses a high order functional expansion between points on a user-defined energy-temperature mesh in which the coefficients with respect to a polynomial fit- ting in temperature are stored. The coefficients of the fits are generated before run- time and called upon during the simulation to produce cross sections at any given energy and temperature. The polynomial form of the OTF cross sections allows the possibility of obtaining temperature derivatives of the cross sections on-the-fly. The use of Monte Carlo sampling of adjoint-weighted tallies and the capability of computing derivatives of continuous energy cross sections with respect to tempera- ture are used to calculate the Doppler temperature coefficient in a research version of MCNP6. Temperature feedback results from the cross sections themselves, changes in the probability density functions, as well as changes in the density of the mate- rials. The focus of this work is specific to the Doppler temperature feedback which result from Doppler broadening of cross sections as well as changes in the probability density function within the scattering kernel. This method is compared against pub- lished results using Mosteller’s numerical benchmark to show accurate evaluations of the Doppler temperature coefficient, fuel assembly calculations, and a benchmark solution based on the heavy gas model for free-gas elastic scattering. An infinite medium benchmark for neutron free gas elastic scattering for large scattering ratios and constant absorption cross section has been developed using the heavy gas model. An exact closed form solution for the neutron energy spectrum is obtained in terms of the confluent hypergeometric function and compared against spectra for the free gas scattering model in MCNP6. Results show a quick increase in convergence of the analytic energy spectrum to the MCNP6 code with increasing target size, showing absolute relative differences of less than 5% for neutrons scattering with carbon. The analytic solution has been generalized to accommodate piece- wise constant in energy absorption cross section to produce temperature feedback. Results reinforce the constraints in which heavy gas theory may be applied result- ing in a significant target size to accommodate increasing cross section structure. The energy dependent piecewise constant cross section heavy gas model was used to produce a benchmark calculation of the Doppler temperature coefficient to show accurate calculations when using the adjoint-weighted method. Results show the Doppler temperature coefficient using adjoint weighting and cross section derivatives accurately obtains the correct solution within statistics as well as reduce computer runtimes by a factor of 50

The act and impact of whistle-blowing on the Los Angeles Police Department

Few studies examine whistle-blowing from an organization\u27s self-regulating perspective. The LAPD is one of the few municipal agencies that offer its employees 8 or more misconduct reporting avenues to choose from. Yet, despite this large number of resources, many police officers have opted to file civil lawsuits rather than utilize internal resources to resolve reports of specific types of misconduct. A total of 131 sergeants, detectives, lieutenants, captains and commanders were surveyed in 2009 regarding their likelihood of reporting specific types of organizational misconduct to any one of the internal departmental resources provided. Findings revealed 65% of the police officers were likely to report any 1 of 8 specific types of misconduct allegations to department supervisors, as opposed to any of the more specialized internal investigative options. Over 70% of the officers were likely to report sexual harassment, hostile work environment allegations and receiving disparate treatment due to having a work related disability, to their chain of command. Lesser known specialized resources were reported as the least likely to be used. Reasons reported by respondents for not using internal resource options included a lack of trust or confidence in unknown resources, fear of backlash from peers, or that they simply preferred a less time consuming investigative process. The study also examined the perceived impacts associated with reporting misconduct. Alienation or silent treatment by peers and harsh treatment by co-workers were rated as the most likely impacts of reporting misconduct. The high percentage of police officers who are willing to report misconduct through the LAPD\u27s chain of command is significant in that it assures management that mid level supervisors may have the influential power needed to improve the internal reporting misconduct complaints, enhance compliance with employment discrimination laws, and lessen the incidents of employees preferring external options to report misconduct. Recommendations for enhancing LAPD resource options for employees include limiting the number of resources for reports of employment discrimination to one specialized unit, enhancing training for supervisors, periodic quality service audits of reporting resources to determine their effectiveness, and external LAPD oversight of the reporting and investigation of discrimination allegations

Health-related quality of life and depression among participants in the Sjögren's International Collaborative Clinical Alliance registry.

ObjectiveTo examine health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and depression among participants in an international Sjögren's syndrome (SS) registry, comparing those with and without SS.MethodsCross-sectional study of participants in the Sjögren's International Collaborative Clinical Alliance (SICCA) registry. The 2016 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism SS classification criteria were used to determine disease status. HRQoL was assessed using the Short Form 12, version 2 Health Survey to derive scores for physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS). Depression was assessed using the 9-Item Patient Health Questionnaire. Multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of HRQoL and depression while controlling for potential confounders.ResultsAmong 2401 SICCA participants who had symptoms of dry eyes and dry mouth, 1051 had SS (44%) and 1350 did not (56%). After controlling for confounders, when compared with non-SS participants, those with SS had better PCS (p<0.001, β=2.43, 95% CI 1.57 to 3.29), MCS (p=0.002, β=1.37, 95% CI 0.50 to 2.23) and lower adjusted odds of depression (p<0.001, OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.81). Other significant predictors of HRQoL and depression included employment, country of residence and use of medication with anticholinergic effect or for management of SS-related signs and symptoms.ConclusionOur results suggest that among symptomatic patients, having a diagnosis of SS may be associated with better emotional and psychological well-being compared with patients without a diagnosis. Having a definitive diagnosis of SS may encourage patients to obtain a better understanding of their disease and have coping mechanisms in place to better manage their symptoms