The Impact of Domestic and International Commodity Price Volatility on Agricultural Income Instability: Ghana, Vietnam and Peru

The extent to which commodity price volatility affects the income of producing households and their vulnerability to poverty and food insecurity depends on household diversification patterns and the degree of their exposure to markets. This article focuses on estimating agricultural income uncertainties for a number of different household types in Ghana, Vietnam and Peru. We develop explicit formulae for household income variance, and we combine information from household datasets and commodity price time-series in order to estimate the income uncertainty that emanates from price and production volatility under different scenarios of exposure to international and domestic markets shocks. Our results indicate that market and nonmarket uncertainties significantly affect the variability of agricultural income of households in these countries, and especially households that are specialized in a few commodities. However, it turns out that, under current policies, almost all of their income variability is due to domestic factors, with international prices not contributing much, at least in the short run. Wider exposure to international markets would increase the income variability of producers who have been subjected to domestic market stabilization policies in Ghana and Vietnam, while it would decrease it in the case of Peru.commodity prices, risk, households

The impact of domestic and international commodity price volatility on agricultural income instability: Ghana, Vietnam and Peru

The extent to which commodity price volatility affects the income of producing households and their vulnerability to poverty and food insecurity depends on household diversification patterns and the degree of their exposure to markets. This article focuses on estimating agricultural income uncertainties for a number of different household types in Ghana, Vietnam and Peru. We develop explicit formulae for household income variance, and we combine information from household datasets and commodity price time-series in order to estimate the income uncertainty that emanates from price and production volatility under different scenarios of exposure to international and domestic markets shocks. Our results indicate that market and nonmarket uncertainties significantly affect the variability of agricultural income of households in these countries, and especially households that are specialized in a few commodities. However, it turns out that, under current policies, almost all of their income variability is due to domestic factors, with international prices not contributing much, at least in the short run. Wider exposure to international markets would increase the income variability of producers who have been subjected to domestic market stabilization policies in Ghana and Vietnam, while it would decrease it in the case of Peru

VICTIMIZATION OF STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES OR ADHD (ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER)

The primary research objective of this research has been to investigate the relationship between the victimization of high school students and the existence of learning difficulties and ADHD. 700 students participated (with and without ADHD) who attended Gymnasiums of Western Thessaloniki in which integration departments operated. Participants anonymously completed a questionnaire on bullying. The results we quote here refer to the second part of the questionnaire that is completed only by those students who were victimized. According to the research activity so far, it was expected and finally confirmed that the variable existence of learning difficulties / ADHD is a predictor of the participation of these students in bullying incidents and even with the role of the victim [each increase in the percentage by one point (i.e. by 1 [each increase in the percentage by one point (i.e. by 1%) of the factor of learning disabilities and of the dep with a diagnosis the average value of the variable of a person falling victim to bullying increases by 1.21 points (p<0.001)].  Article visualizations

CAUSES OF BULLYING, DIFFERENT REASONS FOR BULLYING AND CHARACTERISTICS - IDENTITY OF THE VICTIMS ACCORDING TO THE BULLIES (HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS)

The research presents the results from the completion of a questionnaire exclusively by the participants of the study who have been perpetrators of acts of bullying. The results showed that the bullies to a small extent acknowledged that they became bullies because they felt powerful, because they like to dominate/oppress others, because they wanted recognition of their authority from their classmates, because they were afraid of becoming victims and because they had had previously been victims of bullying (in all cases the average value is equal to 2.0). Also, the results showed that the most important reason that pushed the bullies to bully was some particular characteristic of the victim (Mean=3.0, SD=1.0) and to a lesser extent identity -ethnicity, race, sexual orientation- (Mean=2.0, SD=1.0, Mean=2.0, SD=1.0, Mean=2.0, SD=1.0) respectively. According to the perpetrators, they bullied more often boys (Mean=3.0, SD=2.0), and students of their school (Mean=3.0, SD=2.0). Finally, it emerged that the most frequent form of bullying was derogatory comments (Mean=3.0, SD=2.0) followed by physical violence (Mean=2.0, SD=1.0).  Article visualizations

Sleep Insufficiency, Sleep Health Problems and Performance in High School Students

A survey on sleep schedule, sleep health, school performance and school start times was conducted in 1,941 adolescents. A high level of early and circadian-disadvantaged sleep/wake schedules during weekdays was observed. Shorter sleep duration on weekdays was reported, especially in upper classmen. Complaints of inadequate sleep and sleepiness during weekdays, alarm clock use, and napping were prevalent. Night awakening and prolonged sleep onset were common and associated with poor school performance. Students with a sleep length of less than 7 hours on both weekdays and weekends exhibited poorer performance, while those who made up this sleep loss on weekends did not. The total number of poor sleep factors in an individual also correlated with poor school performance. Earlier school start times were associated with a perception of poor sleep quality, shorter sleep duration and more sleep health problems. We conclude that sleep inadequacies and sleep health problems were prevalent in this population, especially in those who started school earlier in the morning, and that these poor sleep factors were associated with school performance

Surgery for complications of trans-catheter closure of atrial septal defects: a multi-institutional study from the European Congenital Heart Surgeons Association

Objective: This study aims to analyse the collective experience of participating European Congenital Heart Surgeons Association centres in the surgical management of complications resulting from trans-catheter closure of atrial septal defects (ASDs). Methods: The records of all (n=56) patients, aged 3-70 years (median 18 years), who underwent surgery for complications of trans-catheter ASD closure in 19 participating institutions over a 10-year period (1997-2007) were retrospectively reviewed. Risk factors for surgical complications were sought. Surgical outcomes were compared with those reported for primary surgical ASD closure in the European Association of Cardio-thoracic Surgery Congenital Database. Results: A wide range of ASD sizes (5-34mm) and devices of various types and sizes (range 12-60mm) were involved, including 13 devices less than 20mm. Complications leading to surgery included embolisation (n=29), thrombosis/thrombo-embolism/cerebral ischaemia or stroke (n=12), significant residual shunt (n=12), aortic or atrial perforation or erosion (n=9), haemopericardium with tamponade (n=5), aortic or mitral valve injury (n=2) and endocarditis (n=1). Surgery (39 early emergent and 17 late operations) involved device removal, repair of damaged structures and ASD closure. Late operations were needed 12 days to 8 years (median 3 years) after device implantation. There were three hospital deaths (mortality 5.4%). During the same time period, mortality for all 4453 surgical ASD closures reported in the European Association of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Congenital Database was 0.36% (p=0.001). Conclusions: Trans-catheter device closure of ASDs, even in cases when small devices are used, can lead to significant complications requiring surgical intervention. Once a complication leading to surgery occurs, mortality is significantly greater than that of primary surgical ASD closure. Major complications can occur late after device placement. Therefore, lifelong follow-up of patients in whom ASDs have been closed by devices is mandator

Assessing the vulnerability to price spikes in agricultural commodity markets

We empirically examine the predictability of the conditions which are associated with a higher probability of a price spike in agricultural commodity markets. We find that the forward spread is the most significant indicator of probable price jumps in maize, wheat and soybeans futures markets, a result which is in line with the “Theory of Storage”. We additionally show that some option-implied variables add significant predictive power when added to the more standard information variable set. Overall, the estimated probabilities of large price increases from our probit models exhibit significant correlations with the historical sudden market upheavals in agricultural markets

Diagnostic Yield of Non-Invasive Testing in Patients with Anomalous Aortic Origin of Coronary Arteries : A Multicentric Experience

Background: Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) is a congenital heart disease with a 0.3%-0.5% prevalence. Diagnosis is challenging due to nonspecific clinical presentation. Risk stratification and treatment are currently based on expert consensus and single-center case series. Methods: Demographical and clinical data of AAOCA patients from 17 tertiary-care centers were analyzed. Diagnostic imaging studies (Bidimensional echocardiography, coronary computed tomography angiography [CCTA] were collected. Clinical correlations with anomalous coronary course and origin were evaluated. Results: Data from 239 patients (42% males, mean age 15 y) affected by AAOCA were collected; 154 had AAOCA involving the right coronary artery (AAORCA), 62 the left (AAOLCA), 23 other anomalies. 211 (88%) presented with an inter-arterial course. Basal electrocardiogram (ECG) was abnormal in 37 (16%). AAOCA was detected by transthoracic echocardiography and CCTA in 53% and 92% of patients, respectively. Half of the patients reported cardiac symptoms (119/239; 50%), mostly during exercise in 121/178 (68%). An ischemic response was demonstrated in 37/106 (35%) and 16/31 (52%) of patients undergoing ECG stress test and stress-rest single positron emission cardiac tomography. Compared with AAORCA, patients with AAOLCA presented more frequently with syncope (18% vs. 5%, P = 0.002), in particular when associated with inter-arterial course (22% vs. 5%, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Diagnosis of AAOCA is a clinical challenge due to nonspecific clinical presentations and low sensitivity of first-line cardiac screening exams. Syncope seems to be strictly correlated to AAOLCA with inter-arterial course.Peer reviewe