FACTORS AFFECTING PARTICIPATION BEHAVIOR OF LIMITED RESOURCE FARMERS IN COST-SHARE PROGRAMS IN ALABAMA

This study examines factors that affect the participation behavior of limited resource farmers in cost-share programs in Alabama. The data was generated from a survey administered to a sample of limited resource farm operators. A binary logit was employed to analyze the data. Results indicate that college education, age, total farm size, as well as membership in conservation association had significant influence on participation.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Examining Factors Affecting Population Change in the Southern United States: An Ongoing Case Study

Urban sprawl and rural rebound are major foci of recent regional economic studies. Using 1980 and 2000 Census data from 11 southern states, binary logit regressions of population changes in rural-and-metropolitan counties and Black Belt-and-non-Black Belt counties reveal education, poverty, employment, and age differences are related to population changes.African Americans, Black Belt, Census, population change, Rural rebound, Urban Sprawl, Southern, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Labor and Human Capital,

Examining Income Convergence in Southern United States

County-level data for 11 southern states were used to examine income convergence between 1980 and 2000. Ordinary least squares regression of logarithmic difference on average per capita income in 1980 and 2000 indicated conditional income convergence over the 20-year period. The estimated rate of income convergence was 3.82% per year. This convergence varied across the region based on the initial and changed conditions of population density, African-American population, employment, education, age structure, and travel time to work.Financial Economics,

Land Cover and Socio-economic Characteristics in the Eight Counties of Alabama: A Spatial Analysis

This study employed a clustering algorithm and a logistic regression analysis to examine the relationship between cropland and demographic attributes obtained at the census block group level. The result indicated that population density, African Americans, and poverty are significantly related with crop land use in the region.Institutional and Behavioral Economics,

Income Convergence and Growth in Alabama: Evidence from Sub-county Level Data

1980 and 2000 Census Block Group (CBG) data were used to examine income convergence in all Alabama counties vis-à-vis Alabama’s Black Belt and Northwest regions. Though all three models demonstrated conditional income convergence, CBGs with smaller initial populations, smaller changes in African-American or dependent age populations had higher income changes.Alabama, African-Americans, Black Belt, Census Block Groups, Income Convergence, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

DETERMINANTS OF PARTICIPATION BEHAVIOR OF LIMITED RESOURCE FARMERS IN CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM IN ALABAMA

This study investigated factors that affect participation behavior of limited resource farmers (LRF) in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in Alabama. A binary logit model was employed to analyze data obtained from 611 respondents. Results indicated that males, part-time occupation, total acres, participation in non-conservation related programs, direct method of receiving CRP information, and respondents' interest in receiving CRP information, were strong predictors of participation in the CRP. Key words: Limited resource, CRP, minorities, participation behaviorLimited resource, CRP, minorities, participation behavior, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Examining Rural-Urban Population Change in the Southeastern United States

This study examined the factors that influenced population change in 875 counties in the southeastern United States between 1970 and 2000, using U.S. Census data. Binary logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between socioeconomic factors and population change. The results of marginal probability estimates indicate that race and employment factors have been strongly related to population change in these counties. African-American-dominant counties have lost population to urban areas of more diverse counties. Our results suggest that individuals place high importance on better education, job opportunities, and living conditions in their decisions to move from their traditional places to new places. Additionally, rural counties need to develop resilience by improving community capital and quality of life amenities to sustain rural population and attract more retirees in rural corridors

Accuracy of Glucose Meter Among Adults in a Semi-urban Area in Kathmandu, Nepal

Introduction: Glucose meters are gaining popularity in monitoring of blood glucose at household levels and in health care set-ups due to their portability, affordability and convenience of use over the laboratory based reference methods. Still they are not free of limitations. Operator’s technique, extreme temperatures, humidity, patients’ medication, hematocrit values can affect the reliability of glucose meter results. Hence, the accuracy of glucose meter has been the topic of concern since years. Therefore, present study aims to evaluate the analytical and clinical accuracy of glucose meter using International Organization for Standardization 15197 guideline. Methods: A community based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Kapan, Kathmandu, Nepal in April 2018. Glucose levels were measured using glucose meter and reference laboratory method simultaneously among 203 adults ≥20 years, after an overnight fasting and two hours of ingestion of 75 grams glucose. Modified Bland-Altman plots were created by incorporating ISO 15197 guidelines to check the analytical accuracy and Park error grid was used to evaluate the clinical accuracy of the device. Results: Modified Bland-Altman plots showed>95% of the test results were beyond the acceptable analytical criteria of ISO 15197:2003 and 2013. Park Error Grid-Analysis showed 99% of the data within zones A and B of the consensus error grid. Conclusions: Glucose meter readings were within clinically acceptable parameters despite discrepancies on analytical merit. Possible sources of interferences must be avoided during the measurement to minimize the disparities and the values should be interpreted with caution.

Perceptions on Impacts of Surface coal-mining on environment and well-being in Kentucky\u27s Appalachia

Kentucky’s Appalachian Mountain Region has a history of coal-mining beginning in the 1800’s, which has increased the scale of land used for coal extraction and has impacted people’s life, local environment, and economy. Reclamation of surface mines, as mandated by the Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) of 1977, has not resulted in restoration of pre-mining hydrologic and ecological characteristics. Previous studies suggest that surface mining and reclamation efforts may be increasing risks of more environmental and flooding hazards. The conflict between mining activities and environmental protection has intensified over recent years, emphasizing the need for improved information on the dynamics of impacts at regional and local scales. Assessing cumulative environmental impacts is an important aspect of sustainable land management, and involves balancing benefits from resource exploitation against environmental degradation. Public knowledge of extent of mining and reclamation is critical to managing or mitigating the potential impacts of surface mining on socioeconomics and microclimate of downstream settlements. This study is sought to explore correlations among public perceptions of trajectory of surface-mining, community attachment, and reclamation effects for climate, human livelihood, and environment. The analysis of survey data and regression results suggest residents in eastern Kentucky have a strong sense of place and view mining as part of community identity. They perceive reclamation efforts have been successful and disagree that surface mining has negatively impacted their surroundings

Geospatial Analysis of Income Growth in Southeastern United States

Income convergence and both endogenous and exogenous factors causing income growth in the southeastern United States were examined by using county level census data between 1980 and 2000. The study found that spatial variations in education, employment, and industries concentrations were strongly related with income convergence in the region