USING CHOICE EXPERIMENTS TO ELICIT FARMERS PREFERENCES? FOR CROP AND HEALTH INSURANCE

A random utility discrete choice experiments is used to determine farmers' preferences for health insurance, crop insurance, and a product that switches some portion of crop insurance subsidy to health insurance premium subsidy with access to large-pool risk groups.Risk and Uncertainty,

Identifying Market Preferences for High Selenium Beef

Selenium is an element found in relatively high concentrations in crops and livestock raised on high-selenium soils located in North and South Dakota. Evidence suggests that a high-selenium diet such as would be obtained from consuming these products can reduce the risk of certain cancers. The region's livestock and grain producers are exploring potential high-selenium product marketing opportunities. A choice experiment was conducted to identify preferred attributes for a high-selenium beef product and the characteristics of potential market segments. In a national survey, participants chose between different levels of health claim approval and research, prices, and selenium origin. A multinomial logit regression model was estimated. Labeling reflecting scientific support linking selenium and reduced cancer risk, and natural-source selenium was ineffective. Marketing opportunities identified are consistent with existing functional food market segments and include consumers with higher income and education, 45 to 55 years of age, and with children.Choice Experiment, FDA approval, Functional Foods, Health Claim, Labeling, Selenium, Consumer/Household Economics, Livestock Production/Industries,

Shake ‘N Bake: the Migration of ‘Pervitin’ to Ireland

Home manufactured methamphetamine known as ‘Pervitin’ has historically dominated the drug market in the Czech and Slovak Republics. Seizures and surveillance data indicate some displacement of ‘Pervitin’ across Europe to areas of low reported prevalence (Nordic countries, Germany, Cyprus, Greece and Portugal). We present the first single case study of clandestine production of ‘Pervitin’ to Ireland, a country with low reporting history of methamphetamine. Content analysis yielded three descriptive themes; ‘Pervitin’ use, Decisions to Use and Effects; Legality and Hazards; and ‘Clandestine Manufacture.’ The study yielded unique insight into migration of this culturally specific drug, and how continued cultural contexts for use and ‘cooking’ remain intact when residing in the host country. Given its unique cultural nature and national characteristics, continued migration of Eastern European citizens across Europe, diffusion of clandestine production warrants continued surveillance. Appropriate service responses require culturally appropriate information and outreach services to Eastern European service users. © 2016 Springer Science+Business Media New Yor

A seeded ambient temperature ferrit process for the treatment of AMD waters: Magnetite formation in the presence and absence of calcium ions under steady state operation

An ambient temperature ferrite process has been developed for the removal of iron and non-ferrous metals from AMD waters. The process involves the controlled formation of magnetite (Fe3 O4 ) that has the capacity to substitute divalent and trivalent cations as part of the lattice, thus forming a stable easy-to-separate ferrite. This paper reports on continuous operations of the process in the absence and presence of Ca2+, which is well known to impede ferrite formation. In the first instance, the process involves the precipitation of hydroxy-metals at pH 10.5 and their subsequent adsorption onto magnetite seed in a contact stabilisation reactor. Second, liquid-solid separation is effected and the solid fraction is subsequently treated in an oxidising reactor in which a fraction of the ferrous species is oxidised to an intermediate ferric precipitate. Finally, both ferrous and ferric species undergo crystalchemical processing and are incorporated into stable magnetite. Results indicate that Ca2+ interference can be overcome by maintaining a high ratio of precipitated ferrous species to dissolved Ca2+. It was found that in order to attain the required high Fe2+:Ca2+ ratio, the solid ferrous-hydroxy species concentration in the oxidation reactor should be maintained at above 1 200 mg Fe/l. Ferrous to calcium ratios greater than 3 were found to favour magnetite formation. In the absence of Ca2+, a solid ferroushydroxy species concentration of approximately 500 mg/l was sufficient for magnetite formation. Operating the process at ferroushydroxy concentrations of lower than 1 200 and 500 mg/l in the presence and absence of calcium respectively enhanced the formation of other iron oxides, primarily goethite. In all experiments the iron concentration in the effluent was less than 1 mg/l, the sludge volume index (SVI) extremely low (< 4 ml/g) and the percentage of ferrous-hydroxy species in the sludge can be reduced to about 1%. These features, together with the potential to incorporate heavy metals into a stable compound, make the process very promising for AMD treatment

Community pharmacist experiences of providing needle and syringe programmes in Ireland

Background: Community pharmacists are increasingly acknowledged as under-utilized, important and accessible health providers in providing harm reduction support to drug users via needle and syringe programmes (NSP), provision of advice, HIV/Hepatitis testing and as referral mechanism to social, medical and treatment services. We report here on qualitative findings as part of the evaluation of the pilot Pharmacy Needle Exchange (PNEX) programme in Ireland. Objectives: The aim was to understand and illustrate pharmacist experiences of providing NSP. Methods: Of the 107 eligible pharmacies, a total of 70 participated in the national evaluation. Telephone interviews (n=17) and one to-one interviews (n=13) using a semi-structured guide were conducted with 30 pharmacists. Analysis of data was conducted using the Empirical Phenomenological Psychological (EPP) five step protocol. Results: Pharmacist experiences illustrated the largely positive nature of providing NSP, and highlighted needs to develop harm reduction training for pharmacists and appropriate strategies to raise awareness, provide exchange packs to meet the specific needs of the diverse populations of people who inject drugs and ensure the development of trusting relationships and opportunities to engage within a confidential service. Conclusions: Further enhancement of NSP coverage and targeted service delivery within national care pathways for drug and alcohol services is warranted

Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Use in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a Scoping Review of Extant Empirical Literature

The use of image- and performance-enhancing drugs particularly anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) is not a new phenomenon. AAS use is not limited to athletes, with mainstream populations using these drugs for aesthetic purposes. Prevalence has been predominantly in Western countries, with some recent studies indicating a rise in popularity in the Eastern Mediterranean region. A scoping review of extant empirical literature from the Eastern Mediterranean region described and mapped what is known about the extent of AAS in the region. Four themes emerged from the review: (1) profile of AAS users; (2) AAS within gymnasium practice; (3) AAS regimes of use; and (4) knowledge and understanding of the AAS concept and related adverse effects. The review highlights a relatively new phenomenon of AAS use in the Eastern Mediterranean. The review underscores the need to carry out further research, particularly qualitative and quantitative studies with both genders, and cognisant of the complexities of culture and religiosity

Investigation of submarine landslide deposits the northern margin of Puerto Rico

The seismogenic northeastern North America-Caribbean oblique-slip plate boundary includes the 8.5-km deep Puerto Rico trench, 120 km north of the densely populated islands of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The northern insular margin of Puerto Rico, adjacent to the Puerto Rico trench, is characterized by frequent seismicity, rapid Neogene trenchward tilting, and oversteepened slopes. Multibeam bathymetry, sidescan sonar, and single-channel seismic reflection data reveal extensive submarine landslide deposits on the margin that can be traced upslope to two large (up to 55-km wide and 6.1-km deep) amphitheater-shaped headscarps along the edge of the Puerto Rico –Virgin Islands (PRVI) carbonate platform. The crown of the larger, westernmost scarp incises the platform at 2600 meters below sea level, ~ 40 km off the north coast of Puerto Rico. The associated submarine landslide deposits extend up to 80 km trenchward, covering a total seafloor area of 4313 km2. Seismic reflection data show a maximum debris deposit thickness of 2850 m. The debris deposit consists of multiple layers each approximately 200 m thick. This suggests that the slope failure may have occurred as multiple failure events, rather than a single catastrophic event. Allowing for compaction of the debris deposit sediments, the volume of 1378 km3 for the amphitheater is comparable to the calculated compacted landslide debris volume of 1426 km3. These results suggest that the collection of submarine landslide units is associated with the formation of the giant amphitheater over time. This also suggests that the debris is not being removed by translation or subduction, unlike other convergent margins. Although the exact triggering mechanism(s) for the submarine landslides is not known, tectonic erosion related to the westward migration of the overthickened (20+ km) southeastern Bahamas Province beneath the PRVI margin is a likely candidate. The present-day collision zone is interpreted to be offshore northwestern Puerto Rico, an area characterized by mid-slope uplift, anomalously high seismicity and crescentic cracks in the PRVI carbonate platform that are similar in size and shape to amphitheaters observed further to the east. Evidence of multiple, Pliestocene and younger submarine landslide deposits adjacent to the uplifted Mona Block and within the Mona Rift suggest that the devastating 1918 tsunami could have been generated by a seismically triggered submarine landslide. Moreover, the proximity of crescenticshaped seafloor cracks to the tectonically active Mona Rift make them likely candidates for sites of future breakaway scarps and catastrophic submarine landslides. A modern day inundation would have detrimental effects on Puerto Rico whose population has dramatically increased over the past century to about 3.89 million