Biscayne aquifer in Dade and Broward Counties, Florida

The Biscayne Aquifer is the principal source of water for the heavily populated area in the vicinity of West Palm Beach and Miami. The publication of this data is timely and will assist in the intelligent development of the water resources of the area.(PDF has 64 pages

Report and Recommendations on Two Chilean Labor Force Surveys

For many years, Chile has benefited from two surveys of labor force developments for the “Greater Santiago Area.” One of these surveys dates back to the 1950s and is conducted by the University of Chile. The other is a national survey, conducted by the National Institute of Statistics (NIS), from which data are also available for the Santiago Metropolitan Area. Results, especially the rate of unemployment, do not always coincide, and this has been particularly the case for all years since 1998. This report studies this problem of non concurrence, identifies a number of areas for possible explanation, and makes recommendations for improvement of survey operations. Both surveys were found to follow quite well recommendations of the International Labor Organization regarding the measurement of employment and unemployment. Two significant areas in the report concern the questionnaires used for the surveys and data estimation techniques. Fourteen recommendations for improvements in the surveys are offered, with major attention focused on plans by the NIS to introduce an entirely new questionnaire in the near future. With respect to the University’s survey, the authors recommend changes in the basic questionnaire and survey weighting procedures. They also recommend improving data analysis (NIS), maintaining error profiles for data collection (both surveys), and using seasonal adjustment for statistical analysis (both).

The Next Threshold: Higher Skills and the New England Economy

The history of the New England regional economy — its attenuated post-World War II decline and subsequent aggressive renewal — reveals an intensifying relationship between economic resurgence, the supply and continuing demand for professional manpower, and the results of academic research and development. The New England region has outproduced the rest of the nation in supplying professionally trained men and women, a leading factor not fully appreciated by those describing the region\u27s robust economic health in the decade since Neal Peirce wrote The New England States. New England\u27s oversupply in professional fields has given the high-tech and sophisticated services sectors a decided national advantage. The single most important factor in the enhancement of New England\u27s future competitive edge nationally and internationally is the maintenance of the current knowledge-based surge of economic growth. This will be accomplished through the continued capacity of New England\u27s higher education system to oversupply and adjust to the knowledge-intensive employment demands of the future. If the supply of educated manpower and the nationally prominent research and development capacity created by the professionals of the region are to continue, New England cannot rest on current success. Now is the time to use equitable and quality education for all our people to build the foundation for the region\u27s future prosperity

SYSTEMS ANALYSIS OF LIVESTOCK WASTE MANAGEMENT: A STUDY OF LARGE-SCALE DAIRYING

The analytical approach to studying waste management is investigated here in the context of large scale dairying. The typical short-run approach that regards waste management as separable from primary production is contrasted with a longer-run systems approach in which waste management is regarded as an interdependent stage of production. Failure to consider interdependencies between waste management and agricultural production could compromise potential efficiencies in the overall system. Furthermore, cooperative waste treatment and disposal among livestock producers may contribute to greater efficiency and afford opportunities for resource conservation and recovery through waste utilization.Environmental Economics and Policy, Livestock Production/Industries,

A five year outbreak of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus phage type 53,85 in a regional neonatal unit

We identified a 5-year outbreak of a methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) strain, affecting 202 babies on a neonatal unit, by routine weekly phage typing all S. aureus isolates. Multiple staged control measures including strict emphasis on hand hygiene, environmental and staff surveillance sampling, and application of topical hexachlorophane powder failed to end the outbreak. S. aureus PT 53,85 (SA5385) was found on opened packs of Stomahesive®, used as a neonatal skin protectant. Only following the implementation of aseptic handling of Stomahesive®, and the use of topical mupirocin for staff nasal carriers of SA5385, and for babies colonized or infected with S. aureus, did the isolation rate of SA5385 decline. DNA fingerprinting indicated that [gt-or-equal, slanted]95% of SA5385 isolates were clonal. In vitro death rates of SA5385 on Stomahesive® with human serum were significantly lower than on Stomahesive® alone (P = 0·04), and on cotton sheet with serum (P = 0·04), highlighting the potential of this material as a survival niche. Phage typing remains a valuable, inexpensive and simple method for monitoring nosocomial MSSA infection