Economic Impacts of Regional Approaches to Rural Development: Initial Evidence on the Delta Regional Authority

This study assesses the initial economic outcomes of the Delta Regional Authority (DRA), which began funding rural development projects in the Mississippi Delta region in 2002. The study focuses on non-metropolitan DRA counties and similar counties elsewhere in the Mississippi Delta region and the southeast, using a quasi-experimental approach that combines matching methods, double and triple difference and switching regression estimation. We find that per capita income and transfer payments grew more rapidly in DRA counties than similar non-DRA counties, and that these impacts are larger in counties in which DRA spending was larger. Each additional dollar of DRA spending per capita is associated with an increase of $15 in personal income per capita between 2002 and 2007, including an increase of$8 in earnings (primarily in the health care and social services sector) and $5 in transfer payments. The increase in transfer payments is mainly due to increased medical transfer payments. We also find that the number of hospital beds per capita increased more in counties where DRA spending per capita was greater. These findings suggest that investments supported by the DRA in improved medical facilities are promoting additional health sector earnings and medical transfer payments.rural economic development programs, economic impacts, Mississippi Delta, Delta Regional Authority, matching estimators, double difference, triple difference estimation, switching regression, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, R58, R11, O18, C21,

Organizational development and natural resource management: evidence from central Honduras

The determinants of local organizational density and the impacts of local and external organizations on collective and private natural resource management decisions are investigated based on a survey of 48 villages in central Honduras. Factors positively associated with local organizational development include the presence of external organizations, population level, moderate population growth, lower population density, the presence of immigrants, distance from the urban market, literacy and coffee production. Local organizations are found to contribute to collective action to conserve resources, while government organizations appear to displace it, though not in all cases. The findings suggest that external organizations can play a catalytic role in fostering development of local organizations and emphasize the importance of improved understanding of the roles of local organizations, in order to enhance complementarity and minimize competition between these different agents in promoting sustainable development.Honduras., Natural resources Management., Collective behaviour., Government.,

Impact of tsetse control on land use in the semi-arid zone of Zimbabwe. Phase 1: Classification of land use by remote sensing imagery (NRI Bulletin 66)

In areas of Africa affected by trypanosomiasis, tsetse control is a major component of rural development activities. lt is undertaken to facilitate human settlement and agricultural change through the expansion of livestock-based production systems in areas cleared of tsetse. Its impacts need to be assessed within the context of sustainable land-use planning. As part of an international programme of work to evaluate the environmental and socio-economic impacts of tsetse control in southern Africa, its effects on land use and vegetation change over a 20-year period are being assessed using satellite imagery. The study area covers approximately 8500 km2 south of Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe, and Phase 1 of the research programme used Landsat TM imagery and aerial photography to define baseline vegetation and land-use classes

A Model Analysis of Tensile Stress in the Toadfish Vestibular Membranes

Background. A theoretical model analysis of stress in the vestibular membranes has identified a geometrical stress factor incorporating shape, size, and thickness that can be used to assess peak stress in the various chambers. Methods. Using published measurements of the toadfish vestibular membranes made during surgery, the geometrical stress factor can be evaluated for each chamber based on the model. Results. The mean geometrical stress factor is calculated to be the lowest in the semicircular canal (4.4), intermediate in the ampulla (6.0), and the highest in the utricle (17.4). Conclusions. The model predicts that substantial hoop stress disparities exist in the toadfish vestibular labyrinth. Stress is least in the semicircular canal, which therefore appears to be the structure with greatest stability. The utricle is found to be the most stress prone structure in the vestibular labyrinth and therefore appears to be the chamber most vulnerable to distention and potential modification

Pathways of development in the hillsides of Honduras: causes and implications for agricultural production, poverty, and sustainable resource use

Based on a survey of 48 communities in central Honduras, this paper identifies the major pathways of development that have been occurring in central Honduras since the mid-1970s, their causes and implications for agricultural productivity, natural resource sustainability, and poverty. Six pathways of development were identified: 1) basic grains expansion communities-where basic grains production is the dominant activity and increased basic grains production has occurred; 2) basic grains stagnation communities-where basic grains production is dominant but has stagnated or declined; 3) coffee expansion communities-where coffee production is important and has been increasing in importance; 4) horticultural expansion communities-where substantial adoption and expansion of horticultural crops has occurred; 5) forestry specialization communities-where forestry activities are important and basic grains production is stagnant or declining; and 6) nonfarm employment communities-where nonfarm employment is a major and increasing source of income. The findings imply that a “one-size-fits-all” approach to technical assistance is unlikely to be successful, since different approaches show promise in different pathways.Natural resources., Poverty., Technical assistance., Agricultural development., Honduras.,

Health Promotion Model Manual

This manual contains an overview of the Health Promotion Model, its component variables, and theoretical propositions. Clinical assessment tools and information about research instruments are included in the manual.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/85350/1/HEALTH_PROMOTION_MANUAL_Rev_5-2011.pd

Integrating science through literature

Whole language method--Integration of science and literature--Language centered orientation--Integrated curriculum

Measurement precision test construction and best test design

This article examines the precision of measurements obtained from using the Rasch Dichotomous Model to analyse test data. Considering tests in which the item difficulties are uniformly spaced from easiest to most difficult, permits the derivation of an alternative expression for the standard error of measurement. This expression is sufficiently simple to enable the precision properties of uniform tests to be readily described and to enable a variety of problems of test construction to be solved. One particular problem is that of best test design. Regarding measurement precision as a property of the test only, we show that the best uniform test of a given length and a given target interval is the one that satisfies a minimax condition on the standard error. We illustrate the solution to this problem and describe properties of best tests

Integrated Earthquake Resistant Design of Structure-Foundation Systems

In this paper the case is made for an integrated approach to the earthquake resistant design of structure-foundation systems. Emphasis is placed on the need to analyse the response of a system that has the foundation and structure modelled with comparable levels of sophistication. The paper gives examples which illustrate what can be achieved with simplified models that represent the essence of the structural and foundation behaviour. However, to achieve a truly integrated structure-foundation design the investigation of the soil in which the foundation will be constructed needs to receive effort comparable to that expended in modelling the structurefoundation system. This requires accurate mapping of the soil types and layers present as well as estimation of the shear strength and stiffness of these materials. For the cyclic loading that occurs during an earthquake the shear stains in the soil near the foundation will be larger than those associated with shear wave propagation, so an “operational” stiffness is needed for the soil. Field test data for shallow and deep foundations at a site in Auckland residual soil are presented to show the extent of soil softening during foundation cyclic loading

Impact of tsetse control on land use in the semi-arid zone of Zimbabwe. Phase 2: Analysis of land use change by remote sensing imagery (NRI Bulletin 70)

Tsetse control is carried out to facilitate the expansion of livestock-based production systems in areas cleared of the threat of bovine trypanosomiasis. There is a growing awareness of the need for tsetse control to be considered an integral component of rural development and of the importance of monitoring and evaluating both the causes and consequences of potential land-use changes as a prerequisite for planning control operations. As part of an international programme to evaluate the environmental and socio-economic effects of tsetse control in southern Africa, changes in land cover over a 20-year period are being assessed in an area of Zimbabwe with a long and varied history of tetse control and agricultural development. The study area, adjacent to Lake Kariba, covers approximately 8300 km2 and comprises Reserved, Communal and State Lands. The first phase of the study established the baseline land-use and vegetation patterns, using satellite imagery. In Phase 2, changes in land cover, particularly human-dominated land use (HDLU), are examined from 1972 to 1993, using four Landsat TM and five MSS images, integrated with other datasets in ARC/INFO GIS