THE EFFECTS OF TRADE PROMOTION ON CANADIAN AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS

Canadian agricultural trade promotion expenditures have dramatically increased from C$.4 million in 1969/70 to C$26.5 million in 1981/82. To evaluate the effect of these expenditures on agricultural exports an econometric analysis is presented in this study. The extended distributed lag model for export demand is developed and estimated using an iterative autoregressive least squares with instrumental variable (IALSI) method of estimation. The results reveal that the trade promotion programs (aggregate expenditure levels) have had a statistically significant effect on agricultural exports. The analysis of dynamic multipliers indicates that the effect of trade promotion expenditure on export levels is likely to decline gradually and last for about a five-year period. Also, the real export demand for aggregate agricultural products is found close to unitary elastic with respect to the real export price variable.International Relations/Trade,

On the Boards TV: Innovation, Leadership and Practice

Emerging technology is a term that too often scares off arts leaders who already have so much on their plates. Yet used creatively, new technologies can yield powerful results. In 2009, On the Boards took such a leap, implementing high-quality video technology to vastly expand access to their contemporary performance space in Seattle. This case study explores On the Board TV (OtBTV), the platform that stemmed from the innovation, leadership and practice of On the Boards

Unravelling Societal Constructs and Feminine Agency: A Critical Analysis of Manju Kapur’s Difficult Daughters

Manju Kapur\u27s Difficult Daughters stands as a pivotal work in the realm of Indian English literature, delving into the intricate complexities of familial dynamics, societal norms, and individual agency against the backdrop of pre-partition Punjab. This research article aims to explore Kapur\u27s narrative through a critical lens, dissecting themes of tradition, rebellion, and the quest for identity within the context of a patriarchal society. By examining the characters\u27 struggles and triumphs, this study seeks to unravel the multifaceted layers of gender roles and societal expectations depicted in the novel. Through a combination of literary analysis and sociocultural critique, this research endeavors to shed light on the enduring relevance of "Difficult Daughters" in contemporary discourse on gender, tradition, and autonomy

ANALYSIS OF US ACCIDENTS AND SOLUTIONS

Reducing traffic accidents is an essential public safety challenge all over the world; therefore, accident analysis has been a subject of much research in recent decades. The objective of the project is to analyze the US accident data from 50 states to inform the US government agencies and the general public on trends and possible causes of traffic accidents and what could be done to reduce them. The analysis include number of accidents by year, number of accidents by state, best time to travel by month, day and hour, accident-prone area in each state, factors responsible of the accidents like weather, wind flow, temperature, location, etc., deaths in each state, age group of fatalities, drivers involved in accident, drivers age group, vehicles involved in accident, driver with alcohol consumption. The analysis platform is built using Tableau. Government agencies and the general public can leverage these insights and take a preventive measure which can reduce US accidents. The significant findings from the analysis are: (a) most of the accidents are happening in October, November, December; (b) nighttime is safe to travel, (c) a more substantial number of deaths are from drivers in the 20-35 age group; (d) weather, temperature, and location are the factors responsible for 9% of accidents, and (e) about 60% accidents are attributed to drunk driving. The main recommendations from the project focus on Infrastructure, Policy, Administrative, and Human behavior-related changes that can be implemented by the state and the federal government

Econometric analysis of farm machinery investment and simulations under alternative energy, price support, and export policies

The historical trends in structure, extent, and intensity of agricultural mechanization are analyzed in this study. The numbers of tractors, grain combines, corn pickers and picker shellers, pickup balers, and field forage harvesters peaked during the early 1960s. The decline in their numbers after the \u2760s is brought about mainly by the qualitative changes in those machines. The total tractor horsepower on farms also increased over the period 1963-79. Analysis of measures such as acres per horsepower, number of tractors and combines per farm, and acres per tractor and combine indicates that the intensity of machinery-use has increased over the last four decades. The productivity of machinery input in agricultural production has also increased;Based on the various investment theories, the alternative models of stock adjustment, expectations, and derived demand type are estimated for tractor and other machinery investments at the national and regional levels using 1950-77 annual data. Investment demand functions for harvesting machinery are estimated at the national level. Statistical tests for structural change in the machinery investments are performed. The demand elasticities with respect to prices, income and other economic variables are calculated. In general, the other machinery demand is the most elastic and the harvesting machinery demand is the least elastic with respect to their own prices. Harvesting machinery may have a higher priority in the annual machinery purchases of farmers and hence a lower elasticity of demand. In general, the tractor demand elasticity with respect to its own price as well as aggregate crop price is increasing from west to east;Dynamic multipliers expressing the long-lasting effects of the interest rates, price of fuel and oil, and net farm income are calculated for selected machinery investments. The impact and long-term multipliers are also presented;Finally, a block recursive simulation model of the regional farm machinery investments is developed. The relevant variables are selected from agriculture, industry, and economy in general to complete the linkages specified in the model. The regional tractor and other machinery investments and national tractor, harvesting machinery, other machinery, and all machinery investments are predicted up to 1990. The potential effects of six alternative policies of energy prices, support prices and agricultural exports on future farm machinery investments are also analyzed

Effect Of Relaxation Intervention On Stress Levels And Cognitive Skills In Professional Students

Background: Medical Professional training is likely to encounter a variety of hassles and stress in relation to the developmental tasks associated with transition from school life to professional college life. The vast syllabus, peer competition for academic performance, continuous evaluation, and long duration of the training makes medical education stressful. Many students feel a need to relieve stress and it is a necessity to equip students with proven techniques to reduce stress and cope up with the situation. Proper cognitive functioning has been found to be an important factor for academic performance. Methods: The present study is a cross sectional comparative study done for 60 medical students in the age group of 18-23 years. The subjects who were interested to practice relaxation techniques (JPMR, slow paced breathing and yoga nidra) for forty five days for 40 minutes were placed in the study group and 30 age and gender matched student were randomly selected for control group who were not willing to practice relaxation techniques. The stress level was assessed using stress questionnaires recommended by International stress management association UK before and after the relaxation intervention in the study group. Results: The Study revealed that stress was significantly reduced in the study group and also showed improvement in cognitive skills after intervention. Conclusions: The study concludes that progressive muscle relaxation technique is very effective in reducing stress among medical students

FERTILIZER DEMAND FUNCTIONS FOR FIVE CROPS IN THE UNITED STATES

Crop Production/Industries,

Passive vibration control of framed structures by base isolation method using lead rubber bearing

In recent years considerable attention has been paid to research and development of structural control devices with particular emphasis on mitigation of wind and seismic response of buildings. Many vibration-control measures like passive, active, semi-active and hybrid vibration control methods have been developed. Passive vibration control keeps the building to remain essentially elastic during large earthquakes and has fundamental frequency lower than both its fixed base frequency and the dominant frequencies of ground motion. Base isolation is a passive vibration control system. Free vibration and forced vibration analysis was carried out on the framed structure by the use of computer program SAP 2000 v12.0.0 and validating the same experimentally. The results of the free vibration analysis like time period, frequency, mode shape and modal mass participating ratios of the framed structure were found out. From modal analysis the first mode time period of fixed base building is found to be 0.56 sec whereas the first mode period of isolated building is found to be 3.11s (approximately 6 times the fixed-base period!). This value is away from the dominant spectral period range of design earthquake. Forced vibration analysis (non-linear time history analysis) was done to determine the response of framed structures and to find out the vibration control efficiency of framed structures using lead rubber bearing. Isolation bearings in this study are modelled by a bilinear model. Under favourable conditions, the isolation system reduces the interstorey drift in the superstructure by a factor of at least two and sometimes by a factor of at least five. Acceleration responses are also reduced in the structure by an amount of 55-75% although the amount of reduction depends upon the force deflection characteristic of the isolators. A better performance of the isolated structure with respect to the fixed base structure is also observed in floor displacements, base shear (75-85% reduction), floor acceleration relative to the ground(less acceleration imparted on each floor and their magnitude is approximately same in each floor), roof displacement. Introduction of horizontal flexibility at the base helps in proper energy dissipation at the base level thus reducing the seismic demand of the super structure to be considered during design. Keywords: Passive vibration control, Time history analysis, interstorey drift, yielded stiffness, Design basis earthquake

Improving Vocabualary Achievement Through Total Physical Response Among Grade Four Elementary School Pupils

This research is on Improving Vocabulary Achievement Through Total PhysicalResponse (TPR) among Grade Four Karyawangi Elementary School Pupils. It is administeredto answer question”Is TPR method effective in improving the vocabulary achievement of thepupils?” The data were collected through pre test and post test, administered to 31 students andwas analyzed by using t-test. The achievements showed that the mean of the pre-test was 23.06and the mean of the post-test was 64.11, while the significant = 0.003 < α = 0.05, thus theconclusion that there is a significant difference in pupils\u27 vocabulary achievement throughTotal Physical Response (TPR)