Technical Efficiency among Organic and Conventional Farms in Sweden 2000-2002: A Counterfactual and Self-Selection Analysis

Technical efficiency and its determinants among organic and conventional farms in Sweden are analyzed for time-period 2000-2002. In addition, we address the issues that arise when comparing performance measures among the two groups of producers (conventional and organic) due differences in their technologies and the potential presence of self-selection in the farmer's choice of using conventional or organic production methods. If the choice of production method is based on, or at least in part based on, the farms expected productivity in organic and conventional farming respectively there is self-selection present that must be considered. We apply an endogenous switching regression model suggested by Lee (1978) to compare efficiency measures between the two groups that also allows for testing for the presence of self-selection. The results suggest that organic producers have a lower average technical efficiency which is expected because they use a more restricted technology. Moreover, the results suggest that the organic farmers are on average more efficient in organic production than the average conventional would have been in organic production.technical efficiency, self-selection, organic farming, Farm Management, O390, Q120,

The Early Diagnosis of Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Norway: a Study of Diagnostic Age and Its Associated Factors

The early identification of autism spectrum disorder is important to ensure access to early intervention. Much research has focused on the identification of early behavioral symptoms and screening. This study examines referral for diagnostic assessment, diagnostic age, and factors associated with diagnostic age for children with autism spectrum disorder. The results of this study indicate that children are referred and diagnosed later than they should be. Previous research has identified a valid time for the identification and diagnosis of this disorder as well as the diagnostic procedures and types of clinics that are associated with the appropriate diagnostic age

Ultrasound evaluation of Achilles tendon thickness in asymptomatics: A reliability study

Background: Achilles tendon disorders are among the most common maladies encountered in sports medicine. Increased tendon thickness is considered to be a risk factor for Achilles tendon disorders. Ultrasonography is currently the modality of choice that best demonstrate the Achilles tendon abnormalities. This study investigated Intra-rater reliability of ultrasound in Achilles tendon thickness measurements among asymptomatic’-s, performed by a qualified physiotherapist with limited ultrasound training. Method: A test retest reliability design was used. 25 healthy participants were recruited from Sheffield Hallam University. Achilles tendon thickness measurements were performed on two occasions, approximately 30 minutes apart; by the same rater, under same testing conditions. Results: The Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for intra-rater reliability was found be excellent (ICC =0.935; 95% confidence interval, 0.88-0.96). Implications: Ultrasound can be used in the field of physiotherapy as a clinical tool for prevention, assessment and monitoring rehabilitation of athletes. Conclusion: Ultrasound evaluation of Achilles tendon thickness can be reliably performed by a qualified physiotherapist with limited ultrasound training. Further research is required to investigate inter rater reliability and among different patient populations with proper US training

A case of long thoracic nerve palsy

A 31 year old male developed unilateral neck pain associated with increased kyphotic posture 24 hours after having general anaesthesia for ankle surgery. The pain and postural adaptation resolved, but a painless shoulder dysfunction developed. Following assessment a provisional diagnosis of long thoracic nerve palsy was made, and a 'wait and see' approach to management was taken. The dysfunction gradually resolved over a 12 month period without further investigation or intervention. The case study is discussed in light of possible neurophysiological mechanisms involved and of published literature on the management of long thoracic nerve palsy

Proceedings: Computer Science and Data Systems Technical Symposium, volume 2

Progress reports and technical updates of programs being performed by NASA centers are covered. Presentations in viewgraph form, along with abstracts, are included for topics in three catagories: computer science, data systems, and space station applications

Proceedings: Computer Science and Data Systems Technical Symposium, volume 1

Progress reports and technical updates of programs being performed by NASA centers are covered. Presentations in viewgraph form are included for topics in three categories: computer science, data systems and space station applications

Manglende generalisering av trenerferdigheter på tvers av situasjoner etter Workshop om Incidental Teaching

Incidental Teaching er en prosedyre som benyttes for å øke spontant språk, og har vist seg effektiv i opplæring og generalisering av språkferdigheter hos personer med ulike diagnoser i ulike situasjoner. Det er behov for kostnadseffektive intervensjoner for å sette lærere og andre trenere i stand til å bruke Incidental Teaching; forskning på personalopplæring innen Incidental Teaching er begrenset. Selv om flere studier har konkludert med at Incidental Teaching kan læres gjennom workshops, er det ukjent om trenere generaliserer ferdighetene til situasjoner hvor de ikke har mottatt eksplisitt opplæring. Vi undersøkte effekten av to workshops på antall episoder med Incidental Teaching lærerne lykkes i å implementere. Resultatene viser en signifikant økning hos begge deltakerne i forhold til bruk av Incidental Teaching i de situasjonene hvor de hadde mottatt eksplisitt opplæring gjennom workshop, men ingen av deltagerne generaliserte ferdighetene i Incidental Teaching til en situasjon som ikke ble omhandlet i workshops.Incidental Teaching is a procedure that is used to increase the use of spontaneous language. IT has been shown to be effective in teaching and promoting generalization of language skills in a variety of persons and settings. However, cost-effective interventions to enable teachers and paraprofessionals to implement Incidental Teaching are needed: research on how to do staff training to increase use of Incidental Teaching is limited. Although several studies have concluded that Incidental Teaching can be successfully taught using workshops, the extent to which therapists generalize teaching skills to settings not explicitly taught is unknown. We investigated the effect of two workshops on the number of Incidental Teaching episodes achieved by two teachers. Although results showed that both participating teachers significantly increased their use of Incidental Teaching in the settings that were explicitly taught in the workshops, neither of them generalized these new skills to a setting that was not explicitly discussed in the workshops

Quality appraisal as a part of the systematic review: a review of current methods

Systematic reviews frequently underpin national and international practice guidelines. Different approaches to the systematic review process, in particular quality appraisal, have been advocated. This paper discusses these approaches and highlights possible limitations which might impact upon the validity of the conclusions drawn. Practical alternatives are offered upon which systematic reviews may be appraised and conducted