The District economic outlook : responding to labor shortages and overseas problems

The Tenth District economy slowed down in 1998, with employment growing marginally below the national average. Despite very tight labor markets, employment growth remained healthy in many sectors. Construction; trade; transportation, communications, and public utilities; and finance, insurance, and real estate---all posted healthy gains. The manufacturing and service sectors, however, turned in weak growth, a result of the Asian financial turmoil and a shortage of skilled workers throughout the district. District agriculture had a difficult year, as commodity prices plunged in the face of rising supplies and weakening demand. A large aid package from Congress late in the year prevented farm incomes from being considerably less than in 1997.> Gazel and Wilkerson discuss why the district economy is likely to slow further in 1999, growing only modestly compared with the recent past. The expected slowdown of the national economy, continued economic weakness in the rest of the world, and very tight labor markets throughout the district are all likely to play major roles in the district economic slowdown. Some sectors of the district economy, such as manufacturing and mining, are likely to be hurt more than others in the near future. The service sector is likely to repeat its weak 1998 performance, while a reduction in consumer spending will slow growth in retail and wholesale trade in 1999. Construction activity may weaken a bit in 1999, and the district farm economy is likely to face a difficult year unless the government acts to further boost subsidies.Federal Reserve District, 10th ; Economic conditions - United States ; Employment (Economic theory) ; Labor supply

What's hampering job growth in the District's services sector?

Employment growth in the Tenth District has fallen behind the national rate in 1999 for the first time in ten years. Although all economic sectors have been experiencing slower job growth, the services sector, due to its size, has played perhaps the most important role in the slowdown of overall employment growth in the district. While services employment elsewhere in the nation continues to grow rapidly, the district has witnessed very little job expansion in services so far in 1999 (Chart 1). In fact, the district services sector has added jobs during the first seven months of this year at less than a third of the rate enjoyed by the nation as a whole.Employment (Economic theory) ; Service industries ; Federal Reserve District, 10th

The impact of the Brazilian crisis in the Tenth District

The recent economic turmoil in Brazil, triggered by the devaluation in January of the "real" (Brazil's currency), has understandably created concern about how the United States will be affected. This article looks at the possible impacts in the Tenth District and finds that, at least for now, there is little need for concern. The article is divided into three sections: an explanation of the crisis and its overall potential for harm, a brief discussion of the direct impact on district producers, and a more thorough analysis of the indirect ways a spread of the crisis could affect manufacturing and agriculture in the region.Brazil

Will tightness in Tenth District labor markets result in economic slowdown?

Labor markets in the Tenth District are tighter now than at any time in recent memory. The steady fall of unemployment rates in recent years has led many analysts to wonder if future economic growth in the region could be restricted by labor shortages. The district's labor market is actually even tighter than suggested by its unemployment rate of less than 4 percent in 1998 due to the presence of two other significant, but often overlooked, factors: high labor force participation rates and slowing domestic migration flows.> The labor force participation rate, meaning roughly the percentage of the working-age population that is actively taking part in the labor force, has been increasing rapidly in the district this decade and is now well above the national rate. This means the district is likely to have a more difficult time drawing new workers from its own population in the future. Likewise, the district has suffered in recent years from smaller net migration flows from the rest of the country after several years of strong gains following the 1990-91 recession. Thus, at a time when district labor markets need to be drawing more workers from other parts of the country, the flow of new workers is actually drying up.> Gazel and Wilkerson explore whether the growth of jobs in the district is likely to be hampered by slower growth in the labor supply in the presence of tight labor markets. They find that the district's extremely low unemployment rate, combined with a record level of labor force participation and diminishing migration inflows, does indeed reflect an economy that is likely to suffer from slow labor supply growth in the near future.Federal Reserve District, 10th ; Labor market ; Employment (Economic theory)

Size-Fractionated Nitrogen Uptake Measurements in the Equatorial Pacific and Confirmation of the Low Si-High-Nitrate Low-Chlorophyll Condition

The equatorial Pacific Ocean is the largest natural source of CO(2) to the atmosphere, and it significantly impacts the global carbon cycle. Much of the large flux of upwelled CO(2) to the atmosphere is due to incomplete use of the available nitrate (NO(3)) and low net productivity. This high-nutrient low-chlorophyll (HNLC) condition of the equatorial upwelling zone (EUZ) has been interpreted from modeling efforts to be due to low levels of silicate ( Si( OH) 4) that limit the new production of diatoms. These ideas were incorporated into an ecosystem model, CoSINE. This model predicted production by the larger phytoplankton and the picoplankton and effects on air-sea CO(2) fluxes in the Pacific Ocean. However, there were no size-fractionated rates available for verification. Here we report the first size-fractionated new and regenerated production rates (obtained with (15)N - NO(3) and (15)N - NH(4) incubations) for the EUZ with the objective of validating the conceptual basis and functioning of the CoSINE model. Specifically, the larger phytoplankton ( with cell diameters \u3e 5 mu m) had greater rates of new production and higher f-ratios (i.e., the proportion of NO(3) to the sum of NO(3) and NH(4) uptake) than the picoplankton that had high rates of NH(4) uptake and low f-ratios. The way that the larger primary producers are regulated in the EUZ is discussed using a continuous chemostat approach. This combines control of Si(OH)(4) production by supply rate (bottom-up) and control of growth rate ( or dilution) by grazing ( top-down control)

SEGMENTALCOORDINATIONAND TEMPORAL STRUCTURE OF THE VOLLEYBALL PIKE

In the game ofvol1eyball, the spike is one ofthe most difficult and demanding techniques to master. The athlete is expect4ed to jump and hit a ball with maximum force and accuracy at the approximate peak of the jump. Prsala (1982) identified four phases in the analysis of the spike: the approach, preparation, hitting, and landing. The approach involves t 0 or three controlled running strides, a transitional last step to prepare for the transfer ofhorizontal momentum to vertical momentum, and a two foot vertical jump. In the preparatory phase the striking arm is swung upward in an abduct d and laterally rotated position. The elbow is fle ed at approximately 90 degrees and the wrist hyperextended. During the hitting phase, the shoulder is elevated; the upper arm is inwardly rotated and a ducted; the forearm is extended at the elbow and the wrist is flexed. The athl te absorbs the downward momentum by flexing the joints of the lower extremities when landing

Influence of Equatorial Diatom Processes on Si Deposition and Atmospheric CO(2) Cycles at Glacial/Interglacial Timescales

The causes of the glacial cycle remain unknown, although the primary driver is changes in atmospheric CO(2), likely controlled by the biological pump and biogeochemical cycles. The two most important regions of the ocean for exchange of CO(2) with the atmosphere are the equatorial Pacific and the Southern Ocean ( SO), the former a net source and the latter a net sink under present conditions. The equatorial Pacific has been shown to be a Si(OH)(4)-limited ecosystem, a consequence of the low source Si(OH)(4) concentrations in upwelled water that has its origin in the SO. This teleconnection for nutrients between the two regions suggests an oscillatory relationship that may influence or control glacial cycles. Opal mass accumulation rate (MAR) data and delta(15)N measurements in equatorial cores are interpreted with predictions from a one- dimensional Si(OH)(4)-limited ecosystem model (CoSINE) for the equatorial Pacific. The results suggest that equatorial Pacific surface CO(2) processes are in opposite phase to that of the global atmosphere, providing a negative feedback to the glacial cycle. This negative feedback is implemented through the effect of the SO on the equatorial Si(OH)(4) supply. An alternative hypothesis, that the whole ocean becomes Si(OH)(4) poor during cooling periods, is suggested by low opal MAR in cores from both equatorial and Antarctic regions, perhaps as a result of low river input. terminations in this scenario would result from blooms of coccolithophorids triggered by low Si(OH)(4) concentrations

Assessing the Need and Receptivity for an Integrated Healthy Sexual and Dating Relationships Intervention for Community College Students

Background: In emerging adulthood, youth often become involved in more serious romantic relationships. However, many lack the skills to avoid an unplanned pregnancy or sexually transmitted infection (STI), and to ensure a healthy dating relationship. Community college students serve nearly half of all undergraduate students in the United States; yet, community colleges typically lack resources for sexual health promotion. Purpose: To assess the need and receptivity for a web-based integrated healthy sexual and dating relationships intervention among community college students. Methods: In summer 2016, we partnered with three community colleges in South Central Texas to conduct an online survey of students’ sexual behaviors and dating relationships, and usability testing of activities from an integrated, web-based healthy sexual and dating relationship intervention. Results: Online survey participants (n=271) were 70% female, 38% Hispanic, 24% White, 17% Black, and 16% Asian; 20% self-identified as sexual minority; mean age was 20.8 years (SD = 2.05). Participants reported high rates of sexual risk behavior including sex without a condom or an effective birth control method, low use of long-acting reversible contraception, frequent use of emergency contraception, and low use of dual protection to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Two-thirds reported experiencing any type of dating violence perpetration or victimization in the past year. Usability testing participants (n=14) were 86% female, 42% Hispanic, 50% Asian/Pacific Islander, 14% Black, and 7% White; 71% were sexually experienced; mean age was 20.7 years (SD = 1.64). The web-based activities were highly rated in terms of usability parameters, and positively impacted short-term psychosocial outcomes related to condom use, accessing contraceptive health services, and constructive interpersonal conflict resolution. Conclusion: Findings underscore the high need and receptivity for an integrated healthy sexual and dating relationship web-based intervention among community college students, an understudied subgroup of youth in emerging adulthood