Organic and Conventional Vegetable Production in Oklahoma

This study compares he profitability and risk related to conventional and organic vegetable production systems A linear programming model was used to find the optimal mix of vegetables in both production systems. And a target MOTAD (minimization of total absolute deviation) model was used to perform risk analysis in both organic and conventional production systemsCrop Production/Industries, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system vs. usual medical treatment for menorrhagia: An economic evaluation alongside a randomised controlled trial

Objective: To undertake an economic evaluation alongside the largest randomised controlled trial comparing Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device ('LNG-IUS') and usual medical treatment for women with menorrhagia in primary care; and compare the cost-effectiveness findings using two alternative measures of quality of life. Methods: 571 women with menorrhagia from 63 UK centres were randomised between February 2005 and July 2009. Women were randomised to having a LNG-IUS fitted, or usual medical treatment, after discussing with their general practitioner their contraceptive needs or desire to avoid hormonal treatment. The treatment was specified prior to randomisation. For the economic evaluation we developed a state transition (Markov) model with a 24 month follow-up. The model structure was informed by the trial women's pathway and clinical experts. The economic evaluation adopted a UK National Health Service perspective and was based on an outcome of incremental cost per Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY) estimated using both EQ-5D and SF-6D. Results: Using EQ-5D, LNG-IUS was the most cost-effective treatment for menorrhagia. LNG-IUS costs £100 more than usual medical treatment but generated 0.07 more QALYs. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for LNG-IUS compared to usual medical treatment was £1600 per additional QALY. Using SF-6D, usual medical treatment was the most cost-effective treatment. Usual medical treatment was both less costly (£100) and generated 0.002 more QALYs. Conclusion: Impact on quality of life is the primary indicator of treatment success in menorrhagia. However, the most costeffective treatment differs depending on the quality of life measure used to estimate the QALY. Under UK guidelines LNG-IUS would be the recommended treatment for menorrhagia. This study demonstrates that the appropriate valuation of outcomes in menorrhagia is crucial. Copyright: © 2014 Sanghera et al

Differences in two evaluations of answers to a conceptual physics question: a preliminary analysis

In their exploration of student understanding of gravity, Sharma et al. (2004 and 2005) discovered a discrepancy between phenomenographic analysis of student answers to one short examination question and the distribution of marks for the same question between two first-year university physics classes. We report on a preliminary investigation of factors which, we hypothesised, may have contributed to that discrepancy. Additional analysis and evaluation of the original set of answers included a detailed study of the use of physics terminology (PhysicsSpeak) and diagrams in the answers, with the aim of discovering how those features may have affected the marks. A selection of the answers was reviewed for evidence of other characteristics which may have influenced the marker. The views and recollections of the original marker were also recorded. There is no single explanation for the discrepancy, but we found that the use of diagrams has a significant effect on marks, whereas the influence of PhysicsSpeak was weaker than expected

Geographic Variation in Influenza Vaccination Disparities Between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White US Nursing Home Residents

BACKGROUND: Disparities in influenza vaccination exist between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White US nursing home (NH) residents, but the geographic areas with the largest disparities remain unknown. We examined how these racial/ethnic disparities differ across states and hospital referral regions (HRRs). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included >14 million short-stay and long-stay US NH resident-seasons over 7 influenza seasons from October 1, 2011, to March 31, 2018, where residents could contribute to 1 or more seasons. Residents were aged ≥65 years and enrolled in Medicare fee-for-service. We used the Medicare Beneficiary Summary File to ascertain race/ethnicity and Minimum Data Set assessments for influenza vaccination. We calculated age- and sex-standardized percentage point (pp) differences in the proportions vaccinated between non-Hispanic White and Hispanic (any race) resident-seasons. Positive pp differences were considered disparities, where the proportion of non-Hispanic White residents vaccinated was greater than the proportion of Hispanic residents vaccinated. States and HRRs with ≥100 resident-seasons per age–sex stratum per racial/ethnic group were included in analyses. RESULTS: Among 7 442 241 short-stay resident-seasons (94.1% non-Hispanic White, 5.9% Hispanic), the median standardized disparities in influenza vaccination were 4.3 pp (minimum, maximum: 0.3, 19.2; n = 22 states) and 2.8 pp (minimum, maximum: −3.6, 10.3; n = 49 HRRs). Among 6 758 616 long-stay resident-seasons (93.7% non-Hispanic White, 6.5% Hispanic), the median standardized differences were −0.1 pp (minimum, maximum: −4.1, 11.4; n = 18 states) and −1.8 pp (minimum, maximum: −6.5, 7.6; n = 34 HRRs). CONCLUSIONS: Wide geographic variation in influenza vaccination disparities existed across US states and HRRs. Localized interventions targeted toward areas with high disparities may be a more effective strategy to promote health equity than one-size-fits-all national interventions

Simple oxidation of pyrimidinylhydrazones to triazolopyrimidines and their inhibition of Shiga toxin trafficking

The oxidative cyclisation of a range of benzothieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine hydrazones (7a–j) to the 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-c]pyrimidines (8a–j) catalysed by lithium iodide or to the 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidines (10a–j) with sodium carbonate is presented. A complementary synthesis of the 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidines starting from the amino imine 11 is also reported. The effect of these compounds on Shiga toxin (STx) trafficking in HeLa cells and comparison to the previously reported Exo2 is also detailed

Exploring the Use of Cost-Benefit Analysis to Compare Pharmaceutical Treatments for Menorrhagia

Background: The extra-welfarist theoretical framework tends to focus on health-related quality of life, whilst the welfarist framework captures a wider notion of well-being. EQ-5D and SF-6D are commonly used to value outcomes in chronic conditions with episodic symptoms, such as heavy menstrual bleeding (clinically termed menorrhagia). Because of their narrow-health focus and the condition’s periodic nature these measures may be unsuitable. A viable alternative measure is willingness to pay (WTP) from the welfarist framework. Objective: We explore the use of WTP in a preliminary cost-benefit analysis comparing pharmaceutical treatments for menorrhagia. Methods: A cost-benefit analysis was carried out based on an outcome of WTP. The analysis is based in the UK primary care setting over a 24-month time period, with a partial societal perspective. Ninety-nine women completed a WTP exercise from the ex-ante (pre-treatment/condition) perspective. Maximum average WTP values were elicited for two pharmaceutical treatments, levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) and oral treatment. Cost data were offset against WTP and the net present value derived for treatment. Qualitative information explaining the WTP values was also collected. Results: Oral treatment was indicated to be the most cost-beneficial intervention costing £107 less than LNG-IUS and generating £7 more benefits. The mean incremental net present value for oral treatment compared with LNG-IUS was £113. The use of the WTP approach was acceptable as very few protests and non-responses were observed. Conclusion: The preliminary cost-benefit analysis results recommend oral treatment as the first-line treatment for menorrhagia. The WTP approach is a feasible alternative to the conventional EQ-5D/SF-6D approaches and offers advantages by capturing benefits beyond health, which is particularly relevant in menorrhagia

Electrophysiological and behavioral responses of vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), adults to host plant odors

Vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus F. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is an economically important pest species in many soft-fruit and ornamental crops. Economic losses arise from damage to the roots, caused by larvae, and to the leaves, caused by adults. As adults are nocturnal and larvae feed below ground, infestations can initially be missed, and controls may, as a result, be applied too late. In the absence of a vine weevil sex or aggregation pheromone being identified, the development of an effective semiochemical lure for better management of this pest is likely to focus on host-plant volatiles. Here, we investigate the electrophysiological and behavioral responses of adult vine weevils to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) originating from their preferred host plant Euonymus fortunei, and synthetic VOCs associated with this host when presented individually or as blends. Consistent electroantennographic responses were observed to a range of generalist VOCs. Behavioral responses to VOCs, when presented individually, were found to be influenced by the concentration of the compound to which the weevils were exposed. Vine weevil adults showed directional movement towards a mixture of seven plant volatiles (methyl salicylate, 1-octen-3-ol, (E)-2-hexenol, (Z)-3-hexenol, 1-hexanol, (E)-2-pentenol, and linalool) even though either no response or negative responses were recorded to each of these compounds when presented individually. Similarly, vine weevils showed directional movement towards a 1:1 ratio mixture of (Z)-2-pentenol and methyl eugenol. Results presented here point to the importance of blends of generalist compounds and concentrations of VOCs in the optimization of a lure