AN ANALYSIS OF HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURES ON NURSERY PRODUCTS IN THE UNITED STATES

This paper develops Engel relationships to identify the determinants of household expenditures on nursery products and specifies their impact on consumer purchases of these goods for subregions of the United States. Household income, the number of single family home construction starts, educational level attained, and age composition of the population were found in influence nursery product expenditures. The economic variables of income and construction starts appear to be key factors affecting nursery purchases. To maintain a competitive edge, industry participants should monitor these variables carefully and adjust their production and marketing plans to meet changing market conditions.Consumer/Household Economics,

Germination, respiration and photosynthesis in seeds of dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium)

Germination, respiration, and photosynthesis in seeds of dwarf mistletoe (Arcenthobium) were studied. The effects of 1 hour soakings of seeds in aqueous solutions of 1, 2, or 3% H2O2 or 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5% Chlorox on germination of seeds were tested. Germination rates for seeds from three consecutive years (1975-1977) were obtained. Germination rates varied widely. This variance transcended subtle changes in treatment. Pretreatment of seeds with Chlorox resulted in significantly lower germination rates than those of the control. Chlorophyll concentrations were determined for seeds and aerial shoot tissue of four species. Seeds of A. douglasii had the highest chlorophyll concentration (0.39 mg/g fresh weight) while seeds of A. tsugense had the lowest concentration (0.25 mg/g fresh weight). Net O2 uptake by seeds of A. campylopodum in dark and in light was measured by manometric and polarographic methods. The mean values were 353 μl O2 g-1 h-1 in the dark and 201 O2 g-1 h-1 in the light. The difference between these rates is apparently due to O2 evolution during photosynthesis. In light the seeds can fix 43% of the CO2 produced by respiration. Experiments in which seeds were exposed to 14CO2 in light confirmed that the seeds are able to fix CO2. Extraction of seeds with ethanol showed that 97-99% of the incorporated 14C was ethanol soluble. Ten to sixteen percent of the ethanol fraction was chloroform soluble while the rest was H2o soluble. Ion exchange separation of the H2o phase showed that 11-25% of 14C activity was cationic, 15-29% anionic, and 53-67% neutral

An investigation into wear characteristics of a direct drilling coulter (opener) : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science in Agricultural Mechanisation at Massey University

Wear on a promising chisel coulter, developed at Massey University, was considered to be marginally unacceptable. A functional lifespan of approximately 20 hectares for non-rolling blade components necessitated relatively frequent coulter replacement, and thereby incurred increased costs for components and machine downtime. Three experiments were carried out with an improved version of the Massey University chisel coulter concept. The respective objectives were as follows: 1. To determine whether soil particles were passing between the rotating disc and stationary coulter blade components during normal field machine operation. 2. To determine the patterns of coulter blade wear. 3. To compare several selected blade treatments in their abilities to prolong functional coulter blade life. In the first (laboratory) experiment, a stationary test rig was constructed. This closely simulated coulter assembly operation in the field. Measurements of changes in soil particle size with time for "soil" and "no soil" introduction to the disc/blade interface did not detect any soil breakdown which might have indicated a soil "lubrication" effect at that interface. However, observations of the patterns of abrasion and of photographs did indicate that some form of soil "lubrication" had occurred. In the second experiment, a hard-facing welded (Hardcraft 700 over mild steel) and a control treatment (mild steel) were evaluated to establish patterns of wear on a three row field-operating test rig. The former treatment displayed potential for resisting dimensional changes at various stages throughout blade life. The rotating action of the disc against the inner shank of the blade was responsible, in the prevailing conditions, for wear at the inside lower leading edge/wing intersection of the blade. This action eventually accelerated wing wear. The weld bead pattern was modified for use in Run A of Experiment 3 (top pattern); and another pattern (bottom pattern) was designed to prevent possible increased penetration forces associated with the original weld pattern. The third experiment involved evaluation of selected treatments during routine field drilling operations, using a pre-production prototype direct drill. Carbonitrided mild steel blades offered an almost three-fold increase in relative wear resistance (in terms of metal weightloss per hectare) compared to the standard mild steel blades. The carbonitrided treatment also resisted dimensional changes more effectively, and was more cost effective than all other treatments. The influence on wing and shank dimensions exerted by left and right side blade positioning on each coulter assembly, appeared to reflect continual anti-clockwise machine cornering during operation and seed/fertiliser dispersal differences. Coulter wings on the outside of field turns were subjected to greatest wear, as were the shank regions of blades dispersing fertiliser. Lateral and fore/aft positioning of coulter assemblies appeared to have no effects on blade life

Down Upon the Fold: Mercenaries in the Twelfth Century.

Despite the trend in recent medieval historiography which has accepted the presence of paid warriors as no longer an aberration, the role of the mercenary within and outside twelfth-century society has still escaped in-depth analysis. Such an approach, however, has the dual merit of building an understanding of the mercenary phenomenon itself and of highlighting the often overlooked social and cultural relations, structures, and breakdowns that produce men willing to fight for profit. The period 1187-1218 provides one of the earliest, richest backgrounds against which to examine the mercenary. The accelerating return of a money economy, hardening of feudal structures, developing of a chivalric ethos, and opening (and closing) vistas of urban life all played a role in who constituted a mercenary or who fought in an acceptable manner for pay. Moreover, conditions at the start and finish of this long twelfth century had changed dramatically, creating markedly different groups of marginalized combatants. After a narrative of the century\u27s paid military activity, the analysis examines the conditions that dictated whether a salaried warrior somehow qualified to contemporaries as contemptible. A survey of the Latin vocabulary shows not only a wide variety of combatants, but also a lack of consistent disparagement in the terms themselves (save for routiers and Brabancons). A look at the business side of warfare further reveals an array of men engaged in profitable violence: from magnates seeking new realms to low-born infantrymen earning the wages of skilled laborers. With money so prevalent in military affairs, the real question of mercenary status lies in the nature of an individual\u27s identification with a group. In the 1100s such identification could prove simultaneously regional, familial, national, and religious. The real crime of many low-born mercenaries was in shedding these associations. In the end, this outsider status was confirmed in contemporary eyes by the many hired soldiers kept by the Cathar heretics of the early 1200s. The condemnation of paid warriors derived ultimately from their position as intruders and not solely from a rejection of profit-making within wartime

The effect of early psychostimulant treatment on abuse liability and dopamine receptors

Examines whether the reinforcing properties of drugs of abuse were altered in adulthood by methylphenidate, more commonly known as Ritalin. Subjects were 108 rats of Sprague-Dawley descent (Harlan). Methylphenidate, or saline was administered daily to the subjects from the postnatal period (11-20 days old). The rats preference for morphine during early adulthood was measured using conditioned place preference. The number of dopamine D₂ receptors was measured in each rat and the correlation between receptor number and morphine preference was determined. Results indicate that rats pretreated with methylphenidate showed greater preference for morphine than saline pretreated rats and suggests that exposure to methylphenidate during the postnatal period increases the rewarding value of morphine

Filling the Middle Skills Gap: Increasing Silver-Level Career Readiness Certificate Attainment in Mississippi

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of Smart Start Career Pathway as a method of supporting student success on the ACT WorkKeys assessment. Since the 1970s, the skills gap has been a national concern as workforce demand has outpaced supply. As a means of connecting individuals to the workforce, Mississippi adopted ACT WorkKeys and the National Career Ready Certificate (NCRC). As a result, programs such as Smart Start have been developed and deployed to support success in achievement in ACT WorkKeys and NCRC. This causal comparative study was conducted utilizing a convenience sample of 1,001 participants from a program located in central Mississippi. The participant level data consisted of existing ACT WorkKeys scores and NCRC credential attainment. The study investigated if differences exist in student performance on ACT WorkKeys when participating in Smart Start Career Pathway. Specifically, the relationship in performance on ACT WorkKeys when a participant completes the Smart Start Career Pathway career-ready curriculum. Additionally, the study assessed if there is any influence between gender and race. The study did not find significant difference in frequencies of participant bronze, silver, gold and platinum level scores from the ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Assessment for those who participated in the Smart Start training compared to those who did not participate in the Smart Start training or significance as it relates to the influence, if any, of gender and race status on overall test scores of ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Assessment for those who participated in the Smart Start training compared to those who did not participate in the Smart Start training

School Emergency Preparedness in North Dakota Public School Districts

The basis for this study was to determine: (1) If school districts in North Dakota have an emergency response plan; (2) How comprehensive their emergency response plan is; (3) How well prepared school districts in North Dakota are for any type of disaster; and (4) The extent to which North Dakota LEAD Center school emergency response training and resources have impacted school emergency preparedness in North Dakota. There were 120 school districts and their superintendents that participated in the Emergency Preparedness in North Dakota Public School District\u27s survey. School administrators who completed the Emergency Preparedness Survey were asked to indicate the number and types of emergency situations that have occurred in their respective school districts, how those school districts dealt with those incidents, and what type of plan is either in place or not in place for those districts to respond to future crisis situations. The collected data were analyzed to determine frequencies and percentages which were presented in narrative and tabular format. An analysis of variance determined if there was a difference in the size and location of school districts as it relates to their preparedness for emergencies and the comprehensiveness of their emergency response plans. Analysis of the data revealed while most school districts possess an emergency response plan, a minority of those districts have a comprehensive plan. The research indicated there is no significant difference between small, medium, or large size school districts regarding their emergency preparedness and the comprehensiveness of their emergency response plans. Further, the research illustrated there was no significant difference in the comprehensiveness of emergency response plans of school districts based on their location in the state. Additionally, the research showed 38% of the North Dakota school districts participated directly in the ND LEAD Center emergency response training

Applied experiences of the SOAR framework by association management and foundation executives

The purpose of the study was to explore the application of the strengths, opportunities, aspirations, and results (SOAR) framework derived from the appreciative inquiry literature and through the lived experiences of California-based association management and non-profit executives leading professional societies, trade associations, or foundations. In addition, this research, using phenomenological interviewing techniques, aimed to determine whether or not association management executives working in California-based professional societies and trade associations changed their individual thought processes or behaviors as a result of attending a professional development program that demonstrated the SOAR framework. The research questions that guided this research were: (a) what changed mindsets were experienced as a result of an understanding with the SOAR framework in the strategic thinking process? and (b) what changed mindsets and organizational application were experienced as a result of an understanding with the SOAR framework in the strategic thinking process? This qualitative study, using semi-structured interview questions, sought to explore and document the experiences of California-based senior association management executives with SOAR framework. This research aimed to add to the body of knowledge of SOAR as a result of expanded individual and organizational application of this approach as compared to other strategic thinking experiences. The study documents comparisons, by the non-profit executives involved in this study, between the more commonly known strategic thinking of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis and the positivity-focused SOAR framework

The development of qualification standards for cast duplex stainless steel

The scope of testing cast Duplex Stainless Steel (DSS) required testing to several ASTM specifications, while formulating and conducting industry round robin tests to verify and study the reproducibility of the results. ASTM E562 (Standard Test Method for Determining Volume Fraction by Systematic manual Point Count) and ASTM A923 (Standard Test Methods for Detecting Detrimental Intermetallic Phase in Wrought Duplex Austenitic/Ferritic Stainless Steels) were the specifications utilized in conducting this work. An ASTM E562 industry round robin, ASTM A923 applicability study, ASTM A923 industry round robin, and an ASTM A923 study of the effectiveness of existing foundry solution annealing procedures for producing cast DSS without intermetallic phases were implemented. In the ASTM E562 study, 5 samples were extracted from various cast austenitic and DSS in order to have varying amounts of ferrite. Each sample was metallographically prepared by UT and sent to each of 8 participants for volume fraction of ferrite measurements. Volume fraction of ferrite was measured using manual point count per ASTM E562. FN was measured from the Feritescope® and converted to volume fraction of ferrite. Results indicate that ASTM E562 is applicable to DSS and the results have excellent lab-to-lab reproducibility. Also, volume fraction of ferrite ·conversions from the FN measured by the F eritescope® were similar to volume fraction of ferrite measured per ASTME562. In the ASTM A923 applicability to cast DSS study, 8 different heat treatments were performed on 3 lots of ASTM A890-4A (CD3MN) castings and 1 lot of 2205 wrought DSS. The heat treatments were selected to produce a wide range of cooling rates and hold times in order to study the ·suitability of ASTM A923 to the response of varying amounts on intermetallic phases [ 117]. The test parameters were identical to those used to develop ASTM A923 for wrought DSS. Charpy V-notch impact samples were extracted from the castings and wrought DSS and tested per ASTM A923 method B (Charpy impact test). Method A (sodium hydroxide etch test) was performed on one half of a fractured Charpy V-notch impact sample and Method C (ferric chloride corrosion weight loss test) was performed on another half. Test results for the three cast lots and one wrought lot indicate that ASTM A923 is relevant for detecting intermetallic phases in cast DSS. In the ASTM A923 round robin study, five laboratories conducted ASTM A923 Methods A & C on cast DSS material and the lab-to-lab reproducibility of the data was determined. Two groups of samples were sent to the participants. Group 1 samples were tested per ASTM A923 Method A, group 2 samples were tested by ASTM A923 Method C. Testing procedures for this round robin study were identical to those used in the ASTM A923 applicability study. Results from this round robin indicate that there is excellent lab-to-lab reproducibility of ASTM A923 with respect to cast DSS and that ASTM A923 could be expanded to cover both wrought and cast DSS. In the ASTM A923 study of the effectiveness of existing foundry solution annealing procedures for producing cast DSS without intermetallic phases, Ten heats of ASTM A890-4A (CD3MN) in the foundry solution annealed condition were tested per ASTM A923 Methods A, B, & C. Testing of these materials per ASTM A923 was used to determine if the foundry solution anneal procedures were adequate to completely eliminate any intermetallic phases, which may have precipitated during the casting and subsequent heat treatment processes. All heats showed no sign of intermetallic phase per Method A, passed minimum Charpy impact energy requirements per Method B (\u3e 40 ft¬ .lbs@ -40°C (-40°F)), and showed negligible weight loss per Method C (\u3c 10 mdd). · These results indicate that the solution annealing procedure used by foundries is adequate to produce a product free from intermetallic phases