FARM SAFETY NET: SUBSIDIZED SAVINGS ACCOUNT FOR U.S. FARMERS

A subsidized savings accounts program is being considered by USDA's Risk Management Agency to provide an income safety net to farmers. We argue that savings accounts would complement federal crop insurance program and other private risk management strategies that farmers routinely adopt to minimize income risk and hence offer a better safety net.Agricultural Finance,

An exploration of coaching women towards authenticity in the workplace: A heuristic study with women in academia

This study examines three previously unconnected areas: authenticity, coaching and women. Despite the growing interest in coaching, it is still in its infancy in its academic credentials with a paucity of empirical research undertaken to date. In contrast to the extensive research that has been undertaken on the issues that women experience in the workplace, there is little research available that looks specifically at coaching this group. Using heuristic inquiry, nine women collaborated as co-researchers to explore the phenomenon of coaching women towards authenticity within the workplace; specifically within the context of higher education. Data was collected in three cycles during a period of thirteen months and took various forms. Informal conversational interviews lasting between 1.5 and 2 hours were held in each cycle with each co-researcher. Supplementary data such as e-mails and notes from meetings was also provided on a voluntary basis. Using morning pages as a means of journal data was an unusual approach but one that intrigued and absorbed many of the co-researchers. For the more creative, the option was given to consider music, film, art, poetry, metaphor or image that conjured up the essence of their experience. Thematic analysis was undertaken identifying patterns, clusters and categories. In establishing both the group depiction and the creative synthesis (that is essential to heuristic inquiry) a departure was made from the established recommendation where it is suggested that a few co-researchers are selected who typify the group. For this study, all the co-researchers were included in both the group depiction and creative synthesis which comprise two woven tapestries. The main findings from the study are that coaching can provide support and contribute to women’s development of authenticity and that there are three overall areas that can affect and influence women’s authenticity: working in a safe environment, raising one’s profile and having insight. These findings add to the theoretical knowledge of coaching and will inform future academic and practitioner studies into the exploration of coaching women towards authenticity

Long term monitoring and field testing of an innovative multi-storey timber building

Peer reviewedPostprin

On the Structure and History of Russian. Selected Essays

The essays comprised in this volume fall naturally into two groups, one treating synchronic facets of Russian (and some further Slavic) linguistic structure, the other elucidating diachronic aspects of Russian - or, more generally, East Slavic - linguistic evolution

The Development of Orphan Drugs; A Financial and Ethical Decision

This paper explores the decision faced by a firm to invest in an orphan drug development project. Two primary areas of concern are considered: financial and ethical. In order to properly understand these two areas, the paper first summarizes the current development landscape for non-orphan and orphan drugs. Once the basic development structure is established, a discussion regarding the differences in the Net Present Value equation for a non-orphan and orphan product may occur. Once the differences in the financial decision are established, the paper will discuss the ethical considerations surrounding drug development and drug pricing. The combination of the financial model and the ethical guidelines for drug pricing form the argument for an increase in social corporate responsibility in the drug development industry to increase treatment accessibility for patients of rare diseases

Injury Incidence in Cross Country Skiers

Background Prospective, cross-country ski injury incidence data is scarce. Objective To describe injury type and incidence sustained by elite cross-country skiers in north-eastern America. We hypothesized that lower extremity injury incidence would be higher than other body regions. A secondary aim was to determine any factors that correlate with new injury. Design A prospective, longitudinal study that included: demographics (ski and injury history); Movement Competency Screening (MCS); hamstring length measurement; core muscle endurance testing (trunk flexor to extensor ratio). Athletes then completed 12 consecutive, monthly electronic surveys about training, racing, and injury status. Setting Collegiate and professional ski team practices. Patients (or Participants) A convenience sample of 71 cross-country skiers (age 18–27 years, 35 men); 41 participants (18 men) completed the study. Independent variables MCS score; hamstring length; ratio of trunk flexor to extensor endurance; injury history; training activities and hours; training lost to injury. Main Outcome Measurements New injury reports. Results Mean injury incidence was 3.81 new injuries per participant, per 1,000 hours of training. Injury incidences for lower extremity (2.13), and overuse/non-traumatic (2.76) injuries were significantly greater than trunk (0.22), upper extremity (0.46), or acute/traumatic (1.05) injuries (p<0.05). Off-season injury incidence (5.25) was higher than during ski season (2.27), but not significantly (p=0.07). New injury positively correlated with past injury (p=0.04) and also increased as monthly running time increased but not significantly (p=0.08). New injury did not correlate with: MCS score; hamstring length, or; core ratio (p>0.05). Past injuries were a significant predictor of new injuries, when accounting for training time, running time and MCS score (p<0.05). Conclusions This year long, prospective report of injury type and incidence in competitive cross-country skiers demonstrated that lower extremity and overuse/non-traumatic injuries had the highest incidence rates. Previously injured skiers are at greater risk of further injury

Evaluation of South Africa’s public agricultural extension in the context of sustainable agriculture

South Africa’s public agricultural extension services evolved from as early as the beginning of 1900. Agricultural extension is now recognised as a science by the South African Council of Natural Science Profession (SACNASP). This paper presents a philosophical argument that the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices should remain the domain of public extension and advisory services. To provide context, the paper firstly defines agricultural extension and the role extension could play in promoting the five pillars of sustainable agriculture. Secondly, it evaluates the national policy on extension and advisory services to determine the extent to which it addresses the framework of the five pillars for sustainable agriculture. Thirdly, the paper evaluates the Extension Recovery Plan (ERP), norms and standards for agricultural extension and the National Development Plan (NDP) against the framework of sustainable agriculture. The evaluation indicates that only three pillars of sustainability are emphasised. There is a need to subdivide the traditional pillars to align with the full framework for sustainability. The initial findings suggest that, while South Africa’s agricultural extension policy often refers to sustainability and even to sustainable agriculture, they do so using the traditional three-pillared framework of economic, environmental and social sustainability, and thus fall short on key elements essential to sustainable agriculture, namely maintaining and increasing biological productivity, decreasing the level of risk to ensure larger security, protecting the quality of natural resources, ensuring agricultural production is economically viable, and ensuring agricultural production is socially acceptable. The paper also explores government initiatives to support extension and advisory services. Finally, this paper concludes by emphasising that the national policy on extension and advisory services should be amended to suit the five pillars of sustainable agriculture.Keywords: Sustainable agriculture, extension and advisory services, extension, pillars of sustainability, agricultural polic

On the Structure and History of Russian. Selected Essays

The essays comprised in this volume fall naturally into two groups, one treating synchronic facets of Russian (and some further Slavic) linguistic structure, the other elucidating diachronic aspects of Russian - or, more generally, East Slavic - linguistic evolution

REGULATION OF BUSINESS-ANTITRUST LAW AS AFFECTED BY STANDARD OIL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA V. UNITED STATES

In Standard Oil Company of California v. United States, the Supreme Court of the United States has given what appears to be a final and definitive answer to this question, although differing from what had formerly been thought to be the final and definite answer. This comment will be centered on that case and its implications