LOBBYISTS, PRIVATE INTERESTS AND THE 1985 FARM BILL

Agricultural and Food Policy,

Fitting multilevel multivariate models with missing data in responses and covariates that may include interactions and non-linear terms

The paper extends existing models for multilevel multivariate data with mixed response types to handle quite general types and patterns of missing data values in a wide range of multilevel generalized linear models. It proposes an efficient Bayesian modelling approach that allows missing values in covariates, including models where there are interactions or other functions of covariates such as polynomials. The procedure can also be used to produce multiply imputed complete data sets. A simulation study is presented as well as the analysis of a longitudinal data set. The paper also shows how existing multiprocess models for handling endogeneity can be extended by the framework proposed

The preparation and properties of disubstituted ethylenediamine-diacetic acids.

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston UniversityThe exceptionally stable metallic complexes formed by triglycine, ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid, and other polycarboxylic amino acids have recently been the subject of much study. These complexes are frequently water-soluble, highly colored, and only slightly dissociated. In many cases, solubility in non-polar organic solvents has been noted. [TRUNCATED

The preparation and thermal decomposition of selected pyrazolines

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston UniversityThe reaction of diazoalkanes with a,p-unsaturated esters, amides, nitriles, ketones, and nitro compounds is known to furnish negatively substituted pyrazolines. When the alpha carbon atom of the a,p-unsaturated compound is bonded to a group other than hydrogen the delta- or azo type pyrazoline is obtained. The primary objective of the present work was the extension of this synthetic method to the preparation of new types of 61- pyrazolines which would posses certain desired structural features. In particular it "'as of interest to prepare a series of negatively substituted 61-pyrazolines having centers of unsaturation in the substituent groups, and to synthesize a number of negatively substituted dipyrazolines. The selective addition of one equivalent of diazomethane to diolefinic esters, which had one activated and one unactivated double bond, was realized. This high yield process made available a new series of pyrazolines having unsaturation in substituent groups. Among the compounds prepared were: vinyl 3-methyl-61-pyrazoline-3-carboxylate, allyl 3- methyl-61-pyrazoline-3-carboxylate, allyl 3,4-dimethyl-61- pyrazoline-3-carboxylate, vinyl 3,4-dimethyl-61-pyrazoline-3- carboxylate, vinyl 4-methyl-62-pyrazoline-3-carboxylate, methyl 4-phenyl-5-allyl-62-pyrazoline-5-carboxylate, and 4-phenyl- 5-allyl-6 2-pyrazoline-5-carboxylic acid. [TRUNCATED

The preparation and thermal decomposition of selected pyrazolines

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston UniversityThe reaction of diazoalkanes with a,p-unsaturated esters, amides, nitriles, ketones, and nitro compounds is known to furnish negatively substituted pyrazolines. When the alpha carbon atom of the a,p-unsaturated compound is bonded to a group other than hydrogen the delta- or azo type pyrazoline is obtained. The primary objective of the present work was the extension of this synthetic method to the preparation of new types of 61- pyrazolines which would posses certain desired structural features. In particular it "'as of interest to prepare a series of negatively substituted 61-pyrazolines having centers of unsaturation in the substituent groups, and to synthesize a number of negatively substituted dipyrazolines. The selective addition of one equivalent of diazomethane to diolefinic esters, which had one activated and one unactivated double bond, was realized. This high yield process made available a new series of pyrazolines having unsaturation in substituent groups. Among the compounds prepared were: vinyl 3-methyl-61-pyrazoline-3-carboxylate, allyl 3- methyl-61-pyrazoline-3-carboxylate, allyl 3,4-dimethyl-61- pyrazoline-3-carboxylate, vinyl 3,4-dimethyl-61-pyrazoline-3- carboxylate, vinyl 4-methyl-62-pyrazoline-3-carboxylate, methyl 4-phenyl-5-allyl-62-pyrazoline-5-carboxylate, and 4-phenyl- 5-allyl-6 2-pyrazoline-5-carboxylic acid. [TRUNCATED

Cow, farm, and herd management factors in the dry period associated with raised somatic cell counts in early lactation

This study investigated cow characteristics, farm facilities, and herd management strategies during the dry period to examine their joint influence on somatic cell counts (SCC) in early lactation. Data from 52 commercial dairy farms throughout England and Wales were collected over a 2-yr period. For the purpose of analysis, cows were separated into those housed for the dry period (6,419 cow-dry periods) and those at pasture (7,425 cow-dry periods). Bayesian multilevel models were specified with 2 response variables: ln SCC (continuous) and SCC >199,000 cells/mL (binary), both within 30 d of calving. Cow factors associated with an increased SCC after calving were parity, an SCC >199,000 cells/mL in the 60 d before drying off, increasing milk yield 0 to 30 d before drying off, and reduced DIM after calving at the time of SCC estimation. Herd management factors associated with an increased SCC after calving included procedures at drying off, aspects of bedding management, stocking density, and method of pasture grazing. Posterior predictions were used for model assessment, and these indicated that model fit was generally good. The research demonstrated that specific dry-period management strategies have an important influence on SCC in early lactation

The Emergence Of The American Agriculture Movement, 1977-1979

Beginning in late 1977, the media, television in particular, portrayed as a unique cultural phenomenon an emerging American Agriculture Movement (AAM), a pending farm strike, and a depressed farm economy that had caused this mobilization. Much was indeed unique, especially to the individual farmers and the specific manner in which they were attempting to apply political pressures, but the American Agriculture Movement itself was similar to other organizational attempts that have taken place in rural America. In the following paper we chronicle the emergence of the American Agriculture Movement as a distinct entity, identify the common features in the emergence of new farm organizations, and examine the conditions of modern society and technology that affect group formation. AN ORGANIZATION DEVELOPS Despite impressions left from journal and media accounts that portrayed a grass roots insurgency, the emergence of AAM must be seen in terms of an active leadership directing organizing efforts to a relatively inactive constituency.1 These leaders encouraged activism through a concerted strategy of mobilization with an emphasis on the national issue of a farm strike, the reintroduction of a traditional farm movement ideology, and the skillful use of public relations.2 AAM began in mid-summer· 1977 in Campo, Colorado, as an outgrowth of those enduring cafe conversations typical in all farm communities. However, Bud Bitner, George Bitner, Alvin Jenkins, Darrel Schroeder, Gene Schroeder, Van Stafford, and a few regular listeners talked mostly about a new political spokesman for farm interests during this particular summer.3 They saw a gloomy farm economy beset by both low prices and high costs, by an unresponsive government, and by an array of farm interest groups who were out of touch with real farm needs. Their immediate reaction to the 1977 Farm Bill, a piece of legislation that confirmed incentives for large-scale production without high supports, intensified their frustrations about each of these conditions and precipitated a decision to protest. Encouraged by the reception their ideas found in their own community, these locally respected larger-scale farmers and farmrelated businessmen proceeded to develop an organization based on rallies and protests against the political system.4 They would prompt and assist farmers throughout the country to organize as local groups, much along the lines of Farm Bureau county chapters, but without Bureau-related emphasis on nonpolitical services. AAM locals would be pockets of farmer interaction and discussion that would inspire political activism instead of emphasizing individual income.5 The local organizations would Jom in statewide and, finally, national demonstrations of movement support. Farmers, the initial organizers believed, were widely concerned about their weakened economic status but politically lethargic because they lacked inspired leadership

Impact of imperfect test sensitivity on determining risk factors : the case of bovine tuberculosis

Background Imperfect diagnostic testing reduces the power to detect significant predictors in classical cross-sectional studies. Assuming that the misclassification in diagnosis is random this can be dealt with by increasing the sample size of a study. However, the effects of imperfect tests in longitudinal data analyses are not as straightforward to anticipate, especially if the outcome of the test influences behaviour. The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of imperfect test sensitivity on the determination of predictor variables in a longitudinal study. Methodology/Principal Findings To deal with imperfect test sensitivity affecting the response variable, we transformed the observed response variable into a set of possible temporal patterns of true disease status, whose prior probability was a function of the test sensitivity. We fitted a Bayesian discrete time survival model using an MCMC algorithm that treats the true response patterns as unknown parameters in the model. We applied our approach to epidemiological data of bovine tuberculosis outbreaks in England and investigated the effect of reduced test sensitivity in the determination of risk factors for the disease. We found that reduced test sensitivity led to changes to the collection of risk factors associated with the probability of an outbreak that were chosen in the ‘best’ model and to an increase in the uncertainty surrounding the parameter estimates for a model with a fixed set of risk factors that were associated with the response variable. Conclusions/Significance We propose a novel algorithm to fit discrete survival models for longitudinal data where values of the response variable are uncertain. When analysing longitudinal data, uncertainty surrounding the response variable will affect the significance of the predictors and should therefore be accounted for either at the design stage by increasing the sample size or at the post analysis stage by conducting appropriate sensitivity analyses