scholarly journals Technical inefficiency of Dutch vegetable farms: Specific-input analyses

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0250494
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Ahovi ◽  
Kevin Schneider ◽  
Alfons Oude Lansink
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Data Envelopment ◽  
Truncated Regression ◽  
Energy Materials ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Technical Inefficiency ◽  
Specific Input ◽  
Survival And Growth ◽  
Major Factors

Differences in technical efficiency across farms are one of the major factors explaining differences in farm survival and growth and changes in farm industry structure. This study employs Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to compute technical inefficiency scores for output, energy, materials, pesticides and fertiliser of a sample of Dutch indoor vegetable farms within the period 2006–2016. A bootstrap truncated regression model is used to determine statistical associations between producer-specific characteristics and technical inefficiency scores for the specified inputs. For the sample of indoor growers, the average technical inefficiency was about 14% for energy, 23% for materials, 24% for pesticides and 22% for fertilisers. The bootstrap truncated regression suggested that the degree of specialisation exerts adverse effects on the technical inefficiency of variable inputs. While age, short-term, long-term debt and subsidy were statistically significant, the coefficients were not economically significant. Building the capacity of farmers to reduce input inefficiency will enable farmers to be competitive and reduce the adverse effects of input overuse on the environment.

Oil pollution and fisheries

1982 ◽  
Vol 297 (1087) ◽  
pp. 401-411 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Oil Pollution ◽  
Coastal Areas ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Fish Stocks ◽  
Local Impacts ◽  
Reduced Water ◽  
Long Term Adverse Effects

The term ‘pollution’ is taken in its broadest sense and effects are recognized to be due to interference, tainting and toxicity. Each of these types of impact is discussed and assessed. It is concluded that no long-term adverse effects on fish stocks can be attributed to oil but that local impacts can be extremely damaging in the short term and that produce from specific localities can be tainted and unmarketable for long periods. In some coastal areas oil can be one among several contributors to reduced water quality, and the implications of this are discussed.

Shareholder activism impact on efficiency in Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Guimaraes ◽  
Ricardo P.C. Leal ◽  
Peter Wanke ◽  
Matthew Morey
Keyword(s):  
Shareholder Activism ◽  
Efficiency Score ◽  
Data Envelopment ◽  
Truncated Regression ◽  
Two Stage ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Financial Characteristics ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
A Company

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the long-term impact of shareholder activism on Brazilian listed companies. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a sample of 194 companies in 2010, 2012 and 2014 and a two-stage data envelopment analysis to generate an efficiency score based on corporate governance, ownership structure and financial characteristics of companies. In the second stage, the study applies a bootstrap truncated regression to identify whether there is a relationship between the efficiency scores and a company-level activism index. Findings The results show a negative correlation between the efficiency scores and the activism index, suggesting that activist shareholders tend to target less efficient companies. A time analysis over the period 2010-2014 does not offer evidence of impacts of activism on changes of the efficiency scores. Practical implications Activist shareholders target less efficient companies. Shareholder activism increased after regulation that facilitated shareholder voting and required greater company transparency was introduced. Originality/value The two-stage nature of the procedure used in the analysis ascertains that this result is not spurious, assuring data separability between productive resources and contextual variables. This study contributes to the scarce literature on activism in emerging markets.

scholarly journals The Immune System Can Hear Noise

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andi Zhang ◽  
Tianyuan Zou ◽  
Dongye Guo ◽  
Quan Wang ◽  
Yilin Shen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Immune Function ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
The Body ◽  
Intensity Noise ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Non Hodgkin Lymphoma ◽  
Exposure During Pregnancy

As a stressor widely existing in daily life, noise can cause great alterations to the immune system and result in many physical and mental disorders, including noise-induced deafness, sleep disorders, cardiovascular diseases, endocrine diseases and other problems. The immune system plays a major role in maintaining homeostasis by recognizing and removing harmful substances in the body. Many studies have shown that noise may play vital roles in the occurrence and development of some immune diseases. In humans, both innate immunity and specific immunity can be influenced by noise, and different exposure durations and intensities of noise may exert various effects on the immune system. Short-term or low-intensity noise can enhance immune function, while long-term or high-intensity noise suppresses it. Noise can lead to the occurrence of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) through the production of autoantibodies such as anti-Hsp70 and anti-Hsp60 and exert adverse effects related to other immune-related diseases such as some autoimmune diseases and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The neuroendocrine system, mainly including the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic-adrenal-medullary (SAM) system, is involved in the mechanisms of immune-related diseases induced by noise and gut microbiota dysfunction. In addition, noise exposure during pregnancy may be harmful to the immune system of the fetus. On the other hand, some studies have shown that music can improve immune function and alleviate the adverse effects caused by noise.

scholarly journals New Scheme of Intermittent Benznidazole Administration in Patients Chronically Infected with Trypanosoma cruzi: a Pilot Short-Term Follow-Up Study with Adult Patients

2015 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 833-837 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Gabriela Álvarez ◽  
Yolanda Hernández ◽  
Graciela Bertocchi ◽  
Marisa Fernández ◽  
Bruno Lococo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Liver Enzymes ◽  
Main Criterion ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Follow Up Study ◽  
End Of Treatment ◽  
Chronic Chagas Disease

ABSTRACTThere is a clinical need to test new schemes of benznidazole administration that are expected to be at least as effective as the current therapeutic scheme but safer. This study assessed a new scheme of benznidazole administration in chronic Chagas disease patients. A pilot study with intermittent doses of benznidazole at 5 mg/kg/day in two daily doses every 5 days for a total of 60 days was designed. The main criterion of response was the comparison of quantitative PCR (qPCR) findings prior to and 1 week after the end of treatment. The safety profile was assessed by the rate of suspensions and severity of adverse effects. Twenty patients were analyzed for safety, while qPCR was tested for 17 of them. The average age was 43 ± 7.9 years; 55% were female. Sixty-five percent of treated subjects showed detectable qPCR results prior to treatment of 1.45 (0.63 to 2.81) and 2.1 (1.18 to 2.78) parasitic equivalents per milliliter of blood (par.eq/ml) for kinetoplastic DNA (kDNA) qPCR and nuclear repetitive sequence satellite DNA (SatDNA) qPCR, respectively. One patient showed detectable PCR at the end of treatment (1/17), corresponding to 6% treatment failure, compared with 11/17 (65%) patients pretreatment (P= 0.01). Adverse effects were present in 10/20 (50%) patients, but in only one case was treatment suspended. Eight patients showed mild adverse effects, whereas moderate reactions with increased liver enzymes were observed in two patients. The main accomplishment of this pilot study is the promising low rate of treatment suspension. Intermittent administration of benznidazole emerges a new potential therapeutic scheme, the efficacy of which should be confirmed by long-term assessment posttreatment.

Supply and Demand in the World Market of Mineral Fertilizers: Major Factors, Tendencies and Forecasts

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 54-58
Author(s):  
Гендон ◽  
A. Gendon
Keyword(s):  
Supply And Demand ◽  
World Market ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Steady Growth ◽  
The World ◽  
World Demand ◽  
Major Factors

In article the main attractive fundamental characteristics determining the steady growth of world demand for mineral fertilizers in the long term are considered. However it is defined that such factors define need for fertilizers, but not solvent demand, and in the short term in all segments of branch excess of the offer over demand that can lead to reduction of prices of fertilizers, and also to decline in yield of mining and chemical business will be observed.

scholarly journals Charms & Harms: Devil's Claw

2009 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Barnes
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Term Treatment ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Short Term Treatment ◽  
Acute Exacerbations ◽  
Long Term Adverse Effects

SUMMARY MESSAGE: There is evidence that Devil’s Claw can be an effective short-term treatment for acute exacerbations of low back pain and, to a lesser extent, in rheumatic and osteoarthritic conditions. Acute adverse effects reported in clinical trials were mild diarrhoea and flatulence. Long-term adverse effects have not been studied. As with all herbal medicines, Devil’s Claw products differ in their pharmaceutical quality, and the implications of this for efficacy and safety should be considered.

scholarly journals Effect of Diet on the Gut Microbiota: Rethinking Intervention Duration

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily R Leeming ◽  
Abigail J Johnson ◽  
Tim D Spector ◽  
Caroline I Le Roy
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Dietary Interventions ◽  
Human Gut ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Modifiable Factor ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
Major Factors ◽  
Dietary Strategies

The human gut is inhabited by trillions of microorganisms composing a dynamic ecosystem implicated in health and disease. The composition of the gut microbiota is unique to each individual and tends to remain relatively stable throughout life, yet daily transient fluctuations are observed. Diet is a key modifiable factor influencing the composition of the gut microbiota, indicating the potential for therapeutic dietary strategies to manipulate microbial diversity, composition, and stability. While diet can induce a shift in the gut microbiota, these changes appear to be temporary. Whether prolonged dietary changes can induce permanent alterations in the gut microbiota is unknown, mainly due to a lack of long-term human dietary interventions, or long-term follow-ups of short-term dietary interventions. It is possible that habitual diets have a greater influence on the gut microbiota than acute dietary strategies. This review presents the current knowledge around the response of the gut microbiota to short-term and long-term dietary interventions and identifies major factors that contribute to microbiota response to diet. Overall, further research on long-term diets that include health and microbiome measures is required before clinical recommendations can be made for dietary modulation of the gut microbiota for health.

The Carcinogen in Our Daily Life - A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 223-227
Author(s):  
Rani Nallathamby ◽  
Boban Babu ◽  
Meril Ann Soman
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Teaching Hospital ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Large Teaching Hospital ◽  
Safe Limit

Objective: To study about the awareness of toxic effects of Formaldehyde in Chronic users Design: Questionnaire study. Questionnaires were sent to chronic formaldehyde users and responses were analysed. Setting: Large teaching hospital-various medical colleges in south Karnataka and Kerala. Results: Most of the participants are aware about the adverse effects of formaldehyde but they are unaware of the major carcinogenic and teratogenic risks. Most of the participants don’t know the safe limit of exposure to formaldehyde and most of them don’t care whether the exhaust fans are working or windows are open. Majority of the participants had experienced the short term effects of formaldehyde whereas only 67 had experienced long term sequelae. Keywords: Formaldehyde, Carcinogen, Embalming.

A Decreased Incidence of Necrotizing Enterocolitis After Prenatal Glucocorticoid Therapy

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 682-688 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles R. Bauer ◽  
John C. Morrison ◽  
W. Kenneth Poole ◽  
Sheldon B. Korones ◽  
John J. Boehm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Necrotizing Enterocolitis ◽  
Steroid Therapy ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Antenatal Corticosteroids ◽  
Lung Maturation ◽  
Intestinal Maturation ◽  
Blinded Trial ◽  
Long Term Adverse Effects

In a large multicentered, collaborative randomized and blinded trial utilizing antenatal corticosteroids, the goals included determining the effectiveness of these agents in accelerating lung maturation, as well as monitoring any short-term or long-term adverse effects of this treatment on the parturient, fetus, and/or infant. More than 100 specific items, pertaining to diagnoses, complications, and outcomes were recorded for the 696 mothers enrolled in the study and their 745 infants. A significantly decreased incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (P = .002) was found in the infants treated with steroids. The possibility of accelerated intestinal maturation induced by antenatal maternal steroid therapy exists. This treatment regimen is particularly attractive as adverse aspects of steroid therapy at the dosage utilized have not been demonstrated.

Safety of ciclesonide in children with asthma: A review of randomized controlled trials

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 471-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Blaiss ◽  
William Berger ◽  
Bradley Chipps ◽  
Vivian Hernandez-Trujillo ◽  
Wanda Phipatanakul ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Hpa Axis ◽  
Growth Velocity ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Children With Asthma ◽  
Asthma In Children

Background: Parental concerns about the adverse effects of asthma medications can lead to nonadherence and uncontrolled asthma in children. Ciclesonide (CIC) is a prodrug, with low oropharyngeal deposition and bioavailability that may minimize the risk of local and systemic adverse effects. CIC is U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved for asthma in children ages ≥ 12 years. Objective: To summarize safety results from the 13 phase II or III randomized controlled trials conducted in children with asthma during CIC clinical development. Methods: Four 12- to 24-week trials compared the safety of once-daily CIC 40, 80, or 160 µg/day with placebo; four 12-week trials compared the safety of CIC 80 or 160 µg/day with either fluticasone or budesonide; one 12-month trial compared the long-term safety of CIC 40, 80, or 160 µg/day with fluticasone; one 12-month trial compared growth velocity of CIC 40 or 160 µg/day with placebo; and three cross-over trials compared short-term growth velocity and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis effects of CIC 40, 80, or 160 µg/day with placebo or fluticasone. Results: In all, 4399 children were treated with CIC. The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (AE) was similar among the CIC doses and between CIC and placebo in short-term studies and between CIC and fluticasone in the long-term safety study. No CIC-related serious AEs were reported in any study. The incidence of treatment-related oral candidiasis was low and similar between CIC (≤0.5%) and placebo (≤0.7%) or active controls (≤0.5%) in the short-term studies. There was no clinically relevant HPA axis suppression or reduction in growth velocity associated with CIC. Conclusion: Data from 13 studies demonstrate that CIC is associated with low rates of oropharyngeal AEs, with no indication of clinically relevant systemic effects in children with asthma. The favorable safety profile and demonstrated improvements in asthma control make CIC an ideal inhaled corticosteroid for the treatment of asthma in children.

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