scholarly journals Characteristics of Horticultural Distribution Centers

1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 134-136
Author(s):  
M.P. Garber ◽  
K. Bondari

Abstract A national survey of Horticultural Distribution Centers (HDCs) resulted in a 32.3% response rate with owners representing 68% of respondents. The greatest number of respondents were from the Northeast and firms have been in business from 3 to 115 years for an average of 26.5 years. About one-fourth of the firms surveyed (27.4%) were engaged only in distribution activity. However, for all firms, distribution activity accounted for over half (54.2%) of their revenue. The average HDC had annual revenue of $3.4M. The mean number of full-time employees was about 33, with an additional 16 part-time hourly. Average hourly compensation rate ranged form $15.67 for manager/supervisor to $10.58 for staff and $8.94 for full-time hourly workers. Data were analyzed by region of the country and regional differences are discussed.

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 518
Author(s):  
Ayal Kimhi ◽  
Nitzan Tzur-Ilan

Israeli agriculture has experienced rapid structural changes in recent decades, including the massive exit of farmers, a resulting increase in average farm size, a higher farm specialization and a higher reliance on non-farm income sources. The higher farm heterogeneity makes it necessary to examine changes in the entire farm size distribution rather than the common practice of analyzing changes in the average farm size alone. This article proposes a nonparametric analysis in which the change in the distribution of farm sizes between two periods is decomposed into several components, and the contributions of subgroups of farms to this change are analyzed. Using data on Israeli family farms, we analyze the changes in the farm size distribution in two separate time periods that are characterized by very different economic environments, focusing on the different contributions of full-time farms and part-time farms to the overall distributional changes. We found that between 1971 and 1981, a period characterized by stability and prosperity, the farm size distribution has shifted to the right with relatively minor changes in higher moments of the distribution. On the other hand, between 1981 and 1995, a largely unfavorable period to Israeli farmers, the change in the distribution was much more complex. While the overall change in the size distribution of farms was smaller in magnitude than in the earlier period, higher moments of the distribution were not less important than the increase in the mean and led to higher dispersion of farm sizes. Between 1971 and 1981, the contributions of full- and part-time farms to the change in the size distribution were quite similar. Between 1981 and 1995, however, full-time farms contributed mostly to the growth in the average farm size, while the average farm size among part-time farms actually decreased, and their contribution to the higher dispersion of farm sizes was quantitatively larger. This highlights the need to analyze the changes in the entire farm size distribution rather than focusing on the mean alone, and to allow for differences between types of farms.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 88 (4) ◽  
pp. 764-769 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy E. Fritz ◽  
John D. Lantos

A national survey was used to study the differences in career and family patterns of pediatricians who work part-time (PT) vs those who work full-time (FT). A questionnaire mailed to 375 members of the American Academy of Pediatrics asked about age, marital status, number of children, type of practice, hours worked in particular duties, and attitudes about their choices. Sixty-five percent (n = 216) of the questionnaires were completed. The mean age of both the PT and FT women was 40 years, and FT men averaged 46 years. Thirty-seven percent of women had worked PT at some point in their careers; 21% were currently working PT. Only 70% of the FT women were married compared with 97% and 95% of PT women and FT men. The FT women had significantly fewer children (mean 1.27, compared with 2.34 for PT women and 2.39 for FT men). Part-time women in academic medicine tended to do little research or administrative work, but they had more teaching responsibilities. Almost all the PT women were happy with their decisions and careers despite the feeling among many that they had made career compromises. Many of the FT pediatricians wanted to work less. It is concluded that many women, particularly those with children, choose PT work in order to combine career and family duties. These choices may lead to different career paths for women pediatricians. By recognizing these different career paths, it may be possible for academic institutions to benefit from the unique contributions that PT women pediatricians can make.


2003 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 505-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Odhiambo Oburu ◽  
Kerstin Palmérus

The present study examined the discipline methods used and personal and social determinants of power assertive strategies amongst 113 part-time and 128 full-time adoptive grandmothers of Kenyan children aged 1–10 years. Most of these children had been orphaned by AIDS. Evidence obtained from the study suggested that these caregivers’ employment of power assertive strategies were linked to the total stress experienced, educational attainment, and child age but not to the gender of children adopted. The results also indicated a higher prevalence of the assertive and behaviour modification strategies amongst participants over the mean age of 62 years, respondents having basic education (1–12yrs), and those dealing with transgressions of children aged 6 years and above. Coercive verbal forms of control were mainly used by younger grandmothers, or caregivers of children aged less than 6 years. The least preferred inductive strategies were employed by younger respondents, persons lacking formal education, or those dealing with children of both gender aged below 6 years. These findings suggested that the antecedents of power assertive strategies lay both within personal and contextual factors.


2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 238-244
Author(s):  
Clorinda Panebianco

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of playing-related musculoskeletal problems (PRMPs) in professional musicians is well documented in the literature, but few studies have been done on South African professional musicians. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of PRMPs, pain intensity, and pain interference among full-time and part-time orchestral musicians, using a validated self-report instrument specifically designed for musicians. METHODS: Seventy-nine full-time and part-time professional orchestral musicians took part in the study and completed the Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity and Interference Questionnaire for Musicians (MPIIQM). RESULTS: A lifetime prevalence of PRMPs was 76% and point prevalence 30%. Of the PRMP group, 30% experienced current pain that interfered with their ability to play. Upper strings players reported the most PRMPs. The most commonly reported pain locations were right and left upper limb, neck, forearm, and elbow. The mean pain intensity score for the PRMP group was 16.3 (SD 6.62) (out of 40) and the mean pain interference score was 21.2 (9.98) (out of 50). Female musicians reported experiencing pain more frequently and intensely and also reported more pain sites than males. CONCLUSIONS: This study, the first to make use of a validated self-report instrument, shows that musculoskeletal problems are common among full-time and part-time professional orchestral musicians in South Africa.


2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Blake ◽  
H.A. Sandler ◽  
W. Coli ◽  
D.M. Pober ◽  
C. Coggins

AbstractA survey was developed and distributed to the Massachusetts cranberry grower community in 1999 to identify biological, educational, social and political barriers to the adoption of available integrated pest management (IPM) practices. The response rate for the 450 growers who received the survey was 54%. Approximately 80% of respondents claimed to practice IPM frequently and 16% identified themselves as occasional practitioners. Most growers practiced IPM because they agreed with IPM philosophy (80%) and believed it had environmental benefits (73%). Ninety-two percent agreed that more IPM-related research and education programs would encourage them to adopt practices they are not currently using. A significant percentage of respondents used multiple IPM component practices, with practices involving monitoring and detection of pests along with judicious use of pesticides being most common. Factor analysis was used to condense 104 potential responses to 22 factors, which were then used as predictors with six demographic variables (IPM adoption, education level, age, experience, farm size and work status). Demographic factors influenced a grower's tendency to incorporate IPM into routine farm activities. Full-time, highly experienced growers in charge of large operations tended frequently to use more IPM practices than less experienced growers who worked part-time and managed smaller farms. A large proportion of respondents agreed that IPM can reduce pesticide residues in food (92%) and the environment (96%), and can help to preserve beneficial insects (96%). Although many growers held the perception that IPM can pose measurable economic risk (and subsequently act as a barrier to adoption), growers appeared to feel less strongly about the economic benefits than potential environmental ones.


2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shakila Premarathne ◽  
Nishantha Nanayakkara ◽  
Rohana Chandrajith ◽  
R M S K Rathnayake ◽  
Neelakanthi Rathnathunga ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and Aims An environmental nephropathy which is widely known as Chronic Kidney Disease of uncertain aetiology (CKDu) has been reported in dry zone of Sri Lanka and few other tropical countries. It is already become a major public health problem resulting immense social, economic and health impacts. In recent past, symptomatic presentation of CKDu with tubulitis (CKDuT)/ Acute Interstitial Nephritis indicating activity (AIN) has been reported from Sri Lanka and Central America. The AIN is a nonspecific response of kidney to an injurious agent. Usually the responsible aetiology is obvious in AIN, but not in CKDu cases, however, believed to be a sequel of interstitial nephritis. The aim of this study was to identify the occupational exposures or risk factors associated in AIN cases. Method In a two years of a comprehensive investigation, 60 individuals who reported with AIN were investigated. Once a case is reported, a home visit was carried out and behavioural pattern associated risk factors were assessed by a structured questionnaire in which working behaviours and conditions, spraying of agrochemical, usage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and probable exposed environmental conditions were considered. Results Majority of AIN patients were male (90:10%) with the mean age of (44 ± 1.2) ranging from 26 - 62years. Among the study group, 53% were full time farmers while 77% of were doing farming either full time or part time. 55% of patients applied agrochemicals by themselves. 52% of individuals have used Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). 12% of individuals were sand miners while 7% and 5% were full time masons or labourers. 2% were engaged both farming and mason as full time employment. 15% were doing other employment except the above. Smoking, alcohol consumption and betel chewing were reported in the group as 50%, 57% and 72% respectively. Majority of patients were reported from Girandurukotte (17%), Wilgamuwa (32%) and Mahiyanganaya (35%) regions where CKDu are widely reported. Study indicated that there was no any significant pattern of AIN incidents over the study period. Conclusion Mean age of reported CKDuT were at least ten years younger than the mean age of CKDu. Comparatively higher number of sex ratio has been found in CKDuT indicating the male dominance. Some of the demographic features of AIN patients were similar with CKDu patients and both CKDu and AIN patients are engaged in farming either full time or part time.


2011 ◽  
Vol 77 (7) ◽  
pp. 820-825
Author(s):  
Joseph B. Cofer ◽  
Tommy J. Petros ◽  
Hans C. Burkholder ◽  
P. Chris Clarke

Rural communities face an impending surgical workforce crisis. The purpose of this study is to describe perceptions of rural Tennessee hospital administrators regarding the importance of surgical services to their hospitals. In collaboration with the Tennessee Hospital Association, we developed and administered a 13-item survey based on a recently published national survey to 80 rural Tennessee hospitals in August 2008. A total of 29 responses were received for an overall 36.3 per cent response rate. Over 44 per cent of rural surgeons were older than 50 years of age, and 27.6 per cent of hospitals reported they would lose at least one surgeon in the next 2 years. The responding hospitals reported losing 10.4 per cent of their surgical workforce in the preceding 2 years. Over 53 per cent were actively recruiting a general surgeon with an average time to recruit a surgeon of 11.8 months. Ninety-seven per cent stated that having a surgical program was very important to their financial viability with the mean and median reported revenue generated by a single general surgeon being $1.8 million and $1.4 million, respectively. Almost 11 per cent of the hospitals stated they would have to close if they lost surgical services. Although rural Tennessee hospitals face similar difficulties to national rural hospitals with regard to retaining and hiring surgeons, slightly more Tennessee hospitals (54 vs 36%) were actively attempting to recruit a general surgeon. The shortage of general surgeons is a threat to the accessibility of comprehensive hospital-based care for rural Tennesseans.


Author(s):  
Iyabo Obasanjo ◽  
William Mann

Background: Studies have found that diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes increases the risk of early retirement in the high-income countries. In this study, we examined the levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) by employment status to determine if early retirement confers a benefit to managing diabetes. Methods: The data was from a primary care center serving the uninsured and medically underserved in the greater Williamsburg area in the State of Virginia. Plasma concentration of HbA1c (%) from the last visit was used to measure the average level of blood glucose and as an assessment test for glycemic control in people with diabetes. Data analyses were carried out using general linear regression with HbA1c as the dependent variable and employment status, gender and age as the independent variables; and the interaction of gender and employment status and interaction of age and employment status were assessed to control for potential confounding factors. Results: The results showed that males tended to have a higher level of HbA1c; overall age was negatively associated with the levels of HbA1c; there was a significant difference in the mean levels of HbA1c between the retired people and people working part-time (p=0.032). After controlling for age and gender in the multiple linear regression analysis, employment status became non-significantly associated with HbA1c levels. Post hoc analysis showed a difference in HbA1c between individuals working part-time (the highest HbA1c group) and the full-time employed at a marginal significance (p=0.0823). While almost 20 years older, the retired people had the lowest level of HbA1c. However, the mean level of HbA1c was no longer significantly different from that in other groups, probably because age explained much of this variation in the levels of HbA1c among employment status. Multiple regression analysis showed that age was negatively associated with the levels of HbA1c (The retired people mainly derived Beta=-0.046, p<0.0001). Conclusion: In this underserved population, the HbA1c level is the lowest in people after retirement, even though they are older. Our study indicates that retirement may be a beneficial factor for the management of diabetes, which warrants further investigation.


2014 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 317-329
Author(s):  
Stephan Humpert

This paper provides descriptive evidence for declining occupational sex segregation on the German labor market, especially concerning the regional differences between the former East and West Germany. I use segregation measures and long-run social security data for the decade of 1992 to 2004. While segregation has declined over time, it remains higher for the eastern part of Germany. Although this finding is observable for full-time and part-time work, segregation is always lower in part-time employment.


2005 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Harrop ◽  
Andy Tattersall ◽  
Jennie Cairns

University records were examined for the 91 part-time students who entered Liverpool John Moores University between 1992 and 1994 to study psychology. The records showed 35 had achieved a BSc Hons Applied Psychology degree and 12 others had reached the level for intermediate awards although only two of these had so far claimed their awards. Despite the wide range of educational backgrounds, which included a number of students without formal qualifications, the mean and the standard deviations of the final examination marks of the part-time students were virtually indistinguishable from those of the full-time students. Withdrawal from the programme had occurred predominantly in the first year. Some implications of these findings are discussed.


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