Vulnerability of Citrus Growers to Huanglongbing

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Aguilar-Román ◽  
M.C. Vargas-Mendoza ◽  
J. A. Villanueva-Jiménez ◽  
C.F. Ortiz-García ◽  
H. Cabrera-Mireles
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
Campaign Strategies ◽  
Social Actors ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Intermediate Degree ◽  
San Rafael ◽  
Organizational Involvement

Objective: To analyze the vulnerability of citrus growers to HLB in the municipalities of San Rafael and Cotaxtla, State of Veracruz, Mexico. Design/methodology/approximation: Growers were surveyed about their knowledge, proficiency and perception of the implemented strategies of the Campaign vs the HLB. Vulnerability was integrated in the Risk Index (RI), including grower knowledge and perception towards the Campaign strategies, actions implemented and those that are willing to implement. The RI was compared between localities and was correlated with grower, orchard and confidence in social-actors variables. Organizational involvement of producers was compared. Results: Citrus growers from San Rafael and Cotaxtla have an intermediate degree of vulnerability, with no significant difference (P = 0.483) among them. RI of growers increases as social confidence decreases (r = -0.302). Organizational involvement of growers is equally low in both localities (P = 0.154). Limitations of the study/implications: This study does not apply to other communities. Findings/conclusions: Growers will not be able to respond appropriately and in a relevant way to the new conditions of vulnerability, which might risk the actions implemented with their participation in the Campaign vs the HLB.

Serum Thiamine Values in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients under Maintenance Hemodialysis

2015 ◽  
Vol 85 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 348-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masamitsu Ubukata ◽  
Nobuyuki Amemiya ◽  
Kosaku Nitta ◽  
Takashi Takei
Keyword(s):  
Thiamine Deficiency ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
Nutritional Risk ◽  
Maintenance Hemodialysis ◽  
Dialysis Patients ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Nutritional Risk Index ◽  
Serum Aspartate Aminotransferase ◽  
Stage Renal Disease ◽  
End Stage

Abstract. Objective: Hemodialysis patients are prone to malnutrition because of diet or many uremic complications. The objective of this study is to determine whether thiamine deficiency is associated with regular dialysis patients. Methods: To determine whether thiamine deficiency is associated with regular dialysis patients, we measured thiamine in 100 patients undergoing consecutive dialysis. Results: Average thiamine levels were not low in both pre-hemodialysis (50.1 ± 75.9 ng/mL; normal range 24 - 66 ng/mL) and post-hemodialysis (56.4 ± 61.7 ng/mL). In 18 patients, post-hemodialysis levels of thiamine were lower than pre-hemodialysis levels. We divided the patients into two groups, the decrease (Δthiamine/pre thiamine < 0; - 0.13 ± 0.11) group (n = 18) and the increase (Δthiamine/pre thiamine> 0; 0.32 ± 0.21)) group (n = 82). However, there was no significance between the two groups in Kt/V or type of dialyzer. Patients were dichotomized according to median serum thiamine level in pre-hemodialysis into a high-thiamine group (≥ 35.5 ng/mL) and a low-thiamine group (< 35.4 ng/mL), and clinical characteristics were compared between the two groups. The low-thiamine value group (< 35.4 ng/ml; 26.8 ± 5.3 ng/ml) exhibited lower levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase than the high-thiamine value group (≥ 35.4 ng/ml; 73.5 ± 102.5 ng/ml) although there was no significance in nutritional marker, Alb, geriatric nutritional risk index , protein catabolic rate and creatinine generation rate. Conclusion: In our regular dialysis patients, excluding a few patients, we did not recognize thiamine deficiency and no significant difference in thiamine value between pre and post hemodialysis.

The effect of chia (Salvia hispanic L.) flour as a substitute for fat in gluten-free bread

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 517-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katira da Mota Huerta ◽  
Caroline Pagnossim Boeira ◽  
Marcela Bromberger Soquetta ◽  
Jamila dos Santos Alves ◽  
Ernesto Hashime Kubota ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Nutritional Assessment ◽  
Sensory Properties ◽  
Gluten Free ◽  
Main Ingredient ◽  
Sensorial Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Nutritional Characteristics ◽  
Sensorial Analyses

Purpose The preparation of gluten-free bread is a challenge because the gluten in wheat is the main ingredient responsible for the retention of the gases which cause the bread to rise. This paper aims to develop breads without gluten and fat, and to evaluate the effect of the use of chia (Salvia hispanic L.) flour on the physical, nutritional and sensory properties of the breads that were developed. Design/methodology/approach Three formulations were developed with different proportions of chia flour (2.5, 5 and 7.5%), fat-free. Physiochemical, sensorial analyses were performed out in three repetitions (p-value = 0.05). Findings In the nutritional assessment, the results demonstrated that 7.5% chia showed higher levels of protein (15.1%), lipid (3.43%), total fiber (7.04%) and lower levels of carbohydrates (22.49%), with significant nutrient enrichment (p-value = 0.05). The specific volume and the elevation of the dough decreased with the addition of chia flour. In the sensorial analysis, the treatments with chia flour showed no significant difference regarding flavor and texture when compared to the standard. The addition of chia improved the nutritional and sensory properties (p-value = 0.05). Originality/value The chia flour improved the nutritional characteristics of the breads, in the reduction of carbohydrate content and the increase in the content of protein, minerals and fiber. It presented good acceptability and good nutritional characteristics, providing a healthy and differentiated variation in this segment.

scholarly journals Social exclusion: re-examining its conceptual relevance to tackling inequality and social injustice

2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (9/10) ◽  
pp. 600-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clive Sealey
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Social Policy ◽  
Social Exclusion ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Social Injustice ◽  
Critical Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
It Value ◽  
Significant Difference

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to rationalise the continued conceptual utility of social exclusion, and in so doing addresses the prevailing question of what to do with it. This is relevant from social exclusion’s declining relevance in contemporary UK social policy and academia, where its consideration as a concept to explain disadvantage is being usurped by other concepts, both old and new. Design/methodology/approach – The paper analyses criticisms of limitations of social exclusion which have typically centred on the operationalisation of the concept, but the author will argue that there are distinctive operationalisation and conceptual strengths within social exclusion which make it value-added as a concept to explain disadvantage. Specifically, there will be an analysis of both New Labour’s and the present Coalition government’s conceptualisation of the term in policy in relation to work. Findings – The analysis highlights the significant difference that a focus on processes rather than outcomes of social exclusion can make to our understanding of inequality and social injustice, and locates this difference within an argument that social exclusion’s true applied capabilities for social justice requires a shift to a conceptualisation built on the processes that cause it in the first place. Originality/value – The paper acts as a rejoinder to prevailing theoretical and political thinking of the limited and diminishing value of social exclusion for tackling disadvantage. In particular, the paper shows how social exclusion can be conceptualised to provide a critical approach to tackling inequality and social injustice, and in doing so foregrounds the truly applied capabilities of social exclusion for transforming social justice.

scholarly journals Evaluation of balance, fall risk, and related factors in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome

2021 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 409-415
Author(s):  
Köksal Sarıhan ◽  
Hülya Uzkeser ◽  
Akın Erdal
Keyword(s):  
Social Isolation ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Nottingham Health Profile ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Risk Of Falls

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether fibromyalgia patients had a higher fall risk compared to healthy individuals and to identify its relationship, if there was an increase, with clinical features. Patients and methods: Between March 2018 and September 2018, a total of 50 consecutive female patients with fibromyalgia (median age: 35 years; interquantile range [IQR], 27 to 40 years) and 50 healthy female volunteers (median age: 30 years; IQR, 23 to 40 years) were included in the study. Pain was evaluated with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), life quality with the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), balance functions with the Berg Balance Test (BBT), and the risk of falls with a posturography device. Disease activity of fibromyalgia patients was evaluated with the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). Results: The mean fall risk index of the fibromyalgia patients was 45%. The fall risk index was significantly higher (p=0.010) and the BBT scores were significantly lower in the patient group (p<0.001). There was a significant difference in terms of fall risk between the control group and drug-free fibromyalgia patients; however, no significant difference was found between the balance scores of the two groups. In the fibromyalgia group, a weak positive relationship was determined between the fall risk index and the social isolation subscale of the NHP. Conclusion: Our study results showed an increased risk of loss of balance and falls in fibromyalgia patients, compared to healthy individuals. This fall risk increase was also detected in fibromyalgia patients who did not use drugs. These findings suggest a possible relationship between social isolation and an increased risk of falls.

A study of consumers’ pre-purchase evaluation of apparel products in Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Berihun Bizuneh ◽  
Shalemu Sharew Hailemariam ◽  
Selam Tsegaye
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Developing Country ◽  
Social Factors ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Educational Background ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Garment Fit

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore pre-purchase apparel evaluation cues and examine the effect of demographic variables empirically in the context of a developing country. The initiation for the study was driven by the absence of such prior research and supplemented by the big market opportunity for clothing products in the country under investigation.Design/methodology/approachA self-administered online survey was used for data collection. Demographic questions, 23 apparel measurement items composed of 17 product-based and 6 sustainability-based items, and an open-ended question were included in the questionnaire. Factor analysis was used for dimension reduction and one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) for hypotheses testing.FindingsGarment fit, design features, colour, fabric type and seasonality are the five important characteristics most Ethiopian consumers consider while buying apparel products. Factor analysis resulted in five important factors used for pre-purchase apparel evaluation amongst which the design and extrinsic cue is found to be the most important. Environmental factors in the apparel industry got higher emphasis than social factors. While age and educational background made differences in apparel evaluation, gender did not show a significant difference.Originality/valueThe paper provides a founding insight in exploring apparel evaluation cues by considering product- and sustainability-based cues in a developing country context. It also examines the effect of three demographic variables which are rarely studied in such combination.

Offline vs online problem-based learning: a case study of student engagement and learning outcomes

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Kristianto ◽  
Linda Gandajaya
Keyword(s):  
Student Engagement ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Problem Based Learning ◽  
Student Learning Outcomes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Health Related

Purpose Furthermore, the purpose of this study is to compare the student engagement and the learning outcomes in offline and online PBL in the aforementioned course. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruption in various sectors, including education. Since it was first announced in mid-March 2020 in Indonesia, teaching and learning activities have been carried out online. In this study, a comparison of the offline (Spring 2019, prior to the pandemic) and online (Spring 2021, during the pandemic) problem-based learning (PBL) method in the sustainable chemical industry course is investigated. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative analysis was conducted by measuring the students’ engagement, course-learning outcomes (CLOs) and student learning outcomes (SLOs). Difference tests of engagement score, CLOs and SLOs were investigated by using the t-test or Mann–Whitney U-test. Furthermore, the perceived students’ stressors were measured. Findings It is found that the students’ engagement in offline and online PBL gives similar scores with no significant difference. This is possible because of the PBL structure that demands students to be actively engaged in gaining knowledge, collaboratively working in teams and interacting with other students and lecturers. Although similarly engaged, the CLOs and SLOs of online PBL are significantly lower than offline PBL, except for SLO related to oral and written communication skills and affective aspect. The decrease in CLOs and SLOs could be influenced by students’ academic, psychological and health-related stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic time. Originality/value This study provides a recommendation to apply online PBL during the COVID-19 pandemic time and beyond, although some efforts to improve CLOs and SLOs are needed.

Controversial product advertisements in Lebanon

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maya F. Farah ◽  
Lamis El Samad
Keyword(s):  
Representative Sample ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Religious Sect ◽  
Religious Sects ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Consumer's Perception ◽  
Minimal Research ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of religious sect on the Lebanese consumer’s perception of controversial product advertisements. Design/methodology/approach – The study used a quantitative survey that was administered to a purposive representative sample of respondents from the two main Muslim sects in the country, namely, Sunni and Shiite Muslims. Findings – The results indicated significant differences in perceptions between Sunni and Shiite Muslims with regards to the offensiveness of the advertising of controversial products. Briefly, Sunni Muslims found the advertising of social and political as well as health and care products more offensive, whereas Shiite Muslims found the advertising of gender and sex-related products more offensive, and no significant difference in offensiveness perception between the two sects was found with regards to the advertising of addictive products. Research limitations/implications – Two main limitations faced the researchers: the fact that the respondents were not shown examples of offensive product advertisements; and that religiosity was not measured for the respondents, which could also be a factor in offensiveness perception. Practical implications – The study indicates that a consumer’s religious sect can play a determining role in how he/she perceives product advertisement, thus encouraging marketers to consider the differences between these sects while advertising to ensure no potential consumers are alienated. Originality/value – Although research has looked into the impact of religiosity and religion on the perception of offensive product advertisements, minimal research exists on the impact of religious sects on the perception of offensive product advertisement. The results of this study provide some insights into the consumer behavior differences between the two sects.

scholarly journals Delayed cord clamping is associated with improved dynamic cerebral autoregulation and decreased incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm infants

2019 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary A. Vesoulis ◽  
Steve M. Liao ◽  
Amit M. Mathur
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Cerebral Autoregulation ◽  
Intraventricular Hemorrhage ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
Delivery Mode ◽  
Delayed Cord Clamping ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Cord Clamping ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Dynamic Cerebral Autoregulation

Delayed cord clamping (DCC) improves neurologic outcomes in preterm infants through a reduction in intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) incidence. The mechanism behind this neuroprotective effect is not known. Infants born <28 wk gestation were recruited for longitudinal monitoring. All infants underwent 72 h of synchronized near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) recording within 24 h of birth. Infants with DCC were compared with control infants with immediate cord clamping (ICC), controlling for severity of illness [clinical risk index for babies (CRIB-II) score], chorioamnionitis, antenatal steroids, sedation, inotropes, and delivery mode. Autoregulatory dampening was calculated as the transfer function gain coefficient between the MABP and NIRS signals. Forty-five infants were included (DCC; n = 15, paired 2:1 with ICC controls n = 30). ICC and DCC groups were similar including gestational age (25.5 vs. 25.2 wk, P = 0.48), birth weight (852.3 vs. 816.6 g, P = 0.73), percent female (40 vs. 40%, P = 0.75), and dopamine usage (27 vs. 23%, P = 1.00). There was a significant difference in IVH incidence between the DCC and ICC groups (20 vs. 50%, P = 0.04). Mean MABP was not different (35.9 vs. 35.1 mmHg, P = 0.44). Compared with the DCC group, the ICC group had diminished autoregulatory dampening capacity (−12.96 vs. −15.06 dB, P = 0.01), which remained significant when controlling for confounders. Dampening capacity was, in turn, strongly associated with decreased risk of IVH (odds ratio = 0.14, P < 0.01). The results of this pilot study demonstrate that DCC is associated with improved dynamic cerebral autoregulatory function and may be the mechanism behind the decreased incidence of IVH. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The neuroprotective mechanism of delayed cord clamping in premature infants is unclear. Delayed cord clamping was associated with improved cerebral autoregulatory function and a marked decrease in intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). Improved dynamic cerebral autoregulation may decrease arterial baroreceptor sensitivity, thereby reducing the risk of IVH.

scholarly journals How small family-owned businesses may compete with retail superstores

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 668-689 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cinzia Dessi ◽  
Wilson Ng ◽  
Michela Floris ◽  
Stefano Cabras
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Customer Relations ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Small Family ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Qualitative Research Methodology ◽  
High Street ◽  
Managerial Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the “perceptive concordance” – the proximity of perceptions of the business- between key managers and customers of two small family-owned and managed businesses (“FBs”) and two larger non-FBs in Cagliari, Italy as a preliminary basis for understanding how small retail businesses that are typically family owned have continued to compete and thrive in many Western European cities. Design/methodology/approach – The authors asked how small FBs have been able to compete in an advanced European economy despite apparent competitive disadvantages relative to large superstores selling the same products. In addressing this question the authors drew on a qualitative research methodology in which the authors interviewed senior managers and surveyed customers of the four businesses and applied an original statistical model to assess the degree of their perceptive concordance with over 100 customers of each business. Findings – The study's findings suggest a significant difference between key managers and customers of the sampled FBs and non-FBs in the perceptive concordance of the respective businesses held by those managers and customers. Research limitations/implications – Based on the research in this study the authors have developed a number of scholarly and managerial implications in the way that both FBs and non-FBs may retain old customers and gain new ones by anticipating and not merely responding to their product and service preferences. Originality/value – This paper extends the literature on customer relations management (“CRM”) in FBs by explaining how small High Street FBs in competitive retail businesses have continued to thrive in Western Europe where owner-managers have developed and successfully leveraged their tacit knowledge of the requirements of repeat customers.

scholarly journals Strategy for Prioritization of Storage Hydropower Projects - A Case from Nepal

2021 ◽  
pp. 28-46
Author(s):  
Surendra Kaini ◽  
Anjay Kumar Mishra ◽  
Rajesh Sapkota ◽  
P. S. Aithal
Keyword(s):  
Analytical Hierarchy Process ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Pairwise Comparison ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Financial Policy ◽  
Hydropower Project ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Hierarchy Process

Purpose: This research aims to analyze the Sensitivity for Prioritization of Storage Hydropower Projects of Nepal. Design/Methodology/Approach: Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) based on Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) has been used for analyzing the Technical, Financial, Policy, Environment factors Sensitivity with pairwise comparison in different multiple criteria. Additionally, the response from the client and expert opinion was conducted. Findings/Result: Technical on first (weightage of 34%), financial on the second (weightage of 25%), environmental on third (weightage of 16%), policy and political on fourth (weightage of 11%), uncertainties on fifth (weightage of 9%), and respondents on sixth (weightage of 5%) are the main the factors. The impact can be explained at 50 % change in weight of respondent Nalsaugad Storage Hydropower Project stands at first rank. If the weightage of respondents changes by 100% then Uttarganga Storage Hydropower Project stands at first rank with respect to respondent factor. The sensitivity analysis with respect to factors was done, which shows no significant difference in the ranking of projects at the base case and at the case of change in weight of factors. Originality/Value: It is action research to assure factors weights Paper Type: Analytical Policy Research

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