Tomato Value Chain Analysis in Yayo And Hurumu Districts of Ilu Aba Bor Zone, Ethiopia

Background: Tomato is one of the most important and widely grown vegetable in Ethiopia. This study was aimed at analyzing tomato value chain in Yayu and Hurumu districts of Ilubabor zone. The specific objectives of the study were to identify actors and their roles in the value chain, to estimate marketing margins of each actor and identifying determinants of market participation decision and level of participation of farm households in tomato market.Methodology: The study used both primary and secondary data. Descriptive statistics, value chain analysis and Heckman two-stage selection model were used to analyze the data.Results: The major tomato value chain actors in the study area are input suppliers, producers, collectors, wholesalers, retailers and consumers. Producer received the maximum profit when they sell directly to consumers. The Heckman first stage model result showed that four variables such as family size, production experience, participation in non-farm activity and quantity produced significantly affect the tomato market participation decision. Heckman second stage model indicated that extension contact, quantity produced and perception of lagged price significantly influence the tomato level of market participation.Conclusion: in the study area Tomato is produced mainly as a source of food and income and it is one of the most important and widely grown vegetable. The market participation decision of the farmers is influenced significantly by family size, production experience, participation in non-farm activity and quantity produced. Similarly, extension contact, quantity produced and perception of lagged price were among determinants which affect significantly tomato producer’s level of market participation. Hence, these significant factors need to be intervening so as to enhance the possible gain that could be drawn from tomato value chain in the study area.

Gender, Socioeconomic Status, Cultural Differences, Education, Family Size and Procrastination: A Sociodemographic Meta-Analysis

Procrastination describes a ubiquitous scenario in which individuals voluntarily postpone scheduled activities at the expense of adverse consequences. Steel (2007) pioneered a meta-analysis to explicitly reveal the nature of procrastination and sparked intensive research on its demographic characteristics. However, conflicting and heterogeneous findings reported in the existing literature make it difficult to draw reliable conclusions. In addition, there is still room to further investigate on more sociodemographic features that include socioeconomic status, cultural differences and procrastination education. To this end, we performed quantitative sociodemographic meta-analyses (k = 193, total n = 106,764) to fill this gap. It was found that the general tendency and academic procrastination tendency of males were stronger than females (r = 0.04, 95% CI: 0.02–0.05). No significant effects of differences in socioeconomic status (i.e., poor or rich), multiculturalism (i.e., Han nation or minorities), nationality (i.e., China or other countries), family size (i.e., one child or > 1 child), and educational background (i.e., science or arts/literature) were found to affect procrastination tendencies. Furthermore, it was noteworthy that the gender differences in procrastination tendencies were prominently moderated by measurements, which has a greater effect on the Aitken Procrastination Inventory (API) (r = 0.035, 95% CI: −0.01–0.08) than on the General Procrastination Scale (GPS) (r = 0.018, 95% CI: −0.01–0.05). In conclusion, this study provides robust evidence that males tended to procrastinate more than females in general and academic profiles, and further indicates that procrastination tendencies do not vary based on sociodemographic situations, including socioeconomic status, multiculturalism, nationality, family size, and educational background.

Constructions of optimal low hit zone frequency hopping sequence sets with large family size

<p style='text-indent:20px;'>Frequency hopping sequences with low hit zone is significant for application in quasi synchronous multiple-access systems. In this paper, we obtained two constructions of optimal frequency hopping sequence sets with low hit zone based on interleaving techniques. The presented low hit zone frequency hopping sequence sets are with new and flexible parameters and large family size which can meet the needs of the practical applications. Moreover, all the sequences in the proposed sets are cyclically inequivalent. Some low hit zone frequency hopping sequence sets constructed in literatures are included in our family. The proposed frequency hopping sequence sets with low hit zone are contributed for quasi-synchronous frequency hopping multiple access system to reduce or eliminate multiple-access interference.</p>

A Cross Section Study to Assess Factor Affecting the Work Life Balance of the Female Healthcare Professionals in the Private Hospitals of Vadodara – India

Purpose of the Research: work life balance is an important phenomenon concerning a lot of working employees. Females form a major proportion of the workforce in the healthcare industry and the policies should focus on their well being for a stress free environment. There has been a vast amount of research carried out focussing on this topic. However, there has been limited research concerning the work life balance of female healthcare professionals working in hospitals. Therefore, this study aims to assess the factor affecting the work life balance of the female healthcare professionals working in hospitals of Vadodara district (India). Methodology: The data collection tool is a structured close ended questionnaire where in the respondents were asked to choose their option pertaining to various parameters of work life balance on a five point Likert scale. The collected from 335 female healthcare professionals working in seven private hospitals of Vadodara (India). The data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 23. The statistical test used was Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney test at 95% confidence level. Major Results: There were 87 female doctors and 248 nurses in the study. Among the 335 respondents, 210 female healthcare professionals had 3-4 family size having the highest frequency, 297 female’s respondents were married, and 38 were single. The study showed that there was no difference in the work life balance of the females with respect to the family size because of cooking, child study, and other individual female’s responsibilities. Because of their marital status, there is a statistically significant difference in the work life balance of female healthcare professional. Conclusions: For the employers the work life balance is an important human resource area of concern; hence, this study highlights an important issue to address for better satisfaction and content of the female healthcare professionals.

The secular trend of intelligence test scores: The Danish experience for young men born between 1940 and 2000

The present study investigated the Danish secular trend of intelligence test scores among young men born between 1940 and 2000, as well as the possible associations of birth cohort changes in family size, nutrition, education, and intelligence test score variability with the increasing secular trend. The study population included all men born from 1940 to 2000 who appeared before a draft board before 2020 (N = 1,556,770). At the mandatory draft board examination, the approximately 19-year-old men underwent a medical examination and an intelligence test. In the statistical analyses, the IQ mean and standard deviation (SD) were estimated separately for each of the included annual birth cohorts based on information from birth cohorts with available total intelligence test scores for all tested individuals (i.e. 1940–1958 and 1987–2000; the mean and SD were interpolated for the intermediate birth cohorts). Moreover, the possible associations with birth cohort changes in family size, height as a proxy for nutritional status, education, and IQ variability were investigated among those birth cohorts for whom a secular increase in intelligence test scores was found. The results showed that the estimated mean IQ score increased from a baseline set to 100 (SD: 15) among individuals born in 1940 to 108.9 (SD: 12.2) among individuals born in 1980, since when it has decreased. Focusing on the birth cohorts of 1940–1980, for whom a secular increase in intelligence test scores was found, birth cohort changes in family size, height, and education explained large proportions of the birth cohort variance in mean intelligence test scores, suggesting that these factors may be important contributors to the observed Flynn effect in Denmark.

Factors Influencing Participation of Farmer in Contract Farming in Narsingdi District of Bangladesh

Aims: Contract farming (CF) has been used extensively to integrate agricultural value chain both in the developed and developing countries. Participation in CF is associated with increased farm productivity and farmer income. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze socio-economic factors affecting farmer’s participation in contract farming. Study Design: The selected 15 socio-economic factors were used to determine the impact on farmer’s participation in contract farming. Besides, the socio-demographic profile of the farmers in the study area was discussed. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted upon contract and non-contract farmers of Shibpur upazila under Narsingdi district of Bangladesh. The duration of the study was from July, 2019 to December, 2020. Methodology: The study used nationally-representative data of smallholder vegetable farmers in Shibpur upazila of Narsingdi district. The data were collected from 75 contract farmer and 125 non-contract farmer of Shibpur upazila. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze fifteen factors that potentially affected farmers’ decision to participate in CF and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the socio-demographic profile of the farmer. Results: The study found that farmers education, wife’s occupation, family size, labor, fertilizer use, training, savings and income were the significant factors in the model and farmers occupation, other family member's occupation, income source, land type, size of land, experience and storage place were non-significant predictors using P<0.01 and P<0.05 threshold. Conclusion: Farmer’s education, female head's occupation, family size, land type, size of land holdings, labor use, type of fertilizers being used, training or technical knowledge and average monthly income of the respondents had a positive influence on farmer’s decision.

Prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among under-five age children in Shanan gibe hospital, Southwest Ethiopia

Background Anemia is a major health problem in the worldwide. Because of health and socioeconomic problems, the prevalence of anemia is higher in developing countries. However, there was a limited finding in our study area. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among under-five age children in Shanan Gibe Hospital (SGH), Southwest Ethiopia. Methods Institution based cross sectional study was conducted at SGH, Ethiopia using consecutive convenient sampling technique during 1 January to 30 April, 2021. Data was collected by interviewing and capillary blood was taken from the fingertip for hemoglobin determination by using HaemoCue digital photometer. Additionally, stool sample was processed using wet mount and formal-ether concentration technique. Then after, the data were entered to Epidata version 3.1 and analysed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Factors associated with anaemia were assessed by bivariable and multivariable logistic regression model by considering P < 0.05 as statistical significance. Results A total of 368 under five children were recruited to the study and the current prevalence of anemia was 48.9%. Of this anemia, 25.0% mild, 15.8% moderate and 8.2% were severely anemic. More ever, being rural resident (AOR = 6.11; 95% CI = 1.49–8.99, P = 0.002), family low income (AOR = 6.27, 95% CI = 1.35–11.43, P = 0.004), family size greater than five (AOR = 3.12; 95% CI =1.47–7.11, P = 0.002) and intestinal parasite infections such as Enteameoba histolytica (AOR =3.37; 95%CI = 2.16–11.31, P = 0.005), Hookworm (AOR = 6.09; 95%CI = 2.37–11.56, P = 0.001), and Trichuris trichuria (AOR = 2.79; 95%CI = 1.45–9.13, P = 0.002) (P < 0.05) were factors significantly associated with anemia among under five children. Conclusion The current prevalence of anemia among under five age children is relatively high. On the other hand, the rural residence, large family size, low family income, infection with Enteameoba histolytica, hookworm and Trichuris trichuria were the identified factors associated with anemia among under five children. Therefore, there should be massive and routine deworming program in addition to imperative targeting anemia prevention, and nutritional supplementation to reduce the burden of anemia.

The Incidence of Bordetella Pertussis Infections in Jahrom City, Southern Iran

Background: Bordetella Pertussis, known as the causative agent of whooping cough, is one of the leading causes of recurrent persistent cough at all ages, even in vaccinated individuals. Methods: A total number of 110 patients coughing for at least two weeks who were admitted to clinical centers in Jahrom, Iran, were included in this cross-sectional study. For this purpose, blood samples were collected from these individuals at two stages, i.e., at the beginning of the study and on the 21st day. Afterward, anti-pertussis toxin (PT) immunoglobulin G (IgG) was measured in serum samples via the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The given cases were further evaluated in terms of age, gender, occupation, place of living, and family size.Results: Out of 110 patients recruited in this study, 77 cases were female (70%). Also, only seven patients were shown to be serologically positive (6.4%). Moreover, no significant association was observed between pertussis incidence rate and the study variables, namely, age, gender, occupation, residency area (urban or rural), and family size (p>0.05).Conclusions: This study aimed to emphasize pertussis occurrence in individuals who merely present persistent cough without typical symptoms. This requires the physicians to conduct more precise assessments along with more rapid diagnostic methods.

Women’s Trade-Offs between Fertility and Employment during Industrialisation

Modelling fertility decline in post-industrial populations in the context of life history theory has allowed us to better understand the environmental pressures that shape reduced family size. One such pressure, which has received relatively little attention from ecologists, is the movement of women into the labour market. Analyses of effects of employment on fertility in contemporary developing or post-demographic transition populations are limited by the widespread use of modern contraceptives: while uptake of these methods may be a mechanism by which reduced fertility is enacted, their use may obscure effects of employment on fertility. Here, we investigated the impact of women’s employment on family size during a period of the movement of women into the workforce but prior to the use of modern contraceptives. We analysed the effects of women’s employment on family size using census records from 1901 for a regional-level analysis of parishes in Scotland, and for 1851–1901 for an individual-level analysis of the Scottish city of Dundee. Women in employment had fewer children than those not in employment. Income was inversely related with family size, and this was independent of the effects of women’s employment on family size. We suggest that female employment contributes to the evolution of smaller family sizes and that this takes place in the context of prevailing and emerging gender roles, and in interaction with opportunities for employment and wealth.