Assessing emerging beef farmers participation in high-value market and its impact on cattle sales in South Africa

The participation of emerging farmers in high-value agricultural markets in South Africa cannot be over-emphasized. It is one of the objectives of the government to assist emerging farmers with the necessary resources and programmes to enable them to meet the requirements and participate in high-value markets. The study investigated the impact of participation in the high-value market on cattle production (cattle sold). A systematic random probabilistic sampling technique was used to obtain a sample of 55 emerging beef farmers. Interviews were undertaken using questionnaires to collect data. Descriptive statistics and econometric methods such as Tobit model and a treatment effect model using propensity score matching estimator were employed for the data analysis. The results of binary logit regression from the PSM revealed that participation in a high-value market was significantly affected by age, household size, years of farming and difficulty accessing a high-value market. The average treatment effect of the treated showed a negative impact and decreases the number of cattle sold by 58%. The recommendations informed by the findings from the study are that youth in the study area should be involved in beef farming, appropriate training should be given to the farmers and farmer's advisor should motivate farmers to sell more cattle and participate in a high-value market, and educate them about the requirements to participate in the high value markets. The DARD lease assistance should continue and include the lease of more land. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 11(2): 27-36, Dec 2021

Identification of depressive sympotomatology in people with type II Diabetes

The aim of this work it's the identification of depressive symptomatology in people with type II diabetes. Among the literature, associations have been found between both, even considering depression as a possible risk identifier for developing Diabetes Mellitus. Due to this need to identify factors that affect depressive symptomatology in the population with diabetes, we sought to develop a classification model to determine which factors affect the aggravation of this psychological problem, and subsequently confirm these results using logistic regression models and cross-validation. A non-experimental cross-sectional research design was used. Using a non-probabilistic sampling by convenience, we worked with 200 people and found various factors that influenced depressive symptomatology in people with diabetes, according to the degree of depression, with negative attitudes towards oneself being a decisive factor in establishing the type of diagnosis. In this sense, for "Normal" depressive symptomatology, the most important factor was Impairment of performance; for "Mild" symptomatology, somatic alterations were observed; for "Moderate" symptomatology, sleep disturbances; and for "Severe" depressive symptomatology, the most notable somatic alterations were observed. It is argued the need to establish filters between "Normal" depressive symptomatology and those that could be an obstacle to achieve good adherence to treatment, considering contextual and biological aspects, the last in terms of brain activation.

Non-Probabilistic Sampling in Quantitative Clinical Research

Quantitative researchers need a probabilistic sample to generalise their findings, but research constraints often compel them to use non-probabilistic samples. The use of non-probability sampling methods in quantitative studies has therefore become a norm. Interestingly, even studies published in top-quality journals compromise best practices that the use of non-probabilistic samples requires. Based on a thorough review of relevant studies, we developed a typology of non-probability sampling methods used in quantitative health studies. An attempt was made to discuss the limit of inference under each type of non-probability sampling method. Non-probability sampling in quantitative research was also delineated as a way to maximise response rate. This study is expected to guide students and early career epidemiologists to understand how to apply non-probabilistic sampling methods in quantitative approaches and plausibly document or report their chosen methods.

Validación del instrumento: conocimientos, creencias y aceptación de la vacuna del virus del papiloma humano

Introduction: The human papilloma virus (HPV) is the leading cause of cervical cancer. Having an instrument that measures the acceptance of the HPV vaccine, as well as the factors involved in the acceptance process, is an urgent need for HPV prevention. The objective was to validate the knowledge, beliefs, and acceptance of the human papillomavirus vaccine instrument.Materials and Methods: The validation process was carried out through a descriptive, cross-sectional study and a two-phase process. The population consisted of 393 mothers of girls between the ages of 9 and 11 years, belonging to the State of Puebla, with a non-probabilistic sampling for convenience; the sample was considered at a ratio of 10: 1.Results: A valid and reliable instrument was obtained with a Cronbach's Alpha of .70, a value of p <.000 for Bartlett’s sphericity test, and .82 for the KMO test. In this sense, the factor analysis resulted in a total of 40 items divided into six dimensions.Discussion: The methodological process allowed to have an empirical indicator adapted and validated for the Mexican context, since it is the only one within the context that measures the factors related to the acceptance of the HPV vaccine.Conclusion: We conclude that having an empirical indicator adapted to the Spanish language, which measures acceptance and related factors, is a contribution of great importance to society and an advance in nursing science. Introducción: El virus del papiloma humano es la primera causa de cáncer cervicouterino, contar con un instrumento que mida la aceptación de la vacuna del VPH, así como los factores que intervienen, es una necesidad para la prevención del VPH. El objetivo fue realizar la validación del instrumento conocimientos, creencias y aceptación de la vacuna del virus del papiloma humano.Materiales y Métodos: El proceso de validación se realizó a traves de un estudio descriptivo, transversal y de proceso de dos fases. La población fue de 393 madres de niñas de 9 a 11 años, pertenecientes al Estado de Puebla, con un muestreo no probabilístico por conveniencia, la muestra se consideró por razón de 10:1.Resultados: Se obtuvo un instrumento válido y confiable con un coeficiente de Alfa de Cronbach de .70, un valor de p<.000 para la prueba de esfericidad de Bartlett y la prueba de Kaiser-Meyer Olkin obtuvo un resultado de .82, en este sentido el análisis factorial dio como resultado un total de 40 ítems divididos en seis dimensiones.Discusión: El proceso metodológico permitió contar con un indicador empírico adaptado y valido al contexto mexicano, debido a que es el único dentro del contexto que mide los factores relacionados con la aceptación de la vacuna del virus del papiloma humano.Conclusión: Se concluye que tener un indicador empírico adaptado al idioma español, que mida la aceptación y los factores relacionados, es un aporte de gran importancia para la sociedad y un avance para la ciencia en enfermería.

El miedo al contagio de covid-19, como mediador entre la exposición a las noticias y la salud mental, en población peruana

Introduction: In this COVID-19 pandemic, protective measures against the disease and government-imposed policies should be known. However, the media also report on deaths and health service shortages, but their impact on the mental health of the population is ignored.Objective: To determine whether fear of COVID-19 infection acts as a mediator between exposure to news about the pandemic and mental health in the Peruvian population.Method: Explanatory study with observable variables in which 541 persons selected by non-probabilistic sampling participated. They responded to a sociodemographic file and the following scales: Mental Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5) and Fear of COVID-19 Scale. Data were processed using IBM SPSS Statistics 25 and Macro PROCESS for SPSS programs; linear regression and bootstrapping of 10 000 simulations were used.Results: The number of hours watching and/or listening to covid-19 information is a good predictor of the COVID-19 fear mediator variable (β= ,75; t = 3.77, p<.001**). In turn, this has a predictor effect on mental health (β= -,24; t = -13.57, p<.001**). However, the number of hours of exposure to COVID-19 information had no direct positive effect on mental health (β= -.10; t = -1.184, p=.23).Conclusion: Fear of COVID-19 has a total mediating effect between exposure to pandemic news and mental health in the Peruvian population. Introducción: En esta pandemia por covid-19 se deben conocer las medidas de protección contra la enfermedad y las políticas impuestas por el gobierno; empero, los medios de comunicación también informan sobre las muertes y el desabastecimiento de los servicios de salud, pero se ignora su impacto en la salud mental de la población.Objetivo: Determinar si el miedo al contagio de la covid-19 actúa como mediador entre la exposición a las noticias sobre la pandemia y la salud mental en población peruana.Método: Estudio explicativo con variables observables, donde participaron 541 personas seleccionadas con un muestreo no probabilístico. Respondieron una ficha sociodemográfica y las escalas: Mental Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5) y Fear of Covid-19 Scale. Los datos fueron procesados mediante los programas IBM SPSS Statistics 25 y Macro PROCESS para SPSS; se utilizó la regresión lineal y bootstrapping de 10 000 simulaciones.Resultados: El número de horas viendo y/o escuchando información de la covid-19 es un buen predictor de la variable mediadora de miedo a la covid-19 (β= ,75; t = 3,77, p<,001**); a su vez, esta tiene un efecto predictor sobre la salud mental (β= -,24; t = -13,57, p<,001**); sin embargo, el número de horas de exposición a la información de la covid-19 no tuvo un efecto directo positivo en la salud mental (β= -,10; t = -1,184, p=,23).Conclusión: El miedo a la covid-19 tiene un efecto mediador total entre la exposición a las noticias sobre la pandemia y la salud mental en la población peruana.

Factors of Youth Satisfaction with Café Bars and Nightclubs in Zagreb

This paper deals with economic-geographical factors of student satisfaction with café bars and nightclubs in Zagreb. To gain insight into regional differences in student satisfaction and guided by the principles of non-probabilistic sampling using the snowball technique, an online survey was conducted (N = 319). Significant spatial differences in consumer satisfaction were detected. They are not only caused by macroeconomic indicators (average salaries), nor by material resources that students have at their disposal (pocket money and other income) but are greatly relational. In other words, the perception of the price difference between Zagreb and the county from which the respondents come proved to be extremely important. Finally, the location was the most important factor when students choose which café bar they are going to visit.

Personal features and management activities related to cattle welfare

Objective: To describe the personal features, as well as the management activities related to cattle welfare in Loma Bonita, Oaxaca, Mexico. Design/Methodology/Approach: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, and quantitative study. The sampling was non-probabilistic for convenience. Between December 2019 and March 2020, a questionnaire was applied to 27 farmers. Results: The average age of the ranchers is 44.6 years; 55.6% have more than 20 years of experience; 25.9% herd their cattle using a stick; 48.1% do not disinfect the udders; and 25.1% do not wash their hands during milking. Study Limitations/Implications: The results and conclusions are limited to the sample used in the present study. Therefore, extending them to all livestock farmers in the municipality would require a broader study that considers statistical techniques of probabilistic sampling. Findings/Conclusions: There are management activities outside the parameters established by the appropriate sanitary and welfare practices of cattle. However, the personal features indicate the existence of conditions related to the livestock activity in Mexico, that encourage participants to propose and carry out programs, plans, and strategies aimed at promoting and applying practices on animal welfare, thereby improving the productive, reproductive and profitability parameters.

Metric Goodness and Measurement Invariance of the Italian Brief Version of Interpersonal Reactivity Index: A Study With Young Adults

The Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) is a widely used multidimensional measure to assess empathy across four main dimensions: perspective taking (PT) empathic concern (EC) personal distress (PD) fantasy (F). This study aimed to replicate the Italian validation process of the shortened IRI (Interpersonal Reactivity Index) scale in order to confirm its psychometric properties with a sample of young adults. The Gender Measurement Invariance of empathy in this age group was also an objective of the work in order to increase the data on this aspect. A total of 683 Italian university students participated in a non-probabilistic sampling. The 16-item version was confirmed in its four-factor structure but with changes to some items. The model showed good fits with both the CFA and the gender Measurement Invariance. The internal consistency measures were found to be fully satisfactory. Convergent validity was tested by the correlations with the Prosocialness Scale for Adults and The Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20. As hypothesized the measure proved good convergent validity with Prosocialness, i.e., the willingness to assist, help, share, care and empathy with others, and a relevant inverse association with the External Oriented Thinking, characterizing individuals with emotionally poor thinking. This research provided additional evidence for a link between alexithymia and poor empathic abilities in young adults.

Drug therapy and vascular devices used by patients hospitalized for COVID-19: a descriptive study / Terapia medicamentosa e dispositivos vasculares utilizados por doentes hospitalizados para a COVID-19: um estudo descritivo

To describe drug therapy and types of vascular access adopted in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 and admitted to the clinical wards of a university hospital, a referential institution for COVID-19 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Descriptive, retrospective documentary study with a quantitative approach. The sample consisted of 243 electronic medical records from hospitalized patients with a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, between April and June 2020. The selection of participants took place by intentional non-probabilistic sampling. Peripheral venous access was the mostly applied in 83.5% of the patients. The mostly used classes of drugs were analgesics, (81.9%), followed by antiemetics (70.4%), and antihypertensives (51.9%). For medications directed to COVID-19, azithromycin, oseltamivir, ceftriaxone, and hydroxychloroquine stands out with 67.5%, 58.8%, 50.2% and 27.2%, respectively. Regarding the treatment directed to COVID-19, the medications mostly taken were azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine, justified to a large extent by being recommended by the Ministry of Health in the treatment, according to signs and symptoms (Brazil, 2020). Patients treated with the medications described had good recovery from the clinical condition. Thus, studies based on randomized clinical trials are suggested to prove the efficacy of drug therapies, including their combination.

Personal Factors Associated with Digital Competencies in University Students in the Context of Pandemic

The present research aimed to establish the association between personal factors (age, sex, hours connected and school of origin) and the digital competencies of university students, which have been originated and developed with a greater degree of intensity during the pandemic, generating as a consequence the need for distance education. The study was basic, explanatory, and quantitative, with a non-experimental and cross-sectional design. The sample consisted of 1242 students of the Faculty of Medicine from the tenth to the fourth cycle: 658 males (53.0%) and 584 females (47.0%). A probabilistic sampling by strata was performed and the questionnaire of Gutiérrez et al. (2017), an instrument for the evaluation of the digital competence of the university student with a reliability of 0.997, was used. It was concluded that personal factors are associated with digital competencies in students of a private university because the personal factors of sex, age, school of origin and hours connected to social networks presented p < 0.05. Regarding descriptive results, 52.3% of male students presented ineffective level. Of students aged 22 years or younger, 58.2% presented an ineffective level. It was observed that 57.7% of the students who come from private schools presented an ineffective level, and 57.1% of the students who connect for 3 hours or less presented an ineffective level.